A/N: You know, when I was writing the author's note for the previous chapter, I was originally going to add, "This is not a betrayal fic." Why? Because my definition of a Sailor Moon betrayal fic is this: Usagi's friends verbally abuse her by lobbing factual statements at her as if they're insults (like how she's clumsy and does poorly in school, even though those are very common flaws lots of people have) then claim she's no good as a Soldier and kick her off the team and if the parents are involved, they kick Usagi out of the house.

None of that is happening in this story, therefore this is not a betrayal fic.

I suppose you could argue that Mamoru cheating on Usagi is a trope often associated with betrayal fics, but if you really think about it, it's pretty realistic. Mamoru and Usagi are so different from each other, I can picture them both cheating for reasons that will be discussed soon.

As for why it was Minako who Mamoru cheated with... One reason is because I kind of ship those two together, and another reason is because I didn't want to do a MamoruXRei pairing.

And before Mercedes1312 beats me with a bat, I would just like to say that there is a good explanation for the aforementioned adultery.

Now sit back, relax and read the chapter and leave a review when you're done! :D

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of its characters.

"I thought you were my friend!"

"Friendships are incredibly fragile, and short-lived like flowers."

"Stop this!"

"You're to blame."

"Please, Silver Crystal..."

"Don't bother."

"SAVE HER!"

The pleading voice reverberated in Usagi's ears as she awoke in a daze. "Save her," she mumbled. As her vision solidified, all she could see ahead of her was a world of creamy white with strange green stars. 'I'm in my room,' she realized, recalling how she used to stick glow-in-the-dark stickers on her ceiling. When she knit her eyebrows together, she felt something wet and lukewarm on her brow. She put a hand to her forehead and felt a small towel. Finally looking down at herself, she saw that she was tucked in bed. 'How did I get here?' she wondered, raking a hand through her long hair which had been freed from their odangos. When she tried to move her other hand, she felt the soft, warm touch of another.

Holding her hand and sitting by her bedside in a pale blue folding chair was Chibiusa. The pink-haired girl was slumped over in her seat, with her puffy pigtails spilling over her shoulders.

Usagi sat upright and reached out to the future Moon Senshi, gently shaking her shoulder. "Chibiusa, wake up."

A moment later, Chibiusa's eyes fluttered open. "...Wha... huh?" she mumbled as a yawn escaped her. After rubbing her eyelids, she finally noticed that her future mother was awake. "U-Usagi!"

A small smile made its way onto Usagi's gentle face. "How long have you been sitting there?"

Chibiusa scratched the top of her head. "A while. You've been out for a few hours. I came in here from time to time to check on you and change the towel on her forehead."

Usagi's smile grew wider, feeling touched that her future daughter had cared for her while she was unconscious. Which reminded her... "What happened? How did I get here?"

"After you passed out, I called Ami-chan, Rei-chan, and Mako-chan and they brought you home," Chibiusa informed. "I didn't call Minako-chan and Mamo-chan because of... well, you know." Her cheeks turned a bright red color, but she wasn't sure if it was because she was embarrassed or angry.

"Because of wha—" She cut herself off as memories of the day's events flooded her mind like Neptune's Deep Submerge. "Oh." She grabbed fistfuls of her covers in her trembling hands.

"Rei-chan said she would tell them about what happened," Chibiusa suddenly said.

Usagi didn't reply. She didn't even look at her future daughter. Instead, her eyes were trained on the closed doors of her balcony where the orange-yellow light of the setting sun peeked through. 'Sunrise, sunset.'

"I'm sorry about your brooch," the rabbit odango-haired girl meekly apologized. She couldn't help but feel a touch of guilt. If the griffin hadn't intimidated her so easily, she could've fired an attack sooner, and Sailor Moon wouldn't have had to jump in and save her.

The Moon Princess looked back at Chibiusa with confusion, before realization, then sadness, registered on her face. With a shudder, she hugged herself, shaking away the phantom pains the recollection brought. That griffin had easily broken her Tiare and damaged her brooch. She tugged on her blouse and looked inside, observing her chest. Her normal, uninjured chest. The Silver Moon Crystal must've healed her wounds. A part of her wanted to blame her Sailor Crystal for reacting during the fight and distracting her, but she knew her poor performance wasn't entirely the crystal's fault.

"I'm sorry..." Chibiusa's voice wavered a little.

"It's not your fault," Usagi assured, as if reading the younger girl's thoughts. "Eternal Sailor Moon wasn't strong enough because Usagi was too weak," she lamented. If only she hadn't gone to Mamoru's apartment...

"That's not true!" Chibiusa blurted out. "You're the strongest person I know!"

Usagi's mouth popped open at the pink-haired girl's exclamation. "Chibiusa..."

Chibiusa's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment as she tore her eyes away from her future mother's and sank back in her pale blue chair, folding her arms.

Neither of them said anything after that. Usagi stared at Chibiusa curiously, while Chibiusa was making a point of avoiding the blonde's eyes.

Usagi looked down at herself and put a hand to her chest. 'The Silver Moon Crystal survived, but my brooch... How am I supposed to fight this new threat without it?' She remembered all the transformation brooches she went through in the past: Her very first brooch that Luna gave her, which broke after she defeated Queen Metallia, but was upgraded to the Crystal Star by Queen Serenity. Then there was the Cosmic Heart Compact given to her by her future self, Neo Queen Serenity, which, just like its predecessor, was upgraded, this time by Pegasus, to the Crisis Moon Compact. And finally, the Eternal Brooch she received when all the Senshi pooled their powers together and allowed her to become Eternal Sailor Moon for the first time and defeat Queen Nehellenia. All those upgrades had happened right when she needed them, especially right after her current brooch had become useless, but only because the brooch had never been completely destroyed.

"What are we going to do now?"

The Moon Princess was pulled out of her worry by Chibiusa's small voice. The Lunaterran Princess still wasn't looking at her, but Usagi could tell by the look in her eyes that she wasn't talking about the new enemy. "I don't know, but we should tell the others."

When the sun finally set, Usagi and Chibiusa set out in the dark of night, walking in the direction of Hikawa Shrine. Ikuko and Kenji were hesitant about letting them go, due to the rising number of missing people, but eventually permitted them to leave.

Usagi had already called the Inner Senshi (bar Minako) and asked them to gather at the shrine for a meeting. Though the topic of the monsters that appeared earlier was definitely going to be discussed, there was another issue that needed to be talked about. A small part of her didn't want to expose the Venusian Senshi's treachery, in fear of the other girls ganging up on her, but perhaps that was what she needed. She needed to know just how selfish, reckless, and irresponsible she'd been, going after another girl's boyfriend and endangering a child's life. 'Did she even think about Chibiusa?' She stole a glance at the pink-haired girl, noticing that her skin was a tad bit paler. 'Probably not.'

Chibiusa had remained silent throughout the entire walk. For Usagi's sake, she held her tongue, along with the raging storm inside her. Mamoru and Minako. She would be less disgusted if she were actually surprised. She had seen the signs, but not in the 21st century. She first noticed it a few months before she left for the past again.

~0~

Princess Usagi Small Lady Serenity walked down the hallway of the Crystal Palace with Luna-P floating behind her. Wiping the sweat off her brow, she let out a sigh and hiked up her pink dress as if it would help her with the heat. 'This summer heat would put Mars' fire to shame,' she thought.

"Princess!" a high-pitched voice called, as a soldier in blue skipped down the hall.

She stopped in her tracks and faced the soldier with a smile. "Pallas!" she greeted. It seemed that she wasn't doing so well in the heat either, with the way her sweat stuck her bangs to her forehead.

