The first thing Minako noticed upon waking was the sun in her eyes. Flinging an arm over her face to block out the offending light, she pondered sleepily why it should seem odd to be awakened in such a way. Because Hotaru always wakes you up after her shift, her brain reminded her. Jolting awake, Minako threw back the covers and looked around the room worriedly. "Hotaru-chan?" In all their years together, Hotaru had never once returned late from guard duty. Moments later, servants and nobility alike were diving out of the way as Sailor Venus sprinted at breakneck speed through the corridors. In mere minutes, she had determined that Saturn was nowhere inside the palace. She raced through the gardens, across the courtyard, and up, up, up through the high tiers of the outer walls, her golden hair streaming behind her. Only when she found herself among the highest rooftops of the palace did she pause, sweeping her frantic gaze across the myriad spiraling towers where her lover could have perched. A flash of black against the crystal walls caught her eye. Her gaze locked onto it and then she was leaping from tower to tower, heedless of her own safety, the only thought in her mind to reach Hotaru. As she neared the small tower, she was able to pick out Saturn's long glaive catching the morning light. The smaller senshi was sitting on the edge of the roof, legs dangling over the side, her glaive propped against her shoulder. Her purple eyes looked up when Venus arrived but she said nothing. Venus was struck by the sad, solemn expression on her face. She longed to pull her friend into a warm embrace, but the senshi in her spoke first. "Sailor Saturn, you were late." The rising sun cast her shadow over the other senshi's face. "I was worried..." Her voice trembled slightly. Didn't Hotaru realize how important she was to Minako? "I was just thinking," Saturn began, her voice so soft that Venus almost had to lean closer to hear her. "I was just thinking...about Chibiusa." "Chibiusa-chan?" Venus was caught by surprise. "That's right...you were good friends with her in the past, weren't you?" Turning her face away from Venus, Saturn looked out over the beautiful city. "Yes," she nodded. "I was just thinking how, if things had been different, I could have fallen in love with her...instead of..." Her voice fell silent, her head bowed. "Instead of..." Venus knelt beside her, placing a warm, gloved hand on Saturn's shoulder. "It's okay," she said gently. Saturn looked up at Venus's smiling face in surprise. She had expected her lover to be hurt, or jealous, or...upset in some way, at least. Instead, she was smiling? "M-Minako-chan?" Venus's smile widened. "Hey, I'm the senshi of love! Even back then, don't you think I could notice such a thing?" She hugged Saturn tightly. "You didn't choose her, though. You chose me. And Chibiusa will have Helios, right?" Saturn nodded slowly, returning Venus's embrace. "I'm glad, Minako-chan," she said slowly, favoring Venus with one of those sweet smiles that senshi of love adored so much, "that you're not upset." "Silly," Venus scoffed. "I couldn't be upset with you about something like that." She rose and held out her hand. "Let's go home." Blinking back the tears in her eyes, Saturn smiled and took her lover's hand. ---------- The birth of Chibiusa, formally known as Princess Serenity, royal daughter to Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion of Crystal Tokyo, was an event that none would soon forget. When the queen went into labor, the entire kingdom flew into a frenzy of excitement before finally settling into a tense silence, as the world waited with bated breath for the birth of their new princess. Endymion paced the halls outside of the royal chambers like a panther. When someone (Sailor Mars, perhaps it was) jokingly suggested that he should be at the queen’s side, his face first paled and then turned several shades of red before he snarled at the offending senshi and continued his nervous prowling, muttering occasionally under his breath about decency and privacy and senshi responsibilities. When the doors finally creaked open to reveal Sailor Mercury, a tired expression on her kind face, all conversations ceased as dozens of pairs of eyes riveted on the shy senshi. Mercury combed a hand through her slightly disheveled hair, a small blush staining her cheeks as she found herself the center of such intense scrutiny. "Well?" Endymion demanded, the sharp edge of impatience and worry in his voice, "Serenity...is she...?" He took a half-step forward, uncertainly. Mercury smiled, beckoning him forward. "The queen has given birth to a beautiful baby girl. She is resting now, but asks to see you." As Endymion hurried through the door, Mercury pulled it shut behind him, allowing the royal family some privacy. She exchanged a small, secret smile with the other senshi. Their young friend of the past had finally arrived in the future. The official presentation of the princess was the following day. Endymion and Mercury had both argued that Serenity should rest at least two days before attempting such a feat, but the queen was adamant. Her rosy cheeks and glowing expression as she held her daughter in her arms (as well as the large pillows she lobbed at them) finally