AfterThoughts: Healer of the Stars

	Hello! Another one!! Guess what? I got a comment! Really! It's true! Thanks! And I got an award! Thanks! Well, here's another "After Thoughts," based around StarHealer. Hope you like.

You know the drill: Comments are VERY welcome, at:
tomoechan@hotmail.com

All rights to Sailor Moon and all associated characters thereof belong to: Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Comics, and Toei Animation.

AfterThoughts: Healer of the Stars

	I sit back, leaning against the ground, in a beautiful meadow. My sisters, (Not by blood, but sisters still,) are beside me, and the Princess. They are chatting about lunch and the cook back at the palace. As hours pass, I remain silent, looking up at the darkening blue sky, the red and orange hues of the setting sun, (So much like her,) and the two white moons. They've tried to include me in the conversation a couple of times; but I nod them off and give a half-hearted answers; my eyes are only for the skies right now. Kakyuu nods to the other two, I see, out the corner of my eye, and as night begins to set in over the land, they leave me on this hilly slope, alone, to stare up at my stars.

***

	Was it really so long ago? Nearly four years, I suppose. Since the end. But before that, their had been centuries. Centuries of peace on Healer Star, my kingdom.

	My home.

	A silver coloured planet, covered in roses and flowers. I was the princess there. I had worn a long silver dress, and a green pendant necklace. That much is easy to remember.

	But what else? What else had I lost to time?

	I remember a little child, a girl who lived at the palace, scraping her knee while we were playing hopscotch on the royal grounds. I had put my hand by her wound, and it had healed. She hadn't known who I was; she was too young. But I, too, had been young; it was the first time I had learnt of my powers as the Senshi StarHealer.

	From there, I grew up. I was small, and quiet. I spent much of my time painting. White paint and light green. I don't know why; but I have always been fond of those colours. One day, I had painted a beautiful sky scape, putting the hint of green in often, then the silvery stars. I felt dazed as I looked at it, this painting of the celestial bodies I had spent so much time on; so much realism in it for a work of art; I had to admire it. But even as I did, one of the stars turned gold. Brillant, bright, Gold.

	I painted over the golden star as often as I could. The colour of it hurt me; in the most intuitive part of my mind I knew it was evil. Like any animal when I didn't understand; when sheer anger welled up in me for no reason, I had the urge to destroy. To tear this painting with the Gold star. So I did. I shredded it with my nails; I tore at it until it lay a broken piece of art on my bedroom floor. Once magnificently framed; now it lay in ruin. It was only the start of the destruction that would be caused by the Golden star, only the start.

***

	I took up an apprenticeship from the nearest healer. It took me a year to learn all I could know, about the plants and waters on Healer Star with all their various healing properties. I learnt how other stars came to take home vials of the Walan Seas, whose powers could heal those afflicted with some of the most deadly diseases, found only on my world. Then, it came time for me to leave. I said goodbye to the healer and began to travel the land.

	Perhaps I should have started elsewhere. As it turned out, Healer Star was not in need of healers, even the Princess. More often I was giving speeches for the people, or healing minor scrapes and wounds. Like most things, it did not take me long to become bored by the drudgery of royal responsibilities; So I took the road home.

***

	I put down the few belongings I had taken with me on the floor of my room and flopped down on my bed, stuffing my face in the feather pillow. I was overwhelmed by the thought; Now what? I couldn't be a healer here. I would have to go elsewhere. But my family would never approve of it; I was the princess. I belonged at home. Unless... I went to my drawer and pulled out a letter, still sealed by a red and gold seal. I had gotten it years ago; and, already knowing it's contents, had refused to open it. The seal red clearly; Royal Princess of Kinmoku Star. Princess Kakyuu, inviting me to become a Sailor Senshi.

	I already was a Sailor Senshi; but, like healers, there was no need for one on such a peaceful world. I hadn't wanted to leave my life behind then, to go to this distant star and become one of it's Princess' guardians. Now, did I have any choice? Something from the wall caught my eye. I turned slowly, unbelieving as mypainting, the one I had destroyed, came into view. Gingerly, ever so cautiously, I touched the canvas. Not a seam. My finger traced its way up to the Gold star... and stopped. Where there had once been one gold star... now there were several in my painting. Around fifteen. And once more, the silver paint dissapeared near the gold, unable to cover their hideousness. That was it. I was leaving for Kinmoku Star. Tomorrow.

***

	Senshi do have the power to teleport anywhere in their system from a star they can draw power from. I stood by a large crystal in the middle of the palace, said my last goodbyes to the few friends I had, and called out,
	"Healer Star Power! Sailor Teleport!!!" I vanished in a silver light, watching as the king and queen of Healer Star looked on.

