Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Princess Forget-Me-Not ❯ Part One ( Chapter 1 )

Princess-Forget-Me-Not

Part One

 

"Usagi! Aren't you up yet? I asked you to take ChibiUsa-chan over to her friend's house!" Tsukino Ikuko's voice rang through the two level house from the bottom of the stairs where she and a little girl with pink hair in an unusual style waited.

 

"She doesn't have to take me, Ikuko-mama, I can get there myself. I'm a big girl." The child stated, placing her hands on her hips and drawing her self up and inch or two higher than her three feet.

 

Ikuko glanced down at her niece, smiling in understanding and winking mischievously. "Of course you can, dear, but I need an excuse to get that lazy daughter of mine out of bed." Ikuko returned her gaze up the stairs, taking a breath before angrily bellowing her daughter's name. "USAGI!"

 

In response to this call, came a thud and a yowl from Usagi's cat. "Gomen, Luna! Gotta go, she's really mad!" A few minutes later, a pale blue blur raced down the steps, fully dressed, her yellow pigtails sailing behind her as she skidded to a stop at the bottom. "Ohayo, Mama!" She enthused cheerily, apparently hoping she could get out of trouble with one of her bright smiles. Ikuko didn't buy it.

 

"Usagi, I did ask you to drop your cousin off at that nice Chiba-san's apartment on your way to the grocery store. Now, grab something quick for breakfast- or lunch- or whatever you would call it at this time of day, and get going." Ikuko smiled secretly as she watched Usagi's face drop and sigh loudly. Conveniently hidden by her golden bangs, Ikuko didn't notice the tears in Usagi's blue eyes at the mention of her now ex-boyfriend.

 

"But, Mama! Why do I always get stuck doing all the chores around here? Like Cinder-Usa-rella or something . . ." Usagi drifted off as the thought side-tracked her argument with daydreams of a lost princess searching for her prince, looking graceful and beautiful at a surprise ball to win back her love . . . Usagi shook her head, startled out of her thoughts by reality. She was starving! 'I gotta quit thinking like that. Mamo-chan will come back when he gets whatever it is bothering him under control. Silly dreams, Odango Atama. Concentrate. You've got other things to think about, things you can actually help with.' She trudged to the kitchen to search out some pastries and milk, her mother right behind her, with crossed arms and ChibiUsa skipping along. The little spore loved to see Usagi unhappy.

 

"Usagi, please. Just pick up the things on the list and help put them away and I won't need you again for the rest of the day. It's a beautiful afternoon, spend time with your friends, just make sure you're back by dinner, and make sure you pick up ChibiUsa on your way home." Ikuko smiled, returning to the stove as the two girls turned to leave.

 

Usagi growled at the last command to return the fungus home as well as drop her off. That meant she'd have to see Mamo-chan twice! She knew he 'hated' her now, and she didn't like putting herself through the pain meeting him always brought. She also didn't want to make him put up with her, a whiny, klutzy, dumb teenager. She was only more trouble and bother to him when he was in a crisis like this and he refused any help she offered. "Hai, hai, I'm going. ChibiUsa, come on." Usagi stuffed the last of her breakfast in her mouth and chugged down her milk before grabbing the list off the fridge and the little kid's hand and racing out the door. "I'll take you to Mamoru-kun's, ChibiUsa, if you promise to behave and not bother him with stupid questions. And don't mention me. I don't want him to waste precious time hating me when you're supposed to be having a good time."

 

"I don't ask stupid questions! And why would I talk about you, Odango Atama. You only make him sad." The little girl replied impertinently, pulling her hand free of the older girl's. She crossed her little arms and poked her tiny, upturned nose in the air, away from her elder. Usagi's heart froze, her mind trapped by the kid's obnoxious, careless words. That was a low blow, Usagi was at a loss to recover from such a painful surprise.

 

'I make him sad?'

