DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

Bishoujo Sailor Moon + Other series in this story are not owned by me.

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Intermission: Feline Dilemmas (1)

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Luna was far from being an idiot, but this case had left her pretty much stumped.

Her mind was less focused on the idea of finding the princess, at this point relying on the notion it may be Usagi due to the many clues that aimed at it. No, she was confused by two elements- Tuxedo Mask and Moon Knight. The former felt easier to decipher. There were so many elements left in the open for her to rely on, while the latter was-

Frustratingly difficult.

Early on, she thought that Shingo was Moon Knight. Frame-wise, it felt to be the case. And while cornering him about it may have yielded some blunt results, Luna adopted a more cautious approach. As he was sleeping at night, Luna cut some hair of his to check if they yielded anything worthy of consideration through her computerized station. A in-depth analysis yielded nothing... but she wasn't done with just this.

After all, his powers may be tied to an item of sort.

So, the cat started to look around while he was at home and not using his room, going as far to even use the few interactions through the day with her sitting on his lap or beside him to check for anything that could confirm this new supposition. Her cautious approach continued to bring nothing to the table. No, she could tell Shingo was not Moon Knight... within what she could find.

She was sure the fact he was a comic fan, the existence of a Moon Knight through said comics, and the awareness of Usagi's whereabouts pointed at him. But... maybe that's the point. Whoever was Moon Knight may as well have adopted a small frame to suggest that. An attempt to derail her investigation... and a damning one since she didn't have anything else to work with.

A frustrating dilemma, but one that was even more perplexing as she realized one of Shingo's newest classmates and friend was not a human. Luna's first thought was that this was another hint he was Moon Knight, but, even then, she couldn't tell why he was befriending someone with a dark source of energy. Worse to that was that she could tell the girl known as 'Lilim' was not part of the Dark Kingdom.

In fact, despite the suspicious energy within her, even Rei confirmed that Lilim was somewhat 'too innocent' towards Shingo to be deemed a threat. Heck, she focused just on him as the girl was clearly frightened by them in a rather normal and shy manner.

Luna was thus back to square one. And she could tell only one thing was left to do.

"Shingo?"

It was just the two of them, watching some TV as both Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino had left for a 'date' or something like that tied to the former's job. Meanwhile Usagi was busy with her homework with Ami, clearly thriving under the watchful gaze of the blue-haired girl.

"Yes, Luna?" The boy replied, eyes glued to the Reality Show they were watching.

"Are you Moon Knight?"

...

"No?"

"I would not be upset if you were and didn't tell me."

"Well, I am not," The boy assured quietly, glancing briefly at her. "Why?"

"Why am I asking you?"

"Yeah? I mean, if I had those cool powers I would use them to help my sister without a mask. Not like that creep and midget."

Her lips twitched a bit at the insults used to depict Tuxedo Mask and Moon Knight respectively. The latter was quite wrong to use, but the former was... somewhat fitting. There was some sort ofg magnetic energy between Usagi and the fancy-clothed 'ally' of theirs. This interest to be close to someone that Luna wanted to keep safe from excessive trouble just left her bothered a fair bit.

Creep was a fitting word to depict this sort of issue.

"Still, I had to ask."

He nodded, "Does it upset you?"

"A bit," Luna admitted, her eyes aimed back at the screen. "I have to know what we are all facing. Even if this is a benign thing to us."

Shingo nodded, then frowned but said nothing for a while.

...

...

"Luna?"

She perked. "Yes?"

"I know this may sounds difficult to get but... how did it feel to wake up and just have a purpose with close to no memories about it?" The boy inquired. "Like, you started from somewhere with a goal in mind and something to back it up but... have you ever thought, even if out of mere assumption, of this being, you know-"

"A lie?" The cat guessed and then nodded at the affirmative look offered by the boy. "I actually... didn't. Not because of the goal of beating the Dark Kingdom but... because I remember fragments of my past that drive me everyday to fulfill this grand task."

"How so?"

Luna lost her focus for a moment, thinking of what she could currently remember. She knew she was born to a small family, that her homeplanet was ruined by a disaster and that she was picked up and taken care of by Queen Serenity together with someone else. She couldn't think of the name of this unknown face at the moment, but she was sure that it was... important.

When Queen Serenity took them in, she made sure that they were given gifts and education. Luna remembered the pleasant days of enjoying books of literature and history, aspiring to return all that love through devotion to the crown. And even though her memory of Princess Serenity was tarnished by dark blots of amnesia-born source, Luna remembered Queen Serenity's face.

She had been so... happy. It was absurd to think such an old and wise lady could muster such a personal and yet intense feeling of joy. A small dying star given a chance to be reborn in the likeness of the Queen of the Moon. A miracle, and one that saw grand celebrations around.

Luna, to her immense shame, had been envious of the newborn. So tiny and so pretty, but also so gifted with her powers. The immense love the child was blessed with was, to her, too much. But then, as she was assigned by the Queen to ward her away from trouble, to teach her, and to eventually advise her many steps into adulthood... Luna saw the reason for that love. And she too adored the child.

Princess Serenity was a ray of hope to change the idyllic peace into something greater. But then things came crashing down. Metalia happened, the Dark Kingdom rained upon them- the Scouts were killed, Princess Serenity slain by suicide upon finding her Prince's deceased body, and Queen Serenity...

Tears had swollen by her eyes at the remembrance of the pain. But rather than silence and immobility greeting her in that sorrowful moment, she found herself lifted up and set upon a lap. She looked up, tears too late to stop and thus gaining a worried look from Shingo.

"Sorry for that question, Luna," The boy muttered nervously. "Didn't know you were still too upset about it."

"I-It's alright."

Her words were lies, and Shingo spotted that instantly.

"Well... I want you to know that, even though I can't push you into letting your pain out, we are all here for you. I bet Usagi and the others would want to hear about you too and... we are all here-"

"We will not let you down." "We will not let you down."

Luna paused briefly as he said that, hearing another voice repeat her this. An echo from the past, a suave respite within the loneliness and... a glimpse to what beauty it was. As she looked into Shingo's soft blue eyes... Luna saw tiny silvery specks staining the smooth ocean of his gaze.

The same specks, so fresh and lovable, were also in Queen Serenity's Silver Eyes. Shingo's tired but still happy look was similar to the drained but content gaze of the former ruler of the Silver Millennium. And as she softly nodded, as she softly took this chance to rest her face down and let the tears die...

Luna realized something perplexing.

Usagi shared traits with the Princess but... why does Shingo share so many similarities with Queen Serenity?

AN

Luna's POV setting up the stage for a big mystery in regard to Shingo's Fake Moon Dynasty trait and much more about his current latent abilities. Things may get frisky soon as- next Shingo and Lilim face Shiranui-mama (ft. chibi-Yukikaze)!

EDIT: Update delay happened due to time put in commissions so, now that I am done with those I can focus back on my regular updating.