"The others and I want to see you at the field behind the palace! Oh! And be sure to come in uniform!" the second-oldest of her guardians, Sailor Pallas informed. She had what the princess considered the least complicated hairstyle out of all her guardians; her pale blue hair was styled into a high bun, but with a strange headdress consisting of a metallic ring around her head with four small fluted metal pipes—two brown and two white—hanging from it, each of them with a blue orb attached at the end. Her blue eyes sparkled with their usual mirth as she approached her charge. She wore a uniform consisting of a white leotard with a deep blue chest bow and a pale blue star-shaped brooch affixed to it. Her stripe-less sailor collar was pale blue, her choker was pale blue, her earrings were large blue studs (in a way referencing her literal sphere of control), and her tiara was gold with a pale blue star. She had white bubble-like sleeves with a double row of white trim and white bicep-length gloves with pale blue padding. Her skirt was pale blue with a white bow that had a slight sheen of pale blue at the back, and her footwear consisted of white knee-high boots with pale blue inverted triangular arches with yellow stars.

The pink-haired princess tilted her head to the side. "Eh? Why?"

The blue-haired Senshi winked and put a gloved finger to her lips. "You'll see!"

~0~

After Pallas' cryptic message, Eternal Sailor Chibi Moon came transformed and ready, heading to the field behind the palace that she, the Quartet, and the Inner Senshi, used for training. Finally, she spotted her guardians standing in the center of the field, each of them looking a bit agitated. Except for Vesta, for some reason.

Sailor Ceres, the oldest of the Quartet and the only other pink-wearing Senshi, spotted her princess and waved her over. "Princess! You're here!" Ceres had pink hair—the same shade as Chibi Moon's—styled in a high bun with a bright yellow ribbon. She also had droopy ponytails—contained in hair bands the same pink shade as her hair—hanging in a circular fashion at her shoulders with two long hair bands trailing down with little wisps of her hair peaking out at the ends, securing the rest of her hair into two low ponytails. With her pink hair and matching pink eyes, she could almost be a doppelganger for her princess. She wore a uniform consisting of a white leotard with a plum purple chest bow and a pink star-shaped brooch affixed to it. Her stripe-less sailor collar was pink, her choker was pink, her earrings were pink roses (referencing her sphere of control), and her tiara was gold with a pink star. She had white bubble-like sleeves with a double row of white trim and white bicep-length gloves with pink padding. Her skirt was pink with a white bow that had a slight sheen of pink at the back, and her footwear consisted of white knee-high boots with pink inverted triangular arches with yellow stars.

Chibi Moon greeted the Quartet with a smile. "So, why did you want to meet me here? And why did I have to transform? Are we training?"

"Mmm, not really." Sailor Juno, the second-youngest, scratched the back of her neck. Juno had what was easily the most complicated hairstyle—along with the most complicated hair accessary—out of all her sisters. She had green hair with three circular brown hair bands resting on top of her head, which extended up to three longer hair bands, all connected to a green oblong piece, that resembled a circle with a crescent-shaped bite taken out of it, containing her green locks into a very high ponytail. Trailing down from the headdress, were two long brown hair bands—each ending with a piece identical to the one atop her headdress—that contained the rest of her hair into two low ponytails. Her uniform consisted of a white leotard with a brown chest bow and a green star-shaped brooch affixed to it. Her stripe-less sailor collar was green, her choker was green, her earrings were gold tear-drop shaped hoops, and her tiara was gold with a green star. She had white bubble-like sleeves with a double row of white trim and white bicep-length gloves with green padding. Her skirt was green with a white bow that had a slight sheen of green at the back, and her footwear consisted of white knee-high boots with green inverted triangular arches with yellow stars.

"You see, princess," Ceres clasped her hands together, looking like the elegant diplomat she aimed to be, "this summer heat has become so unbearable for us, that we cannot function properly! Even when we are on our respective asteroids, we cannot do our duties knowing our beloved princess has to suffer through this oppressive temperature!"

Sailor Vesta, the youngest of the Quartet, scoffed. "Oh please, it's not that bad." Vesta had scarlet red hair styled into a peculiar high ponytail, with multiple gold bands inlaid with red gems around the majority of it, and a long black band connected to a red oblong piece, that resembled a circle with a crescent-shaped bite taken out of it, containing the rest of her hair. Her uniform consisted of a white leotard with a black chest bow and a red star-shaped brooch affixed to it. Her stripe-less sailor collar was red, her choker was red, her earrings were small red studs, and her tiara was gold with a red star. She had white bubble-like sleeves with a double row of white trim and white bicep-length gloves with red padding. Her skirt was red with a white bow that had a slight sheen of red at the back, and her footwear consisted of white knee-high boots with red inverted triangular arches with yellow stars.

"Easy for you to say!" Juno rolled her eyes at her baby sister. "You're under the protection of the Asteroid of Hearth and your castle is like one big fireplace! Of course you'd be ok with this heat!"

"Yeah!" Pallas exclaimed. "Pallas is protected by the Asteroid of Jubilation, but I can't be jubilant when I'm being fried by the sun!"

Chibi Moon cleared her throat to draw the attention back to her. "And just why did I have to be here?"

"Because we need you to help make it snow!" Pallas cheered.

The princess' mouth popped open. "What?! That's why you needed me here?!"

"Yup!" Pallas confirmed shamelessly.

The Princess of the Earth and Moon face palmed. "I can't believe you four," she grumbled.

"We asked Mercury if she could use her power to make things a little cooler, but she bopped me on the head and told us to deal with it," Juno stated, fiddling with her fingers.

"I can't say I blame her! You were asking her to misuse her powers, just as you want me to do!"

Ceres had the decency to look ashamed. "We're sorry, princess. But really, do you honestly think you could spend another minute in the hot, hot palace, sweating out of every orifice, then drowning in your own perspiration with Venus-sama having to pull you out with her Love Whip?" she finished with a small smile, ignoring the strange looks she was getting from her sisters for painting such a vivid picture.

Chibi Moon gave the leader of her guardians a long, pensive look. She knew it would be wrong of them to use their powers in such a fashion, and it would most definitely get them in trouble with the older Senshi, but... she had been close to passing out three times that day because of the weather and wasn't sure how much longer she could hold out. "Alright."

"Yay!" Pallas clapped her hands and jumped up and down.

Chibi Moon and the Quartet stood in a circle as they waited for their energy to build up. Their bodies soon lit up with their respective aura colors: Pink for Ceres and Chibi Moon, aqua blue for Pallas, red for Vesta, and green for Juno. Once their energy was at its peak, they thrust their hands in the air. "Pink Ladies Freezing Kiss!" Their aura colors shot up into sky and swirled together into one large pale blue ball of ice. The ice exploded, resulting into copious amounts of ice and snow falling to the ground, covering the entire field.

"We did it!" Ceres caught a few snowflakes in her gloved hand.

"It's so cold and refreshing!" Pallas wasted no time in falling to ground and making a snow angel.

Vesta sniffled and wrinkled her nose when a snowflake fell on it. "I don't know, it's a little—" She was cut off when she felt something incredibly cold make contact with the back of her neck. She spun around and saw Juno smirking with her arm outstretched. "Why?!"

"Because you need to extinguish that Vestal fire and have some fun!" Right after Juno said that, a snowball hit her on the back of her head. She didn't need to look to find out who did it, as a bubbly voice chimed in to take credit for the assault.

"Haha! Pallas got you!"

Juno grumbled something unintelligible as she knelt down to the ground to make another snowball. "Why you—" Without warning, two snowballs hit the Soldier of Juno in the face. The green-haired girl gaped when she saw that her attacker was Vesta.

