Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon.
Warnings: Dark, angst, betrayal, and politics.
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Our Kingdom Disdain
(Part the Third)
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"I had forgotten that you are only a common boy. How should you understand reasons of State? You must learn, child, that what would be wrong for you or any of the common people is not wrong in a great Queen such as I. The weight of the world is on our shoulders. We must be freed from all rules. Ours is a high and lonely destiny."
-Jadis, Last Queen of Charn, The Chronicles of Narnia
"Tantum religio potuit suadere malorum."
("To so many evils religion has persuaded men.")
-Lucretius
"You, too, were brought to this planet from far across the galaxy. Are not our origins the same?"
-Nehalennia, Act 41
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It was a place that was almost never spoken of. There were only whispers and children's fears that told tales of it. A dark side to every pure thing. For nothing is perfect and without it's flaws.
It was a stain on her perfect kingdom in the Queen's eyes and therefore she never mentioned it at all.
The dark side of the Moon.
When a Lunarian died their body was taken from the bright beautiful white side of the moon to the dark side, in the desolate wasteland. This custom caused the Lunarians to refer to it only as the 'Dead Moon.'
However, they were part of the Moon Kingdom in its own way and it was ruled by a Queen who was supposed to be quite beautiful but if you saw her, you would die that day. That was the tale that was told.
Luna and Artemis knew that this was not true. Neither had ventured through the mirror and into the land of the Dead Moon but they both knew enough about it to know that such superstitions were just that, superstitions. The Dead Moon had to be told they were going for war, no matter if the Queen had not said it should be done.
The last time this Dead Moon Queen had not been told of a major event happening, there had been problems. To avoid further problems, Artemis and Luna decided to go themselves. It was dangerous; they didn't know how this Queen would react to their presence.
It was through the looking glass that they had to go.
The mirror was located in the palace that led there. Luna and Artemis quietly went through; holding hands for they did not know what was awaiting them on the other side.
"What is this?" A funny sounding voice asked. "It's people from the White Moon!"
"The White Moon?" Another voice called in the darkness that now surrounded the two Lunarians. "What are they doing here? Did they get lost?"
"We're here to see Queen Nehalennia." Artemis tried to speak with a calm voice but it was unnerving hearing others talking without being able to see them.
"They're here to see the Queen!" Another voice squealed. "Well that is something!"
"So let's take them to her!" Another voice giggled with delight and suddenly Artemis and Luna were being pulled by their free hands forward and apart. Artemis and Luna held their hands together as tightly as possibly so that they would not lose the other in the darkness.
Luna and Artemis were shoved forward and they were walking on a rather solid stone that Luna couldn't quite place from the feel under her feet. They were both jostled and Luna's foot slipped and instead of floor, there was nothing. Artemis yanked her back towards him.
We're walking on a narrow path.
This she could finally see by the way the masses seemed to be going in one thinned line.
"Artemis…" Luna didn't know how to tell him she thought they should turn back now. This was dangerous, maybe more dangerous then they had originally thought. But he made a noise that kept her silent.
It is important we do this. If we don't…
We may end up getting attacked from two different sides.
Then they were in a huge hall that was mirror after mirror. As she walked along, Luna noticed that her reflection wasn't always the same. The first couple of ones she was the same young woman with dark hair. That was when she realized that the mirror shouldn't be able to see her so clearly in the darkness but it could…it didn't make sense.
The mirrors showed her as a cat and Luna found it bizarre to look at. She had seen her cat self in a mirror before but it was slightly startling when she knew she wasn't transformed. She turned to see Artemis staring at his own reflections as well.
But then she was a woman again but this woman did not have to wear the mark of a Lunarian, she was just a simple woman, a simple life. Was the mirror able to see what she herself wanted? The images became more enticing, ones of her as a bride, ones of her with a full belly, meaning she was pregnant.
An image of her with a crown on her head. As though she were queen…her eyes went wide and she took a step back into Artemis.
"I take it you don't like what you see?" An icy, creepy, voice asked. "Or maybe you do like what you see but are unwilling to admit it."
"Who are you?" Luna asked and saw that Artemis was setting his jaw firmly.
"Is that any way to address a Queen?" The voice questioned them. "Bring them forward you incompetent fools!" The crowd shoved at them and Luna and Artemis were separated before they could say anything, being pushed to the front of the large crowd. Luna wondered how it was possible that none of them were falling off the ledges.
Finally they were at the front of the crowd, a dais with a large throne that looked like it was made of darkened glass was sitting on the raised platform. It was not these things that Luna immediately saw but the goddess like woman sitting there.
Her hair was darker then a crows' wing. It was so smooth that Luna thought it might be made of glass. This woman had a hairstyle very similar to her own. Her skin was in sharp contrast with her hair, a white that made her look as though she were really a statue. Her eyes were framed with long dark lashes and they looked like the eyes of a true cat, with thing vertical slits amid the pale blue. Her flowing gown was black and white and on top of it she wore a dark purple cape. On her forehead was three crescent moons with a dark circle of some black stone above them, maybe to show the superiority of the Dead Moon.
This was without a doubt the Queen.
"I am the Queen Nehalennia of the Dead Moon." The Dark Queen pronounced giving them a smug look that made her look even more like a cat. "Who are you and what is your business in my kingdom?"
"We're messengers from the White Moon." Artemis spoke firmly. "I am Artemis and this is Luna."
"Messengers from the White Moon?" Queen Nehalennia raised her eyebrows and said it slowly and slyly. "Since when did that fool Serenity condescend to telling me anything? Don't tell me she gave birth to another brat…"
"No." Luna shook her head. "The Moon is declaring war on the Earth."
"The White Moon is declaring war on the Earth." Queen Nehalennia corrected Luna. "If I declare war on anyone it will be that White Queen. She claims to be of some ancient lineage and therefore allowed to make all the decisions of these kingdoms. If she wants my support tell her to come and ask me for it."
"She does not ask for support only that you do not assist the Earth." Artemis was lying, the Queen Serenity had no idea they were even there. But he was a wonderful diplomat.
"That would bring her trouble, wouldn't it?" Queen Nehalennia looked rather amused by the idea. "I wonder what she would give me in return for not aiding her enemies…"
"The protection of the Ginzuishou should be enough." Luna spoke a little more sternly than she intended. She was not sure she liked this Queen one bit…did she care nothing for her subjects and their well-being? But then, neither did Queen Serenity.
"That damned Ginzuishou!" Queen Nehalennia was not calm at all as it was mentioned and hit the armrest of her throne.
"The Ginzuishou! The Ginzuishou!" The crowd behind them sang mockingly together.
"Shut up you fools!" Queen Nehalennia ordered and the ruckus immediately died down. "I wonder, what are your positions in your fair white court?"
