Sycophant City Rated PG "If you think that you have someone eating out of your hand, it's a good idea to count your fingers." -Martin Buxbaume Who we are is often defined by how others see us. Most of the time, we care little about what their eyes see. The universe is our own, and we are it's bright and life-affirming centre. The worlds of everyone else revolve around us, for we are the end-all-be-all of existence. Yet when worlds collide, sparks fly. Be they sparks of love or friendship, rivalry or hatred, remains to be seen. When two people meet, neither one leaves as they once were. A part of them is forever changed. This change may forever shape the universe they once knew to be their own security. Other people are not so easily fooled by our own delusions. They will react, and in the end that reaction will determine how we shall interact with them. No lies will hide the truth of what we are. Others will know the truth. But the truth itself may lead to an end to the lies. The darkness of night inevitably leads into the rays of a rising sun. But will that need for change be welcomed by those who must undergo a metamorphosis, or will it be refused as one decides that the universe as they know it is the only way to live? Call someone your enemy. Tell the world that they're a monster. Consider them worth destroying. But be careful: the face of the monster you so wish to destroy will one day come out into the light for all to see. And you might be confronted with the very face that is your own. -His lordship Chaos hislordshipchaos@hotmail.com http://neoharuka.hispeed.com/chaos/ SYCOPHANT CITY She stood with her back against one of the palace's gargantuan Doric pillars. The shadows ensured most of her hidden and unnoticed. The silence she kept as her companions made those who walked by her barely give her a second glance. She had been made to be like this. Her purpose was to be a shadow until called for. And it was difficult to be a shadow here, in a palace that knew more about peace than aggression. An entire empire fashioned on virtue, led by a queen whose name epitomized this utopia: Serenity. Such a legacy was to be carried over into the next generation; the princess now bore this name as well. Though she hardly felt pressed to call the princess anything but serene. Arms crossed over her chest, she watched her master continue down the expansive hallway towards her. Rouge eyes missed nothing. Every last detail was accounted for. She intimately knew of the marble walls that stretched high above their heads, curving into a long, domed cap of a ceiling. The familiarity of the large, open picture windows cut into the left side of the hall had long since been branded into her mind. She even knew of the Millennial-period artworks and tapestries adorning the opposite wall, and of the red carpet beneath their feet. The faces and uniforms of those men and women moving past her, as if she were merely another trivial detail on the wall, she knew most of all. Some perhaps better than they knew themselves. She knew who was a threat. Who was out for their own gain. Who was secretly fucking whom behind everyone else's backs. The guardian's muscles tensed as she saw someone round the corner without paying much attention to their speed or the opposing human traffic. Tensed, but didn't move. This man, a courtesan, was no threat. Even when he bumped onto Princess Serenity. The child she was honour-bound to protect. The courtesan's heavier-set body gave him the benefit of momentum, and Serenity stumbled backwards a few steps in surprise. The long tresses of her blonde hair kicked up into the air and twirled as if they had been given newfound life and energy. In the hopes of catching her from falling, the courtesan hastily reached out and grabbed hold of her wrist. All too quickly he realized who he had run into. "S-Serenity-hime," he sputtered, choking on the sudden dryness in his throat. The princess steadied herself, and then angrily wrenched her arm out of his grip. Orbs of crystalline blue narrowed at him, watching him wriggle nervously under her cold and unwavering gaze. "I...I'm sorry," he mumbled. "It will never happen again." Ones such as he always relished their role and rank within the palace. It was a status symbol that always allowed for known privileges and private abuses. But the best way to rise up within the Court of Serenity's heirarchy was to pander to the princess. Impressions went a long way, and Princess Serenity always proved to be a powerful ally if you made the effort of wooing her. Ever since she had been a child, she was besieged with gifts of art, dresses and whatever other bribes her whims desired or dictated, by certain various members within the court. In return she would take their voice to her mother. From there it proved rather easy to sway the Queen to side with a certain person's proposal or request for a promotion. That was the way things were done within the palace walls. The princess Serenity made for a powerful ally. And an even greater foe, should someone tread