Chapter 10: The Intended

Leda stared coolly at the floating woman above her. Atalia laughed, the heinous sound echoing off the trees. She made a sweeping gesture to Sailor Jupiter Moon's fallen friends.

"It looks like we are alone now, Sailor Jupiter Moon," Atalia taunted. "Now, we shall see how capable a warrior you are."

"Very well," Jupiter said, her voice and body betraying no emotion. "But it will be princess to princess." Atalia flinched as Jupiter raised her brooch above her head. "Jupiter Moon Crystal Power!!"

"My, this system contains many surprises," Atalia observed coolly. "Mere humans turn out to be some sort of badly dressed warriors, and one is a princess."

Atalia paused, studying her opponent objectively. "This conquest shall be the most fun."

"It depends on how you describe fun, Atalia," she replied.

"Well, we are wasting time. There are multiple satellites and four more planets to conquer after this one. Farewell."

"We shall see."

"I call upon the powers of the Shadow Moon Empire. Come forth!"

"Jupiter Moon Crystal Power Attack!"

The two attacks met with a blinding flash of light. Each strained her power, trying to overcome her opponent. The two were tiring with very little progress being made.

She is stronger that I had anticipated, Atalia thought. No matter. She will be defeated like the others.

How much longer, the Princess of Jupiter wondered. She was growing so tired. With dismay, Jupiter realized that Atalia's attack was gradually overpowering the protective sphere of the crystal. She had to increase the power of the crystal. But how?

Her mind was racing, trying to find a solution. "Heart crystal!" she gasped, as the answer came to her. She could combine hers with the Jupiter Moon Crystal.

"Leda! Don't do it!" Ganymede was pleading with her. His mask was on the ground, revealing his true identity. "There must be another way!"

"It's the only way, Paul. I'm sorry!"

Paul tried to reach her but the protective sphere of the Jupiter Moon Crystal kept him out. He stepped away, helpless in stopping Leda. Leda turned away from him.

She closed her eyes, concentrating. Slowly, a hole appeared in the upper part of her chest. An emerald crystal hovered within the cavity. A tear slid down her face.

"For Jupiter. For all." The heart crystal traveled to the Jupiter Moon Crystal. The new crystal was mostly a sphere with a raised heart on the front and the back.

"Leda!!" Paul shouted, hoping to stop her.

"Jupiter Love Crystal Power!!!"

* * * * *

Cassandra pulled her cloak tighter around her face. She was in the palace courtyard, studying the security. To Neo-Queen Serenity's credit, no one was given admittance to the throne room without going through several levels of checks.

"I don't have time for that," Cassandra muttered. A courtier gave the shadow in which Cassandra was hiding a peculiar look. Now, she was getting careless.

She fingered her pendant, thinking of possible plans and pitfalls. Sighing, Cassandra studied the tall crystal walls of the palace. She could not scale those walls, special abilities or not.

"I will just have to appear," she whispered wistfully. She dreaded disturbing Neo-Queen Serenity's court in such a manner. Yet, it seemed it could not be avoided.

"Hope Guardian Teleport!"

* * * * *

There were audible gasps at her sudden presence in the throne room. King Endymion protectively stood in front of Neo-Queen Serenity, who studied the visitor in wonder. Several guards surrounded the visitor within seconds.

"It's you," Serenity murmured, placing a hand to her throat. "After all these years. . ."

"Who is it?" Endymion asked, turning to his wife but still standing in front of her.

"Cassandra," Serenity answered, her eyes never leaving the woman before her.

"Your Majesties," Cassandra said, bowing. "Neo-Queen Serenity, it is the time when the Stone is needed. Do you still have it?"

"Yes," Serenity said. "I shall get it."

"Hurry," Cassandra urged. "It, and you, are need now."

"She goes nowhere without me," Endymion growled, staring the woman down.

Cassandra eyed the king evenly. "As you wish, Your Highness," she finally replied.

