Title: Space for hope. 

 Author: Jerry-rose

 E-mail: sleeping.soul@hotmail.co.uk No flames please but critisism

 i'd love ^^ And yes i know my spelling and grammer are terrible =P

 <AN: just something i pulled together recently. Really short yes but

 eh, i'm supposed to be working xD Enjoy>

 

 "Say, Hota-chan?" Hotaru turned in the pink bed covers to face the

 girl that said her name with such affection. The girl had long black

 hair that reached her lower back, but had pink highlights in the

 fringe, and adoring pink eyes that were staring in her direction.

 Hotaru tilted her head so her black air fell over her face slightly,

 then pushed her fringe aside with a finger.

 "Hai, Chi-chan?" Hotaru had moved closer and put an arm over her

 lovers flat stomach, then her head against her chest. Usagi was

 sitting up in bed, her back against the head post.

 "What's out there?" Hotaru blinked and sat up to look at her.

 "Out where..?" She asked suspiciously and Usagi held her hands up in

 a form of surrender or self-defense, laughing slightly.

 "Well, out in the universe. I mean can you blame me for wondering?

 All our enemies came from there with the exception of very few... Is

 there a bad influence or something that creates these people or their

 hatred?" Hotaru smiled warmly and leaned forward, pressing her

 forehead gently to the other's.

 "All very wise things to want to know. And because you're so special

 to me, I'll let you into a little secret, but you have to promise not

 to tell anyone else. ok?" Usagi nodded and leaned forward slightly,

 as if enthusiastic and in need to hear.

 "Well, you know lately i haven't been around as much as i used to

 be?" Usagi blushed lightly and the other girl stopped. "What did

 Haruka-papa tell you?" Her tone was serious but also slightly amused

 so Usagi figured she'd say, she wanted to ask a few questions about

 it anyway. Like if it was true for one thing.

 "She said you were taking stripping lessons." Hotaru blushed a deep

 crimson and leapt out of the bed, vaulting her suitcase and then

 Usagi's as if they were hurdles and flung the door open, running into

 the bedroom opposite them, who's door was open, and yelled inside.

 "HARUKA-PAPA!!!"

 

 Michiru laughed and Haruka blinked nervously, turning slowly to face

 the living room door.

 "I'm dead when she gets down here! Michiru, you have to hide me!"

 Michiru laughed harder and shook her head.

 "Not on your life. This one's been coming your way since you started

 telling Usagi-chan that." Haruka sweat dropped and dashed for the

 kitchen... too late. Hotaru flew through the closed door and slammed

 Haruka from behind in a rugby tackle. Haruka fell forward into the

 floor and Hotaru laughed, her fingers finding her papa's most tender

 tickling spots as her delicate fingers spidered over her skin.

 "You shall pay, oh ticklish one!" Haruka laughed and squirmed on the

 floor, but was too weak to get up as she laughed harder and harder

 until Michiru intervened.

 "Come on now Hotaru, we need Haruka alive to drive us all to the

 shopping center." Hotaru slowed to a stop and sighed.

 "I guess you're right, mama." Michiru nodded and Hotaru got up off

 Haruka, letting her recover and then sit up, watching as she ran a

 hair through her short blonde hair.

 "You're getting too strong for my own good, kiddo." Hotaru waggled a

 finger at her, winking and laughing.

 "No papa, i just know you're tender areas!" Haruka raised an eyebrow

 suggestively and Michiru laughed, she knew what was coming next.

 "Actually i think you'll find only Michi knows my tender area's."

 Haruka laughed as Hotaru pulled a face and then ran to the door,

 turning happily. Haruka and Michiru looked at their 16 year old

 daughter, with her shoulder length black hair and her plain purple

 shirt reaching her thighs. She had a shapely body, a real hourglass

 figure if ever there was one, and a pale complexion. Her deep purple

 eyes glittered happily as she waved a hand and set off up stairs,

 back to her Chi-chan.

 Hotaru stepped back into her room to see Usagi with her elbows on

 the balcony railing. She shut the door gently so she didn't bring the

 slightly smaller girl out of her daydream and smiled at her back.

