Serenity-Zane Starcatcher (Sailor Starcatcher)
Happy Halloween everyone! :)
Title: Wielder of the Galaxystar
Writer: SakuraZane
Canon: Dubbed anime, LOTR
Rating: Troll
Name: Serenity-Zane Starcatcher or “Neo-Queen Serenity-Zane Starcatcher, Senshi of the Milky Way, Wielder of the Galaxystar which is the Crystal Flame of Cosmos, Weaver-of- Stars, Bearer of the Staff of Polaris and Holder of the Silver Thread of Heaven”
Senshi Title: Sailor Starcatcher
Species: Elf, specifically the Azuka tribe, the most skillful and ancient of all of the Elven tribes of Middle Earth.
Hair: Silver with (dyed) black bangs, waist length
Eyes: Crystalline sapphire blue, turns an almost clear icy blue at one point, are described as dark later.
Unusual Markings/Colorations: A slender yet supple frame
Senshi Outfit: “Her Sailor Suit was black, and trimmed with metallic silver. Three large star-shaped earrings hung from each ear, and she wore a black choker with a silver charm on the front of it.”
Possessions: The Galaxystar, a locket that is the source of all of her power, (“It was round and made up of a base cut from the blackest, most highly polished obsidian. On its surface were nine shards of crystal arranged in the shape of a star, and they sparkled and shone as if the very stars of the Milky Way were caught within them. In the very center of the crystal star was another crystal, this one black, round and very smooth, and bordered with silver. In the spaces between the crystals and the edge of the locket was a graceful tracery of script in a strange language that no one seemed to know. [It’s written in liquid mithril.] The writing looked as if it had been wrought in silver, but the fine lines glimmered and flashed like no metal she had ever seen. It was almost white, like trapped moonlight.”) the Staff of Polaris, Galaxia, “the Equine Empress”, a unicorn that is the mother of Shadowfax. (“Over the hill before her bounded a massive, glorious creature, finer than any horse she'd ever seen. It was black, blacker than midnight on the dark side of the moon, blacker than onyx and obsidian. Its mane was long and white as snow, a blinding white that glistened like the inside of an oyster shell in the sunlight. The tail was likewise white, but the tip was black, as if it had been dusted with coal dust. Its hooves were silver and they seemed to be engraved with elaborate curling patterns and whorls. Around its graceful neck were dozens of delicate sparkling chains of silver from which hung pearls, crystals and silver charms. Upon its right haunch were patches of white shaped like five-pointed stars. It's eyes were blue jewels flecked with silver. But the most astounding feature of this animal was the single horn protruding from its forehead. It was as long as her arm, and seemed to be made of opal and mother-of-pearl, glowing and glistening with an inner fire. The huge beast came to Serenity-Zane, looked into her eyes, and, bending its front legs, bowed to her.”) Galaxia can fly and can instantly teleport to any location via the “Celestial Lanes”.
Guardians: None, the unicorn is enough.
Origin: Her mother, Lady Andromeda, was killed by Queen Beryl when she was younger. She found the Galaxystar and gave it to Serenity just before she passed. “She originally intended to use it as a weapon to defeat me. She knew those silly Sailor Scouts were too weak to hold off my power for long, so she found an object that supposedly gave great power to it's wielder, enough power to purify all the evil in this Universe. But she couldn't use it. She didn't have the power. However, she discovered that you did. You were one of the Lost Sailor Scouts, chosen to use it to its full power. She passed it on to you as protection until you were old enough to be taught its history and its true purpose.” She never knew her father.
Connections to Canon: She kills Queen Beryl for Moon and the others, since they all died during the battle. They were her only friends, even though they were all jealous of her power. After the battle, Galadriel appears, stops her from killing herself, and reveals to her that she is her aunt and the only one who can defeat the evil that has befallen Middle Earth. She is also Elrond’s daughter and will apparently also become the Queen of Middle Earth according to the “Prophecy of the Azuka”.
Senshi Moves: All of her attacks are elven spells.
Other Special Abilities: She can use elven magic. She’s got a great singing voice. “[the incantation] burst forth as a song, a sweet, sonorous melody that dripped like honey and gold upon any ear that heard it. The flowers upon the hill turned to her voice as if turning to the life-giving rays of the sun. Even the birds of the air wheeled about her, drawn to Serenity-Zane's song.” She can communicate telepathically with all animals.
