Uranus and Neptune are finally getting married! It is a day of celebration for one and all. Except there seem to be a couple of people missing...Written for Setsuna's birthday 2022, but in celebration of the Outers as a whole.
Rated: T - Hurt/Comfort/Friendship - Words: 2,192 - Chibiusa T./Rini/Sailor Chibi (Mini) Moon, Setsuna M./Sailor Pluto, Outer Senshi/Outer Scouts
A/N: This fic is a gift for Lillie Bell and Nikki Scarlet and Heavely Pearl.
This fic is a sequel to my other fics, 'Outer Limits'. Hopefully I've done a good enough job that you don't NEED to have read that though.
I'd also like to thank romanreloaded for beta reading this for me!
Crystal Tokyo positively glittered as the sun shone down upon it.
The city's beauty was only accentuated by the cherry blossoms that were in full bloom, their pink petals elegantly floating upon the wind.
But their elegance paled next to the groom upon the altar in their navy blue suit. Nor the bride beginning her long approach to the altar, the aquamarine dress trailing behind her.
"Not jealous are we?" whispered Ami.
Makoto chuffed out a small laugh. "Why'd I be jealous?"
"There was a time where you were rather sweet on Haruka."
Makoto shook her head. "That was a long time ago and it wasn't that simple anyway. Besides..." She squeezed Ami's hand. "What've I got to be jealous about..."
"Hush you two," said Rei, leaning over to the pair.
"Chillax Rei," interjected Minako, "Michiru is a ways off from the altar and the band is loud enough that no one can really hear us."
Rei rolled her eyes. "Take it from one psychic about another, she knows we're talking!"
The four of them quieted down, however another pair had evidently not gotten the message.
"They're beautiful aren't they."
"Indeed they are, 'Professor Tomoe'...Someday, I'd love to be around to see you up there."
"Papa," replied Hotaru rolling her eyes, "Of course you'll be around."
"Yes, but you spend so many hours working, either as a Senshi or in the lab. I just don't want you to miss out on life. To miss out on meeting someone special of your own."
"Papa...without going into details...that's definitely not something you need to worry about."
The elder Professor Tomoe blushed and cleared his throat.
"Ahem, so where's the Princess?"
Hotaru shrugged.
"I don't know. She was here a moment ago, but she seems to have vanished. She better get back soon or else she'll miss the whole ceremony."
However, by the time Michiru had reached the altar the Princess had not yet reappeared.
Despite her absence, neither the King nor the Queen seemed particularly concerned by the empty chairs besides them. They simply gave Helios a nod and he began the ceremony.
Within the void of the Space-Time Corridor, Setsuna gripped her Garnet Rod.
In a rarity for her, she was not using her powers of observation to peer in on the past, let alone the future, but rather the present. Or what passed for the 'present' from her point of view.
Ever since the royal announcement that Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune were to be wed, she'd been peeking in on her old friends sporadically, eagerly following the progression of the wedding plans.
Doing so had made her feel almost as if she was there. Like she was participating alongside all the other Senshi.
The terrible price of course was the heartbreak whenever she'd inevitably had to acknowledge that...she wasn't.
She was, as always… alone...
For a moment, a burning resentment flared up within her. It was an unusual occurrence. She hated her lonely vigil, but knew it was necessary. She knew the Inner Senshi didn't ask for the freedom afforded to them. She knew that freedom was necessary for them to fulfill their mission of protecting the Solar System from within. She even knew they lamented the fact that she was isolated from the rest of them.
But...Haruka...Michiru...They were Outer Senshi like her.
In the days of the Silver Millennium they had their own lonely vigiles on the fringes of the Solar System. And Hotaru had slept for most of that time, the one Senshi no one wanted to see.
Upon their rebirth in the 20th century all of them experienced the luxury of normal lives. They'd had their own hardships of course, Hotaru especially, but at least they were not trapped alone in a void for all time.
Setsuna's resentment dimmed somewhat.
She had, after all, experienced a taste of that freedom too. It might've only happened for the sake of her missions, but it was better than nothing. Back then she'd wondered if it was all just another cruelty fate had heaped upon her. Letting her enjoy freedom and companionship for a time before taking it away once again. Now though, the memories of those moments, the happiness she'd experienced back then, however short lived it may have been, were a newfound source of strength.
Still...was it fair?
When Crystal Tokyo came to be, the Outer Senshi only briefly returned to their solitary posts far from the Earth. Once the kingdom was settled and technology allowed everyone to move freely between planets, the Outer Senshi were at liberty to spend time back home. They were free to enjoy quiet days with their friends and passionate nights with their lovers.
Meanwhile, Setsuna remained trapped in the Corridor. She had visitors from time to time, but often their busy lives meant they couldn't see her as regularly as she'd have liked. And besides, strictly speaking, no one should enter the Corridor in the first place.
She turned her attention back to the images she'd materialized into the air. Michiru had made it to the altar, seeingly poured into her mermaid style wedding dress. Haruka had taken her hands in her own, her suit looking as sharp as a biting wind. Though calm and reserved as ever, their love for one another was evident for all to see.
Setsuna's resentment and upset dissipated, almost as if it'd never existed.
Instead, she prayed that her comrades… no… her friends… all her friends knew that in some way she was there with them.
Out of the corner of her eye she spotted two empty seats in the front row. They were sandwiched between the King and Queen and Hotaru and her father.
