Sailormoon Genesis: #2 - The Prophecy By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: www.sailormoon-millennia.net [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] Note: If you weren't confused before, prepare to be confused now. :P Maybe. When characters refer to planets, I call them by their Japanese names. Why? Because saying Princess Saturn of Saturn is stupid. Hence, we have Saturn de Dosei or Saturn of Dosei. Yes, apparently they use Latin articles :P Note 2: Yes, I know Uranus' castle is called Miranda Castle and not Gaea Castle. Note 3: I haven't been in the SM world lately, but last time I was--people spelled the planet Tin Nyanko was from as 'Mau.' I am spelling it as 'Mao.' Why? Because that's what I'm sure the Japanese spelling 'ma-u' is a transliteration of the Chinese word 'Mao' which means 'Cat.' "Your Majesty, Lady Proserpina of Meiousei [Pluto] is here to see you." Lady Isuka said as she stepped into the Queen's quarters. Queen Selenity looked up from her work and smiled lightly, "Please, show her in." she answered. Isuka nodded and moments later, the regal queen entered the quarters. Queen Selenity gasped in surprise. She was dressed in the uniform of the highest branch of the army, a white body-suit with a short black skirt and black collar. It was the uniform of the elite Sailor Senshi. "Proserpina-sama...why are--" Queen Selenity stammered as she stood up respectfully. Proserpina's face remained stoic and cold as her eyes watched Selenity's every movement, "I suppose you have never seen me in a military uniform, it is not likely anyone has." Proserpina began, "That is natural, most people in the Moon Kingdom have never seen a Sailor Senshi personally." "Yes, it was a surprise." Selenity said finally, finding the nerve to smile. It was truly a shock for her, she could not fathom herself or any other royalty dressed in such clothing. Although, she had seen it before...in another time, in another place. Selenity looked wistfully at Proserpina, this is why I started a Sailor Team for the Silver Millennium, she thought, because one day her daughter will save it. "Your Majesty?" Proserpina said with a cool voice, she was staring at Selenity who was thinking about something else. Selenity shook her nostalgia away, "How are the twins doing?" Selenity asked, changing the subject slightly. She moved from behind her desk and poured Proseprina and herself a glass of wine. "Pluto and Charon are learning very well for their young age. Sixteen is a dreadful age for anyone to have to learn the Ways, but we have no choice. It is unfortunate that I must damn one of them to be the Guardian of Time as you have damned me." Proseprina said icily. Selenity looked down quickly, it has to be this way Proserpina, you must teach them, she thought. "I did not come here to discuss my family." Proserpina said finally before she drank the rest of her wine. "Then...what is it?" Selenity asked, she knew what Proserpina had to say wouldn't be as frivolous as sharing the details of her family life. She wasn't that sort of person--she was much...colder than that. "It seems that there is a strange force on Earth, it is consuming Earth with hatred and evil." Proseprina said, "It is what I have seen with my own eyes, and what the Oracle has said." "Yes...I know, Lady Kinsei [Venus] has discovered this as well. She says that this evil has been spreading ever since the sunstorm several years ago." Queen Selenity replied, "Why is it that you have done nothing about it?" Proserpina demanded. "Earth and the Moon have not been on good terms lately." "You are the Queen of the System and even beyond the system, surely you could have used your power to destroy this evil before it engulfs the entire Earth!" Proseprina exclaimed, Selenity shook her head. "I believe in Free Will. We watch over Earth, but I will not interfere with the natural evolution of the Earthians. We cannot stop it. This force, it is something that they believe in...something they are allowing to grow. Who are we to stop it?" Selenity asked. "That is foolish. You are a foolish person, my Queen. You are blind if you cannot see the inevitable doom that your decision to not act will cause. Perhaps you must see your daughter dead for you to realize this." Proserpina said coldly. She turned around and slammed the door behind her. Selenity sighed slowly and returned to her desk, she buried her head deep into her hands. "It's destiny..." she sighed, "As much as I wish to change it, it must be done. Destruction. Rebirth. Destruction. The cycle must continue once more, the line must go on..." * * * * A princess. A lonely princess. Beryl stared at this princess trapped in the mirror before her. She saw a beautiful, shapely young woman. This young woman had features which many were envious of: beautiful red hair, shining emerald eyes, perfect skin. Her face was a bit long, but it was still beautiful. This lonely princess was physically beautiful and mentally as well. She was kind, compassionate, loving, and intelligent. But this Princess was also arrogant, she knew that she had physical beauty and she knew she had a remarkable intellect. Yet this