Sailor Moon: The Chronos Tales

Luna and Artemis awake from their naps to find their charges standing around the door staring at something outside. Making their way past the girls they stop in their tracks as they look at the man before them. "It can't be." Luna gasps.

Michael smiles down at her. "It's good to see you again Lady Luna." He turns and nods to Artemis. "You too Lord Artemis."

A few moments later they are all seated and Chronos begins telling his tale. "I was the Prince of the planet Chronos, once located between Mars and Jupiter now all that remains is an asteroid belt." They listen silently as he continues. "Originally my sister Shayla destined to be Sailor Chronos and I was to assume my uncle's role as Captain of the Dragon Knights."

"What happened?" Mina asks.

"Shayla died and I had to assume her duties." He replies. "She was seven and I was ten at the time. We were exploring caves behind the Palace when there was a sudden cloud burst." He closed his eyes to steady himself before continuing. "Sudden cloud bursts were a common accordance on Chronos. They would dump several inches of rain then end just as suddenly as they began. The longest recorded cloud burst lasted only ten minutes. While normally a minor nuisance they can be fatal if you're caught in low laying caverns like we were."

It was obvious to the others that the memory was painful to him but he continued on with his story. "I was barely able to reach the cave entrance in time but Shayla didn't." No tears came, haven dried up centuries ago, as they would for anyone else. "I carried her body back to the Palace and had to tell our family what happened. A few years later when it came time for the Senshi to assemble I went in her stead to serve as Sailor Chronos for Princess Serenity's court."

"You were the most powerful Senshi there ever was." A voice from the doorway interrupted. They all turned towards the intruder and were greeted by a friendly smile from Trista. The Senshi of Pluto and Guarding of The Gates of Time was accompanied by the other Outer Scouts. Amara and Michelle studied Michael carefully uncertain what to make of him. Like the others their memories of the time spent with Chronos were beginning to awaken and they were still sorting through their own thoughts when Hotaru slipped past the three women and threw herself at him almost sending them both to the floor.

"Big Brother..." The youngest Scout in present-day Tokyo squealed as she hugged him tightly. He lowered his head as he closed his eyes. Gently he wraps his arms around her returning her hug with the same affection. The display before them along with their still awakening memories convinced them that perhaps they should at least give this man a chance to explain himself.

Once they were all reseated Michael began telling his tale again. "As Pluto has pointed out I was the most powerful Senshi ever. Even more powerful then my Aunt Kiara who served Queen Serenity as the Captain of her own Scouts." A smile crosses his lips as he chuckles softly. "She hated her brother for 'making' her nephew so powerful."

"What do you mean?" Amy asked in rapt fascination. Her analytical mind absorbing every bit of new information he was willing to share with them.

"Well," he began but paused and laughed as he saw the wheels in her mind working. 'Same old Emme.' "Chronos' gravity was roughly five times that of Earth so naturally anyone born there was physically three to six times stronger then anyone else in the galaxy depending on where they were born." He paused and looked at the shocked expressions on their faces, the only exception being Trista.

"Okay here's the break down on how things were." He said. "Mercury, Venus Earth, Saturn and Pluto had roughly the same gravity so they were physically stronger then the Lunars whose artificial gravity was only about 75% of Earth's." At their nods he continued his little lesson. "Now Mars and Neptune's gravity was twice that of Earth's gravity. Uranus and Jupiter's gravity was three times that of Earth. Then there was Chronos, whose gravity was greater then any other planet in the Moon Kingdom."

They all nodded in understanding and could see why he was so powerful. His body was use to a much greater gravitational force then any of them could hope to imagine. "But how was your uncle able to make you stronger then your aunt?" Lita asked.

"He trained me from the time I was three to be his successor. Part of that training involved weighted weapons and armor. All of which were five times heavier then normal." Again Trista is the only one unfazed by his answer. Their reactions run the full spectrum of responses, ranging from total disbelief (Mina), scientific curiosity (Amy) even mild respect (Amara) with many more.

"The training lasted until I was fifteen when I left for the Moon to assumed my new duties as Sailor Chronos. That was when I meet the rest of you."

Standing up Amara asks. "How come we didn't remember you until now? And why are you just now showing up?" The others nodded their agreement with the questions.

Michael sighed softly. He had been expecting this line of questioning and while he was prepared to answer them he had hoped to have had more time before having to tell them his reason for coming here tonight.

"Because I wasn't needed until now." He slowly got up and walked over to the window. Staring up at the night sky. The moon shone brightly in the clear starry sky. "I knew about every battle you were girls were ever in and how hard your lives have been." Closing his eyes and lowering his head he keeps his back to them, refusing to look at them. "There were many times when I thought about revealing myself to you but the time wasn't right, you girls weren't yet ready. Even after most of your memories were awakened the time still wasn't right."

"What gave you the right to decide whether or not we're ready." Rei demanded "Who died and left you in charge." She was furious and didn't care what her still awakening memories were telling her. She wanted answers and she wanted them now.

Taking a breathe to center himself Michael turns around and faces her. "I know this is a lot to take in Firestar..."

"Don't call me that." Rei yelled. "I'm not your Firestar anymore I don't even know you."

"You know me you've just forgotten." He sighs as he leans against the window. "I had to wait until you were ALL together and your bond was strong enough to see you through the trials ahead." He looks passed her to Trista. "If I had come any sooner then the future we all desire will never come to be."

"What does our bond have to do with you showing yourself to us?" Rei asked. Her anger was subsiding slightly but she refused to let it go completely just yet.

"Your bond has everything to do it." He answered. "It's your bond that allowed the five of you to defeat Beryl. It was your bond that allowed ALL of you to stop the Heart Snatchers and ultimately the Silence. It is the key to your full power, it's allows you to draw strength from each other to combine your powers and to call upon even greater strength."

Rei couldn't argue with his explanation but he still hadn't answered her questions. “GOD DAMN IT CHRONOS..." she roars" "You haven't changed. Now stop playing games and answer me already."

"Neither have you Firestar." He states simply. "I waited so long because I was afraid of how you girls would react. I needed to be sure that you all could handle my rejoining the team." He pauses as he collects his thoughts. "Unlike most of you, I never died on the Moon." He looks directly into Rei's eyes and she can feel herself being pulled into them. "I wasn't reborn in the future like you were."

Flashes of memories begin entering her mind again but these do not belong to her. She sees the world around him change as she is shown glimpses of HIS memories "I have walked this Earth for over a thousand years waiting for the day I could be reunited with the other Senshi. Awaiting the right time to arrive so that I could keep my pledge to see Princess Serenity's destiny fore filled."