AN: Domo arigatou for all your reviews. You may not like the beginning
of chapter 2, demo I promise that I have my reasons. Enjoy the read!
"..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Don't forget to review! ^^;; Arigatou!
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **
The sun was setting. Haruka was driving everyone back to their homes. Minako and Ami had already been dropped off.
She pulled up in front of an apartment complex, and Makoto hopped out. "Ja ne, minna-chan! Arigatou for the ride, Haruka!"
They were driving to Usagi's house without a care in the world. Music was blasting and Usagi's hair was like twin streamers behind the car.
There were screams up ahead. Haruka pulled off to the side and everyone jumped out.
"Something's wrong!" said Hotaru suddenly, sensing evil.
"We should check it out," agreed Haruka.
Usagi nodded. "Senshi, henshin!"
In a flurry of ribbons and feathers, the three Outer and two Inner senshi stood in their place. They ran to the corner and turned.
The sight that met their eyes was not pleasant. A giant metal monster was advancing towards them, wrecking havoc. They recognized it as a mobile suit used in the War, but this one seemed to be different. They learned later that this was one of the first non-human manned mobile suits to be invented. It had been tested and gone out of control.
Cars littered both sides of the street. People were fleeing from it in all directions, screaming.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" Sailor Moon threw her glowing tiara at the monster as it advanced. But the monster was not magic. The tiara bounced off the metal harmlessly.
"Uranus World Shaking!" "Neptune Deep Submerge!" "Mars Flame Sniper!"
Nothing happened but attract the monster's attention. It advanced towards them and began to fire bullets. They dodged, but it would not relent. Moon, Saturn, and Mars managed to duck behind a group of overturned cars for a breather.
"That thing is unbeatable!" declared Mars. "Demo all of Tokyo will be destroyed if we don't stop it!"
"Maybe," panted Moon. "It's not magic, so magic has no effect on it. It's unlike any enemy we've ever fought before: It can't be overcome by magic alone."
"Demo, there is one way . . ." said Saturn, her face determined.
She ran from the cover of the cars towards the monster. Moon and Mars cried for her to come back.
She was within five feet of the metal giant. "SATURN FINAL SACRIFICE!" She slammed her glaive into the ground.
A bright light followed. They say it engulfed the whole city. But when it cleared, nothing was left. Bits of metal fell from the sky. And an owner-less glaive clanged to the ground.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Crying. Wails. Funeral, the horrible funeral with an empty casket. Tears. Loneliness.
Usagi sat up in her bed with a start. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was the horrible nightmare again, about the night Hotaru died. It had been returning whenever she visited the dream realm for weeks now . . .
She went up to the bathroom to wash her face. But something told her she must go to Rei's. Something important, but she couldn't say what.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
It was the pre-dawn hours, but all the senshi and even Mamoru were gathered at Rei's temple, lit only by the Sacred Fire.
Rei was doing fire readings while the others waited silently for . . . something . . .
Usagi had dozed off on Mamoru's shoulder. Suddenly her eyes snapped open and the looked at the doorway.
Setsuna smiled as she stepped inside. Behind her was the indistinct but familiar figure of . . .
"Hotaru-chan!" cried Usagi, running to her. She went to hug the girl, but her arms met only air.
Hotaru smiled sadly. "Gomen, Usa-hime. This is only my spirit, not my physical form. But do not fear," she said, addressing all the senshi, "for I am the senshi of death and rebirth. When the time is right, I will come again. Demo, for now it's up to you to stop this evil."
"I don't understand," said Usagi.
Setsuna smiled sadly. "I knew I shouldn't have let you see your future," she explained, "for simply your knowing of it and your actions because of this knowledge have altered your time stream. Even the tiniest shift can change the course of the future, and visiting the future is much more than a small shift." [AN: Think like how things were different when Mirai Trunks came to the past in DBZ.]
"Things are different in this time," she continued, "but I'm not sure how different. If time had flowed as I expected, mobile suits would have never been invented because the Earth would have frozen over first. But it is not. And as far as I can see, it will not any time soon. Crystal Tokyo, as you know it, will not exist."
There were many audible gasps. "But what about Chibi Usa?" cried Usagi.
