A/N: Did I say Moon Mask interaction? Ehehe… I meant Scouts history in this update, moon mask fluff in the next chapter. I promise to make it worth the wait. I just never understood what Pluto's role was in the scheme of things, you know? No matter how many times writers try to make her fit into the storyline, her (awesome) power just never adds up. So, here is one of my versions why she became Guardian of Time. ;0)
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One Day of Serenity
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Artemus, the First Guardian gazed at his companion and drew a ragged breath. "Things must be prepared for her return. I shall travel to Terra, where the next battle has been ordained, and make sure that a hiding place for us will be there as we wait for her come back." Grimly he looked about the moon's surface and felt tears about to fall from his eyes.
"And I?" asked Alune, "What should I do?"
Once again the First Guardian looked across the desolate plains. "Scavenge what is left of the Guardians' weapons. The Princess may be able to wield one of them. I know for a fact that the talisman of Neptune would be useful to Serenity in time."
The female gasped. "How dare you!" she hissed. "They should be buried with their weapons as honor of the-"
"Damn, honor," he interrupted, tone harsh and with no room left for argument. "I know for a fact that the Lady of Venus would rather that the Princess find use of her whip than let it rot with her body, where it stays useless until the end of time." Artemus turned away from Alune and started walking towards the Prayer Room. "I know you grieve, Alune," he called out to her in a flat tone of voice. He dared not add emotion for he feared it would become laced with tears. "But now is not the time. She needs us."
He did not hear the whispered answer.
"…exactly."
He did not see when Alune summoned what little remained of her power and transported herself to the Underworld.
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The moment the rune circles appeared, it was as if a switch was turned on inside Luna's head and the memories of the past came to her in waves. Her red eyes looked upon the surface of the moon high up in the sky before fixing itself on the girl whom she called Usagi. She felt like such a fool.
How could she not have seen?
But more importantly, how could she have forgotten?
Then the girl – Usagi, thought Luna, that girl is Usagi! - spoke. "Artemus, explain to me why my Guardians… and the Earth Prince are present. This battle, after all, is not theirs to fight."
Luna wanted to cry, to rage as she heard the somber tone of the young woman's voice. Where was the laughter? Where was the vibrant impression of life that she always projected? Before her was the Princess she'd been searching for, and only now did she realized the cost of finding her at last.
The white cat, now frozen in place, his bottom still covering the wand, his tail protectively curled around it, opened his mouth as if to speak but could not utter a single word. And that was alright, thought Luna, for he would not have the right answers anyway.
It wasn't him who saw the sacrifice that the others gave for Serenity.
With timid steps, she came nearer and almost felt like quaking under the empty gaze of the Lunarian Princess. She started hesitating but saw along the perimeter of her vision Sailor Jupiter looking at the remains of the General Nephrite with curios, and somewhat lost look in her own green eyes.
All of them deserved to hear the truth.
"Perhaps I can shed some answer to your question."
The person who spoke next was unexpected.
"Great," exclaimed the new Guardian. Aino Minako was as inquisitive as everyone to find out more, but she wasn't stupid. Picking up her cat and forcibly taking the wand away from him before tossing it towards Sailor Moon, she addressed everyone with a happy smile. Except her eyes were as hard as steel. "But let us do it not here, hmn? I'd rather other people don't stumble upon us and start asking questions." People with cameras and video tapes.
Tuxedo Mask nodded and taking his own deep breath spoke in a brusque and business like tone of voice. "I know of the perfect place." He stared at the woman who'd haunted his dreams for as long as he could remember. "We'll be safe in my apartment."
Jupiter stirred from her confused state and whipped her gaze from what was left of the auburn haired general to give Mask a suspicious look. "Hold it, buster. What makes you think we're coming with you? For all we know, it could be another tra-"
"It is fine, Makoto," Luna interrupted the senshi's ranting. All of the scouts saved for Venus gasped at Luna's slip of tongue. Mars looked ballistic. Their own mentor had just revealed who they were!
But Luna would not be chastised. She gave Tuxedo Mask a tentative smile. "By your lead, we follow," she said softly. Then she looked over her shoulder and straight at Artemis's eyes.
