A/N

Two Chapter Update. RIP if you didn't read the last one.

Disclaimer: My brain is jello. Send help.


Interlude: Berthier

There was something off putting about sharing a space with the same person Berthier had been hunting for months. Even more so when that person happened to be a child. A child that, while not over talkative, did have a penchant for staring.

It hadn't bothered her much at first; Berthier had been too concerned with her sister to give the brat, and her incessant looking, much thought. Koan wasn't taking to the seal very well. Berthier had expected anger, and some degree of betrayal, but Koan showed no signs of either. She was tired and silent, barely managing to function even with Berthier's assistance. Koan had never acted like this before, she'd never been prone to melancholy. Berthier herself had been…. Well, not great, but she'd been okay after the placement of her own seal. She remembered the sadness that had plagued her after, but it hadn't affected her personality the way that it seemed to with Koan.

Every time she looked at her sister, Berthier felt like she was seeing a ghost.

There was no more fire in Koan.

Having tried everything she could think of to no avail, Berthier had left her sister to her own devices in the hopes that maybe time would help her adjust. Unfortunately, that meant she no longer had anything to distract her from one pink haired menace. Berthier sipped her tea, brow twitching against the gaze drilling into her from across the table.

"Stop that." She snapped, immediately regretting it when the child- when Rini, flinched. Under the accusing stare of Jadeite, she put a lid over her annoyance — and wasn't that a novel feeling, genuine annoyance. Berthier hadn't truly felt any such thing so fully since receiving the seal — and gently said, "It isn't nice to stare, ch- Rini. Please stop."

Thankfully, if her slip up was noticed, Rini did not mention it.

There was, apparently, only one appropriate way to refer to the Crown Princess of the Crystal Empire and anything other than the strange nickname had been deemed unacceptable. Though Berthier could not recall the child's full name for the life of her, what she did remember was that it had been uncommonly long, and that Rini wasn't part of it… probably. Honestly, her name hadn't mattered before. Berthier wasn't sure it even mattered now. It certainly did not to her, at least.

"Sorry." The kid looked down, and then back at her a moment later. Berthier shoved down the sigh forming in her throat and waited. Eventually, the child said. "You know, its just… Uhm…"

Berthier could feel her own will to live fading. How miserable. Still, with Jadeite standing guard in the same uncomfortable manner for the past two days, and her magic still recovering, Berthier did not imagine it wise to test him. She would simply have to find some patience.

Finally, Rini managed to blurt out, "You look really, really familiar."

Berthier waited, but that seemed to be all she wanted to say. Of course she was familiar. She'd been present for all three assaults against Earth, and had wandered through a fair bit of Tokyo in the twentieth century looking for Rini. It would have been more strange had they not crossed paths before Berthier's capture. Not that she could say that. Berthier pasted on a smile. "That's nice. I think I should go check on my sister. Farewell."

There, that was perfectly cordial, right?

The disbelieving glance Jadeite leveled her as she fled the room said otherwise. If he'd wanted more then he was out of luck. It well and truly was the best she could do at the moment, so Berthier wouldn't take it to heart. Her expertise was nowhere near the realms of children and she saw nothing wrong with that. Some people just weren't good with kids.

Instead of going directing across the hall to where Koan slept, Berthier found herself wandering away. The weight of the Silver Crystal bumped against her chest with every step, a constant reminder of the debt she owed.

By now the rest of the Order of Elysion would be on Nemesis, either scouting to confirm the integrity of her information, or already captured. She pushed down the anxiety threatening to choke her and found a nice quiet corner just down the hall to curl up into. Their odds of success were good. Once their presence was made known, Wiseman would insist on their capture rather than killing them outright. He'd want to get as much information out of them as possible. So long as no one riled any of the Black Moon Clan up, they would be just fine.

Even if Sailor Moon wasn't.

Berthier couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong, and that whatever was happening to Sailor Moon was also effecting Koan. The seal connected them to her, that much Berthier was sure of, so perhaps the reason her sister continued to struggle in her recovery had something to do with whatever Sailor Moon's current condition was.

"I thought I'd find you here."

She jumped, struck by Deja'Vu as the illusion of King Endymion appeared from nowhere. Berthier didn't bother to hide her disdain. "What do you want now."

His gaze shifted to her forehead. "You might not be aware of this, but the Seal of Sailor Moon is incredibly powerful. Those who have the honor to bear it go on to do great things."

