The Arctic Circle A Day Of Destiny Metallia grinned from within Beryl's body, grotesquely twisted to contain massive amounts of dark energy. That same energy poured from her hands towards the tiny, pale figure atop a spire of ice, halted only by a matching beam of purest white. Alone, Beryl was no match for the Ginzuishou, and though she was loath to admit it, with all of the energy she had expended recently, neither was Metallia. But by possessing Beryl's physical shell, its owner having outlived any other usefulness, Metallia was able to feed upon both the dark energy stored within her, and her life force itself. For all the power Metallia possessed, she had none that compared to that which animates flesh and binds it to the soul. Though, thanks to Metallia, Beryl had long since ceased to have a soul. Trapped in the ecstasy of her power and of once more possessing a physical form, Metallia almost didn't notice the glowing figures that appeared around the figure of Princess Serenity. thought Metallia. She could sense the power building in the ghostly figures, and knew they were drawing on all of their residual power to aid their beloved princess one last time. Drawing on all of her strength, preparing for the blow that she knew would decide the battle in her favor, Metallia did not notice her hold on Beryl weaken. Even if she had, she most likely would not have given it a second thought. Beryl had served her loyally for over a thousand years, and even if she was capable of desiring freedom, she was no match for Metallia's power. Overconfidence can be quite a fatal flaw. A soft glow surrounded the ice spire, power streaming towards the figures perched there in flashing arcs. Metallia prepared to unleash a devastating blast of dark energy when she suddenly felt Beryl begin to slip from her grasp. "WHAT!!! THISSS CAN'T BE!!!!" shrieked Metallia. She fought to contain Beryl, clinging desperately to the physical form that surrounded her. However, she had expended too much power in the battle. With a triumphant mental cry, Beryl RIPPED the essence of herself from Metallia, using part of Metallia's own power to teleport away, leaving the Dark Kingdom ruler with only traces of dark energy. "NOOOOOOOO!!" Metallia screamed. She fought to hold on to her fading form, never realizing that the Ginzuishou's power combined with that of the Senshi was heading straight for her. __________ Beryl reappeared in her throne room as a powerful surge of energy shook the Dark Kingdom palace, emanating from the portal to Earth. Her already weakened body tumbled to the ground. "Betrayal," she murmured hoarsely, blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth. The word tasted bitter. After a millennium of serving Metallia, thinking that she was seen as a sort of second-in-command, or at the very least, a faithful vassal, she had been scorned, cast aside, used as... as a *vehicle* of sorts for an insane monster. "Was I such a fool that I couldn't see I was only being used?" muttered Beryl as she struggled to regain her footing. "What made me side with that... *demon*?" The question made her pause. She couldn't remember. She remembered promises of power, absolute power, whispered up and down her spine like some taunting confection. She remembered visions of conquest dancing before her, dreams of smashing the Moon Princess and her Senshi into the dust to be forgotten, and claiming Endymion as her own because he... Was hers... Had always been hers... "Had always been *who's*?" she asked herself, confused. Something was wrong, terribly wrong. Looking back through her thoughts, she found only scraps of memories. There were so many holes she had somehow never noticed before. Pieces of a life that was mysteriously absent. A question passed through her battered lips. "Who am I?" __________ Metallia was gone, banished from existence by a princess and her soldiers who no longer even had any memory of the event. And bit by bit, her Dark Kingdom began to break down around the edges as the power that held it together began to fade. __________ Weariness struck Beryl, and she crumpled to the ground once more. Drained from her battles with the Senshi and Metallia, Beryl could barely stay conscience. "Energy..." she murmured, coughing up more blood. She saw a shimmer to her left. Dragging herself over, she came upon a makeshift bed formed of stone, shimmering with power. With a start, she realized that this was where Endymion had lain as she used her magic to twist him to her will. The thought of what she had done to him sickened her now. However, the traces of power that remained from the spell could be enough to sustain her life force while her body healed. Using what little strength her body still possessed, Beryl managed to climb into the stone slab. Feeling the energy wash over her body, she sighed and closed her eyes, her ragged mind gratefully surrendering to oblivion. __________ And she slept. And around her, a kingdom crumbled. And she dreamed. And unnoticed