Chapter One - Shadow of Hope

"To the Palace!"

"For the love of the Moon! Rally to the Palace!"

Aerin felt despair rip at his heart as he listened to the cries of the warriors, desperately trying to gather whatever survivors there were. Charred black replaced silver walls, weeping was now the song to which their feet danced. The sky was heavy with smoke, curling against the dark, jeweled sky which still sparkled despite the chaos that went on beneath it. Everything that was once whole was broken...except the Palace.

The Palace still stood, proud and glittering white as a last stronghold in defiance of her enemies. The broken people of the Moon Kingdom were able to breathe a ragged breath as they staggered behind its walls. At least momentary shelter would be theirs while they were here.

My love... Aerin clenched his sword. Ah, my love, Serenity, what will become of us now?

He snapped to reality as the gates swung shut. "Now!!" he shouted as a golden light surrounded him, soaring above. At the same time eight other bursts of energy shot up to the darkened sky, clashing with the dark streaks shooting towards them. "Stand fast, Senshi!!" Venus' clear voice could be heard. They stood in a circle around the Palace, straining every last bit of strength. "Whatever happens, we must not fall!"

They were still very young; the Inner Senshi barely into their teens, the Outer Senshi not much older. Yet it was their strength, along with Aerin's and what little the Queen had left that had held the Palace for so long... but now even that was starting to falter. Nearly three moons of fighting had left the Senshi weary... but their determination was still ever-burning.

For a moment it was uncertain which would prevail. "We.. will.. not... bend!!" Uranus snarled through clenched teeth.

With a final burst of light a clear globe formed around the Palace and held steady against the black shadows, which hit the globe in vain. The Senshi wiped their faces and dared to draw a breath.

"Are you all right, Aerin-san?" Mars asked, her ruby eyes burning against her pale face.

"Hai," Aerin nodded wearily. "Well done, Senshi."

"It will not hold forever," Uranus said flatly as they gathered together. She pushed her blond hair out of her eyes; her locks curled around her face, damp with sweat. "Sooner or later they will break through."

"The troops of Earth must make it before then," Jupiter's voice was tight with weariness and worry. "They must."

"Either that, or the Princess must be born soon," Neptune added. "As long as she is with child, the Queen cannot use her strength."

An uneasy silence fell among the group. Venus shot a depreciating look at the Senshi of the Sea, but Neptune simply shrugged her shoulders as if to say she had said nothing untrue. Aerin held back a sigh. The child... his daughter, born by Serenity, Queen of the Moon Kingdom and himself, Aerin, Prince Consort of Serenity. It was a great blessing for the Moon Kingdom, but the timing couldn't have been worse. The strength of the Black Moon Clan, the Clan living in the dark shadows of the Moon, was at its fullest just when the Queen was at her weakest. Still, the warriors of the Moon Kingdom had held out for several moons, while the Senshi had played their part well, but now almost all was lost...

"There is not much we can do now," he finally said. "Except pray."

* * * * * * * *

"Somehow we must find a way to weaken the line where the Earth troops now stand."

The Senshi were gathered around a table, still in their sailor fuku as if standing ready for battle at the slightest notice. Their meager meal of a few vegetables and water lay untouched. Mercury nodded a little at Pluto's words, her aqua eyes grave. "Yes, but how? It takes all eight of us plus Aerin-san to hold this field. We can't trust anyone else with such a mission, and we don't have any troops to spare anyway."

"All it will take is a slight disturbance among themselves... some sort of problem from within." Mars ran a hand through her long, reddish black hair. "They are much weakened from this battle. A small grain of dust can easily turn the balance in our favor."

"It is a risk all the same," Jupiter pointed out, frustration evident in her bright green eyes. "We will be vulnerable while the one Senshi is gone, and that one Senshi may not make it back alive."

"Do you fear death, Sailor Jupiter?" Uranus challenged, her own eyes reflecting emerald scorn. She seemed rather on edge these days, snapping at the slightest provocation. Jupiter flushed, while Venus shot an exasperated glare at the tall Outer Senshi. "She is simply stating the facts. We cannot afford the loss of any Senshi at this point, and you know it!"

"If this goes one we will lose more than Senshi," Neptune said serenely.