"I'll take your word for it," She replied, squashing the urge to cover it. "If things don't go as planned, I doubt I'll get the chance to find out for myself."

King Endymion pondered on that. "Losing faith?"

Her laugh fell flat. "I'm not entirely sure I had much to begin with."

He was the one that sent them out to fail. Berthier knew that he couldn't have done so without a reason, that there had to be something else at play, but she was tired. Tired, and resentful, and beyond forgiveness. Her world had shifted on its axis twice in less than a month, forcing Berthier to reexamine every action she had ever taken. She simply did not have it in her to try and find whatever justification the king might have for leading them into this mess.

"…Perhaps there is something we can do for your friends then." He wanted something from her. Of course he did.

She began to say that the Order weren't her friends when an idea struck, and her mouth shut. It wasn't often that an opportunity like this presented itself. So what if this was another attempt at manipulation? Berthier would not walk into it so blindly this time, and he knew that as well. If King Endymion wanted her cooperation, then he must have something to give in return.

She stood. "You have my attention."


Interlude: Mamoru

The cabinet doors and the coffee table were still in the garage.

This heart pounding realization had no business alarming Mamoru more than the kick that just grazed past his head. Truly, his focus should be on the fight, and yet all he could think was that he hadn't picked up the wood stain, and the cabinets still needed to be sanded down — not just the doors in the garage but the whole cabinets — and Mamoru had no idea how he was going to get all of that done in time. The coffee table just needed to be stained, which was fine, but the kitchen cabinets? Those needed to be sanded and sanding took time and how could he expect Usagi to return to a partially finished kitchen?

Unacceptable. He would have to make time, somehow.

He ducked and turned away as Zoisite flipped over him and began matching Rubeus of the Black Moon Clan blow for blow. Around his the rest of the Order fought against what was beginning to feel like an endless supply of youma- er, droids. There was a distinction, though to be fair not a large one. A laugh caught Mamoru's attention, and he turned just in time to see Matsuo pick one of the droids up with a single hand and toss it at the others in ragdoll fashion. He was really enjoying the whole super strength thing, and looked to be doing well in his first battle. That was good. Usagi definitely wouldn't be mad now.

Rubeus used his distraction exactly as planned.

"Surender, or I'll take his head off." He shouted. From within the headlock he was being held in, Zoisite sent them a pleading look that was painfully fake. As the fighting halted and they allowed themselves to be captured, Mamoru's thoughts shifted to what lay ahead. He was already over it, more than ready to be thrown into a cell, to find Usagi. He spent the last couple days telling himself not to consider the worst possibility. That she was dead, that she'd been tortured for information just as the Order had previously worried. That she was in a cell, but they'd be too late and Usagi too wounded. He told himself not to, but it didn't stop him either way.

They were taken into a truly depressing castle — cold, lifeless, astonishingly bare — and Mamoru decided he could use a dose of optimism.

Usagi did not do weak, even with her back to the wall and her powers depleted. She would not cower. No, Usagi was the kind of person that grew stronger the higher the odds were against her. She thrived in such situations, as evidenced by her actions the last time she'd been on the receiving end of a kidnapping. Fighting tooth and nail, if not to escape then to face the person responsible in order to make them sorry they'd ever bothered in the first place.

She didn't like combat, but she excelled at it.

Still, Mamoru sent a prayer to the universe on her behalf. Let her be alive and intact. It didn't matter that she had turned her back on them, didn't matter what she might have revealed to the enemy in her time here. So long as she survived, he wouldn't care. Mamoru was by no means desperate, but he had the grace to acknowledge how it sounded. This wasn't the Dark Kingdom, however, and the only reason Usagi had faltered then was because her energy had been drained. She'd been here for nearly two days now, but that didn't mean anything. She'd be fine. He had so much to show she when they returned to their time. Things he should probably tell her, because by god was she dense. So Usagi had to be okay, and if she wasn't… Mamoru would figure it out. He'd help her come back from whatever horrors she had faced on Nemesis. Time did not matter. He would spend the rest of his life picking up the pieces if need be. Usagi just needed to be alive.

And she was.

Usagi was alive, and nearly unrecognizable. He tried to comprehend what he saw as each of them were forced to their knees in what could only be a throne room.

The creature before them was not, could not, be her.

