6 – Cousin, Aunt, Plutonian Sister…

The next few days passed by without any problems, Alexia had started to feel that although she'd only been in her new home for a week or so it felt like she'd been there forever. She was sat in her mother's car, a large shoulder bag on her knees as they drove along.

"You nervous honey?" Miaka asked her daughter, not taking her eyes off the road.

"A little, excited as well." the green-haired girl smiled. They pulled up outside a large building and she took a deep breath. The building was the dance school, which Alexia was about to commence evening lessons at.

"Do you want me to come in with you?" Miaka inquired as she put on the hand brake and looked over at Alexia.

"No, I'll be okay mom." she said confidently. "Anyway, here goes nothing." she opened the door, then leant over to kiss her mother on the cheek. "Thanks for the lift."

"No problem sweetie - see you later." the black-haired woman smiled and waved as her daughter closed the door and walked up to the door of the school.

"Everything will be fine…" she murmured as she pushed it and walked in with her head up. A girl, who was stood just a little way from the door, immediately looked up from her bag. She was a little shorter than Alexia, with hazel-green eyes and black hair cut into a sleek raven bob. She looked curiously at Alexia as she said:

"Hi, I haven't seen you here before. Are you new?"

"Yes, I am." Alexia replied. "My name's Alexia, Alexia Risolto."

"Shishu Kurahashi." the other girl smiled. "So I guess you'll be in my class, you poor thing!" she giggled.

"Excuse me?" the green-haired girl asked in confusion.

"Oh, sorry! It's just our teacher, Ms. Yakamori…she's a bit of a slave-driver - hates a lack of concentration, loves hard work." Shishu sighed. "I've thought about quitting more than once."

"Really? Why haven't you?"

"Number one my parents, and number two I actually quite like ballet." she smiled. "Anyway, come with me and we'll find Ms. Yakamori, she'll want to meet you." Alexia nodded.

"She's met my parents, but not actually me."

"Really? Didn't you audition to get in here? Everyone else has to…" Shishu asked suspiciously.

"Oh yes I did, but instead of coming here to do it someone came to my old school to watch me." the Charonian explained.

"Ahhh I see." Shishu nodded, and the pair fell silent. Along the walls of the corridor they were walking down were pictures of dancers with their names on gold plaques underneath. Alexia followed them with her eyes until they reached a small room, which reminded the girl of some kind of waiting room. One wall was made of windows with an opening and a half door in it. Shishu opened this and led Alexia through it.

"Shishu, you're early again?" a remarkably tall and slim woman with short lilac hair floated over - well, that was how Alexia saw it anyway; the woman was so graceful that it hardly seemed her feet were touching the shiny wooden floor.

"Yes, Ms. Yakamori." Shishu bowed politely. "I'm afraid my parents had to drop me off early because they've both got meetings."

"You do not need to sound so apologetic." the woman, obviously Ms. Yakamori, said in her steady tone; her blue eyes then flitted to look at Alexia. "Hello there, who's this Shishu?"

"Oh! This is Alexia, miss! She's new here!" the raven-haired girl grinned.

"Ahhh, Miss Risolto, I presume?" Alexia nodded, feeling slightly nervous as the woman walked over to her.

"Y…yes, that's right." she quickly bowed gracefully and the teacher smiled approvingly.

"Madame Laverne told me you would be joining us today. She was extremely impressed with your audition."

"Madame Laverne did your audition?!" Shishu squeaked. "She's the head of this school, and I don't think anyone's ever got through one of her auditions! She's sooo critical!"

"Shhhh." Ms. Yakamori hushed the girl a sharp movement of her hand. "Why don't you go and get ready? The other girls will be arriving shortly." the girl blushed and dashed off to the changing room. "Excuse her, she's a nice enough girl however she tends to speak without thinking sometimes." the teacher muttered. "Anyway I hope you will find the lessons to your advantage Miss Risolto, I am a firm believer in hard work, and I hope you will live up to my…rather high expectations." her lips curled into a very slight smile. "Just over there is the changing room, you'd better get changed."

