Title: Crescent Mirror

Author: aaeris17

Author's Notes:

Dearest fans, thank you so much for believing in me so much that you will not very much mind the obscene absence this story has been on. Writer's block is the ban of my existence and I am honored that you are all here sharing in Endy and Sere's story with me once more. Please enjoy and as always, read and review!

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

The Wraith Kingdom

Beryl was sleeping disturbingly. Her mind was full of unseen demons. She was tossing and turning in her bed.

Nehelenia watched from her old roosting place—she felt almost the tiniest bit sorry and then remembered the rumblings she had heard through the walls.

Metallica, entity, non-living creature that you are—this is your fault! Had you not died…had you not been disposed of by your lover, your daughter would not be the succubus bitch she is today! I watch and will do nothing for she never wanted my love and the revengeful hate that you infuse into her every night blackens her heart so it will match yours! All that is left is vengeance and she turns to no one when we could have combined our powers and been, invincible!!

"Alone…utterly alone…" Beryl muttered in a little girl voice that struck through the very core of Nehelenia. She remembered a childhood spent amongst shadows, holding court with plants and the rag dolls she had gathered. Her mother had not loved her either. Her mother had thought to use her as a pawn and she, Nehelenia, was repeating the same vicious cycle.

A lone tear traced those vampire-esque features and Nehelenia heard herself murmuring words she vowed she would never say.

"Girl!! Girl!! Oh what the hell is this shit…" Nehelenia gathered her strength and reached through the vague fog that separated her world from Beryl's world. One teeny zap should be enough to not only warp Beryl's dreams for her to think that she needed Nehelenia but also to let her hear Nehelenia's voice in these dreams.

Beryl's body softened in its twists and only her head rolled to and fro.

"You are all alone Beryl! No one ever loved you! You banished the one person who would have loved you… only one person needs you and you are the key to your own success…Release the one who loves you for you and let her finally show you how to destroy those who have hurt you!!" Nehelenia murmured and listened as her own voice repeated these inferences into Beryl's subconscious.

Somehow, Nehelenia felt bad for what she had done. The girl had no way to stop Nehelenia from entering her subconscious. She had been alone for so long that she did not know of anyone around her who could probe her deeper thoughts.

As Nehelenia dove deeper, she wondered at what she saw, so the girl really had no idea what was going on with Diamond and Wiseman. She smirked. The girl needed her after all. She got up from her throne and stretched as Beryl's dreams washed over her. By this time tomorrow night she would be free from her own dimension—if not that at least finally becoming a major power.

Now if there was only some way to get rid of that chit from Saturn. The last thing she needed was another woman who thought she should run the world.

The Luster Kingdom

Selenity, Queen of Luster

She could barely contain herself as she squeezed Gaia's hand underneath the table. Gaia could not help it and had gone to scare the wits of Lawrence early in the morning. After she was able to convince him that he was not hallucinating or having a near death experience, they had a very, shall we say amicable reunion.

Apollo appeared to have dropped fifteen years in the past hour alone after he tried to hide his tears at finding Gaia all over again. Artemis and Luna seemed to be gone, at least for the day. Luna had left a cryptic note dismissing herself for the day—much needed relaxation apparently. Selenity had winked at Apollo; maybe those two dimwits had finally gotten together. In all the aftermath of that attack, maybe love would really be the cure all.

"So, the children?" Selenity asked for the umpteenth time, so used to Luna having everyone's position noted and accounted for.

"Let them come! The other girls are having a nice sleep in and I'm sure Endy will awake and find the note in time. Nothing lets him sleep in," Lawrence kissed his wife's hand with a loud smack. He too seemed to have gained an almost youthful glow around him, "For let what will come!" He raised his champagne glass, giddy before noon, "My wife and son have both been restored to me before the New Year! I can go to war and die in peace!"

Apollo's pallor paled in color, losing that healthy golden glow it had year round, "Let us not tempt the fates, good friend, but hear, hear to that cheer!"

"Cheers!" The four adults toasted loudly as the doors to the breakfast chamber in the King and Queen's apartment flew open.

