I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON!
Chapter 9: The Battle Begins
The time was fast approaching for the invasion to the Time Gates. Many youma were prepared along the outer boarders dressed in various bits of armor. Some were in long black cloaks standing along side Katan. Others next to Dalan were dressed heavily in suits of plate ready to run head long battle. Katan was on edge. She had run through the plan may times in her head. It really wasn't all that hard to do, still it took all of her will power not to show just how worried she was.
Two teams were based at various points ready to jump through the multiple rifts in the universe that would appear momentarily. Katan, the one in charge of the smallest team would lead them into the back entrance of the castle under careful stealth and await for the hell to break loose, from there it was only a matter of capturing the kids, killing those who got in the way.
Dalan was leading the largest team, his main priority was to cause enough havoc that the Senshi would be unable to gather into a group. Killing was not his main objective, however if he found that he needed to, no one would punish him for it. He knew they would lose many of youma standing at his side tonight, even so he knew they would gladly give their lives. Dalan was not a stupid man. Scatterbrained on occasion yes, but not stupid. He had a wife and children that awaited him at home. Most of the youma surrounding him did as well. As he closed his eyes he remembered the past that lead his kin to where they stood today.
It was true that they fed off of energy from the living, but that didn't mean they were as animalistic as many seemed to think. There were people here who had families to protect and children to feed. Life energy was the only way they knew how. Was it really any different than killing an animal to eat meat? For them the answer was no. His people had to do what they did simply because there were no flora or fauna to consume, all of it having died off during the great many wars. All they wanted now was a new place to call home. A place they could safely raise their children and live in peace.
The problem was on the outer rim life was hard to sustain. Most of the families had moved to the inner cores of their planets just to keep from freezing. At one time the people of the White Moon tolerated those of the Dark. Granted it wasn't on highly friendly terms but, food was supplied by way of livestock and fish, in return the people of the dark moon weren't allowed to leave the boarders governed by the outer galaxy. The one called Pluto had at one time stood as an ally to both kingdoms making sure the needs of each were met.
This was when they were at their prime as a society. They had food to eat, clean water not frozen and crystallized by many years of impaction to drink, from the earthlings. Flames provided by the people of mars warmed their homes and places to gather and bury the dead were built, priestesses and maidens gave comfort to those that mourned. Some of the doctors from mercury provided medical treatment to those sick and injured and taught them how to care for their own wounds. Some of the highly intelligent youma were allowed to study at Mercury's largest hospital so that they could learn the ways of highly advanced medicine. Venus and Jupiter brought with them precious metals, woods, and other necessities teaching them how to build homes and other things. Neptunians and Uranians helped to regulate the atmosphere, stopping the acid rain and removing the toxins that caused many of the Dark Moon to suffer. The people of a derelict Saturn taught them how to live and survive in the extremely harsh conditions the youma had to endure.
Then just when all was seemingly right with the lives they lead, the people of the planet Ceres started to become highly aggravated with Queen Serenity the third. Ceres, the planet located between Mars and Jupiter, happened to be the only planet within the Dark Moon Kingdom's government that actually resided among the inner planets of the White Moon. They had no right to complain, the location of their planet gave them all of the comforts the outer Dark Moon planets never would have obtained had it not been for Pluto. Only the royalty were allowed to live there and to hell with all who were poor and neglected. Serenity had offered her hand, she had wanted to bring both worlds together. Our leaders had not accepted this option, wanting not to be seen as a merging society, but, instead as the greater civilization.
This caused an uprising amongst our own people and the three outer planets of our Kingdom Haumea, Makemake, and Eris, all dwarf planets were effectively left for dead. The people of Ceres called out for war against the White Moon. When Queen Serenity the fourth came into power her fear of our people made her cut off most of the ties, having grown up in a war zone her entire life she wanted peace. Later she had met a man from the so called tainted youma bloodline, married, and gave birth to a son. He was a gentle child and Serenity had hoped that this boy could prove that others of the Dark Moon could be just as gentle, loving, and innocent.
When the boy was seven years old the young prince became an older brother to a little sister. Their father loved them very much yet due to differences of opinion people from both Kingdoms began to argue. People of the White Moon favored the women to take the role as the new ruler if it were possible, while people of the Dark Moon favored those born first, regardless of gender to take the stage.
The arguments in power continued onward until the boy and his father left the White Moon out of the need to keep the peace. The girl was still a baby at the time. Serenity raised her daughter to never know her father or her brother. Life continued and for Serenity and all was well to a degree. Still her secret need was to bring the two worlds together so that everyone could be at peace.
It was roughly that time Beryl came into power amongst the Dark Moon declaring yet another war, and this time out of the pressing need to survive many joined her side. Those that didn't either ended up dying or living in hiding. In the end the White Moon fell, but not for long as Serenity gave her last hope towards the future. She sent her own daughter to earth along with the Senshi that would be fated to protect her. The hope that one day Usagi would become the one who could actually bring both Kingdoms together for the first time, welcoming them with open arms.
Now in the thirtieth century Neo Queen Serenity resides as the new queen of the White Moon and the fifth in the Serenity bloodline. Due to skewed lines of reasoning that started roughly three thousand years ago she feels as if she can't trust the Dark Moon. Saria, the child of Pluto refuses to help our kingdom as her mother had. This was why they fight, because of the stupidity of ancestors caused so much hatred that those of the White Moon feel distrust, and those of the Dark Moon to want vengeance.
It was true Pluto still wished to bring the bonds together however, she was one of only a few who had lived through the many war and peace times that all had endured. She was also the only parent alive who had a child that was brought into a life with mixed bloodlines and ancestries still welcomed into the White Moon Kingdom. That was another thing that didn't sit well with Dalan. Though his leader was very powerful, he was also a man born with mixed bloodlines. Only difference was, unlike Saria he was not welcome, thrown aside as a member of the Dark Moon. What was even more disturbing about it was the one woman who sent him there. She should have welcomed him with open arms, but, instead she didn't even know who he was. His existence wasn't even known to her. His own little sister.
