Sailor Moon: Dark Stars
Chapter One:
Silver Millenium
Nova Castle, Southern Betelgeuse Continent
Planet Sirius-Endoria
Early Morning;
The Silver Millennium. It was a time of peace and prosperity for many planets and star systems. This was especially true for the Sol System, the Sirius System, the Polaris System, the Vega System, and the Acrux System. But this was not to last, as war erupted when King Meerages of the Acrux System and his followers sought to control all the civilized systems, most of which were under the rule of the peaceful and gentle Queen Serenity Crestmoon. Most have fallen, unable to withstand the Meerages might, lead by their evil and ruthless sovereign King Meerages. But fortunately with help from the Sol System and the Sailor Guardians, lead by the powerful Duke Honorious of Polaris and his forces, the evil Meerages and his kingdom was beat back after a long a bloody war, and peace was once more reigned.
But alas, that was not to last for long either. A new threat has arisen barely a year after the war, this time in the form of a virtually unknown woman named Queen Beryl, controlled by an evil force named Queen Metallia and in alliance with the still evil and vengeful King Meerages. Many systems have fallen under their combined ruthless attack, and it has now been found out that Beryl was on her way to the Sol, Polaris, and Sirius Systems. In desperation, Duke Honorious Poelaryes calls his brother-in-law, King Marcopius Knightstar of Sirius, for any help in securing a full resistance against them along with the help of Queen Serenity, and to find a place to keep his family safe:
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In the large and spacious War And Conference Room, many Lords, generals, sargents, and various men of the military talked and argued about a possible plan to defend their system. Many had good ideas, many had not so good ideas. But in the end, they were all in agreement; Queen Beryl and King Meerages HAD to be stopped, no matter what! While they shouted and argued, King Marcopius Knightstar sat back in his large cushioned chair in the war room and sighed, wishing he were almost anywhere else. He was the one everyone should be listening too, but it was if he was invisible. He understood that this was very stressfull times...everyone knew the horrors Beryl and Meerages left in their wake...but that still doesn't mean he had to be disrespected!
Deciding it was just about enough, the King stood and raised his hands. He was just about to shout for silence when the chime bells to the double sliding doors of the conference room rang, and quickly slid opened. A young woman...looking barely older than 17 or 18, shyly walked in and bowed. Immediately there was silence; this had to be urgent, since servants were forbidden to even enter here. The girl gulped and bowed once more.
"Your majesty, there is an urgent message on the telecompter from the Polaris System. It's Duke Honorius. He says it's urgent." The servant nervously bowed her head this as she stood at the doorway of the War and Conference Room of Nova Castle, her voice shaky and young sounding.
King Marcopius somberly turned his dark head from the his advisors and the large conference table that had a star chart on it, which had each planet and system Meerages and Beryl defeated marked and highlighted.
The King quickly nodded his head and turned to the other men before him. "If you will excuse me, gentlemen, there is a matter I must deal with," he said quietly in his signature baritone voice. The other men murmured their respects and the tall man silently walked out of the room, following the young woman to the Telecompters Room down the expansive hall where all calls from outside the system were placed.
After acknowledging the guards with a nod as he walked through the doorway, the King walked briskly into the room towards the expansive communications computer that could connect planets over immense distances together, and with a few pushes of some buttons, the handsome face of his brother-in-law flashed on the large viewscreen. "Honorius, I was looking forward to hearing from you. How is my sister and niece doing?" The king gave him a tired smile.
"They are well, as to be expected." said the dark skinned young man as he tried to return the smile, but failed. "But there is some trouble going on, and I am in desperate need of your help. We have to get together and stop this mad woman named Beryl, or she will destroy the whole Universe!"
Worry lines creased his youthful face. "We have to get in contact with Queen Serenity. She is the only one can bring this war to our advantage. It is even said that the deceitful Meerages had sided with Queen Beryl. We must do something!"
