Note on Planet Names: Ten'ousei=Uranus; Kaiousei=Neptune; Meiousei=Pluto; Dosei=Saturn; Kasei=Mars; Suisei=Mercury; Mokusei=Jupiter; Kinsei=Venus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Serenity straightened her dress, anticipation shaking her small frame. Finally, another ball had come, and all of her Senshi friends would be there. Best of all, Endymion had promised to come. Serenity left her room and ran into her mother. "What's wrong?" The queen shook her head. "Probably nothing. Sunspot activity is increasing, that's all. We've been hearing rumors about dissatisfaction on Earth, but we don't think that anything is actually wrong." Young Serenity rained an eyebrow. "That's not really why you're worried. Two nights ago the planets stirred in their sleep and you think that the Senshi took their stones again. You fear that they are too powerful and that the end is coming." The queen sighed. "I'll ask them when they arrive tonight. Just be careful, okay? Stay close to your Senshi, because they will protect you." Serenity nodded as she watched her mother leave. Something was coming. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Setsuna sighed as she returned Hotaru to her planet. She had to be at the party, but she didn't want little Hotaru there. She knew something bad was going to happen. Holding her Garnet Rod in her hands, Setsuna remembered Helios's final words. "There is no end that does not lead to a new beginning," she whispered to herself. "Remember that and never lose hope." Taking a deep breath, Sailor Pluto changed into a formal gown of black silk covered in red flowers on dark green vines and brushed her hair, placing her intricate crown on her head. She was ready. Placing her Time Key in its stand before the Gate of Time where it could watch time for her and be ready the instant she transformed and called for it, Setsuna wrapped her fingers around her henshin stick and teleported to the Moon. She would enjoy herself, no matter what was coming. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Queen Serenity greeted all of her guests, smiling as queens she hadn't seen in years and little princesses she hadn't seen since her daughter was born came to the biggest ball on the Moon since she assumed the throne. They were all resplendent in the colors of their planets, sparkling crowns or slender golden circlets and tiaras on every head, and Serenity felt tears in her eyes at the beautiful sight of so many royals dancing so beautifully in her ballroom. She was waiting for one specific guest, and she leaned on the railing of the balcony overlooking the ballroom, patient. Serenity laughed to herself as Hino Kazan bowed to Kaiou Shousha and began to dance with her, while the two youngest Kino sons took the young Aino twins onto the floor. The twin girls had never been to a huge party before, and they were enjoying themselves immensely. Fujiiro was elegant in a dress of light purple trimmed in her family's gold, and Giniro wore silver trimmed in gold, while Eiki and Saiki both wore dark green trimmed in white, as were their tall boots. They were all enjoying the dance, though the Kino boys had to carry the Aino girls or risk hurting their backs. In another area, Hakuchou and Kaichou met Momoiro and Ken'nin, both of whom were very glad to finally meet other royals. Momoiro wore the pink of her name, while Ken'nin had foregone the common forest green for a paler shade trimmed in sunlight gold with tall white boots. The twin boy wore a sharp dark blue suit covered in white wave designs and black boots, the image of his father. His twin sister had chosen a paler blue for her dress and white shoes, wearing a delicate golden bird bracelet around one wrist. Smiling, Ken'nin led Hakuchou onto the floor, the tiny princess smiling at the tall prince as he lifted her in his arms for the first dance. She was older than the two Aino girls, but there was no difference in their manners and actions. Momoiro grinned when Kaichou bowed gracefully to her, his arm held out to lead her onto the floor. Later she would move on to older, more eligible bachelors, but the Princess of Kasei was willing to dance with Suisei's young prince. A murmur spread through the room when Ami entered the dance floor on Makoto's arm, both wearing exquisite jeweled dresses and their princess crowns. As expected, the Senshi outshone the other royals in the room, even their own parents. Ami's dress started deep sapphire along the low neckline and