"FAR AWAY LANDS"

Story 1 of the Yon Senshi

Amanda A. Hilliard

PART I: BLENDING

Violet eyes peered around the street corner. She would say that this is her job. Watching, finding, looking for a story where one may not exist to anybody else. Nevena Chase would only say this was her job if this place was indeed her home. She heard a saying once; "When in Rome…" This was one of her missions.

Her heels clicked down the street as she clenched a tape recorder in her pocket. Anybody who focused on her glare saw that she had a mission. In truth, the serious glare had many missions that most of the people in Tokyo would never understand. She knew this much, but she also knew that there were others who did understand. This was where she was going.

She halted at the sound of a familiar voice, "Nevena Chase! I sent you to the Arena… This isn’t your job! Takei is on it!"

Nevena frowned as her boss grabbed her arm. She wanted this story, but what was she going to argue? She was a sports reporter.

"Sorry, Mr. Shu… I thought that…" Her words were cut short.

"You thought nothing. Go do your job." He walked away from her and Nevena gritted her teeth.

"Nobody home would think of speaking to me like that," She mumbled and crossed the street, "Only Fides…"

She turned around to see a flicker of magical light in the air. She knew what Takei’s headline would read tomorrow, "Sailor Moon Saves The Day." Nevena shrugged her shoulders and headed towards the Arena.

***

"And in a narrow match, the United States team pulled away with the victory…" Nevena said in her recorder and put it away in her memory. She would write her story at the office. She passed her way through upset spectators into the parking lot. She sat on bench and waited for her ride. She was scanning the crowd as she caught a face she would not forget. The blonde haired female was a face she knew. The short hair whispered in the wind as she spoke to a green haired female by her side. Nevena sat quiet as the blonde caught her eye. There was a connection for a moment. Then it was lost.

"Nevena, come on. Get in the car," A voice spurted out of nowhere. She looked up to see her young and yet ancient friend.

"Fi… Nadia. Ready to go to the office?" She said and stepped into the car. Nadia smiled with her large violet eyes.

"As always… By the look on your face, you seem to have made a connection with one of them."

"Yes, a brief connection," Nevena seemed occupied.

"You don’t want to ask them for help…" Nadia concluded. She was always good at that. She was the oldest of their circle of friends and by far the most wise. Her body said thirty at the oldest, but her eyes said history.

"They won’t remember our kingdom or any of us… It was too long ago and their memories are not complete…" Nevena mumbled playing her tape of the swim meet.

They made it to the local newspaper offices, and Nevena unlocked the door to let them in. There were other late workers in the office that went about their business.

"Pull up a chair," Nevena said and threw her jacket onto the floor.

"Blending quite a bit, I’ve never seen you so disorganized." Nadia pushed some papers off a chair.

"This isn’t my priority," Nevena started to type at her computer.

"I know it isn’t… but we have to survive here before we can go back. The team isn’t ready," Nadia started to make some coffee.

"I know… and we can barely train. Those cats will lock onto us… and I’m not ready to come out into the open with everything until we know everything about those Senshi. They are different now… And if they remember everything… I’m afraid they will deny us…" Nevena mindlessly started to bang away on her keyboard just by listening to her tape.

"Well… things are going well at the store. Comics and toys are quite popular in our neighborhood… Sunny is doing well in school. It’s interesting to see how people develop here compared to Yon…"

Nevena faintly smiled, "Sixty going on seventeen. People grow up a lot fast here… Average life span is about 80 or so… But us, we are of the ancients, the magics…"

Things were different here. Very different.

Nevena finished her article and moved away from the screen for Nadia to read. Her friend nodded in approval wondering how her auburn friend could manage to write like this with no effort.

"This is why you’re the reporter…"

Nevena smirked and emailed her article to the printers, "Let’s get out of this rat hole."

When Nevena hit the open air a strange feeling stopped her movement. She turned her head slightly to the side and saw the blonde hair woman from earlier. Nadia didn’t notice and headed to the car. Nevena stood there and looked at the woman for a time saying nothing.

"You’re the reporter who did a spotlight on me," The blonde commented in her deeper voice.

PART II: THE WHOS AND WHYS

"You followed me here?" Nevena questioned her. She almost felt guilty for having the advantage over this woman. Nevena knew so much more than anybody could imagine.

"I had to come to thank you… Not many sports fanatics give me the adoration you did," She extended her hand.

Nevena had to wonder if there was something else, "You have skills greater than most men I’ve seen on the race tracks… and your friend, the green haired one, she is quite the swimmer."

