Chapter 1: Before the Beginning. Serena's Fate.
A cold night wind blew over the big city as clouds rolled in, blocking the moon's silver rays and glowing stars' lights. Radios crackled and TV screens flickered for a moment before returning to normal. It was as if a wave of static had traveled across the city, stopping at the southern side of Tokyo, Japan.
Suddenly, the household, a quiet, two-story house on the southern side of the city, was disrupted by a shrill scream.
Seven-year-old Serena woke with a start. Her eyes wide, she listened for more sounds. She had heard the scream that had sent chills up her spine as she slept, and which had woken her. Her little brother was moving restlessly on his bed.
The three-year-old boy said in a frightened whisper, "Sere, what was that?"
"I-I dunno Sammy," Serena whispered back. She sat up, her breath coming out quick as she strained to listen for any noises. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.
She heard a sound on the stairs that were on the other side of the house. She gasped silently. Quickly pushing the blankets back, she silently hurried to Sammy's bed. Putting a finger to her lips, she motioned for him to stay quiet and helped him to get out of bed. She lifted him on to her hip, she moved quickly to the back of the room where their father had built a walk-in closet for the both of them.
Softly closing the closet door behind them, she hurried to the back of the closet, to the hidden door behind the piles of clothes that hid the wall. She set Sammy gently in the corner and started moving the clothes out of the way. Clearing the door, she ran her fingers over the wall, trying to find the seam of the door.
Just then, there was the groan of their bedroom door opening. Serena stiffened and then quickly found the edge of the place where the door handle was hidden. Sliding the panel of wood back, she slid the door open and hurried back to the scared Sammy. Gently, but quickly, shoving him through and quickly following, she brought the door down behind them, just as the closet door handle started to turn. In the dark, she felt for Sammy and quietly sat him down, sitting herself next to him in the small box space. Putting a hand over Sammy's mouth, she listened. Sammy shifted into Serena's lap, moving quietly, as if he knew the importance of staying silent.
The closet door creaked open and heavy footsteps sounded. They came nearer and nearer to where Serena and Sammy were hiding and Serena was growing more and more terrified. She was thinking, as the footsteps neared, 'If it's Mommy or Daddy, they would know where we were. Oh please let it be Mommy or Daddy. Oh please, oh please.'
The footsteps stopped next to the hidden door and Serena hoped that if the person was either of her parents, that person wouldn't notice that the clothes had been swept away from the door. It was quiet for a few minutes and Serena started to think that the person had left, but then the footsteps started up again. Except now, they were moving away. Serena heard the person walk out the door and out of the bedroom, pausing in the doorway of their bedroom, and then heading down the hall, towards the stairs. When she heard no more movement, she removed her hand from Sammy's mouth and Sammy let out a short breath.
Serena was relieved, and yet, at the same time, even more petrified. Even though the person had not found them, this person's actions meant that this was NOT her parents, but a stranger, a person who had broken into their house! Serena felt tears of fright swell into her eyes, but she quickly blinked them back before Sammy, who had rested his head on to her shoulder, could feel them.
"Sere?" Sammy whispered.
Keeping her voice steady, she whispered back, "Stay quiet for a little while longer, okay, Sammy? Then we can go back out." Serena felt Sammy's head move in answer and he laid his head back down on to her shoulder. Serena let out an exhausted breath and leaned her head back on to the wall.
Serena awoke to darkness. It took her a moment to remember where she was. She felt Sammy's head lolling to the side and knew he was asleep. "Sammy. Sammy, wake up." She gently shook the younger boy.
"Hu-" he started to say, but then he opened his eyes. "Sere-" he yawned"- can we go out of here now?"
"Yeah, but you gotta get up. I can't get the door open with you sitting on me," Serena said and Sammy climbed off her. Serena cautiously slid the door open and peeked her head out.
The closet door was open, but there were no signs of anyone around.
***
Holding Sammy close to her, Serena crept down the stairs, stopping every few steps to listen for any sounds. Hearing nothing, she would continue on downstairs. When she reached the bottom, she flipped on a light and what she saw made her jump.
Shattered glass covered the living room floor. Tables were overturned, smashed against walls that had huge cracks webbing down them. The couches were torn and overturned; some were broken right in half. Books and papers littered the carpeted floor, other objects strewn everywhere.
Serena looked around with wide eyes, startled at all the mess. "What happened?" she wondered aloud
Suddenly Sammy whimpered. Serena followed his line of vision and saw a mangle body lying against a cracked wall. It looked as though the person had been flung into the wall and had slid down it, covering the wall with dark red...blood.
