They arrived back on earth in the evening of the 29th June, tomorrow would be the birthdays of the Queen and the Princess.
And Usagi was crazy about if they'd be back in time. She made that very clear in a radio call they received while on the jump to Coruscant.
Almost everybody that was on Glee Anselm was sleeping most of the flight home, even the pilots.
Haruka was pretty mad about that, now that she finally had people around her again in space.
Finally the Shuttle and fighters landed on the airbase, while the Companion landed next to the other capital ships of the Taskforce.
Setsuna and Minako, along with a medical team were already waiting at the base, ready to examine Ryu and anybody else that somehow got hurt back on Glee Anselm.
While Setsuna took care of Ami and Ryu, Minako strolled over to AICA. SunTzu and Rei just had climbed out the cockpit and were stretching, their flight suits on.
"Hey you Guys somehow really made it on time. You don't know how stressed the Queen it is about that all the Senshi are here for tomorrow."
Rei walked over to her and hugged her best friend.
"Yeah, I'm happy to see you too Minako. How have you been in the last days? You have been gotten shot at so much as we did? Or chased by any warships too?"
"Err… noooo. Why should I? And I was busy helping Usagi with the birthday preparations."
"Ugh, she always makes this fuzz about her birthday. As if making it an official holiday already isn't enough."
"And she wants someone to immediately report to her and inform her firsthand what happened on Glee Anselm."
"For real? I need a shower and I need to go home. C'mon, you'll tag along. I have to tell you how me and TopGun robbed a bank."
"You did what?!"
"Yeah, we did some crazy shit up there." Rei stopped and ran back to SunTzu, giving him a kiss. "Please be so kind and visit the Queen. I'm going home, I have to see how Grandpa is doing. I'll text you later."
That said she ran back to Minako and they left a blindsided SunTzu back at AICA.
The pilot looked back to his star fighter. At least someone was loyal to him.
Suddenly Karlena appeared in front of him.
"AICA sent me a message, you used inferior grade Tibanna on her? Is that true?"
Okay, I'll take that back.
Soon after Haruka and Michiru came over to say welcome home again to him or in Haruka's case rather "Thank you for leaving us alone flying hours after hours of patrol once again."
SunTzu decided to get a shower and put on a fresh uniform before the chew out the Queen would give him. Him alone as he was the only one that showed up at her request.
At least he didn't have a hangover, although yesterday night's mixture of Thai Stick, excessive Rum and Punch Drinking, questionable local food and crazy wild sex on top of a crow's nest definitely couldn't have been healthy at all.
He sighed.
Please take me back...
Thirty minutes after SunTzu had landed on Earth he entered the throne room.
Only the King was present and when he saw SunTzu he started to laugh loud.
"Arrr. The Pirate Pilot. Ahoy Matie!"
The King rolled about with laughter.
Next time I'll stay on the planet I just helped to make a better place.
"I'm sorry SunTzu. But I heard that some of you guys were even wearing Pirate Outfits."
If you knew how hot your ex looks like a pirate your majesty.
Mamoru calmed down and wiped a tear away.
"Oh yeah. I needed that. Honestly I'm glad you guys are back. And congrats for your accomplishments. You really did great and changed this planet to the better I heard."
"Thank you my King." SunTzu bowed down. "The Queen asked for first hand informations ASAP as well. Where is she?"
"She's in the Royal Quarters. Be advised she's a bit…. ardous the last days so don't take any fits of rage personally."
SunTzu nodded. Of course, her Highness was extra pissed already.
"I'll go up there then as ordered."
"Wait, are you alone for this?"
"Yup, everybody else left already."
"Sorry for this . Good luck up there then." Mamoru showed genuine empathy.
"Thank you, your Majesty." SunTzu nodded and left the room, heading for the elevator to the top floors.
SunTzu got out the elevator at the top floor where the Royal Chambers where located at.
The Pilot walked up to the door and the two Guards there warned him through shaking heads to not to go in there.
He shrugged, motioning that he needed to which earned him a empathetic nod.
SunTzu knocked and waited for a reaction.
A loud "Come in" could be heard and he opened the door, stepping inside.
Dozens of dresses and other articles of clothing were scattered around.
A obviously bugged Makoto was sitting on the sofa, legs crossed.
"Who is it Makoto?" A hounded sounding Usagi was heard from inside a room.
"It's SunTzu." Makoto yelled back.
"And the rest?"
Hotaru's head briefly appeared in another room's door and grinned at SunTzu before it vanished again.
"I don't know Usagi. It's just him."
"Intolerable! Tell him to sit down, I'll deal with him as soon as I'm done trying on this dress."
"Usagi, you've been trying out dresses for three hours now. How can it be you didn't find one yet?"
"Hey, a Woman only turns 29 once and I gotta make sure I look stunning."
"Why you don't take the one Donatella Versace sent you?"
"Hm, let me see it again after this one. Tell the Lieutenant to wait."
Makoto rolled her eyes and motioned to SunTzu to sit down. Not that he hadn't heard the conversation.
SunTzu sat down and Mako greeted him with a fist bump.
"How was Glee Anselm? Y'all finished Kengal?" She asked him with a hushed voice.
"How do you know about Kengal?" SunTzu asked with a surprised frown.
"Let's say I've been on Glee Anselm already as well. For Training Purposes. I actually was there when Ami showed the Sapphire's Pirates of the Caribbean." She winked and laughed.
"Ah, i see. We could have need your help up there."
