Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory
Act 41: Homecoming
By: Sora Kazeno
Three familiar figures dressed in black stood before them. Sailor Star Protector turned her attention to the Three Lights, "You have to return to Kinmoku with us immediately." It was clear from her tone this was not up for debate.
The Three Lights expected something like this to happen sooner or later, but they hadn't anticipated it this early. Yaten was the first one to step forward. "Who attacked?"
Sailor Star Protector looked at them in confusion. "Attack…?" Then she smiled. "We're not under attack! We are celebrating Princess Kakyuu ascending the throne!"
The jaws of the Three Lights dropped in surprise. The way Sailor Star Protector had spoken made them assumed there was trouble rather than a celebration. Relief began to wash over them.
"…. We thought Princess Kakyuu was in danger..." Seiya slowly spoke.
Sailor Star Destroyer sighed. "Always assuming the worse I guess." She shook her head before she continued. "We don't have much time. The celebration is in two days. We will need at least one day to take you back."
"We should be leaving soon," Taiki agreed with them. He knew he spoke for the other two Starlights. None of them would miss something the kingdom on Kinmoku waited years to see.
"If time is an issue… I can take all of you back," Usagi adds softly. She wanted to help them out but did not want to appear as intruding.
Sailor Star Creator looked at Usagi in confusion. "It's too dangerous for you. The atmosphere on Kinmoku would kill you." She recalled what happened the last time Usagi was on Kinmoku. "It nearly did last time. We can't take that risk."
"I'm fine now. It's no longer an issue," Usagi reassures her, beginning to sound more confident. "The atmosphere of Kinmoku no longer affects me."
"…how…." Sailor Star Destroyer tried to form the words. It didn't make sense.
"She's right." Seiya agreed.
Sailor Star Destroyer knew Seiya would never do anything to jeopardize Usagi. If Seiya said it wasn't issue than she would believe him. If Usagi could take them back to Kinmoku faster without any issues... why not? She looked up at the others that stood nearby. She realized Setsuna was missing. "Where is Setsuna-san?"
"She is helping the Moon Senshi with a project," Haruka explained curious at the sudden concern for the missing senshi.
An idea struck Sailor Star Protector. "Everyone should come back with us to celebrate. You have been kind to us as guests on your home planet. Give us the opportunity to do the same." She turned to Haruka as she continued. "Wait until you see the cycles we race on Kinmoku."
"…cycles…?" Haruka repeated slowly. The less she had to interact with the Starlights the better… but she was dying to race. It would be almost two months before practices began for the next racing season.
Michiru raised an eyebrow surprised at Haruka. Although, Haruka did not verbalize her thoughts, Michiru knew she was contemplating the idea if it allowed her to race.
Mamoru stood slightly behind the others. He didn't know what he should say. He still felt somewhat out of place and he could only imagine how it would be on Kinmoku. Yet a part of him wanted to see the kingdom. He wasn't sure if he would have another opportunity.
"I think we should all go," Usagi spoke up for the group. "Kinmoku is an amazing place. Princess Kakyuu has helped us a lot and I think it would be wonderful if we could share in the celebration." Usagi wanted everyone to experience the wonder she had during her visit. She wanted them to see a functioning kingdom knowing one day they will also get to live in one.
"…are you sure?" Ami asked meekly. "I don't want to be intruding…"
"You wouldn't be intruding," Taiki reassured her. "This would be a great opportunity for everyone to see our home."
Sailor Star Destroyer was surprised by the turn of events. She expected the same hostility she had encountered last time. Perhaps they were starting to blend together as a team? It was something she would worry about later. "How soon can you leave?"
Usagi clasped the pendant around her neck. "We can leave in a moment." She turned to others to address them. "I think it would be best if we all arrived as senshi."
Usagi expected everyone to travel to Kinmoku. Rei didn't say anything but observed the facial expressions of the others. They were surprised by this sudden change of events. She looked over at Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru. The three were not pleased but were not about to go against Usagi's wishes. Then she looked over at Mamoru. Mamoru was still struggling seeing Usagi with Seiya. He had also been avoiding Rei since the final battle against the Black Moon. She needed to talk to him and try to patch things up before he left for America. It would be harder for him to avoid her at the royal palace on Kinmoku. Despite the uneasiness of the others, she could tell some were also excited for the journey. She clasped her own crystal pendant and like the others, transformed.
Sailor Cosmos walked forward to stand in the middle of the senshi. "Is everyone ready?" She asked them. "We should arrive in less than 10 minutes."
"…less than 10 minutes? It took us a day to get here!" Exclaimed Sailor Star Creator; she couldn't believe the estimated time. She began to feel nervous. Sailor Cosmos was about to transport 15 people several galaxies away. How could one individual have that much power? She remained silent and decided to observe.
"Join hands," Sailor Cosmos instructed the others. "It is a long journey and I don't want anyone to become separated." The senshi slowly joined hands. The Starlights were across the circle from the Outer Senshi and Prince Endymion.
Prince Endymion fought an inner battle. This was his last chance to try to avoid going to Kinmoku. But before he could speak, he felt energy enter his body and a cold breeze hit his face. Just like that, they were no longer on Earth. The moment had passed. He couldn't avoid it anymore; he was going to Kinmoku with the others. He shifted his neck up and saw lines of light as the group continued their journey. He now knew what it felt like to travel among the stars.
Princess Kakyuu smiled and stretched her arms over her head. She finished the last stack of documents before dinner. The sound of footsteps running her office caused her stand up in alarm. There was an emergency.
"Your majesty…" the guard struggled to say between heavy breathing. "We have detected many beings approaching rapidly from the east."
Princess Kakyuu's eyes widened. "They left yesterday…. There is no way they could be back so soon…" Princess Kakyuu turned around and ran out onto the balcony behind her that faced the eastern sky. Her eyes squinted at the night sky. She gasped at the sight. She expected to see perhaps six. Not over ten. Her eyes narrowed. Why would Usagi return here? It was too dangerous for her. Did something change since the last time she spoke with the Starlights on Earth months ago? She turned to the guard to her side. "Summon a doctor." Princess Kakyuu quickly entered her office again and exited the room through a secret staircase that would lead her to the gardens when they arrived in a matter of moments. Her heart hammered in her chest. Her worry was something happened or someone could be injured.
