Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 46: Usagi's Inner Turmoil
By: Sora Kazeno
An hour after they left, Mamoru didn't want to wait anymore. He needed answers. He picks up the telephone and calls Setsuna. Something happened when Usagi visited her. The phone rang twice and he hangs up. He decides it is better to speak to her in person. He grabs his helmet and his motorcycle keys. He is tired of walking on eggshells.
Minako browses through a few more items on the clothing rack trying to determine when would be the best time to ask Usagi what was wrong. She hadn't seen Usagi in a few weeks. Rei had called her and she was concerned about Usagi. And now Mamoru too.
"Is it what you expected?" Usagi suddenly asks Minako.
"What do you mean?"
"Being an idol."
"Oh." Minako sighs. "It is a lot more difficult than I ever imagined. I understand better than ever when the Three Lights said it wasn't easy being an idol. Though I would love to know to how they became so popular so quickly. Probably helps they were a boy band and cute!" Minako winks at Usagi.
Usagi laughs. "They made it look easy."
Minako is surprised by Usagi's comment. Normally she would have said something along the lines of Mamoru being cuter than them. "I wonder… if they stayed a little longer, if they could have helped me start my career."
"I'm sure they would have helped you and your career would take off. You could have even gone on tour with them as the opening act." Usagi adds with an all knowing tone.
"Yeah…" Minako slowly speaks. "Usagi-chan… why would think they would want me on tour?"
Usagi opens her mouth to respond and then remembers this Minako did not travel with her across the United States performing with the Three Lights. "You're so talented Minako-chan."
Minako notices how Usagi's mood seemed brighten the brief moment they discussed the Three Lights. "Do you miss him?"
Usagi gasps at Minako's question. She couldn't explain to her why she missed Seiya so much. Instead she ops for a more neutral answer, "I miss anyone that is far away." She hopes that answer would satisfy Minako and she wouldn't read into it too much.
Minako nods her head. She thinks she understands why Usagi is off. This isn't the first time she missed the Three Lights but would not directly come out and say it. A similar situation happened two years ago for a little while and then she was fine. How could she tell Mamoru the reason Usagi was down was because she missed another guy that just happened to be in love in Usagi. A love he made very clear to her. "They were definitely one of a kind."
"Yes. I knew I wouldn't have stopped Chaos-" Usagi stops herself. She almost said the first time. "Without them. I fell apart once I realized Galaxia had taken Mamo-chan's starseed. But Seiya and Hotaru-chan wouldn't let me give up. Because of them, we are all here today and the world is at peace."
Minako nods her head and stands by Usagi in silence for a few moments. Usagi seemed to have bonded strongly with the Starlights by the end of the battle with Sailor Galaxia. "We've always wondered what it would be like to be… normal. I don't know about you but it feels funny to be normal!" Minako places a hand behind her head and laughs.
Usagi looks at her and laughs. "We wanted this so much in high school. We were finally able to enjoy the last year without any attacks."
Minako gave Usagi a quizzical glance, "five years…"
"Right five years." Usagi corrects herself. "Someone times it feels a lot shorter." She needs to remember when she speaks to the others to follow the events she read in the journal rather than immediately discussing how things happened in her timeline. This was proving to be more difficult than she anticipated.
Minako gasps when she comes across the perfect dress on a rack.
Mamoru parks his motorcycle and rushes towards the apartment of the Outer Senshi. He hadn't completely thought this through and what he would say to Setsuna other than Usagi has acted strangely since she came here and spoke with Setsuna last week. He needed to know what she told Usagi to cause her to act so distant towards him.
Mamoru quickly heads up the stairs. He didn't want to wait for the elevator. Nine minutes later, he is outside her apartment. He isn't going to leave until he has answers and know how he can help Usa. He knocks on the door loudly and waits from someone to let him inside.
"Geez, hang on," Haruka shouts from somewhere within. She flings the door open and is surprised to see Mamoru again so soon. "Mamoru-san what is going on?"
"I need to speak to Setsuna-san right away," Mamoru explains in a hurried tone.
