Powers of Love Part I
"Many a night I saw the Pleiades, rising through the mellow shade, glitter like a swarm of fireflies tangled in a silver braid."
Lord Tennyson
Invasion
The forces of Black Lady had finally declared their hand, sparking a new war. The Celestial Senshi and the Lords of the Scimitar were mobilizing to meet the new threat. Thousands of rents opened up as obsidian mother ships poured into the galaxy in a frightening display of force as the dark light following them through the portals dimmed the starlight. The war had begun in earnest.
Then they came. The vast armada, spinning like spiked melanic tumbleweeds of dark crystal power, casting a net over countless star systems. In most cases, they were met by Celestial Senshi and the Lords of the Scimitar’s elite forces and defeated.
The deadly flagship of Black Lady had moved about the galaxy undetected. In some instances obliterating entire worlds, or scarring the surfaces of these making them uninhabitable. Billions dying and resulting in mass exoduses.
Crystal Kingdom Intrelink Stellarcast Report
“For just over a week now, the war has raged. As you can see in the holo-images behind me,” Stacey Kumi breathed, her fair hair flying back behind her as she spun around to watch the images that billions, galaxy-wide were also seeing. The young reporter gasped as several of the dark warships exploded under a sustained assault by Crystal Alliance forces in the Proxima Region. The succession of blinding flashes almost consuming the two planets revolving around the yellow star in a blaze of silvery blue light. “Oh, by the Kamis! They’re all right! Sorry, but I have friends on the lead ship." Unbuttoning her white blazer and unconsciously brushing invisible dust off her matching skirt, she sighed with relief.
An Hour Later
“Ladies and gentlemen, the war is being fought on several fronts. We’re holding our own. We have just learned that Queen Serenity has been abducted and this message from Black Lady, was transmitted to all capitals throughout the Sulean and Crystal alliance 1868/K Celestial Time and 4:17 AM Crystal Tokyo Time. She has demanded we surrender or she will kill Serenity. She has sent live feed and we’ll replay it for you now.”
~*~
“Oh what a wonderful alliance. I must say the Doom Phantom was totally unaware of your existence. The size and power of your Celestial Senshi, and those handsome Lords of the Scimitar. Boys, I can give you a night to remember if you swear allegiance to me. I am more than just a little adept in the art of loving, no -- no matter, I can live with that. Your loss. Oh yeah, we've not been formally introduced, Shitennou of Terra… no, forgive me -- how silly of me -- Earth. I like a challenge. What a pretty alliance and it would be such a shame to destroy it in a fit of recalcitrance. I think such an act of stupidity foolish in the extreme, ne?” she giggled. “If you want her back, I suggest you all surrender to me. I will pardon those of you daring to challenge me in battle so long as you embrace the Dark Crystal and a new kingdom and alliance will herald my ultimate goal, the conquest of this universe and then, beyond! So, don’t keep me waiting too long now,” she said as the image shifted.
~*~
Serenity lay unconscious and chained up to an obsidian heart-shaped plate. Stacey gasped at the sight of a host of hideous black crystal knights circumambulating the huge melanic heart. These youma covered in a collage of black crystal spikes and countless fiery red eyes as the menacing horrors snarled and snapped at the crumpled figure of Serenity.
Stacey then observed that these youma kept a safe distance from the object of their taunts. But there was no mistaking their intent. This proved all too much for the young journalist who broke down and collapsed into her leather chair in a veil of tears.
Crystal Palace
Luna and Artemis were watching the Intrelink podcast as were the Shitennou and Senshi seated around a large oval conference table with the most powerful leaders of the galaxy in crisis talks within the Throne Room.
Serenity Dawn sat at the head of the table. She was in her Senshi form, flanked by the Asteroid Senshi and her grandmother’s Senshi, a worn expression telling her colleagues she was tired. As acting queen, she was feeling the weight of grief and anxiety. Yet, she knew her mother was unharmed and in a state of suspension within the palace medical clinic. Ami was watching her mother around the clock, altering shifts with Dr. Ukiah. But it lessened not her troubled heart.
“I think we can call her bluff. I must meet with Black Lady and secure mother’s release and it is likely Black Lady will try to destroy us both. That is if she thinks it is me attempting a rescue.”
“Sere, are you sure!” Mars asked, taking Sere’s hand.
“I and Kunzite could go in your stead,” Venus suggested.
“We will come along to support you, you know Amaranthine and I will do our best to help.” Haruka offered.
“I will bring the Jovian fleet to your aid,” Jupiter added.
“I appreciate your offers, and yes, there are roles for all of you. But please, you need to hear me out on this. I will be safe, I assure you!”
