She could smell the croissants baking before she even opened the door, but the bakery seemed awfully quiet for a Saturday morning. Only one table was occupied when Usagi went in, but not by a customer.

"Motoki!" she called out and approached the table.

He looked up from the laptop on the table in front of him and smiled in welcome. "Usagi!" He stood and pulled out a chair. "What brings you to this part of town on a Saturday?"

Usagi slid into the chair. "Nothing special," she replied. "Just checking in on Makoto. I haven't seen her in a while." She looked around the small eating area. "Where is everybody today?"

"I think the threat of bad weather is keeping people away," Motoki said, resuming his seat and turning back to the laptop. "I thought I'd use the quiet to get caught up on the bookkeeping." But instead of working he studied Usagi.

"What?" she asked, starting to feel uncomfortable under his scrutiny.

"You haven't seen Mako in a while," he said. "She wasn't with you last Saturday when. . ."

"You know about that?" Usagi asked, surprised.

Motoki nodded. "Ami told us what happened. Trying to keep Mako and Rei informed."

"What else did she tell you?" Usagi asked, feeling disgruntled.

Motoki smiled and went back to work. "You know where to find Mako."

Recognizing the dismissal for what it was Usagi stood and made her way to the kitchen. The tantalizing scents grew stronger, and so did the heat coming from the ovens. She could hear mumbling, then the clang of metal on metal and a loudly spoken expletive. Cleary Makoto was not having her best day.

Usagi took her handkerchief out of her pocket before pushing open the door to the bakery's kitchen. She waved the white piece of cloth. "I come in peace!" she called out, leaning forward to see around the edge of the door.

Makoto stood in front of a line of ovens, two baking pans at her feet and croissants scattered across the floor. She was flushed from the heat and had flour smeared on one cheek. She was also not happy.

"Damnit! I finally get the chocolate proportions just right and I end up dumping them on the floor." She turned towards her friend. "Well, don't just stand there! Help me clean this mess up!"

Between the two of them the kitchen was quickly put right, and they even managed to salvage four of the chocolate croissants. Makoto made tea and they sat down to enjoy her latest creation. As she sipped her tea Usagi became aware of her friend's expectant gaze.

"Don't give me that look," she said. "I know that Ami already told you the whole story."

Makoto laughed. "True, but I'd still like to hear it from you."

So Usagi told the entire story, beginning with her visit to her brother at the police station. By the time she was finished all of the salvaged croissants had disappeared and the tea was nothing but dregs in the bottom of the pot. Makoto swirled the pot around, studying the patterns made by the leaves. Finally she looked up at met her friends eyes.

"You're confused," she said, watching Usagi closely for her reaction. "Confused and scared for your children."

"Wouldn't you be?" Usagi asked. "Everything I've ever expected to happen with Chibiusa and Seiya has been turned completely upside-down and inside-out. I don't even know what to think."

"Well, if you're looking for answers you're in the wrong place. There are only two people on the planet that might know what's what."

Usagi frowned. "I know, but I was hoping to avoid talking to them. If I know Luna she'll figure out a way to make this all my fault."

Later that day Usagi caught up with Luna at the local farmer's market. The older woman was surprised to see her old friend, but not averse to accepting help in getting her purchases back to the shrine. Artemis met them at the front door of the house and took the produce into the kitchen while Usagi and Luna went to the comfortable sitting room.

"So," Luna asked as she sat and tucked her feet beneath her. "What brings you all the way out here? Not that I'm not pleased to see you, but I usually see more of your daughter."

Usagi smiled. "Is it so surprising that I still need your guidance on occasion?

"Not surprising," Luna replied with a grin. "Just unexpected."

Artemis rejoined them then, carry a tray with glasses of fruit juice. He sat beside his wife and studied Usagi for a few moments. Apparently satisfied he gave a nod. "It must be something very important to bring you for our advice," he said, taking a sip of juice."

"Believe me, it is," Usagi said, and then, for the second time that day, found herself relating the entire story of the battle on the previous Saturday. "Chibiusa had been knocked out and de-transformed, and none of the other attacks had any effect," she said, shuddering with an echo of the fear she had felt that day. "But Seiya controlling the Silver Crystal. . ." Her voice died away and she shook her head. "I still can't believe it happened." She looked from Artemis to Luna. "How?"

Luna looked concerned. "It shouldn't have been possible," she said, her brow creased in a frown. "It's just. . . It can't have happened!"

Artemis laughed. "How can anyone know whether it's possible or not?" he asked. "Seiya is the first male child born into the Moon Kingdom, so it's not like the subject has ever come up before."

Usagi looked from Artemis to Luna, and then back again. "The first?" she asked. "Ever? As in forever ever?"

