Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret Of Nemesis ❯ Nyoko ( Prologue )

Monday, July 1, 2002 - Tuesday, July 23, 2002

The Secret Of Nemesis

A Fan Fiction Inspired By The "Sailor Moon" R Series
By Karen

Prologue

Nyoko (Jewel)

So many words for the broken heart
It's hard to see in a crimson love
So hard to breathe
Walk with me and maybe…
Nights of light
So soon become
Wild and free
I could feel the sun
Your every wish will be done
They tell me...

Show me the meaning of being lonely
Is this the feeling I need to walk with?
Tell me why I can't be there where you are
There's something missing in my heart…

(Outskirts Of Crystal Tokyo, The Thirtieth Century)

"Mama! Mama!". The sound of childish laughter, and the gentle tugging at her skirt, brought Lady Nyoko(1) out of her troubled thoughts. With nearly every other clan but hers having joined forces with that tyrant, Neo Queen Serenity, the same queen she had once served loyally as a strategist and tactician(2) until she refused that fascist brainwashing, she indeed had much to worry about. Her two young sons were her only source of happiness these days.

Nyoko looked down to meet the wide, dusky blue eyes of her youngest son, Sapphire, barely three years old and very much her image. Grinning, he held out to her the large bouquet of wildflowers he had just gathered.

"Oh, for me, are they?", she smiled, kneeling down to his small level. Warmly, she accepted the flowers and embraced her son, kissing him tenderly on his forehead. "Thank you, Little Blue Pigeon". That had been her nickname for him, ever since he was born.

He kissed her cheek and smiled back at her, a smile that was enough to break her heart. "Y'welcome, Mama".

It was then that her eldest son, seven year old Diamond, came running up to them. "Saffy! Come on! Rubeus and I just found this great tree, perfect for climbing!. Prisma and Emerald'll beat us there if we don't hurry!".

"Now you be careful", their mother warned. "Diamond, make sure you keep an eye on your brother and Prisma".

The older boy nodded cheerfully, his silvery white hair bouncing. "I will!. Don't worry, Mama!". And with that, he took his little brother's hand and the two of them ran off to find their climbing tree…

Nyoko watched them leave, a sad expression playing about her features... If only Kin(3) could have lived to see how much his sons had grown. It had been nearly two years since her husband had been killed at the hands of a rival clan, yet she still saw his face every time she looked at Diamond…

"We're lucky to have them, aren't we?", came a familiar, friendly voice... Lady Ayakashi(4), Prisma's mother, came to join her, with baby Avery cradled in her arms.

Nyoko nodded in agreement, pleased to see her old friend. "Yes, children are a precious gift. I wonder what the future has in store for them all".

"Well, they are our children, are they not?", Ayakashi smiled. "What future could they have besides a glorious one?".

"Ever the optimist, aren't we?", Nyoko chuckled.

Her friend grinned. "Like cosmetics and beauty treatments, it keeps me young".

Laughing, the two woman continued their stroll by the river, chatting easily as the sun began to fall over the nearby mountains, Nyoko carrying her flowers and Ayakashi proudly holding her newest daughter...

"I only hope you are right", Nyoko continued, serious once again. "I… If anything should happen to my sons... to the clan…".

Ayakashi placed a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "Rest assured, Nyoko. If your boys turn out to be anything like you and Kin, our clan has nothing to worry about".

The leader of the clan gazed over to where Diamond and nine year old Rubeus had nearly reached the highest branch of the tree... As usual, Seven year old Emerald was below, holding her favorite fan and refusing to climb up herself, for fear of falling and getting dirty, and Sapphire and little two year old Prisma were nearby, playing tag... If Serenity and Darien were to find them, and manipulate them into being their puppets, Nyoko would never forgive herself…

It was then that an anxious voice came from nearby... Nyoko and Ayakashi both turned to see the captain of the intelligence approaching them hurriedly. Something must have gone wrong with the underground resistance forces!.

"Lady Nyoko! Urgent news from the underground!", he reported, confirming their suspicions.

She took him steadily by the shoulders. "Captain Iwa",(5) she said calmly, trying her best to mask her fear, "Please tell me it's not what I think it is!?".

He shook his head regretfully. "The Imperials are less then a few hours away from our camp".

Ayakashi's hand flew to her mouth. "They know where we are!".

"Yes...", Nyoko whispered, her throat tightening. They had done everything they possibly could to cover their tracks and remain inconspicuous, and yet, the sheltered, weakling imperialists had been able to find them... The tyrant queen was obviously cleverer then she had anticipated...

Clenching her hands in resolve, Lady Nyoko turned back to Iwa and Ayakashi. "Captain, rally at least half your troops near the camp and send the others on lookout. Let me know as soon as you see any sign of our... uninvited guests. I'll be joining you shortly".

"Yes, my lady", Iwa saluted, then left to carry out his instructions…

"Ayakashi, take the children back to camp and tell everyone me must head for the mountains at once. We know those highlands better then our friends, the Imperials, do. If we reach them we might have a chance".

Breathing heavily, Ayakashi nodded and hurried off to gather the children…

Nyoko then headed in the direction of where Iwa was rallying the defense... In her haste she did not see that she had dropped Sapphire's gift of wildflowers… They lay there on the grass, lost and forgotten, as the sky above began to cloud and darken…

(1) "Nyoko", "Jewel"

(2) Since many fans agree that Sapphire was Diamond's savant, strategist and tactition, I decided that their mother could have been one as well.

(3) "Kin", "Gold" or "Goldon".

(4) In the manga, and I think the Japanese sub, the four sisters's family name was given as "Ayakashi", "Uncanny".

(5) "Iwa", "Rock".