Chibiusa was fast asleep in her bed.
The night was still and quiet, and not a creature was stirring.
Then, she heard a familiar bell tinkling, causing her eyes to open as she shot up from her bed, recognizing the sound.
From her window sill, an ethereal white glow shone through her window, followed by the sound of a whinny and a voice.
"Maiden. Fair maiden."
Knowing who it was, Chibiusa got out of bed and approached the light from her window. When she did, she reached out carefully, only for the light to shine brighter, blinding her vision.
When she could see again, Chibiusa found that she was no longer standing in her room. Instead, she found herself in a landscape made chiefly of crystal with some trees and plains filled with many cute animals similar to those on Earth.
Chibius couldn't help but marvel at this sight, feeling amazed as she walked around. Some animals looked in her direction curiously, while others took no notice.
Then, Chibiusa saw someone familiar ahead of her, sitting amongst the animals, petting them while enjoying their company. That someone was Helios.
At first, Chibiusa wanted to call out to him, but she didn't, not wanting to ruin the scene before her. However, Helios looked up, and when he saw the girl, he gave a warm and welcoming smile.
"Hello, Fair Maiden," he greeted, standing up and approaching her. "I'm glad to see you again."
"M-Me too," Chibiusa stammered shyly. "So… what is this place? I've never seen anything like it before."
Helios turned his attention to the landscape. "This is Elysion," he replied. "My home."
Chibiusa couldn't help but gasp. "Really? This place is Elysion?"
"Indeed," said Helios. "I never got a chance to show you the last few times we met, but after managing to regain some of my strength, I wanted to let you see what it was like when we saw each other again."
"It's gorgeous!" said Chibiusa with a delighted smile. "The most gorgeous place I've ever seen!"
"I'm glad you think so," said Helios. "Elysion was a beautiful place. It was a paradise where I and its residents would live happily without a care in the world before it fell into the hands of the Dead Moon."
Chibiusa frowned, remembering when Helios explained the situation with Elysion weakening and how he and Mamoru were linked to it and were feeling the effects of the curse thanks to the enemy. The thought still worried her, but she recalled him mentioning something else.
"Hey, Helios. You mentioned something about us finding the Golden Crystal," she said. "Is finding it the only way for us to save everyone, including Mamo and you?"
Helios looked at Chibiusa and nodded.
"But… we don't even know where it is or what it even looks like," said Chibiusa. "Do you know?"
"Sadly, I'm afraid I haven't a clue either," said Helios. "All I know is that Elysion and Earth will fall to ruin without it, and the Silver Crystal, along with itself, are linked."
"Well, if there's anything you need, Helios, you can count on me," reassured Chibiusa. "I may be small and just a kid, but if there's anything I can do to help you, just say the word, OK? Because… I really care about you."
Helios looked at Chibiusa and smiled at her words. Then, some beams of light shone from above, beaming right on top of the two. When they did, Chibiusa's pajamas changed into a beautiful white gown, her signature attire as the princess of the moon kingdom. As for Helios, a pair of majestic white wings sprung from his back, feathers scattering into the wing as they did.
Helios held out his hand, and Chibiusa took it. They took off running together before jumping and soaring high into the air. As they flew, the world became white with bright light.
When Chibiusa could see again, she found herself soaring high above the city of Juuban. Like before, it was dark, but everywhere around them were twinkling lights from above the sky and below the town.
The two climbed higher and higher towards some pink clouds. As they did, Chibiusa couldn't help but flinch as they entered the clouds, shooting straight through them until they were just above them. They could now see the full white moon, which looked vastly enormous like it had become another planet.
But Chibiusa didn't have time to admire it, as she then saw a flock of doves flying straight towards them. Chibiusa shut her eyes again as they flew past her until she was sure it was safe to open her eyes. However, the little girl felt something different about her when she did.
Wondering what it was, Chibiusa looked back and was surprised to find that something had changed about her. She now had a pair of beautiful wings on her back. The discovery surprised her yet made her smile, and she couldn't help but smile as she looked at Helios while he returned it with his own.