"I am the advisor of Princess Serenity X and Artemis and I both train the Sailor-Senshi." Luna answered and then when she saw the cruel smile of Queen Nehalennia, spreading across the pure white face, she knew she had made a mistake.
"I suppose that you would be…missed?" Queen Nehalennia said the word in such a way that it sent shivers up and down Luna's spine.
"We cannot stay." Artemis seemed to be trying to be calm and sound as though he couldn't tell what the Queen's intentions were. "We must go; we only came to deliver that message."
"And you've done a wonderful job." Queen Nehalennia's eyes were lit up. "Surely you would like a reward…"
"No rewards will be necessary." Luna pretended to be demure but a cold feeling of dread was creeping around in her insides.
"Oh, but I insist." The maniacal light in the Dark Queen's eyes made their hands clasped together. "Seize them!" The crowd surged to grab them but just as the hands went to grasp their arms and legs, both of them concentrated and turned into cats.
They ran among the confused legs of the crowd, having to slip through them all. There were cries of, "I've got them!" intermixed with yells of anger from people who couldn't catch the two cats.
Above it all was the repeated shrieking command of Queen Nehalennia. "Seize them, seize them!"
With the eyes of cats, they could see in the darkness and they found each other as they reached the end of the crowd who were all in confusion. Then they ran until they saw the dark tint of the mirror that would take them back to the Kingdom where they belonged.
As Luna turned her head, giving one last look at the Dead Moon Kingdom, she wondered how it was that a kingdom could fall into such madness.
When a ruler is mad, so is their kingdom.
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Hotaru was sitting on a rock overlooking the vast seas of Saturn and quietly throwing stones into it from time to time out of boredom. The ghosts of children were running along the beach below and Yaten was watching them with careful green eyes.
She had gotten used to the silver-haired woman's presence and often found it hard to remember what life had been like before there was anyone else around that could feel as she could.
"Do you like children, Yaten?" Hotaru ventured the question.
"They're annoying; they don't know when to be quiet." Yaten looked away from the children with an irritated look gracing her features.
"Oh." Hotaru smiled to herself. She knew that Yaten was just saying that. Yaten seemed to always want to know where all the children were and what they were doing. She had children report to him throughout the day.
She explained that this was all part of her duty as her protector, to make sure her subjects were well and there was no reason for discord. Of course, all her subjects were ghosts but that didn't faze Yaten at all. They did have long conversations at times, her and Yaten but most of the time they stayed together in a comfortable silence.
It is nice…to be around someone who is an adult.
Hotaru told her of her meeting with the other Senshi and she was surprised by the idea that there was a Senshi for each planet. Then Yaten went on to say that it made sense as her princess was a Senshi herself and was supposed to watch over the planet. She did not like the idea that all these planetary Senshi served a princess who was not a Senshi.
"They should rule their own planets. What does this princess know of planets other then her own? Has she visited them all?" It was the question he posed when she mentioned her princess. It made Hotaru feel doubtful when she said that. Was the princess really so good? She had never come to meet Hotaru…she probably didn't even know Hotaru existed.
Hotaru told him all about Setsuna and her going to the land of Elysion and how she hoped she could visit it again some day, with Yaten if she wanted to go. Yaten vowed she would go if her princess asked her to.
It was hard to get used to, the idea that Yaten was her protector. She was the one who was supposed to protect someone. At night she would ask herself questions which became troubling to her.
Suppose that she could only save one person and the princess and Setsuna were both about to die? Who would she save? Or the princess and Yaten? Or Yaten and Setsuna? It was hard to know that she had sworn to put the princess' life first and if she did not obey that oath, she would be forsworn.
It is a bad thing to be forsworn…
But how does one decide these things?
She looked down at the water and shimmering in its depths she saw the image of a beautiful white palace but she had never seen it before. A wave went through it and she saw it ruins and then ripple went through, a dark silver followed that ripple and Hotaru's eyes widened.
Sometimes, in her dreams, there was a dark silver thing that made her afraid. A blade of some sort…and a voice that spoke to her.
"When the Glaive falls…"
She did not understand those words and so the dreams frightened her badly.
"Is something wrong?" Yaten inquired and Hotaru shook herself.
"No…I just feel like…something's going to happen. I wonder if Setsuna is okay…" Hotaru trailed off, looking out across the sea.
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The youma struck in a place far from the D point of the North Pole, far from the palace as well so the news that monsters had destroyed a large city took some time traveling to the palace.
When it did arrive, Queen Demeter immediately sent troops to stop them, including the Shittenou, who were all going because it was Nephrite's kingdom and he had to protect it. Thus they all went even after she had protested to this. She had reminded them that they were also the sworn protectors of Prince Endymion but eventually had to give in.
Prince Endymion had been locked up in the palace and was surrounded by guards no matter how many times he ordered them away. He hated being stuck in the palace and he hated the fact that he could not see Serenity. It was pure torture and he felt like they had cut off one of his limbs but not allowing him out. He demanded to go fight with the Shittenou but his mother denied him this liberty, for his own safety.
Queen Demeter knew she had to consult Beryl as she was the High Priestess of Gaia and had her sent for. The messengers had a hard time finding her and when they did, she came into Demeter's room with a slightly haughty look to her.
Is this that girl who seemed so eager to prove herself?
She looks different somehow…
"My queen." Beryl curtsied in such a fashion that it didn't seem the least bit respectful.
"Good day Beryl." Queen Demeter wondered if perhaps the news of the attacks was getting to Beryl. After all, being High Priestess she should have known of monsters being present before anyone. "As I'm sure you've been told already, there are youma attacking the western part of the world."
"Of course I have heard." Beryl scoffed. "Or perhaps you doubt my abilities as High Priestess?"
"I'll thank you not to act so insolently towards your Queen." Demeter's eyes narrowed. Beryl used to be so sweet and now…she wondered what had happened to her. "What can you tell us of these youma?"
"That there are many." Beryl spoke coolly. "They have come in great numbers."
"How did they get here? Is this the reason Elysian is closed to us?" Demeter questioned.
"A meteor came from the sun and hit Earth." Beryl explained to the older woman. "An evil must have been present. In some places of the world, dark crystal formations are sticking out of the earth as a tree would."
"Where is this evil emanating from? We must find that and destroy it." Demeter declared immediately.
"Brilliant strategy my queen." Beryl said in a voice that was bordering on sarcastic. "It is not as easy as that."
"For the High Priestess?" Demeter decided to give Beryl back exactly what she was giving out.
"It would be difficult for anyone." Beryl's eyes were lit up with fury. "I have no time to listen to the words of someone who does not know anything of this situation. Sit on your throne and do what it is you do best, stand aside while the world goes on around you!"
