Title: Ava Adore - Book1,  2/?
Author: Anastasia Shinsei
E-Mail: eternalslrsenshi@aol.com
Classification: Romance
Rating: PG
Disclaimers: Some of the titles (Ava Adore, Stand Inside Your Love) 
And verses quoted are by Billy Corgan and Smashing Pumpkins. 
Sailor Moon is Naoko the Great's. The story is mine.
Authors Notes: This is a series, not a songfic, although I do
use a verse as a quote in the beginning. This will include the
past, present, future, as well as the Generals/Senshi Romances.
Gomen ne, but I'm going to use a combination of Japanese
anime/manga and NA dub information while using NA names because
it's just easier for me. Thank you to Ely-chan, Laz-chan, Kari, 
and Shana who, for lack of better words, are simply the best. ^_^ 
Feedback is most appreciated! (Just don't flame me, please.)

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
You and me, meant to be 
Immutable, Impossible
It's destiny, pure lunacy
Incalculable, Insufferable
But for the last time,
You're everything that I want and ask for
You're all that I dream
Who wouldn't be the one you love?
Who wouldn't stand inside your love?
Protected and the lover of?

"Stand Inside Your Love"
~Billy Corgan, Smashing Pumpkins~
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Book 1- To Stand Inside Your Love

Chapter 2
*Time Table 1: The Past, Silver Millennium*

A lovely, dark-haired woman in her mid-twenties stood watching
a group of girls sparring with each other. Each in matching 
sailor uniforms, they radiated awesome power from within. The 
girls looked to be 16 at the most and would never be pegged as 
women-warriors. Each had a beauty all their own that was only 
enhanced by physical looks.

"Excellent work, girls." Luna nodded her head in satisfaction 
of the day's events. Everything was running smoothly, and 
although the Moon Princess was slightly behind the others, the 
senshi proved themselves worthy of their posts. It had been a 
little over three months since the senshi began training as a 
team and the hard work had paid off. "I am very proud of you 
girls. You put in great effort to do your best and practice 
everyday." Luna praised as she smiled at each of the girls.

Lita grinned back as she wiped her forehead with a towel. "We 
sure have! Each of us trained on our own, so we've got to learn 
to work together." The others added their agreement with the 
exception of Serena. Serena stood breathing heavily while 
staring at the floor with a frown on her face. 

Luna looked concerned at the princess' behavior over the past 
month. She had grown more somber with each day and strained 
herself to catch up to the level of the other senshi. Luna 
placed her hand gently on Serena's shoulder. "Serena, you have 
surpassed everyone's expectations. You cannot help it if you 
cannot use the Silver Crystal just yet. Your mother needs it 
right now and it will one day be yours." 

Serena jerked her head up. Her eyes were tired from worry and 
overexertion. "I can't help it, Luna. I'm behind everyone else. 
How am I supposed to protect the kingdom, let alone the whole 
universe, if I can't even catch up to everyone else's level?"

The advisor let out her breath and took the girl's hands in her 
own. "Serena, you are doing your best and that is all that 
counts. One day, you will surpass everyone and be able to 
protect all you love. I promise you."

Ami agreed. "Yeah, Serena. You try your best and we all 
appreciate that." 

"Meatball Head, don't be absurd. Everyone can see that you 
really put effort into training." Rei added, hoping to get some 
show of emotion from the unnaturally serious princess. 

Serena turned her head slightly to glance at Rei and smiled in 
gratitude. "Thanks. I really needed that." Rei simply shrugged 
and put her arms around Serena, telling her without words that 
thanks wasn't necessary. Mina, the ever-exuberant girl that she 
was, launched herself onto the two and hugged the both of them. 
"GROUP HUG!" 

Luna discreetly covered her mouth and giggled at the sight. The 
girls were all once again cheerfully chatting away and headed 
toward their rooms to clean up. They waved at Luna as they made 
their way out of the training room. She watched for a few more 
seconds before turning to walk to the throne room. The queen 
was awaiting her report on the day's training and she did not 
want to be late.

"Hello there. Mind I join you?" 

Luna whirled around and groaned when she saw it was. "Don't 
scare me like that!"

Artemis merely grinned and stole a quick kiss on the lips from 
his fair lady. "Sorry," he said unapologetically. She rolled 
her eyes at him and smiled back. She took his hand in hers and 
walked alongside him as they moved towards the throne room. 
"How was training?" he inquired.

"It was an excellent session and we should expect the princess 
to reach her true powers as a Sailor Senshi quite soon. I would 
predict her powers to fully manifest in another month or two." 
She answered with a look of satisfaction on her face.

He nodded, deep in thought. "The queen will be quite pleased 
about that. With the Negaverse looming nearby, we're going to 
need it very soon. This waiting game we keep playing is wearing 
her out." 

