Welcome! This is another story in the "Circle of Time" series, though it speaks to a universal theme. It
examines Mamoru’s struggles to accept that his little girl doesn’t need him as she used to. As a mother of a
12 year old daughter, I can tell you from personal experience that learning to let go is not an easy thing.
Many thanks to M-Chan and the other CoT authors for their patience and openness. You folks are great.
As, always, specials thank you to my dear J-Chan, who takes time out of her busy day to look at my latest
drivel. You’re too good to me J!
You can write to me at MearaRI@aol.com and please be kind. As I’ve said many times before, the good you
do comes back to you, but bad Karma is forever! I love getting mail – even if I do have to listen to that
annoyingly cheerful voice shouting "You’ve got mail!". As if I couldn’t figure it out for myself. Why else
would the little flag on my mailbox be up?
Standard Disclaimer: I don’t own Sailor Moon and friends. If I did would I be working part time as a Lunch
Lady?
Series homepage at: http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/9897/ct.htm
A Circles of Time story
"Daddy’s Little Girl"
For a man who had everything, Chiba Mamoru, also known as Endymion, King of Earth, could count on one
hand the gifts he truly cherished. First, and foremost, was the simple wedding band of white gold that his
Usako had given him on the glorious day they were married. Ranking a close second, was his daughter,
Princess Lady Serenity, called Small Lady by the family. He could still remember the joy he’d felt when Ami
had handed him the tiny baby girl. He’d looked with rapt amazement at her incredibly perfect little face.
When the baby had opened her eyes (Usako’s eyes, he’d noted) and looked at him, he knew that whatever
happened in the future, his life had been worth living because of this small lady.
"Daddy’s little girl…" he’d cooed to the newborn, "You’re daddy’s little girl and I’ll always take care of you
my small lady." As he brought the baby to her mother, Usagi had smiled at his turn of phrase.
"A very small lady indeed" she had said as she looked at her beloved holding the miracle their love had
produced. "Then Small Lady she’ll be to us." Mamoru handed the baby to her mother. As he put his arm
around his one, true love and his infant daughter, he felt as if his heart would surely burst with joy.
There were other times, through the years of Small Lady’s childhood, which remained forever bright in his
memory. The way she’d run at he and Usagi when they returned from a trip on the Kingdom’s business,
shouting their names and launching her tiny form into his strong arms.
"Mommy! Daddy! You’re home, you’re really home!" It was always the same. Small Lady would hug and
kiss both of them and then beg her daddy for a ride on his shoulders. Mamoru always obliged and would
lift his daughter up high as she squealed with delight. The little Princess’s face would light up like the sun
as her father showed her whatever trinket he’d brought her from far away. The presents she always loved
best were the simple ones. A shell from a distant shore, the feather of an exotic bird or flower picked by
hand from alien gardens were greeted with more joy then any jewel she could ever receive.
He remembered how Small Lady would beg him to dance with her in the family’s private library. "Dance with
me Daddy! Dance with me!" The tiny princess would put her feet on top of her father’s and laugh as they
took giant steps around the room. Small Lady would beg for just one more story about the mysterious
champion of justice, Sailor Moon as he tucked her into bed. Sometimes she’d tell him every intricate detail
of her day as she settled down for the night. The times that she was frightened he was the one she ran to
first.
For twelve, wonderful years he remained unchallenged in his position as the man at the center of her young
life. And Mamoru loved it. Then, without what he considered adequate warning, it happened.
Puberty.
His first inkling that things were different came in the spring of Small Lady’s 13th year. She had just about
outgrown her much-loved Welsh pony, Windchaser. With the guidance of his daughter’s riding instructor,
Mamoru had found the perfect horse. Her name was Bambi and she was a 16.3 hand, mahogany brown
Arabian. With the large eyes, small ears and tapering muzzle that characterized the breed, Bambi was
beautiful as well as sweet tempered. And so, on the first warm day they’d had that spring, he was ready to
give his little girl, the perfect gift.
Usagi had observed that whenever Mamoru gave Small Lady a gift it did double duty. He seemed to be as
happy to give it as their daughter was to receive it. This time promised to be no different for the King of
Earth. He held the mare’s lead, as a blindfolded Small Lady was lead giggling to the barn by one of her
friends. It was Mamoru who got the surprise however and he didn’t like it. As Small Lady rounded the
corner her father saw her. The Princess was dressed for a ride and for the first time this season, she was
wearing spring weight riding pants and a short sleeved turtleneck shirt that clung to her like second skin.
