The Moon Dragon's Lair

The Secret Of Nemesis
By Karen
A Fan Fiction Inspired By The "Sailor Moon" R Series
Rated PG-13

Prologue
Nyoko (Jewel)

    So many words for the broken heart
    It's hard to see in a crimson love
    So hard to breathe
    Walk with me and maybe...
    Nights of light
    So soon become
    Wild and free
    I could feel the sun
    Your every wish will be done
    They tell me...

    Show me the meaning of being lonely
    Is this the feeling I need to walk with?
    Tell me why I can't be there where you are
    There's something missing in my heart...

(Outskirts Of Crystal Tokyo, The Thirtieth Century)

    "Mama! Mama!" The sound of childish laughter, and the gentle tugging at her skirt, brought Lady Nyoko out of her troubled thoughts. With nearly every other clan but hers having joined forces with that tyrant, Neo Queen Serenity, the same queen she had once served loyally as a strategist and tactician until she refused that fascist brainwashing, she indeed had much to worry about. Her two young sons were her only source of happiness these days.
    Nyoko looked down to meet the wide, dusky blue eyes of her youngest son, Sapphire, barely three years old and very much her image. Grinning, he held out to her the large bouquet of wildflowers he had just gathered.
    "Oh, for me, are they?", she smiled, kneeling down to his small level. Warmly, she accepted the flowers and embraced her son, kissing him tenderly on his forehead. "Thank you, Little Blue Pigeon." That had been her nickname for him, ever since he was born.
    He kissed her cheek and smiled back at her, a smile that was enough to break her heart. "Y'welcome, Mama".
    It was then that her eldest son, seven year old Diamond, came running up to them. "Saffy! Come on! Rubeus and I just found this great tree, perfect for climbing! Prisma and Emerald'll beat us there if we don't hurry!"
    "Now you be careful," their mother warned. "Diamond, make sure you keep an eye on your brother and Prisma."
    The older boy nodded cheerfully, his silvery white hair bouncing. "I will! Don't worry, Mama!" And with that, he took his little brother's hand and the two of them ran off to find their climbing tree.
    Nyoko watched them leave, a sad expression playing about her features. If only Kin could have lived to see how much his sons had grown. It had been nearly two years since her husband had been killed at the hands of a rival clan, yet she still saw his face every time she looked at Diamond.
    "We're lucky to have them, aren't we?", came a familiar, friendly voice; Lady Ayakashi, Prisma's mother, came to join her, with baby Avery cradled in her arms. Nyoko nodded in agreement, pleased to see her old friend. "Yes, children are a precious gift. I wonder what the future has in store for them all."
    "Well, they are our children, are they not?" Ayakashi smiled. "What future could they have besides a glorious one?".
    "Ever the optimist, aren't we?" Nyoko chuckled.
    Her friend grinned. "Like cosmetics and beauty treatments, it keeps me young."
    Laughing, the two woman continued their stroll by the river, chatting easily as the sun began to fall over the nearby mountains, Nyoko carrying her flowers and Ayakashi proudly holding her newest daughter.
    "I only hope you are right," Nyoko continued, serious once again. "I... If anything should happen to my sons... to the clan..."
    Ayakashi placed a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "Rest assured, Nyoko. If your boys turn out to be anything like you and Kin, our clan has nothing to worry about."
    The leader of the clan gazed over to where Diamond and nine year old Rubeus had nearly reached the highest branch of the tree... As usual, seven year old Emerald was below, holding her favorite fan and refusing to climb up herself, for fear of falling and getting dirty, and Sapphire and little two year old Prisma were nearby, playing tag. If Serenity and Darien were to find them, and manipulate them into being their puppets, Nyoko would never forgive herself.
    It was then that an anxious voice came from nearby. Nyoko and Ayakashi both turned to see the captain of the intelligence forces approaching them hurriedly. Something must have gone wrong with the underground resistance forces!
    "Lady Nyoko! Urgent news from the underground!" he reported, confirming their suspicions.
    She took him steadily by the shoulders. "Captain Iwa," she said calmly, trying her best to mask her fear, "Please tell me it's not what I think it is!?"
    He shook his head regretfully. "The Imperials are less then a few hours away from our camp."
    Ayakashi's hand flew to her mouth. "They know where we are!"
    "Yes..." Nyoko whispered, her throat tightening. They had done everything they possibly could to cover their tracks and remain inconspicuous, and yet, the sheltered, weakling imperialists had been able to find them. The tyrant queen was obviously cleverer then she had anticipated.
    Clenching her hands in resolve, Lady Nyoko turned back to Iwa and Ayakashi. "Captain, rally at least half your troops near the camp and send the others on lookout. Let me know as soon as you see any sign of our... uninvited guests. I'll be joining you shortly."
    "Yes, my lady," Iwa saluted, then left to carry out his instructions.
    "Ayakashi, take the children back to camp, and tell everyone me must head for the mountains at once. We know those highlands better then our friends, the Imperials, do. If we reach them we might have a chance."
    Breathing heavily, Ayakashi nodded and hurried off to gather the children.
    Nyoko then headed in the direction of where Iwa was rallying the defense. In her haste, she did not see that she had dropped Sapphire's gift of wildflowers. They lay there on the grass, lost and forgotten, as the sky above began to cloud and darken.

Part 1
Rebellious Family

    It seemed an endless hall of darkness and mist. Where was she? Where was everybody?
    "Hello?" she called. "Is anyone there? Ayakashi? Iwa?" But there was no reply, only the hopeless and frustrating sound of her echo.
    Not wanting to give up, she continued through the murky darkness, still calling for Ayakashi, for Iwa, for her children; for anyone who might be there. It was then that she heard it; a young boy's voice, frightened and lost. "Mama?"
    "Diamond!" she cried. Even though she could hardly see him through the blackness, she knew it was him; and the small figure by his side... "Sapphire!"
    "Mama!" they called. "Mama, help us!"
    She rushed towards them. "I'm coming," she called. "Don't worry! Mama's coming!"
    Nyoko was only inches away from reaching her sons, when all of a sudden, there came a huge explosion, almost a cross between a thunderstorm and a forest fire. She could only watch in horror as it consumed both of her children before her eyes.
    "Nooo!!!" she screamed, collapsing to her hands and knees in grief. This couldn't be happening! Not to her babies! Her jewels!
    Sobbing, Nyoko buried her face in her hands. "Diamond!" she wept. "My poor little Sapphire!"
    "They are mine now," came a deep, chilling voice from nearby.
    She looked up to see a cloaked figure before her, a crystal ball in its seemingly rotted hands. Instead of eyes, red coals peered out menacingly from beneath the darkness of its hood.
    "Yes," the hideous being laughed. "Your sons are mine, and soon they will be destroyed! The whole universe will be destroyed! Only the Doom Phantom will remain!"
    Nyoko found herself unable to move as the figure came closer and closer. It then removed its hood.
    She screamed in terror once she saw there was no person, no face, under that hood; nothing but a dark, hollow skull.

