Part Thirty: The Dark Prince's legacy

Part Thirty: The Dark Prince's legacy! Memories of horror


The girl sitting on the rock held a strange sort of magnetism for Uranus. The senshi of earth knew, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that this was somehow, in some way, a true representation of a past self that she was only now beginning to remember. Yet it seemed nearly impossible. The person before her was too alien, too strange to be herself. There was a softness about her eyes and mouth that puzzled Uranus. She felt herself overcome by foreign emotion, whether as a recollected feeling or as the girl's aura it was hard to tell; but it was a feeling of superb gentleness and modesty, a sort of open vulnerability that made her warrior's heart cringe. How could she believe that she had ever been so delicate and weak?
The girl was pretty, much prettier than Uranus would have ever considered herself. Her long, sand-gold hair streamed far past her shoulders, past her waist, and if she had been standing Uranus thought it probably would have flowed all the way to the backs of her knees. The eyes were a very familiar shade of gray, though they carried a much kinder, weaker look that made Uranus uncomfortable. The facial features were the same; high forehead, thick gold brows, straight little nose, delicately pointed jawline and chin, and full lips that curved upward at the corners. She was wearing a long navy gown of shiny material, with a simple heart-shaped neckline and narrow spaghetti straps. It looked like something Michiru would wear.
A flood of emotion and thought flitted over Sailor Uranus' features as she stared at this apparition. This girl, who at some time must have been herself, was so different. So sweet, and fragile, and gentle. This girl was not a soldier, Uranus was certain. She was too soft. A strange sort of longing filled the senshi as she stared at her past self. That was the person she wanted to be. That girl would never have lost control of her temper as Uranus had. That girl would never hate the way Uranus hated. That girl would never have hurt her friends. Uranus wanted to be that girl.
Yet, she WAS that girl, wasn't she? Or at least she had been. The field they were standing in, even the rock on which the girl was sitting, all looked familiar to her. It was like a nagging sense of déjà vu that Uranus just couldn't shake.
The girl was singing, her voice low and rich and confident, and Uranus was a bit embarrassed. She didn't sing…did she? She'd never thought of herself as musical. That was Michiru's area of expertise, and she'd always considered her own musical abilities to be nonexistent. But hearing her voice from her past self's lips, she had to admit she didn't sound half bad. The song was familiar too, like the prick of a slivered memory that she felt certain she was supposed to know and yet couldn't for the life of her recall. And what about that hair? Uranus unconsciously brushed her own close-cropped bangs out of her eyes as she marveled at it. It was longer than Orion's, longer even than Rei and Minako's. It streamed in sandy golden waves all around the girl's shoulders and feet, and as she watched the girl began to gather the tresses and divide them, plaiting two thick blond braids over each shoulder. Uranus shook her head. What a waste of time. She'd kept her hair short for as long as she could remember. Long hair was an unneccesary frivolity.
Uranus turned to look at Orion. "That's…that's ME?!!" But she already knew the answer.
Orion's silver eyes were pinned intensely to the figure on the rock. But she nodded, and a wry smile quirked one corner of her mouth. "Yes. Or rather, that WAS you, over a thousand lifetimes ago. High Princess Uranus of the Seventh Planet, sworn defender of the outer solar system."
Uranus shook her head. "That girl is no soldier." She turned to gaze at her again. "Look at her. She's so weak. She wouldn't last a second in battle."
Orion laughed, a silvery tinkling giggle, and Uranus turned to look at her with irritation. Despite the mesmerizing effects of being within the Music Sphere, her deep-seated dislike of the Sacrificial Solder could not be utterly suppressed, and Uranus did not like being laughed at. But Orion composed herself after a moment. "I'm sorry, Uranus, I didn't mean to laugh. It's just that…you almost sounded as if you admired her weakness."
Uranus scowled, but as she replayed her own words in her head she couldn't help but blush a little. Orion was right. Her comment had been negative, but her tone had held a decided note of admiration. "I just…" She looked at the girl again. "Her life was so much simpler than mine. I guess I just wish I could be her again. That I could be that carefree and weak without having to worry about it. That girl over there wouldn't have done what I've done."
