Celestial Exiles
She had not felt desires for a man like that before. She was glad of it, she welcomed his urgent hands as they unfastened the buttons on the back of her pretty dress.
She had acted totally out of character, coquettish and unashamedly she led him on until the good-looking man found himself so worked up that propriety flew out the window. He was young, wise and strong and she wanted him.
She had not long since succumbed to Endymion, or more accurately, to her own darker self.
But in this moment, she was not entirely under the Dark Moon Princess’s influence. Yet she was excited, her breaths rushing in rapid anticipation of the forbidden fruit she – they would eat that night.
She felt guilty about blinding Endymion. She couldn’t stop her darker self from harming him. She had lost him, and nothing mattered now. She gave up on everything, on the man she loved, on her kingdom and now, sex was her only refuge.
Her fingers trembled, unable to unfasten the bodice. He huffed impatiently and simply tore it from her shoulders and her pearl-like breasts fell free of all encumbrances. She stood there in a tattered white dress, its bodice hanging loosely from her hips, torn from her body by the ravenous prince after their romantic walk in the palace gardens. Much wine she had consumed, and her resistance deliciously low.
She didn’t pull away when he claimed her mouth with his passionate kisses, she relished the heat and warmth of his hands on her gentle skin, making her gasp as he pulled her onto the lawn and made love as she cried and laughed at her mixed emotions as her White half made a hasty retreat. Tears had fallen from her cheeks like blood upon the palace lawn as she gave herself to her lust. She was a wanton woman in that moment and didn’t care.
She smiled at the memory with genuine fondness for the man who claimed her maidenhead.
(Poor blind Endymion)
Her crystal bloom drained of power, the Ginzuishou deserting her; only the darkness mattered now.
~/~
She must wield the glaive, within the darkened arch, that nebulous place that lies between worlds.
Saturn, only you can stand on the threshold of the cusp of night and day, where the dreamer and those who live in the waking world cannot cross without shedding their mortal coils.
It falls to you, to destroy the obsidian sphere, and reclaim the child of Serenity and come home!
Paradox of Night
As she slept, nestled in a cluster of soft luxuriant pillows and warm bedclothes entwined in the arms of her white-haired prince, she dreamt of the orb of obsidian that glittered prettily in the night sky over the Terran landscape -- her beloved Dark Moon. She also dreamt of the glossy flowers of black crystal bursting into bloom on the surface of the White Moon, their petals as large, if not larger than one of those Terran Star Coach Wheels.
She then realized she was floating a little off the ground, giggling at the memory of those silly low-tech vehicles. She had laughed as the wind played with her hair, the sensation of riding in one of those crude land conveyances she had to admit, had its appeal.
(Oh sure, they were fast all right, gliding silently above the roads linking Atlantari’s many impressive cities and provinces. But the advanced vehicles of we Lunarians leave them far behind, and for that matter, this is true of the rest of the Silver Alliance, Hmmm) she scowled, (I’ll have to conquer all of them, but I will, rest assured I shall!)
She grimaced at the thought of Diamond having to help her out of the damned contraption to throw up on the side of the road. She smirked at the thought of that poor coachman, whom had smiled politely at Diamond and discretely turned away, busying himself with something on the touch screen on the console as the perfect distraction as Diamond held her hair back as she let loose. She was, much later, relieved to discover her bout of sickness was due to her pregnancy . She had no predisposition to motion sickness as Diamond had suggested.
She recalled their trip to the Terran capital with fondness. They made the journey ostensibly to survey the city first hand instead of relying solely on spies to report to her. There would be too many gaps in their information and she was far more observant than was a mere minion, no matter their sense of loyalty. She preferred to back her own judgment and thought this prudent under the circumstances. Besides, she knew exactly what she was looking for. Dark Serenity wanted to assess the capabilities of the Terrans first hand. She would make this world hers, and rule from its Atlantarian stronghold.
~*~
In her dream body, she reached out, stroked one of the glass-like petals of obsidian, and smiled. She was enchanted. The impressive blooms towered high overhead and gave off a perfume she found both invigorating and arousing. She ran her hands over her lithe body and sighed, surprised to find she could actually feel it under her fingertips.