She paused before taking a step to lift the bottom of her dress to avoid falling down the stairs. She traveled down the stairs as quickly as she could, various scenarios raced through her mind. She thrust the door open just in time for their arrival. She raised her right arm to shield her eyes as a bright flash of white light appeared before here. The senshi had returned.
When the light dimmed the other senshi staggered forward. It was strange to be on solid ground.
Sailor Star Destroyer found her voice first. "…I don't believe it. How can anyone travel so quickly?"
Sailor Cosmos gripped her staff tightly. She needed to wait a few moments for the nausea to pass. The distance and the number of senshi took a toll on her but she did not want the others to see. She had to show them she was fine. She knew Princess Kakyuu would have concerns about her returning to Kinmoku after she nearly died.
Princess Kakyuu frowned at the sight of Sailor Cosmos. "Now I understand how you were able to return so quickly." She directed her next comment to Sailor Cosmos. "I'm surprised to see you here, Usagi-san."
Sailor Cosmos smiled brightly. "I'm fine. The atmosphere of Kinmoku no longer affects me."
"…" Princess Kakyuu's jaw dropped slightly as a gasp escaped her lips. She didn't know what to say.
"We can thank the Black Moon for that… and the awakening of the rest of her abilities as Sailor Cosmos," Sailor Star Fighter explained. She did not want Princess Kakyuu to worry. "If she was in danger I would never bring her back."
Princess Kakyuu's stance relaxed somewhat. She knew Fighter would never do anything that would be harmful to Usagi. Fighter loved Usagi. "You will have to explain to me how this is possible at a later time." Her eyes became downcast as she addressed Sailor Star Fighter, Sailor Star Maker, and Sailor Star Healer. "I'm sorry we have not been in contact much since the other Starlights returned to Kinmoku." She knew the Black Moon was defeated but never heard how. "I would love for all of you to join me for dinner."
Hearing the word dinner, the senshi realized they never had a chance to eat at the party. The party had barely begun when they had visitors. Sailor Cosmos beamed at the thought of food. "We would love to!" She walked over to Princess Kakyuu. "We can't wait to celebrate your coronation."
Princess Kakyuu smiled warmly before she realized one issue. "I'm sorry… but our seamstresses will not have enough time to make clothing for you before the coronation."
"If it is alright, we could wear the dresses of the court of the Silver Millennium," Sailor Cosmos said, trying to help Princess Kakyuu. Attire was important on such an important event.
Sailor Uranus frowned but she knew it would be difficult to avoid.
"I was not aware you each had formal attire with you…" Princess Kakyuu said in confusion. She didn't know they could transform at will.
"It would probably be easier if I showed you," Sailor Cosmos said as she closed her eyes. The star on her forehead flickered and took on the shape of a crescent moon. Her body glowed softly as the fuku of Sailor Cosmos disappeared and was replaced with the gown of Neo Queen Serenity.
Princess Kakyuu eyed the Queen carefully. Something was different. Her hair was still white, but the dress was different somehow from what she remembered when they were on Earth. Her eyes rested on the crown on her forehead. "…I don't remember a crown …."
Neo Queen Serenity smiled warmly. "The appearance of the crown was a surprise to us all. We all thought it would be several years before I ascended the throne." She tried to downplay her new title since everyone was there to celebrate the crown that Princess Kakyuu would soon receive.
"No way… " Sailor Star Protector murmured. Usagi was so young and was already a Queen! She wondered what it would mean for Fighter. She looked over at Sailor Star Creator and Sailor Star Destroyer; they were also surprised by this change. It made them all wonder what else they had missed since the last time they were all together.
Neo Queen Serenity turned to the senshi of the Silver Millennium, "Out of respect for Princess Kakyuu, I think it would be best for all of us to dress formally for dinner. Wouldn't you agree?"
The senshi exchanged glances at each other, surprised by Neo Queen Serenity's request. They were visitors on Kinmoku and unsure of the formalities of the palace. They didn't fight it. At the Silver Millennium if they were not dressed as senshi, they were always in dresses of some sort. It did not take long for the senshi's fuku to disappear and be replaced by long gowns from their respective planets.
The group spent the evening sharing stories of the battle against the Black Moon and recent events on Kinmoku. The coronation was set for two days from now, giving them time to explore the kingdom tomorrow.
Yui already made plans with Haruka to race on cycles. The others planned to see Amaryllis, the city Usagi visited the last time she was on Kinmoku.
Minako plopped down on the couch in her shared room with Makoto. "I can't believe we are actually on Kinmoku," she said in disbelief. "Not even 12 hours ago we were on Earth for a Christmas party and now we are light years away."
Makoto sat down on the bed across from her. "I know. It seems a little odd. But… I've always wondered what their home looked like." There was a short silence before Makoto spoke again. "I'm surprised Mamoru-san is here as well."
"Usagi-chan has tried to include him in things but… It must be difficult for him. Sometimes I get the impression he doesn't want to be included."
"I don't blame him after everything that has happened. How many people do you know who remain friends after ending a serious relationship?"
"Not many but circumstances for us are never normal." Minako twisted a few strains of her long blonde hair. "Because we've been senshi for so long… we've never had time for a relationship. Seeing Usagi-chan with Mamoru-san… I guess gave us hope."
"I can't help but wonder… how happy is Usagi-chan with Seiya-kun."
Minako blinded her eyes a couple times in surprise by Makoto's words. "I don't think Usagi-chan would be with Seiya-kun if she wasn't happy."
"Its… just… I know it has been several months, but I still can't help but feel odd about it. We all expected Crystal Tokyo to be ruled by Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion. It was the future we prepared ourselves for."
"And now we're not exactly sure what we've been preparing for."
Makoto nodded her head in agreement.
Prince Endymion couldn't sleep. He wasn't sure how he ended up on this planet. He barely made it to the Christmas celebration. Usako wanted him to be included in the get-togethers with the other senshi but with each passing day it seemed to be more meaningless. He sighed and sat down on a stone bench. The bench was located at the top of a large staircase leading to the gardens.
