Mistic
rickey18@hotmail.com
Story Name: Races of Men
Rating: PG
Part: 3/?

Disclaimer:
I do not own Sailor Moon, nor claim any kind of credit to its success and 
publication. Thanks!

Story:
“Help me…”a voice whispered like the wind. Darien woke up to see the sun 
shining brightly through the window. The sunlight illuminated the room 
creating everything to sparkle and shining in warmth. Darien rolled out of 
bed feeling the weight of restless sleep on his shoulders. He washed his 
face and hands and dressed for the day. He decided to leave his sword and 
armor there, otherwise the director would question to his false identity as 
a scholar. He left the room and went down to the dining area to eat some 
breakfast. All they had were cold chicken from the night before. Darien 
graciously accepted when he heard his stomach cry out for food. Darien 
realized that he had not eaten anything in days. He chose to stop eating 
half way during the trip because he was tired of seeing the insides of his 
stomach.
While Darien was eating, the captain strutted up to him and took a seat. 
“Good morning, young scholar. Are you ready for your test? I hope you can 
live up to who you say you are. Atlanitians are not fond of liars.”

“Good morning, sir. Yes, I am ready,” Darien said without emotion. His 
face was expressionless. However, his heart thumped a thousand times 
minute. Darien knew he had to put on his most brilliant performance in 
order to convince these people to let him study in their libraries. He must 
find out why he was chosen to go on this quest.

After he finished eating, Darien along with his private escort of the 
captain and his crew strolled the streets of this great city. Darien had to 
compose himself every time he saw the people of Mercury. “Their hair and 
eyes are really blue. I cannot believe it!” he mumbled to himself. He 
finally decided to just look at the beautiful buildings around him. He 
realized that this city was more magnificent than his old home. Home. 
Thinking of that word made Darien feel like some stabbed him in the heart.. 
He shook the painful memory from his mind and focused on the task ahead of 
him.

Suddenly, the captain announced that they had arrived. Darien cleared his 
mind of all thoughts and prepared himself for the role he had to play. They 
entered a large mansion that was the color of water after the storm. Inside 
was magnificent, with lovely tapestries that pictured beautiful women. One 
had four women dressed in what looked to be sailor uniforms, but the skirts 
were too short. The women were beautiful. One had blue hair, like the 
people from Mercury. Another was tall like a giant with green eyes. The 
other two were just as equally beautiful as the others. One had raven color 
eyes and hair, while the other woman had hair that seemed to be made of 
gold. Another had a picture of the moon in the background and a woman with 
her face hidden in the shadows. She was dressed in white with long hair in 
pigtails flowing in the wind. On the other side of this tapestry was a 
hanging of three other women and what looked to be a young girl. Two of 
them were embracing each other. One was tall with long legs, while the 
other had hair the color of the ocean. The other woman was dark and holding 
a pale young child that seem to have wisdom in her young eyes. There was a 
huge one at the center of the long corridor. It had all of the women 
together. The sailor women were surrounding a beautiful princess as she 
knelt on the ground beside a man who looked to be dead. He then noticed 
that the lovely princess was crying. As, tears flowing from her eyes, she 
was reaching for the knight’s sword.

“Don’t!” Darien cried aloud. Everyone stopped at looked at him. He did not 
even hear the introduction of the director. Darien was so caught up at that 
picture that he began to weep. The director followed his gaze and smiled.. 
All of a sudden, Darien realized what he had done. He quickly composed 
himself and whipped the tears from his eyes. “Please forgive me, great sir. 
I was looking at your beautiful tapestries and was completely taken in by 
them.”

“So, you like my works of art? I made them myself. I too get caught up in 
them sometimes. Do you know the story behind them?” the director asked.

“No sir, to be honest that is why I am here in your city. I would love to 
hear the tale.” Darien eagerly waited for the director to share his 
knowledge. He hoped that somehow learning about this tragic tale would 
answer his question that has haunted him all of his life.

“All I am allowed to tell you is that a long time ago, a great nation fell 
to the hands of evil beings. Those nine women were the rulers of that 
nation.” The director looked down from the work of art into Darien’s eyes. 
“Strange, I thought the Earth people had brown eyes.”

Darien looked down trying to hide them. “Blue eyes are very rare for the 
Earth people.”

The director stood there observing him. Darien could feel those eyes 
staring through him as if trying to find the truth in him. Darien looked up 
and met the director’s eyes and stared back trying to hide everything about 
him. By doing so, the director knew Darien even more. So, you have 
returned have you? It has been a long time my friend. I cannot tell you 
anymore know otherwise the future we all desire will slip away. However, I 
will turn you toward the direction you seek. “Come, share my meal with me 
and we will talk.” He gestured to follow him and led his guests in to the 
dining hall. The meal was already laid out for everyone. Once Darien had 
taken his seat, he finally noticed that the captain and his crew had left.. 
He was about to ask about their disappearance but then thought better of it. 
He was in the director’s home and subject to his rules.

