Desert Kings
Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. This is it people, the (technical) final chapter! What a long haul this has been...
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Makoto had been pruning listlessly in the early morning light since nearly daybreak. For the last three weeks she had thought about her friends out riding with the caravan. She hoped Usagi was alright, (the boys too!), and that Mamoru was recovering. She worried that she hadn't packed enough powder broth for them. But mostly she was worrying about Usagi, who usually so energetic, looked so depressed and seemed as limp as a wilted.
"Usagi, please, be safe-!"
Makoto blinked in surprise as she heard a shout-she knew that shout...
"The caravan signal from the guards!" she yelped and ran out the door, racing out into the street and taking off for Rei's. When she arrived, Rei and Hotaru were already slipping out of the house and standing with the growing crowd that was forming around the streets. She nodded, winded, to Rei and stood next to her as she watched the caravans roll through.
"Where's papa?" begged Hotaru, tugging at her mother's loose skirt. Rei had begun to show signs of her pregnancy and had taken to wearing loose fitting clothing. "Which one, mama?"
"I don't know-look for Usagi's white horse. It'll stick like a sore-"
"I see them!" shouted Makoto, waving to them.
"-thumb." finished Rei, trying to see over the crowd.
Usagi grinned and waved back as she saw her friend. Mamoru grinned as he looked back over his shoulder at her. He was riding her horse and Usagi rode behind him, arms loosely looping his waist. Jadeite had grinned and was already more then half to his wife and daughter as Usagi waved at them. "Well, I guess someone was homesick, eh, Usako?" grinned Mamoru. Behind Usagi laughed as Jadeite swept his wife up into his arms. Zoisite grinned and shook his head as he stopped the wagon in front of the house.
Mamoru lifted Usagi off the horse as everyone hurried over, including Jadeite one arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders and the other carry his daughter. "It's good to home, right, my friends?" Jadeite asked with a grin.
Usagi didn't get a chance to answer him as Makoto pulled her into a tight hug. She smiled as her tall friend fussed over her before turning and giving the same treatment to Zoisite and Mamoru. Hotaru cheered loudly and reached for her. "Auntie Usagi!" she shouted. Usagi grinned as swept her up into a hug. "Hello, auntie, I missed you!"
"Hello, Hotaru." whispered Usagi, feeling a bit choked up to be home again with her friends.
The next ten minutes was spent with them milling about when Nephlite suddenly appeared out Rei's home with a grin on his face as he hugged his fiancé before turning to them. "The guests are waiting for you." he said simply.
"And what are you doing here?" asked Usagi as Makoto beamed at her fiancé.
"I escorted some important friends here. I was going to see you later, Makoto, but it's seems I get to see you a little earlier." he explained, taking Makoto's hand. The other's either shook their heads, the men, or sighed, Usagi and Hotaru, and grinned, Rei, at the couple's antics. "Come along-like I said they're waiting."
We everyone finally went inside, Usagi gasped when she found Minako, Ami, and Kunzite sitting at the table. Usagi hugged each of them, and immediately began to pester them to find out why they were at Rei's home. "Come on, tell, tell!"
Hotaru climbed up into Minako's lap. Minako grinned thoughtfully and soothed the girl's hair earning her an amused Kunzite raising a brow at her. Usagi helped Mamoru to his seat as everyone searched for a place to sit. "Actually, that's not very important at all-we were waiting for Mamoru."
Mamoru eased himself into a chair with Usagi's help before looking up at Kunzite. "Actually, there's quite a lot for us to tell. First off, Lethe's sent two hundred men to help us." Kunzite sighed in relief while Minako whistled appreciatively and Ami let her breath in a big whoosh. "And then...well, I'm engaged."
This several different reactions-Hotaru's eyes widened. Ami gasped and split her tea on her hand. Makoto blinked and smiled happily for him-it was nice to hear their leader would be married so. Zoisite and Jadeite simply grinned-before Jadeite nodded to Zoisite, who shrugged and handed him a gold coin. Rei glared at her husband questionably. "We made a bet-I bet he would be engage before we got back." Rei shook her head and turned back to the topic at hand. Nephlite stared at his prince in surprise before shrugging it off. Minako smiled brightly and congratulated him. It was Kunzite who asked the most important question.
"To whom, Mamoru?"
"To Princess Serenity."
This caused quite another stir, Hotaru, Zoisite, Jadeite, and Ami's were all similar to the beginning-sans the betting. Rei's jaw dropped in shock and Makoto stared in shock like the rest of them. Usagi turned to Mamoru and frowned expressively at him.
"You like to such a stir don't you, Mamo-chan. And I thought you said you weren't going to call me that!"
"A little drama never hurt anyone, Usako."
"Wait! What!" gasped Rei.
