The Moon King Chapter 1: Loyalty, a sailor moon fanfic

THE MOON KING
Chapter 1: "Loyalty"
A Sailor Moon/Neo-Sailor Moon crossover fanfic

By Bill K.

The time was six months since Haruka Tenoh's crash in the jungles of Yakushima. It was June and another hot Japanese summer was approaching. The Queen was fully recovered from her misadventure in Australia. The restoration of Japan to pre-ice disaster times was nearing completion. The economy was still struggling to recover, leading to increased criticism of the monarchy from the Liberal Democrats, led by the vociferous Dietman Takahashi. But while there was some grumbling among the population over tighter budgets and smaller paychecks, Queen Serenity still held a special place in the hearts of the citizens of Japan. She was still their beloved savior.

And, as she would find out, the Queen was beloved by someone else.

"Your Majesty!" Luna exclaimed as she scampered after the Queen. "You have a meeting with the Ambassador from the United States in three minutes!"

"Reschedule it!" Serenity shouted over her shoulder as she scurried down the corridor to the lift that would take her to the aeropad atop the palace. "AND DON'T CALL ME YOUR MAJESTY!"

"You've already rescheduled it three times!" the black cat shot back. "And I'll bloody well call you what your station demands!"

"It can't be helped! Convey my apologies! You're good at that sort of stuff!" Serenity replied as she ducked into the elevator car. Just as the door closed Luna leaped in after her.

"I've had quite enough practice at it! I jolly well should be!" the cat fumed. "This is a very important meeting, Your Majesty! The United States is a valued ally! What could possibly be so important as to risk insulting them further?"

"Rei's coming back home!" Serenity cried happily. "I just got the message!" Luna could see that the Queen was practically levitating, she was so giddy.

"Very well," the cat sighed, knowing there was no talking her charge out of her course of action. "I shall convey your regrets - - ONCE AGAIN!"

"I'll make it up to him! I promise!" Serenity told the cat. "As soon as I get Rei settled, I'll - - um, visit him at his home! And I'll bring a cake!"

"You intend to apologize to the man by poisoning him?"

"I'LL HAVE MAKO-CHAN BAKE IT!" snarled the Queen. Luna turned her head to conceal her smirk.

The elevator opened onto the rooftop aeropad. The Queen hiked up her skirt in a very un-regal manner and sprinted across the pad to a waiting helicopter. As Luna followed, she could see Ami and Minako were already aboard. And there was one other surprise.

"Hear you need a lift to the airport, Dumpling!" Haruka shouted from the pilot's seat.

"Haruka!" Serenity exclaimed joyously. "I could kiss you!"

"Not in front of everybody!" Haruka smirked flirtatiously. "Later on, we'll get a hotel room!"

"You stop that!" Serenity snapped and playfully swatted Haruka's arm. Ami and Minako chuckled. "Isn't Mako-Chan coming?"

"You know how she feels about these new-fangled flying machines!" Minako shouted over the roar of the prop. "She's driving over!"

Serenity climbed into the helicopter. From the pad, Luna watched the helicopter lift off and head for Haneda Airport. Emitting a sigh of frustration, the cat turned back for the elevator.

"This is no way to achieve paradise," the cat muttered.

Having been warned of the Queen's arrival, Haneda Airport security set up a special cordoned off area to protect her and give her some privacy. As crowds of on-lookers watched from behind barricades, Serenity waited nervously with three of her four best friends.

"Why is it taking so long?" Serenity fretted. "You suppose something happened?"

"I saw the plane land," Ami said.

"Good," Makoto sighed with relief.

"Knowing Rei, she probably insisted on purifying the arrival gate before she'd let anyone disembark," Minako cracked.

Moments later, the passengers began to filter into the concourse from the gate. The presence of the Queen was a surprise to them. Waiting security personnel were able to spot Rei and direct her to her waiting party. Instantly Serenity cut the distance between them and enveloped the priest in a massive bear hug that the monarch was rapidly becoming known for. The others quickly gathered around.

"How are you feeling, Rei?" Serenity asked. "Did the trip help?"

"A little," the raven haired woman shrugged timidly. "My sight's still messed up, but I'm not having as many nightmares as I did. And I think I did some good for the poor people of The Philippines, which is the important thing."

"What, no souvenirs?" Minako joked. Rei replied with a withering glare.

"Blondie," sighed Makoto. "Good to have you back, Rei."

"Yes, we've all missed you greatly," Ami added.

Serenity looked around curiously. "Where's Derek?" Instantly Rei bowed her head and the others feared the worst.

"Derek," Rei mumbled hoarsely, "left - - for America."

"When is he coming back?" Serenity asked naively. Momentarily Rei seemed like she would burst into tears, but she kept it held in.

"I don't think he's coming back, Hon'," Makoto said softly.

"What?" squeaked the Queen. She turned to her friend. "Rei? What happened?"

