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This is what happens when you start asking yourself questions that are not worth answering. And then speculating about them. Such as, Why do Setsuna, Ayeka, and Sasami all have red eyes? Of course the worst part is when you start thinking things along the lines of Wouldn't it be cool if they were somehow related?

That is the basis of this story. The Tenchi side is based loosely on Tenchi Universe, as it is the only one of the three with both Kiyone (my favorite character!) and animation that doesn't make me feel slightly sick to my stomach. I have no idea who owns Tenchi Universe, but it's not me. Believe me on this one.

Oh, and I don't own Sailormoon either. I bet you're surprised, huh?


A small girl with dark green hair and brilliant red eyes lay on the ground, regardless of how badly she was dirtying her clothes, and watched with fascination as a line of ants exited the small hill and came back, dragging all manner of things. She smiled as she watched two ants in particular, who dragged raisins taken from a box she had left lying open on the ground for just that purpose. She scooted over and leaned against a nearby tree, as she watched the two ants with raisins disappear into the hill. One . . . she counted. Two . . .

In a very short period of time, a legion, a mob of ants came out of the hill and descended upon the hapless box of raisins. She grinned. And people say ants are stupid. Tilted her head. Although . . . if that box had been full of poisoned raisins, it would have been rather stupid to take all the raisins down into the hill. Shrugged. Not that it matters, since they weren't. She grinned up into the tree, which despite the complete lack of wind rustled its leaves, almost as if in reply.

I love this. She sighed, closing her eyes as she leaned against the large tree. I can't think of any place I'd rather be.

And that was when it happened. The hole in the ground opened up and she shrieked once as she fell, before the hole closed up again. A tall woman holding a staff stylized into the shape of a key stepped into the light. Her black hair glinted in the indifferent light and her aquamarine eyes were as hard as the stone they resembled. Finally, I have found my successor. She smiled. A small smile, a hard smile that did not come even close to reaching her eyes. A pity that I had to search so far afield. Such a waste of time.

She stepped over the empty box of raisins, crushing a few of the ants unlucky enough to be in her way. As she raised her staff, she seemed to shimmer for a second or two. And then she was gone.

The tree, whose branches had been whipping wildly when the stranger appeared, fell silent and still. And until the day it died, toppled by a particularly fierce storm, even in the strongest of winds, it never moved again.

* * *

The black-haired woman knelt beside the small green-haired child and nodded grimly. The girl would remember nothing of her life before.

Soon, the small child stirred, opening bewildered garnet eyes. Where am I? And . . . who are you?

She smiled. Why, dear, you're at home. Don't you remember? I'm your mother.

The girl shook her head. I don't remember, not anything! She began to sound frightened. I don't remember who I am! She reached out to the older woman. Please, you say you're my mother. Please tell me who I am.

Quiet, child. The black-haired woman said, with a small smile that did not reach her eyes. Remember, emotions serve no purpose except to disrupt your reasoning processes and give your enemies something to use against you. As for who you are . . . you are my daughter. Your name is Setsuna, and you are the heir to the throne of Pluto. As princess of Pluto, when the time comes you will become Sailor Pluto and the Guardian of the Time Gates, as I have been.

The red-eyed girl blinked. Even though I no longer remember my life before this moment . . . I will become the best Sailor Pluto ever. I will make you proud, Mother. She straightened, and lost her smile. After all, her mother had told her that emotions served no purpose. So, from this day forth, she would have none. This she promised, to herself, in order that she become the best Sailor Pluto ever and make her mother proud of her.

* * *

As she stood by and watched the Silver Millennium fall, Setsuna no longer needed to steel herself against the weakness emotion would bring. Indeed, the Silver Millennium meant nothing to her, except . . . Why don't we stop them, Mother? We have the power to do so.

What have I told you about emotion? The black-haired senshi's glance was sharp and unyielding.

Setsuna shook her head. This is not an emotional objection, Mother. Simply that . . . this is such a waste. Inefficiency that we could easily prevent.

Her mother shook her head. What will be, will be. Although we are given the power to see the future, we are sworn not to attempt to change it. To break that vow would bring ruin, not only upon us, but also upon all the people who depend on us to guard the Gates of Time.

The green-haired girl nodded thoughtfully. It was not an ideal answer . . . but it would do, for now. I understand, Mother.

