With all the exciting Sailor Moon things happening this year, me and my friend Puja723 decided to cowrite a Sailor Moon fanfic together! Both of us have been wanting to write one for ages and what better time to do it than now with all the relreases and remakes? We sincerely hope all of you enjoy our take on the Sailor Moon franchise! Original Japenese names WILL be used for ALL the characters.
OC Warning: For those of you afraid of cliche OCs and shennanigans then let me put your minds to ease. Puja and I have both been writing fanfiction since we were in diapers. While the story will feature a Sailor Sun and a Sailor Earth who, unfortunately, have the tendency to be portrayed as Mary Sues I can assure you that these are a fresh take on the characters. Don't believe me? Guess you'll just have to read the story and find out!
Enjoy!
The young woman sat in the garden weeping softly. As tears dripped down her face she whispered, "How could he love her? I have loved him for so long!" Emotions of sadness, grief and pain filled her and she clutched her arms. As a sorceress in the Crown Prince's Palace Beryl had done all she could to get into the Prince's good graces. Thinking of his handsome features brought more tears to her eyes. How could she not fall in love with such a handsome and good man? She had gone to him, thinking that perhaps he could feel the same. Her heart had been broken by his refusal. Desolate, she had retreated to the garden and a short time later had been shocked to encounter Endymion embracing the Princess Serenity of the Moon.
As Beryl sat there crying she suddenly heard a voice saying, "Why do you cry?"
Looking up Beryl was stunned to see a shadowy figure standing on the other side of the small area where she sat. Wiping her face she replied hesitantly, "I've lost my chance to love."
The figure moved closer and Beryl felt afraid when she realized it was nothing but a shadow. She let out a soft cry but the shadow made a soothing noise. "There is no need to fear my child. I have come to help you." Without waiting for a response the figure continued, "I am Queen Metaria and I am here to help you."
The fear going away, Beryl replied softly, "I am Beryl…A sorceress in Prince Endymion's home."
"I knew I sensed power within you," Queen Metaria said, the shadow's mouth area widening into a smile. "I can give you what you want dear one. Together we can do things you've only dreamed of."
Beryl's eyes widened. "You can help me win Prince Endymion's love?"
The shadow seemed to grow darker and a hint of malice entered the Queen's voice. "You will have the Prince's love Beryl and much more if you promise to help in what I wish to do."
"How can I help you?" Beryl asked curiously. "I'm only a lowly sorceress."
"It is in the lowly places that great things begin," The queen reached and brushed her shadowy hand across Beryl's forehead. As power flowed into the young woman, Queen Metaria continued evilly, "Come. We have much planning to do."
Several Months Later
The sun was beginning to set when Princess Kaede of Earth wandered onto the training grounds. The girl's eyes immediately fell upon the Prince of the earth, Endymion and for the briefest moment she felt a twinge of annoyance. As his generals trained with their swords, the Prince stood near the edge of the training grounds, his eyes fixated upon the Moon. Squaring her shoulders Kaede sailed across the edge of the field and came to stand beside Endymion.
The prince gave a slight start at the sudden appearance of Princess Kaede but a gentle smile curved his lips upwards. "Good evening Princess." His eyes turned back to the moon.
"I've noticed something about you Endymion," Kaede replied lightly. When the prince looked at her in surprise she continued, "Each night I find you staring at the moon. One would think that you are in love with it."
The prince snorted but said cheerfully, "Why shouldn't I stare at it? We have the most beautiful moon of any of the planets."
Kaede pressed her lips together. "I enjoy the sun but you do not see me staring at it during the day." She paused and glanced over her shoulder. The generals had moved further away. Still, it wouldn't do to speak too loudly. Lowering her voice, Kaede stepped closer to the prince and asked, "Are you in love with the Moon Princess?" The look Endymion gave her caused the young woman's heart to sink. No matter what his reply she now knew the truth.
After several brief moments Endymion replied quietly, "It would be foolish for me to be in love with the Princess Serenity. We are, after all, from two different worlds." He sighed, his gaze returning to the moon. "It does not matter how kind or beautiful she is…we can never be together."
