Usagi floated from Door to Door. She had long ago discovered that the normal rules of physics did not apply here; why bother walking? Floating around was both quicker and easier. Besides, wasn't she supposed to be learning about her abilities in this weird place?
During the past who-knew-how-long, she had seen sights through myriad doorways that she would never forget. Some were beautiful enough to steal her breath, some terrifying, some were filled with joy, and others had broken her heart to watch.
Is this what Pluto does when she's not with us? What an amazing woman. Personally, I know I'd go mad if faced with all of this each day.
Even as she thought about Pluto, she felt her body being pulled in the direction opposite her intent. That's new. Giving in, Usagi shrugged and followed the tugging. Doors later, it stopped in front of one she had passed earlier with little interest. Now, however, she took a closer look.
A smaller, younger version of Setsuna sat before Queen Serenity. They relaxed in front of the Door of Time, and seemed to be in the middle of some sort of lesson. Wishing she could hear what they were saying, Usagi rested one hand on the doorframe.
"- don't understand why I can't show my friends, your Majesty."
"Oh!" Usagi pulled her hand away in surprise. That had been Setsuna! Clearly a younger version, but the low, husky voice was unmistakable. Touching the frame apparently made a one-way contact possible! Elated at this latest discovery, Usagi replaced her hand.
"- part of your responsibility, Setsuna. Your predecessor died to keep that place safe and secret. Now only you and I know how to get there. In turn, you will teach my daughter the Hall's secrets when I am gone, and she will teach them to the next Guardian, although I pray that will not be for many years to come. That is the way it has always been."
Usagi sank to the floor. Judging by Setsuna's appearance, she herself would only have been four or five when this lesson took place. So Pluto had been the Guardian if Time for that long a time!
"Although it will take you years to perfect your knowledge of the Hall, I will tell you the basics today. First, the Hall is maintained by the same power possessed by the royal Lunarian line. Thus, we can exist there indefinitely. Anyone else, including yourself, can only visit the Hall for short periods of time." Here Queen Serenity paused and looked seriously at Setsuna. "Do you understand that?" When the child nodded, she continued. "Stay there too long, and you will be so weakened that the link to your body will be severed. It has happened before. I don't want it to happen again. Second, similarly to the Door of Time, you need only concentrate on a specific instance or being, and the Hall's own magic will lead you to a related Door. Touching the frame allows you to listen, and your own desire allows you to pass through into that time."
At this point Usagi removed her hand again. It was so simple! Pluto had tried to tell her before she disappeared. Here in the Hall of Time, Usagi was closely enough linked that her very wishes controlled her direction. So now to find some more information about this mysterious door that only she could enter. With that thought prominent in her mind, Usagi set off.
***

Half an hour after their decision, the nine warriors held hands tightly as the Door began to glow.
In the time between, Saturn had used the Door to jump each of the younger Senshi, with the exclusion of Jupiter, home. While there, they had left long and emotional letters for their families, explaining their Senshi personas and histories, and saying a possibly final goodbye. That half-hour had been full of tears, memories, and realizations. Chibi-Moon had left a letter at the Tsukino residence on both her behest and Usagi's.
The Outer Senshi had spent their time holding hands and speaking quietly amongst themselves. Eventually, they had opened their circle to Mamoru and Jupiter, who didn't have a family to go home to. The Cats had shared their time in a similar fashion.
They were all admitting to themselves that this might well be the final time they would all be together. Or nearly all. The absence of Usagi and Setsuna had never been more sorely missed.
Now, however, it was time to go. Saturn stood behind them, sweat beading on her forehead as she clutched the Garnet Orb. They're depending on me. I can't let them down.
Still, she couldn't help but feel that she was sending them to their doom. Why must everything I touch be linked to death and destruction? The small girl trembled. Unexpectedly, a hand descended upon her shoulder. Saturn glanced up into Mamoru's face, and he smiled at her. It was a small smile, and tinged with pain, but it was reassuring nonetheless. A warm furry wound itself around her legs, and she looked down to see Luna. The feline advisor smiled her feline smile and purred. They trust me. Everyone believes in me. For their sakes, and for the sake of our Princess, I won't let them down.
Now filled with a grim determination, Saturn sent a quick surge of healing energy into each of the nine standing in front of her. Perhaps she couldn't fight at their sides, but she would be with them every step of the way. She lifted the Garnet Orb and concentrated.
The Doorway opened.
Each one visibly steeled him- or herself before stepping through. Mars, the last one, turned to look over her shoulder. "Find her for us. And find the source of that future. I know you can do it."
***

