Shades of Gray
A Sailor Moon Fanfic
By: Aaron Nowack

Chapter 10: Beresheit - In the Beginning

"Beresheit bara elohim et ha'shamayim v'et ha'aretz."
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

- Genesis 1:1



Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi, whose creative talents far exceed my most humble own. Distribution and other rights to Sailor Moon belong to lots of different companies that I do not own. I make or imply no claim to ownership of Sailor Moon or its characters. However, the text of this fanfic is mine, and should not be used without permission. Thank you.


It wasn't exactly a lie. Every word of it was true. It just... left out a few things. The fact that those things were both vital and potentially dangerous didn't change the truthfulness of the words she had put down on paper.

"Mom:

Going to the library, then to Rei's. Should be back in time for dinner, will call if otherwise.

-Ami"

With a brief sigh, Ami recapped the pen she had been using, carefully placing the note on the kitchen table where her mother would see it should she return before her. Ami then left, locking the door behind her and heading to the library.

Once she arrived there, she exchanged a few pleasantries with the librarian as she returned her soon to be due books. She briefly pondered checking out some more, but decided it would not be worth the trouble of returning home to drop them off. She did however spend a few moments browsing the new arrivals section, taking mental note of the handful of books that seemed interesting.

With that complete, Ami headed to her next destination. Not too much later, she was knocking nervously at the door of the Tomoe house. Even now, she felt a sense of malice around this house, as though the evil that had once resided there had sunk into the very foundations. She knew that was not the case, as repeated scans had proven, but even she could not always counteract gut feeling with intellectual knowledge.

The door swung open after a brief wait to reveal a man who was unfamiliar to Ami. The man glanced at her and smiled in greeting.

After a moment of awkward silence, Ami spoke. "Is Haruka or Michiru available?"

The man blinked and turned back into the house. "Dr. Tomoe? Do you know if Michiru or Haruka are home?"

Ami could not understand the muffled reply, but the grimace that appeared on the man's face conveyed the essence of the reply. "They're not here right now," the man stated. "I can leave them a message if you want."

"That won't be necessary," a voice from behind Ami called out. "Hello, Ami," Haruka continued as Ami turned around. "What brings you here today?"

A few moments later, the two of them were seated in the room Haruka shared with Michiru. "So," Haruka began, then paused. "What's wrong?" she concluded.

Ami replied by taking out the Mercury Computer and pressing it into Haruka's hands. "If I'm not back by tonight's meeting, run the program that's highlighted on the screen. And..." Ami was silent for a moment. "If I don't come back, give Michiru the computer. There's a file on there that has all the basic commands. She should be able to figure out the rest." Ami rose and turned to leave.

Haruka blinked. "Wait a minute!" she nearly yelled. "What are you about to do?"

Ami shook her head. "If I told you, you wouldn't let me. It's probably foolish to go, but I have to try."

Haruka frowned, then finally nodded. "All right. I trust you."

Ami gave a weak smile. "One last thing. If the computer gives off an alarm, transform and head wherever it tells you to go, and bring any of the others you can alert quickly. Either the Dark Kingdom is attacking, or I'm in trouble."

Not long later, Ami was in a convenient alleyway. She transformed, then Sailor Mercury headed for her next destination.



Jadeite smiled as he settled into the throne. From this very seat, Mordrangar had thought to challenge him. It was with great pleasure that the now victorious ruler of the Dark Kingdom had chosen to use it to oversee the final dissolution of the so-called Kingdom of the Mountains of Desolation.

On the floor before him, those of Mordrangar's inner circle who still survived knelt, sending worried glances to the elite soldiers that lined the walls and guarded the doors. Though individually each was weaker than the defeated rebel commanders, a general melee would be a close call, even without Jadeite's presence.

The double doors that were the only exit swung open, revealing Jadeite's two Generals. In Ishamanar's hands lay a large banner bearing Mordrangar's sigil, which had been taken down from its place on the highest tower of Mordrangar's former stronghold. When the ceremony was complete, it would be replaced by Jadeite's own banner.

Behind the Generals came a stream of Overlords who had participated in the campaign. They had come to receive their rewards for loyal service. The Overlords formed a semicircle around the throne behind the kneeling rebels, many of them smirking at their defeated counterparts.

Slowly, Nyxan and Ishamanar approached the throne, bowing deeply. Ishamanar presented Mordrangar's banner to his king with a second bow, then spoke. "My lord Jadeite, the Mountains of Desolation are no more."

A brief cheer sounded from Jadeite's Overlords, and Mordrangar's followers seemed to shrink. Jadeite smiled widely, then raised the banner high in one clenched fist. A simple cantrip later, it burst into flames, and was soon consumed. Jadeite lowered his arm silently, hiding the pain he felt from the still not fully healed wound in his shoulder. He then looked at his Generals. "You have done well. You have done very well indeed. Take your rightful places at my side."

Bowing once again, the two Generals hurried forward and turned to face the assemblage. Nyxan stood at Jadeite's right, while Ishamanar stood to his left. Jadeite then addressed his fallen foes. "I am the King of the Dark Kingdom. By rising in battle against your rightful lord, you have committed treason against the Dark Kingdom." The traditional wording added 'and against our Great Leader'... but that hardly applied any more. "The prescribed punishment is the Eternal Sleep," Jadeite concluded, then paused, savoring his enemies' dismay. "But I will be merciful."

The rebels had a moment to absorb this good news before Jadeite acted. The dark lord rose and in one smooth motion raised his arms, hiding a wince at the pain the sudden movement brought. "Soul Flame Barrage!"

The storm of firebolts sped toward its targets. One stream of flame struck each captive. In normal circumstances, some might have been able to survive the attack, but they were weakened by the ordeal of their imprisonment and unprepared. Though a few lasted quite some time, in the end each of the rebel Overlords fell under the assault, leaving only swiftly disintegrating ash behind.

Jadeite settled into the throne once more, doing his best to ignore the drain such a strong spell had put on him. He silently cursed for the thousandth time the loss of the Flame Diamond, no doubt consigned to the seemingly bottomless abyss Mordrangar had opened during the battle. With it, that spell would have been little more straining then the cantrip he had used to destroy the banner. He would have to retrieve the Diamond... but that would take time. Time he did not have right now, and he could not trust any of his underlings to retrieve it for him.

Jadeite banished those thoughts from his mind, instead concentrating on the laborious task of parceling out the lands the executed rebels had held to his loyal servants. After that, there would be one final matter to be dealt with.



Urawa Meno frowned as he locked the door to his one-room apartment. This was a very risky thing he was trying. He briefly considered getting backup, but he knew that doing so would jeopardize the whole endeavor. It occurred to Meno that going through with this without consulting the others could be seen as going against the policies they had agreed to. He knew that Ikawa would probably see it that way, at least at first... but he hoped Motoki would be more reasonable.

And if it worked... the ends would justify the means. At this thought Meno half-smiled. That was a philosophy any of the others would be hard-pressed to argue against without indulging in hypocrisy. If the ends could not excuse the means, then they were all damned a thousand times over. If not more.

Meno shook his head and quickly walked down the hall to Ikawa's door, which he knocked. A few moments later, the door opened, revealing the room's occupant. "Meno," Ikawa said in greeting. "What's up?"

Meno forced a smile. "You want to talk about that out here?" he asked in a low voice.

Ikawa chuckled. "Come in, then."

When the two were situated, Meno spoke. "I need you to arrange a meeting for tonight. I should have important news."

Ikawa blinked. "News about what?"

"I'm not sure. I hope to know roughly what the situation in the Dark Kingdom is." Meno waited for Ikawa's reaction.

"What?" Ikawa nearly yelled. "How? Are you going to try to go on reconnaissance alone? That's insane! Give me three minutes and I'll round up the others and we'll all go."

Meno shook his head quickly. "I'm not going into the Dark Kingdom."

Ikawa calmed down, frowning. "Then how in the world... or any others... do you plan to get that information?"

"Don't make me lie to you," Meno said in reply. "Not again," was his silent continuation.

Ikawa's shock was obvious. "What the hell are you up to, Janus?" he asked in a quiet voice.

Meno rose. "Just prepare the meeting. And... if I don't make it... forgive me, Deinas." He paused. "For this... and for Vulcan's Gap." With that, Meno turned and headed towards the door.

"Stop," Ikawa stated in a calm, commanding voice as he rose to his feet. "What do you mean about Vulcan's Gap?"

Meno shook his head and sighed. "You know, Deinas. You just don't want to believe." Meno laughed bitterly, and took another step to the door.

"Janus," Ikawa said in warning.

Meno turned his head back towards Ikawa. "I did what had to be done at Vulcan's Gap. Just like I'm doing now."

Ikawa took a step backwards. "All right. I trust you." He paused, then spoke in a fierce undertone. "Don't betray my trust."

"I won't, Brother."

And Urawa Meno left.



Overlord Gorhan was not displeased. He was furious. On the face of it, his recent mission to Terra had been an utter disaster. Twenty of his finest youma were dead, and with very little to show for it. The thrice-cursed Senshi hadn't even been inconvenienced, and the energy take, while nothing to disregard, was not sufficient. Once Asphara had been repaid for her initial investment and given her portion of the profits, he would not have enough energy to replace the youma he had lost.

Therefore, he would be left in the position of having attacked Terra without Lord Jadeite's blessing and not having any gift of energy to appease him. And those who displeased Jadeite tended to have fairly short lifespans, as several Overlords more powerful than Gorhan had already discovered.

With these less than pleasant thoughts on his mind, Gorhan was not particularly happy when Asphara appeared in his chambers. "What do you want?" he growled out.

"Merely my energy," Asphara replied simply. "Or have you forgotten the terms of our deal?"

Gorhan snorted. "I don't think so," he said, making a sudden decision.

A dangerous gleam appeared in Asphara's eyes. "And what exactly do you think you mean by that?"

Gorhan took a threatening step forward. "Exactly what it sounds like. You're not getting any energy." The reptilian Overlord smiled toothily. "The whole deal was illicit, so what will you do? Complain to Lord Jadeite and reveal that you've broken his law?"