Sat upon a throne, a tiara on her head and ice in her eyes, was a stranger. Mildly curious at their appearance, and beyond that, bored. The dress she wore was similar to the style of the Moon Kingdom, darker than any fabric he'd ever seen. Black Crystal adorned her ears and filled in the gaps between the diamonds of her tiara. She looked like… like the void between stars in the night sky. Capable of swallowing them whole. The man standing at her side could only be Prince Demande, who looked them over with what Mamoru suspected to be a pinch of alarm.

Her voice rang through the hall, cold and unimpressed. "So, this is the Order of Elysion."

"Indeed." Rubeus said. "We caught them sneaking through the castle."

"Oh? Interesting. How did you manage to subdue eight people?" Suspicion coated her tongue. Mamoru realized their mistake then. It was one thing to fool a man high off his previous victory. This was Usagi, and even in the state she was in, if there was one thing they could count on, it would be her depthless paranoia.

Rubeus grinned. "By employing your method, of course."

Usagi seemed to understand the reference. She shared a glance with Prince Demande, silently communicating. He stepped forward, eyeing them with clear disdain. "Well done, Rubeus. I trust none happened to escape?"

"They did their best." He boasted.

Usagi stood, seemingly appeased for the moment. "Very well. To what do we owe the honor then?"

"Oh, you know. We were in the neighborhood, thought we'd drop by." Minako said, the only one of them seemingly capable of speaking at the moment. The others were just as visibly surprised from what he could see. Thankfully, Minako excelled at improvising. "This is a lovely planet. Very… grey."

Or not.

"Uh-huh." If possible, Usagi appeared even more unimpressed. As she descended from the platform, she asked, "Well, I suppose it wouldn't be too much to hope that one of you happened to bring the Silver Crystal with you on this little endeavor?"

Minako grinned. "Afraid not."

He wasn't sure whether she was joking or trying to goad Usagi, but either way it was terrifying. Minako had a gleam in her eyes that did not bode well for anyone. Then, she had the audacity to say, "You know, you kinda look like someone I know."

On the platform, Demande shifted, taking one small step before stopping himself and glancing between Usagi and the rest of the Order. "Eclipse, try not to get too close. You need not concern yourself with such vermin."

"She must have been a great beauty then." Usagi mused, somehow managing a look at was both wicked and amused.

Eclipse.

Eclipse of the Black Moon Clan. That's what they'd told her. This was better though, wasn't it? She was okay. Usagi continued down the line, ignoring Prince Demande. She was coming upon him now, and Mamoru couldn't stop the condescending chuckle that slipped past his lips. Usagi paused, wholly unamused. The irony would be lost on her. Then their eyes met. The flinch that crossed her features was visible as she experienced exactly what he knew she would. There had always been a pull guiding them together. Even if she pretended otherwise, it was there.

"Your name is not Eclipse." He said, taking advantage of the spark that held her in place. "Your name is Usagi. You're a member of the Order of Elysion-"

"He's lying-" Prince Demande hissed, but he would not be stopped.

"You are the guardian of the moon. You're one of us."

"Yes, I know."

The hall fell into deafening silence as her words registered. Even Prince Demande failed to hide his shock. Usagi seemed to be stifling a laugh as she absorbed his reaction. "Did you think I would never find out? I am perfectly aware of my circumstances, sweet prince." She turned back to Mamoru, a cruel smile blooming. "If you came on behalf of your comrade, I regret to inform you it was in vain. Sailor Moon is no more. Prince Demande has graciously offered me both crown and kingdom; unlimited power, a place at his side, and all else I desire. Unless you're willing to hand over the Silver Crystal, which I doubt, then we have nothing further to discuss."

She didn't know what she was saying. She was still under their control. "You wouldn't be saying this if-"

"If I had access to my memories?" She laughed. "Oh dear… how embarrassing this must be for you. I had the choice to remember, and I chose to remain without those memories because I have no use for them."

"That's a lie." He spoke without thinking. Her gaze sharpened, and suddenly Mamoru felt like an ant.

"Excuse me?" She tilted her head, truly examining him now.

Beside him Matsuo shook his head. Now wasn't the time to antagonize her, Mamoru knew, but the words just seemed to fall from his mouth without care. "You hate cold weather and going to school. When your hair grows you get irritated more easily because you don't like it too long, and when it reaches past your waist you get it cut. You like homes with natural light and colors, and really old furniture. You're incredibly cheap with money and you hoard things for no reason and I know that because your desk is filled with papers you haven't needed for a while but you never got around to throwing them away. Probably because you think you'll need them. You're reckless and too cunning for your own good, and you use nicknames like they're going out of style. You are not Eclipse. This is not where you belong. Look me in the eyes and tell me I'm wrong."

