Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Deity
The Origin of the Sun Child
Act 01: In the Prayer Room Shines a Star; The Sun's Destiny Changes
It was a luminous room, spacious with walls of glass and a floor of crystal, reflecting the silver yellow lights of the high-placed lanterns. There were no windows and a single door as tall as a well-grown tree and was intricately designed with what appeared to be pictorials of life, evolving around the sleeping, night skies, and falling stars to the earth. At the very center of the room was a translucent mirror, clasped from the ground up by twisted pillars of marble.
A young girl stood in front of it. Left alone to stare at her milky reflection, the white-haired adolescent gazed into her crimson red eyes, reflecting brightly as the golden yellow crescent moon began to shimmer and glow. The white orbs surrounding began to glow from the reflected light as a warm skinned hand raised, to touch a slightly lighter hand. The touch sent a ripple to flutter gently before she silently traced against the mirror, causing the ripples to return in multiple folds.
She brushed back her bangs, flitting around her eyes. The hair was piled high into metallic canary yellow rimmed rabbit ear-shaped ornaments with red diamonds edged into the mold, one on each side. Falling from each fell down more of her hair, separating and falling in soft waves to her hips. A single strand fell down by her ears, to end just past her chest.
Of which one she was twisting worriedly in her left hand, wrapping tighter and tighter around her forefinger.
Her gusty sigh sent the ripples to start again but something different happened. The ripples began to light, spreading until the mirror was pure white. When is began to lessen, a figure was seen that wasn't the child. The eyes were whitened out, the features barely distinguishable and what could be considered hair could've just been as easily the still rippling flow of light. The only part moderately visible was the pale orange star, an eight-pointed emblem upon the forehead.
'So long have I waited..' The breathless voice drifted around the girl, soft and gentle. It sounded insubstantial. 'Of the one who I knew would answer..'
The girl's eyes had widened till there were more white than irises visible. She had paled and looked behind her with a panicked gaze.
'Princess Selenity of Crystal Elysion Citadel, the one made of the dreams of Elysion's energy. Danger looms as a fracture will start and all that is known will be lost. In order to protect, the Goddess must be purged. Only by the Sun will truth be revealed.'
"Danger.." Princess Selenity's voice was weak, a usually bright and warm throaty speech. "What danger?" The panic blossomed into growing terror.
'The past..' The voice grew more airy, wisping around her as the tightness of terror lessened. She felt soothed and cradled against a gentle light. 'Only you can serve this destiny, the blood of Purity and Light to put an end to the Black Flames of the Ill-fated Deity. You must go or else all that you know, that you are and be will be erased.'
"My life is in danger, that's the problem?" Her hands spread against the glass, the touch cool. "But I can't go back, it's impossible not to mention taboo!"
'Then all that is will be none,' the voice was fading, the light dulling as the edges blackened. 'All that one can do is all that one has reached. It is up to you now, Sun Child.'
'Before...' The voice began to break, words spreading distantly as if one-worded lines. 'Flames… Reach… Sun… White…. Smolders… Resurrection.' The last was nearly inaudible as the black consumed the very center of the mirror, swirling until all that was left was merely a blacken glaze. It dimmed the light in the room by degrees, the air chilling.
She continued to stare with an ashen complexion. She realized heavily that she could no longer see herself. It sent trepidation and a forewarning of the danger spoken of.
--
The palace existed perfectly in the center, a replica of the Crystal Palace. The townspeople lived in strong buildings and well-paved roads that led in and out of the areas but eventually the town spanned out into the rural society and finally into the wilderness of Elysion, where dreams spread as far as the light carried.
The continued line of the Royal Family ruled with a gentle grasp and swift direction. Sire Helios stood outside the Prayer Room, watching his feet as he paced slowly. His wife and Queen, Lady Serenity stared intently at the door.
"What do you think, Maiden?" He asked softly.
"I don't know. She's been in there for so long."
"Sometimes nothing happens," He spoke soothingly. "My Maiden, she will be all right."
And yet, he turned to pace back to his path, his eyebrows furrowed slightly.
"I keep thinking.." Lady Serenity's voice was soft. "I keep trying to remember something that is just out of my memory. As if something had happened and yet is so foggy that it may have been merely a dream. It's important for me to remember, I can tell that from the intensity of my emotions but anytime I grasp, the dream turns to wisp and I'm left feeling blank."
The door was heard as a protesting squeak echoed in the long hallway. Princess Selenity peeked out and let out her breath of relief upon the sight of her parents.
