Title: The Heir to the Underworld
Author: Ree
Theme: Setsuna (Agony)
Genre: Drama
Version: PGSM (probably already spoiled- nothing really big or main plot)
Rating: G

Setsuna and her friends all belong to Takeuchi Naoko. I just asked them very nicely if they wanted to play. They agreed, and quietly snuck out without Takeuchi-sensei's knowledge.

The Heir to the Underworld

Shopping was one of Setsuna's favorite pass times. She got out to see the newest styles, see which ones were selling, and catch the latest tunes. And she always treated herself out to lunch. Today, she decided to have a quiet lunch in the park. Settling on a park bench, she opened the convenience store rice balls and bottle water. She started people watching as she enjoyed her simple lunch. Getting the last bit of rice off her fingers, and finishing the water, she went to find the trash can.

'Okay, lunch is done. Now off to look at the jewelry and accessories.'

She felt the summonings more than she heard them. A low keening echoing through the park. This time it was accompanied with harp music. Afraid of what she would see, Setsuna slowly turned around. There they were, rising out of the ground. Their cloths were tattered robes. 'I wonder if they are burial cloths?' The other people started running. Watching them, Setsuna thought about how reasonable their reactions were. 'Better than mine. I'm just standing here.' She knew she should be running away from them, but she felt drawn to them instead.

As she watched, the people who had not run fast enough started dropping to the ground. She knew that they would end up in the hospital like the children from the attack last week . 'This has got to stop! They are giving our ancestors a bad name! They should be asleep!'

Before she had noticed what she was doing, she was running towards them her heels clacking on the pavement. When she reached them she saw even more people lying in a heap. Her temper snapped and she found herself reaching for the invisible staff, hoping it would come so she could banish the monstrosities in front of her.

The ghosts turned to her, drawn to her like moths to a flame. When the staff did not appear, Setsuna swung at the closest one, hoping she could knock it away. Her fist passed through the creature, and an agonizing pain ran up her arm. She jerked her arm back, staring at in surprise. 'Why can't I touch them? I've seen other people hit them. I know that they can be hit!' Using her martial arts training, she put a well placed kick into the torso of another one. She fell as her leg went through it. Setsuna passed through a couple ghosts before she hit the ground. She curled up into a ball, her whole body convulsing in so much agony that she didn't notice that the ghosts had formed a loose circle around her, waiting.

As the pain slowly subsided, she realized that what she was feeling was their agony. The memory of a pain that they had suffered long ago. She also knew that the summonings were reviving that pain, and all they really wanted was to rest, free of it all. That wish echoed inside of her. She drew herself up to her feet. Her muscles were spasming in remembered pain, but they obeyed her. Opening her eyes, she saw the ring of ghosts standing around her, all of them looking at her with hungry, hopeful eyes.

Standing up straight, she pushed her shoulder length hair out of her face. Holding out her hand, she wished for the staff once again, but this time there was no anger. She felt the weight materialize in her loosely clasped hand. Closing her eyes, she looked for guidance from the inner voice that had put her here. She felt the knowledge of what to do well up from the depths inside of her. Opening her eyes, she raised the staff high and turned in a circle. The weight of it was trying to pull her arm down. Finally when she had gone full circle, she lowered the staff until it resounded against the pavement.

The metallic ring echoed under her words as she whispered, "Pluto's Soothing Lullaby". The ringing became a soft eerie tune that seemed to weave itself around the ghosts. Setsuna turned slowly around, watching the pattern it was making. Her attention was caught when she noticed the faintest gleam of silver where staff was, and a pale white halo around her lower arm, almost up to her elbow. Right below her elbow was a dark green halo. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of long dark green hair flowing over her shoulder.

When the last few notes had finished echoing, all the ghosts had vanished, and the summoning was gone, too. Setsuna stumbled back to the bench, and sat staring at her hands.

'What is going on here? Where did the green hair and everything else come from? What is that staff? Why can't they drain me? Why can't I hurt them physically?'

Closing her eyes, she resolved to put it out of her mind, and to run the next time she saw them.