Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Stars Sometimes Fall ❯ Sincerity and Inspiration ( Chapter 5 )

_____________Chapter 5_____________

Sincerity and Inspiration

 

“I don't have a good feeling about this.”

 

The Neo Moon Queen lay on the sidewalk surrounded by her friends and guardians, her child and prince by her side. As before, no one dared touch her for fear the illusion of her fading life would not last.

 

“Serina,” Mercury typed into her computer, absently brushing away the crystal snow dancing along her young friend's skin.

 

“Seri-” Lita was the only other besides family to touch her queen. She wouldn't let her die alone, a warrior left this world with her friends solidly beside her-

 

“Serina . . .” Artemis and Luna ran up beside Mina and she absently petted him as Luna sat down quietly weeping as he sorrowfully shook his head. The last time a moon queen used this much power, she had died, leaving the kingdom in ruins. The blonde knelt beside them and bit her lip to keep in her sobs of exhaustion. Her best friend wouldn't wake up-

 

“Sere . . .” Mars crouched behind Mercury, her fingers gently weaving the air around Serenity, warning off the ice that frosted her pale skin. `This can't really be happening- Rini and Darien- they'll never- Rini, she'll- Serina- Sere, this can't be true! Wake up! For the love of all things holy! You can't leave us here, not alone- Please, Serenity . . .'

 

“Sere . . . Seren-y . . . Serenity . . . Serenity . . .” Halls of crystal surrounded the young queen, walls of solid quartz cut her off from the world. She could see outside but only through the mirror of her eyes. She glanced around, still hearing voices calling her name, echoing between the mirroring walls and bleeding through them.

 

Beside her was a woman, identical to herself but years older. The true Neo-Queen. She fell back, startled by the abrupt appearance of her doppelganger. With a gentle wave of her fingers, Serenity returned her younger counterpart to her less potent princess-form and from there she shifted back into Sailor Moon. “Serenity, you need not wear this gown so soon.” The woman smiled sadly, “You must continue to wear this uniform for years to come. As much as your heart wishes it, you will not become a queen nor a mother for a few more years.”

 

Sailor Moon choked, shaking. The queen could read her mind, see into her very heart- “What happened? Where am I?” She concentrated on other things more important than her future- she didn't want Serenity, or anyone else, see how close to her true heart she'd come. How much she actually anticipated being a mother and wife . . . though not so much the queen part.

 

Sailor Moon could sense in her heart that her friends were all right. She understood she was somewhere protected yet deadly at the same time, and she was pretty confident that she had won the battle- at least her last memory was that of watching her daughter freed and Wise Man disappearing. “Why did I transform if I wasn't ready?”

 

“You were ready, Serenity, it's just not necessary. The power is there, as is your will to use it- but don't waste your life trying. Live a little, you'll have forever to be queen and wife and mother, it will never leave you. Stay young and immature and carefree while it's still expected of you. Focus on life as you live it, don't take for granted that each day will be as peaceful or lazy as the last. Don't let it pass you by.” Both women suddenly shivered.

 

Sailor Moon turned abruptly away, her heart pulled towards the reflecting wall. Outside of the crystal mirror, she could see indistinct, hazy figures moving. She pressed her hand to the cool glass and tried to wipe away the icy mist. Her hands left watery crystals forming like feathery frost patterns on a cold winter window. A pale, twilight-hued cape, dark sea blue eyes behind a white domino, the man knelt before her. Beside his ghostly form, a tiny shock of faded pink and white rested on her knees, praying, her wide cinnamon eyes imploring her, begging so much it hurt her heart to the point of snapping in two.

 

“Mama, please wake up, Daddy won't make it without you . . .”

 

Sailor Moon felt a heavy hand on her shoulder, urging her to turn away from her child though she never wanted to be separated again-

 

“Serenity, you don't belong here . . .” She said to the girl softly.

 

`And neither do I. Please go back home and return my baby to me. Together, you can help me. I miss my family so much, I just want Darien back and to hold my children and see my friends. All I can do from here is watch and cry. They can't hear me- Please help me, Sailor Moon, save me and my family. Rescue us . . .'

__________________________

 

As if she'd been punched in the stomach, Sailor Moon inhaled sharply, blinking rapidly to clear the stars and black mist. Once again, she had her friends standing worriedly around her, nervously pacing like cats. In fact one or two of them were.

