But if there was a single truth, a single light
A single thought, a singular touch of grace
Then following this single point, this single flame,
The single haunted memory of your face
-Sting, "A Thousand Years"
"Do you think the Queen is ever going to return?" Funny that Rei was asking her questions but she took it all in stride. They had stopped in their walk; it was supposed to be a patrol but their hearts were not in it, to gaze out over the cultivated Lunar landscape.
It still took her a few moments to answer but the other didn't seem to mind in the least. "It's been a few months now. Nothing has happened. No one has any idea of what is going on, which means it's probably the best time for her to come back."
Something like a grunt summarized the Martian's opinion of it all, resting her forearms against the decorative fencing. It gave her another chance to study her, and given it was something she had enjoyed doing she found no reason to stop. Since the discussion so time ago, things seemed better between them. The occasional disagreement still arose but it wasn't as bad as it had been. Or at least, was before.
With no sign of any Terran forces, the patrols seemed pointless. They were likely only done out of necessity, as something to do in order to stave off the boredom that otherwise would have griped their lives. The Queen's absence had such a resounding effect; for an absolute Monarch to up and leave without telling most people, it was a wonder that anyone still went about their duties.
The stagnation was getting to them all. The only fortunate thing that was in the endless amounts of time that existed on their hands was Ami receiving her long delayed package from Mercury. Containing more parts that none of them could identify, each somehow related to the other like a puzzle, it did not take much for the Mercurian to tell them to leave her be as she took over the small table that existed between the couches. It was not the most glamorous of workstations but it didn't matter to any of them, each hoping that it would not take long for Ami to fashion her item that would be the replacement for the computer destroyed in the shuttle crash.
"The Princess' birthday is approaching though. She'll probably be back in time for that."
She could practically feel the other roll her eyes right before she pushed off the fencing to take a few paces around with no sense of direction. That was something she understood well, that sense of impending bullshit. It would be a much fancier affair than the Queen's return the last time; oh it would still be something sure, but this was the Princess. It was her birthday. Personally she didn't want to imagine it all and firmly put it from mind.
"The Terrans will probably try to show again then." Rei abruptly stated, stopping in her tracks.
"Did you … see something?" Honestly she didn't know what to call it, what Rei did. How she could stare at fire for hours upon hours, barely blinking. What shapes and scenes she could decipher were meant for her eyes alone; she had tried to look at the flames the same way and all she could gather from it was just a steady sense of primal forces. It was calming in a fashion, but harrowing if her mind wandered too much away.
A shake of her head. "No, I haven't seen anything for," a sigh, "too many months now. It's like there's something clouding here, almost like it was on Mars but it doesn't feel the same way. It's still the same wisps of things that once were here, like lingering traces of smoke from a dying fire."
That was worrying. She knew that Rei would still continue to try, a routine she did every morning and sometimes at night.
"We'll need to work out a better patrol." It went without saying that they would all need to step it up. Pushing back from the railing herself she looked back at the Martian who was lost in thought and likely didn't hear a word of anything she had said. A half sort of smile pulled at her lips, reaching out she hooked their arms together while pulling her along, laughing softly at the stumbles along the way. "It's a nice day out." As though that meant something. "A nice, summer day in fact."
It was code.
She was cheating.
It took Rei a few moments before she realized it. About a dozen steps, only four of them stumbles, pulling up sharply on her arm. There was a huge blush on her features and oh, how wide her eyes were. Effort was made for her to speak and she met it all with a smile. Finally Rei managed to form something that could be considered coherent words. "Are… are you saying what… out here?!" It was a frantic whisper, as though someone could be around and hear it.
Turning, she slid her arms up along Rei's neck, pressing herself up against the woman that was just barely so much taller than her. The wild hesitation that existed was still there, tempering itself somewhat with comprehension. Feeling arms wrap around her waist slowly she rewarded the other with another dazzling smile, pushing her along with her body to go somewhere that was not the palace, that was not the monotony of uncertainty.
The kiss shared resolved all the questions that existed in the moment, and nothing more needed to say for some time after.
"Makoto is out looking for both of you," Ami began, not yet looking up from the bluish glow of the computer screen she sat in front of. Rhythmic typing filled the air, intercepted by the occasional pause as something was read before the typing could resume. The longer pause came when she looked up, the sounds dying as the Mercurian took on their still likely two grinning faces. Her's felt more bashful; that was a new feeling, along with a strong desire to just turn and bury her face into Rei's neck to hide.
"Ah. Oh. I-" At a loss, Ami looked down at her screen. She could guess; Goddess knew she had a perverted enough mind as it was. Silence was given to allow them a chance to collect themselves; fat chance that, before she began again. "I've got everything set up. Makoto is out looking for you to let you know."
Right, duty. It was time to go back to it. It didn't mean it was easy in any regard, more so when she could still feel Rei's lingering hands on her and the timbre of her voice. She knew that with just a close of her eyes she could recall it all, feeling that sated grin take hold on her features anew.
But work.
She followed after the Martian as seats were taken on the floor so that they could both see the screen. It looked foreign to her, lines of writing that flew by quicker than she could follow. Ami seemed to though without issue, resuming her typing. Trepidation was once more on the air.
