▒This isn▓t happening..▓ Kousagi was trying to think straight but flashes of memories were stirring, enveloping her. Instead of setting her straight, she became dazed and confused, fear blossoming as she fell to the side, pressing against the wall. ⌠Don▓t want to remember! Don▓t want to remember!■
⌠Kousagi?■ A soft voice, a petite, musical tone came from her side toward the street and she turned, seeing nothing but a pink kitty. It had a white collar with three yellow bells attached and its deep blue eyes were misty and wide with a hopefulness that startled Kousagi.
⌠Do you remember?■ It was a whisper, a transfer of thought into Kousagi▓s mind and it opened the door. She could remember things, a life she had but it never had been here, in this time. It frightened her and also hurt, because she loved this simple life, this normal routine. It had made her feel more whole than anything in the world had.
⌠Lune.. where have you been?■ Kousagi whispered thickly. ⌠Oh god.. where have I been?■ She grasped her head. ⌠No.. no.. this isn▓t real! This can▓t be!■
⌠Kousagi!■ Lune approached with caution. ⌠You were hurt, weren▓t you? A possible concussion?■
⌠Amnesia..■ Came the forced word from Kousagi▓s frozen lips.
Lune▓s eyes softened. ⌠So this all new to you now, remembering me, us?■
⌠I▓m not.. that person.. anymore,■ Kousagi straightened slowly. ⌠This is home.■
⌠Kousagi, if we don▓t return, the time stream..■
⌠I don▓t care!■ She screamed, her eyes closed in frustration. ⌠No... no, I live here. This is home! HOME!■
But she knew now it was all a lie. She had come here for one thing and even that was too late. What was she supposed to do now?
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⌠I▓m tired..■ The lemon-haired girl whined, just loudly enough to grate on her friend▓s ears. ⌠Can▓t we wait for Lune?■
⌠Shouldn▓t we find Pluto?■ The blue-haired said worriedly.
It was odd, that all four of them looked nearly alike to the original people. Though they weren▓t clones, far from it. They were, in fact, a few generations after. They had followed Kousagi, after finally getting her location pinpointed properly and they had been set upon getting her and going back.
⌠If only a certain someone hadn▓t lost the key,■ the violet-haired glared at the lemon-haired.
⌠Rei-chan, relax!■ The lemon-haired girl giggled.
⌠Mina, this is a terrible situation and Mako, for the love of god, looking into reflected glass isn▓t helping matters!■ The blue haired shouted, her eyebrow twitching.
⌠But Ami-chan, my hair!■ Mako was attempting to fluff up her ponytail as Mamoru passed them.
He took a double take then groaned. ⌠Not more look-a-likes!■
⌠We are not...■ The four turned and were very quiet. ⌠You▓re familiar..■ Ami mused. ⌠I think I▓ve seen his painting.■
⌠Wasn▓t he married to Neo Serenity-sama?■ Mako whispered loudly.
Mamoru was blinking. ⌠How do you all know.. what have I gotten into now?■ He groaned as they ambushed him, grasping his clothes.
⌠You have to take us to Pluto! It is a very top-secret, important, vital mission that only we can do because well, it▓s our problem,■ Mina said with a wide grin. ⌠So pretty please with a cherry on top?■
⌠I don▓t know. We don▓t know if we can trust him,■ Rei said pointedly. ⌠We never met him.■
⌠Never..■ Mamoru began weakly.
But with at least three sets of hands tugging on him, he was resigned as he led them to Setsuna▓s home. She lived with Hotaru, Michiru, and Haruka still, though the last two hadn▓t been home much as of lately.
Setsuna stared at the four young girls. The others girls had just arrived as there was a long moment of silence.
Until Mako began to wiggle. ⌠Um.. may I be excused? I can▓t hold anymore.■
Minako giggled. Mina blinked before frowning. ⌠It▓s not funny. It▓s serious. Her bladder could explode!■
⌠The more so for me to pee!■ Mako wiggled harder. ⌠Someone help!■
⌠Here,■ Haruka gestured for the small Mako to follow her.
