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Dreams Explained Celeste dropped her luggage unceremoniously onto the beige carpeting. She nudged the door closed with her foot. She was half way across the room when she remembered to lock the door.
Her jet-lagged body was screaming for sleep, despite the fact that it was mid-afternoon in Tokyo. After setting her watch to local time, Celeste pulled a clean set of clothes out of her suitcase. She wanted desperately to take a shower first. The warm water relaxed her, easing some of the strain and weariness that plagued her. Finally willing herself into action, Celeste reached for her shampoo bottle. The aroma of the shampoo and the massage of her scalp relaxed Celeste even further. Celeste allowed herself to soak under the streaming water once again. She sighed contentedly, resting her forehead against the cool wall of the shower unit. She slowly closed her eyes. “I thought that you would be happy for me,” she said, turning to study the landscape. Pluto sighed. Conflicting emotions were battling inside. The friend part wanted to say that she was overjoyed, but the ever vigilant warrior part reminded her of the conflict of duty the situation would cause. “I am happy for you,” she finally said. She gave Pluto a skeptical look, crossing her arms. “You could act like it, you know? Are you jealous?” “Jealous? Of you and Charon?” Pluto laughed. “No. Although I am not sure what you see in my brother.” “Oh, Setsuna-chan, you're too cruel.” Setsuna’s expression softened. “I'm truly happy for you and Charon, Tennyo-chan.” With shaky hands, Celeste turned off the water and pulled the shower curtain back. More memories flooded through her mind. The barrage was threatening to overwhelm her. Somehow she dried herself off and got dressed. She only dried her hair with a towel before brushing and braiding it so that it hung down her back. Noticing the tears spilling down her cheeks, Celeste flung herself unto the bed, sobbing into one of the hotel pillows. ‘All those people gone!’ her mind screamed, as image after image of death and destruction flickered across it. ‘Why? Why!’ There was no answer. Slowly the tears subsided and Celeste rose to go wash her face. The cool water felt good against the red, blotchy skin. Regaining some of her composure, she returned to the main room and stretched across the bed. 'Why am I here? Why was I reborn?' she wondered. Her thoughts turned to Setsuna. Had she died in Beryl’s attack on the Moon Kingdom? As the Guardian of Time, Pluto’s first duty was preserving the Timeline. But even Setsuna could be rebellious and allow emotion to take control. Giving up on sleep, Celeste walked to the sliding glass doors that lead to the balcony of her room. The sun was now setting in Tokyo, increasing the shadows of the city. Somehow Celeste knew that the answers she was looking for were here in Tokyo. Question after question plagued her, as each new fragment of what could be memories was replayed. What part did she play in all this? “Konbanwa, Meiou-san,” Celeste greeted, not turning away from the glass doors. “And to you. Although, there is no need to be so formal,” Setsuna replied in English. She walked across the room, admiring the view from the glass doors as well. “How did you know I was here?” Celeste asked. “I know you well, Celeste-chan, or at least I use to.” Celeste crossed her arms, realizing that was the only answer she would get from Setsuna. “Then how did you know Gypsum and Galena are in Tokyo?” she retorted. “Are they friends of yours as well?” “Of course not,” Setsuna said. “I know Gypsum and Galena are in Tokyo because they attacked a friend of mine.” “How long ago?” “A few days after the attack on you.” “Is your friend okay?” “The doctors hope she will recover. I wasn’t there to help her, and now Mako-chan is paying for my mistake.” “Mako-chan? As in Makoto?” “Hai,” Setsuna answered, turning to face Celeste. A gleam of interest flickered in her eyes. “Why do you ask?” “The name Makoto seems so familiar to me,” Celeste murmured. She paused, deliberating over her next question. “Was I Sailor Sol?” Setsuna smiled. “What makes you think that, Celeste-chan?” “I have been having these dreams. There are so vivid as if they are memories. But there are of a kingdom on the moon and a young princess’s court.” She looked at Setsuna. “Am I losing my mind?” “Iie,” Setsuna said. “They are memories. You are realizing your past. Your new ability to speak Japanese is one example. You have never studied Japanese, ne?” “I have never studied a foreign language,” Celeste said, shaking her head. “Yet you greeted me in Japanese.” “It seemed appropriate.” Celeste paused. “What does ‘tennyo’ mean?” “It means ‘celestial maiden’ in Japanese.” “Was that my name or part of my name? You called me that once on a garden wall.” “Your name was Shinsei Tennyo, the ‘celestial maiden nascent.’ And, yes, you are Sailor Sol.” “What happened to the court of the Moon princess?” The fragments were now beginning to fall into place for Celeste, recreating a life that she once had. “They have been reborn. They've faced numerous enemies as the Senshi of their respectful kingdoms. They live here in Tokyo, as I do.” “And the rest of the royal families?” Setsuna turned back toward the Tokyo skyline. “Queen Serenity had only enough strength to send the Senshi and a few select others to be reborn. Their memories are sufficient to explain their roles as Senshi. No further. “So, what? The Senshi don't remember their families? Their mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers are completely forgotten?” "Sailor Moon remembers her mother only.” “Her mother was Queen Serenity. Of course she would have to remember her lineage. Was that your decision, Setsuna? To deprived them of memories of their families?” “I did it to protect them,” Setsuna replied, her tone defensive. “Why give them memories of families they can never see again? They had enough to cope with resuming their roles as Senshi. “Am I to give them those memories now, Celeste? Destroy their trust in me by revealing I have kept memories from them?” Celeste shook her head softly. “I don’t know, Setsuna. It seems unfair that they don’t remember their families.” “I didn’t make that decision lightly,” Setsuna said. “There are many things that I know that I can never reveal without jeopardizing the Timeline.” “Did you die during the attack on the Moon Kingdom?” “No, the Timeline forbade my participation. I was at the Gates of Time when the attack occurred.” “You knew it was going to happen.” “There was nothing I could have done to stop it and still preserve the Timeline, Celeste.” The two were silent for a moment, preoccupied by thoughts of the Silver Millennium. Finally, Celeste turned to Setsuna. “I want to see Makoto.” |
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