Sometimes You Just Need to Believe
I do not own Sailor Moon =(
(Ok, so now we are coming to our own solar system to see what happens when Setsuna receives the information. Fans Of Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon will notice something that everyone else will need to read my notations at the bottom to understand. Again thank you all for your support. Keep letting me know how I'm doing. You're helping me to stay inspired just by giving me your input. ^_^ )
Chapter Five
Setsuna was sitting at the café with her sweet little Hotaru waiting for Haruka and Michiru.
'Setsuna-mama said something important was up and the four of us needed to discuss it,' Hotaru thought as she sipped her pear juice. 'The other girls all liked milkshakes. YUCK! Milk is gross.'
Finally Haruka and Michiru arrived. They sat down and ordered coffee when the waitress came by. The Outer Senshi exchanged mild pleasantries until the coffee was delivered and they could talk freely.
"So Setsuna, what was so important enough to make Michiru and I cancel our dinner reservations," Haruka asked bluntly.
"I have been contacted by Princess Kakyuu," Setsuna said softly.
Haruka could hardly contain her anger. "And what exactly did she want?"
"Haruka, I'm sure it is nothing to get upset about. Right, Setsuna," Michiru asked smiling.
"Well, she requested to send the Starlights as diplomats to form an alliance with the White Moon Kingdom. Naturally she felt it necessary to consult us before sending them intrusively," Setsuna said sipping her coffee.
"Well that was at least intelligent of her," Haruka said in a mildly less agitated tone.
"Is that going to change things, Setsuna-mama," Hotaru asked innocently.
Looking at Hotaru, Setsuna could sometimes lose herself in the innocent child and forget about what she was truly capable of. "No, sweetie," she said patting the small girl's head.
"So no alterations in the timeline," Michiru asked looking suspicious and relieved all at once.
"No, not at all," Setsuna assured them.
"I don't like it," Haruka said flatly. "We know if Seiya gets anywhere near the princess her confusion will only increase. You know how she has been lately. Ever since she met that damned Seiya." Michiru had to clasp Haruka's hand to keep her from slamming a fist into the table.
"Well I had thought that too," Setsuna said. "However, the restored Sailor Galaxia is all for the alliance. The goal would be banding all the kingdoms in the galaxy to bring peace to all and finally proving that the Sailor Wars are over." Setsuna paused to see how her comrades were taking this information. "Personally, I agree with them. A complete alliance would be beneficial. I can see it when I look into my talisman, though it is somewhat clouded. I do not, however see anything out of order. Crystal Tokyo will still come to pass as we know it now. You must know that there are other galaxies and it would be best to have allies should there be any hostile intruders."
"Damn you," Haruka said chuckling in spite of herself. "I hate it when you make so much sense. I will agree to it, provided they do not aid us as senshi unless the princess requests it. I do not want them to think we are incapable of protecting her. They saw the lengths we would go to to do so."
"Yes, I remember that QUITE well," Setsuna said tensing her tone a little.
"You should know by now that we work on our own," Michiru said softly.
"You still scared me, Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama." Hotaru was on the brink of tears.
Setsuna placed her arm around the child and pulled her close. "Its alright now, Hotaru. We are in a time of peace. They will not pretend to be bad again, right," Setsuna said glaring at Haruka and Michiru.
"Of course not," Michiru said reassuringly.
"Why don't we take you to the park for a nice picnic tomorrow," Haruka suggested.
"Really! Thank you so much," Hotaru exclaimed.
The Outer Senshi agreed that it would be Setsuna to inform the princess. They paid the bill and went home for the night. Haruka and Michiru slipped into their room hand-in-hand leaving Setsuna to tuck Hotaru in for the night. Thankfully Hotaru was not pestering her with questions about the coming events. After she was safely tucked in, Setsuna closed Hotaru's bedroom door and made her way into her own room being sure to turn off the hall light. She changed into a soft nightgown and sat on her bed staring into her talisman.
'I have not found any upsets in the timeline. I have known this from the very beginning. That is not the fully awakened Princess Serenity,' she reminded herself. She dared not inform the other senshi of the true nature of the princess. 'If they found out they might not be so inclined to protect her. Princess Serenity was far more selfish than Usagi. She had always possessed the will to fight, but then she…' Setsuna shuddered placing down her talisman.
Setsuna tossed and turned as one nightmare after another plagued her throughout the night. When she finally awoke the next morning she reminded herself, 'It is for the best that they have these false memories. Usagi could never handle the truth. It was most unfortunate that the Shittennu had met their ends never knowing the truth. I simply could not let them see it until the princess knew. How long would it have been before she found out too early and became an agent of destruction? How much longer can I keep this from coming up? Hotaru can simulate history in the palm of her hand. It is only a matter of time before she finds out.'
"Setsuna-mama," Hotaru said jumping on to the bed with a big hug much to Setsuna's surprise.
"Well, aren't you dressed up so pretty." Setsuna toyed with Hotaru's little hat.
"Hotaru, let's get going," Haruka said.
Behind Haruka was Michiru who was holding a picnic basket. "Are you sure you want to do this today?" Michiru looked concerned. 'It isn't normal for Setsuna to sleep in so late.' "I mean are you feeling well enough today?"