The door opened a handful of minutes later for the Jovian to stride in, about to call out that she still hadn't found them only to see that they were both sitting there. Shaking her head the door was shut behind her, dropping down to sit by Ami. "Thought you both were on patrol. Didja take some shortcut?"
"Saw something that needed to be investigated." Rei answered for her and for that, she was thankful. Her face felt way too red and she knew there was a blush there despite pointedly looking away in attempts to school her features back to relatively normal. All things considering, she was glad that everyone was being civil to one another.
"Uh huh. Looks like it." The start of a jabbing ribbing began, until Ami's voice put a stop to it. Like a switch, the seriousness came back in spades, three faces crowding around to read what at least wasn't written in some undecipherable series of letters.
Shuttle logs of incoming and outgoing traffic, listing occupants, crew, destinations, and cargo carried. Under that were explanations for their reason of travel. The bar on the side; a scroll bar she recalled from her own knowledge that came from typing up reports, continually grew smaller as more and more records were populated. "These are from the past year. Let me filter this better…" It was almost a murmur but at least it told them just what Ami was doing as she typed away, honing the list to something that would be usable.
"Here." A finger pressed lightly to the screen. "The Queen's shuttle just passed by Mars' orbit. She'll be here in six days, four hours, and thirty-two minutes."
"Two days before the Princess' birthday." She supplied, something easier to understand.
"Right." The reason listed under the manifest looked to be scrambled, but before anyone could ask on it Ami was already deciphering what it was in a series of keystrokes. A series of words began to appear on the screen, cryptic in their own right, perhaps more so when strung together. "Sword. The Army of the Gods."
The fuck did that mean.
"Can you find out what any of that means?"
A nod as the screen transitioned faster than they could keep up, the keyboard sounded like it was under assault by the quickness of Ami's typing on it. "The sword was a creation from each planet, something from each was given towards it. There isn't any more information on it though, just dates and confirmation remarks on when each one fulfilled its obligation to the Queen."
"Artemis said something about the weaponsmiths working on things when we arrived here from Mars. It was supposed to be something legendary I suppose. He didn't have any details on it."
"Whatever it is, it appears to be something too secret for even the records to have any information on. Let me see on the other term…" Again the screen changed, but with much less results. "The Army of Gods that befriend us is moving forward." More keystrokes. "There's nothing… wait." More frantic typing followed, actual minutes passing before the screen suddenly locked up, halting their progress. Despite her efforts, there was nothing to be done beyond Ami turning her machine off and sitting back.
"They have it encrypted and locked down, whatever it is. There's mentions of Beryl, but just as a name. The locks on this are stronger than what I was expecting to come across. Someone is monitoring this though; we shouldn't have been able to get as far as we had."
Silence followed to allow them to mull it over before Rei spoke. "The thing from my mother. Can you read it now?"
It seemed to jog Ami's memory that she had the small device still, nodding. It required different wires and contraptions to connect it, but when Ami flicked her computer back on again, the screen came to life with a long letter written in Martian.
They all sat back, looking to Rei.
The woman frowned but leaned forward, reading it slowly before she began to speak. "My dearest daughter. If you are reading this, then the Fires were right in what they provided for me to see. You have countless questions and most I will not be able to answer for you here. More still you will never learn the answers to, but if you are as stubborn as I am, you'll be seeking them all the same. You're are currently on Terran's moon, as long as your father did what I instructed him to. While I doubt the relationship that may exist is healthy or strong, it was my choice to love him just as it was my choice to leave him. Call it a difference of opinion as to how you were to be raised if you must. I'm sure he would have done his best, but that does not matter now.
"You've been provided a reason why you must be on the Terran moon. The other planets have probably sent their daughters as well to cement the Moon's rule over the system if not beyond. The essence of each planet flows through the first born princess, granting her powers unheard of in eons. Someone there versed in history can tell you how each manifested; I simply do not have the time to do so.
"I foresaw within the Fires not only your birth but the plans of the Queen of the Terran moon. I say that with uncertainty though, for at first her intentions were true. A great evil was rising, one that could only be combated by the combined strength of many. It would take an Army of Gods to defeat this threat though, with failure to do so enslaving us and those who would follow until the end of time.
"The time of gods had passed, but the threat did not go away. New gods would need to be created if the old ones could not be woken from their slumber. The preservation of life must not be disturbed lest it be extinguished. The Queen saw this and laid the foundation for the Alliance that exists. Arguments, feuds, honor, oaths, and the like were put aside. Long time plunderers became uneasy partners now, all in the name of the building of trust that must come to exist if this evil was to be banished. The Fires spoke of-"
Abruptly Rei stopped as a knock came to the door.
Why was it always fucking doors?
They could hide what they were doing or they could show their defiance in the open. The knocks at the door did not give them much time to decide the matter. Rising to her feet, she motioned for the others to do what they could; she'd buy as much time as possible for them. Schooling her features she opened it, ready to levy a glare at who was interrupting them now, of all times. Artemis looked back at her, not giving much of a damn as to what they might have been at. "A patrol found the Earth Prince. He came alone, and said he wanted to talk to all of you when he surrendered."
Artemis waved away the guards who left with a salute before standing back to allow them to enter the hall that led to the cell that the Prince had been imprisoned within. He made no move to follow after them, surprising within itself. It was enough for her to stop, aware that the rest of them held up by her actions. "You're not coming with us?"
