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Princess Mercury walked up and down looking at the shelves of the Imperial Library. Books have always held a certain fascination for her and sometimes she would go for days just reading a certain book.

That day, however, she managed to find her way to a infrequently occupied section of the library. She knew that not many people went in that section because of the ancient books whose languages were no longer understandable, having been written in the ancient tongue. Only scholars, sages and the royal family knew how to read and write the dialect. Fortunately, though, being a scholar herself, Princess Mercury could easily read the manuscripts and books that have been collecting dust.

With her head tilted to the side, she read the spines of the books on the lower shelves, silently reading the titles in her head. Everything was silent except for her occasional murmur of approval at the subject of a certain book.

"Are you looking for something in particular, princess?" a voice said, startling Mercury out of her preoccupation.

"Oh," she said, holding a hand against her throat, "I never knew that someone was here. I'm sorry if I disturbed you."

"Not at all, I'm just here to do some research for the Queen."

The young man, about her age, stood up from behind a huge desk.

"I fear that the queen is disturbed about the growing rumors of the Negaverse."

Mercury took a step back, surprised that the young man was divulging his opinions about the queen. Usually, it was an unspoken rule that one did not reveal any sort of information regarding the royal family and any duties that they should assign to their servants.

"I see that I've startled you, princess. But, you see, I feel that I could trust you and my feelings are not usually wrong. Besides, your reputation as a scholar has preceded you. Perhaps you can lend me some of your expertise in certain dialects of the old tongue?"

"Ofcourse. Anything to help the Moon Kingdom."

Mercury strolled over to the large desk and leaned over the young man's shoulders, losing her initial embarrassment as the lines she read formed actual thoughts and ideas.

"... For there is another power that will be summoned in the darkest of times. The Ky-Lin will signal the summons...." Mercury read haltingly. The rest of the passage was too worn out to be legible. She turned the page but it was on the subject of other things regarding the history of the Moon. She flipped back and forth between the two pages, confused.

"There was a page that was ripped out. I too have puzzled over the occurrence," the boy said.

"No, I do not think that..."

"Oh, but there must be. See here," he flipped to the previous pages in the book. "After each chapter is a page of bibliography of some sort. The bibliography lists all the scrolls that correspond to the subject of the chapter. For this chapter that you have just read, there is no bibliography."

"You're right, how strange. Have you looked through all the scrolls already?"

"Yes, there are scrolls that hint at this 'power' but I have a feeling that there is one more that will give the full details of it."

Mercury glanced at the other books littering the desk. "And those books? What do they say?""There is a book that describes the Ky-Lin and also the description of the power."

Mercury took the book that the boy held out to her. She flipped through the pages and saw the faded pictures of monsters and strange alien beings. She read the short passages detailing the description of the Ky-Lin.

"The head of a dragon, the mane of a lion and the tail of an ox. Obviously an earth creature, don't you think?"

"Yes. But as you read on, you'll also find that the Ky-Lin may not be visible to just anybody. It says here that it is a magical creature of the earth, seen only by chosen mortals."

"And so the Ky-Lin will herald the arrival of the power."

"And the rest is a mystery, princess."

"How strange." She closed the book gently. She glanced at the boy and noticed his appearance for the first time. He was taller that she, his hair falling over his eyes but was held back by a band of cloth across his brow. She caught herself staring and managed to hide her embarrassment. "The ball is being held tonight and so I cannot help you until perhaps tomorrow morning."

"Ofcourse. I really do need your help. You see, the queen asked one of the senior scholars but he was called away this morning so I was asked to do a little researching... me coming from Earth and all. They thought that I might know a little more about the Ky-Lin."

"I see. But isn't Earth considered under suspicion?"

He blushed a little. "Well, yeah, but I've been on the Moon for quite a while now. I have a little problem with direction so I end up traveling a lot. I've met a lot of people that have come to know me and could vouch for me."

"I don't know you," Mercury said timidly.

"Well -ah- my name is Ryokosha. And you are Princess Mercury."

"Yes." She gazed thoughtfully at him then broke off saying, "Well, I'll meet you here again tomorrow afternoon?"

