A/N: So sorry for the long wait! I have been out travelling on vacation but I am back now. :) And I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as I did writing it.
Thanks again to LoveintheBattlefield and Jedi Misty for continuing to give me such encouragement.
And Vchanny and Dragonlady - so nice to hear from you and that you are liking this story!
And also I wanted to thank Thundercrash. Her comments have been immensely helpful in the mechanics of this story. (And I can't wait to read the next chapter of your fic so hurry and write! LOL :) )
Chapter 8: Memories Rekindled
Sapphire looked up suddenly from the new droid he was creating. Someone, somewhere, had just killed one of his droids, he could feel it, like a small candle being extinguished, leaving a gap. Alchemy was strange like that. In creating, you put a part of yourself into it and could always sense at least a slight connection with your creation. But, he wondered, who could have done it. There was no one he knew that possessed that power other than Metallia, Rubeus, or himself. People stood no chance against even one. "Interesting" he muttered to himself, running a hand thoughtfully through his midnight blue hair. After a moment of thought he turned on his heels and went in search of Rubeus. Rubeus however quickly found him instead. He could hear his heavy, rushed footsteps before he even appeared in the hall. Rubeus did nothing quietly, ever.
"Sapphire, one of your pathetic droids failed, and now the cats have escaped!" Rubeus clenched his fist in anger. This had come as an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. Those two had sat gathering dust in stasis for so many years he nearly forgot they were there. Rubeus berated himself for not ensuring their destruction immediately. But they had been a sort of trophy, a proof of conquest.
Sapphire's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I know one of my droids is down, but what are these cats you speak of?" He had never asked about the locations Rubeus told him to keep guarded, deeming it not his business and being too preoccupied with his brother's health.
Rubeus was taken aback, suddenly realizing he had never told Sapphire anything about the moon's occupants before its destruction. Realizing he would have to make at least some explanation he sighed. It was sometimes best to keep underlings in the dark, especially when such information might awaken unwanted memories. "Those cats are harbingers who can call forth the Moon Goddess, bringer of destruction who almost broke this world."
Seeing a startled look in Sapphire's eyes he decided to allay his concerns a bit. "Don't be such a worry wart Sapphire! The Moon Goddess is long dead and her silver crystal is safely in our keeping. She is only an old wives take now, but still, I want my cats back and I want to know who would dare try to steal them. I want you to investigate immediately, and don't send such easily destructible droids this time!"
Sapphire nodded, still somewhat confused by Rubeus' obsession with two strays. But he too wanted to know who would be capable of destroying a droid. True it was not one of the top level droids but still, a mere human could not have done it without some very serious luck and firepower on their side. Could that mean an insurgence or some rebel group? "Right, I will get right on it Rubeus."
Just as he was about to turn and walk away, Kama, one of his own droids came running down the hallway calling out, "Rubeus-sama! Rubeus-sama!"
Both men looked at the droid which came to kneel before Rubeus. Sapphire wondered silently why the droid did not address him first. "What is it Kama?" Rubeus asked, agitation apparent in his voice. Sapphire could feel a sudden tension come over him.
"Kama has found the name you asked to search for Rubeus-sama. Just today someone said it. Kama has found Sailor Moon!"
Sapphire watched their red headed leader actually go nearly white. He had never seen anything frighten Rubeus, but this was as close to shock and fear as he had ever seen him. If whatever Kama had found frightened Rubeus, then by all logic Sapphire needed to know what it was. "Rubeus, what is…"
"Not now!" he interrupted. "Kama, put it on display."
The droid immediately projected an image against the wall. In it they could see a young blonde girl being tackled by another darker haired one who called out, to Rubeus' utter shock, "Sailor Moon!". They watched the girl deny it and disentangle herself.
"But she is just a young teenage girl." Sapphire said in disbelief.
"Kama found another Rubeus-sama.", the droid interrupted and the video changed to the same young girl walking home and suddenly being pounced upon by a black cat. Rubeus let out a gasp and suddenly punched the wall where the young girl's head had been, creating a dent.
"No! This will not happen! That big Rabbit will NOT stop me again!" He could feel the flames of anger rising to overcome his initial fear. And then, suddenly into mad laughter, leaving both Sapphire and the droid open mouthed. "Haha, what was I thinking? Without the silver crystal she is utterly harmless! I can destroy her like this." He snapped his fingers to illustrate the point.
Sapphire had had enough of being kept in the dark. His dark blue eyes flashed with irritation. "Rubeus! Who is this Sailor Moon? And why are you ordering my droids on recon missions without my knowledge?"
Rubeus' eyes flared, looking almost like flecks of fire. "Your droids Sapphire? Your droids? These droids belong to Metallia and to me as her chosen leader. If it were not for Metallia's power they would not exist!"
Sapphire stood his ground. "And if not for my knowledge and alchemic workings they also would not exist. If I am going to be your "puppeteer"," he spat out the word "then I demand to know what my "puppets" are doing!"
Rubeus decided a different tack would be best. Though he knew he could physically force Sapphire to do as he wished, especially since he refused to accept energy boosts from Metallia and relied only on his weak human body whenever possible, but he preferred Sapphire's full cooperation including body and mind.
"Sapphire, even you must understand that as a leader I need to make decisions and have resources at my disposal. We need to work together to bring our goals to fruition, for Metallia and also for your brother." That last part would sting Sapphire, he knew. "That girl may be the reincarnation of the Moon Goddess, Sapphire. I didn't want to concern you until I was sure, but if she is, then she will bring about the destruction of our plans and this world if we do not stop her now."
