2507/Act 20 - Crystal Tokyo - King Endymion

Act 20 - Crystal Tokyo - King Endymion
Date of Scene:	04 May 2025
Location:	Crystal Tokyo
Synopsis:	The palace doors open to admit our heroes, and they meet someone very tall and someone very small.
Cast of Characters:	Mamoru Chiba, Chibiusa Tsukino, Rashmi Terios, Usagi Tsukino, Haruka Tenoh, Amanda Faust, Minako Aino, Hotaru Tomoe, Makoto Kino, Zoisite, Coco Kiumi, Nephrite, Kazuo Saitou
Tinyplot:	BMC: Dimension Future
Tinyplot2:	Black Moon Clan

---

King Endymion has posed:
It's not too long after the fight with the Boule Brothers-- but it's been long enough for people to gather their energy and get a little bit of healing before actually entering the palace proper. There were some parties, of course, who wanted to jump in right away and it wouldn't have been a bad plan, but for some reason, there weren't any droids swarming them at the moment.

Maybe an explosion now and then in the distance, beyond where they'd left the group of survivors, who Mamoru was able to reassure people were all right.

Either way, those who are going in now are able to, now that the false Palace is out of the way. Up the almost-perfect rainbowy crystal stairs, and then yanking on the door, and the door not opening, and the door being kicked a lot and not opening, and then finally, Chibiusa just being able to open it by herself with her own hand and a muttered phrase -- anyone close enough would be able to hear it, 'Speak friend and enter'.

If that's not proof of something...

The door opens wide enough to let people in one or two at a time, and the inside of the palace is bright but not blinding, the crystal walls and pillars and balustrades on upper balconies are polished brightly except for where there wasn't time before the world ended to clean up baby handprints on some of the walls...

The receiving hallway has a soaring ceiling, and there are more stairs at the far end of it, and hallways that recede off into the distance. To the sides of the stairs are polished spots like the sides of the ones outside-- it's beautiful and empty and silent. Mostly silent. There are voices echoing faintly in the distance, down one of those crystal corridors.

At the bottom of the steps, in front of them, there's a stone platform about waist-height on Makoto, and on top of it is a large glowing spiky crystal with a slightly indistinct figure inside, wearing all white.

Standing next to it is Tuxedo Mask?! No -- King Endymion, all in white.

Chibiusa Tsukino has posed:
    How is it that this smol pink magician could just open the door, just like that, without ever having been here in this timeline before? No one knows!

    Well, no one except Usagi, Mamoru, the inner senshi, the shitennou, Luna-P, whoever else knew before this point...

    And everyone here, watching her dehenshin the moment she passes the threshold, running into the palace as fast as her little feet can carry her. The loyal (and often disturbing) catball bounces in after her.

    "Mama! Papa! I'm home!" she calls out, desperate for an answer.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
'Speak friend and enter.'

From Rashmi, there is a very, very soft "...melloc..." followed by the teakettle noise oft produced by a devoted fan who sees another fan taking the kind of opportunity *any* fan of a story would take.

In that moment, Rashmi *knows* she is going to like this version of the Royal Family, and resolves to *figure out a way* to leave the Jackson-dono trilogy behind before she goes.

But she trails well behind Chibiusa-tan, and the Senshi and Shitennou, sticking with the rest of the allies. She is here for support, not to insert herself where she may not belong unless invited.

As she enters the grand room proper, and catches sight of King Endymion, the redhead drops into a low bow... At which point the white-clad figure in the crystal catches her eye. And now her mental wheels begin to spin. Queen Serenity? King Endymion? But if he's standing there, is he some weird Moon Force spirit hologram?

All things considered, this presents a *wonderful* opportunity to keep her mouth shut and soak in the information.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The battle with the Boule Brothers had been... a lot. Taxing emotionally and physically, and Usagi had been glad for a little while to recuperate - but of course she'd been excited, too.

Worried, but excited, because entering the Crystal Palace means finally meeting Chibiusa's parents, and getting more answers, and... and there's no way they're well, right?

But she can have hope, and as they enter, and as she sees the shining crystal palace (with it's baby handprints, on some of the walls), she relaxes a little, only to tense right back up at the sight of Tuxedo Kamen in all white.

King Endymion, in all white. And, beside him, a figure trapped in crystal -

"King... Endymion?"

Her voice is quiet, but not hesitant.

And a part of her is thinking, oh yes, he's so handsome, but don't worry about that.

Haruka Tenoh has posed:
    Haruka and Michiru step forward, moving largely with the group, though they tend to be closest to each other and second closest to Hotaru. It can be a little bit troublesome for the pair to know what to actually say - it's not their personality to be visibly awed, but the two of them are keeping their eyes open wide, both taking everything in - and considering each object, every corner of the room for possible ambushes. Their first priority is, truly, keeping everyone safe.

    Given the group here, and the situation outside, the two Soldiers Guided By A New Era consider this one... dangerous in more than one way. Particularly this place; while outside was clearly dangerous, in some ways this crystaline castle might give their comrades a sense of safety - as Chibi-usa calls out to her parents - and so the two of them are more visibly tense and aware, and quiet.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy is retrieved from the survivors she was helping and vaguely gathers from communications that she missed a fight, but also, the Palace! She's here just in time to enter! Hooray!

