Prologue

He panted heavily, his blue eyes firmly fixed on his opponent. The edge of his sword was crimson with Roman blood, lives he had taken while protecting the trembling and injured woman behind him.

"So fierce, Thracian!" the man in front of him taunted with an evil smirk on his face. "All those lives, only for the sake of a whore's life in return?"

The man growled deeply in his throat, a sound that made him appear like a wild animal.

"All of those lives do not even come close to what hers is worth!" he spat in return, his blue eyes liquid fire as he stared at the Roman soldier.

"Brother…" the woman with long black hair behind him whimpered, silently pleading with him to save his own life.

But he couldn't. He wouldn't.

He was a man of honor, and she the only family he had left.

He would protect her, no matter the cost.

Even if it meant his own life.

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Tiberius stood outside at the balcony and looked down onto the training area. Swords collided against swords while loud fighting instructions, exhausted moans and deep manly laughter filled the warm evening air. He watched the men's movements with genuine fascination on his old face. Their tanned bodies were hard as steal – the only armor they needed while fighting for glory and immortality on the sand of the arena.

It would probably take more than fifty of the bravest soldiers of Rome to have at least the littlest of chances to defeat them, Tiberius mused with a proud smile on his face. It was because those men down on the hot sand were fighting for something – honor, freedom, glory, or plainly their lives – while soldiers often only followed orders. If time has told him one thing, then it was that the sense of duty and obligation alone had never been enough to win a battle.

"Welcome home, Dominus." a low voice from behind him brought him out of his musings. "I'm afraid we were not informed of your visit, but we are delighted to have you back."

Tiberius let out a low chuckle while glancing over his shoulder. A young man with dark hair and piercing blue eyes had appeared at the door, his spine straight while he held his arms crossed behind his back.

"I thank you for your kind words, Saphir. They are very much appreciated. As always" Tiberius answered as he finally turned around to face his son's personal body-slave. "An unexpected change in the winds made me come here. My son is home, I suppose?"

A somewhat embarrassed look darted over the servant's face.

"He is, Dominus." Saphir answered with a tight nod and a stony face. "But I'm afraid he is …" he stopped there a moment, his eyes darting towards where his master's bedrooms were. "… otherwise engaged."

Tiberius let out an exhausted sigh and shook his head.

"And I suppose 'otherwise' includes a beautiful young woman in his beds?" the old man asked with raised brows.

Before Saphir was able to reply, Tiberius had already lifted his right hand and motioned him to stay silent.

"There's no need for explanations." he sighed with a small smile directed in the servant's direction. "I only wish he would finally decide to settle down, and start a proper family instead of seeking the company of different women every night."

Saphir couldn't help himself as he let out a dry chuckle.

"Not so different." he muttered under his breath, but his eyes widened immediately in horror as he saw Tiberius brows raise at his thoughtless comment.

"Forgiveness, Dominus." the young servant apologized immediately and ducked his head in shame. "I had no right to…"

"It's fine boy." Tiberius was quick to soothe the troubled young man with an exhausted sigh on his lips. "You only give voice to my own worried thoughts."

His gaze lost focus for a moment.

"Pale soft skin, eyes as blue as the sky on a sunny day in spring, and hair like velvet sun rays." Tiberius murmured, a hint of sadness edging at his voice.

'And yet, each of them only pale shadows compared to the beauty his heart truly yearns for.' he added silently as his mind wandered back to the row of beauties his son had devoured over the past years.

The old man shook his head slowly, and his eyes settled back onto the quiet servant. Their eyes met, and a spark of hidden knowledge passed between them.

"Be a good boy and fetch him for me, will you?" Tiberius asked with a weak smile on his tired face. "And prepare some dinner for tonight, made to serve four."

Saphir's brows shot up in surprise.

"Four, Dominus?" he inquired carefully.

Tiberius only arched one brow in response, making the young servant bow his head obediently.

"It shall be done as you wish, Dominus." Saphir said quickly which caused a friendly smile to appear on Tiberius' face.

