On that joyful day when Sailor ChibiMoon was born, Princess Serenity began to grow. Her love, Helios, returned to her after many years lost in space. The two were wedded, and Serenity bore a child, which they named Sentra. But Sentra's birth marked the continued aging of her grandparents, the rulers of Crystal Tokyo. Distracted by her parents' declining health, Serenity's attention was drawn from her infant daughter.
Now, Sentra is a rebellious 19-year-old. She does everything she can to disobey her mother, including taking a temporary job as a prostitute and getting several tattoos. On a peaceful day like any other, Crystal Tokyo is attacked. Sentra's overpowering love for her mother and father sends her unarmed into the very face of danger. Can Sentra save her parents? Will a new senshi be born? And who are these strange shadows attacking the Crystal Palace?
All this and more will be revealed, on Silver Moon X!
A bell rang mournfully from the highest tower of the Crystal Palace. Since the deaths of Neo-Queen Serenity and King Edymion ten years ago, even the birds of Crystal Tokyo seemed sad. Sentra, crown princess and heir to the Crystal throne, snorted from her perch in an oak.
"Ya'd think after ten years, things'd get a little happier around here." She said, jumping nimbly to the ground and walking away from the palace, running her fingers through her waist length white-streaked pink hair. "Hey, Jenna." She muttered in greeting to a short, slim girl with short green hair. "Can you believe my mother wanted me to go to court with her today?"
"Oh, you've got to be kidding, Sentra! Court? How much more boring can your ma be?"
Sentra snorted. "Wanna see if there's any business up on Rose?"
The two headed for the large street that housed most of the food shops. Halfway there, they were knocked to the ground by a tremendous explosion. The left wing of the Palace was on fire.
"Jesus Fucking Christ!" Sentra said. "What happened?"
In the eerie silence that had descended on the city, screams could be heard clearly from the Palace. Dark shadows darted here and there, trying to gain entrance.
Without realizing she had even moved, Sentra was running toward the Palace, pushing people and things out of her way. She had only one thought in her mind, one both natural and alien.
She had to get to her parents.
She reached her destination, only to find her way blocked by three of the writhing shadows.
-You are the princessss.- A voice hissed in her mind. -You musssst not live!-
The three dove toward her. They were thrown back by a barrier of blinding silver light, and Sentra continued her headlong flight through the Palace, calling at the top of her lungs.
"Mom! Dad! Where are you?" She passed the throne room, then skidded to a halt.
The vaulted chamber was a mess. Everything in it had been shredded, including the thrones and pillars. Sentra stood frozen in horror at the most grotesque part, the bodies of several courtiers sprawled across the marble floor.
"Oh no." She whispered softly.
Fear lending her strength, Sentra darted through the Palace in search of her parents.
She found Queen Serenity pinned under a collapsed table.
"Mom!" Sentra screamed, falling to her knees. She pushed ineffectually at the marble slab, trying to move it. "Don't worry, Mom. I'm gonna get you out of here. Just hold on."
Serenity stared up at her daughter, hardly believing what was happening.
"Sentra..."
"Don't talk right now, Mom. When I say go, get yourself out of there, okay?" Sentra wedged one of the table's legs under it, using the marble pole to lever the top up a few inches. "Now! Go!"
Serenity pulled herself out of harm's way just as the table leg broke and the slab slammed down, catching the edge of her dress.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Sentra asked, concern heavy in her voice.
"Yes, thanks to you. I was foolish to think myself safe because I was alone. They haven't hurt you, have they?" Serenity's voice held all the motherly concern Sentra had longed to hear through her lonely life, but she hardly noticed, already dragging her mother out of the room.
"We've got to find Dad! What if he's in trouble?"
"Haven't you found them yet?" Heklia roared, flinging a brass goblet across the room. "I need all three of them dead before I can take over this dimension! Is that clearly understood?"
-Yesss, Missstresss. We will obey.- The hissing voice of the Shadow Knight faded away as the demons fled their irate mistress.
Heklia had little tolerance for failure, and was never gentle, delighting in pain of any kind. "Stupid beasts." Heklia snarled lobbing a heavy vase the way of her goblet. The crash of broken pottery soothed her a little, and she smiled. "Soon, I will rule this planet. Then this universe will be mine. That's something you never could accomplish, isn't it, Father?"
She flashed a bone-chilling smile at a painting on the wall behind her throne. The man in it had long white hair, icy blue eyes, and a black crescent moon on his forehead. Ranged beneath the imposing man were the members of the original Nemesis Court.