Usagi leaned down, and for one wild second it seemed as though she might kiss him. Then the nails of her hand wrapped around his chin, jerking his head up until they were inches apart. "You. Are. Wrong."

Somewhere at Mamoru's right, someone burst into low laughter. From the grunt that followed, it sounded like Nephrite. Usagi dropped him, contemplating. He followed her gaze to find Rubeus standing over Nephrite, now hunched but still wearing a shit eating grin.

Then Usagi was fighting a smile of her own, glee in her eyes. "Rubeus, hit him again."

Rubeus did. This time audibly knocking the breath from him.

"Again. This time, his face."

A crack. His nose had to be broken. She turned back to Mamoru, daring him to continue.

He did not.

Nor did anyone else. It was clear that they could not reach her. This person was Usagi, and she was not. Any further attempt to get a reaction from her would end badly for them. Usagi turned her back to them, walking up the platform. Demande offered his hand at the final steps, an offer she accepted without pause. She placed a hand at his shoulder, his own wrapping around her with ease. Dryly, she remarked, "It appears we will have to alter our plans a bit."

"So it would seem." Mamoru saw his fingers tighten at her waist. He would break that hand first. Usagi rested her cheek against his shoulder. As Prince Demande called for them to be taken away, Mamoru waited. The pull had always existed. Even black magic couldn't break it. Her gaze met his, jaw tightening.

Unsettled.

She turned away.


Interlude: Ami

The dungeons of Nemesis left much to be desired.

Nemesis itself left much to be desired, if Ami was being honest. It was more than a cold, barren planet. From the moment they had arrived it felt as though her strength had muddled; a well in the process of drying up. None of them had ever experienced anything like it. She should have known then that things would not go well.

Usagi was trapped beneath their spell.

Ami didn't think Usagi lied when she said she chose not to remember. The problem was, Usagi believed that she'd had a choice to begin with, and that she had already made a decision. Ami simply didn't buy in to it; there was no reason for the Black Moon Clan to offer her that. They knew far better than the Order exactly how powerful Usagi was on course to become in the future, and she did not see a situation in which they would be stupid enough to jeopardize that kind of resource.

"I have a headache." Nephrite informed the room, his voice nasally. Stone separated the wall their cells shared, and Ami found herself grateful to be with Zoisite, Minako, Mamoru, and Makoto. Between Matsuo and Rei, she suspected that's cell's days — or minutes, as it were — to be limited.

"Yikes. I hope you weren't thinking too hard." Matsuo's voice echoed, followed by a thwack and some cursing.

Mamoru stood and moved to the front, sliding down their shared wall into a sitting position. "Do you feel dizzy or nauseous at all?"

Nephrite's tone didn't quite manage to hide the embarrassment. "I'm fine."

"We should still monitor your condition; that was quite the blow." He paused, and cleared his throat. "Kunzite..?"

"I'll keep an eye on him."

Satisfied, Mamoru turned his head to stare at the wall.

She watched him a second longer, heart clenched, before following suit. It had been clear to see for some time now that Usagi was special to him. Seeing her wrapped around their enemy, looking at them like they were strangers… that could not have been easy for Mamoru. He would be blaming himself for the strikes Nephrite received for a while to come.

The words slipped out on their own accord. Suddenly, Ami found herself in a position she never thought she'd be in. Defending Usagi. "It wasn't real. That wasn't Usagi; not really. Without her memories we can't expect much. There is no true relationship between her and Prince Demande."

He looked at her. "So you think they're together."

"I- not exactly." She grasped for the right words as his stare intensified. "There's no relationship. You can't consider it a relationship when one party is brainwashed. Usagi's not in her right mind so-"

"So he's forcing himself on her." Matsuo interjected.

Rustling sounded in the cell, followed by Kunzite's alarmed voice as he said, "Wait, Matsuo. What are you doing?"

"Channeling my anger."

"Into the cell door?"

Mamoru hoped to his feet. "Do it, Matsuo. I have complete faith in you."

Complete faith in his newfound abilities, he meant. Matsuo knew it too.

"You aren't getting the first hit in." The sound of metal creaking echoed in the room. "Or the second. Or the third."

To her left, Minako sighed. Makoto raised her voice to impart words of encouragement toward Matsuo. At their looks of dismay, she simply shrugged. "A good girlfriend supports her man. Even when it comes to violent murder."

