Chpt One: Old Faces and New Light!

"Who's that?" Looking up from the flowers she was studying, the young woman glanced over at her friend and then followed where the other was looking.

Narrowing her eyes in attempt to see better, she found herself looking at their princess walking with a shorter female. "I'm not sure. I don't think she's been here for very long." She cut herself off with a sharp intake of breath as the newcomer turned her head a bit. "Matte! Healer, look!"

Confused by her friend's reaction, Healer turned her pale green eyes back to their princess. Her eyes widened and she managed to hiss out, "Sailor Iron Mouse…!"

"Nani?" Maker also looked up from her writing, standing quickly and walking towards the others. "What is she doing here? How is she still alive…?"

Fighter bit her lip, trying to answer the questions herself. By that point, the senshi and princess had moved on and disappeared from their sight. "She only had her star seed taken, though, isn't that right?" She looked over at her two friends. "If all the star seeds were returned, then wouldn't she be alive? Just as all these people here and throughout the galaxy?"

Maker pondered the idea for a while, loose hair blowing into her face as the breeze changed directions. The three Starlights had been relearning their ways of the past since coming back with Kakyuu-hime from Earth. Everything seemed quite different now that they were used to the Earth style of life and living as males.

"Galaxia did say she would return the star seeds… and all the Earth senshi were resurrected, as was our princess…" She looked over in the direction that the two forms had disappeared. "Demo… why would that senshi come here?"

"We should ask Kakyuu-hime," Healer said. "I'm going to go find her…" She walked off without looking for the others. Maker and Fighter exchanged glances but their curiosity was peeked and they soon followed after.

It was late afternoon when they finally caught up with Kakyuu. The princess was gazing solemnly out her study window as she knelt gracefully on a soft cushion. She turned her head upon hearing the swish of skirts that she knew to be her Starlights. She brought up a small smile for them and nodded for them to sit. "Fighter, Healer, Maker…" she greeted in a soft tone.

Kakyuu blinked, having somehow slipped the information that the Starlights would know the senshi into the back of her mind. She averted her eyes and responded, "Nezu-san had some information that was important that she had to rely to me." The Starlights continued looking at her as they waited for her to continue. Kakyuu finally stood and moved towards the door, she looked over her shoulder and said, "Wait one moment. Nezu-san can explain better than I." She proceeded to walk out of the room on soft steps.

Healer frowned, "Nezu? Is that her name?" Fighter gave a delicate shrug before running her fingers through the loose strands of hair hanging about her face. "What is so important that she would have to tell our princess?"

"I do not like the feelings I'm getting from this," Maker stated softly. Her face was void of emotion as she stared at an unknown spot on the floor. "There must be something building. But it is not here… I can't pinpoint where it is from."

"I cannot say…" Maker glanced sidelong at Fighter. "You have a suspicion too, don't you?" Fighter didn't respond. Maker made a small `hmm' noise before flicking her eyes back to their staring.

Soon Kakyuu was moving through the door again with the smaller female in tow. The senshi the Starlights knew as Iron Mouse looked a bit different. For one thing, she wasn't wearing her fuku but instead a plain, low-cut dress of silver. Her hairstyle was still the same with short pigtails bouncing as she walked. Upon seeing the Starlights her round, white mouse ears flicked on top of her head and her tail twitched. She bowed politely before speaking. "Hajimemashite. Nezu desu."

The pale senshi glanced at Kakyuu briefly before sitting and facing the Starlights. "Of course, Kakyuu-hime." She met each of the Starlights' eyes briefly before continuing. "When Madame Galaxia released the star seeds back to their owners, all were reborn; that is why I am able to sit her before you now. Over the few months that I have been in my old routines again, I came across abnormal readings in the planetary system neighboring my home-world. I wasn't the only one who noticed, either, so Sukuyo and Kashoko were sent out to see what was going on. When they returned there was some disturbing news."

"Madame Galaxia went to the terra planet last once she had felt the pure star seeds there. During the time that she was using taken senshi, such as myself, Sukuyo, and Kashoko, to gather star seeds, she awakened another sleeping demon. Kashoko has been researching what this demon is but we have suspected that it has great power - enough to alter with time." Nezu bowed her head. "I have tried to contact the Guardian of Time in that system but she was not at her gate for some reason. Right now Neko is looking for her, but if she does not soon return, the gates may all change position and order and destinies will change!"

