Rediscovering Lost Emotion.
Prologue - Falling.
Alexia sighed wearily as she stepped out of the dance school she attended. Three months had passed since she and her parents had moved to Tokyo and she'd discovered her true identity as the Sailor Scout of Charon, the moon of Pluto.
"Hey, Alexia, wait up!" a female voice called out. Alexia stopped and turned, quickly turning on a convincing-looking smile. Running towards her was Shishu Kurahashi - a pretty raven-haired girl who had befriended her since her first day at the dance school.
"Shishu, hi." Alexia greeted her friend. The smaller girl caught up and stared at her critically.
"Are you ok? You seemed very distracted in class. I thought Ms. Yakamori was going to have a fit when you tripped over!" Alexia tossed her thick plaited green hair over her shoulder.
"Tell me about it. I don't know what's wrong with me!" she sighed.
"Maybe you've been working too hard; what with the auditions coming up. I know you have your heart set on the lead…" Shishu's eyes had a look of concern.
"You're right. I've been practising at home every night." Alexia confessed. "And then I have lessons every Monday and Thursday. Plus there's all the fight…" she stopped herself before she said 'fighting against the enemy'. Shishu looked at her with confusion. "Fighting with my parents!" Alexia quickly added, and Shishu laughed.
"I have the same problem, they insist that I keep taking ballet classes!"
"You mean you wanna quit?" the smaller girl nodded.
"Yeah, I wanna take up piano lessons. The only problem is that the lessons are on Mondays at the same time as ballet. Anyway, Alexia I have to go and wait for my dad now - bye!"
"Bye, Shishu." Alexia sighed yet again, and continued to walk. She'd felt pretty weary recently, maybe she was overdoing it…she shook her head, dismissing her thoughts. She couldn't help it – her parents had such high expectations of her, they desperately wanted her to take the lead in the school's next recital, and she couldn't let down the other Scouts, could she? All had been quiet for the last month or so but both Estrella and Rei had recently announced they'd been getting some strange feelings, like something was going to disrupt their lives soon. I have too much on my plate right now without some stupid bad-guy joining the fray, she thought, suddenly feeling quite irritated. Sometimes I wish I was still in Kyoto – life seemed so much easier then…she gasped and put a hand to her mouth. When did I become so selfish? But then again isn't it just human nature to want a little peace and quiet? She sighed once more and chose to ignore the fact that her head was swimming.
x x x x x
Meanwhile the silent depths of space were suddenly disturbed by a loud humming noise. Rushing along past the stars was a huge purple sphere; around the equator of which were windows. Stood at one of these was a golden-haired youth with silvery-grey eyes that burned with a fierce passion. He pushed a hand though his floppy golden tresses then turned to face the double doors that were shut behind him.
"How much longer am I going to have to wait here?" he muttered impatiently. He turned back to look out into the blackness of space as one of the doors opened slightly. An old man stuck his head around.
"Lord Lucilius will see you now." he announced timidly.
"Well it's about time. Thank you, Quintus." the youth muttered rather coldly as he shoved past. He strode confidently down the long throne room towards a young boy, who was sat smiling to himself. Now most people would be surprised to see Caliban, a brawny youth of about seventeen, kneel down in front of this child. However if one knew of who this child was and what he had done in his lifetime, then they would quake in fear. Lucilius had one of the blackest hearts of the universe, and was not to be taken at face value.
"Aaah, Caliban." The curly-haired boy grinned devilishly. Caliban bowed his head, his hair falling in front of his face.
"What is it you wish to see me for?" he asked his master, still annoyed at being kept waiting. The small boy got up from his throne and looked out of a window nearby.
"Do you know where we are headed?" he asked.
"No, my lord."
"We are heading towards the planet Earth." Lucilius turned to look at the youth's reaction.
"The Earth? But I thought you swore never to return to that galaxy…unless it was to destroy it?" Lucilius threw his head back and laughed.
"Your memory serves you well." He remarked. "And that is the reason we are going there. You see, I have a plan."
"A plan, my lord?" Caliban stood up – he was not in the mood for games, and so he silently wished for Lucilius to get on with the explanation.
"Yes. You see in a few days Earth time there will be a solar eclipse, which will leave some of the planet in darkness for a moment. During that short time period you will land on the planet in a city called Tokyo in a country called Japan. I want you to take on a role as an Earthling and observe something…or should I say somepeople."
