Serena sat up suddenly in her bed, gasping. She clasped her hands over her brow. She'd just had a nightmare. Something about Queen Beryl, only she'd been different-she'd been....a flower? Then she'd turned into Prince Endymion, and he had been killing her. Serena wrapped her arms around herself in a tight hug and shivered. Suddenly she remembered. Today she was going to contact the princesses!
With a grin on her face, and the already foggy impressions of her nightmare all but forgotten, she rooted through her drawers for a nice outfit. Finally she settled on blue jeans and a pink T-shirt. She ran into the kitchen and poured herself a bowl of cereal. She was scarfing that down when Ron slowly walked into the kitchen, still tying his robe shut and yawning.
"Slow down, there, Serena! You'll choke if you keep eating that fast!"
"I have to go somewhere today, Ron. Mamoru is going to help me find some friends of mine. He says they live here now."
"Oh. Well, would you like me to with you?"
Serena almost winced at the wishful tone in his voice. He would miss her so much-it would have been better if she'd never asked to come live with him-she'd been so selfish! Now she'd end up hurting him one day, when she recovered her memory of her family in Japan. "I-uh-I'd rather not, but-"
"Oh no, that's okay. I have things to do anyway. Have fun." He turned and left the room with his bowl of cereal. He walked into the living room and turned on the television to watch the news. Serena got up to go talk to him, but just then the doorbell rang. She stood indecisively in the middle of the room for a second, but the doorbell rang again. She put her dirty dishes in the sink and ran to the door.
"Mamo-chan!" she threw herself at him. He rocked back on his heels as she crashed into him, but kept his footing. "I have something to tell you! Come walk with me!" She walked around him, keeping a tight hold on his wrist, and pulled him toward the elevator.
*****
Mamoru wasn't really surprised when Usagi crashed into him and nearly knocked him off his feet. To tell the truth, he was only surprised it hadn't happened sooner. The re-emergence of Usagi's personality was becoming more and more apparent, but some of her old faults were gone, replaced by a determination to succeed where the old Usagi would have given up. He smiled to himself as she pulled him down the hall. He dug in his heels just a little, to see what kind of reaction he'd get from her.
"Mamo-chaaaaaan, come on! I can't talk to you here! Besides, I want to go to the ice-cream parlor."
"Why doesn't that surprise me? You definitely haven't changed, Usako, no matter what may have happened to you." She gave him another impatient tug, and with a small chuckle he allowed her to lead him to the elevator. On the way down she told him what had happened to her the night before in the elevator.
"The funny thing is," she continued, "I felt really weak, telepathically. I know I didn't use my skill at all while I was in the coma, but I was as weak as a baby, and everybody but Mars was too."
"I take it back-you have changed some, Usako. I don't know anything about these telepathic messages. I don't think you ever sent them before you disappeared." Mamoru shrugged. "I don't know what to tell you."
"Well, I was thinking about it last night, and I have an idea. I found you by listening for you-I felt a small tug in your direction, and I just followed it. Maybe if I concentrate on the princesses, they'll feel the tug too. We can sit in the ice cream parlor and think about them, and wait for them to show up."
"That sounds like a good idea, but don't you think it's awfully early in the morning for ice cream?" Mamoru asked as they strolled down the sidewalk, holding hands.
"It's never too early for ice cream!"
*****
"Excuse me, ma'am, but the station is off limits to everyone but people who work here. I'll have to see a pass before I can let you through." The security guard stifled a yawn as he waited for the young woman to leave. It was too early in the morning to have to put up with this sort of crap from people, but almost every day some nutcase tried to get into the television studio. He reached for his half-eaten doughnut, then looked up. "Hey! What'd I tell you? Scram, already!"
The woman smiled sweetly at him. "I'd rather you did." She slowly raised her hand, and slapped it against the Plexiglas.