wrongly in her territory. The courtesan was beginning to sweat, telltale signs of his growing agitation shown with his constant shuffling and reluctance to make eye contact with Serenity. She could easily be his mealticket to achieving his ambitions. But right now it appeared that he might have tipped the scales against himself. Serenity glanced around the hallway, giving an understanding smile and nod. There was no one else nearby to listen in. She leaned forward so that her lips were a breath away from his ear, and with those lips whispered, "Don't ever touch me like that again, you impetuous fool. It would not do a man in your position any good to vex me. I have never been very upset before. And you don't want to see me very upset." "H-Hai," he muttered, babbling on something about forgiveness and absolution before shuffling off. Serenity kept following him with her harsh eyes until he vanished from her peripheral vision. A dark smile crept onto her face, and she giggled. The guardian remained where she was. Yet turned away. A time long ago there might have been some moment where she would have felt a tinge of something resembling mild disgust or offense. The tests and trials of her duty had long since numbed her to that. As guardian of the princess--as she had been since Serenity first learned to take her first steps--she had seen this carry on for years. But these were affairs she was not to be part of. She was silence. A shadow. The princess' shadow, specifically. She had been raised to protect the young girl, not dictate ethics or impress morals upon the child. Even if Serenity did need a lesson or two. But that was out of her hands; as a guardian, she had no say in the matter. She was here to guard and protect Serenity, nothing more. The guardian only wished that, on occasion, someone might actually have the balls to stand up to such petty arrogance. Most everyone cowered like the courtesan, fearful of the consequences. "Did you see the look on his face?" Serenity asked, staring directly through the shadows to her. "I bet he's terrified now, fearing that I'll find a way to have him manning some distant communications outpost on Pluto by the end of the day." She shrugged in non-committal response. "Serves him right to cringe like that," the princess added. "He knows better. Ne, I feel like going to the beach now. Maybe the water and air will clear me of the smell of his sweat. I trust you'll join me?" The guardian stepped out from the shadows, and into the pale glow cast upon the Moon Palace by the looming planet of Earth. She squinted a little as she adapted to the shift of light. Thin but effective layers of armour plates stretched across certain body parts. Forearms. Shoulder blades. Chest. Legs. For the most part they ran down like stripes along the sides of her body, each its own separate entity. All were hooked into the form-fitting uniform beneath, as black as night without day. Long, wavy auburn hair was tied back in a single braided ponytail that she kept tucked beneath the uniform. It was a reminder of her past. Of her Earthian heritage. Of a mother and father whose faces she had long since forgotten. Sheathed at her waist was a single katana sword. A weapon that had become so much a part of her now that she felt incomplete whenever she was distanced from it. Whenever she slept, her back to a forgotten corner in the outer room of Serenity's private bedchambers, it was always cradled next to her. A lethal teddybear. "Shall I contact the other princesses and ask if they might join you?" she asked the princess, bowing accordingly to acknowledge Serenity's wishes--and her own compliance to them. Her tone was always even and respectful, betraying nothing but the calm rationale with which she fulfilled her duties. Serenity exhaled deeply. The burden of consideration. Her shimmering white gown billowed out around her as she abruptly turned and began to depart from the hallway junction. It was automatically assumed that the guardian would be keeping pace, one step subservient behind the princess. "I don't know. Ami is such a bitch," Serenity stated. She smiled in seeing her bodyguard's stoic response. "Ara ara, there's no need to be shy about it, though I know everyone else says that only behind her back. I've never seen such an overbearing girl like her in my life. And to think she's only fourteen like me. She's brazen, reckless, prone to speaking her mind when her foot's not in it; it's no wonder her parents jumped at the chance to have her train here to be a Senshi. Ami's better off being a soldier in the battlefield than a princess in the ballroom." The guardian said nothing. Just as she was trained to. If Serenity desired a response, she would say what she wanted it to be. That was the way it had always been done. They turned down another set of hallways, one that would lead them to a restricted area. Royalty only. Those granted free passage included the princess, the widowed Queen mother, and the other princesses who were training to become Sailor Senshi. When the planetary