Sailormoon Genesis: #6 - A Gift from the Past By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: www.sailormoon-millennia.net [http://bishounen.org/] Note: This is a little note for those who may not have noticed by now. The **'s between scenes in my fanfiction designate when a chapter/scene has ended. When you see a --- that means the next scene you are reading takes place simulataneously to what you just read. Either that or it is directly related to the previous scene. In this episode, all the ---'s designate simultaneous events. "Lady Isuka..." Queen Selenity began. She slowly raised her head from the book she was buried in, her eyes settling on the beautiful black-haired advisor. "Yes, my Queen?" Lady Isuka replied, bowing with reverence. Externally, Isuka was the paradigm of loyalty. Internally, she hated Queen Selenity, the Silver Millennium, and most of all she hated Princess Serenity. The little brat Princess who was heir to the most powerful throne in this Galaxy! How had this hatred grown? She could not even recall when the seeds of jealousy and anger had began to take root and sprout. At times she felt guilty for the hatred she felt...but most of the time she felt justified. How dare Selenity look down upon her? How dare Selenity make her feel weak? Futhermore, how dare Selenity allow her useless daughter to ascend the throne over her? It was she who had helped Selenity in her time of need, she who had taken in that poor, bruised young girl from that black-suited Sailor Soldier. If it weren't for Isuka, Selenity's insolent daughter would have never been born! How dare Selenity completely disregard her existence! "Lady Isuka, I have heard from a very good source that you were speaking with an Earthian." Selenity said bluntly, her blue eyes sharp. "My Queen, I assure you that it was the most innocent of conversations!" Isuka replied hastily, cursing herself internally. A feeling of warmth entered her soul as she saw Selenity's blue eyes tinged with sadness. "Not only an Earthian, but one of Prince Endymion's council!" Selenity exclaimed, continuing as though Isuka had said nothing. Silently, she closed the book she had been so seemingly engrossed in. Her blue eyes gave Isuka a long, hard look. She was willing to give the benefit of the doubt to most people, especially to Lady Isuka whom she considered a sister. However, as a ruler she knew that she had to completely trust her advisor. Sadly, this trust was lacking. Selenity was full of disappointment, but why would her beloved advisor and dear friend betray her? "My Queen, it was nothing. Just the simple matter of affairs of state. There was much that needed to be attended to after the Earth and the Moon Kingdom broke ties..." Lady Isuka explained. She was such a beautiful liar. Queen Selenity was quiet as she continued to stare at Isuka. Yes, what Isuka had said was perfectly logical and permissible. But yet, there was something that she could not get out of her mind. "Isuka, what do you know about this Cult of Metallia?" Selenity asked quietly. "Why, nothing your Majesty. Absolutely nothing..." Lady Isuka said with innocence. Selenity nodded, "Yes, as I thought. Well, you are excused now..." she said and waved her hand off. Isuka smiled and bowed slightly before departing from the office. Selenity sighed deeply, "Absolutely nothing, hmm?" she repeated to herself, "Then why is it that Queen Rhea de Mokusei saw you at the Shrine of Metallia?" * * * * * "I'm so sick of this Senshi training..." Uranus sighed as she and Miranda walked towards the training grounds. "I don't know why I bother anyway, everyone knows you're going to get chosen over me." Miranda flashed a grin and tossed her hair over her shoulder, "Glad you agree, sister dearest...but, you shouldn't quite give up yet. No one knows who's going to get chosen as a Sailor Senshi, it could be you." she replied. "My dear Miranda, I'm hoping as much as you are that YOU get chosen for Senshi, and not I." Uranus answered with a smile. "Uranus, you're too kind." Miranda giggled and squeezed her sister's arm. Uranus laughed gently, a smile spreading across her lips. She threw a glance towards Miranda and felt her heart warm. There was something about Miranda that everyone loved, she was warm, friendly...bright...the sort of person that personified sunlight. But yet, she was serious, intelligent. Uranus always thought that her sister was perfect, and yet, she didn't feel resentful or jealous, but rather proud to be related to her. Truly, it was Miranda who deserved to be chosen as Sailor Senshi. "Uranus, what are you smiling about?" Miranda asked with a coy smile, "Are you thinking about that Princess Neptune again?" she teased. Uranus felt a warm flush spread across her face. She turned towards Miranda, "What are you talking about? Why would I be thinking about her?" she asked in a haughty tone. "Now, now...don't be defensive...there's nothing to be ashamed of." Miranda said hastily, "I'm your sister. Don't you think I can't tell that all you do is stare at her face during training? That I can see your eyes light up when you and her are paired for training exercizes?" Miranda asked, she smiled softly to Uranus. "There's nothing wrong with love...and besides, I think maybe she feels the same way towards you." "D-do