Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or anything to do with Sailor Moon. I do not own Sailor Moon characters or anything to do with the franchise. I do not own image

Chapter Four – The Alternative

The winds battered Pluto forcing her to dig her garnet rod into the ground. Beams of light whirled around her blinding her as she tried to focus on the source of these occurrences. It grew cold and then hot and the wind grew worse and worse turning into a whirlwind. Chaos in what was normally a quiet place.

'What is the meaning of this?' Pluto struggled to hold on as the winds pushed her forwards and then backwards messing up her hair. She was desperate to rub her eyes as dirt had got in them but she grew afraid that if she let go she would be lost in time.

Suddenly images of different time streams appeared. Some happy and some not so happy but one in particular caught her interest. A man with shoulder length black hair and blue eyes looked worried as he was lifted up into the air away from a battle scene and teleported somewhere. Pluto didn't have time to focus on this peculiar image as the winds suddenly stopped and Pluto found herself on the floor. Looking around she finally understood what was happening. It was like finally finding the right key to open that door you had been battling to get through. Time was changing itself.

'What do you mean Pluto?' Saturn looked concerned as she watched Pluto splutter words out in quick succession.

'It's time, the time stream, its resetting itself…'

'But how can that be?'

'This wasn't the future for THIS time. Endymion's actions has altered the time line and therefore crossed over to the alternative universes, I think something or someone was teleported to our time to reset it but who and how I don't know yet' Pluto sat herself down and looked at the baby Chibiusa who Saturn, Uranus and Neptune had looked after in Pluto's absence.

'So we have something or someone to look out for, should we tell the others?' Neptune looked at Uranus who shook her head.

'Let's wait and see, we need to investigate this'

He woke up to the smell of fresh grass and the smell of flowers. He could hear a river not too far away and as the warm air caressed his face he opened his eyes to see an old woman staring at him. Startled he got up quickly and then took in the peaceful surroundings. The old woman was short with her grey hair tied back. She wore a blue dress with a white cardigan. She supported herself with a brown cane.

'Interesting' she whispered as the man got up and placed a hand on his back.

'Very curious….' She placed a finger on her chin as the man continued to take in his surroundings with a confused look on his face. Rubbing his hands through his shoulder length black hair he placed his deep blue eyes on the old woman.

'Where am I? This isn't my home' his deep voice sent shock waves down her spine.

'No, I don't suppose it is young man' the dark haired man looked at her suspiciously.

'Do you know why I am here?'

'Well, that depends, maybe you should tell me where you were before and then we will take it from there, let's go inside, and I'll make some tea'.

The old woman's home was a little cottage away from the towns. She had only one other neighbour and that was another woman who had left the palace after her daughter had fallen pregnant to the King. The old woman although originally from earth had fallen in love with a man from the outer planets and she left with him. She came back to see the earth had changed into crystal Tokyo. She never benefited from not growing old but she held no resentment. She sacrificed it for love.

The Cottage was a simple home and the old woman led the dark haired man into her small kitchen and sat him down. She had a tea pot ready and placed the green tea and hot water in it humming as she was doing it. The humming calmed the man as he watched her place two cups and then the tea pot on the table. They were both sat on wooden chairs and she waited a few minutes for the tea to brew. She then proceeded to pour it.

'What's your name?' the old woman began to sip her tea.

'Tatsuo' he didn't want to state his full name as he wasn't sure if he could trust this woman.

'Hmmm Tatsuo, good name' the old woman smiled.

'What is your name?' Tatsuo smiled a little at the old woman.

'Lily, just Lily' Lily held a sparkle in her eyes as she saw him relax and start to sip his own tea.

'So how did you get here?'

'Well, that's it, I don't know. One minute I was alone on the battlefield and the next I woke up here. I remember a great wind. It was so powerful and before I knew it I was lifted up into the air' Lily nodded.

'Why were you on the battlefield?' Tatsuo stiffed slightly.

'There was a great war in my land. My father the King had been murdered and I was his only son so it was my duty to avenge him. The advisors told me to go to war with these people and we lost' Tatsuo's eyes clouded over as his memories of that fateful moment before he was lifted up into the air started to come back.

'So are you a prince or a king?'

'Ah, I suppose a king, I had my coronation just before we went to war' Tatsuo regarded the woman.

'Who exactly are you?'

'Oh I'm just a crazy old woman' Lily smirked.

'I have located the source' Neptune had left the computer room within the moon kingdom. Uranus had fallen asleep having stayed up most of the night soothing Chibiusa to sleep with Pluto. Pluto looked blurry eyed but instantly focussed her attentions on Neptune. Saturn was holding Chibiusa but was listening.

'An abnormality happened on earth and I have located it. Thankfully it is out in the country so we shouldn't attract too much attention, Saturn can you stay with Chibiusa while we go and investigate?' Saturn nodded and smiled at the sleeping Chibiusa.

It feels strange here, the earth I mean' Uranus had an uneasy feeling as they landed on the earth in front of a small cottage. It was night time and all that could be heard was the river and owls.

'I have felt this strangeness ever since the Queen left the planet for the moon' Pluto looked around trying to see if there was anything out of the ordinary.

'If what you say is true then how would time reset itself? I feel a darkness coming and I know Saturn feels it too' Neptune turned her gaze towards the cottage.

