Well, I took down my old SM story (the second one), as you can probably tell. I just decided it wasn't sitting well with me, cause I could never figure out how the third story would tie in with the second one.

I found it.

So, enjoy this one! It's been forever since I've put anything on I'm scared I'm a bit rusty, but we'll see, ne?

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or the Sailor Senshi, or Crystal Tokyo. All that belongs to Takeuchi Naoko. I do, however, own Sailor Proteus (Who I have not found anywhere on the internet, so hah) and Deathdancer.

Oh, and a word on the below thing... it seems that Fiction Press dot Net does not want me to use -+ or that star thing on the 8 to separate parts of a story. Hmm...

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It was strange. At night, the streets looked so… different. There were shadows everywhere. The light the streetlamps gave off made everything look surreal. The pavement of the streets and the bricks of the building had an icy look to them, despite the fact they were in the "most beautiful city on Earth." Very, very few people would stroll about at this dark hour, even if Crystal Tokyo had the most dedicated police and protectors in the world.

Suzuko was one of these few people. He felt at home on the streets, after the sun went down. This was his domain; none were as swift as him, none were as silent. It was said even the guards at the royal palace were on the lookout for him. If there was ever a notorious thief in this new era, it was him. Homeless bums on the street said he would open a lock simply by talking. Young women swooned at the very mention of the handsome rogue. Suzuko was the "hide your women and children, lock your doors and windows" kind of guy. Thick, dark brown hair covered his head and fell over his steel-colored eyes, brown stubble adorned his jaw line and chin. Muscles rippled under a tight, dark blue shirt, and a black trench coat kept off the night's chill. Worn blue jeans with the ability to hide an innumerable amount of picks or some such and leather boots completed the look. He was "The Man."

Looking over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't being followed, Suzuko turned to make his way into a nearby alley. He nearly tripped over himself, however, when he saw a woman standing over the kid he was supposed to be making a deal with. Silently slipping into the shadows, he watched the event with keen eyes. The kid on the ground seemed to be stunned, more out of seeing up the skirt of the woman's fuku than anything else. The woman, however, didn't say a word. She simply glanced down at him in a dismissive manner, and tapped the end of her key-shaped staff on the ground beside him. He paled, then scrambled to his feet and out to the sidewalk.

This was a Senshi. The Guardian of Time, to be exact. Sailor Pluto stood quietly, staring at some spot at the end of the alley. Suzuko thought maybe the ancient Senshi was finally loosing it, but it became apparent that that was not the case. The air at the end of the alley distorted, like someone had taken a blender to that particular space. It swirled inward, and a dark haze appeared in the middle of the vortex.

The uncharacteristic urge to run flashed through Suzuko's mind. He was definitely nervous, but who can blame him? Hardly anyone ever saw Sailor Pluto, because things were usually serious if the Guardian of Time left her rumored post. Squinting his eyes at the sudden rays of light that were being released from the vortex, Suzuko watched as two forms began to emerge from the mist. One looked like an enormous horse, but with wings that would make an eagle's look pitiful. Huge hooves made the characteristic clop clop of a horse's step, and locks of the mane and a flicking tail became visible. The other form was what looked like a young man. Medium-colored blonde hair fell to just the tops of the ears and as the base of the skull.

As the figures came into focus, Suzuko could make out the winged horse's color and the details of its saddle; the creature was a reddish-brown color, and its mane and tail were black. The saddle had a high back with parts that came around the wings, probably to accommodate the rider as they flew. It was made of black leather, with gold trimmings on it. The bridle seemed to have the same design. The uniform of the human figure was also visible. Earthy color tones made up the color scheme of the clothing; a dark brown jacket-type shirt was over a white shirt, tied at the waist with a wrap-around cloth belt of the same color. Light brown pants covered the lower half, and the legs disappeared into a pair of knee-high black leather boots. A brown strip of cloth was tied around the head, and white bandages were wrapped around the hands. A red whistle with a strange black symbol was tied around the neck.

"What… where…?" The figure seemed to be disoriented. The sound of the voice confused Suzuko. Was it a girl or a bor? "Who are you?"

"I am Sailor Pluto." Pluto answered. "You're in Crystal Tokyo." The girl tried to speak, but the Senshi quickly interrupted. "We don't have much time to talk, listen to me and then ask your questions."

"Whoah, hold on… before you go on, can I ask who this is?" The boy (girl?) pointed at the hulking monster of a horse standing next to him or her. The creature just snorted.

"Deathdancer." The horse spoke. Suzuko had heard of the Royal Family's cats talking, but this was a whole 'nother ballgame. "My name is Deathdancer, and Pluto-san can tell you the rest."