"No. I trust that you know what you're doing. He was civil in everything, giving up his sword as soon as he was surrounded." He answered simply, offering a slight smile before walking away.
This was turning to be an…
Shaking her head, she resumed leading the others down the hall, opening the cell door so they could step inside.
The Prince looked up at them, the same man but different. Perhaps it was the lack of fancy clothing, or the lack of his sword. He hadn't shaved in a handful of days, and the scuffs to his clothing spoke he had been without luxuries for that long. It wasn't something you could adopt so quickly if you were trying for a disguise. It did nothing to ease her distrust of the man, but it did lend him some credibility for the moment.
"I-." Starting he stopped, a look of sadness on his face before he tried again. "I know that I've said some things that won't make you believe me, but this is the truth. The Princess is in danger, you're all in danger. Beryl is planning an assault on the Moon, on the Princess' birthday."
She heard laughter and she couldn't honestly blame Makoto for finding the situation funny.
"Then I'm sure you'll understand how far fetched that sounds. What sort of proof do you have?"
"I was brainwashed by her."
The bark of laughter was right on point. "That's a load an' a half. Sounds like some ploy to me." Makoto made a show of cracking her knuckles, sizing the Terran up. "Ya better start speakin' sense pretty boy."
He cowered back, though there was not far to go. The cell was not really that big in any regard, just big enough for a bed and a covered pot in the corner. The moon was not big on accommodations for prisoners in any regard. "It's true though. She did the same to my men, my Generals. Things were different when my mother was alive, she ruled jointly with my father. We followed all the edicts that came from here, all the accords of things we could and couldn't do. We did no one any harm."
A lie.
"Beryl was just a chancellor then, a trusted woman. She helped quell some of the troubles that Earth had. We're envious of you, of everything that you have. We did our best with what we had. She spoke on our behalf, parlayed with the Queen to ease the sanctions and promised that the Earth would not be an embarrassment."
"Tell us about Beryl. What kind of person is she? What does she do?" A pad of paper and a pen were in Ami's hands, writing down everything that had spoken of so far.
"She's a sorceress, for one. More than once she's used her magics to protect the kingdom and innocent people. But then she ensnared my father, making him her puppet. After that, she claimed my Generals, clouding their mind. With them, she gained control over the army. She did the same to me… we were under her control when you first came to Earth. We were ordered to attack you, to kill you if necessary, but we had to ensure that the Princess was unharmed. Beryl says she is key in everything going on, and that she could force the Queen to come to terms."
"Come to terms with what. You tried to kill us."
"I know, I wasn't myself. None of them are. I managed to break free of her control and wanted to warn you. All of communication is monitored, so I had to tell you in person. I'm sorry."
"It's only a matter of time then before the Terrans come to collect their wayward Prince."
"This all sounds like some elaborate hoax. You want us to believe that Beryl, someone who can wield magics, has brainwashed you all, yet you somehow managed to escape her clutches. You've admitted that you're monitored, yet you came here. Terrans will be here soon to look for you if they aren't already, and they'll probably think we kidnapped you. There's nothing you've provided that makes me feel like you're telling the truth, more so when the last thing you said was that Beryl plans to eradicate all life on the Moon. You just led her here, and now you want us to believe that what you said, what you swore and the actions you provided were all mistaken."
His shoulders slumped, at a loss before he seemed to remember something. Reaching into his shirt he was met with one of Rei's swords pointed at his heart, ready to thrust forward. "Rethink your actions before I end your life."
He slowly raised his hands, looking up at her, at them. "I have proof. Please… let me show it." A glance was cast in her direction from Rei and slowly she nodded, relenting. A snort and the sword was pulled away, held though at the ready should it turn to be a ruse. With calculated movements the Prince carefully reached to his tunic, producing a small device much like what they had been reading before so interrupted. "It's encrypted, but I know you'll be able to read it. There's all the proof I could obtain, from when Beryl was first appointed Chancellor. Some of the other advisers had documented what she had done, how they suspect she so quickly rose to the position. She came to court, warning that an Army of Gods needed to be raised, that there was a great evil that would obliterate us."
That phrase again.
Ami took the device, turning it over in her hands before shoving it into her pocket. There were misgivings there and it was easy to understand.
"Tell us more about that." She prodded the Prince to speak, "How is Beryl connected to that."
"She. She said that… the Queen was using you all, along with the rest of the planets. That this great evil she prophesied about was nothing more than her instrument. That it had been orchestrated so that the rest would follow her rule. She set herself up as the sole savior of everyone."
A look was shared among them. The Prince was smart, catching it but wisely said nothing. She debated for a moment, feeling the nature of his words, the emotion behind them. They were honest, sincere. Firm in convictions but… he could have easily been lying, all the same. "What is Beryl's connections with this."
"She worked with the Queen to fabricate this all. This whole story that there was a danger. The two are trying to ascend to Godhood, to become deities. They need the faith and the power of everyone to do so." He spoke simply, a royal man trembling in a cell a long way from home. "Somewhere along the way, they had a disagreement. She wanted us to kidnap the Princess as a bargaining chip for Queen Serenity to come to her senses. That what she was doing was wrong."
"She released the hold on your mind so you could warn us then." When he didn't say anything she knew she was right. "Again. This reeks of a ploy. If you could become a God, why would you let go of all the pieces to your plan before you reached your goal? It doesn't make any sense."
