Episode 17

Part 2

A man walks into a small hut. A wooded area surrounds it. The trees stand proudly, reaching into the skies and they can be seen from miles. Not too far from the hut is a large gray castle that sits on a hill. Soldiers stand guard outside the castle, protecting the castle from any danger. A blue bird, which sits on the tallest point of the castle, jumps into the air and into the sky. The bird begins to flap its wings and catches the wind. It aims itself to the forest and enters. The bird zips through the forest, dodging all the trees in sight. Then, the bird slows down and finds a nest with a single egg. The bird sits on the egg, then looks toward the small hut.

The man: I hope that the princess is ok, I can't believe that I found her in the woods, everyone will be worried about her

The man shuts his door closed and walks toward a room. In the room, there is a bed and on that bed lays a girl in a green sailor uniform. The man stands next to the bed.

The man: Princess Jupiter… what were you doing out there?

***

A voice: MAKOTO!!

Another voice: NO! Don't leave me too!!

Makoto: huh? where am I?

Everything is dark and dreary. There is a small light glimmering in the distance. Fog seems to stretch forever in all directions along with the darkness. Makoto is overwhelmed by her surroundings, but she continues to walk toward the light.

Makoto: is this a dream?

A voice: you'll always be a Senshi and we'll never forget you

Makoto: wait a minute… I know those voices

Another voice: HA HA HA!

Makoto: grrr…

Makoto quickly races toward the light. When she finally arrives, she finds a tiny illuminating ball of light. She begins to slow down. Makoto stares at the light.

Makoto: is this the light?

She begins to look around.

Makoto: is this it? no, this can't be, I gotta find a way out of here, I gotta help everyone defeat A-51 and the Master!

A deep voice: is that so?

Makoto: who's there?

The voice: it is not important for you to know who I am

Makoto: why?

The voice: would you like to go back to the living or would you like to stay with the eternal darkness

Makoto: is this death?

The voice: no, this is merely the beginning

Makoto: where do you go from here?

The voice: I shall send you if you would like to find out

Makoto: no… can I go back to my normal life?

The voice: is that what you would like?

Makoto: yes! Please!

The voice: if that is what you wish, then gather the light into your hand

Makoto grabs hold of the light with both of her hands. The light begins to brighten.

Makoto: what's happening?

The voice: I will tell you what to do, for now, just stay as you are

Suddenly, the darkness fades away. A blue sky begins to appear and a fresh green lawn develops below her feet.

Makoto: awesome…

A bright sun glimmers from behind Makoto.

Makoto: what is this place?

The voice: this is where I shall bring you back to the living

Makoto: it seems so peaceful, and air, it's…

The voice: it is called pure air, it might be impossible to find where you are from

Makoto: I see

The voice: now, go forth to the towers

Makoto: what towers?

She begins to look around.

Makoto: whoa… I see them

Behind her, there are three towers that reach into the blue skies. Makoto begins to walk toward them.

Makoto: those towers are huge… what's in them?

The voice: you shall find out once you are there

Makoto: why all the secrets?

The voice: these things you must find out on your own

Makoto: what if I wanted to know who you are?

The voice: that too, you must find out on your own

Makoto: how?

The voice: there is a way for everything, no matter how impossible it is

Makoto: what do I have to do at those towers?

The voice: I already answered that question

Makoto: oh yeah, I gotta find out on my own… I better find out quickly

Makoto begins to rush toward the towers. As she runs she feels no loss of air and no sign of weakened legs. She begins to grin as she runs.

Makoto: this is great! I feel incredible! I could run forever.

She continues to run as fast as possible. Makoto notices that there is no scenery at all. The only objects in sight are the sun and the towers. She begins to think about what happened the past weeks. She thinks about Usagi, Rei, Ami, and Minako. They all fought together against evil forces. Then she remembers her normal life, when she is only a regular schoolgirl. She then remembers her parents. Makoto begins to slow down.

Makoto: wait a minute, I'm dead, right?

