Disclaimer: Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko
Takeuchi. We don't own it. Really, we don't, or
we'd all be millionaires living in a dream world.
On *that* happy note...
e-mail: senshi_pluto@crystal-tokyo.com
EDGE OF DREAMS~BOOK I: Voiceless Song
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edge of Dreams:
Chapter 2: Reality's Gaze
by: Namida
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***
Vestia sighed for the umpteenth time as
she wandered around the palace gardens
aimlessly, not really caring where she ended
up. As usual, the gardens were beautiful, with
soft light from the sky playing gently on the
fragile petals of the so many delicate
blossoms that hung in the air.
However, Vestia was in no mood to admire
the surrounding beauty as she thought back to
the conversation she had with Queen Serenity and
Constance only minutes before.
***
(20 minutes earlier)
"You called for me your majesty?", Vestia
inquired as she walked into Serenity's private
chambers, closing the door quietly behind her
and bowing. Taking a seat beside the already
present Constance, she wondered what was so
important that would have made the Queen summon
her in the middle of mid-day training.
The Queen, looking up from where she was
studying a long scroll of what seemed to be
scribbles, smiled wanly as Vestia walked into
the elaborately furnished room, done in colors of
white and silver. As usual, her hair was done up in
the style of the Royal Family of the Moon Kingdom
as it flowed down her shoulders and back towards
her ankles in a graceful arc even as the light from
the window and flames from the nearby candles
played on it, making its silver sheen glisten even
more, if that was possible. "I'm glad you both
could come" she said, tiredly.
"Your majesty, is there something wrong?
Have the results from those tests on the
mysterious energy readings come back already?"
Constance asked from where she sat with a worried
frown imprinted on her face.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, they have but
the results were inconclusive. That could
either mean one of two things, either the
sensors picked up the passing fluctuating
energy trail from the comet as negative, or
that there was negative energy but well
shielded and hidden enough so that it would
pass by invisibly."
Constance, tapping her fingers
thoughtfully on the arm of her chair, began
turning around this newly found piece of
information in her head. "What could possibly
be the origin of this negative energy? There
hasn't been any detected since the first
Serenity sealed Chaos so long ago!" she
wondered, slightly baffled, which was a new
experience for her.
Serenity sighed. "We still don't know,
dear. As I've said before, we're still not
positive that it is indeed negative energy out
there."
Vestia, not being one for long
explanations on causes and reasons spoke up.
"If you're not sure whether the energy found was
negative, then, what is the reason to why you have
summoned us?"
"I have summoned you because, as leader
of my daughter's protectors, it is important
that you learn of these dangers if you wish to
ensure her safety and well being, as well as
that of the kingdom's." Serenity replied,
wearily not realizing that it seemed like a
slightly harsh rebuke. "It has also come to my
attention that the regents of the Kingdom of Earth
and many of their relatives were brutally murdered
mysteriously." Vestia and Constance both shared a
mutual gasp.
"As such, it is believed that the kingdom
has become unstable and weary of its alliance
with the Moon and its place in the Silver
Millennium. I am about to send ambassadors of
the Moon to Earth, as well as an offer of our
aid in finding the culprits but even I am
unsure of their response. Vestia, I wish for
you and Constance to go with them to further
your training as well as help mediate the
situation in the days and weeks to come."
"What about Eva and Ceres?" the subdued
Vestia asked, still in a shocked stupor over the
news that she had just received.
"They shall remain here to protect the
princess while you are gone. I do not want you
to mention this to the others. If Sere found
out the true nature of your venture, she would be
most upset and I do not wish to frighten her with
things that may never happen. Only tell her that
you are going to Earth to further train and study.
You may tell the others if you deem it necessary."
"Your majesty, would it be wise to travel
down to Earth in light of the supposed negative
energy?" Constance inquired timidly.
Serenity's eyes softened. "No it would not,
and because of this, I cannot force you to go, but
only ask you to help find the reason for this
unfortunate event. Earth's involvement in the
alliance is very beneficial to the Silver
Millennium and we must offer any aid we can as
stated in the Accord reached by the first Serenity
and all the ruling members of the planets. Can I be
dependent on your aid?"
Both Constance and Vestia nodded
resolutely seeing that they had no choice,
needing to protect their Princess from any
harm, even one as indirectly as Earth's
crumbling alliance with the Silver Millennium.
Queen Serenity breathed a sigh of relief
as she looked at her daughter's protectors, so
full of duty and courage. "Thank you. You may
now leave. I wish you luck, in the many days to
come. May the light always guide and protect
you from the darkness" the Queen offered, protocol
allowing her to give nothing more in such a serious
predicament.
As she watched Constance and Vestia walk
quietly out of the room, she sighed again,
unaware of what dangers or trials lay ahead for
all of them.
'I hope that the events to come will not
break us.' She thought.
***
As Vestia continued her pointless stroll
across the gardens, she noticed a small figure
standing alone staring thoughtfully up at the
Earth. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it
was Serenity, light blonde hair gently stirring in
the passing breeze. "Penny for your thoughts,
Sere."
Startled and broken out of her reverie,
Serenity turned with a look of confusion on her
Face at her would-be protector. "Penny? What's
that?"
Vestia tiny sweated as she realized that
she did not in fact know the answer to this and
only asked because it was something she heard
her father say to her when she was a child and
thought that it would be able to break the
silence. "Uhm, it's a type of cookie...yeah,
that's it!" she said trying to cover her
tracks.
"So where it is?" Serenity asked somewhat
skeptically.
"Well, you haven't shared your thoughts
with me yet, have you?" Vestia pointed out
triumphantly, huge grin on her face.
Serenity let out her breath. "I give up,
I give up!" she smiled. "Who can win against the
tactics that the great leader of the Senshi
possesses?"
"No one can!" Venus chirped as she raised
her hands to form her infamous *V*ictory. "So
what's the matter Sere? Why are you staring so
wistfully up at the Earth again?"
