Thank you SOOO much everyone for your comments
Your feedback, whether positive or negative means a lot to me and I really, really appreciate it especially because this is my very first FanFic and all
Well anyway, this is the longest chapter in my story so far because multiple events are happening
btw, all of the events in this chapter occur in the same day as chapter 5 in case you may be wondering
and again, thank you! :D
Note: the ending for this FanFic is still in progress...
Disclaimer: I'll just get straight to the point: Sailor Moon is not mine...never has, never will be
Mars flung the double doors opened to the 20-foot high ceiling war meeting room only to be greeted by five surprised pairs of eyes piercing through her. She was wearing a face of unmistakeable panic that achieved her confused stares from the Sailor Scouts and a death glare shot by her husband. Mars quickly averted her eyes down to the glossy marble floor and scurried across the room to stand adjacent to Venus, being far as possible from Endymion.
"Pardon my tardiness," she began to the room at large, "please continue."
Endymion ignored his wife and spoke, "What were you saying about the Silver Crystal, Mercury?"
"A few weeks ago, I constructed a tracking device to find the Silver Crystal because it can't just disappear and without it, as we all know, we're vulnerable to Giopiana."
"But Serenity died," Jupiter took a sheepish glance toward Endymion before proceeding. "Didn't it disintegrate with her?"
"Very likely it did but we can always hope it's still out there. We need very little bit of advantage we can get over Giopiana. Besides, we have a lead. The tracking device detects the energy of the crystal to be somewhere near the palace if not in it."
Venus spoke this time, "How come you can't locate where it is?"
"I'm still working on the device and I haven't quite figured out how to wire the device to pinpoint the precise origin of the energy yet. The device is still a work in progress I'm afraid."
"If the crystal still exists, what about Serenity?" Mars voice was hardily audible but it did manage to silence the room. Everyone knew that the existence of the Silver Crystal meant that Serenity still existed but they knew better than to voice their thoughts aloud with Endymion present.
As always, Endymion was the first to steep out and puncture the suffocating silence that clenched the room. "It doesn't matter," he lied. "Mercury, I just want you to find that crystal so we can get this war over with. Venus, any news about Giopiana's advancement toward Crystal Tokyo?"
"None, sir," Venus obediently replied.
"Pardon me for interrupting, your majesty, but I would like to propose a suggestion that might aid our search for the crystal."
"Well, what are you waiting for?" the king snapped at Mercury.
"The device also senses a tie between the new maid, Sierra, and our former queen. Perhaps she knows something about the crystal."
"Who in the world is Sierra?"
Mars stepped out, eager to defend the overly shy maid and her new acquaintance. "She's the poor soul you scarred with your berserk outbursts earlier today and yesterday."
"I hardly believe that maid can be of any guidance. She can't do anything right."
Mars cocked her head and presented a warm smile, "Perhaps if you were less demeaning toward the girl, she'll open up to you and you'll realize what a wonderful person she is."
He scoffed at the advice and departed the room to be alone with his thoughts.
Venus came to Mars' side and put her arm around the queen s shoulder to comfort her. "I apologize your highness for speaking ill of your husband but he sure is a jerk."
Jupiter on the other hand headed for the door. "If you'll excuse me Mars, I'm going to talk some sense into him."
Mars tried to stop Jupiter but as always, she was a quick as lightning. However, the monarch did smile at her friends' support. Although Mars didn't succeed in inheriting Endymion's heart from Serenity, she did manage to obtain the loyalty from the Sailor Scouts that Serenity once held with a confident fist.
"It'll be alright, Mars," Mercury then said.
Mars noticed the tracking device Mercury was hard at work on. She remembered the dilemma of the Silver Crystal and realized things wouldn't be fine if there was a chance that Serenity was still out there somewhere. Her position as monarch was threatened if the crystal was discovered. Something must be done.
"I know things will be fine, Mercury," every word Mars said was juiced with confidence.
Jupiter found Endymion helplessly mourning over the lifeless flowers littered over Serenity's garden. Jupiter criss-crossed across the vast field of the palace until she stood right behind the king.
"Don't you think it's time to move on?" Jupiter's boldness was no surprise to the king.
"It's none of your business."
"If it concerns my friend, it's my business."
"So? Why are you here?"
"I'm here because of how cruel you've been treating Mars for the past seventeen years after all she's done for you. She never asked to be queen, you selected her and yet, she managed to gradually fall in love with you all over again. While here you are still obsessing over Serenity. I respect your loyalty toward Serenity but have you ever thought of Mars? Is it fair to her?"
