Title : Zoycite - Fairest of All Author : Zoycite Rating : G Hello! I write Sailor Moon fiction that focuses on the villains, especially Malachite and Zoycite, since they are my favorites. All of my stories are based on the English dubbed Sailor Moon. This story is a version of the Snow White fairy tale, with Negaverse villains playing the roles. Zoycite is the star, of course. Thank you to everyone who enjoys my stories! Feel free to email me with any comments or story requests at princess_zoycite@hotmail.com ============================================================== Once, long ago, the Negaverse was a serene and resplendent place much like the kingdom of the moon. The just king Azurite and his wife Zoey ruled a crystal kingdom, sparking and radiant. They had a beautiful daughter. Her skin was fair, her lips were soft as rosepetals, and her hair as golden as sunset. She was called Zoycite. When Zoycite was very young, the good queen died and the king was broken hearted. For many years Azurite pined over the loss of his beloved Zoey. But at last he married again, bewitched by an enchantress with the power to seduce. Her name was Beryl – a beautiful but wicked woman with a hunger for power and a desire to rule over the Crystalverse. Although she was striking to look upon, with her long hair red as flame, her heart was cold and cruel. Azurite was saddened when he learned of her true nature. His grief over his departed wife and the regret of his mistake in marrying Beryl caused him to perish. Beryl did not care that the king had died, for now she alone could rule. The Crystalverse became dark and was known from then on as the Negaverse, with Beryl as the supreme ruler. She was very vain and cared only about herself. She could not bear the thought that any woman might be prettier than her. She had a magical mirror, dark and shadowy, hanging in her chamber. If one looked closely, he or she might see the faint outlines of a young man who was trapped inside the mirror. He had hair as light as sun, and eyes turquoise as the sea. His name was Jedite, and he had been imprisoned in the mirror by Beryl for his failures as a soldier. Jedite would tell Beryl anything she wished to know. Each day the queen would approach the mirror and say, "Mirror, Mirror, on the wall, Who is the fairest one of all?" Jedite would reply from within, "You, my queen, are the fairest in the land." And Beryl would smile in satisfaction, for she knew that Jedite always told her the truth. He could not lie, lest he be destroyed. As long as she was named as the fairest, Beryl was pleased. Once in a while, however, a different lady would be named. Then Beryl would fly into such a terrible rage that the glass of the mirror trembled, as Jedite shook in fear. And Beryl would order the poor lady to be killed, so that she would still remain fairest in all the land. Meanwhile, Zoycite was growing up to be more and more beautiful. The people of the kingdom whispered amongst themselves, commenting on her beauty, and fearing for her life should the queen deem her to be a threat. Beryl looked at Zoycite jealously. She was indeed becoming a beauty. At last Beryl could stand the sight of the lovely princess no longer. She banished Zoycite to the stables, to look after the horses. Her fine clothes were taken away, and she was forced to live in a small wooden cottage like the other servants. "Zoycite will soon lose her beauty," thought Beryl. "For how can she remain lovely in old clothes, covered in muck, with hands roughened by work, and hair full of straw?" Nevertheless, Beryl went to her mirror day after day and asked the same question. For a long time Jedite assured her that she was the fairest. Until one day, when Beryl spoke to her mirror as usual, there was a different answer. Jedite was filled with anxiety as Beryl spoke the words of her question, for the young girl whose beauty now surpassed that of the queen was none other than the princess. "Well?" Beryl demanded when Jedite did not answer. "Your Majesty," he replied nervously, "Surely you know the answer to that question by now." "Nonetheless, I wish to hear it anyway," Beryl replied. "Wouldn't you rather hear about the latest royal fashions?" Jedite asked with a weak smile. "Jedite do not try my patience. Answer the question." He kept silent, knowing how angry Beryl would be if she knew that Zoycite was now the fairest woman in the land. "Now, or I will crack the glass!" she hissed, coming dangerously close to the mirror. "You, my queen, are fair, 'tis true…" Beryl smiled. "Of course." "But Zoycite is now much fairer than you," Jedite finished, and disappeared