*******************************************************
**A Soul Reclaimed**
By Brickgirl
Lad_Brick@yahoo.com
http://www.mindeclipse.com
Rated: PG
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and friends do not belong to me.
            Adonis, Thalia, and this story do.
**Part 2: But A Shadow**
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The Imperial Forest
The Silver Millennium


Thalia wove silently among the silver trees, eyes flickering 
between the shadows, listening for the tiniest sign of movement.  
Brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead, she smiled 
grimly, knowing that by the time she heard any sound, it would 
most likely be too late.

At fourteen, Thalia had grown into a beautiful young woman.  Her 
slender figure, laughing brown eyes, and thick wavy reddish hair 
made her center of attention at the frequent balls and 
celebrations held at the Moon Palace, second to only Princess 
Serenity herself.

However, now her hair was tied back in a leather thong, her eyes 
were pinched with concentration, and her form was encased in a 
most unfeminine pair of breeches, boots, and a worn shirt.  
Flirtations and frippery was the farthest thing from her mind.  
Now her thoughts were focused deeply on the current training 
session.  The Senshi were divided into two teams for a simple game 
of 'Capture the Flag'.  She and Makoto were defending the "flag", 
a handkerchief borrowed from Princess Serenity.  Ami, Rei, and 
Minako were supposed to take the flag away from them.

Actually, Thalia would have preferred to face the other four 
Senshi alone.  But Luna had insisted, saying that though Thalia 
might indeed be the most powerful of the five, that power alone 
would not always defeat evil, that teamwork was also essential.

So lost in thought was Thalia that she almost didn't hear the 
sound of leaves rustling above her head.  She instinctively dove 
out of the way, rolling to her feet.  Rei landed hard in the exact 
spot where she had been.  Thalia resisted the urge to put out her 
henshin stick and transform.  Luna and Artimis had taught them to 
use the least amount of power necessary to take down an opponent.  
That meant remaining in civilian form until one of the other 
Senshi showed up, or Rei herself transformed.

Rei threw a kick at her head, Thalia pivoted out of the way, using 
her momentum to sweep Rei's feet from under her.  Caught off 
balance, Rei fell, but quickly rolled to her feet.  Still on the 
offensive, Thalia launched at Rei, intent on slamming her into the 
ground and ending the confrontation.  Rei fell backward at her 
approach, grabbing Thalia's arms and tossing her over her head.  
Thalia flipped and landed easily on her feet, while twisted back 
into an upright position.  The two girls looked at one another.

"Ready to give up yet?" asked Rei, slightly out of breath.

Thalia smiled, shoving her hair roughly out of her face.  "Not on 
your life."

"I was hoping you'd say that."

Thalia frowned.  That wasn't Rei's voice...

"VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!!!!"

The chain wrapped tightly around Thalia's waist and arm, yanking 
her into the air.  Struggling to free herself, she looked up to 
see Minako transformed standing on a tree branch, grinning.

"Gotcha!" she smirked.  "NO one messes with the V!"

"Not quite," Thalia told the cocky girl.

Venus frowned.  "What?"

Thalia smiled and waved her right hand.  "I've still got one arm 
free."

Venus blanched.

"Earth Planet Power Make-Up!" Thalia yelled out, her henshin stick 
appearing in her hand.  A cloud of blue-green energy swirled 
around her form, dissolving Venus's chain so suddenly that she 
fell off the branch.  The energy cloud imploded with a sudden 
flash, then faded away, leaving Sailor Earth standing smugly under 
the tree.  She wore a teal fuku and thigh-high laced boots.  Her 
fuku was trimmed in pale blue.  In the center of the bow on her 
chest was a round, pale blue crystal.

Thalia looked up just in time to see Rei complete her 
transformation.  She allowed herself a small smile.  *This* would 
be fun.

"CRESCENT BEAM!!!  Venus was apparently attempting to remain on 
the offensive.  Thalia simply leapt out of the way, easily 
avoiding the beam.  While in mid-air, she clasped a hand to her 
chest.  There was a flash of light, and the crystal on her bow 
reappeared in her hand.