"Yes, okay.." he said, taking a step back.

She moved to leave. "It was nice meeting you Ryokosha."

Present Day Japan:

Mizuno Ami punched a number of keys on her small computer and gazed at the screen of information. She made a face at the computer and frustrated, threw it on her bed. It landed with a small bounce, still beeping.

"I don't understand. I've tried everything to get information on what you've told me, Rei, but all it gives me is some weird numbers and figures."

Rei, the only other occupant of the room sat back with a groan. "Maybe I'm wrong and there's nothing for you to look for, Ami."

"No. I think you're on to something. I just wish that I could figure it out."

"Well, what exactly does the computer give you?"

"Nothing but line after line of weird looking figures. Probably something in another language. But I've tried all the languages in the world to try and convert it, none of them work!"

"And Luna and Artemis haven't been able to give me any useful information either."

"I think that for now, all we could really do is sit back and wait for more clues," Ami said. "We'll tell the rest of the scouts to be more careful. Until we find out what we're up against this time, we can't really do anything but wait for it to come to us first."

Rei looked at her friend and nodded reluctantly. Ami was right, there was no other way but to wait and be on their guards for anything.

Princess Serenity gazed at her reflection in the looking glass and sighed. It was not her face that she saw, rather, it was the face of her fiancee, Prince Endymion. She always liked day dreaming about her wedding day with him, one filled with flowers and laughter.

Her brow furrowed into a frown. She worried that she would be a good wife to him. Let's see, she sorta knew how to run a kingdom, act like a princess and use the silver crystal. But she didn't know how to cook, or clean, or fix her hair....

She put down the brush she was using, easily dismissing her faults and continuing on with her fantasies about her and her prince...

Queen Serenity looked down on her folded hands resting on top of her lap. She glanced up and gazed around the crowded ballroom of the Moon Palace, relieved that everything was going as planned and that everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. Her silver eyes lighted on a couple on the dance floor, easily recognizing the graceful form of her daughter. The queen looked a the masked man her daughter was dancing with and hid a small smile. Even in the mask, she could well identify the prince of the Earth, Endymion.

Despite the troubles with the Earth Kingdom, she knew in her heart that the present threat to her kingdom was not coming from them. And there was no way that she will break her own daughter's heart by forbidding the marriage between the princess and Endymion.

She watched them walk hand in hand towards the balconies, disapproval marring her serene features. However, a moment later, she changed her mind, knowing that for tonight, she will give her daughter this gift of being with her love. Because the queen knew that there won't be much more time left for the two to ever get together again.

She turned her attention back to her court and was startled as two moon cats made their way to her, shouting.

"Queen Serenity! Queen Serenity! The Negaverse has attacked!" the black cat, Luna, said.

Queen Serenity checked herself and waited for more information.

"They have already passed Saturn and Jupiter, and making their way here, even as we speak!" Artemis, the white cat continued.

A gasp escaped from two of the princesses from the respective planets. There was no hiding that Saturn, and Jupiter were already destroyed, perhaps along with Pluto, Uranus and Neptune as well.

"I want all the guards out and everyone else behind the castle walls. We will not have.." Queen Serenity was cut off as the first explosions from the surprise attack hit the outer walls of the castle. Everyone panicked, adding to the already chaotic situation. The queen raced towards the balcony where Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion were last seen. But to her horror the balcony was empty. She raced back in, heading towards her room and the vault where the Moon Wand and Ginzuishou were kept.

Ryokosho, having heard all the commotion from his little place in the Imperial Library, ran towards the origins of the sounds. As he drew nearer to the ballroom, he heard shouting and yelling, then he heard all the explosions coming from outdoors. With the first sound of destruction, he knew that the Negaverse has attacked and that the Moon Kingdom, not to mention the whole solar system was in grave danger.

He ran as fast as he could, trying to find the familiar figure of the queen. He halted to a stop at the ballroom's doors, his eyes widening in shock at the scene before his eyes.

