SEQ CHAPTER \h \r 1Sailor Moon is cool. So am I. So why don't I own it? sob It's not fair. Well I don't own Sailor Moon. So don't mention it. It makes me sad.
"The stars directing our fate,
And we're prayin' it's not to late"-Robbie Williams
The Beginning Of the End
Chapter 2
Usagi swished to her drawing room. She slid on the couch and relaxed alone. She waved her hand lazily at her cupboard. From the cupboard a glittering ball floated. Usagi fixed her tiara and called out;
"I'd like to speak with Queen Kakyu, please." Immediately there was a burst of light and the ball begin to pulse. Then it faded to a light glow. At the center of the ball, Kakyu's image floated.
"Hello," said Kakyu, "So nice to hear from you. Is this about the baby shower? We did receive our invitations. We got them quite a while ago actually."
"No," said Selenity, Kakyu noticed her missing energy, "it's more important then that. Last night, Princess Selenity dreamt of the Cauldron. And a boy there." A look of shock highlighted Kakyu's face. The last battle with Chaos and the Cauldron was still fresh.
"But, you beat Chaos as Sailor Cosmos. The fighting was over for a while."
"Well, it could be nothing. Just years of fighting creating an antagonist for Chibiusa to fight against. But I was still wondering if the Starlights could check the Cauldron and Galaxia's Palace. Just for peace of mind."
"Of course. Don't worry. I'll send them immediately. And don't worry Selenity. Be happy! You'll soon be a grandmother! See you at the shower. Goodbye."
The glowing ball beamed again and grew dull.
"Back in the cupboard, please." The ball floated back in the cupboard and the door closed.
Yes, soon she would be a grandmother. She could begin to retire. Leaving more of the governing to Chibiusa and Elios. She could watch their child grow like she had not watched her own. Chibiusa's child would have a lot on their mind. They would have to look over not just the moon or earth. But the moon, earth and the people's dreams. They will hold so much in their hand.
Please, she prayed, let this child know peace. Stars, grant my wish. Peace until they have grown.
***
"Starlights, can you come here?"
The Three lights approached Kakyu and kneeled, faces towards the ground.
"Queen, what do you require?" asked Star Fighter.
"Starlights. I need you to go to Galaxia's Palace and check on the Cauldron. Selenity has called." Fighter looked up but catching Kakyu's eyes, she lowered her gaze, "Princess Selenity dreamed of the Cauldron and a boy there. Please go there and see if there's anything wrong there."
"Of course," chorused the Lights.
***
The Lights got ready and set off.
"It's really strange going back there," said Maker.
"Yeah, last time we were there, we died!" added Healer. The three looked towards the center of the universe.
"Aren't you worried?" asked Fighter, still looking forward. He did not meet the others glances, "Even if there's nothing there. Aren't you worried it might just start again?"
"Yeah, I guess," said Healer, "But everything's pretty good now. Nothing big. Nothing we can't handle."
"Life is very peaceful," added Maker, "No worrying. I think I'm perfectly happy in the day to day."
"How can you be happy?" said Fighter angrily, "No one to love. No one to care for,"
"Look," said Healer, "You've got to get over Usagi. It was good, the time you had together. But it's been years and years. She's married."
"With a grandchild," commented Maker.
"Yeah. She's not coming back to you. She's happy. She's gotten on with her life. You have to also."
"I don't know how she can be happy with him. He's so weak. Couldn't even fight for himself. Usagi needs someone that's as strong as her."
"Someone like you? It won't work. Her Destiny was decided long ago. She was meant to be with the King. Your destiny was to protect Kakyu. You and Usagi could never be together. You have to protect Queen Kakyu."
"But Kakyu would release me from my duty. She would say that love is more important."
"Could you release yourself from your duty? You were meant to protect the Queen. That is...your destiny."
The conversation ended. The three flew silently onward towards the center of the Universe. To where everything begins; to where everything ends and is forever ending; to the Cauldron.
All of things Galaxia had created were gone. The river, the graves, the garden. But the palace remained. Not because it was less of an illusion, but because the Cauldron let it remain. It wanted somewhere to be. And so the palace remained. Crumbling and tumbling down.
The lights landed on the porch and stepped in. The hallways were large, tall, huge. They stretched and echoed. They hid the Lights voices in the dust and brought them back in odd places. The Lights were on their guard. They all sensed someone, something else powerful. Maybe it was the Cauldron, but still the feeling lurked around them.
Eventually they reached the doors that housed the Cauldron. They all looked at each other, hesitant. Maybe if they left it alone it would never call them back. It would forget them. But the Cauldron never overlooks anyone, so they pushed open the tall oak doors.
***
Doors...Doors were opening. Had there always been doors here? He could not remember. But doors don't matter. All that there is, is the Cauldron, stars and dust. He turned his head back to the Cauldron. He sat as he had always sat. The dust of stars built on him was absorbed and made him grow.
"What are you doing here?" said a voice. A voice that was not his voice or the Cauldron's voice. He looked back at the doors. Three figures.
What was he doing here? What were they doing here. He had always been. Always.
***
"Why are you bothering Princess Selenity? Why did you steal into her dreams?" questioned Fighter.
"Princess...Selenity," said the boy. He tested the words, pulled them over his tongue and pushed them around. They seemed to mean something to him. Something even he didn't seem to know.
"Yes, Selenity. What do you want with her? Why are you bothering her and the child?" The boy stood up, the dust of many years, not yet absorbed, floated to the walkway.
"Who are you?"
The boy's expression did not change. But he replied with conviction:
"Dust. I am Dust. I am the beginning. I am the ending. I am Dust. Dust."
From deep within the Cauldron, a whisper began. Dust heard the words. The lights moved closer to hear.
"Go. Follow the trail that was made," whispered the Cauldron.
"Why?" asked Dust.
"Follow the trail," said the whisper, growing in volume, "You must follow the trail for the beginning. Walk the trail for the end."
"Where?" asked Dust, "Where does the trail go?"
"You know! Everyone knows their destiny! You know where the trail leads!"
"I know?"
"YES! YES! GO! FOR THE BEGINNING! FOR THE END!" the voice became a roar. The breeze became a blinding hurricane. The starlights could barely see the figure of Dust through the swirling sand and flecks of light. The Cauldron was blowing Dust on to the trail which he was walking backwards. With a sudden blast the starlights were knocked back almost out the door. They looked up and Dust was gone. But in her ear, Fighter heard a soft whisper.
"I know."
