Author's notes:

Hi again! Please make sure to check out the important notes from the Prologue, that way I don't have to repeat them all here. Thanks so much for your ongoing support—enjoy, and be sure to review!

Music rec – Remnants by LeAnn Rimes

Chapter One

How long had it been since her world began to shift? Minutes? Hours? Days?

From the moment the sun rose on that third day, an immutable chaos had ensued, warping every aspect of the home she knew. Her stable, familiar life had been hijacked by unrelenting twists and flashes of a strange reality, laced with periods of darkness and discomfort. The people around her drifted amongst this confused world seemingly unaffected, and therein lay the most difficult part she had to face: in this vague, distorted reality, Rini was alone.

Her head constantly spun as she was thrust about the scenes of her life, feeling as though her consciousness drifted in and out as it pleased. This time, she found herself flat against a hard surface, a book splayed open before her, and she squinted as musical notes danced before her eyes. A wave of nausea washed over her and she braced the timber floor beneath her palms: she could do this.

I can do this.

"Rini," her mother's voice rang, as the edging of a white gown swept alongside her, "come along now."

Limbs heavy, she stood, the hall dimming and sounds muffling around her. The rasp of her own exhausted breath filled her ears as she fought her stifling surroundings. "Mama," she breathed, but her mother did not turn to her aid. "Mama, can't you see…?"

She followed the train of her mother's dress, watching as the tails of her folded feathery wings transformed into white ribbons tied around her petite waist and the seam of her dress shrunk back to reveal her ankles. The sparkle of the crystal walls slowly bleached to stark white paint and then rapidly back to crystal, and a soft piano melody faded in and out of tune amongst the usually quiet castle walls. She tried to focus, tried to steel herself to see, but she couldn't, and she gripped her head in her hands, whimpering.

I can do this. I've got to fight it.

"Rini, you're so slow!" Her mother admonished, but Rini could hear the cheek in her voice. A slender hand outstretched to her. "Come along."

She took her mother's hand and felt a thump to her lungs, the air stolen as she was rushed through reality again. The sun suddenly beat down on her fair skin and she shielded her eyes, straining to see the figures seated just feet away in the brilliant light of the day.

"Rei, you are such a tease, give it a rest!"

"Oh come on, Mina, you know I'm right!"

A tearful, relieved laugh burst from her as the soft silhouettes of her friends appeared before her. "Everyone…"

"She's only trying to help. Perhaps if you read up a little more on the subject, you could—"

"Ami, she doesn't need to read, I'm an expert—I've done it all before!"

"Usagi has a point…"

The light banter of the senshi filled her with comfort and she willed her eyes to adjust so she could look over them properly, just this once. The blunt, dark hair of a young girl swished around to look her way, her hand raised in a wave. "Rini!"

"Hotaru…" She tried, but the name came out strangled, caught in her throat.

The gentle tinker of the piano tune echoed once more, blended amongst the sounds of laughter, springtime and play. This place was happy—it was content—but it wouldn't stay still, not long enough. She began to shake, clutching at her aching chest.

"Are you alright, little one?"

The husky voice caught her attention faster than anything before, and she desperately strained to seek out the beautiful sound. A figure with long, dark hair tugged back into a messy ponytail was stretched out across the grass, head cocked in her direction. Who are you?

"Chibi?"

All sounds ceased, everyone and everything disappearing to leave behind an open field of green grass and a sea of wildflowers. Standing before her, sharper and clearer than anything she had seen in what felt like a long time, was a tiny girl, holding out a purple blossom.

Rini looked over her wild pink curls, secured back into little heart-shaped buns, and gazed into her cerulean eyes. For the first time, her world stabilised for just a second, and she bent down before her. "Hello," she smiled at her, "what's your name?"

The toddler eyed her cheekily, extending the flower out toward her. "Chibi Chibi!"

"Alright then," she said, taking the flower from her tiny fingertips. "Thank you, Chibi Chibi."

