Part One
"Gouya."
"I-Ichi." The woman paused. "You've returned." The words were hopeful, pleading.
"Not for long, Gouya. I have come to ask for your help."
"Anything for you, Ichi."
Maybe this time he would stay a little longer.
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It was a beautiful day in Crystal Tokyo. The sun sparkled off the buildings and the streets, while people went about their business with unusual cheer. Parents set out to work and children headed to school, and deep in the palace, the royal couple lay in bed, the warmth and light of the sun streaming through their window and shining across the covers. While Endymion was awake and had been so for a while, his wife was asleep, curled up against his side and with no signs of waking anytime soon.
He had had a vivid nightmare. Normally this would be no cause for alarm, but the Neo King's powers included the occasion warning dream, and he was loathe to wait for the threat to come. He wanted to act, but the dream had been vague- a golden city under a dome, screaming like a child's, a spatter of blood on the ground, and then pain. He couldn't yet fathom the meaning of the dream, but it bothered him, so he stayed in bed at Serenity's side.
"Mmph." She mumbled, voice muffled. He reached out, absently, for a strand of her silver hair; sometimes she made it blonde again, sometimes she left it this way. He could tell her mood that way-the gold was for nostalgia, for longing, and sometimes for joy…
"Your Highness?" It was one of the messengers. "Sir, we have a visitor."
"Endymion?" This voice was Rei's. "There's a woman in the courtyard who claims so be the former Sailor Sun, now Sun Queen Gouya. We need you and Usagi out here."
"Give us a moment." He nudged his sleeping wife until her eyes fluttered open. A smile crept up on her face as she dragged herself upright.
"Good morning." Serenity said.
"We have guests, Usako. Hurry and get dressed." He watched as she slid out of bed and vanished into her enormous closet, returning with a white dress in hand. She changed quickly, pausing only to let him lace up the back for her, and grabbed a pair of shoes and her tiara. Finally, she picked up a comb and fixed her hair.
"What is it, love?" She asked as they hurried down the corridor. "You look troubled."
"I had a disquieting dream, and this unexpected 'Sun Queen' only makes me more nervous."
"Everything will work itself out." Her stomach growled, running the effect of her words, and she laughed. "And I'm hungry. I hope she doesn't want anything too important."
The couple went hand in hand outside, into a courtyard. It was perfectly circular and tastefully planned with plants and fountains everywhere. The Queen claimed the statues tended to be creepy and had refused to allow any; however, there were at least a dozen rosebushes in full bloom in all seasons. It was normally a tranquil and pleasant place.
Currently, however, there was a large golden chair in the center of the courtyard. A tall woman, dressed in heavy golden robes, was sitting there with three servants in red uniforms at her feet. Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter were there as well, on guard and silent. The woman looked up as the King and Queen came in, and they saw that she had orange hair piled on top of her head and a crown perched precariously above her eyebrows.
So this was the Sun Queen.
"You are Sun Queen Gouya?" Serenity asked cautiously. She held out a hand in invitation. The visitor regarded her coolly and nodded. She gave off an aura of arrogance and strength as strong as Serenity's aura of benevolence, and apparently Neo Queen Serenity was not yet worthy of actual speech.
"We were only dimly aware of the Sun Empire before now." Endymion addressed the woman himself. "Perhaps you would care to explain?"
"Of course." The woman stood, revealing her full height. "The Empire of the Sun, as you may recall, conquered the entire solar system…and beyond. Unfortunately, an attack by dark forces weakened us. The light of the Silver Millennium's predecessors drove away the enemy, but our power was broken. Only a few of us were left, deep in the sun, and we slowly regained our power there while the Silver Millennium arose. However, when the Moon's Empire fell, Metallia was in control of the sun. Thus, I sacrificed my previous form, Sailor Sun, and became Sun Queen Gouya. I put our kingdom to sleep…we awoke only a century ago and immediately began rebuilding our army. We felt it would be imprudent to make contact with the outside world until we were ready."
