The Dreamer's Kingdom
Chapter 1: A Few Surprises
A hot breeze blew dark strands of hair across Ami's forehead. She absently flicked them out of her eyes.
The walk from their home to the headquarters of New Tokyo was not a long one, but it wasn't a pleasant one either.
The streets were crowded beyond anything she'd ever witnessed while in high school. People everywhere were milling around, selling wares on the streets, checking the Posting Boards – hocking air plane tickets. The smell was stale at best, the air was too hot – the grass was shriveling away and nothing green could be seen for miles.
Tokyo had changed in two short years. The world had changed.
Time was now regulated into separate divisions: before the Plague and after it.
Before the Plague had struck two years ago, Ami had been in her last week of high school, accepted to Tokyo University to begin her medical training, and a member of a group closer than a family – the Senshi.
After the Plague struck – that strange, bizarre night when the heavens had caught on fire and rained down death and destruction on the world - it seemed as if reality had been turned upside down.
Overnight the Earth's population had been reduced by a third. In the days that followed the tally rose higher and higher – four weeks after the Plague struck only half of the entire population remained alive, and of those that did more than half were already infected.
Because of the rapidity of the mysterious disease governments collapsed within months, homes were abandoned, travel halted, people panicked and in some cases went insane. – Japan was the only country that survived.
Without the healing power of the Sailor Moon, no one would be left.
In the aftermath of the epidemic Usagi had finally revealed her identity and her powers to the world when she had used the crystal's power on a massive scale to cleanse the entire country of the pestilence.
It had nearly killed her, but when she succeeded the leaders of Japan acknowledged the awesome display of power and munificence and negotiations for creating a New Tokyo began.
Of course, as Ami well knew, the New Tokyo would shortly become Crystal Tokyo – as soon as Usagi stepped into her role as the new Queen. Japan had once been a feudal nation, though some resisted such ideas as barbaric and enslaving – but the new government was formed with the idea of a republic – with Usagi and Mamoru acting solely as protectorates and regents.
Even those who had once held power agreed that in the light of the current crisis, a strong hand was needed to unify the country – and this meant a centralized form of power had to be decided on – a temporary seizure of complete control.
Ami smiled softly to herself. Little did the officials know that the young woman they were designating to lead them would not give up that rule when equanimity returned to the country, if it ever did.
After two long years of nightmares, peace seemed like a long lost dream.
Her own work today would be tedious – she was to give the final report on the conditions of the rest of the world – outside of Japan – and on the stability of the plague.
Usagi had stopped sending the Senshi to the far corners of the Earth to search for survivors some months ago after Ami had presented a report showing that the likelihood of finding anyone still alive outside of Japan was almost non-existent. Even then it had been nearly impossible to convince her the search must finally be called off.
She has such a big heart, Ami thought, shaking her head.
It was a fact that often exasperated them all – especially Mamoru. Usagi would long since have destroyed herself in her efforts to cure every evil in the world, and to save every person she could, if it hadn't been for the intervention of her boyfriend.
Fiance. Ami corrected herself.
They'd become engaged two years ago – even in the wake of the disaster – they would be married as soon as Tokyo was settled and relatively stable.
It was good to know that some happiness was in the world – that some things could never be changed by outside events and catastrophes. Usagi and Mamoru remained the bright spot in an otherwise unbearable situation.
Ami found their devotion to one another her prime source of inspiration – just looking at them she could see that there was hope – that the future would sort itself out no matter how much work it took to make that happen. They believed it, so she could too.
But she often wondered if the others were as inspired. The two years had not only taken a toll on the Earth, but also, and perhaps more significantly, on the Senshi themselves. Haruka and Michiru still remained strong – united in the determination to support one another and the fledgling new world – and they were devoted to Hotaru.
A child is a symbol of hope, Ami reasoned, even in such hard times – having Hotaru must be a great source of comfort to them.
