Deep within the tent of the Dead Moon Circus was a mirror. It was tall and imposing, ornately decorated with gold furnishing. This mirror was befitting of royalty, but this was no ordinary mirror because, inside this mirror, a darkness raged.
Oh! That White Light that shined! Surely, that was the light of the power that belongs to the White Moon! Those of the White Moon Kingdom seemingly have been reincarnated on this planet!
An old lady with wrinkled blue skin scowled. Her Queen was angry. Queen Nehellinia was angry, and she had every right to be; the people she thought had fallen to her curse had appeared to be thriving. The old lady swiftly turned and looked sharply at the four scantly clad women standing at the opposite end of the room, watching as they jumped a bit when her harsh gaze fell upon them. "Girls! Our Queen Nehellinia is angry; you mustn't be so flashy with your tricks! Our enemies are from the White Moon Kingdom; they possess immortal bodies and have stones that hold infinite power!"
The woman quickly turned away as she heard a mutter of a response from one of the girls and thought back to what she had seen during that fight. What had appeared before Sailor Moon, a white horse? It couldn't have been the priest their Queen had subdued, could it? She would need to ponder this further.
_
"Well, the old hag did say we could handle this any way we wanted, didn't she?" The woman with green hair spoke with a scowl on her face. Even saying that, the old hag was still scolding them. How annoying.
"I agree, JunJun; we should do this our way and have fun while we're at it. As long as we catch those Sailor Senshi, it doesn't really matter, does it?" CereCere, a woman with pink hair, spoke with a cruel smile on her face. "So if we're going to do this the fun way…oh little Tiger's Eye. Hawk's Eye and Fish Eye, what do you think about being human."
JunJun watched as the animals in question, a fish, a bird, and a tiger, enthusiastically responded to CereCere's question. JunJun smiled at how smart their cute little animals were. With this, they could have some fun toying with the Sailor Senshi without doing much work. JunJun heard PallaPalla, the woman with blue hair, laugh.
"You guys are so smart! Palanquin Orb!"
JunJun found herself engulfed in a thick cloud of smoke that filled the tent, making it difficult for her to breathe. As the smoke cleared, she smiled, looking at the sight before her. Standing before her were three men who had replaced the animals that were present just moments ago. JunJun noticed that they all had a somewhat androgynous appearance, which she found intriguing. VerVer, with her fiery red hair, let out a hearty laugh as black, fuzzy creatures with glowing eyes crowded around her.
"These are Lemures," VerVer explained. "They are the embodiment of nightmares, and they feast on people's beautiful dreams. Your task is to turn this city into a realm of nightmares by devouring all the beautiful dreams."
The three men nodded solemnly, each with a distinct appearance. One of them had wavy orange hair that cascaded past his shoulders, a red and blue marking on his cheek, and wore a white crop top and orange leotard pants decorated with tiger stripes. He struck a flashy pose as he spoke up.
"Fear not, for I am Tiger's Eye, and my dream is to become an artist. I will complete this task with utmost perfection!"
After a brief moment of silence, a man with light blue hair pulled back in a very low ponytail stepped forward. He had a rather slim figure with a flat chest, and his hands were scaled and green with razor-sharp claws. He struck a pose, though it was less flashy than Tigers Eye's, and spoke up, "I am Fish Eye, and I assure you that I will complete this task with utmost efficiency!"
Following him was a man with magenta hair that stood up in spikey waves on his head. He wore a dark purple sash that covered his chest but allowed his stomach to show and a skirt-like sash around his waist. His purple leggings and heels matched his hair perfectly, and he, too, struck a pose before speaking. "Leave it to me! I am Hawks Eye, and I won't take years on this assignment!"
JunJun smiled; she had a feeling these three would turn the odds in their favor in an interesting and entertaining way.
_
Usagi did her best to lean over Mamoru in the hospital bed the best she could in the tiny child body she was in right now. She had no idea why her body just shrunk like this, and she could feel both Ami and Luna staring at her still like they had been doing since she had first contacted them to help get Mamoru to the hospital after she shrunk. This was fair because she had no idea what had happened, so it wasn't like she had given them much of an explanation, so it made sense for them to be confused.