Serenity hurried from the throne room, leaving Endymion with Cassandra. Her mind was stirring with images from the past. She tried so hard to remember the images from the sacred fire, especially the last one that told of the future.

She stopped, grabbing a corner of a wall. The young woman being held by the caped man was so familiar. Closing her eyes, Serenity moaned.

"Oh, Leda, what have I done?"

Realizing whom the stone was meant for spurred Serenity as she approached her treasure room. She went directly to the last set of drawers, pulling out a rectangular box. Inside, nestled in dark green velvet, was the Stone of Hope.

Serenity snapped the lid back on the box, rising to her feet. Without a look back, she returned to the throne room. Ignoring the curious stares, Serenity approached Cassandra.

"I am ready," she said, clenching the bare Stone in her fist.

Cassandra nodded. "We are needed on Ananke, Your Majesty."

Endymion left the throne and stood by his wife. "As I said, I will go also."

"Moon Crystal Power!!" With a flash of silver light, the trio disappeared.

* * * * *

"Jupiter Love Crystal Power!!"

The attack destroyed Atalia's attack, hurling the invading princess into a clump of trees. As the green light vanished, Leda collapsed to the ground. Paul rushed to her side.

Gathering her in his arms, he realized that the energy drain was large. She had immediately returned to Sailor Leda, a form she had not assumed for a long while. He gently brushed a tendril from her face.

"Leda?" he whispered. His fingers moved to the base of her throat. Tears streamed down his face as he felt the weakening pulse. "No! You can't!!"

"Paul?" Europa was kneeling beside Leda on the other side. She immediately felt for a pulse. "Oh, no. Leda, no!"

"What a pity." A burned Atalia stalked toward them. The desire for revenge was eminent in her presence. "It will now be a snap to end this."

A flash of silver light flooded the clearing, stunning everyone. The light faded revealing three people. Paul and Sailor Europa stared speechlessly at Endymion and Serenity.

"You will do no more harm here." Neo-Queen Serenity's determined voice rang throughout the clearing. "I, Neo-Queen Serenity, shall stop you."

Before Atalia had a chance to response, Serenity stepped toward her. "Moon Crystal Power!!" Atalia could only scream as the powerful blast destroyed her.

Endymion rushed forward to grab Serenity as she staggered backward. She weakly clung to her husband, closing her eyes. She fought the urge to lose consciousness.

"Help us," Paul begged, his eyes pleading with Endymion and Serenity.

"Serenity's too weak. She has used the Silver Crystal too much. She could die."

"Leda is dying!" Paul cried, tearing pouring down his face. "You knew this would happen. You let this happen!"

"My wife has almost died a hundred times for the sake of her people!" Endymion's voice was low with fury.

"My love is dying now, for her people!" Paul shouted, anger ringing in his voice. "Do something! Please!"

"There is nothing I can do," Europa whispered, holding her sister's hand. Leda glowed for a moment, changing back into her normal form. "The energy deficit is too much for my powers. I could give her all I had and it would not be enough."

Paul stared down at the woman in his arms. "You can't leave me," he said. "Not like this."

"Sailor Europa," Cassandra called, walking toward the young healer. "There is something you can do for her. You have a talisman that will increase you powers to heal."

"A talisman?" Europa whispered, desperately trying to think of such an object.

"The Stone of Hope is your talisman, Sailor Europa. Use it to heal your sister." Cassandra pressed the white rectangular stone into the healer's hands. "Hurry."

"Healing Love Enrichment!!" The Stone reacted, pouring soft white light over Leda's body. Slowly, Leda's breathing became the deep movements of sleep. She moaned, moving closer to Paul's chest. The light of the Stone faded.

"She will be safe now," Cassandra said.

"Thank you," Europa said. "Who are you?"

"I am Cassandra. You will learn more of me in the future, Sailor Europa." The woman turned and jumped to a high branch. With a final look back, she disappeared into the shadows.

