Chapter Seven

***

The silence in the room quickly become unbearable and no one 
wanted to look at each other. 

Mercury sighed finally. ["It's hard to believe that all of these 
events happened in only three days"] she thought to herself, having 
forgotten the bond that she now shared with Mamoru, Usagi and Rei. 

["You know-you're RIGHT!"] Sailor Mars exclaimed in shock, red 
eyes widening. She let go of Minako's hand absently and straightened. 
Her gaze flittered about the room. The Generals were standing together, 
looking utterly anguished and infuriated at the blow destiny had dealt 
them. The Senshi were all gathered tightly about Serenity, who was 
clutching Tuxedo Kamen's cloak about her blossomed form. Tuxedo Kamen 
stood close behind her, eyes shuttered as he watched the Generals. 
Ikuko, Kenji, Shingo, Marie, Grandpa and Yuuchiro stood slightly to the 
side, not wanting to interfere and Mars could see that they were in 
shock from all the events of the last few days. And then there was 
Sailor Pluto-standing calmly next to Seline, who was clad only in a 
white sheet toga-style. "Well," she murmured into the silence, 
overwhelmed herself. 

"Well," Minako, Jupiter and Mercury echoed awkwardly. 

"Send us back to our own time!" Malachite suddenly ordered, eyes 
turning to Princess Serenity. 

The Princess blinked at him, startled. "I-" she turned to Sailor 
Pluto. "Can we not send them back, Pluto and have the Silver Crystal 
erase their memories?" 

The Guardian of Time shook her head gravely, suddenly feeling 
incredible old. "I AM sorry, Princess. And to you also Generals of the 
Golden Kingdom...but the past no longer exists." 

The room erupted into pandemonium, every screaming and shouting 
at Sailor Pluto. 

"Enough!" Seline shouted, silver eyes flashing with wrath. "This 
is not Pluto's fault. Anymore than it is my daughter's fault. All of 
this has happened for a reason! I'm certain of it." 

"What POSSIBLE reason could there be for us being brought to a 
century where out soul mates don't even love us!" Zoisite spat out, 
looking briefly at Mercury. 

"It wasn't intentional," Mercury murmured, casting her blue eyes 
towards the carpet. She felt something for this man-something eating 
away at the back of her mind-but he was still a stranger and she could 
not understand his love or anguish at the situation. "I'm very sorry," 
she whispered. 

Zoisite's eyes swung back to her and he took an involuntary half-
step before he remembered. "So what happens now?" he asked no one, a 
pulse ticking wildly in his cheek. 

"You must be told of this century and your selves involvement 
with Queen Beryl," Sailor Pluto said, sighing deeply. "You are still 
Endymion's Royal Guard and I feel that soon you shall be needed to 
protect him." 

"WE can protect him!" Sailor Mars growled, feeling her earlier 
hate towards Jadeite. He had been evil and hurt them all. ["But he's 
not the same person, is he?"] she thought wistfully. 

"["No-he isn't"] Tuxedo Kamen responded, struggling to feel free 
of the hate he also felt for the Generals. These men were from his 
past. Endymion's past. And they had been his protectors. "Perhaps we 
should talk soon," he directed his words at the Generals', who nodded 
their consent. 

"I'll go and make us some sandwiches or something," Ikuko 
murmured faintly, a hand to her cheek. She headed towards the door, but 
was grabbed on the back of the dress by her husband. 

"Not so fast, Ikuko!" he told her sternly. "Have you forgotten 
that you just gave birth not long ago?" 

"Gave birth?" Malachite eyed the women with confusion. She didn't 
LOOK like she's just given birth...and where was the baby then? 

"Oh, I forgot I guess," she blushed brightly. Ikuko ran a hand 
over her stomach and moved her legs experimentally. "I don't FEEL sore 
anywhere." 

"The Silver Crystal healed you fully, Mom," Serenity said 
positively. 

"MOM?!" Zedite and Nephlyte exclaimed, staring. 

Seline sighed. "It's a part of that long story that we have to 
discuss. Let us all go down to the kitchen." 

"Perhaps we should get you some clothes first, my Queen?" Minako 
hissed at her, flushing in embarrassment. 

Seline's face went almost as bright a red as she looked down and 
saw her sheet. "Oh dear!" she said, hands flying to her cheeks in 
shock. She'd completely forgotten! 

"AND the Princess," Mars said, de-transforming into Rei. She 
never noticed the General's shock. ["There's NO way Serenity is running 
around in only her bunny shirt!"] 

["I agree"] Tuxedo Kamen said, almost growling. 

"Right." Serenity said, blushing faintly. It hadn't bothered her 
as much, because she had Endymion's cloak. 

"Everyone, this way-girls you stay here and we'll figure out how 
to go get you some clothes." Ikuko said, taking charge. 

"It is fine. The Crystal will make us clothes, Mom," Serenity 
called out. 

Ikuko blinked and then smiled. "I keep forgetting about that, for 
some reason." She left with everyone else and closed the door behind 
her. 

Mamoru and the girls all eyed each other. "What a mess," he 
finally said, throwing himself down onto the bed near Rei. 

Rei sighed and pulled Mercury with her as she sat down close 
beside him and leaned her head onto his shoulder wearily. ["I'll say"] 
she murmured mentally. 

Serenity bent her will upon the Silver Crystal and the silver 
light of it's power consumed her. She fought back against the 
multitudes of voices and the call of visions and concentrated on 
herself and her Mother. When the light had cleared, she and Seline 
stood clad in short pink skirts and white woolen sweaters, along with 
gray boots on their feet. 

Seline glanced down and shrieked loudly. "SERENITY! My LEGS are 
showing!" she almost wailed, sounding so much like Usagi that the 
other's stared. 

Serenity blinked-and was suddenly Usagi. She slumped towards the 
ground, her strength all gone. Luckily Tuxedo Kamen caught her before 
she hit the ground and pulled her onto his lap on the bed. "Oooooh! My 
head," Usagi moaned, clutching at the throbbing temples. ["Anyone got 
any aspirin?"] 

"Welcome back Usagi," Mamoru murmured, kissing her forehead 
lightly. He stiffened as an urge came over him to ravish her where she 
lay, but he restrained it. ["This is going to be SO hard"] he moaned 
silently. 

Rei sat up and whacked him over the back of the head. ["None of 
that mister! Just remember that we have a BOND going on here and I 
don't want to hear your lecherous thoughts for my best friend!"] 

["I concur with that!"] Mercury said hastily, flushing brightly. 
She de-transformed into Ami and flopped backwards onto the bed. 

"Serenity? My SKIRT!" Seline said through gritted teeth, staring 
hard at her daughter. Serenity had dressed them identically and there 
was only the fact that they were now different ages that would keep 
them from being mixed up. 

"Motttttther!" Usagi wailed at her, closing her eyes and 
burrowing into Mamoru's embrace. "I'm EXHAUSTED! And this IS the 
twentieth century! You'll have to get used to it's clothing." 