    Or so she thinks. No one seems to be able to figure out how to open the doors -- and even Amy isn't confident that her magic could bust through defenses devised by the senshi at yet-unseen heights of power with the benefits of centuries of magitechnological advancement. "I wouldn't be surprised if those doors can take a nuke. Or, or some kind of orbital railcannon or antimatter weapon we can't even conceive of--"

    And then Lapine walks up and opens it. "Wha?! ...Oh, Chibiusa told you how, huh? Wait, where is she anyway?"

    But still, crystal palace! Amy isn't pushing to be the first in, but she certainly won't be last. She looks around with wide eyes, having had no idea what to expect.

    Honestly she didn't expect it to be this palace-y. She was expecting a redoubt for as many people as possible. But then, this is the entrance. If any part of the palace should look like this, it's here. There are probably, like, elevators to any such facility built into the crystal pillar below.

    But there's scarcely any time to glance around, before LAPINE WAS CHIBIUSA THE WHOLE TIME?! IT'S SOMEHOW NEVER LESS SHOCKING EACH TIME THIS HAPPENS--

    --And of course, that call for 'Mama!' and 'Papa!' draws her eyes to-- Huh. He kept the tuxedo mask look? With how often the Mamoru of their time still takes up his King Endymion look, she's honestly surprised. But tastes can change over the years, let alone the centuries.

    "Your highness."

    Maybe it's surprising to anyone who's seen how no-gods-no-masters-anti-monarchist Amy in the presense of royalty before, but she actually deferentially greets him, curtseys, and lowers her head, waiting at most several seconds to be told to rise before standing up straight again.

    It's Mamoru. Maybe not the one she knows, but she knows him, and can't imagine him as someone she should distrust.

Minako Aino has posed:
'Mama! Papa! I'm home!'

Venus inhales a sharp breath hearing that greeting along with the desperate hope that is easily heard in Chibiusa's voice, and her hand raises to press over the bow on her chest. It does nothing to stop the pang of sorrow and dread that rises in her. Whether the Boule Brothers were lying or not about King Endymion being dead, they had been able to erect an entirely fake Crystal Palace in front of the real one, which meant the chance of him being here was very, very slim.

Or at least he was in no position to protest the trap that had been set for apparently quite awhile.

Silently she hopes that they are okay. That Chibiusa will not have to go through the pain she's already anticipating is about to occur.

The sight of the crystal and the figure of King Endymion there causes the frown she wears to crease deeper, a long sigh exhaled.

"... We're not too late. Right?" It's a quiet question not aimed at anyone in particular as she voices her own hope. That there's still SOMETHING they can do to right whatever this was.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe blinked a few times when Masquerade Lapine turned out to be... LAPINE?! "GASP!" Now, if she knew, or if she was just play acting?! Who would ever know? She would never tell.

What was relevant, however, was that Hotaru had caught up. And that while she had attacked a few times, she still wasn't having much success as it were. Sure, every time she attacked, she WAS attacking...

... And vaporizing everything in her way, that was... useful. But it didn't really seem to care about 'friend' or 'foe' or 'innocence' and she had to be careful. Worse, it seemed to be incredibly taxing on the girl. Each battle seemed to exhaust her in a way, mentally, that her time as Firefly just hadn't.

She lacked the past battle experience that the other senshi could draw on, she was struggling to regulate her power, and the other side of herself just... didn't offer much help. After most of her fights, she'd spent a lot of time being carried and sleeping in the arms of whoever carried her...

... On the upside, she now was developing a ranking chart of people based on how they smelled when they princess carried her. Zoisite was currently a tier 1 princess carrier.

So when she did arrive, she let out a soft yawn, stepping into the palace, and stared at the king... She, sadly, didn't get the reference. Because by the point 'Speak friend, and enter' always came up in the movies, she always had fallen asleep in one of the outer's laps.

"We brought gifts!" she called out. "Violence and destruction for your enemies!" Just like Riventon would love, if he were here!

Makoto Kino has posed:
"Of course we're not." Sailor Jupiter is back in henshin now. The momentary respite after the fight with the Boule Brothers seemed to end far too soon. Then again, they took far too long to get here as it was.

If the Senshi of Thunder is fatigued, she's not showing it now. She follows a few steps behind Usagi, near enough to Venus to answer the rhetorical question in a soft, confident undertone.

She looks from the crystal with the pale figure within, to King Endymion, and she doesn't say anything else just now.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
Mamoru steps in, steps out of the way, lets other people in while he takes in the palace, while he stares.

He pfft'd when the door opened, of course, at that sentence, but now he's uncertain. Whatever he was expecting, this isn't it. It's so-- bright.

It's so bright. Palaces made of stone and wood certainly aren't, no matter how tall the windows, no matter the flickering light of candles and wood fires and torches, no matter the tapestries on the walls-- but his apartment is bright, isn't it? With two walls of windows, more or less. Progress. This is a thousand years away, and a different Mamoru. Progress.

"King," he says, finally, and bows slightly, filtering up between people to take Usagi's hand. "Your daughter is awesome. She brought us to help you." He glances to Venus, to Jupiter, then looks back up.

Zoisite has posed:
Silent would be the proper word to describe Zoisite when he was able to re-henshin back into his uniformed self. Hair fixed and tied back up with green bow and icy blue gem, and dirt cleaned off his face as though the prior battle hours before had never happened. Of course it did, and of course it would carry its consequences, but for now he focused on what had been resolved, and what was still their duty to find out--

Doors opening with the tiny whisper from who he knew was Small Lady, a tiny smirk forming on his lips at the reference. Well then. Yet the inside of the Palace, even if brighter than the light outside, seemed to carry a certain silence that matched his own. Inertia, stilled in time... grieving. A funeral for the world that once was, all the survivors heading towards the crystalline tomb if nothing was done about the tragedy of this timeline.

