It's been a while, hasn't it?
This is still the rough version of the story, I will revise it later. I'm
posting it now since I don't want to leave people wondering
The entier fic can be found here:
<http://home1.gte.net/mathews1/Setsuna.txt>
Chapter 12
Makoto Mizuhara was anxiously pacing back and forth on the top of the Eye
of God. Using the knowledge in Setsuna's memory, he could charge Ifurita's
staff with enough dimensional energy to open a portal to where she was at.
The staff needed two hours to charge up enough for the jump.
"This is maddening. I'm so close to her, but I have to wait to go,"
Mizuhara said to no one in paticular.
Looking at her sister's love, Setsuna replied, "Have patience, Makoto-kun.
Ifurita won't be waiting long. The jump should place you about a couple of
hours after you were sent to this world. Remember, she waited ten-thousand
years for you. I think you can wait another hour."
Sighing, Makoto said, "Your right. It's just that I miss her so much."
"I know," replied Setsuna
Usagi spoke up, "Maybe we need something to pass the time while were
waiting. Setsuna could you please acces any memories that you have on how
you aquired a star-seed and tell us how."
"Whew, I'll try Usagi. I'm a little curious myself, since that part of my
memory has been blocked off."
Closing her eyes, Setsuna looked through her directory to find any
refrences to her star-seed. She wondered through the virtual room of
spheres, hunting for one that looked right. She came accross one that
glowed with a purple light. Setsuna felt her obedience circut kick in and
drive her towards the sphere. She realized that this sphere held the answer
to Usagi's question. She touched the sphere and let the memories flow into
her virtual self. Once the flow had stopped, Setsuna opened her eyes and
looked at her master.
"I've accesed the memory file, Usagi," Setsuna said blankly, "I'll now tell
you how I accquired it."
Usagi shuddered and said, "Setsuna, please. I want my friend to tell me
not an emotionless machine."
Hearing those words, Setsuna shifted back into her normal mode
"Sorry, Usagi. That is something the both of us are going to have to get
used to. Well, I guess I should tell you now before my circuit kicks in.
It started bck near the end of the Silver Millenium., in the throne room of
King John..."
<flashback>
Selene walked into the throne room of King John of Earth, accompanied by
Sailor Pluto. Selene examined the king. John was an impressive speciem,
standing over his subjects with his five foot seven inch height. The king
noticed the newcomer to his throne room and his faced blanched in
recognition. He nodded to his guards to clear the throne room of everyone
except himself and the two women who had just entered. He took a deep
breath before speaking to Selene
"Selene. I thought you were dead since no one has seen you in fifty
years," John said, "What brings you to my kingdom."
"Fifty years?" Selene muttered under her breath and then continued aloud,
"Well your son saw me a few years back, although he doesn't remember it. As
to why I came, I need your help to do something, your majesty."
"I'll listen to your request if you tell me about Endymion's meeting with
you was about", the King replied.
"Oh, about a tenth of a run of sand," Selene joked and then continued in a
more serious tone of voice, "His meeting with me was so that he would be
doing something that had to be done. It wasn't for me it was for Setsuna,
here."
The king had a puzzled look on his face, "Setsuna? You mean Sailor Pluto
don't you?"
Selene said, "Yes, I do mean her. It was your son's destiny to give
Setsuna her name. It also will allow Setsuna the ability to feel what it is
like to be torn between love and duty. Which I fell will be necessary for
her to grow."
"So, she really is a machine. Sort of like that clock from China," King
John said while pointing at a small cuckoo clock.
Selene jerked back in suprise and asked, "How did you know?"
John smiled and said, "I guessed, but it was fairly obvious that
Sailor....sorry. Setsuna didn't act like a normal person. You? Your
reactions are understandable, but hers were not. I think I already know the
answer but who built her? "
"I did," Selene admitted, "After I brought her here, I have been doing
modifications to her, to prepare her for what she will have to do. That is
the reason we're both here I need to make the last few modifications to
Setsuna before I face Sehkmet tomorrow."
