Though it's always been this way
Doesn't mean that it's your fate
But you know it takes the strength of heart and mind
And the faith someday the world will see your side
-Broken Line, Enter the Haggis
Four young women, two cats, and two men settled into a tight circle. To an outside observer it would appear some students had come to the Hikawa Shrine in search of love charms or divine help with their exams. But when the shrine priestess, Rei Hino, entered the room to join the group the vestiges of typical young adults began to fade. Here sat the reborn members of the Silver Millennium who would one day soon form a court in the hills of Tokyo.
Rei was carrying a small gilded mirror which she placed on a small table at the edge of the group so that everyone could see into the shimmering surface. The mirror itself was not ornate but the glass inside the simple gold frame was unlike any mirror Keenan had ever seen. It looked like a portal to another world.
"Is this a dream mirror?" Keenan asked.
"No, " Mamoru was the one to answer him. "This was a gift from Helios once we broke the curse of the Dead Moon Circus."
"Luna told me that the Dead Moon Circus served Queen Nehernia".
"Yes, before Nehernia was healed by Sailor Moon." Luna confirmed. Luna was a small black cat who served as an adviser to the moon princess. Keenan recalled seeing the feline advising the senshi whenever they fought against him. Despite their conflicted past Luna had done her best to explain to him the events of the Dead Moon Circus, the use of dream mirrors, and the current status of the Golden Crystal. The small feline guardian had been wary but helpful to Keenan while the white cat, Artemis, remained hostile and aloof, he was currently scowling while sitting in Minako's lap as Luna spoke.
Keenan was still trying to learn who had been the owner of the golden dream mirror that had ultimately hidden Helios. This person seemed to hold a great deal of significance to everyone in the room but whenever he got close to finding out more he would be interrupted by Mamoru or Usagi who both seemed flustered at the subject.
When the subject threatened to come up again Mamoru sighed."That is a story for another time." He then shrugged sheepishly as he faced Keenan "It gets complicated- we don't want to overwhelm you with too much information all at once. But I promise you we will discuss it." And then he added quietly as an afterthought "After several drinks."
"Yeah" Minako spoke while scratching the white cat's chin. "We don't want to scare you off just yet." Her smile didn't reach her eyes. Something was bothering her. He would find out what it was before the end of the evening.
Mamoru crossed to the mirror while speaking to Keenan over his shoulder. "Once the threat of the Dark Moon Circus was over. Helios gave me this mirror to contact him in times of need. It is the fastest way we can currently reach Elysion as it takes a great amount of power and effort to transport a person there. We often speak through this mirror."
Mamoru placed his hands on either side of the frame and closed his eyes briefly in concentration as his body gave off a slight golden glow. "Helios?"
"Your Majesty" a gentle voice answered as the mirror shimmered briefly like ripples in a pond before a figure appeared. The face of a young man gazed back expectantly from the framed glass. He looked young- with last remnants of boyhood on his face despite the snow white hair that fell into his eyes. Helios wore the white robes of an illusion priest but appeared, to Keenan, far too young for the position.
Keenan recalled that during the reign of the Terran Kingdom that Elysion was lead by an older man, Sol. Perhaps Helios had been one of his disciples before the Shadow of Metallia had fallen over Terra.
As Helios gave a quick bow of respect to Mamoru Keenan's gaze was drawn to the small horn that rested on the boy's brow. It shimmered in the light despite the diffusion caused by the mirror's glass.
Helios' gaze swept through the room as he offered Usagi his respects and each of the girls a friendly greeting before his eyes fell on Keenan. Helios smiled. "I was not expecting you for quite some time, Lord Kunzite."
"Helios, in this lifetime Lord Kunzite is known as Keenan Bishop." Mamoru said. "It seems that the time to unite has come much sooner then we originally thought."
"Oh?" Helios sounded pleased, perhaps a little smug."It seems we cannot plan when paths cross. Who did he meet?"
"Minako." Mamoru smirked.
