Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon Universal: Shadows of the Moon
Notes:
Disclaimer: I do not own nor claim any rights to the characters or story of Sailor Moon created by Takeuchi Naoko-sensei. Any original characters (OC) introduced, however, are my independent creations; if for any reason you want to use them or collaborate, please contact me.
Rating: I have rated this story as T for teens 13+ for some violence, adult themes (non-explicit), and discussion of some darker themes that may be disturbing for younger readers.
Language notes: At multiple times during the story, you will find special characters and/ or superscripts that relate to notes on the language being used by the characters (found at the bottom of each chapter). This is in place to distinguish both between different languages (e.g., Japanese vs. English), and between different Japanese words and associated kanji that have the same English translation (e.g., "daisuki" vs. "aishiteiru," both being translated as "love," but the former being multi-purpose while the latter is reserved specifically for romantic love).
Character development notes: While I have endeavored to maintain as much of the original nature of all of the characters, obvious artistic license has been taken as all of the characters have aged a minimum of eight years since the battle with Galaxia (here taken to be at the end of 1997) and thus, cannot reasonably be depicted exactly as they were in the anime or manga, upon which this story is founded primarily and secondarily, respectively. One specific note is that in all of my works, Tenoh Haruka/ Sailor Uranus is written as a transgender man (FtM), resulting in (he) and Kaiou Michiru forming a straight union; while this may bother some readers, after 16 years of writing these characters, this is the only reality that makes sense from my perspective. Additionally, I have made the rather common assumption that Hino Rei and Aino Minako are also a couple. You will find a diversity of sexualities and gender expressions and identities in all of my works.
Prologue
"What is Time? Time is what gives us direction and a framework for understanding the interface of objective and subjective realities. We exist within Time, and yet, experience much of ourselves outside of its seemingly linear trajectory. Time passes, we can see the records of it written in decaying isotopes, stratified rock formations and the fossils therein, and in the artifacts of those who came before us. These are objective truths that profess to us that Time has a single direction - forward. But what about our subjective truths? Have you ever felt yourself living in a future that you've not yet created, or in a past that you can no longer touch? The fact is that most of us experience Time in a multi-directional way; it is sometimes moving forward and other times, in reverse, and the pace of it can change so dramatically that from day-to-day, we may feel as if we're laboriously climbing or falling rapidly into its depths. It would seem then that Time is very much a dynamic parameter in our lives, rather than a simple measurement ticking away in the background. And so, it is with this question that I leave you: If the mind is non-corporeal, is it subject to the same limits that would seem to govern the objective way in which the physical world must experience Time?" - Meiou Wakana, Quantum Metaphysics, 29 September 2048
Silver Millennium
The sound of laughter drew the young woman's attention; she watched the Princess of Neptune move effortlessly with the Prince of Uranus. The Lunar Ball was being held to celebrate the coming of age of the Princess of the Moon. Sailor Pluto stood separated from the others, and her pupils dilated as she watched the darkness move in. Her oldest friend, the Prince of Earth, fought valiantly. It wasn't enough. From where she watched at the Gates of Time, her heart sank with the fate that she already knew. In the silence of solitude, no one could witness her sobbing as she watched their lights extinguish. She would wait two thousand years before she again knew love or friendship.
Crystal Tokyo
"Plu, you're my only friend. Promise me we can always be together?" Sailor Pluto smiled down at the young girl who held tightly to her legs. One of her hands passed through her wavy /
"Small Lady, you are the most important person to me." She knelt down, and cupped the child's face, bringing their crimson gazes /
"I swear that I will always come to you if you should need me." The third Princess Serenity smiled brightly, and she immediately latched on to Pluto's /
"I love you!*" Pluto embraced her.
"Small Lady…"
Language notes: The asterisk (*) indicates that here Chibiusa/ Neo-Princess Serenity is saying "大好きです!" or "daisuki desu," which is a way of expressing a high degree of affection but has no romantic connotations.
