Chapter 3: More Than Dreams?

Celeste fumbled through her living room to the kitchen, taking several seconds to find the light switch. As the florescent lights flickered to live, she was momentarily blinded. Rubbing her eyes, she reached for the tea kettle and filled it with water from the tap.

Setting the kettle on the glowing stove burner, Celeste left the kitchen and re-entered the living room. She walked to the sliding glass doors that lead to the small patio her townhouse boasted. Unconsciously, she pulled the lapels of her robe tighter against her neck, trying to fend off a sensation of being cold that she couldn’t shake.

She had woken up moments earlier, screaming, “Charon!” Now, somewhat more calm, she tried to piece the fractured images of that nightmare. She remembered a swirling gray darkness, a pale woman with red hair, and a man who reminded her greatly of Jonathan.

The woman had laughed maniacally as Celeste and the man struggled to reach her. He had reached the laughing woman first. The next thing Celeste remembered was the man screaming as black smoked began to surround him. Then the man stabbed himself with a sword as the woman’s continuous laughter grew even louder.

The whistle of the tea kettle drew Celeste back into the kitchen. She mechanically got a mug and a tea bag. She hoped the tea would relax her as she carried the warm mug of steaming liquid back to the glass doors.

‘Who is Charon?’ she wondered, studying the bright full moon above the city skyline. She tried to dismiss it as just a nightmare, a result from that strange encounter with Gypsum and Galena, but something told her that this would far deeper. ‘Should I contact Setsuna?’

Despite the woman’s help, Celeste was still wary of involving herself with Setsuna. Besides, what could Setsuna do in Japan while Celeste was in the United States? Thinking of geography, Celeste was still puzzled by the episode of the night before, especially Setsuna’s appearance and her strange sailor outfit.

Celeste slowly sipped the tea, letting the warm seep into her body. Gradually, the sense of cold disappeared and the tension eased out of her body. As she drained the cup, she gave the moon one last look before going back into the kitchen.

She rinsed the mug and empty the extra water from the kettle. Now sleepy once more, Celeste turned out the light and returned to her room. She hoped that she would have no more nightmares that night.

* * * * *

She was so tired that she had to struggle to carry Charon. The rational part of her knew that he was dead but she clung to the desperate hope that the Queen could help her somehow. Serenity had to help.

Closing her eyes in concentration, she pooled her energy to transport them to the palace of the Moon Kingdom. Her orange-red aura enveloped them. Using the majority of what strength she had left, she teleported.

Suddenly, she was surrounded by rubble, chunks of buildings marred by cracks and burns. The entire landscape was covered by a smoky fog the veiled most of the scene. Choking on a sob, she carried Charon as fast as she could to where she knew the palace should be.

Tears now poured down her face as she saw the rubble of the palace. “No,” she sobbed. “Please, no!”

Her sobs grew louder and more anguished as she continued to walk through the battlefield, sometimes finding a severed limb or other personal possession of one of the Moon Kingdom citizens. However, she immediately still when she discovered a body laying in the center of where the palace once stood. The crescent moon wand confirmed what she had already feared.

She feel to her knees out of weariness and hopelessness. She was vaguely aware that Charon’s body had fallen out of her arms and sharp rocks were cutting into her legs. She was so numb.

The Queen appeared as if she was sleeping, her eyes closed in a peaceful expression. Realizing that everything and everyone was gone, she allowed her eyes to succumb to tears again, her sobs swallowed by the oppressive silence of the ruins. It was all her fault. She had failed.

She looked around her one time, a calm resolve slowly replacing the tears. She had nothing and no one left. It was all gone. There was nothing left to live for.

She cradled Charon in her arms once more, running her fingers through the night-colored hair. She glided her gloved fingers over a cheekbone before moving her hand underneath his chin. She kissed him briefly one last time, praying that they would be united once again.

Summing the last of her energy, she prepared to use her final attack. The words floated off into the void of space, creating no echo, as breeze scattered the newly formed ashes. Everything once more was silent.

* * * * *

Celeste groaned as she rolled over, realizing that it was five o’clock in the morning. Her prayer for no more nightmares had gone unanswered, as the same sequence of images plague her dreams for the past week. Desperate for some kind of answer, Celeste reached into her drawer and studied the information that Setsuna had left her.

‘Should I contact Setsuna about these dreams?’ Celeste wondered. Glancing back at the clock, she realized that she had slept no more than four hours that night. ‘I have to do something,’ she told herself.

She took the sheet of paper with her to her computer. As she waited for the machine to come on, she mulled over the latest part of the nightmare sequence. ‘Were these memories of a past life?’ she wondered, clicking the icon connecting her to the Internet. ‘But a Moon Kingdom?’ her rational side countered.

As she access her e-mailbox, Celeste was surprised to see a new message in her mailbox from Setsuna. She clicked to open the message, cursing the slow connection. The message was short, but it froze Celeste to the bone:

Gypsum and Galena are in Tokyo.