"Well?" Lady Serenity asked worriedly.
She exited carefully, gently closing the door. It still clicked shut soundly, the sound drifting down the ends of the hallway. She squared her shoulders to turn toward to her parents.
"I saw… something," She said after a moment to gather her voice.
"Was it good? Bad? Nonsense?" Lady Serenity asked in quick succession.
"It's two out of three…" Princess Selenity shifted, playing with her gown. She was afraid to look up.
"Selenity.." Her father's voice made her chin go up slowly. He stood in front of her as he smiled warmly. "It'll be all right," His hand ruffled through her bangs familiarly, the smile warming her resolve.
"It was a person but all I saw was a eight-pointed star. It was kind of orangey and it told me that if I don't go to the past, I won't exist anymore."
It took a moment to digest that notion. "What kind of prophecy is that?" Her mother's shrill startled both her child and husband. "How vague is that?"
"Selenity, you cannot go to the past, it would be dangerous," Helios began but saw something shift in her daughter's eyes.
"If you loved me, you'd do this for me. I don't want you to be heartbroken," Selenity touched her mother's arm. "Remember that you did the same thing?"
"Yes, but.." Lady Serenity sighed tiredly. "Perhaps a night to think about it?"
"Or we could ask Sailor Pluto," Helios pointed out. He gave a charming smile at the glare given to him by his wife. "Love, try not to despair. If she is still here, then something must go right."
--
The Timedoor existed in a hallway that to most others was a maze. To the Royal Family, it was an accessible location. It was closed for the moment as Helios opened it for the others. "Ladies first," he said politely.
The Time Corridor was still as misty and fog-filled. There was an absolute silence, that lingered even when others entered. It took a moment for the Solitary Guardian to appear.
"Ah, it must be time," Sailor Pluto said genially. She smiled warmly at Selenity. "You're growing so beautifully." The ageless soldier looked very much the same as when first revealed herself to the past senshi so many millennia ago.
"Time? Time for what?" Lady Serenity looked up at her good friend. "Puu?"
"I recently discovered a stitch in time. A small hole that is slowly warping and growing. If not dealt with, what you know of Selenity will have either changed or disappeared. I've tried to enter it to go back to when it began to change but I have been refused access. Time has let me know that only Selenity can go through."
"Remember how difficult it was for me? Imagine what it would be like for her!" Lady Serenity could barely control her motherly instinct. She needed to protect her child.
"Chibiusa." The voice came out firmly as Pluto moved closer, her gaze strong and unblinking. "She would fade from existence."
Lady Serenity's lips moved, her face turning paler by the moment before her eyes closed partially, the glimmer of tears reflected. "All right," She said resignedly.
"Should I bring things?" Selenity began to ask.
"No," Pluto interrupted. "All that you need is there," A chocolate-hued finger touched the red, faceted crystal attached to the small beaded chained necklace. Rimmed in a canary yellow metal band, it looked like a miniature version of a brooch. She reached to her belt of keys, pulling one key off. "Take this and head forward."
"Now?" Her voice squeaked out, the worry warring on her face. "I.."
A hand wrapped gently around her forearm as her father led her farther from them. Lady Serenity looked as she were about to protest but she closed her mouth in the end and followed. "We will wait anxiously for your return, my Little Maiden. Remember your lessons and stay strong. There are allies in the past that will help if you ask."
"And be sure to be good, well-behaved. Try not to follow my example," Lady Serenity added hurriedly. "I am nice, believe me."
Before Selenity could ask, she was being pushed away. She took the hint and began to walk away. The urge to look behind her was strong but she, once again, squared her shoulders and walked with a solid stride.
The door appeared in front of her as she stared up at it. She took a deep breath and opened the door. Falling from the skies wasn't what she had in mind.
She could barely scream from the shock of falling. She only prayed that the impact wouldn't kill her, just mar her. Landing on a warm body, she felt a sense of relief.
"Mamoru!" A panicked screech made Selenity wince. She shoved off the body and saw a familiar face.
"You…" She stood up on wobbly legs and turned to face an enraged future grandmother.
"You!" A finger jutted under her nose. "Where did you come from? Who are you? And if you say you're Usagi, I'll let you have it on principle!"
"My.. My name is Mashiruko."
Usagi let out a relieved sigh. "Oh, thank you!"
Selenity or also named, Mashiruko shifted on her feet. She had barely the bare bones of the situation she had to somehow solve. She didn't even know where to start. Until a raven-haired woman flashed in her mind's eye, a soldier clad in red and violet. "Can I see Rei-sama?" Mashiruko asked hopefully.
