"Come in," Usako called. In all honesty, she felt more relief than frustration at the interruption; she had been doing her English homework, still her weakest subject, and Erik vonDarkmoor was hardly a slacker's teacher.

"It's us," her mother said, entering the room along with Minako and Hotaru. "We need to talk to you about something."

"Uh, Sure," Usako replied nervously. "What is it?"

"I think in this case, Usako, it's best if we just get to the point," Hotaru said. "Tell us the truth, Usako: Are you Sailor Luna?"

Tsuki ni michibikarete doko ni tadoritsuku to mada kangaete iru
Yasashige na lullaby kiite kako wo sukoshi dake omou
Machigai mo hiai mo ippai dakedo anata ga iru kara
Koukai-shinai

Pink-iro no tsuki no shita ni iru kedo
Motto tsuyoi nagusame ga iru no
Tatoe ayamachi dake shitemo
I love you tte itte ne

Though I hold a mysterious destiny,
I'm still wondering to where I will struggle on,
being led by the moon

Listening to a gentle lullaby, I think just a little of the past
It's full of mistakes and sorrow, but since
You are here, I won't regret it

Though I'm under the pink moon,
I need an even stronger comfort
Even if I make only mistakes,
Say, "I love you," okay?

Moon Senshi: Unmei no Kodomo

Episode Fifteen:

"Folly's Clarity"

Usako sighed. "Well...it's complicated, but yes," she finally replied, putting down her pencil and sitting back in her chair. She might as well get comfortable for what was bound to be a tedious explanation.

Hotaru just nodded thoughtfully; Minako and Usagi both looked deeply shocked. "For how long, Usako?" Hotaru asked, sitting down on the bed nearby her.

"Just since yesterday," she added hastily. "Well, and the day before that--my brooch transformed after that fight at the gala. But I didn't transform into Sailor Luna until yesterday."

"Usako, why didn't you tell us?" Usagi asked, her face a little downcast.

"I wasn't sure how to tell you," Usako replied, shaking her head. "I wasn't sure what to tell you."

"I know people have not been very receptive to your view of this situation," Hotaru said, leaning against the writing desk where Usako had been working. "But the Moon Senshi want to kill your and your mother. If you ally yourself with them, what kind of message are you sending to your family? To the public?"

"You aren't seriously suggesting that I'm contemplating matricide and suicide?" Usako replied, annoyed.

"No, Usako--we would never think such a thing," Usagi interjected.

"More so, I think the public could construe it that way, Usako," Hotaru continued. "For that reason, I think your decision may have been unwise."

"Why did you decide to become one of the Moon Senshi, Usako?" Minako asked.

"I didn't decide," Usako responded. A hint of annoyance still pervaded her voice. "You just assumed I did."

Hotaru frowned. "I'm sorry, Usako. I suppose senshi transformations are usually not changed through an act of pure volition, are they?"

"No," Usako replied. "Not usually. This time was no exception. You've heard of the youma attacks which have been occurring?"

"Yeah," Minako replied. "Nothing's been done about it--at least not yet."

"Mamoru is going to call a meeting," Usagi said. "But he wanted to keep an eye on things for awhile." Usagi turned towards Usako. "To see how you guys were handling it. If--you know--we needed to intervene."

"In any case," Usako continued, "I'm sure that if you're heard of the youma attacks you've also heard of the attack at the gala. A boy about my age--well, physically, anyway--was injured there and a Moon Senshi called me for help. At that time, my communicator changed to this," Usako held up her wrist, showing the offending object; a pink and silver watch. "I still turned into Sailor Pinkmoon that night, but after I de-transformed, my locket morphed...into this." She pulled the silver and pink brooch out of her pocket and handed it to Hotaru, who inspected it and passed it on to Usagi. "So, despite whatever you think the change implies--even if just to the apparently undiscerning public--the fact of the matter is that I am now Sailor Luna...whether any of us like it or not."

There was a pause as everyone mulled the information over in their minds. Usako looked on, trying to banish her annoyance at her family's lack of trust.

"Should we tell the king?" Minako asked hesitantly, looking at the floor.

"He'll find out eventually, one way or another," Hotaru replied. "Maybe it's best to be up front about it."

"Are you sure that's a good idea? Won't he be angry?" Minako asked her, looking worried.

"No...Hotaru's got a point," Usagi said. "Mamo will find out eventually, and it's better to be honest. Besides, It's not like Usako made the decision. Anyway, she could be more powerful this way--so maybe it's a good thing."

"Certainly it's a sign, I think, that Usako has grown more independent," Hotaru said.

Usagi sniffled. "My little baby bunny is growing up...it seems like just yesterday she was cradled in my arms..."

"900 years ago?" Usako replied, raising an eyebrow.

"It always seems too short to a mother, I'm sure," Minako said, patting Usagi on the shoulder.

"In any case, Endymion should be calling a meeting soon, since the youma have started attacking Tokyo and it's time we made a decision on what the planetary Senshi should do--if anything. It's best, I think, if we break the news to the king at the meeting. And I hope, Usako, you'll also tell us what is happening in the city."

"It's quite a story," Usako replied with a sigh. "But I'll do my best."

