[Classic disclaimer; I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the mentioned brands or companies, they belong to their respective creators. This story is for entertainment purposes only, not profit.]
An Important Notice: This is not your classic Sailor Moon story arc. I respect and love the series, have read all of the manga volumes, seen every episode of classic, Stars, the movies, and reboot. I'm a collector of the merchandise as well, and the entire franchise was pretty much my childhood (growing up in the '90's, every little girl wanted to be the moon princess). But as a writer, I thought 'what if Sailor Moon was directed more towards adults'? You know, what if it was a tad darker than the usual messages of love and friendship? So, after much thought and development, I have decided to make my idea a reality. I'm placing this message here because I would like for my readers to approach this story with an open mind, not "Oh but that isn't accurate to the show/manga!". I'm aware it's an original spin on the beloved story from our childhood. And all I ask is that you give it a chance. You may enjoy it.
Thank you.
Lunar Titanium
—An Alternative Story by StrawberryMilkyTea –
[Prologue]
=A World of Darkness=
Foreboding gray clouds formed a bleak and ominous wall in the sky, blocking out any and every bit of sunshine that had been earlier promised in the forecast. Of course, no one could have predicted what would happen that expectedly pleasant afternoon in Tokyo. No weather radar would have seen this coming.
The streets – usually so packed and alive with chatter – were now eerily silent, mangled body parts littering the sidewalks. Acidic rain washed pint after pint of blood down into the sewer system, trees planted along the road began withering and turning black, folding in on themselves and not one victim was left breathing.
Amidst the horrific scene was a single figure in a torn sailor uniform, which had only hours ago been white and blue, but was now mostly stained crimson, both from her own injuries and the blood of others. She had long, honey-blonde hair pulled into two long twin tails that formed round, dumpling like shapes atop her head, which had long come loose. Strands of wispy hair blew around her hollow face, her sapphire eyes – once so full of life – blank, hopeless, and desperate.
Scuffed, scarlet knee boots stumbled among the fallen civilians that she could not save, and tears silently streamed down her cheeks, stinging the cuts all over them. The remnants of a terrible massacre lay all around her, the rain burning her creamy flesh, but she could barely feel it anymore. Loss and emotional pain weighed heavy on her heart, hurting far worse than even the gashes on her thighs and hips.
It had all happened so quickly – the iconic Scouts had stood no chance. The barbaric creatures had been sent up directly from hell, summoned by an anonymous individual who called himself Ghast. A fitting name, considering the horror and chaos he'd unleashed upon the innocent people of Tokyo. Though he was supposedly human, he'd claimed to be acting on behalf of revenge for the ancient queen of the Dark Moon.
Just whenever she'd thought it was over – that she could at last put away the alias of Sailor Moon and get on with her life – Usagi was met with her worst nightmare. All of her friends, save of course Chibiusa who was safe in the future, had been dragged down by monsters so putrid and horrific that it made her gag to simply recall their appearance. Giant abominations with bodies like centipedes and the pale faces and long black hair of women, looking like a twisted form of Geisha mixed with the most potent nightmare fuel.
Usagi shuddered and sank to her knees. The battle had been fierce, and she had tried so hard to save her Senshi. Curling her hands into fists on the cracked asphalt, she took in labored breathes and tried to calm herself, but to no avail. They were gone, and she could do nothing.
The Imperial Crystal had been greatly damaged by one of the Chogsogu – what Ghast had called his monstrous pets – and what had started as a hairline crack had spread quickly into a web of them across the holy jewel. Gasping sharply, Usa tore the heart-shaped winged locket from her tattered bow and dropped it beside her. The jewel feebly flashed a few times until the celestial light within it darkened for good, and the crystal shattered into thousands of miniscule pieces.
A few drops of blood pattered onto the street from Usa's eyes, her vision blurring until it was nonexistent. She then collapsed, her Senshi uniform replaced with her ripped pearl-colored graduation gown. No longer a princess of the past. No longer a guardian of the present. No longer a queen of the future. Just a disgraced failure. Just a nobody.
/ / /