Chibiusa then spread her new wings, and as Helios let go of her hand, soared up high above, swooping in circles and flying around until she returned to Helios's side, having the time of her life.
The two continued to fly together like angels dancing in a fairy tale. Until they stopped to admire the full moon. The two floated there in silence until Chibiusa spoke.
"Helios, do you remember the first time we met?" she asked.
Helios looked at her.
"When I saw you standing alone, you looked so sad and lonely," Chibusa continued. "Ever since then, since when I first met you during the eclipse, I didn't know what to think. But now… I've felt like time's been standing still for me. As if I've been living in a never-ending dream."
"Is that so?" said Helios.
Chibiusa looked at him and nodded as she turned to face him, holding his hands. "Helios, do you believe in destiny?" she inquired again. "Do you believe in destiny bringing people together?"
Helios intertwined his fingers with hers as he looked at her. "I believe everything happens for a reason if that's what you mean," he replied. "Why do you ask?"
"Well, lately, I feel like… the reason I was born, why I exist," said Chibiusa. "Since meeting you, I feel like I've found the answer to all those questions. And also… I want you to know I'll always trust you no matter what happens."
Helios's eyes twinkled as he and Chibiusa gazed into each other's eyes. Then, as if by a mysterious force, they grew closer to each other, but just as they were, the clouds began gleaming in bright as the world around them turned white.
When Chibiusa opened her eyes again, she found herself back in her bed, the sun shining through her window and the birds chirping.
At first, she sat there processing what she had just experienced, wondering if it was a dream. But her cheeks grew warm, and she couldn't help but smile at herself as she got out of bed, ready to start her day.
That day, Usagi and the others were at Fruits Parlor Crown. Usagi had called everyone to discuss a particular daughter of hers.
"So, Chibiusa's been acting really strangely," said Usagi. "For some reason, she's been staring out of her window from her room a lot lately, appearing to be on cloud nine. I tried asking, but she always brushed me off and told me she was fine. I'm not sure what could be wrong with her."
"Well then, that could mean only one thing," Makoto spoke with a knowing grin.
"So, our little Chibiusa, eh?" Rei smiled, appearing to be aware also.
"What is it?" asked Usagi. "Do you guys know what's going on?"
Minako chuckled as she blew into the straw of her drink. "Come on, Usagi. Isn't it obvious?" she said with a sly glint in her eye.
"Even someone like you can't be that dense," said Rei. "I mean, use your head."
Usagi pouted. "Hey! Why do you guys look like you all know something I don't?" she huffed.
"Well," said Rei as she sipped her tea. "It means that Chibiusa's…"
"In love with an older man," Makoto cut in smugly.
Rei was so caught off guard that her mouth hung open, spilling her tea back into its cup. The others were also irked by this response.
"Um, Mako, don't you think that's a bit of a stretch?" Ami asked politely.
Usagi was even more puzzled. "So… what's going on?" she inquired again.
Harusuke sighed as he tugged on his little sister's sleeve, catching her attention. Then, he whispered something in her ear, and almost immediately, Usagi let out a squawk of disbelief.
"What?! Chibiusa's in love!?"
"Bingo!" winked Rei. "Or, to put it another way, Chibiusa's found herself a boyfriend!"
"S-Seriously?!" Usagi stammered. "My future daughter's already making her way up the staircase of womanhood?" She then smiled giddy. "That's my girl! Getting herself a man just like her mommy! I'm so proud of her!"
"But if that's the case, why would Chibiusa keep it a secret from you and Harusuke, Usagi?" asked Ami.
"Come on, Ami. That's how first loves are," Minako pointed out as she blew into her drink again. "It always happens that way."
"Ah, her first love," Rei sighed wistfully as she drank from her cup. "How nice."
"Yeah," agreed Makoto. "Especially when it's with someone older."
Rei once again was caught off guard, letting her jaw drop while spilling her tea into her teacup.
"OK! You really need to stop saying that! What makes you think he's an older person anyway?!" Rei admonished her. "Anyway, we'll have to subtly get the truth out of her."
"And once we do, we'll be ready to offer our years of experience to help support her," smirked Minako.