"Beryl!" Demeter stood, dark blue eyes flashing. "You will take back those words or you will be punished!"
"I will not." Beryl's closed around the blue ball she had hidden in the skirts of her priestess garb. Give me power Metallia…the power you promised me…
Suddenly it seemed to Demeter that Beryl's eyes were very big and that she saw them in a sort of hypnotic way. There was a small flash and the Queen felt dazed, not sure what just took place, only that Beryl was there and whatever Beryl said was probably right, she was the High Priestess.
"You must keep Endymion in the palace; make sure that he is not left alone by the soldiers that guard him. It is for his own well being." Beryl said, feeling smug. She could control Demeter's simple mind! Now she could make sure he did not get out to see his pale moon princess!
You may not have known what love was until you met her…but now you do and now you will know what it is to love me.
"Yes, I'll do that." Demeter nodded dumbly.
"And I will take care of everything." Beryl assured her in the same lilting tones.
"Yes, you are very capable." Demeter could do nothing but agree.
Soon I will be Queen and Demeter will be no more.
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"It is rainy in your country." Zoicite was weary of the rain and weary of the battles. The soldiers had set up camp for the night; chasing the youma was not easy and they had sent riders ahead. Every time they caught up, they had to retreat because of the enormous number of soldiers.
"I'm used to it, even though I spent most of my life at the palace." Nephrite smiled despite all that was going on around them. "How long has it been since you sent that messenger to the palace to ask for more troops?"
"Seven days." Zoicite frowned. "I'm sure it won't be long. Unless the messenger was intercepted."
"These youma don't seem very smart." Kunzite seemed to be thinking rather hard as he sat a table across from Zoicite in the large tent that the Shittenou shared. The table was covered with maps and charts and other documents. "But yet they are very strategic about where they go…someone must be giving them orders…"
"But who?" Nephrite was also seated at the table but he was opposite of Jadeite who didn't seem to be paying any attention at all to their conversation. As of late, Jadeite spent most of his time brooding. Over what, no one knew.
"Someone who is smart enough not to wave flags that they are the leader." Zoicite stared at one of the maps. "It is possible that if we kill the leader, the others will fall easily, they will have no guide to tell them where to attack."
"What do you think Jadeite?" Kunzite questioned the blonde-haired young man who looked slightly surprised that he had been asked a question.
"We can sit here and talk about it all we want, it makes no difference." Jadeite stood up. "I'm going to go check on the soldiers." He turned and went out of the tent, the opening flapping behind him. The Shittenou all turned towards each other but none of them had an answer.
"I wonder what exactly is ailing our friend." Zoicite's mouth twisted into a frown.
"Maybe he's missing his fiery woman…" Nephrite suggested in a teasing voice.
Outside the tent, Jadeite walked around the camp, nodding at the troops who were on duty, watching the land carefully. It was good to go among the soldiers; it helped with morale if the leaders of the troops were not always in their tent. He wasn't walking just to check on them though.
It seemed that the only thing he was able to do these days was think of Rei. She was always there in the back of his mind. He shouldn't have let her leave him like that. He should have gone after her and made her listen to him.
She was so difficult a woman to understand. But so much like him that he knew she was the only woman for him. Why did she have to be the princess of another planet and live in a kingdom so very far from his own?
Is destiny against us?
I don't care what I have to fight…
No one thought much of it of course. Endymion was too far away to be of any comfort; surely Endymion pined for his princess as well. Or perhaps Endymion imagined he was the only one who suffered…
And so to take his mind off of matters he would throw himself into battle, taking risks that were pure suicide. It might have looked like bravery to some but to others, it was probably seen as fearlessness and stupidity.
What he would give for those violet eyes and fiery temper…
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"Call the troops back!" Kunzite commanded, trying to be heard over the noise of the battle. "Call the troops back!" There was fighting all around him and he saw Zoicite falling from his horse but as second later, Jadeite was there and pulling the green-eyed man on his horse. They were both covered in bruises and cuts.
Kunzite himself wasn't uninjured, a deep gash in his leg made him aware that without his horse he would be very vulnerable. Nephrite was a few feet away, stabbing a youma through the head with his sword.
"Call the troops back!" Kunzite commanded again, trying to send the signal. The troops seemed to catch on and there were yells of "Retreat, retreat!" going through the crowd.
Jadeite and Zoicite were fighting their way towards Kunzite and Nephrite. Zoicite sent a fireball into the crowd of youma, cutting down their obstacles. The troops were making progress and as the four leaders of the soldiers, they had to make sure that no one was behind them before retreating themselves.
"We have to go." Kunzite told the other members of the Shittenou as they started to turn their horses. "We have to go to the troops."
"There's too many youma!" Zoicite looked very weary, he had been using magic during the entire battle and it was draining his strength.
"We're surrounded." Nephrite noted as he watched the youma back away from them and start to move around them in a horrible shrieking and wailing circle. "Are we ready to die?"
"I am." Jadeite volunteered, he tried to raise his sword but he grimaced in pain and Kunzite thought he must have a wound on his side. "This is the sort of battle Endymion has always wanted to be in and he can't be here."
"I would rather die in the service of Endymion and in a battle to defend innocent lives then anywhere else." Nephrite declared.
"I would rather die with you three than anyone else." Zoicite told them, trying to ignore his feelings of weariness.
"Get ready then." Kunzite looked at the monsters. They all braced themselves and the youma, sensing that they were ready were about to pounce.
At that moment, the youma suddenly fell over, twitching horribly and then with great burst, exploding all around them. They all were amazed by this spectacular even though they were being splattered by the insides of the youma.
As the youma fell, Kunzite shielded his eyes and saw someone walking towards them. The dark hair, the pale eyes…
"It's Beryl!" Kunzite recognized the person at last. Even though youma were exploding around her, nothing was getting on her dress. "Beryl!" He called out towards the young woman who picked up the pace and began running towards them.
"How does Beryl know we're here?" Zoicite found himself resting his head against Jadeite's back. "How is she doing this?"
"It must be the true power of the High Priestess of Gaia." Nephrite murmured in awe.
The last of the youma had finally fallen and Beryl was there, her eyes large and rather innocent, the Beryl they knew for so long.
"Kunzite! Jadeite! Zoicite! Nephrite!" Beryl looked at them, her brow furrowed in worry. "You are injured!"
"We'll live." Jadeite gave her a brave grimace.
"We could use your skills in healing." Zoicite picked his head up and looked at her. There was something strange about Beryl that Zoicite couldn't put his finger on.
"Come with me." Beryl insisted. "I can heal you better in the Temple."
"We have to return to the troops." Kunzite argued, shaking his head.