He knew he was stuck here until it was time for the others to leave. It was impossible for him to even attempt to return home. He wasn't completely sure in which direction home was anyway.
He would be leaving Japan soon to finally restart his studies. He told himself it would be easier to leave this time and it would be for the better. The less he saw of her, the easier it would be. He could try to block everything out.
"You've been avoiding me for a while Mamoru-san," Rei said, as she sat down next to Mamoru on the bench.
He was startled by Rei's sudden appearance. After he regained his composure, he spoke, "There hasn't been much to talk about. I'm no longer with your best friend. You knew things about her and our relationship that could have made a difference."
Rei pouted her lips slightly. There was bitterness in his voice. "Usagi made that choice on her own, Mamoru-san. You know that." Her tone softened, "I understand if it makes it easier to blame things on me."
"You should have told me what happened while I was gone."
"It wasn't my place. Am I supposed to betray my best friend?"
Prince Endymion sighed. She was right. He was blaming her. He needed someone to blame beside himself. "I just never thought things would turn out like this. We were supposed to be happily ever after." He sat quietly for a moment. "I'm not ready to let Usako go." All this time he had been holding on to a small hope that things would turn out differently and one day their relationship would go back to what it used to be. But with each passing day that hope is slowly diminished. He struggled with the idea that what he once had with Usagi will never come to be again.
"I wish there was something more I could do… but it is Usagi's decision…" She hesitated before she continued. She wasn't sure how much she wanted to disclose. "It… has been an adjustment for all us as well." The continued silence encouraged her to continue talking. "Until recently we never knew of Sailor Cosmos, the legendary senshi. We didn't know about the Moon Senshi… or even our new eternal abilities." Her voice became quiet. "There is a lot we are all adjusting to."
"I'm still not sure why we were dragged here," Haruka sulked.
"I thought it was because you wanted to try racing with Yuna-chan," Michiru teased her partner. The glance she received from Haruka caused to change her tone. "This would not be my first choice either, but the Princess… rather our Queen, wanted all of us to be here." She lightly placed her hand on Haruka's arm. "See it as an opportunity."
"How so?"
"How often are we presented with the opportunity to travel to another world and observe an entirely different civilization? We could learn a lot about Kinmoku and the people from that planet. Given Sailor Cosmos' origin… it could be …. beneficial."
"Michiru? What are you planning?" Haruka asked with a raised eyebrow. She recognized the mischievous tone in the aqua haired woman's voice.
"Nothing yet. We haven't heard from Setsuna-san. I know she is plotting something. I can't image her sitting idly by while the Time Streams are alternated so drastically."
Another dead end; she never anticipated so many obstacles. She knew her time was running out. She could only find so many reasons to stay without looking suspicious. She knew the key was somewhere in the palace. She was running out of places to search. She refused to believe the key was only a myth.
Setsuna pushed a few strands of her dark-emerald hair to the side. How could she be so naïve to think the timeline would restore itself when Usagi chose Mamoru? She pouted her lips. Simple. She never dared to believe Usagi would choose Seiya. Once it was clear Usagi would not change her mind it set in motion a chain of events for Setsuna.
Setsuna walked the long corridor leaving the rooms designated for the King and Queen. The Moon Senshi took up residence in what were once the guestrooms, leaving the chambers of the former Royal Family undisturbed. It gave her an opportunity to search for the Crystal Key.
She slowly opened the door. She had been in the room countless times and left empty handed each time. The key had to be hidden somewhere in the palace or somewhere very close. She tried to retrace her steps numerous times when she first came to the planet to find the crystal pendant she used to transform into Eternal Sailor Pluto.
She searched for the tree as a marker that would lead to the tomb. She found no trees left on Pluto. She didn't understand how the tree could suddenly vanish so easily. Was there a section of the planet she missed? She had already gone on several scouting missions with Sailor Charon. Yui knew she was up to something and was relentless in questioning her when they were alone. Each time, Setsuna told her she wasn't ready to talk about it yet.
Setsuna stared at the portrait of her family. She knew why the key was a secret. But as their daughter, she should know where it is. She stared at the faces of her family. She stared at her mother's eyes and noticed they seemed downcast. Was she looking at something? Setsuna walked over to the portrait to try to determine if the eyes were directing her somewhere. She frowned. She couldn't do this alone. It was time to tell Yui.
Usagi yawned and stretched her arms over her head. She couldn't believe she was back in the Scarlett Palace. The last time she was here, she thought she could never return. She lightly touched the crystal pendant around her neck. If it wasn't for her abilities as Sailor Cosmos she would not be able to survive on this planet.
No matter how many months had past, a part of her still felt guilty and some doubt on her decision. She continued to try to push past it. She was beginning to have fewer days with these emotions, but it was something she struggles with. She couldn't express this to anyone. It wasn't as easily to turn away from what was believed to be her destiny. She knew how hard the others were trying to accept she was not with Mamoru… and if Usagi displayed any doubts to them, they would tell her to go back to him. But she couldn't. There was too much hurt and pain. If she couldn't have the future she had seen at Crystal Tokyo… it was better to walk away.
She stepped outside on to the balcony for a few minutes. The cool night air hit her immediately. It calmed her. Voices made her turn her head to the right. Two figures sat on a bench talking softly. She couldn't hear what they were saying. She narrowed her eyes, but she wasn't able to determine who they were.
The next morning, everyone had an early start. Final preparations would be made for the ceremony later this evening, allowing all six of the Starlights to have a free morning and part of the afternoon.
Yuna didn't waste a second to take Haruka to the cycles.
Haruka carefully inspected the machine. It seemed like a motorcycle, until she looked at the dashboard. It was one screen. Haruka slowly approached with a questioning expression. "How does this work?"
Yuna handed Haruka a helmet. "Put the helmet on before you sit on the bike. Then place your hand on the screen. It's already been preprogrammed to be in Japanese."
