Lady of the Silver Moon Part IV
Silver Millennium
Moon Kingdom
Endymion, having slept much better than he had in months due to the sudden and tragic deaths of his parents, woke early to the sounds of Lunarian songbirds. He loved taking advantage of the peace and quiet within the sleepy palace to study the ancient texts Pluto had given him.
He loved the smell of the old printed books, the leather and the hint of Lunarian incense that lingered here like an old friend. Endymion now considered this his private retreat, as his father’s library on Terra could no longer serve that purpose as it was destroyed in the latest attack upon the Terran capital by Queen Beryl’s forces.
He felt the stinging tears pushing at the corners of his eyes at the thought of his deceased parents. He cried for those two most important people in his life and as he let the roses fall upon the graves of Arjirea and Solaris during the funerary rite, he had vowed to protect the girl he loved, the third point of his triangle of the heart, Princess Serenity.
Luna and the Senshi resistance were now the new court of the moon, the future as far as it was concerned had to be placed on a temporary hiatus – or at least he hoped it was temporary. But he had a lot of pressing matters to occupy his mind right now. He wiped away the rogue tears, and pressed on with his private research.
After studying the text for just on an hour, he stood up, crossed the floor, slid out a small heavy oak writing chest from the bookshelf, and set it upon the desk. He opened it with a small crystal key, untied the scrolls and put ink, quill and fresh parchment on the desk, and was soon scribbling down his notes.
He had to talk to the Senshi, the Lunarian military leadership and of course, Serenity herself about all this, and piece as much of this puzzle together as was possible. War, he knew, was coming to the Moon Kingdom, and sooner rather than later. He could feel it.
The Silver Alliance was on high alert, the Moon Kingdom’s forces flying recon missions over the Lunarian sphere around the clock and the planets were gearing up for an attack by Beryl at any moment.
(Seems the name Beryl is synonymous with the Dark Kingdom throughout our history and folklore) Endymion thought, as he continued to cross-reference his notes. Beryl Ravensong, Beryl of the Western Provinces and the legend of a child spirit by the name of Beryl trapped in some unusual dimension within the crook of an ancient tree held there by a bird youma controlled by a malevolent spirit so old it had no name or age.
(All so very strange)
The text was cryptic and difficult to decipher. Endymion was good at linguistic translations and could perform miracles with ancient languages and texts. All he needed was plenty of parchment, ink and time to meditate on the subject matter and soon he’d crack the code, the palace scribes on both Terra and the moon always astounded by his prowess as a translator.
He had just read the story concerning the Western Alliance’s princess Beryl and how, as an infant, her mother had abandoned her. The Lady Dianara had vanished without a trace, a special Terran tribunal investigating her disappearance ruled persons unknown had murdered her. The case closed. Apparently, Beryl’s mother, the Lady Dianara had left the child on a hilltop sleeping in her cradle. Some of the people living at the base of the hill claimed to have seen Sailor Epsilon -- Dianara’s Senshi form -- rescuing her child from a bird youma. The mark of evil, as the claw-like markings on the infant’s scalp came to be known, cited as evidence of a curse. The judge laughed this off, warning a Terran woman to hold her tongue, saying these were merely birthmarks, and declared the hysterical accounts unsubstantiated myth and declared the case death by misadventure, immediately dismissing the royal tribunal.
Now he was beginning to wonder if all this was interconnected with the prophecy and an even older curse that went further back before the Silver Millennium. However, evidence and documentation was scarce. He was also curious about the little he’d found on the legendary, Lords of the Scimitar, inter-galactic Shitennou who he’d heard about as a boy, but thought stories made up by Kunzite and the others to entertain the children of the royal court.
Everything was coming together, albeit slowly: past present and an uncertain future lay in the balance. He shuddered and pictured Serenity's beautiful face to soothe his troubled heart, immediately feeling better.