“Lady, I am confused, please explain,” Okuhi, leader of the Lords of the Scimitar’s Special Forces Command, a tall warrior with a boyish face and Viking-like demeanor, asked. The powerfully built man’s long almost feminine streams of blonde locks dancing about his impressive frame as he turned to the others to gauge their responses. Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephrite and Zoicite nodded.
“I am going to have the full power of the Ginzuishou Lady within me to protect me. The plan is set!” Serenity Dawn declared, a smile moving across her lips and light flaring in her eyes.
“But what of the firepower of the ship? Can we get you aboard?” Luna ventured.
As if on cue, a swirling field of silvery-blue light whirled about Serenity Dawn. The image of the translucent Senshi in a fuku, scepter in hand, a pink crystal bloom pinned to her crystalline locks. “The ship is powerful, yes, my lords and ladies. But as it can cloak at will, and fire dark energy used once by Diamond and the Dark Moon Clan, the risk of taking that ship on without my help is near impossible. I have given your Pirate Cats the cloaking technology. I am the only one who can get you inside the Black Star and defeat Black Lady. The vessel is twice the size of Jupiter. Its cluster of star-points each capable of destroying thousands of your most advanced fighters. It has already destroyed several worlds and rendered others unlivable,” she said, looking at the stunned leader of the Scimitar Special Forces. “Therefore, this is our best plan, our only plan. Sere has granted me her Star Seed’s love and power to sustain both her mother and myself. If anything does happen to me, I have left a portion of myself in that Star Seed to keep your queen alive. I also feel a surge within the Crystal Nexus. I cannot tell you exactly what this means, but help could be on the way. But we must move now. Do I have your ascent?”
The Shitennou and Senshi all looked at one another, pondered her words carefully and raised their hands in accord.
Kunzite rose and addressed the assembly, “You have our support. What do we need to do?”
Battle Ground
"And if longing seizes you for sailing the stormy seas, when the Pleiades flee mighty Orion and plunge into the misty deep and all the gusty winds are raging, then do not keep your ship on the wine-dark sea but, as I bid you, remember to work the land."
Hesiod
The Black Star would appear as if out of nowhere, devastate an allied Star System, and vanish again. In some instances, the enemy ships remained unchallenged. All-powerful and all conquering, Dark shadow warriors were ruthless and determined to fulfill their lady’s edicts. The fighting was fierce as the war spread across the silvery belts of the Milky Way. But the Lords of the Scimitar were on the lookout for the Black Star as Black Lady’s ship had been designated.
The Pirate Cats swung into action, this time with the Asteroid Senshi coordinating from four Mauan mother ships under commander Onyx, Lady Clarita, Lady Aradia and Loki. The Sulean Fleet was also massing on her borders, the Rubicon Delta mined and lined with chronophasic weapons platforms. Not since the war with the Araknitopa Alliance had such activity been seen.
Celestial Musings
Childhood is a magical time for any child. It is the process of dream weaving and life enchantment. Under ideal conditions, we blossom.
Black Lady was savoring the moment. The essence of Serenity in a corporeal form chained up to the Dark Crystal Heart, her body limp, gave Black Lady a rush of pleasure as she gazed upon the hapless figure of her twin-self. But she was still furious that she could not harm her. As she gazed upon Serenity, her prized captive, she had vanished.
“No! Where are you! Who did this! I want her back!” Black Lady screamed, jumping to her feet.
Crown Arcade within the Crystal Nexus
Motoki smiled as the new customers filed into the game parlor. He was proud and enthusiastic about his work. But he winced at the sound that in that moment of tranquility was interrupted by his younger sister, Furuhata Unazuki whom was force blowing her straw into the dregs of her strawberry milkshake. She sat on the stool, looking like a cute diminutive faery, her legs dangling. She smiled, winked at her brother, shifted her position and crossed her ankles. With her pretty Hello Kitty pink halter neck top, canary-yellow short skirt and matching socks giving way to pink sandshoes, she looked ever so kawaii. Her ponytail was swinging like a metronome in time with the music rising from the digital jukebox as she opened her eyes and winked once more at her brother.
“Unazuki, would you turn down the volume on the air blast effect on your shake? It’s drowning out the music!” Motoki whined, shaking his head. “Girls!”
“Don’t be a stuck-up chauvinist, Toki-pooh! I thought you were above that sort of thing,” Unazuki said, pouting. She shrugged and began blowing into the remains of the metal container to emphasize her point, eyes closed in the attitude of bliss.
“Argh! All right, I apologize. But we’re got some more people to look after you know. Would you like to wait on the booths and earn some extra money? Think of the Bleach Manga you’ve been eyeing off lately!” Motoki grinned, and he chuckled at her wide-eyed expression as she sucked the last of the foamy brew up her straw too fast.
