Chronological Epoch

Chapter 2

Time After Time

By the time Setsuna was an adult living in Tokyo with two other woman, Clockwork's punishment had been lifted. He really wanted to see how Setsuna was doing though, so like anyone who found themselves free to do as he pleased once more, he did just that. A good human disguise wasn't hard to fabricate. Pale human skin, a purple hoodie, platnum blond hair, reddish brown eyes, and jeans and boots did just the trick. The ticking of his case couldn't seem to be silenced, so he figured if anyone asked he'd tell them it was one of the watches he wore being loud. He was still wearing all the watches he'd had on before. He stood outside the house that the three woman lived in and knocked on the door.

It wasn't Setsuna who answered, but one of the other women she lived with. A masculine type of woman, with short sandy brown hair, Haruka, or Sailor Uranus. She eyed him cautiously when she opened the door. "May I help you?"

"Yes. I'm looking for Setsuna. I'm...an old friend of hers." he said as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other feeling for the first time ever, a bit nervous.

What if he wasn't doing the right thing? What if he was only going to mess up her chance at a new happy life? He could see all of time, even from here, but he could never see his own future or that of another Time Keeper. He was playing this completely by ear. Not something he was use to.

Haruka narrowed her eyes briefly as if analyzing him. After a time, she nodded.

"Come in. You're a friend of hers but give us a reason not to trust you and out you'll go, understood?" Even though Setsuna was older than Haruka, Haruka was clearly protective of the older woman. "Her room is down the hall, first door on the left."

"Right. Of course, Ha...uh...thanks." he said as he moved past her and went to the room she had indicated. He took a breath and knocked on the door.

"Come in." Her voice floated through the door.

He slowly opened the door and inside Setsuna was hanging a painting up on the wall. The scene a familiar one...as it was the inside of his tower. Clockwork gasped a little when he saw the panting.

Forgetting himself he asked, "Did you paint that?"

"Oh this? No. I've taken up drawing, but I'm not quite ready for painting. I described it to Michiru though. She did it for me."

She made sure the painting was straight on the wall before stepping back from it with a soft smile.

"It's incredible. You have a really great memory. Well...of course you do. You'd have to considering, but with your new life and all..." he trailed off as he looked at the picture and could almost hear the familiar ticking of home.

He then stopped. She had just spoken to him like she knew him. Like no big deal. Did she remember him even with his disguise. He figured he'd venture on and see.

"How've you been?" he asked nonchalantly.

"I've been alright. I still have a link to the gates. Just don't have to stay there anymore." Setsuna looked at him with a soft smile. "I've missed you."

Clockwork looked at her and smiled softly back. "I missed you too. So what do you do with yourself now?"

"Senshi business." She chuckled. "Searching with Michiru and Haruka for the pure hearts that lead to the talismans that bring the holy chalice...while pretending I don't know where they are all along."

She sat down on her bed. "Please have a seat."

"Ah. The talismans." he said nodding in understanding.

He walked over and sat on the bed with her.

"Anyway I can help? I better enjoy my vacation after all while I still can. Once I get back, the Observents will probably raise an unholy hell." The grin that come after that statement was a bit bitter.

"Nothing that can really be done until we face the appropriate enemy." Setsuna said with a sigh.

After a few moments of silence, she spoke again.

"You were right, of course, about the moon princess. She has become strong, is getting stronger."

Clockwork smiled a little and nodded. There was another long silence that Setsuna broke by speaking again.

"You're the reason I'm here instead of at the gates, aren't you?"

"Yes." he admitted.

He then looked at her again for a little bit without speaking.

"You look happier. You always appeared a little sad. Lonely." Clockwork finally said.

"I guess it's because I no longer feel useless as a senshi. I can actually be involved in what happens, in protecting the moon princess. When the moon kingdom fell, the other kingdoms weren't far behind. Including my own."

"I remember. It was a tragedy. I am truly sorry. You know that you were never useless though. Not once."

She sighed and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"Didn't stop me from feeling that way sometimes." She smiled softly.

The two sat quietly for a little bit once more. Like always, Setsuna was the first to break the silence.

"I had Michiru do that painting for me...because it helps me feel close to you. I never expected to see you still."

"Close to me? You should know I'm always watching. I can't see your future, but the present is clear." Clockwork said looking back at the painting.

His face had grown a little red. No one had said such a thing as that to him before.

"I know you're watching. But knowing you're watching isn't the same as actually being able to see you from time to time."

