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I DON'T OWN SAILOR MOON…YET. Ooh look at the pretty green bunny…
[Time for your medicine Dove]
A Tangent in the Future
By Crystaldove
Chapter 10
Serena woke up early that next morning to get ready for the summit with the people of Nemesis. She was slightly nervous. It was one thing to voice her opinion to a few people, but this was an entire race of people. Ayden sensed her apprehension and tried to calm her fears.
"Serena, you're going to do fine. Why are you so nervous?"
"Well your people think it's my fault that they were banished and now I have to face them!"
"What? First of all, they know you are the legendary warrior Sailor Moon. Secondly, they adore the queen and honor her past. Third and most importantly, they know who sent us here. Come on it's time to start."
Serena breathed deeply and followed Ayden into the conference room. She expected for the setup to be informal, but was surprised to see the leaders of each family seated at a table with her and Ayden.
"Citizens of Nemesis, it is my esteemed honor to introduce to you Princess Serenity!"
Serena timidly stood by Ayden before taking her seat. The leaders of the families stood and greeted her warmly.
"Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to speak with you today. Some of you may recognize me as the queen of Crystal Tokyo, Neo-Queen Serenity, but I am her past self. I am Princess Serenity of the Lunar Kingdom, High Princess of the Silver Alliance and Sailor Moon, leader of the Sailor Senshi. On behalf of the High Council of the Silver Millennium, I bring you greetings from the 20th century."
Many of those in attendance were in awe…not from the long list of titles, but from the fact that she was from the 20th century. The adults of the planet were full aware of the assault that was happening during the 30th century and heard rumors that the fight was now converging on the 20th, but to see the Princess proved the rumors to be true.
Ayden smiled to himself. He was seated to Serena's right and felt how comfortable she was becoming. Blake decided to watch the meeting from the sidelines…just in case the missing Rubeus showed up.
"I have come to speak with you today because I have been told of the events happening in this time. From conversing with Prince Diamond, I have learned of the great injustice that befell you at the hands of my future…'husband' Endymion. First of all, let me explain to you the reasons why you were given extended life in your time."
"As most of you may know, I lived during the Silver Millennium or what the Terrans called the 10th century. The Lunar race has always endured lifetimes of 1000 years of more. And in these 1000 years there wasn't any sickness or disease. When my mother was pregnant with me, she formed alliances with the other planets of the solar system that were inhabited at the time. This joining of kingdoms was dubbed the Silver Alliance and since the Moon would be the ruling seat, my mother was crowned the Supreme Empress. Ruling two seats was a difficult task and our longevity was the deciding factor. My mother was embraced by every planet except one…Terra. The Terrans believed that magic was the power of demons and called all that chose to follow us…Lunatics. There were some people that went against that belief and started to worship my mother and the other rulers like gods. It was kind of funny to altars on the viewing screens dedicated to my mother or the other kings and queens. But in an effort to change the minds of the ruling seat of Terra, the members of the high council would bestow favors to those people and cities that showed them the most favor. One particular city was Athens…named after the mother of my best friend."
"The ruling seat of Terra, the Golden Kingdom, heard about this worship and persecuted those people into oblivion. So the members of the council chose to withdraw any assistance and my mother decided that the Lunar Kingdom would discreetly protect Terra from planetary threats."
A hand timidly rose from the back of the room; one of the children had a question. It was a little girl with bouncy sky blue curls. Her mother tried to suppress the child's curiosity but Serena saw her.
"No, it is alright. She can ask me a question. You can come up here if you want."
The girls green eyes grew large and she threw a pleading look towards her mother. Her mother shook her head yes and the child bounded for the head table.
Serena put the child in her lap and spoke to her gently.
"Well hello little one, what is your name?'
"Dayja."
"What a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl. How old are you?"
"I'm seven and a half princess."
"No need for that, you can call me by my Terran name, Serena."
"Serena? That's pretty too."
"Thank you. I see that you had a question, what did you want to ask me?"
"You said that the te…te…Terrans didn't like you, but why did you help them?"
"That is a very good question Dayja. You see if there was enemy who's target was Terra, the Lunar Kingdom might have gotten caught in that war. It's like if we are having a water fight and the Prince comes to stand beside me when you are throwing a water balloon. Even though you are aiming at me, he still gets wet. So if he deflects the balloon, the both of us would remain dry."
"Oh…but why couldn't you dodge the balloon?"
"Sometimes there are people who can see some things you can't. That was the case with Terra. They didn't believe in magic so they felt that even advanced technology was sorcery. This is how the real evil entered their system."
Dayja gave Serena a snaggle-toothed grin and a big hug; she quickly jumped down and ran back to her mother.
"Thank you Serena…everybody was right, you are nice!"
The assembly laughed with the child and turned their attention back to Serena.