Before she could even breathe, before she could brace herself, the little girl launched herself into her arms, and yet another of reality's flashes of light swallowed them whole.

Delicate petals floated down from the cherry blossoms along the stream at Hikawa Shrine, touching down gently on the clear water in a pool of soft pink. A warm breeze captured her long hair, tangling it around her tiny body, but she didn't care. She closed her eyes and tipped her head back to face the sun, humming with pleasure as the heat spread across her skin.

"Why can't I have study periods every afternoon…" she groaned to herself, and stifled a long yawn. "I'm learning so much…"

A pile of textbooks and notepads, covered with scribblings, lay messily on the grass at her side, untouched. The young woman had the best intentions, but something always stole her attention, even now that she had entered her final year of high school. "It's a miracle I made it this far," she mumbled, and was rewarded with an aching grumble from her stomach. "Okay, okay, snack time…"

"Usagi!"

She twisted to see her four friends making their way toward her. "Oh, I was just, um—"

Rei plopped down on the grass beside her. "Doing nothing, we know!"

"Hey!" Usagi cried defensively. "You know I study better when I come here, and besides, I can do as I like during my study periods—"

"Knock it off, you two," Makoto said lightly. She held out a lunchbox to Usagi, giving her a grin. "It's your favourite."

Usagi beamed at her, diving in to the sweet treats. "Thank you, Mako!"

Ami sat down, crossing her legs and lumping her textbooks into her lap. "You know, Usagi, we're more than happy to help you study at the library—whether it's the one in town or the one at school—"

"She never had any intention of studying, Ami," Minako teased, tugging on one of Usagi's long pigtails. "Did you, Usagi?"

Usagi stuffed her mouth full of a second donut and scrunched her nose at the blonde. "Nope!"

"Well, I know that when you come here normally something's up, Usa," Makoto said quietly. "Especially when you come on your own."

Gulping down the last of her snack, Usagi waved her off. "I'm fine—"

"Usagi," Rei said sternly, "what's wrong?"

"Is it Mamoru?" Minako asked. "Are the two of you fighting again?"

Mamoru.

It was strange—these past eighteen months, since the battle against Chaos, since the Starlights and their princess returned home, Usagi seldom found herself thinking about her boyfriend, with the exception of their times spent together, which were few and far between. In the weeks after Chaos was defeated, Usagi uncovered a newfound independence and strength that created division between herself and her future husband. She had expected to feel vulnerable and insecure upon his return, but instead felt like something had been severed. Tension quickly rose between the couple, and before long, arguments ensued at every opportunity. In the end, it was always Usagi who immaturely stepped out of line, and level-headed Mamoru who would aid the reconciliation, but things never quite simmered back to normal. Things never quite felt normal since the day they were reunited.

"We're alright," she said weakly, watching as the pink flowers above rustled on their bare branches. "Just thinking about the big year we've got coming up, and sometimes it helps to come down here and clear my head. It's so pretty and peaceful, and at this time of year, the blossoms are falling and they're the exact colour of Rini's hair…"

The silence of her friends gave it away—she'd said too much, and she felt their pity. "You miss her," Ami said gently. "That's perfectly normal."

Usagi gave a forced laugh and busied herself packing up her things. "What? No! She's such a little brat, who would want her around…"

Her thoughts may had been void of her boyfriend in the past months, but they were filled with others, and the moment she willed them away, they simply crept back in through her dreams instead. Whenever her future daughter came to mind, with her feisty spirit and passionate nature, anxiety nearly consumed her. Rini needed her, and it was her responsibility to succeed in her relationship with Mamoru, no matter the costs.

The older she grew, the more terrifying her predestined fate became.

"Well," Makoto said, standing up and dusting off her school dress, "it's well after four, training starts soon so we'd better get going…"

"Training," Usagi whined. "Do we have to?"