"Yes, as in forever ever," Artemis answered then looked at his wife, who was still frowning. "It shouldn't be such a surprise, though. Seiya is unquestionably a child of the Moon Kingdom, and as such he should be able to access the power of the Silver Crystal."

"But use the power to the extent that Usagi described?" Luna asked. "And child of the Moon Kingdom or not you know he can't be a sailor warrior, simply because he is male. Chibiusa is meant to follow her mother as Sailor Moon. That is one destiny that could not have been changed."

Usagi glanced from Luna to Artemis, aware of a new tension in the room. She could tell by the look on Artemis's face that he didn't agree, but didn't think it was the best time to press the issue. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens with that," she said, her voice sounding unnaturally bright as she changed the subject. "And honestly right now I'm more worried about Mariko, Rio and Akemi."

Luna snorted and shook her head. "As much as they may think so Ami, Rei, and Makoto are not doing their daughters any favors in keeping the truth hidden."

Artemis nodded; on this point they were in perfect agreement. "It'll be much harder when the three girls finally do awaken."

The three of them talked for a while longer, until the topic of the three still slumbering senshi was exhausted. When Usagi left Artemis walked with her to where her car was parked. He didn't say anything, but Usagi knew he wanted a private word with her, away from Luna.

When they arrived at her car she unlocked the door then turned to look Artemis squarely in the face. "You disagreed with your wife," she said, smiling slightly.

"What else is new?"

Usagi shook her head. "This time was different. I don't think you guys have ever disagreed about anything related to the sailor warriors and the battles to protect the Earth. So what did she say that hit a nerve?"

Artemis met Usagi's eyes for a long moment before turning his gaze to the sky. "Luna's blind spot has always been thinking that being a sailor warrior and a planetary guardian is one and the same. She tends to dismiss the idea that a person can be one without being the other."

"Like Mamoru."

"Exactly," Artemis said, nodding firmly and dropping his gaze back to meet Usagi's eyes. "I think she's wrong to dismiss what Seiya did." He took Usagi's hands in his. "Don't make the same mistake. I think it'll have significant consequences for us all."

Usagi studied Artemis' face for a few moments, then an inkling of his meaning became clear to her. Her eyes widened. "Do you think. . ."

Artemis shook his head and smiled. "I don't think anything," he said. "Call it more of an instinct. But I'd keep a steady eye on that son of yours if I were you."

As she drove home Usagi continued to mull over the implications of what Artemis had said, and what he didn't say. In the past if she had been pressed she would have said that she fully expected her son to be one of the guardians, and she would have assumed that he would follow his father. But now. . .

At home she was withdrawn and quiet all through dinner to the surprise and consternation of her children and husband. It didn't take long for Chibiusa and Seiya to retreat to their bedrooms in an effort to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere. Chibiusa gave her father one long, critical stare before she left. He knew that she wanted him to continue to keep quiet about her vision, and she equally knew that he couldn't do that.

As soon as the sounds of the children clattering up the stairs faded Mamoru went to where his wife was staring blankly at the open laptop. He laid a hand on her shoulder as he closed the computer, kissed her cheek and then sat beside her.

"This is the first chance we've had for a quiet talk and you're completely distracted," he said with a gentle smile. "I've got a few things to tell you that you'll need to pay attention to."

"I'm sorry," Usagi said, reaching out and taking his hand in hers. "I've got a few things to tell you as well, but you go first. You've probably been holding it in since Thursday evening."

Mamoru's smile changed in to an all-out grin. "True, I have been keeping it bottled up. And if it were up to your daughter I still wouldn't be telling you." And he proceeded to tell his wife everything he had learned about the vision Chibiusa had had while unconscious, ending with "A part of me thinks we need to tell her about Helios and the bond that once existed between the two of them, but I'm still reluctant. I feel like it's just one more burden for her to carry."

Usagi was thoughtful for a few moments. "Well, if you remember I always wanted to tell her the entire truth, and I don't see how we could possibly justify keeping it a secret any longer. Some part of her is tuned in to Helios now, and that connection will only get stronger." She got up and poured each of them a cup of coffee, leaning against the counter as she sipped hers. "What I don't understand, though, is how Helios apparently remembers everything from before. Why didn't destiny change for him as well?"

Mamoru shrugged. "If I had to guess I'd say that being in Elysian sheltered him from outside events to an extent, which means he probably isn't aware that this Chibiusa is a different person." He was tempted to tell Usagi about his own vision, but held his tongue. The time wasn't quite right for that to enter the equation. "Now, what is it that you have to tell me?" he asked. "I'm going to guess that it's something to do with Seiya and how he used the Silver Crystal, because when you came home you had that I've-had-a-talk-with-Luna look on your face."

Usagi laughed. "There's a look that tells you that? Well, it's right, I did have a chat with Luna and Artemis."

"And?"

"And as usual Luna more or less lectured me like I was still a fourteen year old girl."

