Part 1
Birthright
Sixteen lunar years later...
The night was perfect. Stars glittered in the black lunar sky. The
moon was lit from within by a soft silver light. Everything was
wrapped in it's glowing aura. Princess Solana Serenity was sixteen
today, and a huge ball was planned in her honor. She looked from her
balcony at the palace gardens below.
"Do I look alright, Luna?" she questioned as she turned.
"You are a vision of loveliness!" replied her feline friend.
Solana was breathtaking in a gown of the finest silver silk.
The edges of the delicate cap sleeves and the bottom of the
voluminous skirt were encrusted with gold embroidery. The bodice
was fitted to her small frame down to her waist, and from there,
yards and yards of silk fell almost to the floor. Dainty silver
slippers peeked from beneath the folds, and a tiny silver tiara
rested on her head, completing the perfection. Her light pink hair
shone with inner light and was fashioned in the customary royal
hairstyle of long ponytails hanging from two buns. She was beautiful.
All heads turned as she entered the ballroom. She took her place in
the receiving line and greeted her guests gracefully. After that
chore was finished, she crossed the ballroom to get a crystal goblet
of wine to soothe her throat, dry from all the greetings. She turned
to find her mother, and came to face the most handsome man she had
ever seen.
He was tall, much taller than she, with shining blonde hair and
startling green eyes. His muscular body filled out the red and gold
armor of the Sun Kingdom nicely.
"Princess, I am Prince Orion Coronis, and I'd be honored if you
would dance with me."
Solana blushed crimson, and accepted.
They twirled around the room, oblivious to their surroundings.
Aurora smiled happily. She could tell just by watching, that her
daughter was completely smitten with the Sun Prince.
"Oh Solaris! Just look at them!" she exclaimed to her husband.
"They will make a good match." Solaris said quietly. The king did
not like to think of his daughter in love. He knew she was old
enough in years, but in his heart, she would always be a little girl.
The rational side of him knew that a union with the Sun Kingdom would
greatly help the Silver Alliance, but the emotional side of him was
sad that his daughter might be ready to marry soon.
Solana and Orion where breathless when the waltz ended.
"Would you like to rest someplace quiet?" he asked.
"Yes, lets go into the courtyard. Follow me." Solana could not
believe her boldness, as she led the prince to a secluded corner of
the palace gardens. They began to talk. They told each other of
their childhoods. They laughed as they shared humorous tales of
childish escapades. He grew quiet as she told him of her
aprehensions of the Birthright Ceremony she would attend the next
day. Silent tears ran down her face as he told her of his mother's
death during his birth and his father's illness.
"I know it is my responsibility to assume the throne when he dies,
but I don't want to face the fact that it will be sooner than later."
The hours passed as they talked of their hopes, dreams, and fears,
and by the time his kingdom's namesake appeared on the lunar horizon,
they were hopelessly in love.
"I must go." she said quietly, "I have to rest for the Ceremony later
today."
Orion stood and pulled her to her feet. His hands caressed her face
and he pulled her gently to him. Their lips met in a delicate brush
that deepened quickly. Magic surged through her body as the kiss
went on. When they finally broke apart, both were breathless.
"Solana..." he stared through her eyes right into her soul.
She put one delicate finger to his lips. "I feel the same."
They walked hand in hand back to the palace. The ball was winding
down, and the guests were starting to head to their rooms. Orion
stood with Solana at the bottom of the great staircase. He kissed
her quickly and watched her walk up to her room.
Solana floated up the stairs. She couldn't stop smiling as she
thought of Orion. The memory of the kiss they shared in the gardens
made her blush lightly. Her dreams were of her prince as she
drifted off to sleep.
"Mother? Tell me about the Birthright ceremony again?" Princess
Solana Serenity was nervous. More nervous than she had ever been.
Today was the day she would receive her Birthright. Her rightful
share of the royal power.
"OK Solana, it's very simple for you. You will kneel before me and
your father. I will hold the Crystal up and half of it's power will
go into your body. It will not be painful, just overwhelming. Your
hair will turn silver like mine and you will probably sleep for a few
days." Queen Aurora smiled at her beautiful daughter. "You will
receive the other half of the Crystal's power when my spirit rests.
This is for your protection. The full power of the Crystal can take
the life of the user if it is used to it's complete potential."