Serena looked at the body, gasping at the sight it was in and put down Sammy. Then she looked more closely at the body. Wasn't that black haired man just like her father. And over by the other side of the room, wasn't that just like her mother. Serena covered her mouth in horror. She glanced back and forth at the bodies with shock. Unknowingly, tears sprang into her eyes. She took a step forward towards her mother, but she was stopped by a horrible, cruel laugh.
"BWAHAHAHAHA!!!" There was a whoosh of air and a long, purple haired man stood in front of Serena and Sammy. The man was dressed in pale silver clothes slightly loose silver pants, a black shirt with a silver jacket, and black pointed boots. His cold black eyes gleamed with his malicious grin.
Sammy clutched Serena's side in fear. Serena took a slow step back, her eyes wide as she stared at the intruder.
"Hello children. You must be Serena and Sammy," he said in a fake, cold, comforting voice. "Don't worry, you'll be joining your parents soon."
"N-No!" Serena stammered, shouting half in anger, half in fear. "You k- killed them! Y-You big-"
The man tsked and waved a finger. "Ah ah ah. Now, don't insult people. That's rude. People might get anger and do something." As he said this, he stepped closer to Serena and Sammy. He raised his hands up and suddenly Serena and Sammy were both hauled up into the air by an invisible force. Serena frantically grabbed Sammy's arm and pulled him close behind her, even as they were held in mid-air, to protect him from the laughing maniac.
"I just HAD to kill your parents, Serena Tsukino. They got in my way, of getting to you," he spoke and grinned. Serena's eyes widened.
"Me? Why do you want me?" Serena glared at him, somehow all her fear had disappeared and all she felt now were anger and deep loathing for this murderer.
"You will be a great threat to my masters in the future. My Empress is very important to me, and I just can't let that happen, you see." The man grinned. "Oh, by the way, my name is Falcon. I'm so glad we could meet before your end. Now good-bye. You're going to see your parents now."
"Star Serious Laser!"
"Star Gentle Uterus!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!"
Three bright beams of light flew at the startled man and hit it, causing him to shatter into millions of pieces, like glass, and evaporate. Serena and Sammy fell heavily to the floor and Sammy began to cry. Serena winced as she sat up and crawled to Sammy. She sat protectively in front of him as four shadowy figures appeared before her, seemingly out of nowhere. Three of them wore identical black leather suits that showed a lot of skin, chainlike tiaras with a golden star in the center on their foreheads, black leather knee length heeled boots, and twin black leather chain belts. All three had their hair pulled back into low ponytails and their hairs were about to their waists. The tallest girl had brown hair and bright violet eyes. The second tallest girl had jet-black hair and the darkest pair of blue eyes Serena had ever seen. The shortest of the three had silvery-white hair and the strangest mint-green eyes. Serena turned to look at the fourth girl. The girl had red hair and was a little taller than her white haired companion. She wore a beautiful red and orange dress and her hair was pulled up into an elegant and strange style. Serena stared in awe at the four strange girls while keeping her brother cautiously behind her. Sammy had stopped crying and was peering out from behind his older sister.
"Are you all right?" asked the tall brown haired girl in a gentle and concerned voice. She held out a hand to Serena.
Serena looked at the offered hand with suspicion, and then accepted it. "Yeah, but my mommy and my daddy." Serena trailed off, looking back at the still body lying a few feet behind her and Sammy, feelings tears coming to her eyes.
The tall girl went over to the victim and felt for a pulse. After a few moments, she stood up and shook her head. The girl then went over to Serena's father who was slumped up against the smashed wall and did the same thing. The red haired girl walked over to Serena and stopped right in front of her. "Come with us. Everything will be all right." She smiled reassuringly and held out her hand. Serena hesitated before slowly taking the girl's hand. She held her brother's hand and looked at the three other girls who were forming a triangle that surrounded the two girls and the little boy.
Suddenly, Serena felt herself being lifted up and she tightened her hold on the hands that she held. The girl squeezed her hand to assure her that she was safe. Serena blinked and suddenly felt her feet touch ground. She looked around to see that they were standing in a field of pink roses. Right next to the field of roses was a huge castle that looked to be made of smoky glass. "Where are we?"
The black haired girl came up to her, "We're on planet Kinmoku, Kinmokusei. This is our home. My name is Seiya. That's my siblings Taiki and Yaten, and our princess Kakyuu," She pointed to the brown haired girl, the white haired girl, and then to the red haired girl. "Taiki, Yaten and I aren't really girls. We're actually boys and we're only girls when we transform."