And watching Small Lady run inwards was strange, and sorrowful. for a moment there was a wonder if anyone would answer before his eyes travelled up to stairs to see the crystal in which a familiar figure stood within.

Regalia and stance of a man that ruled, weight upon shoulders, and Zoisite's heart hitched in recognition, bowing automatically with reverence reserved only to the one he served.

"Your Majesty."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
This is one of those rare moments when Coco and Hippo have agreed to let him use the Sealing Key and go around in his true form to help keep those droids at bay while Coco visits the palace, so the penguin/hippocampus is not here at the moment, and it's only her and Cora that step into the palace, the latter laying across her shoulder with her eyes turned towards the interior of the palace.

At some point while the door was being examined, the orange pearl had started shining and Seira had turned up and had made her way through the door, only to find out that she couldn't stray too far from the pearl. Magic Bandwith. So the orange mermaid was left floating around checking with other people, occasionally asking questions, and poking at stuff with no effect.

Coco meanwhile was using her Live Stage to cast a light on every possible angle of the door, trying to find a button, a switch, a seal, a lock or anything that might indicate a way to make it open, until Chibiusa speaks the decisive words. Uh, for those words to pop up... Mamoru and Usagi are very much the same.

She feels a bit awkward at meeting someone she met but with the note they didn't actually meet. All the same she clears her throat and smiles. "We have been coming here to help your world and Chibiusa's. My name is Coco, and this one is Seira", she nods to the floating mermaid spirit.

"Your kingdom has suffered a lot. I cannot do much to help, but I trust brighter days visit it soon", the latter speaks up.

Nephrite has posed:
Nephrite is his own housewarming gift.

He walks closely by Mamoru's side, a glaved hand rested upon the pommel of the sword at his hip, caped again in crisp Knightly uniform. Sapphire gaze, rather than drifting to the fixtures of the crystalline palace, had been firstly upon the Mamoru's potential daughter as she entered. He is hesitant, in some small manners, to lift them to the King of this future. As if that man will see, in his eyes, all of his sins and victories. All of the weight that their presence will bring. The secrets he holds. The fractured brotherhood that has done its best to guard his pink-haired Daughter for some time.

But only for a moment, until it is steeled, and his gaze lifts. He, too, bows. "King Endymion."

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Like Uranus and Neptune, Kunzite is watchful more than overwhelmed. Unlike them, he's doing so at the back of the group. The door is opened, after all. Something might make an attempt to follow them in. ... and he's delaying nothing at all, surely.

After all. When they are all through the doors, when the door can be closed safely again, he turns and bows to King Endymion, completing the triad of Shitennou present. Unlike the other two, he doesn't speak.

If the King was left alone and unsupported, if he had no more guards to help protect the palace - somehow, somewhere, some version of Kunzite must have failed him; so this version does not presume the right to address him now.

King Endymion has posed:
The King steps forward, his lavender-lined white cape swirling behind him and his sceptre-- let's be honest it's a fancy cane with space at the top for something-- and his first smile is for his daughter, relieved and loving and apologetic. He holds a finger up and crouches. "Sweet baby mine," he tells Chibiusa, "I'm a projection, I'm asleep in another room and I can't wake up. But I'll get to hug you a lot soon, okay? Especially since you brought so much help."

How did they get here? Where did they come from? The past, clearly, but what past with all these other teenaged heroes? He has many questions. They can wait. He looks up at everyone else. "And if you all came because she asked, then she's done wonderfully well making friends. I'm very proud of you, Small Lady.

Then he straightens up and pulls down his pique vest, and he says-- "And--"

He's looking at the Shitennou. He whispers, "You're really here. I don't know how-- but it seems we are doomed always to have intangibility as an obstacle to touching."

Then he gestures aside at the crystal. "Neo Queen Serenity-- I feel her still, so she only sleeps, but... would you all rather take some time to meet the people who have sheltered in the palace before the trap was set? Would you like someplace to rest? We have so many guest rooms, this place is palatial." >_> "Or-- you must have questions. I'll answer what I can."

Chibiusa Tsukino has posed:
    Small Lady keeps running directly towards King Endymion, arms outstretched. She's not looking into the crystal. Not yet. She reaches his leg and throws her arms around...

    ... nothing...

    She sees his image, translucent, but he is not physically there. She can't feel his touch, his warmth, his feelings. Despair touches the corner of her eyes as she considers what this means. Her heart stops for a moment. She steps back and...

    Well, he did warn her. She didn't want to believe him, but he would never lie to her over something like that.

    She is -not- going to cry.

    She -is- going to cross her arms, look down and away, and say in an almost accusatory voice, low enough to just barely not be a whisper, "I brought your rock collection." The unspoken charge she brings against her home-timeline father being: You Never Told Me.

    Not that Small Lady doesn't bear her own share of blame. Nor is she unaware of the weight of her crimes, even if no one prosecutes her. No one is left to. Dad is proud of her? After what she did? Chibiusa doesn't believe it... Who would ever be?

    From down a crystal corridor comes the small pitter patter of tiny little feet. The quietness of the palace combined with the grandness of the hall leads to a notable echo. Those who turn their attention to the source of the noise will see the cutest, smallest, grey kitten with a crescent moon shining on her forehead. "Small Lady?" it calls out, clearly sharing Luna and Artemis's ability to talk.