    "No!" she jolted awake with a startled cry. Breathing heavily, she only relaxed once she was sure her sons were safe, asleep on the soft cot next to hers.
    What a nightmare! What could have caused it? Fear for her clan, for her children? Sitting up, and folding her arms around her legs, Nyoko sorted out the day's events in her mind. Her warriors and her had tried everything they could to fight the Imperials, but in the end they were far to outnumbered, and were unable to prevent the capture of the clan.
    Nyoko then gazed about the jail cell she and her sons had been placed in only hours earlier. Being connected to the royal palace, it was nearly all constructed of crystal; cold, hard crystal. Out the window, she could just make out the brightly colored lights of Crystal Tokyo. It was a marvelous city indeed; peaceful, prosperous, with towering crystal buildings, and shining lights. She could understand how almost everyone wanted to be a part of this greatness. Then she shook her head furiously. This was not greatness, this was decadence! Her clan was nomadic, and they had little in terms of material possessions, at least compared to the glamour of Crystal Tokyo, but they were every bit as happy and peaceful! Serenity and Darien had no right to hunt them down and cage them like animals! She and her people were not criminals, and no threat to their so called "Golden Millennium"!
    It was then that she heard little Sapphire's familiar cry. The child was also having a nightmare.
    Nyoko turned to her youngest son, prepared to take him in her arms and comfort him; but Diamond was already there beside him.
    "Shhh, It's okay. It's okay, Saffy," he gently shook his little brother awake.
    Sapphire immediately threw his arms around Diamond. Though there were tears streaming down his cheeks, he soon stopped crying and shaking. Diamond, in turn, hugged him back and tussled his hair fondly.
    Lady Nyoko smiled with a mother's pride. Thank goodness her eldest son was always so dependable. Diamond would make a fine leader for the clan one day!
    "Where's... where's Mama?" Sapphire whimpered.
    "I'm right here, Little Blue Pigeon," she assured him, stroking his hair lovingly. "Don't be afraid. We're all here with you."
    Sapphire nodded slowly, and Diamond tenderly brushed the tears away from his cheeks.
    "We had best get back to sleep," their mother continued. "We have a very long day ahead tomorrow." Probably more then we realize, she silently added. Nyoko then took her youngest son into her arms, and he rested his head against her shoulder, while her eldest son laid his own head in her lap.
    Softly, she began to sing their favorite lullaby as they drifted back to sleep:
    In through the window
    A moonbeam comes
    Little gold moonbeam
    With misty wings
    All silently creeping
    It asks "Is he sleeping
    Sleeping and dreaming
    While mother sings?"
    But sleep, little pigeon
    And fold your wings
    Little blue pigeon
    With mournful eyes
    Am I not singing?
    See, I am swinging
    Swinging the nest
    Where my darling lies...

    The morning sun streamed through the barred windows, making the entire crystal prison, the entire crystal city, sparkle.
    "Now I know what they mean by the term 'gilded cage'," Nyoko sighed to herself as she gazed longingly out the window, past the glittering, frivolous city, to the distant mountains. If only they could have made it there.
    She then looked upon her sleeping sons. Diamond had his arms protectively around Sapphire, who still clung to his brother as if the two of them were all alone in the world.
    Soon, she vowed in determination. Soon, her children and her clan would escape; then they would be free of Crystal Tokyo and its autocratic royals!
    A beautiful white blossom, growing on the vine that covered the prison wall, caught her eye. Nyoko reached out through the bars to pick it.
    The next moment, she was startled by the sound of the cell door opening, and in stepped one of the palace's many clean cut, golden armored guards.
    "Lady Nyoko," he said, almost as formally as he would address the royal family, which surprised her greatly. "Her Highness, Neo Queen Serenity requests an audience with you."
    The rebel leader crossed her arms, her hand tightening on the newly picked flower. "Does she now? If she wishes to speak with me, then why does she not come here herself?" And bring that masked, pink clad fool of a husband with her? she silently added.
    The guard looked uncomfortable. "I'm afraid that simply... isn't done."
    "No, of course not," Nyoko chuckled bitterly. Heaven forbid the king and queen of Crystal Tokyo be seen in a place like their palace jail. "Very well, I do hate to disobey a royal command." Then, her face softened. "Just give me a moment to speak with my children."
    The guard nodded, and discreetly stepped out of the jail cell, waiting by the door.
    Nyoko then knelt beside her sleeping sons, taking off her cloak and spreading it over them for warmth. How peaceful and innocent they looked. At first glance, they might seem unaffected by the turmoil of events around them.
    "Diamond," she whispered. "Diamond, wake up, my precious."
    At the sound of her voice, the young boy's eyes flickered open. "Mama?"
    "Yes, sweetheart. I just wanted to let you know that I'll have to leave for a few minutes."
    He gave her a sleepy smile. "Where you going?"
    "Oh, nowhere important," she lied, not wanting to frighten him. Serenity and Darien had the resources, and the power, to put her entire clan to death with one word! "You just rest, and take care of your little brother, until I come back, all right?"
    "Alright, Mama," he nodded drowsily, falling back to sleep. "I promise."
    Nyoko smiled and kissed his cheek. "That's my big boy."
    As soon as Diamond was asleep again, she turned to Sapphire. Poor little blue pigeon. He had been through so much in his short two years of life. Diamond was quite independent for his age, and old enough to know what to do if anything should happen, but Sapphire... he would need all the luck, guidance and protection he could get.
    Nyoko tenderly brushed a lock of his unruly dark hair from his eyes, and placed the white flower she had picked in his tiny hand.
    The little one stirred in his sleep, and he smiled as if he were having the most wonderful dream.
    "My darling, may you never lose that pure, good heart of yours; and may you never forget, as long as you live, how much I love you and your big brother." She leaned down and planted a soft kiss on his smooth, white forehead. Somehow, it was more then just a mother's love and hopes. It was a talisman; a blessing.

