Earth, Tokyo, 1995 AD (-997 SY, 2746 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 22159, Federal Year -1991) The Black Moon Crisis was over and a new war, one against the Deathbusters had begun, but Usagi still had some thoughts about the Black Moon Family on her mind. She sat on a low wall overlooking a steep slope down to a creek that ran through the neighborhood she had found herself in after an hour of wandering. She couldn't get Demand out of her mind. The man had been in love with her, and she still didn't understand why. Had he met her future self? Had he simply been spying on her and fallen in love? He had kept talking about destiny or something...It bothered her. "Good afternoon, Usagi," Setsuna said. Usagi started and nearly fell off the wall, saved only by Setsuna quickly grabbing her shirt. "You scared me!" "I'm sorry. I was on my way to the grocery store and I saw you here, so I thought I would say hello. You looked pretty distracted and down, so I hoped it would cheer you up." "I just...I don't understand why Demand...why he...He thought he was in love with me, but I'm not sure if he even understood what love is." Setsuna came over and sat down on the wall. "Demand believed he was destined to marry your future self. I'm not sure if Wiseman deliberately tricked him or if it was merely part of the natural cycle." Usagi blinked. "The what?" "The Earth has been conquered by a variety of alien and supernatural forces over the millennia, but always it throws up defenders after a time, people who can finally end the evil, people who wield the Silver Force, the power of the Tree of Life. Sometimes it is a single champion; sometimes it is a man and a woman, sometimes it may be an entire group of people. The Five Ruling Wizards who ended the period of rule by the Things From Beyond that followed the fall of Hyperborea were one such group. Demand was the champion chosen by the Earth to defend itself against the Winter Queen when the time came for her to fall." Usagi's eyes widened. "He...Then how did he become evil?" "Jealousy and Pride. He was found by the Wiseman and corrupted. He came to believe that Serenity was his destined bride and that Endymion had somehow tricked her into preferring Endymion over him. You both shared the mark of the Crescent Moon after all." She sighed. "I do not know why he received that sigil, but it convinced him that he was destined to be your spouse, along with Wiseman's whisperings. His rejection by your future self caused him to join the group of exiles, of whom he soon became the leader, who fled to Nemesis. And once one starts down the path of dark magic, it is almost impossible to escape." Usagi nodded. "So why..." "Why didn't I stop him from ever being corrupted by Wiseman?" Usagi nodded quietly. "I am not all-seeing. I know the big picture, not the fine details, often. By the time I learned of his existence, it was too late for me to save him without using my time travel powers. And the Wiseman had power over time, though not usually as strong as mine. He would have felt my interference, and I could not defeat him alone." "How did Wiseman get power over time?" "He acquired the Time Orb, which in the hands of a strong enough wielder can enable one to see through time, change its flow, and even travel through time if one is strong enough. I have not yet learned where it came from." She stood up. "I hope that helps." "Thank you," Usagi said, smiling at her, then turning back to the river. "I feel better." She thought a moment, then turned back to ask another question, but Setsuna was gone. ****************** Black Moon Rising Chapter 12: The Storm Has Passed. By John Biles ****************** Nemesis, Nemesis City, Nemesis Year 306, (SY 68, 3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23224, Federal Year -926) Magnesite placed the crown on Tourmaline's brow. "All hail Queen Tourmaline I of Nemesis!" She sat upon the throne and smiled at the gathered nobility and at everyone who would see her via Crystal Sets. She stood now, and bowed. "Let this begin a new age for Nemesis! While our first effort to destroy Crystal Tokyo was a failure, we have learned much and will not make the same mistakes. The Great Shield stands, hiding us in a pocket outside Space and Time, and our enemies can neither find us nor strike at us! United, we can overcome any foe! Let us remember Prince Demand, who