"Because it's all part of her plan." Rei answered for her. "It forces us to consider whether or not his words are true. We'd spend more time worrying about them and trying to warn our homes instead of preparing for whatever this shit is that is going on."
Ami nodded, even Makoto did the same. It seemed logical, in many regards. She wanted time to think on it though, time that she knew she didn't have but would make all the same. Too many things resonated with what they had learned so far, too many phrases were being thrown about that were connected. Making up her mind for the moment she spoke. "You'll stay here until we can validate your story."
"Can… can I see her? Please? I've told you everything. I… I don't want her to hate me."
She knew who he meant. The Princess. "We'll see." Left at that, they exited the cell.
"I don't like any of this. Artemis hinted at this, a possibility. It sounds more like jilted lovers than rulers of opposing kingdoms. If there is an endgame, we're still in the dark about it. He admitted that all communication on Terra is being monitored, so this is probably bugged as well. As much as I want to look at it, it took me this long to get all the parts together and working. We can't afford not to continue learning for ourselves what is happening."
They all sat at the larger table as Makoto fixed something for them to eat. Despite their offers towards assistance, the Jovian continued to waive them away. It meant that they could talk about what had happened so far of what they learned. Lingering still was the rest of the letter from Rei's mother, and the sinking feeling that everything so far, between letter and the Prince's confession, was right.
"The Queen is also due to be here in a handful of days. They'll make the announcement soon and we'll all get pulled into preparations for her arrival like last time."
She listened to what they said, before offering her insight. "What if it's a lie? What if she's due to arrive much sooner than what the records say?"
It caught Ami off guard; the blinks gave it all away. It was a consideration that none of them had yet.
"Ya mean, she could be landin' right now or soon?"
The knock on the door said that, once again, her intuition was right.
The uniform was clean. Clean lines, freshly pressed. Her armor shone to a glossy, mirror perfection with nary a smudge on its surface. From her belted waist was her sword and chain, each gleaming in its own right. Sighing at her appearance in the mirror she gave way to a frown, tugging at her jacket again. The Queen was here, here, and so they were expected to meet her. To doubtless be told something that would be cryptic and make no sense at all. To be left with no answers and still more mounting questions.
She sighed again. Goddess how she was tired of this.
Tugging on her gloves she absently buffed out a spot that didn't exist. It gave her a chance to think about things but nothing rightly in particular. Finally figuring there was no more time to waste doing essentially nothing she left her room. A mind was given towards Rei but the woman was already in the hall waiting for her.
This uniform suited her better, as it was constructed in darker colors. It complimented her skin far kinder than the white and gray mix she had won before; she didn't look anywhere near as so pale now. Her armor gleamed, the pieces completed under the folded arms that spoke of agitation.
She still gave the other an appraising look, making no effort to hide it. It got to Rei; a cocky grin was given to her in return, before she was offered her arm. Taking it with a smile they walked down the hall to where Ami and Makoto waited, equally dressed, equally armed.
Equally as agitated. Just as easily for resentment.
"Well ladies. Shall we go see what sort of nonsense we can get into?"
Everyone who was anyone was there.
They stood at something close to attention, hands at their sides. She almost wished for her helmet but it would have looked beyond out of place. The Lunar army wore theirs to begin with; practical things. Among the throng of nobles a few wore stylish hats, accented with feathers of colorful birds. Plumes of every color imaginable; either birds really had those colors or they had be delicately and expertly dyed.
Murmurs of the court seemed upbeat and excited, great whispers of how happy people were that the Queen had returned and with it, exciting news. Everything from the outright destruction of Terra to a bridge being built being the two to talk of the Queen's rule expanding beyond what it did. Everything and nothing; talks of the weather, the Princess' upcoming birthday celebration, the Princess herself. The latest show, fashion, that some noble had a fox tear through their home.
Everything and anything.
A murmur rose as the Princess appeared, on the arm of the Prince.
She frowned. A gesture shared by the three with her. He looked clean shaven, dressed in finery. Someone had even given him back his sword. Meeting Artemis' eye all he could offer was a gesture that said he had no idea. Luna could offer nothing more either; at least both Mau looked shocked to see him. Or perhaps them, together like that.
This was not something she liked in the least.
He caught her eye as they stood in front of them, the Princess babbling pointlessly about something inane. There was no animosity there at least, but it didn't mean that she trusted him either. That would remain to be seen, whenever they found out just what the fuck was going on.
The hush that started was quick to spread, so unnatural yet fast. A quiet had descended, and even the most prone to gossip was quick to shut their trap least incur their neighbor's wrath. Unconsciously she felt herself straighten, the creak of leather, the rattle of chain, the protest of plate told her that the others had as well. The Queen emerged, the gown flowing behind her like absent attendants. Within her grasp she held a broadsword, cradled against the crook of her arm, looking freshly forged so did it gleam. A hue of silver and gold, she had to admit it looked nice; this must be the sword the records spoke of.
So where was this Army of Gods?
The Queen stopped and soldiers that had snapped to attention remained so, stiff as statues. They might as well have been statues at this point, not even the slight sway on their feet gave them away. Her free hand rose, quieting people that were already silent to begin with.
"My dear subjects. It does my heart well to be back home again."
A cheer and applause.