Haruka was skeptical of Yuna's directions but followed them. She placed the helmet on her head. A screen on the visor lit up and a young female voice said, "Welcome Tenou-san." Haruka took a step back and looked around, half expecting to see someone else standing next to her. She slowly approached the cycle and sat down on the bike. She hesitated a moment and then placed her hand on the screen. The screen instantly turned on and listed a variety of commands in Japanese for her to select. She looked up at Yuna.
Yuna smiled. "Follow me to the track. It is going to be a blast!"
Sakura looked around at the group she was leading into the city. She wasn't surprised they chose to be separate. Hotaru walked silently next to Michiru. Michiru did not speak but carefully observed her surroundings. Mamoru followed a few steps behind.
Sakura looked back and forth at her group members. She tried to talk to them earlier to figure out what they wanted to do and was met with short answers. If they didn't want to be on Kinmoku, why did they come here? Then she remembered how events played out. Usagi never gave them a chance to decline going to Kinmoku. The Starlights arrived on Earth and within minutes there were all hurdling through space.
Mamoru looked around at the market place. It was like Tokyo. The city had some tall buildings but lacked skyscrapers. He thought about the conversation he had with Rei the previous night. It became clearer to him he would not remain in Japan as along as Usagi was with Seiya. He didn't need to see it. He wasn't sure how to win her back. Everything he tried was unsuccessful. But he refused to believe it was over. A romance of two lifetimes… just gone?
The sound of a string instrument drew Michiru's attention. She followed the sound and was led to a small group of musicians. They were playing instruments that resembled a violin, viola, and cello. She watched their fingers slide across the fingerboard shifting positions to reach higher pitches. The bow glided across strings. She was mesmerized by their technique.
Hotaru watched them play for a few minutes. She looked around at the crowd. The smile she had quickly faded when she saw Seiya and Usagi.
There was a lot of excitement in the air. Everywhere the group traveled they heard others discussing Princess Kakyuu's coronation. The citizens had mixed emotions. Some stated she was not ready to Queen, whereas others thought she took too long to accept the crown. The hesitation made some believe she did not want to accept the responsibilities.
The group continued and the Three Lights tried their best to ignore the dialogue when they first entered the city. Princess Kakyuu will always be their Princess even if they no longer resided on this planet. After a while, the whispers from the crowd changed as the crowd began to realize three Starlights walked among them.
Usagi smiled. The last time she was here she ate some wonderful food, but she couldn't recall the name. She wanted to eat it again. Seiya said they would buy some before they left the market. She was excited to be here with the other girls. She had tried to explain the planet to them in the past, but it didn't compare with being able to observe everything first hand.
Minako and Makoto walked around wide eyed. There were so many different shops and sections to the city they wanted to explore. They almost lost the others a few times when they stopped to gawk at food, crafts, and the general sights of the city.
Ami and Rei quietly talked among themselves. They made comparisons to Tokyo and other cities they had traveled to in Japan. Ami wondered if other cities on Kinmoku were very similar to various cities on Earth. It made her question the ruins she witnessed on Mercury and how they would have appeared during the Silver Millennium. Rei kept her eyes open for anything that would resemble a shrine.
Yaten and Taiki were discussing the changes since the last time they were here. Several new buildings had been constructed. There were also more people in the marketplace. It was a relief to see how much the city had improved since the destruction caused by Galaxia and Chaos.
Several hours later, it was time for everyone to return to the palace to help complete the final preparations. The coronation of Queen Kakyuu was scheduled at noon the following day. Princess Kakyuu sat in a large wooden chair in her office. She still had so much to complete. She carefully took the crown off her head. Tomorrow it would be replaced with larger crown imbedded with brilliant jewels. Like the one her mother once wore. Her parents died years ago shortly before Chaos' invasion of the planet. Her dream had always been to restore the planet to how it was before the attack. She had made progress, but she still had a lot more to achieve.
For the past year, she received a lot of criticism for not accepting the crown sooner. She couldn't rationalize having a grand celebration when so many people were still struggling to survive. It just wasn't right.
She also never imaged Shiori, Yuna, and Sakura would stand beside her as the Starlights. She had always pictured Fighter, Maker, and Healer. Perhaps they could all stand beside her tomorrow… a way to transition from one ruler to the next. After all, Fighter, Maker, and Healer were chosen to become Starlights by her parents. It would most likely be months or years before she would see them again.
She reflected on all the changes in the past year. The awakening of Sailor Cosmos changed everything. Once Usagi returned Seiya's feelings, there was no turning back. Seiya would never return to Kinmoku permanently. Maker and Healer could keep tabs on Sailor Cosmos without bias and report back to her if she ever lost control of her abilities again. If the day ever came, Cosmos would have to be stopped. Fighter had to remain in the dark.
She sighed. She felt horrible for keeping this from Fighter, but she knew how Fighter would react. Why else would she so willingly push to have all of them remain on Earth? She knew Fighter would one day learn the truth. She just hoped it was many years from now.
A soft knock on the door disrupted her thoughts. It was Rose, informing her it was time for dinner.
Dinner quickly passed and was uneventful. Protocol was reviewed for tomorrow. Everyone was to gather one hour before the coronation ceremony to complete last minute details.
The Inner Senshi discussed their adventures in Amaryllis.
There was a lull in the conversation and Usagi used that opportunity to ask Haruka about her time spent with Yuna. "You never told us about your time spent racing this morning Haruka-san. How was it?"
Haruka was surprised by the sudden question. "It… was a lot of fun." It was mostly true. She had a learning curve that took almost an hour to overcome.
"Before or after you wiped out on the cycle?" Yuna teased lightly.
Haruka glared at Yuna. The last thing she wanted was the others to know how much she struggled at the beginning.
"Oh?" Michiru raised an eyebrow with a devilish smile. "How could we have missed something like that? Haruka never falls off her bike."
"They were different from Earth," Haruka quickly tried to explain. "Everything is computerized and there was this voice talking in the helmet trying to give me directions."
"They do take some time getting used to," Taiki came to Haruka's defense. "Some of us took longer than others to figure it out."
The group was surprised to hear Taiki's remarks. It was no secret, Haruka's disdain for the Starlights, yet one was coming to her aid. Silence continued as no one knew what to say next.
