(This is actually a work I did a couple years ago. Just a friend of mine, lady_cinnibar, much better writer then me, suggested I put it up here.
Anyhow as for the setting the main part of the story is between SuperS and Stars.
Hope you enjoy it. :) )
Prelude - SMG
* * * * *
Time: Around 1000 years in the past.
A tall raven-haired man sat in a throne of dark gold. He was dressed in a dark uniform and wore a small black, twisted crown on his head. One hand hung over the edge of the throne and griped a dark crystal staff with a glowing gem griped in a metal claw at the top. His other hand was what his handsome square face, complete with a scowl, rested upon. He spoke quietly to himself, thinking.
"So. Queen Metalia believes that Queen Beryl is better to lead the attack.. So they leave me to watch over the reserves.. in case they need it. Bah! Why does existence conspire against me. So I have specific instructions to wait till I am ordered to enter the battle, or we sense that Queen Metalia or Beryl has died. Well, maybe Queen Serenity will get a lucky shot in at Beryl. There is always hope."
* * * * *
A beautiful woman with, her white hair woven into two balls and ponytails that almost reached the floor, and dressed in a lovely white gown, stood on a balcony in the Palace of the Moon. She admired the beauty of earth and pondered the relationship between her daughter and the Prince of Earth.
"It is nice to see her so happy. Her smile is brighter then the light of the sun which warms us so. The Prince is such a nice man and I think he will make the perfect" Suddenly a messenger was announced and approached quickly to spoil her revelry. After she heard his message her finely crafted features turned pale but she calmed in a moment. "So we are under attack? Summon the royal courts. We must organize a defense."
* * * * *
Time: 950 years ago.
"Lord Agate. We have not heard from Queens Metalia or Beryl. We have not even heard of their victory or defeat. I know you have been asked many times through these years, but should we not investigate?"
The raven-haired man sat once again in his throne of gold and examined his impatient subject. After a few minutes which the subject who his attention was currently on was forced to suffer through, he chose to respond. "I have said too many times to mention, well will wait for Queen Metalia. I will not disobey her. The Sage has been consulted and we have been told we will know the time. It will come in the years following the birth of what the Sage calls, the Gray One. So we will wait. I will NOT tolerate my orders be questioned again. This is the LAST time this subject will be mentioned by you, understand?"
There was a almost an audible gulp from the subject he addressed but a definite "Yes, my Lord Agate."
* * * * *
Time: 900 years ago.
Lord Agate looked around his throne room. The floors were made of a very dark metal and the walls were made of twisted stone and ore. He admired a row of golden statues included a new statue two underlings were positioning that looked like a former subject of his. He looked over his more intelligent and loyal subjects.
Argon was a small wiry man. His pale face was covered in wavy blonde hair and his light gray uniform did little to hide his thin frame. His eyes were light blue and his gaze drifted from Lord Agate every so often, but quickly returned to the one who drew the room's attention.
Tungsten was a strong and healthy red haired man. His eyes were a deep purple and he wore a confident smirk and a blue uniform of the Kingdom. He was a man of arrogance, but even he carefully stood at attention in front of his lord.
Gallia was a beautiful woman of average height. She had long, flowing, brown locks and the front locks sometimes covered her large brown eyes. Her dark gray uniform hugged her admirable curves well and she drew a few glances that should of been on her Lord.
Actin was a tall, strong and handsome dark haired man. He was confident, but not arrogant. He was very respectful and totally loyal to his Lord and his blue eyes had their attention focused on Lord Agate. He, like Gallia, also drew many gazes.
Lord Agate was proud of his secondaries and was grateful for there skill and loyalty. He knew he could easily get others, but, he didn't need any. He did not have much tolerance for failure though and would not hesitate to remove one he believed had revealed themselves to be incompetent. But at that time, those would do. He rapped his ever-present staff against the ground to gain attention.