***

	Floating in space is boring. It's black. You seem to be going so slow at times the stars barely move. Two hours, it would take to reach Kinmoku star. Two hours of staring at nothing but stars and space. A laugh came from behind me.
	"Nani?" I called out. A woman was standing ahead of me. Her fuku was gold... it caught the light of our sun and blinded me. The gold star.... my painting flashed in and out of my mental pictures as the senshi's gold skirt glinted in the light.
	"Sailor StarHealer, running away from home."
	"Who are you?" My silvery dress was trailing behind me, as my hair was. Compared to the metal outfit of the woman before me, I looked nothing like a Senshi.
	"I am the Golden Queen." The star... Gold Star... "Galaxia. I am Sailor Galaxia. And I've come for your star seed." I gasped. She looked behind me.
	"What's that? Ah, yes... Healer Star, is it not?" She looked again.
	"Stay away from it!"
	"So many star seeds... so bright!" Sailor Galaxia raised her right hand, two gold bracelets shining.
	"Leave them alone! Stop!" She laughed, (Manically,) as black power flew from her finger tips, engulfing my home. In seconds, the power washed over it. I am intuned with healing. No healing comes without pain. And although I could not hear the screams of my people, the pain ripping through their bodies echoed off the planet itself, screaming into my ears.
	"STOP!!!!" Galaxia laughed, and withdrew her hand. I was crouched down, eyes closed, trying to escape the screams. As Galaxia's hands moved down, they mercifully stopped. Sighing, I turned to look at my planet. Maybe they were okay now, maybe...
"No..." A black, ruined star lay behind me. "No... how dare you!!!" My hands hit Galaxia meaninglessly; she used a blakc blast which threw me onto my back. Behind her, thousands of glowing crystals were floating.
	"These are the star seeds; the essence of a soul. The Sailor Crystals are the most powerful star seeds; representing hope." She pointed a finger to me, "I will return for your star seed, Healer. Wait for that time." And so the Golden Queen left me, floating in the midst of space, a destroyed home behind me, and a mysterious future ahead of me.

***

	How long did I just sit there? I can't remember. But it was with a sad heart that I moved forward. For the first time in my life, there was a new feeling in my soul; venegance. I wanted revenge for what Galaxia had done. And, if I survived my next battle with her, by the grace of a divine being, I would have it. Then, on the horizon, I saw a moon. It was a small moon, but behind it lay Kinmoku Star.
	"Sailor StarHealer," a voice said.
	"Galaxia!!!" I barely managed to put my hands up by my face when Galaxia's attack came at me. She lunged at me, putting her hands firmly around my throat, flying with me to the moon. I crashed hard in the dirt. From her bracelets which she raised, two glowing blades emerged. I wasn't sure what they were, but I had enough sense to dodge them. Galaxia prepared another attack, pulling out an energy whip. She raised it up, and with a sound like that loudest thunder, cracked it towards me. I closed my eyes, heard the whip connect... but felt no pain. I slowly opened my eyes. In front of them were a pair of black boots. Above them was a woman, with long black hair. The whip was wrapped around her forearm; she had saved me. She pulled the whip towards her, then,
	"STAR SERIOUS LASER!!!" Galaxia smirked, but then, from behind her,
	"STAR GENTLE UTERUS!!!" A second senshi, with long brown hair, called out. Galaxia didn't looked please as she dissapeared, escaping before the blast hit.
	"Are you alright?" The black haired one asked me.
	"Take me wherever the Princess of Kinmoku is. I'm to be one of her guardians. I am Sailor StarHealer." She nodded.
	"StarFigher. Glad to meet you." She extended her arm. "Let me help you u-"
	"No." I said, bluntly. Despite my cuts, I struggled up on my own. Fighter backed away a bit. From now on... I would do everything on my own. Until I could make Galaxia pay.
	"Where are you from?" the brown haired one asked. Before I could answer, Fighter pointed to the second senshi.
	"StarMaker," she said.
	"I'm from... was from... Healer Star."
	"Was?"
	"It's been destroyed..." I closed my eyes, and saw my painting growing gold, all the stars... "And the Galaxy war has begun. A senshi has come to change everything, to rule over everyone, including the other senshi. We must be prepared... we must have revenge..." that was when I collapsed. I wasn't strong enough yet. Fighter helped me up.
	"My home has little to do for you... but we could just take you to Maker Star... We will have revenge on what this senshi has done to Healer Star..." I shivered as a chill went up my back.
	"There's... there's no reason, to go to Maker star..." I said sadly. My painting in my mind showed to more stars going out. "You... you don't need revenge for my star... you need revenge... for your own." As Fighter and Maker looked horrified, I fell back, fainting. My destiny was set, with these two senshi.

***

	I don't know what Maker and Fighter thought at that time, so long ago. I was so... cold. I was hurt, but I might have spared them the truth. It was true, by the way. Fighter Star and Maker Star had been destroyed moments later. If they hadn't saved me... they may have gone with them.

	I love Seiya and Taiki. They are my sisters, (And occasional brothers,) who have watched out for me since we met. I know I have been to cold to them. But my pain is my own to bear. At first, I was unaccepting of these new friends. All I wanted was my old life back. Strange, coming from someone who had just left it behind. But I did. A simple, normal life. Why Fighter and Maker kept trying to help me I do not know. But, like water on stone, they have worn me down. Other senshi I do not look kindly upon, (Having been betrayed by many in the years after my meeting Seiya and Taiki,) but these two I will battle with until I die. I think that in these new friends I gained new purpose; purpose beside revenge. Purposes like friendship, love, trust, faith in others. I shook myself out of my reverie and looked up. The sun had just finished setting, and every star in the sky was silver. Smiling, I ran up the hill.
	"HEY! Wait up!" I called out to them.
	"What to you so long?" They laughed. I laughed too. I had the normal life I wanted; here, with my friends.