(Dark Void)
In the beginning there was darkness.
The sky was dark, and empty. It had been that way since the day I had first laid eyes on it. But today, for some peculiar reason, there were dark-gray clouds beginning to swirl overhead. Brief flashes of light could be seen flickering within the thick cover. I didn’t know how I knew it, but a storm was approaching.
Today, there would be another fight. There were battles every day, but it was so long ago that I can no longer distinguish who the enemy was anymore. Who was I fighting? It didn’t matter. I was being attacked so I fought back.
That was the first time that I met them.
A young boy and his twin sister... I was injured at the time. I thought they were going to attack me, but to my surprise, they didn’t.
“Hey...! Hey! Are you all right?!”
“Wait, don’t try to move. You’re hurt.” The woman kneeled down beside me while the young man cautiously peered around.
“Crap! They really don’t know when to give up!” He turned to look at me and the blood drained from his face. “Oh wow! You’re really banged up, aren’t you? It must hurt quite a bit...”
“Who are you?”
I could see the young woman’s energy beginning to flow around my wound, healing it. Why were they helping me?
“OH! Well...I’m Apollo...and this is my sister, Artemis! But don’t worry about that right now. We need to get you patched up and get going! The enemy will be here any minute!”
“I don’t understand...”
“Hm? What’s to understand? You’re hurt, you need help...and, you’re just like us! We have to stick together!”
I was still confused, but when they both clasped my hands and looked at me...
I was happy.
(Setsuna)
She had been surrounded by darkness back then, and she still was now. Setsuna blinked and inwardly shivered as the cold air enveloped her. There was someone lying at her feet.
It’s been awhile since I had that dream... She turned her back to the body and stepped away. I wasn’t even aware that the dead could dream.
Setsuna sighed quietly to herself. She had only regained consciousness, but Haruka was long gone. The stoic woman didn’t blame her comrade for her actions; in fact, she respected the wind ruler for her logical decision. Where she was now, no one could help her.
The woman peered around the dark void with a growing sense of loneliness.
But what does it matter? It’s finally over. She didn’t know how many times she had repeated the phrase to herself now. It’s finally over, but...then why do I feel this heavy sense of regret? I have dutifully served My Lady to the best of my capabilities until the very end. I endured loneliness for so long, that I thought—I thought I would be so relieved when I could finally rest! But this...! Even after I’ve passed away, I’m alone!
I’ve been left behind...
I want to see you.
...Fwooooossssssh... Tup. Tup. Tup.
Setsuna weakly looked up as the footsteps drew nearer. Although she no longer possessed a body, she could have sworn that the heart in her chest was beating fast. She could scarcely believe it.
“My Lady...” Setsuna stood there frozen as the other woman walked towards her, and stopped a few steps away. She didn’t know what to do. She didn’t know what to say; she was finally here, but the words she had kept inside for so long would not leave her lips.
Queen Serenity smiled and then extended her hand to the shocked woman. “...Setsuna.”
There were tears welling in Setsuna’s eyes. She couldn’t hold back any longer. “Artemis!” She flung herself into the woman’s waiting arms and felt her hug back.
“I’m sorry! I’m so sorry I couldn’t save either of you!”
...I failed you! And I killed him!
Serenity said nothing, but continued to cradle her silently in a loving embrace. She held her tight and stroked her hair until Setsuna’s sobs subsided. Only once she had calmed down, Queen Serenity pulled back to look her dear friend in the eye.
“Setsuna...what happened back then, it wasn’t your fault. There is no need to apologize.”
Her smile meant to comfort her, but it brought Setsuna pain. “But--” She was cut off by a finger on her lips.
Serenity shook her head. “Shhh...You’ve done nothing wrong. Honestly, why do you continue to beat yourself up for it?”
Setsuna averted her gaze. “Because...!”
“It is I, who should apologize.”
“What?” Setsuna was surprised when the other woman cupped her cheek.
“I passed away so suddenly and left you behind to carry this burden all by yourself. You suffered all of these years, alone, for my sake nd for that, I am sorry.”
It was Setsuna’s turn to shake her head. None of that matters now...
“I missed you.”
Serenity smiled. “I missed you too. However, I’m afraid that our reunion will have to be postponed for awhile longer.”
“What?” The woman’s crimson eyes widened. “What do you mean? I’m already...”
Setsuna was surprised when her Lady released her, but she did not chase after her. Serenity stepped past her and knelt down beside her body.
“Tell me, Setsuna. Do you...harbour any regrets?”