The two Guardians looked at each other and between them was not the distance of space but the distance of memories, some shared, some not. The white feline instantly understood that while he retained more memories about the training and the past life of the senshi, Luna obviously possessed a memory that was more important. But he did not hide his anger and hate at the two young men with them. "Fine," he spat the words. "We follow."
Everyone, including the fast weakening Moon Warrior nodded their assent now that the two Guardians were willing to the idea. Mars and Mercury quickly went besides their leader, silently indicating they and not Mask would be helping her on the journey.
It was Minako who spoke next. "Okay! So we're all set?" She bopped her head, up down, up down. "I'll handle the big bad hunk then." And just like that summoned her whip and used it to hold Kunzite immobile, before quickly tugging at her weapon, sending the silver haired general flinging towards her. She caught him easily, and hugged him close, the whip still secure around him.
The rune circle followed the man.
And Artemis' shrieks of outrage at his charge's action continued all the way to Mamoru's house as he took note of the looks of admiration Minako kept giving the prisoner that was in her embrace.
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The great golden gate opened in an unhurried manner. Beyond the gate fields of flowers slowly broke from the ground. The mist rolled in, weaving in and out of the plants, some of them becoming pillars of fog and solidifying into marble columns bedecked with jewelled vines.
But none of the Guardians noticed the welcoming sight, and neither did the prince that was amid them. Their attention was instead on the young woman swept away to the bottom of one of the seven rivers. They came too late. They arrived in the Underworld just as the river took Serenity and watched in disbelief as she drowned.
Prince Endymion would have gone after her, except the oldest of the Guardians held him back with her glaive.
"Don't, Your Highness," murmured the Donner of Pluto. "You cannot help her that way."
Frustration had him growling. "How then? Do we stand here helpless as she slowly dies for the second time? How could you allow this happen?"
"They have no choice, Prince."
As one, Endymion and the eight Warriors turned towards the speaker.
The Goddess of the Underworld stood calm, and without fear. "They cannot protect her now…You cannot protect her now." A slender hand rose from her side and she indicated the now open entrance. "Elysium awaits you all. For the brave warriors and the noble prince, Elysium gives a hero's welcome."
The Knight of the Wind fisted her two hands to her side and dared not speak lest she insult the goddess. A gentle touch to her shoulder had her turning her head. The teal haired maiden, a fellow Guardian, tried to smile but the tears in her eyes also showed her disbelief.
It was once again Endymion who spoke. "Think you I shall enter the golden fields without her?"
Persephone gave him a pitying look. "Her destiny is no longer entwined with yours. She begins anew, free from the red strings that bonded her to your soul and your heart."
Wrong to words to say.
The very idea the Serenity would be parted from him in such a manner was something Endymion refused to acknowledge. Death, yes. Death he welcomed, for he believed that he and his beloved would be reunited in the sacred lands once again. But the struggling form of the Lunar Princess underneath the treacherous waves mocked this thought.
The usually calm face of the young man turned fierce and he glared at the immortal. "You do not know our love," he softly said. So saying he walked away from them, nearer to the riverbank and called upon the power of the Golden Heartstone, Terra's own talisman of power. As the golden light shimmered around him, he repeated the words. "You do not know of our love."
And he refused to make serenity forget about it.
Behind him, the eight stirred from their horrified state. It was golden one, bearing the runes of Venus that addressed the Goddess next. "He is right, Lady. You do not know about the love of Serenity and Endymion." She shifted her gaze so that she was looking at the land beyond the entry once again. The Guardian knew she deserved Elysium. Had she not fought well and died with honor?
The home and heart of the heroes of the ancient world beckoned to her. A smile graced her lips. "And," she whispered so softly, only she heard what she said, "you do not know about my loyalty."
Without warning, she ran away from the other Guardians, past the Goddess and pass Endymion who now summoned the full power of the Gold Crystal. She did not fear, did not second thought her actions. All her life she was raised with the need to serve, to protect the young woman who held the crown of the kingdom high up the sky.
And so she would continue to live that way.
To serve the Princess was her only purpose.