"How do you know Rei?" Usagi's eyebrows shot up. "Are you her child?"
Mashiruko was distracted by the fact that her outfit had changed. Dressed in a billowy pale yellow summer dress, with white sandals and tied double straps around her shoulders, it matched at least her 'odango' ornaments. "I'm sorry, what?" She asked after a prolonged moment of silence.
Usagi looked at Mamoru. Seeing no help there, she shrugged. "All right." She was utterly convinced that this Mashiruko child was Rei's, though there was a familiarity that nagged at her. It took only a few moments to get to Rei's.
And it only took Rei one glance to say firmly, "She's not mine."
"Well, then, whose is she?" Usagi demanded.
"Rei-sama, I don't mean to be rude but could you do a reading for me?" Mashiruko asked politely. If she were nice enough, maybe they wouldn't ask questions until she had more information herself.
Rei crossed her arms. "Tell us who you are. Last time someone fell from the skies, we were nearly destroyed! I can't take any more 'aliens'!"
"I thought you didn't believe in UFOs?" Usagi asked.
"Usa," Mamoru said pointedly. Mashiruko shifted nervously.
"My name is Tsukino Mashiruko."
"Oh dear God," Rei muttered. "Another one?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Usagi whipped around. "REI!"
"It's not what you think. Please, in order to ask for your help, I have to learn more."
Rei seemed to pause for a moment, her face unreadable before it cleared. "All right."
Placed in front of the Sacred Fire, she began to pray. It didn't take long for something to flicker. It was a flame of white that began to flicker into black. It swirled before the white began to be consumed by the black, the feeling of darkness and nightmares filling Rei's senses. She could almost see a figure, in the long distance that divided into two, one of darkness and another of light before the light was suddenly distinguished. Her ESP told her that light had been Mashiruko.
"You've come back to save yourself," Rei told the girl bluntly. "I couldn't see who but it involved flames."
"Black flames?" At Rei's nod, Mashiruko sighed. "That's all I know. It's a Deity, an Goddess I would guess but is that real?"
Rei shrugged. "Tell us who you are. Depending on who you are, it'll be easier to answer your questions."
She coughed weakly. "My name is Tsukino Maiden Selenity Mashiruko."
Usagi was red, looking at Mamoru. Rei was staring at Mashiruko thoughtfully before she rolled her eyes at Usagi.
"I don't think she's yours, either. You're related to someone else," Rei said slowly.
Usagi crossed her arms. "Oh yeah? If you know the answers, who's she related to?"
"Usagi-baka!" A childish version of her mother's voice echoed in the building from outside. "You ditched me again!"
Chibiusa stomped in. Mashiruko stopped her movement but had taken several steps toward her future mother.
"Chibiusa?" Rei breathed. "She's your…."
"NO!" Mashiruko looked imploring at the raven haired. Rei swallowed the end of her sentence, her eyebrows still raised high.
"Who is this?" Chibiusa asked Usagi.
"Mashiruko," Chibiusa's future daughter intervened hurriedly. "Tsukino Mashiruko. I'm a distant relation."
Chibiusa's eyes widened. "So that's the surprise!" She grinned at Usagi. "I didn't know the family was expecting company."
"Oh, no, I'm just passing through," Mashiruko could hear the lie in her voice. Her face was pale and despite all attempts to clear it of emotion, the guilty puppy eyes wouldn't wipe off.
"You're lying," Chibiusa said flatly, staring hard at the older girl. "About something. I recognize that look from Usagi's mishaps."
"Well.. Uh.. I'm sure that.. Grandma.. I mean! Usagi! Usagi.."
"GRANDMA!?" Usagi's cry startled the poor girl. "I'm your GRANDMA?!"
"How is that possible?" Chibiusa demanded. "You'd have to be related to me and.."
It clicked instantly. "That means that… oh WOW…"
"Please try to understand," Mashiruko began to inch around the group. Usagi was still stunned as Chibiusa stared at her. "I have something important to fulfill."
"Usagi! Rei!" A set of voices echoed. "There's a youma attacking downtown!"
"What?" Usagi broke free of her trance. "What is it?"
"I don't know but we better hurry!" Minako had entered. "I have Ami with me but Makoto went ahead."
Usagi turned on impulse and frowned. "Where is Mashiruko?"
And high in the skies, Mashiruko was flying with the wings of a Pegasus.