She smiled slightly, "Yes, she is," Almost a secret meaning behind it. Nevena understood it completely.

"I’m Haruka Ten’oh," They shook hands.

"Nevena Chase," She smiled.

"An American… I was hoping that I could invite you to another race. There’s one at the track on Saturday," Haruka informed her leaning against the wall.

"I’m already assigned to it. I will see you there."

Haruka nodded and strode off into the night. Nevena watched Haruka part. Nevena walked over to the patient Nadia with a faint smile on her face.

"Don’t be so serious all the time, Nevena…" They got into the car.

"I just look at Haruka and I see Princess Uranus… The love between she and Princess Neptune is so strong and beautiful… I can still see it."

"You still don’t like talk of love," Nadia pulled out of her parking spot.

"How can I when I am promised?" Nevena frowned and closed her eyes. She thought about home…

***

Aurora, Bellona, Avena, Lucina, Furrina, Fides and Concordia… The Yon System and the Yon Senshi. Their kingdom, as most Kingdoms are, remains involved in an ancient war. They thought they had peace. So many people died in the last war with Sailor Shroud. Many of Nevena’s teammates became the holders of their power when parents and loved ones died.

There was peace for a time. She was able to train her team. But the darkness had to come…. Shroud returned with stronger forces. The ancient ones were not with her. Sailor Furrina was no leader. Nevena furrowed her brow as she remembered her mother, Queen Kitra, being kidnapped. She was no leader… she was a coward.

Nevena recalls the battles over and over again. She should have used her forbidden powers… it may have cost her life, but her Kingdom would not be enslaved. Instead she ran with her team… to the nearest system with known Senshi. She knew the Moon Princess was in this system. She knew that maybe she could train her team to be stronger, to devise a plan… and maybe get help from the Princess. If they could only keep the past burried.

This place is so strange to them, though. They never had to blend with a society except for when they visited Sailor Lucina’s planet. The Kingdom was ancient with ancient people… people who bore powers from their ancestors. They gave up their birthnames when they took on the powers. Here they don’t wear their uniforms and they have to be somebody else. It is different here.

"Sang!" Nadia shouted shaking her friend from her deep meditation. Sang was the name she was born with on Furrina.

"I’m sorry, my friend…" She said half-heartedly. Nadia understood the pain of her friend. Nadia was the elder of the group possessing the power of Sailor Fides. Some say that her destiny is to always have this role, to be the wise one and the advisor… She believes that she remains around so long because she has not found her true path yet.

They walked into the large house silently. It was the night that they would try to train for their upcoming battles.

"Hope, have you found a place we can train yet?" Nevena hung her coat on the rack and walking into the living room.

"Yes, I think so," She turned off the television, "They don’t have any telescopes or other objects pointed to this area."

Hope pointed to a sector on a map they had embedded into their coffee table. Nevena nodded and sat down to look at it closer. Before she sat down, she pushed Hope’s braid off her chair. She always wondered if there was a visible end to the mane of lavender hair Hope had. This petite woman was the holder of new life, but the hair was always stretching it for Nevena.

Nevena clicked on her communication watch and waited for the entire team to assemble. Sunny surfed through the window on her star surfing board. It was capable of riding anything… and she had to use her abilities to generate it. She bit her lip when Nevena gave her a disapproving look.

"Not here, Sunny…"

The blue eyed one nodded. Raven, Irene, and Veronica made their way into the living room. Nevena pointed out the location on the map and they all understood.

"Will they detect us at all?" Veronica questioned as her strands of fire hair wrapped around her features.

"I don’t think they will… but if Luna or Artemis pick us up… we will deal with that. We are not enemies, but friends… I just don’t know how they will take us."

"Besides," Nadia started, "I think it is best if we do not open up their past more than it needs to be just yet… if some of you don’t recall. Our presence in their Kingdom was more than chaotic."

"There is always a rivalry somewhere," Veronica smiled liking that idea.

"Yes well, we don’t need any of that now, Roni" Nevena stood up, "It’s time to go train."

PART III: STAR CHASERS

Her violet eyes sparkled with the energy of harmony; "Fides Harmony Make Up!" The arms of the goddess of harmony and good faith wrapped around her to illuminate the bonds they share. Her blue hair glistened with the light of her power. Born Evellia, over 2000 years of wisdom, she stood proudly bearing the uniform of Fides. Green ribbons and cloth, an olive wreath above her brow, and the green mark of the Yon Senshi under her eye…

"In the name of the goddess Fides, I bring harmony and good faith." Nobody could be more proud of this gift than she. To this word she was Nadia Lafayette, but to herself and her friends she was Fides, second in command.

