Silver Millennium Life Bonds
Rocky Oberlin
Chapter 23
Disclaimer: *Looks around* Who says I own Ronin Warriors or Sailor Moon? As far as I know, I don't have ownership papers in a safety deposit box or in my Dad's safe. Looks like the original owners still have them.
It was fascinating watching the new Ancient and the Time Guardian working together. They were calm, cool, and collected. Windy smirked. That was until the monster came barreling out of the wall. Then they lost all their stately reserve and would have surprised their friends with the things they said and did. Windy wasn't one to imagine the elegant Setsuna, Princess and Sailor of Pluto, kicking something between its legs like a regular woman. It just didn't seem to fit the bill when you thought of her.
Windy looked up. Looks like another one wants to join the party and the two women are having enough trouble with the first two. Time to make things even.
The ghost faded from her spot on the top of the wall and floated down to the ground. She placed herself in the wall itself to watch the monster ready itself for a surprise attack. It never got its chance. Just as it crouched for a springing attack, a force that would be reminiscent of an American football team bulldozed it (AN: not the Lions. They couldn't win for losing. And I have every right to say this because I come from Michigan where they are homed at.) The surprise lost, the monster looked to see what had ruined the victory for its master. It didn't see much as a fist was making headway into its face, effectively knocking it out.
"Get angry much?" asked an amused Lady Kayura.
"Only once in a while," shrugged the ghost. "I just happen to no like backstabbers. They are lower than assassins. At least assassins ask for pay before doing a job. Backstabbers do it for the cheap thrill."
"Interesting philosophy," said Sailor Pluto with an arched eyebrow.
Windy shrugged. "Sometimes I get time on my hands. The rest of the time I learn from experience."
"Is there a reason you're here or are you just here to make conversation?" asked Lady Kayura.
"Weeeell, I could say that I'm here for the conversation and then let you make your way to the castle, but I'm feeling nice, so I'll bring you to the rest of the group and we can all go together." Windy negligently waved a hand and the three were relocated with the rest of the searching Ronins and Sailors.
Anubis took one look at his replacement and chuckled. "She annoy you much when she finally came?" he asked.
Lady Kayura shot a glare at their ghostly guide and nodded. "Is it me, or is she in a strange mood?"
"Windy is in a strange mood," confirmed Cye. "We don't know why, but there are times when she will say the strangest things. None of us are too sure what is going on."
"May be she's finally cracking under the strain," offered Cale.
"You wish," called Windy from the front of the group. "I'm just tired. I get strange when I get tired. It's better then getting grumpy."
Kento gave her a look. "We'll take your word for it."
"Considering that once she almost threw an animate into a wall when she didn't get enough sleep, I would," offered Hotaru.
"Actually, I think it was through several walls," corrected Haruka. "She had just finally been able to get to bed."
"And how did you know this?" asked Seckmet.
"She was staying with us at the time," said Michiru. "All Serena had to do was heal the person. We didn't have to fight at all."
"Much to Sailor StarFighter's dismay," giggled Hotaru. Haruka just growled a little at the rest of the memory.
Ryo leaned over to the smaller Sailor and asked, "Didn't care for this Sailor StarFighter that much?"
Hotaru shook her head. "Not really. She and Michiru were of the opinion that we should be defending our planet and Princess, not them."
"That's putting it mildly," called back Windy. "The four of you were very jealous of your positions on defending the solar system."
"That was what we were given to remember," said Sailor Pluto. "You can't fault us on that."
Windy shook her head. "No, I can't. I can only just see Queen Serenity at some point and explain to her why that idea didn't hold as much water as she had hoped. Her idea would have faded at some point and it is probably best that it happened now."
"Why?" asked Sage.
"Because if the expected future happened, then Serena would have been stuck in a loveless marriage with no friends," said Lita. "And I wouldn't have figured out my loyalty and the Outers would probably be guarding the outer solar system."
