Good evening,

There's been some minor rivision in the beginning and the rest of teh part
was completed. I put the "dark" tag in because it certainly deserves it,
especially with the ending section of this part.

Oh yeah, a "Tales of Younger Venus" update, #12 should be released sometime
this week (hopefully) depending upon how long the beta reders take.

------------------------------------------
                               Mama's Hand
                                    By
                               Douglas Helm

                                  Edited
                                    By
                         "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl
                                Rated : R+


AUTHOR'S WARNING!!!

This piece of fanfiction contains distrubing images and deals with
material that IS innappropriate for younger readers. Please respect
the rating that I've given it. Morally speaking I had a hell of a
time writting the first part. I kept wanting to kill Endymion off 
quickly.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi, and all terms, names, etc.
associated with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and
Kodansha. We make no claim to them and this work of fanfiction should
not be seen as making a claim.

Those characters that are original and the story "Mama's Hand" are
copyrighted (c) 1997 by Douglas Helm.

Send comments to: Douglas Helm (dhelm@log.on.ca)



Part 1

The room was dimly lit, a fire burned low in the hearth. Its lighted
cast shadows that danced eerily about the room, they seemed to sense the
atmosphere and fed upon it eagerly. A gentle April breeze rustled the
curtains, making a whispering sound. The room's lone occupant stood at
the bay window, staring out into the clear night. However, the lateness
of the hour did not make her tired, on the contrary it made her worried,
nervous, fearful.

The clock sounded the hour, its bell mournful, sounding as if from a
distance. The woman turned, glancing at the clock. Five hours and his
plane would be back, and things would be back to normal.

As she turned she saw her reflection, even with the dim light she could
see his mark. The bruise had turned from an angry purple into an ugly
yellow-brown. She could almost see out of the eye again. Unconsciously
her hand moved to her ribs and through the thin night gown she could
feel the bandages put there to keep her ribs from moving.

Oh Kami-sama, why hadn't she seen it? Looking back upon it know she knew
that love had blinded her to the events that had unfolded. She felt a
lump form in her throat. It was of sadness but that lump was also
frightening. It brought back images of him gripping her around the
throat, squeezing until she had stopped breathing, until the blackness
took her. And that blackness was no comfort because there was another he
could turn his rage upon, and she cared for that person more than she
cared for herself.

Fighting off the images of the recent past she sought comfort in the
distant past as she had done some many times before. But tonight was
different. Something had changed, something had snapped. She did not
retreat into the past to find comfort but to find strength and courage.

She remember that day so long ago when her friend, a very true friend,
had died. Hino Rei had been twenty-two when the motorcycle she had been
riding slid underneath a transport truck. The police had first suspected
Yuuichiro of tampering with the brakes but he had no motive.

She gave a little sob and stepped away from the window. It was too
painful; she was trying to remember the bad times and it hurt. It hurt
more than his kicks, punches, and slaps. She receded into her mind and
had become accustomed to acting the role. Letting the pain wash over her
until he was finished.

Sliding into a chair, she struggled to gain back that fleeting ounce of
confidence. The fleeting glimmer of hope that had carried her through
all this time. Aino Minako had disappeared some five years after Rei's
death. No trace of her body was found. The case remained open but
inactive.

There! She felt the cold fury start to build. She knew who had slain her
friend but she had found out too late. Quickly before it slipped away
again she called up the other image. Makoto... Kino Makoto had always
had a fear of planes, so what ever possessed her to join the Japanese
Air Force was a mystery.

Makoto had acted like her support, her pillar. When that pillar fell
away, any hope, any hope of fighting she might have made died with the
brunette. Unlike her other two friends though, Makoto died with honor
while seeing action some forty years after Rei's death.

Serenity bore down on the edge of her chair as racking sobs shook her
battered body. She was supposed to be Queen, a very powerful Queen but
that was simply a lie! Mizuno Ami had been Serenity's last line of
defense. She pushed Serenity to fight back, to do something, leave
Endymion.

But Endymion was intelligent, he used Serenity's love against her,
turned her against Ami... And when it finally came to it, Endymion
simply banished her on a trumped up charge. Ami had fled, and shortly
afterward, had been slain in a gangland style execution.