to her, time passed. And she remembered. ******************************************************* **A Soul Reclaimed** By Brickgirl Lady_Brick@yahoo.com Rated: PG Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and friends do not belong to me. Adonis, Thalia, and this story do. **Part 1: Perchance To Dream** ******************************************************* The Imperial Moon Palace The Silver Millennium The Great Hall was packed full, the crowds of people all chatting excitedly. Adonis sighed heavily, wondering if the translucent pillars of moonstone and the marble walls with their fine carvings would survive beyond today's ceremonies. As Queen Serenity's chief advisor, he had recommended that the event be cut off from the public, with only her court, and the courts of the planetary queens be allowed to attend. However, the Council of Planets had insisted, as many people as possible who wished to attend the ceremony were to be welcomed, and Serenity had agreed. After all, she reasoned, silencing Adonis's protests, it wasn't every day that a prophecy came true before one's very eyes. Adonis sighed again, pushing back his shoulder-length pale blue hair. Sometimes he thought that Serenity made too many of her decisions based on the desires of the other planets and the Council, instead of addressing the need of her own people. Queen Serenity rested upon her throne carved of moonstone several grades finer then that of the pillars. On her lap sat the five year old Princess, her blue eyes wide, taking in all of the bright colors around her. The throne to Serenity's right lay vacant, as it had since the King had been killed by a wayward summoning spell two years ago. To the Queen's left and right stood Luna and Artimis, the Queen's Guardians and Advisors of State. Adonis knew how deceptively weak the two cats looked, but both had the ability to change into human form, possessing both excellent fighting skills and several magical abilities. Flanking the throne on either side was six of the Planetary Queens: Mercury, Venus, and Earth on the left, and Mars, Jupiter, and Pluto on the right. All of them, except for Pluto, had a young girl, around the same age as the Moon Princess in front of them. The Queens of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, who along with the other Queens formed the Council of Planets, were farther back in the crowd, as they were not direct participants in the ceremony that was about to take place. Serenity rose, her daughter next to her. The crowd saw and quickly grew silent. An exited hum seemed to fill the air, of barely restrained anticipation. "Today is the most sacred of days," Serenity began, her voice gentle, yet also full of power, dancing to even the farthest listeners. "Five hundred years ago, the Sailor Senshi of the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter gave up their lives while battling the Empress Octavia of Earth, and the demon Metallia whom she had enlisted to aid her in the conquest of our planetary system. Thanks to the noble sacrifice of the Senshi, Octavia was vanquished, Metallia banished from her physical shell to a pocket of negative space, and this period of peace we now know as the Silver Millennium established. Though the Senshi had been vanquished, the great sorceress Andora, the last Priestess of Selene, prophesized that in five hundred years, along with the birth of the fifth Queen of the Moon, the Senshi would be reborn. Today is the day that their power shall awaken!" The crowd cheered, having known most of this information already, but caught in the unrestrained excitement of the moment. One cluster of figures in the back seemed oddly untouched by the mob's emotion. Adonis carefully noted them in the back of his mind. He thought he saw Pluto also glance in their direction, but he might have been mistaken. "Today, the power of the Ginzuishou shall awaken the Senshi that lay within the five princesses you see before you. Pluto, Senshi Guardian of the Gates of Time will grant them the extended life spans that Cronus himself stated shall be his gift to the Senshi throughout the universe, that their light may shine always." The crowd cheered again as Pluto tilted her head towards them, green hair swirling. They knew that it was a very rare thing to see the elusive Senshi of Pluto. Serenity raised her hands above her head, and the Ginzuishou shimmered into existence between them, floating within a sparkling orb of light. An awed silence blanketed the crowd. "Princess Ami of Mercury, step forward," commanded Serenity, the power of the Ginzuishou amplifying her voice. The little blue- haired girl stepped forward. Serenity looked down at her, her eyes gentle and proud. "I dub thee Guardian of Mercury, Senshi of water and ice." The symbol of Mercury flared blue on her forehead, and a blue henshin stick appeared before her. She cautiously took it. Princess Rei of Mars was next, dubbed as the Senshi of the eternal flame. Her purple eyes were dark and serious as