quickly. "What!" Beryl was furious. She summoned her huntsman, Neflite. A tall, dark haired warrior entered the room. "Yes, my queen?" asked Neflite. He dreaded whatever orders Beryl had for him. He had much preferred to serve under the kind and just queen, Zoey. "Azurite's daughter," began Beryl. Neflite wondered what Beryl wanted him to do to this girl. Zoycite had been through so much already, with the death of her parents, and her new status as a stable maid. He tried to be kind to her, for he had admired her father, and she was the rightful heir to the throne. She seemed harmless enough, and smart enough not to mess with Beryl, but she was growing quite pretty. He saw the image of Jedite fading back into the darkness of the mirror. Neflite prayed that the mirror had not spoken of her beauty, thereby condemning Zoycite to death. "I want you to take her far away from here, deep into the wood and kill her," ordered Beryl. "Bring me her heart in this crystal box." Neflite did not really want to, but he knew he must obey his queen. There was no choice in the matter. If he disobeyed, another man would be asked to do the foul crime, and Neflite would most likely lose his position. He bowed his head in sorrow and obediently he went in search of the young girl. He found her at the stall of her favorite horse, petting his nose. Saying that she had been given the afternoon off, Neflite offered to give her a ride. Zoycite agreed, since it was rare that she was allowed away from the watchful eye of her stepmother. Neflite rode on his auburn steed with Zoycite sitting in front of him, holding on to the horse's mane, with no idea of what was in store for her. Deep into the forest they went, stopping in a little clearing filled with wildflowers. Neflite knew that Zoycite would not be able to resist them. "We will rest here," he said. Zoycite slid down from the horse and went to gather some. She did not notice Neflite taking out his knife and stealthily walking up behind her. To kill her. He hardened his nerves to do it. "Maybe it is better this way," he thought. "She will be free of Beryl's oppression." Sensing danger, Zoycite looked up and turned around just as Neflite was steeling himself for the kill. She gasped in horror and cried out, struggling to her feet. Neflite realized that he could not bring himself to do the foul deed Beryl had asked of him. He fell to his knees in front of Zoycite. "Forgive me, Zoycite, I was only carrying out Beryl's orders. She wishes your death. You must flee, far away from this land, lest she discover you and kill you herself, since I cannot do it." Zoycite was stunned. "But, why? Where will I go?" she burst out. "Anywhere," said Neflite gruffly, trying to control his pity for the young and delicate girl. "Just as long as it is far, far away. You must never return to the castle. Or you will die." He turned, mounted his stallion and rode away. Poor Zoycite stood there in the clearing, flowers scattered at her feet. She did not know where to go, and it would be getting dark soon. Beryl smiled with satisfaction when she saw Neflite riding up to the castle gates. Now Zoycite was no more, and she was once again the fairest woman in the land. Neflite held the crystal box in his hand, hoping he would fool the queen. It contained the heart of a young doe he had killed, in place of the princess. "Give it to me," Beryl commanded, extending her hand as Neflite approached her. Opening the box, and seeing the heart inside, a gleam came to her eyes. "You have done well," she told the huntsman. Neflite knew that he had done the right thing. He prayed to his favored constellations that Beryl would not discover that it was a young deer, and not a young girl whose heart she now possessed. He hoped that Zoycite would understand and find a place to stay. Somewhere where she would be safe from the evil queen. Zoycite had been walking deeper and deeper into the wood in the opposite direction of her home, frightened to be alone this far from the castle. Always she had been accompanied by an escort when she passed through the gates into the open land. But Neflite had left her, and she was unguarded in the blackness of the forest. Glowing eyes peered at Zoycite through the trees. Branches snagged her hair. Roots reached out to trip her. She did her best to ignore them and hurried on. It was getting darker and darker and she knew she must find someplace to stay for the night. Up ahead, the forest glowed with a faint light. The atmosphere seemed to change, and the plants were of different species. Zoycite made her way towards the glow and discovered that it came from a huge