"You were right, Juno! This is fun!" Vesta declared, with two snowballs in each hand. "Unfortunately for you, my fire is flaring wilder than ever!" She tossed two snowballs at Juno, with one hitting her ribs and the other one hitting her face. She noticed Pallas clapping at the scene, but she would show no mercy for her older sister, instead firing her remaining two snowballs directly at her face. Having taken down two of her sisters, Vesta was feeling victorious until she heard an odd rustling sound.

Chibi Moon was bouncing Luna-P on the snow with a devilish grin. "Luna-P, transform!" The cat toy bounced into the air and changed its form with a burst of pale pink smoke.

Vesta paled at the sight and took a few steps back. "P-Princess... what are you doing?"

Luna-P had changed into a T-shirt cannon that fell into Chibi Moon's lively hands. However, instead of T-shirts, Chibi Moon filled the cannon with snowballs. "Joining in on the fun!" She aimed her weapon at the youngest of her guardians and fired mercilessly.

With a squeal, Vesta ran and ducked for cover.

Juno and Pallas had recovered and joined in on the action, firing snowballs at both Vesta and Chibi Moon.

Ceres was the only one who wasn't partaking in the merriment, preferring to watch her princess and younger sisters from the sidelines. "How barbaric," she declared with a toss of her head. Unfortunately for her, that left her open for a snowball attack right to the face. "Ack!"

Chibi Moon and the rest of the Quartet snickered, but their laughter came to an abrupt end when they saw the sharp glare of the leader of the Quartet.

"How dare you?!" the pink-haired soldier fumed. She sank to the ground and scooped up large amounts of snow in her hands, forming them into snowballs each bigger than her head. "Have at you!" She dug her fingers into the snowballs and hurled them at her fellow soldiers, hitting Juno and Chibi Moon in their faces.

It wasn't long before an all-out snow battle ensued between the girls, with snow balls flying wildly from all directions. Some of the girls were even fighting over who would hold the title of the Solar System's "Snow Queen".

"What is going on here?!"

The girls all froze in place (pun intended) at the sound of the angry voice.

Chibi Moon was especially scared; she was very familiar with the voice and knew it could only belong to one person.

"Venus-sama?!" Ceres cried out, dropping a snowball she was holding and slowly backing away.

The physically 22-year-old Queen of Venus gave each girl a stern look. "Girls, where did this snow come from?"

Chibi Moon and the Quartet said nothing and gave each other nervous looks.

"Where did this snow come from?" Sailor Venus repeated firmly.

The five girls looked around awkwardly and told the leader of the Queen's guard how they used their Pink Ladies Freezing Kiss group attack to make it snow because they couldn't put up with the heat.

Venus shook her head disapprovingly. "Honestly girls, to use your powers in such a way," she scolded, resting her hands on her hips with her fingers brushing against the Love Whip around her waist. "And worst of all," she started, letting the girls sweat it out before she continued, "you did something fun without me!" she exclaimed, pointing at herself with her thumb. "The Goddess of Love needs some enjoyment too, you know!"

The collective sound of jaws dropping was heard as the Sailor Quartet and Chibi Moon gaped at the Venusian Senshi.

The bow-wearing Senshi giggled and unfastened her Love Whip. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get ready! Because I won't go easy on you!" She struck the ground with her whip, making snow rise in the air, then whipped it in the direction of the five younger Senshi.

~0~

After Venus had joined the snow battle, Chibi Moon and the Quartet quickly admitted defeat. Afterwards, they all headed inside with their sailor uniforms soaking wet from the melted snow.

"Remember not to tell your parents about this," Venus advised to Chibi Moon.

"Don't tell her parents about what?" a deep voice questioned.

Sauntering down the hallway with a staff in hand, was King Endymion.

"Oh, King! You startled me!" Venus claimed. For a split second, Chibi Moon could swear she saw a hint of pink on her cheeks.

"What is it that you do not wish for Small Lady to tell me or Serenity?"

Chibi Moon exchanged a few nervous glances with her guardians and crossed her fingers behind her back.

Venus cleared her throat and stood tall before the Golden King. "I was supervising a training session going on between the princess and the Sailor Quartet," she managed. "I must admit, the weather was a bit harsh for training, but I went against my better judgment and allowed it, which is why I didn't want Chibi Moon to say anything."

The lavender-clad king gave the leader of his wife's guardians a quizzical look before responding, "I don't blame you. Mars was just telling me how she was dying in this heat."

Vesta's eyebrows shot up at the king's comment. 'Really? Mars of all people?'

"It was very generous of you to take time out of your own busy schedule to watch my daughter and her guardians."

The corner of Venus' mouth curled up in a smile. "Of course, my King."

"Oh, it almost slipped my mind, but visiting dignitaries from Mau and Coronis will be arriving soon and I need someone with Mars to keep the peace between them."

"I'll take up the task, my King," Venus said with a bow. "Anything you need from me, anything at all, I'll use as much of my energy necessary to see to your needs."

Chibi Moon and the Quartet, even Pallas, gave the Soldier of Love odd looks, noticing how lewd her statement was.

Endymion, however, was oblivious to the double entendre. "Great. Thank you, Venus." With that settled, the Earth King turned and left, proceeding down a hallway to deal with other matters.

"Anytime... My King," Venus said with a syrupy smile.

It did not escape Chibi Moon's notice how Venus was staring at her father. What concerned her was that it was the same kind of look Sailor Pluto used to give the king when he visited her at the Door of Space-Time.

~0~

After that, Chibiusa began to notice how strange Venus acted around her father. She would give him longing stares whenever she thought no one was looking, occasionally make flirty comments, and find excuses to touch him while keeping it appropriate. Though it only lasted for a fraction of a second, Venus would also look at the queen with envy whenever she saw her and the king together. Chibiusa assumed that because of the Venusian Senshi's natural flirty and rambunctious nature, the little crush she seemed to have on the king would fade just as Pluto's did.

But it never did.

When Venus' affections for her father didn't die away soon, Chibiusa held onto the belief that she was just being playful and would get over her crush on the king, so she blocked out all the interactions Venus had with Endymion.

But was that the right thing to do?

Shaking away the thought, she turned her attention to Usagi, who was walking with a very solemn, almost defeated expression. She never thought she'd see such a look on the ever-joyful Usagi Tsukino's face. "Um, so... did you hand in your birth certificate on time?"

"Hm?" Usagi turned to Chibiusa with a tired look. "Oh, something went wrong and I can't go on the field trip."

"Why not?"

"It turns out that the birth certificate I turned in wasn't an official copy."

The pink-haired girl was perplexed. "How can that be?"

"I don't know, but I'll definitely have to talk to mama and papa about it," Usagi said. "We're here."

"Huh?" Chibiusa was so focused on the blonde, she hadn't noticed that they were at the bottom of the steps of Hikawa Shrine.

Hand in hand, the two Senshi of the Moon walked up the numerous steps. When they reached the top, they saw the sliding door to the shrine was open, giving view to Ami, Rei, and Makoto who were sitting on the floor.

The odango-haired blonde paused, feeling unsure of herself. Despite what Minako did, she was still one of her dearest friends. 'Is this really the right thing to do?'

Feeling her future mother tense up, Chibiusa gave Usagi's hand a squeeze, catching her attention. She met Usagi's uncertain sapphire eyes with her own resolved ruby orbs. Her eyes conveyed a message that said, 'This is the right thing.'

With a nod, Usagi forged on, still holding the pink-haired girl's delicate hand. They were Soldiers of Justice, after all. When they were a few feet away from the shrine, they could finally hear the conversation between the three soldiers of the inner Solar System.

"Where is Minako-chan?" Ami asked.

Usagi could hear Rei huff in irritation. "Most likely with Mamoru-san," she grumbled.

"I can't believe those two." Makoto sighed, shaking her head in disappointment. "What they're doing behind Usagi-chan's back is despicable!"