"Will you stop acting as if we don't care what happens to our Kingdom?" Mars snapped. "Why are you so eager to jump into death? You can't help Serenity if you're dead."

"We're not helping her much now while we're alive either," Neptune returned heatedly. Venus half-stood in her chair, while Mars turned white with suppressed fury.

"Stop it!!" Mercury cried. "This is no time to be fighting among ourselves!"

"But Neptune is right." Pluto's sweet, vibrant voice could have been discussing the day's weather. "We must be willing to take a risk at this point."

Just then Saturn, who had been silent all throughout the battle, raised her head. Her soft voice was like a dam in the rush of angry voices.

"I will go."

All eyes turned to her and stared for a long moment at the slim, violet-eyed girl, who returned their stares with an unblinking gaze. "Saturn..." Venus trailed off, not sure what to say.

"Why should it be you?" Uranus finally found her tongue. "We can draw lots or discuss who to send. Why should you volunteer such a burden on yourself?"

"Do you have a plan, Saturn?" Neptune asked in a much more reasonable voice, her momentary fit of anger gone.

Saturn stayed silent for a moment. She was the youngest of the Outer Senshi, small and slim, with an innocent looking face and large purple eyes. Yet her spirit seemed to be ages older than any of them. Finally she opened her mouth.

"Like the Moon Kingdom," she began, "The Black Moon Kingdom revolves around one royal family. If someone in that royal family, preferably the leader, dies, the entire kingdom falls."

There was a faint gasp from one of the Inner Senshi, but Saturn went on. "Aerin-san can send word to the Earth troops to retreat awhile, so the enemy will be lulled into thinking they have given up. But that will not be enough to make them press their entire forces against the Palace. Suspicion and caution will keep them where they are for the time being. However, if someone of the Moon Kingdom were to kill their ruler, they would have an excuse to order a full attack - and the Earth troops would be able to break through and hit them from behind."

"That is dangerous..." Neptune mused. The two of them could have been discussing gowns for the next royal ball. "But not impossible."

"What?!" Mars burst out. "Listen to yourselves!" Her eyes burned with rage. "We are planning assassination...murder... like thieves! I will not agree to such a plan! We are Senshi yet, and we have our honor as warriors-"

"Would you rather an honorable defeat and certain death, then? Very well for you, but what of the people?" Saturn said calmly. Mars flinched. "We have no choice. I know a little about the ways of the Black Moon Clan, and it will be easier for me than for any of you to slip into the defenses and complete what I go to do."

The leader of the Inner Senshi tightened her mouth, while the Fire Senshi next to her looked as if everything she wanted to say was choking her all at once. Jupiter's glares at the Outer Senshi crackled. Mercury wore a troubled expression on her face.

"Her Majesty would never agree to this!" Mars finally flared out "And if Earth ever found out what we had done-"

"What we do is none of their business. Don't think they wouldn't hesitate to do the same in our situation," Uranus said acidly. "As for Serenity, she needn't know until absolutely necessary."

"It's not right-" Jupiter began heatedly, but Neptune cut her off. "Not right? Are you saying it's not right to do our duty - to protect the solar system from all harm, to guard the Moon Kingdom and its Queen? Not only sacrificing our lives but also our honor? Our honor means no more than our lives when it comes to our duty!"

"Look outside, Inner Senshi," Pluto said softly. "Can't you see the people suffering? Don't you want to end this?"

An uneasy silence fell among the Inner Senshi. Through the window, the thin wail of a child reached their ears. Mars closed her eyes for a moment -and suddenly, she saw.

Flash.

The child within Serenity's womb moved, as if it could feel the pain of the people around her. Although she was still young, Mars could feel the enormous golden light filling the babe.

Flash

The silver moon shone brightly in the dark night, as if to defy those who wished her light weakened. But this time, Mars noticed something she never had before.... the shadow of the moon. It stood out, round and dark, almost there and yet not there at all. It stood behind the moon, to support its strength... or to destroy it. Serenity stood - no, the young Princess Serenity stood at the heart of the Silver Moon... and behind her stood her shadow.

Flash

"Mars!" Venus said sharply. "Mars, are you all right?"

Mars shook her head and looked up to see all the Senshi with their eyes fixed on her. "..I... I'm sorry," she said faintly, passing a hand over her eyes. "I.. just have a slight headache, that is all."

