Sailor Moon

"History of the Silent Race"

Tomorrow was her birthday and she'd be 20 at long last. She'd finally be of age and then she'd be able to get married and have a family. Oh, how she had been dreaming of this day. She would finally be an adult and then her dream to be a nurse with a small family of her own would come true.

"My 20th birthday…oh, it's a dream come true." She sighed with a smile as she went book shopping, like she did every Friday morning. Sure, her birthday was Saturday-her day but that didn't matter. She had started this tradition with her best friend when they were 9 and they had continued this very tradition every week for 10-going on 11 years.

"And then we'll both be the same age again!" Her best friend cheered as they went to their favorite bookshop. "Well, until June, at least."

The two girlfriends laughed. They were so close even after all this time. It was one amazing friendship to last 11 plus years.

"Oh, hey, Hotaru-look at these pretty bracelets!" Her best friend held up pink and purple beaded bracelets. They had Sailor Saturn and Sailor Chibi Moon charms on them.

"Oh, Usa-I remember when we this small. It was so long ago. Hard to imagine that Galaxia was more than 11 years ago." Hotaru replied looking at the charms with misty eyes. "How much are these bracelets? The ones my friend has in her hand." The clerk rang them up and Hotaru paid for them to Usa's surprise.

"You didn't need to do that, Taru." Usa told her friend as Hotaru switched the charms. She slipped the purple one on her wrist and put the pink one on Usa's wrist.

"Now, we have friendship bracelets. No matter what part of the Galaxies I get sent to in order to insure the safety of the Earth-we'll always be connected forever, like true friends." Hotaru earned a hug that nearly knocked her off her feet. Usa squeezed her friend tight. "Now, now. Don't cry. You'll ruin your make up. Besides, you're a lady and ladies don't cry in public." Usa looked up at her. "We tackle our boyfriends and/or lovers and sob hysterically in their arms, eternally enjoying their comforting ways."

Usa laughed as she hugged her friend. Even now, she was more grown up than the pink haired princess. No matter what age they would be, Hotaru would always act like the queen she deserved to be. It was just a part of who she had become. They walked side by side, chatting merrily as they walked to their favorite book shop. Feeling a gaze on her, Hotaru stopped and turned to see who it was.

How odd…I could've sworn someone was watching me. She thought before catching up with Usa who had gone ahead unknowingly. It was really unnerving. Now that she had realized that someone was watching her, Hotaru was feeling really uneasy as she walked the aisles of their fave book store. Why am I even here? I have all the books I want and need from this place. Nothing can tell me of what happened on Saturn so why do I still look? Her amethyst eyes fell on a leather book in the section she was in. How odd for a leather book to be where paperbacks were. Something about it, though, made Hotaru reach out a hand and pull it off the shelf.

It had a lock on it and there was no writing on it what so ever. For some odd reason, she reached into her pocket and pulled out a key that she had never seen before. She put it in the lock and gave it a turn. With a click, the lock popped off and the book was free to be read. Slowly, Hotaru lifted the cover.

(History of the Silent Race:

Historical Writings of the Planet Saturn, the Silent Star

Property of the Saturian Heir,

Princess Cronos Rea )

There was no possible way. Nothing survived whatever had happened on her planet so how did this book get on Earth? Hotaru knew of only one way to find out-she had to read it.