The three then snickered mischievously at each other while making plans, while Ami could only sigh in exasperation. Then, she took notice of Harusuke, who had been silent throughout the discussion.
"So, Harusuke? Are you feeling all right?" she asked. "You've been pretty quiet for a while."
"No worries, Ami. I'm OK," replied Harusuke. "Just enjoying my drink is all."
"So, um, what do we do about those three?" Ami wondered. "Shouldn't we try and stop them or something?"
"Oh, don't you worry," said Harusuke. "I already know the perfect way of dealing with the girls when they get like this."
"And what's that?" wondered Ami.
Harusuke set down his cup and smiled. "We do absolutely nothing," he replied.
Ami couldn't help but gawk in bafflement. "Wh-What?!" was all she could squeak.
"Trust me. Since there's no talking reason to those girls, I figured I'd go for the chaotic neutral approach," explained Harusuke. "I mean, why bother wasting time over something I have no control over?"
But Ami couldn't help but be all the more worried.
While her friends continued talking, Usagi was still puzzled. "So Chibiusa's in love with a boy, eh? I wonder what kind of person he is?" she questioned herself.
Meanwhile, Queen Nehelenia was in Elysion, standing before the captured Helios in his cage. She had been desperately trying to use her powers to probe him for information about the Golden Crystal from him, but no matter how much she tried, she found nothing.
"How frustrating!" she growled in vexation as she ceased using her powers. "Here I have Helios, the guardian priest of Elysion, captive, yet he refuses to give me information about the Golden Crystal! He's quite the resilient stallion." She turned away from her captive. "Zirconia! Are you there!"
A mirror appeared before her at her call, and the woman in question appeared in its reflection.
"Yes! I'm here, my queen!"
"What's your status on finding Pegasus and getting the Silver Crystal?" asked Nehelenia.
"Unfortunately, we have yet to locate him, Your Majesty," Zirconia said. "And as far as the Silver Crystal goes, it also evades our grasp."
Nehelina then gave her servant an icy cold stare. "Zirconia… I'm growing tired of constantly waiting. The era of the Dead Moon is just within our grasp, and I will not wait any longer than I have been to claim this planet. So find Pegasus and get me the Silver Crystal. Is that understood?"
"Y-Yes, Your Majesty!" gulped Zirconia. "I-I'll see to it that you have Pegasus and the Silver Crystal!"
And with that, the mirror showing Zirconia disappeared.
Meanwhile, inside the Circus Tent, JunJun was on a tightrope, walking across it while elegantly flipping and jumping. Then, Tenebris joined her, displaying the same skill and grace as he stepped on the rope.
As soon as JunJun saw Tenebris, she smirked with interest. She held up her hands and made two long poles appear in each. She tossed one to Tenebris while giving the other a few twirls before pointing it challengingly at him.
Tenebris, taking up the invitation, caught the staff while pointing his back at her. Then, the two charged at each other while jumping in the air. In mid-air, the two attacked each other with their staffs, swinging and stabbing at each other and parrying whatever blows came at them before landing back on the tightrope, neither one taking any damage.
"Damn, you're really something else, Tenebris," JunJun complimented. "You're strong and as good as I am on a tightrope."
"I appreciate the compliment, JunJun," Tenebris said with a slight bow. "But I have your teachings to thank for that."
"Aw, come on. You did all the hard work," winked JunJun. "And you know what? I think you've given me an idea for an act on our next show."
Just then, Zirconia appeared on top of the elephant statue.
"JunJun! Where's the rest of the Amazon Quartet?" she demanded when she saw her.
"Oh, Heya, Granny Zirconia," said JunJun. "The others are sleeping in for a bit."
"What?! Why are they sleeping in?!" demanded Zirconia. "I won't tolerate any kind of laziness around here! And don't call me Granny!"
"Who said we're being lazy?" huffed JunJun. "Or did you forget we've been performing over the past few days? We've been having constant shows; if we don't take a break, we'll keel over!"
Zirconia huffed. "W-Well, you shouldn't be sleeping during a time of crisis! You need more discipline!" she barked.
"More like you to stop being such a slave driver, Granny," muttered JunJun.