Nezu looked into her eyes and replied, "Because a few of those gates lead to here on this planet. It's a chain reaction. What happens in one system can affect another, and then what happens to that system could affect others, and so on and so forth. It just keeps going on down the line. If time is being altered, then the senshi of that system may not be able to protect all that happens. Old battles may restart and even doubles of people could occur!"

Nezu shook her head. "I'm not sure yet. No one is. If we could talk to their Guardian of Time we might be allowed to work together and protect the Time Gates before something happens. At least long enough to track down the demon that's awakened."

The Starlights looked to Kakyuu who sat silently to the side. "Tomorrow you will leave with Nezu," she said. "She will take you with her when and if they can contact Sailor Pluto - since she is the Guardian of Time."

"Sailor Pluto…?" Maker asked. Because of the various disagreements and strained relationships between the outers and Starlights, they had not learned much about one another. Hence, it came a surprise to hear Pluto's name with the Time Guardian.

"Pluto is the only one who may be able to stop it at the critical moment. If she cannot figure out a way for us to stop it together, it will be her duty to stop it herself and deal with the punishment that she will receive."

Healer asked softly, "Is it really that bad?" Solemnly, Nezu nodded. "Then we will go." Beside her, Maker and Fighter nodded in agreement.

Fighter carefully slipped her tall, leather boots; again having to adjust to the feel. Upon standing, she glanced out the window onto her home and wondered how it would be to return to Earth. Wondering if… she could become Seiya, the young man that she had lived as for months to help the cause to find Kakyuu-hime. `Will Odango be glad?' she wondered.

"Fighter," Maker's voice was soft through the door. Fighter quickly moved out of the room and into the hallway. She greeted Maker and the two walked off in their senshi uniforms.

They went up to the top floor of the palace where teleportation chambers were held. Healer was standing there with Sailor Iron Mouse and Kakyuu. "We are ready then?" Mouse asked, looking the three senshi over. They nodded in reply.

Kakyuu stepped forward and bowed low to her senshi. "I believe in all of you. You can do this. Have a good time visiting friends, too." She smiled and gazed at Fighter for a few moments, a soft smile with hidden pain in her eyes.

Iron Mouse was the first to step into the cylinder teleport, Healer and Maker following. Fighter walked slowly, looking back at Kakyuu with a worried frown. The princess urged her on but Fighter still felt the sadness in her heart. "Ja ne, boku no Starlights…!" Kakyuu called as the light gathered about the four senshi. When the light winked out, she allowed her face to solemn. "You will need the best of skills and focus to win this. I believe in you. Sailor Moon can help you too, she will shine brightly with you to defeat this demon."

Kakyuu turned and stepped slowly do the stairs to the floors below, all the while thinking of the battle that her precious Starlights would face. `They can handle it, I know.' She raised her eyes to gaze at the carvings along the stairwell and traced the patterns with her fingers. A new thought came to her and she gave a crooked smile, "How will they react to meeting Star Kit?"

"Aa, we're there." Sailor Iron Mouse opened her pale eyes with the others and took the lead by stepping out. Behind her, the Starlights followed with cautious steps. She turned and motioned to them to continue. "We are under the palace, now. These are the crystal caves where teleportation is made easiest because of the energy the crystals give off. Sukuyo and Kashoko will be upstairs waiting for us. Come now."

They walked along bright hallways lit only by the translucent crystals that lined all the walls in all sorts of shapes. They came up to the end of a corridor and doors parted to reveal a cylinder lift that would take them up to the ground floors. "Sukuyo and Kashoko. Who are they?" Healer inquired as the lift began it's ascent.

Mouse nodded in affirmative. "That is why Galaxia chose us. We had worked together before and were from the last system she visited before tracking after the shining light that could ruin her plans." The Starlights nodded in understanding and stayed silent until the doors finally opened onto a mostly glass room. "This is our tower suites," Mouse explained, "the head senshi of the palace stay here. There are a few others besides the senshi that you know, but only one will be joining us on our journey."

"Nezu-chan!" a call came from down the hall and running steps soon followed. Sailor Aluminum Siren, Sukuyo, dashed up to Mouse with a happy smile on her face as she hugged the smaller senshi to her. "I missed you so ~ much! Kashoko was picking on me again! How can you let me defend myself against her? It's too hard!"