"Princess Serenity?" echoed Kunzite. Usagi blinked and turned to Minako, who was simply smiling at her.
"I'm sorry for lying to you, Minako, but I-"
"I understand." soothed Minako, patting her hand. "And it's not like I didn't know you were lying-but I certainly wouldn't have identified you as Princess Serenity. I suppose I shall have to hear the full story later, eh?"
"Yes." agreed Mamoru. "Right now we still have business to do. Kunzite."
"Yes, sir?"
"We to get ready to attack the palace. I intend not to hurt any of the servants at this time but we shall go directly for my brother." explained Mamoru. Kunzite nodded.
"We can get everyone ready by tomorrow night at the latest-shall we attack at twilight tomorrow?" he asked. Mamoru shook his head.
"No. We attack tonight."
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Usagi sat by the fireplace staring at the flames in muted shock. She had expect the attack on the palace to take place soon but never did she think that it would happen on the very night they returned. When Mamoru had proclaimed the attack to take place that night, it had made quite an uproar. The discussion had finally ended with the agreement to attack that night. All of them had agreed-except for her, but she had quietly agreed, knowing it wasn't her place to refuse them. She had sat there quietly after that, most of the discussion slipping in and out of her ears.
"Are you alright, Serenity?"
Usagi jumped and turned as Minako sat across from her on another chair. "You ...don't have to call me that. In fact, I would prefer it."
"Alright, as you wish, Usagi." grinned Minako. "Quite the shock isn't it?"
Usagi nodding, understanding exactly what she was talking about. "I thought...they at least wait until tomorrow. Mamoru hasn't even quite recovered yet and there's still so many things that have to done."
"Kunzite's gone to warn the loyal nobles, Zoisite and Ami have gone to pull out all of the spies, and Nephlite's gone to warn all of small wives and servants. Makoto's gone to her home to make us all something warm to eat. Endymion's getting ready at the House of Kou until everything's ready, and Jadeite's going to send word to someone called Artemis and Luna to tell the peasants to be careful tonight." listed Minako. "Rei's taking care of Hotaru."
"-And we're sitting here, doing nothing." sighed Usagi.
"Actually, we're worrying." corrected Minako, grinning at her. Usagi blinked and a smile tugged at her lips. "Well, good to see you're not all gloomy. I've missed you, did I tell you?"
Usagi blinked and sat back. "Missed me? Really?"
"Oh, yes, not a whole lot of people to talk to really. I missed all of those nice little conversations we would have with our tea." she said with a fond smile. "Well enough of that. So, Usagi, you've decided to become Mamoru's wive, eh?"
"Yes." she said lightly, fidgeting with her hands. Then her smile slid from her face. "But I still wish...I could help them..." she whispered. Minako smiled knowingly and reached out and pat her hand. Usagi smiled before turning as she heard a knock at the door as a voice called out.
"Hey, this stuff isn't light, you know!" called Makoto. Usagi hopped to her feet and rushed to help her friend at the door. "Ah, there you are!" gasped Makoto as she rushed to drop the heavy load on the table. She turned back to her. "Don't suppose you help me get some dinner started, eh, Usagi?"
"Sure!" pipped Usagi, "What do you need me to do?"
Nearly twenty minutes later, the women sat at the table eating their hurried supper. "This is a lovely sandwich, Makoto! And such a fine stew-I wish you were my cook!" gushed Minako, as she ate.
"Get in line." chuckled Usagi. "Oh, Makoto, it all tastes so good!"
Makoto grinned as the blonde finished. "It's good to hear you like it all. Usagi, do you want some more?"
"Oh, no." yawned the blonde. "Right now all I want is a bed."
"Take mine." offered Rei. "Yu Huang knows I won't be able to sleep tonight." she muttered. Usagi nodded and went up the stairs to the bedroom. "Poor thing looks so worried, doesn't she?" she said several moments later. She got up and helped Hotaru up to the shepherd's bed above the hearth as she saw her begin to yawn into her stew.
Makoto nodded in agreement as Minako sighed. "Poor thing, I don't blame her." agreed Minako.
"Rei, let's get your cards-maybe they'll finally tell you something!" urged Makoto. Rei turned and raised a brow as her gaze flew up into the direction of her room where Usagi was sleeping. "She's asleep by now, Rei, I doubt you'll wake her up. You know her." Rei nodded and chuckled as she made her way up the stairs. When she neared her door, she slowly opened the door and peeked inside.
"Sorry, Usagi, but I need to get-"
Makoto and Minako turned in surprise as Rei flew down the stairs and stared at them.
"She's gone! Usagi's gone!"
