Chapter 8 - Just In Time

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Author's Note: Me evil? Nah! Had the next chapter ready to go.So here it is and enjoy/ Please Read and don't forget to Review.

I do not own Sailor Moon I am just borrowing the characters to make this story.

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Serena looked in horror as the crimson fire raced to bring an end to her friends. Even Jupiter and Venus looked up in horror and knew it was too late to do anything.

"Pluto Deadly Scream!" a voice rang through the winds.

Suddenly a blue light flashed across the sky racing towards that of that crimson flames. At contact blue enlaced in crimson clashed, exploded nearly missing the scouts.

Serena looked in amazement and extreme happiness that her friends were safe.

Lexa looked around in horror and couldn't understand what had happened. "Who are you? Show yourself."

From atop a building from where Darien was situated before, a figure appeared. Flowing green/black hair whipped in the wind as the figure supported by a staff and dressed in Sailor clothes, looked towards her adversary.

"I am Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time and protector of the Royal Family of the Moon." Pluto stated her figure a statue of grace and power.

Lexa looked angrily at the time guardian. Her lord had stated that there would be no interference from her since she must maintain the future no matter what was to happen. So why was she helping?

"Stand aside guardian. Your place is in the time vortex."

All eyes were on the time guardian and no one noticed that the Dämons had rose again to maintain their attack.

Upon seeing this, Pluto stated, "My place is beside my comrades, Lexa." With that Pluto gathered her Key staff to her and once more unleashed her powers.

"Pluto Deadly Scream!" she cried as her powers thrashed into the crimson Damon. For a moment the other scouts didn't breathe, thinking her attacks wouldn't have any effect. To their amazement her Pluto powers tore through the creature as if it were made of paper, only leaving some ashes that the wind lifted, spreading it into the air.

By this time, along with Mercury's help Mars and Mercury made it to street level to join their friends. "Come on guys lets take care of this one." Venus indicated the silver creature that had started to glow again.

The Scouts gathered together and joined their powers.

"Sailor Planet Power!" they cried.

The Scouts began to glow in their perspective colours as their powers combined and then were unleashed towards the creature. The creature had barely had time to react let alone do anything. As the power made contact the creature screamed in pain then fell to ashes.

"All right!" the Sailors cheered.

Serena smiled in relief but then as she looked at the streets she saw the shattered roses and her thoughts drifted to Darien. Where was he? Could Pluto have.?

"Be gone Lexa or face me.I am sure that all of us combined you would be no match for us." Sailor Pluto stated in her most authoritative voice.

Lexa looked at her, then at the scouts. Finally her eyes drifted to Serena's and smiled as darkly as she could. "You may have won this round Sailor Scouts, but at least that masked man is no more. As will all of you be when my Lord gets done with you."

With that the Silver Lady gestured her arms and in a moment she was engulfed in silvery flames and vanished.



At the moment that she vanished, Serena ran over to her friends and hugged each and every one of them. Here face full of tears from the relief at how close she came to losing them. The Scouts hugged her in return. Pluto landed near them and approached her comrades though she was hesitant at how she was going to be greeted.

"Thank you Pluto for helping us. I know this was a hard choice for you to take to interfere like that. However did you.?" Serena stopped her eyes wetting once more at thought of her love. ".Darien." was all she could say.

Pluto looked into her Princess' eyes and saw the question there. "He is safe. Just before he was about to collide with the street, I knew I had no other choice but to stop time for that fraction of an instant so that I could save him." She turned and with a gesture of her staff he appeared. The ice no longer encased him.

Darien smiled boyishly and walked over to where the others were and took Serena into his arms to comfort her. Serena nodded in his shoulder and pulled away from Darien. Her mind went back to a time not so long ago when during their battle with Rubeus, she had almost then lost everyone she loved and she didn't have the power to stop it. She had vowed then never to let that happen. However, during this moment she knew she had broken her silent vow.