He watched his son's body slave leave, and the old man turned around to focus his attention back onto the training area beneath him. Normally, watching their skillful fight always brought satisfaction and happiness to his old heart. It was something that reminded him of those bygone days of youth – of days when this great Ludus had still been under the command of his beloved father. Tiberius had spent hours with his father's men, had learnt from them things that went beyond the knowledge of a soldier who learnt fighting during his military service. He had experienced friendship and honor among doomed, had seen the glory of brotherhood. But more importantly, he had learnt to respect – respect that had to be earned, and that was not given just because of one's heritage. Growing up in his father's Ludus had formed him into the man he now was – one of the Roman Empire's most respected generals – a man of honor who had fought battles all over the world as a focused but just commander. It was why he had chosen to pass this experience on to his son – and yet, he no doubted the success of this proposition. He had hoped his son would eventually see the underlying purpose of this honorable task. However, he had misunderstood the father's intention and had seen it as a mere punishment – a proof of his father's doubt in the son's abilities. And then, Tiberius had dared to take her from his son – something that the father had seen as a necessity, but that the son had yet to forgive.

"Not so different." Saphir's words from earlier rang loudly in the old man's head, making Tiberius' fingers to dig deeply into the handrail's wood.

He closed his eyes and took a deep, tired breath.

His mind wandered back to a dark, burnt village somewhere in the deep, untamed forests of Germania – almost 15 winters ago. His men had fought fiercely against numerous tribes there who had refused to obey Rome's glory. Tiberius remembered how he had secretly doubted this glory when he had ridden into this burnt-down village on his way to meet Claudius, another general. His heart had filled with sorrow and regret when he had seen the rotting or charred bodies of men, women, and children alike path his way. He would have never ordered this to happen as he had always respected the lives of those who were unable to defend themselves. But Claudius, the one who had been in charge, was a power-hungry, ruthless man. He had never understood the difference between victory and glory. He had been interrupted in his musings as he had suddenly heard a frantic scream pierce the billows of smoke around him. His horse had pranced as a small figure has suddenly appeared before it, and Tiberius still remembered the waves of surprise when he had suddenly stared into big pools of blue spotted with the finest specks of silver. A small girl was standing before him, a child no older than four summers, clothed in filthy, burnt rags and fur. She had long, almost silver hair, and her skin – although peppered with dirt and bruises – was pale and shining in the full moon's light. Suddenly, another child had appeared from nowhere, a boy with light, almost white hair, who was positioning himself protectively in front of the small girl. He seemed to be a little older than the other child, seven, maybe eight years old, and his indigo eyes shone with both hatred and fierce determination as he stared up at the Roman general.

Tiberius had watched with genuine interest as the boy had shoved the small girl further away from the Roman soldiers, his hate-filled eyes never leaving the older man's as he had hissed something in a foreign language – either to the girl or Tiberius himself, the Roman wasn't quite sure. Pity and compassion had filled the general's heart as he had watched the scene before him. The small girl with silver hair had her arms firmly wrapped around the young boy's body, her small face pressed against the other child's back. She whimpered softly as the boy continued to hiss foreign words, and her body was trembling from both cold and fear. The boy on the other hand was standing proudly between the shivering girl and the heavily armed Romans, a silvery dagger in his small hand that he pointed directly at the Roman general, his eyes daring the man to come closer. A spark of sudden pride had washed through the general's veins as he met the young boy's fierce gaze. Such a small boy, he had thought with a smile, and yet he had already shown more bravery, more fierceness than some of his own soldiers during battle. It was because he was fighting for something… or quite obviously for someone. He had ordered his men to fetch a man who was experienced in the languages of Germania.

