The Scouts and their companions are now back on the Moon of 174 BC. They have not yet found the shield they need to find before they can ultimately return to their home time periods, though. Among any number of other things they will need to do before they can, as well. And they will also need to talk more with King Jason, Queen Eve, and a number of other people native to the time period that they are now in before they can do that easily enough.
There will be about sixty pages left in this story, based on the length of my original manuscript for this story, once this chapter is posted, it seems to me. And six more chapters will remain after it is. I am beginning to wind this story up, but we still have one more fight left in this story, for sure. Once that fight is over, it won't be much longer before this story will come to a close.
Once it does, I will begin posting Operation Cocoon One as soon as I can. At the moment, I'm not quite sure just how many chapters will need to be posted for it. But it should still be just about the same length as this and certain other stories already in this story series, I think, more or less.
With no further ado, I shall now give you the next chapter of Time Vortex One. I hope you all enjoy it, and all, of course. Until later, then, I'll close this. TUS out.
Main Ballroom In The Imperial Palace
Moon City, Moon Kingdom, Moon
September 1, 174 BC - September 12, 174 BC
Sometime later, then, all of the members of the Scouts' traveling party eventually returned to the Imperial Palace's grounds in Moon City. And they eventually met up with King Jason and everyone else who they'd asked to accompany them on their excursion to explore the area of Moon City, but who'd chosen not to do so. They only did so, however, after they'd all had the chance to relax for at least a little while since their returns to the Imperial Palace's grounds, if not even longer than that, in fact.
They eventually met up with them in the Imperial Palace's main ballroom just before the beginning of that night's ball. And they began relating the story of their strange adventure on another planet in the Universe to King Jason and the rest of their fellow Scouts in a rather secluded part of the main ballroom, for all the obvious reasons, before the aforementioned ball was due to start at Earthrise, if not at some other time that day or night.
They told their story about this adventure of theirs in as detailed a manner as they could tell it, whenever they possibly could do so. But some parts of it, they had to shroud with at least a little mystery, for all the obvious reasons, of course. They may not have always wanted to have to do so, of course. But they still did so, whenever the need arose for them to do so, at the current time.
Eventually, they all periodically danced with various other people who were currently at the now-started ball in the Imperial Palace's main ballroom. Serenity, for instance, periodically found herself dancing with a man who appeared to be about five or so years younger, at the very least, than she currently was in her own life.
This man soon enough introduced himself as Duke Sebastien-Jean Ereugig. And he looked quite a lot like a combination of Princes Daniel and Darien, in fact. He had at least a little bit of a beard on his face, but it wasn't quite as thick a beard as the one that her actual husband wore in his own life, either. His beard was much more of a red color than Prince Daniel's now was. For Prince Daniel's beard was actually quite black in its very own nature. He was also of a height that almost matched that of Prince Darien, as well. He dressed a lot like Prince Darien too, as a matter of fact. But instead of wearing a red cummerbund around himself, he wore a cummerbund that was of a multi-colored nature. Specifically one that was of a purple, green, black, and white nature, at least for the most part, if not entirely. Several ducks and whales also covered much of the currently-visible area of his cummerbund.
Serenity soon enough said, "I don't think that I've seen you before now, Duke Ereugig."
"I believe I could say the same thing about you here too, Princess Serenity. I don't think I've ever seen a woman who looks quite like you do here, in fact."
"Maybe not. But know this, if you may not already know it, Duke Ereugig. I'm married now in my life. And I have children of my own now, in it, as well."
"But if so, then where is your husband now?"
"He had to go away on a mission elsewhere in the Kingdom. It seems that King Jason and Queen Eve needed him to investigate certain rumors that they'd recently heard that concerned at least a few Nallisans that might not like the fact that their nation has now fallen here on the Moon, Duke Ereugig. He's now investigating those rumors for them. I can't say any more about that sort of thing here, for all the obvious reasons, of course, Duke Ereugig." She didn't like actually having to lie to him about her and her husband, of course. But she still had to do so, for all the obvious reasons, quite naturally enough.