"At this time, I had become restless with my life and wanted new adventures…this may have been partially my fault. But I had met and fell in love with the prince of the Golden Kingdom…Endymion. I believe at that time he felt the same way. He was a very honorable and compassionate person. He was admired by many women and one in particular felt that he should have been with her. She was called Beryl, no one is certain where she was from or what her real name was… some felt that for her to have that opinion of the prince that she had to be a Lady or Courtesan. But I remember her well; she worked at the palace."
The citizens of Nemesis were spell bound. Many of them had heard the legend of the fall of the Silver Millennium, but they knew it wasn't all true. History becomes legend and that becomes myth. * Also in attendance were scribes that recorded the true history for the books…legend would become fact once more!
"Beryl knew the about the power that emanated from Luna and the strength of the Alliance. She was a student of the dark arts and knew how to poison the masses. Once the labeled 'cults' disbanded, Beryl took their anguish and turned it against them. She told them that if the gods they worshiped really cared about them, they would have granted them the greatest gift... immortality, verses the little trinkets and favors they received. The people never knew that it was their king that spoke to all the high priests and forced them to disband all the worshipers of the High Council. Because the ruling seat of Terra was located in the core of the planet, on the boundaries of Elysian, my mother and the court didn't witness this occurrence. Endymion found out what his father did and tried to sooth the tension that had built between the Golden Kingdom and the lower houses. Beryl knew about this because she was eavesdropping; Endymion and I caught her on several occasions. He took that news to his father and he banished her from the kingdom. In his indecision to execute her, for a crime whose punishment was as such, he sealed the fate of the entire galaxy."
"In her studies, she learned of a power that would cause her to destroy her enemies. But she failed to realize that in calling on this power, she would lose her soul and forever be bound to this evil for as long as it existed. She called upon the Empress of the Night, the creature trapped in sun, the Queen…Metallia. Metallia used Beryl as a vessel and fed upon the jealousy of the Terran people…even the trusted friends of the prince and used them as pawns to obtain the power of my lineage…the Imperium Silver Crystal. Metallia knew about my mother, even though she was trapped on the sun, she witnessed the birth and rise of the Alliance. She coveted that power for a long time. But in her coveting, she failed to notice the purity surrounding the gem and the fact that only a pure heart could control it."
"Beryl converged her army of demons and corrupted Terran citizens upon the palace of the Golden Kingdom. The king was surprised that the demons he feared didn't come from the Alliance; they came from his own back yard. The palace was taken quickly and Endymion alone couldn't hold off the forces. He escaped to Lunar and pleaded with the Council to help his planet. He was rejected but that was overturned by my mother. No one knew that we were the real target and shortly after that meeting, we found out the true reason behind the attack on Terra for Beryl had arrived on Luna."
"Metallia had sent forth her demon shadows to the other planets and since you couldn't kill something that wasn't real…they perished quickly. She sent the now damned Terrans to destroy the one thing she couldn't have…leadership of the entire galaxy… You know the rest from there. I'm sure the legends got that right. But now that you have the background, you can figure out why you were granted extended life."
Serena finished the history with a sigh; the memories of that time still affected her. Breathing deeply once again she continued.
"We didn't want what happened then to happen in your time. My council and I have been discussing this now in the 20th century. We knew there would be a time when we would have to ascend to the thrones of our parents and wanted to get the obvious flaws out of the way. Now I know where the disagreement stems from. I wouldn't want to live for over 1000 years afflicted with cancer or AIDS. Let me ask a question. Did everyone live at the age there were when extended life was granted?"
"Yes, if someone was elderly, they stayed that way. They same if you were a child or an infant."
"Ayden was that 'my' decision? That's so stupid!"
"No, your council wanted to revert age back to the 20's and let the children grow till their 20's then stop the process. It was the king; he overruled the decision saying his planet, his law. He would only allow extended life because he didn't want you to kill yourself."
"I would assume that I had gotten stronger. I would also receive supreme knowledge at my coming of age… he must still be weak and uses his title to feel equal to me."
There were a few murmurs in the back of the auditorium, Blake heard what was said and laughed to himself.
{She really does now the king. When I worked at the palace that's all he used to fuss about.}
{Yeah, I thought he was having trouble in the bedroom; that's why my husband gets so grumpy.}
"What is the major affliction that troubles the people of the earth now?"
"There are various forms of cancer that still haven't been cured. And a new kind of plague whose fatalities surpassed the Bubonic plague and the Ebola virus. It was cured, but it can permanently affect people at different stages."
"Hmm, so I would have to cure disease, revert or progress aging and repair the damage from the plague…Blake? Blake?"
"Back here Serena."
"Why are you all the way back there? Nevermind, can I talk to you and your brother for a minute?"
"Coming."
"Everyone can you please excuse us why we converge on this."
Serena, Ayden and Blake left the conference room and retreated to the command center.
"How long have you two been this age?"
"We started back aging once we arrived here two years ago. But I was 16 for 10 years. I was lucky, imagine if I was stuck in puberty for that long."
Ayden finished trying to lighten the situation.
"It wouldn't take that much to let people age, I mean my mother looked no older than 30 and she was over 1500 years old. What is a good age to stop the process?"