Setsuna's own cheeks had grown a red tint.

"When I stopped time...it didn't occur to me that I might get reborn...so I wasn't expecting just how much it hurt to not be able to see you."

"I wanted you to be able to experience life as your friends had. I thought after such a sacrifice it was only fair." he said as he suddenly grew fascinated with the floor.

"Would you like to maybe go have some coffee?" Clockwork asked suddenly.

He was starting to feel awkward sitting on her bed.

"Then you may could introduce me to your friends. I know a bit about them, but you being n their time line now I can't see how their futures go either." he explained.

Setsuna nodded and straightened herself.

"There's a little coffee shop nearby. You've met Haruka, even without a proper introduction. Michiru's out of town at a performance. But I could at least introduce you to the moon princess and the inner senshi. They have their senshi meeting today. However, with your disguise, there's likely to be some looks if I introduce you as Clockwork." She chuckled.

"Indeed. Chrono maybe?" he asked thinking for a moment for a name.

Clockwork wasn't really worried about the senshi or the princess knowing his name, but he guessed he would need something to be called in public.

She nodded in approval. "Perfect. It's a precaution mainly."

Setsuna grabbed her keys and her staff disappeared from its spot in the corner.

"Shall we go?"

"Yes." he said as he stood and followed her out.

She led him out the house, locking the door behind them before leading him towards the coffee shop. He marveled at the things he saw. It was interesting seeing things close up. Of course Clockwork knew what everything was and how it worked, but still, it was nice to see it like this. He was almost as bad as a tourist as he walked backwards a little when he passed something interesting, then would turn around and jog to catch up with his guide. Setsuna couldn't help but chuckle softly as she watched him take in everything. He smiled as he caught up to her and continued on with her to the coffee shop.

"We're not even at the coffee shop yet and you already look like you're having a good time."

"It's amazing to see Tokyo from this side of the window." Clockwork said smiling a little more.

"Did you feel the same when you first found yourself able to move around this world freely?"

"I did to be honest. It is amazing to see and experience."

Clockwork nodded in understanding.

"Is that the coffee shop there?" he asked pointing to the shop.

Sestsuna nodded with a smile. "That's it. It's got quite the cozy little atmosphere."

"I see." Clockwork said as he walked over to the shop and opened the door for Setsuna.

"Ladies first, of course."

"Thank you." She smiled as she stepped into the shop.

The lightning was dim, the tables were set for either one or two people and in a corner there were a couple of small couches as well as a couple of armchairs. Clockwork headed for one of the tables set away from most of the others and went to pull a chair out for Setsuna. She thanked him again before sliding into the chair, her cheeks a little pink. He sat down across from her and sat waiting for a waiter or waitress.

"Will we be meeting your Senshi here or else where?"

"Elsewhere. There's a temple they meet at. Rei...works and lives at it as a priestess."

When the server came around, Setsuna ordered a latte for herself, preferring to let him order something for himself.

"Black coffee." Clockwork ordered.

Setsuna watched as the server took their orders and left before she looked back to Clockwork.

"Black coffee? Don't know how you can stand it."

"I've gotten a taste for it. There are some times even I get tired, so the coffee helps me stay awake." he explained.

She chuckled. "I meant I don't know how you can stand coffee straight black without any cream or sugar."

Clockwork's face reddened a bit. "Oh. Yes. Of course. I just never really tried it."

"Fair enough. I won't push you to try something else. You've gotten so used to drinking coffee one way."

"Hmm. I am here to try new things though. I will see what it tastes like with the cream and sugar." he said agreeably.

Setsuna nodded as the server returned with their drinks as well as a little container of sugar packets and a small pitcher of cream.

Clockwork carefully put some cream and sugar in his coffee, then stirred it all together before trying it. He sat there for a few moments then nodded.

"That is good."

Setsuna smiled as she sipped her latte.

"Told you."

"You did." he said smiling.

Clockwork was enjoying the coffee when he heard a scream and turned to look. A crystal was floating in front of a woman as a monster stood by close. It snatched the crystal just as the customers started screaming and running to get away. The monster tried to stop other customers and steal more crystals. Setsuna swore at seeing the monster. She knew it was only a matter of time before Uranus and Neptune made it, let alone the other senshi. But time was of the essence. Since it seemed that no one was paying attention, she stood and transformed right there, her staff appearing in her hand.

"Dead Scream!"

