A/N: I do not own Sailor Moon it belongs to Takeuchi Naoko. All OC's belong to me; any similarity to other fan-made characters is purely coincidental.

HUGE thanks to my Beta: for putting up through my severe case of writers block.

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to the birthday of RingLupine, who is not only my very first reviewer (hint hint, wink wink), but also a real life friend of mine. Happy Birthday RingLupine, I'm so glad you love this story!

Reaping Cherries

Book 1 Chapter 3: Banishment

Not much had happened in the last two years.

My friendship with Thaddeus and Amara had grown and I now considered Amara my best friend.

My relationship with Talya had grown into mutual respect for our abilities. He was beginning to understand that as a Sailor Soldier I did not have to rely on him all the time. We could not exactly be called friends, but we were at least making a start.

My 18th birthday was fast approaching and Queen Serenity had insisted that we hold the party at the Lunar Palace. I readily agreed; there was no way I could say no to the woman who raised me.

~dream~

A week later it was time for the party.

I was dressed in a long silver dress held up by thin straps. I also wore opal earrings, an opal pendant on a silver chain, my headdress, and silver heels.

I was escorted into the ballroom by Thaddeus with Talya walking behind us.

Queen Serenity smiled when we joined her, "Happy birthday, Nehellenia."

I bowed, "Thank you, Queen Serenity."

"You are welcome, Nehellenia, now go and enjoy yourself," she smiled and motioned toward the crowd.

I nodded and headed out into the crowd.

As I moved through the crowd I was greeted and wished a happy birthday by many of the party goers.

I stopped when I reached the other planetary royals who were standing in a group off to one side.

"Happy birthday Nehellenia!" Princess Serenity hugged me tightly.

"Thank you Serenity," I smiled and hugged her back.

The others also wished me a happy birthday as well.

"Where is Amara?" Thaddeus asked before I could. I had noticed Amara was not among our group.

"She is over there, talking to Lady Acire," Princess Lita pointed over to Amara who walk talking to a woman about my height with dark brown hair pulled into an ornate bun.

"It looks more like flirting to me," I commented, "I will see what she is up to."

I made my way through the small crowd of well-wishers to Amara and Lady Acire.

"Hello Amara," I greeted, "Lady Acire."

"Hello Nehellenia," Amara smiled and hugged me, "happy birthday."

"Greetings Princess," Lady Acire bowed, "I wish you happy birthday."

"Thank you both," I smiled. "I was wondering why you were not with the others?"

"Oh, I just needed to speak with Lady Acire for a moment, she tells some wonderful stories," Amara said. She then winked at Acire, who blushed.

"If you will excuse me your majesties I have something important to tell the queen," She bowed again and wandered off in the direction of Queen Serenity.

"You know you should just tell Princess Michelle you like her already instead of flirting with everyone else," I told her. Amara had been pining for the Neptunian princess for several months now and had yet to confess her feelings.

Amara blushed and rubbed the back of her neck, "You know I am no good with confessions."

"I have trouble with enclosed spaces and yet I finally got through that last part of the obstacle course," I retorted.

"And that took you the better part of eight months," she said.

"Just do it already, you will be happier because of it," I told her.

"What would you know about it? It is not like you and my brother are head over heels for each other," she responded, folding her arms across her chest.

I rolled my eyes, "If you will not do it, then I will."

"You would not!" She gasped.

"I would so," I nodded, smirking. "I will make you a deal, you tell Princess Michelle you like her, and I shall be your only sparring partner for the next six months."

She bit her lip, thinking, until finally she nodded, "Deal."

I smiled and together the two of us walked back to the group, I winked at Thaddeus as Amara asked Princess Michelle if they could talk alone. I could not help but smile when I noticed that Amara's face was a red as Princess Raye's dress.

~dream~

The party was entertaining, all of my gifts were lovely, and the food was delicious. I just could not help from noticing the added security though, and Talya was no less than ten feet away at all times.

When the party was just about to break up, the doors opened and a tall woman with flaming red hair and matching eyes wearing a skintight strapless blue dress stalked into the room. She was followed by a hoard of creatures that were so bizarre that I could not even begin to describe them.

The guests without any fighting experience ran away from the woman, screaming in fright. I tensed as Talya moved to stand slightly in front of me in a protective posture. Princess Serenity ran to join her mother, Thaddeus gripped the hilt of his sword, and the other princesses stood ready to transform.

"The days of the Silver Millennium are numbered!" She shouted, "Attack, my youma!"

The creatures moved swiftly and I quickly transformed into Sailor Dreamer, multicolored flashes of light out of the corner of my eyes told me the others had transformed as well.

Both Talya and Thaddeus drew their swords and joined the fray.

The youma were weak and easily defeated, soon Talya had the woman's hands trapped behind her back and had her kneeling before Queen Serenity.

"Tell me your name," The Lunar queen stood tall and proud, her power obvious.

"I will know if you lie," I said from where I stood next to Sailor Uranus.

"I am Beryl from the Easter Roman Empire of Terra," The woman answered.

"Why did you attack us?" Queen Serenity asked.

"You Lunarians believe you are above even the Gods themselves, I have come to put a stop to it," She informed us.

"We believe no such thing. You shall be placed in a holding cell while we contact the King Dimitri and Emperor Constantine.* They shall decide what to do with you," Queen Serenity stated.

The queen waved her hand and guards took Beryl away.

"She is no longer a threat; you may relax and enjoy the rest of your evening. King Dimitri, Emperor Constantine and I shall take care of Beryl," The queen said then came over to me and hugged me. "I am sorry your party was ruined."

"There will plenty more than this one, but I must say it is the most eventful birthday I have had," I offered a small smile.

She smiled back, "I must contact King Dimitri, please, excuse me."

