Realms of Light and Dark. Author's Notes: This entire story came out of when I was sketching different fuku's and costumes I had seen on Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon. While I have written a few fanfics, this is the only one not to have come out of verbal ideas. I was riffling through my old sketches when I noticed one of Beryl and Serenity as one person, (Beryl's dress, crescent moon and bow, Setsuna's odango,) and the thought came to mind: Fanfic! I have mentioned Black Lady in here, and you might as well know I am one of the people that, (as far as the manga goes,) fully believes that had Beryl remained good Endymion would have probably been well off with her. So, while I dislike Beryl in the anime, I found that her manga character was `way way wicked cool' as one of my friends, (and Serena) enjoys saying. There are manga/anime/Dic cross-overs, but the Japanese names have been used. There is no hentai. There never will be. I'm the other of the `Millennium: Legacies' series, and while this wasn't meant to be a part of it, old habits die hard, so it looks like Queen Serenity will be getting a story in it. (This one!) This story is set in an alternate possibility than `Cost of a Senshi' and it has nothing to do with `Cost of a Senshi's ending. Hope you like it! Please e-mail me with any comments. E-Mail at: tomoechan@hotmail.com All rights to Sailor Moon and all affiliated characters thereof are owned by: Naoko Takeuchi, Kondansha comics and Toei animation. (To my knowledge.) Realms of Light and Dark. Once, in a time of both light and dark, two entities met. This was a realm close to death, but where the strongest of wills lay rest. Perhaps to return to their homes, in new forms, perhaps to watch. One of these forms had laid rest in this land for quite some time, nearly a thousand years. She was still alive, in a way, her essence in a computer in her home. But she was not strong enough to remain in that consciousness, so she came here. Waiting. Her face had not been changed by this ordeal, her light blue eyes warm and caring, her dress long and white, her silvery/purple hair trailing behind her in the mists. Most noticeably was the shining crescent moon on her forehead, lighting up her face so that if anyone was there, they would see her. Her hair trailed behind her in the dark mists, swaying with an unseen breeze. She had been along for a long time, nearly a thousand years. She had watched with pride as her daughter grew up in her new life, shining light a radiant star. She was Queen Serenity. Unfortunately, the sereness of her present state was to be interrupted by the final defeat of her worst enemy. The second entity, crashing to the unseen earth, was not in a good mood. Death, she could handle, but the last vestiges of Metallia had decided that such peace was not to be hers. The demon had seen its caretaker into what it had very much hoped was *bleep*, and had faded into the nothingness of the white light from the ginzhuishou, the princess and the four warriors. Choosing this fate for her caretaker, who was now standing up, looking around in the fog. Her form, also, had not been changed. A long purple dress, low cut, with sharp edges, enveloped her body. She wore a crown of black, a bluish stone sitting on it. Her eyes glowed a venomous red, piercing the darkness. Her nails were like claws, which she clenched and unclenched, almost as a predatorial warning to anyone who would confront her. And, she was not to be confronted. Queen Beryl was not amused. Queen Serenity could feel the new presence, almost as soon as the fog could. "Who is there?" The red eyes looked startled, then turned to pure hatred. "Queen Serenity....I was sure you were dead." "I was sure you were." The two squared off, Serenity feeling anger rise bitterly inside her at the sight of the woman who had killed her daughter. "You have no right to be here. I banish you, witch!" The white energy that flew from her hand faded as it met with Queen Beryl. Beryl pulled her hands through the mists. "It would appear that you can do me no damage. I, on the other hand..." Beryl's talons slashed out, as she leapt at the Queen. Slashes of red cut down her arm, and Beryl smiled. Her smile, however, dropped as the red faded to silver and flowed back to Serenity's arm, healing it. Serenity smiled and moved back. "You were saying?" "I have no need for this foolishness. Why are we here?" "This is just where we are. And, I assure you, after a thousand years, there's no way of getting out. We're here because we don't have the power to sustain ourselves outside of void." Beryl's eyes gleaned. "I have power enough to sustain anything!" Serenity allowed herself a small smile. "Except life, you mean." "I have no need of this conversation!" Beryl stormed off into the mists. Serenity didn't even say anything. Beryl, inevitably, would be back. Beryl had only walked straight for a few minutes when Queen Serenity appeared in front of her. "You've been following me?" "I haven't moved." Beryl growled and started off again. A few seconds later, there was Serenity. "Arragh!" "I haven't moved!" Serenity allowed Beryl to repeat the useless walking for another hour of so before it had sunk in. "I will not spend all eternity with you!!!!" "Not all of eternity. Just until Metallia's life force runs out. Then you die." Beryl's eyes glowed red, then she smirked. "I have a much better idea." Beryl needed no books for this spell, no runes or tablets. The spell was one of the most powerful she learnt, yet the most useful. Of all the members of the Dark Kingdom, she alone had the power to steal the human's energy. She closed her eyes and touched each of her fingernails, one by one. Red light ensiezed her, pulsating. Queen Serenity was sitting from a corner, watching. "Tarnon, Dark Kingdom, Lonkar, Sorothinla, kallimari, anot." Her fingernails glowed purple. "To this being I choose, power of the Dark Kingdom, drain the life force away!" She lept up and lunged at Queen Serenity, her claws dripping red and staying that way. Queen Serenity sparkled silver as she began to fade. "You can't work that type of magic here!" She tried to run away but stumbled. Beryl was enjoying herself immensely. "You can't run. Anywhere. Such a useful piece of information." "You don't understand! Any energy spells can backfire! The power in this place can't be controlled, by anyone! Including you!" "I am controlling it." Serenity looked in horror as her hand faded into sparkles. Her moon symbol glowed more brightly. Beryl fingered her claws, carefully deciding where to slash Serenity next. The face, perhaps. Perhaps the other arm. Beryl lunged with her claws out, piercing each of Serenity's collar bones with her index fingers. Using only two nails drained slower, but Beryl was evil. Being evil, she enjoyed torment. Serenity screamed again, her body fading more, her crescent moon still glowing. "Light of the moon, shine this day, to make the evil fade away," "Shadows of the Dark Kingdom, darken the day, drain her light away," The warring energies fought fiercely. Serenity pulled her hand up, having little energy left, watching as Beryl began to fade to, and wrenched Beryl's index finger out of her, placing it on her moon symbol. It glowed brightly, and they both vanished in a flash of light. Two months after the battle against Galaxia. "Usagi-chan, we have to hurry! Saving the world doesn't mean you get to stop studying!" "It doesn't?" "NO!!!" Ami lunged a textbook at her, then picking up a glass of Oolong tea. "Go easy on her, Ami-chan," said Makoto. "If