The shuttle touched down gingerly in a concrete jungle that somehow seemed at peace in its green and blue surroundings. Inside the craft, the Princess and her aide prepared to meet the Earthlings when Mars suddenly stumbled to her knees.
“Rei!” Minako, disguised as Princess Serenity, rushed to the Martian’s side.
Mars gripped her head. “The dark energy… it’s very strong here. My senses are clouded.” Her gloved hands formed tight fists.
The shuttle doors slid open with an audible rush of air. Forcing a neutral expression to her face, Mars rushed to her feet. Settling on a stony mask of indifference, she pulled Minako upright with her. “Let’s go, Princess.”
Exiting the shuttle, the women blinked. The sun’s influence on Earth was deceptively strong, despite its thick atmosphere. When the spots in their eyes had faded and they had adjusted to the brightness, Mars found Endymion had wasted no time. Standing tall in front of them, he tightly clasped the Princess’ hands.
“Serenity, it’s so good to see you again. Thank you for agreeing to come to our humble planet.”
“The pleasure’s all mine, Endymion.”
The Martian felt her hackles rise. ‘He thinks she’s Serenity.’ She reminded herself. It was a running mantra that repeated itself in an endless loop as the image of her Princess smiled in Endymion’s direction. Turning, she slipped an arm into the crook of his waiting elbow.
Just off the landing platform, Beryl and the shitennou stood waiting. It was no small amount of comfort that they seemed equally displeased with the display of affection. Mars focused her scathing gaze on them instead.
“Princess,” Beryl’s smile was more akin to a sneer as the three descended the landing platform. Cold eyes met the crimson warrior. “Mars?” She asked, making no attempt to hide her disappointment. “I expected the little Venusian.”
The Martian sneered. “She had other matters of importance to attend to.”
“Ah, sou.” The tactician affected a casual shrug. Mars watched her suspiciously, and the tall human spun around to lead the group while saying over her shoulder, “Well, allow us to show you our capital city of Edo, Princess.”
Gesturing grandly, a history lesson that refused to be absorbed ensued as Beryl led them through the capital. The Earth truly was a paradise among planets, but the two foreigners had no time to admire its clear blue sky and abundant greenery, which thrived even in this bustling metropolis made of old fashioned stone and new age concrete and steel.
The shitennou trailed along behind the others, doggedly distracted. Endymion proudly paraded the Princess around on his arm. How he was oblivious to the disapproving glances directed at them from both the city’s civilians and his own party seemed a wonder to Mars, who kept on the alert for any signs of trouble from the unpleased crowd.
Cold eyes lighted on Mars’ dark form. Beryl allowed Endymion to distract Serenity so she could approach the Martian discreetly.
“You see how they look at them, don’t you.” She gestured to where the Prince was proudly showing the Princess small, shiny trinkets from a street-side vendor. Serenity smiled and giggled. The Martian’s eyes hardened.
Beryl sneered at the crimson warrior. “It’s probably a good thing that Venus isn’t here. They might hate her even more than your pretty little Princess, being the warrior of love and beauty and what have you.” A laugh like nails on a chalkboard made the woman before her visibly shiver. “They think your kind cares only for themselves and beautiful things, you know.”
“Minako… Venus isn’t like that.”
Beryl raised an amused eyebrow. She pondered toying with her substitute Venus a while longer, but those amethyst eyes suddenly shot toward the canopy of the trees above. Her gaze followed suit, and she pondered at what might have caught the Martian’s interest when the sudden scream of a thousand birds pulled everyone else’s attention in the same direction, and as one, a mass of black-winged birds took to the sky.
A warning.
The ground beneath their feet trembled. Endymion threw his arms around Serenity. Mars had to force herself to hold her ground. Citizens panicked. Screams rang through the street. The shitennou crowded around Beryl. People dropped to their knees and covered their heads. Dust filled the air.
The trembling stopped.
The screaming subsided. Serenity subtly pulled herself from Endymion’s arms and inched towards Mars. The shitennou scattered away from the tactician. Those citizens who had dropped to the ground slowly rose. Accusing eyes turned to the representatives of the Moon Kingdom, and to their Prince. Beryl smirked.
“It was only a minor earthquake. There’s no reason to be… afraid.” Beryl faltered when she turned to Serenity, disappointed to see not the slightest amount of fear in the Princess’ strong, cerulean gaze.