 

Moon blinked again. One, two, three . . . four, six, eight- Wait. Yeah, seven, eight. `Shouldn't there just be seven . . .' “Rini?” She croaked, letting Tuxedo Mask help her sit upright.

 

“Right here, Mommy.” The little girl popped up from behind Tux, headed for Sailor Moon's arms. “I know you told me not to leave but the bad guy came and then you and the Scouts did that attack and he disappeared and Daddy caught me-“

 

“I know, sweetie, I'm so sorry that had to happen.” She held the shivering child close, tight until she thought they both might suffocate. She had her daughter in her arms- that was all that mattered. She was still safe and unhurt. She understood what Serenity meant- and she had to suffer far longer than she just did. Her eyes drifted up to her friends, particularly her boyfriend, just to make contact, to see them standing there. If she didn't have her baby in her arms she'd reach out and touch them.

 

For a moment, a flash of lavender caught her eye behind the group-

 

“Sailor Moon? What are you looking at?” Mercury bent over her, her forehead creased with worry behind her transparent blue mask. “Are you okay? Dizzy at all?”

 

“I- I thought I saw something . . .” She shook her head, detransforming and letting Rini go so she could stand. Everyone followed her example, glancing around quickly for whatever she'd seen but momentarily more concerned for their leader. She stood solidly and held Rini's hand as the walked back to the house.

 

Broken shards of glittering glass gleamed and flashed from beneath her bedroom window. Serina sighed and kept walking. She opened the door, allowing everyone in first. She paused outside, searching for that mysterious extra pair of eyes before balancing Luna Ball on her index finger like a basketball. “Luna P, magic!” Shooting stars sped from the grass to form a clear, solid pane in the air as she turned her back to the street and the newly reformed glass window.

__________________________

“No matter what happens, we'll always be together.”

 

Serina stepped out of the steamy bathroom, toweling her long hair dry. Her

friends had left and her family had long since come home, nothing was amiss, there was little or no sign that the greatest battle Sailor Moon had ever fought had even occurred. The thought made her smile almost cynically. Her parents would never know. They still might not ever know even when she became queen-

 

The blonde walked into her bedroom, surprised to see only the familiar ebony feline where another pink-haired body should have slept. “Luna, where's Rini?”

 

“She's in her room. For whatever reason, I don't believe she was inclined to sleep in your bed tonight.” The cat stood and stretched only to lay back down in the same position.

 

Serina frowned. After what happened to the poor girl, the only thing she should want is to be with her mother, right? The least she should want is to be alone- unless she still somehow thought this was all her fault. Serina turned right around, hair swinging heavily around her, smacking wetly against her leg as she marched back out the door and for Rini's room.

 

As she approached the little spore's door, Serina thought she heard at least two voices from within. She heard Rini mumble something then another faint mutter answering. `Puu? Is that who she wanted to talk to instead of me?'

 

Without hesitation, Serina did what any mother would have done and peeked through the keyhole. Rini sat in the middle of the floor, the rising moon silvering her form, her eyes following a moving object. “But she knew how . . . Luna Ball!” She heard the other voice exclaim. “Only . . . princesses can . . . that! Not some normal . . . even if she IS Sailor-“

 

“. . . not just Sailor Moon, Earthworm, the reason you saw her . . . cause she's Mo . . . She's . . . princess now.” Rini's commanding eyes never blinked though her head followed her restless companion nearly straight to where Serina spied. A flash

of light purple and pale aqua saved her from being discovered as Serina hastily pulled away. `Better leave now while I have the chance.' She thought as she about-faced back to her own room. She could wait until this conversation was over before she talked to Rini herself.

__________________________

 

Serina lay on her bed, watching the door. `If I'm not careful, I'm gonna fall asleep.' She thought as she blinked slowly, her eyelids heavy. A familiar shadow fell through her door from the hallway light and Serina's eyes instantly snapped open.

 

“Rini?”

 

The shadow froze halfway past her door. The tiny figure slowly, almost timidly, turned to face her. Rini's eyes were wide with a shifty kind of alarm, as if she'd gotten caught doing something or being somewhere she knew she shouldn't be. “Umm . . . Yes?” She mumbled.

