The beginning





Space was a beautiful place. Peaceful and quiet, surrounded by millions of stars shattered across the distance like a great tapestry. Each light was a shining bright promising hope. Space was the home for over billions and billions of life forms.

Suddenly the peace was broken by the sudden burst of darkness at the very edge of space, a darkness that was darker than the deepest pitch of night. The darkness started to spread slowly, swallowing the light around it as it spread. One by one the stars closest to the darkness vanished, leaving an area of darkness that became greater and greater.

In a place in between worlds and in between time in a far, far away galaxy two women watched the whole incident with ancient eyes. One was as fair as the palest shade of light. At first look the woman looked young but at a closer look her age was in truth indefinable. She had the youthful agelessness to her face but her pale eyes shone with an ancient wisdom that spoke of an existence that could be as old as time itself.

Standing next to the dark green haired woman was but a pale shadow in her presence. Long green hair flowing down to her hips, the woman had the face of a girl in her early twenties. But her dark green eyes revealed an age far above that, though compared to her companion they were still that of a youth's.

''It has begun.'' The younger woman spoke up, shattering the silence that had kept them company.

''Yes.'' The older woman agreed watching the scene in front of her with her pale eyes. Eyes that shifted between green, blue, green and hazel dark. Her face was beautifully smooth like marble, and it betrayed as much in terms of emotions.

Her companion held her composure too but inside her sadness as well as fear was clawing like Death's hand. Unconsciously the hand that she was using to hold a tall black rod with a half moon crescent, clenched, the knuckles whitening. Turning her head slightly, she watched the bright star that shone in midpoint and the group of planets that circled around it in orbits. It was only one solar system but contained billions of life in just that tiny system. At the moment those lives were leading their peaceful lives unaware of the danger that was coming their way. Unaware of the chaos and death that it was promising.

''It is still too early. They aren't ready.''

The fair-haired woman shook her head lightly, making her long flowing hair dance in waves. ''Do not be in such a hurry. Everything takes its time. It has only begun. We still have time to prepare them for the final battle. They will each fulfill their destiny as you will, my daughter.''

The green haired woman might have lived for several centuries but compared to her companion she was in truth nothing but an infant and as such she was young enough to let her emotions rule her. Instead of watching the destruction that she had been brought here to watch, she turned to face the ancient woman and before she knew it words were tumbling out of her mouth. ''I'm afraid, Oracle.''

Without looking away, the oracle's gentle smile still reached the young woman. ''Do not be, daughter. Though I may not take an active part in this war, know in your heart that a part of me shall always watch over you.''

''And what if you're wrong? They've failed in the past. You've seen the results of their failure just as I have. How can you be so sure they won't make the same mistakes again?'' She tried not to think of the place or the time of which had captured her heart. A place and time far away from the place and time of when she had been born. Despite herself flashes came quick and fast, pictures of death and destruction, of darkness and blood, of sorrow and loss, of pain and tears.

Sensing her distress, the oracle reached out with her senses and soothed her. Despite all her vast powers however she was only able to ease some of the pain, not to erase them completely. ''Yes, daughter. I know how the future will look like if these children fail the battle. That is why we are here today. The reason we lost the battle the last time was not just the fault of these children. The other side broke the rules as well. Because they have, I am now able to do something that I was not able to do before, which is interfere.''

Young as she may be, she was still sensitive enough to sense the pain the oracle tried to hide. She wanted to reach out and put her arms around the fair-haired woman but she knew that should she do that her arms would just pass through as the other woman was nothing more than substance. So she did the only thing she could do and that was to pull herself together. Smiling she said, ''Forgive me, Oracle. Seeing all this again just brought back bad memories. I am okay now and ready to assume my responsibilities.''

The oracle sighed, understanding the child far better than the girl did herself. ''That's quite all right, daughter. You are entitled to them. Unlike your brethren there is and has always been only one Guardian of Time and as such, you are lonelier than most. I fear that when I created that position I had made an error there. I wish there was someway I could change that just like we are changing time now. But unfortunately because your position is connected to time that is the one and only thing I can't change once I've made it. It seems even one such as me have limits.'' The last was said in a rueful tone but the quick humor was quickly dashed away again as the woman finally looked away from space to watch her charge. ''Are you ready then, daughter?'' She asked gravely.

