"I can't believe it!" Fighter wiped her hand slowly along her face as if she was ensuring the being before she was real, but slow enough not to miss anything.
"It's alright, Chibi Chibi. These are my friends," the red haired woman smiled at the tiny child, who relaxed from her defensive stance. "I'm sorry it has been so long," the woman apologized, her robes moving in the wind as she opened her arms. "Healer, Maker," she greeted as the others recognized the new arrivals as they all embraced their princess.
"We've been following the child," Maker nodded towards Chibi Chibi. "She carries your scent… and we had to be sure—"
"I've heard your music, and I thought I should go to you many times," she smiled before her face dropped down to the child. "But my body was taking longer to heal than I anticipated. Chibi Chibi here was helping to heal me," she offered as their gaze fell onto the short girl. An eyebrow raised, indicating the questions growing on a few of their lips before Princess Kakyuu spoke again, this time towards the young blonde.
"Sailor Moon, thank you for keeping Chibi Chibi and myself safe," she bowed to the blonde Senshi as the young girl looked on, confused. "It may be best to return to my home. It is not safe out here," Kakyuu offered as she looked off in the direction where Nyanko had disappeared. "We have much to discuss," she gestured as she started to walk. Dropping her transformation out of unsureness of the odd situation, Luna jumped onto her shoulder as she followed the red haired princess.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" Michiru was the first to speak as they took various seats around the room. Yaten nearly jumped from her seat at the audacity of the question before Princess Kakyuu raised her hand to stop them.
"I do apologize for their rudeness," she offered while glancing at the Four Lights. "I am Princess Kakyuu of the plan Kinmoku. Recently I was forced to flee my planet as Sailor Galaxia destroyed our home. I came to Earth following the vision I saw of the coordination of the new Queen of the Moon," she smiled as her gaze shifted to Usagi. "I have been watching you from that incense burner for some time."
The blonde wiped her hands along the length of her skirt, taking in the red-haired woman's words but unsure what to make of the information.
"Why do you seek the power of the moon kingdom?" Hotaru asked, her voice as severe as that of Saturn, catching everyone off guard except Michiru. "You said your planet was destroyed. The Moon Kingdom does not have the power to bring it back," she added, hinting at her understanding of the cycle of ruin and rebirth.
"Unfortunately, I know that all too well," Kakyuu relented as she lowered her gaze to her lap. She knew that nothing would help with her planet, at least not while Galaxia was still in control. She considered her words carefully to explain to the young girls why she was there. "What do you know of the Sailor Wars?" Kakyuu asked as her red eyes flickered toward Haruka for a moment.
"The Sailor Wars?" Usagi mimed, unsure of what Kakyuu was speaking about.
"Yes, the Sailor Wars have raged since dawn as Senshi across the galaxy battled against Chaos. Finally, the legendary strongest Senshi, Sailor Galaxia, many centuries ago, defeated Chaos."
"Is this the same Galaxia that destroyed your planet?" Michiru questioned.
"Yes, the same," Kakyuu sighed.
"I don't understand," Usagi blinked as she tried to process the bits of information she received.
"When you joined hands with your Prince, at that moment, the shining bright light was shown to all of us that the Silver Millennium has grown warmer and stronger."
"You saw that?" Usagi gasped.
"Yes, the beautiful, strong guardians of this solar system are envied by other sailor soldiers thought out the galaxy." Usagi paused, looking at her own hands as if she had just discovered a power within her that she did not anticipate. Haruka released a silent chuckle at the childlike nature of the blonde princess. Her gaze drifted from the princesses to the teal haired woman sitting alongside Usagi, the smug look on her face hinting that she sensed they were unique, and now Haruka knew it too.
"Galaxia has carried the Sailor Wars into our time. She had been collecting Star Seeds and destroying planets and cities in her wake. She has built an empire called the Shadow Galactic, but none of those people are true Star Seed holders. Instead, they are innocents lured by the power and become minions bound to her."