Rubeus paused and then continued. "Sapphire, I need that girl found and taken out as your number one priority. The cats may lead you to her but this must be done quickly.
Sapphire nodded curtly, deciding to hold this argument for another day. His mind was reeling with all of this new information. He returned to the lab but found his mind too unsettled to work effectively. Turning on a vid-screen he began looking through archives and media, searching for the word "Sailor Moon". He summoned one of his favorites, Osiri, a droid able to literally melt into the shadows. This one, if anyone, would be able to find Sailor Moon wherever she might be hiding.
Tuxedo Mask led the cats to a quiet rooftop a few blocks away from Sarah's house. There, he knelt down to let Luna and Artemis disembark from his shoulders. Artemis put a paw on his knee. "I'm so glad you're alive, both of you." Matai gave the white feline a confused look. "Why shouldn't I be?" but Artemis shook his head, seeming to say it was a long story.
He remained crouching down to be more on the cats' eye levels. Matai still struggled with disbelief in the sheer fact that these cats could talk, but he could not deny the fact. Anticipation grew in him, knowing he was closer than ever to answering the questions he held for so long.
Luna stepped forward, looking up at him with those expressive round eyes. "I don't really even know where to begin." she said with hesitation in her voice.
He smiled reassuringly at her. "Just start from the beginning then."
And so she did, believing it would be best to start talking him through rather than just try to beam him her memories right away, a rather shocking process she wasn't even sure would work on him. So she began with what she knew of his Earth past. She explained about the Earth's rather tenuous relations with the moon kingdom until one fateful day when a curious young Moon Princess wandered into a forbidden garden.
It all sounded like some far out fairy tale, too unreal to be reality. And when Luna told him that he had been a prince of all the Earth he knew for sure that this could ot be the answer he sought. "I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. There is no way I can be that price you speak of. I am an orphan, and no one of any great importance to this world." He had so hoped for an explanation that this sudden disappointment made his heart ache. He rose to walk away and was just about to leap to the next rooftop, when Luna called out to him again.
"Wait, please! Tell me this. You see images when you touch people sometimes don't you? And you seem to heal faster than you should. And you also sense that there is something very not right with this planet! You can't tell me none of that is true can you?"
Matai stopped in his tracks. Somehow, she knew even his most intimately kept secrets. He spun around, his face full of wonder and curiosity. "How could you know?"
"Because you are more than you think you are. And because the person I remember so well had those abilities too. Please, let me try to show you." Luna came towards him as he again crouched down to meet her. "I can only share my own memories, but I hope they will be enough."
As she spoke the crescent symbol on her forehead began to glow and Matai gasped as he was enveloped in a golden light. Images, feelings, and memories began to flash past him, joys and sorrows, battles and moments of soothing peace. Each event pulled at his emotions as he relived those moments again, and relived the love he and Serenity had held fast to for so many years, even through another lifetime. He saw the peaceful times of Crystal Tokyo and even Small Lady, the product of that never-ending love. And then, in such s short span, he began to relive the end.
Matai saw the growing unrest caused by a band of rebels under a leader called Rubeus infect the political sphere and the hearts of the people. He saw the creation of the great weapon in secret. IN the end Serenity and Small Lady insisted on staying on the moon to try to protect their birthright while he and his generals tried to sabotage the weapon from within, but they were outnumbered and overrun. He could only watch from a few feet away as the laser fired and the moon disintegrated taking his hopes, his love, and his child with it before his light also was snuffed out.
Enthralled in the memory he called out Serenity's name as tears spilled down his cheeks. When Luna's light went out there were tears on Matai's face, and Luna felt guilty for making him relive that moment again. He pounded a fist into the ground, whispering "Oh God no…" before seeming to try to gather himself. He blinked a few times trying to get the images out of his mind and focus on the here and now, though a pained expression remained in his eyes.
Luna snuggled against his leg and Artemis nuzzled his other knee. "I'm sorry you had to see that, but now you know. And you're here now safe and sound, so there is still hope things can be righted again."
Matai nodded mutely before asking, in almost a whisper, "Does she know?"
"Not yet. I have only just found her. I feel so bad reawakening all those painful memories in her when the moon s, the moon is…" She couldn't finish. The princess' home was forever destroyed. "She won't remember you though, if I don't reawaken her memories. I don't know what to do. "
Matai managed a small smile. "She is stronger than you might think, but I think this will have to be her decision."
Luna nodded, "But if she chooses a normal life, she won't know about you. You would have to get her to fall in love all over again."
"That is a chance I will have to take. I only want her happiness Luna."
"I know." Luna answered softly as Matai stood up to leave.
He needed to find some place alone to digest it all. "Be safe, both of you. I won't be far if you need me."
"Wait I forgot to tell you. One of your generals is alive. Perhaps there is a chance they were all reborn with you." Luna offered, knowing it might cheer his spirits a bit.
"Thank you Luna." Matai leaped expertly to the next rooftop and the cats watched him disappear into the night. Finally they returned to Sarah's bedroom.
"You know I have to go search for her now. Will you be safe Luna?" Artemis asked, perching on the open windowsill.
Luna knew who he was speaking of. He would not be able to rest until he knew if Venus was alive as well now that this encounter had given them so much hope. "I understand. You be careful Artemis. It's not the world we once knew out there." She rubbed her head against his chest affectionately and then let him go, offering one final sigh as she was left alone in the darkened bedroom, waiting for her sleeping princess to awaken.