Special Thanks: "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl for editing, good ideas and
                comments, and providing me with Sailor Moon stories to
                enjoy! Thanks Will!

                Doug Helm, Jendra and Andrew Hujsak for comments
                and suggestions which, IMHO, strengthened the
                story immensely. Thanks People!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, Sailor Senshi and all terms, names etc associated
            with the series are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi and Kodansha.
            The Guardians and everything pertaining to the Star Kingdoms are
            MINE!


                      Tales of the Moon Kingdom
                      Sailor Moon: Kin Sisters
                    By Eric "Greywolf" den Biesen

Vordin flew high above Crystal City, his Wing of twenty arrayed behind
him in formation. He kept watch over the retreating Youma in the
distance. <Another raid, another battle and another `victory',> he
thought wearily, <What ARE they up to?> This was the first raid that had
ever penetrated so deeply into the Crystal Kingdom, and Vordin was very
worried. General Kunzite had also warned him about something he called a
`Chaos Dragon', whatever that was.

A sudden blast of displaced air from above warned him. He looked up to
see a large black form descend on him as the other Kin cried out in
surprise. Agonizing pain shot through him as the black form struck him,
its razor sharp claws slashing viciously. He heard the battle cries of
his Wing when the darkness claimed him and he knew no more.


"But Auntie Maeribeth, if the other Kin could breath lightning, why
can't you?" eight year old Princess Serenity asked her teacher.
Maeribeth smiled at her insatiably curious young student. "Well
Hatchling, that's something we don't know for sure," she explained as
simply as she could, "It could be because this land is different from
the one my people came from. It chose to make us the way we...." She
stopped speaking, her head cocked to one side, as if listening.  She
gave a strangled gasp as her hands clasped her head. Her mouth opened in
a silent scream of agony, as the searing pain of a severed Pair Bond
blasted through her unguarded mind. She stood erect for a few seconds
more, her body trembling from the strain, before collapsing bonelessly
to the floor.

Serenity looked uncomprehendingly at her mother's unconscious Kin
Sister. "Auntie Maeribeth?" she whispered as she slowly approached her.
She put a small hand on her Aunt's shoulder and shook her. "Auntie! Wake
up!" Serenity whispered fiercely, "It's NOT funny!" Maeribeth did not
respond, her body was completely limp. She looked down at her Kin Aunt's
deathly pale face and felt terror overwhelm her. "Mommy!" she screamed,
tears falling from wide frightened eyes to stream down her cheeks,
"Mooooommmeeee!!"

The door of the Royal Apartment burst open at Serenity's cry, and
thirteen year old Mercury ran in with Jupiter right behind her.
"Serenity! What's wrong? Why did....?" Mercury broke off at sight of the
unconscious Dragonkin.

Rushing to her side, Mercury pulled out her computer as Jupiter joined
her. "Will she be alright, Ami?" Serenity pleaded tearfully.  Mercury
looked at her young Princess and knew she couldn't lie to her. "I don't
know yet, Poppet," she answered worriedly as she scanned Maeribeth with
her computer, "Can you do me a favor, Sweetie? Will you go and get your
mother?"

After young Serenity had left, Jupiter turned to Mercury. "Mercury,
shouldn't we have tried to calm her down, BEFORE sending her to get her
mother?" she asked with a frown, "She's going to worry a lot of people
when she bursts into the Throne Room in the state she's in!"

"Good!" Mercury answered without looking up from her computer, "They
SHOULD be worried!" Jupiter looked sharply at her companion. "You know
what's wrong with her?" Mercury shook her head slightly. "Not exactly."
she replied, perplexed, "It's similar to severe shock, but it's not
that." Her computer began to beep urgently. She touched a key and
gasped. She turned a horrified look at her friend. "Jupiter! Get a
healer! Quickly!" she cried turning back to her computer, "Her life
signs have gone critical AND THEY'RE FAILING!!" Jupiter took one
startled look at Mercury and rushed from the apartment, heading as fast
as she could run, for the Kin Healer who was based in the Palace.

Queen Serenity was deep in conversation with the Ambassador of the Mars
Kingdom when the Throne Room doors opened. Princess Serenity ran in,
sobbing wildly. "Mommy!" she cried, "I want my mother!"

Queen Serenity opened her mouth to scold her daughter, when the words
fled from her mind at the look on her child's face. The mother replaced
the queen as she rushed forward to embrace her hysterical child. She
rocked back and forth on her knees, soothing her trembling daughter. She
looked up at Avalon's approach. "Avalon, clear the Throne Room," she
ordered quietly while stroking her daughter's hair comfortingly,
"Audiences are over for now, until I learn what's happened." Avalon
nodded and moved off to implement his Queen's command.


