A/N: Chapter last updated on 01/07/2024.
The New Princess
The Early Years - Part 1 - Chapter 2
The Prophesied Princess
Previously:
Releasing a shuddering sob Pluto, the princess of Pluto, the now last of her race collapsed to the ground as the last remains of hope to correct her mistake left her.
If asked later Pluto would not be able to tell you how long she wept and wallowed in her grief. She truly was alone now. The last guardian of a now-extinct and soon-forgotten race. Several times, she even briefly considered suicide, if only to join her sisters in the great beyond. It would be easy, all she would have to do was stop time, but each time she managed to stop herself.
She just couldn't do it. She felt it was now her task... her punishment for her sins... her failure. To guide the remains of the other races and help them recover from the destruction of the galaxy.
Only then, only when she had undone her mistakes... or at least helped to undo whatever mistakes and damages she could, would she finally allow herself to pass on, on to the next great adventure. But until then she would wait, she would teach, she would guide and watch over the other races, guard the gates and continue to protect the solar system from outside threats as she had always done before. Only this time it would be just two planets she would have to protect, not a whole galaxy.
Her honor and sense of duty would demand no less.
And so, slowly, she settled down to wait, standing vigil at the gates, as the last immortal of a soon-to-be-forgotten empire, holding silent vigilance for the young world she had just sworn to protect as it evolved and revolved under her watchful eyes.
As the sole lonely guardian of the world, she had inadvertently helped to destroy.
And now the continuation:
Approximately 7000 years later, in the Ancient Greek Era, The Gates of Time, Planet Pluto.
It was just another monotonous day on the job. The same repetitive watch, just one more notch on the eternal calendar of her life, measuring the endless days and years that had come and gone, and those that had yet to come to pass. Pluto stood motionless at the steps of the time gates, her eyes vacant, watching the hours tick away.
Tick! Tock! Tick and tock, tick and tock. That same old silent sound echoed in the air.
A meaningless vision here, another pointless vision there. It was always the same.
"Has it really been that long?" she mused to herself, thoughts drifting once again to the destruction of the moon kingdom. She could no longer fully remember; it had been so long ago that the memories had faded into obscurity. Counting past the 5033rd year had become a futile exercise in the endless flow of time.
Several millennia had passed since the fall of the moon kingdom. Once an infamous part of history, it had now become a mere legend, swept away by the sands of time. It lingered now only in bedtime stories for children or tales told by old men and women around campfires at night — known as the 'Great Calamity', 'The Big Bang', or, to the more superstitious, 'the day the great moon goddess exploded with vengeance and fury, striking down those who dared betray her trust.'
While inaccurate and not entirely fair to the good Queen Serenity, that was how people now remembered it. True or not, in the end, it had been her death and the imminent danger to the legendary Silver Crystal that had catalyzed Saturn's rebirth and set her on her destructive course.
"Indeed, in a way, it could even be considered true, depending on your point of view," Pluto mused quietly, reflecting on the varied interpretations of history. "Not that it matters anymore."
Since that catastrophic event, Earth's population had steadily climbed, like a particularly obstinate phoenix from the ashes, from a mere ten thousand humans and a few hundred other sentient beings to a far more respectable sixty million people, alongside descendants of those who chose to remain hidden from humanity.
Admittedly, compared to the former ten billion or so population which had once inhabited Earth during the Silver Millennium's height of power, of which 4 billion had not even been human, this number was small, true. But considering how Earth had been reset with all its technology lost and its infrastructure destroyed, it was an impressive feat. Other civilizations had crumbled under much less stressful circumstances than what this one had now endured twice.
Looking back on those many years, Pluto couldn't help but acknowledge the pivotal role of the old king's noble sacrifice. "Without Elysios' selflessness at the end," she admitted softly, "there might have been no one left at all." Despite their differences, Pluto felt a sincere gratitude towards him for preserving humanity and those others left behind.
It was perhaps the one thing — maybe the only thing — Pluto was truly thankful for from that dreadful time. She may never have liked Elysios, the old king of Earth and father of the late prince Endymion, but she had to admit his sacrifice ensured survival. Despite their history, Pluto was forever grateful to the old codger. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
Still reminiscing, Pluto was suddenly disturbed from her silent vigil by the sound of soft, paw-like steps approaching. Without bothering to look away from the gates, knowing fully well who it was, Pluto waited for the new arrival to come to a complete halt before she opened her mouth to speak.