"Yes miss, thank you very much." Alexia bowed again and walked away. As she entered the dressing room Shishu and two other girls were stood near another door talking quietly.

"There she is - she must be amazing…" Shishu murmured; Alexia chose to ignore and just start getting changed.

"If she survived one of Laverne's auditions…definitely, I can't wait to see her dance!" one of the others, a very delicate-looking girl with blonde curls breathed. "Hey Saya we have a new girl in our class; and get this - Madame Laverne auditioned her!"

"No way!" the girl who had just walked in gasped, and walked over to where Alexia was changing. "Is it true? Madame Laverne herself accepted you into the school?"

"Yes, that's right." Alexia smiled rather awkwardly - she wasn't used to this amount of attention. Every girl who was filtering into the changing room was being informed of the news by the rather eager Shishu and her friends, most of them were shocked but one or two seemed sceptical.

"They're saying Laverne's losing her marbles, maybe it's true." one muttered, eyeing Alexia suspiciously.

"Yeah, she doesn't look special or anything…" another griped. Alexia just grabbed her toe shoes and left the room quickly, her face burning.

x x x x x

"What a work out! I don't think I've had such a strenuous lesson for ages!" Shishu groaned as she and Alexia left the building. The girl had chosen to attach herself to Alexia throughout the lesson, hoping that because it was Alexia's first lesson Ms. Yakamori would go easy on her - on the contrary she'd been worse, testing Alexia's skills.

"I didn't think it was too bad, I rather enjoyed it." the green-haired girl said simply. "She's a good teacher."

"Yeah, I guess." Shishu murmured.

"Alexia, over here!" Amy piped up from where she, Mina, Artemis and Estrella were sat on a wall. They'd promised to meet her after her class to walk her to the Hino Shrine for a Scout meeting.

"Oh hi guys!" Alexia called back, waving. "Hey come and say hi to my friends Shishu." she dragged the smaller girl by the arm to them. "Everyone this is Shishu, she's in my dance class." they all smiled and said hello to the black-haired dancer. "Shishu, this is Amy, Mina, Mina's cat Artemis…" Estrella leapt into her arms. "And this is my cat, Estrella."

"Awww how cute!" she exclaimed. "Hey Estrella, and hey everyone else." a car horn sounded. "That's my lift Alexia, I'll see you on Thursday, alright?"

"Sure, bye!" Alexia waved as Shishu clambered into a car and drove off.

"She seems nice." Amy commented.

"She is, although a little bit of a chatterbox…" she explained what had happened before the class. "Most of the people seemed in awe, which was embarrassing enough - but there were a couple who seemed a little…edgy?"

"Aww, they were probably jealous!" Mina smiled as they all started to walk.

"So, what happened in class?" Estrella inquired.

"Well, Ms. Yakamori - that's my teacher - introduced me firstly, then we did warm-ups. After that she asked me to dance for the class…I don't think I've ever been so nervous in my life! I felt I had to live up to some kind of expectation after what Shishu had told everyone." Alexia sighed.

"And, how did it go?" the blonde Venusian asked.

"Really well actually, Ms. Yakamori looked really pleased and she actually told me at the end of the class that I'm way ahead of most people in the class…she asked if I wanted to join classes for older dancers, but I said I'd be more comfortable with people more or less my own age - I don't mind going through things I already know, practise makes perfect they say!" she giggled.

"Just like Princess Charon." the cats said in unison.

"Sorry?" the green-haired Scout inquired.

"Princess Charon was the greatest dancer in the galaxy…if not the universe!" Estrella explained. "She was very much into practising non-stop - if something wasn't quite perfect she'd have to re-do it over and over until it was."

"So much so that the other princesses used to call her Princess Perfectionist." Artemis added.

"So I haven't changed that much?" Alexia asked with interest. "Although I'm pretty sure I'm not the greatest dancer on this planet, let alone in the universe."