"Crystal Transform!" Thalia whispered.  The crystal glowed, 
morphing into a long staff in the blink of an eye.  She hit the 
ground and with a step, used the staff to propel herself back into 
the air, landing a devastating kick to Venus's chest.  The blond 
girl sailed through the air, slamming into a tree with a ringing 
thud.  She slumped to the ground, but Thalia knew she would be 
fine in a moment.

"FIRE SOUL!!"  Thalia mentally swore at herself for forgetting 
about Mars.  She whispered again, her staff transforming instantly 
into a shield just in time to block the worst of the blast.  
Slightly singed, and now angry, more at herself then Rei, she 
stood, returning her crystal to her bow.

"*Now* your going down," Thalia stated, allowing a cockeyed grin 
to mask her features.  Raising her arms, she yelled "CRYSTALLINE 
ENERGY FURY!!!!"  A blast of pale blue energy laced with crystal 
shards flew towards where Mars had been a moment ago.  She landed, 
crying out "BURNING MANDALA!!" hoping to nail Thalia before she 
got the chance to recover from her failed attack.  But Thalia was 
no longer there.  Mars looked around warily...

'THUD!'  A crystal staff came down hard on Mars' head.  She 
collapsed, leaving a triumphant Thalia standing over her.

A whistle came from the right.  Thalia tensed, but relaxed when 
she saw it was Jupiter.  The tall girl carried a dazed-looking 
Mercury in her arms, who was dumped unceremoniously next to Mars.  
"Looks like we win, partner!" she said, grinning.

"Not quite," stated a female voice from behind them.

The two girls whirled around.  Luna stood there in human form, her 
yellow jumpsuit gleaming in the shadows as she waved the 
handkerchief they were supposed to be guarding.  "Missing 
something ladies."

Thalia and Mako looked at each other and sighed.  And they had 
thought that they would get out of practice early just this 
once...
__________

"I tell you, your Majesty that girl is unstable!!"

Adonis swiftly paced the floor in front of the throne.  Queen 
Serenity sighed, momentarily resting her head in her palm.  She 
was weary of hearing this practiced speech.  Over the years, 
Adonis's view of her foster-daughter had been... less then 
positive.

"Thalia is careless and arrogant in terms of both her studies and 
her fighting technique," the advisor began.  "She refuses to work 
properly with Luna and Artimis in terms of her training, she is 
not working as part of a team with the other girls, and from what 
I hear, she nearly killed Princesses Rei and Minako in practice 
today!"  Adonis stopped pacing and looked beseechingly at the 
Queen.  "I recommend that a close eye be kept on her, and her 
movements be kept within the Palace."

"I will not imprison my adopted daughter, Adonis," Serenity began, 
her gentle voice containing the slightest bit of ice.  "Princess 
Rei and Princess Minako are perfectly fine, and just because 
Thalia is a bit more... headstrong then the other girls does not 
mean that she is a danger to anyone."

"I... I didn't say that your Majesty."

Serenity's voice was gentle.  "But you implied it."

Adonis bowed.  "Please forgive me, my Queen.  I had only the 
thought of protecting you and the Princess, as is my duty."

Serenity nodded.  "I know."  Her eyes locked with his, and she 
hoped he saw the understanding in them.

"If your Majesty will excuse me, I must attend to the earlier... 
mishap in the gardens."

Serenity hid a smile behind her hand.  During training earlier, 
Princess Makoto as Sailor Jupiter had accidentally leveled half of 
the finest rosebushes in the Palace Gardens.  "You're excused."  
Adonis bowed and left, leaving Serenity to ponder her own fears 
about her foster daughter.

"Adonis does have a point, Queen Serenity."

The Queen jumped, startled from her thoughts.  "Setsuna?"

A portion of the shadows to her left shifted, revealing the 
elusive Guardian of Time.  Serenity had not seen her in over a 
year.  "Perhaps it would be wise to... have an eye kept on your 
foster daughter, in case the situation should... change."

Serenity slammed her fist on the arm of her throne, her beautiful 
face showing the first signs of anger.  "The girl has done nothing 
wrong.  I cannot condone such actions on a simple possibility.  
Unless something happens to make her a foreseeable threat, such 
steps are not justifiable."

Setsuna's voice was as soft as the breeze that rustled her hair.  
"Such evil will often go unnoticed until it is at your backdoor.  
There is one possible way of shifting the balance, one we have 
discussed before. . ."

