Hello everyone!

I've wanted to write a Setsuna/Prince Diamond fanfic for a long time now, and I've finally decided to do it! Even if you're not a fan of the pairing I hope you'll read my story and enjoy it.

Please review. We fanfic authors THRIVE on feedback!

Website: I do not own any of the characters that appear in this story except for a few of my own creation (to appear later on). I am simply a fan of Naoko Takeuchi's work, and LOVE Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. So please don't sue me for borrowing the characters!

Rating: PG for now; could change later on!

Words to know in this chapter

Senshi: soldier

Nemesian: of the planet Nemesis

Chapter 1

Meeting by Moonlight

A soft wind whispered through the tree branches and caressed Sailor Pluto's skin as she stood in the ruined courtyard of the dark Nemesian palace. She faced the white prince squarely, her hair blowing gently around her as her ruby eyes searched his face. She was dimly aware of the irony that she should be facing him now, in this place, after the events that had unfolded so many decades ago, but her expression did not betray her. She stood like stone, and it briefly crossed the prince's mind that she, the goddess of time, really did look like a statue of some forlorn goddess, doomed to forever watch over the ruins of his once beautiful courtyard.

Prince Diamond had not expected her to come, and could hardly believe it when he had felt her presence in the palace. He had been discussing battle plans with General Rubeus when he had felt a mysterious aura resonate from the abandoned courtyard in the center of the palace. He had heard legends of the senshi of Pluto, but had hardly believed them to be true, much less that she would actually come. But the legends had not told of her sad beauty and penetrating eyes. What had those eyes seen, to look at him with such sadness?

"Why have you called me?" Sailor Pluto's voice cut through the starlit darkness without warning. Prince Diamond, powerful and confident white prince of the rogue planet Nemesis, jumped. The silence had been safe, a barrier between him and the intentions he had for the sailor soldier. But now the barrier was gone, and he would have to recover, and fast, if he hoped to succeed.

Diamond took a deep, shaky breath and gained his composure, willing his face to become the same expressionless slate of stone hers appeared, and answered. "I think the more important question is, why have you come?"

She had not expected such a question, and in truth had no idea how to respond. Why had she broken the first taboo, and crossed through the gates of time into this god-forsaken place? She dared not answer. She herself was terrified to find out the answer.

She regarded Diamond, her face still as silent as marble, and slowly nodded. "Well answered, white prince of Nemesis. And for that perhaps I have no answer. You, however, surely have a reason for summoning me here."

Her voice was deep, husky, and mesmerizing. Diamond briefly wondered if she was a witch, for he seemed to be under some sort of spell. He couldn't help but feel he knew this woman, but he knew that was impossible. No one had ever before seen Sailor Pluto and lived to tell the tale.

Diamond, not used to his questions going unanswered, suddenly found himself annoyed with her for skirting the question. He did not think it wise to anger her though, and let the question drop. He could always ask again later.

Before he killed her.

"You are, of course, aware of the costly war Nemesis is waging with the Earth at present?" he asked.

Sailor Pluto's eyes briefly flashed, a momentary sign of life gone as quickly as it had come, but Diamond saw it. A memory tugged at the base of his brain, willing him to pay attention. "This is important!" it said, but as Diamond tried harder to remember, the further the memory seemed to slip away. He could have sworn he had seen those eyes somewhere before.

Sailor Pluto realized she had slipped, but it wasn't in her nature to concede so easily to defeat. She had stood countless centuries alone at the gates of time, and had mastered the art of feeling cold, empty, and emotionless. She slowly slipped back into her stone shell, and nodded once. "I am aware of the war. But my duty is to watch, not to fight, so surely you have no business with me. My question still stands: Why have you called me here?"

She had seemed to come alive with his mention of the war, and Diamond was amazed to see her turn so quickly back into the stone statue she had appeared when he had first seen her in the courtyard. She was being too careful with her answers and her expressions. Diamond didn't understand why nor what it was that she was hiding, even though he wasn't entirely surprised. She was a sailor senshi, his natural enemy; it was only natural that she should not trust him. But she was acting as though she were hiding something, carefully concealing whatever it was behind a mask of confidence and power. He was baffled as to why she wore such a mask, seeing as he had never met her before. That, and he had never before met a woman who fascinated him as much as she did.

Well, that wasn't entirely true. There was one…no two others. But one was the Queen of the planet he was now waging a relentless war against, and the other had disappeared as quickly and quietly as she had appeared decades ago.

"You are the Goddess of time, the guardian of the time-space continuum. I summoned you here to ask permission to use the gates of time."

Pluto raised an eyebrow. He surely did not expect an agreeable answer, did he? It was forbidden to grant the right of time travel, although she had broken the rule for the Queen's young daughter when the war had commenced. Now the young princess was living safely in the 20th century, far from the dangerous intentions of the Nemesians. Prince Diamond was asking permission to use the gates, to travel through time, surely with the intent to harm the princess.

She almost laughed.

"You ask for what I cannot give. It is forbidden for any but me to use the gates, and I am certain you knew that before calling me here." To Diamond's astonishment, a smile tugged at her lips as she slowly sighed and cocked her head to the side, regarding him silently. She closed her eyes, and Diamond wondered what it was that she was thinking of.

He had no idea that it was him the Goddess of time's thoughts were so deeply troubled by.

"Ah, but you allowed the young princess of the Earth to travel through time. Surely that was taboo? Or do the rules not apply to the royal family?" Diamond casually inquired, interrupting her thoughts.

She slowly opened her eyes, two rubies shining in the night. He had a feeling they were trying to tell him something, but he had not the knowledge to understand.

"No, the rules apply to them as well. I'm afraid that was an extenuating circumstance, and this, my dear prince, is not."

Things were not going his way. He hadn't expected her to grant permission, but it was still annoying nonetheless.

"And just what is an "extenuating circumstance"?"

"A situation that requires immediate action despite any rules or taboos."

"That's not what I meant."

"Then what is it you meant?"

"I meant what constitutes an extenuating circumstance?"

"Ah, but that's not what you asked."

"Well, I'm asking now!"

Sailor Pluto tilted her head back, and laughed.

It was her laugh that finally released that pesky memory from whatever it was that was holding it back, and Diamond was suddenly lost in the deep recesses of his mind.

His mind reeled. Back to a time when he was young, his people lived on Earth, and he had dared to dream.

Back to the few precious days he had spent enveloped in the warm, deceiving womb of love.