"No reason, I suppose. Its just this
feeling I have, you know, the one that you think
something's going to happen, but you're not sure
what. This is just silly talk, ne?", Serenity
allowed a small laugh as she realized that she was
probably just letting her imagination get the best
of her.
"Happen? What ever do you think is wrong
Sere?" Vestia laughed nervously as she put her
hands behind her head.
"Wrong? Whoever said anything about wrong
V-chan?" Serenity raised her eyebrow as she
watched Vestia try to cough and laugh at the
same time, which looked suspiciously like
someone trying to cough up their lung.
Trying to think of what she said wrong and
possibly save her protector's life, she decided to
change the subject. "Ne, V-chan, what do you think
it would be like to live on Earth as a normal
person."
This did not have the desired affect as
Vestia's eyes seemed to bug out of her head for
no particular reason that Serenity could
determine. "Didn't you get to see what Earth
was like when you visited? You know, first hand
experience?" replied Vestia who was trying to
weakly cover up for herself.
Serenity sweat-dropped as she wondered
whether this was one of their more bizarre
conversations or not. She quickly chose the
former as she watched Vestia turn shades of
various colors. "Yes, but I didn't even get to
see anything, other than the 'King and Queen'
and the only scenery I saw was from that of
outside my window. Mother is so overprotective
of me!" she stated, exasperated.
"You have no idea." Vestia muttered to
herself while rolling her eyeballs.
"What was that?" Serenity perked up, amused.
Vestia blinked as she realized that what she had
just said was out loud.
"Eh? Nothing Sere, nothing. Just thinking to
myself."
"In others words, talking to yourself
again, ne?" Eva butted in playfully from no
where.
Vestia let out her breath explosively as
she was sure that Eva would come to her rescue.
"What's up Eva?" she said, back to her regular
self, glad to have the spotlight on someone
other than herself.
"Nothing much, just waiting until dinner
I suppose, you wouldn't believe how hungry I
am, even after such a conventional use of my
powers."
"Hai, I know. Its tiring right? At least
we know that it tastes good. Ceres did cook it
after all!" Vestia clasped her hands in front
of her with a starry eyed expression. Serenity
and Eva nodded in agreement.
Eva winked at Serenity as she mock gagged.
"Although one more comment from you and we would
have been eating electrocuted chicken or better
yet, something you would have cooked."
Vestia, at this moment took the time to
smack Eva playfully on the head and attempt to
tickle her. Soon, an all out tickle war was in
progress, and giggles could be heard across the
gardens.
***
"Something does not seem to be right" the
mysterious woman mused to herself as she stared
back into the mists. "I do not like the feel of
this" she said as she gripped her head in pain.
***
"Did I miss something here? Is this some
sort of new form of training that I've neglected to
learn?" a new voice quipped as she watched the
three girls happily poking at each other in what
seemed to be a "who could laugh louder" competition
to her.
"Its called having fun" the aquamarine-
haired girl replied slyly as she turned to face the
tall, lithe, blond-headed figure beside her.
All three girls stopped mid-tickle to
stare at the two new figures. Eva glared
silently while Vestia blinked in surprise.
Serenity ran to one the two figures and hugged
her happily.
"Arianna!" she said enthusiastically as
she still held the aquamarine-haired girl in
her arms. Arianna, realizing that she might
need to breathe, tried to free herself but to no
avail as she heard her partner, Kouran chuckle
beside her. Arianna quickly shot her a look that
showed her that she was *not* amused.
Kouran, coughing slightly looked at the
happy-princess with a smile tugging at the corner
of her lips. "Ne, Odango, long time no see!"
Serenity took the bait and let go of
Arianna only to give Kouran a funny look. "I
told you not to call me that!" she said
resigned.
Kouran laughed, "and I told you that
I wouldn't listen, so where does that leave
us?" the blonde retorted.
Eva, looking at the two newcomers decided to
rake them with one of her more withering glares.
"What brings the ever so elusive Uranus and Neptune
here?" she snapped out before understanding hit her
like a ten pound brick.
"What's it to you Mars?" Kouran shot out
bitterly. "We have just as many reasons as you
to be here, if not more" she added, not being
able to resist and knowing that the Senshi of
Fire could lose her temper quite...easily as her
namesake implied.
"We were summoned by Queen Serenity." Neptune
interjected quickly before a beating...erm...
'training' session could begin between the two as
well as giving Uranus a disapproving glance while
she was at it.
Vestia silently frowned to herself thinking
back to the conversation she had had with the Queen
earlier. 'Is it *that* serious that Queen Serenity
would summon Uranus and Neptune from their duty to
the solar system? Well, at least Saturn is not
here, then we'd be in really big trouble' she
thought as she tried to console herself mentally.
"Minna, dinner's ready!" a new voice
cheerfully announced. Vestia froze mid-thought as
her ears registered the new voice thinking that her
thoughts would come back to haunt her. Relief
wracked her frame and features as she turned around
to see only Ceres and Constance and not the
legendary Senshi with glaive in hand.
"Ne, Vestia, is there something wrong? You
look like I just threw a bucket of ice cold water
on you." With a mischievous look on her face,
Ceres added "I could if you wanted me to."
Vestia made an effort to smile and mentally
note that she needed to get back at Ceres for that
one as she tried to decipher the wildly flailing
hand gestures that Constance was making at her. 'I
wish I paid more attention to this stupid code when
she taught it to me' Vestia thought dryly with a
puzzled look of concentration on her face.
'Serenity is...what...argh... giving you something,
hmm.. textbooks? Cookies? Chicken?!?!'
"Is there something in particular you're
swinging at Constance, or are those movements for
fun?" Kouran mocked as she curiously observed the
blue-haired girl's frantic arm movements.
"Just some big bug." Constance answered
lamely yet calmly, or so she thought. In actuality,
it seemed very suspicious to the onlookers as she
laughed rather nervously around glancing this way
and that not really appearing to see anything.
