I know, you all hate me for leaving cliffhangers… But I like to be evil! It's fun! Anyway, normal disclaimer – actually, if you want a disclaimer, look at the previous chapters. I don't feel like writing one out for this.
Chapter 4 – Journey
"Setsuna?!" Rei cried out in surprise. Slowly, the figure underneath the cherry tree walked into the fading sunlight, revealing the exotic features of the guardian of time, clothed in everyday garments. "It is you!"
"Yes. I heard your calls. I'm sorry I didn't respond to you. I simply figured that it would be better to come down myself instead of talking with you through the flames," Setsuna responded quietly.
"That's fine, all that matters is that you are here now. I have some very important questions to ask you, and I need to know now!" Rei said, ushering her inside the temple.
Sliding the door open, Rei walked to the middle of the room, hands on her hips, with a determined air about her. Spinning around suddenly to face Setsuna, she started in.
"So, where is Usagi? Why did the monster come after her? Where did it come from?" Rei spoke, her voice rising higher with each sentence. "How can we get her back? What is to become of her? What is to become of us? Why…" Her voice faltered, growing soft. "Why did she go? Is she… is she dead?" Rei asked quietly, on the verge of tears. Violet eyes, full of desperate hope, met crimson orbs. Setsuna slowly walked towards Rei, who stood in the center of the room, violet eyes now downcast. Rei's shoulders slumped, and a muffled sob came from her. Setsuna now stood in front of the girl, and as Rei tried to muffle another heart wrenching sob, the guardian of time gathered the priestess in her arms.
"Shhh… let it all out… I know how you feel," Setsuna said softly. Rocking back and forth holding the sobbing girl in her arms, she slowly stroked Rei's soft, silken hair, and tried to soothe the cries that escaped from Rei. Poor girl… Pluto thought. She hasn't allowed it all to truly settle in yet… I know exactly how she feels…
~~~~~~~ Some time later… ~~~~~~~
Rei had stopped crying some time ago, and again asked Setsuna about Usagi. She had responded that all questions would be answered as soon as the others arrived, and though the Shinto priestess was not satisfied with that reply, she had to wait. One by one, the other senshi filed into the room, all confessing that they had felt something, and all became shocked when they saw Setsuna in the room. Eventually, all of the girls came, every one pestering her for answers to questions it seemed only she could answer. Each girl sat down at the low table and settled down on their respective cushions. After Setsuna was seated, everyone started speaking at once, demanding to be heard. Setsuna simply sat with an impassive expression, waiting for the babble to die down. As everyone realized the crimson-eyed woman wasn't speaking, they all quieted down and waited for her to start.
Setsuna looked around the table, making eye contact with each girl. Finally, she spoke, and with a tone that commanded the attention of the room, began to explain.
"I know each of you grieve the loss of Usagi. She was a friend to all of us, and touched more lives than she, or any of us, can comprehend. We all want her back – she seems the only answer to the confusion that reigns on this planet, the only steady beacon of light to guide us through our lives. And she remains that… our memories of her are still fresh in our minds, and we will never forget her. However, there is a problem. Each of you want her back – but she had made a new life for herself in another world, and while still the same girl, she is no longer Sailor Moon, Princess Serenity, nor Neo-Queen Serenity. She retains no memories of her past life, and I am sure if anyone told her of the events, she would not believe them, and even if she did, I doubt she would want to come back," Setsuna paused, looking around the table again. Everyone looked faintly guilty, and all eyes were averted from the piercing gaze of the green haired woman.
"A monster came, claiming she was Galaxia's minion. I suppose somehow the monster had not known of the separation of Chaos and Galaxia, and thought they were one and the same. The news of the death of Chaos must have reached the youma somehow, and she must have confused Chaos and Galaxia. Youma's swear loyalty to the very end. After all, that is what they are created for, to serve their masters and no others. Though how that particular youma managed to track down Usagi is still a mystery, even to me. I do know what that monster must have felt when she heard Chaos was gone… The one she served, the one she loved… Every triumph creates those who vow revenge after being beaten… There is never complete success, even in the best-fought battles. Surely all of you must have realized that by now. That youma is evidence of it, don't you think?" Setsuna stopped again, and remained quiet this time, waiting for other questions to pop up. However, everyone remained silent, pondering her words.
I wish I didn't have to lie to them like that… Setsuna thought to herself. But it's for their own good… hopefully. Suddenly, Ami broke the silence.
