The end of the Begining
The smile when you tore me apart...
"You cannot defeat me Bunny. I suggest you stop trying."
The one names Bunny gasped as her breath came in hagard chokes that shook her whole body. Her throat was burning and each attempt for air felt like she was breathing fire. Her muscles felt stiff and sore and her limbs were in agony. Sweat ran down her back...everything about the Queen of Earths Moon dictated defeat.
Not long now...but I have to keep going...until...the end...for Selene...
The Queen forced herself to stand up but she did not mount to her feet gracefully. She stumbled wearily and her steps were shaky but her icy eyes were narrowed in something more than determination as she gripped onto the strap of her blue dress and opened her eyes wishing bitterly that she could keep them shut.
I have been blind too long though...
Even in battle the Palace of the Moon looked majestic. The pearly pillars still shone even as they lay in heaps over the crystaline floor. Chunks of the marble still fell from the ceiling and the whole structure was shaking. Outside war crys echoed along with tormented yells. The smell of blood seeped through the hall and ash and dust was littered all over marking the bodies of the guards who had tried to defend their Queen against their own Princess.
Finally the Queens eyes rested on her opposition.
The face of an eerily beautiful woman gazed back. Her pale skin shone with a pure golden light and her seductive red lips were composed into a soft smile. Her garment was a plain amber dress but it looked impression as golden wings spread out from the persons back. Tresses of hair floated perfectly down the womans back to her feet putting someone in mind of fiery coils. The most impressive feature was the womans eyes. Wide almond shaped with dark blue irises and a bright orange ring around the pupil and golden streaks through the eyes putting someone in mind of a fiery star in the sky.
Queen Selenity felt her heart ache as she gazed into that face.
You took my heart...
"Don't call me Bunny!" Hissed Selenity feeling tears fall down her cheek at her child nickname. The woman smiled coyly. It was strange how alike the two were, except for their hair. Selenity's was pearly blue and her wings were pure white.
"There was a time when you used to smile when I called you that Usa-chan," Teased the woman reverting to back to Selenitys other nickname. Selenity felt her heart sink and she wished that she could go back to those happy times. In her memories pictures started to paint themselves but the Queen steeled herself. If she remincesed she would loose heart and she wouldn't win.
Still as she peered into those familiar warm eyes she could feel her will melting away. A part of her was screaming for her to just embrace her twin. They were two halves of the same whole...and she had promised that she would always look after Selenity...she had promised...so many things. So many childish dreams were in dust.
I must not...Selene is depending on me...this Solar system is depending on me...I must avenge my mother...and my Aunts...and...and..my cousins...I pray...mother...please let them be alive...
Decieved me right from the start...
"You lost the right to call me that name a long time ago Amaterasu! How could you! She was our mother and you...you killed her just because she denied you the throne!" Shrieked Selenity as her blood boiled in rage as the memory of her beautiful mother came to her mind.
Amaterasu's face hardened for a brief second and the fire in her eyes dimmed. Then her tone went back to it's usual coldness.
"This was my right...Serenity. It was always going to be this way, one way or another. I am the oldest...and this is my birthright. I earned it giving my life to furfilling...that womans dreams. I gave my soul into making her proud of me but it wasn't enough...still...I guess I should not have been so naive," Shrugged Amaterasu.
"That does not excuse you killing her! And what of our Aunts? How could you go against them...against our cousins after all we've been through together! You were meant to be our leader!" Spat Selenity thinking of her Aunts and her cousins who were battling for their lived against Amaterasu's warriors.
"As their leader they should have followed me. I am the rightful heir to the Kingdoms of the Sun and Moon and I earned that title long ago..." Snapped Amaterasu her voice burning with anger before her cool demour slipped back through again.
Usagi gazed at her sister feeling pity as the words snaked their way through her mind. Then she mentally shook herself...no. She could not allow herself to give in to her sisters soothing manipulative words.
Think of Selene...
"I am their leader now Amaterasu," Said Selenity firmly, " You hurt them, you killed their mothers and destroyed their homes. They will never join with you again..."
You showed me dreams...
A soft wind blew through the hall ruffling both Queens hair. A silence echoed and the noises from outside dimmed as the twins gazed at one another with glassy expressions. Both knew what must be done yet both hesistated.
"I never killed them Usa. They can't die," Said Amaterasu softly.
Selenity nodded but her voice still bore hollow resenment.
"Hai, but we can't see them anymore. They have shifted back to their truest forms and eventually they'll forget who we are..." Said Selenity sadly.
"Hai, it seems ironic that things shall end this way. It always did in the stories..." Said Amaterasu in distaste.
Yes...stories...of two twins destined to battle it out. Darkness and light. Ying and Yang and Chaos and Cosmos...