"And be too late if something should happen to Serena in that possibility," added Sailor Pluto. She looked at her fellow Sailors and the Guardian leading them. "I'm glad that the Guardian did come when she did. We could have lost everything."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Endymion stalked through the Dynasty castle to where Chaos took up "residence". He was furious and ready to have a talk with his ally. The dark Prince found the entity of Chaos sitting in the rooms that Badamon had used for his spells before he had been destroyed by Windy in his second attempt to gain his princess. He didn't bother to knock on the door as he was supposed to be the Master of this place, but in the back of his mind he knew that he only had the extra power because of the being he was about to dress down.
"Why wasn't I told about the capture of my princess and half brother?" he snarled.
Chaos didn't turn in the body it inhabited. It had been one of the few It could take with no problem. The only down side was the fact that the new body was decaying at an excelled rate. Chaos privately cursed the Being who took away his ability to steal a body when It wanted. That was another log on the fire of rage that Chaos carried in Its nonexistent being.
"Because I want all of them here before we seal their fates with your joining with Cosmos."
"That's not good enough," growled the Prince. "There is always a way out before the plan is finished. I have seen it before when I was helping the little Princess."
"I want them here, little Prince. Our plans are always at risk, but risk is a spice of life."
"I'm not taking chances. Where is my bride and half brother?"
"Where do you think?" chortled Chaos. "I'm not taking chances either. They are locked up where they can't get out. Trust me."
Endymion stalked out of the room, muttering, "Not likely." He would find his bride and he would make sure that she would be his. And all her power with it.
* * * * * * * * *
Serena had stopped crying, but now she was determined. She couldn't give up hope; she had a love to get to. She had her cry, now she had to get out. Serena knew that the Windwalker was coming with her friends and brother, but Chaos was closer and so was Endymion.
Endymion. That name alternated shivers down her back and a slow boiling rage. "May be if I let the rage come out, then I can finally get this over and done with," muttered Serena.
She moved around the room, examining the door and the walls around it. Just because she wasn't as clever as Ami was didn't mean that she couldn't generate ideas on what to do if she looked at the problem.
"May be I don't need the rage just yet," smiled Serena. "I could do this by myself."
* * * * * * * * *
Rowen was restless in his cell. He could vaguely feel his lifebond in the link that kept them close. He didn't discover it until he felt rage that wasn't his pricking the back of his head. He didn't think that Serena knew what she was doing, but it helped him have more initiative to get out. He had a score to settle with his half brother and with the entity that called itself Chaos. He was going to help Serena send it packing and send his brother to where he belongs. This time the Queen of the Moon wasn't going to be bringing him back.
There was a dull roar and a loud crash of rocks falling down in the hall to his right that brought the Strata bearer out of his musings. "Sounds like Rena finally used that rage for something constructive. Well, one good escape deserves another." Rowen called his armor and blasted a hole in the wall where his door was located. It was nice having power your brother didn't.
"Rowen?"
Rowen perked up his head at the call and followed the echoes down the hall. He saw Serena walking toward him, moving cautiously for any traps that might suddenly appear.
"Angel, are you alright?" called Rowen.
"Fine for now," answered Serena. "I guess Lita is rubbing off on me." She giggled at a thought.
"That did sound like the Jovian Princess," agreed Rowen. "What are you laughing at?"
"An old memory," she said. "It was when Endymion and I were trapped by one of Beryl's generals in a building and she blasted an opening so the others could get in. This was way before I even knew that I was the Moon Princess."
"That must have been a surprise when you found out."
"You bet it was. I wasn't even feeling very princessly when all was said and done. And then I had the idea that I loved Endymion."
Rowen gritted his teeth. "I think that at some point we should have a word with the Diplomat about speaking to your mother about that little memory."
"I totally agree. That was so disgusting how he treated me in our early relationship." Serena shook her head. I wonder if she still is in the Central Computer; I could 'talk' to her when we get done."
"I wouldn't be making plans if I were you," said a sneering voice. Endymion stepped out of the shadows to confront his family and princess. "I think that you will be with me for a very long time. And then when the throne is secure, you may be joining her in the after life."
