All C&C is welcome, though there might be a slight
delay. I have vowed to have e-mail access only twice 
a week.
(Must stop... addiction...try to... fight... ^_^)


Disclaimer:

    The Rose of Versailles is owned by Ryoko Ikeda. All 
licenses belong to the proper people. This is used without 
permission.

    Sailormoon is owned by Naoko Takeuchi. All licenses 
belong to the proper people. This is used without 
permission.

   This disclaimer also applies to several intellectual 
properties referred to in the text. Please be guided 
accordingly.

    This file can be freely distributed so long as it 
appears in its complete form and proper credit given. No 
part may be reproduced for monetary gain without permission 
from the author.

*******************************************

"Is it a sin to ask for a happy ending?"

  - a quote attributed to Sir Percy Blakeney 

*******************************************

Le Chevalier du Claire de Lune

A Sailormoon/Rose of Versailles Vignette

Part of the "Dances Set To The Music Of Time" sequence

Written by Elsa Bibat

*******************************************

June 1789:

To say that Oscar Francois de Jarjayes was angry at 
the moment would be an understatement.

"I'm going to do WHAT!?"

The fact that she was abducted at gunpoint in broad 
daylight and bundled into the carriage they were currently 
riding in was one of the factors contributing to her current 
state of displeasure.

"You and your manservant are going to England."

The two people in front of her were the other factors. 

The woman looked to be Italian, with the touch of the 
South Mediterranean obvious on her skin and the lilting 
accent. Her coiffured hair seemed to change color from brown
to black to a strange greenish tint as the sunlight played 
around her head. Her eyes had a distinct reddish tint. 
Obviously the results of inbreeding, Oscar snidely thought 
to herself. The woman had presented herself as the Countess 
of Monte Cristo, wherever that was, and then gave Oscar the 
order that she should have her bags packed and be ready to 
leave France for England in two days.

Her silent companion was a tall Englishman dressed 
foppishly in the current fashion of the court. An obvious 
dandy, he had that sleepy look on his face, as if the 
proceedings were none of his concern. The only noticeable 
thing about him was his ring, a piece that was decorated by 
a strange gem that seemed to change color the same way his 
companion's hair color changed in the sunlight.  

"And why should I do that?!" 

The dandy was the one who answered. His French had 
that drawling quality that the English could only put into 
her mother tongue. It was irritating as hell. 

"Confidential orders from His Majesty, Louis XVI, of 
course."

Oscar could only blink at that statement. 

The Countess, feeling an opening, slipped in smoothly. 
"Sir Percy is telling the truth. I apologize if I had been 
too direct. Here, read this." The woman suddenly had a 
letter in her hand, the Royal Seal obvious for all to see.

"Where did-" Oscar started to ask the question that 
was in her mind when the one called Sir Percy interjected.

"Secret missives such as this must be protected in 
several ways. Let us just say that the Countess has several 
trick up her sleeve to ensure that they do not fall into the 
wrong hands."

Oscar inspected the letter's seal. It was undoubtedly 
the royal insignia affixed on the red wax. Opening it, she 
was surprised that the two before her were telling the 
truth.

"Why wasn't this given to me directly?" 

"Secrecy, mademoiselle," said Sir Percy with that 
horrible drawl of his. "His Majesty...or rather some of his 
advisors feel that there is a need for your service 
overseas." Seeing Oscar grimace, the Countess interjected. 
"Not as a spy, of course. The King would not ask that of 
you. You would be going there to assist Sir Percy."

"Assist this Englishman?! He cannot even speak French 
properly!"

The Countess smiled in response and continued. "Which 
is one of the reasons why the King is sending you to help 
him. There is trouble on the horizon and His Majesty needs 
someone he can trust by the side of Sir Percy. Though he may 
not look like much, he has the trust of your King and his."

Oscar gave the two of them a regarding glance and 
looked at the letter. It could have been a forgery. But she 
knew for some strange reason that it was not. 

"I would have to make arrangements-"

"You will be ready to leave in two days. You can bring 
up to five people, the accomodations that we have acquired 
for you enable that much. Everything that you need will be 
provided along with the specifics of your... mission. Plus 
there is a hundred louis waiting for you at your lodgings 
for your disposal. It was a pleasure meeting you and we hope 
to see you again."

The Countess had delivered the sentences in a direct 
manner that brooked no argument. As she finished, the 
carriage stopped and the door was open. 

"I believe you are were you need to be."

Oscar could only get out of the carriage. The 
Countess' voice had a strange power that compelled her 
obedience and that final sentence gave the entire affair a 
dream-like quality. 

But the letter was still in her hand and it told her 
to go to England.

Oscar just shook her head and went off to tell Andre 
of their new posting.

*******************************************

"Did you really have to do that?"

"Do what?"

