Venus
The shadow of obedience
Aino Minako - Cytherea (another name of Aphrodite)
Shinsou Hitoshi - Hypnos (god of sleep)
Aoyama Yuuga - Antheros (god of requited love and avenger of the unrequited)
Venus' charm was irresistible by definition. If one was to be asked who was the image of beauty, any of the Venusian Royals would immediately come to mind.
Hypnos and Antheros were bound to know it first and foremost, but while Antheros, with his sparkling personality and constant need of attention, basked in the same light of his Royal cousin, Hypnos, darker and more subdued, found himself wary of it.
Point was, when one had a power like his, he qualified as a top contender for a political position at Magellan Castle, home of Princess Venus, so that was how he ended up, at a young age, to be tied to Sailor Venus' mission.
As the leader of the Sailor Senshi, Sailor Venus had a number of privileges that steamed from duties. Her first duty was the protection of Princess Serenity, which meant she needed more help than her peers.
Which led to Princess Venus to be granted to have two aids: a "right hand" for the court administration, who was supposed to deal with the most open and showy part, and a second, a "shadow hand" who dealt with undercover matters.
If Antheros was born and raised for the first task - he went as far as calling himself "the bright hand" - Hypnos was chosen for the second.
He who was born out the adulterous relationship between a Venusian and mercurian, he who was more often mistaken for Saturnian only for his purple hair and tired eyes and despised for it, he who had the power to be obeyed and then forgotten that was the fear of many, obtained the chance to be held in high regard by the Royals of Venus and trained accordingly for this purpose since childhood.
This made for some troubles, of course.
Antheros was next to immune to Cytherea's charm, was it out of habit, for the blood tie, or simply because the boy was self-absorbed, he never had to deal with Venus' most striking features and bad habits coming from being the incarnation of the Goddess of Love and Beauty.
Hypnos wasn't that lucky.
Ever since they were kids, Venus had developed the habit to fall in love with unsettling ease and no one has ever been able to resist her but, after a while, everyone left for this or that reason, or was discarded when she fell out of love with the same speed she fell in.
Hypnos was bound to make a vow early in his life: never fall in love with her.
Pity one can't decide what to yearn for.
The Venusian Court was one of scandals and petty talks, of reprimands for lovers stolen that turned into minor feuds, or alliances to make one or the other branch fall.
In such an environment, the spies at disposal of the Royals had to be the best.
Hypnos, unlike most his peers in the Moon Court, underwent special training. It was mostly aimed at honing his ability to talk for the benefit of his unicity, but he was also trained in using minor weapons, along with the traditional chain of Venus, which he had to admit he never quite mastered.
But, more than anything, his duty was to keep his Princess safe.
Antheros, who had been protecting Cytherea from the inside of the sitting rooms and among dance steps ever since they were toddlers, was her first confidant for whatever plan she concocted or, later on, for every crush she developed. Hypnos, instead, was in the background, one of the many spies, but the best among the younger ones.
It wasn't an easy life: his primary mentor was his mother, a Venusian low-ranked noble turned spy who was as cunning as she was ambitious, and who had no qualms working him to the bone and offering his exceptional ability to the highest bidder.
Most of it came to an end when the two Venusian Royals had been invited to reside permanently in the Moon Castle, along with one or two people, no more, as entourage, and Hypnos, thanks to his optimal results in the latest event - a squabble that could have turned into a problem for the Royals had he not provided his help - was sent along with them by Royal decree of King Eros.
A different life expected him there.
For Hypnos it had been the respite he never knew he needed. The Moon Court was nothing like the Venusian one, and children were allowed to be children for most the time, not pawns and players in a continuous game of power.
His mentor changed too: from his mother, he was assigned to shadow Queen Serenity's advisors, the cat-like aliens from the faraway planet Mau.
Artemis, in particular, was tasked with keeping an eye on the Venusian kids, while Luna was closer to the Moon Royal children, and the white cat was the best company the boy had ever had, one with he could share with ease doubts and worries, especially those concerning Cytherea.
The cat was endlessly patient, even if he didn't show it, preferring to pester his young charges with his scalding humour and funny reprimands that were deep down always full of care and concern.
