-FROM HIS LORDSHIP CHAOS-


	Jadeite shook his head at Michiru and looked back at the 
painting. "You once put it so eloquently during one of our 
meetings," he said. "'You fight your way, and we shall fight ours.' 
Right now, this is my way of fighting."
	"Are you fighting for Earth, or are you fighting for 
yourself?"
	"Both." Jadeite glanced over at Michiru, and saw the 
expression she wore. "You disagree," he remarked. "I can see it in 
your smile."
	Michiru frowned. It was an expression almost unbecoming of 
her. "I do not believe now is the appropriate time to perform such 
soul-searching."
	"If not now, when?"
	She did not have an answer to give.
	"You may think I'm chasing after a ghost," Jadeite said. "But 
what if a ghost is chasing after us?"
	Michiru shifted uncomfortably, and glanced at the painting. 
"I would not like to consider that," she said quietly.
	"Why?"
	She turned towards Jadeite. "Because it would have had 
hundreds of years to watch us all, and know our every weakness." 



		TWO WORLDS TEETERING ON THE BRINK OF WAR


	Endymion continued to stare out the window. "The bloodied 
blade that was found next to my father was identified as a royal 
dagger of the Lunarian Empire. And here we are: the sole heir to 
Earth's largest and most influential empire, and his four greatest 
soldiers, descending upon their capital."
	The implications were clear enough that neither had to speak 
of them.
	"No one knows about the origins of the dagger, save for the 
five people here in this cabin," Kunzite said quietly. "And perhaps 
two or three people in the Moon Palace, the Queen being among them. 
She invited us here to ensure there is no ill-will, that their 
hands are clean in all this."
	He stared out at the palace. The buildings seemed to glow an 
ethereal silver in the darkness. Nothing on Earth shimmered like 
that. 
	"This meeting must be conducted without any bloodlusts or 
personal distrust on your part," Kunzite said. "If word gets out of 
that blade, then Earth will be ready to go to war. Everyone loved 
your father, and they are demanding vengeful retribution as it is. 
Lunaria has been a scapegoat in the past; questionable evidence 
like that dagger will only bolster the anti-Lunarian sentiments."
	"What if the assassin was from the Moon Kingdom?" Endymion 
said.
	Kunzite's jaw tightened. "Then we'll burn those bridges when 
we get there."



		TWO PEOPLE BROUGHT TOGETHER
		  TO BRING ABOUT PEACE


	Jadeite's brow furrowed in thoughts that made him restless. 
"I remain uncertain of our roles in all this, Kunzite, and that I 
do not like."
	"As do I," Zoicite agreed. He rose from his own chair, 
setting aside a classified report on the insurrections plaguing 
their country. Zoicite glanced at the palace that was growing ever 
larger in the windows. "We have more important duties to attend to 
than this. We should not be here."
	A fourth voice, louder and more brazen than any other, joined 
the conversation.
	"Princess Serenity and four of her delegates. Prince Endymion 
and four of his delegates. And the Lunarian Queen presiding over it 
all." Nephrite let out a derisive snort and crossed his arms over 
his chest, staring out the windows. "It sounds more like a meeting 
for an arranged marriage than some diplomatic good-will gesture." 
	"You also all know that we have no choice in this matter," 
Kunzite stated coolly. He was especially staring down at Nephrite, 
with just enough contempt in his eyes to make Nephrite shift 
uncomfortably in his chair. "If you would rather risk open war with 
Lunaria as opposed to this, do let me know."



		AN ENEMY WILL BE FOUND


	Nephrite stared up at the woman he knelt before, and tried to 
get to his feet. His knees became frozen like ice, his legs as 
heavy as stone. "Who are you?" he said.
	"Ah, the obvious first question," Beryl drawled. "I was 
hoping you'd have a bit more flair or creativity, and not simply 
voice the obvious. Be content in knowing you can breach the edges 
of my mind, and not be burned by my name. But now your question has 
passed, and it is my turn."
	She leaned forward on her settee and pinned Nephrite down 
with a chilling stare. "So then," she asked in a cold, dangerous 
voice, "what are you doing here?"
	"You tell me," Nephrite said.
	It was the best and only answer he had to give.
	Beryl's eyes raked up and down his form, then up again. Her 
gaze settled on his face, and she pursed her lips into a thin, 
vicious smile. "Aaaah, so that's it," she said. "A farseer. Your 
breed is rare, even here on the Moon."
	With a chuckle, she waved a dismissive hand at him. "I might 
just have use for you in the future after all."



		ALLIANCES WILL BE FORGED


	Still towelling his hair dry, Jadeite walked out of his 
bedchambers and crossed the common area to retrieve his jacket from 
is resting place upon the chair.
 	The main doors to the common room abruptly opened up. 
	"...and here," came Kunzite's voice, "we are."
	The doors swung open, letting Kunzite and Minako see inside. 
Minako took in a sweeping view of the common room, and then her 
gaze couldn't help but stop dead on Jadeite, who was quite naked 
save for the towel draped over one shoulder. Jadeite paused, 
glancing over at her.
	Minako's face went a bright shade of red.
	"Perhaps I should have knocked first," Kunzite dryly remarked 
as he saw Jadeite.
	Jadeite gave a nonchalant shrug and continued towards the 
chair.
	"Do you guys usually walk around naked in here?" Minako 
asked, her face still flush.
	Kunzite sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Only when 
unexpected guests come over, it would appear."