Alarm sets in, "Is everything okay? Where is Usagi-chan?" Haruka asks when she notices Usagi is not with him. She opens the door wider to let him inside. She is surprised they were here last week and now Mamoru is back by himself.
"That is what I am trying to figure out. Ever since Usa came here last week she hasn't been the same and I'm trying to figure out what happened. I need to talk to Setsuna-san." Mamoru's patience is wearing thin.
Haruka did not miss the tone in his voice. It was the same tone she has used when she is concerned about Michiru. "She's in the back room with Hotaru. Let me get her."
A small part of him feels relief to know Setsuna is in the apartment. On his way he questioned what he would do if she wasn't here. He glances around the apartment and notices how quiet it is.
"Mamoru-san?" Setsuna speaks softly when she enters the room. "I was told you wanted to speak to me?"
"In private." Mamoru clarifies. He wasn't sure what he would hear from the Guardian of Time.
"Of course," Haruka said. "I'll check in on Hotaru. Michiru should be gone a few more hours." Haruka turns back around towards Hotaru's room leaving the two of them alone to speak.
"Please," Setsuna gestures to the couch for Mamoru to be seated.
Mamoru sits down and waits for Setsuna to sit down before bombarding her with questions. "I'm worried about Usa. She hasn't been the same since she was here last week? What has upset her?"
"Usagi-chan had a few questions about Crystal Tokyo and the future. I tried to explain to her I couldn't tell her all of the details just that she was on the path that would take her to where she needs to be."
"She seems worried regarding the Black Moon and just waiting for them to attack." Mamoru studies Setsuna's face for any type of reaction and receives none. He continues, "She was happy that morning, seemed a little off when I picked her up from Rei-chan's shrine and then very distant after we left this apartment. Something else happened."
"She will be fine," Setsuna tries to reassure him. "She is going through a period of adjustment between her past self and the person she will become in the future. Until recently, this time was so far ahead in the future to everyone but now it is here. It is a lot for anyone to take in."
Mamoru does not respond while he processes everything Setsuna told him. It was somewhat similar to what Usa said to him. Was it really that simple? His gut told him there was more to it.
"Is that it? I can't shake the feeling that there is something else."
"Let me ask you this," Setsuna interjects, "Do you have any concerns about being King?" She tries to change his focus.
"I'm too busy with work to even think about something that is so far in the future."
"That future doesn't seem as far away to Usagi-chan. She knows sooner or later she is going to have the save the Earth from an attack. An attack that will lead to her being incased in crystal and your daughter going back in time on her own." Setsuna tries to justify the change in Usagi's behavior. She hopes that with enough time, Usagi's memories of the other timeline with Seiya will disappear. Usagi is already married to Mamoru and it is the natural progression. She believes that in time, Usagi would love Mamoru again and put all of their differences to the side.
Mamoru leans back on the couch to contemplate Setsuna's words. "But that doesn't explain why she has been so distant with me."
Setsuna rubs her lips together and tries to think of a reason that would plausible. "Is she worried about expectations that you have for her?"
"I don't have expectations for her. I just want her to be happy."
"Have you told her that?" Setsuna asks, trying to alleviate some of his frustration. "Give her some time and some space to adjust to all the recent changes in her life and I am sure she will be fine."
Mamoru lets out a sigh of relief. "I was worried there was something else wrong, something that I couldn't explain."
"Give her time and she will fine," Setsuna repeats and smiles.
The following day, Usagi is sitting in her apartment unsure of what to do. What did her old self do all day? She brushes her fingers against her star locket lying on a dresser in the bedroom. She is running out of ideas on how she can go back to where she came from. She can't just remove her starseed and hope for the best. It was becoming more and more hopeless.
She turns on a radio hoping for some kind of distraction. The announcer discussed a brand new song debut. A woman's voice begins singing,
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now
Usagi collapses to the floor. Why was someone else singing the song that Seiya wrote on Kinmoku? What kind of world is this?
Yeah, yeah I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
Cause after all the partying and smashing and crashing
And all the glitz and glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time when you fade to the blackness
And when you're staring at the phone in your lap
And you hoping but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel in the sand
What would you wish for, if you had one chance?