Mamoru barley heard his daughter’s shouts of delight as a trio of unpleasant facts ran through his brain.
She was changing. She was maturing. She wasn’t a little girl anymore.
Small Lady had long, slender legs and softly rounded hips. He noted that she was developing breasts. Her
face had lost it childish roundness and she now more closely resembled her mother. She was growing very
quickly into a beauty, too quickly for Mamoru’s peace of mind.
He didn’t take it well when Usagi actually laughed at his observations. "Where have you been?" she
smiled, "This has been going on for almost a year now. The women in my family have all been early
bloomers or don’t you remember how I looked at 14?"
While his memories of the days before the great freeze were somewhat fuzzy in places, he’d have to be dead
to forget how beautiful his wife was even as a young teen. Oh yes, he very clearly recalled his frustrations
at the time. Usagi had been physically mature long before she was emotionally ready for the joys of
adulthood. Especially the one ‘joy’ that should happen only when you have been duly married, he
grumbled to himself. Just how fast Small Lady was blossoming became apparent at the next court reception,
two nights later.
Mamoru was resigned to the fact that his wife was breath takingly, drop dead, gorgeous. He’d learned to
not let the annoyance show when every new male they were introduced to felt it necessary to point out that
fact. While he knew that Usagi was an adult and more than capable of handling any unwanted advances, it
never hurt to have either himself or at least one of the Senshi near her at all public occasions. It made him
feel better and Usagi had long since given up protesting about it.
They were making small talk with the new ambassador from the S’Eyre Imperium when something caught his
attention. When he was still saving the world as Tuxedo Kamen, Mamoru had developed an instinct for
trouble. That instinct was screaming at him as he beheld his little girl surrounded by admiring young men of
various ranks. Small Lady loved the attention they were lavishing on her. She laughed and flirted with each
of them in turn as Mamoru watched with mounting concern. He was not at all reassured by the fact that not
only was Rei’s daughter Imiko with her, but Makoto, as Sailor Jupiter was no more than three feet behind
her. He jumped slightly as Usagi put her hand on his arm to catch his attention.
"You’re making yourself crazy over nothing." She whispered in a barely audible voice. "No one would dare
try anything with Mako so close, besides, those are all very nice boys from good families."
He smiled at the Ambassador as he and Usagi moved away. "I know all about ‘nice boys’ and what they
really want. I used to be a ‘nice’boy!" He said for her ears only. "We need to have a talk with Small Lady
about this subject, and soon."
Mamoru and Usagi cleared their schedules the next afternoon to have the anticipated "talk" with their
daughter. Mamoru was running a little late as he entered the family’s private library. He looked around
expecting to see both his wife and daughter waiting for him, but they were not there. He wasn’t alone for
long however, as his gentle, beloved lifemate, the Queen of Earth, Crystal Tokyo and his heart walked in the
room and by him without so much as a ‘hello’. She plunked down on the sofa in their sitting room and
mumbled in a cranky manner.
"Where’s Small Lady?"
Usagi gave him a black look as she started to tug at her soft, highheeled boots. "Oh, haven’t you heard?
There’s no one by that name living here anymore."
Mamoru was confused. "What? I’m not following you, Usako".
One of the boots went sailing across the room and Usagi set to work on the other one. "Your daughter just
had a conversation with me." This was not good, Mamoru knew. Whenever Usagi called Small Lady ‘your
daughter’ there was invariably trouble. "Actually, conversation isn’t the right word. That implies that more
than one person was involved and your daughter did all the talking. She informed me that the name ‘Small
Lady’ is demeaning to her. She wants to be called "Reenie" from now on." Usagi gave the name an
unpleasant nasal twang as she pulled off the other boot with a mighty heave and let it fly to find its mate.
"Since Small…excuse me, ‘Reenie’ found it necessary to shout her name change at me in front of her court, I
found it necessary to tell her to get her ‘Reenie’ butt into her room until she apologizes."
Mamoru sigh as quietly as possible. For some reason he had yet to fathom, Usagi and Small Lady seemed
to be grating on each other’s nerves lately. He was sure that by using his calm, male mind, he could settle
this little matter. He understood his Small Lady. She was, after all, Daddy’s little girl. "Would you like me to
speak to her?"