 

“What's wrong with your hair?” Serina squinted in the low light, lifting herself up on her elbows. She'd seen Rini's hair in all shades of light and shadow, yet this time, it seemed different. Darker. The girl's whole body seemed wrong, actually. Now that she was up to study to her, the little girl was taller, her stance firmer and balanced to the light delicacy and feathery touch from earlier. Where once she floated like the moon, now she was grounded to the very earth.

 

“Uh, nothing, Mother.” Rini zipped out of sight, racing for her door. `Mother? She got herself into real trouble, didn't she?' Serina lazily dragged herself up and out of bed, Luna slowly blinking after her as her mistress followed her delinquent daughter.

 

“She thought you were me?!” She heard Rini burst out laughing, her voice quickly smothered by a petulant grumble. “What an insult!” Serina sneaked up on the cracked door.

 

“It's not funny. Mama's never gotten us confused.” The door eased open further, the voices became clearer. This couldn't be Puu . . .

 

The sight within the room arrested her heart and soul. “Right now she doesn't know-“

 

“There's two of you . . .”

__________________________

“I'm your family now. I'll protect you forever.”

 

“Imbrium Rose, my eldest daughter, my first child. How could I not recognize you, baby rose . . .” Rini and her identical companion whirled around, facing her with shock and hesitation. Serina stood in the doorframe, shaking all over inside but not a tremor escaped to betray her. `Lady . . .'

 

“Mother?” Princess Imbrium whispered, still frozen to her spot. Her mother slowly slipped to her knees, sitting beside the door like a prim and proper governess watching over her charges.

 

“Serina?!” Rini's face screwed up with indignation. `She shouldn't remember Irene! Puu said she wouldn't!' The flamingo-haired child remained where she sat and watched the reunion. Something or someone was seriously wrong if Serina remembered the memories of Neo Queen Serenity- maybe it was when she became her again, there on the sidewalk-

 

“Yes, Lady?” Serina tilted her head expectantly. This was the same little girl she'd seen through the glass of the cage that held their mother the queen. She was the one whom had called to her over time and space. From the thirtieth century to hers she'd heard her daughter's cry for help when the woman she prayed to, listening inches away, could do nothing.

 

Rini's Luna ball floated up, hopping between the twin princesses. “Lady . . . Small Lady . . . Lady . . .” It kept repeating joyously. The lavender-haired child ignored the bouncing ball and tried to keep her eyes focused on her sister and the girl claiming to be her past mother. Serina smiled as she realized her eldest didn't want to show weakness or confusion before her younger sister. This was an awkward moment, Irene couldn't accuse her of lying lest she be incorrect and shamed but she couldn't let herself believe that her mother, physically cut off from her in her own home, was now sitting scant feet away, breathing, smiling, and warm.

 

“Lady, your mother misses you so much. She can hear you each time you pray to her, and she wishes very much to hold you two again. She told me a little while ago, when she asked me to bring Rini back to help her. But what brings you to follow your sister to my time? Rini has accomplished her mission and we were to be on our way back to her time.” Serina's heart beat a little faster- “Unless something has happened-“ Images of her Endymion lying in a coffin beside hers, more lifeless than her stone-frozen form. Moments after she'd left Neo Queen Serenity's crystal mind, while Imbrium prayed to her mother, he could have collapsed- just as she warned; he couldn't survive without her . . .

 

Sensing the blonde's mounting alarm, Imbrium swiftly forgot her paralysis and rushed to hug the older girl reassuringly. Serina sighed as she was tightly embraced by tiny arms. “No, no, Mama. Daddy was getting worse without you and the Scouts were tired from the bad guys' attacks when they all of a suddenly stopped and they disappeared. Even the black moon in the sky disappeared. But you still didn't wake up and the Scouts and Luna didn't know what to do so I went to the pillar of prayer in the moon's Crystal Tower. I prayed for help to wake you up and when I looked up, I saw the image of Sailor Moon staring back at me through the glass of your coffin. I figured the Moon bunny needed help getting you back home.”

 

“Irene, please don't say `your coffin.'” Serina grumbled. She squeezed the kid then let her go, nodding. `Of course. She saw me, I was really there.' “Well, the Scouts and I got rid of Wise Man, that must be why the attacks stopped in your time. Maybe it's all over for you now. Don't worry about anything now. I'll help your mom and dad. Let's just get some sleep for now.” Serina smiled warmly at the grinning, teary face inches from hers. She leaned in and pecked the cheek closest to her, tapping the girl's nose with her other hand before she could defend herself. Irene just giggled. “Rini, come here, sweetie.” Rini slowly grinned, hopping up and jumping into her arms, shoving her sister right out of the way. “Now how will I explain TWO of you to Luna and Mom and Dad? And Rei freaked when she found out RINI was mine! Now two of you!” She laughed, standing up with Rini in her arms and Irene holding her hand as she led the way back to her room.

