Relief at Last! Time for Many Farewells.

"… I suppose you all can name why you could not defeat all of the nobaka yourselves," Sailor Aqua asked more than stated as the she and the ten younger senshi sat in a large hall somewhere in the middle of the palace done entirely in white marble. She had already been lecturing the ten girls for quite some time now. She began as soon as Chibi, Musha, and Hidenka returned to consciousness. Shakaku was still in the care of the palace nurses.

"Lack of power," Musha suggested, "We aren't very strong yet."

"There were too many?" Asatsuyu asked tentatively.

"Bad leadership," Nori said acidly and both Chibi and Musha shot her vicious glares. All of the other girls had to get acquainted with her while Chibi and Musha recovered. None of them knew there was a Sailor Earth when the battle started.

"No teamwork," Teisei stated plainly. She knew what Aqua-sama wanted her to say.

"Correct Teisei," Aqua praised flatly, "Only three of you nine stayed back and listened to your leader. You even had help from a very good priestess-in-training and you couldn't handle the nobaka summoned for you."

Hidenka paled at the mention of her sister being so strong.

Sailor Aqua ignored her and continued, "Neptune, Uranus, and Mercury were the only ones who truly figured out how to work as a team. I congratulate you three.

"Now you all will practice. Transform first. Inners, pair up and start sparring like Cosmos showed you yesterday afternoon: no attacks. Outers, please come here," she ordered.

Each girl held up her henshin pen and transformed. Then the inners paired up and the outers wandered sleepily over to their mentor. None of the senshi had gotten any sleep for two days; they fought the nobaka all night. Only the three that had been sent unconscious had anything remotely resembling rest.

Neo Mars was quick to pair with Venus and the two girls got into a vicious match of kicking and punching. Sailor Moon and Mercury partnered and worked mostly on agility and defense.

Neo Earth walked casually over to Jupiter and smiled lightly, "Care to be my partner Jupiter-chan?"

Teisei just shrugged wearily. She soon found herself blocking punch after punch from Sailor Earth.

"Sailor Saturn, you aren't need immediately, so you may sit down if you wish," Sailor Aqua said politely, "You three come here."

Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto obeyed silently.

The beautiful blue-clad woman concentrated hard for a moment then beckoned hard with both of her hands.

Neo Sailor Saturn watched patiently from her sitting place on the marble floor. Nothing was happening other than the blue-haired senshi making a fool of herself. Then Asatsuyu began screaming at the top of her lungs, Sailor Uranus and Pluto followed in screaming a moment later.

The air sparkled around their chests and a delicate, star-like, red crystal materialized floating in front of each of them. All of their eyes went blank and Neptune collapsed to the floor while the other two remained standing like zombies.

The crystals floated in mid-air for another moment before they began to sparkle and transform. The crystal in front of Korai became a long silver key-like staff that was nearly identical to her mother's. The time staff had a ring-like top with an onyx orb mounted in it. The one floating above Neptune became a twin pair of teal sticks as wide as her wrists and just shorter than her forearms. Each had three rows of three long, diamond-shaped mirrors each on it. Lastly, Kenjou's crystal became and odd pair of golden, bejeweled bladed. They were shaped like crescent moons and were as large as her out scratched hand. A thin chain came from the base of each, which met and joined into a single chain as long as her forearm.

Sailor Aqua looked undisturbed by the scream while all six inners had immediately stopped their sparring to stare in horror at the three limp girls. Sailor Saturn had her hand on the Silence Sword, ready to attack the older senshi if she did anything bad.

The elegant older senshi continued her hard concentration and gestured forward with her hands. The crystals came out of the three weapons and returned to their owners' bodies. Life came back into the girls' faces and Uranus groaned wearily and shook herself. The other two just had looks of extreme confusion on their faces. Each reached out to grab the weapon floating in front of them.

"What on--?" Saturn started and got back to her feet but Sailor Aqua interrupted her.

"Those are your talismans," she explained to the dazed girls, "They have dwelled in you heart crystals until now. Every Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto before you has had a talisman and these are yours. Sailor Pluto, yours is called the Onyx Orb. The top of the time staff is the actual talisman. The staff itself is the traditional weapon of Sailor Pluto. Sailor Neptune, yours are the Aqua Rods. They include mirrors as is the tradition of Sailor Neptune. In time, you will be able to see visions of other places in the mirrors. Sailor Uranus, yours are the Space Blades. In the past, Sailor Uranus has always a blade-like weapon." She paused and gestured for Sailor Saturn to join the other four outer senshi. "The Sailor Senshi of the four outer planets have always each had a mystical weapon, as you four do. Three are talismans and the fourth is an agent of the Silent Apocalypse if used correctly. Pluto and Saturn must always carry their weapons with them because of their immense powers. You other two may summon or dismiss them from your heart crystals any time you need," she explained, "For now, you four will pair up and practice sparring with them. See what you can do with them."