"I look forward to it," Europa whispered.


The Intended Leda stared coolly at the floating woman above her. Atalia laughed, the heinous sound echoing off the trees. She made a sweeping gesture to Sailor Jupiter Moon's fallen friends. "It looks like we are alone now, Sailor Jupiter Moon," Atalia taunted. "Now, we shall see how capable a warrior you are." "Very well," Jupiter said, her voice and body betraying no emotion. "But it will be princess to princess." Atalia flinched as Jupiter raised her brooch above her head. "Jupiter Moon Crystal Power!!" "My, this system contains many surprises," Atalia observed coolly. "Mere humans turn out to be some sort of badly dressed warriors, and one is a princess." Atalia paused, studying her opponent objectively. "This conquest shall be the most fun." "It depends on how you describe fun, Atalia," she replied. "Well, we are wasting time. There are multiple satellites and four more planets to conquer after this one. Farewell." "We shall see." "I call upon the powers of the Shadow Moon Empire. Come forth!" "Jupiter Moon Crystal Power Attack!" The two attacks met with a blinding flash of light. Each strained her power, trying to overcome her opponent. The two were tiring with very little progress being made. She is stronger that I had anticipated, Atalia thought. No matter. She will be defeated like the others. How much longer, the Princess of Jupiter wondered. She was growing so tired. With dismay, Jupiter realized that Atalia's attack was gradually overpowering the protective sphere of the crystal. She had to increase the power of the crystal. But how? Her mind was racing, trying to find a solution. "Heart crystal!" she gasped, as the answer came to her. She could combine hers with the Jupiter Moon Crystal. "Leda! Don't do it!" Ganymede was pleading with her. His mask was on the ground, revealing his true identity. "There must be another way!" "It's the only way, Paul. I'm sorry!" Paul tried to reach her but the protective sphere of the Jupiter Moon Crystal kept him out. He stepped away, helpless in stopping Leda. Leda turned away from him. She closed her eyes, concentrating. Slowly, a hole appeared in the upper part of her chest. An emerald crystal hovered within the cavity. A tear slid down her face. "For Jupiter. For all." The heart crystal traveled to the Jupiter Moon Crystal. The new crystal was mostly a sphere with a raised heart on the front and the back. "Leda!!" Paul shouted, hoping to stop her. "Jupiter Love Crystal Power!!!" * * * * * Cassandra pulled her cloak tighter around her face. She was in the palace courtyard, studying the security. To Neo-Queen Serenity's credit, no one was given admittance to the throne room without going through several levels of checks. "I don't have time for that," Cassandra muttered. A courtier gave the shadow in which Cassandra was hiding a peculiar look. Now, she was getting careless. She fingered her pendant, thinking of possible plans and pitfalls. Sighing, Cassandra studied the tall crystal walls of the palace. She could not scale those walls, special abilities or not. "I will just have to appear," she whispered wistfully. She dreaded disturbing Neo-Queen Serenity's court in such a manner. Yet, it seemed it could not be avoided. "Hope Guardian Teleport!" * * * * * There were audible gasps at her sudden presence in the throne room. King Endymion protectively stood in front of Neo-Queen Serenity, who studied the visitor in wonder. Several guards surrounded the visitor within seconds. "It's you," Serenity murmured, placing a hand to her throat. "After all these years. . ." "Who is it?" Endymion asked, turning to his wife but still standing in front of her. "Cassandra," Serenity answered, her eyes never leaving the woman before her. "Your Majesties," Cassandra said, bowing. "Neo-Queen Serenity, it is the time when the Stone is needed. Do you still have it?" "Yes," Serenity said. "I shall get it." "Hurry," Cassandra urged. "It, and you, are need now." "She goes nowhere without me," Endymion growled, staring the woman down. Cassandra eyed the king evenly. "As you wish, Your Highness," she finally replied. Serenity hurried from the throne room, leaving Endymion with Cassandra. Her