faded to pale ice blue along the hem, tiny gems forming flowers along its length. Her necklace was a gold chain carrying a flawless sapphire, but it was not the stone given to her as Crown Princess of Suisei. Her father caught her arm, but Ami shook her head; she could not explain its absence to her father. Makoto's dress was white covered in emerald vines and delicate pink roses, gems sparkling in the gentle light. She, too, wore a simple stone on a golden chain, but the flawless round emerald bore no symbol. Pausing his dance with Hakuchou, Ken'nin caught his brothers' attention and nodded at their only sister. They knew where the stone of Mokusei had gone. The pair made their way up to greet the queen, pausing when they sensed another pair of Senshi enter. Rei wore a dress of pure crimson silk, beautiful and delicate symbols covering her dress, rubies and amethysts fighting for supremacy on the fabric, rubies sparkling from the tiara on her head. She knew she was gorgeous, and she was content to let everyone stare. A beautiful round ruby sparkled from her breast, but it lacked the symbol of Kasei. The beauty on her arm grinned as she curtsied to the crowd, her golden dress cut almost too low in the front and lacking a back. Birds drawn with white thread and gems of every shade of red, orange, and yellow sparkled in the light, keeping the attention of the many young bachelors in the room, her sparkling tiara reminding everyone of her rank and power. Serenity was quite possibly the only one in the room who noticed the gold stone hanging from a golden chain around Minako's neck. The symbol of Kinsei was nowhere to be found. The four princesses mounted the stairs to the Moon Queen, and Serenity smiled. "I see that the four of you made it. And you seem to be missing a certain piece of jewelry." "They joined our Star Seeds," Minako explained, shrugging. "Rei says that something powerful happened between Haruka-san and Michiru-san out on Ten'ousei that caused our stones to enter our bodies. We're not sure what happened." Rei nodded at her lover's assessment. "When they get here tonight we will ask them what they did." "Speaking of Haruka and Michiru," Makoto laughed, pointing at the door. Haruka and Michiru entered the room. They made such a perfect couple. Haruka wore a suit of gold, trimmed in the deepest blue, the hem sparkling with intermingled topazes and sapphires. She, alone of the young senshi, was Queen, her crown outshining the tiaras her friends wore. That symbol of power caused the princes and young princesses to bow slightly as she passed, a gesture she was not comfortable with. She wore no necklace, seeing no need, and Serenity knew for sure that the stones of the planets were no longer separate from their Senshi. Michiru's dress was colored in every shade of blue imaginable and sparkled with the matching stones, the same stones evident in her crown. She did wear a necklace, but it was a small heart-shaped turquoise rather than the aquamarine of Neptune. The pair looked up at the balcony and smiled when they saw their partners and the queen, ignoring the stares and whispers as they ascended the stairs. Smiling at their friends, the two princesses bowed. "Greetings, Majesty." "Nice to see you again, Haruka-san. A lot of things have changed since I last saw you." Haruka smiled and glanced down at her mother-in-law on the floor. "Yeah, she figured it out. My father is perfectly okay with us, though he was a little freaked at first." "Do tell us what happened with our stones." Rei, as usual, did not care to waste time being tactful. Haruka smiled. "It was Michiru's idea. She thought we should try to access all of our power and connect to our planets. I was able to take the stone into myself, somehow, and Michiru, totally against my wishes, followed my example." Michiru playfully batted at Haruka's hands. "I didn't give you a chance to object. Besides, we needed to do this; Setsuna-san told us that we must. And I see that all of you have, too." Rei grunted and crossed her arms over her chest, purple-gray eyes sparking. "That happened when you two tried to combine your powers." Serenity gasped, one hand flying to her mouth. In the back of her mind, words form the notes and journals of the former queens crossed her minds, and the mention of the time when Uranus and Neptune would try to combine their power. If they succeeded, all of the kingdoms would fall. She was about to stay something, but Setsuna walked in at that moment and