"What now?" Murmured Selenity half heartedly. The pain was becoming overwhelming. Amaterasu lifted her head and the warmth in her eyes vanished as she steeled herself.
"Now dear twin we fight..." Said Amatarsu lifting a hand causing a wave of pure orange energy to flood towards her twin. Selenity gazed and raised her hands creating a pure blue barrier causing the shockwaves to vanish with the noise of an explosion.
Then voiced echoed in Selenitys ears. Her heart lifted and Amaterasu's eyes widened in recognition. Selenity whirled around to see her cousins racing towards her. All of them glowed with their individual light but their dresses were torn and matted with dry blood.
"Selenity-chan sorry we took so long," Apologised Queen Mars addressing her younger cousin. Selenity smiled slightly.
"You were never one to be late Mars-chan."
"This is interesting...so it's all of you against me..." Said Amaterasu quietly.
"Afraid perhaps Ama-chan?" Taunted Queen Uranus with a smirk on her face. Amaterasu waved the comment aside airly before her voice took on a bored tone.
"Not really. You know you cannot defeat me," Shrugged the radiant Sun Queen.
I wish they'd turn into real...
No...but I can do something else...
"Your right Amaterasu. We cannot defeat you," Said Selenity taking a few steps backwards shifting into place among her fellow senshi. She leaned closer to Mars and spoke silently into the pyschic Queens mind.
'Where is Selene?'
'Safe for now in the inner sanctoms. They will not withold blockage for long though...if we're going to do this it needs to be now'
Selenity nodded and gritted her teeth in determination before glaring coldly at her twin and repeating the words again. This time firmer and louder so the words echoed off the walls of the palace.
"We cannot defeat you Amaterasu! But we will stop you even if our lives burn out!" Declared the Queen. Her cousins nodded as they interlocked hands. Amaterasu stared impassively at the waves of lights appearing before her eyes as each senshi summoned their inner power.
Selenity closed her eyes tightly. The energy pounded through her muscles as a warm light appeared inside her. She was going to do it now...it would kill her since she was never meant to bear the power but she would do it anyway.
'Selene...I love you...'
Slowly her eyes opened as she raised her arms. A shining crystal floated at her eye level it's silver glow encased the room. Amaterasu's eyes flickered in surprise but she spoke calmly.
"I see...so you were the one in the prophecy?"
Selenity shook her head. Blinded by the pain the energy was causing her she screamed but the energy pulsed out nonetheless. She could hear mirrored yells and screams around her from her cousins who were pouring their own energy out. Tears welled up in Selenitys eyes. This would be the last time she'd ever see them. She could only pray they were reborn together while she went on.
Finally her eyes rested on Amaterasu who had her eyes tightly shut as an fiery shield formed in her hands withstanding the energy from each senshi.
You broke a promise and made me realise...
She gazed at her twins face taking in every detail. Memories flooded past and she gripped onto them this time. She wanted to remember the good times now. A time when things were different.
"I'm not the one from the prophecy Ama-chan..." Whispered Selenity sadly before raising her voice.
"Princess Serenity Amaterasu of the Sun and Moon you are exiled for as long as my kingdom lasts for the crimes of treason against your mother Queen Selenity. For the murder of Queen Demios, Athena, Aphrodite, Hera, Amphitrite, Mirander, Charon and Pandora and also for crimes against humanity by wrecking havoc and killing innocent lives in your attempt to gain the throne of the Moon of Earth," Yelled Selenity over the roaring winds that had filled the room.
"And finally you are exiled for attempting to awaken the Soverign of Death and Destruction!" Yelled Queen Pluto finishing off Selenitys speech.
The crystal glowed and Selenity gathered all her strength and poured her spirit into the next and final attack.
It was all just a lie...
"Sliver Crystal imprision my twin! Take her beyond the reach of chaos and darkness and bind her until the end of this world!" Yelled Selenity.
Lights whirled and screams faded into one but Selenity closed her eyes feeling her spirit float and her body sink to the ground.
Goodbye...Sunny...
"Mother!" Shouted Princess Selene shaking the body of her fallen mother in desperation. The Queen of Earths Moon opened her eyes slightly.
Around the room only a large crater surrounded by the bodies of each Queen lay as a memorial to their battle. The cries hadn't seized outside but the Princess and a small troupe of guards gasped and frantically tried to awaken each Queen.
Finally Selenity opened her eyes that now appeared dull and faded. She still managed to smile wearily for her only daughter. Princess Selene looked down with tears in her sky blue eyes. Her skin shone like marble and her hair was wound into two small buns but it was pearly and glowed like moonlight.
"S-Selene...there is something you must know," Gasped Selenity. Selene nodded but her eyes were not comforted and instead looked scared.
"I don't have much time darling...and this will be our last meeting.." Said the dying Queen sadly.