"I bet, but I promised Ami to keep quite about it. And now you're the only one who will get the Royal Scolding."
"Yeah, it's great. The things I do for my comrades."
"Chibiusa?! Where are my new gold creoles?" The Neo Queen yelled out of her room.
"Why should I have them?!" Lady Serenity III. yelled back.
"Cuz you always take my stuff!"
"That's a blatant lie! And you know that!"
Both walked out of their rooms and faced each other in the middle between the rooms now.
SunTzu loudly cleared his throat and Mako looked away from the two Royals, apparently having spotted something on the wall. The two Royals turned their hands towards him.
"Lieutenant. I'll get back to you! Oh, you're in so much trouble Mister!"
Usagi turned around and walked back to her room. On the way she found a pair of golden creoles on a dresser.
"Ah, here they are."
This earned her a angry look from her daughter.
These two behaved more like sisters than mother and daughter SunTzu thought to occupy his mind with something else than the scolding he would get soon.
Must be the small difference in age. He had asked Rei about this one day. While saving the world one time they messed up the timeline and couldn't fix it anymore, not even Pluto as Guardian of Time, whatever that meant. And now the Mother was just twelve years older than her daughter.
Hotaru came out of Chibiusa's room and took a deep breather. She looked tired as she walked up to the Sofa and sat down next to SunTzu.
The Senshi of Change laid back on the sofa.
"Every year it's the same." She said with a quiet voice.
"Yeah, Usagi acts like that every year. And Chibiusa since a few years too. They're so similar to each other."
A mobile phone on the dresser Usagi just found her earrings rang.
"MUM! Your phone!" Chibiusa yelled.
"I heard that on my own!" Was Usagi's answer.
She came out of her room and took the phone.
"Hi… Rei, how bold of you to call here. All of you were supposed to get up here and then only SunTzu shows up… Yes, yes he's here. And he's in sooo much trouble. You all are!… What? Ami did what?! No, I didn't know you girls were able to do that… Wait, I get the girls and call you back." She hung up.
"Senshi, come here. You too Chibiusa. Important Phone Conference."
She waved the two Senshi next to SunTzu over.
"SunTzu you're dismissed. But you'll get your scolding still. And shave that beard off for tomorrow. I want to see you presentable!"
SunTzu got up and left the quarters. Better get home ASAP to not be available for when the Queen finds time to chew him out.
The Starfighter Pilot was on the way out of the base when it hit him. He didn't have a gift for the Queen and the Princess yet.
And since the Senshi we're probably all busy with their phone conference he couldn't ask anyone what he could give to her.
He thought for a long moment, the most stores were already closed and he didn't know if he could get something tomorrow still.
Think SunTzu. What does the Queen like? And Chibiusa?
Food! Especially candy. But they're Royality so buying her a goodie bag full of Pockies was out of the question too.
He looked at his chrono and thought about it for a second, then he called in AICA.
"AICA, how fast can we be in Europe?"
Three hours later, he would have been a few minutes faster if he wouldn't have had to have a conversation with Karlena that he needed AICA for an absolute emergency, he was on the way back from Europe.
Probably someone would complain to the palace but after stops in Zurich for the finest chocolate he could find and in Frankfurt for a bucket of gummy bears he was on his way back to Crystal Tokyo, hopeing that the budget he stole from the enemy justified such a trip.
Rei called in as he and AICA approached the Japanese coast, they had gotten out of space somewhere over the pacific.
"Where are you TopGun? The girls in the palace said they saw AICA take off."
"Had to get a gift for the Queen. I'm on my way home, where are you?"
"Back at the Palace. Usagi was so intrigued with Cosmic Sailor Mercury that she called everybody to the palace. Well that for and... and to help her and Chibiusa to decide what to wear tomorrow. I'm swearing to Amaterasu that I'm burning this tower down if I see one more dress."
He wheezed and smiled.
"You're staying at the palace tonight so?" He asked her as the lights of Kanazawa came in sight.
"Yeah and I was hoping you would join me."
"Sure. I'll just need to drop by my apartment and then I come over."
"Cool. See you then Babe."
"See you."
The lovers hung up.
"AICA, this time you lift off after dropping me and stay Airborne. Not that the neighbors complain again that we block the street."
Another hour later he landed at the palace and AICA left for her hangar after he got out his best uniform, medals and the gifts. That 3kg bucket of gummy bears might was a bit of overkill but he was pretty sure that Chibiusa would like it. And Usagi would absolutely love that Swiss chocolate.
He knocked on the door and Rei opened the door.
"What the…?" She asked as he saw him heaving around the bucket with gummy bears.
"Well they do like candy, don't they."
Rei thought about it for a moment and nodded her head.
"Point."
As soon he cleared the stuff he brought with him he opened his flight suit and began to undress. Rei watched him.
"Guess you're happy to see me Topper."
"Always, but actually I really need a shower now."
"Need someone to scrub your back?"
Rei told him, that the festivities would just begin in the noon, which meant they could sleep out. Sleeping in an actual bed felt heavenly after the long days on Glee Anselm.
The Queen would hold a speech on the balcony of the main palace building at midday, in front of thousands of people. The inhabitants of the Crystal Tokyo as well as visitors from the regular Tokyo Metropolitan Area always used the holiday to flock into the gardens, fountains and other areas around the palace as they were open to the public on that day. Even though it was war the palace was still open but the guards were on high alert and while patrols were out also guards in civilian attire mingled in with the visitors.