she went any easier on her she'd still be in elementary." "Rei!!!" "It's true!" "Anyway," said Minako, "The Three Lights left. The teachers are still going ballistic looking for them." "So you think they'll go easy?" "They never go easy on us, Usagi-chan." The five girls were seated around a table, each trying to study as hard as they could for the numerous upcoming tests. Chibi-Usa, a spore that usually tried to hang around whilst they attempted to work, had fortunately left to go to the thirtieth century. Far, far away. Just where everyone wanted her. "Mamoru's coming to pick you up, right, Usagi?" Makoto asked. Usagi nodded. "Mamo-chan and I are going downtown to see a doll exhibit." Rei sat up. "What?!? He told me he didn't like dolls!" Usagi smiled sheepishly. "He said he learned to like them from you," Rei blushed and decided to shut up before the conversation got any more embarrassing. Makoto gave her a pointed look before going on. "So when's he com-" her sentence was interrupted by a rapping on the door. "Come in," Minako shouted. "Usako?" said the face that peered in. "MAMO-CHAN!!!" Usagi leapt into the arms of her boyfriend. She looked back at the other four. "Destiny calls! Gotta go! Bye!" her voice lingered as she faded through the doors. Ami sighed. "There's no hope." A woman with long red hair, a single bun and a streak of silver walked through the crowd at the doll exhibit, She had deep purple eyes, and looked around with a paranoia. Over to her left was a blond-haired teenage girl and what she guessed was about a nineteen year old guy. "Excuse me," she said, walking up to them, "Usagi?" Usagi turned her head. "I'm sorry, I can't seem to recognize you," Mamoru looked startled at the eyes of the woman. She peered deeply into his. The eyes, they had been hers, once. His hand....she had him kiss hers... she shook the images out of her head. She had some more pressing matters to attend. "I recognize you, though." Mamoru wrapped his arms protectively around Usagi, but was still hopelessly intrigued by the woman's eyes. "Oh? Where from?" "I-saw you at a doll exhibit a few years ago. You and your brother, right?" She winked. "Uh, yeah. With Rei." "And this man. He was with her. I bet you seduced him right off her, right?" "Uh...I...uh..." Mamoru stepped in. "We weren't meant to be together, that's it." "What if you were wrong about who you were meant to be with?" "What?" "What if you thought you knew who you were in love with, but there was someone else and-" the woman cut herself short and looked back at Usagi. "Anyways, you look a lot like Sailor Moon." The woman abruptly left. "Hey! Wait! What's your name?" "Guinevere!" she shouted back as she faded through the crowds. "I'm telling you. She spooked me out! The eyes! But yet-" Usagi scrunched her face as she thought about what she meant. "It was like- like she was calling me. Warning me. I could see it in her eyes." Guinevere sat down and allowed the warring voices to scream into her soul. "There is no way! All have failed. Nehrenia, you. No one has ever managed to get the prince to-" "I don't care. Tell me how!" The angry voice reached into the soul of the softer, kinder one. She shrieked. "Black Lady? An interesting concept. Of course, only one of your lineage could possibly be so weak in will." "I will tolerate this no longer!!!" "SILENCE!" The angry voice locked the kinder one away, in a corner of her mind. Guinevere stood. Mamoru was walking home from the park when he noticed Guinevere ahead of him. She slowly turned, her hair encircling her, (just think Galaxia, guys! :) as her eyes once more pierced his. Mamoru froze, staring into the purple depths as if they were the universe. All encompassing his view. A wave of nausea hit him, and he almost fell, but the eyes seemed to hold him up. She walked towards him, leaning over to help him. Mamoru felt some small part of his mind scream: Not her! but he couldn't help but ignore it. She reached out her hand, helping him up. Her long red fingernails pierced his skin, but Mamoru realized that he didn't care, her eyes leading him away from the pain. Her voice knocked him out of his stupor. "Hello, Endymion." They walked for nearly an hour, Mamoru not seeming to care that she knew his real name. Another part of his mind, the psychic part, knew that there was goodness in Guinevere and begged him to trust her. By the same token, he also felt evil. Both of these thoughts may have come to his attention if not for the inner glow of her purple eyes which she kept steadily trained on him. It began to rain, a soft mist, sparkling over them. His hair began to mat, but he kept his gaze on Guinevere, whose regal march did not change by the water, and she seemed to accept it as if it were part of her kingdom. "So, Mamoru. Tell me about Usagi." Usagi. A picture flew into his mind. A smiling girl, glowing with radiance. "Serenity," he murmured, thinking about Usagi in her princess garb. Guinevere's claws dug into his skin. "What do you like about Usagi?" "Her kindness..." his eyes were beginning to cloud. Once again, Mamoru's mind screamed at him: THIS ISN'T RIGHT! But the clouds weaved their way around him, and he found himself once more looking into Guinevere's eyes. "Kindness? I don't remember Usagi being kind. I remember her yelling. At Rei. They fight a lot, don't they?" Mamoru saw a screaming Usagi. The kindness seemed to melt away. NOT RIGHT!!! "And Luna. She kicks Luna." The cat. Left home...why not? "Your daughter. She hit her...." WAIT!!! Mamoru got the sensation of a speeding car hitting a stop sign. Chibi-Usa. Mamoru shook his head. "Look, Guinevere. I have to go. Alright?" she leaned closer to him, leaning on him. Her two arms held his shoulders, her nails piercing his skin and drawing more blood. She dropped her hands away. "Alright." Mamoru left in a hurry, feeling that somehow he had saved himself from a great evil. Guinevere just smiled as she watched black energy follow him, entwisting around his body in invisible waves. A good first day. "Usagi, you're sure you haven't met her before?" "I'm positive. But she did look a bit like Setsuna. Or Galaxia. Or a lot of people." The four sighed. "Maybe we should call the Outers." Ami said. "Don't," cried Minako, "Let them have a normal life. You know they took it harsh with Galaxia. Setsuna and Hotaru have been spending days on their planets trying to mend the Key Staff and the Silence Glaive." "And what about Haruka and Michiru? They got it the worst from Galaxia, from what I heard." "You're right," said Ami. "But you're sure you never saw her before, Usagi?" "Positive. And she said I look like Sailor Moon!" "You do, Usagi!" "But she couldn't have said that!!!" The whining went on for a few minutes before there was a knocking at the door. Usagi got up. "I'll get it." She rushed and opened the door. A second later she had flung herself on the guest for a big hug. "Seiya!!!" "You shouldn't do this to Endymion." "Why not? He was meant to be mine." "I sincerely doubt that." "It doesn't matter. A while longer, a few more life energy and I can dispose of you altogether." "What makes you think you can?" "The ginzhuishou." "What?" "With that, I can destroy anything." "Beryl, you're a fool. You know nothing of the new senshi. They could destroy you with a single blow. If you so much as harm a hair on Usagi's head they'll-" "Silence, Serenity." Serenity could do nothing as she fell back to sleep. The power the witch held was disgusting. "The three if us decided to come visit and fill in with the schools that we'll be leaving," Taiki and