Dark Serenity then gazed upon the landscape with excited eyes, her manner like that of a child, squealing with delight and clapping her hands as the thick melanic vines covered the massive dome of the capital, Serenity City, in a glorious corona of shiny jet black stone. And she, the dark haired princess, would soon be its queen.
~*~
All too aware she was still dreaming, she then found herself on the surface of Terra, staring in awe at the vast palace fashioned from red and gold granite. This was the apex of power on the planet, the very heart of Atlantari City. She took in the magnificent stonework, the incredibly high walls, and as she glided effortlessly into the courtyard, gasping at the beautiful botanic gardens therein, she noted the striking statuary surrounding the building. Mythical images including Shitennou, and Senshi engaged in battles against enemies she’d never seen before she found most intriguing, the marble life-like images likely thousands of years old.
The structure and its surrounds she observed, lovingly kept in perfect order, such was the disposition of the Terran King, Solaris and his Queen, Arjirea.
~*~
She could see herself from a bird’s eye point of view. She was well pleased with what she saw. She thought it all so surreal, her youthful body aglow with golden light from the setting sun. But then, a ghostly apparition, a silhouette, stood at the end of a nearby colonnade. She was about her own height, but too obscure to identify her features, but for the fact her hair resembled her own. The figure looked as if it was crying, and then she knew it was her White Moon self. But the image vanished as she tried to follow it into the emergent night.
Dark Serenity turned back to gaze upon her doppelganger sitting upon a divan on the veranda flanked by two large beautifully carved sandstone pillars. She smiled approvingly.
(Well, don’t I look delicious?)
The young woman resembled an ancient goddess of love. She sat demurely, despite her sensual attire, and this added to her erotic power. Adorned in a gown far removed from anything one might describe as remotely decent, draped by sumptuous ebony plaits, Dark Serenity smiled and looked upon her own skimpy dream garment. She burst out laughing at the torn white dress, the very one Diamond had ruined when he – took her – and she continued to laugh for a time as she hovered a few feet off the ground cackling like a hyena. She was topless and didn’t care in the least.
(Oh, how I have such a corrupted mind, I think of my deflowering, and my dreams dress me thus! But my copy is far more seductive I think)
Dark Serenity grinned as she appraised the bodice that revealed most of her duplicate’s partially exposed breasts, the statuesque woman decidedly more conservative in appearance, considering her own bared flesh.
She then heard footsteps approaching and noticed her double licking her lips as Diamond came into view. He was moving agonizingly slowly towards them, his dark navy uniform and cloak setting off his long white tresses and black leather knee-high boots; he looked scrumptious.
Her doppelganger remained seated, smiling up at the gorgeous man, her bare legs crossed, and no shoes adorning her graceful feet.
Her future self seemed lost in her thoughts, unconsciously rocking her foot in an almost seductive motion, the young woman’s ruby-red toenails catching the moonlight, as if painted with droplets of blood. Diamond knelt before the woman, ran kisses over her delicate feet, and she giggled as he continued his way up her leg.
~*~
She woke, stretched, and reached for the bronzed body of Lord Diamond. He opened his eyes slowly, and just looked at her, adoration filling those deep blue depths.
“Lady? Your dreams make you look more lovely, for I felt the radiance of your contentment washing over me as you slumbered. Come to me now and give of your bounty, my little princess!”
“You forget so easily, my lord prince. I am but a queen in waiting, worthy not only of your body, of which I gladly choose to indulge, but I demand your respect. This day, my sweet Diamond, shall be mine. I shall destroy Ravensong and lead my armies, with you by my side, of course,” she said, smiling up at him.
“Of course, my lady queen,” he smirked and kissed the tip of her nose, and she playfully swatted his hand away and attacked his lips with full force.
“Now, where… were we?” she said huskily in that sultry sexy voice Diamond loved so well as he gave himself to her embrace that always took his breath away.
(Such small delicate arms and hands, for one so strong) he mused as he took her, rolling her onto her back as she gasped with his rapid, but not unexpected thrusts between her legs. She was already waiting for him. She felt as if she was a freshly furrowed field, watered by the elements, and he was planting a seed.
