Disclaimer: This applies to the whole of the fic. I forgot to put it in the first chapter, so I'll put it now: I do not own Sailor Moon. She/them/it belongs to Naoko Takeuchi. The disclaimer for the other will come soon. (I have my reasons.) I will not be making any profit off this story.

A/N: Konnichiwa! I bet you all love me, leaving you on a cliffhanger on the first chapter! ^_^ Ok, I have to warn you all: I hate clichés. They're just so annoying! Be prepared to be shocked at the plot of this fic.

Of Sun, Moon, and Cards
Book One
The Telling of Tales

Serenity jumped up from the woman's embrace. "Who are you?! What happened to Setsuna?!" demanded the Queen.

The Gate Guardian and the woman whose embrace she had found herself in were quite different. Setsuna was tall and had a youthful face, though her age was indeterminable. She had long, dark green hair that appeared black when seen from a distance. Garnet eyes adorned tan skin, which was quite strange considering she never saw the sun.

The woman, who had mysteriously replaced Setsuna, looked nothing like the Queen of Pluto. Her long red hair was perfectly straight, and only barely moved, whereas Setsuna's, though also long and straight, swished at the smallest of movements. The woman's skin was pale, and her eyes were brown. The look in them, perhaps the only thing in common with Setsuna, was that of intelligence and wisdom.

"Please tell me who you are!" sobbed Serenity. Her knees gave way, and she fell in a heap on the floor.

"You have no reason to fear me, Serenity-sama, I will not hurt you," said the red head. She raised an elegant hand and waved it in front of her handsome face. Her hair extended and changed into a dark green. Her brown eyes faded to garnet. Pale skin became tanned.

"Setsuna?" asked Serenity weakly. How could this be? How could Setsuna and that strange woman be one and the same? It didn't make sense. Did Setsuna have other magic? If so, why hadn't her mother told her?

Rising, Setsuna held out her hand to her queen. "Come, I will explain," said the Plutonian. Not really caring to object, Serenity allowed herself to be pulled up by Setsuna's hand, which was stronger than most.

Serenity was led to what appeared to be a lounge. Red carpet divans were placed around ornately carved end tables. A white marble fireplace at the end of the room had a fire cackling happily in the hearth.

Setsuna, or at least a woman that looked like Setsuna, gestured to a divan and sat down in the one opposite. Once both were comfortably seated, Setsuna began her tale, looking extremely nervous (much to Serenity's awe). "About ten years ago I came to earth, not because I was doing something for your mother, but because I had a question that could only be answered here. Lucky for me, when I teleported, I landed in this house or should I say mansion? No matter. Anyways, I found a young sorcerer lived here. He's very powerful and is the strongest person on this planet.

"He told me that I had magic. I told him he was right and that I was in fact the Queen of Pluto and therefore had the magic of the Time Staff. He did not seem particularly surprised. He told me that besides my planetary magic, I also have sorcereress-type magic, though not a lot. He showed me how to control and use it.

"One day, I decided to go out and see the rest of earth. Unfortunately, the first people who saw me were scared out of their wits. Apparently, people here don't have green hair and garnet eyes. It was then that I decided to make a more earth-like appearance. That is what you saw before. You could say that I 'programmed' my magic to change once I entered earth's atmosphere."

"So we're on earth?" was all Serenity could ask. With a small reassuring smile, Setsuna nodded. "I see. This is all fascinating, but Setsuna, I really don't want to do anything but sleep. I just lost all the people of my kingdom."

"Yes, of course Serenity-sama but first I have a proposition." Setsuna took a deep breath. "Let my sorcerer friend teach you to harness your magic. I know you've been practicing on your own, but please. I know good will come of it in the end." 'And maybe more...'

"Fine, I'll do as you please," sighed Serenity rubbing her temples. She didn't have the strength to do anything else. In one single day, she had not only become Queen of the Silver Millennium, merged with the Ginzuishou, lost her family, friends and people, but had also found out that Setsuna was a sorceress, she had two appearances, was friends with the most powerful sorcerer on earth and that she, Serenity, was going to be taught by said sorcerer.

"Thank you. Now there are just a few things. You'll have to change your appearance before he arrives tomorrow. I don't want the news that the queen of the solar system leaking out. That means you can't say anything about the moon. This means he will simply know you as Serenity. Do you understand?" Serenity didn't respond. "Oh, I'm sorry Serenity! I'm being terribly insensitive. You have lost a lot today. I just move on when people die. It comes with living for eternity. Come, I will bring you to your chambers."

Serenity followed Setsuna into the entrance hall where they had dropped from the portal. The room was large enough, with the double doors to outside behind them and various other doors long the left and right sides. To the front were two massive, beautifully decorated doors, framed by perpendicular curved oak staircases.

They took the right staircase, though it didn't really matter as they both led to the same place. The landing of the stairs made way to two doors, which were open, letting the view of a library, be seen. Two hallways branched off that, one to the right and one to the left, which turned about four doors down. Setsuna led her down the right one and turned the corner. She walked into one of the doors and moved to the side, so as Serenity could enter and view the room.