"I take it from your arrival that I need to go down to the surface again for another meeting?" she asked, shifting her weight from one leg to the other and turning her gaze from the gates to the incoming visitor — a medium-sized white tomcat with a golden moon symbol on its forehead.
The cat gave a slight nod in response before beginning to speak to the lone sailor guardian, who was now the oldest being in the galaxy, her lifespan far outstretching every other creature by a few thousand years. This made her the current — and only — uncontested leader of the galaxy. Not that it meant much when you were the only one qualified enough to take up the role in the first place… or indeed the only one of your kind left alive to rule at all.
"Yes, princess, it's time. Luna has informed me that the pompous loudmouth — her words, not mine — has called for yet another summit meeting." Artemis spoke seriously, bringing a rare smile to the old guardian's face. Standing before her was one of the only surviving Mau, one of the few remnants of a once-flourishing race of speaking cats with human-level intelligence.
Artemis had survived due to his privileged position as an advisor to the royal family. He was away from the moon, sent to Pluto, on the queen's orders to investigate the initial outbreak of fighting when the galaxy fell. Luna, the only other Mau to survive at the time, had thankfully already been on Pluto, her eyes troubled, having sensed the impending disaster. By the time Artemis joined her, it was too late. They were the only two lucky survivors of a very unlucky day. Since then, their three kittens, Selene, Regulus, and the youngest, Diana, had grown into adults, born after the tragic event.
Pluto sighed as she backed away from the towering ten-meter gates that comprised the Gates of Time, a massive doorway through which she could peer into the 'sands of time.' From here, she could search through space and time to witness moments of the past, present, and the future — if only she had done so when it had truly mattered.
"Another summit," Pluto murmured, her smile fading as she thought of the endless debates and discussions that awaited her. "Very well, Artemis. Let's get this over with."
"I guess I shouldn't keep King Zap waiting any longer than necessary," Pluto said to herself more than to the Mau beside her. She grabbed her staff from where it leaned against a nearby wall and used some of her magic to change her guardian uniform into a silvery purple silk peplos dress. With that done, she slowly continued walking with the Mau tailing behind her. "And don't call me princess," she added, shaking her head. "That title belonged to someone else."
"Oh, are you not the princess of this world?" Artemis asked slyly.
"That may be so," the guardian of Pluto replied. "But only one person has ever been officially dubbed 'princess'… and it wasn't me." Even though she was indeed a princess and now considered to be the most qualified to have the esteemed title, she felt uneasy about actually being called 'the' princess. Especially given that it had been due to her own mistake so many years ago that the original had lost her life.
"The only two who were ever worthy of that title are long gone. Even if I am now the last remaining guardian and therefore the only one fit for the role, it's something I can't accept. Especially since it happened because of me."
Artemis sighed, exasperated. "Pluto! Setsuna!" he said emphatically switching to her true name, "We've said it before and I'll now say it again - you were deceived, and that is how the queen died, and our kingdom fell. But! It! Was! Not! Your! Fault!" he continued, emphasizing each syllable of his last words in a bid to make them finally sink into the old guardian's stubborn guilt ridden mind.
"It has happened to people far wiser than you before and I dare say it will happen again to others far wiser. Beryl had always been a loyal ally until she too was fooled by our enemy. No one could have expected this, not even with the gates open. They can only show us so much and even then, it can be dangerous to misinterpret it, as you well know. And let's not forget Metalia, who knows what powers she had. Even the Queen herself was taken for a fool until it was too late," the wise cat reminded the last remaining sailor guardian in existence.
Pluto listened to her faithful companion's words of encouragement as he tried, yet again, to lift her spirits. With a small, grateful smile, she thanked Artemis for his efforts. "Thanks, Artemis, I do remember your advice, I do. It's just," she paused briefly as if collecting her thoughts before continuing, "I can't help but ponder what could have been if I had just uncovered her wicked plans before the attack. But I guess we'll never know now," she said wistfully, grateful for the cat's attempt at cheering her up.
Reaching a small futuristic-looking platform with a large ring circling it - one of the last remaining intact items of ancient technology left over from the old empire - Pluto stepped onto it before turning around to face the cat, who had not followed her onto the platform.