⌠Why are you here?■ Setsuna asked finally.
⌠Confidential!■ The three girls chorused.
⌠Just give us a key and we▓ll be out of the way!■ Ami offered.
⌠Or we cause trouble!■ Rei agreed.
⌠We don▓t cause trouble,■ Mina muttered. ⌠We▓re teenagers, act like it!■
⌠Listening to you talk about what you know about the body is like listening to a fish talking about breathing oxygen,■ Rei retorted.
⌠I resent that!■
⌠You were supposed to!■
⌠ENOUGH!■ Setsuna shook her head. ⌠Please.. at least tell us your names.■
⌠Oh, oh! Me first!■ Mako came running in, Haruka keeping in step with her. Just like the other Makoto, this Mako was taller than the group she was with. ⌠My name is Kino Mako!■
⌠Aino Mina,■ Mina bowed slightly.
⌠Mizuno Ami,■ Ami nodded politely.
⌠Hino Rei.■
⌠Are there other.. ways to call you? You have the same names as the others,■ Usagi asked weakly.
⌠Oh.. well, where we▓re from, they don▓t..■ Mako began.
⌠MAKO!■ Both Ami and Mina shouted. ⌠Don▓t go giving away information, AGAIN!■
Mako flushed. ⌠I only did it once before..■
⌠Yea and we lost the training session not to mention a lot of my hair,■ Rei said darkly. ⌠Listen, we can▓t divulge information about us. I mean, did.. what▓s her name in this time? When she came back?■
⌠Who?■ The three girls studied Rei who glared daggers.
⌠Chibiusa! That▓s who!■
⌠Oh...■ Came the collective understanding.
⌠Anyways, Chibiusa never told information so I feel we should be given the same boundaries.■
⌠But she told us why she was here,■ Hotaru said quietly.
The four looked at the young girl, who was really a few years older than them before the group conversed together in whispers.
⌠All right, here goes. We▓re looking for our leader,■ Mina began.
⌠But something must▓ve happened cause she doesn▓t really remember us,■ Rei added.
⌠So we sent Lune ahead to check it all out,■ Ami nodded.
⌠And now we▓re talking to you because someone lost the key,■ Mako added.
⌠Yea, Blondie here did!■ Rei thumbed Mina.
⌠Stop that!■
⌠You were second in charge! Lady-sama should▓ve chosen me!■ The two glared at each other.
⌠Lady-sama?■ Usagi asked.
⌠Confidential,■ came the growing familiar collective voice.
Setsuna was quiet. ⌠What about the attack earlier?■
⌠How should we know? We never really fought anything before,■ Rei shrugged.
⌠Well, I suppose it▓s our problem,■ Haruka shrugged. ⌠Let▓s just send them home.■
⌠Lune!■ At the window, the pink-haired cat was scratching. The golden moon upon her brow twinkled as Michiru opened the window.
⌠It▓s no go. She▓s too upset,■ Lune sighed. ⌠She doesn▓t want to believe her own memories..■
⌠You mean Kousagi?■ Makoto asked thoughtfully. ⌠But she has a mom, we saw her and..■
⌠It▓s the foster system. She was found about a year ago suffering from head trauma which led to amnesia,■ Lune stated. ⌠Seeing us was the jolt needed to bring her memories back but...■
⌠She doesn▓t remember us anymore?■ Mina asked, blinking rapidly. ⌠We worked so hard to become friends..■
⌠Maybe she remembers the hard times we gave her,■ Ami said fretfully.