"Not all of them are innocent," Seiya spoke. "We have encountered a Senshi on this planet who was a true Star Seed holder, Sailor Heavy Metal Papillon," she explained, Haruka nodding in affirmation of the odd enemy they encountered.
"I see more are joining her minion ranks. Therefore, I implore you. You must save the galaxy. Her final target is you, for you carry the Silver Moon Crystal."
Usagi stumbled back for a moment, her hand extending to the seat behind her to steady her shaking form. The news was much to take in. They all sensed it themselves as Luna jumped in her lap to comfort Usagi.
"I will give you a moment to take in what I've explained," Kakyuu nodded as she rose, Taiki and Yaten instinctively following her from the room. Michiru looked on curiously as both Haruka and Seiya remained, both seemingly trained on the young blonde as she struggled with the news.
"All of those battles were because of me?" Usagi whispered as she clutched her chest.
"You and the silver crystal have disrupted history," Seiya explained with a sigh. "We would get a sense of the events as they were happening," she added as she looked at the tall blonde. Haruka's brows furrowed, guessing at the events Seiya was suggesting, annoyed that those visions were whiteness by Kakyuu and herself, and the raven haired Senshi didn't put faith in them at that time. Haruka mused how quickly her attitude changed when she was met with the pretty face of the petite blonde.
"There are many stars like this place throughout the galaxy," Haruka offered in a softer voice as she knelt before the young girl. "In other stars, the planets die out mid-way through their growth," she said in the solace of the few planets that the Starlights have tried to help.
"This planet is special!" Hotaru chimed in with a warm smile that seemed to cheer Usagi. Haruka nodded with the young girl as she moved near to the moon princess.
"Indeed," Haruka agreed. "everything on this planet has a star seed, no matter the size. Kinmoku was similar," she added, remembering her home. "And of course, we sailor soldiers are no different," reaching out to point to the broach Usagi wore, the jewelry glowing as her hand neared it. Michiru moved from her seat, concern set into her features at Haruka's bold move, but Hotaru seemingly blocked her path from swiping the tall Starlight's hand away. "These crystals are special and are chosen by the planet to be guardian crystals. They grow with the power of the planet."
"So those other Soldiers that attacked us before were guardians of other planets?" Michiru voiced, her tone driving Haruka to move away from the princess.
"Yes, they stole the Guardian crystal from the protector of that planet," Haruka explained, moving closer to the teal haired woman as she continued to explain the sources of the enemies. But, unfortunately, Usagi wasn't listening to the tall blonde, the husky voice disappearing into the background as her focus was still on her folded hands.
"If I didn't have the Silver Crystal, would all of this have been prevented?" Usagi continued her whispers to herself. "Would I have even been born?"
"We are all born with the guardian crystals. They are never destroyed," Seiya smiled as she knelt before the worried blonde.
"I wish we could live forever," Usagi shrugged with a sly smile. "That our bodies would last for eternity. It's silly, I know." Memories of all the battles she had endured so she could live happily with her friends and Mamoru flashed as Galaxia threatened them. The flashes disappeared as she felt Seiya's soft lips against the corner of her own. She wasn't shocked as she would expect, the gesture not dominating but comforting.
"I hope we can be reincarnated—" Seiya offered as she moved her head back, choking back the together she wanted to add. She knew Usagi's destiny was higher than her own. Her feelings are unrequited. "It's late. I can walk you home."
~*~*~
Haruka paused in the doorway, two glasses in her hands as she surveyed the surprisingly empty room. She shrugged nonchalantly before handing a glass to Hotaru and Michiru, taking a seat on the end of the sofa. Teal eyes scanned the room, her intuition filling the details of where everyone had disappeared. She sensed Taiki and Yaten in one of the rooms with the powerful sense of Princess Kakyuu in the same direction, the two taking up the task of healing the princess further. On the other hand, Seiya was no longer in the apartment. Given that Usagi seemed somewhat drained from the information provided earlier if she went home, Seiya likely took it upon herself to ensure she arrived safely. She pursed her lips for a moment as the notion struck her that she should keep Usagi safe, but the thought left when Hotaru giggled as she finished her drink.