you really think so?" Uranus asked. She was surprised that she was admitting her feelings to Miranda, despite the closeness between them. It was the sort of thing that she didn't even want to admit to herself, let alone to another human being. "I completely think so. Maybe you should walk her back after training and get to know her a bit..." Miranda suggested with a wink, "Besides, I'm going to visit Princess Serenity. I really ought to reprimand her for sneaking onto Earth like she does..." Uranus nodded her head furiously in agreement. "Really, Miranda...you're one of her best friends..." "She doesn't listen to me though, or Princess Mars or Venus...or anyone...She's truly in love with Prince Endymion and absolutely refuses to let him go." Miranda countered with a sigh. "She's going to get herself killed one of these days, or she's going to have a broken heart..." Uranus said seriously. Miranda laughed musically and playfully squeezed her sister's upperarm. "Oh you, listen to you. Such the voice of optimism, as usual." she said sarcastically, "My dear sister, Serenity's love is pure, there is no way a pure love like that could end in sadness..." * * * * * "The time of War is drawing closer..." Sailormeiousei said to the students who sat before her. Already they had been chosen for training, the four Princesses from the Inner Planets. Meiousei was pleased with the choices, but displeased with the candidates for the soldiers to repesent the Outer Planets. Queen Juno de Kasei had premonitions and visions about the Line being broken with the current candidates for Senshi. This was not a good thing. It must continue, eternally. This so-called 'Line.' "Sailorvenus, you have been chosen by destiny to be the leader of the Sailor Team..." Meiousei said, "It is your duty to be fair and responsible, never let your emotions get the best of you..." "Yes, I shall remember this, Sailormeiousei." Venus said nodding her blond head. "This goes for all of you, to be truly good Senshi, you must never allow emotions to control you. Mars, Mercury, Jupiter...Don't forget this lesson. If you remember anything that I teach you, remember duty, loyalty, trust, and rationality." The four Senshi nodded as each and every one of them stamped that command into their minds and hearts. "Now, I have something very special to give you..." Meiousei said as she turned around and carefully picked up a long, flat box off the marble table beside her. The Senshi gathered around her in a circle, "This is a gift from the past, it belonged to a Soldier from a glorious past civilization that we all contain dust from." she explained as she lifted the top of the box slowly. Lying there on a bed of red velvet was a large sword that was made of a metal that even Princess Mercury could not recognize. "It's beautiful..." Princess Mars commented under her breath. "This is the Seiken, the Holy Sword..." ---------- "Lady Libra!" Stella exclaimed as she rushed to the girl who suddenly collapsed into the tall grass of Star. "Are you alright?" she asked worriedly as she bent down to help Libra stand. Libra took her hand out of gratitude, but rose to her feet with her own energy. Libra had been helping Stella's kite take flight when suddenly she became very pale and fell to the ground in a panting heap. "They've found it..." she murmured, she knew Stella would have no idea what she meant. She patted Stella softly on the shoulder and stood up on her own. Weakly, she brushed a strand of black hair out of her black eyes. She had to be strong for the barrage of questions Stella was bound to ask. She could never tell Stella that Selenity was still alive, even if it meant that Stella could be free from Solana's wretched grasp. There was a duty she had to perform, something she was told so very long ago by Selenity's future daughter. 'The Line must never be broken, please ensure that it doesn't...' Everything had been destroyed, purified. She had sacrificed everything and now had nothing but the company of that brat Solana. Trent, her tolerable though complacent lover was alright to be around, but Libra could never understand what on earth he saw in Solana. If not for Stella, Libra would have either killed them both or ran away. "What have they found, Lady Libra?" Stella asked, her blue eyes wide with curiousity. Libra smiled at her innocence, despite the dizziness she felt. She was growing weaker, she could feel her power leaving her. Libra thought for a moment, she supposed she could tell Stella what it was that was discovered, though not who found it. "The Justice Star, Stella, my sword. Someone has discovered it..." ---------- "A Holy Sword?" Venus repeated. Meiousei nodded, "Yes. It was discovered in a cave in the Mare Imbrium, the Sea of Rains... there seems to be an inscription in an ancient tongue written upon the blade. Time has worn it away, but one of the Oracles claims it is a prayer and a curse to those impure who dare to touch it." she replied as she pointed to the engraved markings near the hilt. The blade itself seemed as though time had not touched it, despite the fact it had to be over a thousand years old. Upon the blade was engraved an ancient script, so faded and worn that even if anyone could comprehend the language would not have been able to decipher its