The non-original characters in this fanfiction are copyrighted to Naoko Takeuchi and Toei where applicable. Any original characters are considered the intellectual property of Danny Lilithborne and may NOT be used without permission.
You may want to read "The Golden Queen of Shadow Galactica" as it is something of a prelude to this fiction.
--
In the beginning, there was Chaos.
I would not destroy the illusion of your world so quickly, so I will let you stay with that statement for a moment, and discover the truth of it on your own. But it is, indeed, true that the beginning of the world was a time of turbulent energy — the life form that we today call "Chaos".
I am Sailor Galaxia. I have learned much as a result of sealing Chaos within myself. I have known the sadness that sleeps within the souls of those who fight for love and justice. But even deeper still, is the despair of their enemies. Is this their true wish? To oppose something that, to even the most foolish of intellects, is enchanting in its radiance?
The ones who ally themselves with the light dream of future times of love and happiness, where there is no one on whom the burden of their happy lives lies. Everyone who lives, everyone who exists, would work together for the happiness of all. But can such a dream become reality?
Kaorinite saw the reality of this dream for what it was — an illusion. She saw the truth of this world.
But she has nevertheless sacrificed her existence to be an eternal guardian. If that dream is impossible, then I, like she, will break the boundaries of possibility and become the demons that the guardians of light fight against, and finally destroy, to live in that future.
But there are those who wish for the end of courage itself. And for that, I must stop pretending, and do whatever it takes to protect the people who truly matter to me...
--
SAILOR MOON: CHAOS THEORY
STRING 08 – Hidden Dreams Revealed, Journey into Elysion.
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"Are you a fool, Sailor Jupiter?" Prince Endymion said with anger in his voice. "If we rush in without a plan, all we will accomplish is getting ourselves killed! Who will stop Prometheus then?"
"I will," Princess Serenity announced.
"Daughter, what is the meaning of this?" Queen Serenity asked, but then noticed something different in the princess's expression. Prince Endymion, the love of her life, is sitting right here, but she doesn't even seem to notice him. Her face... such determination.
"Princess Serenity, this is a closed meeting," Prince Endymion said. "I'm sorry, but these are not children's matters."
"I am fourteen years old, the same age as the others," Princess Serenity reminded him coolly.
"Others?" Prince Endymion asked.
"I saw Prometheus kill Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune. I couldn't do anything to stop him, or save them from suffering. I understand that a Sailor Soldier has to be ready to die, but I can't abide being a ruler without the strength to protect anyone, especially those people who want to protect her in kind. So, I've made my decision." She stood resolute and continued, "I, the heir to the Moon Kingdom, Princess Serenity, wish to become a Sailor Soldier."
"What?" Jupiter shouted. "Princess, with all due respect, being a Sailor Soldier is not something you can just become because you want t—"
"No," Mars interrupted her. "It's possible, Jupiter. Look in her eyes."
Jupiter did as her comrade asked, and then gasped. Even without the heightened psychic sense that Mars possessed, Jupiter could see it. Unwavering determination... this was no childish wish. The Princess knew exactly what she was risking.
Prince Endymion wanted to say he wouldn't permit this, but he understood her pain well as an empath. He knew that it was more painful to be powerless in this kind of situation. Endymion feared for the Princess' personal safety, but he had to admire her drive to fight.
"Daughter..." Queen Serenity said with a sigh, and touched her shoulder. "I never expected you to grow this much so fast, but it seems you are an adult now. I've kept things from you. I apologize."
"Apologize for what, Mother?"
Queen Serenity looked at the group. "Galaxia told me that when she sealed Chaos within herself, she sacrificed her Star Seed, sending it to the far corners of the galaxy. It would seem... that Galaxia's Star Seed has chosen my daughter."
"Excuse me?" Zoisite said. "Her Star Seed..."
"Is that what it was?" Princess Serenity said. "The figure in my dreams... that called me Sailor Moon?"
Queen Serenity nodded. "If we can harness that power, then it's very possible that you can achieve this goal. But Princess... my daughter, are you sure this is the path you wish to take?"
"Yes," the Princess confirmed. She did not give it a second thought.
"In that case," Prince Endymion said, getting up. "We only have one option."