"You cannot fight with these injuries. I'd rather return you in better condition to your soldiers." Beryl gave them all a pleading look. "I'm supposed to report to Endymion and you know he won't stay where he'll be safe if he hears you're all injured." Beryl reminded them.
"She's right. We have to protect Endymion, even from himself." Nephrite reminded the others quietly. "One of us should go back and tell the troops."
"I will come back and tell them myself." Beryl promised. "Right after I take you to the temple." And all four of them found her voice rather…hypnotic. They all felt the urge to just follow Beryl.
"Yes, I think we should." Zoicite was too tired to fight his urge. "Come on."
"I agree." Kunzite, being the leader, made it final. The four of them followed Beryl who led them to a portal that led directly to the temple.
When they were just stepping into the temple, Beryl whirled around with a shocked look on her face.
"Oh no!" Beryl seemed to have just remembered something. "I have to make another stop! I remember sensing something earlier and wanted to check it out…I don't know if I should or not…it felt dangerous."
"We'll go with you." Jadeite immediately volunteered.
"No, you're all injured, I couldn't possibly—" Beryl began and was cut off.
"We wouldn't want anything happening to you Beryl." Nephrite gave her a fond smile. "Surely we cannot replace our High Priestess."
"I see there's no arguing with you." Beryl gave them a grateful smile. "I'm sure it will probably be nothing."
With that she led them into another portal and they all went through into a frozen wasteland with winds blowing all around. Immediately they felt that there was some dark presence there, waiting for them. Even though this ominous feeling came to mind, they knew they had to stay with Beryl.
She went forward, looking around as though she didn't know where she was going but then the mouth of a cave came into view. As soon as Jadeite stepped inside it after her, a horrible feeling rang through his body.
"A nightmare that's going to come true."
How odd that the prophetic words of Rei were ringing in his ears at that moment.
They continued to follow her, trusting Beryl to know when to stop and think about turning around. If Beryl felt the dark presence could be dealt with then they had to trust in her abilities. Did she not just kill an army of youma?
Deeper into the cave they saw that there was something glowing further ahead.
"What is that light?" Zoicite questioned Kunzite.
"I don't know." Kunzite didn't like this. "Beryl…perhaps we should turn back."
"It's my duty to look." Beryl stuck out her chin defiantly. "I have to help protect the Earth."
"It's alright Beryl, we're right behind you." Jadeite didn't wholly believe in his words right then but he said it anyways. The light was gone and they were in utter darkness, Zoicite stumbled over Kunzite who winced at the extra weight on his wounded leg. It sent him tumbling forward, taking Nephrite and Jadeite with them.
They stopped rolling at last, probably at the bottom of this deep cave.
"Jadeite?" Zoicite picked up his head, he was so dizzy and all he wanted to do was lie down and sleep. He reached up and touched his forehead. It was bleeding.
"Zoicite?" Jadeite sounded as though his head had been hit too, his words were dazed. "Kunzite?"
"I'm here." Kunzite sat up and found he couldn't seem any of them.
"I'm here too." Nephrite's voice announced. "Where's Beryl?"
"Beryl?" Jadeite began feeling around him. "Beryl?"
There was no answer at all. All of them had a horrible sinking feeling. Where was Beryl? Had she hit her head as well and perhaps had been knocked unconscious? What if she was dead?
They should have turned around when they had the chance.
All at once the room filled with dark purple light, beaming from the center and the Shittenou looked into that light and fell over on the ground, stiff as boards. A shell of purple light covered each one.
Beryl stepped out of the shadows.
"Will they be okay Metallia?" Beryl questioned, looking at them curiously.
"Oh yes." Metallia seemed rather sure of herself. "When they wake up they will have nothing but utter devotion to you. They will forget about those brats from the White Moon."
"Good." Beryl smiled. She had helped them! Saved them from those evil ones. "They thought I destroyed the youma army but that was only a quarter of it. Now they will love me and with their help I will have Endymion."
"Yes, and you will rule." Metallia reminded her.
"Yes, I will." Beryl agreed.
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"Rei…"
His icy blue eyes looked deep into her own.
"You have to help me."
"No." She shook her head.
Then Jadeite burst into flames right in front of her eyes.
Rei woke up and found herself sitting up and getting out of bed immediately. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. She looked out her window and saw the Earth.
Why must I dream of you?
Has something happened to you?
Rei only paused for a moment before hurrying out of her room and into Minako's room. Minako was sleeping soundly and that didn't surprise Rei. Minako was not as sensitive to these things and as of late, Rei was really questioning Minako's ability as a Senshi. She never voiced these out loud, it was the seed of doubt that had been planted in her.
"Minako!" Rei woke her up quickly.
"What is it?" Minako opened her eyes sleepily. She rubbed them and saw the worried look on Rei's face.
"Something just happened. Something horrible." Rei seemed confused. "I don't know what it is…but I think it has something to do with the Earth."
"Of course something bad is happening with the Earth! We declared war on them!" Minako was angry about that and Rei didn't blame her. It was so stupid of the Queen to do this. It was as though she had decided out of nowhere.
When Princess Serenity had heard the news, she refused to come out of her room and spent her days weeping. They had the advantage, the Earth would be conquered, and the Queen would have the rulers of Earth killed.
That was the way of Serenity's line.
"No, that's not what I mean." Rei shook her head. "I think something has happened to…" She couldn't bring herself to say that she thought something bad had happened to Jadeite. She didn't want to bring that to Minako's attention. "To Endymion's guard."
"The Shittenou?" Minako's big blue eyes went round. Small wonder, it was obvious that Minako had been smitten with the leader of the Shittenou. "Do you think…we should go to Earth?"
"Yes. Just to see." Rei said quickly. "But we cannot take Serenity with us. It's too dangerous."
"I'll go wake Ami and Makoto." Minako nodded her head in agreement. "If something awful has happened then it's best to make sure Serenity doesn't become involved."
They woke the other two Senshi and they all snuck to the transports. With all the transports bearing messages and troops for the Queen's army, one flying off didn't make a difference.
They were all worried by Rei's warning that something bad had happened. Ami was frowning to herself, the way she always did when she was worried. Minako was biting her lip and Makoto was impatiently pacing in the transport.
It landed on the Earth where it always did. Outside the palace. They all got out of it and then, they debated about what they should do.
"We could sneak into the palace." Minako glanced at the wall surrounding the city. "It'll be dangerous…but we could do it."
"Alright." Rei nodded in agreement. "Let's—"
"You don't have to sneak in." Jadeite's voice made Rei freeze. It sounded like his voice but there was something just not right about it. They all turned to see the Shittenou there. They looked as they always had but…different.
"You're here." Minako blinked in confusion. "So nothing bad has happened to you?" The four generals turned towards each other and exchanged amused looks.