Rei sighed. "You can slack off if you want, it's not like you're any good at it anyway…"

"And I am not facing the wrath of Haruka again," Minako said, extending a hand to Ami and tugging her up. "It's so not worth it. We'd better go."

"But I don't want to," Usagi wailed, trudging along behind the group as they made their way back to the shrine. "I'm hungry!"

"You just ate!"

Usagi huffed and slumped her shoulders in defeat. Not long after the turmoil of their last battle, the scouts of the outer solar system had unanimously agreed that the girls needed training; both to defend themselves when in civilian form and to further develop their powers as senshi. They met regularly at the Hikawa Shrine to practice numerous forms of martial arts, dabble in the art of precognition, and learn to fine-tune their strongest gifts. Everyone but Usagi was doing exceedingly well, a fact that frustrated her no end. Rei's right, I am no good at any of this…

"Kitten," a smooth voice spoke, and waiting on the steps of the shrine was a woman with short, sandy hair, smirking in her direction. "All that sulking isn't going to get you anywhere."

Not for the first time of late, Usagi felt her cheeks heat under Haruka's teasing stare. Just to complicate matters…

"Yeah, yeah," she grumbled, ducking her head. "Hello to you too, Haruka…"

"I think you'll do just fine today, Usa," Hotaru chirped beside Haruka, her kind eyes smiling in Usagi's direction. "We all believe in you."

Haruka chuckled and mussed the young adolescent's hair, earning her a frown. "You're far too considerate, Taru," she said, standing to greet the group. "All ready?"

"Of course they are," Michiru said, appearing from inside, her serene eyes sweeping over the group. "And give poor Usagi a break, she's doing her best."

"Doubtful," Rei tormented, looking devilishly over at the blonde. "Princess is too busy soaking up the sun to know what's going on!"

"Well, one day when I am queen I won't need any of this dumb training—I'll get you guys to do all of the dirty work for me!"

"Oh, that is big talk coming from you—"

"Enough, you two," Haruka sighed. "Come, we have work to do."

The girls followed her lead, weaving their way to a secluded open area covered in worn grass. When the weather was fine, the scouts would use the peaceful grounds at the shrine, occasionally moving indoors when it grew cold and rainy. Rei's grandfather made himself suspiciously scarce whenever they trained, and Usagi wondered whether the old man had figured out that there was far more to the group of girlfriends' so-called 'social gatherings'.

"Ami, Mina, Mako, we'll start with you three," Haruka said, grasping her crystal change rod from her pocket in preparation to transform. "Let's go over what we learned last time."

Michiru, who had taken a seat beneath a nearby willow, beckoned Rei over. "Perhaps we will do the same," she said as the shrine maiden sat down next to her.

Usagi shifted uncomfortably. "What would you like me to do?"

The final touches of Haruka's transformation graced her tall, lithe figure. "Sit with Hotaru for now, we'll train once we're done here," she said, and then gave her a wink. "Some one-on-one combat."

"You would just love that wouldn't you," Usagi replied, narrowing her eyes at her and purposefully ignoring the flush that rushed to her cheeks.

From across the grass, Usagi heard Michiru giggle. "She would."

Haruka grinned over at her girlfriend, and then quickly composed herself, directing her attention to the younger scouts. "Alright—let's pick up where we left off…"

Usagi tuned the group out, dropping down onto the grass next to Hotaru. She drew her knees up to her chest and pouted. "Shouldn't Michiru have a problem with the way Haruka speaks to other girls sometimes?"

"She thinks its funny—maybe a little fetching," Hotaru said, and a small smile spread across her lips. "I think it's because they have waited over a lifetime to be together, and when you've waited that long, trust becomes obsolete."

Usagi stared at the gentle-eyed soldier of destruction. "You never cease to amaze me, Taru," she said, resting her chin on her knees. "At twelve years old, I was too busy playing video games and watching TV to even try psychoanalysing a couples' relationship…"

"You're still to busy playing video games and watching TV," Hotaru teased softly, stretching her legs out in front of her and gazing up at the sky. Her purple eyes suddenly turned to Usagi. "Why does it bother you so much?"