"Yeah, yeah, lady, I'm real scared. You watch too many late-night sci-fi shows. What're you going to do? Leave me alone." He reached for his coffee mug. Suddenly the woman chanted some weird sounding poem. Her voice got louder and louder. The guard tried to ignore her, but soon her voice rose to a screech. His coffee mug shattered. "Shit!" He snatched his hand back as scalding coffee and ceramic shards flew onto his hand. As he sat there, swearing and wringing his hands, the Plexiglas shattered, and he screamed. The still-smiling woman reached into the booth to push the button that opened the gate. She calmly strolled on into the studio, leaving the shattered security booth and still security guard behind her. As she disappeared into one of the office buildings, a shimmery shield grew up around the station, to form a faintly glowing bubble over it.
"Now I just have to let the senshi know where I am," Serena gloated as she shut the door behind her.
*****
Rei woke up suddenly with a start. Something was calling her-she'd heard it faintly through her dreams. She hurriedly got dressed and grabbed a bagel on her way toward the door. Her had just closed on the doorknob when she heard something she hadn't been expecting this early in the morning.
"Rei?" Her recent run-in with evil forces had given her a refresher course in her fighting skills. She spun on her heels to meet her father's surprised eyes. He had dark circles under them, as if he hadn't slept. He was still in his large silk dressing gown, and his hair was rumpled. Rei thought it was probably the first time she'd ever seen him look anything less than impeccable. She saw his eyes widen as he took in the sudden defensive crouch she'd automatically fallen into. She forced herself to stand up and relax.
"Yes, Father?" She kept her voice cool, while she felt anything but. She didn't have time to waste on this!
"I-uh...I..."
Rei stared. She'd never seen her father at a loss for words before. They'd had an uneasy peace in the house for a few months, but she'd never seen him uncertain like this. She wasn't quite sure how to deal with it. "Just say it, Father. I need to go do something soon." Rei stifled the impatience in her voice as much as she could, but some still came through in her voice. <Oh, well. We've never been exactly diplomatic with each other. He'll understand where I'm coming from better than anyone else.>
"I went up to your room last night to apol-apologize for some of what I said last night when you came home, but I didn't get an answer when I knocked on your door, so I opened it, thinking you'd gone somewhere, and I saw the fireplace lit up. You were kneeling in front of it, and I saw-" He swallowed visibly, then forged ahead, "I saw a strange girl in a white dress standing in the flames...." He stopped, unable to continue for a second. Rei's eyes softened. Her father's inability to deal with her life in the shrine had annoyed her to no end, but she knew it had to have been a shock for him. "Then you fainted, and I didn't know what to do..." He actually walked up to her and enclosed her in a strong hug. "I'm so glad to see you up. I almost called for an ambulance, but after the last time something like this happened, I thought I'd give you until this morning. I was worried about you, Rei."
At first Rei held her self stiff in his embrace, uncertain of how to react. Strong emotions like this always caught her off guard. <Baka! He's put off his gruffness for a little while! Can't you do the same?> With that thought, she returned the hug. "I-It's good to hear how much you care about me. Sometimes, with the way things have been, it's hard to tell if you do. I know you don't believe in the things Grandpa taught me at the shrine, but I have something to do, Father, and I had to consult the fire to get advice for my friends. I have to go do this, Father, but don't worry. I'll be back tonight." Rei began to let go of her father, waiting for him to let her go.
"I'm sorry..." he apologized, and held her tighter for a second. Then he let her go and stepped back. She looked at him for a second, searching for something else to say. Finally she realized that there was nothing to be said, and gave him a smile, and turned and ran out the door.
*****
Ami woke up early the next morning. She'd gotten to bed so early the night before, she was up two or three hours earlier than usual. With a contented yawn she stretched under the covers, accidentally kicking the still slumbering Luna.
"Umph. Hey...watch it, Amy."
"Sorry, Luna. I have to get an early start today. You know I told you about fainting in the bathroom last night?"
"Yes, but you said not to worry about it."
"I should be glad my mother didn't find me before I woke up, or I would be in the hospital right now. Anyway, I wanted to tell you I got a message, and I think it was from Usagi. I'm going to go look for its source today. Wanna come with?"
Luna began the long process of getting up as her answer, stretching one muscle at a time. Ami smiled and began to get dressed. "I figured I'd just track down any energy source that looked vaguely similar to those energy surges I detected a while back. Did I tell you that we found out Chiba Mamoru was the source of the fifth energy surge?"