fought for us! He has gone to rest and heal, to return one day and lead us to victory! He will take us to Avalon, the land of peace from which we have been exiled! The land where he waits for us! Let us remember the heroes who have fallen and the sacrifices they made! One day, the Day of Return will come, and then we will come into our KINGDOM!" And across the world, the crowds roared, and the nobles raised their swords, and the Droids bowed in obeisance. Tourmaline smiled. It was a cunning lie, but lies could be stronger than truth when it was what people wanted to believe. Demand was dead, probably killed in an effort to change the past, or possibly had even betrayed them to Serenity due to his love for her. But the people wanted to believe in him, for he had given them hope when they had despaired in exile. Every land needed a once and future king, someone to hope for when all seemed darkest. She would give them that hope, and they would serve her better for it. And one day, they would have their revenge. ************ Tourmaline robed herself for bed, emerging from the shower only to find that four people had gotten into her bedroom unseen. "Who the hell are you?" she asked. There were two men, and two women, and they all shone with nimbuses of light in the gloom of her boudoir. "We are the Senshi of Nemesis, and we have come to tell you that you will not have your vengeance," the blonde woman said. "Your lies will be exposed, and we will bring you down. Vengeance will only bring about our destruction; we need to make our world a decent place to live, not a launching dock for futile wars." Tourmaline frowned. "You can kill me, but it would do you no good. The people of Nemesis want revenge for their defeat, for their exile, their sufferings. I am but their voice, their will made flesh. Slay me and another like me will simply rise." "That is why we did not wait for you to sleep and chop off your head," the black haired man said. "But we will break you down. Your lies will be exposed, and if it takes a dozen lifetimes, we will show the people of Nemesis the futility of this quest. Let the battle be joined." "You will lose." "We shall see." They vanished, leaving Tourmaline to her thoughts. ****************** Earth, Crystal Tokyo, SY 68 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23224, Federal Year -926) The inner senshi, their spouses, their children, various ministers, and anyone else with an excuse to hang around and fret were milling about in the great hall when Serenity, Saturn, Pluto, Uranus, and Neptune appeared. Mars rushed over to Serenity. "You idiot! You should have taken us with you!" "You were too exhausted to move," Serenity said. "YOU'VE BEEN MISSING FOR A WEEK!" Serenity blinked. Pluto sighed. "Nemesis time flows faster than time does here, just as our universe's time is faster than that of many other worlds." "Hime-chan's been impersonating you to keep the peace, but..." Mercury said, "She's not very good at it. Even with Endymion helping her. She keeps getting mad at people." "We must go, Serenity," Pluto said. "Small Lady will return soon." She frowned. "Has anyone seen Arcadia?" The Gate of Time opened, and Arcadia stepped out with Wasyuu, Linna, Anri, and Ryoko. She was clad in a long white dress rather like Serenity's, and the sign of the crescent moon shone upon her brow. For a moment, they stared at each other in silence, then both faces broke into smiles. "I need your help, Arcadia," Serenity said. "I need to fix my city, and I cannot do it without the crystal." Arcadia nodded, and stepped forward, holding out her hand. "Let's do it." They clasped hands and vanished in a flash of light. "So why can't I fix entire cities with a wave of my hand, Mom?" Ryoko asked Wasyuu. "Because you'd be insufferable if you had that much power," Wasyuu said. "It was hard enough getting you to clean your room with as much power as you had. Not to mention the way you used to wet the bed." Dozens of heads craned around to stare at Ryoko. Ami-chan said, "Did you make her wear a special diaper?" "I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!" Ryoko shouted, and chased Wasyuu off into the depths of the palace, with Anri running after them, shouting about how much it would cost to replace everything they broke. Linna shook her head. "Now I know why Tenchi still hasn't given her all the power gems back." ****************** Arcadia