Slowly, she lowered herself to the ground, leaning against the Space-Time Door.
She was sure she looked a little childish and undignified. And she was certain it was pretty pathetic to sit like this, imagining she was in reality at the wedding itself.
But what did it matter? This was the closest thing she could have to being with her friends. And besides, it wasn't as if there was anyone around to see h-
"Wouldn't you rather have a proper chair?"
Setsuna whipped her head up.
A figure emerged through the mists of the Corridor, her brilliant pink hair standing out against the blankness of the void.
Setsuna got to her feet, doing her best to appear somewhat elegant.
"Small Lady." She bowed before the girl in the regal dress. "May I ask your highness what she is doing here? Shouldn't you be at the ceremony?"
"Yep. I absolutely should. But I couldn't go...Not without you..."
Setsuna's expression was as blank as the void surrounding her.
"Small Lady... I appreciate you coming here. It is, as ever, a joy to see you. But I cannot leave my post. I can never leave my post. That was made clear to me by Queen Serenity Herself."
A knowing look came over the Princess' face.
"That's true. But wasn't it also true that back then Uranus and Neptune could't leave their posts either?"
Setsuna's brow furrowed.
"Yes."
"And, wasn't it also true that Sailor Saturn was to stay 'asleep' unless absolutely necessary?"
"Your highness knows her history it seems."
"Thanks Plu. But my point is...that's how they were under my grandmother. But under my Mama and Papa, things have changed."
Setsuna's gaze lowered. She hated having to make Small Lady understand like this. It wasn't the first time she'd tried to convince Setsuna she could leave her vigil.
"They have your highness... But not for me... Your mother used her powers to alter Sailor Saturn so she could fight without reducing everything to a terrible silence. And the kingdom's new technology enabled Uranus and Neptune to travel to and from their posts with speed and monitor them whilst they were away."
"Yeah," piped up Small Lady. "And whenever they were away, they had regular soldiers take over their posts."
Setsuna's lips formed a thin line. "I'm well aware they have the luxury of working in shifts, my lady. But my own situation is just not the same. The Space-Time Corridor is not something that simply any soldier can guard. It is not something that I can abandon without a greater danger necessitating I do so. I must remain here for..." Something caught in her throat and she lowered her head. "...forever..."
To her surprise, Small Lady grinned.
"Actually… you don't."
Setsuna's face contorted in confusion. She raised her head, trying to find the new speaker. From the mists, another figure emerged, this one a fully grown woman with long golden hair and a Senshi uniform to match.
"I believe we met once before. But I wasn't exactly myself back then." The woman extended her hand out. "It is an honour to meet you properly Sailor Pluto. I am Sailor Galaxia."
Setsuna's eyes widened.
"I...I don't understand..."
Small Lady grinned wider.
"Plu... Mama has worked it all out. Me and her used the Silver and Golden Crystals to alter your powers like she did Saturn. That's how you got the power to pull up images across time."
Setsuna's brain seemed to have frozen, her responses merely automatic.
"I...I'd believed those were simply because I'd become Super Sailor Pluto."
Small Lady shook her head.
"Mama wanted to give you something to make you less lonely. But when she realized she could alter your powers further she and the other Senshi began looking into things more. They figured out a way for you to leave the Corridor whenever you want. But we still needed someone around to watch it while you were gone. And that's where Galaxia came in."
The auric clad Senshi had withdrawn her hand a while ago but stepped forwards now.
"In the past I have done terrible things. Though my head knows I wasn't fully responsible for them, my heart is yet burdened by guilt. I've spent over a thousand years trying to undo the pain I've caused and live up to my duties as a Senshi. I hurt you, your Princess and your friends once upon a time. When I learned of your situation, I offered to take your place. But..."
"But Mama wouldn't allow it," interrupted Small Lady. "She wasn't willing to condemn one person to a life of loneliness in order to free another. So she waited until she'd figured out a way that any Senshi could guard the Corridor. Then Mercury and Papa worked out shifts for everyone."
Setsuna had remained quiet for the last minute or so. She felt numb. She didn't dare believe what she was hearing.
"Small Lady… Are… Are you saying..."
The Princess approached Setsuna and gently took her hand.
"Plu... You're free..."
For a moment, Setsuna remained silent. Then she slowly began letting out a series of short breaths. Soon enough tears began to flow from her eyes and she embraced the young girl.
She looked up at Galaxia over the shoulder of the Princess. Galaxia smiled down at her, her own eyes slightly wet.
"Hey now," whispered Small Lady, "You gotta stop crying okay. Otherwise, you'll be a mess for the wedding. And I went to a lot of trouble to reserve seats right next to me and Mama."
Slowly, gently, Setsuna pulled away from the Princess and gazed into her smiling face.
"Thank you," she sobbed out.
By the end of the night, all four Outer Senshi had cried their share of tears.
A/N: This was ALWAYS my intended pay off when I wrote Setsuna's 2021 birthday story. You didn't think I'd give her an UNhappy ending did you lol!
Also just to let you know I am involved in a discord called 'Moonlight Legends' which is dedicated to sharing all sorts of Sailor Moon fanworks, including other fanfics. If you would like to join so you can share your own work, get help with your current projects or just connect to other fan creators shoot me a PM and I'll send you an invite. All are welcome!