"Of course." Helios seemed a bit smug.
"This doesn't sound like much of a surprise to Helios." Minako eyed the priest and the prince suspiciously."
Helios chuckled. "I am sorry Minako. Mamoru and I had expected to see the Shittenou but what was up for debate was when you would meet and how.
"Hmmmph" Minako regarded the two with open distrust. "We ran into each other on campus earlier this week."
"Literally?" Mamoru nudged Minako playfully.
"Actually, she kicked a rock into his face." Usagi pipped in cheerfully.
"A rock?" Helios and Mamoru echoed.
Minako sighed unable to look at Keenan. She was never, ever, going to live this down.
"Ha!" Artemis chortled.
"I am never feeding you again!" Minako snapped at the white cat who only teased her harder until the two began to bicker.
The young priest laughed. His voice was gentle and his face friendly. "My maiden often spoke of you fondly, Lord Kunzite. I am glad you have returned sooner rather then later."
"How often did the two of you talk?" Mamoru's voice now had a slight edge.
"The small lady and I had a perfectly respectable correspondence." Helios assured Mamoru.
The girls shared knowing smiles as Makoto elbowed Mamoru playfully. "Better stay on your toes in the future, pops!" She teased.
No one had explained to Keenan that 'the Maiden' was the future princess of Neo Crystal Tokyo as well as the future daughter of Usagi and Mamoru. Nor did they go to reveal that this child, who they called ChibiUsa, was capable of traveling through time to visit. The subject of time travel, crystal Tokyo, and the outer senshi was something the group had elected to save for another day entirely.
And when they did discuss time travel with Keenan they could explain that ChibiUsa had traveled to the present in order to train with Super Sailor Moon at the same time in which Helios had escaped Nehernia ultimately finding safety inside her dream.
ChibiUsa could not only handle the Silver Crystal of her mother, but during that time of crises displayed the potential to master the Golden Crystal of her father. A union of two separate power crystals had never occurred. The implications were staggering for the small child they all knew and loved. She would shape the future of the universe.
When the time did come to explain all of this to Keenan the girls would likely relish in the way Mamoru had encouraged Helios to fight alongside ChibiUsa only to realize his daughter was about to have her first boyfriend. Mamoru found himself the father of a teenage girl who would be eager to date, kiss, and do many things the young (future) father did not care to think of.
The girls found Mamoru's new found attitude of overprotective father to be endearingly adorable. They doubted ChibiUsa would feel that way when she encountered it in the future.
Usagi smiled and hugged Mamoru's other arm which helped ease the tension that had had building at the mention of Helios' lady love.
The room resumed a serious tone as Helios turned to Keenan and Mamoru. "Is it your wish to unite the Shitennou guard, your highness?"
"It is."
"Very well." Helios nodded and smiled. "I would very much like to meet them."
Helios clasped his hands in a brief prayer, he spoke in ancient language of Elysion. As the boy priest spoke his horn flashed a soft gold light.
When the priest finished his prayer he looked at the senshi, the prince and princess, and the lone shitennou with great concern. " I have sensed that the Fae people have returned from exile."
"Yes, we have met several of them." Rei answered. "Their leader is a Queen named Titania."
Helios nodded. "It is written that the exiled queen would return. We had hoped that her time in solitude would have softened her heart."
"That would be true only if she came back on opposite day." Minako said. Surprised Keenan turned to look at Minako. She was visibly angry as she spoke "Titania seems very eager find and gather Mamoru and the Shitennou."
"Helios, can you help us find Zoicite, Nephrite, and Jadeite before she does?" Mamoru asked.
"It is difficult to track them if they have not been awakened." Helios cautioned. "But I will try."
Helios bowed his head and concentrated as his horn pulsed in a soft golden light. After a minute had passed the small horn on his head began to glow brightly like a beacon. Gasping the priest turned to Mamoru in great agitation.
"You must hurry, there is danger. Without their powers restored the Heavenly Kings will fall into peril once more."