"I see. Well, let me just say this then, Princess Serenity. I hope that his mission's a complete success for all the necessary people on our side of things here, and that he's somehow able to return safely enough to you and all your children, at least, if not to anyone else as well in his own life. I hope this here, for all the obvious enough reasons, of course," said Duke Ereugig, as he eventually finished a dance with her at least once more during the current ball.
Eventually, the current ball had to come to an end again in the Imperial Palace's main ballroom. And everyone that'd attended it for at least a little while had to return to each of their currently-assigned chambers in it, as well. For they'd all eventually have to sleep again for at least a little while, of course. Supposing that they didn't also have to do anything else at all as well in any or all of them at any time before Earthset then occurred again in the area of Moon City on the Moon, quite naturally.
They spent at least the next few days, if not even longer than that, trying to re-adjust to being back on the Moon again. And they also continued to explore around Moon City's local area. Even in the part of that area that'd later have the Crystal Palace located in or near enough to it, as a matter of simple enough fact. They weren't yet looking for the exact place where they'd later find the shield they'd eventually find. But they still periodically explored the general area of Moon City in which they'd originally found themselves when they'd first been brought to the Moon City local area of 174 BC. Meaning, of course, the general area in which the future Crystal Palace would eventually be built.
Then, about one or two weeks after their recent return to the Moon City area of late 174 BC, at most, numerous people eventually found themselves on the future Crystal Palace's grounds in Moon City's local area. And they were all in the part of those very grounds that'd later become known as the Sailor Scout Garden, in actual reality. They were all there after enough of them had experienced dreams and/or visions that'd somehow told them the night before they came there that they'd have to be there then. It was now quite early in the morning of September 12, 174 BC, as they all came there as needed. Quite naturally, Queen Eve had to be among those people, as well.
Many shovels had been brought to the necessary part of the Crystal Palace's future grounds, for all the obvious reasons, as needed. As well as anything else that might also be needed at the current time here, of course. And then everyone assembled in that place waited for a sign that they were supposed to look for the new shield that they'd come here to find, in very short order.
That sign came about three or so hours before local midday would arrive in Moon City's local area, in fact. The necessary sign consisted of a bald eagle circling above the heads of everyone in the assembled group. This particular bald eagle was carrying a red rose with white and pink tips on it in his mouth. He also bore a mostly navy blue three-fluke anchor on his back, and his chest was covered with mask-like and sword-like areas of varying sizes and colors. The eagle's anchor was of considerable size, as a matter of fact. He eventually flew to a nearby white oak tree that was the only such tree among many good-sized red cedars and black walnuts. This tree was the closest tree to the assembled group of people, as well.
Queen Eve then looked at the eagle briefly, just to see exactly which direction he was now looking. Seconds after she did so, eight eagle feathers then suddenly materialized in the exact place that she and several of her current companions would then have to dig, in order to find the shield. She began walking toward them, and as soon as she got within four feet of them, she slipped off whatever footwear she was then wearing. As did anyone else that would need to dig the required hole with her, once they each got within four feet of where they too would have to dig that hole of theirs.
Ten seconds later, she took a shovel from Sailor Peppermint, and quite earnestly began to dig. Not long after receiving the shovel from Peppermint, her part of the hole was then at least four feet deep, if not deeper than that. And she was still digging, as a matter of simple fact. She'd keep digging at least until she found the shield, if not even longer than that, of course.
Several other members of their assembled party also helped her to dig for that shield, for all the obvious reasons, as well. But they still wouldn't actually be the one to find the shield that was now in question here, and not only because a scroll said that would be the case for Queen Eve, in actual reality. Queen Eve had actually been the very first of the Sailor Scouts. And she would be in time, after the shield had been found for a long enough period of time, of course.
Eventually, Queen Eve did actually find the aforementioned shield. And it was decorated exactly as the same scroll that'd told of its existence had said that it would be. With no discrepancies at all actually being around anywhere in and around the entire shield, as a matter of fact.
Soon afterward, then, Queen Eve began refilling the hole with the necessary soil again, for all the obvious reasons. And so did anyone else who'd been digging part of the hole up until the shield had been found and extricated from it, as well, quite naturally.