 

She didn't see the tears glittering in Usagi's eyes, no one could see them anymore. She had learned to hide her emotions behind other ones, she didn't need attention drawn to her faults, her foolish hopes and fantasies of a perfect world. Strangers laughed at her, even her best friends scolded her and didn't take her seriously anymore. Usagi choked a little on her breath as she rubbed at her eyes, trying to wipe away the betraying liquid before the tears revealed her. 'I make him sad? As hard as I try, I can never make anyone happy. Rei-chan, Luna, Ami-chan, Mako-chan, Minako-chan, ChibiUsa, Mama, Haruna-sensei, Shingo, Mamo-chan . . . I'm really no good, aren't I? Making those I care about sad and hurting them all the time- making them hate me.'

 

They continued in silence, ChibiUsa sneaking glances at the solemn girl beside her. Usagi was normally extraordinarily bubbly and joyful and energetic. And easy to tick off. But now she just looked like a zombie, emotionless and gloomy. The pink-haired child shivered as if in the presence of a chill pocket of air surrounding Usagi. ChibiUsa tried not to be concerned. It was none of her business how Usagi acted, it just wasn't normal, it didn't feel right. And it was no way for Sailor Moon to act. What would her mama and papa say if they knew the legendary Senshi of the Moon was clumsy, emotional, irresponsible Usagi? 'Maybe I shouldn't have said that. I know she still likes Mamo-chan, but it's true, Usagi always makes him sad.'

 

Usagi and her short companion made it to the apartment building she knew well with no further exchange of words. Still not as well as she wished, she thought, but the route they now walked to her ex-boyfriend's door was one she had memorized and traveled many times over in her dreams. She stopped within view of the door they wanted, not willing to go any further before her soul bond to her Prince of Earth ripped her heart apart. She gently caught ChibiUsa as she zipped past to Mamoru's door where he no doubt awaited her eager knock.

 

"I'm sorry, ChibiUsa. Tell Mamoru-kun I'm sorry." She whispered, and turned on heel, leaving a slightly surprised little girl watching confusedly after. ChibiUsa shrugged, trying to shake off the bad feeling she got watching Usagi's back, and returned her attention to her guy's apartment. She raced up and knocked enthusiastically, the door swinging open instantly. She glanced back at the elevator doors before walking in, catching at glimpse of Usagi's sad blue eyes and a streaming gold ponytail from one of her Odango buns as she waited for ChibiUsa to be safely let inside before trusting the precious child to Mamoru's care. For a second, ChibiUsa almost thought Usagi's profile looked liked her mother's.

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Usagi walked despondently through the park, slow and aimlessly trudging past sculptures, gardens, children on the playgrounds, leaves twirling in the wind. She was blind to the colors and deaf to the laughing squeals, so deep was she in her miserable thoughts. Unconsciously, her feet led her to the bench overlooking the lake, the bench she spent many afternoons watching the sunset paint the sky and the moon rise, glittering a path to her ancient palace across the lake's watery surface. Or gently falling asleep in her sweet Mamo-chan's warm embrace, dreaming of nothing else but him and her together forever, dancing among the stars, sleeping 'neath the moon's loving gaze . . .

 

'But not anymore, my love. You don't want to be bound to the past as much as I want to relive it. The daydreams of a perfect life stolen from me, it's every girl's dream- they can't blame me for that, I've never been worth anything but once upon a time I was! But now . . . I'm nothing but trouble to my friends. Lately more than ever. I can't concentrate with my heart gone, in battles you come to save me but still you claim to not love me, how can you expect me to function with you so close and your heart so far away?!' Usagi collapsed on the bench, tucking her knees up to her chest and sadly searched the hazy skies for the shadow of the moon, for reassurance, for strength or love. 'Why won't you let me help you . .?'