Every time someone walked near Seisui's house, Tokimo squinted her eyes into the deepening night, trying to discern if they might be her friend. So far, Tokimo had lost count of the people who walked past the graveled path to Seisui's door. All the same, every time she heard the shuffling footfalls of someone walking down Seisui's street, she could feel her heart beating faster as her hopes of seeing her greatly-missed friend increased.

She shifted on the front step of Seisui's house. The rough concrete step was hardly comfortable sitting, and she could feel herself getting increasingly sore as the night wore on. Tokimo didn't know where Seisui went; she thought it wasn't far. Why was Seisui taking so long to get home?

Tokimo sat up as she heard footsteps on the gravel pathway. At last! Standing up, she brushed off her pants and walked to meet the stranger in the dark.

"Tokimo?" Seisui said hesitantly.

"Uh-huh!" Tokimo replied with enthusiasm. She hugged Seisui, who, surprised, did not return the embrace. "Seisui...why have you been ignoring me?"

"I haven't been ignoring you," Seisui replied quietly.

"Don't lie!" Tokimo retorted, her voice wavering. "You've talked to Kazeko, Erik...everyone about your problems, except for me. I almost wouldn't be surprised if you talked to Usako before you were willing to tell me about your problems!"

"You know that isn't true," Seisui said angrily. "Now you're just being stupid."

Tokimo pulled herself away from Seisui and looked her in the face. "A lot of people think I'm stupid, Seisui," she replied. "I'm used to that. I don't care what the hell other people think. But I don't want you to call me stupid. You're my best friend!"

"If I'm your best friend, why did you side with Usako?" Seisui asked, stepping backwards. Tokimo's hands fell limply to her side.

"Please, Seisui," Tokimo pleaded. She actually grasped her hands together and looked into Seisui's eyes. "Please don't make me choose between my best friend and the lives of innocent people!"

Seisui paused and sighed. "You're right, of course...I'm sorry, Tokimo."

"No, Seisui...it's not your fault. No one can blame you for how you feel." Tokimo paused. "I don't want to work with Usako, Sei--not more than I absolutely have to. I want to work with you. That's why I was so upset when I found out you were hiding your feelings from me."

Seisui was silent a long time. She looked at Tokimo; her face seemed a mix of conflicting emotions. "Right now there's a lot going on inside of my head, Tokimo. I have to change my head, and when I've done that, I have to change my heart to match it. But...changing myself is difficult. It's painful. Maybe there's too many feelings to change. I...I'm not sure I can do it. Maybe I'm too weak."

"You're not weak, Seisui. You're one of the strongest people I know. And do whatever you feel like you have to do, Sei--I'll help you through it. And I'll always give you the advice you need."

"I'm beginning to think I don't deserve it," Seisui replied. "But thank you."

Yamiko opened the curtains and watched as the dawn spread its rosy brush-strokes across the empty sky of the morning. She sighed deeply, suddenly unsure of how to begin what ought to have been another ordinary day.

She could hear footsteps behind her; she turned around and saw Sayoko, her shiny black hair reflecting the orange beams of the morning. "Well?" Yamiko asked, looking at her sister. "What do you want?"

"What's on your mind, Yami?" She asked, sitting on a couch nearby.

"I don't really want to talk about it," Yamiko replied, walking toward the kitchen and opening the refrigerator. She pulled out some eggs and bacon and began to cook her breakfast.

"You don't want to, but you will anyway," Sayoko said patiently. "Because I'm the one who's asking."

There was a long pause. Yamiko pretended to be intensely interested in frying bacon and eggs. "What do you think of Kane?"

Sayoko smiled and looked at her sister thoughtfully. "Kane wants to get to know you, Yamiko. I know in some ways that's off-putting to you. You've taught yourself to distrust kindness. but I think it's a good sign. You have to watch out when a guy spends all his time flattering you and plying you with gifts and attention. But Kane isn't like that. He asks about what kind of person you are. He wants to know what bothers you, and why. I think his concern and interest is genuine." Sayoko sat down at the breakfast table, looking eagerly toward the bacon. "Anyway, a guy doesn't take an arrow in the back just to get into your pants."

"He said it was just a reflexive action," Yamiko hurriedly replied. "You know...heat of the moment kind of thing."

"People don't put their ass on the line like that--even in the 'heat of the moment'--unless it's someone they love. Someone they care about enough to put their life in danger." Sayoko frowned. "Well, unless maybe they're a martyr or something crazy like that."

"How could Kane love me? He hasn't known me that long."

"Love isn't always as simple as that. It can be spontaneous. Sometimes you realize you love someone after knowing them only a short while--sometimes it can take years." Sayoko shrugged. "Besides, you saved him, too. You cared enough that even though you seemed defeated, you came back and hit stronger. Because you cared, and you wanted to preserve what you cared for."

"Maybe," Yamiko said distantly, putting a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Sayoko and grabbing her own. "Maybe I was just flattered that he showed an interest in me--something that hasn't happened since the Crimson Eagle convinced me to be his lackey."

Sayoko laughed, covering her bacon-filled mouth. She swallowed. "Trust me, Yamiko, if there's anyone who isn't likely to be taken in by flattery, it's you."