⌠We did so many pranks.. she lost her eyebrows that one time..■
Mako snickered before flushing. ⌠Sorry but that▓s still funny.■
⌠So if we apologize?■ Ami asked Lune but the pink kitty was already shaking her head. ⌠No? Why not?■
⌠Because this isn▓t about how she was treated. Do you realize she▓s lived a normal life? A -normal girl- life?■
Lune sighed tiredly. ⌠But eventually, the pressure will get to her. She has to return, she doesn▓t have any choice.■
⌠So while we convince her, we▓ll just.. just.. what are we going to do?■ Mina began look like she was cracking under pressure. ⌠I▓m fourteen! I shouldn▓t have to worry this much!■ She wailed. ⌠I just wanted to get her and go home!■
⌠And I want some earplugs,■ Rei muttered. The three girls glared at the violet-haired girl. ⌠Come on, already! Let▓s just go and pester her. And if that doesn▓t work, why don▓t we just kidnap her?■
⌠Sure, that▓ll make her really happy,■ Ami muttered.
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The wind picked up, soft and gentle against the pink-haired girl. She was watching the sunrise, the cool morning waking her up. She looked over her shoulder with a sigh. It was strange, coming back. She had been told she would never come back but yet, here she was, just after the battle against Chaos.
Chibiusa was no longer small and child-like. She was nearing her seventeen birthday and would learn, shortly, to adapt to being the new Sailor Moon. But she wasn▓t sent to the past to stop evil but rather to be a guide to someone she didn▓t have any idea about.
She stared at the picture, wondering who the look-a-like was. With the similar hairstyle but only doubled, they were very much alike. ▒Also alike to Mom,▓ Chibiusa sighed tiredly. ⌠I don▓t know if this was a good idea. Why would she listen to me?■
Remembering back, she realized that something had been held back from her. The mission was clearly defined. Only to convince this girl to return home. Apparently, if she didn▓t, something about the time continuum was going to shred and people weren▓t going to exist.
But she certainly wasn▓t expecting the shock as she stared at the four ▒clones▓. ⌠Wow, this is.. interesting..■
The four girls, upon seeing her, had bowed deeply, a trained measure that she felt was strangely justifiable, even though she was still embarrassed. ⌠Don▓t bow.. I mean, do I know you?■
⌠You will,■ Ami said wisely. ⌠That is, if we can get Kousagi home,■ she added.
⌠Who▓s Kousagi?■ Chibiusa asked.
⌠Um.. our leader?■ Mako offered.
⌠I see.. and why does she have to come with you?■
⌠Because she doesn▓t belong here! She has to go home!■
⌠Oh. Was she sent here for training?■
⌠No, she was essentially useless in all matters,■ Rei stated matter-of-factly. ⌠But it▓s all because she couldn▓t remember.■
⌠Remember what?■ Michiru asked. She, Haruka, and Setsuna were with the four young girls while Hotaru had left for classes.
⌠Something happened when she was a child,■ Mina said finally. ⌠We don▓t know much about it but because of it, her powers were harnessed to the memory and she▓s only as strong as it comes to her. She must of thought of something to the memory and wanted to do something about it.■
⌠It was Chaos..■ Lune spoke. She had just woken up, as she stretched her back languidly. ⌠She told me that someone with white hair and a star on her brow told her something about Chaos. She was dressed as a senshi... Sailor... Sailor... something.. hold on, it▓s on the tip of my tongue.■
⌠Hurry up with the memory!■ Mako urged. ⌠I don▓t like guessing games!■
⌠Sailor.. Cosmos,■ Lune nodded. ⌠But where we▓re from, she▓s just a legend.■
⌠But.. isn▓t that Usagi?■ Michiru whispered thickly. Haruka was pale as Setsuna only looked thoughtful.
⌠What?■ The four girls looked at her with strange gazes.
⌠My mother.. doesn▓t she.. she▓s still.. where are you from again? What era?■ Chibiusa rambled.
⌠The 40th century, give or take a millennia,■ Mina offered.