“This is a symptom of the increase in ecological disasters?” The Princess asked.
Beryl nodded. “…yes.” She recovered quickly. “Perhaps this is enough excitement for one day. Let us retire, shall we?”
The decision was deferred to the Princess, who nodded her approval gracefully. The return to the Edo Palace was a quiet one, and much to the discomfort of both the Princess and Mars, it was Beryl who showed them to their suites. The tall woman led the way, too many paces in front of them, her curly, red hair swaying between her shoulder blades, and every step Serenity and Mars made sounded too loud to their ears.
At length, Beryl stopped in front of a large, wooden door. “Your suites are just down this hallway. I hope you find your stay here comfortable, ladies.”
The Princess bowed her head slightly. “Thank you for your hospitality, tactician.”
Very slowly, Beryl smiled. “You’re quite welcome, Princess Serenity."
After what felt like too long, she finally felt Mars at her back. The Martian’s form was stiff and alert, but she placed a strong arm around Minako’s middle, and the Venusian allowed the other woman’s gentle strength to relax her.
“We can’t see if from here.” Minako said distractedly.
“See what?”
“The Moon.”
Mars’ gaze left her lover to reach upwards; beyond the koi pond, beyond the rock garden, beyond the leafy boughs of the ancient maples. There was no moon in the clear, dark sky. But there was one other bright point of golden light in the night sky that was not a star at all.
“Venus still shines brightly here.”
“They call it the evening star at this time of night.” Minako said. Her eyes drifted closed as Mars’ arms tightened around her waist.
“Stupid humans.”
Minako snickered, but found herself being spun in the Martian’s embrace and then eased back against the porch railing.
“I wanted to rip him apart, you know.”
“Endymion?”
The very name made that possessive streak inside Rei flare. She had only claimed Minako as her own the night before, but to be under such stress and restraint given their mission was sorely bothering her. She leaned forward and her breath mingled with the Venusian’s.
But Mars pulled back abruptly. Minako’s eyes fluttered open slowly. A frown turning at her lips, she searched for answers.
Mars poked a finger at the false crescent moon mark on the other woman’s forehead. Her Venusian looked too much like her Princess. She shook her head by means of explanation. “I… can’t.”
Minako smiled sweetly. “I’m glad.”
The Venusian reached up, and with nimble fingers, released the intricate pins that held her hair up in Serenity’s distinctive style. First one side, and then the other, her long, golden hair fell in wavy sheets to her waist. Finally, she pulled the offending golden symbol from her forehead.
“Better?” She whispered.
Mars smirked. A crimson light enveloped her and she closed her eyes against the tingle of her destransformation. Rei grinned at Minako, and this time, she didn’t hesitate as she leaned in.
But this time, she was stopped by a firm finger on her lips and mischievous eyes.
Minako winked at Rei and slipped from her hold. The Venusian sauntered back inside and found the suite’s spacious bathroom. Over her shoulder, she caught the Priestess’ predatory gaze.
“I’ll be in the shower, if you want me.”
She slipped into the room. The sound of running water soon reached Rei’s ears.
Understanding finally dawned on the Martian, and she bolted after her partner with a lecherous smirk.
Four sets of curious eyes scanned the room. Serenity fidgeted and did her best to discreetly glance at the device clasped in her hands under the table’s edge.
Haruka, Michiru, Ami, and Makoto exchanged suspicious glances that were confirmed by their Princess’ sudden gasp. Watery, blue eyes beseeched her guardians.
“Endymion…” there was a pregnant pause, “he’s going to meet Serenity in her chambers.”
“Eh!?”
The Princess of the Moon found her four guardians instantly surrounding her. Makoto pulled her chair away from the table. Haruka snatched the small object from her palm. She paled at the text message meant for the Princess’ eyes only.
“You should have told us about this.” The Uranian scolded sharply.
“This isn’t the time for arguments!” Ami snapped.
Serenity snatched the device back quickly. Haruka didn’t put up a fight.
“We have to alert Minako.” Michiru urged.
Makoto was already on it. Her hand held before her, her chronometer blinked to no avail. “Why won’t they answer!?”
“You tried them both?”
“Yes!”
An uncomfortable silence rested heavily on their shoulders.
Michiru’s arms settled across her chest. “We’ll just have to trust that they’ll be able to keep up the façade.”