"I guess you're right," she said, looking listlessly at her egg yolks. "But I don't know. I just don't know...how I feel about him."

"That's fine," Sayoko said. "What, you think you're being given a time-table? You should get to know him a bit better." She grinned. "Now that we know he's not just some creepy stalker boy, you can spend some quality time together." Sayoko snapped her fingers. "I know! Why don't we bring him over for dinner every night? He lives all alone, right? I'm sure he could use the company." She grinned fiendishly. "He could even stay overnight! We have this this big, empty apartment--"

"No. No no no no." Yamiko said. She looked out the window as the sun peaked over the clouds. "Well, he can come over for dinner. But no staying overnight."

"The time is more than ripe to strike, Eros," Sailor Nemesis said impatiently. "It is rancid."

"Respecting Your Magnificence and your keen eye for tactics, affairs of the heart must not be rushed. Yamiko must be far more attached to Kane before destroying their relationship will be properly devastating." He looked toward the ground nervously. Nemesis had little patience for insubordination. He could only hope that she felt his observation was more valuable than his disobedience was infuriating.

There was a silence so gaping Eros could not have shot an arrow through it blindfolded. "Very well," she said at last. "This may be one subject on which you are more qualified to speak. You were once the Priest of love and beauty."

Eros frowned. Nemesis laughed. "Do I bring forth the painful memories of past betrayal--the breaking of your once-fragile heart?"

Eros said nothing, but scowled. His eyes, brilliant orange, glowed with a feeling both malicious and painful. "Good," Nemesis said, satisfied. "Such pain brings energy to the furnace, and power to our purpose. And," she pointed a long, wicked pole-arm of twisting, writhing blades toward him, "it will be the map that guides your own manipulation of this fool girl."

"I know, " Eros replied, standing and bowing as he prepared to take his leave. "My pain has been the precedent that has guided me all along."

"Excellent. You have convinced me of your competence." She nodded. "Dismissed, Child of Aphrodite."

"Kazeko," Kazeko's foster mother, Yoshi, opened her daughter's door as she peeked inside. Kazeko jumped in alarm, as though she had heard a loud noise or been caught doing something wrong. Yoshi thought this was a little strange, since as far as she could tell, Kazeko was just sitting at her desk looking at something. "Kazeko, your friend is coming over." Yoshi smiled and stepped into her daughter's room. She looked a little oddly at the strange odds and ends adorning Kazeko's room; crystals, woven wall-hangings covered in celtic knotwork, an abundance of potted plants and what looked like walking sticks and snapped tree branches. She wasn't entirely sure where Kazeko had gotten all of these things, since she hadn't come to Tokyo with them, and even now many of these kinds of goods weren't exactly in abundance in Japan. Perhaps through the VR con, or in a specialty shop?

"W-what?" Kazeko said in alarm. She casually put whatever she had been looking at away in her desk. Yoshi frowned. Perhaps she should take a look at it some afternoon when Kazeko was out?

"One of your friends called up and asked if she could come over. I knew that you didn't have anything planned, and I figured that you could use the company, so I told them to come on over." She frowned. "Is there someone you're trying to avoid--maybe a bully? I know sometimes girls will lie about things like this to--"

"No," Kazeko hastily replied. "Well, I-I mean...who is it?"

Her mother frowned. "She said her name was...Suikuro. Now isn't that strange name, especially for a girl?" she paused. "Maybe you don't know this, since you're foreign, Kazeko, but usually the ending 'ro' is for sons. It must be another character that reads 'ro' in her name. Do you know what it is, perchance?"

Kazeko paused for a long period of time. "Kuro means black, right?"

"Why, yes," her mother replied. "But that doesn't seem--"

Kazeko paused. "Black water," she murmured under her breath.

"What?"

"It's nothing," Kazeko said hastily. "I'm sorry, Yoshi. I was just...surprised. I-In the future..." she paused uncertainly. "I-it would be nice if you asked m-me first."

"Okay," Yoshi agreed. "Is it okay if this friend comes over?"

"Yes," Kazeko replied. "Suikuro is...a friend of mine."

"Good," Yoshi said, satisfied. "I'll get something for you two to munch on."

Yoshi left, smiling, closing the door behind her. Kazeko sighed a breath of relief and pulled her locket out of her desk once more. What should she do with the talisman?

"Far away, the colors of a prism will melt and dissolve into whiteness...why won't the Great One come to us?"

The guards looked at her strangely. "The Great One? What does she speak of?"

"Don't bother," the other man-at-arms replied. "They say she speaks naught but madness."

"The north winds tell me," she whispered. "Far away, she watches us. She watches, but she will not come to aid us until the earth stands alone and she is shrouded in deep, sorrowed darkness..."

The words did not even make sense to Kazeko, who typically had a grasp on the strange and esoteric. She had meditated often on the strange visions of the woman named Oreithyia. The woman she once was. She glanced over at a white birch box, ornately carved with blue-purple knots. Putting down her locket and opening the hinged lid, she pulled out one of her many talismans. It was a carved, wooden knot of intersecting circles, made of yew. A small, uneven stone was affixed to its center--chrysoprase, a bright, milky green mineral. These aids in meditation brought many memories of her past life back to her, but they were always murky, always strange. Was she mad, as the men in her vision had said?

