Meioh Setsuna's memory
By the time I knew what was happening, she'd returned.
I saw the pull in the walls and motion of Time, I knew something was terribly wrong... if only I had been able stop it.
I saw the tear and immediately warned Haruka and Michiru, as was my promise. It was when I tried to contact Earth that I became frightened. I couldn't use my scepter to speak with anyone in the palace, and all the broken barriers around it should have made it easy.
So I had no choice.
I went to Earth.
Tenou Haruka's memory
I heard Setsuna's call and almost panicked. I hadn't been needed for years, and my first hope was that it was just a false alarm. Then I realized what she'd said.
A pull in the walls... time has been disrupted...
Certainly not a false alarm.
I did what came naturally. I transformed and prepared myself to fly to Earth, our meeting place in case of... well, emergency.
Kaioh Michiru's memory
As soon as I heard Setsuna's voice, I morphed. I had no choice but to follow orders and go to Earth. I couldn't know what would be waiting there.
The Crystal Palace
The royal chambers
Morning
Serenity blinked open one eye and shut it again. She was too tired to deal with anything queen-related. She heard Endymion snoring softly beside her.
Another boring day awaited.
She had sent Rini to live with her past self. The palace without the princess was almost more than she could take. She missed her daughter, but she had a feeling that if Rini came back, the Serena of the past would grieve.
She sighed and stood and shook out her flaxen hair, annoyed that she had thought herself awake. Endymion rolled over onto her empty pillow and pushed himself up. They always awoke at the same time.
"Hefftastaliboutgar..."
Serenity laughed and shoved Endymion over so she could sit on the end of the bed, "Are you having a nice conversation with that pillow?"
Endymion smiled at her, "I said: We have to ask Talia about the Guard."
"She is the Guard right now."
"They're all on holiday?"
"Yes. Endymion, it's the summer festival this week, they all need time off."
He frowned, "But won't we be vulnerable?"
"I'm not worried," she stroked his black hair, which was falling into his eyes, "and I don't think you should be."
"Serenity..."
She looked at him expectantly. There was a reprimand coming.
"You should have told me before you let them all go."
Serenity stared at her husband, confused, "I did tell you."
"You... what?" he blinked at her.
"I asked you last night, you nodded and said they deserved a vacation."
Endymion's deep violet eyes searched her. She shook her head, unable to help him, but sure she had talked to him.
He sat up with a sigh and put his head in his hands. Serenity bit her lip and touched his shoulder lightly. When he looked up at her again, she was unsurprised to see dark rings beneath his eyes. Those hadn't been there before they'd been crowned.
She out her arms around him, unsure of what he needed her to do.
This wasn't the only thing he'd forgotten...
Serenity found herself thinking of the time she'd seen him wandering the courtyards, calling his daughter's name. She'd had to shake him to a stop and explain four times where Small Lady was. And that had been only a month ago.
A knock the door shook her from memory. She stood and opened the door a crack, wondering how proper it was for a queen to answer calls in her nightdress.
"Your majesty."
Serenity was shocked to see Sailor Pluto standing on front of her. She stumbled and struggled for words.
"Uh... er, Pluto... what...?"
"Lady," Pluto sank to one knee, "there has been a disruption in the flow of time."
Serenity took Pluto's hand gently and lifted her, "What do you mean?"
"Milady, may I have your permission to enter?"
Serenity blinked.
"These words should not be overheard."
So the door was closed behind Pluto's back.
"So something from the past entered the present?"
Pluto shifted her weight, trying not to make eye contact with the king, who was clothed only from the waist down. She leaned on her Garnet Scepter.
"Yes, king."
"But... how?"
"I suppose someone in the past realized they were going to be defeated by Sailor Moon."
"You felt negative energy?"
"Damn lot of it," she blushed, "I'm sorry, I didn't ask permission..."
Endymion shrugged, eyes on the floor.
Pluto watched his dark hair wave as he shook his head. She wished she could touch him...
"Pluto."
She turned to her queen, "yes."
"Why don't you know who it was?"
Pluto bit back a loud sigh, "Whoever it was used an immense amount of energy. The remnants created a cloud, and by the time it cleared it was too late."
"Shouldn't you be able to see anyway?"
"Who it is, I don't care anymore. I came here because I couldn't establish contact with you. Who or What traveled through time... it came to Earth."
There was a silence as her words echoed off the crystal walls.
Serenity groaned.
Endymion stood up and put his hands on her shoulders.
Pluto shivered and turned to the window. Looking out, she saw Uranus and Neptune mounting the palace steps, walking close to each other. Pluto could feel their worried auras from the height of the royal quarters.