The king was rendered speechless.
"Mars rules Crystal Tokyo with a gentle hand and raises Rini as though she were her own kin. She obediently swallows your demeaning and boisterous attitude and rampages without a single complaint. Neither does she expect you to love her in return. Instead, she offers her everlasting affection unconditionally. How could you be so blind and completely scratch out such a selfless and compassionate woman out of your life?" Jupiter paused to let what she said sink in and partly because she needed to breath as well. "I'm sure Serenity would want you to move and stop grieving over her. She'd want everyone to be happy."
"Yes," Endymion finally said, "she would." He recalled the radiant content glow his deceased wife always radiated
"You can still set things right."
"Seventeen years of neglect and mistreatment? I doubt it."
"Just take one step at a time. You can start now. I know she's gone to one the pavilions in the garden passing yet another lonely afternoon as always. Now, don't say I didn't help you."
Endymion managed to twitch out a weak smile and then set out to search for the wife he's neglected for so long.
Endymion hastily traced the stone paths etched in the garden in a rush to meet his queen with his midnight robe waving behind him. Nasty smoky clouds pressed against the darken sky and everything in the garden fell into a depression, bracing themselves for the storm that would soon be beating down on them. He then noticed a figure lingering in Serenity's pavilion. Taking one last glance at the sky, he jogged toward the pavilion with hope and guilt surging through his mind.
When he reached the steps leading up to the pavilion, he opened his mouth, prepared to apologize but then realized this woman was not Queen Lady Mars.
It's that useless maid.
The girl was thoroughly engrossed in a book as she was perched on the balustrade of the pavilion leaning against one of the columns that kept that roof of the structure from collapsing.
She's pretty, perhaps, I'll give her that.
Endymion coughed into his fist to avert her attention away from her book.
Startled, Sierra looked up only to meet the eyes of the man who's caused her distraught for the past few days.
She nearly fell off the balustrade while collecting herself to make the appropriate curtsy.
"Sierra, is it?"
Still bent low in her curtsy, Sierra remind bowing while responding to the king's question. "Yes, your majesty." She didn't even bother with asking how he knew; she's already got into enough trouble with the unreasonable man. It was because of him she would wish she hadn't listened to the two Sailor Scouts and voyaged all the way to Crystal Tokyo.
"Why are you slacking off and not tending to your duties? There are plenty of other people who want this job you know."
"I'm sorry, sir. I'll get to them right away. I promise it will never happen again."
Sierra was on her way to the bottom of the pavilion when the rain started and plummeted heavily. Endymion felt pity for the girl and didn't want to see her get wet and be engulfed by the frigidness of the water. He also remembered what Mars and Mercury had said back in the meeting room.
He breathed out a sigh. "Wait," he called, "come back."
Sierras considered completely rebelling against the king and continue walking away but then again, she really needed this job and she had an ill friend that needs money as well. Besides, she didn't want to get wet either. Reluctantly and irritated, Sierra gave in and returned to the pavilion, her hair slightly dampened.
"I...uh...I'm...sorry for snapping at you earlier today."
Well, that's a first she thought.
"You shouldn't apologize, it was entirely my fault."
Endymion looked out into the garden, trying to penetrate his vision through the thick and blurry veil of rain. He couldn't go and look for Mars now. He decided to attempt tomorrow and make do with what he had now. He went over to the side of the pavilion and sat where Sierra was perched just moments ago and patted the empty spot on the balustrade, inviting her over.
"Come have a seat," he offered.
He's got to be kidding me. She eyed him hesitantly and suspiciously, scrutinizing him carefully to uncover the answer for his sudden change of heart. Her feet remained nailed to where she stood on the pavilion.
Endymion thin patience was wearing out and he blurted, "It's not a trick, in case you're wondering."
She obeyed, once again only because she feared for her job. Sierra left a large and awkward gap between them.
"So," he began. "Why did you decide to work here?" He didn't know how to begin a polite conversation with a young girl but he didn't want to come straight out and ask about the Silver Crystal.
Why would he care? "Well, I'm an orphan. I want to save money for university and I have a friend who's ill and needs money for medical care." She decided to leave out the part where she came from Neptune. She didn't want him pestering about her origins. Everything else was true though. She was even planning to go ask permission from the Head of Palace Proceedings if she could take a leave from the palace to visit her friend she met during her first few days in Crystal Tokyo. Sierra's friend was the one who helped her adapt to the new planet before she found the palace.