Rowen stepped in front of Serena. "You'll have to get by me."
"That will be a pleasure, little brother. I want to make sure that you will be out of the way when I finally take my wife."
"I think I have some say in this matter," growled Serena. "I happen to like my new boyfriend and he treats me a lot better then you ever did. He treated me like an equal, not a stupid little kid."
"Who said that you weren't a stupid little kid? We had to hold your hand through the whole time you fought."
"She is no more stupid then you are the accepted Prince of this Earth," spat Rowen. "This Earth would rather have Kento defending it over a pompous oaf like you. It knows that Kento would treat it and the people on it like his family that has to be taken care of. You would use it for your own gain."
"And there is something wrong with this idea?" asked Endymion in mock surprise. "We are royalty. We have the right to do as we please and take what we want."
"And we have the responsibility to take care of the things in our care," snapped back Serena. "We have to make sure that it grows as it is suppose to and not fall into disrepair of neglect and anarchy."
"Where did you learn such nonsense?" asked Endymion with amusement. "That sounds like something the Diplomat would come up with on her God's idea of stewardship."
"You hit the nail on the head," growled Rowen. "Even I remember that lesson from the Silver Millennium. She told us that as she watched our parents fall before Beryl and her fake generals. Too bad Queen Serenity didn't learn that lesson in the beginning."
"She did, that was why she wanted Serena to marry me," snarled back Endymion, his amused tone gone. "And as such, Serena will be mine and I will create the Kingdom of Earth and Moon again in my own image."
* * * * * * * * *
A gust of wind circled the group as they approached the looming castle. It had taken hours, but they did get through the last of the maze and the creatures guarding it. The gust looked through the group before it found the one who could hear its message. The movement of air twisted around the ghost leading the group and breathed its message in her ears. Then it swept on its way to another part of the dimension to watch from afar.
Windy frowned at the news the wind gust brought her. Sage and Lita saw the dark look and moved closer to the ghost. "What's wrong?" asked Sage.
Windy forced her stride to lengthen and hurried the group even faster. They didn't mind when they heard the reason. "Endymion is facing off with Serena and Rowen. He's baiting Rowen to a fight. I don't think that we'll be in time to stop any bloodshed."
"I don't care about the bloodshed as long as it's that Endymion's," grumbled Cale. "He's been a pain the butt since he came here."
"You won't find any arguments in this group," said Ryo. "He grew up a royal pain in the butt."
"One that should have been taken care of in the beginning," muttered Haruka.
"We wished," muttered back Michiru. "We couldn't do anything and Setsuna and Serenity wouldn't let us do anything about him anyway."
"More's the pity," said Hotaru. "May be we wouldn't have had the rebellion against the Moon."
"Doubt it," said Lady Kayura. "Earth was only a part of it from your memories and what Windy told us. The rebellion would have gone on anyway and there is the possibility that Beryl would have ended the Silver Millennium. He just helped push the dissension along."
"That is true," said Setsuna. "The Silver Millennium was already falling when Queen Serenity betrothed Serena to Endymion. She had hoped for a quick fix to keep it together and expected Serena to go along with it."
"And Rena did," snapped Sage. "Mother forced Serena to obey her command. Even Luna and Artimas were surprised how she forced Rena into this marriage."
"This is new," said Lita. "How did she do it?"
"By saying in a nutshell, that she would have to marry Endymion or she will be blamed for the fall of everything, even the solar system. Mother pulled the biggest guilt trip I had ever seen. And then said that if Rena didn't do it, she would be forced by Mother's hand and would never get to see her friends again."
"Queen Serenity has a lot to answer for, doesn't she?" asked Ryo. "Think we could have a talk with her later?"
Windy looked back at the group burning in rage. "I think I can swing it. Right now, I would say that you should be locking that away or using it for something more constructive, like defeating Chaos and Endymion." Windy looked ahead again. There was trouble coming and she wasn't sure that they would reach Rowen and Serena in time.
