21TWO WRONGS
Chapter 1: Return To Elysian
A neo-Sailor Moon fanfic
By Bill K.
Sailor Moon and all related characters are (c)2016 by Naoko Takeuchi and are used without permission, but with respect. Story is (c)2016 by Bill K. Special thanks go out to Euripides for the inspiration.
Diana's head rose from where she was curled up at the foot of Usa's bed and looked at the door. From the outer chamber that was the central gathering place for the Royal Family, the gray cat heard a baby crying. It was a sound that was heard more frequently these days in the Crystal Palace. The cat glanced at the chronometer on Usa's bedstand. It was two twenty-seven in the morning.
"Infants have no sense of time," Diana muttered. She started to get up, then felt the bed jostle. Usa was getting up, too. "My Lady?"
"Mamoko," grunted the frazzled Princess, pink hair dangling in her face and down her back. It was all that needed to be said. She pulled hair out of her eyes and trudged toward the door.
Just then the baby stopped crying. Usa and Diana exchanged puzzled glances in the dark, then headed again for the door.
In the chamber, sitting in a chair, was King Endymion, wearing just pajama bottoms. Mamoko was cradled in one arm while the other hand held a bottle to the child's mouth. Luna sat at the King's feet, looking on with approval. At the sound of the door they glanced up.
"Sorry if we woke you, Honey," Endymion said softly.
"I was just coming to get her," Usa offered. "You've gotten her every night since the start. I figured you needed a break."
"Thank you, but I'm used to it." He smiled warmly. "It kind of brings back memories."
Usa looked puzzled.
"When you were an infant, My Lady," Luna explained, "His Majesty was always the one who woke during the night to feed you."
"Really?" Usa asked curiously.
"I always seemed to know when you got upset because you were hungry or needed changed," Endymion replied, "or you were lonely. I seem to have the same affinity with Mamoko. I always seemed to get to you before your mother did."
"Of course when Her Majesty was asleep, she couldn't be roused by a twenty megaton explosion anyway," groused the black cat. Usa and Diana both covered the grins on their faces.
"Go back to sleep, Usa," Endymion told her. "You've got a big day tomorrow. You don't want to greet Elysian with bags under your eyes."
"After reminding me of that, you expect me to be able to sleep?" the pink teen smirked. "Gee thanks, Pop."
Endymion allowed the smile to bloom on his face as he turned his attention back to the infant in his arms. Even Luna smiled at that one. Diana allowed the teen to get back into bed before she jumped up on it.
"If you do have trouble sleeping, My Lady," Diana said, "remember that the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner you'll be back with Helios again."
"Best incentive I've heard yet," Usa chuckled and snuggled into the pillow.
On the helipad on the roof of the Crystal Palace, six Senshi stood and waited with the King. Each young woman steadied herself against the stiff winds that were a natural part of that area.
"So where's the Queen?" Sailor Juno asked. Then she smirked at Sailor Moon. "Every time we go on a trip, she's usually up here asking if you've packed your toothbrush."
"Serenity realizes that the Princess is a mature young woman capable of handling herself and trusts her in these circumstances now," Endymion answered.
"More like she didn't want to expose the baby to the high winds," Sailor Moon replied. Sailor Saturn put her hand over her mouth.
"And you wonder why your mother calls you a brat," Endymion said cynically. He received a grin from his daughter.
"It's Sailor business, Hiroki," they heard Sailor Ceres whine on a personal comm-link. "I wouldn't go if I didn't have to."
Ceres got an impatient glare from Sailor Vesta that she totally missed.
"Hiroki!" twittered Ceres. Then she noticed Sailor Pallas with a saucy grin on her face. "STOP LISTENING IN!" As Pallas rolled her eyes in guilt, Ceres returned to her call. "Oh, it's Pallas! Hiroki, we'll do all of those things, but when I get back!" She paused. "Well go paint something! So find some inspiration!"
Pallas turned to the helipad door. The others followed her and spotted Helios emerging. Vesta sharply shoved Ceres.
"Show time," Vesta growled. "Hang up already."
"I've got to go, Hiroki," Ceres said. "I love you. And stay away from other women!"
Helios bowed to the King. He turned to Usa.
"Maiden, are you certain you wish to make this journey?" Helios asked her. "I must return to Elysian for a time. It is not necessary for you to."
"Don't you want me?" Usa asked.
"You are always welcome in Elysian, Maiden," Helios assured her. "I just have no wish to take you from your life here."
"It's all right, Helios," Endymion interjected. "Exposure to Elysian is always good for her. Besides, I'd rather she go with you than watch her mope around the palace waiting for you to come back."
"I do NOT mope!" huffed Sailor Moon.
Her Senshi glanced at each other. They knew better.
The six young women formed a circle around Helios and joined hands. The jewels in their tiaras began to glow. As the winds swirled around them, the six shouted in unison, invoking Sailor Teleport. Swirling dust engulfed them. When it died away, they were gone.
