Moon Song
For whom shall the stargazer reserve his heart,
What secrets would death threaten to withhold that are not its right?
Shall music afford comfort, open my heart and have my secret life flow into you?
Shall I drown and give myself to a more meaningful passing into the dusk that seeks the dawn,
I am a slayer of fears and my gift a rejuvenated soul,
Indelible, love’s continuum is a budding bloom within your botanical dreams,
I venerate the tempest and its nectar of winters past,
Yet to bring in the harvest I drink the dawn and give myself to the night,
The autumnal moon yields to my wishes as it remembers its celestial sister and her Terran dream,
Beneath my knowing there lies a waking moment,
Incantations recited that defy my conscious intent,
My heart’s in-most secrets exposed -- a stranger to myself I remain no more,
My glaive cuts away at my doubts and insecurities revealing a sweet dark rose,
Holding my becoming in its keeping,
Sailor Saturn
Saturn
The crystal star spun rapidly through the void of space. Within its confines, a young girl sleeps within a gel-like substance. She, an ancient warrior sent in response to King Solaris’s request for help. She is the Queen of Swords, the wielder of fate and the paradox of the converging pathways of the infinite. She is the Senshi of Destruction, yet she is far more than that, she is Sailor Saturn.
Odin wasn’t sure how his old friend would know what to make of the child, all but a few Saturnean days old. When Hotaru’s mother, Celestra, had emerged from the temple, her sleeveless white gown aglow with golden crystals shimmered, its light refracting off the pink marble steps as she glided down the terraces flanked by her midwives and courtiers. Her ebony locks, caught in a ponytail cascading over one shining amber shoulder highlighting her over-all beauty. She smiled at her husband as she held the precious little girl at her breast. Her eyes were his, the line of her jaw and smile, her mothers, her face an amalgam of her parent’s finest features.
As the weeks passed by, she had grown into a small girl. In Earth years, she would have been about two years of age. They carefully placed Princess Hotaru within the crystal cradle and said their heart-felt goodbyes to their little girl. Moments later the Saturnean warship left the surface bound for Mars where it would release the pod that would find its way to Earth and the prophecy would unfold.
Terran Kingdom
What they’d thought most extraordinary was the fact the child lay within a crystal star, a tiny spacecraft with an inbuilt life-support mechanism created by an obviously advanced culture. However, they knew from where it had come and knew the identity of its tiny passenger.
“How can one so small hold the fate of a world in those tiny hands,” Solaris mused aloud.
“She is destined for greatness,” Demeter said in awe, knowing only that as the child grew at an exponential rate, so too would her power.
Hotaru was a brilliant child, and within forty-eight hours was speaking over a dozen Terran languages and had read on average, 30000 words each day. She would play with other children, but she preferred solitude. At the end of that week, her amazing growth spurt began to slow down. She bore the physique of a fifteen-year-old and could hurl a dart-spire – five times her own weight – over 500 Saturnean meters and her aim was true.
The Moon Kingdom
Serenity slept on a sofa. Diana, having assumed her feline form, lay purring against her stomach. Serenity was dozing, half-alert to the sounds of birdsong and the voices from outside in the courtyard below as she stroked her faithful guardian’s soft fur.
Suddenly, Diana looked up and hissed at something in the corner, and ran to challenge the intruder, almost catching the dark bird as it flew in a panic out the door, only escaping the talons of the Moon Cat by a whisker.
Serenity’s hair spilt upon the floor in a shimmering cascade of gold, it had grown so quickly since her illness. Mercury was at a loss to explain it, and the Temple priestess, Antigone shook her head, her hands clasped over her heart as she watched as a silvery light wrapped itself around Serenity while she slept.
“I don’t understand any of it,” Serenity said, wringing her hands, “She has no fever, no outer symptoms aside from the fact she spends most of her time asleep, and her hair continues to grow at a phenomenal rate!”
“She seems lost, her eyes see us, but she doesn’t recognize anyone…I speak to her and it’s as if she doesn’t even know her own name, let alone any of us,” Mercury declared, her brow furrowed in concern.
Pluto
Endymion was growing impatient. He had sought an appointment with the Senshi of Pluto and seer of the Temple of Chronos for days now. He knew if he could get the answers he needed from Lady Pluto, princess of the ice-bound sphere, on the edge of the Terran system, he could perhaps find a way to help Serenity.