"No! I thought you said you got a message from Usagi-I was expecting her to be the fifth source somehow."
"Well, the Black Knight said he was searching for a powerful object, and that he could feel it near, so I think he's after Ginzuishou."
"But Ginzuishou was lost with Usagi in the wormhole!"
"Exactly," Ami agreed as she grabbed a toaster pastry on her way out. "I think that the huge energy source-the one I couldn't narrow down any closer than a hundred miles? I think that was Usagi-or at the very least, Ginzuishou. That's why I'm following any energy patterns similar to that-I think it will lead me to Usagi."
"Well, then, let's get going!" Luna leapt ahead of Amy, and ran down the sidewalk.
*****
Makoto woke up early. The Hurutas had been worried when she'd collapsed on the floor the night before, but after a few minutes of quick explanation she'd convinced them that she was all right. She ran out of the house after leaving a note for them, in a hurry. If she could just find out how to contact that voice again. Makoto picked a direction at random and set off, hoping for guidance.
*****
Minako groaned as sunlight hit her eyes. She opened her eyes and wondered why she'd left her shade open. Usually she was careful not to, so the sun wouldn't wake her up early. Suddenly she sat up in bed as she remembered the weird events of the night before. She playfully poked at Artemis to wake him up.
"Hey! What're you doing up so early, Minako?" Artemis slowly got up, yawning so wide Minako thought his chin was going to pop out. "It's much too early for you to be up!" The white cat casually stretched his front legs. "And me as well!"
"I saw Princess Serenity in the mirror last night when I was thinking of her-she just appeared in front of me and tried to whisper something about a call today. I'm not sure exactly what she said," Minako shrugged as she tied her hair up in her red ribbon, "but I figured it couldn't hurt for me to get an early start."
Artemis cocked his head. "What are you planning to do?"
Minako sat down on the bed again, fully dressed, and scratched the base of his ears, exactly the way he always liked her to. "I'm going to do what I did last night, and think of her while looking in a mirror. It's good you're awake-it knocked me out last night-I'd feel a lot better if you were around.
"Mmmmm..." Artemis was too busy purring to answer her, but Minako knew he heard. She got up and walked over to her full length mirror.
<Princess! Princess Serenity! Can you hear me?> Minako closed her eyes-she wasn't as good at these sort of things as Rei was, but she gave it a try anyway. <Princess? Can you hear me?> Minako's eyes opened a crack in disappointment when she didn't get a response. <I must have imagined it.....> She looked at the mirror, and gasped.
Princess Serenity faced her, instead of her own reflection. "Princess!" she gasped out breathlessly.
<Walk in whatever direction you feel a faint pull-I'm trying to call you-follow your heart!> The image wavered, as if it were a clear pond someone had just thrown a pebble into, and dissipated. Minako blinked, confused and surprised, and when she opened her eyes again, she stared back at herself, at a perfect reflection, as if nothing had happened.
"Artemis! Did you see that? Or did I just imagine it?"
He cocked his head curiously. "See what?"
Minako held up an open palm instead of responding to his question. "Wait a minute!" She closed her eyes to shut off all outside stimulus, and concentrated. Did she feel a pull? With a happy smile she opened her eyes. "C'mon, Artemis! I know where we're going now! Better try to keep up!" With a mischievous giggle she took off at a run.
*****
Makoto looked around as she walked. It was too early in the day for many people to be out, so she noticed when she saw a girl about her age in the distance, with long blonde hair. The girl was running, with a sparkling white cat hot on her heels. <That HAS to be Minako. Let's see where she's going-I have no clue, and she seems to, so....> Mako-chan stretched out her long legs in pursuit.
*****
"Well, Amy, where to now?"
"Hmmm...?" Ami looked up from her palmtop computer at the distraction. "Oh, Luna. I'm not sure. The strongest signal is coming from that direction-" she pointed to her left, "but there are other, similar ones, that are interfering with it. I can't tell what they are..."
Luna lightly leaped onto Ami's shoulder. "Just relax, I know you can figure it out, Ami-chan. Gomen, Amy."
