Notes:  None of these characters belong to me...I just thought you all
should know that.  Thanks!  This story takes place before "The Life
Beyond Death", sooooo...I you should need this before you read that
story.  Cool.  Thank you for taking the time to read this,  I welcome
comments at tcosgrove@ndti.net.  ^_^


The Struggle of Life
A Prelude to "The Life Beyond Death"
by Andrea Joyce Cosgrove

Chapter I
The Black Moon Family:  Corruption

      Long ago, a group of rebels were exiled to Nemesis for thier 
refusal to be cleansed by the Neo Queen Serenity.  Over the years as 
one generation gave birth to a new, the hatred and resentment towards 
the Kingdom of Crystal Tokyo.  
      A plague and civil war tore through the kingdom and the 
survivors resentment towards the peaceful Crystal Tokyo grew ever 
stronger.  Finally the survivors were brought together by a young 
group of powerful warriors, warriors who had survived all the 
obstacles in their way to end up on top.  
      These warriors became the ruling class of Dark Nemesis, and 
were soon known as the Black Moon Family.  
      With resolve the Black Moon Family set to planning the 
destruction of Crystal Tokyo.  Only a year later, Dark Nemesis finally
had the power and the resources they needed to launch their attack 
upon Crystal Tokyo.
      The first attack upon Crystal Tokyo was launched.  It was a 
success and Crystal Tokyo was greatly weakened.  Now, a great battle 
waged and back on the Black Moon the leaders of this rebellion met to 
plan their next move.      Those in attendance were the most powerful
of the Black Moon
Family: Rubeus, the hot tempered young man who had been raised
from his thirteenth year by the Wiseman; Esmeraude, the beautiful
woman who had easily taken her place in the ranks of the Black Moon;
Sapphiro, the younger brother of Prince Dimand; Wise Man, the 
powerful and mysterious man who hid his face behind a black cowl; 
and Prince Dimand, the handsome prince of the Black Moon.
      Only moments into the meeting there was a brilliant flash of 
light and a beautiful woman appeared.
      The woman is almost identical to the Neo-Queen of Crystal 
Tokyo and as they all watch she strolled to the table and with quick 
easy strokes she redraws the crucial plans of the rebellion.
      "If you wish to defeat Crystal Tokyo and it's warriors you 
must strike at these five points."  The woman stated simply.
      "Excuse me?"  Esmeraude stated raising an eyebrow.
      The woman repeated her words carefully, smiling down at the 
young green-haired woman.
      "Who the hell are you woman?  Speak fast and I might let you 
live." Rubeus growled pushing himself to his feet.
      "Relax, Rubeus."  Dimand commanded.
      Rubeus retook his seat reluctantly, grumbling something 
about the Prince being taken in by a pretty face.
      Sapphiro couldn't help but think that Rubeus might not be so 
far from the truth.  Dimand had been staring at the woman since she'd 
walked to the room.  If he didn't know better, Sapphiro might have 
said that his brother was entranced with the woman.
      "Please excuse my companions rudeness and continue."  
Dimand said, never taking his eyes from the woman's face.
      'Oh, that's it he's gone.'  Esmeraude thought shaking her head.  
She'd only seen him like this once before...but that was a long time 
ago.  Too long.  Maybe he deserved a little happiness, but could this 
woman give it to him?  Somehow Esmeraude doubted it.
      The woman cleared her throat and smiled benignly. "Of 
course, my Prince."
      'Oh, I think I'm going to be sick.'  Sapphiro thought, looking 
away from the woman.  This woman was such an obvious fake and 
Dimand was just eating it up.
      As Sapphiro looked back at the woman he glanced 
absentmindly at the Wiseman.  It seemed as if the sneaky bastard was 
grinning beneath that cowl. He had told his brother repeatedly that 
the Wiseman was not to be trusted, but Dimand had merely said that 
they needed the power that the Wiseman possessed. Sapphiro 
wondered if that power might not be the death of them all.
      "My dear Prince Dimand, I implore you to listen to what I tell 
you and take my advice to heart."  The woman stated.  "If you wish to 
defeat Crystal Tokyo, you must do whatever is necessary."
      "Of course," Dimand said, nodding.
      "Simply attacking Crystal Tokyo will not be successful.  You 
must send a group back to a time before the rise of Neo-Queen 
Serenity when she was only a child.  The daughter of the Queen has 
already been transported back there to fetch the Silver Moon Crystal 
to aid her ailing mother.  You must stop her...if the Neo-Queen dies 
than Crystal Tokyo will fall."
      "That makes sense," Dimand said quietly, still starring at the 
beautiful woman.
      "Why are you telling us all this?"  Sapphiro asked, his eyes 
narrowed in suspicion.
      "I...I don't believe that is any of your business, upstart." The 
woman snapped.
      Sapphiro raised an eyebrow at the woman, "Really?"
      She seemed to have dismissed him and turned back to Prince 
Dimand. "But if the Prince should wish to know then I shall gladly 
tell him."
      "That isn't necessary."  Prince Demand said.
      "Brother, this is a mistake..."
      "Don't question my judgment, Sapphiro!"  Prince Dimand 
snapped.
      "God damn it, Dimand!"  Sapphiro shouted, slamming his 
hands down on the table.  "I can't believe that you're being taken in 
like this!"
      "Sit down or leave Sapphiro."  The Wiseman stated.
      "Fine.  I will not sit here and watch the world and the 
rebellion fall down around our shoulders."  With that Sapphiro 
pushed himself to his feet and stormed out of the room.
      "Sapphiro, wait!"  Esmeraude shouted, leaping to her feet.
      Dimand placed a restraining hand on Esmeraude's arm.  "Let 
him go.  He'll be back, he just needs to blow off some steam."
      Esmeraude shook her head and starred after Sapphiro, "I hope 
your right, Dimand. I hope you're right."
      The woman gasped suddenly and seemed to pale, "I must go 
now."
      Dimand nodded reluctantly, "Yes, if you must.  But first, what 
is your name?"
      "Perhaps the next time we meet."  And then she was gone in a 
flash of golden light.
      Dimand was left starring longingly after her.  
      Esmeraude narrowed her eyes, she didn't trust this woman.  
She couldn't help but think that maybe Sapphiro was
right, maybe this woman was leading them in a direction that could 
mean the destruction of them all.
	