"As it is, all I can do now is bide my time and teach, guide, and protect the descendants of the survivors of the old kingdom and make sure they thrive. I leave the gates in your capable… paws until I return. As always, remember, it can never be left alone for too long. Thanks, Artemis. If not for you, Luna, and the triplets, I probably would have gone insane or abandoned my post by now."
"I know it's hard," Artemis said softly, remaining at the edge of the platform. "But dwelling on the past won't change it. We have to move forward, for the sake of everyone who survived and for those who will come after us."
Pluto nodded, her expression resolute. "You're right, as always. Let's get this over with." She then looked directly into the loyal feline's eyes. "I promise, I'm doing my best to keep it all in the past and I'm improving every year. Still, our memories and mistakes linger as an immortal's life is so long – especially our mistakes which tend to fester within us. I'll get there," she said with a wink.
With a wave of her hand, her body suddenly separated into billions of bright particles. The machine temporarily enhanced her innate powers, giving her enough of a sudden boost to disappear in a flash and travel the 0.79 light-year distance to Earth at speeds greater than even light. She reappeared on another platform just moments later.
Sometimes being the final inheritor of a race of intergalactic magical girls whose powers were enhanced by the planets was pretty awesome. The perks were great, and it made for faster travel. However, maintaining the technology was an absolute nightmare of a chore. She was a princess, not a mechanic, after all!
A few hours later, Mount Olympus, The Legendary City of the Greek Gods.
Pluto sat in a secret wizard town atop Mt. Olympus, disguised as Artemis, the ancient Greek virgin goddess of the moon, the hunt, wild animals, vegetation, chastity, and childbirth. She attempted to remain serene and composed while trying not to roll her eyes as the self-proclaimed King of the Gods, 'Zeus', complained once again about another incident that had happened in the past week.
This time, he was grumbling that some insignificant farmer hadn't given him enough recognition for the sudden rain he had wished for and received – never mind that the farmer's house had been struck by one of his lightning bolts and badly damaged in the downpour. Fortunately, the fire had been extinguished quickly by all the rain. But still! The gall of the man not to show him, Zeus, the proper appreciation he was so obviously due. The nerve of the man. Really!
Do you notice the sarcasm?
It was at times like this that Pluto, or rather Lady Artemis as she was currently known, wondered why she had ever joined this group of like-minded wizards and witches turned gods and goddesses. Oh, wait, yes, she remembered. It was because it gave her a great way to influence the newly developing civilizations of Earth without having to hide her godly planetary-fueled powers. That's why.
The other 'gods' and 'goddesses' were actually all wizards and witches who had the luck to have been born at the right time with larger-than-most magical cores and who had come together to influence their non-magical, highly superstitious 'mortal' neighbors to be more accepting towards magic. They helped those in need with their magical powers, for a 'small' tribute of course. In an age where civilizations on the newly populating Earth still fully believed in gods and other superpowered mythical beings… what better way than to become one of those gods yourself?
Besides, it also gave her something to do while she waited for the world to recover, not to mention the fact that it also provided the perfect opportunity to hunt any youma that sometimes still happened to make their way to Earth from the Negaverse.
Sadly, even though their dark Queen and leader were no longer with them and hadn't been seen since the Moon's fall, the dark monsters still existed and occasionally managed to find their way from their dimension into theirs. Enter Pluto - currently Artemis - who had taken on 'the hunt' as one of her domains when the group had first created the gods.
Her other domains - those of wild animals, vegetation, and childbirth - were added due to her advanced futuristic knowledge of all types of animals and plants and the various childbirth techniques she knew and used frequently to help the 'mortal' population recover that little bit faster. Techniques that ensured a near 100% childbirth efficiency thanks to her advanced medicinal knowledge from the Moon Kingdom. Some of these techniques, animals, and plants didn't even exist anymore and in a time where life expectancy was low and birth mortality high...they were priceless.
Adding to her godly status was the fact that she could naturally fly, teleport, cast elemental spells, in certain cases even slow time (though never stop), and predict events before they happened. Not to mention, she was the only true immortal among all the gods...
Well…
It made being a goddess in a primitive world easy.