"Not that I can recall." Zoicite shrugged.
"Where's Endymion?" Makoto suddenly asked.
"We don't know." Kunzite shook his head. "Our queen says it is best we do not see him."
"Your queen?" Rei questioned suspiciously.
"The Queen Beryl." Jadeite answered. "She is our ruler and has promised us great things if we do as she commands."
"What?" Minako took a step back. "You are sworn to protect Endymion."
"I don't remember that." Kunzite answered in a cold voice. "I think I would remember swearing allegiance to someone other then our beloved queen."
"Our queen says that she will accept you all on her side if you are willing to swear your undying allegiance to her." Nephrite explained.
"We are sworn already." Rei's eyes narrowed.
"But think of it." Jadeite took a step towards her. "You will receive great power, something that your princess cannot give you. Is it right that just because she is born, she is ruler?"
"It is her divine right." Minako argued.
"Are you not princesses and queen in your own right?" Zoicite posed the question. "Is it right that you have to rule under a princess?"
"You are all kings in your own right." Ami answered back logically. "Is it right that you rule under Beryl?" The faces of the Shittenou tightened with anger.
"Of course it is right." Kunzite did not seem to see the discrepancy in logic. "Our queen is the true Queen."
"What's wrong with you?" Minako asked Kunzite with an angry, shaking voice. "You were sworn to Endymion! Is your loyalty as fickle as that?!"
"Something's wrong with them." Rei couldn't decide what it was. "I don't know what though."
"Who is this Beryl?" Ami asked the others quietly. None of them knew the answer.
"Join with Queen Beryl, there is nothing to lose." Jadeite was looking at Rei in particular. But something about his gaze said that he didn't know who she was. It was as though he knew he knew her, but could not place it.
"Their memories have been modified." Rei told the others. "They have been turned…turned to something evil."
"We should leave." Makoto suggested immediately when this had sunk in.
"You won't be offered this change again!" Jadeite warned them. "The next time we meet, it will be your demise." The others turned and fled but Rei stood and faced him.
"I see your words of love are worth nothing." And that was all she said before she went after the other Senshi and back to the transport.
The other Shittenou murmured something to each other but Jadeite felt struck by those words.
It hurts…but why?
Do I…know that woman?
Did I love her?
------------------------
Endymion sat in his chair, not wanting food or drink but mechanically putting them into his mouth. He couldn't believe he was stuck inside the castle! His mother wouldn't let him leave, even when he heard one of the soldiers talking about the Shittenou disappearing and then reappearing and acting strangely.
I hope nothing has happened to you…
And even though his dearest friends probably needed him, he could not go to them and so his thoughts turned to Serenity. Where was she? What was she doing? It had been so long since he had seen her…he longed for her kisses, her sweet voice…he longed for her.
It was getting dark. Another day of captivity, all because he was a prince! He wished fervently at that moment that he had been born something simple, a shepherd maybe, so that he might come and go as he pleased!
"Prince Endymion." A woman's voice whispered and he turned to see that a tall woman was standing in the shadows. He couldn't see her very well but he thought she was holding a staff. "It is time."
"Time for what?" Endymion was confused. "How did you get in here? The soldiers would have seen—"
"I need no doors." The woman spoke in an all-knowing tone. "It is time for you to be with your princess."
"Serenity?" Endymion looked but saw that there was no one standing with this woman in the shadows. "Where?"
"Follow me and I will take you to her kingdom. You must not be caught and you must go to her." The woman told him. "If you cannot do this…I will not bother to take you."
"I can." Endymion stood up. "How will we leave? The soldiers at the doors…"
"I told you, I need no doors." The woman hit her staff on the ground and something appeared in thin air. It was a portal. "Come with me Endymion."
"Alright." Endymion didn't think twice about this, didn't think about how this woman might be leading him towards his doom or to happiness. She was taking him out of his cage and he longed for Serenity's touch.
She led him into the portal and when it closed, Endymion saw that he was standing in a great hall with doors as far as the eye could see in any direction. The woman, now in the light, had dark green hair that flowed down and garnet eyes. She was holding what appeared to be a large key but the belt of keys around her waist held smaller ones.
She was dressed as one of Serenity's own guard was dressed but he did not remember her.
"Who are you?" Endymion asked.
"That is not important and you must not tell anyone that you have seen me." She spoke in a voice that told him it would be dangerous to do so. She unlocked a door a little further down and opened it. "Go, she is on the balcony." He looked into the doorway and saw that there was a garden but he could see a balcony and maybe someone standing on it.
Endymion didn't hesitate as he walked forward and into the Moon Kingdom. He rushed forward, pausing to see if the woman had followed him but apparently she had not. He would keep her secret as she had helped him.
"Who's there?" Serenity's frightened voice asked as he came around a large bush.
"It is me." Endymion looked up at her, his beautiful white and silver princess and thought she had never looked so lovely. "Serenity, it's me."
"Endymion!" Serenity rushed to the edge of the balcony and he made his way up the stairs to run towards her and they met in a tight embrace. "Endymion! I didn't want this war, I didn't know what to do…"
"I do not blame you." Endymion comforted her. It was Serenity. He loved her so. "Come, Serenity, we must go."
"Where will we go?" Serenity asked him.
"Far away from this place." Endymion took a hold of her hands. "Far away from the Moon and the Earth…"
"Together…" Serenity agreed. "I only want to be with you."
"That is all I want." Endymion kissed her and just as their lips brushed together, it felt as though something had hit the palace and the whole place shook. Serenity clung to Endymion.
"What was that?" She asked fearfully.
"I don't know." Endymion shook his head. "Come on, we'll take your transport…"
"No, Minako and Rei disabled it." Serenity looked sadly at the ground. "It won't work."
"How will we leave?" Endymion asked her as the palace shook again.
"The emergency transports!" Serenity's eyes lit up. "They're on the other side of the palace." She took his hand and they went through her room but just as they opened Serenity's door, they ran into Kakyuu. "Kakyuu!" She looked from Endymion to Kakyuu and wondered if Kakyuu would tell. But Kakyuu was too occupied.
"The Earth is attacking!" Kakyuu told her urgently.
"That's impossible!" Endymion declared. "There's no way…we were too busy fighting the youma army…"
"Youma army?" Serenity repeated in a shocked voice. "Kakyuu, go find shelter somewhere, stay out of the way of the fighting."
"Yes my lady." Kakyuu bowed her head and ran off quickly.
"Come on, this attack…we have to run away." Serenity felt tears welling up.
"Don't worry, I'll make sure you get to those transports or dying doing so." Endymion vowed.
"If you die…I would die as well." Serenity swore. The two lovers ran through the halls, the palace kept shaking horribly, as though ready to topple over. Servants were running left and right, it was utter chaos.