The Scout of Love and Beauty dove gracefully into the waters of Lethe, and as forget took hold of her, she continued to swim nearer her charge. 'Do not worry, Your Majesty,' she thought as the very last of her memories were stripped away. 'My sword will always be yours to command.'
On the river bank, the rest of the scouts stood once again in shock. Fiery Mars gave the girl to her right a scowl. "Must she always be so fucking dramatic?"
Timid Mercury shook her head and started to walk towards the water as well. Her raven haired friend refused to be unanswered. "No really," the Fire Scout insisted. "Why so theatrical? I mean, what good were her actions when none of us would remember it? The river would strip our memory clean!"
An eye roll was all she got, before the two girls dove in as well, the other one still scowling for not being answered her question.
One by one they all went into the waters, the wielder of the thunder and the lightning still laughing like crazy at the interaction of her friends as she hit the water, until only the Terran Prince, the Lady of the Underworld and the last of the two Guardians remained.
The Donner of Pluto walked towards the young Prince. "What are you doing, Endymion?"
The Prince spared her a glance. "I am making sure she would not have any memory of what happened so that the guilt would not destroy her."
"You are erasing the memories?"
"No," he spoke tersely, eyes still intent on the form of the young woman just slightly visible in the water. "Just containing it and making her will the memory to be transferred to me when we meet again."
The black haired Senshi pondered the idea and even looked back at the Goddess with them. Persephone gave her a bland look in return and the youngest scout merely shrugged.
"But then," she told him sadly, "You'd bear all the guilt…"
"Better me than her."
The Guardian shook her head. "No, forgive me but no." She thought hard and hesitantly asked, "Perhaps there is another way?"
The Prince of Terra almost swore, but instead just gave her a brusque answer. "It does not matter. I have contained her memories as it is and shut her soul against them. She will never be haunted by the guilt… Not as long as the Golden Crystal is in my power." And so great his concentration in keeping all of Serenity's memory kept from her that he did not notice when a booted foot was placed on the small of his back and he was shoved into the waters.
Saturn gasped. "He will not like that," she said in her quiet voice.
The older girl gave her a smile, light and chiding. "Ah… but then he won't remember it, so what would it matter? Besides," she said thoughtfully, "he'd drain himself silly, and all for what? To bear the guilt of all that destruction? Methinks he was only half successful since I interrupted the channelling and I think that would suffice." She looked at her Lady for confirmation but Persephone only shook her head again.
"The powers of the Golden Heartstone are not my domain," she replied. "I do not know what the extent of the spell was."
Pluto nodded, though she wished she knew more, and gave her last companion a smile. "Ready to take a swim, little one?"
Amethyst eyes looked at her with sadness that did not belong to a child as young as she. "You know I cannot," she whispered, looking back at the endless stairs that led up to the world of the living. "I need to stay… and talk to the God Chr-"
She was never able to finish her sentence for her fellow scout took the opportunity to stun her while her attention was directed to the flight of steps. Taking hold of the glaive that Saturn wielded, Pluto switched it with her own, so that it was she who now held the position of the time key.
Picking up the now unconscious form, she gave the youngest of her fellow scouts a kiss on the cheeks. "I'm sorry," she spoke softly, her face grim. "I'd rather you wield my own power than let you take what you feel is your journey to take." She lowered Saturn's body to the waters. "You are too young to curse yourself to eternity."
"So you would rather curse yourself?" cried someone from somewhere behind her.
Pluto turned, gripping the time Glaive close to her. The Dark Lady stood, watching it all with her all knowing eyes, and standing besides her was another familiar face.
"Alune!"
The Spirit Guardian gazed at Lethe. "You all turned down Elysium…" she spoke in disbelief. It was unthinkable. No one had ever turned down the honor of staying in the Golden Fields.
Pluto nodded. "The Prince, too. Even now, their souls are being allotted a new life line, being weaved back into the Loom of Life."
The Queen's Own gazed at the last remaining Guardian. "What are your plans? Why did you take the glaive of Saturn?"
The Goddess interrupted before any answer was given. "You do know that Chronos would never grant you the power of time, daughter. The God would never allow anyone to wield such control, even you who is so favoured by my husband."
