Chapter 21 - Endymion's Secret

                The night before, a blond man appeared in the sky over Tokyo. He had challenged Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars - directly. The confrontation was to take place at the airport the next night. Jadeite had learned the identities of the three in the melee - but another fight later on killed him.

                (A note: both the manga and the subsequent anime show major confusion concerning the Kings.)

                Fifteen years to the day after these events, five Kings were sitting outside on a gazebo with cigars and brandy in hand, on the grounds of an estate house outside Georgetown, Kentucky. They decided that full identities connected to their daughters would be the best way to live. They purchased houses around Lexington, and now they were holding a get-together inside one of them. Jadeite hosted.

                Tonight, the events of the past came into the present in their conversation. They laughed at their fights, now frivolous in the cool of the late evening sunset.

                "Those days take me back," Zoisite mused, as he shook his head and took a sip of bourbon.

                "Yeah," Nephrite replied, "What was the big deal we were fighting about?"

                "Jockeying for position, I think," Jadeite mused.

                "Who knew? Beryl seemed so insecure. Why did she not just tell me the simple truth?" Endymion shook his head.

                "I don't know, maybe fear of rejection? Your wife was in your head even there."

                "Well, chicks dig losers. Who understands them?"

                "Jadeite, that's uncalled for. What's your deal with women?"

                "I stand by them and give them what they want, and what do I get? Shoved out of the picture, that's what I get. I needed to be Prince Endymion."

                "Jadeite, why couldn't you just tell Beryl the simple truth?" asked Kunzite.

                "You see the eyes she had for Endymion? Prince of the whole $&^@&%#!!! Earth! How could you compete with that kind of position? I gotta take a walk." He got up and left.

                The air was heavy and thick for a long time.

                "What's his problem?" asked Nephrite.

                "Boy, are you dense," Zoisite fired back. "He's still in love."

                "With Beryl?!"

                "Ever since she was the little sister of the Maenads. His jockeying for position was a way to try and impress her."

                "So that was why he totally flirted with Usagi on the ship."

                "Guys, guys," Endymion replied, "He'll tell the truth one day. It's destiny."

                Jadeite returned. "So, any word on the girls?"

                "Well," replied Kunzite, "No. All I keep getting is threats of destruction from Beryl. She won't tell anything, and I can't get any clues."

                "How can you not get any clues? One was taken right here at an abandoned house nearby, two in Tampa, and one in San Francisco. What can we learn about their capture and Metallia's plans?"

                Kunzite started in. "My daughter was caught chasing one of the youma who posed as a thief. It was probably Ninjana."

                "Who's Ninjana?" asked Endymion.

                "She was the top youma under my command. She knew all kinds of martial arts, and she carried my girl for years."

                "So, can we say Emily has a definite sense of duty to society?"

                "Yes. I chose the Vaziris for that reason. They are good people."

                "Well," Nephrite came in, shaking his head. "Mine was captured off the boat in St. Pete, and a double has decided to disappear from Georgetown. She was a strong girl, but I don't know what happened to her."

                "It's going with Queen Beryl's choice for a family. She's all outside, just like the family your daughter got tangled up in. It's a learning process."

                "Not so much with mine," replied Zoisite. "Why didn't anyone foresee their death in a car crash?"

                "I have no clue. I wish there was some kind of warning, but it came suddenly. I have a feeling Metallia was behind this."

                "Well," said Jadeite, "I think I failed my daughter the most of all. She has no sense of self, or how beautiful she really is. She just fights everyone."

                "Who knew America failed its larger women, or anyone who is not stick thin? Sometimes, a girl must find her beauty inside herself. When we get them back, we will show her the way."

                "What about my own daughter?"

                "Chibi-Usa? She's back in Neo-Tokyo, isn't she?"

                "No. I have another daughter, one with Queen Beryl."

                All of the Kings were shocked. Kunzite was first to break the silence.

                "Well, I knew you guys were jumping each other's bones like teenagers, but she never had any sort of pregnancy I knew of."

                "I know. You all died before she was conceived. One of my executives adopted her here. I'm just wondering which one."

                "Your Majesty, I was wondering...would you know anything about your girl?"

                "Well, I know she has a mild form of Autism, and she is half Japanese. Who knows what else?"

                "So, we simply need to find an Autistic half Japanese adopted child, and we're in business to protect her. She's the last one untouched by Metallia."

                "Speaking of Metallia, does anybody have any hint of Metallia's plans with our daughters?"

                "She possessed Beryl last time she acted in power, to obtain that Crystal."

                "Do you think she is planning something like that again?"

                Kunzite shivered. "I hope not."