Author's Note:
This story, while called 'Return of the Valkyries' is NOT related to 'Walk of Valkyries'. That's more of a short story that ended where it began: one part. My email address has changed to Guardian4@atlantic.net. Please put Fanfiction or something similar in the subject line so I know what the email is about.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Sailor Moon, etc.
Minako's husband – Kyle (Kunzite)
Makoto's husband – Matt (Nephrite)
Ami's husband – Zale (Zoisite)
Rei's husband – Jared (Jadeite)
Haruka's husband – Aren (Adamite)
Setsuna's husband – Cirocco (Cordylite)
Michiru's husband – Ian (Iolite)
Hotaru's husband – Raine (Rhonite)
For convenience, I named all the new Kings with the same first letter of their name. The Shitennou names I think are pretty able to figure out.
Return of the Valkyries
Chapter 11
Venus and Kunzite waited outside the city gates, as yesterday, and waited for Trion to come to them. It still amazed her that he would march on his own city. She had wanted to call the Outers, tell them what had happened, but they must be so far away since all she got was static on her earpiece.
Every day that they were gone, it made the possibility of their deaths more likely. She nearly bit her lip, but endeavored to appear unflustered by her thoughts. Her eyes wandered over the milling troupes in front of her, seeing many seasoned warriors. A fairly young man caught her attention as he attempted to drink something that steamed even from here.
He jumped a bit and coughed, grabbing gratefully at probably a cold cup of water that another gave him with an amused look on his face. The other man was thin, similar to Zoisite, but his skin was dark though, like pale chocolate; almost a caramel color. He had three thin braids at the base of his neck that fell to his waist.
Another laughed, this one a bulky man. He was tall, nearing six feet she guessed. His muscles bulged under his shirt, making him look as if he had metal balls under his skin. He wore bracers on his wrists and heavy army boots that reached the middle of his calves. A loose jacket lay next to him. His laughter was deep and rich, carrying all the way over to her.
Kunzite caught her eye and his eyebrow rose in that peculiar way he had when he was amused by something but striving not to let it show. He sauntered over to the three, who stopped talking as soon as he moved near them.
Venus, dying to know what they might say, covertly shifted so she was close enough to hear them.
"How long have you been in Trion's army?"
The young man looked at his companions before answering. "Not very long."
"What are your names?"
"I'm Samuel Baird. My friends are Kaleb Jackson, the one on my left, and Victor Brett."
"Do you know anyone in Crystal Tokyo?"
"Well, Kaleb had a great-great-Grandmother that lived—"
The caramel colored one, Kaleb Jackson, jabbed his elbow in Samuel Baird's ribs. Kunzite's eyes sparked with interest.
"Really? Who was your great-great-grandmother?"
With no other choice, the man hesitantly said, "Her name was Naru Osaka, Sir."
Venus fought a surprised gasp, but Kunzite's mouth dropped open a little. "Osaka Naru? She was your great-great grandmother?"
"So I've been told, but I never knew her. She passed away long before I was born, when my Grandmother was only sixteen. She lived a long time, or so I've understood. I've heard rumors that people live a long time if they live or visited Crystal Tokyo, Sir," he muttered slowly, unsure.
Kunzite motioned to her and she walked up to them quickly. "She was a very special person, Osaka Naru was. I had the good fortune to know her a long time before she died. She is held in the highest esteem in the palace, by Neo Queen Serenity I. I had not realized that she had any children that moved from Crystal Tokyo."
"Well, my great grandfather had gone to college abroad and stayed there after he married. My grandmother went to her funeral when she died, though she was only sixteen." He faltered in his words a little before continuing on, as he was unsure whether he should ask. "My Grandmother told me once that great-great-Grandmother Naru mentioned a time 'before'. What is 'before' referring to?"
She blinked in surprise. "Why, before Crystal Tokyo was created of course."
"She also mentioned, only once, a Sailor Moon. Is she one of your Senshi?"
Venus looked away. "Forget you ever heard the name of Sailor Moon. The Senshi of the Moon no longer exists." In her place stands Neo Queen Serenity I, she thought.
"Yes, Sir."
Venus walked away with Kunzite at her side, but not before she heard Jackson mutter to Baird, "You ever mention my great-great-Grandmother again and I'll kill you."
Just then, she caught sight of Trion staring something near hatred at her. She approached him and asked, "Have you made your decision then?"
"I shall not march on MY city. The people believe in me and they will welcome me back gladly when I return. It is enough."
She nearly rolled her eyes, but suppressed it by the barest of margins. He really did have great delusions of grandeur. She was especially glad that she wouldn't have to listen to him much.
The army disbanded, Trion entering through the city gates like he was a god. Kunzite and Venus followed, gritting their teeth at his high handed way of talking to the people as if they had been praying for his return since he left. Many people, she noted, barely glanced at him or looked unconcerned when he passed. They sure missed him a lot, she thought with heavy sarcasm.