The Sailor Senshi would join the Queen on the balcony. A picnic in the palace garden would follow and in the evening the Queen wanted to have a celebration, so there would be a party in the ball room.
It was late morning and SunTzu donned his black GA Starfighter Corps Uniform and all his medals and ribbons and Mars, already transformed, fixed his medals in place and took a good look at him.
God, she loved that uniform on him.
SunTzu smiled goofily as his girlfriend fixed his medals. He just loved it when she made sure he was looking his best.
Rei ended her inspection of his looks with a satisfactory smile and then let her hand glide over his now smooth face.
"So smooth now. But make sure to grow that beard again, I like it."
He smiled too and wrapped his hand around her hand on his face. The couple shared an intimate kiss.
"Let's go and wish her Royal Bunhead a Happy Birthday. I hate to admit it but I really owe her one for bringing you into my life."
Sailor Mars and her SunTzu made their way up to the floor above them, packed with the gifts.
They entered the Royal Quarters and joined Artemis, Luna, Diana, Ami, Ryu, Hotaru and Setsuna, who were already there.
The Royals welcomed them and the couple gratulated the two Usagis to their Birthdays.
Mother and daughter had a discussion that almost ended in a quarrel about the Princess sharing her gummy bears with her mother.
Only the arrival of Minako, Makoto, who brought a cake she baked, and Kenji prohibited this.
It was a beautiful summer day and people were enjoying the beauty of the palace's surroundings and a lot of the visitors would hold picnics in the gardens and parks around the Palace.
It was almost noon when the Queen called all her Senshi, Naru and Luna into her room.
The rest of the people that appeared in the Royal Quarters, being the Senshi's significant others, King Endymion, Artemis, Umino and Motoki, including his wife Reika, left for the frontal main building already.
A few minutes later they were in the first floor of the building, waiting inside for the Queen, as she would be the first to enter the balcony and the rest would follow. It was a big honor to be on the balcony when she was giving her birthday speech, which also was one of her most important annual speeches.
The people of Crystal Tokyo and all over the world were more than curious what the Queen would say in her speech, given that Crystal Tokyo now was fighting a war as part of the Galactic Alliance.
A few minutes after they arrived the Sailor Senshi and the Queen arrived.
Serenity II., reigning Queen of the Crystal Kingdom wasn't wearing one of her usual dresses. Or one of the dresses she got from Designers all over the world.
She came up the stairs, followed by her Senshi and Luna, transformed into Sailor Moon.
SunTzu immediately understood what she wanted to tell with that outfit. She was a fighter and she was back at fighting. Also she honored her Senshi and all her troops with the outfit. She was one of them.
And most of all, she was letting people that she still was protecting earth.
She took a smiling Mamoru's hand as she reached the floor.
Artemis, Motoki and SunTzu were saluting her and she gave them a nod with a smile as answer, honoring her trusty officers that understood the meaning behind her outfit today.
A step behind Sailor Moon followed Sailor Chibimoon and behind her were Sailor Venus and Luna, followed by Sailor Pluto and Naru with the rest of the Senshi behind them.
Luna linked in arms with her husband and took Diana's hand, the girl was standing behind her father as they followed the Royal Couple and Chibiusa to the door to the balcony, which was then opened by two guards standing there, as the Royals marched towards it.
Sailor Mars passed her boyfriend and took his hand leading him on, he was actually surprised because that meant he would be one of the people on the balcony.
As soon as the door opened the tens of thousands of people that gathered outside started jubilating.
Loud calls for the Queen, Royals or Serenity were to be heard and as Neo Queen Serenity stepped out onto the balcony and walked to the railing the crowd was completely loosing it's mind.
She had to wait a minute and numerous time motion to the crowd to be quiet as the calling for Sailor Moon wouldn't stop. The Queen was smiling a genuine wide smile though.
The Senshi gathered around behind her while Endymion and Chibiusa where next to her left and to her right.
On the left side Naru and Umino were behind eight Senshi and Artemis, Luna and Motoki were on the right. SunTzu politely, or rather shyly, was standing in the back.
As the crowd finally silenced down, Sailor Moon began to speak, her words carried over to the people with the help of loudspeakers.
"My beloved people, dear neighbors and friends from Tokyo and the world, I am delighted to see you once again to my birthday. But these are dire times, the Galaxy is at with a yet unknown enemy! Countless worlds and sectors have been attacked already and some of our finest women and men, me and my Senshi beside them, have fought in various battles against the enemy yet. I'm saying this to the people of the whole planet, may the be on our side yet it not, more than ever we need cohesion! We need to be an united front on this planet, this stellar system and with the Galactic Alliance! If we want to grow as planet and society we have to stand with the Galactic Alliance against this foe! If the Galaxy can resolve this crisis we all will go out of this crisis with more strength, unity and growth in every aspect. Rest assured, me, my guardians and the troops of the Taskforce Sol will do everything to protect this planet and this galaxy with our lives! May the moonlight shine onto us and give us hope! The moonlight is a messenger of Love and in this times we need hope, and we need Love more than ever! Stay strong people of the earth and don't loose your hope, great times will follow! We will prevail!
She let the words ease down and after a moment the crowd erupted into applause that didn't ebb away for almost a whole minute. The guards in the palace, the troops in the base, people on TV screens worldwide, even SunTzu in the back of the balcony applauded as well.