    Princess Small Lady Serenity turns towards the kitten and says, "Diana? Um... I got lost and wound up in an alternate dimension, but... I made friends!"

    The future princess drops to her knees and extends her arms as the kitten rushes into them. She holds Diana close and is quietly grateful to at least be able to actually hug someone today.

    She turns towards the crystal, allowing herself to realize that her mom is in there, and... Honestly, the small princess just needs a moment to process all of this.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    A projection? Amy lifts her head and stands, initially assuming a recording... but then, with what it's responding to... Okay sure, Mamoru has dream powers after all, why not project in his sleep. But why can't he wake up?

    Attention is called to the crystal. She waits until he finishes speaking and then strides up to it and gasps. Clearly Usagi as an adult, but... "Why... why is she asleep? Why are both of you asleep?" she asks of Future-Mamoru in alarm and concern, and then lifts the ends of her lips in a slight smile. "I knew you'd be protecting people in here." She's relieved to hear it, another sign that they are Usagi and Mamoru and haven't... been corrupted by power or anything.

    "A... trap? What happened? How do we wake you up?"

    The appearance of a talking kitten does get a gasp from her, too -- but Chibiusa mentioned her, so she's not left trying to figure out who it is.

    ...Rock collection? '...Because they're all named after minerals...?' she wonders to herself, in a similarly low voice.

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus inwardly winces at 'asleep but unable to wake up' which to her could mean something very much worse than simply in a coma. This was bringing back too many memories of the fall of the Moon Kingdom in ways. There were enough differences at least that she's able to swallow down her unease as the Shittenou bow to the image of King Endymion, and Chibiusa tries for a hug and misses.

Then Diana comes out which would earn a squeal but this was not the place for it. "A Mauan?" This only causes her to look around quickly in realization.

"Where's Artemis? And Luna? What..." Deep breath, Mina! "What can we do to help?"

Zoisite has posed:
Intangibility. A small comment upon the current state of affairs. Where they failed, miserably, and became stones instead of men. Brows knitted as he remained bowed for a moment longer before standing up straight to lift his green eyes back at the King. Searching, questions brimming inside his chest about many things.

What happened, before all of this? Why were they trapped within the stones that represented them? Crystal Tokyo and the history of Nemesis...

But it was all silent. He wanted to hear what the others had to ask, especially his own Prince and Moon Princess. Surely they were of more importance right now, considering this was them. So his gaze remained on the King instead, unwavering.

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Okay so both of those suppositions are true. And Chibiusa-tan not being able to hug her daddy is heartbreaking enough that for a moment, Rashmi's throat closes up entirely for a long moment. Long enough to process that they seem to have some information that Endymion doesn't, and that spurs her to take a step forward. "Not... a *total* barrier, eh... Your Majesty," she says, having to physically stop herself from calling him 'Mamo-kun' when Mamo-kun is *right there,* which would be impossibly, obliquely rude. "I think... they're starting to come back. I saw one, at least..."

When Sailor Venus asks how they can help, the redhead nods much more firmly. "I have *so many questions, but right now there's not one more important than that one."

Haruka Tenoh has posed:
    Haruka and Michiru remain calm. A little disturbed, but in some ways they have to remain detached. Yes, this is Endymion, but this is the Endymion for another world. Their connection is... more distant, and the two Outer Senshi stand in such a way as to make this clear. Both of them exchange glances, as if silently asking each other if the protocol demands bowing to a projection. After a moment they decide to do so - but it's not a deep bow, it's a polite bow, a proper one, before they continue.

    Eventually, Haruka speaks - but it's not to Endymion, but more as an aside to 'their' Mamoru. And it's trying to break the tension. "He makes that outfit and color scheme work better than I would have given him credit for."

    Michiru then steps in to address the projection. "We've come here to help Small Lady, and by extension, your world. It's easy to see the devastation, but it's harder to figure out what steps to make things right. I assume you would have a better direction on that." the teal-haired woman states. "Presumably, you must have had a plan that involved your versions of us, perhaps we can pick up from there?"

    It doesn't occur to Michiru or Haruka that there might be difficulties in this world with plans that assume their aid or presence, much less that the man projected might not recognize the two of them on sight or similar difficulties.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Kunzite inclines his head firmly in turn, echoing his agreement with Rashmi's last statement. The questions that have already been asked are more than en-- ah.

"Also," he says, "please allow me introduce Amy Faust. She's a magical explosives expert," or at least that's the best way he can think of to describe what she does, "intelligently curious for the most part. Please allow me also to ask that you accept her bluntness as no more than a sign of her investment and concern."

There are others to introduce, yes, but that one first.

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe nodded and, very slowly, she moved over and... placed a comforting, gentle hand, on the back of Chibiusa. Supporting, soft. Reminding her that she isn't alone. And Kunzite... Kunzite is wise. Kunzite is smart. "I'm Hotaru Tomoe, your majesty... I don't... suppose you know who I am, by any chance?" she asked. She doubted it, but she was curious. And I don't suppose there's, say, a library or anything we could go through and look at?" she askd.

She didn't, admittedly... have a lot of questions for him, directly, that she could, or SHOULD, ask directly in front of everyone. So she'd rather... just... remind Chibiusa that there were people here for here. All of them were, in fact. Even if she felt overwhelmed and upset....

Nephrite has posed:
It angers him, searingly white heat in his chest for a moment, when this intangibility makes itself obvious. It was not a surprise, but neither was it welcome. The image of Small Lady unable to be held by her own father-- who wants to comfort her, who cannot touch her, or them, or even his slumbering wife-- has a gloved hand tighten at his side into a fist, and the other grips pommel hard.

