Going Home

Mina’s Tale II – Part 3

We separated to our own homes to prepare for tonight’s travel. We didn’t know what the trip would be like and none of us wanted to ask Nova. I kissed Chibi and hugged Nova. I reached up towards his face and kissed him. I was starting to get use to his kisses and I wanted one every time that I saw Nova. Some things are so good in life that you wish that you could enjoy them ever second of your life. Nova’s kisses were such a thing. My father was the only one home in the apartment when I returned home. Mom had left to visit a friend and wasn’t expected to return until late. I asked him if I could spend the night at Nova since all our friends were going to have a sleepover. I was so afraid that his answer would be no. He thought for a moment, “Mina, it’s fine. I know Nova and I know that he is a man of his word. He told me that nothing would happen until your wedding night and for some reason I believe him.” I hugged my father and went to my bedroom to get some clothes for tonight. My father trusted Nova and I knew deep down in my heart that not only is he handsome but a man of his word.

I packed three outfits in a small overnight bag because I didn’t know what to expect when we reached the Moon. A journey to the Moon, we did travel one time to that distance orb in the sky or maybe it was all a dream. It was so long ago and so much had changed. We visited it just before the battle against Queen Beryl. We met Serenity, oh, how I wish that she was still here but she used all her power to protect her children by sending them into the future.

Nova said that we were going home to where we belonged to “rediscover” the past and find ourselves. He also indicated that a great enemy is on the horizon and that we needed all the powers that we could muster. A great crisis is coming that he was willing to give up his past to travel to the future to meet. We had to go to the Moon and gain something but he wasn’t saying what we would gain. I trusted Nova with all my heart but it’s still unusual just to travel to the Moon but I will go anywhere he leads. He is our leader and I trusted him with my life as does all the other Sailor Warriors. We would follow him to the ends of the universe and perhaps the Gates of Hell where I know that he wouldn’t back down from any foe. I kissed my father on the cheek as I left to go to Nova’s apartment after I go to the grocery store. I decided that I would cook for the two of them tonight. We need a good meal before we travel to our home.

I approached the door to the apartment. Nova gave me a key this morning so I could check on Chibi whenever I wanted. She is my daughter and I do worry about her but I also worried about Nova. I know that he can take care of himself but something deep down in myself said that I needed to be near him for either of us to be complete. I had bought some groceries from the local store because I knew that after lunch they didn’t have much in the pantry. Nova insisted that I had a credit card to his account. He pointed out it would be easier later when we started to plan for our wedding if I didn’t have a separate account to purchase items that we would need for that special day. My wedding, it seems so far away, nineteen months from next week but I’m looking forward to that day. I remember our first wedding. It was done quickly because of the mob approaching the castle and the second one was done on the spot so Nova didn’t have time to think. I want the next one to be special; we will plan it no matter the crisis. Truthfully, I don’t know if I could wait that long but my memories told me that Nova waited over 6 years because of his honor and he would have waited a lifetime for me. I leaned against the door with the bag of food against my chest. How did I get so lucky after so many years to find my prince? Suddenly, I saw a picture in my mind of the royal family. My memories hadn’t straightened themselves out but this image was so vivid. I saw Nova with Serenity and Serena. It was a royal family portrait that graced the main hall of my father’s palace but it was Nova that captured my attention. So small, no more than six years old but had the power to level a planet. Serenity must have had her hands full with him especially when Serena was near. I can remember the two of them together. They were closer than any siblings could have been growing up but they were always into something; some trouble all the time.

I turned the key in the lock and the first thing I saw was Artemis and Chibi in front of the television watching anime. They looked so peaceful and I could hear Artemis explaining the background of the story. He described every character, their relationship with each other and what happened in past episodes. I think I know what my kitty has been doing in his spare time. Nova was in the kitchen looking in the pantry when I put the bag on the counter. I looked at him in a blue apron and couldn’t resist running to him and hugging him around the neck. He turned around and put his strong arms around my waist and kissed me. “Oh, I glad someone thought about food. We’re starving here. I need to shop tomorrow when we get back.” Nova kissed me and ran his hands up my waist and back. “We can’t always depend on the kindness of strangers.”

