Title: Sound of the Moon Falling [1/?] Author: Corbeau Noir Genre: Alternate-Reality, Angst, Action Rating: PG-13 Email: noir_corbeau@hotmail.com Site: http://www.geocities.com/corbeaun Summary: In a certain timeline, the children of the Moon have subjugated all known planets to the Silver Empire. The word of the Imperium is law, rebellions are crushed without mercy, and rebels are ruthlessly hunted down and killed by the Guardians whose mere name draws shivers of apprehension from the listener. But even in this reality, things are changing that will bring about the downfall of the thousands year old order. And the beginning is found in the not so coincidental meeting between a soldier and a slave. Disclaimer: Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon is the creation of Naoko Takeuchi. =========================================================== Sound of the Moon Falling * by Corbeau Noir * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Part One * The small, silver-haired woman tilted her face up toward the wide open expanse of sky stretching above her, leaning carelessly into the wind as though unmindful of the height-dizzying, three-thousand drop before her feet. Below her, the vast Sea of Serenity blazed with such a dazzling array of lights as the annual midwinter Festival of Lights officially commenced. In the distance, over the roaring of the waves, the riotous sound of merrymaking from the City could be heard. A breath of wind caught at her glittering hair, brought with it the memory of smoke and scorched flesh. Laughing, she whirled to face her silent companion who stood vigilantly as always only a step behind her. Her brilliant smile dimmed at the other woman's dark somber visage. "Hey," she murmured, curling a hand around Mar's arm, and then frowned when her fingers closed around tense muscles. "What's the matter?" "That slave. I was thinking." Moon raised a delicate eyebrow at her. "What about the slave?" she asked lightly. Mars turned grimly toward the other woman. "I don't think we should keep him." Moon's hand immediately fell away. "'We' are not keeping him. I am." "Dammit Serenity!" The smaller woman blinked, visibly surprised by the startling vehemence in the other woman's voice, but then her characteristically unperturbed smile swiftly appeared, masking all reaction. "You forget yourself, Senshi," she said softly. Mars swallowed and, shivering faintly, turned her back on the now coolly silent Moon. With a visible effort, she gathered herself together. "You know what I mean," she finally said in a much quieter voice, not turning to look at the other woman. "I've had a bad feeling ever since I saw him." There was a brief moment of silence before a gloved hand took her by the chin, and gently but firmly tilted her face back into the light. Against her will, Mars found herself staring into the other woman's shimmering silver- blue eyes. Voice unbearably gentle, Moon asked, "Was this a prophecy you saw?" "I-I don't..." Mars stammered, unable to stir her eyes from Moon's, all thoughts scattering under the soft caress of the other woman's fingers. "Or was it jealousy?" Moon could be terribly cruel when she chose to be. Mars flinched as though she'd been struck; she wrenched her face from Moon's hands, stumbling back until her ice-cold hands bumped against the balcony's marble balustrade. "Not everything revolves around you, Serenity," she whispered painfully. The tiny silver-haired woman only cocked her head inquisitively and softly smiled. "Doesn't it?" She moved in closer until she'd backed the other woman against the balcony, the heat from both their bodies twining sensuously through them, and Mars swallowed against a sudden desperate gasp. Moon moved away abruptly, her point made, and turned to stare out over the brilliantly lit Sea of Serenity. "The slave is mine, and I do not part with that which is mine without good cause." She lowered her eyes then, watching the waves crashing on the shore below wistfully. "Not even for you, Mars." Feeling suddenly incredibly weary, Mars closed her eyes and slumped back against the balcony. "I know," she whispered dully, "by the Lady, I know." And then she felt the fleeting brush of lips across the corner of her mouth, soft and gently apologetic, but when Mars opened her eyes a moment later, she was alone again, standing under the cold night sky as Moon watched her across the careful distance between them. "Come," Moon finally gestured kindly with her hand, "we are neglecting the festivities." Mars pushed away from the doorway and slowly followed behind her, but just as Moon reached to open the doors that separated the rest of the world from them, Mars caught the other woman tightly by the hand. "Serenity...Moon." She stared intently into the other woman's pale-blue eyes, tried to put the entire force of her urgency into her voice. "Something's coming; I don't know what. Please." She swallowed, her grip tightening. "Be careful." Moon only looked up at her, and smiled. "I always am." * * * * * He woke in darkness, a stray sunbeam finding its way across his tiny cell. That was when he knew She was there. "Tell me, what danger does she see in you?" The witch spoke with the lilting inflection of her mother tongue. "Or is it jealousy after all?" He could answer her of course, ever since his carved- up tongue had been returned to him and healed with the witch's touch. She had been gentle, and that had surprised him. Until he remembered how deceptive appearances could be. "Perhaps I should throw you to the ice wyrms and spare myself the trouble." He barely flicked an eyelash at that, and soft gentle laughter filled the shadows, as sweet as the wind chimes that had chimed in the towers of Atla before the white of witchfire blazed from the heavens and struck down the Earth. "No," the echo of that amused laughter lingered affectionately in the air, stole another piece of the coldness within him without his consent, added yet more to the darkness, "No, I think I'll keep you." [End "Sound of the Moon Falling" – Part 1] =========================================================== Author's Notes: This fic is a bit dark and I cannot absolutely guarantee that love will conquer all in the end. As a matter of fact, I can almost say with certainty that it will not. After all, the Silver Millenium did fall in the end, and sometimes, love is more trouble than it's worth. Feedback will be loved, cherished, and bronzed for future generations. ;) -------------------------- noir_corbeau@hotmail.com www.geocities.com/corbeaun -------------------------- =========================================================== Completed: 9/20/02