Creator(s): Crystalsetsuna and Artemis
Forum: Silver Millennium
Advanced or Relaxed Relaxed
Plot Summary: Pluto has been the guardian of the Time Gates for more than a decade, and she has grown increasingly lonely over the years, until an intruder comes to the Time Gates. It's Queen Nehelenia, who is initially planning on using Sailor Pluto's control of time to make her eternally young and beautiful. But her plan is derailed as they begin to discover they have much in common, especially their loneliness. Nehelenia begins to visit more and more, and their relationship becomes friendship before eventually blossoming into romance.

But their happiness is not to last. One day, Pluto lets slip the news that Queen Selenity is with child, and Nehelenia once again remembers her hatred and darkness, and her plans for eradicating the white moon and making herself happy and young. Pluto and Nehelenia begin to drift apart, until they meet one last time before Nehelenia is sealed away by Queen Selenity.

Details on any necessary information: Pluto has been guardian of the Time Gates for a short period of time, and Nehelenia is halfway fallen into darkness. They meet around the time Nehelenia has begun taking her subjects dream mirror. Pluto is aware of what will happen, but is unable to stop or alter it.

Restrictions: 2 player roleplay. Canon Nehelenia and Pluto only.

OOC Thread: None. We will discuss on skype

Source: N/A

Member to Character List: Queen Nehelenia- Artemis
Sailor Pluto- Crystalsetsuna

Sailor Pluto stood quietly by the doors of the Time Gate, as she had done for many years now. She had only been around seven years old when she had first been given her duty as the guardian of time. By her reckoning now, she was somewhere in her twenties, but some days...it felt like more. Some days it felt like a century had gone by in the course of a day. It was only the glimpses of the world outside her dimension that helped her to keep track of time. The fellow senshi of the outer reaches she had briefly met before she came here, Sailor Uranus and Neptune, she had watched as they had steadily aged as she had.

But she had felt something odd a few years ago. And with a inner wisdom that was growing with each year, she knew she would cease to age further until she was relieved of her position. It was an odd concept. But then, many odd concepts went through her mind. It helped to pass the time and distract her from the subtle nagging sensation of loneliness in the depths of her heart.

Nehelenia had spent many years wondering if she would be freed from her loneliness. She had long since spent many hours gazing at herself in the mirror. Nehelenia was one to admire her beauty, but lately she had grown bored. Nehelenia decided to go for a walk to clear her head.


Nehelenia walked the outskirts of her quarters towards the moon kingdom. She had wanted to go out for some air, but also was hoping to get a glance of the gardens at the palace.  When Nehelenia walked outside each day, it gave her a glimmer of hope that she could escape her loneliness.

Nehelenia had been wandering for some time, lost in her thoughts. She had ventured into the palace through a back entrance. The moon castle had always fascinated her, but she was never formally invited to any events held at the palace. Nehelenia knew the queen's soldiers were probably around, but she wasn't concerned about them.

Nehelenia stopped when she appeared in front of a beautifully designed gate. The time gate she thought as she walked closer, wondering if she would get a glimpse at the lonely soldier guarding the door to time and space.

Pluto mused over the workings of times. The tiniest thing could completely unravel a time line, something she had discovered recently. Something as small as what a person ate earlier that day could affect what future they went into. Times like that, she was almost happy to be here by the Time Gates. There was little she could do to affect the future. But then, was it better to have no future at all? This led to an entirely new round of musing and mental debating.

But she paused, frowning softly as something tugged at her awareness. It felt like the ripples caused by someone wandering through the time dimension. It surely couldn't be Queen Selenity. She visited rarely, but she knew she would be busy for a while with matters of state. That could only mean it was an intruder. She quickly began walking through the mists towards the source of the ripples. Intruders could not be allowed.

Nehelenia walked toward the time gate. She wanted to get a closer look at it. The mist was heavy as she walked. She wasn't sure why she felt such a strong pull to continue towards the gate. She knew she was not supposed to be there. She knew that going through the time gate was forbidden.

Nehelenia wiped the mist off her face as she looked around. She has lost sight of the time gate and now all she could see was herself for she was surrounded by the mist. Nehelenia turned around in circles, trying to find her way, any way out of the mist.