He re-read the account concerning the disappearance of Lady Dianara. Apparently, a village midwife was reported to have taken the baby into the township. She had, the following day, journeyed to the palace of the royal house of Juniper, a day’s ride from the village. The king and queen gave their ascent to raising the orphaned princess. But this community had been amongst the first to fall under Beryl and Metallia in recent times.
“That’s odd…,” he mused and scribbled down more notes.
He was roused out of his ponderings by a warm and familiar voice, “Endymion, I must speak with you urgently,” Setsuna said, “It’s about Sere.”
The troubled prince looked up and smiled, “How can I be of help, Lady Setsuna?”
“Are you familiar with the Time Gate? I know it’s a rhetorical question, but humor me.”
“Yes… you want me to come there with you now?” he said, placing his writing instruments aside and packing everything away into the chest and replacing it back in its place upon the shelf and turned to face the tall emerald-haired Senshi.
“Thank you, please.”
Without another word, he put on his cloak, and followed the Princess of Pluto to the room that served as conduit to the Time Gate. Soon, they were standing before the Mirror of Time. He shuffled uncomfortably as the swirling images came and went. He stood beside Pluto as these morphed in and out of view. Then the sound of an intake of breath had the Guardian of Time looking at him expectantly. “What is it you see, Endymion?”
“Don’t you see it, it’s Dark Serenity, that is Sere’s future!” he said, his mouth dry.
“Correction, it is Dark Serenity, but not of this realm. I need you to do something for me and it requires we travel to this world and help your mirror self.”
“My mirror…self?” he arched an eyebrow, “But the Time Gate isn’t a cross dimensional portal, or is it, Pluto?” he stammered as the Elysian temple came into view.
The once beautiful priestesses of Elysian were now lifeless zombies with fangs. Gone the white shifts, these replaced with black garments, the transformed girls terrorizing those remaining in the besieged kingdom of dreams. Only Dark Pegasus grazed outside the Solar Temple, the structure scorched by black ash and partially demolished.
“Helios?” he asked, fearing the answer, “Please tell me it all!”
“He lives. But as you see, your links to Elysian had in part already alerted you to this, but you thought it a portent of what was to come for the Silver Millennium. You now know otherwise. Elysian is linked to both realms.”
“You need me, why?” he asked, suspecting there was something more to all this.
“In that world, Endymion was blinded by Dark Serenity. I had to combine my Garnet Staff with the Kinzuishou to enable us to defeat our common enemy. I-“
“You’re not our Pluto! Who are you, really?” he accused, staring into her eyes.
“My apologies, Endy, what gave me away?” she smiled sheepishly.
“Your eyes and your walk!”
“You are correct. You need to understand that if you refuse to help me, all we know and love, both our kingdoms and everything else will be destroyed and a new alliance between Dark Serenity and Metallia, your antagonist currently behind Queen Beryl of your universe shall dominate and compromise the Crystal Nexus. Come! We can talk more of this later, Endymion!”
“But why the ruse?”
She gave him a side-on-glance, “Let’s just say, that if I came as I really am, the timeline would be compromised. That would complicate an already dangerous situation. Pluto needs you there as she is with her counterpart and though the paradox is unsettling for all concerned; Endy, there is really no other way.”
He could only follow, stunned by what she was telling him. But he still had no idea who, or what she was.
(Can I trust her?)
~*~
She held a glittering talisman in her hands and chanted what sounded much like a Mauan incantation. He smiled.
Suddenly, they found themselves standing before a ring of crystal. Endymion gasped in awe, “Where are we, P-Pluto?”
“Deep beneath the Moon Palace. Now hush, my dear young Endy,” she chastised with a hint of amusement in her tone. The Pluto doppelganger produced a time key. He had seen these before, but this one was different, it was slightly larger and glowed with a soft orange light. She smiled and as she placed it in his hands, she raised her arms and detransformed.
“By the Kamis! Queen Mau? I have seen images of you in the Moon Temple and palace gallery. You are she, are you not?”
“Yes I am, now, take my hand, I promise it won’t hurt,” she giggled, seeing his boyish expression and the trepidation written upon his face. “This is like the Time Gate, only more exciting!”