Zirconia glared at this as she produced another picture and threw it to her. It was of a man with blond hair and fair skin standing on a pier feeding koi fish. However, his head was long and looked somewhat similar to a horse.
"Just make yourself usual and go find Pegasus' host and get the Silver Crystal!" she leered. "Since you seem to have the energy to play around and talk back, you have time to work! And make sure you do so quickly! Her Majesty, Queen Nehelenia is growing tired of waiting!"
JunJun sighed, annoyed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm going," she said. "Tenebris, you too."
And the two went away to hunt for their next target.
The next day, the girls set out to carry out their plan to get Chibusa to confess about her supposed boyfriend when they went out together in Downtown Juuban.
First, Makoto and Rei took Chibiusa to a crepe stand and bought themselves and the little girl one.
"So, what did you two want to talk to me about?" wondered Chibiusa as she munched on her crepe. "Is everything OK?"
"Oh, no. Everything's fine," Rei said, pretending to be innocent. "And well, nothing special really. Nothing that important."
"We were just wondering how you've been doing lately," said Makoto. "You know, what's new with you and stuff."
"But I just saw you guys yesterday," Chibiusa pointed out. "I mean, the time hasn't gone by that much. You guys are weird."
Makoto and Rei felt the sting of those words, but they continued their attempt at a subtle interrogation.
"So, Chibiusa… is there anything you'd like to talk to us about?" asked Rei. "Like maybe…"
"Someone older?!" Makoto interrupted eagerly.
Chibiusa looked at Makoto, puzzled at that statement, while Rei almost dropped her crepe in surprise.
"Mako! Why do you always have to go there?!" she snapped, annoyed.
"Because it's the ultimate fantasy for a girl!" Makoto shot back. "It's how it always is!"
Chibiusa became somewhat annoyed herself but tried to be patient. "So, what are you trying to ask me?" she asked.
"Has there been something on your mind?" questioned Rei.
"Not really," answered Chibiusa as she started thinking about Helios. "Except…"
Makoto and Rei held their breath in anticipation. "Except…?" they both asked.
"It's just… there's nothing much I can do about it," said Chibiusa quietly.
"Whoa. Sounds like that's a tough one," said Rei.
"Well, if that's the case, don't you worry about a thing, Chibiusa!" said Makoto. "We'll do anything we can to help you! I'll gladly teach you how to make a delicious lunch to help let him know how you feel!"
"Or how to write a touching and passionate love letter!" Rei chimed in. "You've got nothing to be ashamed of! You should be proud of yourself!"
"Yeah! Especially after falling in love with an older guy!" Makoto then said. "There's nothing wrong with that!"
"Seriously! What is with your obsession with older men?!" Rei snapped angrily at Makoto.
"Because that's usually the way it is!" Makoto snapped back.
"Usual, how?!"
"Usual, as in usual for most people!"
"The only person who considers that the "usual" is you, Mako! You seriously need to get some help!"
As the two began to bicker, Chibiusa could only sit between them, more confused than a chameleon in a bag of candy.
"What the heck is going on?" was all she could groan.
Next, the group went to an ice cream parlor. Ami and Minako took their turn to talk to Chibiusa as they got their ice cream.
"Thank you very much, guys," she said to the two.
"No problem, Chibiusa," smiled Minako. "It's on us, so go crazy and have as much as you like."
Chibiusa then started eating her ice cream.
"You know, Chibiusa, you're like a little sister to us," said Ami. "So there's no need for you to be shy."
"That's right," said Minako. "If anything is on your mind, we're here for you."
Chibiusa stopped licking, feeling some deja vu. "What're you trying to say?" she asked skeptically.
"Well, like, say, for example," said Minako, choosing her words. "If there's someone you can't stop talking about."
"And if there is a person you're thinking about," said Ami. "What sort of person are they? Stuff like that."
Chibiusa took a second to think. "Well, I suppose they are technically a person," she said. "But I don't know if that's the right way to describe it."
"You don't know?" murmured Minako. Then, she had an idea of what Chibiusa might have meant. "Chibiusa, two-timing can get you into big trouble if you're not experienced at it," she warned. "Trust me, I know."
