Standard disclaimer: I do not own Naoko's Sailor Moon.

Chapter 10: The Lady of the Light

After a good ten minutes of mindless fleeing from the swamp, the girls finally came across a dusty road paved with shabby stones. As they stopped to catch their breath, Selenity was the first to lift her eyes to the scenery opposite them to see a beautiful sight: golden fields of wheat stretching across the horizon and a smattering of sheep scattered across the green parts of the hills, highlighted by the soft rays of the setting Sun.

"Girls, look! What gloriously cute little sheep! They look like little cotton candies," Selenity panted through a wan smile, pointing to the sight.

"Someone must be hungry. Cotton candy, Odango? Only you could compare sheep to food," Mina mocked lightly between gasps for air.

Selenity blushed and opened her mouth to protest but was cut off by Amy, "Selenity, have you already forgotten that something bit you?" the blue-haired beauty asked tiredly.

Selenity shrugged, "I think it was a mosquito… but near that dark wood it seemed so much bugger!," she said with feeling. Amy's face turned a lovely shade of pink in her anger at being frightened for no good reason. The look prompting Selenity to add, "But he bit really hard and it hurt like hell, though!", her large blue eyes pleading her innocence and for understanding.

She didn't get it.

"Of course it did Odango… in your head! Did you have to scare us so much?" Rei shrieked, the high pitch in her voice scaring the nearby crows into flying away, though they had been happily situated about a scarecrow posted in the field nearby.

"You three, stop arguing right now," Lita said easily, having no trouble breathing normally as she clasped her hands in front of her in an attempt to calm the group down. "Enjoy the sight and this amazing day will ya? That applies especially to you Ms. Scarecrow," Lita directed to Rei.

"Ooh Lita! Good one!" Mina giggled, enjoying Rei's embarrassment.

The girls managed to pull themselves together and started down the road, each lost in their own thoughts. Selenity found herself able to begin to appreciate the situation she found herself in without the distraction of palace politics and Endymion's overwhelming presence, and found herself questioning what she had learned.

"Girls, why did you think I had killed myself?" she asked the group suddenly.

The silence that followed her question seemed even louder than Rei's previous outburst, and Selenity felt a cold shiver of tension work its way down her spine. The girls, for their part, looked worriedly at each other as they weighed the consequences of giving the goddess an answer.

"Why don't you ask your husband that question?" Amy finally replied simply.

Selenity lowered her eyes, "I didn't want to upset him and make him remember what was obviously a painful time for him."

Lita gazed at her sympathetically, admiring her loving heart but worrying for the girl's obvious naivety, "We understand Odango."

Mina nodded, "We weren't completely sure. We thought you had either died by your own hand, or escaped to parts unknown. To be honest, nobody knows anything really. Or if they do, they are afraid to tell us. It's all been lost in rumors, pretty stupid huh?" Mina added, her soft babbling stirring uneasy memories in the group.

Rei placed a hand on Selenity's shoulder, "What we do know is that you had been engaged before you fell in love with Endymion. But because your mother had already promised your hand, you were desperate. You hated the idea of a marriage without love, and especially for that marriage to result in two people destroying each other in their unhappiness. At least, that's what Endymion told us."

Selenity shook her head slowly as she struggled to understand a past she had not lived, "Hn… who had been my fiancé before Endymion?" she wondered aloud.

"You really don't remember anything, do you Odango?" Mina mused, though the question was said more as a statement of deduction.

Rei shrugged, "Some prince we've never heard of. Endymion is never in the mood for more detailed explanations," the black-haired girl frowned, unsettled at the complete lack of knowledge of Selenity's past and Endymion's secrecy.

With nothing else left to say, the girls continued to walk in companionable silence.

Some time later, a familiar wail could be heard on the road to town, "Amy, how much longer do we have to walk? Its so hot and dry and its driving me crazy! I am so thirsty…" Mina moaned wretchedly, pulling at her hair.

"Me too! I'm hungry," Selenity added, supporting Mina.

Lita laughed at the pair, "You lazy snails! What a cute pair you make. It's almost like you're twins. Look at those pouts!"

Mina and Selenity gaped at her, then at each other.

"Don't worry you two, we'll be there soon, see?" Amy said, pointing her finger ahead to where the rooftops of a town could be visible beyond the next hill.