When the rift opened Dalan opened his eye and lead the way. Once they stood in front of the castle the army of youma fanned out bringing with them all of the destruction through the long years of pent up rage. The destruction created was only a small part of what could have happened. As they expected, the Senshi attempted to hold their ground. What was unexpected was that only one of the Senshi emerged from inside the castle walls. Pluto stood solo before the large crowed in a commanding presence.
"What are you doing here? This is forbidden ground!" Pluto called out to the army stopping their actions, eying Dalan as he approached. Flanked by the youma.
"We are here for those kids. They do not belong here, even you should know this." He knew Pluto wouldn't go for any trick of his, but if he could stall for time perhaps Katan could think of something.
"I am the guardian deity of Pluto, thus these gates fall under my jurisdiction and I'd advise you leave now. I do not know of the meaning of this but, the gates are forbidden ground. You also do not belong in this time, of that I am certain. Do not make me say it again, leave now while your army is still intact." Pluto warned, her voice showed no emotion but her eyes showed deep remorse.
"We can't do that. Surely you know why we need to be here, what importance those kids bring. Tell me Pluto, would you so willingly cast aside the very people you once tried to defend? Have you changed that much? You know better than anyone what happened. You know our suffering, that our lives are in shambles. You know what we lost. You saw it all. Katan, Talan, and I… You know damn it…the price we paid." his voice was just above a whisper. It was clear, though his orders were to battle and destroy everything that was not what he wished, not against this woman at least. He may be angry with her but he at one time owed his life to her. This member of the Dark Moon sought peace and Pluto knew it, she knew him.
"Yes, I know well of the past. I saw it and remember all too well. I never want to see that happen again. It is clear that you don't wish to fight and lose more of your comrades. The cause you seek needs to be stopped, here in this time, not fueled by aggressions of the past. If your people seek peace then attacking the families of those that will one day decide your fate is a costly mistake my friend. Please remember, I too paid a very heavy price." Pluto knew she could easily wipe the floor with the youma before her if she wanted too. She had fully expected that the enemy was not going to be from the present time given all of the oddities lightly. What she did not expect was to see a man from her past, a man that at one time was a child orphaned by the illnesses of his planet.
"You speak as if you know of a merciful being who can save us, but, can she? Can you really tell me honestly if I stop a galactic war from taking place that we will be saved? I can not believe that, not when that damnable woman cast her brother aside. She never even knew he existed Pluto!" Dalan was becoming angry, where was Katan when he needed her.
~~~~~~MEANWHILE BEHIND THE CASTLE~~~
Katan had worked her way along towards one of the many back doors many youma following her and others passing through different entrances. She could just taste the victory won once the Senshi suffered the loss of the children much like she did the loss of her family. She only had her siblings left after illness and war took the lives of her parents and distant relatives. She used these last moments to reflect on her situation as the eldest sister. At one time she and her little brother and sister were looked after by Pluto, a Senshi from White Moon and a woman named Metaila, a civilian of the Dark Moon. It wasn't a perfect life, but at least they were loved and well taken cared of.
At that time many orphans scattered the streets and due to the unnaturally long life span the people of the Dark Moon had, it was not uncommon for their people to live well into the late hundreds. On the White Moon that was largely uncommon, even with medical advices no one lived past two hundred unless they were gifted with the power of a Senshi. Even that was a rarity. Children were raising children from the lack of adults until they were cared for and protected by these two women. They also had a child of their own to look after. The women took care of them well, and saw to the needs of the many orphans. Pluto was shortly after called away by the needs of her own princess, and Metaila stayed behind to continue her watch on the kids.
Time continued onwards and battle began to grow tough. Metaila had grown ill from the acid rain that once again rained from the sky and Pluto had returned all too late. The woman she loved was too far gone. A deal was made on that day that changed their lives forever. Metaila and Pluto made a pact with Chronos, the god of time himself, sealing away the children of the great war ending their suffering for a short time. When the fifth queen took the stage they would be released back into the world of the living. It would not be an easy thing to do even for the great god. There would need to be a place for the souls of the children to rest until the time came. Metaila, already very sick told him to use her soul as the vessel when she finally passed on, he did as was requested, sealing it into a ball of crystal. Every thing went as it was agreed and Pluto was heavily devastated by the loss of the woman she loved.
Metaila had a soul that was pure at first, bearing the pain of the children who still felt grief for the lives they lead. Over time the darkness that the children felt slowly began to overtake her and she fell into the hate. Once Beryl came into the equation it was only a matter of time until Sailor moon brought out the final end.
Katan felt a sharp blade press into her back from the depth within the shadowy hallway. It was cold and Katan could feel a small pinprick and the trickle of blood that followed. She did not turn around, but she saw a faint glow of purple from behind her bouncing off of the many reflective surfaces.
"Stop your movements or I will not hesitate to kill you." The voice of a child whispered with a clear amount of distaste.
"Watch your tongue child." Katan said pulling forth her own sword from under her cloak slowly as to not alarm her opponent to her actions. The blade was the deep shade of midnight teal.
"What are you doing here. State your name and actions." Saturn commanded never letting her blade leave the back of the woman.
"I am here to visit your princess child. Now remove your blade." The woman's voice was laced with a venom that was clearly one a Senshi shouldn't trust.
"I will do no such thing. If you wish to speak with any member of royalty you must go through me. Now, I'll ask you again, state your name." The Senshi of death and rebirth was not fond of this woman. Very few people were capable of ruffling the feathers of the child, however, when someone did it never ended well.