To create lifelong ties was easy in the Moon Court too, and while Hypnos wasn't especially close to anyone, he could consider most the other residents his friends.
Good days, turning into lunar years, that saw his skills honed but never exploited in full.
He didn't mind. The peaceful life was better, for him.
Not to mention Cytherea provided enough problems on her own, even worse when paired with Serenity.
Growing up, the dynamics of the Venusian kids established themselves.
If Antheros was the one Venus ran to when she developed a crush, Hypnos' was the shoulder she cried on when love stories ended badly. He lost count of how many times such a thing happened, but every single one, he hoped she'd stop.
«I was so sure this time» she complained, golden tresses sprawled on the plush couch of her personal sitting room, hugging a pillow in her miserable wail.
«You are sure every time» Hypnos replied in a monotone tone, happier to be engaged in a chess match with himself while he lent an ear to her latest musings.
«You don't understand! This is your half-mercurian blood speaking, all mind and no heart! Where is your Venusian heart when I need it?»
He rolled his eyes and turned the chessboard around «If you were to act with more mind and less heart, things would go differently»
An overdramatic sigh after, she went on as if he never said a thing: «And, don't you know how I am dependent on love? I live it, breath it, bask in its wonderful light...»
«And end up in pain when darkness comes» he interrupted, putting down a rook «Honestly, Cytherea, you should think more. It'd save both of us a lot of troubles»
«I don't want to think more. I want to fall in love once and for all. To love and be loved in full, to live for my one and only love and know he lives for me as well, to...»
«What about Serenity? Wouldn't such a lover be in the way of your mission?»
This was the one reasoning that always sobered her up.
Venus could act silly and lovesick often but, in truth, there was no one more devoted to the Moon Princess than she was. Not only as her potential doppelganger but as the leader of the Senshi, Venus was tasked with the most important charge and her duty came first than anything in her life.
Hypnos knew it, and so did she. Anyone who deluded themselves thinking otherwise was in for a burning delusion - and such a thing happened in the past multiple times, so they all knew -.
«You're right,» she said, drying her remaining tears and straightening her back «I still want to love and be loved, but Serenity is and will always be my priority»
And Hypnos admired her for this: putting aside her own desires for someone else, for something greater, wasn't that the highest form of love? He believed so.
Working side by side meant he was obliged to answer to her every call, seeing her smiles and sometimes silly antics, but also her deeper, more serious side.
When there was some kind of diplomatic event, Antheros was a front line to greet and shine and distract, while Hypnos was tasked with the covert job, to do preventive checks, keeps his eyes open and ensure everything could go smoothly.
It was rare something went past him, his net was solid after all those years, and even when some didn't want to talk, his power made it they became more willing.
So, when he figured out Princess Serenity had taken the habit to sneak in secret to Earth to meet its Prince, and Venus not only was aware of that but followed in the escapades, he was out of his mind. When, at some point, they even found a way to sneak Prince Endymion in the Moon Castle, he couldn't turn a blind eye any longer.
«What in the Planets were you thinking? This could be a disaster» he confronted Venus later on, who pouted.
«They're in love, Hypnos! I can't take it from her, she's so happy...»
«Is it worth a war?»
«There will be no war. The Prince is wise and his Shitennou are not inclined to go against us»
«For now» he objected, then he was met with Venus' smile. And, oh, stars!, he knew that smile.
«Venus, no»
«Venus, yes» she replied, the smile widening «Oh, I wish you could meet him! General Kunzite is a handsome man, intelligent and elegant...»
She had already decided he was her next, Hypnos just knew. And how could a mere human not fall for her, when people from all the System lusted after the perfect Venusian star ever since she turned of age?
Hypnos had a shiver of worry. He always had them when Venus aimed for the next conquest, but this time...
This time she was playing a dangerous game.
First, the Shitennou were the Senshi's equals and Venus was not used to dealing with equals that weren't her Senshi sisters - and even then, she was their leader... - or Serenity - who was her liege, so above her -, the closest thing was Prince Elpis, and everybody knew he had eyes only for his fiancèe, not to mention Venus had seen him embarrass himself so many times as children she'd never like him that way.