Pluto followed the ripples, which got stronger and more frequent the closer she got to the source. Soon, she could see a figure faintly in the shadows. She didn't bother to take in the details, it didn't matter. She lifted up her staff and pointed the Garnet Orb towards the figure. She began pushing power into her weapon, causing the orb to begin to glow gently, a pleasant dark red.

“Halt! You have come to a forbidden realm, and I cannot allow you to leave with knowledge of this place. By breaking the taboo, your life is forfeit.”

Nehelena froze when she heard the voice. She turned and saw Pluto coming towards her. Her eyes filled with fear as she spoke. 

"Wait! I have no intent of going through the door, I was walking through the palace and found my way here. I was actually looking for you." She said as she stepped forward. 

"You see I am also a royal descendant." She said as she pointed to her moons on her forehead.

Pluto had been ready to declare her attack, when the figure began speaking. She paused at the mention of being a royal descendant, and slowly came closer to see the proof, keeping her staff at the ready. She saw now it was another woman with impossibly long hair, and...yes, there were crescent moons on her forehead. Not the singular one like Queen Selenity, but three of them. She knew this woman, had heard rumors and murmuring of her. This could only be the Queen Nehelenia, ruler of the dark side of the Moon.

And the royal family were the only ones allowed in this place. She lowered her staff a little shamefully, then sank to one knee, bowing her head to hide the embarrassment on her face. “My...my apologies, your Highness. I could not see it was you. Of course you are exempt from the taboo. How I can I help you, your Highness?”

Nehelenia watched as Pluto knelt before her. She bent down to meet Pluto's eyes. "It's quite alright. I understand you were just trying to do your job." She said as she offered a hand to help Pluto stand. She wasn't sure exactly why she was in the moon palace to be honest. She had come to look at the gardens, to admire the flowers, but her feet had led her here.

Nehelenia thought for a moment before speaking, "Pluto, won't you tell me how you are doing today? I am sure you know, I am the Queen of the Dark side of the moon, but I think we have much in common. I came to chat with you. You see, it's quite lonely on my side of the moon and I was hoping if I came here, maybe I could find someone who would talk to me."

She was surprised by the offered hand and almost shyly took it, standing back on her feet. And she was a bit surprised by the understanding and casual questioning by the dark queen. Oh yes, she had heard rumors about the second ruler of the moon, though she honestly had no idea what was true and false. She hadn't really paid that much attention actually.

“I...well, I'm doing alright, your Majesty.” she answered honestly. And she was a little struck by what Nehelenia had said. Yes, after so many years, she could completely understand how lonely life could be. She almost felt a little of tears misting her eyes, but blinked it away swiftly, smiling the best she could. “Yes, I understand. I would love to have someone to talk to. Follow me, please, your Majesty.” And she turned, beginning to lead the way back towards the Time Gate.

Nehelenia smiled as she followed Pluto. Her story about wanting to see the gardens had worked. Now she could get close enough to see the time gate. Maybe she could even figure out how it works. She followed Pluto towards the time gate thinking what she would do next. 

Pluto was not the person she was after. She was after Serenity for sending her to the darkest corners of the moon. She was in the beginning stages of plotting her revenge. She would make the queen pay, and then she would take her place. For now though, she had to take baby steps, and walking with Pluto was the baby step she needed to try to gather information on how to get to the white moon queen.

She spoke, keeping her voice cheerful, so Pluto wouldn't suspect anything. "Legend says you have been guarding the time gate for hundreds of years. Just how do you do it?" She asked wondering how someone could endure so much loneliness.

Pluto continued to lead the way through the mist with easy familiarity, not turning around though she looked over her shoulder a bit. She couldn't help but laugh a little. “Hundreds of years? No, I've only been here fifteen years. But I won't age any further then how you see me now until I’m released from my duty as guardian.”

Within short time, they reached the Time Gate, which provided a gentle glow that lit up the surrounding area, though the light was slightly blinding after the odd darkness of the rest of the dimension. She made a gesture with the Garnet Rod and the mist slowly condensed into the shape of two chairs. She stood near one but didn't sit, instead gesturing towards the other chair. “Please your highness, sit down.” She smiled, as welcomingly as she could.

Nehelenia sat down as requested by Pluto. “Thank- you, it’s quite nice to sit for a moment.” She said as she took in her surroundings. It was quite beautiful, and Nehelenia began to plot away at how she could take control over the moon castle. It would take time, but maybe if she could come and visit more and more, she would be able to find something of use to her. Her plan would take time, so for now Nehelenia decided to make conversation with the lone time guardian.


