Sculpture Garden
The second of the short stories in the anthology. Its original version has been written after the premiere of "Sailor Moon Crystal". Here, there is renewed version.
World: Sailor Moon
Time: Silver Millenium and Modern Era
Characters: Jadeite and Beryl
Jadeite stared at the white stone block standing near the hedge that separated the garden from the rest of the palace grounds. In his imagination, a form was slowly taking shape, a form that would soon emerge from the raw stone, transformed by his artistic vision and skillful hands. The blond man turned around, taking in the view of the garden that spread out around him. It was a spacious, green paradise, full of winding paths lined with white stones, ornately trimmed trees, and sculptures that gave the place a unique character. Most of the works adorning this garden were his creations or those of his friends, who, like him, shared a passion for giving imagined forms to matter.
Jadeite smiled, looking at the sky dotted with milky-white clouds that gently filtered the light. In this peaceful moment, he felt someone approaching, someone who would disrupt his contemplation. He looked toward the entrance to the garden and saw Prince Endymion heading his way. The black-haired man stopped by the stone that was soon to be transformed into a new work of art.
"I hope I'm not disturbing you, Jadeite," the prince said with a smile.
"No, Endymion. I haven't started working yet; I'm still standing here, searching for inspiration. I might stand here until evening and not come up with anything."
"Perhaps I can help you find inspiration," Endymion replied with a gleam in his eye.
"Oh? Endymion? What do you mean?" Jadeite asked, curious.
"I brought a guest today. Someone who will surely appreciate the beauty of our garden and your talent."
Jadeite smiled somewhat skeptically, glancing around the garden.
"Really? It seems you're in the mood for jokes, Endymion. I don't see anyone here but you and me. Unless you mean the birds making noise in the hedge."
"No, Jadeite. I just wanted to make sure you weren't too busy. I'll bring the guest right away," the prince replied with a smile, heading toward the garden exit.
Jadeite sat on a wooden bench, listening to the rustling leaves and the gentle song of birds. He wondered what Endymion might be planning. Shortly afterward, the prince returned, leading by the hand a blonde girl dressed in a white gown.
"Serenity, this is Jadeite, my protector and friend," Endymion introduced her. "Jadeite, this is Princess Serenity, heir to the throne of the Silver Millennium Kingdom, someone very important to me and our realm."
Jadeite bowed to Serenity, simultaneously casting a questioning glance at the prince. Surprise and a certain degree of reluctance mixed in his thoughts.
"Endymion said that this garden has sculptures as beautiful as those adorning the Moon Gardens, and flowers and trees brought from the most distant corners of Earth. May I see them?" Serenity asked, looking at Jadeite with eyes full of hope.
"Of course, Princess, you may stay in my garden as long as you like," Jadeite replied, gesturing toward the path.
The girl smiled and ran toward the sculpture square, stopping by a statue depicting a white horse with wings and a horn made of real gold.
"Beautiful..." she whispered, entranced by the stone creature's eyes.
As Serenity moved away, Jadeite turned to Endymion.
"Is it wise to bring her here? Her people consider us thieves who want to take their longevity and technology."
Endymion responded calmly, though there was determination in his voice.
"She's not like the others. She has an open heart and wants to learn as much about us as she can. Did you see the sparkle in her eyes when she first saw this place? She is a chance for our races to overcome mutual dislikes and start cooperating. She is our path to a new, bright future."
Jadeite looked at his friend with concern.
"Are you sure it's about the future of our realm? I saw how you looked at each other. It's more than that, isn't it?"
Endymion frowned, but his response was firm.
"Even if it is, so what? Our feelings are our private matter."
Jadeite shook his head, full of doubts.
"Aren't you afraid of the prophecy? Aren't you afraid that your closeness will bring about the Dark Times?"
Endymion clearly became upset.
"Jadeite! I thought you were my friend! Are you trying to scare me with old superstitions? Those beliefs should have died out along with the exile of the last sorcerer!"
Jadeite refrained from further discussion, knowing that the prince had already made up his mind.
"You will do as you wish, Endymion. I don't have enough power to oppose you. Just remember not to let this relationship destroy you... and not to drag our entire Kingdom down with it."
Endymion wanted to reply, but then they heard Serenity's call, pointing to another sculpture.
"Show her around the garden and remember not to say anything that could hurt her," the prince said, trying to end the conversation.
Jadeite was finishing work on his latest sculpture, deep in thought in a dark room lit only by a few torches burning with green, magical fire. This time, unlike his previous works, he was working not in stone but in clay. His creation depicted a slender woman dressed in a form-fitting outfit. The man carefully shaped her face, attaching the final elements, including pointed ears and the shape of her hair. When he finished, he stepped back a few steps, admiring his work.
"Perfect," he thought, wiping sweat from his brow. "She will surely be pleased."
He stood up, headed for the exit, and climbed the winding stone stairs leading to the surface. His new workshop was deep underground, far from the sun and the birds' song. Outside, the sky was overcast, and a cold wind swept between the buildings. Jadeite noticed a woman standing near the garden's exit, leaning on a staff topped with a black orb. He bowed low.
"Your Majesty, your army of demons is ready," he announced without raising his eyes to Beryl.
"Excellent, Jadeite. You will be rewarded for your dedication," she replied, looking at him with satisfaction.
The blond man, still bowed, dared to ask the question that had been bothering him for a long time.
"How will an army of clay mannequins help us achieve victory?"
Beryl smiled mysteriously.
"You'll see soon enough, Jadeite. Come with me," she said, heading toward the entrance to the underground.
After a short walk down the stone stairs, Beryl and Jadeite arrived at the General's underground workshop. The room was filled with dozens of clay statues of women, standing motionless, like an army waiting for orders. Beryl approached closer and smiled with satisfaction.
"Perfect," she said with admiration. "Now, our Queen will give them life... true life."
She raised the scepter with the black orb high above her head. Inside the globe appeared the twisted smile of Metalia, and Beryl's body began to emit a sinister glow. Jadeite watched with interest as black magic permeated the sculptures, filling them with the energy of the Queen of Darkness. The clay statues came to life, their faces taking on an expression resembling that of Metalia, which had previously appeared in the orb of the scepter.
"Your army will strengthen our forces with the power of our ruler, Queen Metalia," Beryl said, noticing a statue standing in the corner, clearly different from the rest.
"What is that?" she asked with clear displeasure.
"Your Majesty, it's a sculpture I made at Prince Endymion's request before our Queen... arrived on Earth and bestowed her power upon us. Now that I've seen what Metalia is capable of, I have an idea. Perhaps the Queen could breathe life into the statue of Endymion. That way, we would have someone in our ranks to fill the void left by the traitor," Jadeite suggested hopefully.
Beryl's face twisted with anger. She pointed the scepter at the statue and hurled a black energy orb at it. The sculpture was immediately shattered into tiny pieces. Beryl turned to Jadeite with icy calm.
"There is only one Endymion, Jadeite. Remember that forever," she said coldly before turning and heading toward the stairs leading to the surface.
Jadeite remained in the underground workshop, staring at the shattered pieces of the statue he had considered his best work just moments earlier. He now understood that in this game, there was no room for sentiment, and any attempt to replace the true Endymion would end the same way — with failure.