More Than Dreams? Celeste fumbled through her living room to the kitchen, taking several seconds to find the light switch. As the florescent lights flickered to live, she was momentarily blinded. Rubbing her eyes, she reached for the tea kettle and filled it with water from the tap. Setting the kettle on the glowing stove burner, Celeste left the kitchen and re-entered the living room. She walked to the sliding glass doors that lead to the small patio her townhouse boasted. Unconsciously, she pulled the lapels of her robe tighter against her neck, trying to fend off a sensation of being cold that she couldn’t shake. She had woken up moments earlier, screaming, “Charon!” Now, somewhat more calm, she tried to piece the fractured images of that nightmare. She remembered a swirling gray darkness, a pale woman with red hair, and a man who reminded her greatly of Jonathan. The woman had laughed maniacally as Celeste and the man struggled to reach her. He had reached the laughing woman first. The next thing Celeste remembered was the man screaming as black smoked began to surround him. Then the man stabbed himself with a sword as the woman’s continuous laughter grew even louder. The whistle of the tea kettle drew Celeste back into the kitchen. She mechanically got a mug and a tea bag. She hoped the tea would relax her as she carried the warm mug of steaming liquid back to the glass doors. ‘Who is Charon?’ she wondered, studying the bright full moon above the city skyline. She tried to dismiss it as just a nightmare, a result from that strange encounter with Gypsum and Galena, but something told her that this would far deeper. ‘Should I contact Setsuna?’ Despite the woman’s help, Celeste was still wary of involving herself with Setsuna. Besides, what could Setsuna do in Japan while Celeste was in the United States? Thinking of geography, Celeste was still puzzled by the episode of the night before, especially Setsuna’s appearance and her strange sailor outfit. Celeste slowly sipped the tea, letting the warm seep into her body. Gradually, the sense of cold disappeared and the tension eased out of her body. As she drained the cup, she gave the moon one last look before going back into the kitchen. She rinsed the mug and empty the extra water from the kettle. Now sleepy once more, Celeste turned out the light and returned to her room. She hoped that she would have no more nightmares that night. * * * * * She was so tired that she had to struggle to carry Charon. The rational part of her knew that he was dead but she clung to the desperate hope that the Queen could help her somehow. Serenity had to help. Closing her eyes in concentration, she pooled her energy to transport them to the palace of the Moon Kingdom. Her orange-red aura enveloped them. Using the majority of what strength she had left, she teleported. Suddenly, she was surrounded by rubble, chunks of buildings marred by cracks and burns. The entire landscape was covered by a smoky fog the veiled most of the scene. Choking on a sob, she carried Charon as fast as she could to where she knew the palace should be. Tears now poured down her face as she saw the rubble of the palace. “No,” she sobbed. “Please, no!” Her sobs grew louder and more anguished as she continued to walk through the battlefield, sometimes finding a severed limb or other personal possession of one of the Moon Kingdom citizens. However, she immediately still when she discovered a body laying in the center of where the palace once stood. The crescent moon wand confirmed what she had already feared. She feel to her knees out of weariness and hopelessness. She was vaguely aware that Charon’s body had fallen out of her arms and sharp rocks were cutting into her legs. She was so numb. The Queen appeared as if she was sleeping, her eyes closed in a peaceful expression. Realizing that everything and everyone was gone, she allowed her eyes to succumb to tears again, her sobs swallowed by the oppressive silence of the ruins. It was all her fault. She had failed. She looked around her one time, a calm resolve slowly replacing the tears. She had nothing and no one left. It was all gone. There was nothing left to live for. She cradled Charon in her arms once more, running her fingers through the night-colored hair. She glided her gloved fingers over a cheekbone before moving her hand underneath his chin. She kissed him briefly one last time, praying that they would be united once again. Summing the last of her energy, she prepared to use her final attack. The words floated off into the void of space, creating no echo, as breeze scattered the newly formed ashes. Everything once more was silent. * * * * * Celeste groaned as she rolled over, realizing that it was five o’clock in the morning. Her prayer for no more nightmares had gone unanswered, as the same sequence of images plague her dreams for the past week. Desperate for some kind of answer, Celeste reached into her drawer and studied the information that Setsuna had left her. ‘Should I contact Setsuna about these dreams?’ Celeste wondered. Glancing back at the clock, she realized that she had slept no more than four hours that night. ‘I have to do something,’ she told herself. She took the sheet of paper with her to her computer. As she waited for the machine to come on, she mulled over the latest part of the nightmare sequence. ‘Were these memories of a past life?’ she wondered, clicking the icon connecting her to the Internet. ‘But a Moon Kingdom?’ her rational side countered. As she access her e-mailbox, Celeste was surprised to see a new message in her mailbox from Setsuna. She clicked to open the message, cursing the slow connection. The message was short, but it froze Celeste to the bone: Gypsum and Galena are in Tokyo.


Chapter 4: Revelations and Goodbye Resurrection: Sailor Sol Sarah's Sanctuary