Stars in a New Sky

Prologue: Awakening

The moon is dead. Nothing more than a cold rock floating in the silence of space.

Selene forced down the wild howl of rage and despair in her throat and revved the throttle of her motorcycle. The fine-tuned machine roared and sped down the moonlit road. Between her helmet and the rush of the wind, she could almost drown out the screams echoing in her mind. Tears burned her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. Crying could do nothing for the dead and even less for the living.

It was because of the living that Selene had come.

Several months ago, by Earth's time, Selene awoke from her long sleep. Goddesses were immortal, but even eternity can be intolerable. She'd gone to her slumber, along with the other old gods, secure in the knowledge that her descendants, the Queen and Princess Serenity were safe and happy in Silver Millennium. She'd closed her eyes on a virtual paradise, filled with love and wonder. With the power of the Silver Crystal, there was no force in the Universe strong enough to touch them. All whom she loved were protected.

Or so she thought.

Selene had opened her eyes centuries later, eager to see how her children had grown. How Silver Millennium had prospered. Instead, she'd found a graveyard. Silver Millennium lay in ruins around her. Her heart cried out in agony to witness the devastation of all she had created. The moon was dead. The light that had allowed life to blossom on the moon was extinguished. The remnants of her power were tainted by the toxic residue of an evil Selene had thought long gone.

Metalia.

Selene grit her teeth as she took a sharp turn, narrowly missing an oncoming car. She ignored the blare of the angry motorist's car horn as she raced away. There were many regrets Selene had in her long immortal life. However, there was one moment in particular she regretted most. Letting Metalia live. She too had been a goddess in her own right. However, Metalia's dark nature had consumed her. Her godhood had been stripped and she'd been imprisoned on Earth for all time. The Guardian of Earth and their descendants were to ensure she never escaped.

Clearly, they had failed.

Selene cursed herself. She should have heeded Chronos' advice and allowed Metalia to be killed by the other old gods. Had he know this would happen? The god of time rarely imparted what he glimpsed of the future. Perhaps he'd known what fate had in store for her family. Instead of listening to him, she'd been a softhearted fool...and it had cost her everything. Lights from the city blazed ahead. The ache in her chest intensified. She couldn't pinpoint the exact location, but Selene could sense the presence of Silver Millennium's descendants. Their human reincarnations.

She prayed they were living happy lives.

Slowing her motorcycle, Selene cruised around the city. The stores were beginning to close, but she could feel the wash of humanity around her. Joy. Love. Anger. Hate. Sorrow. Happiness. A whirlwind of emotions swirling around her. Somewhere in...her eyes searched for a sign. Juban District. Somewhere in Juban, Princess Serenity had been reborn as a human. Part of Selene longed to seek her out and watch over her. The other part of her knew she could not. She wasn't here to reunite with her family.

The Goddess Selene had but one purpose: to track down and destroy Metalia.

But first...

She came to a stop at a red light, her eyes straying to a darkened park on her right. Raising her head, she confirmed the moon had risen high in the inky black sky. Perfect. The park was empty and private. Exactly what she needed right now. She pulled over and entered the silent park. It was nothing compared to the gardens of the Moon Kingdom, but it would do. Slipping off her helmet, Selene shook her white blonde hair free. The silvery strands hung down her back like a curtain. The night breeze was cool against her sweaty skin. Slipping off her boots, Selene stood barefoot in the grass. With her eyes closed, she stretched her arms up to the silver light of the moon.

Come to me, agents of the moon. I have need of you.

Her words were a soft musical sigh on the wind. She could feel the light of the moon shine down on her. Metalia may have killed life on the moon, but she could not rob it of its shine. As long as she and the descendants of Silver Millennium lived, the moon would shine. It wasn't long before she could hear something padding soft in the grass. Selene opened her eyes and smiled. It was the first smile that graced her features since her awakening.

Standing before her at attention were two felines. One white and one black. Their one unifying characteristic: the crescent moon mark above their eyes. Kneeling down, she held her hands out to them. "It has been a long time, old friends."

"It has indeed." Luna brushed her dark head against Selene's hand.

"What happened? Why have you summoned us?" Artemis inquired, obediently waiting for orders. Ever the cat of action.

Selene chuckled softly. "Were you always so direct, Artie?" Her heart twisted in her chest as a wave of nostalgia hit her. She'd created the two felines as companions for Princess Serenity and her chief bodyguard, Venus. The two girls had been inseparable as children. They were experts at getting into and out of trouble. The two cats were meant to mentor the young women. Help them become the guardians they were born to be.

"Goddess, what's wrong?" Luna asked, panic in her voice.

Selene stared down at the grass between her toes for a moment before answering. "I was thrilled to find Queen Serenity had managed to protect you from Metalia."

"Metalia..." The two felines stared at one another. Selene could see the realization dawn in their eyes. She wished she didn't have to remind them of the horror they'd witnessed firsthand.

"W-what happened to everyone?" Luna cried sorrowfully.

Selene swallowed the lump in her throat and spoke. "They died. It seems Queen Serenity was able to give everyone a second life here on Earth."

"So everyone's alive?" Artemis asked, hopefully.

She nodded. "Yes."

"I hope Princess Serenity is happy." Luna murmured quietly.

"That's what I need you to find out." Selene replied, rubbing Luna's ears gently. "I need you to find her and watch over her. You too Artemis. Find Venus. Keep an eye on her."

"Why do you need us to watch them? Is something going to happen?" Artemis demanded, fear and concern in his voice.

"Just watch them. Metalia hasn't been destroyed. Just weakened. Even without her godhood, she is still a formidable enemy. She needs an anchor to manifest in the physical world. Her host must have been destroyed when she attacked Silver Millennium. I know Metalia. She will try again if given half the opportunity. I must find her and kill her first." Just thinking of Metalia fanned the flames of rage in her heart. "If something happens and I'm not able to kill Metalia soon enough, Earth might be in danger. The Sailor Guardians will need to be reawakened."

Selene rose, preparing to start her search.

"Wait! How will you kill Metalia?" Luna protested, jumping in front of her before she could leave.

Selene smiled grimly. "The Silver Crystal. It's out there somewhere and I will find it."