THE MOON KING
Chapter 7: "Origins"
A Sailor Moon/Neo-Sailor Moon crossover fanfic

By Bill K.


"Despite assurances to the contrary from the Crystal Palace," a news anchor read on a television news program, "there is mounting fear among the population that Queen Serenity has disappeared, possibly forever."

Artemis glanced over at Luna as the television in their control room blared. The black cat just stared at the set with a venomous glare.

"Sources inside of the Crystal Palace report that Queen Serenity has not been seen for at least a week," the anchor continued. "And that the King and the Sailor Senshi have been sequestered in the palace planning, possibly a retaliatory strike or a rescue mission. Several foreign governments have been quick to deny that they are in any way involved."

"Well, that's torn it," Luna sighed. "I suppose it was too much to hope for. Word of this was bound to leak out the longer it dragged out, just from gossipy palace staff."

"Maybe we'd better them the truth," Artemis suggested. "I doubt a lie is going to work now."

"I had no intention of outright lying to the public in the first place," bristled Luna. "That's more Dietman Takahashi's style. But to tell them everything? You see how they're reacting to the unknown. How will they react to knowing that Her Majesty has been abducted?"

"Maybe they'll rally around the crown," the white cat said. "Maybe their fear is being generated by not knowing."

Luna considered it. "You do have a point." She rubbed her chin against Artemis. "It's times like these that remind me why I care for you."

"In a related move, the Diet initiated legislative process to assume control of the government," the anchor reported.

"The Queen is missing," Dietman Takahashi said to reporters outside of the Diet. "The King is otherwise involved, I assume with finding her. While we don't know what exactly has happened, we must assume that they are no longer able to continue ruling this country. Therefore, it is the duty of the elected Diet, as representatives of the people, to step in and assume command of this country, for the duration of this crisis - - and longer if necessary."

"You see, Artemis?" Luna scowled. "Predictable as the rain."

The cats heard the door slide open. Framed in the doorway was Setsuko, clutching a doll to her chest.

"Is Mama home yet?" the child asked, struggling not to cry. Instantly Luna leaped down to the floor and came over to her.

"We're still working on it, child," the cat told her sympathetically.

"When?" Setsuko asked. "I don't want to be strong anymore. I want Mama."

Luna rubbed against her ankles. "I don't know. But she will come back for you. Your father promised that she would. And your Mum will be very proud of you when she does return."

Kneeling down, Setsuko picked Luna up and hugged her. The cat rubbed her forehead against the girl's cheek.


Serenity drew back her hand from the statue as if it had snapped at her. After whispering a name, she turned and stared in shock at Tsukuyomi.

"That's Metalia!" Serenity exclaimed. "Metalia was - - was one of you?"

"At first," Tsukuyomi sighed. It was clear he didn't relish the memory. Initially he wasn't going to go any further. But a glance at Serenity told him it was the less painful of two painful choices.

"How?" Serenity prodded.

"She was different," Tsukuyomi replied, his mouth hardening. "She was - - flawed." He sighed. "When we came to this galaxy, we were in search of a place to be who we were. Our old world was no longer habitable and beyond our powers to fix. So the survivors of our people spread out over the universe seeking new homes. The twelve you see came to this galaxy.

"But it was inhabited," he continued. "The question became what to do about the inhabitants. Some, like your mother and Asishe, wanted to guide the natives to become better than their evolution suggested they would be. Others, like me, wished to have nothing to do with them, to let them fail or succeed on their own efforts. It became a point of great conflict between the factions. It was only settled by an arranged marriage between Serenity and myself."

"Yes, I'd heard," Serenity nodded.

"Metalia was different," Tsukuyomi said. "Metalia felt we deserved dominion over the planets. She felt that as the superior race, we should take the planets and force the natives to do our bidding. It was not a popular stance. Embittered, Metalia broke away from the group and left, we thought for good. In the meantime, my marriage had fallen apart.

Tsukuyomi smiled. "When the marriage was first proposed, I thought fortune had smiled upon me. Serenity was beautiful, she was intelligent, and she had some attraction to me." His smile faded. "But - - we were too different. Our philosophies were so opposite that we would often erupt in fights. But it was more. We were too opposite in so many things and too hurt by the other one to bend. Even your birth couldn't heal the wounds we'd inflicted on each other. One day she took you and left. It was the final blow."

"Didn't you try to make up with her at all?" Serenity asked.

"Pain can harden a heart," Tsukuyomi replied, lost in his memories. "Harden it against someone you once loved and others who had nothing to do with it. And it was soon after that Metalia struck. She had done something - - attempted to harness the power of this galaxy's sun and, intentionally or not, converted herself to pure sentient energy."

"I thought she was a sun demon," Serenity interjected.

Tsukuyomi sneered. "That's the humans again. Just as their limited minds thought Serenity and I were gods, they thought Metalia was a demon."

"So why did she attack the Crystal Kingdom?"