"Then I shall steal it! Without the ability to tamper time, all the sacrifice of my sisters may be for nothing," she turned pleading eyes to Alune. "Don't you see? I need the power to make sure they be reborn in the same timeline, for what good is following Serenity if they were reborn too early or too late?"
Alune was horrified. "Oh, but at what price? A curse from the gods… Surely there must be another way?"
"The Head of the Inner Scouts should have thought things through before jumping into the water, but I do not blame her," was the shaky answer. "She acted out of the blue before Saturn and I could stop her and tell her the would be sets of problems of such brash behaviour. I am surprised the rest of the Outer Scouts, and quick thinking Mercury failed to realize it as well. She followed the counsel of her heart and did it all for the love of Serenity. I will take the curse willingly, for I too do this because of love and duty."
Her slender form slowly walked towards the endless flight of stairs. And from there, to travel to Olympus, where Chronos waited for her daring. "Search for them all, Alune. They would have no memory of this choice… "
"…do not make them believe they were loaded with the responsibility to protect the Princess."
These were the last words of the Guardian of the Last Stronghold of Power, before she became the Keeper of the Time Gate, after Chronos damned her for daring to use the time key for her own need.
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"…And that was what happened," finished Luna, giving each girl a serious look. "I'm sorry I forgot about it, but the slumber took much from me, and the passage of time itself erased so many details." She turned towards the weakening Moon warrior. "You all followed her."
All eyes swung towards the golden haired girl and Sailor Moon flushed as she felt their gaze. Guilt once again took hold of her. "I'm sorry, " she whispered. Must she always be the cause?
Ami was quick to answer her. "Don't be silly, Usa—I mean, Princess." She quickly corrected herself. "Didn't you hear Luna? We all went willingly! There's no need to be sorry."
Jupiter punched her right fist into her left hand and cheerfully said, "That's right! Our choice. No one told us to be reborn again. We did that on our own."
The Senshi of the Moon gave Makoto a limpid look and burst into tears. Mamoru, still wearing his white shirt and dress pants, but not his mask, quickly moved so that even before any of the scouts can get to her, he was already right besides her, holding her close to him.
General Kunzite listened to everything that had been said, and looking at the two in embrace sneered. "That's your story? Are you trying to tell me that weak, pathetic girl is the all powerful Moon Princess? Queen Beryl would barely need to lift a finger to destroy such a weakli- uhm! Uhngmngnnnn-ngggh!"
"There, there," cooed Minako, as she continued to stuff her hair ribbon inside the Dark Kingdom lord's mouth. "You really talk too much, you know? And here I had you pegged for the strong, silent type!" Patting his now bulging cheeks for the last time, she turned back towards her fellow scouts. "Right," she made a funny face and gave a strangled laugh. "I guess this means I really am leader."
Artemis, still lying limply on her shoulder and who, as Luna's story progressed, got weaker and weaker with disbelief, occasionally asking, 'How come no one told me! No one tells me anything anymore,' glared at her. "That's what I've been telling you all along!"
"But how come you went searching for me and not the princess?"
The white cat faltered. "I don't know," he wailed. "I think at first I was searching for the Princess… but like Luna, my memories aren't the sharpest, and well… I guess I somehow convinced myself I was searching for the decoy…"
More questions would have been asked, except they caught sight of Rei making hand gestures at them. The Scouts and the two felines turned towards where she kept signalling and saw their precious princess with her head buried on Mamoru's chest, her frail form still wracked by sobs. The young man's own face was closed, no expression on his features as he gazed at the moon high above.
The black haired girl cleared her throat and waited to be acknowledged. "Chiba-san?" She watched as he turned his head towards her. "Not that we mind staying at your place, but it was agreed we need to consult the Great Fire for some- uh- uhm…things?" she squeaked the last words, having come up nothing to end her sentence. Looking at the two of them still hurt a little, but now that she was able to have bits of their history, she understood even better that it just couldn't be between her and the handsome upperclassman. Rei jabbed Makoto for help.
"Oh, yeah right! Ehehehe-he-he…" The tallest of the girls quickly scooped the now red faced Kunzite and almost toppled backwards. "Man you're heavy!" she exclaimed, before dragging him to the front door.