After a few more moments of awkward silence passed, Usagi smiled and said brightly, "I'm glad you had the opportunity." She turned her direction to Princess Kakyuu. "I'm so excited for tomorrow!"
Princess Kakyuu returned the smile. "I am honored to have all of you here in attendance for the celebration. However, it is getting late and we should probably retire for the evening. We have a busy day planned for tomorrow."
Usagi couldn't sleep. She wandered around the outside grounds of the palace. She had so many questions about Kinmoku and this star system. The last time she was here, she had to train and was sick. She never had time to truly see what was here. She wondered how vast the universe was and just how many star systems were out there. How many more senshi were out there that she hadn't met?
"I thought everyone was going to go to sleep early?"
Usagi spun around and found Seiya standing a few steps behind her. "You're out here."
Seiya smirked. "I had an errand to run for tomorrow." He hesitated for a moment before he swept her into a tight embrace. "I'm really glad you're here for this historical event at the palace."
Usagi smiled. "I wouldn't miss it!" Her smile faded as she thought about the others. "Though… I'm not sure the others feel the same way. I'm thinking I should take everyone back the day after the ceremony. I don't want them to be more upset at me that I brought everyone here… even if they didn't want to go." She pouted her lips slightly. "But I think… some of them enjoy it here. To see what life is like in other parts of the universe."
Seiya didn't like the idea of leaving Kinmoku so soon but he understood Usagi's point. Everyone was transported here without giving them a chance to say no. It wasn't fair to them. "You should probably mention it to everyone tomorrow morning. I'm sure several will be glad to hear it."
"Once we're done with school and after the Three Light's Tour is over, I want to come back here again in the future and be able to spend more time."
"It's a deal."
Usagi looked up at the two moons in the sky. She remembered Seiya's stories about the moons in the past. "Seiya… how many other star systems are there?"
Seiya was surprised by her sudden curiosity. "Countless. Most of the inhabited star systems are in the direction of Earth. There are a lot of dead star systems out here that never recovered after the Great War… including many homes of the previous Sailor Animates."
"Never recovered…." Usagi paused when she thought about the Silver Millennium. "I guess I'm lucky I was able to restore the Silver Millennium. But…. The building is there but not its people."
"That's not true. Some of its people survived and the people will rebuild the culture…. when the time is right. Some societies have thrived after disaster. It was like that on Kinmoku… who can say the same thing wouldn't happen with the Silver Millennium?"
Usagi looked at Seiya wide eyed by his words. She then smiled brightly. She knew he was right. The Silver Millennium could once again be a wondrous kingdom. It just didn't have to happen right away. Another thought occurred to her. "I can't help but wonder… when will I know it is time to return there…"
"You'll just know when the time comes."
Yui shook her head in disbelief. "This was your plan all along, and you are now just telling me this? Why didn't you tell me months ago?" She hissed at Setsuna.
"I had to confirm the existence of the key. I'm also not sure how successful it would be," Setsuna tried her best to explain everything to her. "I think I am on the right track, but I need your help in order to move forward."
Yui was quiet. She is mad Setsuna did not share her plan with her sooner, but she needed to move past the anger. "Has too much time past to change everything back?"
"We have some time left, but if we don't hurry time will be irrelevant. Once we find the key, I will need your help. I won't be able to do it alone… my powers will not be strong enough due to the amount of time that has past. I never fathomed she would choose anybody else over the Prince."
"Why didn't you do anything sooner when you first saw the future?"
"I did not believe it was permanent. I also did not completely understand Sailor Cosmos' abilities regarding time. It would have been too dangerous. She can travel through time and will fight to keep this current time line, but she does not have the same abilities. We can restore time. I'm assuming it is to be a check and balance process. We have to do this without her knowledge."
Yui nods her head as she begins to understand. "Tell me what we need to do."
Setsuna sighed in relief to know that Yui would be willing to assist her in this task. "First, we must return to my parents' room. I believe it will lead us in the right direction."
Excitement filled the air in the palace; it was the morning of the coronation for Princess Kakyuu. The Princess' anxiety increased as she would begin a new role today. She paused to gather her thoughts. Technically, it wasn't a new role. She had been leading the kingdom ever since Chaos unleashed its destructive nature. The only change that occurred today was in title. Everything else was the same. Relief washed over her. It was just another ceremony. She had attended countless in the past. Doing her best to cast any remaining doubts to the side, she got up and began the process of getting ready.
Hundreds gathered in the largest room of the palace, the Great Ballroom. Aristocrats from all over the plant gathered. Diplomats from neighboring planets with close relationships to the palace were also in attendance. Everyone wanted to witness history.
In the center of the room stood Princess Kakyuu with several ministers, to their left stood Shiori, Yuna, Sakura, Seiya, Yaten, and Taiki. They were all dressed formally in a dark red robe. While they were there to witness the coronation, they also served as security in case anyone would attempt to disrupt the ceremony. Under their robes, they were dressed as the Starlights, should they need to use their abilities.
Neo Queen Serenity stood approximately 50 meters away with her court. She watched everything in fascination. She wondered if she would have experienced a similar process had the Silver Millennium not been destroyed by the Dark Kingdom. Rei stood to her right.
Rei had similar thoughts but hers drifted to how things might have been had Crystal Tokyo remained. A part of her still questioned how Crystal Tokyo could not remain if Usagi and Mamoru stayed together. But in the end if didn't matter. Usagi chose Seiya.
Ami, Makoto, and Minako stood quietly by Rei observing everything. They couldn't help but wonder how different everything would have been if not for Queen Beryl. Standing there in formal attire for an official event, it gave them a glimpse of what their past life was like.
Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru remained to her right. They tried their best to appear supportive, but it was clear they were looking forward to returning to Earth the following day.
Prince Endymion stood a little behind the group. He wasn't sure where he fit in anymore. He wanted to try to avoid as much of the awkwardness as possible. He too, longed to return to his home. Usako was his connection to the others and without her he was out of place. He tried to stay focused on the ceremony.
