------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: hahahah. No. Don't own a thing. If you want a more thorough explanation…
------------------------------------------------------------
Puppet Master
Side Story
"Astral"
Astral turned to see the image of perfection, running towards him with a flowing trail of gold behind her. He had just begun a walk through the Moon Kingdom's grounds, enjoying the smells as they called to him. Such a luxury was lost on many in this day of peace but the threat of war constantly wore on Astral's mind. The fragile peace was beginning to wear. A certain incident involving the Earth current king's only daughter was still fresh on his mind though it was years old.
But such dark thoughts were all placed second to the one before him. His head bowed in acknowledgment. "Serenity, how are you doing these days?"
Serena paused and adjusted her dress, pressing out folds before smiling at him. "Astral, please, just call me Serena. How many times have I told you that?" Her arm unconsciously locked with his own and they continued walking, fingers twined. "I thought your friends were visiting and yet you stay here in the garden alone. Where are they?"
He smiled softy. "They wander, wondering over the vast beauty of this place. And how many times have I ignored that remark? You are the daughter of the possibly most powerful kingdom in the galaxy. Your rank accords you with honor." Pain flickered through his eyes before being hidden by a dark mirror-like look, revealing nothing of his thoughts. "Such honor that you shouldn't be out here. Where are your personal guards? And what of your fiancé, Prince Darien?"
Serena waved his concerns away with a twinkling grin. "I gave them all the day off."
Astral's eyes widened slightly. "I don't believe I've heard of any other occasion where a princess so easily dismissed her fiancé."
Serena laughed good-naturally before quieting suddenly. Her moon changed to a more somber, reflecting attitude telling of the stress she was under. After a moment of silence, she stopped walking and looked into his dark eyes intently. "Astral. There's to be war."
"Of course there is. Such as my Kingdom has predicted and prepared. We have already told the Queen of the danger pressing down on her. She gives us no acknowledgment, which is the most pressing news we must speak. Long has the Star Kingdom ignored the Moon's ways, even to the point where we have stopped considering the Moon an enemy."
"Must this point be brought up again?" Serena's eyes closed with tried patience. "Our colony planets receive our rule with warmth. Had they not, the Moon Kingdom would have allowed them to continue ruling on their own."
Astral stared ahead towards the stars. "The 'colony planets' have no other known guidance. The Moon Kingdom all but forced itself on their newly formed Houses, giving the planets no true choice in the matter. But that is not the matter I wish to speak of. These past few years have been most trying because Queen Serenity refuses to accept our warnings and envoys between us have frozen. Do you have any idea why the Queen is acting this way?"
"My mother senses no danger," Serena whispered, allowing him to continue walking with herself still draped on his arm. "And we trust her judgment. True, the dark forces have been restless of lately but the Dark Queen Beryl knows she cannot beat the Kingdom. They have already been beaten back so many times, why would they try again?"
"Then why are you worried?" Astral questioned, ignoring the question he really wanted to ask. What makes you think Beryl hasn't gotten stronger?
Her pale lips trembled a moment. "I…cannot stand the thought of war," she confessed. Her eyes reached to search his and, finding no taunting laughter hidden within the deep blue depths, continued saying, "I know it is only to fight the evil kingdom, but the thought of soldiers fighting and dying takes my breath away." Her eyes filled. "This thought has been on my mind for much time now, Astral. At first, I thought to cure my weakness by allowing myself to know the common solider, thinking to be disgusted by him and thus lessening my pain. But I was so wrong…"
"Every solider, whether the common solider or the ranking general, has their own place on the battlefield as in life, Serenity," Astral leaned near her ear to whisper gently. "And while one outranks the other, it doesn't mean the general is more of a man. Every solider, even the Perfect Solider if there is such a thing, has a soul more unique then can ever be ignored. To think that because one is common automatically describes them as a savage is also to think that because one is ranked, he is as altruistic as the grandest noble- neither of which is true."
"I wish I had never met them," she cursed in haggard breaths. Her eyes were squeezed to hide tears.
Astral took her chin in his hand and looked her in the eyes. "That would be a wrong choice of wishes, princess."
"How," she demanded viciously. "How can being ignorant of the personalities behind the good men who will die fighting for me be wrong? If I don't know who they are, how can I get hurt by their deaths?"