"But I feel so exposed!" Seline yelled back, reaching down to try 
and tug her short skirt downwards to cover her long slender legs. 

Sailor Pluto smiled in amusement and then de-transformed. 
Everyone stared at her and her smile widened. "Call me Setsuna, when 
I'm not transformed," she told them, running a slender hand through her 
long dark green hair. 

"That's a Japanese name," Usagi noted, startling them all again 
with her intelligence. It would seem that Serenity was emerging fast 
within her body. If Pluto was using a Japanese name, then she's visited 
this time and...it was obviously not her REAL name. ["HEY! I'm not a 
total airhead now!"] she growled at Ami, Rei and Mamoru when they 
opened their mouths to say something. 

"So-you ADMIT that you were an airhead before?" Rei said sweetly. 

"Arrgggggh!" Usagi yelled at her, silver eyes narrowing in wrath. 
"I am your Princess and demand respect, Pyro!" 

"You're my Princess-but you're still an airhead!" Rei yelled 
back, beginning to grin wildly. ["Finally, everything is startling to 
look normal"] she sighed mentally. 

Usagi paused with mouth open to blast Rei and then smiled 
tenderly. "Not quite, my dear sister-but then nothing will ever be the 
same." 

Rei, Mamoru, Ami and Minako stared at her, all misty eyed. 

"Awwww! You called her your sister," Minako cooed. 

"She IS," Setsuna said, ignoring their gaping. "The Senshi were 
all closely bonded Millennia ago and became like sisters. Often you all 
referred to each other as such." 

Usagi felt tears enter her silver eyes and blinked them back. She 
sniffed. "That's so sweet!" 

"I'm going to be sick," Rei said teasingly, not really meaning 
it. She recovered swiftly. "As your sister, I shall resume by name-
calling of 'Odango Atama'!" she announced haughtily, leaping to her 
feet. 

"WHAT?! I thought we were past that, you Pyro!" Usagi exclaimed, 
leaping off of Mamoru's lap and facing Rei. 

Rei smiled smugly. "Nope! she crossed her arms. ["It's not THAT 
easy to get away from me, Odango!"] 

["Oh GUYS!"] Ami said, shaking her head at them ruefully. Things 
might not be so bad after all if those two could act like they used to 
be. 

["Can I call you Odango too?"] Mamoru purred seductively at 
Usagi, blue eyes glinting. He looked down at her long slender legs 
lasciviously. 

["HENTAI! Keep your mind out of the gutter!"] Rei screeched at 
him, cheeks flaming. 

["Oh MY!"] Ami blushed just as brightly as she got a mental image 
from Mamoru of licking up the long slender legs of Usagi. ["HEY! Stop 
that!"] she screeched at him, leaping from foot to foot in agitation. 

"MAMORU!" Usagi screamed at him aloud, fist coming up. She 
smacked him but good on the cheek, sending him spinning backwards over 
the bed to the floor. Immediately, the three girls and he shouted out 
in agony and the girls scrambled over to where he was sprawled. 

"Don't HIT him!" Rei gasped out to Usagi, glaring at her 
Princess. "Are you trying to kill us?" 

"Sorry," Usagi said sheepishly, blushing again. 

"Oh. Serenity," Seline sighed, but her lips curved into a gentle 
smile. 

"Ooooh, that hurt! That really hurt!" Ami groaned, crouched down 
next to Rei. "Does this happen every time you separate?" she inquired 
incredulously. 

"Every time," Usagi, Rei and Mamoru groaned at her. 

Ami's eyes narrowed and she loomed over Mamoru, then grabbed his 
shirt and thrust her face in near. "And Mamoru, if I ever SEE something 
as hentai in my mind as that again-I'll kill you!" she threatened. 

Makoto eyed them all with envy, amusement and curiosity. "What 
did you see?" she asked. 

"Nothing!" all four shouted hurriedly. 

"Well, this will be amusing" Setsuna noted, equally amused. The 
bond was working far differently from when it had a thousand years ago! 


***

"First rule of the house Gentleman," Ikuko was saying as the 
Senshi, their Princess, their Queen and the Royal Advisors entered the 
cavernous living room. "No using your powers," she said sternly. 

Malachite looked up from the contemplation of his boots. "We only 
use our powers in defense of our Prince and the Golden Kingdom," he 
informed her curtly. His eyes slid sideways to where Minako had knelt 
in front of the couch where Mamoru, Usagi, Rei and Ami had squeezed 
onto. Makoto sat carefully next to her, effectively baring the Generals 
from their loved ones. Just in case the warriors from the past weren't 
what they seemed. Seline, Ikuko and Kenji sat on the opposite couch 
from the Senshi and the Generals were seated on a couch and seats to 
their left, Motoki, Reika, Shingo, Grandpa and Yuuchiro sat on the 
right of the Senshi facing the Generals. The seating formed a square 
with a sizable space between then all, with only a table filling it. 

"Still, Lord Malachite, we would prefer if you and the other 
three did not use your powers in this house-just as we Senshi will 
not," Minako said formally, taking control as leader of the Senshi. 

"As you wish, Lady Venus," was the cool response. Malachite 
exquisitely courteous. For a moment a deep hurt reflected in his blue 
eyes, but was quickly hidden. 

"To maintain the peace, it would be better all round if no one 
used their powers," Setsuna said from behind the Generals, walking in 
from the kitchen with a steaming mug of tea in her hand. She nodded at 
them all, settling down on the arm of the couch that her Princess was 
using. Now that time was unraveling, she wanted to be as close to her 
future Queen as possible. "However, Venus and Ikuko, it is not 
necessary to be wary of the Generals. Their powers cannot be used for 
evil," she spoke solemnly. 

"Not used for evil! We've SEEN what they do!" Rei burst out, fury 
in her eyes as she looked directly at Jadeite. ["I might have to 
tolerate having these killers in our house, but I WON'T be polite about 
it!"] she said heatedly in a mental tone to Usagi, Mamoru and Ami. 

"No, Pluto is right," Seline said clearly, silver eyes troubled. 
"The Generals of the present received their powers from Queen Beryl, 
whereas the Generals here before us received theirs from the power of 
the Golden Crystal." 

"The GOLDEN Crystal?!" everyone burst out, eyes boggling. 

The General's all looked askance at their Prince, who looked as 
pole axed as the rest of the room. Seline bit her lip and shook her 
head at her stupidity. Once again, she had put her foot in it! Only the 
General's would have remembered the existence of the Golden Crystal, 
which had powers similar to the Silver Crystal, but had been divided up 
among Endymion's five General's to keep it safe from those who would 
seek it's power. All knew that only the Silver Crystal could be touched 
by Moon royalty, but few knew that only the Earth's royalty could touch 
the Golden Crystal and many wars had been fought over it. The Crystal 
had permitted itself to be broken into six separate pieces, since as 
the Silver Crystal had been broken when the Moon Kingdomfell... "Oh 
dear-I completely forgot that Endymion and the others are not aware of 
the existence of the Golden Crystal in this time!" the silver-haired 
teen cried out, embarrassed. 