Lord Agate spoke, "Warriors of the Dark Kingdom. I know we have waited many years.. and we may wait many more, but we can still assure victory against our enemies and without disobeying Queen Metalia's orders, and make sure when it is our time to arrive, it is WE who will gain power, at Beryl's expense. The Sage has learned about 10 items called the Star Shards. Five of light and five of darkness. For now we cannot reach the points of light, but we have the ability to reach those of darkness. They are all on the planet called Earth and each of you my generals, and even I myself, will use our magic and resources to find them. The Sage says there will be a backlash of evil as we take them, but it will be towards those on earth and not the ones we care of.. ourselves. It will be a long search, but if we gain half the shards we will be more powerful when we are called in and will have much easier a time seeking the shards of light. When we have all ten. Our might will be unquestioned, I will be Metalia's equal, and we will rule the universe as one and all who are successful will be duly awarded."
"It is time for work and through our efforts we will be rewarded many times over. You will be told what we know immediately and then your quests will begin. Any questions?" He glanced at the new statue and most followed his gaze to it. Then they turned back to face him and stayed mute. "Good," said Lord Agate "Dismissed."
* * * * *
Time: Various times.
The young girl had always had a strange short black line on her arm. She had no home and traveled through the alleys and streets. Her only friends were the rats. On morning she woke in an alley and the mark was mysteriously gone. She wondered about it, but was never a philosopher. It didn't affect her survival so she moved she ignored it. Within a week many were very sick around her. People were dying and that scared her, so she left the city that was always her home and traveled on. A few of the rats went with her. Soon she was hopping through cities. Everywhere she went, the sickness followed. It was soon called the Black Plague by many. She was thankful she never got it, but she and her "friends" had to always be on the move.
There was allot in the works that morning in the great church. One of the leaders called his brother together. He was a normal looking fellow and had always really had only a black mark on his neck that made him stand out. Mysteriously it was not there this morning. It was announced a new "Inquisition" was being created to root out heretics. There was much work to be done and much work to be done for the good of man. What would be called many years later, the "Spanish Inquisition", had been born.
The man pondered the back of his hand.. There had been a black mark there all his life, and now it was gone. No matter. He had decided something and had to tell those before him. He told them he thought the assassination of the Archduke would be required and he went into the details that inspiration had giving him. He knew there was work to do and proceeded the event that would help start World War I.
The King sat in his Royal bath with attendants all around. He was thinking about what the priest had said. Suddenly a servant disturbed him and pointed out the black mark at his ankle was gone. That confused him for he had always had it, but he remembered his royal mind had other things to think about. He decided the priest was right. He would start a crusade to liberate Jerusalem from the heretics. The Crusades would begin for Christianity.
The girl wondered why it was so light out. It was midnight and it was as bright as day. The light came through the window and touched the cheek where only yesterday had been a black mark. Then today she found a strange glowing rock. Her father was afraid to keep it around so had a friend carry it over the hills and bury it while he was traveling elsewhere. Then there was a strange explosion from that direction, and brightness held back the night. She wondered what could do that. Nothing she heard of could do that. It 1908 when a mushroom cloud devastated a forest in Siberia and people wondered. Was it a meteor.. or something else?
* * * * *
Time: Unknown, in another dimension.
A young man leaned against a car and stared into the night sky at the moon. The brown-haired and brown-eyed young man was just thinking.. when a young woman dressed in gray robes and holding a staff of gray energy startled him. He backed away.. then she whispered something to him.. they started a quiet conversation, then he nodded and grasped the staff.. His eyes went wide and he stumbled back. They exchanged word again and she held the staff out once more. He sighed, ran into the house and grabbed something and ran out once more, half surprised she was still there when he returned and that she had not just been his imagination. She smiled at the small and old looking stuffed bunny he held and he turned a little red. She presented the staff again and he grasped it. A gray mist rose about them and motes of colored light flashed silently. When the mist vanished he wore the gray robes and held the staff. She wore street clothes if a bit old fashioned. He collapsed against the car and started fading away.. The lady bent over his disappearing form and kissed him on the cheek and uttered two words. "Thank you."
* * * * *
Time: 22 years ago.
Lord Agate sat on the throne and considered a report. Apparently a gray robed time traveler appeared in a populated area of the Kingdom. He has proceeded to destroy about 15 of his subjects with ease. Then he just stopped attacking in front of one of his female subjects, named Bromia and she prompted stabbed him. He bent over her arm that was impaling him and slowly vanished. It was strange but he suppose it fit the Prophecy that the Sage gave saying she would bear the Gray One so for now she could not die, perhaps almost immortal. Of course she did not know that fact.
