Cat-Alin does not gain any profit by writing or publishing this story.
All characters are owned by Naoko Takeuchi and TOEI Animation.
A new story, this time Sailor Moon based - the first one I ever actually wrote!
Originally, I just wanted to draw a few Chibimoon pictures of her grown up,
then made some ChibiusaxHelios pictures and in the far end of my mind,
a plot formed around one thing .. and I ended up making a 'season'.
But, I don't have everything planned out yet. And since I want to give my
share of love to the ChibiusaxHelios section, you'll get the original idea
out of my head. Some things may vary in later versions, though.
The story in it's entire glory will most likely be also drawn!
"Say that again."
The girl, who had spoken, stood in ruins made of white stone. At her feet were
the last remains of the broken crystal bell she had held onto for so many years.
Broken, it's glittering shards had distracted her for a moment. All she had been
able to do was to stare at the remains, replaying in her mind how she had
obtained the bell. It had been her last connection to her beloved priest.
Her team of soldiers stood behind her, ready to strike if needed, but waited,
perhaps their leader would give them a signal .. but it didn't seem likely as she
stood transfixed and stared at her opponent.
"The Elysian Priest, Helios, is dead."
The girl flinched again, as she had when it was first said, and tried to keep
herself composed. What sort of soldier would let herself get upset over words?
There was no reason for her to believe it - granted, ever since Nehelenia's defeat
she had heard nothing of him. But they had promised to meet each other again.
She knew Helios. He wasn't one to break promises. He would meet her again,
wether it was in reality or a dream. Like the way they had met the first time.
"The priest is dead. And I was the one to kill him." the voice was intoxicating,
despite not wanting to hear it, the girl listened. She listened, envisioning everything.
The surroundings - the lake with the shrine on a little island in the middle, the priest,
every little detail played in her mind as she heard the words spoken by the foul one.
"Stabbed - right through the heart. I watched his body arch back from the blow,
the light leaving his eyes as he fell towards the ground-"
"Shut up!" the girl screams, her voice torn with sadness, and slipped towards the ground.
Her legs weren't able to support her any longer. "Helios ..!"
Her team stepped closer to her, trying to console her.
A golden glint travelled suddenly through the air and before they realized it, a golden needle
was stuck in the grieving girl's chest. As suddenly as it had appeared, it dispersed and left
no trace of it's existence. The girl's eyes grew dark, then they closed and she fainted.
"Sailor Moon ..!" her team gasped and supported her.
The red-haired companion picked the girl up, while the others were checking for any injury.
There was none and they sighed in relief when the girl opened her eyes again.
Something was wrong - her eyes, instead of their bright ruby color, resembled garnets
and seemed to see nothing and look through everything. "Helios .." she muttered calmly.
Her companions grew worried and, after the red-head picked the girl up, they left the ruins,
returning to the Crystal Palace, hoping for an answer there.
A soft ground .. and a gentle breeze.
Chibiusa slowly opened her eyes - she felt horribly tired and yet fully awake.
Above her, a weeping willow's veil of leaves danced in a light breeze, revealing a soft blue
and pink strewn sky.
She sat up and held her head, it pounded hard and made her feel dizzy at first.
Looking around, she realized that she was sitting in dark green grass with little specks of
white and pink telling of blossoming flowers. Around her was a huge lake of azure color,
it stretched as far as she could see and even longer. Leaning over to get up,
Chibiusa saw her reflection in the water and gasped for a moment.
She wasn't her usual, adolescent form - she had returned to the way she had looked
when she was in the 20th century. Still wearing her soldier uniform, she had reverted
back to the height she had been back then. Her hair was back to being short and
in two big puffs.
"Maiden"
Chibiusa started and hardly dared to look up. That deep, calm voice that enchanted her
whenever she heard it. That had spoken to her every night in her dreams back then.
She saw his reflection before she got the courage to look up. There he stood on the lake.
His silver hair hanging carelessly over one eye, the eyes themselves piercing her
with their golden gleam and the red jewel on his forehead barely visible.
"Come to me, my maiden .." he said and stretched out his hand.
Like pulled from an invisible wire, Chibiusa stood up and, blinded from unshed tears,
she dashed out onto the water without a second thought. The moment her foot made
contact with the wet surface, she glowed for a second and was dressed in a long ballgown.