Ami smiled and reached up to pet Luna while she examined the screen. "I'm over that now, Luna. In fact, I'd rather you call me Ami, now-it helps me stay in the right frame of mind."
"All right then, Ami, what have you decided?"
"I-"
"Never mind. Look over there, Ami!" Startled, Ami's head jerked up in response to Luna's command. Running toward her at a breakneck speed were Minako and Artemis. Close behind jogged Mako.
"Minako! What re you doing here?"
"Following Princess Serenity's call! Can you hear it too, Ami?"
"No, but I've been following these signals..."
"You're so intellectual!" That was Makoto, finally caught up with Minako. "You should follow your instincts more often. Though," she smiled ruefully as she flipped her ponytail, "I guess I shouldn't talk, since I didn't follow any signals from Princess Serenity myself. I just followed Minako and Artemis!"
"Do you mean you all had some sort of vision of Princess Serenity too?"
"Yes" Minako nodded. "I've been thinking about it, and I've been wondering....since we've just had-well, I guess you'd call it a power up-we'll probably have some new powers or abilities we never had before." Minako shrugged. "At least, that's one explanation."
Ami nodded. "As good as any other. Well, since we've all met up, I wonder if Rei-"
"Yup!" Mako-chan pointed excitedly, "There she is!" The girls exchanged amused looks. It was just like old times-something always pulled them together when there was need. It always stretched the bounds of coincidence just a little too far. Ami voiced the thought they were all thinking as Rei jogged up to them with a happy smile on her face.
"We sure do run into each other a lot. Well, now that we're all here, where do we go?" Both Rei and Minako immediately closed their eyes and began to slowly circle in place. Ami looked down at her computer screen, and Mako stood there for a second, feeling a bit lost. Then she shrugged.
"Well, since I don't have a computer..." She closed her eyes as well, and circled slowly. As she did so, she felt a gentle tug. Without even realizing it, she took a step. Her eyes opened with a snap.
"That way!" all four girls shouted in unison, pointing to their left. Artemis and Luna shot incredulous looks at each other.
"Well, this is something new...." Artemis mumbled to Luna. "I wonder where it will lead?"
"Away from us, Artemis! C'mon, they're almost out of sight already!" The two cats took off after their running charges with flying leaps.
*****
Serena jerked her head up with a snap. Mamoru had begun to worry a little. She'd sat silently with her eyes closed and her head bowed over the table for almost fifteen minutes. She saw the faint worry in his eyes and smiled reassuringly, while lightly squeezing his hands. She took her hands out of his clasp to stretch her arms up into the air and yawn. "They're on their way. I don't need to concentrate so hard now. I'm really not used to getting up this early, you know," she began, with a sparkle in her eyes.
Mamoru smiled back. "I know. But you have changed, Usako. You're a lot more responsible now-I like your lightheartedness, but it's good to see you taking important things seriously now."
"I really don't remember. As a princess, I was forced to be responsible and thoughtful. Maybe without that, I got into some bad habits." She smiled happily. "The thing I can't believe is that you would put up with me if I weren't responsible! We didn't really get along at first, you know. At least we didn't in the Moon Kingdom." She looked like she was trying to say something important, but wasn't sure how to begin.
Mamoru shook his head. "We didn't here either. As I recall, the first time we met, you threw a quiz you'd just failed into my face. I made a rather rude comment, and made fun of your hairstyle." He shrugged. "We got off on the wrong foot-yet I was still drawn to you, despite some of your habits that I teased you about."
"So they annoy you? I don't want to do that! What annoys you? I'll work hard not to do those things..." Serena felt her heart beat a little harder with worry. <I NEVER want to disappoint you, Endymion!> He leaned in quickly at the earnest expression on her face.
"But that's just it- they weren't annoying, they were endearing! Sure, I teased you about them unmercifully, but they're what makes you special, Usako. I saw your bravery, and your willingness to sacrifice yourself for others, and I saw that any small tendencies toward carelessness covered the most sincere soul I've ever seen in this world." Mamoru was worried that he might have hurt Usako, so he forced himself beyond his usual reticence. "I love you because you are the best person I know, Usako. Everything you do always ends up working out for the best. I don't ever want you to feel you have to change yourself to make me happy."