This time her blush coursed in full swing, and she ducked her head. "No reason…"

Hotaru hummed quietly, a thoughtful expression gracing her delicate features. There was more—so much more—to the intricacies of Usagi's physical attractions that had developed over the past year and a half than even she understood, and she didn't care to discuss it. "Where's Setsuna?" She offered instead, swiftly changing subjects. "I thought she was going to start coming along more often?"

"She's quite busy with university at the moment, but she wanted to come along," Hotaru replied. "She apologised—she said she'd make sure she was here for the next session."

Usagi chewed her lip, worried about her elusive friend. "How is university going for her?"

"She's working very hard to complete her degree," Hotaru said proudly, and then smirked. "Though she hardly needs to—she has some experience with space-time, so physics comes quite naturally."

"And how is she coping…" Usagi asked tentatively, "with all that?"

"She appears strong," Hotaru replied, resting back on her palms. "But I know she struggles with the reality of both what she has lost, and what she has gained."

Usagi looked out to where Makoto dodged one of Haruka's fists, Ami shrouded the field in mist, and Mina encircled her love chain around one of Haruka's ankles, tugging her over. Not far away, a red glow emanated from around Rei's body as she listened to Michiru's guiding words, presumably improving her gifts of foresight as she had over the past months. Everyone's abilities were growing fiercer by the day, and she felt she could relate to the beautiful time guardian who had been stripped of her strongest power eighteen months prior. "I can understand that," she said quietly. "Do you think she's okay with staying here on Earth?"

"I'm not sure," Hotaru said honestly. "Once she discovered that she could no longer return to the Space-Time Door, she had to accept that she was stranded in the present…I suppose she's had to decide for herself whether this was a blessing or a curse."

Usagi thought back to the day when the outer scouts had brought a distraught, dejected Setsuna to see her in the days following their last battle. She remembered the despair in her ruby eyes as she transformed gracefully into Sailor Pluto and showed them the jagged remnants of her Garnet Orb atop her staff. Her attacks, it seemed, were still in tact, but her ability to travel to the gate of time had vanished, along with the Space-Time Key. "Well, as her friends, I'm sure we all agree that it's a blessing," Usagi said positively. "We get to have her around, and she doesn't have to be stuck in the fourth dimension until somebody needs her—which is a plus, because that place is such a drag…"

"That's true," Hotaru said seriously. She sighed. "I think she just feels like she's moving blindly toward the future, with no way of telling if we're on the right path."

Usagi couldn't help but think: isn't that how it should be?

"Kitten!" Haruka called, morphing seamlessly back into her jeans and t-shirt as she jogged over toward them. "Let's go."

Usagi took Haruka's extended hand and she yanked her onto her feet. "No fuku?"

Haruka shook her head. "Let's just work on your basic self-defence for today," she said, leading her away from the rowdy girls who had flocked around Hotaru to relax. "I think that will be more than enough."

Usagi scowled at her back. "For a tomboy you can be a real bitch, you know?"

Haruka ignored her and continued out until they were well away from the ruckus of the other scouts. Coming to a stop, she looked Usagi over from head to toe. "You don't suppose you could use some of that foresight Michiru has been teaching you and bring some more practical clothes to change into, do you?"

"I came straight from school," Usagi defended, feeling her temper wind up. "And besides, we usually transform, so I didn't see the point in—"

"Being prepared?" Haruka cocked an eyebrow at her. "Isn't that one of the things I've been teaching you since we started all this?"

"Oh, sure," Usagi said with a huff. "I'll be certain to pack my sweats in the event that I suspect an enemy is planning an attack."

Haruka's mouth quirked but she quickly regained her composure. "Cheeky, kitten," she quipped, and began to circle her. "Now tell me what else I have taught you—what's the one thing I want you to do when you face an opponent?"