The King nodded his agreement, fulling understanding what his brother-in-law was saying. "I know. I've recently received all the information on this Queen Beryl that could be found. I was just talking over this with my commanders and advisors. I think it would be best if you travel here, we can then devise a plan together. I was also thinking of forming an alliance with Queen Serenity and the Moon Kingdom, as most of the other systems have." He looked into his brother-in-law's eyes. "Is there anyway you can be here as soon as possible? Any way at all?" Anger was slowly creeping into his voice as the thought of losing all he held dear was coming into reality. As much as he loved and wanted to protect his own wife and daughter, to him, it would be just as devestating if his sister and niece perished too if he didn't do anything to protect them. He loved them just as he did his own family.
"Of course, I was just planning on that!" Honorius replied. "I have reason to believe that Beryl will try and come to the Polaris System first. I truly do not think my wife and daughter will be safe here on planet Beauty at Star Castle. I will send them there to Sirius-Endoria first, then follow when I think everything is safe." Tears pooled his eyes as he looked back at the King's in a pleading way. "Please do this for me. I have lost so much already. I don't know what I'd do if I lost my family."
"You know I will, Honorious! Please send them right away. I'm sure Tonicia will be delighted to see her cousin Lady Anja and her Aunt Mercya again. It's been so long since she saw them..." The King paused at the memories of the two girls as little children again playing together, then nodded again, his voice filled with promise. "Don't worry, I will do everything in my power to protect them. They will be safe, not matter what! I promise you this!" said the King with determination in his eyes. Both men smiled gratefully at each other for a few moments, letting the look on their faces and in their eyes convey the emotions they were feeling, then the King reached forward to a button and cut off communications.
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Three weeks later:
"Oh Father! Do you mean it? Is cousin Anja and Aunt Mercya really coming?" cried Princess Tonicia excitedly. The Knightstar family was enjoying another relaxing late afternoon outside in the Royal Forget-Me-Not Gardens as they normally did. After another grueling day of training and hard work, all the tension slipped away from Princess Tonicia as her parents took her outside to talk with her.
"Yes, Little Star! They should be here by tomorrow afternoon. Polaris IS a along way from here you know!" the King said as he watched his daughter stand in the bright sunlight supplied by the large double suns. It glittered off her jet black hair and her dark skin sparkled beautifully.
"Ohh! That's too long! I wish they were here already!" pouted the Princess, plopping down on the large lawn chair beside her parents.
"Patience, sweetheart!" said Queen Felicity as she reached over and gently carassed the six pointed white star on her daughter's forehead. "They'll be here before you know it. It has been a long time since you've seen Anja, hasn't it?" she asked as she smiled gently. The Queen's light brown eyes shined happily.
"Yeah, it has. I remember when she was here more often, and we would go to the Moon Kingdom and visit Princess Serenity." Tonicia sighed, then looked up questionally at her parents. "Come to think of it, how come they're coming here so suddenly? Does...does this have to do with the Dark Kingdom Wars?" Worry showed in Tonicia's eyes.
Both King and Queen looked at each other worriedly for a moment, then back to their daughter. "I won't lie to you Little Star. Yes, it does have something to do with it, but... it is not something for you to worry about now." The King got up from his seat and walked over to her and took his daughter's hand in his own. "Why don't you go get your room ready for when Anja comes, and you'll see the time pass quickly... I promise!" he smiled.
"All right Father. I'll see you later!" Tonicia jumped up from her seat, went over to happily kissed her father's forehead, then hugged him. After doing the same to her mother, the princess happily ran over to the palace, the matter of the war forgotten for now.
"Oh Marcopius, I just wish we didn't have to put the girls through this at such a young age!" said the Queen, wiping tears from her eyes.
"As do I, sweetheart, as do I." said the King as he slowly walked over and took his wife in his arms. "The children are growing up so fast nowadays. It's almost like...we can't protect them anymore." The King sighed sadly as he continued to hold his wife close to his heart, as though he never wanted to let her go.
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Nova Castle, Southern Betelgeuse Continent
Planet Sirius-Endoria
Late afternoon:
The royal spacecraft bearing the family crest of the ruling family of Polaris docked slowly on it's landing pad. A moment later, the hatch swung open, and the Grand Duchess, Lady Mercya of Polaris, made her way nervously down the plank, followed by her daughter Anja Poelaryes. Guards and advisors greeted them, and an emissary met the weary travelers and whisked them away to the Nova Palace.