Second, General Kunzite was from Earth. People of the Golden Kingdom didn't mesh well with those of Silver Millennium, any attempt always went wrong.
Third, Hypnos had a horrible gut feeling. It was the way Venus spoke of General Kunzite, the gleam in her eyes, the clear admiration, the way she thought he could understand her duty and concerns. The idea he could relate to her, utterly foolish in Hypnos' opinion, but so solid to Venus.
Hypnos doubted the Earthling could even scratch the surface of the marvel Cytherea was.
If everyone fell in love with her beauty and brightness, Hypnos was one of the few aware she was far deeper than she wanted to appear.
But he knew trying to dissuade her was useless, so he kept silent.
Despite their differences, Hypnos and Cytherea seldom had real disagreements, let alone fights.
They argued, perhaps for the first time in a real brutal way, after she decided to send him to aid Earth's spies to understand what was going on.
Not because of the charge, Hypnos knew plenty well his duty and obeyed, but for the outcome of it.
Venus had entertained a relationship with General Kunzite for months. Long enough to have a travelling system built in secret for the two of them to meet, a different one than the one Princess Serenity used to meet with Prince Endymion.
They argued because it was too irresponsible, even for her - and for Hypnos to believe - but true nevertheless.
They argued because he didn't want it to be real.
«A breach of security of that kind?! Did you go insane?»
«Mind your mouth, Hypnos! I am the leader of the Sailor Senshi, I know what I do»
«You clearly don't if you put the entire Silver Millennium at risk for what? Some passing crush? Your own lust?»
She slapped him and he immediately felt the magnitude of what had happened fall on him.
Venus had always put her duty above anyone and anything, herself included. His misstep, the words he wouldn't have said any other time, that had ended up woven in his silver tongue usually so measured, went out against his will and had revealed the ugliest truths neither wanted to face.
Cytherea had fallen in love for real with the South General. Never before she offered her side to such risks.
And Hypnos was jealous. Madly so, to the point of forgetting his place and not holding his tongue and temper.
Another time she would have admitted her incautious ministrations and he would have made her see his reasons calmly, the way they often did in the past.
Not that time.
He never looked up, ashamed at his lashing out and angry at his traitorous heart that hurt so badly, clenched in spires of pain as it was.
He didn't try to tell her the Earthlings couldn't be trusted, that the General was cunning and cold and probably was using her to get to Silver Millennium. He couldn't, not after witnessing with his own eyes the lovestruck looks Kunzite sent her way when he thought no one was looking.
Those would be more words out of jealousy and Hypnos... he knew this day was bound to come. He was supposed to accept it and not let his feelings get the best of him.
So he apologized and left, hoping to be able to push together the pieces of his broken heart this time around.
Hypnos took the lead of espionage during the conflicts on Earth. Well, the part made with Silver Millennium troops, at least, because the Terran ones were under General Zoicite.
Was it instinct that he disliked the man from the first second? Or was it his own prejudice?
Hard to say, but the fact he had to work in close quarters with him, as well as with Mercury - and he was glad for that, at least Tethys was someone he always got along with - put him on the edge. Not to mention he wasn't used having to report to anyone but the Venusian Royals and, occasionally, to Queen Serenity through Artemis.
Antheros wasn't any more at ease, even if he covered it up with complaining everyone should recognize his beauty was above any of the Earthlings'. The only consolation left to Hypnos was that, at least, Antheros was still by Venus' side, for what was worth.
On his side, he had since despaired to find his way back to Cytherea's good grace.
He also was starting to feel this war was about to have a turn for the worst, the more intel he and his spies collected, the less the situation made sense.
Of course, he was correct in this.
It took a few stakeouts at what he believed to be the entrance of one of the enemy's secret bases, one too close for his taste to the fortress from where the Senshi and Shitennou, along with the Princes, lead the war, to find out more than a few good evidence of what was truly going on.
Without time to waste to deliver the last piece of info he gained, he had to rely on Icarus' fast wings to prevent the downfall of the whole army.
It wasn't enough: the cadet Prince of Uranus was taken down, too fast even for his famed speed.
