Reflections II

Watching the scene of terror unfold around her, Venus summoned her remaining strength and transported herself to the furthest reaches of the Lunar Kingdom. In between worlds and time, there was Pluto and the Space-Time Door she so fiercely guarded. In what seemed lifetimes ago, Venus recalled she and Serenity's nervous trip to visit the Soldier of Revolution. On the reverse side of the great Door was a magnificent mirror, and served as Pluto's form of transport when she was called upon by the Queen. The young princess has begged one use of it and the trip had resulted in her first introduction to the Terran Prince.

Already wounded, the Venusian senshi leaned heavily on her sword. Her demands were simple. Coughing blood and spitting it roughly to the ethereal ground below, she said, "Let me go back."

"It is forbidden."

"This could all be turned around. It doesn't have to end this way." Seeing her sister senshi die at the hands of those they loved. Venus closed her eyes to try and block the image of Serenity taking a blade to her chest. How did Pluto not understand?

"You ask for the impossible." Unharmed and unscathed, the older woman moved gracefully, taking the tall scepter and placing it defensively in front of her body. The message was clear. Go away. The elder senshi stood in a ready stance in front of the great door which loomed dramatically behind her.

Venus had nothing left to live for. Her princess was dead; her lover - the one who had betrayed her, had been killed by her own hands. If she could go back in time – if they had never picked up the mirror…there was still a chance. She wouldn't have met him. Serenity and Endymion wouldn't have fallen in love. As much as she treasured their time together, she would rather Kunzite lived than having even met him.

"You would rather see our empire collapse? Your princess die? We both know the talismans have chimed – she will be here soon to end everything. There are precious seconds left."

"It goes against the rules which protect us." There was no remorse in her husky voice.

Venus let her sword clatter to the ground. She had no strength to hold it. Fingering the familiar weight of the chain at her side, she knew her only chance was to separate the outer senshi from her mighty weapon. And yet she could hear the echo of 'Dead Scream' forming on her opponent's lips…

"Venus Love Me Chain!" The chain shot out quickly from her hand, and catching Pluto off guard, she pulled as hard as she could, dragging the rod to the ground. The garnet topped device came to rest between them.

Pluto turned a booted heel towards her talisman and warned, "Do not test me, Venus."

"How can you just stand there? We're already dead! How do you want to live your last seconds?"

Somewhere in the depths of space the Soldier of Destruction awoke and began an unbreakable series of commands.

Maroon eyes flashed and the older woman answered, "I will die at my post!"

Blood poured freely from a wound in Venus's side as she collapsed to the ground, whispered, "You...we could have changed the past..."

Like so many things, what could have been never was.