Chapter Six
Discovered
"But, my princess, I fear you are not paying attention," the voice of Serenity's chief political advisor, Egeria, cut through her daydream. Serenity blinked, brought back to reality. Now that Endymion had left, life on the Moon had returned to its usual hum-drum pace. The Princess's council, which had taken a recess for the Millennial festivities, was back in full swing, with a mile-long list of business requiring Serenity's attention that had piled up over the break.
Serenity sighed and looked at the older woman, who had been an advisor to Serenity's mother before she died, with an expression of chagrin. "You're right, Egeria. I was a bit distracted. Could you repeat that?"
Egeria shook her head, stepping closer to quietly reprimand the princess. "Your highness, I understand that you are probably still tired from the hectic month we've had. But you must remember, your first priority must always be your royal duties. In two short years, you will be crowned Queen and sovereign in your own right. You will no longer be able to rely on me and your other regents to make your decisions for you. You must start taking some responsibility now!"
"I understand, Egeria," Serenity said placatingly. She had heard this speech so many times that she could probably have recited it in time with her, but she daren't point this out for fear that she'd get another lecture. "I will strive to do better."
From her position to the side of Serenity's throne, Makoto leaned surreptitiously toward Ami. "That's the third time Serenity's spaced out during just this session," she whispered, suppressing a giggle. "I bet she'll do it at least two more times before it's over."
Ami grinned, whispering back, "She just misses Endymion. She'll be back to normal in a day or two."
Makoto smirked at her. "But what about you?"
Ami reddened, but didn't respond, her attention instead returning to the report Egeria was giving. "Pluto has sent their approval to your proposal of introducing Earth into the union. However, they stipulate that Earth be admitted on a probationary basis before full membership is granted, to ensure that the Earthlings do not overstep any boundaries that would threaten the union," Egeria read.
"Excellent!" Serenity burst excitedly. "That only leaves Uranus and Neptune to approve the motion!"
"Indeed your highness," Egeria replied. "In their message, the Plutonians stated that they were initially wary of the proposal, based on our past history with Earth. However, they changed their opinion after meeting Prince Endymion and his vassals at the Millennium Ball."
"I knew that would work!" Serenity exclaimed gleefully. "I knew that once they met him, they would realize the truth!" The Princess could scarcely control her elation. The reaction among the Senshi, however, was more mixed. To the side of Serenity's throne, Minako struggled to conceal her disappointment and annoyance. She knew the Plutonians' concern was well-founded, but would probationary status do any good? Once the Earthlings had access to the Moon Kingdom and the Planetary Alliance, it might be too late to stop the impending disaster. Was everyone except Minako blind?
No. Zoisite wasn't. Zoisite understood. But what good did that do her? And thinking of him just made her blood boil. She tried to push him out of her mind.
Meanwhile, Ami's thoughts were preoccupied with the Plutonians' stipulation. 'Based on our past history with Earth,' she repeated internally. There it is once again. Every person I know, every planet in the union is referencing this mysterious event in the past. It influences every aspect of our lives. And yet no one knows what it is. How? Why? She set her jaw. I have to find out. It's essential.
She leaned closer to Makoto. "I need to talk to you when the council lets out," Ami whispered.
"Okay. What about?" Makoto asked.
"I need your help with something."
Makoto nodded, and turned her attention back to Egeria, who seemed to be near the end of her report. "Our last order of business, Highness, is that our astronomers have reported that the Comet of the Ethereals will be passing through our system in just a few weeks."
A ripple of excitement emanated through the room. "That's wonderful news!" Serenity said. "Have the Ethereals been in contact yet?"
"Not yet, my princess," Egeria replied. "But there can be no doubt that they intend to pay a visit to your court. The Princess of the Moon is a special favorite of the beings of Etherea."
Serenity beamed. "We shall have to be well-prepared for them, then! We must begin making provisions for their stay immediately."
"I shall see to it, your highness," Egeria agreed.
"Very well," Serenity said. "Then I call this session of the Council of the Moon to a close. Egeria, if you will accompany me, I would like to begin those preparations now." She rose, and the Senshi filed out of the room behind her.
"What did you want to talk to me about?" Makoto asked, taking Ami aside after Serenity and Egeria had departed. "You said you needed my help."
"I do. You heard what Egeria said in the report about Pluto?"
"Yeah, I think it's great that Pluto agreed to Earth entering the union. We're almost at a unanimous vote now," Makoto replied.
"Yes, but she also said that they wanted to admit them on a probationary basis, because of our 'past history with Earth,' right?" Ami prodded.
"Yeah, so?"
"So, what is that past history, Mako? Do you know?"
Makoto opened her mouth to answer, but paused, considering. At last, she said, "Not really."
"Exactly!" Ami exclaimed. "No one does! Don't you think that's strange?"
"It is, now that you mention it," Makoto admitted.
"Nephrite and I did a lot of talking about this before he left, and we think that the key to ending this feud once and for all is to find out what caused it. But we looked all over the library and we found nothing," Ami explained. "So we're thinking that if an account exists anywhere, it must be hidden somewhere in the palace."
Makoto nodded pensively. "That makes sense. So you want me to help you look?"
"Yes," Ami replied.
"All right then. Let's go."
As Ami and Makoto scurried off to search the palace, Rei was accompanying Minako back to her apartment. "It's so exciting that the Ethereals are returning, isn't it?" Rei said conversationally.
"Yeah," Minako blandly replied.
Rei scoffed. "That's it? I thought you'd have at least a little more enthusiasm. Aren't you looking forward to seeing Artemis again?" She gave Minako an appraising glance. "You're mad that Pluto approved the motion, aren't you?"
Minako looked at her hard. "Aren't you even the slightest bit concerned that this could work out really badly?"
"Not particularly," Rei said breezily. "Unlike some people, I don't fear change."
Minako spluttered indignantly. "That's not what this is about! There's more to it than fear of change!"