"No!" Mamoru stood in alarm. "How can we find them ?"
"Do you still have the Shitennou gems?."
Nodding Mamoru pulled out a velvet pouch from his coat pocket.
"What is that?" Rei asked surprised that something so powerful had been with Mamoru and she did not sense it.
"This is Beryl's curse." Mamoru lay the velvet pouch on the table in front of the mirror while carefully placing the pieces of Zoicite, Jadeite, Nephrite, and Kunzite on top of the soft fabric.
Minako stared at the small pink gem. The stone was a very pale pink color, almost as if is someone had tried to bleach it - it didn't look right to her, shouldn't the color be more vibrant? Why did this stone look especially fragile?
"This is your stone isn't it" She asked Keenan who could only nod back in surprise. Though he was curious how she could sense which stone was his he was also pleased to see she could sense him amongst the others.
"The energy of these stones feel very similar to starseeds." Rei's voice was very soft and very sad as she gazed upon the shinning stones.
"Our Starseeds were removed by Beryl and transformed under her power. What you see is what remains of our starseeds." Keenan's spoke as if he were making a presentation of history, with detachment and focus on fact.
"This is terrible." Makoto murmured. Her eyes were drawn inexplicably to a dark green stone.
"All this time...You have have been with out your starseeds?"Ami had put down her small computer and covered her mouth with her hands in horror as she stared at the gems.
"We have to fix this." Rei demanded.
Keenan did not move as he spoke "It is important for you all to understand that the curse still binds each of us to... her"
"To Beryl." Minako clarified."That is why you fell under Helena's spell, isn't it? She said you were an 'empty carrier' "
"Yes, without our Starseeds we have become a great liability to all of you. There is a hole inside me where my starseed should be." He clenched his fist as he held it over his chest. "I can be controlled against my will and can therefore be used against you. As you saw yesterday."
Helios was still concentrating on the four gems as he spoke. "If you wish to proceed then I will need the power of the golden crystal to finish this spell."
"Whatever it takes" Mamoru said.
"The energy needed to locate the remaining shitennou will take a toll on the Prince. It would be helpful to have the Sailor Senshi close by to assist if extra energy is needed."
Mamoru turned his eyes to Usagi and then to the girls.
Usagi smiled at him as Minako rolled her eyes. "Please! You don't need to ask!" Rei, Ami, Makoto chorused their agreement.
"Thank you, for everything." Keenan said.
" Yeah well, its been a drag having all these weird Fae people running around," Makoto stretched her arms and then cracked her knuckles. "We could use some extra help around here. Our academic schedules are killer." She was only half kidding. Ami nodded with great enthusiasm and was not kidding.
"You are important to Mamoru" Usagi said. "So you are important to us." The girls all smiled warmly.
"So we are all agreed then." Mamoru said as he and the senshi joined hands in a circle around the 4 stones. "Let's do this."
"Be careful." Luna cautioned. She and Artemis stood outside the circle, alert and watchful for danger.
Each woman closed her eyes deep in concentration as Helios began another prayer. The planetary symbols of the Moon, Mecury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter glowed brightly on each girls forehead as Mamoru glowed a golden hue.
Keenan watched protectively as the stones began to glow in response to the power around them. When the light became blinding he was forced to look away.
That's when Minako felt her head begin to spin.
Nothing is lost if you give yourself wholly
Nothing is gained if you keep it inside
-Broken Line, Enter the Haggis
Mina sat on a stool at the SailorV arcade game at the old crown parlor. A pixilated version of her masked alter ego danced across the screen shooting at burglars and throwing boomerangs at monsters.
It looked easy and fun when she played the game.
The game lied.
At 13 Minako Aino had lived in England. She had met a small white cat who had told her that she had an important mission to protect a princess.
And she had done so ever since. She was Sailor Venus leader of the Sailor Senshi and one of the proud guardians of Princess Serenity.