"Have you visited many planets?" The small girl asked curiously as purple eyes looked up imploringly. Haruka nodded, making space for the young girl to come closer, clearly curious about the reaches of space. "I have seen many planets," Hotaru added before she coiled back slightly as she glanced towards Michiru as if she had said something she shouldn't.
"Young Hotaru here has created a few working models of the galaxy, looking at the creation of stars far away," Michiru offered with a smile to explain her curiosity.
"I try to see it, but I loose control before I can get close enough," the young girl sighed.
"What are you searching for?" Haruka asked curiously.
"Sagittarius star," Hotaru added with a yawn as if the thought of creating one of her experiments was taxing on the energy she had left.
"So you are looking to see the birthplace of all stars," Haruka smirked as Hotaru blinked, unsure of the answer being provided. "The Sagittarius star is also know as the galactic cauldron. It's the brightest star in the sky and is also known to be the home of all the star seeds."
"Have you visited there?" Hotaru questioned as the blonde shook her head.
"As a holder of a Star Seed, it would call to you, but you only get to see it when it is time to be reincarnated."
"So you believe in reincarnation?" Michiru smirked as if she had discovered a secret.
"Of course," Haruka agreed, one brow going up in a questioning manner. The blonde knew that any Senshi should be aware of the iterations of themselves that had come before them and the ones to come to fulfill their pledge. "Do you not?"
"I sometimes wonder," Michiru shrugged. "Millenniums ago, I had a partner. There are times I fear they weren't reincarnated," the regretful sapphire orbs rising to meet Haruka's concerned teal eyes.
"Why would you believe they weren't reincarnated?" Haruka asked as they curiously took over her. Michiru paused, stroking the short black hair of the young girl who seemed to have dozed off, leaning on Haruka's shoulder. "If you don't want to talk about it," Haruka asked as she sussed what the long silence from the teal haired woman implied.
"They're not here," Michiru whispered almost reluctantly. "They aren't fighting with us, not raising Hotaru with me," the emotion pouring from her as Haruka moved to comfort her as much without disturbing the younger girl. "It is easier to believe they weren't reincarnated rather than choosing not to fight with us."
"Maybe fate got in the way," the blonde idol offered.
"Setsuna tried that one as well," Michiru snorted. "That something could have happened to them when they were young or some other bullshit." Haruka jerked back with the slight outburst, the frustration of so many years of buildup finally releasing from the violinist. "Why would fate choose not to have them here, with everything we are facing now?" She continued to question.
"I don't know the answer," biting her lip as she was unsure what to say to comfort Michiru. "But you seem to have done well on your own. Hotaru is a wonderful little girl," she smiled as she ran her hand through the raven hair.
"Oh, you should have seen her at the beginning. It was horrible," Michiru chuckled at the thought, her frustrations fading.
"She was a difficult baby?"
"Oh no, she tried to destroy the planet," Michiru smiled as the blonde could only blink. "I apologize for that. I didn't mean to say all of that to you."
"It seems you needed to get it out," Haruka shrugged, her motion causing the younger girl to stir slightly.
"I should take her home," Michiru excused herself as she caught herself staring at the idol a little too long for her liking. But the blonde was right. It felt good to get it out to someone who didn't tell her she needed to be patient. So Haruka helped scoop up Hotaru while Michiru readied them to return home.
"I disagree, though," Haruka's words caused the violinist to pause her movements, turning to look at the idol curiously. "I don't think your partner is avoiding you. They will show up when they're meant to." Michiru rolled her eyes at the same old speech. "You can't dismiss fate so easily," Haruka called out, taking Michiru's shoulder to stop her apparent displeasure with the suggestion of fate once again. "They could be running as fast as they can to get to you, and you're here becoming more and more angered at them. What good will that serve you?" She raised an eyebrow challengingly, releasing Michiru's arm at the exact moment. The teal haired woman blinked, unsure at the moment. Haruka's words stuck to her in a way she hadn't expected, combined with the strange loss of warmth she felt as the blonde released her to underscore her point.