"No, Father, not even with Prince Diamond and all his minions were you able to defeat this Sailor Moon. You did not choose your servants wisely. 'Wiseman', you called yourself, and yet you couldn't beat a few girls. I was truly disappointed in you, Father. I thought better of you. C'mere, Elsa."
Heklia turned to the shadow behind her throne, clicking her tongue. A huge snake slithered into the light and up her legs, winding herself around her torso.
"Why must one hang the image of one long dead upon the walls of one's palace?" Elsa asked in the lisping language of the snakes, flaring her hood in distaste.
"It is customary to leave portraits of one's ancestors about for one's underlings to view." Heklia answered in the same tongue, scratching Elsa's chin absently. "Although one has thought of putting one's own image in the place of one's sire." She switched to human speech, which Elsa understood but could not speak. "Would that please you? A picture of us on the wall? You, in all your reptilian glory, wrapped around me as you are now, and me in my battle armor, imposing and fear-inspiring. None could stand before us then; all would kneel. And all the ones that show their fright can go to feed the little ones hardening in the fire pit."
"It is tempting." Elsa replied, rearing up to inspect the painting closely. "One has some difficulties feeding one's young in these barren lands. And one does possess a measure of vanity. Perhaps one finds your idea something to consider. May one attend to one's eggs now?"
"Of course, Elsa dear. They are near hatching, and need you there. Do you consent to a Bonding with this clutch?"
"Yes." Elsa bowed briefly and made her way out of the room.
Heklia watched her go, then turned to the smaller painting fitted to the back of her throne. It showed Neo-Queen Serenity the Second, King Helios, and the rebellious Princess Sentra, scowling for all she was worth.
"I'm going to grind the three of you into the dust." She said, grinning ferally at the painting. "All you own and all you love will be mine."
Sentra and Serenity ran through the wrecked palace, searching for Helios. They stopped to help whenever they could, but no one ever asked them to stay after seeing the half fearful, half hopeful look on Sentra's face. But the king was nowhere to be found.
"Where haven't we looked yet?" Serenity asked, brushing dirty pink bangs out of her eyes. "He has to be somewhere. He's not dead. He can't be. Can he?"
"Don't even think that, Mom! You'd know if he was dead, and so would I! C'mon. If we can't find him, maybe Pluto can!" Sentra turned toward the center of the palace and the Gates of Time. "Granddad once told me a long time ago that you and Pluto were very close when you were young-looking. She's connected to this family."
"How much time did you spend with my parents?" Serenity asked, running alongside Sentra. "I don't remember ever seeing you near them." Serenity paused, then smiled sadly. "But I never really paid much attention to you, did I?"
"Forget it, Ma. You had other things on your mind. But Granddad and Grandma knew it and tried to make up for it. They told me everything about you and themselves. If Pluto's as close to the family as Granddad said she is, she'll probably know where Dad is."
"I suppose you're right. Let's go."
When the two reached the Gates of Time, Pluto was there, waiting for them.
"Do you know what's happening in the palace?" Serenity asked after a brief hug.
"Yes." Pluto said, nodding. "And I know why you are here. I am pleased that you place so much trust in me based on the words of your late grandfather. And If I am uninterrupted, then I may be able to locate King Helios."
"Don't tell me someone else is trying to travel through time!" Serenity exclaimed, her eyes wide with worry.
"Doubt it." Sentra said, snorting contemptuously. "Not after everything that happened to the Dead Moon when they tried it. Now space is another matter entirely. Is that what's going on?"
"Very perceptive, your highness." Pluto said, smiling as she had at the young Serenity. "That is indeed the case. If one of you could guard the Gates for me, then I will be free to work with the other."
"I'll take the Gates." Serenity said. "I learned from Mama's mistakes and managed to retain most of my powers as a senshi. Moon Prism Power, Make Up!" Sailor Moon moved to take her place by the Gates while Sentra and Pluto moved to one side.
"What'm I supposed to do?" Sentra asked, sinking to the ground with Pluto. This was the first time she had met the emerald haired Guardian, and yet she felt as if they had known each other for years.
"Close your eyes and concentrate on your father."
"Yokey-doke." Sentra said. She did as she was told, conjuring up an image of her father as she had seen him that very morning, dressed for court. "How's that?"
"This will suffice." Pluto said. There was a moment of silence, in which the battle between Sailor Moon and the would-be dimension hoppers could be clearly heard.