“My apologies, the legend I heard was wrong. I must say being on the other side of the moon for so long, it feels as if hundreds of years have passed. Loneliness has a way of playing tricks on your mind, making you think you are trapped in some sort of prison. Do you feel the same way Pluto? I imagine it does get quite lonely, standing here guarding the gate the way you do?” She said as she tilted her head and gazed up at Pluto with a small smile.

Now that the dark queen had sat down, Pluto sat down in the other chair, carefully leaning her staff against the side of her seat. She folded her hands in her lap elegantly and crossed her legs a bit. It was nice to have an excuse to sit down as well, but she didn't want to admit it out loud to Nehelenia. She was a little stunned at what the queen said. “I...yes, exactly. It does get...very lonely.” She smiled, almost sadly and apologetically. “Sometimes, once in a while...It almost feels like I’m going to lose my mind. All by myself...with no one to talk to, no one who can understand what it's like. Just the same thing, day in and day out and no...no escape.” She lowered her eyes briefly.


Then she looked up, and quickly tried to explain. “T-that is...Please your Highness, don't misunderstand, I’m honored to be the guardian of time, I really am! It...it just gets a little difficult sometimes.”

Nehelenia turned her gaze towards Pluto. She placed her hand on top of Pluto’s. “I know what it is like to feel like you are losing your mind. I take journeys away from my quarters to help clear my head and keep me sane,” she said as she took a mental note that Pluto did indeed feel the same loneliness Nehelenia herself felt.


When Pluto mentioned that she was honored to guard the time space door, Nehelenia stood, turning away from Pluto. A wicked smile formed on her face. She turned back around appearing calm as she spoke, “of course I can understand. You have been given a duty. You have a purpose. I am just the lone ruler on the other side of the moon.” She said, pausing before adding a proposition, “say, how do you feel about me coming to talk with you once in awhile, it can help us both keep our sanity and help to hinder the loneliness we have been feeling. What do you say?” Nehelenia asked, hoping Pluto would say yes. She was looking for a way back into the palace, a way to carry out her revenge on Selenity for exiling her to the darkest and coldest depths of the moon.

Unexpectedly, Pluto felt her heart skip a bit when she felt the warmth of Nehelenia's hand covering hers through her glove. She looked at the moon royal a little startled, as a soft blush spread over her cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. And she couldn't understand the small pricks of disappointment she felt when Nehelenia stood up and turned away. She blinked as Nehelenia began speaking again, and felt her heart uplift a little as Nehelenia suggested she come to visit and spend time with her.


“Your Majesty, I-I wouldn't presume to tell you what to do. But I would be honored if you wished to come and visit me.” She looked down a moment before looking up again. “Ah...If..I might ask a favor, your Majesty? I'm afraid I cannot be a very good host...As guardian of the Gates, I have no need to eat, but...I would be grateful if you could bring something once in a while for us to enjoy together.”

Nehelenia smiled at Pluto. She walked back over and sat next to the lone senshi. Nehelenia couldn’t help but smile when Pluto said she would be honored to have her come visit. No one had been honored to see Nehelenia, not since Queen Selenity had banished her to the dark side of the moon. Nehelenia thought to herself, this is too easy, Selenity and this kingdom will be mine soon enough.
 
When Pluto asked if she could do a favor, Nehelenia looked up at Pluto with curious eyes. She placed a hand on Pluto’s knee as she spoke. “Of course, I would be more than happy to bring something for us to share. I have to go now, but I will come back in a few days. I will bring something special for us to share,” she said with a smile as she rose. 

“I have to head back now, I can’t stay much longer, but I promise I will be back again.” She said with a smile as she turned to head back to her home.

She realized she had difficulty remembering the last time she had done something this...normal. Sitting with someone and just talking. She had made peace with her new life, but it felt wonderful to do what she had seen others doing. It also helped her to ignore the subtle tuggings in her mind, the various time lines that were beginning and ending every second. And when Nehelenia had agreed to bring something the next time she visited, it made her feel happier. She stood up when Nehelenia did as she announced that she had to leave.


“Of course, your Highness. And thank you, very much. I look forward to your next visit.” And she gave a little bow as Nehelenia turned away. And she found the concept of having something close at hand that she was looking forward to made the dimension more bearable and less expansive and consuming. It made her smile and she spoke honestly from the heart. “I can't wait to see you again, your Majesty.”