she took the henshin stick that materialized in front of her. The Guardian of Jupiter was the Princess Makoto, a tall chestnut- haired girl who seemed to radiate strength, appropriate for the Senshi of lightning and nature. Princess Minako of Venus remained as solemn as the others as she was named Senshi of Love and Emotion, and second-in-command of the Soldiers of the Inner Planets. However, after receiving her henshin stick, the blond girl winked and blew a kiss at the gathered crowd, who cheered in return. Adonis shook his head at the sight. These were the girls who were to protect the future Queen? "Princess Thalia of Earth, step forward," the Moon Queen commanded. The crowd grew silent once more, almost awed as the girl stepped forward, her auburn hair tumbling down her shoulders, her hazel eyes clear, holding a wisdom unparalleled for one her age. Adonis shifted uncomfortably. *She* was the one that beared the most watching. Serenity's voice rang out. "I dub thee Guardian of Earth, Senshi of heart, will, and power, Leader of the Soldiers of the Inner Planets, and head of the court of the Princess Serenity." A henshin stick appeared in the air, as well as a pale blue crystal about the size of the hilt of a sword. "To you I present this shard of cerulean crystal. May its powers, strengthened by that of the Ginzuishou aid you in your duty." The girl carefully took the objects and stepped back to her mother. The Queen looked to the figure at the end of the line. "Pluto?" Pluto stepped up the carpet to the throne, turning to face the princesses. The crowd leaned forward, perhaps expecting some sort of speech, but Pluto ignored them, simply raising her staff. A white light burst from nothingness near the ceiling, splitting into six beams that moved to envelop the planetary princesses and the moon princess. The crowd shied their eyes from the brilliant light. At least, most of them did. "Death to the offworlders!" came a cry from the back of hall. Adonis, hurriedly shading his eyes saw the group he had noticed before throw off their cloaks to reveal weapons. Others situated at various locations in the hall did the same. Adonis estimated about twenty in all. He swore, unsheathing his sword. Screams rang out in the hall as the men began to cut their cut their way through the crowd, toward the throne. A flash of light came from the throne as Luna and Artimis took to their human forms, Artimis with his own sword, Luna with a bow. Adonis looked towards Pluto, but realized that she was helpless, trapped in the middle of her spell. The timing had obviously been planned. "Protect the Queen and the Princess!" he yelled to the cat advisors unnecessarily as they moved to flank Serenity. Then, holding his breath, he dove into the mob. It was chaos. Most of the crowd was unarmed commoners, fleeing to get out of the way of the assassins, who weren't taking kindly to those who got in their way. Adonis dove to the left, engaging a swordsman heading towards the Queen. He quickly dispatched him, then ran another through who attempted to knife him from behind. An assassin to the right fell, an arrow protruding from his chest. Glancing toward the throne, Adonis saw Luna let fly with another arrow, while Artimis warded off a large man with a deadly looking mace. A glittering silver wall had enveloped Pluto and the princesses, the Ginzuishou hovering over them, and he realized Serenity was protecting the workings of the spell. Gritting his teeth, Adonis waded through the fray, seeking more opponents. A glint towards the back of the room caught his eye. He saw an archer string an arrow and aim towards the throne. Panic gripped him, as he realized he wouldn't reach the assassin in time. Still, Adonis fought his way towards him, knowing the distance was too great. The arrow flew. A shriek rose, splitting sharply through the noise of the crowd. Adonis reached the archer and ruthlessly cut him down. Only then did he dare to look back towards the throne, his heart thudding in his throat. The magical wall had vanished, Pluto's spell apparently complete. Serenity stood, fists clenched, pain etched deeply into her lovely features. An all too adult horror gaped in the eyes of the young Senshi. The Princess Thalia let out a small cry as her mother, Queen Thetis of Earth collapsed lifelessly to the ground, the feathers on the shaft of the arrow through her heart still quivering. Panic still reigned in the hall, but the area by the throne was deathly silent. The few remaining assassins had grouped together and were fighting through the crowd to escape. Pluto stood tall, angry. She raised her staff, and whispered. A blinding burst of energy exploded from orb of Pluto's staff, flinging the group of men over the heads of the fleeing crowd into the wall at the opposite end of the hall. They hit with a sickening crunch, and Adonis internally winced, realizing that almost every bone in the bodies of those men had been crushed. Only one remained, dazedly picking himself up