Princess knew she was arrogant, just as she was easily made jealous. These were minor faults compared to what most people had, but despite her beauty, outer and inner, she was lonely. At balls she always dazzled the crowd...but afterwards, there was nothing. Princes did not approach her due to intimidation or belief that she was already engaged. Those who did approach her cared nothing for her intellect, only for her body and her face. Beryl reached out and touched the glass, the princess within the mirror did so as well. "Why can't anyone love me?" the princess asked, "I don't know." she said to the princess. Beryl sighed and turned away from the glass, not wanting to see her sorrowful face anymore. No one loves me...does anyone know that I exist? she wondered to herself. Yes, no one loves me...but that doesn't mean that I cannot love. Prince Endymion. Her Prince. The Prince of Earth. As Princess of the Dark Kingdom they talked often about trade agreements and other diplomatic things, but he never seemed to really see her. Perhaps it was because she was not a native of the Sol System. Beryl sighed heavily as she closed her eyes and imagined her prince. She found him so beautiful. She longed to stare into his cold blue eyes while running her fingers through his soft, silky, black hair. There was a rap on her chamber door which interrupted her thoughts. Beryl called for the person to enter. The heavy wooden door opened and a maid entered with two envelopes. She bowed, handed Beryl the messages, then exited the room. The first envelope was sealed with the Seal of the Moon Kingdom. "You are invited to Princess Serenity's Coming of Age Ball." Beryl read aloud, "All will attend...hmm...All will attend, then surely my prince will attend as well. All I need to do is ask him to dance with me, then tell him my feelings. I must be assertive if I wish to get what I want." Beryl said to herself. Her reflection agreed. In a happier mood, Beryl picked up the second envelope. The black paper was a harsh contrast to the creamy white invitation. She knew automatically where it was from without needing to see the seal upon the flap, * * B L A C K S T A R G A L A X Y Her Immortal Highness, Empress Hydraja, Wishes You To Attend A Celebration In Honor Of The Noble Planetary Conquest Of The Once Great Planet Mao And the Addition of Four Captains To The Black Star Army * * "The planet Mao? I didn't even know such a place existed. That's a rather peculiar name for a planet, although Earth is rather strange as well." Beryl said to herself as she placed the invitation back into its envelope. She felt a twinge of pride after reading the news that the Black Star Galaxy had conquered another pitiful planet, now their standard of living could be improved with Black Star technology. "Perhaps this day won't be as bad as I had thought it would be." Beryl commented to the princess in the mirror, she was happy and smiling. I must see Queen Selenity right away, surely she'll be excited to know that the Black Star Galaxy is improving the Universe just as she has... * * * * The wind blew against the sea gently. The scent of cherry blossoms filled Princess Serenity's nostrils. She gazed upwards, past the glass of the dome that surrounded her, to the great black sky with the beautiful blue orb that was Earth set against it. It was all so peaceful and relaxing, but all so very fake. The grass that Serenity was lying on "real" grass. The sea, the grass, the trees, even the air was all fabricated and contained within a great glass dome. Everything in it was an exact copy, down the the atom, of it's Earthian counterpart. But it couldn't ever be real to Serenity...unless she felt the sea and the wind on Earth. "I'll never be able to go there..." she said with a sigh. "What's your fascination with Earth anyway?" Miranda asked with disgust. She and Serenity had gotten to be rather close friends in the past few years from when they met at the ball so many years ago. The ball where she met Princess Beryl, the beautiful Princess who had disappeared from the social scene. Serenity turned on her side to face Miranda. She reached out and touched the silky folds of Miranda's blue dress, "This is a nice dress...where did you get it?" Serenity asked. Miranda made a face and pulled her dress away from Serenity's grasp, "Answer me." she said. Serenity smiled and looked back at Earth, "It's so beautiful, no other planet is like Earth. It's living, it's breathing. There are so many people on it..." "So many ignorant and hateful people." Miranda added, "So many colorful and inventive people." Serenity corrected, "Nowhere else are there such beautiful blue seas, white clouds, green trees..." Miranda laughed and shook her head, she stared past the glass cieling momentarily. She could see the top Crystal Tower from her position, it was about the right time for there to be countless people praying within it. "You are such a dreamer, Serenity. Just be careful you don't try to live out your dreams..." she said as she stood up, she brushed the blades of grass off of her dress. Serenity frowned slightly, "I don't believe I've ever heard anyone tell me to not