So airplane airplane sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight and
I'll be right back at it by the end of the night*
She forces herself off the floor and shuts off the radio, nearly knocking it to the floor. She struggles making it back to the bed nearby. Tears stream down her face and she can't stop them. She didn't understand why someone had a song with the same chorus. Is this how it would always be? Finding reminders of Seiya and the life she was missing everywhere?
Usagi takes a deep breath trying to calm her nerves. She could cry about the situation but Seiya would try to convince her to do something about it rather than just cry. It is what she had to do to stop the Black Moon. She wipes a few more tears from her face.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi's body stiffens at the voice. She didn't want Luna to see her like this. She doesn't respond at first. It was bad enough she told Luna what happened in a moment of weakness when she first woke up. She wasn't sure if Luna believed her.
"Usagi-chan, are you all right?" Luna asks while jumping up onto the bed, eying Usagi carefully. She knew something wasn't right but wants to give Usagi a chance to discuss why she is upset.
"You wouldn't understand Luna," Usagi tries to brush her off and gives her a half smile.
Luna didn't buy it. "Usagi-chan you were crying for a reason." There was a long pause between them before Luna asks, "Is it related to what you told me the other day regarding Sailor Cosmos and an alternate timeline?"
Usagi clenches her fists together but does not answer.
The gesture is enough to answer Luna's question. "It is a brand new song that just debuted. Have you heard it before?"
"I…." Usagi tries to find her words. "I heard a different version of this song. The chorus was the same but the rest of the lyrics were different." She tries to describe it. "It was a song Seiya wrote when he was on Kinmoku and the first new song performed by the Three Lights when they began performing again." Usagi finally explains. She feels some relief to be able to discuss this freely with someone that wouldn't judge her. She hopes Luna would understand the drastic changes between the two timelines. There wasn't anyone else she could talk to about this.
Luna knew something was different with Usagi, especially when she spoke in Lunarian. But she struggles to believe everything Usagi told her. It could account for the change in Usagi's behavior. She wanted to speak to Artemis about what she heard but Usagi made her promise not to tell anyone else.
"Usagi-chan…." Luna has one lingering thought to discuss with her. "I understand you miss Seiya, but right now, you're married to Mamoru-san."
"I don't even remember a wedding Luna! I was in Boston and then all of the sudden I was at Rei-chan's shrine with a wedding band. I am missing years of my life. Reading the journal I kept only helped so much, but I miss where I am from! I miss having my full powers. I feel so powerless over everything!" Usagi begins to shout. Tears threaten to fall again. She lowers her eyes, frustrated she yelled at Luna. Luna did understand her situation or how she felt.
"Usagi-chan…. Are you sure it wasn't just a dream?" Luna tried to calm Usagi down. She struggles with believing Usagi chose Seiya over Mamoru. Serenity belongs with Endymion and would never cast him aside for anyone.
Usagi glares at Luna. "It was not a dream Luna. I know these memories are real and I experienced them." She isn't sure what else she could tell Luna to get through to her. She had assumed after she spoke to Luna in Lunarian, it would have removed doubts Luna had. What changed? "Why is it so hard to believe?"
"The only thing that is different and has changed is you Usagi-chan. It's hard to imagine that everything else is wrong."
Usagi shakes her head. She begins to understand Luna. She needs to find a way back and Luna will not be able to help. She wasn't even sure if Luna wanted to help her. She thought she could talk to Luna about what happened. Clearly she was mistaken. She was on her own. She made a note to not confide in Luna regarding this matter; it would only lead to more frustration on her part. "I'll be fine Luna," Usagi finally responds and stands up to go to the kitchen to make something to drink for herself. She changes the topic, "what did you want to do today?"
Rei leans back on the cushion. She completed a fire reading and is not any closer to having answers than she was the previous week. Other silhouettes constantly stood by Usagi but they kept changing. One day it appeared as if all of the Inner and Outer Senshi stood behind her but they were wearing different fukus. The sleeves and skirts were different. Another time Neo Queen Serenity stood in front of another group of eight senshi she had never seen before. One of the times she had a staff that appeared similar to Sailor Pluto's time staff. She saw King Endymion standing next to a senshi she had never seen before. Who are all of these additional senshi and how do they relate to Usagi?
