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Chapter 4: A Dark Birth
Beryl paced around her room. What had she done wrong? She waved her arms in frustration, thinking hard about the events of the evening.
'I practically laid myself right out in front of him! My boobs were popping out of my frickin' dress! What more does Endymion want! That stupid man completely ignored me… he only had eyes for her; that damn Moon Princess brat!'
"Lost him again I see." An icy voice poured out of the hand mirror lying on her bureau, causing Beryl to jump.
"Metallica!" Beryl hesitantly approached the mirror, "I don't understand."
"The prince. You lost him again, didn't you? You silly girl! Didn't you do as I told you?" The question penetrated Beryl, drawing out guilt and fear. She could hear the masked anger in Metallica's voice.
"Well… not quite," Beryl started weakly, "don't you think drugging the princess is just a bit much?"
"Fool!" The force of Metallica's voice caused Beryl to fall backwards onto the floor, "Don't act like a child! How do you expect to rule the Earth and the Moon if you don't destroy that girl? How do you expect to get your precious Endymion… your Mamo-chan?"
"I don't want to hurt Mamoru!" Beryl screeched, covering her mouth in shock after using the prince's family name. The tiny hand mirror began to tremble, the surface glowing dark shades of gray and blue. Metallica's voice came forth greatly amplified.
"Pick up the mirror, Beryl. Pick it up and look into my eyes." Beryl stayed on the floor, crying. "DO IT NOW!" Slowly Beryl rose up and grabbed the mirror, closing her eyes. "Open your eyes. Look at me, face to face." Beryl gripped the mirror harder, tears running down her tense face. "OPEN YOUR EYES!" Beryl gasped as she opened her eyes and for the first time looked into the face of the mysterious Metallica.
Two ghost-like hands came forth from the mirror and grasped Beryl's head, slightly penetrating into her mind. Beryl tried to scream but the chill of Metallica's death cold touch silenced her voice. In what seemed like seconds the room melted away to reveal a dark abyss, and Beryl found herself alone.
"This is our future!" Beryl turned to find herself staring again at Metallica, only she was no longer a tiny hand-mirror. The voice had come from a beautiful woman, dressed like a queen, with dark hair loosely curled to the floor. She had a pale and thin face, with big empty eyes, the eyes that terrified Beryl so much.
"What do you mean?" Beryl's question was quickly absorbed in the darkness. Metallica smiled, and with a wave of her hand changed their surroundings entirely. Destruction. Beryl found herself looking at what had moments before been the decorative Moon Kingdom, but was now nothing but rubble.
"Watch." Metallica pointed to a small group of people covered in pink light. It was the Moon Kingdom's royal family. The Sailor Senshi were standing in a circle, trying to protect the Moon Princess and her mother. A flash of black lightning broke through the barrier, knocking the Senshi to the ground lifeless. Another flash and the piercing scream of the princess was heard before silence.
Beryl turned to her left as a bright light flashed, and she saw the Earth covered in flames. 'What is this?' She asked herself. 'Is this the future as Metallica sees it?'
"Yes." The voice rang inside her head. Beryl looked back at Metallica, glaring. "You're angry?" Beryl turned her face away, tears beginning to form.
'Is this what she plans to do? Destroy… everything?'
"Isn't this what you want?" Beryl turned back to her, infuriated at the words; however, before she could open her mouth her body became numb. She had expected to see Metallica, but it was Endymion, holding the hand of someone dressed as a bride.
"Who-" Beryl whispered, afraid to ask the question… afraid that the face behind the veil wouldn't be hers. She couldn't live with that…
--- Flashback ---
Beryl nervously approached the doors of the great hall. She had never had her presence be specially requested to report somewhere before. The thrill of an official invitation both awed her and scared her very much, and the fact that it was on her seventh birthday didn't help. All she had wanted was a cake, and now she might be sent to live somewhere like the Moon Kingdom, or something else just as horrible!
The doors creaked open and Beryl found herself in darkness. "Hello!" She called out in her meek voice. No response. Fear began to take control of her when the door slammed shut behind her. She felt her heart pound and was about to scream when the lights burst into life revealing most of the court, her family, and him… Prince Endymion.
"Happy birthday, Lady Beryl!" Endymion bounded up to her, presenting a slightly crumpled package.
"What?" Beryl was speechless.
"I wanted to throw you a surprise party! And give you this!" Endymion shoved the package into her hands. Beryl looked down at it, still unable to believe that her two-year crush had just said everything he had.
"Thank you." Beryl opened the box and removed a few pieces of tissue. She gasped. Inside the box were two pieces of jewelry, both set with large and deeply-colored amethysts. There was a silver chocker-necklace that fit a little too loosely around her neck, and an armlet of rare alinium ((a rare made up metal found on the planet Neptune)) (baka) that didn't nearly fit her.
"Are you surprised?" He looked at her and smiled…
--- End Flashback ---
She pulled herself out of the memory… the moment when she first knew she was in love with Mamoru.
"Isn't this what you want?" Metallica's harsh voice tore at Beryl's mind. Endymion and his bride turned to face each other, and Beryl held her breath as he lifted her veil.
"It's-" Endymion leaned into his queen and kissed her, "Me."
"This is the future I want. A new start, with you and your Mamoru ruling over both the Moon and the Earth." Metallica reappeared. "Is this what you want?" She held out her hand. Beryl reluctantly turned away from the scene she'd always dreamt of to look at Metallica. She looked different, somehow kinder. Beryl placed her hand in Metallica's.
"Yes." Metallica gripped her hand tightly.
"Then with your vow I bind you to me. I give you my power!" Beryl could feel the dark energies flowing into her, strength she'd never imagined pulsing through her veins. Her heart began to beat faster as it transformed to become bound to Metallica. She was now part of her, the part that could move around in the physical world. "Now you must wake up, you have work to do, my daughter."
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---Ending Note--- Just a quick comment about names. Beryl says something about referring to Mamoru as Prince Endymion's "family name." We've decided that their names I.E. Usagi, Mamoru, Ami, Rei, etc… are what they are called informally, normally by family or very close friends. Just thought we'd clear that hope. We hope you enjoyed this chapter and we'll have the next one up hopefully some time next week.