A New Love and A New Life

Chapter 9.

7:00 a.m. found the three women still sleeping peacefully. Blissfully unaware all hell had broken loose at the mansion. Nao and Hikari had been enjoying a reunion with their sisters while the third member of their unit slept after a long night of work when the trouble started. Seiya and Taiki had just picked up the breakfast trays they were taking out to the patio for their sisters, Michael and Hotaru when it happened. In the split second it had taken for their minds to register the intruder their eyes had seen it was already too late for Seiya. Because an energy blast to the gut, had sent her flying through the glass doors she'd been about to open. Though she was in severe pain from the many cuts the broken glass had caused. Seiya curled into a fetal position and lay absolutely still in the grass, refusing to henshin and fight back. Trusting Taiki, Michael, Hotaru, her sister and sister-in-law to do that for her. Knowing that her baby's life depended on her stillness. The blast had dislodged the baby and now Seiya could feel her daughter desperately fighting the call of the after life.

Across town the three sleeping women were woken by a frantic Sailors Pluto and Neptune. Haruka had never once in her life seen true fear in Pluto's or Neptune's eyes. But now she did. As Setsuna and Michiru yes, but never as Pluto and Neptune. "What's wrong Pluto? Neptune?" Times senshi replied. "Get dressed quickly and come with us. Michael's about to make his first kill and Saturn's going to need her mothers help. Thanks to Kakyuu, Seiya's losing the baby." When they re-materialized at home moments later Haruka thought for sure they were already too late. None of them spared a glance at Kakyuu who lay dead at the Uranus Knights feet. Their eyes were on Seiya who'd let out an ear splitting, heart-broken scream, just as blood and water started to pool and run down her thighs.

After gently getting the crying starlight to her back. Saturn laid the bladed end of her glaive on Seiya's belly while Princess Sailor Moon did the same with her silver crystal. Both whispering. "Trust us." Then standing and facing each-other both girls linked hands and raised them skyward. They then began the chant that would save the baby and seal the starlights fate. "We are the light and the dark, life and death. Two sides of the same coin. The light was born from the dark and the dark born of the light. To call forth Celesta and save a life we now must unite. Silence Glaive of Saturn, Silver Crystal of the Moon. We ask in the names of Selene and Saturn. Mother and father to the blood-lines of Lunaria and Saturnus. Make us one!"

When the swirling vortex of power faded only one person stood where Usagi and Hotaru once had. And until you looked at her eyes a person would think they were staring at Mistress Nine. The woman had Usagi's eyes. In her hands on a tray of silver were three pure white candles. Two with a golden band on them and another that was dangerously short and getting shorter by the second. "I am Celesta. The Goddess of life and Death. These two candles with the golden bands belong to Seiya and Taiki. The other to Iya. There is only one way left to circumvent Hades and Charon and save Iya's life. But it will require a sacrifice. The gold bands indicate very soon they will become true eternals. But if they willingly give up that right. I can remove the bands and crush them over Iya's candle saving her life." It only took a split second for the un-born baby's parents to decide. But it was Yaten, knowing what her fate would be that said. "Do it Celesta."

When it was done Iya's candle was long and strong again no wax dripping down its side as of yet. But wax had started to ever so slowly drip down the other two. Smiling sadly Celesta said. "Sailor Star Healer. You only have about forty years left before you must openly take your place as wife to the moon and wind. I suggest you enjoy them." When a second power vortex faded Celesta had split in two and had become Usagi and Hotaru again. Both young women were on their knees and breathing hard. When she could catch her breath Princess Sailor Moon asked. "Seiya, Yaten, Taiki. Did it work?" Seiya her head in Taiki's lap while Star Healer used her power to heal the cuts and bruises smiled.

"Yes Odango. But why do you have to ask?" The Lunarians eyes went as cold as ice and as hard as steel. Using her own sword for leverage the eternal princess stood. "I'll let Hotaru explain. Right now I've got to take out the trash. Star Dancer, Star Chaser you're coming with me. I need your help taking some garbage back to where it came from." When the princess walked away Saturn lifted her head. "What did her eyes look like? More correctly her pupils." Sitting up carefully Seiya replied. "They looked normal. Why?" The senshi of death let out a relieved sigh. "Oh thank the gods. Thank the gods the mergence of the two silver crystals re-enforced the choke chain on Princess Sailor Moons temper. Other-wise we'd have a major problem on our hands."