If she remembered what she knew then, would she be mad again?

She put down the yew knot and picked up the locket. How could she expect to understand her past life when she didn't even accept what she was--what tied her to that life? She clutched her locket and closed her bedroom door. She turned back to her window for a moment, then, pausing briefly, locked the door as well. She drew the blinds closed tightly as she held her locket high.

"Ariel prism power, make up!" she whispered. As she spoke, her soft words dissolved into the squall of air that whipped around her, forming her senshi fuku of lavender and indigo. Ariel fell to her knees on the softly carpeted floor, and she could feel her hands shaking.

"I can't be worthy of such power," she murmured. She could feel her command of the forces of the cold northern air coursing through her. She remembered with clarity the ease with which she called and spoke to air spirits as a child. She knew this power was hers. "And if I must be...oh, Mother, why could I not save you? Why couldn't it have been mine at that time?" She bit her lip as she felt tears streaming down her face.

There was a knock at her door. "Who is it?" she asked, alarmed.

"It's me," Seisui said. "May I come in?"

"Uh, yes," Ariel said hastily. "Let me unlock the door." she moved swiftly to unlatch the lock and opened the door narrowly so Seisui could squeeze inside. "Come in," she said, her voice quavering.

"Kazeko," Seisui said, a little shocked. She closed the door behind her. "Or, should I say...What was it?"

"Ariel," she said softly. "Sailor Ariel."

"So you've accepted your power," she said.

Ariel looked off to the side. "It's not like I have a choice. The power has been bestowed. It is for me to accept it."

"Your power isn't bestowed," Seisui replied. "It's something you own. No one gives it to you."

Ariel sighed. "That is what makes it so difficult to accept." She closed her eyes and a breeze, soft but chill, blew past. Her sailor uniform dissolved.

"You should be proud of your abilities as a senshi," Seisui said. "They give you strength and power."

Kazeko looked pensive. For a moment, no one spoke. "Kazeko," Seisui continued. "I can no longer transform."

"I'm not surprised," Kazeko said, sitting down at the low table in the center of her room. She had spread a large batik tapestry over the top of it; it was covered with the figures of intertwined, knotwork dogs. Seisui joined her.

"You're not?" Seisui responded, raising her eyebrows. At that moment, Yoshi entered the room, bearing a platter with sweets and tea.

"Here's a little something for you two," she said, smiling and placing the platter on the table. With that, she left.

"What are these?" Kazeko asked, indicating the round, squishy looking sweets.

"Glutinous rice flour with sweet bean paste," Seisui explained. "They're called 'daifuku.' You were saying?"

"Uhh...right," she said, collecting her thoughts. "Seisui, the other day, I felt you repress your guardian element."

Seisui looked at her strangely. "What do you mean?"

"Black Water," she said. "Before, I could sense your presence strongly because of your guardian spirit, the Black Water. But you suppressed it. It was right before I told your fortune through the runes." Seisui looked at her a little blankly. "It's a matter of accepting and rejecting. Black Water is the power of your element. That element is what you tap into when you use your attacks...when you transform. If you reject the power of that element...you have nothing to tap."

"So what do I do now?"

"You have to chance your attitude toward your element," Kazeko replied. "You have to embrace it, instead of pushing it away."

"I can't do that," Seisui said sadly. "I tried to embrace Black Water...it might have given me power, but I lost everything, and gained nothing else."

"You speak to your element, do you not?" Kazeko asked.

Seisui nodded. "Or, at least, I did," she added. "I have not spoken to Black Water since my power vanished."

"Then perhaps you should explain your feelings to him," Kazeko said.

"How?" Seisui replied. "He won't even speak to me."

"I can speak to the elements," she explained a little hesitantly, "If I begin a ritual. Between the two of us, we may be able to summon your guardian element here and speak to it. But we must be patient, and careful," she added. "to summon an element against their will is a difficult and draining thing to do." she paused thoughtfully. "Usually the spirit is appeased with a gift. Do you have something, Seisui, that your guardian spirit would want or accept?"

Seisui frowned. After what seemed like an eternity, she said at last, "Yes. Yes, I do have something."

"Is it with you?"

She sighed. "It is. I always carry it with me, except when I'm at school." Seisui opened a purse she had brought with her; it was blue, with burgundy roses. She pulled out a small dagger. It had an ivory handle crafted in the form of a viper; the viper held an orb of garnet in its teeth.

"Where did you get this?" Kazeko asked, shocked.

Seisui looked as though she were unsure what to say. She frowned. "It was my father's," she said at last.

"I see," Kazeko said, quietly. "Are you sure you want to give this up?"

"What good is it to me now?" Seisui said. Her voice was tired and weak. "Besides, Black Water is a part of me. In a way, what belongs to it is mine as well."

