A Rock and a Hard Place

It's like I'm falling through my own fears

They used to haunt me, but now they're not here

There's no looking back, my future is clear

No giving up

And I'm holding on when it gets rough

'Cause you can get through most anything

-Believe, Suzie McNeil

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Chapter 1:

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An era ago...a kingdom far away...

The palace was wrought with tension, as the inhabitants waited for the arrival of the Queen Beryl. Messengers and servants throughout the castle scurried back and forth, while fear hung lightly in the air. Many were unsure of what the Queen would discuss, because they lived in a peaceful era., and many were scared it would change. The Terrans, people of Earth held morals and ethics high up on a pedestal. Whatever the Queen proposed, would incite an era of war, of that, no one doubted. They each remembered the stench of blood reeking the palace and the corpses that lay along the ground. She was deadly, treacherous, and merciless. If the Queen gave an ultimatum, it was guaranteed that the king would take it, and no one could blame him. Already unhinged by the death of his wife, he would become mad if something happened to the young Prince Endymion.

The royals sat quietly in the throne room, a rendering silence falling upon them. The king had debated with himself whether or not his son should come, but he had decided it was for the best. At nine years of age, he deemed his son mature enough.

Attendants near the door soon heard the distinct sound of a slow rhythmic knocking, and opened the giant doors to let the visitor in. A beautiful woman stood in the center of the grand room and around her stood ten menacing guards holding sharp weapons.

Finally, finding his voice the king gestured toward the seat facing him. "Please sit down."

Beryl settled down comfortable on the chair and raised an eyebrow at him. "I have come here to give you a choice, King Edmond. It is a simple decision which I know will be beneficial to your own kingdom," she drawled. Her long nails tapped the table impatiently.

Already sweat was forming on the brow of the king, while the prince looked on bewildered at the effect this witch had on his father.

Beryl continued, "Join me Edmond, and feel what it's like to be on the winning side. We are going to crush the Lunarians together, and you can bring them into slavery or simply dispose of them."

The King was astonished, and again, the word was caught in his throat, but he did manage to choke it out. "Genoicde?"

She was unfazed by the question, and coolly said, "If you wish to put it that way." Her hatred of the Lunarians was known throughout the entire universe. She warred constantly with them, for which reason he did not know. Too afraid of her wrath, he did not bother to ask her motive for defeating the Lunarians.

The King gazed at his son, wondering what the future would hold for him. He needed to secure his son's future, ensure his rule, and he knew the strength of Beryl's highly trained army firsthand. They would have no chance even if they allied themselves with the Lunarians. They were perceived as a highly peaceful race, and never having gone to war with them, he thought they would not be much help in their plight.

This was for his son.

"I will join forces with you, Queen Beryl," the voice was detached and not his own.

A slow smile appeared on her face. "Good. We will draw up the signing documents soon enough. We will make the attack in a month's time. By the time we are finished there will be no Moon."

As if she forgot something she stopped abruptly, and the smile diminished. "There is also one more thing. In ten year's time I will come again, and we will ensure the annihilation of the Lunarians. If you cannot attend, due to your…health, or if you have died before that meeting time, you will have a replacement in your stead, and I will accept no other than your son."

The King nodded.

The prince wanted to shake his head in a different answer, but nodded curtly imitating his father.

"I will see you then."

Her long wavy crimson hair followed her as she began her departure, leaving behind a trail of desperation. Contrary to what everyone said, darkness did not just follow her, it was her very existence.

The King let out a broken wail that echoed throughout the palace, knowing he made a deal with the devil.

Queen Amherst lay dead by her hand.

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Two months later…

Queen Selenity ran her thin fingers through her daughter's beautiful shining gold hair, tears falling down her face. A strange, and alarmingly loud banging on the door startled both daughter and mother out of their reverie, and she clutched her daughter one last time. "Serenity," she whispered.

"Mother…" All she wanted to do was keep this in her memory. The image of a silver-haired queen, gracious and beautiful, and radiating love.