"What is this Golden Crystal?" Mamoru demanded, blue eyes 
narrowing. He vaguely remembered his Father saying... something...but 
that was so long ago and a mystery as was most of his past. ["And VERY 
frustrating it is too!"] he thought angrily. 

Rei reached out and patted him on the shoulder. ["There, there, 
Mamoru. Your memories will come back soon enough. You'll probably 
remember you were brought up utterly spoiled on golden plates and 
crystal goblets and maidens falling at your feet in droves"] she teased 
in a slightly condescending manner, a smile playing about her lips. 

["There better NOT have been any maidens falling at my Mamo-
chan's feet"] Usagi said, voice chilly. The look that she threw Mamoru 
was full of violent promise and she scanned her memories to see if she 
remembered seeing any women. 

Mamoru frowned, then grinned wickedly. ["Now Usako, how can I be 
held accountable for what my past self did? Hmm?"] he tried to reason 
with her. 

Usagi growled, took one step towards Mamoru and grabbed him by 
the collar of his shirt. "Look here, Endymion!" she told him icily, 
silver eyes glowing. "If I so much as remember a women DROOLING over 
your feet, I'll kill you!" 

"And we'll help," Ami said, giving a lopsided grin from Mamoru's 
side. 

"Ditto on that," Makoto cracked her knuckles, making Marie wince. 

"I see that Princess Serenity is so much more violent in this 
time," Nephlyte said in a stage whisper to his companions, who all hid 
grins. 

"Now, now darling-there's not need for you to use violence on 
Endymion," Kenji said soothingly. Then he switched his burning gaze to 
Mamoru, hands twitching as if wanting to strangle him. "I'LL do it!" 

"Kenji!" Ikuko gasped, shocked. "I thought we talked about this! 
Mamoru is going to marry our daughter!" 

"Not if he's cheated on her!" Kenji defended his violent urges 
desperately before his seething wife. 

"Hey! I can hardly defend myself against something that MIGHT 
have happened over 1000 years ago!" Mamoru protested, almost whining. 
["Why does everyone want to beat me up so much?!"] he thought to 
himself in a 'why me?!' tone. 

["'cause we love ya!"] Ami said in a sing-song tone, grinning 
cheekily at him. 

"Things really have changed," Zoisite noted, looking absently at 
Ami-then he remembered and looked away with a deep sigh. 

"I'll defend you Mamoru!" Minako announced gleefully, looking 
about with bright eyes. 

"Minako! You're supposed to champion the Princess!" Artemis 
yowled from the floor. 

"Well, poor Mamoru has no one else to defend him," she pointed 
out reasonably. "Besides-he's just SO cute!" she gushed, batting her 
lashes at Mamoru. Everyone groaned, but Malachite's eyes grew grim as 
he looked from his past love to his Prince. 

"I fully approve of this championship," Usagi announced 
whimsically, smiling at her Prince and then everyone else. 

"Yay me!" Minako giggled, jumping about happily. 

"Some things DO stay the same," Jadeite noted, snorting slightly 
at Venus' antics. She didn't seem to have changed a bit!


***

Chapter Eight


***

"Tell us what you know about the Silver Crystal, Sailor Pluto," 
Usagi asked formally, silver eyes fixed upon the Guardian of Time with 
steely determination. 

Seline and Setsuna stared at Usagi for a long moment, then 
exchanged a guarded look. 

"Why do you want to know, Princess Serenity?" Setsuna said 
finally, red eyes cautious. Her hands rested in her lap with a 
seemingly relaxed pose, however, her shoulders were stiff and she was 
ready for anything. 

"I want to KNOW, because I'm aging at a frightening rate! I know 
nothing about the Silver Crystal and its power is consuming me. My 
friends are changing as much as I am and I want to know what is 
happening!" 

Seline looked consternated as her silver eyes rested on her 
daughter. A daughter who was a strange mixture of Princess, Warrior and 
a clumsy 14 year old girl with the body and emotions of a woman. 
"Well...that is to say-" Seline began, uncertain what to tell Usagi. 
She looked at Setsuna appealingly. 

Setsuna smiled at Seline reassuringly, then turned to Usagi. "We 
will tell you what we can-BUT, we cannot reveal anything that will harm 
Time. There are many secrets that you are not yet ready to know." 

["Relax Odango! You're going to have a heart attack"] Rei's voice 
came to Usagi, Ami and Mamoru, conveying a mixture of concern, 
exasperation and love. 

["No, she's perfectly right to ask it"] Ami said firmly, turning 
to look at the other three on the couch. ["The Silver Crystal now 
belongs to Princess Serenity and she has no idea how to use it-or even 
what it's doing to her"] 

["What do you mean doing to her!"] Rei almost screeched, reaching 
over to grab Ami tightly by one hand. 

["It's clearly merging with her slowly"] Ami winced, but managed 
to convey her suspicions to them all. ["Her abnormal rate of 
accelerated aging, her travel back in time and more importantly, the 
bond we are all sharing"] her blue eyes hardened. ["You didn't think 
our bonding at the same time that Serenity and Endymion's souls broke 
free was just a coincidence, do you?"] 

Usagi and Mamoru looked pole axed and Rei stunned, but also 
frightened. If only her she could use her visions! She would have done 
anything to summon the Great Fire at that time. 

"Unfortunately, we can't go to the Temple, Rei. Chances are that 
Zoisite already knows who all of us really are and where we live," 
Mamoru said aloud, casting a cool look at Seline and Setsuna. They 
obviously both knew something BIG, but were equally determined not to 
tell Serenity and the rest of them. 

"You're wondering about your bond and your aging," Seline said 
suddenly into the silence Mamoru had created with his words. They 
stared at her wordlessly, having had forgotten Seline's bond with her 
daughter. The Generals watched curiously, waiting to hear about the 
legendary Silver Crystal they had heard about. The source of power for 
the Moon Kingdom. 

"Yes," Mamoru said finally, answering for them all. He felt 
Usagi's hand creep into his from the left and wasn't entirely surprised 
when Rei did the same from the right. He felt drawn to Rei in an 
inexplicable way, but it felt...like love. Love for a sister. 

["You know, you can be really sweet when you set your mind too 
it, Mamoru"] Rei said teasingly, mind caressing his. 

["Keep your mitts off my Fiancé, Sister-Dear"] Usagi told her 
without turning her head. 

["Awwww!"] Ami crooned, flashing them all a smile. She cast a 
look suddenly at Makoto and saw that the brunette was staring at them 
fixedly, her green eyes longing. ["Poor Makoto"] 

["Hmm?"] Rei said, distracted, she turned to look at Ami and 
followed the Senshi of Water's intent gaze to Makoto, who was looking 
at them all wistfully. 