 

She could find none of these. Her kingdom was long destroyed, her mother but a memory in her own mind, her soul that of millennium dead princess. 'Princess. Some princess. If I was anything like I am now- How could I have ever been accepted as a Princess? How could Rei-chan and Mako-chan follow me? How could Minako-chan and Ami-chan look up to me as their leader? I'm just a stupid klutz. Scared of everything and forgetful; a dumb, ungraceful crybaby! How can Luna STAND me? She must be so disappointed, I'm not the princess she wanted- I'm not the princess Mamo-chan remembers. Maybe that's why he doesn't love me . . . I'm not Serenity anymore.' She buried her head in her knees and wept, her eyes stinging and her neck aching from her shuddering sobs. "Oh, Mamo-chan, for you I would have changed. I wish it were really me you loved, but I would still do anything you wanted to have you back with me . . . If only it were that simple." She choked, making her confession known to the birds singing in the trees above her. The setting sun himself caressed her shoulders in warm solace as best he could through gathering clouds.

 

'Maybe that's the answer. Maybe if I was Serenity again, I could get Mamo-chan to love me again, I would lead the Senshi better, and Luna would be proud of me and even Mama and Haruna-sensei would be proud of a smart, graceful daughter and student. Maybe me and ChibiUsa would get along better. She's a princess as well- Hmm. A Princess, as well . . .' The thought struck a cord in her mind, something familiar that she'd kept hidden from herself. Usagi shook her head, returning her concentration to her immediate problem.

 

'No one can complain with the perfection of a Princess . . .' Usagi took a deep breath, stretching her back as she slowly glanced up, recognizing the sudden cold draft of sinister thunderstorm- it was monsoon season. 'Forgive me . . .' Usagi wasn't sure who she was apologizing to, herself or her mother, or anyone who did happen to care for the real Tsukino Usagi.

 

Usagi raised her chin from her knees and let her legs drift over the bench edge so she was sitting properly, her tiny ankles crossed. She tenderly fingered the brooch at the center of her bow, letting the golden lid click open to reveal the gorgeous Ginzushou. She closed her eyes again, sighing in sweet release. With her delicate fingers still closed around the twinkling jewel, she set her mind and made her wish.

 

'Ginzuishou, let me be my old self again, the princess I was supposed to be in this lifetime. Let me be everything my friends need me to be. Let me help them- all of them.' She finished, ChibiUsa on her mind, Mamo-chan and her faithful Senshi in her heart. They all needed help in some form or another she hadn't been able to provide. Now, hopefully, she could.

 

Lightning flashed far away and the wind whipped her blonde hair around Usagi's slight form. For a moment, a glimpse of silvery white and pearly gold shimmered over the forlorn girl before it was shattered by the repercussions of thunder rolling across the sky above her. Usagi let out a surprised gasp, suddenly remembering the errands she still needed to run for her mother but fearing the storm that had all ready begun. Thankfully it wasn't raining yet. Maybe she could hit the grocery store before it began to pour. But if that thunder struck again, she might just call it all off and skip it until tomorrow- who cared about ChibiUsa- but her mama would be steamed!

 

With that frightening thought, Usagi leapt lithely to her feet, practically flying over the stone paths out of the park on her way to the closest store. Her mother's wrath was almost as bad as the evil thunder and she wanted to avoid both at all costs. Usagi took off, not even remembering her half-hearted attempt to wish the perfect life from the Ginzuishou- except that it didn't work.

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Usagi was gasping and panting by the time she returned home with the plastic grocery bags swinging wildly from her hands, elbows, and wrists. She couldn't tell if she was just tired from the battle the previous night or the thunder outside and the drop of moisture still perched on the tip of her nose that had expedited her unusually quick return home but- she was exhausted!

 

She dropped the food off on the kitchen table and mindlessly put everything away, her movements so automatic and sluggish, Luna just sat and stared.

 

"I'd have thought you'd forget about that and let your mother deal with it, Usagi-chan. I approve of your rare act of responsibility."

 

Usagi started, then frowned at her sarcastic cat. "I'm not that terrible, Luna."

