Right, it's your friendly neighborhood Machina here, bringing you an interesting little something I thought up with. It actually all started with the title. I somehow heard the phrase "In Nomine Luna", and immediately began scheming up this idea. It's a pretty odd concept, I guess, but I hope I can pull it off. I think I set up enough ploty goodness that I can work with. Still, I'm gonna try and make this more than a one shot.

Oh, and I don't own the intellectual property of Sailor Moon, or Assassin's Creed. I can still keep my DVDs and video games, though. Right? Please?

In Nomine Luna, Requiescat in Pace

Chapter 1: A Moon Shadow is born?

A green haired woman carrying a staff, and wearing a dark green sailor suit stood by the misty Gate of Time, and pondered. Had she done the right thing? Even if it was Neo-Queen Serenity's will, it was a strange way to change the timeline. No one remembered those particular guardians, and their role in the old kingdom was antiquated at best. The fact that they would be resurrected by her will should have been enough. But as Pluto saw the ways Fate spun its course, she almost felt sorry for the once and future royalty. In a way, the old timeline was a blessing compared to what Fate decreed her trials were becoming. But as she continued to watch the threads of time weaving together, she dared to hope, just a little bit.

Perhaps the risks may be worth the reward?

Tsukino Usagi was asleep when the window opened and closed without notice. A shadow hovered over her, as if contemplating some grave decision. Luna's brow was furrowed in concentration as she mulled over what she had just seen and heard.

She had been confronted by someone who looked very much like her queen and vehemently denied being any such thing, and was given a special relic from the Millenium that by all records, never existed. And, to make things stranger and more frustrating, her soon-to-be charge's mission was spelled out to her by the one person who had no right to even be in the same room as her princess!

Luna tried to calm herself to no avail. After what that certain Senshi had done, she was surprised she even cared enough about mere mortal matters to leave her precious post. But there were more important matters to attend to. Such as this girl, this Tsukino Usagi. As much as it pained her to admit, that Senshi's remarks confirmed Luna's initial suspicions. She would be a suitable candidate, and now that she carried the relic, the Usagi would have the means and equipment to fight for the princess. Luna only hoped that she was not too late in finding a suitable successor.

Usagi woke to one of the oddest sights she's ever seen. A cat was talking; muttering, in fact. Well, this will be easy to write off as an odd dream. As she shifted to get a more comfortable spot on her bed, the cat looked up at her.

"Oh, good, you're awake."

Usagi stared at the odd little cat, which was looking more and more familiar with her cute little… bald spot? Wait, this is the cat she saved from those kids this morning. Well, Usagi could deal with this. Sleeping was one of her favorite things, after shopping and milkshakes, so dreams of weird cats she could handle.

"No, I'm not. You're talking. Cats don't talk."

The cat looked annoyed. "Just because I look like a cat doesn't mean I can't talk. Honestly, people today have no respect for anything different from their own little worldview… But no matter. Usagi, I need your help."

Usagi pinched herself. It hurt. She pinched herself again. It hurt again.

"So… this isn't a dream?"

The cat seemed to sigh. "No."

"Oh. My. God. A cat is talking to me and I'm not dreaming and you're still talking to me and I pinched myself and you didn't go away like the rest of my dreams and… and… oh my god, a talking cat!"

The cat sighed again. "Usagi, this is important. Now, I want to tell you a story about a kingdom long forgotten…"

Usagi thought that with her apparently magical transformation, she would become a superhero of love and justice. However, the silver ornate bracelet that was given to her changed her a little differently than she expected. Her clothing vanished in a blaze of white and red ribbons to reveal a short, knee length coat of white and red. It covered what felt like metal armor hidden within the folds, and the bracelet had been replaced with an ornate bracer of silver with a highly wrought crescent moon on the back, and a wicked retractable blade on the underside. Over her chest was a leather vest covered in pouches, knife sheathes, and a rather ornate symbol of an A, with an upturned crescent moon in the open center of the emblem. Finally, she noticed her trademark odango ponytails were covered under a soft white hood.

The cat, Luna, gave an almost apologetic smirk. "I could not give you the power of the Guardian Senshi, as that was only the right of the Queen, but there were… lesser known guardians of the realm."

She seemed to straighten up at that, and in a solemn voice intoned, "I hereby invoke my Right of Recruitment and invite you to join the Order of Selene's Shadow. Do you accept?"

The words out of Usagi's mouth held none of her bubbling mirth, nor did Usagi know she was uttering them. It was a far more calm voice that responded, "Aye, I humbly accept this invitation into the Order. By the Creed of Selene, I swear to uphold justice and triumph over evil. In nomine Luna."

There was no flashy entrance. There was no fanfare, or trumpets. There was no announcement of the girl's presence as she stood in front the jewelry store, unnoticed by the demonic forces at work here. Simple white and red robes replaced frilly skirts and revealing sailor suits. There was no tiara, only a magical blade, hidden within the sleeve of her robe. The ancient symbol of her order on her belt was her only distinctive marking, a sigil unheralded since millennia long past. As she moved, ancient training overrode innate klutziness, and stealth overcame a need for recognition. After all, she did her best work in secret.

Always Be Discreet.

The jewelry store appeared closed for the night, though the door was locked, that was not her only means of entry. The window on the second story would work well enough. Slipping into an alleyway, gloved fingers found purchase in the brick wall of a neighboring building. Climbing to the roof was a simple matter, and leaping onto the window sill was as effortless as it was silent.

As she looked down to survey the store, she saw a girl, Naru she believed was her name, being choked by an older woman. Usagi thought that the woman was this Naru's mother. Her true target had not shown itself yet; and as unfortunate as it was, she could not do anything to defend Naru without compromising herself.