As the car arrived in front of the building, Haruka carried Hotaru to the vehicle to carefully place her in the seat. Michiru watched with the care the tall idol had for the young girls before she moved to allow Michiru to take a seat next to her. She looked up at the blonde, unsure what to say as so many words were swimming in her mind. Then, a silent gasp escaped her as Haruka suddenly reached into the car, moving the seatbelt around Michiru's lap and securing it.
"Get home safely," she smiled as she met the storming blue eyes before rising from the car. Closing the door, she gifted the hood a smack to let the driver know they were ready. As the car disappeared down to the road, Michiru watched the figure disappear from the mirror as her mind was still a storm. A soft tug from her sleeve caused her to look down at the sleepy purple eyes.
"Are you alright, Michiru-mama?" The voice laced with sleep asked.
"Yes, we'll be home soon," Michiru smiled as she ran her fingers through the raven locks.
"Soon, it will be a home," Hotaru mumbled, Michiru tilting her head with a curious frown as she pondered the young girl's jumbled words.
~*~*~
Usagi glanced at the empty desk behind her, a heavy sigh escaping as she wondered if the idols were returning to school. It had been a long couple of days without any word from them. She trailed her eyes back to her desk. A postcard sticking out from her notebook reminded her of her problems. The Starlights had found their princess, and now that they had what they came here for, were they planning to leave? Usagi scrunched her nose at the thought, shaking it away that they would not leave without a goodbye.
Not only have the idols been quiet, but the enemy has also been quiet. In the last attack, she seemed to heal the Sailor Animate, her warning words about the evil the Galaxia would bring. The same warning that Princess Kakyuu carried. She knew not to let her guard down too far, a lesson she had learned the hard way many times. Michiru even warned her that she sensed something was still coming. She still needed to learn to face this threat by herself since Mamoru—
The thought left her as she placed the card back inside the notebook, closing the cover and pushing the painful memory away for the moment. Right now, she wanted to see her friends, who made her feel not as lonely all the time. Forming the plan to visit their apartment, she raised from her desk.
"Are you ready to go?" A shadow loomed over her as a strong form attached to her side. She sighed as she nodded, giving in to the Guardian of Protection's desires. In her loneliness, she had seemingly forgotten that in the wake of the attack so close to her house, the inners had taken it upon themselves to accompany her wherever she went. They meant well. She knew they did.
"What is the plan tonight? Want to relax and read some manga?" Makoto inquired, sensing Usagi's unusually sour demeanor. "I can make us a cake to enjoy," she tried to sweeten the deal.
"I was thinking of visiting the Four Lights," Usagi found her voice for a moment before losing it as she felt Minako join the other side of her.
"They've probably been planning to return to their planet and rebuild. So that's what they wanted?" Minako chimed in, her detailed information on the idol's movements informing that they had canceled all scheduled appearances.
"They wouldn't leave without saying goodbye, would they?" Makoto pondered aloud. "Would they leave when the enemy is still after you?" She added, slightly more annoyed.
"We can protect this planet on our own," Minako snorted. "Their unwillingness to work with us from the beginning has made this more difficult."
"Usagi, what's wrong?" The two girls stopped, turning to look at the sad blonde who had paused her steps.
"Why does it need to be like this? Why can't we work together?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
"It'll be alright. You'll see," Makoto tried to encourage the shorter girl. "Let's stop by their house, and we can find out what is going on," she nudged Usagi, the soft blue eyes looking up to hers in what could be guessed as a thankful manner.
They rang the bell once and waited patiently outside the door. When it finally clicked open, they were met with lime green eyes that moved over them without a word. Yaten huffed before walking away from the door, still mute about the girls' arrival. The three shared a look as they stood in the doorway, unsure what to do. As they continued their exploration, a pair of teal eyes peeked out of the opening.
"Oh, Kittens," Haruka greeted the girls, clearly surprised to find them waiting at the door. She ushered them inside, the main living area lively with activity. "We're preparing for a farewell concert," Haruka explained as she felt the three sets of questioning eyes on her. She moved her hand through her lengthy hair, pausing at the back of her neck, indicating to the younger girls that she was unsure of the decision.