The image she just witnessed showed Neo Queen Serenity walking in the gardens with two young children. She might have been in the gardens of the Silver Millennium. But the gardens were destroyed along with the rest of the kingdom by Queen Beryl. Will Usagi rebuild the Silver Millennium? How? When is the second child born?
She is unsure if she should discuss any of this with Usagi. What if she was wrong, if she interrupted? It was a seemingly random collection of images that do not have a collective meaning at this time. If she waits for more images would they provide any clarity or further confusion? Most unlikely more unanswered questions based on her recent experiences.
Rei stands up and leaves the room. She decides she can still call Usagi to check in on her. Usagi didn't seem quite like herself the last time she spoke with her. Why did Usagi ask about the Three Lights? Perhaps it is somehow related to the image of Neo Queen Serenity potentially standing next to a Starlight.
She picks up the phone and calls Usagi. After a few rings, Usagi picks up. "Hi Usagi. I haven't talk to you since last week and wanted to see how you were doing. You seemed a little out it when you left."
"Yeah. I was just really tired. I spoke with Setsuna-san for a little while and everything is fine," Usagi lowers her eyes to the floor in the kitchen. She was lying constantly to everyone and it made her feel guilty. She is also alarmed at how easy it has become to not be truthful with the others. Until this past week, she never imagined she would constantly lie to them about everything. She hesitates when she realizes she has done this once before, when Mamoru went to college the first time and she never told them she hasn't heard back from him in months.
"I hope you've been able to catch up on some of your sleep." Rei is making small talk trying to assess Usagi and if she was really okay. "Did you want to meet up at Crown for lunch?"
"Umm... sure!" Usagi says brightly when she realizes how hungry she is. Some things did not change between timelines and always being hungry was one of them. "I can be there in about an hour."
"Great, see you then."
Usagi is twenty minutes late, Rei notices when she checks her watch again. Motoki is not working today since he is in school, so she couldn't ask him how Usagi was and if she seemed any different.
Usagi collapses on the bench on the other side of the table. "Sorry I'm late Rei-chan, it took a little longer than I thought." Usagi apologies for her tardiness to her raven haired friend.
Rei nods her head but doesn't say anything right away, making Usagi feel awkward as if Rei is evaluating Usagi's excuse and if she would accept her reason. "I've been thinking a lot about last week and it seems odd you would suddenly ask about the Three Lights out of the blue." Rei sips from her ice tea glass, watching Usagi for any kind of a response.
Usagi stiffens, the topic making her feel uncomfortable. Before she can answer, a waitress comes by to take her order. She quickly scans through the menu to order a pop and a burger.
Rei places an order and waits for the waitress to leave before she confronts Usagi again. "You never answered my question."
"Oh umm… I miss everyone when they are far away. It's been awhile since we've seen Mako-chan or Ami-chan." Usagi quickly tries to brush off Rei's concerns. She didn't want to spend a lot of the conversation talking about the Three Lights. She isn't sure if she could keep it together. Why is everyone confronting her about this? Can't they just let it go? It is hardest to not be honest with Rei. Rei was there to talk to her after Seiya asked Usagi if he was good enough. Rei knew Usagi understood what Seiya told her on the root top before they left for Kinmoku even when she pretended she was clueless.
"Usagi-chan that's not what I mean." Rei ponders how she wants to word what she wants to say. "You and Seya-kun… had a special connection."
"But I have Mamo-chan."
"Then why were you asking about the Three Lights?"
Usagi is silent. She was confused when she woke up and didn't realize she was in a different time. "It is just been a while since we heard or seen them."
"It's going to be six years soon." Rei comments while swishing around the ice in her drink. "But it just seems random you bring them up and you haven't been the same since. Usagi…I just… don't think you're being completely honest with yourself. And that is why you've been struggling this week."
The waitress returns and places a pop in front of Usagi before disappearing again. Usagi stares at her drink but does not immediately respond. "… that was a difficult time for me and I guess I didn't realize until later how much Seiya helped me get through it."
