~ ACT 9 ~
As we all traveled in the multicolored void of the time stream concentrating on going to the future Chibi-usa comes from we heard of all things the ticking of a clock that steadily grew louder until we saw floating in the vast multicolored nothingness the gates of time, which opened before all of our eyes as a garnet colored light blinded us all. When we could see again we found ourselves standing on the frozen ground of a vast city covered in ice and crystal a familiar looking palace in the distance. "What happened here," Jadeite asked his voice in a way sounding small showing his age as the youngest of the Shitennou. "Those people, from the Black Moon, they caused all of this," Chibi-usa said wiping tears from her eyes as I placed a comforting hand on her shoulder as she smiled up at me before walking away from be her eyes gazing towards the crystal palace.
"Mama, papa, I'm home," Chibi-usa said as she began to dash towards the Crystal Palace. "Chibi-usa," I and everyone else said quickly going after the small girl who had seemed to melt into the thick fog that hung in the air of this frozen city. As we ran we lost sight of Chibi-usa but halted when we saw a figure walking towards us. He was dressed in white and silver, and their was a domino white mask and carried a thin staff with a small golden shaped round jewel at its top. "Tuxedo Kamen," I said looking first at the man walking towards us and then towards Mamoru at my side who stepped in front of me protectively his sword pointed at the figure who halted. "Please I mean you no harm," he said in a voice so familiar but different than my Mamoru's that it actually caused me to draw a deep breath.
"Who are you," Mamoru asked. "I am King Endymion, I rule with my wife Neo-Queen Serenity here in Crystal Tokyo," the man said as Mamoru actually lowered his blade whispering "King Endymion," under his breath. "Are you our master's future self," Zoicite said as the man simply nodded as Kunzite asked, "and Chibi-usa," "she is safe in one of my hidden bunkers, which as far as I know the enemy has no knowledge of. Please follow me, there is much I have to tell you," the king said. "You are not really here are you," Ami-chan asked causing the king to smile as he said, "perceptive as always Mercury. You are of course correct I am but a holographic projection, but that like other things can be discussed later, please come," King Endymion said turning and walking in the direction we had already been going.
"Should we trust him," Nephrite asked as Mamoru said, "yes, I don't know why but I feel we can trust him." "I think we can trust him as well," I said taking Mamoru's hand in my own. "Then we should follow him," Minako-chan said as Rei-chan nodded her head in agreement and soon enough we were all following the holographic projection of King Endymion preparing ourselves for whatever he may be about to tell us.
Esmeraude took a deep and steadying breath as she opened the doors to the prince's throne room her eyes instantly meeting with those of her prince, Demando's before traveling to Wiseman who was setting in his fashion by the prince's right side, Safir who was at the prince's left inclining his head towards her slightly as if wishing her luck. "You would show yourself before us, when because of you both Kiral and Akiral were lost," Wiseman said and acting quickly Esmeraude knew now was the time to play her ace in the hole. "My prince, I have information about the mysterious guardian Sailor Moon. I know who she is in this time," Esmeraude said bowing her head hoping that her words had not just fallen on deaf ears.
"Is what you are saying true, Esmeraude, do you truly know who Sailor Moon is here in this time," Prince Demando said as a predatory smile of triumph came to Esmeraude's lips though she quickly wiped it away before looking back up into her prince's eyes. "Yes, my prince. Truthfully I don't know how any of us haven't made the connection before. The protectiveness of the guardians, who would die for her. The way that Endymion himself would throw away his own life and those of his Shitennou to protect her. My prince, Sailor Moon is the one who shall become Neo-Queen Serenity," Esmeraude said as Demando actually set up in his throne as Wiseman's hands tightened and Safir's eyes simply widened. "Of course, now it all makes sense," Wiseman said before an alarm went off as a holographic projection showed a large group of familiar figures walking the roads of Crystal Tokyo, as Wiseman used the distraction to vanish from the room in a cloud of shadows.