and Serenity floated over Crystal Tokyo. "I'm sorry I tricked you," Serenity said quietly. "Sometimes, I just want to be Usagi, not a queen." "And sometimes I wish I could just be who I was before the Black Moon destroyed my life," Arcadia said. "And when I was with you...I was. I hadn't done anything like that for months, and it seemed like years. I suppose Rei is Sailor Mars and Mamoru is Endymion." She nodded. "We all keep up some kind of secret identity..." she laughed. "It's not easy being watched by entire worlds." "Do you think...we could do that again before I have to go?" Arcadia asked. "I'd love to." Serenity looked down on the wreckage of Crystal Tokyo. "So it looks like this in your time?" "Worse. The top half of the palace is gone, most of the buildings were completely pounded to rubble..." She sighed. "Even if we fix this..." "Everything breaks, but if you never fix anything, you live in rubble your whole life," Serenity said. "It's like cleaning. You know it will get dirty again, but it's better than living in total filth." Arcadia nodded, then saw an explosion blow out a third story window in the palace. "What the..." "It's just Wasyuu and Ryoko playing," Serenity said. "They'll probably level part of Wasyuu's labs again, too." "She's a very wise woman," Arcadia said. "She..." "I respect Wasyuu very much. She's lived a life I think would have broken me," Serenity said. "But it hasn't broken her. She's probably alive in your time; you should look her up." "Maybe I will. Let's get started." The Silver Crystal erupted from Arcadia's brow, and spun in the air between them. White power enfolded them, and they sprouted the wings that were their birthright. And the Champions of Life, who bore upon their brows the sign that the bow of wrath had been laid down to make war no more upon the world, lifted their hands to the heavens and called down the power that was their birthright. And then there was light. ************* In the orbit of Jupiter, Solar System, SY 68 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23224, Federal Year -926) Space unfolded itself, and Astra, the White Knight, and the Zodiac erupted out of it. She frowned, looked at the stars, then sighed. "Well, it could have been much worse." "Like what?" "We could have been forced to listen to Snoop Doggy Dogg the entire time." The White Knight screamed. *********** Wasyuu's lab, Subspace, Juraiian Year 23224 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, SY 68, Federal Year -926) Ryoko dug herself out from under a pile of rubble, brushing off the tiny blue shirtless humanoids who were now crawling all over her. Now I'm gonna have to rebuild that damn Smurf village again, Ryoko thought. "You okay, Mom?" Wasyuu lay flat on her back on top of a pile of computer units, chunks of stone, some tree branches, a tapestry, and a lot of wires. She said nothing. Ryoko strode over. "You're bluffing," she said, poking Wasyuu in the chest. "Get up!" Wasyuu was utterly silent. "Have it your way," Ryoko said, sitting down by her. "I refuse to rebuild that stupid village if you're going to keep putting it where it gets blown up every time we have an argument." She looked around. Where was Anri? She should have escaped the Shark Tank by now. A door opened in the air, and Tenchi and Aeka charged through in full battle regalia with a squad of their children and descendants and Knights of Juraii. "We came as fast as we could!" Ryoko blinked. "Who called you?" "We got a message from Wasyuu that some of the Great Old Ones had escaped from their holding tank, again. I told her moving R'yleh into her lab was a bad idea, but..." Ryoko shook Wasyuu. "Wake up! You gotta stop sending these fake priority one alerts!" "That's a doll," Tenchi said. Ryoko blinked. Not AGAIN! "Wait...the R'yleh tank is next to the shark tank...Ack! Follow me!" ************* Far away in the vast laboratory complex, Anri and Wasyuu (back in her child form) sat holding joysticks and peering at a viewscreen. "Are you sure this is a good idea, Mom?" Anri asked dubiously. "They need a good work out, and my Mecha-Cthulhu won't actually hurt anyone permanently," she said. "And I'm tired of Ryoko leveling my smurf village. They're starting to create legends about an evil spikey-haired goddess, then mistaking me for her. And after all that seriousness...I need to let some stress out." By the time it