A BEGINNING

Sailor Pluto frowned as she gazed into the swirling chaos that was Time. It had distorted a great deal ever since the Black Moon and Small Lady had recklessly and repeatedly travelled through time, but the combination of the Silver Crystals of Present and Future had repaired those distortions. From her Space-Time Door, she witnessed the repercussions of that battle. The swirling colours had halted for a moment, and then started swirling in a different direction. The chaos had maintained this direction for a while, but Pluto had recently started seeing black blotches appear in the colours, as if something was in the process of changing irreparably.

I've never seen anything like this before. What does it mean?

Thoughtfully, Pluto turned around, and raised the Time Key to close the Doors behind her. They thudded shut with an echoing creak, and the etchings of the phases of the moon gradually lost their light.

She stared out at the foggy mists surrounding her. It gave her something to do. Although it was just a habit, as she was staring at the same nothingness she had lived in for the last thousand years.

I suppose I shouldn't complain. I don't need to eat. I don't need to sleep.

But it will never end.

She turned her head back to the Space-Time Door, as if hoping for them to open again.

I don't remember the last time I saw her. I suppose she's older now.

One of the side effects of her eternal vigil at the Space-Time Door is that the Mists of Time could visualize her memories. Sometimes this was a comfort to Pluto, because she could relive her brief moments of happiness. But most of the time, it gave her pain.

A misty apparition of a pink haired girl in a flowing white dress bounded out of the Space-Time Door, calling out excitedly, "Puu! PUU! I've missed you so much!" It was partially transparent, so Pluto knew that this was just her memory of the child. Small Lady had not come to visit. No one else did, either.

I did tell them that this place was forbidden. No wonder no one comes. I even raised my Key to execute Sailor Moon. How foolish I was. How stupid the rules are.

As if in spite, the mists recreated a foggy vision of Pluto preparing to kill a confused and frightened Sailor Moon.

"Are you trying to mock me?"

The mists dissipated quickly.

Pluto sat down on the cold, misty floor. It was hard to see under the swirling clouds, but the floor was comprised of infinite dark blue tiles bearing Pluto's planetary symbol. As if to show her that this was, and forever shall be, her home.

I miss them. I want to see them. I want to see him, as much as it kills me.

She began to shake her head. "No, no! You're not going to make me look at him again," she said to the mists. She had no idea why, but they seemed to listen to her. Ridiculous idea, really.

Suddenly, a sweet voice echoed from the darkened chamber. "I think it is time for a change."

Pluto stood up and gripped her key, holding it defensively. She was not going to attack unprovoked again. "Who's there? Who are you?" She looked around her quickly, trying not to show her fear.

A golden light appeared in the centre of the chamber, filling the dark room with warmth. From within that golden light, a tiny person materialized, floating in the air. She had long, silver-white hair, and translucent silver wings.

The spirit of Queen Serenity smiled at Sailor Pluto. "Do you remember me?"

In shock, Pluto dropped her key, and fell down to her knees. "Your Majesty! You...I thought you were...but...how..." At a loss for words, she bowed deferentially again to the Queen.

Queen Serenity frowned slightly. "That is not necessary, Sailor Pluto." Then she smiled again. "But I am glad you remember. Please stand up. I wish to talk with you."

Sheepishly, Pluto picked up her Key and slowly stood up. "How...how can I be of service?"

Whenever she would see those few visitors, Pluto had always acted aloof, and tried to maintain calmness and formality at all times. She did not want to show too much attachment. But her relationship with Queen Serenity was different. She could not relax around the Monarch, but she could, for once, show vulnerability.

Before Queen Serenity could speak, the mists swirled again and formed an image of a tiny green-haired child in a black dress, listening to an impossibly tall and regal woman with silver hair give her instructions.

"My dear child," a kind voice with an empty echo said to the girl.

"Yes, ma'am?" Princess Pluto's eyes were wide. She had never seen a woman so resplendent with kindness and magic.

"I am going to ask you to do something. It is perhaps the most important job a Sailor Senshi will ever have."

"A Sailor Senshi? What's a Sailor Senshi?'

