Moon
The Prince of Hope
Midoriya Izuku - Elpis (personification of hope)
Uraraka Ochako - Asteria (titaness of the falling stars)
Tsukino Usagi - Serenity, Eirene (personification of peace)
Prince Elpis of Silver Millennium wasn't Queen Serenity's son by birth. It was common knowledge among the Lunarians that the green-haired small boy that accompanied the Queen in her perilous trip and called her "mother" was the child of her lost spouse with his first wife.
Still, the fact the Queen showed to love so much a child that was not hers by blood gave the Royals of the would-be Silver Millennium reasons to believe in her good heart.
Not that it was hard to love the small cadet Prince, who was gentle, soft and kindhearted, a bright boy, thin but healthy, with the most wonderful of smiles. He revealed a quick, active mind growing up and a boundless curiosity that was going to be equal only to his sister's.
Before the Queen allowed for her baby star, Princess Eirene Serenity, to be born, she had taken care of most the troubles in the previously shaky alliance within the Solar System. Her presence, unlike that of several malicious creatures that came from both outside and inside, made a pacifier and a means of union for eight of the nine Planets.
The great exception was Earth.
People of Earth were, by common opinion, too backwards in comparison to the other Planets: they barely had a Royal House who kept the noblemen in line, they lacked the means to travel from world to world on their own and, most importantly, their citizens didn't have peculiar powers known as unicities.
On Earth's side, the ones from the other Planets were scary, voices of immortality and ability to survive extreme situations marked the "aliens" for them, not to mention their own lack of power was reason to concern if, at any time, they decided to attack the richer Earth for its undeniable variety of resources.
While it was true some of the other eight Planets were about to become inhospitable, their armies had been too busy dealing with the frequent attacks from the various satellites and dwarf Planets, where beings of darkness frequently found refuge, to decide any attack on the tiny blue Planet.
With the arrival of Queen Serenity and her people, the Eight Royal families were in presence of a being who disposed of immense power, the Silver Crystal, and was able to seal away or destroy the majority of those creatures. As such, making her the mediator between them first, and their leader shortly after, was a natural choice.
When she offered to teach their daughters who had the right tie to the respective mother-Planets how to wield a similar power and save their people, the deal was sealed but, again, Earth was left out.
In an attempt to a full joint of the System, Queen Serenity invited a delegation from Earth to the newborn Silver Millennium, in the occasion of the inauguration of the Moon Castle.
But people from Earth had their ideas and habits that clashed too strongly with those of the Silver Millennium and they did a number of offences out of envy or prejudice.
The Royals had been infuriated, to the point Queen Serenity decided, at last, that Earth wasn't ready to join the rest of them, producing the Ban.
No communications were ever going to be allowed between Earth and Silver Millennium, the populaces forbidden from meeting ever again.
Earth was left out, protected from the outside but with no real ties with any of the others, for the longest time, and the young pupils of Silver Millennium grew up without ever seeing an Earthling, as they called the inhabitants of the blue planet, even once.
But all things are bound to change, given enough time.
In the white corridors that led to the Throne Room, there were times Elpis, especially as a child, couldn't avoid pausing every few steps to observe this or that part of the building on his way, was it the mosaics or the stained glasses, the sculptures or the fountains.
Often, he stopped at once, face to face with a giant mural: it depicted a tall man, golden hair and shoulders wide, wielding a sword that looked made of light which cast deep shadows and covered some of his features but not the entirety of his bright smile. By his side stood a thin woman, almost as tall, with long silver tresses and a moon-shaped staff on which stood bright a glimmering crystal.
Both looked beautiful and powerful, but the woman's face was concentrated and solemn, while the man's smile gave another kind of assurance: as if he wasn't afraid of what stood in front of him and could smile in front of the adversities as if he was invincible.
«It's my mother and father» Serenity would explain to newcomers who stopped in front of the majestic work of art.
She'd smile at it, and so would Elpis, even though both knew those smiles were to copy the one of the man depicted there and hid more sadness than they could share with others.
The stories about the great deeds of the lost King were told in admired tales by all the Lunarians who had had the chance to see him in person before they had to escape their previous home and remembered with gratitude his sacrifice.
Elpis was a toddler when the last of those stories took place, too small to remember in full, old enough that forgetting in its entirety was impossible.
There were times he remembered his father's boisterous laughter, being carried on his wide shoulders, the times he was allowed near the Blessed Sword, with the hopes of, one day, inherit it.
But the Blessed Sword, twin to the Sacred Sword that was now entrusted to Sailor Venus, was lost, and so was Hyperion.
In a way, Elpis felt he was both luckier and more unfortunate than Serenity: he had known their father, but she still had her mother.
Not that the Queen wasn't a good mother to him, she was caring, gentle, and Elpis had known no other mother since his own had died in childbirth. Still, everybody knew he wasn't part of the Moon family by birthright, that he wouldn't have a claim to the throne no matter what, that he had no rights of any kind beyond what the Queen granted him out her graceful heart.
A lesser person would have grown bitter and jealous, could have become his half-sister's greatest enemy, but not Elpis.
He loved his step-mother and his sister with his whole heart and decided he was going to prove his worth on his own, by being a good student and train with the rest of Silver Millennium forces.