["She really feels left out with all of us bonded"] Usagi said 
with sudden insight, silver eyes full of compassion. ["She's probably 
remembering flashes of what it used to be like when we were all bonded 
and able to read each other's minds on the Moon Kingdom. Minako too, 
though she's good at hiding it"] she looked at Minako, who was smiling 
as usual, her bubbly nature holding through since she'd arrived. 
However, Usagi could see that deep in Minako's golden eyes was a 
wistfulness also. Usagi's gaze switched Makoto thoughtfully. Perhaps 
there was a way to bond Minako and Makoto to them without them dying? 

["I don't think there IS a way, since Rei and I both died to be 
bonded to you"] Ami remarked, head tilted to the side and eyes as 
thoughtful as Usagi's. 

["Ami is right-I think it has something to do with our dying. 
It...releases our souls-"] she halted, scowling as something just 
beyond her grasp eluded her. 

["I see what you mean"] Mamoru frowned, staring down at his and 
Usagi's entwined hands. He stroked his thumb over her skin thoughtfully 
and felt the tremor that went through her. He winced slightly, throwing 
Usagi a guilty look. She was so SENSITIVE since she'd aged. But at 
least they were both trying to ignore their emotions and have this 
discussion. Finding out about the Silver Crystal was imperative. 
However...he turned to look at Minako, then Makoto. The well-being of 
the two remaining un-bonded Senshi was also of concern. ["Who knows 
what absence from the bond might do to them?"] 

Usagi's hand tightened in Mamoru's, trying to hide her equal 
concern as his thoughts reached hers. ["Mamoru, do you really think it 
might HURT them?"] she asked anxiously, eyes darting to Ami's for 
confirmation. 

["I-"] Ami laughed nervously, reaching up to run a hand through 
her short blue hair. ["I really can't SAY, Usagi. I just don't KNOW 
enough about the bond OR the Silver Crystal to even hazard a guess"] 

["The bond won't hurt them Serenity. None of you must ever worry 
about that"] Seline's voice intruded into their conversation, voice 
gentle. Her eyes grew sad. ["However, the girls must also die for their 
old souls to be released and so too their old powers. None of you, 
including Serenity are at your true power-strength"] 

["We're NOT?! They're NOT?!"] the three girls and Mamoru 
exclaimed together, stunned. 

"What? What happened?" Makoto demanded in a strained voice, hands 
suddenly digging into the couch. "Why do you look so freaked-out?" 

"More like stunned," Minako noted, peering across the coffee 
table at Mamoru, Usagi, Ami and Rei's faces. 

"Pole axed," Jadeite added, eyes on Rei. 

"Gob-smacked," Shingo chipped in, not to be outdone. He swallowed 
hard when the four Generals turned their heads to stare at HIM weirdly. 
"What?" he demanded shifting on the floor uncomfortably. 

"GOB-SMACKED?!" Zoisite said incredulously. "Is that even a 
word?" 

"Sure it is!" Minako chirped cheerfully, bouncing up and down and 
grinning like a maniac. Her head tilted to the side. "Umm-but I don't 
think it's in the Dictionary. Artemis?" she peered under the table 
searchingly. 

Everyone turned to stare down at Artemis and Luna, who had both 
been almost unnoticed in their silence during the conversation. They 
were curled up on either side of Usagi's feet. "Why me?" the white cat 
demanded, hanging his head. He smacked a paw to his face and groaned. 
"I swear, I've only known Shingo for a couple of hours, but he seems as 
blonde as YOU Minako!" 

"WHAT?!" Shingo said with outrage, flushing brightly. He and 
Minako looked at each other, then simultaneously glared down at 
Artemis. 

"TAKE THAT BACK!" he and Minako yelled together. 

"BLONDES!" Artemis yowled back. "OUCH! LUNA! What did you do that 
for!" he held a paw to the mouth she'd smacked when he'd yowled at 
Minako and Shingo-unfortunately, he'd done it right in her ear. Also 
unfortunately, when Luna had smacked him, he'd bitten his tongue. 

"HEY!" Jadeite and Usagi shouted, taking offense because they 
were blonde too...well, Usagi USED to be blonde and had momentarily 
forgotten that her hair color had changed. 

"What are YOU worrying about, Princess Serenity? You're not 
blonde!" Jadeite gritted out, staring daggers at the white cat-who was 
currently sticking his tongue out and trying to see if he'd bitten off 
any. 

"Yes I-oh wait, I'm not blonde anymore," Usagi amended 
sheepishly, casting an upward gaze to her silver locks. "Ooops." 

"Odango brain," Rei muttered, restraining the urge to hit Usagi 
over the head as she used to do when the blonde did something idiotic. 

"Just try it, Pyro," Usagi said sweetly, staring past Mamoru. 

["Ooops?"] Rei thought, flushing. Now SHE'D done something dumb 
by totally forgetting that Usagi could read her mind! 

"Cut it out you two!" Makoto said automatically. She cracked her 
knuckles. "Or Princess or not, I'll smack your heads together." 

Nephlyte stifled a laugh, turning it into a cough. Same old 
Jupiter! 

"Thowwy, Pwwintheth. Thenalal Thedith," Artemis muttered behind 
his paw, rubbing at his mouth and glaring at Luna. 

"What was that?" Luna demanded, still staring daggers at her 
white counterpart. "Don't talk with your tongue hanging out like some 
mutt!" 

Minako winced sympathetically as her cat flushed brightly. "Oooh, 
the deadly insult!" she stage-whispered. 

"I SAID, Sorry Princess Serenity and General Jadeite!" he 
shouted, turning his back on her. 

"Fur ball!" Luna muttered under her breath, resolved to ignore 
him the rest of the day. 

Usagi grinned wickedly at her Mother, then down at Luna and then 
Artemis. "Heheheh," she snickered. 

Ami blinked at her. "That was an evil laugh if ever I heard one," 
she remarked. 

Usagi only grinned wider, eyes glinting. ["Don't tell them this, 
but Artemis and Luna were an item in the Silver Millennium"] 

"NO WAY!" Rei gasped out, stunned. 

"No kidding," Ami said mildly, then she gave up the act and let 
an equally evil look cross her face. "Hehehe." 

"It gives me the wiggins when Ami looks like a mad professor," 
Makoto said to Marie, who looked utterly fascinated by the goings-on in 
the room. "How about you?" 

"I can't say I've ever SEEN Ami look that way," Marie said 
curiously, head tilted to the side as she studied her daughter. 

"What did Usagi say?" Minako demanded, having realized the source 
of the evil grins. 

"Nothing," Usagi, Mamoru, Rei and Ami chorused. When Minako and 
Makoto's faces fell, Usagi amended their words. "I'll tell you later." 

"Are you done?" Seline said with amusement. ["You DID ask about 
the Silver Crystal?"] 

["Almost"] Usagi returned, grin fading. ["Makoto and Minako are 
really feeling the loss of not having our bond"] The four in the bond 
looked again at Makoto, eyes considering. 

["I don't honestly think we can do anything. They have to...die 
to become bonded"] Usagi murmured, heart beating faster in her chest. 
The thought of loosing another of them to death was agonizing. 