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Usagi peeked around the corner before slipping down the corridor. It was unusually quiet that night in the palace as she crept about-there was a muggy stillness in the air. At that time of night, most of the nobles had finished their celebrations and were gone to bed for the night. No servants or guards were to been seen-obviously word had passed quickly. Most of the servants and guards in the palace were loyal to Mamoru and his cause, so they had disappeared for the night to be out of the way.
Usagi made her way down the halls, tip toeing silently. She wondered if Rei and the others had spotted her as gone. She tried not to think of them too much as she slipped through the night-it made her feel guilty and that distracted her.
She had a job to do.
She had decided over dinner that she was going to find Mamoru. But first she needed to do something else. She needed to find Galaxia. She had thought about it over dinner and realized no one would possibly warn her-Kunzite wouldn't think of it as she hadn't had the chance to tell him of her. She had worried that the beautiful proud woman might be caught in all the action that was to take place tonight. So she had slipped out of Rei's window and hurried to the palace.
She looked down the corridor and saw her target-the private jalis of the Head Wives. It was a special suite, specifically for the Head Wives. Diamond rarely went there but Usagi knew that Galaxia liked to sit up long nights there and read privately. She slipped down the hall and peeked through the jalis-as she thought, there was Galaxia, sitting by herself, reclining on a couch.
"My lady!" whispered Usagi trying to keep quiet. Galaxia blinked and stared about looking for the voice. "My lady!" she repeated louder. Galaxia turned and jumped up when she saw who it was.
"My little maid!" she said as she opened the doors. "I must admit, I'm surprised to see you here-"
"My lady, you're in danger!" she gasped. Galaxia stilled and stared warily at her. "A rebellion to oust your husband is planned for tonight! You must leave now, my lady!"
Galaxia stared at her for a moment. "How am I to know you speak true fully, maid?"
"I'm not a maid, I'm a spy and you have to hurry-"
"I kill spies you know."
Usagi didn't have time to gasp as she felt a blade at her neck. Galaxia's eyes widened as the Skeit, Diamond held the knife at her maid's neck. She turned several colors-pale, then red with rage as she glared at her husband.
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Kunzite nodded to Mamoru. Mamoru nodded in return and raised his hand to signal everyone. Several men nodded and left to take their squads of troops with them-Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephlite, and Zoisite amoung them. Jadeite and two more men slipped out to gather the troops. Kunzite turned before leaving as Nephlite and Zoisite already left. "Sir, we'll await your signal."
Mamoru nodded and started out after them. When they were all together, he gathered his leader-underlings with him. "Kunzite, Danubrite, Xeolite, get ready to go through the northern entrances. Jadeite, the east entrances. Nephlite the western. Zoisite the southern." Each of them nodded before turning and heading out with their men. Mamoru went with Kunzite as they separated from Danubrite and Xeolite's separate groups. They quickly made their way to Diamond's chambers, finding the way cleared. Distantly, they heard the sounds of a scuffle far off. Mamoru hoped none of his men would end up dead by the morning.
"Sir." said Kunzite as he stood in front of Diamond's doors. Mamoru nodded and Kunzite and several men entered the room, beginning to search the rooms. After several long moments, Kunzite and the men returned shaking their heads. Mamoru turned as young warrior ran up to them, several of his men reaching for their swords.
"Sir!" huffed the messenger. "News from Nephlite's company-no sign of the Skeit in the throne rooms. Neither of Danburite's men nor Xeolite's have seen him either."
A moment later another messenger arrived. "Sir, Zoisite's group has spotted him!" he gasped. "They spotted him as he entered the Head Wive's common chambers! They have it surrounded and await your orders!"
Mamoru nodded. "Send word to Xeolite and Danburite. Tell them to head to the Throne Room. We'll join Zoisite's men there." he said as he began to make his way to the chambers.
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"Ami?"
Ami blinked and turned to look back. They were all in the large servant's eating quarters, waiting for the news of what was happening that night in the castle. Most had looked about fearfully while others had adopted had stoic looks. One of the younger servers, an eleven year old boy named Shingo, tugged at her shirt as a young maid named Momoko stood behind him.
"Yes, Shingo?"
"When will we know it's happened?" he asked quietly. Ami turned and looked up at the ceiling high above her.
"A messenger will come to tell us." she said before turning back to him. "You'll help keep everyone calm til then, right, Shingo? Momoko?"
"Yes, Ami!" they answered. They turned and went back to the crowds. She turned her gaze back to the ceiling as she silently prayed, waiting for the messenger to come and tell them what was happening.
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"Well, it's been awhile, maid." sneered Diamond. "Spy, whatever you are."
Galaxia glared at her husband as Usagi gasped and tried not to slice herself with Diamond's knife at her throat. She felt the blade prick her skin, and felt the warm drip of her blood and she stilled completely. She heard Diamond chuckle and fought not to be sick.