The director was a very cheery and knowledgeable man. He talked about the 
different histories of Darien’s nation while Darien added and commented on 
what he knew. They had a very pleasant discussion and debate. Both learned 
much more about the continuous change of the Earth nation. Once the feast 
was over and both had eaten much more than they should have. They sat in 
silence each wondering about the other and how to get what they wanted.

The director broke the silence, “The princess wishes to see you to night at 
her ball. She has never seen a foreigner before and she is very interested 
in seeing you. You will attend and if you are willing, you are welcome to 
join my personal escort.”

“Thank you sir. I will take up your offer. If you will excuse me I would 
like go and prepare for the ball.” Darien got up and bowed and turned to 
leave the room.

“You are welcome to enjoy my library for the time being and I think my 
servants will be able to find some noble suit to your liking,” the director 
offered.

“Thank you gracious sir, I will take you up on that offer.” Darien bowed 
deeper in gratitude.

He spent the rest of the day in the library studying the histories of 
different nation. However, he was not able to find anything on the 
mysterious nation that fell. He was unable to shake the memory of the 
princess from his mind. Who is she? Why do I feel like I know her? She 
plagued his mind.

A knock on the door caused him wake up from his deep thoughts. Soon he 
forgot about the princess. The servant announced that it was time for 
Darien to get ready. The servant said he hoped that Darien would like the 
suit that has been picked out for him. When Darien arrived in one of the 
guest rooms, he saw a magnificent costume that was a dark purple that was a 
velvet material. It fit him perfectly and enhanced the color of his eyes.. 
The servant then brought a spectacular sword. It had engravings of a 
crescent moon beside the earth while roses surrounded them on to the hilt.. 
On the blade was written ruins of a dead language. Darien picked it up and 
it felt perfect in his hand. The sword was balanced perfectly. He examined 
the metals of the hilt and sword and he was unable to identify them. He 
knew this sword from somewhere but he could not remember. He sheathed his 
newly acquired sword and belted it to him. Somehow he knew that he could 
never depart without it again.

The servant said that they were finished dressing him and gave him a white 
mask to wear. Darien put it on and it completed his costume. Another 
servant came by and said that the carriage was waiting. Darien met the 
director in the corridor and they walked out together to the carriage. The 
night was beautiful one with the moon shining down and showing the way. 
They soon came to the palace that was the same hue of the deep blue sea. 
Everywhere there were statues or paintings of great philosophers of 
Atlantis. Even though, Darien did not find what he was looking for, he did 
enjoy the vast history of this nation. There were hundreds of people each 
dressed in different colors of blue. He was the only one dressed in a 
different color, but some reason he knew that that was how it was supposed 
to be.

During the ball, he talked to many lords and dukes. He danced with many 
women. He seemed to be the prince of the night. Then one girl came up to 
him and asked him to dance. She had a beautiful gown on with sapphires that 
matched her eyes. Her hair was dark blue and fairly short. They waltzed 
for the next two songs and all the while Darien swore that he had seen her 
before, but where. Once the last song ended, she said thank you and asked 
him to join her mother. Darien agreed and followed the young mysterious 
girl. Soon he realized that she was taking him to the queen. He knelt at 
her feet and waited for her to tell him to rise.

“Please stand young lord. I have heard much about you. You are the exiled 
prince of the Earth that was charged with a great quest. Yes, we have even 
heard from out here.” She smiled at the surprised look Darien had on his 
face. “Since you will need guidance for finding the last of the races, I 
will let my daughter Ami journey with you. Please take care of her and 
watch over her. Now, I will let you go and prepare for your journey. You 
will leave early on the morrow.” She looked sad as she looked at her young 
daughter, “You have to hurry,” she told them. “There is not much time left. 
She is slipping away fast. The future must be saved!” Then she dismissed 
them and Darien returned to the director thanked him for his kindness and 
asked where to return the costume and sword.

“They were never mine. I am just doing a favor for a friend. Please return 
them to the rightful owner once you find him. You will know who he is once 
you meet him.” They clasped hands and shook and said their goodbyes. As 
Darien left, the director whispered, “Please, Endymion, find her.”

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I am hoping that you are enjoying this story... I will send more in later, 
but I do promise you that there is much more to this story alreay written; 
so I won't leave you hanging for too long. Please email what you think.
thanks a bunch
Mystic
rickey18@hotmail.com