A fork skirted the edge of a porcelain plate and worried eyes caught worried gazes.
“Rei, what-“
“Shh.”
The Priestess placed the sound; boots on the wooden decking outside their suite. She hopped off the bed. Hurriedly, she tossed some clothes in Minako’s direction and in a crimson glow, Mars headed for the courtyard.
But it was too late. The damage had been done.
A bouquet of red roses hit the wooden planks, forgotten. “Seren…ity?”
Endymion’s form stood hesitantly in the doorway, his dark eyes trained on the shadowed form of the one on the bed that he had expected to be Princess Serenity. Loose, long blonde hair was similar, but not the same. Blue, worried eyes were just a shade off. Rising from the bed, she held the ends of a shirt that was a couple inches too long – as though it belonged to someone else - closely to her to her thighs. The body, slightly shorter, barely slimmer, was different than the one he knew.
Endymion’s eyes darted around flightily. Mars lunged forward. The Prince had strength, but she had speed, and he quickly found himself pinned to the wall with Mars’ sword held between their bodies warningly. He couldn’t help but notice that there was a carefully restrained rage in those amethyst eyes.
“Venus… Minako-san.” He whispered, his eyes once again trained on the one who was not his Princess.
“Congratulations.” Mars growled.
Minako approached the crimson warrior’s side and laid a restraining hand on her shoulder. Amethyst eyes lost their edge, but the sword remained firm.
“Why?” One word. It was all the Prince of Earth felt he would be allowed.
“We couldn’t have sent Serenity here with only one protector. Not given the circumstances. Surely, you must understand.”
“This is a great risk you’re taking, Venus.”
“I know, but we do it for her.” Minako noted the reluctant understanding she found in Endymion’s dark eyes.
“But if Beryl were to find out-“
Mars’ sword pressed closer to the Earthling. “Beryl this, Beryl that – who is the ruler of this damned planet?”
Endymion’s dark eyes hardened. “The situation is not so simple, Mars.”
“Try us.” Minako pressed. Endymion’s gaze focused on the weapon before him. A hand on Mars’ elbow prompted the Martian to withdraw her sword. She hesitatingly sheathed it, but felt the flames of her powers burning at her fingertips, ready and willing.
The Prince sighed. “Beryl is not only tactician, but aide and viceroy. Her decisions and suggestions weigh heavily on the shitennou. I find them more attentive to her these days.”
“So the man isn’t blind.”
Minako let that one slip and didn’t reprimand the Martian.
“There’s little I can do.” Endymion’s hands balled into tight fists. “I may be Prince, but the lands of Earth themselves – divided among the shitennou - are ruled by them respectively.”
“Then that makes you nothing more than a figurehead.”
The Prince reluctantly turned his gaze from Minako’s harsh truth.
Mars’ expression turned thoughtful. “Beryl aside, or perhaps it is Beryl herself… there’s something… not right here. As protector of this planet, you must feel it too, don’t you?”
Through gritted teeth, Endymion replied. “I do.”
“Then Endymion, let us work together.”
The Prince’s downcast gaze held a glimmer of hope, and Minako offered the slightest of smiles.
Serenity slipped away from her senshi. Even in her own courtyard, there was little privacy when her warriors were keeping a close watch over her. Standing behind a pillar, the Princess fished inside her dress for the device Endymion had given her. At least she’d found its silent mode. She gasped when she read Endymion’s message.
-You could have told me-
Her fingers typed her reply furiously. –I couldn’t I’m sorry-
-I understand but I wish it was you down here-
-As do I my love-
There was a pause. Serenity grew restless. –You’ll help us then-
-Of course my dear I’m sorry things had to happen this way-
Another pause.
-Serenity?-
But the Princess of the Moon Kingdom had once again hid the device in her dress and donned her plastic smile, for her senshi had found her.
Serenity pushed aside several propositions for peacekeeping speeches. Instead, she turned to the shitennou; the ever present, frequently silent force who’s only purpose seemed to be to loom over proceedings darkly and to keep an eye on Beryl.
“What of the research of the youma on the Earth’s pole? Have any efforts been made to begin this initiative?”
Kunzite scowled. “Our scientists are ironing out the logistics.”
“And have your scientists received Mercury’s reports regarding the phenomenon of the sunspots? There was another minor earthquake this morning, and a rather more serious one several hours ago. The weather now may also be related.”