At least for the moment, other voices don't reach his ears. He is simply scowling at the polished floor. He doesn't even want to know anything else-- he only wants to fight. To banish the Black Moon Clan from their world entirely. To destroy them.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
Sailor Moon breathes out, slowly, as she looks into the crystal that contains... her future self.

Neo Queen Serenity can be scarcely seen through the crystal, which has a milky sheen, the queen hidden within. What can be seen of her is a woman with more maturity than Usagi, but not by much - where Naru and Junichi were elderly, Neo Queen Serenity, like King Endymion, is a young woman in her twenties, fully grown but only fully grown. In some ways, it would seem the royal couple were as frozen in time as their daughters.

She's sleeping, King Endymion says, and Usagi is horribly certain that this sleep is much more akin to a coma, just like she's certain that he too is in a coma, only, being a psychic is clearly helping, a lot.

Chibiusa has tried to hug her father, and failed. Usagi walks closer, and gently puts a hand on her head, hoping to comfort her without drawing too much attention to it...

"King Endymion," she asks, "Small Lady's told us what she knows, about how this started... but can you tell us what you know about what happened? Where are the Senshi? Where are -" a gasp, as Diana comes forward, and Chibiusa is able to hug someone. Chibiusa's mentioned Diana, briefly, but seeing her, and how small she is, how young she is, and how much she looks like... Luna and Artemis...

It's really cute, to see her daughter and Luna's together.

Mamoru Chiba has posed:
"Can you tell us what happened, or who these people are? I think if we know, we can maybe find some kind of leverage... they're calling themselves the Black Moon Clan, but Junichi Nomura -- who we met -- was totally unfamiliar with the term? I can't remember if we asked Naru-obaa-san." Tuxedo Kamen looks uncertainly toward Amy, then lifts his free hand to put it over his mouth when Kunzite introduces her. And then he says, "Also, I was-- are you taller than me??"

Makoto Kino has posed:
Like she told Zoisite only a little while ago, Sailor Jupiter's role - as she sees it - is a simple one. If there are questions to ask, connections to make, answers to be found... it won't be hers to do any of that.

Right now, she wishes very much that it was.

All she can do is stand back and watch over the others, watching and listening, and feeling in the moment rather useless despite the confidence of her words to Venus just now. Her eyes track from King Endymion to the others, each face in turn, her forehead creasing faintly under her tiara as her brows draw together in concern.

Later, maybe, she'll ask if there's a kitchen. Surely there must be, even here.

Coco Kiumi has posed:
There is a smile from Coco when Chibiusa is commended for getting them all here. She might not have gotten to know the small pinkette all that well, but she hopes that seeing her dad again and being praised like that might raise her mood after coming back to her devastated home. Does she know how that feels.

But that smile falters and wanes when King Endymion brings attention to what's behind him, and who is in, and the situation he finds himself in. She is not sure if him kind of not being in coma but unable to do anything feels all that good. "Is there any way we can help you wake up? We have healers of body and emotions both", her golden eyes peer at his transparent figure under lowered eyebrows.

Speaking of emotions, Seira and Coco share a glance with each other when Small Lady tries to hug her father, a slow nod given from Coco as the orange mermaid gets closer to the pinkette. Between it and the discovery about her mother, the weight of her feelings must be overwhelming, and even if they can only lessen it slightly, they should probably try something.

I'm always gazing at you from your side.
Don't fear journeys. You can go forth in them,
with your blinding courage...

For the sake of love, if you use that power
then even the map written out for you
in the future can be changed. The orange pearl at Coco's neck shines while Seira's voice spreads warmth and light in the palace.

King Endymion has posed:
Chibiusa calls Endymion out about his 'rock collection' and he looks a Little Bit Sheepish, in the face of everyone. "It's a long story... ah, Diana," the King says in relief, and then introduces her: "This is the daughter of Luna and Artemis, Diana. She is Small Lady's best friend and advisor." His face adds with its look of affection: and she is just as cute as my daughter omg look at them. "Unfortunately, Luna and Artemis are both asleep, as well. The Senshi are lending their power to protecting the palace; it stands in strength itself, but the power of the enemy is a match without myself, U-- the Queen, or the Senshi maintaining it. They can be spoken with, but they cannot leave their posts until this is resolved."

He keeps looking at the Shitennou like he can't believe, or maybe just drinking in the faces he hasn't seen for at least eight hundred years-- Zoisite, Nephrite, Kunzite... and he daren't ask about Jadeite, lest he get an unhappy answer on top of all the other unhappiness. And-- he nods to Kunzite, and to Amy, with a slight smile. "There are many benefits to being curious, and I have nothing to hide."

His gaze catches on Hotaru and her fuku for a moment, there with Uranus and Neptune, and he says his head to Hotaru gently, "Though I have more questions about more Senshi, for which I apologize... but they can also wait." He looks to Michiru after giving Haruka a raised eyebrow at her aside. "Suffice it to say, Sailor Neptune, I have not heard from your counterparts in over a month. But! A library, we do have."

The translucent King gestures broadly toward another corridor, then starts walking silently toward and then into and along it. "The Black Moon Clan were a group of dissidents that took the deal of 'stop trying to overthrow society and we'll give you the means to create your own', and we lost communication with their spaceship about twenty five years ago. They were headed for the outer system even though they knew there wasn't anything terraformed..." He shakes his head.