"Persistent brat aren't you… Tell me, what will it take to get you to pull that weapon from my back. If I were a threat to you or any one else wouldn't I have already done the damage? You a mere child, happen to be threatening my life at this moment with a blade. Do you really think your princess would condone such an act of indecency?" If Katan was sure she had the girl right where she wanted her, she was poorly mistaken as Saturn grabbed the woman spinning her around to face each other head on.
Bringing her glaive to her side she stared the woman down. Then she sped forth spinning the glaive above her head before she knocked the woman to the wall using the blunt end. "Do not think me naive just because I am a child. I know well of the equipment you carry. You are not some common person seeking to have a discussion. No, not by a long shot. I can hear the light sounds of metal at your feet, the sheath at your side sticks out slightly making you slow to act on combat since it's under that cloak. You carry multiple blades and act as one who fears no death. Your dressed as the type who would be seen an assassin. That concerns me and I don't like it. If a battle is what you wish I will be your opponent."
"Very well child, you have sealed your fate to die today." Katan said drawing her sword from under the robe. She charged at Saturn striking quickly, most of the swings missed, swiping at only air or being blocked by the glaive. Saturn spun around and jabbed at Katan using the blunt end of the glaive once again before spinning it to the side with the blade slicing through the air, barely making contact with the flesh on the woman's left arm.
Strike after strike the merciless battle continued, parrying and blocking becoming quickly tiresome for both females. each had earned multiple light cuts from battle. Blades were slick with blood as sweat donned their faces. Both out of breath, panting heavily. Attacks were becoming sloppy and ill-timed as they continued to slam blades against each other. Skill was evenly matched. Saturn was clearly the better fighter in combat when it came to her glaive, however, the woman was taller and much more agile. She was also very cunning as Saturn quickly found out.
Instead of trying to over power the small Senshi as many before had and failed, she had attempted to use the dark surroundings to her advantage. Her blade was much darker than that of the glaive meaning if she could stay away from anything that provided a reflection she had the upper hand. Saturn found it difficult to fight this woman off, but in such close range using any kind of barrier was out of the question for the possibility of sealing her in with the very person she would have attempted to deflect.
The purple aura around Saturn lit only small portions of space and the light it did emit was very dull. Finally Saturn got lucky as they neared a corner of the tight hallway. If she could back the woman into it she could deliver a final blow. She aimed her glaive high up above the woman's head causing her to duck out of reflex. Saturn kicked her hard in the face with her left foot as the woman rolled to the right hitting her head on part of the wall as she did so. Saturn then kicked the blade across to the other end of the hall leaving the woman with only daggers. She was confidant that the woman was currently of little threat as far as weaponry went. She grabbed the woman by the hair and pushed her into the corner, staring her down while the blade of the glaive rested at the base of Katan's neck.
As she was about to finish off the woman that stood battered before her a deep, chilly, energy wrapped around the purple haired woman before she disappeared. Saturn knew exactly what that shadow was and it turned her blood cold wondering how something of that magnitude could happen. She was the Senshi of death, she governed all that the dead brought and that shadow was clearly a manifestation of some being. The only question was, what the bloody hell did it think it was doing. She felt the presence still among her and followed it to the balcony. That's when she saw Pluto having a talk with an entire army of youma, and oddly enough it looked fairly civil.
When she jumped down to peruse that dark mass until it stopped engulfing all of the other youma before disappearing, leaving a very confused Pluto and a highly annoyed Saturn behind.
"Damn it all! Get your dead ass back here!" Saturn cursed loudly addressing the shadow in particular, earning a raised eyebrow from Pluto. Saturn only swore when things were really bad, and by the looks of her daughter, she didn't have an easy time dealing with who ever it was she had gotten into a scrap with. She was at least standing on her own two feet and the olive toned woman attempted to lighten the mood.
"You know, if it's dead it doesn't have an ass." Setsuna said sarcastically.
"Oh don't even try, that spirit and I need to have a little discussion about not trying to meddle in the lives of the living, so if it doesn't float it's tight little bum back here this instant next time I see it I swear, it won't be pretty." Saturn growled
"Are you ok? You look like you got into a pretty bad argument." She said softly as she wiped some of the blood off of Saturn's cheek with her thumb.
"I'm ok for now, but we have a problem. Come on lets go meet the others." Saturn said heading off back into the castle. Everyone who had not been able to fight had stowed out in the lab since there was only one way in and that's why Hotaru had been hiding outside of it in the dark.
Setsuna carried Hotaru most of the way since the girl was quite exhausted. Her fatigue made her unable to heel her own wounds meaning Saeko would need to dress quite a lot of cuts. Even with Senshi healing blood loss was still dangerous in high amounts. The fact that most of them were shallow helped but there were enough that if left untreated would have high risk of infection. Walking through the door Setsuna placed the child on the table, Saeko, Ami, Haruka, and Michiru rushed to the table, while the others attempted to restrain a beyond panicked Usagi and Chibiusa.
"Oh my god! What happened out there?!" Michiru said looking at the young Senshi.
"Relax would you, it's just a couple of scrapes. We have more important things to talk about rather than my being roughed up a little." Hotaru said somewhat humorously, attempting to get people to calm down.
"Little! You look like you got in a fight that was more than just a little heated! Who the HELL did this, I'll kill em' I swear I will!" Haruka's temper already started to flair.
"ALL OF YOU SIT DOWN!" Hotaru screamed now beyond the point of being angry and forgot all about being good natured and civil. "We have other things to worry about then me having a little blade on blade roughhousing! Let Saeko bandage my wounds already and the rest of you for the love of god sit down!" She commanded highly agitated. The other Senshi knew that tone in Hotaru's voice. It meant I mean business and anyone who thinks otherwise better be ready to deflect a blunt end of the silence glaive. She had only hit Rei with it once a long time ago, for reasons now unimportant, but, they knew that look and all promptly did as they were told.