Meanwhile, he slowly and carefully had dismounted his horse, holding up both hands to signal both children that he was meaning no harm. The young boy had tensed at that, and his eyes had narrowed to dangerous slits as he had watched the general approach. Tiberius had voiced soothing words, had put on his most reassuring smile as he talked to the children. He was sure that neither of them had understood a word he had uttered, but something within his voice had piqued the girl's interest. Tiberius still remembered clearly how he had held his breath as the small girl had reluctantly lifted her head, big silver-blue eyes staring at him from behind the boy's back. She had cocked her head in interest while she had stared at the now crouching Roman general, while she bit her rosy lower lip in the most adorable way. Tiberius had smiled at the sweet little girl, and his heart had almost burst with joy as the small beauty's lips had curled into a shiny smile that had set his soul aflame. He had been so entrapped by this beautiful display of pure innocence that he had failed to realize fast enough how the little girl had suddenly jumped towards him, and had wrapped her small, cold arms around his neck. The sudden impact had caught him off-guard, and Tiberius had tumbled to the floor with the little beauty in his arms. His men had immediately drawn their swords, ready to protect their leader, when Tiberius had made them stop with nothing but a cold glare in their direction. He then had pressed the shivering girl protectively against his chest guard, and had patted the girl's hair soothingly. Over her silvery head, he had looked at the young boy with light hair who was still holding his small dagger tightly between clenched fingers. The boy's eyes were firmly fixed onto the little beauty in Tiberius' arms, his face a world of confusion, fear and something close to angered disbelief. The girl then had lifted her head from the general's chest and had turned around to face her young companion. She had addressed him, her childish, sweet voice filling the dark night with melodic foreign words. Tiberius had no idea what the baby-girl had told the boy, but whatever it had been, the boy slowly lowered his knife. He then had caught the general's eyes, a tentative smile suddenly forming on the young boy's thin lips.

It was then that Tiberius, one of the most feared and respected commanders of the armies of the North, had given his heart to two lost children from Germania.

To a boy, Diamond, so full of determination and fierce bravery, whom he would call son from this day forth.

And a girl, Serenity, so sweet and pure and full of trust, and who would forever hold his heart as his beloved daughter.

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"How good to see you father." a cold voice sounded from behind him.

Tiberius slowly turned around to face his son with a fatherly smile on his lips. Sadness and hurt briefly pierced his heart and soul as he looked into Diamond's stony face. The old general knew that his son merely wore a mask of aloofness, carefully hiding his real feelings underneath – but it pained his fatherly heart nonetheless.

"And it is good to see you too, my son." Tiberius offered in return.

He turned around a little and looked down onto the training area.

"Artemis is training them well." he said with a smile. "I don't think I have ever seen Malachite in a better shape. He truly deserves the title of Champion of Capua."

Diamond let out a dry laugh and motioned his body-servant to bring him a goblet of wine.

"He is the undefeated Celt." the young man declared with a flourish gesture of his wine-holding hand. "The mirror image of his Lanista's abilities. After all, you don't think me worth enough for other opportunities to bring honor to this house, apart from that."

"Diamond…" the old general sighed in exasperation. "You go too far."

Diamond's indigo eyes shone with cold challenge as he returned his father's gaze.

"Do I?" the young man demanded with a sneer on his face.

Tiberius straightened his spine as he watched his son's defiant stance.

"To be one of Rome's best Lanistas is an honorable task, Diamond." he finally replied lowly, his lips set to a grim line. "You are following the steps of your great grandfather, just like my father did. He has gained respect and had been held in high esteem throughout the entire Republic."

Diamond let out an angry snort.

"Says the son who refrained from this respective position in order to become one of Rome's most valued generals." Diamond murmured angrily, his thin fingers curling tightly around his goblet of wine.

Tiberius' face softened as he saw the fierce determination in the young man's eyes. It was a hunger that reminded him so much of his earlier years, a time when he was longing for proving his own worth.

"I know that you yearn for honor on the battlefield, son." the old general said with fatherly softness in his voice.

He was now standing right in front of Diamond and placed a rough hand on his shoulders.

"But an honorable man is not called as such because of the number of fights he has won on the battlefield. Give yourself time."

He saw the flicker of defiance flare up in his son's eyes, but Diamond remained silent. After some moments of tensed silence hanging heavily in the early evening's air, the young man with light hair finally nodded his head slowly in agreement – a motion that caused a shiny smile to appear on the father's face.

"Come now, boy." Tiberius laughed and placed his arm around his son's shoulder. "Let us not argue about such things when we just as well can enjoy Capua's best gladiators fight at our feet."

He led his son to the balcony's handrail, and both silently watched the men in the training area fight against each other.

"Saphir told me that you had company this afternoon." Tiberius broke the silence after a while, his eyes never leaving the fighting gladiators.

Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw his son's nonchalant shrug of his shoulders.