was over, the Smurfs added Mecha-Cthulhu to their pantheon as well. ****************** Ronco system, Near Ronco IV, Juraiian Year 23224 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, SY 68, Federal Year -926) "No, I do NOT want to buy a Pocket Fisherman!" Priss shouted at the Ronco ambassador. "Even if it WILL still slice a tomato or blend bass into a refreshing drink! Or whatever it does today!" She pulled her hair. "You're supposed to be mediating a peace settlement, not trying to sell us useless junk!" The Juraii-Khund peace talks had been set up on the neutral world of Ronco, home to one of the five most annoying races in space and time. It provided an extra incentive to settle things quickly before one found oneself purchasing twenty thousand Bass-o-matics or an ocean full of Sea Monkeys. The Ronco race looked like plaid five foot tall bipedal turtles, almost all of whom wore either glasses, visors, or sunglasses, as they all had rather bad vision and a keen mind for inventing ingenious, but mostly useless devices, such as potato peeler attachments for cyberlimbs. "A true warrior cares nothing for Ginsu steak knives!" one of the Khundian ambassadors, a red Khund, bellowed. "Actually, I've found mine to be quite useful, especially for slicing open tamates at a safe distance," one of the Khunds, a blue, said. "They're a PLANT!" the red bellowed. "What kind of warrior has to go to a safe distance to slice open a plant?" "I breed mutant attack tamates for a living," the blue replied. "Would you like to be in one of our commercials?" the Ronco ambassador asked. "Sure! I've always wanted to be on tri-vid." The peace accords came close to including an alliance to destroy Ronco. ************* The Ministry of Destiny, the Second Heaven, SY 68 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23224, Federal Year -926), not that mortal Calendars have much relevance for them. Belldandy floated in the great hall of doors with Shinobu and Inaba. "Looks like everything's back to normal for now." Inaba nodded, the rabbit ears of his costume flopping about. "This is the last great crisis. There will be peace for hundreds of years, interrupted only by minor wars and minor crises. Winter is over, and the Queen of the Spring and her King reign." Shinobu reached over and squeezed his hand, then smiled. "Maybe we can finally take that vacation." "I hear Higher Jurai is very pretty this time of year." Belldandy smiled and turned away to seek out her sisters. Then Gabriel appeared before her. "We've got a minor problem, Belldandy." "What is it?" "Well, the Guardians of Karma succeeded in their mission, but they went out to a bar to celebrate with Linna and Urd and..." "But it's not their fault," Belldandy said dryly. "I'm sure they'll say that when I assign them to be guardian angels to some rats, or something..." He sighed. "Can you handle this?" "Certainly," Belldandy said, plunging through the floor on her way to the mortal world. *********** Earth, Crystal Tokyo, SY 68 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23224, Federal Year -926) Deep below the Crystal Palace, there was a hidden room that only a handful of people knew of its existence. Well, several handsful now. It bore a suspicious resemblance to a larger scale version of a living room that had once belonged to a young girl named Makoto Kino, although it had three fireplaces, several computers, and several televisions and gaming systems. It was crammed with people now, some of them resembling the teenagers they once had been, the others in the form they always wore, but with hair let down, and twentieth and twenty-first century fashions adopted. They celebrated, each in their own way, from getting drunk as a Sailor, to playing Street Fighter XI to watching an Akane Tendo Martial Arts Marathon on one of the TVs. "That's me," Ranma said, pointing at the screen to a man in dark blue robes, wearing a mask and hurling chains from his sleeves. "Really?" Dan asked as the masked man got kicked out a window by Akane's character. "No wonder grandpa used to beat you up so easily." "HEY! HE DID NOT BEAT ME UP!" Ranma shouted. "Well, Akane usually ended up kicking your butt in just about every movie you two made," Leon said sagely. "I remember the time that Priss and I went to see 'Butt Kicking 5', and she knocked down the Eiffel Tower on you." Ranma fumed. "They usually needed someone good to be the villain..." "Or how she had to save you in 'The Seven Lucky Gods Go to Brooklyn'," Ryu said. "Nene and I saw that on our second date." Ranma fumed more, while Ukyou laughed. "Yeah, he's a wimp, but I love him anyway." "I'M NOT A WIMP!" Arcadia and Haruka faced off at the 'Sailor Moon Fighting Game'. Arcadia was playing Jupiter, while Haruka was Uranus of course. Uranus unleashed an elaborate triple kick, but Jupiter ducked low, tripped her, then kicked her in the butt. Uranus soared into the air, howling, 'AAAAAAAAAA', then crashed into the side of the screen and slammed into the ground, birds flying around her head. 