A/N: Hey guys! So sorry but I noticed a very bad mistake I made a while ago. I put down Hotaru's age as fifteen but it doesn't really make much sense that she's going to a university. So just an update: Hotaru is now 17 years old and let's just say for the sake of the story and preventing any further confusion, she skipped a grade and is taking a lot of advance classes. BTW: This is gonna be long. I hope you guys can read either very fast or have a lot of patience because this is gonna take a while!

Looking Back

Part X

Location: Gates of Time

Numerous images opened up in front of her, like little messaging boxes on an internet screen. Instead, these held little images and clips of different people. However, the people in the clips were very closely linked though not many would believe that the women in the images actually knew each other.

            In the first box, a gorgeous woman in white glided onto a set and began posing as cameras flashed in every which way. Her wavy silvery blonde hair tumbled over her shoulders as she smiled into the cameras. She was then seen on the screen consulting a woman over what looked like a schedule where the blonde has marked off several dates as 'not working'. The image then 'flash forwarded' to later on when the woman reached her house and was greeted by a tall, handsome man with black hair and blue eyes carrying a giggling, pink-haired baby.

            Following that image was one of a petite woman with peculiar blue hair. She was administrating to nurses at what was obviously a hospital. One would've been amazed at the tenderness and patience she held when amongst her own patients as she did her job in comforting younger children and being professional yet not too stuffy with her adult patients. Once more, at the end of the day, the woman is seen scooping up a dark-haired child into her arms, laughingly, and driving home. At night, however, the woman is seen sitting up in bed, silent tears pouring down her face. She looks at the sleeping girl by her and she smiles sadly.

            The woman watching the scene touched the area right over her left breast, over her heart. The poor child.

            The next was of a raven-haired woman with piercing violet eyes. She is seen at the head of a long office table, looking controlling and livid at a group of cowering older men. Then she is seen coming to a shrine at night and just as she is about to round the corner, a short, bald man pops up, smiling insanely. The woman promptly pops him upside the head, knocking him out and drags him to a room. However, one would take note of the gentleness that over took her as she tucked the man to sleep. Even later into the night, she is in front of a roaring fire, eyes closed in concentration, fingers manipulating flickering over the flames, her lips murmuring ancient phrasings to the fire.

            In the next box, a tall woman dressed as a chef is hurrying about in a kitchen, calling out orders to those around her. One stops her and she samples his cooking. A slight tension arises in the room as she savors the taste and then smiles approvingly. Then it flash forwards to her watching a wedding that she has just helped to cater, green eyes looking on at the happy couple somewhat enviously. Later, she is seen getting out of a jeep and surveying what looks to be a forest. She looks on at the scenery with a smile...until a cell phone behind her goes off and she becomes very annoyed. The woman watching the scene smiles as the brunette in the screen yells into the phone and then tosses it to the back of her car.

            Then there is the one with a smiling blonde happily waving at her fans. She is seen signing autographs and at a press conference, still smiling. Later, she is in a room with a woman, her manager, and the other woman gestures to a bunch of magazines and articles that speak very positively on the blonde woman. Even later on, her demeanor is different as she is on the phone, looking perplexed and angry at the person on the other line. She abruptly hangs up on the person and brings a hand on her face, massaging her temples before wiping away a couple of tears. She turns to a picture frame of a couple and a happy blonde girl. With hard eyes, she takes up the frame, and places it face-down.

            In next two boxes seem to incorporate each other. There are two women looking as though they're having an argument but looking strangely calm, almost acceptingly. A younger, dark haired girl walks in and the two don on very happy smiles for her.

            In the first box, a young woman with aqua-colored hair is seen doing laps around a clear-water pool. There is a smile of satisfaction on her face as she leaves the pool. The clip changes and there is a huge poster advertising a stunning young woman with aqua hair, who is playing at a theater. As the scene fast forwards, she is now at the theater, looking elegant as she plays the violin before her. The scene changes and she is seen entertaining a charming-looking blonde woman who is looking ecstatic. Her husband stands by the blonde, looking at the musician somewhat apologetically at his wife enthusiasm. However, there is another man by them. He has light brown eyes and is fixating a calculating glance at the aqua-haired woman who seems uneasy under her gaze.