Where was Serenity's great power? The Ginzuishou? She didn't know,
Endymion had told her that he would put it in a safe place. He had
CONVINCED her that she would be able to reach it when she needed it.
More lies and threats. He was free to do as he liked after that last
obstacle had been removed. The Senshi were gone, the Outer Senshi lost
in the battle that started the Great Darkness, Pluto exiled to the
timestream, and her Royal Guard broken, slowly over the years so she
wouldn't notice.

Hearing the clock chime again, Serenity sat still listening, seven
o'clock. She only had an hour to put her plan into action before
Endymion returned, only an hour... Would she have the strength?

                                  ******

Quickly she moved and entered her bedroom to dress. She had to reach
Small Lady before Endymion returned. If he arrived before she could send
them both back into the past, then she wouldn't have another chance for
some time and Endymion's behavior was getting progressively worse.

She was dressed within five minutes and spent another five desperately
scrambling for the Time Key. The key that she had secretly gotten from
Pluto several weeks ago. She had barely managed to meet with the
mysterious Senshi of Time. Endymion was keeping Serenity under a close
watch while not in their own rooms so meeting with one of her exiled
friends was hard. He had started monitoring her after her second attempt
to flee, that had been around the time that Endymion banished Ami.

Serenity had actually begged Setsuna to go back, to warn her past self
of what was to come but Serenity new that it was a lost cause. Pluto's
duty was to the timeline. The events that had unfolded were set in time
and nothing that Serenity could say would sway Setsuna. She knew that
Setsuna desperately wanted to help but was bound by duty.

Leaving her room Serenity re-entered the small sitting room and stopped
short. Something was out of place. She gazed around the room, trying to
place her finger upon it. As her eyes traveled they alighted upon a set
of bags.

"No..." she breathed out. He wasn't supposed to be back yet! "No!" she
hoarsely shouted. She could feel herself start to tremble. She had been
so close! No Endymion wasn't in the room, so where was he? Shoving the
Time Key deep into her pocket, she moved across to the door that led out
into the hall and gripping the knob took a breath before opening it.

Low murmuring voices met her ears. Softly padding down the hall, she
looked into her daughter's room and found Endymion there. "I'm sorry, I
didn't hear you come in," Serenity said, "I would have met you but
you're early."

"That's all right," Endymion said, "Usagi was telling me all about her
day at school yesterday." He gave her daughter a pat on the back and
Serenity didn't miss her daughter's flinching slightly. "What say we get
breakfast!" Endymion declared.

"Hai!" Usagi said, quick to please her father. She waited until he
lifted her off of his lap before taking his hand, "Come on, Daddy."

"Lead the way, Princess," Endymion said and allowed himself to be pulled
by his daughter. Serenity stepped out of the doorway and suppressed the
urge to scream.

Endymion was treating her like a normal daughter, treating Serenity like
there was NOTHING wrong! He was acting the doting father but who knew
how long that would last. She trailed behind him, plotting, trying to
figure out a way she could get away from Endymion for a little while to
finished the rest of the plan. She also wanted to hide the key. If
Endymion knew that she had the key, he wouldn't be please. Sailor Pluto
was supposed to be exiled to the Gate of Time. Never to set foot in
Crystal Tokyo unless summoned.

Sitting down, she forced herself to smile as Endymion continued talking,
telling his daughter of the trip and the people he had seen. Breakfast
began easily enough. He seemed to be in high spirits.

Endymion yawned and said, "I left late last night and tried to get some
work done on the plane so I could sleep." He smiled again, "You don't
know how good it is to be back." He turned and looked at Serenity, "What
were you doing in the bedroom?"

"Pardon?" she asked trying to remain calm, "I was getting dressed. I was
surprised that I didn't hear you come in."

"Oh," Endymion said, surprise showing through his voice, "You must have
slept in then." Serenity nodded. She was feeling her way along. Did he
suspect something? She hoped he didn't.

"Daddy, you shoulda saw the big bird we saw on the video!" Usagi suddenly
exclaimed. She was sensing that her father was working up to something
and she was hoping to make him happy. She always seemed to be doing bad
things.

"Really? How big was it?" Endymion asked, his tone was friendly but
Serenity saw that he was displeased that his daughter had interrupted
them. That's when things started to go wrong.

