Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and the Dragonriders of Pern belong to their owners. This is an experimental fic for fun only.
WARNING: AU, maybe OOC for many characters. Inspired by Dragonriders of Pern, but not crossover. Read at your own risk.
Dragon Millennium
He could feel Aeolite's powerful heart from under his saddle, each pounding growing faster and faster.
The watchfires flamed and sputtered in the relentless rain. The dark jungle below seethed and wavered in menacing shadows. The defenders stood in rows of iron discipline, two-deep and loosely placed along the wall. The air smelled thickly of fear and apprehension.
'There aren't nearly enough of us. But we will have to do.'
Endymion, Lord of Gaea Hold, put a steadying hand on his dragon's thrumming neck. The riders weren't of much use in the dark and wet weather, but they could still savage bodies and bite off heads. His position on top of the watchtower gave him a view of the long, long line of border wall, and the restless energy at each dot of light.
"Fine weather, isn't it?" a voice sounded behind him. A large man walked up out of the shadows of the stairwell, shading his eyes from the rain.
"General Demicas," he greeted, deftly ignoring the caustic opening remark, "How goes the preparations of the catapults?"
The general didn't reply, instead only stood silently by him, petting Aeolite's wing joint. The dragon left off watching the dark distance and arched to expose the soft underside of his long neck for easier scratching.
"It's the waiting that's doing most of the damage on the troops right now." Demicas said softly.
"Yes, sir." Endymion understood the underlaid worries hidden in the off-shoot remark.
The matter-of-fact tone of both men belied the tension of the situation.
"How many was the last count?" Demicas asked, as if it just occurred to him that this was more than a pleasure jaunt.
"Kunzite believes three thousand or more, spreading in a line 50 wingbeats long around us at the nexus."
The older warrior clicked his tongue and left off the petting, "It will be a long night," and turned away.
Endymion could hear him going back down the stairs, shouting for more fuel for the watchfires. Soon it will be the deepest part of the night.
The pyres were fed again as time stretched, each pinpoint of light climbed higher as the hours grew deeper. The clouds lessened, the rain stopped. There was no Moon.
The watchers' nerves were reaching a breaking point when sudden massive shadows appeared on the horizon and obscured the flimsy starlight. Then the first arrow flew and the battle for the Silver Kingdom and its Crystal was joined.
"What news?"
Serenity looked up at her mother's voice and moved closer to the heavy curtains behind the throne, gripping it in anxiety as she strained her ears to catch every detail of the message.
"Your majesty, our forces stationed at the north border has been defeated and the wall was breached during the night by invading Erebian forces of about three thousand strong. The remnants of the defenders are now making a retreat towards the cliffs located three flights away from Gaea Hold. Alongwith the reserve force stationed there, we will be using the location's natural maze-like qualities to launch a counterattack. However, with our inferior numbers, General Demicas fears it will not be long before all is lost. We beseech you, mighty lords, to send more aid for the defense of the Silver Kingdom."
Silence reigned in the hall. Then cacophony, as the lords of various Holds argued with each other on the best course of action.
More than half of the assembly vetoed a petition to send supporting troops in favor of bolstering the defense of the Silver Capital.
Serenity bit her lip, tensed, and almost jumped out of her skin when a soft bundle landed around her shoulders, "You are NOT supposed to be here."
She turned her head and almost shouted at her feline scarf, but instead settled for a fierce whisper, "I have a right to know Luna!"
"About your Endymion?" Luna asked, "Have they mentioned him?"
Serenity let go of the heavy fabric and stepped back in the hidden corridor behind the throne, "No. All they are doing is arguing about our gains and losses if we joined the defending soldiers. Even though people are dying at this very moment!" she scowled as she clenched her fists tightly in front of her.
Luna flicked her tail and stroked Serenity's cheek in sympathy, "I am sure the Queen will do the right thing."
"I...also hope she will Luna. But she is the Queen. The right thing...might not include saving him." she whispered as tears started to fill her silver eyes, horror completely displaced the anger of mere moments before.
"Serenity,"
At her mother's severe voice, she hastily wiped her cheeks before she turned, "Your majesty! I did not intend to-"
Before she could complete her excuse, Serenity was enveloped in a soft embrace. A hand stroked her long tresses and sighed. Luna had jumped down and was now curled around both of their feet.
She trembled from the rare show of kindness, "Mother, please-"
"I know, dear heart." Queen Selene stepped back and caressed her only daughter's damp cheeks. "Reinforcements are leaving at first light tomorrow. I do not want to see you in danger, but it seems I have no choice. You may go with them."
Her heart leapt, in fear and joy, "Thank you, Mother!"
Selene smiled sadly as Serenity rushed away, calling for her other guardians. She bent down to pick up Luna and stroked the black cat with shaking fingers.
"Is this the right thing to do Luna? Sending young girls to war?"
"She'll be fine. You've trained her to be a warrior."
"And she has done well despite her flaws. I know my daughter, Luna. She is too kind and loving for these treacherous times." Selene added softly, "Even here, there are some who have always coveted the Crystal."
Luna glanced around, as if afraid of eavesdroppers, "Your majesty, you can not keep her locked up forever."
"And that is why I have given her permission. Young girls in love are troublesome, are they not?" Selene switched suddenly into a light-hearted tone, and started to walked towards her quarters.
"I seem to recall a similar girl not too long ago," Luna purred.
"It does feel as if it was just yesterday that I have met him, every time I see Serenity daydreaming." Selene bent down, kissed the crescent moon on Luna's forehead, before she let her go. "May the Silver Crystal light your path."
Long after Luna had gone to join her young princess, the solemn Queen of the bright Silver Kingdom wept alone in her high tower.
For she has seen the future and its shroud of despair.