Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any of its characters, I just own my versions of the Zodiac Senshi, as well as Ophiucus (who is finally appearing now) Computer problems prevented an update for last weekend. :(
Second Legend – Taurus
"Taurus?"
"Taurus, it's time to wake up now."
Glittering splashes of emerald green resonated along a spacious chamber, ivory light transformed by the verdant crystal from which the room was composed. Against the western wall stood an enormous bed, silk in every hue of jade, peridot and celadon pouring over the smooth mattress. Cocooned gently by the olivine coverlet, at the center of the bed lay a young woman, short, chocolate hair spread against a pillow. Her features contorted into a look of mild annoyance as her eyes gradually opened, eyes the impossibly beautiful hue of the crystalline chamber.
"Libra, why are you here so early?" The brunette mumbled peevishly, pivoting her concealed body slowly northward.
In the northern corner of the room, perched comfortably on a lime cushion was another young woman, dressed in a rosy Sailor uniform, pale sugar blond locks spilling down in waves. He opal gaze remained serene and steady, expression accentuated by her brilliant smile.
"You had told me to come and wake you at this time, Taurus. So here I am." Explanation finished, the rose-clad one called Libra turned her attention to an object on her left. Bleary emerald orbs squinted, focusing slightly left. Beside Libra was a small easel and canvas, which Libra had, in the space of seconds, become completely engrossed with, paintbrush working fervently between ivory wrapped fingers. A further narrowing of Sailor Taurus's eyes revealed the subject of the painting, causing the earthy-haired girl to turn over, drawing the coverlet over her head. Although muffled, Sailor Libra could clearly hear words grumbling from under the yards of green fabric, "Painting people while they sleep is just creepy, Libra…"
Chuckling sweetly, the slender shoulders of the sugar blond Senshi shrugged. "I suppose you won't be attending your granddaughter's wedding today then…" Silently and calmly, Sailor Libra continued her artwork.
A blur of olivine burst from the oversized bed, halting haphazardly next to the rosy Sailor Soldier. Cloaked in a tangle of lime and emerald, Sailor Taurus fixed Sailor Libra with a panicked stare. "How could I have forgotten?!" Shouting, Sailor Taurus dove for a tiny, intricately carved nightstand, having temporarily forgotten Sailor Libra's presence and yelling about finding her Star Charm.
Sailor Libra simply smiled, paintbrush moving gently and deliberately.
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"Anybody seen Sailor Aries?"
Now fully clothed in her own lime green Sailor uniform, Sailor Taurus ventured down crystalline halls of a palace stronghold, the residence of the Zodiac Senshi, inquiring about the Soldier of Bravery's whereabouts.
"I'm afraid she's holding a brief meeting with the Empress at the moment."
Surprised, Taurus and Libra spun to face another Sailor Senshi, all in midnight blue, sapphire gaze eternally curious and intelligent. "Hello, Sailor Virgo," Libra greeted softly. Taurus nodded in acknowledgement. "What kind of meeting?" she asked.
Virgo's features darkened slightly. "I cannot claim to be precisely certain, but I think it addresses certain rumors that have been appearing around the empire."
"Rumors?" Libra spoke.
Nodding, the midnight blue Senshi allowed her voice to drop to a murmur. "Throughout the worlds, various kingdoms speak of malevolent creatures that have appeared. Such tales are used to explain the mysterious disappearances of some people. All the tales concur that the creatures, called youma by most, are composed entirely of shadows, although their shapes are always different." Virgo delicately pushed up her spectacles, "All seem to feed on life force."
The blond of the trio looked disturbed. "How can such beings exist? It sounds utterly impossible."
"I have to agree with that," Taurus added to Libra's verbalized doubt.
"Yet, at the same time, we never expected the King of Earth, Tantalus, to commit that unspeakable act," Virgo reminded the pair. "He not only went through with it, he attempted to use it against us, of all creatures."
Virgo makes a good point there…The brunette mused. "All the same," the olivine Senshi spoke aloud, "It's time I leave now. I have to attend the wedding of one of my descendents." Taurus's boisterous tone colored with pride.
Virgo's formerly pensive expression lightened. "Ah, congratulations, Sailor Taurus. All my blessings to the bride." Libra gave another dazzling smile. "Enjoy the ceremony," she called, watching the still crowing Soldier of Perseverance fade from sight.
"I'll bring back some of those special flowering plants for you Libra!" Sailor Taurus called back in response. "I know how much you like to create still lifes with plants from Ceres!" So saying, the olivine Senshi vanished from view.
"Well, I do have another task I have to attend to," Politely clearing her throat and gently bending forward, the navy clad Sailor Solider bid her temporary blond companion farewell, heading smoothly and swiftly down a second corridor to the south of the main, glimmering hall, even as the young woman dressed in pink gracefully waved in parting.