The garnet orb at the top of her staff glowed as she twirled with it and released the attack at the monster. As Setsuna, now Sailor Pluto dispatched of the monster, Clockwork sat drinking the rest of his coffee as if nothing were happening. The monster screamed before disappearing, or rather falling to the floor and turning into a tea cup.

"That was very anticlimactic." he commented.

Sailor Pluto made sure the crystal returned to its owner.

"They tend to possess everyday objects."

Suddenly the garnet orb on the top of Sailor Pluto's staff would flash and Clockwork nearly dropped his cup as he felt a strange pulse go through his body causing his clock to skip a few ticks and then tick a bit erratically before calming back down. He was clinching his hoodie at his chest when the feeling finally subsided and everything went back to normal.

"What...was that?" he asked.

Setsuna was just as confused, especially when she heard Clockwork. She went back over to him with a look of concern.

"No idea. Any chance the observants are involved?"

"Probably. Let them do whatever it is they want to do though. I plan on having my free time." he said stubbornly.

"Not fond of them messing with my staff though."

She sighed and de-transformed before sitting back down.

"That...brings up an interesting point. I don't thin they would." he said as he sat thinking things over and he finishing his coffee.

"Sure about that? One of them did mess with it enough to bring me to your tower. Not that I'm upset with them for that time."

"This is something I'll have to think about for a while. You are right. One did mess with both of our staves. We will go meet your senshi and then return to your place if that is ok with you."

Setsuna nodded and looked at her watch.

"Let's go then."

She stood up and left a bit of money on the table for the drinks, as she didn't feel right not paying just because the staff had run out. Clockwork stood and followed her out. She led the way towards the temple that she knew the inner senshi were meeting at. After a while, she smiled to herself and softly counted.

"3...2...1..."

Within seconds of Setsuna saying "1", what seemed to be a mini whirlwind whizzed past them. Setsuna chuckled as she watched the moon princess hurry along in front of them.

"Late?" he asked with a small chuckle of his own.

"Quite often. Funny thing is, if she wasn't always late to school, she'd be able to make the meetings on time too."

"Well then, let's make it less awkward and join her, shall we?" Clockwork asked as he jogged after the moon princess.

She smiled. "Good idea."

She jogged alongside him the rest of the way to the temple. Once to the top the two looked around. Setsuna was happy to see that Rei's grandfather wasn't out.

"Follow me." She headed on into the temple, letting her staff appear again as she went.

He nodded and followed, he was unsure why she had her staff appear, but didn't ask. Setsuna stopped just before a room and motioned for him to wait there before she stepped to the doorway, making sure her staff would be in view of the five younger senshi, before making her presence known, addressing the princess by her old title and smiling kindly when the princess used the old nickname for her in return. Clockwork stayed back, but could hear most of what was going on. He stood waiting for Pluto to indicate when it was a good idea to enter.

"Okay girls, I have someone I want you all to meet. He's a good friend of mine so be nice."

Setsuna motioned to Clockwork to enter before moving more through the door, enough to let him in and be seen, but still as a sort of barrier between him and the younger girls. Clockwork stepped in and gave a polite bow to the girls.

"Hello. It's nice to meet you all."

Ami was the first to bow in return.

"Hello."

Usagi bowed next with a soft smile.

Setsuna smiled at Usagi and Ami's reactions but frowned when Minako, Rei and Makoto all took slightly protective positions around Usagi.

"Relax girls. I meant it when I said he's a very good friend. His name is Chrono and he's a fellow Timekeeper. I've known him since I first took up post at the Time Gate. Surely you don't think I'd bring someone untrustworthy around you all?"

She sighed in relief when the three protective senshi all relaxed and bowed.

"I'm happy to finally meet you all face to face. Setsuna spoke highly of you all." he said still smiling.

Rei looked at him.

"And yet this is the first we've heard of you."

Clockwork was about to respond to Rei when Setsuna cut in with a sigh.

"I couldn't inform you of him until he was ready. No asking him of the future any of , you all wouldn't have seen the 30th Century if not for Small Lady."

She smiled softly as all five girls nodded in understanding.

"She has kept my secret for thousands of years as I've kept hers from certain people who would try to find the Time Gates and go through them." Clockwork explained.

Usagi nodded with a smile.

"Thank you for anything you have and will do for her."

She looked to the other four inner senshi.

"If Plu says he's trustworthy then believe her. She has no reason to steer us wrong."

Setsuna nodded. "Thank you Serenity-hime."

Clockwork smiled and bowed once more.

"Thank you all." he said before a noise could be heard fro the trees just outside the temple.