Rocky Oberlin
Chapter 23
Disclaimer: *Looks around* Who says I own Ronin Warriors or Sailor Moon? As far as I know, I don't have ownership papers in a safety deposit box or in my Dad's safe. Looks like the original owners still have them.
It was fascinating watching the new Ancient and the Time Guardian working together. They were calm, cool, and collected. Windy smirked. That was until the monster came barreling out of the wall. Then they lost all their stately reserve and would have surprised their friends with the things they said and did. Windy wasn't one to imagine the elegant Setsuna, Princess and Sailor of Pluto, kicking something between its legs like a regular woman. It just didn't seem to fit the bill when you thought of her.
Windy looked up. Looks like another one wants to join the party and the two women are having enough trouble with the first two. Time to make things even.
The ghost faded from her spot on the top of the wall and floated down to the ground. She placed herself in the wall itself to watch the monster ready itself for a surprise attack. It never got its chance. Just as it crouched for a springing attack, a force that would be reminiscent of an American football team bulldozed it (AN: not the Lions. They couldn't win for losing. And I have every right to say this because I come from Michigan where they are homed at.) The surprise lost, the monster looked to see what had ruined the victory for its master. It didn't see much as a fist was making headway into its face, effectively knocking it out.
"Get angry much?" asked an amused Lady Kayura.
"Only once in a while," shrugged the ghost. "I just happen to no like backstabbers. They are lower than assassins. At least assassins ask for pay before doing a job. Backstabbers do it for the cheap thrill."
"Interesting philosophy," said Sailor Pluto with an arched eyebrow.
Windy shrugged. "Sometimes I get time on my hands. The rest of the time I learn from experience."
"Is there a reason you're here or are you just here to make conversation?" asked Lady Kayura.
"Weeeell, I could say that I'm here for the conversation and then let you make your way to the castle, but I'm feeling nice, so I'll bring you to the rest of the group and we can all go together." Windy negligently waved a hand and the three were relocated with the rest of the searching Ronins and Sailors.
Anubis took one look at his replacement and chuckled. "She annoy you much when she finally came?" he asked.
Lady Kayura shot a glare at their ghostly guide and nodded. "Is it me, or is she in a strange mood?"
"Windy is in a strange mood," confirmed Cye. "We don't know why, but there are times when she will say the strangest things. None of us are too sure what is going on."
"May be she's finally cracking under the strain," offered Cale.
"You wish," called Windy from the front of the group. "I'm just tired. I get strange when I get tired. It's better then getting grumpy."
Kento gave her a look. "We'll take your word for it."
"Considering that once she almost threw an animate into a wall when she didn't get enough sleep, I would," offered Hotaru.
"Actually, I think it was through several walls," corrected Haruka. "She had just finally been able to get to bed."
"And how did you know this?" asked Seckmet.
"She was staying with us at the time," said Michiru. "All Serena had to do was heal the person. We didn't have to fight at all."
"Much to Sailor StarFighter's dismay," giggled Hotaru. Haruka just growled a little at the rest of the memory.
Ryo leaned over to the smaller Sailor and asked, "Didn't care for this Sailor StarFighter that much?"
Hotaru shook her head. "Not really. She and Michiru were of the opinion that we should be defending our planet and Princess, not them."
"That's putting it mildly," called back Windy. "The four of you were very jealous of your positions on defending the solar system."
"That was what we were given to remember," said Sailor Pluto. "You can't fault us on that."
Windy shook her head. "No, I can't. I can only just see Queen Serenity at some point and explain to her why that idea didn't hold as much water as she had hoped. Her idea would have faded at some point and it is probably best that it happened now."
"Why?" asked Sage.
"Because if the expected future happened, then Serena would have been stuck in a loveless marriage with no friends," said Lita. "And I wouldn't have figured out my loyalty and the Outers would probably be guarding the outer solar system."
"And be too late if something should happen to Serena in that possibility," added Sailor Pluto. She looked at her fellow Sailors and the Guardian leading them. "I'm glad that the Guardian did come when she did. We could have lost everything."