"I have not forgotten about you in my travels, yet I have done a great injustice to you all. So quick was my departure that I never did properly thank my daughter's guards for saving her life on her brief trip to Earth. I wish to rectify that immediately, as well as announce the Princess's betrothal to the Prince of Earth."
Louder cheers this time. More applause, thunderous.
"Minako. As you are the leader of mine daughter's guards, it is only fitting that I correct my erroneous error of not thanking you for your service in such a trying time. To think that brigands descended upon you, yet it was your quick thinking that spared the life of my most precious daughter, as well as your companions. Please, step forward."
She felt eyes on her. Eyes she did not want. Eyes she did not care for. It wasn't brigands; it was the Prince. The very Prince she just handed her daughter over to. This was oh so incredibly wrong.
There is a little lamb lost in dark woods.
With measured steps she walked forward, keeping her hands free of her weapons despite the overwhelming urge she had to at least grip her sword and still her shaking. Stopping three paces away she eyed the Queen, drowning in that hypnotic calmness.
It's surface blazes bright, masking shadows below.
Kneeling she looked down at the carpet. It was easier to focus on her breathing. In, out. In, then out.
"This is the Holy Sword, a thing of incomparable beauty and power. Graciously, each planet of the Silver Alliance has gifted to me something most near and dear to itself. Not only its first born daughters, their Princesses that make up my daughter's court, but something more. To the far reaches of Pluto I have been, working and toiling to create such a magnificent sword. With this, we shall have peace. With this, so shall our kingdom last for millennia. I gift this to you, Minako, Princess of Venus, leader of my daughter's guard, so that you may always defend us and her."
She heard the gasps just as well as she heard the quiet conversations. Looking up she met the Queen's eyes, seeing something akin to that predatory look again. Her own narrowed, and in the recesses of her mind she swore she heard a voice.
"Your lives will be forever bound to that of my daughter's. You will die three times in her name, your essence stolen and returned, your dreams ripped from you and given back by her good graces."
Her eyes widened in horror.
Beneath the shadow of the darkened spire, there is no light, no mercy, only void, and the chaos within.
"Rise, Minako. Come, let us taken part in the celebrations." A breath. "For you are all fated to die this very night."
Somehow she got to her feet. How, she had no idea. The look of abject horror didn't seem to matter; the Queen was all smiles. Cruel smiles, false and unyielding. Numbly she stood there, even when a voice cried out in terror.
"My Queen! We are under attack!"
A fireball streaked across the sky, shattering a window that was set with some sort of stained glass design. She couldn't recall what it was now, but it probably didn't matter. Maybe it was a forest, or an ocean. Goddess help her why was she thinking on this right now? It struck, showering pretty glass over people. It struck, showering marble over people.
It struck, showering death over people.
The screams started at once, the shrieks. She didn't pay attention to what anyone else was doing, perhaps caught in a daze that she was quick to snap from. Rei's hand on her arm drew her attention back to the now, the now she could control. Makoto's voice rose above the din, "We gotta get out of here!"
Had they heard? Did they know?
"This way!" Ami's calm voice was not so calm now, pointing where to go while people ran this way and that. She caught the Princess before she could flee, fixing her with a look. The Prince was there too, and now was as good as time as any. "Did you know know about this?! Did you lead her here?!"
"I knew nothing, I swear!"
"Minako! Hurry!" Rei pulled at her arm and she had no choice but to follow as another fireball racked the Palace. Debris fell faster than she thought was ever possible, great columns tipped over under the lack of structural integrity. A massive roar deafened them all, forcing them to pause, to cover their ears despite the chaos, and a clawed, no taloned arm, reached out, grasping the open wound in the Palace's side, and pulled.
A fucking Dragon.
Here, of all places.
Red eyes narrowed at them all, basking with intelligence, superiority. It's horned head fit inside easily, uncaring about the shattered marble or bodies of the lucky ones who had gone first.
Out they ran, dragging the Princess and Prince behind them as they went. Away, that was all that mattered. They a had to get away somehow. "The shuttles, if we can get to one…" She heard Ami call out the strategy. It sounded solid enough, the problem of course was that the likelihood of them reaching one. They would try of course.
"We have been looking for you Master. You should have told us you were here."
Those fucking Generals.
This was not the impasse they wanted, this was not the obstacle the wanted to try to get around. It was taken out of their hands though as men of the Lunar army charged to meet them. She saw Captain Dharius lead the way, his great Martian voice bellowing for all its worth to rally his troops.
"This way!" The Mercurian screamed and they followed through the growing haze of smoke and dust. A fire had started somewhere by something. The screams were still there, growing louder at times and fainter in others. They stumbled, tripping along, but they moved. They moved, that had to amount for something, clearing the Palace at last to the outside.
To what could only be called hell.
Men fought. Men died. Something quicker than her eye moved, engaging more men, leaving more men dead in its wake. Fires burned away the lawns, the decorations, the flowers. It burned away memories, leaving only scorched earth and ash in its path.
This couldn't be happening and it was.
And then there was the Dragon.
"Your world teeters on the brink of annihilation. You will all bear witness to the coming of a new age of destruction." So deceptively calm that voice. So clearly it spoke, each word carefully chosen and uttered.