"I GOT IT!" Vestia shouted to Constance's
dismay. "Serenity is giving you weird looks!" she
said triumphantly not realizing that the last was
said aloud for all to hear. Constance sighed in
defeat as she watched Vestia put her hands behind
her head, laugh nervously, make some sort of a
weird excuse and run away, literally dragging her
in tow. 'There goes stealth' she thought wryly.
The remaining parties looked at each other
with strange expressions on their faces. "What in
the Silver Crystal's name was that about?" one of
them finally questioned, unsure and confused,
resisting the urge to burst out laughing.
"Serenity only knows and maybe not even then"
was the reply.
***
Queen Serenity, descendent of the first
Serenity, most graceful and respected queen of her
time, burst out laughing as she watched the
exchange of the would-be warriors of justice from
her vantage point. 'Leave it to Vestia to brighten
things up. She reminds me so much of her
predecessor its scary', Serenity thought wistfully.
"Hardly proper for the queen of the Silver
Millennium to burst out in such a display", the
woman chided, almost gently, her features
unreadable as she walked into the ornately
decorated room.
"Luna, can't you let me be, just this once,
after all these year you'd think I'd be able to get
a little..." Serenity stopped in mid-sentence as
she turned around, face to face with an unexpected
visitor in her quarters who was definitely *not*
Luna.
"Why are you here?" she asked, suppressing
the sudden urge she felt to stammer.
"For a short visit, some questions and some
answers." The mysterious woman replied coyly. "I
assume that you're going to give them to me?"
"What is it that you wish to know that you
already didn't?" Serenity replied quizzically, the
hint of steel once again creeping back into her
melodic voice where it had vanished only seconds
before. The woman faintly chuckled before her
expression returned to its previous mask of
indifference.
"What possessed you to summon the Outer
Senshi?" she asked, however, she already knew
the answer, which defeated the whole purpose,
really. Her sources were very reliable-and she
was grateful for that.
"There have recently been 'sightings' of
negative energy. I believe that it is necessary for
them to be here in case evil happens threaten the
realm once again." She answered, now seemingly
unruffled by the woman's presence.
"It's not" the woman replied flatly, a note
of finality in her voice. "They are needed
elsewhere in the kingdom to protect your precious
solar system as well as to fulfill their
destinies."
"And what do you suggest I tell them?"
Serenity asked thoughtfully.
"You're asking me? Aren't you the one who's
always telling me that I have no tact?" the woman
shrouded in mystery remarked.
"And what of Pluto?" Serenity queried with a
strange glint in her crystal blue eyes.
"What of Pluto?" the woman asked in turn with
a effortlessly raised eyebrow.
"Never mind" the ever-so regal Queen
dismissed with a slightly exasperated look on her
porcelain face.
"Is that all?" Serenity asked with a note of
dismissal in her voice.
"It is. We shall meet again." She replied
before stepping into the mists that were not
present a few moments ago and disappearing.
"I certainly hope not" Serenity murmured with
a smile threatening to hover over her lips.
***
(On Earth)
"Argh..." Beryl screamed in frustration as
she slammed her fists in the mirror only to watch
it shatter to pieces as the once bright red blood
trickled down her hand. 'Splendid' she thought
bitterly as she stared down at the now purple
liquid gushing out her veins, noting with
detachment that she did not feel a slither of pain.
"What have I got myself into?" she muttered
darkly to herself. "That's the last time I listen
to voices" she mused to herself sarcastically, as
she looked at the woman in the tiny shards of
splintered mirror that was reflected back at her.
What she saw was not the weak and ugly girl she had
been only months ago.
Slowly, during the past few months, she had
begun to change, in her opinion, even for the
better. What was once gangly and odd, had filled
out and replaced her lanky movements with a kind of
grace even as her once dry and parchment-like hair
grew into the beautiful-red hued color that it was
now. Reviewing herself again, somewhat distorted in
the mirror fragments, she decided that it was for
the better this way and malicious grin touched her
lips as her memories pulled her into a flashback.
*flashback*
Beryl stared at herself in frustration at the
mirror muttering dark curses under her breath as
she wished fervently for the millionth time that
she was beautiful and powerful enough to get what
she wanted. Of course like any other scheming
member of the court, she included Prince Endymion
on her 'what to have' list.
Again, she cringed as she saw herself in the
reflection and wondered how sweet life would have
been for her if she did indeed become the Queen of
Earth, and ruled at Endymion's side. She sighed in
frustration again as she punched her fist into the
mirror, wincing in the pain yet, there was no
blood, for she was not strong enough for such an
impact to occur.
"Beryl..." a voiced lulled at her almost
seductively. (AN: not like THAT...) "Beryl..." it
came again and again in whispered tones. She
whirled around this way and that trying to pinpoint
the origin of the mysterious, shadow voice. Trying
for ten minutes and finally giving up, she asked in
frustration. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"You..." the mysterious voice replied (AN:
not like THAT...again.) "Me?" she asked shakily
with doubt seething through her veins. "Your aid."
It replied soothingly. "For a price of course."
"A Price?" she stammered. "What would I
possibly want that only you could give me?" she
asked, hope slowly dawning in her eyes.
"Everything Beryl..." came the whispered replied.
Just as quickly, her eyes narrowed to thin slits as
she scrutinized the deal being offered to her.
Already having decided but still unsure if her
choice was the right one, she asked hesitantly;
"And what aid do you ask of me?"
"To help with my revenge against the Silver
Millennium..." the voice slithered back to her.
*End Flashback*
"Beryl..." the now familiar voice whispered
to her, breaking her out of her reverie. "Have you
done what I have demanded?"
"Yes I have, Master" she replied meekly as
she thought back to what she had previously done.
Guilt entered her thoughts briefly only to be
brought to a screeching halt and replaced with a
sort of gratitude as she attended to her 'master's'
whim, for she addressed it only as such and had
been given no other name.
She ground her teeth in frustration as she
thought of her current situation. She mentally
banged her head as she recalled how Endymion
refused to see her after the latest 'incident' with
his family locking himself in her quarters. 'It was
only the murder of countless innocents, those being
his close family' she mused heartlessly, for it
appeared that she no longer possessed one. "Where
is the reward you promised after I completed the
task master."