"Usagi is gone from this world… but why? And how? I thought she was destined to become Queen of the Silver Millennium? What about that? If the world is thrown into a deep sleep, or frozen, or stopped somehow, who will come and awaken it again?" Ami asked quietly.
"Yes, we must go and retrieve her from the world she lives in now!!" Minako insisted. "We need her here! We have to go and convince her to come back!"
The guardian of time listened to their statements with a calm expression, and spoke again. "But don't you see? What have I been trying to say? She leads a new life – new friends, new family, no one bound to her by destiny, free to make her own choices! You could never convince her to leave all that and come back to a life she doesn't remember! And even if she somehow did remember… would she want to come back? Think of it this way. Who among you would want to go back to a life where you had been forced into everything by something called destiny, and destiny had veered off the course everyone wanted and onto another? Hurting you, hurting your friends, breaking your heart? No, Usagi would definitely not want to come back."
As Setsuna stopped speaking, Makoto broke in. "She may not remember us, but we should still be able to try and convince her. Can you send us there? To where she now lives? There has to be a way you could do it!"
The green haired princess gazed upon the senshi of Jupiter with sympathy in her eyes. Their obviously not listening. I guess the only way to set their minds at relative ease is for them to se what I mean. She sighed at the upcoming task. "Perhaps… there might be a way…" she trailed off.
For the first time since the other girls had come in, Rei said something. "Setsuna… one last question… why did it happen? How could it happen? I always thought we were going to have everything… the Silver Millennium… Crystal Tokyo… Chibi-Usa… how could destiny change so?"
"Rei… destiny… the future… everything ahead is very prone to even the slightest difference in the time stream. And if that small difference exists, everything could change completely. The winds of fate are easily blown off course, and that is exactly what happened. I have almost no control over what goes on in the continuation of time. You understand?" she said gently.
Rei nodded as she absorbed the information. Speaking up again, she asked Pluto about going to the alternate universe where Usagi now resided. "Can you do it?"
Setsuna sighed again as she nodded. "I'll do it. But you have to promise not to force her into anything. Alright? She is happy now, and I don't want to see that ruined for her." Looking around the table, each girl nodded their agreement. "Ok then, let's go," Setsuna said, standing up. With a burst of green light, she transformed, and as the other girls did likewise, she formed a portal to the gate using the time staff. She stood next to it, waiting for the other girls to enter the swirling gray void. "Come now. We have much to do."
~~~~~ At the time gate ~~~~
Pluto stood in front of the time gate, waiting for the girls to collect themselves. As they quieted down, she started to brief them on what type of culture they were entering, what people were used to, what they should dress like, look like, and act like. Most of it was quite simple – there was pretty mush the same style of clothing, dress, speech, and magic was known and accepted there. People were still wary of it, but it was part of their lives. The only main difference was that technology was much more advanced. When Pluto tried to explain the concept of portable cars and other objects, stored in tiny capsules, she only got more blank looks, even from Ami. There was something I never predicted… Ami not understanding! A small smile worked its way onto Pluto's features at that thought.
"Well, do you all understand? And remember; don't force her to come! That would be the worst possible thing to do! Your time limit is… two weeks. Remember where the portal dropped you off, and report back there. Got it? Oh yea, and you will be living in Rumu Apartments, room 276," Pluto said, pressing identical room keys into each girls hands.
"How did you manage that?" Mercury questioned, curious.
"I'll keep my secrets and you keep yours, ok?" Pluto replied, winking. "Oh, and girls, don't forget to detransform once you get there. Its not that people wouldn't take kindly to girls in short skirts… It's just that they might take too kindly."
The girls nodded in unison, and with a wave of her staff, Pluto opened the time gate. The girls linked arms and were about to step into the gate, when Mars stopped short.
"Wait Pluto! How are we supposed to know where to find Usagi?"
"Don't worry! She will find you! Now go!" Pluto replied, and as the girls nodded and stepped through the time gate, she closed it gently behind them. Now, hopefully, they won't do anything too stupid… Poor girls. They have all been through so much, so young… If only… But no. There is no way to turn back time.
Well, how do you like it? I told you I would have updates more often! Don't worry, I am going to have more Usagi in the next chapter. I just had to get the whole senshi angle. And thanks so much for all the great reviews! I've gotten 50 for my story so far! Love you all!
Spirit of cosmos