"One option?" the Princess asked.
The Generals nodded knowingly. "To unlock the hidden powers of Galaxia's Star Seed, we have to venture into the depths of Elysion itself," Nephrite said.
"Your dreams and nightmares will become reality," Zoisite went on. "You will have to confront them, and defeat them, to become a Sailor Soldier."
Mercury nodded in agreement. This was the same trial that every girl took before becoming a Sailor Soldier, but for a Lunarian to choose to do it — there was no telling what would happen.
"We should all go," Venus said. "If the Princess passes her trials, we will be fighting alongside her."
"Passes them? But..." the Princess began, and then stopped herself.
Saturn pressed her. "But?"
"But what if I fail?" she asked. Suddenly, doubt was preying on her mind.
"Then Prometheus may win," Pluto said. "And this world will be doomed."
Mars seemed visibly irritated, and got up. "You're doubting yourself now?" she shouted. "After all that strength you showed us before? Don't be a coward now! You can do it, Princess Serenity!"
"Sailor Mars!" Queen Serenity snapped.
"It's okay, mother," the Princess said.
Mars realized her place and blushed, her face falling, but stopped short of apologizing.
"I need someone to pull me out of fear and into strength," the Princess said, and gave a heavy-hearted sigh. "I prepared myself to come here and face all of you... especially the Prince. But, I'm really afraid. This enemy doesn't care about anything but being the strongest."
"Princess Serenity..." Mars remembered that the Princess had seen the enemy with her own eyes, saw him cut down Uranus and Neptune. "I'm sorry..."
"It's all right," Princess Serenity said. "Forget about it, Sailor Mars. I'm ready to do this."
"We have to teleport to a specific area of the Earth," Prince Endymion said. "If you'll take me with you, I'll guide you there."
The Sailor Soldiers nodded, then Endymion glanced at his Generals, who also offered their approval. He then looked at Princess Serenity. She looked back at him.
There was an unspoken promise between them.
I won't let this enemy get the better of you, Princess Serenity, Prince Endymion thought to himself. When you came to me, I had a feeling it would come to this. I'll give my life before I allow anything to hurt you. And any lives that come after that... are yours. You're the bravest soul I've ever known...
--
Three guards stood watch outside the gates of Hyacinthus, a military encampment in the upper regions of the world. Distant from the sun, it had, as it usually did, a cold temperature, and the guards were decked in properly protective clothing.
But when a youthful figure appeared before them quick as a flash, the guards looked at each other in confusion.
"You are warriors," the youth said breathlessly. "Aren't you?"
"Who are you?" one guard said. "What do you want in Hyacinthus?"
"My name is Prometheus," he replied. "Let that name burn in your hearts while your bodies burn in the fires of hell!" He then prepared to deliver an attack of concussive force.
Galaxia appeared in an equally quick golden flash, not showing any signs of exhaustion, and blocked his punch.
"Galaxia!" Prometheus shouted.
"That's... Sailor Galaxia?" one guard asked the other.
"It was easy to find you," Galaxia said, eyes narrowed. "The trail of corpses you left behind... do you know how to follow anything other than the straight path?"
She then threw Prometheus off and turned to the guards. "Hyacinthus is a military base, right?" she said. "You know body transmission, don't you?"
"Yes, but it takes a lot of ener—" one guard said, but Galaxia cut him off.
"Gather the people here and evacuate this city!" Galaxia commanded. "It's going to..."
She was interrupted by Prometheus trying to attack the guards again. She blocked his attack, but the force released from these two great powers clashing released a shockwave that knocked the guards to the ground.
"Do you see what I mean?" Galaxia yelled. "This town's not going to last much longer at this rate! I don't want anyone here to get hurt!"
"R...right!" the guards cried, moving quickly towards the center of the base.
"You wench!" Prometheus spat. "Do you know the strength I would have gained from killing those soldiers?"
"I know your real plan," Galaxia replied as the two struggled, Galaxia holding back Prometheus' punch back. "You were trying to gain enough strength to confront the Sailor Soldiers. You know they're approaching Earth to go to Elysion."
"So, you know of the powers I've gained," Prometheus said with a chuckle. "It was all thanks to the strength I've obtained from my previous battles!"