 

"Indeed you aren't." Usagi's frown trembled, unsure now if the Lunar guardian was still mocking her or actually sincere. She shook her head and trudged past the black kitty and up the stairs.

 

"I'm tired, Luna. Wake me if it's close to time to pick up ChibiUsa." Now the feline frowned. She agreed, a mite concerned for her charge's strange lethargy. She shouldn't be; Usagi was renown for her laziness but this time it felt wrong.

__________________________

 

Usagi didn't know what to do. She couldn't leave her room, even with Luna banging and yowling at her door, trying to figure out what was wrong with the poor, secluded girl. The blonde just sat there, in front of the vanity, staring at something incredibly inexplicable.

 

Her hair.

 

It was longer.

 

No, really. It was at her knees when she fell asleep. Now she was tripping over it. That's not natural.

 

After some minutes of dazed staring Usagi abruptly snapped out of it. 'Well, I suppose my hair has always grown quickly. It's just some kind of growth spurt. I can fix this.' She rationalized. Usagi took out the scattering of pins and ribbons from her hair and brushed what she could of the ponytails. She trimmed it a bit, well, if nine inches is a bit. Wrapping the buns a few more times 'round, pinning and tying them up she let it hang an extra foot with the hope no one would notice her new length of hair.

 

"Calm down, Luna! I'm coming, I'm coming!" Usagi dashed up to the door, unlocking it quickly and racing past her cat before the guardian could halt her.

 

"Why on earth did you lock me out, Usagi-chan?!" She called after her, bounding down the stairs in the angriest huff Usagi had seen in a while.

 

"Gomen, Luna, gotta go, I'm late!" Usagi didn't hesitate a second to snatch the umbrella from beside the door and run out into the rain. So what if it was drizzling a bit. Well, more than a bit but still, the chibi-pinku-akurei had to be picked up.

 

Actually, both of them knew she wasn't really late. Luna had begun her siege with the appropriate time in mind to wake Usagi up and, surprisingly, she'd all ready been up and waiting. But she didn't give that a second thought.

__________________________

 

What did she know about ChibiUsa?

 

Her real name was Usagi, same as hers. She had come from the future- the thirtieth century? To find her parents and/or Sailor Moon and the Ginzuishou to save her poor mother. Who she really was, what happened to her mother in the future, where her father could possibly be, and why in the name of the moon had she been sent here alone was what Usagi wanted to know. How could her Ginzuishou help ChibiUsa's okaa-san? How did she know Sailor Moon had it? Did she suspect or all ready know Usagi was that lunar Sailor Senshi?

 

'With as often as she sleeps in my bed and I've come home in the middle of the night bruised and battered after SNEAKING OUT in the first place- how could she not realize?'

 

"ChibiUsa, have you been looking for your parents lately?"

 

The sudden question caught the little girl off guard. It had been so quiet in the tiny shelter the umbrella provided from the solid walls of misty rain and out of nowhere, Usagi brings up the one subject neither had spoken of since the kid had shown up. ChibiUsa's wide, cinnamon eyes whipped up to the taller girl's, her mouth gaping, shocked. The child turned her head abruptly downward, clutching Luna P tightly, her cheeks blushing in- shame? Embarrassment? Sorrow?

 

Not anger. "What do you care, Usagi-no-hidoi! You just want me out of your hair and out of your life!"

 

Usagi nearly dropped the umbrella at the pink youma's outburst. 'She can be so rash! I haven't been that bad, have I? At least not today . . . I should have been helping her, this whole time . . .' Her teary, guilty eyes blinked down at the girl; she still refused to look away from the wet sidewalk. "You've stayed with me long enough, Imouto. We should have found and reunited you with your parents by now. But with all these attacks we haven't had the chance, and your lack of knowledge about their location leaves us with air to walk on. Gomen nasai. Tomorrow morning I'll find your parents." Both girls seemed to stop at the same moment. ChibiUsa shivered then slowly, sniffing, looked up to meet the older girl's blue eyes.