When she had fought alone as the decoy SailorV she had been told by a fallen ex-comrade that she was cursed to never love This had been a bitter pill since she was the soldier of love. Minako had always hoped that her curse had been a well told lie from an angry enemy. But as time had continued she had been left to wonder.
Mina yelped when she felt a hand grab her shoulder.
She turned to see Rei gesturing at her angrily.
Mina stared at her wide eyed until the dark haired woman rolled her eyes in frustration, leaned forward, and pulled the orange earbuds out of Mina's ears.
"Hello! Earth and Moon to Minako!" the raven hair girl snarled. She held Mina's small orange music player in her hands as a tangle of earbuds dangled helplessly her grip.
"Rei! Seriously." Mina sighed. "Why are you still so friggin' edgy?"
"Because you aren't paying attention!" Rei exclaimed.
"Pay attention to-?" Mina stopped bickering when she realized she was wearing an orange formal gown. She recognized it as the royal gown of Venus from the Silver Millennium.
"What is going on? Who are you?" Mina demanded when she realized Rei was wearing the royal dress of Mars. Mina would have assumed she was speaking to the princess of Mars if Rei Hino's small red cell phone had not been clipped to one of the dress straps. Everything in this place was a strange mixture of items that did not belong together.
Behind Rei sat the service counter from the Crown Arcade while the moon and the earth shinned in the sky above a forest of broken pillars from the Moon Kingdom and telephone poles from modern Tokyo. In the distance Mina saw a skyline that looked vaguely like Tokyo, only altered. It reminded her of the skyline she had seen when she had traveled to the future to save Crystal Tokyo.
Rei gave her a wry smile. "I am not just Sailor Mars. I am also the princess of Mars and Rei Hino. It has taken me a long time to accept that. You have not yet accepted that you are more then Sailor Venus and Minako Aino" She turned her gaze to a circle of statues fighting each other.
Minako did not have to look carefully to know these were the statues of the Shitennou and the inner planet princess's final battle.
"Rei...This is what you have been seeing. This is your vision?" Minako was at a loss.
"Yes, but I feel fortunate that I have been given a chance to understand our past. However, you are right. I have spent too much time here" Rei spoke softly as she steered Mina away from the statues and in the direction of the shattered moon palace. "I understand now what we need to do."
Minako froze, unable to walk further. "Rei, I can't go back there."
"Minako, just like I need to live in the present. You have to stop running from the past."
"Rei!" the blond leader was frantic. "I can't!"
The priestess smiled. "You can. You are one of the strongest people I know."
A thousand years ago...
"Serenity!" Venus hissed desperately as she stumbled through the crowd of tightly packed spectators. The princess had begged to attend the parade at the Lunar Royal Square and Venus could not deny Serenity. She had recently been forced to forbid their secret excursions to Terra. Of course, she should have realized that was exactly why the princess wanted to attend the parade so badly. That blasted prince and his guard must have found a way to the moon!
"If she keeps this up I am getting a leash!" The young leader sighed as she scanned the crowds with no success. Venus had not made contact with the princess in 10 very long minutes. She was going to have to call for back up from the palace guard and it was going to get ugly if the princess didn't return soon. Just as she reached for her communicator she saw a flash of long white hair as man walked by.
"Artemis!" Venus called as she charged after him. "Artemis wait! I need you help!" She pleaded as he turned down a empty ally. She followed him- Artemis would help her and she could cajole him into being discrete. If only he would stop ignoring her!
The Mau advisor was impossible to miss with his long white hair that he often wore loose. "Artemis! Why are you ignoring me?" She demanded as she grabbed his shoulder.
"Excuse me, I think you have me confused with someone else." A stranger turned to face her with cautious silver eyes. He looked out of place as he stood rigidly with a small passport clutched his hand.
"I'm sorry! You reminded me of a good friend of mine." Looking more closely she realized that his hair was silver, not white. He certainly was not Artemis but he still seemed familiar.
"Oh!" Venus stumbled back "Your one of them!" She pointed at him accusingly. "You are one of those guards!"