The Jovian Senshi's comment made Usagi and Chibiusa freeze. Before any of the girls could see them, Usagi grabbed Chibiusa and sprinted out of sight, leaning up against the wall close to the entrance of the room her guardians were in.

"It was no secret that Minako-chan was boy crazy, but I can't believe she would go so low as to steal Usagi's boyfriend." Rei shook her head as she smoothed out her white and red miko robes.

Makoto ran a hand through her chocolate-brown bangs. "And to think, this has been going on for months. Months of them sneaking around and betraying Usagi-chan in the worst way known to a girl!"

Usagi's mouth popped open. 'Months?! It was going on for months and I never noticed?!'

"It's actually pretty logical that this happened," Ami voiced.

Makoto looked at her as if she set fire to the place. "Ami-chan!"

The Mercurian Senshi flushed and held up her hands in defense. "W-What I mean is that Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san didn't seem to have that much in common! With Usagi-chan's behavior, I can see why Mamoru-san cheated on her! She's much too... spirited and immature for him. In all honestly, I'm surprised it took this long."

Chibiusa had to cover her mouth with her hand to muffle out the sound of her growling in anger and disgust.

"But how is Minako-chan any different?" Makoto responded. "If anything, she's even more spirited than her!"

The blue-haired genius bit her lip, unable to refute the tall brunette's argument.

"You know, Ami-chan does have a point," Rei said in calm tone. "Usagi and Mamoru-san were so painfully mismatched, it was making me cringe."

"So that makes it ok for Mamoru-san to cheat on her?!" Makoto glared at the raven-haired shrine maiden. "How can you be so cavalier about this?! Aren't you the least bit upset?!"

"Of course, I am!" the Martian Senshi snapped, grabbing fistfuls of the red skirt of her shrine maiden attire. "But how I feel isn't going to change anything! And if you hate the idea of Minako-chan and Mamoru-san together, how come you haven't told Usagi?"

Makoto sighed and folded her arms over her ample bosom. "For the same reason you haven't told her either. I don't want to break her heart."

"But that's what Mamoru-san is doing," Ami said quietly.

A spark of realization flashed in Makoto's emerald green eyes as she cupped her face with slightly trembling hands. "Now that I think about it, that's not even the worst part," she said, her voice wavering. "What about Chibiusa? What's going to happen to her now?"

A pregnant silence filled the room as fear and worry flashed across Rei and Ami's faces. Rei looked down at herself, while Ami nervously scratched the side of her head, neither of them wanting to discuss the unavoidable topic of the future Moon Senshi's fate.

Usagi and Chibiusa leaned closer to the wall, waiting for a response with bated breath.

"Well..." Ami finally spoke up, "Minako-chan and Mamoru-san began their affair months ago, but Chibiusa is still here. Therefore, Mamoru-san must've realized his mistake and Usagi-chan must've changed the way she is if Chibiusa is still alive."

Makoto opened and closed her mouth, trying to come up with a counter argument, but couldn't think of one. "Well... I guess..."

Rei kept her eyes glued to the floor and she spoke, "I guess you're right."

Outside, Chibiusa covered her face with both hands and shook her head, feeling immense disappointment in her future mother's guardians. Obviously, they hadn't gotten a good look at her earlier today when they arrived to help Usagi. Had they noticed her sickly appearance, would they have come clean? As she was internally cursing out the Inner Senshi, Chibiusa became aware of a tingling sensation that assaulted her whole body. It was the kind of sensation one would experience when their leg falls asleep, except it filled her entire body. Slowly, she pulled her hands away from her face and...

Oh no...

Her hands... They were see-through.

Upon closer inspection, Chibiusa noticed that her entire body was transparent. Her hands flew to her mouth in surprise, but she suppressed any exclamation of shock. She turned to Usagi, relieved that the blonde wasn't looking at her. She didn't want her to see her in this state. A second later, her body displayed static like a cheap TV before becoming corporeal again.

With a sigh, she hugged herself and fought away a familiar stinging sensation assaulting her eyes. She didn't want to accept it, but there was no denying it now. She was fading. Fast.

Out of the corner of her eye, Usagi noticed Chibiusa curled up in a ball on the ground, hugging herself. Feeling sympathy for the child, she tore herself away from the Inner Senshi's conversation and rested a hand on the pink-haired princess' shoulder. "Chibiusa..." To her surprise, Chibiusa wrapped her arms around her and gave her a tight hug. She was surprised by this sudden display of affection, but nonetheless returned the embrace.

A few tears leaked out of Chibiusa's eyes, which she then wiped onto Usagi's blouse. "Mama..." What would her actual mother, the queen think? How would she react to the fact that her daughter was going to perish in the past? Obviously, not well, she thought. 'Wait... There may be something I can do.' Pulling away from Usagi, she wiped her eyes and stood to her feet. She gave the Moon Princess one last look before spinning around and dashing off.

"Chibiusa!" Usagi whispered.

"It's ok!" the pink-haired girl assured, waving at Usagi without turning around. "Don't worry about me!" She continued down the steps of Hikawa Shrine until her form was no longer visible.

Usagi reached out in the direction the future Moon Senshi went, but soon drew back her hand. 'She'll be fine,' she told herself. She leaned back against the wall, pulling her knees to her chest as she once again listened in on her guardians' conversation while taking a few peeks into the room.

"There's something else we need to worry about," Rei said, shifting uncomfortably on the floor. "Chibiusa said Usagi's brooch was destroyed today."

"What?!" Ami and Makoto bore twin expressions of shock.

Rei nodded grimly. "Apparently, a monster managed to damage it before it just... exploded. And before that, it even broke Sailor Moon's Eternal Tiare." She tightened her grip on her skirt.

"This is not good. Without her brooch, Usagi-chan can't become Sailor Moon!" Ami pointed out.

Makoto hugged herself, trembling a little. "To think, that this new threat was able to destroy Sailor Moon's weapon and her transformation brooch! If they're that strong, then what chance do we have against them?!"

"We'll do our absolute best," Rei resolved. She was a little taken aback by Makoto's sudden pessimism, but didn't let it show. "We'll protect Usagi no matter what."

Usagi had heard enough. She rose listlessly to her feet and walked away from the shrine, sauntering down the steps, completely unnoticed by her guardians.

"They knew. This whole time. They knew," Usagi mumbled to herself, walking back to her house with vexation in every step.

Now she understood why the Inner Senshi had been so nice and attentive to her lately. They felt guilty. She should've known something was up when Rei never provoked her in any way. How could she have been so blind? Everything made sense now: the occasional pitiful looks, the sudden bursts of generosity, Minako's excuses for leaving study groups early and even coming to school with her hair messed up, and Mamoru's excuses for abruptly ending their dates.

Although, that wasn't anything new. The Earth Prince was always distracted during their dates, looking as though he would rather be somewhere else. 'Maybe with someone else...' she thought with a sigh. Why? Why had he done to this her? And after all they'd been through together, in this lifetime and the last: A possessed tyrant driven by jealousy, a perverted prince fueled by lust, an evil entity bent on destruction, and an evil queen compelled to ruin their lives for the sake of greed.

And why had Minako done what she did? She didn't know she held any of feelings for Mamoru. Or did she only lust after him? The heartbreaking image of her on top of Mamoru was ingrained in her mind, along with their playful, sexual banter. She and Mamoru had never bantered so easily like that, especially not sexually. Could that be why he slept with Minako? Because he felt that his girlfriend couldn't see to his needs?

"She's much too... spirited and immature for him."

She folded her arms over her bust and squeezed her eyes shut painfully, fighting back the familiar stinging sensation she felt in her eyes. 'Was I never enough? Did he think I was too childish?'