    The giant, crystal doors to the Imperial Throne Room were guarded by four sentries, two on each side.
    Nyoko fought back a smirk. There had been only two guards posted here when she was employed. So, even the "perfect" rulers of "perfect" Crystal Tokyo had reason to feel the need for extra protection.
    The guard leading her signaled the doors to be opened, and the two of them entered the throne room.
    The rebel leader was not sure which sight was the most splendid. The glittering crystal chambers, with every type of jewel imaginable embedded in the walls, lavishly furnished and decorated, sparkling in the morning sunlight; or the sight of the Neo Queen and her King, the fairytale couple, both of them elegant, dignified, and dressed in their royal finery.
    The guard then took Nyoko firmly by the arm, and lead her to the bottom of a velvet carpeted stairway. On the top, the king and queen were seated on their thrones.
    "Your Imperial Majesties," the sentry addressed them, going down on one knee. He then rose and glared at her. "Bow!"
    There was once a time when she would have done it, out of respect; but no longer! She would not bow before those who had persecuted her and her clan! "I said bow, you insolent traitor!"
    To Nyoko's surprise, the queen rose from her throne. "No, that will not be necessary."
    "Your Majesty?" the guard raised an eyebrow.
    Serenity and Darien exchanged meaningful glances. Obviously this was something they had thought out and discussed amongst themselves. Then, with a nod, the queen descended gracefully down the stairway.
    "Lady Nyoko is no longer a member of the Imperial court, or even a subject," she said calmly. Then, she looked at the rebel leader, blue eyes wide, searching hers. "That is, unless you have decided to repent. You, and your clan, will be forgiven, and made citizens of our glorious Crystal Tokyo."
    Nyoko studied the queen. Even while she had been a savant to the royal court, she had scarcely caught but a few fleeting glimpses of her and the king. Serenity's long golden hair was done in the odanga style. Her white and gold trimmed gown, with wings sewn onto the back, golden crown, and flawless face with its ever-peaceful countenance gave her the appearance of an angel or goddess. All of a sudden, she felt coarse and inferior in her plain mandarin jacket and skirt, her hair, which she wore pulled back in a bun, messed up, and her clothes rumpled from sleeping on the floor. But, nevertheless, she found herself crossing her arms and looking defiantly back at her captor.
    "Forgiveness and citizenship, that my people and I abandon everything we have worked and fought for these past ten years?"
    Serenity sighed. "Peace is made in such ways."
    "Slaves are made in such ways!" Nyoko snapped. "I would have served you without any interference from the Imperiam Silver Crystal, but no! That was not good enough for you, was it?!"
    "The Silver Crystal is not meant to enslave," the queen protested, "but to cleanse and purify."
    "Cleanse? Purify? So what you are implying, Your Majesty," raged Nyoko, pronouncing the title as though it were an insult, "is that I am not 'pure' or 'clean', nor are my people, or my children?"
    The queen raised a delicate hand. "No, I did not say that. But, in order for there to be peace and harmony throughout the universe..."
    "You mean, in order for you to become ruler and dictator of the entire universe, my clan must be made subordinate to you!" Nyoko interrupted. "I'm sorry, honey, but it just doesn't work that way! I will never be ruled by you, and neither will my people, while I live."
    This had become to much for King Darien, who quickly appeared beside his wife. "And what about you?" he challenged. "Do you not rule your clan the way we rule Crystal Tokyo?"
    "Ahh, but there is one slight difference, Majesty," Nyoko said.
    "And what would that be?" Darien asked.
    Nyoko fixed her eyes firmly on the royal couple. "I have no guards forcing people to kowtow at my feet," she hissed.
    Both Serenity and Darien's eyes widened. They looked at each other once again, and Darien shook his head.
    Serenity closed her eyes wearily. "You have made your decision then, Lady Nyoko?"
    "Decision?" she nearly laughed at the question. "Am I not your captive? Who am I to make decisions in this position?"
    "Every rebel who is arrested is given a choice," the queen explained. "Either be cleansed by the power of the silver crystal, be banished to the tenth planet in our solar system, or..."
    Nyoko's eyes narrowed. "Or what?"
    "Death is the last option," Serenity whispered. "I will not have what happened to the Moon Kingdom happen to Crystal Tokyo."
    The rebel leader was so furious she could hardly speak! This... this underdressed meatball-head dared compare her and her clan to Beryl and her pack of brainwashed clones!?
    "Serenity," she said in a dangerously controlled voice. "Do what you will with me, but I promise you this. If you dare lay a hand on any of my children, or my people, not even your precious silver crystal will be able to save you!"
    Serenity's eyes grew even wider, and she brought a hand to her heart in shock. "I take it your choice is banishment then, Lady Nyoko?"
    Nyoko sighed. Exile sounded bearable enough, especially compared to her other options; and perhaps she and her clan could make a new life for themselves on this tenth planet. No one to try and dominate them as Serenity and Darien had. Silently praying that she was doing the right thing, she took a deep breath and nodded. "Yes."

    It had been done. Everything had been arranged. This is what her people needed and deserved; a planet, a home, of their own. Unlike Earth, it would accept them without trying to change them. So why did she have this horrible feeling, like a little sparrow about to be pounced on by a cat?
    Nyoko shivered slightly from the cold of the crystal palace. Having left her cloak with her sons, she nestled deeper into her jacket.
    As the guards escorted her back to the crystal jail, she reassured herself. Soon she would be back with her children, and she would explain everything to them, how they were all going to a new world, and that they would never see the inside of a prison again once they were there.
    "You are not going," a chilling voice whispered.
    Nyoko stopped. "What?!" Who was that?
    The guards looked at her strangely.
    "Didn't you hear that?" she asked them.
    They looked at each other, shaking their heads in confusion. "Come along, Lady Nyoko."
    Biting her lip and glancing about the passageways suspiciously, she continued to follow them.
    "Once you are dead, then your family will be mine to control!" the voice came again.
    "No!" Nyoko cried, stopping again.
    The guards watched, bewildered and unnerved, as the prisoner sank to her knees.
    "No!" she continued to cry. "Who are you?! You stay away from my family!"
    But the voice continued to torment her. "Your influence over them is too strong, too positive. You would cause too much damage to the plan. You must die."
    Nyoko buried her face in her hands, hardly noticing the guards, who were backing away in fear. "Stop it! Stop it! Leave us alone!"
    The voice was growing louder, clearer. Something about it was familiar. "Your dreams have already warned you about me; warned you about sending your people away from Earth. I cannot risk keeping you alive."
    The creature from her nightmare!? It was then that she felt something tighten around her throat. An odd wave of dizziness came over her. She tried to breathe, but only managed a weak cough. When she glanced at herself, she saw spots of blood on her clothes.
    "Soon the whole universe will be destroyed," the nightmare voice repeated. "And only the Doom Phantom will remain."
    The rebel leader tried with all she had to get to her feet, but it was no use. She collapsed to the floor again. She could feel her heart slowing and her breathing growing faint. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she thought of her sons. She knew she would never see them again in this world.
    The horrified guards ran away, screaming for help.
    She was still struggling to breathe. The last thing she heard before her eyes closed forever was that nightmare voice.
    "Have no fear; your children will be joining you as soon as I am done with them."

    Meanwhile, back in the crystal prison, the boys were still asleep under their mother's cloak. Diamond had his arms protectively around Sapphire, who still held that white flower in his hand.
    They were both sleeping so soundly that neither of them could have seen the cloak disappear. First, it turned into a rainbow of bright colors and light, and then it faded dimmer and dimmer as the colors rose into the air, out of the window and up into the sky.
    A cool autumn breeze drifted into the cell. Without the warmth of their mother's cloak around them, the children stirred in their sleep, their shoulders shivering slightly, and huddled closer together. Somehow, it was as if they knew that they were the only family each had left now.

    In his citadel on the Tenth Planet, which he had dubbed 'Nemesis', the Wiseman waved his hands in front of his crystal ball, and gazed with satisfaction at the images it showed. The only one who could have prevented the first steps of his plan from being carried out was dead at his own hand, her clan without a leader and her children without a guide or protector. Once Serenity banished them here, it would be only too easy to brainwash and bribe them into doing his bidding, thanks to the powers of the Dark Crystal.
    Suddenly, a new image appeared in the crystal ball. Wiseman recognized the face of Lady Nyoko. Her face was calm, but her piercing eyes seemed to stare right through him. Then the image changed. The Wiseman drew his hand back in surprise. It was no longer Nyoko that stared back at him, but a young girl. A young girl whose dark hair, pale face and piercing, shadow blue eyes mirrored Nyoko's. The girl's name was Kohana Ayakashi.

Part 2
Sign Of The Black Moon

(Nemesis, Three Years Later)

