Sailor Moon:  Panorama
                                 Interlude
                         Gravity of the Situation


                   The time is out of joint; Oh cursed spite,
                   That ever I was born to set it right.
                             Hamlet, by William Shakespeare.

    The shuttle descended through the rain, its lights clearly 
illuminating the castle below.  Landing gear descended when the craft was 
ten feet above ground, and then the shuttle sank down to the Earth.  The 
treads sank nearly a foot into the muddy ground, but that had been 
accounted for.

    There was only one man waiting for the shuttle.  He was rather tall, 
with curly brown hair that blew in the wind.  He was wearing a gray 
uniform with a short cape over his shoulders to cover the medals on his 
breast.

    The door of the shuttle opened, and the automatic stairway extended.  
In the door there appeared a young man dressed in a black suit, with a 
longer cape trailing behind him.  His dark hair was cut short, and he 
seemed to be under a strain.  He clutched the railing of the stairs as he 
slowly descended.

    The brown-haired man stood at attention as the younger man walked 
slowly across the mud to him.  "My prince," he said in a deep, polite 
voice, "welcome home."

    Through the strain, the younger man smiled.  "It's good to be back on 
Earth, Nephrite, but I'm a long way from calling it home ... let's get 
inside.  Why does it always rain when I come back?"

    They began to jog towards the castle, Nephrite's movements suggesting 
that he was quite capable of moving faster, but that he chose to stay with 
the Prince.  "I suspect that one of my brothers-in-Art ... your pardon, 
*former* brothers-in-Art, has determined the true nature of your visits 
home, and seeks to simulate as best as he can the environment in which you 
left."

    "Why?" the Prince asked, almost plaintively.

    "Lords only know, Endymion.  Mages can be as petty as any other man 
.. actually, pettier."

    They crossed through the castle's courtyard, and stepped into the 
large keep.  "Do you want to get the ceremony over with immediately?" 
Nephrite asked.

    "That would be best," Endymion said, grimacing from the strain he was 
under.

    Nephrite scowled.  "Kunzite should have insisted that the Lunars find 
some way to acclimate you to Earth-gravity while you were living on the 
Moon.  This sort of exertion ..."

    "... hasn't killed me after fifteen years, so I'll just grin and bear 
it.  Lead on, Neph."

    They walked deeper into the heart of the keep.  "How are they, 
incidentally?  And yourself?" Endymion asked.

    "Kunzite ... is much beleaguered with his duties as your regent.  
Zoisite is off on a training mission with the guard.  I think she and Kunz 
have been quarrelling, but I don't know what about.  I am ... well, I 
suppose.  The clouds have been interfering with my astronomical 
observations ..."

    "You mean, astrological, don't you?"

    "Why no," Nephrite said blandly, "for astrology is part of the Arts of 
Magick, which I have sworn never to practice again, on pain of death.  You 
should know better, Endymion."

    Endymion laughed a bit.  "And Jadeite?"

    Nephrite was silent for a long moment, then sighed, "He still wants 
your head."

    Endymion sighed in turn, wiping the sweat from his brow.  "Why?  Why 
does he blame me?  I'm not in love with Lady Mars, as far as I know she's 
not in love with me; we haven't even had that many conversations!  I 
didn't make her break their engagement ..."

    "I don't know why.  Although a more cynical mind would see a 
connection between the fact that she claimed to love another when she 
dissolved the match, and the fact that you were the only available man in 
the Kingdom at the time."

    "IT WASN'T ME!"

    Nephrite shrugged.  "As you say, My Prince.  Here we are."

    They stepped into the chapel, and Endymion knelt before the altar over 
which hung a golden image of a woman holding a pair of wheat stalks in one 
hand and a royal flail in the other.

    "Mother," he whispered.  In a louder voice, but one still softened in 
reverence, he said, "Nephrite, if you'd please excuse me?"

    "Certainly.  If I don't hear from you in fifteen minutes ..."

    "Of course."  He heard the door close behind him.

    For a moment, he clasped his hands together in a prayerful fashion.  
Then, with a sigh, he unclasped them.

    "I don't know why I did that," he explained.  "I don't believe in any 
of our gods anymore, Mother.  Although you needn't worry that I've 
converted to the Lunar philosophy either," he added quickly.  "I really 
don't believe in much of anything, anymore.  Well, one thing.  And since 
I'm talking to you, I suppose two things ..."