All the princesses have transformed into their senshi forms and were futilely fighting against the armies of the Negaverse. He saw Jupiter and Venus throw their energy blasts at the dark shadows of what was the Negaverse soldiers and saw them fall down as their attack was countered against them. Next he caught Uranus and Neptune combining their attacks to foil another group of soldiers, succeeding yet failing with the next group. One by one he saw the senshi fall, their inexperience of their powers evident in their weak attacks.

A red figure raced by him and made her way to the Queen, trying to cut through the dark soldiers that went after her and got in her way.

"Your Majesty!" Mars cried out. Serenity looked towards her and a warning died on her lips as she saw Mars crumble to the ground, unmoving.

Ryokosho looked frantically around the ballroom for the familiar figure of Mercury and soon saw her lying near the balcony. His heart pounded, telling him that he was too late. That everyone was either dead or dying.

With a swipe at his wet eyes, he ran determinedly towards the queen, hoping to relay the information that he had gathered for her concerning that 'other power.' He needed to tell her to look for the image of the Ky-Lin but midway in his path towards her, he felt a sudden stabbing pain at his side. Looking down, he saw the evidence of his mortality staining his shirt. He fell to the ground, looking helplessly at the queen, who fought valiantly. He need to get to her... to tell her... he clutched his side and knew that he wouldn't be able to make it to her in time. Slowly, he tried crawling....

Serenity glanced all around her, noting the ones who have died already. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw many of her retainers and loyal subjects try to make their way to her. She heard Mars call out for her and saw a boy try to make his way to her. She saw everything, but could do nothing. And soon, she knew, everyone was down.

In a moment she heard the voice of her enemy echo against the walls of the ruined ballroom.

"Princess Serenity! What a pleasure that I could meet you before you die! HAHAH!" Beryl said.

"Princess Serenity, you must go back. Find your mother, the queen... please!" It was Prince Endymion, talking to the princess. And they were just outside the balcony doors!

Queen Serenity ran as fast as she could towards the sounds of the voices.

"No! I won't leave you, Endymion! Take me with you!" The princess cried out. Then there was a scream and a shout and then Endymion spoke again. "Serenity! NOOOO!!!!!"

Queen Beryl, the leader of the Negaverse's assault laughed as she charred both Endymion and the princess to death. Queen Serenity arrived at the scene, breathing heavily, and with despair weighing her heart down. She looked at the dead bodies of the young couple and tears slipped from her eyes. She pursed her lips and lifted her eyes to her enemy.

"Beryl!" Beryl looked up and met her gaze. Beryl's dark eyes revealed their evil as she took in the sight of Queen Serenity and the other two at her feet.

"At last, we meet face to face!" She said, laughing hideously. "Now you will see the true power of the Negaverse!!"

"Not for long, you witch!..... MOON CRYSTAL POWER!!!" Without hesitation, Serenity had raised the wand and the silver crystal and released the power that had strained inside her. A blinding brightness filled the world as the crystal's power raced towards Queen Beryl.

Beryl countered it with Negaverse energy but Serenity's determined stand wouldn't let it through.

Serenity held the wand with both hands, feeling all her strength moved through the crystal and fought against Beryl. Black spots appeared at the edge of her vision and she knew that soon she will fall. With a glance at her daughter's still face, she gave it everything within her, driving Beryl back into defeat, her scream of agony filling the air.

With their leader gone, the army of the Negaverse retreated back into the darkness and Serenity fell to her knees weakly. She didn't know how she found that last bit of strength to defeat Beryl, but she was glad that she had. Now, looking at her daughter's face, she made the decision to send the princess, her court and some others to earth, where they could be reincarnated in the future where they had a chance to live the life that was cruelly taken from them in this world. With tears in her eyes, she felt the last of her energy disappear into nothingness and soon she saw black.

Ryokosho had watched helplessly as Serenity fought Beryl. In the bright light of the crystal's energy, he stared in a daze. For entwined in the light was a figure.... A dragon's head, a lion's mane, an ox's tail. Ky-Lin. Ryokosho felt tears fall down his cheeks, and he rested his head to the ground, smiling as peace and the knowledge that the Moon Kingdom was safe came over him.

End

By Mia

Email: kenshin_oro@hotmail.com