The fact that she was also sometimes seen talking to the Mau - to their eyes a simple cat - and was believed to have the ability to somehow make them sentient and give them the ability to speak further ensured her godly status among the mortals, much to the envy of the others. She couldn't, of course, but they didn't know that, and that was all that mattered. Come to think of it, it was probably because of this that the Egyptians started to worship cats as the familiars of the gods. In the case of the last remaining Mau, they were even revered as gods themselves. Artemis and Luna always loved to stay in Egypt whenever they visited Earth, and their children were never far behind either.
As for her domain of chastity and her huntresses, well… she was hardly going to allow herself to get involved with 'cavemen' who sometimes smelled almost as bad as skunks and probably felt even worse. Preferably never. A girl had standards after all, and hers were set to Millennium Moon Kingdom standards, thank you very much.
Of course, as a sailor guardian turned goddess, no matter how powerful she was, she could never be expected to take on every youma on her own. So, she had once, on a mere lark, started to adopt groups of young girls — usually those who had just lost their parents in a battle or were being abused and would have died otherwise — and had proceeded to teach them how to hunt the monsters for her. In exchange, she provided them with a warm place to stay at night, an education, and a decent meal each day.
These 'huntresses' had all grown up to become her unofficial daughters, believing her to be the new goddess of the moon. She had even told them stories of the old moon kingdom and of the old queen who once ruled it before she, Artemis, had taken over as the moon's new goddess when the former chose to fade away.
Why she told them this story and why she told it in that particular way, she wasn't sure… but it was probably because she wanted to keep the memory of her former friends alive, if only in a story.
It had only progressed from there.
As for her so-called hatred of males…
She had once been accused of harboring a strong dislike for males, probably because she only ever recruited female huntresses. But that was only because she was used to working with the sailor guardians, who had only ever been girls, never boys. To her it felt strange, even wrong, to work with males. That was the only reason why she avoided doing so. It was all just a huge misunderstanding. She had no animosity towards men. Honest!
Luckily, the youma, without their evil queen, were nowhere near as powerful as their pre-moon destruction counterparts. Unlike the youma of the past, these could be harmed with arrows and swords, making it feasible for her huntresses to deal with them. However, it usually took at least ten huntresses to take down one youma. Anything stronger, Pluto would handle herself.
As for the other gods, like her, they were all magically powerful and each took domains of their own. However, unlike her, they were not immortal. But that didn't cause much of a problem. To maintain the ruse, the others sometimes had children of their own, which they named demigods. One favored child would always 'ascend' and take over when the parent became too old. As witches and wizards usually lived for over 100 years, sometimes even into their 300's, far longer than their more 'mortal' counterparts, this system was manageable. They tended to outlive their mortal followers by a large margin. Illusion spells took care of the rest. Sometimes a god's child would even become an entirely new god themselves. Finally, if a 'god' didn't have a child to carry on their godly legacy or simply chose not to, they just 'faded' away. It was a simple yet effective system.
Hours later, Pluto let out a sigh of relief as Zeus finally concluded the godly meeting with one of his signature lightning strikes, the thunder echoing through the night sky. That man sure loved his theatrics.
It was at that moment, just as everyone began rising to depart, eager to return home, that something unexpected seized Pluto. She gasped audibly, instantly commanding the room's attention. Silence fell like a heavy curtain as all eyes fixed on her, seated on her throne, body shuddering, head tilting back, eyes glazed over in a trance-like state.
This wasn't the first time such an episode had occurred, so the others soon settled down again, waiting to see what would happen next.
A mighty surge of energy coursed through her veins, reigniting her powers of time and space. A vision materialized in her mind's eye—an uncommon occurrence for Pluto if away the time gates, marking the unfolding or imminent approach of significant events.
These prophetic messages were seldom seen but always significant, advising her of colossal modifications occurring in the timeline. Most significantly of all, these prognostications were nearly always authentic - true predictions - or became so if she didn't strive to alter them. Even then, while she could shape visions of the future if she wished, it wasn't usually safe and hardly ever worth the effort. Only foolish individuals meddled with time if they didn't have to, and that rule applied even to a goddess like herself.
To put it into clear context, her last visions of such magnitude had been about the founding of Rome and, before that, the battle of Troy. Seeing as Troy had indeed fallen and Rome was currently being built, she and the others were always very interested when another such vision occurred. While these visions usually only happened when she was close to the time gates, on very rare occasions, they were also known to happen when she was away from them as well. This was one such occasion.