The ministers discussed some of the traditions of the Scarlet Palace and how the Princess has done her best to uphold her duties despite all the difficulties she had to overcome. The ministers stated they were there to support her in her time of need. They pledged their loyalty to the crown and serving whomever wears that crown. Once the pledges were made, it was time for Princess Kakyuu to become Queen Kakyuu.
Princess Kakyuu vowed to uphold the laws of the kingdom and put her planet's interests above her own. She would fight for the people and do everything in her power to protect them from harm. Princess Kakyuu kneeled on a small bench on the floor. She appeared calm on the outside but on the inside, she was nervous. This was the moment a part of her dreaded. A few moments later she could feel a heavy object placed on the top of her head. It was the crown. She slowly rose to her feet; the room erupted with applause. She was now Queen. She turned to face everyone gathered before her and smiled. "Thank you for all of your support. You are all too kind to come here today for this ceremony." She continued by thanking others in the room. After a few minutes she announced it was time for the celebration and food to be served.
The Inner and Outer senshi sat together with Prince Endymion at one table near the front. Neo Queen Serenity sat with Queen Kakyuu. She was considered an honored guest of the palace.
Neo Queen Serenity tried not to fidget in her seat. She did not know anyone else she sat near other than Queen Kakyuu. She tried to remind herself it was all part of protocol. Thanks to her recent ability gained from being Sailor Cosmos, she knew what all the protocols were of the Silver Millennium. She glanced at the table with members of her court. The others didn't have all their memories back. Was it for the best? She dismissed those thoughts as food was placed before her.
The rest of the celebration dinner passed uneventfully. Neo Queen Serenity attempted to follow the various conversations at the table, but everyone discussed unfamiliar parts of Kinmoku. She had little to contribute. She wished she could sit with the others or at least talk to the Starlights. The Starlights were on duty to protect the new Queen along with soldiers periodically scattered throughout the room.
Then the music began to play. Couples began to head to the dance floor for waltzes. She watched them carefully. Their style of dance had a few similarities to the Silver Millennium, but it was very different. She knew she would trip over her feet if she even attempted.
One of the guests came to the table to ask Queen Kakyuu to dance. She politely accepted and headed to the dance floor with him.
Neo Queen Serenity looked at everyone on the dance floor again and this time noticed Haruka and Michiru. She smiled. She was glad someone was able to take advantage of the music. Their movements were of course different than the others but in a way, it worked and somewhat blended in. After a few minutes, she stood up and walked over to the other table with her court and sat down. She sighed in relief. She felt like she could finally relax. "I had no idea what they were talking about most of the time," she stated. "They were talking about different regions I never heard of."
"It sounds interesting," Ami said. She enjoyed her time spent of Kinmoku and the opportunity to learn from another culture. It even gave her a few ideas on how she could improve some of the technology they use as senshi. She couldn't help but wonder how long it would take for technology on Earth to catch up to the technology available on Kinmoku.
Minako tried not to stare at the Starlights. "I wonder if we did the same thing at parties like this…"
"What are you talking about?" Makoto asked, not understanding Minako's random statement.
"Having to stand around watching everyone while the party continued," Minako explained glumly.
"It happened sometimes but you guys always worked on a system to rotate," Neo Queen Serenity explained.
Makoto, Minako, Ami, and Rei turned to stare at the Queen. There were times they forgotten she had received all her memories back from the Silver Millennium.
The sudden stares made Neo Queen Serenity feel uneasy. It was difficult to have her memories while the others did not. Is this how the Moon Senshi felt before? Was it easier to not be around the others when they are only a shadow of what they once were?
Hotaru remained silent, watching Haruka and Michiru on the dance floor.
Prince Endymion reflected on something one of the Moon Senshi had told him, that he didn't even have the Golden Crystal. Is that why he felt so powerless? Neo Queen Serenity drew most of her strength, until recently, from the Maboroshi no Ginzuishou. If he had the Golden Crystal, he would have protected her better and none of this would have happened. But there was no point dwelling on the past and what already happened. Once he returned to Earth he would continue to research any legends he could find about the Golden Crystal or a previous Kingdom on Earth.
The group continued to sit in silence for a little while. Rei finally broke it. "Usagi… do you think you are ready for all this?"
Neo Queen Serenity's eyes were downcast. "I'm not sure if I will ever be ready…" There was sadness in her voice. She tried to smile. "But it isn't something I have to worry about now. Besides I have everyone to help me."
Rei sat back in her chair, reflecting on the Queen's statement. "We all make a good team. We've accomplished so much in the past few years."
"And will accomplish that much more in the centuries to come," Ami chimed in.
"But first we have to finish school…" Minako pouted. Her grades have plummeted since it was determined she would go on tour with the Three Lights after graduation. A lot of her free time was spent working on songs or extra singing lessons instead of studying. If her parents knew her real grades, they would ground her.
Makoto looked at Minako, "You can't skip anymore study sessions."
Minako pouted. "…" She tried to have a retort but tear-dropped instead. She knew Makoto was correct.
Prince Endymion stood up abruptly. "It's been a long a day and I'm going to retire early." Before the others could try to persuade him to stay, he was halfway across the room. He continued out of the ballroom into one of the nearby corridors.
"Leaving so soon?" A voice called out from the darkness.
Prince Endymion's head jerked to the left in the direction of the sound. The click of heels on the pavement echoed on the marble floor as the owner of the voice came into sight. It was Sailor Star Destroyer. His stance relaxed.
"I take it you're not much of the party type. I don't blame you," her tone was sarcastic. "But at least you can talk with the others. This hallway is really boring."
Prince Endymion smiled slightly. "Their talking about schooling I've already completed or a past I don't recall. I have few memories of my past life."
"Ah yes…" Sailor Star Destroyer said while subconsciously rubbing her arm. "I think it was called… the Golden Kingdom?"
Prince Endymion looked at her in surprised. He did not remember talking to her about his past. "How did you…?"
"The Scarlet Palace has a vast library… after my return from Earth the first time we met, I did some reading. You'd be surprised how much is chronicled back there about the Silver Millennium. Since I've finished my training… I have few restrictions in the palace." She grinned.