"I know they protected you from Galaxia and we are all grateful. I just don't understand why all of his happened shortly after you married Mamoru-san. For years it was all you could talk about and then suddenly you're a million miles away worried about someone else. I'm just trying to understand if something happened."
"Err." Usagi knows she can't tell Rei everything, she would run into the same issues she had with Luna but Rei more persistent. "Sometimes it's just hard waiting."
Rei flashes a quizzical look at Usagi. "Waiting for what?"
Usagi nervously taps her food under the table. She makes sure she tells Rei and Mamoru the same thing. "I guess… for what happens next. I mean when does Crystal Tokyo appear and when will the Black Moon attack us? We know it is coming but now all we can do is wait. It used to seem so far away and so did marrying Mamo-chan but now…" Her voice trails off. She hopes Rei would accept her reasoning.
Rei nods her head in agreement. "I remember when we first learned about Crystal Tokyo. It did seem so far away… but now that was almost nine years ago." She smirks a little. "I guess the other question will be when Chibi Usa-chan will be born."
Usagi shifts uncomfortably on the bench. "That's not funny Rei-chan." There is no way she was ready to be a mother. But if she didn't figure out how to leave this timeline, it would eventually happen. "That is still far away." She places a lot of emphasis on the word that.
"It might be closer than you think. I've seen a few very vague images in the Great Fire but they don't mean much other than seeing you as Queen one day."
"One day…" Usagi echoes. That one day already came and went against the Death Phantom.
Rei's comments did not seem to phase Usagi other than when she discussed Seiya. It is becoming clearer to Rei, Usagi cares about Seiya more than she ever let on or would tell anyone. Now was not the time to push Usagi. She had to know why it looked like a Starlight stood next to Neo Queen Serenity and not King Endymion. Why another senshi stood next to King Endymion that she did not recognize and not the Queen. Before Usagi could say anything else, their food arrives.
The following day Usagi stares at her brooch. She wants to transform into Sailor Moon and try to remember how she became Sailor Cosmos but her memories are fuzzy when Chaos first controlled her. Her memories became clearer as she became closer to being freed.
She picks up her brooch and is about to transform but stops. Mamoru would know when she transformed because of their connection. He would panic and think she is in danger. Why else would she transform unless she is in danger? She slumps back down to the floor in defeat. If she were to transform how would it benefit her?
She closes her eyes and tries to focus. She needs to remember what steps were taken to become Sailor Cosmos, it could be the key to having her powers return.
The next day Usagi isn't any closer to remembering. She can't sit around the apartment all day.
She walks down a very familiar path until she came to the entrance of her childhood home. Her father would be at work. Shingo would be away at college according to her journal. She rings the doorbell and waits for a response. Ten minutes later, she is still standing outside. No one is home.
She lets out a lough sigh. Is this how married life was supposed to be for her? Utterly boring? She could go to Crown but what if she runs into people she is supposed to know but doesn't? She's not sure where she can go. She could go to Setsuna's apartment and demand Setsuna change things back. But that would never happen. She didn't want to go and visit Rei; she might ask a bunch of questions. She doesn't want to sit around in the apartment. Instead she wonders around Tokyo for a few hours. She has never felt more alone in her life.
"She said that?" Artemis asks Luna not completing believing the story he just heard. "I know there was talk during the Silver Millennium there was a slim chance Princess Serenity could be the reincarnation of Sailor Cosmos. But that just doesn't make sense. How can she be from a different timeline?"
"That is what I thought too but… she spoke in Lunarian. How did she learn that overnight? She has been acting so strange for the past week or so. I don't know what to do and I can't talk to Mamoru-san about this. If it is true… I just can't. She told me all about this alternative version of time and I'm scared it could be true." Luna looks at Artemis for guidance. She couldn't keep this to herself anymore. "But you can't tell Minako-chan. Usagi-chan didn't want me to tell anyone but I couldn't keep to myself anymore. I don't know that to do. What if it is true?"
Artemis nuzzles Luna's cheek. "This is a rough one. There are things that Usagi-chan knows that you would think that she shouldn't. But could there be some other reason she has those memories? I have a hard time believing Sailor Pluto would essentially punish Usagi-chan for making a different decision and putting her in a different timeline. I have a hard time even believing Usagi-chan would actually choose Seiya-kun over Mamoru-san, especially when they are husband and wife."