"Good morrow, Father, Aunt, Uncle, tis it wise to be toasting so early in the morn?" Endy teased as he pushed his hair out of his freshly scrubbed face, water droplets still stuck to his hair, "The fair Princess will be joining us, she is a bit…upset that she has woken up sans Senshi," Endy faltered as a blush crept up from his cream colored cravat.

"Endy!" Gaia gasped, and turned around in her seat, as she saw her son for the first time as an adult. Many times had she seen him and been with him in the Other World but not in this one… He was taller than his father, with shoulders broad enough to rival Apollo's but yes, he was his mother's in all coloring. The years had been hard on him but there was something unbelievably soft about this young man of hers.

Endy looked to his left and it all unfolded in slow motion. A woman just shorter than Selenity rose and looked at him with her eyes wide and identical to his own. Her black hair, his black hair, was cascading down her shoulders and over her pink and cream gown.

Endy's eyes crinkled up and he managed one low word, "Mama?" Before falling into her open arms, tears falling down both their faces.

"What is all the silence? I know I am late, but I have none of my regular ladies, and I—" Serenity prattled off before stopping dead in her tracks as she stared at Mother and Son, "Oh," she sighed happily as she slipped down onto her own mother's lap.

Selenity wrapped her arms protectively around her daughter and breathed in her deep smell—the smell that had yet to change since her birth.

"I love you, Mama," Serenity whispered as the small family reunited.

"And I you, dearest of all small daughters," Selenity whispered back feeling Apollo come up behind her and wrapped his arms around them both.

Endy roughly wiped tears away and looked at Selenity and Apollo, "How can this be?" He asked in wonderment, "I never thought to see you again but in my dreams," He repeated.

Gaia looked at Serenity and held her arms open, "You are just as beautiful as when we last met, yes?" She teased and Serenity's eyes opened wide.

"It was not a dream?" She whispered as she accepted the hug and kiss.

No one seemed to hear her in all the emotional hustle and bustle. As everyone settled back down to a very happy breakfast, Selenity wondered that this moment had happened at all.

"Here we are," began Apollo with tears in his eyes, "Finally, after all these years we are once again a family," he lifted his champagne glass filled with certainly not orange juice only anymore Selenity slyly noted, "To our son Endymion, who has returned when everyone but our dear daughter Serenity had lost hope," all eyes turned to Endymion whose one hand was in his mother's and the other in his father's, "May you always remain strong and true, upholding the laws of Luster, and being the man my daughter will need you to be. The Lunar women are a handful, fair warning," he joked and Selenity lightly hit him, "To your father, my best friend in the entire world and a man who has never left my side despite all the heartache he has been through. You are a gem amongst men," Lawrence had tears in his eyes, "And finally, to the Lady Gaia, the old Queen of this Realm. Your awakening has been one of the greatest blessings this old man could have asked for," Gaia had tears openly running down her face as she acknowledged the toast, "May you continue to be the pillar of strength that keeps this family together,"

"Cheers," Selenity solemnly whispered and everyone was about to chorus in when Apollo tut-tutted.

"Not done quite yet, my love, to you, you are my pillar, my strength, my joy, and my happiness. My life revolves around you and each day I love you more and more," Apollo whispered the last parts in the heavy silence that was sitting during the toast. Selenity felt tears come to her eyes again as she mouthed 'I love you' to Apollo, "And finally, finally, so we may all eat, here is to my daughter and heiress Serenity,"

All eyes turned to Serenity whose eyes had popped open at the mention of her name, she sat still and Selenity put her hand through hers.

"My daughter, in these past years you have proven yourself above and beyond your call of duty. You are the Princess of this Realm as well as its Defender. Everyday you make your mother and me prouder and prouder of you. You have exceeded all our expectations and now, you are a woman, a wonderful woman in love with an equally wonderful man," Apollo's voice cracked with emotion and he wiped his eyes quickly, "If Endymion were to ask for your hand, by the Goddess he would get it," Apollo ended his speech hoarsely.

"Amen," Lawrence added just as huskily.

