Of Shadows & Light: The Truth of Solaris
Prologue: Mists of Time
In our world there are stories that have survived the decay of time, legends that have traveled the infinite bowels of space. And I'm sure as we are all aware some of these legends are based on absolute truth.
One of these legends is that of the White Moon Kingdom, the heart of an era known as the Silver Millennium. It was a time of peace and prosperity for the galaxy known as the Milky Way for all but one planet, Earth, whom had refused to be ruled by "outsiders". But soon that peace was to be destroyed for it was then that the darkness came. Attracted by the lights of this universe, lights that held infinite power, the darkness was a child of Father Chaos, and it sought to destroy the children of Mother Order. This was not the first time that the children of Chaos sought to destroy its counterparts but they had been thwarted, this time was different, no one saw the darkness approaching this time, for it came from Earth.
The White Moon Kingdom was ruled by the wisest and most beloved child of the gods, and at this time and in this place the moon was ruled by Moon Queen Serenity, she held a stone of immense and unpredictable power handed to her by her own mother and so on. It was a sentient crystal known as the Imperium Silver Moon Crystal said to be created from a tear of the Moon Goddess Selene. The Moon Queen had no knowledge of the darkness that threatened her empire; she and her guards had not perceived the foe that had invaded their solar system.
It was on that fateful day long ago when the Queen had been celebrating the betrothal of her daughter to the Earth's Crown Prince that the Dark Kingdom initiated the final battle. Or so the Dark Queen Beryl had thought. Thousands fell from both sides but it was not until the deaths of the heirs to the kingdoms fell in the onslaught that Queen Serenity took her stand against her enemy. It was with her remaining strength of will that she harnessed the volatile power of the Silver Moon Crystal and with that she sealed her enemies in negative space and sent her daughter along with her people to a new future on Earth. She prayed to the Moon Goddess and to the gods above for a happy future, a future without the darkness or war. It was with that last wish that the Silver Crystal sapped the remaining strength of the valiant Moon Queen and her soul left her mortal frame. The seal however had been imperfect.
A long staff twirled in the air above the fountains of Time and Destiny as she remembered the past. Queen Serenity had transported nearly all of the guards except for three into the future on earth. Long green hair lifted with an invisible breeze in the Corridor of Time and she was one of those three. She who was never allowed to leave her post, it was one of the three taboo laws the Moon Queen had enforced upon her when she had first taken up her duties all those centuries ago. Red eyes narrowed in thought, she had kept watch throughout the centuries, she was the oldest of all the guards, she was the Guardian of Time and Space, and she was one of the forbidden Sailor Scouts, she was known as Sailor Pluto.
She watched the people and places portrayed in the fountains, watched as their lives changed, watched as they grew and died, and as they were reborn in different times. It was in this way that she kept a loyal watch over her dear Princess Serenity, her future Queen. She was always watching to ensure that no harm came to her Princess or to the timeline that was set as their future. She watched as different roads branched off the original road of destiny, always what if outcomes to the original road.
But some while ago the main road of time had shifted. It changed into something that she could no longer peer into. The road was changing as the days wore on. For some hours now the road had remained fogged, the future seemed to stay the same. This she knew would only be a lull in time it was the calm before the storm, and the mists began to swirl around her in agitation as their future disappeared before her eyes. Pluto had feared that this would happen when she had felt the invader approaching from within their realm. She sighed in frustration as outside forces caused unseen ripples to change the images portrayed in the reflection pool, she pushed long dark locks behind her shoulder. It would seem she had failed in her own personal quest, she who was the Sole Guardian of Time and Space had failed to twist the rivers of destiny to her will. It was unacceptable to her that one as powerful as she should fail.
"Damn! No matter how hard I've tried I could not turn back the cold hands of fate." She cursed softly. "It would seem that some events are meant to change, even though I've tried so hard to stop it." She turned to face the Great Door of Time, for more than a millennia, she had barred the entrance to this the most sacred of forbidden places with the blessings of the gods, but now it seemed there was nothing for her to do but to accept the decree of the three fates. It was obvious she could not step down from her duty and it was just as clear that no one was allowed to step through the Great Door, at least not alive. However, she could do nothing to stop the invaders that came from within this system of stars. She and the other two were only left to stop enemies that approached from without, there was one however… no, she wouldn't do either she was the destroyer of all things. It seems hopeless… unless the others were brought together with the Princess and her guards. Was that what was meant to happen? Were they supposed to be reunited with them? But then why had they not all been reborn together? No this should not be happening… but then again… This was all so confusing even to one as old as she.
A breeze floated through the closed corridor filled with the scent of jasmines announced the arrival of one older than she. "I told you," a gentler voice responded from within the mists that surrounded the taboo door and fountain. "There is not much you can do when the gods enforce their will upon us, their subjects." Luminescent silver-white hair cascaded to the floor as a regal scepter appeared in long graceful hands. Ageless blue eyes glanced sympathetically at the Guardian of Time standing before her, she remembered all those years ago when she had first stationed the young Princess of Pluto to guard the taboo door.
The sailor scout turned in the churning mists to face the woman whom had so suddenly appeared, "My Queen, if it is inevitable…" the soldier declared as she kneeled before the former Queen of the Silver Millennium. "Why do I feel the urgent need to stop this from happening?" She knew she sounded impertinent and that was the last thing she wanted but she needed to know why she felt like this was the wrong path.
