Demotion

(Author's note: [[Planets]], which I had written at the time of the first IAU decision, is now considered to be non-canon. How's that for a retcon?
Anyway, I wrote this one in honor of the latest decision...)

Demotion
By: Tuxedo Rainbow
Era: Suburban Senshi, August 24, 2006
Setsuna, now no longer a Suburban Senshi or even a Senshi (?) reflects on her past.

In a stunning reversal of fortune, it now seems likely that Pluto will lose its title of planet. Astronomers have been debating for years whether Pluto should count as a planet.

-NPR website, August 24, 2006

“Something this grand has not occurred since Serenity was born, we’ve heard that the IAU
is changing the definition of what a planet is, and that may mean that Pluto loses her place
in the Outers.” Luna remarked. Setsuna was not there to hear that.

Setsuna stood there, angry. The IAU was this close to adding more Senshi, and then, it took a backstep.
She was no longer in this dimension. She was in a new realm, where what has been, what will be and may have been collide. It is called Ptero.

Setsuna looked back upon her time as a Senshi, which was longer than most of the others. She was a guardian of the Time Gate, friend to the Princess, and an Outer, but all that was no more. Her recent creation past told to her was still shocking her even now.

Stupid Tuxedo Rainbow, losing his fight.

He would get his, soon enough…

As for the IAU, how dare they turn their back on her? She, who for nearly 200 years, was a planet!
She, an Outer! If she was still in the Suburban Senshi universe, she’d go to Prague and give them a piece of her mind!

But, for now, she walks in the realm of time, growing both younger or older with each step either east or west, meeting with those who could have been: Ceres, Xena and Sedna. All three were so close… so very close.

How dare she let the Time Key get stolen! How dare she give up her life so that Haruka and Michiru could live! If she could live her life over again, she’d change it so that she would be the first to meet Mamoru, and then, rule Crystal Tokyo unopposed. As she walked towards the Crystal Tokyo that could have been hers, she realized that maybe quitting was the best thing she could have done, and giving her life to set certain events in motion even more.

She no longer had to guard toilets or that darn gate now, she figured Diana would take over. And Matsumi, Quinox, she would remain an Outer… darn it.

And those poor three… one, no longer an Inner and the other two, no longer Outers… she pitied them, cut down before they even got started.

She had a good life, so to speak. Watching Mamoru, dating Tomoe, who was also gone; adopting Hotaru, saving Haruka and Michiru… and all that meant nothing now, because she no longer exists.

Now, there are only eight senshi, not nine. Darn it! She wanted to return so badly, and kick the IAU into next year, but she couldn’t. Her plans for Tuxedo Rainbow, on the other hand, were already in play, thanks to a certain member of the suburban senshi that she was once a part of. She was glad that at least her final plan would come to fruition, but she would not be there to see it.

She entered the palace, the one she controlled, the one she ruled over, the one that did not exist, now, and
Kissed Mamoru, the one she loved, but would never see again.

At least, she was free to do what she wanted, now, not bound by the laws of the senshi or Time.
She could rule over this once-would-have-been kingdom, she could stay with Mamoru, and be free, finally.

She was glad that she was no longer a part of a team. She secretly despised Haruka and Michiru, and didn’t really care for Hotaru. Let them go their own ways. Let Haruka and Michiru stay apart or get married, let
Hotaru destroy the world or save it. Let Xadium and Minako get back together or not. Let Jedite stay or not. Let Artemis stay or not. Let Motoki stay or not. Let the Spore go home to the future or not. She was finally happy, and that was all that mattered.

She passed by the formerly female Starlights, the former guardians of several planets that were destroyed by Animamates, and smiled. She could get used to this place, in time…

As the doors to the palace closed, Setsuna knew that her plans for world domination were gone, but her dreams… oh, her dreams… they were being fulfilled as we speak.