"But that is neither here nor there. She wanted me to explain about Celesta. Now keep in mind bed-hopping is a favored sport among the gods. The Sheppard Endymion wasn't Selene's only lover. She also had a fling with Saturn. Celesta was the result of that fling. She was also the first born of Selene's children. Selene didn't have fifty children as the legends state. She had fifty-one. Centuries ago, just before the senshi were created. Celesta got a little too big for her britches power wise. The exact reason she pissed off even her own parents badly enough that she was executed for her crimes and her power split between the royal houses of Moon and Saturn has been lost over time. But the one thing that has always remained very clear is that while the silver crystal and glaive does do what they were originally designed to do, and are fully controllable. It doesn't change the fact they are also the choke chains on our powers and tempers. Only in the direst of circumstances are we allowed to place glaive and crystal together and merge to become Celesta, activating her full power." Seiya's eyes were distant and somewhat sad when she said.

"Iya truly was dead wasn't she?" Saturn replied. "Yes. But because we placed glaive and crystal together and directly on you. The damage was healed and your body was prevented from expelling hers. Because only as Celesta are we able to rip a soul and or body from the grasp of Charon and Hades and return it."

"Then how was it possible for her wish after the fight with Galaxia to be granted? With you more or less dead the two of you couldn't merge."

"It's because for that short period of time it took for her to make her wish, all of our star seeds were within her. Giving her access to all our powers and even our weapons. So in a way we had merged."

"I believe you. But that still doesn't explain why she had to ask us if it worked."

"The answer is very simple Seiya. We are not allowed to remember anytime spent as Celesta. It's not to punish us but to protect us. Because sometimes even she can fail. Sometimes even she has to say no." Letting her senshi form slip away deaths guardian leaned against Seiya whispering. "I'm so tired." Seiya pulled the fragile girl into her lap and kissed the top of her head. "Go ahead and sleep Hotaru-sama. You deserve it." Shocked Taiki asked. "Why add sama? At her age it should be chan." Seiya replied. "She helped save Iya's life. She deserves the respect that honorific brings."

The eternal princess knelt next to her wife and the stepson who was currently redecorating a rose bush with the contents of his stomach. Remembering her first youma kill her heart went out to him. That first kill is never easy and she dearly hoped this was his last. When he started to let his senshi knight form slip away she said. "No Knight of Uranus you're coming with me as well. Some may try to claim what you did was an act of war. You need to be there for the truth to be told. The truth has to be told by you in your own words, your voice. Not mine. Not Star Chasers and not Star Dancers but yours." Haruka didn't like that her son was being made to go as well. But she understood and agreed with her loves reasoning. The truth wouldn't be believed or even listened to if it didn't come from him.

The princess and her chosen group got a surprise of their own when they materialized in Kinmokusei palace a few minutes later. The star senshi who were there didn't seem a bit surprised that Kakyuu was being returned to her home dead. The princess finally spoke when one of the senshi lifted Kakyuu from her arms and took her away to be prepared for burial. "Why do none of you seem surprised that your princess has been returned here dead?" Lifting her hand to show a book in it. A senshi whose hair seemed to be made up of every color in the rainbow replied. "Because we found this shortly after she went missing early this morning."

"What is it?"

"I'm glad you asked Knight of Uranus. It is one of the princess' journals. The earliest date in this particular one is for the day she marked Sailor Star Chaser here as a traitor because she refused to bed her. This was well within Seikaru's rights to do. Kakyuu was fourteen at the time. Age of consent here is fifteen. Had Chaser given in to Kakyuu's demands, she would have been branded a molester of children if anyone had found out. A crime that is far worse than being a traitor is. Now if a true eternal doesn't want the back muscles that operates their wings to atrophy from lack of use. Their wings must be let out for a few minutes every couple weeks or so. The next to last entry tells how Kakyuu walked in on Star Healer while she was in the shower with her wings exposed. But left before Healer noticed her. She knew the only way she could force Healer back here now and into the life of a child bearing courtesan was to kill one or both the others. Or at-least threaten to. Now may I ask? Just which did she do?"

It was Star Dancer that answered. "She tried to kill my sister and her unborn child. She would have turned her power on Star Maker as well if Uranus hadn't snuck up behind her and ripped her open from stem to stern." The senshi's gaze was again drawn to the knight. "You directly attached instead of using your swords power. Why is that?" Uranus replied. "Only a coward attacks a pregnant woman and her unborn child. I was not about to waste my swords time and energy on a coward." Sailor Star Dancer knew this particular senshi very well. So when she saw a predatory light flare to life in her eyes over the knights decisive take charge attitude. She opened a mind link with her new princess. "Serenity-hime. I know her well. I'm asking you to trust me and do nothing, just watch. I want to see her reaction to what he says and does. It should be hilarious. Oh and if this gives you any clue to her nature. Her senshi name is Sailor Star Lover."