            The next is of the tall blonde. In the first scene, she is fighting off a monster in a Sailor suit. The first scene is obviously from years before the present. As the monster is annihilated, she turns to her hands, looking at them in something like revulsion. She obviously isn't all too happy with her job. The time forwards and she, looking older, is seen inside a racing car on a track, grinning as she takes off in a blur, raising exclamations from the men watching her. Later, she is looking over engine parts, strangely not looking out of place in the room full of men as she speaks with confidence and intellect on the matters at hand. As she then enters a hotel, she pointedly ignores all glances made her way from several men at the bar. As she makes her way into the elevator, she bumps into a man who shrugs and brushes off her apology. Later, she is turning fitfully in her sleep.

            The maroon-eyed woman watching the two scenes cocks her head to the side, somewhat confused. So soon already?

            The last box makes the woman smile widely. It is of the young, dark-haired girl that walked in on the two former women. She is seen laughing with several other people her age. Later, she is in a wide classroom with other students, writing down notes in a notebook. Fast forwarding, she enters an apartment that is seemingly empty save for two cats. She smiles as she pets both of them and sets up their food in the kitchen. At night, the girl, looking a bit younger, is seen twisting and turning and then jolting out of her sleep, crying and screaming. The aqua-haired woman in the previous box rushes in and holds the young girl in an embrace, trying to calm her down. On a different night, she is wearing a Sailor suit and grinning wickedly at a group of mean-looking men. The next morning, the sandy-blonde woman ruffles her hair, gesturing to a newspaper headline concerning a theft ring that had just been destroyed and smiling. Later, like a week, she knocks at a door and is greeted by a dark-haired man. A giggling, pink-haired baby squeals and she immediately goes over and picks up the baby.

            Setsuna gazed at the different scenes before her, smiling for her fellow scouts. She waved a hand and the images faded away. She smiled sadly. She felt very happy for her senshi teammates.  However, unlike them, she was still required to maintain her duties at the Gates of time. She sighed. It was a hard thing, but she had learned to accept the circumstances. Setsuna turned. The King and Queen had called her earlier. For what reasons, Setsuna didn't know. She turned around to one of the doors and beckoned for it to open.

She allowed the gusty winds to engulf her body. Soon, they passed her more softly, much like a breeze rather than the stormy winds of a hurricane. She smiled. They recognized her as their guardian, their watcher. She closed her eyes and envisioned the place where she wanted to be. In her mind, she saw the grand throne room of their Royal Highnesses. It remarkably resembled the design of the royal Earth palace centuries ago when Endymion was just a young prince and Queen Selenity still ruled over the Silver Millennium. The woman concentrated further until she felt solid ground beneath her feet. Opening her eyes, she saw that fog had formed about her, an after effect of going through the time gates. Past the foggy clouds, she spotted the strange, golden hairstyle and took a step forward, then hearing the sliding of metal against sheaths and stopped.

The guards within the room had all tensed, holding their spears tightly in their grasps and preparing to draw their swords. The King held up his hand to the guards.

"Sheath your weapons." A soft small smile made its way to his face as they followed his orders. "It is Setsuna."

The guardian of time entered the room with long strides, staff in hand, the fog giving her a mystifying look. Serenity smiled. Rising from her throne, she gathered up her dress and walked down the small steps to her friend, arms out. "Setsuna, it is so good to see you."

The two women embraced. Then Setsuna took a step back and bowed on one knee.

"My King, my Queen, why did you call on me?"

Serenity smiled. Setsuna saw a hint of uncertainty in her queen's eyes. Serenity turned to her husband. With no words, they seemed to communicate with each other. Endymion straightened and he was now all king of Crystal Tokyo.