Usagi pouted a bit, and since she was currently a small child, her cheeks stuck out more than they usually would. Which Usagi knew someone was bound to comment and call cute. She knew it would happen; she was waiting for it to happen. Usagi looked away from Mamoru for a minute and hoped she'd return to normal before Haruka or Michiru saw her like this because if they did, that would be really awkward. Like super awkward as normally fifteen-year-olds don't just magically shrink down into the body of a six-year-old. Usagi heard a soft groan and looked back toward Mamoru. His eyes were open, but he looked like he was in pain. "Mamoru…you're awake."
Mamoru merely blinked at her before speaking, "You look like…Usagi." He said softly. Usagi faltered and realized he didn't recognize her now that she was well small.
"Uh, actually, I am Usagi. I kinda shrunk." Mamoru didn't get to say anything to that, only gave her a flabbergasted stare, because the door was quickly slammed open, and someone yelled.
"We heard something happened!" She turned and looked to see Rei, Makoto, and Ami at the in the room now. Usagi stared at the them for a minute before she nervously spoke, playing with the sleeve of her now oversized uniform. An action that would probably also be interpreted as cute.
"You guys…" Usagi said, and the three girls turned and stared at her. Their mouths dropping, and the room fell quiet for a minute, and everyone was just staring at her, and Usagi found she didn't like being stared at so much.
"Eh? Usagi…you're small?" Minako slowly spoke, obviously confused because this was not right. After all, Usagi wasn't supposed to be small; she was supposed to be a teenager, not a six-year-old. But again, someone came into the room before Usagi could speak,
"Ami told us something happened. Is Usagi alright?" Usagi heard a voice speak, and she suddenly wanted not to be here because she knew that was Haruka's voice, and she really didn't want either Haruka or Michiru to see her like this. It would be very awkward, not to mention embarrassing. But even still, her heart fluttered at the thought that when they heard something had happened, they had come to see if she was okay.
"Usagi isn't hurt, but…" She heard Rei start to speak, and she wondered what kind of expressions Michiru and Haruka must be wearing due to receiving that answer. Then, the girls moved, and Usagi looked up to see Haruka and Michiru staring at her. They looked shocked and a bit confused.
"Usagi?" Michiru was the first to speak, and Usagi's gaze fell to the ground, and she mumbled a reply.
"Yeah…I kinda shrunk, and I have no idea why."
It was quiet again for a good while, with nobody doing anything but awkwardly staring at each other. It remained like this until a doctor with short blue hair and bangs that curled and were brushed out of her eyes and to the side of her face. "We're ready for testing for Chiba Mamoru now."
"Mama…" Ami whispered, and Usagi's head shot towards Ami and everyone else's. This was Ami's mother?
_
Mamoru sat on a stool in an office in the hospital, and he gripped his chest because it was hurting once more. It was a sharp pain, and it had been plaguing him a lot recently. He had no idea why he was feeling this pain; he had always kept himself in good shape. He wondered about it often, and when he did, he would wonder if it had to do with the Earth. Mamoru had been linked to the Earth when he was Endymion, and he would feel its pain. When he was Endymion? No, that wasn't right. Wasn't he still Endymion? Chiba Mamoru or Endymion?
He didn't know who he was anymore. All he knew was that he was alone in these struggles because everyone who had been reincarnated seemed to know who they were. Based on his observations, they didn't struggle with this. At the very least, Ser-Usagi didn't. She had been quite clear on her new identity; she had also been quite clear that she wasn't in love with anymore. How foolish he had been to assume they could fall in love again, but they couldn't, and he wouldn't force it because he had seen how happy her new lovers made her and wouldn't ruin that for her. Those lovers of her were devoted to her, and Mamoru wished he could have someone like that for him. Vaguely, he remembers that there was someone like that with him in his past life. Someone who wore clothes with transparent silk sleeves that draped over their arms, soft blue hair that always looked so fluffy, and golden eyes, but he couldn't remember who Mamoru wished he could remember who that person was.