"If you say so, Minako," Rei replied skeptically. Then she smiled. "Anyway, you don't have to start worrying just yet. After all, Uranus and Neptune have yet to approve the motion. We need a unanimous vote from all the planets in the union. You know perfectly well that those two aren't going to be an easy sell."
"Maybe not," Minako agreed, trying to summon back some optimism. She glanced out the window of the hallway as they walked, and caught a glimpse of her own reflection. She stopped, looking over her appearance this way and that. Rei watched in amusement as Minako began furiously adjusting her dress, pulling at the skirt, tugging on the bodice, pushing the sleeves higher up on her shoulders.
"What are you doing?" Rei snickered after a moment.
"Nothing," Minako hastily replied, dropping her hands. She appraised her reflection another moment, before erupting, "That man!"
Rei started. "What man? Mina, what are you talking about?"
Minako blushed. "No one. Never mind." She kept walking, looking down at her feet.
"I will not never mind!" Rei snapped in reply. "What is your problem recently? You've been acting completely insane, and you'll never tell me what's wrong! I can't stand it!"
Minako stopped in her tracks, looking up at Rei guiltily. "Rei... I'm sorry. I'm not being fair to you."
"Minako, did something happen between you and Zoisite?" Rei asked pointedly.
Minako's heart leapt into her throat. She knows, she thought, she knows what I'm doing. But she quickly pushed that out of her mind. That's ridiculous. She can't know anything. Even her spiritual powers don't show her that much detail. She forced a smile. "Of course not! You're reading too much into everything."
Rei shrugged. Perhaps she was overanalyzing things. Still, she had felt something between them the day Endymion left, she was sure of it! "Maybe," she acknowledged. "But it just seems like ever since they came here, you've been acting so strangely… I thought it might have something to do with him. I mean, you two were at each other's throats, and suddenly I see you strolling through the gardens together—" Minako was avoiding her eyes now— "And just before they left, I sensed a strange aura coming off the two of you."
Minako turned, looking back out the window. After several moments' silence, Rei said softly, "Minako," she said softly. "Don't let that man get to you. I don't know what he said to you, but just forget it. You're better than that."
Minako smiled. "I know, Rei," she said. "But really, you've got it all wrong. It's nothing like that."
"Of course not," Rei agreed, still not feeling entirely convinced. "Just remember… I'm here for you, no matter what."
Hours later, Makoto slumped, exhausted, into a plush armchair in the last of the many studies that she and Ami had spent the morning searching. "I don't think there's a single inch of this place that we haven't searched yet," she sighed. "I'm beginning to think that if any documents about the Earth ever existed, they've been destroyed by now."
Ami sank into the chair across from her. "You're probably right," she acknowledged in despair.
"But the question is, why? Why would that have happened?" Makoto wondered. "I had never even thought about it before, but now I can't let it go. What could be so dangerous to know that our ancestors would keep it from us?"
Ami shook her head, wondering the same thing. Then, without warning, realization dawned her. "Our ancestors," she repeated.
"What?"
"Mako, I just had a thought. Not even a thought, really... more a feeling. My ancestor, Princess Mariel..."
"The first Sailor Mercury?"
"Yes, but she was more than that: she was also the first official archivist of the Moon Kingdom." Ami leapt to her feet. "And I have a hunch that she holds the key to unlocking this mystery."
Serenity stood on the balcony outside her chambers, taking in the afternoon sun. The excitement of planning for the Ethereals' return had worn off, leaving a familiar emptiness in its wake.
I wish Endymion was here, Serenity thought sullenly. I want to tell him about the Ethereals. She closed her eyes, imagining his reaction. Endymion was so fascinated by the other worlds that he had never able to come in contact with on Earth. She could picture his excited face in her mind, hear the excited questions he would ask... Endymion had a way of making a life that had always seemed so ordinary to Serenity into something wonderful and exciting.
Serenity wandered back into her chambers, turning to her constant companion in times of loneliness: her harp. Playing it always helped her think clearly, and its music had a way of filling the empty space and making her feel less alone.
She began plucking the strings listlessly. "No one understands me the way Endymion does," she sighed to herself. "I love my friends, but... to them, I'll always be the Princess first. No one sees me as myself. No one except him." She looked forlornly out the wide double doors at the immense blue and green orb hovering in the sky. "I wish I could see him."
An idea flashed through Serenity's mind just then, a memory of times past, before anyone else had known about Endymion. She looked around her empty chamber. There's no one around to see me do it, she thought. If I'm back before nightfall, maybe no one will miss me...
Serenity smiled deviously. Endymion... I'll be with you soon.
Ami and Makoto stood in the midst of the deserted courtyard. In its center stood the large fountain; surrounding it were life-sized sculptures of the original five Guardians of the Moon Kingdom.
"Well, we're here," Makoto said. "What kind of clue are we hoping to find here?" She looked around curiously at the familiar faces of the ancient Senshi.
"I don't know," Ami admitted, beginning to feel a bit silly for having followed this hunch in the first place. "I was hoping Mariel would give me a sign of some sort." She looked down, embarrassed.
Makoto leveled her gaze at Ami for a moment. Then, setting her shoulders, she said, "Well, if you feel so strongly, maybe that's a sign in and of itself." She approached the statue of Mariel and began inspecting it for anything unusual that may have gone detected for all these centuries.
Ami watched her uncertainly. Did you lead me here, Mariel? she wondered. If so, why? Please, help me.
As Makoto moved behind the statue, Ami gazed into its blank, expressionless eyes. Then her eyes traveled down, taking in the sculpture's pose as a whole. In one hand, Mariel grasped her famous bow; in the other, she held a book clutched to her heart. It symbolized her dual role as warrior and scholar. Suddenly, Ami felt drawn to the book in Mariel's hand. Slowly, she moved toward the statue.