They needed a plan, for there was no way this Dragon would let them go past. She trusted Ami would figure it out, for it certainly was not going to give them time to do so. Makoto hefted her spear, taking aim, before throwing it with all her might. It struck, surprisingly. Just as surprisingly, the Dragon merely rolled its great head, shaking the spear loose to clatter to the ground. A taloned foot shattered it to pieces, its maw opening for a great intake of breath.
They dived and rolled out of the way as a great plume of fire emerged, searing anything in its path. The waves of heat scorched unprotected flesh and heated anything metal. Behind blocks of once expertly honed marble they trembled, waiting for the onslaught to be done.
"AMI! WE NEED A PLAN NOW!" Rei bellowed at her, they all felt like bellowing at her, diving for cover again and again to avoid certain death.
"The heavens burn." Fireballs rained down again, there was not going to be an option to hide again. A talon swiped out but she had no idea at what, only that the screams were out of control, the smoke was choking and thick.
"Minako! Makoto can use your sword as a lightning rod! GO!" Was that Rei? Was it Ami? Did it matter? She dropped the broadsword in favor of her falchion; there was no time for hesitation as she followed with her chain. Tying the end to it she whirled it quickly in her hands, letting go for it to soar through the air. The indignant sound that followed told her at least she had struck true, followed by the loud crack of thunder. The sharp flash made her turn away, tackled out of the way as something swiped the space she had been standing in.
Roars. Screams of human and inhuman nature. She fought to breathe, looking up at Rei's grim face. There was a crash, multiple crashes… things were breaking. So very many things were falling apart as destruction rained from above, from the heavens, rippling explosions as she heard voices call out, pleas, as she felt warm blood splatter over her.
As she felt her world ending.
As she saw her world die.
The explosions still bombarded the Palace and surrounding land, just not as routinely as they had been before. Really, who in their right mind cared to call it musical in any regard? Who could appreciate the rising crescendo of beats, encouraging all who heard the rhythm to do anything and everything, a frantic tempo that countless danced to under the guise of getting away, far away. Maybe those that survived this would, but those were far, far away thoughts.
This was chaos, and chaos was never so simplified.
Outside they were rearranging the landscape, leaving craters on the wake of what was once seas. From their conclave nature arose the shadows that sought the living, snuffing out their existence before enough could stab, slash, or let loose a great magical display to banish it back to whence it came. For every shadowy figure that fell at least two more took its place, proving it to be as futile as this whole existence could have ever been. The Lunar army, for all their prestige and training, were ineffective to do much more than be an utter hindrance. Every Shadow they had managed to disperse just produced more of them.
They would have done better not to even be there, but this was their home. She understood the futility of the situation if for that reason alone.
Her eyes shifted, hearing the muffled sobs finally cease behind her. She wouldn't turn, not yet, instead remaining where she was at. It could be considered impassive save that it wasn't, nor was it stoic. Too many tears fell from her eyes for it to be unemotional. The life she knew, that she had forced herself to want and live, was drawing to a close. If she didn't weep for it, it would cheapen her existence completely.
Daring though, they moved from the growing darkness to the woman beside her, admiring her for who she was. With her long blonde hair dancing on the breeze that carried the scents of ash and upturned earth. Innocence.
Innocence … shattered.
So much fucking innocence lost. Their lives were given, unquestionably though they were constantly plagued by them. They had shed blood, spilled it in excess. They had been hurt, suffering scars both physical and mental. Scars that would not fade, even in death. It burned, searing their souls in a brand that would resonate for eons just what they had done and what had been done to them.
It was so true. The deeper the loyalty, the greater the loathing.
The sobs wore on her nerves, nerves that were already frayed. Her hand was shaking, sending the broadsword in her hand to shake again before she clasped her arm to make it stop. They couldn't stay here, it wasn't safe. Not that there were many other places safe but this was not one of them. "Princess. We need to go."
A sob, but it came with a nod. She'd accept it. Grasping her hand again she pulled her along behind her, picking a pathway through rubble with no real indication as to where they could go. The options of before were dwindling down as each explosion took down another possible place of fleeting safety and escape. They fortunately met no resistance, neither Shadows nor men blocked their path. It was just the surface that found their presence revolting now.
It wasn't easy to breathe and the Princess was slow going, tripping more often than not over her gown. At this rate she might do better just to haul her up over a shoulder and travel that way. It didn't help that it was so unnaturally dark too, but wasn't that just the way it was?
Her mind found it easier to pick out and hold onto little trivial things like that.
It was better than dwelling on the rest.
"Minako?"
"What." The reply was terse, jilted. The tug on her hand got her to stop, looking back at her charge. It was getting harder to breathe even more so now and the night sky continued to look different, that still dark sky splattered by stars but with a haze. She knew Ami had been right; the atmosphere on the Moon was being stripped away and with it, their ability to draw in a breath of air.
To live.
"I…" The hesitation was equally as thick, but that's what happened with so very many truths came out to the light of day. The Princess swallowed, fidgeting with her torn gown. "I didn't know … what my mother did to you, to the others."
No, she supposed she probably didn't. It told her though that they knew. They all knew.
They were dead.
"I'm sorry that I kept my writings with the Prince a secret. It was just… he was… and…"
"It's alright." Perhaps it was forceful, but it didn't take too much for her to utter the words. Her booted toe gave the broadsword in hand a slight kick before berating herself for being careless. It was too easy to slice through and take her toes with it. What a silly thing to care about, losing her toes.