"Mr. Chiba," a doctor said, pulling him out of his thoughts. Mamoru looked up at the doctor, waiting to hear the test results.
"It seems we have found a shadow on your lungs in the tests. We are unsure of what it could be. So we suggest you be careful and return immediately if things worsen."
A shadow on his lungs? The thought made Mamoru's heart jump, and wondered if this might end up killing him. But on second thought, it might be for the best. After all, death would bring an end to the endless questions. After all, he should have died with his parents in the accident when he was small.
_
Usagi walked along the sidewalk, trailing behind Haruka and Michiru, who had offered to walk her to the control center after it was decided it would be best she stay there until she turned back. Normally, she'd be all for any time spent with Haruka and Michiru, but now that she was small, Usagi couldn't feel a bit awkward and like an inconvenience. But Usagi pushed these feelings down and did her best to keep up with Haruka and Michiru, though it was a bit hard to do because her legs were currently tiny.
Finally, Usagi couldn't take it anymore and stopped walking, "I'm sorry." She finally spoke, and Michiru and Haruka stopped walking and turned to face her.
"Why are you apologizing, kitten? You haven't done anything." Haruka spoke, giving her a soft but slightly confused look.
Usagi looked down at the ground and started fidgeting with the sleeves of her oversized uniform again. Maybe she shouldn't have said anything after all. "I know this is kinda awkward because I'm six right now, and I'm sorry that I might be inconveniencing you," Usagi spoke again and still refused to look at them as she spoke or after she had finished speaking. Usagi didn't know why she was so nervous because she knew she shouldn't be. This was Haruka and Michiru, her girlfriends; she shouldn't be nervous around them. But it was probably precisely because they were her girlfriends that she felt so awkward and nervous. Usagi heard the sound of footsteps approaching her, and she still refused to look up. That was until she was pulled into an embrace, and her face was buried in the soft fabric of a very sweet-smelling shirt. She finally looked up to see that Michiru had kneeled and pulled her into a hug. Usagi blushed upon seeing this.
"I know this situation is indeed a bit awkward, but please don't apolgize to us. You're not an inconvenience. We love you, and nothing you could ever do would ever be an inconvenience to us." Michiru spoke, and Usagi continued to blush as her heart fluttered at her girlfriend's words. If only she weren't six right now, then she might have the courage to kiss her girlfriend. Oh well, she supposed there would always be next time when she returned to her normal self, as in not a six-year-old. She swore she'd kiss both Haruka and Michiru. Usagi was so caught up in her thoughts she did not notice Michiru lean her face closer to her until she felt Michiru's lips against her forehead briefly.
Michiru very quickly pulled away, and Usagi scrambled to get her now jumbled thoughts together. and she calmed her pounding heart; she looked at Michiru the best she could, considering she was so tiny and she was currently in Michiru's embrace. "Michiru…you shouldn't kiss me when I've been turned into a six-year-old," Usagi said this and gave Michiru the most deadpan look she could muster.
To Usagi's annoyance, Michiru only did her best to suppress some laughter. Usagi, for one, thought Michiru looked beautiful even doing such an unrefined act, and also, why did they have to be so pretty like she was currently a six-year-old, and six-year-olds weren't supposed to have thoughts like this! This wasn't her fault; it was her girlfriend's fault for being so attractive! Finally, Usagi spoke again, "Michiru…I'm being serious here, you know.."
Michiru looked at her apologetically, "Sorry, it's just hard to focus on your words when you're small and adorable. But yes, you're right." Michiru spoke, tightening her embrace, "You'll just owe me and Haruka lots of kisses when you're back to normal, okay?"
With those words, Michiru stopped hugging her, and stood back up. Usagi was still blushing; she hoped nobody saw any of that. "Let's…just go!" Usagi said before she started walking again, ignoring the laughter of her girlfriends.