tree, its roots spread wide and its branches hanging over the ground like a canopy. In the dim shadows of the wood, this strange tree seemed warm and inviting. Zoycite curled up underneath it, close to the thick trunk, and fell asleep. When the dawn came, two lithe figures were standing over the princess, looking at her curiously. "Who is she?" asked one of them. "I don't know, Ann, she looks like a human girl." "A human girl? They hardly ever come this deep into the forest, Alan." "I know. I wonder how she came to be here. Our tree is miles away from any kingdom." "And no one lives in these woods but us." "What a pretty color," said Alan, picking up a lock of Zoycite's hair. "Like the sun." "Alan! You don't think she's prettier than me, do you?" "No, of course not, Ann," he assured her. "She's just different. I never saw such a creature." Zoycite's eyes fluttered open and she stared unbelieving at what she saw. The two beings standing above her looked human, but they had several distinct features which told her that was not the case. Their skin was tinted pale green, and their ears ended in a point, like a sprite's. Their hair was long, and two – toned. The girl had pink hair with light blue streaks in her bangs, and the boy had blue hair with pink streaks. Their outfits were unusual as well – dark bodysuits with gold metal wound decoratively around their chest, arms and legs, and a jewel just under the neckline. "Who are you?" asked Zoycite. "We are the children of the Tree of Life," said Alan. "It protects us and provides us with life energy. I am called Alan, and this is Ann, my soulmate." Ann beamed at Alan's endearment. "Are you a real human girl?" she asked Zoycite. "Yes, I'm human," answered Zoycite with a look that said it should be obvious. "We don't see many of your kind here," explained Alan. "We thought maybe you were in trouble." "Well, I-" Zoycite was exhausted and relieved to find someone at last. She told the story of how she had ended up there, Alan and Ann listening sympathetically. "That's terrible!" said Ann when Zoycite finished. "What kind of monsters are these humans?" said Alan angrily. "Oh, not all humans are evil," said Zoycite quickly. "Most of them are good people. It's just Beryl who is cruel and wicked. My father is gone and now she rules my kingdom. All must obey her, or she will punish them with death." "We thought there was a change. The energy around here has gotten darker. Maybe we will have to move." "Oh, Alan, no!" exclaimed Ann. "Don't worry, my love, not yet." He turned to Zoycite. "We will protect you from this Beryl. You can stay with us in our tree. It will look after you, too." The alien boy and girl brought Zoycite into the tree and let her touch the branches, so the tree could familiarize itself with her. "Are you hungry?" asked Alan. "We don't need to eat much, but I hear humans need food." "Yes, I haven't eaten for a while." "Ann, you stay with her. I'll go look for something." He leaped from the tree and disappeared into the forest. Ann smiled. A new friend could be interesting. "So, tell me all about humans. What's it like to be a princess?" As the days passed, Alan and Ann became Zoycite's friends. They looked out for her and showed her the secrets of the tree. But elsewhere, Beryl still reigned over the kingdom in darkness and evil. For a while she had been content with the heart resting in its box in her chamber. But just in case there were any new threats, she went to check her mirror. Fearfully, Jedite told her what he knew. "Zoycite is still fairest in the land…" "That cannot be true!" exclaimed Beryl. "I have her heart here in this crystal box." "It's the heart of a doe you hold in your hand. Zoycite still lives, deep in the forest." "What! I have been tricked!" cried Beryl, furious. "Where is she? Where does she live?" demanded the queen. "In the tree of life she dwells, protected by the two aliens that live there." "I will find her, and destroy her myself," said Beryl. "It is the only way to be sure. But not like this. I will need a disguise to make her trust me." Jedite watched in fascinated horror as the queen transformed herself. Her long blood red hair became white as snow. Her eyes became dim and grey, her visage lined, her limbs gnarled, and her clothes old and worn. Beryl cackled and the sound brought chills within the halls. Her voice had changed, she sounded old and frail. "They will never suspect an old woman capable of causing any harm," said Beryl, and packed a basket of pretty things to take to the princess, each poisoned with a special potion that would cause Zoycite to fall into a "sleeping death." "We