"When we finish all our work and exact
revenge, my child." The shadow at the corner of the
room flickered in annoyance. 'If this one did not
possess sufficient power, I would have consumer her
long ago' it though as Beryl's petty concerns and
questions were grating on it's nerves.
"You promised me Endymion!" she screeched at
the dark force.
"In due time" it snapped, finally its anger
taking the better of it. Beryl looked at the shadow
pensively and muttered a few choice oaths under her
breath.
Finally, letting the matter drop, for she was
beyond the point of no return anyway, she decided,
in a fit of bravery or stupidity, it depends on the
view ask her master a bold question. "And what
shall millions call you when they tremble at our
feet?" she asked, curiosity for once getting the
better of her.
"Chaos..." came the hushed reply.
***
"Open the door Endymion!" the man shouted in
his best command voice not really expecting his
liege to comply. "Go away and leave me alone
Kunzite!" was the snapped reply.
Kunzite muttered darkly to himself, gray eyes
turning to steel as he turned around abruptly,
stalking away. His shoulder length white-gray hair
caught in the breeze as turned this way and that
down the palace corridors disappearing in the
shadows only to reappear in the 'General's'
briefing room.
Upon entering and seeing the apparent mood
their leader was in, the latecomer laughed faintly
only to be raked by steely gray eyes. Jadeite
quirked an blonde eyebrow as he watched Zoicite
enter the room, with his long hair neatly tied up
flowing past his shoulder blades meeting gray eyes
calmly with blue ones.
"Morning rendezvous with Endymion went rather
well I take it?" he asked seriousness forming
around him as the subject shifted to his prince.
"Again, he refuses to come out of his seclusion and
lives like a hermit" Jadeite, the other blonde in
the room replied for their leader. As his short
cropped hair threatened to invade his field of view
he pushed it back with tired fingers for they were
all worried about the charge's condition.
Suddenly, a muscular-built man walked into
the room abruptly, auburn hair tumbling down his
shoulders and hard brown eyes. "What is it
Nephrite?" Zoicite asked as he eyed his silent
comrade.
"The moon, they're coming to our 'aid'" he
replied, the usual softness in his voice replaced
by one of an icy nature.
"What do we do?" Jadeite asked heatedly, a
note of fury and frustration entering his usual
calm and rational voice.
"What we were told to do by our prince in his
only command given to us in the past few weeks"
Kunzite answered in an unruffled and stern manner,
traces of his frustration already lost.
***
Vestia sighed as she watched the stars flit
by. She was not particularly fond of leaving her
princess, even though she was assured that Serenity
would be still be in good hands, namely Eva's and
Cere's. 'I wish I had something to do but worry'
she mused to herself as she watched Constance, her
companion type at a furious pace on her mini-
computer. It was eerie to see the calmest and most
rational Senshi this way; in a trance-like state,
not paying attention to anything but her computer.
It was almost as bad as one Cere's cooking binges
or her own training one.
"Ne, Constance, do you think that we should
have told Sere the truth and not have run off like
we did?" Vestia said drawing her friend out of her
zombie-like state.
"Run off like *you* did," Constance corrected
with a giggle.
"What harm can a trip to Earth bring anyway?"
Vestia continued, "Its not like we're the enemy or
anything."
They would soon find out as they landed on
the Earth. Constance and Vestia looked relieved as
landed without trouble however, the gravity factor
was over-looked as they promptly fell to their
knees.
"Constance, you forgot" Vestia reprimanded
jokingly.
"Hai, gomen ne." she responded sheepishly,
her cheeks becoming flushed as she typed out a few
commands into her computer and pulled out a few
devices. She handed them to Vestia and the rest of
the ambassadors and as they were put on, the
gravity, somewhat lessened allowing them to walk
around more gracefully and without falling every
other step.
Vestia gave her a grateful look as she opened
the ship's door and stepped out, only to be greeted
by the most handsome man that she had ever gazed
upon. He had a very muscular build behind his gray
general's uniform and gorgeous features, with snow
white hair accentuating them. However, his eyes
were a steely gray when she reached them. She
noticed, as well, a detachment of guards with him,
and wondered what kind of a welcoming party Terrans
preferred.
Placing a well practiced smile on her face,
she introduced herself. "I am Commander Venus of
the Sailor Senshi of the moon, Guardians to the
Princess, Daughter of the Queen and protectors to
the kingdom. How may we be of aid?" She asked
calmly, years of drilling and protocol engraved her
head.
"You may not." The man replied harshly. "You
and your representatives of the Moon are under
arrest of the murder of countless innocents, namely
the Royal Family of the Earth by decree of Prince
Endymion, Crown Prince of the Earth."
***
End Chapter 2
To recap the names for you:
Past Name - Future Name
Princess Serenity - Tsukino Usagi
Constance - Mizuno Ami
Eva - Hino Rei
Ceres - Kino Makoto
Vestia - Aino Minako
Prince Endymion - Chiba Mamoru
Kouran - Uranus
Arianna - Neptune
(Not yet mentioned but for future reference)
Reina - Saturn
Aeris - Pluto
Makes sense? No? Comments, Flames and whatnot
welcomed. Preferably comments. :)
==========================
For general questions, comments
for BOTH authors:
e-mail: mizuno_kagami@yahoo.com
For me, Namida:
e-mail: senshi_pluto@crystal-tokyo.com
For my co-author mizu:
e-mail: tokiya_ensui@yahoo.com
URL: www.geocities.com/mizuno_kagami
===========================
Namida: Finally!! *dodges flying shoes* It didn't
take *that* long did it?
Mizu: Look at your calendar and tell me what you
see in those pretty little boxes
Namida: -_-* Gomen!
Mizu: *smiles triumphantly and makes *V*icory sign*
I knew you'd see it my way! Next Chapter on its way
soon.
Namida: Yep, and you'll get it faster too, cause
I'm not writing it. ;D
Doumo minna-san, Ja ne! Feedback welcome!
