Chapter 21: Aftermath

The constant beeping pulled her grudgingly from the welcomed blackness of sleep. With a groan, she forced her eyes opened. As she tried to find her alarm clock, she began to realize that she wasn’t in her room.

“Jonathan?” Celeste’s voice was low and hoarse even to her own ears.

He had fallen asleep upright in a chair, his head thrown back. It clearly wasn’t a comfortable position. Hearing his name, he immediately jerked awake.

He stared uncomprehendingly at her for a moment before rushing to the bed. He held her gently as he could but still with a disturbing ferocity, as if she would disappear. “Oh, Celeste, thank God.”

He buried his face in her hair and tried to hide his tears. Celeste patted his back clumsily. Memories of the battle with Eurus flashed in her mind. Had Aurora defeated him alone? Where was Mara and Sofia?

As if to answer her question, the door opened. Jonathan stood up, hastily wiping away his tears. However, he hovered by the bed as Mara and Sofia approached.

“Where’s Emily?” Celeste asked.

Mara visibly paled while Sofia choked on a sob. Celeste glanced up at Jonathan, who had bowed his head. ‘What was going on?’ Celeste thought with a rising sense of panic, ‘they acting like she . . .’

“Where is she?” Celeste demanded. “What happened?”

“She didn’t make it,” Mara said, her quiet voice filling the nearly silent room. “We didn’t get there in time.”

“No, she can’t be,” Celeste protested, but the protest was weak.

“It’s true,” Sofia confirmed. “Eurus was about to finish you off as well when we got there. It was already too late for Aurora.”

Celeste turned her head away, trying to hide her tears. Emily was dead. That young girl had died because she hadn’t been strong enough. Her grief was temporarily displaced by rage and turned back to the others. “Where’s Eurus?”

“He’s dead,” Mara said. “I made sure of that.”

Celeste made herself study the girls. Mara had a long scratch down her cheek and held one of her shoulders stiffly. Sofia had a bulky bandage on her left forearm, though it was well hidden under the sleeve of her shirt. Since both girls had injuries even after resuming their normal forms, Celeste realized how tough the battle had been.

“We’ve got other things to worry about,” Sofia stated. “The police will probably want to question you as soon as they realize you’re conscious, Celeste.”

Jonathan nodded. “We’ll have to come up with something.”

“What’s wrong with the truth?” Celeste snapped.

“I doubt they are ready to hear that you or Emily are superheroes and were fighting a maniac with wind powers,” Sofia retorted, her voice tired. “Nothing can be gained by telling them the truth. I think the story of a mugging gone wrong might work. Some guy was trying to rob her. You arrived to help but not before he killed her.”

“I won’t belittle Emily that way,” Celeste protested.

“What does it matter?” Mara cried. “Emily’s dead, Celeste. It’s not like she’s going to care.

“We almost lost you today. This isn’t over, and you know it. Do you think that Sofia and I can do this without you?”

The room fell silent as Mara waited for an answer. When it was clear that Celeste wasn’t going to give her one, the girl clenched her hands into fists. “Tell the police whatever you want.”

Ignoring her guardian’s pained expression, Mara stormed out of the room. Celeste called to her, but the girl continued to ignore her. They all winced as the door slammed.

“She’s right,” Sofia said, finally breaking the silence. “We won’t last long without you, Celeste. Maybe next time you realize that you need our help, too.”

She walked slowly to the bed and dropped something in Celeste’s lap. “If there is a next time.” And with that, she left the room as well.

Fighting tears, Celeste finally glanced down at her lap. She gasped at what she saw. Her transformation pen had been broken.

* * * * *

The next few days were a blur. Celeste had left the hospital against the doctor’s advice since her injuries were already healing. Staying further would only raise more questions. And the police had enough of those already.

However, Celeste kept to the story of the mugging gone wrong. Although the police questioned her several times, she stayed by her account. They finally stopped when it was clear that she could or would not give them any further information.

The hardest thing was her encounter with Emily’s parents. Both of them thanked her for trying to help their daughter. Celeste had wanted so much to tell them how courageous their daughter had been, that her death had already been avenged. Yet, she couldn’t and the guilt tormented her.

Even in sleep, she could not escaped, plagued by nightmares. She still dreamed of the Dark Senshi killing someone as she watched helplessly. But now she also relived her battle with Eurus. Yet this time he killed Emily, Mara, Sofia, and Jonathan in front of her before finally finishing her off.