Usagi was not fooled by his tone. She knew that her husband suspected that she was blowing this whole
thing out of proportion. "Yes, " she smiled, "please. I’d really appreciate your insight on this." It was more
than time for Mamoru to get a taste of hurricane "Reenie".
And so the King of Earth undertook this most dangerous assignment. Rei was haranguing the very young
members of Small Lady’s court about manners and their lack of them as Mamoru stopped before his
daughter’s door. He politely inclined his head toward Rei who winked back him. "Your pardon, Majesty"
she said just a little too solemnly, "These supposed "ladies" can wait for me outside in the courtyard while I
await your instructions on this matter." They didn’t need to be told twice and took off like someone had lit
their tails on fire. Rei watched them go and chuckled. "Were we ever that young and stupid? I’ll be down
the hall if you want me. Good luck, you’re going to need it."
Mamoru sighed deeply and gently knocked on the door. "Small Lady? It’s Daddy, open up please, I need
to talk to you."
There was no answer at first. He knocked again, a little louder this time. "Small Lady? Are you all right?"
Mamoru was starting to get worried as he banged yet a third time on the door. "Can you hear me? Open
this door, right now Small Lady!""
The door flew open to reveal the annoyed heir. "Don’t call me that! It makes me sound like I’m still four
years old, Daddy. I want to be called Reenie." She presented the perfect picture of adolescent outrage.
Her arms were folded across her chest as her nostrils flared. The young princess glared at her father
through narrowed eyes that dared him to argue with her. Mamoru stifled the urge to laugh as he saw that
her aging pet rabbit, Misty had picked up her anger was alternately huffing and thumping the floor in as
threatening a manner as a six pound bunny could manage. "And don’t you laugh at me!" she shrieked.
This settled Mamoru right down. "Don’t you take that tone of voice with me, young lady. I am still your
father and due a little respect." Oh no, he thought, I’m turning into Ward Clever! Taking a deep breath, he
decided to try a different tactic. "Look, honey, you can call yourself what ever you want, but you have no
right scream to at either me or your mother about it. Do you understand?"
Tears filled "Reenie’s" eyes. "You’re yelling at me." She whimpered, "And you don’t know what it’s like to
be young today. It’s so much harder than when you were a kid a million years ago. I thought you loved me,
but you just want to keep me your little girl. You don’t let me have any freedom to choose things for myself!
Well I’m declaring my freedom right now. My name is Reenie and if you can’t call me that, well then just
don’t say anything to me!"
Silence hung in the air like a bad odor as father and daughter locked eyes for a moment. "Very well. " said
Mamoru. There was a carefully controlled nuance to his voice that the young girl recognized at once. "
We’ll try calling you Reenie" he surpressed a shudder at the name, "But you have to go and apologize to
your mother. You embarrassed her both as your mother and as the Queen. That is not and will never be
allowed in this house. In the future, if you wish to make another personal change, you must come to us and
we will discuss it as a family. Is that clear?"
The petulant teenager disappeared suddenly and his sweet little girl replaced her. "Okay, I’m sorry, Daddy.
I’ll find Mom and apologize right now." She rose on her tiptoes and kissed him on the cheek. Reenie spun
away, dancing down the hall leaving a stunned and confused Mamoru to wonder what had just happened.
Rei patted him sympathetically on the shoulder as she walked him on her way to the courtyard. "Welcome
to the wonderful world of teenage girls, Mamoru."
And so it went. Mamoru and Usagi did have the intended talk with their daughter the next evening. When
she actually listened to them and then said that perhaps she should be more careful around the boys,
Mamoru was shocked – thrilled, but shocked. He’d just about convinced himself that Small Lady’s…no, he
chided himself, Reenie..Reenie’s errant behavior was just a fluke. The young Princess of Earth disabused
him of that particular notion the very next day. When Usagi told her daughter to fix her hair properly, the
girl had exploded into a full throttle hissy fit. She whined, pouted and even stamped her size three feet at
being made to wear her hair in the traditional "odongo’s". Mamoru recognized the look on Usagi’s face as
she informed the recalcitrant child that the matter was not open for discussion. He wisely held his tongue.
In the end, Reenie put up her hair in the manner Usagi had demanded.
There was another sticking point, the name "Reenie". Usagi had been angry when Mamoru told her that
he’d accepted Small Lady’s name change without consulting her and expected her to live by it, too. His one
true love told him in no uncertain terms that if he ever unilaterally made a decision like that for her again,
she’d hand him liver on a platter. Happily, the "Reenie" stage only lasted for a few weeks. After turning
himself inside out to remember to call his daughter by her chosen name, she blithely announced at dinner
one evening that "Reenie" sounded stupid. Small Lady was much more dignified and she really did prefer it.