Serenity blushed furiously and Endymion cleared his throat. Selenity tightened her grip on her daughter. She felt jealous at the idea that she would finally be losing her daughter. She wondered if her mother would have felt like this—had she lived to see Selenity get married.

As breakfast continued and Serenity took a seat near both Endymion and her mother, Selenity's thoughts turned to that of her mother. True that not a day had gone by without Selenity wondering if her mother could have done it better, could have handled it better. Her mother, Selene the 11th, had been a true warrior goddess amongst mortals. Selene had often teased Selenity that she would never marry her off and keep her by her side until she was old and bent from age. Selenity almost frowned remembering that Selene had never gotten that chance.

"Mama, a penny for your thoughts," Serenity asked lowering her voice and grinning widely. Serenity had always had that grin. She smiled voraciously as a baby and even now, with those rounded cheeks slowly losing their baby fat, Selenity saw her little girl.

"Tell me, darling, would you like to be married?" Selenity asked slowly fearing the answer and at the same time thrilling at the idea. Vision of gauzy veil draped figures coming down the Grand Staircase of the Ballroom. She saw it all in front of her eyes.

The door burst and a breathless Mina curtsied so hastily that she fell over once before getting up and falling over again at the sight of Lady Gaia. After explanation and exclamations, Mina finally burst with her good news.

"I am to be wed!" She cried and following this lovely proclamation appeared a more subdued Kunzite.

Serenity jumped out of her seat and spilled at least a half dozen different glasses of water and juice before reaching her best friend and cousin.

The two girls, who had been twin images of each other as young children, were bouncing up and down. Breakfast, or brunch as it was becoming was momentarily forgotten as congratulations were extended all around.

"I can't believe it! You proposed??!" Serenity gushed at Kunzite who seemed to be trying to melt into the wall. Endy slapped Kunzite on the back.

"You sly dog! You are going to be in so much trouble with Rei!" Endy laughed, settling himself back down.

Kunzite flashed a look at Endy, "Rei? What has she to do with this? Besides, I did not propose…per say" Kunzite faltered looking around.

"Artemis told Father and Father said, why not?" Mina was still squealing and bouncing, holding Serenity's hands.

"Wait, your father said what?" Selenity was not too sure how this had happened.

Apollo was laughing, "So my lord Chancellor's response to his daughter's love affair was, why not?" He filled his water glass and looked knowingly at his brother in law's behavior, "And my dear sister? How is she?"

"Planning a trousseau, but of course," Mina responded flippantly, "Even though she is insisting on an engagement ball as soon as possible," she said slowly eyeing Selenity.

Selenity smiled and looked to Apollo, "And how long does my dear sister propose to wait to throw a ball?" She winked widely.

Mina didn't quite follow the wink but sighed dramatically, "She I can either celebrate alone or overshadow…" Mina's eyes narrowed, "Sere…" she said slowly and looked from Serenity to Endymion and her eyes exploded with joy, "That's what she meant! Oh I knew my powers were getting better! Oh, yes!! Oh, finally!" She stood from her martyr position and went over and slapped Endymion hard on the head, "How long did that take you? Goodness! Even Kunzite was better than you at this," She muttered to Lawrence who was laughing hard, "Well, this has been quite a morning," she out loud and laughed when she saw everyone was staring at her. She shrugged her shoulders, "We might as well eat," she responded with a gay laugh and seated herself next to Serenity.

The adults burst out laughing and Apollo reached over and squeezed Selenity's hand.

"My dear, in all those years, I never thought I would feel this kind of joy again," he whispered and kissed her gently in front of the entire table. Selenity's heart sang. For the moment she could forget all about the Outer Princesses and focus on her own happiness.

Brunch continued well into lunch as messengers were sent out to the other three kingdoms to inform Ami, Rei, and Lita of the good fortune of Mina. Selenity was already mentally calculating if it would be insulting to get Lita and Mina married within six months of each other and whither or not Serenity should be…her heart wavered slightly. Her only child and heir—married? It did not seem right that Serenity should be of an age where she could bear her own children and yet, at the thought of having a little Serenity learning the same lessons Serenity had once learned at her knee was enough to keep the tears at bay.