Asphara was silent, though had Gorhan been slightly more perceptive, he would have noticed a small, predatory smile forming on her face.

Gorhan laughed and turned around. "Get out of here. I have to decide how to present my gift of energy to our king."

At this, Asphara broke her silence with her own laugh. "I don't think so." The bat-winged Overlord darted forward, dark energy crackling around her hand. Surprised by the sudden assault, Gorhan had no time to dodge, and was struck lightly on the flank.

Gorhan found himself unable to move. His arms and legs refused to respond to his frantic efforts, and his balance lost he slowly toppled over. Asphara paced around his form into his field of vision and delivered a light kick to his side.

"Fool," the female Overlord stated contemptuously. "I was prepared for your treachery." Asphara smiled widely. "Lord Jadeite will be most pleased when I turn over the traitor responsible for the illegal usage of the portals to Terra."



Sailor Mercury nervously stepped into the alleyway. If her fears were correct, she could be attacked at any instant. If her hopes were correct, on the other hand -

"You're a little late," a somewhat familiar voice said from behind her.

Mercury whirled around, gathering energy for a Shine Aqua Illusion, as well as placing one finger on her communicator's distress beacon. An armored figure slowly stepped into view, hands raised and palms open, in a move no doubt meant to show his lack of hostile intentions. At this, Mercury relaxed somewhat, allowing the spell energy to dissipate. However, her hand did not leave her communicator.

"Nervous, aren't we?" Hermes asked, slowly lowering his hands.

"I have reason to be," Mercury replied. "This could be a trap."

Hermes started to shrug, then stopped, not wanting to make any move that could be misinterpreted. "You could be trying to ambush me as well. I just have to trust you want my information more than you want me dead, just like you must trust me."

"You must admit, however, that it is very difficult to trust one's enemy."

Hermes nodded. "Of course. But you have information I want, and it seems I was correct in my belief that you did not already know what I have to tell."

"True." Mercury relaxed somewhat. "You want to know about the Dark Kingdom's first assault and the attacks by other groups."

"Of course," Hermes replied. "And I presume my offer was sufficient?"

Mercury nodded, removing her hand from her communicator and pulling a small, thin crystal out of subspace. "This contains the hard data on the battles fought prior to Ares's first appearance. Scan profiles of the various enemies and the like." She paused, returning the storage device to where it had come from. "I'll tell you my story, then you'll tell me yours, and then I'll give you the data. There will be less motivation for either of us to betray the other that way."

Hermes nodded. "All right." He looked around. "Shall we go somewhere more comfortable?"

"Like this?" Mercury asked wryly, gesturing at her fuku.

"The chances of either of us knowing the other by sight are vanishingly small. There's almost no risk in returning to our other identities," Hermes answered.

"A risk I'd prefer not to take."

Hermes sighed and slumped against a wall. "Fine, then." He paused for a moment. "Talk."



Motoki was not surprised that business at the Crown Arcade was slow today, even though it was Saturday and school was out. After all, the previous afternoon had seen the adjacent cafe be the site of a fairly destructive battle, and people were afraid that lightning might strike twice.

He let out a short sigh. Saying that business was slow was a bit of an understatement, considering that he was the only person in the arcade at the moment. Ms. Farrel had left a couple hours ago to speak to some contractor about fixing the cafe, and his sister was presently cleaning up most of the mess.

Feeling slightly bored, Motoki wandered over to a bank of machines. The familiar sounds and images of the games' attract modes washed over and through him, and he finally settled on one. With a half-ironic smile on his face, he fished a few coins out of his pocket and stuck them in the Sailor Fighter II machine. As he pondered which character to select, he briefly wondered whether he would be in the game's next incarnation.

Until then, however, he would have to settle for the next best thing, Motoki decided as he made his selection. A moment later, a tiny version of Sailor Jupiter looking only vaguely like the original proceeded to engage in a series of best two of three fights against her fellow Senshi for what could only be described as inadequate reasons.

Motoki was only a few fights into the game when he heard the familiar sound of the arcade's automatic doors opening. A quick glance towards the entrance revealed who the new visitor was.

"Hey, Motoki," Ikawa said as he walked up behind him. "Having fun?"

Motoki chuckled. "I suppose. It's better than standing up at the counter doing nothing. As you can tell, things are not exactly active here today."

Ikawa nodded. "I can see that. So, what really happened yesterday?"

Motoki spent a few minutes summarizing the previous day's battle. When he finished Ikawa sighed. "So... Aqoran and Teritan are back." He paused. "I guess... I guess that's all of us then. Except -"

"It's not," Motoki finished. "Fuera and Rega." Gaia and Hera.

Ikawa shook his head. "They've been dead five... no, ten thousand years. But it's still," he said, then trailed off. Motoki was silent. After a long moment, Ikawa spoke again. "Damn Iris. Why must she live when they died?"

"You know as well as I," Motoki replied.

"Serenity," Ikawa said as though the name was a curse. Motoki did not respond, and for a long moment silence reigned. "Meno wants a meeting for tonight," Ikawa said suddenly.

Motoki nodded. "All right. I can contact the others. What for?"

It took Ikawa a few seconds to answer. "Good question."



In the space of perhaps an hour, many things happened. The Dark Kingdom returned, only to be met by its ancient foes. A pair of aliens caused a re-awakening of the Senshi, just in time to face a dangerous menace from the future. The Death Busters and the Outer Senshi arrived. And then, Ares awoke, and the Dark Kingdom returned.

Hermes nodded. "Many things make much more sense now."

"Your turn," was all Sailor Mercury said.

Hermes sighed and began to pace across the small alley. "All right... where to begin? I'm not even sure how much you already know."

"You could do worse than to assume I know nothing more than what I've already told you," Mercury said.

Hermes laughed. "I could keep you here for weeks if you want my whole story, all eight thousand years of it... but I suppose the relevant part begins on Mars, shortly after I took this incarnation."

"Incarnation?" Mercury asked, puzzled.

"You don't know?" Hermes said. "I suppose not. You do know you are the reincarnation of Princess Mesyne, the Senshi of Mercury?" At Mercury's nod, Hermes continued. "Imagine that, over and over again. In a way."

Mercury frowned. "In a way?"

At this, Hermes sighed. "It's hard to explain. When a Champion dies, he finds a suitable person... and that person becomes the Champion."

"Possession?" Mercury asked, taking a nervous step back.

"No," Hermes said calmly. "It's not at all like possession. It's more of a... merger, a symbiosis. The person becomes the Champion, but the Champion becomes the person, too."

Silence was his only answer. After a moment, Hermes continued. "Anyway, as I was saying, my story begins just after I took this incarnation, almost eight thousand years after the fall of the Golden Millennium."

Mercury looked up. "Wait a moment." She hit a button on her communicator. "I hope you don't mind if I record this?"

"Of course not," Hermes replied.

"Good," Mercury stated. "Now, what was that about a Golden Millennium?"

Hermes sighed. "I don't know too much about it. I only saw its end. By the time I was created, it was little more than a shadow of its former greatness, corrupted by the black magics of a dark queen." He paused. "There was a war. She lost when most of the Senshi turned against her. Serenity the Peacemaker rose to the throne, and the Silver Millennium was born. That would be... eighteen thousand years ago now."

After a moment of quiet, Hermes continued.



Ten thousand years ago...

Janus stifled a yawn as he glanced at the proceedings. Shifting in his chair, he turned to his companion. "How much longer do you think this is going to take, Deinas?"

The Champion of Mars smiled, and whispered back. "I don't know. Queen Atara has too many relatives to count. Who knows which one is the next Senshi Mars?"

In the room that the two Champion's balcony seats overlooked, the current candidate walked dejectedly away from the throne, and the next walked up to be tested. "I've never understood why Mars makes such a spectacle of this. At least Mercury does it sensibly."

Deinas chuckled to himself. "That's because Mercury's royal family is so small." Indeed, there had actually only been one candidate for the post this time, which was why Janus was here on Mars instead of there. "It could be worse," Deinas said. "You could have tagged along with Aphrodite."

Janus shuddered. "I have no idea how they can finish their selection process before Princess Serenity's birthday."

"I don't know either," Deinas replied. "But they always seem to manage. Somehow."

The seemingly endless parade of candidates continued to pass below the Champions. The day dragged on, as lower and lower ranking nobility's daughters came before the throne and were sent away. Janus struggled not to fall asleep. Noticing this, Deinas smiled. "Come on, Janus. Let's go for a walk. Nobody will care if we're missing for a little while."

Janus rose. "What if they find the Senshi while were gone?"

Deinas shook his head. "None of those candidates has even a drop of power," he replied, gesturing towards the row of candidates that were currently present in the throne room. "I can feel it. Testing them is a formality to avoid offending their families," Deinas finished. Soon he and Janus were on a wandering excursion through the halls of the palace.

Some time later, the two were catching a breath of fresh air atop one of the many towers that rose above the palace. Janus frowned as he surveyed the panorama that spread out below him. "Those are new," he commented dryly, pointing to the large, modern military bases on the outskirts of the city, which contrasted rather poorly with the look of the oldest surviving city in the solar system.

"Queen Atara didn't want anyone else to be able to take the city as easily as she did," Deinas replied.

Janus shook his head. "I'd think she'd be more concerned with threats from within the capital than outside it. After all, it did declare for Aurora, while most of the other cities supported Atara, as I recall."

Deinas shrugged. "We're only a day's ride from the nomads' territory, and they were on much friendlier terms with Aurora than Atara."

"I suppose," Janus replied. He paused, then spoke. "I think we should probably head back. By my estimates, they'd have finished that batch of candidates by now."

A few minutes later, Deinas and Janus had taken their seats once more, and just in time, as the throne room's doors had been opened to admit a new set of candidates and disgorge the previous one. Janus quickly noticed that this group was not dressed in the finery of the previous ones. Evidently, the selection progress had moved on to those families that could only be called noble in a very loose sense.