"Apart from that, not at all, even your relationships are the same - she was always close to the all the princesses however she had two best friends, who she spent the most time with. One of them was Princess Mars," her kitten told her, her green eyes suddenly looking downcast. "And the other was Princess Universe; she was always with one or the other…"

"Princess Universe? Who's that?" Alexia inquired, noticing how sad Estrella looked. The cats and Scouts looked at one another awkwardly.

"Ummm…Universe was a girl who joined the Moon Kingdom a couple of months after yourself, we believed she was killed in the great battle of the Moon…however not too long before you moved here we had some trouble." Luna said quietly.

"Let me tell this, it is mostly to do with me." Amy volunteered. "I was abducted by a young woman called Merula, who was working for an evil man named Mu…"

"Wait - you mean Emperor Mu, who helped Serenity send us to Earth?" Alexia exclaimed.

"Yes that's correct, how did you…?" the blue-haired girl asked in confusion.

"Estrella mentioned him to me when she was telling me about my past."

"Oh right, I see. Anyhow when he helped Serenity send us to Earth he wanted something in return - my hand in marriage; Serenity refused immediately - but I accepted. He had returned to claim what was rightfully his - myself." Amy sighed. "And it turned out that Merula was none other that Sailor Universe - once obviously Princess Universe. Mu had rescued her from the Moon Kingdom and brainwashed her."

"She's evil." Mina spoke up, her voice shaking slightly. "Pure evil."

"But she wasn't, not back on the Moon - she was kind and very faithful to her friends - particularly Princesses Mercury and Charon." Estrella said quickly.

"If not rather a wild card." Artemis added.

"She was wonderful…" the orange kitten sighed, with a sadness to her tone. "I miss her greatly; and I'm rather glad I wasn't here to witness what she's like now."

"What happened to Mu and Universe then?" Alexia questioned.

"Mu was destroyed, and Universe…we don't know where she is." Amy concluded.

"Oh." Alexia murmured, and they continued to walk in silence. Estrella leapt from her arms and walked next to Artemis a little ahead of the three girls.

"Artemis, do you think we should tell Alexia about…" Estrella looked up at the sky. "You know?"

"No, definitely not." the white cat said quickly. "I've spoken to Luna about it and she agrees - there's a chance he's still out there somewhere - and we can't frighten the girl. We'll only tell her about him if needs be." the kitten nodded.

"That's what I thought, thank you."

"Anyway Alexia, are you looking forward to your first real Scout meeting?" Amy inquired.

"Oh yeah - I'm pretty excited about being involved properly at last!" the Charonian beamed.

"Don't get too excited Alexia, I can more or less tell you what'll happen." Mina sighed. Alexia looked confused.

"It's true, they're that predictable!" Artemis remarked.

"It'll begin with Luna asking if anyone's got any news, the result being a resounding no, then Lita will mention some boy that looks like one of her ex-boyfriends and throughout Rei will moan at Serena, who will end up crying." Amy said, ticking off the various points on her fingers as she spoke.

"I'm sure this meeting will be slightly different though, what with it being mine and Alexia's first one." Estrella pointed out. Artemis nodded his head in agreement.

"That's a good point Estrella, but I bet one thing will stay the same…"

"Rei and Serena will still fall out!" Mina and Alexia giggled as they spoke simultaneously. Estrella and Artemis couldn't help but smile at the girls.

x x x x x

The meeting was pretty uneventful, there was no news (just as Amy had said) and the conversation had gone to the new race car game in Crown Arcades. Mina, Lita and Serena had all decided to go there to try it out (Mina loved racing games, Lita saw it as an opportunity to see Andrew, the cute guy that worked there; and Serena had promised to meet Darien there). Alexia had decided to walk home by herself, because Estrella and the cats were going to have a meeting. Her bag was starting to feel quite heavy on her weary shoulders as she walked along the streets, which seemed unusually empty. Actually they were totally devoid of life and vehicles except for one other person. This person was walking very slowly a couple of metres in front Alexia, shrouded in a long black cloak which dragged on the ground and covered his or her head. Alexia felt extremely wary of this person in front of her – who would be wearing such a heavy cloak on a hot day like this? Suddenly the person stopped and turned slowly, causing Alexia to freeze to the spot she was on, her eyes wide. The stranger pulled its hood down, and the green-haired girl screamed shrilly. The thing under the cloak was certainly not human. Its eyes were nothing but bright green slits and its red mouth smiled cruelly, showing a set of glinting, sharp white teeth. It threw off the cloak to show a twisted, extremely thin body with sharp claws on its unnaturally large hands and feet. It hissed, a forked tongue flicking in and out of its mouth and suddenly its body seemed to melt and change into that of a large serpent's. It laughed a hissing laugh as Alexia watched on, feeling very nervous.