"Now I want answers! Why is it, that people who aren't supposed to be alive yet are floating in and out of the wood work! I know you know mama I and want an explanation right now.." Hotaru stared at Setsuna with a critical eye. The rest of the Senshi became deathly silent. It was rare for an outburst of that nature to come from the Senshi of death and rebirth, especially when aimed at one of the people whom she saw as a parent.
"They were reborn, apparently." Setsuna said as she explained in high detail the events surrounding the actions that took place tonight. Retelling the past and what lead to the malice. She however was the guardian of time so even she had limits as to what she could say, and honestly as far as future events went, it was hazy or inaccurate anyway.
"Ok, let me get this strait." Hotaru said carefully. "White Moon tolerates Dark Moon. You help them out. Other White Moon planets help as well when you spread the word. Serenity tries to lend a hand, effectively pissing off Dark Moon, and a conflict starts a war amongst themselves. Then the first war occurs. Then Serenity the fourth comes into power and cut off most of the ties to Dark Moon, Then marries, then has a son and later a daughter. Then they separate. Then the fall of the White moon we all know so well happened years later." The young girl paused for a moment seemingly in deep concentration before she continued.
"During those events, You and Metaila raised orphans. You left to fight for the White Moon, she became ill, and to stop the suffering of the children you sealed their souls into Metaila. Beryl comes along and we know what happened. We also know what happened when Beryl came back to life later and Usagi got a hold of her. Am I correct in simplifying this information?" Hotaru asked still agitated looking towards Setsuna. The others had questions and concerns but they decided to wait until this exchange was over.
"Yes, that would be along the most simplistic lines possible, but in any case correct." The Senshi of time confirmed.
"Ok then, I know I'm the Senshi of death and rebirth, however there is one thing that still eludes me if you could be so kind as to clarify. How, in the hell…do you explain the fact that they are ALIVE! If what you all say happened when Usagi fought Beryl is to be believed they should have been dusted. Poof! Into little lights like everyone else that was killed, but nooo they are walking, living, breathing, LIFE FORMS! How does that happen? How are they still living.. At that WHY are they able to travel here of all places!?" Hotaru asked releasing a tangent worthy of instilling total fear too all that stood before the verbal conflict.
"I don't know. I was trying to figure that out until she…" Setsuna trailed off quietly.
"So it was her. Damn it! See this is WHY no one, not even you or I, should be playing with the souls of the dead to mix them with the living. Great! Not only do we have the Dark Moon goons to deal with, now I need to break a death pact. Just lovely." Hotaru said before calming herself. Most in the room were smart enough to gather the majority of the conversation. Well, all of it except:
"Umm, what's a death pact?" The question came from Haruka asking what most were utterly petrified to even think of asking.
"A death pact is one made upon a death bed. You know your going to die so you offer what you can in aid. Things of simple nature would be the donations of organs after you pass on, or leaving behind a legacy. These can be over ridden easily by time itself or changes with certain lines of fate. However there are certain pacts that are made that can not, or rather will not be broken by the barer of the soul. This was the case dealing with Metaila. Her power of darkness and hate came from the orphaned kids. She vowed to protect them. She's dead, as in not coming back, however this also means she can't rest in peace. If there is no rest for a soul there will be no eventual rebirth. It would be far too dangerous. I remember Setsuna-mama saying grief kept her behind. This is a very plausible reason as to why she's protecting them now. She vowed to protect them as spirits frozen in time after she passed, but you know the ball was broken. That shadow was her in a new manifestation as a spirit." Hotaru said calmly.
"Is she a danger this time as well then?" asked Usagi extremely worried.
"No, she's not filled with hate anymore, but her vow still stands. She can not be unbound from that pact until justice has been met. This means she won't hurt us by her own doing, but… she may stop us from hurting them as she agreed. She had vowed to protect them from war and pain. When that was going on it was against the White Moon, effectively that means her spirit included us with in that pact." The Senshi of death a rebirth explained.
"Well you can do it right? Break the pact I mean, you do govern death after all." This came from Rei, simplistic question seeking a simplistic answer. Sadly one could not be given.
"I wish it were that easy. Most death pacts don't rival others or conflict with other's promises. This one, however, does. A similar pact was made using the Silver Crystal when Usagi's mother died. She did it to protect the White Moon and the ones she loved. Now can anyone tell me what the one connection is between all of the ruckus on both sides of the spectrum?" Hotaru found this to have a simple one word answer, but not one of the scouts had made the deep connections until it dawned on Saeko.
"Oh my god! Suna!" the doctor turned to the woman she loved wide eyed while Hotaru only nodded before giving further explanation.
"Exactly, She's the one, pardon the term, pawn to this little game. Death pacts aren't easily stoppable if there is still a part unfinished. Both will remain unfinished until the thirtieth century. Also breaking one pact would have a drastic effect on the other because of the link. Who knows what other pacts there are among the ones who would fall. In the end that'll create quite the galactic war if someone can't be killed but can kill others. Tell me Setsuna-mama and be honest. If you knew she was going to die who's side would you have ran to first? Serenity out of duty, or, Metaila out of love?" Hotaru asked very gently as to not stir up excess emotions.
"I honestly don't know. I don't know what I would have done. Now that I know what your saying and I've had years to live and reflect I can't be sure. If I was still in that time however, and know what I do now, if I had lived the life I had, I think I would have ran to Metaila's side." Setsuna sighed earning a lot of cross eyed glares from the Senshi.
