Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

A/N: Okay, I made one final adjustment in the last chapter. I just changed the very very last part of the chapter and that's about it. Well, here it is: the last of the first. Wow, that was overrated and overused. Well, this is the last chapter in my prologue for my next story, as I've told you all at the beginning of this prologue.

Anyway…thank you all so much who have reviewed and read throughout this story and gave me your input. It really means a lot to me as I am a feedback freak. Especially to Baby DayDreamer Wiley who seems to be the first to give me her very kind reviews on my latest fics. As well as Jabba and Sprit of the North for their multiple and encouraging reviews. It really made me feel good to learn that there were people who actually read and took the time to let the author know about it.

Well, here it goes!

Looking Back

Part XII

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."

Zero was still smirking as Soren exited the room as his Lady commanded of him.

"Track them all you can," She slurred menacingly. Coram could've killed his on and off girlfriend at this point, since Lady Nikai looked ready to do just that. Was she trying to get killed? "But it's already too late." She continued. "They've crossed over and that's doing more than enough."

Nikai glared at her through narrowed violet slits. "I wouldn't be so sure of that High General. My people and I have...highly persuasive methods." She grinned slyly. "You witnessed my methods at your capital a mere twenty four hours ago."

The High General's eyes hardened. "That was a battle." She replied. "You've already lost the war when you let those five go."

Nikai snarled. "Kiyomi! Lugaan!" she turned to her top appointed leaders. "Please rid yourselves of these vermin and come here. Guards! Escort these two back to the dungeon area. I have no more use for them for now."

"As you wish." Was the passive reply and Lugaan floated back to the ground, knife still pressed against Coram's throat and Kiyomi took a bruising grip on Zero's arm and flung her at some faceless, armored figures that took hold of her and Coram. As the two were taken away, Nikai settled down on her throne. She glanced back up at the prisoners being escorted back to the dungeons when Zero suddenly looked behind her. Nikai was surprised at the last-minute glance. The older woman no longer looked pissed or angry or even annoyingly sarcastic. In fact, they looked (was it possible?) compassionate…and hesitating? She would've questioned it but Zero was forced to keep on walking and soon, both were gone from her line of sight. After a moment's silence, Nikai turned to her most trusted leaders.

"What do you think?" Kiyomi leaned against Nikai's throne thoughtfully.

"Girl wasn't lying." She put in, twisting a few white braids. "The guy wanted her to do so, you could tell. But she obviously thought his life was worth it."

"And with the conviction she had," Lugaan continued. "I'm sure she was telling the truth. She doesn't want anything to happen to her…that boy."

Nikai raised her eyebrows at the slight stutter the man beside her made at the end of his sentence and felt the woman beside her stiffen.

"Obviously," She started off strongly, breaking apart the tension between her two leaders. "That plan of yours worked Lugaan. Though I suppose we were lucky to find that you hadn't killed off her lover in your massacres."

Lugaan had grimaced at the word 'lover' but gave an impish smile at the younger girl at the throne. "My lady, I see you do not approve of my methods."

Nikai allowed a touch of a real smile to touch her face. "You know me, Lugaan. I prefer things to be done right away, I find it very hard to accept any delays."

Lugaan nodded, bowing exaggeratedly. "Of course, my Lady." He straightened up, smiling. "I will see if there is anything I can do to speed up the process."

Nikai nodded. "Very well. Kiyomi, go with him." She smirked as she stood up. "You never know what the male mind is capable of forming. Please keep an eye on the boys. I need to lie down."

The two nodded and went off in one direction and Nikai continued in another. She made her way past the darkened hallways of the ship/base, guards bowing as she passed them. Well, they weren't really guards. In fact, all in all, there were only a selective few who could actually think on their own. Everyone else was a drone, created by the higher masters who had sent them there. She finally reached her room. Nikai stood in front of the steel doors before they gave way and she walked in. Her room was one of the larger ones in the ship. There was a wide wall that was a window at which she could see the burning city before her. Her bed had curtains coming down on it and she was feeling particularly drained today, though she didn't really know what it was. She walked over to her bed, not bothering to change. As she sat at the edge, she went over her head the strange gaze the High General Zero had given her.