"I am glad to hear that your kingdom has survived." Serenity said. "I was unaware of your awakening, or else I would have offered my assistance to you. I hope that things are well?"
"Don't condescend to me." Gouya glared at Serenity. The Neo Queen was shorter than the Sun Queen, but as imposing; her thin frame and soft face belied more power than anyone could ever hope to master. She stared right back, her eyes free of anger. "I didn't come to beg the Crystal Kingdom for help-in fact, you will soon be begging me for mine."
"Why?" Mars broke in. "What do you want, Sun Queen Gouya?" Her fists were clenched, preparing to burst into flame should the need arise. Gouya chuckled at her.
"I have an army of three hundred thousand trained warriors with magical abilities. If you cannot or will not meet my conditions, I will send them to conquer your planet. I know that you have the great power of the Silver Crystal, but will you kill men, Neo Queen Serenity? I think not. After all, they are fathers and husbands and sons…No, I think I'll get what I want, if only because you are merciful. Don't think we'll let you get away with just defending yourselves-we will never give up. Solarians never do."
There was a horrified silence, broken only by the gurgling of the fountains and the soft murmurs of the Sun Queen's servants. Gouya waited calmly as Endymion and Serenity conferred. Jupiter and Mars moved in behind their rulers, ready to defend if anything happened. The other Inner Senshi came out of a side entrance, looking tense-Mars had sent out a distress code from her wrist communicator.
"What, exactly, do you want?" Serenity asked finally. In stark contrast to the defensive poses of her husband and Senshi, she laid her staff down on the ground and steeped close to Gouya, so that the two were only a foot apart. Unarmed, the Neo Queen folded her hands over her heart. "I see no reason to fight with you, or with anyone." Her voice was earnest. "Have we wronged you, or hurt you, to invite this aggression?"
"No." Gouya smiled, shaking her head as she would at a stupid child. "We Solarians are conquerors. We are warriors, and we live for battle. You are the strongest foe, although how you can use any power confounds me. That is all there is to it, Neo Queen. We are not evil, and we will not bow as all others do to your pretty words."
"Then do not. Live as you will." Serenity said. "But I cannot condone violence against my people, against my Earth. So tell me what you want." She expected that the Sun Queen would want power over their kingdom, trading rights, money, even one of the holy stones that kept the peace. She did not expect the words that Gouya said next.
"I want your husband."
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"She's good." That was the first thing out of Minako's mouth when she and the other Senshi had followed the monarchs into their office. As soon as the doors closed, the girls relaxed slightly and changed their clothes with a whirl of magic. As they had discovered, an eternity in uniform was not pleasant. "Very good."
"She's picked something she actually has a chance of getting because it looks reasonable compared to the damage she can do." Rei complained. "Endymion."
"One person in exchange for many seems like generosity, but Gouya is canny." Ami leaned against a console. "She knows that separating Mamoru and Usagi is the easiest way to weaken them both. Plus she can try and use the King for information. Not to mention what she could do with the Golden Crystal."
"Gouya can't wield the crystal." Endymion interrupted. He gently pushed Serenity into one of the chairs that sat before the consoles that ringed the walls. "She's not related to me and she doesn't have the raw, dark energy required to corrupt it."
"And she didn't ask for Serenity?" Makoto mused out loud. "The Silver Imperial Crystal is more powerful."
"But difficult to control." Endymion pointed out logically. He sighed. "Look at it from Gouya's perspective. She needs one of us. Serenity is a hundred times more powerful than I am. It makes sense to go for the weaker link."
"You're my strength, Endymion." Serenity murmured. "I always depend on you. And…if Gouya decides to attack…we'll be hard pressed to stop her, Endymion. I don't want to kill. I'm not sure I could."
"Then we don't have much of a choice." Ami said what everyone had not dared to voice, even though they were thinking it. No one could meet the Senshi of Wisdom's eyes, preferring the blank screens on the walls instead. "We might have to do this."
"No!" The Neo Queen snatched at her husband's hands. "No…"
He knelt down in front of her, taking her hands in his. She looked at him, tears dripping down her face. For a long moment, no one spoke.