The Guardian of Time nodded her head in answer. ''I am, Oracle.''

''Then I will send you to the galaxy of the Milky way. For your own protection as well as part of the rule, you will not be able to keep all of your memories.''

''Then how will I know what needs to be done?'' The Guardian of Time asked with a slight frown marring her ethereal beauty.

''I will give you three advice that you will be able to remember. First look for the signs that I have planted in the planets. Second is to find my hosts. Unfortunately there aren't as many as either of us would have wanted. Ordinary life forms are not meant to contain that much power and the after effects of using them takes a large toll on them. The third and most important advice, daughter, is to trust in your instincts. They will guide you to the right path.''

''Will I be able to remember anything?'' The younger woman asked with some frustration.

The oracle shook her head, she wore a smile of an indulgent mother watching her daughter being stubborn. ''Not very much at the beginning. Some things need to fall in place first and I'm afraid that if you had your memories, you will choose to act upon them instead of waiting.''

Knowing that it was the truth the young woman nodded her head in reluctant agreement.

Satisfied, the oracle made a small gesture with her hand and the scene that had once enfolded them vanished to be replaced by a grayish nothingness. With a thought, the oracle called upon a portal that opened up to the young woman's right side. The portal was pulsing with all the colors of the rainbow but whatever lay on the other side was not available to sight.

''Before you go, there is one last thing that I have to tell you. Though I'm sending you in this time, instead of letting you watch, you have to remember who you are, Pluto. Your role is still more of a watcher's than a soldier's. Break that rule and there are prices that you will have to pay. Time is not something to play around with.'' The last sentence was said with a heavy warning and the oracle made sure that she kept Pluto's eyes caught in hers to emphasize it.

After Pluto had nodded her head gravely indicating that she had understood the warning, the oracle sent her off. Standing once again alone in the realm of her creation, the oracle's eyes turned distant as she let her mind wander of to the part of the universe where the evil darkness was appearing.

The being sensed her presence and immediately she was assaulted by a psychic attack. The oracle deflected the attack with ease. Even through the distance, she could sense the hatred that the being had for her. Since her feelings were not that much warmer for the being either, the oracle made the contact brief. She sent her message, issuing the proper code of acceptance for the battle and severed the ties quickly after that.

After that was done, the oracle set her mind to another task. As her charge was no longer present there was no need for her to keep the appearance of a human woman either. In truth she had no form. She was ALL and NOTHING. Carrying the appearance of a human woman had been for the benefit of Pluto. The oracle always made sure that that whoever she spoke to when being herself, she always put on the appearance of that race.

Letting go of the form, the oracle started to get down to work. Seeds have been planted and the challenge has been accepted. Now it was time to set things in motion.

The oracle reached out with her awareness. Across the galaxies a message went through like a fire spreading on dry grassland. A call was sent out and all those who were meant to hear the message heard it, though not many were in fact aware that they had received a message.

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In a deserted throne room, a young man was sitting on a diamond throne staring at the chess play in front of him with a thoughtful frown. He was abruptly pulled out of his deep thought as a sudden awareness filled him. Jumping up from his throne, toppling the exquisite precious chess to the floor, the man looked around the empty throne room. Energy was formed in his hand, ready to be cast. When nothing happened for a long time, he let the energy vanish, feeling slightly foolish at the same time. He could have sworn that just a moment ago he had felt his senses tell him to ready for battle. They have never been wrong before.

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In a sleeping chamber several stories above the throne room, a beautiful young woman with long rich curls of green hair was sitting in front of a giant mirror. She was wearing a flimsy thin silk night gown that showed off her luscious curves and humming through her lips while she brushed her hair with gentle stroke.

In an action that had never happened before while doing this ritual, the woman stopped her brushing in midair as she felt the hair on the back of her neck rise. The tune stopped, dead in her mouth and she whirled around scanning the room. Unable to see anything the woman shook her head and muttered a curse under her breath. It was all his fault. She's been spending too much time with his royal highness below lately. She's starting to get as paranoid as he was.

