Seiya

Seiya was dressed in his normal red suit. He was walking down the street hand in hand with Serena. It was going to be hard going to the shrine. Especially now that Rei had betrayed everyone. Setsuna had called an emergency scout meeting and since she also invited the exiled Serena it meant something was very bad.

Seiya squeezed Serena's hand hard. Her breathing was short, and uneven. He didn't know what was to come. But for Serena's sake he would keep his cool. No matter what happened he would forever be happy that Serena chose him. She was fashioned in his favorite outfit a plain white dress. There had no design or extra coloring but the contrast between the dress and Serena's porcelain white skin and sunshine yellow hair made her look angelic.

The couple walked into the meeting room of the temple and noticed they were the last to arrive. It wouldn't normally be so awkward because Serena was always late but it was like a war zone. The scouts that had remembered their oaths stood toward the door welcoming their princess. However the ones that have yet to remember, the outer scouts, were huddled together deeper in the room.

Everyone was looking at them. It was clear the news was not good. The piercing hatred in Setsuna's eyes shot Serena causing her to recoil. Seiya moved behind her to hold her in place. He knew she would try to escape and he knew she would regret it later. And yet it seemed like she knew what was going on.

Her voice was fragile as she said, "What is wrong, Setsuna?"

Setsuna stared at Serena hard. "I went to the future to see Rini…. When I got there Rini was gone."

Serena's blue eyes widened and looked directly at Setsuna. "What do you mean gone?"

It was then that the inner scouts looked down toward their feet. They were trying to hide their tears but Seiya could see each salty drops of water fall the carpet. Hotaru was crying into Haruka's shoulder as the outer senshi continue to glare at Serena.

"She's dead." It was then that Setsuna did something completely out of the ordinary… She lost control. "She's dead, you bitch! You caused this, this was your fault!" Setsuna made a move toward Serena. Seiya grabbed the time soldier by the wrist, "I don't think that would be a wise move." Setsuna for a moment stared at Seiya. And in a split second Setsuna's eyes showed a deep sadness, pain deeper than an abyss. But then it was gone. "Oh? So now you have your little minion here fighting for you? You're pathetic."

Serena backed away. Her eyes were filled with tears. "I didn't mean for that to happen. I…I'm sorry."

"No you're not." A male voice boomed behind them. It was Darien. Seiya could feel bile rising in his throat. This guy was here too? "You knew what you were doing when you rejected me. You knew that Rini would die. You wanted her to die."

Serena stopped crying and stared at Darien with hatred no one in the room thought she would harbor. It was shocking. This is the woman who still trusted Rei. And yet she could stare at someone with such malice. "You asshole. Whose fault is it? You chose to be happy and leave me. You put this in motion. I always trusted and supported you. I always protected the future. But you put all that work to vain with just one night with Rei."

Darien recovered from his shock and said nonchalantly, "At least I tried to mend things. I offered to have sex with you to protect Rini. You declined knowing what would happen. Whose fault is it now? Whose the asshole now?" The Earth prince smiled.

Seiya looked at Serena and started to panic. She wasn't crying but it was worse. Her eyes were dead and hallow. She looked exactly like she did on the balcony. Like there was nothing for her here. He saw her eyes move steadily to the knife on the table.

"Serena. Look at me." The woman wouldn't turn to him. Why? Why was Serena never able to be happy? He gently placed his hands on both cheeks and turned the blonde's face to him. "Serena's look at me." Her eyes lifted to his. "Everything is going to be okay. All right? " Serena gave a tiny nod reassuring Seiya. And then with a burst of energy Serena dashed through the temple door.

Serena

She didn't know where she was going but she had to get away from here. Rini was dead. And it was her fault. Darien contributed in her death but she had delivered the final blow. She killed her daughter. How could someone do something so… so… evil?

Before she knew she was on the ground in the park alone. She sat there for a long time crying. She remembered the time when she cried when the dark moon princess took Darien. She had to snap back and remind herself of her mission. Before she only wanted to save Darien. But now she had to save Rini. The only way she could do that would be to bend time and space. So Setsuna would be the next to remember. Serena transformed.

The once white light that would engulf was silver this time. And it left her in the pure white Sailor Cosmos uniform. She summoned the moon crystal from it's protective orb. The colored shards corresponding each senshi sparkled gently. Cosmos's fingertips breezed past the purple orb and then she clenched her fist. This was to block Pluto's power. Then Cosmos took the shard off the crystal and replaced the crystal in the orb.

The shard was soon tossed in the air and it fell perfectly on the top of Cosmos's staff. A purple light engulfed Cosmos as she began to explore the different planes of time and space.

Setsuna

The meeting dispatched soon after Serena's departure. The inner senshi and Seiya ran out in search of Serena. Darien remained in the doorway smiling at the mayhem around him. And the outer senshi quietly exited grieving the loss of what was to be the princess of Crystal Tokyo.