Sailor Moon looked to her husband and he took her hand and squeezed it gently, looking at her full with pride of her. Usagi looked to her daughter and she and Chibiusa hugged before she looked around and nodded thankfully to her inner circle.
Usagi, Chibiusa and Mamoru as well as everybody else waved at the crowd a last time before they all left the balcony.
SunTzu was inside the palace before Sailor Mars entered and was waiting for her.
When she saw him waiting, she came over with a smile and kissed him gently and hugged him afterwards.
She buried her head on his chest.
"SunTzu, I have to confess something to you."
He looked at her, with a questioning look.
"Uhm, okay. What is it?"
"My grandfather will join for the picnic and I'll sit with him." She looked up in his eyes, pressing her lips together.
"I haven't told him about us yet. He's… very conservative and things here are a bit different than you might be used too."
"Oh… i see." Hey paused and she waited for a reaction. "It's okay i guess."
"I'm sorry. You know he raised me and how he cares for me and that he's from a different generation. I really hope that's no problem."
"It's okay Rei, I understand it. We have been together for just a few weeks. I can wait to be introduced as your boyfriend to your grandfather."
"You're the best." She pulled him tight. "I promise I'll introduce you to him and let him know soon."
At least I hope so, she thought, it made her a bit afraid. She wasn't sure how her grandfather would take the news and didn't want that the two men she loved more than anyone else to not get along well.
SunTzu kissed her on the head, smelling the fragrance of her hair.
"I trust you Rei to know what you're doing. Take your time, I'm looking forward to meet your grandfather."
She closed her eyes and smiled.
"Thank you."
After a small detour from the Senshi into one of the rooms, where the Queen changed magically into her white robes and the Senshi all into their respective Planet Princesses' dresses, they all went to the inner courtyard where fine blankets had been laid-out for the picnic. The largest in the middle was reserved for the Royals and while they settled down other people close to Usagi and Chibiusa appeared, among them Rei's Grandfather and the two Mikos from the shrine, Motoki's sister, the four sister from the perfume store, Ami's mother and more.
What looked like a family with a middle aged father and mother and a son a few years younger than Usagi were seated close to the Royals.
SunTzu was a little lost were to sit and stood a bit afar smoking a cigarette watching Rei welcoming her grandfather and the two Mikos. God, Rei looked gorgeous in that dress.
Hotaru came up to him from behind and taped his shoulder.
He turned around in surprise.
"Oh. Hey Kiddo, how are you?"
"I'm fine but you look a bit lost."
He blushed, because he didn't think that it was so obvious.
"Yeah? Well I guess I'm still a bit of the new guy and Rei is with her grandfather.
Saturn looked at the blanket Rei and her grandfather settled down.
"Sometimes it's a bit hard to get accustomed to how things work around here when you're from a different culture." Saturn said and looked back to him. He extinguished his cigarette in an ashtray beside him.
There were still times she surprised him with how far she was already and how well she was with analyzing things in a matter of seconds.
"Why you don't sit with me and Mom? I'm sure she wouldn't mind." She smiled at him and offered her arm to lead him to their place.
He smiled and linked in, they went off.
"Hey Hotaru, I'm sorry that me and AICA were gone pretty much most of the last time. It wasn't my intention that you're training would lack."
"Oh don't worry. I did a lot of theoretical learning, Simulator and even got some flight time with a Headhunter and one of the Probewings in." She smiled.
Good girl, training with other starfighters too to widen her capabilities.
Trainee and Trainer arrived at their picnic blanket and when Setsuna saw her adoptive daughter approaching with him, she got up and she even smiled. SunTzu had to admit that her black and white princess dress really catered to her stunning curves.
"SunTzu, I didn't expect you to join us. She looked over a few afar to Sailor Mars and when she saw Grandfather Hino she quickly nodded, as she understood. "Please make yourself comfortable."
"Thank you Setsuna, I appreciate it." He replied with a warm smile. He really enjoyed that everyone was in a great mood today, even Setsuna smiled honestly.
Waiters came and served aperitifs and other beverages.
While Hotaru settled for lychee juice the two adults took an Aperitif.
They toasted to the Queen and the Princess and drank a sip.
Horsd'oeuvre were served and they got some. They were excellent and of the finest ingredients.
"I'm just gonna say Hi to the Tsukinos and Shingo, if it's okay." Hotaru said, than got up and walked over to the family next to the Royals, Chibiusa and Usagi were also talking with them already, looking very intimate to the suited man with glasses his wife and the young man.
Setsuna's gaze followed her Saturn.
"Those are the mundane parents of Usagi. They also took care of Chibiusa for some time. They're good people. And the son, Shingo, was actually the first boyfriend of Hotaru. That was before that skip in the timeline that made Chibiusa and Hotaru her current age. It was puppy love but they were close. The time skip changed things unfortunatly and they moved on, mostly because Hotaru's responsibilities and also the age difference."
She looked to the ground and SunTzu looked at her.
"I'm here for just a few months but I already learned so much about how much all of you Senshi have to hold back on your needs and wishes. I often feel sorry for you girls."
Setsuna put on a wry smile as she looked over to King Endymion and then back to SunTzu or rather direct into his eyes. He could have sworn he saw that sad look again.
"When you have such powerful abilities and are destined to save the solar system and the galaxy you one day learn to cope with it. Some causes are bigger than you. Although with the years and less immediate threats some of the girls try to life a more normal life. Who would blame them. I personally can't take it so easy though."
"If you ask me, anyone of you would deserve only the best in life. I've been out of my tank for what, four months? And I already see how much blood, sweat, work and tears you put into the greater good."