* * * * *
Time: 21 years ago.
Lord Agate was not sure what to make of things. The Gray One had been born, but it appeared he was half-human. This was a surprising event. Some day Bromia would stand among the golden statues, but for now he needed her. She was still needed for the Gray One, which she has named Shade. But there were better things to ponder. They had the five black shards and the Gray One was born. Soon they would be able to go into action and have their deserved glory upon Earth. The smiled to himself at the thought.
* * * * *
Time: 3 years ago.
Lord Agate had his subjects assembled before him. The way things were run would change swiftly. Argon, Tungsten, Actin and Gallia were all there, looking as young and healthy as many centuries ago. Gallia stood next to a new person among the group. He was medium height and wore a dark gray cloak complete with a cowl that hung over his head. Underneath the cloak was a gray uniform. He was the Gray One. He was Shade. Argon, Tungsten and Actin all did not like him. He was too independent and he didn't seem strong enough, but the prophecy protected him from them. Gallia made sure she was near him though, whether he liked it or not. She seemed interested in him but whether for him or the power he was supposed to gain, it was not known.
Lord Agate summoned attention and even Shade's gaze left the wall of golden statues that it often wandered to and focused on Lord Agate. Lord Agate spoke "The attack that began almost a millennia ago apparently has failed. Queen Beryl is dead." There was a few smiles about those gathered "But.. but.. Queen Metalia is also dead." Smiles vanished and there was surprise among the crowd and his seconds, except for Shade who didn't seem to respond. Lord Agate continued. "It is time to get ready. In but a few years I want to be prepared to move in. We will not go in all at once. We will occupy each planet one at a time focusing on Earth last. I want to be to Earth in three years. Prepare yourselves. Dismissed."
* * * * *
Time: Two days ago.
A young courier ran up to Argon. "Lord Argon. We found that Tokyo was a major site of operations for Queen Beryl. Lord Agate wishes for you to commence there and investigate. The search for what destroyed Beryl must begin now. The others are commencing the search for the bright shards."
In a small quiet, but sure voice Argon responded. "Very good. Time is of the essence. We must hurry. You are dismissed. "
Anyhow as for the setting the main part of the story is between SuperS and Stars.
Hope you enjoy it. :) )
Prelude - SMG
* * * * *
Time: Around 1000 years in the past.
A tall raven-haired man sat in a throne of dark gold. He was dressed in a dark uniform and wore a small black, twisted crown on his head. One hand hung over the edge of the throne and griped a dark crystal staff with a glowing gem griped in a metal claw at the top. His other hand was what his handsome square face, complete with a scowl, rested upon. He spoke quietly to himself, thinking.
"So. Queen Metalia believes that Queen Beryl is better to lead the attack.. So they leave me to watch over the reserves.. in case they need it. Bah! Why does existence conspire against me. So I have specific instructions to wait till I am ordered to enter the battle, or we sense that Queen Metalia or Beryl has died. Well, maybe Queen Serenity will get a lucky shot in at Beryl. There is always hope."
* * * * *
A beautiful woman with, her white hair woven into two balls and ponytails that almost reached the floor, and dressed in a lovely white gown, stood on a balcony in the Palace of the Moon. She admired the beauty of earth and pondered the relationship between her daughter and the Prince of Earth.
"It is nice to see her so happy. Her smile is brighter then the light of the sun which warms us so. The Prince is such a nice man and I think he will make the perfect" Suddenly a messenger was announced and approached quickly to spoil her revelry. After she heard his message her finely crafted features turned pale but she calmed in a moment. "So we are under attack? Summon the royal courts. We must organize a defense."
* * * * *
Time: 950 years ago.
"Lord Agate. We have not heard from Queens Metalia or Beryl. We have not even heard of their victory or defeat. I know you have been asked many times through these years, but should we not investigate?"
The raven-haired man sat once again in his throne of gold and examined his impatient subject. After a few minutes which the subject who his attention was currently on was forced to suffer through, he chose to respond. "I have said too many times to mention, well will wait for Queen Metalia. I will not disobey her. The Sage has been consulted and we have been told we will know the time. It will come in the years following the birth of what the Sage calls, the Gray One. So we will wait. I will NOT tolerate my orders be questioned again. This is the LAST time this subject will be mentioned by you, understand?"