"To 'fight with all my might'," Usagi replied, perhaps a little mockingly, and was repaid with a gentle knock to the back of her knees, which nearly buckled under her in response. "Hey, fight fair!"

Haruka tutted as she moved to face her. "Do you expect an enemy to 'fight fair'?"

Usagi drew her fists up to her face defensively and took her stance. The sooner I do this the sooner I can go home and nap…

"You need to focus," Haruka said, punctuating the word with a jab toward Usagi's left shoulder, which she proudly dodged. "Learn to read your opponent."

Another light punch connected with Usagi's right forearm, which she had raised pre-emptively to block her. She grinned at Haruka. "Like that?"

"Mm," Haruka approved, aiming her next blow lower. Usagi swung her hips back, but Haruka's knuckles still brushed her blouse. "You need to be quicker."

"I'm trying!" Usagi gasped as Haruka's leg rounded to connect with her hip. "Hey!"

"You're not," Haruka smirked, and delivered yet another jab of her fist. "You're never going to get the hang of this if you don't concentrate!"

"And what's your plan," Usagi panted, stumbling back, "if I can't get the hang of this?"

"Try anyway, do what you need to fend off your enemy." Another swing. "But…whatever happens, I will protect you, got it?"

And like that she felt the air being knocked out of her lungs, but it wasn't one of Haruka's strikes. A flash of long, blue-black hair and teasing sapphire eyes swept its way into her mind, and a husky tone was suddenly murmuring in her ear, I will protect you if anything happens, okay?

The memory hit her with such force that she completely missed Haruka's next attack, which landed her straight on her back. Seiya…

"Usagi!" Haruka growled from above her. "Where is your head?"

Usagi closed her eyes to the stars peeking through the dusky, indigo sky. I really don't know…

An early morning haze settled between the canyons of the rich, russet rock, hovering over the still waterways and blending into the inflamed skyline. She knelt at the edge of a high, jagged cliff, feeling the rough stone beneath her boots and the hot air rustling amongst her cloak. The scorch of their closest star—her star—bore down on her fiercely, and she shielded her sapphire eyes to look out to where the endless red sea met the horizon. Murky storm clouds gathered and bolts of white lightening danced on the ocean's edge, and in the sky, beyond the closest sun launching its sweltering rays, a set of two smaller stars burned brightly. "Home," she murmured, though it still didn't feel that way.

The rock face beneath her cut and sloped away to the base of the wide river, and did so for many miles across. Across the water, the silhouette of a sharp, rock-carved palace sat against the amber sky, overlooking the vast expanse of stormy ocean. At its base, the beginnings of a rebuilt civilisation were taking shape, populated with survivors ready to start anew. From where she sat on her perch—an area, like much of their world, that was yet to be reinhabited—it was deserted, destroyed, and somehow, peaceful.

The fiery planet of Kinmoku was just so different from Earth.

"Time to go," she said to herself as she rose from the gravel. With dangerous speed, she coursed her way down the precipice, dangling from deep ledges and skidding against the crumbling stone. She felt adrenaline pump through her system and a smirk graced her features as she launched herself across the huge width of the river, landing with ease in a cloud of dust. As she wandered back across the cracked land, she closed her eyes and allowed her features to change. The transformation was swift, natural—the constricting of her chest, the lengthening of her bones, the deepening of her voice. He transitioned seamlessly into the male counterpart that the people of their restored kingdom had come to know as Seiya—a young man supporting survivors, rebuilding homes, and mending the tarnished relationship between his Princess and those still standing.

"Like the Princess' warrior, Star Fighter?" A mother had once asked critically upon his introduction, curling her baby closer to her chest. "I suppose it could also pass as a man's name. Unfortunate one at that."

With a charming grin, he had brushed off the insult, well and truly accustomed to the unfavourable opinions held against the Princess and her protectors. "The very same," he had replied, handing her the supplies he had brought and swiping the baby's chubby cheek. "Take care of the little one."