Feeling a pang in his heart, King Endymion sighed and then headed back for the palace.
The transport bubble came to rest before the great temple of Elysian and dissipated. Sailor Moon and the Senshi looked around. At the top of the step, descending toward them, was Helios's mother, Candide, and the two temple maidens, Ravonna and Fisheye. Candide was still a regal and mature beauty, her white hair flowing behind her as she descended toward them. Ravonna followed at a respectful distance, her solemn face framed by long golden locks. Fisheye was just as respectful and solemn, "her" light green hair pulled back to bring attention to a long neck. When Fisheye caught sight of Sailor Moon, the temple maiden shot her a wink.
"My boy," Candide sighed, enveloping Helios in her arms. "Any time apart from you is too long, but this has surely been much too long."
"My apologies, Mother," Helios replied, returning the hug. "You know I do not mean to slight you . . ."
"But you are bewitched," Candide smiled. "I know. I would have followed your father to wherever he would have gone and forsaken all in doing so." She kissed his cheek. "But you should call more often."
The woman turned and extended her arms to Sailor Moon. The Princess walked over and let the woman engulf her.
"You are even more mature and more beautiful than the last time I saw you, Princess Usagi," Candide said, hugging the girl. "My son is so lucky to have found one such as you."
"Thank you, Candide," Sailor Moon whispered self-consciously. "It's good to see you again."
"I'm only sorry that it will be for just a week," Candide lamented. "I admit I was surprised to hear you were coming along. But I'm grateful that it will allow me to spend time with you."
"Um," they heard a small, timid voice say. Looking behind them, Sailor Moon and Candide found Sailor Pallas anxiously intruding.
"Yes, Pallas," smiled Sailor Moon. "You can go play with the horses."
Pallas squealed with delight, then dashed down the path from the temple toward the meadow it overlooked.
"Well, that's the last we're going to see of her for a week," Ceres observed.
"Maiden," Helios said, touching Sailor Moon's arm. "Forgive me, but I must start the ceremony."
"OK," Sailor Moon nodded, her voice sounding too much like a whimper for her taste. She leaned forward slightly and kissed him.
"You may visit the ceremony should you wish, so long as you do not disturb me," Helios told her when they parted. He turned and began to ascend the steps to the temple. "Ravonna, Fisheye, attend me please." Dutifully the two temple maidens followed.
"Forgive me for being nosy," Juno began haltingly. "I know Helios has to reconnect with the dream power, but what exactly does it entail - - if you're allowed to talk about it."
"My son has been away from Elysian for too long," Candide explained. "His connection to the dreamscape begins to dim. He cannot perform his duty as guardian of dreams should that connection sever. This ceremony will allow him to reconnect and renew that bond. It will allow him to continue to monitor the dreamscape from his new chosen home of Earth."
"Can he continue to do both?" Sailor Moon asked.
"So long as his connection to the dreamscape does not wither," Candide replied, "and so long as the demands of his life upon Earth are not too great. It was originally planned that he would renounce his duties as guardian to live with you, Princess. But Evionne's tragic passing changed those plans, for no one else was qualified to replace Evionne and I am no longer able to act on a full-time basis."
"Sorry," Sailor Moon whispered. Candide's hand caressed her cheek.
"Never be sorry for causing my son's heart to leap and sing," Candide told her. "This can be managed. True love is much more important."
"So what does he have to do?" Juno asked.
"My son will kneel in the Temple of Dreams and meditate," Candide explained, "for seven days and seven nights."
"No dinner breaks?" Vesta grunted.
"The Temple Maidens will tend to his physical needs. Helios must maintain constant contact with the dreamscape. That is why he asked you not to distract him, Princess Usagi. The ceremony must be uninterrupted for seven days or else it will fail."
"I promise I won't distract him, Candide," Sailor Moon assured her. "Even though it's not as much fun as being with Helios, there's plenty of things here to distract us for a week." She turned to the others. "We've got a week to ourselves, guys. Have fun."
"Don't worry about us, Sailor Moon," Saturn smiled.
"May we speak a bit, Princess Usagi?" Candide asked, putting her arm around the girl and leading her off. "Have you and Helios discussed children yet? Forgive me if I seem presumptuous, but there are a few names I would like you to consider."
As Sailor Moon swallowed nervously, the four remaining Senshi turned to each other and struggled not to burst out laughing.
That evening, a banquet was thrown in the assembly hall with Sailor Moon and her Senshi as honored guests. Between the sumptuous bounty of food and the large roster of guests, made up of humans and humanoids who resided in Elysian, the hall was stuffed nearly to bursting.
"This is fantastic, Ma'am," Ceres said, complimenting her host from her position at the opposite end of the table. "I haven't tasted anything this exquisite."
