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Dimension jumping was certainly a new experience for me -- I had never felt anything like this in my entire life.

Of course, I had never felt anything like this confusion, either. Confusion at the actions of the Senshi who was leading me through the portal she had invoked, confusion at her motives. Why would she want to help me? She was acting very strangely for a Senshi who had always been called the one with little emotions. She was someone who would not be swayed by tears or begging, anger or shouting. Which is why I knew from that point on that she wasn't doing this for my benefit. She had an ulterior motive.

And for some unknown reason, that didn't frighten me. In fact, if I admitted it to myself, I actually felt somewhat safer within the presence of the dark-haired woman. At first, I put it down to her aura of righteous power, an aura that said to me that she was indeed the only one amongst us who really did fight for truth, justice and whatever else it was Sailor Moon liked to declare she stood for.

I followed Sailor Pluto like a lemming would follow his predecessor off the cliff -- blindly, without trepidation. My life had become a mess of lies, deception, self-loathing and a desire that I could turn back the clock and just start again. Following the Senshi to wherever she lead me was just something to do, something to distract me from the life I no longer wanted anymore. Sure, there was still Serenity, and I still had my forces and my kingdom, but with the Wiseman, who knew how deeply the corruption had spread?

Trying to block the mental images that pained me so much, I went back to the strange, empty feelings that this dimension jump invoked in me. And wished for it to be over.

Demando seemed to be struggling within himself as the timelines rearranged themselves about us. Truthfully, this was not an illegal move on my part, not unless I allowed them to stay this way longer than was absolutely necessary. This was only a preview of what would happen, it was not set in stone. I believed that Demando understood that, though I couldn't say that I was entirely sure. After all, his judgement, which had been pretty bad at the best of times, was even more clouded today.

Ignoring the doubts that had begun to gnaw with insistent teeth at the back of my mind, I decided to move on, to find something safer to distract my mind with. Like our destination, and the kind of effect it would most likely have on the hapless hero of the hour. I could see very clearly that he was not having the time of his life, going through this jump. Okay, so I intellectually understood myself that it was not a pleasant sensation, but it still made me lose some respect for him. It was only one little dimension jump, after all.

The world was deconstructed about us in a manner that was very different to a mere time transversion. This was a time slide -- the timelines were being altered as we moved through the blankness that was the outside of time itself.

I felt oddly calm; Demando seemed confused and disoriented. However, my respect for him grew when, with a jolt, the timelines halted, catapulting us both into the brave new world. He didn't falter, he didn't collapse, like most new travellers would do.

Instead, he looked at me with wide eyes and mouthed -- he seemed unable to speak aloud -- his next words.

I smiled slightly; it was not meant to be a degrading gesture, but it ended up that way. "Welcome to Thirtieth Century Nemesis, Demando. Welcome to the Nemesis as it is without your influence."

Startled, he could only stare at me for the longest moment without speaking. Then he said the only thing he could.

"What?"

With that patronising smile growing, I used my staff to indicate the great palace that lay some kilometres away, at the opposite end of the avenue in which we stood.

His jaw dropped; I can't say I blamed him. This was not the Nemesis he remembered, no it was not. It may have been a penal colony in both incarnations, but while the Nemesis under Demando's rule had retained its dark, oppressive atmosphere, this Nemesis had become... not brighter, but more open, more relaxed, more... human.

The dark streets were silent in the early dawn of the morning; hardly surprising, given that few Nemesian citizens could be described as being crepuscular. However, his eyes moved about nervously, and I noted with a degree of malicious glee that the composed Prince -- former Prince, sorry -- was now completely ill at ease, and very tense.

"Demando," I said quietly, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder. He jumped nearly half a mile, and I chuckled quietly to myself.

He turned to me, those peculiar violet eyes appearing curiously wounded. "Don't do that!" he said, in a voice that should have sounded like it was giving an order. It came out as more of a plea, actually.

