A War To Remember

By: Hotaru170

Disclaimer: I absolutely do NOT own Sailor Moon or Lord of the Rings. If I did, then I wouldn't be writing fanfic about it. LOL! Enjoy the fic!

RECAP OF CHAP 9: Hotaru managed to control her blushing and nodded. She turned the horse towards Fangorn and started a slow trot before leading the horse into a full gallop. She felt Legolas' arms tighten around her waist and she couldn't stop another blush from creeping its way onto her face.

'Charater thoughts'

"Speaking in common language"

"Speaking in Elvish"

IMPORTANT: I want you peeps to know that I have made my own version of how Middle-Earth was formed. I needed to make something that would allow Hotaru to be there with a reasonable explanation. I didn't want it to seem as if she just dropped into Middle-Earth just in time for the forming of the Fellowship. Anyways, here is the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 10

Once the remaining members of the Fellowship reached the border of Fangorn Forest, they dismounted their horses.

Hotaru turned to Aragorn and said. "We must travel on foot from here. The horses will not be able to move well enough if we take them with us." She turned back towards the forest. "Besides, not all the stories told about Fangorn are false." She said mysteriously before trudging towards the opening that Merry and Pippin used previously.

Legolas looked at Aragorn and shrugged before following Hotaru into Fangorn. Aragorn and Gimli followed close behind.

Once Hotaru stepped inside of Fangorn, a wave of quiet anger washed upon her senses. 'Treebeard will be furious once he learns the true extent of Saruman's betrayal.' She spoke quietly in elvish. "As shadow and evil befall the lands of Middle-Earth, the Tree-herders shall bestow their wrath upon the Betrayer."

Legolas had barely caught her whispered words upon the wind. He was about to ask what she meant but stopped suddenly when he heard another whisper. He was absolutely certain that it did not belong to any of the remaining members of the Fellowship. 'That would mean that it must belong to the trees.' He looked around the forest in awe. 'It has been many years since I have heard trees with voices of their own. I see now what Hotaru meant when she said not all the stories about Fangorn were false.'

Gimli was not at all pleased to be in Fangorn. He had heard many tales of people entering this place, never to return. He clutched his axe tightly in his hand when he heard a noise. It sounded like something between a groan and a whisper or perhaps a little of both.

"I'm not at all certain that I want to know what made that noise." He said out loud.

Hotaru almost laughed and said. "Calm down Gimli. Nothing will harm you in here." She paused a moment before she finished. "So long as you don't harm them first."

Gimli gulped and asked. "Them?"

Hotaru turned around and replied. "Yes, them. The trees can talk and move my dear Gimli. They can be quite dangerous if you are not careful. Therefore, it might be in your best interest to lower your weapon. The trees are not very fond of axes."

Gimli nodded nervously and lowered his axe. (AN: I have like the hardest time with Gimli's dialogue...lol.)

The fellowship resumed their walking while Gimli was still pondering why the trees could talk and move.

After he was unable to come to a conclusion, he sighed and shook his head. "Talking trees?! Now that is certainly something I've never heard before." He grumbled aloud.

Aragorn smiled and said. "Not many do, Gimli. The elves are the ones who taught the trees to speak many many years ago when Middle-Earth was still very young. Neither man nor dwarf walked the land then. Elves were the very first beings born unto the lands of Middle-Earth. I used to hear stories when I was in Rivendell that the very first elf born unto Middle Earth was still alive."

Legolas nodded and said. "I have heard the legend many times as well. It was said that she was the most powerful of all the elves and had the power of the planets and stars. She was alone on Middle-Earth for several years before she came across the very first wood elves and the very first river elves."

Gimli looked confused and asked. "If she isn't a river elf or a wood elf, then what kind of elf is she?"

Legolas shook his head and answered. "Nobody really knows. Many of the elves gave her the title, 'The Ancient One', since she was the first elf."

Hotaru remained quiet and listened to Legolas and Aragorn tell Gimli about 'The Ancient One'.

'Perhaps I could tell them a bit more. This could be a way for me to tell them more about myself without them knowing that it is me of whom they speak. They will find out eventually and it would help if they knew some of my history beforehand.'

She was lost in thought for a moment while she considered this idea. She decided that it was indeed the best thing to do for now until they learned of her true identity. She tuned back into the conversation and waited for the right time to join in.

"I don't know much else about 'The Ancient One'. I don't think anyone really knows what stories are true and which ones are false." Aragorn said to Gimli and Legolas.

Hotaru smirked and said. "Maybe you are presuming to much there, Lord Aragorn. I do believe that I might know some more of the legend that you might not be familiar with."