Afterwards, when all went down, Hypnos would think of that moment as the one when the scale of the war tipped against them.
The day of the hasty retreat from Earth of Prince Endymion and the small part of his army and people still loyal to him stung as the most terrifying day of Silver Millennium.
So far, at least.
Hypnos and his spies had not been able to alert the Senshi that the Shitennou had betrayed their Prince siding by the usurper Beryl, she who led the waves of monsters that had terrified the populace of the Golden Kingdom. Nor that the war they fought was against something that Queen Serenity had seen from afar as an evil more ancient and dangerous than a simple human-led revolution.
Venus had not shed a single tear. She had been too busy protecting Serenity and fulfilling her wish to bring Endymion to safety, then with the task of encouraging her fellow Senshi to go over the betrayal they too had to suffer, to pity herself.
Hypnos didn't expect for her to come to him as always. He wasn't sure he had the right to hope so, at that point.
Besides, he wasn't convinced by the situation. There was something wrong with it, with the head-heel turn of the Shitennou. Too sudden, too unexpected.
Unreasonable. Irrational.
There had to be more about it.
But with an army of monsters and men getting closer and closer to attack the Silver Millennium any day, there was no time to ponder on it.
The Earth Prince needed protection as much as Serenity did, and it was clear at that point Queen Serenity was ready to accept Endymion in her family as her daughter's husband, as soon as the war would be over. As the future King, Endymion had the right to lead the Housekitennou, the elite force that existed since the ancient times of their Solar System, that in a way paralleled to the Earth's Shitennou, an old use that was re-introduced for the occasion.
«Aside from my Senshi sisters, there is no one I trust more than you» Venus told Hypnos and Antheros, an unusual formality in her demeanour, «The Queen asked us Senshi to choose the new Housekitennou. I'm naming both of you»
«We're supposed to protect you» Antheros opposed, for once not a glimpse of a smile on his face.
«He's more important. If he dies, the Earth will be final prey to darkness and Serenity will never recover. The whole Solar System is at risk. I need you to accept»
They bowed, not before exchanging a worried look.
Antheros would take the primary title of Pyrite, Hypnos would get the name of Bornite, one often shared between Venus and Saturn's Kings, depending on the times.
It was a bit upsetting since Hypnos had no Saturnian blood - as far as he knew - but Saturn only hosted the Sleeping Princess and a few guards at that point, and none of them could or would leave the planet for such a task, while the other Saturnians that lived in Silver Millennium weren't up to take the title, not even the brother of the late Queen Hekate, wherever he was, stepped in for his right to it.
Still, Hypnos had no idea how to lead armies in a real war, his charge until then had been on the quieter side of the chessboard, working from the corridors of the Castles in darkness and secrecy, with words and occasional small melee weapons. His very power wasn't suitable for brawls and large-scale fights, unlike Antheros'.
He figured his usefulness would come after the war was won.
He would have never guessed there would be no victory for either part.
There was something wrong with the attack. Hypnos had this nagging feeling, the upsetting pull at the back of his head that was completely different from the adrenaline rush of the fight or the tightening in his mind when he used his power.
Before he could realize, Elpis had shouted it, clearing the fog and unveiling the trick their enemies had used to lure them out and leave the Royals next to defenceless.
He should have known when he scanned the enemy army in search of the Shitennou and didn't see a trace of them.
Stupidly, he thought they had decided to show up later, a grand entrance or something to taunt them.
But no, he had heard, if not seen, how the four Generals were always on the first line with their armies, so why it had to be Elpis to figure out what and why?
Because, of course, Hypnos was not used to fight and think at the same time, that wasn't how he was trained like.
They ran in, leaving the thick of the army to protect the population, only the Housekitennou rushed to their charges - no, charge, their duty was to protect Prince Endymion, but old habits can't die in a handful of days... - only to find a trail of fight and death.
Pushing forward, beyond the buzzing garden of Jupiter's fight, over the frozen wasteland of Mercury's ice, away from the ashen remains of Mars' flames, up to the entrance of the Castle...