 

Luna was all ready asleep and never woke as the three bodies slipped beneath the covers she guarded.

__________________________

 

It was the middle of the night, she'd been asleep for only a few hours when she suddenly sat bolt upright in bed. “Oh no! What about your FATHER!?”

__________________________

 

“Now, Irene, Darien- Endy- had quite a shock when he found out Rini was his daughter in the future-“

 

“HE had a shock . . .” Rini mumbled.

 

Pointedly ignoring the spore, Serina continued. “And so did Luna and the girls. I'm not sure how we can go about introducing you without killing everyone.”

 

“Luna P could make everyone believe I was always here-“

 

“Imbrium. I didn't approve when Rini used Luna P on my friends and I- family was okay, but I will not do that to my friends and your father. Don't you know that's wrong? What have we taught you in that future of yours?!”

 

“Well I think you're wasting too much time worrying about them when Daddy and the Scouts need help at home too.”

 

Serina paused, ready to reprimand the younger twin for being impertinent- until she saw Rini's face. She was clutching Luna P, her pink face buried into the toy's. `Is she crying?' “Oh, Small Lady . . .” Serina quickly stopped pacing and knelt by her child on the floor. “Come here, little bunny.” Rini released Luna P, ignoring her sister's rolled eyes and murmured `Baby,' and loosely hugged the older girl.

 

“I'm sorry, Mama. I should be strong.” She whispered.

 

“No, little one, you're too young to be strong. You should cry. You're right, we need to go to the future NOW.” Serina squeezed the little girl then stood, holding her hand, offering the other to Irene. “Let's go save your mommy and daddy.”

__________________________

“Hope you know, we'll always be behind you, no matter what.”

 

“Quick, Mina, feel my forehead. Am I burning up?”

 

“No, and you're not just seeing things either-“

 

“Yeah, I see it too.”

 

“We see her. Two.” Ami giggled at her pun. The three girls glared at their short companion then hastily stood to meet the triplets coming up the stairs.

 

“Serina-“ Rei began but her blonde friend effectively cut her off with a glare and decisive shake of her head. Still holding her girls' hands she continued walking to the center of the courtyard until her Scouts encircled her.

 

“I hope you guys are ready for a trip cause we're going to visit the future.” Serina stood firm at her friends' surprised and disbelieving stares.

 

“What? What are you talking about?”

“We haven't discussed this, Serina-“

“What about Darien? And who's she?!”

“Who's Rini's twin?”

 

The expected barrage blew over her like a breeze on a mountain. “There's nothing to discuss. Darien will be here shortly and we're leaving. You don't have to, I suppose, but your assistance might be necessary.”

 

“But-“

“Serina-“

“How could-“

“Of course we'll go, but why so suddenly, Serina? You didn't even mention this last night.”

 

“I know, Ames. I didn't realize we were running out of time in the future. Rini's sister came back from the future last night. Lady, please.” Serina, in her haste to snatch her Scouts and boyfriend, had nearly forgotten the girls didn't know her eldest daughter. And Lita had guessed her on the spot.

 

The lavender child stepped forward leaving her mother and sister behind. She curtsied, short but graceful and nodded to each of the Scouts as she met their eyes. “Hi, I'm Irene, Serenity's eldest daughter. I followed Rini cause Mommy and Daddy still need your help at home. Since you defeated the Wise Man the attacks on the palace have stopped but our Guardians are still tired and distracted and can't fix Daddy or wake up Mommy. We need you guys to come back with Mama's crystal.”

 

“Are you guys . . . twins?” Mina, ever quick to catch the obvious. Mercury already had her palmtop out and her mask down.

 

“Yes, Mina, they are twins. Moon twins. Lady Imbrium Rose and Small Lady Serenity Usagi Shields. Now once Darien- Oh.” On the edge of her consciousness, Serina felt her love approach. “Here we go again . . .” She murmured. She frowned as Irene disappeared behind her little sister.

