The Crystal Palace
Guest Chambers
Mizuno Amy's Room
night
Amy pulled the silk sheet over her head and tried not to cry again. Zoisite's voice was still there, but now only in her mind.
Amy, Amy, join me, Amy...
She shivered. She hated being the first scout to fall apart, but... She had loved him so much, even though it had been years ago. Thousands of years, technically.
"Why?" she asked the ceiling, confused.
Then she felt wetness on her cheek.
She groaned softly and wiped it away. She had more pressing matters than unrequited love. Not that it had always been unrequited...
She stood up and paced the room, afraid to look in the mirror. She considered the walls and decided no one would hear her if she thought aloud.
"How... that's the only question now. I know why they're here... well, sort of. But how did they gain enough power to come through time? And..."
She stopped pacing, observing herself in the mirror she hadn't wanted to see. Her short blue hair was crumpled and tangled. She combed her fingers through it. Then she paused.
"And... where's Metaria...?"
She walked to the mirror and leaned against it. She closed her eyes, sighing. If the Dark Kingdom Negaverse had traveled from the past, it meant they'd somehow gained memories of the future. Only Metaria could have anywhere near enough power to know...
But how did she get that power?
Amy opened her eyes.
A green orb stared back at her.
She screamed and leapt backwards, colliding with the bed and falling to the floor. She crawled wildly away from Zoisite's grinning face, grasping at bedsheets and crying out random names.
Zoisite chuckled and faded away.
The Crystal Palace
The royal chambers
midnight
Serenity burst out the door of the bedroom and ran, barely slowed by her gown, down the halls of the palace. She had heard Amy's scream.
Endymion caught up to her and ran by her side. Moments later Sailor Mars had joined them. Moments after that, there was a slam as the royal couple and three scouts exploded into the guest room.
The king and queen rushed to Amy's still form. Endymion felt her neck for a pulse.
"She fainted."
Mars swore and turned away, Jupiter and Venus leaning over her shoulders.
Serenity stood up as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto crowded around the door, "It's all right. Just... go back to..."
She read the expression on Pluto's face.
"...to what you were doing."
The outers nodded as one. Pluto turned and left. Neptune hovered for a moment, but Uranus took her arm and led her down the hallway.
Mars knelt down and looked at Amy's face. There was a pale mark beneath one eye.
Serenity moved aside to watch Endymion lift Amy and lay her gently on the bed. He stepped back and put an arm around his wife's shoulders.
Mars stood by, breathing loudly.
"Serena, honestly! We've got to find them and end this!"
"End it?" Serenity raised an eyebrow, "Who in this Palace has the power to end it?"
Mars grated her teeth, but nodded. Venus bit her lip and looked down. It was obvious she agreed. Jupiter looked from black hair to blond hair, then let her eyes meet those of her queen.
Serenity held in a sigh, "I would agree, were it not for the last time we fought her. If you don't remember, it cost all of you your lives."
"Yeah, but we got them back," Jupiter smiled.
No one else laughed. The words were true.
"And," Serenity continued, "Beryl killed three of her own generals for us last time. We won't have that advantage."
The scouts nodded. Mars smiled tiredly at Serenity, "I wouldn't have pegged you as a planner."
"Wouldn't have pegged you as a Sailor Scout."
Tense laughter filled the room. The jokes were only a false attempt to slow the process of panic and fear.
Because Serenity was right.
They had no advantages.
The Crystal Palace
The abandoned rooms
shortly after midnight.
"Honestly, Nephrite, how can you say that?"
"Easily. We should attack them quickly and not toy around with them. I seem to recall you failing last time that happened."
Zoisite laughed loudly, "After you did!"
Jadeite yelled from the corner of the room, "Will you two be quiet! I'm trying to think."
"Hahaha, we should be quiet. After all, it's an effort for you!"
"Why you—"
"Silence, all of you!"
The room stilled. Queen Beryl had the attention of her generals.
"We have time. But I agree with Nephrite. We already know what they're capable of, there's no need to waste energy on youmas this time."
Kunzite coughed politely, "Queen Beryl, may I?"
A nod of auburn hair gave him permission.
"We know what the Sailor Scouts of the past are capable of. But they may have gained power and experience..."
"You're telling me things I know, Kunzite."
"And," he said bravely, "we have never even seen the other three Scouts."
"Hmm..."
The contemplative silence buzzed loudly in the generals' ears.
"You're right. Jadeite, find out what they can do. If you have enough energy, create a decoy. A ghost youma."
"Yes, Queen," he bowed.
The others turned to leave.
"And, Zoisite!"
Zoisite turned and bowed his head, "yes?"
"Do not cross the line."
"I won't, my queen."
The Crystal Palace
The meeting hall
morning
"Thank you all..."
Serenity paused as Venus took a seat.
"...for cooperating. As we're all aware, we won't get anywhere by staying in one place, but neither will they."
Talia, dressed in her white captian's uniform and looking startlingly like the opposite of Kunzite, strode into the room. She nodded to the Sailor Scouts and addressed her queen directly.
"Lady, they haven't left the palace. Your shields held, they're locked in."
Jupiter tucked hair behind her ear, "Along with us!"
"Yes..." Talia played with her own red hair.
Serenity dismissed Talia with a calm gesture. As the captain left, the queen looked to the outer scouts.
"Pluto. Have you told them," she nodded to Neptune and Uranus, "who we're dealing with?"
"I've tried. It may be better that you explain."
"Very well. Where to start..."
Silence answered her suggestively.
"When I first discovered I was Sailor Moon, I was fighting Beryl. I didn't know who she was, or who the generals were... they introduced themselves nicely. They were the ones responsible for destroying the Silver Millennium."
Endymion tensed, old wounds throbbing.
Serenity continued, laying a hand over his clenched fist, "My mother managed to seal away Beryl and her master, Queen Metaria... but Beryl was freed, and under Metaria's instruction, she set out to gain enough power to take over the world. The only source she could consider was me."
There was a long and tired story waiting to be told, but Serenity took a breath and locked it away.
"She wasn't counting on the other Sailor Scouts, and became infuriated with her generals when they continued to fail. She killed three, and we," she swallowed, "killed the last."
There was another silence.
Uranus spoke first.
"Are they powerful."
"Very."
"And yet they were the first enemy you overcame."
"Not alone."
Uranus nodded and stared at the table.
Mercury looked up, "We won't be able to take them out one by one, Beryl will see to that."
"So," Endymion shrugged, "what do you suggest?"
"Taking out Metaria."
Jupiter turned, astounded, "You say it like it's easy! She could be outside the palace!"
"Yes," Mercury explained, "but the doors aren't the only way out. There are windows... and the dungeon."
The others seemed to be considering what she had said.
Neptune stood, commanding attention.
"We stood by you during the first display of power because we are your allies. But we need to know why they disturb you so much. What happened in the Silver Millennium?"
Serenity squeezed her husband's hand.
And she answered what had been asked.