Finally, Pluto said wearily, "He's out in the city. Your father felt it his responsibility to protect the citizens first. He is alive, but hurt."
"Where in the city? How fast can I get to him?"
"Calmly, princess. If you leave now, you will be slain before taking five steps."
Sentra's growing hope vanished, and she slumped over, almost as tired as Pluto seemed to be.
"So what the hell am I supposed to do?" She demanded angrily, grinding her teeth in frustration. "I have to find Dad! I just have to!"
Helios panted heavily, slamming into another wall. He leaned heavily against its crumbling support for a moment before pushing off again. The small child in his arms whimpered, and he forced a reassuring smile he didn't in the least feel onto his lips.
"Don't worry." He said, shifting the girl's weight. "I'm going to get you out of here, and then I'll get your brother. Okay?" The child managed a shaky nod. "Good. Now let's go."
Helios ducked behind a collapsed shop, glancing around for more of the shadowy attackers. Seeing none, he darted into the open and across the invisible line that marked the beginning of the 'safe' zone.
"You're safe now." He told the girl, gently handing her to an older refugee. "Fara will clean you up and feed you something while I get your brother for you."
Without another word, he spun on his heel and ran back into the burning remains of Crystal Tokyo. He wove his way back to the house where the girl had been holed up with her older brother and ducked in through a shattered window. He stood to find himself facing down a loaded plasma gun.
"Oh. It's only you." The boy behind the gun said, lowering it. "I take it you got Kika out?"
"Yes. She's safe now. Did you know your arm is bleeding?"
"Nope." The boy looked down at his forearm, which bore a long gash that, thankfully, ran down the back of his wrist.
Helios knelt in front of him, tearing a sleeve off his formal court dress.
"Hey, man! Those rags gotta be expensive! You sure you should be tearin 'em up like that?"
"You need a bandage more than I need a sleeve. Hold out your arm and let me wrap it up. We need to get out of here A.S.A.P."
"Whatever you say, boss-dude. My name's Ray." Ray held his arm out obediently, glancing around the shelter.
"Okay then, Ray. My name is Helios. Now that we're on a first-name basis, let's get you back with your sister."
"What should I do?" Sentra sobbed into Pluto's shoulder. "I mean, he's my dad! I can't just leave him all alone out there!"
"I know, young one." Pluto soothed, gently patting Sentra's back. It took her back to the days she'd spent with Serenity when she'd been small, in almost this exact position. "We may yet rescue him, if he takes no undue risk."
"But that's exactly what he will do!" Sentra protested in a wail. "He'll do anything to help those people out there, and he'll wind up getting killed!"
"Don't cry, young princess." A new voice said, and a tiny, cold nose nudged Sentra's hand. "I'll help you find King Helios."
Sentra absently scooped up Diana, her mother's ageless gray cat, and held her against her chest. "What can we do, Diana?" She asked, scratching Diana behind her small ears. "We're just a girl and a cat."
"Your mother was just a girl when she went to the past and brought Sailor Moon to help save Queen Serenity the First." Pluto reminded her gently, helping her to her feet.
"You think we should go back and get Sailor Moon again?" Sentra asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Actually, no." Pluto said. "Sailor Moon would be of no help, because we already have a Sailor Moon here. Much like the Silver Imperium Crystals, they would simply cancel each other's powers. No, what we need is an entirely new senshi."
"And where do those come from? Is there one up on the moon?"
"Don't be sarcastic, dear." Sailor Moon said, tousling her daughter's hair. "The Gates are yours, Sailor Pluto."
"My thanks, your Majesty." Pluto said with a grave nod, standing. "What you and your daughter seek lies within the palace walls. I cannot tell you more."
"That's plenty, Puu." Sailor Moon said, smiling as Pluto cringed at the ancient nickname.
"Please, my queen." The emerald-haired beauty pleaded. "Never call me that again. I rather like you, and it would pain me greatly to have to kill you."
"Yes, Puu." Sailor Moon said absently. "Let's go, Sentra. We've got something to find, and time's running away on us."
"Okay." Sentra agreed reluctantly, still cradling Diana as she followed her mother back into the palace proper.
Please don't do anything stupid, Dad. She thought, hoping Helios might hear her and respect that wish.
What do you think of that? Not too shabby, if I do say so myself.
It's been quite a while since I last wrote a Sailor Moon fic. Huh. Maybe I'm reentering the fandom.