He lowered the hood covering him from the heat and weaved his way between the creamy sandstone buildings of their new city, sculpted from the ruins of a once greater place. Division had set in upon their return, with some deeply grateful for the Princess' brave escape to destroy Chaos, and others livid by what they deemed as a cowardly act of abandonment. The only thing the broken civilisation could agree on was the reluctant reinstatement of the Princess to her throne, alongside her gifted soldiers—the only people capable of correcting the turmoil that had been left behind. Together, they used their powers to take care of the wounded, rebuild their city, and fight to protect against future threat, but the recovery was taking time. In spite of Princess Kakyuu's ultimate wish to rule a peaceful, warm kingdom once more, trust still needed to be earned.

"Heads up, Seiya!"

But there was no need for warning—his keen senses had detected the flying object zooming directly for him and he snatched the makeshift frisbee from the air without even looking. The group of young boys applauded and whistled his quick reflexes and he grinned. "Don't challenge the master, boys."

A boy with ashy hair crossed his arms over his chest. "If you think you're so great, why don't you stay and prove it?"

"Yeah, please stay, Seiya!" Another called, and a chorus of pleas came his way. "Please stay!"

"Sorry, guys," he replied, and propelled the wooden disc back in the blonde boy's direction. He gave them a wink. "Got work to do up at the palace—can't keep the ladies waiting."

The group complained as he walked away, and he had to stifle a laugh at one of the boy's comments: "Maybe one day he can teach us how to get work at the palace so we don't have to keep the ladies waiting either…"

The wrought iron gates guarding the castle came into view before him, but instead he ducked down an alleyway paralleling the boundary. Once he was well out of sight, he jumped the stone wall to land directly in the three guardians' quarters. "They'll never even know I was gone—"

"Wanna bet?"

He scowled at the playful voice coming from the sunrise-hidden shadows and sauntered across the courtyard. "Bit early for you to be interrupting your beauty sleep, isn't it? God knows you need it…"

"Oh, burn," Yaten replied with a smirk, leaning against a tall pillar with her arms folded over her chest. "So, where'd you sneak off to this morning, all bright and early?"

"What's it to you?" He replied, passing by her through the tall glass doors leading into their shared living space. He stripped off the long cloak and tossed it over the couch, before flopping himself onto the polished concrete floor aimlessly.

"Mm, nothing I suppose," Yaten said lazily and followed him in. "You know, I would have thought you'd be less moody as a boy—seems I was wrong there…"

Seiya ignored her, stretching his body out long and giving a loud yawn. Above him, the dome ceiling had captured the natural gases circulating through the air of their home in a spidery cloud—a phenomenon unique to their planet, one that was amplified when the air was caught in a confined space. He watched the purplish air crackle and spark pink to white as the atoms collided in a miniature electrical show, much like the one appearing in the sky above the ocean. Of the few things he had missed about Kinmoku during his time on Earth, this was one of them.

A mess of silver hair and bright green eyes suddenly blocked his view. "Oi!" Yaten frowned at him. "Stop ignoring me!"

He cocked an eyebrow at his fellow senshi. "You're blocking my view with your sleep-deprived face."

She let out a growl of frustration and stormed off. "You're such an ass!"

"Leave him alone, Yaten," he heard Taiki say. "He's just homesick."

Seiya propped himself up on his elbows and twisted to look at the other warrior, who was sitting at their long glass table reading a book. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what it means, Seiya," Taiki said, looking at him over the book. "We can see it, you know."

Seiya narrowed his eyes, observing the depth of Taiki's voice, the androgynous clothing, the lack of swell beneath his shirt. "And so can I," he told him.

The gift of gender change had been passed down to each of the three senshi from their fathers—a unique skill that only presented itself at puberty, and one that Princess Kakyuu said was a result of superior evolution within their species. This wasn't a fact that they could confirm, now that everyone was gone…

"Not everyone is as comfortable with their abilities as you are, Seiya," Taiki said coolly, returning to his book. "Remember that."