Yaten walked through the door. Seiya was just staring at Usagi's eyes and blushing furiously. Rei coughed loudly. "Usagi? Do you mind? Leave some for us. You have Mamoru!!!!" Usagi was about to let go of Seiya when Mamoru, unfortunately, walked through the door. Seiya squinted. Something was wrong... Mamoru gasped. Usagi let herself down. "Mamo-chan? Seiya just got here. I swear, Mamo-chan." Rei glanced at the two. Last time this had happened, Chibi-Usa had helped get it fixed. Unfortunately, the pink-haired flamingo-head wasn't here. "Mamoru," Rei said, heavily leaning on him, "Why don't you and I go down to the art museum and-" Mamoru struggled furiously to get Rei off, a sweatdrop forming above his head, and ran over to Usagi, and hugged her. Rei smiled. Sweet success. Seiya had been smart enough to back away and stand by the other Lights, who were eyeing him with question. Seiya squinted again. Mamoru seemed to be looking at Usagi strangely. He could sense a negative power. Rei had seemed to grow nervous too. She kept looking over at a stack of nearby ofuda. "Usagi, I just came to tell you lunch tomorrow’s off." Seiya gagged. In front of him? Was Mamoru trying to be encouraging or what?!? Yaten slapped him on the back and Taiki did a face vault. Usagi's eyes had begun to water. Once more, Seiya found himself squinting at Mamoru. This wasn't like him. "Mrow," came a voice at Yaten's feet. He look down to see Luna rubbing against him. He picked her up and held her in his arms while Mamoru and Usagi looked at each other. "Mamo-chan...why?" "I, I have other plans, Usako," he said warmly, finally seeming to come to grips with reality. "Uh...well, sure...I guess..." "Great. Maybe we can go out to dinner, Usako." "Okay," she said numbly as Mamoru walked out the door. The rest of the inner senshi were just staring at the door as it closed, gaping. Ami was the first one to shake herself out of it. "Maybe he just saw her and Seiya and-" Makoto slammed Ami's head down to the table and held it there. "I'm sure Mamoru just had plans come up. He's been studying hard, Usagi. He's got his diploma coming up." "Maybe you're right." Seiya felt tempted to bite his tongue, especially with the other Lights there, but decided that it might cheer Odango up. "I'll go with you to lunch tommorow, Odango. We won't be here for very long anyways." Usagi looked long and hard at Seiya, who had commenced to blush. The inners looked long and hard at Usagi. Taiki looked hard at Yaten. Yaten was still looking at Luna. ;-) "Alright, Seiya." "Good. I'll pick you up at your house?" Usagi nodded. Yaten put Luna down and the Three Lights left. "USAGI! Are you crazy?!?" Rei screamed at her. "Mamoru's going to KILL you!!!" "Mamo-chan has other plans, and now I do too," she said, her nose rising in the air. Rei, Makoto and Minako face-vaulted. Ami's head was still pressed against the table and took this opportunity to raise it. "It's not like it's a date or anything guys. Seiya's a gir-" This time all three decided to jam Ami down, throwing their arms on her head and trying to push her down. "Well, what Ami MEANT was," Minako said, "Was that it's not like Mamoru's cheating on YOU, right?" Usagi sniffled and ran out the door. "Great going, Minako." Minako put her hand behind her head at Rei's growls. "Wasn't it, ne?" Once again, another of the inner senshi was slapped on the back. Hard. The next day... Mamoru was still walking in the rain when he saw Haruka ahead of him. Suddenly feeling dizzy, Mamoru stopped and sat on a bench. Haruka stopped, feeling something.. She turned her head and looked back. What on Uranus was Mamoru doing? She walked over to the bench and put her umbrella over his head. "You're going to be no good to Usagi in battle if you come down with pneumonia." "Right," he mumbled in response. Haruka rose an eyebrow and sat down. "What's wrong?" While not usually an overly concerned person, Haruka had to be curious about Mamoru's present lack of concern. "None of your business. Why don't you go find Michiru, Haruka. Leave me alone." Haruka heard a little part in her say, `you had better find out what's wrong!' Unfortunately, this is Haruka. Another part clearly said a long course of expletives then `just leave!' Haruka decided to split it between the two. "Well, maybe you should go talk to someone else, because I'm not standing around listening to all this b.s!" Haruka stood up and walked off. But she left him the umbrella. Mamoru looked down at Haruka's fading figure, who met up with another he guessed to be Michiru. He had been mean. But he just didn't feel like himself. He needed someone to talk to...someone like... "Mamoru? Why sitting out in the rain?" "Hun? Oh, hello, Guinevere." She wasted no time in grabbing his hand. Almost instantly, his eyes began to cloud. "Mamoru, why don't you come with me." "Sure..." She smiled at him. They began walking to the center of the park. "Why don't you tell me some of the other good points about Usagi?" "She's loyal..." (OKAY, I like mind-control scenes. Deal with it. The pen is mightier than the Space Sword!!!!) "She is?" "No....Seiya. Haruka. Ail...Motoki...." Guinevere smiled. She had barely needed to do anything that time. Mamoru's eyes clouded a bit more. "That's a lot of people. But it's not like she actually kissed any of them..." "She did. Seiya and Haruka... she didn't even think of me..." Mamoru now closely resembled a zombie, who was staring into Guinevere's eyes. "That's a pretty poor track record." "Yes...." Guinevere pulled out a vial of black liquid she had in her pocket. She poured a single drop on her finger, where it glistened under the soft light like a jewel. She marked a line on Mamoru's had. He barely noticed. The black liquid melted away into his skin, not a trace left. This was science. Black mists if a gas form. This was the liquid of black energy. Much, much more potent. Guinevere poured another drop on her finger and rubbed it over Mamoru's eye. They grew a more solid cloudy. "Why don't you go tell Usagi how much you hate her?" "Why don't I?....because...I don't hate Usagi..." Guinevere dug her nails into his hand. Not the answer she wanted. She lifted her index finger and put the nail into the vial, then stabbed it into his hand. "Of course you hate Usagi. She hates you. One of those people that play with other people's heart. What about when you saw her with them?..." "Hate Usagi...." "That's right." Guinevere smiled, then lifted herself up and kissed him. They stood there for a moment. "Usako..." Seiya took a sip of his milkshake. "I can't believe you've already drank three, Odango!" "Mmmm! It's not that hard! Not when they're this good!!!!" She proceeded to gulp more of the liquid down. Seiya raised an eyebrow. "Seiya, what's food like on your planet?" Seiya suddenly envisioned himself with little green antennae sticking out of his head and floating around in a flying saucer. He shook himself. Too much T.V. "Uh...you mean my country, right?" "Oh, yeah country!" People glanced at the two all around the cafe. Seiya sweatdropped. "Well, there's this one drink we have that comes from a berry that grows once every ten years. It's sort of hard to describe, though. It's like fire in your throat and sunlight. It tastes a bit like cider, I think. That's the best way of describing it." "Any desert?" "At the price of that drink, it had better be desert!" "Oh. Have you ever had a chocolate parfait?" "Hmm? No. Why?" "Oh." Usagi thought briefly about the late Nephrite. "Uh..never mind!!" she laughed. "Thanks for taking me out, Seiya. I was sort of in