The portal gleamed as lemon-green light pulsed within the circumference of the crystal gate as they stepped through the aperture.
Mirror Universe
Setsuna and Endymion’s homestead outside the capital
Serenity recognized Gaea and Reika, but she wasn’t so sure who the other young Senshi might be. The adolescent girl wore an emerald fuku lined with gold trim, yet as she studied the face, recognition finally dawned.
(She is Endy’s other child by Setsuna, Persephone!)
The girl was in her mid-teens, sixteen or seventeen she guessed. Upon the brow of both Senshi, the symbol of Terra blazed like a mini nova. She gasped at the sight. Serenity’s heart skipped a beat as she felt the Ginzuishou flare to life within and a feeling of love and awe overtook her at the sight of the three princesses, the daughters of Endymion and Diamond. Two almost grown up and the Mauan child with the familiar Lunarian Crescent upon her brow, taking after her grandfather who was Mauan. She looked so like Luna it lightened her heart.
Persephone was laughing at something Gaea had said, punching the shoulder of her half-sister as Reika laughed along with her older siblings. Then Persephone lifted her eyes and stopped, her hand resting on Gaea’s forearm as she stared at Serenity of the White Moon.
She stood frozen to the spot, Reika giving her older half-sister a quizzical look as a grin spread rapidly across Persephone’s face as she dragged the others towards where the apparition stood smiling warmly at the group.
Gaea welcomed her first , “Lady Serenity, I am glad you’ve come to Terra!”
“Mother! You look like my mother, but you’re beautiful!” Reika cried running to hug Serenity, who beamed and swung the young girl in a half-circle and set her down.
Then Persephone added her own welcome, “Princess Serenity, you’ve returned to us and at an opportune time. Mother is here -- father!” she turned to Endymion who had stepped out holding onto Setsuna’s arm, “I know you cannot see her, but it is Serenity of the light, the spirit girl. She hasn’t changed in the least!”
“Tell her we need her help, and the war is at a crucial turning point,” her father replied, running his hand along the rail and moving down the steps towards them. He could feel Serenity’s power and it made his aura glow in response. “Hello, Sere, we have so much to tell you, but I cannot hear or see you, but I feel you.”
“Lady, I understand you must have been carrying a great burden when we last met. I was but a child at the time,” Persephone said, looking at the vision from another realm.
“I know, Persephone. I am sorry I ran from you last time we met, but it was all too much seeing your father and I-“ she breathed, clutching her etheric dress as she bowed her head in shame and remorse.
Persephone placed a gentle hand on Serenity’s shoulder, “Hey, it’s all right. I was a child at the time and father did understand your reasons for running from us. He told me of all that had happened. I know it must have been so painful for you to see mother and him together. I sympathize, believe me.”
“Thank you, Persephone, I am glad your parents found love and they have you as the most precious gift and my darker self is a hideous creature and not worthy of even a smile from him. In my universe, things are very different. But I know I must play my part in helping put matters to rights in both worlds.”
“And we’ll help you in any way we can!” Gaea said, hugging Serenity.
Endymion took Setsuna’s hand, Serenity winked at the woman who had won the man she loved, at least in this world. Setsuna returned the gesture. Serenity could see the unmistakable sheen of wisdom and power in her eyes that spoke far more of those secrets she kept as guardian of time. Serenity now understood the affinity between the two in her universe. This reality was the reason.
Time was coalescing at this point as a flash of light heralded the arrival of another familiar face. Setsuna stared, the children were struck dumb with shock and confusion and Sailor Pluto approached, holding up her hand in a gesture of friendly greeting.
“I know this is all very confusing and my timing was perfect. I have come from Sere’s universe and Endy, I am glad part of me found you. In my world, it is very different and will continue to be, Sere, fear not my princess,” she said, Serenity’s form glowing even brighter if that were possible in response to the Garnet Staffs of both dimensions as their power flared and engulfed the small party. Then, as if on cue, two newcomers arrived. Mau and…Endymion.
