A Sailor Moon Story

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon, or any of the other scouts, or the show...

However, I do consider myself the owner of my original character, Tay Lorien.

Winter's Guardian: Reflections of Youth

Chapter Four: Visions

[an: This chapter will be smaller than the other four. The first part is of Tay's vague visions, which convince him to alert the Moon Kingdom. The second half will be about the actions of the enemy that has been seen in those visions.]

Little by little, over the next year, Tay's ability to glimpse into the possible future through his dreams and nightmares became less blurred. By the time he turned seventeen, his visions were focused enough to trouble him. But he could still only make out seven small figures and one that overshadowed them. The leader had a sparkle of violet light over his right hand. Tay's training continued normally in spite of these new dreams.

One day, almost two years after the escort mission, it all became clear to him. One word broke the silence of his dream. "Akugyou." And one by one, the lower seven shadows became visible. The first was a woman adorned in gems, beautiful but somehow frightening. Another was a chubby, smiling man. The third was a very handsome man, but his eyes were red with some dark power. A larger one to the side was a creature full of rage and hate, and looked ready to strike at any time. Below the large one was a sleeping humanoid. Tay couldn't understand why, though. The last two seemed to be twins; but while the first looked at his twin, the second paid no return attention to him, and looked into a small hand mirror. Tay's fears had been confirmed. Someone had given life to a myth that had been spread across the Earth Kingdom since religion: the seven deadly sins.

And then the leader became clear over the rest: a man with a skull mask, sitting on a throne of deepest blue. He wore light, bony armor. A dazzling ring with a violet gem that Tay had never seen the like of was upon the man's right ring finger. It shined with a power so bright that all of the creatures were bathed in deep purple light. But Tay could sense it wasn't an evil power; it was merely misused by such evil forces. The ring seemed to beckon to Tay for freedom, with such force that it woke him up.

Tay quickly dressed, and reported to his Queen. "My vision last night was urgent. I must go to the Moon Kingdom immediately." He then explained in detail as much as he could about the dream to prove his point.

She was naturally shocked. "A violet ring? That was thought lost generations ago. Yes, we must notify Queen Serenity right away. I will prepare a special letter for you to give to her. Delivering that letter will allow you to enter the Moon Kingdom with no questions asked."

The next day, Tay began his second journey to the Moon Kingdom.

In the deepest levels of the Negative Universe, a solitary figure, clad in bone armor, sat on a throne of slate. A half mask of skull covered his upper face. A glittering ring of silver and violet adorned his right ring finger.

He raised his right hand. "Arise, servants of evil, my Akugyou. Your master, Decator, summons thee." It was barely a whisper, but shadows began to appear and take form beside his throne. Decator continued. "Soon, you shall all have enough energy to return to your original forms, and once again spread corruption throughout the ranks of our foes."

He pointed knowingly to each of the seven in turn. "Yokushin, Jiman, Okayaki, Onnazuki, Houshaku, Rokujou, and Bushou. Each of you has different talents. Combined, you can corrupt the entire universe. But if you fail me, do not expect to be resurrected again. I assure you that evil exists in many other forms." The shadows flickered back and forth, as if in anger.

Decator aimed the ring at them. "I will not raise any of you until I can bring you all forth at once. So do not be impatient. This Ring of Rebirth requires great power, and more so for resurrecting seven creatures." The shadows calmed.

"Now, go prepare your powers and plans. You must be ready for resistance and retaliation. Go!" The shadows vanished, leaving Decator alone in the dark throne room. "That traitor Beryl shall be a sufficient distraction while I collect energy. None shall save the corrupted. After all, they could not save me." He took off the mask, which had covered a face filled with hatred and sadness. A long time ago, he was a king of light, but was overcome with evil and was destroyed. But this mysterious ring had restored him, no longer dead but not truly alive, and had brought him to the depths of the Negative Universe. And now, he would bring the people who were once his friends and allies into the darkness, because he could never return to the light.

Preview of "Chapter Five: Reunited"- Well, the end is near. Or rather, the beginning. The final chapter converges the past into the present, as Tay arrives on the Moon Kingdom with his prophecy. The bridge to an RPG is set here. However, know that there is no true ending in this story.

[an: End of chapter four; One more to go! I always have five chapters.]