These candidates were much less orderly than the previous set, many of them openly gawking at the throne room, as this was likely their first and only opportunity to see it. The first girl in the line, who was dressed in even rougher clothing than most of the others, was engaged in a heated conversation with the herald, which Janus unfortunately could not overhear. Finally, the herald spoke forward and announced in a hesitating voice, "Phoebe, daughter of," and paused, glancing sideways at the girl, then sighing. "Daughter of Aurora," he continued, then trailed off. After a snarled command from the girl, he gulped nervously and finished in a quiet voice, "Of the line of Vulcan, fourth princess of Mars."

For a moment, the throne room was quiet, then burst into a multitude of hushed conversations. Janus glanced at Deinas, who seemed frozen in shock as he stared down at Phoebe. "Deinas?" Janus asked worriedly.

"The rumors," Deinas began, then shook his head and turned to Janus. "I know Phoebe. We grew up in the same tribe." He paused, shaking his head a second time. "I knew she was an orphan of the succession war like me, but this...." He trailed off, glancing down at the floor below, where the Queen was conferring with her advisors, among them the present Senshi Mars. After a few moments, it appeared a decision had been reached, and Phoebe was brought forward to be tested.

All through the test, Phoebe silently stared at the Queen, who looked as though she were seeing a ghost. After a seeming eternity, the test was concluded, and the results made known.

The next Senshi Mars had been found.

That was then...



...and this is now.

Ikawa glanced at his watch as he left the Crown Arcade. He still had a few minutes to spare. As he headed towards his meeting place, he considered the future. All the Champions who would be found had been, and now the question that lay before them was quite simple: what next?

They'd basically been running on autopilot since this whole thing started. Fight the youma, fight the Senshi, Awaken the others. They'd put off all the hard decisions until they were all Awake, and that time had come. And now what would they do? The current situation could not go on forever. At some point the war would end, either in victory or defeat.

And without a plan, they could not hope for a final victory. Haphazard brawls with the Senshi would accomplish nothing. But... what plan would win the war? Ikawa sighed. He certainly had no idea.

Ikawa frowned. This war was strangely much more complicated then the last. The rebellion had been almost straightforward in comparison. After each planet fell, the next one's turn came. Jupiter, then Uranus and Neptune, then inward to Mercury and Venus, then finally Luna. The goal on each was simple: support whatever rebel factions might exist and crush the loyalists. The rest was just tactics... and Ares was an excellent tactician.

Unfortunately, what was needed now was not tactics but strategy. The current series of skirmishes with the Senshi was unacceptable: defeat was entirely too possible. For the most part, each Senshi was an equal match for her counterpart. But the Senshi also had Serenity and Endymion... and Saturn. Ikawa's frown deepened. It was entirely luck that Saturn had not yet turned the tide... her strength, both offensive and defensive, was nearly unmatchable.

The only good bit of news was that, with all the Awakenings complete, Motoki's ludicrous prohibition against seeking battle would no longer be in effect... not that it had actually had any effect to begin with. But maybe now they could somehow take the offensive, against either the Senshi or the youma. Waiting and reacting did not sit well with Ikawa.

Ikawa firmly set aside those thoughts as a familiar figure waved at him. "Hello, Rei," he said with a wave of his own. "So... what is it you wanted to do today?"

As the two headed off on their 'date', Ikawa found himself wondering why he continued to see the younger girl. The only explanation was that he was falling in love with Rei. He could admit it to himself, even if he couldn't quite figure out why he would do so. Something in her drew him, like a moth to a flame... and that was more than a little scary. And the last time he had felt that way -

"Phoebe," Ikawa muttered under his breath, drawing a question from his companion. As he explained away his slip, Ikawa found himself surreptitiously giving Rei a long, calculating look.

It couldn't be... could it?



"After that," Hermes continued, "Queen Atara requested that we leave Mars with Phoebe immediately... for the obvious reasons."

Sailor Mercury nodded, a few puzzling shards of information she had found in her searches now made crystal clear. Despite that comfort, she failed to see the relevance as Hermes's tale to the situation at hand, and she quickly relayed that fact to her companion.

"True," Hermes admitted. "It doesn't seem like much now, but later," he began only to trail off, shaking his head. "Well, depending on your taste for conspiracy theory, you may find it relevant." He paused. "In any case, most of the other new Senshi had already been found, though Venus took several more weeks. Once she'd been found, we were snuck into Saturn, quietly found out that the heir, Iris, was the next Senshi Saturn, and got her off planet before the riots started."

Mercury frowned. "Riots?"

"I'm forgetting that you don't remember anything." After a moment to collect his thoughts, Hermes explained. "Saturn was never a very peaceful planet, but when a search was going on, there used to be worldwide chaos. Once, rioters managed to break into the royal palace and kill the new Senshi. Ever since then, the search on Saturn had been carried out in secrecy." Hermes shook his head. "But that time somebody let slip where the candidates were being held, with predictable results. I later heard that nearly ten thousand people died when the riots were put down."

"But why would the people -" Mercury stopped. "Oh."

"We always used to debate how to remove the dread reputation of the 'Senshi of Destruction', or at least to contain it." Hermes let out a bitter laugh. "As it turned out, we might have been better off to heed the doomsayers."

There was an uncomfortable silence for a moment. Hermes let out a soft sigh. "I get ahead of myself." When Sailor Mercury did not reply, Hermes shook his head and continued his tale. "We took the next group of Senshi to Castle Charon on Pluto to be trained. Everything went normally, and then it was time for Princess Serenity's coming of age ceremony. The elder Senshi passed on their mantles to their heirs, who swore their eternal loyalty to the Princess." Hermes smiled. "The celebrations were something to see. Even the Terrans were out in force. In fact, I believe that celebration was where the Princess first met Prince Endymion."

Hermes paused for a moment. "After that, there was a long, apparently peaceful period. And during that time, I was not present for most of the truly important events."



Ishamanar put on a show of anger as he arrived at the palace. It wouldn't be proper for a General of the Dark Kingdom to not be furious at being unexpectedly summoned away from the ongoing victory celebration to deal with some criminal. Of course, this call had in reality been anything but unexpected, and he had been quite pleased upon receiving it.

For that meant that Asphara's operation had proceeded according to plan, and things that proceeded according to plan were rare and precious things. And this particular precious thing would place them within striking distance of their goal, as well as eliminate one of the few impediments in their path.

That impediment was not the unfortunate victim of their plan, who in fact was irrelevant. Instead, it was the fact that their usage of the portals to Terra had to be covert. If Jadeite found out what they were planning, his wrath would have no bounds. And, strong as he was, Ishamanar had no desire to test his power against Jadeite's, and Nyxan was just as cautious.

Ishamanar strode through the throne room's double doors, and noted the chained, reptilian form of Overlord Gorhan in its center. He briefly nodded in the direction on Asphara, who was lurking in the shadows near the back of the room. Anything more would have to wait for a less public place.

As he took his place before the throne - not on it, even with Jadeite hundreds of miles away - Ishamanar allowed himself a smile. The gathered Overlords interpreted this as something far more fearsome than it was, particularly as they had much to fear. After all, they had chosen not to personally join the war effort. Had Mordrangar triumphed, that decision would have served them well, but with the Dragon cast down, a single misstep could place their lives in peril. As had just occurred to one of their number.

"Bring forth the prisoner!" Ishamanar roared. Guards rushed to obey his command, and soon Overlord Gorhan was being dragged forward to kneel before the General. Ishamanar walked forward to meet the helpless pawn.

Gorhan tried to shrink back as the General approached him. Perhaps he had hoped to cast doubt on Asphara's claims, but the appearance of her consort to judge him killed that hope before it could be born.

Ishamanar did not give him a chance to speak. "Overlord Gorhan, you are charged with unsanctioned usage of the portal to Terra and smuggling of energy." Ishamanar paused. "You are found guilty on all charges."

A few moments later, Gorhan was nothing more than a pile of dust, and soon that dust too would be vanished. Such was what passed for justice in the Dark Kingdom.



"It was during those years that Beryl, who was then a Terran noblewoman, first became of concern to us. Terra was just coming out of one of its periodic isolationist periods, and Beryl rose to become the leader of one of the reactionary movements. She came under suspicion several times for involvement in illegal activities, but repeated investigations by Prince Endymion's Guardians failed to turn anything up." Hermes paused and cleared his throat. "It took many years for the reason for that to be uncovered."

Mercury nodded. "Those Guardians... they would be the Dark Kingdom's Generals, correct?" she questioned.

"They later became them, yes. We never did figure out at exactly which point they were subverted." Hermes gathered his thoughts. "Ares and Senshi Mars worked with Jadeite on one of the early investigations of Beryl's organization. Apparently, the three of them hit it off quite well, so much so that they asked Jadeite to officiate at their wedding."

For a moment, Hermes reminisced quietly, until he was interrupted by a none-too-polite cough from his companion. "And?" Sailor Mercury asked pointedly. Though the stories Hermes had be related were of some interest, they did not yet seem relevant to the matters she wished to uncover.

Hermes blinked. "My apologies." He scratched his head a moment. "I only know about what happened next second hand. As I mentioned, I was not present, and my only source was Ares. He was, understandably, not talkative about it. Apparently, at some point Jadeite became infatuated with Senshi Mars. There was some sort of... incident, and he had a falling out with the other two. It was years before we were able to put Ares and Jadeite in the same room without a fight breaking out."

Hermes began to pace. "Ares later said that he thought that was what brought Jadeite over to Beryl's side. Whether or not that was the case, only Jadeite himself would be able to tell you now. But, at the time, Jadeite still seemed to be very much Prince Endymion's loyal servant."

Hermes' pace quickened. "The next few years were fairly busy. Though Beryl was quiet, there were many incidents requiring our attention. The worst was a whole Neptunian colony which had turned to demon worship and ultimately had to be purged. The fact that it was only a month before Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion's engagement ceremony did not help matters, and neither did the revelation that several prominent nobles were involved. The whole Solar System was in a mild state of uproar when the time for the ceremony came."



Ten thousand years ago...

The throne room was loud. Though each individual conversation was muted, nearly all the nobility of both Terra and Luna was present, and what seemed like half that of the other planets besides. With that many people, quiet seemed a near impossibility.