a bad mood yesterday. I'm surprised anyone was even willing to talk to me." "Usagi, I never mind talking to you." Seiya blushed a bit, and so did Usagi. Then Mamoru walked by the window. With Guinevere. "What!?" Usagi jumped up from the table, and knocked her knee on the side. She fell down and began to cry, pouring on the waterworks. Seiya walked over and helped her up. "Let's follow them." Seiya said. Having some action would probably help Usagi more than words. The got up and raced after them. "Hey! You forgot to pay your bill!!!" Shouted the waitress. She looked at the table. there were a few coins there, each inscribed with a silver star on gold. She tried to pop the star out with a knife. When it came out, she said, "Hmm. Must be Canadian." Seiya and Usagi raced down the street. "I don't see them," cried Usagi. The nerve of Mamoru. He's so going to get it! She screamed at herself. The thought of Mamoru made her begin to cry. "Odango," Seiya said, handing her a Kleenex, "Don't cry." Usagi sniffled and nodded. Seiya looked ahead, and while he couldn't see Mamoru, he felt the same negative energy he had felt at Minako's yesterday. "Wait here," He said. He ran ahead. The two had been on a main road, and lots of smaller ones cut through it. Seiya had just finished running by a bank when he turned the corner and saw Mamoru and a red/silver head in a passionate embrace. While Seiya fought back the urge to go and pound, (literally) some sense into Mamoru, he decided that he had to make sure Usagi didn't- Too late. "Seiya? Did you-" she stopped short and gasped when she reached him. then she ran away crying. "Usagi! Wait!" Seiya ran after her. D--- Mamoru, he thought. If he ever got his hands on him he was going to- "Usagi!!!" Usagi had given up on running and was sitting in a phone booth, crying. Seiya got in and crouched down. "Usa-" he stopped himself. He wanted to , but-- "Usako." he said. She looked up, finally noticing him. "Seiya?" Perhaps she hadn't noticed that he had-- "Usagi, I know you don't have to believe me, but there is something wrong with Mamoru." "Not as much as is going to be wrong with him when I-" Seiya smiled. Sailor Moon was showing through the bunny. "Why don't we go to Rei's temple. I mean that there is something like Chaos around him. A dark force. We should go get one of those fire thingys done." Usagi sniffled and laughed. "Rei calls them fire readings." "Opps." she laughed. Seiya smiled at her, and yes, for the second time in under twenty minutes, they were blushing. Seiya reached out his hand and helped Usagi up. Rei opened the door to the temple. "What's wrong?" She looked at the two of them. "Was there a battle? Are you injured? Did you do anything to her?!? Is-" Seiya held up his hand. "We're fine, Rei. Mamoru was, he was, well," Usagi let out a mournful howl. "HE WAS CHEATING ON ME!!!!" Rei looked startled. "Are you sure?" "YES I"M SURE!!!!" "Calm down, Usagi," Seiya said, looking at her eyes. "Well, I guess it could have been a youma. They do seem to go after him a lot..." "NO! IT WAS THAT GUINEVERE!!!!!" "The girl at the doll exhibit?" "YES!!!" Usagi started crying again. Rei opened the door further. "Come in and I'll make us some tea." The three sat down at a small table and began discussing things. "We both have known something's wrong with Mamoru, Usagi. He just hasn't been himself," Rei said. "Take a hint, Hino! (Alliteration! Alliteration! She cries with joy!) He's cheating on me!!!" Usagi let out some more tears. "Why don't I try a fire reading," Rei said. Usagi sniffled. "Do you think something's that wrong?" Seiya smiled at Usagi. "Anyone wanting to cheat on you MUST have something wrong," Usagi smiled. Seiya looked at his watch. "Crap. (or any desirable expletives,) I was supposed to meet the other Lights downtown ten minutes ago." Rei looked up. "Oh, they were here earlier. At least, Taiki was. He said that Yaten was treating Luna to a meal and then going to the park." "A meal? What on earth can he feed a cat? No restaurant would let them in!" "Maybe take-out?" Sweatdrop. There was a knocking at the door. "Come in," Rei shouted. No answer. Rei's eyes narrowed. Seiya made a motion for them to remain sitting. He carefully, quietly got up and slinked to the door, pulling it open with a slow, `creaakk..' He peered outside. Looked around. Then- A hand reached out and grabbed him, flinging him to the cement. "Seiya!" Usagi screamed. Rei gasped, and reached for her henshin stick. The two got up and ran to the door. When they reached outside, they saw Haruka standing triumphantly standing over Seiya, her foot resting carefully on his chest. The other three outer soldiers were smiling, Haruka much more brightly. "We really have to step up your training, Seiya." She grinned. Seiya flipped his leg out and tripped Haruka to the ground, where she landed with a grunt. "You too," They smiled and Seiya helped the blond girl up. "What are you four doing here?" Usagi asked. "Last we heard, you were still back on your planets," "Yeah, well, no place like Earth and all that," Haruka said, grinning to Michiru then Usagi. Michiru slapped her gently, getting a satisfying light `ow,'in response and she stepped up to her princess and gave a light bow. "Princess, we all sensed the danger nearing the Earth and felt it best to return. We feel that Metallia is coming." "Metallia? She's been dead for years. We watched it. The ginzhuishou destroyed her." "We know, princess," said Setsuna, "But this power is growing from deep within the earth's core. When we felt it, we knew that the time for the battle was at hand. Some part, some residue of Metallia still exists. When it surfaces, we will be here to destroy it." Guinevere looked down at her hand. It was growing transparent. She could make out the sidewalk beneath it. Squinting, she held it up and examined it. Serenity took charge. "Beryl, explain this." "My business is none of yours." "If we disappear, it will be. You have to help us." "We are losing energy," Beryl opened Guinevere's hand and sliced at a teenager who was walking by, listening to her walkman. Blue energy flowed out of her and she collapsed. Guinevere's face contorted in horror. "Don't do that!!!" "Why? You wanted help," "Why are we losing energy?" The voice of Serenity was commanding. "Because Metallia is using me as a conductor." "WHAT!?" "Metallia used her last vestige of `self' to sustain me in that other dimension. Now it's working backwards. Her `vestige' is draining away my/our life- force. She's becoming stronger. In a few days, this body will be owned by the great Queen Metallia!" Beryl laughed maniacally. The little piece of Serenity shrunk away. A long time ago, before Beryl could remember, they had known each other. Serenity remembered how Beryl had never wanted to release Metallia, how she had claimed to only want peace for Earth. How she screamed when Metallia took over her body. "My friend," Serenity whispered, "It's happened again, hasn't it?" Guinevere's only response was a small tear, which fell to the ground, sparkling brighter than the ginzhuishou itself. In the Silver Millennium, One thousand, nine hundred and seventy-five years ago. Little Serenity was running through the gardens. "Serenity!" Shouted her mother, the Queen Tranquillity. "Bed time!" "Just a while longer," she shouted. "I'm still looking for her!" "Serenity!" "Please?" "Alright, another fifteen minutes." Serenity smiled at her mother, who was standing in front of the king, King Tarlon. Serenity crept in amongst the flowers, looking for the little earth girl who had