Setsuna also benefited from the joy a child could bring – she was never gone very long from their home and when she did have to fulfill a mission for Usagi that took longer than a month, the first thing she did on arriving home was to spend the day with Hotaru.
Yes, a family was the only basis of support they had. Which was why she was worried about the other Senshi.
Rei never let on about her feelings to any great extent – she remained calm and poised through every difficulty – losing her temper occasionally from lack of sleep or the strain of trying to see too far into a murky future. But despite her insistence on her own stability, Ami had noticed that she didn't appear to sleep well. Ami was fairly sure it was only due to the constant pressure they were all under – Rei still had her grandfather to nag and console her and though she lived with the rest of them now she continued to visit him every weekend.
But the others weren't so fortunate.
Mina's parents had succumbed to the Plague before Usagi could save them. Now Mina was alone except for the Senshi, and Ami could see the change this had wrought in her character. The bubbly, bright, careless Mina who had delighted in manga, chased boys and dreamed of becoming an idol had grown up – almost in one night – into the mature, serious leader she was now. She still kept her good humored disposition, she still managed to spread cheerfulness and hope, but the darker part of her personality was beginning to show more often.
Ami was very worried about her. She saw the circles under Mina's eyes, and how thin she was growing. She knew these were signs of depression and loneliness, but she wasn't sure what to do for Mina. She couldn't bring her friend's parents back to life. She couldn't lift the burden of being the leader of the Senshi as well as Usagi's main advisor from her shoulders.
And then there was Makoto.
Never having had a family, in many ways Makoto was already accustomed to the loneliness that invaded the world after the plague hit. But that same fact was her greatest vulnerable spot as well. Mako had always been the strongest physically, but Ami knew that emotionally she was often the weakest – the most vulnerable – and the destruction the plague wrought had taken a severely harsh toll on Makoto.
They'd all been sent out to rescue any survivors and to bring them back to Tokyo to be cleansed by the crystal. But while the others had managed to get through their duties stolidly, Makoto had had to be relieved by Setsuna after only a few months.
Sometimes having a big heart is a huge liability, Ami reflected, sadly.
Makoto remained in Japan – joining in the country's efforts to restart civilization and keep it going. She was involved in re-building the universities, in organizing the orphanages and hospitals, and in seeing to the food drives and shelters for the people who had been rescued and brought to Japan from other countries.
Ami was sure the change had done her good, but how much good she wasn't sure.
Her reflections were broken by the sound a familiar voice as she entered through the glass doors of the conference room.
"There you are, Miss Mizuno," the former head of state, Miyazaki, greeted her.
He was a short, balding man of forty or so, and one of the few politicians that Ami actually liked.
"Yes, I'm sorry it took me so long." she apologized.
"It's alright," Usagi called from her seat at the end of the table.
Ami smiled at her friend and leader – noticing, as she always did, the contrast between the happy-go-lucky school girl of two years ago with the sophisticated young lady facing her today.
The serious young man beside her was also a marked departure from the old Mamoru – this man was commanding but sympathetic – and though his face was smiling, his eyes wore a habitual expression of sadness.
Something had happened that night – Ami reflected, for the hundredth time – something that Mamoru never spoke of – but she knew it was something important.
They were all looking at her expectantly.
"I've just come back from America," she began, "and from the data I have gathered from the other workers, I have reached the conclusion that the Plague is stable."
There were so many sighs and muttered thanks that Ami thought everyone in the room must have been holding their breath.
"However, we still do not know the cause of the Plague, or why the crystal can cure it. We don't even know how the disease itself actually works. It is unlike anything I or any of my colleagues have seen before. Which leads us to believe..."
She took a breath.
"It leads us to believe that the disease is...alien."
The cries of shock and denial that ranged through the room were exactly what she had expected. She waited patiently for everyone to calm down.
"What do you mean, Ami?" Mamoru asked, "You think that this Plague came from a different planet?"
Though there was much grumbling almost everyone fell silent at his voice.