Kaede felt exasperation towards the Prince. "I am happy you recognize how foolish it would be for the two of you to be together. You know it is forbidden for our two kingdoms to mix."
"You think I do not know that?"Endymion replied bitterly. "Serenity and I know that our love cannot be…for that reason we have decided to put an end to our meetings."
Kaede nodded slightly, feeling relieved. "I assume you mean after the ball that will be held tomorrow evening in the Moon Kingdom," she said. A wind blew and Kaede shivered slightly as she continued, "Do you think it is wise to go to this ball when Beryl has just been declared dead?"
At the mention of Beryl's name, a look of sadness settled over Endymion's features. The young sorceress had entered his service the year before and had become smitten with the young prince. When she had confessed her feelings to him a few short months into their acquaintance Endymion had tried gently to explain that he could not return her feelings and Beryl had been devastated. A week later and she had disappeared. After months of exhaustive searching throughout the Earth Kingdoms the palace had declared the sorceress dead.
Sighing softly Endymion said, "We cannot put our lives on hold. We must continue to play our parts and as the representatives of Earth we are required to make an appearance at the ball tomorrow night."
"I suppose some good can come from it," Kaede said as she turned to watch the general's train, her eyes lingering on Jaedite. "It does grow wearisome watching the five of you train day in and day out. I don't even remember the last time we threw our own ball!"
The young woman glanced up at the Prince and was surprised to see the slight smirk upon his lips. The prince said teasingly, "Will you be taking this opportunity to forge your own romantic connection with Jadeite?"
Immediately Kaede's features were suffused with red. "H-how did you know?" looking embarrassed she continued, "I don't have the courage for such things."
Endymion reached out and squeezed Kaede's shoulder gently. "It is plain for everyone to see," he admitted. "I wish you luck. I will come to your rooms tomorrow to escort you to the Silver Millennium."
Kaede nodded. "Very well, until tomorrow."
It was nearing evening when Minako, Princess and Guardian of Venus, arrived at the Sol Temple. Located near the sun, the hovering temple housed the Sol Priestesses who were caretakers of the Taiyo Crystal. With the Moon Ball the next day, Minako had been charged with delivering an invitation to the high priestess Youta. Arriving on the temple grounds the young woman fanned herself and said to her companion Artemis, "I don't know how the priestesses can bear living so close to the sun. I can feel myself melting."
"That is because you are outside the protective circle," Artemis pointed out. He grabbed Minako's arm and tugged her closer to him. Immediately there was relief from the crushing heat.
Minako smiled up at her companion. "I don't know what I would without you," she said cheekily. As the neko blushed she started towards the temple doors. "Come, let us find Youta."
A pair of acolytes stood outside the temple doors and they bowed to the Princess and her companion as the strolled in. Eyes adjusting to the dim lighting inside, Minako almost immediately spotted a young woman sweeping a staircase. Walking over to her Minako cleared her throat. "Excuse me; I am searching for High Priestess Youta."
The young woman, wearing the dull red and yellow robes of an initiate, looked up in surprise. "Oh…I wasn't aware that the Temple would be receiving visitors today." She paused to bite her bottom lip. "The High Priestess has stepped out but she should return shortly. You may wait in her outer chambers if you wish."
"Thank you," Minako said. The initiate set her broom beside the steps and motioned for them to follow her up the stairs. As they walked Minako asked, "Your appearance is familiar to me, have we met?"
The young woman shook her head. "It's been many years since I set foot on the Moon Kingdom. We initiates are chosen at a very young age to be sent here for training." She paused to open the door to the outer chambers. "Perhaps you've meet my mother, she is one of Queen Serenity's ladies-in-waiting."
"Ah!" Artemis cried out. "You are Inari, the Lady Keiko's daughter! The two of you share the same unusual shade of red for a hair color."
Inari smiled a small flush settling over her cheeks. "Yes we do," she said. "Although I have to admit I wish my hair were any color but this one."
"Why is that?"Minako asked as she sat down on a small reclining couch in the outer chambers of the high priestess.