At the palace, they were shown to their rooms and provided with a brief chance to clean up and relax before dinner. Lady Anja Poelaryes was having trouble relaxing through all this, however, as she walked into the large bathroom to the side of her room. As much as she tried to be excited about visiting her cousin, aunt, and uncle, she couldn't shake the tension she felt as she thought on WHY she was brought her with her mother so suddenly. I know there's something wrong. We haven't visited Uncle Marcopius in years! she thought to herself. I bet it has to do with the war- either the Meerages or the Dark Kingdom. Maybe both. I just wish I knew what my father isn't telling me.
Anja sighed, took a deep breath, stripped off her clothes, and climbed in to a warm, scented bath. The oils did help relax her a bit, and when she finished she changed in to a formal dinner gown. She hated formalities, and she especially hated gowns and dresses. She muttered something about how uncomfortable it was as she finished buttoning it. At home, I'd just wear pants like a boy... But I don't want to embarrass my father or anything... she thought worriedly. She sighed once more and she finished dressing by slipping on some gold plated shoes.
She was about to start towards the dining hall when her door burst open. "Anja!" an excited voice called. "I'm so happy to see you!" Anja looked up to see her dark-skinned cousin Tonicia standing in the doorway.
She rushed forward to her cousin and they hugged gently for what seemed like forever, each truly happy to see each other. For long moments, the two dark-skinned girls talked about old times of when they used to visit each other more, and how their lives have changed since they got older. As much as they wanted to, they couldn't stay in the room long, and soon, they knew they couldn't delay any longer and decided to get going to the dinner before they were actually summoned by their parents.
For a moment they were silent, but it was Anja that finally broke the silence, even though both girls were trying to avoid what was on their minds...the Dark Kingdom War. "How long is this stupid dinner going to take?" Anja griped as they walked toward the Dining Room together. She wished that they would give her and Tonicia some time to catch up and compare notes about what their parents were doing.
Tonicia sighed as she remembered all the events planned out after dinner for her and Anja. She never really liked the big formalities either, but it kept her parents happy, and that's what was important to her. "Probably an hour. But then there's the opera and ballet, and then we're supposed to greet the ambassador from-"
"Can't we just skip it?" Anja interrupted, pleading with her eyes. Tonicia shrugged.
"Well, I guess if you were really- oh, say tired- from traveling, our parents would let you go. And after all, you'd need someone to keep you company!" Tonicia winked, and Anja nodded and grinned.
"I sure am fatigued..." she laughed. Tonicia looked at her cousin, and getting her meaning, softly laughed along with her as both girls continued to walk down the corridor to the Dining Room.
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Nova Castle, Southern Betelgeuse Continent
Planet Sirius-Endoria
Six months later:
Tonicia squealed in excitement as she ran into her room and threw a letter at her cousin sitting on her bed. "Read, read, read!" she said. Anja chuckled at her cousin's usual display of her energetic personality, opened the letter, and read the fantastic news: Princess Serenity had invited Tonicia to her ball. "That's wonderful!" Anja exclaimed as her cousin grinned from ear to ear.
"There's more," Tonicia said, then fingered a new necklace that hung around her neck. "Look!"
"It's really nice," Anja complimented when she looked at it admirably.
"It's more than nice, it's the Sirius Emerald Star Stone!" Tonicia began to explain what that meant, and Anja's eyes almost bugged out when she heard. But before Tonicia could say more, they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Come in!" Anja and Tonicia called together. Queen Felicity and Lady Mercya entered the room. "Showing your gift to Anja?" asked Queen Felicity. Tonicia nodded with a grin.
"Want one of your own Anja?" This time the questioner was Anja's mother, Mercya.
"It would be...wonderful!" Anja replied. "But how could I? Polaris doesn't have a power source like that, does it?"
"Actually, it does," Mercya said. She handed her daughter a beautiful elaborate pink pen, with a large blue sapphire shining on top. "It was just discovered on Indem and it's already linked to you. You can't transform yet, but on our last visit to the outermost planet, we walked right past it. It picked up on your essence and somehow linked to you. Once we've had it carved and controlled, you'll be a Sailor Senshi- just like Tonicia is training to be!"
Anja's eyes grew even wider. "You're... kidding, right?" she asked as she gently held the pen. Mercya shook her head.
