Crystal Shards
Title: Crystal Shards
Author: kazeko
Chapters: 13
Show: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon
Series: no
Couples: Usagi/Mamoru, (Uranus/Neptune)
Time: SMR immediately following Every Cloud
Summary: The last seven episodes of Sailor Moon R, but a little different.
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, Takeuchi Naoko, Toei & Kodansha do.
Chapter 4: Broken and Betrayed
"U-Usagi?"
"Rei," the woman purred. "How are you? It looks like the future senshi have finally decided to show up."
"What have you done to our queen?" Star Jupiter demanded of the floating prince, lightning dancing around her clenched fists. "Let her go!"
"The choice is hers," Prince Demando answered casually, waving one gloved hand. "If she wants to return to the people who called her friend and did nothing but make fun of her, then she may."
Usagi snorted, landing on the ground in front of the palace, Chibiusa hiding behind her mother's skirt. The girl had a pale crescent moon on her forehead, a black crescent like Usagi's, but not nearly as pronounced. She glared at the senshi with red eyes filled with hate, a secret terror sparkling in those cold depths. "As if I wanted to be with them again. I am perfectly happy being on my own and in charge of my own destiny."
"What about Mamoru-san?" Mars stepped forward, arms spread to show that she would not attack, purple eyes pained. "He loves you, and I know you love him. Your daughter will never be born if you turn your back on him."
"He doesn't love me," Usagi hissed, black lightning sparkling from her clenched fists. "I have no reason to go crying to him. Chibiusa is my daughter but nothing says that she has to be his."
"Who else, then?"
Usagi grinned at Star Venus as Demando landed beside her, taking her gloved hand in his. "Who else, you simple little senshi? Prince Demando has offered me his kingdom and this planet, and I have accepted."
Eight stunned senshi stared at their princess, unable to defend themselves as she released a huge burst of black lightning, laughing as it arced toward the senshi. Usagi stared, unable to believe her eyes, as Emerald appeared in front of the senshi, raising a shield of shimmering green-black and protecting the women she was sworn to destroy. The blonde princess attacked again, pausing when Demando raised a hand. "Emerald. What are you doing? The Senshi are our enemies."
"They were our enemies until you attacked me and prevented me from killing the Moon brat! Now you are my enemy, and I will side with your nemeses against you." The tall woman glared at her former prince, glaring through her wall, and the prince laid a hand on his new queen's arm. They watched as the four senshi retreated into the palace, taking a moment to consider Emerald before letting her follow them and the long-haired twins into their sanctuary. As the shield closed again, Prince Demando bowed to his queen.
"My sweet, we should retire to the palace. Emerald is not a force I planned on fighting."
"You saved me from her once; you can do so again." Usagi turned to leaved, paused by a small scuffing sound behind her. She spun, readying an attack, lowering her hands. "And just what are you doing here?"
The caped man bowed, kneeling on the ground before the dark queen, eyes hidden by his mask. "I came to offer you my allegiance, Princess Serenity. I know that my actions in the past were unforgivable, but all I ask is the chance to serve you."
Prince Demando clenched his fists. "I will not have Endymion hanging around. All he wants is to take you away from me, then break your heart as he did before."
Usagi snorted. "As if I would go back to him! But now that you have lost Emerald, a servant with his power could be useful." She stepped closer to the kneeling man, her eyes cold and calculating. "We could use him."
"We could never trust him."
"You never trusted Emerald, either." Usagi raised her hands, and a pair of shiny black manacles appearing in her black-gloved palms. "These are infused with my power, and if he tries to disobey me, they will cause him tremendous pain." She crouched down in front of Mamoru, grabbing his chin between her fingers and turning his face up toward hers. "You may serve me, but you must obey me immediately, without any question or hesitation, or you will suffer."
"I will obey, my princess."
Usagi fastened the bracers on his wrists, gesturing for him to stand. "Oh, and lose that Tuxedo Kamen thing. I like Prince Endymion better." An instant later, the prince stood where Tuxedo Kamen had been a moment before, eyes dark and dull. "Good. Chibiusa, he is in charge of you, and if he does anything to upset you, let me know and he will be punished." The pink-haired girl nodded and let Endymion pick her up, the black moon on her forehead more defined than before. Usagi nodded and touched Mamoru's arm as all four vanished in a swirl of black power.
In the back of his mind, nestled far away from the dark power that corrupted him once, Endymion tested the powerful ties that held Mamoru to the dark princess. "Are you sure about this, Mamoru?"
"Positive. She loves me, I know it. And the only chance I have is to be close to her. Maybe she'll remember me."
Endymion snorted and returned to his sleep. "Call me if you need me."
Wiseman watched as the four vanished, what passed for his fists clenched in anger. The Moon Princess was supposed to resist the dark power and escape, leaving the Rabbit in his hands. She would have been perfect for his plans, but now he would have to revise those plans. Emerald's defection had been a surprise, but not entirely important. She was just a pawn. He had to find a new servant. Plans spinning through his mind, Wiseman let himself fade.
Inside the palace, silence reigned for a different reason. Emerald stared at the two sets of senshi, her eyes straying to the twins every now and then. Sighing, she surrendered and spoke first. "Okay, I wanted to kill you senshi as much as Demando did until a little while ago. He captured Sailor Moon and determined to turn her evil, and I decided to kill her to rid myself of the competition. Demando stopped me, and I decided that if he didn't want me, I don't want him. The twins here are my servants, Kiral and Akiral, the Bull Brothers, and I sent them here to kill you. However, since my plans have failed, I offer you my support. I don't want your princess near my prince, and you want her back. So I will help you turn her good."
The two Venuses exchanged a glance, both crossing their arms, though Sailor Star Venus was the one who spoke. "How can we trust you, Emerald? After all, you betrayed your Prince Demando."
"True, you have no reason to trust me." Kiral and Akiral joined their mistress, a black moon in the center of each forehead. "I also have no reason to trust you. We have been on opposite sides of this war, but now our objectives are the same now. No matter what you think about the Black Moon Family, we stick together, and I do not like having your princess interrupt our close-knit family. I want her gone, but I cannot kill her and I cannot heal her. You can do that, and you can't do it alone. She would have fried you a minute ago. Face it—we need each other."
Star Venus glanced at her wife, and the crimson-haired senshi shook her head, a move echoed by her younger self. The two Jupiters were also wary of the agreement, but they shrugged in reluctant acceptance of the green-haired woman's words. The two senshi of the innermost planet glanced at each other, nodding to their leaders. Star Venus looked at Venus, the last vote, and the blonde sighed. It was their best chance.
"Very well, Emerald, we will work with you. But understand this; we will not have you harming any innocents. If you are going to work with us, you may not use your power against our princesses or humans. You may defend always, but you can only attack if we say so. And Kiral and Akiral must also agree."
The Bull Brothers bowed, the white-haired leader speaking. "We always do as our queen dictates. You may trust us."
Star Venus held out her hand, and Emerald clasped it. "Deal."
To be continued