Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret Of Nemesis ❯ Rebellious Family ( Chapter 1 )

Part 1

Rebellious Family

It seemed an endless hall of darkness and mist… Where was she?... Where was everybody?…

"Hello?", she called. "Is anyone there?… Ayakashi?... Iwa?...". But there was no reply, only the hopeless and frustrating sound of her echo…

Not wanting to give up, she continued through the murky darkness, still calling for Ayakashi, for Iwa, for her children, for anyone who might be there…

It was then that she heard it… a young boy's voice, frightened and lost... "Mama?".

"Diamond!", she cried. Even though she could hardly see him through the blackness, she knew it was him... and the small, figure by his side... "Sapphire!".

"Mama!", they called. "Mama, help us!".

She rushed towards them. "I'm coming", she called. "Don't worry! Mama's coming!".

Nyoko was only inches away from reaching her sons... when all of a sudden there came a huge explosion, almost a cross between a thunderstorm and a forest fire… She could only watch in horror as it consumed both of her children before her eyes…

"Nooo!!!", she screamed, collapsing to her hands and knees in grief. This couldn't be happening!. Not to her babies! Her jewels!.

Sobbing, Nyoko buried her face in her hands. "Diamond!", she wept. "My poor little Sapphire!".

"They are mine now", came a deep, chilling voice from nearby…

She looked up to see a cloaked figure before her, a crystal ball in it's seemingly rotted hands... Instead of eyes, red coals peered out menacingly from beneath the darkness of it's hood…

"Yes", the hideous being laughed. "Your sons are mine, and soon they will be destroyed!. The whole universe will be destroyed!. Only the Doom Phantom will remain!".

Nyoko found herself unable to move as the figure came closer and closer... It then removed it's hood…

She screamed in terror once she saw there was no person, no face, under that hood... but a dark, hollow skull…

"No!". She jolted awake with a startled cry... Breathing heavily, she only relaxed once she was sure her sons were safe, asleep on the soft cot next to hers... What a nightmare!. What could have caused it?. Fear for her clan, for her children?.

Sitting up, and folding her arms around her legs, Nyoko sorted out the days events in her mind... Her warriors and her had tried everything they could to fight the Imperials, but in the end they were far to outnumbered, and were unable to prevent the capture of the clan…

Nyoko then gazed about the jail cell she and her sons had been placed in only hours earlier... Being connected to the royal palace, it was nearly all constructed of crystal... cold hard crystal... Out the window, she could just make out the brightly colored lights of Crystal Tokyo... It was a marvelous city indeed... peaceful, prosperous, with towering crystal buildings, and shining lights... She could understand how almost everyone wanted to be a part of this greatness... Then she shook her head furiously. This was not greatness, this was decadence!. Her clan was nomadic, and they had little in terms of material possessions, at least compared to the glamour of Crystal Tokyo, but they were every bit as happy and peaceful!. Serenity and Darien had no right to hunt them down and cage them like animals!. She and her people were not criminals, and no threat to their so called 'Golden Millennium'!.

It was then that she heard little Sapphire's familiar cry... The child was also having a nightmare…

Nyoko turned to her youngest son, prepared to take him in her arms and comfort him... but Diamond was already there beside him…

"Shhh, It's okay. It's okay, Saffy", he gently shook his little brother awake.

Sapphire immediately threw his arms around Diamond. Though there were tears streaming down his cheeks, he soon stopped crying and shaking. Diamond in turn hugged him back and tussled his hair fondly.

Lady Nyoko smiled with a mother's pride. Thank goodness her eldest son was always so dependable. Diamond would make a fine leader for the clan one day!.

"Where's... where's Mama?", Sapphire whimpered.

"I'm right here, Little Blue Pigeon", she assured him, stroking his hair lovingly. "Don't be afraid. We're all here with you".

Sapphire nodded slowly, and Diamond tenderly brushed the tears away from his cheeks.

"We had best get back to sleep", their mother continued. "We have a very long day ahead tomorrow"... Probably more then we realize, she silently added… Nyoko then took her youngest son into her arms and he rested his head against her shoulder, while her eldest son laid his own head in her lap…

Softly, she began to sing their favorite lullaby as they drifted back to sleep...

In through the window
A moonbeam comes
Little gold moonbeam
With misty wings
All silently creeping
It asks "Is he sleeping
Sleeping and dreaming
While mother sings?"