The question made the woman’s heart skip a beat. “No! Of course not! How could I...?”
“Is that so? But didn’t you just tell me that you regretted not being able to save us?” Serenity held her hand over the body’s wounds and a white light was emitted. The action confused her friend.
“What are you doing?” Is she trying to heal me? But Haruka already tried that and it failed.
“...There’s still time for you.”
“I don’t understand. I’m dead, aren’t I? I’m right here!”
“Yes, that’s true. If this were any other case, then you would have passed on, just as I have...” There was a serious expression on her face as she said this. “Listen, Setsuna. Under any other circumstance, your body would have healed this wound. But because of the spiritual levels of this dimension, your time has been frozen. Even as we speak, it’s trying to heal itself.”
So are you saying that I’m not dead? “But even if that were true, nothing will come out of it. It was a spiritual wound.”
“Correct again. A spiritual wound cannot be healed by the living. However...if it were healed by another spiritual being...”
Setsuna’s eyes widened at the implication. Suddenly, she felt dizzy; her body’s wound was closing up, but it was re-opening many more.
“Wait. Artemis...!” Her consciousness was fading fast. She was trying to fight it, but it was futile.
There’s...still something that you need to do... Serenity smiled back at her. It was a smile, but not the same sad one that Setsuna was used to seeing on the Moon Kingdom. This was full of warmth.
“Setsuna...I’ll always be with you. I’ll always be waiting...”
There was a flash of light, and Setsuna’s world went dark.
(Minako)
In a black space far away, Minako was only regaining consciousness. The young Venusian pushed herself upright into a sitting position and blinked at the darkness. Her brow soon furrowed in confusion.
“Hmm? Where is everyone?” What happened to me? The last thing I remember...
As the blonde tried to recollect her memory, two figures in the darkness materialized and slowly began to walk towards her. Minako sensed the two presences as a third materialized behind her with a blast of wind and light.
W-What?! The Venusian shakily turned to see who it was and had expected the worse, but it wasn’t the Sun God. A hand holding a garnet staff appeared through the portal, followed by the rest of the slender figure. She gasped when she saw Setsuna’s crimson eyes meet hers; her power was incredible. Did she always possess this degree of strength?
Setsuna stepped into the realm as the portal disappeared behind her, and hit her staff on the black surface of the ground. The sound echoed loudly throughout the dimension and startled the faraway individuals.
Setsuna...?
“That is enough!” Setsuna ordered in a commanding voice. “You have already suffered enough. Do not allow yourselves to be controlled by him any longer!”
Setsuna raised her staff and the jewel at its end began to emit a pink-ish light. The individuals tensed up.
“With my power, I will break the chains that bind you! Now go, and find rest!”
The light engulfed the entire area. Unknown to Minako, the two people in the darkness reverted into two spiritual lights and flew towards her. The Venusian yelped when she felt something hit her, but when the light faded away there was nothing but darkness once again.
Huh? That’s strange... I feel kind of weird. She held her head. “Oh! Setsuna! Is that really you?!”
Setsuna watched the younger woman stand up and looked at her with a determined look in her eyes. For a moment, she was worried that the girl was going to declare her an imposter and fight her. But then she did something worse; Minako suddenly grabbed onto the woman with a suffocating hug and burst into tears.
“Seeeetsuuuuna!!!!!!”
“Ah...What?”
“I’m sorry! It’s really good to see you! But Rei...” The mention of the name set the young woman off again and Setsuna was left trying to figure out what the problem was.
“What about Rei?” She calmly asked her.
“She--She’s...”
“Alive.”
“Huh?” Minako thought her heart skipped a beat. Did she hear what she thought she heard? She looked back at Setsuna’s confident expression and saw a faint smile on her lips. Minako almost forgot what she had just been thinking about. “Are you sure? Do you really mean that?! But she disappeared right in front of my eyes!”
“She is alive.” Setsuna repeated firmly. “And so are the others. They are gathering as I speak.”
“What? Where? I don’t see them anywhere.” She tried looking around, but Setsuna’s gaze was focused further in the distance. Through the dimension she could sense multiple energy signatures breaking through the space, all chasing after one at the very front.
“We should go.”
“What? Go where?” Minako watched as Setsuna opened a portal comprised of white light, similar to the one she had arrived in.
“To the others... They’re all waiting for us. Rei is waiting for us as well.” She added, and saw the Venusian’s face light up. “Are you ready?”
Minako grinned back. “Yeah,” she nodded.
Let’s go!
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