Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Dream Catcher ❯ New Lives ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: All the characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi. I do not own any rights to them, nor ever will.

CHAPTER 1: NEW LIVES

Far away in the galaxy, ancient Dream Master was waking up.

The time flow was about to be disturbed and future was going to change once again.

Usagi looked up. It was night but the stars were shining bright. Right then a shooting star lit its way across the sky.

"Seiya" she said out loud. It's been almost 5 years since Seiya and his friends left the Earth. Usagi wondered if they remembered her. She missed them a lot. She wanted to see them once more. Were they able to rebuild their home? She wondered. After the final battle with Sailor Galaxia it has been very quiet on Earth. The girls settled down to their own lives. Makoto opened her little café with cakes, and other goodies. Minako's dream also came true. She was an idol and her songs were climbing up the charts very fast. Rei stayed at the temple. Her grandfather died the previous year and she was trying to keep the shrine going. Yuuichirou was helping out a lot. He came back after the death of Rei's grandfather. They recently decided to get married. Ami got a job at the hospital where her mother worked. She was still studying for the doctor's degree, but she was already one of the best. The patients developed a great trust to this young girl. But who wouldn't? Usagi smiled thinking of her friends. Mamoru… He went back to the USA shortly after the final battle, to finish his studies. He wanted Usagi to go with him, but, even though she wanted to do that more than anything in the world, she stayed behind. She had to make sure that everything was really back to normal. It was a long year for both of them, but they survived. Now they were finally together. Usagi couldn't wish for anything more, and yet, she felt a great sadness in her heart. Something was missing… or rather somebody. Haruka and Michiru left Tokyo and nobody knew where they were. Setsuna went back to guarding the Time Gate. Poor Setsuna, Usagi sighed, all alone again, for all eternity. If she only could visit her, but it was impossible. Seiya, Yaten, Taiki, and princess Kakyuu were far away on Kinmoku. There was no way to contact them. Hotaru moved away with her father. They've been getting postcards from her from time to time, but that was it. It looked like the great Sailor Team didn't exist anymore.

Usagi started to walk home again. She got a little chilly standing outside all that time. When she got home she turned on the TV and went to the kitchen to fix a cup of hot chocolate for herself. Mamoru was still at work. They got married about two years ago and moved into Mamoru's apartment right after the wedding. Luna and Artemis lived with them as well. Because of Minako's popularity she was on the road a lot, so they all decided it was best if Artemis lived with them.

"Look, it's Minako," Usagi reached for the remote control and turned up the volume. Minako looked beautiful. She was dressed in a short yellow top and a red mini skirt. Her golden hair was flowing with the rhythm of the song. She still wore the red ribbon. Usagi remembered that a boy gave it to Minako while she was in England.

"I wonder if she met Alan again," thought Usagi to herself. She knew that Minako just recently was on a tour in Great Britain. The colors she was wearing reminded Usagi about the sailor team and big tears started to roll down her cheeks. She stood up quickly.

"I'm going to lie down. I'm tired" she did feel tired because of the emotional roller coaster she was going through. She had no idea how long it was going to last, or if it would ever go away. She lied down on her bed and fell asleep instantly.

Meanwhile in the living room Luna and Artemis were talking.

"I worry about Usagi," said Luna making sure not to talk too loud. "She's been very quiet lately, and she doesn't eat much either".

"Yes, I've noticed" Artemis looked very concerned. "Do you have any idea why?"

"Not really." Luna went over to the window. "But I think we should discuss it with Mamoru."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

On the other side of town a young woman was praying. She had a bad feeling. Something was brewing and she had no idea what or where. She tried the old proven way of fire reading but this time it didn't work. The door opened quietly.

"You know you should try to rest a bit" Yuuichirou said with concern, "maybe later you'll get a reading on what's bothering you."

Rei shook her head. She closed her eyes for a moment and got up.

"It's nothing." She smiled, "I guess I'm just losing the touch." But they both knew it wasn't true. Rei was more in tune with what was going on in the Universe than ever before. She became gentler ever since Yuuichirou came to stay with her at the temple. She finally realized how much he meant to her.