Serena was confused but she brushed it aside and said, "I'm Serena. This is my baby brother Sammy." Serena knelt down beside Sammy," Say hi, Sammy."
"Hi Sammy." Sammy copied his big sister's words quietly and looked shyly at the three girls who stood in front of Serena. The four older children laughed at Sammy's weird greeting.
"Children, what are you doing out there? Did you just get back from your visit to Earth?" A tall, regal, but gentle-looking woman appeared out of the majestic castle and approached them. The three leather-clad children knelt to the ground.
"Mother, we found a girl and boy on Earth. Their parents were killed by a youma. It said something about her being a threat to its master in the future. What does that mean?" Kaykuu hurried to the queen, bowing to her quickly.
"Hmmm." The queen studied Serena and Sammy with gentle eyes and went over to them. She leaned down to Serena and asked her, "Is your name Serena Tsukino?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Serena said in a quiet and shy voice.
The queen smiled, a hint of relief evident. "Ah, good. You did the right thing, Kakyuu, Starlights. She is an important aspect to the future."
"What do you mean, Queen?" Seiya asked, raising her head.
"I cannot tell you, but you will know in due time. For now, Serena will stay here where it is safe and will train to become a Sailor Starlight so that she may be able to protect herself. In a few years, her younger brother will begin his training also." The queen turned to Serena. "My name is Queen Kakei, but you may call me Aunt Kakei."
"Yes, Aunt Kakei," Serena tried out the name.
"Seiya is known as Sailor Star Fighter, Taiki as Sailor Star Maker, Yaten as Sailor Star Healer, and you will be known as Sailor Star Striker. After a good night's rest, you will begin your exciting training tomorrow," The queen smiled, "that is, if you want to."
"I want to. It sounds fun," Serena exclaimed and grinned.
"It is fun! We go on lots of visits and missions to other planets and our training is the best in this part of the galaxy," Fighter shouted, excited that they would have two more Starlights to train with and to play with. The two other Starlights and Kaykuu were also excited and grinning.
"Well come inside all of you, dinner will be served in half an hour and I conjured up some clothes for you Striker, as well as a Starlight uniform like Fighter, Maker, and Healer's."
Serena and Sammy followed the other children and the queen into the castle. Serena whispered to Sammy, "I think we're gonna like it here." Sammy nodded and smiled his cute baby grin in agreement.
A cold night wind blew over the big city as clouds rolled in, blocking the moon's silver rays and glowing stars' lights. Radios crackled and TV screens flickered for a moment before returning to normal. It was as if a wave of static had traveled across the city, stopping at the southern side of Tokyo, Japan.
Suddenly, the household, a quiet, two-story house on the southern side of the city, was disrupted by a shrill scream.
Seven-year-old Serena woke with a start. Her eyes wide, she listened for more sounds. She had heard the scream that had sent chills up her spine as she slept, and which had woken her. Her little brother was moving restlessly on his bed.
The three-year-old boy said in a frightened whisper, "Sere, what was that?"
"I-I dunno Sammy," Serena whispered back. She sat up, her breath coming out quick as she strained to listen for any noises. Something was wrong. Something was terribly wrong.
She heard a sound on the stairs that were on the other side of the house. She gasped silently. Quickly pushing the blankets back, she silently hurried to Sammy's bed. Putting a finger to her lips, she motioned for him to stay quiet and helped him to get out of bed. She lifted him on to her hip, she moved quickly to the back of the room where their father had built a walk-in closet for the both of them.
Softly closing the closet door behind them, she hurried to the back of the closet, to the hidden door behind the piles of clothes that hid the wall. She set Sammy gently in the corner and started moving the clothes out of the way. Clearing the door, she ran her fingers over the wall, trying to find the seam of the door.
Just then, there was the groan of their bedroom door opening. Serena stiffened and then quickly found the edge of the place where the door handle was hidden. Sliding the panel of wood back, she slid the door open and hurried back to the scared Sammy. Gently, but quickly, shoving him through and quickly following, she brought the door down behind them, just as the closet door handle started to turn. In the dark, she felt for Sammy and quietly sat him down, sitting herself next to him in the small box space. Putting a hand over Sammy's mouth, she listened. Sammy shifted into Serena's lap, moving quietly, as if he knew the importance of staying silent.
The closet door creaked open and heavy footsteps sounded. They came nearer and nearer to where Serena and Sammy were hiding and Serena was growing more and more terrified. She was thinking, as the footsteps neared, 'If it's Mommy or Daddy, they would know where we were. Oh please let it be Mommy or Daddy. Oh please, oh please.'