The voice: you are in the afterlife, yes

Makoto: my parents died in a plane crash, is there anyway I could visit them?

The voice: I am sorry, but you must continue on, you cannot stop for the past when your future is ahead of you

Makoto: what do you mean?

The voice: you must either live with your past, or live with your future

Makoto: I think I get it

The voice: remember, your goal is in front of you, if you go back, your goal just becomes farther away

Makoto: you're right, I gotta go help my friends stop the Master

Makoto continues her journey to the towers, which happen to grow as she gets closer.

***

The sun begins to set. Makoto finally reaches the towers.

Makoto: wow, this tower is huge, and it looks so pretty

The tower has stain glass windows all around the tower, with a gold, spiked, arch design separating each window. Makoto looks up into the sky.

Makoto: do these towers have an end?

The voice: yes, they do

Makoto: do these towers have an entrance?

The voice: the entrance is in the middle of the three towers, but I will let you in an easier way

A hole begins to grow in the tower in front of Makoto.

Makoto: thanks

Makoto runs into the hole, entering the tower.

Makoto: {gasp} it's so beautiful…

Inside the tower, the stain glass designs are illuminated by what is left of sunlight outside. The floor of the tower stretches out for almost a mile. It is made of gold, with designs similar to the stain glass.

Makoto: there's nothing in here, it's roomy

The voice: this is not a place to live in, it is a stairway to the living

Makoto: you mean this is how I'm going to get back home?

The voice: yes

Makoto: ok, where do I start?

The voice: you must find the stairway

Makoto: what?

The voice: it is here somewhere

Makoto begins to search around for a stairway.

Makoto: this could take forever…this place is so big…

She looks up and finds that the ceiling is just above her.

Makoto: hey… I thought that this tower would be higher… maybe it's the second floor

***

The man begins to boil a pot of water outside. Small bubbles of air begin to develop on the bottom of the pot. As each bubble rises and exits the water, they explode in a small burst of steam.

The man: good, it's almost done

The man dips a ladle into the pot a sips the water.

The man: yes, it's just about ready

The pot is left out to continue boiling as the man heads into the hut. He quietly opens the door. He enters his small kitchen that only consists of a pantry, cupboard and drawers.

The man: I sure hope the princess likes my home cooking…

The hut is quiet except for the movement of the man in the kitchen. Outside, the sun is beginning to fade away into the distance. Insects begin to huddle next to the fire where the pot continues to boil at a faster rate. Owls start to exit their trees and begin to fly into the night sky. The cries of wolves fill emptiness of the night as well and mellow chirps of the crickets that brings certain calmness to the forest.

The man: so, the sun has finally decided to retire good for him… I just hope that the princess will wake

***

Makoto: where is that stairway? I've been walking around this place forever!

The light outside is now weak. Little light enters the tower and there is little to be seen.

Makoto: I'll never get out of here on time… and where is that voice?

The voice: I am still here

Makoto: where have you been

Makoto stops and looks around the structure as she converses with the voice.

The voice: I was always here, I just remained silent

Makoto: can't you just lift me up to the second floor

The voice: I cannot help you, but you can help yourself

Makoto: it looks likes it's been this way all day

Makoto continues to roam around the tower. She wears a disappointed look as her face aims downward, as does her spirit.

Makoto: I'll never make it out of here on time… the others could be in trouble, and it'll be my fault because I couldn't find a stupid stairway… and it's probably right under my nose

The voice: maybe it is…

Makoto: huh? what?

Makoto looks at the shiny golden floor and she looks at her reflection.

Makoto: I only see myself

She looks down again. Then, she finds a small stairway on the floor beside her reflection.

Makoto: it looks like a stairway… next to my…

Quickly, Makoto looks at the ceiling and finds what looks to be a stairway.

Makoto: it's just up there… I found it! But how do I get up there? If that guy won't help me then I have to do it myself… maybe I can just…

Makoto takes a deep breath and jumps up. Suddenly, her body begins to feel as light as a feather. She looks down and finds herself growing distant from the floor.