"Listen to yourself," he replied just as viciously, "You claim to be a just leader yet you shield yourself from the truths of this world. If you do not mourn for your men, who will? If you do not know their joys, their pains, it will be lost forever. Honor their memories by treasuring every moment you have with them and know that if they truly know you, they will fight that much harder to protect you. They will remember every smile you gave them, every kind word and will repay you by trying that much harder to live to see you again. Think princess, for if you don't none will."
Their noses were only inches apart as he finished, glaring at each other with angry eyes.
Serena could feel his hand, still holding her face to his, and nearly shivered from being so close to the prince. His eyes was what drew her to him, endless pits of emotion that constantly battled behind a wall of ice she rarely saw through…
"Prince Astral, please, your father is waiting for you in the Courtroom."
Astral's sister's personal servant, Valet, bowed deeply to the prince before waiting for him to follow.
Astral stepped away from Serena and bowed stiffly, walking after the old butler who'd served he family most of his life. His thoughts drifted to the naïve moon princess. She'd been convinced that the Moon would not be defeated. Beryl's last official attempt to overthrow the Moon Kingdom had been recorded hundreds of years ago, enough time to immerse the Kingdom's Royal with arrogance and pride. Mixed with the fact that since that times, Beryl and her minions had seemingly departed and the Kingdom was full with fools believing themselves immortal to the dark one's attacks.
They seemed to have forgotten that during the clashes with Beryl's armies, outright attack rarely occurred. Beryl proved herself partial to sneaky and cunning traps to defeat opponents. Thousands of attacks had actually happened, at least that the Star Kingdom was aware, the latest being the greatest. King Salem's own daughter Serne had turned against the family, trying unsuccessfully to convert the heir Prince Darien, and would have caused enough damage had she gone unchecked to clear the way for Beryl's minions. A tip from the Star Kingdom- not actually given to the Earth's Kingdom but rather passed through careful allies- had prevented that.
Astral sighed, attracting Velet's eye.
"Something wrong, young master?" the old and kind man asked politely.
A smile came to Astral's face. "It is nothing to concern yourself with, Valet. How goes my brother and sister?"
Valet chuckled, raising a heavy eyebrow. "Your brother Regal has been caught stealing away with a certain lieutenant of the Kingdom's special regiments by the name of Lucrezia."
"Lucrezia? Is she the one with the blue hair? Regal has been caught walking around the grounds with her many times hasn't he?" Astral asked with a grin.
The servant nodded in agreement inwardly pleased to see the young master smile. He did so rarely these days…
"What of my sister Cosmic?"
Valet gave Astral a knowing look. "She insisted on attending the meeting with your father. She wouldn't have it any other way."
"As long as she's safe…" Astral glared at the sky.
When they'd first visited the Moon Kingdom with their father, it had not ended on a good note. Cosmic and Astral were given leave to wander around the Moon Palace. Thinking themselves safe, Astral had lead his sister on an exciting adventure through the palace to a mysterious room, claiming to know where he was and always heading towards a pot of treasure. Cosmic had followed with complete trust in her brother, never knowing that just inside the room a hungry youma awaited a taste of their fresh young blood. Had it not been for the secret lessons Regal had been giving his brother or the fact that Cosmic screamed loudly, the youma would have completed the mission Beryl had assigned- killing the youngest Star Kingdom heirs thus throwing the two powerful Kingdoms at each other's throats.
The Star Kingdom refused to do anything less. The fact that one of their own had nearly been killed called for war. With the two youngest members of the Royal Family put at risk, only total annihilation would suffice. Both Astral and Cosmic argued against that way and finally got their father to concede not to attempt eradicate the Moon.
Though agreeing not to go to an all out war on its once ally, the Star Kingdom expelled any of the Moon's diplomats and quite a few known spies as well as terminating contacts between the two. Preparations for war were made by both and the two kingdoms were locked in a heavy stalemate for nearly twelve years. As it happened, during that time Astral found many reasons to visit his friends on planets such as Saturn and Mars while the Moon's princess Serenity, also called Serena, visited the same time.
They didn't keep their friendship secret, one of the main reasons the Kingdoms resolved their differences and now were able to hold a shaky alliance.
"Did the Kingdom listen to us?" Astral wondered aloud.
"I still think they believe themselves safe from harm. It is quite odd. Our Kingdom, far away, can feel the armies gathering around the Moon yet they themselves feel no threat." Valet gave Astral a questioning look.
"I have wondered that myself. It is possible that the Queen has sensed this and refusing to acknowledge the threat. The Princess is assured that they will not lose. Or it may be that the Queen understands something we do not know."