"I had." Diamond answered. "Lavinia and I had some… important matters to discuss."

"Lavinia?" Tiberius echoed with raised brows. "Quintus' daughter? Well she's quite a fetching beauty I suppose."

Diamond once again only shrugged his shoulders and continued to watch his gladiators fight.

"Tell her she is very welcomed to join us for dinner tonight." the general said with a smile in his son's direction, a small spark of hope blazing in his old heart. "I'm sure she would be a perfect…"

"I'm afraid she'll be gone by then, father." Diamond interrupted him sharply, his face blank as he said those words.

Tiberius let out a long sigh, but eventually nodded his head. It was not his place to decide.

"Tell me why you are here, father." Diamond said after another long beat of silence, and finally tore his eyes away from the training grounds. "Something tells me it is not to meet my lovers."

Tiberius shook his head slowly as if in agreement.

"Of course not." he finally confirmed and faced his son. "I was on my way to Dalmatia when unforeseen circumstances forced me to delay my plans."

Diamond raised his brows in interest while taking another sip of wine.

"And what would be urgent enough to keep you away from your battlefields?" he murmured, barely able to keep the sarcastic edge from his voice.

Tiberius lifted his chin high, his eyes cool as he stared into his son's impassive face.

"The one who holds both our hearts."

The movement of Diamond's hand stopped immediately.

Slowly, so very slowly, he lowered the goblet from his lips, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Serenity" he stated rather than asked after moments of tensed silence.

A small smile appeared on the old general's face and he nodded his head.

"Yes" was all he said in response.

There was a range of emotions in Diamond's eyes – a world of confusion, excitement and devotion that appeared whenever someone would mention his sister's name.

Slowly, the young man placed his goblet onto a table nearby, his indigo eyes studying his father as if in search for the answers Tiberius was still withholding.

"I am concerned about the slave revolt in the North" Tiberius finally declared. "I think it would be wise to cut her service at the Temple of Selene shorter than originally planned. I would never forgive myself if something happened to her."

"Neither would I." Diamond was quick to add, his voice and eyes filling with unmistakable warning.

"I know." Tiberius answered, his eyes hard as he saw the barely hidden fury in his son's eyes.

Diamond had always been protective of his sister – something purely natural given their history together. But over the years, protectiveness had formed into something else, into something that was close to fierce possessiveness. Tiberius had silently watched this for some time, and had finally intervened when his 17-year-old son had almost killed one of Serenity's young, innocent suitors when she had reached the age of 14. As a consequence, the old general had decided to send Serenity away to the Temple of Selene to finish her studies. It had broken his paternal heart when his brave daughter had accepted her new fate with glistering, hot tears in her face. But it had been a necessity, a decision to protect both of his beloved children. It had taken Diamond almost two years to speak to his father again, but Tiberius was now more convinced than ever that it had been the right decision.

He had visited his daughter in the Temple of Selene as often as he could. Serenity was the light in his old life, the one good thing that always managed to lighten his troubled heart. He had watched her blossom into a beautiful young woman over the years – a goddess herself clothed in the modest attire of a priestess. He had sent two body-servants with her, even though she had – right from the start – fiercely protested against naming them as such. If possible, the love for his daughter had only grown when he had listened to her passionate monologue about how much she loved her friends, and that she would scold everyone who would dare and call them slaves. The girls – really no older than Serenity herself – had been sold to him a few years ago by a foreign slave trader from the West years ago. They had accompanied his Serenity to the Temple, enjoying the High Priestess' education along with his beloved daughter. When he had last seen them only few days ago, his heart had burst with joy as he had seen the tree women interact with each other. They had become close friends over the year – and Serenity was just as protective about them as they were about her. Tiberius had never seen Serenity that happy.

However, news on a slave revolt close to the Temple had caught his attention some time ago. He had followed the Senate's advice and had sent word to the High Priestess that he needed to take his daughter back home to protect her from any possible harm.

"Father?" his son's impatient growl brought him out of his thoughts.

Tiberius shook his head as if to clear his head.

"Forgive an old man, Diamond." he said with an apologetic smile on his lips. "My troubled heart had me trapped for a moment."

Diamond just offered him a stiff nod, but Tiberius immediately noticed his son's tense stance.