Ami forced a laugh. "I'm sure he doesn't mean to kill him." After all, it went against everything the Order of Elysion stood for. They had learned from their encounters with the alien siblings a few weeks back that some enemies could become allies, and the ones that couldn't only needed the right motivation to keep in line. Rarely did it ever come to such extremes.

"No, I'm really gonna kill him. That's my sister he's touching."

"Don't you think that's a little extreme?" He'd done very well in controlling himself thus far, but the topic had clearly gotten to him. "I mean, even brainwashed I can't imagine anyone capable of making Usagi do anything she doesn't want to."

"Enough, Ami." Zoisite said sharply. The dungeon quieted just then, even the sound of warping metal having ceased. He had never spoken to her that way before. Zoisite used sly quips and underlying threats when annoyed; barbed words delivered softly with the same blasé smile. In the dim light, however, what she saw was an expression that matched his hardened tone. He did not look at her, at any of them. "Someone that has never experienced what its like to live under mind control has no right to make assumptions. You understand neither the horror nor the toll. The only reason you feel justified in saying what you just did is because it's Usagi."

She looked away, throat tightening.

Ami did not like Usagi. It was incredibly difficult to not hate her, but Ami had managed to live with dislike. Tolerance and civility because they worked together, and basic common decency because Ami believed most people deserved at least that. She did not treat Usagi with open distaste or hostility. Sometimes during a moment of brilliance on the other girl's end Ami found herself almost enjoying the addition. However, there were things she had done — actions she continued to take — that made it impossible for Ami stay indifferent.

Usagi broke things, and sometimes she apologized. Sometimes, she vowed to do better. Not once did she ever explain herself though. Even when she knew what the consequences would be, even when she knew others would suffer for it, Usagi did not stop. Confronting her only proved what Ami already knew. Regardless of the pain caused, she did not think she owed them anything beyond an apology.

There was no need to explain your actions when you answered to no one.

She folded her hands together. "I'm sorry. I did not mean to make light of what's happened to Usagi. What I was trying to say is that Usagi has an incredibly strong will; so much so that its hard to imagine she would allow herself to be ordered around. We cannot know for certain, of course. I only wish to point out that she does not seem to be suffering greatly."

Before anyone could answer, the echo of footsteps reached their ears. Just moments later someone appeared through the archway. Midnight blue hair, pale skin, and a military jacket. Based on Berthier's description, this was the brother of Prince Demande, Saphir. She'd seen him earlier, but he hadn't said a word, watching the drama unfold almost blankly.

Hands in his pockets, he observed them for a moment before addressing Minako. "You are Commander Venus, yes?"

Minako cocked her head. "I suppose I am. Sailor Venus is fine, Prince…?"

"Saphir." His gaze narrowed. "Though I'm sure you already knew that, as well as the fact that I bear no title."

"Indeed." She grinned, and it was not kind. "So, Saphir; what brings you all the way to the dungeons? Finally had enough of dear old Sailor Moon?"

"If I was, would the Order of Elysion care to do something about it?"

"…Pardon?"

He pulled a hand out of his pocket. Hanging off his pointer finger, an old ring of keys jingled. "Are you capable of taking her back to the Crystal Palace?"

Minako shifted, sending Ami a dumbfounded glace that she returned. Whatever they'd expected, it certainly wasn't this. Tentatively, Minako asked, "You want… to give her back?"

A snort sounded from the other cell. Almost too quietly for her to hear, Rei muttered, "Trust Usagi to be too much for her kidnappers."

Matsuo laughed. "Yeah, that checks out."

There was a moment of startled silence. It had been sometime since they had last heard him laugh. Matsuo hadn't defended or condemned Usagi for her actions in all their arguing back home. He simply wanted his family back.

Saphir of the Black Moon Clan glanced at the other cell just as everyone seemed to recall its undoubtedly warped state. Someone coughed. Matsuo said, "The door was like that when we got here."

He ignored the door, likely for his own mental health, and said, "The Black Crystal on her person must be destroyed before anything else. I doubt doing so will restore her memories, but it will give you an advantage at the very least."

Ami examined him more closely, only partially listening as he described the way to Usagi's bedchambers.

The Order had encountered most, if not all, of the Black Moon Clan. Descriptions, abilities, any information they were able to gather had been added to the supercomputer by Ami herself, and she remembered the details. Berthier had been useful in filling in certain details they hadn't been aware of, but it seemed the ice user had missed one important detail.

