Chapter
Five: The Journey Through Time
Uranus stared at the black sky for a long time. Then she slammed her fist against the ground and howled again,
“MINNA!”
She didn’t even bother to try and hide her tears. Even Pluto had tears in her eyes. It was Sailor Saturn that broke the silence, with an uncanny calm voice.
“Let’s go after them.”
The three other soldiers looked at her. Saturn smiled faintly, although tears were in her eyes.
“We were given an official duty as Sailor Soldiers. To protect the solar system and our Princess. But as Sailor Soldiers were also given an unofficial duty. The duty to protect those we care about.”
‘To shield those we love.” Neptune said softly.
“The Princess and Small Lady.” Pluto slowly muttered.
“Each other,” Neptune said.
“And…” Saturn prompted.
“The inner senshi!” Uranus said with determination.
“We can’t shield them from everything as they are fighters as well,” Saturn said with wisdom well beyond her years. “But we can help them and give them comfort anyway possible. They aren’t wallflowers, in need of protection. As much as we wish that were the case, it isn’t. But while we can’t take them away from this war, we can help. We can help them. Our friends.”
The other three nodded. “As they would for us.” Neptune stated.
The four joined hands, looked up, and breathed deeply.
“Please be patient guys,” Uranus said softly. “We’re coming after you.”
Saturn stood between Uranus and Neptune, taking one of their hands in each of her hers. They smiled at her and grabbed Pluto’s hands with their free hands. Saturn felt Uranus and Neptune give her hands a brief squeeze of encouragement. Despite how much she loved the other senshi nothing could compare to Uranus and Neptune’s touch. She was afraid of this unknown and Uranus and Neptune gave her the strength to face it.
Slowly, the four soldiers flexed their legs. Then all at once leapt upward. The winds took over from there and they felt themselves sucked into the same void the inners had been drawn into minutes before.
* * *
The winds wiped by Usagi and the others with a speed that seemed familiar. It was Mercury who figured it out.
“Pluto’s time vortex. We’re shooting through time!”
“Time?!” Mars screamed. “Then where are we going?”
“You mean WHEN?” Jupiter cut in. She squeezed Sailor Moon’s hand tightly. Venus grabbed onto Mars and tried not to cut off Mars’ air. She felt her eyes begin to water and fought the urge to panic. She just kept saying over and over that Kami would shield them. Then she felt a cry.
“Minna!”
“What?”
From the mist of the vortex, Venus saw four new figures immerge. Her mouth hit her knees.
“Uranus! Neptune! Saturn! Pluto!”
Mars looked back and said in shock, “You came after us?”
“Of course we did, silly!” Uranus forced her way up to the inners. Very gently she took Venus’ hand and smiled at the younger senshi. “I promised I wouldn’t leave you.”
Venus smiled and actually looked surprised.
“But…you told us all the time that wee were immature and didn’t deserve the role of soldiers.”
“That was at least two years ago, Venus. You’ve grown a lot since then. Besides…you aren’t us. You aren’t so cold and you’ve taught us not to be so ruthless.”
“Besides,” Neptune said softly as she grasped Mars’ hand in exchange for Saturn’s. “You’re our friends. Like little sisters.”
Then, they couldn’t speak anymore because a bright light blinded them temporarily and sent them hurling into another time and place…
* * *
Cats’ Lair,
Third Earth
Cheetara awoke with a start, sweat drenching her face. She looked around and discovered that she was safe in her room. But the sheets of her bed were clammy with cold sweat. Very slowly, she got to her feet and swallowed hard. What was that dream? That dream of darkness, just a black light. The cheetah let the wind rip past her as stood at the window. She only stood there shortly and then went to her bathroom.
A warm shower, she decided. That’ll make me feel better.
She locked the door and stripped from her clammy night shift. It was weighted down with wet sweat. She tried to ignore that fact and stepped into the shower. The warm water helped but she found herself rushing through it. She felt alone and vulnerable. She hated feeling helpless.
By the time she was dressed and downstairs she realized how early it was. The twins and Snarf were the only ones up. Snarf would worry too much. She smiled to herself. The kittens would be more than happy that she confided in them. But first, she had to find them.
The elder Thundercat didn’t have to look far. They were where they usually were in the morning. The kitchen enjoying one of Snarf’s breakfasts.
“Hey Cheetara!” they chirped happily, waving at her. She smiled back at them and got herself a glass of herbal tea. Snarf looked at her from the stove.
“Good Morning, Cheetara.” He said softly. “Would you want something else or are pancakes fine?”
“Your pancakes are always fine Snarf.” She replied with a smile in her eyes.
The Snarf saluted and handed her a plate. He noticed the worry in her eyes but didn’t say anything. Instead, he decided to leave her alone. He waddled off to do some morning chores. The cheetah waited until he was out of earshot before turning to the twins.
“Thunderkittens?”
“Yeah?” WilyKat looked up at her as his sister did the same. She smiled at them and then sighed. “I need to talk with you about something.”
The kittens looked at each other. WilyKit spoke up.
“Why us? You usually go to Tygra or someone.”
“I know but something’s telling me that you’ll understand too.”
She smiled and joked, “You’re also the only ones besides me crazy enough to get up this early.”
The kittens stuck their tongues out at her and then giggled. “We’re all ears.”
“Okay, lately my sixth sense has been acting up again. All the time. During the day and at night.”
WilyKat and Kit swallowed. They had all learned to trust the cheetah’s intuition. Kit laid her chin on her folded hands and laid her elbows on the tabletop. “Specify.”
“Well, it’s hard to. I just keep seeing a bright black light and inside that is a bright yellow light. As if something’s telling me that danger’s coming but so is help.”
“Is there anything in the yellow light?” the twins asked in unison.
“Yes,” Cheetara said slowly. “I see the nine planets that used to exist in the Solar System. On the surface of each one I see the shadow of a warrior, female. But they vary with each one.”
“Like how?” Kat asked.
“Well, on the smallest planet, Mercury, which has seemed lifeless for years, I see a crouched figure with a harp in her hands. On the next planet, Venus, which has appeared to be burned out for centuries, I see a female with a chain swirling around her. But this planet is the interesting one. The figure is royalty with a crystal in her hands. But it’s on the moon not the planet.”
The kittens exchanged glances as she continued.
“Mars, which you know seemed to be lifeless too, has a female figure encircled in fire. Jupiter has been burned out for years too it would seem, but I see a girl with crossed arms over her head in front of it. And Saturn, the only original planet still here, a small child with a long bladed pole in her hands. Uranus, a determined woman with a sword. Neptune, a graceful figure with her arms spread and a mirror in her left hand. And finally Pluto, an older looking woman with a large key in her left hand. I keep saying ‘seemed lifeless’ because I’m beginning to think maybe those planets are where these girls are coming from. Maybe they aren’t lifeless.”
She sighed and went on.
“I think something’s arrived here. I don’t know if it’s good or evil but I know something arrived here that is definitely alien.”
“Hey!” Kit stood up suddenly. “Kat and I were gonna go exploring. If have an idea of where we could check it out for you.”
Cheetara smiled. “Thanks kid, but I don’t have an idea.”
“Well,” Kat rose to his feet. “We were going out anyway. We could look around for anything unusual.”
“Would you?” Cheetara asked, sounding uncharacteristically worried.
“Sure!” the kittens cried. “We can go now.”
“Well, alright. I appreciate it but be careful. I don’t want you hurt.”
They winked at her and ran outside. She sighed. Those shadow images invaded her mind again but they seemed stronger.
Much stronger….
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