(Speaking of which, should I tell him I am with child, Endymion’s child? Surely not; after all, I am the queen. He, my lover, Diamond, will never be my equal, and certainly no more than a mere consort)she mused as she clenched her teeth and rose with his ceaseless undulations that soon became her own. She forgot all else, at least, for the moment anyway.
Clash of Shadows
Without preamble, the raven squawked, it fluttered about the lifeless tower almost jubilant. The clouds gathered beneath the vast crystal dome covering Serenity City and the bird perched itself upon the statue of King Oceanus.
But now, the tide had turned, she, Dark Serenity, was no longer the virgin princess. She, finding herself swamped by the darkness lapping at her innocence, leaving in its wake the desires of a hungry woman -- hungry for power, and the pleasures of the flesh.
She stood in the central courtyard, her thoughts abruptly interrupted by a familiar voice, “You think this is your victory, but little princess, I will rule this new dark paradise, quaint paradox is it not, little princess?” Ravensong cried jubilantly.
”Of what foul words do you speak, wench, slave of the dark moon! I tapped into your power, and as I stand here in rags, the new power of this moon of shadows, falls not to you, it falls not to your Dark Lord, no, it falls to me under a new dispensation!” she shouted, having donned the tattered dress as her symbol of transformation and ascendance.
Dark Serenity unleashed a tirade of maniacal laughter. Beryl Ravensong stopped dead in her tracks, as the girl she had won over to the darkness tore the tattered dress from her body. For that brief moment, she saw it, the dark obsidian cluster hanging about the adolescent girl’s neck, shining grotesquely against her breasts. Then the dark stone throbbed with violet light and soon Dark Moon stood resplendent and powerful in a black fuku covered in bands of tiny silver pearls. Her jet plaits swatting the backs of her legs, an obsidian tiara upon her head, the new dark princess’s body exquisite and her sultry eyes flaming red and the innocent features of the former princess extinguished. In their stead, a terrifying malevolence took their place.
“Kraken! It is your time! You should be able to account for her youma foot soldiers and her other helpers. By all means, do your best… or should I say, your worst!” she shouted, as the mighty wings of the saurian creature spread wide and a host of winged youma moved on Ravensong and her forces, tired from their battle to push the Lunarian forces back to home ground.
“Pleasure it is indeed…Your Majesty!” Kraken trumpeted.
“No, I did all in my power to alter the course of destiny! You should have been consumed by the dark crystal!” she protested as she gathered her power to fight her new nemesis.
“Oh no, fool. I am one with it. I have merged with the obsidian splendor of Chaos in its infinite aspect, and after disposing of you, the Terran Kingdom will be mine!” Dark Serenity proclaimed.
“Never!” Ravensong screamed and she lunged at Kraken, and the bloody battle went on for hours.
~*~
Finally, after much death and destruction wrought on both sides, Kraken had succeeded in wounding Ravensong. She lay huddled behind a fallen column, blood pouring from a gash on her leg, her left arm broken. The Dark Crystal was healing her injuries, but she had only just enough strength for one final assault. Before he could swoop down on her, she thrust a dark spire into his heart, the javelin-like spear hurtling through the air, immediately taking him down. His body exploded on impact, setting off a fire within the eastern wing of the palace.
Dark Serenity's personal slaves fought hard through the thick smoke to extinguish the fires. They had to negotiate the flying energy bursts on both sides and the sword fights breaking out all around them to put the fires out and then deal with the wounded. Eventually, they managed it, but only just.
Meanwhile, the civilian population was either hiding in their basements, or had gotten out before the confrontation began.
Ravensong panicked, and assuming her winged form tried to fly away, but Dark Serenity raised her hand and a burst of black lightning shot forth and struck her and she burst into flames.
Ravensong’s spirit looked down from high above the moon and she felt herself tumbling to the Terran world and without memory, the girl, a pretty redhead, her name Beryl also, sat upright, feeling gingerly the lump on her head and the only thing she could see were fluttering dark wings. She pressed her hands against her skull trying to stop the screeching sounds, soon accompanied by the clanging of steel blades and the cries of men and beasts.
She climbed unsteadily to her feet, dropping the bucket, and ran with the wind at her back. Young Princess Beryl rushed back to the Western Kingdom’s castle to speak to her mother of the awful visions.