He still thought of himself as being alone in a strange world. I hugged Nova tight. “You are not alone. If nothing else you have me and I would do anything to show you how much I love you.” I would do anything for Nova. He is the most special person in the universe to me. “Mina, I’m only kidding. I will never think of you except as someone special. You are the only wife that I ever wanted since you were born, both times. You are the most important person in my life and I’m glad that I’m back in yours.” He kissed me and I saw that we had an audience. Chibi was sitting on a barstool next to the kitchen with Artemis perched on her head. “Grownups, always at something that I as a little child shouldn’t see.” I stuck my tongue at her and kissed Nova. Chibi sighed, “Well, at least you could feed me before you start smooching. You fed me minutes after I was born. If I remember correctly.” I blushed when I thought about her first meal. She was the size of a … well, the same size as she is now but my first thought was to nurse her. After her birth, I knew that she was starving and the best food for her was her mother’s milk. She went to solid foods within a couple days but I would always remember that first feeding. It’s now ingrained in my memory. It was one of the most touching moment of my past life. I turned to her and started to unbutton my blouse. “Yuck, don’t you dare think that I would go for that … I’m a big girl now and not that hungry.” As I fastened the single button that I undid, I reached for Nova’s hand and placed it on my breast. “Nova, one day we will use these again to feed our child. Maybe we could have one that isn’t such an ingrate.” Chibi stuck her tongue at me but came into the kitchen and handed me an apron. We cooked dinner together as a family.

The meal was wonderful or it could have just been the company. I don’t know if it was these two years of lessons that Lita has been given us had finally paid off or whether it was the closeness of my little family. It seemed so perfect cooking with Nova and Chibi. We worked together as a unit, knowing what each person was doing without saying a word. Is this what Nova talked about? Working together as one group without communicating through sound. We sat down to dinner and as we started to eat, Nova touched my foot with his and an electric shock went through my body, what a wonderful feeling. We played footsies all during dinner even though our two “guests” laughed and giggled among themselves but they couldn’t spoil the moment.

After dinner I chased the two of them to their rooms to get ready for tonight. I stayed by Nova who held out his hand. I grasped it in mine but said nothing. He seemed so deep in thought that I didn’t want to disturb him as he reflected on something that I couldn’t possibly understand. I couldn’t help him, I could see some of his thoughts but he was looking at the future and the past but everything is confused. Maybe one day after I fully understand my experiences and memories I can help him but all I could do now is love him with all my heart. The others will soon be here and I didn’t want them to wait. I didn’t want to wait. I was going home to where I had a life with Nova. An idyllic time where we fought against evil but was happy. A much simpler time and I would like to recapture that time again.

The others began to arrive as the sun was just setting in the west. Each Sailor came into the apartment and hugged Nova, Chibi, and me. When everyone arrived, Nova turned to everyone. I could see the sadness of a thousand years in his eyes. “Let me tell you what happened in the last days. I reviewed Luna’s data and touched the winds of time.” I looked at Pluto and saw in her expression that Nova could see and feel things in time that was lost to her. He is so much more than our leader; he is the sum of us all. “Now, I am able to put together some information concerning the trouble that developed before the final battle on the Moon.” I could tell that he was disturbed so I went in front of him and placed his arms around my waist. I would let him hold me like this forever if that what it took. After a couple of minutes, I could tell that he was settling down and gathering himself for the tale.

“After we fought the Unstoppable and won, the monster was destroyed and scattered to the ends of the universe, Chibi and myself were brought here by my family. Unfortunately, that single event of our removal caused everything to fall apart. The crystals that I carry … ” I felt them on my back, so powerful but not really good or evil, I guess it all depends on the person that wields that power. “… Contains beings of infinite powers and abilities, not good or evil nor law or chaos, they depend upon the wearer and the previous wearers to determine their allegiances. Since I had wore them for sixteen years they had developed my personality but they also controlled certain aspects of the universe. When they were removed with me, the universe returned to the state it was before the “birth” of the crystals, and the planets started to die. They were held powers that keep the universe in balance and without that power … the old laws ruled the universe.”

