Is this...an update...?
Maleficent turned from the sailor soldiers, an evil smile plastered on her face. Yes, let that light fade...let her heart be torn to pieces. She wished she could stay, but she had some business to do in Hallow Bastion...
Rei, Minako, and Makoto were all sitting at the Fruits Parlor Crown, none of them really speaking much and all of them looking glum. Luna and Artemis sat to the side, also looking worried. Rei stared into her drink. "So, Usagi's still not talking to anyone?"
They all shook their heads.
"She's done nothing but stay in her room," said Luna. "She hasn't been to school all week. Her parents are still shaken up over what happened with Beryl, and...finding out the truth about her. They won't really say much to her."
"I can hardly blame her," said Makoto. "To think that Galaxia's our enemy again..."
"That everyone's our enemy..." said Minako sadly.
"Speaking of which, I wonder how they're going to strike next," said Artemis gravely."
"Oh!" said Rei. "Ami and I found something at teh hospital the other day! There was some sort of sickness that was turning people into heartless."
"What!"
Rei nodded. "We managed to heal everyone there, so I think we've stopped the spread of it for now, but..."
The bell rang and the door opened. ALl of the girls turned to see Ami walk in with Hotaru and Setsuna, all looking weary. Ami sat down next to Minako and put her head on the table. Hotaru sat next to Rei, but Setsuna didn't sit. "We discovered a new enemy," she said quickly. "While you were fighting against Beryl, we were fighting another sailor soldier-she calls herself Sailor Nemesis."
"Nemesis? The planet the black moon clan resided on?"
Setsuna nodded. "I'm not sure if she's from the present or future, but...she's the first new face we've seen, which makes me suspicious. I'll check into things in the future."
"In other news," said Hotaru, "that heartless disease? My dad's been working with Ami's mom to crack it."
"WIth substantial help from us, too," said Ami, picking her head up but resting her chin on the table. "I got behind in my studies...Mercurius will beat me for sure..."
"Apparently," said Hotaru, "The sickness works similarly to the original daimons my father made that possessed humans, like Germatoid and...and Mistress 9," she choked out. "Haruka and Michiru fought some of these as early as when you guys were still fighting Wiseman."
"Professor Tomoe couldn't remember much," said Ami, "but the four of us were able to crack it and find a cure. So that's one less problem, anyway."
"That's good," said Rei, "but...what are we going to do about Usagi?"
"I think she'll be alright," said Setsuna smiling. "She always manages to turn around." She turned to go. "There's someone...I have to speak to," said Setsuna. "I'll be back." She walked out of the parlor, and the rest of the girls just looked at each other.
The First Visit: At the beginning...
Setsuna walked into the room slowly. She looked back and forth and realized that it was empty. She sighed and walked forward past the desk at the end of the room and looked out one of the moon-shaped windows behind it. She smiled a bit to herself. Looking at the stars had always given her a renewed sense of purpose.
"Enjoying the view?"
Setsuna jumped a bit, startled, and then laughed a bit. "You know, you're still the only one who is ever able to sneak up on me...Yen Sid."
Yen Sid had appeared in his chair behind Setsuna—he wasn't facing her, but they were both aware of each other's presence anyway. Setsunsa walked over towards the front of his desk.
"You know, I had a heck of a time getting up here..."
"A new defense system. The Nobodies have been growing out of control," said Yen Sid. "Xehanort would like nothing more than to get his hands on me. I've been laying low recently." Setsuna nodded. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure, my old friend?" asked Yen Sid, although he was already pretty sure of what she wanted.
"I had to ask about Sora. Has he awakened yet?" Yen Sid nodded. "He came through here not very long ago...however, he's not the only one."
Judging by the grave tone, he couldn't mean Ventus... "Maleficent," said Setsuna. "Of course. It was her I sensed..."
Yen Sid raised an eyebrow. "She's been...to your world?" he asked slowly, as if having trouble wrapping his head around the idea. Setsuna nodded. "And brought heartless with her." "I thought it was not possible!"
"It shouldn't be," said Setsuna worriedly. "Our world's suppossed to exist on another plane separate from the rest of the realm of light. The walls around my world aren't supposed to let anything in...or out. They didn't even break down when all the others did—believe me, I checked." Setsuna sighed. "Have a seat and calm down, Setsuna," he said, waving his hand and conjuring a chair. "Thank you," said Setsuna, taking the seat.
"Maleficent wouldn't have been able to break down teh walls herself. That means someone or something else has. And who knows for how long..."
"There are no beings with power of that magnitude that have approached your world, to my knowledge."