The Starlights blinked, startled. It was a rather funny scene, Mouse struggling to get out of the taller female's death grip, but they were a bit too confused to laugh. "Sukuyo-chan," a scolding voice floated up next, "do not kill Nezu-chan. She is very important to our mission. What about your manners?"

Sukuyo quickly let go of Mouse, whom fell to the ground, and then bowed several times to the Starlights. "Gomen nasai! Hajimemashite, Sukuyo desu!"

Sighing, a brown skinned and haired woman walked up. "Hajimemashite, Kashoko. Welcome. I wish you were visiting on simple terms but instead we will have to proceed to work right away." She bent over and pulled Mouse to her feet. "Daijoubu desu ka, Nezu-chan?"

Eyes still a bit unfocused, Mouse replied, "Hai…" She blinked awake and scowled at Sukuyo. "Don't be so rough next time." She de-morphed and looked up at the Starlights. "Please feel free to power down. We have much to discuss. Come this way."

The Starlights remained in their senshi form and walked after the three before them. Sukuyo's pale blue hair bobbed up and down as she walked, fitting her personality quite well. Kashoko stopped before a door in the middle of the hallway and tapped in at the buttons on a panel to the side of the doorframe. It slid open and the senshi moved inside.

Fighter took in a gasping breath upon seeing the view. From the floor-to-ceiling windows that made up the main wall of the room, she could look out over a huge, sparkling lake and towards blue-tinted mountains. The sky lit a pale purple, placing a calm look to the land. Nezu smiled at the reaction. "Lovely view, isn't it? At least it is something to gaze at while discussing senshi matters." She went to kneel to the side of a low table. Kashoko took the head of the table and Sukuyo sat across. The Starlights soon followed suit and knelt on the provided cushions.

"We have not gained much more information than was given to Nezu-chan before she left," Kashoko explained. "Sailor Pluto has not been located yet and until she is, we cannot do much. From research, we believe that to stop this demon we must start at the Time Gates in the next star system over - that is why we wait for Pluto. Once we can get to the Time Gates, we hope to be able to locate where this demon first appears. Once we know that, we could fight it there… or - if possible - we may go back further into the past and destroy it before it awakens."

Sukuyo picked up from there. "If it seems we don't have enough power to banish this demon, we will inform the Earth senshi and request their help. If we can do it without them, we are to leave them out of it so that they need not fight. The battle with Galaxia has drained everyone, but hit them the hardest. Their power strength is uncertain, as of now, and we shouldn't press it unless necessary."

Kashoko shook her head sadly. "Not very much. We can only feel its intense power. Just a moment…" A panel opened on the table and she hit a button. An ethereal screen popped up before Maker and began to flash through pages of information and sketches. "That's what we have." Maker frowned as she read through.

"No," Kashoko replied, "it isn't. We have to find out about this demon once we begin to fight." She glanced towards the door with a questioning look, "Oh? Who is coming?"

The senshi looked back as the door slid open to reveal an unknown senshi. The young woman walked in without any look of displacement and headed over to the side of the room. "Neko-chan contacted you but you were out. She said she found Pluto." The newcomer didn't turn around as she breezed through the titles scrawled along book bindings. She pulled one out and brought it over to the table, letting it drop in the middle. She smiled at the Starlights. "Yo! Hajimemashite. We have met before but so long ago that I cannot remember and I'm sure you do not either." Healer looked at her blankly and the girl laughed a bit.

Any reply was cut off by Kashoko's exclamation. "Nani-o?" She looked up at the senshi standing behind Fighter. "What is the meaning of this?"

The senshi bowed her head sadly, gray eyes clouding. "It is true. Something that Neko-chan found while searching for Pluto. This demon is not Chaos. It is just a shadow of it… something that comes after Chaos. Unfortunately it is worse in destruction than Chaos." She tossed back her waist-length brown hair before continuing. "I looked through some records on the Senshi Wars. The Golden Senshi took in Chaos and extracted her star seed as the Light of Hope. This demon was also going to arise, but upon seeing Chaos taken in Galaxia's body it knew that one day there would be a better chance for attack. It followed the Light of Hope and then slept where the star seed rested."

