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 "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.