She had no idea how she was going to face Mamoru the next time she saw him. In fact, she didn't know if she would be able to face the girls either. She didn't want to face them. She was just so angry with them, though Makoto was in her better graces since she wanted to come clean to her about what was going on behind her back. In spite of that, she planned to avoid her, along with the others, for a little while, though that may prove to be a bit difficult since they were now determined to keep her safe with the new enemy lurking around.

Finally reaching her home, she opened the front door and was immediately greeted by her stern-looking mother. "Usagi! Why were you gone for so long?! You said you would be back soon!" she exclaimed. "And why—" Ikuko's expression changed from angry to concerned when she noticed the dried tears on her daughter's face. "W-What's wrong?"

Usagi sniffled and looked around the living room, spotting her brat of a brother sitting on the couch, playing video games, and her father in the kitchen, reading a book. It just occurred to her how little she spent with her family nowadays. Ever since she became Sailor Moon and found all of her comrades, she barely had time for them. She didn't go shopping with her mother, go to amusement parks with her father, or even challenge her brother to video game matches anymore. Whenever the Tsukinos planned family outings, Usagi always had to decline because of her duties as a Sailor Soldier. Those were precious times she had cherished with her family, but had to sacrifice those moments because of her friends. Friends who couldn't bring themselves to be honest with her. But with her brooch destroyed and her decision to steer clear of the girls, she wouldn't be involved in fighting the new enemy and would have more time with her loved ones.

"Nothing, mama," Usagi assured, giving her mother a hug and resting her head on her shoulder. "I just missed you guys."

Ikuko was perplexed by her daughter's behavior, not understanding the true meaning behind her words. 'She missed us? It's not like she hasn't seen us in a few weeks.' Regardless, she returned Usagi's hug with a smile.

"Ugh, is Stupid Usagi crying about something again?" Shingo questioned. His eyes were glued to the TV screen and his fingers were mashing the buttons of his controller as he played one of his favorite games, Inhabitant Wickedness. "She really needs to grow up."

Unknown to the 12-year old boy, his comment added another stab wound to Usagi's heart, making the self-loathing from earlier rise back up.

Feeling Usagi tense up in her arms, Ikuko whipped her head around to glare at her son. "Shingo! That was unnecessary! Go to your room!"

Shingo groaned, but obeyed his mother's order. He shut off his game console and trudged up the stairs, grumbling something about "pampered crybaby dumplings".

"What's happening out here?" Kenji questioned, exiting the kitchen with his book in hand.

Ikuko dismissively waved a hand. "Oh, Shingo's just being mean to Usagi."

"That boy. He really needs to learn to respect his sister." Kenji walked over to Usagi and patted one of her odangos. "I won't having anyone being mean to my little girl."

Usagi smiled warmly at the attention and affection she was receiving. She was so lucky to have such caring parents. "Mama, papa, there's something I need to talk to you about."

"Oh? What is it?"

The odango-haired blonde fiddled with her fingers. "When I tried to present my birth certificate to the school office, they said it wasn't an official one because it didn't have a government seal." As she was explaining, she didn't notice how her parents' faces paled as they exchanged nervous looks with each other. "But how could that be? I've never heard either of you mention any copy of my birth certificate before."

Ikuko slowly backed away from Usagi and looked at her like she was a ghost. Bringing trembling hands to her face, she made her way over to the couch in the living, ignoring everything else around her.

Kenji slowly set his book down on a nearby table and adjusted his glasses. "...D-Do you really need to go on that trip? It's so far away and I don't think you could handle yourself overseas. And westerners can be pretty weird."

Usagi gave her father an odd look and glanced at her mother, who was sitting on the couch with her arms propping up her head. "Papa, where is my birth certificate?"

Kenji gritted his teeth and nervously tapped his fingers on the wooden surface of the table. "It's safely put away."

"Where?"

"In a box in the basement."

"That's what mama said when I asked her, and the certificate I found turned out to be a fake."

"Oh." Kenji stole a glance at his wife. "Then it's in the attic."

"Everything was cleared out of the attic to make space for Chibiusa."

Kenji sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You know what, it doesn't even matter where it is, because you're not going overseas," he said, nodding his head decisively as if that were the end of the argument. He made a move to go over to the couch to comfort Ikuko, but Usagi preemptively blocked his path.

"Wait," Usagi gave him a stern look, "you and mama never answer any questions I have about my birth certificate. You either ignore me or try to change the subject. Why is that? Why don't you tell me anything?" She was about to ask another question when she heard her mother let out a little sob. "And why is mama crying?"

A sort of strangled look flashed across Kenji's face. Without a word, he brushed past Usagi and sat down next to Ikuko, resting a hand on her shoulder.

Usagi regarded her parents with a look of pity and confusion. 'They look like someone died.' The thought reminded her of Chibiusa's condition, but she steeled herself against the tears that were threatening to spill out. It didn't make sense. Why couldn't they just tell her about her birth certificate? Did the original get ruined somehow and they were too ashamed to admit it? Though they didn't display it much, Ikuko and Kenji were prone to clumsy moments just like their daughter. "Mama... papa..."

"Usagi, please," Kenji's voice was quiet and weak, "there are just some things you don't need to know."

Usagi visibly crumbled at those words. She lowered her head, letting her blonde bangs cast a shadow over her eyes. Things she didn't need to know? Is that what the Inner Senshi thought too? She gritted her teeth, balling up her hands into fists. She was tired of being protected from the truth. She was the protector. Not the protected. Not to mention, the future queen of the planet. If she wanted answers, she would get them. "This isn't fair."

Ikuko sniffled and listlessly twirled a strand of blue hair around her pinky finger. "Usagi, please don't do this to u—" She cut herself off when she heard a sniffle. She looked up and saw tears streaming down Usagi's face. "...Usa—"

"You know, while I was walking home, all I wanted to do was spend more time with my family. Even Shingo, who's a total brat." A wry laugh escaped her lips. "I wanted to make up for all the fun family times I missed out on to hang out with my friends."

"Usagi..." Kenji was unnerved by his daughter's melancholy tone.

"But now, I don't know if I want to spend time with family members who keep secrets from me," she said, ignoring the hypocrisy in her words.

Ikuko felt her heart breaking as she covered her mouth with her hands. "Usagi!"

Usagi raised her head, letting her parents see her angry, tear-filled eyes. "I've had enough pain and heartbreak for today. When I came home, I wanted to be around my loving, honest parents, but you won't even answer a simple question of mine!" she huffed, wiping away her tears with her sleeve. After giving a look of sad disappointment to her parents, she turned on her heel and headed for the door.

"W-Where are you going?" Ikuko questioned, reaching out for the blonde.

"I'm going to go spend time with people I can actually trust," Usagi said, slipping on her shoes, hoping neither of them would see through her bluff.

Kenji shot up from his seat and rushed over to Usagi, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Usagi, wait."

They didn't.

Usagi smirked inwardly, and let herself be led over to the couch in the living room. However, she took a seat opposite to the one her parents were sitting on so she could stare them down.

"Alright." Kenji sank down into the couch with a sigh, rubbing his temples.

Ikuko gave him a horrified, pleading look, but Kenji responded with a weary, resolved expression before turning back to his daughter.

"The reason we don't answer questions about your birth certificate is because it's with your mother."

Usagi looked at him curiously, eventually shifting her gaze to Ikuko. "But... But you told me to look in the basement..."

Ikuko shook her head, then turned away from the blonde. "Not me."

Confused and a little worried, Usagi faced her father with scared eyes. "What are you trying to tell me?"

"We," Kenji wrapped an arm around his crying wife, "are not your parents."

As soon as the words left his mouth, Ikuko shot up from the couch, tears blurring her vision as she dashed out of the living room. The sight concerned Usagi, but Kenji looked calm, if not a little sad, as if he expected that kind of reaction.