Saphir of the Black Moon Clan wore no gems on his person.

After a second of deliberation, she interjected. "Why are you doing this?"

What was it that he stood to gain from Usagi's removal?

"No," She corrected herself, "Rather than why, we should be phrasing the question a bit differently. Isn't that right?" Head cocked, she glanced toward the staircase and the castle beyond, where the subject of their conversation was no doubt enjoying the comforts of her new status. Saphir's silence was an answer itself. "So, what exactly did Usagi do to make you so desperate to be rid of her?"

Though his expression did not so much as twitch, something assessing entered his gaze. After a moment of deliberation, Saphir said, "She was able to kill our sage. Held down, unable to fight, Sailor Moon should have fallen. She should have lost herself under the force of Wiseman's shadow abilities the very moment he entered her mind. I have never trusted Wiseman; his greed for power has brought our organization far, but not without a price. I knew that I would never be able to take him on alone, so I resolved to watch and wait for the day my suspicions were proved true. When he cast his magic over the Destroyer I began to fear for the future. With her loyalty and the Black Crystal Wiseman would have won himself an extraordinary advantage. We should have known better. He was no match for her, and though his spell remains, she devoured his power whole."

"That should be good for you then, should it?" With Usagi still under the influence of the Black Crystal, and therefore on their side, the enemy had a distinct advantage.

"Eclipse's loyalty lies with herself. My brother either cannot see it for himself or doesn't care. His infatuation with her will result in a catastrophic end for us all if it continues." Saphir unhook the keys from his waist. "Eclipse has already been to the source of Nemesis, and consumed its energy. This planet is her playground now, understand? If you find yourselves unable to capture her before her guard is back up, then you must flee. Do not attempt to fight her. She seeks the Silver Crystal; should you fail, your best option is to escape. Lure her to Earth."

"Where we will have the advantage." Minako surmised. She slipped a hand past the bars, receiving the keys. "How long should we wait?"

"An hour or so." Saphir turned away, wishing them luck before disappearing up the staircase. They'd been down here for about an hour already. That left them enough time to formulate a plan.

Matsuo took the cell door off its hinges and sidled on over, oddly cheerful. "I'm going to enjoy this."


Interlude: Eclipse

He made his appearance just as the servants cleared the remains of her dinner from the table. Stirring the final dregs of tea in the cup before her, Eclipse followed the droids movements with her gaze, aware of the stare burning into her. She was getting better at working the senses from the Black Crystal. Eclipse could feel them more vividly now, each presence connected to the Black Crystal a moving beacon, their emotions a tangled thread tethered to herself. She'd spent a bit sensing individual people before dinner, trying to make sense of where each person was and what emotion belonged to who with little varying degrees of success.

When Demande had stepped into the corridor leading to her chambers, she sensed him. Her range needed work.

The droids headed toward the door. From her peripheral vision Eclipse watched her guest step aside to allow the humanoid servants escape. Only when the door clicked shut did she raise her head and acknowledge him. Eclipse blinked once — the only sign of surprise she allowed to show — and took in his appearance.

The jacket of his suit had been left unbuttoned, revealing a loose, midnight blue undershirt tucked into trousers; a neckline that dipped to reveal collarbone and a teasing glance of defined muscle. The tips of his hair were damp, and his skin appeared flushed with color as though he had just come from the bath.

Though his voice remained polite, there was a touch of mischief to Demande as he greeted her. "Hello, queen."

Eclipse raised a brow, and took a sip from the teacup, its contents no longer warm. "What brings you to my chambers, prince?"

"I simply thought to check in with you regarding today's… events." He strolled forward and settled into the chair across from her. "I do apologize if I'm intruding."

"Oh? How odd. Your actions suggest otherwise." Still, she wouldn't push the matter. Demande hadn't come for such lighthearted reasons; she sensed his wariness through the earrings he wore. He was here to test her, to see if their uninvited guests had affected her. What he didn't understand was that Eclipse had already concluded the situation for the most part. Though she wouldn't deny the one with the pretty blue eyes had bothered her, the Order of Elysion as a whole meant nothing to her. So long as they stayed out of her way she was inclined to remain indifferent. "I do wonder how many more intrusions I might expect this evening. Perhaps Rubeus will come and tell us Nemesis in on course to crash into the sun."

Demande smirked. "I assure you such a thing would never happen."

"Of course." She waved a hand leisurely. "As you can see, I am perfectly fine."