sigil had appeared on each of their foreheads when they were toddlers, the girls had been brought to the moon to begin training for their destiny. Visits to their homeworlds and families were frequent enough. In this respect, the guardian saw the palace as a type of boarding school where rather unique and gifted pupils studied abroad from home. The guardian then wondered what would become of her duties when they at last became of the age and skill to take over the task of protecting the princess. A part of her would regret nothing on that day. Perhaps more than she wished to admit to even herself. Right now she served as a contingency plan. Just in case. No one even fully recognized her position. The future sailor soldiers were the ones applauded and praised even now. "Maybe Rei," Serenity continued to suggest aloud. There was power in knowing that the one you always talked to, plotted with, would never speak a word of it to anyone else. "She's the shy, quiet one. It'll be fun to see what I can get her to do." The guardian nodded. She then asked, "What about Makoto?" "What about her?" Serenity responded indifferently. "She's probably out working up a sweat somewhere. Let her do that, tomboy that she is." Beyond the hall where only princesses and Senshi walked laid an archway. The archway gave access to the open expanse of the night stars, and a curving marble staircase that led down onto a promenade. She took each step in silence, lost somewhere in a blur where Serenity's shadow ended and her world began. The cool winds were only winds, and carried no reason to be afraid. The guardian could hear the growing noises of the midnight tides that splashed against the edges of the beach. This beach was private, separated from everyone else by walls and sentries. To stand in the centre, one would not be able to see where these boundaries had been placed on either side of the horizon. Only royalty was allowed here on this part of the beach. Every now and then a gala party would be held on the sands. But this beach was more the chance for royalty to enjoy a peace of mind by themselves. Serenity paused upon the elegant wooden promenade. She sighed wistfully, enjoying the view of all that would be hers. Of all that already was hers. "Ne," Serenity abruptly remarked, turning around so that they might see each other face to face. Her smile seemed almost sincere in that moment, as she brushed aside some of her long strands of golden blonde hair. "You wouldn't do anything to betray me, would you?" The guardian could only shake her head in silent response. Serenity's smile changed. "Good. I know that my mother's been increasingly worried about me. If she happens to quietly pull you aside and ask, you'll tell her nothing." "She already has taken me aside," the guardian answered. Serenity froze, her body suddenly tensing up. How uncharacteristic of the girl. "I told her nothing." The princess' tense form relaxed, and she sighed in relief. "Very good. You make an excellent guardian and confidante." They reached the end of the wooden promenade, where stairs met the sand. From there they walked upon the beach, and with each fateful step the roars of the evening tides grew louder. The guardian followed from behind. And her rouge eyes caught sight of another set of footprints in the sand. Two sets, heading towards the place where sand met surf, and the waves of the Sea of Tranquility played with the palace domain. Whoever else was here was royalty. There was no need to worry for Serenity. But the guardian found brief reason to be concerned with whomever else was here, for their sake. That caused her to nurture her doubts all the more. And the guardian knew she was not alone in this slowly escalating disquiet. "I'm worried about my daughter," the queen had reluctantly admitted. "There have been whispers that have now found their way to me." Even though this quiet confessional had been but a month ago, it had since melted away into an eternity of passing doubts. Queen Serenity's eyes reflected her worry, and betrayed an even deeper sense of concern. The queen mother was worried, yet did not press the matter. Dig deeper to find the truth. Confront the princess about her wayward behaviour. Punish her daughter. The guardian idly wondered about would happen when this princess became queen. It seemed almost befitting an ironic fate: the state rearing up its sole heir to lead the people down a spiral with only one possible outcome. Oblivion. "You are closer to her than anyone else," the queen had said to her. "Have you sensed anything wrong with my daughter?" She had remained kneeling on one leg before her queen, head bowed and eyes trained on the floor. "I am only trained to protect, not criticize, your Majesty," she had answered simply. "I am sorry." To protect. Physically among other ways. Princess Serenity had made it quite clear that her guardian should protect her from the rumours and potential slander that might leak out and threaten her power. Those who dared to doubt the princess would then face the bodyguard