Chibiusa could only look at the red-bowed blonde with a raised brow.
"Have we met this person before?" asked Ami.
Chibiusa's face brightened. "Oh, yeah! Many times!" she said. "He's usually white and shiny!"
"Hold on, white and shiny?" repeated Minako. "Can you describe what his face looks like?"
After realizing her mistake, Chibiusa quickly thought about Helios in his pegasus form and said the first thing that came into her mind.
"Well, um, his face is vertically long!" she stammered. "And he's silky rather than shiny, too!"
Ami and Minako looked at each other in bafflement, not believing their ears.
"Hey, Ami, does she mean this boy's face is long like a horse?" Minako whispered to Ami. "But it's starting to sound like he's a horse butt."
"Horse butt? No, that's not right, Minako," Ami whispered. "I think you mean to say he's a real jack-."
But Ami stopped herself before finishing her sentence, covering her mouth while blushing in embarrassment.
"Well? What is it?" pressed Minako softly.
"No, I can't say it," Ami spoke while shaking her head. "It's too vulgar."
Minako then became alarmed. "What? You mean he's so vulgar you can't even bring yourself to say it?!"
"No! That's not what I meant!"
"Then what did you mean?! Because you made it sound like he's horrific!"
As the two continued to whisper, Chibiusa exasperatedly went back to eating her ice cream, pretending not to hear them.
"Good grief…"
After that, Usagi took her turn. However, she took Chibusa to an extravagant restaurant. The kind where everything was fancy.
Chibiusa was surprised but also a bit worried. "Um, Usagi? Doesn't this place seem a bit expensive?" she asked.
"Yes, that's true, but I got some connections," Usagi winked. "So you don't have to worry about a thing, my cute little daughter. Feel free to order what you want."
Chibiusa then grinned. "This is awesome! Thank you, Usagi!" she said happily. "It's not every day I get to have a mother-daughter date with you in a fancy place like this!"
As the two of them sat at a table together, the others watched from afar at another table.
"If there's one person who can get the truth out of Chibiusa, it's Usagi," Makoto said confidently.
"Yeah, but she has to be careful," said Rei. "Even though she and Chibiusa have been growing closer lately and have gotten along, a young girl's heart is complicated, even her daughter's."
"Especially when you're two-timing a guy," confirmed Minako.
"Well, this should be quite the entertaining show," said Harusuke with interest. "Let's see if my little sister can pull this off without messing up. Although…" He glanced around at the restaurant and also checked the menu. "I've never been to a place this extravagant before."
"Y-You're right," Ami spoke nervously. "And expensive, too."
Then, a waiter approached their table. "Good afternoon, ladies and sir," he spoke poshly. "Are you all ready to order?"
"We're good with just water," replied Rei, Minako, and Makoto.
"And I'll have a glass of sparkling apple juice, please," said Ami.
"As for me, please give me a few more minutes," said Harusuke.
The waiter couldn't help but be shocked at that but went away.
The girls then tried listening in on the two ordango girls, but they couldn't hear aside from the music playing and some other people chattering at their tables.
"Shoot! I can't hear anything!" Minako whispered. "We're too far away!"
"We have to get closer!" Rei whispered back.
Back at their table, Usagi then spoke to Chibusa.
"You know," she said to no one in particular. "Doing stuff like this with you is fun, but sometimes I can't help but worry if you'll ever stop wanting to hang out with me. After all, I am your nagging mother. Well, technically, in the future, I will be."
"Oh, come on, Usagi. We may have fought way back when, but we've grown a lot since then," said Chibiusa. "You're still my favorite mommy and will always be."
"Aww, thank you, Chibiusa," Usagi said sweetly. "But I can't help but ask, if you were to find someone special, you'd introduce him to me, right?"
Chibiusa blushed at the question. "Actually, there is someone… I would like you to meet if you haven't met him already."
Usagi leaned on the table, resting her chin in her hands, trying not to show her excitement while keeping a neutral expression. "Is it a boyfriend?"
"Well… not exactly," Chibiusa spoke shyly. "There's a bit more to it than that. It's pretty complicated."
"Complicated how?" Usagi questioned.