"So are you" The silver haired man responded respectfully as he tucked the passport away. "I seemed to have lost track of Prince Ednymion. Again." He said the last part to himself. "If you could direct me to your princess I am sure I will find him."
Venus sighed. "I was hoping you could help me find the princess." The heel of her shoe clicked on the cobble street loudly. "They have to stop doing this!"
"Yes." He agreed tapping his sword in agitation.
"Where did you get a passport?" She asked our of curiosity. She had spent very little time with the prince's guard but had gotten the impression that this one in particular was a stickler for protocol, etiquette, uniforms, and had no sense of spontaneity. She and the girls had refereed to him as the 'frowny one'.
"Endymion had it forged against my wishes. I prefer to avoid breaking laws whenever possible." He looked miserable in his stolen clothes, as if he were ready to give himself a demerit.
He frowned when he realized she was starring at his clothing. "Don't we look like we are visiting from Mercury?"
"Not at all." Venus shook her head. Your coat is Lunar, your boots are Martian, and the passport is Jovian." It was amazing they had gotten this far! He would not get any further with out her help.
"Jovian?" He paled.
"Yes. Jovian." She smiled despite the situation. She liked him better when he was ruffled. It made him seem like he had a personality. "We'd better work together to find those two before-"
"Lady Venus?" a male voice called out from the street.
"Adonis?" She hissed before turning to the man in a frantic whisper. "He must have followed me! If he see's you he'll alert the guard!" She shoved the startled Terran further back into the ally.
"Wait!" the man hissed back. "This is a dead end. Surely there must be a better-"
"Shhhhhh!" Venus hissed.
"Lady Venus, Is someone back there with you?" Adonis demanded as he walked into the ally.
Venus froze for a moment. Staring wide eyed at the brick wall the prevented escape behind them, the look of panic faded from her face as an idea formed. "I have an idea." She said. "But you are going to have to follow my lead."
"I am in your hands." He answered.
"Come closer!" she motioned for him to bend down so that he was no longer towering over her. She smiled in encouragement and beckoned his face to move twords her own. Suddenly she threw her hands around his neck and pulled him into a deep and passionate kiss.
He was startled at first but only gave a token resistance before he returned the kiss with surprising enthusiasm and skill. He would never be the 'frowny one' in her book ever again!
Venus had to give herself a mental shake to remind herself of the task at hand. She held onto him tightly with one hand as she ruffled their hair with the other. Annoyed he started to pull away until she made a soft sound of protest and then dug both her hands firmly into his ugly lunar coat.
She waited until she heard a gasp from Adonis before breaking the kiss. As she turned to face Adonis the Terran stood up to his full height and began to smooth his a mussed hair and shirt with flustered agitation. She wondered what bothered him more- that she had untucked his shirt or that he hadn't noticed her doing it.
"Adonis? What are you doing here?" Her voice was coy and playful as she turned to face the man who had entered the ally.
Adonis wore the Venusion military uniform of light blue with orange piping. His light blond hair curled slightly at the ends and made his light blue eyes pop as they glared at the Terran with open hostility.
"Lady Venus" Adonis made a visible effort to keep his tone amiable and respectful. "What are you doing down here alone? Who is this man?"
"What am I doing here? I think the question is what are you doing here?" Venus shot back as she also tried to smooth her own bedraggled hair. To her credit, she looked embarrassed.
From the corner of her eye she saw the Terran shoot her an accusing look as it seemed she had concentrated far more on disrupting his appearance then her own. Venus smirked- his hair still stuck up in places oddly.
"I came to enjoy the parade and saw you follow this man down an alley. I simply wanted to be sure you were safe." Adonis resumed starring at the silver haired man with suspicion. "You look familiar but I cannot recall where I made your acquaintance."
Venus stiffened. Adonis had likely been amongst the soldiers who had forcefully escorted the prince and his guard off the moon the last time they were here. She needed to end this conversation quickly.
"Adonis," Venus chided. "You happen to be in many of the same places I am these days."
