Moon Kingdom. It was ruled over by the queen, who was something of a unifying force, and someone who possessed unimaginable power. She was wise and kind, and that's...all I really remember. [A sad smile tinges her features, and she looks down at her hands.]
The Princess of the Moon, herself named Serenity, was a bit of a troublemaker, and she kept sneaking off to Earth and eventually fell in love with it's Prince. He was a noble man, and they had a storybook romance, complete with the tragic ending. [This is where things get hard, a knot forming in Rei's throat, her words coming out more of a croak.] There used to be a demonic force that dwelt in the sun, living in the shadow of a sunspot or something, and it'd been hiding there for eons. It craved power above all things, and sought to steal away the magic of the Moon for itself. So it sowed the seeds of mistrust in mankind, lending some of it's power to a sorceress who was already mistrustful of us.
[A breath, her eyes closing.]
She turned that magic on mankind and declared war on the Moon Kingdom. Because we didn't know where the power was coming from, we weren't able to block off the demon and it grew stronger due to all the negative energy, becoming a god-like force all it's own. The war took a heavy toll, and the Earth was shattered by it...the continents breaking apart and the first Ice Age beginning...but the Moon was devastated as well. I don't know how many people died in those battles, but entire populations ceased to be. We were...winning...though, until an enemy assassin killed the human prince, and in her grief the princess took her own life.
[Hence, the tragedy.]
The queen had a plan though. She called all of us together and had us defend her while she performed a ritual that sealed up the demon and her agents. We fought tooth and nail, and the battle eventually claimed all of our lives...but the Queen succeeded. And then ordered the princess of Saturn to end it all, and begin the cycle of rebirth. [Rei's smile turns a bit bitter at the thought of poor Hotaru.] Sailor Saturn, the Guardian of Silence and the Goddess of Beginnings and Endings. She wiped out both sides, turned the Moon Kingdom and humankind into dust, and began the world again, so that we all might live once more.
[The story isn't over, but Rei pauses, pressing a hand to her face, trying to prevent herself from crying. This was never a fun tale to tell, it hurt to think of how Saturn must have felt, having to destroy and rebuild the entire solar system. Just the thought of it was enough to turn her pale, and knowing the girl as she was now? Made it all the more difficult. She deserved so much better, that little girl, and a part of Rei was incredibly grateful that she hadn't come to this little slice of hell.]
cw: suicide, btw
The Princess of the Moon, herself named Serenity, was a bit of a troublemaker, and she kept sneaking off to Earth and eventually fell in love with it's Prince. He was a noble man, and they had a storybook romance, complete with the tragic ending. [This is where things get hard, a knot forming in Rei's throat, her words coming out more of a croak.] There used to be a demonic force that dwelt in the sun, living in the shadow of a sunspot or something, and it'd been hiding there for eons. It craved power above all things, and sought to steal away the magic of the Moon for itself. So it sowed the seeds of mistrust in mankind, lending some of it's power to a sorceress who was already mistrustful of us.
[A breath, her eyes closing.]
She turned that magic on mankind and declared war on the Moon Kingdom. Because we didn't know where the power was coming from, we weren't able to block off the demon and it grew stronger due to all the negative energy, becoming a god-like force all it's own. The war took a heavy toll, and the Earth was shattered by it...the continents breaking apart and the first Ice Age beginning...but the Moon was devastated as well. I don't know how many people died in those battles, but entire populations ceased to be. We were...winning...though, until an enemy assassin killed the human prince, and in her grief the princess took her own life.
[Hence, the tragedy.]
The queen had a plan though. She called all of us together and had us defend her while she performed a ritual that sealed up the demon and her agents. We fought tooth and nail, and the battle eventually claimed all of our lives...but the Queen succeeded. And then ordered the princess of Saturn to end it all, and begin the cycle of rebirth. [Rei's smile turns a bit bitter at the thought of poor Hotaru.] Sailor Saturn, the Guardian of Silence and the Goddess of Beginnings and Endings. She wiped out both sides, turned the Moon Kingdom and humankind into dust, and began the world again, so that we all might live once more.
[The story isn't over, but Rei pauses, pressing a hand to her face, trying to prevent herself from crying. This was never a fun tale to tell, it hurt to think of how Saturn must have felt, having to destroy and rebuild the entire solar system. Just the thought of it was enough to turn her pale, and knowing the girl as she was now? Made it all the more difficult. She deserved so much better, that little girl, and a part of Rei was incredibly grateful that she hadn't come to this little slice of hell.]