Author's Note: Yes, I am still working on this story. My sincere apologies for not updating in nearly a year. As usual, I own nothing and as such, can't make fan fiction my day job.
Neptune was already awake when the pounding on her door began. She opened the door calmly, despite knowing the reception awaiting her on the other side. Kunzite's ice cold eyes shone with fervor and he motioned to her with his sword to move in front of him. She considered telling him she didn't know where they were going but decided against it. Antagonizing him at that moment was not in her best interests. He was already looking forward to whatever it was he thought he was going to get to do. She assumed they were headed toward the throne room and the sword at her back didn't argue the path.
As they entered the room, Neptune noticed blurs of red and green escorted by military gray. Mars and Jupiter then. She squared her shoulders more, wondering how Endymion intended to play this new hand. If he had two of Serenity's guards, then Uranus and everyone were down three, not one. She wondered if they'd figured that out yet. She wondered if she'd have the chance to talk with the traitorous princesses herself.
When she'd approached close enough, Endymion put his hand up. "Leave us." At the nod Endymion gave, Neptune was fairly certain Kunzite was trying to argue the command without undermining Endymion in front of her. In the end, she saw him bow out of the corner of her eye, then watched as Endymion waited for the door to close. When it was just the two of them, he stood up and approached her. Neptune remained rooted to the spot, not wanting to give away her readiness for battle despite her current state. "I had thought you weren't going to attack us."
Neptune arched an eyebrow. "I'm not sure I understand your meaning." Had Uranus attacked, she wouldn't have seen three of the four generals just now. Though it was possible they'd attacked Zoicite. Still, by the way Kunzite had looked at her, she was fairly certain it wasn't something Uranus and the others had done.
"Do not treat me the fool. You retained a weapon that you used on me in your sleep."
Sapphire blue eyes lit up as she stared down the prince who was taller than her by several inches. There was something to be said about the value of confirmation, even when it came at the cost of her freedom. "I wasn't aware that you subjected your guests to violation of their dreams. If there was a breach of our truce, your highness, it was begun by you."
It had been a rude awakening, to find Endymion in her dreams. She'd been remembering the princess's birth and naming ceremony, a pleasant dream, if bittersweet. His presence had gone almost undetected. If it hadn't been for her mirror, she would have missed him. It called to her and as she looked into it, she could see him hiding there, watching. A moment later, the scene had changed, though she wasn't sure how, and they were standing in the ruins of the Moon Kingdom, bodies all around them. She knew that scene too, knew where every person was in relation to her, in relation to the throne that was now empty and broken. He'd reached out toward her and expecting an attack, she'd struck first.
"Where is the mirror?"
"I do not have it. What you faced was a dream, your highness."
"A dream from which I required healing." Michiru refused to show the extent of her surprise, but she was certain the astute blue eyes watching her noticed all the same.
"I refuse to take responsibility for defending myself from your invading my privacy. I offered myself as hostage in good faith." She paused, watching his face. He wasn't crazed as she'd hoped. It wasn't until seeing the cold determination in his eyes that she realized how badly she had hoped that her princess could wake them all up from this nightmare with the healing power that was her birthright. No, he was calm, sad, resigned. Healing would not solve a problem politics created.
"I had hoped, Lady Neptune, that by having this conversation in private, you would cooperate and offer me the weapon. However, as you refuse to, I must view you as a hostile guest in my home."
She clenched her fists, holding back her wish to transform only enough not to test the theory that her wand would return to her in her time of need. The princess needed that mirror. Uranus needed it. She couldn't allow herself to lose control. Not when she'd come so far.
"Do as you must, but understand this. I have not acted as a hostile in your midst. I had come in hopes to mend the rift, but I see now that your love for the princess is not enough."
The words had been a calculated risk, but as she was going to lose whatever freedom she still had, patience was not a virtue she could afford. It paid off as she watched pain flicker through his eyes before he hardened them again. "It is not love, your highness, that I lack. It is out of love that I am keeping her asleep to her past. It is out of love that I tried to peaceably wait for your colleagues to return my general to me unharmed. No, it is not because I do not love her that I broke our engagement. It is because I do not wish to see her hurt and nothing good has ever come of the Moon's treatment of the Earth. They would not allow us to join their alliance before and now it is too late. Now it is our turn to lay down terms."
