Chapter Seven: Gaurdians of the Millenium: Destined for Love:
by Alina
alinasan@yahoo.com
Author's notes:
1. don't own Sailor Moon--never have never will.
2. This is in the present and the past as indicated.
3. Two more chapters...to be posted soon ;).
4.
Chapter 7: Jaedite lives? Something gets Fishy in Tokyo
BACK IN THE FUTURE __PRESENT DAY:
Everyone looked up from Serena, to the sleepy voice of Holly
(Hotaru) standing in her nightgown...
" WhatÕs wrong...why are you all still awake?Ó She asked.
ÒNow we know how Berryl was able to breach the defenses of the
Moon Kingdom, and devastate it as she did.Ó Darrien said. His
voice was low and somber. "The inner scouts
gave the generals a way to deactivate the shields."
Susannah paled a little under his direct accusation of the
inner scouts. ÒCome Holly, you should go to sleep. ThereÕs
nothing to be done tonight.Ó She smiled, faintly..."I don't remeber
what you all did. I must have entered into the time stream before
that---why donÕt you discuss this before drawing
conclusions.Ó
After Susannah led the littler girl away, the others returned to
pondering the question that troubled them..."Maybe
we're jumping to conclusions... What if Beryl found her
own way behind the shields? " Serena asked the others.
"Then your actions had nothing to do with her getting
behind the shields."
Rei shook her head. "Serena, don't soften our guilt. The
Moon KingdomÕs shields could not have been deactivated, and
the seven shadow warriors could not have gotten inside,
unless one of us let them in...Darrien's right. They
betrayed us, and in turn we failed in our duty
to protect you."
"We let our emotions intefere with our duties."Ami
added. "We gave our trust when it was not ours
to give."
Mina whispered "A heart filled with guilt cannot love."
for once getting a saying almost right, "That's
why we're alone...it's our punnishment."
"If you acted out of love, then you did not do
anything wrong! A heart full of love has no guilt!"
Serena argued back. She gasped for breath, and then,
her voice rising in pitch and passion continued "You didn't
know they were evil!...And maybe
they weren't...maybe Beryl stole the keys, and then made
monsters that looked like them or brainwashed them,
and they had no choice?" Serena expounded. "If you let down
the shields because the Generals needed help, and Beryl followed
them in, you upheld the honor of the Kingdom, because
otherwise you'd have sacrificed innocent people......"Her voice trailed
off "How great a kingdom would the Moon Kingdom have been
if you'd allowed that to happen?"
Darrien frowned,as Serena's words made him think. Although
initially he'd condemned the inner scouts for not keeping
to their duties, he realized Serena herself had done the
same in granting him protection. Ultimately, he thought,
if he had not put his love for Serena before his duty
to Beryl, She would not
have attacked...ÒI think there's
a larger issue here than whether you upheld your duties
a lifetime ago...IÕm not sure you understand
how brainwashing by the negaverse works--IÕve been there.
To betray the moonkingdom like that--to trick you into
lowering the protective shields, to carry such evil inside,
and attack, --that is not something simple brainwashing could do.
Remember how much trouble I had attacking you all?Ó
ÒThatÕs because you are so good...Ó Serena said. ÒAnd you love me.Ó
Òyes, but thatÕs not just it--ItÕs hard to do evil...remember,
Neflite had trouble attacking Molly after sheÕd broken through
to him? ThatÕs my point. Beryl didnÕt just want me brainwashed
. She wanted me to willingly give myself to the negaforce...to
Metallia and the evil. I didnÕt. She kept trying though."
ÒWhat does this matter?.Ó Lita said angrily. ÒAll
this happened a lifetime ago...the Silver Millenium
ended whether or not we loved them or whether they
joined Beryl. Nothing changes.Ó
ÒGreg wouldnÕt come up with the picture *now* if
its not quite finnished.Ó Ami said...she shivered a little.
ÔLogically, there is some reason that this came to light...now.Ó
ÒI agree. Ò Darrien said, his thoughts coalescing into
one dangerous thought.
ÒSo what are you saying exactly?Ó Lita demanded turning
back to Darrien. "What was the larger issue?"
ÒAt least one of the generals gave himself to the evil. He went
willingly, and just as we were reincarnated after our Battle with
Beryl--they may be as well...their destinies are linked with ours.
If that is so--the original traitor may try to find their
reincarnated selves and awaken them--and their powers...and
again betray them to evil. Ò
ÒWithout Beryl? SheÕs gone now!Ó Horrified Ami argued back.
Darrien shook his head. ÒPerhaps the force that drove Beryl -Metallia,
lives. In another dimension. If it could find another victim
as it did those years ago when it took her jealously,
bitterness and hatred, and forged its way into the world...
and even if Metallia is gone, there are other sources of evil.Ó
ÒThey could come back!Ó Mina gasped.