General Kunzite cursed viciously as a fourth Dragonkin fell from the
sky, shredded by the claws of the Chaos Dragon. He looked to the north.
He could see the fleeing Youma were turning to return to the fray.

"They're helpless against the thing!" Zoisite cried. Kunzite studied his
companion grimly. "Considering it's at least three times their size AND
apparently immune to their powers, I'm not surprised." He continued to
watch the desperately one sided battle. "Zoisite, the Chaos Dragon is
fully occupied with the Kin Wing. Let's see if something mundane can
hurt him. Bring out our `little surprise'!"

Zoisite nodded and ran to the city gates. "Lieutenant, your men can
bring it out now," he ordered, "Hurry! The Kin Wing is taking dreadful
casualties! They can't hold much longer!"

A massive ballista rolled from the gates, slowly, pulled by lines of
sweating cursing soldiers, who struggled to get the massive weapon into
firing position. Kunzite continued to study the battle worriedly. The
Chaos Dragon was still fully occupied with the Wing's ragged survivors
and had not yet noticed the frantic activity on the ground.

Zoisite stood with his sword at the ready once the weapon was positioned
and waiting. He exchanged a concerned glance with Kunzite. <If only we
could get the attention of one of the Kin,> he fretted anxiously, <We
need a decoy to get the beast in our sights!>

He need not have worried. Galen noticed the huge ballista almost at
once, and realized what was needed. <They need a decoy,> he thought,
<Guess I'm elected!> He looked at the Chaos Dragon consideringly, and
roared out an insult. Though Galen spoke in Kaeloch, the tongue of
the Dragonkin, the tone of voice was unmistakable. The huge beast
bellowed in fury and Galen fled, the Chaos Dragon in angry pursuit.

Galen dove straight at the ballista, the Chaos Dragon following in his
wake. As Galen saw Zoisite's sword flash, he pulled up frantically.
Zoisite's sword came down slashing the rope holding the huge weapon
cocked. The bow snapped forward with a thunderous TWANG! A fifteen foot
bolt sped into the sky passing just beneath Galen as he continued to
climb.  His pursuer pulled up attempting to follow, exposing its chest.
The bolt struck, burying itself in the massive chest, almost to the
fletching.

The beast let out a deafening shriek of agony. "YES!" Zoisite crowed,
"BULLSEYE!" His expression changed to alarm. "Quick! Everyone, MOVE!"
They fled from the ballista as the dying Chaos Dragon continued its
dive, lacking the strength to pull out of it. It struck the ballista
still trying to pull out the bolt in its chest that was killing it.  An
explosion of light and dust. When the dust cleared, the Chaos Dragon was
gone.

Zoisite looked at the tangled wreckage of the ballista. "Oh well," he
remarked to Kunzite, "Back to the ol' drawing board!" Kunzite turned to
look north. "Look," he said, pointing. Everyone turned to look. The
Youma were retreating once more. The gathered soldiers cheered in
jubilation.

The cheers subsided as the ragged remnants of the Kin Wing landed around
them. Of a full Wing of twenty, only nine remained, and only two of
those were fit for duty.  Kunzite moved forward to offer his
condolences, and to consult with Galen on what to do next.

After a moment of discussion, Galen called a halt. "We will send another
Wing, My Lord Kunzite," Galen told him, "But I must get the remnants of
THIS one, back to the Moon." <And I must get to Mother!> he continued to
himself, grieved over his father's death and desperately worried about
his mother, <With mother deep in the throes of Bond Shock, My Queen will
be too grieved to realize she can save my mother with the Kin Bond!>


Once her daughter was calm enough to talk, Queen Serenity got the whole
story from her and her eyes widened in shock. She opened her senses
hurriedly and was staggered by a wave of searing pain and a grief so
intense that she was stunned by it. <Gods!> she thought, shaken. "Elder
Mercury! Come with me!" she commanded, "Something terrible has happened
to Maeribeth!" Picking up her daughter, she rushed from the Throne Room,
Elder Mercury on her heels. As she rushed to her Kin Sister's aid, she
failed to notice the Kin Guard in the Throne Room when they stiffened in
shock, as an open send from one of the Kin on Earth reached them.


Queen Serenity sat next to her bed, regarding its occupant with tear
filled eyes. <She has not stirred for almost two hours!> she thought,
swallowing a sob as she looked at her sister's snow white face. She
glanced at her daughter sleeping next to Maeribeth on the bed. With the
simplicity of youth, she felt that her presence alone might bring her
Aunt back from wherever she had fled. <And who knows,> she mused, <She
may even be right!>

Shortly after Maeribeth had been moved to the bed, Galen had returned
with the shattered remnants of Vordin's Wing. Avalon had already
informed them of the tragic battle on Earth. Now seeing the survivors,
it was driven home that Vordin, her Guard Commander, was dead. Now they
knew the reason for Maeribeth's collapse. The Kin Healer had told her
that her sister was suffering from `Bond Shock', the usually lethal
result of a Pair Bond severed by death. Galen, however, refused to
accept that his mother would die and had gone to the Kin Caverns for
help.

