A Moonlight Legend
Prologue: Welcome to the White Moon
By: Usagi Carter
Chapter Beta: Loki
Last Revised: January 21, 2012
Summary: A young prince struggles to make his planet seem anything but savage before the hundreds of millennia old Silver Millennium.
Rated: T+ (there will be some M rated chapters later on)
Characters: the usual SM suspects
Dedication – my sister Ang, who has renewed my love of Sailor Moon. Alicia Blade – for inspiration beyond belief and for being the very first SM author I ever read! And for Loki – who never ceases to amaze me with his wonderfully encouraging words, and has remained a friend despite the turbulence we've experienced at times.
All good legends are rooted in as much truth as myth. Extraordinary circumstances result in stories that are told for generations, with a few alterations here and there. The legend surrounding the Silver Millennium and its ruling seat of power, the White Moon Kingdom, were no different. Children everywhere in the galaxy, including on the ever elusive Earth, were told the stories of how the Silver Millennium came to be and how the current system of planetary rule began. But as with all stories, the details changed over the years, and some were left out entirely, leaving gaping holes that were replaced with new information, leading to the loss of the most important pieces.
It was one of his few vices that he could actually justify in his position. As the future heir to Atlantis and the Earth Federation, Crown Prince Endymion knew it was his job to understand the intricacies concerning the history behind the rulers of the other planets, and their empress, Queen Serenity. If Earth was ever going to be taken seriously, and allowed to join the Silver Millennium, Endymion had to know with whom he was negotiating. At sixteen, he was considered young by many standards, except when it came to the prosperity and well-being of his people. In that respect, his mother had said countless times that he had surpassed even their most trusted advisors and diplomats.
The dark haired prince couldn't explain why his studies of the other planets fascinated him so much, only that he felt a tug in the vicinity of his heart that urged him to learn all he could. His sister and he would be among the first on Earth other than his parents to meet with the Moon Queen and her court in person. He wanted nothing more than to make a good impression, particularly if he hoped to get her, between now and his twenty-first birthday, to consider allowing Earth into the Silver Millennium.
The whole of the Moon Palace was abuzz with activity as the Moon Queen and half her court made their way through the long, echoing, cream-colored marbled hallways of the palace to the ornately carved double doors of the teleportation room. Ever and always moving as a strong, capable unit, the five women commanded the attention of all those along their path. Though all of them looked roughly in their early thirties, they were, in fact, all well over a thousand years old. Each woman wore a long, beautiful silk dress in a color representative of her home: Stephanie of Jupiter in dark, form fitting emerald green; March of Mars in fiery, silky ruby red; Anna of Venus in a stunning, flowing citrine gold; Maia of Mercury in a frothy, airy topaz blue; and Serenity of the Moon in an incandescent, flowing pearl white. They were known as the Crown Jewels of the Silver Millennium, the Queen and her Inner Court.
It had been through their efforts that brought this moment to fruition; two hundred years of lobbying with the governing bodies of each planet, including Earth, to finally begin the process of admitting the last planet in their system to the Silver Millennium Alliance. Each looked cool and aloof, but under their masks of calm, they were nervous and excited. Queen Gaia of Earth had won their respect as a champion of her people and for being an open-minded monarch, and her son, Prince Endymion had impressed them with his desire to join his mother in these talks, particularly since Gaia would now be unable to attend – she was currently eight months pregnant with her fourth child.
"Who will be joining him, Serenity?" March queried in a voice that only the other four women would hear.
"His advisors, who are the top four generals of the Earth forces and Princes in their own rights, and his younger sister, Princess Roselynn," the Moon Queen responded softly. The captain of the Queen's Guard signaled to the teleportation technician, who began the process of bringing the Prince of Earth and his court to the moon. In a matter of seconds, five handsome young men and a beautiful, petite princess were standing dazedly before the Moon Queen.
Endymion took his place at the forefront, dark hair tousled as his deep, navy blue eyes scanned the assembly. To his right, white haired Kunzite, a prince of the Earth's northern regions, was a strong, steady presence. His ice blue eyes narrowed as he examined the unfamiliar territory of his surroundings. To Endymion's left was his sister, Roselynn, who at fourteen Earth years was already a beauty with long, mahogany locks and eyes the color of the deepest oceans. Behind them were the other three Generals: fair haired southern Prince Jadeite with his amused blue eyes, dark haired western Prince Nephrite, with guarded green eyes so dark they could have been shards of an emerald, and quiet, golden haired eastern Prince Zoisite, who was giving the chamber a thorough scan with shrewd eyes while never giving what he was thinking away.
Without a word, the six dropped into bows and curtsies before her, making Serenity shake her head and smile. "Rise, delegates of Earth," she spoke, her smile growing as she did. "Welcome to the Moon, my name is Serenity and these are the Queens of the Inner Planets – Stephanie of Jupiter, March of Mars, Anna of Venus and Maia of Mercury."
"We thank you for the opportunity to be here, Queen Serenity," the tall, black haired young man with navy eyes smiled for her benefit.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Endymion." She couldn't help but smiled at his slightly startled expression. "If you would follow me, we shall get you settled in. Tomorrow will come soon enough, and we can talk then."
The group followed the Moon Queen out, with the other planetary monarchs following close behind.
Next Chapter: The Earth Delegates get to meet the famed Outer Queens and the Princess' Senshi. Rose's powers start manifesting. And Endymion has a chance meeting with a little bunny.