The senshi of time turned and walked away, and Setsuna followed.

* * *

The green-haired senshi of time looked down on the world, as seasons changed and years flew by, as empires grew and fell, only to be replaced by others equally as petty. Finally, in a time of uneasy almost-peace between the many nations of the Earth, about twenty years before the youma attacks were projected to begin again, she nodded once and whispered the words, It is time.

With great care, she seperated the part of her that was Setsuna from the part that was Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time. Pluto sent Setsuna down to be reborn, and returned to watching over the Gates. When the time came, the two of them would be rejoined as one, and she would become a force in the world once again.

But until then, she had other things to do. And so she turned her back upon herself, and returned to guarding the gates.

* * *

The young woman with long green hair knelt in the mostly empty room and began to unpack. Soon, another poked her head in and blinked. Oh, are you the new assistant?

The young woman nodded. Meiou Setsuna. And bowed slightly.

Oh, I'm Reika. Nishimura Reika. Hey, are you almost done? Want to come out to dinner with me tonight?

Setsuna blinked. Don't touch. Don't feel emotions. They only weaken you. The thought came out of nowhere, but she shoved it aside. And smiled, shyly. No one had ever been this nice to her. Sure, I'd like that.

While Reika quailed slightly at the sight of the eerie red eyes, she also saw immediately the barely hidden loneliness behind them. I'll see you later, then. And she left, with one last friendly wave.

And Setsuna returned to her unpacking with a small smile on her face. A . . . friend, maybe. That would be nice. I've never had a friend, before.

* * *

She watched as the two older girls confronted the younger one, as the taller of the two ripped something off the other girl's chest. Locket holding the Ginzuishou. Gives Sailor Moon the ability to transform. Some part of her mind informed her, coldly. Other two, assumed to be Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. Projected objective: taking the Ginzuishou in order for Sailor Moon to be unable to follow them and interfere. Pause.

Another figure appeared, one that looked just like herself, The Outer Senshi are heading to their doom at the Marine Cathedral, and there is nothing you can do to stop them. Belatedly, she realized that the figure was not speaking to her, but to the other girl. To Tsukino Usagi How did she know that? She didn't understand, but the knowledge was there sometimes Sailor Moon. Who are you? Setsuna asked angrily, after Usagi had left.

I am you. The other replied, and stepped into her. She gasped, as memories of her other self–the endless years guarding the gates–poured into her head. As the other's mind tried to overwhelm hers. Weakling. You have allowed your emotions to take control. Emotions are expendable, a weakness that your enemies can use against you.

No, they're not! Setsuna pushed back the Pluto consciousness with all her might. Emotions are what make us human!

Humanity is a weakness. Pluto-mind replied coldly. We are not human. We are Guardian. We have no need of humanity.

I pity you. Setsuna returned sadly. Emotion is what gives life meaning. Emotion is what gives Sailor Moon her power. She refuses to give up because of her emotions. Because of her love for Tuxedo Kamen, and her friendship with her other senshi. Unknowingly, Setsuna was tapping into the store of knowledge Pluto had gathered in her time at the gates, just watching events pass by. Setsuna gave a greater push as they rippled from normal clothes to sailor fuku and back again. Emotion powers the Ginzuishou and emotion is what makes Sailor Moon the most powerful of the senshi, despite her numerous faults.

Her eyes blazing red, a triumphant smile on her face, Setsuna gave one, final, push. And emotion is what will allow me to beat you! The Time Staff appeared and she switched to the sailor fuku as Setsuna-mind melded with Pluto-mind and came out with Setsuna in control. A bright glow appeared and the Time Staff changed, the top shifting to allow a brilliantly glowing garnet orb to affix itself on the top. The Garnet Orb. Pluto whispered defeatedly. The third holy talisman, proof of the purest of hearts.

* * *

About a year later, Setsuna sat holding baby Hotaru in her lap and grinned. What do you say about emotion now?

You win already. Geez. Pluto-mind sulked. I admit it, emotion does have its good points. *Will* you let up on me already?

Nope. I am going to hold this over your head and gloat at you until Hell freezes over.

*Sigh* Setsuna, you are never going to grow up.

Of course not. That wouldn't be any fun.

Hotaru-chan's so cute. I must admit. Can I hold her for a while?