Stay Your Blade From the Flesh of the Innocent.

As Naru slipped into a blissful state of unconsciousness, her mother began to change. Her hair all but dissipated, leaving only a wisp on her gnarled brown head. Her skinned mutated and darkened to a fine leather. All assumptions that she was a human fled in the face of this decrepit form. It was almost a relief to see her target was not Naru's actual mother.

As far as she could tell, the beast was impersonating the store owner, the vile youma had infused dark energy into every necklace and ring in the store, ready to drain the life force of any who touched them. The stench of evil was overpowering, making it hard to even breathe in that miasma of negative energy. Dropping from her perch and sliding behind a jewelry case, she saw that Naru had long since passed out, drained of her own energy, but otherwise unharmed. Pick on her friends, will they? Well, this time, the war will be fought on our terms.

Luna had briefed her as well as she possibly could. The Lunarian Princess had been tracked to this area, this… Tokyo… and should be of a similar relative age to her. Her mission was to find the Princess, and to defend the area from youma incursion. Following the precepts of her order, the most holy Creed of Selene's Shadow, she would obey. Youma disrupt the peace of all things, and must be eliminated. The princess is in grave peril from the youma and whoever is behind them, and must be found and protected. Serena would not fail her duty. She would find her lady Serenity.

And Above All, Never Suffer the Endangerment of the Heirs of Selene.

She skulked to her target, taking great pains not to disturb the sleeping victims of the youma's trickery. Her heart began to pound harder as she moved closer to her prey, never taking her eyes off of the youma who hurt her friends and whose existence threatened her princess. As she extended the hidden blade on her wrist, a relic of purification of her order, the sound of scraping metal drew the youma's attention.

As the foul beast turned, the young assassin lunged at her quarry with a practiced leap, piercing the youma through the neck and sending glowing tendrils of energy throughout her gnarled body. The demon burned at the touch of her holy blade, and leaving behind a pile of dust.

And when it was all said and done, the room fell deathly quiet but for the faint, even breathing of sleeping women, and the echoes of her now unguarded footfalls. Kneeling before the Youma's remains, Serena uttered the traditional, ancient prayer for her fallen foe.

"In Nomine Luna, Requiescat in Pace."

Upon the same windowsill the young woman had entered, a Tuxedo Kamen stood overlooking the young woman who had just destroyed that youma with a single well placed thrust. Her pale white robes covered hints of burnished silver armor, and her frame was thin, and shapely. Her hood obscured her face, but he swore that he should know her. To his eyes, she seemed like a wraith, ready to disappear among the shadows.

As she turned to face the window, Tuxedo Kamen pulled out a rose, bereft of thorns, and tossed it gently to her. Her hands seemed to grab the rose before she was conscious of the movement. "Honor for your enemies is a trait long thought dead. Might I know the name of one such worthy individual?"

As she looked up at him, her blue eyes seemed to glow, piercing him to his core from beneath her hood. She nimbly leapt to the windowsill next to him, and then from their shared platform to the neighboring rooftop. "Perhaps if you can keep up, I may deign to tell you," she stated with a smirk on her lips.

With that, they were off, leaping from roof to roof in a flirtatious game of cat and mouse. As soon as Tuxedo Kamen could reach her vantage point, she would leap, as if dancing on the breeze, and the race began anew.

Soon enough, Tuxedo Kamen faced the back of his mysterious other on a single skyscraper, with no immediate way of escape. She turned to face him; her smile looked almost pleased that he could keep pace. As soon as he caught his breath, he presented an elegant bow.

"Might I now have the honor of your name, my lady?"

Her lips quirked into a smile, and replied, "Ah… I believe Serena will do for now. Might I enquire a similar favor from you?"

"Ah, please Excuse my manners. I am Tuxedo Kamen."

"Well, Tuxedo Kamen-sama, I thank you for escorting me this far, but I can find the rest of the way home myself. I shall bid you good night, and retire."

And with that, Serena promptly walked to the edge of the building, and threw herself off into a dive. Tuxedo Kamen rushed to the edge to search for her, but she was already gone.

Serena, eh?

On the other side of the world, a young woman stood on a rooftop, overlooking the expanse of the city of London.

"Minako, I've just talked to Luna. She's found us an ally in Tokyo, and believes that we can find the princess there."

"Good. It's been too long since I've been home. You said an ally? Did Luna find one of the other senshi?"

"No. She only said that she found a shadow in the moonlight. What did she mean by that?"

"So, she wants to bring that back… Well, with an ally things will be easier than our last few battles, even if we have to deal with…" she spat the last word out, "Assassins."

Yes, I'm bringing Minako in a little earlier than Canon. It's just that if Usagi's not bringing the Senshi together, then I've gotta have someone do it, right? Besides, I like Minako. Not as much as Makoto, but I like Minako. I've got some fun stuff planned for her, so stay tuned.

But I think a reader or two confused about some things. Yes, I said both the names Usagi and Serena. Yes, there is a reason. Yes, it's a bracelet, not a brooch. There's a reason for that, too. Yes, Luna is an Assassin. I always thought she should be a bit more awesome than she's portrayed, if Queen Serenity entrusted her with her only daughter. She seemed like a glorified nursemaid in the show.

Remember, I LOVE REVIEWS! They make me better, and I like being a better butter, I mean a better writer.

So, Author's Question: So… how do you think the Senshi will react to an Assassin trying to find and protect their princess, when it was traditionally their duty? Tell me whatcha think and I'll whip up something nice!