Setsuna was a rather introspective woman. Whether or not it was her natural inclination, a few millennia of solitude had carved a tendency for quiet reflection into the core of her being. As she waited for her latest set of opponents in the fields outside of Kobe, the subject of her rumination was how things had changed for her over the ages.
The biggest change, of course, was the end of the Silver Millennium and the devastation to the entire star system. A powerful, if rather isolated, mini empire had been reduced to a single planet of stone-age primitives. The Blessing of Jurai was second on that list, as iron-age primitives left disease behind, rediscovered magic and developed some very interesting cultural traits.
Setsuna herself had changed many times. A capable but rebellious (and maybe a little spoiled) daughter of nobility had renounced her name and struck out for the boondocks of the galaxy. A reluctant social butterfly had been drawn into the inner circle of the Serene Queen, and then catapulted to the level of princess and guardian of a mighty artifact. Then there were the changes that came with tragedy, trauma, and a slight nervous breakdown due to those factors. Like a badly healed bone, it had been necessary for Master to break her before she could be healed properly. He had done so with patience and as much gentleness as he could, but still he had bound her and broken her. Then she had bound herself to him, of necessity but also of her own free will, and that was when joy had re-entered her life.
The most recent changes were the reappearance of the two women with her, and the girls she was on her way to acquire. In some ways it was just like old times as the Senshi of the three outermost planets made ready to smite their enemies in the name of Love and Justice. Actually they were going to arrest some public nuisances in the name of Peace and Quiet. Still it was nice to have them back, even if (or maybe especially since) the amorous pair now had erotic skills, appetite, and a willingness to share above and beyond those of their previous incarnations. All things considered, the reincarnation option the Queen had chosen was probably for the best. Some of the princesses would have had difficulty coping with Earth as it was now if they had just been transported forward. Venus would have been fine but Mars was another matter. Setsuna suppressed a giggle at the thought of how the Sailor Pluto of that time would have reacted to her new existence if she had suddenly been deposited into this situation. The Princess of Pluto, Keeper of the Keys of Time, Guardian of the Outer Void, as a temple concubine and slave? Setsuna channeled her mirth at the image into one of her knowing smiles. It just wouldn’t do for the others to see her giggling before a battle.
Those amusing thoughts were just a side trip to the ones in the forefront of her mind. She and her companions were about to unleash ancient powers upon these fields, but ancient did not mean unchanging. Magic on earth, and in the rest of the star system, was not quite like it was back in the Silver Millennium.
The magical fields and flows of Earth had always been different from those of the other planets. Each planet had its strengths and tendencies of course, but there was some fundamental difference in the case of Earth, as its magic had always been far more untamed and unpredictable. This is why it never had a Senshi of the sort bound to the other worlds. There were bonds with the Kings of Earth, but it wasn’t the same. The magic applied to the other planets to make them habitable for humans may have done something to stabilize or control their natural magic, or it might just be something about Earth itself.
Magic, according to some theories, is applied belief. It is faith that moves mountains, the power of positive thinking, etc. This power of belief is not only demonstrated in individual spells, but in the wider flows and forms of magic. Each spell cast or other use of magic influences the flows of the area to make magic of that sort or for that intent a little bit easier. Above and beyond that, the attitudes and beliefs of non-spellcasters also has influence on the ways of magic. A very limited influence of course, but they have numbers to make up for that limitation.
None of that would have mattered if magic had remained a lost art for the most part and if the world had been fragmented into a multitude of cultures with different and often opposing ideas about the supernatural. The genetic tinkering and spiritual effects that brought about changes in the lifespan and birthrate of humans on Earth also increased the sensitivity to mystical and spiritual energies and the ability to use them. One couldn’t find a wizard or spiritualist or ki-warrior on every corner, but they were visibly present in the world, and some of them were very powerful. As for the cultural beliefs and purposes for which the magic was used…
There were still different cultures in this world, but all of them now had one underlying preoccupation. In another timeline, a man by the name of Sigmund Freud would have been born and that man would have put forward a theory that almost everything people thought or felt or did was somehow related to sexual desires. In that timeline, this theory would have caused a fair amount of controversy and outrage. In this world, it was an observation on a par with, “The ocean is wet.” For hundreds of years people at almost every stage of life after puberty retained the sexual obsession formerly associated with teenagers, and the vigor to pursue that obsession. Over that period, priests and magicians had been at work and a large portion of their work had been casting spells to attract or ensnare sexual partners, enhance fertility, or enhance the sexual experience. So, the flows and forms of magic shifted, and even magic formed thousands of years ago could be modified to fit the new patterns. In fact, the ancient bonds from planet to planet established under the reign of the Serene Queens allowed those changes to spread to the rest of the solar system. The influence from Earth would not have been able to overcome the influence of a population on those worlds, but those populations had been wiped out with the fall of the Kingdom.
In short, all magic within the solar system was heavily influenced to take on forms having to do with sex and sexual appeal, either in the method of casting or the end result.
The Senshi transformation was actually more vulnerable to this than most forms of magic. Senshi weren’t just warriors and guardians; they were public symbols of a culture and nation. They were intended to reflect the power, pride, and glory of that culture and be a focus to inspire the people of that nation. Therefore, the uniform adapted itself to the society that the Senshi intended to defend.
Then a armored wagon with clutching arms an its entourage of smaller vehicles came barreling through the fields and the time for reflection was over. Setsuna raised her transformation rod and triggered a demonstration of just how much things had changed.
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(Posted Wed, 10 Nov 2004 18:49)
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