It was like living with a ticking timebomb. He hated it and wondered how Usagi could deal with it all so
calmly. When they were finally alone, in the privacy of their bed, he asked her just that.
"Prozac" Usagi had mumbled under her breath. She sighed loudly and snuggled closer to her beloved. "It’s
not damn easy I can tell you that. But Small Lady isn’t really a bad girl, she’s just growing up and exploring
her limits. Heaven knows that being our heir puts too many restrictions on her life as it is. That’s what the
"Reenie" thing was about, you know. She wants to feel that she has some control over her own life. Our
Small Lady isn’t a little girl anymore."
Mamoru tensed up at that last remark and Usagi felt it. He would rather die than admit to the feelings that
were going through his mind and she knew it. She also knew that it had to be brought out into the open or it
would fester inside him. Lifting herself onto one elbow she reached out to her husband and gently pushed a
tendril of his midnight hair out of his eyes. "My poor Mamo-chan, this frightens you, doesn’t it?"
The King of Earth closed his eyes and rolled away from his wife. Usagi reached out again, this time to pull
him back to her. "My love, don’t you think I know why this so hard for you?" She cupped his face in her
tiny hands and made him look at her. "You have lost so much over the years. First when you were
Endymion, in one night your home, your family, everything you loved was suddenly gone."
Mamoru pulled her close to him. She could fell his heart racing in his chest. "I still remember losing you.
I’ve forgotten so much else, but I can close my eyes and still see that last night in the Moon Kingdom." He
whispered, unshed tears in voice. "You were pulled away from me and I couldn’t get to you. I tried so hard
but al I could do was scream your name as Beryl murdered you. I couldn’t save you. I could only watch
the life fade from your eyes." This was so very hard for him to talk about, even with Usagi. "I was dead
inside long before she got around to killing my body
.
Usagi held him close. "And when you were reborn as Mamoru, your family was gone from you again in one
night because of the car accident. I think that’s why you’ve always been so intent on "protecting" Small
Lady and me. You finally have what your heart has always desired and you’re afraid that it’ll all be taken
away from you again."
There was a moment of silence as Mamoru found the strength to give voice to his deepest fears. Usako’s
arms were warm and surprisingly strong around him. "It’s irrational, I know, but there will always be a part
of me that is afraid to relax, to let my guard down. It was so much easier to protect our daughter when she
was a little one. Usako, we’re so happy, now, the three of us. But happiness has never lasted in my life. I’m
afraid that it will end – in death -again."
"Small Lady must grow up. That’s the way of life. She needs to become a woman, to find love. Would you
deny her the joy we share?" Usagi rubbed her cheek against his and whispered in his ear, "But know that I
will never leave you, beloved. If my body dies tomorrow, I’ll still be with you." She placed one hand over
Mamoru’s heart. "You will never be alone again. We are one soul, you and I, forever."
He took her hand and brought it slowly to his lips. "Yes" he said and dared to believe it, "forever."
Usagi comforted Mamoru through the long night with gentleness and passion. What pleased her, pleased
him as he realized that they were indeed, one soul. By the light of dawn, he had found a measure of peace.
<<<<<>>>>>
It was the one invitation that everyone absolutely had to have. It was the gala of the year, a grand ball on a
scale not done before. It was Princess Lady Serenity’s 14th birthday, her coming of age.
Anyone of noble birth on Earth or any of the known worlds with an unattached son simply had to be at that
party. Eligible sons from everywhere, great and small flooded into Crystal Tokyo. Princes from England,
Denmark, Spain, and Sweden were there. They came from the far and near east. Even the hereditary Prince
from the tiny Grand Duchy of Folandia came. The Klinzai, the Orion Federation, and three of the great
houses of the S’Eyre sent unmarried Princes. The chance to be seen and approved of as a potential mate
was too good to miss.
The merchant and trade guilds of Earth were busier than at any time that year. Gowns had to made and
fitted, hair needed to be done and jewels from many worlds had to be polished to show them at their exotic
best. It was bonanza for the global economy that had people blessing their Queen, King and Princess daily.
The crowd in the great hall had worked itself into a fevered pitch by the time the Major Domo finally
appeared. He brought his massive silver staff of state onto the marble floor three times. A hush fell over the
crowd as his baritone voice filled the space. "Her Majesty, Neo-Queen Serenity and His Majesty King
Endymion!"