"Be strong." He whispered, kissing her hands. "I'll always be with you, even if it's only in your heart. And if this is what it takes to protect you…"
"Oh, Mamo-chan." Usagi sighed. "She gave us three days. How can I possibly…you're really going away…" She gulped, and her expression softened. The tears stopped, and she drew a white handkerchief from somewhere and wiped her face. "We should prepare some defenses to compensate. And we'll need to tell people the truth…there's no good lying if a war is coming…ah, we have to draft the treaty terms…" She groaned. "And I really can't do anything without you."
"Of course you can." He soothed. "We'll be fine, beloved, I promise."
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The planning began.
The Senshi rapidly ramped up their workloads so that the King and Queen could enjoy their last few days together. Endymion and Serenity made a speech to the public and drafted up a treaty for signing. There wasn't much to pack, as he didn't plan on taking anything burdensome. However, he did have one important duty to complete.
He had to give the Golden Crystal to Helios. Usagi would be able to channel it, a talent they had kept secret in case of emergencies, and it was unsafe to take it off the planet it controlled. What's more, leaving it here would effectively dethrone him. He would become Mamoru Chiba again and Helios would technically be guarding the planet until he returned. That way, Gouya couldn't use him politically.
He would not be used against her again. Never.
Serenity would be safe even if it killed him.
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She was crying quietly in her closet; she knew that as a queen it was her duty to be strong and brave, especially since Endymion was handling everything so calmly. But even though she'd grown considerably as a person since her days as lazy schoolgirl Usagi Tsukino, the fact remained that he true love was more precious to her than life itself. And the thought of living without him at her side was painful.
It was weak, perhaps, but she knew that her bond with him was her strength. Her powers came from her heart; to weaken themselves was to weaken their whole kingdom. Maybe that was why she hid in the closet to have a quick, furtive cry rather than sobbing to him instead. She didn't want him to know her pain.
"Will you come out, Usako?" She sighed, wiping her face dry. He could read her like a book. They'd been together for over a thousand years; it was foolish to try and have secrets in the face of that love. She got up and opened the door; there was her husband, waiting for her as always.
"Sorry." She sat down on the edge of the bed. "It hurts."
"I know." He sat beside her, and she took his hand without thinking. "It hurts me too."
No more words were needed.
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Gouya read over the contract, resembling a satisfied cat. She appeared to only briefly glance at it, when in fact she was absorbing every detail. She had long before learned the art of deception, and she used her image and her personality to manipulate and deceive whenever it suited her. There was no honesty in the world, Gouya thought, so one had to lie and cheat to get anywhere.
She signed with a flourish. Then Gouya pushed the heavy stack of paper across the table. The rulers of Crystal Tokyo sat there, looking superbly serene. The only sign of nervousness was the sight of their clasped hands on the table. Neither of them had come armed, which surprised Gouya; she had expected Endymion to be wearing at least a sword.
Were they supremely arrogant, or supremely trusting? Perhaps both. They were obviously powerful, as they had managed to defeat many enemies. But were they stronger than she was? She had no crystal of power to aid her, but she was a master of war, and these two really were only novices. Power was only as good as the one using it. And she was certain that taking the King from his Queen would cripple the Crystal Kingdom permanently.
Even if the odds had been against her, she would have found a way. Ichi had asked her to do this, after all. She could not refuse him.
"Are you ready?" Gouya asked Endymion. "I cannot tarry here any longer."
"Then let us go." He turned and kissed Serenity. "Farewell. Look after Chibiusa for me."
"I will." Serenity whispered. "I will." The door opened, and the two servants of Gouya came in, escorting the Sun Queen and Neo King out into the courtyard to transport back to the Sun Kingdom. Serenity remained in the room, staring blankly at the contract, even as Rei came in and sat down beside her.
Tears lid down her face, and Endymion felt his heart constrict. He hated it when he made her cry.