"Exactly, and that's why even if you can read time you are still blocked from seeing your own life. Anyway I need to do a little bit of damage control. I need to make sure none of the spirits floating around out here will be highly agitated if I were to break the pact. Rei you're the only one here capable enough to deal with spirits besides myself, if you don't mind do you think you can place a few wards around the castle? Just in case we have another run in, I don't want Metaila getting in the way again. After the wards are in place I'll handle the rest." The young Senshi said leaning back finally relaxing.
"Yeah I can do that, Is there anything else we need to do?" Rei asked as she stood to stretch out.
"Act natural, don't freak out if you happen to see ghosts manifest here. Just go about your lives and let me handle it. However if your going to leave the walls of the castle makes sure you bring someone capable of transforming with you. Lets stop worrying for now, the dead aren't liking the fact that we are carrying this conversation." As she was saying this her eyes turned black as what looked to be a gust of deep purple wind siphoned into her from all sides. Then laughed lightly before talking in what sounded like gibberish as the purple that had entered her body left the same color as her now lighter violet eyes. No one even bothered to ask what that was about.
~~~~~~~THREE WEEKS LATER~~~~
Things had gone smoothly as far as ghosts were concerned, no one had spotted anything. The people from the Dark Moon stayed away for the time being and so for the moment it had been out of sight out of mind. The main focus had been the three pregnant women with three different sets of issues. Some were normal, but some were most certainly not. Poor Saeko having never dealt with Senshi pregnancy's spent quite a lot of time quizzing Setsuna and Luna for information, getting little in the way of wanted answers. Currently she was in the lab recounting the various situations that made up the three pregnant Senshi and their significant other.
Michiru's temperament was fine over all and she hadn't been experiencing any discomfort or morning sickness. She did however become the human equivalent of a vacuum and would eat her way through the nights of restlessness finally passing out in the early morning and sleeping until late afternoon only to wake up and eat again. Favoring things that were very strong in flavor. What was odd was the fact that Haruka seemed to be experiencing horrific mood swings, not that she couldn't already have a temper when she wanted. She also seemed to have the morning sickness that should have been present in Michiru, and it seemed to be directly related to what Michiru had eaten. Also was the fact that Haruka had been having a bad habit of sending random gusts of wind around her vicinity for no apparent reason. If she even as so much blinked the wrong way wind would just speed by, even indoors. Michiru had been having much the same problem with random sea water pooling on the floor around her. On more than a few occasions a small wave hit just as it would have in nature making quite a mess of things. The water also carried a very high level of sodium and after the water dried granules of salt would litter the room.
Rei and Minako were also in a slight predicament as far as elements and pregnancy effects went. Minako was the direct opposite of Michiru and wouldn't put anything but bland food past her lips. Her morning sickness was pretty bad and some smells agitated it even more. Her libido was completely gone and she was highly moody. Rei was the direct opposite, becoming unusually bubbly, shoving food into her mouth with reckless abandon. She was like a raven haired Usagi and she often got on the nerves of the other residents.
Elemental issues were abound as Minako had difficulty with becoming magnetized, often attracting anything with metal near her. In effect she was banished from the kitchen and often had to use things of plastic in place of most metallic objects. If she was in a good mood it was not uncommon to see her trailing along random pieces of furniture behind her. If she was in a bad mood she became negatively charged sending any loose metallic object in her vicinity to go hurling away. Rei had been having issues catching herself on fire. It never overly hurt, it was just largely uncomfortable, often leaving her hair smelling singed. It was due to this, that emergency water buckets were in every room Rei frequented and any place she went that was flammable had to be covered in tinfoil, thus adding to Minako's issue.
Then there was Ami and Makoto. So far in terms of pregnancy Ami was the only one that actually fit the standards of normalcy in this situation. Everything that would and should be experienced by a pregnant woman had gone according to common logic thus far, which made Saeko thankful. What was the true oddity this time wasn't the pregnancy itself, but rather the basic elements they used. The two of them had, for reasons unknown, effectively switched the elemental traits in their bodies, thus giving each other a taste of the true abilities the other dealt with all of the time.
The problem with this was quickly understood when they didn't know how to control the powers the other would normally possess. Ami was constantly shocking anyone who touched her, except for Makoto who knew by now how to nullify the effect, and had an almost continual static cling. Makoto having the temperament she did, often found herself changing the humidity level in the room when aroused, or in other cases when she was highly upset, panicked, or angry she found herself turning her vicinity into an icebox.
All of this put together made everyone more than just a little on edge. Ami had to be careful around Michiru so as to not electrify the water that always seemed to surrounded her, and even laying one finger on Minako was out of the question. The house had to be Minako proofed as far as sharp, pointy, metal objects were concerned and Haruka and Rei were quite dangerous when left unattended, for if Rei caught fire amidst one of Haruka's little wind gusts the flames Rei generated would spike from the added oxygen. Even if the flames didn't burn Rei they did burn the others. Makoto's inability to keep the moisture level and temperature within normal levels became a continual cause for alarm. One time when Rei caught fire she tried to poor a bucket of water on her. In theory it would have worked had the water not already froze into a block of pure ice. Michiru's constant calling of the sea usually equated to the wave crystallizing into ice or evaporating into pure humidity when Makoto was around. This was also an added issue when Makoto took a bath while in pensive thought. She had already been frozen to the tub twice already.
All in all Saeko had her hands full dealing well with it all. She had sighed inwardly as she brought her hand to her forehead attempting to calm the headache that was starting to form. Standing from her position she stretched her body out when she heard a small noise come from the doorway.
"You do know you have been sitting in that position for precisely five hours, thirty-seven minuets, and twenty-four point eight seconds." Setsuna stated with a slight cockiness to her voice.
"Well I do now. What have you been doing to occupy that amount of time? Besides watching a clock." Saeko asked with a quirked eyebrow and a small half smirk on her face.
