Experience had taught her long ago that the Court of the Four Moons was a place for cold-blooded mercenaries who would take any coin for their troubles; for thieves both great and small, those who didn't hesitate to take and take until their gluttony drove them to their deaths; and vicious, mindless, blood-thirsty sycophants, the kind that didn't hesitate to cut down a innocent child. She hadn't grown up in this, but something in her had always accepted and clung to this. She had been born for this. The thin veneer of civility in the Court thrilled her to the point of physical arousal. In her mind, the sadistic luxuries and indulgent lusts of the Court were normal and commonplace.
It was perhaps this reason that caused all but three to draw back when she approached. Despite the many atrocities committed by members of the Court, her cruelty, her arrogance, her cavalier Machiavellian attitude was considered on the borderline of too far. She was ruthless, she was cold, she was fear, and, most importantly, she was power.
In the years since the doe-eyed bitch Galaxia had been struck down, a vacuum of power had formed within the Court. Galaxia, as Star Galaxia, had sat among the four Maria who ruled the Court, a terror to any who crossed her and many who didn't. With the loss of their most powerful leader, the members of the Court, even the three remaining rulers, the other Maria, had vied for her place. An endless spiral downward into destruction and entropy ensued, and the Court almost came undone. Which wasn't, in itself, a problem.
But she was too ambitious to let such a thing as that happen. No, Amelia Nakamura, nee Daliagh, would never allow the Court of the Four Moons to dissolve and become nothing when it was such a driving political force in the universe. While her adopted father, Nakamura Masao, the president and CEO of NTT DoCoMo, was one of the greatest businessmen of his day, Amelia forsook such things for politics. Since the political battles in Japan bored her, and the wars in the nearby countries held little more interest, Amelia managed to embroil herself in the politics of the universe.
Such a thing was a feat. She all but sold her soul to at least five different devils, and she destroyed and rebuilt herself more times than she cared to count. But in the end, she had been able to use everything to her advantage. She managed to glean one of the Sailor Crystals for herself. It was well known among those of the Court that there must always be balance, and when balance dissolved with Star Galaxia's demise, Amelia had stepped forward and seized the power that waited for her using all the subterfuge, backstabbing, and blackmail she could. Finally, after years of toil, she had become one of the most powerful and vicious women in the universe. Thus, with her Sailor Crystal, she was given the title Sailor Universe by the members of the Court of the Four Moons.
By no means could any assume this to be an egocentric act; that she had forced the title bestowed upon herself, for time and again she proved she deserved the name. When the lovely little princess of Noriin, a quaint planet orbiting the star called Altair by Amelia's people, asked for the Court's help in dealing with a plague, Amelia had destroyed the planet. The princess, horrified, tried to kill Amelia in turn. The princess vanished for three weeks. When she reappeared, she was a broken, sad spirit that lacked even the smallest glimmer of a soul. And, more importantly, she had become Amelia's favorite toy and most useful tool.
Members of the Court shuddered and locked themselves in their homes when the former princess of Noriin strolled the streets. If ever she came calling, most would save themselves the pain and commit a ritual suicide that left blood pooling around them in red, coppery vats. The former princess, called Lilith now, knew everything. There were no secrets kept from her by anyone with the singular exception of Amelia, and all of the secrets she knew she whispered into her mistress's ear.
Five years after gaining her Sailor Crystal, ascending to the position of Mare, and being named Sailor Universe, Amelia held sway over the entirety of the cosmos. Not a decision was made without her opinion being asked, and not a plan was implemented without her approval. Those that were often came to abrupt stops and the people involved often found lying in twisted, gruesome heaps of flesh.
Every planet and every creature on every planet now bowed to Amelia. Even the other Maria stepped aside when she asserted her will. There was still one world, though, that she had not bent to her commands. She had left this one place, her home, for last, wanting to strike at it with all the power she could muster, with all the ice and ferocity she possessed. Five years after attaining a power most would only dream of, Amelia finally turned to the Earth.
She smiled, her blood red lips turning up at the corners the slightest bit. Amelia never smiled except when someone was about to die. Her frigid green eyes studied the real-time holographic image of the planet Earth in the center of the Maria's council room. The whole of the Court, each and every last pathetic member stood in the room, held its breath as Amelia's smile grew.
"I think," Amelia said softly, her voice rich and dark like untouched coffee, and just as bitter, "that it is time to remind this little planet of the Court of the Four Moons." Extending her hand, her long, manicured nails painted the same blood red as her lips, Amelia waited for Lilith to hand her the report.
Bringing the small electronic pad before her, Amelia studied the writing, her smile waning. "Planet Earth," she read, "home to one Sailor Moon, alias Tsukino Usagi, and her guardians." Amelia snorted. "How does one need so many people to watch over her?" she inquired, condescending laughter lacing her voice. "The fool woman has nine protectors."
A few chuckles rippled through the otherwise silent crowd.
Tossing the data pad to the floor, Amelia stood. She wore the traditional gown for a female Mare. A strapless affair, it had an empire waistline bedecked with rubies to match her hair and the rich emerald fabric cascaded to the floor. Her fiery red hair was pulled back from her face in an intricate design of curls, peals, and emeralds. Extending her arm, Amelia gestured toward the hologram of the planet Earth as if asking a partner to dance.
"Eternal Sailor Moon, called Tsukino Usagi and Princess Serenity, born of Queen Serenity, I, Amelia Nakamura, nee Daliagh, Sailor Universe, first Mare of the Court of the Four Moons, and ruler of the known worlds, do hereby declare war upon you," Amelia announced to the hologram and the Court. The people around her cheered. Even though she was a ruthless person who killed without hesitation, she was still a phenomenal leader and well respected, comparable, in her own way, to a bizarre mix of Hitler and Churchill.
Lilith approached her mistress from the side. No one approached Amelia from behind. "An elegant declaration," she murmured amidst the continuing roar of approval from the members of the Court. All of them enjoyed a good war where they could bathe in the blood of the innocent. They were twisted bastards, every last one of them, and Amelia loved it.
"Names have power, my darling Lilith," Amelia replied. "Especially in this place. For this reason and this reason only do I recognize that simpering bitch by all her titles and names. It solidifies my declaration and my claim." Her smile once again turned the corners of her lips up the slightest bit. "This will be my greatest victory."
Hino Rei woke with a gasp, her entire body on fire. Her heart was constricted, and it hurt to breathe, as if all the air in the world was now denied to her. Through an enormous force of will, Rei finally calmed herself. Her body cooled, though with immense sluggishness, and she began to shiver.
The clock at her bedside read Monday, May fourteen, 2007, six thirty one AM and Rei knew, with a certainty that frightened her, that today would be the worst Monday of her entire life.
Please note: This and the following chapter are "teasers" of a sort. I want to post them now (so you shouldn't expect updates) to see how people react. That said, I would appreciate any and all feedback you are willing to give. If you have any thoughts or impressions on this chapter and the next (even though it's not much), please tell me!
.x.o.x. from Saiyu