"I do not know," said Setsuna sadly. "To keep her future as safe as possible, try to forget about her and live as though you never knew she existed. Gomen nasi, demo it is a possibility that she might not even exist in this time line."
Usagi's face looked pained, and Mamoru's, shocked, but they let Setsuna continue.
"There is a kingdom you may have heard of called the Sanq Kingdom that carries many of the qualities of Crystal Tokyo. It's monarch, Relena Peacecraft, is a pacifist and tries to spread this peace to the world, though it is often false peace. Demo I believe this kingdom has taken the place of Crystal Tokyo, somehow merging with it. I advise you to go there. I believe that, if anywhere, this place will hold the key to your future."
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
No one wanted to leave Tokyo, but they took Setsuna's advice. The Inners were due to leave for college anyhow, so they simply transferred to the Sanq Kingdom University and bid their parents farewell.
The plane ride was long and wearisome, and the cats weren't happy about being forced into cramped kitty carriers.
Although Minako had put on her happy face and carefree facade and everyone tried to act normal, they were all grieving inside. Usagi was hit worst of all. First Hotaru, now Chibi Usa. Who would be next?
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
They were solemn at their arrival, but everyone couldn't help but notice the beauty of the small kingdom. It was exactly the place where they all had pictured peace to be found.
They were escorted to the office of Relena Peacecraft to complete the transfer to the school.
The large group waited rather nervously outside. When the door finally swung open, Usagi was shocked to come face to face with a girl her own age.
"Konnichiwa, Relena-sama," she said, bowing. "Watashi wa Tsukino Usagi. My friends and I are the transfer students from Tokyo."
The girl smiled. "Hello Miss Tsukino. It's such a pleasure to have you all here in the Sanq Kingdom. Please come in."
She led the group of eight into her office. It was actually a rather cozy place with two large bay windows looking over a courtyard. Numerous comfortable-looking chairs were scattered about, and everyone took a seat.
Relena smiled a bit self-consiously. "I don't usually handle admissions, but since we've rarely had foreign students, and never so many, my advisors thought it would be best if I gave you a personal welcome. Your friend, Ms. Meiou, completed the transfer documents and brought your academic records a few days ago. And for your dorms..."
Relena shuffled through some papers on her desk. "Here we are. Miss Minako Aino and Miss Makoto Kino are in Room 106. Miss Ami Mizuno and Miss Usagi Tsukino, you are in Room 107. Miss Rei Hino, you are in dorm 108. Ms. Meiou said she may be stopping by from time to time, which is when she will room with you. Miss Michiru Kaiou and Miss Haruka Ten'ou are in Room 109."
She looked up at them all. "Ms. Meiou requested these dorms specially for you girls because they all have doors inside that can be opened to connect all four. Mr. Mamoru Chiba, you will be across the campus in the Humphrey building. Room 3. Your roomate will... ah... arrive from time to time, but usually you will have the dorm to yourself."
She handed out the keys. Everyone took theirs and pocketed it. Relena clasped her hands nervously in front of her.
"I really don't know what else to say. Classes start next Monday, so you'll have the till the end of this week to familiarize yourself with the campus."
Minako attempted to stifle a yawn but failed miserably. "Gomen," she said sheepishly.
But yawns are contagious. Especially when your body clock tells you it's 3 AM. Even Ami couldn't hold hers back.
Usagi yawned widely. "Gomen nasi, Relena-sama, demo I for one need some sleep. Domo arigatou for all your help."
Relena looked out at the broad daylight, confused, but then the time difference dawned on her.
"Oh! Forgive me, you must be exhausted! I'll have some attendants deliver your luggage to your rooms. Go now, and get some rest!"
The senshi smiled gratefully. "Arigatou. Ja!"
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Out of loss comes hope, and out of ends come new beginnings. New friendships and new adventures would be forged, and none would guess how drastically their lives could change...
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **
AN: Gomen nasi minna-chan!! I'm so sorry Hotaru-chan had to die. Demo, it's all part of the plot. She may seem to not play a major role in this adventure, but she plays a larger role than you would guess. She is always in the hearts and minds of her friends, until the day she will return...
Please review! "You are the ink for the author's pen" and truly what keeps every author going.
I must go finish a lab report now. Ja!