She smiled a wry smile again.
"We have us. And it's very fulfilling to help people. I guess that's why I became a doctor in the end."
"You have a good heart Setsuna, I can see in how you treat your patients. And you're a great mother to Hotaru."
Sailor Pluto blushed and almost choked on the sip of her drink she took.
"Please excuse me a second, I'll go over to Chibiusa a bit. Spent some time with small lady on her birthday."
She got up and walked over to Chibiusa.
Okay, what did I say wrong now?
He sat there, looked around and emptied his glass, taking another glass from a waiter he waved over.
"Lieutenant? Please stay put." It was Artemis, telling him to stay sitting down. "We got these ribbons from Fleet Command yesterday. The Galactic Alliance thanks you for your service on Bestine IV."
He handed SunTzu a mission ribbon to pin on.
"Wouldn't have been possible without you."
SunTzu got up and saluted.
"Thank you Sir!"
"No, Lieutenant. Thank you. It's the only recommendation we get for Bestine, wear it proud for our fallen comrades there."
"I will Admiral. For our fallen comrades."
Artemis put a hand on his shoulder and went over to where Michiru and Haruka sat.
Suddenly Chibiusa led out a scream of joy and surprise, Helios just had arrived as surprise and made his way over to her.
SunTzu and him nodded to each other as greeting when he passed SunTzu.
Chibiusa sprang up and ran towards her boyfriend. Her mother and father, who had just been talking with the Tsukinos looked up and began to smile, they were happy. Meeting Helios for her birthday was probably the biggest gift someone could give to Chibiusa.
Rumors said that the Queen have had her hands In Helio's sudden Off Duty Vacation.
SunTzu was looking around, now that Chibiusa basically jumped into Helios' arms Setsuna smiled also and went over to the place where Luna, Diana and Artemis were sitting, sitting down next to the grey haired girl, that was playing with her father right now.
He felt a bit uneasy, Hotaru brought him here and now they both were gone. And Rei was deeply engaged in a conversation with her grandfather.
He downed his second glass and thought about leaving the scene for his bank near the landing spot a while.
"Don't drink so much, it's not good for your health. You know my mother's opinion on that."
Princess Saturn was walking back from the Tsukino's place.
"By the way, why did she leave? I was a bit surprised to see her coming over to Chibiusa as well."
"I honestly don't know, but sometimes your mother acts kind of adversarial with me."
"Strange. I never heard her say something negative about you. The worst she ever said probably was, that you should take care more of yourself."
Yeah well, maybe I just have this effect on some people.
Saturn sat down next to him and just now SunTzu noticed that she seemed a bit upset. He figured that probably it was because she just talked with Shingo. Oh yes, the scars that the first big Love leaves.
"You good Kiddo?"
"Been better. Thank you for asking tho."
"Wanna talk about it?"
She pulled her legs closer and looked to the ground.
"He's with his crush from elementary school now. Can you fucking believe this?"
She punched her fist in the ground in frustration.
"It can be so hard to be a Senshi sometimes. I mean apart from all these responsibilities and duties I already have I have to get stuck in a timeline and my age gets set back to basically a child again. And of course he moves on, as everyone would do. But it's just not fair. I want to be normal sometimes too."
"Listen. Hotaru. I don't know about this guy but I do know about you. Apart from being a Senshi, one of the strongest and most dedicated by the way, you're highly intelligent and a natural talent in the cockpit. So if this guy, Usagi's Foster Brother or not, isn't the next Jedi Grandmaster, Mandalore or the one who ends the hunger in the galaxy he's not worthy of you anyway. Because you are you. I don't know how hard it is to be a Sailor Senshi but I do know how special you are as a person and although life is not easy for you, this is what makes you this awesome person you are. Never forget about this."
She thought about his words for a minute.
"Yes. Yes, you're right. It's not my loss, it's his."
She began to nod understandingly and her mood changed.
"Thank you SunTzu. I never thought about it like that."
"You're welcome Kiddo." He ruffled her hair and smiled at her. "It's the birthday party of your best friend. Try to have fun."
"I'll do. I mean let's be honest, at least Chibiu doesn't call me Aunt Hotaru anymore. But I'm still gonna stalk that bitch on IG. I bet she isn't looking better than me!"
"Hotaru?"
"Huh?" The Teenager said as she pulled out her phone from a bag.
"Language."
At least her mood was way better now.
"Hey, let's go over to Michiru and Haruka. I haven't spent much time with them lately."
"Yeah, sounds good."
They walked over the small distance to the couple that was sitting even further from the middle.
They had glasses of Champagne in their hands and Haruka was feeding strawberries to Michiru.
Saturn and SunTzu stopped in front of them.
"Hey little one. Oh and the guy that used to be our wingman. How are things going? On the jump to another insurgency?"
"Hello Haruka. I just remembered that I might spent some time with my wingmen after not seeing them much lately and pulled Saturn along. But it's cool, I can leave again, I just like to spent some time with you guys."
"Really? The bad conscience scam? You're comebacks used to be better. Guess you're hanging too much with the ground dwellers now for actual intelligent remarks. And now sit your arse down."
Haruka and SunTzu smiled at each other as he dropped down next to her and Hotaru sat down next to Michiru who laid her head on her younger friend.
"Looking good guys." SunTzu commented their Princess' dresses. "How's things?"
"Having the duty to party isn't that worse, we're trying to make the best out of it."
