Surrounded Chapter 03
Authors Note: I've actually thought up some ideas for this story. So if there is continued interested I will continue to write!
Disclaimer: Don't own Sailormoon.
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After Usagi had spoken to Taiki, Seiya and Yaten outside the house, she had returned to the living room only to excuse herself to her room. But rather than going back to sleep, she sat in the entrance of her room, her knees pulled up to her chest. She listened intently to the conversation downstairs.
Taiki and Yaten had explained to the senshi what they had told her before – when they said that Chibiusa would not be born without Mamoru, Hotaru had broken into a sob. At that, Usagi could feel something developing in her throat – she, too, was heartbroken.
The conversation seemed to get deeper and more serious. As she sat there, Usagi suddenly felt like a sneaky, eavesdropping child. She was Sailor Moon; even if she didn't agree with what they said, she could still be there. But, she decided, not in her pajamas and messy hair.
She quickly brushed her hair, tied it up, and put on some clean clothes. When she arrived downstairs, Makoto quickly jumped up and offered her seat. Usagi shook her head, and instead sat next to her feet, resting her head on her knees. Makoto took a few locks of her hair in her hands, playing with it absentmindedly.
There was an awkward silence for a few moments. Usagi cleared her throat. "So … I know what's going on. And, I think … it's my responsibility to be part of this."
Haruka and Michiru glanced at each other, then nodded.
"You're right, Usagi-san," Haruka said. "We can't hide you from these things. It's important that you're involved, too."
The others nodded, but still had looks of worry on their face. Setsuna sat forward a little bit, resting her chin in her hands. Dressed in a black sweater and skirt, she looed both beautiful and sad. Usagi had always envied her elegance, and wished she was more like her. She had always thought that Mamoru might like a woman that was more refined.
"In the future," she said, her voice soft and serious, "you will be the queen of Crystal Tokyo. Of course, it is said the Queen of the Moon – and, in your case, the Earth – will live forever. That is, unless the kingdom is destroyed. That is what happened in the Silver Millenium. Queen Serenity had an infinite wisdom, not young, but not old. The ginzuishou is the essence of the Moon Kingdom. Time will always change, and with time – even if it takes thousands of years – Small Lady will need to take up the throne.
"Endymion was a great part of your future as the queen. It was not an easy change – a great war raged before the power of the ginzuishou dominated again. Without him, the fate of the world has changed, greatly."
Setsuna sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Time is a complicated thing. It is ruled by forces that even I dare not tamper with. I thought, perhaps … time could be reversed. Things could be changed. But you must realize, Usagi-san – fate can be changed. Still, there are courses in time that must be followed. I do not understand, myself, how I have seen a future with Endymion. But something must have happened, to reverse the strings of fate."
Usagi bit her lip, looking down. She could not cry. She had to be strong. For now, she knew, emotions had to be discarded. This was the future of the world she was thinking of, not only herself. It was another battle.
Setsuna turned her head slightly, looking out the window. "I travelled with you through time before, when the world was in danger. For a long time, I have always forced myself to keep silent of time. I know things before they happen, but I cannot use it to my advantage. But now … it's time that you know what will happen."
She looked down at Luna and Artemis. The two guardians nodded, though both looked unsure.
"When you turn twenty-one – only two years from now – another kingdom will attack," she said. At the other senshi's alarmed faced, she shook her head. "Not like Chaos. It isn't uncommon for civilizations to fight for land. Our Solar System isn't that valuable – most of our planets are wastelands. Only Earth survives. Yes, it is a fairly prosperous land, but there are other worlds younger, stronger, still as beautiful as they were when they were created.
"But there is a power that glows from within our solar system. The ginzuishou and the sailor senshi are a powerful force. Many powerful forces have taken favor upon our world, and paid much attention to them. The forces spoken of in all religions are not only centered around Earth, you know. Many worlds get few favors from them. The power of the many worlds has flocked to our small planet.
"Look at the Dark Kingdom, and the Black Moon Clan! They were outcasts, uncared for by truly great forces. Yes, they had darkness within them, from Chaos. But it is known that many worlds fight for one another. Now, Queen Serenity disliked fighting for other worlds, but some planets – especially Aries-sama, the ruler of Mars – wanted to take over other, smaller solar systems.
"At first, it would have been planned that you fought only to fend off other worlds. But soon, we realized, it was not enough to simply have the senshi fighting. We needed much, much more. You had to claim Earth as your own, allow the ginzuishou to consume much of you. The other senshi had to take up their positions as rulers of their planets and powers.
"If we lived on the moon, and not Earth, you could have taken the power for yourself. But you do not control Earths powers – Endymion did. It was his bond with you that made it possible for you to save the world."
Usagi stared at Setsuna. "But what now? How will we ever be able to – how can we ever save the world now?"
Setsuna shook her head. "I don't know, now. I tried many times to pass through the gates of time, but the doors to the future have sealed themselves. Even fate is unsure of itself now. There are many things that must be done first, Usagi-san. We must take action soon."
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Closing Notes: How was that? I haven't updated the story for a while, but I decided to keep going.
PREVIEW FOR NEXT WEEKS EPISODE: While the outer senshi begin to delve into the darker forces, the inner senshi continue to try to resolve the emotional cases of Mamoru's death. Seiya reaches out to Usagi, who fears she has become far too vulnerable to love for her own good, and finds herself falling ill.