off of the scorched floor. Adonis moved towards him, but Artimis was faster. "Who sent you here? Why?" Artimis hissed, shaking the man by the collar. The man looked at him defiantly and spit in his face. "I work for those who would rid our Moon of you and your kind, those who would seek to drag the Lunarians down from their position above offworldly scum!" Before Artimis could stop him, the man flicked a dagger from his sleeve and slashed his own throat. Artimis stared for a moment, then dropped the dying man to the floor, retreating back to his Queen. Those who still remained from the original crowd had grown silent. They gathered around the body of the slain Queen. Some of those from Earth were openly weeping, while other seethed with rage. Thalia stood nearby; crying into the shoulder of Queen Serenity while the other Queens tried to shield the view from the princesses. Pluto stood nearby, her expression vague, unreadable. Luna and Artimis discussed something unintelligible in harsh whispers. Adonis surveyed the disaster around him and shook his head. He had told Serenity that this was a bad idea... Even he hadn't known how bad it would be. __________ Queen Serenity paced quietly up and down her darkened chambers, her tangled thoughts following close behind. In the distance, soft sobbing could be heard. The Queen closed her eyes, wishing it away. However, not even she had the power to reverse what had been done. "Thirty-two dead, including Queen Thetis of Earth, not including the assassins themselves, hundreds more injured. Did I make a mistake thinking that nothing like this would happen, could happen? Was I just fooling myself?" She gracefully sank into a chair. A voice spoke from the shadows. "We all act in what way we believe will have the best results, you more then most others, you Majesty. No one can foresee the actuality of those actions." "Except you, Setsuna." Burgundy eyes flashed in the darkness. "Perhaps." Serenity sighed, a question that had been tickling the back of her mind slipping off her tongue. "Tell me honestly. Did you know this was to happen?" Setsuna was silent for a moment, perhaps weighing her own thoughts. "It was a possibility," she said finally. There were many others. I am not omniscient, you know." The last part was a bit more defensive then her usual tone. "I never said that you were," Serenity said quickly. "But you've wondered. So have many others. How can one see what is always in motion, never certain? There are always more possible threads that will be taken up, but nothing is ever completely certain." The Queen paused. "Perhaps it is a blessing, not to know all that will pass." "Or a safeguard." "How so?" "I am only human. Knowing too much would make me a danger to that which I am supposed to protect." Serenity nodded, unsure of what to say. As long as she and Setsuna had been friends, she still knew little about the guardian of time, and understood even less. Setsuna was silent for a moment as well. "What will become of the Earth Princess?" she asked finally, her voice soft as the wind. Serenity closed her eyes, perhaps contemplating the sobbing a few doors down the hall. "She will stay here on the moon, in the palace. Her mother was her only close relative, and I have no desire to see her used as a pawn for someone else's claim to the throne." "And you feel responsible for what happened to her mother?" Serenity bowed her head, hiding the single tear that slid down her cheek. "She was my friend," she whispered. "I'd known her since we were both very young." She laughed bitterly. "She was so proud of her daughter, who she was to become. Today was such a special day for her." "What of the prophecy?" Serenity jerked her head towards the shadows, her tears seemingly forgotten. "We don't know for sure that she is the one." "It seems to point most directly at her." "With her in the palace, I will be able to keep an eye on her." "And kill her if necessary?" Setsuna questioned, stepping into a shaft of light. Her dark hair hung over her shoulders like a cloak, and her eyes, unreadable, drilled into the Queen's. "That is not an option!" Serenity stated, rising from her chair. "I will not have the blood of an innocent girl on my hands!" Setsuna's smile was laced with sorrow. "Even if it meant the destruction of your Kingdom?" "The ends do not justify the means." Her voice was firm, unshakable. "Many would disagree with you." "That is why few know of the prophecy. Fewer truly understand its implications. Thank Apollo that the original text was lost. Who knows what people would do if..." Serenity shuddered. "And anyway, we have no proof that it is Princess Thalia that the prophecy truly refers to." "That is true." Setsuna's voice became faint as she began to fade from the room. "But one last question, my friend. If she were to bring destruction to your kingdom, then would she still be innocent? Serenity could not answer. _______ In a room down the hall, a little girl lay crumpled on a soft bed, racked with