Title: Heavenly Scales pt. 13/?
Author: Deathangelgw
Disclaimer: same as always! Hush up…I know they ain’t mine!
Warnings: sap and such.
Rating: PG-13
Pairings: TK/SM and added hints of SUxOC, SN+OC, SP+OC, SSxDiamond, and SPxSN
Note: This is just a ‘tweener chapter, but kinda important with how I see Pluto. Enjoy and please review!

‘thoughts’

{In the Future: Year 3010}

Darkness surrounded Sailor Pluto as she knelt on the ground, head bowed. She didn't know how long she had been in the darkened hall, but knew that it was to be a time of reflection on what she had done. But she knew that, no matter what was said, she had done the right thing.

"Sailor Pluto."

The deep voice boomed around her as a column of light surrounded her, but Pluto didn't move. "Hai?" Her whisper floated out, not needing any volume within the shadowed space.

"Do you know why you are here?" the voice spoke as several large faces appeared around her, though not in front of her.

"Hai." Pluto knew she didn't have to elaborate, seeing as it would be pointless if they did the same in just a minute.

"You broke your pledge of protecting and not abusing time in order to save others. How do you plead?" A rather nasal voice presented the accusation, surrounding the Time Senshi with derision and disapproval.

"I plead guilty." Sailor Pluto didn't look up as murmurs rose around her, but instead kept her head bowed. She knew what she had done and would have done it again to save the ones she cared about.

"Silence."

At the sound of the soft command, Sailor Pluto looked up slowly as another column of light appeared, illuminating a throne on which sat a white cloaked figure. She squinted slightly, trying to see the face, but it was shadowed as the voices grew silent.

The figure didn't move, but the staff it held shifted. "She has pleaded guilty, yet you have not asked her why." The soft voice echoed around the hall, chiding, yet firm.

"My Queen. She did what she did for her own ends. That is breaking the oaths she swore as Time Senshi," the deep voice protested and the murmurs rose up once more, increasing in volume.

"I will not repeat myself in my warning for silence," the Queen warned softly as she sat before Pluto. "If you forget what the timeline carries, then I shall remind you. If Sailor Pluto had not done what she had, Pharaoh Ninety would have succeeded and the entire Universe would be covered in darkness. In light of that, her punishment will not be a discharge from her duties, but will be a sentence on the Time Paths," she said firmly, her staff clanging on the stone dais in finality.

"But my Lady Queen! That punishment is light for what she did!" The nasal voice rose up above the roar of outrage.

"She disobeyed her oaths! She can't be trusted!" another voice called out angrily.

"Silence!" The Queen's voice rang out, silencing them all. "My choice is made and it is binding. Dismissed!"

Sailor Pluto stood up slowly, stunned at her light punishment, as the heads disappeared and sunlight slowly floated in, lighting the room. "Why was I punished so lightly?" she whispered softly, blinking as she focused on the woman in white.

"Pluto. You have always served me well. And if you had not done what you had, the future would have been lost," the Queen said warmly before nodding to her right. A young woman dressed in a formal tunic and skirt approached Pluto, dark eyes gentle with warmth.

Glancing over, Pluto gasped in surprise as she saw Sailor Saturn approach her. "Sailor…Saturn?" she whispered softly, shaken as the dark haired young woman smiled at her.

"Hai, Sailor Pluto. Welcome home. You need to be remerged," Sailor Saturn replied gently, smiling as she took the Time Staff from Pluto. Confused, Pluto turned around as directed and stared as she was faced with another version of herself, this one dressed much like Sailor Saturn. She couldn't move as the other Pluto moved forward, and then sighed softly as she was enveloped in a warm hug and they became one.

Pluto blinked slowly, clearing her eyes as she looked around, then rolled her neck, smiling. "Ah, tis good to be one again with that one," she said playfully, smiling as Saturn giggled and handed her staff back to her. She bowed her head to Saturn before hugging her warmly. "Hotaru-chan. It has been a long time."

"Hai, Suna-chan! Mi-chan is getting anxious…" Saturn replied teasingly, giggling as Pluto blushed in delight.

"Hai, Suna-chan. She has been quite the moper since you were on your mission and punishment," the Queen added warmly as she stood and came over, pure white wings fluttering around her before settling, her staff clanging on the stone floor.

"I shall make it up to her, my Queen," Pluto replied with a bow of her head before smiling. The two women moved into a deep hug, smiling as they held each other. "I am glad that I didn't fail," she whispered softly.

"Hai, us too. We were a bit worried there, but you succeeded," the Queen commented as she leaned back and beamed up at Pluto. "Come, they are waiting," she reminded warmly as she laced her arm through Pluto's elbow and they started for the side entrance.

"My Queen? May I return to Earth now? I delivered that locket as you asked and now I….um…" Saturn trailed off, blushing brightly as she fidgeted, causing the two older women to laugh.

"Hai, Hotaru-chan. You may go and visit Dimando. Give our best to Usagi and aniki, ne?" the Queen deduced with a chuckle along with Pluto as Saturn nodded happily then transformed into a longer Japanese kimono dress before vanishing. "Ah, young love," she said fondly, grinning as Pluto chuckled.

"You remember it well and still live it, Nai-chan," Pluto teased her friend as they went into another smaller room, and then looked over as she heard a joyful cry.

"Aijin!!" Neptune ran over, teal braid bouncing along her shoulders as she ran and hugged her lover tightly. They kissed deeply as the Queen went over to where Uranus was sitting, rocking a baby. "Oh I missed you, aijin…" Neptune moaned softly as they held each other tightly.

"And I you, aijin," Pluto replied huskily as she ran her hands up and down her teal-haired lover's back, smirking as her love replied enthusiastically.

"Get a room before you become indecent." Uranus' voice was dripping with sarcasm as she rolled her eyes, causing giggles and blushes to come from the other two as the Queen sat next to her.

"Hai, indeed. We will talk later," the Queen added with a wink, then giggled as the two all but ran out of the room in their haste. "Like new lovers I swear."

"It has been a while. You know how antsy Michiru was becoming," Uranus replied warmly, grinning at her Queen with warmth as she handed the sleeping babe over to the Queen.

"Hai hai…as antsy as you, Uranus," the Queen shot back saucily as she rocked the baby, smiling.

"Mmm speaking of antsy…put the little in the crib and I will show you antsy," Uranus purred out as she leaned close and brushed her lips over her Queen's lips in an inviting kiss.

Smiling into the kiss, the Queen returned it before placing the child into her crib and returning to her lover's side. Some things were worth waiting for…

TBC

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