"..." Neptune's gaze lingered on the fiery headed Senshi for a moment longer before she turned her eyes to Venus. "Well?"

Venus exchanged looks with the Inner Senshi, then looked at Saturn. "Are you sure about this, Sailor Saturn?"

Saturn simply nodded her head.

* * * * * * * *

Aerin knelt down beside the bed, where Serenity lay, and gently brushed away a strand of silver hair as he gazed upon his wife. Her long hair lay loose on either side of her, surrounding her beautiful, mature face with a radiance of silver and white, and her breast softly rose and fell as she slept peacefully, her swollen belly rising and falling as well. He would never forget the first time he had met her - his far-off cousin, actually, - at a rare family gathering, when the Moon Kingdom was still in its early stages. They had reigned over their kingdom for many centuries hand in hand, with love for each other and for their people filling their hearts.... and now, this.

Serenity slowly opened her eyes to find her husband near her, gazing at her with his clear amber eyes that brought a smile to her lips. She reached up and ran a hand through this dark blue hair that fell over his face in a most satisfactory manner. "Hello, my husband."

"How do you feel, Serenity?" he asked, bringing her hand down to his lips. She ran her other hand over her stomach. "Soon.. my love. Very soon." The smile faded from her face. "How... how are my people, my love?"

Aerin flinched, and Serenity felt pain cut through her heart. "Tell me, Aerin."

"....The Senshi have succeeded in making a barrier around the Palace, and all remaining survivors are within the walls. But unless Demeter and Helios come soon..." Aerin stopped talking as Serenity squeezed his hand, sadness in her eyes. She felt so helpless lying here while her people suffered at the hands of the cruel Black Moon clan. But there was nothing she could do now.

"They are but children, the Senshi... and princesses in their own right And now our entire fate rests on their shoulders..."

A soft knock on the door interrupted them. "Come in," Aerin called.

Saturn slipped into the room, her boots making no sound on the soft carpet. In her hand she held her Glaive. Respectfully she bent down on one knee before them. "Serenity, Aerin-san."

"Welcome, Saturn," Serenity said warmly. "What is it?"

"I ask permission to enter enemy ground, my Lady. Sailor Venus and the other Senshi have already agreed to my decision."

"Enemy ground?" Aerin echoed. "Alone? What for?"

"My Lord...." Saturn searched for the words to explain, but changed her mind and simply said, "Please trust the Senshi."

Serenity nodded at this. So young... "Then you may go, my Saturn."

"May I ask one more boon, my Lord?"

Aerin blinked. "Speak, Sailor Saturn, and it will be yours, if it is within my power."

"Please send word to Helios and to Demeter, for them to retreat their troops so that the Black Moon troops will think they are retreating, so when they leave the lines, the Earth troops can come back and attack them from behind."

"...a ruse?" Aerin said doubtfully. Saturn shook her head. "Please trust the Senshi, my Lord."

Aerin smiled. "So be it then. I will do that as soon as possible."

"Thank you." With that, Saturn left the room as silently as she had entered. Aerin glanced at his wife, who looked up at him with a worried expression, but all he did was grin lightly. "Please trust the Senshi," he echoed, and Serenity giggled in spite of herself.

* * * * * * * *

Mars touched Saturn's shoulder as soon as she came out of the room. "Saturn?"

"Hm?" Saturn turned around to look at her. Mars wondered what exactly she needed to tell her. "Um... I saw... a vision, Saturn."

Saturn looked expectantly at the Inner Senshi. Mars tried to continue. "It was.. I can't explain it, but something... important, something directly linked to the Princess' power is there. Within the shadow of the moon. Maybe even someone. Someone .... I don't know, it could be another Senshi for all I can say. Only this, Saturn... the key to our victory lies within the enemy. We must find that key."

The girl furrowed her brow, but all she said was, "I understand, Sailor Mars. Thank you."

Please, let this turn out all right... Mars prayed silently as Saturn faded into the darkness. As she watched the young girl disappear, she suddenly felt a chill run down her back, as if this would be her last glimpse of her fellow Senshi. Let the shadow be there for us, and not against....it may be that shadow is our last and only hope. And let Saturn return to us safely...

* * * * * * * *