"I don't want you to remember this. I want to take you away from this, but I can't," Selenity sobbed. A gold light enveloped both of them and pushed itself into her daughter. "You won't remember any of this until the time is right, but I've given you what is left of my powers. There is no hope in this battle. Queen Beryl only wants one thing, and that is the silver crystal and the power it holds, while the Terrans are also for our destruction. Your father is dead Serenity. Your father…" She could not continue.

Serenity's eyes pooled with tears. "No…"

"All I can ask of you to do is that when you remember everything I've told you is the time when you will have enough strength to carry through with your task. Guide and protect your people…"

Selenity smiled sadly, "…Queen Serenity."

As Serenity gasped, the doors opened slowly, and Selenity pushed her daughter off to the corner of the room, where a servant was ready to take her away. She was already dressed in the clothes of the servants, and her prominent features were disguised. Serenity pushed away from the servant, and cried out as her mother was struck dead, a spear through her stomach. She rushed toward her mother's body and wrapped her small body around her mother's bleeing middle, and sobbed uncontrollably.

Then, she heard a voice she was not likely to ever forget.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" A woman with dark red lipstick that matched her hair cackled, and Serenity cringed away from her long fingernails, still intent on holding her mother. Suddenly, the servant that was supposed to bring her to safety could take it no more, and rushed to Serenity's side to answer the witch. "Only a servant girl who has failed to evacuate the palace, ma'am."

Beryl turned her gaze on the plump servant woman in front of her. "She has such loyalty to her Queen at such a young age," Beryl remarked her gaze still upon Serenity. "Lock her up with the rest of the weeping Lunarians," she ordered to the guards, and they took her away swiftly, but she fought against the guards when she heard Beryl speak again to the servant. "As for you…" The words were cold an unforgiving.

Serenity kicked and scratched to no avail.

When she heard a thud on the ground she knew that Bessie, the faithful nursemaid was dead.

Serenity was only seven years old, and true to her mother's word, she did not remember who she was.

One month later…

"Good evening, Lunarians."

Serenity looked up, surprised at the commanding voice that came from the ten year old king. Her eyes scanned the reactions of her fellow people, and was not surprised that they could not hold the hatred that should have been in their eyes, toward a king that had no hand in their destruction.

She remembered the king's coronation very well. It was one of the things she could remember. Laying her eyes on him, she remembered the feeling of being pulled into his dark, intense eyes. A king covered in roses.

King Endymion began to speak again. "My father, the previous king had decreed, before this war, that all Lunarians were to become slaves." He paused as the surviving Lunarians registered this, and gasped. "I do not intend to do that. It was not a fair judgment, so I give you the freedom of every Terran. For the men, they can go outside the palace and continue their trade or work in the city. For women, there is work in the city where you will be taught a trade also."

"On Earth we have developed gender equality." At the confused silence he continued. "That means, for every person whether they be male or female, may become a soldier- a fighter in the Terran Army."

The women were astonished and did not know what to say. Serenity thought coldly, "He is a fool." He did not know the magic the Lunarians hold- what Queen Beryl wanted so badly. The women and men did not need to fight. With their gifts, they were supposed to protect themselves. In the war, they could not use their powers. Queen Beryl had suppressed their gifts for the length of two months in which she conquered their race.

Through her mind, she heard whisperings. 'Do not let the Terrans know about our powers. We will escape one day. For now, Lunarians, you should all do some sort of work, so that we may be spread throughout their world.' She knew that whisper had gone through all the minds of the Lunarians through their ability for telepathy, and nodded her head in agreement.

Endymion, unaware of their deception continued. "Those who want to train shall stay here. The rest will be given leave." He nodded to the guards, and the doors were opened. Most of the Lunarians exited the palace to begin new lives, while a few stayed behind.

Serenity knew that she wanted to fight, to be able to take that king, so assured of himself, off his throne. She would train and take her own revenge.

Bringing back her people was the only thing on her mind. Of her life as a Lunarian she did not remember much, but she did remember her name.