"Its my responsibility to make sure that the princess of Venus and heir to the-"
"Not this business again!" Venus snapped. "I am a guardian to the moon princess and perfectly capable of defending myself." Adonis began to respond but she spoke over him using her best regal tone. "If my status as Princess of Venus is not satisfactory to you then I would like to remind you that I am also a free citizen! I may go as I please and speak to whom ever I wish." At that Venus grabbed the Terran's arm. "You will respect my privacy as well as my ability to protect the Moon Princess as well as myself."
Adonis bowed deeply. "My apologies Lady Venus." He spared her one last look of longing before turning and leaving.
The Terran moved to retreat from the alley himself but was stopped when Venus grabbed his sleeve. "Wait." She said as she pulled an orange handkerchief from her bodice and held it out for him. "You have some orange lipstick on your face."
His face was unreadable as he scrubbed away the lipstick smudges. "That was a most unconventional rescue, Lady Venus. I hope I did force you to compromise Adonis' regard for you."
"Hardly," She sighed as she finished fixing her hair. "I am the only Venusian woman currently on the Moon so it is only natural that he would feel attached. In time I am sure Adonis will find someone less distracted by duties and destiny then me." She spared a rueful glance at the direction Adonis had walked.. "If I was a regular woman he would have forgotten me the first time I turned him away."
" But you are not." The Terran said.
She gave him an long measuring look before slowly breaking into a smile. "You missed a spot." Gently she guided his hand and the handkerchief to a spot on his chin.
"Thank you for your help. It might be best if I hold on to this." He said with great solemnity as the corner of his mouth twitched.
"Yes, she agreed with mock solemnity as she tucked it into his ill-fited jacket pocket. "You never know when someone on the moon will demand a kiss."
"As long as they are Venusian- in experience they are the most skilled."
She gave him a stern rap on the arm before chuckling.
"My name is Kunzite." He offered her his arm. "I believe we have a prince and princess to find but it seems I could use the benefit of an escort."
"Very wise" she smiled as she took his arm.
The present...
When Helios finished the spell the room filled the sound of energy sizzling followed by 3 sharp "pops". Minako's eyes snapped open as she gasped. She moaned as she tried to shake the images of orange lipstick and handkerchiefs from her mind.
"Minako? Are you alright?" She heard Keenan's voice. She realized she was leaning heavily against him and that he had a steadying arm around her.
"What happened?" She asked as she sat up.
"You fainted. Was the energy drain too much?"
Usagi's panicked voice stopped Mina from answering. "Where are the rest of the senshi?"
Minako jumped to her feet and looked for fer friends. Ami, Rei, and Makoto were missing.
"And where have the stones gone?" Mamoru's asked.
Feeling an unfamiliar weight in her hand Minako opened her fingers half expecting to find an orange handkerchief in her hand but instead she found the lump of Kunzite which glowed dimly.
"Why do I have this?" she asked weakly.
" The spell asked that the stones take what was needed in order to be restored to their carriers." Helios answed.
"But where is that? Are they alright?" Usagi was frantic.
"It seems what Zoicite, Nephrite, and Jedite needed was Mars, Mercury, And Jupter." Helios then turned to Minako. "And Kunzite needed Venus."
A loud crash could be heard outside the walls of the temple.
"Something is out there" Momaru as he shot up to look out the window.
"It probably sensed our power when we channeled the stones. We had better investigate" Minako said as Usagi nodded.
Helios yelled out in alarm as Mamoru began to sway on his feet- weakened from the energy the golden crystal had expelled. As Usagi rushed to his side Minako turned to Helios's fading figure in the mirror.
"There isn't enough energy left in the golden crystal for me to stay. Minako, you and the girls must help the Shitennou to-" Helios had faded until all Minako could see was her own reflection. She looked pale and she still clutched Kunzite's stone gently in her hands.
It was time to stop running.
Where did the time go? No really...where?
If you are still reading after all this time I cannot thank you enough. I am very sorry for the wait.
-CD