Changes
The ghostly silhouette of Serenity of the White Moon began to understand how this realm of countless contradictions worked. Time flowed unsteadily here, several years had passed and now as she stood barefoot in the field outside the ramshackle homestead, constructed mostly of mud brick, thatch and crystal panels, she was unprepared for what these visions would bring.
As she continued to move ever closer to the homestead, she thought its design simplistic, but it possessed a charm and style unlike anything she’d seen on the moon or Terra’s cultural logs in Serenity City’s library and she found it both refreshing and enchanting.
She saw him then, sitting in the light of the dying day, the fields with towering corn and other grain twice her height flanking her on all sides. She felt the soft volcanic soil sliding between her toes, and although she knew she wasn’t a physical being in this realm, the sensation was so inviting, tantalizing and literally grounding, she almost forgot it was simply an elemental illusion.
She moved closer to the veranda, this place enjoyed constant sunlight, perhaps a little too much, but the crops were ripe and the harvest would be bountiful. She loved the flowerbeds, and the sounds of exotic songbirds, their sweet chirruping filling her senses.
Though he was as blind as the proverbial bat, Setsuna had used the magic of Chronos to protect him from Ravensong, whom was no more and Setsuna had cheerfully shared this news with her husband. Setsuna was taller, more beautiful, and her simple cream dress was a rather plain garment, leaving her arms bare, a gentle sloping cut to the bodice and the skirt flared out, falling to mid-thigh. She wore leather sandals, with crisscrossing straps that wound their way around her shapely calves and the circlet she wore indicated her status as Terran Princess. Endymion wore a black uniform, simply cut with a black cloak with gold trim that was casually thrown over the back of his chair.
Serenity felt the power of the Kinzuishou radiating off him and smiled. With the golden crystal’s power, he was able to link this to the garnet rod and command the seasons once again. Endymion could turn the elements to his will and protect his family and his subjects.
Serenity stepped onto the veranda and hugged Endymion, he sensed her, and she knew it, for he smiled, a teardrop falling as he pulled out the star locket and flipped it open.
“Father, that is pretty, where did you get it?” a sweet voice called out from the doorway, the child was beautiful. Her emerald locks and the dusky complexion she got from her mother, but the face and those eyes, were those of her father.
Serenity gasped as the child’s penetrating eyes locked upon hers, and she grinned warmly at her, “Hello there, I am Persephone and this is my father, Prince Endymion. You know my father?” the faery-like girl ventured, her face sweet, her hair braided and falling to the backs of her knees. She wore an earthy-reddish brown woolen shift. She looked around six years of age, perhaps seven, reminding Serenity of a little wood nymph. Time mattered naught in this place as she was finding out quickly.
Serenity gasped, taken aback. Endymion looked up, unseeing,” Sweetheart, is somebody here to visit us?”
“Yes, father, she’s pretty, she has hair like the Moon Princess you tell me of in your stories at bedtime, and she’s standing next to you.” Persephone said, excitedly, “She’s crying though, father, she is so pretty.”
Endymion, whispered, “Serenity I miss you, how I wished things were different, I wish I could have saved you from Ravensong…”
Serenity, hugged him and still crying, she smiled at the wide-eyed Persephone. Nobody had ever seen her before in her ghostly visage, little Persephone was the first, and she hoped, would not be the last.
(How is this possible?)
Serenity had no idea. But as the little girl placed her small hand in hers, she felt an affinity with the child and hugged her.
“Please princess, come back, we need you!” Persephone cried out, as she and the little girl stood on the first of three steps leading to the lawn and the garden that gave way to the golden fields below.
Persephone hugged her, amazingly able to feel the child’s physical warmth. “You’re awfully warm for a ghost lady, princess!”
“Thank you, Persephone, but this is actually a dream body… I think. But tell your father I am happy for him and your mother, and tell him I love you all!” she told the nodding child. She was still overwhelmed at the fact the girl could see and feel her etheric form. Serenity put it down to the magical blood of Setsuna, for she could see the infinite wisdom alight within those lapis eyes. ”I must go now, little one, be good and give them all my love, all right?” She nodded and stepped back to look at Serenity, tilting her head slightly at the fact she could see right through her.