convinced the two that her strength was fully recovered. And so the entire palace rose long before dawn the next day, to complete the preparations in time for the princess’s debut. As the closest advisors and protectors of the royal family, the inner senshi wore their standard fukus, while the four outer senshi dressed in elegant gowns of their own creation, each somehow reflective of the wearer’s rank and ability. Sailor Neptune appeared in a simple, pale green dress adorned with tiny bells which chimed softly at her slightest movement. Sailor Uranus wore a sky blue dress of similar style, but without the bells. She wore no jewelry or accessories save for an intricate gold necklace. (AN: A story for another time?) Even the guardian of time, Sailor Pluto, stepped away from her demanding post to appear at Chibiusa’s presentation. Her silk gown of deep forest green clung to her figure in sharp contrast to the flowing styles of her companion senshi. Sailor Saturn arrived last, having waited in her room in hopes of showing off her dress to Minako before the presentation, but the leader of the inner senshi had apparently been too caught up in the last minute preparations. Her gown was a shimmering purple, overlaid with lace, that matched her eyes and managed to bring out what little color her skin had. Saturn felt a minor pang that Venus’s devotion to her senshi duties prevented her from sparing her lover even a few minutes. Pushing those thoughts aside as she neared the others, she took her place near the front of the throne room. An enormous crowd was in attendance for the event. News had never spread so quickly and many had previously made plans that could be implemented at the spur of the moment to ensure that they were among the first to lay eyes on the new princess. Finally, the moment they had been waiting for arrived. The four inner senshi filed in first, taking positions on either side of the great crystal throne. The crowd quieted at the appearance of the royal guardians, a respectful but excitement-filled silence spreading swiftly through the enormous room. At last, the queen appeared. Held close by King Endymion, her arms cradling her precious bundle, Serenity wore a beatific smile. The straining eyes of the crowd took in the picture of the royal family and a collective sigh of contentment and happiness rose from gathered masses, as if the mood of their leaders was infectious. Taking the child into his arms, Endymion stepped forward. "Good people," he began, his voice echoing over the audience, "today marks a most momentous occasion." He gently held up the baby in his arms. "Today I bring you the child that your queen has presented me with. I bring you my daughter, Princess Serenity of Crystal Tokyo!" His words were met with tumultuous applause as the crowd roared its joy and approval. Startled by the noise, the child stirred in the king’s arms, opening wine-red eyes to blink about uncertainly. Her gaze flickered about the cavernous room and the many people filling it. It brushed curiously over the assembled senshi until it reached Sailor Saturn. Uncomfortable with such a large gathering, the petite senshi had withdrawn herself from the crowd to stand near a pillar to one side of the royal dais. From the moment the queen had appeared, Saturn’s eyes had been locked on the baby Chibiusa, lost in memories of old. Now she was startled from her revelries to find the child’s innocent gaze staring back at her. Then the princess’s eyes drifted shut and she curled against her father’s chest contentedly, oblivious to the rowdy audience that was eager to meet her. Saturn backed into the shadowy corner, overwhelmed with the emotion she had felt when her gaze met Chibiusa’s. She had realized then that, even after all this time, even with her love for Minako, she still loved Chibiusa. Not in a romantic way, but as a sister perhaps. An older sister. Saturn smiled softly. Yes, she would be Chibiusa’s sister. She would make sure that nothing ever hurt the princess that had showed her such kindness in the past. "That’s a lovely dress," a voice said quietly and Saturn’s eyes darted up. Sailor Venus was leaning casually on a nearby pillar, a smile tugging at her lips as she watched her lover. She held out her gloved hand to Saturn, who took it without hesitation. "You look so beautiful," Venus sighed, pressing a kiss to Saturn’s temple. The raven-haired senshi felt her cheeks grow warm at Venus’s comment. "You always look beautiful, Minako-chan," she stammered in response. "Even in your fuku, you still look like an angel." Now it was Venus’s turn to blush. "Oh, Hotaru-chan!" she laughed, giving the girl a quick hug, "you’re so good to me. C’mon, the ball is starting and I want to dance!" With a small giggle, Saturn let herself be pulled forward, out into the noise of the crowd. But with Minako there, none of it mattered. There is nothing, Saturn thought as Venus pulled her out to the very center of the room, that could make me happier than I am now. Still, her eyes drifted unwittingly to the delighted king and queen and their new daughter. "Nothing," she whispered under her breath, before allowing herself to be enveloped by the room’s euphoric atmosphere.
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