Neptune heard footsteps behind her though she hadn't heard the door.
"The Moon had its turn. There is no Silver Millennium. There is no Moon Kingdom to which you, or any other planetary soldier, owes fealty. It does not exist and cannot so long as she sleeps."
Neptune couldn't keep the gasp from escaping her lips. She would have called it madness, but he was sane. No matter what was carved on her soul, the logic was there and she could see how he thought what he did, how he convinced two of Serenity's closest friends to abandon her. She wasn't there to be loyal to.
"I will offer your friends one last chance at peace. They will have the opportunity to retreat and to return Zoicite to us."
"They will not abandon her."
He nodded once and motioned to the person behind her, who she imagined was Kunzite. "Then one by one they will fall." The regret laced through his voice did nothing to soothe Neptune's concerns that he would declare war on the inhabitants of the Moon Kingdom.
Kunzite stepped around her, his eyes cold. "I warned you not to hurt him."
Before she could reply, Endymion whispered something she couldn't hear and her world went black.
#
Venus stood with her chain at the ready. The sun was warm in the wind, though the magic of her birthright insulated her from feeling both. Mercury was next to her, tapping away on her computer. Letting the other Guardian Senshi in on her plan was sensical. The others wouldn't have been willing to meet with the Terran, especially on short notice. Well, they might have been willing but he had wanted to discuss terms of a peaceful solution with her specifically, and she knew Uranus wouldn't have allowed that.
"They're coming."
She nodded to the blue-haired woman next to her. "Let's hope this doesn't backfire." It was the only nod to her fear she would voice.
"Sailor Venus, it has been some time since we last saw each other properly. I do wish it were under better circumstances."
Venus turned to her left, watching Kunzite and Jaedite heading toward them. The rooftop of Ami's apartment seemed the best place to agree to the meeting originally. Of the two locations she knew were more advantageous to them, it seemed a far better choice than the Princess's house. Now she wasn't sure if it wasn't too close to her own apartment where the trapped Terran general was still bound. Still, it was better than anywhere near the princess. "The last time you and I saw each other, Kunzite, you had abandoned your liege and aligned yourself to evil." She gripped her chain tighter, opting to look more antagonistic than she intended in order to keep from letting the feelings rush through her. She'd known how hard it had been for Mercury, but somehow she'd hoped that not having met Kunzite as Katashi she wouldn't have the same problem.
He frowned and bowed slightly. "A mistake I continue to pay for. Sailor Mercury," he bowed and greeted. "Thank you both for agreeing to meet us."
"You'd said you had a proposal?"
"That I do." Venus couldn't keep from noticing the tension in his body, the way he clenched his fists and darted his eyes around. Anyone who knew him less well than she did would think he was angry, itching for a fight. She knew better. The scene was playing out eerily similar to the last time they'd spoken in their previous life. This time, however, it wasn't evil that kept them apart. It was politics. She wondered briefly if she'd met him before she'd woken, if she would have gone with him willingly. The thought bothered her greatly, creating a pain that helped keep her focused. "You have captured one of ours." His voice was steady, smooth on her ears and she found herself wishing for the softness he'd reserved just for her.
"Satoshi-san is unharmed," Mercury interrupted. When everyone turned to look at her, she gulped but repeated. "Zoicite is detained, yes, but he has not been hurt."
Kunzite nodded once, though nothing in his stance indicating that his tension had lessened. "The fact remains, he does not have his freedom. We had hoped for an exchange of hostages, but as the princess of Neptune decided to attack our prince last night in his sleep―" his voice trailed off, leaving the girls to interpret the rest as they would.
Venus kept her hands at her sides and her jaw clamped shut, but just barely. If Neptune had attacked Endymion, she was as good as dead. Of course, Endymion would have to know that if he killed Neptune, it was the same as killing Zoicite. Even if he didn't know what Uranus felt for the other soldier, he would have to know Neptune's life was Zoicite's reprieve.
