An odd little idea that turned up one afternoon.

                              --A.

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               Bishoujou Senshi Sailor Moon : Eidolon
               --------------------------------------

	The woods were dangerous at night.  That was what they all said, 
wasn't it?  The demons, the creatures of the darkness gathered all 
around, waiting just beyond the circle of firelight to devour the 
foolish. But still she ran, mindless of the branches that tore at her 
clothes and slashed her skin.
	The knife at her side was cold, slapping heavily against her 
thigh. Better the demons of the forest than the firelight.
	A wayward root sent her sprawling painfully into the wet debris 
of the forest floor, splattering mud over the remnants of her dress, 
but still she ran on, her lungs burning, forcing strength into her 
bruised legs.
	From ahead came the sound of water and the brightness of the 
moonlight. Safety.  They wouldn't find her here.  For a time, at least.
	Long enough.
	At last she staggered to a halt atop the slick rocks of the 
bank, the rushing stream slowly drowning her gasping breaths.  After 
the darkness of the woods the light was almost painfully bright, 
casting the deep waters blue, black and silver.  With numb fingers she 
quickly tore away the remnants of her clothes, cutting them away with 
the knife when they tangled.
	She gasped aloud in shock as she slipped into the current, the 
icy water almost burning her skin.  It pressed cold around her, higher 
and higher, between her legs, above her waist, washing away 
sensation... pain... and the memory of--
	In desperation she plunged her free hand beneath the surface, 
scrubbing, clawing painfully at her shivering flesh, cold tears running 
down her face.
	It didn't help.
	Sobbing in frustration, she grasped the hilt of the knife in her 
hands, water dripping slowly from the tip of the pommel.  The silver 
blade seemed almost hungry as she dipped it into the stream, drinking 
in the tiny droplets that clung to its surface.
	There was almost no feeling as the tip pressed though her skin, 
the numb flesh of her wrist parting smoothly at its touch.  A tiny 
rivulet of blood traced its way down her arm, purest black in the 
moonlight.  Her whole body seemed to shiver with some nameless feeling, 
part cold, part... release, perhaps.
	Her body seemed not to have even the will to jump as warm, 
slender fingers closed around her own, slipping the knife from her 
grasp.
	"This is not the only way, child."  A soft voice whispered in 
her ear, gentle breaths close against her skin.
	She felt herself spun slowly around, more by the water itself 
than the hands upon her skin.  The woman who faced her was tall, naked 
and beautiful in a way that made her body tremble.  Long black hair 
flowed down around her shoulders, spreading out across the surface of 
the water, seeming almost to writhe against the current.
	The knife blade wavered, shimmering between them.
	"Who-- who are you? A demon?"
	"No...  Not as you think, at least."  The woman smiled slightly. 
"So, what is your name, child?"
	"S... Selene" she replied, shivering violently, the strength 
seeming to ebb from her body.
	The woman reached out a hand to trace the curve of her 
cheekbone. "So, Selene, why did you come here?"
	"I... my parents... they wanted me to... to marry--"  She choked 
back a sob, her voice cracking.  "But he... he grabbed me and...and..."
	Selene began to cry desperately, pulling herself tightly against 
the other woman, shuddering uncontrollably.  The knife slipped from 
between them, vanishing silently beneath the water.
	The woman held her close for a time, letting her tears subside a 
little, squeezing her skin softly beneath her fingertips.
	Still shaking, Selene stared up at her, panic in her eyes.  
"Please... don't let them find me!  Don't let... him..."
	Gentle fingers traced their way slowly through Selene's long, 
tangled hair.
	"There is a place for you, Selene, far, far away from here.  But 
the way is not easy... and you can never return.  You will never see 
those you love again."
	Selene met the woman's gaze, her expression firm, a spark of 
hope glittering in her eyes.
	"Take me."
	The woman sighed sadly.  "Very well, child."  She leaned down 
slowly, drawing the startled girl into a kiss that seemed to fill her 
whole body with delicious warmth.  Fingertips traced lightly across her 
breast, the nails pressing sharply, suddenly into her skin.
	"I'm sorry, child" she whispered.
	Pain burst through her body, overwhelming her utterly.  Selene 
tried desperately to scream, but she had no breath, no words, only pain 
and pain and still pain forever as beautiful fingers broke though skin 
and flesh and bone, tearing...
	The woman withdrew her hand slowly, hot blood steaming in the 
chill air as the girl's eyes rolled glassily back.  She squeezed her 
hand tightly around the still-writhing heart, blood and light seeming 
to drip from within, tracing the sign of a crescent upon the girl's 
forehead.

	Selene woke with a start, her hands clutching instinctively at 
her chest.  Strong hands supported her, lifting her head slowly from 
the hard floor.  The woman looked down at her, smiling.
	"Where--" she gasped.  "Where am I?"
	"Your new home, child.  You will be safe here, always."
	Selene pushed herself upright, staring around in wonder.  All 
about them lay the vast, marbled ruins of some magnificent city; 
fractured columns and shattered arches towered above her, leading up 
towards the vast depths of the night sky.
	"What is this place?" she asked, slightly overawed.
	"The kingdom of the Moon.  Your kingdom.  With your guidance it 
may once more be what it was before."
	"Me?" Selene gasped, incredulously. "How can I rule this place?"
	"You are its Queen.  That is enough."
	She stared down at herself, shocked at the beautiful white gown 
that seemed almost to flow around her body.  At the very centre of her 
chest lay a small, golden brooch, encircling a crystal that glowed 
softly in the twilight.  It felt somehow warm beneath her fingers.
	"But how did I get here?  How... this?"  Selene waved her arm 
expansively at the ruins.
	"That does not matter."
	The woman looked up, suddenly.  Selene followed her gaze to find 
the sun creeping just above the distant horizon.  Through the glare of 
the light, she fancied she could make out the translucent shapes of the 
dead city.  She gasped at the sheer beauty of it.
	The woman turned to her, grasping Selene's face in her hand.  
"There is one last thing I must tell you before I leave.  You must 
never, never allow any of your subjects to consort with those of Earth.  
Do you understand?"  Her grip tightened.  "Otherwise all this will be 
dust once again.  You cannot... must not let that come to pass."
	She let go suddenly, turning away towards the dawn.
	"Farewell, Selene.  May you rule wisely."
	Selene leapt to her feet, dashing after her. "Please! Don't go!"
	"I have no choice, child.  No choice at all" she replied.
	Selene grabbed at the other woman's dress, leaning up 
desperately to kiss her cheek.  Her lips met nothing but the dawn light 
and the memory of a ghost.
	"Please..." she begged.  "At least tell me your name!"
	The reply was barely more than the whisper of the dawn breeze. 
	"Neherenia."
	And as the sun rose across the spires of her beautiful palace, 
the Queen of the Moon fell to her knees and wept.


FIN