Chapter 3
A Scout in Denial
"So, wait a second," Twilight said, as she and Rarity made their way to Sugarcube Corner, "Princess Celestia said that as Queen Serenity, she gave up the last of her power when she sent all of us into the 20th century. How is she still alive?"
"Oh, she did not explain that to you?" Rarity asked. Twilight shook her head. "Interesting. I wonder why she would withhold information."
"I'm sure it's something that she just didn't think needed explaining; they all seemed pretty keen on waking everybody up so we could meet up with Cadance in the Crystal Empire," Twilight said. "Do you know the story though?"
"Yes," Rarity said, "Let me explain.
"As you told me the princesses explained to you, that during the original fight in the Silver Milennium, Queen Serenity used up the last of her power with the Silver Imperial Crystal in order to give you all new lives in the 20th century. It was around this time that I was given the full responsibility of guarding the Gates of Time on full duty. With the solar system cautiously in peace, there was no need for me to guard the outer edges, and I could devote my life to guarding the Gates of Time.
"I remained at my station for the first major battle in which you were all awakened for. It wasn't until Small Lady passed through the door that I became involved, because as a result of her crossing, the conflict of the 30th century became a problem of the 20th century. As the Keeper of Time and Space, it was my duty to make sure time travel did not happen, under any circumstances—but this was different. Small Lady said that the Silver Imperial Crystal was gone, and we needed it to defeat the enemies and reawaken Queen Neo-Serenity. So I sent her back in time to find the crystal of the 20th century.
"Anyways, as battles raged upon Earth, I found myself leaving my post more and more often. The enemies kept becoming stronger and stronger, and Princess Serenity and her four main scouts were no longer strong enough on their own. They needed the full force of all of the scouts of our system to defeat enemies. But during our last battle with King Sombra, things were taking a turn for the worse, a time so terrible like none other.
"Chaos struck halfway through the second millennium kingdom, the Crystal Millennium, as I call it. Queen Neo-Serenity was preparing Small Lady—by now taking the formal name of Princess Neo-Serenity—to take over the kingdom. King Sombra was a wizard banished to the outskirts of our solar system. He attacked, much like Queen Beryl did, out of jealousy. He lusted after Small Lady, but when she rejected him, he then attacked our kingdom with forces like none I have ever seen. For the first time, the scouts' efforts were failing and we were all going to lose our kingdom and die.
"Some did. In the thick of battle, Sailor Uranus fell. Neptune fell soon after. There is some tension between the princesses, for one believes that Neptune fell on purpose, because she could not face life without her dearest friend and companion, Uranus. The other believes that it was an accident."
"What do you believe?" Twilight asked, interrupting. Rarity remained quiet for a minute, staring at the ground as she walked.
"I don't know what to believe," was all she said quietly. Twilight waited a few minutes before Rarity continued on with her story.
"It wasn't until King Endymion fell that Queen Serenity revealed herself to be alive. She explained that she had been on the sun for the past thousands of years—a trait which has now followed her into this life, as she is the princess of the sun—and that as her soul serenely rested in the hot star, it could no longer stay at peace upon seeing the destruction that was happening. She manifested on Earth and together with her kin, they sealed King Sombra away, but not before he took Crystal Tokyo with him.
"I don't know the full understandings of the Queen or how she got to the sun, nor do I know how her soul survived. There is much mystery around those who used to be moonfolk," Rarity said.
"Moonfolk? Crystal Tokyo? That was an interesting story, though I'm not sure I understood all of it."
Twilight jumped slightly, as Pinkie Pie popped out of a nearby shrub. Rarity looked startled as well. She then quickly glanced around her and then nodded at Twilight.
"Yes, I was just telling Twilight a dream I had," Rarity said. "Have you had any odd dreams lately Pinkie Pie?"
"Nope! Just the regular ones. They're usually about sweets and treats," Pinkie said. She did an optimistic hop and smiled at the two unicorns.
"Really? 'Cause I had a dream related to Rarity's story," Twilight said, "and you were in it Pinkie Pie."
"I was in a dream that uses the term moonfolk? Ha ha ha! Moonfolk! What a funny word. Does it relate to Nightmare Moon!?" Pinkie Pie asked, hopping again slightly.
Rarity looked around again, as though checking to see if other ponies were watching them. She then looked at Twilight again and nodded her head in gesture towards the alley to their right. Twilight nodded. As Rarity spoke again, the two began to corral Pinkie Pie towards the alley.
"Yes, you were in my dream too, Minako," Rarity said, her tone suddenly sharp and serious.
Pinkie Pie twitched for a second. The smile fell from her face and her hair seemed to de-poof for a minute. Her eyes glazed over and her voice went monotone.