Sailor Orion could hear the depression creeping into Uranus' voice again, and she shook her head. "You're mistaken, Uranus. That girl over there is indeed a soldier. In fact, she's the best Sailor Senshi in Queen Serenity's militia. Her life was much more complicated than yours is. Not only is she a soldier, she's also the princess of this planet." Orion raised her arm, indicating the surrounding fields. "Over six billion people live here, on Uranus, and that girl over there is responsible for the safety of all of them." Uranus caught the small break in the older senshi's voice as she said this. "In addition, she is a member of the outer planetary senshi, responsible for protecting the solar system from invaders."
"But…" Uranus stared at the girl. "She's such a wimp."
"Don't let the gown and hair fool you. Princess Uranus is the greatest leader and soldier that the Posiverse has ever known. Next to the Moon Princess, no one is more respected." Orion nodded slowly.The girl on the rock had finished one long braid, and was now working on the second one. Sailor Uranus lifted an eyebrow skeptically. "She doesn't look like a great soldier to me," she commented, but again the words seemed admiring rather than disparaging.
"That's probably because today is her wedding day."
"Her… What?!!" Uranus' jaw dropped and she stared at Orion.
"Today is the day of her Bonding. It's the first Bonding she's made in all her lifetimes."
Uranus could barely comprehend this. "But, who?" she demanded, looking around them as if at any moment to spy the face of some nameless spouse. "It couldn't be M--" she stopped herself, shaking her head. "I don't even like…" Again she paused, frustrated. "I'm not… I'm…"
Orion nodded in understanding. "No, you're different now. But there was a time when you were married. You had a husband, and a son."
"A husband?" Uranus choked. "Me?"
"Yes."
Uranus was silent for several long moments, digesting this. It seemed too bizarre to be real. A husband. Yech. "I just can't believe it," she said finally. "Me as the little wife. It's absurd."
"It is now." There was sadness in Orion's voice. "I told you, Uranus, you have no idea how innocent you are in all of this. I changed you. The things that I did changed you. The light and joy and happiness you see in that girl…I stole them away."
Uranus gazed at her past self. The face looked so content, so peaceful, as if she had an inner happiness that Uranus had never felt herself. For a moment a flash of jealousy went through her. It was obvious that she had been blissfully happy, once…happier than Uranus could even imagine herself, and she wondered why that had somehow disappeared between that lifetime and this. It was Orion's fault, or so the older girl claimed, and Uranus felt sparks of the old rage rising despite the Music Sphere's healing calm. She turned to look at Orion coolly. "How did you steal them?"
The pale haired soldier bowed her head. "That's what you're about to remember." She took a deep breath. "Part of this will feel like a dream, and part of it like a memory. And partly, you'll feel like you're reliving it. I warn you, Uranus. This is going to hurt more than anything you've ever felt."
Uranus snorted. "I was ready to kill myself. It couldn't possibly hurt more than…" she swallowed. "Than knowing that I nearly destroyed my friends." Michiru's face rose, unbidden, to her mind and her throat tightened. "Whatever pain you put me through, I deserve it."
"No." Sailor Orion reached out and took her hand, holding it up between them with an earnesty that was almost disturbing. "You didn't deserve any of this. And once you've had to relive it, you'll curse me for reminding you. Please know that I would never awaken these memories if it wasn't necessary to save your life."
Uranus shifted uncomfortably and pulled her hand away. "Whatever. Let's just do it, okay?"
Orion nodded again. There was so much more she wanted to say, so many more apologies she wanted to make, but she couldn't get the words out without crying. Uranus didn't understand how hard this was going to be, and Orion longed to be able to really prepare her, before sending her into it. But there was really nothing more that she could say. She'd just have to get it over with, now, before she changed her mind and backed out of it. These secrets had lain buried for millennia. Reopening them now was a terrifying prospect. Gritting her teeth, Orion lifted one hand and waved it over the scene in front of them.
Uranus felt as if she was being sucked into something; into a memory or another life that she couldn't remember. The colors of earth and sky spun around her, and she was dizzy. Orion had been right, it felt like entering a dream, or recalling a memory, but in such vivid colors and sensations that it was somehow real. She forgot who she was, or who she had been. She had no control; she was only…Uranus, Princess of the Seventh Planet.