Usagi…Usagi Tsukino

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Presently, 9 years later…

"Usagi-chan," Minako squealed, long blonde hair flying around her. The girls crowded around Usagi, all laughing and joyful. "We must prepare for the feast we are to have in our king's honour."

Usagi smiled bitterly, remembering it was the anniversary of the day the Lunarians fell. The rest of the girls were Lunarians, but had moved to Earth earlier than she had, and were more Terran than Lunarian. One of the girls, Raye, was a cousin from Lunarian, not related by blood to the prince, but close enough to him personally to be part of his counsel. They were her closest friends in the army. Ami, being the smart one, Minako being the bubbly one, Raye being the stunning, but deadly beauty, and Makoto being the tough but lovable one.

Raye, with her striking raven hair laughed. "Prince Diamond will be attending," she said dreamily. "- and don't worry, Makoto, Andrew will be there."

Makoto blushed and shook her fist at Raye jokingly.

"Not to mention the four generals," Minako added.

"We should all get dressed up. C'mon, Usagi," Ami urged, ever the voice of reason.

Usagi pulled her hand away, reluctantly. "I'll catch up later. Don't worry."

She loved her friends but today she had something important to do, and as she passed by a mirror she was reminded why she did not even bother trying to dress up for the occasion. Looking in the mirror, she saw drab brown hair, and dark skin. She looked neither Lunarian nor Terran. She was just plain and ugly. She pulled herself away from the mirror and tied her hair up in a pony tail, and put on her uniform, stoically.

She took one last look in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction.

Usagi stood in the corner, hidden by the dark shadows. Her friends were in uniform, in lines that stretched across the entire arena. She saw Makoto who was supposed to be in front of in the lines, look anxiously around. Usagi almost wanted to join them, but reminded herself of her purpose.

Annually, they had a huge feast where they would celebrate the victory of the Terrans, and every year, Endymion was given challenges by furious Lunarians who wanted to defeat the king or in the case of some Terrans, they were friendly battles to test their king and themselves.

Usagi had been training hard, staying late everyday, and barely paying attention to her studies. She had been waiting for this day for many years. She had been holding back in class, so that she could take him by surprise. If she were to fail, she would gladly accept death.

As he did every year, the commanding general, Kunzite, announced, "Who would like to challenge the King?"

And like every year, someone stepped forward from the shadows, where she was standing. "I would like to challenge the King. If I win, I would like the position of second in command."

Usagi rolled her eyes, and there were some like this man who wanted to further their position, and many wanted the job of General Kunzite.

"No, Justin!" A woman yelled from the barracks. She knew that that was his girlfriend.

He ignored her, and strode up to the King who looked at him appraisingly. They shook hands, and then drew their swords. Justin was all red, and she presumed it was from drinking a little too much.

Nevertheless, she realized later as they started fighting, that he had good technique and stamina, and was not as drunk as she thought he was. They clashed swords and spun and ducked. Studying, Endymion, she realized he had not even broken a sweat while the other man was sweating in the gallons. As soon as their swords broke away from each other, Endymion thrust quickly, surprising the man, and he dropped his sword.

The King, the tip of his sword at Justin's throat, had won. He sheathed his sword and pulled the man up. "Not a bad fight," he commented.

The man nodded dully, and when the king did not ask a favour of him, returned to his spot in the lines.

"Anyone else?" Boomed the voice of General Kunzite.

Usagi's heart beat faster at the voice and quickly made a decision. She was better off if she went and fought hand-to-hand. He was too adept with the sword, while she was still clumsy with it even after all the practice. She stepped forward from the shadows, and found her voice, while many people in the lines looked astonished. "I wish to challenge the King."

All her friends looked at her in bewilderment, and cried out her name. Like the challenger before, she ignored their pleas, and walked forward.

King Endymion looked at her with interest, holding up a hand at his general to silence him. "What do you want in return?" He asked the petite girl before him.

