Standard Disclaimer, I don't own sailor moon or its characters…just the voices in my head.
Chapter 4
4 years later…
The Crytstal Palace was busy with activity today. Servants were busy getting last minute preparations ready for the return of Princesses Selene and Usagi. Queen Serenity may have been the queen of this city but the clutzy girl of her youth still found a way to remind her she was alive and well. Serenity side stepped a maid who walked by her before she knocked over the vase of flowers she was carrying. "Some things never change do they my love," Serenity looked up and saw her husband holding back a laugh. She still remembered the first day she saw him. As upset as she was about his attitude that day just finding out he was back finally made her feel complete. Even after the awakening into the new Crystal millennium it felt as if they hadn't been apart for that long. Every day was a blessing and when he disappeared when the negamoon attacked those were the worst days of her life. Seeing her family falling apart at the seams, sending her son away it was all she could do to keep a sense of serenity for her daughters who were still there.
That was the past, today her daughters were coming back from their training embassy trip. "Endymion why are you just standing there and not getting ready for your daughters homecoming?"
"Because unlike a certain blonde I know I don't leave everything to the last minute," Endymion held Serenity close and gave her a kiss that blew her away. Even after 1000 years he still was able to blow her socks off. "Do you know how much I love you Serena…"
"Eternity and back," Serenity rested her head against his chest and just let the soft thumping of his heart calm her nerves."I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you Jayden."
"Well thank the gods you will never have to know that again. Now If you are a good hostess today and promise not to cry too much I think I may have a surprise for my queen this evening." A smile played across his face as serenity reverted back to her childish self probing for a clue but he just smiled and kept his secret. He spent an eternity looking for this woman and would spend the rest of it cherishing her. "Now I think our girls are going to be here soon. Lets go get Rhond and we can meet them in the court yard."
The family waited as the time gate appeared. Rhond had invited Kat to the palace for the celebration and all his guards were in full regalia for this event. Austin looked as uncomfortable in a suit as he did at a ball and Kat held back a laugh. Unlike the others he was always the most laid back and even if Patrick and Devon were the picture of perfection he always pulled off the rebel look and made it look good. Kat was sorry for him the last four years, he never got over the disappearance of Astra, no one did really but he took it the worst. He beat himself up for weeks looking for her cursing he never told her how he felt and that just turned to callous negativity. Woe any girl that tried to get in his good favor.
A hush fell over the crowd as Princess Selene made her way through the gate with her sister Usagi, the new Sailor Moon. They had been gone for the past 2 years on a embassy mission to see the galaxy and finish their training for Usagi. So alike yet so different. Selene looked more and more like her Grandmother each day with her Silver purple hair and purple eyes, all the grace and beauty of a future queen of the Moon. Usagi was more her mother with the golden blonde hair but cone shaped buns and deep blue eyes. All semblances of pomp and circumstance was gone as soon as the girls saw their family and then Rhonde and the girls were embraced in a long hug. Kat hugged her future sister in laws with as much gusto as Rhonde and held back a tear as Queen Serenity on cue completely lost composure and was crying as much as her daughters. King Endymion just laughed to himself and comforted his wife.
Kat noticed while everyone was clamoring around the princesses Pluto came out with a hooded figure and watched as she spoke to Jedite in hushed tone. As the three figures walked off Kat had a sinking feeling Fate was about to about to throw another curve ball at all of them.
The party was in full swing and Kat had to take a breath after Rhonde had taken her around the dance floor a couple of times. Everyone was so engrossed in the festivities that it took King Endymion a few tried to get the attention of the assembly. "Ladies and Gentlemen, My wife and I would like to thank you for all your well wishes for our daughters. As you know our family has quite a bit to celebrate today; the upcoming wedding or our son Rhonde to Lady Katherine, my daughter's coronation and lastly as I have been told the arrival of the last general. Master Jedite," the king stepped aside and Master Jedite took the main stage.