    Five year old Sapphire smiled as he finished another paragraph of "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. True, it was practically a relic, but he liked it so much! It was all about three young children, like him, who found an abandoned, dying garden, and restored it. What a beautiful garden it turned out to be! Crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils, roses, lilies, almost every kind of flower and plant imaginable. And there was green grass and fresh air and sunshine.
    The five year old turned from his book and gazed out the citadel window. Instead of a world filled with sunshine, there was endless darkness, as if it were always night.
    Unlike Diamond and the older children, the darkness of Nemesis was all he had ever really known. He often heard the clan speak of Earth, especially Crystal Tokyo, and all of its beauty and wonder, but he could hardly remember anything about it. Although sometimes, if he shut his eyes and tried really hard, he could smell the sweet scent of grass and flowers in the wind. He could hear a soft, low voice singing:
    In through the window
    A moonbeam comes
    Little gold moonbeam...
    But sleep, little pigeon
    And fold your wings
    Little blue pigeon...
    Sapphire blinked and shook his head. If only he had been old enough to remember Earth and his parents. Diamond hardly ever spoke of them. He studied the wilted, dried flower he'd pressed long ago and used as a bookmark. It had been in his hand when he arrived on Nemesis; the only thing he had left of their old home.
    "What'ya doing, Squirt?" came a familiar voice, interrupting his train of thought.
    Sapphire turned to see two of his brother's friends, Rubeus and Emerald, approaching him, and groaned inwardly. Like most of the bigger kids, they liked to give him a hard time, teasing him for his love of books and his studies, and, more often then not, excluding him from their play.
    Emerald smirked behind her fan as Rubeus snatched the book from the little one.
    "What the heck is this?" the older, red haired boy demanded, flipping through the pages. "'The Secret Garden'? Just what kind of junk are your tutors giving you, Sapphire?" He held the book above him tauntingly. Sapphire tried to grab it, but Rubeus kept pulling it away from his reach.
    Stopping for a moment, the younger boy crossed his arms and made a face. "It is not junk! I like it! And I got it myself, from the library."
    "Figures," Emerald rolled her eyes, waving her fan. "The little bookworm."
    Rubeus continued to dangle the book over Sapphire's head. "Can't have it if you can't reach it, Squirt."
    "Give it back!" the child insisted, jumping up and down, trying to reach his book. "Give it back! It's a library book! You'll be in big trouble!"
    At this moment, Diamond entered the study room, unnoticed by the others. He mentally rolled his eyes at the fiasco. Rubeus and Emerald must have been bored. That was the only way either of them would bother tormenting Sapphire. "Oh, grow up, you two!" the silver haired boy snapped.
    Rubeus turned his head in surprise, and Diamond took that opportunity to quickly snatch the book from his hand.
    "Really, Emmy," he gave the green haired girl a look of annoyance. "You and Rubeus might find something better to do with your time then harassing five year olds!" Diamond then handed the book back to his little brother.
    Emerald angrily waved her fan in front of her face. Her cheeks almost went completely red. She hated being called 'Emmy', especially by the boy she had a crush on!
    "Thank you, big brother," Sapphire said, clutching his precious book, and looking at Diamond with pure hero worship.
    Miffed, Rubeus crossed his arms. "The spoiled little maggot! I'll bet he gets all the best gifts at the gathering too!"
    "The gathering!" Diamond snapped his fingers. "That's why I came to find you. Wiseman says it's in less then an hour, so we'd all best get ready."
    Emerald and Rubeus nodded seriously. This was the day that each Nemesian would receive a special power, a special gift, from Wiseman and the Dark Crystal. The thing had been growing bit by bit during their first three years on Nemesis, and now Wiseman had said it was finally strong and powerful enough.
    "I... I don't want to go to the gathering, Diamond," Sapphire whispered, taking his big brother's hand. "Wiseman scares me." Yes, from the time they had first arrived on Nemesis, the dark, cloaked figure had frightened him.
    With his free hand, Diamond tousled his little brother's hair affectionately. "You don't have to be afraid, Saffy. I told you before. Wiseman is here to help our people get back to Earth, and to prepare me to lead them."
    "Hah! Don't waste your breath, Diamond. The egghead is scared of his own shadow!" Rubeus scoffed.
    "I am not!" Sapphire snapped back, stomping his foot in resentment.
    Emerald burst out laughing at this, and all three boys, especially Sapphire, winced. She really did have the most annoying laugh!

    Wiseman studied the pathetic band of outcasts before him. Some, he was not familiar with. Others, he was. There was the former Captain Iwa, leading what was left of Nyoko's ragtag army. There were the Ayakashis with their daughters: Prisma, Avery, and the new baby twins, Catsy and Birdy. There was Rubeus, Emerald, and their families. At the head of the group stood ten-year-old Diamond, and his little tag-along brother, Sapphire, clutching his hand as though his big brother would blow away at any moment. In his other hand, he held a white flower, wilted and dried. It had taken nearly four years, but finally he had been able to fill these people with enough hatred and bitterness to fuel and enlarge the Dark Crystal. Wiseman had decided to proclaim Diamond the future leader of this clan, as his
parents had been, for two main reasons. He sensed a great potential for power and magic in the boy, and that would indeed prove useful; also, despite Sapphire's childish fears, the impressionable Diamond trusted him. All it had taken to win him over was the glamorous title of 'Prince Of Nemesis' and a promise... one simple promise.
    "You all know why you are here," he began. "Earth has rejected you; its queen has banished you; but I can promise you now that they will all pay! This glorious family will return to Earth, and rule over it as it was meant to!"
    Upon these words, everyone cheered enthusiastically, Diamond the loudest of them all.
    "I present to you your prince and leader, the one who will lead this family against Serenity's tyranny, and win you back your rightful home! Come forward, Prince Diamond, and be marked," Wiseman said.
    Sapphire clutched his brother's hand tighter. "Don't go," he begged, looking pleadingly up at Diamond. He didn't know what being 'marked' meant, but it frightened him terribly. "Don't leave me alone."
    Diamond smiled ruefully. As much as he appreciated Sapphire's love and concern, now was not the time for this! He made his brother face him and bent down slightly so he reached his level.
    "It's alright, little brother," he assured him. "The Wiseman means to do me honor. You trust me, don't you Saffy?"
    The child nodded, eyes wide. He released his grip on Diamond's hand and watched reluctantly as his big brother turned from him and walked towards the Wiseman.
    In all of his life, Sapphire would never remember feeling as scared and alone as he did at that moment.
    It was then that young Prisma moved from where her family was and stood beside him. Slowly, cautiously, she reached out and took his hand; the one Diamond had let go of.
    Sapphire turned to her, and their eyes met briefly. Then, still holding hands, they watched in a mixture of awe and terror as Diamond was lifted up into the air by the Wiseman.
    The white haired prince crouched in fetal position as he was spun faster and faster, around and around, in swirls and flashes of black matter. Wiseman was whispering something to him, almost like a mantra, though no one could hear it clearly, and Diamond seemed to be repeating it back.
    Eventually, the force around Diamond came to a stop. The young prince was slowly lowered downwards, head slumped down, and landed unconscious on the ground.
    "Diamond!", Sapphire cried in alarm. He instantly let go of Prisma's hand, and, despite shouts of warning from the others, ran to his brother's side.
    "Brother, wake up!" the little boy pleaded, shaking Diamond gently and trying to turn him onto his back. "Please, Brother!"
    At the sound of his little brother's voice, the unconscious prince began to stir. "Sapphire?"
    The younger prince smiled in relief. "Yes, it's me. Are you okay?"
    "I... I feel so strange," Diamond murmured, his head still bowed and his hand over his forehead.
    Sapphire's eyes widened. "What happened? What did he do to you?," he demanded.
    Diamond slowly began to raise his head, removing his hand from his brow. "I... I don't know..."
    Everyone gasped, and little Sapphire screamed in terror! For imbedded in Diamond's forehead was a shining, opened third eye!
    "Sapphire, what's wrong?" Diamond asked, confused. Why did everyone look so frightened all of a sudden?
    The little boy pointed frantically. "Your... your forehead," he stammered.
    "Yes," Wiseman said, appearing beside Diamond. "I have given you great, unimaginable powers, including the third eye."
    Diamond brought a hand to his forehead, cautiously.
    "It will help you hypnotize your enemies into doing your bidding," their guardian continued. "But it will disappear from sight, if you wish it."
    The next instant, the third eye was gone. In its place was the mark of a downwards black crescent. The symbol of Nemesis.
    Wiseman then turned to face the crowd as Diamond rose to his feet. "Behold, the first prince of Nemesis, and leader of the Black Moon family! He has been marked!"
    Their initial fear being replaced by amazement, the crowd cheered again, and Diamond bowed to them.
    "A generous gesture," Wiseman remarked. "But do not forget, my prince, that they are the ones who must bow before you." It was then he turned to gaze at Sapphire. "I believe it is now time for the second in line to be marked."
    Terrified, the dark haired child clung to his brother's arm again. "No!"
    "Come now, child," the cloaked figure extended a hand towards him. "You will receive special powers and knowledge, just like Diamond."
    Trembling, Sapphire backed away in terror. "No! No! Get away from me!"
    "Leave him alone!" Prisma snapped, rushing between them, her fists raised. "He doesn't want to go with you!"
    "That's enough, Prisma!" Diamond stepped forward beside Wiseman. "I would never let my brother come to any harm. He does not need you to protect him." He then looked at Sapphire. "Little brother, you trust me, don't you?"
    Sapphire nodded slowly.
    "Well then, do as Wiseman says. He only wants to help us," Diamond said.
    Wiseman nodded, and extended a hand towards him again. "Yes, little one. Come with me, and you will have everything you ever wanted."
    The child swallowed. He looked at Prisma, then at Diamond. As afraid as he was of the Wiseman, he knew he must trust his brother. He always had, and Diamond had never led him astray before.
    Still trembling, Sapphire left Prisma's side. Slowly, fearfully, he reached out and took the cold, clammy hand that was offered.
    Almost instantly, he was lifted into the air, just as Diamond had been. The world around him began to flash and spin until all he could see was darkness. He could hear Wiseman's voice coming from somewhere. "Remember how they treated you on Earth? How those tyrants persecuted you?"
    Instantly, an image came before him. Imperial soldiers of Earth. They were attacking a small band of unarmed nomads. Tears streamed down Sapphire's cheeks as he saw a soldier strike down a terrified woman trying to protect her sobbing child. "Do you remember that evil woman, Serenity, who sent her armies to torment you and your people?"
    Another image was shown. A beautiful woman in white with long golden hair, wings sewn onto the back of her dress, and wearing a jeweled crown, was seated on her throne. She turned to look at Sapphire, a cruel smile on her face and an evil look of satisfaction in her eyes.
    Roughly wiping away his tears, the boy clenched his fists and glared back at the woman in pure hatred.
    Wiseman smiled beneath his hood as he watched the Black Moon crescent appear on the little one's forehead. It was working! Soon both of these naïve young princes would be under his control!
    "Do you remember how lost and alone you were on Earth? How nobody loved or wanted you?"
    At this, Sapphire's eyes filled with tears once more. "I was lost... alone... nobody loved me or wanted me." He closed his eyes and buried his face in his hands. It was then he remembered the flower in his hand. He looked at it, and once again, he smelt the grass and the flower fields. He heard that familiar song:
    But sleep, little pigeon
    And fold your wings
    Little blue pigeon...
    Sapphire smiled through his tears. The Wiseman had to be wrong! Whoever gave him that flower, whoever had sung that song to him, must have loved and wanted him and his brother!
    Instantly, the inverted black crescent disappeared from the boy's brow.
    "No!" Wiseman whispered in shock. No one had ever been able to reverse this spell before! How was this tiny, five year old whelp able to resist the power of the Dark Crystal?
    "Don't fool yourself! Everyone hated you on Earth! Serenity and Darien humiliated and banished your clan just because they would not be their slaves! Is that not proof enough that Earthlings are evil?"
    Sapphire's expression changed. He scowled bitterly. Now he was not sure whom he hated and feared the most: Serenity and the armies of Earth for casting him away like some defective toy, or the Wiseman for torturing him with these thoughts and images...
    Once again, the Black Moon symbol appeared on the child's forehead. This time, it would not disappear.