Hypnos stopped to watch the web of golden chains that trapped enemies of every kind, riddled with holes caused by, he was certain, the Venus Beam, and hesitated only to ran faster because the air was too still for a fight to be still on and he worried what they'd find upstairs.
There were fragments of chains on the ground, golden like the hair of their owner. Venus' long locks and torn bow were the only things visible of her crouched form.
Running on instinct, both Hypnos and Antheros went to her, finding she was hunched over the Sacred Sword, plunged all the way to the hilt in Kunzite's chest and down the marble floor in what must have been a terrible effort, physically and psychologically.
«Venus. Cytherea, dearest sister, you can let go» Antheros exhorted her and a pitiful sob escaped her split lips.
They helped her get up, taking note of all her wounds with half a mind for it was her eyes the most concerning part. As soon as she tore them from Kunzite's form, along with the Sacred Sword which could have been glued to her hands for how tight was her hold on it, she had turned to the open door and they all understood why she looked so devastated and lifeless.
The Prince and Princess were both dead. The other Inner Senshi already inches within the clutches of Death too.
Elpis' shout at that sight was both deafening and heartbreaking, but they all were suffering for Serenity was like a sister to them all, their precious, radiant Princess who was the epitome of goodness.
Hypnos did his best to analyze the situation, rather than listen to the despair of his friends and the farewells to their masters.
Venus must have been fighting Kunzite when Serenity faced death, when her sisters-in-arms were hurt and bleeding, feeling powerless and desperate for the fight to end so she could help those she loved the most. Alone, more than ever, against the man she loved, on top of that.
And he had been too far to help. It mattered little that he was there now, when everyone she cherished was gone: he wasn't there when it mattered the most. He had failed her.
Hypnos felt Venus cling to his arm to stand straighter, a tad of willpower flowing back in her eyes.
«We need to go. The enemy is still alive. We can't let her get to the Queen or take the Silver Crystal» Venus said.
«You can't fight in this condition...» they tried to make her reason.
«There's nothing else I can do» she replied and detached herself from both her former Lieutenants, neither understanding if it was desperation or sense of duty speaking there.
The others moved too towards the Throne Room following Elpis' battle cry, ready to fight Beryl for as long as they could, even when the woman stopped being a human being and gathered in herself an amount of dark energy that alone could swallow them all.
More monsters poured in, forcing them to fight harder and harder to defend themselves and each other. Hypnos took more than a blow aimed to Venus, but he didn't care, not even when her eyes enlarged at the sight of his wounds increasing, not even when one of the monsters stunned him and left him deafened and unable to even try to use his power, not that he could in the first place for those Earthlings-turned-monsters were unable to think or speak and he'd never get to control them.
It didn't matter, in the end.
If it was their last standing, so be it.
They didn't stop fighting, using every trick and breath they had and were repaid with the sight of Queen Serenity joining them after what felt like an eternity but could have been mere minutes, the Moon Scepter extended with the Silver Crystal on top, glowing of such brilliance to chase away the closest darkness.
Hypnos fell to his knees at the exact moment the Queen started to seal Metalia, his bleeding ears preventing him from hearing anything. He had his sight only, and a look at the Sacred Sword revealed it was slowly losing its power, but Venus stood, certain in her will to fight to until her last moments and he never loved her more, and more desperately, as he realized neither of them would come out that fight alive.
He willed himself to stay awake until the light of the Silver Crystal faded and Venus let the Sword, dull and gray and void of power, fall beside her, wishing he could hear her last words as he caught her before she could hit her head on the ground with the last of his strengths.
It was over. He wished he was able to tell her, but her eyes were closed and the Sword was disappearing, the only confirmation he needed as his heart broke all over again of a new and different pain.
He closed his eyes too, holding her close.
It was all done. Nothing he could hear, nothing he wanted to see, nothing he would say or feel beyond the all-consuming pain.
When Sailor Saturn swung her Glaive, he felt nothing.
Notes: I'm still alive and I'm recovering, even if a lot slower than I'd like, please be patient if you're following DoMaH, I promise I'll come back to that as soon as I can.
Only one chapter left (plus one bonus) and I'll mark this story as complete ^-^