      "I don't like this,"  Rubeus stated later that night as he, 
Esmeraude and Sapphiro sat around the small fire in the
main room.  
      "I know the feeling, Rubeus.  This woman could spell trouble 
for all of us."  Sapphiro said throwing another stick
into the fire.  
      "Who is she?  She looks like the pictures our ancestors drew 
of the Neo-Queen...accept there's something different about 
her...something...evil."  Esmeraude pulled her knees up to her chest 
as a chill ran up her spine.  
      Rubeus nodded, "I'm beginning to think that we should find 
out more about her.  Perhaps even neutralize the bitch if it proves 
necessary."	
      "You will do no such thing, my...son."  All three looked up to 
see the Wiseman looming in the doorway.  "Come.  
We are leaving now."
      Esmeraude put a hand on Rubeus' and squeezed.  She and 
Rubeus had never been close, but she could sympathize with him.  
"We'll see you tomorrow, Rubeus.  Take care,"  she whispered. 
      Rubeus nodded and followed the Wiseman from the room.
      "I don't trust him, Esmeraude.  I can't trust anyone who hides 
their face from view as he does.  I wonder, do you think that perhaps 
he knows more about this woman then he' saying."  Sapphiro said 
quietly as he starred at the door through which the Wiseman and 
Rubeus had disappeared.
      Esmeraude studied Sapphiro's handsome complexion in the 
dim light.  He looked anxious and worried.  The battle 
had taken it's toll on him as much as any of them and, not for the first 
time, Esmeraude wondered if it had been a wise idea to continue this 
war.  "Sapphiro, I..."
      He turned to look at her, "Yes?"
      "Nothing.  What do you think we should do about this woman?"  
      He rubbed a hand across his forehead, "To tell you the truth, I 
just don't know what we can do."

      Rubeus awoke in the dead of night for some reason he could 
not fathom.  He looked around his chamber, unable to see anything 
through the pitch black darkness.  He lit the candle on the table 
beside his bed quickly and scanned the room as the dim light cut 
through the darkness.  
      A slight movement caught his eye and he found himself 
starring at the Wiseman.  "Why are you in my chamber?"
      The Wiseman turned toward Rubeus, his face hidden by the 
shadows and the folds of his cowl.  "I do not have to explain myself to 
you."
      Rubeus narrowed his eyes at the man who'd raised him for the 
past several years, "When you come into my room in the dead of night 
to sift through my belongings you most certainly do."
	The Wiseman cackled and left the room without explanation.  
Rubeus waited until the door clicked closed before he pushed aside 
the covers and stood.  Taking the candle holder up from the table 
moved to where the Wiseman had been standing only to find himself 
facing a blank wall.  The only thing decorating the wall was a brass
candle holder.
	Carefully Rubeus reached out and touched the candle holder.  
	Nothing happened.
	"Hmmm..."  Rubeus twisted the candle holder to the right and
the entire wall slid to the side, revealing a long dark tunnel.  
	Without thinking, Rubeus ventured quickly into the tunnel as
the wall slid shut once more.   