~Calli-chan
"..." is talking, '...' is thought, [...] is AN, (...) is extra info but part of the fic, ... means trailed off, -- means interrupted. Don't forget to review! ^^;; Arigatou!
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **
The sun was setting. Haruka was driving everyone back to their homes. Minako and Ami had already been dropped off.
She pulled up in front of an apartment complex, and Makoto hopped out. "Ja ne, minna-chan! Arigatou for the ride, Haruka!"
They were driving to Usagi's house without a care in the world. Music was blasting and Usagi's hair was like twin streamers behind the car.
There were screams up ahead. Haruka pulled off to the side and everyone jumped out.
"Something's wrong!" said Hotaru suddenly, sensing evil.
"We should check it out," agreed Haruka.
Usagi nodded. "Senshi, henshin!"
In a flurry of ribbons and feathers, the three Outer and two Inner senshi stood in their place. They ran to the corner and turned.
The sight that met their eyes was not pleasant. A giant metal monster was advancing towards them, wrecking havoc. They recognized it as a mobile suit used in the War, but this one seemed to be different. They learned later that this was one of the first non-human manned mobile suits to be invented. It had been tested and gone out of control.
Cars littered both sides of the street. People were fleeing from it in all directions, screaming.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" Sailor Moon threw her glowing tiara at the monster as it advanced. But the monster was not magic. The tiara bounced off the metal harmlessly.
"Uranus World Shaking!" "Neptune Deep Submerge!" "Mars Flame Sniper!"
Nothing happened but attract the monster's attention. It advanced towards them and began to fire bullets. They dodged, but it would not relent. Moon, Saturn, and Mars managed to duck behind a group of overturned cars for a breather.
"That thing is unbeatable!" declared Mars. "Demo all of Tokyo will be destroyed if we don't stop it!"
"Maybe," panted Moon. "It's not magic, so magic has no effect on it. It's unlike any enemy we've ever fought before: It can't be overcome by magic alone."
"Demo, there is one way . . ." said Saturn, her face determined.
She ran from the cover of the cars towards the monster. Moon and Mars cried for her to come back.
She was within five feet of the metal giant. "SATURN FINAL SACRIFICE!" She slammed her glaive into the ground.
A bright light followed. They say it engulfed the whole city. But when it cleared, nothing was left. Bits of metal fell from the sky. And an owner-less glaive clanged to the ground.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Crying. Wails. Funeral, the horrible funeral with an empty casket. Tears. Loneliness.
Usagi sat up in her bed with a start. Tears streamed down her cheeks. It was the horrible nightmare again, about the night Hotaru died. It had been returning whenever she visited the dream realm for weeks now . . .
She went up to the bathroom to wash her face. But something told her she must go to Rei's. Something important, but she couldn't say what.
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
It was the pre-dawn hours, but all the senshi and even Mamoru were gathered at Rei's temple, lit only by the Sacred Fire.
Rei was doing fire readings while the others waited silently for . . . something . . .
Usagi had dozed off on Mamoru's shoulder. Suddenly her eyes snapped open and the looked at the doorway.
Setsuna smiled as she stepped inside. Behind her was the indistinct but familiar figure of . . .
"Hotaru-chan!" cried Usagi, running to her. She went to hug the girl, but her arms met only air.
Hotaru smiled sadly. "Gomen, Usa-hime. This is only my spirit, not my physical form. But do not fear," she said, addressing all the senshi, "for I am the senshi of death and rebirth. When the time is right, I will come again. Demo, for now it's up to you to stop this evil."
"I don't understand," said Usagi.
Setsuna smiled sadly. "I knew I shouldn't have let you see your future," she explained, "for simply your knowing of it and your actions because of this knowledge have altered your time stream. Even the tiniest shift can change the course of the future, and visiting the future is much more than a small shift." [AN: Think like how things were different when Mirai Trunks came to the past in DBZ.]
"Things are different in this time," she continued, "but I'm not sure how different. If time had flowed as I expected, mobile suits would have never been invented because the Earth would have frozen over first. But it is not. And as far as I can see, it will not any time soon. Crystal Tokyo, as you know it, will not exist."
There were many audible gasps. "But what about Chibi Usa?" cried Usagi.