 

"Promise? Onee-san?" ChibiUsa didn't dare to hope. In all of Usagi's speech, she'd caught 'imouto'. A vow, a kinship with a girl notorious for her dislike of the 'pinku akurei'. Life wasn't that bad with her worst enemy on her side. 'It's okay, Usa-onee-san. I think I've found my home. My parents are with me but not with each other.'

 

Usagi nodded gravely to the girl's innocent questions. She watched ChibiUsa turn away again, hugging her Luna ball, trying to hide tears. Usagi had promised. Again. She had to find ChibiUsa's parents tomorrow. If she and other Sailor Senshi had to comb the city from dawn till moonset, they would find them.

 

Usagi reached and ChibiUsa met her hand. It was small and cold. ChibiUsa shivered again, not a coat or even long sleeves to protect her from the cool shower. Without a second thought, Usagi knelt and hugged the girl to her chest, slowly standing and balancing her umbrella and the child in her arms. ChibiUsa never said a word, just relaxed with a comfortable sigh as Usagi walked home.

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"Luna, what's wrong with Usagi? She's so SLOW and sad. . ."

 

"Why, ChibiUsa-chan, I didn't know you cared for Usagi-chan's health." Luna teased from where she sat on the floor watching the little girl eat breakfast. ChibiUsa's face screwed up with justifiable indignation.

 

"I don't care at all about that Odango Atama- she's just been acting strange lately and I didn't want the other girls to worry. So- what's wrong with her?"

 

"Don't worry about it, ChibiUsa-chan. Usagi-chan's a very moody girl, she's a normal teenager overreacting to her break up with Mamoru-kun. She'll bounce back. She's a resilient young woman." Luna grinned up at the girl, proud that she did have some feelings for her 'cousin.' Then, remembering the topic grumbled under her breath. "Although, even SHE is pushing it to the limits of the moon."

 

"But I don't think it's just that- what if something happened that she's not telling us, don't you think you should at least ask her, or mention it to the girls, Luna?"

 

Luna stood and began to walk away. She looked over her shoulder. "They are as fed up with her antics as I am, ChibiUsa-chan. Tell them if you're worried but they all ready know and have done everything they can think of short of murdering Mamoru-kun for his betrayal." ChibiUsa cringed at the cat's harsh response and relay of Usagi's best friends' feelings but the cat didn't notice. Luna's ears perked up a bit as if a thought had struck her. "ChibiUsa-chan, why don't you talk to Mamoru-kun about it. That might do some good."

__________________________

 

The silent black cat studied her charge as she slept. ChibiUsa tucked in close to her side, moonlight spilled on the pair, silvering their hair. Was it a trick of the night's light or did she see a familiar silhouette on Usagi's forehead? 'Iie, I'm seeing things. ChibiUsa has the same faint mark, it must be some reflection or shadow.' But Usagi's yellow hair did truly look lighter, whiter even. And even in sleep, her body shivered and trembled with fatigue. She didn't seem to be able to rest even when she slept. Her breath was shallow and forced, it was a visible effort to expand her lungs and they emptied as quickly as if an invisible pressure weighted down her chest. 'What's wrong with you, Usagi-chan?'

__________________________

 

"Rei-chan, what's wrong with Usagi? She's always sleeping and moping around."

 

"It's nothing, ChibiUsa-chan. She's just really slow about getting over guys." The raven-haired priestess rolled her eyes and tossed her hair over her shoulder.

 

"But it's been weeks! Couldn't it be something else?" ChibiUsa persisted. She was sure something was wrong with her older friend. She leaned forward on her elbows from her position lying on the floor.

 

"Iie. It's Mamoru-kun. Those two were meant to be together far longer than you can imagine, ChibiUsa-chan. But he changed his mind and she didn't. She's just got to accept it and get on with her life. And you can tell her that even if she didn't send you." ChibiUsa sighed.