(Three Years Later)

    Whispering to each other eagerly, the three children, all with inverted black crescents on their foreheads, peered out from behind the makeshift barricade they had made.
    "It's one of those ugly Earthlings!" thirteen year old Diamond said excitedly.
    Eight year old Sapphire nodded. "If we don't do something, it'll kill us and destroy the citadel!"
    Petzite Ayakashi, or Prisma, as she preferred to be called, grinned at her two friends. Between training and studying the three of them didn't often have much time to play together, especially since she herself had three younger sisters to help raise, but she was glad to be able to find at least a little time off today.
    "It's up to us, you guys!"
    Diamond and Sapphire grinned back. "On my signal," the older boy said.
    "One... Two... Now!"
    "Aggghhh!!!" the three of them hollered, jumping out from behind their fortress. "Charge!!!"
    "Eeeek!!!", Emerald squealed as she was bombarded with a shower of mud-bombs that practically covered her entire dress. She turned around angrily to see Diamond, Sapphire and Prisma laughing hysterically!
    Furious, she put her hands on her hips. She might have expected this from that obnoxious tomboy and her little tag-along friend, but not from Diamond! He really was spending way to much time with them!
    "That was not, I repeat, not funny!" she shouted at them, trying to wipe the mud off without getting her hands dirty, which really was a comical sight. "This is my new designer dress!"
    Diamond put a hand over his mouth, tactfully trying to hide his grin, but Sapphire and Prisma just snickered back at her.
    "Exactly, Emmy!" the younger boy said.
    "Hey! I think it's an improvement!" Prisma added. "Even my baby sisters have better taste in clothing than you!"
    Uh oh! Diamond knew what was coming next! He quickly grabbed Sapphire's and Prisma's hands and took off running, with Emerald in hot pursuit, waving her fan after them like a weapon! "You little rodents! I'm going to stuff this down your throats!"
    She chased them all the way to the citadel. Fortunately, Diamond and the children managed to duck into the courtyard before she could catch them. Quickly, the older boy shoved them behind a huge pillar. "Stay behind there and keep quiet," he ordered, trying his best to keep a straight face.
    Sapphire and Prisma practically had to cover each other's mouths to try to stop their laughter.
    "Where are they?!" they could hear Emerald fume. "Where are they? I know they're hiding!"
    "They went that way," came Diamond's calm reply. "Into the citadel."
    There was the sound of Emerald stamping her foot in frustration. "Oooo!!! I don't know what you see in that little pest and his girlfriend, Diamond! They're a bad influence on you!" And with that, she stormed into the citadel.
    The two children could barely contain themselves any longer. They removed their hands from each other's mouths and burst out laughing.
    Diamond crossed his arms as they came out giggling from behind the pillar. "I thought I told you two to be quiet! You're lucky Em was too mad too notice!"
    Sapphire and Prisma looked at each other; then at him. "Sorry," they began, but all three of them were unable to fight back their smiles.
    Laughing, and chattering away as young children do, they left the courtyard and made their way back to their makeshift fort.
    "Look!" Sapphire suddenly said, pointing upwards to the sky where thousands upon thousands of stars looked down on them. It was not an unusual sight, as on Nemesis there was no sun or daylight, but the younger prince had something to ask his brother. "Diamond, which one of those is Earth, again?"
    Diamond tried to remember all the maps of the galaxy his tutors bid him to study. "Hmmm. I can't really say for sure without a chart; but I think it's that one, there." He pointed to one of the stars in the distance.
    Sapphire craned his neck to see exactly where his brother was pointing. "It looks so far away," he whispered.
    Moments passed and the three of them were silent, each with their own thoughts.
    "Diamond... What happened to our mother and father?" Sapphire asked.
    The white haired boy frowned. This was a question Sapphire had been asking ever since they had arrived on Nemesis. If only he could give him a straight answer! The truth was, Diamond could barely remember their father, Kin. All he knew was that he had perished in a battle with a rival clan on Earth, and the last memory he had of their mother, Nyoko, was of her leaving them alone in a cold, lonely place, promising to come back for them. In the past he would always shrug it off, either changing the subject or saying, "You'll understand when you're older."
    "I... I don't know for sure," he answered. "Our father died when you were just a baby; and I never saw our mother again after she left."
    Sapphire lowered his eyes sadly. "Oh. I guess we really are orphans, then, aren't we?" It was at times like this when he really envied Prisma! She still had both her parents and knew everything about them.
    Diamond tenderly brushed the loose bangs away from his little brother's eyes. "No, no, Saffy. We're not orphans, we're a family."
    "The Black Moon family!" Prisma added.
    At this, Sapphire smiled and nodded. "Yeah! And someday our family'll have a home on Earth, right?"
    "You bet!" Diamond smiled back, tousling Sapphire's hair affectionately.
    Prisma grinned. "Yeah! And Serenity and those nasty Earthlings, they'll be banished to here!"
    The three of them burst out laughing again. What good, poetic justice that would be!
    Their laughter was cut short by a painfully familiar voice. "Prince Diamond."
    Prisma and Diamond seemed undisturbed, but Sapphire suddenly felt cold all over. He had been afraid of the Wiseman for as long as he could remember, without being able to explain exactly why. After all, he had welcomed the clan warmly to Nemesis, even though it was not the bright, flourishing planet they had hoped for, and was helping them prepare to take back their rightful home. Maybe it was the fact that no one had ever seen his face; or maybe he just reminded Sapphire of the dark monsters he had seen so often in his nightmares.
    "It is time for your lessons, Prince," the cloaked figure said.
    Diamond nodded, and stepped away from his brother and Prisma. "All right, I'm coming. See you later, you two."
    Sapphire crossed his arms with a scowl as he watched his brother being led back to the citadel. "I wish he didn't have to have those stupid lessons every day!" he muttered.
    "Well, he's going to be the leader of our clan," Prisma said; the girl tilted her head, a few strands of green hair, almost the same shade as Emerald's, coming loose from her already messy bun.
    Sapphire kicked at the black, dusty ground with his clean white shoes. "I know, I know. I just wish we could hurry up and get back to Earth already, so we can see some real playgrounds and parks, and Diamond won't have to do whatever Wiseman tells him!"
    Prisma nodded thoughtfully. Then a mischievous smile played about her face. "Hey! You've never actually seen Diamond at his lessons, have you?"
    "No," Sapphire answered plainly. "So?"
    "So... Why don't we go in and see what he's learning in there? Then maybe we'll find out how to conquer Earth, too, and our clan'll get there twice as fast!"
    The dark haired boy burst out laughing. Trust his rambunctious friend to think up a wild idea like that!
    "What's so funny?" she demanded, hands on her hips.
    "Nothing, nothing. Just trying to imagine us beating Diamond to conquering Earth first! It's too funny!" He knew his brother, and there was no way Diamond wouldn't accomplish something he'd set his mind to!
    Prisma shrugged indignantly. "Hey, it could happen!"
    "Yeah, when the sun shines on Nemesis!" Sapphire chuckled. "But I do want to see Diamond at his lessons. Just to see how different they are from mine."
    At this, Prisma smiled and grabbed his hand. "Then come on, what are we waiting for?"