Wise deep blue eyes twinkled as she looked upon the kneeling soldier. "As I said there is not much to be done when they enforce their will. It may feel wrong but meditate on it young one. You should be asking yourself why had it not happened sooner." She looked down to find the vassal still kneeling. "Stand Pluto. There is no longer any need to kneel before me, for I am no longer the Queen of the Silver Millennium."
Pluto stood and looked at the Queen sharply, "You are still the…" she began hotly.
"My kingdom no longer stands, my kingdom along with the age of peace fell more than a millennia ago." the Queen said as she twirled the moon scepter in her regal hands. "Now it is to her that all of you must turn to. She is your future, and I, well I am the past."
"I am afraid…" Pluto said quietly as she turned to look at rippling waters of the fountain and the twirling staff above it. She hoped that the Queen hadn't heard her quiet admission of fear but she knew that was not to be. It was painful for her to admit she was scared, to admit that meant she was weak and her pride could not allow her to say so.
"You who have lived nearly as long as I have should have nothing to fear. But what is it that you fear, Pluto?" the Queen asked, the concern noted in the tone of her voice. After all it was not just anything that could cause the stoic guard of time fear.
Red eyes looked down towards the images portrayed in the fountain, "That since our timeline has been changed, our future and her empire may no longer exist. I look into the future and see naught but the mist, our lives as we know it may…" the fear was evident in her voice. Fear of the unknown. As the Guardian of Time, she could view both the future and the past but now she saw only the past and present. The future it seemed was now barred from her view.
The Queen strode forward to place a comforting hand on the shoulder of the soldier. "You and I both know this life is what we make of it. The future, dear Pluto, is never set in stone, only the three sisters of Fate know the true course of time and destiny. Who are we to judge the actions of the gods." the Queen's voice was a soothing caress to the younger woman but it was a rebuke none the less from a Queen to her loyal vassal.
But even so Pluto could not stop the words that were aching to be free from their mental prison and even she could not stop herself from speaking. "Still our kingdom may no longer exist… The future as I've seen it…" She was being insolent, something she was not used to, and she would have expected this kind of cheekiness spewing from the mouths of the inner scouts but never from her own lips.
Serenity's regal hand gently squeezed the shoulder of the scout. She knew why Pluto was acting this way but she also knew that there was no one who could stop the hands of the fates from changing the design of destiny. "The kingdom is no more at risk than it ever is or was. Evil will always seek out the Light of Good, and they will always battle. Evil will always try to consume that light. We have no say in this the most ancient of battles." the Queen said authoritatively.
Pluto still refused to see that this was fated. After all this could destroy their future, her hopes. How could it be that she was just meant to stand aside and allow this to happen? No, she had to at least try and stop this any way she could. Wasn't that her duty? "But it is my duty to ensure that the timeline remains intact…"
"Then you must learn as I have that the future is not set in stone. Duty should not always be your first priority Pluto. Has my daughter not taught you that lesson yet?" Serenity asked, she was showing great patience discussing the gods' plans with a suddenly trying Pluto.
"But you once said." Pluto stuttered, she couldn't understand how her Queen was taking this so calmly more so than she. Was there nothing that could be done to try and stop the fates? Or was this really meant to be?
"What was said on that day long ago doesn't really matter anymore, does it? They will test you as well to see how strong your will of heart really is." Serenity said calmly. Pluto was correct in reminding her of what she had once said to the young woman, your duty, Pluto, is to the door of time. The three laws you've just heard should never be broken. Your duty is above all other things, it is imperative that you do not shirk your duty to this place. How could she have been so wrong when she had told her that? She had assumed that was how it should be that was how it was for her ever since the day she had been crowned; duty came before all things. But when she had given birth to her beloved daughter that had all changed. Her daughter had taught her there were more important things in life than duty; the most important was love, something she had forgotten.
"Of course, Queen Serenity." Pluto said softly her voice downcast by the chastisement in her Queen's voice. She watched as the former Lunar Queen receded into the mysterious mists of time and space to return to the palace of the gods where she now resided. She turned once more to the fountain, Yes, she has assured me that this must happen once more, but still I fear for them but even more so for the timeline. If their past is changed so their future is affected as well. So many things could go wrong on this path. She tells me time is not set in stone but for me it is, for me time has stopped. I have lived here alone untouched by time for centuries untold in these mists. "My Queen forgive me for trying to stop these events from unfolding, but now I know that not even my will can change what the three sacred goddesses have foreordained.
She sighed in weariness, "As it has always been, so will it always be, I will protect her and ensure her safety from afar as I have always done to the best of my ability." Forgive me, my Princess that I cannot be there to protect you from this evil, one that has risen from the bowels of negative space and entered our world unbeknownst to any of us. So with this last regret I will release my grasp from the loom of Fate and release from their slumber guardians who are to protect you and your loved ones.
"Sometimes I really hate who I am and this duty of mine… Sometimes destiny has a way of catching up with us." She took a deep breath as a breeze floated through the closed corridor, the stirrings of change beginning deep within her breast. She knew she wasn't going to like any of the events that would soon be unfolding before her eyes. However, as her Queen had informed her there was nothing she or the others could do to stop the events from happening. She could only watch and pray to the gods for the safety of her loved ones.
"Forgive me Your Majesties…"