"Correct. I'm not sure how it attacks, nor do I yet know what exactly it is. Hopefully with Neko's arrival home and help from Pluto we can answer remaining questions."

The senshi blinked down at him and rubbed a hand behind her neck. "Anou… my home in Kinmoku-sei too. Sailor Star Kit desu." She smiled at the surprised looks on the Starlights' faces. She transformed quickly to prove it, sporting the same uniform as them. She winked and then knelt beside Fighter. "I'm usually known as Kitsune around here, or Kit. I was sent here to train and was to remain here as a soldier from Kinmoku to stand for our planet, but it seemed kind of awkward after a while since I hadn't been home in years."

"You were here when Galaxia attacked," Healer noted. "But you were not one of her anima- mates…?" Kitsune shook her head. "So you've been resurrected. But how do you know us if you haven't been to Kinmoku-sei in so long?"

"I've of course kept in contact with Kakyuu-hime! She speaks highly of her Starlights so I was honored greatly when she deemed it that I was to be one too. Obviously you know how exclusive Starlights are. Every senshi from Kinmoku strives for that position."

Kitsune shrugged. "Kit, Kitsune… on Earth that's `fox' of course. If you hadn't noticed, many of the senshi from this planet take after names of Earth's animals. Since I made a home of this place rather than Kinmoku I followed the tradition and took on the name Kit. It doesn't matter much to me, names are just for other people to call you by."

Looking at a timekeeper on the wall, Kit replied, "Within an hour or two she'll contact us. She said Pluto was double-checking some things before we could come so she would have to wait." Answering the questioning look she continued with her information, "I've been granted permission to go with all of you. Neko will give the okay for us to go and we will be given the co-ordinate information as to where to teleport to. We just have to leave when we're told to. Neko really isn't coming back here - we're going there."

"Is there anything else?" Sukuyo asked. Kit shook her head. "Oh, okay. Ne, Kashoko…" she turned back to her friend and began chattering. Nezu sighed and hung her head forward at the behavior but stayed silent. With white, round ears flicking back and forth she listened to the two sets of conversations.

"Focusing will be the most important detail in this mission. Cooperation is tied, there, too," Kit said. "It will be very hard and straining on everyone. I have reviewed all the battles with Chaos and it seems that this demon may be at an equal level or worse. With so many recovering from the recent ordeals, it will be even harder to face against these challenges."

Maker nodded solemnly, understanding perfectly. They were fairly quiet for a moment before Healer commented, "How come you were sent here?"

Kit smiled and brushed loose strands of hair from her eyes. "I was born a few years before you three. Your families had high status and you were already set up to be in the royal senshi team. When I was just old enough to begin training, I was sent here immediately where I could become a senshi possibly good enough to be a Starlight. Kakyuu-hime had requested that I train here and live here as if it were my true home. It's become my home, now, and I really don't think of Kinmoku as my mother planet. There wasn't much of a reason to sending me here, other than that."

"You were never mentioned to us," Fighter commented. "If you were a regular senshi I can understand that, there are so many, but as a Starlight Kakyuu-hime usually would have let us know."

Small talk continued as they waited for Neko to call in the affirmative. Over an hour later Kit's communicator beeped and she brought up the coordinates to program into the teleportation device. "Let's head out, minna," she said in a serious tone. They stood up and waited while Nezu, Sukuyo, and Kashoko transformed.

They used the lift to return to the base floor and split into two groups before entering the clear cylinders. Kit programmed in the details before sending the former anima-mates off to the Time Gates and then stepped into an empty cylinder with the other Starlights. "Watch out, I've been told that traveling to the Time Gates is harsh. Don't separate, if at all possible." The others nodded as they began to feel themselves flash out of normal existence and changing into particles of light that dashed through the dimensions at head-spinning rates.

They slammed to a stop, like a bullet stopped by a brick wall, and landed in a tangled heap on misty grounds. Healer moaned from the bottom of the pile and whined, "Get off me! You're breaking more of my bones than what's already been broken."

"I can't move until Maker moves. Get off me! And get your hair out of my face!" Kit joined in complaining. Half of her body was above Healer and the rest was at the same level so she was being squished just about as much as the pale-haired senshi.