There was a almost an audible gulp from the subject he addressed but a definite "Yes, my Lord Agate."
* * * * *
Time: 900 years ago.
Lord Agate looked around his throne room. The floors were made of a very dark metal and the walls were made of twisted stone and ore. He admired a row of golden statues included a new statue two underlings were positioning that looked like a former subject of his. He looked over his more intelligent and loyal subjects.
Argon was a small wiry man. His pale face was covered in wavy blonde hair and his light gray uniform did little to hide his thin frame. His eyes were light blue and his gaze drifted from Lord Agate every so often, but quickly returned to the one who drew the room's attention.
Tungsten was a strong and healthy red haired man. His eyes were a deep purple and he wore a confident smirk and a blue uniform of the Kingdom. He was a man of arrogance, but even he carefully stood at attention in front of his lord.
Gallia was a beautiful woman of average height. She had long, flowing, brown locks and the front locks sometimes covered her large brown eyes. Her dark gray uniform hugged her admirable curves well and she drew a few glances that should of been on her Lord.
Actin was a tall, strong and handsome dark haired man. He was confident, but not arrogant. He was very respectful and totally loyal to his Lord and his blue eyes had their attention focused on Lord Agate. He, like Gallia, also drew many gazes.
Lord Agate was proud of his secondaries and was grateful for there skill and loyalty. He knew he could easily get others, but, he didn't need any. He did not have much tolerance for failure though and would not hesitate to remove one he believed had revealed themselves to be incompetent. But at that time, those would do. He rapped his ever-present staff against the ground to gain attention.
Lord Agate spoke, "Warriors of the Dark Kingdom. I know we have waited many years.. and we may wait many more, but we can still assure victory against our enemies and without disobeying Queen Metalia's orders, and make sure when it is our time to arrive, it is WE who will gain power, at Beryl's expense. The Sage has learned about 10 items called the Star Shards. Five of light and five of darkness. For now we cannot reach the points of light, but we have the ability to reach those of darkness. They are all on the planet called Earth and each of you my generals, and even I myself, will use our magic and resources to find them. The Sage says there will be a backlash of evil as we take them, but it will be towards those on earth and not the ones we care of.. ourselves. It will be a long search, but if we gain half the shards we will be more powerful when we are called in and will have much easier a time seeking the shards of light. When we have all ten. Our might will be unquestioned, I will be Metalia's equal, and we will rule the universe as one and all who are successful will be duly awarded."
"It is time for work and through our efforts we will be rewarded many times over. You will be told what we know immediately and then your quests will begin. Any questions?" He glanced at the new statue and most followed his gaze to it. Then they turned back to face him and stayed mute. "Good," said Lord Agate "Dismissed."
* * * * *
Time: Various times.
The young girl had always had a strange short black line on her arm. She had no home and traveled through the alleys and streets. Her only friends were the rats. On morning she woke in an alley and the mark was mysteriously gone. She wondered about it, but was never a philosopher. It didn't affect her survival so she moved she ignored it. Within a week many were very sick around her. People were dying and that scared her, so she left the city that was always her home and traveled on. A few of the rats went with her. Soon she was hopping through cities. Everywhere she went, the sickness followed. It was soon called the Black Plague by many. She was thankful she never got it, but she and her "friends" had to always be on the move.
There was allot in the works that morning in the great church. One of the leaders called his brother together. He was a normal looking fellow and had always really had only a black mark on his neck that made him stand out. Mysteriously it was not there this morning. It was announced a new "Inquisition" was being created to root out heretics. There was much work to be done and much work to be done for the good of man. What would be called many years later, the "Spanish Inquisition", had been born.
The man pondered the back of his hand.. There had been a black mark there all his life, and now it was gone. No matter. He had decided something and had to tell those before him. He told them he thought the assassination of the Archduke would be required and he went into the details that inspiration had giving him. He knew there was work to do and proceeded the event that would help start World War I.
The King sat in his Royal bath with attendants all around. He was thinking about what the priest had said. Suddenly a servant disturbed him and pointed out the black mark at his ankle was gone. That confused him for he had always had it, but he remembered his royal mind had other things to think about. He decided the priest was right. He would start a crusade to liberate Jerusalem from the heretics. The Crusades would begin for Christianity.