"Yes." He was quiet for a moment. "…Did you ever intend to tell me?"

There it was. Eclipse considered him. "Perhaps, if the day came when you decided to tell me yourself."

"You never asked. I knew you would notice something wrong with your memory but…"

"But I did not bring it up." She returned his assessing look with a raised brow. "If you must know, it is because I did not care enough to do so. I meant what I said, Demande. I have no desire to return to Sailor Moon and our prisoners."

"And why is that?" His gaze smoldered.

Eclipse hummed and changed the subject. "Have you considered how you shall proceed once the Silver Crystal is ours?"

"I will go on exactly as planned, of course. Conquer Earth, travel back to the Crystal Empire's founding, and rewrite history. I still seek to release the galaxy of their tyrannical rule."

"And after?"

"After…" He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. "I'll rule Earth as its savior."

It was the certainty with which he said it that sparked her irritation. The sound that left her fell somewhere between a scoff and laughter; short and condescending. When he furrowed his brow, affronted, Eclipse could no longer hold back. "You wiped out the human race and turned your home planet into a lifeless wasteland, Demande. That is not an act of bravery against a tyrant. If they had to die in order to be saved, then you are an executioner, not a savior. Returning to the past will not absolve you of these atrocities."

She didn't know whether to be astounded by the delusions of grandeur or annoyed by his obliviousness, both of which he clung to with the ferocity of a toddler hiding behind their mother's skirts.

His jaw clenched and unclenched. "I see nothing to be repentant of. I am no coward yet you dare to accuse me of fleeing to the twentieth century out of shame for what I have done. You mistake me for a weaker man; I am not looking to be absolved."

"Aren't you? My apologies. Then tell me, how do you intend to unite the different people of Earth? What shall you do if they refuse to accept you as their ruler?" She did not give him time to answer. "Will you end them for their insolence, and if so, how many heads shall roll before you are satisfied? At what point do you draw the line? If a man denies your reign, as will his offspring; are you capable of ending the life of a child that would not have known better?"

"I would offer the child a second chance to-"

"Children cannot be reasoned with, sweet prince." Eclipse straightened in her seat, leveling him a hard stare. "You just killed the boy's father. The only reason a child would kneel after that is to prepare a dagger for the moment you turn your back. Can you end that child's life?"

"Yes." There was hesitation in his gaze.

"No… I do not think you could. The Black Moon Clan has ended the lives of millions of children and infants with the power of the Black Crystal; however, you did so from the comfort of your ship, in one fell swoop. It is an entirely different matter to go one by one, face to face with the person you are about to end." He did not see it, seated so high up on that pedestal of his; the ruthlessness needed in order to end life after life and not crumble. This was a boy playing at being a prince of darkness. One that had yet to taste the repercussions of his role. "You were a child yourself during the rebellions on Earth; this experience has shaped you into who you are today, Demande, and yet somehow you learned nothing from it. To travel to the twentieth century as you are now… that would be foolish. I will not pretend to understand your desire to rule. Do so if it pleases you; it is of no importance to me how much blood stains your hands. However, do not call yourself a savior and proclaim the righteousness of your actions in my presence."

Demande moved to speak and stopped. He looked at her for a good minute before finding his words. "Eclipse, you speak as though this has nothing to do with you."

"Indeed." In one fluid motion she stood from the table and looked down at him. "I have neither the appetite nor the patience to rule an entire planet of people, let alone a galaxy. That is your dream. All I wish for is the power to stand above the rest; I never said anything about using it. Conquering sounds like a pleasant enough game, but paired with the intent to rule? You will find yourself shackled with endless responsibility. With sentience comes idiocy, and I can think of nothing worse than wasting away whilst being forced to deal with such fools for years on end."

He stood as well, straightening to his full height to gaze down at her with a shadowed expression. "So you intend to abandon me then, once we have the Silver Crystal."

"Not abandon, sweet prince. I have no quarrel with Earth, and I doubt you would be pleased to have me finish that battle for you; it is your victory to claim, no? Only when the Silver Crystal is in our possession and the Black Moon Clan has traveled back to wherever you wish will I leave. Consider it a long holiday if you must — I shall require a ship, I suppose — and while I am gone you will be free to enslave Earth to your heart's content. Build a palace for me if you find yourself bored. I cannot say how long I may be gone; I do not believe I've ever traveled beyond this galaxy." She'd been juggling the idea all day. It was better than staying to get caught up in the mess they were inevitably to finds themselves in.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because you are a fool." Eclipse snapped. She was at the end of her rope. "You resent Queen Selene and the effects of her reign. You view yourself as superior and yet the tactics you have and will continue to employ has caused far more suffering than hers ever did. You are not better, Demande, and I have no doubt that deep down part of you realizes this. The path you tread will not lead you to the future you so crave. Change your way of thinking or be content to dwell in the despair of your own making. I will not bear witness to your descent."