Allowing the vision to fully settle and take control of her, Pluto began to perceive a city. Not just any city, but a deeply familiar silver crystal city crowned by a palace she knew intimately. It was unmistakably the Moon Palace, yet not as she remembered it from the annals of history. This version stood proudly, vibrant and resplendent, untouched by the passage of time or the tragedies that had once befallen it.
The vision sharpened further. Pluto beheld people bustling about in the elegant attire of the Moon Kingdom, their movements purposeful and joyous. They seemed oblivious to the catastrophic events that had precipitated the kingdom's downfall. The city pulsated with life, exuding a vibrancy and energy that she hadn't witnessed in millennia.
Mixed emotions surged within Pluto—longing, disbelief, hope. Was this a glimpse of the future, or perhaps an alternate reality where the Moon Kingdom had endured? The implications were staggering, even cruel, especially for one who had witnessed its tragic downfall so long ago.
Gasping both mentally and physically in surprise, Pluto was overwhelmed as the vision assaulted her senses even further. Desperately, she tried to get closer, like a starving dog searching for the last few scraps of its favorite meat.
It was at that moment that she saw her. In the heart of the palace stood a figure by the throne. It was a young woman, regal and serene, with an unmistakable resemblance to Queen Serenity. However, this was not the queen she had known, but a new ruler, embodying the grace and strength of the Moon Kingdom's legacy. Beside her, familiar figures appeared—friends and allies who Pluto had known and fought alongside long ago.
Yet, the other girls' faces seemed blurry, as if their identities were still unknown, but they all bore the distinctive attire of sailor guardians. No, they were the sailor guardians. From Mercury and Venus to Uranus and Neptune, their costumes were unmistakable, hinting at their identities despite the haze that obscured their faces.
But what finally broke her and nearly overwhelmed her at that moment was the final guardian who stood proudly behind the others, sporting a huge smile on her face.
It was a vision of herself—a truly happy self, the happiest she had seen herself in a very long time.
The sight brought tears to Pluto's eyes. Mesmerized and overwhelmed, she had never dared hope to see another guardian, let alone herself among them—all the lost guardians, though unfamiliar in appearance, filled her with an inexplicable yearning.
Abruptly, the visions flickered, fading away before her desperate attempts to grasp them could succeed. She cried out in dismay, her voice echoing "NO!" in the silent aftermath, followed by sobs as she returned to the present.
Tears streamed down Pluto's face, a torrent of longing and loss, her heart aching as if denied a cherished treasure at the last moment. Completely overwhelmed from her ordeal, she gasped and sobbed heavily, tears running unchecked down her cheeks. It was a deep longing, akin to a drug addict grappling with withdrawal, leaving her shaken and raw.
She struggled to regain control shutting out all attempts from others to comfort her or inquire about her vision.
The others, seeing how deeply affected she was by the vision, stayed silent, patiently allowing her some space and time to recover. It was clear to them that it must have been a profound experience to affect her so deeply.
Eventually, as the waves of emotion subsided, Pluto began to regain composure. Collecting herself, she contemplated the significance of what she had seen—the unmistakably Moon Palace, albeit different, not on the moon but intact and vital. This realization stirred her profoundly; if her visions held true, it meant a monumental change—a second chance, perhaps, for the Moon Kingdom.
But more crucially, there was the woman she had seen—so young, vibrant, and clad in a Sailor Guardian's uniform that Pluto recognized instantly. If her instincts were correct, this woman was a future princess—a figure Pluto had long believed lost forever.
If what she saw was indeed real—and Pluto had no reason to doubt it, given the accuracy of her visions thus far—it meant one thing that filled her with immense joy and even a touch of giddiness.
Equally significant was the woman's appearance. She seemed remarkably young, far from the end of a normal human lifespan. Pluto estimated her to be in her early twenties, perhaps into her late twenties or early thirties at most.
The sailor uniform she wore was familiar, reminiscent of only one other person Pluto had seen adorned in such attire. If this were true—and again, Pluto had no reason to doubt it—then this woman was undoubtedly a future princess, someone of profound significance to the fate of the Moon Kingdom.
A new beginning!
A new Sailor Moon!
A new Princess!
A renewed royal family!
And maybe even a new Silver Millennium!
Bah! Who cares about that, to the void with the Millennium!
We are about to have a new Princess!