Y’ados la petronia sk’dan ea: Turns her into She of Too Many Titles.
Melit i'adora dama t'met: Opens the portal to Middle Earth.
Annoying Traits: A single blast from the Staff of Polaris is strong enough to kill Queen Beryl. She cries crystal tears. Everyone at school teases her for no explained reason. “She is the fairest of any elf that has ever lived, and her power outstrips even that of the Valar [A/N: the Valar are the gods of Middle Earth :-)] She is pure and innocent, untouched by corruption. She is in every way the savior we've longed for these many years./”
Comments: A google search revealed this story’s little secret. (I guess pottersues hadn’t started her badfic contests yet. I’d love to do one of those. But I don’t have any SM merch to give away.)
Samples:
Serenity-Zane watched as an evil smile came to the malicious witch's face. "Y-you . . . you killed my mother?!" Queen Beryl's answering laugh filled her with loathing and hate.
"You should have heared your mother scream! She begged me to spare your life. The sound of blood chocking her throat as she died was marvelous."
Serenity-Zane felt the sorrow and the anguish being pressed away, forced down by a wellspring of anger and rage. Rage at all she had been put through. Rage at what had been done to her friends. Rage for her mother. Her crystalline eyes flashed angrily, their dark ocean blue depths becoming an icy blue so light they were almost clear. She struggled to her feet in the glacial wind, her silver hair whipping in the wind. Her usually carefree face was transformed from its usual soft expression intoa one of pure fury, a cold flaming wrath so frightful that the heaven's themselves would've fled her formidable countenance. The Galaxystar, as if awakened by the raw swelling of emotion welling up from its owner, began to glow and pulse in time to her heartbeat. Queen Beryl's laughter died in her throat as she watched the scene before her. Sailor Starcatcher was drawing on the power of the Galaxystar, and the Galaxystar was in turn drawing on the power of its owner. They were one.
"No," Queen Bearyl hoarsely cried. "It can't be."
Serenity-Zane Starcatcher stood like a phoenix of silver fire burning furiously upon the snow. Her eyes burned like white crystal coals, their cold heat piercing anything they gazed upon. As if summoned by the sheer power of her rage, the howling winds about her began to circle around her form, escalating in force thanks to the awesome power of the Sailor Senshi in their midst . Queen Beryl drew back and shielded her face with her arms as the winds began to buffet and lash against her. The very air pulsated with energy. The ire within the young girl seemed to take corporeal shape, as if her anger were a living thing. "I WILL DEFEAT YOU!!!" she screamed. She pulled the Galaxystar from her uniform and raised it to the sky. She cried out in a loud voice, "Y'ADOS LA PETRONIA SK'DAN EA!" There was a deafening boom and an effulgent flash of silver light so bright that even the sun would have been beaten back by its blazing radiance. Queen Beryl was thrown to the ground, cursing and spitting. Through the halo of illumination, she could see the outline of the girl, her lithe and sinuous form backlit by a spherical nimbus of silver rays. She seemed to float there, bathed in a living glow, while smoky wisps and tendrils of sparks and light spiralled around her, wrapping around her figure as if clothing her in stardust. There was another brilliant flash of light, and then silence. Queen Beryl opened her eyes, and the sight that met them filled her with awe and terror.