<What's taking him so long?> Queen Serenity thought impatiently, <If my
Kin Bond to her is the one way to save her, I want to do it while
there's still a chance!> She reached down and clasped her sister's cold
limp hand.  She brought it to her cheek and could hold her tears back no
longer.

"Oh Sister!" she sobbed out softly, tears streaming from her desolate
eyes, "Please don't leave me, PLEASE!" She bowed her head over
Maeribeth's hand.  "Oh if only I could DO something!" she choked out.

"Actually, My Queen, you can," a soft hesitant voice came from the
doorway.  Queen Serenity turned slowly to the door and wiped the tears
from her eyes so she could see her visitor clearly. A young girl stood
there, only five feet tall, with shoulder length curly silver hair.  On
her forehead, was the symbol of the Dragonkin. Queen Serenity gasped in
surprise. <Her symbol is GOLD!> she thought, shocked. She looked into
the Kin's eyes and received a second shock. Instead of the silver eyes
she expected, this Kin's eyes were blue, a blue so dark that it was
almost black. The child's posture indicated extreme nervousness, as if
ready to flee at any moment.

Galen stepped into the room and placed a calming hand on the young Kin's
shoulder. "This is Azeroth, My Queen," he explained, "She's only a
hatchling and this is her first time in the Capital. She's only
thirty-four years old." Queen Serenity gasped and rose to take the
trembling hatchling into her arms. "Galen! She's just a baby!" she
remonstrated, "Why bring the child here, of all places?!"

"Because, My Queen, Azeroth volunteered to come after I explained our
problem," he explained, not at all put off by the Queen's sudden
motherly demeanor, "She is the rarest and most precious of Dragonkin."
Azeroth, sensing the Queen's protectiveness, leaned into her and her
trembling stilled as Queen Serenity's arms tightened in soothing
security.  "Rarer even than Soul Healers?" she asked, curious in spite
of herself.  Galen nodded in affirmation. "Much rarer," he replied,
"Mother is the third Soul Healer born to the Moon Kingdom Dragonkin.
Though the other two are dead, there WERE three at one time. Azeroth is
the first of her kind to be born here. Sometimes, thousands of years can
pass before one like her is born to us. You see, Azeroth is an Empath!"

Queen Serenity looked down incredulously at the girl in her arms.
Azeroth stared back, her strange eyes meeting the Queen's. "It is true,"
Azeroth said softly, "You can use your Kin Bond to go into Eldara
Maeribeth's mind. I can help you by following the Eldara's emotions to
show you where in her mind she has withdrawn. Together, we can help her
come back out!"

<Ah, the simplicity of children!> Queen Serenity thought, meeting
Galen's eyes, <I hope it is as easy as that.> Azeroth led Queen Serenity
to the bed. She sat on one side and bade the Queen to take the other.
She placed her hands on the sides of Maeribeth's head. "My Queen, please
place your hands over mine and follow my lead," Azeroth instructed. She
looked up at the Queen hesitantly, and Serenity's gentle smile reassured
her.

"My Queen," she began softly, "This may be dangerous for you!" Serenity
frowned slightly. "How so, Hatchling?" Azeroth looked down at the
Eldara.  "The Eldara is near death," she explained slowly, not looking
at Serenity, "If she should die while you are in her mind, you, too,
will be lost! Only a Soul Healer could save you, and SHE is the only one
we have!" Serenity glanced at her daughter. <My little princess... my
successor,> she thought sadly, <Much too young to assume my Throne!
However....> She turned back to Azeroth, her eyes filled with resolve.
"In this instance, my duty is to my Kin Sister," she said firmly, "I'll
take that chance simply because it IS the only chance to save her!"
Azeroth smiled with relief. "I was hoping you would try, My Queen," she
whispered, "Place your hands atop mine."

The Queen placed her hands atop Azeroth's and both of them immediately
tranced. Galen cast a shield over the room to hold out foreign emotions
and waited, hoping against hope, that the Kin Bond would be enough to
save his critically ill mother. <Mother!> he thought, raising trembling
hands to rub eyes burning with unshed tears.