He paced up and down, the stunning temple in which he stood rose to a height of 400 meters. Its red granite walls, covered in elaborate murals -- many created thousands of years past – were most impressive and a little intimidating.
He heard the sound of footsteps approaching and saw a woman of great beauty, her dusky complexion accentuated by her white robes and the sash at her slim waist. His eyes flew to her eyes and hip-length hair.
“My prince,” she said bowing, “I have the information you seek…follow me please,” Princess Pluto said, spinning around in one fluid movement and led him along the impressive hallway that looked more like a gallery than a corridor. Soon they entered the sanctuary.
She directed him to the chairs placed at the back of the chamber. As the image of a beautiful emerald haired monarch, likely one of Pluto’s ancestors, looked on, she broached the subject of the princess of Saturn and so much more.
Endymion would have a lot to think about she knew as he waited for her to speak. “Ravensong wishes to rule the Moon Kingdom, but from its dark side, the White moon she wishes to subjugate under her Dark Kingdom. As you know, the celestial spheres we dub the planets are ruled by a Senshi Queen and her descendents, save where this is not interfered with by those wishing to destabilize the star system in question. History, a lengthy account thereof is available to you in the library. We keep archives going back far beyond the beginnings of time and only here can you find these. Your world is governed by the celestial seasons, ebbing and flowing in concert with the moon tides, every woman will tell you this. But deeper than this, Endymion is the greatest mystery. Every fiber of your being, and that of your subjects is aligned with the rhythms and flow of your sovereign world as are all your family. Your father, like his sisters, Hathor and Bast and Sekhmet, are Solar Monarchs. What is more, each planet and all the monarchs of the Silver Millennium and before it and beyond its passing are part of a living tapestry known as the Crystal Nexus, complex, yet intricate, the greatest mystery and the most profoundly beautiful.”
“So, how does that explain Ravensong and the curse?” Endymion probed impatiently.
“Saturn must destroy Beryl and free her spirit from Chaos, but this is only the beginning. Once she is free, a darker force will seek to control her on Earth and a new host shall be found, she too will be named, Beryl.” She said, solemnly, knowing Endymion was growing angrier by the moment.
“Damn it! What the hell is the point of all this if we trade one minion of darkness, and I get that the tale your telling me means death and destruction for one world at the expense of the other. A Dark Moon Kingdom, Beryl as queen, Terra left in peace and Serenity possessed or worse?” he said, exasperatedly.
“Far worse I’m afraid, my prince. Serenity must be freed, but in order the curse is to be broken, you must choose to risk all and there are no guarantees either you or Serenity will survive the cataclysm that is to come, and make no mistake prince, it will come. You must choose the vessel of hope. Without Saturn’s intervention, all shall perish and the universe as we know it will fall further into darkness by powers that defy description and the light of both the Ginzuishou and Kinzuishou would be extinguished.”
“I see, so you’re saying that if we use Saturn to defeat Ravensong, she will return to Earth, and a new war will start but through the agency of a new nemesis.”
“Correct, I have seen it through the mirror of time, I cannot speak of the final outcome, but if you wish for a new future, a sacrifice must be made and the Kamis will accept it through the sacrifice of the Moon to save the Terran Kingdom and the rest you must face on your own.”
“I will speak to my father, and my Shitennou, we have much to talk about. Thank you Pluto, I will avail myself of your archives and join you and your parents in the dining hall as per our arrangement.”
“Shall I join you, my prince? Just for the company, I grow tired of politics and I feel you need a friend more than a seer, as is my station. I grow weary of delivering such portents this day and sad tidings. I wish it could be different, Endy, really I do, but we do what we must for those we love.” She whispered, coughing slightly at the rush of unknown emotions surging upward like a fountain in her throat. She felt as if she were going to cry and turned away as Endymion stopped to look at her, that adorable boyish look, the look of concern was all too much. She loved him. But he would never be hers, at least, not here, not now.
“All well with you, my lady? You look grieved. Let us visit your botanicum. I hear it’s in full bloom right now, and what fine lady doesn't find the beauty of nature soothing? Shall we?” he invited her to take his arm.
Blinking, she pushed the tiny tear from the corner of her eye, swallowed and offered a weak smile and nod of acknowledgement and they were on their way.
