Author's Note: Thank you so much with your patience on all of this. Been a bit of a crazy past few months with work and life and everything, I just haven't had the time (or the desire) to write. Didn't mean to leave y'all hanging. Hopefully we're back on the horse and can finish this story :)
D Point, Modern Day
Beryl's nails clicked along her gilded chair.
In front of her was Nephrite, bowing his head in contrition. He and Mamoru had failed, yet again, to deliver any meaningful energy. At this rate, it would take years to restore Metalia and even longer for Beryl to take her rightful place on the throne as Queen of Earth, and with each passing minute, her patience waivered.
Frustrated didn't even begin to describe it. She was borderline apoplectic. Each night she dreamed of ringing someone's neck, namely the foolish generals she had for some reason opted to revive. While they had served her well in the Silver Millennium, they were only inhibiting her from achieving her ultimate goal now.
"My queen," Nephrite said softly, a hint of annoyance in his voice. Beryl grimaced. "You have to understand, the youmas, they–"
"I don't want to hear about the youmas, Nephrite," Beryl interjected. Nephrite tilted his head up, his eyes full of fury. "It's not the youmas' fault that you're incompetent."
"You're not listening to me," he pressed. "Something is wrong with them, they're not—"
"Perhaps they aren't being obedient because they have no respect for you." Beryl gripped the armrest, her nails digging in further. "Your fundamental lack of leadership is astounding."
Nephrite bit his tongue. He wasn't a fool. He was more strategic than Jadeite, more independent than Zoisite and far more skeptical than the dutiful Kunzite. She hid her true motivations behind a sheet of cellophane, and while the others were blissfully ignorant to it, he was not, which made pressing her on this matter particularly dangerous. But she needed to understand. The youma at the talent show went rogue. It bolted out of nowhere, ruining any chance he and Mamoru had at an ambush.
It would've been one thing if this was an isolated event, but it was no coincidence that Jadeite's demise came at the hands of a rogue youma only weeks before Nephrite's youmas started disobeying orders. This was made by design.
"You're a promising young soldier, Nephrite, and in my new world order, you will be rewarded greatly." Beryl pierced him with her eyes. "That is, if you are successful."
Nephrite wanted to snap back, but thought better of it. "Yes, my queen."
"Remember." Beryl smirked. "Once we have the Silver Millennium Crystal, we will be able to return to our former glory. All will be righted once we best Sailor Moon and once Endymion and I take the crown."
The image of Mamoru sitting in the diner with the blonde haired girl danced in Nephrite's mind. Back on the Earth Kingdom, Endymion didn't want Beryl, what made her think he wanted her now? A slurry of insults danced on Nephrite's tongue but he held back, instead bowing deeply before receding into the shadows of the dark palace.
Nephrite's eyes didn't leave the floor as he slogged back to his temporary quarters. How he longed for his old apartment that overlooked the park, his coffee table filled with pictures of the cosmos and maps of the stars. What he would do, he thought, to go back in time and choose not to follow Beryl.
"Daydreaming again, are we?"
Zoisite's arms were crossed against his svelte chest, a shit-eating grin splattered on his face. He delighted in Nephrite's failures, and surely word of the talent show debacle had already made its way to Kunzite. If Kunzite knew, then Zoisite was already more than informed.
"Plotting my next attack, which is precisely what you should be doing," Nephrite snapped. Without giving Zoisite a second glance, he stormed past.
"You know, Nephrite, a few more failures and your fate is going to be just like Jadeite's." Zoisite whipped his head over his shoulder. "You should take this more seriously."
That stopped Nephrite straight in his tracks. He scowled. "More seriously?"
Zoisite's smug smile grew. "Some of us understand how important this mission is to the Kingdom."
Zoisite had always been naive, but this was beyond. Did he not see that they were all on the same team? Did he not understand failure for one meant failure for all? All of their fates were tied to Beryl's plot. She mowed down whomever disappointed her, and no one–besides Mamoru–was beyond reproach.
One day it would be Zoisite's turn to fall, because surely Nephrite wasn't long for this world.
"I pity you, you know," Nephrite said quietly. Zoisite was rendered speechless, his jaw clamping shut before Nephrite turned on his heel.
"Do you remember what the Earth Kingdom was like?"
Mamoru and Nephrite were standing outside Juban Junior High School watching the flurry of students crowding amongst themselves, their chatter rising above the masses in shrill whoops and giggles. The energy was palpable.
"What do you mean?" Nephrite replied coolly. Mamoru shrugged.
"I don't know." He shoved his hands in his pocket. "I don't really remember much from that time anymore."