"Helloooo, little giiiiiirl." the serpent spoke, sniggering. "Are you enjoying my tricksssss?"

"Umm, not really?" Alexia replied, reaching into her pocket for her transformation pen. The serpent laughed yet again and using its tongue (which suddenly became extremely long) grabbed the cloak and threw it over itself. Seeing it was off guard the girl pulled out her pen and held it high above her.

"Charon Moon Power - Make Up!" And in a flash of lilac light she transformed into Sailor Charon. As she stood, poised for action in her sailor suit the serpent was moving under the cloak. "C'moooon…I haven't got all day." the Scout muttered. Finally it started to rise from under the black shroud and threw it off quickly.

"Ta daaa!"

The serpent had vanished - and a female demon was now stood where it had been. She giggled and took a little curtsy. "I'm Illusia!" she sang with glee. She had pale lilac skin with dark blue freckles across her nose. Her red hair was short and wavy with blue streaks, and she had small blue horns just sticking out from under her hair on each side of her head. She was dressed in a blue and red tutu and knee-length red boots. Her blue eyes looked around in confusion as she scratched her head. "Heeeey, where's that girl gone, huh?"

"She had to leave…but don't despair because I'm here! I am Sailor Charon - supporter of hope, peace and determination!" the Scout declared.

"Oooh a Sailor Scout, fun!" Illusia beamed, clapping her hands together. She then lowered her head, so her hair covered her face; then when she looked back up her face was exactly like Charon's. "I am Sailor Charon! Heeheehee!"

"Don't you know it's rude to mock?" Charon scolded. "Shame on you!" She felt the jewel in her tiara start to heat up as she raised her arms above her, her index and middle fingers together and extended, then began to call "Charon…" she dropped her head and then her arms so they were out straight in front of her, pointing at Illusia, who watched on in surprise. "Psy…" she turned her hands over so the palms were facing the sky. "Wave!" she pulled her hands apart so they drew a semi-circle in front of her. As she performed the last move a single beam of energy fired out, however the demon girl nimbly hopped to the side.

"Oooh that was close!" Illusia exclaimed. "My turn!" she copied the moves Charon had done. "Copycat!" she called out, and fired an attack at the Scout which was exactly like the Psy-Wave. Luckily Charon managed to roll out of the way before it struck her.

"Dammit." she cursed. "Confusion Ray - Baffle!" a blue beam of energy fired out of her tiara this time - and hit Illusia in the head.

"Ooowww!" the demon cried out, holding her head. As soon as she looked up she realised how the attack had affected her: "Heeey there's two of you!" she exclaimed, pointing at Charon then next to her, where there was actually no one stood but the attack had made her see double. "I can do that as well!" Illusia blinked her big blue eyes and beamed at the Scout. Charon looked at her in confusion as nothing happened. "What?" Illusia also looked puzzled, then stamped her foot and huffed. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get a move on!" she looked down over her shoulder at her shadow.

"Sorreeee!" the shadow spoke and suddenly jumped up! Sailor Charon blinked in amazement as it removed its black shrouds and another girl was revealed. She looked a lot like Illusia, dressed in the same colour clothes (although the colours were the opposite way round) and with the same lilac skin, freckles and big eyes. However they were red, and her short wavy hair was blue with red streaks, with two small red horns sticking out.

"It's about time too!" the original Illusia exclaimed, her hands on her hips. Her twin blushed and put her hands behind her back.