"I… still. I'm sorry. I … I didn't know. He… He told me what happened to him, to his men. What … what Beryl did."
"None of us did." That's why they were dead.
Goddess… Rei…
"What's … what's going to happen?"
She'd give the fifteen year old that, she at least asked. Maybe it was better than playing ignorant. "Either the atmosphere will get us, or the rest will." They had watched the few shuttles that had taken off once the madness began plummet back to the surface in streaks of fire. Escape really wasn't an option. "Suffocation or… well, whatever they plan to do to you." What was the point of sugar coating this anyway? They were going to die, it was still being decided how that was going to happen.
"Like… like what they did to him?"
She nodded, releasing a kept exhale. She was tired, so very tired. It blocked out the stinging reminders of pain. How she missed that, something that told her at least, she was still alive. Being alive was pointless though, her whole life might as well been.
Save for those moments. Save for Rei.
"Probably. You're valuable in this, somehow. They'll probably turn you like they did him and his men. I don't really see the point though; we're fucked so it's not like there's anything to rule over." When she stopped caring it showed, sending a rock to clatter against whatever structure it had been with a kick. She almost forgot she was talking to the Princess so brashly until her eyes caught sight of her, looking in barely contained horror. "Sorry." It was an apology with no merit and sounded as empty as she felt.
What surprised her though was when the Princess shook her head, daring to take a step closer to her. At least to be close enough to place an once dainty hand on an once pristine uniform. "No, you're right Minako. I… I said a lot of things I never should had about you and the others. But you're still here, and they would be too if they could. You've… you've been loyal despite… despite everything and I-"
She wrenched away, not from the truth but to bring the sword she had been bestowed up in a backhanded swing. It caught the leaping Shadow solidly though it still snarled at her, claws reached and finding purchase against her body however they could. The toothy maw snapped, dripping its corruption. Her own teeth were bared, holding the broadsword with both hands to swing at it again, and again, and still more until her shoulders heaved from exhaustion.
It was dead.
She was still alive.
The sword refused to be tainted, the thing's essence slid from its surface like water to oil. The gleaming blade of silver looked far too freshly forged still despite the killing it had done.
Funny that.
Releasing a breath she looked to the heavens. Goddess help her she never thought anything would ever go like this. Taking another one she straightened back up only for her legs to feel like they wanted to give out from under her. On the horizon she saw them, the horde that it was, steadily moving in their direction.
Escape wasn't an option, not any more. This was the inevitable, the reckoning. Everything had run out and all that she was left with was the moment, here and now. A few moments for breath to be taken, to accept that this was where she was going to die. The nausea she had been fighting ever since the first fireball soared across the sky forced itself to be dealt with. Without much grace to be had the bile that roiled in her stomach was expelled at her feet.
She felt cold.
"Mi-minako. I… I don't want… I don't want them to take me…" Oh how broken the whisper was, how loud the plea was that came from the words. The crescendo of meanings, so bluntly stated but so elegantly formed no matter their crude delivery.
How dare she be so selfish.
How dare she feel such scorn in return. They were dead. They died for her. Every. Single. One of them. Dead. Ami. Makoto. Her precious fucking Prince. Rei. None of them wanted to die and here she was, wanting the easy way out.
But she turned all the same to look at her, to really look at her. This fifteen, nearly sixteen year old girl that she had sworn to protect and defend, just like how she had sworn to protect the others. This girl that she had bled for, collecting injuries like others did pleasing things. This girl that she despised and loathed for all that had happened because of her, that she had lost because of.
And this girl that her soul was bound to, to be there. The trade off for abilities she never asked for, never really wanted or had time to hone completely. What was the benefit to summoning beams of light from her fingertips compared to this servitude? What was the creation of a chain of wrenching light to be able to laugh?
Here she was, asking her for something that she had sworn to prevent.
The Princess knelt before her, looking up at her to continue her pleadings. The start of another one died on her lips as maybe it was just the expression on her face. Something like understanding was there, amid the soot and smoke, shining through the dirt and distress. Slowly the Princess nodded, hands reaching to clutch her free hand. "I'm sorry … to ask you to do this."
"I live to serve." Was all that she could muster beyond a nod in return.
She stayed kneeling for some time in the remains of the kingdom and what became her home, where people she knew had lived and died. Where the better times were always tempered by the dire; racism and bigotry and misconceptions. Laughter and love had tried to provide a buffering shield against such things. She felt sick again, swallowing thickly as she tried to breathe.
Fuck, she was going to die. Goddess help her, she was going to die. Alone. Goddess how fair was that? How was it fair that they had all left her, why did she deserve it to be the one left behind? To be a witness to their departure? The wallowing self pity tore at her, crying starting anew in hiccuping sobs lacing with bile.
She threw up again.
Shakily wiping the back of her hand across her mouth she felt some clarity return. One of the Shadows had touched her, recalling the fight out of the Palace, the frantic directions. The fights. The hope for escape. The fucking Dragon. The looks on their faces, their lack of parting words… their deaths. She felt cold, a creeping hand closing around things she needed to live had begun to constrict.
She was going to die.
The sky overhead was losing its sparkle of stars and fires. It was blacking out as the Shadows rose around her, great bodies blocking out what remained for her to see beyond them.
