(A/N) - I still don't own Sailor Moon. This story has been on my mind for a little while, let me know if it interests you. This would align with Stars season, with a twist. The twist being that Uranus was not on Earth in the previous arcs, at least not in the way we remember from cannon. This Prologue introduces an old Kinmoku legend from the time of the Sailor Wars. It's told from the perspective of their people, however we can assume the Senshi of the legend was summoned to the moon when the Silver Millennium fell. For continuity, when the power of all the Senshi was needed, she was summoned without realizing it via her dreams.
~*~*~
She ran as fast as the wind, her feet carried her nearly soundless as she moved through the battlefield. Effortlessly weaving through the fallen monsters, agile and savage as a tempest moving through the fallen obstacles. Never faltering and never slowing down, focusing solely on the giant beast a few meters away. Her target within her reach, a bellowing howl fell over the field as she released a hearty punch to the enemy's side. She felt the fiery eyes grating before a large paw with matching colossal claws swiped at her.
She flipped as well as she could in her condition, landing on her knees instead of her lissom feet. The claws bellowed a horrible song as they slid across her back. Her armor plaited with shades of navy around the golden signet on her chest kept most of her skin protected as she retracted her attack. She shook her exposed legs, the warm trickle of blood was strange, but she did not have time to think about whose blood it was—watching the figure move, trying to find a weakness to exploit. The mass of enemies on this planet consisted of something she could liken to wolves she saw on a blue planet once. They were similarly subdued with a strong hit. She knew a force growing across the universe controlled them; her job was to eradicate the threat. That was her mission, end this enemy before it reached the planet she swore to protect.The beast before her moved more like a large man who decided to wear several fur pelts. However, he stood on two legs like a man, leaving his arms free to strike with those sharp claws.
Two more four-legged beasts jumped upon her, trying to prevent her from reaching their master. A smirk grew on her lips as she summoned her talisman, the Space Sword sending a pulse of energy, and the furry bodies, flying. She lined up with her target, finally finding her opening before launching at him again. The gold armor glistened in the morning light as her feet left the ground, the wind carrying her as she leaped the last meter onto the beast's back. The space sword perfectly poised, she drew it across his jowls, bringing an end to the enemy and the bloody war.
As the monster fell, her eyes scanned the battlefield, the last foes retreating to the shadows in fear before disappearing from this plane altogether. She stood to survey the battlefield and locate her troops before letting her guard lower. A sudden sharp pain burned at her side, her hand going to the spot as she bent over. Her eyes were still on the field. She was now looking for something else. Setting her sights on her destination, she took off in a sprint again. One hand still grasping the sword at the ready for any enemy who had not retreated. The other gently moved around the offending pain, rubbing her protruding belly.
Reaching the small alcove in the rock, she she doubled over in pain. The blood was heavier on her skin, and the realization of her wound was echoing in her mind. However, there was limited time for her, and she finally spotted a suitable spot along a small cluster of rocks on the dusty plane.
The pain was growing, and the realization was becoming more honest in her mind. The alcove would protect her as she focused on her new goal. Her feet slid out from under her as she finally stopped running. A few heavy breaths focused her strength to rise to her knees, with her back to the rocks. Her talisman sensed her need, brightly lighting as it changed the shape of a short dagger. Expertly flipping the blade in her hand, she thrust it just below her armor, slicing through the lower part of her tunic.
A different, almost involuntary cry escaped her as the pain escalated. Centering her strength to control her breathing again, she used her remaining focus to pull her cape from her shoulders to make a blanket at the ready. One more desperate cry was released as she wrapped her arms around herself and soon clutched her newborn child. Slowly lower them to the ground and surround the infant with the cape. Using the sword to free the umbilical cord, she leaned against the back of the alcove as she held the baby close to her chest.
"I knew you were destined to succeed in battle, but this is a little much, no?" She chucked as the small child opened its eye at the sound of her voice. She watched the small bundle as long as she could, never feeling her head finally fall back against the rocks.
The cry of a small child pierced the battlefield, and the General knew it was out of place. His eyes went wide as it likely meant only one thing. He pointed a few of the soldiers to shift their focus to search the area for the visiting Senshi. He walked along the rock face as he followed the sound. Soon upon the alcove, he flinched at the sight that awaited him.
He quickly checked the warrior for her condition, his head turning down as it was too late for her. The amount of blood around her was indication enough of what happened. He turned to the child, removing his own cloak to wrap additional warmth around the newborn.