Placing a fingertip on the knights shoulder the senshi walked a very slow circle around him inspecting the teenage body. "Hmm. You do not waste time on pleasantries. You also have a take no prisoners, take charge attitude that I like. How about you and I go somewhere to get better acquainted while your princess takes care of business with the council of elders?" The knight smirked as Star Dancer had let him hear her as well. "Nah. I am just not that into you. Besides you're way too old for me." Stunned but not defeated Star Lover replied. "I'm only a year possibly two older than you. And if you're not into me because you're gay, I'm sure I can change your mind." When her hand came to rest on his chest the Uranus Knight gripped her wrist painfully. "Lady you are at the very least fifteen years older than I look to be. Would you care to see my true form?" Flinging her hand away from him Michael let his senshi knight form go. Star Lover could only stare at the child before her in shock as he added. "And if you touch me again, I'll have you brought up on charges before Sailor Cosmos herself! Now some-one please take me to see the council and get me away from her before I vomit for a second time today."

A senshi with crayon yellow hair who wore a fire engine red starlight fuku instead of the traditional black one took the journal from Star Lovers other hand. "I'll take that Star Lover. Since my partner failed to introduce us properly, I am Sailor Star Fire. Now Prince Michael if you don't mind transforming again I'll escort your party to council chambers." After doing what he was told, the Uranus Knight followed his stepmother and the others down the hall. The Uranus Knight though was just like his mother Haruka, who could not resist a parting shot. Turning back, he said. "I suggest you take a bath and scrub your crotch good lady. You reek!" Star Fire was about to make their presence known by knocking on the council doors when Dancer suddenly put her hand against it stopping her. Having recognized three of the nine voices on the other side of the doors. A single salty tear traced its way down Dancers cheek as she asked. "They still live Star Fire?" The senshi cracked her first smile. "Yes Star Dancer they do." Another tear joined the first. "Then maybe Chaser and I shouldn't go in. Seeing us alive and well might give them a coronary." Star Fire truly laughed this time. "You baka. They've known you were alive the whole time. Who do you think helped me sneak you off Kinmoku and fake your deaths anyway? Now move so I can open the damn door."

When Star Fire opened the door the tears Star Dancer had been keeping on a tight leash on broke free. One of the voices she'd recognized belonged to an elderly man in a wheel chair. Five years ago he'd stood tall and proud, his hair at sixty-five still blacker than a ravens wings. But now with hair that was thin and white, joints gnarled with advanced arthritis, he looked far older than his seventy years. Pushing past Star Fire she ran and dropped to her knees and laid her head in his lap crying. "Oh Kami grandfather I've missed you so! What's happened to you?" Akaremi smiled indulgently and slowly ran his arthritic fingers through short sandy blonde hair. "I'm an old man now Taikoru. What did you expect to find when it was safe for you to return? A spring chicken. Hell girl I expected to be long dead and in my grave before that happened. Now dry your tears and tell me how you and your sister are doing on Earth." Doing as she was told Star Dancer smiled. "We're doing fine. But that's not the best part. You and Tenshi-san are going to get your first great-grandchild in a few months. Seiya's pregnant."

Turning to the council elder who'd identified himself as Hikari's and Taiki's grandfather Akaremi laughed loudly. "You hear that you old fart. We're going to be great-grandpa's." Tenshi grimaced. "I'm not deaf old man you don't have to shout. Yes I heard them." Tenshi had tried to sound and look tough but he couldn't stop his smile of pride. A woman who appeared to be a year or two younger than her male counterparts asked. "Kareinai? Yaten? What of them?" Star Chaser smiled at the woman she'd called aunt since she was a small child even though there was no blood connection between them. "My dearest aunt Mitsuki they too are well." Then her smile vanished as Star Fire handed the council Kakyuu's journal. "But if the Uranus Knight hadn't helped us. Seiya, Taiki and their unborn child would be dead. And Yaten would've been brought back here and forced into the life of a child bearing courtesan."