"May I suggest gathering the Sailors?"
She turned to see Serenity nodding.
"And protecting the Crystal."
Another nod.
"It may be nothing, a... youma or something with too much power."
Endymion snorted, "Unlikely."
Pluto was inclined to agree.
The Crystal Palace
The meeting hall
Noon
Serenity stared at the array of people before her.
The Inner and Outer scouts all sat in cushioned seats around the crystalline table. Talia, the Captain of the Guard, sat at one end, looking nervous. Pluto had told her what was happening. Sailor Saturn was nowhere to be seen. No one had been able to reach her, and no one was surprised.
"Ehem..."
All attention turned to the queen.
"You have all been informed of the current situation. It would take far too long to search the city. I suggest we all stay put for now."
Jupiter leaned forward, "Shouldn't we warn the people?"
"No," Mercury and Endymion said simultaneously. The king nodded in Mercury's direction, and she continued.
"If we alert the public we'll have mass panic. Better to wait."
Jupiter rested her chin on her fist, "but what if the enemy attacks the public?"
"Then we acknowledge it."
Serenity nodded her consent.
Talia stood nervously, "Milady..."
"Yes?"
"You have no Castle Guard. I could find them all, if you would like."
Serenity sighed, "Most have them have gone to their home planets... I think we'd cause less of a commotion if we didn't."
A voice rang from the end of the table.
"You're worried about a commotion now?"
Serenity regarded Uranus tersely.
"Wait an hour, maybe two, and the entire palace will come crashing down around you. Better you gather your strength while you still can."
Pluto glared across the table, "We can't know if they're that powerfu—"
"They were powerful enough to rip through the balance of time!"
Silence greeted this.
With an annoyed groan, the king stood, "We don't make any moves until we know what we're dealing with."
Uranus' head cocked up, "You're making a mistake."
"Last time I checked," Endymion straightened, "I was the king."
Uranus raised herself, obviously stung, "Then as king you should be able to see what's in front of you!"
"I have had enough of you."
"Do you have any idea what you're up against!"
"My word is final!"
"This could be the last battle you ever wage, and—!"
"MY WORD IS FINAL!"
Endymion turned on his heel and stormed away, cloak billowing dramatically. Uranus kicked her chair out of her way and walked stiffly out the glass door.
The Sailors stared at the table.
Finally, Serenity spoke. Her voice was barely shaking.
"I apologize for the king... If you could all keep a general watch, I'd be grateful."
Outside the Crystal Palace
The grand stair
Just after noon
Neptune laid her hand on Uranus' shoulder. Uranus made no response to the touch.
"Haruka... I don't think he meant that the way it sounded..."
"What use am I to you?"
Neptune stepped closer, puzzled by the question.
"I mean," Uranus fixed the ground with an angry stare, "I'm... a woman... I don't have much of a purpose in terms of monarchy."
Neptune smiled and squeezed her old lover's shoulder, "Ah. You're thinking I'll want a king to grow old beside, a political treasure chest."
She absorbed Uranus' quiet acceptance.
"Haruka, I don't care what sociality says I should do."
"You've said that before."
Neptune was hurt by the coldness in Uranus' voice. She removed her hand and stepped back, defiant.
"Look at me."
Uranus looked up from below her bangs.
"What do you see?"
"The most beautiful woman in the universe."
Neptune had to smile, "Something like that. But you see..."
She took hold of Uranus' gloved hands, pressing them to her own face, "I'm a woman too."
For the first time in months, lips brushed... touched... pressed...and then...
Crystal Tokyo
Gaia Street
afternoon
The five cloaked figures didn't stand out in the crowd of costumed people. The summer festival was coming, and luckily it was regular to appear mysterious.
The figure in front darted to the left and climbed a short flight of stairs. The other four followed it.
The first reached a house it identified as useful, and slipped through the wall like a ghost. The others followed again. A lone old man slept in an ivory-toned armchair. That wouldn't do.
The first figure spoke quietly, "Arise and greet death."
The old man started awake, obviously confused. He eyed the five people in front of him. He reached around on the table beside him for a pair of glasses that he couldn't get to in time.
A hooded figure stepped forward and brandished a large pointed crystal thorn.
The old man cried out as it sunk into his chest, crackling with dark energy.
The one who had stabbed him stepped back and released the cloak, calling out a cry that hadn't been heard for centuries.
The old man and the crystal flashed and became a bleeding pile of ash on the white armchair. Laughter filled the room.
The return was complete.