Ami looked horrified at the action, especially when Makoto didn't bother to be careful as she rounded corners and kept hitting the man's head on angled surfaces. At this rate, he'd die of head trauma if no one tried to help. Giving the people in the room a small but heartfelt smile, she quickly followed her fellow senshi. Mars followed giving the two a small wave.
Artemis, though, refused to budge. "I'm not going to leave the Princess with 'him'," he said in a snippy tone of voice. "I do not care what Luna said she remembered; I still don't trust h-uhm! Uhngmngnnnn-ngggh!"
"There, there," cooed Minako for the second time, having taken off the ribbon for her choker and stuffing that into the white Spirit Guardian's mouth. "Honestly, Artemis! Haven't you heard of the saying, if you don't have anything nice to say, best not say nothing at all and just give a gift?"
Artemis's glare would have been life-threatening if it was daggers.
Luna, on the other hand, looked very confused. "I don't think the last part was part of that saying," she said in a small voice, but the blonde waved the correction away and faced again Mamoru and Usagi with a positive smile.
"So," she began chirpily, "In light of what Luna just revealed to us tonight, I think we can trust you with the Princess, right?"
Mamoru nodded, his hold on the young woman tightening.
"Well, then, we'll leave the two of you alone-YOUCH!" she looked down to where Artemis has buried his claw on her left limb, just above the knee. "Why you stup-"
"What she's trying to say," saved Luna, as Minako tried to stuff inside Artemis's mouth any item she can get her hands to, "Is that we understand you two might need some moment alone. But Endym- err, Chiba-san, we do need to talk to her as soon as possible ourselves." She followed with her eyes the now manic Senshi of Love and Beauty as she tried to get hold of her cat. "There is much to be discussed between her royal court and herself…" She looked at Usagi's still bowed head. "Is she alright?"
Mamoru smile was tired. "She fell asleep mid way her crying."
The black cat looked outraged, but Chiba quickly assured her. "I think she's weakened for some reason, is all."
Luna sighed. "It's the crystal… Your crystal that is doing it, Chiba-san." She gave him a sad smile. "I know you don't have it right now, but it is your crystal that is doing it. That is why leaving her to your care now would be best. Nothing the scouts and I could do would be able to counter whatever spell you weaved on her long ago…"
"And yet you trust to leave her in my care?"
Luna gave him a tired smile of her own. "I was there, in the Lunar Kingdom, and later. I saw how you protected her, what you gave up because of her." She started walking away, following the rest of the scouts where they waited by the front door. Looking back her shoulder one last time, she gave her parting words. "Trust me, Prince, when I say nothing you do would convince me you would ever hurt her. If she is weak now, she is weak for a reason. And I know you will do every thing within your power to make sure she regains her strength."
The feline looked for confirmation and Mamoru nodded, his eyes determined.
When they finally left, the young man laid the Moon Warrior to a more comfortable position and tried to come to terms to all that was revealed.
Usagi and Sailor Moon were one and the same. But even more fantastic, was that she was also the Moon Princess.
Also, he was an ancient prince, with a powerful talisman at his disposal. A talisman that was as lost to him as the Silver Crystal was to Usagi.
He wished he still had that beer he'd been drinking earlier. Maybe things would make more sense if he was just a tiny bit drunk.
Besides him, his digital clock read a quarter to eleven.
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'Did you know about that?'
'…no.'
'Me either.'
'…'
'Hey! Was that an eye roll?'
'…'
'So…now what? I mean, I remember everything. Does this mean you disappear now?'
'In theory? Yes. After all, you do not really need a living memory anymore.'
'Err, why are you still here then?'
'Look around you. Do you notice anything different?'
'…Oooh, pretty! Where did the gold fog came from?'
'…'
'Oh.'
'Precisely. Oh.'
'What do we do then?'
'I do not know…'
'Serenity, just one more question, okay?'
'What is it?'
'How come- how come I don't feel anything? Despite the fact I know the past, and all. Shouldn't I feel guilt- Oh! Oh, wow! Why is the fog surrounding us?'
'Oh, Endymion… you stupid, stupid, wonderful man.'