"Hence the look on your face."

"Yes. Hence." She told him the substance of her conversation with both Luna and Artemis. "Luna insists that there's nothing to concern ourselves with. She didn't go so far as to say that Seiya controlling the crystal was a fluke, but she definitely implied it. She insists that Chibiusa is the Moon Kingdom heir and meant to be Sailor Moon."

"I'm sure Seiya will be relieved," Mamoru replied, a hint of mischief in his smile. "I don't think he would have enjoyed being known as the pretty sailor soldier of love and justice."

Usagi stuck out her tongue, then laughed. "To be honest I never enjoyed it all that much either. But. . ."

"But?" Mamoru prompted.

"I didn't just talk to Luna and Artemis together," she said. "I had an interesting private conversation with Artemis as I was leaving. And what he didn't say was a hell of a lot more interesting that what he did."

"Meaning?"

"He made a point of reminding me that one can be a planetary guardian without being a sailor warrior, and said that Seiya using the Silver Crystal will have consequences for us all."

"Ok, the first point is a given and I agree on the second point," Mamoru replied, looking confused. "I'm not seeing the interesting, though."

"Aren't you?" Usagi asked. "I think Artemis thinks - although he'll deny it with his dying breath - that Seiya is actually the heir of the Moon, not Chibiusa."

"So what is Chibiusa supposed to be?"

"I don't really know, but I think the best guess would be the heir to the Earth; your heir. Sailor Earth."

Mamoru managed to keep from visibly flinching, but now the words from his own vision no longer seemed so crazy.

The next morning was the exact opposite of the previous Sunday. Instead of being pale-faced and quiet both Chibiusa and Seiya were energetic and full of spark. Instead of feeling a need to lean on each other they started sniping and quarreling, leading their father to essentially throw the pair of them out of the house.

"You'll either learn to get along or you'll murder each other!" Mamoru shouted as he flung open the door. "I don't care which, just stop this nonsense arguing!" And he slammed the door shut behind them, breathing heavily. When he heard a noise behind him in the hall he held up a hand to forestall whatever Usagi planned to say. "I know, I know," he said, turning to face his wife. "That was a bit much."

Usagi grinned. "Actually, if you hadn't have done it I would have," she replied, stepping into the curve of his arm and resting her head on his shoulder. "I don't think I could have dealt with any of that today."

Mamoru hugged her close, pressing a kiss to her temple. "What else do you have planned for the day?" he asked, guiding her back to the living room and cuddling together on the sofa. "Must be something major if the bickering could have put you off your stride."

Usagi sighed and pulled out of the embrace far enough to see her husband's face. "It is major. I didn't tell you everything that I talked to Luna and Artemis about. Today I need to tell Rei, Makoto and Ami that their daughters can no longer dwell in happy ignorance of their destinies. We need them too much."

"Did Luna and Artemis tell you that?"

"Not exactly, but they certainly didn't argue with me." She looked at Mamoru, slightly puzzled. "You're not arguing with me either," she said, sounding suspicious.

He sighed and released his hold on her, shoving a hand through his hair. "Believe me, I don't like it," he said. "I don't think forcing the girls into their roles is a good idea, but things are about to start moving a lot faster, and we may need every ounce of power if a fight comes."

"That's what I thought as well. Of course, this whole thing could backfire and blow up in my face when I tell Ami, Makoto and Rei. I just hope that they've come to the same conclusion."

Three hours later found Usagi climbing the stairs to the Hikawa Shrine, feeling an invisible weight grow heavier on her shoulders with each step. As much as she knew it was necessary she dreaded what she was about to do. Protecting the Earth and saving the universe was all well and good, but it hardly gave her the right to interfere in how her friends raised their children. The only thing that kept her going was the knowledge that things might be that much worse if the younger guardians were surprised by the truth. Surprised in the worst possible way, and at the worst possible moment.

One other thing helped also. Chibiusa had been surprisingly understanding and agreeable on the whole subject. "I don't see that we - any of us - have a choice at this point," she had said. "We either force the issue with Rio, Akemi and Mariko or we lose the expected battle. Two bad options."

Two bad options indeed. And no way out except to just get it over with.

When she arrived at Rei's office inside the shrine she was surprised to see Luna there. The atmosphere inside the room was tense, and as Usagi glanced around she figured out why. Ami, Makoto and Rei all looked slightly angry and resigned, none of them meeting her eyes. Minako sat in the corner, doing her best to be invisible, but she met Usagi's gaze with the briefest of nods. The beans had already been spilled.

"So, are we all on the same page?" Usagi asked after drawing a deep breath.

Surprisingly it was Ami who stood and spoke up. "Yes, we are. Not by choice," she declared, looking at Luna with a mutinous expression. "But we won't keep the secret any longer."