Makoto became suddenly aware that four separate gazes were zeroed 
in on her intently and blushed, looking about her self-consciously. 
"What? What? Do I have food on my face?" she hastily wiped at her mouth 
with the back of her hand, then checked that her ponytail was straight. 

"You look-perfect Jupiter," Nephlyte assured her, eyes staring 
deeply into hers with an unfathomable expression in their depths. 

"You're forgiven because you're prejudiced," Jadeite said with a 
grin, throwing a look at Rei covertly. "As are we all when it comes to 
the Senshi," he finished, blue eyes shadowing when he remembered that 
his love didn't feel that way about him here in the future. A future 
where he was stuck forever, now that the past had changed. He sighed 
deeply and heard it echoed by his four friends. They'd all lost their 
loves. 

"Perhaps I can explain to everyone what is happening and also 
about the Silver Crystal," Setsuna's voice abruptly broke into their 
thoughts. They gaped at her and she smiled slightly. "I'm bonded with 
Serenity," 

Everyone in the room looked at Usagi, then at Seline, then back 
to Usagi, then to Setsuna again. 

"Queen Serenity," Setsuna elaborated. 

"I can speak with Pluto and she can speak to me, but you are not 
bonded with her." Seline looked solemn. "Unfortunately, you will never 
be bonded with her." 

"Why is that? She's a Senshi too," Shingo said, frowning. 

"Setsuna was born a very long time before any of you were born." 

"HOW long?" Usagi demanded, searching her mind for an 
explanation. So, Setsuna was a Senshi, but not HER Senshi. Not a 
Guardian of the Princess of the Moon. 

"Lets just say a few millennia and leave it vague," Setsuna said, 
smiling slightly at their shocked faces. "Don't looked so surprised, 
I'm sure Serenity-Seline told you that you are immortal now." 

"But how is this possible? The Silver Crystal was in pieces for 
over 1,000 years!" Mamoru exclaimed. "Why didn't you AGE?" 

"I kept my own powers. It is not...how do I explain this?" 
Setsuna looked briefly annoyed as she gathered her thoughts. "I know 
that you are a Shinto Priestess Rei, so you already believe in the 
presence of your God." 

"Yes?" Rei said, rather confused. Her fingers tightened around 
Mamoru's and she reached on her other-side for Ami's. She knew 
something BIG was about to be revealed and it made her skin crawl! 

["My skin too"] Mamoru murmured dryly. ["Setsuna likes her 
suspense, I see"] he added when the Senshi of Time seemed to pause 
dramatically, waiting for their expectant looks. 

["I don't think so"] Usagi said, looking into Setsuna's red eyes. 
She saw an agelessness there that she couldn't even begin to fathom. 
And wisdom. A great wisdom that one only got from having seem much. 
["It think she's trying to decide how much to reveal to us"] 

["Agreed"] Ami said, also looking intently at Setsuna. 

"The Universes were created by the gods, longer ago than even I 
can fathom," Setsuna began, voice no longer hesitant. "So long ago that 
years mean nothing. Time means nothing to them. In time, these gods 
withdrew, giving their blessings to those favored in their eyes. When 
Serenity became Queen, the Solar System was in shambles. War was 
immanent and the worlds were separated. Serenity's Father had been a 
terrible King-forgive me, my Queen," she spoke to Seline solemnly. 

"You have not said anything that is not true. My Father-was not 
the kindliest of men. He was harsh, brutal and loved war above all. He 
was favored by Mars, the God of War." 

"THE God of WAR?!" Rei gasped out, paling. "Are you saying-that 
the gods EXISTED?" 

Setsuna looked amused. "Of course, Rei-where do you think your 
powers came from?" 

"WHAT?!" everyone in the room shouted, but for Setsuna. 

"Good lord!" Grandpa uttered, looking as shocked as Rei. He had 
been resolved to stay quiet as his Granddaughter and her friends and 
family talked, but now he could not be silent. His daughter was infused 
with the power of a war-god! "This is who we pray to?" 

"No, you pray and are heard by your Earth-God, but Rei has been 
praying unknowingly to Mars," Setsuna corrected him. 

"Wait, what was this you said about the gods?" Usagi said 
urgently, not being deterred by the constant interruptions. 

"Right-as I was saying, the Solar System was in chaos. When 
Serenity became Queen and married a Prince of Earth-" Setsuna began 
again. 

"Oh GOD!" Mamoru gasped out in utter horror. "A Prince of EARTH? 
Then Serenity and I-" 

Usagi and he exchanged a terrified glance. 

"Don't worry, Endymion" the Senshi of Time reassured him swiftly. 
"In the 19 years before you became engaged to the Princess and the 
Solar System was formed into the Silver Millennium, the Earth Royalty 
changed families. You aren't related to Serenity at all." 

"Oh thank God!" he said, collapsing back into the couch. 

["She almost gave me a heart-attack!"] Usagi gasped out, 
clutching at her heart. 

["Me too!"] Ami and Rei said, still looking shocked and pale. 

"Wait-my Mother was the one to form an alliance with all the 
planets?" Usagi said suddenly, focusing on the first part of Setsuna's 
words. 

"Yes. But you also were instrumental. The gods gave part of their 
powers to Serenity to form the most powerful of objects in creation. 
The Silver Imperial Crystal" 

"Holy shit!" Makoto swore, eyes almost popping out. "Usagi's been 
carrying around something made by the gods?" 

Setsuna ignored her, going on with the story. "The Silver Crystal 
was given to the Royal Moon Family to be used to forever be the 
Guardian of the Solar System. And to the heir to the throne was given a 
girl-child of Royal blood from each of the Planets. Each girl was 
chosen as Avatars of the gods very carefully and were born at the exact 
same moment as the Moon Princess. And as each were born, so did the 
Silver Crystal give each a measure of their gods powers." 

"What?" Usagi whispered. "The Silver Crystal gives them their 
powers-but they had them long before we found the Silver Crystal! It 
was in pieces!" 

"True, but your Henshin sticks were a key to the Silver Crystal's 
power and given to Luna to give to you each. Don't blame Luna, she did 
not remember, as her mind was blocked," the Senshi of time looked at 
each of the girls in turn. "Didn't you ever wonder why there were SEVEN 
Rainbow Crystals that formed the Silver Crystal?" 

"But there are nine Senshi," Usagi said, frowning slightly. 

"Nine? There are SIX of us, Odango Atama!" Rei scolded. 

Usagi shook her head, silver hair flying about her and eyes sure. 
"No, with Uranus, Saturn and Neptune, that makes nine." 

"Huh? There are MORE of us?!" Makoto gaped at her Princess. "Are 
you sure?" 

"Usagi is quite right," Seline said, smiling slightly at her 
daughter in pride. She was remembering her past life. "There are now 
nine Senshi, though only eight a thousand years ago," 

"Eight or nine, it still doesn't change the fact that there were 
SEVEN Rainbow Crystals," Ami pointed out, waiting for an explanation. 