 Times sure had changed. If anyone had shown her this future only a

 few months ago she would never have believed it. She walked out and

 leant on the balcony fence beside Usagi.

 "Chi-chan?" Usagi looked up to her and smiled warmly, cuddling her

 tight and pointing up to the clouds.

 "That one rminds me of you." Her finger lined up with a smaller

 cloud that had furry edges, it was wispy and very spread out, almost

 like mist. Hotaru laughed.

 "I'm small, wispy, rough around the edges and spacey. Yes i know."

 Usagi also laughed, but then moved in front of Hotaru and took her

 hands, winding them around her and leaning back onto the taller girl.

 "That's what others might see, yes. But me... I see a soft skinned

 cloud with a wonderful look to it, not tense and tight, but

 wonderful, so if I might touch it, my hand would be welcomed and

 absorbed, not pushed away, I also see a cloud that doesn't look like

 it's all there, but when you get deeper intoit, it seems to never

 end. Hota-chan, that is what i see. And I love that cloud very much

 now." Hotaru was smiling warmly and kissed the back of her head,

 twirling her around and out of her grip so they were facing each

 other. 

 "And I'm sure that cloud loves you too." Usagi smiled warmly and the

 two embraced, together in a world of their own.

 Hotaru was bought back into reality as she thought.

 "Chi-chan, did i ever tell you that secret?" Usagi shook her head

 and laughed.

 "No, i believe you went off to slaugter Haruka-san before you said

 anything." Hotaru nodded and leant back on the balcony once more,

 looking up into the sky.

 "Well, you know i haven't been around much lately?" Usagi took the

 spot just to Hotaru's right and smiled, nodding gently and looking at

 her. Hotaru was leaning over the balcony, facing out, and Usagi was

 sitting on the fence, facing in.

 "Well, that's because I've been doing research. I've been taking

 small trips into the stars to check things out. I've found nothing in

 the majority of this solar system, there is nothing here to endanger

 anyone, the sailor scouts have done very well in protecting it, so i

 could take you out into the stars and show you, if you like. You can

 see for yourself what's there." Usagi had been listening with

 seemingly no interest, but when Hotaru finished and silence met her,

 she looked up and straitened, coming off the balcony fence to look

 into Usagi's face and see a small tear fall down her cheek. Hotaru

 moved forward and hugged her tightly.

 "Let's go tonight, ne?" Usagi nodded into her chest and smiled.

 "I'd like that more than anything in the world." Hotaru smiled in

 return and hugged her tighter for a few seconds before stepping back. 

 "In that case, i need to go and make the arangments, please wait

 here until i get back." Usagi nodded and leant back over the balcony.

 "Please hurry, Hota-chan." Hotaru nodded and walked from the balcony

 into the bedroom, then on through the door and down the stairs into

 the living room.

 

 "Haruka-papa. Usagi would very much like to acompany me on tonights

 journey. Haruka bought her head out of the newspaper and stared at

 Hotaru.

 "You told her?" Hotaru nodded guiltily

 "Hai papa, she was so... she wanted to see what's out there so much,

 I couldn't help but tell her. I can make her dreams come true..."

 Haruka shook her head and Setsuna walked in.

 "And if you two get hurt?" Hotaru shook her head defiantly

 "No, mama, I've been hundreds of times into the safe parts of this

 solar system, and in fact the galaxy too... I don't see how anything

 threatening could move in so fast. And anyway, i'll protect her, as i

 have already sworn I will." Hotaru seemed so sincere and her heart

 was in the right place so Setsuna shrugged and moved back into her

 study. Michiru peeked out of the kitchen and smiled to Haruka, who

 sighed.

 "I think it's a great idea, Ruka, she should go and have fun. Why

 not take her to see the moon or even Saturn? I'm sure she'd enjoy

 both." Hotaru nodded and ran from the room, opening the front door to

 look into the twillight. She stuck her head into the living room and

 smiled.

 "We'll be leaving in a few minutes, we should be back by morning!"