The girl (as Suzuko finally gave up trying to guess) was at a stunned, complete lose as she stared at the winged horse. "You, child, are Sailor Proteus." Pluto snapped her out of her daze. "I've brought you here because…" The Time Senshi seemed to hear something. She turned her head to the side as her eyes drifted from one shadow to the next. "We need to find a more private place. Follow me." Sailor Pluto jumped and rebounded from the narrow alley walls, reaching the rooftop in a few seconds. The one called Sailor Proteus stared up, dumbfounded, before the horse bumped her in the back with his nose.

"Quick, on my back. And don't kick." he said. Proteus climbed into the saddle and barely had time to grab the saddle horn before the great beast jumped into the air, following Pluto up to the rooftop and out of Suzuko's field of view.

The con-artist and professional thief stepped out of the shadows, watching as they left.

ooooooooooooooo

"Can we please talk about where I am and why? And why am I dressed like this!" It wasn't that she was unhappy with her clothing, it was the fact that she didn't know how it got on her.

"Yes. In a few moments. We're almost there." Sailor Pluto responded, leaping across another alley-way as she did.

They continued moving for a few minutes before Pluto finally stopped on the roof of a large stable. Deathdancer landed carefully on the wooden roof, trying his best not to rouse the four-legged occupants of the building. "Now can I ask questions?" Proteus asked. Deathdancer snorted and have himself a shake, causing the girl's teeth to clatter in her head.

"You must listen, first." Pluto said. "You are in Crystal Tokyo, in the 31st Century. We are in dire need of your help."

"Whyzzat?"

Pluto stared at her for a moment. "We… we have a new enemy. None of us saw this. We didn't even see it enter the Solar System." Sailor Pluto bit her lip. "This enemy is very strong… I knew we wouldn't be able to defeat it on our own. So I took you out of your time and brought you here. Once this is all over, I will return you to your home." Proteus stared at the tall Senshi, looking impatient. "Yes?"

"Why am I dressed like this?"

"I told you. You are Sailor Proteus."

"And that means…?"

Pluto gave a sigh of exasperation. "You are a Sailor Senshi, and a protector of the Sailor Senshi Uranus and Neptune. That is your Sailor Fuku."

"Ooookaaaayy…" Proteus drew two kama out of the belt around her waist. She stared at them, as if trying to figure out what they were. Their blades curves slightly in the Japanese sickle style, and the wooden handles were decorated with Japanese symbols twisting down the shafts. Each keen blade gave off a barely noticeable glow, similar to a black light. "And these?"

"Those are the Spirit Kama. They're bound to your soul." Pluto explained. "They're tuned to your energy and yours alone, so it's possible to draw them to you from a distance. Put them down, try it." Proteus knelt and placed the pair of weapons on the stable roof, then stood and stepped back a few paces. "Now, focus on them. Hold out your hands, mentally command them to come to you." Proteus held out her hands, a cynical look plastered to her face.

For a moment, nothing happened. The wind blew, someone was cursing down the street, and a couple of horses nickered. Nothing else, the kama did not move. Just as Proteus was about to give up, the sickles jerked slightly. She stared, wide-eyed, as they flew off the ground and into her hands. She nearly dropped them, but quickly close her fists around the wooden shafts.

"See? Not too hard." Pluto said, smiling slightly.

"Why do you need my help? I don't know anything here…" Proteus fell silent. She was just a young adult who did indeed know nothing about the world she had been pulled into. Not only was she still trying to get over the shock of having a horse talk to her, but now all this… "What use am I?"

"That is why I've brought you here." Pluto insisted. "You have a purpose here, you are needed. You are the one standing between this enemy and the destruction of this planet." She smiled again. "Deathdancer will help you with any questions you have. But, as of now, we must have very little contact until the time is right. You need to explore the city and find a place to live. In a few weeks, hopefully no more than a couple of months, you will be able to join the Senshi at the Palace."

"What do you want me to do, then?"

The Time Senshi looked thoughtful for a moment. "Find a job and a place to stay. For both of you." She gave Proteus and Dancer a stern look. "Like this place." Pluto tapped the roof they were standing on with her staff. "Practice your skills, do some training. Get to know the city." A grin suddenly appeared on her face. "Or--and don't tell anyone I suggested this--try to get to know some of the Senshi. We're very public now, none of them should be too hard to miss. Don't let them know you are also a Senshi, unless it's the right moment."

Proteus looked at her quizzically, then nodded her head. "Alright. I can do that…. But what---"

"I can't answer any more questions. Good luck." Pluto jumped away to a nearby rooftop, then again to the next, until Proteus lost sight of her.