"Sehkmet? So it's almost over isn't it?" John said, with a heavy sigh,
"The Moon Kingdom? My kingdom? All of it?"
Selene looked at the king curiously.
"Oh, don't be so suprised. Your not the only one who can predict the
future," John said, "Although, I have yet to see anyone match your ability."
"I see. You have been practicing divination magics haven't you?" Selene
asked.
The king acknowledged it with a nod, looked at Sailor Pluto and said,
"Judging by the way you treat her, I feel like I should ask. You must be
proud of your daughter, Selene?"
Selene nodded and said, "Yes I am, but I do have regrets. If only I could
have brought her sister along with us?'
John snorted, "The world is full of 'If only's'. No can know what might
have been."
"Your wrong, your majesty," Selene smiled sadly, "That is my power and
curse. I know what would have happened if I had done something differently.
I can see all the paths my life can take and the repercussions that will
occur if I choose one line over another"
King John looked at Selene with a mixture of horror and pity and said, "I
am sorry. I didn't know. Since you have revealed this to me, please answer
my question. What is the path that you have chosen?"
Selene closed her eyes and said, "The path I chose is the one that forces
me to sacrifice almost everything that could bring me happiness. I've had
to consign my daughters to slavery so that they can enjoy lasting happiness
later. I loathe myself for doing that. I can't even spend time with them.
I told your son about why old Atlas chose Setsuna, but I didn't tell him
that I could only see my daughter at most three days in decade."
"Selene..", John said, pausing he shook his head before contiuing, "Selene,
your also under another curse now. You are starting to lose track of time.
>From my divinations Setsuna took up the guardianship a bit more than two
thousand years ago."
"Hmm. I guess your right," Selene said and then giggled, "I think living
for seven thousand years will do that to a person."
John looked at Selene strangely, "I've heard many stories about you,
Selene. One of the constant themes is that you are unable to laugh."
Selene sighed and with a faraway look in her eye and said, "My ability to
foretell the future has taken something from me, Prester John. I am unable
to feel the emotion of hope. Even the most depressed person on this planet
can feel hope. I cannot. That is the price of my ability to see the
future."
John shuddered and said, "Let's change the subject, shall we. What is the
help you require of me and exactly how are you going to modify Setsuna?"
"Well, one of the first modifications I'm going to make is give her a one
shot battery, that will allow her to complete the mission I programmed into
her. Setsuna please turn around."
Setsuna complied with the order and mechanically turned around. Selene
clenched her right hand into a fist. Arounf her fist a silver aura begn to
glow. As she unclenched her hand, a small, fat, silver cylinder was
revealed. Selene raised the back of Setsun'a skirt to reveal the key access
port. Once she had revealed that, Selene plugged the cylinder into the key
port. The cylinder made a perfect fit, and set flush with the skin of
Sailor Pluto. Nodding in satisfaction, Selene let the skirt fall.
Selene explained, "Part one is done. That silver disk will give Setsuna
the power to complete her journey, until she is wound up by her new master."
John, confused, asked, "How? The disk blocks the keyhole."
"The disk will slowly disolve into the air as it is used. By the time, her
desginated master shows up the disk will have vanished."
Shaking his head, John said, "Okay, I guess I underestimated you. Well,
what's part two?"
"Giving Setsuna a star-seed," Selene said flatly
"O..kay. Where are you going to get one?"
"This is why I need your help. I can modify an existing star-seed for her,
but it has to be removed from the host," Selene said, while holding a pair
of golden bracelets, "It will be placed right over her memory core which is
next to her obedience circuit."
"SELENE?!? You know what happens when a star-seed is taken form a person.
I can't believe you would condone such a thing," John exclaimed shocked.
"The star-seed I have in mind is dying. It is either removed or it will
fade forever, and it is one of the eternal ones at that."