Stumbling a bit from the sudden weight, Helios held her hands to stabilize her, and Chibiusa
looked at the gown. It was in a similar design to the dress she had worn as a princess,
but it was a soft yellow color and the skirt had only two layers.
Helios squeezed her hands slightly and smiled when Chibiusa looked up at him, a faint blush
on her cheeks. Her ruby eyes still glistened, but her lips stretched to a beautiful smile.
"Helios .."
"Let us dance, maiden .." Helios said and a soft tune began, so soft that it seemed it
didn't exist, it seemed to be one with the air. Chibiusa nodded softly while she moved this
and that way, following Helios' lead. Enjoying the occasional twirls she made and
feeling the warmth when her arm lay upon his, holding her waist. Finally, she rested
her head against his chest, continuing to dance with her very own Prince Charming.
"King!"
The four girls, now no longer transformed, bowed with slight surprise to their king.
How he had found out about the trouble so soon was a mystery to them, as they themselves
had just arrived in the princess' chambers. The princess lay in her bed now, untransformed
and dressed in a gown, her long candyfloss colored hair spreading out over the ivory sheets.
"What has happened?" asked the king in a worried voice, the one who never lost his head.
"We're not quite sure ourselves, Endymion-sama." said the girl who had yellow flowers strewn
through her pink ringlets. "She fainted, but it seemed like she regained consciousness again."
"If that's so, why isn't she responding?"
"Pallas is worried!" the blue haired girl sighed and looked at the seemingly sleeping princess,
who still had those deep set eyes. Though she had them mostly closed now, there was a slight
smile tugging at her lips. "Helios .." she sighed slowly again, the only thing she said now.
"Helios? Ceres, what happened?" Endymion asked, worried what his daughter was going through.
"Well .."
"We're not sure, your Highness. She got into this state after a needle hit her .."
"A needle?" Endymion pondered, wondering how a little thing like that could cause such a condition.
A general sigh went through the round, all sat down from exhaustion. It seemed grim for the kingdom.
Not only was their Queen taken hostage, but the heir to the throne was in no fit condition to fulfill
her duties as the princess or a soldier - nobody from the kingdom knew this, of course, but without
further action, they weren't sure what to do.
She knew now where she was. Elysion.
Just after their defeat against Nehelenia - Chibiusa had found the unconscious, presumed dead, Helios
and with her Pink Moon Crystal showing itself, she had managed to revive him. That momentary bliss
was where she was stuck now. After the defeat, but before Helios had used his Pegasus to bring
all of the soldiers back to their surface.
Caught.
In that one moment of peace.
Forever.
Chibiusa smiled to herself as she leaned against the willow's trunk, her skirt pulled up a bit as her feet
dangled slightly in the cool lake. The breeze had stopped, the atmosphere seemed to get warmer
and she looked down at the priest. He was lying next to her, his head in her lap. Helios had closed his eyes,
his mimic of peaceful sleep and his lips slightly parted.
Carefully, Chibiusa wiped a few strands of loose hair and couldn't help but think how happy he looked
in his sleep. Both knew, though, that he wasn't sleeping. A treacherous smile tugged at his lips,
he enjoyed her gentle touch and so did she. Both merely enjoyed the company of the other,
not wanting anything to disturb it.
To go on like this.
Chibiusa bent down slightly, kissed Helios' forehead and felt sudden tears springing into her eyes.
Up to now, she hadn't realized how much she had missed him. Since Nehelenia's defeat and her return
to her own time, she hadn't heard from him. Anything at all. Every day and night, she had hoped to see him
in her dreams, looking for a sign that it hadn't been just a dream, after all.
Yes, she had dreamt a few times of being in Elysion again, but those were mere dreams. She could tell.
It hadn't felt right, it didn't seem like the time she had spent with Helios in the actual Elysion.
Flying by his side through the night sky when he turned into a Pegasus.
Now, though, she realized how lonely she had been without him - like a part of her that was missing
and it was being returned now. Just sitting there, Helios close by, hearing is steady breathing and his warmth
against her, she could feel her heartbeat calming itself. And with every beat, it felt like her heart was being
healed after so many years of pain having torn it apart.