asked her a few hours ago if she wanted to come out and play. She saw a trail of red in the daises ahead of her and pounced on it. "Got you!!!" She shouted. The red head rose out of the flowers and smiled. "By the way," Serenity said, "What's your name?" "Beryl." The present. "So, Rei," said Seiya," Can you do a fire reading now?" "I think so." Rei sat down and calmly began to concentrate on the heat of the red flames dancing in the air in front of her. The Outer senshi, Usagi and Seiya sat down quietly behind her. Rei closed her eyes and felt the fire form in her mind, changing shape in its weird dance that was like singing, talking to her, warning her. She opened her eyes and saw the face of Queen Serenity form, the became superimposed by Guinevere, then Beryl. Rei squinted. "We need to know about Queen Metallia," she said, trying to get the fire to give her a more understandable reading. She saw the leering face of Metallia floating over Guinevere. Slowly, Guinevere began to fade and Metallia glow brighter. Rei stood up. "Guinevere is giving energy to Metallia," she said with certainty. She decided against telling them about Queen Serenity. It would hurt Usagi to think about her dead mother. "Then she has to be destroyed!" said Haruka. Everyone stared at her. "Or captured," she said sheepishly. Michiru sighed. The Silver Millennium. "Serenity, you should stop playing with that red-headed ruffian," Tranquillity said gently. "But mom! She's my friend!" "Her parents are members of the human resistance. She's here while her parents negotiate with us. Serenity, sometimes friendships have to be sacrificed for the peace." "The greater good, is that it? Well, what if I think the greater good will come from friendship?!?" Serenity had tears coming out of her eyes. "Fine, Serenity. For now. But if the tension gets any greater between the Earth and the Moon..." Her voice faded as she saw that Serenity had already ran off to go find Beryl. The present. "So, where did you last see Guinevere, Seiya?" Said Setsuna. "Down there," Seiya said, pointing to the road. "But I think we had best contact the Inner senshi and the other Starlights before attacking. What if this Guinevere IS Metallia?" "Good point," said Usagi. She opened her communicator and signaled a meeting at the park with the other Inners. "What about Mamoru?" Rei said quietly. "If Guinevere is using him, he might be under her control. That would explain the behavior. And Guinevere IS linked to Metallia." "Mamo-chan," Usagi whispered. Seiya put his arm around her shoulder and she squeezed his hand. "Seiya," she said, looking up at him, "Will the Three Lights stay and help us?" "Of course, princess. They'll always look out for you, and so will I." Usagi smiled at him. Haruka coughed, loudly. Michiru slammed her elbow into her. Hotaru giggled. "Usagi, is Chibi-Usa around?" The little girl said. (Picture little thought bubble with S.D Chibi-Moon head inside.) "No, Hotaru. She's gone back to the thirtieth century." (Picture little S.D Chibi-Moon shattering.) "Oh." "USAGI!!!" Shouted Makoto, who came running madly down the street, the other Inners trailing behind her. Haruka looked at her watch and made a note of Makoto's position and made a note to try that run later. "USAGI!!!" Makoto was panting loudly when she came full-force to a stop. "Makoto, what's wrong?" "This is the first time you've ever called a meeting. We figured there was a life-or-death emergency." All the Outers sweatdropped. Setsuna stepped in. "Guinevere is a source of power for Queen Metallia, Makoto. She's coming back." Minako looked shocked. "WHAT?" "I know she's dead," said Ami. "There have been no signs of energy in zone 4 for years and-" "It doesn't matter," said Haruka. "She's coming now and Guinevere is the source. We have to take her out before Metallia shows up." "Alright," said Minako nodding. "So where do we find her?" In Nephrite's old mansion... Black energy was coming from the `negaforce' orb of Beryl. Guinevere had had to use a lot of magic to reacquire it, but it had proven useful it returning Mamoru to his previous existence. The black Tuxedo Kamen sat on a nearby chair, eyes cloudy and awaiting orders. While Guinevere knew part of her had always wanted Endymion, now she simply didn't know what to do with him. "Go find Usagi," she said, coming up with an idea, "And get your revenge, any way you want." "Yes, m'lady." He stood up and kissed her hand. That is a familiar scene. But there was one difference, one so small, but it lurked in the back of Mamoru's mind like some unimportant bug. This time, it was different. This time, he wanted to kiss her. He stood up and marched out. Guinevere smiled. Mind control was SUCH a wonderful thing! (The author laughs maniacally.) Back in the Silver Millennium. Two hands scooped up Serenity. "Come on, Princess." said the guard. Serenity looked back at Beryl. Her parents had just arrived, and were proceeding to drag her off. "NO!!" They both shouted in unison, struggling with the older beings who seemed angry. Serenity could only watch as Beryl was dragged off by her parents, and as she was pulled into the royal throne room. "Mother! What's happening?" Tranquillity was sitting on the throne, sobbing. "Beryl's parents have declared war, Serenity. The Earth and the Moon are no longer allies," her soft whispers seemed like a death sentence. Serenity leaped up on her mothers lap, whose silvery blue odangos and dark blue eyes looked lovingly at her daughter. "It doesn't have to be war! Humans and Lunarians can be friends! I know!!!" "Serenity, Beryl won't be your friend forever. Her parents will see to that. She will be the leader of the resistance. Having `friends' among the Lunarians won't do." "Why?" "Serenity," said her father, "You are too young to understand. One day, you will. I promise. But it is of no consequence. You and Beryl are no longer friends. Trust me." Serenity gave a pout and ran off to her room. "My love, are you sure we have done the right thing?" "It will harden her in the face of battle. We will never know whether this was the right thing to do or not. But we're better off without the humans, and so is she." Fifty Years Later. Serenity, now a teenager, sat quietly watching the proceedings. For the first time in fifty years, Beryl and she were in the same room. There were negotiations being made, a peace being reached. Beryl had not aged nearly as much. Serenity couldn't understand this, looking at her withered old parents. Beryl sat proudly in her long dress, watching the proceedings carefully. Serenity felt a twinge of embarrassment of not understanding what was happening. "We close this for tomorrow," said the king. "We will continue the negotiations at half-earth. Agreed?" "Agreed," said Beryl's mother. Serenity carefully pulled out her chair and got up. It had been so long since she had seen Beryl. She wondered if Beryl still thought they were friends. But, Tranquillity was probably right. Beryl was a warrior now, knowing all the hardships of life all too well. Serenity ran to her room with a sob. Serenity was curled up in a little ball on the balcony, watching the Earth high in the skies. Little stars glittered here and there, lighting up the black blanket that was known as the sky. "Hey!" Said a voice, at least as old as her own. "You've got ten minutes to find me then I'm out of here!" Serenity jumped up. "Beryl?" No one answered. "Beryl?" Ten minutes. Serenity moved. She ran down the halls, looking in every room, under every bed. She ran out tot he courtyard, pulling through the branches of