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Chapter 3

Neo-Queen Serenity's Plan

No one had ever seen Sailor Pluto before, and few even had knowledge of her existence. Neo-Queen Serenity knew she would be perfect.

The powerful solitary soldier of time possessed the blood of the God Chronos, and was therefore immortal. Ageless, she watched over the gates of time, ensuring the continued existence of the time-space continuum. She was only permitted to leave the gates when granted permission by the monarchs of the White Moon. Neo-Queen Serenity was a descendent.

So Sailor Pluto left her post when Neo-Queen Serenity summoned her to a secret meeting held in the depths of the Crystal Palace. None saw her enter, and none saw her leave. Such was Pluto's way.

"You startled me, Pluto," Serenity commented, her breath taken away by the imposing and lonely figure that stood before her. Sailor Pluto bowed low, her ebony-emerald hair forming a curtain around her face.

"My apologies, Queen. It is not often I am granted permission to leave the gates. I'm afraid I'm a bit rusty in the social department."

Serenity took a deep breath and regained her composure. It was not often she was intimidated by people, but the woman who stood in front of her now was unlike anyone she had ever met.

"You may stand, of course." The queen gestured to an ornate chair that stood beside her own thrown. "Please sit, we have much to discuss."

Sailor Pluto straightened and passed the Neo-Queen as she walked to the chair. A good head taller than Serenity, Pluto's skin was several shades darker. Some of her hair, the color of dark emerald and ebony, was pulled back into a bun, but the rest cascaded down her back and stopped short right above her knees. As she sat elegantly in the chair, her legs crossed one over the other, she seemed to emit power and control. But her eyes betrayed her.

Serenity had never seen such eyes. Pluto's eyes were the color of dark rubies. While the idea of red eyes may sound frightening, they actually softened Pluto's face and complimented her red lips and dark skin. And they were sad. Much too sad.

The Neo-Queen took her own seat, and cleared her throat. There were many mysteries surrounding this senshi, but she felt it best to stick to business rather than attempt to understand this woman whose eyes held such sadness.

"Sailor Pluto, guardian of time, I have called you here because I have need of your services," Serenity said. Pluto suddenly smiled warmly, her eyes slowly lighting up, and Serenity released her breath. She had not even realized she had been holding it.

"Of course, your majesty. You have but to ask."

Serenity returned her smile. "I realize this is most unusual, but you are the only one I can turn too. The other sailor senshi are too well known for this mission, and I fear what may happen to Earth if I wait much longer."

"You're speaking of the Black Moon Family, I suppose?" Pluto asked slowly. Serenity nodded.

"Yes, you are aware of the current situation?"

"Of course. It is my job to watch," Pluto answered, her voice emotionless, plain, matter-of-fact.

"If the Black Moon Family does not allow me to cleanse them, I'm afraid something will have to be done. They have become infested by the negative energy of the Shinbara - I cannot allow its' continued existence!"

"Then your majesty is aware of the dangers of the Black Crystal?"

Serenity paused, caught off-guard by Pluto's question. "…Yes, it's negativity is eating away at the earth…"

"Not just that," Pluto interrupted. "The Shinbara is more powerful than the Black Moon Family suspects. It will destroy them, and the earth as well if it is not eliminated."

"I suspected as much. So you realize what needs to be done?"

Sailor Pluto looked quietly at the Neo-Queen, so different from the Sailor Moon she remembered from the 20th century. It was hard to believe that this powerful woman used to be the cry-baby soldier of love and justice…

"The Shinbara needs to be neutralized." Pluto answered. Serenity nodded.

"Yes, neutralized. Preferably destroyed. I'm guessing that once the Shinbara is gone, it will be relatively simple to persuade Topaz to allow me to cleanse them of the remaining effects."

"The Shinbara has a strong spell over the Black Moon Family. It has enslaved them for centuries – I'm sorry, your majesty, but I find it hard to believe that simply destroying the crystal will be enough to free them," Pluto argued, her eyes flashing.

"My silver crystal is strong, I'm certain it will be enough. The Shinbara must be destroyed. And that is why I need you."

Sailor Pluto's mind reeled. A field mission? Her? Surely it was forbidden…the Queen of the White Moon had long ago forbidden her from leaving the gates and interacting with anyone but the White Moon Royal Family. Such was the punishment for her family's unspeakable crime. Yet Neo-Queen Serenity was asking her to do much more than simply leave the gates. Pluto could hardly contain herself as she dared to hope that she might escape the gates of time, if only for a little while.

Serenity leaned forward. "I need you to infiltrate the Black Moon Family."

Sailor Pluto's jaw dropped.

Sensing that she was about to object, Serenity held up a hand. "Sailor Mars and I have already discussed this mission, and have fabricated a story. You are the first ranking General of my army. You have decided to betray me, and have gathered information for the past several years to deliver to the Black Moon Family..."

"But what is my motivation? Your majesty, I'm sorry but I am hardly qualified to carry out such a mission…"

"You are the only one capable of doing this! Only a sailor senshi could possibly succeed in what I am asking you to do. The other senshi are too well known, they would be identified immediately. I trust you will be able to think of some motivation…but once you have infiltrated the Family, you are to find and gain entrance to the location of the Shinbara. You are to replace that crystal, with this." Serenity held out a black crystal, seemingly ordinary but for the unusual shape it was cut. It looked like a rose, its petals made of glass. It was a fake Shinbara.

Sailor Pluto couldn't believe what Serenity was asking her to do. It was too dangerous. It was forbidden. What's worse, Sailor Pluto desperately wanted to say yes.

She stared at the fake Shinbara Serenity held out to her. "You know I cannot accept this mission."

Serenity pursed her lips. "And why is that?"

"…Centuries ago my own mission was decreed. I am to stand at the gates of time and space. I am to watch, but never interfere."

"I am aware of the rules. But I am a descendent of the White Moon, and as such have the power to release you from your duties for this mission."

"Yes, but…"

"I order you to obey." Neo-Queen Serenity was losing her patience. She had hoped it would not come to this; she hated ordering people around like the supreme monarch she actually was. But this was not the time to be soft.

Sailor Pluto looked down at her hands, neatly folded in her lap. She was having trouble thinking clearly, and yet…

And yet…

One thought, clear and resonant, invaded her whole being. She could leave the gates. She would no longer be alone. Suddenly rules, taboos, and punishments didn't matter.

Pluto stood up, her hands clenched at her sides as she looked down at the still seated Queen. Silently, she kneeled before Serenity, her head bowed low, and gave her answer:

"My Queen's will be done."