The two blondes looked to where Amy was pointed and immediately brightened. They walked a little ways ahead around the crest of the hell to where the town was now more clearly visible. It was happily situated on a series of low hills, giving the quaint houses a terraced look from the outside. At the centre and on the highest hill was the Earth Palace of the Chaos Dynasty, the dark building dominating it's surroundings by the high walls that completely blocked any view of the palace grounds from curious eyes.

"See girls, it wasn't so far away after all," Rei intoned happily, kicking up the dust at them in fun that caused the group to cough a little. The girls shot Rei indignant glances through red eyes and muffled coughs, and the dark haired girl could do naught but apologise and settle back quietly.

The group continued along the road until Selenity caught sight of a blind beggar in rags sitting on the side of the road. He looks older than seventy, the poor old man. He must be much thirstier and hungrier than us, Selenity thought sadly, approaching him without any second thoughts to reach her hand out for his.

The girls just stared in surprise, knowing that the old man was probably a rebel who had been punished by Endymion's army by being blinded. Overall, the girls thought, the old man should have considered himself lucky for his was a merciful fate, as they knew that had Endymion punished him the mutilation would have been much worse. His cruelty was such that the girls were unsurprised when they heard claim of men being left to bleed to death to be eaten by the rats, mutilated beyond recognition, or their families killed along with them or enslaved. They were surprised to see the blonde goddess approaching the dirty old rebel, and drew in a soft breath of surprise when she kneeled before him.

Selenity, for her part, cared not for the looks of disbelief behind her, her sole focus only on the old man who looked unseeingly at her. He nevertheless felt her soothing presence, and smiled at her. Selenity smiled back at him while she concentrated her energy on the power within her. From her hands to his, a bright silver light flowed gently into his body as the Cosmos Crystal acceded to its mistress' wish to heal the man. For a moment, Selenity felt his fear as the unknown power warmed him, but soon what happened next left the man and the four goddesses behind Selenity standing in utter wonder and disbelief.

He opened his eyes.

The old man blinked, and through the fading white mist of his returning sight he slowly absorbed the features of the enchanting apparition before him. Slowly, he forced himself to speak, "Are… are you an angel from heaven dear Lady? Am I dead?" he stammered, unable to believe that he could still be alive after such an experience, and that he could see.

Selenity, appearing as royalty even in her simple white gown, smiled lovingly at him through bright blue eyes, "You are very much alive my dear friend. Everything is going to be all right now," she promised, her soft voice like a lullaby to his ears.

The old man stared at her for a long time, accustoming himself to his newfound sight. In time, he realized that he recognized this angel's face, or at least somebody who she greatly resembled. He frowned at seeing her hair done up in two unmistakable buns – the trademark of the legendary Moon Queens. He gasped.

"Lady of the light, are you the legendary godess of the Moon? Have you finally taken pity on us and returned?" he slurred in his hazy excitement as he realized that, through her presence and the touch of her hand, he did not feel hungry anymore. He felt no thirst and every broken bone in his body had healed. He felt the flutter of hope renewed in him, and knew that only one being held the power to give light to the soul – the light of hope.

In an instant the old rebel remembered everything that had led up to this moment. The marriage of Gaia, the Earth Queen, to the Dark King, Chaos Endymion II who had come from a distant star system called the Regelus constellation, and the unease of the people toward their new king. The suspicious death of the Queen that had started countless rebellions as the populace warred against their tyrant king. The utter failure of the rebellions as the Chaos Dynasty cut a bloody path through the solar systems, expanding borders and murdering all who stood in their way. His own part in the last rebellion that had seen him lose not only his sight, but his children and wife to death and slavery.

As the old man gazed upon Selenity's kind face, he felt tears come to his eyes as he realized that she had brought him back from the land of the living dead to give him life and hope. He could barely believe that she was truly the Moon Queen, but knew there was no other creature so warm, loving and good. She was a thousand year old legend, a whisper, a fairytale. She had existed so long ago and then suddenly disappeared so that it was thought she was a myth. Yet here she stood before him, and he thought he would go mad with joy.

Behind Selenity, the girls shifted uneasily on their feet as they watched the play of emotions on the old man's face. Amy stepped forward, knowing she had to break the two before her from the magic of the moment or else blow their cover.

