"No!" Princess Serenity wailed, stamping her foot hard in agitation. Her crystal slipper took a chunk out of the ivory-tiled floor. "I won't believe it! My Knights are loyal! They would die for me!"

"Princess, will you please listen to me." Eàryon's voice was clipped and precise, none of his contempt for the Moon Princess showing in his manner. "The Knights are sworn to Queen Serenity and Princess Darkness. Our parallels, the Sailor Senshi, are loyal to you. They have no vows to stop them moving against you, and your support of the Sailor Senshi has led them to think you will act against your mother and sister. Princess Darkness is only slightly older than you, so you will not outlive her. You will never be Queen, and they believe you want that power for yourself."

"That's stupid!"

"I've already explained this!" the leader of the Sailor Knights snapped in exasperation. "I wanted to warn you, because I play to reveal their treachery today. You should be ready, in case they make an attempt on your life."

Serenity's face was screwed up in apprehension. "But they're so strong. What if they attack me?"

"Three of us are still loyal to your entire family," Eàryon told her. "Myself, Tobias and Crimson. I trust both of them with my life. We will…" He swallowed his hatred of the words. "…destroy the other Knights. If you are prepared, with Prince Endymion by your side, you will be safe while we disatch the traitors."

"You're outnumbered…"

"I know. But we'll do it anyway. It's a point of honour for both sides that you don't interfere."

Serenity nodded, even paler than usual. "Do… as you see fit."

"I always will."

At court that morning, a sudden fanfare cut through the various speeches. As a group, the fully-armed Sailor Knights entered the room, light flashing on pearl, gold, silver and platinum breastplates. Eàryon, their leader, knelt before the triple throne.

"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses." He lifted his face with half a smile, and added, "My beautiful Sailor Venus."

There was a murmur from the courtiers, but then, Eàryon was infamous for taking protocol into his own hands.

"I come before you today with grave news. A sect of warriors sworn to defend peace and justice in the Silver Millennium have counselled betrayal against members of the royal family. We Knights bear witness to this betrayal." He could hear the traitorous Knights snickering behind him, unaware that he knew of their plans, thinking he would denounce the Sailor Senshi whom they hated.

"With my authority as leader of the Sailor Knights and your first general… I accuse… my fellow warriors, the Knights of Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus, of high treason."

Total, disbelieving silence fell. Still on one knee, Eàryon could see the expressions of Princess Darkness and Queen Serenity running through identical emotions of shock and surprise.

But both of them knew he would never lie.

It came suddenly; steel whispered from seven scabbards as the Knights swept their swords into their hands. Metal screamed edge-to-edge as Tobias and Crimson took up positions back to back in the centre of the group, fighting for their lives. Prince Endymion of Earth stepped in front of the throne, broadsword in one hand and rose in the other, as the courtiers ran shrieking from the room. Footsteps behind Eàryon marked the first desperate attempt on the Princess' life.

Waiting until the last possible moment, Eàryon spun, swept his sword out, thrust and rose all in one motion. His sword slid smoothly under the Saturnian Knight's defences, rising inside his breastplate, impaling him almost vertically.

"Oh Saturn," Eàryon whispered sadly, grasping his one-time pupil by the shoulder. "You could have been the best of us, but your threw it away." He sighed in genuine regret. "Why? Why did you do it?"

"Because… I love… Princess Darkness," Jularm gasped, his life draining down the blade. He raised his sword in weakening hands.

"I'm so sorry," Eàryon told him, then pushed his sword higher, burying it to the hilt into Jularm's abdomen. Eyes wide and staring, blade dropping from nerveless fingers, Jularm's heart beat three times more, shaking Eàryon's rock-steady sword arm. Then the Lunar Knight withdrew his blade and lowered his victim gently to the ground.

"Sleep well, Sailor Knight," he murmured, then waded into battle.

On the face of it they were three against four; not such bad odds. But the Sailor Knights had trained together since boyhood, each of them learning under Eàryon how to harness his own weakness and turn it to greater strength. They were more perfectly matched as enemies than ever as allies. Two of the Knights, Mars and Jupiter, came forward to attack their erstwhile leader, hoping to overcome his superior ability by attacking together. As choreographed as dancers, their swords intertwined and crossed over, weaving a pattern too complex to follow. Eàryon gave ground, searching for holes in the defence that he himself had refined to flawlessness.

"You're getting slow," Cyrus taunted him, his red-honed longsword flickering here and there.

"It must be all that time he spends with that Sailor bitch," Artea agreed. "Venus makes for good lovers, but I didn't think you'd fall and get so soft."

Eàryon stopped his retreat in mid-step, his eyes suddenly cold and sword tracing the air as he parried every strike. "What did you say?"

"Look at that!" Cyrus said delightedly. "We got through to him! Sir I-don't-have-a-heart-don't-bother-me!"

"Don't ever." Eàryon stepped forward, allowing Artea's blade to ring off his platinum breastplate. "Ever." His starlit blade rose like a snake under the opening. "Ever talk about Sailor Venus to me again." A flick of his wrist, and three fingers dropped to the floor like huge pink shrimp. Artea gasped in pain before immediately switching his sword to his left hand, attacking without a pause for the injury.