"Neeto!" Sailor Neptune exclaimed and grabbed the arm of her older sister and dragged her off to begin sparring.

"I guess we're partners," Neo Pluto said quietly to Saturn, who just shrugged and got into an offensive stance.

Soon metal was clacking on metal and the outer senshi were sparring furiously as well.

"Time's up girls!" Sailor Aqua called brightly as she strolled among the pairs, evaluating and correcting their moves, "Untransform and go home to say your goodbyes. You must be back here in an hour in senshi fuku, with all the things you'd like to bring with you. You'll have the necessities provided for, but bring a few clothes and any personal things you cannot live without, but you may only have one bag. Meanwhile, I have some people I wish to speak with. I will see you ten girls in an hour." The pale blue clad senshi turned and strode off to the door, leaving the girls to their own devices.

Each quietly powered down and headed for the huge arched doorway as well.

Teisei sauntered over to a very tired looking Chibi and patted her on the head. "Having fun yet?" she asked playfully, "If you want, I could give you a piggy-back-ride to where ever you're going."

The tiny girl giggled, "That's fine. I'm just going to find a room here in the palace and take a nap while you all are seeing your families. My family— isn't here."

"Alright," the green-haired girl nodded and walked away quietly.

"Teisei! Wait!" Norikuken called and hurried up behind her, "Can I walk with you?"

"Sure," Teisei shrugged and the older girl immediately started in on in energetic conversation and the two talked until their paths differed to their own houses.

Korai pushed unlocked the door to her house and pulled it open quietly. "Mom?" she called softly as she stepped inside and closed the door behind her. "Mom?" she called again and strolled slowly and cautiously around the house as if she was afraid she shouldn't be there. Everything was in perfect order, like Setsuna loved it.

All the lights were out, suggesting that Korai's mother was either sleeping or away. A quick check in her bedroom disproved the first theory.

Crestfallen, Korai wandered into the kitchen to fix herself something to eat before packing. As she pulled out some carrot sticks and dip she noticed a note lying on the counter.

Korai-chan,

I'm afraid I have to work late today so I cannot see you when you get home. I heard from the queen that you have a new place in her services. I was worried about you after not seeing you at all since yesterday morning, especially with all of those monsters running about. You will have to tell me where you were and what you were doing to be out all night like that. I'll get home very late tonight; so don't wait up for me. I'll just see you in the morning. I love you Korai.

-Mother

Korai wanted to cry. She would not get to see her mother at all before she left. Holding back her tears, Korai quickly ate her carrots then went up stairs to pack.

She pulled out a small duffel and began by throwing in two changes of clothes. Next went her stuffed green rag-bunny that she had affectionately named Bunny-san when she was quite a bit younger.

Korai scanned the room for anything else she might want to bring. Her dark eyes fell on a framed picture sitting on her dresser. It was of Korai and her mother, taken a year ago at one of the happy times in her life, which were few. She pulled one of the shirts out of her duffel and hurriedly wrapped it around the picture then placed it back in the bag. Finished, she zipped it up and flopped back on her bed for an hour of rest and lonely solitude.

Tonda snuck quietly into her house and down the hallway to her room, trying to avoid her mother until she was packed, rested, and thinking rationally. She found a small backpack in her closet and started packing things into it. She threw in some clothes and zipped up the bag and a notebook with some pens. She didn't need anything else.

Finished packing, Tonda walked over to her desk and plopped down in her black swivel chair and flipped on her computer. Tonda stretched her fingers a little then began typing an email.

Konnichiwa minna. I'm not going to be around for a while. I just found out about a trip that I will be taking. I don't know how long I'll be gone; it could be a couple days or a couple years. Hopefully I'll see you all again soon. Ja ne for now.

-Tonda

She clicked the send button and it went off to all of the people in her address book.

Tonda stared at the unmoving screen for a long time, long enough for the starry screen saver to come on. Then she remembered that she needed to be back at the palace in less than half an hour. She systematically shut down the computer and straightened up her room. Tonda had a feeling that she would not be back for some time.

She picked up her backpack and headed for the door, passing the mirror she saw herself reflected in it and scowled. I really aught to dye that horrid sugar-pink hair some time.