She could finally reclaim her title as Sailor Pluto. Hah! Take that, Artemis—no more calling me princess anymore.
At that moment, she felt an overwhelming surge of joy. Proper decorum be damned! This was a time to celebrate. To let her hair down, pop open the bottles, sing, dance, and be merry… and yes, for the first time in ages, she was going to allow herself to get drunk!
She could still hardly believe it. There was going to be a new princess!
She had a true purpose again.
Suddenly, her tears forgotten, she leaped up from her throne and grabbed the nearest person she could find, who happened to be her 'younger twin brother' Apollo, and planted a deep kiss right on his mouth—a gesture that left the other gods in the chamber stunned, especially the wide-eyed 'brother' she had just kissed.
Speechless, the others could only watch with open mouths in disbelief as the goddess before them—moments ago in tears—now skipped and danced around the room, radiating pure delight. Finally, she turned to face the rest of her godly 'family'.
"Χαίρετε οἱ φίλοι μου, ἐπεὶ ἐγὼ ἄγγελον ὑμῖν φέρω μεγάλων νέων. Νέων θαυμασίων μετρίων. Ἡμεῖς λήψομεθα βασίλισσαν. Νέα βασίλισσα γεννηθήσεται," she proclaimed in Ancient Greek, ("Rejoice, my friends, for I bring tidings of great news. News of wondrous proportions. We are going to gain a princess. A new princess is about to be born,") before rushing out of the room without another word. She was eager to return to Pluto and share the great news, oblivious to the stunned gods she left behind and the chaos of misunderstandings that would follow her declaration, leaving a chamber full of frozen and shocked gods and goddesses who could only stare in bewilderment at what had just transpired.
A few minutes later Zeus turned towards Apollo and asked,
"Οὖν!.. Υἱέ, εἰπέ μοι, εἰ ἴσως ἐστί τι, ἀλλά, οἶδας… τι θέλεις ἡμῖν εἰπεῖν περί; Θυγατέρα ἐρχομένη τάχα, ἣν οὐκ ἀκηκόαμεν ἔτι… μετὰ τῆς φιλτάτης σου ἀδελφῆς οὐχ ἧττον?"
(Ancient Greek: "So! Son, tell me, is there perhaps something, well, you know… something you want to tell us about? An incoming daughter perhaps one we have not yet heard about… with your dear sister no less?")
Little did Pluto realise, it was at that moment, that Artemis briefly lost her title as a virgin goddess.
If only for a short while.
At the edge of the solar system, Planet Pluto, moments later.
Sailor Pluto, brimming with joy and unaware of the chaos she had sparked among her adopted family, swiftly returned to Pluto to share her sudden vision and the forthcoming birth of a new princess with the last remaining Mau. They needed to hear about her latest revelation.
Clad in her Greek peplos, her heart racing with anticipation, she materialized in a flash and dashed through the grand double doors of the palace's antechamber, heading straight for its heart—the gates of time. She knew Artemis and Luna would be there, eagerly awaiting her return.
Sure enough, they awaited her, eager for the latest gossip from the gods about Earth. While it typically provided amusement, this time would be different. This time, they were in for a surprise.
As Sailor Pluto approached the gates, her excitement surged. Bursting through the double doors with a resounding bang, she couldn't contain her enthusiasm to share the news.
Needless to say, from that day onward, Pluto underwent a drastic transformation. The once somber guardian, now a radiant goddess, joyfully recounted her vision to the equally excited Mau. From that day onwards, no longer would Pluto dwell in the melancholy of the past 7000 years. The news was met with open paws and ecstatic mews of surprise from both Artemis and Luna, and they celebrated well into the night and beyond.
Their celebration lasted for days, culminating in a wild revelry that left everyone with a pounding headache. Whether human or cat, it took a full day to recover from their self-induced revelry. Even two days later, Pluto winced and held her head as she moved about the palace.
"Oh, my head!" she groaned in agony. "I wish I could erase the past few days from my memory. Especially those images of Artemis licking my cheek... or Luna tumbling down the grand chamber stairs with Artemis attempting to imitate her, high on too much catnip. What did I even do? I vaguely recall attempting to sing a trio with the cats... and is that my... ahem... 'decorating' the palace tower spire?" She sighed heavily. "No, best not dwell on it," she thought, glancing at the pile of empty wine and drink bottles, while trying to ignore her headache. The celebrations had indeed been wild.