"Rei?" he looked at her softly, "Do you think Sailor Mars will have to fight again?" Rei shivered. She hadn't heard this name in a long time. She didn't have to tell him who Sailor Mars was. He figured it out long time ago. That was one of the reasons why he left the temple in first place. He knew he couldn't compete with her job in saving the world. When he heard that Rei's grandfather died he decided to try his luck. He called her one day and they got back together. Old memories started going through Rei's head. She was so busy with her own life that she hardly thought about the times she spent as Sailor Senshi. It seemed like ages had passed by, since the last time she talked to any of the other girls. "Gentle Ami, strong Makoto, big mouth Minako and cry baby Usagi, I wonder how they all are doing?" she sighed. Yuuichirou didn't say anything. He knew the risk of losing her if she ever went back to her old life. He didn't want that to happen, but he knew that in a case of a new threat to the world, she would have to battle again.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Makoto, I think it's time to close."

"You're right, Yumiko" Makoto looked at her helper, a 16 years old girl, with bright blue eyes and long brown hair. She started working at the café last summer to earn some money for her school. With her cheerful disposition she brought a lot of light into Mako's life. She was like a younger sister that Makoto never had. Yumiko reminded Makoto of herself when she was that age. The girl wasn't as strong but she had the same dreams and ideas. Makoto's thoughts traveled back in time. She suddenly remembered other girls, who just like her where full of dreams. They all had to grow up too soon. Saving the world wasn't easy, but it was worth it.

They closed all the doors, making sure everything was in place.

"Good night, Yumiko"

The girl quickly bowed in front of Makoto, then turned around and went home. Makoto watched her for few seconds and then headed home as well. She walked into her apartment, the same one since she was a girl, and decided to take a long, relaxing bath. Her head was full of memories. She closed her eyes. She didn't want to think about the past. She had her little store and nothing else mattered. She got out of the bathtub and sat down in front of the mirror. She reached into one of the drawers to get a candle, but before she picked it up something else caught her attention. A small green object was sticking out from underneath a scarf. She picked it up and shivered. It was her transformation stick.

"How did it get here?" she thought to herself. She knew it meant something, but she didn't want to think about it. "Not now... I'm happy. I've had enough fighting. I want to live a normal life." Makoto shoved the pen back into the drawer and covered it up, hoping that it would change the fact that she was Sailor Jupiter.

Makoto sighed. She decided it was time to go to bed. She had to get up early in the morning and get a few extra things for her shop. She had trouble falling asleep, but finally exhaustion took over.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Minako finished her song. Everybody was applauding. Fans loved her and she loved them. She always wanted to be a star and her dream finally came true. She hoped that this moment would last forever. The band started to play a tune. She knew her next song very well. It was the same song she won a contest five years ago. "Route Venus" became a hit the first time she sang it. And it stayed on top of the charts for many weeks. Minako couldn't have hoped for a better start in her career.

"Open that door in the time that's left
Take a deep breath lift your eyes"

The fans went crazy. They always screamed when it was played.

"Stare straight ahead, give your last kiss, and start running"

Minako blew a kiss to the audience and another wave of screaming hit the ceiling.

"Truth is a wind, the dark is being torn away,
Your heart is stopping, the roads are splitting
Destiny's Star has decided, your choice is the white ROUTE"

The stardom was her route, and she chose it with her whole heart, without any hesitation. She finally was free. She could do what she did best - sing.

"The sea spreads out
The wind shakes you"

What was that? Minako thought she saw a couple of familiar silhouettes in the audience. But when she looked again they were gone. She tried to remember who the shadows reminded her of, but everything was so brief she forgot.

"Your duty, don't forget who you love most,

It's hard, but looking away from here
The desert's dawn"

What's happening with me today? Minako's mind was going hundred miles per hour. Her thoughts were searching for something, some familiar memories. Girl, you need to concentrate on the song, she reprimanded herself.

"The roads are separating
The star of fate is decided
My chosen blue route"

The roads are separating... her road had separated long time ago from, what she thought then, was her destiny.

The concert was over. She always played the song last, but today she didn't feel the usual satisfaction. She went behind the stage and sat down.

"Are you all right?" Minako looked up. It was the young guitarist from her band. She had a crush on him, but he treated her only as a member of the band and a star of the show. Any other time she would be happy to talk to him, but today her thoughts were going their own ways. She nodded to him, then got up from her seat, and went to her dressing room. She was tired. Today was the last concert for the season. It was time for writing and recording new songs. She quickly changed to more comfortable clothes and went home.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A 21 years old girl in a doctor's outfit walked down the hall. She was responding to another call. She already finished her shift, but she would never turn down a request from a patient. She walked into the room of an 82 years old woman.

"Hello, Mrs. Mansfield." Ami smiled. The woman smiled back, but her smile was faint. The woman was very sick. Her skin was as thin as a paper. She had cancer and she didn't have much time to live. Ami felt sorry for her. She would do anything to bring a little sunshine to Mrs. Mansfield's last days.