"Sailor Pluto got her powers directly from her god, as did Tuxedo 
Kamen and Sailor Moon-until such time as the Silver Crystal and the 
Golden Crystals were formed. However, you four and Uranus, Saturn and 
Neptune all got your powers from the Rainbow Crystal. When united into 
the Silver Crystal and all the powers are combined your powers are 
matched by none." 

"Immortal AND the most powerful beings in creation-other than the 
gods, that is," Rei gasped out, utterly flabbergasted by what Seline 
and Setsuna were revealing to them. She flopped back into the cushions, 
unable to take her eyes from the silver-eyed Seline. "Are you sure?" 
she murmured hopefully. 

The others were also similarly stunned at the revelations and 
even the General were staring at the girls with awe and disbelief. The 
Senshi they had known and loved over 1,000 years ago had been THIS 
powerful? Direct Avatars of the gods and their powers. 

Ami blinked, the shook off her shock, brain already working. "So 
the seven Rainbow Crystals are Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus, 
Neptune and Saturn? And the Moon Princess got her powers directly from 
the Moon Goddess, Selene?" 

"Very good, Ami," Seline said with a warm smile. ["Mercury always 
was so very intelligent. Her god was very proud of her..."] 

["And OUR goddess, Mother? Was she proud of ME?"] Usagi's voice 
suddenly demanded, making Seline jump. For a moment, she had forgotten 
her bond with her daughter. ["Was she proud of me when I fell over my 
own feet? When I klutzed out in battle or failed every test in 
School?"] 

"You're too hard on yourself, Serenity," Seline said gently, eyes 
locking with those of her daughter. Right now their appearances where 
so similar, but inside they were very different. "You had a different 
up-bringing than you did when you were Princess. Back then, you knew 
that studying your lessons was imperative to ascend the throne after 
me. But here-you were just a normal girl with dreams of meeting the 
perfect guy and getting married, just like any girl of your age," she 
sighed deeply, aware that everyone watch listening with baited breath. 
"You were never meant to be a Senshi, however, Selene had different 
plans. I was as stunned as you could imagine when the goddess came to 
me in a vision and told me that my daughter, the Moon Princess was to 
be a Senshi!" 

"But WHY?" Mamoru said, trying to understand. 

"You met the goddess PERSONALLY?!" Minako squealed loudly, 
throwing Seline off. "How totally cool!" 

"I repeat-same old Venus. She hasn't changed a BIT!" Jadeite 
groaned, hitting his forehead with the heel of his hand. 

"Don't make me punch you, Jadeite," Malachite warned mock-
ominously, flexing the muscles in his shoulders. "That's MY air-headed 
fiancé you're talking about!" 

"Thank you, sweetie!" Minako said, grinning for a long moment at 
Malachite-but then reality hit and she flushed brightly, grin fading. 
"Oh my God! I just called General Malachite, Sweetie! What the hell is 
going on here?!" she almost screamed, horribly embarrassed and unable 
to look at the General. 

"Same thing that happened earlier today when you locked-lips with 
him," Makoto said gleefully. 

"So sorry!" Minako threw out in the general direction of 
Malachite. 

"I'm terribly sorry, Venus, but I can't find it in me to regret 
what you just called me," Malachite said with heavy irony. His eyes 
lifted and locked with hers, making her unable to look away. "OR our 
kiss earlier," he watched with some interest as she flushed even 
brighter, squirming on her seat. 

"Awww!" Makoto, Usagi and Rei said, grinning. 

"I've never seen Minako look so embarrassed," Artemis remarked 
from the floor, also fascinated with the color of his charge's face. 

"Stop that!" Minako hissed to him, breaking her gaze from 
Malachite's to glare daggers at her Guardian. "I noticed that you 
didn't do a thing when he lip-locked with me!" 

Artemis shrugged his shoulders and sniffed. "What could I do? I'm 
only a cat." 

"A cat who's going to wake up BRIGHT FUR PINK one morning!" she 
yelled at him, leaning forward menacingly. 

Artemis swallowed and his ears went back. "Okay Minako, if you're 
lip-locked with a stranger ever again, I'll heroically throw myself at 
his ankles and give him hell!" 

"That's better-no wait!" she complained, confused. 

Everyone laughed at her and Artemis, making Minako flush brightly 
again. 

"Don't feel guilty about remembering your past life as General 
Malachite's fiancé, Venus," Pluto said gently. "You will remember more 
and more as the hours go by-" 

"What if I don't WANT to remember?" she said unhappily, staring 
down at her feet. "I don't KNOW him. None of us remember that long 
ago," she looked up slightly to see Malachite staring at her with an 
expressionless face. She couldn't tell what he was thinking at all. 
Eventually he sighed and looked away. 

"You can decide once you remember," Usagi told the blonde, 
smiling tenderly. "I HATED Mamoru before I remembered that he was 
Endymion. You know, the Prince that's my fiancé in our past life-just 
like you and Malachite." 

Minako's head shot towards her Princess, blue eyes stunned. "You 
HATED Mamoru?" her eyes became suspicious. "Are you sure? 'Cause you 
two have been all OVER each other several times since I arrived today." 

Usagi flushed brightly, looking guilty. "Minako!" 

"It's true though-right everyone?" Minako looked about 
expectantly. She received a chorus of agreement from everyone. 

"Yep." 

"Uh huh." 

"He had his tongue down her throat alright!" 

"MAKOTO!" Kenji, Ikuko, Usagi and Ami yelled in shocked tones. 

"What? You think they're gonna be lip-locked that long and not 
have any tongue?" Makoto said reasonably. Her reply was a barrage of 
couch cushions right in the face.


***

Chapter Nine


***

"Before we continue with this discussion, I'd like to go and get 
everyone some coffee," Ikuko announced loudly, getting to her feet. 

Marie leapt to her feet. "Oh-I don't think that's entirely wise, 
Ikuko...after all, you just not long ago gave birth." 

"Excuse me?" Nephlyte said incredulously, staring with raised 
brows at Ikuko's trim form. "I don't have much experience in birthing-
but shouldn't-Ikuko be in bed?" 

Jadeite was frowning at Ikuko also. "I agree...but really, you 
don't at all look like a woman who has given birth today." 

"The Silver Crystal healed her!" Usagi said with exasperation, 
sure she'd mentioned it before. 

"She's completely recovered," Seline confirmed with amusement. 

"There you are then," Zoisite said, but then he looked very 
confused. "Where is your baby? A new-born should not be left alone for 
such a long period of time," his look at Ikuko was disapproving. 

Everyone but the Generals burst into laughter and Seline blushed 
brightly. "Umm-I'M that baby," she said shyly, not able to meet 
Zoisite's incredulous gaze. "It's a long story," she finished, sighing. 

"I'd like to hear that story, while Ikuko gets...coffee was it?" 

"A hot drink made from beans," Ami supplied, then the Generals 
still looked befuddled. 

"It gets you on a high," Minako giggled. 

"MINAKO!" Artemis yowled, sitting up so fast he almost gave 
himself a concussion on the bottom of the table. "I thought I forbade 
you to have any coffee!" 

