Chapter 8: Explanations

Celeste calmly sipped tea as the others gaped at her openly. She had told most of what she remembered, omitting most of the personal memories of Setsuna and Charon. Somehow she doubted that the Senshi were completely ready the complications that knowledge would mean.

Raising her eyes to study the group, she smiled at Usagi’s hold on Mamoru. When she had told them that she was a college student, Usagi immediately had a death grip on Mamoru’s arm, narrowing her eyes in Celeste’s direction. However, at the mention of Jonathan, the grip relaxed some.

“That’s amazing,” Minako said in an awed voice. “The whole time another Senshi was in America.”

“Why haven’t you helped us before?” Rei asked, her violet eyes flashing.

“I never you existed either, Rei-san,” Celeste said gently. “In a way, I am like the Senshi of the Outer Solar System. While I am still bound to protect the Moon Princess, I do it in a different way than you do.”

“Different, how?” Ami asked.

“My memories are still sketchy, Ami-chan,” Celeste replied. “In the Silver Millennium, I protect the entire planetary system, again like the Outer Senshi. That has been my duty before, during, and now after the Silver Millennium.”

“Before the Silver Millennium?!”

Celeste smiled as she took another sip of her tea. “Hai, I came into existence when Sol formed. I am one of the oldest entities of this system.”

She couldn’t help but glanced at Setsuna. Averting her eyes quickly, she continued. “I am called the Celestial Phoenix because after each death, I am reborn in time to combat the next crisis.”

“But why were the other Senshi not born before the Silver Millennium as well?” Mamoru asked.

“There was no need for the other Senshi until the rise of the Moon Kingdom and the Silver Millennium,” Celeste replied. “This system was considered primitive until that time, and was not a draw for the greater evils, such as Metallia, that inhabit the universe.”

“Are the other Senshi?” Usagi asked.

“I don’t know for certain, Usagi-chan,” Celeste sighed. “However, I doubt that we are the only Guardians fighting evil. There are others out there fighting the same fight but who are not necessarily Senshi.”

The others appeared lost in thought by Celeste’s comment. Not daring to look in Setsuna’s direction again, she continued to drink her tea. Despite the need for this meeting, Celeste hoped that this little question-and-answer session would soon be over.

Mamoru looked down at his watch and murmured something into Usagi’s ear. Nodding, she and Mamoru rose to their feet. Saying hurried goodbyes, the couple left, heading to the hospital to relieve Haruka and Michiru of the vigil over Makoto.

“Ami-chan and I should leave soon, too,” Minako said. She turned to the blue-haired genius. “The last bus leaves in twenty minutes.”

Ami nodded and they began to gather coats and bags. “How are you going back to the hotel, Celeste-chan?” Ami asked, as the remainder of the group headed for the door of the temple.

“I don’t trust myself with the bus system yet,” Celeste replied. “I’ll take a cab.”

“It’s a nice evening,” Setsuna remarked. “We could walk back to the hotel. It’s not that far.”

Understanding the gleam in those violet eyes, Celeste nodded. “Okay, I walk back with Setsuna-chan. Thank you again, Rei-san, for your kindness.”

The priestess’s usual look of guarded hostility toward Celeste softened. “Call me Rei-chan. You are welcome here anytime.” Saying good night to the others, Rei went inside.

As the four headed down the temple stairs, Setsuna leaned toward Celeste. “Well, that was definitely a good sign,” she remarked in English.

Celeste nodded slightly. “Very good,” she replied. With a final wave to Ami and Mina, they headed toward the hotel.

* * * * *

“You handled that rather well,” Setsuna commented, as they walked down a rather deserted sidewalk.

Celeste smiled, grateful for a conversation in English. “Thank you,” she replied drolly. “I hope I said nothing that endangered the Timeline.”

Setsuna’s amused look faded. “I would have stopped you. I don’t know how, but I would have stopped you.”

“I’m sure you would have,” Celeste said, looking up at the sky.

In the city, the sky was a mixtures of shades of black. No stars were visible, only the moon. Somehow, it made Celeste feel lonely. Back home, in the suburbs, at least the brighter stars were visible. Here, in the heart of Tokyo, the sky was just a vast blackness interrupted by the moon.

“I was surprised that you didn’t bring up Charon,” Setsuna remarked. “Especially considering Usagi’s extremely protective behavior to Mamoru since your arrival.”

“So you noticed that, too,” Celeste said with a laugh. “She did relax when I mentioned Jonathan, although we are only friends.”

“Friendship can deepen into other things, Celeste.”

“I know, but I don’t know if that is a possibility with Jonathan and me.”

“You still haven’t answered my question about Charon.”

Celeste sighed before turning to Setsuna. “Things are complicated enough as they are, Setsuna. My arrival alone required quite a bit of explanation. Anything about Charon would make matters worse.”

“Hai, things are complicated enough, Tennyo-chan.” She paused for a moment before adding thoughtfully, “You are right about that.”