It is good to see those two; their closeness is always so welcome…Sapphire orbs glittered lightly, appearing regretful. Although, there is still much work to attend to. The Empress still needs me to fully analyze those byproducts that have emerged.
So engrossed was the midnight blue Senshi in her own musings that, while passing a second figure in the corridor, Sailor Virgo nearly failed to give a customary nod in greeting as she blazed swiftly by. Staring after her, frozen against the crystalline wall stood a youth draped in palest celadon, moonlight blue gaze clouded. The young boy remained stiffened, snowy features contorted unpleasantly with unconcealed worry.
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Taurus knew something was dangerously wrong seconds after arriving on the dwarf planet of Ceres.
The emerald Sailor Soldier remained erect, arrested between the marble entrance of a minute, quaintly carven palace, rigid as stone between two rising columns. The brunette Senshi had only arrived in Eleusis, the capital city of the richly verdant world. This metropolis remained the home of a multitude of citizens, all of whom possessed fairness of form and exceptional skill in cultivating vegetation, including foreign species imported from several other worlds. The city was also the stronghold of the royal family of Ceres, all of whom claimed descent from a holy goddess of flowers and crops The people of Ceres excelled at horticulture, and were a joyful and magnanimous race.
However, the sight that reached the emerald gaze, dilated by sheer horror, could hardly be described as "joyful".
The entire city sat, stilled and silent, beneath a virulent and unyielding layer of solid ice, statues of frozen flesh and bone halted in midstep, in the middle of a shout, in the process of stroking a hungry little animal.
"What…in the name of the cosmos has happened?" The inquiry flowed on a hushed whisper, colored slightly, though unmistakably, by undertones of both shock and mounting fury. In the wake of the forced, chilling silence, the whisper resounded harshly.
"Finally, you've arrived. Late as always, as expected."
Taurus whirled, facing the eastern outer wall of the frosted edifice. Face commencing to flush ruby, the deep green gaze burned, fury sparkling like wildfire as the emerald Senshi fixed her glare on the location the cold, smoldering words came from.
I'd know that voice anywhere! Taurus's thoughts swirled, aflame with unconcealed rage.
From behind the marble partition stepped a stately young woman, also dressed in the uniform of a Sailor Senshi, although the dominant hue of her own attire was deepest ebony. Nocturnal hair flowed disjointedly down the Senshi's back, delicately sweeping against her obsidian mantle and high boots adorned generously with diminutive buckles and straps. Entwined multiple times about the dark Senshi's ivory wrapped arms, a glittering topaz chain shone, reflective of the frozen landscape's sheen. The Sailor Soldier had the distinct aura of destructive power and menace, her tawny, topaz eyes scintillating and absolutely deadly. Undoubtedly, Taurus knew instantly that this ebony Sailor Senshi had been responsible for the petrified state of these civilians.
Taurus's own fiery gaze failed to waver at the sight of this new Senshi, ire already stirred and blazing hotly. "What did you do to this city, Sailor Scorpio?" she growled, attempting to grant the other a chance to explain.
"What do you think, Sailor Taurus?" The dark lady, Sailor Scorpio's, tone was completely arctic. "These people, your people, have transgressed against sacred law." She briefly gestured with her head to the frozen people strewn about, never breaking eye contact with the Sailor Senshi in green. "This is their penalty."
"They have done nothing, Scorpio!" The brunette shouted, rage exploding throughout her mind as her eyes clouded over, ready to engage in combat. "You will explain yourself!"
The dark golden glower grew fiercer, to the point of being potentially lethal, if such a thing were possible. "Why don't YOU explain yourself, Taurus, considering that the actions of these creatures are YOUR responsibility!" Scorpio grit out.
Taurus advanced a single step towards the east. "I haven't the slightest idea what you mean, Sailor Soldier. What are you proposing that I am responsible for?"
Scorpio remained still, challenging the fellow Sailor Warrior to come closer. "You may begin…" the ebony haired entity spoke softly, voice echoing intensely and venomously, "with the exact location of my grandson. Considering he was supposed to marry your own granddaughter."
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King Tantalus, for those who don't know the myth, was close to the gods in Greek mythology (if you've read my other fanfic, Sailor Moon: Heirs of Tomorrow, you can skip this part about Tantalus). However, he wanted to know if they really knew everything. So, to test them, he murdered his son, cooked the body and served it to the gods for dinner. The gods, however, realized before they ate what Tantalus had done (except for one), and they imprisoned the king in Tartarus, a special place for sinners in the Underworld.
Ceres is a dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt, situated between Mars and Jupiter; it acts as a dividing line between the inner and outer planets in the Solar System. The planet itself is named after the Roman goddess of grain, plants and crops, Ceres (Demeter is her Greek name). If you're a Sailor Moon manga fan, I needn't really say this, but there is a canon Sailor Ceres. Eleusis is not an actual location on Ceres, but it was a city in the past that was sacred to Demeter.