Setsuna could feel herself loosing control over her emotions. She had always prided herself in acting without considering her own emotions just based on the rules. However what happened between Darien and Serena had not only broken rules but had gone against her own opinions.

Little Lady was gone and would never be again. This particular time was hard for Setsuna. Even in the hardest of times she could see a future where everything had resolved itself. But this time she couldn't. It wasn't that it wasn't there. It was hidden. As if it was hiding behind a door and she didn't have the key.

And how could Serena not try her best to protect her daughter. She was the same person who ordered Setsuna to protect Rini at all costs. So how could she just leave her daughter alone to die such a horrible death? A high trill rang through the air. Remember!

Everything went black it was hard to figure if she was being moved or if someone was around her.

She woke up on Pluto. Everything was changing, contorting. Everything never stayed the same. It was the work of multiple planes of time and space colliding into each other in the one place where they could be controlled and organized. Pluto was the one planet with the most citizens because of the multiple planes. But images of the same place with so many different forms was confusing Setsuna. Not matter what happened she always had left a part of her powers on Pluto to control the different planes of time and space. Why was everything so messy?

The space warrior lifted her hands to shift the different planes into order. The one in front of her moved to ever so slightly before it shivered and collapsed. She had no powers… It fell on to a plane below it. They merged together and continued to move in their own distorted path.

A pang of light hit Setsuna these planes were two different futures for a little girl in America. In one she was to get married and have children dying in her sleep at the delicate age of 105. In the other a truck hits her at 15 while going to meet her boyfriend for a date. But when the planes merged together, she got married and had children. However, she still died saving her daughter from getting hit by a truck. She was only 48.

Setsuna sat up. What the hell did she just do? She got rid of all possibility for someone. She made her future definite and killed her before her time. Or did she just lengthen the girl's life? She did live past 15. All Setsuna knew was that she needed to get to the palace. That was the only place she could focus her powers to fix everything. But how could she get there? The planes were everywhere surrounding her. They dashed in their own lines not minding Setsuna who stood there in dismay.

She then tried to dash to the palace hidden in the far background. She didn't make it very far before a plane smacked into her side. She crashed to the ground. She fell into the plane. She was back in Japan. But it was in the future. Everything was crystalized and clear. It must be crystal Tokyo maybe she could just talk to Serena or something. And Setsuna could go back to Pluto and organize everything. She stood up and greeted a woman walking toward a farmer's market.

"Excuse me? Would you please tell me where I could find Neo Queen Serenity."

"Ha ha! Neo Queen Serenity? You mean the weak woman who tried to rule Earth alone? She is in prison. King Endymion and Neo Queen Rei have just return to the palace?

Setsuna choked on her saliva, "Did you just say Neo Queen Rei? Why is Serenity in prison?"

"Have you been sleeping under a tree or something? King Endymion uncovered how she betrayed her family and friends. She let her own daughter die in the future. And then one of her warriors Sailor Pluto disappeared. It was clear Serenity was a murderer at that point. "

"What do you mean she disappeared?" Setsuna was incredulous.

"There was meeting where Setsuna told Serenity that her daughter died because she didn't help save Rini. Serenity ran out from the meeting and Setsuna followed. But only Serenity returned."

Serena

She was in Crystal Tokyo. Everything was clear and sparkling like she remembered it right after she left it. But there was an ominous feeling as well, like the entire planet to mourning the death of Rini. Cosmos decided to remain in her sailor senshi in case of danger. She knew what she came here to do and she would not leave until she for what she wanted.

It wasn't hard sneaking into the palace especially since she used Venus's powers of disguise. Rini's body would probably be in the only underground level of the palace. But the only way down there was through the bedroom of Crystal Tokyo's Queen and King.

Cosmos leaned against the door and wasn't shocked to hear Neo – Queen Serenity crying. But what caught he off guard was hearing King Endymion consoling the heart broken woman. Cosmos unhen shined and gritted her teeth in an attempt to control her hatred for the man. And once Serena was sure her emotions were in check she knocked on the door and quickly made her next disguise.

There were a few footsteps and whimpers before the door opened. Neo Queen Serenity, Serena's future self stood before her. The ruler's eyes were red, her blonde locks in tangles and her entire stature was shaking.

"I apologize your highness but the other scouts are in the dining room awaiting your arrival." Serena knew the only things that would matter to the future her besides Rini would be the scouts. But Serenity wouldn't reply for several moments making Serena doubt her disguise. But it was simple the maid outfit she even the color of her hair to red.

"Okay, I will head there right now." Serenity glided past Serena and King Endymion followed suit, leaving Serena alone in the imperial bedroom.