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Endymion stalked through the Dynasty castle to where Chaos took up "residence". He was furious and ready to have a talk with his ally. The dark Prince found the entity of Chaos sitting in the rooms that Badamon had used for his spells before he had been destroyed by Windy in his second attempt to gain his princess. He didn't bother to knock on the door as he was supposed to be the Master of this place, but in the back of his mind he knew that he only had the extra power because of the being he was about to dress down.
"Why wasn't I told about the capture of my princess and half brother?" he snarled.
Chaos didn't turn in the body it inhabited. It had been one of the few It could take with no problem. The only down side was the fact that the new body was decaying at an excelled rate. Chaos privately cursed the Being who took away his ability to steal a body when It wanted. That was another log on the fire of rage that Chaos carried in Its nonexistent being.
"Because I want all of them here before we seal their fates with your joining with Cosmos."
"That's not good enough," growled the Prince. "There is always a way out before the plan is finished. I have seen it before when I was helping the little Princess."
"I want them here, little Prince. Our plans are always at risk, but risk is a spice of life."
"I'm not taking chances. Where is my bride and half brother?"
"Where do you think?" chortled Chaos. "I'm not taking chances either. They are locked up where they can't get out. Trust me."
Endymion stalked out of the room, muttering, "Not likely." He would find his bride and he would make sure that she would be his. And all her power with it.
* * * * * * * * *
Serena had stopped crying, but now she was determined. She couldn't give up hope; she had a love to get to. She had her cry, now she had to get out. Serena knew that the Windwalker was coming with her friends and brother, but Chaos was closer and so was Endymion.
Endymion. That name alternated shivers down her back and a slow boiling rage. "May be if I let the rage come out, then I can finally get this over and done with," muttered Serena.
She moved around the room, examining the door and the walls around it. Just because she wasn't as clever as Ami was didn't mean that she couldn't generate ideas on what to do if she looked at the problem.
"May be I don't need the rage just yet," smiled Serena. "I could do this by myself."
* * * * * * * * *
Rowen was restless in his cell. He could vaguely feel his lifebond in the link that kept them close. He didn't discover it until he felt rage that wasn't his pricking the back of his head. He didn't think that Serena knew what she was doing, but it helped him have more initiative to get out. He had a score to settle with his half brother and with the entity that called itself Chaos. He was going to help Serena send it packing and send his brother to where he belongs. This time the Queen of the Moon wasn't going to be bringing him back.
There was a dull roar and a loud crash of rocks falling down in the hall to his right that brought the Strata bearer out of his musings. "Sounds like Rena finally used that rage for something constructive. Well, one good escape deserves another." Rowen called his armor and blasted a hole in the wall where his door was located. It was nice having power your brother didn't.
"Rowen?"
Rowen perked up his head at the call and followed the echoes down the hall. He saw Serena walking toward him, moving cautiously for any traps that might suddenly appear.
"Angel, are you alright?" called Rowen.
"Fine for now," answered Serena. "I guess Lita is rubbing off on me." She giggled at a thought.
"That did sound like the Jovian Princess," agreed Rowen. "What are you laughing at?"
"An old memory," she said. "It was when Endymion and I were trapped by one of Beryl's generals in a building and she blasted an opening so the others could get in. This was way before I even knew that I was the Moon Princess."
"That must have been a surprise when you found out."
"You bet it was. I wasn't even feeling very princessly when all was said and done. And then I had the idea that I loved Endymion."
Rowen gritted his teeth. "I think that at some point we should have a word with the Diplomat about speaking to your mother about that little memory."
"I totally agree. That was so disgusting how he treated me in our early relationship." Serena shook her head. I wonder if she still is in the Central Computer; I could 'talk' to her when we get done."
"I wouldn't be making plans if I were you," said a sneering voice. Endymion stepped out of the shadows to confront his family and princess. "I think that you will be with me for a very long time. And then when the throne is secure, you may be joining her in the after life."