Ami adjusted her glasses.
"I'm not sure," she admitted, "it would appear that there is some evidence for this agent having originated on another planet, but – there is the unsolved mystery of the lighting storm phenomenon."
"The storm?" someone asked, "Did it cause the plague?"
"I believe they are related," she answered, "there may be a piece of a meteorite that carried the disease to a location on Earth during the storm – I can't say. I think that it's unlikely to have been only one piece due to the quick spread of the disease."
She halted, unsure if she should proceed. Her next statement wouldn't go over well – she knew it – but meeting Usagi's eyes, she decided she might as well voice it.
"I think," she stumbled, "that is, it is my scientific opinion that the shower itself may be responsible for the spread of the disease. I believe that the lighting we saw that night wasn't real lighting but – a – power wielded by a being or groups of beings with the intent of infecting the world."
"That's impossible!" the nasty woman that Ami really did not like at all screeched.
"Please, be calm," Usagi remonstrated, desperately.
"Silence," the older man, Miyazaki, commanded.
"Miss Mizuno," he began, "let me understand. You believe that an alien being used its power to send a plague to Earth?"
Ami bit her bottom lip and nodded.
"Why would it do such a thing?"
Ami's eyes wandered to Usagi's.
"There is evil in the world," Usagi answered, holding her friend's gaze, "unfortunately. It isn't the first time that visitors have tried to get rid of us."
"I believe Ami." she declared, glancing at the older men and women around the table.
"With all due respect," an offical spoke up, "you do have a slight conflict of interest."
"He means that you're bound to believe her," Mamoru explained, meeting Usagi's questioning glance, "because you're her friend."
Usagi whipped her head around.
"That's not true!" she exclaimed, "I believe her because she's right. What she's saying makes sense."
"Regardless of whether it's true or not," the head of state broke in, "the issue at hand is whether we have contained the disease, whether or not it is still a threat."
All eyes turned to Ami. She swallowed.
"I don't believe it is a threat," she replied, "but I am worried that if my theory of its origin is correct, we may have to face -"
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," the official interjected before the others could shout their protests.
"In the meantime, thank you for your study and hard work, Miss Mizuno," Miyazaki added.
Ami bowed, but her small mouth made a thin line.
Why must they be so stubborn? She didn't come up with theories like this for her own amusement. And if no one tried to determine where the attack came from it left them open and vulnerable.
She had been dismissed, she realized. Maintaining her composure she smiled at Usagi and Mamoru and turned to head out the door of the conference room, listening to the buzz of voices that began before she'd even shut the door.
"I just don't understand it," she said, following behind Makoto as the taller woman made her way through the halls of the children's hospital.
"What's that, Ami-chan?" Makoto was busy checking off items on a clipboard.
"If someone attacked us, we need to know who it is," she insisted, worrying the knot on her collar.
"What if they try something like this again?"
Makoto frowned, weaving around a large column toward the outside of the building.
"I think if they were going to they would have done it already," she pointed out, chewing on her pencil.
"Maybe," Ami admitted, "but perhaps they think they've succeeded. Perhaps they're coming here. What will happen if they find out that they haven't been successful?"
"That's a lot of 'ifs'," Mako answered.
Ami sighed and sat on the square piece of artwork outside. The hospital had once been the largest Art Museum in Tokyo, but had been converted to use as a medical building when the plague victims had been rushed in.
The plague itself was cured instantly by the power of the crystal, but it still had residual effects of a weakened immune system on those who'd had it for any length of time.
Ami was about to posit another theory when her communicator beeped.
Mina's voice rang through the building.
"Ami, where are you?" she demanded.
"I'm at the children's hospital with Mako," she replied, "is something wrong?"
"I don't know – but I need you at the defense headquarters now! And Mako too."
"But why? What's going on?"
"I don't have time to explain," Mina cut in, "come in Senshi form and be ready."
"I can't believe what I'm seeing."