He wasn't alone in this wish.
Along with Serenity's support, he had that of the Senshi, of their personal lieutenants, and his own friends, for he was well-beloved in the Court for his good heart and bright smile, as much as his sister was.
Moreover, ever since his early steps in the Moon Court, he had had Asteria.
She was one of the few Lunarian survivors and was his same age. She used to have a large family, but most of them died in Chaos' attack, only one of her relatives lived and was among the handmaidens of the Queen.
Asteria, with her brown hair and round face with the cutest pink cheeks, had been initially suggested to go on the same route until she decided to become part of the army as well.
«I want to help» she had said «And be able to protect my loved ones. Like you. We'll do it together!»
If one was to ask Elpis which was the moment he realized he loved her, that she was the one, he'd tell it was the instant he saw her pure soul and her infinite dedication, the second he figured out that no one would be both his inspiration and support as much as he was hers.
They were young adults by the time he proposed, neither quite yet ready for it. To be honest, he didn't plan to do it, he just was so mesmerized with her one evening, that he blurted out his feelings at once.
Not that she minded, past the initial embarrassment, she loved him back with equal intensity, but they agreed there were things to do first, goals to be reached, permissions to be asked.
They put marriage thoughts on hold, but their love could never lessen. In Elpis' heart, Asteria was part of the Moon family as much as he was, his spouse in all but name.
There were more than a few children in the Silver Millennium court.
Many kids were sent to be taught, there were families that came from the various parts of the Alliance to settle on the Moon, who the Queen always welcomed with open arms, as long as they came in peace. The noble children of many Royal families were routinely sent to meet the young Prince and Princess, who conquered their hearts with their charming smiles and boundless kindness.
The Sailor Senshi arrived first, a little after the birth of Eirene, to be taught by the Queen and protect the little princess at the same time.
They were princesses themselves and they'd become Serenity's best friends: Atalanta of Mars, Alke of Jupiter, Tethys of Mercury and Cytherea of Venus.
There were three more, at the time, three girls Elpis saw only in passing, a little older than him, carrying weapons - Talismans - powerful and sacred.
Ananke of Pluto, Amphitrite of Neptune, Iphis of Uranus.
Elpis never met those last, aside from that first time when they were proclaimed Guardians of the borders of their Solar System. He ended up more or less forgetting them while growing up.
In the meantime, the four Outer Planets found they couldn't afford to keep their population: with Sailor Saturn still to be declared, Sailor Pluto bound to the Doors of Time and Sailor Neptune and Uranus focused on defending the borders, their subjects migrated on the Inner Planets even more than they used to: now that Silver Millennium was united, passageways between the Planets were free to walk in and anyone could go live in any place under the rule and protection of Queen Serenity.
The Royals of Saturn didn't have a child for a longer time, until Macaria was born, the symbol of Saturn appearing on her forehead in her younger years, along with the bad omen her mother's death poised and a prophecy she would be the one who would put an end to Silver Millennium in its entirety.
No one knew why Saturn's King took such a drastic choice, but he decided it was for the best to put his daughter in eternal sleep. They whispered he acted that way so the prophecy couldn't come true, and their kind wouldn't carry the guilt of endangering the whole Alliance. No one could ask, for he disappeared shortly after and they said he died in his grief.
It wasn't the only prophecy pending over Silver Millennium.
Shortly after Serenity's birth, when the little Inner Senshi had just taken their place by her side, an evil presence made itself known. A being of beautiful darkness, reeking of malice and shadows.
Little Elpis, from his mother's side, saw Queen Nehellenia show up in the middle of the celebrations for the introduction to the Court of the little Princess.
His first instinct had been to put himself in the middle, despite the fact he was shaking from head to toe. That woman felt far too similar to the being that plagued his memories and birthed his nightmares.
The small Senshi jumped in between too, ready for their first battle against the uninvited guest. Elpis was entrusted with his baby sister, who he held firmly, ready to protect her with his life.
The being of darkness, Queen Nehellenia, smiled wickedly at the two siblings, then spoke to Queen Serenity about gifts, about how she was the natural counterpart of the light of the Moon, the inescapable darkness living within.
The Senshi used their new powers to chase her away, but Queen Serenity's intervention was needed to seal the evil being in the mirror, far in the darkness she belonged to.
Although, before the light from the Silver Crystal could chase her away for good, Nehellenia shouted: «I'll leave you my gift all the same. I shall place you under my beautiful curse. This kingdom will fall to ruin, your beautiful Princess will die before she ever takes the throne, and her brave brother will always be powerless to save her from her destiny»
The baby princess started to wail, Elpis clutching her tighter to his chest «Never! I'll never allow it!» he shouted.
Maniac laughter came from the woman, even as she disappeared in the depth of the shadows «That's my present to you...»
She was gone. Light came back in the room, perfect and still as always, and Queen Serenity crouched down to embrace her frightened children.
«I'll protect you. Please don't cry, sister. You have nothing to fear. I'm here» Elpis kept repeating the words his father used in his early years, to console her, the promise tied close to his heart to be kept forever.
No one could know if the prophecy, or the curse, would ever come true.