Overwhelmed with grief and a host of other unfamiliar emotions, she kissed the little girl with cool misty lips then spun around, ran crying, and lost herself in the forest of corn. Persephone staring after her before taking her father by the hand and pulling him to his feet. He stared blankly in the general direction Serenity was running.
“Come on sweetheart, father is wanting to rest, I am sure if your friend wishes to return she will.” Setsuna said, joining them on the veranda after hearing her daughter talking about a princess, taking off her apron and wrapping her arms protectively around Endymion’s waist looking towards the cornfields.
“She saw something, my darling. I felt Serenity, the ghost of her former self. She is Earthbound, I can feel it, and our little one can see her!” he said, kissing his wife and they stood there in each other’s arms, Persephone hugging her parents and singing the tune still playing on the table beside Endymion’s chair coming from the star locket.
~*~
Helios smiled, “The prophecy is coming to pass, and with Ravensong’s death, the second era has already begun. We will live on. But the alternate universe, that is unscripted. I trust all will be well for all once matters are put to rights,” he said, seeing Persephone peeping around her mother’s legs and waving at him as his holo-image stood before them in the family lounge with its oak panels and the cedar writing desk. A circle of crudely upholstered chairs sat expectantly in front of the open fireplace with its cooking grill as cakes were cooking under Setsuna’s watchful eye.
He waved back, “Hello little princess, I have some treats for you from the Elysian hinterland, so be good and on the morrow I shall also have plenty of fresh tales to tell!”
She bowed and offered him a beaming smile. “Oh Uncle Helios! I look forward to it so!”
“That’s my girl!” he replied, offering her a wink.
She giggled as her mother lifted her into her arms, “Now say goodnight to Uncle Helios, munchkin!” Setsuna said, brushing the hair out of Persephone’s eyes before smiling her thanks to the solar warrior priest. “Talk on the morrow, Helios, look forward to seeing you.”
~*~
Helios and his landing party soon arrived. He handed his sword and armor to an attendant, and poured them each a tankard or goblet of ale, handing these to his friend and Setsuna a small goblet of sweet wine.
“So tell us your news, my friend,” Endymion said, sipping the ale.
Helios cleared his throat and began, “I have good tidings; but as you already know, Ravensong is dead. The Lunarians are organizing a resistance, it is gathering strength as we speak, and they are giving us vital intelligence. But as with all things, there is an equally significant piece of news not so good.”
As Helios continued to explain the situation with the moon and its rebel insurgency, Endymion and Setsuna listened attentively and were glad to hear the Shitennou and Senshi were all right.
They could now call upon the rebels of the moon, to pass on the movements of the Dark Kingdom’s latest plans. On each full moon, Setsuna agreed to use her garnet staff to teleport to the White Moon via the Time Gate to help the Lunarian insurgency. While there, she would liaise between Terra and the exiled Queen Serenity, who had, against the advice of her court and the Senshi of the inner and outer worlds, chose to remain on the Moon. Her Senshi of course tried to convince her to leave for safety’s sake, but she wouldn't hear of it and dug her heels in. Everyone found her pig headedness acutely frustrating. It was all they could do to keep her alive, let alone utilize her dwindling power to fight her dark daughter.
~*~
That night, Helios stood guard outside the house with the sun warriors to protect her husband whenever she had to either attend to her duties as guardian of time and shuttle between the moon and Terra. The sounds of the horses, day and night, Setsuna and Endymion found reassuring and comforting.
Helios spent a lot of time teaching Persephone to ride, she was quite good at it, and when not attending to the little munchkin, he would ride with the prince and princess and speak about the war and other pressing matters.
~*~
The sight of Setsuna and Endy as husband and wife, father and mother, and their child, Persephone and their struggles broke Serenity‘s heart. But she consoled herself with the knowledge he was well loved and though her darker self had destroyed the last vestiges of those feelings he had once held for her alone, at least he was happy and how could she feel anything but love for that emerald haired little girl?
Moon Kingdom
When Queen Serenity, weakened and resolute, held up the Ginzuishou, her protectors sighing in trepidation at the stubbornness of their liege, they feared the worst. But as the corona of silvery-pink engulfed the deposed sovereign of the White Moon, its brilliant flash lighting up the Lunarian landscape, hundreds of Moon Rebel Force Troops couldn’t believe the evidence of their eyes. Soon, all cheered en masse.