As if on cue, gale force winds howled outside the battered down windows. The room’s lights dimmed, flickered, and then reestablished themselves.
Beryl frowned all too knowingly. “I assure you, Princess, all efforts are being made to incorporate the Moon’s findings with our own. We have researchers working twenty-four seven on this effort.”
The Princess’ brow furrowed, “But I can-“
With a click and a deafening thud of generators coming to a screeching halt, the power failed and the room was bathed in darkness. Under the table, Minako reached for Mars’ hand. Scrambling and curses ensued as the shitennou searched for a lantern.
It was a glowing fire that finally shed a flickering, dancing light in the room once again, and it was born from Mars’ free hand, a tongue of flame hovering in her open palm.
Beryl pulled her fingers from her temple hurriedly and forced her squinted, pain filled eyes to open wide. Mars was staring straight at her. The tactician smiled with thin, white lips, and rose to her feet.
“Given the circumstances, I think we should call an end to the day’s meetings.”
“It’s deliberate.” Minako passed Mars’ rigid, watchful form, turned, and paced back for another round.
“Un.”
“They’re stalling on purpose.”
“Ah.”
“Two days and we’ve done absolutely nothing of worth!”
Mars nodded silently.
“I’m tired of these politics.”
Amethyst eyes hardened.
“I’m tired of waiting for them to make a move.”
“They won’t, Minako.”
“What do we do?” Minako’s words were a troubled whisper.
The Martian’s brow furrowed. “We do what we wanted to all along. We go to the pole ourselves and get the proof that we need.”
Minako worried her bottom lip. If they were caught, they’d be risking more than just their lives, they’d be risking their alliance with the Earth. If they did go, they might find answers. If they didn’t, they risked only more questions to add to their ever growing list. The flame in Mars’ palm faltered in the slightest.
Finally, Minako nodded. “Let’s do it.”
“It worked.”
Venus tentatively opened her eyes. The mingling of their red and orange auras faded and she reluctantly unlaced her fingers from the Martian’s.
“Sailor Teleport. I’ve never tried it with only one other senshi. Usually, we need the strength of at least three.”
“I wonder if the others can do it in pairs as well.”
“Maa.” Venus looked thoughtful. She began walking in the deep snow, but was halted by a restraining hand on her wrist. She turned to her partner in question.
“Let’s try not to get in a fight with the youma this time.”
Venus sucked her teeth and grinned. “Oh, you’re no fun.”
“Minako…”
“If you recall, I avoided a fight on Venus all together. I snuck in, did some reconnaissance, and got out undetected.”
The Martian cocked a hand on her hip. “What are you trying to say?”
“Maybe it’s you.”
Mars only frowned at the causal barb, but she couldn’t ignore the nagging thought; certainly, the darkness wouldn’t be attuned to one of the light like Venus, but could the darkness actively be seeking her out? The next thing she knew, her grip around her commander’s wrist was reversed, and she was being tugged forward, even as her mind kept running.
The darkness…
Mars crumpled to her knees.
“Rei!”
The crimson warrior gritted her teeth, her fingers clawed into the snow. Long, raven bangs hid squinted eyes. “It’s nearly overwhelming.” She panted.
“Dark energy?”
Mars could only nod. “The energy that the youma have been collecting from the populations of the rest of our planets… it’s concentrated here, as though they’re hoarding it for something.”
Mars’ frame shook, and she paused. Venus pressed her body against the other woman’s reassuringly. “But there’s something… else here. Another power. A… darker power.” Gloved hands shot to her forehead and Mars bit her lip to suppress a scream. Quickly, she struggled to rebuild the walls around her senses, an attempt to block out the worst of the evil‘s painful effects without closing off her powers all together.
Shakily, she rose. Venus’ hands clutched her arms, steadying her. Mars brushed her off and walked forward. The crimson warrior didn’t want the other woman to experience the extent of that pain by siphoning it from her senses.
“Lets go.”
They didn’t have far to travel, but they didn’t find exactly what they’d expected, either. They found less, but they also found more. Their bodies pressed tightly against the cover of an outcropping of rock, Mars and Venus peered at the youma camp.
“So few?” Venus asked of the couple hundred youma that milled around the camp’s center. “Is Earth not their base after all?”
“It must be.” Mars indicated the wealth of permanent structures erected around the camp. “The humans must at least conduct operations from here.”