"..chan"
Chibiusa flinched and strained her ears. Just now, she had heard someone. Or something.
Helios, who had noticed it, looked at her with his deep set golden eyes.
"Maiden? What's wrong?" he asked her.
"Ah, m-mm." she shook her head slightly. "It's nothing."
Helios smiled at her, his hand caressing her cheek and pulled her head a bit down, letting their lips meet.
Chibiusa slowly closed her eyes, reciprocating the kiss.
With anticipation in the air, Endymion entered Elysion with Vesta, Ceres and Pallas.
The lake around them glittered with the reflection of crystals poking through the water's surface
and the pink-blue sky seemed like eternal sunrise. The four of them were walking towards the shrine,
their gaze turning to both sides to see if they might find the princess' soul or consciousness here.
There was nothing to see, though, except the water and, in a short distance, the shrine made of ivory.
"I hope Helios-sama can help us .." Ceres muttered.
She had told of hearing of Helios' death, but the king immediately said that it would be impossible.
Had Helios died, he would've noticed something - their symmbiotic connection would've alerted him.
Their thoughts then strayed to asking Helios if he knew what was going with the princess and
if he knew a way to help - at the same time, they thought that the princess might be caught in a dream.
And perhaps they'd be able to see her, however faintly, in the dreamworld that was Elysion.
"Pardon, King, but you mustn't continue."
The two shrine maidens stepped into their way.
"I must speak with Helios, it's urgent." Endymion said, though, not about to let himself get stopped
so easily. Not if his daughter's health might be at risk. "Serenity is-"
"We know of her condition, King." said the left maiden, nodding solemnly.
"Helios-sama noticed it himself and has since then been praying." the other said, motioning with her gaze
to the top of the shrine's stairs, where a white figure was kneeling.
Endymion and the three girls were quiet, thinking that their rushed journey seemed moot now.
Obviously, the priest of dreams already knew something was wrong and was doing all he can,
while they couldn't think of anything, except waiting for something to happen.
At the shrine's alter, Helios was kneeling on the ground and his hands folded in prayer.
A while ago, someone's deep slumber had confused him - usually, nobody slept so deeply.
How it had surprised him when he realized that it was his maiden!
Worried, he couldn't help but wonder what she was dreaming of .. and before he really
saw her dream clearly, a feeling of longing had hit him.
Like a fist that clenched his heart, the sensation had made him faint.
He hadn't realized just how much his maiden had missed him over the years.
While he had longed and wished to meet her again, when he felt her longing for him,
it seemed to pale in comparison. He had thought of keeping his distance for while.
Re-appearing just as she returned to her own time didn't seem right - he wanted to wait,
wait a bit so she could readjust to her normal life. To finish her training as a soldier.
And after that, he realized what a beautiful lady she had become - she seemed even prettier
than the vision he had of her all those years back .. surely, she had many admirers to court her
and would soon forget about the priest.
"Chibiusa-chan .." he muttered softly.
Helios shook his head violently and tried to concentrate on his maiden's dream,
trying to reach out to her, to get her to wake up. The dream was merely a dream, after all.
And again, visions of the dream appeared in his mind, his dream-self and his dear maiden
dancing across the lake .. Helios couldn't help but gaze lovingly at her face, the way her
ruby eyes seemed to sparkle like they wanted to rival the lake. Her lips parted in a wonderful smile.
That longing feeling hit him again and Helios tried to concentrate - he had to wake her up!
He had to.
Even if it meant to take that smile away from her ..
Her skirt swishing out, dancing with her, Chibiusa moved deftly over the lake.
The water felt like smooth silk on her bare toes and turning around once again,
she saw Helios quietly watching her from the willow.
Seeing him like that, sitting on the grass and watching her, the willow leaves blowing in a breeze
and his silver hair, the white clothes .. it made a startling contrast to the sky which started to turn pinker.
Blushing slightly from his gaze, Chibiusa began to dash lightly back towards him and, when she reached him,
leapt into his arms, falling onto the soft ground with him.
"Maiden?" Helios asked, surprised over her sudden action.
Chibiusa shook her head, nuzzling her face deeper into his shirt, drinking in his scent.
She couldn't tell him her thoughts - how his light figure seemed like a ghost and
how she had thought he might be disappearing again.
"Chibiusa-chan .."