To be honest, Nephrite didn't either. To him, the memories came back in tiny pieces, little bread crumbs sprinkled along his mind that led him in the vaguest of directions. He remembered the smell of the gardens at night and the brilliance of the stars. He also remembered that eclipse–the very one that triggered his interest in the world beyond planet Earth.
There were bad memories, too: Of dismembered limbs littering the battlefield, streams of blood on white tile and of the pure, seething rage he felt seeing his brothers in arms struck down. But other than that, he couldn't recall his life during the Silver Millennium.
"What do you want to know?" Nephrite asked. Mamoru shrugged again.
"I don't know." His eyebrows curved. "Like, why did we get in that fight in the first place. What caused the Moon Kingdom to attack us?"
Nephrite paused. His immediate reaction was to say a line he had heard only one million times in the past few weeks: They wanted more power and betrayed the Earth Kingdom with the Silver Millennium Crystal. But something stopped him. Was that the truth? He tried to go back in time and walk through the hollow memories of the palace. He pictured himself standing there amongst the marble and the tapestries, the king's joyful face smiling as he sat on the throne.
One memory was just out of reach. He felt it swirling around and tried to capture it: Something was right there. The sun was breaking over the horizon, men were shuffling around anxiously, the prince had tears streaming down his face. A body on the throne was slumped over, the man's face shielded from Nephrite's view. All down his white tunic was deep and rich red blood, and a single red rose lay at his feet.
"Nephrite?" Mamoru reached out to touch his friend on the shoulder, Nephrite slapped his hand away.
A chill shot down Nephrite's spine. "I don't remember life in the Earth Kingdom," he said curtly. It was true. He didn't, at least not exactly. Before Mamoru had a chance to respond, three girls were making their way through the crowd. It was Usagi flanked by Naru and a blue haired girl he had seen around town. Nephrite plastered on a smile.
"Girls!" He extended his arms to greet them. A brilliance sparkled in Naru's eyes and immediately Usagi shot Nephrite a menacing look.
"Hi Masato." Naru clasped her hands around the spine of a composition notebook and did her best to flutter her doe eyes. Nephrite's grin widened. "How fantastic it is that you're sponsoring this showcase."
Nephrite's plans were never that sophisticated, and that was by design. Whereas Jadeite schemed to extract bits and pieces of energy from unsuspecting masses, Nephrite wanted to focus his sights on one person at a time. If the talent show had gone as planned, he would've plucked energy from each contestant one by one.
This showcase was a much more refined plot. The star students of various disciplines were called upon to do what they do best, under the guise they might receive a scholarship from the coffers of one philanthropic Masato Sanjouin. All of those entered were vetted by a panel of teachers and school leaders, and all would have a private audience with Sanjouin to vie for his money.
It was an easy sell to Juban's administrators–and it helped that he had dark magic by his side. After the talent show, he entranced the well-meaning adults, telling them it was a tragedy their program was cut short by malefic forces. Why not let him sponsor an exhibition? Why not let him and his team–two youmas disguised as business women–select five lucky students for scholarship?
Naru lifted her notebook up. "I'm in the composition competition." She beamed. Nephrite examined her closely, causing her to blush.
"What is it you write?" Nephrite's finger grazed the spine of the outstretched notebook. Naru's entire body locked up.
"I…" She stammered. "I…I write…short stories."
"I see." He gently took the book from her hand. She was a budding young woman, someone with scores of energy that practically poured out of her whenever she was within striking distance.
Nephrite noticed it the moment he met her. He was casing a tennis match when he quite literally ran into her. From first glance, she was bursting at the seams with this unbridled vibration, one he had never experienced before. Time and time again she fell right into his lap–always saved by Sailor Moon–and yet, every time they met once more, she was back brighter than ever. The aura that danced around her was pure and strong, distinct from all the others–especially when she was near him.
He wanted to take it from her by any means necessary.
"We've been asked to read a five minute passage to you," she said, her voice breathless. From behind her, Usagi rolled her eyes. "I just hope you're impressed by what I've written."
Nephrite didn't care what was on the page. All he cared about was getting her alone and sucking her dry–just like all the other students lined up for this bogus prize. But he was especially excited for her and the insatiable lightness of her energy.
"I look forward to it." He gently placed the notebook back into Naru's outstretched hands and smiled. Usagi grimaced and narrowed her eyes, her lips parting to say something. Before she could speak, the blue haired girl interjected.
"And I'm in the math competition," she said quickly. Her gaze was inordinately strong; It made Nephrite uncomfortable. "Ami Mizuno." She outstretched her hand but Nephrite didn't take it. Mamoru coughed gently, indicating the two of them should go. Nephrite nodded.