“Then the youma-“
“They are not from this planet. They must be being funneled from some other place. If only we knew where the access point was pointing to, where they’re coming from.”
Venus frowned. Her eyes focused on the sun, high in the sky. She noted that its rays were intensely warm despite the bitterly cold air. She frowned, and then held her chronometer in front of her. “Mercury. Do you copy me?” She called quietly.
Mars turned, her eyes wide. “What are you-“
“This is Mercury.”
“Tell me, should the sun be visible at the Earth’s pole right now?”
”Venus,” Mercury’s voice bordered on suspicion, “where are you?”
“Answer the question, Mercury.”
There was a moment of silence. The Venusian could imagine the Mercurian’s blue super computer coming to life under the genius’ fingertips.
“Negative.” Mercury responded. “The sun should not be visible due to the Earth’s axial tilt.”
“Then tell me why I can see it in the middle of the sky, Ami-chan.”
More silence. This one was longer, and punctuated by much more typing.
After she’d checked and double checked her result, Mercury’s voice was a hoarse whisper. “It looks like it’s more than just the sunspots affecting the Earth. The planet’s axis is shifting… so that the pole is beginning to lean towards the sun.”
The golden warrior nodded sharply. “Thank you, Mercury, that’s all I needed. Venus ou-“
“You’ll have some explaining to do later, Venus.”
The Venusian smirked. “I know. Venus out.”
Venus slapped her partner on the back. “Did you get all that-“ Her breath hitched in her throat, for Mars suddenly looked so very pale.
“The humans,” Mars whispered, “they’re here too.”
From the relative safety of their hiding spots, Mars and Venus’ chronometers provided magnified images of their line of sight. Four men poured out of a building in a tight, single file line. Venus gasped. “Is that-“
“The shitennou.”
“But how did they get here so quickly?”
“How did we get here so quickly?”
Venus hesitated, not wanting to voice her suspicion. “They must have magics similar to ours.”
Finally, one other figure exited the building behind the four men. The Venusian nearly growled. “Beryl.”
Mars had seen, and Mars had heard, but her consciousness was suddenly very, very far away. Blindly, she reached to her commander, and pulled her partner towards her until their foreheads touched.
Nearing a trance-like state, Mars slowly shut her eyes.
A red haired woman stood with her face tilted towards a black sky. A golden sword had skewered her through her stomach, and dark blood spilled from the wound, but this did not halt the maniacal laughter that erupted from her sneering mouth.
Her arms extended above her. The black sky parted. The sun - large, and orange, and angry - filled the void in the clouds.
The wound that should have taken her life came to life.
A monster made of shadow emerged from around the sword’s blade. Darker than night and with little form more than an undefined shape with vague red eyes and a gaping mouth, the creature grew, stretching its incorporeal arms as if released from a long slumber.
It seemed to take stock of its surroundings for a brief moment, but then with a snarl, it leapt upwards, and dived into the woman’s gaping, laughing mouth, and in that one, wonderful moment, that maniacal laughter ceased.
The red haired woman brought her dark gaze parallel to the ground. Her eyes flashed red, her hands gripped the sword’s blade, and she effortlessly pulled the weapon from her abdomen.
There was no blood.
Slowly, Mars released her hold on Venus.
Cerulean eyes blinked back tears.”That was… Beryl.”
“And the one controlling her.”
“It was… a premonition?”
Mars could only nod numbly.
Yay, plot! More political intrigue, so, depending on how much one likes politics (personally, I’m not a fan), this chapter was either a total bore, or pretty useful.
O O O
Preview, Chapter 11: Your Weakness
A young wisp of a man paused on his way past the guest chambers. He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop, but always eager to please the one he deemed his leader, he wasn’t beyond claiming any opportunity that happened his way, either.
He could hear muffled voices just beyond the door.
“I’m opening the door now. Can you behave yourself for a little while?”
“I don’t know, can you?”
There was a long suffering sigh. The door finally opened. The conversation itself could have been interpreted many different ways, but when Princess Serenity grabbed Sailor Mars’ wrist and pulled the other woman towards her for what she promised was “just one last kiss”, Jadeite’s blue eyes widened, and with red cheeks, he took to his heels.
Darting down hallways at full speed, he turned corners until he was out of breath. Breeching protocol, he barged into Beryl’s chambers.
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