'ROUND 1, JUPITER WINS'. The Jupiter on the screen did a little victory dance. "Damn Yuki," Haruka muttered. "I still say I'd kick Jupiter's ass." "Any time!" Makoto shouted from over by the Brad Pitt marathon on another one of the TVs. "Just hold on until we get to see his butt." Across the room, Umino snorted. Steven leaned over, and whispered, "We'll get even. Don't worry." Seconds later, the TV image flickered, and the movie was suddenly replaced by 'Going Ape'. An orangutang began to cavort around naked on screen. Over a dozen female heads turned and stared straight at Steven. "This is where we run for our lives, I take it," Umino said. "Yep," Steven said, taking off. ****************** The party gradually wound down until only a few people remained. Nene and Celia were playing some kind of fighting game...'Knight Sabres, Go!' or something, while Ryu egged them both on. Priss and Leon were unconscious on a couch, with a pizza box on Leon's head. Rei and her husband were an inch away from passing out on a couch near where Usagi, Minako, and Arcadia had just finished watching a Sailor V marathon. All three of them were near collapse. Steven had already collapsed, his head on Minako's lap. "I wish we had this much fun in my century," Arcadia mumbled, rubbing her eyes. "Well, we usually don't have THIS much fun," Usagi said. "Mamo-chan! Come over here!" Something stirred on the other side of the couch the trio was leaning against. Mamoru stood up. "Can we go home now?" "We are home!" Usagi said. "Come sit by me." "If I move, I'll collapse," he said. "You come over here." "I guess I'd better go myself," Usagi said. "You can have fun in any century, Arcadia. Just go find your boyfriend when you get back, and have a party with him and your other friends." "I don't have a boyfriend," she said, blushing. Usagi glanced over at Rei, and smiled, then back at Arcadia. "I had another friend who used to say that all the time...She was surprised when they got married, I think. Just take him out on a date. His name is Marcus, right?" Arcadia blushed more. "Yeah." "There you go." "Wherever you are, there you go," Minako said sagely, then crumpled over onto her husband, Steven. "Amen to that," Arcadia said, finally sliding into sleep herself. ************* Earth, Ruins of Crystal Tokyo, SY 1532 (4524 AD, 5276 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 24688, Federal Year 538) Marcus strode up and down the street kicking up dust and smashing little bits of crystal rubble. "Dammit!" "Worried about Arcadia?" It was Pluto, leaning on her staff and wearing the purple ribbon she always wore. "Where is she? Is she ever coming back to us? Tell me something!" He ran over and grabbed her shoulders, shaking her, which made her blonde hair go wild. "Hey, I can't make her come home before she's ready! She's just fine!" The great chime of the palace began to ring, playing the tune it always did. But this time, a voice rose to sing the words that went with the tune, a gentle song of duty and love and hope, and with the words, white light erupted around the palace. The street erupted with light, and Marcus could feel the power flow through him. "What...what's going on?" Pluto turned and gazed and smiled. "Sometimes wishes come true." The light rose, and the image of the palace's past glory shimmered over it. Bits of rubble began to fly across the city, sucked towards the light, pieces of destroyed buildings fusing together to recreate the palace as once it had been. The song continued, echoing and reflecting from the damaged crystal roofs, and the Palace rose once more into the sky over Crystal Tokyo. The song swelled to a crescendo, and an angel of light emerged from the corona around the palace. The song drew closer but