But yet, at a cough from Her Royal Majesty, Serenity, daughter of Serenity, one hundred and eighth Queen of the Moon Kingdom, and unchallenged sovereign of the Silver Millennium, quiet came with alarming suddenness. "My subjects," she began. "My friends and allies. We are gathered here on this joyous occasion to celebrate the announcement that the royal houses of Luna and Terra shall be joined in marriage."

Serenity's calm gaze swept the crowd, seeming to look into each person's soul. "We know that our realm has been shaken in recent times by dark occurrences. Be reassured, however. What happened at Naiad will not be allowed to occur again. Steps have already been taken, but more will be required."

The Queen paused, her gaze sweeping the crowd a second time. Some met her gaze proudly, most with a healthy respect, and a few with great nervousness or fear. And no doubt Serenity took notice of each response. "The Silver Fleet has been fully mobilized," she stated simply.

The announcement caused no small shock in its recipients. The last time the Fleet had been even partly mobilized was the Martian succession wars, almost four Terran decades ago. None of them could remember a time when it had been fully mobilized.

But more was to come. "I am calling on all ten planets to fulfill their obligations and raise forces for the Silver Army," Queen Serenity continued. "While we hope that no more colonies have fallen into darkness like Naiad, we must be prepared. If a crisis is coming, we must calm it before it can fully form."

The nobles were already beginning to calm themselves. Many could already see opportunities for profit in this new state of affairs. If the planets were to mobilize, soldiers and money would be required, and large amounts of each. And it was the nobility that held those two things. As well, those who were chosen to command units could expect to gain great power and influence.

However, all this shortly fled from their minds. A voice from the back of the room yelled out a harsh phrase in an unfamiliar language. As heads turned to identify the source, a bolt of black lightning sprung forward, arcing towards the Queen. Though the attack was harmlessly absorbed by Serenity's protective fields, the crowd almost instantly erupted into chaos.

Senshi Mars and Senshi Mercury, the only Senshi present, quickly took up protective positions around the Queen and the Princess. The silver-armored guards moved almost as quickly, rushing towards the attacker, but the stampede of panicking nobility slowed their charge to a crawl.

The attacker, a stockily built man who it would later be determined was not known to anyone present, laughed. "Fools. Make your plans. Purge Naiad, and a dozen more like it. It matters not. Metallia's reign has begun!" Twin bolts of dark energy shot from his hands, sending two guards flying.

Another guard got close enough to strike at the man with his sword, only to be batted aside, perishing as his chestplate caved in under the force of the blow. The man smirked. "You humans die too easily." However, the guard's sacrifice bought the others a moment to prepare, and soon a dozen guards were charging towards the attacker, weapons alight with silver flame.

The man laughed a second time, and raised his hands. The guards' charge was suddenly blocked by a wave of dark power, which swept over them. When it had passed, the guards collapsed. With the threat from behind blocked off, the man turned back toward the Queen and her guardians. A ball of darkness began to form in the man's hands as he strode forward.

The two Senshi glanced at each other, and leapt forward. "Shine Aqua Illusion!" Mercury called out.

As the man dodged the icy blast, he walked straight into a Burning Manadala from Mars. This elicited a grunt of pain, and the two Senshi soon pressed their attack, hitting the man with everything they had.

Forced back by the attacks, the man growled in pain. Suddenly, his form twisted and shimmered, only to be replaced by a visage out of nightmares, a beast seemingly all of fangs and claws. With a roar, the misshapen creature leapt forward. The Senshi backed up, barely avoiding the beast's deadly claws.

Fortunately, by now assistance had arrived. "World Shaking!" The blast sent the beast stumbling forward, an inhuman screech uttering from its throat. Half an instant later, a veritable wall of attacks hit the foul demon from all sides. With a final scream, the creature began to dissolve into dust.

Senshi Venus rushed forward. "Your majesty, your highness... are you both all right?" As the two answered in the affirmative, the other Senshi and Champions busied themselves throughout the room. Senshi Saturn and Aphrodite were helping the wounded, while Senshi Mercury and Hermes had already begun to examine the creature's remains. Ares and Senshi Mars were quietly conversing in a corner.

The captain of the guard entered and reported on the casualties. All told, eighteen guards and almost thirty nobles had perished in the confusion. The surviving guests were being held for their own safety - there were a number of cultists about, and it would be some time before the guard could be certain they had all been dealt with.

As the guard finished, King Endymion and his son entered the throne room, flanked by their Guardians. Jadeite glanced sideways at Ares and Mars's quiet conversation, but restrained himself from any open show of anger. The King approached Queen Serenity, giving a shallow but respectful bow. "Serenity, it pains me that this day of joy has been so tarnished. Know that you have Terra's full support."

The Queen nodded. "I thank you, Endymion." She paused for a moment. "This incident makes it clear that the corruption extends far further than I had feared. I am afraid I will have to institute emergency measures." At Endymion's nod, the Queen rose, attracting the attention of everyone in the room.

"My Senshi," Serenity began. She paused as the ten woman gathered before her. "I release you from your oaths." The Silver Crystal glowed softly, acting out the Queen's statement. As all the Senshi save Pluto began to express their shock, the Queen quieted them with a gesture. "I fear that perhaps even one of the royal families may be implicated in this. Someone had to arrange for that... thing to be given an invitation, and to sneak the cultists onto the palace grounds. I do not wish for you to be required to fight against your families."

Queen Serenity stepped down from the dais. "If you would serve me, even knowing that this may come to that, swear your oaths once more. If not, then I would ask that you surrender your titles and accept safe passage home."

The Senshi glanced among themselves, then Senshi Pluto stepped forward, and bowed to the Queen and the Princess. "By the planet Pluto, this I swear. My death for your life. My life for your death. From this day forth, I fight for love and justice in your name. So it will be, until we all fall." The Ginzuishou glowed a second time, binding Senshi Pluto to her oath.

Nervously, the other Senshi followed suit, re-swearing their oaths. When they were finished, the Queen looked as though a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "Thank you, my friends," she whispered. "I will live up to your trust in me."

Serenity turned, and walked over to where the Champions had stood, watching the small ceremony. "Queen Serenity," Gaia said with a bow, and was soon echoed by the other Champions.

There was an awkward silence as Serenity seemed to examine each of the Champions in turn. She then spoke. "I... I realize what I am about to ask, but it is necessary." She paused. "I do not think armies alone will suffice to deal with this threat. I need you to investigate, to scour the ten planets for whoever is behind these demonic infestation. You will act with my full authority. Whatever is necessary, will be yours."

The Champions glanced sideways at each other. "What's the catch?" Hades asked quietly.

"I cannot grant anyone such power in good conscience... unless I have their oaths of loyalty, bound on the Silver Crystal. The dangers of abuse are too great." The Queen paused. "I trust you... but I cannot risk it."

For a second time, the Champions traded glances. "Queen Serenity," Gaia started. After a moment, she continued. "We have never sworn loyalty to the Queen of the Moon Kingdom. You know why we were summoned, eight thousand years ago. For all that time, the agreement with Serenity the Peacemaker -"

"I know," the Queen interrupted. "But I must ask you to set that aside. I know not what forces we must deal with now, but I do know that I will need your help. By asking this of you, I have broken a treaty that has stood for the full length of the Silver Millennium. I beg of you, let us forge a new agreement."

Glances were shot for a third time. The Champions were silent for what seemed like an eternity. But after a while, Ares stepped forward, his sword appearing in his hands. "By the Planet Mars, this I swear." He paused for a moment. "I will always help those who are in trouble, in need of help, or in need of a friend. I will not turn my back on duty or honor. I will fight for what is right and just. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. I will avenge those I cannot defend, and mourn those I cannot avenge." The Queen bowed her head in regret as Ares concluded the ancient oath. "This I swear, until all are one."

Ares took a step back. "That is the only oath I will swear."

"Do you all feel that way?" Serenity asked wearily.

As the other Champions nodded, Ares returned his sword to subspace. "The treaty with Serenity the Peacemaker is broken."

"So it is. Is there no way we can reach a new agreement?"

Hermes shook his head. "I fear not, Your Majesty. How can you trust us, knowing we do not trust you enough to swear?"

"And how can you trust me, knowing that I wouldn't trust you without a bound oath?" Queen Serenity sighed. "We all do what we must." She paused. "With the treaty broken, you are stripped of all titles, positions, and honors granted to you by the Moon Kingdom. You have one Terran day to leave Luna, after which safe passage cannot be guaranteed. Such were the terms agreed on by my predecessor."

"So they were," Chronus agreed. He offered a shallow bow. "I beg your leave," he stated before he vanished, teleported away. The other Champions followed suit.

And on the other side of the room, where he stood guarding the shocked King Endymion, Jadeite frowned, deep in thought.

That was then...



...and this is now.

Jadeite frowned as he walked into the neutral ground. This meeting had been suddenly arranged... could treachery be intended? He doubted that though. The other had as much reason for fear as him. After all... which of them had just slain a Dragon?

Jadeite rubbed at his sore shoulder for a moment, then nodded at the one he had come to meet.

"Greetings... General Jadeite," Loriel, Water Dragon of the East said, fiddling a moment with his ornate blue robes.

Jadeite chose to ignore the implied disrespect. "Greetings to you, Dragon," he replied, meeting the Dragon's unnerving, pupil-less aqua eyes. "Why have you requested your king's presence?"

Loriel snorted. "My king? Hardly. I acknowledge only one ruler: Metallia. You are not her. You are nothing but a wretched human playing a game fit only for gods."

"Beryl was nothing but a human herself," Jadeite replied. "You served her."

"Beryl had Metallia's blessing. What do you have, human?" Loriel laughed. "You have nothing. I could crush you before you could even move."

Jadeite allowed silence to reign for a moment before speaking. "Mordrangar said much the same thing. He died for his poor judgment."

"Mordrangar was a fool. Had I been he, you would have been crushed on the first day you appeared in Beryl's palace. Had he not fallen for my feint, your armies would have been destroyed." Loriel paused. "Nonetheless, destroying you now would take far more effort than it is worth."