"Diamond-" began Galaxia.
"Shut your mouth!" he snapped. "Now, spy, tell me-when was this rebellion to take place and who is your leader? Tell me and I may just spare your life." he spoke. Usagi sneered and hissed.
"Burn in hell!" she snapped.
"Now, that's not nice." sneered Diamond. Usagi felt the blade bite a little deeper into her skin. "Tell me, wench, or die a painful death!"
"Gladly!" she spat.
"Diamond!" screeched Galaxia.
"SHUT UP!" he howled, forgetting Usagi entirely, and slugging his wife with a fist that held the blade, leaving a deep gash in her cheek. Usagi gasped as Galaxia fell backward and onto the floor. Galaxia glared with all her hatred at her husband, her palm flat against her cheek to slow the blood. "Shut it, you waste of space! Why do the gods curse me with such a useless wife!"
"Damn you!" she muttered. "Damn you and your foul ways!"
"Shut it!" he screamed.
Usagi raised her foot and slammed it down onto Diamond's toes. "You leave her alone!" He yelped and let her go to cradle his foot. She dove out of his way and snatched the blade as it fell to the floor. She raised it in front of her, to protect herself. "Stay back!" she yelled, holding it like a life line. He glared at her.
"Think you're going to be able to stop me with that, wench? Well, do you?" he snarled. Quickly he wrenched out and shoved her to the floor, pinning her there and knife skidding away. "Die, whore!" he shouted, wrapping his hands around her throat. She closed her eyes. I wish Mamo-chan was here... she thought, and felt the locket around the Ginzuishou grow warm under her shirt and she heard some scuffles outside the doors.
She blacked out for a moment and then felt someone tugging her to her feet. She was roughly hauled up and she opened her eyes to see Mamoru, Zoisite and several other men standing there. She never felt such relief wash over as she did then, staring at Mamoru's face. He looked sternly at Diamond, who held her up in front of him like a shield.
"Diamond."
"Endymion." spat Diamond. "May I be hasty in thinking that I sense a coup d'etat here, little brother?" he snarled.
"Give up, Diamond." commanded Mamoru, reaching for his sword. "You are surrounded and have no chance. Give up now and abdicate your throne and you shall live."
"Lies!" he snarled. "You and I know that you'll never let me live!"
"True." agreed Mamoru. "But at least the death I will give you will be fast and painless."
"Bah! Dead is dead and I prefer to live thank you!" he hissed and stepped back. "Let me pass, brother, or I'll kill your spy! Don't forget," he snarled. "we're five stories up, and I could toss her to her death!"
"Diamond-!" snapped Mamoru stepping closer. Diamond snapped.
"Not another step closer, or she'll die, I swear." he screamed, and Mamoru paused. Diamond gave him a fanatically grin, edging his way to the window. "Don't want me to kill your spy, brother? She special to you? Another step closer and the only special about her will be a large stain on the ground!" He snarled, getting closer still to the window. "Say goodbye to your spy, broth-!"
Slck! A thick, meaty sound permeated the air and Usagi felt Diamond lose his grip.
For a moment, Usagi stood in shock before stumbling forward into Mamoru's arms. She looked back to see Galaxia with the knife in her hands, burying it deep in her husband's back, into his heart. Diamond slumped to the ground lifelessly, blade buried between his shoulder blades. Usagi turned her gaze back to the woman before her. Galaxia stood with a resigned but determined expression on her face. She quietly stared at her husband's cooling corpse before turning her gaze to Mamoru. He nodded to her which she returned. She walked away, to her rooms, but not before firmly closing and locking the window.
"One day, Usako," muttered Mamoru as he helped her up. "You're going to have to explain to me what happened tonight."
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Usagi leaned against the jalis, watching as Mamoru stood in front of the throne. Barely three hours after Diamond's death, a priest had been hurried into performing the holy rights to an impromptu coronation. At Mamoru's side stood his brother, Sapphire, as he signed an paper officiating his abdication to his brother. She watched quietly as the priest placed a golden circlet on his head.
"So, you're my brother's fiancé."
Usagi blinked and stared back. She was surprised to find what had to Seiya, her fiance's double, staring at her, wearing leggings and a tunic. She bowed polite to her and Seiya nodded. "Yes, my lady."
"So, I see my brother's spoken of me."
"Yes, my lady." she answered.
Seiya grinned slightly at her. "No need to be so formal, we'll be sisters soon."
Usagi nodded, a smile tugging on her face. Seiya turned back to the events in front of her.
"Watch closely, my sister, for before us is the beginning of something that will be remembered for all of history."
Usagi nodded, her gaze already on Mamoru's back. "Undoubtably." she agreed. "And so begins the new age."