mind was stirring with images from the past. She tried so hard to remember the images from the sacred fire, especially the last one that told of the future. She stopped, grabbing a corner of a wall. The young woman being held by the caped man was so familiar. Closing her eyes, Serenity moaned. "Oh, Leda, what have I done?" Realizing whom the stone was meant for spurred Serenity as she approached her treasure room. She went directly to the last set of drawers, pulling out a rectangular box. Inside, nestled in dark green velvet, was the Stone of Hope. Serenity snapped the lid back on the box, rising to her feet. Without a look back, she returned to the throne room. Ignoring the curious stares, Serenity approached Cassandra. "I am ready," she said, clenching the bare Stone in her fist. Cassandra nodded. "We are needed on Ananke, Your Majesty." Endymion left the throne and stood by his wife. "As I said, I will go also." "Moon Crystal Power!!" With a flash of silver light, the trio disappeared. * * * * * "Jupiter Love Crystal Power!!" The attack destroyed Atalia's attack, hurling the invading princess into a clump of trees. As the green light vanished, Leda collapsed to the ground. Paul rushed to her side. Gathering her in his arms, he realized that the energy drain was large. She had immediately returned to Sailor Leda, a form she had not assumed for a long while. He gently brushed a tendril from her face. "Leda?" he whispered. His fingers moved to the base of her throat. Tears streamed down his face as he felt the weakening pulse. "No! You can't!!" "Paul?" Europa was kneeling beside Leda on the other side. She immediately felt for a pulse. "Oh, no. Leda, no!" "What a pity." A burned Atalia stalked toward them. The desire for revenge was eminent in her presence. "It will now be a snap to end this." A flash of silver light flooded the clearing, stunning everyone. The light faded revealing three people. Paul and Sailor Europa stared speechlessly at Endymion and Serenity. "You will do no more harm here." Neo-Queen Serenity's determined voice rang throughout the clearing. "I, Neo-Queen Serenity, shall stop you." Before Atalia had a chance to response, Serenity stepped toward her. "Moon Crystal Power!!" Atalia could only scream as the powerful blast destroyed her. Endymion rushed forward to grab Serenity as she staggered backward. She weakly clung to her husband, closing her eyes. She fought the urge to lose consciousness. "Help us," Paul begged, his eyes pleading with Endymion and Serenity. "Serenity's too weak. She has used the Silver Crystal too much. She could die." "Leda is dying!" Paul cried, tearing pouring down his face. "You knew this would happen. You let this happen!" "My wife has almost died a hundred times for the sake of her people!" Endymion's voice was low with fury. "My love is dying now, for her people!" Paul shouted, anger ringing in his voice. "Do something! Please!" "There is nothing I can do," Europa whispered, holding her sister's hand. Leda glowed for a moment, changing back into her normal form. "The energy deficit is too much for my powers. I could give her all I had and it would not be enough." Paul stared down at the woman in his arms. "You can't leave me," he said. "Not like this." "Sailor Europa," Cassandra called, walking toward the young healer. "There is something you can do for her. You have a talisman that will increase you powers to heal." "A talisman?" Europa whispered, desperately trying to think of such an object. "The Stone of Hope is your talisman, Sailor Europa. Use it to heal your sister." Cassandra pressed the white rectangular stone into the healer's hands. "Hurry." "Healing Love Enrichment!!" The Stone reacted, pouring soft white light over Leda's body. Slowly, Leda's breathing became the deep movements of sleep. She moaned, moving closer to Paul's chest. The light of the Stone faded. "She will be safe now," Cassandra said. "Thank you," Europa said. "Who are you?" "I am Cassandra. You will learn more of me in the future, Sailor Europa." The woman turned and jumped to a high branch. With a final look back, she disappeared into the shadows. "I look forward to it," Europa whispered.


Epilogue: A Brief Repose Jupiter's Gone