The time mage in question only wrinkled her nose at the thought. "I, my dear, am time itself. I do not need a clock, besides I have far more interesting things to watch."
"Oh really, funny you say that you are time when you aren't even on time half of the time. You just fall out of that little warp hole of yours at the very last minuet." Saeko said knowing that would really egg her taller lover on.
"You know, it is a woman's prerogative to be fashionably late, thus I will never be late." Setsuna replied an amused smile starting to show on her lips.
"Yes, and my theory states: To be early is to be on time, and to be on time is to be late. Besides Suna, I don't think falling face first, in my bedroom of all places, with your butt in the air to be considered 'fashionable'… highly amusing perhaps, fashionable no." Saeko said laughing at the memory of Setsuna's arrival on their very first date while walking to the closet that contained supplies to place some folders away. "Though I did appreciate the view." She finished, slapping Setsuna's butt as she passed by.
"I just wanted you to see me from my best side, and you'll never let me live that down will you?" The Senshi of time defended playfully, hoisting herself on the desk crossing one leg over the other.
"Well for the record I must say, I do rather like that side however, there are other places I find equally nice," Saeko said as she returned to her previous spot in the lab. "Like right here," She whispered quietly tracing her fingers across smooth, long legs the short skirt left bare. "and in answer to your previous question, no I won't. I know how you love to be dominated." She whispered trailing past Setsuna's thighs, she made quite the discovery.
"Why you little kink! Got yourself a quickie in mind do you?" Saeko said arching one slender eyebrow mischievously. If there was one thing that both of them got a rise out of, it was the fear of getting caught, so far no one had.
"Hey now, don't go starting something you can finish. Remember back in the day of the cave man. All one had to do was hoist a woman over his shoulder take her to his cave and ravish her completely, and I've been feeling very primitive all afternoon, I may need to return to my roots." The time mage provocatively warned in a low husky voice.
"Who said I couldn't finish, and might I just say, I adore that you're old fashioned." Saeko said leaning up to kiss the olive toned woman. One hand cupping a cheek while the other was busy running fingers along the hem line of the skirt.
The door opened and then slammed shut in a hurry startling the two who were otherwise occupied. Both of them straiten there clothes telling who ever it was to come in. A rather crimson Ami and a snickering Hotaru stood in the doorway.
"Well don't just stand there Ami, get the burn cream already!" Hotaru said breaking the three from their trance.
"Who got burned?" Saeko asked attempting to compose herself, while Ami scurried over to the corner.
"Michiru-mama, Papa is bringing her in here." Hotaru said still highly amused. Setsuna by this time had regained her erotically playful attitude and she grabbed Saeko carrying her over her shoulder.
"Suna, what are you doing?" The elder Mizuno squeaked in surprise.
"Going to my cave. I told you not to start something you couldn't finish." Setsuna spoke with a slight purr in her voice walking off with her lover still held up by one arm.
Ami just shook her head still in a slight shock as to what she had just interrupted. A few moments later they heard multiple cat calls and wolf whistles from a distance. Hotaru was laughing quite loudly by now holding the wall for support. "Get used to it Ami, this is what I deal with all the time!"
Of course Haruka and Michiru had entered the room at this point with high amounts of amusement gracing their features. "Hey Ami, guess what? Sets had your mom slung over her shoulder they, just passed the living room." Haruka announced while chucking as she put Michiru onto an exam table.
"I know, we saw them do it." Ami sighed having finally recomposed herself.
"A word to the wise, most of the others were witness to it as well so you may want to make yourselves scarce for a little while to let the humor die down a bit." Michiru said with an elegant hand hiding her not so graceful smile.
"Oh, I plan on it. Now don't take this the wrong way but you'll need to take off your shirt and bra." Ami said layering multiple sets of medical gloves to reduce the chance of causing shocks, dressing the burns of Rei's most recent victim.
After the events of the afternoon had come and gone Ami sat on the porch outside of the room she shared with Makoto. In her hand she held a photograph. Old and slightly creased on the back it read 'Ami's third birthday'. She sat on a man's lap and she recognized it to be her father. Her mother and grandparents stood behind them, and a few of her older cousins she hardly knew of sat on the floor in front with her aunt and uncle. It had been so long ago that it was hard to remember anything having to do with the man. Lost deep in thought for what seemed the tenth time today she didn't notice her mother was standing behind her, also looking at the memory that was frozen in time.
"Strawberry cake." Saeko sighed as she sat down next to her daughter.
"What?" Ami asked startled looking at the photo again.
"Strawberry cake. It was your fathers favorite, you loved to imitate his eating habits back then so for your birthday you asked for one as well. If he so much as sprinkled salt on his food you simply had to do the same, you never would take no for an answer. If he drank coffee you drank it as well even though you hated the taste. Anything he disliked you did as well. When you were little you would never eat yellow tail because he hated it, you never even put it into your mouth once." Saeko said smiling and remembering a time when life seemed so much more simple.
"I still haven't to this day either. Never will… Did you ever…" Ami said feeling as if she asked the questions that plagued her mind she would receive answers that went against everything she had known to be true when she became a Senshi.
"Did I what? Ami you don't need to act like everything's ok when it clearly isn't. Ask me what ever you want to know. I'll tell you." Saeko said looking back at her daughter who was very pensively staring at the photo.
"Did you ever really love him?" the bluenette asked softly earning a look from Saeko as if her daughter had grown two heads. "Before I answer that, what brought this train of thought on?"