"I don't see anything," Makoto said, coming back around the statue just as Ami lifted her hand, almost in a trance, and touched the book. As her fingers brushed against it, both Ami and the statue began to glow with an unearthly blue light. Makoto gasped as the glimmering symbol for the planet Mercury appeared on the sculpture's forehead, as if acknowledging Ami as Mariel's heir. Then the ground began to shake. Makoto struggled to keep her balance as, suddenly, the fountain in the courtyard's center began to move. As it shifted, a staircase leading down into a tunnel beneath the Palace gardens was revealed.
As the movement ceased, the glowing light subsided and Ami fell out of her trance. Blinking to regain her focus, she and Makoto stared, astounded, int the dark passageway.
"Wow," Makoto breathed. "I... I'd say that counts as a sign."
"Definitely," Ami agreed, her heart still pounding from the strange encounter with the statue. She'd had no idea that her powers were connected to Mariel's like that. It was a bit unnerving.
"So... should we find out what's down there?" Makoto suggested at last.
Ami nodded. "Can you make a light?" she asked.
"I think so," Makoto affirmed. She concentrated a moment, holding out her hand. A small orb of crackling, luminescent electricity began to form there. "I should be able to hold that long enough," she said.
"Then let's go." Ami and Makoto cautiously began their descent into the mysterious passageway, where none had tread for possibly a thousand years.
At the bottom of the stairs, the girls came to a short hallway. Ensconced upon the wall was an ancient torch. Makoto transferred her ball of energy to the end of it, and the torch roared to life. She grinned. "I can start a fire almost as well as Rei!" she joked.
The hallway didn't stretch very far before opening into a medium-sized room lined with bookshelves. Against the far wall, there stood an immense writing desk. Ami approached the desk curiously. There was a piece of inscribed parchment laying upon it. Gently, Ami lifted the note. It was archaically written, but she could decipher it.
"To the finder of this letter,
"I know not how many years will have passed from the time I write this until the time you read it. Yet I know that, despite how many generations apart we are, you and I are of a kindred spirit, for this room will only reveal its secrets to my true heir.
"This study houses the information you require. It is the true account of the formation of the Moon Kingdom, the betrayal of the Earth, and of the Great Evil that nearly tore us apart.
"It was decided that this information must be withheld from the populace, for we know that the temptation of the Great Evil is extremely potent, and it is imperative that this power remain sealed for the protection of our union.
"However, even the mighty Queen Serenity could not keep this seal in place forever. Your very presence, dear reader, means that the seal has weakened, and the Moon is in danger once again. You must use the information you will find here to prevent the cataclysm that will surely befall our people if the Great Evil is unleashed.
"Read, and learn. The fate of the Moon Kingdom is in your hands.
"Mariel of Mercury, Archivist of the Moon Kingdom."
When Ami finished reading, she and Makoto stood in stunned silence. At last, Makoto spoke. "That... is not the sort of thing I was expecting to find."
"Me, either," Ami agreed, replacing the parchment on the desk with shaking hands. "This... Great Evil she speaks of... I've never heard of such a thing!"
"But it seems to be connected to the 'Earth's betrayal'," Makoto replied. "I guess if we want to know more, we'll have to read some of these books." She looked around at the many shelves, daunted. "But where to begin?"
Ami inspected a row of books more closely. She pulled a tome from its shelf. Its spine read, Chronicles of the Moon Kingdom, Volume 1."I suppose we should start at the beginning," she said, handing Makoto another volume. "It's going to be a long day."
In the end, they weren't there so long after all. The light from the torch proved difficult to read by, and it turned out that the archaic writing style of the ancients was even more difficult to decipher. Ami, who in her capacity as current archivist of the kingdom was learned in the ancient tongue, had an easier time of it than Makoto. In the end, it was decided that Ami would take the first few chronicles back to the palace with her to see if she could find anything important.
This was how Makoto found herself wandering the palace gardens that afternoon, frustrated at how little she'd been able to help, despite how close they'd been to learning the truth.
She rounded a corner, lost in her thoughts, and nearly walked headlong into Rei. "Oh, sorry," she apologized as the two laughed. "I didn't see you at first! I was preoccupied."
"You're not the only one," Rei said knowingly.
"Is something wrong?" Makoto asked.
"Mmm... not exactly. I was just thinking about how much everything has changed since those men were here," Rei admitted.
"How so?"
"It's... not something I can really put into words," Rei said at last. "It's just a feeling."
"Like your powers?"
"Yeah. Everyone's auras have been in so much turmoil." She sighed. "But no one seems to be noticing it besides me."
"Well, what about Minako?" Makoto asked.
"She's the worst one!" Rei bemoaned. "She has been acting so strange recently."
"She's probably still tense because no one else has a problem with Serenity marrying Endymion," Makoto suggested. "I bet Pluto's approval probably really made her mad."
"I don't think that's all there is to it," Rei said pensively. "I sensed a strange aura between her and Zoisite just before the Earth men left."
Makoto nearly choked. "Are you serious? Minako and Zoisite?"
"I don't think it's romantic," Rei clarified. "It feels...different. Like they're up to something."
"What could the two of them be 'up to,' though?" Makoto asked, her tone dubious.
"I don't know!" Rei cried in frustration. Makoto looked at her concernedly as she inhaled and then continued, quietly. "I know it doesn't make any sense. I feel like I'm losing it. Everyone is telling me one thing, but their auras say something different. Ever since those men came, I haven't been able to read anyone clearly. It's all just a jumbled mess, and trying to sort it out makes my head spin!" Her voice broke as she added, "I wish there was some way I could just turn my power off."
"Rei," Makoto began, her face etched with worry, but the Princess of Mars turned away, gazing off into the distance.
"I heard the Princess playing her harp earlier," Rei said at last, changing the subject.
"Oh, dear," Makoto replied, her heart sinking. "I would have thought that the news about the Ethereals would put her in a good mood."