She was suddenly struck with a feeling stirring deep within her as she looked at his tousled black hair and his handsome face. But she pushed it away and ducked her head in anger. "Your life."

The King chuckled darkly. "Very well, but for such a big wager, I will ask one thing of you, in private, when I win."

Usagi boiled at his presumptuous tone. "When I win," she retorted loudly.

His eyes danced with amusement.

She threw her sword to the ground, callously, gaining her confidence through her passionate anger. "No weapons."

He smirked, knowing it was because of the display with his sword a few moments ago, but had to ask anyway. "Why?"

Usagi smiled her usual cute smile, but held contrasting malice in her voice. "If," she said, stressing the word 'if', "If, I lose, I will die happy knowing that at least I laid a few punches on you."

This time he raised his eyebrow. "Really?" He asked as he unsheathed his sword and laid it to the ground.

General Kunzite knew Usagi pretty well, and they were on friendly terms. Recovering from the shock of the challenge, he pulled her aside. "Excuse me, Endymion."

"What are you doing, Usagi? Have you lost it?" His face was purple and he looked as if he were about to explode. Usagi patted him on the shoulder to calm him down a bit. "Relax, Kunzite, I know what I'm doing."

Endymion appeared before the both of them, asking, "Is there a problem?"

Kunzite was about to reply that there was a big one, but Usagi shook her head, the cold look appearing in her eyes. They walked back to the center of the arena, and Kunzite reluctantly, said, "Ready…" as they put up their fists, and then, "Begin!"

She attacked him first, sending him a flurry of roundhouse kicks and a series of furious punches that caught him off guard. He finally started to block some of the kicks and shuffle back. Usagi was furious. He did not look like he was in any pain at all. He stood their smiling still, waiting for her to attack. She rushed at him and did a turn around hook kick aimed at his head which he ducked and then started kicking him furiously again. Why would he not fight? Was it just because she was a girl? She would make him want to hurt her.

In addition to not wearing any weapons, for any type of training, they usually wore no armor or protective padding. That was all the incentive she needed to put one well-placed push kick aimed at his groin.

Luckily for him, he was able to side-step the kick and smiled grimly. "So you want to play dirty?"

Usagi did not reply, but tried concentrating on her task even more. As she expected, he did start attacking her. She blocked most of the attacks, but was cornered. She managed to get out of the corner and started to hit him harder, spinning around and attacking him, and faking, but he was relentless. "You know what? I want to end this," she heard him say distantly.

Usagi looked up at him confused. She wanted to end this as well. He jumped on her, and she fell flat to the ground. She groaned with pain on impact to the ground, and tried to squirm out and escape, but was pinned to the ground too well.

"Do you agree that you have lost?"

She managed to look up into his dark eyes. "I do," she whispered as tears started to come out of her eyes. She had failed her family. She had failed her people. All her hard work amounted to nothing. She wished she could use her powers, and kill him there and now, but it would be useless. She would now become an outcast. Her friends would not want to speak to her anymore, because she had betrayed the King.

And so, she whispered weakly, one last plea. "Kill me, please, your Majesty."

He was shocked at her command, and looked at her closely. " You still have to return my favour." He stood up. "I will call to you tomorrow about it. In the meantime, you will have to attend the feast, whether you like it or not."

Usagi dropped her eyes in sorrow. The ultimate embarrassment. "Yes, sire."

"The rest of you," he said to the rest of the soldiers, "prepare for the feast. You have two hours."

All of the people left, and Usagi felt deserted. The King ordered Kunzite out of the arena, and Endymion looked hard at the girl in front of him who must have been about sixteen. "You are good at fighting. I wouldn't kill anyone in my army who is as good as you."

Usagi was stunned at his compliment and sped away, hoping to take refuge in a dark linen closet. No matter what he said, she would not go to the feast. She'd rather starve for ten days straight.

…Although she would miss those yummy buns with the—She caught herself…No, she would not miss those.

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A/N :I don't know much about Sailor Moon, well about some of the side characters, so I'm not exactly sure how to use them. I hope this is okay.