    Suddenly, his face twisted in rage and sorrow.  "WHY?!" he shouted.  
"WHY DID YOU DO THIS TO ME?!  Why did you do it to Earth?  I wasn't ready, 
dammit!  And ... and ..."

    As the tears began to fall, his mind travelled back fifteen years to 
the first rainy night ...

    "Dari?" the voice penetrated his sleep.  It was a harsh voice.  He 
tried to ignore it.  "Endymion, it's time to get up."

    He opened his eyes, to look at Kunzite.  "Why?" he said, still 
half-asleep.

    "M'Prince.  There has been ... an incident."

    "Huh?"

    "Your mother ... oh, Dari, forgive me ... she's gone."

    He blinked.  "Gone where?"

    Kunzite drew in a slow, shuddering breath.  "The same place your 
father and your older sister went when you were two, Endymion."

    But ... but they were ..."

    "NO!!!!"

    "I'm sorry, I'm sorry ... I don't understand what happened ... she 
apparently used the Silver Crystal to ... do something and it took her 
life ..."

    "No, Ma'ama!  She's not, you're lying, you're ..."

    "I wish by all the lords I was, Dari!  But the Moon Queen is here, now 
.. and she wants to talk with you."

    "What ... what does she have to do with all this?"

    "I don't know that either, Dari ... but it's important that you be on 
your best behaviour.  Do you understand?"

    Endymion wept as Kunzite helped him get dressed, and led him down to 
the throne room of their castle.  But his eyes were dry when he was 
escorted into the presence of Queen Serenity.

    She was standing before the throne, looking at it speculatively.  "His 
Serene Highness, Prince Endymion, heir-apparent to the Kingdom of Terra," 
Jadeite, the oldest of the pages, announced.

    She turned to look at him, and he was captivated by the intense 
blueness of her eyes.  They were vastly different from his mother's dark, 
brown eyes ...

    "Endymion," she said, in her gentle voice, "I fear that I am the 
bearer of sad news."

    He bowed, as he'd been taught to do.  "About my mother?"

    She sighed.  "Approximately three hours ago, your mother, Queen 
Rheannion used the Silver Crystal of your family to ... annihilate a 
squadron of my royal guard, lead by Senshi Innanna.  She died almost 
immediately afterwards."

    "Why?" he asked, fighting back the tears.

    "Your mother, it seems, blamed the Kingdom of the Moon for the deaths 
of your father and sister four years ago, in the ... incidents involving 
the Dark Squadron.  She had kidnapped the heirs of several of the 
subsidiary kingdoms of the Silver Millenium Alliance, as well as my own 
daughter, to compel our surrender to Earth."  She paused.  "Needless to 
say, your mother was incorrect in her assignment of culpability.

    "In any event, several of the larger baronies within your mother's 
kingdom have declared that they are now independant of royal rule, in 
response to the news of her death.  Civil war will almost certainly be 
beginning within the next Earth-day.  We have decided that this 
instability poses a threat to the safety of the Silver Millenium, and will 
be taking steps to curb it."

    "How?" Endymion asked, the enormity of this news only beginning to 
dawn on him.

    "As of this moment, the Kingdom of Terra is placed under the 
protective guidance of the Silver Millenium, until such time as its 
rightful ruler, yourself, achieves a greater degree of maturity.  We 
appoint Lord Kunzite the Seneschal as your regent, and charge him to 
cooperate fully with our agents in preventing the disintegration of the 
public peace.  Until Prince Endymion is fully matured, he will reside with 
our family on the moon."

    "Might I be permitted a question, your majesty?" Kunzite interjected, 
with a frozen look on his face.

    "Of course, Lord Kunzite."

    "When will Prince Endymion be considered fully mature?"

    "His thirtieth anniversary.  Such is the standard in the Kingdom of 
the Moon."

    "I see ..." Kunzite said slowly, and only Endymion could see the anger 
in his eyes.

    "Your majesty ..." Endymion quickly spoke up.  "Might I inquire as to 
the wherabouts of the Silver Crystal?"

    Serenity gazed at him for a long, searching minute.  "We have taken it 
into our possession," she said softly.  "It will no longer be the royal 
symbol of Earth."

    "This is absurd!" Kunzite shouted.  "By what right do you so usurp our 
Kingdom's power?!"

    "By right of retribution," Serenity said, and Endymion could suddenly 
see a fire to match Kunzite's in her eyes.  "Queen Rheannion abused the 
powers of the Silver Crystal, and all the rulers of the Silver Millenium 
concur with me that the object is too dangerous to be left in the hands of 
an immature intellect.  Such as the young Prince."