"It would have, before she knew Endymion," Rei replied. "Everything has changed since he came into the picture. I thought the change would be good, but now I'm starting to wonder..." She trailed off, then turned back to face Makoto. "Never mind. Now you know what I was thinking about. How about you? What has you so preoccupied?"
"Oh," Makoto said, turning red. "Actually, this has to do with the Earth, too," she admitted.
"Why am I not surprised?" Rei said with a wry smile. "Well, what is it?"
"Ami and I have been trying to find out more about the cause of the rift between the Earth and the Moon," Makoto explained. "We spent the day searching the palace for any record of it."
"Oh?" Rei responded. "I'd be interested to know about that myself. Did you find anything?"
"Not exactly," Makoto replied hesitantly, not sure if she should say anything about Mariel's study. She decided that this was Ami's secret to tell, not hers. "I'll let you know if we learn anything, though."
Rei looked at her curiously for a moment, then nodded. As the two continued toward the palace, Rei thought to herself, There it is again. It feels like everyone is keeping something from me these days. Maybe it really is just my imagination, after all...
The Mystical Silver Crystal was a very small object for one so powerful, Serenity had often remarked to herself. Though, truth be told, the Princess reminded herself, she knew very little about the extent of the Crystal's powers. She knew that it somehow kept the planets in balance, sustaining life where it otherwise might not be possible. She knew that it had the power to transport life forms all over the galaxy in a matter of moments; this was the power she'd been most interested in as a child, and what had ultimately enabled her to meet Endymion. And
she knew that its care had been entrusted to Queen Serenity in the early days of the Silver Millennium, and that this responsibility had been passed down from mother to daughter throughout the generations. Had her mother lived longer, Princess Serenity supposed that her own mother would have taught her more about the intricacies of the Crystal and its powers.
But she hadn't. Illness had struck the queen swiftly and suddenly when the Princess was only fourteen. And that was how Serenity knew that the Crystal's powers weren't limitless: they hadn't been able to save her mother's life.
Serenity pushed that painful thought out of her mind. Now wasn't the time for that. Surreptitiously, the princess had made her way to the tower in which the Crystal was kept. Now, she removed the jewel from its pedestal. No one would miss it for a few hours. They never had before. Clasping the small gem in the palm of her hand, Serenity closed her eyes as she'd done so often, and thought of nothing but the Earth: its warm, fragrant breezes, its soft grasses. She felt a familiar tingling sensation, and when she opened her eyes, she was there.
Serenity smiled broadly as she took in her surroundings. She could see the Earth palace's towers gleaming in the distance, so different from the Moon and yet so similar at once. She remembered how much she'd been struck by it the first time she saw it, one year ago. Grinning nostalgically, Serenity recalled her seventeen-year-old self, fed up of the hum-drum daily routine of royal duties and longing for an adventure. She had always been desperate to know about the planet that her own world revolved around, and yet was forbidden to her. She was also aching with curiosity to see if the power of the Crystal could fulfil her dream, as she'd suspected it could. So one day, she'd finally tried it. Little had she known then that the forbidden world was the home of a young man who'd had the same dreams as her, and who would change her life forever.
Serenity's heart fluttered at the memory, shaking her from her reverie. Excitedly, she hurried towards the looming building. It was a warm day, and she had a feeling she knew exactly where to find Endymion.
At this time of the afternoon, Endymion and the Shitennou were usually having their practice sessions. After all, it was crucial that the future king of the Earth and his guardians remain in top shape. But this warm day wasn't meant to be spent in tedious training exercises. Still in high spirits from their trip to the Moon, Jadeite and Nephrite had trouble keeping their focus; and even Kunzite agreed that perhaps one day of training could be sacrificed.
Indeed, the leader of the Shitennou found that just by being back home, in his normal routine and away from a certain Mercurian princess, his bad temper had dissipated. It all seemed almost like a dream. He was having trouble believing that he'd allowed a woman to stir such feelings of animosity toward his friend and comrade. The whole thing seemed a bit silly in retrospect.
At least, that's what he was telling himself.
Thus, Kunzite found himself overseeing a friendly contest between the Prince and the Shitennou, a test of strength. As he, Zoisite, and Endymion watched in amusement, Jadeite and Nephrite squared off in an arm-wrestling match. "Don't lose to him, Jadeite!" Kunzite goaded, grinning. "Go for it! Hang in there!"
"Shut up, Kunzite!" Nephrite laughed through gritted teeth as he stalwartly resisted Jadeite's arm.
Zoisite glanced at Kunzite, relieved that his antagonism towards Nephrite seemed to be good-natured. Perhaps the damage wasn't irreparable.
After a few more moments, Nephrite ultimately slammed Jadeite's hand down on the table. "I did it!" he proclaimed, laughing and turning to Zoisite, who slapped him high five.
"You did!" Zoisite commended him enthusiastically.
"All right, Nephrite, so you were able to best Jadeite," Endymion said. "But what about me?"
"Ohhh," the other men hooted at the challenge.
Nephrite grinned. "May the best man win," he said, extending his arm. "I won't go easy on you, Master."
"The same goes for me," Endymion replied. With that, the match began. Nephrite gave a valiant effort, but in the end, Endymion proved too strong for him.
"Don't take it too hard," Kunzite teased as Nephrite nursed his wounded pride.
"Yeah, the Master's just the best!" Jadeite added, looking up at the prince admiringly. Endymion smiled broadly in return.
Wonderful, Zoisite thought proudly. Our bonds of brotherhood are growing ever stronger. Surely the Master must see that this is more important than...
"Endymion!" a female voice interrupted Zoisite's thought. Horrified, he turned to see his worst fear made reality: Princess Serenity was approaching the group from across the field, waving brightly.
What is she doing here? Zoisite thought, enraged. How did Venus let her slip away? Isn't she doing anything at all to keep an eye on her princess?
"Serenity!" Endymion cried in surprise. He hurried over to embrace her. "What are you doing here?"