"Yeah..." the blonde looked guilty, her golden eyes skidding away 
from the cats'. "Hehehe." 

"It's caffeine," Ami said, smiling at the antics of the cat and 
the new Senshi. "It's highly addictive and is used as a mental 
stimulant." 

"Ahhh?" Zoisite said, looking half-confused and half-realizing. 
He of course was much more used to Mercury-Technical-Speak than anyone 
there and so had understood what she was saying-but for the reason WHY. 

"It makes people much more alert and is used in gatherings at 
home and at work," Makoto said, trying to explain. 

"It stunts your growth," Usagi added. 

"Is it dangerous?" Jadeite asked with curiosity, looking from 
Ikuko to Ami. 

"It is if you drink too much!" Rei giggled, then covered her 
mouth guiltily when everyone's eyes swung to her. ["Sorry! I couldn't 
help it! It happened to me once"] she said with annoyance when Mamoru 
snorted in amusement. 

"Hyper Senshi wouldn't be a pretty sight!" Venus giggled too. 

["WHEN exactly did you have too much coffee, Rei?"] Usagi asked 
mentally, sounding curious and accusing. ["You tell us all the time 
that coffee is bad for us!"] the silver-haired girl crossed her arms 
and leant forwards slightly to look past Mamoru, who was grinning 
widely, blue eyes twinkling. 

["That's WHY I tell you that, Odango Atama!"] Rei retorted, 
crossing her arms also and glaring back at Usagi. She stuck out her 
tongue and her best friend responded in kind. 

["Hehehe. You sound so superior Rei, but you're just as flawed as 
the rest of us"] Ami cut in, grinning evilly. ["Want to tell us what 
happened?"] 

"Absolutely NOT!" Rei shouted at her, then flushed with 
embarrassment as everyone's head shot around to look at her in 
surprise. 

"Absolutely not, what?" Makoto said suspiciously. She chewed 
thoughtfully on her bottom lip, completely unaware of the effect it was 
having on Nephlyte, who was staring at her lips fixedly. "Come on-
give," the Senshi of Jupiter prompted, when Rei was silent. 

"I er-" Rei muttered, looking furious that she'd yelled and 
called attention to herself. 
"Idranktoomuchcoffeeonceandembarrassedmyselfinfrontofclass" she spat 
out hurriedly, sounding remarkably like Usagi. 

"What was that?" Kenji said with amazement, turning to look at 
his daughter and then Rei with a weird expression. "You know, you 
sounded just like-" 

"Usagi!" Mamoru, Makoto and Ami yelled, all grinning like 
maniacs. 

Usagi pouted and leaned into Mamoru, looking up at him through 
her lashes with a wounded-puppy look. 

"Oh no!" Mamoru said, glancing down and seeing her face. He 
rolled his blue eyes skywards. "Don't give me the 'look' Usako!" he 
pleaded, releasing Rei's hand to shield his eyes from his love as if 
her eyes were laser-beams. 

"She gave him 'the look'!" Makoto chortled in amusement. "Hehehe. 
Good one Usagi!" 

"There should be laws against that!" Rei said, mock-
sympathetically to everyone. But then she gave Mamoru an evil grin, her 
red eyes glinting with malice. ["Poor Mamoru!"] she teased mentally, 
batting her lashes at him. Then to his absolutely unending horror, Rei 
gave him the 'look' too! 

"Arggggh!" Mamoru yelped, yanking his eyes from her. He focused 
on safe-ground, which happened to be his Guardians-but to his shock, 
they TOO were giving him evil looks! "Hey! You four are supposed to be 
on MY side! You know-you're MY Generals?" 

"Sorry, Endymion...I mean Mamoru," Malachite said, grinning at 
him. "But you haven't learnt in a thousand years!" 

"He's right," Jadeite continued, staring for a long moment at 
Rei. He then looked at his prince, who looked like he wanted to bolt. 
"When ever Princess Serenity gave you the 'look' you melted into a 
puddle of goo." 

"Goo with no willpower," Nephlyte added sardonically. 

"Yay girl-power!" Minako cut in before Zoisite could add his own 
commentary. She giggled when Mamoru looked at her long-sufferingly. 
"What? I couldn't HELP it! You should see your expression!" 

"Okay, okay. back to what Rei said," Shingo said urgently, eyes 
glued to the Priestess-in-training. "I couldn't follow what she said at 
ALL!" 

"I drank too much coffee once and embarrassed myself in front of 
class," Mamoru, Ami, Usagi and Jadeite said monotone. 

Rei blinked at Jadeite in surprise, then glared at her so-called 
'friends'. "Thanks a LOT you guys! Now the whole room knows what I 
said!" 

"Don't look so surprised, Mars," Jadeite told her with mirth. "I 
can decipher, Mars-speak better than anyone." 

"Mars-speak?" Yuuchiro growled jealously, glaring at the handsome 
blonde General. 

"I'd say it's like 'Usagi-speak'," Mamoru answered, lowering his 
hand. He looked sideways at his princess cautiously to see if she was 
still doing the puppy-dog look, but she was smiling at Rei. "You know? 
Motor-mouth?" 

"Hey!" Usagi and Rei yelled, both thumping Mamoru on the chest. 

"Ouch?" Mamoru winced. Boy, Senshi training had sure added weight 
to what usually wouldn't have hurt a fly. 

["Did that really hurt?"] Usagi said with sudden concern, turning 
fully to face him, silver eyes running over his chest in concern. 

["Are you okay, Mamoru? We forget our own strength sometimes"] 
Rei said solicitously, running a hand soothingly over his chest. She 
remembered a second later that he wasn't wearing a shirt and blushed 
scarlet. "Sorry! Forgot the half-naked bit" she blurted out, hands 
flying to her cheeks to hide the embarrassed color. 

A strange growling noise came from across the room and everyone 
followed the sound to a furious Jadeite. "Mars!" he almost snarled at 
her. "What are you DOING to the prince?" 

"That's what I'D like to know!" shouted an angry Usagi, glaring 
so hard at Rei that the Priestess was surprised she didn't burst into 
flames! 

"Er-er..." Rei stuttered, inching away from Mamoru and almost 
climbing onto Ami's lap in the process. "It was an accident! Really! I 
thought I'd hurt him!" she suddenly yelled back at Usagi, then Jadeite. 
"And anyhow-I'm not your fiancé here, remember?" she told the blonde 
General with annoyance. 

Jadeite glared at her, then his expression faded into sadness and 
then into hard determination. "We'll see," he murmured to her. 

Rei stared at him, feeling curiously like a hunted animal before 
his burning gaze, which seemed to see right into her soul and possess 
her. She swallowed, averting her gaze. "Umm-Okay then," she said into 
the stunned silence, linking her hands and twiddling her fingers 
nervously. Jadeite obviously had something in mind for her and his 
words had sounded so ominous. It was as obvious to her as everyone else 
that Jadeite was not going to take this laying down! The fact that she 
was from 1,000 years in the future and not his fiancé didn't faze him a 
bit... ["Why do I suddenly feel like I'm a rabbit being hunted by a 
wolf?"] she asked mentally, her nervousness and strange excitement 
transmitted to Mamoru, Ami and Usagi. 