"Your Majesties, Ladies and gentlemen, it is with long overdue relief I announce the naming of the head general of the princes royal guard. Your highness if you don't mind to come up to the podium." Kat breathed a sigh of relief, this meant no more random trips for Rhonde he was home for good. "May I present Lady Qismah." The cloaked figure Kat had seen in the garden walked up to Rhonde and kneeled in front of Rhonde. As the hood of the cloak feel back a mass of black hair, straight as an arrow spilled out around her held up in an ornate knot on the top of her head. Her skin was pale as alabaster but her eyes glowed with a light that made the black look endless. She looked no older than 16 but Kat was sure she was older than she appeared. At full height she barely made it to Rhonde's shoulder so she had to be no more than 5 feet tall.
"Your Highness I pledge myself to your service,"
The generals were not happy. After the annoucment the party continued but the tone from the other generals was rocky to say the least. In public they all graciously welcomed the new general but Kat could tell they were disappointed. It was a boys club, and Jedite chose a girl? Kat couldn't complain she liked Qismah. The girl was an enigma but Kat felt at ease with the silent beauty.
"Lady Qismah,"
"Please just Qismah, you must be Katherine. I have been told a lot about you. It is an honor to meet the future Princess of Earth."
"Thank you Qismah, I wish you a lot of luck with the guys. I don't think they are too happy to be lead by a woman."
"Don't worry, I had foreseen this, I have my plans" Qismah just smiled and Kat felt an instant connection. Even if they guys didn't like her she knew she did already.
The follow day Rhonde was trying to keep the peace as his generals were at each other's throats or more precisely after Qismah. "I am not taking any orders from this woman!"
"Austin I don't like this any better than you but Jedite said this is how it has to be. You know we don't question his orders."
"Austin is it? I don't want to create enemies here but this is an order from all the way on top. If you don't like it you can always leave,"
"Me leave? Sorry sweet heart but you're the newbie you get to leave. I have served the prince for 6 years and sorry to say it but tenure wins out."
"Austin, Qismah; I don't pretend to be the voice of reason but why don't we settle this the old fashioned way, winner takes all."
"Patrick I think you are on to something. Qismah, can you agree to that?"
"Devon I can agree with that. If I win I stay and keep my position. If I lose then I will leave. I will even go a step further; no weapons for myself just raw natural abilities." The guys just laughed and Austin accepted with a grin.
"It's your funeral girl,"
"You will be eating those words and begging me for forgiveness,"
"I will never beg anything of you,"
"We shall see," Throwing off her cloak Qismah put the whip on her belt down on the ground and walked to the center of the training mat. "So who is first," That was the end of the gloating. First Devon stepped up and after a few rounds of well placed kicks he was on the ground. He was never able to connect a single hit it was as if she had known every move he was going to make. Patrick was next and he used hit telekinesis but like Devon was bested by the slight girl. She managed to get behind him and hitting a few pressure points he was down. Austin was last and mad as hell. Pulling out his sword he charged at the girl. Out of thin air a sleek metal staff appeared and she parried his blows.
"I thought you said no weapons!"
"I did but I also said I could you my abilities. This is one of them," The fight ended with Austin's sword on the ground and the staff in his neck. "Do you yield?"
"Yes…"
"Good, it was a good exercise guys. See you in the morning," Qismah walked out with a smile on her face. Austin hadn't changed a bit and she enjoyed putting him in his place. Walking back to her rooms she saw Pluto waiting for her in the hallway. "Pluto to what do I own the honor of your visit?"
"I came to see how you are doing. No one has figured out who you are yet have they?"
"No, thought I figured they wouldn't Astra died the day she left this world. I am going to have to do some snooping though. The whole group dynamic is different. It wasn't until the end of that little skirmish Austin seemed to snap out of the funk he was in. Did my leaving affect him that much?"
"You know I can't tell you what is going to happen Qismah,"
"And you know I am the daughter of fate herself. All I have to do is open up the book of fate,"
"And break the rules not likely. Just be patient. You came here for a reason remember that."
"I know. I am my sister's keeper. Leave it to the council to release Thexa and then realized what that meant."