"However, to keep further bloodshed from happening, we are offering clemency. If you, and all of the old Moon Kingdom servants swear fealty to Endymion, he will allow all of you to live out your lives without further consequence."
"What of Neptune?" An image of a grieving, raging Uranus entered her head and Venus tried desperately to push it away so she could think.
"Neptune's fate is not open to negotiation." He held up his hand. "The rest of you, however, will be free to come and go."
"And if not?"
"If you continue to claim fealty to a dead empire, you will be seen as intruders and dealt with accordingly."
"A dead empire?" Venus whispered. Did he truly believe that? The Moon Princess was reborn with them. How could they say that? She looked up at Kunzite, realizing that this was why the taboo had been placed on them. The Earth was rising up against the Moon. She had to choose. Shaking her head slowly, she watched the light dim from his eyes. He'd hoped she would go with him. Serenity knew she wanted to, but she couldn't, not like this. "Kunzite, we've known each other for a very long time."
"Long enough I think I deserve better than a prefabricated rejection speech."
She closed her eyes tight against the pain she heard in his voice. Mercury probably didn't hear it, but she could. "Please, let me finish. Yes, it's rejection, but not how you think. If she hadn't been reborn, I might have said yes." She looked at him again, refusing to hide her own pain. "But she was. Even unaware of who she is, she is still my princess. Don't ask me to betray her." He nodded sharply.
"I do not look forward to facing you in battle."
"I know. I don't either." She felt the tears sting her cheeks. "Maybe next life."
"Maybe." He bowed low. "Until then, I offer you a head start. The next time we meet, however―"
Venus motioned to Mercury who was already nodding. "We understand."
The two women leapt off the building and away from the two generals before the others had stood up.
"Where are we going?" Mercury asked her when Venus paused briefly on a rooftop to make sure they hadn't been followed.
"We have to find a way to stop this before people die. If they haven't―." She couldn't finish the sentence. Kunzite had said further bloodshed. If Neptune was dead, Uranus would never forgive any of them, especially her.
Mercury was already tapping away furiously on her computer. Her brow furrowed deeply as the screen flashed at her. "There are only two ways to stop it. One is if they win: if we take the princess and leave Earth."
"The other?" Venus looked at Mercury who was staring past her computer, ignoring the flashing screen.
"The other is the princess."
"Mercury, even if she wakes, we lose. The prince doesn't love her. He left her, remember? We'd still have to leave behind everything we love." She frowned as the blue haired soldier shook her head.
"No, I don't think so. I don't think we automatically have to leave. I think she could convince him to let us stay. I think she could stop this."
Venus let the idea wash over her. Serenity could save them. Yes, that was possible. She could stop this whole thing.
Her thoughts screeched to a halt as Mercury whispered in horror. "Neptune."
"What about Neptune?"
"They said she attacked Endymion. If they, well of course Endymion wouldn't kill her. He knows that if he kills her then Serenity would never forgive him but if we think he's going to kill her, specifically if Uranus thinks he's going to kill her," the blue haired soldier rattled on without taking a breath. Venus found it hard to follow her at the speed she was talking but tried her best. "Well then Uranus would be unstoppable. She'd react and then he'd have the justification to attack us."
"Wait, hold on. That would mean he'd have to know what Uranus and Neptune felt for each other. None of us even knew that until recently."
"He wouldn't have to. Not exactly," the other woman was shaking her head, tapping furiously. "He just has to be willing to believe that we'd retaliate, that we'd return fire."
"But you said he loves her!"
"I did, and he does, but something has obviously made him think he's already lost her, or that he needs to, and he doesn't want it to be his fault." Mercury looked up, eyes bright as if she'd just finished a particularly vexing puzzle which Venus supposed she had, but the smile seemed out of place.
"Mercury?"
The other woman shook her head, snapping out of whatever daze she was in. "Oh! Yes! So, he doesn't want this to be his fault. Which means we need to get the princess to stop it before Uranus does something rash."
"And why would Uranus do something rash?"
Both women gasped and turned to face the blond soldier standing with her arms crossed and her element teasing her hair. She looked almost amused, which Venus decided, was only going to make the reveal that much worse.