The General made his way back to the palace, kneeling before the Queen. Her fiery red eyes looked at him as he held the small child in his arms, barely letting the tiny face present to the Queen before she sighed. She, too, knew what had transpired. "What of her mother?"
"We couldn't save her; the men have prepared a traditional funeral fire."
"What for the child?"
"We sent a note to the Silver Millennium palace to notify them. Unfortunately, she is too small to teleport, so we informed them that we would care for her until she is ready to go home." The Queen nodded and signaled for the General to make the necessary arrangements.
She paused her story for the audience to pay their respects to the fallen Senshi. It was proper even if it was old lore.
"The powerful Senshi came from a different world to help us defeat Chaos. She gifted our planet a blonde child raised with the legendary Starlight Senshi. Her power parallels our Senshi, making them train to be the strongest in the galaxy. Chaos would never again be able to take hold in this galaxy." The royal cloaked in red scanned her eyes to meet with each of the children gathered in the library, listening closely to the old tale she shared. It was one of her favorites that were told by her mother many times until she knew every detail by heart.
"One day, her sword began to glow. Confused by the pulsating light, she rushed to consult the other Starlight Senshi, and as she stood before them, she vanished." A few children in the room gasped as the Fireball Princess paused.
"It is said that the Silver Millennium finally called her home. But the Silver Senshi had long told of the promise of rebirth of their warriors when we would need it the most. That was 1,000 years ago."
"Do you think the Silver Senshi will return?" A round-faced child asked as the Princess smiled. Her eye flickering to a shadow lurking in the doorway, "I do."
Princess Kakyu waved goodbye to the children as she made her way to the waiting Senshi. "I wish you would give that story a rest," the blonde Senshi chided as she turned down the hall.
"Why? I happen to believe in the story. It is hard not to when the evidence is right in front of you," she giggled as the tall woman stopped in her tracks and turned to meet the Princess's gaze, narrowing her teal eyes slightly.
"You're lucky that Fighter would have my head if I dare touch a hair on yours," she teased before turning back on her path. Taking a few steps, the seriousness returned to her tenor voice."They are waiting for us in the main living quarters. Maker believes she has found something that we need to be cautious."
The Fireball princess entered the room, the waiting Starlights rising to their feet as she walked to the hologram in the center of the room. Fighter took a few quick strides to position herself beside the Princess. The blonde followed not too far behind, simply rolling her teal eyes at the raven haired woman's subtle fits of jealously.
"The cloud is growing closer. I fear that it is Galaxia. We should teleport to this planet here and recon to make sure…"
"No," Kakyuu interrupted Maker's plan. "You four need to remain close. You are the only protection our people have."
"But Princess!" Fighter pleaded but was silenced with a raise of her hand.
"I may have a way to investigate the source of the disturbance. Please allow me to try that approach before we lose all of our defenses." The four Starlights nodded their reluctant agreement, their urge to listen to the wise Princess outweighing the detailed plan they had developed. "Sailor Star Storm, would you escort me?" Kakyuu held out her arm in askance as the blonde hesitated for a moment. She glanced unsurely at the others still lingering as she looped the waiting hand into the crook of her elbow.
"Are you trying to train us harder?" Storm smirked as they slowly walked the hall. "You know they don't like it when I get special treatment. They really let me know it when we're training," she continued with a sigh. The curve on the edge of her lips confirmed to the Princess the feigned annoyance was a cover for the blonde's love of sparing. It was understandable; Storm was not like the other Starlights. Kakyuu quickly recognized the power of a Star Seed as it was born into their planet, and the Princess had her brought to the palace immediately. But Kinmoku did not usually have four Senshi, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the other young Star Senshi. Yet she worked twice as hard to be counted among them, earning their respect and taunting them every step. Kakyuu also learned early on that the more she encouraged them to work with the fourth Senshi, the more Fighter, Maker, and Healer resisted. So, at Storm's urging, she allowed the blonde to handle her teammates independently and keep their relationship private from the other three.
"I wanted to ask you something," Kakyuu sighed, the blonde dramatically raising an eyebrow as she continued to walk beside her. "Did you see the vision?" Storm sucked in a deep breath, Kakyuu stopping to face her, trying to read her features.
"It was more that I was in the vision," the blonde finally confessed. Kakyuu blinked, maintaining her silence to urge Storm to give more details. "It seemed like a dream, like before."
"When you saw the other Senshi with Fuku skirts?"
"Yes. And similar to before, I was dressed like them, providing my power to the Princess of the Moon," Storm sighed as she turned to look out the window towards the unusually dark night sky.