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The City of Sol was covered by a dome, and everything in it was golden. It resembled the city in his dream, which worried him. It meant that it wasn't just a nightmare but a premonition, and his premonitions were never of anything good. He could only pray that he would be able to meet whatever challenges were laid before him.
The Queen led him to a wing of the palace that was heavily guarded and eerily silent; she explained that it was the Royal Wing. Since her family was dead, she and her two children were the only ones here. The halls here were wide, the ceiling high, but the walls were bare and the floor hard. It was an unwelcoming place.
"While you are here, you will be acting as my children's nursemaid." Gouya announced. Endymion was surprised, but he concealed it and waited for her to go on. "No one is to know your identity; you'll need a new name. I will also expect you to report to the interrogation room each evening for a memory viewing. Is that clear?"
"No." Endymion replied. "It isn't."
Gouya smiled at his bluntness. "You'll adjust. I've arranged for clothes and such to be left in your room. Do not leave this wing unless I send for you."
"How kind of you. May I meet your children?" Gouya nodded and led further into the creepy building. There was a door at the end of the hallway, guarded on both sides and adorned with two crowns. The writing was in no language he understood, and he made a note to try and learn if he could. Gouya motioned for a guard to open the door, and the two monarchs entered a much cheerier room than the ones seen before. There were hangings in many colors on the walls, and heavy, fluffy rugs on the floor. Both the right and left walls had a bed, dresser, wardrobe, and desk, presumably one per child.
"Mousa. Keisa. Come out." She said in her most imperial manner. A plump girl with a dark, tangled mane and a taller boy with cropped orange hair emerged from inside one of the wardrobes. They were wearing matching blue tunics that fell to the knee for the boy and to the ankle for the girl, with gold belts around the waist. They were both barefoot and dirty-looking.
Mamoru couldn't help but think that if Usagi were to see them, her first instinct would be to hug them and her second to give them all baths and clean clothes. She had reacted that way after the calamity that caused the rise of Crystal Tokyo; half the palace had become a giant orphanage and she had mothered all the children until they were adopted.
"This is your new nursemaid…" She trailed off meaningfully. He took the hint and gave them his name.
"Mamoru."
"He'll be looking after you from now on. Behave yourselves. I trust you'll introduce yourselves?" Without waiting for an answer, the Sun Queen strode out of the room and let the guards close and bolt the doors again. The king-turned-nursemaid examined his new charges critically; they looked unhappy to see him, which didn't bode well for him.
They also looked too old for nursemaids-fourteen or fifteen.
The two siblings looked at each other and seemed to reach an agreement. The girl stepped forward and tried to curtsy in her narrow skirt; the boy bowed awkwardly.
"I'm Prince Mousa, and this is Princess Keisa." Mousa explained. He frowned at Mamoru. "You're really a nursemaid?"
"Yes." Mamoru lied. It occurred to him that the word nursemaid referred specifically to women. He was mildly offended.
"The other ones were girls." Keisa explained. "I'm fourteen years old and I don't need a nursemaid. What I need is a-"
"Oh, not this again." Mousa complained. "You are not getting married to Lord Sarad."
"Oh, what do you know?" Keisa asked. "He thinks I'm pretty. He might ask Mother for my hand."
"Right. No one cares abut us, Keisa. We've never even left the Royal Wing, remember? Mother doesn't even like us."
"She does like us! We're her children. The only heirs to the throne." Keisa insisted. "And she might marry-"
"Don't, Kei!" Mousa gestured to Mamoru, at which point Keisa rolled her eyes in a way that reminded him of Chibiusa.
"He's a servant. No one cares what he thinks or hears." Keisa said dismissively. "You, go away."
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Neo Queen Serenity stood out on the balcony, hands clasped over her chest, and stared up at the sky, wishing upon the stars that had always offered her protection before. She was praying for his safety, as always, and selfishly, that he would miss her and not forget her. It seemed silly to doubt after over a millennium of devotion, but she still fretted over him.
The clouds rolled in, and she went back inside. Clutched in one hand was a moon-faced pocket watch.
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