"N-No! You'll be reborn...like the rest...won't you?" Cried Selene as tears flooded from her eyes.
"No, I won't be...because I'm giving you what is rightfully yours..." Said Selenity. Slowly a bright crystal appeared in front of the Princesses eyes as she stared at it's hypnoic glow as though in a trance.
"It's...formed...from the sailor crystals of all nine Moon Queens...I borrowed it...but using it killed me...I'm not meant to have it...you are...you are the rightful wielder. You are the last rement of the Moon Queens...you are now...ruler of the Solar System..." Gasped Selenity as her lungs burned. Her grip on her daughters arm faded but she grabbed it again tightly.
"How will I know what to do with it? Mother...what about the rest...when their reborn how will I know who they are?" Asked Selene in a frenzie as her cheeks blotched with anxiety.
"You will know...this is your destiny. When the others are reborn...their job will be to guard this kingdom...together...as equals...with the soverign of Cosmos" Choked Selenity.
"Soverign of Cosmos? How will I know who she is?" Asked Selene curiously.
"Believe me...you will know..." Smiled Selenity, " Finally...I must implore you to do something...and give something to the new senshi when they are reborn..."
Slowly three objects appeared in midair glittering above the head of the Moon Princess. A garnet orb, a sword and a mirror.
"Those are...tailsmans...Amaterasu created them...but she could not use them. They are the only things capable of awakening Sailor Saturn...give them to three of the senshi. The three you give them too...it will be their duty to guard Saturn...and make sure she does no awaken before her time..."
Selenity inhaled deeply and her eyes lay on her daughter. Tears poured down her cheeks as she lifted a finger to carasses Selenes cheek.
" You are the true Moon Goddess... I...I...love..."
The hand sagged and dropped and finally the Queens eyes flickered shut. A small smile was still traced on her face as her body glowed with a brilliant white light before fading from sight.
Amaterasu...everyone...I love you...
Could have been forever...
Now we have reached the end...
"Princess...the bodies are fading!" Shouted an alarmed guard.
Selene looked up briefly in time to see a sparkling ruby emerge from Queen Mars's chest. She watched silently as the body of the majestic Queen was engulfed in fire and removed from the world.
Go...go on to a better life...I will see you again Mars-sama...
"Your highness...it's happening to all of them!" Exclaimed the guard as the bodies of Venus, Mecury and Jupiter vanished in a haze of golden, sapphire and emerald sparks. Selene gazed as the bodies of Uranus and Neptune faded and their sailor Crystals floated out of sight. Finally only Pluto was left.
"Pluto-sama?" Murmured Selene hopefully wiping the tears away from her eyes.
The daughter of Time lay in suspended animation for a few seconds before she two vanished but unlike the others her sailor crystal remained intact. Selene gazed for a moment before the answer crept into her mind.
Chronos-kami...he must have stopped time to save her...
Selene stared at the blank empty spots were the bodies of her kin had laid. She could feel the warmth of the crystal within her and she briefly pondered how she'd lived life without it. The moment stretched on for an eternity as the Princess felt tears drip down her face...everyone...was gone...
"Queen Selenity-sama...what do we do?" Asked a Solider. Selene didn't answer for a few moments but then she realised the guard was actually talking to her.
I am Queen now...Queen Selenity...my people need me...they need peace...
The new Queen Selenity pushed herself to her feet and wiped the tears out of her eyes. She held her chin high and clutched the golden moon rod in her hand. This was her Solar System now..and she couldn't let it be torn apart by war.
I promise mother this solar system will alway know peace...
Queen Selenity ended the war that day using the Sliver Crystal. She kept faithful to her promise and she turned the Solar System into a peaceful utopeia known as the Sliver Millenium or the Moon Kingdom. The great battle of the Sun faded from everyones minds until no one could remember it except the Queen.
Queen Selenity kept her home palace as her own. She gave the rule of the other planets to her loyal subjects and court members. It was plain ironic that when they had children she realised they were the new senshi. The first one she met was Pluto. The woman she'd known from the battle had vanished and instead she found a little girl. Chronos had spared his daughter and had rewound time for her. Selenity assigned the young girl to the time gate and gave her the newly constructed Charon Palace.
Queen Serenity-Amaterasu faded out of all history books. She was forgotten.
But not anymore...
The bold itallics is the last verse from Within temptations Sparkling Angel. I love that song and I think it totally applies to this story. If you have any suggestions about songs to suit the other chapters I'd love to hear. No I do not own anything apart from Amaterasu.
I know it's a lot longer than the old prologue but I wanted it to reflect whats in the prequel. Anyhow if your interested in how it all started with the Amaterasu conflict and the history of the senshi's parents and how Saturn was discovered and um...made invalid than read the prequel.
I hope you like the newly edited verison. Review as always ! x