as well. It suddenly occurred to the guardian to ask who was protecting the princess from herself. The guardian's rouge eyes narrowed slightly in the realization that she could not give a suitable answer. Even for her own performance. Such thoughts were dispelled when she saw shadows and silhouettes moving upon the beach. The guardian took a few cautious steps ahead of the princess, her hands reaching for her katana. But she never drew the blade, quickly seeing who the two people were near the water's edge. "S-Serenity," the Venusian princess stammered, jumping to her feet in surprise. "I didn't realize you'd be here tonight." The girl hastily pushed the straps of her gown back up over her shoulders, her face growing flustered in the embarrassment of being caught. The young man with her stood up, almost defensively stepping between the two princesses. He wore the charcoal grey robes of the Earthian military, though the tunic of his uniform was left undone to expose the features of a chest chiselled to defined perfection from years of relentless training. A brief glance in the guardian's direction appraised her status. The tension over who she was quickly subsided. "Minako-hime...and Kunzite too." The devilishly cat-like grin on Serenity's face was unmistakable. Her demeanour projected the apparent sense that she found nothing wrong at all with this situation. She glanced at the Earthian officer. "Kunzite-sensei, I thought you were supposed to be on Earth, training your prince." "Endymion gave me a three day leave of absence," Kunzite replied, a little more composed than Minako currently was. That was all he said, wary enough of a potential predator in their midst. Besides, the guardian reflected, that still left Endymion with Jadeite, Nephrite and Zoicite to work with. More than enough to handle the prince. She recognized the strong traits of a fellow soldier. And very much admired and respected this silver-haired youth. Distance and duty rarely allowed her the chance to talk alone with such officers. What was it like to train the prince of Earth? Was he like Serenity? And the guardian realized this could not be so. Kunzite had spoken the prince's name with genuine respect. It was Endymion who had graciously granted this time away for the youth. It was Endymion, a fellow Earthian, whom she should be serving. "You're not going to tell anyone about this, are you? About us?" Minako asked quietly, her fingers fumbling with the clasps to her gown. Kunzite silently moved closer and wordlessly, effortlessly, clasped the ends together. His probing eyes were watching the guardian more than the Moon Princess. Serenity stepped forward. Closed the distance between the two groups. She shook her head, clasping Minako's hands in hers. "It won't be easy," she admitted, her resolve wavering. Her voice dripped with sweet and earnest sympathies. "These sorts of things are hard to hide, with everyone watching you non-stop. If you get caught, it will become a witch hunt to see who knew about your trysts and was keeping silent." "Endymion knows," Kunzite stated, his tone as even with the princess as it would have been in the face of a commanding officer. The guardian's ears detected a faint echo of defiance towards Serenity. Yet that still did not make the Earthian officer a threat. Not to her. Serenity's blue eyes darted up to Kunzite, hovering there and assessing his expression. But her attention was redirected back to Minako, who gripped the princess' hands tighter. "Serenity, please," Minako pled. Her voice was trembling in uncertain fear. Tears were threatening to well up in her eyes. "I'll do anything." Serenity hesitated. And then answered. "I promise I won't tell a soul about this," she pledged. "You have the word of the house of Serenity on that, Minako-chan." A relieved smile broke through the clouds of doubt on Minako's fate. "Thank you, Serenity-hime," she said, bowing deeply. She almost hugged the Moon Princess, but Kunzite placed a restraining hand on the Venusian princess' shoulder. "We should be going," he said. "We've spent enough time out here that people might notice our absence." He glanced at Serenity. "And I'm sure her Highness would like some time alone right now." Minako nodded, bowing once more to Serenity before taking hold of Kunzite's hand. The two began to make their way to the promenade that would return them into the royal wing. Minako was smiling again, once more enjoying the feel of the salt-smelling breezes that played with her tresses of blonde hair. So trusting. So foolish. But then Kunzite turned his had and looked back. His gaze met with the guardian's eyes. And they both knew of the reality that would play itself out. She pitied him. And he silently asked whose she was on. It came down to choice, not obligation: whom did she want to serve? Serenity giggled and continued to wave to the departing pair. "In three days, you'll inform Minako's mother about them," she instructed her guardian once she knew Minako and Kunzite were out of earshot. "That should give me more