“Oh, by the Kamis! Another Endymion!” Setsuna cried out, gripping her husband’s hand. She began to puzzle it all out, “Endy, it’s all right. Endymion of the Silver Millennium and my counterpart need to join hands in a ring of power with all of us. Trust me, my husband.”
“Have I ever failed to trust your wise council my love?” he grinned, as they moved to greet the new arrivals and all joined hands.
“Celestial Affinity Circlet Unite!” Mau cried and the others echoed the call and as the rainbow of light whooshed around them, the property lit up for miles around and the citizens of the nearby Terran village on the outskirts of the capital came to see what was happening.
Endymion of the mirror realm opened his eyes, for the first time in almost two decades and gazed upon his lovely wife, kissing her sweet and loving face. “You are truly beautiful, my darling heart!” She was as he remembered, her bronzed complexion, her eyes and body, the pink and lavender dress she wore, her braided hair catching the sunlight. She was perfection incarnate. He then gazed upon his children and began to beam and cry at the same time.
“I’m sorry, I think my emotions are unsure exactly how to express themselves. I am so happy, and children, darling, and my friends, I have never seen such a wondrous sight, ever, thank you all!”
He gasped at the etheric Serenity of the White Moon. Then a burst of lavender light punctuated Saturn’s arrival. Endymion’s family encircled him, as did everyone in that moment.
The Final Battle
As they stood together, crying and laughing, they soon withdrew back into the house. They ate together, it was a feast, one of celebration and rejuvenation. But as twilit began to descend, winds of great ferocity lashed the homestead.
“I knew it, I know he is here,” Saturn said, in a dull monotone.
“Who, Lady Saturn?” Reika inquired, squeezing both her sister’s hands so tight the girls winced with the pain.
“Lord Chaos,” she said, and her Silence Glaive appeared in her hand.
“Sere, she is not alone, your mother, Dark Serenity is with him,” Persephone said, “We must do battle. He is waiting for us!”
“You have the power now of two Kinzuishou, Garnet Rods and our friend here, Lady Moon Cat -- Sailor Mau!” Gaea declared, producing a golden orb with a simple thought, and gasped in pleasant surprise, “Seems I too have a few tricks up my own sleeve I wasn’t even aware of.”
“Let’s do this!” Endymion of the Mirror Realm declared, his counterpart nodding as they produced their crystal swords and all filed out to meet Chaos and Dark Serenity.
Battle For the Future
Dark Serenity was restored, though not as hellish as before, she was nonetheless dark, humanoid, but her black raven-like wings were her only additional accessory provided courtesy of the weakened Dark Crystal.
“So, a few surprises. What is all this, my Lord Chaos?”
“Simple, Serenity of the Dark. We have guests from a mirror realm, a twin domain I shall help my sister claim for the grand darkness that is to come, that is once we take care of this impromptu family reunion. Sorry to literally, cut this short!” he produced an obsidian mace and a sword, and rushed at the first Endymion, the other Terran monarch rushed to his aid, the combined power of two Kinzuishou having an immediate effect.
“Now, at last, children of my battered womb. Although I enjoyed making you, raising you was a chore, and yet, destroying you will be a pleasure! Prepare to meet your doom!” the Dark Queen shouted.
Both Time Senshi launched Dead Scream and Warp Action, as the skies overhead became an amalgam of brilliant color, challenging the purple and black storm clouds overhead.
As the blood-red lightning flashed, the vampire youma were descending upon the capital, but the Lords of the Scimitar had their measure. They all knew lives would be lost this day. Mars and the other Senshi had joined the fray. They would need all their power now.
“Sparkling-Wide Pressure!”
“Ice Storm Blast!”
Mars Phoenix Plasma Burst!”
“Venus Celestial Love Halo!”
Then the earth shook and two new Senshi materialized and began their attacks directing these against Dark Serenity, “Earth Shaking!”
“Deep Submerge!”
