Disclaimer: Do not own Sailor Moon :) Very short prologue chapters are a hell of a lot longer :P
Chapter One: The End Of The World
The crisp white sheets curled around her body as she slept on. The Princess of the Moon, dearest Serenity, bliss consuming her. A Prince in the distance, a hand waiting, she just had to reach out and touch. Ever so close. But a maid thought otherwise and as a bell tinkled in the near distance it drew her back to her room and away from a dream. A flutter of her eyelashes and a gentle sigh, Serenity pulled back the sheets and noticed the look upon the maids face. A hint of laughter no doubt. Casting a gaze towards the full length mirror she had to admit slight amusement herself. Her floor-length hair had somehow through the course of the night become shoulder height and the largest she had ever seen.
"It'll take a great deal of brushin' that will today, milady" the maid chuckled in a low but full voice. She was on elderly woman who had taken care of her since birth since her mother had not had time. Though she loved her very dearly, both were equal in Serenity's eyes.
"Well I guess so Mizuki. What time is it?" Serenity asked yawning slightly. She pushed herself to the side of her bed then slid off, her feet making a slight slap upon the wooden flooring.
"Late enough. Get up and dressed" Mizuki bristled pulling her dress from the enormous wardrobe a placing it upon a rich red couch at the other side of the room, next to the door of the Princesses bathroom. Serenity stepped into her bathroom and Mizuki heard the shower begin and a soft humming coming from inside. She chuckled to herself aware of the all too familiar routine to come. Any moment now and it would begin she would hear the Princess and,
"Fighting evil by moonlight," came her serene voice drifting through the room and filling it with a sense of awe, "Winning love by daylight. Never ru-ooooooooh! Ah...it's too hot!"
'The Princess never does get any further' Mizuki thought and wondered if indeed she would ever hear the end to the song the Princess had so beautifully written.
As Serenity stepped from the bathroom covered by only a pink fluffy towel Mizuki stood ready with her dress. Suddenly, an enormous shudder broke through the building and both were thrown to the floor.
"Princess!" Mizuki cried flying to her side,
"I'm f...fine." she gasped, she could hear her own breathing, it was so deep and she drew in as much air as could fill her lungs. Snatching the dress from Mizuki's hand she threw it over herself not caring if it was on properly and ran to the window. What met her eyes horrified her. A great hole had been torn from the palace walls, brick and bodies were strewn across the grass staining it an unholy colour. What could have possibly caused such devastation? Then she saw them. They were appearing everywhere as if materialising from nothing. A small flash of light and a warrior appeared. But not just a few...there were thousands. All weapons in hand covered in armour. Serenity felt Mizuki come and stand behind her and gasp. "People from Earth. How is this possible? The teleport was destroyed. It's impossible!"
Serenity turned and ran from her room.
"Where's the Empress?" came a cry as an elegant woman dressed in a slick red dress ran down a corridor, long flowing raven hair cascading behind her, purple eyes ablaze. Rei Hino was a state, what could have possibly led the people of Earth to revolt against the Moon?
Ahead was another girl, dressed in blue, the Daughter of Mercury, Ami Mizuno. Her short aqua hair gave her face such a childish look yet within lay the beating heart of a genius. Blessed with the wisdom of ages she was hurriedly processing all the information coming from around her, cerulean eyes drinking in every ounce of knowledge, and forming a defensive plan.
"Where is she Mercury?"
"Seventh floor, but we'll never reach her in time Mars! It's too far up! Mars? Mars!" Ami saw that Rei had already sprinted past her and continued her accent up a staircase.
"I can still try, it's only five floors!" she yelled back down the stairs. Ami gave a fearful look and chased after her.
A loud crash came tumbling up the staircase and the Daughter from Jupiter stood firm. Nothing could stop her protecting the Empress. Tied up brown hair and green flashing eyes, none was more deadly than Makoto Kino, electricity pulsating through her veins, she readied herself for battle. Beside her the beautiful Child of Venus, Minako Aino, yet a fierce warrior and loyal friend. Thick golden hair and shimmering blue eyes, lulling any into a false sense of security, before pouncing with the tiger within.
Both stood facing them. Warriors armed with weapons they could not defeat yet unwavering.
"This is it Venus...the day we die." Jupiter whispered stretching her arm towards her foe.
"Good luck...old friend." Came the soft reply, before a battle cry. The corridor was filled with the screams of the injured, flashes of light and the sound of static before all fell silent.
"MOTHER! What is wrong with you? Help them! How can you stand by and watch your people be slain before your eyes?" Serenity shrieked at the Empress who was sitting quietly in a soft armchair, "Have you no heart? Answer me, Mother!"
"You do not understand child! There is nothing I can do, any power greater that I possess would surely kill all not just those of Earth. Please Serenity," the Empress came close to her daughter and cupped both cheeks, kissing her forehead lightly, "There is nothing I can do to save you. Neither you nor anyone else. You will die, so will your friends and so will I. It is inevitable. Though I assure you my child, death will not be in vain."
A sharp pain ripped through both of them and Serenity collapsed to the floor screaming in pain. "The Soldiers are dead." The Empress whispered, and as silence fell for but a few seconds, a low rumbling now began.
"Mother...kill me! I do not wish to die by someone else's hand, please." In her hand she held a golden sword that had previously been hung above her mother's fireplace. Thrusting it towards the Empress she gave her such a pleading look but her mother shook her head in sadness. Her face crumpled and turning the blade upon herself, darkness fell.
Outside the place the entire Moon lay in ruins. The walls had crumbled, building demolished and its people murdered. Bodies strew from both sides about all, nothing was recognisable. Her Kingdom destroyed the Empress climbed the once white marble stairs onto the stained grass below. Her pearly white hair caressing both her gown and the greenery below. A silent tear slipped from her cheek as she whispered "Cosmic Moon Wand...come to my hand." A silvery flash and in her outstretched palm was a long thin sceptre with a golden crescent moon atop it. She closed her eyes and in the centre shone a brilliant crystal. "I'm so sorry...my darling." And all was gone.
Japan's Arc Angel