The more time passed, the fewer people remembered about it. Serenity barely even knew, Elpis slowly forgot that awful day, remembering only his promise.
It was an easy one to keep, in his heart, a much harder task in practice.
Elpis grew up, in fact, showing no power. Without the Blessed Sword, he couldn't untap the energy that he was supposedly born with. But the Sword, which Hyperion had with him in his last fight, was out of his reach.
That part of the curse, that Elpis would be powerless, was, perhaps, already truth.
As said before, the Alliance of Silver Millennium didn't include Earth.
According to the Royals, it never would. Earth was powerful in itself, full of resources of every kind, but its people were too far behind, too envious, too close-minded, to join the Silver Millennium Alliance.
Elpis didn't agree.
People of Earth could grow and evolve, there was no reason to think they were hopeless. According to him, no one ever was.
Queen Serenity never disapproved of his stance. Earth had to grow and, in the meantime, had to be protected, that's what she said.
Growing up, Serenity shared this sentiment, along with the wish to see the blue planet no one was allowed to visit and its marvels, her spirit often yearning for something out her reach.
«I feel there's something waiting for me there,» she said often, leaning with her pale hands on the railway of the balcony, eyes stuck to the large blue globe «I want to see the famed greenery that grows without the help of any Crystal, feel the wind that never breathes on the Moon, look at the flowers of the variety of colours they say grow there and the sky that is said to be clear and azure to shift to all the colours in the course of the Sun. Its waters that run free, the sea they say can roar like the storms of Jupiter or be a gentle lullaby, like the songs from Neptune...»
Elpis knew the feeling as well. They both knew that. In this dream, Elpis was her only confidant, for only he knew what she meant and shared the wish to, one day, see that world as well.
«I'll go. Soon» she affirmed one day, blue eyes gleaming in determination «I found a way»
And they went, in secret, for the Queen had forbidden them to, long before. Often together, other times Serenity alone.
One time, she stumbled into a garden, not knowing it was the private area of Prince Endymion of the Golden Kingdom and ended up being mesmerized by his elegant figure, his deep eyes and quiet manners.
In her trips to Earth, Serenity ended up exploring various places when in the company of her brother, but always went back to those gardens when alone, in hope to catch a glimpse of the Earth Prince, who secretly waited for her visits with equal eagerness.
As quickly as she fell in love with Earth, she fell in love with Endymion and, much to her happiness, he loved her back just as fast.
The beginning of the end, so to speak.
The occasion of the meeting between the Moon and Earth Princes was the result of a mere chance.
Serenity had snuck out to Earth alone again, but this time she had been careless and forgot that her schedule for the day entailed a political meeting.
As such, the whole Castle started looking for her before Icarus, Princess Uranus' brother, could arrive.
Elpis, after checking for their usual hiding spots as children, realized where his sister had to be, and rushed to the passageway that connected Moon and Earth, hoping she'd be still close by to the landing point.
Much to his surprise, he didn't find himself in the clearing they usually arrived in, but in a secluded corner of a luscious garden with hedges made of red roses' bushes.
He guessed his sister must have tampered with the portal to end up in that place and worried about the reason, which he'd ask her for certain once he got to find her, he told himself as he hesitantly looked around. He didn't have to search for long, for Serenity's crystalline laughter could be heard nearby. Elpis walked faster towards where he last heard the sound when it stopped abruptly. Chocking in worry, he quickened his pace to a run, hoping he was still in the right direction and ending in front of a gazebo...
Where his sister was being kissed by a man.
«Serenity!» he ran to her aid, grabbing her by the wrist to detach her from her assailant and pushing her behind him while with the other hand he pointed his sword at the stranger who dared to kiss his sister.
The man seemed stunned for a second but his hand had run to his sword nevertheless, when Serenity shouted: «Brother! Stop this at once!»
She ripped her arm from Elpis' grasp and ran back to the unknown man's arms, under the wide and confused stare of her brother.
«If you hurt each other I'll never forgive you!» she added with an air of finality, her eyes glaring daggers towards both men.
The stranger immediately put down his sword and Elpis hesitantly followed.
«Serenity, what is the meaning of this? Are you hurt? Did he force you to...?»
«Endymion would never hurt or disrespect me!» she replied, clinging tighter, with a look of defiance in her azure eyes.
Something in Elpis' head clicked «As in... Prince Endymion of the Golden Kingdom?»
Endymion nodded, bowing as much as he could with Serenity still latched to his torso «And I take you're Prince Elpis of Silver Millennium. I would have liked for our first introduction to be less confusing, my apologies»
Elpis shook his head and bowed back «Ah, nono, it's my fault for taking my sword out, jumping to conclusions... wait, so you two were kissing of your own accord? What does it mean? Of course, I know what it means, but who is going to tell mother? And what are we going to do with the politicalimplications?HowlonghasitbeengoingonWhydidyounevertellme...»
«Elpis, brother, please» Serenity begged, «I promise I'll explain everything, don't panic!»
She had tears in her eyes and Endymion had put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, worry on his face.
Elpis cut off his rambling by sheer shock. The closeness, the confidence, the way they held each other as if they were each other's entire universe was a powerful sight.