ÒExactly. Ò Darrien nodded. ÒThey were one of our fiercest enemies.Ó
ÒThey killed all of us...ÓMina whispered....ÓThe only
thing worse was Gallaxia...And, I have to admit, we
may not be exactly up to another fight on that scale again.Ó
ÒI could handle it.Ó Lita said grimly. ÒBesides,
weÕve got stronger powers and more reinforcemets now.
TheyÕll be toasted. Let' em just try...Ó
ÒThat is not the point.Ó Serena said.
Rei nodded. ÒSomethings, like destiny, make patterns
that must be completed. We need to solve this before
our lives can move on...Ó She blushed. ÒI know that
sometimes timing is coincedental--and other times it is not
. I sense this is notÓ
Seated by her on the sofa, Serena recalled another
day when She and Rei had been together.
Serena remembered she had
almost lost Rei (again) that day...but it wasnÕt
the attack by the heart-crystal seeking
rather trollopy troll of the day
that made her swallow slowly. She recalled ReiÕs
voice softly telling her... one of her dreams was to
be a good wife to a beloved husband. They had sparked
a little over it, as usual, though Rei had been kinder than usual.
Her tones were those of her gaurded softer side now.
Her eyes were large, soft and sad as she said ÒWe must resolve
this or our lives and those we love will suffer.Ó
It was obvious she was thinking of Chad.
Serena frowned. ÒYes, Rei. I understand.
It must be hard to see me and Darrien be so happy...
and always be alone..Ó Especially when once Darrien and Rei
had...but that seemed so distant. It was as if both had
lost that memory for good.
ÒWell, you *donÕt* have to rub it in!Ó Mina said...
ÒIÕm not...I promise...though....Ó She blushed.
ÒI will not be with my love til you have your own.Ó
The crystal sparkled....
ÒSerena--DonÕt say things like that---you know promises
have power!Ó Shocked Rei looked at her friends. ÒYou and
Darrien neednÕt wait for anything--your destinies
have kept you apart long enough!Õ
Everyone agreed...Darrien and Serena exchanged a
long glance and their thoughts were known only to each other.
ÒMaybe we can find out if there any clues through
the left over essences of the generals? Ò Ami suggested..
ÒThey all vannished without a trace. But with some of
their essences we can track who they are reborn as?Ó
ÒNeflite must have made an impression
on Molly even if she doesnÕt remember.Ó Ami pulled out her computer..
.
ÒWhats this about my, er Neflite and Molly? Ò Lita demanded.
.
ÒOh...we fought him before we found you...I suppose
thatÕs worth a shot, but weÕll have to try tomorrow
and ask her. I think she kept some rag sheÕd used on him...Ó
ÒThatÕll need to be done delicately.Ó Ami said.
ÒWhat --why?Ó Lita asked. Everyone ignored her.
Finally, after a short bit, Lita thundered Ò I CanÕt Stand it...
Somone tell me what happened?Ó She stomped her foot for emphasis
, but...inadvertantly her foot landed on ArtemisÕ tail.
He wailed and jumped onto Mina, who fell backwards onto
the Piano with a crash. Everyone cringed with the loud
sounds...ÓEr, maybe we should call it a night.ÓDarrien
said, running his hands through his hair.
* * *
ÒI CANÓT STAND IT...WHAT HAPPENED>Ó Princess Lita said.
Serena sighed in relief--leave it to Lita to
push for a straight answer.
ÒIÕll skip the history then, Serena, though
you ought to know it.Ó Ami paused.
ÒWhen the Kingdom of Earth and Mineral were fighting,
the Moon stayed neutral, til at last MarsÕs Queen married
the King of EarthÕs younger brother. She begged Moon for
help, so that the war would end...Moon used her powers..
.and saved the Kingdoms by a pledge that they would unite
through bloodlines rather than bloodshed. Even though
the Kings son was only a baby, he was pledged to the
Mineral KingdomÕs princess, Beryll. It was at that
ceremony that VenusÕs Queen and Queen Serenity met the
Sun Kingdom Twins, for every power in the Solar System attended.
..The two golden men capitivated the rulers who had been alone
for a long time. They both pledged their love, but impulsive,
VenusÕs Queen married her love immediately. The Moon Queen
wished to return and marry in her palace. So they did.
She sent invitations to all the Planetary Powers as had
been done for BerylÕs and EndymionÕs engagement....but somehow,
they failed to send one to the Dark Planet Kingdom..
{.perhaps Serena inherited her disorganization from someone!
..thought Rei}] That planet orbits strangely...., But itÕs
ruler was very angry...she appeared, and cursed the marriage--
that just as the SunÕs shine on her planet was too short,
so would this union be. She also said that any child born
of this union would be doomed to live wihtout love--as had
her planet been doomed.Ó
ÒWait...what happened then? ThatÕs not the way
it ended?!Ó Mina said...