"Well it was this big!" Usagi said stretching her arms out as far as the
would go, "He went around and around!" she said motioning with her
hands. "Then it yelled and dove!" She swooped down with her one hand
dramatically, "It snatched up this big fish!" Her hand clamped around
the juice glass and lifted it up. Serenity saw it coming and tried to
make the save but failed. The glass slipped out of Usagi's young hands
shot over Serenity's outstretched hand and both contents and glass hit
Endymion squarely in the face.

The room went deathly silently for several long seconds. Usagi let out a
little whimper. Her father sat there his face twisting into a savage
scowl. Hopping off her chair Usagi ran around and started dabbing at her
father's face with a napkin.

"Gomen nasai!!!" she said, "I didn't mean it, Daddy."

"YOU CLUMSY BRAT!!!" Endymion bellowed. Usagi took a step back, "You're
just like your mother, a klutz!" He stood up wiping the juice off his
face and neck. He looked down at his clothes and said, "You got it on my
clean shirt!" He raised his eyes to his daughter and said, "Come here!"

Usagi whimpered and shuffled forward a little bit. "Endymion please,"
Serenity began, "It's only juice." She gave a little gasp as Endymion
picked up the juice pitcher and flung it at her. She tried to move but
it clipped her on the temple and she sunk back into the chair, dazed.

"I'll clean it up, Daddy," Usagi offered hoping that it would placate
him. She moved forward and hugged one of his legs, "I promise to be
really good!" She looked at him hopefully, but her hopes were crushed
under his dark gaze.

"Go over to the couch and bend over the arm!" Endymion instructed his
daughter, "I will not tolerate this behavior." Usagi took on a look of
fear and didn't move for a moment. "WHAT DID I SAY!" Endymion shouted
"Get over to that damn couch!" He lifted his hand as if to strike Usagi,
the little girl let go and backpedaled. "You'll learn to listen to me,"
Endymion said. Reaching down he removed his belt and started towards his
daughter.

Serenity shook off her daze and said, "Please Endymion, it was an
accident. Can't we just have breakfast in peace?!?" She felt his hand
tighten around her throat and she clutched at his wrist, trying to pull
his hand away.

"When I get done with her I'll be back to deal with you," he hissed out,
"For now shut up and sit down!" With that he jerked his arm backward and
then shoved forward, that sent Serenity crashing over the chair and as
her head hit the floor blackness once again took her. <Please!> she
thought as her mind started to drifted, <Please Endymion... where is
the man that I loved?>

                                  ******

Her first conscious sensation was of the pain in the back of her head.
The second was of the rough texture of the rug underneath her hands. She
tried to open her good eye and blinked. Forms started out as dark blurs
but as she became more aware, she could make out the delicate crystal
structures in the ceiling, their angles refracting the day's sun into a
multibanded spectrum of light. At first she couldn't hear anything but
as the haze of pain subsided into a dull aching throb she could hear a
whimpering sound.

Carefully, painfully, she pushed herself up. She shut her eyes as the
room started to spin. Holding her breath, she counted and after a little
while opened one eye cautiously. As the roomed seemed to stay in one
place she opened her damaged eye as well. Finding the table and the
seat of her chair, Serenity first crawled to her knees and then pushed
herself up. She could feel a trickle of moisture run down her back.

Steadying herself, she slowly turned and gave a little cry as she saw
her daughter. Lifting a trembling hand to her lips, Serenity gave a
little sob. Turning her gaze, away she looked around the room. Endymion
wasn't there. Slowly she turned again, back to her daughter and slowly
made her way across the floor. More than once she had to stop, and grit
her teeth as the room began to spin.

Twenty painful steps later she made it to the couch. Heavily, she sank
to her knees and slowly slid to her daughter. "Usagi?" Serenity called
softly, "Usagi?" The only response was Usagi's whimpers. She brushed
away the hair out of the daughter's face. Usagi pulled away and gave a
sob of terror. "Usagi, it's me." Serenity called, "Honey, Daddy's gone."
But where had he gone? And when would he be back?