"Call me Mina for short," she said.
Just as fast as she had changed, she changed back. Pinkie Pie cocked her head to the side.
"Who's Mina?" she asked.
Twilight glanced at Rarity. She wasn't sure what to do or what had just happened to Pinkie Pie.
"You are, Pinkie Pie. Don't you remember?" Twilight asked. When Rarity had mentioned her name, many flashes of Pinkie in her human form flew through her mind. Twilight was amazed at how much faster she began to remember the more she talked to the other scouts.
"Ohhhh, I see what you're doing there Twilight. You're giving me a new nickname! PinkaMINA! I get it. Mina Pie. I guess it could work, but Pinkie sort of makes more sense because of my coat and mane, don't you think?" Pinkie said. She laughed.
I hadn't even thought of that. Mina's in her full name. Well played princesses, well played.
"Minako Aino," Rarity said.
"Gesundheit?" Pinkie Pie said. She gave Rarity a perplexed look.
"Your name was once Minako Aino. You preferred Mina, for short. You were the Princess of Venus, Planet of Love, leader of the four guardians of Princess Serenity. You were the keeper of the Sword of the Crystal, the holy blade. You destroyed the blade after Princess Serenity used it to take her life," Rarity said, as she took a step towards Pinkie. Pinkie Pie took a step back, her confused look deepening into concern and almost fright. She laughed uneasily.
"That's a pretty big accusation, Rarity. Really guys, what's the joke? I don't get it and it's not funny," Pinkie Pie said. She kept glancing towards Twilight for help, as Rarity continued to advance on her.
"It's not a joke, Pinkie Pie," Rarity said, "And you should be taking this very seriously."
"Ok, let's tone it down for a second Rarity. I'm still having some troubles coming to terms with it," Twilight said. She stepped between Rarity and Pinkie Pie. "We need to take it slow."
"Time to wake up Mina," Rarity said. "There's no time to take things slow. I know a thing or two about time, Twilight Sparkle, and while I understand your point of view, you have to realize that we still have two more scouts to awaken. King Sombra could be taking over the Crystal Empire as we speak. And after that, he may even try and take over Canterlot."
"The princesses will make sure that doesn't happen," Twilight said, "Just because we wield the Elements of Harmony, doesn't mean that they don't have any power. Cadance is putting up a barrier around the Crystal Empire and—"
"She's the one I'm worried about," Rarity snapped, "King Sombra was once obsessed with her. He hasn't seen her in thousands of years. Pony forms or not, obsession is still obsession. If you could remember the time when Prince Diamond was obsessed with Serenity, you would understand my concern."
"You're still concerned about Small Lady," Twilight said.
"I'm always concerned for Small Lady," Rarity said quietly.
"Who's a small lady?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Pinkie Pie, listen to me. There's something you need to understand. Our souls are eternal. They've been living and regenerating for thousands of years. We were once all warriors, and protected our solar system. It's time for us to protect it again," Rarity said softly.
Pinkie Pie twitched again, but didn't say anything.
"I'm Sailor Mercury, Pinkie," Twilight said, "And Rarity is Sailor Pluto. You're Sailor Venus."
"I don't understand," Pinkie Pie said, her voice filled with concern. She twitched again. Her bright color seemed to be fading and her hair seemed to be straightening. "What are you saying?"
"We're saying it's time to wake up," Rarity said. Pinkie Pie shook her head and backed into the wall behind her. "It's time to be serious."
"I—But—" Pinkie said. Her coat was now a drab shade of pink, her hair completely straight. Tears seemed to brim her eyes. Her voice cracked. "I don't want to be serious."
Before either of the two unicorns could do anything, Pinkie Pie pushed past them and ran out of the alley.
"Pinkie Pie! Wait!" Twilight shouted. Rarity sighed.
"So many times, she has always been the first to wake up. Never have I seen her in denial," Rarity said quietly.
"What should we do?" Twilight asked, "Do you think she even fully remembers?"
"I'm not sure," Rarity said, "but we should leave her be for the moment. When the time is right, she will be ready, and she will find us."
This had not gone at all like Twilight had planned. She had been spoiled with going to Rarity first and having such an easy time in "awakening" her, since she hadn't needed any awakening to begin with. She had hoped that since Pinkie Pie had once been her leader, that she would have been the next easiest.
"What do we do now?" Twilight asked.
"Now, we need someone who is a born warrior. Someone with a bit more edge, who won't argue against being a fighter," Rarity asked, "Someone who can better enforce the idea upon the reluctant. We need Mars."
"Rainbow Dash."