Setsuna nodded. "I was afraid of that. Well, its a mystery for now, I suppose. At least the heartless leave when she does. Hopefully, Sora will be able to take care of her before too long. I...I won't be able to assist Sora against Organization XIII as I originally planned," she said sadly. "I'll have to guard against the heartless...and look for the keyhole."
"Keyhole? But the door to darkness..."
"Never affected us," finished Setsuna. "We were never in danger before...and now its still vulnerable. Our world is vast, much larger than most, and it could be anywhere. But if the heart is found, the world will crumble like any other."
"Have you any leads?"
"I think its on the moon, but I've looked other places too. The fact that I can't find it proves its definately well hidden. There may be some tricks to revealing it."
"Well, that's a comfort, at least." Setsuna nodded. "Something else is troubling you, isn't it?"
"What? No..."
Yen Sid shook his head. "We've known each other far too long for that. Your mind is ever moving towards the future. You fear what happens after Xemnas is destroyed, don't you?"
Setsuna turned. "We both know that Xehanort will not stop until he gets Kingdom Hearts, and he most likely won't be alone. I think that after everything is said and done...it will be time for Sora to be trained properly. I mean, if it were up to me, he could finally go home and enjoy the world he's saved, but..."
Yen Sid nodded. "If things go down their current path...all worlds may end up in war."
They both stood in silence for a few moments, both lamenting the way things were turning out.
Mysterious Tower, Present Time
"Sora is making progress. Just as you asked last time, there is nothing new to report," said Yen Sid tersely. "I understand your growing concern, but constantly coming here for updates isn't help to anyone."
Setsuna bowed her head a bit in apology. "Of course..." she sighed out. "I'm being irrational, I know."
Yen Sid shook his head. "Setsuna...do you believe the time is approaching as well?"
Setsuna looked up in surprise. "Well...I was thinking...the walls of our world breaking down...its just the sort of omen that would point to that..." she trailed off. "I do not know."
"Setsuna..." he said, stroking his beard, "I find it very odd that you should be coming to me to find out what is going on, when in the past the roles have been reversed. Is something going on you'd like to tell me about?"
Setsuna hesitated, then decided she had to tell someone or she would go crazy. "My father has awakened."
"Chronos?" he replied incredulously.
"He is going to be taking over all time-guarding duties, which means I am free to be here in the realm of light. But it also means that I'm free to be here in the realm of light."
"So...you can no longer watch over things as you once did...no wonder you've been so panicked."
"I'm not able to see any possible futures anymore either," said Setsuna. "I'm forbidden to take information from the time gate anyway, but...it was always nice to have an outline. I'm going in here completely blind. I can't tell if the time is right or not. Soon, I won't even be permitted to move between worlds as freely."
Yen Sid closed his eyes again. "I merely see it as another omen that the time is indeed approaching. Once Xemnas is destroyed, he and Ansem will rejoin to revive Master Xehanort."
Setsuna nodded. "We knew this, but together agreed he poses too much a threat in his current form for any other action."
"Precisely. If has his way, another keyblade war will begin."
"We can't mention this to anyone yet, though. We don't even know exactly what she's supposed to do, or what part she plays, or even how. We have to be patient. If we tell her anything, it could end up influencing things too much. Besides, at the moment, she's a little...fragile."
Yen Sid frowned. "Do you doubt she is the one?"
Setsuna shook her head. "I've always known. I've ridden right into my own death, knowing what was going to happen, because I believe in her..." she stood up bravely. "And I still do. When the time is right, we will reveal everything to Sora...and to Usagi."
The Second Unexpected Friend: The First Meeting
Some point during days, before chapter 2 but after chapter 1...
Professor Tomoe smiled as he watched his daughter's fingers dance across the piano keys. He had taught her how to play the piano like her mother, but Hotaru's skills quickly grew to exceede his own. She was composing new songs herself all of the time. He couldn't help but feel, though, that the songs she played had some sort of supernatural link. The songs seemed to always represent some certain event or some person, although Hotaru never seemed to be able to recall exactly what. She always seemed in a bit of a daze when she played. Her mother could be like that too, though, always lost in the music...
A knock came at the door, drawing Professor Tomoe from his nostalgia. He quickly got up to answer the door, and Hotaru quickened her pace. The song came to a bittersweet sounding ending as Professor Tomoe brought in the guest from the door. "That was lovely. What was that one titled?"
"Musique pour la tristesse de...Xion?" asked Hotaru, turning her head. The girl shook her head, and Hotaru could see the difference. Although the girl looked strikingly similar, she felt different, and where Xion was all dark, this girl was light.
"My name is Naminé."