_
Fisheye knew that he only had one chance because the girls were angry, and the old crone was angry. But worst of all, the wicked entity in the mirror was furious. So Fisheye would have to be clever and defeat the Sailor Senshi as fast as he could because if he failed, his own skin was on the line. Those of the White Moon Kingdom were powerful, but they still had been reincarnated as humans, and even though he only had this fake human form, he had always known that humans had weak hearts, which were easy to manipulate.
Fisheye looked into his mirror at the blue-haired girl it reflected and smiled; he'd start with her, the Senshi of Mercury.
_
Ami didn't know what compelled her to stay up and wait for her mother to come home from the hospital. It was nearly one in the morning, and her mother was still not back yet. Ami was tired and frustrated. Because she of her negligence her, Princess had been turned into a defenseless child, and Ami couldn't help but hate herself for letting that happen.
But despite being tired and frustrated at her failures as a Senshi. Ami still stayed up and to wait for her mother because she had to be a good daughter to her mother.
"Ami? You're still awake; it's past one in the morning!" Ami heard her mother's voice, and she snapped back into reality, realizing her mother was in the living room. Ami mentally berated herself for not noticing something so simple, and if she didn't notice that, how could she protect her Princess?
"I'm sorry, Ami, that you had to wait for me like this. You're always so self-reliant with no parents at home. Always studying so hard. I know I'm not a very good mother, but I'm proud of how hard you work, Ami."
Proud of how hard she works? How funny because she knew Papa had always thought the opposite about her. He always said she studied too much and wasn't very childlike at all. Papa is a Japanese-style painter, and now he spends his whole life painting in nature. The only time she heard from him was when he sent her watercolor postcards for her birthday.
Papa had just left one day for his studio out in the forest, and he hadn't come home since.
So maybe Mama wasn't around all the time, but she was still better than Papa.
_
Ami didn't know what had compelled her to come into a fish store of all places. She had seen the tents of the Dead Moon Circus on the way here but couldn't do anything because she didn't know anything about them, just like she couldn't do anything to help her Princess turn back. Ami felt useless as a daughter, and as a Senshi who serves her Princess. But looking at the fish swimming in the tank freely, it was so calming. Ami felt at peace watching the fish like she was submerged in the water herself. Ami always felt so at peace in the water.
"You look happy here. I can tell when people are in touch with water, and those people are always very stressed and frustrated." A voice said, and Ami turned to see a woman with light blue hair that was adorned with beads wearing the employee uniform of the store.
"Do you have any suggestions on a fish I should buy?" Ami asked, and the woman smiled at her a bit strangely before pointing to a blue fish with two large orange fins. Ami thought this fish looked a lot like the one on the card her Papa had sent her.
_
Ami sat at the table, resting her head in her arms and watching the blue fish swim around in the tank. She wondered if her mother would be home soon because Ami would like to show her this fish.
Ami thought her mother would like it. Ami wondered if Usagi would like it, too. If Usagi liked the fish as well, that would make her happy because her Princess would also be happy. But Ami would be even happier if Makoto liked the fish. Ami had never mentioned this to anyone, but Ami adored Makoto like she adored her Princess, so Ami would love to show her this fish.
Ami didn't know why, but her eyelids felt heavy, and she was so very tired all of a sudden. It was a shame because she wanted to watch the fish more. Ami's eyes slowly closed as she fell asleep.
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Ami woke up to the sound of a pair of voices whispering softly, and she slowly stood up from the table. Ami blearily made her way to the hall, and softly called out, "Mama?" Wondering if her mother was home.
Ami blinked a few times, her vision coming into focus. Her eyes widened, and her heart stopped at the sight before her. There was her mother kissing a man she did not know. Ami watched silently as the two separated, and the man spoke, "Isn't your daughter home?"
Ami's beating heart picked up in speed as her mother answered, "My daughter? That girl studies way too much. No way she could be related to me." Ami stumbled backward, hearing her mother's words, not wanting them to be true. She stumbled back, hit the mirror, and turned to see her reflection, hoping everything was just a dream.
The image reflected in the mirror at the same time; it wasn't because it was her when she was a child.
What was going on?
Papa! Papa!