"Could it be that the Queen is losing her powers? Or could the Crystal not be responding?"
Astral's eyes widened at the thought. "It would explain many things…but to keep such a dramatic loss such a secret while allies are warning you of known dangers nearby would be foolish…the Queen has been acting far too calm about the entire matter," Astral declared. "I admit I am worried more about the calm air about her then the danger around."
"Will you ask you're friends then?"
Nodding, the two were silenced as Princess Serenity's personal guard walked by without a word. Five girls from five planets, each bearing the symbol of their home while none appeared older then the Princess.
As they filed by, Astral's eyes searched for the detached guard secretly assigned to the Princess as well.
They too walked by in the same fashion, though there were only two of them. Traces of their energy signals swirled in the air about Astral and even Valet was able to pick up on the pair's home planet.
"Neptune and Uranus. I've heard that they were strong…"
Astral shook his head. "They can't even mask their energy signals."
"The training undergone in your Kingdom is much more then any accomplished here. They think woman can't be pressed as hard as men so the personal guards- all women- have free reign to train as they please."
Astral smiled without mirth. "The meeting is almost over?"
"It is over." Cosmic stepped from a darkened room and smiled sweetly. "But there was really nothing going on. Good day Pagan."
Valet smiled at her pet name for him. "Cosmic. Shall I leave you alone to discuss anything?"
Before Cosmic could reply, Regal stepped from the same room and answered, "If you wouldn't mind, Valet." A decorated short blue haired woman who held herself with a military stance closely followed him.
"Of course. Good day Master Astral, Cosmic, Regal. Good day Lieutenant Lucrezia." Valet bowed once and disappeared back down the hall he and Astral had just arrived from.
"Lucrezia, it is good to meet you." Cosmic reached forward and grasped the woman's hand. "I have heard of your students. Their work highlights your own. You must be an excellent teacher to have so many passing into the specials. I don't think there's ever been that many regiment recruits coming from a single teacher."
Lucrezia blushed modestly. "I do my best, Princess," she replied nervously.
Astral nodded his agreement. "You're current position suits you. From what I can tell, your work with the students has been greater then anything else you've done. And please," he added with a smirk, "call me Astral."
"Heero," Regal murmured darkly, immediately quenching the somewhat light mood. "There are many things going on."
"And many rooms with windows as eyes and walls as ears," 'Heero' answered warningly. He smiled as the confused Lucrezia and motioned with his hand. "This way. Sanctuary lies where most believe there is none."
The group walked outside and through the gardens. Cosmic picked a few flowers, breathing in their scent and gathering enough to present an apology gift for their mother. Enough 'meetings' had gone on between the trio. Experience taught that the meetings lasted beyond the expected time and that their mother could usually be softened up to forgive their tardiness.
They continued walking with 'Heero' giving his brother sharp glances of warning.
Regal sighed and nodded.
After several minutes of walking, Heero lead them into a clearing surrounded by roses and muffled by a nearby stream. Stone benches and a frail wooden canopy were the only signs of civilization. Heero gave a flourishing bow, and said, "Welcome to the hidden sanctuary."
"It seems to be safe," Regal muttered, conducting a few tests to prove that none could listen in on their discussion.
"Of course it is, Zechs," Cosmic chided. "When has Heero been wrong?"
"Heero? Never. But then again, we usually wait until we're back in the Kingdom, Relena. Don't be sure that…" Heero understood Zechs's sudden quiet. Memories of the Moon did not run fond.
"Wait, who are all these names?" Lucrezia broke in.
"I'm sorry-"
"Can she be trusted?" Heero asked tensely.
Lucrezia's eyes widened in disbelief. What was once confusion turned to anger. "I've lived my whole life in the Kingdom, Astr-"
"Heero," Relena broke in quietly.
Lucrezia glared. "Heero," she spat. "And all my life, I've done everything I could to support your family's rule. And you dare ask if I'm loyal!"
Heero smiled. "Please forgive me," he apologized, "but with the war so close, one cannot trust anyone. So I'll ask again, can you be trusted?"
"She can," Zechs answered.
Heero glanced around for confirmation.
"I believe her!" a voice called out from the bushes.
"What!" Zechs leaped back in shock.
"I thought this place was secure!" Relena yelled to Heero.
Heero shrugged nonchalantly. "It is. Come out, Dyad. I know its you."