ÒNo, the King of Venus, couldnÕt let his brotherÕs
happiness be ruined...He gave up his powers in exchange
that his brotherÕs future be happier--and modified the curse...
and bannished the dark world so that it was never heard from
again.. The modification decreed his niece would find love
with a powerful planetary prince...one who would always protect her.Ó
ÒSo why...that doesnÕt explain it!Õ Lita said
confused. ÒWhatÕs bad about that?Ó
ÒUm...my dad forgot...there was only *one* Planetary
Prince then--Endymion...So his modification created
a destiny that would *ordain* Serena to fall for a
Prince already engaged...Ó Mina blushed....
{{Rei thought, I guess thatÕs where *she* gets it!
Those Sun genes make both of them *light* headed.
No wonder the Sun Kingdom failed!}
ÒOH no! So no wonder Mother forbid me to meet him.
.I couldnÕt fall in love with him if I didnÕt know him...Ó
She bit her lip, lowering her eyes. ÒSo wait...how did.....
what about my father?Ó
ÒWith one of the rulers of the Sun powerless to
defend it, suddenly, your father had to return to
the Sun to defend it...they had planned to alternate
duties so they could live with their wives...just before
you were to be born, Serena, a terrible enemy attacked our Sun...
and your father died protecting it--he was so used to having his
brother to fight with him...that he overestimated the attack.
Your mother finnished it off...after all the Outer Kingdoms
pledged to serve her...and as her daughter had no father,
to send their childern to protect you."
ÒEndymion and I were fated to be together...Ó She said.
"We're tied by destiny."
ÒA cursed one....Ó Rei muttered.
ÒRevised curse.Ó Mina ammended.
ÒWhy are there only four of you scouts then? Ò Serena asked
ÒThree of the planets were charged to protect
against enemies from ouside this system. And Pluto,
of course, isnÕt settled.Ó
ÒOh...Ó Serena Said..."I donÕt care about fate...
IÕm going to change destiny. IÕm going to meet himÓ
Determined she stood up. ÒWith your help.Ó
* * *
Three shimmering lights formed, red white and green.
There stood three girls, one with long dark hair loose,
one with brown hair in a ponytail, and the other with
long blonde hair tied up with a ribbon. She was the
shortest, and the most excited visibly.
ÒItÕs beautiful!Ó Serena called out. Her two
gaurdians turned towards her.
ÒShhh...be quiet! We donÕt want to call attention
to ourselves do we?Ó
ÒBut IÕm just acting like Mina would!Ó Serena said.
She was attired in golden orange robes, her hair down
for once, and tied up with an orange ribbon. ÒThat was a
great idea you had, Rei. After all, Mina can come to
earth...this way no one will know. And with her
acting like me, at home, LunaÕll be fooled.Ó
ÒAs long as she doesnÕt mess it upÓ Rei mumbled.
ÒI did a lot of planning for this. Remember what
I told you.. YouÕve only got a few hours with him.
And, Jupiter and Neflite will be keeping you company.Ó
ÒHey-where are you going?Ó Jupiter said...she thought
the deal was that both sets of gaurds would do this.
ÒOh, weÕll be around, but Jed and I have wedding details to
work out.Ó She smiled. ÒIÕll see you later!Ó
* * *
ÒHow do I loo--IÕm acting silly.Ó Endymion tried to
steel his nerves and calm the feeling of intense
excitement that was hopping around in his stomach.
ÒAye, that you are.Ó Neflite commented dryly.
ÒI dontÕ see why we couldnÕt tell Zoey or Mal.Ó
ÒThe less people that know the better. I told you
because I trust you Nef. Ò Endymion commented.
ÒAnd you donÕt trust the leader of your gaurdians?
Of any of us, Mal is the one most ruled by his sense of duty...
he would never betray you.Ó
ÒExcept his duties are strictly seen. He would
never betray me, unless I was betraying Berryl.
HeÕs a moralist. I donÕt think he would approve
of this caper. So I think it better he not know--and
Zoi canÕt keep a secret from Mal. He idolizes him. Ò
Nef nodded. ÒI see the wisdom of this. I canÕt
say that I mind the plan--I was to be honnest,
longing to see the Lady Jupiter again...Ó He smiled.
ÒYet who are we to say we visited...we must tell
Mal and Zoey something.Ó
ÒWeÕll tell them most of the truth.Ó Jedite said slyly.
ÒYou see, weÕll admit to being visited by women from
the moon kingdom...only, weÕll hide the fact that
Endymion was as well. As far as anyone else knows,
my fiancŽ, the Lady Mars, was accompanied by
chaperones in the form of Lady Jupiter and Lady Venus.