"What Haruka means is that for her it's a great excuse to drink copious amounts of Champagne on the day and still call it her duty." Michiru chimed in and stole a strawberry from Haruka's hand.
"Hey, I'm just doing what I was told." She looked back to SunTzu, or more precise to the part of his chest where his medals and ribbons were.
"You got your ribbon for Bestine already?"
SunTzu pulled it out his jacket and held it in front of Haruka.
She took it and leaned in to him.
"Shouldn't you be with your girlfriend or something Mate?" She asked as she began to pin the ribbon on his uniform.
"Well, it looks like Grandpa doesn't know about me yet. And today isn't the day that I get introduced." The other two Senshi turned their heads toward him too.
"Sorry to hear that Mate. Japan is pretty conservative and it's a big deal to get introduced to the parents here. Some things over here are a bit different than elsewhere." Haruka replied as she finished to put the ribbon and made his uniform jacket sit right again. SunTzu thanked her with a nod.
"Like always getting back to your first crush." Hotaru suddenly chimed in, with a rather sour comment.
The two older Senshi looked at her with questioningly faces.
"Shingo. Don't ask." Hotaru told them both and hold up her hand to shut down anymore questions.
They sat there and talked for a few more minutes before Saturn got up and said she would join her mom for lunch, Pluto was back at her place.
SunTzu stayed with his two wingmen and they had lunch together, enjoying to being able to link up again.
After Lunch Haruka and SunTzu enjoyed a cold one straight from the bottle. Together they had persuaded a waiter to bring each of them one, while Michiru mingled with the other guests. SunTzu had his uniform jacket off and tried to enjoy himself. Haruka's outfit didn't quite fit the occasion, but she didn't care.
SunTzu was looking over to the place where Rei and her grandfather were sitting, Sailor Venus was there too, talking to Grandpa Hino. Obviously he had been complimenting Venus's dress and Rei fought with him, because he was creepy.
"How many more of those ribbons you think we'll get before this war is over?" Haruka asked and pointed to his new ribbon he got for the liberation of Bestine.
"Don't ask me. But since we know shit about the enemy and still are mostly reacting I'm guessing quite a few. That is, if we make it through alive." He shook his head and took a draw from the cigarette he was smoking. "And if we win, if we keep the statistics up like they were in Bestine, we're fucked anyway."
Haruka nodded approvingly.
"Yeah. It needs the siege of an important dock so that the GA finally reacts as it should. We're fucked Mate."
"We are Sis. We are."
They clinged their bottles together and drank.
A bit later Michiru came back and when she saw the both laid down on the picnic blanket and drinking beer she shook her head with a smile.
"My, aren't you two the essence of grace?"
The two pilots looked over to her with wry smiles as she walked up and sat down between the two.
"Hey SunTzu, you're girlfriend wants you to know that she will have a smoke at a your bench now and she wouldn't mind company. Whichever bench she means tho."
"Alright, you Ladies excuse me. I have to secretly make out with my girlfriend a bit."
SunTzu stood up and turned towards where the Royal Landing Spot was.
"Have fun, I'll do that openly with mine now." Haruka told and pulled Michiru down to her.
Michiru playfully complained but still ended up in giving her girlfriend a passionate kiss.
SunTzu walked over to the bench under that cherry tree he had sat so often already.
A woman in a red dress and long black hair, was standing under the tree, apparently waiting.
SunTzu let out a whistle as he got closer and Princess Mars, turned around and when she saw him she started to smile.
With her finger she motioned him over to where she was standing.
As soon as he reached her she pulled her hands around his neck and pulled him in to a kiss.
When they stopped she noticed the new ribbon on his chest, that wasn't there before she saw him the last time.
"For Bestine." He told her and she nodded knowingly with a stern face for a second.
"Anyways, how is my Princess?"
The smile came back on her face.
"Everybody seems to have a good time. Well at least Grandpa has with all the females in dresses around him." She laughed. "But I do have to confess that I'd like to have more of my boyfriend, terrible as it sounds." The last sentence came out in her most ironic voice. "Damn, I'm getting soft in my age."
"Don't worry, I was busy anyway. First I tried to help my apprentice with her broken heart and then I started day-drinking with a certain blonde pilot. I was pretty busy as you can see."
"Shingo really left his mark on Hotaru, did he?"
"At least it seems like it. But I think I could at least bring her to a point she won't waylay his new girlfriend."
They laughed together and she hugged him tight again.
"I love how you take care of the people around you." Rei said, as she snuggled on his chest.
A few meters apart Chibiusa and Helios came out of the Crystal Tower, smiling and holding hands. They seemed to be pretty happy.
When Chibiusa noticed Rei and SunTzu she waved over to them and they waved back.
"Ah, the first Love. Damn, I'm really getting soft lately." Rei sighed theatrically. "And also these kids can walk around more or less openly here and I have to see my boyfriend in secret."
The couple laughed again.
A cigarette later, she had to hurry now as the Mikos and her grandfather were waiting for her, she gave him goodbye till later kiss.
Soon afternoon and then evening came and while some of the guests left, the remaining got ready for the party or enjoyed the courtyard.
SunTzu strolled around a bit, talking with some of the Senshi and their partners and friends, but mostly he stayed with Michiru and Haruka.
Grandfather Hino and the Mikos left the Palace shortly before sunset and while accompanying them out she already texted SunTzu and told him that they were going. As the Priest and the Shrine Maidens just left she got an answer back, letting her know to turn around and look up.