"You haven't aged a day beyond 22 highness."
Blake answered her question while still looking for Rubeus.
"Hmm, ok the my use of the crystal is limited. Must be something in the atmosphere. Blake could you create a shield that allows power to flow out but nothing to flow in. I could regress the adults to their 30's if they are beyond that. Anything younger would take several uses of the crystal. Would the parents mind if their children continue to grow and stop aging at 18 or 21?"
"I don't think that would be a problem, how about you Blake?"
"No problems here either."
"Now about the curing…how many people are here?"
"About 250 people."
"How many are afflicted with disease?"
"Hmm, I would say about 75."
"I could take away the pain and keep the sickness from progressing, but until we can get them off this planet, I can't completely heal them."
"Ok, I will take this to the family leaders. Wait here, Blake?"
"I'll stay with Serena."
Ayden went returned to the conference room and told his people what Serena had decided to do for them. They were overjoyed and voiced their appreciation by chanting, shouting and jumping to their feet. Those who were afflicted with disease were more concerned with alleviating the pain versus receiving a cure. That in itself was like putting their sickness in remission. After the meeting, the people of Nemesis were filled with hope and started to make the best out of their situation.
Deep in the core of the planet, there was an evil whose control had slipped away. So it too looked for the absent Rubeus…he would be a vessel whose control would not be loss…
It took a few days for the three of them, Ayden, Blake and Serena, to draw up the plan and erect the shield due to the magnetic field of the planet. By weeks end she had regressed the elderly back to their 30's and relieved the pain of those affected by sickness, she also ensured that the children would stop aging once they reached 21. All of the citizens would live for around 1000 years and in the case of the death of a loved one, by either accident or murder, they could elect to have their life ended and die in their sleep.
After resting for a day, Serena realized it was time for her to return home.
"Ayden it's time."
"Time for what?"
"I need to return home."
"Oh…yeah you aren't from this time and I bet your friends miss you…Darien too."
"What do you mean Darien?"
"Well you know that the dreams were sent by me, you probably will reconcile with him…"
Ayden turned from Serena and braced himself for her response.
"I would never return to him. He doesn't appreciate me. Why would I want to be with someone who will eventually become blinded by his title and forget the needs of 'all' his people?"
"But the timeline is probably fragile."
"Let me worry about the timeline. Besides, I don't want to leave you…but I have no choice."
"You don't want to leave…me?"
"Yes. I know I've know you for a few weeks but you have treated me better than Darien ever had. This may seem forward, even absurd, but will you come back with me?"
Ayden was in complete and utter shock. Not only did Serena say she didn't want to leave him, she wanted him to return to the 20th century with her.
"I…don't know."
"Forget it, it was selfish and silly of me to ask. You have a planet to rule and all. Your people have just made great advancements towards inner peace and reconciliation and I ask you to leave."
"NO…it's not that. I don't want to leave my brother…"
"Ayden…did you think I would separate you and your brother? I know how close you are, I want 'both' of you to come with me. It wouldn't be the same without him. I could find you a place to stay and besides… I have four single friends; he won't be lonely."
He looked up and saw a sly smile gracing her features and he couldn't help to laugh. Serena looked up to see Ayden's head thrown back in laughter. He stopped and looked her in the eye while slowing running his hand down her face.
"My princess…I would be honored."
He lowered his head and placed the sweetest kiss on her lips. This time she was ready and returned it with full fervor. Her eyes fluttered closed while new sensations filled both of them.
Back in the 20th century Mina gasped causing her to drop the cup she was holding.
"Mina what's wrong?"
"Nothings wrong guys… I just felt the forging of a very strong bond. I haven't felt anything this strong since the Silver Millennium."
End chapter
Ok, I was doing research, as usual and Lunatics were people who worshiped the moon. So I was like hey, that could explain why earlier cultures worshiped lesser gods…MYTHOLOGY.
*I got that from 'Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring'. Galandria said it in the introduction of the movie…which is awesome I might add. I know I'm spelling this name wrong but did anyone who saw Leolias was like Zoicite with brown eyes! I mean the one in the Manga… hee hee, oh hush!
Look two chapters in two days! For those of you who are like 'HUH, this is only one chapter Dove.' I updated Homicide yesterday…GO READ IT!
Love lost is on a short break while I wait for my muse to come in the mail. I had to get another one; do you know how HARD it is to write pure sap? This is why I am NOT a romance writer! No harlequin novels for me! I have two muses that haven't gotten much use in these stories. They are Euterpe, muse of music and lyric poetry and Erato, muse of love and erotic poetry. SO you see why I haven't used them in this story. I have used Euterpe when I wrote the spells for Reeny and the background music scenes for Love Lost.
'Dove, you are rambling again my dear
This is something the readers don't want to hear
But unless you want her to continue this tease
Read, Review, and E-Mail us PLEASE…'
Thank you Euterpe…no Erato…children are reading this, you can't say anything.
Ja,
Dove