Little Serenity had grown, and she was a sight to behold.  Her little golden curls looked just so sweet in little pigtails on her head.  She was a giggling, laughing child.  She was a bit of a crybaby though, and a bit bossy, but they all loved her anyway.

        They had nicknamed her “Usagi”, for her little odangoes made her look like an adorable little bunny.  “Usako, where are you?” Minako cried.  “I can’t believe I’m wasting my youth baby-sitting you, you little...”

        Ami shot her a glance to quiet her.  “You three wait here. I’ll find her.” Rei said.

        The dark-haired Princess of Mars leaped down from the rafters agilely.  “Little Usako, where are you?”  She said in a coaxing tone.  She looked out the window, and saw two little odangoes moving off in the distance.  “Oh no! Usagi!” she cried, running after the figure that kept getting smaller and smaller in the horizon.

        Usagi loved to run off and play in the forest, playing with the animals, and especially her namesake.  She would play with all the rabbits, petting them and talking to them.  The others would laugh, but Rei would quiet them.  It made sense, since little Usagi had no friends to play with.  Rei would probably do the same.  She was close behind the toddler, when she disappeared into a forest.  “Oh great, not again.” Rei mumbled to herself.

        She followed the little toddler, and finally caught up to her.  She was sitting on a fallen tree trunk, swinging her legs merrily, all in fun.  “I caught you!” Rei said.  She changed her tone, “Now don’t you ever go running off again!”  She picked up Usagi and hugged her.  They started to leave, when the tree trunk started to move.

        “Aaahhhhh!” Usagi screamed, clutching Rei.

        They watched in horror as the tree turned into a monster, it’s limbs turning human and developing facial features.  Rei took her transformation pen out of her pocket. “Mars power!”

        Usagi watched, amazed.  The Princess transformed into a flaming fuku, her violet hair streaming, glinting in the sunlight.  “In the name of Mars, I shall punish you!”  She cried.  Sailor Mars shouted, “Mars Celestial Fire Surround!” toasting the enemy, before it had a chance to attack the awestruck little girl.

        The dust, all that remained of the youma, was scattered upon the forest floor.  Princess Rei transformed out of her fuku, leaving Usagi wide-eyed and breathless.  Rei picked up the little girl and carried her homeward, humming the same mysterious tune hummed to her years ago by a lady with silver odangoes and a crescent moon...

        “Listen.  You don’t understand!  She saw me transform!”

        “Rei,” Makoto countered, “She’ll forget it in time, and besides, who will she tell?  Her little rabbit friends?”

        Rei sighed and sat down on the creaky floor.  Why couldn’t they be out there, planning how to save the lives of billions; but instead stuck here in this lonely deserted cathedral?  It was something she’d never understand.  She stood up again, taking the sleeping Usako and placing her in a little bed in the corner.  What an angel.  But is she worth it?

        She walked over to the window, and looked out into the misty night.  She eyed the grotesque gargoyles perched on the roof.  So life-like.  What craftsmanship had to be put into them, she thought.  She looked over at the translucent moon.  Its eerie cold glow chilled her, yet She found peace in its beauty.  She thought the saw one of the gargoyles move.  She shivered.  Must be the moonlight.  It can play tricks on the eyes, she thought.  She headed off to bed, homesick for the warm glow of Mars.
 
 

        No one in the Solar System seemed to remember little Serenity.  The Queen told everybody the night after the Princess’s reception that she had died in her sleep.  She was only a brief image, a blur in the whirlwind that we know as life.  Those that did remember, hardly spoke of her.  The only times the heartbroken Queen ever talked about her was late at night in bed with her husband.

        Now that she was older, her friends let Usagi wander more freely.  She was a born nature lover, for she could spend hours lying on the emerald green grass, and stare up in the sky for hours, and be content.  One crisp, cold morning in the winter season, she wandered into the forest.

        She felt this wasn’t just any day.  She felt some mysterious force pulling her towards the forest.  She came, curious as always.  She noticed some horses off in the distance.  She had never seen very many of these before, and was eager to get up close.

        He saw a young girl with golden hair step out of a nearby bush.  She picked a few thorns out of her hair.  Prince Endymion smirked at her.  “Hey, meatball head!”  He said, mockingly.

        “What did you say?!” She replied.

        “Uh, never mind.” He said.  “Well, what are you doing here?”

        “I live here,” she replied, looking at him strangely.

        “I thought this place has been abandoned for years.” He thought out loud.