Her reflection in the mirror called out, and Ami watched blankly as the image in the mirror began to change and Ami now saw her father reflected in the mirror.
Stay away, Ami. I'm tired of everything of Your Mother and you. Stay away, Ami. Even you, who does nothing but study, cannot change my mind. Goodbye.
Tears prickled in Ami's eyes and she covered her ears with her hands. No she didn't want to hear it! She had never been treated this way. Her papa had left, yes, but he hadn't said those things. This wasn't true.
The mirror image changed again, and she saw Usagi reflected alongside Haruka and Michiru, and instinctively, Ami's hands dropped from her ears and reached for her Princess, her sweet, beloved Princess, whom she only wanted to be happy.
I'm sorry, Ami. I don't need you anymore, not when I'm so happy with them.
The reflection of her Princess spoke, and Ami could feel tears fall down her cheeks, and she dropped her gaze from the mirror and cried; she just wanted to be happy; she just wanted to be loved. She'd always dreamed of being loved. Ami looked back at the mirror and saw the reflection of a man with light blue hair pulled back into a low ponytail.
You don't have to take this crap from them. You're of jealous them of those three and the life they share?
Yes, she always had been lonely.
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Wait. This wasn't right. This wasn't her true thoughts. Could this be the work of the enemy? Ami looked away from the mirror once more and ran into the next room. Her eyes widened when she saw tiny black creatures with glowing eyes swarming around the room.
The enemy had infiltrated her condo? Ami quickly lifted her wrist to her mouth and turned on her communicator, "Usagi, can you hear me? It's the enemy! They're in my condo!"
Ami didn't get to hear Usagi if she responded because the little black creatures swarmed around her, and Ami's ears started to ring. Vaguely, she heard the man's voice from the mirror, "This is the nightmare given to you by my darling Lemures. This is a one-night-only event of the Dead Moon Circus!"
Ami felt like she was drowning.
_
She was drowning, submerged in the deep darkness of the cold water surrounding her. But Ami did not want to wake up even as she continued to sink. She hoped nobody would wake her up.
Princess Mercury!
A voice? Who was that? She didn't know, but someone was calling out to her. But Ami continued to sink, and she could see nothing but the darkness of the waters below her.
Princess!
Princess? Who was that referring to? Surely, it couldn't be her. She wasn't Princess. Slowly, a soft light came into her vision. Ami slowly reached out towards the light. What was this light?
From the light, a small figure formed with blue hair and wore the uniform of the Senshi. Not just any uniform but her uniform. Was this her?
Princess Mercury! You must remember!
Princess? Why was she being called a Princess? Wait…in her past life, hadn't she been a Princess? That's right, she had been the Princess of Mercury.
You must remember your real dreams. Do not fall prey to this nightmare. You're strong, so don't allow them to make you feel so weak.
Ami watched as the miniature version of herself faded, and Ami felt a warmth in her chest. That's right, she wasn't weak, not in the slightest. She studied so hard because she wanted to protect the people she loved.
Her mother and father. Her friends and Princess. Makoto…she studied so she could protect all of them! Her dream was to protect them and become a full-fledged Senshi! Ami steeled herself, and she knew what she had to do.
"Mercury Crystal Power Make Up!"
Ami had transformed; she was Mercury once again. She was right; she hadn't been weak. Now before her was a beautiful silver harp, and it was strange because she felt like the harp was talking to her. Ami knew what to do now. Ami took the harp into her arms and shouted,
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
_
Ami was back in her apartment and looked around; it seemed like the Lemures were gone, but she kept looking around, and her heart dropped when she saw her mother passed out on the floor. The sound of sinister laughter came from behind her, and she turned to see a man with light blue hair in a low ponytail. This was the man from the mirror!
It was at that moment the door to the condo slammed open, and Ami turned just in time to see Usagi, still small, to run in. "Usagi!" Ami called, relieved to see her Princess even if she still was in the form of a six-year-old.
Ami was filled with relief as she watched Usagi raise her arm into the arm before yelling, "Moon Crisis, Make Up!"