Long blonde hair bore the wings of the sunlight and blue eyes smiled with youth, "Aurora Dawn Make Up!" The arms of the goddess of dawn filled the body of the youngest of the Senshi returning the gifts that the child was most proud of. Born Amara, sixty years in age, representing proudly the dawn of Aurora; she is clad in the orange skirt and jewels while displaying the mark of the Yon Senshi…

"In the name of the goddess Aurora, I burn with the light of the dawn." No other carried Aurora with such faith and youth. Sunny Miller was nothing but an alias. To the core, she is Aurora.

The fiery red tendrils of hair that have been given from generations rippled with green eyes that burned an uncontrollable fire and the words burned in the air, "Bellona Fire Make Up!" The goddess of war breathed life into her with an undying passion. Born Ajeya, two centuries of knowledge and a soul to hunt and bring justice; she proudly calls herself Bellona. She is the only Senshi clad in a strong armor and the everlasting red. The Yon rest under her eye with pride.

"In the name of the goddess Bellona, I hold the power and truth of war and fire." She holds her spear with pride and sees nothing of Veronica Taylor. She was born to know and understand her being as Bellona.

Her eyes are the greys of death and her hair is the dark violet of the night, "Avena Dark Make Up!" The goddess of death contains her with knowledge and ability than no other can understand. Born Nericcia, five hundred years in age, knows the power and the meanings of the ends; she is Avena who wears the black of midnight and the mark of Yon.

"In the name of the goddess Avena, I hold the darkness and light of death." She carries herself with an unseen mystery standing for the arrival of her counterpart. Raven Ellis is but a name, Avena is her life.

Lavender hair that has no end radiates everywhere with green eyes that reflect the beauty, "Lucina Life Make Up!" The goddess of new life flows out of her and encases her in a blinding life light. She knows the heart of birth. Born Marva, almost five hundred in age; she is Lucina who wears the white of life and the sign of Yon.

"In the name of the goddess Lucina, I am all powers of new life." She joins the side of her counterpart making the circle complete. Hope Alexis is a new life, but she is only Lucina.

Her green hair ripples like the vines of plenty as her voice chants, "Concordia Calm Make Up!" Brown eyes close as the hands of peace fill her heart and mind. Vines of plenty wrap around her and seduce her into the form she is proud to know. Born Salome, the middle in age; she is the honored Concordia who is peace and holds the fruit of plenty. Purple cloth and the olive branch shine her pride with the sign of Yon.

"In the name of the goddess Concordia, I am the bringer of peace and plenty." Her role is only for a select few, and she holds it close to her heart. To them Irene Trevor is just a face, to her Concordia is life.

Fides, Aurora, Bellona, Avena, Lucina, and Concordia stand in a line and watch their leader gather her power from the ancient Furies. This lifestyle is an honor and Sailor Furrina is the leader of this pride.

As her violet eyes close and her mind goes into a meditation with the ancient ones, a wave of magic sweeps over her wrapping her auburn hair in it’s breeze, "Furrina Ancient Make Up!" She called for the ancestors to speak their words into her soul and free the spirit of Furrina. Princess of the Yon Kingdom, born Sang, over eight hundred years in age; she is Furrina and carries the orb of the ancients in her staff. Blue cloths and red jewel glisten with her being. She proudly wears the symbol of Yon.

"In the name of the ancient Furies, I am the bearer of fate, magic, and all things beautiful." The leader… The voice of what once was and what will be. She is Nevena Chase, but always she is Furrina

"I can’t wait to get back into wearing these permanently," Aurora commented as they held hands to teleport to their training site.

"Yes, well, I can’t wait to go home and fight for our peace again," Concordia commented wishing she could be with her husband and daughter again.

They are star chasers, space beings. They can function on the airless space with no hesitation. Some call it magic. They call it a way of life.

"Furrina, what do you expect to train us with? We’ve done it all before… we need help to go back there," Avena said jumping onto the top of a space rock.

Furrina shook her head crushing the rock with her staff, "No, we haven’t…"

Concordia furrowed her brow with curiosity, "What do you mean?"

"For the purpose of this lesson… Bellona, I want you to serve as leader. We need to know how to function without myself or Fides heading all the time…"

Bellona nodded clenching her spear. She rode a small asteroid to the head of the team as Furrina and Fides pushed themselves away and above them. The two of them closed their eyes in meditation. Both chanted as energy filled the tips of the staff they each carry… staffs that when combined they open forbidden powers. The team was relieved when they saw that wasn’t the lesson they were going to be given.