Not removing my hand, I stared into his eyes for a whimsical moment, then frowned. "Demando, you cannot wander around Nemesis dressed as such. If you are to have any idea of your brother's kingdom, you will have to... blend in."

He looked startled; I can't claim that I was surprised by that. After all, this was the demagogue who had been the undisputed leader of a dictatorial state. Blending in was not one of the former Prince's great talents. "And how do you propose that I should do that?"

My grip on his shoulder tightened slightly, then I released it. I remained grave as I said to him quietly, "Demando, you need to look less conspicuous. You were the White Prince of Nemesis, and you dressed accordingly, in white. Here in this Nemesis, almost no-one wears white. It is not a... taboo colour, not exactly, but it certainly not a colour worn by respectful members of the community."

He stared at me with opaque, unreadable eyes for perhaps a second; his form then wavered slightly, leaving him dressed in a long, black coat with shiny gold buttons. It accentuated the fairness of his hair, it made it appear almost frosted in the cool light of the morning. However, he no longer stood out as he had.

For a second, he merely stared at me, then he indicated my clothes with one black-gloved hand. "I think you are still a little conspicuous, Senshi."

I chuckled lightly, cocking a dark eyebrow. "Why, Demando-sama, whatever do you mean?"

His reply was dry. "Whatever else may have changed, I think that a Sailor Senshi on Nemesis would still be something of an oddity."

"No, not exactly," I remarked airily, an unusual tone for me. I was rarely flippant about anything, especially things like this. "I may not be welcome, exactly, but I do command a degree of respect. After all, even though Nemesis is still considered to be an outcast of the solar system, your brother has done little in the way of declaring war on the Empress and her domain."

Demando looked shocked, and I had to stifle a smile. Instead, I closed my eyes, bowed my head. Having done that, I then allowed my energies to fade somewhat, my staff and fuku fading with a soft sigh. This left me dressed in a long, simple black dress that enhanced the cerise colour of my eyes, brought out the highlights of my rich, shiny hair.

The former Prince seemed somewhat startled, but instead of commenting upon my dress sense, he chose to turn and look towards the streets of the Nemesian capital. As he did so, thunder rumbled ominously in the distance, behind the grand central tower of the Prince of Nemesis.

I couldn't help but wonder what he made of all this.

Turning my gaze away from Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Pluto -- noting half-heartedly to myself that she was remarkably beautiful -- I gazed upon the city that lay before me.

Oh, winds, but how it had changed... my Nemesis had always been dark, almost green in tone and in seeming, the sky pitch black at night and only vaguely grey at the height of the day. Even though the intensity of that pale light had not changed, this place seemed more... open, somehow. The construction of the capital city in my time had been of rich, reflective crystal, a cluster of buildings separated by only narrow streets, each facet of a crystal reflecting another, giving even more feeling of enclosure, of being watched.

But here, the buildings were tall, like towers, the streets characterised by many columns that lined the paved avenues. Marble seemed the stone most favoured by the artisans of this place, but there were signs of crystals everywhere. Tall posts serving as lamp-posts glowed dimly in the dim twilight of early morning, causing both of the tall figures of the Senshi and myself to cast long, narrow shadows across the dimly lavender shade of the tiles beneath my feet.

It was the central building that really shocked me, however. The main feature was the tall crystal tower that reached up into the sky like a three-pronged candelabra, narrow at the base with three notable towers at the top.

It was the design about the central tower that so entranced me. Two narrow, winding quartz corridors wound about the pale green crystal of the tower, spun in the seeming of a double-helix. The tower acted as the centre while these two corridors wound their way up, every so often corridors linking the spirals to the central building.

The quartz glowed dimly, with a faint rose-coloured glow beneath the lights of both the city and the dying stars. These lights were reflected in the eyes of the Senshi of Time as I turned to look at her, sobered by the view of my brother's seat of power.