are going out in search of fresh energy," said Alan. "Stay here and don't speak to any strangers." "I won't," promised Zoycite and waved goodbye. She settled into a tree branch, and sent cherry petals fluttering into the wind, watching them float on the breeze. It wasn't long before Beryl came creeping by. She saw the petals, and approached the source. Happy to find the princess alone, she came out of the shadows and stood beneath the great tree. "Hello?" she called innocently. "Anyone there?" "Hmm?" Zoycite looked down. Was that a person there? It seemed to be an old lady. But what was she doing alone in the wood? "Please, I am lost. I have been wandering for days. Can you help me?" asked Beryl. "I need a safe place to rest these old bones." Zoycite figured there was no harm in helping an old woman, so she made her way down the tree to her. "You can rest here, in the tree, if you want." "Oh, thank you!" said Beryl, ecstatic that Zoycite had fallen for her disguise. "I was taking a shortcut and I got lost here in this forest. I am a peddler. Perhaps you would be interested in something for your trouble?" Zoycite saw an apple, ripe and red in the queen's basket. "May I have that?" she asked. "Of course my dear," said Beryl, smiling, and handed her the apple. "It's a special kind of apple. Go on, try it." Zoycite took a bite and savored its sweetness. But then the sweet taste turned bitter, and she began to feel faint. "What – what's happening to me?" she asked. Beryl shed her disguise and laughed with glee as Zoycite collapsed. "You will sleep forever, and I will remain fairest of all!" When Alan and Ann returned, they found Zoycite lying motionless on the forest floor, an apple in the palm of her hand. "What happened to her?" cried Ann. "It must be the work of evil. This is no ordinary apple." Alan examined the poisoned fruit. It was filled with negative energy. "Maybe we can revive her with the energy of the Tree of Life," said Ann. They tried, but it was no use. The sleep could not be broken, even with the energy of the tree. "It's some kind of a spell," said Alan. "The tree can't revive her. I don't know how to break it." Sadly, Alan and Ann laid Zoycite on a thick branch of their tree, and surrounded her with flowers. The tree watched over her as she slept. "Beryl will pay for this," said Alan. "Ann, we will do what we should have done long ago." "What do you mean, Alan?" questioned Ann. "Unite all our forces against this evil queen. We will put an end to her wickedness." Alan and Ann summoned forth all their brother and sister aliens to the Negaverse, and prepared to lead them in an attack on the castle. In their absence, a sorcerer named Malachite came into the forest, in search of the mysterious Tree of Life. He was intrigued by the mystery of the tree, and sought its power. Angered by the loss of Azurite, he thought maybe it could help him in his wish to be rid of Beryl. Seeing a woman lying in the boughs, Malachite climbed up to take a closer look. "Whatever is this girl doing here?" he wondered, staring at the princess. He was entranced by Zoycite's beauty. "She is most fair. I wonder where she is from." He stroked his hand over her soft hair and her forehead, hoping that she might wake up. But the princess remained still. "She cannot be dead," he thought. "She appears to be only sleeping." He leaned down and felt her heartbeat beneath her chest. He brushed his lips against hers. Slowly her eyes opened and she smiled at the handsome man. "Thank you," she said. "You have freed me." She leaned against him, and Malachite held her in his arms. Her body warmed with renewed life. When Alan and Ann returned, pleased with their victory, they were surprised to see Zoycite awake and Malachite by her side. "Zoycite, you're awake again!" cried Ann. "Yes, thanks to Malachite," she said, smiling at the man she was quickly developing a deep attraction to. "But I fear Beryl will just try something else now." "I would destroy her before any harm came to you," said Malachite. "That won't be necessary," said Alan. "We destroyed her." "You? All by yourselves?" "With the help of all our kin," said Ann, indicating the many shadows mixed in with the tree trunks. "Who are they?" asked Malachite, looking with amazement at the aliens. "The children of the Tree of Life," said Zoycite. "And our friends." Zoycite went back to her kingdom with Malachite and they ruled as king and queen. Malachite used his powers to set Jedite free from the mirror, and the land returned to its former crystal beauty. And the aliens were welcome guests at the palace, when they chose to venture out of their forest.