Hotaru frowned. "Naminé…is Xion your sister or something?" Naminé shuffled uncomfortably. "And why…why do you feel so different? You have such a strange aura about you…"
"You do, too," said Naminé softly. She looked down. "Xion came here, so I was curious…I followed a chain of memories, and somehow, I ended up here…"
"The chain…of memories?" asked Hotaru softly. "I'm not too sure about memories, but I have been having these weird dreams lately…" Naminé closed her eyes. Who was this girl? Could memories have slipped into her as well…?
"…but I have dreams all the time," said Hotaru. "I'm sort of psychic, so…"
"Oh, I see," said Naminé. "Well, I sort of have a strange power too. If you don't mind, I'd like to just check…"
Hotaru frowned. "You know…I have a strange feeling like I can trust you. Okay, then!" She held out her hand. "My name is Hotaru. Pleasure to meet you, Naminé."
No memories of Sora's were found to have been leaked into Hotaru, but for some reason, she had still been having dreams that resembled them. Seeing as she was getting nowhere with rebuilding Sora's memories, she decided to continue to investigate this phenomenon. And absolutely nothing else.
About a week or so ago…
"The joker again…" said Naminé sadly. "Don't worry," said Hotaru, shuffling the cards. "I've had it plenty of times too. You know, I use to always get it when I played with my other friend, Chibi-usa...if she ever comes back, the three of use will have to play. I don't think Old Maid really works as well with only two people."
"I think the joker likes me..." said Naminé. "We're the odd ones out..."
"Naminé..." Hotaru shook her head. Even though she had shared practically everything with Naminé, she didn't really like to talk about herself, or why she always talked herself down so much. When Hotaru asked about her past, she once simply replied, "I have no past." Still, the two of them had become close.
"You sure your friends don't need you right now?" asked Naminé.
"I'd sense if there was any impending doom," said Hotaru a tad dramatically. "I'm sure the rest of the girls will be able to handle it. Besides, why save the world when I can stay here with my best friend?" she asked, dealing Naminé a new hand.
Naminé smiled. "You know, it's kind of unfair for us to play Old Maid when you're clairvoyant." Then Naminé looked at Hotaru seriously, suddenly realizing what she said. "Wait…am I really your best friend?" she asked, a little surprised.
Hotaru nodded. "I don't really have a lot of friends…but that's not why!" said Hotaru quickly, blushing. Naminé smiled. "That's all right. I know what you mean. I've never had a real friend either." She put her cards down. "Hotaru...I came here to tell you...we may not be able to see each other again."
"What? Why?"
"There's something I have to do. Honestly, it's something I should have done a long time ago, but...there was a mistake I had to fix first. Do you understand?"
Hotaru frowned. "Not at all, actually. Naminé, whatever it is, you can tell me. You don't have to speak in code all the time. You can trust me."
Naminé stood up and started backing away. "I've always been alone, before…I thought that was just my place, to be alone. And then I met you," laughed Hotaru a bit. "Hotaru…you made me feel like I have a heart."
"Naminé…?"
"Don't worry," said Naminé. "I'll come back, one last time. And then I'll tell you everything. I promise." She held out her hand, and a corridor of darkness opened up. Hotaru backed away a bit. "Naminé, what are you…"
"Goodbye, Hotaru," she said softly, then walked through and disappeared. Hotaru sat and pondered, feeling the weirdest sense of Déjà vu…
Now, Present
Ami was sitting at home, studying furiously, when her mother finally walked in the door. Ami put the book down for a moment.
"Oh, mom! You're home late. Another busy day?"
"Actually…I just had dinner with Professor Tomoe."
"Oh…" said Ami nervously. "Well, that's nice…" she continued politely.
"It was just as friends!" protested her mother. "By the way," she said, picking through the mail, "this letter came in for you."
Ami took the letter. "Mercurius?" she gasped out. Could it be…a love letter? Hm, no hives, can't be that…she tore it open and quickly started reading.
Dear "Mercury"
I've been watching you for a long time. You really are a bright girl. But…I think you're wasting your potential on such a mundane life. That you've cracked my virus already proves how great you could truly be. Mizuno Ami…Sailor Mercury…how about a game of chess sometime? I'll give you the address. Bring your friends along too, if you want—although I'm not sure if Usagi will feel up to it.
See you soon!
Mercurius.
P.S. If you need any incentive, we're working on another strain of the virus. Unless you want the entire city turned into heartless, I'd hurry. Here's where to go…
Ami dropped the letter and started running.
So...any surprises? Setsuna knows yen sid? The heart? What? Already half way done with the next chapter thank goodness^^