		A MIRACLE ROMANCE WILL BE BORN


	Endymion's hands trembled with second thoughts and unsaid 
doubts as they lifted themselves into the air and slowly came to 
wrap around Serenity's dress. He acted as if holding her was a 
totally alien concept, that he had never held anyone like that 
before in his life. In many ways, he never had.
	His palms found the warmth of her body, and moments later 
tightened their resolve. Endymion closed his arms around Serenity, 
gathering her up as much as he could, and he held her against 
himself. He did not cry. He did not stare into her eyes or look 
upon her face and marvel at its pale beauty. Endymion held her 
tightly, and stared out at the palace as he forced back his desire 
to run and be alone once more.
	The more he held fast to Serenity, the more he wanted to 
stay.
	He found himself willing to believe.
	When he made peace with himself, Endymion allowed his eyes to 
close, and he took up her scent for the first time all over again. 
It reminded him of waterfalls and secret kisses. Endymion smiled 
and opened his eyes, drawing his face away from Serenity. She was 
staring up at him with her shy, quiet smile.
	"How do you do that?" he asked her.
	Serenity blinked in mild surprise. "Do what?"
	"Make everything seem so much simpler."



		HOPE WILL BE REKINDLED


	Halcyon brought the entire room and its occupants into focus. 
"Now is the time where we all must unite together," the Lunarian 
queen stated, "for our enemy has already crept into our worlds and 
made a nest for itself. And make no mistake: it is powerful. 
Perhaps even more powerful than anything else we have ever faced 
before. Some of you are here acting on behalf of your comrades. 
Some of you need only answer for yourselves. I need to know that we 
are in agreement and united in this cause. Will each of you pledge, 
as I shall, to stand together and find and fight this to the end?"
	She paused, and awaited their answers.
	Nephrite and Kunzite were first. They rose from their chairs, 
and stood before Halcyon. "Even though my lord Endymion is absent," 
Kunzite said, "I know I speak for him. Your have our strength and 
support."
	"I don't know about the rest of you," Nephrite said, and 
casually crossed his arms over chest, "but I'm not about to leave 
this little party just yet. I have a red-haired witch to hunt."
	Halcyon smiled and let out a small chuckle.
	The four Outer Soldiers stood up and made their pledge.
	"This threat has its origins from beyond our solar system," 
Haruka stated. "We are yours to command, Halcyon Queen."
	Minako was the last to stand, and she rose with a quiet 
dignity about her. "We shall see this to its completion," she 
stated. "By my word as Sailor Venus, your kingdom and your daughter 
shall be protected."



		AND EVIL WILL BRING IT ALL CRASHING DOWN


	Kunzite remained oddly casual despite the chains from which 
he hung, despite the fact that his feet dangled off the floor. "And 
so eleven years ago, you set all this in motion," he stated. "You 
seem to have enlightened me with the last of your secrets, Beryl. 
We might as well get this over with, then."
	The corners of Beryl's mouth pulled into a vicious smile. 
"What? Are you so eager to die?"
	Kunzite tipped his chin down and stared at Beryl with 
unflinching eyes. "You won't kill me. My disappearance or death now 
would unravel all of your carefully laid plans. I imagine you'll 
make me just another one of your little toys."
	"Well-played, General," Beryl said in a congratulatory tone. 
"You may in fact be smarter than me, but there will be time enough 
for us to test that. And just so you know, there's one fun little 
secret you don't yet know about."
	She whispered dark and dreaded words into Kunzite's ear, and 
Kunzite's eyes widened as he listened. His body went cold, and he 
shivered.
	"Oh please, don't act so dramatic," Beryl sighed. "In your 
heart, you already suspected where my power was coming from."
	Beryl stepped back and made a gesture with her hand.
	Lapis and Lazuli began advancing on Kunzite.
	"You get to live, Kunzite," Beryl told him, "but your 
loyalty's about to change."



		WITNESS THE BIRTH OF THE ANGEL ELECTRIC


	"Do you think we'll make it?" Zoicite asked. 
	Ami looked up at him. Her eyes showed no insult. If anything, 
they reflected the same worries she was trying to quell. "I have 
to," she said with a quiet ferocity. "If not, then there is no hope 
for the future, and all of our dreams turn to dust and ash. To live 
a life without hope is not living at all. I still have hope--in 
myself, in our worlds, in what we are doing here today--and for 
that reason, I can face each new day despite the burden of my 
destiny weighing down upon me."
	"What's it like?"
	"Hm?"
	"Destiny," Zoicite said. "What's it like being caught in its 
grip, if you even believe in that sort of thing?"
	"I have to believe in destiny, Zoicite," she answered. Her 
voice and her resolve were unwavering. "Destiny is what gave me 
these powers and charged me with a purpose: to protect this system 
from evil. However, destiny can only carry me so far. I must walk 
on my own strength the rest of the way. I must choose for myself 
whether to embrace this power, or flee from it."
	"There is a third option," Zoicite said.
	Ami was puzzled. "What is that?" 
	"To embrace darkness instead of destiny."
	At that, Ami scowled and pulled away from Zoicite like he had 
suddenly become a complete stranger. "And become the very thing I 
am to fight against? That is not an option, General. Don't even 
make light of it being so."
	"Morality is a choice, Ami," Zoicite stated. "Believe me, I 
know better than anyone. Destiny, or chance, or whatever you'd like 
to call it, has given you an unfathomable power to wield as you see 
fit. You could just as easily turn your back on what you were 
taught and carve out your own empire."




		THE END IS COMING

		  13-MAY-2005