"Because Serenity stood in her way," Tsukuyomi said flatly. "Stood in her way of dominance over the galaxy. So Metalia conspired with that silly Earth witch Beryl. Used that human's ambitions and desperate love for that Earth prince, the one who was infatuated with you, to be her physical vessel and stir the humans up against Serenity. Because the humans, with their greed and their ignorance and their superstitious fears, were the perfect weapon to hurl against her. And while Serenity was busy dealing with the humans, Metalia struck."

"And you didn't do anything?" Serenity asked. Tsukuyomi just sat and looked at the talisman on the ground.


Once again there was a brilliant flash of light in the palace gym, followed by the impact of weight on the floor. Alerted by the sound, Shingo Tsukino raced into the gym. He found Endymion and the four inner senshi sprawled on the floor. Sailor Mars was nearest to him. Her legs were pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around them and her face buried in her knees.

"Well, the positive we gained was that a single lead mind works better at controlling the amalgam's movements," Mercury analyzed, mainly to give Mars time to recover. "Allowing Jupiter to control the body during the martial arts gymnastic . . ."

"Stop it, Mercury," Mars said bitterly. "I can't do it. I can't merge with the rest of you. Not long enough to rescue Serenity."

"Wait, Sis IS gone?" Shingo exclaimed.

"We didn't tell you because we didn't want word to get out," Endymion explained. "I know it's been difficult keeping the news from the staff and residents of the palace . . ."

"What happened?"

"She was," Endymion began, fighting to remain calm and objective, "taken - - by a being claiming to be her father." He noticed Shingo's instant agitation. "Her original father. Serenity's told you about how she's the reincarnation of a princess from eons ago. This Tsukuyomi claims to be her birth father from back then and forced her to go with him."

"And you're trying to combine into one being and get her back?" Shingo asked. "Is he that powerful?" The silent response he got spoke volumes.

"OK, hard decision time here," Venus spoke up. She glanced over at Mars with a grim expression. "Maybe we better start practicing this without Mars in the mix."

"Blondie!" gasped Jupiter.

"We're running out of time, Jupe," Venus responded. "I don't want to try to force this and have it not work. Or have it work, but work too late to save Serenity. We've got to get this launched, soon."

"Listen to her, Jupiter," Mars added.

"Hey, I'm not letting you off that easily," Venus said, getting up and kneeling next to Mars. "You're still coming. And we'll need someone to spar against to get our moves down, now that Uranus and Neptune aren't available. You're up to that, aren't you?"

"Anything, if it gets her back," Mars replied, looking Venus in the eye. Venus nodded and flashed her the old "Sailor V" sign.

"Is there anything I can do?" Shingo asked.

"Don't tell anyone about this," Endymion cautioned him. "Not even your wife, if you can avoid it. I don't want this getting out any more than it already has."

"If you can stick around, maybe you can watch us go," Jupiter added. "Give us an opinion on how efficient we look joined together. But be honest. Be critical. Give it to us straight, because we need to know."

"Just no autographs," Venus added with a wink.

"OK, is everybody ready?" Endymion asked.

Everyone nodded. The Senshi all closed their eyes, save Mars, and spread their hands. Endymion spread his, but kept his eyes open. As Mars and Shingo watched, the jewels on the tiaras of the remaining Senshi flared. Their forms began to shimmer, then seemed to leap toward Endymion. A brilliant light flashed and both Mars and Shingo had to turn away. When they looked back, Sailor Amalgam stood before them. She was different from previous attempts: Her black hair was closer to brown now and only reached her shoulders. Her bow was now blue instead of green, her skirt green instead of red, and she was only ten and a half feet tall.

"Get to a safe spot, Shingo," Sailor Amalgam advised him, sounding eerily like Mercury. "When this starts, it's liable to be dangerous."

She glanced at Mars with a confident smirk.

"Unless Mars plans on boring me to death," Amalgam added, this time sounding like Venus.

"Mars!" Mars shouted, glaring. "Flame Sniper!"

As the flaming bow formed in Sailor Mars' hand, Shingo settled back to watch a match that as a child he had dreamed about. But the purpose behind the actions quelled any excitement he might have felt.


"Oto-san?" Serenity persisted. "If you knew about Metalia's attack, why didn't you help stop it?"

Still Tsukuyomi wouldn't say anything. Serenity came over and sat down on the bench next to him. He wouldn't look at her.

"Oto-san?"

"Usagi," he began. "You have to understand how I was feeling then. Your mother had hurt me. Her Crystal Kingdom was populated with people who opposed my philosophy and who had dismissed me."

"Oto-san, the Crystal Kingdom was destroyed."

"It meant nothing to me."

"All of those people died."

"They meant nothing to me, either."

There was a pregnant pause.

"I died," Serenity said.

Tsukuyomi glanced at her.