Serena's mind struck a thought as she looked upon Sailor Pluto. Her mind raced back in time when Sailor Pluto had left her position in the time vortex to talk to Queen Serenity. She had been .what ten years old at the time. It's strange that Pluto hadn't changed a bit in all this time. Serena remembered a conversation she had with her mother after the time guardian had left. Her mother had stated .no. Queen Serenity had stated that Pluto was the keeper of all time and will be until the end or if she ever used her gifts outside the time vortex.

All the other scouts had been thanking Sailor Pluto for her help however Pluto had noticed Serena's gaze and gave her a questioning return gaze.

"What is it My Lady?" Pluto asked her smile turning into a small frown.

"You said you used your powers to control time outside the vortex." She asked her eyes still remembering the past. Pluto's eyes opened a little wider but didn't say anything. She only nodded once.

"Isn't that forbidden for you to do?" She asked carefully.

Sailor Pluto just sighed and replied. "I was wondering when you would remember that detail."

"So its true?" Serena urged.

"Yes it is." She replied to the other Sailor Scouts in dismay.

"What happens now that you have? How will you be." Serena stopped trying to remember how her mother.(what is the matter with her.Serena thought.).Queen Serenity told her. "Tried?"

"How, my lady? That decision rests on the person who is on the throne of the Silver Millennium." Sailor Pluto looked at her calmly.

Serena looked confused, however Luna interjected by saying, "She means you Serena."

Serena's head jerked up and slowly closed her eyes. "No." was all she said.

"I will not pass judgement on someone who has just saved Darien's life and us. As far as I am concerned if she had not done what she did, our future would have been destroyed."

"It was not the first time your highness." Pluto announced.

"What do you mean by that?" Rae asked.

"During the battle with Mistress Nine, Neptune, Uranus and I were flying by helicopter to the battle when we were shot down. I stopped time so that the other scouts could escape." She slowly lowered her head, her eyes lowering from Serena's face in shame.

Serena looked at the other scouts and then at Artemis and Luna who were looking at the proud Time Guardian. Their faces revealed understanding and sadness, as if knowing what fate was going to come to the Guardian.

"No I won't do it." Serena stated her stubbornness showing again.

Pluto looked up and faced her Princess. "You must. I knew what I was doing both times. I knew the consequences."

Serena straightened out, showing a little of "Princess Serenity" in her stance. Her face showed determination and pride. A familiar feeling took over Luna, Artemis and Darien as they stood by and watched her. This was Princess Serenity from head to foot. Luna and Artemis had seen this look during the times on the Moon Kingdom, only briefly had that look crossed Serena, and never before came that intensity that came from her eyes.

"I will not! Sailor Pluto you have always been there for us and from your own words you have told me that you never used the powers granted to you until it came time to save us, thus, carrying out your first and foremost duty; the protection of the Royal Family and the other Scouts. I am sure my mother." she stopped closing her eyes and focussing on her own thoughts and words. "Queen Serenity would agree with me and in my decision."

Pluto looked at her future Queen for several moments, knowing the torment and confusion she was facing. Should she tell her what she knew? No. The fate of the future rested with her, the young woman that now stood so regal at that moment in front of her. She had already said far too much as it was, however, not as much as she would have liked. What she did mention was necessary and knew it would not harm the future or the possibility of the future. Damn. It was times like these she wished she hadn't agreed to be the Time Guardian.

"As you wish. I will abide by your ruling." Pluto simply stated but her relief was evident in her eyes.

The other Scouts smiled in relief and they felt proud of their leader. They still hadn't caught on to what Serena was going through. Darien glanced quickly from the time guardian to Luna, who was already looking at him. The cat's look told him all. Luna was telling him to stay close to their Princess.

Pluto caught this exchange and smiled. Serena was going to need their help. More then they even knew. "I must also be going. I will say this before I leave. You won't be alone in this."

In one swift movement with her staff, the time guardian vanished into the winds in much the same way as she appeared.

"What did she mean by that?" Venus asked to no one in particular, as the group had gathered close together.

"I think she meant us." a strange and yet familiar voice rang through the air in no more than a whisper.





To be continued.