Sailor Moon V: Star Dreamers

Prologue

(Chronicler's Note: The Prologue is, in actuality, quite a ways up the timeline of both the Sailor Moon series and the Star Dreamers series. It takes the form of a series of open letters to the Sailor Scouts, after a good deal of hurting, trouble, and general unhappiness. Each member of the Dream Weaver Senshi has their own chapter in the prologue, and it serves to offer a bit of backstory on the individual Senshi, so you know why they're doing what they do.)

Chapter 1: Call to Vengeance

To any of you who find this letter, you have to know how sorry we are for everything we've done to you. We do not ask your forgiveness. That would be a waste of energy, and I am quite sure many of the crimes we have committed against Tokyo in general, and you in particular, could never be forgiven. Instead, we ask the honor of sitting, for a moment, and taking the time to understand how it all began. As the leader of this group, and arguably the most responsible, I will tell my story first. It seems... fitting... when I was in a position of trust for so long. Anyhow...

My name was Akiyo Natsume.

I lived in what had come to be known by my time as the Dreamscape, in the Lotus Mountain region. I was the only daughter and heiress to a very important duty, to be the Guardian Senshi of my region, and keep at bay the forces of the Nightmare Hordes.

My childhood could be described as idyllic, I suppose. Given that I was being groomed from the moment I could walk, to take up the mantle of a very dangerous and difficult position. However, you must understand, I revered my mother. It was my dream, my only wish, that I follow in her footsteps. To that end, I practiced, unfailingly, every day, working harder than most children could, to develop the powers of sleep that were my birthright. I learned well, too, and upon my twentieth birthday, had been judged more than ready to take part in the Rite of Succession, and accept my place at the forefront of Empress Somnea's armies.

But it was not meant to be.

Even now, I do not know how the Negaverse knew the Rite of Succession would be our weakest moment. I can only assume someone within the Royal Court gave them access to this information. However they got it, they acted upon it in what I would learn to be classic Negaverse speed.

Traditionally, the Rite was to be held in the Great Hall of the Palace of each separate region, though my mother had noted some concern on Empress Somnea's part about two of the Senshi-to-be, and had expressed her wish that they be mantled in her own Throne Room. With my own, ceremony, though, nothing would be out of place.

My mother had spent weeks pouring her powers, her knowledge, into our family's talisman, a silver circlet studded with black onyx gems. By the end of the Rite, she was Senshi no longer, simply a woman, for all her regal bearing and commanding presence. But I revered her no less. She was on the verge of calling me forth, to complete the cycle of power, when the doors burst open, and the Negaforce's dark army flooded the Keep. Our guardsmen fought furiously, but with each monster that was slain, a score would take their place. The tide of battle turned quickly, and within moments, it was a massacre. My mother and I had been captured, and we both fought desperately against the clawed hands that threatened to crush our arms. For a moment, she was free, and had just enough time to her the circlet at me, before being dragged out of the Hall.

I don't remember screaming. I don't remember breaking free. I don't even remember leaping to catch the focal point for all our family's power.

The next memory I would have was the chill touch of metal around my head. I did not hear the din of battle raging around me. I only heard the whispers of long-passed ancestors, as incantations flooded into my mind. Spells to bring slumber to masses, spells to restore shattered minds, spells to traverse countless miles with the aid of the other Senshi.

But they were wiped away in an instant, by my thirst for revenge. These creatures, these... monsters, had taken everything I had loved and trusted in life. My soul cried out for their blood, and I would not be slowed.

A new spell began to shape itself in my mind. An answer to my call. I placed my hands together, and followed the incantation with my thoughts.

Fell enemies of the Dreaming, you have destroyed our sanctity. I felt a ball of aching coldness begin to form between my hands, forcing them apart. I looked down, to see nothing but a swirling darkness limning my hands, an energy so black it seemed to consume the very light around it.

We are overrun, we are slain, but we are not defeated. Savor your triumph, for it will soon wither and die with you. The energy trembled in my hands, pulsing like a thing alive, straining toward its purpose. All around me, the sounds of battle died, as monster and guardsmen alike halted, to watch a woman, barely grown out of childhood, strain to control the terrible blackness in her hands.

Judgment is passed, and your sentence, death. Now, you will know the fury of the Lotus Clan, the fury of...

Of...

I lurched to my feet, holding my arms straight up, the ball of light-eating energy aloft in my hands like some terrible trophy of battle. Here and there, I saw the eyes of my guardsmen lower, knowing what would come next. They understood. They would have their vengeance, as well. With new resolve, I screamed, the final words of the spell resounding throughout the keep.

"TEN THOUSAND THORNS!"

Darkness exploded over the room. The energy I had summoned had burst in a wave of countless shards of killing darkness, scything through the Great Hall, and wiping it clean of every living thing. The screams of the monsters as they were cut down were terrible, painful... and glorious to my ears. I watched the invading army fall as one to my spell, and sunk to my knees. I could not have been more pleased, and wept tears of joy, surrounded by death. I had avenged my mother.

It was not over.

I felt another clawed hand cover my mouth, as more soldiers stormed the keep. Even as I was bound and carried away, I did not struggle. Had I the energy to, I don't think I would have, anyway. I had failed, and my heart was shattered.

I was taken back to the Negaverse, and presented to Queen Beryl, who informed me that my mother, the mothers of all the other Senshi, as well as Empress Somnea, were her prisoners. If we did not swear loyalty to her, and her alone, they would all die, helplessly locked in crystal and murdered without even being able to draw breath.

You can guess the rest, I assume.

My name was Akiyo Natsume. Once I was to be Senshi Black Lotus, guardian of the sleeping dreamers. But, no more.

Now, I am the black Senshi of Revenge.