	The woman reappeared to Prince Dimand a few days later, in
his private chambers.  "My Prince..."
	Prince Dimand nearly jumped out of his skin, "Wha...?!?!"
	The woman laughed lightly, "Did I startle you, my Prince?"
	"Y...yes.  I wasn't expecting visitors.  Especially not visitors
that appear in a flash of light into my bedchamber."  Prince Dimand
said starring at the beautiful woman before him.  
	"I'm so sorry my Prince.  Next time I'll remember to knock." 
	"That's quite alright.  Now tell me, what do you wish of me?"
	The woman smiled, "I want you to see that you do as I
suggested."
	"Yes, we've already began plans to send my brother and
Esmeraude back..."
	"NO!"
	Prince Dimand was taken aback and looked at her sharply. 
"What?"
	The woman quickly regained her composure, "I'm sorry.  I...I
don't know if I should be the one to tell you this but..."
	"Go ahead."
	"Well, I don't trust your brother and Esmeraude.  The
Wiseman was telling me that those two have been spend-
ing quite abit of time together lately and I'm afraid that they are
plotting against you."
	"No, not my brother and Esmeraude.  They are my most
trusted friends and associates, they would never betray
me."  Prince Dimand said, laughing the woman's comment off.
	Turning her face into the shadows the woman scowled.  If he
did not distrust them enough to not send them on
this mission, then her plans would be ruined.  She turned back to
Prince Dimand, "What will it take to make you
believe me?"
	Dimand shook his white blond hair, "Nothing.  I am not calling
you a liar, but your suspicions are misplaced.  My brother is loyal to
me in the absolute and Esmeraude is a good friend."
	"Oh?  Your brother walked out on your meeting earlier this
week and said that this plan would cause the world to
fall down around your shoulders and Esmeraude was very eager to go
after him."  
	"Well, yes, but Esmeraude has been friends with Sapphiro as
long as I have been friends with her."
	"Still...doesn't it seem a bit suspicious.  They are alone
together continuously and last night the Wiseman saw her 
exiting his room at midnight."
	Dimand's eyes flared with anger, "What?!?!"
	"I'm sorry, my Prince.  I didn't want you to find out this way
but..."
	"I'll kill them both," Dimand seethed.
	"I have a better solution.  Listen to me.."  The woman said
gently laying a hand on his broad shoulder.  "Send Rubeus on the 
mission, let him take those women...the four sisters.  I'll handle 
Esmeraude, when I am done with her
she shall be your loyal servant once more.  As for your brother..."
	"Yes?"  
	"He is a loose cannon.  He will be handled accordingly.  Don't 
worry about a thing my love, I shall take care of it."
	"Yes, thank you.  I...I would like to be alone now."  Dimand 
said, his voice tired.  He sat down hard on the edge
of his bed.  
	"Of course, my prince."  The woman curtsied and left the room 
quietly.

	"I don't believe this.  I just don't freakin' believe this shit."  
Rubeus spat as he paced the room.
	"Rubeus..."  Esmeraude began.
	"Don't you dare say it's going to be alright.  They're sending 
me into the past...the past!  This is the stupidest idea I have ever 
heard and I get to spearhead the operation."
	"Rubeus!"  Esmeraude shouted.
	Finally Rubeus turned to look at her, "What?"
	"Sit down."
	To Esmeraude's surprise he did, collapsing down on the floor 
next to her.  "I just can't believe they expect me to
go on this foolhardy mission."
	"Believe it.  Just go and get it over with and then when you get 
back we'll find some way to get this woman.  You 
know that it must have been her who planted all these crazy ideas 
that the Prince has been getting."
	"Rubeus?  Are you in here?"  The Wiseman's voice was hollow 
and menacing as he came to the door.  
	Cursing, Rubeus stood and pulled Esmeraude up with him, just 
as the Wiseman opened the door.  "Oh here you are boy.  Come.  It is 
time for the test run of the time travel device."
	"One moment and be along."  Rubeus said quickly.  
	"No.  Now."  The Wiseman said his voice flat.
	"Damn, damn and double damn."  Rubeus breathed his voice so 
low that Esmeraude had trouble hearing it.  Without warning, Rubeus 
pulled her up against him, looping his arms around her.  He buried 
his face in her hair rest to her ear.  "Be very careful, Esmeraude.  I 
haven't told anyone, but I found a secret room in the east wing.  I 
know who this woman whose been advising the prince really is.  She is 
very powerful, Esmeraude.  I'll tell you more later."
	Releasing her, Rubeus stepped away and walked from the 
room.  
	Esmeraude called after him, "Take care, Rubeus."   
	He grinned crazily at her over his shoulder, "I always take 
care of myself."
	Esmeraude watched him exit and felt dread pool in her 
stomach.  Something evil was approaching and she was
afraid that there would be no time to stop it.
	
