This is the first half of the Silver Millennium flashback. The second half comes later. I used the English dub names for all of the Senshi except Hotaru, who is given the name Viola so she fits in with the rest of them. The Gundam characters also have different names, but they're fairly easy to guess. Enjoy!
I do not own Gundam Wing or Sailor Moon.
Only One
---Chapter Two---
There was a time when all of the planets had their own kingdoms. In those days Pluto was still known as a planet and even Earth was all one kingdom. Earth's Moon also had a kingdom and an alliance with the other planets known as the Silver Millennium. Only Earth excluded themselves from this alliance, and so the people were forbidden to contact one another. This taboo did not stop Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom and Prince Endymion of Earth from falling in love, but this is not their story.
During this time Queen Rhea of Earth was plotting a war against the Silver Millennium. The time for such things was ripe. Earth could isolate Mercury and Venus with ease. No help would come from the outer system, as Saturn was too locked in its own struggles and the princesses of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto were guarding distant regions of the system. This was the state of things in our solar system as Princess Serenity's sixteenth birthday approached.
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Prince Meridian of Venus paused inside Magellan Palace's Hall of Mirrors and sighed. There really was no way around it. Those delicate features, long eyelashes, slightly wavy blond hair with bangs hanging into his big blue eyes…
He looked like a girl.
Sure, the people of Venus were known for their looks, but the males were usually muscle-bound hunks or tall athletic types, not short, slim, pretty-boys. It didn't even matter very much that Meridian was better than his sister (who was very good at everything) at some things. Meridian sighed again. Perhaps it was a good thing, the confirmation of his betrothal to Princess Amy of Mercury. The Mercurian and Venutian kingdoms had always been on good terms; the marriage would only cement that. He'd met Amy several times, though they'd never really had a chance to talk alone, and liked her well enough. Better yet, on Mercury it was intelligence that mattered, not appearance.
Another reflection joined his, interrupting Meridian's thoughts. The two reflections were very much alike, but this new one was more feminine in features (mostly due to the long blond hair adorned with a red bow) and completely feminine in dress (which Meridian, thankfully, was not). The girl looked at their reflections for a moment, wondering what her brother saw that made him frown so deeply, before turning to him. "Mama wants us to teleport soon."
Meridian looked away. "All right."
His twin sister wasn't finished. "She's worried."
"Of course she's worried, Mina. No one knows when Earth is going to attack or which kingdom will be their first target. Everyone thinks it will be our own planet because we're the closest, so Mother is sending us away. I won't say 'to safety', because I personally think the Moon is a much likelier target."
Mina stared at her twin. "What makes you say that?"
"It's even closer to Earth, which everyone seems to forget, and this week there will be not just princesses but dignitaries from all of the planets at the Moon Palace for Princess Serenity's birthday. From a tactical point of view it's the perfect time and the perfect target."
Mina bit her lip. "We have to get ready to leave," she said quietly.
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Ambassador William Chang of Pluto looked over the group he was to pilot through the asteroid belt and to the teleportation point on Io, one of Jupiter's moons. All four were in their late teens, like him. William felt that Prince Triton of Neptune would be the least trouble; he was certainly the quietest. The highest nobles Uranus had managed to send were Lord Erik and Lady Alyssa, Queen Urania's illegitimate twin children. William could see their mother (and thus their older half-sister Amara) in their faces, though the boy's was harder and the girl's softer than the Queen's. Lady Alyssa was trying very hard to engage Prince Shin of Saturn in a conversation, but she wasn't making much progress. The people of the ringed planet kept their affairs to themselves, and recent events on that world were known only through disturbing rumors. No wonder the long-haired brunette was distant and melancholic-looking, despite the Lady's best efforts. William sighed. This was going to be a long trip.
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Mina and Meridian had barely left the teleportation platform before Princess Serenity was running up the ramp to hug her friend. Meridian ended up walking down the ramp alone, blushing when he caught sight of Princess Amy at the bottom. She blushed too, and Meridian thought she looked quite pretty when she did so.
"Oh, Mina, I'm so excited! Raye and Amy both got here yesterday, and Lita's due any minute with the group from the outer system." The two blond girls reached the end of the ramp, where Meridian and Amy were standing awkwardly next to each other and Princess Raye of Mars was watching them, mildly amused. They all heard a whir behind them, indicating that someone had just teleported in. All turned around, curious to meet the representatives from the Outer System, but Princess Lita of Jupiter was the first to appear. She ran down the ramp to greet Serenity, and then turned to introduce the Outer group. She introduced the next person, a tall young man with light brown hair hanging in his face and covering one of his green eyes, as Prince Triton of Neptune. The other princesses exchanged a knowing glance at Lita's excited tone. Next was Ambassador Chang of Pluto, who raised an eyebrow at the small gathering. Raye raised her own black eyebrow in return. Following him was Prince Shin of Saturn, who had passionately refused to go last. Bad enough to have people staring at him as it was. Mina's face lit up when she saw him. She'd heard from Princess Viola of Saturn that her brother was good-looking, and Mina was pleased now to see that Shin was just her type. He glanced at her as he reached the bottom of the ramp, and for the first time in nearly a year, he smiled. All too soon he had to move aside and out of her view to make way for the last two members of the group.
"Lord Erik and Lady Alyssa of Uranus," Lita whispered.
Everyone knew of the scandal the twins' birth had created on their kingdom, and all were quiet. The twins looked even more alike than Mina and Meridian, with the same short, shaggy dark brown hair and cobalt eyes. They were dressed in simple clothes of navy blue. Yet Meridian found himself entranced by Lady Alyssa, and only poor Amy saw the look on his face.