Aragorn asked curiously. "Would you please tell us some, my lady?" "I was always curious if there were more tales about 'The Ancient One'. Lord Elrond always seemed like he was holding something back when he used to tell them. He also spoke of an ancient battle before the forming of Middle-Earth but he never went into detail." He said quietly.

Hotaru said. "Both stories are closely related. I shall tell you what I have heard. It was said that there was a battle thousands of years ago before the world was called Middle-Earth. There were planetary warriors that protected the universe from evil. They fought many wars and seen much bloodshed. After a long battle against a powerful enemy, one being by the name of Chaos, came to the solar system searching for the seeds of the stars. Only those blessed with the power of the planets and the stars had the star seeds with eternal shine. Chaos was the most powerful foe that the warriors had ever faced. After many battles, Chaos captured all the star seeds of the planetary warriors, save one. The soldier of the Moon remained. She was the leader of the planetary warriors and their Queen. It was her who finally defeated and sealed Chaos away. The warriors celebrated and lived in peace for many years. All was peaceful in the universe and the warriors slowly relaxed in the thriving kingdoms of the planets. However, their hard earned peace came to a shattering end. Chaos returned stonger than ever. It stopped at nothing to have vengence." She paused to look at her audience.

Legolas, Aragorn, and even Gimli were focused on every word she said.

Hotaru shook her head and then continued with the story. "Chaos attacked all of the planetary soldiers at once for one final battle. The battle raged on for days and finally the warriors' strength began to fail. The soldiers of Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto were all growing weak under the constant attacks. The warrior of the Moon and her husband, the warrior of Earth, were being protected by the warrior of Saturn. Chaos lashed out with a fearsome attack and mortally wounded all of the Planetary warriors, save for Moon, Earth, and Saturn. Saturn was furious and lashed out at Chaos. Saturn was the most feared of the planetary warriors in the entire universe. She had the power of Death and Destruction. Those who encountered her wrath never long survived it." (AN: I'm not trying to give Hotaru a big ego or anything. However, she was the most feared of all the senshi cause they did try to kill her since she was so powerful and unpredictable.)

She paused again and took a deep breath. It was taking alot out of her to bring up this painful battle again. She sighed and continued.

"However, it was rumored that her ultimate power could destroy an entire planet or even the very universe in dire times. That is why many feared and hated her but not everyone knew of another force in which she also controled. She was the warrior of death, destruction, and lastly but most importantly, rebirth. After a long and strenuous battle, Chaos proved that even the power of Saturn was not enough. Soon, even Saturn was mortally wounded. Finally the warrior of the Moon and her husband, who was the warrior of Earth, stepped forward and into battle. Earth fell protecting Moon. As Moon looked upon the battle field at all of her friends wounded and bleeding. She knew then that even the power of her light could not stop Chaos. Their was only one option left to stop Chaos for good."

Hotaru looked at her audience again and saw the expectation on their faces. She almost smiled and said. "Come. Let us sit down and rest a little. It has been too long since we have rested. I can see the weariness in your eyes."

Gimli grumbled and said."That was a very cruel way to end the story, lass." It was his way of saying that he wished to hear more.

Aragorn sighed and said. "I hope you will tell us the rest. I cannot understand why Lord Elrond refused to tell this story."

Legolas looked at the almost painful expression in Hotaru's eyes. 'She speaks as if she saw everything that happened at that battle. Its almost like she was there, in person.' He shook the thoughts from his head. He turned to Aragorn and said. "Perhaps it was not Lord Elrond's story to tell."

Hotaru sat down and waited until the rest were seated also before she said. "Worry not. I was not going to end there. Now that we are all seated I shall resume the story."

Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli all nodded and waited eagerly for Hotaru to finish the story.

She shook her head and resumed. "The warrior of the Moon knew the task of defeating Chaos was no longer up to her. Only the final attack of Saturn could stop Chaos and its reign of terror. Sadly, Saturn was in no condition to use that attack since she had been severely wounded. One by one, Chaos snatched all the star seeds of the planetary warriors until it was only Moon and Saturn remaining once more. Even Moon's husband lost his star seed to the power of Chaos. However, before Chaos could devour the star seeds, Moon used the Silver Crystal to pull the power of the planets from them. She knew that in order for Saturn to be able to destroy Chaos, she would need the power of all the soldiers. Moon explained to Saturn what to do. She told Saturn that she must fulfill her duty to her station but most importantly to her friends. Then she transfered all the power of her star seed into the Silver Crystal. When that was done, the star seed shattered and Saturn was left all alone. Even though her grief was strong and her heart ached, she fused the power of the Silver Crystal with the power of the planet Saturn. She would destroy Chaos because Moon believed in her and trusted her to finish what was started. When Chaos realized that Moon had taken the power of the planets from the star seeds, including her own and given it to Saturn, it was furious. Underneath all of Chaos' anger and malice, it was afraid. It knew now what Saturn was planning to do and it also knew there was no escape. Saturn raised her weapon into the air and whispered three final words. When she brought her weapon down to the ground, everything fell into silence. It was the end of the Chaos and the beginning of a new era."