Serenity-Zane stood in the same place, but she was changed. She was both fearsome and beautiful, like a burgeoning storm in all its ferocity and glory. Even the scraping winter winds had died down in obeisance to her splendor. Gone was the silver and black Sailor Suit. In its place was a gown of black silk, velvet and gossamer, dark as the space between the stars and sheer and light as mist. Its edges were knitted with silver thread in elaborate star-shaped patterns, and studded with diamonds and crystals. Around her slender waist was a wide belt made of of silver fabric, attached by silver hoops and chains and strings of pearls and crystals that flashed and twinkled like tiny galaxies. Her hair was no longer silver, but white, billowing and flowing around her head like a pale nimbus of moonlight seen through a pool of liquid crystal. The two long bangs of black still hung down on either side of her face, but they were braided now with twine of silver string with pearls, crystals and star- shaped charms hooked into it. Her skin had taken on a pale ivory cast, smooth and perfect as polished marble, umblemished as a newborn's. All of the cuts and bruises had disappeared Tiny little pinpoints of light shone on the skin of her arms and face, as if she had been annointed with precious oils spangled with glitter dust. Even her fingernails reflected her newfound power, for they were long and smooth, and in the center of each nail was set a tiny crystal jewel. Her eyes were large and dark, her irises like looking glasses reflecting the deepness of space. Stars and galaxies and rainbow-colored nebulas swam within them, as did Infinity, and the wisdom of eons past. On her forehead was an elaborate star-shaped mark that seemed tatooed in metallic ink, and in the very center of the mark was a small round jewel. A tine star-shaped mark rested on the skin just beneath the corner of her left eye. Each ear had four piercings and earrings of silver, pearl and crystal dangled from her ears. In one hand she held a long staff made of ivory and carved with delicate patterns and star-shaped runes. The top of the staff was mounted with a large jagged clear chunk of crystal which had a perfectly carved black crystal which seemed to float inside it. It was the Staff of Polaris, the energy of the Guiding Star made tangible. Around her slender neck and shoulders she wore a large intricate silver necklace of delicate chains and large hoops studded with crystals and pearls, created by hands infinitely more skilled than any living human's, and hanging from this masterpiece, blazing and resplendent as a supernova, was the Galaxystar.
Serenity-Zane called out in a voice that wasn't her own, but seemed more powerful, more ageless, as if all the knowledge and power that had been gathered throughout all the ages of all the worlds were laden behind that voice. "I am Neo-Queen Serenity-Zane Starcatcher, Senshi of the Milky Way, Wielder of the Galaxystar which is the Crystal Flame of Cosmos, Weaver-of- Stars, Bearer of the Staff of Polaris and Holder of the Silver Thread of Heaven. I am drawn by Evil, and Evil flees my Light. Queen Beryl, your evil has gone on long enough. Too many have suffered at your hands, but I have come to put an end to your reign of terror." The dark, caliginous eyes drilled into her very being, and in them Queen Beryl saw Eternity. And Death.
Queen Beryl babbled inchorently, struggling to scramble away from the holy wrath being directed at her, but she didn't get far. Serenity-Zane pointed the Staff of Poloaris at the floundering sorceress, and from it came a magnificent pall of silver light and a blast of energy. It shattered the earth whereever it touched, and struck the queen with incredible force.
"NO! I CANNOT BE DEFEATED LIKE THIS!!!" She threw out her own blast of power to deflect Serenity-Zane's attack, but she could not hold it off for long. "Fool! You may think you have beaten me," she growled over the roar of the two combatting energies. "But there is another time, another place where I will rule supreme. You may destroy me here, but I live on elsewhere, and you can never follow me there. I'll return to wreck my vengeance, mark my words!"
"Be silent, foul, fork-toungued creature! I shall vanquish you in the name of the Cosmos. For my mother! For my friends! FOR EARTH!!!" With a last angry force of will strengthened her blast, and finally Queen Beryl dissappeared in a pall of white light, her final scream of rage and defeat echoing across the land.
--------------------------------------------------
Sakura-Zane wondered what her aunt was trying to accomplish by this action when she heard a horse's neigh, echoing across the valley. Suddenly, over the hill came a magnificent white stallion. It seemed to come toward them in slow motion, its main and tail billowing about it like white cloud. It stopped before Galadriel, intelligence glittering in its dark eyes as it nodded its great head at her. Galadriel patted the horse's muzzle affectionately. "This is Shadowfax, the lord of all horses," she said reverently.
"Lord of horses?"
"Yes. He is ancient, as old as the great wizard to whom he belongs. Gandalf the Grey allowed me to borrow him for the purpose of finding you."
"You have wizards here?"
Galadriel chuckled. "My, my, but you are full of questions. They will all be answered in due time. But you must have a horse of your own if you are travel to Rivendell."
"But I don't have a horse"
"Oh, but you do. You have only to call, and it will come."