Keeping her disguise in case someone saw her Serena moved to the glass case by the balcony that held the silver crystal. Careful not to touch it Serena waved her hand over the moon crystal. A hatch somewhere unlocked giving way to a metal staircase in the ground.

Hesitantly Serena stepped inside. And once she made it down to the last step she saw she was directly in front of Rini's casket. It was glass like a Snow White coffin. There was something about seeing the lifeless body of her daughter in person underground that set Serena off. All the memories and special moments Rini spent with her came flooding back. All the times she cooked with Rini, fought with her, slept with her, they all rushed back. They stabbed and tugged at Serena's heart, her soul. Soul. That was why she was here. She would attain the little girls soul and fix this. A body and soul could be away from each other for only so long. If she took the soul eventually a live healthy version of this dead body would appear.

But first Serena needed Saturn's powers of destruction and rebirth. From underneath her coat Serena pulled out the vase of void. Not even Hotaru had perfected the skill of retaining souls, which made Serena uneasy. Holding Saturn's staff Serena thought about the process. She would first destroy the bond between body and soul and then build a anew one between the case and the soul. The hardest part would be breaking the bond. If she weren't strong enough Serena's soul would be dragged along with Rini's into nowhere.

The blonde slammed the staff into the ground and the bond snapped like a twig. Serena could see the silvery strings entwining the two entities break just like that. And then she saw the soul drift away. Serena panicked and lunged for it. Rather her soul lunged for Rini. Realizing what happened Serena tried to let go and yank away but it was no use. The pull was too strong. Rini's soul was dragging her away into the darkness.

Setsuna

After the woman walked away Setsuna meandered to a bench in the park nearby. Everything hurt and it took all of her will not to just sleep. The only way to get to the correct past would be to find the Present. It was a gift from her parents. The Present was a choker that when worn would return the wearer to the present time that he or she was from. But that would be on Earth in the artifact chamber of the palace.

With new ambition Setsuna stood quickly automatically regretting it. There were bloodied gnashed wrapped around her torso. No matter how much pressure Setsuna applied to them the blood and pain would not cease. If she didn't get back to Pluto she would die. Setsuna refused to cry no matter what.

She made her way to the castle. It wasn't very far from the park but it was uphill and because of her injuries Setsuna was forced to take a slow pace, which only escalated the pain. The castle itself was made of a grey crystal. It looked almost like the planet was polluted by Rei's hubris. Setsuna never wanted anyone but Serena to take the throne but Rei have other intentions and used that to her own benefit.

The grey crystal was reflective and showed Setsuna an excellent view of herself. She looked somewhat good in contrast to how she was feeling. The only signs of injury on her were the red splotches seeping through her clothes and the trails of blood trailing down her legs. She didn't have much time. Time. It was hard for her to think like this. The princess of time of space. She was a nullified version of Saturn who was eternal made to be reborn time after time. And yet Setsuna would always live she only had to turn back the hands of time. However without her powers this was impossible. She lost time.

Rei must've been pretty cocky because she didn't station any guarded on the doors of the castle. She must think that she could handle any invaders. If Setsuna remembered correcting the palace steps lead any visitors to the second floor of the palace. There were two floors underneath the sublevel and the first floor. The first floor was all the artifact room.

Setsuna spent must of her time slowly walking through the palace opening every door looking for a staircase downward and finally she found it. But it was dark as if Rei didn't want to be reminded of the past where was a servant to her one and only princess. Setsuna took a testy step and breathed out hard. The step was secure. With more confidence Setsuna moved to the next step. Before her other foot could find its way down the step below her gave way.

The solider of time hit her head first. Then the momentum of the fall flipped her onto her back only for her to roll along her already bruised ribs to the final step. Setsuna had no idea how much time it had been since she feel but she finally opened her eyes again. There room was littered with Sailor senshi weapons and gizmos but everything was spread out; enough for Setsuna to drag herself around the room because she couldn't stand. It was then that she saw glass cases toward the center of the room with powerful mementos of every soldier. And it one of them was the Present. Setsuna tried to move closer to it but she couldn't. She was so close to survival but she had just run out of time. And she looked behind her at the trail of blood leading of the steps.

She had all the time in universe and yet she still ran out. Everyone needed time in order to get a chance to make the right choice. Everyone. Including Serena. In fact it was Setsuna's duty to her princess to present her with unlimited amounts of time to deliberate and make the best choices. The scene before Rini died flashed before her. Darien and Rei had offered to make a tiny sacrifice to save the future princess. Setsuna gave Serena no time to think about it and allowed her comrades to gang up the moon princess. In the end Serena did make the right choice to protect and bring happiness to those currently around her. No matter how much into the future Setsuna could see, she realized, the present was indeed the most important time.