**********

She looked up at the sound of her name. A younger girl was running towards her across the thick grass. A robust, spritely girl of about sixteen, Princess Anika's sandy blond hair and gray eyes were an exact match for her older sister's, but where Uranus was lean and slender, Anika was round and plump. Still, Anika was one of Uranus' favorite people. Always cheerful and optimistic, though perhaps a little shallow, Anika could be depended upon to lighten any mood and never failed to cheer every person within earshot.
"Uranus! Uranus, come on, you're going to be late!"
"Late?" Uranus pretended to ponder this. "Why? Is something important happening today?"
Anika giggled and seized her sister's hand. "Silly. You know perfectly well that your Bonding ceremony is today. Gayen's already at the Hall, waiting for you. Come on!"
Uranus smiled softly at the sound of Gayen's name. "Well, I wouldn't want to keep him waiting," she murmured, allowing Anika to pull her down from the rock.
"I can't believe you're so calm about this, Uri," Anika bubbled. "I mean, on MY Bonding day I'll be a nervous wreck. Your hands aren't even shaking. And your Bonding is so much more serious than mine because Gayen's getting Eternal Rebirth today too. You guys will be Bonded like, for the rest of time!"
Anika didn't realize that her chatter was not helping Uranus in her struggle to remain collected. The high princess was not half as composed as she seemed; in truth, her stomach was doing backflips. Uranus grinned, though, and picked up her skirts. "Race you," she declared, and took off running.
"Hey, no fair," the younger princess protested, also drawing up her skirt to chase behind.
The princesses loved to run. They had been racing one another since they were children, and despite the differences in their build they were both extremely quick. In fact, Uranus was one of the fastest runners on their world, and Anika could hold her own, most of the time. The difference however, was that running did not wind Uranus the way it did Anika, and Uranus knew that by the time they'd reached the Hall Anika would be too out of breath to offer any more commentary on her upcoming Bonding.
The Hall was actually more of an enormous outdoor coliseum, encompassing a circle of ground big enough to fit a small village comfortably. The acscending rows of stone benches, arranged like wide, tall steps surrounding the center arena, towered almost impossibly far above the ground. There was enough room to seat almost one hundred thousand people, and every last seat was filled today. Every city and town on Uranus had sent at least one representative to witness the Bonding of the high princess; today would be special because it was not only the Bonding of a princess, it was a Sailor Soldier's first Bonding, which also meant an Eternal Rebirth ceremony. This was an event that occurred only once in several lifetimes, and many who could not find seats inside the coliseum had taken up postions on the grass outside, hoping to at least be able to hear something of what was happening inside.
As if by some miracle, the crowds quieted. A teal-haired girl dressed in white had stepped onto the dais in the center of the arena, and seated herself at the harp in the corner. Everyone recognized her; High Princess Neptune of the Eighth Planet, also a Sailor Soldier, and a dear friend to their own beloved princess. It took scarcely thirty seconds for every one of the hundred thousand voices to quiet in anticipation.
Neptune began to play, her fingers stroking the strings of the harp deftly, and every person rose to their feet to see the bride and groom entering from opposite sides of the arena, making their way through rows attendants throwing flowers. As they made their way to the dais, three figures materialized at the very center of it, in golden robes which hooded their faces. A ripple of excitement ran through the crowd. The Guardians of the Balance hadn't been seen in public for over three centuries.
Uranus gulped as she accepted the attendant's hand to help her up the steps to the dais. Her eyes darted around, at the ocean of faceless people, so many and so far away that they all seemed to blend into one enormous, breathing organism with thousands and thousands of eyes. She felt the fluttering of panic in her stomach, and almost stumbled as she tried to force it down. It was too much attention for any one person and she was beginning to think she might be sick. She needed to see Gayen before she lost her nerve entirely. However it was not Gayen who caught her eye first; it was Neptune. The serene princess looked up from the harp and met her eyes with a smile of encouragement, and Uranus almost sighed audibly with relief. The support of her dearest friend bolstered her courage, and she was able to take the last few steps towards the waiting Guardians without losing track of her feet. Guardian Father, in the center, took a step backwards, his giant form casting a long shadow across the white marble of the dais, and there was Gayen.
Her heart caught in her throat as she gazed at him, with the mixture of wonder and love and sudden vulnerability that he always seemed to spark in her. Uranus could still scarcely believe that he was able to evoke such a reaction. She'd never needed anyone before. She was perfectly happy alone, taking care of her sister soldiers and the people of her planet like any good ruler. She had Princess Neptune, her closest friend, closer even than a sister. And she had Princess Serenity of the Moon, the adorable woman-child who was the idol of Uranus' existence. Queen Serenity, the princess' mother, was in many ways like a mother to all of the senshi; and of course there were Uranus' own parents and her sister Anika. Uranus had been perfectly content, all alone.