 Haruka stood and ran to the door as Hotaru shot up the stairs.

 "You had better be back by morning! Else you'll be fried!" Hotaru

 laughed and ran out of sight, bursting into her room and out onto the

 balcony. usagi turned and smiled at her. Hotaru took her hands gently

 and jumped daintily onto the balcony railing.

 "Come... Chi-chan." Usagi took her hand and smiled warmly as she was

 lifted onto the balcony railing, then into the air. Joining their

 other hands, they made a loop, then vanished into the oncoming

 darkness.

 Haruka, Michiru and Setsuna stood on the roof and watched a shooting

 star sail across the darkening sky.

 "The wind is blowing in the scent of fear, something is not right."

 "The waters of the earth are disturbed, i agree."

 "Time sees a distortion, we must set this right." The three parents

 joined hands, with Setsuna in the middle, and dissapeared to follow

 their daughter and her girlfriend.

 

 "Chi-chan, you'll catch stars if you don't close your mouth." Hotaru

 giggled and Usagi closed her mouth, which had been gaping widely as

 she looked around the stars and planets.

 "G-gomen." Hotaru smiled warmly and looked straight ahead, she

 intended to take Usagi to the Moon. She turned away from the other

 planets and headed towards the moon. It was full and shined

 beautifully into the darkness surrounding it, it was easy to see how

 it's light spread to the earth and gave its people hope. Usagi

 noticed they were heading towards it and sqeezed Hotaru's hand

 tightly.

 "We're going to the moon?" Hotaru nodded and smiled.

 "We are." Usagi was smiling to herself and Hotaru looked at her

 curously.

 "Chi-chan... What's that smile for?" Usagi smiled openly to her and

 leaned forward, kissing Hotaru gently on the lips.

 "You said before, about the catching the stars? Well, I already have

 one... It's you." Hotaru blinked gently and reached out, unlinking

 their hands to touch her cheek and return the kiss.

 "Chi-chan..." Usagi broke the kiss and smiled warmly, placing her

 free hand over Hotaru's stomach. Hotaru smiled softly and kissed her

 once more.

 "Are you sure about this? It's not my place." Usagi put a finger to

 her lips and Hotaru hushed.

 "Hotaru-Chan, i've never been more sure about anything in my life."

 Hotaru put her hand to Usagi's stomach and smiled back.

 "You know... If we both go through with this, then we'll have to

 find someone else to watch over us." Usagi nodded and looked towards

 the moon, which was getting dramatically bigger with each passing

 second. Their hands reclaimed the others and they held tightly as

 they flew down through the bright glow of the moon.

 "Chi-chan, i have been working on a gift for you for some timje now.

 I hope you like it." Usagi moved to enquire about the gift but Hotaru

 shook her head. As they appraoched the surface, Hotaru pulled back

 and they slowed down, making them land gently on top of the uneven

 earth. Hotaru moved towards a long white pillar in the middle of a

 ruined castle and Usagi looked around in awe. Her mother had told her

 of this, the ruins on the moon. The moon kindom lived and prospered

 here until queen beryll attacked. Hotaru took her hand and led to

 stand by the pillar, then whispered softly.

 "My Queen Serenity, please show yourself to your grand-daughter..."

 Usagi's eyes widened as a white haze filled the air, then

 concerntrated in the shape of a woman, Queen Serenity. She smiled

 warmly as she gained a solid body, though she still gave off a gently

 white glow. Hotaru stepped back out of respect and dropped to one

 knee, bowing low. Queen Serenity smiled down to her and lifted a hand.

 "Rise, Saturn.n You have no reason to kneel before me." Hotaru rose

 slowly to her feet and stepped back out of their hearing range,

 turning and walking around the ruins, to give them their space and

 time to aquaint themselves.

 

 "Usagi... Welcome home." Usagi ran forward and hugged her tightly.

 "Grandma..." Serenity laughed and hugged her back.

 "I can't stay long, Usagi, but i wanted you to know how proud of you

 i am, how proud of you we all are. You are very mature, moreso than

 your mother was at your age. You will rise to be a wonderful queen of

 tokyo." Usagi had tears in her eyes.