Ami just sighed, there was so much she could say, and yet not enough all at the same time. "I really don't know, I guess it's the fact that you never really spoke of him, and I guess it just shocks me that I don't remember him much at all. I never really missed him when I grew older. Just like now, I never miss him, but I do miss the idea of him and what it would have been like if he were here. Then the Setsuna thing happened, and don't get me wrong, it's not like that bugs me in particular. What does bug me is the fact I hadn't even the slightest idea you even liked women until Michiru, Hotaru, and I compared notes. Even after things added up from so many degrees and angles it was hard to believe until Haruka caught you two red-handed. Now after today I keep feeling like I need to question the reasons why dad left, I thought I knew, but, perhaps I don't know as much as I thought I did. Just like you felt you had to question me when you found out of my being a Senshi."
Saeko just nodded, she figured this sort of talk would happen eventually. Ami did have the right to question this aspect of her life and the reasons behind it were valid. Ami wasn't angry or disappointed, but she was confused, and for another time in her life she cursed herself for not having spoken up to her daughter about life's past events sooner.
"Alright, I guess it's about time I told you. Your father and I had a very small, closely knit group of friends back in high school. Of them were two girls and one other boy. When I was younger I had already known I was attracted to women, however your grandparents didn't like the idea of tarnishing my name at such an early age. In those days people dating the same gender often caused quite the stir of rumors. Since he and I were such good friends, and effectively the only male outside of my family who could get as close as he did without a slap in the face, my parents wanted me to marry him." Saeko said as she leaned back a little on the wall next to her.
"If I had actually followed my heart back then I would have perused a relationship with the girl named Irene. She was an exchange student from Spain who stayed with our family for a year. We still phone each other and I still receive letters from her every now and then. She has two adoptive daughters who are around your age and has been in a relationship with Claudia, one of our other friends since they moved back after the year was up for them. Your father wanted to see the world and he had wanted to see places like Spain, France, and parts of America because of all the wonderful scenery." Saeko said as she smiled, remembering the antics they all put up with from him during high school.
"He knew from the start where my actual interest had been, but he and I married anyway in hopes that I was just going through a phase. He was a good man, and when he was still with us a wonderful father for you. It was just better for us to go our separate ways. As for the question of love… well that's slightly harder to answer. I loved him as a very dear friend indeed. I had never opposed being with men, and he was indeed a good man. Had I been the type of woman to be content as a simple housewife I think it may have worked." it was around this time that the elder Mizuno caught sight of Ami staring off into the distance.
"Why wouldn't you want that? To be a simple housewife I mean." Ami asked in slight confusion.
"I liked being able to be independent to a degree. Your father lived and breathed words of family. He was highly unable to be content with structure. He was like a bird trapped in a cadge and I simply couldn't offer him the adventure he wanted back then, if only he saw us now. The lives we lead are anything but structured. Looking back I think this is a slightly cruel irony for both you and I. Even if it is, I'm happy with Setsuna. She gives me everything I could ever want in terms of romance. She has a sophistication that most people I know lack, and she's an intellectual, attractiveness is a plus, and she has life experience. The one thing I love the most about her is the fact that where everyone sees me as perfection in certain ways, she sees me as an imperfect woman. One who will make mistakes, but know in her heart I still try to do the best I can. She has never put me on higher ground than she can stand on herself, therefore she stands by my side, I'm neither ahead or behind her. I'm just me." Saeko finished her little musings with a goofy grin on her face.
They sat in silence for quite some time to digest to conversation. Then Saeko thought idly about the current situation and the questions that had plagued her mind. As long as this was their moment to speak truths why not ask a few questions of her own. "What about you and Makoto? Do you have any idea of what your getting into?"
Ami just laughed lightly a bit. "To a degree I'd like to think we know what we are getting into slightly more than you did when you had me. We had no idea we were going to be Senshi before we met Usagi. We know these kids will be and we also know that means it's going to be weird for all of them. Think about it. Their parents are teenage lesbian Sailor Senshi. If that's not odd I don't know what is. I love Makoto and we are lucky you are already privy to what goes on. Some people like Rei and Minako don't have that simple luxury."
"Even if you do have some idea, what will you do now? I mean it'll be hard to go to collage and raise a child. Even if I help you out as much as I can, it still won't be easy." Saeko said attempting to drive her worries about her daughters' future home.
"I might not attend one, I'm still thinking about it. Unlike what you were saying earlier I see absolutely nothing wrong with being a housewife. My life is stressful enough keeping Usagi out of trouble. Also being a doctor would not be the smartest idea I ever had. Think about it logically, Usagi would need to come before anybody else. If I'm in the middle of treating someone and my communicator goes off I would need to leave right away with no explanation as to why." Ami reasoned before another thought mused through her mind "What about you and Setsuna? I won't be around the house forever and we all can't stay at the gates the rest of our lives. What will you do when we return home?"
Saeko thought about it carefully, the thought had run through her mind on more than a few occasions. "I don't really know, I'm not home much as it is, and now with recent events I don't think I'll be going back to work any time soon. I would ask Setsuna to move in with me, but I don't think Hotaru would exactly like that plan."
Ami started giggling at her mother's apparent inability to see just how attached the child had gotten to the woman. "You say that as if she hates you or something. You have to know by now that's entirely not the case. She follows you around just as much as she does the other three, and earlier today if she wasn't already used to the idea I doubt she would have been laughing as hard as she had been. Remember you'll probably live just a long as the rest of us now, so I would highly doubt she would have found it as amusing if she didn't fully support the idea. That leads me to another question. Are there going to be any siblings in my future?" the bluenette asked only half teasing.
"Ami! What on earth gave you that idea? I'm a forty-three year old woman I highly doubt that would be the best idea." Saeko laughed a bit then Ami took on a more serous attitude.