Seiya quietened and settled back to watch the spectacular lights above. Taiki was right: he felt at ease with his gift, and comfortable with his identity, but this was not the case for the other Starlights, who grappled with every tiny aspect of the power they had been given. Should they have to use it? If so, when, and why? Were they compelled to choose? How could they hide such a thing from the world? Couldn't they just pretend it didn't exist?

Seiya felt they overthought it too much.

"Starlights," a soft voice sounded from the doorway, and Princess Kakyuu appeared, a warm glow radiating from her. "A moment of your time?"

He sat up and pulled himself off the floor to take a seat in an armchair, inviting her over. "Of course, Princess."

"Now he behaves himself…" Yaten muttered, reappearing from the hallway to take a seat on the couch next to their Princess.

Kakyuu bit back a smile. "Have I interrupted?"

"Not at all," Taiki said as he joined them, and cast a warning glance at the other senshi. "What would you like to discuss, Princess?"

She looked at them each individually, before gazing out the long western-facing windows to the city below. "I feel that the rebuild of our home is going well, but there is still some restlessness throughout the kingdom," she said, and folded her fair hands in her lap. "You know that I am grateful for the support and protection you have offered me throughout this difficult time, and before…"

Trailing off, she took a long sigh. It wasn't often that she seemed troubled, nor came to their quarters unannounced. "What is it, Princess?" Seiya asked.

"I feel something is coming, from beyond our solar system," she said, and frowned slightly. Seiya could see the Princess studying the images that her foresight had given her, but something seemed awry. "We need to be able to not only protect our planet, but also look after our people, who are yet to trust us fully."

"We can protect both of those things," Yaten said defensively. "Please don't fret, Princess."

Kakyuu nodded. "I don't doubt that you can, Healer," she said. "But I wonder whether it is time to train additional soldiers, to help if need be."

"With all due respect, Princess," Taiki said gently, "the three of us are the only senshi within this system, and we possess power that cannot simply be taught."

Seiya eyed the princess, who appeared to be withholding something—what that was, he couldn't quite tell. Her calm features seemed taut with concern, and her eyes seemed distant.

"It wouldn't be my intention to train more guardians—as you well know, you are born a guardian; you cannot be made one," she said. "But there are those within our kingdom that are gifted and fit to protect our home if necessary, and I wish to prepare them as future warriors of this planet."

"Princess," Seiya said, looking at her closely, "we are the future warriors of Kinmoku. There is no need for more soldiers—more people who must leave their homes, risk their lives—it's not necessary."

Kakyuu's ruby eyes bore into his and he wondered whether he had perhaps said too much. "I understand," she said quietly, and he knew she did. "But I ask you to assist me in this matter, and to trust me."

The three Starlights looked at one another warily. A strong team of young men and women, comprised of survivors loyal to Kakyuu's former kingdom, had proven themselves across the past eighteen months, as both warriors and peacekeepers. These were people whom the senshi had grown to accept as friends, assistants, and confidants. Training them would be no hard task. "Of course," Seiya said, after an unspoken agreement between the senshi. "Whatever you need."

Kakyuu visibly relaxed and gave them a kind smile. "Thank you, my Starlights," she said, and then looked between Yaten and Taiki. "Could I have a moment with Fighter, if that's alright?"

The other two guardians obliged and left Seiya and Kakyuu alone. For a moment, a serene silence set in, before the princess stood and glided across to the windows framing the east, out over the stormy sea. She leant against the tail of the Starlights' grand piano. "I rarely hear your music any longer these days, Seiya," she said, without taking her eyes off the mauve clouds that bruised the tawny sky. "Do you still sing?"

The use of his true civilian name caught his attention and he sat forward, forearms rested on his knees to wring his hands together. "I do," he said, "mostly when I'm alone."