"Who, exactly?" Caliban looked at the boy rather impatiently.
"As you know I have been very busy as of late," Lucilius began. "Well, that was because I have been in talks with a very interesting person…who brought me some even more interesting news." Lucilius smiled as the youth gave him a questioning look.
"Who is this person? And what's so fascinating about their news?" Caliban couldn't help but wonder what Lucilius was planning now - the rather smug gleam in his dark eyes told the blonde that whatever it was would be spectacular.
"Ah, you shall be introduced in a short while, so do not concern yourself over that." Lucilius waved his hand dismissively. "As for your other question, my visitor has recently been to Earth, and wished to tell me about a group of extraordinary young women." Caliban rolled his eyes as Lucilius paused for effect.
"What is so extraordinary about them?" he inquired, wishing he'd just spit it out rather than waste his time.
"They are warriors from another time, reborn into new lives from a past they never knew." Lucilius flashed his devilish grin again. "They are led by a girl known as Sailor Moon." Caliban's grey eyes narrowed.
"Am I supposed to be impressed by a group of seafaring females?" He muttered, walking over to look out of the window. I can't believe he's made me wait over an hour just for that! He thought in annoyance.
"Yes, you are. They are called the Sailor Scouts – defenders of truth and justice." Lucilius continued, saying the last part in a mocking tone. "For a time there were only four Scouts with this Sailor Moon - known as Sailor Mars, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter; but while my informant was observing them their number was added to with the appearance of a new Scout," He turned his head to face his finest warrior in order to gauge his reaction. "She called herself Sailor Charon."
"Charon?!" Caliban spluttered as he turned around sharply, his eyes wide with disbelief. It had been so long since he had heard that name. "She is still alive?"
"It certainly seems that way," Lucilius remarked. "She must have nine lives." He walked up to the pensive youth and pulled him down to his height. "It is time for a little…reunion. However, first of all…" he pushed Caliban to the ground as turned his head to call over his shoulder. "Quintus! Show our guest in!"
A beautiful, slender woman sauntered into the room through the same doors Caliban had used a few minutes before; her wavy orange hair covered the left side of her pale blue face.
"My lord." she greeted Lucilius graciously, bowing gracefully. Lucilius smiled with satisfaction.
"Nerissa, I would like you to meet Prince Caliban." Caliban regarded the woman, who was now bowing in his direction, with a smirk on his face.
So, Lucilius had found himself a chamber maid, he thought in amusement. I bet she thought if she helped him she would get to rule the universe alongside him, foolish female.
"Caliban, this is Nerissa," Lucilius continued the introduction, the smugness never leaving his eyes. "Your new partner."
Caliban couldn't believe what he'd just been told.
"WHAT?!" He yelled in disbelief. "Tell me I just misheard!" Nerissa smiled at him sweetly.
"She shall accompany you on your mission, to ensure you don't get…distracted." Caliban's eyes widened at this idea.
"If I get distracted by anyone, which I won't, it will be by her!" he objected loudly, indicating Nerissa. "I do not need some simpering female getting under my feet - I can do this by myself!" Lucilius chuckled and shook his head.
"Now that I cannot believe – the Sailor Scouts have ways of…changing people." the blonde youth sighed and waved his hand in resignation.
"Very well, then." He muttered. Lucilius once again turned to Nerissa.
"As I said, you are to go with him." The woman lowered her head respectfully.
"As you wish, my lord." She smiled wickedly to herself as her face was covered by her hair. This is perfect, Florizel will be most pleased, she thought…
x x x x x
"Has anyone noticed how strangely Alexia's been acting recently?" Lita asked. The girls were at the temple waiting for their friend to arrive from her ballet class.
"I have, she almost walked straight past me this morning without saying hello." Mina spoke up.
"I'm really concerned, she's been way out of it in school. Her marks have dropped way below her usual average." Rei sighed. "Our maths teacher is getting really mad at her because she keeps daydreaming."
"Maybe I can help give her some tutoring." Amy suggested. Rei nodded.
"I'm sure she'd appreciate it."
"At first I just thought it was the auditions for the lead role in her dance class's recital distracting her." Estrella said. "But now I'm not so sure." she sighed and put her head down. "I'm starting to wonder if I've been pushing her too hard recently."
"Don't put yourself down Estrella, you're doing a fine job." Luna reassured her.