Jonathan stayed over at the apartment, trying to pull her out of it. However, nothing he did seem to help. He and the girls were grateful that there hadn’t been any new attacks, but who knew how long their luck would hold.

* * * * *

Tomiko wasn’t surprised to find Setsuna on the balcony of the cheap motel room, gazing up at the moon. The Guardian of Time had been unusually quiet since their departure from Japan. The purple-haired woman wondered if Setsuna’s thoughts dwelled on those she left behind in Tokyo or on the dangers they would face in America.

“It’s growing late, Setsuna,” Tomiko said as she joined the other woman on the balcony.

For a moment, Setsuna merely continued watching the moon. As Tomiko began to wonder if she had been heard, Setsuna sighed and bowed her head. “Are the gods punishing me now, Tomiko? Finally exacting the price for Tennyo and Charon’s mission during the Silver Millennium?”

“Who knows the minds of the elder gods?” Tomiko replied with a shrug.

“Who knows, indeed,” Setsuna murmured with a bitter smile.

While Tomiko did not envy some of the choices Sailor Pluto had had to make in the past, Setsuna rarely complained. It was her appointed duty and nothing would ever change that. Which was why her friend’s current mood was so troubling to Tomiko.

Tomiko folded her arms across her chest and forced herself to glare at the other woman. “This is not the time for doubts, Setsuna,” she snapped, succeeding in sounding angry. “Too much is riding on our mission for doubt.”

The Guardian of Time flinched at the words. “I know that. I rather die myself than jeopardize everything.”

“You know that it can’t come to that, Setsuna.”

“Yes, I must preserve the Timeline.” She sighed, and the bitterness seemed to leave her. However, she appeared tired. “The Timeline must always come first. I’m well aware of my duties and obligations as the Guardian of Time.”

The two were silent. Each became lost in her thoughts. Around them, the city fell into its night rhythms.

Tomiko finally decided to break the silence. “We’re coming to the crucial point. Our actions will have far-reaching consequences, Setsuna. There can be no room for doubt.”

“I’ll be ready.”

“I hope you’re right.”

It was only after Tomiko had returned to her own room that Setsuna looked back up at the moon. “I hope I am, too.”