"Guards," He called, drawing their attention with his stern voice. "Leave the room." Some of the guards jolted back slightly, startled.

"Your majesty..." One spoke up.

"Leave.The.Room." He repeated, placing enormous emphasis with each word. The guards all bowed and left the room, shutting the tall doors behind them.

            They turned to Setsuna.

"Your majesties, what is going on?" She demanded softly.

"Setsuna." Serenity began softly. "You of all people know that what happens here is always affected by the actions of those in the past. Also, you know that it is possible for the past to be changed through what one does when they time travel."

"Yes, I know all that." She said. "I've been guarding the gates for centuries, your majesties, I know all this."

"That's why we wish to speak with you now." Endymion said. The woman looked back and forth at the two. "Setsuna, you have guarded the gates of time longer than Luna and Artemis have been around. You're loyalty to both the planets and the royal family has been proven from time to time."

Setsuna blushed lightly at their praise. "Your majesties, what are you getting at?"

"Setsuna, you know that certain terrible happenings occurred before the freezing age before Serenity and I took up the throne." He began.

Setsuna, my mother visited us a while ago." Serenity spoke up. To answer the strange look Setsuna gave her, she hurriedly added, "In a dream, of course." She looked at Endymion and he squeezed her hand, encouraging her. "She came up with a small plan to us. We were a bit stunned at her suggestion but after taking it into consideration, we've come to understand its reason and now that we have had time to think it over, we believe that it is a positive course of action. Setsuna, we feel that you should know that this plan will affect you and your existence."

Setsuna took an involuntary step back. "W-what do you mean?"

"Calm down, Setsuna." Endymion chuckled. "Let us explain. You are in no trouble."

Serenity also smiled. "No, Setsuna, mother suggested something that, right around now, seems to make a lot of sense."

She stood up and held her hands in front of her chest, palms facing up. Light consumed her body so that Setsuna had to shield her eyes. The light fell back until it glowed around the Imperial Silver Crystal that floated above her hands. Her hands shook slightly. It had been a while since she had actually held the crystal and her body wasn't as it was years ago. Her husband came up behind her and steadied her arms. She smiled at him and turned back to the crystal.

 "Setsuna, you have witnessed what became of the heroines of the planet." Serenity said. "They now live normal lives, their power remains yet the evil is gone and there is no need for our heroes."

"I can see that, your Highness." Setsuna began. "But what does that have to do with your mother's plan including me?"

The couple sighed. Serenity looked down and Endymion stared into Setsuna's eyes.

"Setsuna, my mother-in-law asked that we repay you for all that you've done for this planet, guiding over the gates of time and even more protecting our daughter"

Setsuna blushed slightly. "Thank you."

"No." Serenity said with finality. "Thank you. And mother asked us to do something for you to try to repay you for all that you've done." She smiled and looked at her husband, who smiled right back. She turned to Setsuna.

"Setsuna Meioh, senshi of time, guardian of the Time Gates, we, the royal couple of the Crystal Tokyo, offer you this opportunity." She stepped down until she was in front of the other woman. Her husband followed. They had smiles on their faces. Setsuna eyed them both with curiosity.

"Setsuna, we offer you an opportunity to relive your life." She paused. "As a normal human being." Setsuna's jaw dropped open.

"W-what?" Serenity nodded and Endymion smiled wider.

Location: Unknown

"-They're on the planet Earth." Zero gritted through her teeth. "At the time era a couple of years before the Crystal Millennium in the planet's time."

Nikai raised an eyebrow and sat back in her chair lazily, a smirk grazing her face.

"Is that so?"

Zero glared back at the younger woman defiantly, clenching fist that were still bound by the bracelets. Coram still hung in the air, and Lugaan still held his blade tight against his throat. Nikai tapped her finger against her cheek, looking thoughtful.

"Now why would they go and do that?"

At this, Zero smirked. Nikai and the others caught the devious smile and the Lady frowned slightly. Zero gave out a low, haughty laugh and glared at the other woman with pure malice in her dark blue eyes.