“Dark Cosmic Bloom!” Dark Serenity hollered back, and the ground trembled, and an army of mobile dark crystal flowers, with huge spikes thrust through the soil and began to encircle Reika who was standing in front of the house, terrified as the glittering jet blooms shot hundreds of feet into the air and began to moan in a grotesque parody of a lullaby. She had no idea how to deal with this, but closed her eyes tight.
“Bastet, please help me!”
Suddenly, as Dark Serenity hurled a series of black fireballs at her youngest child trapped within the floral fortress, a ring of reddish gold encircled the Mauan Senshi and she began to sing, not just any note, but a devastating aria that shattered the dark orbs well before they reached her, “Sonic Yowl!”
“No! You won’t stop me this time little brat!”
“Kitten Heart Attack!” Sailor Hathor raised her staff and the circlets of force were so powerful, Dark Serenity flew upwards to escape the worst of these. The floral youma uprooted themselves and moved on Hathor.
“Kitty Reverberation Strike!”
Instantly, the dark crystalline flower youma were shattered to dust. She stood triumphant, her body glowing with a golden-pink light.
Then Chaos summoned a legion of dark crystal dragons, they swooped upon the land and threw off streams of fire and from their foreheads, volleys of purple jagged spears rained down upon the warriors of light, exploding on impact. The Senshi danced and leapt adroitly to avoid these deadly projectiles.
“Mauan Cosmic Cascade!” Sailor Mau struck the Dark Queen, and her dark aura began to fade.
Then Mercury was hit and Mars put up a firewall to protect the injured Sailor Soldier, “Mercury, I will help.”
“Thanks Mars, it hurts really bad, but I will be all right.”
“I can help! Serenity of the White Moon declared, laying her hands upon the injured knee and bloody calf of the fallen Senshi of Water.
“Oh wow, Princess! I feel my leg repairing itself and the burns… they’re vanishing! Thank you!”
“Don’t mention it, now let’s see if I can help the others somehow!”
“Gaean Planet Force!” Sailor Gaea threw her golden orbs at Chaos and Dark Serenity, and the attacks had some effect on Dark Serenity and Chaos was slowed down, but she had to retreat as the dark plasma bolts missed her by a matter of inches.
“Cat Paw Attack!” Mau shouted and struck down a host of vampire youma that broke ranks from the Atlantari raider force and joined the fight.
Lord Chaos, having pinned down the two Terran kings, the Shitennou -- who had also just arrived on the scene to fight, unable to repulse this latest attack. Chaos lifted a finger summoning a huge snake of stone to come forth. The serpentine youma had formed from a nearby outcrop of black granite.
~*~
Lord Chaos’s long blonde locks flew out behind him in the winds, his golden eyes turning red, his handsome yet malevolent mask of a face wore an expression of smugness. He was well pleased with his handiwork and smirked at the warriors of light. Hands on hips, feet apart, he continued to laugh as the rock ogre slithered inexorably towards the little Mauan Senshi, Hathor.
“My friends! After Nagako dispatches the child, it shall fall upon you trouble makers!” he chuckled and turned to see how Dark Serenity was fairing.
“Space Sword Slice!” Uranus cried. The venomous beast reared and spat hot liquid upon the child. But the molten substance had no effect. Then the Space Sword struck the youma, it disintegrated.
Without warning, a swarm of frightening dark crystal wasps appeared from the nearby boundary separating the plantation from the forest, Chaos laughing as the Senshi formed a barrier of golden light around their sovereigns, and the swarm began to swoop down on its intended prey.
“Soon it will be all over, oh noble Shitennou and Senshi and your monarchs shall perish! You fought valiantly, but I was merely toying with you. I love turning off lights, and the final chapter of your resonate existence is the sweetest ambrosia. Say good-bye to your friends and loved ones. I am not without manners and respect for customs pertaining to death rituals, as frivolous as these might be.”
Hathor sang again, and this time, Mau sang with her and the waves of sound crashed upon the buzzing throng and they burst into thousands of sparkling fragments and vanished.