"Can we just go home?" Rei asked, struggling to keep her emotions in check.

"Sure. I'll drive you," Makoto said, protectively enveloping her friend and leading her to the parking lot. Ami followed, concern clear on her face. Minako turned to the stunned Queen.

"She'll tell us when she's ready," Minako told Serenity. Serenity had tears streaming down her face as she followed Rei with her eyes.

At the palace, Rei headed straight for the shrine. Naturally Serenity followed her, desperate to find out what had happened and what she could do to fix things and make Rei happy again. But Rei wouldn't talk. Sensing that persistence would only push Rei to say something everyone would regret, Makoto and Ami gently eased the Queen away.

"I think that would be an excellent project to help get the fishing industry in the north back on its feet," Endymion said to the interior minister he and Serenity were meeting with. He turned to his wife. "What do you think, Serenity?"

Serenity just stared at her hands.

"Serenity?" Endymion repeated. Only when he reached out and touched her hand did she look up with a start.

"What?" she asked. "Oh. I wasn't really listening. That was-was very irresponsible of me." She took a moment to collect herself. "If you and the minister think it's a good idea, then let's do it. I trust your judgment - - both of your judgments."

"Thank you," the minister, a man in his sixties who had worked in the Interior Ministry for thirty-five years. He got up and bowed, concerned about the Queen. "I'll make the necessary arrangements to implement this new program. Thank you for your time."

Endymion rose and bowed to him. After the man left, he sat back down and touched his wife's hand again. That stirred her from her preoccupation again.

"Rei?" he asked.

"I-I don't understand it, Endymion," Serenity said, almost sobbing. "Rei and Derek love each other. I know they do! But they keep breaking up! What do I have to do - -?"

"Maybe you shouldn't do anything," Endymion advised. Serenity looked at him as if he'd just declared war. "Two people can love each other and not be able to live with each other. Love doesn't conquer all. Rei and Derek may have decided, separately or together, that a relationship was more pain than it was worth."

"That's silly," Serenity squeaked.

"Serenity, Rei's still going through a lot of pain from what happened to her during the Ice Disaster. And Derek may have his own issues. And they may have just decided to part while they still cared about each other. Because if you mix in the right amount of pain, love can turn into hate."

"Why does it have to be like that?" the Queen moaned. She eased against her husband and he put his arm around her.

"Maybe it won't always be," Endymion offered.

"And she won't let me help her," Serenity sighed. "I could help her if she'd let me. And I don't mean altering her mind. I mean sharing her pain and maybe pointing her in the right direction."

"She will. Give her time."

The door opened. Luna timidly poked her head in.

"Forgive the intrusion, Your Majesties," Luna said. "It's time for your daily meeting with visitors to the palace. If you're not up to it . . ."

"No," Serenity said, pulling herself upright and hastily wiping the tears from her face. "I'll be there. Just - - give me a minute to look presentable."

"Of course, Your Majesty," Luna nodded. "I'll prepare the reception room for your arrival."

"Oh, my eyes are probably red and puffy!" Serenity fretted. She placed her hands over her eyes. They glowed silver momentarily and when she brought them down, the puffiness was gone. "How do I look?"

"Like the woman that captivated a nation," Endymion smiled as he got up. The King leaned over and kissed his wife on the forehead. "I'll get on those economic forecasts while you go meet your public and do what you do best."

Giving her husband a nod and sentimental smile, the Queen turned and glided out of the room to meet the public.

Queen Serenity, from the start of her reign, had tried to meet with the people of Japan, to talk to them, to listen to their problems or their advice, to accept their good wishes and to just be accessible. Originally she had set aside one hour a day for the task. That hour had grown to three before Luna put her foot down.

Every day there were hundreds of people lined up to get a chance to meet her. Some had genuine problems. Others had problems only in their minds or egos. A great many just wanted the chance to say they had touched or talked to the great Queen Serenity, savior of the world. Palace security even had to start screening visitors, because several people came back multiple times.

And because one person had once shown up with a bomb in a backpack, seeking fame as the person who killed Queen Serenity. That's why a detachment of palace security and one of the inner Senshi was beside her whenever Serenity did this.

"Hello, Oba-San," Serenity smiled warmly to the woman approaching her from the line queued up outside the room, shunting aside her own pain. "It's so nice to meet you. What's your name, if I may ask?"

"Queen Serenity," the woman exclaimed breathlessly. She was an older woman, in her early forties, from a lower income family and used to working hard. Her black hair was pulled back from her face, there were stress lines under her eyes, and her dress was clean and flattering, but not expensive. "Um, Umiko Bara. I'm so honored to meet you!"

"I don't know why. If anyone should be honored, it should be me," Serenity said, and everyone in the room from Sailor Venus on could just tell the words weren't just words. Serenity looked at the woman for a moment. "You seem burdened. How can I help?"