    She turned back to Endymion.  "There is a way, however, that the 
crystal may one day be returned to your possession, your Highness ... if 
your family line enters into an alliance with my own."

    Endymion wanted to say, "Huh?" but that would have been a violation of 
protocol.  So he said, instead, "Could your Majesty please make her 
intention clearer?"

    "Certainly.  I will give you the Silver Crystal as a wedding gift on 
the day you wed my daughter."

    "It's ironic, mother ..." Endymion said, quietly, his thoughts 
returning to the present.  "She sought to ensure a greater degree of 
control over me ... and so she eventually made me happier than I've ever 
been.  Isn't that strange?"

    "Strange indeed, and a damned impertinent thing to be saying to your 
mother ..." the harsh voice came from behind him.

    Endymion sighed, stood up shakily, and turned to face Kunzite.  
"You're looking well, Lord Seneschal."

    "You look like death warmed over.  Come on, let's get you to your 
quarters."

    "I did do the ceremony," Endymion noted as Kunzite led him down the 
hallway.

    "I'm certain your mother's shade appreciates that, Endymion," the 
white-haired lord replied sarcastically.  "Perhaps it will comfort her 
when you marry the moon-brat."

    "Don't talk that way about her, Kunz ..." he said warningly.  "She's 
about the only good thing that's happened to me in the last fifteen 
years."

    "Well, here's something that you might enjoy as much," Kunzite stated 
as they came to the door of the royal appartment.  He held the door open 
for the prince.

    Endymion stepped across the threshold with a curious expression ... 
and his mood suddenly brightened.  "Oh, Kunzite!" he exclaimed.  "How on 
Earth did you pull this off?"

    "One of Neph's colleagues was, ahem, persuaded to develop the spell.  
I take it that it suits you?"

    "Absolutely ..." Endymion said with a dreamy smile on his face.  He 
slowly settled back onto the couch, and started to pull off his boots, 
moving with greater ease than he had since his arrival.

    "Just send word, and I'll have the chefs bring up your dinner.  Good 
day, your Highness."

    Endymion only vaguely heard him as he settled into a much-needed nap.  
<This spell is the best idea Kunzite's had in years ...> he thought just 
as he dozed off peacefully in two-thirds of Earth's normal gravity.

    The gravity of the Moon Kingdom.

                                 *   *   *

    The next several days went by quickly.  The usual stream of paperwork 
that had always attended the Prince's yearly return to Earth to 
commemorate his mother's death seemed less burdensome this year, and 
Endymion almost found himself looking forward to holding court.  Provided, 
of course, that he was allowed to do so in his private chambers.

    "I don't think that would be appropriate, your Highness," Kunzite said 
simply when Endymion broached the idea.

    Kunzite was availing himself of one of the few magicks he had been 
able to acquire, the Spell of the Projected Image.  He had steadfastly 
refused to enter the reduced gravity of the Prince's quarters.

    "Very few of our people are as comfortable in Lunar gravity as you 
are, Endymion.  It wouldn't be fair ..."

    "But, actually, if you think about it, it would be an excellent way to 
ensure that people who've come with petitions are sincere.  If they're 
willing to come where they aren't comfortable ..."

    "Dari."

    Endymion stiffened, and his eyes blazed.  "I have asked you never to 
call me that."

    "You have.  However, you are behaving like a spoiled child.  If you do 
not wish to sit in court, simply say so.  I stand in your place the other 
fifty-one weeks of the year, and I am *quite* willing to stand in for you 
now.  Well?"

    Endymion fumed.  "I'll do it ... can you get the mage to put a smaller 
version of the gravfield around my throne?"

    "Certainly, M'Prince," Kunzite sighed.  "No trouble, none at all.  
Good day."  The image flickered out.

    Endymion's good mood was now spoiled.  He sat, fuming at Kunzite's 
impertinent behavior, and staring out at the rain.  It was *still* 
raining.  Just in a five mile radius of the castle, though.  He 
entertained dark thoughts about finding out the identity of the mage who 
was responsible for the rain, assembling a small party of angry farmers, 
and charging the wizard's stronghold.

    Shaking his head, Endymion decided to try and get a decent picture on 
the televisor, possibly with the aim of getting a signal out to the moon.  
There was someone up there that he wanted to talk to very much.

    Suddenly there was a rapping at the window.  Endymion spun around and 
saw a dark silhouette standing there.  Slowly, he walked over to open the 
window, keeping one hand on his swordhilt.

