Pluto’s eyes widened with incredulity as she saw a short blond haired woman using a shovel as a walking stick contently walk out of the mists. Pluto’s ire flared as she saw the vapid smile on the woman’s face. She rose to her full height and tapped the Garnet Rod twice on the marble floor. “Who are you? And what is your business here, for all are barred from this place by the order of Queen Serenity.”
The woman just blinked before sitting down roughly on the ground, seemingly unconcerned with Pluto’s unspoken threat. Shifting a moment to get comfortable, she spoke in a melodious voice. “Oh, don’t worry about that Setsuna; I can be here if I need to be.”
Pluto’s face kept it’s placid look, but her mind whirled with the implications. ’She knows my name?! She might know the rest of the scouts identities.’ Speaking commandingly, she attempted to bring to bear the authority of her station. “I say again. Who are you and what is your business?”
The woman quietly sighed before speaking. “Me? No one… well, you couldn’t understand it even if I told you, so let’s move on.” She soundly rapped the shovel she was carrying on the ground one and pointed to the Time Gate.
Pluto gracefully stepped to the side, keeping one eye on the strange woman as she quickly glanced at the Gates. Her blood froze when she saw the horrifying scene before her. It was the one thing she had never worked up the courage to watch.
***
The room was in total chaos. Her brother’s face twisted in terror as the room shuddered and broken shelves dropped their priceless contents to the floor, shattering into jagged shards. Her heart leaped as the light fixture tore itself from the ceiling and fell, slamming into his side and tearing a bloody gash along his ribs. His mouth opened in a silent scream as his hand clutched the ragged wound, frothy blood bubbling out between his fingers. Pluto let out a strangled cry as when one of the walls cracked, then shattered outwards. A silent wind ripped through the room, sending months of work flapping out the hole. The room shuddered once again, and then listed, sending her brother scrambling for something to hold onto. Pluto took a step closer; her body desperately trying to avoid what her mind knew was going to happen next. A flailing hand snatched the corner of the metal desk, only holding on by a couple of fingers. Rapidly, the room continued its tilt, her brother barely holding on. For one frozen instant, his eyes seemed to lock onto Pluto, beseeching her. A lone tear slipped from her eye as his fingers slipped and he fell screaming through the hole and out into space, his form quickly lost to sight in the boiling clouds.
***
Silence reigned throughout the Time Gates for an eternity before being shattered by a horse, choking sob. Pluto quietly wept for a few moments before turning her tear stained face to the woman. Quietly, she spoke one word. “Why?”
The woman looked at her for a timeless moment before speaking. “Everyone dies Setsuna. He was mortal; does it really matter if he died then, or a thousand years later? Don’t blame someone that had nothing to do with it.”
Pluto’s face twisted with rage for a second before she exploded. “HE WAS MY BROTHER! IT’S ALL THEIR FAULT! THEY ALL HAVE TO DIE!” She drew a few ragged breaths into her lungs, trying to ease the burning in her chest.
An expressionless mask settled onto the woman’s face as she spoke. “The one you are after has my favor. You are not allowed to interfere in the manner you intend to.” In a single graceful motion, she flowed upwards to her feet. “His past is sacrosanct. The Gates are closed to you.”
Pluto’s shuddered once before her face fell back into a serene mask, and a hint of a smirk formed on her lips. “Only I have the power to seal the Gates. You can not interfere with my duty.” Her smirk faded as the woman stepped towards the Gates. Silently watching her take a few steps closer, she let out a whisper. …dead scream… The boiling ball of energy shot across the room like a bullet towards the woman. The woman ignored the attack and Pluto blinked when the attack flickered a few times before blinking out of existence.
Another attack was forming on her lips when the woman spoke. “Guardian of Time, the Gates are now sealed.” A wash of golden light flared, nearly blinding Pluto with its intensity. Pluto snapped her eyes shut and blindly fired another Dead Scream at the interloper. Not hearing an explosion, she cracked her eyes open and what she saw froze the breath in her lungs. A single golden chain wrapped around the center of the center of the Gates, binding them closed. Quickly glancing around the room, Pluto saw no sign of the woman. A few quick steps brought her to the Gates. Pluto rapped once on the wooden door, trying to activate it. She was met with only a dull thud.
A small whisper of, “…no…” was the only sound heard.
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(Posted Mon, 24 May 2004 07:28)
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らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
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