Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, and characters related to Sailor Moon (you know which ones), belong to Naoko Takeuchi, not me. Just so we are clear on that. Original characters are of my design, thank you very much. Character’s thoughts are italicized. This is my first fic, so I hope you enjoy reading it. I would like to thank Lady Archanna for being a wonderful editor (thanks, Lexi!), and Magdalena for her input and support (thanks, Lenachan!) Any comments, email me at halreader@cs.com. Thank you for reading, and enjoy! HAL :-) Dragon of the Moon Prologue Duty then is the sublimest word in the English language. You should do your duty in all things. You can never do more, you should never wish to do less. -- Robert E. Lee "Must you go?" The knight stopped at the gates, tilting his head, as if straining to hear some faint sound. He had heard the question. He didn't move, he kept his back turned as his cape fluttered against his dark uniform. Far off, faint explosions were heard; the sounds of war threatening to break the serene setting in which he stood. After a while, he lowered his head, gave out a long sigh, and spoke. "I don't think anything else can be said...it has been decided...and I have a job to do." A choking sob was heard. “But you have only been here for such a short time...you CAN'T leave...it's not fair...your friends ...your family...your..." "Enough," said the caped figure, raising his hand, half turning. His features were darkened by the long shadow the castle gave off in the setting glare of the sun. "It is for them I'm doing this...my friends...my family..." He slowly turned to face the other speaker, his lips trembling, "...my Queen...my..." His breath caught, and he closed his eyes, clenching his fist. "Like I said, I have a job to do, and I am the one to do it...such is my fate...and my destiny," he sighed. Another sob. A small pendant on the caped figure's chest began to glow, and he clutched it. He raised his head, his face softened, and his eyes shone. He grinned. "If all goes well, I will come back," he said, adding, "and I will see you again." A long sigh which he answered with a wink. A booming sound broke the silence and the caped-figure's face hardened again as his fingers closed around the hilt of his sword. "I must go," he said, turning away to face the war that raged outside the castle, pausing for a moment before stepping past the threshold. A mist seemed to gather thickly around him, and the sounds of war grew louder and louder. There was a growing roar of loud yells, clashing metal of swords, cries of pain and death... ....louder.....louder....LOUDER.... “NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO......” "Nooooooo!" Usagi cried, as she started awake. She sat up quickly, looking about wildly and breathing hard. Immediately Luna was in front of her. "Usagi-chan! What is it? What's happened?" cried the black moon cat. "OH! Oh...Luna," Usagi whimpered, shaking her head. Her hand reached up to her forehead, and she found she'd broken out into a cold sweat. "It...it must have been..." "A nightmare?" Luna volunteered. Usagi's eyes widened for a couple of seconds, then regressed to normal. "I...I don't know, Luna...it looked...it looked so...so... REAL.." "You remember what it was about?" asked Luna. "It was the Moon Kingdom...the Silver Millennium...I think," she said quickly, trying to recall. "I saw a guy in a dark uniform...." Luna let out a heavy sigh. "Oh Usagi, not Endymion again?" she began. "But it wasn't Mamochan...er, I mean, Endymion," Usagi corrected. "This guy... the uniform was different, not that of Earth royalty...but more like...of the Moon's?" Luna's ears perked up. "And besides, I would know if it was Mamo...umm, Endymion. This one...his face...his eyes...glowing eyes, his...oohh, I can't remember!" Usagi pouted. "Take it easy, Usagi," assured Luna. "It's probably another repressed memory from your days as Princess Serenity during the Silver Millennium." "But Luna," said Usagi, "why am I dreaming of him? I mean, I would rather be...dreaming of my Mamochan, in the park, having a picnic, then taking a beautiful romantic boat ride..." A dreamy sigh slipped past her lips. Luna sweatdropped, and coughed, "Ahem..." Usagi flushed, "Oh, heh heh, yeah...but I'm telling you, Luna, it's not Endymion, it's...someone I know...from my past?" Luna pondered on that. "Can't you remember anything else, Usagi-chan?" she asked. Usagi thought real hard, trying to remember any other features, other objects. Something about his neck...a chain...or was it a pendant? or...she thought, but shook her head. "Well, I wouldn't worry so much, Usagi," said Luna, and added, "If it was some repressed memory, it will come out eventually, just like it did with Mamoru-san." Usagi leaned back on her futon, and sighed. "Go back to sleep, Usagi, please? We'll talk about it in the morning." "All right, Luna," Usagi nodded, pulling up her covers, and turning to face the window. Luna purred in agreement, and settled down in her spot on the bed, and was soon asleep. Usagi wasn't so lucky. She was gazing outside through the window, and the night sky was clear, and the moon seemed to give off a faint glow, shining its light into her room. Who are you? Do I know you? she thought. You're not Mamochan, but someone...those eyes...that chain...pendant... She shook her head, and turned to look at the ceiling. It must be a memory of some kind, it looked so real, like I should know him somehow, she sleepily thought. She closed her eyes, and soon she was too was asleep. She did not dream of the caped knight...for now. End Prologue