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In another part of the castle, a young man was sitting in a deep leather chair, enjoying the quiet peacefulness of the evening with a book. He sensed the change and looked up from his reading, like a wolf catching the scent of prey. Setting aside his book he rose and walked over to the window. Unable to see anything he walked back to the door and stuck out his head. The hallway outside was just as empty as when he had left it an hour before. He shook his head and shrugged off the whole incident as an act of an overactive imagination. Sitting back on his chair and he resumed his reading, having already forgotten about the whole thing.

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Outside of the building another young man going on is daily life doing what he always did every evening. He was practicing his fighting and honing his warrior skills. Unlike his companions he was a simple man who enjoyed the practical use of his hands more than magic as a weapon. Unlike magic, hands were solid and he trusted them more.

Nearing the end of the practice, he was just about to neutralize his opponent when a sudden awareness filled him. Already on the alert, his warrior instincts kicked in and he used more force than was necessary attack his opponent. Whirling around, he tried to catch whatever danger it was that had alerted him but at this time of the night, the training yard was empty of people aside from he and his training companion, who at the moment was lying out cold on the ground.

Swearing the young man knelt down to check on her. He knew that his prince was going to have a word with him about this when he found out. He had been reprimanded several times about using one of the four sisters as a training partner. His prince had a strange objections against fighting women.

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Across the many worlds and planets, closer to the sun, two young men were walking down the hallway of their home in deep conversation. A sensation came over both and they stopped, hands going automatically to the sword resting at their side as they immediately became alert.

With a wordless gesture, the dark-haired one signaled to his companion to move to the left while he took up the right side. Slowly they searched the area trying to catch signs of whatever danger it was that their senses had warned them. Finding his side of the hallway empty, he turned to his companion. The silver-haired man shook his head indicating that his side was clear too.

Left with nothing else to do, they resumed their walk. But the silver haired man made a mental note of doubling the guards anyway. He rarely ignored his instincts and especially when sensing a danger around the very man that he had given oath to protect, he was not going to take any chances.

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In the giant observatory at the very top of the castle, a tall brown-haired man studied the stars above him with a slight frown of concentration on his handsome face.

It was a rare thing having such a clear sky at this time of the year. He was not sure if he was imagining it but the sky seemed to be extremely bright tonight. The constellations have never before appeared as clear to him as now and revealed less. Normally he could read the signs of the stars like a book but tonight the sky was as closely shut as the clamp of an oyster.

The awareness snuck up on him and he turned absolutely still. As if receiving a que, the sky suddenly opened up above him. Revealing all its knowledge. The man's dark eyes widened and he staggered back at the onslaught of information that overwhelmed him. By the time he recovered the sensation was gone and the sky was once again obscured and hidden.

The man panted as if he had run for several miles at a dead run. He tried to gather enough of his wits to remember what he had seen for that brief moment but like trying grab hold of water, the information slipped out of his mind.

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Not far from castle, a pair of young men were enjoying themselves to their hearts content each with an arm around a pretty lady. Music and laughter filled the establishment where they were currently staying in. Though both were blonde one was short haired and blue-eyed and the other was long- haired and green-eyed.

The blue eyed man was whispering something to his lovely redheaded companion when the strange sensation filled him. He looked over the shoulder of the girl to his friend, noticing that the other man had tensed in the middle of kissing his lady friend. Their eyes met and a silent message passed between them, indicating that they both had felt it.

They waited a heartbeat but when nothing happened, the green eyed man was distracted by his lady friend and he went back to giving her his full attention. Since his friend did not seem to be worried, the blue eyed man shrugged off the incident. They probably just had too much to drink and went back to enjoying himself.

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Several planets from the pair of carousing young men, another room was filled with the sound of music. Unlike the festive loud ones, this was the sweet clinging sounds of violin and piano blended in a lovely harmony.

A woman with pale green hair the color of sea, played her violin with a grace and ease of a person born to the music. Sitting by a grand piano, the blonde haired woman let her fingers roam over the keys of the piano with a quick ease and cleverness that matched superbly with the notes coming from the violin.