Rowen stepped in front of Serena. "You'll have to get by me."
"That will be a pleasure, little brother. I want to make sure that you will be out of the way when I finally take my wife."
"I think I have some say in this matter," growled Serena. "I happen to like my new boyfriend and he treats me a lot better then you ever did. He treated me like an equal, not a stupid little kid."
"Who said that you weren't a stupid little kid? We had to hold your hand through the whole time you fought."
"She is no more stupid then you are the accepted Prince of this Earth," spat Rowen. "This Earth would rather have Kento defending it over a pompous oaf like you. It knows that Kento would treat it and the people on it like his family that has to be taken care of. You would use it for your own gain."
"And there is something wrong with this idea?" asked Endymion in mock surprise. "We are royalty. We have the right to do as we please and take what we want."
"And we have the responsibility to take care of the things in our care," snapped back Serena. "We have to make sure that it grows as it is suppose to and not fall into disrepair of neglect and anarchy."
"Where did you learn such nonsense?" asked Endymion with amusement. "That sounds like something the Diplomat would come up with on her God's idea of stewardship."
"You hit the nail on the head," growled Rowen. "Even I remember that lesson from the Silver Millennium. She told us that as she watched our parents fall before Beryl and her fake generals. Too bad Queen Serenity didn't learn that lesson in the beginning."
"She did, that was why she wanted Serena to marry me," snarled back Endymion, his amused tone gone. "And as such, Serena will be mine and I will create the Kingdom of Earth and Moon again in my own image."
* * * * * * * * *
A gust of wind circled the group as they approached the looming castle. It had taken hours, but they did get through the last of the maze and the creatures guarding it. The gust looked through the group before it found the one who could hear its message. The movement of air twisted around the ghost leading the group and breathed its message in her ears. Then it swept on its way to another part of the dimension to watch from afar.
Windy frowned at the news the wind gust brought her. Sage and Lita saw the dark look and moved closer to the ghost. "What's wrong?" asked Sage.
Windy forced her stride to lengthen and hurried the group even faster. They didn't mind when they heard the reason. "Endymion is facing off with Serena and Rowen. He's baiting Rowen to a fight. I don't think that we'll be in time to stop any bloodshed."
"I don't care about the bloodshed as long as it's that Endymion's," grumbled Cale. "He's been a pain the butt since he came here."
"You won't find any arguments in this group," said Ryo. "He grew up a royal pain in the butt."
"One that should have been taken care of in the beginning," muttered Haruka.
"We wished," muttered back Michiru. "We couldn't do anything and Setsuna and Serenity wouldn't let us do anything about him anyway."
"More's the pity," said Hotaru. "May be we wouldn't have had the rebellion against the Moon."
"Doubt it," said Lady Kayura. "Earth was only a part of it from your memories and what Windy told us. The rebellion would have gone on anyway and there is the possibility that Beryl would have ended the Silver Millennium. He just helped push the dissension along."
"That is true," said Setsuna. "The Silver Millennium was already falling when Queen Serenity betrothed Serena to Endymion. She had hoped for a quick fix to keep it together and expected Serena to go along with it."
"And Rena did," snapped Sage. "Mother forced Serena to obey her command. Even Luna and Artimas were surprised how she forced Rena into this marriage."
"This is new," said Lita. "How did she do it?"
"By saying in a nutshell, that she would have to marry Endymion or she will be blamed for the fall of everything, even the solar system. Mother pulled the biggest guilt trip I had ever seen. And then said that if Rena didn't do it, she would be forced by Mother's hand and would never get to see her friends again."
"Queen Serenity has a lot to answer for, doesn't she?" asked Ryo. "Think we could have a talk with her later?"
Windy looked back at the group burning in rage. "I think I can swing it. Right now, I would say that you should be locking that away or using it for something more constructive, like defeating Chaos and Endymion." Windy looked ahead again. There was trouble coming and she wasn't sure that they would reach Rowen and Serena in time.
