Welcome to Gaia! ::

The park at night was a familiar setting for the young senshi Aludra. It was relatively close to home and she hardly ran into much trouble there. Perhaps it was because lately she’d been limiting her patrolling to one or two hours a night, particularly on school days. It had almost been a relief when her parents had sat her down to talk about her failing grades. Despite her upgrade she was still somewhat uncertain and worried about what and who she could find while out and about. Trying to balance school and being a senshi was the perfect excuse.

So here she was, at the park, time ticking on to around 2AM. It was a cold night and the frost on the grass glittered in the lamplight. Aludra had retreated to one of the trees and perched with her back against the truck, a good view but hardly actively doing what she was supposed to be doing.

Aludra almost laughed at the thought. It wasn’t as if someone had ever set her down and given her instructions. You fought evil, you did your best, Negaverse bad; that was it. Patrolling was just a habit she’d somehow picked up and it had stuck. Now it was routine. Just something to feel accomplished about when it ended without incident and to despair over when you inevitably got into trouble.

No, what she was really supposed to be doing was sleeping in bed like a good girl and looking forward to the athletics day tomorrow. That world felt so far away.

Despite technically being on watch, her mind had wandered, so when she suddenly felt the brush of a new aura she nearly jumped in surprise. Spurred into action, the chibi shifted forward so that she was crouched with two hands gripping the branch in front of her. She couldn't say she felt any sense of dread. It didn’t feel like someone from Negaverse.

Aludra craned her head past some leaves to see properly and when she did, her mouth opened in a surprised ‘O’. Whoever the newcomer was she was super pretty and apparently friendly, judging by the greeting. Aludra warned herself not to get too complacent but she was already jumping to the ground to greet Zirconia.

“Hello,” she replied, giving a little curtsy. The lady did look a bit like a princess after all.

"I wasn’t really frightened," Aludra said quickly, a blush rising to her cheeks. "It’s just good to be careful. I’ve learnt that the hard way." The chibi stared at the extended hand and then closed to gap between them, offering her own to shake or do whatever the woman had in mind.

"Super Sailor Chibi Aludra," she replied proudly. It was a bit of a mouthful but she’d worked hard to get that extra title. "It’s nice to meet you ah… Queen Zirconia." A real queen? She hadn’t even known that was a thing but this lady certainly fit the description. She was really glad she’d decided to curtsy.

The compliment caused another blush and a delighted smile. "I'm only doing my best." And truthfully, she would never call herself brave. These days she was just clinging to a sense of duty and an endless reserve of hope.

"Pathways," she replied proudly. "Thank you." She didn't flinch away from the questing hand and instead shifted closer. "You can touch it if you like."

Such positive and gentle inspection couldn’t have made her any happier. Aludra itched to reach out herself and touch one of those purple curls but this was a queen and so she kept her hands to herself.

"You're very kind. I just want to help everyone find the right path." She said with that ever present blush and then chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip at the question. She’d never heard the term homeworld however she did know she had a planet out there somewhere. "No, ma’am."

Aludra took out the senshi phone she'd been given and let it sit on her hand like it was some strange foreign object.

"Well, I... I wasn't really sure how to. I mean, I do know you press the button but I wasn't sure what to expect or what to do when I got there and there's been so many things happening..."

She really wished she had some stories from her planet to share.

Hear your homeworld calling.

Aludra stared down at her phone, then tightened her hold and brushed her fingertip against the button. "I would like that. Your company especially." It made the journey seem far less daunting.

"Do we, um, hold hands?" That was the sort of thing people did on shows when travelling through space and time.

Aludra took Zirconia’s hand, squeezed it gently and then pressed the button.

Nothing happened.

Okay Aludra, you have to focus. You have to listen.

She closed her eyes and held it down, stood still and quiet, waiting for something. In and out, aware of her companion beside her and their warm handclasp. It was as peaceful night, the perfect time to…

Soft at first, so soft she could barely hear it; the rustle of leaves in the wind, the sound of footsteps running rapidly down a path, a gentle chime. It came together and was suddenly familiar and warm.

Then there was only silence, except for their breathing and that soft touch of wind to leaves.

Aludra opened her eyes.

It was a forest; an immense forest with trees that towered and blocked out the sky and a dirt path that wound away into shadows. It was unnaturally still here. No birds or animals or insects. It felt empty and sad.

This was her homeworld.