Tokyo - Juuban Prefecture
Not long after rescuing Haruka and Michiru, Pluto had visited Chibi-Usa to say farewell. She wanted so to say goodbye to Usagi, Mamoru and all her friends, but knew this would be both foolish and dangerous and decided against it. No matter how much it broke her heart to have to leave them all behind, but there was no other choice.
The Senshi of Time had no idea how she would be punished for breaking the most strict of edicts laid down for any Guardian of the Time Gate. She shuddered at the thought of facing the High Priestess of Chronos on the world of her birth.
Summoning her Crystal Glider, she made ready to return home to the planet Pluto after a long absence. She had violated the temporal law of non-interference with the destinies of Senshi as their affinity-essence followed a specific path and only a Senshi Queen, or a High Priestess of Chronos were permitted to do this. The fact she was motivated to save the lives of her friends, Haruka and Michiru was in the eyes of the Old Ones, no excuse.
She was recalled, and had to forfeit her role as Guardian of time and was duty-bound to return the Garnet Rod to the Temple of Chronos on Pluto where it would be passed on to her successor. Though this saddened her, she was glad to be returning home after eons away.
She sighed and remembered her childhood with fondness, a gentle smile gracing her lips. When Pluto was a little girl, she loved listening to the amazing legends told her by the royal court bards. Lavish tales of powerful beings that fought for love, justice and harmony amongst the stars were her favorites, never dreaming as she sat in her golden shift, seated Indian style, bronzed elbows pressed firmly upon her knees along with her siblings: Thea, Mitomo and the children of the court, that she would eventually be counted amongst the Great Ones.
She was brought back to the present by flashing indicators on her crystal console. She activated the holo-imager; and realized a squadron of unknown craft was pursuing her and these were closing in fast on her position.
There were too many to fight off, so she disengaged the weapons array, lowered her shields, and allowed them to escort her to the vast space platform in orbit that hovered high above the Earth over Japan.
Pluto entered the airlock and moved with caution into the antechamber. Nothing could have prepared her for the size and sheer power of this place. It was truly amazing. The luminous white metallic walls were at least five hundred feet high, the massive dome far grander and impossible to estimate its height. There were no people about, only computer workstations and glowing obsidian crystal points protruding from the white flagstone. Many tunnels ran off the central causeway into darkness like spokes on a wheel. She stood in the center of the vast dome and waited.
"Welcome to my parlor, Princess Pluto. Such a quaint human cliché. And most appropriate under the circumstances don't you think? But I am being rude. I am Praxis and I challenge you to do battle with me!"
"Quanta-Arc Pulse!"
Praxis stood facing Pluto, a look of defiance on her face as she folded her arms across her chest. Suddenly, her hands began to glow a bright coppery-red. Raising her palms, she threw the fiery waves of force toward Pluto, forming an impenetrable shield that blocked Pluto's attack.
Pluto's opponent wore a fuku consisting a short-sleeved top and skirt, cast in midnight blue with gold stars lining the low-cut neckline and hem. A silver crescent tiara adorned her raven-black hair with spiral motif at its center matching the luminous silvery-blue symbol upon her forehead, a choker with a violet stone at her throat finishing the impressive display. There was something else, though. Something Pluto couldn't quite figure out and it bugged her big time. She braced herself to meet the full force of her opponent's counterattack. She felt terror grip her as she regarded the determined young Senshi standing before her.
‘It's not her features, dress or voice, there’s something about her energy signature.'
"You're only a girl, and why do you seem so familiar?" Pluto whispered to herself. Then it came to her with absolute clarity, I know who you are, its Mistress 9 within this adolescent girl.
The unlikely Senshi stood in an attitude of defiance, tossing her shimmering black locks over her shoulders and laughed. Pluto's opponent possessed a dark energy, yet a spark of goodness was definitely present and it was growing.
Pluto launched her Dead Scream attack and in retaliation, Praxis unleashed Spider Warp. Pluto had to act fast. Using the garnet rod, she transported herself to her crystal glider and fled.
Pluto easily maneuvered past Janus's forces. It was at this moment she sensed a presence within the cabin of her fighter.
Then a melodic voice filled the glider, "Princess Pluto, I'm a friend; you need only know me as Morgana. Position your craft at these coordinates. Hold your garnet rod and call upon the power of the Brísingamen."
Pluto, surprised by this turn of events, could no less pronounce the strange word, let alone chant it. But she managed it easily enough and a mysterious black moon cat appeared before her, returning her gaze with eyes of emerald-green.
"Pluto, it's important you listen carefully and place your full trust in me."
The surge of temporal energy enveloped the platform. Janus, detecting this from his fighter, had altered the space-time continuum to make good their escape having teleported back to the platform. He was unable to account for the unknown power that dwarfed his own, Self-preservation taking control, Pluto was forgotten for the moment.
With their base gone, the remaining Shadow Fighters re-grouped, for they'd been thrown clear of the temporal shockwave and began their relentless pursuit of Pluto's tiny craft as it sped towards the moon.
---
"Princess Pluto, let us go quickly," she urged.
Morgana ran ahead, her jeweled collar throwing an energy shield around them as they entered the chambers beneath the decimated city once the pride of the Silver Millennium. Pluto only had one shot at escaping Praxis's forces by using the portal she'd discovered months before while exploring these subterranean chambers.
"Well Morgana, we've no other choice," Pluto sighed, looking over her shoulder.
When Pluto first scanned the crystal gateway on her previous visit, she had unwittingly reactivated it, breaking the curse of the alliance that was in all actuality a complex nano-virus. The readings indicated it was an ancient interstellar gateway system, and quite different to the Time Gate. Now it was their only hope of escape.
Suddenly, Pluto felt sharp stabs of pain at her right shoulder, and fell to the ground. Morgana lifted a paw and sent a beam of pink light towards the shadow warriors following behind, vaporizing these in an instant.
"You're weak from the blast. Do not fear, as I have placed a barrier between our pursuers and us. They will be dusted by the portal shield once they break through," Morgana explained in haste.
The Mauan nudged Pluto's face and this encouraged her to sit up. She stroked the cat's silken fur by way of thanks and slowly stood up, brushing the sand off her bruised knees. She then became aware of another presence inside the cave. Morgana assured her it was a friend.
Pluto felt the Garnet Rod's pulsations synchronize with the crystal portal. She then became aware of a warm and wet sensation slipping down her back and winced.
"Mau Healing Activation…!"
Pluto's eyes opened in surprise as Morgana's silver crescent markings threw a healing light around her. The bleeding stopped, and she could move her shoulder once again.
"Thank you so much, Morgana. I have some questions to ask of you once we're out of here."
"Come on," she urged the emerald haired Senshi as they rushed towards the swirling aperture. "Oh, Queen Freya, thank you, "Morgana cried as Pluto fell into the waiting arms of a tall stranger, as all three entered the portal. Behind them, a creamy-ginger cat opened his eyes, and a brilliant purple beam issued forth, destroying the remaining shadow warriors attempting to enter the cavern. The stunning Moon Cat then jumped through the gateway before it closed and the cavern collapsed.
