Title: Crescent Mirror

Author: Aaeris17

Rating: PG-13, no flames for indecent behavior please! It's only a story!

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

The Wraith Kingdom

"So tell me again, Wiseman, what is it that my dear Father had placed in the soul of the little Princess of Saturn?" Diamond asked again, rubbing his temples in his chamber as he watched two luscious specimens of the female variety danced slowly in front of him. He took a deep breath of their musky smell and vaguely wondered if clones were twins and if having both women was incestuous?

Wiseman caressed his crystal ball, "Years ago your Father and your Mother had the entire world at its knees. They had forced the Kings and Queens into exile and were ruling in everything but name. The King and Queen of Wraith had taken a particular interest in the Outer Kingdoms—the first line of defense. Similarly your father had helped out the King of Saturn. He was about to claim he then Princess of Saturn as his prize, now Queen, when the girl pleaded she would do anything if the Lord Pharaoh would leave her in peace. Your father who was not a foolish man, realized that he might not always have the power he was enjoying at the moment and said that he would leave the girl a virgin on two grounds—one they allow the Wraith Kingdom to place a portal to other worlds on their lands and two, that the Princess offer him his first born daughter one day. The Princess of Saturn foolishly thought the upcoming nuptials of the Princess of the Moon and the Prince Apollo would reverse the Pharaoh's demands. What she did not understand was his magic was as old as the Earth and a deal signed in the blood of Terra, as it was, could not so easily be dismissed. I doubt the Queen of Saturn before last night even thought that her daughter was not hers. The seeds had been planted all those years ago and those fools did not wonder the least bit. Now, the soul of Saturn clashes with the seedling he placed, our very own portal to a new universe, Mistress 9,"

Wiseman crackled happily. His plans were going well. Pharaoh 90 was 'trapped' awaiting word from Wiseman, to bring an invasion in from another universe, the Tau universe. Wiseman's own, or should we say, Death Phantom's own world. Wiseman could hardly wait till he could shed this seer disguise and reveal himself to the Luster kingdom. He would easily rid himself of Lord Pharaoh, but Beryl seemed to be a power unto herself. He felt himself almost wanting to sigh, and then there was the ever present problem of Nehelenia.

He shook his head imperceptibly; first things first, allow the girls to bicker amongst themselves, secure an opening in the Outer Kingdoms from which to launch an attack. If he allowed Beryl to think she was helping and in charge, then perhaps he could keep her in line.

Why hadn't he chosen the more promising twin all those years ago?

"You are dismissed, old friend," Diamond waved his hand dismissively. The wine had gone to his head and he was having trouble concentrating on the Four Sisters who danced in front of him, Sapphire's clones were marvelous. All of the clones had once been based on these girls who now danced in front of him. After all, what was more wonderful than a beautiful woman as a force of mayhem and destruction? Diamond felt himself stirring despite the wine, "Esmeraude," he murmured and a tall woman dressed in a black green gown came towards him, "I want you to go tell the General Rubeus that Wiseman has plans ready and to report to him and not Sapphire,"

The woman bent low, acquiescing to his request and went to follow his demands. As Diamond followed her retreat he saw the long silver stilettos strapped to each of her thighs. Somehow the double entendre aroused him more than he thought and for the slightest of seconds he wondered if he could demand another royal lady into his bed—rather than the four Ayakashi sisters—developed to be perfect counterparts for the Sailor Senshi. At least, that was the mantra according to Sapphire who designed them.

"Koan, Beruche, Calaveras, Petz," the names rolled off his tongue like a sweet candy, the kind of which lasted forever and whose taste changed every time he licked it. The girls led him to his bed and they seemed to flit over him like faeries and he allowed himself to be consumed and absorbed—losing himself into the faces of these women who were not really women but close enough to what he really desired, "Serenity," he moaned softly into the dark room.

Esmeraude heard the mournful cry and steeled herself against, men! She had no need for a man who was as weak as Diamond was—she should just agree to Rubeus's numerous requests. After all, she was no mere woman. She was the Countess Esmeraude of Greene. Her father had left her a fortune along with a traitor's mark. She could have joined the court at Luster yet chose to join that of the Princess Beryl's. Yet, Beryl had not been the companion Esmeraude had hoped for. Beryl had been cold, self-absorbed, and almost non-existent as a child of the court. Rubeus's father had taken pity on her and trained her along with Rubeus and Sapphire when Diamond did not want him. She was now a deadly assassin…But still in love with Diamond! Her inner voice was not even mocking her as much as it was stating an awful truth.