"Mother, I don't want the full power if it means you have to die!"
Solana sobbed.
"Now Solana, don't worry about that now. I plan on being around
for quite a while longer. Dry your eyes. You want to look your
best for the ceremony today." Aurora handed Solana a linen
handkerchief.
"I'm sorry Mother. I guess I'm just nervous about today." She
smiled at her mother.
"You'll be fine, darling. Your father and I are very proud of you.
We'll meet you in the courtyard at 2:00."
"Thank you Mother." she said, as her mother walked down the hallway.
"I will do my best to make sure you and Father will remain proud of
me."
The sun was bright against the black lunar sky. The Birthright
Ceremony was sacred and private. The only attendants were the royal
family and Solana's feline advisors given to her when she was an
infant. Luna and Artemis stood quietly to the side and watched their
young companion receive her great power.
"As King Delphia,of the Royal Moon Kingdom, I, Solaris Delphia,
present you, Princess Solana Serenity, with the Royal Scepter." He
handed to his daughter a golden scepter, intricately engraved with
royal blue lapis, topped by a large, shining sapphire. Solana took
the heavy scepter in her hands. She felt the weight of responsibility
crash down upon her slim shoulders, and she stood tall.
"As Queen Serenity IX of the Royal Moon Kingdom and holder of it's
greatest treasure, the Ginzuishou, I, Aurora Serenity,
present you, Princess Solana Serenity, with your Birthright. Kneel
before me and accept this gift." Solana knelt slowly. Fear and
nerves making her knees quake. Her long, light pink hair swinging
softly about her face. After today, she would always wear the royal
hairstyle, but for now it was loose and flowing. She felt the Crystal
come to life. It was like a light touch on her soul. Queen Aurora
held it high and it began to flash brightly. A brilliant stream of
silver light leapt from the Crystal and encircled the young princess.
She was enveloped in bright silvery, white light. It pulsed in time
with her heart. She felt the power coursing through her veins and
gasped with the strength of it. She felt lightheaded and dizzy. The
power of the Crystal surged a final time, and receded. When the glow
faded, Solana was still kneeling before her mother. Her crescent
moon sigil flared and she collapsed onto the ground, her now silver
hair spilling around her. Aurora stumbled forward. Solaris caught
her in his strong arms.
While Solana and passed out because she was overcome by the power,
Aurora was weak for a different reason. Half of her life energy has
passed to her daughter with the power of the Crystal. The drain left
her pale and weak. It would take many days of rest before she would
be even able to speak. Her power would be useless until she regained
her strength. She had not told her daughter of this side effect.
She knew Solana would be devastated to cause her mother pain or
suffering. But, someone else knew of this. Someone dangerous.
Her silver eyes watched from the shadows. *Now is the time!* she
thought as she stepped from her hidden alcove.
"Hello Solaris. I see your wife isn't feeling well." She smiled
wickedly at the pair. King Solaris gaped at the newcomer, stunned. He
held his wife in his arms. She had lost consciousness when the
energy was passed.
"And who is this lovely creature?" She gestured to Solana, who was
sprawled on the ground.
"YOU WILL STAY AWAY FROM HER!" Solaris roared.
"LEAVE THIS PLACE! IMMEDIATELY"
"Now, now Solaris, is that any way to talk to your former fiance?"
"That engagement was the biggest mistake I ever made," Solaris
growled, "Metallia"
"I have waited almost twenty years to rectify your so-called mistake!"
Metallia said malevolently.
"DARK POWERS EMERGE!" She screamed.
Two massive balls of energy formed in the sky. Blacker than space,
they swirled and hovered. Sparkling electricity crackled within the
spheres. Without a sound, they shot forward towards their respective
targets. Blackness exploded around the King and Queen when the dark
energy reached them. Aurora awakened in a lightless void, pain and
confusion swirled around her. She knew her time was short. She
heard her husband screaming in agony beside her. She didn't have the
strength to scream. Her last thought was a prayer. *Please
Ginzuishou, protect my daughter.* The screams of Solaris faded, and
the blackness dissipated. The King and the Queen were no more.
"Finally! My day has come at last!" Metallia laughed evilly. "Now,
for the other one!"