The blade in her hand proclaimed a red stain on its gleaming surface as she pushed to her feet. Defiant, she'd at least die on her feet. It was an awkward lurch at first, it went well with her hoarse voice crying out, but she sprinted forward all the same, sword at the ready, to meet...
The same pale lavender eyes that beheld the world in perfect serenity did not change, even now. Even with it all so very different, her gaze remained calm, as did her posture. One could say that it was an aura that radiated from her very being, an almost hypnotic enchantment that allowed her to do everything she had with so little questions.
It didn't matter that things were in ruins, smoking piles of rubble that drifted upwards to the heavens. So too would she ascend, and so too would her armies of the heavens reign. This was calming, and all true to the plan.
"Serenity."
The voice of a woman she knew well, very well, sought to draw her from her thoughts. There was no outward indication she gave towards acknowledgement of this visitor, but she knew the other would know to speak.
"It's over, Serenity. Your daughter is dead and so shall your kingdom fall." The words were direct, speaking more in everything that was not said, like that 'I told you so' which carried in the undercurrents. It was there, in between the lines of spoken dialogue.
She said nothing, even as the fires flickered and struggled to survive in the waning atmosphere. Her silence had the effect wanted; her red haired companion left. Still she waited a few more minutes before finally turning to the hooded specter a few paces off.
Facing the other directly, she ignored how the destruction played itself out off the edge of the weapon the other carried. "Hear me and obey. When I fall, you shall drop your glaive."
A nod was given and that was all that mattered, turning away to survey her work. Some would claim her mad, insane… who secured their legacy by destroying all that they had accumulated? Only her, and secured it was. The other planets were already on the way to utter annihilation; she had personally ensured that. Even now at the far flung reaches of the system, they were being attacked without hope of survival. The inner planets would be next, and when all was said and done, the only ones who would remember would be her daughter and the lives she had bound together.
Her version of what she wanted them to remember, naturally. That it wasn't a joint venture, this blending of the arcane and the divine. That sorcerous mix between her and Earth hadn't happened. There was more to it than her daughter could ever hope to discover, and in the end, she would obtain all she had desired.
The atmosphere was nearly gone, thus it was nearly time. Raising the crystal in her hand she held it aloft, letting it capture the essence of all around her. So much would change but so much would be possible due to it. To it, she gave herself over, draining her powers accumulated so they could be so transferred. Just as she had planned, immortality would be hers. It truly did not matter the fashion in how it came about.
The smile was predatory as her gaze closed, crumpling to the ground. She knew she would be obeyed, one last display of loyalty as, at last, the Silver Millennium fell so it could be reborn millennia later on Earth.
-Fin.
A/N: Wow. I never really thought I'd get here yet here I am. When I started this, I had no outline and honestly, flew by the seat of my pants. I had an idea sure, but you could almost say I made a considerable amount of this as I went, and let the story take the twists and turns as it wanted to, without much planning beyond a few things that I really wanted to express somehow through my writing. It became a living, breathing thing, alive in a fashion I suppose.
If you're curious all the ramifications, I invite you to read Recollection, which addresses the modern implications of Hindsight, and by popular vote with myself, I'll finish the Trilogy so closure for everyone yeahhhhh. Recollection is in no way as long as Hindsight but still, you might like it. Or maybe you won't. I dunno, I can just say it's there.
Future plans: Well, who knows. I didn't cover everything I probably wanted to in Hindsight but I also don't think it's too cool of me to get involved in another … well, however many words this ended up being. At least not without some plans. I have a few ideas to kick around, so we'll see. I would love to beta for someone or co-write something so hey, maybe someone'll be like "let's write Salvasti!" and yeah.
Things I wish I could fix: some of the spelling errors. I reread this (a lot) and it's like … there's a spelling error. There's another one. But meh, I had a beta for a chapter or two so really, no one to blame for spelling errors. They are there. They exist. And there's that. You might notice some of them getting fixed as I go through, but it amazes me how much I wrote this in Google Docs and just never realized that I sometimes can't spell for shit, or that Google Docs just didn't catch whatever it was.
Other things I wish I could fix: Minako repeated herself in two different chapters. That's what you get when you have a long gap of months in-between writing. Oh well. No one mentioned it.
In no particular order though, I'd like to thank the following:
Yogg-Saron and its puzzle box, Y'Shaarj, and Il'gynoth for providing wonderfully awesome things to make people question their sanity. Special thanks to Halion and his ever calm voice that I delighted in each and every time I got to hear it.
Eternalroleplaying: Dude.
Sailorsunspot and Thunderfall/Farronheit: Someone seriously tell her that this is done. Both were here for the beginning, I think Thunderfall up to around the early 20s in the chapters. Both are on Tumblr.
My small Tumblr fanclub of epiisteme, deadpoolfan1986, armysonemeu for the inspiration/likes when I'd post some update as to where I was at. Thank you; I really appreciate it.
Yangshebang/lady-tsukin0: I hope this helps to inspire you to finish your own story.
Hookedonreading on : I really wish you'd register an account but I get it too. Thank you for the kind words and I can always tell when you're back on reading what has happened from before.
Everyone else: Thank you for the follows, favs, and reviews. There's few things better than getting a notice where someone followed or favorited it, or left a review. Unless it is a completely pointless flame. Which in that case, flames can go drown in a fire :)