"And that is why you have called me here," Jadeite stated.

Loriel nodded. "That is why you have been summoned. Perhaps some mutually beneficial agreement can be made."

Jadeite smiled. "Or, in other words, you're afraid of me." As Loriel began an angry retort, Jadeite laughed. "Admit it. You would never be negotiating with me if you weren't afraid. You don't know how I managed to kill the Dragon of the North, and you're afraid I'll do the same to you."

Loriel's eyes glowed with a pale, dangerous light. "Your arrogance is astounding, human." Loriel shifted, shedding his human-seeming disguise, and revealing his fluid, serpentine true form. "Do you truly wish to test your might?"

Jadeite summoned an aura of flame. "Try me, Dragon." Though outwardly he was calm, inside he trembled. If Loriel called his bluff -

Loriel wordlessly shifted back into his human form. "Enough of this pointless posturing."

Jadeite followed suit, allowing his flames to die down. "I will allow you control over all territories your forces presently occupy. The remainder of the Northlands is mine."

Loriel snorted. "Why should I agree to that when I could take nearly the entire Northlands by force?"

"Could you, Dragon? You are far from your territories, and all I need do is seize the ports, and you would have no hope of reinforcement. You are already outnumbered four to one, and more Overlords flock to my banner every day. Your only choices are to stand against me and fail, or join me and triumph."

"You exaggerate your power, General Jadeite. I will settle for no less than all territories north of the Mountains of Desolation." More than three quarters of the Northlands. "Anything less is unacceptable."

Jadeite laughed. "You seek to gain by the pen what you could not take by the sword. Admit the truth, Dragon. You cannot hold more than a few enclaves on the eastern coast."

Loriel turned to leave. "This meeting is futile."

"Is it more futile than testing your armies against mine will be?" Jadeite asked.

"Perhaps," Loriel replied, turning back to the dark lord. "If your forces do not advance within two hundred leagues of my armies' current positions, I will not attack you."

With those words, the Dragon vanished, and Jadeite laughed. He would never admit it, but Loriel had just agreed to a peace treaty. Now, with the final loose end of the war finished, he could focus once more on the cursed Senshi.



"Fetch me another beaker."

"Got it, Professor," Tamori said. At the moment, Professor Tomoe was testing yet another hypothesis as to the structure of the pink liquid that was found in almost all of the Death Buster technology. So far, no explanation had been found for any of its properties, much less a unified theory to explain them all.

As Tamori stepped over to hand the beaker to the Professor, he stepped into one of the sticky patches that had apparently been left by the webs from the youma attack. Tamori's mind began to wander... why were the youma attacking here? And would they come back?

The first question was relatively easy to answer. They had apparently discovered that a store of Death Buster technology was located here, and sought to obtain it. The only other possible reason for the attack would be that they had somehow discovered that he was Chronus... not likely.

The answer to the second question obviously depended on how much the youma wanted the technology. Was it idle curiosity or did they have some plan that required it? Best to play it safe, Tamori decided. Next time he got a hold of Meno, he'd ask him to set up some sort of monitoring device at the Tomoe place. After all, it could only be pure luck that the Senshi had discovered the attack in time, and that couldn't be counted on to happen again.

Tamori seriously considered trying to get the Professor to move the lab to somewhere other than the house. If the youma attacked here again, innocents like Hotaru could get hurt. But then again, this place was better protected in one way - he was nearby most of the time, and they weren't that far from the areas the other Champions frequented. But moving was still something to think about.

The work continued, and soon it was time for lunch. Tamori and the Professor headed back upstairs, and made their way to the kitchen, where they found Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru talking quietly together. The conversation died as the two entered the room, and Tamori thought he saw Haruka slip a familiar seeming item into her pocket.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

Awkward silence was his answer for a moment, until Haruka spoke. "Nothing," she said in a particularly unconvincing tone of voice.

Tamori frowned, but decided not to press the issue. As he wandered over to the fridge to procure his own share of the leftovers from the previous night's dinner, he briefly wondered where Setsuna was. He had hardly seen her since his first night in the house.



"Asphara," Ishamanar breathed as his consort entered the private room. "It's been a while."

"Yes," Asphara agreed. "It has."

One of Ishamanar's four hands came up to caress the female's face, but a moment later it dropped back to his side. "Business first," he stated, not entirely pleased at the concept. "Do you have it?"

Asphara nodded, extending one hand, in which a glowing ball of energy quickly formed. "This is the entire proceeds of Gorhan's raid, as well as his private energy stores."

Ishamanar accepted the contribution. "We're almost there. At the current rate, your operation will bring in enough to fully proceed in a few weeks."

"Proceed on what?" Asphara asked. "You've never told me exactly what you and Nyxan were planning."

Ishamanar told her.

"You," Asphara began, then trailed off. "You think you can do that in a few weeks? Beryl's -"

"Beryl was amazingly wasteful. Each costly operation brought minimal profit, as the vast majority of the energy gathered was lost when the youma involved was destroyed. Our operations don't gather as much energy, but are far more efficient."

"That is true," Asphara agreed with a smile. After all, that efficiency was to her credit. "But energy isn't all you'll need. What about -"

Ishamanar cut her off with a wave of his hand. "Nyxan procured the item in question not long ago. If we're careful, nothing will be able to stop us now."

Asphara sighed. "It's not so long ago that this would have seemed impossible. The D-point base was destroyed, Beryl and all her Generals were dead."

Ishamanar nodded. "The Dark Kingdom was tearing itself apart. The Dragons warred for control, ultimately causing it to slip from their grasp. Had the war continued, youma would have become extinct within a hundred years. Without a goddess, we have no purpose. Only our Great Leader can save us."

"Perhaps," Asphara replied.

Ishamanar shook his head. "It was certain. It was foreseen. As is all that has occurred since Jadeite's return."

"The Metallian Codex," Asphara whispered. The forbidden tome had a terrible reputation among the youma, and many had searched for it upon Beryl's death. It would be two then-weak Overlords that found it first- Ishamanar and Nyxan. After fighting each other to a draw for possession of the tome, they had agreed to study it together. From there, the plan had been formed.

Ishamanar pulled a deceptively simple looking volume down from a shelf, where it lay hidden among dozens of similar seeming, though far more mundane, works. He quickly thumbed through to a certain well-read page. "In the days after Time turns back on itself, all will seem lost. Fear not, for after the ninety Pharaohs fall, one of Fire will emerge from Ice to lead you. And your enemies shall fight among themselves, and they shall be driven before your armies. The bull will triumph over plague, but will fall to the hidden hand. The sky will be as flame, and the dead will walk. And when all this has come to pass as it has been foreseen, I, Metallia, will reign forever."

Ishamanar closed the tome, and returned it to its hiding place. In actuality, it was nothing more than a partial copy. The original was hidden in a far safer location. He trusted his consort, but not that much. "I do believe we are done with business," he said with a predatory smile.

For some period of time, the two were quite busy. After that, Asphara rose. "I'm afraid I must be going. The operation demands attention, and I must return soon, else Jadeite might notice that the portal is still being used after Gorhan was dealt with."



Allana Farrel observed the changes as she returned to the Crown Cafe. Evidently the damage had not been as great as it had seemed: once the shards of glass and other rubble had been removed, it had been revealed that for the most part the cafe was intact. The only thing that was truly missing was the front wall.

Allana nodded at Unazuki's friendly wave. "How did the meetings go?" the redhead asked.

"Fairly well," Allana replied. "I am still going to need to meet a few more contractors to see which will work best. Is everything going all right here?"

Unazuki nodded. "Of course. Most of the mess is dealt with, and I've got all the tables back upright."

Allana nodded. "Very good work. You will receive a bonus on your next paycheck."

"Thank you, Ms. Farrel."

Allana smiled. "No, thank you. Go ahead and take a break while I call up a few more people."

Unazuki nodded and left, stifling a short yawn. Ms. Farrel was trying to get the cafe reopened for business within a week, which Unazuki felt was a bit optimistic. She quickly wandered over to the arcade to see how her brother was doing.

As she walked through the automatic doors she noticed that he was currently talking with Sachiko and Uji. Motoki waved as he noticed her enter, and she soon joined them.

After a few pleasantries were exchanged, Motoki's face became serious. "There's going to be a meeting tonight at Ikawa's place. I don't know what it's about, but Meno's apparently discovered something."

The other three Champions nodded. "Speaking of that," Sachiko began. "What's our plan? There's nobody else to Awaken, and from my understanding that's what you've been focusing on."

Motoki shrugged. "Maybe Meno's information will help us decide. But for the moment, I don't know."

After a moment of silence, Uji and Sachiko made their excuses and left. Unazuki glanced at her watch. "I should probably head back too. Wouldn't want Ms. Farrel to get annoyed."



"That's it?" Mercury asked angrily. "You mean this is all about some... technicality?"

"It was hardly a technicality. We were always intended as a balancing force. To swear loyalty to the Queen would be to abandon our oaths. But, no. That is not what caused all this. Though it certainly helped." Hermes turned away for a moment, and gathered his thoughts before continuing.

"The next five years were superficially peaceful, but in reality were far less so. After that first attack, dozens more assassination attempts were made by similar monsters, which we would much later learn to call youma. Some of them succeeded. King Endymion was one of the victims and the Terran nobles refused to accept Prince Endymion because of his engagement to Princess Serenity. In the end, a compromise regency government was set up. Beryl was one of its members."

Hermes sighed. "Meanwhile, we were preparing for... something. We weren't sure what, but we knew that something big was coming, and that we had to be ready for it. Though we had lost all official posts, we still had many powerful allies and useful contacts, particularly among the fleet. In a way, we fulfilled Serenity's request, establishing a secret group we called the Brotherhood to fight the Metallian cults."

"It was almost fifteen years after Serenity and Endymion's engagement ceremony that everything came to a head, at a trade conference between Juno and Terra."

"Juno?" Mercury asked.

Hermes blinked, then groaned. "You don't know? Not surprising, I guess. Juno was the fifth planet from the sun, in between Mars and Jupiter. It had the second largest population in the Solar System, almost as many as Terra itself. At least... until the day of that conference." Hermes grimaced.