Esmeraude twirled and pinned a long lean man against the wall. His red hair glistened in the dim light Esmeraude held up against his face. He chuckled.

"I never could sneak up on you, not even when we were children," Rubeus grinned and tried not to wince as Esmeraude let him down.

She flipped her moss green hair and ignored Rubeus, "His Highness would like me to inform you to report to Wiseman for further plans regarding the Mission," she announced over her shoulder.

"Aye, milady," Rubeus saluted and watched her retreating figure. Poor girl, her heart was made out of stone. What she saw in their precious prince Rubeus could only guess—but it was not his place to think anything about that situation. He didn't want to lose his neck. He had enough on his plate what with the sudden treachery of Sapphire and the continuous double play between Beryl and Wiseman. It was a small wonder that Diamond had a mind left at all.

"Stop it," he whispered out loud to no one in particular, "Tis no business of yours,"

"Or is it?" A high feminine voice purred out of the darkness. Rubeus flattened himself against the wall and reached down for his small dagger. Woman or no woman, bitch was going to die.

"Show yourself!" Rubeus called out, his words shaking the tiniest bit out of fear.

"Tehehehehe," the voice tittered, "You fear a woman who cannot reveal herself?" Somehow a blade of light flashed against the long hallway mirror that bordered the smooth granite walls.

Rubeus squinted and his eyes widened, "Nehelenia!" He hissed and his ruby eyes narrowed.

"Nehelenia!" Nehelenia pretended to faint off her throne, "Oh please General, don't give me any of your crap," she snapped as she sat tall in her throne, "Come closer! I don't want to strain my voice,"

Rubeus shuffled his feet and stood as far away from the mirror as he could manage. The cold granite against his wall wasn't the only thing making the hair on the back of his neck stand up.

"I see things that are disturbing and humorous none the less," Nehelenia began, drumming her long nails on the arms of her throne, "I see that bastard Sapphire has been put into his place. But he's cunning, not a son of an elf for nothing," her voice faltered over the word 'elf' ever so slightly, "He bears watching, General. I would even go so far as say that the Luster Kingdom might seem him as very vital…though we both know he is expendable—like you," she laughed at her cruel joke. Rubeus did not even flicker at her comment. He stood strong. He may be expendable but he was loyal and did his duty with no question.

"How can I help you, my lady?" Rubeus gave her a half bow, unwilling to expose his neck to her.

Nehelenia cocked her head and smiled wide enough to show her fangs, "Why, I thought you knew that already,"

Rubeus straightened up, starting to feel unsettled, "No, Majesty, I do not dare to guess your mind,"

This flattered Nehelenia. She had forgotten how nice it was to have courtiers flaunting at her every whim, "General Rubeus, your father was a loyal man and I hope I can expect the same from you,"

Rubeus bristled at the mention of his father and what he thought Nehelenia was finally getting to, "My lady, he was a great man, and I will serve the Prince Diamond and the Princess Beryl as they see fit,"

Nehelenia frowned, this was not good, "General, let us be frank. We both know that Beryl is power hungry and very well affiliated with the Darker Arts of the world and Wiseman engineers all of Diamond's intentions. Diamond is so lost in his own lust for women that he will follow any breasted woman including his own sister" She spat out angrily.

Rubeus frowned; the sorceress spoke too much truth.

"What do you want?" He asked flatly.

Nehelenia grinned seductively, "Just a pair of eyes and ears in the real world, my dear. I just want to see if any plans bear fruit," She shrugged and settled herself back down in her throne, "You bore me, you may leave," her image shimmered out of existence.

Rubeus bowed to the silent mirror and wondered if there was any way he could get out of the situation he was in. He would sleep on it.

Esmeraude had heard all of it and smirked. So Nehelenia thought that she still had some power? This could turn out to be very interesting.

The Luster Kingdom Endymion's Bedroom

Selenity opened the chamber and her heart melted. The two were curled as they had when they were really young and before the fighting had started. Yet, as the image of the two as toddlers faded and were replaced by the young adults, Selenity felt heartache. Her head thudded from drink and from the stress of the last few hours. Images swarmed unwittingly in front of her eyes and she could not forget the stillness when Serenity had been enveloped by the water only to reemerge as if the water had spit her out. Her powers were growing rapidly and Selenity could not even put an attack together to help.

"No," Apollo put his arms around Selenity, holding her close and keeping her from helping, "This is their battle!" He whispered ferociously into her ears as he kept her pinned to him, "We have to see how they handle this!"

"Traitors!" Luna hissed and Selenity was surprised to note two little fangs protrude over Luna's lips as her back arched slightly and her eyes narrowed. Surely Luna would not transform to cat form and attack.