than enough time to get what I want from them. I don't want to be breaking a solemn vow in the process now, do I?" She smugly grinned at her idea. "But they never asked about you telling anyone, did they?" Resigned, the guardian nodded, though a curious knot had developed in her stomach. She knew Minako well enough from their encounters. She found the Venusian princess a very amicable soul. And to betray a fellow soldier like Kunzite was a harsh blow to be dealt. The knot was constricting, growing tighter. Choking out all other thoughts and emotions. Serenity walked out into the frolicking waves, letting the cold water and white foam crash against her gown. The soaked fabric clung to her legs and glistened like new-fallen snow. Earth seemed so close as they stared up at the heavens, a daunting blue orb filled with vibrant life. A life that had once been all the guardian ever knew. A life taken away from her. Replaced with this. Replaced by Serenity. And then everything snapped, falling into place with frightening, crystal clarity. "This really shouldn't be a night spent on land," Serenity said, looking back to her guardian. "I'll remain here, but I want you to prepare the catamaran for a night sailing. Then you can take me out into the sea, and we'll watch the sun rise from behind the Earth. Maybe you can see where you once lived, ne?" The guardian continued to stare out at the waves, as still and stoic as ever. The hypnotic allure of the thrashing tides held her voice at bay. And then allowed for but a single word: "No." Serenity looked surprised, and her sudden incredulous laugh further complimented the stunned expression on her face. "'No'?" she inquired, daring her guardian to verify that she'd heard right. "Did I just hear you countermand one of my wishes?" The guardian remained standing where she was. Ignorant of the growing tension. Apathetic to her future in the palace. "You may lack a heart, Serenity, but you don't lack ears," she answered. "You know what I said." Serenity laughed again, the laughter tapering off from amusement to cold viciousness. "You dare defy me? Ara ara, that can only invoke my anger...and you don't want to see me angry. You more than anyone else." But the guardian shook her head. "Don't play this game with me Serenity; I know your tactics. I grew up watching them used on everyone else. But I will not be bullied by someone like you." "You Earthlings are all alike," the princess lamented as she walked out from the water and moved past her guardian. Rolling her eyes in exasperation. "No wonder your people look to the moon for leadership and purpose. Without us, you're all useless." Suddenly the guardian spun around. Her hand was released from a mental restraint, and struck the princess' cheek. Hard. The sound of her slap echoed across the edge of the sea. Serenity stumbled forward, her hands pressing into the damp sands to keep her from falling. The marks of the beach now stained her once ethereal gown. Bangs of blonde hair lifted with her head as she glared at her bodyguard. "What was that for?!" she snapped, hot tears flooding her eyes. She was indignant. How dare this woman so much as touch her? Princess Serenity demanded an answer. The guardian returned to watching the sea. And gave her answer. "You deserved it," she stated. "Never insult the person who protects you, or I might become the one who kills you." "Don't you dare turn away from me!" Serenity exclaimed. She knew her grip upon this woman was slipping. Tactics were being changed yet again to gain submission. "You can't treat me like this, you callous bitch! I'm--" "Royalty?" The guardian's voice was suddenly very cold. Unforgiving. She didn't regret having slapped the child she was protecting. Not in the slightest. "A princess is as mortal as a peasant. The title means nothing in the face of death." "This is treason," Serenity stated, though the once plentiful confidence in her voice was now shaken. She seemed unable to rise from her knees, to stand and face this obstacle in her path. She was discovering what it meant to be alone and unprotected. The guardian's gaze swept across the waters and then focused back on the princess once more. "It would be that simple for you, wouldn't it?" she growled. "I was taken from my parents so long ago that I don't even remember who they were anymore. Because I was so young, I didn't fight it. I only complied, as I was taught to. Your mother brought me here, away from my home planet, and had me trained for the sole purpose of protecting the heir to the throne. And to think I lost all that I ever was...for this?!" She spat in contempt at the princess. "For so long I refused to believe it. I've been numb. But now...now I will not accept that you are my sole reason for living and dying. You are nothing, Serenity. And there's not a soul alive who would want to sacrifice themselves for nothing." "How dare you talk to me like that!" Serenity hissed. The guardian drew her katana sword. And the princess suddenly grew silent. "I could kill you where you stand," the guardian