Then, Chibiusa stopped noticing something. A statue, a vase, a painting on an easel, and a piano stealthily scooted closer to them, and it didn't take her long to figure out why and how they had gotten so close.
"Usagi…" Chibiusa spoke flatly with a scowl. "I think someone or some people are trying to listen in on us. No, I'm definitely sure someone's listening in on us!"
"What? No. Whatever gives you that idea?" Usagi spoke while playing innocent.
Sure enough, as the pink ordango guessed, Rei, Minako, Ami, and Makoto turned out to be hiding behind the objects the whole time while the other restaurant patrons stared at them dumbly.
The only one who didn't seem to notice or care was Harusuke, who had just finished skimming over the menu.
"Excuse me, waiter, can I get this, please?" he asked while pointing at an item. "And can I get that to go?"
Afterward, the group went over to the lake at Juuban Park. Chibiusa was fuming as she huffily stared at the water away from the group.
"Oh, boy, we've gone and done it now," sighed Makoto. "She's pretty upset."
"I don't blame her," Ami spoke guiltily.
"I suppose we might have gone a bit too far," said Usagi.
"More like off the handle too far," quipped Harusuke. "I mean, what did you think was going to happen?" He then sniggered. "Although, it was pretty funny watching you all."
All of the girls glared at the boy.
But then, Chibiusa noticed someone else on the pier, as did the others. A young man was feeding some koi fish. The same young man who was JunJun's target.
Upon seeing the male, Minako gasped, remembering something Chibiusa had told her and Ami earlier.
"Ami! Look! That guy on the pier Chibiusa's staring at!" Minako gasped.
"No way!" Ami gasped when she saw him. "He's wearing white… and has a long face! Just like how she described him!"
The other girls saw the male and couldn't help but be surprised.
"Then… does that mean… he's the one?!" Usagi couldn't help but shriek in disbelief. "That's Chibiusa's boyfriend?!"
Harusuke couldn't help but gawk at the male and the girls before pinching his nose in exasperation. "And once again, everyone's got their rose-colored glasses on today," he sighed wryly.
Then, suddenly, JunJun and Tenebris appeared.
"Finally, we've found our target," JunJun smirked.
The male looked up while Usagi and the other girls gasped.
"She's one of the Amazon Quartet!" Usagi cried.
And not wasting any time, the girls rushed off to transform.
When he saw JunJun and Tenebris, the male was more confused than surprised. "Is there something I can do for you?" he asked.
"As a matter of fact, there is," replied JunJun as she summoned her Amazon Stone and cue stick. "You can stay still while I take a look at your dream! TAMA-TSUKI!"
She fired her stone, and while the male quickly avoided it, it ricocheted around the pier, even bouncing in the water a few times, before striking straight into the back of him, making his dream mirror emerge from his chest. As the male fell unconscious, JunJun approached his dream mirror and inspected it, only to find that Pegasus wasn't inside of it, much to her anger.
"Damn it all! What the hell, Granny Zirconia?!" JunJun cursed. "All that big talk only to give me a false lead again!"
"Hold it right there!" shouted a voice.
JunJun and Tenebris looked up only to find Super Sailor Moon and her band of Guardians standing on the other side of the pier.
"Who do you think you are to meddle in a daughter's love?!" scolded Super Sailor Moon.
"To meddle with her first love!" chimed in Sailor Mars.
"To meddle with her love for an attractive older guy!" said Sailor Jupiter.
"To meddle with her first shot with two-timing!" said Sailor Venus.
"To meddle with her study of love!" said Sailor Mercury.
Super Sailor Chibi Moon went pink with embarrassment and confusion, while Solaris fell over completely floored, almost falling into the water.
"Hey! Wait a minute! Whose first love are we talking about?!" Super Sailor Chibi Moon demanded. "If you mean me, I think you all got the wrong idea!"
"Trust me, they do," Solaris groaned as he got back up. "A-Anyway, in the name of the Moon…"
"We'll punish you!" all the guardians finished.
JunJun and Tenebris could only stare blankly at the exchange that transpired.