They end up in a room with books, ladders, many internal shelves going up to a vaulted circular ceiling that, being all crystal, lets in a lot of light also. There are banks of monitors as well, and there's a big control panel with a lot of knobs and dials and switches and lights on it. King Endymion waves a hand over it, and the monitors flare to life.

He says to Tuxedo Kamen, "You can be taller if you put lifts in your shoes."

Tuxedo Kamen blinks. "You wear lifts in your shoes?"

King Endymion smirks. "No."

Chibiusa Tsukino has posed:
    Diana looks over at the friends that Small Lady brought and notices, among them, a younger looking Sailor Venus. Diana smiles at her for a moment, and then gives her a look of small kitten concern as she answers, "Yes, I'm a Mauan." She would explain more, but King Endymion got the details.

    Small Lady pets Diana while cradling her in her arms, and then sideglances at Venus with sad eyes. "Unlike me, Diana is actually as young as she looks." Sensing the senshi's curiosity, she walks a little closer to Venus to show her the kitten.

    Hotaru's hand is on her back. The future princess gives her a thin smile. She's trying to be brave. She's trying so hard. Usagi, also, gives her comfort and for once... Small Lady doesn't spite her for it.

    Seira sings, and it's a song for her, and... it helps, actually. Both the magic at play and also... just the fact that people still care about her. Even now.

    Even if she really doesn't deserve it.

    Every empty building... every piece of rubble... every speck of ash...

    Thanks to either the comfort or the song, she pulls away from that to look up at her dad. A part of her realizes that she could make a pretty terrible joke here about dumping and gravesites, but she's not really in the mood and she doubts anyone else is, either.

    "Jadeite's alive, too," is what she says without being asked. Look, she just knows her father. Sometimes you don't need to read someone's mind to know what they're thinking.

    She follows along to the other room, carrying and petting Diana the whole time. Now is no time to be reading a book.

Zoisite has posed:
Dissidents. Left to form their own society on another planet... Zoisite's eyes almost shine with this answer. And it having been twenty five years ago, surely there would be official documentation of such a fact. Perhaps videos? Pictures? Anything would be useful.

A soft twist in his chest then, but as they all walk to the library, the youngest of the Shitennou could not help himself but to step forward and ask for himself--even if it was out of term.

"Your Majesty, forgive me for interrupting," Another bow, followed by his looking back up. "But if these dissidents were sent out, where would I be able to find legal documentation of this? In the library? Or would there be other places I could search and get copies?"

A beat before adding, "For a better understanding of our enemy, Your Majesty."

Rashmi Terios has posed:
Artemis and Luna had a kid? Oh that is *so precious* and *of course* she'd be a little smoky ball of adorable!

No, no, keep on track. Shaking her head, Rashmi focuses on what is being said. And her interest perks at the fact they're a dissident group... And Zoisite beats her to the ask, so all she can do is nod along with her request.

Not because of the opportunity to study the legal structure of a much more *actively* imperial legal system! ...Okay not *only* for that. "...I would just like to say I would dearly like to know the answer too, Your Majesty," she pipes up in support of the Youngest Heavenly King.

Nephrite has posed:
"Jadeite is still busied with his duties elsewhere." With the matters of aiding survivors, he means, but doesn't get into. "He'll be joining us as soon as conditions permit him, I'm sure."

A curt note to add to Small Lady's own reassurance. His gaze takes a turn to Zoisite, however. A harder look than he perhaps deserves, but Nephrites scrutiny of his has been increasing.

"Yes. For a better understanding. Any intelligence you have to give us on how best to address this problem, efficiently and permanently."

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Allow me to introduce Amy Faust, the magical explosives expert. Amy curtseys again, briefly, and then her personality is summarised. She folfs her arms in front of her, "You could just say I'm autistic and American..."

    She listens to Seira's song, swaying a bit to the music. Yes, she sure hopes they can change the map of this future...

    The king speaks. The daughter of Luna and Artemis? "Wait, is it okay for you to tell us that?!" Amy exclaims, then glances at Chibiusa, "Well, I guess the cat's already out of the bag on future kids..." And then she holds her hand to her face. "I wasn't even trying to make a pun that time, I swear..."

There are many benefits to being curious,

    Amy tries to ignore her brain automatically thinking A MARINE BIOLOGIST and smiles, "Finally, someone gets it!"

A library, we do have.

    Amy emits a happy gasp.

    The Black Moon Clan were dissidents headed to the outer system, even though nothing was terraformed... "So THAT'S how people got there! ...Wait, did they say why? Could they already have been in communication with King Death...? Wait no, Death Phantom, that was it... But if they chose to go there, why are their descendents mad at you for Death Phantom making the place so horrible...?"

    And there it is. A library of future knowledge. Amy does not know where to start and is left just staring.

    You wear lifts in your shoes? No. Amy's brain pulls out of its stall to engage with that of all things as she smiles and holds out a thumbs-up towards the King. "Morphological freedom!"

Hotaru Tomoe has posed:
Hotaru Tomoe couldn't help it... she called out. "Senpai, you get taller when you grow up!" she offered, helpfully, to Mamoru. Because how could she not? She then focused her attention back on Chibiusa, though her gaze went over the books. And then... Well... they were in the library, and she didn't know what Chibiusa needed right now. Honestly? This was... something Riventon was usually best at. She could read a lot of stuff in the library... and she would. But...