Grandchildren! Oh… "Another toast! Dear family and friends! Let this day prove that even the darkest clouds have the most silver of linings!" Selenity raised her still full wine glass and threw it back with a gusto that made everyone laugh. Indeed, even in these dark moments, love and family shone stronger than it all.

Serenity, Princess of Luster

I had once envied to my very core the love that seemed to flow from Mina the moment she met any male. Since we had been tiny girls trailing in ribbons and lace, it had been one page boy or another knight in training and here she was, subdued, glowing with the inner peace of true love. I wondered if my face showed the same calm assurance. Somehow, Mina had grown older overnight and no longer did I begrudge her anything. I took her arm in mine as we strolled ahead of Endy and Kunzite.

"Dearest cuz," I smiled happily and snuggled close to her warm body. We were so close and now, nothing divided our happiness.

She giggled and the graceful demeanor blew away to reveal the giggling woman of my childhood, "Is it truly an engagement of Kunzite never got down on one knee?" She pondered jokingly.

I pretended to think hard about it and gave her my most serious face, "I think that perhaps we should present that question to your affianced?" I turned around, "Future brother, for brother thou shall be," I teased and took great pleasure in Kunzite's face turning colors as he realized that his future included incessant torture from myself and the girls, "If thou did not get down on one knee, what kind of proposal did you make?"

Kunzite blanched. Clearly this question had been plaguing him since breakfast when dear old Uncle had apparently said "Why not?" to the question of Kunzite's courtship of Mina. I had the sneaking suspicion that marriage had been Kunzite's real goal and only the casual wording of Artemis had succeeded in Mina's hand being offered so readily. Really, I doubt there had ever had been any questions that Mina would not marry Kunzite. For besides Endymion, he came from some of the oldest bloodlines in the Venusian kingdom and Mina could have hardly done better unless she followed the archaic discipline of marrying within her immediate family. Ew.

"I believe that no proposal matters without the consent of the lady's family. For even had Mina agreed, as the closest heir after my lady Serenity, it would have been the decision of my dear monarchs to decide who she could marry. Perhaps they would have chosen my lord Jadeite as a more appropriate suitor? Or even my lord Zoicite for are they not the next closest kingdom and perhaps that arrangement might have better suited their Majesties?" Kunzite's gray eyes danced with amusement as Mina dropped my arm and turned on her beloved.

"Three times the fool!" She faked her rage, "Would you marry me off before you have even asked me to be yours?" I frowned. Sometimes Mina really didn't make sense—but she continued, "You would have me go off to another kingdom! Well dearest heart, I shall be sure to inform the Princess Rei that you would rather have her hand and have her offer me her second skimming!"

Endy was choking on laughter but I let mine peal out to echo in the hall. What a difference today was then the sorrow of yesterday! My heart fell slightly and I saw Endy's eyes follow my own to the floor. How could I not have known something was wrong with my own scouts? What kind of monarch would I be if I could not smell a rat within my own group?

It is hardly your fault. Those girls were raised to protect you from afar never to be intimate…Endy's own logic was failing him but his intentions were clear.

Perhaps I should keep you out of my head more often, I teased. Kunzite was hastily apologizing to Mina while trying not to laugh and being so dreadfully unsuccessfully that Mina finally grabbed him by his lapels and bestowed a very unladylike kiss upon his protesting mouth. I laughed and decided not to let thoughts of Haruka and Michiru wrestle my happiness away until the Council reconvened that afternoon. The girls were all in their houses outside the main castle today. Truly everyone felt that after all the events that had unfolded in the past week that some precious family time was needed. Why! Even Luna and Artemis had pledged a day to themselves. I suppose Artemis will reappear for the Council meeting. How the pit in my stomach seemed to appear when I thought on sentencing those two women I had once admired so much! And the child warrior, Hotaru. What was to become of her? Her mother, poor Persephone, seemed to begin to fade away as soon as Hotaru starting waking screaming with the emblem of Sailor Saturn. I wondered for a second at the Sailor Saturn that had once guarded the Gates of Time for Pluto. I was not supposed to hear of it but of course, my ears are bigger than they ought to be and once heard Luna to Artemis. That could not be the same Sailor Saturn who was possessed enough to morph into another creature.