Walking over to a low table covered in a tea service Inari admitted, "Until now all initiates have had blonde hair. On rare occasions there have been some with brown. I am the first with red and it has caused some…friction between the High Priestess and I." Bringing over a tray of refreshments she continued, "Only earth citizens have hair this color and the High Priestess has…ideas about that."
Taking a mini pie Minako frowned. "What's wrong with the people of Earth? I have several good friends that live there."
Artemis gave Minako a look but before he could speak Inari said, "The High Priestess believes that the Earth people will bring ruin to the rest of the planets with their savagery."
"You can't judge everyone just because of the planet they're from!"Minako protested. "There are plenty of savage people on the other planets!"
Inari looked embarrassed. "I'm only repeating what I have been told," she said apologetically. "I have yet to make the acquaintance of anyone from Earth."
"Then you should come to the ball tomorrow night!"Minako said enthusiastically. She removed the invitation from the pouch around her waist and held it out for Minako to see. "Queen Serenity has invited the dignitaries from Earth and you could meet them and see they're not so bad."
A wistful expression came over Inari's face. "That sound's wonderful," she admitted. "But I'm an initiate, it is forbidden for me to leave the temple grounds. Only the High Priestess is allowed to leave."
Minako frowned, disliking the High Priestess the more she heard about the other woman but before she could speak there was a sound in the doorway. The three turned and found High Priestess Youta herself standing there looking resplendent in a gown of deep red overlaid with gold. On her forehead rested a delicate gold crown. The woman's expression was one of annoyance as she looked at her initiate.
Coolly she said, "You may go about your duties Inari; we have no need for you here any longer."
Inari dipped her head and turned towards Minako and Artemis. Looking as though she was struggling to hold back tears she bowed and whispered, "It was a pleasure meeting you." She was gone before the two could blink.
Kaede was on her way to her chambers when she passed by a window that overlooked the training yards. Pausing she looked out and sighed with longing as she saw the four generals, Jadeite, Kunzite, Nephrite and Zoisite were finishing with the days training. While all four men were handsome Kaede could not help but feel a powerful attraction to Jadeite. Her eyes stroked over his figure and she imagined what it would be like to reach and touch his face. She sighed dreamily imagining an intimate relationship between the two of them and it took her several moments to realize that her handmaiden, Manae, was standing near her attempting to get her attention.
Flushing a brilliant red color Kaede turned to Manae and said stiffly, "Can I help you with something Manae?"
The young woman hid a smile and nodded, "Yes mistress, it's time for you to be readying for the ball tonight. Your dress has been pressed and is laid out on your bed."
"Ah, I see, thank you Manae." Kaede said, a smile touching her lips. She followed her handmaiden to her room and let out a gasp as she saw the gown for the ball. Walking over to the bed she touched the dress. "It's beautiful."
Manae dipped her head. "It's only fitting for you to be so surprised seeing as how you're almost always in uniform." She gave a disapproving frown.
Kaede grinned at the acrid tone in Manae's voice. As a representative of Earth, one of her duties was acting as Sailor Earth. While Endymion was the true guardian of the planet the role of Sailor went to the woman closest to the throne. When Endymion's mother had passed away the title had gone to Kaede who shared a distant relative with the royal family. It was a great honor and required that that young woman spend most of her time in a uniform that consisted of a deep green skirt, boots and collar accented with golden bows. As much as she loved her role as Sailor Earth, Kaede was excited to wear the beautiful dress on the bed.
When she had finished dressing, Manae turned Kaede towards the mirror and said proudly, "Well then don't you look a pretty picture in this dress?" Kaede nodded wide eyed as she stared at her reflection. The dress was a forest green color that hugged her curves. The sleeves started bellow her shoulders and around her waist a gold belt rested. Manae had brushed her hair until the locks shown and had pinned a gold flower just above her right ear.
"Thank you Manae; I never could done this on my own." Kaede said as she hugged her handmaiden.
Manae's cheeks turned pink with pleasure. "It weren't nothing mistress." Fussing over the skirt of Kaede's dress she continued, "Perhaps now you'll allow the royal painter to do a sitting with you. It's only proper your being the Sailor of Earth to have your portrait hung in the royal gallery."