The crowd parted as if by magic, leaving a wide aisle. Into this came Usagi and Mamoru. Usagi wore an off
the shoulder silk gown of soft silver brocade. The skirt had a gentle bell shape to it and it divided into two
panels to show a pale lavender underskirt. She wore her crown of white gold with a heart in it’s center.
Around her swan like neck were diamonds that seemed to have the faintest hint on lilac to them. Matching
stones bobbed delicately from her ears. The King was magnificent in a simple, elegant tuxedo he’d chosen
for the occasion. He too, wore the crown of Earth. His only jewelry other than his wedding ring, was a
diamond tie tack that matched his wife’s. They processed to the opposite end of the hall where a dais had
been set up for them. With practiced grace Mamoru assisted his wife to her chair. He turned to face the
assemblage momentarily before sitting. Out of the corner of his eye he saw that Rei and Mina had taken
their places at the right and left corners of the dais. A quick glance spotted Ami and Mako at the other end
of the room.
Both Mamoru and Usagi saw what looked like Setsuna moving at the back of the crowd. She was dressed in
a garment similar to the Senshi uniform, but the skirt was floor length and pearl gray. The bow at her
décolletage was black and contained a large opal. Usagi could see that she carried the Timestaff with her,
though it seemed more of an ornament than a weapon. The Queen of Crystal Tokyo smiled to herself,
pleased by what she saw. For all her somber ways, Pluto couldn’t resist showing off her latest design
tonight.
The Major Domo raised the staff and brought it down once more. "Her Highness, Princess Lady Serenity!"
The massive doors swung open and the Crown Princess of Crystal Tokyo moved into the hall with a
measured and graceful step. For the occasion she wore a dress designed by her for her dear Setsuna. It was
gown of burnished gold satin with short, flowing sleeves and a sweetheart neckline. It had an empire waist
that allowed the fabric to fall in soft folds that ended just above her ankles. Around her neck was a strand
of perfectly matched pearls, the symbol of innocence and purity. She also had pearl studs in her ears, about
her hair and a bracelet of the same around her right wrist. For the first time, wore the crown that proclaimed
her Heir to the throne of Earth. No one could see how nervous she was as Small Lady made her way to
where her parents sat. With a graceful curtsey she stopped before them. The Queen and King rose to their
feet and held out a hand to her. As Small Lady went to them, Endymion raised his voice.
"Our daughter, Princess Lady Serenity, has come of age this night. We thank God for his mercy in
preserving her ."
It was the Queen’s turn. "We do proclaim her our one and only Heir. It is our wish that she, and her chosen
husband, rule after us. We invite the Princess to join us now, as we accept the good wishes of those here
tonight."
This was what everyone had been waiting for. The Princess would be allowed to marry for love – love! An
unheard of thing when most great marriages were signed, sealed and contracted before the children were out
of diapers. This was the chance for a lucky prince to catch her eye and they intended to make the most of it.
As Princess Serenity settled herself between her parents, the young men lined up. Presents from all parts of
the galaxy, each more exotic than the last, were presented to her. The beautiful young heir smiled and
thanked each one for the gift.
Usagi and Mamoru were so proud of her. Even though the young girl was frightened, excited and even
bored by turns, she allowed none of it to show on her face. As the last of the gifts were given, the music
started. This was the moment that Mamoru had been dreading. Protocol demanded that he take the first
dance with his daughter, her last dance as a child. After tonight, he thought, his little girl would be gone
forever. Usagi gave his hand a squeeze of encouragement. He rose and bowed before his precious Small
Lady, extending one hand in invitation. Mamoru could feel her trembling as she accepted it. As they
stepped onto the hall floor, Mamoru had a flash of memory. He saw a four year old Small Lady, standing on
his feet begging, "Dance with me Daddy! Dance with me!"
As the music of Strauss filled the air they began to waltz. "I know that you’re just about grown," he said to
her, "But please, just for a moment more, be my Small Lady."
Tears filled her eyes, so like her mothers, as she looked up him. "Oh, Daddy, don’t you know? I’ll always
be your little girl."
<<<<<>>>>>
Pluto smiled. It was an unaccustomed thing for her and she took a moment to enjoy it. Unnoticed by the
guests, she turned and faded away from whence she came.
(
geocities.com/tokyo)