"It hurts," Usagi breathed out, her voice throaty sounding, it also
quavered with fear, "It hurts Mommy..." Serenity could see her
daughter's eyes ringed red from shedding tears but also full of pain and
fear. With her mother's help Usagi slowly stood, "Why Mommy?" she asked
her mother, "Why?"

Serenity shook her head, "Honey, would you like to take a trip?"

"Where?" Usagi asked after a very long pause. "Daddy is mad, I don't
think he'd let me go," she sniffled again and rubbed her eyes to try and
clear them. <I was bad. I didn't behave,> Usagi thought sadly. She
seemed to always be in trouble.

"Do you remember those pictures I showed you? Those picture of what
Daddy and I looked like in the past?" Usagi gave a small nod and
sniffled. "How would you like to go into the past and stay with Mommy?"

"I don't know," Usagi said dubiously. <If Daddy finds out, then he'll
get mad again.> A tremor of fear ran through her. She had seen what her
father had done to her mother. She was scared for her mother as well.

"Well you think about it while I get you dressed," Serenity said. Usagi
gave another whimper but nodded. Getting to Usagi's room was a slow
and painful process. Dressing her daughter was almost as painful for
Serenity as for Usagi. She couldn't take the image of her daughter's
battered body.

"Mommy," Usagi said softly after she had been dressed in a track suit,
"Can I go on the trip?" <If I go back into the past, then I can make
Daddy love me and when I come home he won't always be angry with me.>

"Are you sure, honey?" Serenity asked. Usagi nodded. Serenity was about
to reach into her pocket and take the Time Key out when Endymion's voice
stopped her cold.

"DID I SAY YOU COULD MOVE?!?" Endymion demanded from the doorway, "I
told you to stay there, didn't I?"

"Hai," Usagi whimpered out.

"Leave her alone!" Serenity screamed, "You're just a coward!" She balled
her fists up and placed herself in front of her daughter.

"USAGI, COME HERE THIS INSTANT!!!" Endymion commanded.

"No!" Serenity said and held her hand up stopping her daughter, "You
won't be touching her anymore!"

Endymion's face twisted into a snarl, lunging forward he gripped
Serenity around the throat and, while squeezing, dragged her down the
corridor. Usagi gave a startled cry and started chasing after her mother
but Endymion roughly pushed her in into the room and said, "I'll be back.
Don't even think of moving!"

Down the hall they went into the small reading room that adjoined their
bedroom. Pushing her up against the fireplace mantle, Endymion said,
"I'll handle that monstrosity anyway I like."

"How could you do that to any child, especially your child?" Serenity
sobbed out. She made a gurgling noise as his grip tightened. She vainly
moved her hands to try and stop him but she was weak.

"Because she isn't my child!" Endymion hissed, "You were unfaithful to
me."

"You promised, Endymion, you swore on your life that you would stand by
me. I was honest with you!" Serenity yelled in anger, "I was honest with
you. You knew that I was vulnerable. You were gone. To me you were dead.
What was I supposed to do!" She never saw the blow coming, her head
snapped around and the salty taste of blood seeped into her mouth.

"Never ever doubt my power," he hissed dangerously quiet, "Never ever
doubt what I'll do."

He tightened his grip and Serenity desperately sought something,
anything to let him go. Her hand alighted upon something solid and
metallic. Grasping it, she brought it up in a long swinging arc, her
desperation channeling into strength. Suddenly, she found herself
dropping as her husband let go and crumpled to the floor. In her hand,
she held the bloody end of the fireplace poker. She stood stunned
for several seconds before hurry as best she could of of the room.
How much time had she bought? "Kami-sama let it be enough." Serenity
whispred as she entred Usagi room.

In the small reading room Endymion gave a moan and stirred slightly.
"Serenity..." Endymion whispred out through gritted teeth, "I'm going
to kill you!"

End of Part one



Doug

"I write in broad tapestries, interweaving characters lives leaving
 the little details to the reader unless the detials are important."
	- Anne McCaffrey

"I am Sailor Chibi-Earth! And I will sit you in the corner!"
	- Tsukino Misako, ToYV#6

http://log.on.ca/users/helm/anime/index.htm
http://log.on.ca/users/helm/sako/sakohome.htm
http://log.on.ca/gbaac/index.htm