They were going down the stairs and soon, soon they would be where the emergency transports were. Serenity felt only Endymion's hand in her own and nothing else at that moment.
She stopped short as two crows flew right in front of her, squawking loudly. It was just Deimos and Phobos, probably looking for Rei. She turned suddenly. She had remembered the Sailor Senshi. What if they were in danger?
But the crows flew past a woman that was not one of the Sailor Senshi.
It was Beryl, a sword in her hand, her eyes full of anger and hate at the sight of the princess.
"Princess Serenity of the Moon." Beryl held out the sword in front of her. "Are you ready to die?"
"Beryl!" Endymion stepped forward, his hand going to the hilt of his own sword. "Beryl, what are you doing?"
"This princess has blinded you Endymion!" Beryl told him. "She has made you forget your planet! I had to defend it myself! Do you consider your love for her more then the love of your mother or your kingdom?"
"She is worth more to me than my kingdom." Endymion told the dark-haired girl whose eyes widened, obviously wounded. Then she went back to her determined and angry face.
"That is why she has to die." Beryl declared. "She has turned you as selfish as she is herself!"
"Don't do this Beryl." Endymion drew his sword. "I don't want to have to fight you."
"Then don't." She told him in a harsh voice. "Let me kill this idiot Moon girl and then there will be no more discord between us."
"Beryl…" Endymion trailed off, his eyes filling with pain as the palace rocked around them and pillars were being shaken loose. "Beryl…I told you that I love you as a sister and it's true. You are like my sister. Please, put down your sword; try to understand that Serenity has done nothing wrong. You and I…we could always agree. We both knew what it was like to be underestimated and not allowed certain freedoms. Will you throw that understanding away, Beryl?"
Beryl's sword lowered a little and her face softened. She looked as though she might give into Endymion.
"Believe me when I say that I love Serenity." Endymion offered a hand towards her and Beryl's anger flared, her sword going back up and she rushed forward before Serenity could react.
Beryl's sword was going to stab her any moment and Serenity could do nothing but shut her eyes and think of how it was the end. The sword did hit flesh. But not her own.
Serenity's eyes opened to see that Beryl had run her sword through Endymion, who had jumped in front of her to block the hit. Beryl looked horrified at what she had done. Serenity could do nothing but scream in sorrow.
Endymion fell and Serenity dropped to her knees, tears running down her face. She gathered his head in her arms.
"Endymion…Endymion…" Serenity could only say it over and over again. "We were going to run away together…"
"Serenity…" Endymion's eyes looked up at her and his hand shakily went up to her face. "Even when you're sad you're still the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I don't regret meeting you." And his head drooped and his eyes closed.
"Endymion!" Serenity shook him. "Endymion, please, look at me!" But he didn't and she knew that he was gone. Gone forever. "Endymion don't leave me!" She sobbed and threw herself across his body.
Beryl was still standing there; she couldn't believe she had done it. She had killed the man she loved most.
All of this…
I sold my soul only for you…and now…
I only wanted to be with you.
Serenity, grief-stricken, tears rolling down her cheeks, grabbed Endymion's fallen sword. Before Beryl could react, Serenity took it and drove it through her stomach. She fell bleeding next to Endymion.
I told you I would die if you died…
I want to see you…I want to see your gentle smile…
The two lovers found peace at last. Death was the only place that love could be free.
-------------------
They stood there, facing each other. The four Inner Senshi facing the Shittenou. The leaders of the army that were destroying their once beautiful white kingdom. It seemed to Rei that the kingdom ruined, with blood all around was the way their kingdom had really been all along.
Covered up…this is our true kingdom.
"We told you that you would die." Kunzite told them. "Are you ready?"
"Don't think we will go without killing you." Minako countered, her sword out in front of her. Just as the Shittenou were about to attack, a wave of sadness and other emotions hit the four Senshi.
That's when they knew. Rei felt tears falling down her cheeks and so that the others were also crying.
Serenity…she's dead.
"Our princess is dead!" Minako's face was passionately angry behind her tears. "We weren't there to protect her!" She swung her sword forward and it was hit with Kunzite's own but the sword cut his own in half.
The blade went through the air and Minako ignored the thing, a mistake on her part when it came back. Rei noticed out of the corner of her eye and yelled for Minako to look out. Minako could only move far enough to one side that it cut her side.
The fight began. Rei tried to fire her attack but Jadeite held out his hand and she was thrown back several feet. She got to her feet quickly and rushed towards him.
You, who have haunted me, must be put to rest.
She tackled him and they began to hit and kick the other, rolling over and over again. It was the same as the day they met except that Jadeite had no inhibitions and Rei had to grit her teeth and remember that she had to kill him.
This is all I can do now for my dead princess.
Jadeite grabbed her shoulders and hit her head sharply on the ground. Rei cried out when it hit but tried to ignore the pain.
"Tell me!" Jadeite hit her head again. "Who are you?"
"Your enemy." Rei slid her foot so that it was resting on his stomach and threw him off of her.
"I know you." Jadeite was getting up and seemed unconcerned that he had a cut lip. "I know you from somewhere…"
"You do." Rei faced him, her violet eyes blazing. She could practically feel the heat from her fires building up inside her. She had let him inside her and he had tricked her. Why hadn't she been more alert? Why hadn't she considered the possibility that they could be swayed by some method and made her enemy?
Why must I make nothing but mistakes?
There was cawing noise and Rei looked to see Phobos and Deimos flying towards her. Her mouth opened, to call to them, but that was when shot energy at them both and they both fell from the sky, turning into their humanoid forms as they hit the ground.
"Phobos! Deimos!" Rei rushed towards them.
"Phobos…the princess is here." Deimos murmured, even though she was dying, her face had a smile on it.
"I'd like to see her face." Phobos smiled as well, looking as though she could see something beyond the destruction and her own death. Something beautiful. "She was never at peace with herself…"
"Be at peace Rei." Deimos whispered.
"Remember that you're never alone, that we'll always be near." Phobos nodded her head. "Deimos…"
"Phobos…" The two raven-haired girls reached out and clasped their hands together. "Let's go."
"Yes, it's time, isn't it?" Phobos closed her eyes at the same time Deimos did. Rei did not bother to try to wipe her tears away.
Phobos…Deimos…
You're gone…
You can't be gone!
Phobos and Deimos were always watching over her, from when she was a small girl to this moment. They were the closest thing she had ever known to having a real mother to comfort her.
"Your precious birdies are dead." Jadeite's cruel voice woke a rage in Rei that made her whirl around, forgetting the parting words of her two guardians. She leapt towards him, tackling him once more but this time holding him tightly to her, as though embracing him as a lover.