"Well girls, I think it's time for my first scholarship appointment." Nephrite adjusted his suit jacket and strutted forward. Naru let out a sigh while Usagi shot him a menacing look. "I'll be seeing you after lunch, Naru."
–
The students came in groups of five. Each stood there, presenting their case as to why they should be the student selected. Some simply gave their resume–the math students, for example, listed off their accomplishments and answered a few mundane math equations–while others presented their backbreaking work.
It was exciting, in some ways, even to Nephrite. While bitter and jaded thanks to Beryl, he once was a scientist. He enjoyed hearing the students regale him with their mathematical conquests or their latest scientific theories. He enjoyed hearing the music group play short songs on their pianos or violins, and he especially liked the theatrical orations and monologues.
One student was selected from each group. Nephrite tried his best to pick them solely on their merits, but it was clear which students possessed the most energy. In the math group, a bespectacled boy was clearly outshined by Ami, but he far outmatched her energy.
Now, he was slumped in the back closet with the three other champions, sucked dry of every last drop of energy.
The final group for the day made their way in, their bodies tight and at full attention. Naru was on the furthest side. She tried her best to put on a poker face, her eyes fixated on anything else but Masato. Inside her chest, her heart rattled against her rib cage: Part nerves for the chance to win a real scholarship–something an average student like her could only dream of–but part excitement to read something so emotional to the man with whom she had come to adore.
Yes, he was much older than her. Yes, it was never going to work–not really, anyway. But he was so handsome and kind. He was always setting up things at the school for kids, a true man of charity and scholastic achievement. People whispered around the neighborhood about Masato's vast wealth, all accumulated through his ingenious inventions that helped people around the world.
If only she was a bit older. Then maybe…
The first student started his original piece. A coming of age tale about a boy fighting against the wishes of his strict parents. Then a raven haired girl stepped forward with her story about a princess who flees an arranged marriage for the love of a peasant in her village. Then an imaginative tale about the yakuza, one about a magic land where animals can talk, until finally it was Naru's turn to speak.
Nephrite already knew she was going to win. Her energy had beckoned him for weeks now, and finally he was going to get his uninterrupted moment to take it from her. So he sat back at ease when she lifted her notebook up and took a deep breath.
"Once, a long, long time ago, there was a princess who lived on the Moon."
Nephrite's ears went hot and his eyes wide.
"She was beautiful, this princess. Her hair was silky and the color of the sun, and her heart was full of warmth and kindness. And although she had a perfect life in her Moon Kingdom, she longed for something more. She wanted to find love, and not just any kind of love: True, passionate and deep love. So imagine her surprise when she found it with the least likely of heroes–the Prince of Earth."
Was he hearing this correctly? He sat up straight, digging his elbows into the table and careening his head forward. Despite the students watching him with a nervous curiosity, Nephrite did nothing to hide his sharp interest.
Naru, too, noticed, and stumbled over her words. She found her place once more and continued, telling the tale of two warring worlds, of a love so pure and true. Flashbacks hit Nephrite at a million miles an hour, but his mind oscillated around just one: The image of the man dead in his throne.
Could it be that she was from that time too? Was that why her energy was so palpable? He thought it was simply because she was a teenage girl experiencing unrequited love, but now he wasn't so sure. His mind traced back to all the times he had seen her before, and each ended the exact same way. Just as a youma was getting the upper hand, Sailor Moon showed up.
Sailor Moon. The guardian of the Moon. Did Naru know her? Was she…reincarnated just like he was?
"With the tip of his blade, she impaled herself in front of her love," Naru continued, her voice shaking just slightly. "For life was not worth living for the Moon Princess without her prince standing at her side."
Naru gently lowered the notebook and surveyed the room. Her story wasn't the best in terms of composition, but it had clearly drawn the undivided attention of the others. Nephrite took a deep and steadying breath, his mind racing over the possibility that standing in front of him was someone from his time, someone who knew his greatest enemy on a personal level.
"I think it's clear who the winner is here," Nephrite said before clearing his throat. "Naru, that was an incredible story."
A cacophony of claps and congratulations filled the room before one of the youmas in disguise got up and instructed the others to exit. Nephrite's eyes never left Naru. Her story had practically ripped a page out of his memory, except, perhaps for the ending.
He shuddered. His memories of the Silver Millennium flickered in and out, coming and going with no real rhyme or reason. He was positive her face was part of his past, but he could never be sure. The first day he met her, he felt that vibration of energy. Maybe it was like calling to like, two reincarnated souls lost in this new world searching for familiarity. And, even stranger, she always had such close proximity to Sailor Moon. Was she one of her soldiers?
Would Sailor Moon be so naive to fall into a trap like this? Or was this her plan all along? He tried to stifle his look of concern, plastering on his fake smile as Naru stood there in anticipation.