Luna's eyebrows drew together in distress. "Yes, and the Earth 
ambassadors are arriving in a few days. We need that planet to 
join the alliance and soon." She looked up to see the throne 
room and entered with Artemis right behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So when do we leave? And what's the plan?"

A lithe young man asked as he distractedly drew various designs 
in the air with petals. Three other young men looked 
expectantly at the fifth standing by the windows to answer.

"In four days." He turned as he spoke, and rubbed his 
shoulders. Tension had been straining him for days and it would 
only become worse as the date of their visit to the Moon 
Kingdom drew near. He sighed, wondering for the billionth time 
why he had even agreed to this farce. The Moon Princess would 
never agree to such an outlandish proposal and he wasn't stupid 
enough to ask when he didn't even want to in the first place. 

Prince Darien Endymion sighed and brushed his dark, unruly hair 
back with his fingers. "You all know the plan. We survey the 
Moon Kingdom and their tactical defenses, discussed them with 
the queen, sign the treaty, and leave."

The man who had first spoken agreed. "There is no need for us 
to stay out of the Silver Millennium and it would only serve to 
protect and benefit the whole universe."

An imposing young man with startling violet eyes that 
contrasted against his tanned skin nodded as he spoke. 
"Zoicite's right. The answer should be obvious when it comes to 
joining them. The greatest tactical error would be to refuse."

The man on his right chuckled. "Malachite, you could have just 
said 'I agree'," He turned to his fellow general. "Right, 
Jadeite?" 

General Jadeite was too busy hooting with laughter at 
Malachite's crimson face to answer Nephlite. Malachite cleared 
his throat in embarrassment, causing the rest of the young men 
to laugh as well. He sighed as he watched the others laugh at 
their stoic leader and finally joined them. After some time, 
the five young men finally sobered enough to continue in their 
discussion about the upcoming visit to the Moon Kingdom. 

"So," Nephlite began. "Are we the last to join the Silver 
Millennium?" He asked as he leaned back in his stuffed chair.

"Yeah, we are." Darien answered with a grim look on his face. 
If only his parents hadn't been so persistent, they would have 
already allied with the other eight planets and none of this 
would be necessary. He plopped down into the seat opposite of 
Nephlite. "My parents are hoping for marriage between one of 
the princesses of the eight kingdoms and myself for greater 
solidarity. Personally, I think it's just stupid." 

Jadeite had his trademark mischievous grin on his face when 
Darien look up at him. "Oh, the hardship you will have to 
endure with all those beautiful women!" he teased as he feigned 
weakness with his outside of one hand to his forehead and the 
other resting ever so lightly on his chest.

Darien grinned at his friend and reached over to mock-punch him 
on the shoulder. "Shut up. I just want to meet someone at my 
own pace - someone who I can have a decent conversation with 
and not worry about royal protocol around. Is that so much to 
ask?" He sat back with a sigh.

"As an average person, no. As a prince, yes." Zoicite answered 
bluntly. "You're going to have to face it, Darien. As a prince, 
you may never get that kind of opportunity."

Darien propped the side of his head on one hand while slumping 
in the stuffed chair. He smiled and chuckled. "I suppose so. 
But I know an arranged marriage is not the way to go." The 
others silently agreed with him. "This trip will be interesting 
either way." He concluded.

Nephlite smiled as he glanced at his liege. "Yeah, we're 
getting a free vacation since we already know the Earth 
Kingdom's joining in the alliance no matter what."

"Well, I'm definitely looking forward to checking out their 
technology. It's said to be the best in the galaxy. And their 
defense system is really something to be admired." Zoicite 
commented after the brief silence that had ensued.

Jadeite joked, "Not to mention the ladies." He grinned 
wolfishly at the thought. Malachite lowered his head into his 
hands in exaggerated frustration at the wayward general while 
his friends groaned. They were aiming their cushions at Jadeite 
when a resounding chime interrupted them.

Malachite looked up to read the time. He stood up and 
straightened his uniform out. "We better hurry. The King and 
Queen wants to give us a final debriefing before we leave." The 
men rose from their seats and headed for the door. 

"Hey Darien, if you're not interested in the girls, can you at 
least introduce them to us?"

Four exasperated voices bellowed back. 

"JADEITE!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

A dark figure rose from her seat and moved to observe the 
Universe on the other side of the portal. Her flaming red hair 
seemed to burn as brightly as the fires that surrounded her. 
Her minions had given her the appropriate nickname of 'The 
Demon Queen' not only for her appearance, but for her maniacal 
mind as well. She watched through the tiny portal she had 
managed to open between worlds and cackled a grotesque laughter 
that shook the very foundations of the room. 

"My Queen! I am ready to accept your energy and begin the 
conquest for the Negaverse."

She threw her head back and let the evil energy course through 
veins as she roared with fiendish delight.

"Very soon I'll be taking over and your pathetic alliance will 
have been all for nothing."


END OF CHAPTER 2