Trista always had been a little different from the other scouts. She was the most distant and most mysterious. She preferred to keep it that way. It was better to distance herself than to get close to someone. If something happened to that person she cared about, she would never forgive herself.
She could not help but care so much about the other scouts, though, especially Princess Serena. They had been through so much it was difficult to leave them and eventually go to guard the time-gate again. That time was coming soon, though, when she would have to say good-bye…
Meanwhile, Trista needed to concentrate on getting Hotaru to school. Hotaru's reawakening by Galaxia's arrival had not completely worn off. She was old enough to be in high school now. The placement tests affirmed her intelligence, so there was little trouble in transferring her. Now Hotaru was off to meet new classmates, including the other scouts. Serena will certainly show her around, thought Trista reflectively. "Hotaru! Come on, you'll be like Serena and be late on your very first day!"
"Coming, Trista." The little scout stepped out of her room in her new high school uniform. "Do I look okay?"
"You look perfect, as always. Now let's go—I need to drop you off. Amara and Michelle left early to run some errands."
The ride to the school was uneventful. Trista thought heavily as she dropped Hotaru off at school. Hotaru had not become a little girl again since Galaxia's departure; that did not bear a good sign. It was five months since that last battle. She and Hotaru had perished at the same time, thanks to Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus. Though Sailor Moon had brought her Star Seed back and revived her, Trista did not completely trust Michelle and Amara so much anymore. It was a hard thing, to not forget—but someone had to keep the score.
In any case, it was time for Trista to head back home for a bit; it was her day off, much needed as she had been working so much lately, mainly to avoid Michelle and Amara.
When she reached home, however, she felt a strange presence. A spirit? she wondered. Surely, there is something here. As she closed the door, all of the lights in the room completely disappeared. This confirmed Trista's suspicions. "Pluto Planet Power!" After her transformation was complete, Sailor Pluto pointed her garnet rod into the darkness. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"Oh, but you do not recognize Your Lord when he comes to you?" a deep rumbling voice responded.
That voice, Sailor Pluto thought. I almost…can remember…
"Ah, but that was before the fall of the Silver Milennium. I have to say I do not care for your new post anymore…" the voice drifted off.
Pluto lowered her rod. "Hades?"
A man, no—a god—standing eight feet tall, dressed in black velvet robes and with hair the same shade of green as Pluto's appeared. There was a dark glow about his cold figure. He held a rod, silver and nearly his height, with a silver human skull with garnet eyes at the top of the rod. "Well, well, so you do remember me. That will make this much easier then."
Pluto chuckled nervously. "And here I thought you were an evil spirit, invading my home."
"Well, I am invading, so to speak. You still look as beautiful as ever." She blushed. "From what I understand, you have every right to be paranoid. I heard what happened with Galaxia. These things do reach the underworld…you can only imagine how furious I was. She had the audacity to steal souls that are rightfully mine!" Hades roared. After breathing heavily, he composed himself. "But it is all taken care of. I notice you had no real threat in the world right now, and as much as I would hate to disrupt your perfect little life, I came here to take you home."
"Home?" she echoed.
"Yes. As you may remember, before your post as the timekeeper, you were my guardian to the underworld. You helped ferry souls across the river Styx and helped fend off evil spirits. To be honest with you, I have gotten tired of working so hard on it for so many years—a thousand years—and I want you back. Plus, I have missed seeing your sweet face," Hades said, smiling.
Pluto was stunned. First off, Hades rarely smiled. Second, to leave everything behind—to leave her friends—was a devastating thought. "But-"
"You have little choice, I am afraid. We had a deal," Hades interrupted.
Sailor Pluto sighed. It was the truth—she was bound to him, until Queen Serenity had called her to guard the gates of time in preparation for future enemies. "Very well then."
"I shall expect you within—say—two hours? Plenty of time for tying loose ends, I think?"
Pluto nodded. "I will be there soon."
"Good. I shall see you at the gates. You should see Cerebrus—he's gotten quite huge." He tured around and disappeared in dark smoke.
She remembered his three-headed dog Cerebrus. Back then, he had only been a puppy. Starting at the space where Hades had been, she began to wonder—how do I say goodbye?