The words came to Serenity-Zane instantly. She closed her eyes and recited the incantation, but instead of coming out in a whisper like Galadriel's, it burst forth as a song, a sweet, sonorous melody that dripped like honey and gold upon any ear that heard it. The flowers upon the hill turned to her voice as if turning to the life-giving rays of the sun. Even the birds of the air wheeled about her, drawn to Serenity-Zane's song. The haunting verse resonated across the valley, over the mountains, into the crystal blue dome of the sky. When the song was done and she opened her eyes again, the breath almost left her body as she beheld what her words had conjured.
Over the hill before her bounded a massive, glorious creature, finer than any horse she'd ever seen. It was black, blacker than midnight on the dark side of the moon, blacker than onyx and obsidian. Its mane was long and white as snow, a blinding white that glistened like the inside of an oyster shell in the sunlight. The tail was likewise white, but the tip was black, as if it had been dusted with coal dust. Its hooves were silver and they seemed to be engraved with elaborate curling patterns and whorls. Around its graceful neck were dozens of delicate sparkling chains of silver from which hung pearls, crystals and silver charms. Upon its right haunch were patches of white shaped like five-pointed stars. It's eyes were blue jewels flecked with silver. But the most astounding feature of this animal was the single horn protruding from its forehead. It was as long as her arm, and seemed to be made of opal and mother-of-pearl, glowing and glistening with an inner fire. The huge beast came to Serenity-Zane, looked into her eyes, and, bending its front legs, bowed to her.
"This," said Galadriel, "is Galaxia, the Equine Empress, and mother to Shadowfax. He may be the Lord of Horses, but Galaxia is mother to them all. And she is yours, Sailor Starcatcher, bound to you as you are now bound to her. You can communicate with her, just as you can with any other animal."
Serenity-Zane was dumbfounded. "Is this true?"
Amazingly, the unicorn replied, "Aye, my lady, it is true. Long have I waited for the Summons of the Lost One to call me to Her service. Your song called me from my long sleep. Now that you are here, my purpose in life shall be fulfilled. Come, friend, climb upon my back, and I will show you what wonders there are to see!"
Serenity-Zane grinned and giggled excitedly and prepared to mount the horse, when she realized the long flowing garments she wore would probably hinder her. She transformed back into Sailor Starcatcher. Her Sailor Suit was black, and trimmed with metallic silver. Three large star-shaped earrings hung from each ear, and she wore a black choker with a silver charm on the front of it. Her hair was silver again, and her eyes were their normal cerulean blue, sparkling with joy. She climbed onto Galaxia's bare back, and horse and rider bounded off over the hills.
"I can run faster than any horse, my lady," said Galaxia. "I can traverse the Celestial Lanes, planes of travel that can instantly take us anywhere we need to be, in this or any other world. However, I have been Sleeping for many eons, and it will take a while for my strength to build so I can perform such duties. There is one thing I can show you, though." There was laughter in the unicorn's voice. Her hooves seem to strike the ground in a blur, and Serenity-Zane felt a wave of energy thrum about her. Then there was a flash, and Serenity-Zane gasped. Galaxia had sprouted wings! They were gigantic and black as a raven's, and flecked here and there with a few white feathers. Galaxia spread her wings, and with a powerful stroke they left the ground and floated like laughing clouds into the waiting sky.
They could see all of Middle Earth from their vantage in the sky. Mountains, rivers, a great ocean and green sweeping plains teeming with villages and animals and life. "This will all be yours, my lady," said Galaxia. Once you defeat the Shadow that darkens our land, you will take your seat at the Throne of Middle Earth, and rule with peace and love. So says the Prophecy of the Azuka."
Serenity-Zane felt uncomfortable with Galaxia's words. She wasn't too sure she wanted to be a Queen. It would be so much responsibility! She wanted to be free to travel the mountains and the plains of this beautiful land. She wanted to be free of all the pain and anguish that had destroyed her life. She was pulled out of her reverie by th sight of a dark, cloudy spot over the horizon to the East. "What's that?" she asked.
She felt a shudder move through the animal beneath her."We must not speak of that place, my lady. Only when the time comes. We must land soon. I only have power enough for short flights, and my strength wanes." Galaxia wheeled around, soaring back to the hill where Galadrial awaited their return.