But sleep, little pigeon
And fold your wings
Little blue pigeon
With mournful eyes
Am I not singing?
See, I am swinging
Swinging the nest
Where my darling lies(6)

The morning sun streamed through the barred windows, making the entire crystal prison, the entire crystal city, sparkle…

"Now I know what they mean by the term 'gilded cage", Nyoko sighed to herself as she gazed longingly out the window, past the glittering, frivolous city, to the distant mountains... If only they could have made it there…

She then looked upon her sleeping sons... Diamond, with his arms protectively around Sapphire, who still clung to his brother as if the two of them were all alone in the world…

Soon, she vowed in determination. Soon, her children and her clan would escape, then they would be free of Crystal Tokyo and it's autocratic royals!.

A beautiful white blossom, growing on the vine that covered the prison wall, caught her eye... Nyoko reached out through the bars to pick it…

The next moment, she was startled by the sound of the cell door opening... and In stepped one of the palace's many clean cut, golden armored guards…

"Lady Nyoko", he said, almost as formally as he would address the royal family, which surprised her greatly. "Her Highness, Neo Queen Serenity requests an audience with you".

The rebel leader crossed her arms, her hand tightening on the newly picked flower. "Does she now?. If she wishes to speak with me, then why does she not come here herself?"... and bring that masked, pink clad fool of a husband with her?, she silently added…

The guard looked uncomfortable... "I'm afraid that simply... isn't done...".

"No, of course not", Nyoko chuckled bitterly. Heaven forbid the king and queen of Crystal Tokyo be seen in a place like their palace jail. "Very well, I do hate to disobey a royal command"… then her face softened… "Just give me a moment to speak with my children".

The guard nodded and discreetly stepped out of the jail cell, waiting by the door...

Nyoko then knelt beside her sleeping sons, taking off her cloak and spreading it over them for warmth... How peaceful and innocent they looked... At first glance, they might seem unaffected by the turmoil of events around them…

"Diamond", she whispered. "Diamond, wake up, my precious".

At the sound of her voice, the young boy's eyes flickered open. "Mama?".

"Yes, sweetheart. I just wanted to let you know that I'll have to leave for a few minutes".

He gave her a sleepy smile. "Where' you going?".

"Oh, nowhere important", she lied, not wanting to frighten him. Serenity and Darien had the resources, and the power, to put her entire clan to death with one word!. "You just rest, and take care of your little brother, until I come back, alright?".

"Alright, Mama", he nodded drowsily, falling back to sleep. "I promise".

Nyoko smiled and kissed his cheek. "That's my big boy".

As soon as Diamond was asleep again, she turned to Sapphire... Poor little blue pigeon. He had been through so much in his short two years of life... Diamond was quite independent for his age, and old enough to know what to do if anything should... happen, but Sapphire... he would need all the luck, guidance and protection he could get…

Nyoko tenderly brushed a lock of his unruly dark hair from his eyes and placed the white flower she had picked in his tiny hand…

The little one stirred in his sleep, and he smiled as if he were having the most wonderful dream…

"My darling, may you never lose that pure, good heart of yours... and may you never forget, as long as you live, how much I love you and your big brother"... She leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his smooth, white forehead... Somehow, it was more then just a mother's love and hopes... It was a talisman... a blessing(7)…

The giant, crystal doors to the Imperial Throne Room were guarded by four sentries, two on each side…

Nyoko fought back a smirk. There had been only two guards posted here when she was employed. So, even the 'perfect' rulers of 'perfect' Crystal Tokyo had reason to feel the need for extra protection.

The guard leading her signaled the doors to be opened, and the two of them entered the throne room…

The rebel leader was not sure which sight was the most splendid. The glittering crystal chambers, with every type of jewel imaginable embedded in it's walls, lavishly furnished and decorated, sparkling in the morning sunlight, or the sight of the Neo Queen and her King, the fairytale couple, both of them elegant, dignified and dressed in their royal finery.

The guard then took Nyoko firmly by the arm and lead her to the bottom of a velvet carpeted stairway... On the top the king and queen were seated on their thrones…

"Your Imperial Majesties", the sentry addressed them, going down on one knee. He then rose and glared at her. "Bow!".

