The Criminals of the Kingdom

[Ordo]

I once heard it said that you could tell the quality of a civilization by looking at its criminals and that got me to thinking about Sailor Moon. Specifically the old Silver Millennium Kingdom. Aside from Beryl and her mistress, weÆre not given much insight into villains of the time, the legal system, or the kinds of crimes that were regularly committed during this time period.

This leaves us some interesting wiggle room.

All right, this is barely a proto-thought in my head so I am asking you guys to posit the kinds of people that would receive the sentence of æLife in PrisonÆ or æExileÆ from the Silver Millennium Kingdom. What would it take to be banished from this great empire to the cold depths of space, what horrors would one have to commit to be bound for the rest of their life in chains?

And is it possible for the system to have been wrong, could the Silver Millennium have condemned an innocent man or woman to such a horrible fate? Even more, could someone whose committed such a heinous act change their ways given time?

I thank you all in advance for your help.

 

[Shaderic]

The first people that come to mind...

Psychopaths.

People like Charles Whitman, and what not. Others might be people who've just ... snapped and gone nuts.

If you really want to go off the deep end, try for 'Enlightened' people who believe that they 'Know what's best for society', and trying to seize strings... quietly, of course, and for the good of all.

 

[Deleted member 5249]

Before Metallia and Beryl, Queen Nehellenia was around. She was a evil sorceress who was sealed by Queen Serenity during the coronation of Princess Serenity. After being sealed she cursed the princess to die without inheriting the throne. She's basically the reason Metallia was successful.

"Selenity, my pretty girl. I'm truly glad you were born."

"Queen!?" Usagi thinks. "Is this a vision... of my previous life!?"

"Now, let us celebrate. Everyone, come in!"

Usagi looks around the room, and sees a large mirror on the wall.

"Nephrenia's mirror!? Why is it in the Queen's room!?"

Four small girls in sailor suits run into the room.

"Congratulations, Queen!"

"I've been waiting for you," says Queen Selenity. "Mercury! Mars! Jupiter! Venus! The four guardians of Princess Selenity!"

They kneel to her.

"Queen, we have been eagerly awaiting this time. We shall devote our lives to protecting her! So that someday, she may be Queen."

"Soon, she will grow, and catch up to you," says the Queen. "It shall be fun. I wonder what kind of princess she'll become."

People come to the Queen, bringing gifts.

"Queen, a gift!"

"Congratulations!"

"Here's a gift!"

A dark woman, cloaked in shadow, enters the room.

"I, too, have a gift," she says.

The four girls run between her and the baby.

"For the biggest celebration on the moon," Nehalennia says, "I was the only one not invited."

"That's right..." thinks Minako. "There was a single uninvited guest. She came trailing black shadows. That was the very inhabitant of the world of darkness!"

"Polluter of the holy palace!" shouts Venus. "Who are you!?"

"Well," says Nehalennia. "Even I live on the moon. But I come from the depths of the moon."

"You lie!" says Jupiter. "You don't live on the moon!"

"That's right!" says Mars. "You crept into this planet in secret, to spread your darkness as an incarnation of bewitching evil!"

"I remember," thinks Setsuna. "It was enclosed in my memory. What happened on that horrible day. The white light of the moon wasn't yet darkened by a single cloud. There was only peace and happiness. Where they came from, and since when they had been living deep in the moon, nobody noticed. Nobody knew that the power of light was drawing in darkness."

"Uninvited guest," says the Queen. "If you are looking for peace, and want to stay on this planet, we shall welcome you. But, I shall not allow you to bring the darkness of evil to this planet!"

"That's funny," says Nehalennia. "You, too, were brought to this planet from far across the galaxy. Are not our origins the same? Queen, the darkness is necessary. If you will simply take my hand... If you will accept the darkness..."

"Stranger!" shouts Mercury. "Begone this instant!"

"Where there is light, there is darkness. The darkness calls to the light, and the light shall call to the darkness again!!"

Nehalennia begins glowing with power.

Queen Selenity grasps the crescent moon wand, and holds it out at her.

Nehalennia is absorbed into the Mystical Silver Crystal.

"I seal you!" the Queen says. "Forever inside the world of darkness!"

She points the wand at the large mirror, and Nehalennia is spewed into it, locked inside.

"A present in celebration!" Nehalennia says. "That you should receive my beautiful curse! Before long, this kingdom shall perish. The beautiful Princess shall die without inheriting the throne. That is my present! And when my curse is fulfilled, the Silver Millennium shall be destroyed."

"By Nehalennia's curse..." Usagi thinks. "The Silver Millennium was destroyed!?"

Interestingly enough due to the lack of appearance of the Serenity's husband this chapter created the theory the Princess was a virgin birth.

On topic the one issue Neo-Queen Serenity had was murder. It was her berserk button. But she couldn't kill humans which is the sole reason Death Phantom was able to live. Nemesis was a stand-in for Capital Punishment though they stopped doing it after they sent him there. Until Black Moon took over.