"I know we hadn't planned to meet again so soon," Serenity said, blushing lightly. "But I had some important news that I wanted to share with you, so I thought I might pay you a short visit."
"Of course," Endymion said, taking her arm. He looked to his vassals. "I hope you won't mind if I leave you gentlemen for the time being."
"Certainly, Master," Kunzite said at last. He felt taken aback, although he wasn't quite sure why. Serenity's surprise visits were certainly nothing new. She'd been showing up often and unexpectedly for at least a year now, and it wasn't until recently that anyone but Kunzite had been privy to that secret. After covering up for them for all these months, Kunzite would have thought nothing would surprise him anymore. He wondered blandly if the introduction of a certain blue-haired soldier into his life had anything to do with these more volatile emotions. Probably, but that was not a train of thought Kunzite cared to follow at the moment.
The prince's four guardians watched as their master led Serenity out of the clearing towards the palace. "Well... I think that's enough for today," Kunzite finally said to the others.
"I agree," Zoisite stated. "I've suddenly lost my appetite for sport."
"So, what's this important news you wanted to tell me?" Endymion asked, leading Serenity to a bench and sitting beside her.
"It's kind of a long story," Serenity warned, her cheeks pinkening.
"Well, you came all this way, so you might as well tell it," Endymion taunted, grinning despite himself.
Serenity's blush deepened and she swatted his arm. "Well, if you insist," she giggled. She was amazed that after all this time, Endymion's presence still managed to make her tongue twist in knots. But she pressed on, "Have you ever heard me mention the Ethereals?"
Endymion's grin faded into an expression of serious interest. "No. Are they a part of the Moon Kingdom?"
"Not exactly," Serenity replied. "They're allies of our union, but they aren't official members... mostly because they don't actually live on a planet."
Endymion's eyes widened. "What?"
The Princess sat up straighter, delighted that her story had so caught Endymion's interest. "The Ethereals are spirit beings... actually, more like energy beings. They live on a comet that travels through the galaxy, only passing through our galaxy every few years. So we don't see them all that often. And," she added, relishing her role as storyteller to such a captive audience, "They're shape shifters."
Endymion's eyebrows flew up at that. "You mean, they can take any form they want?"
Serenity nodded. "I think so! I've seen them take all sorts of different forms, both human and animal. The ones I've met particularly favor cats."
"Wow... talking cats..." Endymion pondered this momentarily. "I'd like to meet them."
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about," Serenity replied excitedly, taking Endymion's hands into her own. "They're going to be passing through our system in just a few weeks. I would really like to introduce you to them." She looked down shyly as she continued, "Two of them in particular... Luna and Artemis... they're really special to me. They were my mother's dearest friends, and after she died... they became like parents to me." She looked back into Endymion's eyes. "I want them to meet the man I'm going to marry. Because I hope that someday... they'll be like parents to you, too."
Endymion stared at her a moment, moved to silence. When he and Serenity had first met, they'd connected over the fact that they both felt so alone in their royal world—just as Serenity had been orphaned at a young age, Endymion's mother had died in childbirth, and his father had been killed in a battle while settling a territorial dispute in the western lands. Now Serenity had found something to fill that void, and she wanted to share that with him... it was yet another reminder of what a wonderful person she was, why he loved her so much.
Endymion smiled, his heart swelling with emotion. "I'd love that," he managed at last. Serenity beamed at him, and he drew her close, kissing her gently. After a lingering moment, he pulled back. "I love you, Serenity," he whispered against her lips, before pressing his against them once more.
Serenity closed her eyes blissfully. This was all she needed—Endymion's love. How could the others not see?
With training canceled and the Shitennou dispersed, Nephrite found himself with a plethora of time on his hands and nothing to do but continue his tedious search of the royal library. He'd explored the shelves multiple times that week already, and come up with frustratingly few results. Ordinarily, he would have given up in aggravation after the first hour or two; but he'd promised Ami, and he knew that it was important, so he doggedly kept at it.
Today, he thought he would try searching for any hidden cubbies behind the shelves he'd already searched. This seemed futile, but at this point Nephrite was willing to try anything. He'd managed to strip the entire bottom shelf bare and was on his knees emptying the next one when he felt a shadow looming over him. Nephrite looked up to see a rather crotchety-looking old man hovering over his shoulder.
"Young man, what exactly do you think you're doing?" the old timer asked.
"Oh, I..." Nephrite began, embarrassedly getting to his feet. "I'm looking for something."
"Well, you won't find anything that way," the old man scolded. "Why don't you tell me what you're looking for? I've overseen the royal family's book collection for decades. I know everything in this library."
Nephrite considered for a moment; then, deciding he had nothing to lose, said, "I'm actually looking for anything about relations with the Moon Kingdom."
The old man lifted a shaggy eyebrow. "That's rather a taboo subject, young man."
Nephrite flushed. "I know, sir, but... I'm just fascinated by our glorious kingdom's history. I'd love to learn more about how the mighty kings of our past managed to protect us from the lunar menace."
The old man chuckled. "Well, I'm afraid you won't find anything about that here. These records are all much more recent." He watched as Nephrite's face fell. Considering for a moment, the old man added, "But you know... many of the kings of our past had mortuary temples constructed to honor their greatness. An antiquated tradition that has fallen into disuse. But many of these temples are still standing, and you can often find inscriptions inside that tell of important events during the king's reign."
Nephrite's eyes widened in excitement. "Really?"
The old man laughed outright at his enthusiasm. "Honestly, my boy, didn't you ever go exploring those ruins as a child? Or have children lost their sense of adventure?" Nephrite glowered, and the old man grinned. This boy certainly was fun to tease; he reacted to everything. Finally, the man patted Nephrite's shoulder jovially and leaned a bit closer. "It's the temple of King Deukalion you'll want," he said softly, so as not to be overheard. "It's a bit off the beaten path, but if you look at some of the old maps of the kingdom, you'll find it."