"We have found our princess, and there is no reason for the Four Lights to be together anymore as a band," Taiki pragmatically offered as she looked up from a desk looking through some contracts spread on the surface.
"Oh, "Usagi managed to speak before her words stopped as Seiya walked out, with Kakyuu following closely behind. The raven haired singer halted her steps as she caught sight of the odango blonde. Midnight blues glared towards the tall blonde.
"The girls stopped by," Haruka shrugged, although she wore a sly grin. "We'll give you a moment," she winked as she linked arms with Minako before escorting her from the room, with Makoto looking unsure but following behind.
"Taiki, Yaten, can you help me work this coffee machine?" Kakyuu softly asked as the other lights shared a look but obediently followed.
"Seiya, you were going to leave without saying anything?" Usagi asked as she fought back the tears, refusing to look at the singer.
"Odango, no, it's not—"her words trailed off. "It wasn't easy to end the band, but we thought we owed it to the fans to close the book with them. They made it possible to find the princess," Seiya sighed. She stepped closer to the blonde, who was still refusing to look at her. "And I owe all of my thanks to you," she breathed as she rested her chin on Usagi's shoulder, urging the shorter girl to look at her. "I couldn't have found the princess without you either."
"But you're still leaving," Usagi huffed, shrugging her shoulder in an attempt to rid the idol's perch.
"Not necessarily. The Four Lights may be coming to an end, and Seiya may have limited time. But I'm not sure what I am going to do." Usagi turned and finally met the singer, a clear look of shock on her face. "I don't think any of us know what we are going to do," she shrugged as she ran her hand through her hair. "There is a suggestion we should return to Kinmoku and rebuild,"
"Yaten," Usagi released a low grumble, guessing whose idea that plan came from.
"Some of us feel our job is not done here," she continued, ignoring Usagi's comment. Blue eyes looked up at the singer, clearly surprised at the suggestion. "I know you're still going through a lot, and if you have me, I'd like to help." Usagi allowed a tear to roll down her cheek, the recognition of all the pain she had been holding alone coming to the surface. Seiya's face twisted as she saw the drop of moisture escape, her lips ending the trail on her cheek, leaving a warm sensation in its wake.
"We'll have the concert and close the chapter. Then figure out what is next." Seiya explained, and Usagi could only nod as she leaned back into Seiya's arms, relaxing in the comforting hold.
~*~*~
"Michiru, what are you still doing up?" Setsuna softly asked as she peered into the artist's studio. The teal haired artist looked at the painting before her, a ghost of an outline on the unfinished canvas.
"The Four Lights have announced their farewell concert," she softly offered. Setsuna entered the room, taking a stool nearby to lean her leg on. Even though Michiru's voice betrayed her, she knew that was not what was nothing the artist.
"I'm sure we can get tickets," the green haired woman jested to get her friend to admit what was wrong. "Are you concerned you won't be able to finish your piece before they leave?" She added as she glanced at the canvas.
"It's the opposite, actually," Michiru shrugged, relenting to the older woman's endless questions. "My visions of Uranus have increased." A single green eyebrow rose at the mention of a name she hadn't heard in some time. "I have been able to discern some details," she gestured to the unfinished canvas. She had not told Setsuna of the details her visions had been adding since the Starlights appeared on this planet.
"It appears that you may have had some inspiration," Setsuna observed. "Or just more of a fan girl than we suspected," the teasing tone in her voice not matching the frown she wore. The Guardian of Time knew that certain subtleties should not be ignored. The Starlights' appearance and even their finding of their princess are classic indicators that something more is coming.
"It's nothing," the artist shrugged as she tried to dismiss the concern. "It has morphed because I am distracted. My gaze is falling into a void in my head where I only see her."
Setsuna studied the artist for a moment as she attempted to discern which woman she was talking about, eventually relenting that even the artist didn't know anymore.
"You still believe that she knows something about Uranus' disappearance ?" Setsuna inquired as the artist could only nod.
"More than we originally suspected," Michiru released with a sigh.