meaning. It was lost to the ages. Though the inscription was worn, the metal shone as if it had just been polished. The blade was still sharp and unmarred. It looked as if it had never been used. The hilt, on the other hand, was tarnished and had many indentations were jewels once rested. Surely this sword was once a thing of tremendous beauty in it's hey-day, bedecked with jewels with the blade shining like the stars in the sky. It had to have belonged to a great King or perhaps a wealthy warrior. This was not to say that the sword was still not beauty, the damage time had done to it made it seem more precious and special, less sterile and more like something one could cherish. "This sword is for us?" Jupiter asked, Meiousei nodded. "This sword is for all of you, to ensure our peace, but it is for Sailorvenus to protect and keep..." ---------- "Discovered it? Did you leave it somewhere?" Stella inquired. "Well...I did." Libra answered slowly and carefully. "Why? Don't you need it, is that why you're sick now, Libra?" Stella asked. Libra smiled at her childish innocence. I hope this innocence never fades. Stay a child forever, it's better that way, Libra mused. "Who discovered it, Lady Libra?" Stella asked cocking her head to the side. "I don't know, Princess...someone did..." Libra said, trying to maintain a cheerful facade, but it was difficult. She was on the verge of passing out. Leaving her sword on the desolate moon of Earth had done nothing to her. It was the passing of the sword that had taken her energy. The passing of the sword to a new owner. Suddenly, Sailorlibra screamed out as a symbol appeared upon her forehead. A beam of blue light raced from the symbol to the heavens above. Stella started to shout for Solana as she stared in horror at Libra. She had never seen such a thing happen before, not to one of the glorious Sailor Soldiers. "What's happening to her?" Solana asked as she and Trent raced towards the two. Solana stared at Libra with terror mixed with fascination, "Solana, help her!" Stella cried, "I don't know know how." Solana said with a shrug. Trent glanced worriedly at Solana and bent down towards Libra and held her trembling body carefully. "Lady Libra, are you alright?" he asked as he embraced her tightly, "What can I do for you?" But nothing else had to be done. With a shocking abruptness, Libra's cries ceased and her eyes went blank. Her uniform faded away with the fading blue light that had surrounded her. It was the first time she had been out of her uniform in over a millennia. ---------- "It feels warm..." Venus murmured as she held the sword in her hands. It was a heavy thing, she could barely hold it with two hands--let alone with just one. She wondered how on Earth she would wield it. Hopefully, she thought, I'll never have to use it. The Holy Sword thought otherwise. * * * * * She snapped out of her trance in a cold sweat, a panicked state. Queen Juno brought her hand to her mouth in a gasp. It was that same vision of death, the same vision as always. The light of the Silver Millennium dying. Those two beautiful sets of twin girls--being eternally seperated. The falling of a large scythe upon the Moon Kingdom. Death. Juno sighed as she sat down in her throne. She waved off the many attendants in the room who rushed to her aid. She had been having the same visions for years, little had changed over the years. To add to the problem, her daughter Mars was having her own visions that seemed to all point to the same direction. Juno stared at the Divine Fire which circled her wrists. Bracelets made of frozen flame, at least that's what her mother had always told her. Her mother was able to see the Visions without them, Juno never had that ability. It always frustrated her, that she should be so weak. She always wanted to be stronger. Her own mother never said so, but Juno was convinced that her mother was always disappointed at how weak the line of Kasei had become. She had always assumed that Mars' power was even weaker than her own. She was surprised to learn that Mars, like her mother, could see clear visions without the aid of the Divine Fire. It was a pleasant surprise, but Juno could not help but feel envy towards her own daughter. Why did I have to be the weak one? Why did the power have to skip a generation? Juno sighed heavily. These thoughts were so selfish, and she knew it. Her daughter was a Sailor Soldier now. She needed the power more than Juno ever did or would in the future. "My Lady, shall we go to the Cleansing Pool?" asked one of her maids who approached her gently. Juno looked up and nodded, and followed the maid to the adjacent room. It was made of white marble and spotless, she smiled slightly as she recalled finding Mars wading in the purifying waters as a child. I chided her so much then, Juno mused as she removed her ceremonial white robes and left them in her attendant's hand. She walked slowly into the deep pool until the cool water reached her shoulders. Slowly, she lowered her head into the water and then almost immediately brought her head out of the water. As she did so, she could practically feel the impurity of the fires washing away from her. It was like an endless cycle, the impurity of the visions which tainted her mind and brought sadness to her soul, the cleanliness