raised a finger, warning the queen to be silent. At the sight of Setsuna, elegant in black and smiling at her, Serenity lost the ability to speak. Memories of her time with the Queen of Meiousei filled her thoughts, and she could only watch helplessly as the beauty came closer. Serenity moved to the railing again, watching Setsuna approach as the six young Senshi returned to the dance floor. Young Serenity moved onto the floor, joined a moment later by a tall man in a black suit, a man the queen knew as Prince Endymion. Smiling, Serenity ignored her daughter and returned her attention to the tall woman who joined her on the balcony. For a moment, neither woman said a thing as they stood and stared at each other. Setsuna let her fingers touch Serenity's cheek, and the silver-haired woman smiled. "It's good to see you again, Setsu-chan." "And you, my queen." Serenity took Setsuna's hand and kissed her palm. "I told you not to call me that. Here I am not your queen. We're much more than that." "We haven't been for a very long time," Setsuna whispered, letting her hand come to rest on the queen's white cheek. "You have a kingdom to run and I have an apocalypse to prevent." "I think it's too late, Setsu-chan. I think that my beautiful kingdom is doomed." Setsuna wiped the tears off Serenity's cheek and kissed that same cheek gently. "Do not be afraid," Setsuna whispered, wrapping one arm around Serenity's waist and pulling her just a little bit closer. "There is no end that does not bring a new beginning. Do not be afraid and never lose hope." "When did you become such an optimist?" "I met a very interesting person on Earth. He hasn't been born yet, but he sure seems to know a lot about fate and the future." "Earth? That place has been the center of so much recently. I fear that it will be the end of us all." Serenity looked up at Setsuna, smiling. "But, for right now, let's ignore all of our problems. Meiou Setsuna, will you dance with me?" Setsuna smiled as she took Serenity's arm. "I thought you'd never ask." Together, the queens descended the staircase, walking slowly, eyes locked on each other. Haruka chuckled as she spotted the two. "Would you look at that. I always wondered about those two. How long do you think it's been for them?" Michiru rested her head on Haruka's breast as they danced. "I don't know, but it really doesn't matter. They can be happy tonight." Serenity and Setsuna joined the couples on the floor, swaying in time with music and holding each other close. Serenity looked up and whispered something to her partner, and Setsuna smiled. "Yes, I remember," Setsuna whispered, one hand cupping Serenity's cheek. "What of it?" The silver-haired queen leaned up and kissed her dancing partner, pulling Setsuna closer. They kissed deeply, swaying slowly to the music, and the princesses around them laughed at the sight. Even the most sophisticated of them were prone to random acts of affection in public. A moment later, the peaceful dance was shattered as all of the Senshi, queen Serenity, and her daughter fell to the floor, clutching their heads, the symbols of their respective planets glowing fiercely from their foreheads. "Saturn," Setsuna gasped, desperately calling for her Time Key. But the pain changed from stabbing agony to a pain in the gut, then ceased altogether. Setsuna sat up as her staff finally appeared, and the other two Outer Senshi summoned their talismans. Michiru looked in her mirror and gasped, tears streaking her cheeks. "No," Michiru whispered. "Moons of Neptune, no." "What?" "Haruka, they're dead. All of them are dead." "All of whom?" "Saturn," Setsuna whispered, falling back, tears in her eyes for the first time in years. "They are all dead. Even little Hotaru. Especially her, since they knew . . . Serenity, they're gone." The queen covered her mouth with her hands, rocking back and forth. "No," she whispered. "It can't be true." "Majesty! We're under attack!" Serenity's two cat advisors, Artemis and Luna, dashed into the ballroom, skidding to a stop at the queen's feet. Serenity, regaining her composure as she stood up, took command. "Everyone, we're under attack." Haruka looked at the princesses standing beside her, and they nodded as one. The Senshi all raised their henshin sticks and transformed, dashing outside as the other royals hurried to obey the queen's orders. Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were nowhere to be found.
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