Info: This was my first fanfic, which I wrote over five years ago. I have finally taken the time to re-edit it. This story takes place after the defeat of Galaxia and Chaos in the Sailor Moon Manga. For those of you who are not familiar with the Sailor Moon Manga, Sailor ChibiChibi is only an alternate form of Sailor Cosmos, not Galaxia's starseed. It is believed that Sailor Cosmos transformed herself into ChibiChibi as a mode of disguise in order to hide her identity from the others. Also a last note, Haruka and Michiru are simply friends. Feel free to e-mail me any comments you may have. Email: ml_eclipse@hotmail.com Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and all the characters of Sailor Moon is copyrighted to its respective companies and the original author, Naoko Takeuchi. << >> = thoughts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ================================= >>>>> SERENITY'S LEGEND <<<<<<<<< by Cosmos ================================= Part II: A Time Forgotten "So this is Tokyo after the Sailor Star Battle," whispers Cosmos in amazement. Spread out before her in a multitude of dazzling bright lights lies a large city. Her eyes hungrily take in the magnificent scenery of the lively city with its many people smiling and laughing as they take a night stroll about the streets. Tears swell up in her eyes; it has been too long since she is able to see happy, laughing people. She only saw this last through the eyes of Chibi Chibi. For years she has known only darkness, devastation, pain, and sorrow. Cosmos closes her eyes and takes in a deep lung full of air. << So refreshing >>, she thinks, << when have I breathed in such sweet crisp air before? No smell of burning buildings, or dead bodies. How I envy these people! Laughing and talking without a care in the world, without a single notion of what lies in the dark and distant future.>> Quickly, she jumps onto a rooftop of a nearby shopping mall. At this height she is able to see a large expanse of the city. << What should I do now? Where should I begin? Damn, I don't have a single clue, a single lead that can help me.>> Suddenly, she spots the rooftop of Cherry Hill Temple. She hesitates for a moment. Her heart reaches out, trying to fly over to the place she remembers all too well. <> Silent as the night wind, Cosmos runs toward the temple, deciding to just check the place out. Within moments she is sitting on top of the temple's roof, looking down at five young girls chatting on the porch. "Hey, you sure make great hot chocolate Lita," says Mina. "Yes, thank you for the treat," says Amy. "Hey, there are no more hot chocolate!" whines Serena. "Serena, how many cups did you have? I made sure that I had made enough for everyone to have at least three cups full." "I only had five!" "Serena, stop being such a pig!" yells Rei. "I am not!" "Are to!" Rei sticks her tongue out at Serena. Serena in turn does the same towards Rei. Serena and Rei begin their tongue fight until Amy stops them, "Stop it you two! Don't you ever get tired of fighting all the time." "Yeah," says Mina, "it is getting tiresome battling the dark forces all the time. The peace and quiet is a welcoming event. So why don't you two just shush and enjoy it." "But Rei started it!" Serena whines. "I did not noodle brain!" Rei retorts. The other three girls sigh and give up any attempt at a resolution between those two. Through all this Cosmos watches them silently, a strange pang of envy vibrates in her heart at the mention of peace. <>, thought Cosmos, a slight smile appearing on her lips. Oh, how she longs to be with them, to join their conversations. Cosmos listens to their conversations for a while but then decides to leave and search for the other members of the team. She turns and runs away. "What was that?" Rei says as she turns and looks in the direction where Cosmos had just hidden. "What is it Rei?" "I thought I heard something." "Probably just the wind." Rei does not respond. <> she thinks, <> Through the crisp night air, Cosmos runs silently until she reaches a park where she spots four distinct forms silhouetted against the bright full moon by a lake. <>, she thinks, <> Cosmos positions herself behind a nearby tree. She closes her eyes and silently listens to their conversation, while emotions of uncontrollable intensity storms within her heart. "Such a lovely clear night," Haruka is saying. "Hmmm…the moon appears to be extra bright tonight," whispers Michiru. "As if it is welcoming a friend," says Setsuna. "What friend?" young Hotaru asks looking confusedly at Setsuna. "She doesn't mean anyone specific Hotaru." The night is exceptionally clear with innumerous numbers of stars twinkling in the dark sky. Without a single breeze, the lake acts like a fairy's mirror, reflecting the moon with perfect clarity. But then a lost breeze flows by Cosmos and then around the Outer Soldiers. Setsuna catches a strange image of a dark city and flashes of strange blocks of crystals, but the image vanishes as quickly as it came. Hotaru notices Setsuna's body suddenly stiffening and asks, "What is the matter Setsuna?" "Hmmm? Oh nothing." Setsuna slips into silence, thinking about the strange image that had just appeared to her. <> Setsuna's brow knit together in deep concentration. <> "Umm…I have to go now" Setsuna begins, "I just forgot about something I must do. I will see you all later. Goodnight." She walks off and disappears into a strange wall of mists. "What has gotten into her?" questions Haruka. Michiru only shakes her head in wonder. Hotaru's eyes suddenly change into a cold purple stare in Setsuna's direction. <> she thinks. <> Suddenly she catches a slight movement behind a nearby tree. Haruka notices the movement, too, and quickly rushes over followed by the other two. But they can see no one. Throughout the night, Cosmos stealthily searches the city for any clue, any sign that might help her in her quest. However, she ends her search as empty-handed as she has begun. <>, she thinks. There is one person who can help me, but I don't want to see…Oh, there must be another way to find what I seek without causing anymore pain to anyone.>> Leaning against a brick wall on top of a tall tower, Cosmos silently watches the coming of dawn. A bright red glow indicates the arrival of the sun. A battle between light and dark unfolds before her eyes, as if reflecting the battle that is to come. The rays of light pierce through the cloak of night like arrows from a goddess' bow. Slowly, the light pushes against the receding darkness like an unrelenting typhoon. Somehow the dark manages a counter attack and the sun bleeds onto the sea covering the silvery surface in a bright red glow. But no matter how hard the struggle was, the dark eventually retreats over the earth's edge, and throughout the day, it lays dormant, waiting until the coming of the next battle when light and dark will again interlock at that very horizon. <> Cosmos turns her gaze from the horizon to a tall apartment building close to the bay, where a young man slumbers peacefully in bed, unaware of what destiny is about to bring him. --------------------------------------- Next Chapter..."Old Aquaintance"... <> Re-edited 2003