In a flash of light, Usagi was Super Sailor Moon, and Ami had never been more relieved to see an ally. Ami did notice that her Princess held a new weapon and briefly wondered where she got it, but dismissed the thought as she watched Super Sailor Moon point the weapon at the ponytailed man, "Moon Gorgeous Meditation!"
The room was filled with rainbow light, and there was the sound of an explosion and a scream. When the light faded, Ami turned and looked for the man who had been there before, but he was gone. Super Sailor Moon had defeated him. Ami smiled at how strong her Princess was becoming.
Ami turned and looked at her Princess, who was curiously, looking over her body, probably only just noticing she was back to her normal fifteen-year-old self. Ami couldn't help but laugh because no matter how strong she gets, her Princess never really changes does she?
_
Usagi was walking back home in her uniform, which had magically reappeared on her once she detransformed from being Super Sailor Moon at Ami's place. Magic was convenient at times, she guessed. Now, Usagi wasn't really paying attention to where she was walking. Which was almost assuredly a recipe for disaster, but Usagi hadn't happened to her yet, so she was probably fine.
But then disaster struck, and Usagi's foot got caught on the crack of the sidewalk. Usagi lost her balance and fell face-first on the ground.
Usagi slowly looked up from the ground; she hated it when that happened. She wished she wouldn't fall so much. Okay, maybe if she had been paying attention to where she was walking, she wouldn't have fallen, but those were only minor details. Something shone on the ground, and she looked to see the glass bell Helios had given her. It had fallen on the ground and was shimmering in the moonlight. Usagi found it weird that it was here because she certainly didn't bring it with her, but who was she to question magic? Usagi picked the bell up, stood up, and heard the bell ring softly as she picked it up.
Maiden…
Usagi's eyes and attention were suddenly on Helios, who had suddenly appeared before her, and that's when Usagi remembered if the bell rang, it would summon Helios.
Maiden, I saw your fight…could you be Princess Serenity? The Senshi of Mercury referred to you as her Princess.
Usagi bit her lip, "Yes, I am. But so what? What if I am the Serenity? I'm Usagi now; it doesn't matter!" Usagi snapped, but she didn't like being seen as nothing but herself from her past life.
Usagi looked at Helios and felt tears prickle in her eyes. Why was she about to cry? She didn't really know. She hated the fact that she cried all the time. "Helios, why do you need my help? Why does it matter if I'm Princess Serenity? Helios, you ask for my help to save Elysion and find the Golden Crystal, but I don't even know what those are! How can you expect me to trust you?" Usagi said, tears sliding down her cheeks now. Usagi looked down at the ground.
Helios's muzzle got closer to hers and even closer until the pegasus's lips almost touched hers. Usagi didn't understand what he was doing. Until soft lips pressed against hers, kissing her, and Usagi froze before frantically pulling away. She would not let anyone who wasn't Haruka and Michiru, much less a horse.
Usagi looked back up and was about to yell at Helios for, you know, kissing her until she saw what was in front of her. A man with pale skin and a red crystal on his forehead, he had soft blue hair that admittedly looked very fluffy, and golden eyes. He wore an out that was very old-fashioned, white with gold buttons, loose pieces of blue fabric hanging off them, and transparent silk sleeves draped over his arms. Finally, atop his head was a golden horn.
Eh? Was this still Helios? Maybe this was Helio's real form? Okay, if it was Usagi, she was glad an actual horse had not kissed her, but also, she was still a little miffed he kissed her at all.
Please forgive me, Maiden, for kissing you as I just did. I had no clue how to get my emotions across to you otherwise. I must go now, Maiden, because I cannot hold this form for long, but I assure you I am an ally to you.
Usagi watched as the now-human form of Helios disappeared, leaving her alone. Unsure of what to make of everything that just happened. Helios had turned human and kissed her, and she didn't like that. He also apologized, but Usagi didn't know if she would be able to accept his apology or not. Then he just left, assuring he was an ally. Usagi wasn't going to lie; that was very creepy. So much so that Usagi would rather pretend that it never happened yeah…she'll just go home now.