'Not my parents?' "So... So what you're saying is..." Usagi brushed a trembling hand through her bangs, "I'm adopted?" The question came out as a squeak. She definitely wasn't expecting that answer. Minako's theory from the other day popped into her mind; she never would have guessed that it was true!

"Not... exactly. You see," Kenji lifted up his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose, gathering the courage to say the words that held the truth of an event that happened nearly 16 years ago, "we stole you."

Setsuna Meiou was on her knees, hunched over in pain on the floor, and breathing heavily. "Impossible..." she muttered, clutching the side of her head and grabbing a fistful of dark green hair. "How could this have happened?" She took a deep breath and forced herself to sit in a proper position. She was glad Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru weren't around to see the sorry state she was in. Plus, she wouldn't have to explain the reason for her breakdown. She propped her hand against the wall and slowly stood to her feet. Her scarlet eyes were brimming with premature tears, but she clenched her fist and fought against them. As the daughter of a god, and the Guardian of Time itself, she could not afford to be so weak.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Plutonian Senshi cringed at the incessant banging on the front door. It couldn't have been any of her fellow Outer Senshi (though Haruka was a likely candidate) since they all had keys to the house. 'Who could possibly be here at this hour?' she wondered, reluctantly leaving the comfort of her room and headed downstairs.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Setsuna swallowed a groan and steeled her eyes. 'What unruly being could be knocking like that?' she wondered, turning the golden knob of the door. Could it be one of Michiru's students? Or maybe one of Hotaru's new admirers?

"Puu!"

Or perhaps a little girl with fists like hammers... "Small Lady?"

Chibiusa ran up to Setsuna and tugged on the bottom of her dress. "Puu! You have to help me!"

"What's wrong?" Concerned, Setsuna knelt down to the panicked child. Now that she was getting a good look at her, Setsuna noticed her princess' sickly appearance: Her skin had lost its peachy tone and was now an insipid dull gray color. Her bubblegum pink hair, with its puffy pigtails was now a dull pink and the pigtails drooped down her back as if she had been doused with water. And her eyes... Her ruby red eyes that nearly matched her own garnet ones had lost their cheery shine, the same shine that existed within the pure-hearted Messiah's eyes.

"You have to send me back home!" the pink-haired girl cried. "You have to send me back to the 30th century!"

The Soldier of Revolution's eyes widened, then darted to the side. "Why so soon?"

"Please! I don't have much ti—" The torturous tingling sensation shot through her body again as her form destabilized just as it did at the shrine, forcing her to release Setsuna and fall to her knees in pain.

Setsuna's mouth hung open in horror. "Small Lady!" She reached out to touch the princess, but to her dismay, her hand went right through her. 'She's like a ghost!'

When her form re-stabilized, Chibiusa looked up at the older woman with tears streaming down her pale face. "They changed the future, Puu..." She sniffled, wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "Mamo-chan and Minako-chan... Because of them, I won't be born!"

"The Prince and Sailor Venus did what?!" the green-haired woman exclaimed. 'So, it was them.'

"Quickly, Puu! You have to send me back home so mama can use her power to save me! Maybe her Silver Moon Crystal can sustain my life!"

Setsuna snapped her eyes shut and jerked her head away. "I'm afraid... that is not possible."

Chibiusa's pale face scrunched up in confusion and fear. "Why not?!"

Tears were once again threatening to spill from Setsuna's eyes. 'No. Stop it. You must be strong.' Clearing her throat, she hesitantly brought her eyes back to the princess. "Because there is no home to send you back to. I cannot see Crystal Tokyo anymore."

Chibiusa's mouth hung open and trembled. "That... that can't... No, it can't be!"

"And what's worse is..." Setsuna choked back a sob with a groan, but allowed a few tears to stream down her tan face. "I cannot see a future where you exist."

Chibiusa's face turned even paler, if that was even possible. "I... I won't exist?" she asked, her voice becoming squeaky with grief. With a growl, she lowered her head to the carpeted floor. This wasn't fair! Despite being 902 years old, she felt she hadn't truly lived her life, and now she never would. She would never reach the physical age of 14, officially become Sailor Moon and prove herself as a Soldier protected by the moonlight. She would never hang out with the Quartet and reminisce on all the fun times they had in their youth. She would never sit on her mother's throne and become the first queen who was a descendant of the Earth and Moon. She would never see Helios again and claim him as her prince. And most of all... she would never tell Usagi how much she meant to her.

"Those damn girls," she growled out. Though Minako was the one who threatened her existence, Ami, Rei, and Makoto were just as guilty. How could they possibly think that keeping the secret of the Earth Prince's infidelity was a good idea? Even if they didn't want to hurt Usagi with the news, they were hurting her more by letting her think she was in a relationship with someone who loved her. And how could they not have worried about the possibility of her fading from existence sooner? Ami especially should have been the one to realize that if something should happen to severely damage the relationship of the people who would give birth to her, then she wouldn't be born. 300 I.Q. points, down the drain.

And Mamoru... She still could not believe that the caped crusader would do something so heinous. From what she was told, Mamoru had attracted a lot of admirers, from Queen Beryl to Fisheye, yet he never returned their advances. So why was it that he returned Minako's? Was it because she was so similar to Usagi? Did he have a thing for spirited blondes? Whatever the reason, he clearly didn't give her existence any thought. How could he have done this to her? She was his daughter!

Once again, a tingling sensation assaulted her body as she flickered in and out of existence. "Puu... please..." her voice was soft and raspy. "Help me..." she begged, looking up at the woman she viewed as a mother figure with watery eyes.

Setsuna's heart broke at the sight, but she steeled herself as best she could. "I am sorry, Small Lady. But I do not possess such power," she admitted, her voice sounding more despondent than she preferred. "And as the Guardian of Time, I understand better than anyone that the future is not set in stone and is always changing."

Chibiusa weakly shook her head, refusing to believe what the Soldier of Pluto was saying. "No! Surely there must be a way to change my fate!"

"I'm afraid your fate was permanently changed when the prince betrayed Usagi-san."

The fading princess slowly brought her eyes back down to the floor and started hyperventilating. 'No... No... No, no, no, no, no, NO!' She clasped her hands together and got down on one knee; the pose reminded her of when she used to summon Pegasus with the Crystal Carillon. Moments later, the air shimmered in front of her and her Pink Moon Crystal materialized.

"Small Lady, what are you...?"

Chibiusa let her crystal hover above her open palms. "This is my only hope," she said, raising her crystal up high. 'Please, Pink Moon Crystal! Please save my life!' The crystal heeded its master's silent prayer and gave off a brilliant display of pink light, momentarily blinding the two women. Chibiusa let out a shaky sigh, feeling the changes being wrought on her. Her skin had regained its peachy color, her hair sprang back into its normal puffy style and had even regained its bubblegum pink shade, and her eyes had gotten their shine back.

When the Pink Moon Crystal's light had died down, Setsuna marveled at the pink-haired girl's restored healthy appearance, even letting some happy tears fall. "It worked!"

Chibiusa was also crying tears of joy. She had saved her own life with her own power. She may not be Sailor Moon, but she certainly felt like it at that moment. Now, with her Pink Moon Crystal, she would be able to fight the new enemy and protect Usagi until she was able to transform again.

Krrrrk!

A strange noise made Chibiusa and Setsuna flinch, sounding like an odd mix between glass shattering and a sword being unsheathed.

"Small Lady..."

"Hm?" Chibiusa noticed that the Guardian of Time had a worried look on her face, a look she had never seen before. When she followed the gaze of her garnet red eyes, her breath caught in her throat. "The Pink Moon Crystal..."

"It's cracked..." Setsuna completed the sentence.

