As she lay in the broken spires of Crystal Tokyo, the once great city of magic and glass broken around her, shattered by the green tide that had washed over her world, the Queen of Humanity contemplated her own blindness. For thousands of years she had ruled, and along with her Sailor Senshi, she protected the Earth and its people from the forces of Chaos, and without fail, they stood as the indomitable wall that no demon could cross, the shining beacon of light that even the most vile of the Dark Gods would be unwilling to stand against.
She laughed to herself, wincing in regret, as blood and pain rose from her ruptured lung. Her advisor had been correct. For millennia the dark figure had stood at the side of her throne. He was not her servant, but he was not her equal, he was something else… not of the Moon Kingdom, but with power greater than any of her Senshi, possibly even her own.
He had warned her time and time again, that the decadence of Crystal Tokyo, of her Silver Age, would spell their downfall. He had told her that there were forces that the Senshi alone could not defeat. She did not believe them, and for that, they were paying the price. Their fall had not originated with the demonic, for they were quite adept at destroying the forces of darkness. Their fall came from the most mundane of foes… the Orks.
They rained down from the sky in ships that were nothing more than rock. They slaughtered her people with weapons so crude, that even the weaponsmiths of the 20th century would have turned their noses up in contempt. Her Senshi, her friends, her family, were consumed by the green tide. The greatest warriors live, women who had thumbed their noses at gods, washed away by a tide of gun toting barbarians.
It was fucking insulting.
"You are alive."
Slowly, Serenity turned her head to the voice.
Standing in golden armor, his black hair framing his severe but handsome features, stood her advisor.
"You were right, Numan," she coughed. "I was arrogant and blind…"
"I take no pride in it, there is only regret."
She nodded.
"My power is spent, my body is broken. I am dying."
He nodded.
"I know."
She coughed, once again wracked with pain.
"My family… my Senshi…"
"Your daughter and husband are dead. They sacrificed themselves to destroy the Warboss's own space hulk. Your Senshi have broken those that remained, but the price was great, and all stand on the edge of death."
So much pain. So much loss. Her daughter and husband, lost to the Warp. Her beloved friends, only one step removed. She had not felt so worthless since before her ascension. Everyone she loved was going to die because of her. Humanity itself almost died because of her. Her decision not to have a standing military. Her decision not to let humanity out of its jar, and to expand…
She could not let it end like this. There had to be something… she knew she could not wish it away, but she had to figure out a way to heal what had been done.
Through the pain, she came to a realization
"My friend… I would ask a favor of you."
He nodded. "What would you ask of me…"
"Our people cannot sit in the cradle any longer. We must expand, grow… so that this will never happen again. We have a destiny in the stars."
He nodded.
"It will be done."
Slowly, and with trembling hands, she held the silver crystal out to him, which he received without comment.
"My friends… there is a spell on them… one old and faded, but if revitalized, it would allow them to be reborn… allow them to live again."
"And yourself?"
She turned away, in shame. "I deserve to pay for my sins. I don't deserve another chance."
Slowly, he lifted her from the ground, a warm smile on his lips.
"Let ye without sin cast the first stone…"
Even with her body wracked with pain, the queen could not help but smile at her old friend's humor.
--------------------
999. M41
Sister Tsukino Usagi awoke with a cry. It was the middle of the of the night and her body was soaked with sweat.
Her dreams frightened her. As an initiate in the Adeptus Sororitas, one of the Order Militant of the Imperial Cult, the Sisters of Battle, dreams of the Emperor were considered a divine experience. To dream of Him was nothing more than to touch the divine…
But she doubted most dreams were like hears. She dreamt of the Emperor, not as a god, but as a man… and not as her lord, but as her friend and the closest thing she had to an equal.
A chill traveled down her spine. This was not right, it felt right, but she knew it to be wrong. Was she a psiker witch? Were the corrupting powers of chaos attempting to destroy her faith? Was this a test of her faith? She was so confused, she…
"Oh shit up and go back to bed!" cried the voice of her fellow trainee, Hino Rei.
Usagi gulped, and nodded, slowly sinking back under the covers of her bed. It was silly to concern herself with such things. She knew her faith was strong, she knew that these silly dreams were just dreams… right?
Forcing down her own fears, Usagi closed her eyes, and slowly returned to her restless slumber.
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(Posted Mon, 13 Feb 2006 07:50)
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