Title: Wielder of the Galaxystar
Writer: SakuraZane
Canon: Dubbed anime, LOTR
Rating: Troll
Name: Serenity-Zane Starcatcher or “Neo-Queen Serenity-Zane Starcatcher, Senshi of the Milky Way, Wielder of the Galaxystar which is the Crystal Flame of Cosmos, Weaver-of- Stars, Bearer of the Staff of Polaris and Holder of the Silver Thread of Heaven”
Senshi Title: Sailor Starcatcher
Species: Elf, specifically the Azuka tribe, the most skillful and ancient of all of the Elven tribes of Middle Earth.
Hair: Silver with (dyed) black bangs, waist length
Eyes: Crystalline sapphire blue, turns an almost clear icy blue at one point, are described as dark later.
Unusual Markings/Colorations: A slender yet supple frame
Senshi Outfit: “Her Sailor Suit was black, and trimmed with metallic silver. Three large star-shaped earrings hung from each ear, and she wore a black choker with a silver charm on the front of it.”
Possessions: The Galaxystar, a locket that is the source of all of her power, (“It was round and made up of a base cut from the blackest, most highly polished obsidian. On its surface were nine shards of crystal arranged in the shape of a star, and they sparkled and shone as if the very stars of the Milky Way were caught within them. In the very center of the crystal star was another crystal, this one black, round and very smooth, and bordered with silver. In the spaces between the crystals and the edge of the locket was a graceful tracery of script in a strange language that no one seemed to know. [It’s written in liquid mithril.] The writing looked as if it had been wrought in silver, but the fine lines glimmered and flashed like no metal she had ever seen. It was almost white, like trapped moonlight.”) the Staff of Polaris, Galaxia, “the Equine Empress”, a unicorn that is the mother of Shadowfax. (“Over the hill before her bounded a massive, glorious creature, finer than any horse she'd ever seen. It was black, blacker than midnight on the dark side of the moon, blacker than onyx and obsidian. Its mane was long and white as snow, a blinding white that glistened like the inside of an oyster shell in the sunlight. The tail was likewise white, but the tip was black, as if it had been dusted with coal dust. Its hooves were silver and they seemed to be engraved with elaborate curling patterns and whorls. Around its graceful neck were dozens of delicate sparkling chains of silver from which hung pearls, crystals and silver charms. Upon its right haunch were patches of white shaped like five-pointed stars. It's eyes were blue jewels flecked with silver. But the most astounding feature of this animal was the single horn protruding from its forehead. It was as long as her arm, and seemed to be made of opal and mother-of-pearl, glowing and glistening with an inner fire. The huge beast came to Serenity-Zane, looked into her eyes, and, bending its front legs, bowed to her.”) Galaxia can fly and can instantly teleport to any location via the “Celestial Lanes”.
Guardians: None, the unicorn is enough.
Origin: Her mother, Lady Andromeda, was killed by Queen Beryl when she was younger. She found the Galaxystar and gave it to Serenity just before she passed. “She originally intended to use it as a weapon to defeat me. She knew those silly Sailor Scouts were too weak to hold off my power for long, so she found an object that supposedly gave great power to it's wielder, enough power to purify all the evil in this Universe. But she couldn't use it. She didn't have the power. However, she discovered that you did. You were one of the Lost Sailor Scouts, chosen to use it to its full power. She passed it on to you as protection until you were old enough to be taught its history and its true purpose.” She never knew her father.
Connections to Canon: She kills Queen Beryl for Moon and the others, since they all died during the battle. They were her only friends, even though they were all jealous of her power. After the battle, Galadriel appears, stops her from killing herself, and reveals to her that she is her aunt and the only one who can defeat the evil that has befallen Middle Earth. She is also Elrond’s daughter and will apparently also become the Queen of Middle Earth according to the “Prophecy of the Azuka”.
Senshi Moves: All of her attacks are elven spells.
Other Special Abilities: She can use elven magic. She’s got a great singing voice. “[the incantation] burst forth as a song, a sweet, sonorous melody that dripped like honey and gold upon any ear that heard it. The flowers upon the hill turned to her voice as if turning to the life-giving rays of the sun. Even the birds of the air wheeled about her, drawn to Serenity-Zane's song.” She can communicate telepathically with all animals.