The Pink Moon Crystal, indeed, had a crack along its petal-like folds. Seconds later, another crack appeared. Then another, and another, until veins of spider-like cracks appeared all over its surface. When Chibiusa tried to touch it, the crystal flared brightly, as if angry with its owner. It continued to shine brighter and brighter, blinding Setsuna and forcing the green-haired woman to shield her eyes, but Chibiusa was still able to witness this violent display of light. The sickening sound of cracks filled the room and with a show of pink light, the Pink Moon Crystal shattered, with its shards falling to the floor.

Chibiusa sank to her knees and looked at the shards of her crystal in horror. Her Sailor Crystal, the object her soul was tied to, was destroyed. With tears streaming down her face, she picked up a few shards, then let them fall back on the ground with a sob.

Once Setsuna was able to see again, she was horrified to see a weeping Chibiusa kneeling before pink crystal shards. "Oh Chronos..." she gasped. What a fool she'd been, letting her guard down and thinking that the situation had been resolved so easily. How could she have forgotten the lessons her father and Queen Serenity had taught her?

"...Why?" Chibiusa questioned, her tone sounding neither scared nor sad. She was slumped over like a lifeless doll, looking at nothing else but her shattered crystal, showing almost no reaction when the shards dissipated into sparkling pink lights that vanished into thin air. "Why did this happen, Puu?"

Setsuna swallowed, choking back the shuddering sob that threatened to break out of her throat, and schooled her features into an emotionless visage. "You are no longer meant to exist, therefore your crystal will not exist either."

"I see," Chibiusa stated in an emotionless tone. A golden glow surrounded her body as it once again became transparent. Though, unlike last time, it did not re-stabilize. Her body slowly turned into sparkling gold lights that floated upwards until they faded to nothingness.

"Small Lady!" Setsuna exclaimed, allowing fear and worry to show on her elegant features.

To Setsuna's surprise, Chibiusa started giggling. "Oh well! I guess that's it for me!" She looked up at the Plutonian Senshi with teary eyes, but also a small smile. "It was really great, coming here to the past and spending time with you all, and being able to act like a normal kid instead of a princess! And meeting everyone's younger selves was as weird as it was fun!" Her voice shook a bit. "I'm really glad I met you, Puu."

Setsuna could not control the flow of tears that fell helplessly from her eyes this time. "Chibiusa..." she whispered, calling the fading girl by her nickname for the very first time.

"What's really going to bug me is how Usagi is going to take this! She's such a crybaby, she'll be bawling for days!" Her voice broke off into a sob, as she was no longer able to keep up her happy facade. She lowered her head to the carpet, her shoulders shaking with every sob. As the last of her body vanished into floating, golden lights, Chibiusa sniffled and looked up with a forlorn expression.

The key events of the past 900 years of her life flashed through her mind: Falling from the sky into the 21st century, generating her own Silver Crystal and becoming Sailor Chibi Moon for the first time, meeting Hotaru and making a treasured friend, helping Pegasus find his beautiful maiden, and earlier, giving Usagi one last hug.

"Don't forget about me, mama." Her childish face, stained with tears, finally dissipated into golden lights that soon vanished completely, leaving no trace of the girl it used to be.

"Damn it!" Setsuna was face down in a pillow, crying her eyes out, and punching the bed.

After Chibiusa faded from existence, she finally let the dam break and broke down in tears. She was so distraught, she couldn't find the strength to move on her own, having to summon her Garnet Rod to help her up the steps. She chastised herself for misusing the sacred item of the royal family of Pluto, but her misery over the future Moon Senshi's death took precedence over her code of honor. She berated herself over and over again for not being able to help the pink-haired princess. Her, the Demigoddess Daughter of Chronos, with powers over Space-Time couldn't save one little girl.

And how could she have been so heartless to her, telling her that time was always changing and that she couldn't see a future where she existed? It was the truth, but the girl was dying, and instead of providing words of comfort during her final moments or even trying to do something to help her, she just spouted out cold, hard facts. Sobbing even louder, she tightly clutched the pillow she was crying in. "Small Lady..."

~0~

Walking through the halls of Charon Castle on Pluto, was a young girl, appearing no older than 10, with a tan complexion, long dark green hair with a single bun on top and a garnet red symbol of Pluto burning on her brow. She wore a black strap dress that flowed past her feet with matching, elbow-length gloves.

"Tempus!"

Princess Tempus of Pluto whipped around to see another 10-year old girl jogging up to her.

She had a tan complexion like the princess, long black hair with a red sheen tied up in a high ponytail, and blazing orange eyes. She wore an outfit that seemed a tad inappropriate for someone her age: a blood red, strapless dress that flowed past her feet with a diamond-shaped keyhole bust line and mid-thigh slits on both sides, showing off her tan legs, with black elbow-length gloves. Around her waist, was a black sash with a garnet red Pluto symbol motif. Her footwear consisted of black, open-toed heels.

"What is it, Daleila?" the princess questioned.

"You're not going to believe this! The Queen of the Silver Millennium is here!" Daleila squealed. "She wants to speak with you!"

The young princess' garnet red eyes widened. "Really?" She had heard of her from her father before, but Tempus had never met the Moon Queen in person, though she was curious about the woman with a power that rivaled her father's own.

"She's waiting downstairs in the parlor room!" Daleila took Tempus' hands and led her down the hall. "Let's go!"

~0~

Queen Serenity sat patiently in Charon Castle's parlor room as she waited for the Crown Princess of Pluto to arrive. She rhythmically tapped her fingers on her lap, feeling anxious about the news she was about to deliver. 'Curse Chronos for making me do this when it should be him.' She shut her eyes and groaned internally, but they popped back open when she finally heard footsteps descending from the staircase. She smiled when she saw two 10-year old girls approach her and curtsy. "Thank you for bringing Princess Tempus here, Lady Daleila."

The noble girl bowed to the silver-haired queen. "It was no problem, Queen Serenity." Daleila then scurried off, letting her princess and the Moon Queen speak privately.

"It's nice to meet you, Princess Tempus. Here, have a seat." Queen Serenity patted the space next to her on the long seat.

Shyly, Tempus made her way over to the Moon Queen and sat next to her. Though she could tell the queen was a kind, gentle woman, she felt intimidated by the regal poise and elegance she carried, along with a certain grace she thought she herself would never attain. "So, what brings you to Pluto, Your Majesty?"

"Have you been in contact with your father lately?"

The Plutonian Princess looked downcast. "No... It is not exactly easy to contact the almighty God of Time."

Serenity felt pity for the Demigoddess Princess. She did not quite understand what it was like to have a divine parent you barely saw. She herself was an incarnation of a Moon Goddess, not a daughter of one. "Well... He sent me here to aid you in a task he wants you to take up."

"M-My father wants me to perform a special task?"

The Moon Queen nodded. She held out her hand and the air shimmered above her palm, materializing into a small, purple device. "This tool, once held by your mother, will aid you in your task."

Tempus gingerly accepted the purple device from the Lunarian Queen and held it in her small, gloved hands. She regarded it with a look of curiosity, noticing how it resembled a lipstick rod. Why would the queen give this to her? She was only 201 years old, far too young for lipstick.

"Now follow me, princess, and I'll lead you to your post."

~0~

By the Moon Queen's power, she and the Plutonian Princess were transported to a place with mysterious fog.

Princess Tempus rubbed her arms as if it would get rid of the goosebumps. 'What is this place?' she wondered, unnerved by how desolate the space was. It was eerie, empty, and lonely. The sight of the endless fog sent chills down her spine.

"This will be your post," Queen Serenity said.

Tempus looked to the queen with shock. Such a dismal place would be where she would carry out her duties?! Nevertheless, she followed the queen until they reached a peculiar door with the phases of the moon carved on it.