"Degrade such a beautiful language, of course!"

"It is not my problem that the French happen to use 
sounds that only themselves and dogs could hear."

"But you're speaking it quite skillfully now."

"Alas, I cannot but help irritate women such as young 
Jarjayes. They remind me of you when we were younger."

The Countess of Monte Cristo gave Sir Percy Blakeney a 
stare that would have made a lesser man soil his trousers. 
Sir Percy just smiled and looked out the window. The 
Countess just sighed and she was silent as the Englishman 
continued. 

"She will definitely be useful for our purposes and 
her bloodline will be a definite plus."

"You mean we're not saving her for your sense of 
drama?"

"Well, that too. I attribute it to my recent 
infatuation. She is quite... stimulating. The romantic in me 
stirs."

"Yes, Marguerite is quite the enlightened young lady 
for this particular century. Though the fact that you have 
to act the buffoon at times most likely irritates her. You 
will marry her?"

"Of course. She has managed to catch my eye and I have 
gone for some time outside the married life. You, my dear 
sister, should find some decent men to while away the 
centuries with."

"Brother, the men of this age are pigs. Good in bed, 
but not for a long life with. Besides all the good men go 
for the sweet, simpering types."

"Then that means I am not a good man then." Sir Percy 
asked with an arched eyebrow.

"You never were a good man in the first place." 

"Touche. Anyway, I'm quite relieved that we managed to 
get Oscar out of here. As it is, we'll probably be cutting 
it close by a week."

"Your scryings are getting more powerful then?"

"Yes, though the Gates are still not totally 
accessible. I'll be off to England in a few days to set up 
our plans there. Will you be alright here?"

The Countess responded with an unladylike snort. "And 
who or what would threaten me here? Cagliostro and his bunch 
of incompetents? Besides, I still may head it off."

"Do not discount the alchemist out of the equation. He 
and his allies have still managed to turn France into a 
powder keg, even with the Soldats and our other organizations 
trying to stop them."

"As if they could kill the Child of a God. Still, I 
will be careful if you wish, little brother. Besides, I have 
several agents watching my back like young Moreau and that 
girl from Soldats. And the vampires of the Inquisition 
will deal with the more supernatural threats. And those that 
survive them will have to face me, of course."

"Take care all the same, sister. I do not know what 
would happen if I lost you." Sir Percy gave her a look that 
brooked no argument.

"And I do not know what I would do without you, 
brother. So we both promise to take care of ourselves, shall 
we?" 

The pair looked at each other in silent agreement, 
both pair of eyes seeming to burn with a strange, eldritch 
light, in the intensity of their gaze. Sir Percy slowly 
nodded and returned to regard the passing scenery outside 
with a sigh.

"What a terrible mess we have managed to make of 
Europe, sister."

"Not like the East, isn't it? A gaggle of secret 
societies, with a third of them working against us, another 
third working for us and the last third trying to get as 
much money for themselves. If this were China, we would have 
united the entire damn continent by now."

"A united Europe, under one leader, will most likely 
be a dream for another century or so. At least, the American 
colonies are doing well to unite themselves and the last I 
heard the Empire was still standing in China."

"It had damn better. Five hundred years of work should 
have made the damn place solid as a rock."  

The two were silent once again as they considered 
their particular problem.

"If they do succeed, we do have a backup plan don't 
we?"

"Le Soldats is working on that now. A judicious piece 
of assassination here and there will put our people in 
control. We might even be able to put someone in charge that 
could do what we have planned."

"Oh, do we have someone in mind?"

"Yes. Are you are acquainted with one of our agents in 
Corsica by the name of Carlo Buonoparte? You have met his 
young son here in Paris, I believe.

"Napoleon? Why, yes."

A Cheshire smile graced the Countess' face as she 
regarded her companion, a twinkle in her eyes as she started 
to explain.

"Good. You see, I have a plan..."

*******************************************

Author's Afterword

I always had conflicting emotions about the ending of Rose 
of Versailles. I mean ... it was tragic and all. But, I want 
more escapism than realism at times, but still it was a 
rather natural ending and, at least, Oscar got laid before 
she got blown away. 

As it is, in the "Dance" sequence, Oscar survives and her 
genetics get to be passed on to the next generation. Two of 
the Senshi and Tux-boy are descended from her and quite a few 
other heroes and heroines of the nineteenth and twentieth 
century. BTW, for the curious, Oscar Jarjayes was supposed to 
have died on July 13, 1789. Thus, the mention of cutting it 
close.

There are several references to other individuals and series 
in the "Dance" sequence. They range from the in-your-face 
reference for Noir, Dumas and Orczy to some of the more 
obscure ones. Good luck in finding them all! ^_^

C&C and historical corrections (I think I have Napoleon 
right but I could be wrong) are welcome.





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