Dyad, shaking the leaves from his braid, stepped from the bushes with a curse. "I'll never get these out. And did you know those roses have thorns!" he shook his head ruefully. "Such beauty with such pain. Augh! There I go, talking royal again-"
"Tell the others they can come out as well," Heero interrupted, still ignoring his brother's, sister's and newest ally's shocked expressions.
"But it's just-"
"Now, Duo."
Dyad cringed mockingly at the name. "Sure, you got to go and pull out the big names, huh."
"Duo," Heero growled menacingly.
"Fine. You guys heard. You can come out."
From the bushes, three more emerged in a much more extravagant manner. Though not wearing their royal garments, all were recognizable as-
"Your majesties," Lucrezia gasped, bowing deeply as the crown princes- and current king- of three planets shook off leaves and occasional thorns from their common clothing. "I-"
"Please," Callous, the prince of Jupiter stopped her with a slightly pained voice, "now is not the time for such."
Kiln and Rue, prince of Mars and King of Mercury, nodded.
"Oh, so these are your mysterious friends," Relena broke out suddenly. "Hello, what's your name?" Heero winced as her act was started. Zechs cringed as well. When Relena wanted, she could act out every blonde joke there was, inventing quite a few during her show. Her voce changed to a higher pitched and looser version, giving the impression of innocence, naivete as well as an annoying blonde.
"Hello, Mrs. Relena," Rue whispered softly. "How blows the wind for thee?"
Relena's eyebrows raised in shock. "It blows well, though its words are forever lost to me," she answered, finishing the code phrase.
Dyad laughed. "Honestly, Relena, I could see right through that."
"You know me, yet the wind says nothing of you," Relena said, picking her words carefully. Heero leaned against the wooden canopy to watch how she handled herself.
"I am a double, one side secret to the world. Wind dies out before gathering the strength to carry my secrets away," Dyad replied proudly.
"Fire burns at the feet of the greatest dragon, wishing that the wind would release it to more honorable prey," the dark haired prince of Mars stared into Relena's eyes, refusing to release her gaze.
"Bemoaning the death of the sand as water creeps in, tears are wiped away as the wind rushes by," Rue's eyes gave a glint of innocence hidden and buried beneath years of turmoil.
"The silent do not cry, yet even clowns hide painted smiles to fight beside a rushing wind," Callous whispered gently into the air.
"Should the wind speak of us, none would hear," Heero added. "The wind carries many tones, each giving strength and necessary weakness."
"With all its strengths, a double cannot remain, the fire will surrender, the sand discovers new life beneath the water's waves and the clown will cry before the fight is over," Relena recited with clear understanding.
"What's this about, Heero?" Zechs questioned, tilting his head in confusion. "I did not know that these were involved."
"Zechs, Millardo rather, what happened in the meeting?"
"First tell me who these are." Millardo didn't blink an eye at the changed code name.
"Duo." The braided teen came forward and smiled, shaking Millardo's hand. His harmless attitude gave way to a dark, deadly personality. "Remember the other," he whispered darkly, twisting Millardo's hand.
"Wufei." Millardo, massaging his hand, heard nothing else.
"Quatra." The King shook his head remorsefully. "That we might have meet under cleaner circumstances."
"Trowa." Again, no other introduction added.
"Lucre- Noin." Millardo shook his head in dismay as his top lieutenant willingly added her name to the list of accomplices.
"Duo," Relena whispered, "you are the prince of Saturn, aren't you?"
Duo grinned. "'Course not. The prince died a long time ago."
Heero shot Relena a look and shook his head. Now was not the time. "The meeting?" he prompted.
Millardo nodded. "The Queen refused to accept our warnings, as expected. However, I've noticed that there are no Earthlings in the palace, not even the princess's fiancé Prince Darien. I don't understand why…"
"The reason is that there have been several attacks on the Moon Kingdom's property on the Earth," Trowa answered. "The relationship between the Earth and the Moon has been strained since the accident with the King's daughter but with the recent attacks, the Moon is beginning to suspect a conspiracy from the Earth."
"It would make sense," Noin agreed. "Many among the Moon's Royal have distrusted the Earth for their entire lives. They'd go for any chance to attack the Earth. Perhaps they planned the attacks?"
Wufei shook his head. "No, the materials destroyed were of too much value to carelessly waste on blaming the Earth. It would be an honor-less way to start a war and the Queen still shows enough integrity not to fall for such a trap."