He prompted Serenity to explain and she spoke about the time she and Endymion met, how they started talking casually but fell in love so fast, their bond stronger by every visit and growing more in the painful times they were separated. Endymion added his own feelings too, how mesmerized he was by her vitality and glow from the first moment, how he wished they could stop hiding their love but they didn't have a plan yet, with the grim relationships between Golden Kingdom and Silver Millennium.
Serenity had started to cry at this and Elpis' heart clenched for he always hated to see her in pain.
«We should try to smooth the relationship between our people first» the Moon Prince concluded «Mother is not against including Earth in our Alliance, given the right circumstances. If you can convince your King father, maybe things could get better for you two as well»
«We sure hope so, but there is the Council too and my people's fear of yours» Endymion added «Most never met your kind and they are afraid of what they don't know. You are more of a legend than a different population, in their minds»
«Then we need to work on it» Elpis replied «We'll figure it out. For our people to unite and for you two to be happy»
Endymion looked at the Moon siblings, eyes wide in surprise, and Serenity blinked at him «I told you I have a pretty great brother»
He smiled «You did, my love» then turned at Elpis «Thank you. For your understanding and approval»
«I only want my sister to be happy. Sure, she could have found someone with a less complicated situation, and maybe you could have been running a little less» he added, and she stuck her tongue at him in jest.
«You and Asteria have the least complicated situation in the Galaxy and you haven't even kissed yet! It's you who are too slow»
The young man blushed to the tips of his green hair and hid his face «Eeeh! Don't say those things! You don't knowhowmanythingstherearetodobeforewecould...» then stopped himself and gasped «The meeting!»
«What meeting?»
«The one you forgot of! The one everybody is looking for you for!»
«Eeeh! We really need to go?»
«Yes! Immediately!» he added, then bowed to the other Prince «My apologies, but we have to leave at once!»
Serenity pouted but moved too, not without another kiss to her lover, one of their many goodbyes, before her brother urged her to leave.
It wouldn't be the last time such a scene occurred, that much was certain.
It was only a matter of time before the Senshi caught wind of Serenity's escapades. Venus was the first to catch her at her return, recognizing the swollen lips and glowing eyes of a girl in love and loved back.
Of course, Serenity confessed, but she had Venus promise to not share the secret, a vow that was made under the condition the Princess wouldn't go to Earth unattended again.
But Venus had not made any kind of promise as to not drop hints which her fellow Senshi could follow to the truth, and in a short time, they were all in the know.
On his side, Elpis started to work on the possibilities to get Earth and Moon people to have some communications at least, the first step for a future understanding, treaties and so forth to get to the final outcome of Earth joining the Silver Millennium Alliance.
As always, it was Asteria the one who supported him the most, without questions and always smiling, even in the long nights they spent studying or reviewing speeches and more.
His last one was the long official statement he had to bring to the Royal's Council to convince them of the opportunities to open up more channels of communication and trade with Earth.
«I'm sorry I kept you up so late...» he started to apologize, turning to Asteria who had claimed the seat near the window at the start of their study evening, only to find her asleep.
His heart clenched in guilt. How long as it been since it has been just the two of them? And he spent it all hyperfocused on his tasks, how horrible of him!
He unclasped his cape and covered her in it before scooping her up to bring her to her room, where she could rest more comfortably.
She woke up midway there, blinking groggily «Elpis? Oh, sorry I feel asleep!» she gasped.
He smiled back at her «It's my fault, Astra. Ah, I can put you down if you... I mean, not that I don't want to or I can't... err...»
As answer, she curled more on his shoulder «I know I'm safe with you»
Elpis blushed madly, his heart bursting in pride and affection and tightened his hold on her soft frame.
«I'm sorry» he said after a while in comfortable silence.
«What for?»
«If I had been more normal, not a Royal, if I didn't choose to do all of this, I could have more time for you...»
«But then you wouldn't be you» she interrupted gently «You were born a certain way, right? But you also made a lot of choices to become who you are today. A caring, altruistic, loving man who always wants the best for everyone around him, who inspires hope and trust into others. This is who you are, and I wouldn't have you any other way... even when you cry all the time» she added, shifting a bit to free one hand and dry his silent happy tears with her thumb.
He let her down at the door of her room and she took off his cape to put it back on his shoulders, clasping it back in place.
«Do I really deserve you?» he whispered when she was done.
«Don't be silly now» she took his face in her hands, careful not to have all her fingers touch his freckled cheeks «You deserve the Universe, but you contented yourself with me and...» she blushed a little, which he could see only because of the closeness in the dim-lit corridor.
«Yes?»
Her hand fell and she stared at them pointedly «I know we agreed to wait for us to reach our objectives and so on, but the things we want to accomplish are never-ending and I was thinking... maybe we could do better if we got there together?»
«What do you...? Are you saying...?» he couldn't believe it, a bubble of elation swelling in his chest.
«Only if your proposal is still valid» Asteria was still looking down, face reddened more and more.
Happiness burst out and he grabbed her lovely face in his rough palms and kissed her before either realized what he was doing, but she adapted quickly and kissed him back with equal eagerness.
When they separated, she chuckled «I take it is»
He went redder than before «S-sorry, I didn't mean to be disrespectful I wasjustsohappy...»