the tress, running between the statues. Ten minutes. What if she didn't make it? Would Beryl leave? Without telling her anything? Serenity panted. She was a princess. Running around wasn't one of her stronger qualities. Especially considering... her foot caught on a stone. She fell forwards. Her clutziness. Serenity fell on something soft. She slowly tweaked open her eye and stared at the mix-match jumble of colours. She shook her head. She was only in the garden. Mother was going to kill her for messing up the flowers again. She looked down at her small pocket watch, a silver star hung ornately from a little chain. On it were clouds, spinning around a small red jewel. Ten minutes was up...then.. "GOTCHA!!!" Shouted Beryl triumphantly, holding up one of Serenity's pigtails. "You haven't gotten any faster, you know." "Beryl?!?" Serenity smiled and gave her friend a hug. "I thought you were, you know. Working with the resistance and all that." "Yeah. But that doesn't mean I can't have fun!" Beryl was wearing a dark green dress, a small cloak and a brown leather pouch around her waist. She wore a small beaded necklace, with a beryl hanging from it. "You're the same age as me!!!" Beryl grinned at Serenity who had spoken with such amazement. "Yeah, but don't ask me how. It has gotten me into SO much trouble. They think I'm part Lunarian!!" "That would be neat!" "Not for me." Beryl shook her head. "Anyways, anything interesting happening out here?" "The defenses are moving again. Closer to Earth. Mom's making me a new dress. Hey, maybe you'll get to see it!!!" Beryl smiled. "I'd like to. I hope I get to stay around long enough!" Back in the present. Seiya had insisted on walking Usagi home. He had just been walking away from her home when the dark shadow fell on him. Seiya didn't look up until he felt a sharp point cut his cheek. He looked down at the blackened sidewalk and the single, black rose sticking out of it. "What the-?" That was all he managed to say before the blade sliced down, cutting a streak of red before his eyes. The Silver Millennium. Serenity smiled as she looked down at the dress. Long and silver, with a perfect bow with a crescent moon in the center. She had taken it to her room so that Beryl could see, not trusting her mother not to kick Beryl out on sight. "It's beautiful," Beryl cooed, touching the silk. "You'll look beautiful in it, Serenity." Serenity giggled. "I got you something made, too." Beryl looked up, surprised. "Something for me?" Serenity nodded, grinning, then jumped up to her closet and pulled open the doors. In it was a dress identical to the one Beryl was already wearing...but better. The dark green fabric, previously cotton, was now made out of crushed velvet. The cloak was made of a shiny black lace, the pouch a blood-red garnet. Beryl's jaw dropped as she looked at it. "I...I love it, Serenity." she gave her friend a hug, tears brimming out of her eyes. "Thank you." The next day. Serenity's heart had fallen faster than the waterfalls on Mercury. She had been so happy to know that Beryl had been friends again, she had smiled non-stop all day. Now, Beryl's mother's voice rang out like the bell tolling for her. "The fact that you have moved your forces closer to Earth means that we-" Serenity didn't listen to anything else. Beryl was staring at her lap, and Serenity felt the sense of betrayal from Beryl that made her world plummet in a dark abyss. The movement was supposed to be secret. Her mother glanced at her every so often, and Serenity wondered if she knew. Serenity did know one thing. She was never talking to Beryl again. The present. "Seiya?! Seiya!!!! Please wake up!" Rei shook him madly. "Please!!!" They had taken him to Rei's temple, Ami knowing what to do. It was a clean cut, but Rei had gone into hysterics a few minutes later. They had fought Queen Beryl and died. Usagi had fought Fiore and died. But the idea of cold-blooded murder never really occurred to them. Even Taiki and Ami had lost some of their composure. Haruka threw on a raincoat and started walking to the door. "Where are you going?" shouted Yaten. "I'm going to get Usagi. She should know about this!" Haruka walked out the door and began thinking to herself. Seiya would probably be alright. Hotaru was caring for him, and her healing ability came naturally. Already, he was looking better. But, for a minute, Seiya's heart had stopped. Hotaru hadn't known why, she said that her powers hadn't sensed a change. A few moments later, though, it was fine. Rei had freaked a while after that, and Yaten had said he would contact Kakyuu and tell her what was happening. Haruka had said she would tell Usagi. There was a reason for that. Haruka had been the first to get there after the Starlights said something was wrong. She was the first to get there because she ran. Like the wind. So she was the first to see the black rose petals near Seiya's body. She was the only one. Haruka had wasted no time picking them up and stuffing them in her pocket. She just knew that the others shouldn't know. Finally, the wind guided her to Usagi's house. She rapped madly on the door. "Odango?" Usagi opened the door. "Haruka! Come in!" "I can't, Odango-chan. There's been an accident." Haruka imagined punching herself. BAKA!!!! NEVER, EVER start a conversation like that. Especially not to Usagi. "An accident? Who's hurt? A car crash? Drug over-dose? Airplane crash? Hit by train? Choked? HARUKA!!!" She grabbed her shirt and pulled on it and began shaking the tomboy madly, "TELL ME!!!" "Seiya was hurt, Usagi. But he'll be fine." "How was he hurt?" "He was stabbed, Usagi. By a sword. Believe me, I know." Haruka put her arm around Usagi. "I found these," she said, pulling out a handful of black rose petals. Usagi had insisted on running all the way to the temple. once she said this, Haruka had begun to run, and when she looked back only a moment later, Usagi was three blocks behind her. Maybe I should have offered to carry her, thought Haruka. "Sorry, Odango!" She called when Usagi had finally caught up, panting. "I'll go slower, okay?" "Right." Usagi caught her breath, than grabbed Haruka's hand and tried to drag her further towards the temple. Haruka grinned and shifted to a light jog, pacing herself evenly with Usagi. "Will he be alright?" Haruka and Usagi were still running. "I already-" Haruka stopped in mid-sentence and shut her eyes. "What is it?" "I-- felt something. And something moved in the alley over there, Odango. We have to get moving." "Alright." Suddenly, from the darkness, a blade swiped and Usagi and Haruka. The two managed to move aside. In the pale light of the street light, Haruka could just make out their attacker. She sincerely hoped Usagi couldn't. "Usagi, get out of here. Now. RUN!!!" "I can't leave you here, Haruka!" "I protect the princess, Usagi. It's my duty, and my destiny. If you stay, you'll get hurt. Get out of here now or I'LL attack you!!" Usagi let out a little whimper and began to run away. When she was safely out of sight, Haruka let out her challenge. "Come on, Mamoru. I don't know why you want to fight, but if you do, come and get me." Usagi was panting like crazy and crying when she reached the temple. Ami ran up to her. "Usagi-chan, what's wrong?" "Haruk-Haruka-" Michiru's head shot up and her eyes grew wide. She walked up to Usagi. "What is wrong?" "She..she stayed to fight. I should have!!!" Usagi hung her head in despair. "I...I don't know what happened. She could be..be-" Usagi broke into sobs. Michiru grabbed her raincoat and ran out into the rain. The other senshi ran