"Your correct, however your aging has come to a halt physically, just like the rest of us. You'll be alive at least a few hundred years, forty-three is barely a drop in the bucket. Besides if the rest of us can do this you would be able too as well. Besides you seemed to be enjoying your self today… Hey, I know, lets go find Setsuna some ooze!" Ami said laughing quite hard at this point as her mother tossed a pebble in the water Senshi's general direction, while laughing at the accusation that her daughter clearly implied.
As the scene was taking place outside five figures stood in the shadows. One was just watching quietly while one slightly shorter chuckled with a husky tone, the third tallest was muttering something about a dirty minded bluenette while the last two in the pack started giggling.
"Yes! Setsuna-mama lets go on a ooze hunt!" Exclaimed the smallest figure.
"Lets not and say we did." The tallest of the pack said avoiding that line of talk.
"Why not Sets, then you could be a Papa like Haruka." Spoke the goddess of the sea while still laughing softly.
"Yeah, then you'd have an excuse to carry her around like that more often! She must be pretty good if your that insistent. Next time include us eh?" offered Haruka waggling an eyebrow still highly amused by earlier events.
"Please, lets not talk about anything sex related. Especially when it deals with someone who is effectively my mother-in-law!" groaned Makoto. That had been the topic of discussion all afternoon and it had already been beaten into a dead horse. They really needed to find a new topic to converse about.
"On a serious note though, you should ask her to move in with us when this is all said and done." Michiru said in deep thought.
"Would you all really be alright with that?" Setsuna asked intrigued by that idea.
"Why wouldn't we be? She's a good woman for you. You wouldn't mind would you hime?" Haruka reinforced by addressing the youngest in the crowed.
"I would like that idea a lot. Umm, one question though. What would I call her?" Hotaru replied quizzically.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, for now though lets leave them alone." Setsuna said as she stepped away from the glass door followed by the others.
~~~~~~~~~~~IN THE SOUL OF THE SHADOW~~~~
It had been a long three weeks since the attack on the castle had been thwarted by the shadow now known to be Metaila. She had been holding them back from fighting, still attempting to offer peace to the ones she used to know to be children.
"Why! Why can't you see the truth, the people we used to be able to trust hate us now. They want us dead and you still stop us from fighting?!" Katan was getting highly agitated by sitting in this darkness. It felt like she was in a womb, locked out to the world. In a way she saw this as nothing more than a warm, dark, prison.
"I see the truth just fine my child. It is your hate that still fuels the rivalry. The actions that the Dark Moon took so long ago caused it, but, you as the adults you are now, have the ability to stop further destruction." Spoke the familiar voice. She still sounded like the young woman she was when she had passes on. Soothing, gentle, and full of wisdom. This was also the same woman that the children knew had fangs, and would bare them to anyone who had tried to harm them. Even as the adults they were now, they knew she loved them as her own.
"You can say that even now? Pluto left you to die! If she hadn't left we wouldn't have suffered. Now she's with that Saeko woman, how can you forgive that. We lost everything, even you. It's her fault! It's all her fault…" this time it was Dalan voicing his thoughts on the matter.
"You were just children back then. You know nothing of the events the White Moon went through. It was our government that started all of the commotion in the first place…and as for Pluto, I love her. I will always love her, but I am no longer in a mortal shell. I can no longer love her as a living, breathing, person. She will always love me, but she as well had to move on with her life. It is because I love her that I understand this, and it is because she loves me, that she does all in her power to let me feel as if I don't need to worry about her in death. I want her to be happy, I want you to be safe, and I want this arguing to stop. Only more suffering will come from your current actions." Metaila said with the strict yet loving voice she often used when they caused trouble a children.
"You act as if Pluto were still here. Still being like the parents we lost. She's not though so how can you forgive her?" Dalan asked
"Because she does love you, and she does still care. If she didn't she would have killed you all very quickly. Remember you started a fight in her domain. Anyone who has ever challenged Pluto at the gates have never lived to tell the tale. Trust me, I've seen her kill armies of youma bigger than yours at the Gates without much trouble." came the voice once again.
"Then what do you want us to do, sit home and twiddle our fingers? We can't do that! Not after all we've been through!" Katan growled.
"No, I want you to straiten up and fly right. You are a grown woman Katan, act like it. You are a mother yourself are you not? What will your children think if they hear their mommy pissed Saturn off and got killed while doing it, or worse, what happens if you do end up taking the children and bringing the trouble home with you? The White Moon would be very displeased, and I'm sure they would retaliate. Do you or anyone else here want to put their families at risk for the sake of vengeance? I thought Pluto and I had taught you all to know better than that! Go home all of you, and raise your families. If you have your heart set on dealing with the White Moon allow me to bare the burden and see if I can't sort some things out. Do not, I repeat do not, do anything that would agitate them more than you already have. Are we clear?" Metaila meant business, and they knew it.
"Yes, I understand" replied Dalan in a small voice just as he used to when he was little.
"Good, what about you Katan?" the spirit asked but received no reply back. "Katan?" Again she asked with no answer. "KATAN MAR LANAU! YOU WILL ANSWER ME!" that finally got a squeaked out answer of "Yes met-met". the term was used when Katan wanted to be cute or had gotten into trouble at a very young age.
"Good. Glad that's settled. Now I will release you, go do as I told you and leave Pluto to me. I will see what I can do, and remember, though it may not look it, she still cares for you all deeply, just as I do. Never forget that." Metaila said as the shadowy spirit faded from around them and the people found themselves on the boarders of Dark Moon once again.
As Metaila prepared herself to visit Pluto many thoughts came poring into her mind. Could she stop the war that would change the fates of the kingdoms? Could she make amends to the people she once aided to kill? Most importantly could she reunite a family torn apart by the very people who they would have governed. There was a lot of lives at stake, and if she failed to stop the fighting soon the great calamity of the crystal would seal the fates of many lives before their time should come.
TBC
Please read and rate.