"I'm just worried, maybe I shouldn't've mentioned those feelings I've been having." The kitten sighed.
"You're not the only one who's been having them though." Rei pointed out. "Don't load all the blame onto yourself."
Meanwhile Alexia was slowly making her way up the steps.
"Hey guys, how's things?" she asked wearily. The girls turned to look at her.
"How was ballet class?" Estrella inquired as she sat down.
"Exhausting." she murmured.
"Hey, Alexia, are you feeling alright? You look awfully pale." Amy asked anxiously.
"Yeah I'm fine, I just need to sit down." she sat in a chair and tried to smile, but failed miserably.
"Look, perhaps you should go home. Come on, I'll come with you." Mina took hold of her friend's arm and helped her to her feet. As she got up again Alexia suddenly realised how heavy her head felt, and suddenly it was getting hard to breathe. Still, she didn't want her friends to worry about her.
"Really, you don't need to fuss over meeee…" She held onto Mina's arm tightly, as she could no longer hold herself up and everything began to blur and go dark.
"Alexia!" everyone exclaimed, their voices seemed to echo as if she were underwater.
"I don't…feel so good…" she murmured quietly before loosing her grip on her friend's arm and sinking to the ground.
Alexia found herself surrounded by darkness. She tried to look around but it was as if she had her eyes closed.
Not again, she thought, I thought these dreams had stopped!
"Hello?" she called out nervously into the black. Her voice echoed eerily in the deathly silence.
"Charon…" the voice which had haunted her dreams since becoming a Scout suddenly called back, however its next words were different: "Come to me."
"Where are you?" she asked anxiously. "How can I come to you if I don't even know who you are?!"
"I'm coming, coming to find you." the voice replied. "It has been too long now!"
"Who, or what, are you?" she shouted. Nothing. "Hello?" suddenly she screamed as the floor shook.
"Alexia, Alexia wake up!" another voice called out in the darkness.
"Mina?" she called back. "Where are you?"
"Alexia! Is she alright?"
"Rei?"
"Oh please Alexia, please wake up!"
"Estrella?"
"Alexia!"
"Amy? Lita? Luna? Artemis? Serena? Rei? Everyone? Anyone? WHERE ARE YOU!" she screamed as the floor continued to tremble beneath her.
…"Is she ok?"…
…"Alexia?"…
…"She's coming round"…
…"What happened?"…
…"I think everything finally got to her."…
Alexia's eyes fluttered open to find everyone stood over her.
"Stand back, give her some breathing space!" Amy ordered. "How do you feel, Alexia?"
"Like I've just been hit by a bus." she moaned. Rei crouched down next to her and handed her a glass of water.
"Here, drink this, it'll make you feel better." Alexia took a sip of the cool liquid.
"Thank you, Rei."
"I think someone should phone her parents, she's in no fit state to go home by bus." Amy said.
"I'll go." Lita went inside to use the phone.
"I'll go with Alexia, just to make sure everything's ok." Mina spoke up.
"Good idea, Mina." Amy smiled.
"Are you ok, Alexia? We're really worried about you." Serena said gently. "Tell me – is it the dreams again?" Serena was the only one who really knew about how terrible her old nightmare was, since she had witnessed the end of it when she'd been transported into Alexia's mind during their fight with Neromostro, the DreamDweller. Alexia nodded, but then burst into tears.
"It was different this time, the voice said he's coming to get me." she wept. "I want to go home, I want my mom and dad!" Serena threw her arms around her.
"It's ok, Alexia, it's ok."
About ten minutes later, Miaka had arrived to pick her up.
"Oh, my baby. Thank you so much for phoning, I would've gone crazy if she'd tried to walk home. You know how determined she can get." she sighed, looking at her daughter sat in the back of the car with Mina, Artemis and Estrella.
"It's ok." Rei smiled.
"Tell her to get better soon, and not to worry about anything." Lita told her. Miaka nodded.
"Thanks again girls, now I'd better get her home and phone the doctor, goodbye." she walked to the car and got in. "Are you feeling any better, honey?" she asked her daughter gently.
"I feel rather hot, could you open a window please?" she murmured, her eyes only half open. Mina smiled sympathetically and rolled down the window near to her slightly.
"Any better?" she asked.
"Yes, thank you." Alexia smiled faintly, before closing her eyes and drifting off into a light sleep.