The footsteps stopped next to the hidden door and Serena hoped that if the person was either of her parents, that person wouldn't notice that the clothes had been swept away from the door. It was quiet for a few minutes and Serena started to think that the person had left, but then the footsteps started up again. Except now, they were moving away. Serena heard the person walk out the door and out of the bedroom, pausing in the doorway of their bedroom, and then heading down the hall, towards the stairs. When she heard no more movement, she removed her hand from Sammy's mouth and Sammy let out a short breath.
Serena was relieved, and yet, at the same time, even more petrified. Even though the person had not found them, this person's actions meant that this was NOT her parents, but a stranger, a person who had broken into their house! Serena felt tears of fright swell into her eyes, but she quickly blinked them back before Sammy, who had rested his head on to her shoulder, could feel them.
"Sere?" Sammy whispered.
Keeping her voice steady, she whispered back, "Stay quiet for a little while longer, okay, Sammy? Then we can go back out." Serena felt Sammy's head move in answer and he laid his head back down on to her shoulder. Serena let out an exhausted breath and leaned her head back on to the wall.
Serena awoke to darkness. It took her a moment to remember where she was. She felt Sammy's head lolling to the side and knew he was asleep. "Sammy. Sammy, wake up." She gently shook the younger boy.
"Hu-" he started to say, but then he opened his eyes. "Sere-" he yawned"- can we go out of here now?"
"Yeah, but you gotta get up. I can't get the door open with you sitting on me," Serena said and Sammy climbed off her. Serena cautiously slid the door open and peeked her head out.
The closet door was open, but there were no signs of anyone around.
***
Holding Sammy close to her, Serena crept down the stairs, stopping every few steps to listen for any sounds. Hearing nothing, she would continue on downstairs. When she reached the bottom, she flipped on a light and what she saw made her jump.
Shattered glass covered the living room floor. Tables were overturned, smashed against walls that had huge cracks webbing down them. The couches were torn and overturned; some were broken right in half. Books and papers littered the carpeted floor, other objects strewn everywhere.
Serena looked around with wide eyes, startled at all the mess. "What happened?" she wondered aloud
Suddenly Sammy whimpered. Serena followed his line of vision and saw a mangle body lying against a cracked wall. It looked as though the person had been flung into the wall and had slid down it, covering the wall with dark red...blood.
Serena looked at the body, gasping at the sight it was in and put down Sammy. Then she looked more closely at the body. Wasn't that black haired man just like her father. And over by the other side of the room, wasn't that just like her mother. Serena covered her mouth in horror. She glanced back and forth at the bodies with shock. Unknowingly, tears sprang into her eyes. She took a step forward towards her mother, but she was stopped by a horrible, cruel laugh.
"BWAHAHAHAHA!!!" There was a whoosh of air and a long, purple haired man stood in front of Serena and Sammy. The man was dressed in pale silver clothes slightly loose silver pants, a black shirt with a silver jacket, and black pointed boots. His cold black eyes gleamed with his malicious grin.
Sammy clutched Serena's side in fear. Serena took a slow step back, her eyes wide as she stared at the intruder.
"Hello children. You must be Serena and Sammy," he said in a fake, cold, comforting voice. "Don't worry, you'll be joining your parents soon."
"N-No!" Serena stammered, shouting half in anger, half in fear. "You k- killed them! Y-You big-"
The man tsked and waved a finger. "Ah ah ah. Now, don't insult people. That's rude. People might get anger and do something." As he said this, he stepped closer to Serena and Sammy. He raised his hands up and suddenly Serena and Sammy were both hauled up into the air by an invisible force. Serena frantically grabbed Sammy's arm and pulled him close behind her, even as they were held in mid-air, to protect him from the laughing maniac.
"I just HAD to kill your parents, Serena Tsukino. They got in my way, of getting to you," he spoke and grinned. Serena's eyes widened.
"Me? Why do you want me?" Serena glared at him, somehow all her fear had disappeared and all she felt now were anger and deep loathing for this murderer.
"You will be a great threat to my masters in the future. My Empress is very important to me, and I just can't let that happen, you see." The man grinned. "Oh, by the way, my name is Falcon. I'm so glad we could meet before your end. Now good-bye. You're going to see your parents now."
"Star Serious Laser!"
"Star Gentle Uterus!"
"Star Sensitive Inferno!"