"Yeah, this even beats Aunt Makoto's cooking," Sailor Moon nodded.
"One of the benefits of Elysian," smiled Candide. "Here the greatest chefs in the universe may dream that they produce the unique dish that they are not capable of producing in real life."
Sailor Moon glanced at Saturn and noticed her mood.
"Saturn?" she probed. "Is something wrong? You're not eating."
"Um, pardon me," Saturn apologized anxiously.
"You have a concern," Candide observed. "Speak. You will not offend."
"Well," Saturn began, "I wasn't aware that - - that livestock was raised to be butchered - - on Elysian."
Sailor Moon, Juno and Ceres suddenly stopped eating and stared at their plates. Vesta kept on eating.
"We do not," Candide replied graciously. "Killing in Elysian would be unthinkable. In a realm with admittedly few taboos, it is the greatest taboo."
"Um, then what's this?" Juno asked, holding up some chicken breast on a fork.
Candide tried to contain her amusement. "Elysian is the realm of pleasant dreams, where all things are possible. It is through that magic that no animal must die to provide food for another and at the same time there is food for all."
"Nice loophole," Vesta grunted between bites. The others resumed eating.
Suddenly Pallas giggled. Vesta glanced over at her.
"What's so funny?" she asked.
"That man," came the reply. It took a moment to realize that Pallas had thought-cast the reply and only she heard it. Then Pallas pointed. Vesta glanced over.
At a far table, a man and a woman were seated. The man was a chiseled god of a man, with pale blue eyes and a granite jaw, blond hair to his shoulders. His common tunic did little to conceal his lean, muscular physique. Beside him was a woman with a round face framed by a thick mane of black hair that extended down her back. Her eyes were dark and bewitching, her mouth full and red, and she wore a simple dress cinched at the waist with a revealing neckline and plenty of bodice to reveal.
"Yeah," Vesta thought back. "Sitting next to a hot lady like that and all he can do is stare at The Princess like he's never seen a woman before."
"They're married," Pallas thought to her.
"How do you know?" Vesta silently asked. "Pallas!"
"Pallas only peeked a little!" pouted the Senshi silently. "But Vesta is right. Mister Na-Sir is thinking really naughty thoughts about The Princess!"
"Like nobody's ever done that before," Vesta "replied".
"Would you two stop thinking to each other!" snapped Ceres. "It's rude!"
Pallas replied by giggling again. Vesta went back to her chicken.
"You're right, Ma'am," Saturn exclaimed after tasting dinner. "This IS wonderful!"
"I am pleased," Candide smiled. "Wine?"
"No, thank you," Saturn demurred uncomfortably.
"Try it, Saturn," prodded Sailor Moon. "You might like it."
"When have you ever drank wine?" gasped Saturn.
"Never," shrugged The Princess. "But everybody does it. How bad can it be?"
"If this is your first time, the taste might surprise you," Ceres advised. "Sip, don't gulp."
"You've had wine?" Juno asked.
"I," Ceres smirked, looking at the ceiling, "snuck a glass of Chardonnay at one of Dad's receptions when I was twelve."
"I'll pass. Thank you," Saturn grimaced.
"OK," Sailor Moon shrugged. She put her glass to her lips and sipped. When she swallowed, her eyes bulged. Everyone watching smirked.
"Not to your liking?" Ceres asked with a devilish grin.
"I don't know," Sailor Moon gasped hoarsely. "Am I supposed to feel like my nose is about to explode?"
"Perhaps red wine isn't for you, dear," Candide offered, patting the girl on her shoulder. She rose and addressed the gathering. "Tonight's festivities begin. A troupe of dancers are here to entertain us with local folk dances. Then there will be song from that great . . ."
"YOU WERE LOOKING RIGHT AT HER!" a woman bellowed. The accusation reverberated across the hall. Everyone looked. Vesta and Pallas could see it was the bewitchingly dark woman they had watched earlier. She was screaming at the handsome blond man.
"She is one of the honored guests and a princess," the man replied with ill-humor. "Of course my eye would be drawn . . .!"
"YOU WERE UNDRESSING HER WITH YOUR EYES!" the woman screamed. "ON TOP OF PUBLICLY HUMILIATING ME, YOU DARE TO LIE TO ME!"
"This is NOT the place . . .!" he began.
"Please stop!" Candide demanded forcefully. Na turned to her while his companion continued to glare angrily at him. "This is not the place for such displays. Please be considerate of your fellow guests and do not spoil their evening."
Na stood. "Forgive us, Lady Candide," he said, burying his anger under a veneer of formality. "My apologies. With your permission, I will retire from this festival so as not to risk further dampening the evening."
With that, he bowed, turned and headed for the door. The woman beside him seemed stunned by his actions. She glanced awkwardly at Candide, then bolted from her chair and followed him out the door.
"Who was that?" Saturn asked in shock.
Continued in Chapter 2
