Chapter Six. Guardian of Christmas Past
Krotan looked around the room as he was annoyed by that last encounter. He took a deep breath and hoped that it was just only a dream.
That thought was short lived when he saw a sea green glow beginning to fill his room.
"Now what is this about?!" Krotan demanded.
He looked up as a bright white orb appeared in the center of the glow. That caused him to shield his eyes unlike the last time. Seconds later, the brightness vanished which allowed Krotan to see what or who was about to appear this time.
"What could it be this time?" he asked quietly.
Krotan looked to see another figure but this time she looked like Sailor Neptune.
"Are you one of the Guardians whom I was told would come here?" Krotan asked.
"Yes." the figure guardian answered. "I am."
"Who and what are you?" he asked the figure before him.
"I am Guardian Neptune," she answered. "and I am the Guardian of Christmas past."
"Your past?"
"No, silly. Your past. You'd be amazed on how us Guardians know about things like this." Guardian Neptune explained. "Now come, we are going on a little trip to the past."
"No way in space." Krotan replied. "Besides, you are nothing but an illusion."
"Illusion nothing." Guardian Neptune replied before she got out her mirror and used its power on Krotan.
Krotan looked around to see that he had been taken out of his quarters.
"What the?!" Krotan exclaimed in dismay. "Where are you taking me?! Where are we going?!"
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Krotan looked to find himself in the castle, with his father ruling at the throne.
"What is the meaning of this?!" he demanded. "Why are you showing me this? Showing me my father ruling?"
"I am showing you what had happened in your past." Guardian Neptune answered. "Watch."
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"It appears that you, my own son, were feeling bold today." Ming stated. "You were trying to defy me!"
"You don't understand, Father." a seven year old Krotan pleaded. "I was only giving to the Merry Givers. You didn't give them anything."
"Silence!" Ming gave his son several whips on his rear end. "Those Merry Givers are not to get anything from us. If I don't give, then you are not supposed to give!"
He lived up to his name as he gave his son several more whips to his bottom. Young Krotan could hear the guards snicker from this as he looked up, facing his father.
"Dare to defy me again, and I will be sure to do it in the streets in front of the commoners." Ming warned his young son. "And you do not want that, do you?"
"No father." Krotan whimpered.
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"He did do it again, didn't he?" Guardian Neptune asked.
"Yes." Krotan answered. "Yes. He did. It was one of the most humiliating experiences I ever had to go through. Over the smallest move of defiance, my father would give me those beatings."
"There was something else that he did." Guardian Neptune glanced at the distraught prince, "Wasn't there?"
"I'm not sure what you mean." Krotan replied. "He sent my mother to my death shortly after I was born."
"There is something else you should see." Guardian Neptune stated as she got out her mirror again. "Look."
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"What do you mean pardon them?!" Ming asked as he glanced down at a beautiful blonde woman with fair skin similar to what Aura and Sheila's skin.
"You must." the woman pleaded. "They meant no harm. Kotis is a planet intending on peace."
"Now I want you to hear me out my dear Cecily." Ming firmly stated. "Just because we have two daughters together, doesn't mean that you can go and defend rebel groups, especially on neighboring planets. My forces will be coming to Kotis first thing tomorrow. If you wish to die along with them, then you shall."
"Then so be it." Cecily firmly stated. "Destroy me as well."
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An eight year old Krotan was startled upon hearing gunshots, followed by an agonizing scream from outside as he was walking around in the cold as one of his punishments given by his father.
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"Father killed Cecily, the mother to my half sisters: Aura and Sheila." Krotan glanced in anger at Guardian Neptune. "He thought that I wouldn't notice. However, I did."
"Your father was always a ruthless man." Guardian Neptune stated. "The question is, something like your sister Castra had once asked you: You were once a thoughtful and caring boy. Will you give them that thoughtful caring boy or will you give them another Ming?"
"Stop it!" Krotan shouted in panic. "Stop it now! Leave me at once!"
"The truth lives, Prince Krotan." Guardian Neptune stated as she started to vanish. "The truth will always live!"
"Stop it!" Krotan shouted before pleading. "Stop it! Please, no more!"
Author's Note: When Krotan explains to Guardian Neptune about his mother's apparent death after his birth, there happens to be a twist with that scenario. You will see that in the future in the main Sailor Moon Defenders series. So I hope you stay tuned for that!
Author's Note 2: I brought in the Cecily, mother to Aura and Sheila at the last minute. I apologize for the last minute notice and cameo. She's essentially a character owned by Marzena. As far as the lineage was concerned, I thought I should explain this right away. Princess Aura and (Princess) Sheila Oceanna Dewindt (technically, Sheila considers herself more a Defender than a princess in my series, even though it is in her heritage) are the oldest daughters of Ming the Merciless and their mother is Cecily Dewindt. Ming and Cecily separated for some time before her death as seen in this chapter. I'm not sure how Marzena played that out with the girls' mother in her series but that's the 411 in my series. Princess Castra is the youngest daughter to Ming the Merciless and Lady Zyna, a character owned by James5, who originally appeared in his story "Dynasties". You'll meet her later. Prince Krotan is the son to Ming and Zyna. I honestly thought him being the youngest was a good idea as explained by James in his "Dynasties" fanfiction commentary. Well, there's that.