"Man, I heard you guys were annoying, but I didn't think it'd be this bad," JunJun cringed. "Well, if we're doing introductions, I'm JunJun of the Amazon Quartet. And you already know Tenebris, but I've got a third friend I want you to meet."
Her shadow stretched and doubled in size with a snap of her fingers.
"Now, come forth, Paku-Paku Dude, the dream-eating carp!"
From her shadow, a humanoid male swimmer with a large red carp for a costume, his head, arms, and feet sticking out from the top, came forth from the shadow.
"I'll leave the rest to you, Paku-Paku," JunJun said, appearing uninterested. "Go eat that dream mirror and those pumpkins while you're at it. Tenebris, come on."
"As you wish," said Tenebris.
The two then went away, leaving Paku-Paku to fight the guardians. He first jumped up, consuming the dream mirror, and dove into the water, lurking like a shark as he disappeared.
At first, no one knew where the creature had gone, but then Paku-Paku suddenly sprung up from the water and slammed itself onto the pier, upturning it and forcing the guardians to hold on for dear life.
Super Sailor Chibi Moon began sliding straight towards it, getting dangerously close to its gaping mouth.
"Super Sailor Chibi Moon!" the other guardians cried.
The little guardian tried her best to hang on, but she found herself sliding closer and closer to it. Then, she realized something.
"Hey! Wait a second! What am I doing?!" she admonished herself. "I can do this!"
She planted her feet, jumped up, and took to the air, flying out of harm's way, much to Paku-Paku's surprise.
"Wait a second! You can fly?!" the lemures exclaimed.
"That's right! And now you can't get me up here!" Super Sailor Chibi Moon mocked while making a face.
In response, Paku-Paku growled in irritation as he tried to get back into the water, but Solaris, while hovering, was quick to react.
"SOLAR BINDING!"
At the call of his attack, he unleashed a beam wrapped around the lemures and bound it tightly, preventing his escape.
"All right, you two!" he called out to Super Sailor Moon and Chibi Moon. "It's time to fillet this carp!"
The mother and daughter moon guardian duo summoned their Moon Kaleidoscopes and, while taking aim, delivered the finishing blow.
"MOON GORGEOUS MEDITATION!"
And in a blast of rainbow shards from each of them, Paku-Paku was no more, his body exploding into shattered pieces and setting the male's dream mirror free.
Later that evening, after the gang returned the dream mirror to the male, they watched as he continued feeding the koi fish. However, the girls were still convinced that the male was Chibiusa's crush.
"I'm glad everything worked out, Chibiusa," smiled Rei. "Now you and Long-Faced Man can be together."
"Hold on, you're still on about that?" Harusuke cringed. "Seriously, give it a rest. Besides, he's way too old for her anyway."
"Well, to be fair, Harusuke," said Usagi. "Mamo and I are a bit apart in age."
Harusuke gave his sister a look. "Usagi, please. Let's not step on that landmine, OK? Besides, he looks old enough to be her dad."
"Yeah! You got it all wrong!" protested Chibiusa.
"That's right!" said Makoto. "Who cares if she's dating someone older? You know what they say, age is just a number!"
"No! It's that she's two-timing!" insisted Minako.
"I really don't think it's a good idea to go that far on your first love," said Ami. "Especially if it's regarding those subjects."
The girls started bickering again about what they believed to be right while Harusuke could only shrug wryly. Chibiusa then grew angrier and more annoyed by the second until she finally had enough.
"WOULD YOU ALL BE QUIET!" she exploded.
Her outburst made everyone go silent at once.
"Look, like I've been trying to tell you, you got it all wrong!" Chibiusa said firmly. "The boy on my mind is…"
The girls all leaned in close to her. "Who is it?!" they all asked.
Chibiusa paused before giving her response.
"A secret."
All the girls then flopped to the floor in shock while Harusuke could only chuckle.
"Well, I suppose that some secrets are better left staying secrets," said Harusuke.
Chibiusa sighed, but she also was a bit hopeful. "But you know, Helios, one day, I'll be able to properly introduce you to everyone, right?" she thought.
But it was a question that would only come with time, hopefully not on an embarrassing day like the one she had gone through.