"Her eyes," Prince Demando said looking at Sailor Moon. "They hold that same bold determination, how did I not see this before," Demando added standing from his throne. "A job well done Esmeraude," He said to the green haired woman who bowed her head, internally relieved that she would not be killed for her past failures in eliminating the guardians. "With your blessing my prince I shall deal with them personally if you will allow me," Esmeraude said as the image being projected began to fade from were it was being projected as if something were interfering with its broadcast. "No, I think I want to deal with this matter personally. Safir, check on the Black Crystal make sure it is still functioning at peak proficiency. Esmeraude, for now rest, I am sure I will need your skills, just not right now," Demando said teleporting from the room.
"Brother why must you love her so," Safir said shaking his head before turning and leaving the room never seeing Esmeraude's fingers that were clutching her black folding fan turn white in anger as she threw the object into the pedestal where the holographic images were projected from. "Damn you Sailor Moon, I swear you shall not have my prince's heart," Esmeraude said picking up her fan and unfolding it to hide her face left the room as well her mind already deep at work on plans to eliminate the guardian of love and justice.
When we arrived at King Endymion's secret bunker I rushed to a bed in the center of the room where Chibi-usa with Luna-P in her hands was sleeping the tracks where tears had fallen easily seen on her cheeks. "She cried herself to sleep, when she arrived. I didn't have the heart to wake her," the king said as with Chibi-usa now cradled safely in my arms I went to stand back next to Mamoru. "I promised to tell you the story of this future, and so I will," the king said. "First this is the 30th century and as I think you may already know you are in the city of Crystal Tokyo the capital of the new Earth and Moon Kingdom's. An ice age came to the Earth sometime in the 21st Century freezing the world in ice, only to be awakened by my wife Neo-Queen Serenity who with the aid of the Illusion Silver Crystal at the start of the 31st Century awakened the world from its icy slumber.
With the aid of my wife's Sailor Guardian's and my Shitennou as well as aid from the guardian's advisors we helped rebuild a world so grateful to my beautiful wife that she was crowned, along with myself as rulers of this new age." "This Neo-Queen Serenity that you speak of, who can use the power of the Illusion Silver Crystal, is she, well what I mean to ask is," and here I turned a lovely shade of pink unable to ask my question though with a tender and warm smile King Endymion replied, "you are right Sailor Moon, Neo-Queen Serenity is you or at least this future's version of you. You should also know that we have a daughter, known as Small Lady," the king said extending his hand towards the child sleeping peacefully in my arms her head resting on my chest.
"Chibi-usa is," "the daughter" "of our Master," "and Usagi-chan," first Minako then Kunzite followed by Zoicite and then finally Ami-chan said everyone else to stunned to speak. "A daughter," I said placing as Mamoru placed a hand on my stomach that was still rather small sense I was only three months pregnant though there was a small bump their. "Well she does take after you in many ways, koibito," Mamoru said tenderly as I added, "I am not the only one she takes after, koishii." "I don't wish to say anymore, for as Pluto has already told you, nothing is ever set in stone. Yet I thank you all for coming here and taking care of my daughter were I can not," the king said with a bow of his head towards us all. "We shall guard her with our lives," Mamoru swore as the king with a smile said. "It is strange seeing myself as I was in the past, but also a comfort."
"The greatest trial you have ever faced is yet to come. Believe in each other, and never doubt the bond you all share," the king said before his image faded as dark energy blown by an unnatural wind filled the room and a figure dressed in black with silver hair and clear colorless eyes materialized in the room. "Who are you," Artemis asked and even though he had no powers he proudly stood next to Luna as myself and all the others slipped into a defensive position. "Ah yes how rude of me. I am the leader of the Black Moon Family, Prince Demando. Me and my family were exiled by you of the white moon, when we would not conform to your ways, to the desolate isolation of Nemesis," "Nemesis," Venus said the question in her tone. "The tenth planet of this galaxy, not even yet discovered in your time," the prince said with a cold calculating smile his tone never changing from a calm collected tone despite all he had said.