Sure, why not. Setsuna let her part of their mind slip back, and let Pluto take control for a while. She was usually in control when they were Sailor Pluto, but Sailor Pluto had never had a chance to hold a baby. You are completely corrupted now, my friend.

Yeah. Mother would be absolutely disgusted. Pluto's voice was sad. All I ever wanted was to make her proud of me.

But pride is an emotion, too. And from what we remember, it seems she never felt any. Except, perhaps, mild annoyance when something didn't go the way she expected it to. Switch to a different topic. So we never remembered the first five years of our life? That sucks.

Vague noise of agreement. I used to get flashes in my dreams–of a great tree that I loved. I had two sisters I think. Except, when I told my mother about them, she'd tell me that I'd never had any siblings, that they were mere dreams, nothing more. So I'd forget about them.

I'm rather glad I never met your mother after all. Noise of disgust. She sounds horrible.

Perhaps. I never thought about it. But she was our mother. I loved her, as much as I loved anything.

Hn.

And they sat in silence, each buried within her own thoughts, and rocked the tiny child.

* * *

We're going to die. Setsuna summarized succinctly as they watched their team members accept Galaxia's offer. Oh well. It's been nice knowing you, Pluto. Pause. Even if you were a serious pain at first.

Thank you, my friend. Pluto replied sardonically. Believe me, I feel the same way about you, in spades. More sincerely, I'm going to miss you, you overly emotional, weak little human.

Yeah. Me too, you robot-wannabe nearly emotionless control freak.

Then, two pairs of cold eyes, mindless as well as emotionless. Golden light. As one, a cry of horror, Not Hotaru too! unvoiced but no less passionate even so. Then nothing.

Except a small girl with green hair and red eyes, watching with delight as a line of ants carry away her raisins, under the shade of a huge, beloved tree.

* * *

A young woman–who looked to be in her early twenties or so–with dark green hair and red eyes lay on the ground. The object of her fascinated gaze, a line of ants. With an enigmatic smile, she tipped the small box of raisins over, spilling a few onto the ground nearby.

As the first ant to find a raisin disappeared into the hill, its cargo in tow, a normally sardonic voice began whimsically, One . . . Two . . .

After a very short period of time, a swarm of ants erupted from the hill, descending upon the hapless box of raisins. And some people say ants aren't intelligent.

Well, if the raisins were poisoned, taking them all into the hill would be a singularly stupid thing to do. Pluto pointed out.

But they're not. She frowned thoughtfully. We did this when we were younger, didn't we. Under the shade of a large tree.

During the time we no longer remember? I honestly don't know . . . but I think so. It seems right, somehow. You saw that vision too. A statement, not a question.

Right before we died? Yes. It was rather hard to miss, actually. I wonder what it means?

Long pause, of the comfortable sort between people who know each other well. Then, mental impression of a shrug. Who knows.

* * *

Sailor Pluto leaned against the Time Gates, idly swinging the top of her staff back and forth. You know, if anyone ever saw you like this, they'd faint and cry sacrilege.

At the same time? Besides, the only person who ever sees me like this is you. *And*, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be acting like this in the first place.

And I can hardly go around gossiping about myself'. The people who know would look at me like I was crazy, and the people who don't would demand to know how I found out. Shared laughter.

A small package dropped at their feet. What the–

I didn't know they delivered mail to the Gates of Time. Grin. And it happened again.

Our doubling up? Yeah, I noticed. It's happening a lot more often. They knelt down in front of the package. No return address, no address at all, just the name Sailor Pluto' inscribed in the center in impeccable handwriting.

I'm worried. I mean, I'm happy that we're closer than ever, but I get the feeling . . . oh, it's probably nothing. Pause. When we return home, can you close your eyes' for a little bit? I have something silly I want to try, but I want you to get the full effects of it.

Ah . . . sure. To close her eyes was a euphemism they used for the one not in control to . . . go elsewhere for a while, so that they are unaware of what the one in control of the body is doing. They didn't do it very often, but every once in a while they both needed some down time away from each other.

After all, Setsuna was perhaps the only person with the ability to literally drive herself crazy. Let's look at the package when we're back down there, as well. I don't want to open it in front of the Time Gates if there is anything dangerous inside.

Good point.