"What a team you make… I wonder if we can truly trust you with the fate of Earth?" The rich female voice was a mixture of a stifled echo and murmur. The unique voice belonged to a tanned senshi that stood off to the side, observing with a masked face. Her dark hair swept about her in an invisible breeze. Bringing her staff out, she poked at Maker - who was on the top of the pile. "Get up now. There is much work to do. Next time, keep your footing."

Star Maker carefully stood up after jabbing and stepping on the others a few times. She helped Fighter and Kit up before all three tugged Healer to get her standing again. "Gomen… I've never done that before," Kit muttered with a sweatdrop.

Looking rather bemused at the mussed figure of Siren, Pluto responded, "I use the gates. I do not do much inter-dimensional travel." She clicked her staff on the ground once, dispersing the mist there. "Now, Tin Nyanko has explained to me what has been sensed. I am upset that I have not felt it yet. Even visiting the time period before Sailor Saturn was awakened, I should have felt some pull."

Sailor Pluto swung her staff to the right and a corridor of gates was revealed. "This is the set timeline. The destiny of the Earth senshi… of Serenity, Small Lady, and all the others." Glancing at the gathered senshi she added, "Of course you are all mentioned a different points in time too. Never is anyone to know their future or their destined fate but things have always altered. You were never to come here. This demon never should have appeared. We must stop it before it can destroy everything."

A steady maroon gaze met each senshi's eyes as Pluto took on a grave look. "There are many things that I am required to tell you now that you should never know. You are not to go needlessly chattering about this information, though I know I cannot really restrain you from telling the Earth senshi. Come."

She walked down the hallway at a brisk pace, boot heel clicking effectively in the mists. "You have a plan?" Lead Crow inquired seriously.

Pluto glanced at her, "Yes." She stopped soon after before a gold outlined door. "Here is the time period that you would have entered had you gone straight to Earth. This is where you must begin your search. Maker, you will remain with me as will Iron Mouse. Neko?"

"Right." Pluto turned back to the others. "Return to Earth as if you are just visiting. The senshi will surely ask why you are here. You are allowed to vaguely outline what is going to occur."

*Not all the time. Do not change her future, however. She belongs with Mamoru.* Her eyes flashed dangerously. Fighter nodded and then looked away. *Very well then. I will trust you to this… Seiya…*

Again speaking aloud, Pluto said, "We'll be staying in touch with you with these communicators. Maker, Mouse, and I will also be researching from the outside. You are looking from the inside. Report anything to us." Pendent communicators floated in the air before all the senshi and were slipped about their necks. "Starlights, there is an extra communicator in your headset so you don't need to use the pendent during battle." Pluto detached a few keys from her belt and then handed one out per senshi. "These are to return you here if you are caught in a death situation or if time begins to alter while you are there. Pray to return here and you will be."

She placed a key in the door and unlocked the gate, opening it wide to let bright light spill into the misty corridor. "De-morph before passing through. Healer, Fighter, I trust you can regain your forms as before. The rest of you, make sure you look ningen enough to pass."

Nyanko de-morphed first; she was fine even though her hairstyle was a bit odd. Crow and Siren were also fine. Mouse would have to somehow mask her ears and tail once she was sent to Earth but luckily she hadn't to worry about it yet. Kit just de-morphed, commenting, "I know those three took on Earth male forms, but I don't think I wanna look like that." The Starlights had shot her a glare for that one but she just grinned in reply.

Unsure of themselves, Healer and Fighter exchanged shaky looks. Taking a deep breath, Fighter closed her eyes and de-morphed. She continued to concentrate and soon began to feel the other changes. Her shoulders broadened and she felt her shape loose many of its curves. Beside her, Healer was also changing. "Welcome back, Seiya. Yaten." The two boys looked at Pluto, she was watching them with a gentle look. "Now go."

^__^ So, whatcha think? Like that the former anima-mates are in here? I liked them and just couldn't resist!! They definately will each have a part to play in the story, so if you do like them, you'll probably happy with this... if you don't like that. ;;U_U I dunno... deal with it! ::sweatdrop::

Other notes: The names I have used for Crow, Siren, and Nyanko - you MAY NOT use them WITHOUT PERMISSION!!! Ask me, and i'll probably say yes. But still, you must ask me unless you want to see me get really bitchy.