Sailor Mars turned around and looked up to the balcony where her Boyfriend was standing, looking down.
She smiled and went back inside the building.
SunTzu was coming down the stairs as she was waiting for him at the staircase.
"Shouldn't be this the other way and you should wait for me?" Mars asked as he got close.
"Maybe I want to be the prince one time too." He shrugged.
"Oh please. Is it the loss of the beard that makes you bitch around like that?" She asked him with a mocking undertone.
"Maybe, I should let my hair grow long too. Get a real nice change of style."
"Please, everything but this. I'm a few reincarnations over this type of man."
She leaned in and kissed him.
"What is that suppose to mean?"
"Err, nothing. Don't mind me. Must be the champagne."
"If you say so. What's next?"
"I was thinking about to take a break in my room. Mind to help me out of this dress?"
Nothing more than that.
Some two hours later they were getting ready for the party.
Rei was checking her makeup again when SunTzu excused himself already and left the room.
He went out to the courtyard and went to one of the rose bushes, where he used a knife to cut down an especially beautiful red rose.
Nothing that would rudimentary match Rei's Beauty but still a nice flower.
He texted her that he would wait at the entrance to the ball room for her and when he got there a lot of the guests including the King and Queen were already inside.
As he was waiting for Sailor Mars, the Outer Senshi entered the Building and went over to him.
Uranus was prominently sporting a bottle of beer in her hand, not giving a fuck about any etiquette. He smiled broadly, when he saw her and she walked up to him with fast steps.
"Lieutenant Tenou, not giving a fuck as always, I see."
"Too late for that today." She came and they fist bumped. "And you're lagging behind Lieutenant SunTzu. But this is something we will change as soon as you and your girlfriend show up."
The rest of the Outer Senshi came pasz and Michiru pulled her inside with a wink to SunTzu.
"Recruit Meiou, don't take an example in First Lieutenant Tenou."
"Don't listen to him little one. Just give Fritz a few more beers and he's the even worse role model." Haruka said.
"Is that a challenge?" SunTzu replied with a smile.
"Trust me, I'll make it one!" Haruka said as she entered the ball room.
Saturn smiled, Michiru shook her head and Setsuna facepalmed. This would be one long night.
A few minutes later Sailor Mars arrived and he was waiting for her with his hands behind the back.
She walked up to him and when he was just two steps away he presented the flower to her.
"My gods. That's a beautiful rose." She smelled it. "Wonderful. Thank you so much Babe." She pulled him into a kiss.
After the kiss they entered the ballroom hand in hand. There was long table in the middle where the Royals, their inner circle and Usagi's closest friends.
Between Uranus and Venus, who was sitting right next to the Princess were two seats empty, reserved for the couple.
Which lead to a heated discussion between Haruka and SunTzu why he was allowed to sit closer to the Queen than she was. And also to a conversation between Sailor Neptune and Sailor Mars why their significant others were made to be the best of friends.
The conflict was solved when Admiral Artemis, leading Officer of the battle-hardened and renowned Taskforce Sol, put a bottle of Corellian Brandy between the two brawlers, filled two glasses up for them and ordered them to drink.
Things once again became a bit blurry after that.
SunTzu woke up the next noon on the floor of a bedroom, wearing only his boxershorts.
He needed a moment but then he noticed he was neither at his home nor at Sailor Mars's Room in the palace.
They were in his room on the Far Side.
He sat up from where he was lying and found Rei in the bed, sleeping out her intoxication with a rather quiet snoring.
There was another female voice snoring too, but it was too dark to see who was lying next to Rei, or rather was embraced by Rei.
What the actual hell happened yesterday?
He got up and a stinging pain shot through his temple and he carefully tried to find the bathroom, fumbling with his right hand around the room.
Of course his toes found their way in the drawer and after pulling himself together to not curse loudly and wake the sleeping beauty in his bed he felt pain in his temple and his foot now.
A few minutes later and lots of cold water over his throbbing head he felt better.
Who was that second woman in his bed? And how she got here? What did he and Rei do last night?
Pieces of the memory of yesterday slowly come back.
It was Usagi's fault. Usagi, after Chibiusa and Helios left early on and intrigued by the stories from Glee Anselm Ami and Rei were telling her, had a little Rum Cocktail Drinking Spree going on and somewhen after midnight started to fancy some Karaoke.
Which led them to the Far Side and the Karaoke Machine SunTzu once sponsored.
People would be surprised how fast guard standing Soldiers are convinced to let a group of around thirty people on board of a war ship when their leading Admiral, who was more than intrigued by the possibility to sing some Classic Rock Songs at Karaoke after roughly half a bottle of Corellian Brandy, was part of said group. Even if he needed help from his wife to stand upright.
Another sting of pain shot through his head while he brushed his teeth and he decided to take a shower. Maybe that would help.
Wait, did he really sing a duet with Haruka yesterday?
And who would have thought that Artemis is actually such a great singer as well.
What a wild night.
The water of the shower washed the blurriness from the vast amounts of alcohol he consumed yesterday away.
For a queen and a bunch of princesses the girls really behaved the direct opposite yesterday night. Not that he and the other male attendants, officers included, behaved better though.
He remembered how much fun they had in that small lounge and that Artemis, Haruka, Mamoru and he drank the whole bottle of Brandy before they left for the ship. And that was only the tip of the high proof iceberg.