fainter, and the light began to fade with the dwindling of the echoes. The angel was dark-skinned with long purple hair and purple feathered wings, singing as it came. The music faded and it settled to the ground before Marcus, its majesty fading and its wings dissolving away into strands of light which wrapped around its body, forming a long blue tunic and black trousers, with a small golden ringed planet over her left breast. She clutched a small golden key in her hand, and her eyes sparkled. "Aren't you going to say welcome home?" Arcadia asked teasingly. He stared, his jaw dropping. "..." "I'll just leave you two alone," Pluto said, winking, then vanishing. She embraced him, then kissed him. "I've missed you." "You...you..." Putting an arm around him, she began to steer him towards the palace. "I'll tell you everything, but first...I could REALLY use some food." "Your wish is my command," he said quietly, and they walked together into the future. ****************** Earth, Sanctus Rei, SY 1533 (4525 AD, 5277 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 24689, Federal Year 539) The Sanctus Rei spaceport was the largest one in the entire Solar System, although Serenity City on the Moon came close. George and Nawanda N'Goya had seen larger spaceports, but this was still one of the larger ones. Even after its devastation and the end of the Solar Empire, Earth remained an important world, the cradle of humanity. George was tall and muscular, in remarkably good shape for a mid-level manager, although being on the run for his life had helped in that regard. His wife was also in much better shape now than once she had been. Like her daughter, she had long hair, though it was black, not purple, and densely braided. They looked around, trying to spot the person whose message had brought them here, praying it wasn't another trap. And then the crowd parted, and a woman hurled herself on them. For a second, they thought they would die, but then they recognized their daughter, Arcadia. She looked older, like she had aged a good ten years nearly, in the last year and a half, but they still knew her. "Mom, Dad, I've missed you so much." For a time, all they could do was cry and babble at each other. Finally, they had reassured themselves of each other's existence. "I'm so glad you're safe," Nawanda said. "You've been brushing your teeth, haven't you?" "I've been brushing my own teeth every day since I was four!" Arcadia said, making a mental note to get Marcus to leave a few toothbrushes lying around her room. "Anyway, we need to get going so we don't have to fly in the dark. Did you have any luggage?" George groaned. "Your mother can't move without at least ten suitcases. You know that." "That's because unlike you, I like to not wear the same clothing every day for a WEEK!" Nawanda shouted. Arcadia soon remembered why her family didn't go on many long vacations. ****************** Jurai, Royal Palace, Juraiian Year 23224 (3060 AD, 3811 Years after the founding of Rome, SY 68, Federal Year -926) Tenchi, Ryoko, Aeka, and Celia sat in a room sealed off from any hope of outside observation (ideally). Celia said, "Well, Lord Rodrigo's father has disowned him, so it looks like he'll be marrying Lady Tana soon after all. The man has enough integrity to not strike at his own son with violence, at least, but..." She sighed. "This likely means continued trouble with House Flaem. Rodrigo found some evidence of plotting between elements of the military controlled by the conservatives houses and the Khunds, but no proof." "I'll arrange the military commission he's been wanting," Tenchi said. "It looks like there's likely to be trouble with Rigel soon...Not that Rigel by itself is a real threat, but it would send a message if we put Lord Rodrigo in charge of it." Ryoko cackled. "Old Flamey would eat his shorts like his grandpa did when Nene kicked his ass." "I think I have a plan," Aeka said. "For dealing with Rigel?" Tenchi asked. "For dealing with Wasyuu's little Mecha-Cthulhu prank," Aeka said, her eyes glittering. "And those...mechanical Deep Ones." "Looked to me like you enjoyed getting kissed by them," Ryoko said idly. Luckily, the room and its inhabitants were quite explosion resistant. ********** Nemesis, Nemesis City, Demand Year 7075 (SY 1480, 4472 AD, 5253 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23636, Federal Year 486) "The judgement