"Oh," Mercury said.

Hermes continued after a moment. "It was an important conference, and both the Senshi and Champions of both planets were in attendance. Security was unfortunately lax, and so we had a number of Brotherhood agents keeping an eye out on things."

Hermes paused. "It was the largest cultist strike ever. Almost three hundred irregular soldiers, a handful of sorcerers, and two dozen youma - almost four times more than had ever been used in a single strike before. The last report we got out of Juno before everything went to hell was that strange energy surges had been detected deep below the planet's surface, and that Gaia and Senshi Terra were investigating. We never found out exactly what happened below."



Ten thousand years ago...

Nephrite smiled. It had been too easy to slip through the palace's security and into the caverns. And now he was here, far below the surface of Juno. He was not sure why this particular place was necessary, but Beryl had insisted. And when his queen commanded, he obeyed.

Nephrite glanced back at his companion, remembering all too well the titanic battle it had taken to bring him over to their side. It had been well that Beryl's spell had worked, else the whole movement would have been destroyed then and there, deep inside Neptune. And then they'd repeated it twice more, on Uranus and Mars. Unfortunately, the others had not been found, or were too powerful to take on.

"So... this is the place," his companion stated, hands playing idly with ornate blue robes. "He will be coming here. He must know what can be done here."

Nephrite nodded. "Be on guard, Loriel. I will begin the ceremony."

The Water Dragon grunted, and idly wandered about the roughly hewn chamber. Nephrite ignored him, instead pulling a black gem from his uniform. The Void Diamond: one of five. The others would have been useful, but this one would be enough, at least if the cultists above could provide enough energy.

Nephrite slowly approached the low altar which lay in the chamber's center. The Diamond was reverently placed in a round depression on is surface, though it fit poorly. Nephrite made an arcane gesture and began to speak in a harsh, dreadful tongue, not fit for a human being to speak.

The walls began to shake, and Loriel nodded. "He is here," the Dragon of Water spoke, just as a massive, fanged maw began to appear out of the wall.

"Water Dragon," Mordrangar, Dragon of Earth, boomed out. "Why are you here, and why do you allow this darkness to be done?"

Loriel snickered. "Your eyes will be opened. Just like Kyrien and Scalae were enlightened." Loriel shifted, and soon his own gigantic form was curled protectively around where Nephrite stood, continuing to chant.

Mordrangar reared back, his brown eyes following long, jagged black scars along the Water Dragon's flanks. "What has been done to you, Loriel?" His only answer was a laugh. Mordrangar growled, allowing the rest of his body to enter the chamber. "I wish it not, but I will fight you."

The two met in a storm of claws and magical attacks. Their bodies curled about each other, intertwining, and soon both were bleeding from numerous wounds. However, Loriel began to force the battle away from the altar and into the wider natural cavern system. Mordrangar, seeing this, struggled to get past the smaller Dragon, but found himself unable to do so without leaving himself open to a crippling blow.

And so Nephrite was for the moment left alone to finish his work. After a few more words, he shifted back into his natural speech. "Great Metallia, Queen of Darkness, Queen of Chaos. Heed my call!"

The dark gem on the altar began to glow an eerie light, and Nephrite wiped sweat off of his forehead. "Great leader, here is the appointed place, where the boundaries between the universes weaken and falter."

For an instant, Nephrite almost heard a dark whisper in the air. He silently pulled a dagger from his jacket and cut open the palm of his hand, allowing the warm blood to water the altar's cold stone. "Accept this offering, great Metallia, and heed my call."

Slowly, a large cocoon began to form above the altar. Almost immediately, wisps of energy gathered around it, sent by the cultists above to feed the creature taking shape below. The cocoon grew and swelled, preparing to accept the spirit that would soon enter the material world.

Nephrite sighed in relief. It was almost all over. Metallia would soon be free, free to lead them to victory over the foulness of this Silver Millennium, corrupt follower to and pale imitation of the Golden Age. Mankind would throw off the false barriers of law and morality that constrained him, and return to his purest form.

"What is that?" came a voice from behind him. Nephrite turned and grimaced, then forced himself to show a false smile. "Welcome, my lady Gaia, my lady Senshi Terra."

Terra was positioned to launch a spell, while Gaia's sword was out. "Guardian Nephrite!" the Senshi exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

Nephrite laughed. "Ushering in the end of a foul reign, and the beginning of Metallia's eternal rule!"

"You," Gaia whispered. "It makes sense now."

"Doesn't it?" Nephrite asked mockingly. "Care to observe? Within the hour, great Metallia will be fully free, and the ten planets will tremble before the arrival of their new goddess."

"You seek to unleash that demon?" Senshi Terra asked in horror, but quickly calmed herself. At Gaia's nod, the two raced forward, intent on slaying the traitor and destroying the cocoon.

Nephrite raised his arms above his head, a ball of water swiftly forming in his hands. "How does Lady Neptune's go? Oh yes... Deep Submerge!"

Gaia broke left, while Senshi Terra headed right, the ball of water passing harmlessly between them. Nephrite chuckled, extending his arms to his sides. "Water Wyrd!" Twin snakes of water launched from his hands, fanged maws striking the two woman. The snake apparitions lashed about, flinging the two back before they could recover from the first strike. Nephrite then retracted the snakes, as the two were out of range. "Care to try again, my ladies?"

Gaia reached out with her mind and telepathically contacted Senshi Terra. "He's vastly more powerful then he should be. Stay behind something, and work your way around to the left. Be careful, Thea." Senshi Terra caught Gaia's eyes and nodded once, her face grimly determined.

Wordlessly the two advanced, using what little cover existed to shield themselves from the Guardian of Water's attacks. Nephrite snorted. "Stone may protect you from water, but I have more tricks then that. O stars above, lend me your power!" As a ball of energy formed in his hand, Nephrite smiled. "Orion's Spear!"

The lance of energy shattered the rock that Terra was hiding behind, and pierced her side. The Senshi fell, gasping from the sudden pain. However, Gaia had managed to get close enough to Nephrite to attack, her sword forcing the corrupt Guardian back.

The close range fight that ensued was short but tiring, and by the end of it Gaia had been forced back from her goal - the cocoon. Despite this, the duel was not a total failure for her, as Nephrite now sported several unpleasant wounds. Nephrite panted a moment, leaning against the altar. "Not much longer now, my lady. Not long at all."

Gaia examined her options, and took the only one available. She reached deep within her self, summoning forth the kernel of power that had been implanted in a young Terran woman eight thousand years ago, that had survived death after death and ensured that Gaia lived on. The power flowed into her, the power of Life itself, filling the room with a glare that forced Nephrite to flinch.

On the ground beside Gaia, Senshi Terra began to stir, only to lay frozen, staring in awe and fear at the fearsome glowing being that stood over her. "I am the Lady of Life. The darkness shall not be allowed to prevail today." Between the Lady's outstretched arms, a ball of pale green light began to form and grow. With a wordless yell, Gaia released a beam of energy, of raw, unmatchable power. The attack sped towards Nephrite and the cocoon, intent on obliterating every trace of them.

Nephrite raised one hand. "Great Metallia, lend me your strength," whispered the exhausted Guardian and soon he felt the dark power surging into him, burning through his veins. Nephrite smiled in the face of his oncoming doom, energy gathering swiftly in his raised hand. "Deflection."

His opponents had only a fleeting instant to recognize their failure.



In orbit around Juno...

Senshi Saturn nervously shifted her grip on the Silence Glaive. The metal should have been cold, but it was warm... as though it were alive. Saturn could feel the power that had been bound to the dread weapon so many years ago, power strong enough to shatter worlds like eggs.

Worlds like the one that spread out tantalizingly below her and the others who had gathered. There was some sort of interference preventing them from landing on or teleporting to the surface, and so they watched helplessly, dependent on irregular and fragmentary reports. So far as could be determined, the Metallian cultists had gained the upper hand in the fighting below.

As Senshi Saturn waited for the next bit of news, the Silence sang to her. It was something she could never explain to another, the way it called to her. It was aware... but it was not. It was life and death. It could not be destroyed, for it was part of all that existed.

And it was hungry. Saturn knew this, could feel the hunger herself. For it was part of her, even more than it was a part of all else. Just as the Silence was bound to the Glaive, so she was bound to the Silence. An ancient pact, survived to haunt the solar system to this day.

And because of it, she was feared. She was loathed. She was a perpetual reminder of the fate that awaited all mankind. Nothing lasted forever, and man did not like to have that fact brought to his attention. For with it came the awareness that in the end all was futile, every victory transient.

Saturn tightened her grasp. Her weapon's siren call was growing stronger, demanding that it be brought into play. She could feel something growing on the planet below, something much like herself. And that was a frightening thought, even setting aside the way the Silence was reacting.

Senshi Saturn's musings came to an abrupt end as a disturbance impinged upon her senses. Something was happening with the Champions. She could not overhear them as they conversed amongst themselves, but she could hear what Hades said when he floated over to where the Senshi were gathered around Queen Serenity. "Gaia is... gone. For good."

Saturn ignored the shocked reactions from her companions, instead focusing on the planet below. The power she had felt growing earlier was swelling faster now. Without thought, Saturn shifted her Glaive into an attack position. "It's coming," she whispered, ignoring her companion's questions.

Saturn shuddered. Something... something dark... was probing the corners of her mind, prodding and feeling. From the looks on the other's faces, she was not alone. Before anyone could recover, a mental voice sounded, filled with hatred and malice.

"I am Metallia, the Queen of Chaos, returned from the Void. Surrender yourselves to my vengeance, or you will see this solar system destroyed around you."

The Silence sang louder in reply, and Saturn heard a mental laugh she was sure was directed to her alone. "Yes, my servant. Your time is now. They thought they could hide you, but they failed. Strike the others down, daughter of Death."

Saturn could feel the urge, nearly irresistible. Her trained mind was plotting out angles of attack - she would have to take out Queen Serenity in the first shot. If she was lucky, the attack would take out Hades and Senshi Uranus as well. Saturn turned and raised her Glaive, to the accompaniment of the voice's chuckles.