Nothing can cleanse me…not now…I have too much blood on my hands…
Her hand slid down his back and then she extended her forefinger and middle finger together at the center of his back.
"FIRE SOUL!" Rei screamed and flames shot out of her hands and engulfed both her and Jadeite. Minako saw the explosion from where she was fighting Kunzite and screamed, turning around.
"REI!" Minako didn't know what to do. Ami and Makoto were both trying to kill the Shittenou attacking them.
If Rei is dead…
Then what does it matter?
My princess is gone…what else do we have to live for?
Minako turned and saw that Kunzite was about to bear down on her with a sword made of pure energy.
"For the princess!" She yelled and swung her sword, slicing through his neck. Kunzite's head rolled a few feet away and his body dropped, gushing blood. Minako breathed hard but then heard the yell of Makoto's attack and Ami's attack at the same time.
They too killed the Shittenou they were fighting. But as Rei did, they both fell.
My Senshi…how can I still be alive?
I was your leader…was I good one?
--------------------
Queen Serenity IX was sitting in her throne; the dais was still there, her white throne sitting upon it. The building all around it had collapsed. She was so cold and white that she looked frozen in time.
"The princess is dead." Setsuna stepped out of the shadows. "Killed by her own hands."
"What?" The Queen seemed to consider this. "My own legacy…does she not know her blood is sacred?!"
"Even now you can think of no one but yourself." Setsuna stood in front of the Queen, not bothering to bow. She had no love or loyalty for this woman. "You've never thought your kingdom or its people."
"I am the Queen; I am the thing that must endure." The Queen told her in a regal and firm voice. "Kingdoms can be rebuilt and people are born and die but I, I will always be there."
"You will not live forever." Setsuna reminded her.
"I live on through my daughter and as all the Queens of Serenity have lived." The Queen fixed her cold gaze on the garnet-eyed woman. "Why are you here Time Keeper?"
"You must seal this evil away." Setsuna told her.
"The kingdom can be rebuilt; the royal blood of Serenity will triumph!" The Queen told her.
"This evil will swallow the power of the Ginzuishou and your royal blood if you do not seal it away!" Setsuna wanted to murder this woman so badly that her hands tightened their hold on her staff. "I've seen that the royal blood of Serenity will be born again, but only if you seal this monster away."
"If it means the rule of the Lunarian Queens continues, I will do it." The Queen stood up and summoned the blinding white light. "I knew the Earth would destroy us…"
Setsuna watched as she used the power to seal away the evil that was Metallia and then the Queen fell back into her throne, closing her eyes forever. It was the end of this goddess-queen.
The garnet-eyed woman went to the computers, the last ones that had survived the initial attack. She would use her power to guard it and preserve it for the future. The princess would come back one day that was her new destiny.
But Setsuna did not wish her to have the memories of her true mother and so she programmed the computer to be as kind and gentle as possible so that Serenity would believe her mother was good.
Perhaps Serenity IX had once been good. But as the saying goes, power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
----------------------
Their transport landed at last and as Michiru and Haruka left it, they knew they were too late. Too late to save any remaining piece of the kingdom that once stood on this very ground.
"This…this wasn't supposed to happen." Michiru whispered. "The princess is dead…I thought that if the Queen was gone…"
"We were betrayed by the thing that made us betrayers ourselves." Haruka's voice was hard. "If we hadn't loosed Metallia on the Earth…"
"She wouldn't have attacked the Moon Kingdom." Michiru finished.
"I can't believe it…you two…you are traitors…" The voice was full of grief and rage at the idea. They turned to see Minako standing there, a sword in her hands. "I should have known! Your loyalty to the princess was nothing!"
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Haruka barked at the blonde-haired Senshi who was holding her side and leaning on her sword. "You would never understand—"
"I think I do." Minako interrupted. "You are traitors to the kingdom and it is your fate to be executed for such crimes!"
"We have no time for this!" Michiru turned from Minako. "The kingdom has fallen and you would sit here, talking to us about loyalty of which we know far more than you!" Minako was struck by those words and Haruka thought that she had been put in her place and as she so often did, Haruka underestimated Minako.
Haruka turned to Michiru who suddenly made a sound as though she had been punched in the stomach. But blood came out her mouth. Haruka saw part of Minako's sword sticking out of her beloved's stomach and fury mixed with sadness hit her.
"Michiru!" Haruka called out and Minako pulled her sword out. Michiru fell to the ground. Of all the things Haruka could imagine losing, she had never tried to imagine what it would feel like to lose Michiru. Truly, this was more horrible than being put to death for her act of betrayal.
She pulled out her Space Sword and turned to face Minako. She was going to have revenge for Michiru or die trying.
"You did not ask for a duel but I will give you one even if you are so dishonorable that you will stab an enemy in the back!" Haruka could barely control herself.
"You have no honor!" Minako raised her sword. "So this death is too good for you! Maybe now you can understand how it feels to lose everything that you love!"
"You're just a child who was named leader. Just an irresponsible little girl who always wanted to be better than everyone and now look…you have nothing!" Haruka rushed at her and they began to duel.
It was like their old fencing matches from so long ago. Haruka hadn't fenced in so long that she was rusty but she knew her feet were moving correctly. She was going to win this match as she had won so many others.
The two kept fighting and finally, Haruka thrust her sword forward but Minako moved and so only Minako's leg was cut. Minako stumbled a little but didn't fall. She went forward, attacking aggressively. Haruka knew that she would do this, she always did this. Just as Haruka knew it was time to do her tricky sideways step and then when Minako whirled around, she would stab her.
But as she went sideways, so did Minako, something she hadn't been expecting. Nor was she expecting the sharp pain as something ran through her. Her Space Sword fell from her hands and the cold realization came over her.
I've been beaten…
Beaten by the child I never feared…
"And what good do you think you have just done, Venus?" Setsuna came towards her and Minako held up her sword, ready to take the older woman on. "Do you think I'd let you kill me with that sword? You have an opponent left. Beryl, the cause of Serenity's death is still alive."
"Then she will die." Minako gave Setsuna a hard look. "These two were traitors, Setsuna. Even you must agree with that."
"You do not know how far their loyalty went. It was because they were so loyal to Serenity that they did what they did. You would not understand." Setsuna declared. Minako's face tightened. "Go Venus, go and avenge your princess."
"Always it was assumed I did not know what it was to be the leader or to be a Senshi. But what would you know of it Setsuna? You were never around to see nor did you bother to know." Minako turned away from her. "None of you did." And then she went off to find Beryl.
Setsuna stared after her for a few moments and then she turned around. "Come Hotaru." Hotaru came out from behind the pillar where she had been hiding, her face so sad that it broke Setsuna's heart. Behind her was the grim faced silver-haired woman who had insisted on coming along. Yaten is what Hotaru called her but she had introduced herself to Setsuna as Sailor Star Healer.