Strange woman. She convicts and berates me and then she looks at me as if she cares. Nikai ruefully shook her head. As if these monsters in this place could ever care. She swung her legs around and settled onto of her bed, exhausted. She found her thoughts drifting to her Master and the Elders and wondering about how everything was at home.

Master Gy'Zre had told her that she was born to defeat these mortals. Thinking of the old man, she couldn't help but frown slightly. He and the other elders had sent her and the other three to rid this land of the mortals, telling them to return when they were done. But why didn't they come with them?

Oh yeah. She thought dryly. They figured my powers would be enough.

Master Gy'Zre had been the one to bring her up. She and the others who were in control now had grown up in another planet, much different than this one. However, they had to hide themselves since the Elders said that these people were the ones who wanted the Elders dead…supposedly because they believed the Elders were a threat to them. Master had said that the day Nikaleria (he never called her Nikai) was born, their people rejoiced because it was said that she was the only one capable of defeating them. He had told her that her mother had died while giving birth to her and that her father was killed protecting her with his life. However, she was told that she had an older sister. But when she had asked about it…

            Her violet eyes glazed over at the memory.  It seemed that whenever she asked any questions about her older sister, no one was willing to answer her. However, she had managed to wrangle out of Kiyomi, who had a habit of listening in on the Elder's conversations, that Nikai's sister was actually part of the people whom they were fighting against. Apparently, once their mother had died, her older sister had abandoned them and told the enemy of their father's position and had actually killed their father.

Talk about drama.

Nikai clenched her fists.

            She would get her answers and avenge her father. Thinking of her family, she reached into her dress, and pulled out a golden item. They told her that it was the only thing that they found of her parents, that her older sister had led the destruction of their home and all their belongings were destroyed. She looked at it quizzically. Nikai had had it forever but was never able to figure out what it was. Kiyomi suggested it was just a fancy trinket while Soren had wondered aloud if it was a secret weapon and had volunteered to break it apart to see what was inside. Nikai just glared at him.

            However…Lugaan didn't say anything, which only heightened her own thoughts that perhaps he knew what it was. The Elder's constantly trusted him, almost as much, if not more than they confided in Nikai. Subconsciously, she reached up and touched the dainty spiked star jewel on her forehead.

Whenever the Elders were trying to contact her, the spiked star would glow. But since they had arrived there, they hadn't made contact. However, with this new information about the escapees, Nikai had a feeling that something was bound to go wrong. Maybe about two hours after she had lain there, she heard the doors to her quarters open. She sat up in bed and willed the curtains facing her doorway to pull aside as they revealed a satisfied-looking Kiyomi. She raised an eyebrow, smiling.

            "I take it we've made contact?"

            Kiyomi sat at the edge of Nikai's bed. "Soren was able to develop a way to follow the soldiers. He went over to the site of the portal and took in a sweep of the area and found some quite interesting things. After some tinkering with the machines there, he believes we can recreate a portal of our own and follow the escapees."

            Nikai had arisen from her bed and the two were already out of Nikai's room and towards where Soren and Lugaan were. After some bowing, Soren went on to explain.

            "Their portal was produced with the usage of a mix of their technology and some of their own magic. Naturally, we can recreate the technology that would expel similar or the same type of energy they used to fuel the portal and some of our own magic."

            "But how would we know if we're at the right setting?" Kiyomi asked. "For all we know, we could end up at a place that's dimensions from their setting."

            "We've been developing a tracker for them." Lugaan put in. "They're not from that place and give off a specific kind of energy that we can be traceable with the proper instruments. And, like Soren said, we just have to put in the settings that were last inputted to the portal machine."

            "The boy was able to destroy the monitor for the portal," Soren had grimaced, remembering the loss of the beautiful portal. "But he only struck at one place, which was enough to destroy it, but most of the settings that we found when we went there were left unchanged."

            "So we have their location in coordinates." Nikai finished. She nodded, taking it all in. "I will let the Elders know."

Some of the drones in the room flinched at the flippant mentioning of their creators. Even more drones shrunk away from their Lady when her eyes lit up with a violet glow and the spiked star emblem on her pale forehead gleamed. The drones cowered from their leaders and Soren and Kiyomi looked apprehensive while Lugaan stood where he was, waiting. Nikaleria was calling on the Elders.

Nikai looked about her, her astral body feeling weightless in her mind. She stretched her violet magic deep into her mental links, calling forth a powerful black tie to contact her Master.