 "Grandma... I am not who you are proud of. I have disgraced your

 family. I am having children with Hota-" Queen serenity interupted

 gently.

 "No, Usagi. You have not disgraced us. It's the complete opposite...

 You are the rightful leader of the new world. Now, let me see you and

 your future wife together." Usagi smiled warmly and ran in the

 direction Hotaru had gone. She paused as she came to a standing part

 of the castle and wandered inside. She came to a set of large white

 marble doors, now dulled to grey with age and dust. There was a set

 of bright white marks where someones fingers had pushed them open

 such a small amount that they could only just squeeze through. Usagi

 knew it had to be Hotaru and walked through, silently walking through

 the large ballroom, her shoes leaving a set of golden and white

 trails behind her, following on in Hotaru's footsteps.

 "Hota-chan?" Her soft voice echoed throughout the chamber as she

 looked around for a sign of the other girl. There was no sign and the

 other end of the ballroom was open to the air, the rubble from the

 caved in roof littering the floor. Amongst the rubble were the

 remains of tables and plates and goblets. She strode into the rubble,

 following Hotaru's footsteps perfectly.

 "Hota-chan?" She repeated. Peering around rocks and rubble she

 frowned slightly, the footsteps had vanished and Hotaru was no where

 to be seen. Usagi pouted into the darkness.

 "Hota-chan!" Usagi's voice was shaking, panic starting to set in as

 she searched frantically through the rubble. "Hota-chan! Hota-chan!"

 Tears started to form in her eyes as she ran back to where Queen

 Serenity was sitting, tears streaming down her face.

 "Grandma! It's Hotaru, she's gone!" Queen Serenity smiled softly and

 hugged her gently, pointing up into the sky above the ruins Usagi had

 just ran out of. Hotaru had transformed into sailor saturn and her

 hair and fuku were blowing in the gentle breeze. She was facing the

 earth and looking down onto it with concerntration.

 "Listen to your heart, Usagi, can it feel something?" Usagi blinked

 slightly and then closed her eyes, focusing. She thought she heard

 the sounds of many screams and then Neo Queen Serenity's call for

 power.

 "What is it..?" Queen serenity looked towards earth

 "It means it is time for you to return and help your mother. Sorry

 we couldn't spend longer together..." Usagi nodded and hugged her

 tightly, running towards Sailor Saturn and tranforming. Sailor Saturn

 looked down to her and jumped off the roof, landing before her and

 holding out her free hand, the other holding her Silence Glaive.

 "Come." Sailor Moon took her hand and they jumped off of the

 surface, moving much quicker than they had on their way there. The

 stars whipped by as blurs and the moon was soon only a white sphere

 once more. Sailor Moon closed her eyes to the sharp cold hitting her

 face and Sailor Saturn noticed, moving into a hug and making her put

 her head into her chest, shielding her. They came to a sudden stop

 and Sailor Moon looked up. Sailor Saturn had her mouth back in an

 evil grin and Sailor Moon looked around, seeing a large ship in the

 air above crystal tokyo. Beneath it was the large silver glow of neo

 Queen Serenity's power, then each of the colours of the inner and

 outer senshi around that. Sailor Saturn was looking thoughtful, the

 glow beneath the ship was flickering, the senshi were weakening.

 Sailor Saturn pulled away from Sailor Moon and smiled softly.

 "Remember to be careful, what you hold inside you is something that

 can be killed easily... But they need you down there. I will try and

 find a weak spot in the ship, please protect my parents and yours,

 and of course the other senshi and people of the earth." Sailor Moon

 moved to object but Sailor Saturn had already swung her away in the

 direction of the earth, Saturns power surrounding her in a puple glow.

 

 "Hold on everyone! We cannot give up!" The senshi were all on their

 knees, their power flickering greatly. They were all in a circle

 around Neo Queen Serenity and King Endimion. They were the only two

 standing, his arms tightly around her shoudlers. Her arms were

 outstretched, her fingers surrounding the silver crystal, which was

 glowing silvery white. The light was strong and warm, the power

 radiating stronger than anything else, yet it was weakening fast.