The tugging sensation stopped, and Usagi smiled against her closed eyes. She had discovered that it was less disorienting to close her eyes and allow herself to just fly in the direction the Hall indicated. After several tries that had resulted in failure, Usagi finally felt confident that she was on the right track, heading in the right direction. Triumphantly, she opened her eyes.
She faced a blank wall.
"What?! No!!" She couldn't have messed up. It just wasn't possible. It must be the next door. Grasping at her wavering confidence, she stepped to the door on her right.
The familiar tug returned.
She came back to the blank spot, and shook her head in disbelief when the feeling vanished. The same thing occurred when she tried to her left. She even tried feeling the wall. Perhaps it was invisible? Nothing.
"I don't get it. Every damn thing I've learned since I got here is telling me that the right door should be in this very spot, but there's nothing here!!" With an impatient stamp that made her pigtails whirl about her, Usagi turned around, intending to start all over again. After all, what else could she do?
Something caught her eye.
Usagi had been amazed at the enormous variety of doorframes she had observed in her travels. The one opposite her blank spot sported a very shiny reflective finish. It was this reflection that had made her halt. She stepped forward for a closer look.
Within the frame's reflective surface, she could see a very slim, very Spartan doorway, exactly in the spot she had been staring at!
"Then it is there!" Still watching the reflection, Usagi carefully backed up until she stood almost in the doorway itself. She reached out a hand, directing her movements by what she saw in the mirror-like frame. She let out a gasp.
There, under her fingertips, was the clear outline of a doorway.
Belief. Both my mother and Pluto explained the importance of belief in this place. They were right. I couldn't see the door and I couldn't feel it. So despite everything my heart told me, I didn't believe it was there. But now I know, and I truly believe. I can enter the doorway.
One last time, Usagi closed her eyes and concentrated. She could feel the surface at her back disappearing, could feel herself passing through.
"Hello, Serenity."
***

The dark Queen opened Usagi's eyes. It had rested soundly, and was again hungry. It reached for the power to summon one of the humans kept for its pleasure. But . . . "Something is wrong."
Daemon appeared instantly. "My Queen?"
"Some of my power has been stolen. This body is no longer as strong as it first was." It reached out to wrap four-inch long talons delicately around its minion's neck. "Tell me how that could be."
Daemon visibly flinched at the implied threat. "I cannot, Mistress. Nothing, spirit nor flesh, has entered or departed from here after I left you to your rest. And the only other being here could not possibly-" He narrowed his eyes. "It should not be possible. She is too weak. I drained all but the most necessary of her life-force myself." With his gesture, Pluto's body floated back out into the dim light. "could it be that these Senshi have other ways of traveling?"
His mistress made yet another gesture toward Pluto. She shuddered, and her eyes opened. She stared silently at her captors.
Equally silent, the Queen stared into the young woman's eyes for a moment. "You fool!" Turning, it backhanded Daemon, sending him back across the room. "She does indeed have the ability to leave her body. She sent her mind onto a separate level of consciousness! It must have been she who stole my power, and who knows what other damage she has accomplished?" It stalked across the room and grabbed Pluto's head in both hands. Black flickers of energy sparked around the two.
Pluto screamed, and her deep garnet-hued eyes went blank.
"There." Satisfied, it stepped away, leaving the Senshi to flop to the floor like a rag doll. "I have destroyed the pathways of her mind. She cannot leave again. She will barely retain the ability to form coherent thoughts." Daemon remained silent, simply pleased that his mistress's wrath had been depleted without further damage to his own person. "Now. Tell me how things fare on Earth."
Daemon bowed his head as he straightened his robe. "We have been sending out hundreds of the weaker constructs. The energy the drain for us may be less, but the sheer numbers are quickly exhausting the Senshi who still fight. I deemed that to be the simplest method of overpowering them."
The Queen nodded and began to answer, but Draco suddenly appeared between the two. "Master. My Queen! The Senshi have somehow discovered our dimensional lair and gained access!" The strongest of Daemons underlings looked flustered, and unknown state for him.
"What?!" roared the Queen. "Where are they now?"
"Nine of them are fighting their way through the mid levels. I have set every construct at my command upon them."
"Blast them!!" The Being gathered itself. "Well, no matter. If these Senshi wish to hurry their own demise, so be it. They will never leave here alive."
Ignored in the corner where she had been discarded, a tear slipped down Pluto's cheek. "Usa . . . gi," she whispered.
***