“Oooh! That’s smarts… ice- burn! Give me a minute will you?” she winced at the sensation plaguing her between her eyes. Catching her breath, she gave her brother her undivided attention. “Okay sure, dear brother: pad, pen and raring to go!”
“Good, now Mamoru-san has his coffee, and Rei-san her sundae, the raspberry one. Usa- no, who is that, she looks like Usagi, but for the red hair. A long distance cousin perhaps?”
“How should I know?” she whined, “I could ask. But brother mine, Reika would scold you for chatting up another woman,” she said, the mischievous glint in her green eyes making him laugh in spite of himself.
“I’m just curious about the Tsukino family. After all, we know most of them now, don’t we?” he said, rhetorically.
Unazuki was seventeen, pretty and popular. The boys were respectful of her, especially here under the protective eye of her big brother. She was like a piece of candy to some. All happiness, tanned limbs, sweet face, gorgeous chestnut locks and deep emerald eyes filled with life and vitality with full kissable lips. She wiggled on the seat, bringing a grin to her brother’s face. He knew that movement sent the male contingent crazy. Unazuki the reason why many of them came to the fruit parlor on a regular basis.
~She is shameless, and an overgrown kid. But aren’t we all these days?~ Motoki mused, watching his sister jumping off the stool and dancing up to the table filled with their friends. As she went, the music, a favorite J-pop tune punctuating her every movement, winning more adoring gazes from the male patrons.
After serving Rei, Ami, Makoto, Minako and a distracted Mamoru, she hopped towards the next table. She stopped, looked at the pink-haired young woman, and frowned.
~I know her, but where have I seen her before?~
“Hello, I’m Furuhata Unazuki. Welcome to Crown Arcade and Fruit Parlor, can I get you anything?”
“Oh hi, yeah, a chocolate shake, please,” she smiled and the money appeared in Unazuki’s hand, and both women gasped.
“Wow, how did you do that, lady?”
“Do what… Oh, the money, Um, I don’t really know, I just needed it and it was there!” Serenity said, as she looked into the eyes of Mamoru on the next table, who was struggling to place her also.
Nobody recognized her. It unnerved her. She certainly wouldn’t make a fool of herself and approach the table and say, “Hi, I’m Serenity, you know, Small Lady, chibi-Usa all grown up come to visit from the future!”
~They’d think me mad. They have no idea who I am~
“But I do,” Pan said with a smirk, walking into the arcade, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans, his feathered green cap tilted at a jaunty angle as he sat opposite. “Unazuki-san, the same for me, please and a burger.” Money appeared in his hand also and Unazuki took it gingerly.
“How do you know my name? The money thing, I don’t know how you guys are doing that, but you’re making me freak out here,” she said, keeping her voice low.
“Hey, just a little trick where we come from. We’re performers, magicians!” Pan offered Serenity a way out of the awkward situation and Unazuki seized upon it with both hands.
“Ah, I see, clever. Coming up with your orders. Thank you for entertaining me. This job is fun, but it is sometimes uneventful. You both made my day!” she said, her face lighting up like a halogen light fixture as she spun around, plait flopping from side-to side as she skipped away like a little girl.
“Thank you!” Serenity smiled as she giggled at the playful waitress. She was relieved to find somebody she knew here in this alternate reality, or whatever it was. Serenity started to relax with the appearance of her daughter’s guardian she’d only seen on a handful of occasions. “Fancy meeting you here. aren’t you supposed to be looking out for Sere?”
“Yes, I am, and she is fine. But you on the other hand…” he let his words trail off.
“I know. I fainted and ended up here. But where is here? Am I in the past, or an alternate reality where all the usual rules fail to apply or what?”
“You know Serenity, you just do too much thinking; good for a monarch, but here all that means little to these people. Can you imagine for one moment why being here is so important?”
“I see, I’m being ‘tested’ am I?” she labored on the word ‘tested and smiled at the impish grin he offered her.
“More to the point Lady Serenity, You’re testing yourself!”
“Cryptic today are we?” she chuckled, liking the man or Elf, or whatever he was. It was odd how his Elvin ears and general appearance hadn’t been at all noticed by the people in this place and she was beginning to understand.
“All right, what do I want? What do I want, Hmmm.”
“Right question, Sere,” he said, taking her hand. “You are so close,” he smiled as she heard the strangest sound ringing in her ears.