"Ancestors, give us the lessons we need to learn," Furrina asked of those who walked before them.

The team watched as the light transformed the images of their leaders into the images of villains. Their eyes grew narrow and dark while ugly energy and hate seemed to reflect of their face. Never before did they have to fight their leaders. Furrina never thought she would have to become an enemy to teach her team how to win a war.

"Furrina?" Aurora questioned almost frightened by the transformation. Furrina was her best friend and teacher. She may be sixty, but her heart and mind was that of a teenager.

Bellona pulled the young one back, "This is our lesson, Aurora…"

Aurora looked at Bellona hurt and wished they didn’t have to fight their leaders for a lesson. She wanted to find another way.

Furrina growled as she released a flash of black energy, "I am Sailor Tendron… Loyal follower to Sailor Shroud."

The words made Concordia sick to her stomach. She understood the need for this lesson. But in her years she felt so naive. They served in peace for so long that war seemed like puberty knocking them all over again.

The one that was Fides made no noise as she started to form a silence wall around the Senshi.

"She is the Sailor Silence… your words fall on deaf ears," Tendron cried out.

PART IV: THE LESSONS

Bellona tightened her fists around her spear and jumped off the asteroid. She slammed the blunt end of her spear into the side of Silence trying to break her concentration.

"Bellona!" Aurora still protested.

"Fight, Aurora! That is an order!" Bellona shouted as Silence knocked her away.

The concentration was broken enough for Concordia to work, "Concordia Plenty Whip!" She shouted forming whips of ‘grapes’ that wrapped around Silence’s arms and exploded stopping the final steps of creating her silence wall.

Silence fell back and Tendron moved forward hurling asteroids with black energy.

Avena stepped forward dodging the explosive asteroids, "Avena Darkness Strike!" She held a ball of black energy in her hand and hurled it at Tendron. Tendron immediately focused one of her asteroids at the ball and it neutralized the explosion.

While Tendron was no longer focused, Lucina attacked from behind, "Lucina Nature Attack!" Her power was weaker being in space, but a stream of white energy formed in her hand created by moon dust. She tore it down the back of Tendron. Tendron immediately turned around and struck Lucina with her fist.

This action struck the heart of Aurora who was trying to hide nearby. She was hurt by the actions of their leaders, but she dearly wanted to understand. A tear fell from her eye as she cried out, "Aurora Lightray Power Blast!" The sunlight was incredibly strong near their location so her power was heightened. She sent a shower of light blast straight into Tendron knocking her back into the asteroids.

Avena wrapped her arms around Aurora and moved her into a field of safety, "I know this is hard for you Aurora… Furrina is your best friend and teacher… but we have to do this or we can never reclaim what is ours."

"I know," Aurora whispered.

"Will you die already," Bellona snarled as she hurled an asteroid at Silence.

"We have to do this right, Bellona." Concordia told her sending another round of plenty whips to hold Silence back.

Bellona sent a charge of energy from the end of her spear.

"We can’t hold back, we can’t be afraid anymore…" Bellona agreed. She got up and stood where the team could see her, "Senshi… Follow my lead… This is the only way for us to ever win. No more fears."

She turned around to face an approaching Silence. It was time for them to learn how to do it together and to fight the only ways that they know best.

Her voice boomed across their ears, "Bellona Flame Seduction!" A rushing layer of flame surged through the air from her body and hypnotized her target of Silence. She held onto the power with everything she had.

Concordia stood to her right and took no time to make her move, "Concordia Calm Subject!" The second holder of a paralyzing effect released her wave of calmness to tear at the heart of Tendron. Tendron shot back with a harsh amount of energy and almost crippled Concordia to the ground. She felt the energy cutting through her heart. They were fighting for a hold.

"Avena!" Bellona called out seeing the pain of Concordia who was holding onto her power for life.

"Avena Chain Dark Attack!" Avena released a massive chain of dark energy to surround and strike Tendron. The energy electrified Tendron and only dampened the energy.

"Lucina Life Create!" Lucina twisted a web of life energy around Tendron trying to collapse his power with life force.

Tendron started to cry in a pain, but their enemy seemed to prove formidable much like Sailor Shroud. All of their powers were less than that of Furrina’s. Their most powerful abilities are forbidden and risk their life. Fides and Aurora were the only ones who were not forbidden to use everything in their hearts.