"Mh?"
Helios' hand on her back tugged her a bit closer. "What?"
"Mh, nothing." she muttered into his shirt. "I thought I heard something."
The sunlight nuzzled her and Helios' warmth made her feel as comfortable as she hadn't been for a while,
Chibiusa started to feel a bit sleepy. She felt herself starting to drift off, but held an iron grip on Helios,
to make sure he wouldn't disappear suddenly.
Juno walked in impatient circles around the princess' room.
It irked her that there was nothing to do, except watch her mistress sleep soundly on her bed.
She hadn't moved the entire time, her hands still folded together over her chest. Only her head
had cocked to the right once, but otherwise nothing had been going on.
Just as Juno wondered how long her companions and the king had been gone,
they entered the room again with expectant glances to the princess, than herself.
She shook her head, giving them an answer.
"Well, Helios can't help." Vesta said and sat down with a sigh.
"That's not quite it." Ceres argued. "He's trying to reach the princess in her sleep, but as to how
well it's working .. or if, at all .."
Juno pondered for a while. "Does he know why she's like this?"
"He was busy!" Pallas answered. "And the maidens told us that the princess seems to be reeeaaally asleep!"
".. That's all?" the green haired girl sighed, knowing how bad Pallas was at details.
Knowing nothing new, they resumed their duty of watching and waiting.
Time passed slowly and despite the princess mumbling "Helios" a few times,
she remained quiet otherwise and the longer she stayed like this, the less hope they had left.
The sky darkened and nothing changed, even when they saw glimmers of the sunrise approaching.
Their hope almost extinguished, Endymion got up and opened the door of the slightly illuminated room,
then stopped.
Something made him turn around and he stared, just like the four girls, when Helios suddenly appeared,
his light clothes seemed transparent in the gleam of the rising sun and he looked like a ghost,
but he wasn't. It was Helios himself and no illusion.
Having no eyes for anyone but the princess, he approached her bed and kneeled beside it,
grasping one of her hands between his. His deep voice cracked with something that was, without doubt,
desperation, "Chibiusa-chan, please ..!"
Helios held her hand tightly between his, almost whispering into it while repeating her name,
continuing his prayer to her through direct contact.
Chibiusa opened her eyes and noticed that she was in a different place of Elysion now.
The little island with the willow was a good hike downwards, in the middle of the lake,
and she sat on top of one of the many green hills, seeing the panorama of the lake,
the crystals rising from it and across the wide pink horizon.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Helios asked her and she realized she had been sitting between his legs,
leaning against him as a substitute pillow and her hand still gripping his shirt.
Chibiusa nodded and got up, walking around the hill a bit to see the entire view.
"Chibiusa-chan ..!"
Flinching, she stopped in her tracks and held her head, it was pounding again.
"Maiden? Are you alright?" Worried, Helios was about to get up but Chibiusa turned towards him
and shook her head with a smile. "I'm fine."
Watching the scenery, she tried to calm down. The headache subsided soon enough
and she inhaled deeply when a breeze carried the scent of flowers towards her.
Looking back at Helios she saw that he had been watching her, there was still some worry in
his eyes, and he held his hand towards her, inviting her to him again.
Chibiusa smiled and took his hand.
"Please ..! Chibiusa-chan .."
Helios saw her flinch again, her eyes opened wide in shock. She looked right through him
at something that seemed to frighten her, she shivered like crazy and didn't dare to move for a while.
"Maiden?" He carefully reached out and caressed her cheek.
Chibiusa's gaze focused back on him and she hung her head slightly, her free hand holding his against her cheek.
"No .." she said quietly, her voice shaking as much as her body did.
Before he could ask what she meant, she threw herself against him and wrapped her arms around his back,
like she never wanted to let go.
"Maiden, wh-" Helios couldn't finish his sentence as Chibiusa kissed him with a surprising amount of force
and as the kiss broke, he saw her eyes glisten with tears.
"Chibiusa-chan, wake up ..!"
"No!" Chibiusa looked directly into Helios' eyes and saw herself reflected in them, her tears finally streaming
down her face, as she almost crawled onto his lap, desperately trying to prolong any form of connectiong with him.
"I'd rather live in a dream, than return to a world you aren't in!"