"... Could you show us which books are your favorite?" she asked Chibiusa. Because everyone has a favorite book. Who didn't? And... sometimes... a favorite book could bring untold comfort in moments when one really needed a bit of grounding.

Minako Aino has posed:
Sailor Venus tears her attention away from King Endymion as he starts to talk of libraries because there's more important things going on: Small Lady is approaching with *Artemis' daughter*.

In spite of all that was going on she finds herself smiling broadly at the adorable sight before her. Smoothly crouching down (in heels no less!) she reaches out to offer a hand to Diana in greeting, and if she's allowed bestows the Mauan with a fond little sweep of fingertips between her ears. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Diana!" Ah she wants to smoosh those cute kitten cheeks but ... but she resists, because Small Lady needed her friend more. Later she was going to hug the hell out of Artemis while giggling insanely and not explaining though. For now she shifts a glance to Small Lady with a slight nod of silent thanks at being given the chance to meet her friend.

Then they were moving off to a library. Venus rises to follow after with a quick glance around the halls they move through to memorize the layout habitually. Knowing where they were was always going to be better than going somewhere blind.

It's Zoisite's questions that earn a sharp look in his direction as she hesitates, then remarks, "These few said they were outcast to a planet. Their memories seem off though." At least she recalls the questions Zoisite was asking during some fights seemed to make them falter. He knew more though, so she just adds, "I wonder if they were lied to."

Coco Kiumi has posed:
With the end of the song, the Orange Pearl stops glowing, and Seira looks curiously at the result of her tentative, and the little relief it brings is considered positively, that she is not risking being overwhelmed by her own feelings.

Some attention is paid to the cat next by both mermaids, and Coco reaches to give her head a light pat, and a smiling greeting is offered to her. Unfortunately, there isn't much more than that she could say, having never met either of her parents.

Coco follows along to the others towards the library, and when the monitors are allowed activity, she starts peering through them, tapping at them in search of as much information as possible while King Endymion is being questioned.

"Was that forbidden territory for you and your people?", she averts her eyes from the screen. "Would communications from there fail to reach you if they or their children tried to send them out?" she considers after Amy's questions. If the answers is yes, and the misfortunate Nemesis inhabitants didn't know that, that might explain the misaimed resentment they now have.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
"America was only around for a couple of hundred years in our time," Kunzite says aside to Amy. "I wasn't about to bet on it being a reference he'd still get." His mouth tugs up at the corner, and he adds, "And I didn't realize the other. My apologies for not catching that." And then he doesn't keep trying to talk to Amy, because she has latched on to another topic, and then there is Library.

He drifts aside at that point - keeping a casual eye on Chibiusa and Hotaru, largely so that the people more engaged don't have to do that themselves. Listening to what's being asked and answered? Definitely. But adding to the chaos? Nope. Now is an excellent time for letting ideas and theories and questions run wild, not for starting to try to push them into order.

Usagi Tsukino has posed:
The King is surrounded by people, and though he shoulders it well, she can see that tinge to him, that look that suggests that there's too many people, too much socializing. It's a hard time - his daughter has been missing, his wife is in a coma, he's in a coma, the other Senshi are all defending this place, so they can't shoulder hosting...

And she doesn't know enough about the palace to step up and shoulder the burden for him, either. She winces a little, but follows along, sticking close to Chibiusa, listening closely.

"They told us they were banished," she notes, when it comes to a story of dissidents given the means to leave. "And that they're from Nemesis. But - we don't know anything about Nemesis, except for what they told us, so - does the library have more information on that? Or would one of the Senshi be able to help, since you're handling well, all the coordination right now?"

Haruka Tenoh has posed:
    "Who knows how long it's been since America existed enough, or if they have the same stereotypical traits, Faust-san." Michiru replies, the woman's kind voice noting this.

    "Wait, over a month?" Haruka asks Endymion. "So they didn't participate in the defense here?" she asks, a bit incredulous, as Michiru puts a hand on the other girl's shoulder. Haruka quiets for a moment. "So I guess... they must have fallen first, then. Since the outer solar system would have been their responsibility." she says, quietly. Clenched fist.

    "We'll have to figure out what that means later, I think." Michiru says. "In our history resentment alone is enough to breed a war. Resement and lies together can cause... well..." she says, her eyes moving to one of the windows. "A lot of sadness."

    "Doesn't matter what caused it, though. We're here to end it. To bring Chibi-usa's world back to what it should be." Haruka says, directly.

King Endymion has posed:
The screens are, thank goodness, as touchscreen as the subway tablet maps were, and as intuitive to use. All the information is in Japanese and there's a lot of hiragana mixed in with the kanji. "All the records you can get to in here are public access, and if you need to get into anything that's not, then Sailor Moon, Tuxedo Mask, or Small Lady should be able to unlock it for you. Or you can call me. I can tell if you're trying to get my attention, here inside the palace. You'll find everything you're looking for under Black Moon Clan and, if they are truly on Nemesis, under Death Phantom as well."

His gaze does keep straying to the Shitennou, so formal, so formal with him, like they're still ghosts... they weren't like that during the time of the Silver Millennium, were they? Always so serious? He doesn't remember, he doesn't remember -- there's the strain around his eyes that even shows behind the mask, for Usagi, for Kazuo: yes, paying attention to so many souls, so many faces, is difficult -- especially without a body.

"I could tell you the answers to all of those questions, but truly, it would be faster for all of you if you watched recordings of the attack. I had to. So much happened all at once, and it really hurt," the king says apologetically. "But you can ask the Senshi too, yes--"

He looks sharply to Rashmi. "What? No -- bad time. Tell me later, though, please? Because they've been dead for a thousand years, and their ghosts gone for at least eight hundred."