Nehelenia smiled at Pluto as she left. She made her journey back to her palace. She felt a warmness in her heart, but it was clouded by the darkness that was forming. Nehelenia knew one thing, she wanted to get to know Pluto more. If the two talked, maybe they could find friendship. Maybe Pluto would help her tear down the crystal palace. Nehelenia needed time to plan. She didn't want to rush. She finally had a chance to talk to someone, a chance to escape the neverending loneliness she felt.

Nehelenia walked back into her palace and laid down. She fell into a sleep filled with dreams including Pluto, but also dreams where Nehelenia was successful in becoming the ruler over the white moon. She woke up feeling refreshed and ready to begin her plan to attack Selenity. First though, Nehelenia walked around her palace to look for something to take to Pluto. She came across a watch, but not just any watch, it was a watch that closely resembled Pluto's garnet orb. She remembered Pluto talking about not needing to eat, but wanting to make something to take her new found acquaintance to share while they chatted.

Pluto had remained at her post, though she had done a kind of dozing while awake, something she found that helped her to feel more rested and energetic. It was a strange cross between daydreaming and half sleeping, and she found she could relive memories this way, or review things she had seen or learned.


She straightened up from leaning on her staff and turned, looking at the two chairs that remained in the exact same spot. She hadn't removed them, simply because they provided proof that the encounter had happened. It was some strange dream or delusion. She smiled a little to herself at the idea of having a visitor and company, and looking forward to see Nehelenia. They could be good friends.


But if they were going to be simply friends, why did she continue to get strange brief flutters in her stomach at the thought of the dark moon queen?

Nehelenia woke up in the morning and prepared for her journey to the white moon. She showered and dried and styled her hair. She got dressed and made her way to the kitchens. She asked her staff to prepare some pastries with some fruit to take with her on her journey. Once she had done that, she walked down to her library where she kept books and relics. She pulled a couple books to take to Pluto as well as a music box that she had carried with her for some time.

When she went back through the kitchen she picked up her pastries and fruit that had been placed in a basket for her. She thanked her workers and then she left for the white moon, or rather she left to see Sailor Pluto.


A little over an hour later she arrived in the mist of the time gate. “Pluto, are you here?” She called out, hoping to spend some time with the lone guardian.

She had been observing the destruction of a timeline in her Garnet Orb when she had felt the ripples of a presence, and had faintly heard Nehelenia calling. She allowed herself a small excited smile as she stroked her fingers across the orb, wiping away the scene of unhappiness. She walked briskly, following the ripples once more until the figure of the queen came into sight. She bowed at the waist. “Hello, your majesty. I’m happy to see you again.” she said sincerely.


Then she noticed the basket and sniffed a bit, detecting a sweet aroma and found her mouth watering for the first time in years. She didn't need to eat, yet it seemed her body was still willing, and she felt her stomach shift ever so subtly with anticipatory hunger. “That smells wonderful. What did you bring?”

Nehelenia smiled when she saw Pluto. The possibility of having a friend was such a relieving thought. It gave Nehelenia hope that she would not be alone….no that wasn’t it. It gave her hope of having an ally to help her take over the white moon with.

Baby steps Nehelenia, baby steps…she thought as she drew nearer to Pluto. When she heard Pluto say she was happy to see her, Nehelenia couldn’t help but feel a warmness flutter in her heart. All she had known was darkness and isolation, and here was Pluto, she was like a breath of fresh air in a sea of darkness.


“It’s nice to see you too Pluto,” she said before adding, “Oh I asked my chefs to prepare some pastries for us. Is there some place we can sit and enjoy them?” She asked as she lifted the cloth in the basket revealing scrumptious pastries for the two to share.

Pluto couldn't hide to look of delight that crossed over her face as Nehellenia revealed the pastries in the basket. She nodded and tapped her staff on what could loosely be called the ground, and a table formed in between the two chairs that she had left in their place. She motioned graciously to the seat she had sat in before, then sat down herself in the opposite chair, carefully leaning her staff against the edge of the table, out of the way.

She couldn't remember the last time she didn't have the staff in her hands, and it was an odd sensation as she laced her fingers together, elbows casually positioned on the edge of the table. “That sounds wonderful. What flavors did they make?”