"Clearly you know of the legends," She began, still smiling. Nikai's frown deepened and Kiyomi, Lugaan, and Soren shifted uneasily at their captive's sudden change of mood. "The legends speak of powerful warriors," Zero began. "All gifted with an element that they can form and control to their will. They have defeated enemy after enemy that could've destroyed them, their homes, and their people. However, their enemies had extremely underestimated them." She grinned, causing the guards in the room to be very uncomfortable. "That was their fatal and last mistake."

She chuckled and some were surprised to hear a low snicker from the air as well. Looking upwards, Nikai glared at the captive man that was at Lugaan's mercy. However, this man was laughing. Nikai glared at him and Lugaan pressed the blade further, drawing a thin line of blood. He abruptly stopped laughing, but a grin still played on his handsome features as he hissed lowly in pain.

"Something you care to add?" Nikai asked mockingly.

"Yeah," Coram spat out vehemently. "Once they assemble the warriors, you won't stand a chance."

"He's right, you know." Nikai darted her violet eyes at the woman before her. Zero, too, wore the smug glare that Coram did. Zero straightened and said clearly, like a prophecy. "You may have killed or captured our troops and taken over our city," Her eyes glinted black in anger. "But I know for a fact that you do not have the royals."

She allowed time for the people in the room to be stunned with her knowledge. Soren narrowed his beady eyes.

"What would you know about them?" He demanded. Zero threw up her head haughtily.

"I know that they're safe from you greasy hands." She turned back to Nikai, who was looking infuriated. "And the fact that you do not have the royals, not to mention you let a handful of soldiers through that gate..." She trailed off, looking relieved, as if she had just figured this out for herself. She smiled serenely, closing her eyes. She opened her eyes halfway and her clear voice rang out in the darkened room.

"Those two trivial mistakes will surely add up to your defeat." She laughed outright. "Funny, isn't it?" She mocked. A vein was beginning to protrude from her skull and Zero prodded on. "You have a whole army of murderers. Yet, you will fall at the hands of five kids who're younger than me!"

Nikai took a step back involuntarily, surprised. The woman before her looked in her early twenties. "Do you mean to say," Nikai hissed. "That those soldiers who got away are mere teenagers?"

Zero grinned. "That's right, kid. None of them have hit the big two-oh yet." She replied patronizingly. "But don't let the ages fool you. They all come from long lines of powerful warriors. I've had the pleasure of meeting all of them. And take it from their High General, you don't stand a cha-."

Zero was abruptly cut off as a black beam shot out and struck her square on the chest. Coram let out a shout of protest but Lugaan held him steady.

Nikai glared at the prostrate body before her, slightly irritated but much more calm as she watched the other woman's shaky intakes of breath.

A silence struck the room, only Zero's ragged breathing could be heard. Nikai turned to the man by her and drawled lazily,

"I think now is the time to work that little tracking magic of yours, Soren."

~*chickay*~

A/N: EEK!! Double cliffhangers…well, sort of. Ehehe…I know it seems totally random but I do have plans for Setsuna in the future. I've had this chapter for quite a while but I haven't made much of an opportunity to put it in the story.

BTW: Major importance, I'm planning to create a story for each senshi coming soon once I finish 'Looking Back' which will be in about two or three chapters. Here's how it's all going to go.

I'm going to finish up Looking Back in about two or three more chapters.

Then I'm going to start the actual story to which Looking Back provided as a prologue for. This upcoming story is going to be called Foreign Nature or whatever I later decide the title should be. I still have to plan it out. For now, let's just say that Foreign Nature is going to be the title.

Sometime either during or after I do Foreign Nature, I'm going to create little stories showing each POV from each senshi and go a little more inside on what's happening in their lives when or after Foreign Nature takes place.

Okay, I'm done with all the announcements. REVIEW!! Hehe. And thanks again (for the millionth time) to everyone that has reviewed.