The Gathering

Mina’s Tale III – Part 2

We have moved everyone to the moon. It’s our new home. Home, what a strange word when you say it aloud or just think the word. It means many things to different people but to me it means a place where my family gathers. I do have a large family with many sisters and four brothers now that they have returned to the fold and of course, Nova and Chibi are here by me. I think that’s what makes a home, people that love you and that you love with all your heart. There is one problem with everyone living in the fortress, it’s too small but we woke one morning and a dozen wings magically appeared over night with all the furnishings that each new occupant would enjoy surrounding them in their daily life. All I did was look at Nova, all he did was shrugged his shoulder, “Don’t look at me. The fortress, I guess, took it upon itself to increase its size. I didn’t know that it would do this but it does make sense.”

We settled down to a quiet life with no enemy trying to upset the balance that we established. Serena and Darien would go to Earth once a week to help settle disputes and to keep the general populace under control but they were developing a culture that didn’t include the ‘old ones’ as they called us. The rest of us stayed on the moon, it’s not that we weren’t welcome; it’s just that we were growing a part from mankind. I think that’s what Nova wanted because he spent long hours with Jadeite, Galaxia, and Artemis. They would spend hours in discussion and in reading the old tomes of prophesy that Nova collected during his first years on the moon. They were all exhausted when they retired for the night but Nova still paid me more attention now then he had in the past. Our marriage was improving as the years went by … not that it wasn’t perfect but now he paid more attention to me than worrying about everyone’s problem. We would spend hours in bed just holding each other and talking about the day’s discovery. He asked me many times to come and translate phrases but I still didn’t understand much that I read in those old tomes but I was part of his daily life and I was happy to help. The words that I translated were full of strife and fury and some closely described the coming of the avatars. The most unusual book I translated talked about the final battle at the end of time and the changing of colors. Nova seemed excited about this message from the past and spent all night in conference with Jadeite and Susan. When the morning broke over the Fortress, Nova threw open the doors to the room and hugged me with such vigor like I hadn’t felt in years. “Mina, we’ll found the last thread that I needed to determine what we need to do. We must gather together all those that have any of the Silver Kingdom’s blood in their veins.”

Nova sent out a powerful thought to everyone or everything that had the blood of the old kingdom in their veins. They all started to appear; Helios, the Dark Circus Trio and Amazon Quartet, even the Sailor Stars arrive one morning. We all greeted them as family and the Fortress increased its size to accommodate all of them. The years had been kind to them. Fish Eye, Hawk Eye, and Tiger Eye has all developed a human soul and regained their former bodies with the help of Helios. Chibiusa was glad to see her old friend and he even changed to the Pegasus for old time sake but mainly remained as his human form. Serena is worried because they are spending time together. Chibiusa decided that she was going to start aging again and gain about eight years over night to become a beautiful fifteen year old. It’s strange to see the younger generation aging as if by magic but they seem fine after the transformations or so Amy tells us. It’s still disturbing to me to watch my little girl grow up but we have to cut the apron strings at some point.

Nova worries me. Nothing’s wrong but he seems to be happy one moment and angry the next. Late at night when he’s asleep, I listen to his thoughts and his two sides are conflicting with each other. The Dark Queen is telling him of the future that she see and Sailor War is telling a different future and Nova is caught in the middle. I always assumed that Sailor War and Nova was the same persona but I think that he has three different personalities. I don’t know how he keeps sane with the three of them at constant conflict with each other. I hold him in my arms as he tosses and turns in his dreams and try to keep everyone under control. Nova has been gaining more control over the others but his mental state is fragile. He laughs and jokes about the others but I can tell that he’s worried. We have been together for too many years for him to deceive me. He’s my love, my only love, and I will bear all his pain with him. Years ago, more years than I care to remember, I took a vow to remain by his side no matter what opposes us in the future. We will face everything together and whatever fate is destined from Nova, that fate will be mine. I will be by his side either in life or in death. I will not lose him again.