Nehelenia smiled at Pluto’s words. She would be lying if she said she wasn’t happy to be in someone else’s company. When Pluto asked about the pastries, Nehelenia thought for a moment. She had only asked the kitchen staff to make pastries, but when she had picked them up, she recalled them telling her the flavors.

“I believe there are some berry, chocolate, vanilla, and one other flavor. I cannot quite remember. My apologies,” she said as she set the basket on the table and uncovered the pastries.

Before she picked out a pastry, Nehelenia spoke up, hoping she was not being too brash. “I hope you do not mind, but I brought you some gifts. See I know it can get lonely over here and I just thought I could bring you something to make time seem less boring.”


Nehelenia held on to Pluto’s gifts under the table and waited to hear Pluto’s reaction.

Pluto listened to the choices, her eyes widening with each additional flavor the royal woman listed. There was surely so many pastries, more than they could eat unless they were bite sized. A part of her wanted to try all of the flavors, but was fairly certain her stomach wouldn't be able to handle it. She bit her bottom lip a little as she tried to decide which flavor sounded better to try first. It was such a difficult choice to make, then she was distracted by Nehelenia speaking again.

Her jaw nearly dropped when she said she had a gift. A gift for her? Her heart began fluttering rapidly against her will, and a dark bronze blush spread over her dark skin as she stared at Nehelenia. What did it mean? Was it only a gesture of friendship or more? For a moment she has an image of her and the woman sitting side by side, holding hands as they shared a kiss and she felt her blush grow hotter. She liked the image, and very much wished to make it reality. But what if she was misunderstanding, and Nehelenia was only trying to be friendly? She didn't want to make a fool of herself, especially in front of the moon queen.

She gulped a little and quickly found her voice as best she could. “N-no, not at all. I don't think it too brash at all and...I'd be glad to accept any gift you wish to give me, your Highness. What is it?” she couldn't keep the slightly excited curiosity out of her voice as she asked.

Nehelenia smiled at Pluto’s excitement to receive gifts. She was surprised Queen Selenity had not given her anything. Pluto was guarding the gates to time and space, and she got nothing for that. It made no sense to Nehelenia, which is why she had decided to bring her a gift.

“It’s nothing special, but I brought you some books and a music box,” she said as she pulled the items from the bag and set them before Pluto.

She opened the music box and allowed Pluto to hear its sweet melody.

She stared at the items as Nehelenia laid them out on the table. The books thrilled her a bit even as they made her vaguely nervous. She could surely read and still keep an eye on the Time Gate, right? How long had it been since she had enjoyed some good literature?  Too long for Pluto to recall properly. But when the music box began its beautiful tinkling music, it was  too much for Pluto.


She turned her head away, trying to hide the tears that were welling up in her eyes and threatening to spill down over her cheeks, embarrassed by the show of extreme emotion over something that was surely small by the queen's standards. “T-thank you, your Majesty. They’re all…it’s very wonderful, and I’m honored beyond words. I will treasure these gifts always.”

Nehelenia was glad that Pluto liked her “gifts.” She could tell Pluto really enjoyed them. “I am glad you like them. I hope they will give you more enjoyment. I just have so many books, and I do not read them, so they are just collecting dust, which is not something I like in my palace. If you want, I can bring you more books when you finish these,” Nehelenia said as she rose to stretch her legs.

She reached her arms up, taking in the light of the moon kingdom, and searching for a possible portal to implement her dream mirrors, though those of the white moon kingdom may not find them so dreamy if they encounter them.


“So, Pluto, is this really the life Selenity has destined you to? She asked wondering how Pluto coped with the lonely duty of guarding the gate to time and space.

“Y-yes please. I would be very happy to have something to read....once in a while.” Pluto readily agreed, looking up at the queen with something akin to awe. She was so generous, so nice, so...beautiful. Once again Pluto felt her cheeks growing hot with a blush. Had she really just thought that? She shouldn't have such thoughts about this woman who was a Queen of the Moon! She took a little breath, trying to slow the frantic beating of her foolish heart.

She blinked a little at the question and tilted her head slightly. “My queen asked it of me...and my family has always been the guardians of time. My mother guarded these gates, and her mother before her, and onward. Once I finish my time, I can return home and in time, my daughter will serve duty as a senshi as well. I don't mind. It can't last forever after all.” She smiled softly.