Three bright beams of light flew at the startled man and hit it, causing him to shatter into millions of pieces, like glass, and evaporate. Serena and Sammy fell heavily to the floor and Sammy began to cry. Serena winced as she sat up and crawled to Sammy. She sat protectively in front of him as four shadowy figures appeared before her, seemingly out of nowhere. Three of them wore identical black leather suits that showed a lot of skin, chainlike tiaras with a golden star in the center on their foreheads, black leather knee length heeled boots, and twin black leather chain belts. All three had their hair pulled back into low ponytails and their hairs were about to their waists. The tallest girl had brown hair and bright violet eyes. The second tallest girl had jet-black hair and the darkest pair of blue eyes Serena had ever seen. The shortest of the three had silvery-white hair and the strangest mint-green eyes. Serena turned to look at the fourth girl. The girl had red hair and was a little taller than her white haired companion. She wore a beautiful red and orange dress and her hair was pulled up into an elegant and strange style. Serena stared in awe at the four strange girls while keeping her brother cautiously behind her. Sammy had stopped crying and was peering out from behind his older sister.
"Are you all right?" asked the tall brown haired girl in a gentle and concerned voice. She held out a hand to Serena.
Serena looked at the offered hand with suspicion, and then accepted it. "Yeah, but my mommy and my daddy." Serena trailed off, looking back at the still body lying a few feet behind her and Sammy, feelings tears coming to her eyes.
The tall girl went over to the victim and felt for a pulse. After a few moments, she stood up and shook her head. The girl then went over to Serena's father who was slumped up against the smashed wall and did the same thing. The red haired girl walked over to Serena and stopped right in front of her. "Come with us. Everything will be all right." She smiled reassuringly and held out her hand. Serena hesitated before slowly taking the girl's hand. She held her brother's hand and looked at the three other girls who were forming a triangle that surrounded the two girls and the little boy.
Suddenly, Serena felt herself being lifted up and she tightened her hold on the hands that she held. The girl squeezed her hand to assure her that she was safe. Serena blinked and suddenly felt her feet touch ground. She looked around to see that they were standing in a field of pink roses. Right next to the field of roses was a huge castle that looked to be made of smoky glass. "Where are we?"
The black haired girl came up to her, "We're on planet Kinmoku, Kinmokusei. This is our home. My name is Seiya. That's my siblings Taiki and Yaten, and our princess Kakyuu," She pointed to the brown haired girl, the white haired girl, and then to the red haired girl. "Taiki, Yaten and I aren't really girls. We're actually boys and we're only girls when we transform."
Serena was confused but she brushed it aside and said, "I'm Serena. This is my baby brother Sammy." Serena knelt down beside Sammy," Say hi, Sammy."
"Hi Sammy." Sammy copied his big sister's words quietly and looked shyly at the three girls who stood in front of Serena. The four older children laughed at Sammy's weird greeting.
"Children, what are you doing out there? Did you just get back from your visit to Earth?" A tall, regal, but gentle-looking woman appeared out of the majestic castle and approached them. The three leather-clad children knelt to the ground.
"Mother, we found a girl and boy on Earth. Their parents were killed by a youma. It said something about her being a threat to its master in the future. What does that mean?" Kaykuu hurried to the queen, bowing to her quickly.
"Hmmm." The queen studied Serena and Sammy with gentle eyes and went over to them. She leaned down to Serena and asked her, "Is your name Serena Tsukino?"
"Yes, Your Highness." Serena said in a quiet and shy voice.
The queen smiled, a hint of relief evident. "Ah, good. You did the right thing, Kakyuu, Starlights. She is an important aspect to the future."
"What do you mean, Queen?" Seiya asked, raising her head.
"I cannot tell you, but you will know in due time. For now, Serena will stay here where it is safe and will train to become a Sailor Starlight so that she may be able to protect herself. In a few years, her younger brother will begin his training also." The queen turned to Serena. "My name is Queen Kakei, but you may call me Aunt Kakei."
"Yes, Aunt Kakei," Serena tried out the name.
"Seiya is known as Sailor Star Fighter, Taiki as Sailor Star Maker, Yaten as Sailor Star Healer, and you will be known as Sailor Star Striker. After a good night's rest, you will begin your exciting training tomorrow," The queen smiled, "that is, if you want to."
"I want to. It sounds fun," Serena exclaimed and grinned.
"It is fun! We go on lots of visits and missions to other planets and our training is the best in this part of the galaxy," Fighter shouted, excited that they would have two more Starlights to train with and to play with. The two other Starlights and Kaykuu were also excited and grinning.
"Well come inside all of you, dinner will be served in half an hour and I conjured up some clothes for you Striker, as well as a Starlight uniform like Fighter, Maker, and Healer's."
Serena and Sammy followed the other children and the queen into the castle. Serena whispered to Sammy, "I think we're gonna like it here." Sammy nodded and smiled his cute baby grin in agreement.