"Ah Sailor Moon, no your majesty, Neo-Queen Serenity how I never recognized your beauty before Esmeraude made the connection I shall never know, please forgive me," the prince said with a bow leaving me speechless though Mars was quick to say, "think nothing of it, as she is already taken." "We shall see," the prince said as upon his forehead were the symbol of the Black Moon Family was, the upside down black crescent moon opened into a red and golden third eye that knocked us to all to our knees or had us barely holding on as the gravity of the room seemed to increase and it even seemed harder to breath. "Come to me Sailor Moon," the prince said and with that my body started to rise in the air Chibi-usa still in my arms, "no don't let him get you both," I thought as the prince said, "hum two birds with one stone, how thoughtful of you oh lady of the moon."
"No," I yelled as a blinding white light so pure it seemed blue filled the room for a moment breaking the spell Prince Demando's third eye had created for just a moment causing me to fall though the prince caught me as Chibi-usa as I was glad to see fell into Mamoru's waiting arms, but before he or anyone else could act the prince's eye activated once again. "Such power, but that is to be expected, come Sailor Moon let us take our leave," and once again it seemed as if I had no control of my body as Demando drew me to his side before looking to Mamoru with a look of triumph in his eyes before leaving the room in the way he had come in an unnatural black energy wind.
* PGSM R *
"Usagi," Enydmion yelled pain evident in his voice before turning to Sailor Mercury who was closest to him and handing her Chibi-usa. "Take care of her, I am going after Usagi," the prince said and just as the Shitennou, and other guardians seemed ready to volunteer to go with him the image of the king rematerialized within the room. "You must calm yourselves, all of you. I know where he is taking her, and I think it best that you go by yourself, if what I have planed is to work," the king said to Prince Endymion who looking at the others who nodded took a deep breath and said, "I'm listening," as his future self began to describe his plan to get Sailor Moon back.
* PGSM R *
I awoke to find myself feeling drained of energy, though my henshin was still active, but looking down I saw that my fuku was covered by a white gown, that was wrinkled and plain but still had a beauty all its own. Beneath my fingers I felt silk sheets and looking around the darkened room found myself in a very nicely furnished bedroom. "Oh," I said clutching my head as a amused but still cool and calm laughter filled the room and I found myself out of instinct drawing backwards towards the headboard of the bed as I looked across the room to see Prince Demando standing there. "Awake, already. If you are wondering, the reason you feel so weak is that I have exposed you to the power of the Black Crystal, most would remain out of it for days after that, but not you, right Sailor Moon, or should I say she who would be Neo-Queen Serenity."
"Why are you doing this," I asked as Demando approached the bed as I clutched my hands around my drawn knees. "The Black Crystal is an object of great and immense power, we were lucky to find it upon the planet of Nemesis for it has allowed us to do all that we have so far. Yet with the Ginzuishou, nothing could stand in our way, and not only this galaxy, but the gates of time themselves would be ours," he said the third eye upon his forehead opening as I found myself unwillingly drifting towards his open palm that took my chin into it once I was within reach. "So beautiful, both here and in the past," he said unwillingly drawing his lips closer to my own. "No, this isn't right," I thought to myself as tears fell from my eyes. "Mamoru is the only one I love," I thought, "Usagi," I thought I heard Mamoru's voice yell in both anger but desperation as well.
"Mamoru, no I must be imagining things. Mamoru, please help me," I thought and just as Demando was about to kiss me something flashed through the air striking Demando on his cheek causing it to bleed as his concentration was broken and I fell free of his influence back onto the bed. "Usagi, take my cane," Tuxedo Kamen said to me as the cane he carried actually extended allowing me to grab it as the cane started to bring me back to my Mamoru. Looking to the ground a saw to my surprise a single red rose embedded into the black crystal floor of the bedroom. "Do you honestly think I will let you have her so easily," Demando said with anger in his eyes as his third eye once again opened and we could both feel the same effects we had when he had first used it against us.
