And part three of what was originally one loooong chapter :) I'm quite glad I changed that as it actually works with the chapter naming system I have going here :p

And a note, as many reviews have asked, no Sailor Moon will not emerge in the moon kingdom, I'm just trying to come up with a reason for the whole "Sailor Moon is clearly the moon princess" issue and why Luna had the brooch if there's never ever been a Sailor Moon before ;p

As usual, the wonderful reviewers:

R.I.P. Jake AmaraMichelle

idfcv

YingYing

Wonderbee31


The music echoed through the stone cathedral as the high priest of Mars walked slowly down the aisle towards the stained glass image of the god Jupiter, "Will you solemnly promise to govern the Peoples of Jupiter and its moons, according to their respective laws and customs?"

"I solemnly promise so to do."

"Will you to your power cause Law and Justice, in Mercy, to be executed in all your judgments?" He lifted the crown, a small slip of a thing made from branches still impossibly alive after centuries.

"I will."

"Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the Laws of the Gods? Will you to the utmost of your power maintain the balance of the Silver Alliance?"

"All this I promise to do. The things which I have here before promised, I will perform, and keep. Blessed be Selene."

"Blessed be Selene," the congregation murmured. The priest bowed before the new ruler and set the crown upon her head. Makoto looked stoically forward, refusing to let her eyes show any sign of weakness. She rose to her feet, the green dress she wore rippling in the breeze from the door which stood wide open at the back. As she rose the congregation did so too. The Senshi and assembled royalty followed Makoto out of the double doors. The people of Jupiter bowed low at the sight of their monarch and many cheered. They had lived well under Renjiro and would mourn both he and his wife, found dead mere hours after her husband, but at the same time they saw a bright future under the rule of the new Queen Makoto.

Makoto was glad she was not expected to speak, but moved straight through to the carriage that would take her to the palace and, more unfortunately, the coronation ball. Due to the full alert still active through the alliance none of the Senshi would be in attendance. They had been permitted to attend her coronation but would take over from the Shittenou for the ball. The carriage stopped before the steps up to a building that had once been home and yet now was merely an empty block of stone, no longer ringing with her father's laughter or her mother's odd remarks.

Kings and Queens congratulated her and expressed their sorrow at her parent's untimely deaths. Makoto repeated her gracious thanks, somewhat unable to process everything that had happened these past few days.

From across the hall, two of the four heavenly kings watched her. Nephrite seemed, for once in his life, unsure of how to act. "It would not be proper," he said finally to his companion, "She is a Queen now."

"So? Technically you're a king," Jadeite shrugged.

"A different sort of king," Nephrite replied acidly, "And the lowest of four. She was above me before, but now..." he sighed, "Now she is lost to me forever."

"You are being far too melodramatic," his companion shook his head, "Just you wait and see, she's as smitten as you are." Jadeite called back as he headed over to where Endymion and Zoisite stood together.

"How is he?" Endymion asked.

"Oh coping as well as usual," Jadeite waved a hand, "Although to be perfectly honest I just think he has absolutely no idea what to say to her."

"That's hardly surprising," Endymion sighed, glancing over at Makoto. The Queen was two years his junior and the responsibilities of her new office were already clear upon her shoulders. Endymion did not envy in the slightest.

"I think I shall go talk with Saraswati," Zoisite bowed to his prince, "If I may be excused."

"Of course," Endymion nodded, snapped out of his reverie, "Please do not feel you have to stay on my account." Zoisite turned and nodded to Saraswati who waved a hand as a figure in blue and white tried to dart past him and instead collided with him.

"Ami?" he said startled, "My apologies," he leaned down and gave her a hand before bending to retrieve the small blue box she had dropped. A soft red light was flashing, almost ominously Zoisite thought, on the side.

"No I'm sorry," Ami shook her head, "Zoisite, have you seen Queen Serenity?"

"I believe she was talking with King Reizo only a few moments ago."

"Thank you," Ami nodded and then added as an afterthought, "And you should bring the other Shitennou and the Terran royals. They will want to hear this." Zoisite thought for a moment and then turned to find Endymion. Across the room Saraswati's shoulders sank a little and she turned away.

"What is it Ami?" Serenity asked once they were all gathered together.

"The Mercury console detected a large energy shift," she began, "Just as you predicted it would. I've been running this test daily since the alert was initiated and this morning," she tapped a few keys, "There was a marked decrease in the amount of energy present on Earth, coupled with an increase of similar proportions in the sun."

"So Metallia is active on Earth," King Isha said thoughtfully, "Is there a way of performing this scan more precisely?"

"Now that I know where I'm looking I can fix my scans on Earth," Ami nodded, "Which should be perfectly doable from the moon. I would, however, recommend that myself and one or two other scouts remain on the Earth for the duration of this threat so that we can react to any threat as quickly as possible."

"Very well," Serenity nodded, "You, Persephone and Rei shall go if, of course, it is alright with King Isha and Queen Kiva," she turned to them.

"We would be greatly honoured," Kiva said after a moment, "However, it pains me to think that the same fate might befall these Senshi as the last to visit our home."

"Excuse me, highness," Ami said timidly, "But it is our duty to protect the Alliance, and to put our lives before those of others. There is no shame or fear for me or my comrades if we were to meet that end."

"You are wise beyond your years, Sailor Mercury," Isha said solemnly, "I thank you greatly for the service you do for us. I shall send Shitennou Zoisite to join you, and, if I shall be permitted, the remaining Shitennou will take up the roles of the Senshi in defence of the alliance."

"Thank you for your generous offer," Serenity inclined her head, "We should return to the ball before we are missed."

"And I should return to the perimeter," Ami nodded, bowing low before hurrying from the room.

"Nephrite, I should like a word with you before we rejoin the crowd."

"Of course Queen Serenity," he said, slightly surprised, "Anything I can do to help."

"Then please follow me," she headed to a door on the far side of the chamber. Nephrite followed her through and was surprised to find that the wide airy chamber he entered was not empty. Makoto was sat by a nearby window, her elaborate curls hanging loosely about her shoulders, starkly different from the practical pony tail he had always seen it in before. Her shoulders were slouched and there was an air of sadness that lingered in the room. Nephrite jumped a little at the sound of the door and realised that Queen Serenity had left the room.

"Highness," he bowed stiffly and Makoto turned, a wistful smile on her lips.

"Am I really that different, Nephrite? I am still Makoto, after all." Nephrite hesitated, not quite sure what he could say. Makoto stood and moved closer to him, stopping perhaps an arm's length away. The silence seemed to swell, blocking out the faint sounds of music and chatter from the nearby ball.

"You are a queen now," Nephrite spoke at last, "And I am but a guard of the youngest planet within the alliance."

"That makes no difference to me," Makoto shrugged, taking a step closer to him, "Why should it to you?" And she kissed him. For a moment, time seemed to stop, before Nephrite placed his hand on her cheek, brushing away her tears with a single gloved finger.


Ok, so who was expecting Sailor Jupiter after that title chapter? lol, Queen Makoto instead x