Serena and Mamoru gazed silently into each others eyes for a minute. Serena smiled brightly, and Mamoru took a deep breath. He'd missed her so much in the last two years! Suddenly he heard the bell over the ice cream shop door ring. He turned his head to see who had entered. He gasped in amazement.
"Usako, look!" With surprise at the wondering tone in his voice, she turned her head. Her face, already cheerful, took on an almost transcendent look.
"Minna!" she cried happily. "You found me!" The four girls and two cats standing at the entrance turned to look at her with surprise.
Cries of "Usagi-chan!" rose from six different throats simultaneously as the group ran toward her. Serena stiffened as a peculiar feeling came over her. She closed her eyes as she felt memory once again return to her...
*****
She didn't like this place. It was so big and cold. And she missed Mommy. She looked at the flowers Daddy had given her. They were so pretty. She was careful though. They had points on the stems that pricked her fingers if she wasn't. She stopped. What was that? It sounded like crying.
She made her way toward the sound. Finally she arrived at a door and she pushed it open. She stopped int he doorway, surprised. There a was an older boy in the room, and he was crying! For a second she just stood and watched the unusual sight. The she walked up to the boy and placed a comforting hand on his hand.
The boy looked down at her with bright blue eyes. "Who are you?"
"Don't cry."
The boy looked down again, and his eyes teared up. "My friend's going to leave soon, but I couldn't do anything."
What could she say to him? What would cheer him up? She thought. "Ummm...Usa-chan's goings to be a big sister today! My mommy had a baby." She reached down into her bouquet, and pulled out a blood red rose. She held it up to him with a smile. "This is for you. Here. Congratulations!"
He reached down, and his tears stopped falling. His fingers closed on the stem, and he smiled faintly. "Arigato."
*****
"C'mon dear, wake up! You're going to be late for school! You're in junior high, now. Seventh graders can't be lazy. Usagi? Usagi! Wake up!"
She sat up abruptly when she heard her mother yell. "Wha.....? What, Mother?"
"Get ready for school! Now!" Her mother left, and Usagi struggled out of bed and got ready for school.
"I'll get used to this schedule...." she muttered to herself. "I'll make sure I never sleep in again. I'll do better in classes now too." She suddenly lost her balance as she tried to pull her socks on. She fell to the floor. "Oomph! Oooooow!"
"Usagi! Stop that whining and get ready for school!"
*****
"Ah! Thirty percent! Mom's going to kill me!" she whined on the way home. "Grrrr! You're eliminated!" She angrily crumpled up her quiz and threw it back behind her.
"Ow! That hurt, odango atama!" The young man picked up the quiz that had hit him in the head. "Thirty percent! You should study harder!"
"Give me that!" She snatched it out of his hand and stalked of. "Can you believe him?" she asked Naru-chan.
"I think he's kinda cute."
"Him!? No way!"
*****
Mamoru looked at Usagi as he saw something in her pocket begin to shine brightly, just for an instant. He thought he saw Usagi stiffen for a second, but then everyone crashed into her at once, and she toppled over, back onto the soft cushion on the seat of the booth.
"Usagi! You're alive! How?! We've thought you dead for the last two years!" Makoto was holding Usagi's hand, and tears ran down her face as she asked her question.
Usagi had a slightly abstract look on her face for a minute.