The Moon Kingdom
“I’m afraid she has lost her memories, and to what extent I cannot be certain. But I do know this, I am convinced Beryl Raven song is behind it!” Venus said, her golden tresses flying about her Senshi suited countenance.
“Yes, and she is trying to prevent the alliance between the Earth and the Moon. I feel we cannot go ahead with the betrothal as Serenity must love and place her heart willingly to Endymion. Right now, she has no idea what is going on and the light from within has waned,” Serenity said, blinking away tears.
“So, the moon is vulnerable?” Mars stated bluntly.
“While this situation exists, yes, I’m afraid so.” Diana added, padding into the room. “The prince has returned, my queen, he wishes to speak with you, and shall I tell him you will join him?”
“Yes, Diana, where is he waiting?”
“By the roses, he doesn’t look happy, but I get the feeling it might not all be bad news.”
“All right, but I’m not naďve, I know it will likely be more bad than good. I feel it. Go, tell him I’m on my way.”
“Yes, my queen,” the Mauan said, and trotted promptly from the queen’s bedchamber.
~*~
Serenity stood in the garden, the sunlight bright this day, the crystal dome high above magnificent as always as she spotted Endymion, and smiled as she quickened her step to join the prince of Terra. “Endymion, I am so glad you could come. What news do you bring me from Lady Setsuna?” she asked, brushing a loose golden strand from her eyes.
“You’re not going to like it, Serenity,” he started.
“Go on,” she said, eyes doubling in size, anticipating the worst.
“Ravensong is a moon bound spirit. As the daughter of the dark side of the moon, she shares a duel legacy with the White Moon, and of course, Terra is caught up in destiny’s web as well. You see, Ravensong, as a child, was not completely evil. She was but a sprig, a branch of your family that ruled the shaded side of the kingdom with wisdom and respect. They were peaceful explorers and many migrated to worlds scattered throughout the galaxy. They were more interested in the celestial rhythms of the cosmos, having no taste for politics and power. But one day, Lord Chaos visited the little girl, Beryl in a field, striking her down, the tale is much the same as it is for Sere. Ravensong slept a lot, and her eyes grew dim. But unlike Serenity, her hair hadn’t grown continuously, her curse was the ability to shape shift. But it was only as a winged emissary of Chaos, not a shape shifter as we know them from Elysian and Calypso, no, she was cursed to live out her existence this way as a slave of the dark lord.”
“Pluto saw all this?” the queen asked, bending over to pick a flower and twirled it thoughtfully between her fingertips.
“Yes, and more, she found the diary belonging to Ravensong and scanned its contents. The library on Pluto has given us more. Apparently, Chaos visited the girl in her sleep as she grew into an adolescent and into womanhood. As she grew, she asked for and got anything she wanted: the men she wanted, and power, the jewel in her dark crown, if I can be forgiven for the pun, majesty,” he smiled wryly, knowing they needed to break this heavy episode up with some lighter punctuation points.
“I can use a laugh right now Endymion, but please, continue.”
“Chaos gave her new powers, and not only could she change into any form she so desired, but she could steel the Moon Kingdom from you by impregnating the moon with a dark Crystal Planet Seed. This is what grants her the power over Sere. The Ginzuishou power is boundless, yes, but in Sere, as she is to inherit the kingdom one day, with all due respect lady. If you retire or leave this universe, through the gates of death, pray it be long away. Let it be a millennium at least,” he chuckled at the humorous expression on Serenity’s face. She smiled and waved him on, “Then she would need to forge a bond with the Ginzuishou, but so long as Ravensong is here and the dark planet seed isn’t destroyed, Serenity will sleep, she will then grow darker and the Ginzuishou will reject her and then…” he didn’t finish the sentence.”
She will join Beryl, and they will likely compete for the dark crystal and the winner will destroy the Terran Kingdom and the White Moon.”
“Correct.”
“So, what can we do…is there anything to do?” she looked at him pleadingly.
”Yes, Sailor Saturn must do battle with her. I must take Sere as my bride and forge the alliance, but Pluto has stated there is a fine line between success in this and the fact that another daughter of Chaos, this time a powerful entity called, Metallia will seek to possess Ravensong’s tortured spirit once more through a girl on Terra with the identical name, Beryl.”
“And then?” Serenity said, pursing her lips.
“War, betrayal and death, but a chance at a new future, beyond this, I cannot say, I dare not,” he said, bowing his head.