    Like every other room in the citadel, the boy's classroom was dark and dimly lit. But Sapphire, Prisma and all the other children of Nemesis had practically grown up in the dark. The little boy and girl peered curiously from behind the partly opened door.
    "The people of Earth are ignorant," Diamond recited his lessons to his shrouded tutor. "They abuse their planet and take it for granted, which is why the Black Moon family must reclaim it."
    "Very good, Prince Diamond," Wiseman nodded.
    The silvery haired boy put his paper down, a confused look on his face. "Thank you, but... I don't understand something."
    "And what is that?" Wiseman asked.
    "Well... If the humans are so terrible, and treat their planet so badly, then how come it is still thriving today?" Diamond wanted to know.
    Wiseman drew nearer to Diamond. "Why, that is easy, my prince. Earth is very resilient, and is suffering through all the mortal's cruelty in hopes that a greater race will one day rule it."
    "Oh... I see," Diamond looked thoughtful.
    Wiseman waved his hands around his crystal ball. Diamond could see images in it; images of destroyed forests and wild lands, polluted waters and cities; chaos and destruction caused by wars and battles of the past and present; wars started and fought by the humans.
    "Do you understand now? The humans cast you away from the world you should rightfully rule, and they are content to destroy it with their ignorance! You have to hate them! That is the only way of conquering them!"
    Diamond lowered his eyes. "But, I don't hate them. I... I just wish I was as lucky as they are... That's all."
    Sapphire swallowed back a cry of resentment as he watched Wiseman lift his brother's head up by his chin.
    "They hate you! They hate you, Diamond!" Wiseman hissed.
    Diamond's eyes widened as he stared at his cloaked mentor. "But... But our father and mother..."
    Wiseman laughed, and Sapphire had to shudder at the sound of it. "Poor, poor naïve boy. You really don't know, do you?"
    "About what?" the elder prince's face became slightly paler. "What are you talking about?"
    "Why tell you, when I can show you?" Wiseman waved his hands over the crystal ball again. "Do you remember, Prince Diamond, the last time you saw your mother?"
    At this, Sapphire became intrigued. He opened the door, and, despite Prisma's look of protest, walked softly inside, as mesmerized by the glowing sphere as his brother was.
    Diamond hardly noticed his entrance, but Wiseman nodded to himself. The younger prince had always been too distrusting for his liking; but maybe, with what he was about to show Diamond, he could finally win him over as well.
    "Yes," Diamond answered his question sadly. "She said that she would have to leave us for a few moments; but she promised she'd be back for us."
    "And did she? Did she come back for you and your brother?" Wiseman asked.
    The white haired prince lowered his head and shook it slightly. "No. She never did."
    "Of course not!" was the triumphant answer. "And I will show you why." Images began to clearly show themselves in front of the boys. They saw a beautiful woman with dark hair and eyes, leaning over two little children, kissing and crooning to them tenderly.
    "Your mother may have told you that she loved you, that she would come back for you... but she was a treacherous liar, just like every other human on Earth."
    Another image appeared. This time, the two sleeping children were being carried to a large vehicle by Queen Serenity's guards. The dark haired woman did not try to stop them. Instead, she smiled coldly, crossing her arms and nodding in satisfaction.
    A single tear ran down Diamond's cheek. "You mean... she only wanted to get rid of us?"
    "I'm afraid so, my prince," Wiseman answered. "Your mother was a loyal savant, a strategist and tactician in Serenity's court. She agreed to the cleansing in order to remain in favor with Earth, but she did not want her clan, or her children, standing in her way."
    "So she just let the royals do with us as they pleased," the silver haired prince whispered, lowering his head sadly.
    Sapphire clenched his hands in silent rage, not at his mother, but at Wiseman. How dare he make his brother cry like that, and try to place all the blame on their mother! What had happened to them was Serenity's fault, not hers! She wouldn't have had to give them up if Serenity hadn't been such a tyrant!
    "So, you understand now what I meant when I said everyone on Earth hated and despised you, even your own mother?" Wiseman said.
    Diamond nodded slowly.
    Sapphire was furious! How could Wiseman do this?! Before he even realized what he was doing, the boy had flung himself angrily upon his brother's mentor. "I'm going to tear your cloak off!!!" he screamed, viciously tugging away at the dark robe with one hand while trying to pummel Wiseman with the other. "I hate you! I hate you!"
    Prisma and Diamond immediately leapt forward, and, between the two of them, managed to tear the struggling, screaming young prince off the Wiseman.
    "Sapphire, stop!" Diamond cried. "Are you insane? Stop it!"
    But the child was still struggling, shaking his head vigorously. "Brother, don't listen to him, please! Don't ever hate Mama!"
    Unaffected by the violently emotional display, Wiseman sighed in false sympathy. "Poor, poor little one," he said. "He's very confused, Prince Diamond. You shall have to help him."
    Prisma frowned slightly. What was that supposed to mean?
    "Yes, how can I help him see the truth, Wiseman?" Diamond asked.
    "By making him a loyal subject, incapable of betrayal. Use the gift I gave you," Wiseman said.
    The silver haired boy nodded. "Ahhh, the third eye."
    "What!?" Prisma gasped.
    "No!" Sapphire cried. That was supposed to be for gaining control of enemies!
    Diamond firmly held Sapphire by his shoulders. "I'm sorry, little brother, but this is for your own good."
    Sapphire's eyes widened in horror as he saw the black crescent on Diamond's forehead turn into the hideous third eye, which he had been having nightmares about since he was five years old. He tried to turn away from it, but Diamond's voice was almost as hypnotic as the eye.
    "Look at me, brother," Diamond said.
    Trembling, the child found himself being pulled towards the magnetic gaze.
    "You will serve me and do as I say without question. You will never turn against me or betray me as our parents did," Diamond continued.
    "No... Please... No..." Sapphire whispered, tears streaming down his cheeks.
    "Stop it!" Prisma cried helplessly. "Diamond, you're scaring him! You're scaring your little brother!"
    Diamond paid no attention. "You will have no master, and no god, other than me. Your loyalty is to the white prince of Nemesis. You serve only me."
    Though he was powerless to turn his gaze away from the hypnotic glow, Sapphire continued to weep. His face was pale, and he looked near the point of fainting.
    "Mama," he whispered. "Mama... please help me."
    At this, Diamond stopped. "What?"
    To both Wiseman and Prisma's amazement, the third eye disappeared. Diamond released his hold on his brother's shoulders. "What did you say?"
    Sapphire sank to his knees, sobbing, his hands in his face. "I... I wanted Mama to come."
    The elder Prince looked away, frowning sadly.
    "Prince Diamond, what are you doing?" Wiseman demanded.
    The silver haired boy shook his head. "I've changed my mind. Sapphire may be disillusioned, but he would never betray me. He does not need to be hypnotized."
    Wiseman shook his head. "Very well, my prince. But you have made the wrong decision."
    Ignoring that, Diamond helped Sapphire to his feet. "I'm sorry, Saffy. Are you all right?"
    The little boy nodded, wiping his tears with his sleeve, but his eyes were downcast.
    "Come on, let's go," Prisma took Sapphire's hand and led him out of the classroom, away from his brother. The two boys could barely look each other in the eye.