-~Namida~
Takeuchi. We don't own it. Really, we don't, or
we'd all be millionaires living in a dream world.
On *that* happy note...
e-mail: senshi_pluto@crystal-tokyo.com
EDGE OF DREAMS~BOOK I: Voiceless Song
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Edge of Dreams:
Chapter 2: Reality's Gaze
by: Namida
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***
Vestia sighed for the umpteenth time as
she wandered around the palace gardens
aimlessly, not really caring where she ended
up. As usual, the gardens were beautiful, with
soft light from the sky playing gently on the
fragile petals of the so many delicate
blossoms that hung in the air.
However, Vestia was in no mood to admire
the surrounding beauty as she thought back to
the conversation she had with Queen Serenity and
Constance only minutes before.
***
(20 minutes earlier)
"You called for me your majesty?", Vestia
inquired as she walked into Serenity's private
chambers, closing the door quietly behind her
and bowing. Taking a seat beside the already
present Constance, she wondered what was so
important that would have made the Queen summon
her in the middle of mid-day training.
The Queen, looking up from where she was
studying a long scroll of what seemed to be
scribbles, smiled wanly as Vestia walked into
the elaborately furnished room, done in colors of
white and silver. As usual, her hair was done up in
the style of the Royal Family of the Moon Kingdom
as it flowed down her shoulders and back towards
her ankles in a graceful arc even as the light from
the window and flames from the nearby candles
played on it, making its silver sheen glisten even
more, if that was possible. "I'm glad you both
could come" she said, tiredly.
"Your majesty, is there something wrong?
Have the results from those tests on the
mysterious energy readings come back already?"
Constance asked from where she sat with a worried
frown imprinted on her face.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, they have but
the results were inconclusive. That could
either mean one of two things, either the
sensors picked up the passing fluctuating
energy trail from the comet as negative, or
that there was negative energy but well
shielded and hidden enough so that it would
pass by invisibly."
Constance, tapping her fingers
thoughtfully on the arm of her chair, began
turning around this newly found piece of
information in her head. "What could possibly
be the origin of this negative energy? There
hasn't been any detected since the first
Serenity sealed Chaos so long ago!" she
wondered, slightly baffled, which was a new
experience for her.
Serenity sighed. "We still don't know,
dear. As I've said before, we're still not
positive that it is indeed negative energy out
there."
Vestia, not being one for long
explanations on causes and reasons spoke up.
"If you're not sure whether the energy found was
negative, then, what is the reason to why you have
summoned us?"
"I have summoned you because, as leader
of my daughter's protectors, it is important
that you learn of these dangers if you wish to
ensure her safety and well being, as well as
that of the kingdom's." Serenity replied,
wearily not realizing that it seemed like a
slightly harsh rebuke. "It has also come to my
attention that the regents of the Kingdom of Earth
and many of their relatives were brutally murdered
mysteriously." Vestia and Constance both shared a
mutual gasp.
"As such, it is believed that the kingdom
has become unstable and weary of its alliance
with the Moon and its place in the Silver
Millennium. I am about to send ambassadors of
the Moon to Earth, as well as an offer of our
aid in finding the culprits but even I am
unsure of their response. Vestia, I wish for
you and Constance to go with them to further
your training as well as help mediate the
situation in the days and weeks to come."
"What about Eva and Ceres?" the subdued
Vestia asked, still in a shocked stupor over the
news that she had just received.
"They shall remain here to protect the
princess while you are gone. I do not want you
to mention this to the others. If Sere found
out the true nature of your venture, she would be
most upset and I do not wish to frighten her with
things that may never happen. Only tell her that
you are going to Earth to further train and study.
You may tell the others if you deem it necessary."
"Your majesty, would it be wise to travel
down to Earth in light of the supposed negative
energy?" Constance inquired timidly.
Serenity's eyes softened. "No it would not,
and because of this, I cannot force you to go, but
only ask you to help find the reason for this
unfortunate event. Earth's involvement in the
alliance is very beneficial to the Silver
Millennium and we must offer any aid we can as
stated in the Accord reached by the first Serenity
and all the ruling members of the planets. Can I be
dependent on your aid?"
Both Constance and Vestia nodded
resolutely seeing that they had no choice,
needing to protect their Princess from any
harm, even one as indirectly as Earth's
crumbling alliance with the Silver Millennium.
Queen Serenity breathed a sigh of relief
as she looked at her daughter's protectors, so
full of duty and courage. "Thank you. You may
now leave. I wish you luck, in the many days to
come. May the light always guide and protect
you from the darkness" the Queen offered, protocol
allowing her to give nothing more in such a serious
predicament.
As she watched Constance and Vestia walk
quietly out of the room, she sighed again,
unaware of what dangers or trials lay ahead for
all of them.
'I hope that the events to come will not
break us.' She thought.
***
As Vestia continued her pointless stroll
across the gardens, she noticed a small figure
standing alone staring thoughtfully up at the
Earth. Upon closer inspection, she saw that it
was Serenity, light blonde hair gently stirring in
the passing breeze. "Penny for your thoughts,
Sere."
Startled and broken out of her reverie,
Serenity turned with a look of confusion on her
Face at her would-be protector. "Penny? What's
that?"
Vestia tiny sweated as she realized that
she did not in fact know the answer to this and
only asked because it was something she heard
her father say to her when she was a child and
thought that it would be able to break the
silence. "Uhm, it's a type of cookie...yeah,
that's it!" she said trying to cover her
tracks.
"So where it is?" Serenity asked somewhat
skeptically.
"Well, you haven't shared your thoughts
with me yet, have you?" Vestia pointed out
triumphantly, huge grin on her face.
Serenity let out her breath. "I give up,
I give up!" she smiled. "Who can win against the
tactics that the great leader of the Senshi
possesses?"
"No one can!" Venus chirped as she raised
her hands to form her infamous *V*ictory. "So
what's the matter Sere? Why are you staring so
wistfully up at the Earth again?"