"Odango, we have to go!" she whispered harshly in her lady's ear.

Selenity nodded and swiftly joined the others as they made to leave. The old man watched her go, knowing that with the Lady of Light present in their lives again there would be hope for a better life, a new beginning. He got up slowly to find his men and tell them to lay down their arms. The battle for the fate of the universe rested on her shoulders, and he knew that the men would need to be prepared should she call upon them at need.

Further along down the road, Amy gazed at Selenity in awe, her eyes as wide as saucers, "So it's true then, that the goddess of the Moon has the power to heal and give life. You are a living legend here you know. A distant myth… and obviously a true one."

Selenity sighed sadly, keeping her eyes on the road, If only they knew who I really am. The Queen of the Earth, the Moon, and the pathetic protector of the universe; a mighty failure. She smiled bitterly, "Thank you Amy, but there is no need to blow things out of proportion. You all have powers, and I am not some kind of legend. Please stop saying that."

Amy was taken aback with surprise at Selenity's modesty. The goddess was too modest for her own good.

"Aw, come on Odango, enjoy some of the praise. You have the gift of life, you should say thank you when somebody compliments you," Mina said, hitting her on the shoulder so hard that Selenity stumbled.

"Here we are girls, finally here," Rei interrupted, "Now to find the nearest tavern."

"I know an awesome one! I've been there already and if we want privacy, we should get it!" Mina squealed eagerly, now tugging on Selenity's arm as she pulled her down the street.

The rest of the girls followed, gawking at the modest beauty of the village. Selenity was amazed at the surroundings, her eyes following the irregular layout of the street that sloped gently upwards into the town centre where the palace lay. The houses were modest stone constructs, their rusticity giving them a simple beauty while the palace walls shone like a dark crystal in the sun, its size casting a dominating shadow over the city.

Amy explained to Selenity that the economy was basically agricultural, focused largely on the wool industry and supported by a cooperate cheese and milk products factory, as well as a regional bakery. Mina, Lita and Rei rolled their eyes at the brain amongst them while Selenity listened with tentative interest, when Mina suddenly pushed through a pair of wooden doors and entered the tavern. She announced that this was the best tavern, with the best delicacies on offer, in the whole town, and sat the girls at a large square wooden table in a relatively private corner hidden by red and white roses. The light in the room was subdued, given the tavern a private atmosphere. The girls looked around the room in awe, breathing a soft 'wow' in unison as Mina twisted her lips in smug satisfaction.

"Well, I see that you have some exemplary manners girls," Mina gloated, shaking her blonde hair.

"Oh, there is no need to be modest because you precede us my dear Lady," Amy teased.

Mina pouted petulantly at Amy's mocking and began to say something back, only to be interrupted by a waiter.

"Lovely ladies, welcome to this humble tavern," he leered, his fat sweaty body and tall frame gave him an air of valor in direct contrast to the lust-filled looks he was giving them.

Selenity sat in her seat innocently gazing about her while the other girls sent the man scornful looks. They were well used to being leered at, and were only disgusted the man thought himself worthy enough to even look upon them. Unconsciously, Rei and Mina scooted closer to Selenity, forming an offensive barrier against any potential threat.

"I'll have a hot chocolate with cream and a glass of water please," Mina requested, shooting the waiter a menacingly sweet smile.

Selenity and Rei ordered the same, while Amy and Lita ordered some juice… pancakes, another pile of chocolate pancakes, vanilla doughnuts (with chocolate glaze), vanilla shakes and much, much more. The waiter took down their order, a sweat drop forming on his brow as he wondered just how the girls could be so slender and attractive if they ate so much junk food. Amy looked upon the man with some amusement, wondering when he was going to collapse from the shock of taking their order until he suddenly stopped writing to give them a contemptuous look.

"Ladies, we do not serve those kinds of drinks or food. Perhaps you should wander down to the local kindergarten and they could attend to your juvenile whims!"

The girls gaped at his audacity in speaking to them in such a scornful way, and Rei made to get up from her seat to show him just how juvenile she could be. Lita sat back in her seat, contemplating Rei's anger and knowing how lucky the man was that Rei was stuck behind Selenity or else she would have already punched the idiot by now. Just as Rei made her way past Selenity, a strict male voice that sounded strangely familiar to Selenity interrupted, putting an end to the matter.

