"Here, in this place, time, space and subspace dance in perpetual bliss. My child, darkness and light are not mutually exclusive. For the fire and the void are secret lovers and their children possess the portions of dark and light allotted them. Do not ever forget this."
Queen Sule
Crystal Nexus
The planes of light were awash with color. She found whenever visiting this realm it always surprised her. Princess Aki of the planet Orpheus joined Lady Myola, her mother, the Oberisku no Shoujo to work the ultimate magic upon the loom of manifestation.
Within this living reality, boundless tides of brilliance washed upon ever-shifting shores.
"Aki, my child, I have need of you. I must send you to the planet Earth, or as we know it, Terra. The cycle is reaching its critical point and intervention is required. The Weft has provided a portal. You know what to do."
"Yes mother, I shall connect with Endymion. In this timeline, he is known as Chiba Mamoru. His queen is Tsukino Usagi. I have already linked her Senshi to my Affinity Stream. They will feel an instant connection, as shall I with the Earth itself. Chiba Mamoru will know me within the depths of his heart as family," Aki said, her body gleaming with a silvery-golden light.
The Kinzuishou then appeared, the pulsing sphere floating in a pool of silvery-gold responding to Princess Aki without hesitation. Then a stream of pink light wound its way around its golden facets. The Royal Crystals of the Terran Spheres now circled around it aglow with their associated colors and unique qualities, there was one missing, but it would return to the circlet she knew.
Approaching each in their turn, her hand extended. Like kittens, they came and rested for a time in her palm. Cradling these, she blew them a kiss, smiling as the shimmering orbs returned to their respective realms.
Lady Myola approached the crystal loom representing the planets and the sun. She was saddened to see these covered in a dark mist, but buoyed by the sight of a flickering pinprick of light on the Earth's thread. Mother and daughter smiled at one another.
"I have sent a spell of enchantment to allow me easy access to the university and with the ice broken, I am ready mother. If I need your help, I will call upon you. Queen Freya I have spoken to of this task, so her heart is at peace." Aki spoke with great affection of her biological mother.
An Affinity being could choose to live on the physical plane, or like her mother, exist within the Crystal Nexus indefinitely.
"Daughter, may you be well on your journey and the Kamis be your guide!"
Princess Aki waved her hand over a healthy section of the Nexus. Then her Mauan Guardian, Loki appeared by her side, the feline shape-shifter looking to Lady Myola then back at his charge, bejeweled eyes aglow. He served the absent Mauan Queen, and would play his part in the restoration of Mau to its former glory, liberated and strong once more.
"Ready to go, Aki?" the Mauan inquired.
"I am, and mother, I will be careful!"
"Aishiteru, child!" Myola said, embracing the crystal girl.
"Aishiteru, mother!" she replied as the princess and her guardian stepped through the portal.
Tokyo
Juuban Prefecture
May 2004
Usagi knew she was dreaming. She had transformed into Sailor Moon. She was standing atop a massive ice-capped peak, freezing to death.
Frightened, she surveyed her surroundings and gasped as shivers enveloped her petite frame. Alone, clad only in her fuku in sub-zero temperatures, she felt fear creeping up her spine. She hugged herself for warmth. Hot tears stinging the corners of her eyes.
Suddenly, a vortex of mist came into view. Sailor Moon's eyes doubled in size. Dumbstruck, as her ghostly reflection looked back at her from the mirror-like surface of the swirling wheel of ice. She blinked, not believing the evidence of her eyes as a strange but beautiful girl, not much younger than herself, stepped from the portal. What struck Sailor Moon at this point wasn't so much that it was a girl, but the fact she was completely naked and her body, hair and eyes were all made of pure transparent crystal. She was a glistening creature that moved like a flesh and blood human, but wasn't. She shook her head to clear it, but the image would not fade.
"Aren't you cold?" she asked the crystal girl as a cream-colored Persian cat leapt from the vortex and sat before her.
The crystal girl giggled. She knelt upon one knee and ruffled its ears and the cat mewed. Then a flood of soft pink light washed over the girl and expanded to include Usagi. She felt an immediate sense of calm and connection with the glittering emissary.
Sailor Moon shook her head; this was one amazing dream. She looked down upon the cat, the cold now gone.
"What a cute fuzz ball," she smiled, ruffling the ginger Moon Cat's ears, its crescent aglow upon its brow. It sat there regarding her, an amused expression upon its face.
"Hey, that's majorly weird," she cried, shaking snow off her plaits, making the girl and her Moon Cat laugh.
"You're Neo Queen Serenity, I trust?" the crystal girl asked and blinked.
"Yeah."
"Thought so."
"Who wants to know?"
He paused before answering, a few snowflakes perching themselves precariously upon the bridge of his nose, making him sneeze. Both women giggled.
"What is it you girls find so amusing?"
---
Usagi woke with a start, her bedroom window wide open. She shot bolt upright, her eyes almost bulging out of their sockets. She took in the image of the girl she had seen in her dream now holding the creamy fur lined Mauan, smiling in her direction, that same soothing pink aura flooding her bedroom.
Roused from her own dreams, Luna sat up and began asking questions.
Usagi stretched and swung her legs out of bed. Shaking her head, hoping this was all a dream and that at any moment now she would wake up.
"Usagi, I must apologize. But we have come a long way and I need to speak with you on a matter of great urgency. I am a Princess of Terra and my mother, Myola has sent us ahead to prepare you for what is to come."
"What?" she said in a daze, rubbing sleep from her eyes and yawning.
"We need your help, Usagi. I must also speak and meet with my sole relative on your world, one Chiba Mamoru, my cousin!"
Usagi froze, shocked by the inclusion of her muffin in this bold proclamation.
‘What, Mamo-chan is related to this weird and pretty thing? But how, he isn't made of crystal. So, what gives?'
"I know you have questions. But I must warn you that a darkness far greater than any other brought to your world by the minions of Chaos is coming, a devastating power you all must prepare yourselves to fight and I shall help you!" Aki took hold of Usagi's hand that stiffened for a moment before relaxing, the softness and warmth of the crystal appendage she hadn't expected.
"Oh, by the Kamis! The Ginzuishou recognizes truth in your words. I am remembering now. Yes, the two planets and the five moons, our moon, my former kingdom was one of these. I see it all. It was terrible: the death, devastation and the curse! The Nexus, it's beautiful, my head is spinning into major overload…"
"Usagi, I tend to have that effect on people the first time," she giggled, and Usagi felt an affinity with this amazing princess as she hugged the girl who was soft and warm not like a gemstone at all.
Luna then spoke, addressing the new Mauan. "Loki, you say you're from Mau… I remember now...yes, and there are millions of others like us, aren't there?"
"Yes Luna," Loki affirmed.
"I grow tired; do you have clothing and a place I can bed down for the night, Usagi?" Aki asked, sitting on the end of her bed.
"Sure, don't they have clothes where you come from?" Usagi asked, blushing.
"Yeah, but I had only just assumed this form. Our lineage evolves from our flesh and blood forms upon puberty. And so, here I am. Though Freya, my biological mother, was planning to send me by ship to Earth. Guess I jumped the cue and left my luggage behind," she said, a sheepish grin finding its way to her lips.
Usagi helped set up the foldout sofa, Aki borrowing one of her nighties. The crystal girl slept with Loki curled up against her stomach.
Aki had explained that by the use of what she described as, High Sulean Magic, she had procured a place at the university and all Usagi's friends would warm to her as their Affinity Streams, via the Crystal Nexus were now connected. She had said it would be a gradual and gentle process, but time she had told her, was of the essence and a natural bonding they hadn't the time to cultivate given the threat heading their way.