She walked down the hallway briskly and found her mother flipping through magazines in the living room. Tonda poked her head in the room, "Konnichiwa Mom!"

"Tonda!" Minako put down her magazine and jumped up to give her tall daughter a hug, "I was really worried about you! I know that you're now a Sailor Senshi and all, but that many evil creatures must have been really hard."

Tonda just grinned and shrugged, "It wasn't that bad. And we got lots of practice."

"Practice?" Tonda's brown-haired father asked from behind her in the doorway.

"Dad?" she turned around to see him smiling at her.

"Your mother didn't tell me much about what was going on last night, so I'm very curious," he said.

"Well," she started, "I'm a Sailor Senshi in the service of the queen now. She has decreed that we go to future to help out another group who is a facing a very difficult enemy. We're leaving tonight."

Asai had a rather dumb-struck look on his face, "Really? I mean, I knew Minako was Sailor Venus, but I didn't think any of that stuff was still going on after all of this peace. It never occurred to me that you'd be Sailor Venus too."

Tonda smiled and gave her father a hug, "It occurred to me, but I didn't want it. If it were up to me, I wouldn't be going to the future to fight evildoers in a mini-skirt. I want to stay here, but what the queen says goes."

"Understandable," Asai nodded.

"Anyway, I really should be going," she said and started to back out of the room, "See you guys again, whenever!" With that she hurried out of the house and to the palace. Yes, Tonda liked her parents but dealing too much with them was frustrating. They were both stars, adored, high paid, and knew it.

Her parents watched her go sadly. They knew in their hearts that they would not see her again for a long time.

"Teisei! You can't go!" Ure whined to her twin, "Where would I be without you? You've always been there for me."

"Ure-chan, I don't want to leave my life behind and go to the future," Teisei said quietly, "I don't have a choice in this."

"I could come with you then!" Ure declared.

"No," Teisei sighed and shook her head, "That's not allowed either."

"This isn't fair at all!" Ure cried, tears streaming down her face, then yelled at her sister, "Fine then! Just take your things and go! I don't care!"

Teisei's eyes watered near tears but she bit her lip to keep from crying as well. She grabbed her bag and ran from their room, down the stairs, threw on her shoes, and fled out the door to the Crystal Palace.

Makoto hurried to the front door when she heard it slam, plate of pies still in hand, and shook her head sadly as she saw her daughter sprint down the sidewalk. It wasn't good for either of her girls to part on this note.

"Koneko, where are you going?" Koneko's four-year-old sister, Amiko, asked enthusiastically as she bounced around her sister. The small girl seemed to be almost a carbon copy of her mother at that age, only with slightly darker hair.

"I'm visiting some friends of Cosmos-sama," she answered good-naturedly.

"'Kay!" Koami answered and scurried off as her second sister glided silently into the room.

Junhari was only a year younger than Koneko, but she seemed much more mature. She wore a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and had pretty brown hair that reached to her mid-back with light blue highlights. "So you're Sailor Mercury now," Junhari commented in her normal dead-sounding voice, "How far into the future are you going?"

"I don't really know," Koneko shrugged, "I'm a little nervous though."

"I do not blame you," their mother, Ryo Ami, said quietly as she walked into the room, "Being a planet senshi of this system is dangerous business. Take care."

"Thanks Mom," Koneko answered.

"It's too bad your dad is still at work and couldn't say goodbye," Ami said absently.

"I guess I better get going," Koneko stated awkwardly, "Good bye you guys. I love you all!" She headed slowly for the door and left regretfully. She was leaving such a great life behind, it was hard to fathom it.

Asatsuyu skipped to the front door of their house with Kenjou walking with her lethargically long strides. The younger sandy-haired girl pressed the doorbell button. Immediately after the chime sounded inside, the door swung open with their Haruka-papa at the door smiling warmly at the pair of girls.

"It's good to see you two safe and well," the sandy blond woman started in her deep voice and gestured to for her daughters to enter the house. "Michiru and I were worried about you when we sensed so many evil creatures." The girls walked in and Haruka closed the door gently after them.

A beautiful aqua-haired woman swept into the room with a tray full of cocoa mugs. "Asatsuyu! Kenjou! You're home! Here , I've got some hot chocolate," Michiru ushered Haruka and the girls into the kitchen, "Let's sit down and chat a bit over some cocoa."

Asatsuyu giggled and hurried to her favorite seat while Kenjou quietly took her own. After their parents had been seated and she took one prolonged sip on the cocoa, Kenjou began slowly and clearly, "We are to leave for the future this evening."

"What!" Michiru looked shocked.