"I said I was sorry sis!" she replied loudly. She then spotted Sailor Charon and squealed excitedly, jumping up and down. "Ooooh! Hi!" she curtsied. "My name's Mirage! I've never met a real Sailor Scout before? Can I have you autograph?" Illusia hit her sister across her head. "Ow, what was that for?!" she complained.

"This is not a Superhero convention." Illusia growled through her teeth. "We're here to destroy her – remember?"

"Ooooh yeeeah!" Mirage smacked her forehead with her hand. "Then why are we stood around talking?! Let's get to work!" Illusia rolled her eyes, sighed, then set her sights back on the Sailor Scout. Charon had been so baffled by the sudden appearance of Mirage that she'd totally forgot about the fight. She dropped into a defensive stance as the two rather cute-looking demons transformed into two hideously ugly ones. Illusia returned to the reptilian-like creature with the bright green slit eyes that Charon had originally seen, and Mirage became what one could only describe as a withered old hag with wild grey hair and beady black eyes. They charged at the girl hissing and cackling and Mirage knocked the Scout into the arms of Illusia. Grabbing Charon's legs Mirage chuckled:

"Hey sis, I wonder how far we can stretch her, before she snaps in half?"

"I don't know, we'll just have to try and see!" her twin crowed back, and they began to pull back, stretching the girl. Charon gasped and screwed her eyes shut as she felt her spine crack and start to feel like it would snap in half at any second. There was only thing she could do:

"Heeelp!" she screamed desperately, struggling as best she could. "Help me!"

Her pleas were heard and answered quickly.

A large silver staff hit Mirage around the knees, knocking her down; and then hit Illusia around the head, and so they dropped Charon onto the cold concrete below. It all happened so quickly that the Scout didn't notice the owner of the staff until she got to her feet. She stared at the tall and beautiful Scout stood in front of her.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"Hello Charon, I'm Sailor Pluto." the young woman smiled at her, endless wisdom glittering in her deep garnet-coloured eyes. "I'm here to help you as you requested."

"Wow, thanks." Charon smiled, and turned to face the twins, who had returned to their normal states. Illusia was nursing her head in her hands and groaning.

"D'ya know what? This isn't nearly as fun as I thought it would be." Mirage muttered. "I'm outta here." She clicked her fingers and her black cloak appeared in her hand. "It's been swell – I'll see you later, sis." As soon as she pulled on the shroud it and she disappeared, almost as if she'd gone under an invisibility cloak.

"Well thanks a billion sis!" Illusia yelled angrily, stamping her foot with rage. "And now it's two against one, and that hit across my head knocked out my powers!" Pluto suddenly laughed and swung her staff around. "And what's so funny?!" the demon demanded.

"Oh really, you oughtn't have mentioned that!" Pluto chortled. "Rule number one, don't tell your opponent your weaknesses."

"Too right!" Charon agreed, the jewel in her tiara glowing with the psychic attack she'd been preparing. "Charon Psy-Wave!" the demon had no time or nowhere to hide as the attack hit her square in the stomach; she fell onto her back with a squeal.

"Looks like we arrived just in time!" Sailor Moon exclaimed as she, Venus, Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask dashed up.

"Hey Sailor Pluto!" Sailor Venus cried out.

"Hello, Venus." the Plutonian smiled.

"Come on Sailor Moon, before she gets up again!" Jupiter yelled.

"Okay!" the Scout leader pulled out the sceptre. "Moon Sceptre Activation!"

"This is all your fault Mirage!" Illusia squealed as the beam of radiant light struck her, and thus destroyed her.

"You guys took your time." Charon teased. "I really need a communicator!

"I'll get Artemis to rustle one up for ya." Venus smiled.

"You did a good job though." Jupiter complimented, her arms folded across her chest.

"I'd've been mincemeat if Pluto hadn't turned up." Charon confessed, smiling up at the Guardian of Time. Pluto smiled back at her fondly.

"So, do you want to come back to the arcade with us?" Sailor Moon asked eagerly, clutching onto Tuxedo Mask's arm.

"Nah, I'd better get home really - mom and dad'll want to know how my first ballet class went. Thanks for asking though." Charon smiled, and turning back into Alexia picked up her bag and started to walk away.