"The people you killed; they had families, too. Did you ever think of that?"
Prometheus pushed Galaxia off and they positioned themselves for another standoff. "I don't care about families whose livelihoods are gained through fighting!" he said.
Galaxia closed her eyes and did a spiritual scan. Good... everyone's evacauted. Quicker than I expected... or perhaps we've used a lot of time talking. In any case, I can truly begin this fight now.
Her armor started to change color, from gold to a deep black. The brooch on her chest became ruby red, her skin became pale and her eyes turned golden. "Your power will soon surpass ours," she said, her voice sounding like two people speaking as one. "We cannot permit that!"
"Are you so afraid a power exists that might exceed your own?" Prometheus said, and then laughed madly. "He was right, you know! I could never hope to touch you as long as I didn't have darkness in my heart! Well, look at me now, Galaxia... or should I call you Chaos?"
"We possess the greatest power in this galaxy, but we are... no, I am Sailor Galaxia," she replied. "I've united my body with the spirit of Chaos so I can have the power to put an end to you!"
"So you'd give up your soul to destroy a mere boy?" Prometheus chuckled. "You may be strong, but you're not very smart."
"My soul is right here in front of you, Prometheus," Galaxia said. "Are you going to attack me now with your strength? Or are you going to run from me like a dog, and kill more weaklings to try to increase your power?"
Prometheus gritted his teeth. "Damn it," he muttered. "I guess I've got no choice. But, make no mistake, Galaxia..."
He clenched his fists tight. "It'll be a tougher fight than you could ever expect!"
The two then rushed at each other, beginning their power struggle.
--
The Sailor Soldiers, the Four Generals, Prince Endymion, Queen Serenity and her daughter were the company that arrived in the center of the world, between what we today call the Tigris and the Euphrates. This would mark the first time Queen Serenity had set foot on Earth in nineteen centuries.
"Prepare yourselves," Prince Endymion said. "After Queen Serenity and I fully release the seal, anything could happen."
"The seal?" Princess Serenity asked. "Mother has to be here to release the seal?"
"This is the unnamed seal that Selene created long ago, to protect her children from the raging tides of the war of the gods," Kunzite said. "Two descendants of her children must be here."
"But aren't I a descendant?" the Princess pressed on.
"It's not that we don't believe in you," Venus said. "But your mother has learned this incantation and practiced it every morning for her entire life. Besides, she wants to help you on your journey."
"I see," the Princess said. "Thank you, mother."
"It's what any mother would do for her child," the Queen said.
"No words can release this seal," Prince Endymion said. "Just our unified thoughts. Everyone, please still your minds. Do not think of anything. Do not even think of thinking of anything. If a thought occurs to you, dwell on it for the time being, then let it go. Otherwise, the seal release will not work."
"This sounds like meditation," Jupiter suggested.
"Please keep quiet," Nephrite urged in a gentle voice, "and do as he says."
The Queen did as bidden, knowing of the enchantments behind the seal. However, her mind would not keep still. Thoughts kept drifting in and out of her consciousness. She was preoccupied with the thoughts of her people... the people of the galaxy... no, the entire universe...
Would they truly be safe from this threat, because of her daughter's decision?
Queen Serenity blinked.
Before her and her company stood the Door of Space-Time.
"It appears that the seal has been released," Prince Endymion said. "Before we even knew what was happening, we have a trial to face."
"How could the Door of Space-Time be here?" Pluto asked.
Mercury focused her vision. Her special power was seeing through illusions. But she could see no signs of illusions here. "This is the real Door," she said, and then noticed their surroundings. "And from the looks of it, we were taken through Elysion and into the dream world in an instant. Somehow, the Door of Space-Time was waiting here for us."
"Then we haven't a moment to lose," Princess Serenity said, running to the door. But she was blocked by Pluto's Garnet Rod.
"You can't open the door," Pluto said. "Only I can."
"That's right, Princess," the Queen said. "Don't be so hasty."
"Oh... right," the Princess replied, realizing her error. "Sorry."
"It's all right, Princess," Pluto said. "In any case, the fact that the Door is here means that time is frozen in the other world. I don't know why it would be here otherwise."