It seemed as if Setsuna had known she was coming (which she most probably did). The room had navy walls, with silver texturing. Little white stars could be seen painted (Serenity didn't know if they were painted, but they certainly looked it, except for the tiny glow they gave off) on the walls, and even on the ceiling. The room was filled with white pine furniture. On the right was a bureau, with the drawers on the bottom, and two doors for hanging gowns and things of that sort. On the left was a vanity. A hair brush, hand mirror and various other toiletries were placed on it, and Serenity could only assume that there were more in the drawers on either side of the quaint little bench. On the far wall, French windows (tall, narrow windows, that had squares of glass) lined up parallel to one another, filling the room with a soft light from the setting sun. In front of them, was a magnificent four-poster bed, laden with silk sheets, duvet, and numerous pillows. The curtains were a fine lace, with tiny stars stitched into it.

"Is…is this for me?" wondered Serenity out loud. "It's decorated perfectly. It's almost as if you had known I was coming…" Something clicked in Serenity's brain. "You didn't… know, did you Setsuna?" The Plutonian queen turned her gaze away. That told the Moon Queen what she needed to know. "You knew! You knew this was going to happen, and you let it! I could have stopped it! I could have saved them," yelled Serenity. She looked down on the floor and whispered, "I could have saved them."

"Please understand Serenity-sama," said Setsuna softly, tears running down her own tanned skin, "as Gate Guardian, it is my duty not to interfere. You have no idea how much I wanted to stop it all, to tell your mother what would happen if you took the Ginzuishou."

"You saved me," whispered Serenity. Her saddened gaze moved to Setsuna. Confused cerulean orbs clashed with knowing garnet ones. "Why was that allowed?"

"Because it was meant to happen. Your destiny is not to be Queen of the solar system, as your mother, and many others, thought. Your life here will be trying, but if you manage to overcome the difficulties you will find things you never imagined you could have," said Setsuna. Suddenly, she snapped out of her trance-like state. Decided she better go before she told any more secrets, she said, "There are nightdresses in the second drawer of your bureau. I bid you good night." She turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.

For minutes, Serenity just stood there, staring at the door. Nothing seemed real. How could there have been planets full of people just hours before that were now only desolate chunks of rock floating in space? How could her friends be dead? How could her mother be dead? It was just too surreal, but yet was the opposite. It was completely real. They were never coming back. If the Ginzuishou hadn't wielded with her, maybe she could have had them all reborn, but seeing as it did, there was nothing she could do.

She was beyond tears. The sorrow was beyond that of which anyone could compare. The tears could not be spilt, for if they were, they wouldn't stop until a tear had fallen for every creature that had died on her behalf. Serenity was a shell. Her head swam with thoughts of what if? Her heart was wrenching in the pain of loss. 'My first day as Queen…" she thought bitterly. 'My first day, and I murder the entire solar system.'

Shaking her head, Serenity walked over to the bureau. Opening the second drawer, she saw that were indeed nightdresses. Picking one of the less frilly ones, she carefully slipped out of her coronation gown, smoothing it out on the bed before gently putting it in the first drawer of her bureau, along with the cape. Still in her under garments, Serenity sat down on the bench to her vanity. She took out the diamond strands before carefully pulling out her hairstyle. Then, with the hairstyle out, the silver hair pooled on the floor, curling slightly. Picking up her hairbrush, Serenity began the tedious task of brushing her hair.

After nearly forty-five minutes, Serenity's hair was successfully combed. Picking up the non-frilly nightdress, she slipped into it. It was quite comfortable, though she didn't recognize the material. She assumed it was probably some earth fabric. Approaching her new bed, she pulled back the duvet and carefully slipped in between the smooth, cool silk sheets. It was only when her head hit the pillow that she realized how tired she really was. In a matter of seconds, she was fast asleep.

* * *

Setsuna was sitting in the lounge, looking out the window. She couldn't believe what she had done the night before. She had almost spilled the secret. It wouldn't do to have Serenity know her destiny, because then she would probably do anything to avoid it. 'Why does she have to be so stubborn?' wondered Setsuna. A flash of brilliant light engulfed the room, and when it cleared, Setsuna was no longer the only occupant of the room. A man had appeared in the room.

The man was handsome, there was no denying that. He was of broad build, and he looked as though he commanded respect, but if you were to look closer, you would see his deep blue eyes twinkling with amusement. Long black hair was secured with a ribbon of navy blue. The man's robes were black, with navy trimming and decorated with sun, moon and stars. On his nose sat pince-nez glasses. His mouth was curved into some would see as a smile, but others would dismiss as a neutral look.

"Hello Setsuna," said the man, kissing the back of her hand.

"Welcome home Clow," said Setsuna.


A/N: Yep! That's right! Another CCS/SM crossover! Yay! This one will probably be longer than Joined By One Man, but won't have as much fighting, per say. There's no worry of me not finishing it as I have been wanting to write this since the very beginning. Hope you liked the chapter! JA!