    "I'm sorry I made you go in there," Prisma apologized later that day. "Blame me if you want."
    Sapphire sighed and leaned on the citadel railing next to her. "It's okay, Prisma. I... I shouldn't have tried to attack Wiseman."
    The two were silent for a moment. Then Prisma turned to him. "Do you really believe what he said... about your mother?"
    "I don't know," the dark haired boy shook his head. "All I know is that I don't trust Wiseman as much as Diamond does."
    The green haired girl tilted her head. "Well, you've got to trust somebody."
    "I do. I trust Diamond... and you."
    "Thanks," Prisma smiled warmly. She was very fond of this boy, and she trusted him, too; not that she wanted to play favorites or anything.
    Sapphire smiled back. "You're welcome."
    They continued to gaze at the stars from the balcony; each of them wondering if there would ever come a time when they would see the sunlight.
    Sapphire studied the sky, searching for the star that Diamond had pointed out to him; the one that was Earth. But, he couldn't remember which one it was, or where it was.
    Sleep, little pigeon...
    Little blue pigeon...
    He was slowly forgetting the words to that melody, and the scent of flowers was beginning to fade in his memory. "Prisma, what can you remember about Earth?"
    The girl brushed a stray strand of hair from her eyes, thoughtfully. "Well, I think I can remember storms; lightning... thunder... I remember, I used to sometimes sneak outside to watch them, but Mama or Papa would always catch me and take me back inside."
    Sapphire chuckled. How exactly like Prisma!
    "Say, what do you remember about Earth?" she asked.
    The boy was silent for a moment. "Well", he finally said. "I remember, there were flowers... grass... They smelled so sweet. Funny, I always think of them when I try to remember my mother."
    Prisma swallowed. She knew that she had somehow said the wrong thing. "Oh... I'm sorry."
    Sapphire just shrugged it off, and continued to gaze up at the stars, searching for the one that might be Earth. Could his mother still be there? Had she really just abandoned them, like Wiseman said?
    The boy blinked back his tears. He did not want to forget about his mother, just as he did not want to forget about Earth, or the beautiful song, or the sweet scent of flowers and grass and fresh air.
    "Prisma," he whispered. "I want to go home."
    She nodded understandingly, her eyes softening. "I know... we all do."

Part Three
Kohana (Little Flower)

    What in Heaven's name was she doing back here on Nemesis? Had she and her sisters not left that place for good, and started a peaceful new life on Earth? She glanced around, uncomfortably, at the disturbingly familiar darkness and desolation. No sunshine, no grass, no flowers, plants or trees. How had she gotten back here? A single tear ran down the emerald haired woman's fair cheek. Compared to Nemesis, life on Earth was primitive and inconvenient, but... but there was so much beauty on Earth. Despite its flaws, it was a planet full of warmth and kindness, and she and her sisters were so happy there. Happier then they'd ever been, in fact. Just then, a shining beam of light, which resembled a ray of golden sunshine, broke through the darkness. She covered her mouth and gasped with delight as it grew larger and larger, surrounding nearly the entire planet. Soon, rich healthy soil and grass appeared. Trees sprouted, and grew taller and taller, reaching for the bright new sky; but best of all, all around her were lush, brightly colored flowers of all shapes and sizes. Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet, all the colors of the rainbow, there were even ones of a soft pink and white shade. She blissfully closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the fresh new air, mixed with the intoxicating perfume of the fields of flowers. Just then, she felt another's presence nearby. She opened her eyes to see a new figure walk from the fading shadows into the increasing sunlight. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and her legs nearly gave way in both joy and shock, once she saw his smiling face.
    "Sapphire!" she cried. He was alive! Oh, her love was alive! It had all been a mistake!
    She ran to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Oh, Sapphire! You're all right!"
    She raised her face, already wet with tears of joy, and smiled adoringly up at him. "I thought I'd never see you again, but you've come back to me, just like you promised!" Everything would be all right now. Nemesis was now a beautiful planet, bursting with flowers and sunshine, and she and Sapphire were together again! The handsome, dark haired young man gazed back at her lovingly, his midnight blue eyes shining. He did not speak, but he wore a knowing smile, as if he had anticipated her reaction and had already played it out in his mind.
    Trembling with joy, the green eyed young woman reached out to touch his handsome face. "Sapphire", she said. "I love you! Do you hear me? I love you! I love you so very much!"

