Fairytales Volume I

Funnycoat

A Sailormoon Fan fiction by Nishikaze

Chapter 10: Ever After


He sat in the dark, alone, deep in his meditations. His carefully laid plans were starting to collapse around him and he was running out of options. Still he was not worried. He had waited a long time to complete his goals and a few set-backs were not going to discourage him. He concentrated harder, sending his spirit out of his body. His consciousness looked down on his body, locked deep in a trance, before it turned away, sending itself on its intended journey.

It took only moments to find and enter her domain, a place he knew quite well. He had studied her for a long time, watching and waiting for his chance. He lusted after her power. It was all he had longed for, all he had dreamed of for centuries. Hers was the power over time itself, over fate and though her vows prevented her from using her powers fully, he was not bound by her scruples. He would have her powers and her title and he would use them as he saw fit.

Her voice carried through the gloom and the fog as she completed her spell, "I knew you would come, Wiseman."

His mouth twisted into a smile under the cover of his cloak, "Of course you did… And you also knew what would bring me here."

"You crave my power." Her voice was as flat as her statement was blunt.

His answering laugh was cold, "And who wouldn't? Yours is the power over time, over fate. You can change history to suit you whims and change the future to whatever you desire. I have lusted for your power for quite some time."

"So why did you not confront me? Why orchestrate such an elaborate and dangerous plan?" She stood tall and regal in front of him, blocking the door to her domain. "You stack you plots and schemes as if you would build a house of cards. One day soon they all will come crashing down around you. You are foolish to confront me in this way, in this place just as you are foolish to use Prince Diamond as if you would a pawn in a chess game. What will you do when he comes to realize your true intentions? What will you do when he comes to know your treachery? Will you kill him?"

"He is a fool. He will never understand my true intentions." He sneered, "You are only trying to plant the seeds of doubt in my mind. You are defenseless now. Your allies are too busy to notice your absence or to do anything to help you. While they desperately search for the princess and prepare for the war, they have forgotten you. You are alone Pluto, unable to truly defend yourself for your title and your scruples bind you from using your powers against me."

Pluto smiled, her eyes knowing the truth of his words and well as his mistake. While he was right, that she could not influence the flow of time in her favor without consequence, she could watch the flow of time and the events in it. She knew of the princess's quest and she watched her closely over the months of her exile. She also knew the doubting heart of a young prince. She knew much more than he could ever imagine, and she used her knowledge freely against him.

And she had only one more card to play to defeat the man in front of her.

"Leave this place," She commanded, and his astral form dissipated.

His laughter echoed and he spoke even as he was cast out of her domain, "I will return, Pluto. I will defeat you... and soon." He said as he faded from view.

Pluto smiled again. "We shall see… we shall see. For now we all know the truth of it… do we not? Now what will we do about it?"

She sent the vision and their words across time and space and into the mind of a sleeping prince. Her card played she turned back to her scrying pool and watched as the events unfolded.


Sapphire awoke from his dream with a start. Pluto's words echoing in his head, "For now we all know the truth of it… do we not? Now what will we do about it?"

Sapphire bowed his head, yanking his hands through his hair in anger. What will we do about it…? We shall see.

We shall all see.


They stood, side by side in front of the queen. They had bowed low before her and rose to meet the joyous sparkle in her eyes. This was how he found them.

"What is the meaning of this?" Diamond hissed. He knew the moment Princess Serenity returned to the moon, his soldiers had informed him. She had walked right into the queen's throne room, brazenly, as if she had not been missing for several months. He was furious, even more so because she had not returned alone.

Hate filled his heart as he laid eyes on her handsome companion… and uncertainty as well. Who was this man who stood at the princess's side? Had she found an ally?

Princess Serenity turned toward him, her chin set, defiance in her eyes. "Diamond, I want you to meet my husband, Prince Endymion of Earth."

"How dare you! You are betrothed to me! You belong to me!" Diamond raged.

"I belong to no one." Serenity's answer was cold and flat.

"The marriage contract has been broken. I declare war on you Queen Serenity. My kingdom will wipe the Silver Millennium from memory. I will make you wish you had never crossed me." Diamond drew his sword and advanced on the princess.

Endymion stepped in front of her, his sword drawn, blocking Diamond's advance. "You dare to threaten my wife?"

"Your wife is a whore." Diamond spat, his vision going red in rage.

"I will kill you for that." Endymion growled, "I challenge you to a duel, Diamond, right here and now."

Diamond's grin was vicious. "I will make your death slow and painful." He attacked.

Diamond crossed the remaining distance quickly, slashing at Endymion with his sword. The blow was easy for Endymion to block and left Diamond opened for a counter attack.

Diamond avoided the blow and continued the momentum of the swing of his sword, low, intending to slice at Endymion's legs. Again Endymion was able to block his attack and he was able to avoid Diamond's follow up, the stab meant to pierce his heart.

Endymion stepped to the left and swung his sword, meaning to hit Diamond's exposed back. But Diamond was too skilled and too quick to be taken that easily. He turned quickly and blocked even as he stepped back from his opponent intending to regain his footing.

Endymion wasn't about to give him the chance, he advanced, pressing Diamond back and cutting high. Diamond watched as the sword cut the air, knowing there was no way he could parry the blow in time.

Wiseman watched the confrontation with a growing sense of dread. If Diamond lost, his plans for Pluto were ruined. In desperation he began to cast a spell, not noticing the shadow approaching him from behind.