	"Sapphiro?"  Prisma knocked on the door again, only to again 
receive no answer.  She knew he was there, he  hadn't come out of his 
room in days, not since his brother had stripped him of his command 
and handed it over to... that woman.
	Using her powers, Prisma sent a small bolt of energy through 
the lock and nodded as the entire lock system melted under her 
touch.  She opened the door slowly, not knowing what to except.  
	The room was dark, no candle burned within.  Prisma ran her 
hand up the wall to the familiar candle holder and used her power to 
ignite the wick.  A dim light cast it's shadow across the room.  
"Sapphiro?"
	Prisma scanned the room, squinting at the wreckage that was 
scattered throughout.  Quietly, she clicked the door closed behind 
her.  "Sapphiro?  Where are you?  I'm not leaving until I get to speak 
to you."
	"Go away."  A voice rasped from the far corner of the room.
	Prisma recognized the voice even though it sounded hoarse 
and dry.  "Sapphiro."
	"I said, go away.  I do not wish to see you or anyone else."
	Pain stabbed at Prisma's heart, but she quickly shook it off.  
"Damn it, don't be stubborn you stupid son of a bitch.  I'm leaving for 
the past tomorrow morning and I don't want to leave you like this."
	"There's nothing you can do." 
	Prisma made her way slowly, carefully though the maze of 
splintered wood and torn cloth.  "Look, I know you're unhappy, but 
you must focus and try and get past this disappointment.  Obviously 
this bitch has been messing with your brother's mind, telling him 
lies and the such.  You can't just sit in here and waste away while 
your brother falls deeper and deeper into the abyss."
	"Watch me."
	Prisma ducked beneath a long board which had been embedded 
in the wall.  "Why are you acting like this?"
	"Because I do not fight losing battles."
	"Bull.  Your sulking, feeling sorry for yourself because your 
brother has shown that he, for some reason, no longer trusts you.  
Well, knock it off.  You are the prince of the Black Moon Family.  If 
anything happens to your brother you must be ready to take up his 
position."  Prisma finally reached the corner in which he sat.  She 
kneeled down beside him and stroked his hair.  "I know that you are
stronger than this Sapphiro.  I know you are frustrated, but you must 
pull yourself together."
	He looked up at her, his face a pale mask of sadness.  "I don't 
know if I can.  There is nothing left for me.  My brother is my only 
living relative, I was never close to the others...except Esmeraude and 
even she can not help me now."  
	Prisma placed her hand on his cheek, "You can and you will.  I 
will defy Dimand's orders and stay behind if I must, but you will 
pull threw this travesty."
	The last thing Prisma expected him to do was kiss her, but 
before she knew what was happening his lips were pressed against 
hers.  Finally he broke the kiss and looked away, "I'm sorry if I have 
offended you."
	"No, Sapphiro.  It's just...oh never mind."  Prisma leaned 
forward and kissed him.  Sapphiro was surprised, perhaps even 
shocked.  Prisma pulled away and placed one slender finger against 
his lips to silence him.  "Shh..no questions. Not tonight."

	Prisma awoke early the next morning.  She slipped out of the 
bed, careful not to disturb the still sleeping Sapphiro.  In the light of 
the dying candle, Prisma dressed quickly, and looked at the clock on 
that lay on the floor where Sapphiro's nightstand had once stood.  
	4:50am
	Good, Prisma thought.  She would be able to easily slip into 
her room before her sisters or Rubeus were up and about.  It felt 
wrong to leave him alone now after the previous night, but Prisma 
knew that she didn't have a choice.  Despite her brave words last 
night, she could not disobey Prince Dimand's orders.  She turned 
quickly and looked at Sapphiro one last time.
	He looked peaceful and far too young  when he slept.  His dark 
blue hair fell softly across his pale forehead and Prisma reached 
forward and brushed it back gently.  She knew that she would always 
remember him like this, even if
she did make it back.  To tell the truth, Prisma doubted that she 
would ever see Prince Sapphiro again.