Yesterday would always be history there will forever be some time that could not be changed. And no matter how many possibilities there were Setsuna would never know the true outcome, the future would always be a mystery. But today, right now, right here would be the gift, present, because you could change it and mold it. That was Setsuna's job and to supply the princess with the present. She would suppose to protect her from the pressures of time bending and twisting. But she didn't and as Setsuna closed her eyes for the last time the last though in her mind was I'm sorry.

Serena

There was a pain in her arm as Rini latched on to her.

"Rini! Please stop we need to go back to the palace! Please!" Until that command Rini had continued her merry way into the pitch darkness. But this beg of mercy halted the pink haired girl in her flight.

"Why so we can go back and you can let me die again?" Rini's eyes were filled not with hatred but with such a deep sadness that it weighed down on her face. A whimper escaped Serena's mouth. "Oh you're crying? What did you think I was doing while I sat there in that coffin dying?"

"Rini do you know why you started dying?" Serena's voice was placid. Rini only started at Serena with anger. It was clear that the little girl blamed the tall blonde. "It started with Darien cheated on me with Rei." Originally Serena wouldn't have told Rini this but she was teenager she would easily comprehend the concept.

Rini shook her head, "You still haven't changed. You can't even take responsibility for your own actions, even the ones that kill your daughter. Do you really think that Daddy would do that? I can't believe…"

"Stop it Rini. I know you love Darien must more than me. You always have. You've only tolerated me but listen to be me clearly. This is not as a request but as an order from your mother. Darien cheated on me with Rei. Do you know what that meant? It meant that you couldn't be born because I wasn't with him. That was his fault. The only fault I had was not stopping him and later on not taking him up on his offer to make you. But I couldn't do it. I can't make you out of obligation. Then I would never love you the way that you should be loved."

Serena took a breath. It was relieving to see the facts process through Rini's mind. "I came here to take your soul and then your body will heal and you can live again. That is that only option left for you. And I did not come all this way to walk out of this palace without a daughter." Rini stared at Serena. She didn't hug her mother or cry. But she lifted her pinky. It was a symbol even more powerful that those simple forms of love. It meant that Rini was entrusting Serena with this promise that she trusted Serena wholeheartedly. Serena locked her pinky with her daughters.

The duo was back underground. Serena gasped for breath and felt her body making sure everything was all right. Rini's soul floated over the coffin her eyes closed and calm. "Ready?" Serena's voice rang out. Rini simply nodded. Serena swung the staff 360 degrees and slammed it once more on the ground. The impact sent out two strands of silver one hooked into Rini's chest and other into the hole of the vase. Serena swung the staff once more linking the two strands together and sending Rini into the vase of void.

Serena shed a tear. I'm sorry Rini. I'm so sorry. But this was the best I could do. So Serena lay there from who knows how long weeping on the dusty basement floor.

Serena was back in the present. She was in front of the shrine with the vase under her arm. Everything was happening too quickly. She looked around to find the rest of the scouts and starlights except for Pluto in front of her staring. And then a youkai appeared from the woods surrounding the shrine.

It slammed into Serena knocking the breathe from her. Seiya knelt down to the collapse princess. The rest of the scouts henshined and started to attack the youkai. Serena looked around found the vase of void on the ground in so many shards. It took Serena moment to realize what happened. Rini was attached to the vase. If it broke Rini would be gone forever. She could already see the soul of her daughter departing.

"Rini!" Everyone stopped to look at Serena but she didn't mind. She ran to the remains of the container and pressed her nose of the largest piece and inhaled. All everyone else could see was a pink aura surrounding the vase move slowly from the shards to Serena's nose. Rini you can stay in me. For however long you want you can just sleep within me until your body comes.

Setsuna

The light was binding. Setsuna automatically sat up and took a huge gasp. She stood. She was alive. Setsuna was alive and sparkling on her neck was the Present. Furthermore she was inside the palace. She smiled vibrantly and touched the choker hesitantly while turning to take in the beauty of the Pluto palace. A purple light shone from the necklace and like a laser shot to the planes outside. The light outlined each plane placing them on the ground like puzzle pieces. When flat they formed a whole planet bustling and moving like any other. The people emerged from the planes and looked at the rest of the planet snapped back together.

And when the last piece fell perfectly into the place the lines rose and condensed to make a crown. And it flew elegantly to the palace and feel upon Setsuna's head. The glowing crown started to illuminate Setsuna's bloodied outfit. It then only outlined the scars all over Setsuna's stomach. The light didn't make the scars disappear it only closed the wounds but the scars with still as grotesque as they were before.

And then a purple gown fell ever so gently over Setsuna's body falling to her ankles. As long as this choker the Present stays on your neck the planes of time and space will forever be kept in check. This now Crystal Pluto. As of now the first and last planets have been crystalized. The boundaries have been established. You are now to be called Astral Princess Setsuna of Crystal Pluto.

Setsuna closed her eyes. She had remembered her oath. She had been forgiven.