after her, except for Hotaru, who stayed with Seiya. Usagi's worse fear lay on the cement when she and Michiru reached the lamp post where she had left Haruka. Lying in a pool of blood, just beginning to be washed away by the ran, lay the crumpled body of Sailor Uranus. Her hand was turned awkwardly, and a small trickle of blood ran from her mouth. Her blond/brown hair was thickly matted. None of these mattered. What mattered was the thick wound in her stomach, blood still pouring out of it. Usagi screamed. In a few seconds the other senshi were there. Setsuna had to hold Michiru up, whose tears had just begun to fall. While Ami also felt despair, she also had the sense to know what to do. Running towards Haruka, not minding the fact the she was sitting in blood, Ami raised her wrist and searched for a pulse. It was faint-but.. "Ami....next time.. remind me to tell Usagi to run faster...." Haruka gasped. Michiru began to cry faster as she ran up and grabbed Haruka's hand. Haruka barely managed to get her a crooked smile before fading into darkness, a sharp pain in her chest stopping her from saying anything else. "She...she'll be okay." Ami said. Setsuna looked sternly at her. "Maybe." Ami said, under Setsuna's red eyes. Setsuna looked around, and judging Usagi's state, decided that she would have to lead this situation. "Minako. Henshin-yo. Now. Makoto. Get to the nearest phone. Tell them to look for the beams of light. Ambulance. Priority one. Usagi. Give Ami your coat so she can use the cloth to stop the bleeding. Move." For a moment, everyone but Rei looked at Setsuna, then got moving. "Venus Crystal Power MAKE-UP!!!! Crescent Beam!!!!" The orange light erupted up into the sky. Usagi pulled off her jacket and gave it to Ami, who tore part of it off and started nursing the wound. Michiru had refused to let go of Haruka's hand. Usagi sat down next to Haruka's crumpled body. "Haruka-san. Gomen nasai." she whispered. Rei looked at Usagi. "Do you have any idea who could have done this?" "No." While Usagi gave no evidence that she may be lying, Rei felt a black hole open in her soul as she realized the connection between the injuries. She closed her eyes and said a fast prayer for strength. They would need it. It proved to be a long night. Hotaru had shrunken out of her trance when she heard a continuous buzzing in the background. Shaking herself, she saw Setsuna's portable phone sticking out of her bag. She opened it and answered, "Moshi moshi?" "Hotaru?" crackled the phone. She wasn't sure, but she thought it was Ami. "Ami?" "Yes. We need you at the hospital. Haruka got badly injured." Seiya groaned from the floor. "Wherever you're going, I'm coming too." Hotaru looked at him. Even lying down, it was evident that he was twice as tall as she was. While in her henshin, she could fight him easily, putting a Silence Glaive used for world destruction at a person's throat wasn't usually a good way of helping someone get better. Hotaru made a quick note of the hospital address and hung up. She looked at Seiya. "You shouldn't." "What's happened?" "Haruka's been hurt. Worse than you were. Do you know who attacked you?" Seiya's answer was like a prophecy of death. "Yes." While Hotaru had made it to the hospital, it was not without Seiya's presence. Since she couldn't go in with a Glaive, she had been forced to accommodate him. They carefully made their way up to Haruka's room, where the rest of the senshi were waiting. "They just finished operating. Lots of stitches, but they're not holding well." said Setsuna. Hotaru sat down and let her aura flow into Haruka. The second visitor slowly made it into the room. "Seiya!" Usagi smiled, then began crying. Seiya gave her a hug then looked over at Hotaru. "How long can she keep this up for?" "As long as she needs to," answered Setsuna, "Provided she henshin's after. Hotaru can use any available energy, and the energy used by the Glaive when she brings it down is almost as powerful as the ginzhuishou. It'll tire her, but she can do it. She has to." Hotaru herself was in another world. Haruka's thoughts echoed deep within her own as she worked at healing her. Flashes of images floated around her, the Space Sword, Haruka's henshin stick, Michiru swimming, the thrill of the race as she sped around the track. Everything was there, and Hotaru felt it reach her. "Hotaru...what are you doing?" Came Haruka's thought in Hotaru's aura. "Healing you...took a bad wound...." "Usagi... is she alright? Michiru?" "They'll both be fine." "Good..." Haruka's voice faded. She was on the verge of consciousness, but now that she knew everything was alright... "Go to sleep, Haruka...." Hotaru's voice echoed in her mind. Sailor Uranus decided to comply, and the last vestige of reality fell away from her. Serenity fought to control Beryl as they walked through the park towards the hospital. Beryl's mind was screaming at her. "Stop! We have to get more energy! Now!" Serenity cringed and continued walking. She opened the front door and asked where `the blond-hair girl with odangos' had gone, proclaiming to be her mother, which was true, in a way. "Third floor, second door on your right," said the attendant. "Thank you," said Guinevere, now through gritted teeth. She made her way up the elevator and to the room. Guinevere paused when she touched the door. Her daughter was inside. She could see her again...`That's if I don't kill her first,' thought Beryl to her. Guinevere shook her head and slowly opened the door. She saw Haruka lying on the bed, obviously injured. Three men she did not know, one evidently had taken a bad wound recently. The inner senshi gasped and looked up at her, Saturn was holding Uranus' hand, probably helping with the healing. Guinevere slowed as she became the attention of the room. There, sitting on one of the chairs, the only one not to notice her yet, was Usagi, reading a manga. She smiled lovingly and bit her lip. She couldn't let Beryl near her. "I'm...I'm sorry," she stammered as she closed the door. Haruka's eyes had opened. Even asleep, all the senshi could sense evil. It had actually woken them more than once. "What...are you waiting for?" she whispered fiercely, "Henshin!" Her head fell back to the pillow. "Go, Michiru." she said to the aqua haired girl, who was still sitting by her side. "Remember... our promise." Haruka couldn't stay awake any longer, and knew that she wouldn't be any help in the upcoming battle, much to her disgust. Hotaru held her ground, not willing to let Haruka die in the event that they could win the fight without her. "MERCURY CRYSTAL POWER" "MARS CRYSTAL POWER" "JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER" "VENUS CRYSTAL POWER" "NEPTUNE CRYSTAL POWER" "PLUTO CRYSTAL POWER" "FIGHTER STAR POWER" "HEALER STAR POWER" "MAKER STAR POWER" "M A K E U P!!!" Usagi started laughing. "Guys, this manga is so-" Sailor Mars glared at her. "Henshin?" "YES!" Shouted the inners. Pluto and Neptune sweatdropped. "MOON ETERNAL MAKE UP!!!" "So, where are we going?" said Eternal Sailor Moon, flying above the other senshi. "Guinevere was in the room, Baka!" Mars shouted at her. "She left while you were still reading!" "Did she say anything?" "Just," Mars closed her eyes. What was Guinevere sorry for? Mercury fell into thought. "It was like...she knew us, Usagi. For who we really are. Like she knew us and..." "Missed us..." said Venus. "I felt something. As the soldier of love, sometimes I can sense that, like Pluto and time and Mars and fire. It was like...she loved one of us. Like a..." "Mother!" Mars shouted, as the realization