	"Are you ready to go, girls?"  Rubeus asked, his voice cold 
and flat.
	"Yes!"  Catzi answered.  Being the youngest and having an 
undefeatable love for Rubeus, Catzi had agreed immediately to this 
trip into the past.
	"Whatever."  Avery answered, yawning and throwing her 
purse over her shoulder.  
	"I'm ready," Berti answered.
	Prism didn't answer, merely nodded her head in affirmation 
and hoped that they got going soon.  
	"Fine."  Rubeus said coldly.
	Esmeraude stepped forward and took one of Rubeus' hands, 
"Good luck.  Hurry back my friend."
	Rubeus jerked his hand away, "What do you care?  Let's go 
sisters."
	Esmeraude watched in stunned silence as the four sisters and 
Rubeus stepped into the transporter.  She could hardly believe that it 
had been Rubeus who had just spoken to her that way.  
	"The Rabbit child of Neo-Queen Serenity has escaped our 
grasp and leaped into the past with the help of Sailor Pluto.  You will 
be riding on her trail and shall appear in the spaceship at the same 
time and place as she will."
	Rubeus nodded.
	"Good, now go."  The door closed behind the group and in a few 
moments the ship was gone.    

	"He's my brother.  My brother and he's acting as if I do not 
even exist.  I thought I knew him better than anyone.  What is 
happening to him, Esmeraude?"  Sapphiro said running a hand back 
through his dark blue hair.  His room was clear of wreckage and
 almost clean of possessions.  
	The morning after the sisters and Rubeus had left, Sapphiro 
had come out of his room, apparently back to being his old self again.  
Now the two friends stood in the middle of this 
room, discussing their current situation.
	"I don't know, my friend.  But I intend to find out."  
Esmeraude said.  She pushed Sapphiro into a chair near his 
bed.  "Just relax, I'll be back."  
	Sapphiro nodded vaguely as Esmeraude left the room.  
	This is it, Esmeraude thought to herself, the bitch has gone to 
far this time.  
	Esmeraude had doubts that it was that woman from the 
meeting who had turned Dimand against them.  First he had 
announced that she was his new, second-in-command, a position 
previously held by Sapphiro.  Then he'd 
announced that he planned to send Rubeus on the mission, something 
that Rubeus had opposed immediately.
	It had disturbed even more when Dimand had refused to see 
either her or Sapphiro and had in fact gone as far
as to ban them from the meetings.  
	Only two days ago, Rubeus and the four sisters had left for 
their mission in the past.  When they left, Rubeus had
been a changed man.  Esmeraude doubted that she would ever know 
what happened to him in the days since she had 
last seen him and that morning but he had suddenly become cold, 
aloof and cruel.  All she could do was hope that he
would somehow be able to heal himself while he was gone, away from 
the evil influence of the Wiseman.
	But none of that mattered now, because now Esmeraude was 
going to get some answers.  She continued to 
stride down the hallway towards Prince Dimand's room.  As she 
turned the corner she ran straight into the woman.
	"You!"  Esmeraude shouted backing away from the woman.  She 
could sense the woman's power and was afraid,
but that wouldn't stop her from confronting this woman.  "What did 
you do to Prince Dimand?"
	"I just told him a couple of truths and a couple of lies and 
allowed him to make his own assumptions, too bad for
you."  The woman said, smiling.
	"And what about Rubeus?  What the hell did you do to him,you 
witch?!"
	"I used his emotions to twist the very fabric of his being.  The 
same thing I am about to do to you."  The woman
stepped closer to where Esmeraude stood.
	"What?"
	"Don't try to run Esmeraude, I already know what I wish your 
fate to be.  All I have to do his inflate your ego and
your feelings of friendship for Prince Dimand until that friendship 
becomes obsessive love.  Then I must diminish the feelings of 
friendship you hold for Sapphiro and Rubeus and you are mine."
	"No!  I won't let you!"  
	"I'm afraid that you don't have a choice, my dear."  
	A great pain seized Esmeraude and she fell to the floor, 
screaming.  She could feel her very being being erased 
and tweaked and tuned to this woman's wishes.  "Nooo!"  
	The woman laughed, everything was falling into place.  It 
wouldn't be long before she would be able to have them all serve her 
and then she would triumph in this game.