Then she met Gayen. Red haired and brown skinned, with warm golden eyes that seemed to glow with an inner light of their own, Gayen was unlike any person she'd ever met. He was a farmer, a strong, intelligent, sturdy young man, with an incongruous poetic streak and a love for the earth that was unparalleled. Uranus had struggled for years as to why she had been made Senshi of the realm of Earth; after all, it was the sky and the wind that she truly loved, and more than once had she envied the princess of Mercury for her realm of Air. She'd never been able to understand why the earth, an element directly opposite of the sky, should be the source of her power. She felt no particular connection to the earth until she'd met Gayen. It was as if he had awakened within her a sensitivity to her own realm that she'd never known before, because he loved it so much. At times it seemed that they shared an empathic connection; she could almost feel his reverence for her realm and it had given her a much deeper appreciation for her own power.
Gayen embodied everything that was missing within Uranus. He had a sense of humor that was light and easy, contrasting with her own stiff sarcasm. He was slow tempered and patient, where she was always running at high emotional levels. He was earth, she was sky; and he grounded her, even more than Neptune's oceanic but unpredictable security. Uranus had fallen in love with Gayen slowly, without even realizing it; the two had been friends for what seemed like an eternity before one day meeting one another's gaze and knowing, just knowing, that their feelings for one another had changed.
He held out a hand to her, and she took it, and the two of them were standing before the three Guardians. Gayen dropped to one knee before them, and Uranus offered a low curtsy; they were both bidden to rise and the ceremony began. The Guardians themselves were officiating the Bonding, as it was Uranus' first, in all her lifetimes, and therefore particularly special.
The basic Bonding vows came first. "High Princess Uranus of the Seventh Planet, do you claim this man, Gayen of Uranus, as your partner in life, to share your home and heart with him for the rest of your days?"
"I make this claim." Her voice, low as it was, shook a little, and she felt Gayen squeeze her hand gently.
"Gayen of Uranus, do you claim this woman, the high princess of Uranus, as your partner in life, to share your home and heart with her for the rest of your days?"
"I make this claim."
The three nodded. Guardian Father moved forward. "Today is a very special day for all citizens of the Posiverse," he declared, the waterfall of his voice reverberating in the acoustics of the coliseum. "Since the Great Division, the Sailor Senshi have been born and reborn in order to preserve the Balance between dark and light in our worlds. Each of them, living an eternal cycle, has been given the right to choose for themselves an eternal soulmate to share this cycle with. Sailor Moon was the first, with her selection of a fellow Senshi, Tuxedo Kamen. Many of the others have followed." The audience nodded. They were already aware that Princess Mars' and Princess Mercury's Bonding ceremonies were set for some time the following year, and Princess Saturn (or rather, Queen Saturn, as she was older than the other Senshi at this point and had ruled Saturn alone for several centuries now) had just celebrated her 348th Bonding anniversary with her husband last month.
"However, some of the Senshi have not yet met the one they would choose to share eternity with. I must admit I am surprised to see that Uranus is one of the first of these to bring her choice to us." Guardian Father chuckled a little, and Uranus had to smile at the gentle teasing. She had something of a reputation as a tomboy, and had never expressed much interest in men. Guardian Friend had told her once that it had been the same for every one of her past lifetimes. "However," Guardian Father continued kindly, "I think that she has made an excellent choice." He nodded towards Gayen. "You understand the ramifications of what you are undertaking today? By bonding with the Sailor Soldier of Uranus, you are accepting not only her hand in this lifetime, but in all lifetimes to follow. You will be reborn just as she is, and share her life as her soulmate for the rest of eternity."
Gayen's eyes shone as he nodded. "An eternity could not be long enough, Guardian Father," he responded strongly, and he turned to lift Uranus' hand to his lips. Uranus blushed, but nodded in agreement. An eternity, spent with the one you love, still seemed too short.
There was a smile in Guardian Father's voice then, as he removed the heavy ruby medallion from his neck. "Then I, Neophilus, Guardian Father of the Balance, do here endow you with Physical Life to remain a thousand years and be born again." He pressed the ruby to Gayen's forehead, and there was a flash of red light.
Guardian Brother removed his own medallion, set with a large blue sapphire. "I, Demetrius, Guardian Brother of the Balance, do here endow you with Spiritual Life to remain a thousand years and be born again." The blue gem was pressed to Gayen's forehead, and now a flash of blue light was seen by every spectator. The audience was holding its breath as Guardian Friend moved forward, his own medallion already in hand.
"I, Oberon, Guardian Friend of the Balance, do here endow you with Mental Life to remain a thousand years and be born again." The whispered tones echoed through the silent Hall with an eerie, magical effect, and he raised the large amethyst to press it to Gayen's head as the others had done. A flash of purple light followed, and once it faded the three Guardians stepped back.
"It is done," they pronounced in unison.
Uranus' heart leapt as Gayen leaned forward, and she felt the cool air on her neck as he lifted her hair to pin the Bonding ring to her left earlobe, as was the custom on her planet. The gold earring was a strange but welcome weight, and once it was in place she took the earring offered by her own attendant and fastened it to Gayen's ear as well.
A cheer went up from the assembly; the Bonding was complete. Husband and wife embraced, and then turned to face the crowds and wave respectfully. It was a new life, for both of them.