She was lost in the Dark. Adrift on a sea of nothingness, she grieved,
grieved as deeply as only someone who had lost lover and life partner
could grieve. She dimly perceived that she was in danger of losing
herself. <Bond Shock,> she thought dimly, <Do I care?>

<<Maeri! Maeri, answer me, please!>> That cry, a cry from someone she
knew, someone she loved dearly, affected her as nothing else could have.
She uncoiled herself from her fetal position slightly, a faint interest
in her pain filled silver eyes.

She listened, but did not reply. <<Maeri, please! I need you! Please
answer me!>> came the call again. Something stirred inside her at the
anguish in the call, but she still did not answer. <Leave me alone,> she
thought painfully to herself.

<<Kin Sister! I will NOT leave until you answer me!>> A hint of
impatience appeared in Maeribeth's eyes. <Fine. Then stay!> she thought.
<<Eldara,>> a soft childish voice whispered. Maeribeth's eyes widened
slightly. <That voice! It COULDN'T be!> <<Eldara,>> the child's voice
whispered again, <<Serenity will remain until you answer, and if you go
into the void while she is here, she will die too and the young Princess
will be all alone!>>

<No!> Maeribeth thought in anguish, <Don't force me to make that
choice!> She twisted in agony, her love for her Kin Sister at war with
her will to die. She thought of Serenity's desolation at Orion's death
and the Kin Bond that pulled her from the depths of despair. She thought
of the trying times as she worked to heal her Kin Sister's shattered
spirit and the joy of Princess Serenity's birth. And lastly, she thought
of the great love she had for her sister and which her sister had for
her. She felt terribly ashamed. <I am NOT alone, and I never have been!>
she thought.

<<Kin Sister! Answer me! PLEASE, I beg of you!>> THAT made her uncoil
completely, her eyes shocked. <Oh, you are selfish,> she admonished
herself, <To reduce her to begging!> She thrust down her grief and
allowed the love she had for Serenity to rise in it's stead, until she
felt choked by it. <<Serenity! Kin Sister! I am here!>>

Queen Serenity appeared before her, looking painfully relieved. At the
sight of her, Maeribeth's eyes filled with tears again. With a grief
stricken wail, she threw herself into her Kin Sister's arms. For a
timeless moment, there was no sound in the nothingness but the sound of
heart grief.  After a time, she looked up. <<Please forgive me,
Sister!>> Serenity gently wiped the tears from her Kin Sister's cheeks.
<<There is nothing to forgive. You answered. Azeroth is holding the link
open for us.  Please, beloved Sister, take my hand! Come out with me!>>

Maeribeth looked at Serenity. Serenity's eyes were filled with desperate
entreaty. <<PLEASE!>> She looked at her Sister's hand and reached out a
violently trembling hand to clasp it. Serenity smiled and returned the
clasp tightly then, she tugged hard.

She felt a moment of disorienting dizziness and next thing she knew, she
was coming out of her trance. Azeroth pulled back and smiled. "She is
back, Majesty!" she said joyfully, "She will wake soon so I will leave
now." Serenity cast a grateful smile on the child. "Thank you, my dear!
>From both of us."

At a movement from the bed, Serenity turned her full attention to its
occupant, only dimly noting Azeroth and Galen quietly leaving the room.
Serenity watched as Maeribeth's eyes fluttered open. As the pain of
grief hit her, Serenity took the grieving Dragonkin into her arms and
rocked her, crooning a wordless lullaby. Too weak even to sob, Maeribeth
clutched her Kin Sister tightly, her tears wetting Serenity's shoulder.

Princess Serenity awoke with a start. Looking up, she saw Maeribeth in
her mother's arms. With the clear sight of the young, she crawled up the
bed and hugged her Aunt tightly around the waist. One of the Dragonkin's
arms came down to clasp the child firmly as Maeribeth held on
desperately to her only anchors in a sea of pain.

"Kin Sister?" came a hoarse voice from against her shoulder. Serenity
looked down to see Maeribeth looking up at her. "Do you remember what I
said to you on the Crystal Mounts, after our ride?" Serenity nodded with
a sad smile. "I do indeed," she answered. "Well, I hope you're ready to
return the favor since I'm the one who needs the handkerchiefs now!"
Serenity felt a surge of joy. Maeribeth was smiling at her! A weak smile
to be sure, but a smile nonetheless. "I have all the hankies you'll ever
need," she replied, her tear filled eyes shining, "And I will be here
whenEVER you need me!" Princess Serenity looked up at that. "Me too!"
she piped up.  Maeribeth took the child and concentrated on soothing her
as Serenity looked on smiling.

<She will be well now,> she thought, <It will take time, but we have
that time now.> She looked up at the stars outside the window. <Vordin,
I'll look after her,> she vowed silently, <I swear it by the Moon!>

The End (For now)