Artemis put his hand on Luna, the skin covered by a dense white fur, "We must see if we trained them well,"

Luna stared at Artemis with unbelieving eyes but stopped herself. Artemis left his hand where it was.

"My daughter!" Selenity had cried in a whisper.

Selenity shook her head. Her hair was spilling down her shoulders and she did not even notice her slightly frightful state. Why had Setsuna never said anything about the Outer Scouts being infected? Why had she not noted their unusual behavior? Selenity was cursing herself as she stared at her daughter and her surrogate son.

Endymion had indeed fallen asleep fully dressed and Serenity was curled underneath his right arm, left arm lounging over his head. The covers were forgotten as her dress billowed out over them both. They looked so grown up it hurt her heart. Her daughter and her son were not the children they had been when they last fell asleep in bed together. This time was much more serious. Visions of a white veiled Serenity misted Selenity's eyes and in that small moment she saw it all—she saw Serenity's wedding, her ascension to the throne, the birth of Serenity's daughter, her granddaughter. She nodded to herself. In these uncertain times, a prophecy would come true.

She closed the door. She would speak with Serenity later. Right now she would ensure they slept peacefully and undisturbed—to a point.

"Your Majesty," Artemis's voice interrupted her. She turned to see the disheveled man. He would be hitting the drink shortly, she thought to herself.

"Any good news, good friend?" Selenity asked softly willing herself to stay awake long enough to make sleep safe.

Artemis fought a sigh and looked to the floor, his long white hair falling in front of his face. He stared at his dirt splattered boots and thought to himself how much action had happened since Endymion had returned. Could it be that the boy was cursed? As his mother? Shame overcame him and he looked up at his Queen, "Majesty, I have secured the traitors in the deepest bowels, their presence only known to myself. Tomorrow we shall call a meeting of the Senate to determine their fates, the fate of Sapphire as well as what to do in regards to the disappearance of the Princess of Saturn, Titatian if you will," he said quickly as if he was giving a perimeter report to his old general, God rest his soul.

Selenity nodded, absorbing the information and processing it slowly in her head. She, as well as the rest of the Senate would understand, knew that imprisonment of two princesses might lead to war but there was no question as to their release. Who knew what they might do next? The best thing to do was to keep them in containment and have Ami analyze them. Not that it had really worked for Sapphire. He was growing more and more sullen as he realized that his brother was not as intent on rescuing him as he had believed. Perhaps they could use Sapphire as bait. But that would have to wait. Too many events had happened in the past two days and everyone needed some peace and quiet—but would they get it?

"Good work Artemis, please tell the King I will see him in our chambers and then prepare to retire for the night, I have a plan to put into work," Selenity dismissed him. Artemis bowed but did not leave her presence yet.

"Milady, if I have permission to speak freely?" Artemis began gravely.

Selenity burst out laughing; reminding Artemis so much of the girl she had once been and the girl her daughter was, "By all means Artemis! You have nothing to fear form me! With my exhaustion you could ask for about anything at this time and you would get it!"

Artemis smiled and shuffled his feet; "Do you…" he stopped and looked at her again, "I have word that the Lords of both Jovia and Venusian are ready to announce the engagements of their Princesses,"

Selenity smiled and stopped herself from laughing. This she had known for some time now. The only question was to wait for spring for both weddings. If we make it, she thought despairingly.

"Yes, I believe the girls informed Luna of that," Selenity began slowly and noticed the redness creeping up Artemis' neck and everything clicked, "I am sure she would be open to discussing…those events," Selenity could barely keep herself from grinning.

Artemis seemed to be chewing his upper lip and snapped his neck up, "Milady, if I may be quick to the point, I would like permission to court the Lady Luna," he blurted out.

The giggles exploded. All the tension of the past few days, the drinking to celebrate Serenity and Endymion, and here her cousin would finally find out the man of her dreams loved her dearly.

Artemis stiffened and Selenity could see the coldness seeping in and she raised her hand, "I laugh, good friend, because your permission has been seventeen years in the making,"

Artemis blushed deeply, "Am I that transparent?" he muttered. Selenity nodded.

"Yes, now I have it on good authority your suite will not go unnoticed," she grinned and patted his shoulder, "Now please tell my husband that I have need of him, please, and yes," Selenity stopped her turn and looked at Artemis, "Please see that he and Lord Lawrence stay out of the bottle?" The two laughed for they could hear carousing carols coming from below as the two toasted their children and the sheer insanity the past two days had been.

