AN: Hey! I know I say this everytime but seriously.. Thanks for the reviews! Hope you like this new chapter :)
A week or so have passed since any of the senshi has seen Setsuna. There have been an increasing number of wraith attacks, but thankfully no one had been seriously injured.
"We can't keep this up!" Rei yelled.
The senshi and two of the Starlights have once again gathered together at Hikawa Shrine after school to discuss the enemy attacks.
"Where is Pluto? She knows what's going on and why they're attacking us so why can't she tell us so we can stop it once and for all?" Rei had become increasingly temperamental since she had attempted to fight a wraith the other day. She had been walking home from school alone when she spotted it. If the other senshi had not hurried there, she could have been killed.
"She's not responding to our calls anymore." Michiru bit her lip. She had been worrying ever since hearing that Setsuna had met up with the girls. She knew that whenever Setsuna was on Earth, she would at least stop by for a short visit with her adopted daughter Hotaru. 'What could she be doing?'
"How is Usagi-san holding up?" Taiki asked. Everyone was quiet. Over the past few days, Sailor Moon had been using the Silver Crystal frequently and everyone was surprised that she was for the most part, fine.
"She seems fine actually. She uses it as an excuse to sleep and eat more, but the effects of the Crystal aren't wearing her down like it use to." It was Luna who responded. She had been keeping an eye out on Usagi even since the first attack of wraiths. "But for a while now, I noticed someone outside her house late at night. I don't know who it is because whenever I try to get a closer look, they disappear."
"It's probably that senshi Pluto is hiding." Mina replied.
Luna's ears perked up, "What senshi?" she asked curiously. She and Artemis hadn't been around for very much ever since the defeat of Galaxia. No one really knew where they went but they were always in and out of town.
Mina answered again, "We don't know. Pluto was very adamant about keeping her a secret but insists that we just trust her that she's helping us, which she has. She always appears when there are wraiths and helps us stop it so Sailor Moon can purify them."
Luna spoke her thoughts aloud, "That's odd. I don't remember any other senshi from this system and Pluto would not trust an outsider easily. Are you sure she isn't the one bringing the new enemies here?"
"At this point, we don't know very much but we think she's from the future." And so the group went on to tell the guardian cats, explaining their theories and how Pluto might be with her.
"It's possible but still hard to believe though." Artemis spoke softly. "By the way, where is Usagi?"
"Detention. With Seiya." Yaten chuckled and Mina elbowed him in the ribs.
But Luna merely frowned, "She's spending a lot of time with him now. I'm worried what will happen to the future." Luna remembered everything about the Silver Millennium and how much Serenity loved Endymion; their long awaited union would bring peace to the Solar System.
"Pluto told Usagi that the future will be better if she just followed her heart." Mako stated.
Luna simply continued to frown while looking down. It wasn't until she felt someone poke her forehead that she looked up to see a pair of light green eyes staring at her…right in front of her face.
"Frowning gives you wrinkles Luna." It was Yaten. He gave the cat one of his most charming smiles as she blushed and turned away. Everyone giggled at the bashful cat and Artemis cleared his throat loudly to catch her attention.
"Anyways," Luna looked stern again, "I'll try to follow the new senshi when she appears again and find out who she is." And everyone nodded in agreement.
Night fell. Everyone in the house was sleeping. That is, except Luna. She had pretended to be asleep all night in Usagi's bed to try and catch the person who was stalking the girl. It wasn't until a few hours before dawn that the guardian cat peeked to see a shadow in the tree across the room. She lifted her head slightly to get a better look but then saw the shadow start to climb down the tree. With haste, she bolted out Usagi's balcony to follow whoever it is.
Luna followed the shadow down a couple streets until she reached a building. It was an apartment building. 'How am I going to find which room she is in?' But she waited, hoping there was a hint as to which apartment the mysterious senshi would be living in. She was in luck as a faint light flickered from one window so she hurried to climb up the fire escape to reach it. As she neared the window, she noticed it was open and she peered into it. 'That's strange. No one is here.' Against her better judgement, she jumped through the window and hid behind the vanity that was next to it. The window quickly slammed shut. 'I'm caught!' Luna started to panic
"Don't worry Luna. We led you here because we need to talk to you." Luna had eased a little… she recognized that voice. It had been a while, but she still recognized it.
"Setsuna-san?" Luna peeked cautiously from behind the vanity to see the Time senshi walk out of the shadows across the room. Someone else was with her, sitting on the bed but she couldn't make out who.
"It has been a while." Setsuna smiled at the cat as Luna walked out to the middle of the room.
"What is this about? Who is she?" The cat frowned and nodded towards the other person.
Setsuna's expression had not changed. She simply kneeled in front of the cat in order to talk to her.
"We decided to lead you here because we need your help now. It was not our intention in letting anyone know our plans, but things have changed now." Pluto hesitated slightly. "We will tell you everything because you are closest to the Princess and she listens to your advice. But you must promise us that you will not tell anyone else. Not even Artemis."
"Why?" Luna raised her eyebrow.
"Because the more people who know, the more danger everyone will be in. I know that everyone loves Usagi-san very much and will help her no matter what. But Luna, you are the one she has constantly turned to for advice and probably the only one she will share her secrets with since you are always by her side. We need you to help her reach a decision. And hopefully, after you hear our story, that you will know which decision she should make."
Luna looked suspiciously at the older woman but the look on her face told her that she was sincere. She still had her doubts but agreed to listen to them. She jumped on the vanity and perched on the table as Setsuna sat down on the chair in front of it. She was about to start talking when the guardian cat held up her paw.
"Wait. Aren't you going to tell me who that is first?" As she looked across the room at the shadowed figure who had been sitting there quietly.
Setsuna nodded gracefully and turned to face the bed. "Come on over and show her who you are."
The person stood up and walked slowly into the light… it was Naomi.
"You're Usagi's new friend!" Luna's eyes widened with shock.
"Not exactly Luna-sama." Naomi gave Luna a slight curtsy. As a child, she had always been taught to be respectful when addressing any advisors of Neo Queen Serenity even though the future Artemis and Luna had told her she needn't be.
Luna was surprised at being addressed so formally and a pink tinge appeared on her cheek. She waited for the girl to continue. She watched Naomi touch the stud earring that was hidden behind her black hair and with a poof, she was holding the Luna Ball in her hands.
"Isn't that…" Luna started to ask but she didn't need to finish it as a faint white glow surrounding Naomi's body. And as quickly as it had appeared, in her place stood the small girl Miya.
Luna was left speechless as the two other smiled gently, trying to hold back a giggle at the cat's reaction.
"But isn't that Chibi-Usa's Luna Ball?" She had a lot of questions and things to say, but it was the only one that came out.
At once, everyone grew solemn and Luna noticed the change in atmosphere.
"She knew it would come in handy for me so she lent it to me and… and I modified it a bit." Miya answered while absent-mindedly fidgeting with the antenna on top of the ball's head. She looked away and bit her lip.
Pluto reached over and placed a hand on Miya's head to comfort her and continued in her place.
"Luna, please meet Miya-chan." Luna nodded in acknowledgement. "I'm sure you can guess who she is now."
"Yes," Luna's eyes never left the girl, absorbing every detail of her appearance, "she looks just like…"
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