 

"She didn't SEND me. I came cause she sleeps too much and is always tired, more than she was before. She looks sick, or something's worrying her a lot or something. I just thought you guys would care more!" ChibiUsa jumped up, sniffling and ran out of the temple. Rei dropped her tea in surprise.

 

"ChibiUsa-chan!"

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"Ami-chan! I don't know what to do!" ChibiUsa wailed.

 

'A remarkable mimicry of Usagi-chan's best.' The genius thought with a giggle as she opened the front door. "What's wrong, ChibiUsa-chan. The only way I can help is if you tell me about it." She let the little girl into her home, slowly leading her to the kitchen though her attention was fully devoted to the child.

 

"It's Usagi. I think she's sick or something. She sleeps all the time and she was actually being nice to me yesterday!" ChibiUsa followed her mentor through the door and up to the enormous kitchen's island. With Luna P's help she climbed atop the tall barstool and watched Ami wander around the kitchen.

 

"Oh, well, Usagi-chan sleeps a lot to begin with, ChibiUsa-chan. She uses a lot of energy very quickly- she has an exceptional metabolism. It requires her to sleep and eat more than most other girls."

 

ChibiUsa stared blank-eyed at the short girl buttering a piece of toast for her. "Meto-what?"

 

Ami chuckled. She laid the bread on a plate and turned to a cupboard for spices. "Metabolism. It's how her body uses food to create energy and how her body uses and disperses that energy." ChibiUsa blinked once but slowly nodded.

 

"I don't think that's it though, Ami-chan. She still cries too much, and doesn't eat at all, and is so depressed! It's just wrong!" Ami set the cinnamon on the table, only sprinkling half the toast. She glanced up, her eyes sad and pitying.

 

"Oh. Well that is different, ChibiUsa-chan. You see, about the time you showed up, Mamoru-kun broke up with Usagi-chan. They'd been going out for a long time, and really loved each other but he had second thoughts. I don't believe even she knows what his reasons were but she is still very depressed about it."

 

"But I know all that and it's more than that!"

 

Ami shook her head and returned to sprinkling the child's toast and set the cut up triangles before her. "She'll be okay, ChibiUsa-chan. She'll bounce back, nothing can keep her down long- although, it has been a while since she's smiled . . ."

 

ChibiUsa was in the middle of a bite when she shook her head vigorously at Ami's commenting. "Hai, hai! It has been a long time and she's not okay! Why won't anyone listen to me!" ChibiUsa abandoned her cinnamon toast and jumped off the stool, running from Ami's kitchen and out the door before Ami could react.

 

"ChibiUsa-chan!"

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"Mako-chan! Mako-chan! Are you home?" ChibiUsa pounded on Makoto's apartment door until a tall, flour doused girl answered.

 

"ChibiUsa-chan? What's up? Daijoubo-ka?" She opened the door wider and the child dashed in, practically in tears.

 

"Un, hai, I'm fine. But I'm worried about Usagi and no one else is! They're all ignoring me and trying to say it's something else than what it is! It's so frustrating! Just cause I'm a kid they all think I don't know what's going on around me! Mako-chan, you don't think I'm blind to adult things do you? You wouldn't treat me like a kid, right?"

 

Makoto frown, a little overwhelmed with this sudden outburst from the normally quiet little girl. "Yeah, sure. I'll listen, ChibiUsa-chan. What's up? What's wrong with Usagi-chan?" She led her to her couch where they both sat down, Makoto completely ignoring the dusty flour marks on the fabric.

 

"She's crying a lot and sleeping a lot and's always sad! She's helping me find my parents so I want to help fix her and make her happy again but no one will tell me what I can do!"

 

"Oh, well, I don't think there's much you can do to help her, ChibiUsa-chan. Since Mamoru-kun broke up with her-"

 

"Mako-chan! That's not it!" Makoto blinked as the kid stood again to face her.

