At the Beginning

The tiny moon princess stared in frustration at the mirror, grasping her thick, brightly shaded hair tightly in both of her hands. She sighed softly and grasped slightly tighter, not knowing what to do with it.

Chibiusa had one primary goal- to become a beautiful lady when she grew up. She tried every day- to stand up a little straighter, to speak a little more gently, to be a little bit more patient...but it wasn't working! All Chibiusa could do was be herself- small, impatient, and always wishing.

She looked out of the window at the splendored city that was Neo Crystal Tokyo, watching the small children gambol about, playing some silly games. The moon shone brightly into the room, illuminating her face and reflecting in her rosy eyes. Small Lady had a hard time relating to the others, for she had lived an isolated life, separate from other children. Chibiusa was often lonely because of this, and reveled in the wonderful stories her father shared with her before she went to bed.

They were amazing, fantastical things, filled with battles, love, betrayal, hope, excitement, passion- every sort of adventure possible, unrequited love...Chibiusa digested the stories and couldn't wait to hear more.

Soon, all of her waking hours were spent dreaming about being one of the legendary Senshi. Chibiusa whiled the hours away, pretending that her mother was the leader she had heard about, Sailor Moon, and her father, the dashing and wildly romantic Tuxedo Kamen. She smiled and danced around the palace, only wishing it were true. Of course, it couldn't be. All of these things had happened years and years ago.

One night, she dreamed a strange dream -a dream of heart-shaped brooches and a strange girl with yellow buns who looked like her mother, yet was completely different...there were other girls...seven other girls dressed in the entire spectrum of colors...and a smiling girl with black hair who seemed more fragile than the others...

Chibiusa leapt out of the bed towards the window, sending the sheets flying like large swans. She wanted to know what was haunting her dreams. She looked out at the moon, wondering if it contained the answers to her questions. Studying every crevice, she failed to notice her mother silently watching her from the doorway. As a soft gust of wind streamed past her face, she sighed and turned away from the window towards the mirror.

She drew herself up and scanned every section of her body to see if any changes had occured, but there were none. She was still little and tiny. Impatient and annoyed, she ran outside the palace, calling her special friend's name.

The tall and mysterious woman appeared out of nowhere, the ruby on her staff glowing intensely as she gazed down at the small pink princess. "What is it, Small Lady? Is something wrong?"

Chibiusa didn't really know what to say, so she merely stared at her friend with a lost look, whispering, "I..don't know."

Setsuna knelt down and hugged the small one, and smiled gently, and then disappeared into the darkness as Chibiusa stood there silently.

She tossed and turned that night, and was quite disconcerted the next morning. Chibiusa began to wander aimlessly through the palace, to the worry of her mother, who began to wonder if it wasn't time for Chibiusa to get a little lesson in...history.

Later that night, the gentle Queen quietly entered the room, smoothing her troubled little daughter's pink hair as she placed a shiny key by her side.

Chibiusa dreamed on, of winged horses and glittering beams of light.