"Very well," she said. Seisui handed her the dagger, and Kazeko gently took it. "You can sit there for now...it will take some time for me to set up the ritual." Kazeko got up and walked over to her door. She re-locked it before walking over to a closet. It was a large walk-in closet, and since Kazeko was not the type to hoard clothing or accessories, it was empty except for some magical accoutrements she stored on the shelves, out of the sight of her stepmother. In the center of the closet was a rug with a celtic circle emblazoned on it; in the middle of this circle she placed a chiastolite stone, a dark brown rock with a black cross through the center. Above each point of the cross she placed a small talisman; the the one nearest to her was carved of alder. The two on the points that were to the side of her were of ash and hawthorn. The one that would be nearest to Seisui was of elm. Between the elm talisman and the chiastolite stone, Kazeko placed the dagger that Seisui had given her.

Kazeko grabbed her oak staff, which rested against the wall of her closet. "All right," she said. "it's ready."

Seisui put down the daifuku she had been eating and walked into Kazeko's closet, being careful not to disturb any of her meticulously set up items. "I need you to sit across from me," Kazeko said, indicating the opposite end of the carpet, "over there." Seisui nodded and gingerly made her way to the other side of the carpet, just inside the woven circle. She sat down as Kazeko took her place across from her and held out her oak staff horizontally toward Seisui. "Take the other end of the staff," she said.

"Okay," Seisui said, obeying her instructions. "Now what?"

"Focus on Black Water," Kazeko replied. "And do not allow yourself to become distracted." Seisui nodded and closed her eyes. Her face became relaxed and placid.

Kazeko took a deep breath and stared out beyond the here and now, to something not visible yet hazily seen. Speaking in Irish, she began a chant of summoning, asking the spirit that dwelt within Seisui to come forth in exchange for the gift which she hoped would placate it.

Time passed painfully as Kazeko continued her endless chant. Eventually, out of the center of the elm talisman seeped the dark, viscous liquid. It swirled around the ivory dagger and drew the weapon back into itself, making the item disappear into the inky blackness.

"What would you ask of me?" a hoarse, dark voice inquired.

Kazeko spoke in Japanese. "To return that which was lost," she replied. "To mend the bond that is broken."

"Why should I repair that which I did not break?" the voice sounded almost sorrowful. "It was not I who abandoned her."

Kazeko looked pensive.

"I didn't want to," Seisui said suddenly. "I wanted to cling to my cause, my anger...but I can't anymore. I have to give those things up, or else I will have nothing." she looked downward. "I'll just have to hope that Tokimo makes good on her plan to kill Pinkmoon after the fight is over. Until then...all I can do is wait, remember my father's legacy, and end the fight with Nemesis as soon as possible--so that some day, I can return to avenging my father's purification....and our death."

The swirling darkness was silent. It seemed to consider what Seisui had said, then swirled away into nothingness.

"Did it work?" Seisui asked, looking up at Kazeko. Kazeko squinted.

"I'm not sure," she said at length.

"Your bow is a little crooked," Haruko said, straightening the large pink bow on the back of Lady Serenity's full, ruffly skirt. Haruko was dressed in her own Princess gown, a light pink dress with a sweetheart neckline and a long, mermaid skirt. Yellow flowers accentuated her outfit; despite the girlish colors, the cut gave Haruko a lady-like appearance.

"Thank you," Lady Serenity said, a little detached.

"What's bugging you, Lady Serenity?" Fuyuko asked. Her own dress was a simple empire gown in a cold, ice blue. She wore a light blue cameo with the image of a helmet-clad woman. "Is it the Moon Senshi again?"

"No," Lady Serenity replied. "I fear that my father will make the youma a problem for the Planetary Senshi."

"What's wrong with that?" Haruko asked. "It's their job, just like ours, to protect the Earth."

Lady Serenity shook her head. "No. That job has passed to me. To us. Unless the power of the Sailor Guardians and the Outer Senshi is necessary, we are the ones whose duty it is to protect the earth."

"It's the duty of all of the Senshi to protect the earth," Diana disagreed. "Theirs as much as ours, Lady Serenity. I think, perhaps, you are taking on more responsibility than is necessary."

"It made sense for the Planetary Senshi to protect the Earth when that was their only responsibility--when running the world was in the hands of other men and women. But now they have their hands full with the affairs of state. It's only logical that we step into their old position and defend the planet from outside forces while they grapple with conflicts that come from within. And anyway," she added, "Whether or not the amount of responsibility I'm taking on is necessary or not, I want to do it. I don't want to be shuttered away and protected anymore. I want to be a proud senshi, leading my own team. You know that, Diana." Diana looked concerned, but she said nothing.

Haruko seemed be milling what Lady Serenity had said. After a long, awkward silence, she spoke at last. "Our primary duty is to protect you as guards, not defeat the minions of Chaos. But when Sailor Moon was called upon to protect the Solar System from Metallia and the Black Moon family, the Four Guardian Senshi aided her in her task--they did not look outside for help. " Haruko sighed. "Therefore...I will abide by your decision, Lady Serenity." She looked admonishingly at her leader. "But only if you promise that you will seek the aid of the Planetary Senshi if this enemy should prove too much for us."

Lady Serenity nodded. "Of course." she still looked nervous and hesitant. "There's something else I should tell you before the meeting. Something I'm going to bring up there." She looked toward her window. The sun shone gaily outside, and puffy clouds were traveling across the azure sky.

"Well?" Natsuko said impatiently. Her satiny bronze gown glinted in the bright light; her hair and jewelry were heavily decorated with peacock feathers. "Out with it."