Nephrite smiled broadly. "Thank you, sir," he said gratefully, starting to turn towards the books of maps.
"Ehh!" the old man squawked, halting Nephrite with a prod of his cane. "First, pick up these books! Then you can go."
Glowering once more, Nephrite began to haphazardly shove books back on the shelves. He could hardly wait to get to that temple.
Lady Beryl was nothing if not determined. Many other women would have given up long before now if they were in her position. But Beryl knew better. She knew that the only way to get what she wanted in this world was to never give up, even if it meant pushing until something broke. This was how she found herself making her way to the palace yet again. Endymion had kept his silence all week long, but Beryl had a good feeling that today would be the day that she would finally get the truth out of him about his month-long disappearance.
Although, Beryl suspected she already knew. The time of Endymion's coronation as king is fast approaching, she reasoned. It's custom for the newly crowned king to renew his alliance with the four lands. He and the Shitennou were probably meeting with each of their clans, in anticipation of the ceremony. It made complete sense.
Except... there was one small problem with that theory: why would Endymion keep that a secret? Everyone knew the prince would soon be of age, and the responsibilities that went along with kingship. So why hide it from her? Unless...
Beryl stopped in her tracks. Yes, that's it! Of course! Why hadn't she realized it sooner? As soon as Endymion became king, he would be expected to take a wife and produce an heir. No wonder he's being so secretive with me—he's planning to propose, and he wants to surprise me! Her heart soared with giddy glee. After all, Beryl was the only logical choice to be made queen. She came from an excellent noble lineage, and she was the only woman in the prince's court who was close enough to Endymion to even be considered. That must be it! Overjoyed, Beryl hurried down the colonnaded path towards the palace, eager to plant herself in the Prince's path and wait for the perfect moment...
But as she rounded the corner, Beryl stopped dead in her tracks. Further down the path, she could Endymion sitting on a bench with another girl. Beryl froze for a moment, numb with shock. Then the girl rose to her feet, drawing Endymion with her, and, panicking, Beryl darted behind a column, praying they wouldn't see her.
She needn't have worried. The girl, preoccupied with her own thoughts, frolicked—frolicked! —down the path past Beryl's hiding place, Endymion on her heels, laughing. He caught the girl's wrist, turning her to face him. Giggling, the girl rose up on her toes, meeting the prince's lips in a kiss.
Stunned, Beryl watched them, as if frozen in place. The world around her seemed to come to a screeching halt, her eyes riveted on the couple before her. Vaguely, Beryl felt a stinging behind her eyes, then something warm on her cheeks. Disjointedly, she realized that she was crying. This realization seemed to snap her out of her daze. At last, Beryl managed to tear her eyes away from the two lovers, and she turned, gnawing her lip violently.
She leaned against the column for support, breathing heavily. Endymion... Endymion is...
Suddenly, violently, Beryl pushed away from the column, running as fast as she could from the sight of Endymion with that other girl. Tears blinded her as she fled, and she didn't see Jadeite until she had run into him headlong.
"Beryl!" Jadeite cried, taking her shoulders to steady her and looking over her disheveled appearance, her tear-stained cheeks."What's wrong?" he asked, his voice laden with concern.
It took Beryl a moment to answer; words seemed to have deserted her. "Jadeite," she finally sobbed. "Who is she?"
"...Oh," Jadeite replied, realization dawning on him. He swallowed, his expression pained, at a loss for words.
After another moment's agonizing silence, Beryl screamed, "Who is she?"
"I... I can't tell you," Jadeite stammered at last.
Beryl stared at him, trying to process this answer. Then she flung his arms away, turning to leave.
"Beryl, please wait," Jadeite pleaded, catching her wrist.
"Get away from me, Jadeite!" she shrieked, ripping her hand from his grip. "I have no use for you right now!"
Her words hit Jadeite like a fist. "Beryl..." he began, but she paid him no heed. She rushed away from him, turning off the path entirely and fleeing into the thick overgrowth at the edge of the woods. "Beryl!"
"Don't follow me, Jadeite!" Beryl shouted in reply, not even turning her head. So Jadeite merely watched as she disappeared into the trees.
The afternoon sun was hanging low in the sky by the time Nephrite reached the ruins of the temple of King Deukalion. The old man had been right; he did remember this place from his childhood. He couldn't believe that the answer to this most important question had been right under his nose the whole time.
Cautiously, he entered the crumbling building. Although he was sure that it had once been elaborate, the temple had deteriorated to rubble: many of the columns that made up its walls had toppled, and Nephrite worried that those that remained would not be able to support the weight of the roof for much longer.
In the center of the temple's interior stood an immense statue of King Deukalion. His right arm, which likely had held aloft the king's sword, was missing from the shoulder on; but despite this, the statue still was impressive, portraying a strong, intimidating-looking man. This man is Master Endymion's ancestor, Nephrite thought in awe. He couldn't stop his next thought: His greatness is preserved... but no mention is made of the four men who devoted their lives to him.
Nephrite tried to shove that thought out of his mind. That's not what this visit was about. He needed to be on the lookout for inscriptions.
He wandered through the shambles of the great hall, stepping gingerly over toppled columns and taking care not to trip over the overgrowth of roots that had burst through the stone floor of the temple. The sound of a bird fluttering in the eaves startled him; as he looked up, he tripped over a large rectangular piece of stone, dislodging it from the plantlife that had engulfed it. Cursing, he kicked the stone block. As it toppled on its side, the light revealed the faded imprint of letters etched into its surface.
"An inscription!" Nephrite cried in delight, kneeling to closer inspect the piece of stone.
"Behold, King Deukalion the mighty, who expelled the alien threat of our world," the inscription began. "In the 18th year of his reign, the king fended off an attack led by those most hated of enemies, the Kingdom of the Moon. The king alone had the great foresight to see through the lies and deception of this treacherous race. The aliens sought to subjugate our people, keeping power for themselves and leaving us with none. Eminent Deukalion resisted, instead discovering an even greater power than that of the Moon, which he righteously gave to the people of Earth.