"Aye, milady, good night," Artemis had a good chuckle as he went to assist Luna in collecting the men away from the bottles they all had been in.

Selenity walked to her chambers and thought calmly about her plan. The full moon tonight would surely help her concoct an even more impenetrable bubble around Luster. Nobody and nothing would disturb them for at least two weeks if Selenity had her way.

Warm arms and breath enveloped her. He knew what her plan was and their combined power could do that and more. As he pulled out onto their private verandah and the cold whisked her hair, she felt herself growing warmer and lighter as she felt nothing but the warms lips that were kissing her and the strong arms keeping her afloat. Light spread out from this union and erupted like fireworks over the entire nine kingdoms of Luster in a fine spider web like barrier. For an instant it shone like a rainbow before it dissipated into the very color of light—clear.

Certain monsters preparing to infiltrate Luster howled in the moonlight. Selenity heard these demons as she fell into a deep sleep and knew for once that she could sleep peacefully. Perfectly sated she dropped into another dimension.

She was underwater…but not wet. How had that happened? She saw her hair float up around her in billows of lavender. If she did not know better she would say she was swimming through a field of lavender plants.

"Hehehehe," Selenity heard the laughter of a child. Instantly she thought of Serenity and searched for her daughter through the haze.

"Serenity?" She called and heard the laughter again—this time closer and more familiar. She had not heard this laugh in years, perhaps decades.

Suddenly she herself from an eon ago—there in the fields of the Lunar kingdom playing hide and seek.

"Nah-nah-nah-nah-nah! You can't catch up!" Serenity the child goaded another girl whose raven hair was up in two pigtails.

"You're suppose to be quiet for this game, Princess!" Another child laughed. The laugh that she had heard before. Suddenly she saw the girl turn toward the adult Serenity and the laugh came again, more adult.

"Gaia…" Selenity reached out for the child who turned away quickly and grabbed the child Selenity's hand. The two children disappeared into the fog.

"Sele…" The voice teased with hint of longing, "How long will it take you to find me?"

"Just tell me where you are!" Selenity called out but felt that her voice was lost in the thickness of the water.

"I am already found! You just need to see me," Gaia answered and instantly she appeared just within Selenity's reach. Tall, magnificent, and with more strength than she had ever had in life, her gown was alive with the images of the history of Terra, and her hair, Endymion's hair was piled high and twisted with pearls. She looked like the Mother Goddess of ancient, older, religions.

"Gaia…" Selenity whispered feeling the tears melt on her skin as she reached out to touch the hand of the woman she had loved more than a sister and mourned as a lover.

"Tis time, Selenity! AWAKEN!" Gaia touched Selenity's crescent moon birthmark. Selenity felt fire shoot through her as she left the home of Gaia.

"Gaia!" Selenity cried and bolted upright in bed. She struggled to untangle herself from the heavy sheets and maneuver her stockined feet into heavy slippers. Apollo muttered words of protest and continued to sleep as Selenity found her heavy cloak.

"Sele?" Apollo muttered as he heard the door shut. No response. He let it go.

And in the up most tower, dreaming of the same encounter, a figure melted from stone and was electrified into life.

"Selenity!" She spoke and the fog of her breath on the Silver Imperium Crystal began to melt her casing. She closed her eyes and let the disintegration process continue, "Selenity, Serenity…Endymion," She muttered like a chant as the door to her tower sprung open and the two childhood friends looked at each other and cried wildly together.

Selenity held her dearest friend close to her heart as the casing fell away and the woman crawled into her lap. The two childhood friends stared at each other, disbelieving what each saw, and speechless at the miracle that had occurred.

"About time you saw me," Gaia quipped in a rusty voice with an Endy-like sense of humor.

Selenity smiled through the tears, "So much…" Gaia nodded in agreement.

"Come dearest, let us surprise them at breakfast," Gaia's eyes sparkled as they had not since she was a child and at once Selenity was surprised by the strength in Gaia's body. Gone was the frail, ethereal being that Gaia had wasted into and in her place was a true Sword Goddess. Selenity smiled, watching Gaia stretch her limbs as if she had merely been napping and not in a deep coma for the past eleven years. Gaia caught Selenity's stare and laughed, "Come on! We have much to talk about before dawn," She held out her hand and Selenity clasped it, feeling once again as if she were ten years old without a care in the world.

"Oh, Gaia," Selenity could not help the happy tears as she prepared to unburden years of heartache and troubles to her oldest confidante, "There is just too much,"

Gaia smiled and the sternness that Selenity had seen upon her first awakening melted away and Gaia was simply Gaia, her best friend and fellow mother to two troublesome children.