"Wait, Alexia." Pluto caught her by the shoulder as she walked past her. "We need to talk, so I will accompany you home."

"Oh, okay - so do you have another name other than Pluto? You know, like us?" the Plutonian smiled.

"Of course I do." She closed her eyes and transformed. "Just call me cousin Trista." Alexia gasped.

"Trista? All this time you've been a…?"

"Yes, Alexia; anyway we will discuss this when we get you home. Your mother and father asked me to come and meet you."

"Oh, alright then." Alexia said, feeling overwhelmed. "See you guys later."

"Sure thing, Alexia." Mina, Lita, Serena and Darien called back as the groups went their separate ways.

x x x x x

"Aunt Miaka? Uncle Alfredo?"

"In the lounge, Trista!" Miaka called through the door as Trista and Alexia entered the house. They went straight into the front room, where Alexia's mother was making tea whilst Alfredo read a paper. "Ahhh here you are, Alexia! Sit down and drink this." she handed her a steaming cup of tea, which Alexia took a sip of as she sat down. Her father put the paper down - Estrella was curled up in his lap.

"So how was your first lesson?" he inquired.

"It was great, thanks. Ms Yakamori's an excellent teacher." she replied as Trista took a seat next to her.

"Did she ask you to do a solo performance, like you thought?" Miaka asked as she passed her husband a cup.

"Yes, she did. So I was prepared and it went very well, she seemed impressed with the progress I'm making. She even asked if I would like to skip up a class and join the older dancers!"

"That's wonderful darling! Did you accept?" Alfredo asked expectantly.

"Umm…no. I don't think I'd be very confident around the more experienced dancers yet, perhaps when I've been here a little longer I might see if it's still possible." the girl replied. Trista cleared her throat. "Oh, if you don't mind I think I'll go to my room - Trista and I have a lot of catching up to do!" she smiled.

"Very well, we'll talk more about your class later." Miaka got up and gave her daughter a kiss on the top of her head. "We're very proud of you, you know?"

"Thank you mother, father." she got to her feet and gave her parents both a kiss on the cheek. "And I love you both very much." she looked at Trista, who also got to her feet and Estrella leapt from Alfredo's lap and ran up the stairs.

"We'll speak later." Trista said to her aunt and uncle.

"Of course dear." Miaka smiled. "Have fun chatting you two!" the two Scouts went up the stairs quickly and into Alexia's room. Estrella was sat on the bed looking impatient.

"Where have you two been? I've missed you!" she rubbed around Alexia's ankles.

"I'm sorry 'Strella, we had a problem of the evil-demon type." the Charonian apologised, tickling the kitten's stomach and making her giggle. "You worry too much for a baby!"

"I'm not a baby!" the orange kitten exclaimed. "I haven't been for a long time!"

"Then why are you sulking?" Alexia teased, tickling the kitten some more. Trista couldn't help but smile at the laughing twosome.

"Alexia?" she interrupted.

"Oh, sorry Trista." the girl apologised.

"It's quite alright, but we do need to talk before I have to go back to the Gates of Time." she said seriously. "First I'd better explain who I am - as you know I am Sailor Pluto - Guardian of the Gates of Time, fellow Outer Scout and your aunt."

"Yeah, Estrella told me all that. But one thing that confuses me - how can you be my cousin and my aunt?" Alexia asked in confusion; Trista shook her head.

"Being your cousin is merely my guise on Earth and in this life; and I'm sure you can understand why I've always been close to you and your family?" she asked.

"To…keep an eye on me! You've known all along that I'm Sailor Charon? But why didn't you tell me?!" the green-haired girl exclaimed.