"I think what you witnessed, what I witnessed was her coronation." Storm glanced over her shoulder.
"You saw it too? But that makes no sense!" The blonde groaned as she characteristically ran her black gloved fingers trough her long blonde hair. "We checked when you thought I was from the Silver Millennium. The castle on the moon was destroyed. No one lives there."
"I think the Princess of the Silver Millennium is hiding somewhere. I think she has been hiding her power from Galaxia, just as I have not transformed to my Senshi form to avoid attention. But I think this vision tells us that she has finally grown to her full power."
"You think we should try to reach the Moon Kingdom again?"
"I think you have the power inside you to locate her hiding place. I'd like you to help me try. We will have to try if Galaxia is coming to this solar system." Storm released a heavy breath as she nodded. She couldn't refuse her Princess, no matter how much finding the truth would scare her.
"What do you need me to do?"
"If you have the strength, we can return to my chambers and meditate. We may be able to reach it easily if the vision is fresh in your head."
The two women entered the room, each taking a seat upon a cushion as they faced each other. Storm held her hands palm up, Kakyuu resting hers on top. It was a routine practice for both, Kakyuu helping Storm many times to sort through the jumbled memories to find her guardian planet and her true Princess. Sharing the burden of so many unanswered questions had also allowed Storm to not be entirely alone in this world, the unique bond that the other three Starlights did not understand. Of course, they were close with their Princess, and she shared their happiness and pain. But Storm was the only one who shared her loneliness with her.
"Ready?" The red haired woman breathed as the other closed her eyes and concentrated. Recalling the details of the experience, standing there with eight other Senshi. The way her already strange uniform shifted into a long flowing blue gown at the Moon Princess's plea. A miniature guardian deity appeared, urging her to call out the name of her castle, Miranda Castle, she suddenly remembered. It was giving the Moon Princess more power that surged through her. The blonde odango girl displayed great power as her uniform changed once again.
"Eternal power…" she muttered just as a loud bang echoed through the halls. Teals eyes snapped open to meet red ones. "I remember," she stammered as the fireball princess nodded.
Before another word could be added, the door to the chamber burst open, Fighter practically falling as she moved into the room. "Princess, she's here!" She screamed as she steadied her legs under her. The meaning of those words registered as the two women quickly stood, following the raven haired woman farther into the palace.
Reaching the command center, Storm sealed the door behind them as Kakyuu rushed to the center display. "That darkness has descended on us. The living things are starting to wither as the shadow engulfs them."
"Chaos…" Kakyuu gasped. "The Shadow Galaxia is the least problem if Chaos is here."
"Princess, what can we do if Galaxia has descended into this galaxy?"
"Fighter, do you recall the warrior from the story I tell?" The raven haired Senshi nodded while rolling her eyes slightly. "Well, the story is true. She came from the Silver Millennium, and my mother always told the story to me as a child. It is the home of the Princess with the brightest shining light. The Light of Hope. She recently found her Prince, as their coordination appeared as a glimpse to me. I know where to find them, so I will go and seek an audience. I am certain they can help again since defeating Galaxia here only helps protect their galaxy as well."
A sudden clash outside the palace shook them where they stood. Both eyes went wide as Maker sounded in their ear. "Galaxia is here!" Princess Kaykuu looked at Fighter with her saddened red eyes.
"I understand," Fighter murmured as Kakyuu looked skywards and disappeared as a streak in the sky. Fighter turned to join the others as they threw their attacks at the approaching dark Senshi.
~*~*~
Fighter winced at the bright light, blinking her blue eyes met with lime green eyes. "There, that is better," Healer smiled as she tried to hide her tired form. Fighter wrapped her arm around the silver haired Senshi as she picked her up and carried her towards the fire where Maker and Storm waited.
"Kakyuu went to find the Silver Millennium to help, so we should follow her."
"And leave our planet?"
"How do we even find it?"
"It's our duty to protect the Princess. If Galaxia already was here, the Silver Millennium can't be far behind. Look in your hearts. We can sense her or the planet she's on."
"You expect us to wander around a random planet? How do we ensure that Galaxia doesn't follow?"
"As long as she doesn't use her power, Galaxia won't be able to trace her."
"The Princess went in search of the best chance we have. So we have to follow her. We can figure out what to do once we're there."
~*~*~
(A/N) This story will be a slow update. I wanted to post the initial thought to see if it had merit. I have a few chapters written, (picking up where the Starlights appear in the manga) but love to hear what you think of the idea.