 

"Uh, Chibi-"

 

"Iie! You don't understand either!" ChibiUsa angrily turned away and marched out of the tiny apartment, Makoto gaping after her.

 

She whispered lowly. "What's else could be wrong with Usagi-chan?" She looked up to call the girl back in but she was all ready gone. "ChibiUsa-chan!"

__________________________

 

"Minako-chan, Minako-chan, you've got to understand! You're Usagi's bestest friend! And don't tell me it's 'Mamoru-kun's break up.' That's what everyone said and I don't think it's that anymore. She's gotten worse and no one will believe me!"

 

"Slow down, ChibiUsa-chan. Whoa! You're like me and Usagi-chan after one too many cappuccinos!"

 

ChibiUsa dropped her head sullenly, holding Luna P in her arms. "Well I wish someone would give her a cappuccino-thing now."

 

"What's up, ChibiUsa-chan?" Minako uncrossed her legs and laid out on her bed, kicking her feet up and petting a purring Artemis.

 

"It's about Usagi-onee-chan. I know it sounds weird but I'm worried about her-"

 

Minako's eyes lit up as she stared the girl down. "Really?! I knew you two had a connection! She loves you a great deal you know." She winked making the kid blush first in embarrassment then anger.

 

"I know, that's why I want to help her now. There's something wrong with her and I don't know how to fix it. She's helped me so much and now that she's sick or depressed or whatever I don't know what to do."

 

Minako nodded in total agreement, rolling her eyes in mock-exasperation. "I know. After Mamoru-kun dumped her so RUDELY, nothing can get that girl up and lively again."

 

"Iie, Minako-chan. It's not that." ChibiUsa sighed. She wasn't getting through to the girls. She closed her eyes and tried to think of a way to put in words the terrible leap of intuition she felt. "I don't know what it is but I get a bad feeling every time I'm around her. Like the . . . light around her- it flared brightly once and now it's fading fast."

 

Minako blinked hard then stared wide-eyed at the child. Artemis too, squirmed from his comfortable petting position to watch ChibiUsa.

 

"That's very strange, ChibiUsa-chan. But I can't think of anything that's happened that would make her feel that way if it's not her break up with Mamoru-kun." Minako's cheery voice had dropped to a somber tone. "What do you want me to say?"

 

"Just tell me how to fix her. I can't get her and Mamo-chan back together, and I don't think that's it anyway."

 

"Right now, ChibiUsa-chan, what she probably most needs is you. Stay with her and be her friend. She'll appreciate it and that's all you can do. She'll do anything for her friends-"

 

"Demo-"

 

"Trust me, ChibiUsa-chan. You can't 'fix' a broken heart, she's got to put it back together herself."

 

"Hai." ChibiUsa sighed. "Arigato, Minako-chan. I'll do my best." She hopped up and left the room in the same position she'd entered. 'No one's going to help me with Usa-onee-chan. I'll have to try my best until I learn more . . .'

 

"Matte! ChibiUsa-chan!"

__________________________

 

"Odango atama! Get up!"

 

"Sailor Moon! Daijoubo?"

 

"Hai. Give me a moment. Gomen nasai, minna-chan." Sailor Moon struggled to keep upright. She limped away from the fiercest action against Rubeus and his droid, making her way slowly to the tree Tuxedo Kamen stood atop. She closed her eyes and collapsed to her knees, feigning the beginnings of unconsciousness.

 

"Sailor Moon-baka! We need you now!"

 

'You can do it, minna-chan. I know you can!' Sailor Moon remained still, trying not to wince when Tuxedo Kamen landed beside her, watching her closely. She felt something burn on her forehead, right where his gaze was focused. Sailor Mercury tossed a glance her way and she dutifully ignored that too.