“Ariiko, today is a perfect day for a revolution, is it not?” the Senshi cadet whispered to her companion in awe.
“It surely is, Madelia!”
The sight was glorious, and nobody, especially she, the Lunarian Queen expected the floral crystal to assume the shape of a human girl. She was a beautiful child, with silvery blue eyes, offering her celestial benediction to the Moon Kingdom’s freedom fighters, “I am here to help you, Serenity, daughter of Selene!” she said, a sweet smile gracing her crystal lips. Serenity returned the smile, as had all the Senshi encircling the enchantress. The glittering child stood resplendent, her form adorned with gentle pink light. She was more than she seemed, her body and bunny-like odangos completely transparent , this mysterious emissary resembling a cluster of diamonds. The personification of the Ginzuishou bowed first to the queen and then the entire assembly. “My daughter, I am Chibi-Chibi. I salute you all. Fight well, be brave and take heart in the power of love you all share and you shall win the day! Much darkness and pain awaits you all before your ultimate victory, but love is the link between my world, and that of your alternate moon. Place your faith in one another and the Kamis.”
“Thank you, Chibi-Chibi,” Serenity said, hugging the crystal girl, “I know somehow, at some time, we shall meet again!”
“Yes, you are correct. Now, Lady Serenity Moon, you shall fight as a soldier of the moon -- Sailor Serenity Moon. Now say… Serenity Moon Power Make-up!”
The girl, Serenity thought no more than eleven years she guessed – bowed as she handed her the crystal sword. Upon contact, she gasped in awe as the light within the multi-petal bloom design of its hilt flooded her body with pink light. She stood back a pace, thrust the shimmering blade into the air, and shouted, “Serenity… Moon… Power… Make-up!”
Serenity felt her strength returning. Never had she known of such power before; her body youthful, her eyes shimmering with silvery-blue light as all gasped in awe at the sight. She took pause, and knelt upon the ground completely stunned. Absent-mindedly she ran her hands over the fabric of the short silvery-blue skirt of her fuku, gasping at the surprisingly silken skin of her thighs, the taught musculature returning after decades. Serenity was always a picture of good health and seemingly eternal vigor. But now, she was blessed with a body of an adolescent girl. She felt lighter of heart and her voice more like her daughter’s than her own. Serenity gathered handfuls of soft golden hair in her trembling hands and cried. “Thank you, Chibi-Chibi, I am a Senshi, young and beautiful once more!” she giggled.
In that moment, Luna rushed to her mother’s side and hugged her, stroking the downy-soft feathers of Serenity’s silvery-blue wings. “Mother, you’ve evolved to a form of soldier we’ve not seen before, your wings!”
“Yes, and you have the wisdom scepter to assist you on your quest to save your child and also, her prince, the one you call Endymion and the daughter of Pluto, Princess Setsuna. Through the power of the Kinzuishou, in the hands of the Senshi of Time, she is holding back the greater darkness. You must help the Terrans, only then, can you return with your armies to reclaim the moon from Dark Serenity. While you remain here on the moon, your strength is limited,” Chibi-Chibi said, looking into her eyes. She kissed Serenity on the cheek, then continued, “You are strong, yes. But that strength comes from the spirit of your daughter, sent here from an alternate universe to help you. She cannot help you if you confront her darker self too soon. You must prepare the way for the wielder of the Silence Glaive, Saturn, to resolve the conflict of the twin moons, that of the light, and that of shadow. Be strong and I shall send you all to the Terran home world.”
“What of the Mauans and Shitennou?” Luna asked, wanting to stay on the moon.
“You may remain with the smaller force on the moon, for you need a vibrant underground, a resistance that can keep Dark Serenity on her toes, but she is marshalling an army to invade Terra. Therefore, while she is gone, you need to set the groundwork for this purpose, and not all your people can handle the gravity and harsh conditions of the Terran world. As for the rest of your forces, they are Senshi, and your more adaptable fighters shall make the journey, Endymion needs you all.”
“As you wish, Chibi-Chibi, I will lead them to victory!” Sailor Serenity Moon said, lifting the crystal blade into the air and in a flash, they were gone.