The angelic music was however abruptly cut short when both of them felt the awareness that swept over them. They shared a silent look and pulling out a pencil from their pockets they held it ready and prepared to utter the words that would transform them. Then they waited. Nothing happened and the awareness left, but it took a long time before either felt comfortable enough to put back the pen in her pocket.

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Some distant away in the nursery of the royal palace, a beautiful baby girl was sleeping peacefully. One chubby formed thumb was stuck in her mouth and unconsciously she sucked at it as she dreamt.

An old woman was sitting in a chair not far from the girl, dosing lightly. Her rest was abruptly cut short when the little girl suddenly started to scream and cry. The woman jumped up from her chair with a start and hurried to her charge's side. Lifting up the baby girl, she soothed the girl from whatever nightmare it was that had awaken her. Absently she noted that this was the first time the baby had ever woken up like this. She was a very good girl and normally she slept through the whole night. It must have been a really bad dream to have scared her up like this.

It took the nurse nearly an hour before the baby finally fell back to sleep and even then she was still hiccuping from the aftermath of her cries.

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From the middle of a wide plane a lone woman walked, carrying a long staff with a half crescent moon at the top. Aside from the animal lives, there was no signs of living close by. Her eyes however were fixed in the small distant light in the horizon that promised the existence of a large city. That was her destination. The place where she knew she would start her mission.

Suddenly she was washed by a mystic sensation who's presence was not unfamiliar to her. Pluto looked up to the sky, though she knew that she would not be able to see anything. The stars were shining with an extreme brightness as if sensing the approaching darkness that is threatening to come and swallow them. She could almost feel their fears.

It seems the Oracle had just sent out her signal alerting her warriors to prepare for battle. Pluto wondered how many besides her would be feel the signal. Already her memories were starting to fade. The knowledge that she had held before was nothing but a pale shadow now and for every step she took more faded. Who would join her in the upcoming battle, she did not know. Finding that out was one of her missions.

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In another castle far, from the plane where Pluto was walking, four girls were lying in their separate rooms sleeping peacefully. The last two weeks had been tough on them and now that their hardship was over they were catching up on some much needed rest.

Each girl was different from the other as the seasons of the year. One blonde, one dark-haired, one raven-haired and one blue-haired. They slept peacefully, dreaming their separate dreams of boys, food, family and vacation.

Too tired to notice anything neither woke up as the power touched them. Still sleeping some frowned and shifted restlessly while others pulled the covers more tightly around her, as a sudden cold seemed to touch her. Safe in their bed and inside the grand palace of their home, none was aware of the upcoming danger that was approaching.

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In a darkened circular room two stories below the sleeping girls, another girl with long flowing pale blonde hair pulled back to the side like two meatballs, closed the double door carefully behind her. Turning she watched the crystal that was standing at the center of the room and slowly she started to approach it.

Her heart was hammering against her chest, threatening to jump up to her throat.. Her hand was sweaty and she kept glancing over her shoulder at the closed door, fearing it to open any moment bringing her mother and teachers to stop her.

She stopped in front of the crystal. The light coming out of the large crystal illuminated her face, revealing a beautiful face with large blue eyes, small stubborn nose and full rosy lips. The girl reached out a hand to touch the crystal, part of the actions that was needed to activate it but she halted in midair when a strange sensation seemed to fill her. A cold clamminess seemed to claw at her and along with it came a sense of warning and dread. Her breath caught in her throat and the girl quickly whirled around to face the door, fearing that she had been caught. But the door was still closed and she was still alone in the room. The girl's feet were rooted to the floor, though she would not have been able to hide in the room even if she had wanted to. She held her breath and tensed.

Minutes ticked by and nothing happened.

The sensation vanished and slowly she let her breath out again. Time was running out, she did not know what it was that she had just felt but she knew that if she did not hurry and get on with what she came here for she will be caught soon and then she can really say goodbye to her freedom. Taking a deep breath as if steeling herself mentally, the girl stole one furtive look behind her shoulder before she reached out with her hands and touched on the cool smooth surface of the crystal. She concentrated on the pattern in her head and uttered the magical word. Immediately she was surrounded by a blinding light. Her surrounding blazed and vanished from sight and when the light faded out again, the room was empty once more with only the crystal resting on its pedestal at the center.