She traced a finger over the shiny black edging of the piano, dust shimmering into the air. "That is a shame," she said. "Your beautiful voice should be heard by all that will listen, as it was before, and as it was on Earth."

"Then I will," he replied, shuffling uncomfortably under her gaze, which had shifted from the ocean to settle on him. "If that's what would make you happy, Princess."

"Only if it is what would make you happy," she said, moving back over to kneel before him. She clasped his fiddling hands between her own. "Seiya, it is important that you know that I understand your sacrifice—it does not go overlooked."

"Princess—"

"You have worked tirelessly to rebuild our home, but have avoided me to no end," she interrupted. She tilted her head and looked at him with compassionate eyes. "This does not go unnoticed, not to me."

He clenched his jaw and gave a tight smile. "Please, Princess, I am fine," he told her. "It's nothing that you need worry about."

Kakyuu was quiet for a moment, stroking her petite thumbs over the insides of his wrists. A few moments passed, and Seiya felt himself relax slightly under her calming light. "She is safe and well," she said unexpectedly, and he felt his heart skip a tiny beat. The princess smiled. "But you already know that, don't you?"

When he looked up at her, bright blue eyes, blonde hair and a gold crescent moon flashed before him, but in an instant, she was gone. Kakyuu knew—from the moment they had arrived on Earth, Seiya felt her energy, and had savoured the connection for every moment that it continued to last. It wasn't much, but it was enough to know that her light still shone, vivid as ever. Odango…

He was drowning in burning liquid gold.

The oppressive heat ensnared his limbs and snuck into his body, stifling his breath and blackening his vision. He fought ferociously against the thick fluid, grasping out only to find resistance to his every move. The hot pressure in his chest strangled him, and as his blurry surroundings faded away to nothing, he heard a woman calling his name.

The pain was too great—golden acid eating at his skin, his final breath lodged solid in his throat, paralysing his ability to release the tearing scream building within him.

"Mamoru…"

Red eyes appeared above him, and he wrenched his broken body toward them, knowing it was where his survival laid waiting. Nothing else mattered. One last surge, one last push, and his lungs felt like they were torn in two as he broke through the surface, air ripping into him hungrily.

"Mamoru…"

He finally woke, panicked and gasping desperately for air. His bed sheets were roped around his sweaty body, and his heart hammered in his chest, adrenaline fuelling his frantic fight to stay alive. He groaned and held in his in his hands, exhausted from the dream that had plagued him for nights on end.

What does it mean?

The sun had not yet risen and his apartment was in darkness, but he knew there was no returning to sleep. He shakily made his way over to his desk and turned on his computer—something, anything, to take his mind off that lingering feeling of death.

He scrolled through unopened emails and frowned as one in particular caught his eye. Harvard University.

'We wish to inform you that your circumstances have been reviewed and your thesis has been accepted for entry into our research program'—

He squeezed his eyes closed, unable to continue reading. It had been so long since he had re-applied, in the time not long after his Star Seed had been returned to him, that he thought his opportunity had been lost. The decision had been extremely spontaneous, after a fight between himself and Usagi, and she was unaware of the pending application.

And now this…

The opportunity was, once again, incredible. Passing it up would be foolish, and significantly hinder his career prospects in the future—his dream of becoming not only a successful oncologist, but also a researcher who could contribute to helping the lives of millions of people worldwide.

He sighed and ran his hand through his thick hair. What am I going to do?

In the very depths of the universe, where no stars shone, perpetual blackness enveloped space, and time was at a standstill, a spark of malignant energy grew.

It had no face, no soul, no life, but existence and power unlike anything throughout the universe. It was undefeatable, impenetrable, and at eternal odds with the good found at any end of the cosmos, seeking it out and destroying everything in its wake.

In the very depths of space, it had no body, no voice, and no eyes, but it saw. It sought out the brightest shine and asked, how do I destroy it?