Aftermath The constant beeping pulled her grudgingly from the welcomed blackness of sleep. With a groan, she forced her eyes opened. As she tried to find her alarm clock, she began to realize that she wasn’t in her room. “Jonathan?” Celeste’s voice was low and hoarse even to her own ears. He had fallen asleep upright in a chair, his head thrown back. It clearly wasn’t a comfortable position. Hearing his name, he immediately jerked awake. He stared uncomprehendingly at her for a moment before rushing to the bed. He held her gently as he could but still with a disturbing ferocity, as if she would disappear. “Oh, Celeste, thank God.” He buried his face in her hair and tried to hide his tears. Celeste patted his back clumsily. Memories of the battle with Eurus flashed in her mind. Had Aurora defeated him alone? Where was Mara and Sofia? As if to answer her question, the door opened. Jonathan stood up, hastily wiping away his tears. However, he hovered by the bed as Mara and Sofia approached. “Where’s Emily?” Celeste asked. Mara visibly paled while Sofia choked on a sob. Celeste glanced up at Jonathan, who had bowed his head. ‘What was going on?’ Celeste thought with a rising sense of panic, ‘they acting like she . . .’ “Where is she?” Celeste demanded. “What happened?” “She didn’t make it,” Mara said, her quiet voice filling the nearly silent room. “We didn’t get there in time.” “No, she can’t be,” Celeste protested, but the protest was weak. “It’s true,” Sofia confirmed. “Eurus was about to finish you off as well when we got there. It was already too late for Aurora.” Celeste turned her head away, trying to hide her tears. Emily was dead. That young girl had died because she hadn’t been strong enough. Her grief was temporarily displaced by rage and turned back to the others. “Where’s Eurus?” “He’s dead,” Mara said. “I made sure of that.” Celeste made herself study the girls. Mara had a long scratch down her cheek and held one of her shoulders stiffly. Sofia had a bulky bandage on her left forearm, though it was well hidden under the sleeve of her shirt. Since both girls had injuries even after resuming their normal forms, Celeste realized how tough the battle had been. “We’ve got other things to worry about,” Sofia stated. “The police will probably want to question you as soon as they realize you’re conscious, Celeste.” Jonathan nodded. “We’ll have to come up with something.” “What’s wrong with the truth?” Celeste snapped. “I doubt they are ready to hear that you or Emily are superheroes and were fighting a maniac with wind powers,” Sofia retorted, her voice tired. “Nothing can be gained by telling them the truth. I think the story of a mugging gone wrong might work. Some guy was trying to rob her. You arrived to help but not before he killed her.” “I won’t belittle Emily that way,” Celeste protested. “What does it matter?” Mara cried. “Emily’s dead, Celeste. It’s not like she’s going to care. “We almost lost you today. This isn’t over, and you know it. Do you think that Sofia and I can do this without you?” The room fell silent as Mara waited for an answer. When it was clear that Celeste wasn’t going to give her one, the girl clenched her hands into fists. “Tell the police whatever you want.” Ignoring her guardian’s pained expression, Mara stormed out of the room. Celeste called to her, but the girl continued to ignore her. They all winced as the door slammed. “She’s right,” Sofia said, finally breaking the silence. “We won’t last long without you, Celeste. Maybe next time you realize that you need our help, too.” She walked slowly to the bed and dropped something in Celeste’s lap. “If there is a next time.” And with that, she left the room as well. Fighting tears, Celeste finally glanced down at her lap. She gasped at what she saw. Her transformation pen had been broken. * * * * * The next few days were a blur. Celeste had left the hospital against the doctor’s advice since her injuries were already healing. Staying further would only raise more questions. And the police had enough of those already. However, Celeste kept to the story of the mugging gone wrong. Although the police questioned her several times, she stayed by her account. They finally stopped when it was clear that she could or would not give them any further information. The hardest thing was her encounter with Emily’s parents. Both of them thanked her for trying to help their daughter. Celeste had wanted so much to tell them how courageous their daughter had been, that her death had already been avenged. Yet, she couldn’t and the guilt tormented her. Even in sleep, she could not escaped, plagued by nightmares. She still dreamed of the Dark Senshi killing someone as she watched helplessly. But now she also relived her battle with Eurus. Yet this time he killed Emily, Mara, Sofia, and Jonathan in front of her before finally finishing her off. Jonathan stayed over at the apartment, trying to pull her out of it. However, nothing he did seem to help. He and the girls were grateful that there hadn’t been any new attacks, but who knew how long their luck would hold. * * * * * Tomiko wasn’t surprised to find Setsuna on the balcony of the cheap motel room, gazing up at the moon. The Guardian of Time had been unusually quiet since their departure from Japan. The purple-haired woman wondered if Setsuna’s thoughts dwelled on those she left behind in Tokyo or on the dangers they would face in America. “It’s growing late, Setsuna,” Tomiko said as she joined the other woman on the balcony. For a moment, Setsuna merely continued watching the moon. As Tomiko began to wonder if she had been heard, Setsuna sighed and bowed her head. “Are the gods punishing me now, Tomiko? Finally exacting the price for Tennyo and Charon’s mission during the Silver Millennium?” “Who knows the minds of the elder gods?” Tomiko replied with a shrug. “Who knows, indeed,” Setsuna murmured with a bitter smile. While Tomiko did not envy some of the choices Sailor Pluto had had to make in the past, Setsuna rarely complained. It was her appointed duty and nothing would ever change that. Which was why her friend’s current mood was so troubling to Tomiko. Tomiko folded her arms across her chest and forced herself to glare at the other woman. “This is not the time for doubts, Setsuna,” she snapped, succeeding in sounding angry. “Too much is riding on our mission for doubt.” The Guardian of Time flinched at the words. “I know that. I rather die myself than jeopardize everything.” “You know that it can’t come to that, Setsuna.” “Yes, I must preserve the Timeline.” She sighed, and the bitterness seemed to leave her. However, she appeared tired. “The Timeline must always come first. I’m well aware of my duties and obligations as the Guardian of Time.” The two were silent. Each became lost in her thoughts. Around them, the city fell into its night rhythms. Tomiko finally decided to break the silence. “We’re coming to the crucial point. Our actions will have far-reaching consequences, Setsuna. There can be no room for doubt.” “I’ll be ready.” “I hope you’re right.” It was only after Tomiko had returned to her own room that Setsuna looked back up at the moon. “I hope I am, too.”


Chapter 22: Surfacing Secrets Sailor Sol: Battle Against the Winds