follow my dreams." she replied and laughed slightly. She got up as well and followed Miranda down the hill, "It's not that, Serenity, it's just so dangerous for you to try to sneak onto Earth. Especially at this time, our planets are not on good terms, as you know." Miranda said matter-of-factly. Serenity smiled slightly at Miranda, she's very realistic, Serenity thought. "Princess Miranda!" cried a sharp voice. Serenity and Miranda instinctively turned towards the voice. Miranda paled as she saw who it was coming from--Lady Isuka. "They've all been waiting for you!" she said sharply, "I'm sorry Lady Isuka, Princess Serenity and I were just talking about the details of her debutante--" "Princess Miranda, that is hardly an excuse. Get yourself to the training grounds IMMEDIATELY." Isuka said sternly. "Yes, Lady Isuka." Miranda said bowing her head, she couldn't argue with the woman who was advisor to the Queen. Miranda was brave and courageous, yes-- stupid, no. Serenity watched as Miranda hurried away from herself and Lady Isuka. She then turned to her mother's head advisor, "Lady Isuka, what is this...training that Miranda is supposed to attend?" she asked. "It is not your concern." Isuka replied coldly. Serenity stared at Isuka, "It is my concern. I am the heir to the Silver Millennium and I deserve, no, I demand to know what is going on in my kingdom." Serenity said firmly. Isuka laughed, "Child, it is not your kingdom yet. When this matter concerns you, you shall be told all about it." Isuka said, brushing Serenity off with a wave of her hand. She shook her head and laughed again, tossing her black hair over her shoulder as she walked away. Serenity, defeated, sighed and sat back down in the grass. She stared upwards, the Earth was there to comfort her. * * * * "Lord Zoicite, you have a message from Prince Endymion." Zoicite yawned slightly and reached behind him and held his hand out, he felt his butler place the envelope in his hands then heard him walk away. Zoicite brought the envelope to him and opened it, inside was a slip of paper with the royal seal of Earth stamped on top. "What's it say, Zoicite?" asked another voice, Zoicite looked up and saw the face of Kunzite staring down at him. "Just something about Endymion wanting us to attend a royal ball of the Moon Kingdom, it seems to be the debutante of the Moon Princess." Zoicite replied and tossed the envelope and the letter onto the table. "He wants us to go because he believes that perhaps all of us can find a wife amongst the Princesses." Kunzite added dryly. "Heh, there isn't a better way to raise the social status of Earth than to marry into an important family..." Zoicite smirked, but he was worried. There was no price too high to pay to please his prince, but could he live with a woman he didn't love? Without the slightest chance that he would ever love her? He glanced at Kunzite, he can never know that my feelings for him surpass that of friendship, he thought. "Indeed." Kunzite said nodding, he kept a smile on his face, yet he felt a heaviness in his heart that he could not explain. "I wonder if Nephrite and Jadeite have recieved their 'invitations' as well?" Zoicite wondered aloud, attempting to lighten the mood. He sat up and walked over to the window, his back turned to Kunzite. I cannot have him asking me what's wrong, I don't lie well...and I don't wish to estrange him from me, Zoicite thought. "There is no doubt that they have...Actually, why don't we go over and ask them? Nephrite is probably out riding, but I believe Jadeite is at home looking over some militarial reports..." Kunzite said. Zoicite shook his head and waved his hand, "No, go ahead. I...I have some reports to look over myself." Zoicite said, still staring out the window. He couldn't see with his back turned, that Kunzite looked disappointed. "Alright. Well, I shall call again later this week in regeards to the debutante ball on the Moon Kingdom. Goodbye, Zoicite." he replied, trying to sound upbeat. He didn't wait for Zoicite's farewell, instead he turned and quickly left the room. Zoicite sighed and watched as, moments later, Kunzite walked out of the front door and mounted his white horse, quickly riding away. Zoicite could see his own reflection in the windowpane; a handsome, albeit effeminate face, framed by lovely strawberry blonde curls. "Kunzite..." he sighed, "Though I wish we could be more than friends, I don't think it is in our destiny..." * * * * "To be a Senshi, is to think of duty above everything else. Above yourself, above personal honor, above everything." said Lady Proserpina, or rather, said 'Sailormeiousei.' She glanced around the room to see if anyone had paid attention to what she was saying. Her daughters Pluto and Charon seemed to be paying attention, as well as Princess Saturn and Uranus. Miranda seemed to be dazing off into space, but she was writing down everything Proserpina was saying, so she decided not to pursue it. Princess Neptune, on the other hand... "Princess Neptune," Proserpina said sharply, "Do you agree on this philosophy or not?" "I neither agree nor do I disagree. I simply do not care." "You do not chose to care