"It is Beryl." Heero calmly stated what most knew but didn't want to admit.
Noin nearly choked. "What!"
Quatra nodded. "It is the only explanation. Her attacks have increased and-"
"What attacks?"
"Noin!" Millardo's sharp voice made her wince.
"And," Quatra continued, not the least bit insulted by the interruption, "even the Star Kingdom has felt her presence swarming around this place like a bad disease."
"The attacks Quatra refers to aren't publicly accepted as Beryl's work," Wufei said, clenching his teeth. "The conversion of King Salem's daughter, for instance."
"And the death of your line is another," Noin whispered. "How many attacks do you know of?"
Millardo shrugged. "There are thousands. But narrowing it down to every single case is too difficult. We instead witness the change of the Earthlings personalities as a whole. Occasionally, a few cases are large enough to be set aside as a direct attack from Beryl," Wufei winced, "but most of our evidence comes from Earth."
"Why Earth?"
"Earth is the weakest planet," Trowa explained to Noin. "It is the closest to the Moon, Beryl's target, and has never fully accepted the Moon like the other planets. The marriage between Serenity and Darien would have as likely cemented the relationship between the two Kingdoms as it would have torn them apart."
"As of lately," Relena continued, "the Earth's populous as a whole has become more and more rebellious towards the Moon. The tinniest emotions erupt in the attacks noted by the Kingdom and as a result, the Moon is cut off from its nearest ally. Mars or Venus would help but their Kingdoms aren't prepared for war. None of the planets are. These are peaceful times, peaceful ways are the only ways the people know of. Thrusting this war upon them will not end up good for any of the planets."
"But, the Queen knows this."
Trowa nodded at the incredulous stares. "She's always known that Beryl would break free."
"But why would she risk all the lives?" Noin asked.
Heero shook his head. "There is rumors of a Sailor Scout of Time…"
Trowa nodded. "I've seen her once or twice, but she exists."
"Perhaps this Scout of Time has revealed something to the Queen. Or the Crystal might not be responding to the Queen."
"Heero, is that possible?" Millardo asked,
Another shrug. "It's very likely."
"Likely, yet not likely," Wufei stopped mid-sentence. "Someone comes."
From the path between the bushes, a tall, auburn haired woman stepped into view. Before anyone else could register who it was, Heero hissed in pain.
"Beryl!"
The woman laughed. "Indeed. So, it truly comes down to this. The Star Kingdom's heirs plotting to take me down. And I never would have guessed such a thing were possible if that foolish waste of a child Serne hadn't warned me of your existence. Honestly, I never gave the 'peaceful' Star Kingdom a second thought. I don't think I gave it a first one, either. Oh well."
Beryl stretched out her hand. "I guess it's too late to be worrying about that now, isn't it. Maybe I'll give Serne some credit after all, once I destroy the Moon Kingdom of course."
Everyone was frozen in their positions as Beryl sent a ball of energy their way. "Bye now."
A moment later, where the eight had just been was only a black hole. Beryl rubbed her hands together in glee. "That's taken care of-"
It's not finished.
Beryl frowned. "Of course it's done. They're gone and no one else suspects-"
Check again.
Still frowning, Beryl glanced back and was shocked to find the bodies of all eight in the same position, frozen in time. "What is going on?"
The God of Time prevents you.
Beryl snorted. "There is no God of Time. This is nothing I can't beat."
You will only waste energy. The war is soon. Do not waste your time.
"Fine. What do you want me to do? Bury them somewhere?"
Yes.
Frustrated, Beryl fought the urge to scream. "What about the Star Kingdom? They'll be missed. And the others? Their disappearance will be noted-"
The others' worlds will erupt in chaos as the war begins. The Star Kingdom is currently in the same state. Do not worry. The King has already left for his Kingdom. None of the Stars remain except these.
Beryl smiled. "If the God of Time wanted to stop me, he ended up helping me."
Go now, the Generals have turned. The war is soon.
Beryl waved the frozen bodies away to a place on Earth and teleported to her waiting armies. Less then an hour later, she struck at the Moon Kingdom, ending the truly peaceful times of the Silver Millennium.
What she didn't know was that while she attacked and Serne wailed in her dungeon, those trapped by the God of Time dreamed of a world all too real…
-------------------------------
R/R
You like it? Sorry if I got some facts mixed up. =) p.s. someone told me to change my name to 'Black Rebellious.' So I did. Did you like the old one better?