* * *

Setsuna wrote the short letter and placed it in their subspace pocket. If what she was afraid would happen, happened, it would be the first thing Pluto found. Then she got down to business on the other reason she had wanted to be alone. Carefully taking down her hair, she put it back up again in a different style. As she had told Pluto, it was silly. And she laughed, almost to the point of crying.

Casting her thoughts deep into her own head and at the same time, somehow . . . away, she brought Pluto back. Neither of them really understood where they went when they their but they had quickly figured out how to reestablish contact. Okay, Pluto. You can look now.

She could feel the other's presence rejoin her. Pluto, using their eyes, looked into the mirror, where a young woman with red eyes stood, her dark green hair up in twin odangos, the style of the royal family of the moon. Pause. Then, eruption. I love it! Pluto cackled through her laughter.

Laughter which set Setsuna off again. For a while, it was all either of them could do to even breathe through their laughter. We look so incredibly silly! Ah, what a stress-reliever. I'm almost tempted to let the others see us like this, just so I could see the looks on their faces. Which hysterical thought set them both off again.

Luckily, they were able to regain control, and redo their hair into its normal style, before the others arrived. So when Haruka and Michiru returned from picking Hotaru up from school, they found their housemate seated at the dining room table, calm and nearly expressionless as usual, a package in front of her.

Who's the package for? Hotaru wanted to know immediately, walking up to look at it.

Setsuna answered literally, then began to open it. Within the wrappings was a small box. And within the box, a note, which read Dear Setsuna/Pluto, Does this bring back any memories? If so, I'm glad to have been of help.' The green-haired woman grinned. I wonder what my future self wants to remind me of.

How do you know it's from her . . . er . . . you? Haruka asked.

Setsuna held up the note. I'm the only one who ever addresses letters to myself with Setsuna/Pluto' instead of just Setsuna' or perhaps Meiou Setsuna'. Shrug. Although I admit it is rather unusual that I sent myself a letter instead of talking with myself face to face.

And underneath the note was a golden necklace, with a small, stylized gold tree. A puzzle. She mused. Most definitely a puzzle, and most interesting as well. She picked it up and almost reverently clasped it around her neck.

So, does it bring back any memories? Michiru asked with a smile at her enigmatic friend.

Setsuna stood. It is the memories that this does not bring back that interest me. She answered. And therein lies the puzzle. She left.

* * *

Pluto sat, leaning against the Gates of Time. A puzzle indeed.

She did not acknowledge her alter ego's statement, as she continued looking at the small golden tree, except by continuing the thought. For to have known to send this, I will have had to have found it and, more importantly, regained the memories that this is supposed to remind me of. She leaned her head back until the crown of her head touched the cool metal of the Gates. Ach, paradoxes always make my head hurt.

Oh, don't be so mean. They're fun. Now all we have to do is find the necklace and send it back. Of course, finding it will be the hard part,

Since we have no idea where to look. They finished together.

Have you ever looked through your mother's stuff? There might be some clue there.

Good idea.

* * *

In a dark room on the planet Pluto, a young-looking woman with glowing red eyes systematically looked through everything in there. There wasn't much. The former owner of the room had lived a Spartan life–there was a bed, a small bathroom, and a small closet in which her few, mostly identical fukus resided. Finally, the young woman sighed in disgust.

Have you checked under the bed? There might be some old skeletons' down there.

Any skeletons she possessed should be in the closet, where they belong. Pluto grumbled. But no, I forgot about checking under the bed.

And under the bed, indeed, turned out to be the correct place to search. They breathed, as they pulled out a small box. Within it was, as they had hoped but not expected, the golden necklace they wore around their neck. And something more–a small outfit, in blue and green and gold, about the size to be expected for a five-year-old. The amazing thing about it was, it was constructed of a fabric neither of them had ever seen. Not on modern-day Earth, and not during the Silver Millennium, and in fact it was far superior to those fabrics.

Even though it must have been millennia old, the fabric was still as bright as the day it had been created. Not a trace of decay, or of the inevitable dimming of colors that comes with time.

* * *

Carefully, with a small smile on her face, Pluto placed the gold necklace in the small box. It was a common box, one that she had bought from a random jewelry store, the name of which she didn't bother to remember. On top of the necklace went the short note. Around the box went the wrapping of a package, and on that package she wrote, in an impeccable hand, the words Sailor Pluto. She should have recognized the calligraphy before–after all, she saw it every time she wrote.