stated, her voice betraying no remorse over such a contemplation. "I'm not afraid of you or your mother--or her empire. I would sooner die than kowtow in such abject fear." The blade was nudged beneath Serenity's chin, its sharpened edge rubbing against the skin just enough to make the weapon's presence more than known. Tears were starting to form in the young girl's crystal eyes. "Welcome to the real world, Princess," the guardian said. "Where you are not in control and your royal whims mean nothing. How does it feel to suddenly know that the person before you doesn't fear your title? That I don't give a damn about you?" All this girl stood for was arrogance. For oppression. For tearing her away from her family and her planet. "You're nothing but a coward," the princess managed to stammer. She went silent as the guardian stepped forward, running the blade even closer along Serenity's neck. The years of training still prevented her from ending this, from terminating the princess' life. That would take time and years of hatred to finally break. "Am I?" the guardian inquired evenly. "I am not the one bowing with such false bravado in the hopes of making you smile in my direction. I am not the one who embraces a friend only to stab them in the back. You're nothing but a spoiled brat. Ask yourself, Serenity: how many friends do you have? How many people in the palace would listen to you simply because they wanted to? How many people would be willing to die for you if you were not a princess?" Serenity's lips opened. Desperate to say something. Anything. But she could only answer in frightened squeaks. Her eyes were wide in terror. They still trembled even when the guardian withdrew the katana blade from against her skin. The weapon was hurled into the seas, the guardian unleashing an infuriated howl as its escort. The only true symbol of her oaths and duties to the Moon Palace sank into the water without a sound. The sword would never be found. She pulled her braid out from beneath her uniform and untied the ribbon, letting her hair flow freely after years of being bound. Long auburn waves danced behind the guardian as she turned and began to walk away, leaving Serenity alone and quivering on the beach sands. "You've made an enemy today, Serenity. You did a long time ago, only we both didn't realize it then. This night will come back to haunt you." The course of the future had changed from what it might have been, and all because of the power, the choice, that rested in this princess' arrogant hands. Her next words came out in a nearly inaudible hiss. "Remember that." Footprints were left in the sand, the tides eagerly pouncing upon them and filling in the steps with salt water. As the distance between them grew, Serenity managed to find the strength to shakily rise to her feet. She shivered, her body chilled and numb. It was a harsh lesson to learn. One that perhaps had come too late. The damage was done. And was irreparable. Abruptly the guardian stopped, turned her head and looked back at the distraught princess. "There will come a time when I shall return to pay my respects to you, Serenity. And I will unleash the gates of hell itself, to show you just how insignificant you really are." Princess Serenity's eyes were now in tears. Anger had melted away into fear. Unexpected, unknown fear. Her trembling voice found but a single word to speak to the one who had fallen. A name, one she had never thought to speak in such a quivering way. "Beryl...." The guardian never looked back again, her form eventually disappearing into the darkness and shadows of the starry night. In due time she would return to this place, to the moon that had reared her up to be a guardian for a princess she no longer pledged allegiance to. How could she believe in such a future? If no one was willing to change, then she would become the sole instigator. She would travel to Earth. Find allies. And then make good on her promise to destroy that blonde, arrogant child. She had made her choice. And now it was up to the future to decide whether or not fulfilling that promise would prove to be founded or foolish. The future did come. Three years later, the gates of hell were unleashed. And in those final moments, the princess revealed just how she was so unlike the arrogant child that was once under the guardian's watch. A single slap across her cheeks had changed the way she saw life, the way she saw others. Beryl had made the Moon Princess into what she now was: compassionate, loved, and prepared to sacrifice herself for her friends. Serenity had made the former guardian into what she had now become: a vindictive force who had lost all hope in what she had once protected, bent and twisted even further by Metalia's poisoning. Everything had come full circle. Beryl fulfilled her promise and destroyed Princess Serenity, along with the rest of the Moon Kingdom. She too was destroyed in the process. The future decided that this event was neither founded nor foolish. But a tragedy. For Blue, whose ideas inspired this work.