The Pluto Cronicles Black Beyond I had gone back to the Gates. Like I always do when some big threat comes up. I watched as the inners had one of their famous meetings: the first two seconds is business and the rest silly gossip. I watched Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru decide over whether to help the inners. They would, of course. I watched Artemis and Luna debate over a bunch of stuff that had some vague connection to the topic at hand. And then the conversation quickly shifted to which alley had the best mice. I rolled my eyes. Would they ever wake up? Maybe I should go to a shrink. Just to see the shrink's reaction. I could just imagine it: 'Well, I've died a few time, came back, died some more, watched a few civilations crumble, watched my family be destroyed by some crazed psycho, that BTW, I could have killed easily. Oh, yeah. I've seen enough blood to fill the pacific ocean, saw enought murders to make an insane homicial inmate turn Saint, watched you cheat on your wife last Thursday, which wasn't a good thing because she saw you too, she's filing for divorse at this very second. I kill creatures with a very big key that hell itself would run away from almost everyday. I am immortal, and I've been around for a while. Long enough to watch Pangaea drift apart. Oh, did I leave something out? Yeah, and there's this tiny fact that I'm a superheroine and, get ready for this, from another planet!. Oh, I'm sorry, what was that? Oh, what have I been smoking?' If the part about his wife didn't freak him out, the rest would. I could have gotten more desciptive, you know. Tell him about how an evil ripped through my parent's palace on Pluto, but-- nevermind. I'll let that be my own personal horror. Nothing could quite compare to the feeling I got, however, as I watched it. What? Self-pity is bad for you? Well, I've got plenty of reasons for self-pity, okay? I watch the senshi battle it out with the first youma to come. Mars took a blow-- hmm, she'll be okay in a day or two. Mercury-- ouch. She'll feel *that* in the morning. She'll be okay, too. Eternal Sailor Moon had a little trouble there. Oops. Next time I see her I'll fork over the Galaxy Locket. She'll need it. These are tough ones. "I think I'm crazy." I tell the Gate. It has no immediate reply. Perhaps it would like to ponder that one. I open a portal with my staff. "Time to give Sailor Moon this." My hand closes around a silver star shaped locket. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "Sailor Senshi." I appeared as they are about to leave. They practicly broke a few bones, the way they whirl around so fast. "Pluto!" Uranus got her suspicious look on her face. I rolled my eyes. Yes, I'm the almighty Sailor Pluto! "Eternal Sailor Moon, here's something to help you." I handed her the locket. She marveled at it for a few seconds. It IS pretty, I will admit. The same size as her other lockets, but star shaped, different from the heart and round ones. Silver, with the symbols of the planets around the rim. A full moon on the top with a rosebud in the center. A pink, star shaped crystal is inside, but I'll leave that to her to find. "What do I say?" She asked. "Moon Galaxy Power, Make Up." I told her. "Give it a shot." I've never seen this transformation, but no use to tell them that. She nods and holds it up. "MOON GALAXY POWER MAKE UP!" SHe shouts. There's the usual big, flashy transformation sequence, and then, it is all I can do not to gasp. The very picture of an angel. The bows on her fuku are silver, the skirt is gold. Her boots are now balletish, like Venus's and Neptune's, only silver. The cresent moon on her forehead is replaced by a tiara. The stone in it is silver. The wings on her back are real wings, not like Eternal Sailor Moon's. She really does remind me of an angel. "Dude." Venus breathed. So, I'm not the only one. "Usako." I think Tux boy is about to pass out. Cool. I'd like to see that. "This is your new sceptor." I break the silence. I hand Sailor Moon the wand. It is like her Rainbow Moon Heart Ache one, but with a few minor differences. 'They like it?' Fate asked. Damn her! I told her not to talk to me in my head. I nodded, slightly. 'Cool.' Her voice is so annoying! "Fate, you're a jerk." I mutter. 