”What! How dare you feline scum!” Chaos was angry, and Uranus and Neptune winked at Saturn who began to meditate and hum. Chaos threw a barrage of dark plasma at the Soldier of Destruction, but she was unaffected.
“Saturn, go to the moon and seek the heart of the Dark Planet Seed and strike at its core and it shall be all over!” Mau declared and as the purple light formed, Chaos breathed a burst of black plasma-like smoke and it trapped Saturn who was powerless to move. He laughed and turned to the others, a dark corona flecked with red lightning encircling him. Without warning, a litany of burning spikes of blood-red force exploded outward. The ground shook and a vast chasm opened within the planet's crust. All stared in horror as the chest of Lord Chaos opened releasing a dark object with thousands of slimy tentacles. The Senshi and Shitennou cried out, gasping in horror as the ugly thing and its protrusions spat fire into the sky, and scorched the ground as it moved toward the abyss that must have ran hundreds of miles to the southeast, the ground unzipping itself well into the mountains to the horizon.
“No! You cannot desecrate our planet, stop this now!” Endymion and his counterpart cried in unison.
“Oh fools, it is almost over! Both Dark Planet Seeds shall soon explode simultaneously and a singularity will sprout, smashing both universes apart and I shall declare the Age of Darkness born and only I shall rule, I alone, not Zero, not my sister -- I alone!”
“Moon Cosmic Power!” Serenity Moon stood in her metallic fuku, feet apart, her wings aglow with light far brighter than before, she held a sword of her own and it glowed with a power unprecedented. She raised the weapon and her daughter, Dark Serenity, just stared at her as she flew towards the gathered Senshi and Shitennou to fire another volley of dark spears. But she stopped suddenly, and just hovered there in mid-air, her chest tightening with the strangest emotion. She could not work it out.
“Dark Serenity, you fool! Don’t just stare at her, destroy her, that sword, don’t let her use it you little baka!”
Dark Serenity’s eyes pooled with unshed tears. She saw something in the face of her mother that broke the hold of the Dark Crystal within, her eyes losing their red glow. Then azure light began to flare within her eyes and change her dark aura to silvery-pink. The Ginzuishou was continuing to heal her. Serenity Moon knew this would happen and smiled, “My little girl, I love you, let it go. Let the disappointment, bitterness, betrayal and the guilt and pain for what that monster made you do go, be cleansed, and be free!”
“Mother, I want to, but I-“
“You can do this, trust me child, feel the power rising within, you can do this!”
“Don’t listen to her Dark Serenity, power and all you desire is within your grasp, don’t throw it all away!” Chaos bellowed.
Persephone stared at the standoff, and felt the Sword of Orion buzzing in its sheath and drew the weapon. But as Serenity Moon and her Senshi prepared to call upon their crystal blades to destroy the hideous thing that had almost reached the rent in the Terran crust, the weapons fell harmlessly to the ground.
Chaos was laughing derisively, “Nice try, ladies, but I’m afraid-“
Persephone focused all her power and as she drew Orion’s enchanted sword, the blades of the Kings, Mau, the Senshi levitated and formed a dart-like formation and flew at the globule piercing it and Chaos screamed in pain, “No!”
“Saturn, go!” Serenity Moon shouted and raising the glaive, the dark shield broken, Saturn and Serenity of the White Moon were teleported to the heart of the Dark Planet Seed.
Mirror Moon
Dark Planet Seed
Encased within a sphere of blue light, Serenity’s dream body and that of Saturn materialized within the cancerous Dark Seed . The shadows growled and hissed a disturbing refrain of mournful protestations upon their arrival.
“I want you to draw your sword of light, summon it Serenity and follow my lead!” Saturn instructed.
“Right! Let’s do this!”
As the shimmering beings of light raised their weapons, they brought them down, the tidal waves of force issuing from the action coinciding with the power of the Ginzuishou, and the Dark Planet Seed cracked, fractured, and began to explode.
“Oh, is this supposed to happen?” Serenity asked Saturn, “Something’s wrong,” she gasped.