They heard Mina's voice calling to someone else as the communicator switched off.
Ami and Mako exchanged a startled glance.
"Let's go," Mako sighed, holding out her wand and transforming. Ami followed suit and the two rushed through the crowded streets, trying to beat the crowd.
Sailor Venus was waiting, hands on hips, pacing back and forth in front of the defense building when she saw Sailor Mercury and Jupiter rushing toward her.
"Finally!" she exclaimed, "Come on."
"What -" Jupiter struggled to catch her breath, "what is it? What's all the fuss about?"
"Just come on," Venus commanded, "I left Mars down there with them and I'm nervous about it."
"Down where with whom?" Mercury asked.
"The prisoners, they showed up this afternoon," Venus explained, ushering the two down a hall and a set of stairs to the lower halls where a make shift prison was made. The real prisons had long since been deserted and put to better use – these few cells were the only ones remaining and they were always empty.
"I need you to use your computer to tell me whether their infected, and then I want you to run another scan on them and tell me what kind of life form they are – they can't be human."
Mercury and Jupiter halted.
"Wait," Jupiter said, "what do you mean 'not human'? What have you got down here?"
"You'll just have to see it for yourself, because I'm not even sure," Venus explained patiently, and grabbed their hands, pulling them to the door.
As Mercury and Jupiter stumbled over the threshold Mars spared them a quick glance over her shoulder. Mercury noted her hands were joined and pointed at something in front of her in the cell.
"It's about time," she murmured, "I was beginning to think you weren't coming."
"I found them," Venus called, amiably, "now, go to it, Mercury."
Mercury and Jupiter cautiously stepped past Mars and peered into the gloom of the cell.
As one they gasped at what they saw.
"I don't believe it," Jupiter whispered.
"I'm certainly...surprised," Mercury commented, blinking.
She felt the hairs on her arms raise and realized the room was filling with static electricity.
"Jupiter, stand down!" Venus cried, "We can't blast them until we know what they are!"
"Please," a voice called out of the darkness.
Mercury shuddered at the sound of it, and saw the similar reactions of her fellow Senshi.
"We don't mean any harm," the voice continued calmly, "we only came here to find -"
"It would be better if you remain silent for now," Venus warned him, "until we've decided what to do with you. There will be plenty of time for explanations later."
"But you don't understand," another voice pleaded, "there is no time -"
"She told you to be quiet!" Mars growled, her fingers sparking.
"So, Mercury," Venus asked brightly, "what do we have?"
Mercury let her visor disappear.
"They aren't infected," she began.
"Excellent," Venus said.
"And they're...human."
There was a brief silence.
"I told you we were," a slightly sour voice intoned.
"Shut up!" Mars commanded.
"What do we do with them?" she asked Venus. Her commander stared in thought at the four figures in the cell.
"I think..." she said slowly, "that we'd better contact the Queen and the King."
Four men watched nervously as Venus pulled out her communicator.
"How is this possible?" Mercury murmured, almost to herself, "these men were defeated years ago."
"Maybe they weren't destroyed," Mars answered quietly, "And maybe it's no coincidence that they've appeared just now."
"The plague!" Jupiter hissed, turning heated eyes on the prisoners, "Did they cause it?"
"I don't know," Mercury began, frowning.
Jupiter approached the cell, her fingers crackling as little sparks dipped between them.
"Who are you working for now?" she demanded.
All but one of the men backed away from the bars. The one who stood solidly staring at her with his silver-grey eyes spoke:
"We only have allegiance to Endymion."
"Mamoru?" Mercury asked, startled.
"Yes," he replied, "we were his before death, and in death, and after death."
They stared at him, disturbed by the finality and conviction of this bizarre statement.
"They're on their way!" Venus interrupted. She crossed her arms and eyed the prisoners.
"Now, before they get here I have a few questions for you four."
"First," she said, her blue eyes turning hard and steely, "why are you alive?"