I nodded and she left.

After Queen Serenity left the rest of us relaxed.

"You should all return to your rooms and get some rest," Luna advised, "I am sure Queen Serenity will let you know the moment a decision has been reached.

We nodded and all headed off in the direction of our rooms.

~dream~

Once inside my chambers I headed into my bedroom and changed into a more comfortable dress. When I returned to my sitting room I found Talya standing by the fire staring at a box in his hands.

"Guardian?" I asked confused.

He turned around quickly, hiding the box behind his back, "Princess!" He seemed surprised.

"I thought you would be resting," I said as I poured us both a glass of something to drink, "you fought hard today."

"Thank you. You fought well too, Princess," He said respectfully.

"Thank you," I smiled and handed him his drink. "What is that you have there?" I asked.

"Oh, this?" He pulled the box out from behind his back. It was a black leather case with my name inscribed in silver lettering. "It is two things: a birthday present and a token of respect."

I sat my goblet on the table and took the box in both hands. I balanced the box carefully in one hand and unlocked the silver clasp and lifted the lid.

Inside the box was a silver dagger inside a silver sheath, attached to the sheath was a silver chain that would allow me to wear it around my waist.

The blade itself was simple, a basic dagger with a silver hilt and an opal in the pommel. I gently closed the lid and looked at Talya with a smile.

"I was unsure as to what to get you for your birthday, so I settled for something I knew about you. Having watched you practice, I noticed you favored daggers when fighting with weapons. I had this made especially for you with the Metal of Hephaestus. It has even been blessed so that you can wear it as part of your Sailor uniform," He explained.

I smiled and set the box gently on the table, then hugged him, "Thank you. It is a very thoughtful present."

It took him a moment, but he hugged me back. His embrace was slightly hesitant and he did not hold me very tightly, "You are welcome, Princess, I am glad you like it."

I stepped away and smiled up at him, he smiled back, "We should get some rest, it has been a long day and it will be quite some time before they make a decision."

"Of course, goodnight Princess," he nodded and headed for the door.

"Goodnight," I said when he reached the door, "Zenas."

He paused for a moment then left the room.

Once he was gone I sat on the sofa and pulled the dagger from its sheath. I could see the flames reflecting off of the polished silver surface. It was a truly beautiful blade.

I flipped it around in my hand a few times to get a feel of it. It was a very well made blade; the balance and weight of it were perfect for me.

Yawning, I sheathed the dagger and placed it carefully back in the box, making sure to close it before I went into my bedchamber to sleep.

~dream~

I was woken up sometime later by a knock on my door, "Come on sleepy-head! They have made a decision about your party crasher!"

I groaned and rolled over as Amara pounded on the door again.

"I am up!" I shouted back and I could hear a distinctly non-Amara-like giggle from the beyond the door and I could only assume that Princess Michelle was with her.

I got out of bed and straightened myself up before walking out into the sitting room to find Thaddeus, Talya, Amara, and Princess Michelle sitting around the room.

Thaddeus was talking to Princess Michelle while Talya glared at Amara as she examined the dagger. I noted that the two princesses were in their Sailor forms, so I quietly transformed into mine.

"I am ready, happy?" I asked my Uranian friend.

She put the dagger down with a smile as she turned to me, "About time."

I rolled my eyes and snatched up the dagger, fastening it around my waist.

"It looks good," Uranus looked at it appreciatively.

"I have Guardian Talya to thank for it," I smiled and headed for the door.

"Really?" She asked.

"Yes," I said, "and it is well made too. The blade is made from the Metal of Hephaestus and can be worn either as Sailor Dreamer, or normally."

"That is nice," she said. "I wish I could use the Space Sword like that."

"If the princess needs to defend herself and I am not around, she will have a weapon other than her Sailor powers," Talya said, "just in case those powers fail her, you know?"

"Good idea," Thaddeus agreed.

We reached the main throne room and found the others already waiting.

Queen Serenity sat in her throne, flanked by King Dimitri on her right, and the Emperor Constantine to her left.

King Dimitri was not very tall, maybe five and a half feet with black hair and green eyes. Emperor Constantine was an older man who carried himself in a rather haughty manner and wore a very ornate toga.

I took my place in the line of Sailor Soldiers and watched as Queen Serenity announced Beryl's fate.

"After much deliberation and consideration the Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus of the Easter Roman Empire of Terra, the Terran King Dimitri Chikyu, and I, the Queen Serenity Shioritsuki of the White Moon Kingdom, have come to a decision regarding Beryl of the Eastern Roman Empire of Terra," The queen began.

"She is to be banished to the far reaches of the Sol System, never to be heard from again," King Dimitri finished.

"So it is done," Queen Serenity said, "A transport will take you to the providence of Sedna to live the rest of your life in exile. Take her away."

We watched at Beryl was taken away by guards and she kicked and screamed the whole way.

Once we could no longer hear her protests, Princess Serenity spoke, "Good riddance," She huffed, "serves her right for gate crashing my big sister's birthday party."

We could not help but chuckle.

"Emperor," King Dimitri said, "would you like to return to Terra?"

"I would actually, thank you," he nodded.

"We take our leave your majesty," King Dimitri said as he and the emperor bowed to Queen Serenity who bowed back.

"May Hermes smile upon your journey," She said as they left.

Once they were gone, we each returned to our respective palaces.

Many of us now believed Beryl was gone for good, myself included, but in the coming years we had absolutely no clue how wrong we were.

A/N: Whew...it took me forever to finally finish this chapter. I thank RingLupine for inspiring me!

*Emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus was the actual emperor of the Easter Roman Empire at the time this chapter takes place. I am trying to make my story as historically accurate as possible since I'm such a big history nerd.