She kissed him this time, light and quick, just enough to quit his worries «I'm very happy too. I love you and I'll be honoured to be your wife»
Elpis knew his face was full of tears again and wiped them out before replying: «I love you too. So so much. Thank you for allowing me this blessing»
She smiled wider when he kissed her hand and, for a blissful moment, they were the happiest people on the Moon.
Contrary to their wishes, there wasn't the chance to plan a wedding: the following day, just before the Council opened, a request for help came from the Golden Kingdom.
Queen Serenity had used the planned meeting to push forward the request.
The reason to intervene was simple: the King of the Golden Kingdom had been killed in an ambush led by monstrous creatures, beings of darkness whose description reminded the Queen of those she faced in her youth and had led to the end of her previous home.
She retold, in a quick but precise recollection, how they underestimated their enemy, how they neglected to fight it before its influence could expand, and her willingness to make sure the past wouldn't repeat itself.
«It is imperative to help our neighbours for the safety of all of us» she concluded.
The motion was fast approved, for no one had seen her so concerned ever before.
A small delegation was sent from the Silver Millennium to the Golden Kingdom, with Elpis as the head of it.
«Are you sure, mother?» he asked when he was told.
«I trust your judgement. Take with you the Lieutenant Generals of the Inner Planets and anyone of your choosing»
He bowed and went to leave, when the Queen called him back.
«You don't happen to know what prompted Prince Endymion to appeal for my help specifically, do you, Elpis?»
The young man's eyes widened. From what she had revealed to the Court, Endymion's request was to Silver Millennium, but now she was revealing the missive had a more personal tone, and the only explanation he had was that his sister must have suggested it.
Queen Serenity didn't wait for his answer, having read on his face what she needed «I see. You and Eirene really took too much from your father. He too moved to help others before he was required»
As always, her eyes saddened at the small mention, but Elpis' heart filled with joy at the comparison.
«I don't need to tell you to do your best» she added before dismissing him «I know you always do»
The situation on Earth was less than idyllic.
Apparently, there were few forces able to keep at bay the apparitions, which were frequent and hard to predict.
Endymion and his Shitennou, who Elpis finally got around to meet and of whom the Inner Senshi and Serenity had told him about after their previous times on Earth, were worried and wary, but probably had no idea of the extent of the problem or how to deal with it.
Elpis had to make some choices, in particular dispatching his friends around the areas with most attacks to try and figure out more.
Hypnos, Venus' aid and master spy, led the investigation, while Cratos, after much grumbling and some insistence, led the Phobos' Dragons to intervene to the help of the Golden Kingdom's army.
Soon, Elpis and Endymion realized they needed more than that, the enemy starting to gain terrain going from the North Pole moving south.
It was then that the Senshi took the lead alongside him, descending from the Moon along with their own armies.
Elpis was glad they did, he had understood Endymion was more lonely than he thought in his own Court, being able to count on the loyalty of very few people. The hostility towards the Earth Prince grew to the point of his own Council refusing to crown him King unless he fixed the problem of the monsters first.
Elpis could only offer his help at the best of his abilities, his friendship with Endymion growing under the frowns of the Earth Court. When Serenity was allowed to visit Earth too, the scandal rose in full.
The Moon Princess and Earth Prince gravitated around each other in such way it was impossible to miss their affection even when they stood afar in the prim and proper way their rank required.
Discontent snaked in, voices the Moon Princess had charmed Endymion with magic tricks were diffused and she had to leave to avoid any further compromising of his situation.
Elpis was disconcerted by such treatment of his sister and once again it was Asteria, who had come as part of Serenity's entourage and refused to leave his side, to be his emotional support and help.
And then, when the situation seemed at a stall, with the combined armies of Silver Millennium and Golden Kingdom going back and forward on the enemy line, with no openings on the identity of the mastermind that for sure was behind it all, only then an old Earth legend came to their help.
It had been an ambush, not unlike the one that had taken the King's life, to make Elpis and Endymion cross their paths with Atlas.
When the monsters had attacked in the thick of the woods, killing almost instantly their guards, the two princes had fought with all their might, but they were outnumbered and tired by the frequent trips and recurring hardships.
A line of light, as blinding as the Sun, crossed the dark trees and dissolved several of the monsters. Soon after, under the stunned eyes of the two princes, a man came out and single-handedly defeated all the remaining assailants.
The man was far from in good shape, clothes and few pieces of armour hanging wrong on his bulky frame, but the glow in his azure eyes was still strong while he fought.
Only when the last of the monster had disappeared, he seemed to lose his strength, having to support himself on his own sword and tightening the cloth that covered his whole head to block the sweat from falling on his brows and blind him.
«Are you alright?» he asked and something tugged at Elpis' mind at that sound, a familiarity he couldn't place.
«We are, thank you, sir» Endymion answered for both «We owe you our lives. May we know your name?»
«They call me Atlas. And I get you are Prince Endymion. You may want to remove the royal crest from your belongings when you travel, my lord, it gathers danger»
Endymion was surprised by both the quick insight and the reveal of the man's identity: Atlas was nothing short of a legend in the Golden Kingdom, the renown warrior fallen from the Sun with his invincible sword that alone could take down any enemy's number. It looked like the voices weren't far from the truth, although Endymion expected him to look younger and in better shape.