"That is not an option," Serenity stated firmly, her eyes suddenly 
cold.  Her face was transformed into something carved of marble, 
solid and unmoving.

"Your daughter possesses the power within her to become..."

"I know this already.  We have had this discussion.  I will not 
have my daughter purposefully subjected to such dangers.  It is 
not her place.  She is the princess and royal heir, not a warrior"

"So you would let her perish instead, if the other Senshi were not 
strong enough?"

"Are you saying that this will happen?"  Fear glimmered in the 
Queen's eyes.

Setsuna smiled bitterly.  "You know me better then that, my 
Queen."

Serenity lowered her gaze to her lap.  "At the present moment, I 
will do nothing but wait.  If this is a mistake, then I will bear 
the blame later."

Setsuna's figure began to fade from the room.  "As you wish, my 
friend.  Perhaps your actions are not so foolish in the end.  
After all, that which is destined will come, no matter what we 
do."
__________

"Makoto, you must be more careful!  There is a reason we have 
these training exercises in the woods!  The Queen will be furious 
about those roses!" Luna scolded the girl, knowing the Queen would 
never really be angry over something so petty.

"I already said I was sorry, and I'd help replant them."  Mako 
shifted uneasily.

"It's not the work that is the problem.  Continuously having to 
replant adds a strain on the spells that allow the life to exist 
on the Moon itself."  Luna glared at the girl until she shriveled 
slightly.  

Ami, feeling partly responsible for the accident earlier, jumped 
in to rescue her friend.  "Luna, how exactly have the spells that 
sustain the Lunar environment lasted for so long?  From what you 
told us about most magic, they should have burned out centuries 
ago."

Luna turned her attention to the other girl, and Makoto let out a 
silent sigh of relief.

"It has to do with the core of ceruleacite at the center of the 
moon."

"Ceruleacite... like my crystal?" asked Thalia, suddenly 
interested.

"Why yes, your crystal is also ceruleacite, albeit a bit altered.  
As you girls know, Earth is the only planet in this system that 
naturally supports life.  However each of the other planets has a 
ceruleacite, or cerulean crystal core.

"Is that a naturally occurring phenomenon?" Ami interjected.  

Luna smiled briefly at the inquisitive girl, glad she had at least 
one student who was actually interested in learning.  "Actually, 
we don't know.  Legend has it that these crystal cores were 
created thousands of years ago by some being of incredible power, 
but we don't know for sure."

"But how does the ceruleacite aid in the preservation of the 
environmental spells?" asked Ami.  One of the other girls, Luna 
wasn't sure which, let out something between a snicker and a 
groan.

"Hush," Luna said sternly.  "Actually, ceruleacite is quite an 
interesting substance in terms of magic.  Its natural property is 
to absorb magic, but with the proper spells and wards, it can 
anchor, or even amplify magic.  You have seen that happen when 
Thalia's powers are strengthened through the use of her crystal.  
It was altered by the Ginzuishou for that purpose."
 
Thalia's eyes narrowed thoughtfully.  "Could my crystal ever be 
used to drain away my powers?"

"Not *your* power, although it will absorb the power of others, as 
is did this morning with Lady Rei's attack."  Thalia blinked.  She 
hadn't even noticed that happening.  "However, normal ceruleacite 
is a dangerous to work with.  If a spell is rushed, or the wards 
are not set carefully, it can not only absorb the magic passing 
through it, it can drain the life energy of the spell caster."  
The girls listened, fascinated.

"But what about those environmental spells?" asked Minako.

"The crystal cores at the center of the planets and the Moon 
preserve and fix the spells that allow life to exist, keeping them 
from burning out.  The spells are incredibly delicate and precise, 
to maintain a perfect balance between the spell and it's crystal 
foundation.  That is why it is not wise to put a strain on them 
Makoto, since the... Makoto?"  Luna looked around for the girl, 
who was conspicuously missing.

"Oh she left a few minutes ago," Rei stated matter-of-factly, the 
corners of her mouth twitching.

"When I find that girl..."  Luna left her actions up to the 
imagination as she shifted to cat form and ran off, muttering 
furiously.

