Minako stood at the front door of her high-rise apartment and watched the Chiba family enter. Mamoru and Usagi each carried a large suitcase. Usagi struggled with the heavy luggage. It would have been comical had it not been for the heavy silence that hung in the air.

  Chibiusa, their daughter from the future, darted past them and toward the large leather couch. She slumped into the uncomfortable cushions, crossed her arms and shot her parents a look of disdain. Mamoru had a worried expression on his face.

  Usagi let out a long, drawn-out sigh of wonder as she looked around the apartment. Minako had to fight back a grin. Her friend had matured somewhat over the past year, but sometimes, her younger, more enthusiastic self fought her way back to the surface.

  Usagi put down the oversized suitcase and gazed with wide eyes at the large, floor-to-ceiling windows. A panoramic view of the Tokyo skyline stretched out before them.

  “This place is amazing, Minako!”

  Mamoru gave a soft smile as Usagi dashed around the apartment. She always managed to crack his stoic mask somehow. He nodded toward Minako. His gratitude was clear, despite his reserved expression.

  “Thank you for letting us stay. We have nowhere else to go.”

  A creature from the future that was hunting Chibiusa had tracked her down and attacked them in their apartment. Only when Usagi had accessed her dormant powers as Sailor Moon had they been able to fend off the monster. Now, they feared that their apartment just wasn’t safe anymore.

  Minako smiled at Mamoru, crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe. She noted Chibiusa still sulking on the coach.

  “You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. I have plenty of room. You’ll just have to put up with my singing. I’ll be doing some songwriting over the next few weeks to prepare for my new album.”

  She nodded toward the piano standing near the windows. It was a recent addition. Minako wanted to make her apartment a proper home.

  She saw Chibiusa perk up and glance in her direction. Their eyes met for a moment. Minako saw something there. Hope? Familiarity? Longing? Then her expression hardened again, and she looked away.

  Usagi came dashing back into the room.

  “Chibiusa, you have to see this kitchen! I’ve never seen so much counter space in my life! I bet we could make some great curry rice together here.”

  Minako felt a bead of sweat form on her forehead.

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  Oh, God. The last time she cooked for me, my stomach hurt for three days.

  Chibiusa ignored the question. It hung in the air for a long moment. Then Mamoru let out an uncharacteristic sigh and moved toward the guest room to unpack.

  Minako could feel the tension crackle in the air between Usagi and Chibiusa. Usagi’s expression shifted from delight to uncertainty. She hesitated for a moment, then walked over to the girl and sat down next to her.

  “I know this has all been a lot, Chibiusa, but…I’m here for you, okay? I know I’m new to this whole ‘mother’ thing, but…”

  Chibiusa let out a derisive snort.

  “That’s a joke, right? My mother would never lie to me about who she is!”

  The words struck Usagi like a blow. The silence that followed was deafening.

  Usagi’s eyes flicked toward Mamoru, who had paused at the door to the guest room and turned to watch the scene unfold. His brow furrowed.

  Usagi took a deep breath.

  “Look, Chibiusa, I don’t know why my future self didn’t tell you she used to be Sailor Moon. I’m sure she had a good reason…”

  Chibiusa snapped.

  “You are not my mother! Sailor Moon is just some… thing from a story! You’re a liar! A fraud!”

  She jumped off the couch and stormed out of the room. After a moment, Minako could hear a door slam shut.

  Did she…did she just go hide in my bedroom? Great.

  Usagi slumped deeper into the couch, her face pale. All the air seemed to have been sucked out of her. Minako saw the defeat in her eyes.

  Mamoru came back into the room and placed a hand on Usagi’s shoulder.

  “She’s been through a lot, Usagi. We all have. Give her time.”

  Usagi’s eyes filled with tears. She wiped them away and gave her husband an accusatory look.

  “I told you I wasn’t ready to be a mother!” Usagi looked away. “Why didn’t I…why didn’t she just tell Chibiusa the truth?”

  Mamoru gave her shoulder a squeeze, but remained silent. He had no answers, either. Instead, he left to unpack.

  Minako watched the exchange from her perch near the front door. She felt like an intruder in her own home, as if she was spying on a very personal moment. Above all, she felt guilty.

  She wasn’t the leader of the Sailor Guardians anymore. She was powerless to protect her princess. Minako was supposed to be there for Usagi as Sailor Venus, but her dormant powers eluded her.

  She sighed and pushed off from the door frame.

  “I’m sorry, Usagi. I should have…”

  Usagi held up a hand to stop her.

  “No, Minako, please. You’ve been such a help. You’re always here for me when I need you. I’m the one who should be sorry. I just…I didn’t expect any of…this.”

  Minako gave her a small smile.

  “Nobody could have seen this coming, Usagi. We’ll find our way through it. Together.”

  Minako hesitated. She knew those creatures would keep coming for Chibiusa, and Usagi would stand against them, alone.

  “How did you do it, Usagi?” Minako’s voice was small, quiet. “How did you become Sailor Moon again after all this time?”

  Usagi thought about it for a moment. A small smile appeared on her face.

  “I realized what I loved most in this world. It’s Mamoru and…Chibiusa. I’m not ready for her and she drives me crazy, but she’s mine. I love her. Once I accepted that love, something inside me just fell into place.”

  Usagi ran a hand through her hair, in thought.

  “My powers are different, though. I don’t know what that means yet. It scares me a little.”

  Minako’s heart skipped a beat. She stared at Usagi, her fists clenched. If love fueled Usagi’s powers, then what was holding Minako back?

  She took a deep breath. Fear and excitement gripped her heart in equal measures as she realized it was time for her to have a long talk with somebody she cared deeply about.