She turned to Solana, and screamed obscenities at the sight. A
glowing crystal orb had surrounded the sleeping princess and her
feline protectors. Metallia was thrown back brutally by a pulsing
silver beam. The princess and her cats vanished into the air.
The Silver Council was founded by King Solaris and Queen Serenity
when Solana was just an infant. For sixteen years, it had been the
ruling force in the Solar System. All decisions concerning the
planets of the Silver Alliance came before the Council.
"I call this emergency session of the Silver Council to order. All
members please take your seats." Orion, Prince of the Sun, took his
place at the head of the table, with Luna and Artemis by his side.
"As you all have heard by now, the King and Queen of the Moon were
viciously murdered yesterday. With the Council's approval, I will
take over as acting head of this Council. My father is rightfully
the vice chairman, but illness keeps him from his duties. I have
brought to you the royal advisors to Princess Serenity, Luna and
Artemis. They witnessed what happened and relayed the information
to all of us."
"Has Metallia been found?" asked the Queen of Venus.
"No, the royal militia has been searching non-stop since the
incident, without result." Artemis replied.
"Wasn't she hit with a blast from the Crystal? Maybe she is dead."
This came from the King of Saturn.
"That is not an assumption we should make with someone as dangerous
as Metallia. As you all know, she was thought to have been banished
with the rest of her Kingdom. No one knows how she came to be back
on the Moon." said the King of Mercury.
"Aurora was my friend, and a great Queen. I will vow to protect her
daughter and the Moon Kingdom at any cost!" exclaimed the Queen of
Mars. All those seated around the table made the same vow.
Suddenly, a strange purple glow came from the corner of the room. A
woman emerged from the porthole. She had very long, dark green hair,
and wore a uniform with a short flared skirt and a squared collar
hanging down her back. She carried a tall staff shaped like a key,
topped with a softly glowing garnet.
The Council members were speechless.
"I am Sailorpluto, guardian of the gates of time. I have come to
you to tell you of your future, and the important of keeping the Moon
Kingdom intact."
The Council members could only stare at their visitor. They had all
heard the legend of the Guardian of Time, but none had ever laid eyes
upon her. The Queen of Mars could hear the doubts of the others at
the table. She had the gift of psychic sight. She delved into the
consciousness of Sailorpluto, looking to see if she was genuine. Her
link was broken forcefully after she got the information she needed.
"Sh-She is what she s-says." she said, her voice quavering from the
shock.
Sailorpluto nodded and continued.
"Many years ago, I received a vision of an ancient prophecy. This
prophecy involved a 'child born of the moonlight'. I have discovered
that this child is the daughter of the current Queen of the Moon. It
is imperative that she be protected at all times. She is vital to
the future of this Solar System. You all made a vow earlier to
protect the Moon Kingdom at all cost. Your must pay a price for this
vow. You each will give a child of your own to protect the future
daughter of the Queen.
When a child is born with your planet sigil shining, the time will
have come to fulfill the destiny. On that child's fifth birthday,
he or she must be sent to train. Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn;
I will come and train your children. Mercury, Venus, Mars, and
Jupiter; your children will be sent to the Moon Kingdom to learn
the skills they will need. Your children will return to you after
ten years, but will forever be marked as Royal Senshi, and will be
loyal to the Moon Kingdom for the remainder of time. I know this is
a very high price to pay. But, be assured, it is the only way to
protect the future of this Solar System."
The silence was heavy. The first to speak was Prince Orion.
"What of my Kingdom? What will we contribute to this destiny?"
"You will give yourself, but I think you have already made the
decision to do so." Sailorpluto smiled at the Prince.
"If it is for the future of this system, I cannot refuse, none of us
can." the King of Saturn said sadly. Heads nodded around the table,
as all gave their silent consent to the mysterious senshi.
Solana awoke three days later. Orion was with her and gave her
the devastating news.
"Solana, I'm glad you're awake."
"Orion! What are you doing here! What happened!" She was confused
and disoriented. She knew her father would never allow Orion to
come into her bad chamber, so she recognized that something must be
very, very wrong.
"Solana, I don't know how to tell you this...," he paused and looked
into her eyes. "After the ceremony, there was...that is..." he truly
didn't know how to say the awful words.
"Tell me, Orion! I have to know!" Solana cried out.
"Your parents...were killed." Orion decided to just say it quickly.