"I have no idea how we got here when we were supposed to be heading to Elysion," Prince Endymion muttered, and his Generals grumbled their agreement.
"I have a feeling that if we open that door and head through it, our questions will be answered," Mars pondered aloud.
Pluto closed her eyes and pointed the Rod at the Door, reciting a magical spell. "O guardian of time! Release the seal on the old ways and open the Door of Space-Time! I call out thy true name... O almighty god of time, father of the guardian, Chronos! Please guide us! Please protect us! And open the path of light to us!"
At once, the door threw itself open, and the company was surrounded by light. They closed their eyes and cried out in shock as they were engulfed in its brightness. When the light faded, they opened their eyes and were surprised yet again. They seemed to be in a swirling void, but there was an invisible floor beneath their feet.
"What is this place?" Prince Endymion asked, hand on the hilt of his sword.
"It is the Void," Sailor Pluto replied. "The place where dreams are born."
"I see," Nephrite said, nodding. "I thought this place looked familiar. I had a dream of it myself."
Jupiter knelt on the ground. Suddenly, her body began to shiver.
Nephrite instinctively reached out for her. "Are you okay, Sailor Jupiter?" he half-asked, half-shouted.
"Saturn, this is what you were talking about, isn't it? 'The end of this existence'?" Jupiter stammered while looking down at the ground. "I feel memories rushing back to my mind quicker than I can follow... it's... it's frightening."
"Calm down," Sailor Saturn said. "All of you. You are going to see visions in your mind. They are real, but they cannot harm you unless you dwell on them. They are your past and future lives."
Jupiter got to her feet. "I see..." she said, and then silent tears burst from her eyes as if from behind a dam. "There's some deep pain inside that I can't control, though..."
"Remember your training, Sailor Jupiter," Nephrite said. "Let the feeling pass through you."
"I know, Nephrite," Jupiter replied. "But it feels like... there's something that's going to happen, that I want to stop, but can't."
"I feel the same," Mars said. "There's this burning sorrow in my heart... I don't know what to do with it."
"It's like a wound to my body," Venus added. "I want to cry out, but I know I mustn't."
"I don't feel any of these things," Mercury admitted with a sigh.
"Me neither," Zoisite said. "But this place definitely looks familiar. Like Nephrite, I've seen it before. And I have a feeling that Jadeite and Kunzite have seen it too."
The other Generals nodded.
Then a voice echoed in the Void. "So... you've all finally realized that you had to come here. To the place where no light escapes. The world where imagination and reality become one..."
"Who's there?" Prince Endymion said, drawing his sword. There was negative energy in the air. The Generals were equally on guard, and the Sailor Soldiers prepared themselves for battle.
"Be calm," the voice went on. "I don't intend to harm any of you. I am only here to talk."
"Then what is this tremendous negative energy we feel?" Mars shouted. "If you're planning to catch us off guard, think again!"
"I will explain in a minute," the voice said as a black form started to materialize in front of them. "But first, please drop your guard. I cannot stop my appearance, but you... make me afraid." She hesitated on the last part.
The Generals and Soldiers were about to attack anyway, but Prince Endymion held them back.
"Let's listen to what she has to say, first," he said.
"But, Prince Endymion!" Mars shouted.
"Stay back!" he reiterated.
"Thank you, Prince Endymion," the voice continued. "I had a feeling you would help me." The figure then materialized, assuming the form of a human female. Her jet black hair was done up in large oxtails similar to Queen Serenity, but her form somewhat resembled the Princess. Her skin, however, was much paler and her violet eyes looked sad. The woman’s dress matched her hair, the garment accented by an off-white drapery she wore around her waist.
"Who are you?" Jupiter asked, but then gasped as she noticed Queen Serenity. The gathered company saw that she was slowly backing away from the strange apparition.
"No..." the Queen said. "It can't be you! I sealed you away!"
"Who is this, Mother?" Princess Serenity demanded.
"Get a hold of yourself, Queen Serenity!" Prince Endymion added.
"That's... that's... the Nightmare," the Queen replied. "A creature who tormented my people while they slept. A dark life form that was jealous of our prosperity..."
The apparition closed her eyes and sighed. "She is right," she said. "All of those things that your Queen says are correct."