"I do not know," said Setsuna sadly. "To keep her future as safe as possible, try to forget about her and live as though you never knew she existed. Gomen nasi, demo it is a possibility that she might not even exist in this time line."
Usagi's face looked pained, and Mamoru's, shocked, but they let Setsuna continue.
"There is a kingdom you may have heard of called the Sanq Kingdom that carries many of the qualities of Crystal Tokyo. It's monarch, Relena Peacecraft, is a pacifist and tries to spread this peace to the world, though it is often false peace. Demo I believe this kingdom has taken the place of Crystal Tokyo, somehow merging with it. I advise you to go there. I believe that, if anywhere, this place will hold the key to your future."
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
No one wanted to leave Tokyo, but they took Setsuna's advice. The Inners were due to leave for college anyhow, so they simply transferred to the Sanq Kingdom University and bid their parents farewell.
The plane ride was long and wearisome, and the cats weren't happy about being forced into cramped kitty carriers.
Although Minako had put on her happy face and carefree facade and everyone tried to act normal, they were all grieving inside. Usagi was hit worst of all. First Hotaru, now Chibi Usa. Who would be next?
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
They were solemn at their arrival, but everyone couldn't help but notice the beauty of the small kingdom. It was exactly the place where they all had pictured peace to be found.
They were escorted to the office of Relena Peacecraft to complete the transfer to the school.
The large group waited rather nervously outside. When the door finally swung open, Usagi was shocked to come face to face with a girl her own age.
"Konnichiwa, Relena-sama," she said, bowing. "Watashi wa Tsukino Usagi. My friends and I are the transfer students from Tokyo."
The girl smiled. "Hello Miss Tsukino. It's such a pleasure to have you all here in the Sanq Kingdom. Please come in."
She led the group of eight into her office. It was actually a rather cozy place with two large bay windows looking over a courtyard. Numerous comfortable-looking chairs were scattered about, and everyone took a seat.
Relena smiled a bit self-consiously. "I don't usually handle admissions, but since we've rarely had foreign students, and never so many, my advisors thought it would be best if I gave you a personal welcome. Your friend, Ms. Meiou, completed the transfer documents and brought your academic records a few days ago. And for your dorms..."
Relena shuffled through some papers on her desk. "Here we are. Miss Minako Aino and Miss Makoto Kino are in Room 106. Miss Ami Mizuno and Miss Usagi Tsukino, you are in Room 107. Miss Rei Hino, you are in dorm 108. Ms. Meiou said she may be stopping by from time to time, which is when she will room with you. Miss Michiru Kaiou and Miss Haruka Ten'ou are in Room 109."
She looked up at them all. "Ms. Meiou requested these dorms specially for you girls because they all have doors inside that can be opened to connect all four. Mr. Mamoru Chiba, you will be across the campus in the Humphrey building. Room 3. Your roomate will... ah... arrive from time to time, but usually you will have the dorm to yourself."
She handed out the keys. Everyone took theirs and pocketed it. Relena clasped her hands nervously in front of her.
"I really don't know what else to say. Classes start next Monday, so you'll have the till the end of this week to familiarize yourself with the campus."
Minako attempted to stifle a yawn but failed miserably. "Gomen," she said sheepishly.
But yawns are contagious. Especially when your body clock tells you it's 3 AM. Even Ami couldn't hold hers back.
Usagi yawned widely. "Gomen nasi, Relena-sama, demo I for one need some sleep. Domo arigatou for all your help."
Relena looked out at the broad daylight, confused, but then the time difference dawned on her.
"Oh! Forgive me, you must be exhausted! I'll have some attendants deliver your luggage to your rooms. Go now, and get some rest!"
The senshi smiled gratefully. "Arigatou. Ja!"
o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Out of loss comes hope, and out of ends come new beginnings. New friendships and new adventures would be forged, and none would guess how drastically their lives could change...
**************************************************************************** **************************************************************************** **
AN: Gomen nasi minna-chan!! I'm so sorry Hotaru-chan had to die. Demo, it's all part of the plot. She may seem to not play a major role in this adventure, but she plays a larger role than you would guess. She is always in the hearts and minds of her friends, until the day she will return...
Please review! "You are the ink for the author's pen" and truly what keeps every author going.
I must go finish a lab report now. Ja!
~Calli-chan