"But the aliens would not allow the Earth to rival them in power. They invaded, seeking to take our great power source for their own. They were defeated by King Deukalion, and in their rage, the aliens destroyed the Earth's power source; but though they stole our power, they were never able to steal our freedom. Thus, the king of the Earth swore that forever and all time, he would fight to protect the liberty of our world from the menace of the Moon Kingdom."
Nephrite read and re-read the inscription, trying to make sense of it. An attack by the Moon Kingdom? A month ago he would have believed it. Now... he wasn't so sure. And what is this power source? he thought, bewildered. I've never heard of such a thing. Was it like the Mystical Silver Crystal? Or... something else?
Nephrite remained there, his mind swimming with questions, until nearly sunset. At last, he left the temple and headed back to the palace. If only he could talk to Ami... he needed to let her know what he'd found.
It was almost twilight by the time Serenity bade Endymion a reluctant farewell and returned home, to the Crystal tower. As the light around her form died down, the princess looked around the empty chamber complacently. I got to see Endymion, and no one was the wiser, she congratulated herself. Reveling in her own secret victory, Serenity replaced the Mystical Silver Crystal on its pedestal, and quietly slipped out the door.
Her luck ran out at the bottom of the stairs, however. There, waiting for her, stood a very angry-looking Sailor Venus.
"Princess, where have you been all day?" she demanded.
"I... was just checking on the Silver Crystal," Serenity lied. "It is my responsibility to ensure that the Crystal stays safe, so every once in awhile, I like to... pop in and...make sure it's safe..." She trailed off at Minako's stern expression.
"Oddly enough, when I checked the tower a few moments ago, you weren't there... and neither was the Crystal," Minako stated. Serenity's face paled. "Now, would you like to tell me again—where were you all day?"
Serenity remained silent as her guardian waited expectantly. At last, Minako exploded, "Princess, what were you thinking? You took our most powerful, sacred object, the thing that enables our very existence, and brought it into our enemy's grasp!"
That snapped Serenity out of her silence. "The Earth is not our enemy!" the princess shouted. "How many times must I tell you? Those days are over! And how could you even think that Endymion would betray me and take the Crystal? After all this time? How can you still distrust him?"
"The prince may be trustworthy," Sailor Venus retorted, "But he is not the only man on Earth! Someone could have attacked you and taken the Crystal! Without us there to protect you—"
"The Shitennou were there! They're just as capable of protecting me as the Senshi are!"
The Shitennou! That very word was enough to make Minako's blood boil. She knew that accursed Zoisite was never going to let her here the end of this escapade. Of all the times for the Princess to be sneaking off... "You would entrust the fate of the Crystal, the lives of every subject of the Moon Kingdom, to the Shitennou? Four boys who don't have any kind of powers other than the strength of their swords, to protect the most valuable treasure in the universe? Princess, have you lost your senses completely?"
Without warning, Serenity's hand smacked hard across Minako's cheek. Venus stared at her, stunned. She had never seen the princess lash out like that. Serenity was glaring at her coldly. "Mind your place," Serenity snapped. "I am the princess! In two short years, I will be queen. I am the one who is responsible for the Crystal, not you. I will be the one to protect it, and to decide when and how to use it!"
As Minako stared at Serenity in shock, she suddenly felt a strange pulse, as if her powers were rippling; and for a moment, the crescent moon on Serenity's forehead seemed to glow. Then, as suddenly as it came, it was gone. Confused and still numb with surprise, Minako hesitantly whispered, "Yes, Princess."
Serenity glared at her icily for a moment more, and then turned and stalked away. Minako watched her go. What just happened? she wondered dazedly. And what was that feeling...?
Ami was still in her chambers reading long after nightfall. Volume one of the Chronicles of the Moon Kingdom had been interesting, but had left her with more questions than answers. Apparently, before the unification of the planets, the ten different worlds of the solar system had been disjointed. At the center of the dispute was control of the Mystical Silver Crystal. Little was known about the crystal's origins, but it was known by all the worlds to be an object of great power, and each wanted the crystal for their own. For centuries, the crystal passed from world to world in a constant power struggle.
Finally, one girl—the princess of the kingdom on the Earth's moon—grew weary of the bloodshed. She called upon the immortal Ethereals, requesting that they help her reach the other worlds in order to make peace. One by one, the planets agreed to join in the alliance; and, to Ami's shock, Earth was one of the first to agree to the alliance. Finally, all nine planets agreed to unify, unanimously deciding to appoint the princess who started it all as their leader. She was named Queen, and given authority over the Mystical Silver Crystal.
Ami closed the book, picking up the next volume in confusion. If the Earth was originally part of the alliance, why did they suddenly break away from us? She read on, anxious to find a clue as to what happened. She was beginning to think that this book would not hold any more useful information than its predecessor when finally, an entry jumped out at her. While the previous entries had been written with a steady, even hand, this passage seemed to have been anxiously scrawled.
"Day 3 of the month of Boedromion
I am afraid my duties as archivist have had to go by the wayside these many weeks, for my powers as a Senshi have been more greatly needed during this troubled time.
"The alliance has been betrayed. On the first day of Hekatombaion, the new year, the day our alliance was to be sealed at last, the Earth suddenly and unexpectedly rejected the alliance in favor of war. We are uncertain as to the motives behind this, but we fear that all is not as it seems. The Earth's attacks have been led by fearsome and mysterious creatures, the likes of which we have never seen. We know not from whence these beings have come, for we know such creatures are not native to the Earth. Furthermore, Princess Hestia of Mars has been sensing a strange source of dark energy coming from the Earth. I fear that there is more to this threat than we can comprehend..."
Ami turned the page, feeling intrigued and simultaneously nervous. She had known that the Earth and the Moon had been cold enemies, but she hadn't realized actual battles had been fought. But it still didn't answer the question, why?