"What a lovely story, Naru, really." He stood up and clasped his hands together. "So creative. I have to ask, what was your inspiration?"
He circled around the table before stopping right before Naru. She was so close she could smell his cologne.
"Well," she said quietly. "I was reading a lot of mythology, you see. And there's this story about the Moon Princess coming to Earth. And, well, I thought it might be fun to make it a little more Shakespearian, you know?"
Nephrite nodded. He studied her face. Was she telling a lie?
When Nephrite remained silent, she started again. "I know it's romantic." Her face went flush. "And maybe not appropriate for my age–"
"No," Nephrite interjected. He stood in front of her and gripped her shoulders and she let out a gasp. "It was perfect."
This is it, she thought, her heart pounding and her stomach flipping over and over. Masato. He really likes me.
"So tell me Naru." Nephrite dragged a thumb across the sharp edge of her shoulder. "Who is Sailor Moon?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Sailor Moon." He pressed harder. This was not a seductive touch. She was locked into his grip and there was no escaping. Suddenly, her skin went from burning flame to ice. What did he intend to do with her?
"I…" She stammered, her eyes darting toward the door. "I…don't know Sailor Moon, I mean, I know her but I don't know her personally, I guess."
"Don't lie to me." Nephrite's gaze darkened. "Tell me the truth. That story–there's only one way you could've known it."
"My story?" Naru gasped. "What do you mean?"
Nephrite clasped Naru's neck. She gurgled underneath the pressure of his grip as he lifted her up off the floor. She clawed at his hands, but it was no use. Suddenly, the devastatingly handsome Masato became dark and ominous, a purple glow billowing around him. She wanted to close her eyes and scream, but all she could manage was a pitiful yelp.
"I know you know!" Nephrite shouted. "Who is she?!"
Nephrite hadn't meant to become so frantic, but between his litany of failures and the growing angst Beryl had for him, he was beginning to lose grip on reality. Masato would've never done this to anyone–let alone a young girl. The man standing here, though, was Nephrite; a general of battle, a harbinger of chaos.
Just then, the door creaked open.
"Naru?"
A swath of blue hair poked through, and when her eyes connected with Nephrite's, she audibly gasped. It was Ami, one of the math champions. She must've waited for Naru to be done, as the math and the fiction group were back-to-back. Nephrite dropped Naru and she crashed to the floor sucking in air and howling in pain. Despite the scene, Ami did not budge.
"What are you doing?" Ami's nostrils flared. "What did you do to her?"
Nephrite only had one option. The nuclear option, he thought, the one that was the messiest.
"Guess I'll be taking your energy too."
In a flash, the youmas stood up and revealed their true form. Gone were their secretarial outfits, instead their skin was made of a shiny jade green material and their eyes were bloodshot red. They clamored over the table and across the room, lunging at Ami who instinctively crossed her arms to protect her face.
At first he thought she did it out of instinct, then he saw the light. It protruded from her, encasing her in a bright white bubble that glittered with mist. Small crystals of ice splintered off it, glistening in the glow around her until it shook off. As soon as the first youma reached her and drove its arm toward her throat, the light refracted once more and jolted the youma straight back into the opposing wall. The other–not too far behind–did the same thing.
She uncrossed her arms and stared at Nephrite. Behind her eyes was fear–not the fear of being hurt, the fear of being caught.
"How did you do that?" Nephrite hissed, stepping over Naru. Ami shifted backward until she hit the wall.
"I'm not afraid of you," she said softly.
"That is not what I asked," he said, his voice sharp.
"I knew you were up to no good." Ami stood up straight. "I knew something was off about you."
That power…he had seen it before. It was the same penetrating light that Sailor Moon used, though this was slightly different. He extended his arms at his sides, conjuring the dark, malevolent power Beryl had gifted him and started drawing light of his own. It pulsated in his hand as he lifted it up toward her, inching closer and closer until he was standing straight in front of her.
Ami was no normal girl, of that he was sure. But was she Sailor Moon? Or was she something different…
"Stop right there!"
In the doorway, she stood. Her long ribbon-like hair hung at her sides, and behind her stood Sailor Mars. The two looked verifiably pissed. Nephrite, too, felt his blood boiling beneath his skin. Neither Naru or Ami were Sailor Moon, and now his cover as Masato was blown. He would need to adopt an entirely new identity to complete Beryl's bidding, or–worse–admit to Beryl that his plans had all evaporated.
That wasn't going to work. The moment she discovered Nephrite's miscalculation, she would punish him in the worst way possible. This was the end of the road for him, and he knew it, but he wasn't going down without a fight.