(Tokyo, The Twentieth Century)

    Prisma opened her eyes as she reluctantly woke from her dream. It was an early winter morning in Tokyo; the snow was falling steadily outside the window, and she was laying on a hospital bed in a clean white room. The first sensation she felt was pain; a slight ache in her lower body. At once, everything came back to her. She'd gone into an early labor late last night, and she'd been in so much pain the doctor had had to give her medicine to make her sleep.
    "Welcome back, Miss Ayakashi," a gentle voice greeted her.
    Prisma turned her head slightly. Doctor Anderson, brilliant and soft-spoken like her daughter, Amy, was leaning over her bed, gently running a cool washcloth over her flushed face.
    "Hello, Doctor", the green haired woman smiled weakly; then, her eyes widened in concern as she ran a hand over her abdomen. "My baby?"
    Amy's mother beamed happily, dismissing Prisma's fears right then and there. "No need to worry, Miss Ayakashi. The delivery went beautifully. The baby was small, but very healthy."
    "Thank goodness," the emerald eyed woman breathed. "My baby's all right, then."
    "Of course," Doctor Anderson answered assuringly. Then she gave a soft chuckle. "She's a stubborn little fighter, too! You girls are going to have your hands full with that one!"
    At this, Prisma's face lit up. She clasped the doctor's hand. "She? You mean I have a daughter?!"
    "That's right," Doctor Anderson nodded with a proud smile, as though she'd given birth to the baby herself. "Would you like to meet her now?"
    "Oh, yes, please!" This was, without a doubt, the most wonderful, thrilling moment in her life!
    The doctor left Prisma's bedside and exited the room. She returned moments later, with a tiny wrapped bundle in her arms.
    The new mother sat up in bed, and reached out her arms to hold her daughter for the first time.
    "Here you are, little one," Doctor Anderson crooned, tenderly placing the infant in Prisma's waiting arms. "Go to mama now."
    Prisma stared down at the wrinkled, pink face, the tiny hands, the tuft of silky black hair. She felt herself tremble with overwhelming joy. Only months ago, she had felt as though she had lost Sapphire forever. Now she had a small part of him to hold on to. "I... I don't believe it. This is better then I could ever have imagined."
    Upon hearing her mother's voice, the baby girl stirred and opened her eyes. Prisma smiled when she saw those eyes. They were wide and midnight blue.
    I should have known, Sapphire, she thought to herself as the baby grasped her fingers with her tiny hands. You promised you'd come back to me, and you always keep your promises.
    Just then, there came the shrill sounds of female voices arguing outside the hospital room.
    "I get to go in first! After all, I'm the second oldest! The baby should meet me first!"
    "Yes, but I'm the prettiest! Everyone knows that! The baby should meet it's prettiest aunt first!"
    "You are not the prettiest, shorty!"
    "Hmmph! You should talk, prima donna!"
    "Will you two quit your bickering already?! Anyway, I'm the one who the baby should meet first, because I was the one who decided we should live here in Tokyo!"
    "You are not! We all decided that together, pancake face!"
    Doctor Anderson rubbed her forehead in dismay. She could deal with one or two of them, but why did all the Ayakashi sisters have to be here at once? "Please, Miss Ayakashi, say something before they start World War Three right here in this hospital?"
    Prisma chuckled to herself. What was she going to do with those sisters of hers? "All right, you three harpies!" she called out, so that they could hear her behind the door. "Are you just going to stand out there and bicker all day, or are you going to come in and meet your new niece already?"
    In an instant, the door was opened and Avery, Catsy, and Birdy were dropping the presents and flowers they had brought, practically running each other over in a mad dash to get to their sister and baby niece! Poor Doctor Anderson barely managed to avoid getting run down by a tornado of high-heels, purses, and designer clothes.
    "Ahhh!!!" Catsy squealed in delight. "She's so tiny and sweet!"
    "Ooo!!! Isn't she precious?!" Birdy crooned.
    Avery was beaming. "She's a beauty, all right! She'll grow into quite the man-killer!"
    Prisma rolled her eyes with a smirk at her auburn haired younger sister. "Is that the only thing you think about, airhead?" Bad enough Avery was always trying to set her up with some guy off of her reject list!
    The auburn haired woman grinned. "It's one of them! Anyway, you'd have to agree, she's lovely! Look, she even has Sapphire's eyes!"
    The emerald eyed woman nodded, and looked down proudly at the now cooing infant in her arms. "Yes, she does have his eyes," she agreed softly. She gently touched her new daughter's cheek with her finger, and was rewarded with a giggle and a cherub-like smile. A tear ran down her own cheek. "She even has that beautiful smile of his," she added, her voice showing a touch of sadness. "I only wish he could see her."
    At this, the three women looked at each other. In their hearts, they had all expected that the birth of this child would bring back painful memories for their eldest sister.
    It was Catsy who was the first to put a comforting hand on Prisma's shoulder. "Sapphire would have loved her, Prisma, dear," the dark haired woman assured her.
    "That's right," fair haired Birdy added. "And I'll bet he's watching over you and her right now, too."
    Avery nodded in agreement, and tenderly brushed a few stray bangs from Prisma's eyes. "Life goes on, after all."
    Prisma smiled back at her sisters, touched. "Thanks, girls." It was hard to believe that less then a year ago she had almost destroyed Avery, Catsy, and Birdy, and the four of them were trying to outdo each other in a battle over who would be queen of the future Crystal Tokyo!
    Avery gently rubbed her finger against her new niece's tiny hand. "Have you thought of what you're going to name her?" Her grin then became hopeful. "How about Calaverite, after your absolute favorite sister?"
    "No no!" Catsy cut her off. "What about Kermesite, after your prettiest sister?!"
    "Are you two joking?" Birdy chuckled. "Prisma, honey," she purred in her southern drawl. "Surely you'll name her Berthierite, after your smartest sister?"
    "Oh, knock it off already!" Prisma scoffed after casting a disbelieving glance to the ceiling. "You three can stop trying to butter me up, because I'm not naming my daughter after anyone in this family!"
    This got the girls' interest. "Well, what are you going to name her?!" they all asked at once.
    The proud new mother smiled and cast a glance at the flowers and presents her sisters had dropped in their hurry to see the baby. Doctor Anderson had already placed the presents on a counter by the window and put the flowers into some vases and water. "Kohana; Little Flower," she answered. "I've been thinking about it for a long time now."
    "Kohana's a beautiful name," Avery smiled back, and Catsy and Birdy nodded happily in agreement.
    Soon, the baby began to cry and fuss, and Prisma busied herself with rocking her gently back and forth, and sweetly crooning to her in order to calm her. In a few minutes, baby Kohana had been quieted, nursed, and was now peacefully sleeping in her mother's arms.
    "I remember," Prisma whispered, as her sisters watched their little niece in adoration. "Sapphire always said, once we got back home to Earth, we would see fields and fields of flowers. He so looked forward to that." She then leaned down and kissed her sleeping daughter on the forehead. "Now he has the most beautiful flower of all."

    Life goes on as it never ends
    Eyes of stone observe the trends
    They never say, forever gaze upon me
    Guilty roads to an endless love
    There's no control
    Are you with me now?
    Your every wish will be done
    They tell me...

    Show me the meaning of being lonely
    Is this the feeling I need to walk with?
    Tell me why I can't be there where you are
    There's something missing in my heart...

("Show Me The Meaning Of Being Lonely", preformed by the Backstreet Boys)

The End

    E-Mail the author at karenjade@shaw.ca

    "Sailor Moon" is a copyright of Naoko Takeuchi and the many companies
associated with the manga, anime and CDs, while Lady Nyoko, Captain Iwa,
Lady Ayakashi and Kohana are my own creations.

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