"No reason, I suppose. Its just this
feeling I have, you know, the one that you think
something's going to happen, but you're not sure
what. This is just silly talk, ne?", Serenity
allowed a small laugh as she realized that she was
probably just letting her imagination get the best
of her.
"Happen? What ever do you think is wrong
Sere?" Vestia laughed nervously as she put her
hands behind her head.
"Wrong? Whoever said anything about wrong
V-chan?" Serenity raised her eyebrow as she
watched Vestia try to cough and laugh at the
same time, which looked suspiciously like
someone trying to cough up their lung.
Trying to think of what she said wrong and
possibly save her protector's life, she decided to
change the subject. "Ne, V-chan, what do you think
it would be like to live on Earth as a normal
person."
This did not have the desired affect as
Vestia's eyes seemed to bug out of her head for
no particular reason that Serenity could
determine. "Didn't you get to see what Earth
was like when you visited? You know, first hand
experience?" replied Vestia who was trying to
weakly cover up for herself.
Serenity sweat-dropped as she wondered
whether this was one of their more bizarre
conversations or not. She quickly chose the
former as she watched Vestia turn shades of
various colors. "Yes, but I didn't even get to
see anything, other than the 'King and Queen'
and the only scenery I saw was from that of
outside my window. Mother is so overprotective
of me!" she stated, exasperated.
"You have no idea." Vestia muttered to
herself while rolling her eyeballs.
"What was that?" Serenity perked up, amused.
Vestia blinked as she realized that what she had
just said was out loud.
"Eh? Nothing Sere, nothing. Just thinking to
myself."
"In others words, talking to yourself
again, ne?" Eva butted in playfully from no
where.
Vestia let out her breath explosively as
she was sure that Eva would come to her rescue.
"What's up Eva?" she said, back to her regular
self, glad to have the spotlight on someone
other than herself.
"Nothing much, just waiting until dinner
I suppose, you wouldn't believe how hungry I
am, even after such a conventional use of my
powers."
"Hai, I know. Its tiring right? At least
we know that it tastes good. Ceres did cook it
after all!" Vestia clasped her hands in front
of her with a starry eyed expression. Serenity
and Eva nodded in agreement.
Eva winked at Serenity as she mock gagged.
"Although one more comment from you and we would
have been eating electrocuted chicken or better
yet, something you would have cooked."
Vestia, at this moment took the time to
smack Eva playfully on the head and attempt to
tickle her. Soon, an all out tickle war was in
progress, and giggles could be heard across the
gardens.
***
"Something does not seem to be right" the
mysterious woman mused to herself as she stared
back into the mists. "I do not like the feel of
this" she said as she gripped her head in pain.
***
"Did I miss something here? Is this some
sort of new form of training that I've neglected to
learn?" a new voice quipped as she watched the
three girls happily poking at each other in what
seemed to be a "who could laugh louder" competition
to her.
"Its called having fun" the aquamarine-
haired girl replied slyly as she turned to face the
tall, lithe, blond-headed figure beside her.
All three girls stopped mid-tickle to
stare at the two new figures. Eva glared
silently while Vestia blinked in surprise.
Serenity ran to one the two figures and hugged
her happily.
"Arianna!" she said enthusiastically as
she still held the aquamarine-haired girl in
her arms. Arianna, realizing that she might
need to breathe, tried to free herself but to no
avail as she heard her partner, Kouran chuckle
beside her. Arianna quickly shot her a look that
showed her that she was *not* amused.
Kouran, coughing slightly looked at the
happy-princess with a smile tugging at the corner
of her lips. "Ne, Odango, long time no see!"
Serenity took the bait and let go of
Arianna only to give Kouran a funny look. "I
told you not to call me that!" she said
resigned.
Kouran laughed, "and I told you that
I wouldn't listen, so where does that leave
us?" the blonde retorted.
Eva, looking at the two newcomers decided to
rake them with one of her more withering glares.
"What brings the ever so elusive Uranus and Neptune
here?" she snapped out before understanding hit her
like a ten pound brick.
"What's it to you Mars?" Kouran shot out
bitterly. "We have just as many reasons as you
to be here, if not more" she added, not being
able to resist and knowing that the Senshi of
Fire could lose her temper quite...easily as her
namesake implied.
"We were summoned by Queen Serenity." Neptune
interjected quickly before a beating...erm...
'training' session could begin between the two as
well as giving Uranus a disapproving glance while
she was at it.
Vestia silently frowned to herself thinking
back to the conversation she had had with the Queen
earlier. 'Is it *that* serious that Queen Serenity
would summon Uranus and Neptune from their duty to
the solar system? Well, at least Saturn is not
here, then we'd be in really big trouble' she
thought as she tried to console herself mentally.
"Minna, dinner's ready!" a new voice
cheerfully announced. Vestia froze mid-thought as
her ears registered the new voice thinking that her
thoughts would come back to haunt her. Relief
wracked her frame and features as she turned around
to see only Ceres and Constance and not the
legendary Senshi with glaive in hand.
"Ne, Vestia, is there something wrong? You
look like I just threw a bucket of ice cold water
on you." With a mischievous look on her face,
Ceres added "I could if you wanted me to."
Vestia made an effort to smile and mentally
note that she needed to get back at Ceres for that
one as she tried to decipher the wildly flailing
hand gestures that Constance was making at her. 'I
wish I paid more attention to this stupid code when
she taught it to me' Vestia thought dryly with a
puzzled look of concentration on her face.
'Serenity is...what...argh... giving you something,
hmm.. textbooks? Cookies? Chicken?!?!'
"Is there something in particular you're
swinging at Constance, or are those movements for
fun?" Kouran mocked as she curiously observed the
blue-haired girl's frantic arm movements.
"Just some big bug." Constance answered
lamely yet calmly, or so she thought. In actuality,
it seemed very suspicious to the onlookers as she
laughed rather nervously around glancing this way
and that not really appearing to see anything.