Chibiusa blinked. ⌠Who is the Queen? It▓s Neo Queen Serenity, right?■
The four once more looked at each other. ⌠She actually isn▓t around. We don▓t know where she is. After the last of the Sol Guardians passed away, she was left alone save for her daughter. But then she just up and disappeared,■ Mako said finally.
Chibiusa▓s eyes widened.
⌠Too much information,■ Mina slowly said, her voice in a low hiss.
⌠So what happens if Kousagi doesn▓t go home?■ Chibiusa asked shakily.
⌠Time will unravel..■ Rei said quietly. ⌠We▓ll be lost in time and everything will mess up. There may never be Crystal Tokyo, let alone our own timeline.■
⌠Then we have to force her to return,■ Haruka said quietly. ⌠I think it▓s best we don▓t ask any more questions,■ She added, seeing the lowered face of the nearly adult Chibiusa.
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⌠This isn▓t working either,■ a familiar voice come from a tall, imposing male figure. His hair was as black as his eyes, and his skin was olive skinned. He wore strange clothing, not like the modern society but that of a nomad. His clothes were in layers, dark colored as he looked around the bustling streets of Tokyo. Surprisingly, the three men weren▓t drawing any attention to themselves, despite their strange garb.
⌠Phobetor, you▓re frightening Phantasos again,■ came another familiar voice. It was softer but deeper than the first man was. He had the same black hair, save that his was far longer, pulled back into a tight braid that trailed to his hips. His dark violet eyes shimmered, turning black in the shadows. His skin was a warm peach, almost similar to his brother.
Phantasos was the younger, delicate looking one. With the trademark black hair, that was pulled halfway into a ponytail then the rest captured into the same upper tail to have two tails become one, his startling ice blue eyes were wide and emotional.
⌠I▓m fine,■ he said weakly. ⌠But your idea, Icelus,■ he referred the one with the hair in the braid. ⌠We can find a single person with enough energy to awaken our brother?■
⌠There are numerous sources, counting a total of five. However, several of them are untapped and we need those who have come to their highest level of energy as possible.■
He turned toward the edge of the long street. ⌠It happened the other day, when we set out that Oneiroi, Nightmare Centaur.■
⌠So then we draw out those strange creatures?■ Phobetor snorted. ⌠I▓d rather just attack. If she▓s so powerful, we can get her in her sleep!■
⌠That won▓t work. We have to ▒urge▓ her to use as much power. I▓m trying to think of a plan but this place is getting too noisy,■ Icelus sighed. ⌠If only we had stayed at home. We may have found a cure there.■
⌠But they were going to kill us, our own people,■ Phobetor glared at the people passing them. ⌠These.. humans at least don▓t murder themselves for the general idea of sacrifice.■
⌠Only Morpheus was to be the sacrifice,■ Phantasos said very quietly. ⌠Why him?■
⌠I don▓t know, it was a strange thing. He was attacked but he wasn▓t killed,■ Icelus sighed. ⌠I▓m still looking into it so don▓t worry.■
⌠Then I▓m going to rest. I▓m exhausted. This ▒daylight▓ is painful on my mind,■ Phobetor melted into the sea of people.
⌠Brother, we will not harm these beings, right?■ Phantasos asked softly. ⌠We just need enough to awaken him.■
⌠Brother... I keep thinking this one thought. What if this was the way for his sacrifice? Once he fell asleep, everything began to get better on our home world. It▓s just we don▓t know the outcome of the losses of the flowers. Each one is tied to him but they▓re draining away. Does that mean he▓s dying or something else?■
⌠Something else what?■
⌠I don▓t know,■ Icelus said slowly. ⌠But brother wasn▓t upset about this.■
⌠Then why are we here?■ Phantasos looked seriously confused.
⌠Because even though we let him agree, we all swore that he wouldn▓t die for us. We▓re trying to save him but like all the other worlds we▓ve gone to, nothing is working. I don▓t understand how deeply he sleeps. Morpheus..■