**********

"Uranus!"
Sailor Uranus instintively ducked at the warning, and Saturn's Silence Glaive swung out, over where her head had been, to strike down one of the demon creatures trying to creep up from behind. Uranus flashed a grin at Saturn. "Hey, watch it with that thing, sister. You cut one of my braids and I'll call you out."
Sailor Saturn smiled in return, a much more reserved but nonetheless amused curve of the lips. "That would be interesting," she replied humorously, and leapt into the air as Uranus' Space Sword swung beneath her, effectively destroying yet another demon before it could attack. As Saturn landed, Uranus heard a light grunting off to the left.
"Neptune!" She swung in the direction of the sound, slashing through the cluster of creatures bearing down on her friend, and offered a hand to the pretty Soldier of Water, who'd been knocked to the ground in the onslaught.
"Thanks," Neptune acknowledged with a smile, and Uranus lifted an eyebrow.
"No problem. How would it look if I let the godmother of my son get herself killed?"
Neptune grinned in return and spun around, firing a stream of postive energy from her Submarine Mirror into another knot of approaching demonic creatures. "That reminds me…how are Gayen and Jutei? It's been a while since I last visited."
"They're doing well," Uranus replied with a mother's pride as she finished off the last of the creatures with her sword. "Jutei's getting big so fast…I expect you to come to his first birthday party next week, by the way."
"I wouldn't miss it."
Uranus hissed between her teeth as one of the creatures seemed to drop right out of the sky on top of them. It sunk long claws into her shoulder, and she gave an angry cry as she twirled around and seized it in a chokehold. "All right, creep, this is getting old. Where is he?"
The demon stared at her with bulging eyes, and Uranus tightened her grip. "Don't make me ask you again." After another second the creature seemed to decide that it would be wise to comply, and it pointed one long, twisted claw in the direction of the elaborate war tent on the other side of the battlefield. Uranus snorted. "Figures." She dropped the demon and stared at it. "It's up to you. Do you run away now and live, or do you stay here and let me kill you?" This time the creature didn't hesitate. Before Uranus could blink it was already disappearing into the bordering forest.
She crossed the field and entered the war tent with no small amount of ingenuity and brute strength, but was not disappointed. The figure seated on the makeshift throne rose to greet her with a gallant sneer.
"Well, well. Sailor Uranus, I presume. So nice to meet you; I was beginning to tire of waiting."
Uranus scowled. "Sailor Orion."
He bowed, his long black hair swinging forward, and his cape, which looked like a very long and full Sailor collar, billowed as he took a step forward. "I see my reputation precedes me."
Uranus rolled her eyes. "Why are you attacking my planet?"
The Sailor Constellation inspected his fingernails idly. "Why not?" he shot back. "You're here, I was bored…"
Her face hardened. "I had no quarrel with you, Orion. But you show up and start murdering my people and you've created one. Get off my planet. Now."
He lifted a dark brow, and a mocking smile floated over his lips. "But it's just starting to get interesting," he protested gleefully. When Uranus took a step forward, he clucked his tongue. "Ah, ah, Miss Uranus. You don't want to pick a fight with me."
"You picked the fight," she replied icily. "I'm just accepting it on behalf of my people. You've spilled enough blood today." She held out her sword, and the blade glowed threateningly.
Sailor Orion chuckled. "Well then, this should be fun." He made a deliberate show of removing his cape, and then bared his wrist. Uranus could see the stone set into the gold bracelet; a black opal, swirling with negative energy. The Orion Opal's power was legendary; only slightly less so than the Bloodstone, a stone whose evil power was the Negaverse's substitute for the Silver Crystal. The Bloodstone was held by the Avatar, and Sailor Orion was only the Avatar's son, so Uranus was not as concerned as she might have been. However, the Opal gave Orion a decisive advantage over her, so she chose to switch tactics.
"I have a better idea," she declared, letting the Space Sword reabsorb into her body, and taking up a defensive martial stance instead. "No weapons. No powers. Just you and me."
Orion nodded. "Now that's a challenge. Agreed." He unclasped the bracelet and tossed it to the side, and prepared his own stance. The two soldiers began to circle one another.
A few test blows were delivered and dodged by each of them as they moved, experimenting with each other's strengths and weaknesses, trying to determine strategies based on what they could learn. Orion attacked first, feigning another test sweep but actually clipping Uranus' chin so that her head snapped back. She recovered quickly though, and dodged his follow-up strike with relative ease. Spinning on her heel she maneuvered herself behind him and landed an elbow sharply at the base of his neck, which threw him off balance. As he turned to face her, Uranus observed him warily.
So this was Sailor Orion, Scourge of the Solar Planets. Uranus knew the history of the Great Division well from all their strategic meetings with the Guardians over the past year. Sailor Orion and his team of Sailor Constellations from the Negaverse had been attacking their solar system sporadically the last few months. The Planet Senshi knew that the Sailor Constellations were erecting a gate of some kind between the two universes, and they could judge by the slowly increasing size of the armies sent through the unfinished gate that it was progressing. Uranus didn't understand the man, or what he wanted from them. It was difficult to believe, just by looking at him, that he had once been a part of Sailor Moon; and it made her curious to know what her own counterpart must look like.