"I GOT IT!" Vestia shouted to Constance's
dismay. "Serenity is giving you weird looks!" she
said triumphantly not realizing that the last was
said aloud for all to hear. Constance sighed in
defeat as she watched Vestia put her hands behind
her head, laugh nervously, make some sort of a
weird excuse and run away, literally dragging her
in tow. 'There goes stealth' she thought wryly.
The remaining parties looked at each other
with strange expressions on their faces. "What in
the Silver Crystal's name was that about?" one of
them finally questioned, unsure and confused,
resisting the urge to burst out laughing.
"Serenity only knows and maybe not even then"
was the reply.
***
Queen Serenity, descendent of the first
Serenity, most graceful and respected queen of her
time, burst out laughing as she watched the
exchange of the would-be warriors of justice from
her vantage point. 'Leave it to Vestia to brighten
things up. She reminds me so much of her
predecessor its scary', Serenity thought wistfully.
"Hardly proper for the queen of the Silver
Millennium to burst out in such a display", the
woman chided, almost gently, her features
unreadable as she walked into the ornately
decorated room.
"Luna, can't you let me be, just this once,
after all these year you'd think I'd be able to get
a little..." Serenity stopped in mid-sentence as
she turned around, face to face with an unexpected
visitor in her quarters who was definitely *not*
Luna.
"Why are you here?" she asked, suppressing
the sudden urge she felt to stammer.
"For a short visit, some questions and some
answers." The mysterious woman replied coyly. "I
assume that you're going to give them to me?"
"What is it that you wish to know that you
already didn't?" Serenity replied quizzically, the
hint of steel once again creeping back into her
melodic voice where it had vanished only seconds
before. The woman faintly chuckled before her
expression returned to its previous mask of
indifference.
"What possessed you to summon the Outer
Senshi?" she asked, however, she already knew
the answer, which defeated the whole purpose,
really. Her sources were very reliable-and she
was grateful for that.
"There have recently been 'sightings' of
negative energy. I believe that it is necessary for
them to be here in case evil happens threaten the
realm once again." She answered, now seemingly
unruffled by the woman's presence.
"It's not" the woman replied flatly, a note
of finality in her voice. "They are needed
elsewhere in the kingdom to protect your precious
solar system as well as to fulfill their
destinies."
"And what do you suggest I tell them?"
Serenity asked thoughtfully.
"You're asking me? Aren't you the one who's
always telling me that I have no tact?" the woman
shrouded in mystery remarked.
"And what of Pluto?" Serenity queried with a
strange glint in her crystal blue eyes.
"What of Pluto?" the woman asked in turn with
a effortlessly raised eyebrow.
"Never mind" the ever-so regal Queen
dismissed with a slightly exasperated look on her
porcelain face.
"Is that all?" Serenity asked with a note of
dismissal in her voice.
"It is. We shall meet again." She replied
before stepping into the mists that were not
present a few moments ago and disappearing.
"I certainly hope not" Serenity murmured with
a smile threatening to hover over her lips.
***
(On Earth)
"Argh..." Beryl screamed in frustration as
she slammed her fists in the mirror only to watch
it shatter to pieces as the once bright red blood
trickled down her hand. 'Splendid' she thought
bitterly as she stared down at the now purple
liquid gushing out her veins, noting with
detachment that she did not feel a slither of pain.
"What have I got myself into?" she muttered
darkly to herself. "That's the last time I listen
to voices" she mused to herself sarcastically, as
she looked at the woman in the tiny shards of
splintered mirror that was reflected back at her.
What she saw was not the weak and ugly girl she had
been only months ago.
Slowly, during the past few months, she had
begun to change, in her opinion, even for the
better. What was once gangly and odd, had filled
out and replaced her lanky movements with a kind of
grace even as her once dry and parchment-like hair
grew into the beautiful-red hued color that it was
now. Reviewing herself again, somewhat distorted in
the mirror fragments, she decided that it was for
the better this way and malicious grin touched her
lips as her memories pulled her into a flashback.
*flashback*
Beryl stared at herself in frustration at the
mirror muttering dark curses under her breath as
she wished fervently for the millionth time that
she was beautiful and powerful enough to get what
she wanted. Of course like any other scheming
member of the court, she included Prince Endymion
on her 'what to have' list.
Again, she cringed as she saw herself in the
reflection and wondered how sweet life would have
been for her if she did indeed become the Queen of
Earth, and ruled at Endymion's side. She sighed in
frustration again as she punched her fist into the
mirror, wincing in the pain yet, there was no
blood, for she was not strong enough for such an
impact to occur.
"Beryl..." a voiced lulled at her almost
seductively. (AN: not like THAT...) "Beryl..." it
came again and again in whispered tones. She
whirled around this way and that trying to pinpoint
the origin of the mysterious, shadow voice. Trying
for ten minutes and finally giving up, she asked in
frustration. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"You..." the mysterious voice replied (AN:
not like THAT...again.) "Me?" she asked shakily
with doubt seething through her veins. "Your aid."
It replied soothingly. "For a price of course."
"A Price?" she stammered. "What would I
possibly want that only you could give me?" she
asked, hope slowly dawning in her eyes.
"Everything Beryl..." came the whispered replied.
Just as quickly, her eyes narrowed to thin slits as
she scrutinized the deal being offered to her.
Already having decided but still unsure if her
choice was the right one, she asked hesitantly;
"And what aid do you ask of me?"
"To help with my revenge against the Silver
Millennium..." the voice slithered back to her.
*End Flashback*
"Beryl..." the now familiar voice whispered
to her, breaking her out of her reverie. "Have you
done what I have demanded?"
"Yes I have, Master" she replied meekly as
she thought back to what she had previously done.
Guilt entered her thoughts briefly only to be
brought to a screeching halt and replaced with a
sort of gratitude as she attended to her 'master's'
whim, for she addressed it only as such and had
been given no other name.
She ground her teeth in frustration as she
thought of her current situation. She mentally
banged her head as she recalled how Endymion
refused to see her after the latest 'incident' with
his family locking himself in her quarters. 'It was
only the murder of countless innocents, those being
his close family' she mused heartlessly, for it
appeared that she no longer possessed one. "Where
is the reward you promised after I completed the
task master."