came to her. Queen Serenity's face in the flames!!! It had to be!!! Venus and Mars exchanged looks. They looked at Pluto, who nodded. The soldier of Time had known all along, but wasn't at liberty to say until the senshi had figure it out themselves. "And that would make her," said Eternal Sailor Moon. She paused in mid- flight. "That would make her...uh...." The Starlights sweatdropped. "Your mother, Queen Serenity, Sailor Moon. Guinevere is, at least in part, the Queen of the Silver Millennium, Queen Serenity." Pluto's voice was a soft whisper, but it brought tears from Sailor Moon's eyes. "Serenity? But, why would Queen Serenity...uh...hit on Mamoru?" "Usagi, she's also Queen Beryl the two have become messed up. Beryl appears to be dominate. But your mother is in there too. They're both alive, for the first time since their...." "Deaths?" Seiya had told the senshi about Mamoru with some hesitation. Usagi's eyes had begun watering. "Mamo-chan?" "He's being controlled by Guinevere, Usagi. I'm sure of it. Don't worry, we'll get him back." Guinevere was running through the park. "What did you do to Sailor Uranus?" she yelled at herself. "Nothing. Endymion might have, though. `Haruka' was on the list of people Usagi had hit on." "Usagi didn't hit on them. They hit on Usagi." "Well, it doesn't matter." "Why not?" "Because Metallia is rising." "WHAT?" Above the park, black clouds had begun to gather. Serenity was ready to strangle Beryl. "Why is Mettalia awakening here? Why not in the northern latitudes?" "Because we're here, Serenity. We're here, and soon, Metallia will be too." Eternal Sailor Moon looked above her. "The clouds are gathering too fast. I sense something... familiar..." "Metallia, Sailor Moon. She's here." Serenity looked down at Guinevere's fading body. "We have to stop it!" "There's no way to do that, Serenity. This will be the final death." "You always wanted your freedom, Beryl. And I promised that one day I would set you free." Earth, One Thousand, Five Hundred Years Ago. Black storm clouds had begun to cover the Earth as Beryl had discovered Metallia's cave. Serenity had watched from a corner in the walls. Tranquillity had forbidden her to go to Earth as soon as the clouds came, but Serenity had teleported to Beryl anyways. She hated her for what she had done, and would never forget the betrayal, but she needed to know what was happening. She had seen Metallia rip through the stone of the earth, screaming at the sudden freedom she had gained. It was beryl's terrified face that she would always remember. then Beryl had looked at her. "Serenity?" Serenity nodded. Beryl looked down in the cave. "Serenity, run!!!" Serenity stood her ground, shivering like a deer caught in the headlights. The sub-zero temperatures weren't exactly helping her, either. Beryl looked once more into the cave. What she had been able to see which Serenity had not had been the dark swirling poison beneath her. Beryl stood up and lunged at Serenity, pushing her into the snow. The white snow covered her completely, leaving Beryl exposed to fight off whatever it was. Serenity's white hair blended it perfectly, but she managed to break her head above the snow to breathe. "Beryl! Why did you," Serenity's words were cut short and her eyes filled with the dark horror as her friend was caught in the swirling mass of darkness, tears falling from her eyes, her body shivering as the black energy swirled into it. "Run..." even as she said it, the blackness entered her mouth. "No!" "I'm sorry, mother made me...long ago...run..." "I'll free you, Beryl, one day." Her crescent moon glowed, and Serenity disappeared in a silver light. When she reached the Silver Millennium, she sat crying in the gardens, for the rest of the day. And she never said where she had been or what she had seen. The present. Endymion watched with black eyes as Guinevere ran through the park. He drew his sword. Anyone that had interfered with him and Usagi... both Beryl and Serenity had. Drawing his sword, he made a clean lunge. Guinevere dodged, some unseen force telling her that the danger was near. Red hair fell to the ground like ribbons as some was sliced off by the fine blade. "Endymion!" shouted Guinevere. His eyes were black, but his intent was obvious. Guinevere closed her eyes and a swarm of blue fire formed. She would only have one shot... "Over there!!!" shouted Sailor Jupiter, pointing at the park. The other senshi began to run. Endymion said nothing as he raised his sword above Guinevere, ready for the coup-de-grace. Guinevere closed her eyes, as if waiting for the blow to come. The blade swished down, and Guinevere opened her eyes. The blue fire slammed into Endymion's chest, knocking him unconscious. The sword fell to his side. Guinevere slowly stood, noticing her arm was fading, and not her legs were too. "There's Guinevere!" shouted Venus. Moon bit her lip. "Wait her!" she commanded. Eternal Sailor Moon flapped her wings once and flew forwards on a powerful updraft. Guinevere looked up to see Sailor Moon's form illuminated on the dark clouds. "Serenity..." "Guinevere?" shouted Eternal Sailor Moon, fighting for control on the harsh winds. The other senshi ran to the park, finally forming a partial circle around Guinevere and Eternal Sailor Moon, who had just landed. Metallia's face loomed in the clouds, then gathered into a spherical orb. "Serenity...I'm glad to see you again. My daughter..." "Queen Serenity," Sailor Moon said, choking back sobs as they embraced. Metallia glowed a black light. "Queen Serenity?" Guinevere nodded and shed a tear. Her daughter and her managed another quick embrace before Beryl began laughing maniacally. "Metallia needs her final life force to sustain itself." Guinevere looked to the skies. Metallia was beginning a straight lunge at her. Metallia cackled. "Sailor Moon! Watch out!" Cried Mars and Jupiter. Guinevere pushed Eternal Sailor Moon out of the way. Sailor Moon collapsed and fell on Endymion and watched the events occur in a slow motion. Lightning flashed ominously in the skies above. Guinevere ran for Endymion's sword. Metallia began to glow brighter. "NO!!!!!!" Guinevere pushed the blade into her chest, just as Metallia reached her. Lightning struck a nearby tree, and Metallia's prone form began fading into black mist. The senshi closed their eyes. A Few Minutes Later. Guinevere's body had begun to disintegrate into silver sparkles, blowing away on the wind and encircling Usagi for a moment before they flew off into oblivion. The other senshi held back sobs as Usagi wept openly, screaming Serenity's name at the top of her lungs. Mamoru had stirred, and looked deep into Usagi's eyes before giving her a passionate kiss. His clear blue eyes shone with tears. "Usako...I'm sorry..." "I am too, Mamo-chan..." the two hugged for a few moments before standing up. "Where did they go?" said Rei, looking to the stars as the silver sparkles melted away into the swirling night sky. "Somewhere where they can have peace." Space, the Ruins of the Silver Millennium. Queen Beryl and Queen Serenity stood at the ruins, overlooking the Earth with a sort of sad reminiscence. Serenity turned her head and picked up one small daisy, left in the garden, which had managed to grow unabated by the tides of time. She picked its petals and tossed them to the winds, swirling across the skies. The two turned and faced each other, nodding and crying at the same time. Holding their hands together and raising them to the sky, the ghosts swirled and disappeared. "You see, Beryl. We are free." "I know, my friend."