"I am no longer Sailor Pinkmoon," she said. "I now transform into Sailor Luna--the name of the Moon during the Rainbow Millennium, when the Moon Senshi were at the zenith of their power."

The Quartet's faces were shocked. "What can you mean by taking that name?" Akiko asked. "You must realize that in the eyes of the Sailor Senshi, it seems like you're siding with the Moon Senshi. And to the Moon Senshi--why, it was Sailor Luna, or as they usually call her, Queen Diana--who was responsible for their deaths! It'll make both sides of this conflict angry!"

"Let's not be hasty," Diana interjected. "We don't yet know the circumstances that led to this."

"How did it happen?" Haruko asked calmly, her brow furrowed thoughtfully.

"A Moon Senshi used her communicator to call me, and it summoned a new brooch," Lady Serenity explained.

"See?" Diana said, looking toward Akiko with a perturbed expression. "It was completely out of Lady Serenity's control."

"And how do you feel about this new transformation?" Haruko continued, leaning against Lady Serenity's vanity and looking at her frankly. "Do you welcome it?"

Lady Serenity paused, then nodded. "I think this transformation is a sign of my independence. When I gained my Star Senshi form, it was because I was focused on being united with everyone--with the Planetary Senshi. But now..." She looked her face deadly serious. "We both know, Haruko, that is not the case any more. It's not even a matter of this whole Moon Senshi conflict. We just have to accept that I'm an adult now, with a Senshi team of my own...with a whole new group of Sailor Senshi it looks like I will have to work with. In that context...Sailor Star Pinkmoon doesn't make sense anymore. It's time for me to build a legacy of my own, just like mama did."

"You're still a member of the Planetary Senshi, too, Lady Serenity," Natsuko replied. "You can't turn away from that. It's the duty of the Planetary Senshi to protect and work with Sailor Moon. That's the legacy you should be making!"

"No," Haruko said. "I think, after all, maybe she is right."

"What?" Akiko sputtered, looking toward Haruko. The flame-colored panels on her dress glinted in the sunlight. "But Sailor Luna...with a name like that, she won't belong anywhere!"

"She won't be Sailor Star Pinkmoon, so she won't belong with the Planetary Senshi," Haruko agreed. "And she'll still represent the family of the White Moon, so she won't represent the Moon Senshi either. But...perhaps that is as it should be. I've been thinking about this for awhile now...and I've come to a decision. We are Lady Serenity's guardians, but we're not her babysitters. She is our leader, and the new Senshi of the Moon. She is not Sailor Moon, because that was mantle of Neo Queen Serenity. So perhaps it's better that she has a new title, and a new different legacy."

"Besides," Diana piped in, slightly put out, "I think it's a bit much, Akiko, to say that Lady Serenity will not belong anywhere. Naturally, she will always belong with us--and with Sir Helios--no matter what happens."

"But Sailor Pinkmoon was supposed to be her new legacy," Natsuko objected. "Her different legacy."

"Is your crystal still pink?" Haruko asked.

"Yes," Lady Serenity replied. "But then, I have not used it since my locket changed, and I doubt that it could change form without my needing to use it in the process."

"Well," Haruko continued, "For the time being, it still is her legacy. And even if the crystal changes to become the color it once was for Luna--which, I assume, would be silver once again--it might not be such a bad thing. Even though Sailor Pinkmoon is Lady Serenity's own legacy, it is also a legacy that tied her to the planetary senshi. Perhaps it is for the best that she breaks away from that power, too, now that the Planetary Senshi must turn their thoughts to the Crystal Palace and the queen."

"Anyway," Fuyuko cheerful piped in, "If Lady Serenity is both a member of the White Moon and a Moon Senshi, maybe she can be the one to bring them together!"

Natsuko scoffed. "I doubt that."

"If it's possible, Lady Serenity will be the one to do it," Fuyuko said. "I'm sure of it."

Lady Serenity sighed. "I hope you're right, Fuyuko. I just hope I can count on you five to stand behind me on this."

"Of course!" Diana emphatically replied.

Haruko paused thoughtfully. "We haven't always seen eye-to-eye since....since the beginning of all this," she replied. "But If you are at the stage where even your powers have morphed...we have to recognize the winds of change. As long as you are loyal to the royal family, we will stand by your side. As long as it does not stand in the way of protecting you, we will abide by your decisions."

"As everyone knows, we have recently been receiving reports about youma appearing again in the city. This is something that has not happened since the fall of the dreaded Black Moon." Luna looked toward the assembled Sailor Senshi, her expression grave. "Moreover, this new threat has come, once again, from Nemesis. Right now, our lack of familiarity with the enemy makes a head-on attack on Nemesis unwise. We need to find out more about these youma--who they are working for, where they get their power from."

"Lady Serenity," Hotaru said, turning toward her. "I believe you know more than anyone about this new enemy."

"Yes, I have been at all but one of the encounters with this new enemy," she replied. "And, with the help of the Moon Senshi, I have ascertained certain facts about their nature and identities."

Luna seemed impressed. "You were able to get the Moon Senshi to cooperate?"