'Master…'

There was a moment of silence and then a deep voice answered Nikai's astral calling.

'Lady Nikaleria?' A white outline of a figure appeared before her. The outline was nothing more than a shapeless being, somewhat symbolic of the enigmatic Elder. This was Master Gy'Zre, her foster father and mentor.

'Yes, Master Gy'Zre,' She said/thought. 'It's me.'

'My child. Is there something wrong?'

'Unfortunately, there might be sir.' She replied. Bracing herself, she continued. 'About two days ago while on an attack on the capital, some soldiers managed to get a hold of a portal that opened up on a plane parallel to this planet. After questioning the High General of this kingdom, we have found that those soldiers have crossed over to that plane and are apparently searching for some legendary warriors there and-'

'What?' Nikai was startled by the anger and anxiousness in her Master's voice when he cut her off. She felt a flare of emotional outbursts from her mentor and was highly surprised. Her foster father hardly ever showed his emotions.

'Master?'

Master Gy'Zre of the Elders had remained formless for a while, returning to her calling in about a minute later, probably because he had just relayed the message to the others.

'Lady Nikaleria, are you still there?'

'Yes, Master.'

'Listen to me, child. How many were there? How many of the soldiers crossed through?'

'Five, sir.'

She felt his hot anger at this information but he continued on with his interrogation.

'And what are you doing now?'

Quickly, as to not make him any more impatient and angry than he already was Nikai moved over the facts as how they had discovered the High General's weakness with the blonde soldier and how they had learned of the five missing soldiers' intentions. She included Soren's plan and tactics and the up-coming tracker they would use to retrieve the soldiers. For a while, her Master took in the information. Finally, he spoke back to her, and his words left the younger woman confused and startled.

'If Soren's machine works send out your best drones after the missing soldiers. Don't bother to trouble yourself and the rest of the base by going after them. You still have the rest of that land of take care of as I understand there are some rebels building up there that are becoming fast pests.'

'But, Master,' Nikai put in. 'I should accompany what ever drone I send ahead since these beings that I've heard of are more than just our ordinary opponents.'

'NO!' Nikai was so startled that she almost lost control of her mental connection. Her Master amended himself more slowly and calmer. 'Don't bother yourself, Nikaleria. Just send some drones, kill off the soldiers who've escaped.'

'But what of the legendary warriors?' There was pause in her Master's part and she sensed several emotions from him. She was confused. Her Master was now exerting apprehension and tension. With a touch of finality, he said,

'Destroy them as well if they get in the way.' Nikai abruptly blinked, the violet light in her eyes fading aside as Master Gy'Zre cut off the connection. She stumbled slightly on her feet. Her Master had sounded so upset and angry. She brought a pale hand against her chest, suddenly realizing that she was breathing hard. Why? It was fine when she had started her report. But as soon as she had mentioned the High General…

She snapped up, looking about her and noticing that the others were looking at her inquiringly. She straightened and resumed her duty as the Lady of her crew.

"Soren, finish up that portal of yours. Once you do, send our top five drones after those soldiers." She looked about those in front of her, satisfied with the obedient bows and nods of acknowledgements. After a moment of quick thinking she said, "Bring them back alive. Unconscious, perhaps, but at least capable of thought and speech."

She thought she saw movement at Lugaan's side, but the man only dropped his head as she turned to him. Raising an eyebrow at him, she turned swiftly, heading for the throne. As she heard the clipping of Kiyomi's following boots, Nikai's thoughts wandered over to Master Gy'Zre's reaction to her news, Lugaan's strangely passive nature, and the enigmatic glance the High General Zero had thrown her way before she was escorted back to the dungeons.

"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.

"Y-your majesties." Setsuna stammered. "Surely you jest." Yet despite her conviction, her voice held a tinge of hope.

"There is no joking about this matter, Setsuna." Endymion said seriously. "This is the definite reality."

Setsuna stared. Her eyes darted from Serenity to Endymion is disbelief.

"B-but...W-what...W-why...?" She cried out hysterically. "What have I done wrong? Tell me please!"

"You have done no wrong." Serenity smiled. "This is not a punishment. Rather, it's a reward."

Setsuna was speechless. Her heart was beating faster with each second and she felt her brain furiously pounding in her head.