The next entry was dated the 14th of Anthesterion, over five months after the preceding one.
"At last, the battle has been won, but at great cost to the alliance. Our own mother planet, the world that ours is irrevocably tied to, has turned it back on us, for evermore it would seem.
"We learned nearly too late that our true enemy was not the people of Earth, but a being that was manipulating them, a force of great evil. This being is known as Queen Metallia. Like the Ethereals, Metallia is a being of pure energy; but unlike the peace-loving Ethereals, Metallia feeds on negativity, death, and destruction. Somehow, this creature made its way to Earth and, for motivations we never could uncover, managed to possess King Deukalion. The demon told the king what he wanted to hear, playing to his insecurities and his desire for power. And so he lost his mind to her, closing his ears to sense and reason.
"After a long and difficult war, we at last managed to subdue Metallia, but we could not destroy her. Finally, Queen Serenity used the Mystical Silver Crystal to place a seal on the creature. We had hoped that once her power was sealed, Deukalion would regain his senses; but instead, he grew enraged, expelling us forcibly from his world and vowing that the Earth would never re-enter the alliance. It seems that despite the seal, Metallia still has some hold over the king.
"This leads the Ethereals to believe that Serenity's seal is only a temporary measure. At some point, its power over Metallia will weaken, and she will be free once more. We all fear this day. If Metallia was able to corrupt the mind of the mighty Earth king, anyone could be at risk. It is imperative that we remain vigilant to ensure that, if the seal should fail, Metallia will be stopped before she manages to cause any more destruction. This is the most crucial mission of the Sailor Senshi."
Ami's heart was caught in her throat as she read. This is it, she thought in wonder. This is the truth behind the feud. But this was not what she'd been hoping to find at all. Up until today, Ami had honestly believed that the truth would be something silly and trivial, something that the people of both worlds would find so ridiculous that they'd gladly set aside their differences. But this— this was dangerous, terrifyingly so. Somewhere on Earth, there was an energy being that was so strong that the Mystical Silver Crystal hadn't been able to destroy it, only subdue it. Something that could easily possess anyone, anytime if it was awakened, and no one would be the wiser until it was too late.
Maybe the Ethereals were wrong, though, Ami tried to tell herself. It's been 1000 years, and there's been no sign of this Metallia. Maybe the seal really is permanent.
But her mind kept going back to the note Mariel had left in the study. "Your very presence, dear reader, means that the seal has weakened, and the Moon is in danger once again." Was it true? Was there really an evil force awakening on Earth, just waiting to lure an unsuspecting victim into its trap? And if so... would they be able to stop it?
Beryl ran until her feet couldn't carry her anymore. At last, wearied, she slumped at the foot of a tall tree and glanced at her surroundings. They looked unfamiliar, though it was hard to tell in the dusk. Beryl realized with chagrin that she had run blindly through the woods for quite some time. She was probably very deep in the forest by now. She glanced up and noticed with alarm that the sky was almost dark. How long had she run, drowning in her grief?
What should I do? she wondered. Should I stay where I am? She'd heard that was the best thing to do when one was lost. But would anyone find her this far off the beaten path? The only one who knew that she'd gone into the woods was Jadeite, and she'd told him not to follow. By the time anyone noticed she was missing, how many hours would have passed? And who knew what kind of creatures might find her first, in the forest at night?
Anxiously, Beryl rose to her feet. She was already lost, so what harm would a bit more wandering do? Maybe she wasn't that far from a trail...
She made her way through the thickly clustered trees. Hadn't she heard that you could tell directions by the side of the tree trunks moss grew on? But which direction would that be?
A noise interrupted her thoughts. It was faint and distant, but she was sure she'd heard it—a voice. "Hello?" Beryl called hopefully. There it was again. She was certain it was a voice. Frantically, Beryl ran in the direction of the sound. "Is someone there?" she cried. "Where are you?"
Suddenly, Beryl reached a break in the trees and found herself at the mouth of a large cave. There was no one in sight. Had she imagined the sound?
Just as she turned to leave, she heard it, faint as a whisper. "In here..." Beryl froze in terror. Who would be calling to her from that dark cavern? What if it was something dangerous?
"Come to me," the soft voice commanded. There was something strange about the voice. Somehow, it didn't quite seem human. Now Beryl wasn't sure if it had actually come from the cave... or from her own mind. But despite her terror, she felt compelled to obey. Her feet moved of almost their own accord, following the voice into the wide gap in the mountainside.
Inside, the cavern was immense. Beryl's every footstep echoed noisily off the walls. "Who's there?" she called anxiously. There was no response. In the heart of the cave, a dim light caught her eye. It glowed a strange color, an unnatural shade of magenta. Beryl cautiously approached the light.
"Beryl," the voice said, and she was sure this time that it was coming from inside her own head.
"Who are you?" Beryl asked aloud, her voice trembling. "How do you know my name?"
"I know everything about you," the reply echoed through her mind, the strange voice exuding warmth. "Your hopes, your fears... your greatest desires." At these last words, Beryl's mind suddenly conjured an image of Endymion. Her heart sank at the memory.
"What do you want from me?"
"Only your happiness," the voice replied. "I brought you here to offer you my help. I can give you immeasurable power... the power to make your wildest dreams come true. Even the power to make the prince your own."
"I don't know what you're talking about," Beryl started to say, but the voice cut her off.
"I see what it is you truly desire." Suddenly, Beryl found herself caught in a vision. She was standing in the palace gardens again, on the colonnaded path. Crumpled at her feet was the lifeless body of the girl Beryl had seen kissing Endymion that afternoon. Beryl looked down at her own hands; they were stained with blood.
"No!" Beryl screamed, breaking the vision. Without another word, she tore out of the cavern, running as fast as she could to get away from the nightmarish voice. But as she ran, Beryl could have sworn she heard it one last time.
"You'll be back."