"No! Haruka spat out the hot chocolate she had been sipping.

"It's true," Asatsuyu said earnestly, "We're supposed to be packed and back at the palace soon. I'm not sure how far in the future we're going, but we'll probably be able to see you then."

"We will watch for you," Michiru said with an attempt, but a failed one, at happiness and clasped on of her partner's hands between both of her own to comfort them both.

"Don't worry Michiru-mama, Haruka-papa," Kenjou reassured them quietly, "I know we will be back."

"Do your best girls," Haruka encouraged softly as she placed her other hand over Michiru's clasped ones. "We will see you when you return."

There was a long, uneasy pause. Kenjou stood and coughed lightly to break the tension and spoke: "We should probably get packed Asatsuyu."

The younger girl nodded and hopped up, then followed her sister up the stairs to pack.

Norikuken smirked to herself as she ascended the short set of stairs to her front door. Her next door neighbor, who was slightly older than her, Manaka Ichirou, came around the corner of his house pushing a lawn mower. He paused, pushing his messy brown hair out of his face and called over the roar of the motor, "You're looking smug Nori-chan! What is it this time?"

She chuckled and yelled back to him, "Her Majesty is sending me on a long training vacation to be one of the princess' soldiers."

Ichirou laughed, not believing the girl's tale, "Congratulations then!" With that, he engaged the mower blades again and continued cutting the grass.

Norikuken ignored him and hurried inside.

"Mother!" she called and her mother scurried into the entry way to meet her.

"Konnichiwa Nori-chan," her mother, Umino Naru, said sweetly.

Pulling off her shoes, she replied, "Konnichiwa Mama! I'm in a bit of a hurry, and I need to tell you something. Father is still at work, ne?"

Her auburn haired mother nodded.

Heading to the dining room and not pausing a moment, she continued, "They you will have to pass this on to him as well."

Naru followed and sat down on a chair opposite of her oldest daughter. "I've been meaning to ask you about what has been going on for a couple days now," she said in a worried tone, "I hope this fills me in at least a little as to what is going on in your life."

"I suppose I owe you that too," Norikuken said thoughtfully, "You know that Tsukino Usagi, now Neo Queen Serenity, was Sailor Moon?"

"Yes," Naru nodded, "I was shocked to find out that my best friend was one of the sailor soldiers that saved me time and time again."

Norikuken nodded absently, "The same Serenity is sending me to the future to train as Sailor Earth."

Her mother looked conflicted, "I'm very proud of you, but— how long will you be gone? When will we see you again?"

"I do not really understand how time travel works, but you might see me some time in the future just as I am now."

Norikuken mother rose from her seat and gave her daughter warm hug, tears coming to her eyes. "Be careful," she whispered into Norikuken's hair.

"I can't believe this Hidenka!" Rei shrieked, "You're giving up your career all for what? The queen says so! Usagi-chan should learn to respect the values of girls before she orders them around!"

"Mother," the young actress said evenly, forcing her temper to stay in check, "I know how much this means to Her Majesty and Cosmos-sama. My participation could make a difference whether the future is won or lost. I can return to my acting when I return."

"What will I tell all the people you already have contracts with?" the priestess demanded.

"Tell them a piece of the truth and let them wonder," she answered fluidly, getting more confident, "'Kumada Hidenka was taken on an urgent assignment for Her Highness, Queen Serenity.' That is very simple and true."

"Just think," a third voice, Shakaku, cit in from the door way, "How long is it going to take before 'Beloved Actress Kumada Hidenka Disappears on Secret Mission' graces the press. Honestly, if you want to get the whole of Japan to know about your mission Hidenka, that's the best way to do it." With her comment finished, the younger girl disappeared down the hall.

"Well?" Rei demanded, turning her attention back to her oldest daughter.

"Mom!" Hidenka finally snapped, "You were Sailor Mars and still are. You're one of Serenity's closest friends and advisors. You'll figure something out. I'm not changing my mind, neither is Serenity, and neither is Cosmos-sama."

"Fine!" Kumada Rei threw up her arms in exasperation and strutted out of the room.

Tsukino Musha wasn't complete sure how to explain her mission and absence to her parents. They must know at least something about Sailor Moon being the queen.

She was barely inside when her mother scolded loudly, "Musha! Where have you been? Your father and I were very worried about you!"

Mush dutifully headed to the kitchen where her mother was busily working on dinner and yelling loudly at her daughter.