"My cup runneth over," she whispered and hugged Selenity.

WRAITH KINGDOM

"How can this be!" bellowed Wiseman. Diamond shrugged.

"What is one more woman?" Diamond laughed as he stole a kiss from Koan. Koan purred in response.

"Perrrrrrrrrrrhaps, Sire, tis time for us to work our magic?" Koan lounged herself lazily across Diamond's lap.

He smiled and ran a finger up her belly and between her breasts, teasing her lips ever so softly.

"If you think you and your sisters are…up to the task?" Diamond asked knowing the answer.

"Oh Master, we are more than up for this task," Koan's eyes glinted as they narrowed.

Diamond clapped his hands, "Ask for my sister to enter my presence! I would like her to hear of this most…desirous plan," He commanded as he sat up, allowing Koan to crawl away and get her sisters.

"Your Majesty, I think it best that we not under estimate the power of—" Wiseman began but Diamond dismissed him with a small wave of his hand as he began to dress himself.

"I am more than ready to take reigns of this operation, Wiseman. You are beginning to bother me," he murmured angrily.

Wiseman bowed, "As you wish, Majesty, I shall retire till you ask for me again,"

"Pray that not be anytime soon," Diamond muttered underneath his breath as Wiseman and his crystal ball vanished.

Diamond was distracted by a tentative knock on the door.

"What!" He roared turning to the direction of his interruption. His twin sister leaned against the doorway and smiled softly. He relaxed visibly and bowed low, "Dear sister, I am so glad you could join me,"

Beryl raised him with her hand and he escorted her to the throne chair in his presence chamber. She smiled sweetly. It had not taken much effort on her part to convince Diamond he was in charge—yet who was sitting in the throne of power?

"Koan was quite, secretive, as to why you desired me?" Beryl opened sweetly as she kept her eyes lowered.

Diamond smiled at this sweet piece of coquetry—really, if everyone got to know his sister as well as he did they would see that she was not some ruthless bitch. Just a very confused girl who had been too lonely for too long.

"I wanted your seal of approval on sending the Four Sisters in to lay a trap for those pesky Scouts thinking they can get their dear Mistress 9 back. That way I can swoop in, get that treacherous Sapphire back and perhaps two Outer Scouts for your own pleasure?" Diamond put the last buckle in place on his belt.

Beryl grinned at her luck, "Why, of course dear brother, please, the Weird Sisters are more than capable of taking on those little girls," Let those girls kill themselves so Diamond can feel that he is having his revenge! Those Outer Scouts will be perfect to make slaves out of. The Black Crystal power's grows stronger and that silly Mistress 9 is of no consequence. This is only too perfect!

Diamond nodded knowingly, "I knew you would agree. Perhaps that pesky twerp Endymion will entangle himself in this battle,"

Beryl's blood boiled at the mention of that man, "Brother…" she turned to face Diamond and allowed two tears to escape down her creamy cheeks, "If you find him, please.." she abruptly turned her head, feigning to be upset.

Diamond brusquely patted her arm, "I will make him suffer for what he has done,"

"Oh no!" Beryl turned and clung to his arm, letting her long, wavy red hair fall like lava down the sides of the throne chair, "Please, let me deal with him, please?" She pleaded with watery eyes.

Diamond's heart softened, "On one condition sister," he slowly started. Beryl's eyes narrowed slightly, "That if you capture the Princess Serenity…she is mine,"

"Only yours, dear brother," Beryl bowed lower, "If only all sisters were so lucky to have such a brother as their protector,"

Diamond's masculine pride was touched and he threw back his shoulders, "Guards! Fetch me Captain Rubeus; I am in need of his assistance!"

The guards in front of the door uncrossed their lances and hastened to do their master's bidding.

"Beryl," Diamond began in a low voice, "At times, the Princess Serenity is nothing compared to you,"

Beryl's lips twitched involuntarily and she hissed her reply, "Of course, dearest, no woman compares to me," She leaned close, focusing all her energy on his eyes.

Diamond gave her a half smile and his third eye opened, not even entrancing Beryl as it did with anyone else.

The two siblings, though of one blood, were not brother and sister as much as two dictators vying for power. The blood between them did not matter. Their desires were the same: conquer Luster and rule everything in the world.

Diamond gave in to the staring contest and abruptly kissed Beryl's cheek. She turned and he jumped to find himself lip to lip with her. She broke away and ran out of the room.

Diamond stood, stiff as a rock wondering what the hell was going on.

Being a succubus is a rewarding power…Beryl thought to herself as she ran down the hall to her chambers. The world will be mine to control!