No one will know more than that.Ó
ÒThen lead on.Ó Neflite said. ÒThe stars
are very clear tonight.....Ó
ÒAnd the moon is softened in the night sky.Ó
Endymion said looking up. ÒPerfect cover.Ó
* * *
{{Present Day}}
Rei was distressed as she felt again, the faint
stiring of her conciousness. Someone was calling her.
Weakly. The voice was one of confused anguish, and
despair. He, for she felt it was a male, needed help.
And yet she felt wary. She *knew* this voice that called to her.
She knew it meant danger. She turned in her bed, her
hand flinging out, and knocking over the small chime
next to her bed. The noise awakend her the rest of the way.
With heavy lids, she stumbled to the prayer room.
She couldnÕt keep going on like this. She needed
to know what the dreams meant. She kept seeing a
disjointed and fuzzy face--like it was broken.
She had the image of cold water, running deep.
She was flying, over the water with the face.
Her love. He was inside the water. He was beside
her, asking her why she didnÕt help...and then would
she like to dance...the first was loving, but the
sencond was menancing. He was asking her to fight...
to fight him...or for him? His face was still unclear.
What was he asking?
* * *
(Present day)
The rivers swirled around the crystaline form, as it
splashed at long last into the Ocean. It had been
floating, doomed to keep its occupant in eternal sleep,
but BerylÕs power was not omnipotent. Subsequent
battles had sliced through the fabric of time and space
and one casualty of this traffic was the spell that
held the casing crystal. Its occupant slept, for lack of
a better word for the trance like state, unknowing of the
changes warping the outside world. The evil inside the
casing seeped into the ocean where it landed, causing
great damage to the neighboring fish. And the underwater
world...at last unlocking an ancient creature from its sleep,
it spied the glittering thing and swallowed it. And then,
the seas went wild....
* * *
(Present Day--the day after the visions)
ÒAmi, whatÕs wrong with her?Ó A very concerned Erika
was smoothing the hair from MichelleÕs face. Michelle
was weak and sick, and unable to do anything for days....
She kept mumblingg about the ocean.
She hadnÕt been sleeping well lately. "She hasn't even
practiced for days!" Erika said.
ÒI know that it is nothing normal. This is...triggering
my Ònegavibes.Ó Ami said.
Ònegavibes? WhatÕs that?? I thought that enemey was
destroyed long ago.Ó
ÒNot so very long ago. AmiÕs right." Serena, for once, was
thoughtful. ÒMaybe weÕd better abandon figuring out
the past for awhile. Ò
ÒYeah, lets worry about the present for a change.Ó Lita
looked over the balcony, and to the edge of the city --
if she squintted she could see the gleam of ocean.
It was one of the reasons they had chosen the apartment.
ÒDid she have fish recently?Ó
ÒYes, but, why do you ask?Ó Erika frowned...sheÕd had
not been hungry last night having a race the next day,
but Michiru had eaten her dinner regardless...ordering
her favorite sushi dishes. Since Susannah didnÕt
eat egplant, and someone doing the ordering had forgotten,
Holly had eaten that...
ÒItÕs funny but, IÕve been thinking the
fish is a little weird lately so I havenÕt
been preparing it. I wonder if thatÕs got
anything to do with it--IÕve been passing lots
of people getting sick in the fish markets...Ó
ÒA new enemey is attacking the Ocean...oooohÓ Serena said
ÒFor attacking our dinner we wonÕt forgive them!Ó
ÒCan the speech Serena, Cause Girl, theyÕre no monsters
around right now...Ó Mina said nonchalantly.
ÒBut weÕd better check it out as soon as possible.Ó
ÒWell, what about finding out if the generals were
reincarnated? DonÕt we need to figure out who the
traitor was? And if they have reincarnated?Ó Ami said
ÒThese events may be connected or not, but both warranat attention.Ó
ÒThen letÕs split up. We can cover all the angles
that way.Ó Mina said. ÒYou know, leave no stone unearned.Ó
ÒUnturned. Ok. That seems like a good idea.Ó Rei said.
ÒDarrien and Serena can work on getting that rag
from Molly, and seeing what memories we can glean
from there. Rei can go with Lita and Ami to check out the ocean.Ó
ÒItÕs the ocean, shouldnt we take Neptune?Ó Ami
asked ÒHer strenght is water. Ò
Mina shook her head. ÒSheÕs not looking to well.
Besides, we donÕt work together so well yet and
IÕd rather save the ÒtrainingÓ of that for a time
closer to home. Besides, if something goes wrong,
we can send her after you.Ó
ÒWell, then, if we are agreed, weÕll go today.Ó Ami said.
ÒMy computer has located the core site of the disturbances
-where the boats have been dissappearing as well. Really sad....Ó
ÒMichelle owns a yacht--itÕs docked--here, IÕll write
the details for you.Ó Erika said when asked.
(
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