"You really are an amazing fighter," Cyrus said respectfully. "It's a real shame we have to kill you."

"But look at it this way," Artea added, a feral gleam in his eyes. "Now you won't be lonely, because you'll have your Sailor Senshi with you in hell!"

Seeing red, it was all Eàryon could do to maintain his guard. All that was in his head was Minako… and what she had shown him… and what he had learnt from her…

His arms blurred with displacement, locking blades with Artea, forcing Cyrus' sword to the floor and stomping down on the flat. His left hand flashed out, bringing his palm in contact with Cyrus' forehead.

"For Minako! Crescent Beam!"

In the sudden shower of gore, Eàryon was able to overcome the shocked Artea quickly. His mind and heart were cold—this was all for the sake of their Princess…

Seeing his battle, the remaining two traitorous Knights had lost momentum, shaken. Tobias had taken his cue from Eàryon and sparking flames ran down his blade. Sailor Mars was the Mercurian Knight's lover, and both the Knights had learnt Senshi-like attacks.

Both the loyal knights dispatched their opponents at the same time. Eàryon watched, numbed, as the final threat to the Silver Millennium sank to the floor, gasping regret with his last breaths. Tobias met Eàryon's eyes in grim celebration, and both raised their swords in salute to each other.

"Your Majesty, Queen Serenity," Eàryon said sadly, turning back to the throne. "The threat to your family is finished. May God forgive us for what we've done today."

There was silence, then a sudden fleshy gasp. Eàryon spun, his thoughts moving in slow motion.

Tobias fell to his knees, Crimson's blade buried in his back. Eyes burning triumphantly, the Knight of Venus roared, "Eàryon! It's over. The Sailor Knights are finished. There's no more reason for me to live—but I'll kill your beloved Princess before I die!"

He yanked at his sword, but Tobias grabbed the blade protruding from his chest. Blood poured from his hands as he caught hold. "In death do I serve you, Queen Serenity!" he cried, and fell on his face.

Snatching up Tobias' blade, burning with subdued flames, Crimson lunged at the tight knot of Sailor Senshi clustered before the Moon Princess. Prince Endymion stepped out of nowhere, parrying the desperate attack.

It was the last chance the Knight of Venus had. As he staggered back in fear, looking at the grim faced Senshi, Prince and, worst of all, fellow Knight ranged against him, his foot caught.

Crimson looked down and screamed. Tobias' hand clutched his ankle, two fingers pointing up his leg.

"Fire… Soul," Tobias' voice rustled into the silence. The Senshi turned away from the sudden stench and hideous screams, but Eàryon ran to Tobias' side.

"Tobias! It's over." He took his best friend's hand and clutched it tightly. "It's all over now."

"Yeah…" Tobias whispered.

"Now come on… Sailor Saturn and the Queen can heal—"

"No, they can't. I'm a warrior, Eàryon. I know what a sword through the chest means." He tried to smile. "Tell her I love her. Now… you know what I want…"

Eàryon bowed his head. "All right."

Painfully, the Mercurian Knight stood. Indifferently, he pulled the sword from his body and unfastened his breastplate, allowing them both to clang to the floor. "Your Majesty," he said in the strongest voice he could muster. "I served you long. No, don't speak. Eàryon will return in a while." Together, Tobias leaning on the hilt of his trusted sword, the two heroes slowly left the room.

Things settled down in the Moon Palace. Queen Serenity announced that, as the eldest daughter, Princess Darkness would inherit the throne after herself, apologising publicly for her favouritism. Rei, of course, was inconsolable, and Minako wasn't much better. Three days after the two remaining Sailor Knights had made their way into the deserts of the moon, Eàryon returned alone.

Rei met him at the gates, but he didn't greet her. She knew from his eyes. "He died…"

"With your name on his lips," Eàryon said simply.

Rei's world crashed down around her. She ran from the gates, ran to Tobias' apartment and flung herself down on his bed, crying and crying. She lifted his pillow to throw it away—and stopped.

Her eyes gleamed with the light reflected from Tobias' jewelled dagger. In silence now, she stood and raised it to her throat…

"I think you should stop right about there," Eàryon said, leaning against the doorframe. Rei jumped, dropping the dagger. Eàryon picked it up.

"I'm sorry…"

"Just don't do it. It hurts now, but you're strong. The time will come for you to love again." He looked her in the eye. "They'll need you in the future, Sailor Mars. Don't let them down."

Rei bowed her head. "Wait," she said, as he turned to leave. "What will you do now?"

"A lone Knight? One left out of eight?" He smiled, a bitter, ruined smile. "You Senshi will have to protect the Silver Millennium. Me… well. I'll just have to try and be happy.

He turned and walked away, making no sound on the ivory tiles of the Moon Palace.

Sailor Pluto wept. As always, the lonely Sailor Senshi had watched events unfolding from the Time Corridor, unable to reach out even to comfort.

Her head came up. She would not forget. Long after the Sailor Knights were only legends, she would carry their memories, and the memory of Eàryon, the sole survivor.

Still mourning, Sailor Pluto closed the great Door of Time on one of the darkest chapters in the story of the Silver Millennium.