After all the soil was then back in the necessary hole, a pillar suddenly appeared quite unexpectedly near Queen Eve. In fact, it'd be the very same pillar that Serenity would eventually use on the same day that she'd initiate Serena and several other girls as Sailor Scouts. But it still hadn't yet been erected in actual reality. It wouldn't be erected in actual reality at least until the beginning of the Silver Millennium. But it would eventually be erected, just the same. This pillar, though, was more a holographic representation of its future self than it was anything else at all at the current time.
After Queen Eve then touched this pillar, a quite large boulder then appeared exactly where the boulder that would block a tunnel most of the time would be found. The future tunnel and cavern that'd be behind and below it both still remained completely unseen. And they both would remain completely unseen, at least until they were both eventually discovered at the exact same time that the pillar that was currently being seen in a largely holographic manner would actually be erected in physical reality, if not even longer than that.
A plaque then appeared two feet to the left of the nearest edge of the aforementioned boulder here. This plaque had sides of six feet each on it, and it was framed by some reasonably-thick pieces of willow, in fact. These pieces of willow formed a square around the plaque, which was currently blank, and made of solid multi-colored marble rock. Another pillar about the same size of the aforementioned boulder provided quite ample amounts of support to the plaque and its frame. But at a more horizontal plane of appearance, as well, at a height that was about the height of both of Serenity's own knees, in actual reality.
All of the assembled group's members then came over to either stand or sit as close to the plaque as they could possibly get at the current time. Then, after they'd all done so as much as they could, some very small, but still very readable, writing suddenly began to appear at the very top of the plaque. And that writing said, "Queen Eve, and all assembled animals and personages who can now read these words, this will be a place where all future Sailor Scouts will need to be initiated as Scouts, whenever possible in the future, at least until the end of the Moon Kingdom, if not even longer than that. Queen Eve, you have found the Shield of Abel Adamson and of Yoshioki. Because you have now done so, you are to be the very first of the Sailor Scouts that'll be around in the Moon Kingdom. You'll need to come here the day after those who aren't native to this time period are finally able to leave here for their proper time periods. Then you'll become the first of the Scouts in a ceremony that only you, your husband, your Prime Minister, your High Priest, and your family's household animals will be able to witness. All who can now read these words, step forward whenever you hear your birth name spoken to you in your head, if it is not the same name that you each have now in your respective lives. You each will need to write your name or leave your own footprints on the plaque, somehow, as quickly as you can after you each hear your birth name, if not your current name, in your respective heads. "
Nothing more was then visible on the plaque, at least not at the current time, for a large part of it would have to remain quite clear on it, at least until the necessary footprints and/or names were each added to it as needed. This, of course, was for all the now-obvious reasons here.
First, Queen Eve heard her birth name, which was actually Eve Crystal Chrysanthemum. She was descended directly from the first actual ruler of Moonia, in fact. But she wasn't necessarily in the same exact line of common descent as her husband, for all the obvious reasons. She and her husband shared a common ancestor from no less than five generations of their ancestors, but none after that generation in their respective families, as well.
She stepped forward, and then when she was in contact with the plaque's base with both her hands, a knife of some sort appeared near her left hand. She immediately took up the knife, and she proceeded to carve her birth name right under the last line of text that everyone else with her who could read it was now seeing on the plaque. She carved her name in a flowing script on the plaque, and in as small a size as she could carve it, at the same time. When she finished doing so as best as she could then do, she immediately returned the knife to its previous position from which she'd taken it, and it vanished from sight no more than a few seconds later.
Then each of the future Queens of the Moon Kingdom who were currently present nearby stepped forward in their respective turns, and they put their names on the plaque in whatever ways they were somehow able to do just that here. They did so only in the proper orders of their future reigns over the Moon Kingdom, of course. And the last of them to do so was the once and future Queen Serenity, for all the obvious reasons. Then came the other Scouts who were now present nearby, if they'd not already done so here, starting with Moon. All the Scouts from Serena's time on the Moon put their names on the plaque as the need arose for them to do so then, including, of course, Corona and Eclipse, at least. Then the Scouts who were actually from a time period roughly two millennia later, more or less, proceeded to do so in the necessary enough manners, once the need arose for each of them to do so, of course. They were then followed in putting their names on the plaque as needed by both Sailor Bellasina and Sailor Clarissa, if they'd both not already applied their names to the plaque now in question here. Which, in fact, had already been done by both of those Scouts, right after all the Scouts of Serena's own time on the Moon had finished doing so somehow as well, in the required manners.