"This is the Door of Space-Time," Serenity explained, running a hand along the edge of the door. "Through this door, one may travel through time and even visit alternate timelines. Your responsibility," she turned to the young princess with a serious expression, "is to annihilate anyone who attempts to."

Tempus' mouth popped open. "W-What?"

"Now, take out the tool I gave you earlier and speak the incantation I taught you."

Hesitantly, Tempus took out the lipstick rod-like object and raised it high. "Pluto Planet Power, Make Up!" A column of wind surrounded her form as she felt her royal gown being replaced by a much draftier outfit. The wind eventually subsided and Tempus could see herself in her new attire. She wore a black and maroon uniform she had occasionally seen on her mother, and around her waist was a silver chain with multiple keys hanging from it. Clutched in her hand was the royal item passed through the generations of the Plutonian royal family, the Garnet Rod.

"Princess Tempus, or rather, Sailor Pluto. Your duty, assigned to you by your father Chronos, the God of Time, is to stay here by the Door as the Guardian of Space-Time," Queen Serenity informed. "Those keys around your waist are very special. They will allow you to travel through time. Only a very select few are allowed to wield such artifacts."

The newly-transformed Sailor Pluto nervously gripped her key-like staff. "But... I don't understand! How will I be able to govern Pluto if I also must stay by this door?"

Serenity gave the young soldier a sad look. "I'm afraid you won't be able to." The Lunarian Queen went on to explain exactly what it meant to be a Guardian of Time. She was never to leave her post or have any visitors. She was to stay by the Door for the rest of her life and kill anyone who approached. She then explained the three sacred taboos that she must never ever break: She was to guard the Door of Space-Time at all times, never allow anyone to time travel, and the third most important taboo, never disrupt the flow of time in any way, for if she did, she would die.

Pluto sank to her knees, using her Garnet Rod to prevent her from falling face down. She couldn't believe her father would assign her with such a task. He was making her give up her whole life. Was he ashamed of her? Did he regret having a half-mortal child with a Plutonian Queen and was using this opportunity to make sure no one knew about her existence?

"I know this is a lot to force on a young girl, but as his only child with unique powers over Time and Space, you are the only one your father trusts to carry out such a responsibility." When she saw her words had no effect on the young soldier, she rested a hand on top of her head. "Take heart, young one. I am absolutely certain you will do a splendid job as the Guardian of Time."

Pluto sniffled and looked up at the Moon Queen with garnet eyes brimming with premature tears.

Queen Serenity smiled and looked to the orb atop the Garnet Rod. "You know, there is a way to make things less gloomy."

"There is?"

"Yes. Just raise your Garnet Rod and say, 'Abracadabra'!"

Sailor Pluto gave the queen an odd look, but followed her instruction. "Abracadabra!" The Garnet Orb atop the rod glowed and before she knew it, there was a burst of flowers and white doves flying around. "How funny." She giggled. Little did she know, she would teach the phrase to another princess nearly two millennia later.

Queen Serenity gave the girl another pat on the head. "I'm sure you'll do just fine, Small Lady."

~0~

800 years later, a now adult Sailor Pluto stood by the Door of Space-Time and stared out into the endless fog. She had gotten used to eerie silence after the first several hundred years, musing that Princess Eldora would appreciate the tranquility. Ever since Queen Serenity brought her to the door, she had not had a single visitor. But it wasn't all bad; from her post, she could watch what was happening from beyond her assigned spot so she could keep up with the world's events. She even had an eye on Pluto, pleased that the noble family she put in charge was doing a good job of governing her planet.

Her surveillance was cut short when she felt someone else's presence. "Halt! Trespassers are not welcome here!" she warned, readying her Garnet Rod to strike the intruder. "Those who break the taboo and enter this realm must be eliminated!" Clouds swirled around the glowing Garnet Orb. "Dead—"

"Please don't hurt me!"

Pluto halted. Was that a child's voice? What business did a child have, being in such a restricted area? With a wave of her gloved hand, some of the fog cleared and Pluto could see the invader.

It was a young girl. Given her 10-year old appearance, Pluto concluded she was around 200 years old. She had blonde hair styled into two buns on top with pigtails that brushed past her shoulders, sapphire blue eyes filled with fear, and a golden crescent moon on her forehead. She wore a white regal gown with puffy shoulder pieces, an intricately decorated bodice with gold hoops, and the bust was defined by a row of golden beads. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know I wasn't supposed to be here!"

Pluto softened and her grip on her Garnet Rod slackened. "It's ok. I am not going to hurt you, Princess Serenity."

"You know who I am?"

"Of course," Pluto responded. "How did you get here, princess?"

Princess Serenity blushed as she fiddled with her fingers. "Well... I was chasing after my cat, Luna when I got lost and came upon a room with a strange door in it. I thought my cat went through the door, so I went through it myself and ended up here."

Pluto blinked several times. This princess ended up in a restricted space that no one, other than her father and Queen Serenity knew about, because she got lost after chasing a cat. The scenario was so funny, Pluto couldn't help but let out a few giggles. "Well, I can assure you, your cat is not here."

"T-Thank you," the Moon Princess stuttered. "...By the way, who are you?"

Though Pluto's existence was meant to be a secret, she knew she could trust those of the Royal Moon Family line. "I am Sailor Pluto, the Solder of Revolution."

~0~

After that first encounter, Princess Serenity had become a frequent visitor. The Princess of the Silver Millennium could not stand the idea of someone being alone for all eternity and broke the rules for the sake of the Guardian of Time's happiness.

Pluto had become very fond of the young princess. She was a ray of sunshine in the dreariness that surrounded the Door of Space-Time, entertaining Pluto with stories of her antics in the Moon Castle, including how she often stole sweets from the royal kitchen. Pluto had already seen the theft occur from her post and had laughed herself silly when the queen caught her stuffing her face with the stolen confectioneries. In turn, Pluto entertained the princess with her "Abracadabra" spell, taking pleasure in the Moon Princess' cheerful reactions.

One day, Princess Serenity entered Pluto's domain, looking rather glum.

"What is the matter, princess?" Pluto questioned.

"Pluto, am I worthless for not having power like my mother?" Serenity asked quietly. "Am I a pathetic excuse for a princess?"

"Heavens, no!" Pluto knelt down to the young princess. "Why would you think such things?"

"Some of the noble children think I'm useless for not having powers and I wouldn't grow up to be a proper lady like mother..."

Pluto rested a hand on the princess' shoulder. "That is nonsense. One does not need to have magical powers to be a fine lady."

"But you have powers, and you're a fine lady!"

Pluto was surprised by the princess' words, touched that she thought so highly of her. "I am shaped by my experiences and close relationships, not by my abilities. And I am sure it will be the same for you."

"You really think so?"

"I do. I have faith in you, Small Lady."

~0~

Setsuna sniffled and sat upright, wiping the tears from her eyes. She could hear chatting downstairs and knew her fellow Outer Senshi had returned, but she wasn't ready to face them. She couldn't break the news to them yet, especially not to Hotaru.

She glowered as she clutched her pillow even tighter. When she was in a better state of mind, she would definitely give the Earth Prince and the Senshi of Venus a piece of her mind. But right now, she was hurting. A part of her chastised herself for letting herself get close to others. She was meant to be a solitary soldier. She wasn't supposed to have friends. But... those friends allowed her to experience life beyond her post and gave her a family, and for that, she would be forever grateful.

With a sigh, the green-haired woman dragged herself out of bed and went over to her open window, where a shaft of moonlight poured in. 'She's not small anymore, but she's the only lady I have left.' Poking her head out the window, she looked up at the shining white moon. "I'll protect her. I promise," she swore to the moon. And for a second, Setsuna could swear it glimmered in response.

A/N: I am a sadist. Yea or nay? Now, review! :D