["Maybe you should think of yourself less than a rabbit and more 
like Little Red Riding Hood"] Mamoru said silkily. he looked across at 
his General, who was still staring at Rei as if she was a particularly 
tasty piece of chocolate cake and smiled maliciously. "'Cause he sure 
looks like he wants to eat you up! And kiss every inch of your body-"] 

"MAMORU! HENTAI!" Rei, Ami and Usagi screeched at him, faces 
flaming bright red. 

Usagi reached behind her for her cushion and brought it round 
fast, slamming into Mamoru's grinning face. "Take that!" she yelled. 

"Ow!" Mamoru muttered, looking hang-dog. 

"And that!" Rei shouted, grabbing a cushion from the floor where 
it had bounced when they'd pelted Makoto with them earlier. 

"OW!" Mamoru muttered again, looking annoyed. 

Minako threw a pillow to Ami, who grinned at her, then turned to 
glare at Mamoru. "What did I TELL you about having those sort of 
thoughts when I'm bonded to you?!" she said in a deadly-quiet voice. 

Mamoru gave her a guilty look and opened his mouth to speak. 
"Look-" 

Ami leant over Rei and let him have it right in the kisser. "I 
told you NO HENTAI THOUGHTS!" she shouted. 

"OWWW!" Mamoru yelped, as the zipper caught his lip and stung. 

Ami hauled her arm back and whacked him again, this time 
connecting with his left eye. 

"OUCH DAMNIT!" Mamoru roared, leaping to his feet. He spun on one 
foot and glared down at the three girls, who suddenly got an inkling 
that they'd gone too far. They all got this 'deer-in-the-headlights' 
look in their eyes. He thrust up one arm, waving it left and right 
crazily as he shoved his index fingers close to their faces. "You and 
you and YOU! Just quit it!" he ordered. ["Or I'll-"] he trailed off. 

"Or you'll WHAT?" Usagi, Ami and Rei said apprehensively. 

"SPANK YOU!" Mamoru shouted impressively, blue eyes glinting 
evilly. 

"HENTAI!" the girls shrieked at him, pelting him with their 
pillows. 

Mamoru fell backwards onto the table, then rolled onto the floor 
on the other side at the Generals' feet, stunned. At the same time, the 
agony hit him and the girls and they screamed and jumped to their feet. 

Everyone was stunned, mouths gaping as three beautiful girls 
THREW themselves over the table and landed in a pile on top of Mamoru 
with graceful swan-dives. 

Malachite, Zoisite, Jadeite and Nephlyte gaped down at their 
feet, where her Royal Highness Princess Serenity was sprawled across 
her prince's chest, bottom in the air. Her Guardian's, two of the most 
powerful women in the Universe were sprawled in a collection of arms 
and legs across both Serenity and Endymion. With their red, blue and 
silver hair, it looked like some crazy kaleidoscope. It was also a big 
perve for the General's, since amazing amounts of long slender legs 
were displayed in this uncoordinated belly-flop on top of the Royal 
Prince of the Earth. 

"Thanks a LOT guys!" Mamoru gritted from underneath them, blowing 
a lock of Usagi's hair from his mouth. "No, I really MEAN that!" he 
almost yelled, trying to breath under the weight. 

"Sorry Mamo-Chan," Usagi said from behind Jadeite's legs, nose 
scrunched up against the bottom of the couch. She wriggled around, 
trying to dislodge the two forms on top of her, but was unable to move. 
["Can you two please GET OFF ME! I can't BREATH!"] Usagi hollered 
mentally, wondering if her nose would stay mushed-up like that when she 
finally got free. 

"Now I HAVE seen everything!" Jadeite said in a wondering tone, 
eyes fixated on something in the ungainly pile of bodies. "Red 
underpants," he muttered under his breath. 

"WHAT?!" Rei screeched, surging upwards and throwing Ami off. The 
Senshi of fire pulled down her dress and turned to glare daggers at a 
pole axed Jadeite. "You HENTAI!" 

"No pillows-please, Mars-Love," he winced, flinching as her look 
burned into him from blazing red eyes. If looks could kill, he'd be a 
smudge of soot on the couch by now. He held up his hands in a placating 
manner. 

Ami blinked about, wondering how the heck she ended up sprawled 
over the laps of the four Generals. "Umm-Hi?" she wiggled her fingers 
up at them, blushing and pulling down her skirt to cover her legs as 
Zoisite grinned wickedly at her. ["Please tell me this isn't 
happening?"] Ami pleaded, scrambling from the General's laps onto the 
floor next to a steaming Rei. "Tell me I didn't just get catapulted 
onto the laps of four men?" 

"Ai yi yi!" Zoisite said, eyes twinkling mischievously. 

Ami flushed even brighter and brought up her hands to hide her 
face. ["I am So embarrassed!"] 

["Me too!"] Rei almost wailed. ["My worst enemy and my ex-fiancé 
just saw my undies!"] 

["I think I have carpet burn"] came Usagi's reply. The girl 
lifted herself up and scrambled backwards, hand going to her reddened 
nose. "I have carpet burned nose!" she said accusingly to her love, 
glaring down at him. She kneed him in the chest deliberately as she 
climbed backwards over him and then sat on the floor, holding her nose 
and glaring. 

Mamoru just lay there on the floor like a beached whale, gasping 
for breath from being flattened by three girls and a knee in the chest. 

Malachite leaned forward to peer down at his prince, a brow 
raised. "So this is what it's like in this century?" 

"You lady-killer, you," Jadeite added. 

"Such a commanding presence," Nephlyte said, leaning forward to 
smirk down at his prince, chin resting on hands thoughtfully. 

"How could anyone doubt you're a prince? You don't let anyone get 
the better of you," Zoisite sing-songed mockingly. He titled his head 
to the side and cupped a hand about his left ear in a patronizing 
manner. "What's your secret, Endymion?" 

"Hey!" Usagi turned her glare towards the four amused Generals. 
"Only I'M allowed to make fun of him!" she thumped Mamoru's chest for 
emphasis and he groaned. "Sorry Mamo-Chan!" she said soothingly, 
blushing. 

The General's all turned to look at each other considering. 

"Hmm-she's right. He's going to be shackled to her for eternity 
anyway," Malachite said, nodding. 

"In wedded bliss," Zoisite nodded also. 

"I say she's got prior rights to his humiliation," Nephlyte 
nodded at Usagi approvingly, eyes twinkling with mirth. 

"It's settled then. Princess Serenity has all rights of a fiancé 
to trounce Endymion's fragile ego," Jadeite announced to everyone. 

Everyone in the room grinned maliciously at Mamoru. 

"Thanks guys. Real pals," Mamoru muttered resentfully, getting to 
his knees.

***