Chapter Text
???
Among the stars, towards the literal edge... the Universe remained static and in place.
Although it was not corporeal, if anyone had the potential to feel beyond their limits, they would probably feel the strain of it using its power as it tried to contain a beautiful utopia in a bubble. The stars twisted around it as it continued, some blinking in and out from the strain of it all before finally settling down as the Herculean task was finally completed.
Letting out a small breath of exhaustion, the Universe stared at the bubble before looking around. It was empty around it, nothing but the stars and the space around it.
That was a problem.
Because there wasn't supposed to be anything but the stars and space. Because there was supposed to be more in this certain part. There were supposed to be three realities in total, but now...
There was nothing. They had been made broken and undone, the Universe only barely able to save bits and pieces in a pocket space far from any other unnatural forces that could potentially threaten it further, but this would not stand.
It didn't matter if just parts of these realities were safe. Without a core to hold them together... they would be gone regardless.
This could not stand.
As the Universe diverted its attention back to the bubble, it knew it had to fix the damage from... from whatever unexpected event had occured.
But it couldn't do it alone, even with its vast power. It needed an inner source to maintain what the Universe had planned, admittedly recklessly, for the three realities, to help maintain them properly.
It needed help.
It came without warning.
Sailor Pluto wasn't expecting anything to happen either. At least, not to this devastating level.
In the blink of an eye, with no warning or sign, one minute she was standing watch at the Door of Space and Time, and the next... nothing.
The area darkened and warped, and she found herself stranded among the stars, the inky black of space itself surrounding her. The cold settled on her skin and in her veins, a sinking feeling forming in the pit of her stomach as she looked around in wide-eyed disbelief. Gripping the Garnet Rod tightly, her knuckles whitening underneath her gloves as the heel of her boots clicked against an invisible ground.
'What... what has happened?' Where am I? How did I end up here? What... what has happened to the kingdom?', Sailor Pluto thought out of genuine concern, eyes scanning the space of stars. Her muscles refused to unclench themselves as the silence settled over her. She was used to it, or she was supposed to be used to it... but not to this extent. It was suffocating, practically pressing on her lungs. But this dread was nothing compared to the feeling she had knowing that somewhere, deep down, it was probably all gone.
Crystal Tokyo.
The second Silver Millennium.
Neo-Queen Serenity.
King Endymion.
And... and Small Lady...
They might have all been erased. If the world itself, if reality as a whole, had snapped out of existence, then that would mean the near, possible future that was supposed to be Crystal Tokyo was gone too. An invisible connection, having now been tethered and cut loose, lay solely at her feet as the weight of her supposed failure started to weigh on her shoulders.
She shouldn't have felt guilty. She had stuck to her duty, making sure that nothing would sneak past to use the door to their sick advantage.
So how could she have failed?
Did some force make its way through anyway? How could they have done it so easily? How did they sneak by her? How did...
"The action that you believe has taken place... has not, Guardian of Space and Time. The future that was once yours is safe for now. Worry not," a voice echoed through her head, surprising her as she turned around in shock, looking for the source.
"W-Who’s there?! Show yourself," Pluto yelled, raising her weapon as she looked around, gritting her teeth.
"I understand your sudden aggravation and fear, but let me reassure you, I am no threat, dear Guardian," the voice gently called to her. Pluto could practically feel the warmth of whatever was speaking to her. But she wasn't about to let her guard down so easily.
"You say so, but considering I cannot see your face, how can you expect me to trust you so blindly?"
"...I suppose that is fair. I can see why you were chosen, dear Guardian. Very well, allow me to provide you with a proper vessel for which you may speak, so that I can better provide you with a proper explanation to your query."
A sudden shift came over Pluto, and in the blink of an eye, a flash of bright light made her shield her eyes. When the glow died down, Pluto unshielded them to see what looked to be... a person.
Except, not really.
Sure, the shape looked human enough, with arms, hands, legs, and feet... but the mass that made this visage was composed of twinkling, shooting stars rather than flesh and bones. Its hair flowed upward as it connected directly with its head.
And its eyes. Its eyes were a pure white, with no pupils. And then, just as Pluto was starting to wonder what exactly she was staring at and how much of a threat it potentially might be, a voice spoke softly in her head.
“Is this much better to your liking, dear Guardian?” The voice asked, and despite its pupilless eyes, Pluto could feel it staring at her, not with an ominous warning, but with warmth.
Almost as if it wanted to make sure that it would not be perceived as a threat to the Guardian.
Pluto stared at the vessel as she merely gave a simple nod, lowering her weapon just enough to make it clear that she still didn't trust the shape just yet.
“I-I suppose… but even so, who exactly are you? Where am I? And what did you mean by what you said before?” Pluto asked, still unsure of what exactly was going on. The shape tilted its head as it gave a brisk nod.
"Yes. I suppose it is time to explain what exactly is going on here. It is not fair to keep you in the dark about your situation," The shape spoke, raising its left arm as stars swirl around them. Pluto watched in wary awe as a few stars swirled into a glowing ball in the shape's hands.
"To answer your questions, I must first explain that this form is to help communicate better with you in this space. I am, but a conduit of the Universe itself, and I can confirm that the future from which you were is still safe. Crystal Tokyo remains untouched for now." The Universe spoke, the ball in its hand revealing a still image of Crystal Tokyo, untouched and as pristine as ever. Even as Pluto stared in shock as the being spoke as if talking about the weather, she tried to steel her nerves.
"But... but then how did I-" Pluto started to ask, still unsure, before the Universe spoke once more.
"From what I suspect, because you were in between the door leading from the previous world's present and possible future, that you were caught up. I was only able to have enough time to shield Crystal Tokyo from the backlash and seal it away in a pocket," the Universe explained, its head shaking in almost saddened disbelief.
"Backlash? What do you mean by backlash?" Pluto asked. "I haven't been warned of a threat to the future."
"That is because the threat was not towards Crystal Tokyo, or even the other what-ifs," the Universe explained, using its right hand now to start pulling the ball, the image fading as it produced two more, but less glowing and almost pale, balancing them in its palm. "The threat was more to the current realities."
"The current realities? Has something happened?" Pluto asked once more, curiosity and dread pooling in the pit of her stomach. The Universe looked at her, and though its face was blank, she could feel the brief hesitation and wariness almost as if it was trying to figure out what to say before its shoulders sagged in almost defeat, clearly knowing that it needed to speak clearly and bluntly. There was no option to sugarcoat it.
"Unfortunately... yes. I cannot explain it, my dear Guardian, but the universes from what we know... I am afraid are in danger of coming undone. The world from which you are supposed to know, the world you do not know of yet, and the world forced to hide have been struck by something unforeseen." The shape explained as Pluto felt a cold sweat come over her. The realization of what the Universe was coming to say crept up on her as her grip went slack, the Garnet Rod clattering to the ground.
"You... you can't possibly mean..."
"Yes. I am afraid so. I am unsure of what has happened, but something has changed. I managed to save bits, but they will corrode soon. Where I have placed them will only temporarily stop whatever possible rot may come, but my powers can only hold so far before. But this is why I have come to you." The Universe spoke, a ghost of a smile on its still blank appearance as it combined the glow together and released it back into the galaxy before bowing its head in submission. "Sailor Pluto, guardian of Time and Reality, I come to you to humbly ask for your help. I know I am asking too much of you, but please..."
Raising its head up, the Universe stared back up at her, almost pleading as it placed a hand on its chest. The space around the pair went silent, almost freezing in time.
"Please help me save these realities. That is what I ask of you."