Solemnly the head member of the council took the journal from Star Fire. They had all leafed through the other journals and determined for the most part Kakyuu had always acted in the best interest of the planet. But he knew this particular journal would tell if she'd stayed true as a ruler and senshi or if they way she'd handled her personal desires could bring about a civil war within the galaxies now ruled by Cosmos. Of which this planet was one. The more the council members read of the pertinent sections the more despondent they became. Princess Kakyuu had indeed become a traitor to the senshi way. Closing the book with finality the head council member said. "There is a common misconception about Star Healers once they reach the status of true eternals. Simply because only two others has ever reached that state of being. The misconception being that they can continue to produce children for several centuries. When the truth of the matter is that once they reach true eternal status, they lose their ability to have children within the first five years. Princess Kakyuu knew that." Gesturing to the journal Korowai continued. "So it came as no surprise to us that Sailor Star Healer wasn't her true target. Her target was Star Maker. And for two very specific reasons. The first reason being if she couldn't have the elder of the twins, she'd take the younger by whatever means necessary. The second, true gender-morphs like Kou Taiki are nearly always a Star Maker. This means they have a third way of producing children that doesn't involve inter-course. Using their powers they can create a special flower or pod if you will that houses an infant inside it. It takes approximately five months for the pods to give birth, for lack of better terminology. Star Makers can safely create up to 200 of these special pods at a single time. Because a Star Makers power is being used to actually create the life it is guaranteed the resulting child will be a senshi. With proper rest between periods of such use of their power, a Star Maker can create as many as 1000 children per year. I shudder to think what she may have done with an army of senshi of that size."

Thanks to friends that had become the enemy and enemies that had become friends. Instinct had Princess Sailor Moon speaking before her thoughts were fully formed. "She would have come for me and my Ginzuishou. Because next to the Legendary Platinum Star Crystal it is the most powerfull thing in this universe." Korowai and the council agreed with the young moon ruler. Korowai let his gaze drift towards the knight. "The stars have been singing loudly of their joy that Sailor Cosmos, Queen of all, is finally active. But they have also been singing their praises of you for several days. Praising your willingness to take you mothers place in the senshi. Praising your forgiving heart. Not many children can forgive, much-less love the mother that gave them away." Korowai laughed at the knights' startled expression. "Young master of the wind. My eyes may be old but they can see far more clearly than many younger eyes. At the moment you may appear near full manhood, but you are really closer to about eight or nine life cycles. Am I correct?" Uranus replied. "You are correct. But what does my real age have to do with anything?"

"In many cultures whether the deed is done out of self defense in which this was most definitely the case, or the conquering of a kingdom. The one who kills the kingdoms ruler earns the right to take over the throne as ruler. I imagine at one time earth was no different. If you had truly reached your eighteenth life cycle, you by right of victory in battle, would be the new ruler of Kinmoku. However, since you are not yet eighteen, all you can legally do, since Kakyuu had no children, is nominate some-one to be elevated to princess status and we would put it to a vote." The young knight didn't have to think twice. "It's because of Sailor Star Fires help that Void, Dancer and Chaser still live. I would like to see her named the new Princess of Kinmoku. But even if she hadn't, wouldn't it make more sense to have fireball princesses that can actually control fire." Korowai chuckled. "You are a wise young man and a bit of a smart-ass. I like that. But you are correct. It also helps that Sailor Star Fire's service record is beyond reproach. However with her being thirty life cycles in age her new status would be that of queen. We will have an answer for you by tomorrow morning. Now would you prefer to wait here for our answer or would you like it brought to you?"

"I would prefer to return to my home and wait for word on your decision. This stunt Kakyuu pulled interrupted my parents honeymoon."

"Star Fire herself will bring you the news. Now are there any requests you'd like to make of us?"

"Yeah. Could someone see to it that Star Lover goes to a doctor? That woman has a serious case of crotch rot going on."

The lunar princess slapped a hand over her face in embarrassment while the others laughed. When Star Dancer got her laughter under control she explained what the young man meant. Still snickering some she said. "Crotch rot is earth slang for a yeast infection." Korowai groaned. "Not again." He then said to two senshi guarding the doors. "Restrain her if you have to but get Star Lover to a doctor, now!" The senshi left looking like they were going to enjoy the task. Akaremi, Tenshi and Mitsuki held a whispered conversation before asking. "Princess Serenity, with your permission when Star Fire brings the councils decision, we'd like to accompany her so that we may spend a few days with our grand-daughters." Usagi replied. "Of-course it's allright. I wouldn't dream of keeping family apart. You may come see them whenever you like. Plus if you like life on earth well enough. When you retire from service as council members feel free to make the earth your home, so that you can spend the remainder of your days with them." Star Dancer and Star Chaser were overjoyed that their grandparents would be coming to see them in the morning.