Before he could ask if he could see the materials, Sailor Star Destroy said, "You wouldn't be able to read them. They are in an unfamiliar language to you."
Prince Endymion sighed. For a moment, he thought he would finally have a way to obtain some of the answers he sought. "Could you tell me about what you uncovered?"
"I'm still on duty for the next two hours. Afterward, yes. But I would have to gather the notes I took. Meet in the small room that has been used for breakfast the past few days. The table is large enough to spread all the materials out."
"…I have to ask… why are you helping me?"
"No one should go through life without knowing their past; especially when it directly affects their future."
"Thank you for your help. I'll see you at the designated time." Prince Endymion dismissed himself to his quarters.
"Where did the Prince go?" Haruka asked as she sat down at the table with Michiru.
Rei shrugged her shoulders. "He said he was tired and left."
"Well, it is getting late," Michiru came to his defense. She surveyed the room and realized the crowd was starting to thin.
"So tomorrow, we go back," Haruka said, clearly directing her comment to Neo Queen Serenity.
"Sometime in the afternoon or evening," Neo Queen Serenity said halfheartedly. She enjoyed her time in the Scarlet Palace. It provided her with many opportunities to learn. "I'm glad everyone… was here for this celebration. We have all been through so much together."
Prince Endymion sat at the table, waiting for Shiori. It was two and a half hours since they last spoke. He assumed she would be here by now. He sighed. It wasn't sure how much longer he should wait. Did she have to stay late for something or was she simply not going to show up?
Ten more minutes passed until he heard footsteps shuffle down the hallway. Shiori entered the room and frantically dropped several large notes books on the table. "I thought I was going to drop them again." She let out a deep breath and began to spread the notebooks across the table. "It took me a little longer to put this together than I thought." She passed Prince Endymion a notebook and a pen.
Prince Endymion opened the notebook and realized it was empty. "There's nothing in this one."
"That is yours to take notes."
He looked at her confused.
"The material in the library is written in a language you could not understand. The notebooks I have here are written in a language you can't read. During the past two hours I was trying to think of the best way to go over the material. When I read about the Silver Millennium, I took notes but in my native language. I'm going to review my notes with you and then you can take notes." Shiori state down in an empty chair next to the Prince. "Considering how little time is left, this was the best solution I could come up with."
Prince Endymion nodded his head in understanding. "I'm grateful for any information you can provide."
"I'm not sure how much of Earth is discussed in these notebooks. I remember the focus was the royal family of the Silver Millennium." She opened the first notebook. "This is about the planet Jupiter." She began to flip to the next page.
"Wait," Endymion stopped her, "even if they are about other planets, I still want to know. I want to learn as much as I can about the past. Anything could be a clue and I don't want to miss anything."
Shiori looked at her watch. It was ten at night. "We're going to be here all night."
He chuckled. "This won't be the first time I would be up all-night reviewing materials." He listened to Shiori as she read her notes regarding the other planets in the solar system. He took some notes on the outer and inner planets. He began to make more notes when she reached the subject of the Silver Millennium.
Shiori tried her best to hide a yawn. Two and a half hours had passed. She underestimated the amount of time needed to review the materials. She also did not anticipate Prince Endymion would want to learn everything he could about the other planets.
"Do you need to take a break?" He asked her. "I know we've been at this for the past several hours."
Shiori shook her head. "No, it's okay. If we don't finish this now, we won't get the chance tomorrow." She paused again to drink from the glass of water, but it was empty. "Maybe we should take a short break for the restroom and I need to get more water."
Neo Queen Serenity couldn't sleep any longer and the first rays of the sun crept into her bedroom. It was too early to be up but at the same time she couldn't sleep anymore. This was her last day here and she wanted to make the most of it. She chuckled a little since her actions went against her gut instinct to crawl back into the bed, pull the covers over her face and sleep. She lay in bed for a few more minutes but it was useless. She couldn't sleep anymore.
Thirty minutes later, she quietly walked down the hallways, enjoying the palace around her. Everything was starting to become more familiar… just in time for her to leave. She slowed her pace when she heard voices up ahead.
"I heard Shiori was up all night with Prince Endymion in the small dining area."
"I heard the same thing. They left together carrying books. I wonder what they are planning."
"I heard this rumor… Prince Endymion was Neo Queen Serenity's lover until Fighter stole her away."
"And Shiori has been in love with Fighter since before Fighter went to Earth…"
"You don't think the two are planning something?"
Neo Queen Serenity's hands shook in frustration. On Earth, she heard gossip about her and Seiya. On Kinmoku it was Serenity and Endymion, along with Seiya and Shiori. Is this how it will always be? She asked herself. Usagi dating a celebrating was bound to attract attention but she thought she wouldn't have to hear it in Kinmoku. She took a deep breath and walked forward. She quickly walked past the gossiping palace aids.
Neo Queen Serenity's presence startled the two aids. They watched in horror as the Queen passed by. They quickly dispersed, embarrassed for their talk to be overheard.
Neo Queen Serenity sat down on the bench outside in the garden. She was frustrated at the turn of events. She knew she shouldn't be this upset. She thought she was past this. The gossip at school was finally dying down and she would be graduating from school soon. She was deep in her thoughts and didn't hear Seiya approach. He sat down on the bench next to her. His sudden appearance shocked her.
"Sorry… I didn't mean to surprise you," Seiya said, displaying a warm smile. "You seemed like you were off in another world and I wanted to make sure you were alright. I didn't get a chance to talk to you much last night during Queen Kakyuu's celebration." Seiya lightly placed his hand on the Queen's.
"You had a lot to take care of last night. You were busy. I understand." There was still sadness in her eyes.
"What is bothering you?" Seiya asked. If he wasn't direct, she would try to avoid answering the question.
She hesitated but then she realized there was something she wanted to discuss with him. "Some of the aids were talking about us… then there were talking about Endymion and Shiori-chan."
"That seems odd. What were they saying?
"They said that Shiori was in love with you before you went to Earth."
"…" Seiya shook his head slightly. "Yeah… but that was discussed a lot time ago. Even before we were together." Seiya paused when he realized how that sounded. "She knew a long time ago that I didn't return her feelings."