 Above them the ship was looming, beams of darkness slamming into the

 shield. Each blast caused the shield and the ground beneath them to

 shake greatly. The king and queen fell to their knees as a

 particularly strong blast hit and the silver light flickered and

 died, Serenity falling to her front. The senshi cried out to her and

 the king reached to her

 "Usako!" A purple flash filled the space between the other senshi's

 beams of light and them was replaced by another silver light. Sailor

 Moon landed before her mother and held the silver crystal above her

 head.

 "Please Minna! We need to finish this now!" All the senshi nodded

 and struggled to their feet, as did the king and queen. Neo Queen

 Serenity smiled to her daughter and her silver crystal flickered into

 a glow. The power of the eight senshi lit up the sky and the ship

 backed a few feet before creating more blasts, more powerful than

 before. Sailor Moon's eyes filled with tears, looking past the

 fighting beams to the ship above. "Hurry... Hota-chan."

 

 Sailor Saturn had entered into the ship through a cargo hold and was

 walking silently down the coridoors. She met no one, and so started

 to run to the control room. As she entered into the room, expecting

 it to be empty she jumped slightly to see a young girl sitting at the

 controls in front of the large window. The girl had long black hair

 that reached her lower back, her clothes seemed like pyjama's. Soft

 white fabric covered her torso and legs in a simple short sleeved

 tshirt and trousers.

 "Who are you..?" Sailor Saturn asked, shocked at the age of the

 young girl. She turned around to face Saturn and smirked.

 "I am the thing that lurks in space. The thing that you missed on

 your rounds." Saturn's eyes widened and she stepped forward, the

 glaive glittering ominously in the light of the battle outside the

 window.

 "What are you here for?" The girl laughed so softly it seemed she

 couldn't possibly be evil.

 "I am here to get rid of you all! You cause war and hatred

 throughout the whole solar system. You are the reasons for war on

 earth. Humans destory everything! I'm here to set the world free from

 your hatred" The girl lunged forward and aimed to punch Saturn, who

 simply jumped aside and took her Glaive in both hands. 

 "You're wrong. The people of Crystal Tokyo try to save this planet!

 They protect this world from everything that tries to destory it!"

 The girl lunged forward again and punched her hard in the stomach.

 Saturn cried out and fell to her knees, preying to all she held dear

 for the safety of the life growing inside her. Looking out of the

 window she saw all the senshi on their knees, then watched in horror

 as Sailor Moon and Neo Queen Serenity fell likewise. With a shout of

 anger she dug the Glaive deep into the control panel of the ship, the

 sparks of elecricity flying out over the room. Yanking the Glaive

 from the controls she smashed it into the window, shattering it and

 letting the air get sucked out. The girl behind her screamed as she

 was sucked towards the window, crying out and drawing a dagger. As

 she was pulled off her feet and towards the window she whipped the

 dagger out and it sliced down the length of Sailor Saturns right arm,

 slicing deep into her flesh and leaving a deep wound from her

 shoulder to her wrist. Saturn cried out and pulled back, however

 after catching a glimpse of her eyes she instinctivly jumped from her

 position and out of the window to follow her. Her Glaive caught

 either side of the window and she was pulled back, the only piece of

 the girl that Saturn could reach was the end of her dagger. Closing

 her eyes tightly she grabbed the dagger and held it tightly, the

 blade slicing into her palm and fingers. Her blood dripped down the

 blade and down the girls arm. The young girls eyes widened as she

 shouted out.

 "Don't!" Saturn was surprised and pulled her closer, the dagger

 digging deeper into her fingers.

 "Why shouldn't I? No one deserves to die!" The girl was crying and

 shook her head.

 "Leave me! Look at what you're doing to your hand!" Saturn shook her

 head, looking down to the glow of the Senshi. The black blasts had

 stopped and the glow was reducing slightly as the senshi all powered

 down.