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Alyssa scanned the shelves slowly, getting a feel for the library's organization. She had no idea that she was clearly visible to Meridian, who sat in a well-cushioned chair in the center area of the library, the book in his lap completely forgotten. He in turn had no idea that he was clearly visible to Amy, who lurked in the stacks, uncharacteristically spying on her betrothed. His nerve gaining with every second, Meridian cleared his throat. Alyssa whirled around, startled out of her reverie. "Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know there was anyone else in here."
Meridian smiled. "That's all right. I didn't mean to surprise you."
Alyssa smiled in return. "I assure you, it was not an unpleasant surprise. I don't believe we were properly introduced. I am Lady Alyssa of Uranus."
"Prince Meridian of Venus, the fairly obscure twin brother of Crown Princess Mina," Meridian said with a bow.
Alyssa's smile faded. "It was a pleasure meeting you, your highness. Now if you'll excuse me, I must find my own brother." She curtsied and turned to leave.
Meridian rushed to catch her. "Wait!" He reached for her arm. Alyssa stopped and stared at him. Meridian pulled his hand back, now far less sure of himself. "Why must you leave?"
"Because, your highness," Alyssa said coldly, "I am not royalty. I represent my world's royalty nonetheless, and it is essential for the planets of the Silver Millennium to remain on good terms with each other. I came with the hopes of befriending all of the princesses. Becoming as close to you as I and apparently you would like would ruin any chances of friendship with Princess Amy of Mercury, to whom you are betrothed, and in turn the other princesses because they are her friends. I see in your eyes that you think it might just be worth it, but I cannot agree. We can't ruin other lives for the sake of love that is only a possibility."
Meridian stepped closer, and Alyssa did not step back. "I think it is more than a possibility, Lady Alyssa."
She looked into his hopeful blue eyes and knew he was right, but Alyssa forced herself to turn away. As she did she caught a glimpse of blue between the shelves, both dark and light. "I'm sorry," Alyssa whispered. She began to walk away again, but this time Meridian moved in front of her. Without a word the prince of Venus kissed the outcast daughter of Queen Urania.
From her vantage point Amy gasped, but she knew the couple didn't hear her. She turned around, her mind moving faster than ever. How could he do this to her? They had known since the age of eight that they were to be married. Both had accepted the fact, and Amy had thought that Meridian was even starting to like the idea. But then some girl shows up and just steals him away without a bit of effort! And she had the nerve to say… Amy's thoughts came to a screeching halt as she realized she was staring straight into the steely-blue eyes of Alyssa's twin brother, Erik.
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Prince Shin leaned forward against the balcony railing, staring up into the star-studded sky. He wished Viola was here. Only a few years ago the Prince and Princess of Saturn were well-known pranksters and generally happy children. That had changed when their mother, the Queen and ruler of Saturn, died from a mysterious illness. Their father was to serve as regent until Viola was of age to rule. And then that damned prophecy had been found. It stated clearly (not even in figurative language, but flat out) that Sailor Saturn would destroy the Silver Millennium before the Moon had its next queen. The king and his councilors decided that Viola would be sealed away within the planet. The two siblings had no say in the matter. Shin was forced to watch as his sister was sealed; watched as the other three princesses of the Outer System were given the keys to Viola's seal. That was a year ago. Now the king was also dying, possibly from the same disease that killed his wife, but he refused to officially name his son as his heir. Not that Shin wanted to be king. His planet's government was a mess, and where was he? On the Moon for a birthday party that wasn't even for two more days. He sighed heavily.
"I don't think your planet is visible from this side of the palace," a female voice said from the doorway behind him.
"I wasn't looking for it," Shin replied without turning around. He heard the soft click of her heeled shoes on the marble floor of the balcony as she joined him at the railing. Shin glanced at the girl out of vague curiosity. The newcomer was one of the girls from this afternoon, the one he'd smiled at. Her yellow dress was just a bit less elegant than her earlier one, and now he noticed the red ribbon in her long blond hair.
She scanned the sky before them, her blue eyes lingering on a particular distant star. "Do you miss it?"
Shin's gaze returned to the heavens. "No."
The girl sighed. "No, I don't suppose you would. I'm Mina of Venus, by the way."
Shin raised an eyebrow. "Are you always this forward with royalty you just met?"
He was suddenly on the receiving end of a fierce glare. "Apparently you didn't notice, but I'm royalty too."
Shin mentally smacked himself. Princess Mina of Venus, of course. "Sorry. My mind… honestly, I don't know where it's gone. Traitorous thing ran away from me."
Mina's look instantly softened. "Perhaps it felt it wasn't being used enough."
Shin chuckled. "Or too much. I've been doing a lot of thinking lately."
"That's like my brother Meridian. He's too analytical. It will be all right when he goes to live on Mercury, but at home it's mostly annoying."
"Is he older or younger than you?"
"We're twins, but I'm actually a few minutes older."
"Why is he going to live on Mercury?"
"Oh, you wouldn't know all of the court gossip, would you? Meridian and Princess Amy are betrothed. They'll become engaged when they're both eighteen and get married at twenty-one. It was all arranged years ago."
Shin was surprised. "An arranged marriage? And they don't mind?"
Mina laughed. "It's hopelessly old-fashioned, I know, but they've gotten used to the idea."
Shin calmed down a bit. "Are you betrothed?"
Mina looked up again, this time focusing on the spectacular view of Earth. "No. Mother was pushing for one of the Earth's generals, but that isn't very likely now, is it?"
Shin turned to the stars again. "No, I suppose not."
---End Chapter Two---
Just for confirmation, Duo was Shin, Heero was Erik, Ameiro was Alyssa, Trowa was Triton, Quatre was Meridian, and Wufei was William. Thank you for your attention, and please review!