or not care. You WILL care." Proserpina sneered, she disliked this Princess Neptune. She found her to be too delicate and snobbish for this sort of work, too dainty. She will betray us one day, she would betray us for the love of another... "I did not choose to be a Soldier." Neptune said after a moment of silence. "Yes, you did not choose. You were chosen. However, had I been allowed to choose Fate rather than guard it, I would have passed over you." Proserpina said coldly. Princess Neptune didn't reply, she stared icily at Proserpina. After a moment of silence, Proserpina resumed the lesson. Uranus began to daydream, she knew that she would be sharply reprimanded, just as Neptune had been...but Neptune's defiance excited her somehow. She glanced over to Neptune who was staring dully at Proserpina, watching her every move, pretending to hang on every word, her face full of rebellion. Uranus gazed at her beautiful aquamarine hair which hung about her perfectly shaped face in perfectly shaped waves. Perfection. Uranus felt that feeling again, that feeling of...envy, yes, envy. Here was this enchantingly delicate creature, who's appearance was practically unmatchable, with such a fascinating personality... she seemed so cold and detached, but Uranus knew that there was a friendly side to her. Uranus was determined to find it. "You all must be ready for The War." Proserpina said seriously, she detransformed before the group. "What War?" Charon asked her mother quizzically, she knew better than to call her 'mother' or show any sort of affection during Senshi training. "The War that the Oracles have been predicting for years. The War that will change the future for the better." "If we know we win, why are you bothering with these lessons?" Neptune asked with a sharpness in her voice. "Do you think we'll just win without a fight? We will prevail because I will have trained the Sailor Senshi to be the perfect fighters. What I would like to ask the Oracles is how we possibly prevail when we have spoiled, impertinent girls like yourself." Proserpina snapped. She threw her hands up in exasperation and walked away from the group in frustration. "Are you unable to cooperate or do you just have a bad personality?" Miranda asked with false innocence. She couldn't understand why anyone would not want to be a Sailor Senshi, it was her life dream. Princess Neptune threw her a harsh glance and wordlessly walked off. "Miranda..." Uranus groaned, "And you say that I'm rude." "I could not help it, how could anyone not want to be trained as a Sailor Senshi? It is a priviledge bestowed to only one person on a planet for the duration of their life..." Miranda sighed happily, it was always her dream to be one of the legendary Sailor Senshi, even if it was Uranus who was a better fighter. "Then why are they training both of us?" Uranus asked teasingly. "Just in case, perhaps we are both qualified. I hope you don't mind, sister, but I hope you aren't chosen." Miranda smiled. Uranus grinned back, "I don't mind at all. Perhaps I will purposely do badly so I'm not chosen. I'd much rather stay in Gaea Castle..." "And get married? Oh Uranus...you know that's not what you want." Miranda said shaking her head gently, "It's not what I want, but I'd much rather marry some boring Prince of whatever planet than wear that silly uniform and fight prophecized invaders..." "You should not take the role of Senshi so flippantly." said a cold voice suddenly. Miranda stopped as she was about to say another sentance, she looked and saw the beautiful princess of Saturn. She's so elegant, but so distant from everyone, why? Miranda thought. "*I* do not take the role of Senshi lightly. Anyways, we were just joking. We always joke with each other..." Miranda said, for some reason she was very intimidated of Princess Saturn--as if there was something different, and frightening about her. "You cannot possibly know the importance of the Sailor Senshi in the Universe." Saturn replied coldly, then she walked away. Now it was just Miranda and Uranus who were in the training room. Charon and Pluto had left, Miranda didn't know when, but they were now alone. Miranda shivered, "Are you cold? Maybe we should leave...you may get ill. Meiousei is a much colder planet that Tennousei..." Uranus said worriedly, "No..." Miranda murmured, smiling weakly. "It was because of that girl, Princess Saturn...she frightens me. I know she will do something horrible to the Silver Millennium..." "Miranda!" Uranus exclaimed in shock, "You shouldn't say such things!" "I can't help it. I can feel it...I know it, she has power that we cannot even imagine." "More so than Lady Prosperina?" "Much morse so. Can't you feel it? It radiates from her like warmth, like how the power of Proserpina radiates from her...but with Saturn, it's so cold." Miranda said, shivering again. "Hmm...well, that's good that someone so powerful is going to be a Sailor Senshi..." Uranus said as she began to walk towards the exit of the training room. Miranda nodded slowly, "Yes, it is good. But should she ever be influenced by evil...the Sol System, perhaps even the galaxy, would be in grave danger..."