Explanations Celeste calmly sipped tea as the others gaped at her openly. She had told most of what she remembered, omitting most of the personal memories of Setsuna and Charon. Somehow she doubted that the Senshi were completely ready the complications that knowledge would mean. Raising her eyes to study the group, she smiled at Usagi’s hold on Mamoru. When she had told them that she was a college student, Usagi immediately had a death grip on Mamoru’s arm, narrowing her eyes in Celeste’s direction. However, at the mention of Jonathan, the grip relaxed some. “That’s amazing,” Minako said in an awed voice. “The whole time another Senshi was in America.” “Why haven’t you helped us before?” Rei asked, her violet eyes flashing. “I never you existed either, Rei-san,” Celeste said gently. “In a way, I am like the Senshi of the Outer Solar System. While I am still bound to protect the Moon Princess, I do it in a different way than you do.” “Different, how?” Ami asked. “My memories are still sketchy, Ami-chan,” Celeste replied. “In the Silver Millennium, I protect the entire planetary system, again like the Outer Senshi. That has been my duty before, during, and now after the Silver Millennium.” “Before the Silver Millennium?!” Celeste smiled as she took another sip of her tea. “Hai, I came into existence when Sol formed. I am one of the oldest entities of this system.” She couldn’t help but glanced at Setsuna. Averting her eyes quickly, she continued. “I am called the Celestial Phoenix because after each death, I am reborn in time to combat the next crisis.” “But why were the other Senshi not born before the Silver Millennium as well?” Mamoru asked. “There was no need for the other Senshi until the rise of the Moon Kingdom and the Silver Millennium,” Celeste replied. “This system was considered primitive until that time, and was not a draw for the greater evils, such as Metallia, that inhabit the universe.” “Are the other Senshi?” Usagi asked. “I don’t know for certain, Usagi-chan,” Celeste sighed. “However, I doubt that we are the only Guardians fighting evil. There are others out there fighting the same fight but who are not necessarily Senshi.” The others appeared lost in thought by Celeste’s comment. Not daring to look in Setsuna’s direction again, she continued to drink her tea. Despite the need for this meeting, Celeste hoped that this little question-and-answer session would soon be over. Mamoru looked down at his watch and murmured something into Usagi’s ear. Nodding, she and Mamoru rose to their feet. Saying hurried goodbyes, the couple left, heading to the hospital to relieve Haruka and Michiru of the vigil over Makoto. “Ami-chan and I should leave soon, too,” Minako said. She turned to the blue-haired genius. “The last bus leaves in twenty minutes.” Ami nodded and they began to gather coats and bags. “How are you going back to the hotel, Celeste-chan?” Ami asked, as the remainder of the group headed for the door of the temple. “I don’t trust myself with the bus system yet,” Celeste replied. “I’ll take a cab.” “It’s a nice evening,” Setsuna remarked. “We could walk back to the hotel. It’s not that far.” Understanding the gleam in those violet eyes, Celeste nodded. “Okay, I walk back with Setsuna-chan. Thank you again, Rei-san, for your kindness.” The priestess’s usual look of guarded hostility toward Celeste softened. “Call me Rei-chan. You are welcome here anytime.” Saying good night to the others, Rei went inside. As the four headed down the temple stairs, Setsuna leaned toward Celeste. “Well, that was definitely a good sign,” she remarked in English. Celeste nodded slightly. “Very good,” she replied. With a final wave to Ami and Mina, they headed toward the hotel. * * * * * “You handled that rather well,” Setsuna commented, as they walked down a rather deserted sidewalk. Celeste smiled, grateful for a conversation in English. “Thank you,” she replied drolly. “I hope I said nothing that endangered the Timeline.” Setsuna’s amused look faded. “I would have stopped you. I don’t know how, but I would have stopped you.” “I’m sure you would have,” Celeste said, looking up at the sky. In the city, the sky was a mixtures of shades of black. No stars were visible, only the moon. Somehow, it made Celeste feel lonely. Back home, in the suburbs, at least the brighter stars were visible. Here, in the heart of Tokyo, the sky was just a vast blackness interrupted by the moon. “I was surprised that you didn’t bring up Charon,” Setsuna remarked. “Especially considering Usagi’s extremely protective behavior to Mamoru since your arrival.” “So you noticed that, too,” Celeste said with a laugh. “She did relax when I mentioned Jonathan, although we are only friends.” “Friendship can deepen into other things, Celeste.” “I know, but I don’t know if that is a possibility with Jonathan and me.” “You still haven’t answered my question about Charon.” Celeste sighed before turning to Setsuna. “Things are complicated enough as they are, Setsuna. My arrival alone required quite a bit of explanation. Anything about Charon would make matters worse.” “Hai, things are complicated enough, Tennyo-chan.” She paused for a moment before adding thoughtfully, “You are right about that.”


Chapter 9: Complications Resurrection: Sailor Sol Sarah's Sanctuary