Notes: Episode 121, "A Mystic Flower that Steals Hearts! The Third Witch, Tellu". Or, "The one with Tellu". (That was helpful.)

Episode 121

"People are watching."

"Surely that was the intent."

Sailor Pluto effortlessly led Queen Serenity through the sweeping dance, her last of the evening. They swirled across the ballroom, both aware of but neither heeding the eyes that followed them. Serenity wanted this celebration to be long remembered, and was a firm believer in the power of word of mouth. What was the point of a birthday otherwise?

Their dance complete, Serenity bowed her head graciously and left the dance floor to polite but enthusiastic applause. The ball would continue for some time yet, but without its guest of honour.

The music for the next dance had already begun when a burst of squealing laughter reached Serenity's ears from across the room. She watched, a warm smile gracing her features, as her daughter tore through the people gathered on the edges of the dance floor. She bounced off legs and knees and cared not even remotely. Somewhat more respectfully (but only somewhat, the Queen noted with amusement) Mars pushed through the crowd, in pursuit of her wayward charge. Serenity the Younger glanced over her shoulder, saw Mars, and squealed again.

So she wasn't watching at all as she bumped into Venus. The little girl ricocheted off Venus's shins, recovered immediately with another gush of laughter, and dove under a nearby tablecloth. The Queen chuckled as Mars and Venus appeared to start arguing about who was going to go crawling after her.

"The Princess appears to be enjoying her birthday as well," Pluto said at Serenity's shoulder.

"I thought she'd be asleep by now."

"I suspect her guardians thought the same." Pluto didn't laugh, but Serenity could hear the smile.

The Queen looked wistful and indulged the feeling, a gift to herself. "I almost wish she could stay like this forever."

This time, Pluto did laugh. "A thought her guardians have almost certainly NOT had."

As Serenity watched, Mars emerged from under the table, a squirming blonde bundle in her arms. She was saying something, doubtless chastising the little girl, but the only response she received was a pair of tiny arms flung around her neck. Mars looked to Venus, imploring her, but Venus only ruffled the Princess's hair.

"I'm not so convinced of that," said Serenity.

Pluto was studying her, and after a long moment seemed to reach a decision. "Come. I have a gift for you."

"Oh? Was the dance not a gift?"

"Another gift, then," Pluto replied. "Come."

Serenity followed Pluto through the palace, inclining her head in acknowledgement of the guards who bowed as she passed. After so long she was used to the mystery of her companion, but had yet to build a resistance to curiosity.

"What is this gift?" she asked. She expected no answer, and was not disappointed.

They reached the Queen's personal chambers and Pluto let herself inside. With the door closed behind them, Serenity waited somewhat less than patiently. She wouldn't ask again – being ignored once was quite sufficient for one evening – but arched an eyebrow.

Still Pluto said nothing. She produced her staff, seemingly from nowhere, and made several intricate gestures that even the Queen could not follow. Soon, a ball of reddish energy manifested before them. It grew until nearly the height of Serenity herself. She watched, silent but intrigued, as the center became a swirl of muted light and colours. Then, slowly, an image began to coalesce. A girl? One she'd never seen before yet still felt she knew, with large eyes and pink hair in an achingly familiar style.

Serenity's hand seemed to move of its own accord, reaching out to the image. "Who…?"

"Her name is Small Lady," Pluto said with a fondness Serenity knew few ever heard.

The image changed, slowly morphing from one scene to the next. Serenity saw her, this Small Lady, as an infant, sleeping peacefully. A toddler, taking her first shaking steps toward figures Serenity couldn't quite identify. A young child, full of determination. Older, reaching out to catch a collapsing Pluto, despite the woman being more than three times her size. A teenager, surrounded by indistinct faces and beaming with pride.

Serenity was crying, but couldn't have said when she started. "Who is she?"

Beside her Queen, Pluto smiled sadly. "Someone I wish very much you could meet."

As do I, Serenity felt her heart reply. What she said was, "Should you be showing this to me?"

"Perhaps not," replied Pluto. "But many things are which should not be."

And the images continued to play.

Probably one of the most loosely connected BtLs I've done yet. The scene with Chibi-Usa catching Setsuna just lodged in my brain to the exclusion of all else in the episode, and then this happened.