She smiled faintly as she looked at me; I began to realise how much that was irritating my disposition. She seemed so cool, so aloof, it was really beginning to gnaw at me. There was something about this woman that told me she was not used to people, and somehow, she placed herself above the average individual.

Well, I was far from average.

"Your brother designed that building himself -- he is quite the engineer," she remarked in her low, husky voice, her eyes almost respectful. "He is a young monarch, your brother, but he designed that at a very tender age. His father had always been one to indulge the wishes of his only son, so he commissioned the make-over of this once-dreary city... and as you can see, it opened the place up."

I felt rain fall on my head softly; I looked up to see that dismal, grizzly clouds hung heavy in the sky. "Rain," I murmured softly.

The Senshi inclined her head. "Yes... we should move further into the city. But Demando, before we continue..."

"Yes?" I asked, turning away from the towers to look at the civilian-dressed soldier. For a moment, she merely looked at me; she then turned her head slightly, looking towards the towers herself.

"We should try to be as inconspicuous as possible... in that way, you should call me Meiou Setsuna, my given name, and treat me as a comrade rather than an enemy. You know as well as I do that your brother was always given to paranoia; he will be able to sense that there is uneasiness between us if you do not hide it well. When your brother sees these things, they make him uneasy too, you understand that, don't you?"

Nodding my agreement, I murmured her name under my breath. "Setsuna..." A moment in time. It seemed so peculiar that she would give me her name, but I knew without a doubt that it was indeed her real name. It wasn't just because both Meiou and Setsuna were puns on her guardian deity, it was more because it seemed to sit on her shoulders so very well.

"Indeed," she almost whispered in reply, and she gave me a look that seemed... unhappy, somehow. It was almost sympathetic in nature, and it disturbed me quite badly.

Sighing shakily, I looked up the street. The rain had begun to fall in a light, ticklish drizzle, unusual for Nemesian rain. Typically, it was hard, and it was fast; the atmosphere was not really thick enough to support clouds much longer than it took for them to form. This soft rain, however, gave the streets a slick looking surface, the lights gleaming like enchanted Fay orbs.

Setsuna didn't seem to be paying much attention to the rain, yet somehow, as I materialised a dark maroon coat, holding it out to her almost shyly. "Here," I said, not unkindly, even though it wasn't exactly a friendly tone. "Take this before you get wet."

She blinked at me for a second; she was genuinely surprised. She accepted the coat from me slowly, slipping her long arms through the slender sleeves and doing up the buttons quickly with dextrous fingers. "Doomo arigatoo gozaimasu, Demando-san," she replied quietly, flicking her long bangs out of her eyes with careful fingers. "You didn't have to do that."

I shrugged, not really understanding why it was that I had actually done that. Without thinking, I then proceeded to form a long, slender black pole in my hands. Once I held it solidly, I opened the umbrella, holding it over both of our heads. I noted with some satisfaction that she seemed shocked by my actions. Smiling to myself, I brushed the hair from my own eyes, looking back towards the palace. My head felt strange, somehow... it was as if the conjuring had taken something out of me. I realised belatedly that it was because I was relying on my own power to accomplish it.... when I had reverted to this form, my earrings, shards of the jakokuzuishou, had vanished, leaving me bereft of that particular power source...

Setsuna noted my discomfort, and then my panic when I couldn't rematerialise my earrings. "Demando-san, please don't worry. You no longer have access to the jakokuzuishou. However, your own energies and training as a sorcerer are sufficient enough for you here."

"So, I'm not in any danger...?"

She laughed, a low, mellifluous sound that seemed to wrap comforting fingers about my heart. "Of course not, Demando-san! You are with the Senshi of Time herself, what possible danger could you be in?"

I shook my head, bemused. "You would protect me?"

"I brought you here, didn't I?" Setsuna almost laughed, her eyes strangely merry. I couldn't really comprehend what it was that I was seeing; it seemed a completely unlikely expression for that serious, grave visage.

I cocked my head to one side, gave her a speculative look in the fashion she had done to me. "Where is your staff, Setsuna-san?"