She watched dispassionately as the others pleaded for an explanation. She could not speak, she could only gather the energy to fulfil her purpose. She knew that they would not strike first, so she could wait, and prepare the strongest attack possible.

"Silence glaive surprise," she intoned flatly. The others proved more agile in zero gravity than she had thought - she had only managed to catch Hades in the edge of the blast. Not fatal, but he was out of the fight.

Saturn corrected her aim. "Silence -"

Before she could finish her second attack, her vision vanished in a flare of silver light. The Ginzuishou. Power unparalleled by anything known to man, but only wielded at a terrible cost. "Silence wall." Saturn was surprised at how effortlessly she blocked off Serenity's magic.

Saturn felt herself speak. "Why do you struggle against me? The Ginzuishou is as nothing to me. You will not drive my power out of this shell, not without destroying it."

Queen Serenity wordlessly redoubled her efforts, pressing the Silence Wall back. Saturn grunted at the increased pressure. This was fruitless. In an instant, Saturn switched strategies, dropping the protective shield and instead preparing to launch an attack.

Before she could however, the silver light washed over her a second time, and something snapped inside of her. The power delivered was weak, unable to oust the dark force by sheer strength, but it found a foothold - a part of Saturn's mind not wholly dominated. For though the entity forming below held power over Death and the Silence, Saturn was the Planet of Time, and fell outside those domains. And it was the Saturnian blood that flowed through Senshi Saturn's veins, not that of Pluto.

And so, Serenity's magic found that bit of power and strengthened it, and for a moment, Saturn could act freely. And that she did, whirling around and pointing her blade to where she could sense the source of the dark power, not yet fully formed.

She could hear Serenity behind her, drawing even deeper on the Ginzuishou. Even as the first waves of energy reached her, Saturn moved.

"Death Reborn Revolution!"

The rest, as the saying goes, was history.

That was then...



...and this is now.

Hermes was silent for a long moment. "It's hard to talk calmly about what happened. I don't really think I can..." He trailed off, and for once Mercury did not press him. "It suffices to say that tempers were running high, and all of us were overwhelmed by what had occurred. Senshi Saturn had somehow survived the cataclysm, probably due to an interaction with Serenity's healing magic."

"As I recall, it was Poseidon who first demanded that Iris be stripped of her powers, and that the post of Senshi Saturn be forever eliminated." Hermes paused. "Serenity disagreed, and a day later the war started."

"Brotherhood forces took control of the near instantaneous riots on Saturn, but King Agares cracked down, and the streets of Saturn's cities ran red with blood. The only other major initial revolt was on Mars. The major cities were taken rather bloodlessly and the nomads raided the countryside. Within a week, the only significant loyalist forces on Mars were trapped inside the royal palace."

"Senshi Mars negotiated safe passage for the loyalists from there to the space port, which lay on the other side of a mountain pass called Vulcan's Gap." Hermes paused. "We would call what happened next the first great battle of the war, but that was a lie."

"Vulcan's Gap wasn't a battle... it was a massacre. Communications failures between our forces in the capital and elsewhere caused the army besieging the spaceport to not receive word of the safe passage agreement." Hermes paused. "Before word reached the battlefield, our forces had devastated the few remaining loyalist Martian military units. After that, there was little hope for more negotiated agreements."

"On Saturn, the bloody reprisals drove the nobility into revolt, and Agares was hung on the same gallows he had days earlier hung several rebel leaders. With those two planets under our control, we moved to secure Jupiter. The fleet bases on its moons rebelled, and the planet itself only held out under siege for three months."

Hermes paused. "I don't really think the military details are relevant anymore. It's sufficient to simply say that the next five years were long and bloody. By the beginning of the war's third year, the Uranus and Neptune colonies were taken, and Pluto besieged. We launched a dual invasion of Mercury and Venus, but we quickly became bogged down there."

"That was when Beryl made her move."



Ten thousand years ago...

Prince Endymion silently paced atop the shining walls of Crystal City, crown city of Terra. It had been another fruitless meeting with the regency council. Whenever he tried to convince them to take greater action to deal with the reports of increasing cultist activity in the hinterlands, the council mouthed platitudes, but failed to follow through. Asking about when they planned to acknowledge him as King was even more futile.

For a moment, Endymion wished he hadn't fallen in love with Princess Serenity. If he broke off the engagement, all those excuses about the danger of the thrones of Terra and Luna falling to one person would no longer apply, and the council would be forced to accept him. However, Endymion knew he that was impossible. Even setting aside the ramifications on relationships with Luna, he could never do that to the Princess.

Endymion glanced out over the wide plain that stretched from the bottom of the crystal wall he stood on towards the distant horizon. What was that? Some sort of dust cloud, maybe? Endymion began to walk to the nearest observation post, only to break into a hurried run when the alarms began to go off. He was met by a squadron of soldiers led by Guardian Kunzite.

"Kunzite!" he called out.

Kunzite looked almost sad. "Seize Endymion! If he gets away, I'll have your heads!"

Endymion took a shocked step backwards as the guards moved to comply. "What," he began.

Kunzite did not reply, instead gesturing the guards forward once more. Endymion drew his sword with a shaking hand. "Dare you attack your Prince?" he asked the guards, who had begun to circle menacingly.

A handful of the guards hesitated. Another leapt forward, his own sword in hand. "For Terra and Queen Beryl!" he screamed as he brought his weapon down.

Endymion raised his weapon to block. The fine Martian steel, enchanted by Luna's most powerful magi, sliced through the guard's sword and continued onward to sever the man's head with a sickening sound. As the soulless corpse slowly collapsed, Endymion felt as though he was about to be sick. It was the first time he had ever killed another human being. As the circle of guards began to close, Endymion realized it would not be the last.

The next few minutes were a nightmare of blood, and by the end of it Endymion stood panting, unwounded, over the fallen bodies of his foes. Kunzite, who had watched all this with a dispassionate eye, nodded. "You learned your lessons well, Endymion."

"Why, Kunzite?" the Prince of Terra asked.

"The Silver Millennium is weak. The planets are devastated by war, and Queen Serenity can do nothing. The rebels advance day by day, and only by luck are they not now here as well as on Mercury and Venus. Luck, and the sacrifices made by many brave men and women to overwhelm the landing zones. And what did Luna do? She watched while Terrans died for her!" Kunzite took a menacing step forward. "Only a strong leader can return mankind to his proper glory! Only Metallia can save us!"

Endymion flinched, then once more raised his blood-stained sword. "I never thought I would see the day that one of my Guardians would turn to demon-worship."

Kunzite bowed his head, drawing a thin sword from his side. "I wish not to fight you like this. Join us, my Prince. Together, we can change the solar system for the better." Behind the Guardian, Endymion could see columns of smoke rising up from Crystal City. In the skies, Jadeite could be seen, wreathed in flame. Surrounding him were dozens of flying monstrosities, and together they were obviously seeking out pockets of resistance.

Endymion glanced behind him, and saw the city gates open, admitting a stream of youma. After a moment, he turned back to Kunzite. "No." As Kunzite bowed his head a second time, Endymion charged. "Defend yourself, traitor!"

Kunzite's blade rose up with the speed of lightning, meeting Endymion's in a shower of sparks. Before Endymion could strike a second time, Kunzite began his own attack, forcing Endymion to retreat step by step, until he found himself backed up against the wall's parapets. Endymion desperately attacked, and succeeded in gaining back a portion of the ground he had lost.

The Prince swung a second time, and locked blades with the Guardian of Earth. As the two stared wordlessly at each other over the crossed steel, sweat began to form on Endymion's face. Kunzite was strong, far stronger than Endymion remembered from their days of sparring and training.

With a sudden burst of panic-induced strength, the Prince forced Kunzite's sword out of his hands. Breathing heavily, Endymion placed his weapon at the traitor's throat. "Any last words?"

"Zoi!" The sudden attack sent Endymion stumbling back. Zoicite floated protectively over the other Guardian. Kunzite reached down, retrieving his sword.

"You fought well, my Prince," Kunzite stated. "Unfortunately, we cannot allow you to triumph today." Endymion could see Jadeite's fiery form flying closer, and out of the corner of his eye saw Nephrite approaching as well, at the head of a column of robed cultists.

Endymion was preparing to sell his life dearly when the situation changed in a flash of light. A dozen silver-armored soldiers appeared surrounding him, blades shining with moonfire. A female Lunarian who had appeared next to him grasped his hand.

"I don't think my men will be able to hold them off for long," she said. "Let's get going."

Endymion gave Crystal City a long, last look, than slowly nodded. In a flash of silver light, he left Terra, not to return in this lifetime.

That was then...



...and this is now.

"The fall of Terra to Beryl's forces was a pivotal point in the war. The cultists had moved into the open in a way they hadn't since Juno. For a brief while, there were several movements on both our side and Serenity's to unite against Beryl, but," Hermes trailed off, sighing.

"Neither side trusted the other enough to reach an agreement," Mercury stated, and Hermes nodded.

"And so, the war continued. With the loyalist fleets diverted to blockade Terra, the defenders on Mercury and Venus were weakened. First Mercury fell to our forces, then over a year later Venus did as well. And with that, our attention returned to Terra and Luna."

Hermes shook his head. "Once again, I probably should not dwell on the insignificant details. Simply put, our fleet engaged the loyalists in a brutal series of engagements that ended with Serenity's fleet mostly destroyed. As we then prepared to follow the fleet to Lunar orbit, Beryl struck again."

"Breaking out of the now weakened blockade, she launched an invasion of Luna almost five years to the day from the beginning of the war. The youma overwhelmed the Lunar home guards, and were soon besieging the palace. Lunar civilians were slaughtered, their life energy going to fuel Beryl's dark magics."

Hermes paused. "About the same time, cultist cells on the other planets struck. Literally thousands of youma were unleashed, and there was no one to stop them." Hermes sighed. "Our only feasible choice was to strike at the heart of the problem: Beryl and her Generals. Hopefully, the serpent would not survive without its head. After last minute negotiations with Queen Serenity fell through, we commenced full scale bombardment of Luna in an attempt to obliterate the main youma army."