"With all those monsters running around, the least you could have done was call and let us know where you were," she continues fluidly, not noticing that her daughter was out of the room. "If you don't have a good explanation, I'll ground you for a month! I know you weren't at the Shinto temple like you said you would be. I called Kumada-san several times and she didn't know where you were."

The petite red-brown-haired woman paused for a deep breath and Musha took the brief moment to start in, "Mother, I'm right here, behind you."

Mika jolted up and turned around to face the violet-haired teen. "So you are," she answered in a low but dangerous voice. "Well?"

"Is Shingo-papa still at work?" Musha asked.

Mika only nodded slowly, listening critically.

"Then I guess you can tell him for me," Musha began, "As he probably figured out, Neo Queen Serenity was Sailor Moon. I'm sort of like that, except I'm Sailor Saturn."

"That's one of the worst—!" her mother started but Musha cut in quickly before she could get started.

"Hear me out, mother," she said and leaned back almost to sit on the kitchen counter behind her then continued, "I need to train, which is what I was doing last night and today. The other Neo Sailor Senshi and I were fighting off those monsters, called Nobaka. Our goal is to become strong enough to help the Sailor Senshi in the future, and we are leaving on our first short time jump this evening."

After a long pause she concluded softly, "I came to say goodbye."

Her mother, for once, stood in muted shock.

"Anyway, I should probably be heading to my room to pack," Musha said, breaking the uncomfortable silence. A she started making movements to leave her position, her mother finally spoke.

"How long will you be gone?" was her simple question.

"I honestly have no idea," she answered tensely.

Her small mother threw her arms around Musha's shoulders. "Good luck Musha," she said in a pained voice, "I'll miss you."

The ten neo senshi, now transformed, stood awkwardly in one of the huge rooms of the palace. Every one of them was nervous and none knew what to expect. Suddenly, the clicking sound of boots on marble floors broke the silence and a beautiful dark haired woman entered the room. She was rather short with dark violet eyes and long straight black hair reaching her mid back with dark violet highlights. Her outfit was a sailor fuku of violet and wine-red and in her hand was a menacing looking weapon, a tall black staff with a huge silver blade on the top: the Silence Glaive. Despite her small stature, the dark woman was very imposing. This beautiful woman, as all of the girls could guess, was Eternal Sailor Saturn.

"Sailor Aqua has already left and Sailor Blaze will not meet up with you until the next time," she started, as she paused just inside the arching doorway, "Therefore I have been put in charge of you ten. Follow me. I will take you to the time gate." She caught the younger Sailor Saturn's eyes for a moment with an expression that looked to say, 'You're not as amazing as you think.'

A few of the girls mumbled something in shock but all followed the Senshi of Revolution without a word.

Soon they were in front of a huge pair of ornate white doors with golden handles. Another senshi stepped out from the shadows. She carried a silver staff with a red orb resting on the top and wore fuku of black and burgundy.

Neo Sailor Pluto gasped quietly, "Okaasan!"

The older Sailor Pluto began loudly so all of the Neo Senshi could hear her, "This is where you leave this present time and go to another time. I will unlock the passage to the time that Sailor Cosmos instructed me to, but you still must stay together, holding hands to make sure you don't get lost. I will not be able to accompany you. Whatever you do, do not let go of each other."

The girls all nodded.

"I wish you all luck," Sailor Saturn started on a motivational speech while Sailor Pluto strode quietly over to her daughter.

"Korai-chan, I'm sorry I couldn't be home for you today," she said quietly.

Neo Pluto sighed thoughtfully, "Cosmos-sama said that you were Sailor Pluto, but she never said that this was your job."

"I had to stay late tonight to unlock it for all of you," the older woman continued, "I know I'm not around very much, Korai, but I love you very much, and I will miss you very much. Good luck."

The two senshi of time embraced for a moment then Sailor Pluto returned to the door.

"Join hands girls!" Sailor Saturn commanded as Sailor Pluto raised her time staff.

"Chronos, guardian of time, open the gate and the passages of time to these travelers!" she commanded and doors swung slowly and silently open to reveal a swirling world of nothingness.

Neo Uranus, who was at the head of the line and her sister just behind her, swallowed hard and nodded to the beautiful black-clad senshi. After one moment's more of hesitation, she walked forward and jumped into nothingness, Neptune and the other senshi following, Neo Moon being the last.

When the final senshi disappeared past the door, Pluto and Saturn each took a door and pushed them closed.

"I hope they do alright," Sailor Saturn said quietly.

"I have no doubt they will; just working together will be a challenge. There is a lot of potential in those girls," Sailor Pluto answered confidently.

"You are probably right Setsuna," Saturn agreed.