The girl wondered why it was so light out. It was midnight and it was as bright as day. The light came through the window and touched the cheek where only yesterday had been a black mark. Then today she found a strange glowing rock. Her father was afraid to keep it around so had a friend carry it over the hills and bury it while he was traveling elsewhere. Then there was a strange explosion from that direction, and brightness held back the night. She wondered what could do that. Nothing she heard of could do that. It 1908 when a mushroom cloud devastated a forest in Siberia and people wondered. Was it a meteor.. or something else?
* * * * *
Time: Unknown, in another dimension.
A young man leaned against a car and stared into the night sky at the moon. The brown-haired and brown-eyed young man was just thinking.. when a young woman dressed in gray robes and holding a staff of gray energy startled him. He backed away.. then she whispered something to him.. they started a quiet conversation, then he nodded and grasped the staff.. His eyes went wide and he stumbled back. They exchanged word again and she held the staff out once more. He sighed, ran into the house and grabbed something and ran out once more, half surprised she was still there when he returned and that she had not just been his imagination. She smiled at the small and old looking stuffed bunny he held and he turned a little red. She presented the staff again and he grasped it. A gray mist rose about them and motes of colored light flashed silently. When the mist vanished he wore the gray robes and held the staff. She wore street clothes if a bit old fashioned. He collapsed against the car and started fading away.. The lady bent over his disappearing form and kissed him on the cheek and uttered two words. "Thank you."
* * * * *
Time: 22 years ago.
Lord Agate sat on the throne and considered a report. Apparently a gray robed time traveler appeared in a populated area of the Kingdom. He has proceeded to destroy about 15 of his subjects with ease. Then he just stopped attacking in front of one of his female subjects, named Bromia and she prompted stabbed him. He bent over her arm that was impaling him and slowly vanished. It was strange but he suppose it fit the Prophecy that the Sage gave saying she would bear the Gray One so for now she could not die, perhaps almost immortal. Of course she did not know that fact.
* * * * *
Time: 21 years ago.
Lord Agate was not sure what to make of things. The Gray One had been born, but it appeared he was half-human. This was a surprising event. Some day Bromia would stand among the golden statues, but for now he needed her. She was still needed for the Gray One, which she has named Shade. But there were better things to ponder. They had the five black shards and the Gray One was born. Soon they would be able to go into action and have their deserved glory upon Earth. The smiled to himself at the thought.
* * * * *
Time: 3 years ago.
Lord Agate had his subjects assembled before him. The way things were run would change swiftly. Argon, Tungsten, Actin and Gallia were all there, looking as young and healthy as many centuries ago. Gallia stood next to a new person among the group. He was medium height and wore a dark gray cloak complete with a cowl that hung over his head. Underneath the cloak was a gray uniform. He was the Gray One. He was Shade. Argon, Tungsten and Actin all did not like him. He was too independent and he didn't seem strong enough, but the prophecy protected him from them. Gallia made sure she was near him though, whether he liked it or not. She seemed interested in him but whether for him or the power he was supposed to gain, it was not known.
Lord Agate summoned attention and even Shade's gaze left the wall of golden statues that it often wandered to and focused on Lord Agate. Lord Agate spoke "The attack that began almost a millennia ago apparently has failed. Queen Beryl is dead." There was a few smiles about those gathered "But.. but.. Queen Metalia is also dead." Smiles vanished and there was surprise among the crowd and his seconds, except for Shade who didn't seem to respond. Lord Agate continued. "It is time to get ready. In but a few years I want to be prepared to move in. We will not go in all at once. We will occupy each planet one at a time focusing on Earth last. I want to be to Earth in three years. Prepare yourselves. Dismissed."
* * * * *
Time: Two days ago.
A young courier ran up to Argon. "Lord Argon. We found that Tokyo was a major site of operations for Queen Beryl. Lord Agate wishes for you to commence there and investigate. The search for what destroyed Beryl must begin now. The others are commencing the search for the bright shards."
In a small quiet, but sure voice Argon responded. "Very good. Time is of the essence. We must hurry. You are dismissed. "