    The silhouette was that of a drenched woman, about the same age as 
Endymion, with vivid red hair that reminded him of the Khan of Mars.  She 
stared at him with suspicious eyes.  "You are Prince Endymion?"

    "Yes ... who are you?  What are you ..."

    "My name," the woman interrupted, "is Beryl."

    Endymion stiffened, and she noticed.  "I take it, then, that you've 
heard of me?"

    "I've heard of ..." he almost said `your terrorist activities', but 
instead continued with, "certain deeds ascribed to you."

    "Doubtless they speak of me a great deal up there," she said with a 
thin, tight smile.

    "Actually, most of the reports about you have come to my attention 
this past week ... while I was here on Earth.  I may have heard your name 
in passing on the Moon, but ..."

    "Oh, marvellous," she muttered disgustedly.  "Look, may I come in?  
You may have noticed that it's raining."

    "Um ... this room is ..."

    "Altered so that its gravity matches the Moon Kingdom's, I know, I 
know," Beryl sighed.  "I *am* a mage, you know.  I *can* tell these 
things."

    "Well, then, if you want to come in, by all means do."  <Be civil, be 
civil, be civil to the psychopath, great idea, Dari ...>

    She stepped into the room, spent a moment reorienting herself, and 
turned back to him.  "It ... I must admit, I can see the attraction ... a 
bit easier to breathe."

    "Uh, yes.  Could I offer you something to drink?"

    "No, thank you.  I think it would be wiser if I just got to the 
point.  I respect the fact that you'll probably have to call your guards 
to pursue me after I'm gone ..."

    "I ... wasn't planning on it ..." Endymion stammered.

    "It's your duty," she said with a shrug.  "I am a terrorist against 
the Moon Kingdom, and as a loyal vassal of Queen Serenity, you have to, or 
you're a party to my crimes, right?"

    "Well ... I'm not really a vassal as such ... please, have a seat."  
Endymion sat down on the large comfortable chair, and gestured for Beryl 
to sit down on the couch.  He was more than a little unnerved by her 
matter-of-fact manner.

    "Could have fooled me ... you spend most of the year on the moon, 
where she can have you on a short leash ..."

    "It's not like that!"  Endymion protested.  "Yes, I suppose that was 
her intention when this whole mess started, but ..."

    "But now she's warmed to your dynamic personality, and treats you as 
an equal and co-monarch?" Beryl asked simply.

    In actual fact, Queen Serenity seemed to have very little use for him 
at all, and he generally avoided having to deal with her whenever 
possible.  "Well, no.  But I haven't done anything to deserve that kind of 
recognition.  I've come to the realise that the best of the nobles, 
anywhere, are those who don't rest on a famous family, but actually DO 
things.  And I haven't yet."

    Beryl nodded.  "I agree.  But the problem is, most of those nobles 
aren't the ones that Serenity has put in power on Earth ..."

    "Well, you have to admit, this world isn't much of a prize ..." 
Endymion heard himself saying.  <IDIOT!  She has to live here, idiot!>

    "You're not far wrong," Beryl admitted sadly.  "The other planets are 
richer, both in culture and material wealth ... the only reason Earth was 
ever able to stand alone was our magick.  And one key artifact ..."

    "The Crystal," Endymion sighed.  She nodded somberly.  "That damn 
thing ... I really think it's at the heart of the whole mess.  I don't 
know if I'll accept it when it's given back to me ..."

    "What?!" Beryl exclaimed.  "Given back?  I've ... what do you mean?"

    "Oh ... I guess that particular part of the treaty didn't get talked 
about much.  Yes, the crystal will be given back to me when I marry ..."

    "But this is wonderful!  When can you get married?!"

    "When I turn thirty ..." Endymion replied, a little baffled by Beryl's 
sudden exuberance.

    She grimaced.  "Ack.  Nine years ..."

    "Um ... anyway, why exactly have you come calling?"

    She seemed to gather herself.  "I want your help."

    "To do what, exactly?" Endymion asked, his mouth dry.

    "When the Lunars call me a terrorist ... it's absolutely true.  I want 
them to be afraid.  I want them to look down at this world, not as some 
pretty gem ... but like a snake that could bite them at any time.  But 
that's a double-edged sword ... if they get too afraid, they'll just blow 
us all to oblivion."

    "I don't think ..."