The man sighed, tiredly «Those attacks turn more and more vicious every passing day. I suggest you take another route onwards»
«This is the shortest path to where we need to be»
«But far from the safest. Your escort is dead, how do you think you'd survive another attack? No, you'd better pass from...»
Elpis was still too concerned to try and figure out what was so familiar about the man to listen to the explanation, his eyes focused only on the newcomer... and his weapon.
«That sword... Where did you get it?» Elpis asked, eyes wide in recognition and disbelief.
Atlas looked at the sword «I don't know. My first memory is awakening in a clearing with only this blade beside me. I have no recollection previous to that moment»
Breath was stuck in Elpis' throat. He was halfway certain this was the Blessed Sword, his father's weapon, lost in the midst of his last fight against Chaos.
Sure, he remembered the Blessed Sword of wild golden colour and this one, although shared a similar design, was dull and grey-ish, its light before not a fraction of what the stories said.
But...
Elpis decided to keep his eyes open for any hints of the two weapons being the same, while Endymion convinced the man to accompany them on their route and to get some compensation for his help since the legend said he lived on his own with the help of people's gratitude.
Atlas came with them indeed, and his aid was fundamental to stay on track and fight yet another ambush before they reached the fortress from where Kunzite and Venus coordinated the war efforts.
There, Elpis found Asteria, ready to run into his arms and update him on the news, and for a moment he forgot Atlas, his suspicions on the sword and so forth, content to be in his beloved's arms.
But later on, while they were about to sit to dine, he saw the man sneaking out the room, as if ready to leave, and ran behind him.
«Wait!»
Atlas turned «What is it?»
«Please, stay. We need all the help we can get and we can help you back. You'll have anything you need in exchange for your expertise»
The man shook his head «I seek no gain and this war is already lost. You're brave, but this world won't survive your best efforts. At this point, we fight to give a sense to our death»
It crushed the younger's hopes, as ephemeral as they were.
No, Elpis knew Hyperion would never say such a thing. His father had been a person full of life and optimism. The man in front of him was a calloused warrior, weary and disheartened. It was a coincidence that the two swords had some resemblance. The Galaxy was immense and two similar things or people could be around with ease.
Still, they needed his help.
«You don't know the power we can dispose of. Please, help us fight. Help us save those people and this world»
Atlas took a long look at him, the scrutiny in his furrowed brows heavy as the sigh that followed.
«It's not like I have anywhere else to be» he gave in and something in Elpis made him glow in relief.
The war went on for only a while longer, until their enemies showed their full power, in the most devastating way.
Beryl, that was the name of the leader, had managed, somehow, to corrupt the Shitennou, who turned their backs on the alliance with Silver Millennium, the Senshi and their own Prince.
Elpis had barely managed to fight alongside Endymion to protect him from none other than Kunzite and the two princes had run for their lives in a midst of devastation, surviving mostly thanks to the help of Atlas, once again.
The losses were terrible in every way: the Silver Millennium army in its entirety had had to retire, along with the few ones still faithful to Endymion, to the Moon, the portals that connected with Earth had to be sealed and destroyed behind them just after they had been rebuilt, and the damage to their souls was even greater.
For one, Endymion had taken the betrayal as the worst event of his life, only Serenity's closeness helped him to get back on his feet.
Then there were the Inner Senshi.
Elpis knew precious more than what the voices said - perhaps more than their Lieutenant Generals themselves - on how close the girls had become to the four Earth Generals. How much they had fallen in love.
His heart ached for them, as well as for his friends who more or less in secrecy had loved them for most their lives, even if some of them weren't ready to admit it, even to themselves.
But, as much as he wished he could help them all, the war was far from over and they expected an attack any moment, forcing him to pull all-nighters for strategy meetings and reinforcements of the Moon Castle, anything that could protect them and their people.
If the Queen was right, the situation was at the edge of collapse and only the Silver Crystal could protect them all, but every effort was relevant, in Elpis' opinion.
Atlas had come with them but had strayed away from the nobility, preferring to stay outside the Castle to help where he could the Earth refugees.
Earth people were fascinated by him, mesmerized at the idea of meeting a living legend of their world, and Moon people too were curious about his story. He elicited hopes and chased away fears with his mere presence, to the point Elpis wondered whether he should talk with the Queen of his suspicions.
If he decided against it, it was in fear of opening old wounds for naught, thinking there would be time to investigate at the end of the war.
In those times, there was nothing unusual in Queen Serenity calling for unscheduled meetings.
Elpis and Endymion entered the private room in which the more informal gatherings were held to find the Queen already there, with Eirene by her side sporting a gleeful smile. Both her presence and that elation weren't typical of the situation and the two young men wondered what it could be about.
After the due formalities, the Queen started with a question «Prince Endymion, what do you know of the Housekitennou?»
«The copy of Earth's Shitennou Silver Millennium produced?» he replied, brows furrowed «With all the due respect, your Majesty» he added in afterthought.
Elpis perked up «The Housekitennou existed before the Golden Kingdom conceived the idea of the Shitennou»
«I beg to differ, Elpis. As any Earth scholar would know...»