Stunned, John whispered, "I didn't think anything could cause one of the
eternals to fade."
"There is one thing," Selene said sadly, while donning the braclets, "John,
you know the spell to remove a star-seed. I need you to cast it."
"Err. Yes, I know it, but why can't you cast it?"
"I need to modify the star-seed and that will take a lot of my
concentration. There is another reason, though. Please go get your
scepter."
John confused and rattled by the conversation, fetched his emerald scepter.
The three enormous gems, embedded in the top of it, glowed with a firey
grren light. Prester John returned with his mace like talisman and prepared
himself to do something that he didn't want to do.
"Selene?" Prester John asked nervously, "Just who's star-seed are we
taking? There's only the three of us here and the only one who has
one......."
John's voice trailed off as he realized what Selene was about to do.
Looking at John, Selene nodded sadly confirming what he had suspected.
"Yes, John. I intend to give Setsuna my star-seed. My powers are killing
it, because I can feel no hope. This is the doom I foresaw. After the
battle with Sehkmet, I will be totally annihilated. The alterations will
prevent me from ever using that star-seed. The bracers, I'm now wearing,
will prevent me from fading away once it is removed. If it wasn't for my
power....................DAMN YOU, ICE QUEEN!!!!!"
At Selene's shout, several guards rushed into the throne room. King John
waved them all away, assuring them that he was all right. Selene had
started crying and John didn't want anyone to see her like that. After a
few minutes, Selene composed herself and nodded her grattitude to John.
"Thank you, John. I have always dreaded this day, but it is the only way
to secure the future. Let's get to it."
Nodding, John silently raised his scepter and pointed it towards Selene. A
triple emerald bolt lanced out and struck Selene square in the chest. A
grey eight sided gem came out of Selene. Once the gem was removed, the
bracers on her arms started glowing. Closing her eyes to gather courage,
Selene chanted her spell. The spell reacted with the gem, turning it
purple. Once the color had changed, the gem was attarced to the android
girl. Once the crystal had touched her, it merged with Setsuna, completing
her modifications.
Slumping down exhausted, Selene tearfully whispered, "It is done. Now, I
must go and face Sehkmet, alone."
Prester John, looking down at his scepter, came to a decision.
"Selene, take this," Joh said while handing her the emerald scpeter, "It
has taken somthing from you. I have taken something from you, that can never
be replaced. It is only right that you should use this in your final
battle. I want to make sure my son survives in some way."
"Thank you, John. Your son will survive, by being re-incarnated along with
the one he loves. This scepter will allow me to weaken Sehkmet enough for
your son's paramour to destroy her once and for all."
"Only weaken? I thought it would be enough to destroy her."
"It would be, but then Chaos would choose a champion that would be to
tough for Sailor Moon to beat."
"Sailor Moon? You mean the moon princess will join the Senshi?"
"After she is re-incarnated, yes she will. It is the best protection for
her. Her personality then, will be a clutzy, crybaby."
"I can't imagine the princess being anything other than being calm and
reagl."
"Which is why it will work," Selene said with a smirk, "She's also the one
who will be Setsuna's new master."
Sighing sadly, Selene turned towards Setsuna and said, "You will have as
much feedom as you desire when you have acheived being mother, sister, and
daughter at once."
King John said, "That's not very informative."
"It will be, when the time comes," Selen whispered while hanging her head.
A silence fell over the two, neither knowing what to say next. A sudden
voice interrupted their musings.
"Just how will the scepter weaken Sehkmet?" Setsuna asked.
A smirk crossed Selene's face while she replied, "I will use the scepter to
tear Sehkmet asunder. I'll fire the scepter's gems into Sehkmet. Each gem
will rocket off into another part of the universe. The gems will be
corrupted; as the evil energy starts to grow, and each will form a new body
for the portion that was torn away. The three will take their names from
Sehkmet's. Se will become the Kaisen flower. Kh will become Pharoh 90. The
remaining emerald will land closest to the moon kingdom. That one will form
Metallia. The scepter itself will also be corrupted and bcome a being known
as Madam Vadiane. Any of the chaotic energy left over, will be collected
by a Senshi to contain it. Of course the little battle, between Sehkmet and
I, will cause the system's sun where the two of us will meet to explode."