The other girls looked at each other, and burst out laughing.
__________

The meeting place was dark, as was the intent of those gathered 
there.  They wore hooded pale gray cloaks, to preserve their 
anonymity, fastened with a golden moon clasp to express their 
devotion to their cause.  And a sacred cause it was.

To see the moon rule supreme over the ashes of those who would see 
it dragged down.

The Cult of Apollo stood in unison as their leader entered, his 
black cloak flowing behind him.  None knew his true identity, or 
even his reason for taking control of what was originally a small 
group of radicals.  But under his guidance, their numbers had 
grown, and their operations had become both more discreet and more 
effective.  It was with respect and reverence that they called him 
Master.

"My friends," the figure began, his sleek, cold voice hinting at a 
smile, "We shall soon put in motion a plan to rid the Moon Kingdom 
of certain... eminent threats."  The crowd murmured, realizing the 
meaning of his words.

"But do you think that is wise?" questioned a hesitant voice from 
the back.  "If the Queen or her advisors were to discover that..."

The Master turned abruptly, cutting off the speaker's voice.  "Do 
you dare question ME?"  There was no response.

"I alone both know and have the capability of doing what must be 
done to preserve the glory of our Kingdom!" the leader spat.  
"Serenity and her advisors understand the danger that they have 
let waltz in the front door, but lack the courage or will for the 
necessary action!  If they choose to ignore their duty, then we 
must do it for them!"

The group murmured, one member leading them until they reached a 
chanting frenzy.  The cloaked figure at the front of the room 
stood silent, watching his followers.  Under his hood, he smiled.
__________

Deep within the earth, an ancient presence stirred.  A being of 
pure darkness, lacking both the form and near limitless power she 
had once possessed, she had lay dormant underground, waiting for 
the time when the balance would shift in her favor, waiting for...

A vessel, another weak willed being to carry out her wishes, 
spread her influence, return her to her former glory.

So that once again, Darkness would reign.

The being felt a shift occur in the distance, the threads of light 
slowly coming undone... no, just unraveling a bit at the edges.

But it would be enough.

Soon, the time would come, and though those who had entrapped her 
were long dead, she would seek her revenge on those who stood in 
their place.

Son she would rise again to power.  She need only be patient.  She 
had waited for half a millennia, she could wait just a little 
longer...

Soon...

Red eyes flashed in the darkness.  The demon began to laugh.

And the Earth trembled ever so slightly.
___________

Queen Serenity's face was grave, mulling over what Artimis had 
just told her.  "The situation has gotten that serious?" she asked 
finally.

"I'm afraid so, your majesty," Artemis replied.  He stood near the 
throne in human form, his white uniform nearly blending in with 
the shining marble.  "The factions attempting to gain control of 
Earth's seat in the Council have actually made an attempt on Queen 
Calandria's life.  Though, of course, they claim to have no know 
knowledge of the attack."

"Of course," Serenity murmured, her eyes distant.  Since the death 
of Queen Thetis nine years earlier, Earth's seat in the Council of 
Planets had remained vacant.  The closest female relative of 
Thetis' that held a throne was Calandria, wife of one of Thetis' 
distant cousins.  She should have gained the seat years ago, but 
opposing forces had managed to stall her rise to power.  Calandria 
was a friend of Serenity's, and many important people of Earth, 
still bearing a grudge against the death of one of their most 
beloved queens, wished a council member who would use their 
leverage against the Moon Kingdom for the crime, instead of one 
who would try to put the whole incident in the past.

"If only there was a way to strengthen Calandria's claim to the 
seat," Serenity sighed.  "Her relationship to Thetis is so 
tenuous."

Artemis cleared his throat, as though uneasy to express his 
thoughts.  "Actually, my Queen, I did have an idea as to a 
possible solution for that problem..."
__________

"...and then Luna realized that she had left!  You should have 
seen the look on her face!"  Thalia's cheerful laugh rang out, 
joined by the Princess Serenity's.  The two sat in the princess's 
room.  They looked as though they were from different worlds, the 
princess with her gossamer white gown and ethereal beauty, and 
Thalia, still in her training uniform, now stained with dirt and 
sweat, looking anything but ethereal.  Yet anyone, simply glancing 
at the two, would have been able to see how strong the bond was 
between them.