The Amazon Quartet has changed the most in the intervening years. They have developed into beautiful ladies in their early twenties. They have left behind their childhood whims and developed into citizens that I am proud to proclaim belongs to the Silver Kingdom. Silver Kingdom, it never really fell because wherever or whenever Nova and Chibi dwells; there is the Silver Kingdom in all its glory. They are fine representatives of the old ways and all the Sailor Warriors adopted its lifestyle as their own. We represents all that remains of the Silver Kingdom and we need a ruler but Nova refuses to accept the crown of ruler ship or any of its trappings. He insists that he will never wear a crown, he will leads us into an adventure that we may encounter but only as the leader of the Sailor Warriors. “Mina, I have had enough of rulers and despots.” Nova rested his head on my shoulder as he continued, “I seen my sister lead a people that didn’t want to know what was happening and I have seen people blindly following others that didn’t have their best interest in mind. No, I will never wear a crown on my head. I don’t want to be anything but your husband and Chibi’s father and … maybe … one day I can make that wish come true.” I placed my arms around his shoulders and held him close to me. A man that could tear apart the heavens just had one wish and that wish was to be near me. How can you not love him?

Each group that was gathered from the universe came to Nova in response to his summon. Hundreds of people and creatures appeared on the moon and each was judged by their blood and ruled worthy to become part of the final assault. It was amazing talking to the different Sailor Warriors and members of the old High Guard that gathered. Each of the Sailor Warriors was assigned a number of groups that they would command. It’s strange but every member of my group fit perfectly to my style of command and it was the same for all the other Sailors. Nova was perfect in assigning each person to the leader that would most effectively utilize his or her special powers. I decided to ease drop on Nova’s thoughts about assigning each person and realize that there were a council inside him fighting to form each decision based on knowledge of the past and future that each held. Sailor War, the Dark Queen, and Nova were making each decision. I felt, in my heart, that I was slowing losing him to his other sides. It’s hard to watch someone you love slowly descend into madness but that’s what I was experiencing. I had to get Nova back to me even if I have to confront each of his other personalities.

I persuaded Nova to take some time away from everything and concentrate on me. He readily agreed to the proposal and we were soon at the Winter Palace. In fact, we will spend our vacation in the same small house that we shared for our honeymoon almost two thousand years ago. On the first night, I changed into Sailor Venus and look deeply into Nova’s eyes, “Sailor War, come forth!” Nova shook for a couple of seconds as he transformed into Sailor War. She appeared before me in all her splendor. Dress in yellow and blue, the small Sailor Warrior looked up at me with those blue eyes that penetrate your soul, “Well, Venus, what do you want.” I took her hand in mine, “War, you know that I love you. I held you in my arms when you first made your appearance in the universe. I want you but I also want you to realize that you are part of Nova. It’s tearing him apart when you fight with him and the Dark Queen.” I hugged the small girl, “Dark Queen, I know that your are listening and I won’t call you forth but this bickering must stop. Nova is being torn apart from the inside because he doesn’t want to hurt either of you. He wants both of you to be happy but also he wants to be a full person and not three separate persons. I hope you understand.”

Sailor War shimmered for a couple of seconds and suddenly before me was the Dark Queen. I assumed a defensive posture to defend all my friends from a creature that could be their deadliest opponent. She was dressed black, blue, and silver and had a great smile across her face. She smiled at me and extended her arms to take my hands. She drew me close to her and kissed me on the lips. Her kiss was so warm despite her appearance and she held me close, “Mina, I’m also worried about Nova. His mind is so fragile right now that it could collapse with just a slight push.” Her words stunned me. I knew that Nova was in danger of a mental breakdown but I didn’t realize that he was so close. “Sailor War and myself have made a decision between us. Nova will have total access to our knowledge and powers but we will merge into his personality to form one. That personality will be Nova, the sum of all his parts. I just wanted to touch my lips to yours before I disappear into Nova. Just remember that I love you because I’m part of Nova and even if I appear fully, I would never hurt you. You are my life. I love you.” With those words she disappear and Nova was back in front of me holding my hands, “Mina, I love you. I know exactly what must be done. You brought everything together with your words and love.” He took me in his arms and kissed me while tilting my head back. He dropped one arms to my back and the other to my knees and lifted me in his strong arms and carried me off to our bed. Nova came back to me. It was the Nova that I have wanted for a long time, one that I didn’t have to share with anyone.