"Why the long face, odango love?" Endy called out—interrupting my thoughts in a more appropriate manner. I flashed a smile and took his arm.

"Nothing important," I said flushing madly at this open gesture of affection. He tipped my chin up and snuck the sweetest of kisses before I heard his parents call him away.

"Coming!" He called and kissed me again before dashing off. Mina came bounding up, for of course, Kunzite followed his liege lord and my father off to more proper business. I saw Mama and Aunt Gaia dash off as well, squealing like young children and Mina's lips brushed my ear ever so softly, whispering blessings and little tidbits of happiness.

Grabbing her hand as I did when we were children, I forced her to run with me through the Great Hall. Free and wild and with no one to see us but servants who maneuvered out of our way with the ease that only comes with years, we laughed madly. For this moment of escape was only but a moment I felt the warning tingling my very soul. Enjoy these precious pearls of time, Princess, I thought to myself coldly, for they will be pleasant memories soon enough.

Wraith Kingdom

Beryl woke in a cold sweat of fear that was not unknown to her. But this time she awoke with the shrill knowledge that someone had touched her mind as she slept. She ran her hand madly through her blood red waves and swore in a hoarse voice. It was bad enough she could not control her nightmares these days but even worse that perhaps someone was spying…Wiseman… She threw off her snow leopard skins with frustration and ignored the goose bumps that were appearing all over her naked flesh. Who had dared to enter the sanctity of her mind while she slept? Why hadn't she been able to protect herself?

She gazed into the depths of the blue black fire and felt hot tears beginning to prick her eyes. Damn it all to hell. She punched the base of her palms into her eyes and swallowed the hotness that was threatening to come out. She was all alone. Utterly alone. There was no one to watch over her dreams and prevent anyone from hurting her. All her energy was spent during the day…hand selecting demons and breeding them, nurturing the essence of Metallica and absorbing it into herself, controlling Diamond through potions and trying to double play everyone she met. She needed…she bit her lower lip so hard that blood began to drip down her pointed chin. What a weakness it was to admit this very cold hard truth—she needed someone to handle…well, she needed someone to take care of her the way that bastard of a magician manipulated Diamond into being a figurehead for all his own plots.

Yet, had this not been the way that her own mother had lost her own throne? Her power and her life in one fell swoop? By accepting the love of the Lord Pharaoh into her life she had lost that which made her unique and powerful. No longer was she a powerful female king but a Queen and that role turned her into her lesser role, Vessel slash Mother. Her own body betrayed her for the seed of an incompetent selfish man and thus she lost her hand and her heart to…me…was Beryl's grim realization. Her grip on the obsidian mantle became slippery from her own seat and she wondered what would possess any woman to lose her soul to the keeping of a man. And what mother would leave her children with such a man? A woman who had lost all hope… At that treacherous thought the very walls dripped with hatred and thunder. Metallica…mother dearest…forever lost and still around…your hatred is all that I have left from the great sorceress you once were. This hatred keeps this castle sheltered and me sick with the cold all motherless children possess…an ill boding feeling that can never be escaped…

"You are not alone…dearessssssssssssst," a cackle whispered into the cold air of the room.

Beryl whirled around, "Witch what do you want?" she said through clenched teeth.

Nehelenia yawned and looked slowly from Beryl's bare toes to her upturned nipples and looked vaguely amused, "Have you no maids to cover your shame?" She purred in that irritating way that had once captivated her late father.

"Have you no maids…wait; you're stuck in a mirror!" Beryl finished poorly and grabbed her dressing robe from a shaking woman who had been hovering around Beryl for the past ten minutes. The young woman was both blind and dumb, having served Beryl since childhood. Beryl snapped her fangs at the maid with a feral instinct.

