"Momma!"

Small Lady Serenity -- more commonly known as Rini -- careened around a crystalline corner, her tiny grey kitten close behind.

"Whoa, hold on there, munchkin," a deeper voice warned. Rini skidded to a halt, and looked up to find herself face to face with two of the outer senshi. The blonde woman smiled and winked down at the little girl.

"Sorry, Uranus," Rini said penitently. "I was looking for my mother..."

"She's in the conference chambers, little one," answered the woman with sea-green hair. "I'm sure she'll listen, if it's important."

"Thanks, Neptune. Tell Saturn I've been looking for her, too, if you get a chance. I'll be right back." With a wave, Rini turned and took off once more, leaving two bewildered outer senshi in her wake. Panting, the kitten struggled to keep up with her mistress.

"Momma?" Rini poked her head into the conference room. Suddenly shy, she bent to scoop Diana up and deposited the mewing kitten on her shoulder.

"Come in, Small Lady," Neo-Queen Serenity smiled. "Pluto tells us you have news?"

"Yes, Mother," Rini answered politely, dropping a curtsy. "I just came from the surveillance room, and Mars asked me to bring you an urgent message."

"Yes?" Endymion, King of Earth, leaned forward in his chair beside Serenity. "Go on, Rini, what is it?"

Rini screwed up her face in concentration, determined to get the message right.

"'Cassie sends her love! The new Empress-Heirs of the Star Empire arrive for ambassador duty tomorrow!'"

Endymion furrow his brow confusedly. "Empress-Heirs? Plural?"

Neo-Queen Serenity laughed. "Well, looks like we have an imperial visit on our hands. Tell Mars we will be glad to greet Empress Cassiopeia, Xander, and the twins tomorrow."

Endymion's eyes went round as Rini scurried off to find Saturn.

"Peter? And Cassie? ...twin daughters!?"