Silence and Tendron started to pull together to push back the force of Concordia and Bellona. Aurora watched her friends try attempt after attempt. Her eyes narrowed slowly as words started to form on her mouth. When she saw Concordia collapse in final pain she stopped her hesitation," Aurora Sunbeam Light Collapse!"

Her friends shielded their eyes as all of the star and sunlight energy collapsed into Aurora and she released it onto their enemies. She screamed in frustration and exhaustion as she grasped everything and brought it into herself only to heighten her abilities. Tendron and Silence screamed in agony having no chance to fight against the will of Aurora. The facades dropped and the power surged through Furrina and Fides. They never expected the frustration of the youth to withstand their power. Bellona screamed for her to stop but she had no control anymore. Lucina and Avena both dove on top of Fides and Furrina trying to shield them from Aurora’s power using their own energies. Bellona dove onto Aurora and held her head directly in front of hers getting her to focus.

"Concordia! We need the calm," Bellona called. Concordia slowly pulled herself over to Aurora and put her hand onto the child’s forehead. The energy was still strong and targeting the former enemies.

"Concordia calm…" She whispered concentrating the last of her strength into Aurora spreading a peace over Aurora’s body. The light energy suddenly stopped and the screaming subsided.

Bellona held Aurora in her arms and looked around at the team. Furrina, Fides and Aurora were unconscious. The other four looked around at each other for understanding and comfort.

"Does the lesson have to have this price?" Lucina questioned lowering her head.

"If we want to gain our kingdom back, Lucina… we cannot fear our boundaries and we have to use everything… even if it means death." Avena told her as they formed their circle to teleport home.

PART V: RACING

Nevena Chase sat back in the reporter’s booth at the racetrack. She was the only one left there, but she sat tapping away at her laptop. She was waiting for something, but she couldn’t decide what.

"Nev, I’m going to get a ride with Mamoru and Usagi… They’ll drop me off at the store to work with Irene tonight," Sunny sat down beside her, "Nev, you okay?"

"Sunny…. I haven’t had a chance to tell you, but I’m proud of you. What you did in training… was the right thing to do…" Nevena looked up from her work.

"I almost killed all of us… I didn’t know…" She suddenly became quiet.

"I know you didn’t, but I will teach you… Now go be with your friends," Nevena said as Sunny gave her a hug.

"Thanks, Nev."

Nevena smiled and watched her leave. She opened her article and began typing again. She knew who Sunny’s friends really were, but she has asked everybody not to make known what they remember of the Moon Kingdom. The only person Nevena talks opening with is Nadia. Sunny was never near the Moon Kingdom. She should enjoy her times before things started to get complicated. She knew things would turn out that way and felt partial guilt for causing the silence between the two Kingdoms.

Nevena walked down the railing after finishing her article. She would send it soon. She saw Haruka walking out into one of the corridors leading to the lots. The one with her was Princess Neptune. Nevena can see through aliases. She was around too long to not know. Haruka looked up at Nevena in the stands and nodded.

"Look for it tomorrow," Nevena shouted down.

She stepped back and turned to walk away but somebody was standing next to her silently.

"I knew I would find you here," The woman said holding her staff.

"I knew you would find me," Nevena answered in truth, "Time Keeper."

Sailor Pluto watched as Nevena transformed into Sailor Furrina. Their glare at each other was not of fondness, but of question and uncertainty.

"You were training in the fields… Artemis detected the energy disturbance... I knew it was time for the Yon Senshi to arrive once again," Pluto spoke in her mysterious way.

"Yes, the Yon arrive again. Why did you need to find me, Time Keeper?"

"To remind you that things are not the same, and I am here to preserve the peace."

"My team will need help."

"I know you will… Your ways are different, you can see more than our five inners. You need to be their friends before they decide to help you. And you must not revive anything of the past. I believe that Haruka senses she knows Nevena from some place."

"Princess Uranus was one of my closest friends…"

"The Princess died when the Kingdom fell. You know that… and the rivalry between Yon and the Moon Kingdom is decided."

"Yes, you are the Time Keeper."

"The scars run very deep if any of them start to remember all the roads back. Loves were torn apart."

"We aren’t perfect. Ancients do not claim to be perfect."

"Then when the time comes… Do not act as if you are."

Furrina nodded and looked at the ground feeling the guilt of the years before, "Time Keeper, I apologize for ever rivaling you."

"No apologies are needed. We have both grown since then."

The cool wind sent a chill down Furrina’s back. And with that, Pluto was gone. Furrina looked out at the setting sun as she transformed back to Nevena Chase. She picked up her laptop and closed it. She walked down the stairs to the exit. Her path was just beginning.

~Fin