'They heard you!' She taunted. Sure enough, Uranus, Mars and Neptune are staring at me. I have to go kick some butt. "I'll be going now." I disappear, as Uranus sputters. I reappear with Fate and Destiny. "Haha, they heard you, haha!" She gloats. Destiny give her a dirty look. "I've got a headache, okay?" I snap. "What do you want?" "Cool it, P." Destiny gives me a wary look. In some weird way, this is ironic. I dunno. I'll figure it out later. "We just found out the identity of the man in charge of this fleet." Fate frowns. Destiny looks at me like I'm about to bite her. "And?" I ask. "Well, um, it's... here. Look for yourself." Destiny held out her mirror. I glance at both of them and look into the mirror. "I don't see anything." I said. "Look now." Fate said. The mirror's surface wavers and a picture begins to come into focus. I watch as the details form.... slower.... almost see it... OHMIGOD! I back away from the mirror like it's poison. "No, Fate, Des, please, no. Please." I gasp. This is impossible. "Yell me it just looks like him. Tell me something else." I plead. "No, Pluto. It's your father, alright." ~*~*~*~*~*~ I nod dumbly, and teleport out. I reappear in the outer's living room, and dehenshin. Michiru and Haruka look up, alarmed. They are surprised. I know this, but cannot comprehende. My mind is stuck on that one word. Father. I walk, as though I'm on automatic, up the stairs and sink into a chair. This is impossible. I saw his dead body, I saw the immpossible amount of blood following from it. I saw the monster rip through him like a hot knife through butter. I saw all this. How can this be? "No.... it's not possible...." I moan. How? I run through everything I've learned. One little thing sticks out. 'The future is not set in stone.' My mother told me that, a long time ago. When I was young. When I was happy. Before I knew of my responibilities. "Setsuna? Is everything okay?" Michiru steps cautiously into the room. I nod. "Never been better." I practicly spat. "What's wrong?" "You know I can't tell you that." Even though I want to. "Why not?" She puts her hands on her hips. "Because." 'Tell her. It's okay.' Fate's voice says. I grimace. For once her voice doesn't make me feel like puking. "Well, if you don't tell anyone it will eat away at you inside." She says. I roll my eyes. "My father is the ruler of the Nega-verse." I said. She is startled. I know she thought I wasn't going to tell her. "But I thought your father was de--" She stops. "So did I. Let's see who's more surprised. Me, who saw the freaking youma rip him apart, or you, who heard some watered down version of it from a Queen that wasn't even alive when it happened!" I was angry. At myself, at Destiny, at everyone. But I couldn't shout. The last time I shouted was-- well, have I ever shouted? 'P, calm down. It's okay.' Destiny said. I shook my head. It was not okay! How could I miss this? How could this happen...... "I'm so sorry, Setsuna." Miciru put an arm around my shoulder. A light bulb went off in my head. My staff appeared in my hand. Michiru jumped back, startled. "I have to go see to something, Michiru. Gomen." I transformeed and disappeared. I reappeared in Ami's house, where the blue-haired genius was studying. She looked up and nearly had a heart attack. "Sailor Pluto?!" "Ami, do me a favor. Come with me. I have a job for you." I said. She nodded. "Sure." "Transform, and bring your computer." "MERCURY CRYSTAL POWER MAKE UP!" She shouted. When the water and light show was through, she grabbed the small blue computer. I opened a portal and she stepped in. I after her. Next stop: Chicago, Boston, Kentucky, and Hell. ~*~*~*~*~*~ "WHat is this place?" Mercury looked around in dumb shock at the blood and carnage that filled the halls. I blinked back the tears that threatened to overrun. "Welcome to my home, Sailor Mercury. We are percisly ten thousand years in the past." I opened a door. More blood, more bodies. I'll spare you the details. I stepped over the disfigured Plutians and through puddles of dark red liquid. I stopped at the body of one man. My father. Mercury looked down, at him. She gasped. "Who?" "My father. I need you to scan his blood. Tell me what type it is. I am sorry to have you see all this, but it is very important." I said, as she turned on her visor and opened her computer. After a few minutes of typing, she turned to me. "His blood type was O+." She said, searching my face. A mix of emotions went through my mind. "Are you sure?" I demanded. "Are you sure it is not A-?" "I am sure." She said. I didn't know how to react. Joy, at it not being my father? Anger, for believing it was? Sorrow, for my uncle, who it truly was on the floor? "Thank you. It is not my father, then." I said. "Wh-who is it, then?" She asked. "My father's twin. My uncle." I said. I looked at the ceiling. I could not bear to see the blood any longer. Refreshing all the memories. "This was your home, then?" She asked. I nodded. "Lovely place, huh?" "It must have been." She looked at the walls. Although smeared and splattered with blood, the painting and portraits were still beauitful. "I'd give you a tour, but this is one of the better rooms." I said bitterly. "We should go now." ~*~*~*~*~*~ I took Mercury home to deal with the sight of so much carnage. I was in no better state than before. But this time I couldn't take their pity. I sat at the Gates, watching with unseeing eyes. I have lived with loneliness