 "I won't let you fall! Look how far it is, you'll die!" Saturn was

 still trying to pull back but the dagger sliced into her skin deeply

 and slipped from her grasp. The girls shrill scream filled the air

 and Saturn made the choice in a matter of a few seconds, letting go

 of her glavie, leaping from the ship window and diving down towards

 her. The ship behind them creaked loudly and the same sparks as the

 control panel lit up on the outer ship. It started to fall with them

 and Saturn made herself more streamlined, grabbing the girl's hand in

 her right and pulling her close, into a hug. The girl's eyes widened

 and she held on tightly to Saturn. Saturn smiled softly to her as the

 wind swept past them.  Saturn looked up to the ship to see it falling

 after them towards Tokyo and lifted her left hand.

 "Saturn planet..... power!" Her cry echoed into the atmosphere and a

 purple light erupted from her, the ship being absorbed and slowed

 down. With a quick sweep of her Glaive the ship was fired out into

 space harmlessly. Saturn was gasping for breath but smiling warmly,

 the earth was safe. The girl in her arms was watching her and Saturn

 smiled down to her. 

 "Are you all like this on earth?" Saturn nodded slightly and smiled

 warmly.

 "The sailor Senshi are yes. Likewise the people of the earth. And

 especially the king, queen and princess. They would all give anything

 they have, their lives included, for the safety of this world." The

 girl rested her head on Saturn's chest and sighed.

 "I didn't realise..." Saturn nodded gently

 "No one does." They were getting evercloser to the surface of the

 earth and Saturn was starting to glow purple once more.

 "If you have any power at all that would be helpful." The girl shook

 her head and looked sorrowful.

 "Are we going to die?" Sailor Saturn shook her head and smiled

 slightly.

 "No, we won't die. So what's your name?" The girl smiled in return

 and hugged her gently.

 "Well, my name's Emily... And incase you were wondering I'm 16.

 Saturn looked surprised and tilted her head down to the small girl.

 "No offense, but you don't look a day over 9." The girl nodded and

 sighed

 "I know. It's a disease. I won't grow anymore than i have now."

 Saturn blinked

 "Tough break." the girl nodded and looked down to Sailor Saturn's

 arm. The blood was soaking quickly into the girls clothes as she was

 being held and Saturn was slowly loosing the feeling there, finding

 it a nice change from the pain that was there before. The small

 purple glow around them had grown and they were within a few hundred

 metres of the earth surface. From the ground Sailor Moon noticed the

 purple glow streaking to earth and shouted out to the senshi,

 pointing up to her.

 "Please, Minna!" They all nodded and got to their feet, their hands

 raised. They could help her down, but she had to get within their

 power circle. As they all powered up the circle gradually formed,

 colour by colour. in the centre was the two white beams of the

 imperial silver crystals.

 "Hota-chan!!" Sailor Moon was screaming out into the sky, she knew

 there was no way she would hear, but hopefully she'd feel. ""Move to

 the middle of our power! We can help you down!!" Sailor Saturn hadn't

 heard, as suspected, but she had felt the power surge and seen the

 light. As she looked towards the tube of light, Sailor Moon's words

 echoed in her head. She moved her left arm out, her right embracing

 the girl tightly. With a quick burst of power they started moving

 towards the beam. The girl's eyes were wide as she watched the

 spectrum of colours approaching. Saturn held her tighter as

 encouragment and the girl smiled, burrying her head in Saturn's fuku.

 The two came within touching distance of the beam and Saturn held out

 her hand, touching the blue beam of Sailor Mercury. They passed

 through the power and a sudden wind hit them, parting them. Saturn

 grabbed the girls hand in her right and flinched, reaching to take he

 same hand in her left also. Looking up the girl was terrified, but

 Saturn smiled warmly. She was reminded of the time passage she

 patrolled with Sailor Pluto occasionally.