"What?" everyone exclaimed, almost in unison.
"I am the Nightmare," she went on. "But I have a name of my own. Queen Serenity doesn't remember the truth about me, because she sealed me away when she was very, very young."
Queen Serenity clenched her fist momentarily, then let it go. I felt a flare of anger, then... I've only felt that emotion rarely, and it never meant anything good, she thought to herself. But now, I know I am reacting violently to the truth. I cannot give in to my animal impulses. I must listen now!
The woman before the gathered warriors smiled sadly. "Those emotions that you have now, you had then, and you were guilty beyond belief, burdened with the knowledge that it was wrong to have those emotions, that they would only result in destruction. And so, I was created, a place for you to hide those feelings. But you would not honor my existence... instead you sealed me in this black place. But it was your daughter that saved me."
"Princess Serenity?" the Queen asked.
"Princess?" Prince Endymion asked. "Do you know this person?"
Princess Serenity looked carefully. "I don't know her," she admitted, then narrowed her gaze. "But... I can't explain this. It doesn't make sense, but... I feel like I will know her in the future."
"Exactly, Sailor Moon," the woman said.
Everyone gasped in shock. "Sailor Moon?" Mars and Mercury said in concert.
The Queen simply stood still, her own eyes shimmering with powerless tears. "It's true," she said. "I've hidden so much from you, Princess. I should have had more faith in you."
"Mother?" the Princess asked, her voice sounding sad but confused.
"Do not be sad, Queen Serenity," the Nightmare said. "Your daughter is a true spirit, a Manifestation of God, the God that the Earthlings worship and love so."
"Shut up!" the Queen shouted reflexively. "Spouting such nonsense about God, what do you know? What of the suffering that the Earthlings had to put up with... just so we can live such a lavish lifestyle! What kind of just God would permit such a thing!"
She fell on her knees, finally overwhelmed by emotion, realizing her anger had controlled her. "Is there really no way for our kind to go on living, other than by the people of Earth having to suffer?" she sobbed. "In the end... is that all there is?"
The Nightmare touched the Queen's shoulders, and their eyes met.
"No..." the Queen said, her voice sounding small and fearful. "No! I hate you! Stay away!"
"What are you afraid of?" the Nightmare replied. "Surely not me..."
"If I do what you are thinking, we will all perish!" the Queen replied. "Earthlings and Lunarians, all beings with life, will disappear!"
But the Nightmare didn't listen, and the Queen didn't resist despite her words. The warriors, the Prince of Earth and the Princess of the Moon watched as the Queen was kissed by this strange person called the Nightmare. Queen Serenity's eyes closed and her body calmed, and it was then that the Nightmare pulled away, and got back on her feet.
Prince Endymion was the first to take action, and did so promptly. "What did you do to the Queen?" he said, pointing his sword at her.
"Put your sword down," the Queen said, eyes still closed.
"Did you control her mind?" the Prince shouted, still addressing the Nightmare.
"Her name is Nehellenia!" the Queen shouted.
Everyone gasped at the revelation of the name of the Nightmare.
"That's Nehellenia," the Queen said, eyes slowly opening. "When I was a child, everyone loved me. My parents, my kingdom, the Earthlings. They all would sing my praises. But in my heart, I was all alone. I didn't deserve all this love... me, who did nothing. I looked in the mirror one day, and I saw her. That's when the dreams started."
"Yes," Nehellenia said, eyes open now. "You were able to cast aside what you saw as a mere childish temper tantrum, and conduct yourself with the regal grace required of a princess and future queen. In time, you forgot about me. You even forgot my name. But you sealed me here, in the hellish blackness of your heart!"
"What?" Mars stammered.
"What nonsense you are speaking!" Jadeite barked. "We're in Queen Serenity's heart? She's here in front of us now!"
"I am speaking in metaphors," Nehellenia replied. "Forgive me. In one form of the timeline, I remain sealed, but then the Queen Serenity of the future destroyed me. In another form, though, the one we are in, I find forgiveness and grace through your daughter, Princess Serenity, or as she shall be known, Eternal Sailor Moon."
"Eternal... Sailor Moon?" Princess Serenity asked.