"Tou-san....Kaa-san....Shingo..." Usagi closed her eyes for a moment. <I remember now....I was fourteen years old, and a bit of a crybaby....but I don't remember meeting any of these people in this life....I only remember being fourteen, in eighth grade, and living a peaceful life....> Usagi pushed away her revelation for a while, so she could see to her friends. Despite not remembering them on earth, in the twentieth century, she knew them well enough from the Silver Millennium to sense their deep grief, and their need to be with her. <I've missed you all...> She smiled happily. "I don't remember how...I only woke up a few months ago, without any memory at all. I still don't remember you from this world." She reached out to take a stray lock of Princess Jupiter's hair in gentle fingers. <Brown? I still can't get used to that.> She laughed nervously. "I don't even know your names here, but I remember you, Princess Jupiter," She took in Jupiter's haggard appearance. She looked so tired, as if she hadn't rested in years. She gently placed her hands on Jupiter's cheeks and saw her emerald eyes close slowly, tears still tracing silvery tracks down her face. "...Princess Mercury," Mercury seemed to drink in her face, as if she were starving for a smile. Usagi gave her one, as bright and open as a blue, cloudless, summer sky. Mercury's eyes sparkled back, sapphire to sapphire, as she smiled her quiet, shy smile. Usagi noted with surprise tears in her eyes as well. <Mercury, crying?! What's happened to my friends?> She took her hand, and held it tightly for a moment. Mercury stunned her with forlorn cry and a tight hug. Usagi closed her eyes and held tight to her for a second. She turned to another needy soul. "...Princess Venus," Venus looked at her, as if memorizing her face. She still looked almost like Usagi's twin, but Usagi didn't think she'd ever have such a look of longing and self-hatred on her face. She reached out and hugged her, and Venus whispered softly in Usagi's ear, through her tears, "I'm so sorry I failed you, Usagi....if only...." She buried her face in Usagi's neck and sobbed for a few seconds. Then Usagi felt her gather herself together, and put a shield of false cheerfulness over her gaping heart. "Welcome back," was all she said next. Usagi turned to "...Princess Mars." Mars hung back for a second, with a stubborn look on her face that made Usagi wonder exactly how they'd gotten along in this life...then Mars let out one soft sob, and with tears pouring down her face like rain, she crashed into Usagi and held tightly to her, as if she would turn to nothing but insubstantial air if she let go. Usagi felt herself wonder yet again what had happened to her friends. The pain that Mars cried out, onto her shoulder, was more than anyone should have to bear. After a few minutes, Mars backed off too. Usagi noticed her friends glancing down toward the floor, and she looked too. "Luna! Artemis! You're here too?" No more was needed. The two cats jumped off from the ground towards Usagi's lap as one entity, and with thunderous purrs they settled onto Usagi's legs, happily kneading her pants with their paws. She petted them with a smile on her face. "I'm happy to see you all..." Usagi's eyes teared up too. They all loved her so much-who could really deserve such wonderful friends?
"We're so happy to see you again, Usagi-chan!" Her friends piled into the booth with Usagi and Mamoru to catch up on things.
*****
"Ma'am! You shouldn't be in here without a pass! Ma'am! Ma'am!" The young man ran after the young lady that strode purposefully down the hall toward the office of the president of the station. "You don't have an appointment!" Mr. Wilson would kill him for sure if he let this woman in without an appointment! He tried one last time. "Ma'am! Stop!" The woman paid him no attention, and instead reached for the door handle. It wouldn't turn.
She turned to face him. He stopped and took a step back at the strange look in his eyes. "Let me in!" she growled.
The pallid secretary swallowed nervously, but held his ground. "No. I can't let you disturb Mr. Wilson. He's a very busy man. You'll have to schedule an appointment." He lifted his chin.
She reached out with a snarl on her face. The man didn't back away quickly enough. She grabbed him around the throat with one hand, and pushed him up against the door. With her other hand she touched the door. After a few muttered lines of some sort of chant the door imploded. The young man fell out of her grasp, onto the floor, and lay there, weakly coughing, and the woman disregarded him and strode purposefully toward the large oak desk at the other end of the room.
An older man stood up behind it with a look of outrage on his face. "What the he-"
"Shut up." The woman pointed at him, then raised her finger to point in midair, above the man's desk. The man floated up into the air, right to where she was pointing. "I'm taking over your station. Come with me, there's something I want you to broadcast." She made a beckoning motion with her hand, then turned and walked out of the office. The man, still floating a foot off the floor, followed behind.
"At least tell me your name!" the man strangled out, trying to keep his voice reasonable.
She turned to look at him, and for a dreadful moment, her eyes were blacker than coal-they looked like death incarnate. He swallowed and looked away from the dreadful sight. "My name is none of your concern. If I hear another word from you, unless you're following my commands, I'll drop out the window. Come." The man looked at her again before she turned around completely. Thankfully, her eyes looked relatively normal again, if less than sane. He squinted at seeing a name tag on her. It read, "Serena".