Charon stood on the ledge near the gates of the Underworld, gazing into the dead abyss. His plan had been working so far, and with Hades distracted, it was going more successfully than he had planned. The Reaper had kept his end of the bargain, diminishing souls in the world above. The line of souls coming to the Underworld was steadily increasing, and Hades was ignoring this—probably thinking it was just a temporary spike. This is almost too easy, Charon thought devilishly. Now all he had to do was to wait for Pluto to return…
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The girls had thrown a rather belated baby shower for the little Hotaru. It was wonderful for Trista to share her little girl with her friends as they were amazed at this turn of events.
The time came, though, when Trista felt she was needed back at the Underworld. She was a little self-conscious about being gone so long, though it was good for the baby to see the real world, she felt.
Packing her things up in her old room at the apartment, Trista was lost in thought about how happy Hades would be to see his child when she heard a knock on her door. "Come in," she said absentmindedly.
The door opened. Trista turned around to face her visitor, Hotaru. "Leaving again?" the younger girl asked.
"Yes, I'm afraid so."
Hotaru looked at the smaller version of herself, who was sleeping on Trista's old bed. "Why?"
"Well, I have matters to take care of in the Underworld. I must not neglect my other duties."
"But why so soon?"
"Why so concerned?"
"It's just that…" Hotaru sighed. "Since finding out that you are my mother, I wanted to spend more time with you."
"Well, time is certainly something I have plenty of. And we've spent so much time together without even realizing we were related. I do regret that I have to leave, but I do promise to come back again," Trista replied.
This did not seem to convince Hotaru. "But…Mother…"
A chill ran down Trista's spine. Hearing Hotaru say that for the first time…it almost broke her heart. She felt like she was betraying this Hotaru—she had to go back to the Underworld and take care of a smaller Hotaru while the grown Hotaru stayed in the real world, without her mother to look after her or guide her. Hotaru had never known a mother before; her human mother had died when she was young and the scouts never knew who her parents were before this time, even in the Silver Millennium.
Trista walked over to her grown Hotaru, holding the girl's hands in her own. "I am truly sorry, Hotaru. I want to be here for you, especially since finding out that we are mother and daughter. I have always felt a strong bond to you, stronger than to any other scout. You are my girl. I have always, always loved you. Never forget that. And never feel that I am abandoning you. There must be some way…" Trista thought for a moment. "Ah, yes. Fate can help me keep an eye on you. Should you ever require my help, I can come in an instant. Understand?"
Hotaru nodded. "I understand."
"Good. Then I really do have to leave…" Trista stood still. Something…didn't feel right. She could not put her finger on it, but it made her departure all the more necessary. "Let me at least check on things in the Underworld. I felt as if something has been changed."
Hotaru looked concerned. "Like what?"
Trista shook her head. "I don't know. But I shall find out." With that, she shouted, "Pluto Planet Power!" Transforming into her scout uniform, she raised her staff out and called forth the portal that would lead her back to the Underworld.
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"Sir, she has entered the Underworld," the Grim Reaper reported to Charon.
"Good. Took her long enough. You know what to do," replied Charon.
"But of course."
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Trista entered Fate's tower. It was the most likely place to seek if there was some sort of trouble. She found, however, that the tower was unusually empty. It was also deathly quiet in the Underworld. No souls were screaming, no loud hound was barking. Holding Hotaru close, she looked out the window, but could not see very far. A strange mist had covered most of the Underworld. This can't be good, she thought. Where on Earth could she put Hotaru while she investigated what was going on? And where in the world was Fate? If Sailor Fate was missing, then there was definitely something wrong.
Before she could think any further, a deep, dark voice echoed in the shadows of the Underworld. "SAILOR PLUTO." Startled, Trista turned to look out the tower window again. "WELCOME BACK."
Pluto demanded, "What have you done with Fate?"
"FATE? AH, SHE MUST HAVE GONE LOOKING FOR YOU. 'TIS NO MATTER. I WANT YOU TO COME TO ME, SAILOR PLUTO. BRING THE CHILD WITH YOU."
"What do you want with Hotaru? And who are you?"
"YOU KNOW WHO I AM. YOU THOUGHT I COULD BE KILLED—BUT I WAS NOT DESTROYED. MY SPIRIT WILL REMAIN ALWAYS IN THIS WORLD AND THE NEXT."
"It can't be," she whispered. "The Reaper."
"I WANT THE CHILD BROUGHT TO THE COCYTUS RIVER. THERE YOU WILL FIND YOUR PRECIOUS HADES. TRADE HADES FOR THE GIRL AND THERE SHALL BE NO HARM DONE TO HIM."
"What have you done to Hades?" Pluto yelled.
"I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO HIM…YET. NOW, I HAVE LITTLE PATIENCE. BRING THE GIRL IN FIFTEEN MINUTES."
Pluto was stunned. Trade Hotaru for Hades? What does the Reaper want with my child?She was on the verge of panic when a single clear course of action came to her. Think, Pluto. You are the goddess of time. She gasped. Of course, she thought. It was going to be the hardest thing she would have to do. She reached into her bag, and brought out one special gift from her baby shower. She was going to have to thank Serena for this one day….
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