Title: A Shell of Waiting
Author: Hitsuji Kinno
Rating: PG
Genre: Drama
Part: 1 - Happiness's Lie
Created: 1/18/06
Updated: 1/19/06
E-mail: Hitsuji Kinno

All you need to know is that the Galaxy Cauldron is where stars are born and reborn.

"May the love hidden deep inside your heart find the love waiting in your dreams. May the laughter that you find in your tomorrow wipe away the pain you find in your yesterdays."--Anonymous

Crystal Tokyo is the place of dreams, and aspirations built on hope, and want of a better future. The inhabitants never falter to laugh and smile with great enthusiasm, they cannot do otherwise--their lives are good. But their laughter is a mockery to all of those who live inside of Serenity Castle. The inhabitants of Crystal Tokyo do not know what they do not need to know. The Royal Family has failed them. The life that they are leading now is a lie.

It was not as it was thought before. It was not in a sigh, nor in a great battle, it just happened one day.

Small Lady had made the ginzuishou her own. The transition from the ginzuishou to the Pink Moon Crystal was smooth. There were no problems with it. The whole planet was slowly becoming hers and was under the influence of the crystal, bringing harmony to the Solar System. Through many trials, Small Lady with her Sailor Soldiers had defended Crystal Tokyo from the evils that Chaos would bestow upon them. Small Lady took the name of "Lady Serenity" and by her own rights was truly a lady. She was courted by many suitors. But only one won her heart. The Priest of Elysion won her--Elios. She was almost ready to take the reigns of running the kingdom. When she was at her happiest, that's when it happened.

King Endymion enjoyed his early mornings looking at his family, and the loving eyes of his daughter. He enjoyed her smile, her laughter, and solving the disputes of those he rules. He'd given the Golden Crystal to Elios to be under Elios's protection. Crystal Tokyo was running well. When he was at his happiest, that's when it happened.

The Sailor Quartet had settled nicely into protecting Crystal Tokyo. They had established lives for themselves, and achieved enough recognition and status that they did not have need to prove themselves to anyone. Any previous scruples that the inhabitants had about them had faded in the last few battles to defend Earth. People trusted them, recognized them, and accepted them. They did not do their duty lightly. When they were at their happiest that's when it happened.

The new Sailors from the Outer Solar System had taken the place of the older generation. They had also relieved the Outer Senshi of their duties, and the Outer Senshi as a reward, gave them their powers. They had earned their places. The people accepted them as well, though they did not visit Earth as much. When they were at their happiest that's when it happened.

Each of the original 9 Sailor Soldiers had resumed their positions on their planets. They'd rebuilt their civilizations, and from the Cauldron they begged for souls that would inhabit those planets, and to restore what was once lost. With the Sailor Quartet and the new Sailors from the outer Solar system, they could retire. All of them achieved parts of their dreams. With their dream fulfilled, they had nothing else left but to take their places in the sky. They were at their happiest when it happened.

On one fine June day the Queen of Crystal Tokyo woke up, and implored her husband to get out of bed with her. There was work to be done, and treaties to be signed. Their old friends from Kimokusei were to visit and give them an alliance. She was looking forward to their visit. She smiled at the passersby that day. Her daughter was doing well in getting the people to finally accept her as the new Queen. She was at her happiest when it happened.

She collapsed. It was sudden. It was when she was getting ready for bed. King Endymion thought she had just fainted. He picked up the Queen in his arms, but did not see her breathing. He could not feel her heart beat. He panicked, and called for Princess Mercury, a specialist in medicine. Mercury ran to their bedroom, but she was too late, the queen was already dead. Dead of a heart attack.

It was all a lie. It was not a big lie, but it was a lie all the same. The Maboroshi no Ginzuishou--now the Pink Moon Crystal--did not protect everyone. It did not make their lives longer. It took people before they were ready to pass. Neo-Queen Serenity had passed without meaning to.

King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity had promised to always be together, to age together and take death in old age.

It was all very big lie. But if they told the people, then how would they react? There would be panic. The whole of the civilization depended on the power of the Pink Moon Crystal now.

So a new lie had to be developed. Even through the personal grief and despair that the Royal Family had, they knew for peace and prosperity, they had to lie. They had to make it look as though Neo-Queen Serenity was alive and well. When Crystal Tokyo and all of the Solar System was at it's happiest, that's when it happened. And nothing in the universe seemed to be able to prevent it. Neo-Queen Serenity died. That's when King Endymion started to wait. He waited for her to come back from the Galaxy Cauldron again.

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