We spent a wonderful two weeks in that small cottage but we came back to reality and packed to travel back to the Fortress. Changes had occurred since we had left. The Fortress was larger than before and in front of it where it exists years ago stood the Crystal Palace, the palace where I spent my first years of marriage with Nova. We walked from the skimmer and stared in wonder at the great structure seemingly plucked from time itself. Suddenly, my thoughts are diverted to two small figures that were running towards us and recognized my precious daughter and my niece, Chibiusa. “Mom, Dad, look the palace has returned!” I grasped my little girl as she flung herself in my arms and Chibiusa grabbed Nova and kissed him on the cheek. We switched girls and hugged and kissed the other as we turned to the palace in the distance. Nova placed an arm around Chibi and mine waist and I placed one around Chibiusa. He stared at the shining structure, “That’s what the Jovian treatise talked about coming from the past.” “Nova,” I started, “you have to clue us in on your thoughts.”

Nova kissed me on the lips, “Mina, that book you translated – the book writing in High Jovian. It stated that the gathering of the warriors that will decide the universe’s fate would happen when the structure of the past appears in the future. The most impressive structure in the entire Silver kingdom was the Crystal Palace and now it’s before us. We are fulfilling everything that was written in the past. The Warriors will gather and march to the end of time to confront the Other. That time is coming fast and we have a great deal of preparation to do before we reach the end of time.”

Nova appeared before the doors of the Crystal Palace, doors that wouldn’t open despite all the efforts of Serena, the Sailor Warriors and the Generals. He just raised a hand and touched the door and it swung open. We all made a move to enter but he held up a hand, “Please, let me go in alone. There is something that I have to do by myself.” I walked to him and hugged him around the neck, “Sure, my love, I understand.” With those words and a kiss on his lips, the doors to the palace slowly shut. He was inside for three hours when the doors opened and he came out. Chibi and I approached him and with a small smile, I knew that everything was right with the world. As the others approached, the doors remained open and Nova signaled that it was fine for us to go inside. I walked these halls thousands of times but it was like I had no memories of the building. Everything was new and remembered but as I walked hand in hand with my beloved I could smell a scent that I can’t place but seemed so familiar to me. Nova squeezed my hand and I looked at him, “Brings back a lot of memories?” I stared at those beautiful eyes and tip toed to reach his lips with mine. I placed his arm over my shoulder and my head against his body. I’m amazed that after seven hundred years I feel the love from him as strongly as the first day that we wed.

We gathered the next morning in the Great Hall according to Nova’s request. The room, large as it was, was packed with the people that have been gathering for the past two months. The generals led the Sailor Warriors into the hall and they, in turn, led the royal family. Nova led the royal procession with me at his side, then Serena and Darren, and Chibi and Chibiusa bringing up the rear. Darren, Chibi, and Chibiusa stayed on the second dais while Nova, Serena, and me ascended to the top tier. We took our usual thrones but without Serenity, it seemed empty but somehow it felt that I could still feel her in the room or whether smell her. The scent of her perfume lingered on her throne and I recognized the scent that lingered yesterday in the hallway. That smell was Serenity’s perfume but how can it be here after so many years? Nova would probably explain it is there because the palace came to the future so there just hadn’t been enough time for it to dissipate.