"It sounds as if you have so much fun with your training," 
Princess Serenity said wistfully.  "All I do is learn to be a 
proper lady so I can make a good wife, and how to deal with 
political matters so I can be a good queen."  She sighed.  "It's 
not as though I don't want to be either, it's just sometimes... I 
feel as if there is so much more I could do.  You can't imagine 
how boring it is to sit around while you girls run around and have 
fun."

"You call trying to kill each other fun?"

"Yes."

Thalia paused.  "Well, I guess in a way, it is invigorating to 
beat your best friends lifeless."  Serenity chuckled.  "But it's 
not as if we just do it for fun.  The day may come when your life 
is in danger, and you will be glad we trained so much when it 
comes down to your life."

"And may that day never come!" joked the Princess.

Thalia's face was distant, pained.  "You never know what will 
happen in life.  One day everything is fine, and the next, the 
only person who loves you is ripped away..."  Thalia swallowed 
heavily, lost in the memory of a flying arrow and the puddle of 
blood that surrounded a delicate figure on the floor.

A hand on her shoulder brought her back into reality.  She looked 
up into a pair of worried blue eyes.  Thalia forced a smile for 
the Princess.

"I'm okay.  Really.  Thank you."

Serenity was confused.  "For what?"

"Being my friend.  Being my sister."

"Thank you for promising to protect me."

Thalia smiled, this time less forced.  Her eyes were still 
serious, though.  "My Princess," she said solemnly, "should the 
need ever arise, I will lay down my life for yours." 
The two girls looked at each other, perhaps recalling a long past 
day where similar promises had been made.

A somewhat nervous-looking white cat pushing open the door 
interrupted the moment.

"Um, Lady Thalia?" Artimis said hesitantly.  "If you have a 
moment, Queen Serenity would like to speak to you."
__________

"I'm not sure how much of the current political atmosphere on 
Earth you are aware of," Queen Serenity began when the two were 
seated alone in one of the smaller rooms of the palace.  Serenity 
hesitated bringing the girl into the situation; especially knowing 
how sensitive Thalia was to her roots.  However, being the leader 
of the planetary system, she sometimes did have to keep the bigger 
picture in mind.

Luckily, Thalia didn't seem at all upset by the mention of her 
home world.  "I know there was some sort of argument over who was 
to take my mo-" she paused "...Earth's seat in the Council of 
Planets."

Serenity flinched inwardly, both at the understatement of the 
girl's words and her obvious discomfort at the mention of her 
mother.  "Yes, there have been several factions moving against 
Queen Calandria, the rightful heir to the Council seat."

"Why?" Thalia asked.  Serenity swallowed, trying to skate around 
the subject.

"They seem to think that she is too... weak-willed to represent 
the needs of Earth.  Because of the distance of her relationship 
to..." Serenity hesitated, "your mother, as they are not blood 
relatives, these factions have prevented her from claiming the 
seat."

"How does this involve me?" asked Thalia quietly.

"The only way for Calandria to be able to claim the throne 
unequivocally is if you were to marry her son."

Thalia was thunderstruck.  She looked at the Queen, unsure of what 
to say.

"If a direct link could be established between Calandria and your 
mother, there would be no dispute for her right to the council 
seat.  Not to mention that you are the Senshi of Earth, even 
though you have been raised here on the Moon as my foster 
daughter."

Thalia managed to get her voice working again.  "Marry?" she 
squeaked.

Serenity had to smile at the girl's reaction.  "It isn't such a 
horrible fate, my dear.  It happens to the best of us.  Some even 
enjoy it."

"But I've never even met him!"

"You aren't being forced into anything," Serenity assured the 
girl, who was beginning to look slightly green.  "You will 
certainly meet him before I would ask you to decide.  From what I 
hear, he is a wonderful young man, and very handsome too."  She 
winked at Thalia in a very un-royal manner.

"What is his name?"

"Prince Endymion."

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Thus ends the rewrite of the second part.  Very few changes 
besides formatting and grammatical were made.  However, it is much 
more polished, and in my opinion, a better read.

If anyone reading this has any of my Fanfiction posted on their 
site, please e-mail me.  I will send you the latest versions of my 
stories, as well as provide a link on my person Fanfiction page.

As always, please send comments to Lady_Brick@yahoo.com and take a 
peek at my websites at http://www.mindeclipse.com