Y’ados la petronia sk’dan ea: Turns her into She of Too Many Titles.
Melit i'adora dama t'met: Opens the portal to Middle Earth.
Annoying Traits: A single blast from the Staff of Polaris is strong enough to kill Queen Beryl. She cries crystal tears. Everyone at school teases her for no explained reason. “She is the fairest of any elf that has ever lived, and her power outstrips even that of the Valar [A/N: the Valar are the gods of Middle Earth :-)] She is pure and innocent, untouched by corruption. She is in every way the savior we've longed for these many years./”
Comments: A google search revealed this story’s little secret. (I guess pottersues hadn’t started her badfic contests yet. I’d love to do one of those. But I don’t have any SM merch to give away.)
Samples:
Serenity-Zane watched as an evil smile came to the malicious witch's face. "Y-you . . . you killed my mother?!" Queen Beryl's answering laugh filled her with loathing and hate.
"You should have heared your mother scream! She begged me to spare your life. The sound of blood chocking her throat as she died was marvelous."
Serenity-Zane felt the sorrow and the anguish being pressed away, forced down by a wellspring of anger and rage. Rage at all she had been put through. Rage at what had been done to her friends. Rage for her mother. Her crystalline eyes flashed angrily, their dark ocean blue depths becoming an icy blue so light they were almost clear. She struggled to her feet in the glacial wind, her silver hair whipping in the wind. Her usually carefree face was transformed from its usual soft expression intoa one of pure fury, a cold flaming wrath so frightful that the heaven's themselves would've fled her formidable countenance. The Galaxystar, as if awakened by the raw swelling of emotion welling up from its owner, began to glow and pulse in time to her heartbeat. Queen Beryl's laughter died in her throat as she watched the scene before her. Sailor Starcatcher was drawing on the power of the Galaxystar, and the Galaxystar was in turn drawing on the power of its owner. They were one.
"No," Queen Bearyl hoarsely cried. "It can't be."
Serenity-Zane Starcatcher stood like a phoenix of silver fire burning furiously upon the snow. Her eyes burned like white crystal coals, their cold heat piercing anything they gazed upon. As if summoned by the sheer power of her rage, the howling winds about her began to circle around her form, escalating in force thanks to the awesome power of the Sailor Senshi in their midst . Queen Beryl drew back and shielded her face with her arms as the winds began to buffet and lash against her. The very air pulsated with energy. The ire within the young girl seemed to take corporeal shape, as if her anger were a living thing. "I WILL DEFEAT YOU!!!" she screamed. She pulled the Galaxystar from her uniform and raised it to the sky. She cried out in a loud voice, "Y'ADOS LA PETRONIA SK'DAN EA!" There was a deafening boom and an effulgent flash of silver light so bright that even the sun would have been beaten back by its blazing radiance. Queen Beryl was thrown to the ground, cursing and spitting. Through the halo of illumination, she could see the outline of the girl, her lithe and sinuous form backlit by a spherical nimbus of silver rays. She seemed to float there, bathed in a living glow, while smoky wisps and tendrils of sparks and light spiralled around her, wrapping around her figure as if clothing her in stardust. There was another brilliant flash of light, and then silence. Queen Beryl opened her eyes, and the sight that met them filled her with awe and terror.