The pavement outside began to crack and huge clumps of glittering crystal jutted upward and people on the sidewalk jumped clear or ran from these as seven such formations about the size of a human being appeared. All were tinted with subtle colors arcing from pink to gold and blue to purple. She stood up as Motoki moved towards the door, turned around, and made an announcement, “Guys, stay calm, you know Tokyo gets these incursions by strange visitors now and then so stay calm.”
Shift
“What just happened? The crystal things outside, gone?”
“You were distracted by something that is all.”
Unazuki joined her brother. They were soon laughing as she related the story of the magical coins and the stunt. Motoki twirled his tea towel like a magician and bowed to the newcomers and they smiled.
“Pan! Where am I!” Serenity questioned, keeping her voice low, “I know this is Crown Arcade. But is it really here?”
“Yes, and no, in a manner of speaking it is part of you, yet it is more than just that.”
“Cryptic aren’t we. Oh shit, I already said that… Ground Hog scenario?” she posed, shaking her head and looking around for the strange crystals once again. “Last thing I remember is being attacked by Black Lady, taken prisoner aboard her flagship and being tortured. Thankfully she was failing to cause me pain despite her best efforts.”
“What do you miss most about your childhood?” he asked, as if she’d not uttered a word just then, surprising Serenity.
“I don’t understand,” she said, her tone measured. “I miss the past: mother, father, Sailor Moon, her Senshi and Tuxedo Kamen. I am here. It has to be real doesn’t it?”
“Of course it is real. Everything within the Crystal Nexus is real.”
“Helios, where is he?”
“Helping your daughter, your people and leading a taskforce to stop your shadow self, Black Lady,” he said without giving any indication that this bothered him. But it certainly bothered Serenity. “He is well and shall be quite safe. After all, he is more than he was,” he smiled and Serenity was confused. “He is a Kami-sama, and so too are those you love,” he said, and leaned back, and sank his teeth into his burger.
Serenity was hungry. “Motoki! Could I have one of those?” she shouted, indicating the burger Pan was demolishing with abandon. Motoki nodded to Unazuki.
In between bites he spoke again, “Your parents are alive, and of two states, life and death are reconciled here.”
“Trippy, but I wasn’t imagining that. I actually saw them not as ghosts or visions of my mind produced by the Ginzuishou, but they were… Oh, by the Kamis!”
“Precisely!”
Cusp of Ogan
Blessed by lady moon and kissed by the light of the sun we thrive.
As adults, we become the wayshoers, the guardians and wise ones. But in order our flowers and saplings grow strong and know love’s greatest power, we never, ever forget to love and consult the child that dwells within the shrine of our hearts.
Memories, these facets of a crystal splendor that lie at the core of our being are boundless living strands of possibility.
Our dreams alive. Our wishes floating upon the fragrant winds of the Crystal Nexus like incandescent dandelions seeking a place to land and a new tomorrow. Time, space and the magic of the Affinity Weft, like a kaleidoscope, reorganize our experience. In the infinite seasons, we are as ink to parchment as the forerunners of existence in perpetuity.
As we wander through the corridors of manifestation, we leave impressions and these grow into their own awareness. Gathering power of perceptivity, these gestate into a new Star Seed to find a home in the furrowed fields of the constellations where they grow, bloom, and seek out a worthy host.
With the light, there is always the contrast of the dark. In and of itself, it is evil not, but undifferentiated. Formless, yet potent. The night, only ever corrupted by a rapacious catalyst, this force we call Chaos.
Sailor Cosmos
Memory Tablet
“How can I be here, and yet know all this, and be aware of my senses active somewhere else at the same time?” Serenity whispered into the void, seeing her reflection and gasped. “But this cannot be me, my mother, she as the princess of the Silver Millennium? How is this possible?”
“Daughter, child of mine, I am the Ginzuishou. See me in your heart. See me in yourself. I am, no, we are, the crystal abundance that shall endure for evermore, Refractus Augmentum.”
Usagi could hear her daughter’s voice in her mind and turned to Endymion, “I should be confused, terrified and fragmented, but I’m not. Why is that, my love?”
“The voice of the Ginzuishou is me, but,” Serenity whispered, now as one with her mother, Usagi.
Endymion floated before her, touching her silvery-blue face in wonder and love. “I feel it is right, as it was meant to be and now we’re here it is starting to make perfect sense.”
“Oh Mamo-chan, she needs us and we must move to help her,” Usagi entreated.
“We shall. But for now, she is living through our eyes, our thoughts and feelings. Try as hard as she might, Black Lady cannot harm her despite having her imprisoned. Soon it will be time for the final battle. Rest, for soon the Oberisku no Shoujo shall call us forth back into the universe we know and love and we shall be with our loved ones again.”
“I will rest now, Muffin!”
“That’s my girl!”