 

“Serina,” The tall young man approached the group shaking his head. “I have the strangest feeling- something about Rini-“ He stopped short as a second pair of bunny buns and a set of cinnamon chocolate eyes caught his attention. “Serina . . ?”

 

Serina snorted at her daughter's antics. She purposely hid to surprise her father! She was going to give him a heart attack! “Lady. Present yourself.” The little girl hopped out from behind Rini, the younger twin grinning evilly as she sidestepped out of her mother's way. Serina kept her eyes focused on Darien's wide, unbelieving ones. He looked a little shocked, maybe even ill- he was kinda pale. Serina frowned. `I'd better hurry with this, he probably thinks he's seeing double-` “Remember when I mentioned Irene after my little Neo Queen Serenity spiel when we found out Rini was ours? Well . . . this is Irene.” She waved her hand down towards the darker-haired twin. “Our first child, Rini's twin sister.”

 

“Irene?” Darien's eyebrows raised in disbelief. He was so cute when he was confused.

 

“Hi ya, Daddy!” Irene took off for her father's arms which he belatedly dropped to catch her, still in a daze. Jealous and blushing, Rini frowned and ran up to hug him too.

 

“Daddy's girl.” Rini muttered.

 

“Mama's baby.” Irene retorted.

 

“I am not! Travis is.” Darien glanced up from the two girls bickering. `Travis?'

 

Rini and Irene looked up at the same time. “Uh oh.” Both let go of him at the same time and returned to their mother. `Does Serina even know?'

 

`I don't know. She wasn't supposed to know about you and does.'

 

Serina looked up from the girls now attached to her hands. Darien watched her, his face expressionless. He was uncertain at best, she sensed that much but he was definitely not unhappy with this newest revelation- he accepted that as easily as he had Rini. But there was something more- there was still the future . . .

 

“Guys, we've got to leave for the future. The sooner the better from what Irene says. They need our help.”

 

“Then we must go.”

 

Serina nodded, the action repeated by each of her friends. With only a thought, pink ribbons unfurled themselves from her locket, feathers danced around her as she was instantly cocooned in magic. Sailor Moon and her Scouts stood in a circle, replacing the five teenagers from moments ago. Tuxedo Mask moved to stand beside his partner, and the twins were released to the center of the circle.

 

Rini and Irene raised their hands together, crossing their identical key pendants over their heads. The mumbled words that rose to a shout. “Guardian, Chronos! Lead us! Protect us! Send us the path of light!”

 

“Sailor Teleport!”

__________________________

“My intuition says something is wrong”

 

The dim halls echoed with slow, distant dolphin clicks. Watery light filtered down on white and cerulean rugs, their ancient designs lost to shadows and dust. Forlorn crystal vases whimpered and bemoaned their forgotten state, the roses they carefully carried long since agreeing with the silence. Overlooked candles stretched blackened wicks to the sky, imploring the sun to touch their thin hands. Majestic paintings hung like the dead, grayed and murky, their light seemingly forever lost.

 

This single corridor had once been so alive- it couldn't have been that long ago. Warm and bright and moving. Brilliance emanated from the very walls, shining from the canvases and flickering from candles like tiny stars. Light laughter had resounded down the passages, from the very framed pictures his daughters had created, from the smiles of the family portraits, of his wife . . . Children racing, their footsteps sliding, a crash as something was knocked over- one little girl blaming the other while they both cried. Such excitement and emotions still haunted this place.

 

Endymion strode down the empty, dying hallway, dragging darkness and memories with him as he marched to the single room at the end of the corridor. The supreme king of the earth was only a ghost of his former self. Literally. The thick rugs never bent with his weight, the air never stirred with his passing, shadows never fell from his body. A hologram, the king lived without his body. But drawn and pale this ghost remained. His distress remained whether he lived or died.

 

There were too many thoughts tearing through his mind but among the most poignant was that he had lost another one. His last daughter had left him for the past; he was now alone. His family was gone, completely. Small Lady had left on her personal mission weeks ago, never to be heard from save a few short conversations with Sailor Pluto. Irene had followed her just last night, sneaking away with only a kiss good-bye . . . And Serenity- Serenity and their son had been gone since this whole thing started, leaving him with their two daughters, a war, and only the Scouts to defend against a planet of pure hatred.