    "They'd *do* it," she interrupted, her eyes flashing dangerously.  
"You haven't seen their squadrons at work.  They attacked the first army I 
raised against one of their overseers -- a charming fellow named Aniams -- 
with absolutely lethal intent.  Men, women, children ... all slaughtered.  
I alone escaped ..."  She broke off suddenly.  Endymion realized that she 
was crying.  Instinctively, he handed her his handkerchief.  She looked up 
at him ... and he realized that she was not the same age as him, but 
rather about two years younger.  <Gods ... that means that business with 
Aniams must have happened ...>

    "I was sixteen years old ..." she whispered.  "I still don't 
understand how I managed to get those people to follow me to their graves 
.. some of them told me that I had the look of the eagles ... whatever 
the hell that means."

    "It means you have a commanding presence," Endymion explained.  "And 
they were right."

    "Thank you ..." she said with a small smile ... the first she'd ever 
given him.

    "Please, continue."

    She focused herself again.  "I need someone who can present an 
alternative to the Silver Millenium than just deciding that Terrans aren't 
worth the trouble ... someone who can give the appearance of being a ruler 
sympathetic to them.  Someone who understands how they think.

    "Someone like you."

    Endymion nodded, involuntarily.  "What exactly are you proposing?"

    "An alliance.  A *secret* alliance.  While you're up there, you give 
every indication of being completely opposed to me.  So, when you're 
finally given the reigns of power down here, you can issue an ultimatum.  
Any of my people who are willing to surrender to Earth's lawful king may 
do so -- but those who do not will be annihilated.  I guarantee that every 
single one of my followers would be glad to bend knee to you.  And then we 
can work together, to set things that they've screwed up right again."  
Her eyes were burning again, with a desperate hope.  "Please, your 
Highness.  I don't think we can hold out for nine years without your aid."

    "What you ask ... is a great deal.  I'll need to think about it."  He 
took a deep breath.  "How can I get in touch with you?"

    Beryl looked uncertain, suddenly.  "I don't know ... if ..."

    Quickly, he added.  "I give you my word, as Prince of Earth, and her 
sworn guardian.  None shall have the knowledge of your wherabouts from me, 
not e'en if they draw forth my spirit from the final darkness, and subject 
it to torments that revolt the mind of man.  So swear I.  So mote it be."

    She looked at him with awe.  "The Old Oaths ... I've heard of them, 
but ..."  Beryl nodded.  "Three miles from your castle, there is a series 
of caves.  Ride to the mouth of the largest, and announce your presence.  
Come alone."

    She stood up, and curtseyed gracefully.  "Come soon ..." she 
whispered, and stepped out through the window.  He closed it behind her, 
then slumped back on the couch.

    <What are you thinking, getting involved with something like this?> 
the rational part of his brain screamed.  <Consorting with psychopathic 
terrorists?!  Are you insane?>

    "No," he whispered, "I'm the Prince of Earth.  And she came to call on 
me with that in mind.  It's time for me to start acting like the Prince 
should act."

    The televisor beeped.  "Prince Endymion?" came the voice of the 
communications coordinator.  "There's a call coming through for you from 
the Moon Kingdom.  Shall I put it through?"

    "Please do," he replied.

    The televisor filled with the image of Princess Serenity.  "Endymion?" 
she quavered.  "Are you all right?"

    "Yes, of course I am," he answered, baffled.  "Why?"

    "You said you would call me, and you have not as yet.  I was beginning 
to worry.  And ... I had a nightmare about you getting hurt last night 
.."

    "I'm fine, Serenity," he said, smiling.

    "Would you like it if I came down there to be with you?" she asked.  
"I miss you ..."

    "No, that wouldn't be a good idea," Endymion answered quickly.  "You 
remember all those stories about how clumsy I was when I first came up 
there?  You'd be even worse if you were down here.  Believe me."

    "All right ... you are coming back day after tomorrow?"

    "Yes ... I'll see you then."

    "I miss you," she repeated.  "Everyone misses you ... well, except for 
Venus, but she hates you ..."

    "Yes, dear one, I know.  I love you."

    "Good bye ..."  The image faded.

    He touched the screen gently.  "I don't believe in anything, anymore 
.. except for you ..." he whispered.  "And my duty."

    He straightened.  "Communications?"

    "Yes, your Highness?"

    "Tell Lord Kunzite that I will be holding court tomorrow.  In the 
throne room, as usual.  There is no need for him to take the steps we 
discussed.

    "I'll meet my people on their terms."

                                  The End
                                 (For Now)

    Sailor Moon was created by Takeuchi Naoko and brought to North America 
by DIC.

    Nobody sue me, okay?