"And there's a little more," Felicity put in. She held up an envelope addressed to Anja. "This just arrived from Polaris. I think you're going to want to read it."
Anja accepted the letter and opened it anxiously. It read:
"To Lady Anja Poelareys, Heir to the Duchy of Polaris and it's Systems: You are cordially invited to attend the Masquerade Ball of Queen Serenity CrestMoon on August 3, 997. It would be a great honor for you to attend. Thank You."
The two girls squealed with excitement as they rushed towards each other and hugged. The mothers of the girls looked at each other and chuckled, grateful for how this had turned their young minds away the troubles of the war brewing. The girls excitedly talked about what they needed and what they would wear, and preparations were made to send them to the ball. They couldn't picture anything going wrong, but as it turned out, that was a fatal mistake, as the Dark Kingdom War became deadly real for them...
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Kennedy Airport, New York City Present Day
Anna Kendon watched the plane land outside the window, and grinned. The doorway to the plane opened, and soon, a large crowd of people made their way inside the airport waiting area after a long flight. When she went into the waiting area, Anna held up a large sign reading "TANYA CAMBRIDGE" in large black letters. She scanned the crowd for her cousin, and after a few moments spotted her.
Anna's eyes lit up as she waved and made her way towards her cousin. When Tanya saw her coming up, she giggled and they hugged for a moment, then laughed excitedly. Anna dropped the sign in a nearby trashcan when they walked on. "I'm so excited to be here!" Tanya said as they headed towards the baggage claim.
"I'm so happy you are too!" Anna agreed. She and Tanya hadn't seen each other since they were about four years old. They were cousins, Anna's mother being the only sister to Tanya's father. They looked almost like sisters. Both girls had very dark, fudge brown skin and were beautiful, but the similarities ended there; Anna was taller, about 5 feet 6 inches, and had bright green eyes and long, dark brown hair reaching past her shoulders. Tanya was much smaller at 4 feet 10 inches with dark, hazel brown eyes and jet black hair that flowed to her waist. Although they had kept in touch through phonecalls, letters, and pictures, it was still so exciting to actually SEE each other again after so long. The years just melted away, and they were instantly bonded and inseperable.
They arrived at the baggage claim, and Tanya grabbed a suitcase and a duffulbag. "Oh, and we have to pick up Marco!" she said.
"Who's that?" Anna wanted to know.
"My dog. I thought your stepmother told you about him." They made their way to a counter where they could get Marco, who was lying in a large cage looking bored. "Hey, Marco!" Tanya said as Anna handed over some money in return for help transporting Marco's cage.
The two girls chattered on their way out to the street, where Anna said they'd have to get a cab. She hadn't counted on Marco being there, but was sure they could work it out with a cabdriver. As crabby as the N.Y.C taxi drivers were, she was good at bargaining with them. Soon, one was found.
Leaving the airport and driving downtown, Tanya and Anna decided to stop for a bite to eat at one of the restaurants Anna had passed on the way to the airport. The guy hauling Marco's cage shrugged and said he'd meet them back there in half an hour. Both girls ordered a salad and sat, still chattering. "How did you like Japan?" Anna asked, remembering her own stay there two years previous.
"Oh, it was great! I made some of the best friends!" Tanya said between bites.
"I did too, when I was there. I wonder if you knew any of them? One's name was Tsukino Usagi, she had long blond ha-"
"You know Usagi-chan?" asked Tanya in surprise, almost spitting out a gulp of milk. Anna nodded, and they would have continued the conversation, except a dark bolt of lightning suddenly shot from the ceiling.
"What was THAT?" cried someone in shock. The girls looked at each other in worry as another bolt crackled in the restaurant. After that one, a bright light formed. It was impossible to look at without squinting, and even then a person could barely make out the two white eyes within it.
"Your energy is now MINE!" said a voice from the light as more lightning began to appear. Now it was zapping out of the white light and hitting innocent customers. Without saying a word, Anna and Tanya dove under their table.
"Pssst! Tanya!" a voice said. The girls looked around, only to see Marco in his carry on cage. "TANYA!" the voice said. It appeared to be coming from the dog. For a moment, both girls just stared at the cage, their brains unable to process the fact that the dog was actually talking. Actually TALKING!
To be continued...
