Hotaru Tomoe –a fourteen year old guardian of Death who felt alone- sighed as she set her backpack down then looked around. I have a feeling this isn't where I belong but still...This is my home. She thought then laughed bitterly. "Who am I kidding? Haruka-papa, Michiru-mama and Setsuna-mama are never around." she said then spotted an envelope on the table with her name written on it! She picked it up and pulled out the letter then read it. My dearest Hotaru, I know you may not remember me after all you only saw me once and that was as a baby but I must tell you it is time to come home. The journey home will not be easy but I have faith in you, dearest daughter. As soon as you can go straight to the old "haunted" mansion near the palace. Once you are there search for a book called "Kage no ōkoku" or "the Shadow Kingdom". It holds yourtrue history. Sincerely, your true mother. Hotaru gasped then raced out with the letter in her hand and her backpack. "Hotaru?" asked Haruka Ten'ou as she flew by him. She entered the "haunted" mansion and started her search. She found the book in an old trunk and underneath it was a purple gown. She lifted it out and folded it neatly tucking it in her backpack. She returned 'home' and locked herself in her room and started to read. A few minutes later Michiru Kaiou came up the stairs and knocked on the door. "Hotaru, Chibiusa is here!" she called through the locked door. "I can't come out right now." Hotaru called. She continued to read. After what seemed like years she finished the book. Her thoughts turned to the purple gown in her backpack. She took it out. She held it up against her body and looked in her full-length mirror. Her reflection rippled and changed to a girl who looked like her with a golden band on her brow that was set with a dark purple gem and she wore the gown. Hotaru swiftly changed into the gown. She unlocked the door and moved to the top of the staircase. Haruka -who was just about to go by the stairs- stopped at the sound of rustling fabric and looked up to Hotaru standing there at the top of the stairs. "Hotaru?" 'He' asked. "Hello, Haruka." she said. "Michiru, Setsuna, Chibiusa come here," Haruka called. "It's Hotaru." Michiru, Setsuna Meiou and Chibiusa joined 'him' at the stairs. "No. I'm not 'Hotaru'," said Hotaru gently. "I am Princess Shadow of the Shadow Kingdom. I have no memories of being Princess Shadow because as a newborn baby I was stolen from my cradle. I would stay but it is time for me to go home." She walked past them then at the door stopped and turned. "We'll never see each other again so I'm sorry." she said and was gone.