Serenity-Zane stood in the same place, but she was changed. She was both fearsome and beautiful, like a burgeoning storm in all its ferocity and glory. Even the scraping winter winds had died down in obeisance to her splendor. Gone was the silver and black Sailor Suit. In its place was a gown of black silk, velvet and gossamer, dark as the space between the stars and sheer and light as mist. Its edges were knitted with silver thread in elaborate star-shaped patterns, and studded with diamonds and crystals. Around her slender waist was a wide belt made of of silver fabric, attached by silver hoops and chains and strings of pearls and crystals that flashed and twinkled like tiny galaxies. Her hair was no longer silver, but white, billowing and flowing around her head like a pale nimbus of moonlight seen through a pool of liquid crystal. The two long bangs of black still hung down on either side of her face, but they were braided now with twine of silver string with pearls, crystals and star- shaped charms hooked into it. Her skin had taken on a pale ivory cast, smooth and perfect as polished marble, umblemished as a newborn's. All of the cuts and bruises had disappeared Tiny little pinpoints of light shone on the skin of her arms and face, as if she had been annointed with precious oils spangled with glitter dust. Even her fingernails reflected her newfound power, for they were long and smooth, and in the center of each nail was set a tiny crystal jewel. Her eyes were large and dark, her irises like looking glasses reflecting the deepness of space. Stars and galaxies and rainbow-colored nebulas swam within them, as did Infinity, and the wisdom of eons past. On her forehead was an elaborate star-shaped mark that seemed tatooed in metallic ink, and in the very center of the mark was a small round jewel. A tine star-shaped mark rested on the skin just beneath the corner of her left eye. Each ear had four piercings and earrings of silver, pearl and crystal dangled from her ears. In one hand she held a long staff made of ivory and carved with delicate patterns and star-shaped runes. The top of the staff was mounted with a large jagged clear chunk of crystal which had a perfectly carved black crystal which seemed to float inside it. It was the Staff of Polaris, the energy of the Guiding Star made tangible. Around her slender neck and shoulders she wore a large intricate silver necklace of delicate chains and large hoops studded with crystals and pearls, created by hands infinitely more skilled than any living human's, and hanging from this masterpiece, blazing and resplendent as a supernova, was the Galaxystar.
Serenity-Zane called out in a voice that wasn't her own, but seemed more powerful, more ageless, as if all the knowledge and power that had been gathered throughout all the ages of all the worlds were laden behind that voice. "I am Neo-Queen Serenity-Zane Starcatcher, Senshi of the Milky Way, Wielder of the Galaxystar which is the Crystal Flame of Cosmos, Weaver-of- Stars, Bearer of the Staff of Polaris and Holder of the Silver Thread of Heaven. I am drawn by Evil, and Evil flees my Light. Queen Beryl, your evil has gone on long enough. Too many have suffered at your hands, but I have come to put an end to your reign of terror." The dark, caliginous eyes drilled into her very being, and in them Queen Beryl saw Eternity. And Death.
Queen Beryl babbled inchorently, struggling to scramble away from the holy wrath being directed at her, but she didn't get far. Serenity-Zane pointed the Staff of Poloaris at the floundering sorceress, and from it came a magnificent pall of silver light and a blast of energy. It shattered the earth whereever it touched, and struck the queen with incredible force.
"NO! I CANNOT BE DEFEATED LIKE THIS!!!" She threw out her own blast of power to deflect Serenity-Zane's attack, but she could not hold it off for long. "Fool! You may think you have beaten me," she growled over the roar of the two combatting energies. "But there is another time, another place where I will rule supreme. You may destroy me here, but I live on elsewhere, and you can never follow me there. I'll return to wreck my vengeance, mark my words!"
"Be silent, foul, fork-toungued creature! I shall vanquish you in the name of the Cosmos. For my mother! For my friends! FOR EARTH!!!" With a last angry force of will strengthened her blast, and finally Queen Beryl dissappeared in a pall of white light, her final scream of rage and defeat echoing across the land.
--------------------------------------------------
Sakura-Zane wondered what her aunt was trying to accomplish by this action when she heard a horse's neigh, echoing across the valley. Suddenly, over the hill came a magnificent white stallion. It seemed to come toward them in slow motion, its main and tail billowing about it like white cloud. It stopped before Galadriel, intelligence glittering in its dark eyes as it nodded its great head at her. Galadriel patted the horse's muzzle affectionately. "This is Shadowfax, the lord of all horses," she said reverently.
"Lord of horses?"
"Yes. He is ancient, as old as the great wizard to whom he belongs. Gandalf the Grey allowed me to borrow him for the purpose of finding you."
"You have wizards here?"
Galadriel chuckled. "My, my, but you are full of questions. They will all be answered in due time. But you must have a horse of your own if you are travel to Rivendell."
"But I don't have a horse"
"Oh, but you do. You have only to call, and it will come."