Solana's eyes widened and filled with crystal tears. "no..." she said
softly.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" she screamed out with all the pain in her heart.
She collapsed in Orion's arms as the sobs wrenched through her body.
When, after a long while, the sobs slowed, he told her gently what
had happened. An unending stream of tears tracked down her face,
scalding her delicate cheeks.
"Maybe the Ginzuishou disintegrated Metallia, but we can't be sure."
Orion stayed with her while she grieved. He held her while hot tears
coursed down her face. He felt helpless, for he knew he couldn't
take away her pain.
For weeks, she walked around in a daze. *Why didn't Mother protect
herself and Father* she thought. Then, one night, she had a dream.
Her mother appeared to her. An ethereal vision in white. A glowing
aura all about her body.
"Why, Mother! Why didn't you save yourself!" Solana cried.
"My darling Solana," Aurora's spirit smiled, "I could not use my
powers because I was so weakened from the Birthright ceremony. All
I could do was ask the Ginzuishou to keep you safe. Be wary of
Metallia, she is not dead. I see more in this form than I ever could
as a living being."
"I will seek her out, and use the Crystal to destroy her!" Solana
cried darkly.
"No, my child, you don't yet have the full power. Half of it is
still with me. My spirit is still awake so I can be with you while
you learn to rule as Queen. Someday, in the future, you will find
it necessary to call upon my part of the power. Only then, will my
spirit truly rest."
"Mother," sobbed Solana, "I will never sacrifice your spirit!
Please, stay with me! I need you so much!"
"Don't cry, my darling Solana. I will be with you for quite some
time." Aurora smiled serenely at her daughter. "Your father and I
are very proud of you. I know you will make a wonderful Queen. You
must stay here on the Moon, and rule our Kingdom. The Sun Prince
will make a good addition to our royal family."
"Thank you, mother. Do you think he will want to stay here with me?"
Solana asked hesitantly.
"Yes, my dear, he will stay here and rule with you. As I said
before, I can see many things now, more than I ever could before.
I must go now. My spirit is weakening and I must rest. Know that I
love you and will always be here for you if you need me." Aurora's
spirit shimmered and disappeared. Solana awoke with renewed
strength. She knew her mother was watching over her and would help
her become a great Queen.
"Their royal majesties, King Coronis of the Sun Kingdom and Queen
Serenity X of the Royal Moon Kingdom!" Solana stepped forward and
bowed slightly to her kingdom.
"I announce the opening of the celebration season! Let the
festivities begin!"
Solana held her small ivory scepter high. It was originally a gift
from the royal family of Venus, presented to her at birth. She had
fitted the Silver Crystal onto the gold crescent moon on the end of
the wand. She just couldn't use the royal moon scepter, it brought
back to many memories of the day her parents died. She stepped back
to her husband and they sat upon their thrones to watch the first of
the games. Luna, her trusted advisor, sat on a small table next to
her throne.
"Your Majesty, I just want to say that in the past two years, you
have become a fine Queen. Your mother would have been proud."
"Thank you Luna, but I have a lot to learn. I am not very educated
in the ways of the other planets and with my duties here, I can't
take the time to study their cultures. I would like for you and
Artemis to visit each planet and learn of their way of life. Such a
task will take several years to accomplish, but the knowledge you
would gain would be invaluable. Will you consider it?"
"Artemis and I would be honored to serve you in any way. The
journey sounds fascinating."
Far away from the palace, a twisted figure lay in a dark cave.
Metallia was alive, but barely. Her body had been burned by the
crystal, she was scarred and deformed. She had been slowly hoarding
energy here in the dark for two years. Her chest silently rose and
fell, but that was the only movement she made. The time had come to
summon her spell. The dark tendrils of energy swirled about her
wasted body. Black fire swept over her as she chanted unintelligible
words. As her body disintegrated, the writhing cloud of blackness
grew. Her body was gone, but her consciousness remained. The
pulsating nebula, void of light, was all that was left of Metallia.
It had taken her entire reserve of energy to cast the separating
spell so her spirit settled to the floor of the cave. Jealousy and
anger had twisted her mind and made her insane. Her spirit dormant,
all she could do was think of who had made her this way, and vow
revenge for the loss of her body and her mind. It would take years
before she would have enough energy to leave this cave, but when she
did, she knew exactly where she would go, and what she would do when
she got there.