"I thought that too but she just isn't the same Artemis. This Usagi-chan is definitely different. She should be with Mamoru-san. No one seems to be questioning that."
"Except Usagi-chan."
"I don't think she is serious. She and Mamoru-san have been through so much. Whatever this is will pass. They belong together. Just keep reminding Usagi-chan of that if it seems like she doubts it." Artemis feels confident about the advice he gives Luna. "I can't picture Princess Serenity with anyone other than Prince Endymion."
"I just hope you are right." Luna lets out a loud sigh. "I just want Usagi-chan to be as happy as she was when she married Mamoru-san."
Luna waited a few days before she tries to speak with Usagi again. She finds Usagi alone in the apartment staring at her brooch. "Usagi-chan?"
"Hmm?" Usagi looks up from her brooch when she hears a voice. She turns to her side and realizes Luna is standing next to her also looking at her brooch. "I was just looking at it thinking of the last time I was Sailor Moon." In this timeline it was the battle against Sailor Galaxia. To her, it was when she first fought the Black Moon to hide her identify as the Guardian, Sailor Cosmos. "It was… a very difficult time. A near impossible battle but I had the support of everyone around me." That part was not a lie. Whichever version she went with both times were difficult.
"I'm so glad… everyone came back." Luna choses were words carefully. She didn't want to say after everyone was resurrected. "You've survived a lot Usagi-chan because you never gave up."
Usagi nods her head. She wants to say she didn't give up during the past year because of Seiya but it was best she left that part out. It was clear to her Luna had doubts about what she told her the other day. She confided in Luna during a moment of weakness and since that moment things have not been the same between them. It is best to focus on the present and not bring up where she was from again.
"How have you been feeling? I know you have been struggling the past two weeks." Luna asks looking at Usagi for any kind of reaction.
"I'm doing a little better," Usagi tells Luna forcing a smile. "But… I'm not improving my cooking skills much… I'm lucky Mamo-chan is such a good cook. I have so much to learn but eventually I'll get there." Usagi laughs. "I would have starved by now if I was the only one cooking." It is a genuine laugh when she recalls the other night trying to make fish, rice, and steamed vegetables.
Luna teardrops. "Usagi-chan… I'm sure when Mako-chan is done with school she can always give you a few pointers. She might want the practice with teaching students."
"Hmm." Usagi nods her head in agreement. "I should call her later tonight and see how she is doing." Maybe catching up with Makoto would make her feel a little better.
"That sounds like a good idea. Was there anything else you wanted to talk about?"
"No," Usagi tries to hide a yawn she feels is coming. "I'm really tired. I think I'm going to take a nap for a little bit and then call Mako-chan a little later. She is probably in classes right now and I don't want to disturb her."
"I'm going to head out so you can rest. Please tell me if you ever need to talk Usagi-chan."
"Of course Luna." Usagi picks up the brooch from the floor and heads back to the bedroom to rest. She's been sleeping a lot lately. She assumes it is somehow related to the timeline change. She wasn't sure how something like that could physically affect her body. She never considered it could be a sign of depression.
"Chiba-san, are you okay?" You seem a little off the past couple of days. You were even late the other day. Is everything okay?" One of his fellow residents asked. He is surprised by Mamoru's recent change in behaviors.
"Yeah. I'm fine. It's just been an adjustment." Mamoru tries to put his colleague at ease. He didn't want to draw attention to himself.
"This is a lost different than medical school. I'm grateful for the opportunity but it is exhausting."
"As long as it turns us into better doctors, it is worth it." Mamoru goes along with the other doctor and they make small talk for a few more minutes until the other doctor leaves.
Mamoru couldn't tell the other doctor what was really bothering him. It wouldn't make sense to anyone. A lot of people would jump at the chance to know their future and be King of a planet. All of that didn't matter at the moment. He just wants things to be back to normal with Usagi. He wanted things to be like they were when they were first married.
He racks his brain trying to figure out if he had done anything different or said anything that could have upset her. He couldn't think of anything. He is trying to be patient but it is becoming more difficult as each day progresses. He wants to put her at ease about the future but is unsure how.