"Ami, it's so nice to see you." The lady barely talked.

"What can I do for you, Mrs. Mansfield?"

The lady motioned Ami with her eyes to get closer. When Ami leaned over.

"There is something in my drawer" the lady whispered. She made a pause to gather energy. "I want you to have it." Ami wanted to protest, but the lady kept talking.

"It belonged to my husband. It was his family treasure." Mrs. Mansfield breathed real hard by now, making longer breaks between words. Ami wanted her to rest, but the lady wouldn't listen.

"You are a very special person, Ami." She made even longer break this time. It seemed like her breath was running out rapidly. Ami feared the worse. When Mrs. Mansfield rested enough, she continued. "You brought so much joy into my life." She made another pause, this time she was coughing very hard. Ami lifted her a little to make it easier. She was amazed how light the lady was. She barely weighted anything. When the cough stopped, Mrs. Mansfield looked at Ami and whispered with struggle

"Remember, when the bad happens in the world, you will need all the help you can get." Ami looked at her surprised. Mrs. Mansfield smiled at her mysteriously, and with the big sigh she fell back on her pillow. Ami gently caressed her cheek but the lady didn't react to it.

"Mrs. Mansfield?" Ami asked nervously.

"Mrs. Mansfield?" she asked again, this time much louder, and gently shook the lady's shoulders. Nothing... Ami checked the pulse. Nothing... Tears started to roll down her cheeks. When she settled down a bit she opened the top drawer in the little table by the lady's bed. All there was inside was a small ring with some colorful beads and few feathers attached to it. The ring was filed with some sort of spider web made out of twine. Ami picked it up. Underneath the ring were a few pieces of old looking paper. When she opened it, the first thing she noticed was writing on top of the page. It said "Dream Catcher", and was written with a blue ink, where the rest of the writing was in black. Ami put the things in her pocket. She finally rang the bell to get help.

The doctor wrote down the time Mrs. Mansfield died. And soon they took away her body. Ami looked the room over once again. She knew she was going to miss the old lady, who was like a grandmother to her. She finally walked out the door and went home forgetting all about the little gift in her pocket.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

That night, when Mamoru came home he had a long talk with Luna and Artemis.

"We worry about Usagi." Said Artemis "She hasn't been herself lately"

"I've noticed" Mamoru looked at the bedroom door with concern. Usagi was still sleeping. "I had a phone call at work today" he started after a short pause. The cats looked at him curiously. He usually didn't talk about his work much, so it had to be something important.

"It was Michiru."

"What?" Luna and Artemis exclaimed together. She and Haruka were the last people they expected to call.

"She said that her mirror indicates new trouble." He continued. "She's not sure where it's coming from but it's going to effect us if we don't do something to stop it. Haruka and her already work on a new strategy."

"We need to get the Sailor Team together." Luna looked worried. She knew the girls started a new life. She wasn't sure if they were going to leave everything behind to fight against the new enemy, especially that they didn't even know where and who it was. But she was counting on the loyalty they once felt towards the Moon Princess.

"There is no need to disturb them." Everybody turned around. Usagi was standing in the bedroom door. Mamoru got up and approached her.

"How long have you been standing there?"

"Long enough," she looked at him and the tension on her face softened. He was more handsome than ever before, with his dark eyes and black hair.

"Usagi, we need the team. Without it there is little chance of succeeding, even with the help of Uranus and Neptune." Luna tried to argue. Usagi shook her head.

"No, it's been too long since the last fight." She replied. "Besides, I am the Moon Princess and Sailor Moon. I should have enough power to protect everyone."

"We've heard that somewhere before." Artemis murmured to himself.

"How about we contact Michiru and see how things are progressing." Mamoru tried to settle the argument. "And then we'll decide what to do with the rest of the team."

Usagi and Luna looked at him and nodded. They all decided it was time to go to bed. A good night sleep might bring new ideas.

But they weren't meant to have a restful night. That night everybody had a strange dream. The details might have varied, but one thing they had in common. They saw a forest, but it wasn't a normal forest. It looked more like a fruit garden. The trees were rather short. The bottom of the trunk was bare, because most of the branches grew from the top. The leaves were tiny and red. Suddenly a strong wind started to blow. A howling of a wolf came down from a hill behind the forest. The wolf started to run, even though it was impossible to see it, everybody knew it was coming. The wind was blowing harder and harder. There was a voice calling, but the wind blew the words away. The sky turned bright yellow and a big shadow covered the sun. The shadow was coming closer and closer... and suddenly the dream ended leaving everybody frightened, yet wanting more.