'I think we should go there, I know who lives there' Pluto had a small smile creep up on her face and she walked up to the cottage. Knocking on the door it opened and revealed a small old woman.

'Lily, I should've known it would be you' Neptune and Uranus looked at each other confused.

'You took long enough Senshi, for someone guarding time I wouldn't expect you to be late like this' Lily smiled as she hugged Pluto.

'These are strange times Lily, great changes are occurring'

'You can say that again, I have a visitor here that I think you should meet, surprised me when I saw him'.

They froze as they saw the sleeping man on a couch in the living room.

'No, it can't be! it's impossible!' Uranus was shaking at what she saw.

'How can this be?' Neptune was shocked. Pluto regarded the man with curiosity.

'So that is how time will reset itself, interesting….'

'What are we going to do Pluto, this changes everything' Neptune walked closely up to the sleeping man taking in his features.

'He has longer hair…..' Neptune noted.

'He looks so much like him, it's crazy' Uranus hesitated walking closer to the man.

'I fear for what this means' Pluto looked mysterious.

'What do you mean by that?' Uranus levelled.

'If he is here to reset time, what does that mean for the current King? It explains the strangeness on the earth….I think this man might be safer with us' Pluto mumbled loud enough to be heard.

'Oh, I am not leaving him, you will have to take me with you' Lily came into the room.

'Are you sure Lily?' Pluto looked concerned.

'Yes, this man has had enough changes in his life, with all that is about to befall him I think I should be there for him' Lily smiled at the man in a motherly way.

'Fine, we better leave now, it's going to take a lot to explain why he is on the moon' Pluto took out a time key getting ready to teleport everyone to the Moon.

Flashback

It was hard watching his father being buried. There was a huge turnout. He was buried next to his mother as his father had wanted. He knew he wouldn't have time to mourn. Coming out of the council meeting, the council ordered for his immediate coronation and urged an all-out war to end this. Looking at these twelve old men Tatsuo seethed in silent anger but he knew his duty.

As his coronation approached he felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities that were being heaped on his shoulders. He had only one other sibling, his sister Violet who had been taken by the enemy. He felt his world had fallen apart when he was told about his sweet, kind sister. The only true friends he had were his knights. Junichi knight of Patience and Harmony, Hiroki knight of Intelligence and Comfort, Kioshi Knight of Purification and Healing and the leader of the Knights, Tadao Knight of Purity and Affection. They would stand by his side no matter what Tatsuo's choice was.

The coronation was a grand affair. The celebrations were made to show their power and might. Tatsuo saw through the whole charade. It sickened him. All he wanted was a small ceremony without all the fanfare.

'Well, at least it's all over now' Junichi smiled as Kioshi ruffled the short blonde's hair.

'It is not ALL over, there is the small matter of the WAR' Kioshi winked as his long tied up blonde hair jumped in the air as he tried to catch up with Hiroki.

'Nothing to be concerned about, the enemy are no match for us' Hiroki pride fully stated as he tried to push some of his long reddish brown hair out of his face. Tadao was walking alongside Tatsuo. Tadao had unusually long silver hair which made him stand out and his presence could be quite intimidating for those who did not know the kind man that lurked underneath.

'Once the war is over, we can start all over again, and we can build the kind of Kingdom you have always dreamed of' Tatsuo smiled at his friend.

'I hope so, I have only ever wanted a kingdom filled with peace, of course having lots of fun as well' Tatsuo chuckled.

They didn't expect the enemy's army to be so large and vicious. They had powers that none of them were expecting. Thankfully Tatsuo and his knights were gifted with their own powers so as they lay waste to each other on the battlefield. Tatsuo saw each of his knights fall to their deaths. It was an absolute bloodbath and soon Tatsuo found he was the last one standing as he dispatched the opposite sides leader with his gold kingly sword.

A feeling of emptiness placed itself in his heart. All his dear friends and family were dead. There was nothing left. No Kingdom to rule as most had fled or died. He was the last of the Kings that bore a specific name and he had no idea where his sister was.

Was this it? Was this the price of war and justice? Why couldn't they find a way to sort through their problems? Why did it have to end like this? He felt like a lonely child with no home. Where would he go?

It was sudden. As Tatsuo placed his sword back in its sheath the wind came blowing him to the ground. As he tried to hold onto the earth he saw a bright light and then what appeared to be like a golden crystal. Then a boy appeared with white hair and blue eyes. As Tatsuo tried to focus his gaze on the boy he was picked up into the air. He fell into darkness and was not sure what to do. Soon he saw a man in a white suite with a mask on his face. Tatsuo couldn't believe his eyes. This man looked like him except, his eyes and, that dark aura. Then there was a flash of light and he found himself on what appeared to be earth. Confused he didn't remember the things he had seen. All he could concentrate on now was this old woman staring at him.

Hi Guys back with an update :)

Thanks so much to all who have followed, favourite and reviewed this story, it really does keep me going and improving the story. I apologise if there are longer paragraphs here it was the dialogues that made them long.

The story will start to pick up more as we will see more of Rei and the darkness within Endymion, he will get a lot worse.

Tatsuo is the new love and he has a big part in the story considering who he actually is, hopefully you guys can guess who he is :)

I will update soon with the next chapter, again I apologise if there are any spelling mistakes or grammar mistakes. The story is starting to get a little complicated but hopefully it will still make sense.

Will see you guys really soon and thank you all so much for the support :) xxx