“All will be well!” the women turned to see a gleaming transparent girl with odangos like Serenity’s smiling at them and holding a flower of shimmering crystal in each, she approached the awestruck warriors, pinning these blooms to their hair. The girl, naked but for the pink and gold light adorning her petite form. “I am the one known as The Oberisku no Shoujo. The price for resolution is paid and only Serenity Moon and her daughter can end the conflict. I shall send you to safety. The Fractious Realm is born and the Ginzuishou won’t be strong enough to save the alternate Moon Kingdom, a small price to pay for hope my children. But neither of you shall remember any of this, not this cycle anyway. No matter. Thank you Serenity and Saturn, you’ve done well!”
Terra
Mirror Universe
“Sword of Orion, I call upon your power, fall upon the one known as Chaos!” Persephone cried, and as the emerald light of the magnificent blade flared to life, Chaos tried to open up a portal to escape, “No you don’t! Orion Hunter Snare!”
The weapon flew at the portal and shattered it and the sword assumed the form of a bright lemon-green warrior, his arms folded, his golden hair, his face, similar to Chaos, but very different, “So, little brother, you’ve been up to mischief again as have my younger siblings. Seems these good people have to deal with your recklessness. Time to end this!”
“No Orion, please don’t, I was so close! You and Amaterasu always ruin my plans, and your Senshi, the Pleiades, I see you have come to stop me, too!”
The shining ones, glorious women so beautiful and powerful raised their arms and en masse sent a barrage of magenta light towards the protesting being of darkness, his physical body alight with blinding color as the girls sang their incantation.
Endymion turned to his counterpart and brought forth the duel Kinzuishou to keep back the youma and Dark Serenity.
“Disperse, my brother, and return to your undifferentiated state and trouble these worlds no more!” Orion chanted. So saying, Chaos began to break down, and the growling entity vanished. Orion stood upon the field flanked by the scantily clad Pleiades of light, his huntresses who bowed to the assembly as Orion addressed the Senshi and Shitennou once more, ”I must tell you; the Planet Seeds are destroyed. But a rift caused by an aftershock is tearing through the outer reaches of the Crystal Nexus, and only she…,” he pointed to Dark Serenity, whose eyes doubled in size, “Can resolve it, she must make a choice, the Fractured Realm will be the result and only your fallen daughter can save you and herself by making this sacrifice.”
“I-I can’t,” she whimpered, the darkness ebbing away, replaced by fear.
“Then it is over, and all you know shall perish into the Galaxy Cauldron, life, or death, your choice,” he said in a neutral tone, “Serenity, you will be reunited with your alternate self, a new manifestation, you shall see the sunrise of a new world, but not remember. The choice is not mine to make, nor any of you; it is Serenity’s alone!” Then he was gone.
Serenity, her wings smoky blue, not much different to her mother’s wings moved gracefully as she landed upon the ground. All were acutely aware of the quakes that grew evermore violent with each passing moment although the rupture to the tectonic plate had closed, the violent quakes continued unabated.
“Mother, my friends, I am so sorry. I hurt you all, and did things that were unspeakable. But through it all, deep within, I was still myself. I could not break free and the Dark Crystal held me captive and made a monster of me.”
“I know,” Serenity Moon, said, taking her daughter’s hands and the Ginzuishou flared around both women.
“I will do this, mother. I am afraid, yes but I will choose death over life so that our universes will survive. I must make the choice.” Orion’s Sword lay on the ground and she picked it up, handing it to her mother and began her incantation, “I call upon the power of the Ginzuishou, and summon the power within the Sword of Orion to combine!” the younger woman declared.
The two talismans fused into a small sapphire dagger and it was so bright Serenity Moon could scarcely see the beautiful blade. Serenity held out her hand. I love you mother, never forget that and I love you all!”