of the gods is coming!" The few people out in the middle of the day ignored the man in his dark blue robes. He was just another treasonous lunatic of the Cult of the Four Stars. For thousands of years, these crazy people had ranted about how if the quest for vengeance against Crystal Tokyo was not abandoned, all of Nemesis would be destroyed. They knew better than to listen to Jonah. All his talk about how the Four Stars had sent a Star Whale to eat him, then they granted him powers after he had spent a week trapped inside him...There were no such thing as Star Whales. Although he was a strong mage, which was why he was left to rant all he wanted along with the other crazies of the Cult of the Four Stars. The cult was especially popular among the slave class, those who were so weak in magic that they were consigned to serve others along with the Droids, though for a different reason. It was simply the usual delusion of the weak that the strong would be punished by God just for being strong, the average citizen was sure. "Tomorrow, we shall be cast down!" he shouted. "All those who would live, should come to the Star Hall tonight!" A few paused to throw rocks or rain down magically summoned garbage on him. Most ignored him and went about their business. *********** That night, the Star Halls were packed with believers. Unseen, they were ringed with government troops, who had decided to finally be done with the lunatics, for they feared it was simply a cover for a conspiracy against the government. They were not entirely wrong. The Church of the Four Stars had opposed the government's plan to gear up for another war with Crystal Tokyo from the moment it was founded in the years after their first defeat. Even now, the forces of the Black Moon had taken control of Crystal Tokyo. Yet, they feared a stab in the back at home, and so it was time for the Cult to die; past persecution had not killed it, but it had never so conveniently massed itself for slaughter. Light flared from inside the halls, and the troops rumbled forward, worried that something was happening, for those who could sense magic felt immense amounts of power. And so they broke into the halls, and found them empty. Every last cultist was gone. Later that night, Demand II, Emperor of Nemesis and the Earth, feasted to celebrate his victories. His two greatest enemies had been laid low. All that his dynasty had striven to achieve for seven thousand years had come to past. The Earth had been made his footstool, and his enemies laid out at his feet. "All hail Demand II, future emperor of the galaxy!" his wife, Esmeraude XIX, shouted. "The weak and crumbling empire of Jurai will be next to fall!" "ALL HAIL DEMAND II!!!" A loud trumpet blast cut through the room, overriding the cheers. Everyone turned and stared. A light shone from the doorway, where two men and two women stood frowning, limned with a shimmering nimbus of constantly changing colors. "This is your last chance, Demand. All of Nemesis is about to be destroyed," the dark haired woman said. "We can save you, but only if you let yourself be saved. You will have to abandon all your conquests, all your glory, if you want to live, for the time you can live in this world is numbered. The last minutes of Nemesis have begun." He laughed. "This is some sort of pathetic trick by you Four Stars people! Well, you won't fool me! All your warnings have proven to be futile. We have triumphed! Seven thousand years of labor have finally paid off! All the universe will know the power of the Black Moon!" "I ask a second time, and I warn you," said the blonde man, "that all of Nemesis is about to be destroyed." Esmeraude laughed. "By what? There is no one who can destroy us, or even find our world! We are hidden away, the spider who no one can see until it sinks its venom into their arms! Nothing can touch us! Even Serenity I could not destroy us!" "She spared your lives in the hopes that you would repent," the blonde woman among the foursome said. "We ask a final time, is there any among you who will repent what you have done?" The foursome stared into the well-fed, self-satisfied faces that surrounded Demand II, and then they turned away. "So be it," said the dark haired man, beginning to cry. "At least we have saved a few elsewhere. Thrice we have asked, and thrice, you have refused. We must depart. I tell you this. Serenity XVIII has