Not to mention the Ginzuishou itself could basically do whatever the user wanted it to do in the manga. I would think it could judge someone fairly considering its origin.

 

[tsukiyomi]

The Ginzuishou (sp) seemed to work by what the user wanted, so any judgement it rendered would be influenced heavily/completely by the user.

 

[Deleted member 5249]

The Ginzuishou (sp) seemed to work by what the user wanted, so any judgement it rendered would be influenced heavily/completely by the user.

Mangaverse Queen Selenity died just because her heart was full of grief as she sealed Metallia. The Crystal always appeared to need pure intentions and a strong will to be used.

Besides do you really see Queen Serenity, Neo-Queen Serenity or Princess Lady Serenity wanting to imprison the innocent?

 

[AbyssalDaemon]

Not to mention the Ginzuishou itself could basically do whatever the user wanted it to do in the manga. I would think it could judge someone fairly considering its origin.

Sure for Usagi but I'm not quite so sure about Queen Serenity. When you compare Usagi's abilities with the Ginzuishou to her past self's mother it seems as through Usagi is far more interconnected and able to wield it then Queen Serenity was.

For the Queen it was a tool, a powerful tool but a tool none the less where as to Usagi the Ginzuishou almost seems to be a living extension of her.

 

[Deleted member 5249]

Not to mention the Ginzuishou itself could basically do whatever the user wanted it to do in the manga. I would think it could judge someone fairly considering its origin.

Sure for Usagi but I'm not quite so sure about Queen Serenity. When you compare Usagi's abilities with the Ginzuishou to her past self's mother it seems as through Usagi is far more interconnected and able to wield it then Queen Serenity was.

For the Queen it was a tool, a powerful tool but a tool none the less where as to Usagi the Ginzuishou almost seems to be a living extension of her.

Yes, it was a fairly useful tool. The only issue was that Queen Selenity also had a hell of a lot less experience with it compared to Usagi. She canonically used it only two times. Yet she was quite aware that the crystal could do multiple things. She just needed it for sealing.

 

[Zaru]

Ok kinda back on topic:

I would see people who opt for democracy as enemies of the state.

And maybe people who are rising in power as well.

 

[windstorm]

It's an interesting idea. I wonder how the Moon Kingdom would have dealt with political dissent, not just in the form of other people trying to take power but also in the sense of people devising alternative political ideologies, protesters or even just criticism of the monarchy.

 

[nick012000]

We know how Usagi dealt with it.

Mind-freems and/or exile.

 

[Ordo]

We know how Usagi dealt with it.

Mind-freems and/or exile.

Actaully, the whole cleansing thing is either something that only happened in the anime, or complete fanon, according to SeiyaXUsagi I think. Also, if you're talking about the Black Moon family, they were a bunch of fanatics so exile was a humane option.

 

[nick012000]

We know how Usagi dealt with it.

Mind-freems and/or exile.

Actaully, the whole cleansing thing is either something that only happened in the anime, or complete fanon, according to SeiyaXUsagi I think. Also, if you're talking about the Black Moon family, they were a bunch of fanatics so exile was a humane option.

If you're serious about dissent, you'd probably become a fanatic eventually given the brick wall that is Usagi's head. Good luck trying to get her to implement something like, say, democracy. She's the perfect queen, after all. What need would she have of democracy?

 

[Crusader]

How do you think the old Silver Millennium Kingdom handled vigilantes who thought that Queen Serenity's methods were too soft and decided to take the law in their own hands when it came to the worst offenders? And could they have prevented worse things than Nehellenia, Beryl and Metallia and what they wrought from coming to existence by committing vigilantism even if the Silver Millennium Kingdom could excommunicate them for their actions?

 

[Ordo]

We know how Usagi dealt with it.

Mind-freems and/or exile.

Actaully, the whole cleansing thing is either something that only happened in the anime, or complete fanon, according to SeiyaXUsagi I think. Also, if you're talking about the Black Moon family, they were a bunch of fanatics so exile was a humane option.

If you're serious about dissent, you'd probably become a fanatic eventually given the brick wall that is Usagi's head. Good luck trying to get her to implement something like, say, democracy. She's the perfect queen, after all. What need would she have of democracy?

I find it strange that I am once again defending Usagi. I am not Sailor Moon's biggest fan, though I do find the concepts of it's future interesting. That said, I dislike fanon interpretation even more, and I would like to spare SeiyaXUsagi the tedium of repeating past points.

Usagi accepted ages ago not everyone in the world was a good person. But she also believed people should be able their lives the way they wanted to.

You know what Serenity's like? She's like;

"I have the power to break this world and remake it, to take your lives and give them back, to bend your will or to make you break the heavens. Yet to you who are at my mercy, I would give my life and my soul a million times over."

Those who have power will always have the potential for great good or evil. To call Serenity evil just because she has power is to call all gods and superhumans evil.

 

[AbyssalDaemon]

Ok kinda back on topic:

I would see people who opt for democracy as enemies of the state.

And maybe people who are rising in power as well.