There was once a time when she would have done it, out of respect... but no longer!. She would not bow before those who had persecuted her and her clan!.

"I said bow, you insolent traitor!".

To Nyoko's surprise, the queen rose from her throne. "No, that will not be necessary".

"Your Majesty?"... the guard raised an eyebrow…

Serenity and Darien exchanged meaningful glances... Obviously this was something they had thought out and discussed amongst themselves... Then, with a nod, the queen descended gracefully down the stairway…

"Lady Nyoko is no longer a member of the Imperial court, or even a subject", she said calmly. then she looked at the rebel leader, blue eyes wide, searching hers. "That is, unless you have decided to repent. You and your clan will be forgiven, and made citizens of our glorious Crystal Tokyo".

Nyoko studied the queen... Even while she had been a savant to the royal court she had scarcely caught but a few fleeting glimpses of her and the king... Serenity's long golden hair was done in the odanga style… Her white and gold trimmed gown, with wings sewn onto the back, golden crown and flawless face with it's ever-peaceful countenance gave her the appearance of an angel or goddess… All of a sudden she felt course and inferior in her plain mandarin jacket and skirt, her hair, which she wore pulled back in a bun, messed up, and her clothes rumpled from sleeping on the floor... But, never the less, she found herself crossing her arms and looking defiantly back at her captor…

"Forgiveness and citizenship, that my people and I abandon everything we have worked and fought for these past ten years?".

Serenity sighed. "Peace is made in such ways".

"Slaves are made in such ways!", Nyoko snapped. "I would have served you without any interference from the Imperiam Silver Crystal, but no! That was not good enough for you, was it?!".

"The Silver Crystal is not meant to enslave", the queen protested. "But to cleanse and purify".

"Cleanse, Purify?. So what you are implying, Your Majesty", pronouncing the title as though it were an insult, "is that I am not 'pure' or 'clean', nor are my people or my children?".

The queen raised a delicate hand. "No, I did not say that. But, in order for there to be peace and harmony throughout the universe...".

"You mean, in order for you to become ruler and dictator of the entire universe, my clan must be made subordinate to you!", Nyoko interrupted. "I'm sorry, honey, but it just doesn't work that way!. I will never be ruled by you, and neither will my people while I live".

This had become to much for King Darien, who quickly appeared beside his wife. "And what about you?", he challenged. "Do you not rule your clan the way we rule Crystal Tokyo?".

"Ahh, but there is one slight difference, Majesty".

"And what would that be?".

Nyoko fixed her eyes firmly on the royal couple. "I have no guards forcing people to kowtow at my feet", she hissed.

Both Serenity and Darien's eyes widened... They looked at each other once again and Darien shook his head…

Serenity closed her eyes wearily. "You have made your decision then, Lady Nyoko?".

"Decision?", she nearly laughed at the question. "Am I not your captive?. Who am I to make decisions in this position?".

"Every rebel who is arrested is given a choice", the queen explained. "Either be cleansed by the power of the silver crystal, be banished to the tenth planet in our solar system... or...".

Nyoko's eyes narrowed. "Or what?".

"Death is the last option", Serenity whispered. "I will not have what happened to the Moon Kingdom happen to Crystal Tokyo".(8)

The rebel leader was so furious she could hardly speak!. This... this underdressed meatball-head! dared compare her and her clan to Beryl and her pack of brainwashed clones!?.

"Serenity", she said in a dangerously controlled voice. "Do what you will with me, but I promise you this. If you dare lay a hand on any of my children, or my people, not even your precious silver crystal will be able to save you!".

Serenity's eyes grew even wider, and she brought a hand to her heart in shock. "I take it your choice is banishment then, Lady Nyoko?".

Nyoko sighed. Exile sounded bearable enough, especially compared to her other options... and perhaps she and her clan could make a new life for themselves on this tenth planet... Noone to try and dominate them as Serenity and Darien had…

Silently praying that she was doing the right thing, she took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes".

It had been done. Everything had been arranged. This is what her people needed and deserved, a planet, a home, of their own. Unlike Earth, it would accept them without trying to change them... so why did she have this horrible feeling, like a little sparrow about to be pounced on by a hungry cat?…

Nyoko shivered slightly from the cold of the crystal palace... Having left her cloak with her sons, she nestled deeper into her jacket…

As the guards escorted her back to the crystal jail, she reassured herself. Soon she would be back with her children, and she would explain everything to them, how they were all going to a new world and that they would never see the inside of a prison again once they were there…

"You are not going", a chilling voice whispered…

Nyoko stopped. "What?!". Who was that?.