Amy rose from her seat, “Nova, is the balance so delicate? What will happen to the planets since you have returned?” “Amy, life is a delicate balance between heat and cold, law and chaos, so precisely matched that the slight variation causes death.” Nova snuggled against my neck, “As for the planets, they are coming alive again but they will take time to recover.” I saw Erica looked at us, “Nova, why did the Earth survive?” Nova smiled, “When Serenity sent everyone to the Earth, she also sent the remaining part of the Silver Crystal. These pieces were placed inside children in their mother’s womb to be reborn as the human counterparts of the seven rainbow demons. Each person passed his or her crystal onto the next generation until the appeared at this era. So with the seven rainbow crystals and the remaining Silver Crystal on Earth, it survived the long night.” I felt Nova shaking against me and I held his arms tighter to me. What he found out upset him. Susan looked at Nova, “That’s all in the past. We must now look to the future.” Nova sighed, “No, the past is important. It will determine the future.”

Nova let go of my hands and turned to the balcony’s window. I was starting to sense his feelings and the sadness that poured from him was painful. “The generals went crazy. I didn’t realize that they was so tied to my being that without me they were adrift in the universe. Ships without sails, adrift to whatever force holds the most power. I didn’t see that happening in the Shrine, all I knew was that they would be present at the final battle but I never could imagine that they would be on the other side.” I placed my arms around Nova and rested my head on his back. This talk was upsetting him. I could feel the sadness in his body. “The High Guard left the Moon to find me and you have met some of them in your past adventures.” We looked at each other. “Where do you think the Negaverse recruited their agents? From the rank of the High Guard is the answer. There are many more out there and they are coming home but it will be a long time before they return.”

I felt something wet fall upon my hands. I realized that Nova was crying. I held him close as he went down to his knees. I turned him around to look at his face. The tears in his eyes were like daggers in my heart. We couldn’t imagine what he gave up for a chance to preserve the future. I held his head in my hands as I looked in his eyes and then rested it on my chest. His tale was over but he needed some time to recover so we remain in that position for twenty minutes. The Sailors all stood behind us, knelt down, and hugged the two of us on the floor. We would suffer together, we are a family and we share the pain and the joy. Nova rose to his feet, “ Are you ready?” We all agreed that we were ready but Nova took us unprepared when he waved his hand and we were in our Sailor Warrior’s outfits. I felt the power of the transformation around me but it was so different, so stronger than I have experienced before during any transformation. “The planets are alive and are providing your power. You will never be the same again.”

Nova gathered us in a circle holding hands with each other. Nova was on my right and Chibi held my left hand. He gathered energy from the crystals and shouted, “Sailor Teleport”. The world came out from under my feet. It was spinning around with no beginning or end in sight. I closed my eyes to keep my head from spinning but soon the feeling disappeared. I opened my eyes and saw the Earth high in the dark sky. I looked around and recognized the ruins of the Moon Kingdom. It surrounded us as far we could see. A bleak landscape consisting of dust and ruins. It so sad to see the wonders of our old home in ruins but we had to bear with the past and strive for the future.

Nova waved his hand and I saw a shimmering, like ripples on the water, and suddenly a great structure appeared before us. It shone in the light like a beacon of hope … a lighthouse for the future. I was reddish gold in color and towered above us over a hundred feet. The structure is so impressive because of its size; it stretched more than three hundred feet in either direction from the central doors. The doors were made of a blackish wood held to the frame by golden hinges that had a red streak running through it. Above the door was carved in the golden stone was the symbols for all the planets plus a starburst that I knew was Nova’s sigil. Nova walked in front of us to the great doors, extended his hand and the doors slowly opened … pushing aside the dust of a thousand years. Nova picked up Chibi and extended his hand to me. I took his hand in mine. He looked at all of us, “My family, we are home.”

So ends Part 3 of Mina’s Tale II. What will the Sailors find inside the Fortress of the Warriors? Find out in Part 4, “Bring Back the Past”.