"Insolent girl," Nehelenia droned and stretched lazily, "Do not waste your energy on slaves,"

Beryl looked as if she wanted to grab Nehelenia by her skinny little neck and shake her like a rat terrier. She did not say a word as she tried to gather her thoughts and strength, "What do you want?"

Nehelenia shrugged, "I'm here…to help…you," She said in an oddly strained voice.

Beryl laughed out loud, "Help…me? What makes you think that I need help and from you? What can an empty woman do from behind a plane of glass?"

Nehelenia snapped upright in her chair and then forcibly calmed herself down, "Child, you were motherless when I met you. Did I not nourish your powers? Teach you your rightful place? I was a better mother than you ever knew," She purred staring Beryl straight in the eyes.

Beryl felt like she would erupt, "Mother? You were no mother! You abused me! Screamed at me! You did nothing but imprison yourself in a pane of glass for the rest of my life!" She yelled, fears from last night spilling over with a flood of tears.

Nehelenia waved her hand impatiently, "Your mother was an empty wreck of a woman! She gave her body and soul over to a man who was swayed by her power alone," She voiced every fear that Beryl had been tormented with; "I never let your father have anything! I did better behind glass then she did when she lay down for that fool of a husband of mine! But she did one thing right," Nehelenia paused, "She gave the best she had to you, not Diamond for she knew what folly a man was, she was born again in you. This castle is her very essence and you are the heir to its legacy! Succeed where she failed! Succeed where your father and I failed! Succeed where your brother will fail! You are the Queen of the Wraith Kingdom, Beryl! Never forget your duty to your inheritance!" Nehelenia finished with a triumphant smile on her face, eyes burning brightly.

Beryl absorbed the speech, standing spellbound and letting the compliments and dreams roll over her like a fog permeating her soul.

"Just take my hand Beryl, and let me take care of those who bother you," Nehelenia whispered holding her hand through the glass, "No one shall bother you. You shall have your every wish…even that young Endymion boy who will not forget who is mistress and who is slave…"

Beryl's eyes gleamed. Their goals were one. Destruction of Luster, death to the Queen and her brat. Enslavement of all magic and complete and utter dominance. And…Endymion as her royal slave. No man would look better on his knees for her and her alone. Let Diamond run himself into ruin trying to take the Luster Princess for himself. She would help him, guide him, and kill him…

"Rise, Queen of the Dark Moon," Beryl heard her voice thunder and she gripped Nehelenia's white hand in her own and effortlessly pulled her out of her gilded cage.

Nehelenia came into this world with a gasp and fell quickly to her knees, "You may count me as liege, my Princess, nay, Queen," Nehelenia pledged herself. Beryl raised her by her shoulders and both women looked each other straight in the eye—each trying to reach the other's mind and finding what they would be pleased by only and ignoring the doubts that hid in cobwebs in the depths of their minds.

"Mother," Beryl spoke first, breaking the silence, "Gather your spies and bring me reports of my dear brother and his precious Wiseman," She turned to leave the fireplace, "Oh, and see what can be done to…rid of us of Sapphire," Beryl grinned, "And call for a fire bath, I feel reborn,"

Nehelenia kept her head and bowed and felt a sort of pride at the quickness at which Beryl had risen to her new task. The girl was more than a match for Diamond and soon, Nehelenia will have her revenge too. For if Rubeus was to be trusted, than that bitch of a woman Gaia had come back to life miraculously…just in time for a final showdown.

In the meantime she must find something to do with those four ridiculous whores that Diamond kept around him. Perhaps a little sparring with the knights of Luster could test what they would be up against. Nehelenia tapped her lips. Now, to plan her own unveiling.

Luster Kingdom

Selenity felt a stabbing pain as Gaia listened to what had happened in her absence Gaia stared and put her hand on Selenity's heart, healing the hurt that had come so quickly. For it was true, Gaia felt like saying, that the old wounds heal fastest and the tears that were mirrored in Selenity's eyes showed the truth of why Gaia had awakened.

"Will that half woman always plague us?" Selenity whispered as Gaia took her in her arms. Gaia said nothing and stroked her best friend's hair. Seems that Nehelenia had found a way to free herself and that indeed the world was black.

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