"At the time," he confessed painfully, "it meant nothing to me. You'd stayed with her. You'd made your choice." He looked away. "As the centuries passed and I was abandoned one by one by my fellows, I came to realize how wrong I was." His jaw clenched. "How petty. How things might have been different, certainly between us." He sighed. "I still resent Serenity for the things she did and said to hurt me. But I will give her credit: using the last of her crystal energy to gather your essence and send you to Earth to be reincarnated was the wisest thing she could have done. Wiser than anything I would have thought of."

They sat in silence.

"I didn't want to tell you," Tsukuyomi said finally. "I didn't want you to hate me - - any more than you probably already hate me."

"I don't hate you," Serenity said softly, looking at her hands. "We all make mistakes. We all surrender to our weaker sides now and then. We all do things we regret later. It isn't what you did; it's what you do to make up for it that is the measure of someone. I forgive you, Oto-san."

Tsukuyomi didn't look at her. But a sad smile sprouted on his face.

"Thank you, Usagi," he said. "That means a lot to me. I probably don't deserve it, because I didn't do much to make up for just sitting back and watching Metalia destroy Serenity and everything she'd built. Until now."

Serenity glanced at him curiously.

"That's why you're here," he said. "Yes, I missed you and I want to get back some of the time I lost with you. But I want to show you how to achieve your full potential. And I want to protect you from that cesspool you reside in."

His daughter looked at him with growing distress.

"I know it's not what you want, but it's what's best," Tsukuyomi continued. "I hope some day you can forgive me for this, just as you forgave me for the past. But I vowed to do what's best for you - - and that's what I'll do."

Tsukuyomi got up and went into the castle. Serenity remained on the bench and put her head in her hands.


"Mom's got a Senshi meeting to go to," Makoto said, kneeling down to the level of her two children. "You two be good and mind your father."

"Are you going after Auntie Serenity?" Akiko asked, anticipation bubbling from the eleven year old girl.

"Why would I be going after your Aunt Serenity?" Makoto asked pointedly. Akiko's eyes instantly shifted upward and her mouth clamped shut. "Oh, what am I going to do with you? Now you keep that to yourself, young lady. Secret, got it?"

"Secret," Akiko nodded soberly. Makoto reached up and pecked her on the cheek.

"Be careful, Mom," Ichiro said nervously.

"Always, Champ," she smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "I've got too much to come home to."

Rising to her feet, Makoto was joined by her burly husband. The two embraced.

"Fight the good fight," Sanjuro whispered to her, caressing her cheek.

"Take care of them," she whispered back. After a last fond look, Makoto turned and joined Ami, who was waiting at the door.

"You honestly think the mission is going to be tonight?" Ami asked as they walked down the corridor.

"Yeah, don't you?" Makoto asked. "I think we're as ready as we'll ever be. I hate to say it, but not having Rei in the fusion makes it a lot more stable. And it's probably a lot easier on her, too."

"I'll grant you that," Ami nodded. "I just wish we had more preparation time. Maybe Artemis is right. Maybe I do over-analyze."

The pair entered the meeting room the Senshi used. They found Rei and Minako already there. At the far end of the table, Endymion was looking at a telescopic photo of the Moon. Haruka Tenoh was drawing on it with a grease pencil.

"Haruka?" Ami spoke with mild surprise. "How is Michiru doing?"

"Getting better," Haruka replied distantly as she continued to draw. "You did good work, Ami. A few weeks and she'll be back to using "Violin Tide" again."

"I thought you didn't take orders from the King," Makoto commented sourly. Haruka looked up at her.

"I don't," she grunted. "He asked." She returned her attention to the map. "Besides, there's more important things to worry about - - like getting Dumpling back." Haruka pointed to a section of the map. "This is the blue area. There's an atmosphere and everything. That's your teleportation point. Over here is his castle."

"Can I see that?" Minako asked. Endymion handed it over.

"Don't count on surprise," Haruka informed them. "He has some way of sensing you once you're there. Your best shot is a full out charge. Engage him quick. Hit him hard. Take no prisoners."

"So we're on mission then?" Ami asked.

"I think we're ready," Endymion told her. "Do you disagree?"

"I," Ami began, then faltered. "No. I guess not."

"Good. I'd like you to familiarize yourself with Haruka's map and then confer with Minako on a plan of attack."

"Of course," Ami nodded. "Just let me call Hayami first."

As Ami sought out a phone, Haruka rose.

"I'm going to get back to Michiru," she told Endymion.

"You have to?" Minako asked. "We could use you."

"I have to," Haruka replied.

Without another word, she left. Makoto had worked her way over to Rei, who was staring at her hands clasped in front of her. When Makoto touched her shoulder, the priest jumped with momentary alarm.

"You going to be OK?" Makoto asked.

"I have to be," Rei replied. "Serenity needs me." She swallowed. "As long as I'm not part of the merger, I'll be ready to go." Rei turned to her friend. "I promise."

Makoto smiled gratefully.

Continued in Chapter 8