Orion attacked her again, but she darted out of the way and shifted behind him once more. She couldn't resist a good hard kick to the seat of his pants as he went past, an insult that did not go unnoticed or unapppreciated. In fact, he spun around with a humorless grin and returned the kick, connecting with her midsection and knocking the wind out of her. She flew backwards and in an instant he was on top of her, one hand at her throat and the other gripping her jaw, preparing to break her neck. But he paused first, to smile at her.
"A good fight, Miss Uranus. But it's over now." He tilted his head to the side. "One of my agents informed me that you have a family; a husband and son, am I right?" Uranus did not reply, but the narrowing of her eyes answered the question for her. Sailor Orion chuckled. "Such a shame. You should have brought them along…there's nothing more satisfying than killing an enemy in front of their family."
"You would kill a Sailor Soldier?" Uranus asked, a bit stunned. They'd had run-ins with the Sailor Constellations before, but none of the Sailor Senshi on either side had ever been killed. The Sailor Planets had assumed a sort of unspoken agreement stood between them; Senshi didn't kill their own. There had been two occasions when one of the Constellations had been captured by the Sailor Planets, and they had always set them free. Uranus had never met any of them, but now, looking into the fathomless black eyes that loomed above her, she knew that there was no such agreement anywhere in sight from this man. He was a murderer.
"I'm about to prove that right now," the Negaverse prince responded, tightening the pressure of his hands. But he didn't get the opportunity, because Uranus' knee came up abruptly into his back, and he was forced to release her.
With the speed she was notorious for Uranus grabbed his arms and rolled, and in a split second it was Orion whose life was in danger, as Uranus pinned him to the ground with one leg and rested her forearm across his esophagus. "You were saying?" She leaned on the arm.
For a minute his face darkened with anger. This little girl had got the best of him? That was impossible. He was twice her size, and much stronger. But struggle as he might, she had so cleverly tangled his arms and legs with her own that he could not move. It was ridiculous, and the more he fought her the bigger her grin got. Despite the lack of oxygen, he managed a bitter laugh. "You won't kill me. Your kind doesn't kill."
Uranus nodded. "That's true. But in your case it's a necessary evil. If I let you go your creatures will continue doing harm to my people, and you'll only return to kill me and my friends." The weight against his throat increased, stubbornly, and for the first time Sailor Orion recognized the look in her eyes and was impressed. She was going to do it. The little brat was really going to kill him, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Sailor Uranus was surprised by the sudden look of…respect? that appeared in the suffocating prince's eyes as his face grew bluer and bluer. It was as if he was daring her to do it, and at the same time, in a strange way, applauding her for having the guts. The last word to escape his lips before the air in his lungs was utterly gone, was in a long, slow gasp. "Magnificent."
She stared at him. Magnificent? This was magnificent? She was taking his life. She was killing a living being, and more than that, a Sailor Soldier. And he thought she was magnificent. Receiving the praise of an evil man was worse than being insulted by a good one. Uranus tried to imagine what Sailor Moon would do if she were here, and in an instant she'd made her decision. She drew her arm back. An expression akin to disappointment filled his face as he took in a painful rush of air.
Uranus shook her head. "You're right. I have a husband, and a son. What kind of legacy would I be leaving him if I were to become no better than you?"
Orion sat up, rubbing his neck and glaring at her. "And here I thought you might be different," he growled. "But no, you're just like the rest of them…soft and mushy and disgusting."
Uranus summoned her sword again, and pointed the blade at him. "Don't get me wrong," she declared with a quiet, superior smile. "I will kill you if you give me no other choice. I defeated you, Orion. I want you and your creatures off my planet right now."
Sailor Orion stood up gingerly, careful of the curved edge directed at his neck. "You're letting me go?" At her nod, he grunted. "You shouldn't."
"This is my planet and I shall do as I choose." She was still grinning haughtily at him.
Another growl erupted from his throat, and he bared his teeth. "You think you're someone important just because you caught me at a bad moment, Uranus? You're a fool. You won't get an opportunity like that again." The black eyes narrowed until they were barely slits. "I'm coming back for you, Uranus. I'm going to wipe that smile right off your face, you'll see. When I'm through with you you'll never smile again." He exposed the black opal at his wrist and pressed it, and in a moment he had vanished, along with his fancy war tent and all the demons.
Neptune came running up to her from across the field, and Uranus surveyed the wreckage with tears in her eyes. The field was littered with the forms of dead soldiers…her soldiers. And for what? So that Sailor Orion could alleviate a little boredom? The tears fell from her eyes as Neptune reached her, and without a word her friend pulled her into a tight embrace. "It's all right, Uri. It's all right."
But it wasn't all right. Uranus was already beginning to regret her decision to let Orion go. Those soldiers…a few years from now one of those might be Jutei. All the men who had died here today under her command had mothers, and fathers, and wives and children of their own. She'd just allowed their murderer to walk free. She burst into tears on her friend's shoulder.