Endymion's blade slowed as his body began to feel sluggish as if his body was bound by a large, unseen web. His arms and legs felt heavy and even as he fought the unknown he knew he was doomed if he could make his body move.

It only took a heartbeat for Diamond to realize Endymion's dilemma. Even as his opponent fought the influence of the spell, Diamond raised his sword and gripping the hilt with both hands he cut down.

It was then that Sapphire struck, stabbing Wiseman in the back. Wiseman fell dying onto the marble floor, his spell broken.

Endymion felt his bonds release at the last moment. He dove and rolled to the side, sweeping his leg out and knocking the overbalanced Diamond to the ground. Before Diamond could recover, Endymion had his sword to his throat, the point drawing a trickle of blood from Diamond's neck.

"You are defeated Prince Diamond. Yield." Endymion commanded.

Diamond's head bowed in defeat, "I yield," His voice sounded strangled and there was a glint in his eye.

Queen Serenity summoned the guards. Endymion stepped away as Diamond was disarmed and held by the castle guard. He turned back toward the princess.

But Diamond wasn't done. Sheer rage fueled his muscles and adrenaline pumped through his veins as he broke away from the startled guards. He yanked a sword from the hands of one as he dashed toward Endymion's back.

Serenity's cry alerted him in time, and Endymion turned, deflecting the attack. But the strike was too strong and he was unprepared. Diamond's attack knocked the sword from his hand and sent it flying across the floor.

Defenseless, Endymion dove to the side and rolled, avoiding Diamond's follow up attack. Down on one knee, Endymion reached for his only remaining weapon, Serenity's ever-sharp dagger hidden in his boot. As Diamond raised his sword over his head, preparing to strike Endymion down once and for all, Endymion stood, using the momentum of his body to push the dagger forward.

The pain surprised Diamond as the dagger slid between his ribs, piercing his chest. He dropped his sword, his hands grasping the hilt of the dagger as he fell to his knees. The pain overcame him and darkness clouded his vision as his life's blood poured from the wound. As Endymion stood above him, Princess Serenity rushing to his side, Diamond died.

"No!" A scream tore across the room even as Sapphire rushed to his brother's body, the guards too shocked to stop him. He fell to his knees at his brother's side as the guards gathered around him. Tears streamed down his face as he lifted his head to glare at the queen in hate. "Will you murder me as well, queen? Will you murder all of my people who remain in this kingdom?" He taunted, his face filled with rage and pain. "You owe me. If I had not acted your Endymion would have been killed by the Vizier's spell. He owes me his life."

Queen Serenity looked down at Sapphire; her eyes were filled with sympathy. "No… There will be no more killing today in my throne room or in my palace. Take your brother's body and go."

The guard's stepped away from Sapphire as he stood but continued to surround him. Sapphire cradled the body of his brother in his arms as he spoke out to the queen. "I will never forgive any of you for my brother's death. There will never be an understanding between the Dark Moon and the Silver Millennium, but I will not continue this senseless war. I will not fight another man's battles and I refuse to be the Wiseman's pawn."

The Queen nodded, "You and your men may leave my kingdom in peace, Prince Sapphire. May you and your kingdom prosper and never again fall to the whisperings of a power hungry man."


Never in the history of the Silver Millennium was there a more glorious celebration than the wedding of Princess Serenity to her Earth prince. A week of feasting and lavish balls followed the ceremony. The people of the moon kingdom had much to celebrate; the royal union and the obvious love between the newlyweds, the defeat of the Dark Moon kingdom and the avoidance of a disastrous war. The people of the Silver Millennium had much to be thankful for, and they rejoiced in their good fortune.

The couple married again on Earth for the benefit of Endymion's subjects and while the celebration was smaller it was no less joyous as Endymion was crowned king.

The new bride smiled to herself as she gazed out of the window of the small cottage in the same forest where she had first met the man who would become her husband. Never had she imagined then that she would ever be so happy.

Her husband's arms surrounded her, pulling her back against his chest to kiss her temple. "What are you thinking about?"

She turned toward him and nuzzled into his embrace. "I was thinking about our weddings." She giggled, "I never thought I would be married three times to the same man."

He smiled, "It was necessary." At her questioning look he kissed her nose and elaborated, "Three weddings for three women…

"Funnycoat, Usagi and Serenity."

She smiled again and bringing his head down she said, "Well then let these three women kiss their husband." Her lips brushed against his, "That kiss was from Funnycoat." She kissed him again, "That was from Usagi and this…" She kissed him one more time, long and lingering. "Was from Serenity."

"I think I could get used to having three wives." He joked.

"So which one is your favorite?" She teased back, her expression coy.

"All of them." He answered. "I love Funnycoat's hard work and determination, Usagi's innocence and wisdom of the heart and Serenity's nobility and sense of duty." He smiled down at her, "I guess it's a good thing they're all the same person." His voice was filled with affection and sincerity as he continued, "I love you my wife."

Warmth filled her heart as she brought his head down for another kiss, "And I love you my husband."

Fini


Well… as they say, "All good things must come to an end." But fear not, a preview of my next Fairytale is going to be posted as the next chapter. It will be a Ranma ½ tale based on the Grimms' Fairytale Bearskin.

For all of my readers I would like to say thank you for your encouraging words and your continuing support. I hope you enjoy my future stories as much as you all seemed to enjoy this one.