"Yeah, maybe a bit too wild," she chuckled to herself. "Purrrrfectly wild, even," she added with a fresh giggle.
But it didn't matter. The pain would soon subside, and the embarrassment was a small price to pay in the end.
After all, it was shared among friends, and the cats certainly had no room to judge. They were hardly faring any better themselves.
Soon, everybody recovered, unmentionables were retrieved from certain high places, and plans were made for the future:
Artemis, Luna, and the triplets were swiftly dispatched to Earth with a crucial mission: they had to connect with their feline brethren, both the ordinary cats and their more magical kin, the Kneazels. Their task was clear—to keep their eyes peeled and whiskers alert for any signs of a girl who fit Pluto's vision: one born with either a small half-moon or a lightning bolt on her forehead, endowed with special powers.
Meanwhile, Pluto, in her guise as the goddess of the moon and the hunt, spread the word among her huntresses to remain vigilant for the same.
They all understood that this new princess might not even have been born yet, and that finding her could take years, perhaps even centuries. Yet, they were patient and eagerly anticipated the adventure of the hunt. Whether the discovery happened tomorrow or many years hence, they took solace in the knowledge that a new princess would eventually emerge. The great hunt had begun, and nothing else mattered.
A few weeks later, Planet Earth, the great forge of Mt Olympus, Hephaestus workshop.
Pluto hummed a little ditty to herself; an old now long-forgotten song from the moon which had once been sung to her as a child as she walked down the stone sett paved road of Pyraia Avenue on Mt. Olympus. Acknowledging people who bowed at her with a nod as she passed, she soon proceeded to enter a small yet very important workshop. A workshop currently owned by her current adopted brother Hephaestus, the god of fire, metalworking, stone masonry, forges, the art of sculpture, technology, and blacksmiths. Or was that his son or grandson? She wasn't sure anymore. With the illusions, they all looked the same.
Either way, she was there on a mission of her undertaking, to ask her godly 'brother' for a favor. Not just any favor, but a very important request. One critical for the future.
She needed him to make her a few items. Not just any items, but some very special items of a very magical nature. Items that she knew would one day be needed and critically important if the new royal family of the moon-to-be was ever to prevail.
As the greatest inventor of his time and the self-proclaimed god of technology, Pluto had high hopes that he would be up to the task. It was either that or she would be forced to train the newest sailor guardians in the 'old way' and that was something that took time. She wanted to avoid that if she could.
She feared if what she saw about the future was true then they may not have enough time to prepare for the challenges the new princess would one day have to face.
As such, to help the inventor turned god along so that he didn't have to start completely from scratch, she had decided to bring along one of the last remaining items in existence, a small brooch that she wanted him to recreate. It was a gamble because if lost or damaged it truly would be irreplaceable, but she knew if nothing else it would keep him focused and committed to the task. After all what better way to keep someone who hated to be second best at creating something committed to the job than if the item in question already existed? His pride and sheer stubbornness would take care of the rest.
Sure, she doubted he would be able to recreate the actual technology of the Silver Millennium…but if nothing else, maybe a more magical solution could also be found.
Already Pluto could make out the smell of oil and rust, of burning wood and steel acrid with the smell of burning fire and flesh, of gunpowder and smoke as she neared the abode of the mad inventor turned Greek god.
Leaving the well-made paved road she walked up so far, to a dirt pathway that led to the front door, she raised her hand to knock on the door of Hephaestus's workshop; a typical at least for wizards small on the outside but massive on the inside magically expanded building which had at one point been a mere cowshed.
Hearing her 'brother's' voice bidding her permission to enter, she promptly opened the door and stepped inside only to be nearly overwhelmed by the amazing sight of a near ludicrous amount of tools and materials, cogs, gears, pistons, and springs all working together in a cacophony of mechanical buzzes of activity of a thousand gears working together at once.
For a moment even she, the last survivor of a spacefaring race was taken by stunned surprise.
Considering that she was currently in a world that had been thrown back into a version of its ancient historical past, it was quite a sight to behold. Here was clearly a workshop of someone who believed he could invent anything.
'Well come what may today I will give him something which will test his skills to the limit' she thought as she greeted him with a wave.
If he couldn't do it then nobody ever would!