«Shh shh, it doesn't matter!» the Princess interferred, grabbing the arm of her beloved «Mother was about to make an important announcement» she anticipated.
Both princes appropriately blushed and bowed to the Queen, who looked at them in mild amusement.
«Such details are, indeed, of no consequence. My daughter brought to my attention that the titles of Housekitennou had been neglected for a long time. I took the decision to revive that tradition, with the connected duties and honours for their wielders, in our time of need»
Endymion looked perplexed, so Elpis explained: «For the populaces of before Silver Millennium, the Housekitennou were the Kings of the Planets, protectors of the High King. Before that, they were the intended spouses of the Queens, in other moments, the title was given to siblings of the Queens or to high functionaries who had, this way, the authority to make decisions of great relevance in their absence and so forth»
Queen Serenity nodded «Given the current times, I am of the opinion we should have such people again, for Endymion's sake. I intend to ask the Inner Senshi to choose one each and have the remaining titles at our disposal for the future»
«But mother, the titles of Housekitennou are tied to a pre-existing tradition, from before we came to the Moon, would the other Royals agree to share them with us?» Elpis worried.
«This is of no concern, there have been talks in this regard already and I have the approval of all Royals, which includes the possibility to share the Outer titles with men of our choosing. That too is part of the tradition, to show the strength of our bonds of alliance»
Endymion looked pensive for a while, then looked at the Queen «I wouldn't want to burden your people with my safety, but if this is your wish I'll accept it and thank you. I have one question, though»
«Of course, what is your concern?»
«You say those titles are ancient, was there ever one for Earth too?»
«Malachite should have been the title for the Housekitennou of Earth. There was only one in your history, before Earth detached itself from others»
Endymion turned at Elpis and put a hand on his shoulder «Then I'd be honoured for Elpis to have it»
«Me?»
The other nodded «You're not only Serenity's brother, but my friend too. You saved my life more than once and I know I can repose my full trust in you»
By his side, Serenity glowed in happiness, her eyes exhorting her brother to accept, which he did after receiving a nod from the Queen as well.
Eventually, the self-proclaimed Dark Kingdom managed to breach their defences and create a portal that led to the borders of Mare Serenitatis.
For some time, the six Housekitennou - Elpis, the five Lieutenant Generals of the Inners, plus Cratos - stood in watch along with the Senshi and Royals, but they all itched to go to help. It was Endymion who pushed them to follow their instincts and to the aid of their people.
It was a mistake.
While in the middle of the battle under the walls, Elpis felt more than saw something wrong in the air and in the attack itself.
It didn't add on, at all. Then Cratos made a passing comment and it all clicked.
The Shitennou had not appeared, the forces they were against were in the numbers rather than in force and Beryl herself, the usurper of the Golden Kingdom, wasn't leading her army either.
A fizzle in the air, a feeling Elpis felt with the familiarity of having grown up along the Inner Senshi, told him there was a fight, back in the Castle, and the only explanation was that the enemy had snuck behind them while they were busy with the frontal attack, which had been nothing but a trap.
Just a trap, in which they had fallen like fools!
Elpis waited no more time telling his companions, obliging them to run back inside at the rescue of those who were still in the Castle, leaving the external defence to the thick of the army.
His thoughts went to Asteria, to the Senshi, to his mother... and to Serenity and Endymion, the ones at bigger risk since the enemy had made it clear its goal was to get them in particular.
He had to save them. He had to.
But...
In the courtyard of the Moon Castle a large fight had been consummated. The energy of the four Sailor Senshi Elpis had perceived lingered around, charging the air and making it heavy.
The team ran forward, Elpis never checking around or looking back, for who he wanted to protect was forward and he couldn't waste time.
At the top of the staircase, just beyond the balcony where Venus had given her all to kill Kunzite, who was still impaled on the Sacred Sword, was the entrance door, where Elpis was sure he'd find Serenity, scared and worried but protected by her Guardians and he'd call himself silly for worrying they couldn't protect her when they were so powerful...
It was Venus' gaze, empty and dejected that alarmed him.
He went past her, took a look inside...
And.
Like a white flower broken by an uncaring gardener, lied Serenity, her immaculate dress tainted with a splatter of red, a sword left carelessly nearby still stained with blood. Her hand reaching for her beloved Endymion, whose dark blue armour was barely visible beyond her flowy gown.
«Serenity!» he screamed at full lungs.
He didn't register his own sword falling from his hands, his steps turning into a sprint to fall beside her on his knees - why didn't she answer? -, didn't see anything but his sister and her stillness - he had promised, so long ago and so many time he'd protect her and what has it been of that promise? - and Endymion didn't react either - he too, he had been entrusted with, what good had he been! - and screamed their names again, but they didn't answer and he cried and shouted but they'd never answer, he knew...
He knew they were dead. He had failed them.
He got up, slowly, the pain in his heart turned to rage as he picked up the scattered sword.
Never so clearly he felt all the sounds of the fight that still infuriated in the Castle, his home, violated by darkness and evil that he was going to chase away.
When he stood face to face with Beryl, he promised she would die, out loud, a hate like he never felt raging in his veins.