Hotaru knelt by Haruka's side and a purple light glowed for a few moments as she held her hands out over the woman's body. Haruka let out a groan as she opened her eyes, only to see Setsuna. Hotaru rushed over to Michiru and within moments she was sitting up and looking around in wonder.
Haruka and Michiru went towards Setsuna, their eyes asking the questions that were too hard to voice. Setsuna set her mouth, willing herself not to cry before the inevitable words came out.
"Why did you lie to us Setsuna?" Michiru asked her.
"I had to. This is the way Fate would have it." Setsuna told her. "Do you think it was easy to trick you two? I loved you…you were my companions."
"The way Fate would have it." Haruka repeated, her voice not mocking the words. "To do these things…your duty as a Senshi are far harder then any of ours."
"I don't expect your forgiveness and I don't want pity." Setsuna told them both. "This is the way of the universe; this is the way things are supposed to be."
"Yaten!" A female voice made them all turn. A red-haired girl with dark red eyes came out of the rubbish, followed by two others. One had dark hair and the other had brown hair.
"Kakyuu!" Yaten looked astonished as they ran up to her. "Seiya…Taiki…how is this possible? I've been gone so long…I thought you were all dead."
"We were dead." Kakyuu answered as Hotaru watched it all curiously. "We were reborn here; with all our memories of our past life…we looked for you for so long…"
"All this time you were looking for me." Yaten's voice sounded strangely touched.
"We'll take you home. To Kinmokusei." The dark-haired woman told her. Yaten's face spread into a happy smile. But then he froze and turned to look at Hotaru. She smiled brightly at him.
"Please, take him home." Hotaru nodded her head. Hotaru wasn't expecting it when Yaten turned and kissed her on the cheek.
"I will find see you again. I will come back to see you." Yaten vowed. Hotaru smiled at her and leaned upwards on her tip toes to kiss Yaten on the cheek.
"Thank you for caring for him." Kakyuu bowed towards Hotaru. "I will remember this great thing you have done for us."
"If you ever need my help, just tell me." Hotaru told them. The four clasped their hands together and then, they were gone, flying off like shooting stars to their kingdom.
"I suppose this is the end." Haruka picked up her Space Sword from off the ground.
"Yes, I suppose it is." Michiru took out her mirror.
"Hotaru, it's time for you to fulfill your ultimate duty." Setsuna told the dark-haired girl who cocked her head to one side.
"I don't understand what that is." Hotaru confessed.
"It is to begin the cycle anew." Setsuna raised her staff and the Garnet Orb began to glow. Haruka raised her sword and Michiru raised her mirror. The three talismans flashed with a light that made them all turn their heads.
When it cleared, they turned to see Hotaru, transformed into Sailor Saturn, her Silence Glaive in one hand and on her chest, her broach was a beautiful glittering dark snowflake.
"When the Glaive falls…" Michiru recited the words.
"It is Time." Sailor Saturn, her voice not quite like the soft but strong voice of Hotaru. It rang out over the ruins.
"We'll be together in hell." Haruka turned towards Michiru and for a moment they just stared into each others' eyes.
"If we are together, then there is no hell." Michiru finally answered. They both turned towards Setsuna and in turn, they each hugged her, surprising the green-haired woman.
"I don't know if I'm forgiving you." Haruka admitted as she pulled away from Setsuna. "What must be done and what we want to do are two different things."
Setsuna felt a single tear run down her cheek and she said good-bye to the two of them before going through a portal. Just as the door was closing, she heard the fateful words of the End ring out.
"Death Reborn REVOLUTION!"
She locked the door and then turned to walk away. The door to the Silver Millennium was closed forever.
---------------------
"Memento mori…"
("Remember that you will die…")
And now, because does not allow separate chapters for author notes, here they are:
First of all, I have to say some thank yous. This fanfic was inspired by an author on that is one of the greatest fanfiction writers that I have ever had the privilege of reading. Her name is Blue Jeans and she writes incredible Sailor Moon fanfiction that is of a higher quality that the rest of us only wish we could attain. The other person fanfiction writer is Sailor Titan. She only has one story and it's one of the best stories I've ever read. It really makes you think about Crystal Tokyo and other things in the Sailor Moon universe. Please, go read these authors, they do not get nearly enough credit for their works.
This story was started because I have a lot of questions about the way that the Silver Millennium really worked. It seemed to me that we aren't being told something. After all, if the age is so peaceful and wonderful, why is communication between the Earth and the Moon forbidden? I re-read the translations of the original manga and found some puzzling indications as to how 'good' the Moon Kingdom was.
It seemed to me that there some sort of censorship going on, that an absolute Queen would not be a good, kindly woman that "suddenly" was attacked. Also, the manga is kind of devoid of details about the Silver Millennium. We have no idea what the Outer Senshi were doing during this whole period of time. We are given a hint that there was something between Jadeite and Rei. Both when Jadeite says that there is something special about Rei in the manga act where Rei is introduced and in Rei's side manga story called 'Casablanca Memories', the face of Kaidou fades into Jadeite's face.
Also, we don't know Beryl's story. She's just kind of there in the manga and we know she's supposed to be bad but never do we have a background nor a point of view for Beryl, who I think is actually kind of a tragic character. So I began to form the idea of this story.
At the same time I was thinking of a novelette I'm currently working called 'Our Kingdom Disdain' and is a story of the fall of Atlantis. When I realized that the ideas were similar, I used the name of the story for this fanfic.
The quote, "Memento mori" is actually the title of a picture of Endymion and Serenity from the first artbook and I thought was strangely morbid so I used it to continually remind the readers of the depressing fate of the Silver Millennium and to remind us that no one is immortal.
The outfit I tried to describe Beryl wearing is from the Materials Collection art book and is the outfit she's seen wearing during some of the flashbacks in the manga. It doesn't look like a servant's dress and so I invented the priestesses of Gaia because religion has a lot to do with this story. You can view the outfit at a website called 'Mangastyle!'
I know that in the English manga they're called Menards and not Maenads. I checked a translation website and found out that they were referring to basically the same thing so I called them Maenads because there's Maenads in Greek mythology while there were no Menards. Also, I went with the translations and the English spelling for Elysion instead of Elysium or Elysian.
The screen that Serenity receives I took out of the manga, it's shown in Volume 2, Act 9. But there's no explanation for its existence at all.
A lot of this was pure invention but I tried to stick to the manga as much as possible but took artistic liberties to give you a whole story when there's not much provided to us. I wanted question the Sailor Moon universe the way it should be questioned. Please review and share your thoughts about the Silver Millennium. Thanks for reading!