"I have asked her to come back home." the general declared firmly, his eyes studying Diamond's face. "Until I'm back, I will leave her under your care so that no harm will come to her."

Diamond was the master of keeping his emotions hidden beneath his mask of aloofness, but Tiberius knew his son too well. He saw the slight changes in his posture, detected the emotions of infinite excitement briefly wash through indigo eyes.

Could sense the anger that flared up from deep within.

"Under my care?" Diamond echoed smoothly while cocking his head. "Remind me if I'm wrong, father. But wasn't it you who said me and my behavior would put her into danger? Wasn't it exactly those words that sealed her fate and sent her away? Away from her own flesh and blood?"

"A decision I still consider as right." Tiberius retorted in a voice that didn't allow any protest. "She will be accompanied by Luna, the High Priestess of Selene and a trusted friend of mine."

Diamond threw his head back and let out a sharp bark of laughter.

"A High Priestess of Selene visiting a Ludus, father? You surely are in a good mood of joking!"

"Lady Luna was part of this Ludus long before you and your sister came here." Tiberius replied in a dangerously low voice. "Be assured that the color of blood will most likely not lead her to faint."

Diamond just rolled his eyes at that and grabbed his goblet to take another gulp of wine.

"Serenity and her two servants will continue their studies here – that is the reason why I asked the High Priestess to accompany her. Lady Luna has taken a shine to our girl, and she was only too eager to follow my invitation. She will make sure to teach Serenity everything she needs to know to finish her studies until I return from my duties."

Diamond stared at the goblet in his hands for some moments before he spoke again.

"And you are sure this is the only reason why you have asked her to accompany Serenity back to Capua?" Diamond asked without facing his father.

There was a long beat of silence before Tiberius spoke.

"Just like you, Diamond, Luna will be here to protect Serenity. Especially from things you will not be able to protect her."

The underlying message hovered between both men, the real reason why Tiberius had asked Luna to accompany Serenity to her brother's home never voiced aloud. But there was one last thing Tiberius had to tell his son, but last confession to make before Serenity would return.

"When I'm back, Diamond, I will take her with me to Rome. I will introduce her into society to find a husband for her." he spoke, the words making his son to whirl around with disbelief written across his face.

"A husband?" Diamond echoed his father's words, his eyes wide with shock.

"Yes, Diamond." Tiberius confirmed in a firm voice. "She is of marriageable age. It is time for me as her father to find a man for her to be happy with."

There was no room for discussion, no room for arguing. He waited some moments for Diamond to react, but his son only stood there with his lips pressed to a thin line while his eyes spoke volumes of his true feelings.

Tiberius took in a deep breath and kneaded the bridge of his nose with two fingers.

"I have asked her to come home, Diamond." he repeated after a while, his voice and eyes soft. "She needs your protection until I return. Won't you do this for me? For her?"

Diamond let out a cheerless laugh, his right hand immediately lifting towards the leather strap with a small silver pendant around his neck.

A gift from his sister so many years ago.

"You know I would even fight the armies of glorious Rome to protect her." he whispered as he gazed into space.

A fond smile appeared on his father's face as he remembered the young boy who had placed his own fragile body between a young girl and one of Rome's most respectable generals.

Tiberius placed a strong hand on Diamond's shoulder and nodded.

"I know, son. I know." he said while squeezing his shoulder tightly.

"Enough of gloomy topics and memories bygone! Let's be happy together and welcome our beloved daughter and sister back to our home!"

Diamond forced himself to smile at his father and nodded tightly.

"And Ares himself is with us as he welcomes our Serenity by opening the gates of Capua's Arena tomorrow!" Tiberius further exclaimed as he led his son back into the villa. "And gladiators will color the sand of honor crimson as they spill blood of comrades and traitors alike! So that the most honorable of them will be blessed with victory and glory in the end!"

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Notes

Alright guys so this is the prologue of this story.

It's a mixture of Spartacus and Gladiator in the Sailor Moon setting.

Of course, I don't own anything.

I'm super excited about this story because I just recently fell in love with Sailor Moon once again.

English is not my first language, so please bear with me and any mistakes.. ;-)

That said:

Enjoy!