Then King Jason and any of the other male humans or humanoids that were now present in the area of the future Crystal Palace's Sailor Scout Garden did so, as well, whenever and however the need arose for them to do so at all. That left only the sentient enough animals now present to leave their marks on the plaque as well, of course. Meaning, quite naturally, at least Luna and Artemis, if not any other currently-present animals as well. Those animals, in fact, only happened to be Luna and Artemis. And they each hopped into a large box that was primarily filled with potter's clay, if not just with potter's clay instead. Some of whatever was in that very box then stuck on each of their four paws. After which, they both had Serenity bring them in their respective turns to the plaque now in question here. First Luna, and then Artemis, left their marks on the necessary plaque, as needed. As soon as they did so, then, everything that'd just stuck to their paws transferred itself to the surface of the plaque.
After Artemis finally left his mark on the plaque, a strange voice then suddenly spoke as out of thin air, "Queen Eve, exactly three days from the time this experience of yours ends here, all of your guests in this certain time period will each be returning to their respective time periods just as they were each brought to this one, with no unnecessary differences whatsoever. And when they are, they'll all be returned to each of their own time periods at the exact same times that they each left them for this one rather unexpectedly. You have two days, and two days only, of those three days to do whatever you wish with them, before they must then prepare to return to each of their respective time periods just as they might then see fit. The available time period for you to do as you wish to do now with them begins in five minutes, and five minutes only. When you all see the eagle fly away again, then you're all to leave this particular place immediately, and not return to it for a period of exactly two days. Is that understood well enough, Queen Eve, by you and all with you here?"
Queen Eve looked around briefly, and then saw all her current companions nod in a sufficiently affirmative nature, before she replied to the voice's words, "Yes, it is. We will do as you have just directed us to do here."
"Very good. The eagle will fly away now in four minutes exactly. When he does, then you must do as you've just promised that you would do, Queen Eve." The strange voice then ceased speaking, and spoke no more at the current time, if it'd ever do so again someday yet in the future, in fact. The eagle flew away just as had been predicted by the voice. And then everyone else immediately left the area in very short order. They left nothing at all behind that they'd brought with them, nor did they leave the shield behind either. The plaque vanished immediately after the last of them finally left the area to a sufficient enough degree. And it'd not appear again, most likely, at least until sometime rather close to either end or both ends of the Silver Millennium and/or the Moon Kingdom.
It'd now not actually be possible, then, for all the other Scouts who'd come to this particular time period to actually witness the founding of the Sailor Scouts, somehow. Which then made all of them, or at least many of them, quite disappointed here, for all the obvious reasons, at the very least. Most especially Moon, Corona, and Eclipse, as a matter of actual fact. For they'd really wanted to be able to see the actual founding of that group before they would've had to leave again for their very own time period, in fact.
Six chapters are left here for this story. The last fight occurs in chapter eighteen for it. There are still some loose ends to tie up before it's over, as well. And still some potentially sad partings to come in it, between some characters. Especially for Queen Serenity and her future mother, for example, among others now present here.
But it won't be able to be avoided, for if Margaret doesn't get back to her time period, and if certain other people don't get back to their own time periods, as well, Queen Serenity, among many others, most definitely will never be born, for obvious reasons. And if that happens, then there will be no Silver Millennium, much less even a Moon Kingdom at all, later on in history, of course.
I hope you've all enjoyed this story, and been entertained by it, and all. But if not, so be it, folks. I still would really like to read your thoughts about this story, and any number of others in its related series here, though, if and when I can, et cetera, for sure.
Until the next chapter, then, I'll close this. TUS out.