sobs. Today was supposed to have been a fun day. She had been so happy, before the men had come. Her mother had told her she was to get magic, so that when she grew up, she would be a special, strong warrior. She hadn't really understood, but her mother had told her how proud she was, so she had known it was a good thing. But then the men had come, and they had weapons, and her mother was dead now, just like her father, and she had wanted to protect her. But she couldn't. "Hello?" whispered a hesitant voice from the doorway. Thalia jerked into a sitting position, her tangled hair masking most of her tearstained face. Standing at the door was Princess Serenity, her white gown gently brushing the floor. She walked slowly up to Thalia on the bed, looked at her for a moment, then threw her arms around her and burst into tears. Thalia was so startled by this act that she stopped crying herself. She pulled away from the other princess and studied her curiously. "Why are you crying," she asked Serenity. The little girl sniffled. "Because you were so sad, it made me sad too." She wiped her nose with the back of her hand in a most unprincesslike manner. Thalia's eyes watered. "My Mother's gone," she whispered, "and I don't have a father, so I have no family." "I don't have a father either," Serenity told Thalia. For a moment, they gazed at each other with an understanding that transcended their young ages. Then Serenity smiled. "My Mother told me a secret, but she said I could tell you 'cause it would make you happy again." Thalia was curious. "What?" "She said that since you don't have a mother now, that you can live with us and she would be your mother and I would be your sister." Thalia managed a shaky smile, though the tears were beginning to flow again. "That's good," she managed before she began to sob quietly once more. "If I had been able to fight, and keep the bad men away from Mother..." She trailed off. Serenity hugged her once more, and the two girls sat together in the room as night slowly fell. __________ Deep in the bowels of the Moon palace, a shadowed figure sat in a room all but forgotten in the past hundreds of years. It was here that the most archaic of the Lunarian records lay, ignored as the Palace Archives had grown and become renown throughout the system. The figure smirked, thinking of the hundred of scholars who searched for these writings that lay hidden right beneath their feet. Reaching for another book, the figure smiled. Finally, what he had spent the night search for. He held the book with reverence, gazing at the worn and tattered cover where the words 'The Prophesy of Andora' were still faintly readable. Placing the book down, he began to carefully flip through the leaves, gently, as to not damage the ancient paper, on which a faceless scribe had rewritten the words Andora for the first Queen of the Moon almost five hundred years ago. The Prophesy was well known and studied among the system... at least, most of it was. Finding the section that he was looking for, the man began to read. His face remained impassive, but deep within his eyes, old anger burned. The Light is reborn Yet Darkness will follow An Earthen Angel will rise and fall Her power to Darkness And Darkness swallows all but Light Light entraps Darkness Light to Darkness, Darkness to Light The Light reborn from Darkness An Angel's heart weeps And the Moon shines no more Save for a distant Light Finished reading, the man carefully tore the page from the book. Placing the book and the others he had taken back on the shelf, he reflected on the passage. He was not skilled in translating prophesy by any means, but there were several things that even a fool could see; the threat would come from Earth, from a being of great power, female. The most obvious candidate was the Princess Thalia. Very well, he told himself as he worked his way through the hidden corridors with practiced ease. He would watch, wait, bide his time. And in the end, if necessary, he would do what Queen Serenity refused to do, to save the Lunar Kingdom. He would do whatever needed to be done. No matter what the cost. ******************************************************* ******************************************************* The last part of this fanfic was released about a year ago, and I think it is long due for an overhaul, especially since I am still getting many new readers. Since I have already started writing the prequel for it (Priestess of Light, and yes, the six-month- overdue part *will* be out soon), a few minor details needed to be changed. The fic will basically have a rewrite, and a reformatting. I hope that those new readers will hold off on reading all the parts as they come out (should be one every week) and the people who enjoyed it so much before will find it to be even better. Please e-mail comments to Lady_Brick@yahoo.com, as they are greatly appreciated. Also, take a peek at my websites at http://www.mindeclipse.com for more fanfics and tons of other stuff.