"Indeed," Lady Serenity said. She carried herself with pride; even though her dress was girlish and cute, she looked mature and lady-like. "I have convinced them to work alongside me, at least until the threat of Nemesis is subdued. And I have hopes that by the time this conflict has ended, I will have managed to convince them to find a way past their enmity."

"Well," Endymion looked as though he was not sure how to take this news. "I see. What have you found out?"

"The enemy is not the Black Moon family," Lady Serenity said. "At least, I doubt it. We know very little about who's running the show, and if they took their power from Chaos...but we do know this: the priests, not seen since the Rainbow Millennium, work for them."

"The Rainbow Millennium?" Minako asked, toying with her amber-colored pendant.

"That was the era of the Moon Senshi," Haruka informed her.

"Who are these priests?" Artemis asked. "There's nothing about them in any records I've read, and I don't recall hearing about them during our time on the Moon."

"The Crimson Eagle explained it to me," Hotaru replied. "They're part of the three powers. There is a trinity of power that protects the Earth: Endymion and the Earth. Helios and Elysion. And Lady Serenity and the Moon. These three powers are co-dependent; if one falls, so do they all. So it once was for all of the planets."

"Then why are we still okay?" Ami asked. "If the death of one of the powers causes a sickness like Sailor Moon and Tuxedo mask once suffered, why did we not fall ill as they did?"

"One can circumvent the curse by relying on the power of the silver crystal," Hotaru put her hand on her chin thoughtfully. "Or I should say, any crystal. In this case, the pink crystal or golden crystal...or, if it had been some other trinity of powers, it could have been their crystal we all relied on."

Michiru folded her hands. Her eyes were thoughtful. "It all seems hard to believe," she solemnly. "That there are even senshi of the moons at all was surprising enough...but if what you say is true, Hotaru, it means that the Solar System is a locus of incredible power. There are well over 100 moons, and if each moon and the planet they belong to has it's own crystal anywhere near the power of the Silver Crystal...well, frankly, it forces me to be a little skeptical. Just one crystal has the power to destroy planets. Are you sure that the Crimson Eagle did not have cause to deceive you? He is, after all, one of the Moon Senshi."

"Knights are bound to protect and serve all Sailor Senshi," Hotaru replied. "Indeed, when I fought once with Sailor Phoebe, the Crimson Eagle tried to convince her to stop. I do not think he would he would lie."

"Hotaru is right," Lady Serenity agreed. "The Crimson Eagle has often protected me from the Moon Senshi in the past, and I know him well. He is a man of honor."

"And you say the priests now work for Nemesis?" Ami asked, looking at Lady Serenity. She nodded.

"Almost certainly. Sailor Phoebe saved an innocent bystander from Eros, the priest of Venus. And Seisui says she saw the rest of them briefly before her escape from Nemesis. It may have even been one of them that returned her locket to her."

"If the priests were once good, and they were the protectors of the planet...perhaps it is our duty to save them," Rei said. "If they're working for Nemesis, they've almost certainly been corrupted by Chaos."

"Indeed," Ami replied, "if they have been corrupted, we can be fairly certain that Purification would cure the negative effects of the corruption instead of destroying the personality of whoever we're helping."

"Unless, of course, they're working for Nemesis of their own free will," Haruka observed, crossing her arms as a dark expression crossed her face.

"Well," Minako laughed, "No one would do that, right?"

"I certainly hope not..." Diana replied.

"I used to think so," Makoto said with a sigh, leaning on her hand. "But look what Seisui and the rest of the Moon Senshi did, without any kind of corruption at all. I don't think anything would surprise me anymore."

"Besides, to be frank..." Haruka looked at Queen Serenity sadly. "I'm not sure it would be a good thing if we did purify the Priests. If we did, and if Lady Serenity is able to get the Moon Senshi to become our allies...think of the power that they would possess. And any of them are anything like Seisui...honestly, I think that power would be in the wrong hands."

"But that's why the three powers exist as they do, is it not?" Ami replied. "So that if a Moon Senshi becomes dangerous or unstable, the others will refuse to work with them and then everyone will lose their power." Ami paused, thoughtful. "It seems like it would give another trinity the chance to step in and make things right."

"Whatever that means," Minako replied. "It sounds like Queen Diana used that caveat to her advantage."

"It doesn't really seem like it matters now," Natsuko said. "We're not at a stage where getting the crystals seems at all realistic. Shouldn't we focus on beating up the bad guys, first?"

"It's not that simple," Rei snapped. "This will inform our whole tactical plan! If we fight the Priests, it will have entirely different implications than if we try to heal them."

"So which should we do?" Minako asked.

"We will heal them," Queen Serenity said. Her face looked dignified, decisive. "That is our duty."

"But what if Haruka speaks truly? What if they side with evil of their own free will?" Michiru asked, looking toward her Queen with concern.

"Then we'll have to convince them they chose the wrong side," Makoto said, grinning. "Nothing we can't handle."

"You mean nothing I can't handle," Lady Serenity said, turning toward Makoto with a polite smile.

There was a tense silence. "Lady Serenity..." Endymion looked toward her with love and concern. "This is a dangerous mission against an unknown enemy...most likely another incarnation of Chaos. We simply cannot risk your safety by allowing you to take on something so dangerous alone."