Makoto: I can fly?

The voice: yes you can

Makoto: did you know about this?

The voice: of course

Makoto: why didn't you tell me?

The voice: I cannot give you the answers, remember?

Makoto: but I'm sure you can give me hints, you have been too

The voice: hm hm hm

Makoto finds the stairway and begins to climb the quickly.

Makoto: time to see what's next

***

The man walks into his bedroom.

The man: Princess Jupiter… why aren't you awake yet? Everyone will worry if you don't wake

He kneels down next to the bed and puts his head on Jupiter's head.

The man: you seem ok… maybe there is a curse on you, that could be the answer… I better get my spell book

The man walks out of the room and heads for his guestroom. He pulls a key from his pant pocket and walks up to a treasure chest and unlocks it. From there, he pulls out a large, old book, then walks back to his room. The man pulls a chair next to the bed. He sits on the chair and opens his book.

The man: I'm sure that there must be something in here that will remedy a sleeping spell

He continues to flip through the old book. As he searches, he periodically looks at the princess.

The man: don't worry princess, I'll save you

A voice: you are the chosen one…

The man looks around.

The man: (whispering) who's that?

The voice: you are the chosen one

The man: who is there?

The voice: you have been chosen to protect the Great Warrior

The man: Great Warrior? Who is that?

The voice: he will save us from the evil spirit so that the future will be protected

The Man: what?

The voice: it is coming your way, be prepared, the Great Warrior will be there

The Man: what? Wait!

No one answers.

The Man: who is the Great Warrior? Chosen one? Hmm…

***

Kameko: NOW Myk!!

Kameko fires her gun at Myk.

Myk: here goes nothing

Suddenly, Myk catches the bullet in his hand.

Myk: I did it!

Kameko: throw it away!!

Myk: guh?

Before he could think, the bullet explodes in Myk's face.

Kameko: Myk!!

Mamoru: Myk!

Myk lays on the ground coughing out smoke.

Kameko: Myk? Are you ok?

Myk: not really

Mamoru: well, at least you're alive

Kameko: and look on the bright side, you can catch a bullet and take an explosion!

Myk: well I'll be

Mamoru: get up now Myk

Myk: are we in Nevada yet?

Kameko: I think we have been for a while, I mean, we're in a desert… Nevada has a desert in it… so I guess we might be

Mamoru: that doesn't mean that we are actually in Nevada

Myk: you know, I think I'm ready to face whatever the Master throws at me

Kameko: I think you are too

Mamoru: [I hope that he is too, he might be the only one who can stop the Master… but if he fails, who will stop the Master?]

***

Kyuuichirou: ok, what started on the moon?

Beano: I went to the moon just before the big war with Queen Beryl began

Luna: how long before?

Beano: I'm not sure, but I did arrive in a town close to the Royal Palace, I was looking for you Kyuuichirou

***

This was the first time I have been on the moon. I always heard about how peaceful it was, and it was peaceful. But, I was sent to the moon because for one reason, to stop that monstrosity from killing Kyuuichirou.

Beano: ok, the chosen one said that the second chosen one was on the moon during this time… I should have asked where he is and how to get there

I was lost. I had no one to turn to. The only person I could trust was myself, I was sure that during this time there would be plenty of spies from Queen Beryl's army. Queen Serenity had soldiers all over this town incase of an attack.

Beano: I better ask for directions to the Palace so that I can find the Queen and tell her my situation, maybe I can get some help to

There was a small shop close by, so I decided to ask for directions there. When I entered everyone seemed a bit tense, I think it was because they thought I was a spy from Queen Beryl's army.

Beano: excuse me, but I was wondering where the Royal Palace is?

Man: just west of town, sir

Beano: thank you… which direction is that?

Man: you aren't from around here now are you?

Beano: no sir, I am from Jupiter

Man: are you really?

Beano: yes sir

I headed for the palace. I knew that the monstrosity was somewhere on the moon, I just hoped to find Kyuuichirou before he did.