"Do you really have to do this?" Setsuna asked
Taking her hand, Selene looked into Setsuna's eyes and said, "Yes, daughter
I have to do this. To secure not only the future happiness of the people of
this universe, but the happiness of you and your sister, Ifurita. You have
your instructions programmed into you, follow them and please take care."
Setsuna nodded and raised her staff. With a flash of light she had
disappeared from the throne room of Prester John.
<end flashback>
Closing her eyes, Setsuna addressed Usagi, "I never saw Selene after that.
I remember the day the light from the exploding star reached Earth,
confirming she was dead. It was one of the only times in my life that I
cried. After I had cried, I felt my memories being sealed off regarding
that event. I had certain information, but not what had happened. Thanks
to you, I can remeber now"
It was very obvious, Setsuna was trying to hold back tears. Usagi went
over to Setsuna and hugged her, to try and comfort her friend. As she
recalled who Sehkmet was, she shuddered in horror at the thought of a being
that had the combined strength of almost all her major foes. Still holding
on to Setsuna she stared speaking.
"It's all right, Setsuna. I didn't know it would be that painful for you
to recall."
Holding back tears, Setsuna replied, "No, Usagi. I want to recall this. I
want to remember what Selene had sacrificed so that we would be happy."
Makoto Mizuhara was also trying to hold back tears. He realised that this
Selene person cared very deeply about her daughters and only cosigned them
to their fate becuase of her power. He hoped that he was what would make
Ifurita happy.
Usagi asked Setsuna a question, "Why did she damn the Ice Queen? What did
she do to Selene?"
Setsuna whispered, "I have no idea. I was never given that
information."
A beeping sound came from where Ifurita's staff was plugged into the Eye.
Makoto went over to the stff and pulled it out. He looked at the two Senshi
and started talking.
"I'll bring Ifurita back in about a minute of your time, but I want some
time with her alone. I want to show her my world."
Usagi smiled, "You don't have to explain. Just please, come back with her
so Ifurita and Setsuna can meet."
Makoto nodded as he gripped the staff. He closed his eyes and used his
power to activate the staff's energy. A swirl of light started to form
around him. Once the swirl started, he opened his eyes and held the staff
like a flagpost, pointing straight up and down. He slowly faded from view.
Makoto Mizuhara was on his way to Ifurita.
Chapter 13
The group that was sent to the Forbbiden Island had made it to where
Ifurita was stored for so many centruries. The shrine still had large
boulders strewn about from where Ifurtia had blasted the walls. Examining
the area, Ami noticed that the central area of the shrine was still
untouched. The Senshi of ice made her way closer to the dias in the center
of the room.
"This is where Ifurita was kept in suspension?" Ami asked while touching
her earring to summon her visor.
Afura Mann nodded and said, "I believe so. I was outside fighting Bugrom
when she awoke."
Ami nodded and started examing the suspension chamber. While she was
gathering information, Haruka was busy looking at the walls. Seeing the
damage that Ifurita had caused, she made a low whistle of appreciation. A
slight sound alerted Haruka something was wrong. Pulling out her sword,
Sailor Uranus turned twoards where the sound was and saw nothing.
"Who's there?" Haruka demanded, while staring in the direction of the
sound.
Afura Mann looked at Haruka oddly. She scanned the area and saw that there
was no one there, bu then a sudden thought crept into her mind. Afura Mann
took out her talisman and activated it, to have access to her powers.
Haruka, remembering a snippet about a phantom tribe, closed her eyes and
let her ears due the sensing for her. Ami took a glance over at her two
companions and, through her visor, saw that someone was about to stab a
kinfe in Haruka's back.