"H-How did you know?" the surprised woman asked.

"Woman's intuition?" Serenity shrugged. Venus knew better. "If it's embarrassing, we can go somewhere private."

"My son - - Miki," the woman began. "He was never a very good student. But now he doesn't even try. He spends all of his time gambling or with his friends. Friends - - they're little more than hoodlums!" She looked down nervously. "I'm afraid for him. Afraid he's going to hurt someone and land in prison - - or worse. I've tried to talk to him, tried to discipline him. Tried to get him to stop what he's doing and become honest again! But he won't listen!"

Embarrassed by her show of emotion and by her situation, the woman shrank back into herself.

"I shouldn't be asking this of you," Umiko choked out. "You have so many important things to do. But if you could - - I don't know, talk to him. Make him see. Make him realize that the path he's going down will only lead to his destruction, and maybe the destruction of innocents besides . . ."

Umiko felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Queen Serenity leaning in to her, giving her a smile that suddenly made her think things weren't hopeless.

"It sounds like exactly the thing I was put on this world to do," Serenity told her. "Miki, was it? I'll talk to him. I can't guarantee he'll listen. But I'll certainly try."

"Oh, thank you, Queen Serenity!" Umiko exclaimed. She fell to her knees before the Queen and pressed her head to the floor. Immediately she felt a hand close around her arm.

"No no, that's not necessary," Serenity said, kneeling beside her and prodding her up. "Now please get up before you get your dress dirty."

Venus seemed to sense it first: the subtle displacement of air preceding the faint crackle of energy. It was in the center of the room. She quickly moved in front of Serenity to shield her. Tipped by this, Serenity shielded Mrs. Bara.

The energy flared for a single moment, then dissipated, and he was there. It was a man dressed like he'd just stepped out of a thousand years ago. The man was five feet six inches tall, with a stocky, muscular build and a round moon face. His chin was covered in a stubbly beard and stubble surrounded his mouth in a rough goatee. His black hair was pulled back into a traditional chomage. He wore a simple kimono of midnight blue, tied at the waist with an obi, and wooden clog sandals. His sudden appearance was concerning enough. But what concerned Venus most was the archer's bow in his hand, the quiver of arrows slung across his back, and the long and short swords tucked into the obi.

"Don't move!" two of the guards yelled, drawing stun guns from the holsters on their belts. Quickly they moved in to surround the stranger. Mrs. Bara let out a fearful cry.

The stranger gave the two guards a single glance. With lightning speed, the long sword was out. He slashed twice, then returned the sword to its scabbard. One guard was beheaded, while the other collapsed to the floor, gutted.

"You don't listen very well, Kuwabatake!" Venus barked. As she summoned her Love Me Chain, the stranger glanced disdainfully at her. "Drop the weapons or I drop you!"

"Stop!" Serenity shouted. She had run over to the fallen guards and was kneeling by the gutted one. Both combatants glanced for a second at her, then returned their stares to each other. "Why did you kill them?"

"They were attacking," was the man's gruff reply.

"They were defending me!" Serenity replied, her horror at all of this undiminished.

"Then they knew the risks," he responded indifferently. "I have not come here to attack. If you want no further bloodshed, tell your retainers to stand down."

"Yeah, you'd like that," Venus smirked, the gleam of challenge in her eyes.

"Venus, do as he says," Serenity told her.

"Serenity," Venus argued.

"I'll be all right," the Queen assured her. Venus expelled a breath in frustration, but lowered her chain. By now reinforcements were at the door in the form of more palace security. Serenity gestured for them to stay back.

"You are wise, Usagi," the stranger smiled. "I have no desire to waste my time exterminating these creatures."

"Those weren't cockroaches you were talking about!" Venus bristled.

"Venus," Serenity cautioned.

By this time, Endymion and the other Senshi were emerging from the inner hallways leading to the Receiving Room. Seeing the stranger tense, Serenity put up a hand to hold them back.

"I'm all right," she told them. "Please stay back for now."

"What's going on?" Jupiter demanded. "What's this character want?"

Cautiously Endymion moved near his wife. He locked eyes with the stranger.

"Who are you?" the King demanded in a tone that was forceful but not belligerent. "Why have you come here?"

"I see your kind hasn't changed much over the centuries," the stranger replied to Endymion with disdain. "Still as arrogant as ever."

"What do . . ." Endymion repeated.

"I have nothing more to say to you," the stranger replied, cutting Endymion off. "I am here to speak to Usagi and only to Usagi."

"Usagi?" Serenity asked. "Have we met before?"

"I should say so," the man smiled, his moon face beaming with sudden tenderness. "Don't you remember me? I know it's been a long time."

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't," Serenity offered. "Who are you, and how do you know me?"

He smiled to himself. "You may call me Tsukuyomi," he said tenderly. "I am your father."

Continued in Chapter 2