 "Don't worry, Emily-san! Nothing bad can happen as long as you're

 with me." Emily nodded and they both pulled closer, so they had both

 hands joined. They fell until they could see the Senshi below them in

 enough detail to recognise their expressions. Saturn looked to the

 worry on Sailor Moon's face and found she had to look away. What if

 she had lost the baby? As she averted her gaze she found herself

 looking up into a streak of blood drops falling from her arm. She

 found mild interest in them and them before they were hit with the

 sensation one gets when stopping in an elevator, their feet touching

 the floor gently. Saturn fell to her knees, as did the other girl,

 their legs now unacustomed to the gravity of the earth from space to

 falling. Everyone ran forward and Saturn smiled up to them all, they

 were all ok. After a few seconds, however, a rain of crimson started

 to fall over them, and looking up they realised it was the blood that

 had fallen from Saturn's arm. Saturn looked down to it and held the

 wound tightly. Sailor Moon knelt beside ehr and kissed her gently.

 "Don't worry, we'll get it cleaned up." Saturn nodded and held her

 hands out to the girl, who took them gently.

 "This is Emily-san. Please minna, may she stay here with us?"

 Everyone smiled and nodded, waving greetings. Neo Queen Serenity

 stepped forward and the senshi cleared her path, moving aside so she

 could see the small girl.

 "I see," the queen started, putting a hand to the girls head "You

 are unlucky to have this disease. But in this palace you will be

 treated your true age as everyone else. You will always be welcome

 here, so feel free to stay as long as you desire." Emily seemed

 mildly surprised and bowed low.

 "H-hai! Arigato." Saturn stood and Sailor moon did likewise, taking

 her good hand. The rain slowed, then stopped altogether, and everyone

 seemed to be favouring red clothing. They all shared a laugh as they

 took in each others appearences, before Saturn and Moon left for

 their room in the palace. Emily watched after them and smiled softly.

 "Arigato..."

 

 "Sheesh Hota-chan. Anyone would think you let her hack you apart."

 they both laughed and Usagi dabbed a cotton wool pad gently over her

 upper arm. She got a new piece and dabbed downwards to the elbow,

 then down again to the wrist. She sighed and leaned back, wiping hair

 from her face. "It's no good, Hota-chan. It won't stop bleeding long

 enough for me to clean it all and put a bandage on. Lets go to the

 medical room." Hotaru shook her head.

 "Just wrap it. I will be fine, i promise." Usagi nodded gently and

 took the plastic from a bandage, wrapping it tightly around her arm

 and smiling warmly.

 "Thank you, Hota-chan. We wouldn't have been able to do it without

 you." Hotaru smiled and hugged her gently.

 "Iie. You would have managed just fine, Chi-chan. I'm glad you're

 ok." Hotaru suddenly jumped and lept off the chair, runnning out of

 the room. Usagi followed her at a sprint but still the slightly older

 girl pulled away. She turned a sharp corner and Usagi had to skid to

 make the turn. She watched as Hoatru made turn after turn, finally

 bursting through a door and into a dark room.

 "Setsuna-mama!!!!" She shouted into the room and Setsuna came out of

 her bedroom into the living area.

 "Hai, Hotaru-hime?" Hotaru was panting slightly from the run and

 shut the door behind her, Usagi was hiding around the corner and put

 her ear to the door.

 "Setsuna-mama! I need to know if it's ok!" Setsuna understood and

 indicated for her to take a seat by the fire. Hotaru nodded and

 accepted the seat, sitting on the edge uncomfortably. Setsuna took a

 seat opposite Hotaru and moved to begin, but Hotaru held a hand out.

 "Chi-chan. Come on in would you? No need to hide." An embarrest

 Usagi moved into the room and shut the door behind her. Usagi took

 Hotaru's hand and knelt before her, resting her head on Hotaru's

 knees.

 "Hotaru, Usagi. You will have two healthy children. You need not

 worry. Time favours you both, and althouhg many challenges lie ahead,

 you will defeat all problems as long as you face them together. Just

 as our King and Queen had to, you two must overcome the same

 hardships. Go now, you need not hear any more. But you will each have

 a healthy baby girl." The two girls nodded and stepped out of the

 room, tears in each of their eyes. They shared a hug and moved

 together as one back to their room. They would hace anything sent

 their way. They were sure of it.