        “Nope!  I’ve always been here, me and my friends.”

        “Hmm. Well,” he said reluctantly, “I’ve gotten lost.  Do you happen to know a way out of here?”

        “Well, yes.  Come on lets go!”

        They walked on.  “What’s your name?” She asked.

        “I am Prince Endymion of Earth,” He replied proudly.

        She looked at him openmouthed.  “Wow!  A real Prince!  I’ve always wanted to be a Princess.  They get whatever they want, and they live in castles...”

        They had a long conversation about each other’s families.  Endymion was stunned that she had no parents, only 4 women there to take care of her.  Finally, the forest started to thin out.  “Well, we’re here,” she said.

        “Goodbye Usagi!”

        “Goodbye Endymion!  Uh, I mean Prince Endymion!”  She looked down at the rose she was fingering in her hand. “Wait!  I want to give you something. “

        “What?” he asked.

        “Well,” she started to blush.  “I found this along the path, and well, I thought maybe you’d want it?”

        He took it from her.  “Thank you, Lady Usagi,” he said bowing.

        Usagi giggled, and they both ended up laughing.  “Bye!” she said, and headed home.  What a strange boy.  But there was something she liked about him, though she didn’t know what.

        As years passed, as swiftly as the turning of pages in a book; Usagi had blossomed into a beautiful young woman.  When the Senshi looked at her, they were awestruck at her resemblance with the Moon Queen.  Princess Ami almost called her Serenity, only once though.  They were all afraid.  If any of Beryl’s men found Usagi, they would destroy the Solar System.  Until then, they were safe.

        Usagi’s birthday was approaching fast.  The Princesses anxiety also rose with each day.  Finally the big day came.  Usagi came out of her room in the morning, looking fresh and rested.  It was strange watching over Usagi now, she appeared the same age as them.  She would remain this way for the rest of all eternity- something she did not know.

        When Usagi was dressed, she came out of her room.  The Princesses were already at the table, waiting anxiously.  She sat down, and began to eat her breakfast.  The Princesses looked at each other.  They had to tell her.

        “Usagi, you must know by know that we are not your parents.”

        Usagi looked up.  “Of course!  You’re all girls!”

        “Well,” Ami began, “Have you heard of Queen Serenity?”

        “Well, actually, no.  I don’t get out much, and whoever she is, she can’t be that important.” Usagi replied.

        “16 years ago...” Ami told her the whole story, from when she was born, to the present.

        Minako gently touched her on the shoulder.  “It’s okay Usagi, oops, I mean Serenity.  You’ll meet your parents.  Just as soon as we know the threat is passed.”

        Rei remembered something, and ran to the corner, where she kept her keepsakes.  She pulled out a shining locket.  “Serenity, here take this.  Your mother told me to give this to you when you reached your sixteenth birthday.”

        Princess Serenity took the locket in her hand.  When it came into her hands, it magically opened by itself.  The same beautiful song played...  Serenity broke down.  She couldn’t help herself.  She cried into Makoto’s shoulder.  “It’s alright, my little bunny rabbit.  Cry all you want.”

        “But that was the song Rei used to sing to me!” Serenity stuttered.

        They all looked at each other in amazement.  “Rei!” Makoto cried.  “How could you?  You weren’t supposed to reveal anything to her about her past, and off you go singing their sacred family song?”

        “Oh, do be quiet!” Rei shouted at her.

        “You two!  Stop it!  There is only one way we can transport her to the Moon Palace.  We can Sailor Teleport!”

        They waited and waited for days, until they were completely immobilized by fear.  Weeks later, Rei was about to shoo away a cat that sneaked into their abode until she noticed the crescent on it’s forehead.  “Luna! It’s you!  How are the King and Queen?  Did Beryl attack?”

        “No! That is why I came.  It is time for the Princess to return, Beryl must’ve forgot about the attack!”

        “You mean we’ve been hoarded up here all these years for no reason at all?”  Minako whined.

        “The Princess of Venus I used to know didn’t used to whine like that,” Luna said.

        “Don’t mind her.  When do we depart?”  Makoto asked.

        “Well, we can leave now!  You have enough strength to Sailor Teleport, don’t you?”

        “We sure do!”  Rei said.

        They all transformed into Senshi form, as Princess Serenity stared in amazement as she saw the elements work their magic on her beloved friends.  They surrounded Serenity and shouted “Sailor Teleport!” And then they were gone.

 Chapter 4