Hotaru looked across to the faces of her audience and was surprised to see the sadness written there. 'Many people would not have been so compassionate for something that happened so long ago.'

She sighed and thought. 'It was a very long time ago and yet, the pain of those distant memories still lingers. It is not as strong but it is always there. The day that I lost everything until the fate of a sailor senshi fell upon me once more. It was the fate of the only sailor senshi left.'

Legolas was the first to break the silence among the group and asked. "What happened to Saturn?"

Hotaru smiled sadly and said. "The final attack of Saturn was feared by all and not many knew of the effects it had on its user, save for a few. When she used her final attack, not only did she destroy the world or the universe but herself as well. However, the planetary warriors were immortal and would always be reborn. Sadly, it was only possible for them to be reincarnated if their star seed remained intact. As you know, they were destroyed and so ended the fate and duty of the planetary warriors. Even though the world had ended, Saturn's power of rebirth allowed the Earth to be reborn. That is when the world became know as Middle-Earth. Also, since Saturn's star seed was not destroyed, she still had the power of her planet and was reborn unto Middle-Earth as the very first elf. She spent many years living upon Middle-Earth, until the day that she regained her knowledge of whom she truly was. Since she was the last remaining planetary warrior, the duty of protecting the universe was up to her. It is said that she took up her post at the 'Gates of Time' and there she remained until evil showed itself once more. It was later rumored that she left the 'Gates of Time' whenever a war raged on Middle-Earth and that she fought to protect the innocent. There are a few elves that are still alive to this day that know of her and have even met her before."

Legolas, Aragorn, and Gimli were completely awed. They had never heard the full tale of how Middle-Earth was formed.

Hotaru smiled sadly and said to her companions. "Come now. We have a long journey ahead of us and it would do well for you to rest. I will keep watch."

She stood up and brushed the dirt from her clothes. She glanced back at the others and saw Aragorn and Gimli getting ready for a much needed sleep. She saw that Legolas was leaning against a tree and seemed to be deep in thought.

'He is certainly the most handsome elf I have ever laid eyes on......' She gasped inwardly. 'What?! There I go again with these distracting thoughts. I must stay focused on my duty.' She stole one more glance at him before walking a little ways ahead to stand as a sentry.

Legolas was leaned against the tree thoughtfully. He was trying to process all the information that Hotaru had given them about 'The Ancient One'. He glanced up to see that Hotaru had taken up a watch stance about 12 feet outside of their little camp. Only one word came to his mind as he observed her queitly. 'Beautiful.' He shook his head but even that could not rid his mind of Hotaru. (AN: Hehehe, I'm so evil! Oh, umm sorry about that. I had a momentary lapse in what little sanity that I have left...lol.)

'She has to be the strongest, most mysterious, and most beautiful she-elf that I have ever met.' He mused while still watching her stand guard.

Hotaru stood about a dozen feet away from the small camp. She was observing every little detail that came within her sight or hearing. She kept having this nagging feeling like she was being watched. 'Where could it be coming from?!' She thought. Suddenly she stiffened and turned ever so lightly to glance behind her.

What she saw was certainly not something she was expecting. There was Legolas. He was leaning against a tree and staring at her very openly.

Legolas was staring so openly at her that he didn't even realize that she had turned around and saw him. He snapped from his thoughts when he noticed what would seem like a blush on Hotaru's cheeks before she quickly turned away. He blushed in embarrassment and averted his eyes from her to the ground.

For the rest of the night, Legolas continued to sneak glances at Hotaru. He thought she was unaware of these glances but as before she could tell when someone was watching her. However, she pretended to be unaware so neither she nor him would be embarrassed again.

To be continued...

I hope you peeps enjoyed this chapter. I can't believe I actually finished this chapter so quick. This has gotta be a record for me. Anyways, please leave a review if you enjoyed it. I am always in desperate need of inspiration. OH AND I FINALLY PASSED THE 50 REVIEW MARK!!! YAYNESS!! Thanks to all of you guys! Ja ne!

--Jennifer