"You mean you've never...? Well. I'll be speaking to your father later. In the meantime, take this." A dark purple rod appeared in the Queen's hand. On the top of the rod was a stylized depiction of Pluto with two moons orbiting it. She handed it to the young Princess.

As Princess Pluto grasped the rod, it flashed a dark purple light. Her dress instantaneously changed into a child's version of the Sailor Uniform. Her collar, skirt, and boots were black, and her ribbon trim was a dark maroon. In her right hand, a giant silver key materialized. It glittered with yellow topaz jewels. And it dwarfed the child, but she did not have any trouble carrying it. It felt weightless.

Queen Serenity smiled warmly at the child. "You are the first of the Sailor Senshi. The one who is the guardian of Pluto. And, as I said, your responsibilities will be among the most important. You will help protect our Solar System from outside invaders. And, you, Princess Pluto, daughter of Chronos...will be the Mistress of Time."

The child Sailor Pluto began running around the Gates of Time with excitement. "I'm a Sailor Senshi! I'm the most important Sailor Senshi!"

Serenity chuckled. "Hold on, my dear, there is something I need to tell you. There are duties you will need to uphold. And three rules, Three Taboos, that you must never break."

"No, I think we both remember the rules very well. It is not necessary to see me explain them again." The spirit Queen Serenity waved her hand dismissively, and the mists disappeared.

The mists then suddenly made the form of the child Sailor Pluto again. But she was aging rapidly. The child Pluto's eyes sparkled with purpose and ambition. Soon she grew to around Small Lady's current age, eyes still bright. Then an awkward preteen with legs that had gone through a growth spurt before the rest of her body did. Pluto flushed with embarrassment. Then a stunning teenager somewhat older than Usagi. Instead of standing straight and tall, she slumped a bit, as if the weight of the world was on her shoulders. It still did not diminish from her beauty. And finally, the mists formed Pluto's current age, an elegant adult. But her eyes no longer sparkled; they were clouded with loneliness.

Pluto had never quite understood why she'd aged in a place where time stood still. But after the fall of the Silver Millennium, she'd ceased to age. She had maintained this exact form for over a thousand years. The sparkle never returned to her eyes. They had been dulled from centuries of isolation. And, unlike all the other Sailor Senshi, only she alone was never reincarnated.

Queen Serenity cocked an eyebrow slightly. "How long have the mists been reacting to your memories?"

Pluto paused, trying to remember. Memory and time meant nothing here, really. She was asking an almost impossible question.

Hesitantly, she spoke. "A while."

"I see. Well, that gives me more than enough reason to grant you a little bit of freedom." She smiled once more at the solitary soldier.

Freedom?

Something she had never known.

The spirit floated over to the Space-Time Door, resting in front of them. The Queen studied them carefully, and then raised a hand. The Gates obeyed, slowly opening to reveal the swirling chaos.

She spoke, the normal echo of her words absorbed within the Gates. "I would like you to do something for me. I shall explain what I require of you. You will then freely have a choice to accept the mission or not. It's the least I can do for you."

Pluto stared at the spirit cautiously, then nodded.

"The Black Moon was only the second of the enemies that the Sailor Senshi shall face. You, too, I'm sure, have observed the spikes in Time that have been caused by future battles. And future changes."

Pluto nodded.

"I would like for you to leave your post. This would be temporary, but you will not have to fear intruders attempting to manipulate Time for evil gains. The Gates will remain protected. In exchange for this freedom, you are to travel to the 20th Century. And watch over my daughter and her friends. Help them. Influence them. But remain unseen."

"So...I can't talk with them?"

"Not as Sailor Pluto, and even then, you shouldn't communicate unless absolutely necessary. When you reveal who you are, it will change everything. That spiked change you see in Time before you? That will be you."

Pluto stared at the swirling spike, feeling guilty over an act she had not done yet.

Serenity smiled once more, and continued. "In the 20th Century you shall create yourself an identity. A life. Sailor Pluto, eternal solitary guardian of the Gates of Time, shall only be an aspect of yourself."

But Sailor Pluto is all that I am.

Pluto gripped her Time Key, and sadly turned her eyes away from the Space-Time Door, and looked at the ground.