"My Time Key -- and its Garnet Orb -- are with me at all times in a non-physical sense. However, they are only incarnated in a physical sense when I am in my Senshi form... which is why neither is with me at this moment. Now come, Demando -- we have things we should do."

She indicated up the street, taking the umbrella from my unprotesting hand as she did so. It felt peculiar, to feel those long fingers move over my own. Like the rest of her, they seemed knowledgeable, wise.... and somehow weary. "Demando-san?"

I caught up with her easily; she was not taller than me, and my legs were longer. Truthfully, it was a little odd to have her walk by my side, and somehow familiar, at that...

It was a second later that I realised what had been familiar about it. Setsuna had dusky, troubled eyes, dark, shiny hair, a way of staring at me like she knew I was wrong, but wasn't going to tell me....

And she stood at exactly his height.

She reminded me of my dead brother so much then that it was like a physical pain resonating throughout my whole being. It was so great, I wrapped my arms about myself and stopped dead, almost gasping for breath as I felt the agony in my chest.

Setsuna turned to look at me as I almost doubled over in agony, the physical torment just as anguishing as the emotional pain I felt.

I don't know what would have happened to me if she hadn't touched my shoulder then.

I had been in the process of moving down the street when I heard the sharp, hissing breath Demando drew through his teeth. There was a tiny cry of pain that made me turn, to see Demando lean his shoulder against a lamp post for support, his arms tightly wrapped about his chest. His damp hair fell into his face, obscuring his eyes, but I knew he had them tightly clenched, his heavy breathing told me so. Even though he wasn't saying a word, his pained aura told me exactly what he was thinking. Thoughts of his brother and his other, more distant relations were at the forefront of his mind, and they were causing him the most awful pain.

I moved back to him, holding the wide umbrella over both of our heads. My voice was benevolent, yet strong enough to break him out of his self-indulgent reverie. This was no time to concern himself with the past. As I placed my hand on his shoulder, I said quietly, "The palace is not here, Demando-san."

He looked back up at me, his eyes strangely dead and unseeing. "My brother is there...?"

I nodded. "Hai."

"But..." His voice faded away for a second, before he turned back to me, his violet eyes disbelieving. "No, Setsuna. My brother is dead."

I took his gloved hand, and forcefully pulled him to his feet, as a parent might treat a petulant child. "Not here, Demando. Now, come! The morning is breaking, and we do not have time to waste! If we want to catch the procession, we shall have to move to the main boulevard rather quickly."

I pulled him further forward so that he stood with me beneath the umbrella, both of us successfully shielded from the rain that continued to lightly coat the world. He seemed to stiffen at the realisation of being so close to me, but I ignored that, keeping my hand about his so that I propelled him forward when I moved. It was a strange feeling, walking beside the White Prince of Nemesis beneath the same umbrella, but I knew I had to ignore it and hurry through the streets.

As we continued to move, we began to be joined by other citizens of the city, all dressed in conservative long coats and dresses, some holding umbrellas. As Demando looked about the people in wonder, his hand tightened about mine in comprehension.

"Setsuna-san, they all have the mark of the Black Moon Family..."

"So do you," I remarked indifferently, and although I understood what it was he was saying, I wasn't about to answer his implication. If he wanted a reply, he'd have to bring it up himself.

"But you don't," he replied finally.

I smiled slightly, still hurrying through the crowd that was growing denser by the minute. "Demando-san, they are not looking at me, so how would they notice? Nemesians are a polite folk, but they tend to keep out of one another's business, if they can help it. Besides, my hair covers a great deal of my forehead, so I doubt that they will notice."

He seemed on the verge of complaining about that, but I pulled him onto the edge of the street, and shushed him. "Listen, would you!" I hissed, before schooling my face back in neutrality. The disapproving looks of the other citizens had been enough to freeze a flame thrower.