sunk an N5 bomb into the heart of your sun. We were unable to dissuade her. You have five minutes. Make the most of them." There was a flash, and they were gone. For a minute, there was silence, and then Demand II laughed. "As if. She has no army, no bombs, no power. And even if she did, there is no way she could enter our system. We are invincible! Nothing can hurt us here, in the heart of our power!" They gave a great cheer, and someone proposed a toast. Across Nemesis, a handful of people quietly vanished out of vehicles, homes, and fields as they made their final choice. "May our empire last a thousand times a thousand years!" Duke Rhombolite shouted. "May our empire last..." And then there was light. And darkness without end. And the kamis cried in heaven. *********** New Earth, Year 1 The light cleared, and the faithful looked around them. The sky was blue, and the grass was green, and the waters ran clear and clean. Forests and mountains, deserts and hills, swamps and plains and all, lay untouched around them, a clean and pristine world to call their own. The survivors of Nemesis gave a great shout, and laughed for joy. It would not be easy, for they had lost everything they had but themselves and each other. But it was better than the hell they had left; it was Earth, their own Earth, the world they had dreamed of for thousands of years, generation after generation. How it could be possible that the world was given unto them, they did not know, but they did not care, for now they had finally come into their kingdom. ********** Wasyuu's Laboratory, Subspace, Juraiian Year 23636, (SY 1480, 4472 AD, 5253 Years after the founding of Rome, Federal Year 486) Wasyuu smiled and put a hand on Anri's shoulder. "Excellent job! It's a perfect copy! Although you probably shouldn't have inscribed your name on the bottom of the Marianas Trench," she said, shaking her head. "They might start worshipping you as a goddess or something." Anri smiled shyly. "I learned it all from you, Mom. Including the signature." "Actually, I would have reshaped Australia to look like my head," Wasyuu said. "Now I just have to teach you to make yourself a boyfriend." "MOM! It's not like I haven't found enough lovers myself over the years! I don't need you making me a boyfriend again!" "Let's see...I still have some of Tenchi's genetic material around here...maybe throw in a little from that Keiichi boy..." "Do that, and I'll give Ano Itai the keys to your bedroom again." Wasyuu paled. "You wouldn't DARE!" "Try me." Anri gave Wasyuu her best stare, which wasn't all that scary. Wasyuu shook her head, then laughed. "You make me proud! I raised you right!" Anri facefaulted. ********** Earth, Crystal Tokyo, SY 200 (3192 AD, 3973 Years after the founding of Rome, Juraiian Year 23356, Federal Year -794) The streets of Crystal Tokyo were awash with the largest celebration seen in decades. Queen Serenity II had taken the throne upon the abdication of her mother, Serenity I and her father Endymion. All of the Senshi had officially retired, passing on their duties to their children. Now, they were all gathered in their secret getaway below the Palace, trying to decide how best to celebrate themselves. "I say we go to a bar, get drunk, and level it," Minako said. "I've always wanted to do that." "I say we..." Makoto started to say. An instant later, Ryoko appeared. She, Aeka, and Tenchi had abdicated as well, a few months earlier, passing the throne on to Nene, Ryu, and Celia. "We're having a massive 'Abdication Party' at Wasyuu's. Come on." "That was nice of her to organize a party," Usagi said. Ryoko laughed. "It's a surprise party. Oh, is Wasyuu gonna be surprised." Macky's Mecha-Hastur proved to be the life of the party, though nearly his death as well. Wasyuu always enjoyed a good joke...if she was the one making it. And so the heroes of their age entered into the rest they had earned. The torch was passed, though they and those who came after them would face many new challenges, but those challenges are a story for another day, for this story has come to its appointed end. Author's afterword: I hope you've enjoyed this; I certainly have. There will be more stories in this continuity; there are a million nooks and crannies for me to fill in. Next up in this continuity are some stories set right after Dance of Shiva, focusing on the various Sabres. Or so I hope, anyway :)