Hotaru was still staring across the river pensively when the Sibyl placed a hand on her shoulder. "It is nearly time to board the boat." Sure enough, a small boat was sliding across the dark water, being ferried by an equally dark figure.

Hotaru swallowed uncomfortably. "I don't have a coin. What happens when the ferryman looks in my mouth?" The very thought of a man in a black cloak peering into her mouth made her shiver visibly, but she tried very hard not to be afraid. She then noticed that the Sibyl was holding something. "What is it, Sibyl-Sempai?"

The Sibyl knelt in front of the child and held out a bright golden branch to her. Hotaru was momentarily dazzled and her eyes widened. The unburied souls on the bank looked at the branch hungrily, which made Hotaru creep closer to the Sibyl.

"Listen carefully, child of the stars," said the Sibyl, pressing the bough into Hotaru's hand. "Charon the ferryman will look for the coin, but you must show no fear when he doesn't find it. Give him the Golden Bough and he will not refuse you passage."

Hotaru looked up to see the boat come to rest against the bank. She gulped. A very large part of her wanted to turn back and run to Michiru's arms.

"This part is also important," the Sibyl continued. "Take this cake and when you reach the other bank, feed it to Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the path. It contains drugs that will put him to sleep to allow you to pass. You must move quickly and show no fear. I believe your garnet talisman will guide you from there."

Hotaru reluctantly willed her Glaive away so as to hold the cake in one hand and the Golden Bough in the other. "I'll do everything you say. I'm not afraid." This was a lie. "I'm not afraid," she repeated.

The Sibyl leaned forward and kissed the child on the forehead. "You're full of courage, child of the stars. Your mother would have been proud of you. May you find her safely."

Hotaru threw her arms around the Sibyl and relished in the warmth and comfort that radiated from the woman. "Thank you."

She then straightened and slowly moved towards the gathering of souls as they approached the boat. She couldn't yet see the face of the ferryman, but she trembled from head to toe. She had to work not to crush the cake she held in her hand. She wanted to turn and run back to the Sybil and the protection of the riverbank, but the ghosts were herding her towards the boat. She tried hard to believe she was brave, but she eventually cried out, frantic terror overwhelming her as she was pushed along. "Sybil-Sempai!"

"Have faith, child." Hotaru could not see her friend through the mass of souls, but the Sybil's voice brought her comfort. "Use your mother's talisman."

Hotaru set her jaw and faced the dark ferryman. She lifted her chin and awaited her turn as bravely as she could.

The souls gradually stopped pushing as they fell into a line, and each stepped up to Charon the ferryman. Hotaru remembered vaguely that the planet Pluto had a moon called Charon, and it was also the name of Setsuna's home castle. She figured this man couldn't be all bad, as he was so associated with Pluto. She stood in the line with the others, resolving to give it her all.

As each soul stood in front of Charon, they obediently opened their mouths and let the ferryman take a golden coin from beneath their tongue. Those that had no coin were sent away and made to stand on the bank in misery with those whom had not been buried on earth. She wondered what she would do if Charon denied her offering of the Bough. She wasn't sure if she would be able to swim across the river. She had never been very strong.

Hotaru squinted as the bright light from a lantern was cast across her face. Her stomach gave a lurch as she realized it was her turn. She gazed up into the face of a skeletal, ancient old man with a scraggly beard and dark, dead eyes. The lantern he held had a greenish tint that made his sunken cheeks appear even more skull-like. Hotaru found she couldn't speak; could barely breathe.

Silently, Charon lifted one pale, bony hand and pulled down Hotaru's chin, opening her mouth. Hotaru, trembling, lifted her tongue to reveal her lack of a gold coin.

Charon took his hand away from her chin and gave her a shove out of the line, ready to move onto the next soul. Panicked, Hotaru found her voice. "Wait!" She boldly grabbed hold of Charon's filthy black robe and gave a tug.

He looked down at her, his eyes blank.

"Here!" Hotaru thrust the Golden Bough up at him, desperation written all over her.

The dead eyes suddenly took on a spark of light as he reached out and took the branch. They stood in silence for several seconds before Charon lifted Hotaru's bangs and gazed at the violet light that radiated from the child's forehead. When he finally spoke, his voice was raspy from little use. "What are you?"

Hotaru peered up at him from under his bony hand. "I'm Saturn."

Charon took his hand away and let her bangs fall. He made a slight nod. "Get in the boat." The light in his eyes had gone out again, but Hotaru couldn't help but give him a small smile as she tiptoed past and climbed into the boat.

***

Uranus fell hard on her knees as she toppled out of the Time Portal. Neptune followed a minute later, landing rather unceremoniously on her behind. Uranus had to crack a smile at her ruffled lover, who was brushing off her sailor uniform in irritation. "I do not like the Time Gate, and I do not like Time Portals!"

Uranus helped Neptune up and looked around in confusion. "Is this the Underworld?"

Neptune's hair flew around wildly as a sudden wind blew around them. "I don't know. We're on some kind of cliff."

They appeared to be near the edge of a very large chasm, from which a red glow radiated, and great winds burst forth from time to time. There were mountain ranges around them, but barren flat land behind them. Neptune shivered. "This isn't good, Uranus. Do you have any idea where we are? My mirror is just shadowed, revealing nothing. It's not being very helpful."

Uranus looked aside and muttered under her breath, "What can you expect when you're using a mirror as a weapon, I mean, really…"

Neptune gave her a sideways glance. "I heard that."

Uranus moved a little closer to the chasm. "Maybe we're supposed to go down there. Do you think Hotaru is in there?"

Neptune shook her head. "Oh, I hope not! I can't picture Hotaru being under the earth like that, down in a pit. I just can't!"

Uranus rested her hands on Neptune's shoulders. "We have to go down. We have to find Hotaru. And…and Setsuna."

Neptune gazed up at her lover. "Do you really expect to find Suna? I miss her so much. If we could just-"

Uranus shook her head, interrupting her. "No, I don't. But for Hotaru's sake, I have to believe. I don't know if we can get Hotaru to leave this place without her. We have to believe like we've never believed before, Michiru."

Neptune nodded just as a blast of air erupted from the chasm. The air swirled around them and seemed to carry a high-pitched voice, almost like a child's. "Haruuuukaaaaa…Michiiiiiiruuu…" It chanted in a singsong voice. "Come play with meeeeeee."

Uranus shuddered. "Creepy."

"What do you think it is?" Neptune whispered.

Uranus didn't have time to answer. The ground started to vibrate violently beneath their feet, as if a large earthquake had just started, and both soldiers were flung to the ground.

"Uranus!" screamed Neptune as she was dragged closer and closer to the chasm by the force of the vibrating earth.

"Neptune! Grab my hand!" Uranus threw herself onto her stomach and managed to grab Neptune's hand just as she was tossed over the side. Uranus grasped the dull grass beneath her and held on in vain as the ground twisted beneath her. "We have to go down, Neptune! It seems to be the only way."

"Uranus, no!"

"I can't hold on! Be brave, Michi! Whatever happens, I'm with you!" Uranus's grasp gave way and she and Neptune went plummeting into the chasm, falling towards the unknown.