**********

"Jutei, lunch!" Uranus stood in the door of the ranch house brushing flour from her hands, and watching her five year old son playing with his little friends. His shiny red curls glowed in the sunlight, and at her call he turned to wave at her. She waved back, and observed with a smile as he took leave of his playmates and came running towards the house.
"Go wash your hands and face," she told him with a smile, and the little boy flashed a million-watt grin before trotting off to obey.
Uranus felt hands at her waist, and in a moment Gayen had wrapped his arms around her from behind. He nuzzled her ear affectionately, and she laughed. "You have to wash up too, mister. You're all sweaty."
Her tall husband chuckled and turned her to face him, and kissed her soundly. "Tell you what," he mumbled in between kisses, "tomorrow I'll make lunch and you can plow the cornfield."
"Deal," she answered glibly, returning his kiss.
"Mama!" The two separated and turned to look at their son, who had returned from the washroom freshly scrubbed and was making a face at them.
Uranus giggled. "I know, Jutei. You think kissing is yucky." She moved to scoop the child into her arms and planted a big kiss on one round, freckled cheek. "Take that."
Jutei gave a delighted shriek of indignation, and Gayen snuck up on the side to kiss the boy's other cheek, and steal another peck from his wife's lips before heading for the washroom himself. Just as the small family was settled at the table, however, a frantic pounding came at the door.
It was Sailor Mercury. Uranus immediately tensed as her friend and sister soldier seized her arm. "Uranus, it's the Sailor Constellations. They're attacking Neptune."
That was all that needed to be said. Uranus gave a quick nod, and Gayen was already on his feet. He tugged at one of her braids playfully to get her attention, but was very serious as he hugged and kissed her. His wife was a princess and soldier, and he knew the risks she took every time she was called upon to defend their planets. He was proud of her, but at the same time very aware that her responsibilities were heavy and dangerous.
"I love you, Uri," he said quietly. "Be careful."
"Always." She took a moment to hug Jurai as well. "Look after Papa for me," she said to the child, who nodded gravely, and then she turned back to Sailor Mercury, her transformation pen already in hand. "Let's go."
Gayen held Jurei up and both waved as Sailor Uranus and Sailor Mercury joined two of the other senshi at the top of the hill. The women joined hands, and in a flash they had teleported themselves to the battle. Gayen put Jurei down so that the boy could go back to the table and finish his lunch, but he remained at the door for a few more minutes.
It was not easy having a Sailor Senshi for a wife. He wasn't sure which was more difficult, being part of the seventh planet's royal family or being husband to one of the legendary Sailor Soldiers. He loved Uranus more than life itself, but it was hard being expected to appear at all the fancy royal functions and state meetings because of his wife's privileged status. Still, he was fortunate that Uranus held about the same opinion of formal banquets and audiences as he did; living on this large farm had been her idea, a way to escape from the stiff requirements of court. He was relieved that they could raise Jurei in a much quieter, simpler environment.
He turned to go back inside, but spun back around as a shimmering in the air caught his eye. For a moment he thought that Uranus might be returning, as the space at the top of the hill parted in a fissure, but it took only a second to realize that it was certainly not his wife. The man that stepped through that opening was a Sailor Constellation.
Gayen recognized the long Sailor cape and tie, and the wild dark hair and black eyes were enough for him to be able to identify Sailor Orion from Uranus' description of him. Gayen took a step forward, shielding his eyes from the sun with one hand. "Sailor Orion. Aren't you on the wrong planet? The battle is on Neptune." There was an easy grin on his face.
The pitch black eyes narrowed. "Which is why I'm here." The grating, inhuman voice sent chills up Gayen's spine. "I warned that little Sailor brat that I was returning for her. But I've decided I don't want to kill her."
"Oh?"
"There are things much worse than death." A slow, sadistic smile curved his lips, and from behind his back he produced a contraption that was unlike anything Gayen had ever seen; it looked like a small cannon, with a long narrow barrel and a strange glass cartridge filled with red liquid at the back. Sailor Orion patted the thing almost affectionately. "Meet my newest invention. The Soul Dissolver. This beauty is the first and only weapon of its kind; a genuine Sailor Senshi killer. One shot, and even the immortal Senshi soul dissolves-- poof!-- never to return. I was going to test it on your precious wife, but now I have a better idea." He snapped his fingers, and suddenly Gayen found himself standing in the middle of his front yard. Jutei was clinging to his leg, and with shock he realized that his sister-in-law, Princess Anika, and her parents the king and queen were all standing beside him, looking around themselves in confusion. When Anika recognized the Prince of Darkness, she gave a whimper and buried her face in her father's shoulder.
"What's the meaning of this?" the king demanded, putting one arm around his frightened daughter and using the other to draw his queen in protectively. "Sailor Uranus is not here." He met Gayen's eyes questioningly, but the young man shook his head. He didn't understand what Orion wanted either.
"I'm not looking for Sailor Uranus." The Sailor Soldier rolled his eyes. "You people are a blight on her magnificence, you know. I'm doing her a favor. If it weren't for you she'd be a real warrior." He paused for a moment. "In fact, it's this entire planet. She's so busy protecting the interests of her precious planet that she can't be what she's meant to be. So I'm going to liberate her of the responsibility." His eyes traveled over Gayen with disgust. "So you're the fop she married, eh? And I suppose that means the two of you have been," and here he fluttered his eyelashes and raised his tone to a mocking feminine trill, "bonded into eternal bliss." His voice returned to a deadly calm as he sneered at Gayen. "Well, the honeymoon's over." The air filled with an ominous humming, and a large black sphere floated up over Sailor Orion's shoulder and into view. "My Music Sphere will amplify the Soul Dissolver's strength a thousandfold. How many people live on this pitiful planet? Six billion or so? It hardly seems enough, but I suppose it will have to do." The humming intensified into a dark melody, and Orion lifted

Can't run from the darkness, no way you would make it
Can't fight for the life you prize when I choose to take it
Can't hope for a rescue, no one's going to try
Can't hide from my power, but all of you can die

Black - It's the color of your destiny
Black - From now on it's the only thing you'll ever see
Black - Covers everything you say and do
Black - It's the soul that's taking yours from you

Can't wake from the nightmare, there's no place to go
Can't beg me for mercy, I have none to show
Can't flatter my ego, I'm my own biggest fan
Can't ask for a reason, I kill because I can

Black - It's the color of your destiny
Black - From now on it's the only thing you'll ever see
Black - Covers everything you say and do
Black - It's the soul that's taking yours from you

Your light will be broken in one glorious attack
The Prince of Darkness comes, and where he is there's only black
The Prince of Darkness comes and where he is there's only black

the Soul Dissolver. Gayen lifted Jurei into his arms comfortingly as the Music Sphere positioned itself in front of the tip of the weapon. Orion called out "Orion Opal Power!" and the sphere's melody swelled until it seemed that the entire valley must be able to hear it. In a cold, gleeful voice, Orion began to sing.