 

"I don't think she's getting up from that blast, minna. Take him down now! Jupiter with me, Mercury, Mars, get rid of that droid!" Through slitted eyes she watched her Senshi fight, Rubeus vanished as swiftly as possible with a fireball on his tail, the youma followed into oblivion a hard, agile fight later. Tuxedo Kamen had left her side long enough to distract the creature while the girls attacked and Sailor Moon was given time to clean up the scrapes, scratches, and blood on her legs.

 

Another impossibility.

 

Her legs were stained silver. What had first run soft red from the abrasions and cuts was now a faint pink and shining silver.

 

Tuxedo Kamen left, her heart following his as he left the area. Realizing the battle was over, fought and won without her help, Sailor Moon detransformed where she sat, pretending to blink awake as her friends approached. "Well done, minna! You did it even without me!"

 

"Hai, but your help would have been useful, Usagi-chan." Ami murmured as she knelt before her leader still sitting in the grass. She ran her scans though her friend seemed to be fine.

 

"Hai, hai, but the point is you don't need me all the time. You can do it without me." Usagi was all smiles with the realization, her hopes were grounded in reality. Her Senshi could survive without her if she, for any reason, were late or couldn't show up in time.

 

"Usagi-chan, you've got to be more careful. Even if we beat this one this time doesn't mean we don't need you next time. What would we do if you actually got yourself hurt?" Makoto scolded.

 

Usagi raised an eyebrow and pointedly stared at her scratched and very much hurt legs.

 

"I think you'll do fine. Now, Senshi, meeting tomorrow, hai?" The girls stared at Usagi funny, a couple of raised eyebrows and mocking smirks met her smiles.

 

"Hai, Usagi-no-baka. My place as usual. And don't be late!" Each of the girls departed their own ways, Usagi was soon able to stand and leave after them.

 

It didn't take Usagi long after she got home to realize her hair was once again longer than it had been since she'd left her bed that night. It also looked a little lighter, less gold; more a very pale wheat-colored.

__________________________

 

She'd collapsed into bed, barely able to make the effort of avoiding the little girl and cat sharing her bed, and had fallen asleep immediately. It seemed to be getting harder to stay awake these last couple days. She was constantly tired, more so than usual. It was getting boring! And she wasn't worried yet but she'd gotten the lecture from Luna once all ready and the way her Mama always staring and feeling her forehead, she was getting the message. She swore tonight she would sleep like the dead- after the battle, of course, she couldn't sleep through that. She'd tried.

 

But to her dismay she slept as lightly as she ever did and the mere shadow that crossed her window later that night frightened her awake. Her eyes snapped open and she bolted upright in bed only to stare into the wide, masked eyes of her protector.

 

"Mamo-chan . . ." And with her whisper he shook his head and disappeared. Before his cape was completely beyond her reach she was out of bed and desperately trying to open her window but only the black night reflected her weeping face. Usagi reached a hand to her skin, surprised to all ready see sparkling stars rolling down her cheeks- A soft glow caught her attention.

 

Her reflection lifted her eyes, drawn to the crescent of gold on her forehead. It burned lightly. 'Serenity . . .' Her eyes inexplicably watered even more- why was she so sad? Wasn't this exactly what she wanted? "I am Serenity. I've changed-" Suddenly the last couple of days clicked with an eerie heaviness. Her weakness, her long, pale hair, her silver blood- Her body was changing, becoming the princess it was a thousand years ago- 'Mamo-chan saw . . . Does he know?!' Usagi searched her heart but felt little on the other end of her mind. He knew something was wrong; he, too, could feel it, just as Luna had. But he didn't know what had happened to her.

 

Gravity seemed to triple on her and Usagi collapsed to her knees. She folded her arms on the window seat and wept without understanding why. The moon parted the clouds and shone down on her, the moonlight glittering into true, tangible silver fabric, and suddenly she was in her princess gown, her golden birthmark flaring. She sobbed harder though she now felt stronger.

 

"Usa . . ." Usagi heard a sound and twisted her head around to face ChibiUsa, still sleepy-eyed but very quickly waking up. Without a thought, Usagi blinked and disappeared.