That's an answer for some people, certainly.

"As far as the Outer Senshi go -- I don't know what became of them, but we didn't hear from them, we hadn't even any warning of the incoming attack. So I'm certain some fate has befallen them that I also can't solve," Endymion tells Haruka, tells Michiru, apologetically. "If you all do go out there, take care, Nemesis is uninhabitable for most, if not all, humans." He does a sidelong glance at Zoisite, then adds to that, "Their flight plan wasn't pointing there."

He looks very relieved at the news of Jadeite though. "I'm glad you four are together. You five. You should always be together." But Amy and Coco are asking things too, and he shakes his head. "I don't know why they went to Nemesis. It was uninhabitable. They had children on that ship. There was one child of theirs left behind, but neighbors took him in, and there hasn't been a fuss from that quarter since then."

Finally he gives Amy a crooked smile. "Thank you. Kings don't usually get to do what they want."

...

Mamoru's gaze shoots to Kunzite and he mouths, 'I told you so.'

Chibiusa Tsukino has posed:
    Of course Venus is allowed to meet and pet Diana. That's why Chibiusa brought her over. The smol kitten smiles up to Minako and says, "Nice to meet you, Sailor Venus! Thank you for looking after Small Lady."

    Coco, and really anyone else, who wants to pet Diana is allowed to. Small Lady thinks Diana is a good kitty who deserves all the pettings.

    Hotaru asks if Small Lady has a favorite book, and she's still a bit absent minded. Her thoughts are distant as she slowly pets the kitten. "Hm. Well, most of my favorite books are actually in my room."

    Diana speaks up for Chibiusa, smiling at Hotaru. "Well, Small Lady really likes the Sasa's Happy Kitten Tales series! It's only 330 years old, though the author has moved onto other stories. There's also the Adventures of Princess Rosethorn, and Small Lady has the whole twenty three volume set!"

    The way Diana says this sounds almost like bragging. Chibiusa makes a soft 'mmh' noise. The pink princess actually puts Diana down on the ground says to her, "Diana, will you do me a favor and watch after my friends for me? I need to go to my room for a moment."

    Swishing her tail back and forth, Diana smiles up at her princess and says, "Of course, Small Lady! If you need anything, the kitchen's still open."

    Chibiusa pats Diana on the head, and then starts to head out the door. She's pretty she's safe here, even if everyone else is in a coma, and she does still have Luminous Titan with her.

    Luna-P bounces past. Diana gives the catball a concerned look. She's never been sure what she thinks about the Princess's favorite toy. The tiniest Mau is certain that it's loyal, but... there's just something a little offputting about that unchanging smile.

    Before leaving entirely, Chibiusa does look back to Hotaru to invite her, "You should come to my room later. I'll show you my stuff then. Tell La Mer she can come, too." Then she goes.

Zoisite has posed:
Deep breath, he could feel both of Nephrite's and Venus' gaze on him, hard as they were, but Zoisite committed the extra information to his mind--the King did not know how precious it was for him, and how the gathering of information could be of aid.

At least, for someone.

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Another bow. Zoisite would remain in the library. He had a method to access the information he needed quickly and to save it.

Nephrite has posed:
It is good that you four are together, the King says, before correcting it to five. To this, Nephrite returns a small nod. It's very formal still, reverent, but he's not unaware of the strain upon the King or the relief that seems to wash over him at the news. At knowing that they are here.

There will be time later, when it is quiet, when his Majesty isn't pulled in several directions at once. Nephrite will make that time, and the formalities will be shelved. For now, as a reassurance or promise, while he has the King's gaze upon him, he winks.

A glance to Mamoru catches the silent exchange with Kunzite, but now he steps towards Zoisite-- he is not letting him too far out of sight. They, too, need to have a *conversation*.

Kazuo Saitou has posed:
Kunzite's eyebrows twitch upward at the gaze Mamoru gives him, then do so again with the faintest hint of an implied smirk before a flick of a glance toward the King. There are a couple of people in the room who can translate that into 'yes, but you get to delegate, and hopefully soon so will he.'

Then Chibiusa's going to her room. He can't invite himself along. He can settle quietly, not so close to Zoisite that his presence will interfere with Zoi's concentration, close enough to ... well ... be present. Able to come forward or fade further away as needed.

Also able to be called upon to manage recharging phones, if necessary, because honestly, right now that might be the most important contribution he can make.

Amanda Faust has posed:
    Amy glances to the pair of outers. "For all we know, Uranus and Neptune could be on the other side of the solar system from Nemesis right now..." she tries to offer some hope.

    So, he doesn't know what actually happened to the people who went to the outer system, nor why their children believe lies. If they're the descendents of dissidents, it makes sense that they harbor hatred for the current order -- wait, no, they were just as disdainful about the past's power structures and economic system...

    Are they just dark energy crazy?

    Amy smiles at his thanks, but it fades to growing sorrow for him at the words that follow. "Everyone should get to do what they want. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone else. That includes kings... and even our enemies." She sighs, and takes a breath, and steels herself -- as it's clear now what she must do with this library, others are better-focused on finding information on their foes.

    --And then Diana talking about Chibiusa's -- princess Small Lady's -- favorite books makes her smile. "In different circumstances, I would love to read them. I wonder if we can get copies..."

    She takes a breath again, and turns to Endymion, serious. "We'll save the future."