The guards looked at her strangely…

"Didn't you hear that?", she asked them.

They looked at each other, shaking their heads in confusion. "Come along, Lady Nyoko".

Biting her lip and glancing about the passageways suspiciously, she continued to follow them…

"Once you are dead, then your family will be mine to control!".

"No!", Nyoko cried, stopping again.

The guards watched, bewildered and unnerved, as the prisoner sank to her knees…

"No!", she continued to cry. "Who are you?!. You stay away from my family!". But the voice continued to torment her…

"Your influence over them is to strong, to positive. You would cause to much damage to the plan. You must die".

Nyoko buried her face in her hands, hardly noticing the guards who were backing away in fear. "Stop it!. Stop it!. Leave us alone!".

The voice was growing louder, clearer... something about it was familiar... "Your dreams have already warned you about me, warned you about sending your people away from Earth. I cannot risk keeping you alive".

The creature from her nightmare!?. It was then that she felt something tighten around her throat… An odd wave of dizziness came over her... She tried to breath, but only managed a weak cough... When she glanced at herself, she saw spots of blood on her clothes…

"Soon the whole universe will be destroyed", the nightmare voice repeated. "And only the Doom Phantom will remain".

The rebel leader tried with all she had to get to her feet, but it was no use... She collapsed to the floor again. She could feel her heart slowing and her breathing growing faint… Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought of her sons... She knew she would never see them again in this world…

The horrified guards ran away, screaming for help…

She was still struggling to breath… The last thing she heard before her eyes closed forever was that nightmare voice…

"Have no fear, your children will be joining you as soon as I am done with them"…

Meanwhile, back in the crystal prison, the boys were still asleep under their mother's cloak… Diamond with his arms protectively around Sapphire, who still held that white flower in his hand…

They were both sleeping so soundly that neither of them could have seen the cloak disappear… First, it turned into a rainbow of bright colors and light, then it faded dimmer and dimmer as the colors rose into the air, out the window and up into the sky(9)…

A cool autumn breeze drifted into the cell… Without the warmth of their mother's cloak around them the children stirred in their sleep, their shoulders shivering slightly, and huddled closer together... Somehow, it was as if they knew that they were the only family each had left now...

In his citadel on the Tenth Planet, which he had dubbed 'Nemesis', the Wiseman waved his hands in front of his crystal ball, and gazed with satisfaction at the images it showed... The only one who could have prevented the first steps of his plan from being carried out was dead at his own hand, her clan without a leader and her children without a guide or protector… Once Serenity banished them here, It would be only to easy to brainwash and bribe them into doing his bidding, thanks to the powers of the Dark Crystal…

Suddenly, a new image appeared in the crystal ball... Wiseman recognized the face of Lady Nyoko… Her face was calm, but her piercing eyes seemed to stare right through him… Then the image changed... The Wiseman drew his hand back in surprise... It was no longer Nyoko that stared back at him, but a young girl... a young girl whose dark hair, pale face and piercing, shadow blue eyes mirrored her's… The girl's name was Kohana Ayakashi…

(6) "Japanese Lullaby", written by Eugine Field. I was searching for the perfect lullaby for Nyoko to sing to her children, and when I found these lyrics, they just seemed to fit!.

(7) This was inspired by the scene in the anime. As Sapphire dies, the bandage around his forehead falls off and reveals that the inverted black cresent is gone (Kinda' similar to the "Rurouni Kenshin" OAVs, huh?) indicating that his love for Prisma and his selfless devotion to Diamond has healed him of the Dark Crystal's power. I imagined that there had to be some reason why Sapphire was the only member of the Black Moon family to be able to heal himself, thus his mother's kiss to his forehead and blessing.

(8) As much as I dislike them, I imagined Darien and Serena's hostillity to be not totally unjustifiable. After the tragedy of Beryl's attack on the moon kingdom, no doubt they would show little understanding or compassion to anyone who opposed their rule and Crystal Tokyo.

(9) Inspired from a cut scene in the anime, where, after Sapphires death, his jacket fades away in the arms of a tearful Prisma.