"Haruka!! Behind you!!!" Ami yelled
Haruka turned around swiftly with a yell, "SPACE SWORD BLASTER!!"
The Space Sword shot its energy blast forward and as soon as it hit a
certian area a figure of smoke appeared and then dissipated. Ami scanned
the area and saw at least four more grey skinned humanoids. Seeing that
they were in a cluster, Ami fired off one of her attacks.
"SHINING AQUA ILLUSION!!" Ami yelled as her attack enveloped the four
Phantom Tribe memberes in ice.
Afura felt kind of superfulous upon seeing the two Senshi defeat five
Phantom Tribe members. She shook her head and decided to ask about the
Senshi powers later.
"Sailor Mercury, what have you found out about Ifurita's shrine?" Afura
asked.
Ami, slightly stratled by the question, replied, "Oh. The dias is actually
a sophisticated suspension device. It holds a Demon-god in suspension while
enough energy is injected into the Demon-god to keep the memories and
awareness intact." Pointing at some barely visible writing, she contiued,
"I found some refrences, in some of these runes, that a Demon-god can be
brought back from total wind down if enough energy is pumped into her,
before being wound back up."
"So, Setsuna is not in danger if she completely winds down?" Haruka asked.
Ami shook her head, "No, that isn't what I meant. If Setsuna
completely winds down, it would take a mssive energy burst to restart her.
Knowing Usagi, she would use the silver crystal to jump start Setsuna."
"Silver crystal? Is it really that powerful?"
The two Senshi looked at Afura Mann
Ami replied, "Yes it is. Those stunts that you heard actually
happened. The crystal is very powerful, but that's not why were here."
Haruka raised an eyebrow, "Oh? What exactly are we going to do? We can't
bring Pluto here becuase of those Phantom Tribe people."
Ami said, "The dias is the only machine here and it only extends two meters
down. Haruka if you would be so kind as to use your sword to cut the dias
free of the attaching floor?"
Shrugging, Sailor Uranus plunged the Space Sword into the ground and cut
around the platform that the Suspension device was stored in. As soon as
she was done, Ami used her Aqua Illusion to raise the platform free of the
floor by firing into the gap made by Haruka. Once the dias was totaly
clear, Ami started forming small hills on one side of the device and a
pathway in fron of it, to send it sliding towards the exit. Sailor Mercury
kept forming paths and mounds to push the device all the way outside. All
the while Ami had her visor activated, making sure there were no hidden
dangers. The trio of girls made it back outside with no problem. Afura
glanced over at Sailor Mercury.
"How are you going to get that back to Roshtaria? It can't fit in the
flyer," Afura asked
"Ice floats," Ami said, "We'll use the flyer as propulsion for an ice barge
that will be big enough for the suspension device. I know I'm going to have
to make repairs to the device once we make it to Roshtaria."
Ami used her ice attacks to form a ship like structure made of ice. The
back of the ship was open to allow the device easy access. Ami, using the
Illusion attack raised the ice level furthes away from the ship up, forcing
the device to slide right on into the ice barge. Once the device was on
board, Mercury formed a wall right behind the device, to prevent it from
falling out. Afura got on board the flyer and landed it on the ice barge.
She waited until the two Senshi had boarded the flyer and Haruka had cut the
barge free of the ice that was on the beach. Afura started the flyer, but
instead of lifting off, she sent it forwards. The flyer started forwards,
but the barge didn't.
"Oops, forgot," Ami said, andd as soon as the flyer had repositioned itself
she forze the bottom of the craft to the ice ship.
This time the barge moved forwards with the flyer providing its propulsion.
During the trip, Ami kept using Shabon Spray Freezing to keep the ice from
melting and not add to the ice already there.
*Hold on, Setsuna. We're coming,* Ami thought.
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#More, but still not the one I seek#
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