 

But he was relieved Serenity was not awake to see her kingdom in ruins and glad his twin daughters were far from the danger and the nightmares of what their home had become. Many nights Serenity had whispered her horrible dreams of the fallen moon kingdom to him and he didn't want his little girls scarred in the same way.

 

For now, they were safe, Luna, Artemis, and Pluto would see to that. The Scout of Time would keep them from returning if this battle was lost.

 

And it didn't look promising.

 

The Scouts held strong till the end. Even after he had been injured in the initial attack, they fought under his command to protect the palace and their queen. For weeks the shield they raised didn't fall- not until this morning. But the black moon had mysteriously disappeared along with its prince and his army.

 

However, Sailor Mercury had reported in only moments ago-

 

“King! They've returned! The palace is under attack! Mars, get out of the way! Emerald is in the palace- VENUS!” Without the shield and the Scouts so drained, they needed all the help they could get. They fought the green witch within the castle walls- how she got there terrified him. He didn't know how. God only knew what the Dark Moon could have done to Serenity in these few seconds they roamed undetected.

 

Crashes of thunder and wind, the smell of burning water and gold snapped his attention back to the battle taking place on the other side of the palace. Luna and Artemis were helping the Scouts as much as they could while using the moon's main computer to scan for more intruders.

 

His pace quickened as the feeling in his heart grew heavier- Even unconscious and sealed from the world by solid stone, he could feel when his love was in danger- that's what twisted his stomach now. His hand landed on the door just as Luna's message reached his mind.

 

“Endymion- the queen-“

__________________________

 

Sapphire spun and dropped into a crouch as the single door to the chamber opened. It swung inward, the brilliant light from the high windows of the hall outside flooded in, but no shadow fell to betray the newcomer. In the comparative darkness of this room, pierced only by a shaft of moonlight, any movement from the other side would be noticed.

 

Sapphire remained frozen for nearly a minute while the door stood open but no one so much as peeked in. Easily, he slid back up, returning his soft blue gaze back to the object of his fascination.

 

The Neo Queen, Serenity, a woman of indescribable beauty and age that never showed beyond the wisdom in her expression, lay as if dead in a solid spear of crystal.

 

Diamond and Wise Man had helped do this to her. She hadn't even been the target and this was certainly not the result of that assault. They had only meant to capture the little girl, to use her as ransom to gain acceptance into the new Silver Millennium.

 

Sapphire shook his head. He should have known they couldn't use violence to be accepted but Wise Man had convinced him and more importantly, his brother, that it was the only way to get the king and queen to listen. “I should have known better.”

 

Sapphire walked forward towards the frozen queen and knelt just outside the circle of light, his head down, eyes solemnly staring at the white tile beneath his feet. “My deepest apologies, your majesty. We should have never taken the Wise Man's word over our own observations. For what we have done, and what I've helped create, I know I can never be forgiven but I am sorry. Wise Man is gone now, maybe I can convince my brother to go home and accept your ancient decree; our banishment from this system.”

 

“Sapphire.”

__________________________

 

Endymion nearly jumped from where he hid, as Prince Diamond shimmered into this sacred room. His insubstantial form was a natural camouflage from Sapphire's searching eyes before and continued to work to his advantage as he edged closer to study the brothers.

 

`He said he was sorry. To no one else but her, when he thought no one else could hear.' This alone made Endymion think Sapphire was sincere. The king knew what it was like to be under the influence of another. Perhaps that was why he found it so easy to forgive this young man who felt the same as he had, said the same words he would have.

 

Endymion's thoughts were jerked away with the Dark Moon Prince's voice.

 

“Sapphire.” The younger man whirled, as caught off-guard as Endymion had been but sensing even as he turned that it was only his brother. For a moment he had relaxed but then he balanced his weight and stood tense and ready, facing his brother.

 

“What are you planning to do, Di?”

 

“As the Wise Man suggested before he died, we should take her-“

 

“No. Without Wise Man to poison our minds, we must make out own decisions.” Without taking his eyes off his brother or dropping his guard on Serenity, Sapphire threw out his arm, pointing to the frozen queen. “LOOK at her, Di! Look at what we have done. She sleeps in solid stone. She cares for nothing now, thanks to us.” His soft eyes glared at the prince. “Have you looked around yourself, Di? This world is in shambles, also thanks to us, and Neo Queen Serenity cannot heal her city let alone revive herself or forgive us now.” Sapphire's arms dropped, hopeless and exhausted. Even his eyes fell briefly and he sagged as if he'd fought all he could but was resigned to stop his brother if forced.