The words came to Serenity-Zane instantly. She closed her eyes and recited the incantation, but instead of coming out in a whisper like Galadriel's, it burst forth as a song, a sweet, sonorous melody that dripped like honey and gold upon any ear that heard it. The flowers upon the hill turned to her voice as if turning to the life-giving rays of the sun. Even the birds of the air wheeled about her, drawn to Serenity-Zane's song. The haunting verse resonated across the valley, over the mountains, into the crystal blue dome of the sky. When the song was done and she opened her eyes again, the breath almost left her body as she beheld what her words had conjured.
Over the hill before her bounded a massive, glorious creature, finer than any horse she'd ever seen. It was black, blacker than midnight on the dark side of the moon, blacker than onyx and obsidian. Its mane was long and white as snow, a blinding white that glistened like the inside of an oyster shell in the sunlight. The tail was likewise white, but the tip was black, as if it had been dusted with coal dust. Its hooves were silver and they seemed to be engraved with elaborate curling patterns and whorls. Around its graceful neck were dozens of delicate sparkling chains of silver from which hung pearls, crystals and silver charms. Upon its right haunch were patches of white shaped like five-pointed stars. It's eyes were blue jewels flecked with silver. But the most astounding feature of this animal was the single horn protruding from its forehead. It was as long as her arm, and seemed to be made of opal and mother-of-pearl, glowing and glistening with an inner fire. The huge beast came to Serenity-Zane, looked into her eyes, and, bending its front legs, bowed to her.
"This," said Galadriel, "is Galaxia, the Equine Empress, and mother to Shadowfax. He may be the Lord of Horses, but Galaxia is mother to them all. And she is yours, Sailor Starcatcher, bound to you as you are now bound to her. You can communicate with her, just as you can with any other animal."
Serenity-Zane was dumbfounded. "Is this true?"
Amazingly, the unicorn replied, "Aye, my lady, it is true. Long have I waited for the Summons of the Lost One to call me to Her service. Your song called me from my long sleep. Now that you are here, my purpose in life shall be fulfilled. Come, friend, climb upon my back, and I will show you what wonders there are to see!"
Serenity-Zane grinned and giggled excitedly and prepared to mount the horse, when she realized the long flowing garments she wore would probably hinder her. She transformed back into Sailor Starcatcher. Her Sailor Suit was black, and trimmed with metallic silver. Three large star-shaped earrings hung from each ear, and she wore a black choker with a silver charm on the front of it. Her hair was silver again, and her eyes were their normal cerulean blue, sparkling with joy. She climbed onto Galaxia's bare back, and horse and rider bounded off over the hills.
"I can run faster than any horse, my lady," said Galaxia. "I can traverse the Celestial Lanes, planes of travel that can instantly take us anywhere we need to be, in this or any other world. However, I have been Sleeping for many eons, and it will take a while for my strength to build so I can perform such duties. There is one thing I can show you, though." There was laughter in the unicorn's voice. Her hooves seem to strike the ground in a blur, and Serenity-Zane felt a wave of energy thrum about her. Then there was a flash, and Serenity-Zane gasped. Galaxia had sprouted wings! They were gigantic and black as a raven's, and flecked here and there with a few white feathers. Galaxia spread her wings, and with a powerful stroke they left the ground and floated like laughing clouds into the waiting sky.
They could see all of Middle Earth from their vantage in the sky. Mountains, rivers, a great ocean and green sweeping plains teeming with villages and animals and life. "This will all be yours, my lady," said Galaxia. Once you defeat the Shadow that darkens our land, you will take your seat at the Throne of Middle Earth, and rule with peace and love. So says the Prophecy of the Azuka."
Serenity-Zane felt uncomfortable with Galaxia's words. She wasn't too sure she wanted to be a Queen. It would be so much responsibility! She wanted to be free to travel the mountains and the plains of this beautiful land. She wanted to be free of all the pain and anguish that had destroyed her life. She was pulled out of her reverie by th sight of a dark, cloudy spot over the horizon to the East. "What's that?" she asked.
She felt a shudder move through the animal beneath her."We must not speak of that place, my lady. Only when the time comes. We must land soon. I only have power enough for short flights, and my strength wanes." Galaxia wheeled around, soaring back to the hill where Galadrial awaited their return.