He slammed a palm to the table. "What would you have me do then? Surrender and accept my punishment? Perhaps the Black Moon Clan has erred on the road to seeing its goals realized; as has the Order of Elysion. No dynasty is built on the good intentions and well wishes of those in charge and the Crystal Empire was no exception. It rose on the crumbling remains of the era before it, as every era has for millennia. Even the Moon Kingdom shed its fair amount of blood in order to make its mark." Demande came forward, until they were a mere foot apart. The anger in his voice sizzled, softening as he lifted a knuckle to sweep across her cheek. "What must I do to satisfy you, Eclipse? I would sooner die than surrender to those savages in the dungeons. What will it take for you to see me as favorably as you do them?"

"I do not look upon them in any such way."

"Then why condemn me and not them?"

"You vowed to give me all that I desire." She murmured. She didn't want to watch him fail. Eclipse found the thought painful the more she lingered on it, and so she had tried to let it go. She had tried to tell herself to leave him be, but her treacherous mind had refused to. "Beyond the Silver Crystal, there is only one thing I want, and it is for you to listen. I am not condemning your dreams, Demande. I only mean to show you the realities of this goal you want to achieve. With the Silver Crystal, I could reverse what was done to Earth. Why not kill Queen Selene and the rest of her court, fix Earth, and travel to the past without that burden on your shoulders? A leader should always consider their options before setting course. Only you may decide what kind of ruler you wish to be."

"You would… do that for me?"

"Yes, if you asked."

Groaning softly, he buried his face into the crook of her neck. One of his arms came up, fingers threading through her hair as she steadied herself with a hand to his chest.

She did not believe in destiny. She did not believe in soulmates, and even if she had, Demande was neither of those things. Eclipse had known from the very first moment their eyes had met. Demande was not her soulmate, her future, her other half. He was like her. Hungry, defiant, unwilling to settle, unyielding in their desires.

Beasts of a similar nature.

"Eclipse…" The heat of his breath danced along her neck as his nose trailed up, up, up. Teasing the edge of her jaw before coming to a pause at her ear. Her eyes fluttered shut. "Will you not allow a dying man even a drop of water?"

Her hand slid up his chest, curving past collarbone to grip the back of his neck. Eclipse tilted her face towards him, and he followed suit. Her heart pounded in anticipation as they brushed noses. Greed seized her once more. "What am I to you, Demande?"

"You are an oasis, My Queen." Demande said wistfully. Fingertips traced leisurely down her spine, stopping at the small of her back only to press Eclipse closer. "You are an oasis, and I a poor, dying man delirious with thirst. Waiting for as long as I must until you allow me in."

"Perhaps I shall simply watch you perish."

She did not back away, or release her hold, and Demande moved no further. With every breath the fabric of her bodice grazed against his loose undershirt. Something in her ached at the rumble in his voice as Demande murmured, "How cruel you treat me."

Only a few centimeters away. They would stay like this until one of them broke, and it would not be him. He would not have it any other way; his terms, but her action. A challenge.

Eclipse suddenly found that her hunger had not quite been quenched.

She leaned forward-

The door burst open, hitting stone wall hard enough to reverberate through the room. A prisoner stood half in the room, panting. The one with those eyes. His gaze locked on the hand at her back, the lack of space between them, before landing squarely on Demande. "You bastard."

Suddenly, he was on the floor at her feet, arm drawn back and Demande beneath him.

A sickening crack sounded as fist met flesh.


A/N

After two months of hellish writing, I made the brave decision to not lay down on the floor and cry, and instead split this monstrosity into two chapters. Hopefully someone out there enjoyed this, because I'm going to need to preform an exorcism on my computer after all the bad energy I've poured into it.

These chapters don't meet my expectations in the slightest, and I've come to terms with that. We have two chapters left and then this arc will be done and I can move on with the rewrite I've so desperately craved to do!

Both chapters are 85% written, so I'm expecting them to be out within the next ten days or so, and I will be posting them together so watch out for another double update!

Thoughts? Questions?

Please Review!