Endymion stepped up. "You have done more than your share all this time, guardian. You deserve this more than you think you might."

Setsuna realized that her breath was now coming short intakes of air. Her head was pounding even harder now, almost as hard as her heart was in her chest. Her staff clattered to the ground as her hands flew to her head. Her body followed her staff as she collapsed to her knees, tears splattering onto the marble floor.

Serenity kneeled before her. With one hand she lifted the crying woman's face to meet her own.

"What tears do you cry?" She questioned softly. Setsuna looked up at the much younger woman, tears still forming from the maroon orbs, rolling down her flushed cheek, and falling onto the ground.

"Those of joy." She answered between sobs. Serenity nodded smilingly as if it was the answer she expected. She brought her other hand in between of them. The crystal shined brightly in her hand as she held it out to Setsuna.

"You have been offered the chance of a lifetime." She stated. "For the guardian of time, you should know what kind of opportunity calls for. Now, do you accept this offer or do you choose the position with which you have occupied for centuries?"

Setsuna stopped sobbing and looked at her Queen, tears still falling. She sighed and smiled.

"I accept."

Her hand shakily made its way to the crystal. Her Majesty's hand gently steadied her own. Serenity smiled and gazed back at her husband, who also smiled, then turned back to Setsuna.

"Then so be it." Setsuna's hand touched the crystal and bright light consumed them all.

            Setsuna felt herself being lifted. It was like when she transformed but now her uniform was disappearing. Almost like air, her outfit practically evaporated into the atmosphere. Everything around her fell into a soft violet shade. It took a while for it to register into her mind that she was naked. She curled herself, hugging her knees to her chest. Her hair floated freely around her, wrapping around her figure like a blanket. She closed her eyes, relishing the bliss that the crystal always gave out.

'Princess Setsuna of the Planet of Time, Pluto, daughter to King Hades and Queen Persephone.' Serenity's voice glided to her ears. She lifted her eyes, half closed in a brooding manner. 'You have lived your duty as the guardian of the Gates of Time. Your loyalty to this planet Earth and its inhabitants has been proven time and time again. In return, you have accepted the royal couple of Crystal Tokyo's offer. And you will now have all that your fellow scouts had whence they were reborn onto the planet called Earth.

'And this is all which you will have. Time will now be rewoven to include you in its threads. For all that you were deprived in the centuries when you guarded those gates you will now be able to live the life that your own comrades live. Your scouting powers will still be within you and will be able to be called upon at your own will. However, you will have little to no recollection of what happened after the time frame which you will enter through. We feel that perhaps, it is better for you and the others that way. Good-bye, guardian and thank you for all that you've done for us'

Setsuna smiled. White light devoured her body. And she disappeared.

At that same moment, when Time was rewoven to include its own guardian, a black dispatched ship from Nikai's baseship crossed over to the site of the planet Earth a couple of years before the era of the Crystal Millennium.

And at that time, a baby cried out restlessly in her sleep, the eight senshi on the planet Earth all snapped up in surprise and fear, a husband reached over and gripped his wife's hand, and the five foreign warriors all tensed up, preparing themselves for the battle before them, and muttering an old mantra beneath their breaths.

"Obsto, Certo, Vivo."

Ending notes:

Well, this is the finish of the prologue and I will be starting 'Obsto, Certo, Vivo', the actual story that I've been building up to from now. Yeah, I figured that would be a nice way to tie the stories together, end the prolouge with the title of the next one. In case you guys haven't noticed, I have an extremely soft spot for the Latin language though I'm sure that what I've just titled my upcoming fic would probably offend people who actually know how to speak the language. I just think it's a very elegant and pretty language and it adds a taste of class, no? 'Obsto, Certo, Vivo' was the story that I had once referred to as 'Foreign Nature' and it is now permanently 'Obsto, Certo, Vivo.'

However, before I write the story, here's one little condition.

Now is the time for one last request from my kind and generous viewers: Review. Let me know if you want me to continue. If you want to know all the hidden mysteries, the half-truths, protective lies, and the connection between our senshi and these new warriors: let me know by doing that thing you do so well. Review! Hell, click the button, put in three words, heck! Three letters, I don't care what, just make a sign that you've read and liked and want to know more. I won't write it up until I've seen that people actually care.