End of the Millennium A Xian Shade Production Author's Notes: No notes this time. I'm feeling lazy. Disclaimer: I do not own any aspects of Sailor Moon or Phantasy Star. If I did, this would be an anime, or manga, or both. Thanatos, Ares, Chronos, Aljus, King Marcus, and the worthless one are © Xian Shade and may not be used without my permission. People failing to follow this rule have broken Xian's Law #849, paragraph 3, line 2: Don't fuck with my shit. The Path of Finding Destiny, Chapter 24: For the first time in nearly a decade, Thanatos laid eyes on the surface of Saturn. The dark clouds blocked out the sun completely; it was a wonder there was any light at all. It was even a larger wonder that plant life grew with so little sun, but the fields sown by the commoners of Saturn were abundant indeed. He floated before the castle and through the walls, until he came to the 'classroom' for the young princess. It was more like a study. No doubt she'd be learning how to rule like any princess. He reverted to his mortal guise and opened the door, thinking that at least he could speak to her without her becoming fully aware of it being him. "Who goes there?" he heard as soon as the door creaked slightly open. He opened it the remainder, to find her alone. A decade had done wonders to her appearance, and he'd hardly recognized her. Dark black hair, cropped at her shoulders, framed a pale face with eyes like black holes, a purple void that almost seemed soulless, were it not for the light from lamps reflecting in her eyes. "Oh, good morning. What can I do for you?" she said cheerily, the dark mood of being disturbed disappearing. 'Morning... ? How can she tell?' he thought, then blinked. "Er, yes... Princess?" "I could hardly be considered that. Everyone lives independently since my father died. The people move as effectively as if there were still a king." she blinked, staring up at him. "Do I know you from somewhere?" This girl had completely undone his mind. She'd grown so beautiful, much like Amilia. Had he stayed before, would he have had a chance with her? Granted, it would have been a much longer time to wait for her... His mind ground to a halt. Amilia. He loved Amilia. He lost his arm for her. He became mortal for her. He'd be damned if he was going to lose that to a pretty pale thing that was even younger, that hated his true form with all her being, and would die upon release of the power she stole from him a decade ago. "Yes, you do. We met a long, long time ago." he closed the door and slid the latch closed to lock it silently. "I'd hoped you would understand after years away from me that I wasn't responsible for your father's death, but such things don't disappear so easily. I have come to you now out of desperation." Smoke swirled forth from the purple sphere atop his cane, and the swirling storm within spread outward about him, revealing the spectre of Thanatos in his place. Her eyes widened in fear and she drew a long curved blade from a nearby bookshelf, holding it in front of her to protect herself, backing away. "You STAY away from me!" "Please calm yourself. I have come to make peace. You've been blissfully unaware of what's been happening on the other worlds, and I've been doing what I could as this world's temporary ruler." "Some ruler! You murder my father and let the planet fall into chaos when you run off, with a four year old as the only royalty left!" she made to swing the blade. He knew he had to be careful here. If her emotions got out of control, her power could awaken, and she'd waste the entire planet. Her swing came about and caught in his cloak, and he deflated to only the cloth resting on the blade. She stood dumbfounded, staring at the cloak hanging from her blade, and it quickly wrapped around her, forcing the weapon from her hands as she was pulled into the dark space. The dark space was a kind of pocket dimension, though infinitely large. It housed Thanatos' physical form when he was transformed, and anything he might need. The dimension bent to his will however, and was easily capable of restraining her. If her power DID go supernova, it would at least be in the confined void of his cloak, and he could spare the planet. "Please control yourself! Your father's death was not my doing! I was acting in the only way I could think as a ruler, obtaining alliance with the rest of the solar system to help out your world!" She struggled and cried under his grip, not budging one bit, his cloak muffling her cries. He plead with her in a calmer tone. "I mean you no harm, princess... please understand... I would not come here to see you unless it was absolutely necessary." Her struggles died down and she slumped in the grip of the darkness, silent tears rolling down her cheeks in defeat. He set her back down and released her from the black space, floating away from her a bit. "I've come here today because the alliance this world is going to be part of is in dire straits. War may soon erupt throughout the entire solar system due to an outside influence, and I did not want this world to suffer without knowing, or being able to fight back." "Then what do you want us to do? We-we can't even leave our world." she was still sobbing silently, tears streaking her pale features. "That will be arranged. This world of healers can heal the wounds of the past and encourage trust, and also heal the wounded in battle. You yourself have a one-time use of my own power, to be able to obliterate anything... unfortunately, the power release would kill you. We would only ask that you do so as a last resort." "So... I could even destroy you?" she asked between the dying sobs, getting a wicked gleam in her eye. Vengeance was still a biting and clawing creature within her. "Yes, but I don't suggest doing so. Not only would that put a great deal of souls into limbo for the next thousand years until my own physical regeneration, but it would negate positive reincarnation until then as well... and the blast would also destroy all life on the planet you stand upon. Would you kill yourself and murder your whole world just for revenge against me?" She actually thought about it for a moment. 'Do I really hate him so badly? Am I really so convinced that he had killed my father? I... I don't think I'd be willing to. No... I can't be so cold to sacrifice everyone for vengeance.' she shook her head after making up her mind. "I know you probably will never forgive me, but wouldn't you like to be able to do that one great thing that all rulers can do for their people?" She closed her eyes, and her tears stopped. Wiping them away, she held a determined gaze into the white mask upon Thanatos' hood. "Show me what I have to do." ------------------------------------------------------------------ Kind of a shorty. Saturn's princess now has knowledge of her power, so now she must obtain discipline. With all this power under their control, what hope could the darkness have upon the time of their invasion?