He sighs and returns to work.
Usagi attempts to clean up the apartment but stops when she realizes she doesn't know where things should belong. She feels like a stranger living someone's life, a life that shouldn't be hers.
Her mind wanders to the future she witnessed when she returned King Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity's starseeds. They flew off in a different directions and she did not see Crystal Tokyo. She never really thought about it but it didn't make sense. How could Crystal Tokyo have vanished that quickly? Do changes in the timeline happen instantly? She pauses. How much times passed between when she was consumed by Chaos and freed? A week? A few weeks? She didn't remember.
She pauses when she thought of Chibi Usa disappearing in her arms when Mamoru was under Nehelenia's control. It's doesn't take long. One moment she is in Boston defeating some creatures and the next she is at Rei's shrine in Tokyo. If only the others had memories of the other time but to them it never existed. This timeline is all they know.
If she had her abilities as Sailor Cosmos she could travel through time to try to restore what Sailor Pluto destroyed. She pauses. Could she? How would she accomplish that? Her powers relating to time pale in comparison to Sailor Pluto's. It was discovered she can travel to the future but not to the past. Seeing the future was somehow linked to her ability of premonitions. She hasn't had any since she woke up in this timeline. It was expected since she would need the powers of Sailor Cosmos.
She can't help but question Chaos' action to immediately go to the future and take her future self's starseed. Did it mean something? Did it have something to do with feeling trapped in a predetermined future?
She would almost welcome the chance for Sailor Cosmos to come to this timeline to take her starseed. She could come up with something to convince Sailor Cosmos to take her to that time, and then she would have her powers back. But that would seem too simple and unrealistic. Sailor Cosmos would not choose this time either. Crystal Tokyo hasn't been created. She wasn't Neo Queen Serenity. She wasn't at the peak of her abilities. She is still very limited here. So limited she didn't have the first clue how she awakened her powers as Sailor Cosmos initially and with each passing day her memories become fainter. The Lunarian language becoming harder and+ harder. To have all of her memories of the past and then to be taken away again so quickly is heartbreaking.
"I don't like this Michiru," Haruka comments to her partner. "Mamoru-san has been here twice. He wanted to speak to Setsuna-san right away. The same thing happened when Usagi-chan came here. It makes me feel uneasy."
Michiru walks over to Haruka. "I've noticed the sea has been restless as well." She examines Haruka's eyes for any sign of confirmation.
"The wind has been erratic too. Setsuna-san is keeping something from us. Something important."
Michiru nods her head. "If is nothing she would have told us." She casts a glance over Haruka's shoulders to insure they are still alone. "I don't think it would be wise to ask Mamoru-san or Usagi-chan at this moment. If they wanted to include us, they would have."
"I don't like it." Haruka repeats again. Her frustration is only building. "How can we protect our Princess if we are left in the dark?"
Michiru smiles slightly. "I can think about other things we were left in the dark for as well." The smile fades. "It usually didn't end well."
Sailor Pluto stands in the front the platinum door that allows passage to another time. Usagi is more resilient that she thought.
She assumed Usagi's memories would have faded by now. Mamoru's return to the apartment confirms Usagi still has memories from the other timeline since her actions are still attracting unwanted attention. She frowns. It's been almost two weeks.
There are no answers for her in this corridor. There is no roadmap for what she has done. No one ever expected she would to take this action. She doesn't dare to disrupt the flow of time to speed up solidifying this timeline. What if she misses an important event that was glossed over?
She can't speak with Sailor Charon for she is still enclosed in crystal. She is also lacking her eternal abilities to allow travel to Nemesis will little difficulty.
She stares at the Garnet Orb on top of her staff, her talisman. It makes her think of Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. Haruka is clearly frustrated there have visits to speak with her alone and yet she is being left in dark. She presses her lips tightly together.
It shouldn't be much longer until Usagi is back to how she should be.
*Lyrics are from "Airplanes" by B.o.B featuring Hayley Williams
Usagi thinks she has a way home to return to her current timeline. Will she succeed? Find out on 10/1 in Act 47: A Guardian's Quest.