of washing it all away. It was all ceremonial, this cleansing ritual, but it still made Juno feel pure once more. If only the cycle of Death could be so easily washed away. * * * * * "Hail Metallia, the great Metallia, giver and taker of life!" Bring me more souls, more humans to believe in me. I need more, let me make their dreams come true. Pray to me. Worship me. I will grant every wish. "Oh please, Metallia! Grant my wish, make me beautiful! Make every man want me." I shall grant all your wishes. I will make your dreams come true. "Look! There's the woman who seduced our husbands! That sinful, vile woman! Stone her! Stone the adultress!" "Why Metallia! Why have you forsaken me? Did I not pray to you every day?" I gave you your dreams, did I not? "But you have cursed me! You granted my wish and gave me a nightmare! Why!" Selfish desires, always come with a price... * * * * * "I hate her, I hate her..." Isuka whispered to the small bird which was hopping pleasantly from twig to twig in its gilded cage. "Do you hear me, little one? I hate her. We're very alike, little one, you and I." she murmured as she brought her hand into the cage and held the bird tightly in her fingers. Gently, she stroked the bird's tiny head. "We are both delicate, beautiful, and adored, my little pet. But the difference is I could destroy you right now. You are weak, while I am strong." she murmured as her grip tightened around the bird's neck. "When pressure is put upon you, you can do nothing more than die. However I can fight back...and I will fight back." "Lady Isuka, please, Your Highness...calm down..." whispered one of her handmaidens. The young woman stroked Isuka's black hair to attempt to soothe her. Isuka's shoulders relaxed and she released her grip on the bird, letting it fall from her fingers to the ground. "The poor thing..." the handmaiden whispered as she picked up the abused pet and placed it back in its cage after a few pets. "Poor thing, what about me." Isuka muttered as she sat down at her vanity table and brushed her hair savagely, tearing clumps out as she ravaged each tangle with the brush. "How dare she treat me like one of her servants..." Isuka muttered to herself, "I should have been standing beside her at the throne! How dare she take all the glory for herself...I should have let her die..." Quietly she turned the key to her jewelry box and opened it. Sitting atop a bed of pearls and sapphires was a crude wooden figure that was vaguely in the shape of a woman. She had recieved it from a pilgrim at the shrine to Metallia on Earth. The woman told her it would bring her luck, that Metallia would hear her prayers if she had the idol with her. Isuka held the doll tightly in her hand and began to whisper a prayer to the figure. ---- "It's not fair. God I hate her, I hate Princess Serenity." cried Princess Beryl as she stared at her reflection. The image in the looking glass was that of a porcelain face stained with tears. Prince Endymion will never have me, I'm not beautiful enough for him. I want him so much. Why won't he see me? Why does he only see that stupid child from the Moon? "Why can't he love me? Am I not beautiful? Am I not intelligent?" she demanded outloud. "My Lady, you are the 'Morning Star.' Your beauty is unparalled and your intellect is spoken of throughout the system..." soothed her handmaiden as she helped Beryl out of her gown and into a sleeping garment. "I would give any of those...any of them to be with Endymion...for him to simply love me..." Beryl whispered. "Perhaps you should pray to Queen Metallia..." her handmaiden suggested as she pressed a metal figurine into her fingers. "Sir Jadeite gave this to me when we last visited Earth." "Metallia...their Goddess Who Lives..." Beryl whispered. "I am certain Queen Hydraja would not be upset if you called upon another deity to aid you." the handmaiden said cheerfully. "What could it hurt anyways?" "Oh, Tiyone, my dear...you have always known how to make me smile. You and your games." Beryl said weakly. "I live to make you happy, my Princess." Tiyone said as she helped Beryl into bed and gently tucked the corners of the blanket around her body. "Goodnight, Tiyone." Beryl whispered as Tiyone nodded and blew out the candles in the room. Beryl sighed and fingered the metal object in her hand. Silently, she made a wish. ---- The two pleas for help reached Metallia's conciousness. It was strange that these two voices could pierce the cacophony that surrounded her like a cloud. All the prayers for a better harvest, for a victorious battle, for a healthy child, even for a win at the casino. But the dreams of the weak-hearted are always the loudest. They made her stronger, these desperate wishes for a better life, these people who would give anything to have whatever selfish desire their heart told them they needed. These were the weak souls that fed Metallia, that made her more powerful than the other deities around her. Oh! But these were not peasants! No, these were two women of stature. Royalty, nobility. Selfish women who wanted more than they already had. Who knew nothing of true happiness. Women who could not appreciate the splendour they lived in. Metallia loved them for it! I will fulfill your dreams, my children. And in return, I will have your souls.