"When the bombardment finished, we teleported down to the surface. Serenity had told us that she was planning to unleash the Ginzuishou's full power against us, and we had to stop her."

Hermes then finished his tale.



Ten thousand years ago...

It was the end of the world. In the skies over the once-grand palace of Queen Serenity, the countless stars had been blotted out by a great Shadow, created from an unholy merger of seven of the most powerful youma ever formed. Below this shroud, hordes of monstrosities stalked the now gray and cratered land, which had once been among the most beautiful known to man. Towering over the hordes of youma were four great scaled beasts- the legendary Dragons, and they laid waste to all who stood in their way.

Those who opposed them were an eclectic mix. Rebel volunteers fought side by side with the surviving palace guards. The two groups were bitter enemies, but in the face of the hordes of soulless youma and their Terran allies, that rivalry seemed insignificant, even after five years of desperate struggle.

Captain Ashiant, Saturnian commander of the rebel flagship, the Memory of Juno, briefly wondered why he had volunteered. This was a nightmare that made the fall of the Palace of Light on Venus seem pleasant. With a sigh, he withdrew his sword from the body of a fallen Terran, and turned to face the next.

With a sudden explosion, a nearby wall collapsed to reveal a charging youma. Disengaging from his present foe, Ashiant turned to face the monster, which was currently rending a Lunar guard in two. Stretching out his free arm, Ashiant mumbled a quick chant, and a bolt of force leapt from his hand and slammed into the youma.

With a roar, the beast charged towards Ashiant, only to stumble under a burst of silver flame from its flank. The youma casually disemboweled the guardswoman who had cast that spell, then continued on his way towards Ashiant.

Gritting his teeth in expectation of the pain, Ashiant summoned another forcebolt and sent it on its way to impede the demon's path. Ashiant resisted the urge to collapse from the effort, instead readying his sword. Around him a handful of rebels and guards rallied, determined to slay the foul beast.

Within three minutes, they were all dead, and the youma continued on its path toward the heart of the palace.



In a nearly whole courtyard, Senshi Saturn wept over a pair of shattered corpses, the remnants of two who had been friends and mentors to her. She had arrived too late, and they were already dead. Not even a whole hour ago the three had been whole and healthy, preparing to teleport from distant Pluto.

And now only she survived. Dia's body was devastated, charred and bloody, nearly unrecognizable. Cyrene was frozen against a pillar, her throat neatly slit. It was a terrible sight, but Saturn knew she could not tarry long.

Her tears drying, Saturn rose, glaive in hand. If her friends' sacrifice was to have any meaning at all, she would have to move quickly. And so she did, moving towards the edge of the palace grounds. Her power obliterated all foes in her path, youma and rebel alike.

After a while she reached her destination. Beryl stood on a rocky outcropping, and with a tremor in her gut Saturn recognized the corpses of Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion floating before the cackling madwoman. Saturn carefully positioned her glaive, and with a grim smile whispered three words.

The Silence Glaive Surprise struck Beryl head on, sending the dark queen hurling back, wounded but not dead. Beryl laughed as she rose. "Come out, Iris. Great Metallia shelters me from your power. Come out, and face your doom!"

Saturn walked into the open, and Beryl laughed a second time. "Join me, Iris. They hate you as they hate me. Join me, and let us have vengeance!"

"Silence Glaive Surprise."

Beryl raised her staff, and Saturn's attack failed before it struck her. "Foolish little girl. Your power is as nothing before Great Metallia." Beryl raised the staff a second time, dark energy crackling around it. "Die!"

"Silence Wall!" The deadly attack halted mere inches before Saturn's face, and the Senshi nearly collapsed from the effort of blocking it. And ever so slowly, the Silence Wall was contracting.

For the third time Beryl laughed and raised her staff. "This is the end!" As she spoke, the dark shadow above formed a massive claw, and a bolt of force struck Senshi Saturn in the rear.

Saturn crumbled, the Silence Wall dissipating. She found herself unable to move as Beryl strode over to her and placed the end of her staff on Saturn's neck. "You should have joined me when I offered," Beryl whispered.

And with a sickening crack, Senshi Saturn died.



In another portion of the palace, Jadeite, General of Beryl's dark kingdom, slowly allowed his flames to die down. With a sigh, he observed the blackened corpse before him. It was done. Phoebe, the last Senshi Mars, was dead. Jadeite bowed his head as he heard another man enter the room.

"I knew you would come here, Deinas."

Ares's cold eyes took in the scene, and he too bowed his head. "We were friends once, the three of us."

"But not anymore," Jadeite replied. "And now one has fallen, and two remain." Jadeite turned, a blade of fire forming in his hands. "And soon, only one will remain. Face me, Betrayer!"

"So be it." Ares held his sword before him, flames running up and down the steel blade. "One must fall." The Champion paused. "Defend yourself!"

From the beginning Jadeite found himself hard-pressed. Ares was a master swordsman, and he was not holding back. It took every ounce of skill Jadeite possessed to keep himself unwounded, much less to attempt to counterattack. As he darted around a swift thrust, Jadeite growled, "I've waited for this day for a long time, Deinas."

Ares pressed his assault, scoring a minor wound on Jadeite's side. "Perhaps you should have waited longer, traitor." Another blow brought another bloody wound for Jadeite. "You're over a thousand years away from being able to beat me."

Jadeite stumbled back, flames forming around his hands. "Perhaps. Inferno!" The raging fire filled the room, scorching the walls and floor. When they died down, Jadeite had fallen to one knee, while Ares stood, singed but not seriously harmed.

Ares stepped forward and raised his blade like an executioner. "So it ends, Jadeite."

There was a flash of silver light.

Ares stumbled back, sword falling to his side. "Serenity..." he began. "No." For a second time flames filled to room as Ares summoned forth the power that had survived dozens of cycles of death and rebirth, the tiny spark that had made Deinas of Mars become Ares. When the fire died, Ares was gone, and only the Lord of Fire remained.

A moment later, that being too had vanished, heading directly for the center of the palace complex. Breathing a sigh of relief, Jadeite rose and teleported to his Queen's side.

A moment later, everything vanished in a second flash of silver.



A day later, the Silver Millennium was no more. Serenity's final magic had heralded the end, as the mana wells on all nine planets died out. Magic failed, and with it civilization fell. The few survivors were hard pressed by constant assaults from the small number of remaining youma. Only on green Terra would a remnant of a remnant survive to carry on the line of man.

On distant Pluto, the Senshi of Time began her lonely vigil. A Great Seal had been formed to master the spells binding both rebels and youma away from this universe. And so Senshi Pluto gained a second charge, one almost as dangerous as the Gates of Time she had guarded her entire life.

As she lay dying, Queen Serenity had performed one last spell. The souls of those who had died in Luna's final hour were sent into the future. Should the wards Serenity had died to create fail, they would be reborn to face the menace.

And for ten millennia, neither Senshi nor Champion entered the annals of history.



This is now.

Nyxan breathed a sigh of relief as he entered the hidden sanctum

deep beneath Beryl's palace. "Are you ready?" he asked simply.

Ishamanar nodded briefly, staring at the obsidian altar before him. Everything had to be exact, as it was prescribed in the Metallian Codex. A single error at this stage could bring the whole plan tumbling down around the two conspirators. "It is ready," he finally replied when he was satisfied.

Nyxan nodded once. "That is good."

Ishamanar turned to his ally and friend. "Do you have it?"

Nyxan nodded again.

Ishamanar smiled. "Jadeite does not know?"

Nyxan laughed. "If he knew, he'd be tearing this chamber down around us to get it."

"Very well then." Ishamanar laid the Metallian Codex on the dark altar, and opened it the appropriate page. "You know what to do."

Nyxan nodded yet again. "We have waited so long." He paused a moment, then pulled out a sparkling red gem. The Fire Diamond. The black-skinned Overlord stepped forward and inserted the Diamond into a round depression in the altar. It fit perfectly.

Ishamanar smiled and made an arcane gesture. Taking a deep breath, he began to chant in an ancient, holy tongue, pleasing to Nyxan's ears. After some time, Ishamanar shifted back to his normal language. "Great Metallia, Queen of Darkness, Queen of Chaos. Heed our call!"

The gem on the altar began to glow, illuminating the room in a pale red light which cast odd shadows. "Great Leader, here is the appointed place, where the boundaries between the universes weaken and falter."

Nyxan slowly handed Ishamanar a jagged dagger. The four-armed Overlord accepted the weapon, and with a grunt of pain sliced open one of his palms. The pale ichor splattered onto the dark stone, hissing and steaming. "Accept this offering, great Metallia, and heed our call," Ishamanar finished, staring expectantly at the space above the altar.

Slowly, a great cocoon began to form, and with a nod Ishamanar stepped backward. For a moment the room was filled with a bright glow as energy streamed into the cocoon. It wouldn't be enough to fully bring their Great Leader back into the world, but it would awaken her, allow her hand to begin to steer events.

When the energy died down, Nyxan lowered the hand which had been sheltering his eyes and stared up at the entity forming above him. "This is it," he whispered.

Ishamanar smiled briefly, and he gazed up at the chrysalis that was rapidly taking shape above them. Slowly, a guttural laugh escaped from his throat, and he spoke. "It has begun."



Author's Random Revised Ramblings

1) Again, cosmetic changes only this time.

2) Angus MacSpon, Chaeotica, and Rebecca Nowack are the prereaders for the original version of this chapter. In addition, Brian Randall and Michael Chase both provided comments on that version. Michael Chase and The Wanderer both commented on this revision.

3) All comments are welcome.

4) A note: from this point on, the story gets much darker. Let the reader beware.

5) In others news, I finally set pen to paper... err, fingers to keyboard and hammered out the first scene of Shades of Darkness. Below, a special LIMITED EDITION PREVIEW of the first line in all its glory:

"Sometimes I can't believe things worked out so well."

Ooh! Aah!

Released: April 28, 2002

Revised: October 20, 2003

Final: December 30, 2003