Though as Demando made his way towards were Mamoru was holding me in his arms a mysterious black energy wind blew in the room breaking the prince's concentration and taking his chance Tuxedo Kamen took me from the window that he had used to make his entrance to get both him and me out of the Dark Crystal Palace. We made our way to a hang glider which caused me to raise an eyebrow in suspicion though all Mamoru said was, "I will explain on the way back," as he grabbed onto the glider and I grabbed on to him as we made our way from the Dark Crystal Palace towards the Crystal Palace in the distance.
Below from the entrance to the Dark Crystal Palace Esmeraude watched with her trademark smile from behind her fold out fan as Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen drifted with the wind back towards the Crystal Palace. "Jealousy is dangerous thing within women," Safir said from behind Esmeraude not even startling the green haired woman. "Whatever do you mean Safir,' she said not even turning. "I just find it strange that the energy in the Black Crystal spiked just as Demando was going to reclaim Sailor Moon. You didn't have anything to do with that did you Esmeraude," Safir asked as Esmeraude laughed in that way that only she could. "Aiding the enemy, I would never betray our prince in such a way Safir," Esmeraude said turning towards Safir still hiding her smile behind her fan.
"If you say so Esmeraude, but you almost seem glad that Sailor Moon got away," Safir said as Esmeraude turned from him once again and knowing that he could prove nothing Safir left her, knowing that from now on he would have to keep a closer eye upon this woman who was just as cunning and far more dangerous than any he had ever met.
Tuxedo Kamen told me of the kings plan for him to recover me in the weaker of his two forms using a hang glider. "I never knew your cane could do that though, and what was with the rose," I had to ask Mamoru as the two of us started to descend into the force field protected area just outside the Crystal Palace. "In truth I didn't know my cane would do that either, but the king suggested I try it saying he had done something similar at one time. As for the rose, well Jadeite suggested it, he thought it would be romantic," Mamoru said as our feet touched down on the ground. "Well in a way it was, what did the others do when Jadeite suggested this," I asked and Mamoru being blunt and never being able to lie to me told me the truth as he said, "laughed," causing the two of us to do just that as Mamoru drew my body to his our lips meeting in a tender kiss.
"We should get back or Minako will have my head," Mamoru said as he broke the kiss. "Yes, that or Rei-chan will try to fry you," I added playfully wrapping my arms around Mamoru's waist, and though he said nothing I could still see him roll his eyes behind that white domino mask of his before the two of us made our way slowly back into the palace.
~ NOTE ~
And that is the end of ACT 9. So as you can see Demando is still as much of an well, an A as he was in the Anime, but I hoped I brought out a little more out of his character with his official introduction to our hero's. ACT 10 I promise you is full of just as much if not more action and drama then this act was, as I am sure true fans of Sailor Moon already know just what is coming.
The death of a member of the Black Moon Family.
The beginning of perhaps my favorite R villain ever's arc in the story.
I will say no more as I don't want to give away much more but I will say this.
She's almost here, (insert evil laughter here).
Till ACT 10 I remain a . . .
KuRSeofTime
PS
As always if you have any questions about any of the Japanese words or honorifics I used all you need do is ask and I shall translate to the best of my abilities.
As for that um, throwing of the rose moment, (turning a nice shade of pink).
I couldn't resist doing it just this once. It was always that moment in the anime when you knew that Tuxedo Kamen had arrived and even though it never happened in the Live Action Drama I wanted to pay tribute to the Anime Tuxedo Kamen in this one, what I hope was amazing moment.
It won't happen again, you have my word as an author and the creator of this story.
xoxoPAUxoxo: Thank you once more for your continued support of my story. Also I am glad to here that you are enjoying the way I write Rei and Minako when they interact together, they have perhaps one of the most complex relationships in PGSM and I am happy to know I am doing the two justice, well for you at least.
sailor-ice: Yea! A new reviewer! First, welcome to my story. Second, I thank you for your honest criticism of my story. Third, I am glad that even after what even I admit was a shaky start that you continued to read and are now enjoying my fan-fiction. Finally, I do hope you will continue reading and enjoying my story.