Focusing carefully upon the Gate, she dropped the package in front of her slightly younger self, making sure she waited until after they stopped shaking with silent laughter. Good job. Setsuna grinned in Pluto's head, and she couldn't help but smile in response.

A shadow detached itself silently from the mists surrounding the Time Gates, one that Pluto did not see, but sensed through her long familiarity with the surrounding area. She shifted slightly, bringing her staff up into a steady position from which she could either guard or strike.

A low, humourless laugh echoed through the mists as the intruder strode forward. At last, I thought I had found a successor worthy of the position. But I was wrong again, you succumbed to the negligent temptation of emotion, like the weak human I taught you to suppress within yourself. A contemptuous glance took in the necklace with the gold tree, the only link Pluto now had to a past she could no longer remember.

As the intruder came into the indifferent light, Pluto understood something that it had never even occured to her to question before. This woman with silky black hair and hard aquamarine eyes did not look even slightly similar to her. You're not my mother. A statement, and not one of anguished denial of one who had betrayed her, but a calm statement of an obvious fact.

Of course not. Do you think I would dirty myself in that way? The reply called her again a fool, for even considering such a thing. With something approaching pity in the back of her eyes, Pluto/Setsuna remembered a quiet afternoon with a tiny black-haired child in her lap, and the sense of peace it left with her even now.

What are you here for, then? They kept tight control of her body, resisting the impulse to bring up a hand and grab the gold tree, like a lifeline in this suddenly variable world.

I have come to take back what is mine. You have proven yourself to be of no further use to me, and so I must find myself another successor.

We're going to die. And Pluto/Setsuna knew this cold woman would have no qualms about killing them. I'm sorry. If I had given in and allowed you to take over, you would still be the emotionless drone she wants. It's my fault for corrupting you. Pluto could feel Setsuna on the edge of tears, and she too felt the need to cry, but held it back. They were closer together now than ever before, she could feel it. Every instinct, every thought, the same.

Don't be sorry. If you had not corrupted me, I would never have held Hotaru, or been friends with Haruka and Michiru, or been able to laugh and cry. If you had not corrupted me . . . I might be able to look forward to a longer life, but it wouldn't be a life. It would just be colorless, emotionless, existence. Because emotion is what brings life color.

Pluto looked at the woman that she had once called mother. That woman was more experienced, but she had no doubt that she was stronger. After all, she had emotion on her side. Love, friendship, all those bonds strengthened her the way they had Serenity-hime in her final fight against Beryl. She had the Garnet Orb, as well, and all the power that it possessed, because of Setsuna's pure heart that was also her own.

The woman looked back, cold eyes emotionless. I will not fight you, little girl. You are millennia to young to even be a challenge to me. She flicked her hand and Pluto/Setsuna felt them/herself thrown backwards violently, into and through the Gates of Time.

* * *

In a small park near the center of the Juuban district, a green-haired woman with garnet eyes wearing a black and burgungy sailor fuku landed with a crash. She picked herself up, wincing as her left wrist began hurting and bent in a direction it definitely should *not* have been bending–probably broken–and looked around.

Belatedly noticing the attire she wore, she detransformed into a casual garnet red T-shirt and black jeans, both spotted with the white paint she had been helping to paint their house with earlier that afternoon. Expecting to be relegated to the back of her mind, she smiled and waited.

Slowly the smile faded. Setsuna? This is no time to be closing your eyes'. It's your turn. A more significant wait, in which she actively searched. Setsuna? Setsuna?! Still no answer.

She screamed, a sound full of anguish that echoed through the park, empty in the late afternoon. She collapsed to her knees, sobbing. Setsuna . . .

* * *

In the misty area surrounding the Gates of Time, a woman with black hair and cold aquamarine eyes shifted, to become a younger woman with a softer face–one made for smiles, not frowns–with dark green hair and garnet eyes. She frowned as she remember what her erstwhile successor had been doing, living like that with other people, experiencing emotions, and other such highly disgusting activities. Some changes must be made. She commented.


End Notes: I'm sorry for making Setsuna's evil! *sniff* I didn't want too, but I had to make her (Setsuna, that is) Sailor Pluto somehow! So, let me know what you think about my latest little . . . idea. Any comments and suggestions are welcome . . . hey, I might even use them!