"I guess that confirms why she was so cold to me the first time I was at the Scarlett Palace. Our relationship was so new… I didn't want to ask." She felt some relief wash over her. "But I guess it's kind of silly…"
"I don't ever want you to think that your feelings are silly Odango, no matter what they are." He moved next to her and hugged her tightly. A few seconds later, Neo Queen Serenity returned the embraced.
"I guess… it's just I'm tired of people whispering. I thought I was finally getting past it." She pulled away slightly to be able to look at Seiya. "I don't know how you always manage to deal with it."
Seiya chuckled. "It takes a lot of practice. And honestly, someone will always have something negative to say or gossip. What is important is that I surround myself with people that care about me and the people that I love."
Neo Queen Serenity smiled and left out a deep breath. She felt herself finally relax in his arms. "Thank you, Seiya." She murmured.
"Anything for you."
Forty minutes later, Seiya and Neo Queen Serenity returned to the Scarlett Palace hand in hand. If they didn't hurry, they would miss breakfast and that was unheard of according the Queen's grumbling stomach. They were late to breakfast, but they were not the last ones to arrive.
He slept in longer than he intended but it was difficult to determine the time based on the sun's location. It was different than what he was used to. He rubbed his eyes and sighed. This was the last day on Kinmoku. He was happy he came here for one simple reason.
Prince Endymion could not believe the information he obtained from listening to Shiori into the early hours of the morning. He learned some of the history of his former kingdom but there was little information regarding his family, and the last rulers of the kingdom. The information did not even mention their names. The information mentioned the Golden Crystal and that it was sealed after a devastating war on Earth. The Earth had centuries of peace until Queen Metalia and the Dark Kingdom rose to power. The information left off when Queen Metalia was beginning to gain power and had a small following. The Guardian was also a legend on Earth, but no one had seen the Guardian or knew of her abilities. She was thought to be the savior one day of the planet. Some of the information was contradicting to what was told to them by Princess Kakyuu. However, the information from Earth was believed to not be as accurate as the information from Kinmoku.
After quickly splashing water in his face he prepared himself for the day. He needed to appear rested. He felt funny at the thought of telling the others he was up along night talking with Shiori. He decided it was better he kept the information to himself. He wanted to talk to someone about his discoveries, but he didn't know who he could confide in anymore. His first thought was to speak with Setsuna but she was still on Pluto with no sign of returning to Earth.
Sailor Pluto walked around her parent's bedroom once more. She lost track of how many times she and Sailor Charon searched the room. They were convinced they had a clue. She stood at the spot where her mother's eyes seemed to stare at the floor. The rug that was covering the floor was long removed. There did not appear to be a hidden entrance in the floor of the room.
Sailor Charon was becoming inpatient. They tried so many times and each time had the same results. She glared at the portrait of the former Royal Family. "We have to be missing something." She walked back to the portrait one more time and then noticed something on the wall above the portrait. "Has this picture ever been moved?"
Sailor Charon's sudden question caused Sailor Pluto to quickly turn around and stare at the area surrounding the painting. "I don't believe so. There was nothing behind the painting when I checked."
"No. What I mean is… it looks like this painting was once higher up on the wall."
Sailor Pluto gasped at Sailor Charon's meaning. If the painting was lowered, it would change where the clue to the key resided. She pulled a chair over to the painting. She stood up on the chair and realized there were marks in the wall. The painting once stood at a higher height. "I think you're right." She turned around on the chair to face the room once against but from a different angle. Then it dawned on her. She silently stepped down from the chair and began to slowly walk across the room. "Her eyes were never looking at the floor in front of the bed, but rather at the wall, behind the bed." She gingerly knocked on the wall. It sounded hallow. She turned to face Sailor Charon, "help me move the bed." She smiled.
Hotaru frowned. No one heard anything from Setsuna. She began to worry Setsuna would remain with the Moon Senshi on Pluto. Haruka and Michiru assured her Setsuna would be back and she just needed to be patient. She lost track of how long Setsuna left. She shook her head in disgust. Her gut told her something else was happening behind the scenes.
In the room next door, Michiru whispered to Haruka. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing leaving Hotaru in the dark?"
"Setsuna-san asked us not to say anything to Hotaru. We have to trust her judgement; even though she was vague about her methods."
"Has too much happened for her to turn everything back?"
"We can only wait and see. We must put our faith and trust in Setsuna-san. I can't believe there is nothing that can be done to restore to the timeline to what it should be. She is supposed to be with her Prince, and the future Queen of the Earth."
Michiru smiled. "I'm proud of you. I can tell it has taken a lot of restraint to not say anything else about her decision."
"It would be worse if we pushed her away." Haruka's eyes turned downward. "In case… Setsuna-san fails… we still can't turn our back on her. Regardless of how we feel, we will protect our Queen."
"Spoken like a true senshi. Following our mission to the end, no matter how difficult or what the cost."
Sunset. The senshi from Earth were gathered on the large balcony bidding farewell to those of the Scarlett Palace. Everyone gave the three Starlights a moment with Queen Kakyuu. They were beginning to adjust to their new life on Earth but a part of them would always remain on Kinmoku.
A few minutes later they joined the other senshi, ready to depart.
"Thank you letting all of us be a part of the celebration," Sailor Cosmos smiled warmly.
"It was my pleasure to host all of you. I'm glad everyone was able to attend to see our home. I look forward to see all of you again," Queen Kakyuu said as she looked at everyone. "Safe travels on your journey home."
Sailor Cosmos nodded her head. She looked at the senshi that stood to both sides of her. "Is everyone ready?" After hearing a response from the others, she raised her staff over her head and slowly closed her eyes. A bright white light emitted from her staff and within a blink of eye they gone. They became shooting stars piercing through the night sky.
What else did Mamoru learn about the Golden Kingdom from Shiori? Will he remember his past? What awaits him when he finally makes it to America?
The Inner Senshi and Starlights finish high school! Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon Sailor Stars: Chaos Theory Act 42: Graduation Day
Thank you Kikis87 for all your help!