 

“Let's just go home, Di, return to our deserved exile. We've nothing left to fight with and no one left to fight.” Blue eyes raised, still defiant and ready to confront any that dared challenge him

 

“Sapphire, you DARE-“ Diamond's voice began deadly quiet and ended in a roar- but suddenly broke off. He seemed to look past his brother to the crystal coffin he guarded. And for the first time, he saw. And understood.

 

Endymion's heart froze with shock as he noticed Prince Diamond shudder.

 

“Queen Serenity . . .” A concerned frown softened his features. Without moving his violet eyes from the sleeping queen, he spoke quietly, as if she only slept and would awaken if he raised his voice. “We did that to her, didn't we? When we tried to kidnap her little daughter.” Sapphire hesitantly, heavily, nodded.

 

“Yes. Before all this, we might have just been able to approach her in court and beg forgiveness. Now our clan can never hope to see this world again. To see blue sky instead of black or real flowers and trees. Please, brother. Let's give up this futile effort. Let them recover and live in peace, let her Eminence and her children forget this pain ever happened.”

 

Diamond slumped. He seemed, to Endymion, as tired of fighting as Sapphire was. “We can disappear forever and they will live on. The queen will wake and forget us again.” Diamond's gaze finally left the queen to meet his younger brother's. “I'm sorry I dragged the clan into this, following Wise Man across the solar system in an insane plot to force our queen to restore our home. Now we've lost so many . . .”

 

“Would you count Serenity among your losses?” Endymion stood, casting away the shadows and bringing his image to light. He stepped up to the pair, no longer fearing them or what they might do to his wife. He kept an eye on both: Sapphire had convinced him of his regret and Diamond had come close but he knew better than to trust his enemy so completely so quickly. Unconditional faith was Serenity's specialty.

 

“King-” The two princes fell back- away from Serenity. Good move.

 

Endymion came forward, stopping near the young men, in direct line of sight with his wife and the pair off to either side of her. They may be his only hope in getting her back. He had no other choice but to implore them. “We cannot revive her. The Scouts and I have used all our powers to crack her quartz prison but even the powers of the earth, of time, and death have not phased this stone. Our only hope is the Silver Crystal . . . Unless you know of a way? This being partly your spell?” His last words were more gentle in grudging respect for their contrition and the glaring hope that bled into his voice made a flush rise to his cheeks. He dropped his head to hide his embarrassment. He'd have never let his emotions get away from his a thousand years ago, he wouldn't now.

 

“Your power cannot awaken her majesty?” Sapphire seemed startled and suddenly at a loss. All his hopes of this scene being fixed and forgotten shredded away. Endymion just shook his head. He would have done anything by now to awaken her- he hadn't lived this long without her in centuries.

 

“My liege, I don't believe we can help you. The spell cast was a simple teleportation spell with an added tranquilizer. It shouldn't have done . . . this” Sapphire dully nodded in agreement with his brother.

 

“At the moment of impact, her Scouts used a defensive barrier to protect her. This should not have been the result. If you don't know what caused this then-“

 

“Then we've no way to save her.”

 

“Not beyond the past. Sailor Moon's Silver Crystal is the only hope we've had since ours is gone.” Endymion finished. His eyes fell on his queen then heavily returned to Prince Diamond. “You have the ability to travel through time more easily than I do. Can you tell me of Sailor Moon's situation? Of my daughter's mission?”

 

Diamond inclined his head in the king's direction, meant in both deference and regret. “My apologies, my lord, our power to do so was halted with the disappearance of the Wise Man, his destruction cut our last ties to the past. We don't know anymore than you do now.”

 

Sapphire cut in quickly. “We do know that Sailor Moon destroyed the Wise Man and your daughter is still safe with her.”

 

“Then we still have that hope.” Diamond stated more confidently than any of them felt.

 

Endymion turned away and looked out the clear crystal walls far across the chamber, hearing but ignoring Diamond's attempt to reassure him. Night had fallen but the broken bones of this crystal city he and his wife created; her streets running with ashy, muddy water, buildings glinting with black wetness like bloodstains, were still visible to him. “This war may be over, but we still don't have Serenity . . .”