"Bob. Give the ladies what they've asked for."

"Yes my Lord, as you wish," Bob wheezed before scurrying away like a scared rabbit in the face of a hungry wolf.

"Bob, aren't you forgetting something?" the voice asked again, its tone eerily calm.

Bob turned sheepishly to the girls, his gaze lowered to the floor and apologized, "Please forgive my insolent comment ladies, it wont happen again," he said before quickly leaving them without waiting for a reply.

ALTAIR CONSTELLATION

The fourth planet in the local binary system of stars

Battlefield…

"This is ridiculous!" Endymion growled, banging his fist on the desk in a violent gesture, making the items sitting on the table top bounce slightly. "Why would they stop fighting? I don't understand… after countless rebellions, the leaders have suddenly agreed to a truce? They have finally, after almost a thousand years, accepted my rulership over the universe? Just like that?" he raised his hands in disbelief, running one hand through his thick, unruly hair.

"We do not understand either, my Lord," Kunzite replied with some measure of concern, his grey eyes reflecting his unease at the sudden ceasefire.

"Jadeite, have they given any plausible reason at this sudden change of heart?" Endymion inquired, crossing him arms in a display of his dissatisfaction.

"No, none at all. But one of our spies managed to find some interesting information," Jadeite replied, his tone submissive as he wondered why he was being asked when Kunzite was the head general and should be the messenger that got shot by Endymion, rather than he.

"Yes?" Endymion frowned, visibly annoyed as he considered the whole affair a complete waste of time, especially considering we crushed the rebellion today on Earth very swiftly. Obviously that was a futile effort for I get here and this is what is waiting for me! Now it will take me another four to six hours to get back home to Earth depending on the condition of the spatial anomalies! Endymion groaned inwardly, supremely frustrated to have arrived to battle, only to find his enemy had already denounced the victory. He wondered briefly if he could just pulverize this miserable solar system… the violence would soothe his nerves.

Seeing Jadeite avoiding his gaze and stalling in giving him an answer, he bit his lip to keep from hitting his general, instead barking out an authoritative 'Jadeite!' at the blonde man.

Jadeite paled, not wanting to tell Endymion that Selenity, his beloved wife, was galavanting around the planet dressed as a maid, completely unprotected and healing random rebels! To make it worse, she was with his own wife, Kunzite's fiancée Mina, and the rest of the royal court. He knew Endymion would deal very harshly with her when he got back… If she was still there, alive; and if she were still on the planet or even in the Solar System. Jadeite sucked in a shaky breath and decided to lie for all he was worth and pray the women were back at the palace before the King was.

"It is just some nonsense about having the Lady of Light among us again. The rebels believe there is a flicker of hope for the future generations and that they should lay down their arms to prevent any more casualties and misery. It is superstitious nonsense," Jadeite explained dumbly, hoping against hope that Endymion would buy the lie. He was surprised to see Endymion's amused face; and what he said, surprised all four of them.

"Those stupid maids.. She is here for only two days and the entire universe knows! Rei is right, she always did lament over the gossip within the palace. Nevermind, it is done and we can do naught about it now. We have a long journey ahead of us and I want to be on Earth as soon as possible," he said candidly.

Jadeite breathed a sigh of relief, grateful for the first time in his life for Rei's myriad of suitors. She always did say that they talk less than the maids when they dote upon her. He nodded to Kunzite who had shot him a glance filled with relief and turned away to find something strong to drink and eat. Both men were stressed beyond comparison, knowing that Endymion's wrath would have been unimaginable if he had discovered that Selenity had left the palace.

Nevertheless he wondered what Mina was doing out of the palace, despite his better judgment that he would not become like Jadeite. He knew that the blonde man spied on Rei. Even so, he gave the man credit for at least knowing what his wife was doing, as Kunzite had no idea what his blonde vixen was doing out in the world with the other women. The thoughts pressing on his mind bore down on him, and the Earth all of a sudden seemed very, very far away. In that moment, he suddenly felt no hunger. He had lost his appetite and a bucket of fresh cold water over his head, now seemed like a better solution… or a large amount of alcohol.