Shadows of the Moon Kingdom
Part One

    Lady Darkness Princess Celestite gazed out her window, sullenly staring at the lunar landscape as she absently twisted one pink ponytail. Lady Darkness's hair was a constant battle for her grandmother, High Darkness Queen Serenity. The queen tried vainly every day to twist Lady Darkness's hair into the traditional round odango, but the princess's hair was so thick that only an elongated version that slightly resembled a pair of carrots could be accomplished.
    Another sigh escaped from the young princess's lips. It was four years ago today that her parents, High Darkness Lunar Princess Celestite and Darkness Earth Prince Ilmenite, were killed by their Light Moon counterparts. In the four years since they died, the little girl aged ten years. Her grandmother used the dark lunar power to age her body and her mind so that in every way that counted, Lady Darkness was a fourteen year old young woman. After all, with Sailor Dark Moon gone, the young princess was the last hope the Dark Moon Kingdom had.
    The young princess had her own court of Dark Senshi, one that rivaled her late mother's in power. Sailor Dark Uranus, Sailor Dark Neptune, and Sailor Dark Pluto had all been of the age of awakening when the call came. However, Darkness Princess Haüyne of Saturn had been the same age as the young Dark Lunar Princess. The two girls underwent the aging process together. The result of that was that they had a kinship, a bond closer than sisterhood.
    A knock sounded on Lady Darkness's door, pulling her out of her reverie. "Enter," she spoke.
    The door opened and revealed a young woman in a black and dark purple sailor fuku, her boots laced to the knees and a dangerous-looking glaive in her hand. "Cele," Sailor Dark Saturn said. "I've missed you."
    "Haüyne!" Lady Darkness exclaimed. She leapt from her window seat and the two girls exchanged a fierce hug and a firm, passion-laden kiss. "I've missed you too, my love. I didn't expect you here again so soon. I'm glad you're here, though."
    "I, too, am glad to be back. I'm afraid it's not on a social call, though. Your grandmother has summoned the Senshi to her."
    "I was wondering how much longer she was going to wait." Lady Darkness lifted her Dark Crisis Compact. "Dark Crisis Moon Power, Make Up!" she cried aloud. Swirls of dark energy in pink and yellow formed around her, dissolving her flowing black dress and wrapping in ribbons around the nude form of the dark princess. When it finished, she was clad in a black and dark pink sailor fuku, the compact firmly anchored to her chest. "Let's go," Sailor Dark Chibi-Moon said, her dark red eyes hard as steel.

    "Dark Senshi," High Darkness Queen Selenitite spoke in her commanding voice. "You know that today is the four year anniversary of my daughter's death."
    "Yes, High Darkness," they toned, Dark Chibi excluded.
    "The prophecy that guided her to the Light World is still intact. Sailor Moon still lives, stronger than ever. If we do not hurry, the prophecy will overcome us."
    "High Darkness," Dark Pluto intoned, "this time, we shall triumph. We have the sacred Dark Talismans in our power, not to mention the Dark Grail that your granddaughter now holds."
    "If we have these artifacts, you can be sure that the Light Senshi hold their counterparts, as well. I am entrusting that you take caution in elimination Sailor Moon, but do not allow her an easy death. She must be punished for what happened to my daughter."
    "Yes, High Darkness," Dark Uranus said, bowing in reverence. "Sailor Moon shall not survive."