"I won't be alone," she replied. "I have the Sailor Quartet...and even if the Moon Senshi have fought with me in the past, we're working together against a common enemy."

"You can't be sure the Moon Senshi will remain your allies," Endymion replied. "You can't even be sure they're not working for Nemesis."

"Your majesty," Akiko replied, "I'm as distrustful of these new senshi as the next person. But based on what Lady Serenity has told us of the Moon Senshi's experiences with the new enemy, they've been attacking the new senshi more than anyone! That hardly seems likely."

"And do you now support Lady Serenity's wish to fight this enemy alone?" Endymion asked.

"We have decided that as her guardians, our duty is beside her," Haruko replied. "We understand your concerns, your majesty, but we think that Lady Serenity has more than proved herself. You knew the dangers she faced when you sent her back in time, but you were willing to do it because you knew that she would return safely in the end. Are you willing to trust her skill and courage in the face of an uncertain future?" Endymion was silent.

"Moreover," Haruko continued, "I genuinely believe that Lady Serenity is not in any immediate danger. Frankly, these Youma are far less powerful than the Moon Senshi she faced time and time again. My advice to the assembled Sailor Senshi is this; let Lady Serenity deal with this problem for now. She has inherited the mantle of Sailor Moon, and it falls to all of you now to deal with matters of state. If things get out of control and Nemesis looks to be more than Lady Serenity can handle, then is the time to intervene."

Endymion sighed, mulling over Haruko's suggestion. "I just don't feel comfortable with it," he said at last.

"If I may," Hotaru interrupted, "perhaps I could reprise my role as an instructor at Goban High. That way, Lady Serenity would have someone to keep an eye on her, but there would be minimal interference on the part of the other senshi. If things are too much for the Princess, I vow to let your majesty know as soon as possible. Besides," she said with a smile, "I miss Usako. I have been too long cooped up in this palace."

Haruko looked toward Lady Serenity. "What do you think, Lady Serenity? I think Hotaru's suggestion is a good one."

Lady Serenity looked toward Helios, who nodded in approval. "I agree," Lady Serenity replied. "Daddy, will you entrust my protection to the Sailor Quartet and Sailor Saturn, without the interference of the other senshi?"

Endymion paused, cradling his chin on top of his woven fingers. He sighed and glanced at his wife, who nodded at him, a smile on her face. "Very well. Sailor Saturn is among the most powerful and capable of the senshi, and Hotaru, your friendship with Lady Serenity is proof to me that you will keep her best interests at heart."

"Thank you, your majesty," Hotaru replied. She looked at Lady Serenity knowingly.

"Shall we adjourn, then?" Endymion said, laying his hands on the table before him.

"Actually Daddy...there's something I need to tell you...to tell everyone." Endymion looked up at Lady Serenity, his expression calm. "I know there's been talk of a Sailor Luna recently. The truth is...it's me." they all stared at her, their faces alarmed. "But don't get me wrong. It's not like I'm siding with the Moon Senshi or anything. I was called by the Moon Senshi to heal an innocent bystander the other day, and when I was, something...changed. Something that changed my locket and communicator. Now I transform into a senshi a lot more like Mom when she first transformed into Sailor Moon. I know it's shocking," she added, "but please don't misunderstand. I didn't cause the change to happen. And my loyalties haven't changed either."

Endymion was silent for a long time. "I think this change may be a good thing," Queen Serenity said, turning to him. "When Lady Serenity received her transformation as Sailor Star Pinkmoon, it united her with the planets. But Lady Serenity has to lead a team now, and stand on her own two feet. This transformation will give her the power to fight on her own." Queen Serenity smiled kindly at her daughter, who returned it with a grin. Endymion sighed. His face looked stressed and thoughtful.

Serenity took his hand and looked at him with a smile. Endymion gazed at her intently, but there was kindness in his eyes. "If that's how it is...that's how it must be," he said. "I may sometimes question your decisions as my daughter, but I would never question your intentions...or your loyalty. I will welcome the Earth's new protector, Sailor Luna." Lady Serenity smiled, a broad grin stretched across her face. Endymion smiled back at her, his love for his daughter in his eyes.

"Hi, uh...Kane?" Yamiko said into the receiver of the phone, her voice trembling slightly.

"Hello," he replied. "Is this Yamiko?"

"Yes," Yamiko said. "How are you?"

"Good," Kane said. "Better, now that I've heard a friendly voice."

Yamiko smiled a little. "Well, don't get ahead of yourself," she said jokingly. "You don't know that I have anything friendly to say."

"Well," Kane replied, "I'll simply have to wish that is the case. Is it?"

"Uh," she said. "Actually..." she cleared her throat nervously and silence hung on the other end. "I was wondering if you wanted to eat dinner at my house tonight. With Sayoko," she added hastily. She paused, realizing that it sounded like she wanted him to eat dinner with Sayoko alone. "I mean--I'll be there too of course. But Sayoko will also be there."

"That would be great," Kane replied. "It gets a little lonely eating by myself all the time. Maybe we could all watch a movie together again."

"Sure," Yamiko replied. "But this time, I get to choose."

"But of course," Kane said with mocking suaveness.

To Part B