"When we finish all our work and exact
revenge, my child." The shadow at the corner of the
room flickered in annoyance. 'If this one did not
possess sufficient power, I would have consumer her
long ago' it though as Beryl's petty concerns and
questions were grating on it's nerves.
"You promised me Endymion!" she screeched at
the dark force.
"In due time" it snapped, finally its anger
taking the better of it. Beryl looked at the shadow
pensively and muttered a few choice oaths under her
breath.
Finally, letting the matter drop, for she was
beyond the point of no return anyway, she decided,
in a fit of bravery or stupidity, it depends on the
view ask her master a bold question. "And what
shall millions call you when they tremble at our
feet?" she asked, curiosity for once getting the
better of her.
"Chaos..." came the hushed reply.
***
"Open the door Endymion!" the man shouted in
his best command voice not really expecting his
liege to comply. "Go away and leave me alone
Kunzite!" was the snapped reply.
Kunzite muttered darkly to himself, gray eyes
turning to steel as he turned around abruptly,
stalking away. His shoulder length white-gray hair
caught in the breeze as turned this way and that
down the palace corridors disappearing in the
shadows only to reappear in the 'General's'
briefing room.
Upon entering and seeing the apparent mood
their leader was in, the latecomer laughed faintly
only to be raked by steely gray eyes. Jadeite
quirked an blonde eyebrow as he watched Zoicite
enter the room, with his long hair neatly tied up
flowing past his shoulder blades meeting gray eyes
calmly with blue ones.
"Morning rendezvous with Endymion went rather
well I take it?" he asked seriousness forming
around him as the subject shifted to his prince.
"Again, he refuses to come out of his seclusion and
lives like a hermit" Jadeite, the other blonde in
the room replied for their leader. As his short
cropped hair threatened to invade his field of view
he pushed it back with tired fingers for they were
all worried about the charge's condition.
Suddenly, a muscular-built man walked into
the room abruptly, auburn hair tumbling down his
shoulders and hard brown eyes. "What is it
Nephrite?" Zoicite asked as he eyed his silent
comrade.
"The moon, they're coming to our 'aid'" he
replied, the usual softness in his voice replaced
by one of an icy nature.
"What do we do?" Jadeite asked heatedly, a
note of fury and frustration entering his usual
calm and rational voice.
"What we were told to do by our prince in his
only command given to us in the past few weeks"
Kunzite answered in an unruffled and stern manner,
traces of his frustration already lost.
***
Vestia sighed as she watched the stars flit
by. She was not particularly fond of leaving her
princess, even though she was assured that Serenity
would be still be in good hands, namely Eva's and
Cere's. 'I wish I had something to do but worry'
she mused to herself as she watched Constance, her
companion type at a furious pace on her mini-
computer. It was eerie to see the calmest and most
rational Senshi this way; in a trance-like state,
not paying attention to anything but her computer.
It was almost as bad as one Cere's cooking binges
or her own training one.
"Ne, Constance, do you think that we should
have told Sere the truth and not have run off like
we did?" Vestia said drawing her friend out of her
zombie-like state.
"Run off like *you* did," Constance corrected
with a giggle.
"What harm can a trip to Earth bring anyway?"
Vestia continued, "Its not like we're the enemy or
anything."
They would soon find out as they landed on
the Earth. Constance and Vestia looked relieved as
landed without trouble however, the gravity factor
was over-looked as they promptly fell to their
knees.
"Constance, you forgot" Vestia reprimanded
jokingly.
"Hai, gomen ne." she responded sheepishly,
her cheeks becoming flushed as she typed out a few
commands into her computer and pulled out a few
devices. She handed them to Vestia and the rest of
the ambassadors and as they were put on, the
gravity, somewhat lessened allowing them to walk
around more gracefully and without falling every
other step.
Vestia gave her a grateful look as she opened
the ship's door and stepped out, only to be greeted
by the most handsome man that she had ever gazed
upon. He had a very muscular build behind his gray
general's uniform and gorgeous features, with snow
white hair accentuating them. However, his eyes
were a steely gray when she reached them. She
noticed, as well, a detachment of guards with him,
and wondered what kind of a welcoming party Terrans
preferred.
Placing a well practiced smile on her face,
she introduced herself. "I am Commander Venus of
the Sailor Senshi of the moon, Guardians to the
Princess, Daughter of the Queen and protectors to
the kingdom. How may we be of aid?" She asked
calmly, years of drilling and protocol engraved her
head.
"You may not." The man replied harshly. "You
and your representatives of the Moon are under
arrest of the murder of countless innocents, namely
the Royal Family of the Earth by decree of Prince
Endymion, Crown Prince of the Earth."
***
End Chapter 2
To recap the names for you:
Past Name - Future Name
Princess Serenity - Tsukino Usagi
Constance - Mizuno Ami
Eva - Hino Rei
Ceres - Kino Makoto
Vestia - Aino Minako
Prince Endymion - Chiba Mamoru
Kouran - Uranus
Arianna - Neptune
(Not yet mentioned but for future reference)
Reina - Saturn
Aeris - Pluto
Makes sense? No? Comments, Flames and whatnot
welcomed. Preferably comments. :)
==========================
For general questions, comments
for BOTH authors:
e-mail: mizuno_kagami@yahoo.com
For me, Namida:
e-mail: senshi_pluto@crystal-tokyo.com
For my co-author mizu:
e-mail: tokiya_ensui@yahoo.com
URL: www.geocities.com/mizuno_kagami
===========================
Namida: Finally!! *dodges flying shoes* It didn't
take *that* long did it?
Mizu: Look at your calendar and tell me what you
see in those pretty little boxes
Namida: -_-* Gomen!
Mizu: *smiles triumphantly and makes *V*icory sign*
I knew you'd see it my way! Next Chapter on its way
soon.
Namida: Yep, and you'll get it faster too, cause
I'm not writing it. ;D
Doumo minna-san, Ja ne! Feedback welcome!
-~Namida~