"Because it wasn't for me to do. When you first came to the Moon Kingdom Estrella was but a month old. You two became so close that Serenity appointed you to look after the kitten until she was old enough to become your guardian and advisor. She granted only Estrella the powers needed to look after you and reveal your true identity - she was the only one who could re-awaken your hidden powers." she smiled at the kitten. "Anyway, even if I could've revived Charon, I wouldn't have - it was Estrella's mission, not mine." she sat down next to her niece. "Back to what I was saying before - there is one more thing you should know about me - I am also what is called your Plutonian Sister. Back on Pluto and Charon it is a tradition for new-born children to have two guardians appointed to them, just in case anything should happen to the parents - these are known as Plutonian Siblings. Your mother and father chose myself as your Sister and a boy called Wendel for your Brother…although I do not know what happened to him, as he left shortly after the ceremony." the Plutonian chuckled slightly. "Chara had only known him a few days beforehand, I'm still unsure as to why she picked him in the first place, he didn't seem very…suitable for such a responsibility."

"I wish I could see my real mother and father…" Alexia murmured out of nowhere. Trista smiled and stood up, as she did so she transformed back into Sailor Pluto.

"Actually, there is a way you can see your mother." she lifted her staff high above her head, and Estrella sat up in interest. "Transform and stand with me."

"Oh, okay…" Alexia stood up and pulled out her transformation pen. "Charon Moon Power - Make Up!" and as soon as she uttered the phrase she became her Sailor Scout alter-ego.

"Place your hands on the staff, over my own, and repeat after me." Pluto ordered. Charon carefully placed her hands over her aunt's and listened carefully to what she said: "Powers of Pluto and the Outer Moon - grant the plea of the Royal Plutonian Sisters, in the name of our Sovereign mothers!" Charon repeated the words perfectly and a ball of pure white energy suddenly appeared at the top of the staff. The younger Scout wanted to turn away from the blinding radiance - however she felt drawn to it.

"Catch." Pluto told Charon as the ball of light dropped from the end of the staff and into the Scout's waiting hands.

"Wooow…how pretty!" Charon breathed in awe as she gazed at the object in her hands. It was a light-weight, iridescent ball - rather like a large pearl.

"This is the Plutonian Sphere, it is yours to keep." Pluto informed her. "Now concentrate on it, I believe there is a message waiting for you." The girl stared long and hard at the sphere and it started to glow again and a face appeared on the surface. It was a beautiful woman with crimson eyes which sparkled with mirth and a soft smile playing on her lips. Her hair was the same shade as Pluto's and Charon's and seemed very long except for two pieces which framed her face, which fell to just below her shoulders.

"Greetings, my Charon." she said in a voice so delicate and loving that it sent shivers down Charon's spine. "It has been so long since we last saw you, my love, and we all miss you dearly every day. My time is short and so I will speak quickly and frankly - I love you with all my heart, we all do, and it is time for me to pass the Plutonian Sphere and its power to you, our beloved daughter." she smiled fondly. "I am sorry that this message has been so brief, just remember, you will always be in our hearts…" her face faded.

"Oh, please come back!" Charon pleaded. Pluto placed a comforting hand on the girl's shoulder.

"That message was recorded shortly before the war on the Moon - on that night I was assigned to present you with the Plutonian Sphere on behalf of your mother and father, who could not be there." she explained.

"Oh…" the Scout murmured, holding the Sphere close to her chest.

"It's been so long since I last saw Queen Chara, I'd forgotten just how lovely she was." Estrella murmured.

"What did she mean about the Plutonian Sphere's power?" the Charonian asked.

"I'm glad you asked - the Plutonian Sphere has two main purposes. Number one you can contact me by using it - just hold it out in front of you and say 'Sailor Pluto, my Plutonian Sister, aid me now' and I will appear. Also this sphere allows us to combine our power to create a powerful attack. To do that, lift it above your head and call 'Sailor Pluto, give me your power - Plutonian Sister Planet Power!'" her aunt explained. "Now guard it well and only use it as absolutely the last resort."

"Yes, I will." Charon suddenly threw her arms around the older Plutonian. "Thank you so much for everything, Sailor Pluto - I really appreciate it."

"It was no problem, it's my duty to care for you," Pluto replied, stroking her niece's hair fondly. "But now I must leave - I hope to see you again very soon."

"You too, my Plutonian Sister." Charon smiled as Pluto turned back into Trista and left the room.