"."

On the last word, it seemed as if the entire planet must be vibrating with wave after wave of evil power. Jurei gave a little cry and clung to Gayen, who could do nothing but watch as Sailor Orion pulled the trigger of the Soul Dissolver. A beam of hideous scarlet light shot into the Music Sphere, which began to glow red hot like molten lead. The light exploded from the Sphere in flames.
Jurei was the first to be taken. Gayen felt the boy pulled from his arms, and screamed his son's name as the fiery red curls disappeared behind a wall of flames. He could hear the boy's screams of agony as the fire licked the skin from his bones, and a moment later there was another much higher scream as the Princess Anika and her parents were sucked in as well. The air filled with the sweet stench of burning flesh, and Gayen watched in horror as the flames engulfed their home, and the fields, and the barn, almost faster than he could blink. Yet they hadn't taken him yet…and they did not stop. It seemed as if he could hear screams from everywhere now; the cruel, insatiable fire spread with an impossible speed, and within seconds the entire planet was burning.
Gayen could feel the fire inside of him, crackling and searing, as if the suffering of his planet was manifested in his own body. They were dying…his people were dying. Six billion lives, all crying out in pain. The blistering heat parched his lips, scorched his eyes, enveloped his body inside and out until he felt like he must have exploded. He was being torn apart, his very soul was dissolving, just as Orion had promised, and now he could not tell if the screaming he heard was from others' throats or his own. Perhaps it was all the same. Perhaps they were all one living, breathing planet, and the planet itself was crying out.
He could not see Sailor Orion anymore. He couldn't see anything but red, and he wondered if it meant that his eyes had been burned away. Visions of Jurei's terrorized, blistering face, the last distinct thing he had seen, danced in front of him until he wasn't sure if he was seeing it with his eyes or his tortured mind. The pain was everywhere now, inside, outside, in everything, and it was with a vague sense of relief that he finally felt a jerk of release. He was leaving, rising above it, floating above the flames, and now he could see in a strange dreamlike way that the entire planet of Uranus was indeed burning, a spectacular, horrible sight. He was falling apart, separating, diminishing slowly in a shower of red glittery sparks. The last conscious thought he had was of Uranus' face, the day they had been Bonded. She was so beautiful, his wife. At least he'd been able to say goodbye. The scarlet faded to black, and then Gayen was gone. He would not be reborn.
The fire that had consumed the planet faded as quickly as it had spread. The silence that followed was absolute. There was nothing left but the scorched black earth, a lump of ashes and carbon spinning through space. And then another cry broke the silence; the cry of a woman.
Uranus fell to her knees on the smoldering ground overlooking the valley where, only a few minutes before, she had bid farewell to her husband and son. It was gone. They were all dead, and there was nothing left for her. The fire had come and taken her planet, and left her behind…she was alone. The sobs racked her body until there were no tears left.
"You're free now."
Uranus' head snapped up to see Sailor Orion striding towards her over the charred earth, smiling pleasantly. The soot had streaked her face until it was almost black. "What have you done?" she croaked out, using her sword to rise to her feet. "Why?"
He tilted his head to the side. "You should thank me. Now that they're gone, you can be the warrior you're destined to be. You're the only one, Uranus…the only one of these pitiful Sailor Planets with the real essence of a soldier. Come with me, to the Negaverse. Become what you were meant to be."
She gazed at him with a blank expression. "You want me to be a soldier?" she inquired flatly. "I'll be a soldier." She raised her sword and aimed at her own neck. Sailor Orion winced as the blade sang through the air, but when he looked he realized that she had not killed herself; instead, one of the long, glorious gold braids lay in a pile on the ground. He blinked in surprise as she severed the other braid, so that nothing was left of her hair but a short, frenzied boy-cut. Her face was impassive now. Passionless. "I wouldn't go with you for anything in the world. Not even if it would bring them back." The sudden lifelessness in the gray eyes confused him, and he took a step back.
"I…" he looked around at the world he had just demolished, and for the first time the arrogant expression was replaced by one of uncertainty. "I just thought…" Another look at the pretty deadened features only served to amplify the strange feelings coursing through him, and he staggered back another step, turning in a stumbling circle and shaking his head. "I didn't mean to…" Finally, in a dazed sort of confusion, he raised his wrist, pressed the black stone on his bracelet, and disappeared.
Sailor Uranus turned to survey the wreckage of her home. No more tears rose to her eyes; she had none left to give. As she stood there numbly on the edge of that cliff, she swore two promises to herself. First, she would repay Orion for what he had done, if it took the rest of eternity. And second, she would never again give him the satifaction of seeing her cry; for as long as she lived she would never shed another tear.