Hate didn't give him any power to contrast the woman and her secret helper, the overpowerful Metalia, real puppeteer of the whole war and mastermind of their destruction.
He attacked, but before he could reach her, the woman transfigured, waves of darkness engulfing her figure, eyes glowing in wicked red, size growing to the point of destroying the wall behind and a part of the ceiling. Debris fell on them, the dark sky seeming an omen of death itself.
She enlarged, the shadow of darkness hovering all around, wickedness seeping and overpouring the once sacred ground they once swore to protect and was now on the verge of annihilation.
Not all was lost, they thought.
They fought with all they had, with all the decision and grief in their hearts, as long as it was needed for the Queen to show up with the Silver Crystal, to chase that monster away from them. She was likely in the Prayers' Room, getting ready to help once the Crystal was charged.
Elpis had full trust she'd come to their help soon, he only had to hold the fort long enough for her to intervene and she did; Venus behind her with the Sacred Sword firmly in her hands for support.
«Silver Crystal and Moon that protect us, take this wicked being away from us, seal it in the darkness it belongs and cleanse us from this Evil!» Queen Serenity chanted, as pure light came from the joined power of her scepter and the Silver Crystal «In the name of the Moon, begone, Metalia!»
Elpis held his breath, the creature of malice and darkness dissolved under the brilliance of the Queen's power, not without screaming and cursing them all.
Afterwards, all went still.
Metalia was sealed away, hopefully to never come back, but the act had claimed all the Queen's energy, all her power.
One of the secrets of the Royal family was that the Silver Crystal wasn't a mere heirloom, but it was tied to the very soul of its wielders and got stronger along with their hearts. With the Queen prostrated for her losses, from her ancient ones to the very last of her daughter's death, she was weaker than ever before, and that last effort was at cost of her life.
The Silver Crystal disappeared, slowly, as well as the last bit of colour on the Queen's face.
«Mother!» Elpis ran to catch her lithe frame before she could fall to the ground, wishing, hoping with all his might he was wrong and trying to comfort her with promises of getting help and all would be fine as he helped her to lie down.
Queen Serenity shook her head «You've been good» she smiled, weakly «Hyperion would be proud of the man you've become... as am I. I just wish you all had the chance to live more... more fulfilling lives... maybe next time... I'll ask the Guardian of the Cauldron for you all...»
Her gaze went aside, to some point beyond his shoulder, and her eyes lit in something akin to recognition. Elpis followed her line of sight, to see Atlas lying on his back not far, his body littered with wounds and the air of who was about to say his farewells to life, the scarf that covered his head coming undone, to reveal wild golden hair.
Queen Serenity rose a hand, weakly, towards the man, who looked at her with confusion all over his face and Elpis understood but couldn't move a finger nor utter a single word in his astonishment.
«May the Cauldron bless you in your next life, for this one hurt you so» she whispered «May you all live again in happier times»
The air stilled with the Queen's last breath, her enigmatic last words hovering around. Elpis lowered his mother's head to the ground, neverending tears flowing free and desperate. Asteria, wounded but determined, wobbled his way and hugged his shoulders, astonished and wordless in attempt to soothe his pain and he had never been so grateful for her presence as she was the only thing that kept him from giving up.
His family was gone. His home was destroyed. The small reborn hope of meeting his father again snatched from his hands before he even knew he had it.
Asteria held him tighter, crying with him and he clung to her back, a little hope still within him.
He looked up. His friends were bruised and battered, but mostly there. He took Asteria's hand and squeezed it a bit as if to make sure she was there and she smiled back, weakly but surely.
Together, they got up.
It wasn't all lost. They still had each other, to move forward.
A sudden light came from the depth of the Castle, catching their eyes. Three streams, one of yellow, one aqua-green, one ruby, descended down from the sky to gather in the Prayer's Room.
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto were there. The communications between Planets had to be restored for them to...
Then another light came down, which sight froze his heart.
Purple.
The signature colour of Saturn.
He shakily went forward, breath itching, only to see Sailor Saturn step out the Castle, among the debris, her infamous scythe, the Silence Glaive, in hands, ready to strike.
«No!» Elpis screamed, holding tighter Asteria's hand «Please, Sailor Saturn. Stop it now. I know what you have to do, but not all is lost. There is still plenty of us, we can work to rebuild Silver Millennium, our future won't be lost as long as we are willing to work for it»
The girl tilted her head a bit, then shook her head.
«I beg you, let us try! There is still hope in us, and we can move forward if we do it together, there is no need to bring forth the destruction...»
She wasn't listening, he could see that in her cold eyes and empty expression but kept praying on until he felt a hand on his shoulder.
«Elpis. That's it. It's over» Cratos said.
The words held such finality, such quiet resignation, so unlike his friend's usual temper, it brought him to tears again.
The Soldier of Silence paused a second to speak «Death always comes. It has to, for Rebirth to start»
Before Elpis could ask or ponder on what she meant, she struck with her one and final attack.
The ground split, violet light engulfed it all and Elpis could only feel Asteria's hold on him, the last attempt at closeness, the last consolation they were left.
Then, light overcame them and they were separated, for millennia to come and go before they'd meet again.