"Again?" he murmured.

"Not surprising."

Setsuna watched as the five younger senshi all transformed and within seconds were heading out the room and out the temple. Clockwork took off after the girls summoning his Time staff, but remaining in his human guise. He didn't want the girls to confuse him for a monster. Setsuna of course follows after, stepping outside to see Sailors Mars, Venus, Mercury and Jupiter taking protective formation around Sailor Moon as they wait for the source to show itself. Clockwork stopped and looked around wearily for the commotion when a giant clock hand slammed down in front of the senshi. It gleamed sharply as a creature landed on the opposite end of it, balancing gracefully. The creature wore clothes with small clocks printed all over it. The creatures long black hair hung loosely around it's face which was pale and almost translucent. It grinned sadistically before holding a hand out and sending hundreds f small sharp clock hands down at the group including Setsuna and Clockwork. Clockwork moved to grab Setsuna and turned so that his back was to the creature to take the brunt of any assault. A small green barrier appeared just behind him to help. For a few minutes it worked, but a particularly large one finally shattered the barrier and pierced through Clockwork's shoulder and down through Setsuna's arm. He only let out a slight gasp of surprise. He cursed his inability to see his own future or Setsuna's. If he could have, he'd have known what to do ahead of time. The other girls did their best ducking and rolling, but all ending up with at least a scrape or a scratch from too close a call. Setsuna grunted as her arm was pierced, closing her eyes tight so as not to show the pain. He reached around to grab the piece of the clock hand that went through them both and made it intangible. He tossed it aside and looked towards Ami.

"Can you help, Setsuna? I'll see about taking care of that creature." he called out.

He could see that Setsuna had a bit of ecto in her wound. It wouldn't be enough to make her half ghost or anything weird, but it could cause her to have a few side effects until the substance worked itself out of her system. His own shoulder hurt from the damage done to it and the sleeve of his hoodie was stained green, but besides that, he figured he could get rid of the monster.

Ami nodded.

"On it."

She scrambled to her feet and moved over to Setsuna, quickly wrapping the older senshi's wound. Setsuna held her arm after it was wrapped and nodded in thanks to Ami before glancing over at Clockwork and the creature. He held his staff as a blade appeared from it causing it to look like a scythe. He then flew at the creature and the two began to fight. The creature using a clock had as a sword as the two clashed. It seemed at close quarters, and unable to hurl the clock hands, the creature wan't too strong and it was soon cut in half by the male time keeper. It fell to dust on the floor before turning into a wall clock. Clockwork sighed and landed before running over to Ami and Setsuna.

"Is she alright?" he asked Ami.

He figured if he asked Setsuna she'd tell him yes no matter if she was hurt or not.

She nodded.

"As far as I can tell. Though I've never seen that green substance before. But taking into consideration that you didn't seem too concerned about that, I can safely assume that you recognize it and it's not something to worry about, is that correct?"

Clockwork knew left to their own devices, the girls would probably start to freak out from the side effects of the ectoplasma. He sighed and nodded.

"Yes. I know what it is. It's the substance that flows through me like blood flows through you. It's called ectoplasma. She will have a few side effects from it, but nothing to worry about."

As he spoke, he didn't notice his and Setsuna's staves starting to glow.

"Ectoplasma? But that's just stuff of legends." Ami said.

Sailor Moon bit her lip nervously. "Like scary ghost stories..."

"You would think it is legend, you are a child of science after all, but it is not. And yes, Sailor Moon. Like scary ghost stories." Clockwork spoke.

Setsuna rolled her eyes.

"Way to freak them out." She muttered.

"You girls heard him. It's real and I'll be fine."

He heard Setsuna and chuckled a little. "I am sorry. But they would freak out more if you suddenly went intangible and sunk through the floor."

She glanced at the top of her staff to check it and saw it was glowing. "We got a problem Chrono." She gestured to her staff.

He then looked at her staff, then his own and noticed their glowing.

"What is going on?" he murmured before there was a flash of bright light.

When it cleared, Setsuna and Clockwork where nowhere to be found...

TO BE CONTINUED...

A.N.: Yay! Some action finally! Sorry for the slow first chapter and the slow beginning of this chapter. Just had to get things established. I hope you've enjoyed it so far and will leave us some reviews and feedback. If we suck, we need to know so we can try harder, if we're pretty good encouraging will make us want to post more! We do not own Danny Phantom or Sailor Moon! Please enjoy! Until next time...