The Senshi began to cry. Hathor pressed her face into the chest of her mother as all gathered around the fallen princess. Then a soft pink light began to emerge from her chest. She closed her eyes, pressed the tip of the blade against her heart and plunged the weapon inside and the opening revealed the violet seed. She felt no pain, none at all, she pushed her hand inside her ribcage and removed the last evidence of her life as the Dark Queen, cutting it out and dropping it at her feet. Bleeding profusely, she fell to her knees and gripped the hilt of the dagger with both hands, raised the blade and as shouts of grief and horror rang out all around her, Serenity -- now free -- smashed the flashing seed and fell to the ground.
As Serenity Moon stood there crying, shocked by what she had seen, she felt the pang of sorrow tear through her heart as if the dagger had pierced her own heart. In a way, it had. Unable to move, tears streaming down her face, the winged monarch gazed upon her child as her dark hair turned from obsidian to silver, then gold. The winged warrior queen knelt upon the bloody battlefield, cradling her dying child in her arms looking into her azure eyes, the light replacing the darkness indicating her White soul’s return. But she would only stay long enough to say good-bye.
”I am so sorry for all I had done to you, my beloved mother, to Endy and to my people, to my children and I-I want you, Lady Moon Cat to care for Reika and I am sure mother would like to help you, too.”
“Yes, Sere, it would be an honor,” Mau cried, they were all crying now.
“I will not see this day out, and mother?”
“Yes my little flower,” she sobbed, unable to stop the tears falling for all she had lost and was losing in this painful moment.
“I love you, mommy!” She cried, gripping her mother’s hands as her hair of spun gold grew as long as her luminous counterpart’s tresses.
“I know sweetheart, I know,” she sobbed, kissing her daughter’s face and stroking her soft hair enfolding her in soft sky-blue wings as she stroked her daughter’s cheek. Serenity reached up and did the same, her mother kissing her fingertips.
Serenity’s spirit appeared outside her lifeless body and she hugged her mother, and said her last good-bye, “I am being pulled to an alternate life-stream, I love you everybody, be gentle with each other and remember me fondly, I love you all!” she vanished.
Moon Kingdom of the Silver Millennium (canon)
Serenity woke and looked to the nightstand, and fumbled for a crystal goblet and sat up and poured her decanter of Lunarian water into a goblet.
She sighed, “What a weird dream. Oh, I must make ready for the festival, and also mother wants me at the ball tonight and I need to get ready. I know, Venus. I will ask her to help.” She said, eyes closed, the thought of the Senshi of Venus chastising her made her pull the bedclothes back over her head. She sighed, pulled them back down, and sat up, heaving a heavy sigh.
“Serenity, hurry. Now please, don’t dither,” the black Mauan Guardian said sternly, but harbored a secret smile.
(I think that good-looking prince should be good for her, Serenity is so flighty sometimes. But she shall make an excellent queen one day)
“Oh Luna, how I hope Endy can make it tonight.”
“Artemis and I have some reservations concerning whether or not that young man can handle the responsibilities thrust upon him after the tragic loss of his parents. I know your heart is set on forging this alliance. But your mother has good reason to be cynical concerning its success given the activities of the Dark Kingdom of late,” Luna sighed, knowing Serenity and her Senshi would drag him to the altar even if it meant starting a war.
“She is thinking of the influence of the Shitennou and Beryl, Endy is not contaminated by all that. And, I care for him and love him. Isn’t that enough, Luna?”
“I hope so, princess, now let’s get ready now. Breakfast will go cold! And the stars forbid I keep you from your food!”
“Luna!” she playfully chided her guardian.
Luna giggled.
Princess Serenity was Grateful to her guardian for her support to help Endymion make it safely to the ball that night.
(Oh, it would have been impossible if not for Luna. The Moon is on high alert and everyone is tense, so Endy needs all the help he can get to get to the ball. I will be eternally grateful to Luna for her help on this!)
Serenity ruffled the Moon Cat’s ears, “I am so worried about him. His generals, the Shitennou abandoning him like that. But we must have courage, we are to be wed soon. But Beryl, that snake, I fear she may strike at any time. I hope mother is right. I mean, that all will be all right!”
“You and I both, Serenity, now, let’s move along now. Brush your hair and be quick about it, young lady.”
End