Serenity woke with a start and grabbed her pillow, which was damp with her tears.
She was ready to lash out at the one that had woken up from her beautiful dream
and turned - then stopped suddenly.
Happy faces of her companions and that of her father were unimportant and ignored,
her gaze firmly focused onto the golden eyes of the silver haired man, kneeling next to her bed.
Letting go of her pillow, she started to reach out for him and hesitated.
Scared to find out that this was also a dream and that she couldn't touch him,
but would wake up again and not find him anywhere.
Almost like a confirmation that it wasn't so, Helios took hold of her hand and kissed it lightly.
"Welcome back, beloved maiden." he said gently.
Too shocked to say anything, she bit her lips to keep herself from crying anymore.
Helios stood up and, with a bow to her, he turned and was about to leave,
but he felt something stop him and saw the princess' hands holding his arm.
She kept her face pressed against his arm, not showing her expression, but her shaking shoulders
told the tale and her grip wouldn't loosen.
"Chibiusa .." Helios smiled a little and sat down onto the bed's edge.
Now knowing that the princess was out of any sort of danger, the four girls and the king left the room,
trying to be as quiet as possible and closed the door softly.
Helios freed his arm and embraced the princess, holding her close. She still tried to maintain her
composure and keep herself from crying, but failed to do so and slowly all her feelings came out.
Her shock and grief, how she realized that she had been happier in her dream - yet also the
happiness of knowing that Helios was alright and with her at that moment.
Slowly, she calmed down and both were quiet.
Helios' hand travelled through her hair, playing with a few loose strands.
"You've grown into a beautiful lady."
"You're mean .." she whispered.
Helios didn't say anything, merely continued to play with her hair and a comforting arm around her.
"You left me alone for so long." she said, shaking her head slightly at her disbelief and disgusted with
herself, as these weren't the words she really wanted to say. "And now you wake me up from the
dream I've hoped for .. for so long .."
"I'm sorry." he said with a chuckle in his voice, holding her closer. "I was insecure, I guess. I've watched you
turn into a lady, your dream being fulfilled. I thought you'd marry a prince and forget an old promise."
"What are you saying?" she asked and leaned her head back to look into his eyes. "You're my only .."
Despite the tearstreaks on her face, Helios saw the most beautiful lady in the world and leaned down
to kiss his maiden, after waiting so many years for her.
A way down the crystal hallway outside of the princess' room, the four girls were standing with the king,
talking about how the princess was doing much better now.
"Once the princess has recovered, we can continue the search for her Highness." Ceres said with a happy clap.
"True, but where could she be hidden?" Vesta said and a discussion started, stating every possible place the
Queen might have been taken to.
Time was making a fool out of them as it passed faster than they had expected and the sun was standing
straight up in the sky, when at the far end of the hallway, the door opened. The princess rushed through it,
holding Helios' hand and pulling him along.
"Sorry to keep you waiting!" she called out and stopped when she was close to the group. Both she and Helios
looked rather flustered and with flushed cheeks, gasping for breath. "I'm really .. very sorry for having made
everyone worry about me. I'm sorry."
The group smiled at her, giving her encouraging pats on the back.
"As long as we can count on Sailor Moon to fight well, it doesn't matter." Juno said with a grin and,
when the princess nodded, the four girls dashed ahead and Serenity was about to follow.
"When you return, I won't be here anymore." Helios said and she turned towards him. "I will have returned
to Elysion, as it is my duty."
She studied him for a moment with what seemed like surprise and then stepped towards him, giving him
a short kiss on the lips before turning around to leave again.
"You'd better visit me in my dream or I'll have to return to Elysion and force you to do so!" she said,
a bright smile and laughter, running to catch up with the other girls.
Helios nodded and watched his maiden grow fainter, her laughter still ringing in his ears.
Please ignore the first paragraph. The story doesn't get important until Chibiusa is inside Elysion.
I hope you enjoyed this story/chapter - I basically stayed up all night twice in a row to finish it.
Originally, the chapter would continue on with the fight against the previous enemy and
Chibiusa gaining a new power. However, since this wouldn't really have anything to do with the
story/chapter anymore, it will remain with it's ending here until I've drawn everything.
If you are curious what song might play during the dance, it's the first two minutes of the Pas de Deux from the Nutcracker.