Next thing that came back was that he and Rei, drinking from a bottle of wine she took along, sneaked away to the observation deck one time but it's window was closed. On the way back they got lost but made the best out of the situation, alone and unseen in the belly of the ship.
When they came back they found that a big part of the people were crying as Princess Pluto just finished singing a sad Japanese folk love song. Rei and SunTzu were told it was beautiful. Setsuna was gone though, she left after the song, probably to the palace.
To cheer the mood up Michiru and Minako sang a duet of a funky pop song. Artemis was a great singer but these two were a whole different level. People went crazy with cheering afterwards.
Next was Motoki and King Endymion with their version of the Tequila-Song. The two long time friends passed the time between singing the three words in the song with passing out Tequila straight from the bottle to everyone.
SunTzu really tried to remember what happened afterwards but that Tequila had been his nemesis.
After the shower he dried himself up with a towel, put his shorts back on and left the bathroom, still trying to figure out what happened.
He led the light on in the bathroom and the bit of incident light made things more visible in the bedroom. He looked over to the bed again to finally find out who was sleeping next to his girlfriend. In the light he could see that Rei obviously wasn't dressed.
What did they do?
He had to get closer to the bed to see more and then he opened his eyes in surprise.
Long blonde hair, the face not visible because the person was sleeping with the face to wall.
Please don't let it be the Queen, please don't let it be the Queen , please don't let it be the Queen…
SunTzu stepped forward trying to see the person's face.
The sound made the person turn around towards SunTzu.
The woman opened her eyes.
It was Minako, thank god. Or no, why was she her?
She yawned and then smiled up to SunTzu.
We didn't, did we? I mean she and Rei are best friends, no?
She gave him a wink and then turned around completely and put her hand on Rei.
And then she started shaking her.
"Rei, get your drunk ass up. Your boyfriend is awake."
Rei pulled her hand away and pulled her in the pillow, mumbling something.
Minako didn't stop and shook her friend again.
A angry Rei jumped up and hit Minako with her pillow, revealing her bare back. Minako tried to dodge and to get hold of the pillow, revealing that she at least was wearing a shirt, one of SunTzu's t-shirts to be precise. But obviously no Bra.
SunTzu cleared his throat audibly.
And the girls stopped their scuffle and looked up to SunTzu.
"Minako, what are you doing in my bed?"
"Isn't that obvious?" Venus laughed as SunTzu's eyes widened.
She turned her head to Rei who was sitting now, looking tired and hungover.
"He really doesn't remember anymore?" Minako asked her friend.
"If you would have been so drunk you wouldn't remember anything either. Not that you were any sober at all. Or me. Goddamit, every year it's the same shit. Usagi's birthday parties always totally escalate."
Rei looked up to her boyfriend.
"You left before us."
"Yeah, just before we started doing body shots!" Minako chimed in smiling, with her finger raised.
Rei, looked over to Minako with an annoyed look on her face.
"Yeah, whatever. Anyways, we found you passed out on the floor and decided to not wake you up."
SunTzu nodded shortly, this remembered him on the evening he meet Team 1 the first time.
"And you two? Why are you both here? And why are you naked Rei?" SunTzu motioned back and forth between the two Senshi.
Rei looked up to him and frowned after a moment, while Minako started laughing.
"Oh. Oh! Oh no. Please, we've grown out of this phase, we're not teenagers anymore. I just slept topless because it's more comfortable. I was busy enough trying to stop the spinning in my head to be too uncomfortable to sleep also."
"That's what she says now. You should have seen her yesterday with those body shots."
Minako chimed in again with a wink, earning her another annoyed look from Rei.
"And why was I almost naked?"
"Caring girlfriend I am, i decided that we get your uniform off of you before you ruin it. I'm glad you actually survived, Honey. I wasn't so sure you were still alive when we got here."
"I remember having fun undressing you! But don't worry I didn't took advantage of the situation? Or did I? Rei, did we have a threesome with your passed out boyfriend?" Rei looked at her, frowning again but staying quiet otherwise. She was way too hungover for this.
"Ah, if your hands weren't tied with my bow we probably didn't. Don't worry." She made a wipeing away gesture with her hand.
So much for stopping to tease him.
"By the way did someone took Artemis to his room?" The Blonde suddenly burst out.
Soon after the two girls started to annoy SunTzu to get breakfast for so long that he finally gave in and declared to bring some in from the palace.
They cuddled up as he left the room. He made his way up to the bridge to call for someone to pick him up.
As he passed the table at the lounge he noticed a deeply sleeping white cat on the table. He decided to get a fourth coffee over at the palace, for his Admiral.
SunTzu shook his head with a large smile, what a crazy night that was. This kingdom sure celebrated as energetic as it fought.
Back in his room Minako's head was laying on a now shirt wearing Rei, which embraced her friend from behind, as they were laying in the bed.
"I can't believe he really went to fetch us breakfast. You know, sometimes i'm jealous that you have such a great boyfriend. Well apart from that prophecy involving him."
"Yeah, yeah. Man-hating Rei Hino gets the poster boyfriend and the man who is supposed to be personified war is actually the nicest guy ever." Rei snuffled and took on a wry grin.
"Not that we have much choice when it comes to partners that understand about the importance of our duty and that the safety of the Queen and the Kingdom always comes first." Rei continued.
"You tell me Sis. It's not easy being a Senshi." Minako sighed. "God, I want a relationship like yours."
"One day. One day we will break this curse of yours Mina-Chan. I'm hundred percent sure of it."