The four men exchanged glances, then as one they seemed to designate the silver-eyed man as the leader.
"We don't know," he said, heavily.
Venus frowned.
"I don't want to force you to tell me, wouldn't you rather just co-operate?"
"I am speaking the absolute truth." he replied, calmly.
His grey eyes met hers, they locked in a measuring look – testing each other, matching wills.
"Alright," she said at last, "you don't know how you came back from the dead. But why are you here?"
"Where have you been for the last six years?"
They stared at her for some time, their faces betraying expressions of worry, bewilderment and fear.
"I think..." the leader said, "Mamoru should be here, before I tell you that."
Mars and Jupiter shouted nearly at the same time, demanding explanations.
Venus sighed and clapped her hands for quiet.
"Very well," she said, "we'll wait. But when Mamoru and the Queen arrive, the time for secrets is over, understand?"
The leader nodded.
As if an in answer to their names, the top door of the stair case opened and they heard the tread of footsteps on the stairs.
"Venus?" a voice called.
The four men stiffened and turned toward the voice.
Mamoru entered the prison, squinting in the darkness. Usagi was behind him, holding his hand as he led her forward.
"What's going on – is -" he broke off, stunned.
"I don't know, but -" Venus stopped, watching as Mamoru's face drained entirely of blood.
"How?" he whispered.
"Mamo-chan," Usagi murmured, touching his shoulder worriedly, "what is it? What's going on?"
"I never thought -" he stammered, staring at the men in shock, "I thought you were gone."
The men in the cell were pressing their faces between the bars, straining to close the distance between them and the king. The look in their eyes was that of men who had been stranded in a desert and had at last found an oasis.
"Sire," Zoisite sighed, "we've been waiting so long."
His skinny arm was stretching through the bars.
Mamoru looked close to fainting, but he gently removed Usagi's hand and walked forward slowly toward the cell.
"Mamoru!" Mars called, and darted to ward him off but Venus caught her by the arm.
"Just keep an eye on them, Mercury," she whispered.
Mercury watched them through her visor, ready to detect the first use of dark energy.
They watched, holding their breath, as Mamoru gave Zoisite his hand. The younger man gave a cry that was something like a laugh and gripped it tightly.
"You're alive," Mamoru breathed.
"I'm sorry it took us so long," the shorter man replied, his eyes were shining as he looked at Mamoru.
One by one the others reached tentative hands through the bars and laid them on Mamoru's.
"But how are you here?" he asked, finally coming out of his daze, "I saw the stones – they shattered. And I felt our connection snap -"
"We don't know," Kunzite replied, "that night you were dreaming, as the storm grew outside. You woke us up with your mind."
Mamoru frowned.
"The dream," he murmured, "it foretold the storm and the plague."
"We entered it with you, and we saw what you saw," Kunzite continued, "but before we could warn you our spirits were forced from the stones – we were catapulted into darkness and then..."
"Then we woke up," the dark haired man said, his blue eyes intent on Mamoru's face, "and we were exactly as you see us. But we don't know how it happened."
The Senshi watched this exchange, captivated. But Mars shook her head suddenly.
"What do you mean you saw stones shatter – what connection – what is going on, Mamoru?"
Mamoru turned away from the men in the prison and faced the Senshi and Usagi.
"These men are my guardians," he explained, slowly, "in the Silver Millennium they protected and supported me. They were my friends. But Metallia somehow...corrupted them. And they -"
"Betrayed us." Usagi finished sadly. Mamoru and the others turned to her in amazement.
"I remember now, Mamo-chan," she murmured, "what a horrible, horrible day."
She walked toward him and embraced him briefly and he let his chin rest on her hair.
"Yes," the blond haired prisoner said with bitterness, "We betrayed you. And when we were reborn in this life, we betrayed you again because our spirits were still tied to Metallia."
The Senshi turned on him as one – their eyes cold.
"So that explains Beryl's henchmen – you tried to kill us and the queen," Jupiter growled, "We fought you so many times it makes my head hurt just thinking about it."