"That is a title you must earn through struggles and trial," Nehellenia sighed. "I wish there was another way, but there is simply no time left. Galaxia has allowed Chaos to consume her soul in order to gain the strength needed to defeat Prometheus. In time, that battle will destroy this entire existence. There is nothing you can do to prevent this."
"Nothing... we can do?" the Queen whispered. "But we came all this way... because of my daughter's desire to save the world. It was sincere, and true... but we did all this for nothing?"
"You don't yet understand," Nehellenia replied. "Galaxia's true desire is to be the strongest in the universe, so she can protect something important and precious to her. Her memories of her comrades are what she treasures, but they can never be enough to replace what she's lost, what she's failed to protect."
"Failed to protect?" Mars said quietly, as a vision ran through her head of the time she witnessed Galaxia's demise.
Nehellenia smiled fondly at the Princess. "Princess Serenity, in the future, you saved me from my own nightmare. Because of that, I love you, as I love your friends. And because of this love, I will help you by lending you some of my power."
A bright light materialized out of Nehellenia's bosom and floated into the Void. It became a crystal; a dark shining crystal.
"What is this?" the Princess said, walking towards it.
"That is the Black Onyx Crystal," Nehellenia replied. "It is a magical charm born from the heart that created the Illusionary Silver Crystal that Queen Serenity holds. With it, Princess Serenity, you can make your dreams come true. You can become Sailor Moon, and protect this world that you love. However, there will be a price."
"A price?" the Princess said, as her hands trembled to take hold of it.
"Your friends will become your enemies," Nehellenia sighed. "This is the nature of the Nightmare. Because all beings with life will love you, you will have no one to forgive, and so your friends must become your enemies. By defeating them and ending their lives, they can find the forgiveness they seek, and through their forgiveness, you will find yours."
"I don't understand," the Princess admitted, her hands clenching.
"Perhaps you will understand this, then," Nehellenia went on. "The same light of hope that rebuilds our future, will destroy our past."
The Princess gasped. "Galaxia said that!"
All the Sailor Soldiers nodded. "That is the legend of the Sailor Wars," Saturn said. "The words left to us by the Legendary Sailor Soldier, to guide our path. Along with that, she also left us this."
"When darkness comes to make all into one, she will appear, born of love for all, shining the light that we must follow," Pluto finished Saturn's thought. "Princess Serenity, without a doubt, you are the one that this legend spoke of."
The Queen gasped quietly. Galaxia said that to me, too, she thought in her heart. She told me that legend predates even her... but the Sailor Soldiers that serve me know of it. But how...?
"Why do my friends have to become my enemies?" Princess Serenity probed. "Won't it hurt us both to fight?"
"They will forget about your friendship, and come for the Silver Crystal that you will hold," Nehellenia explained.
"I hold? But my mother holds it."
Nehellenia smiled sadly and looked to the Queen, who finally understood. She stood up, and caressed the moon-shaped tie on the ribbon on her bust.
"Daughter," she whispered. "The time has come. I'm not afraid anymore."
A bright light began to shine out of that tie.
"Mother, no!" the Princess cried. "You... you'll die!"
"No, I won't," the Queen replied. "Not while I'm here in the Void. Here, I can protect you for always, as has been my wish. That's the wish I made on the Silver Crystal, the day I was born. To have a daughter who would help my people, and to protect her for always."
"Does that mean you're going to stay here?" Kunzite said. "You're not coming back with us?"
"That's right," the Queen nodded.
"That's impossible!" Mars protested. "You are the Queen! If Princess Serenity becomes Sailor Moon, then who will rule the Kingdom of Serenity?"
The Queen's voice caught in her throat as she looked at Nehellenia. She couldn't say the words, and was mentally pleading with Nehellenia to say them for her.
Nehellenia nodded sadly, as the Illusionary Silver Crystal finally appeared.
"Nobody," Nehellenia said in a soft voice. "The Kingdom of Serenity will be no more."
--
END OF STRING 08
--
What does Nehellenia mean by this? The Kingdom of Serenity will be no more... all the legends say that Beryl became Queen of Earth and destroyed the Kingdom with her own hands. Is the timeline really changing? What is the cause? Find out the answers next time. String 09 — The Darkness that Hides the Light.