"Oh that. Yes, Michiru. I just had trouble sleeping last night. I'll take my shower and call Usagi over for lunch. I'll call your cell, Haruka, when we are done here," Setsuna replied.
Haruka nodded and Hotaru bolted to the front door. Michiru took one more look back at Setsuna before slipping her arm into Haruka's .
Later on at the park Hotaru had finished her lunch and had run off to play. Haruka leaned back into a tree crossing her arms behind her head. Michiru leaned in for a little kiss.
"Have you been able to see anything, Michiru," asked Haruka completely breaking the mood.
"My mirror will not show me anything. I just know something is not right." Michiru sighed. Things never went well when her mirror became cloudy.
"I have some suspicions about Pluto as of late," Haruka said. "I think she is clouding your mirror to keep something from us."
"Why would she…"
"Michiru, she is the guardian of time. She can manipulate it to her own pleasing. She certainly seems to know more than she is letting on. And I do not like how eager she was to make us agree to this alliance. First she brings Hotaru back which was bad enough, and now let's not forget she is distracting the princess by placing Seiya so close to her. I really don't like it."
"I know. I feel the same way. I know she has the power to block my mirror if she chose to. I wonder if she thinks that Mars is still too incompetent to bother with block her as well," Michiru replied.
"When we have a chance let's visit her at the shrine and find out. Not yet though. To the gates of Hell, right," Haruka said looking longingly at Michiru.
"Of course," Michiru said as she leaned in for that kiss she had wanted earlier.
The lovers leaned into each other until finally a tired Hotaru came back to snuggle with them. Michiru did not like the fact that Hotaru was Sailor Saturn, but she couldn't help herself from loving the kid. She ran her hand over Hotaru's head until she fell asleep. Even Haruka smiled at the tenderness Michiru could show this child.
Meanwhile, Usagi had arrived for lunch and was gorging herself as usual.
'This is not the awakened princess,' Setsuna thought.
"So you said you had something to tell me," Usagi said between bites.
Setsuna laughed lightly. Usagi did not seem to notice. In truth, Setsuna liked Usagi far more than Princess Serenity. "Usagi, Princess Kakyuu and Sailor Galaxia have contacted me."
"Why," Usagi said dropping her chopsticks.
'Well, at least I have her attention now.' "They feel that it would be a good idea to create an alliance between our solar systems to set an example and hope other systems will follow suit. It would bring a greater protection to us all. Do you understand, princess?"
Usagi took a few minutes. 'Are those words truly coming out of Setsuna's mouth?' Then it dawned on her, 'I could see Seiya again! But what about Mamo-chan?' Usagi snapped out of her conflicted mind. "I think an alliance would be wonderful! That way if there are any galaxies out there with people who are not nice like ours, we could band together and stay safe!"
'That was only her inner conflict just now, wasn't it?' "I am so happy that you agree. She is going to send her ambassadors as soon as I give her the news. One thing, Usagi," Setsuna looked into Usagi's eyes. "The ambassadors will be the Starlights. Is this something that you can handle?"
"Yes, sure thing! Ami-chan and Minako-chan will be so happy!"
"And you princess?"
An unnatural flash went through Usagi's eyes. For a moment they looked cold and calculating. Using that fun voice and placing one arm behind her head nervously Usagi said, "Yes! Now that I have my Mamo-chan back I'll be ok! No worries here!" The act was convincing if one did not know Serenity as Pluto did.
'No Serenity! You will not destroy Usagi's dreams. Your time will come, but it is NOT now.' The flash came through again and Usagi's expression went back to normal. 'Good.' "Then why don't you tell your friends to keep tomorrow evening free. Don't tell them right away, but I'm pretty sure the Three Lights will be having a reunion concert." Setsuna winked at Usagi.
Usagi could not contain herself. She jumped up and down all about the room. The magazines on the coffee table were knocked down and so were some pillows from the sofa, thankfully nothing breakable had been in Usagi's wake. When she finally calmed down enough to speak she turned to Setsuna. "How can I keep this from them? Oh, I know! I can keep the image of their surprised faces when they arrive at the show! I'm going to go buy a dress for the concert!" 'How will Mamo-chan react when Seiya-chan comes back?'
'That was a close call,' Setsuna thought as she cleaned up the debris leftover from Usagi's visit. 'I have to suppress her for now. If she awakens now the future will be destroyed. No Small Lady. No Crystal Tokyo. Only pain and destruction will come.' "I know when the stars will be in your favor, Princess Serenity, and it will come eventually. You may not have known the Outer Senshi, despite our presence, but it was we who built this future for you. For now I must protect Usagi. I am sorry Princess." Setsuna looked out the window at the rising moon. Still alone she allowed a few tears to fall. She had to quickly recover and call Haruka to come home.
(Ok, so I am blending the identity of the selfish and spoiled Princess Serenity who used the Silver Crystal for her own purposes from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon. The reason the series says that she was so cruel was that she had no control over her emotions, but in the final two episodes she shows her true colors. (She was not "all bad" though) I know it is a VERY different princess than was portrayed in the anime, but I hope you know where I got that personality. As the story continues more about her will be revealed, I promise!!!)