"But we killed you," Venus finished quietly, "so why are you still here?"
Mamoru answered for them:
"When they died, they were finally released from Metallia's curse, and they became four stones that I kept with me. I never told you," he added, "I didn't think -"
"That we'd understand?" Mars snipped.
"No," he returned calmly, "I didn't think it mattered."
"How could your having four stones that were actually four of our greatest enemies not matter!?" Jupiter spluttered.
"I'm sorry," Mamoru began.
"He doesn't have to apologize to you," Nephrite snapped, suddenly, "He is your king – he doesn't deserve this kind of treatment!"
"Let's not talk about deserving and undeserving, traitor!" Mars fired back, "As far as your concerned -"
"Mars!"
"Nephrite!"
The leaders commanded simultaneously.
Their soldiers backed down but continued to glare at one another.
"These men aren't enemies," Mamoru said, facing the Senshi, "I'd stake my life on it."
The Senshi held back retorts and exclamations at a look from Venus.
"I understand," she told Mamoru gently, "but we're not willing to stake Usagi's life on that."
"Not yet, anyway," she added.
"Not ever," Jupiter muttered.
"What should we do then?" he asked, "I don't want to order you to release them, but if I have to -"
"I don't think it will come to that," Venus said, cheerfully, "I think a little test period would be more than satisfactory."
"We aren't enemies!" Zoisite yelled, "We're his protectors – let us do our job!"
"Now, now," Venus wagged her finger, "There's no need for a temper tantrum, I just want Mercury to run a few tests and I'll do some of my own. I'm sure you'd do the same if you were in our situation."
Kunzite nodded and gave a quelling glance to the men.
"I understand," he said, "we will do what you ask us to do."
Venus seemed satisfied and gave Mars and Jupiter looks which implied they would discuss the matter later.
"I'm so glad you're here," Mamoru whispered to the men, standing close to the bars, "I though I'd lost you forever."
"You can't get rid of us," Nephrite grinned, "we'll always be with you, whether you like it or not."
Mamoru let out a choked laugh.
"Sire, are you alright?" Kunzite asked, "What has happened? We have been traveling for a year trying to reach you – we were stranded apart and only managed to find each other four months ago. It took us that long to find you -"
"There's been a disaster," Mamoru explained, solemnly, "the world has nearly been destroyed – a plague has wiped out more than two thirds of the world's population. Japan is the last safe place."
They listened to the news in horror.
"But, your dream," Jadeite spoke up, "it wasn't about this plague, was it?"
"I can't tell," Mamoru answered, "what else could it have been?"
"There is something else," Kunzite replied, glancing at the Senshi as they stood debating between each other, "something is coming – some enemy force. We felt it in your dream."
"What is it?" Mamoru whispered.
"We don't know," Kunzite admitted, "but we think you are in danger – we have to get out as soon as possible so that we can protect you."
"And," he added, almost hesitantly, "there is something else, Mamoru..."
Mamoru looked at him questioningly.
"There's something I don't understand," Mercury piped up, interrupting Kunzite. Everyone turned to look at her and she blushed a bit in the sudden attention.
"Why," she asked, looking at the Shitennou, "when you are obviously so powerful – why didn't you try to resist Venus and Mars when they first captured you?"
Everyone looked at the Shitennou. They didn't seem inclined to explain.
"I'm very grateful you showed such good judgment and restraint," Mamoru said, "but it does seem...odd."
Kunzite sighed.
"It wasn't good judgment on our part to withhold our powers," he answered at last, "it was more a matter of...necessity."
"What do you mean?"
"When we woke up...many things had changed," he said, "our memories are only marginally intact – many things are missing. And – things besides just memories."
Mamoru's eyes opened wide.
"We – don't have our powers anymore," Kunzite finished.
A shocked silence pervaded the air.
"Well," Mercury commented to herself, "that was unexpected."