Kade smiled and nodded. "I suppose you're right Manae." Glancing around her chamber she spotted a small silver box on her vanity. "I knew I was forgetting something!" Moving away from the mirror Kaede walked up to her vanity and took the box in hand. Opening it, she removed a small silver pistol. Ignoring Manae's squawk of anger Kaede slid the small weapon into the hidden pocket on her dress.
"Manae we've been over this, the pistol was a gift from my father and I won't travel without it."
Manae let out a huff but before she could speak there was a knock on the door to the chamber. Opening the door Kaede curtsied as she saw that it was Prince Endymion. The prince bowed and gave an appreciative smile. "You look lovely. Are you ready?"
Kaede nodded and giving Manae a wave she followed the Prince towards the transporters that would take them to the moon.
Inari sat in the small chamber she shared with three other girls and sighed. The High Priestess had found her performance in the day's ceremony lacking and had sentenced the young girl to polish all the silver on the temple grounds. It had taken Inari three hours to accomplish the task and she was exhausted. The rest of the initiates were in the dining hall eating supper but Inari couldn't bring herself to muster the energy to join them. Sighing, she lay back on her cot and thought of the previous day's visit with the Princess of Venus and her Companion.
"I wouldn't mind going to a ball," Inari said to herself. The young woman would have loved to go and see her mother again. Having been apart for many years their only communication were scarce letters. The High Priestess felt the initiates were too distracted by the outside world and limited their correspondence to twice a year. There were still three months to go before Inari would have a chance to read what her mother sent and respond.
The life of an initiate was a lonely one and at times Inari wished she could be anywhere but at the Sol Temple. But the work at the temple was important and each initiate was chosen by Queen Serenity herself to go train and become a priestess. A soft smile touched Inari's lips. Being at the temple wasn't completely bad. Despite the harsh ways of the High Priestess, Inari got along well with the other initiates. And the temple had its own special spirit guide, a phoenix by the name of Goruden. Birthed during a solar flare centuries before, Goruden spent his days in the observation tower watching over the various planetary kingdoms. Every few days he would descend to the inner chamber of the High Priestess and console her on which kingdoms could use power from the Taiyo Crystal.
Inari stood up and, making sure that no one was outside the door, snuck out of the room and made her way to the observation tower. The High Priestess had forbidden the initiates from going there but it was a risk Inari was willing to take. Upon reaching it, she slipped inside and found Goruden perched on a stand, his gaze fixated on one of the windows. Inari sighed softly as she admired the beauty of the bird. The size of a large eagle, Goruden's feathers were a mix of brilliant colors that were unseen in any book or painting. On his head was a crest of golden feathers that matched his eyes. "Will you greet me or will you stay there staring at me the rest of the night?" Goruden turned his head and gave Inari a pointed look.
Smiling at the cheekiness of the beautiful bird Inari admitted as she sat down in a window seat, "I could stare at you forever."
Goruden stretched out his brilliant wings and yawned. "How unfortunate for me." With a flap he was up in the air and after doing a circle he landed beside the young girl.
Inari, forehead pressed to the window and, as she looked at the stars, reached out to stroke the bird's head. "Have you seen anything interesting?"
The bird leaned into her hand and was silent for several moments. During the past few months a steadily growing darkness had been enwrapping itself around the earth. Its progress had been so slow that Goruden had ignored it. A mistake he now recognized. Turning his gaze to the planet he could see that it was nearly completely covered. The bird turned his gold eyes to Inari. At nineteen she was the eldest of the initiates. In a month's time she would say her vows to the Taiyo Crystal and take on the robes of a priestess. Despite this, there was an innocence to the young girl that Goruden was hesitant to mar. The phoenix dipped his head and replied curtly, "I see the same thing I always see; stars upon stars. It is tiresome. Now then, I must go see the High Priestess and inform her of this myself."
"But she is not here," Inari said. "She has gone to the Silver Millennium to a ball that the Queen Serenity is hosting."
Goruden turned his gaze to the moon and felt a shiver of anticipation go through him. Earth's darkness was reaching for the moon. It was too late.
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