Mercury rushed them as soon as they entered the palace doors. Her face was pale and her hands shaking. Trion gave her a distasteful look and left. "What is it, Mercury?" she asked, concerned.
"I just managed to record a call from the Outers."
They ran into the computer room, ordering everyone out. Not a minute later, the other Shitennou and Senshi appeared, grim faced and worried.
The message was full of static, but the voice belonged to none other than Adamite, with his wife's voice loud in the background. There were numerous other sounds as well, but Venus could not pick them out as one definable thing apart from another.
"Crystal Palace? Venus? Whoever's receiving this, listen up because I don't have much time. Trion is a traitor! When Princess Zoie was kidnapped, he was in the room when the kidnappers barged in. The kidnappers themselves are called the Rising Sun, intent up stirring up revolutions in various peaceful countries. Trion didn't do a damn thing when they showed up! In fact, he made a deal with them! They were to kidnap Zoie, secret her away. They then were to murder Neo Queen Serenity III, Kynthia, so that he might have free reign over the country. With no heir, he could choose a wife of his own to place on the throne. It would be the end of line of Serenity, once he killed Princess Zoie. He could marry again and have a male heir, one that would inherit the Golden Crystal, the only power left in Crystal Tokyo once the line of Serenity died out. He could make his own laws, do whatever he wanted to.
"We've found the base, somewhere in the forests north of Crystal Tokyo. We're under fire right now, after our first attempt to rescue Princess Zoie failed. We're concerned with what they might do to the Princess now, knowing that there was a rescue attempt. But we cannot leave the base or allow them to leave, because they might be able to make another one that we cannot find. Get Trion! Keep him away from Neo Queen Serenity I and King Endymion! Whatever you do, never take his eyes off of him! And keep an eye on Queen Kynthia at all times as well! We don't know if he will continue or bring in more guards to murder his wife.
"I do not know if we will survive this next attempt to retrieve the baby princess. I can only hope this report reaches someone who is not allied to Trion. Our entire country is at stake friend, whoever is watching this. Take care. This may be the last time I speak in this world, so whoever is watching this, take a message to the Senshi and Shitennou: tell them that Kings Adamite, Cordylite, Iolite, Rhonite, and Senshi Uranus, Pluto, Neptune, and Saturn were glad to have known them, as they have become our greatest friends. And a message for Neo Queen Serenity I and King Endymion: our dear leaders, we love you and were glad to have laid our lives down for you and what you loved.
"Heavenly King Adamite, out."
Neither Venus nor any other in the room could find something to say at that moment. A few tears leaked down Mercury's face as she thought of all her beloved friends that might not come home. Mars herself looked like she was ready to burn something to ashes with just her gaze. Jupiter's fists clenched at her sides as she tried to control whatever emotions she was feeling.
Jadeite busied himself at picking the edge of his shirt, trying to blink around the filmy tears over his eyes. Zoisite began typing nonsense orders into the computer, saving data or whatnot, and trying to block out the painful emotions that threatened to break his sanity. Nephrite stared into the distance of the room, almost as he was trying to contact some other higher being and coming up short. Kunzite seemed to be the only one who could function with even the least bit of efficiency, though Venus knew that he would be crying silently in their room that night.
"Jadeite, Mars, I want you to take Neo Queen Serenity I, II, and III and King Endymion and King Helios to a secure room. Explain what we just heard, taking a copy of the message in case Serenity III doesn't believe it. Jupiter, Nephrite, I want you to put the best spies on Trion for 24/7. Mercury, Zoisite, I want you to make several copies of this message and store them in places that are completely hidden. I don't want to take the chance that Trion or one of his allies in the palace find it and destroy the only copy we have. Venus, I want to tighten security around the Royal Family, all generations, as much as possible.
"Let's move Serenity II and King Helios from the palace immediately and install them in the hideout house that we made. We need to keep Serenity I and King Endymion here to fool Trion, unfortunately. I also want to move Serenity III to the hideout house, saying she needed a break from all the stress. Our top priority is them, but all of us need to keep an eye out for the best opportunity to expose Trion."
"I won't settle for him just being exposed, Kunzite!" Jadeite snapped, angered beyond nearly all reason. "I want him dead, after what he's put everyone through! And if the Outer Senshi and Heavenly Kings die, I want his head delivered on a platter to me!"
Venus blinked at his vehemence. She had never heard Jadeite sound so bloodthirsty before in her entire life. Apparently neither had Mars, from her incredulous look to her husband. But it seemed that the other Shitennou had, for they took his furious outburst in stride.
"Calm down, Jadeite. Once we expose him, there will be a trial and a most certain death sentence. You may get your fill of his death then."
Venus couldn't look at the indefinable expression on his face anymore and she left the room, her heart heavier than it had ever been before in her life.
End Part 11