"You would be free to make your own choices in the 20th Century. You would influence the future with your every action. And, you will fight alongside them. For your power is needed." Serenity's eyes lingered on the Time Key. "Have you ever heard of the Talismans?"

"I have seen glimpses of them. All that I know is that they are powerful artefacts with a specific purpose."

Serenity nodded. "That's correct. In addition to assisting your fellow Senshi, I must ask you to seek out the Talismans. And, as a Senshi of the Outer Solar System, I must ask you to join with your other Outer Senshi and protect the Earth from outside invaders."

"Are there any more tasks required of me?" Pluto sounded slightly more insolent than she intended to.

Queen Serenity's expression became deadly serious. "Yes, there is one more thing." She closed her eyes. It was now her turn for her memories to be visualized.

Queen Serenity was on her hands and knees, sobbing bitterly. The Moon Stick lay next to her hands, the Silver Crystal gleaming.

There were echoes of screams, of cruel laughter, and of explosions and crashes.

Then, a shadowed person's footsteps echoed behind the Queen.

Queen Serenity turned her head behind her.

The person stepping out of the shadows was a black haired Sailor Senshi clad in purple.

The Senshi's eyes were clouded and her expression was emotionless. She slowly held a gleaming white sickle over her head.

"So...it's you." Serenity's past self echoed, her eyes hardening. "It's all over then."

The Senshi nodded, but would not speak. Then she lowered her sickle in a perfect arc.

And all went silent.

Pluto's eyes widened with shock. "I've seen signs of that girl! She's another Sailor Senshi! But...what was she doing?"

"Ending everything." Serenity's voice was wrought with pain. "Sailor Saturn. The Soldier of Death and Rebirth. The Soldier of Destruction. It wasn't the Dark Kingdom who ended the Silver Millennium for good. It was her. And I watched her, and everyone else except the cats, die immediately after she lowered her Silence Glaive. All that was left was for me to use the Silver Crystal. You'd sensed massive changes in the Timestream, so you were here. I imagine you'd detected the Silver Crystal facilitating the rebirth of everyone."

Pluto nodded, recalling the incident. "Was Saturn reborn like the others?" She couldn't help feeling a touch of resentment.

"Yes. Sailor Saturn is born with power capable of destroying a planet. If Sailor Saturn should appear before you, know that the end has come."

Pluto's insides went cold with fright.

But I sensed her appearance in the future!

She dashed back over to the Space-Time Door. Raising her Time Key, she silently ordered the swirling mists to show her, once more, the vision of Sailor Saturn.

Without her actually stepping into through the Gates to experience them, her visions of events in Time would only appear as visions in Pluto's mind. Her visions of the future were always dark, and full of symbolism rather than explicitly described. But this vision was darker than usual.

A black maelstrom of evil power was tearing up the ground. Directly in the line of the maelstrom's direction were blurry visions of what Pluto sensed were the other Sailor Senshi. They were dead, that much the vision was telling her, but how they'd died was a mystery. Their bodies were disintegrated in the chaos. And then, a woman appeared on a broken ledge. No, wait, a girl. The longer Pluto focused on the person on the ledge, the blurrier her age and body seemed to be. Her eyes were glowing a dark, malevolent purple. A scythe appeared in her hand. Is this...Sailor Saturn? But then, the girl leapt off the ledge and slaughtered the Seer with her scythe.

She broke out of the vision, panting and with her heart pounding. It wasn't her that had been killed, but she felt as though she had anyway. No matter how many times she witnessed the vision, she couldn't make much sense of it. But seeing it once more strengthened her resolve. She raised her Key again, and the Doors closed once more.

I have to do something.

"I am asking you to prevent Sailor Saturn's awakening at all costs. For if all the signs are correct, history will repeat itself and she will unleash her destructive power once again. She dies immediately as a price of using the power of Death, so she only appears when all else is lost. She uses her powers as a last resort." Queen Serenity took a deep breath, with difficulty. "So I am asking you to change the future."

She looked into Pluto's eyes. "Shall you take on this mission? It is difficult, I realize. I will not judge you if you choose to stay here."

Pluto walked a bit, deliberately not looking at Serenity's face. She clenched her fists, her heart torn between fear, duty, and excitement.

"How can I possibly say no?"