Demando stared at the silent street for a moment, which was seemingly enchanted in the early morning light, what with the soft, sweet rain and the tranquil azure lights. He then turned back to me, with a puzzled expression. "What is this gathering...?"

"Shoosh!" admonished a voice from behind us, one that sent a jolt of recognition across the face of the Prince. However, my hand on his arm kept him looking firmly ahead. In my opinion, now was not quite the right time for their meeting.

"Demando-san," I whispered, keeping my face forward, scarcely moving my lips, "This is a procession that is somewhat common around here. If you keep quiet, you should be able to hear the drums."

"The drums...?"

I motioned for him to shut up; he seemed to get the message. For a moment, all we could hear was the steady pitter-patter of the rain on the tiled streets. Then in a moment, a distant church bell struck several times, a long, slow peal that echoed eerily throughout the avenues.

As we continued to listen, the sound of distant marching came into soft hearing, along with the sound of several drums being beaten in rhythm with the sound of many feet.

From further down the street, lines of beautifully dressed soldiers came into view. It seemed to be an even mixture of both women and men, all of the same rank except for the four in front. I heard Demando's sharp intake of breath as he recognised one of the highest-commanding women -- a verdant haired beauty dressed in the high-ranking blue and red uniform of a Field-Marshal.

"Esmeraude," he murmured in shock, and I could see he was completely blown away. However, it was nothing compared to his latter shock as the procession continued on.

Further down was a less populated area of the parade; it was here that only six figures walked. At the front were two guards, obviously those of high royal standing. Their uniforms, while cut in the same style of those of the other soldiers, were coloured blue and silver. Both held long staffs in their hands, slender rapiers in sheaths at their hips. The guards bringing up the rear were similar, though one was a female with long, red hair, her companion a striking man with braided purple hair.

"Serpentine!" Demando breathed, but that was the least of his worries as he turned to the people these guards were watching over.

One he instantly recognised. He was dressed in a high-ranking naval-styled uniform; it was blue and gold, unlike the others. Even though this gave him a cold, aloof and a more professional look, Demando would have picked that flaming red hair and those cool cerise eyes anywhere.

"Rubeus..." he whispered, violet eyes stunned. "Setsuna, that's Rubeus!"

She seemed amused by my shock. "He seems to have moved up in the world, yes," Setsuna noted carefully, and I could have sworn she was shaking with laughter beside me. "He seems to have flourished more under your brother's regime than your own."

My gaze travelled from the tall redhead to his companion, the one he was obviously acting as guardian to. Certainly, I would have thought twice before attempting anything on the man with the halberd.

My breath caught in my throat.

Tall, stately, a slender form wrapped in a flowing silver gown, she walked with her head bowed beside the man, eyes averted from the people's.

But her hair... long, golden hair that wavered in the breeze, yet kept dry by the umbrella she casually held in one lithe hand. She almost seemed to float over the tiles, like a goddess... a silver goddess...

The name on my lips faded as she suddenly looked to the side, directly at me. It was not my Serenity, no it was not. Her eyes were not that cornflower-blue shade that had so enchanted me, that heavenly shade that had bewitched my heart and stolen my sanity.

No, they were a peculiar shade of kaleidoscope silver... a changing spectrum that shimmered with all the colours of the rainbow, just like the so-called unlucky gem the earthians had named opal...

"Setsuna," I whispered shakily as she swept past me, followed by another contingent of lesser soldiers. "Setsuna, who was that?" My voice began to rise in both volume and pitch as I spoke, a note of hysteria entering my words. "Tell me, dammit! Setsuna, who was that?!"

"Why, that was the Crown Princess, Ouppira-sama," came a startled voice from behind me, one that jolted me back to reality with a nasty shock... mostly due to its connotations.

As I turned, I whispered her name, not really expecting it to be her. I was wrong, of course, wrong as I have always seemed to be in the past.

"Petz..."

As written by Celeste Goodchild.

Sailor Moon is the property of Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Comics, and Toei Animation.

To Part Three