"I see." Intelligent, caring, and responsible. She'd be a good role model for Rini he thought. Serenity was like that too. Although at first she was lazy with her education, after she became queen, she was eager to learn in order to inspire her people and set an example for Rini. He quickly dismissed his wandering thoughts of Serenity and drew himself back to the conversation.
Though, a sudden silence stretched between them.
Forget this. Endymion settled that he didn't have the patience to slowly build up to the golden question he wished to inquire. It would drive him mad. He decided to get things done and over with.
"What do you know about the Silver Crystal?"
Sierra was aghast. She probably stared at him with the most clueless expression. "The what?"
At that, the rain miraculously ceased and the skies cleared as the sun's radiance tore through the grey and gloomy canvas above.
Sierra heard Margaret, the head of palace proceedings faintly calling her from the kitchen of the palace. A get out of jail card she thought.
"Excuse me, your highness but now that the rain has cleared, I must resume my duties. I was my utmost honour to talk to you."
Sierra fled to the kitchen where the stern Margaret stood, waiting irritably.
"Where have you been?"
"With the king," Sierra returned flatly as she began to wiggle into the apron and take her turn helping in the kitchen.
Margaret didn't like all the attention and adoration Sierra was receiving from the royal court. What if they appoint Sierra to replace her? After all with all the money she's deceived from the court...
Margaret's thoughts were interrupted with a crackle of glass deep inside the kitchen. She and Sierra rushed inside and saw a heap of broken glass oiled on the floor and two kitchen maids arguing. Sierra grabbed a nearby broom and began cleaning up after a mess that wasn't hers and asked, "Why are you two arguing now?"
Sierra was sprawled on the floor sweeping as the two girls explained over her.
"Yuki overheard the king and Sailor Jupiter talking and she heard that the king is going to let go of his grief for Queen Serenity! How could he do that? She's done so much for him and Crystal Tokyo."
"What's wrong with that, Mika?" Sierra said toward the floor. "It's about time he moved on; after all, it's been seventeen years. It's not fair to Queen Lady Mars."
"What do you know?" Mika said. "You've been here for less than a month. You're only saying that because she's nice to you. You don't deserve to have a say in this conversation."
"Stop now you two," snapped Margaret. "We better get this cleaned up and start preparing for dinner."
Sierra then stood up and approached Margaret with the broom still clutched in her hands, remembering what she had wanted to ask. "Actually, I was wondering if I may take a leave from the palace and stay in the city for a week to visit my friend. I know I've only been here for three weeks and-"
"Okay, fine. Go and pack your stuff now. You leave tonight." Margaret sought this as the perfect opportunity to temporary get rid of her competition. Only she could be the Head of Palace Proceedings.
While Sierra thought that was easy. She immediately removed her apron and sprinted for the employee chambers to pack her stuff. She changed out of her maid outfit and let out her hair bun.
Finally, she can officially begin her adventure in Crystal Tokyo.
Twilight was sinking and so Mars started back to the palace to dress for dinner. However, along the pathway, she heard an odd rustling in the bushes. She followed the sound and found a girl crouched on the ground in front of the bushes. Mars was facing the back of the girl so her face could not be visible but Mars could plainly see that this girl had two immensely familiar blonde pig tails.
Then suddenly, the similarities struck Mars as hard as lightning and blew her breath away.
"Serenity," she murmured.
The girl seemed to have realized someone was behind her and stood up and spun around to see who it was. Cradling a wounded bunny, the girl stood face to face with the queen and as realization smacked her, she dropped into a curtsy.
"Your highness."
Mars' hands flew to her mouth as she drew a gasp. "Sierra? Why aren't you in your maid uniform?"
Sierra felt slightly ashamed after detecting the hint of anger and irritation in the monarch's voice. "I'm sorry, my queen but I'm leaving this evening to the city to visit a friend of mine." With her free hand, she slung her backpack over her shoulder. "But I'll be returning in a week to resume my duties. I've already confirmed it with Margaret."
With one last farewell curtsy, Sierra started toward the gates of the palace. At a fleeting glance, Mars noticed Sierra was wearing a school uniform making her appear much like Serena. Mars also observed that a golden locket dangled from Sierra's neck.
Mars knew that no one else must discover the striking similarity between Sierra and the former monarch.
Panic and denial was settling in.
Mars had found the Silver Crystal.
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