I started to think about it when Nova stood up and crossed to the middle of the tier. A quiet fell upon the collected audience, “My family and friends, we are standing on the threshold of a great happening. A happening that will determine the future of man but also the future of the universe.” A murmur arose from the crowd but soon faded, “Millions of years ago, more than any sentient creature can remember, two forces came together to create the universe. You may call them Law and Chaos, if you will, but they are truly without names. We give them names but we also give them power.” I stood up and went to my love. I took his hand in mine and brought it to my lips. Nova needed all the strength that he can muster and I was going to give him mine. “We serve the forces of Law and Order and we have serve admirably but a great calling has been issued for a final battle. It will be a battle that will decide the fate of the universe with either Law or Chaos controlling the destiny of all creatures.”

Nova looked out over the gathering, they were waiting on his every word, “We must travel to the battlefield and leave behind all that we hold dear. The moon that sheltered us for so long is not our final home if we win the last battle and if we don’t, well, Chaos will reign supreme and we won’t have a place in its plans.” He let those words settle over the crowd and they settled in me. I would be fighting for more than my life. I would be fighting for all our lives including my precious daughter and my dear friends. We have to win the final fight; we have to win for the good of the universe. “We must fight together; fight with one purpose and each of us will have a duty to each other, ourselves, and the future.” With those final words, he raised the Cosmic Bane above his head and started to transform into Sailor War. When the transformation finished, Nova stood before us wearing the body and colors of Sailor War. They had merged into one being and Sailor Nova was no more. All that remained was Sailor War and she was my husband, Prince Nova of the Silver Kingdom, Defender of the Realm. I knew that if we win he would change back to normal but now he needed her power and the ability to use the Cosmic Bane.

I placed my hand in hers and she lifted the black blade to the heavens and a radiant light shone on the entire gathering and suddenly we were in another place. The sky is a pale blue and I can see distant mountains rising to the horizon. Behind us was a temple, clad in white and gold with the symbol of infinity emblazoned on the door. We stood before the Shrine of Time. We must be at the end of time where the last battle would take place. Nova raised her sword before the crowd, “We must journey … alone to the final battleground. The Sailor Warriors must fight this final battle but everyone is needed. Behind you is the door to the Shrine of Time and the generals and you, for two reasons, must hold it. First, it is our only gateway back to the past and … if … no, when we when we will need it to journey home. Second, we can’t let any creature from the dark side to enter into the past to escape their fate. Protect it with all your might.” Nova motioned for Jadeite and Galaxia to join us, “Jadeite, Gail, I need your to give me your promise. Each of you holds the power to destroy the Shrine and seal the past. You must use that power if we are defeated. Evil and disorder must not be allowed to return to the past. It’s the final gift that we can give to humanity, a gift of a future without chaos until everything comes to an end.” Jadeite looked like he wanted to say something but lowered his head and nodded. He came to Nova and embraced her and then me. Soon, all the followers that had come to the future was hugging us and wishing us well. Nova pointed his sword to the mountains and we followed but as we left I heard the chant that I remembered from Nova’s vision:

Our memories we cherish above all

We understand that the end times have come

In order to protect all that we love

The Sailor Warriors’ Final Battle has begun

Glaive, staff, wand, and sword raised high

We prepare for the final fight and night

We march to death or glory as one soul

There is no turning back, the battle’s begun

We sing the praises of Sailor War

She will lead the final fight

We are now embarked into that final night. This night will decide all the past, present and future of the universe and for the first time in a long while, I was scared. Not for myself but for everything that I hold dear. We must win the final battle to protect all that we love. Nova was leading us with confidence in her stride and I felt a tiny hand work it way into mine. By my side was my daughter and looking every inch her father’s child and having her near raised my morale. I will give my best in the fight. I must for my loves and friends.

So ends the next to last chapter of Mina’s Tale III. The next chapter is the final battle that will decide the fate of the universe. There will be a final victor in the great struggle but it may not be who or what you expect. Stay tuned for the final chapter of Mina’s Tale III, “Pawns in a Chess Game” for the conclusion.