for many long years, so now it is a friend more than anything else. Maybe it would have been better if I had not taken Mercury to that place. Maybe somethings are best left unknown. I watched Makoto and Minako shop at the mall. I watched as Usagi and Mamoru went into the movies. Rei was attending her fire. Haruka was at a race, winning, as usual. Michiru and Hotaru in the stands cheering her on. It's 3:30, Meioh Setsuna. Do you know where your life is? Watch and Wait. And Wait. "Huh?!" I shouted. The Gates were disappearing. Fading. I found myself back with Fate and Destiny. "What's going on?" I demanded. "Gomen Nasai, Sailor Pluto. You are hereby shut off from the Gates of Time until this new enemy is defeated." Destiny said. I looked at her in confusion. "You can't do that." "Gomen." Fate whispered, and then they too, faded. I was back in Haruka's mansion. "You can't do this, Destiny!" I screamed. 'Gomen........' I felt part of my mind shut down. I tried to look forwards, but could not. Backward. Nope. I tried to see what the othes were doing right now. I couldn't. I looked at my staff. Not there! I tried to pull it forth. It would not come. "NOOO!!" ~*~*~*~*~*~ "What's wrong with her?" I heard the hushed whisper on the other side of the door. I said cried for a good two hours, after failing at producing my staff. I had locked the door and forbidden Haruka to break it down. I was lost. I always knew what was to happen, and when and where. But now I saw nothing. Michiru was worried sick, and Hotaru had taken a permenate station at the door. Haruka came by every ten minutes or so. I couldn't tell the time without looking at a clock! Haruka knocked again. "Go away." I mumbled. "Setsuna, open this door!" She demanded. "No." I answered. A loud thud against it was the reply. "Haruka, please." Michiru chided. "Haruka-papa, what's wrong with Setsuna- mama?" I heard Hotaru's childish voice ask. THUD! THUD! THUD! THU-crash! The door gave, and Haruka, looking quite graceful, fell on top of it. What a picture I must have made. Curled up, clutching a pillow, tear stains on my cheeks. "Setsuna-mama!" Hotaru rushed in and landed beside me. She gave me a hug. "What's wrong?" Haruka scowled and picked herself up. "You knew that was going to happen." She muttered. I shook my head. "I didn't." I said. Michiru studied me for a minute. "You didn't?" Haruka asked. I shook my head. 'Setsuna, your weapon is returned. Without the power to teleport or open the gates.' Fate's voice said. "You're a bitch, Fate." I answered,not caring if they heard this time. They looked at me in surprise. The time staff appeared in fron tof me. I grabbed it quickly. "Take it again and I swear, Des, you're dead." I muttered, and put it up. "Setsuna, are you okay?" Michiru felt my forehead. I jerked away. 'There's no need for threats, P.' Destiny said. "No need for threats? Who's threatening? I was promising." I growled. Hotaru backed away from me slowly. 'I'm a bitch, ne? Well, if I'm a bitch, then you're a--OW! Destiny!" Fate whined. I suppose Destiny hit her with something. "Got what you deserve!" I crowed. "Honey, why don't you go play with your lamps." Michiru suggested. Hotaru nodded and ran out of the room. 'Not funny, Pluto! That hurt! I'm bleeding! I hope that stupid mirror of your's is cracked, Des!' Fate retorted. I wish I could have seen that. "You deserve it. And you are a bitch. You shouldn't have done that. I'm perfectly capable of guarding the Gates." 'This is your father, Pluto. Maybe you are, but we will take no chances.' Destiny said. "I bet Fate talked you into it." I muttered. Haruka was inching towards me. 'Shuddup, P.' Fate pouted. "Setsuna, are you sure you're okay?" Michiru asked. "Okay? Me? Never been better! I'm just talking to two jerks, who--" 'Hey!' "Took my staff away, and I can't even tell the time without looking at a clock--" 'It's 5:13.' "Shut up, Fate. And you're both freaking out on me because I'm calling them names!" 'Yes, we shouldn't be called names.' "Shut up, Fate!" I finished. "Are you serious?" Haruka asked. "I think she is." Michiru said incredously. "Yes, I'm serious! And you want to know why they did it?" I was almost histerical. "It's all because my father didn't die! He's the head of the Nega-verse, and they think I'd betray them to help that bastard!" Yup. Histerical. 'No chances, Pluto.' "Destiny, You're full of it, okay?!" I was so close to yelling it was abominal. "Setsuna, please. It's okay." Michiru tried to reassure me. But I had this sinking feeling that nothing would ever be okay again. I hate it when I'm right. ~*~*~*~*~*~ Sure enough. I couldn't teleport. I couldn't see back or foward. Nothing. It was extremly frustrating for someone who has spent their whole life knowing exactly what was going to happen. This is my closing speech, for the story is no longer mine to tell.