Doubtful unless we're dealing with the fanon Sailor Moon version. Even with what little where given portrays it has fairly good place. Also any type of democracy that pops up in it is probably not going to be all that similar to what we consider modern democracy.

 

[AbyssalDaemon]

We know how Usagi dealt with it.

Mind-freems and/or exile.

Both of those are fanon.

SeiyaxUsagi commented before over the anime purifying:

The belief that being "purified" leads to mind control is something that aslo happens to be fanon. Purification is not only a anime only thing, and is shown as the process of outside forces leaving your body. Whatever that purification is it ISN'T about enslaving people to one monochrome will, something that the Senshi's enemies often did and what they fought against tooth and nail against.

ItÆs the realization you can be yourself AND stand strong with others. And if you don't like it you are free to leave or return but not find strength and purpose in hurting others. A good example being how when Usagi purified Rei's lecher grandfather when he turned into one of the seven great youma in the dark kingdom arc of the anime. If we use the Crystal Tokyo- Fanon definition of purification he should no longer be a lecher but afterward he still was as big as one as ever.

Also as it's been commented before NO ONE was banished. The ancestors of the people who ended up on nemesis are flat-out stated to be religious nuts who thought that the infinite power of the Ginzuishou and its ability to give people eternal youth went against God's will and ended up willingly fleeing to Nemesis after being told by Wiseman that if they went there they could gain they could gain unlimited power.

If you're serious about dissent, you'd probably become a fanatic eventually given the brick wall that is Usagi's head. Good luck trying to get her to implement something like, say, democracy. She's the perfect queen, after all. What need would she have of democracy?

You mean besides the fact that she was democratically elected to her position? Or that she has shown that fact that she doesn't care about being a ruler and would rather just live her life normally?

 

[AbyssalDaemon]

How do you think the old Silver Millennium Kingdom handled vigilantes who thought that Queen Serenity's methods were too soft and decided to take the law in their own hands when it came to the worst offenders? And could they have prevented worse things than Nehellenia, Beryl and Metallia and what they wrought from coming to existence by committing vigilantism even if the Silver Millennium Kingdom could excommunicate them for their actions?

That type of thing actually might have played directly into Chaos's hands.

And there really wouldn't be much that that they'd be able to do keep entities like Nehellenia or Metallia from coming about given that they where all directly made by Chaos and unless you're either damn lucky or have the power to crack a planet open several times over you'd have better luck trying to assault a tank with a nerf bat then beat them.

 

[Crusader]

That type of thing actually might have played directly into Chaos's hands.

And there really wouldn't be much that that they'd be able to do keep entities like Nehellenia or Metallia from coming about given that they where all directly made by Chaos and unless you're either damn lucky or have the power to crack a planet open several times over you'd have better luck trying to assault a tank with a nerf bat then beat them.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions after all.

Many of their minions, on the other hand, are probably easier prey to take out in order to weaken and harass them enough.

 

[daniel_gudman]

To call Serenity evil just because she has power is to call all gods and superhumans evil.

Actually that's an interesting point.

But, since the power of the senshi is derived from the planet, it doesn't belong to them, the 14 y/o girl. It belongs to the planet and the constituency of the planet.

Usagi isn't Kal-el from space or Kakkarot from... also space, where they decided to use their massive internal strength to protect us. Usagi's power... does it really belong to her? I also note that they protected us from monsters. They never had, and never sought, political office. So I think that's a pretty stark comparison.

"Oh well Usagi didn't want to be Beloved President for Life, it was thrust upon her...."

No. I call bullshit. You don't get into high elected office unless you want it. Fuck, if you don't want it don't accept the nomination. You do not get a president-for-life that didn't want it. Anybody that says otherwise is part of the hype machine or lying.

I mean, it's a total Fantastic Aesop to begin with since magic doesn't exist so we're already assuming the most fundamental ethical advancement of the last 1000 years--the moral equality of all human beings--is a falsehood.

Also, I'd like to make PCHeinz's point: "if it happens in the anime, that's still canon."

Fundamentally I think the problem is the magical powers cannot be peacefully handed to a successor. They are lifetime appointments from birth. This is a big step back ethically and I think a lot of people feel this is turning back the clock on civilization.

Now if, for example, the senshi were re-built as mosaic organisms that operate as an attachment to a human that can be removed whenever the candidate is voted out of office and attached to the new representative.

I mean, hell, I'd even vote for Usagi. Twice, even. Maybe. But she had goddamn better follow George Washington's lead and retire after that and relinquish her power.

We're a democracy now. I guess you can take that away from us, provided we don't kill you first.

I guess what I'm saying is, Usagi could be the most benevolent dictator conceivable, but dictators are not to be abided. That is simply not up for compromise.

 

[EspyLacopa]

Actually that's an interesting point.

But, since the power of the senshi is derived from the planet, it doesn't belong to them, the 14 y/o girl. It belongs to the planet and the constituency of the planet.

Running with this: How about simply making them Avatars of their respective planet once they take on the senshi mantle?

 

[AbyssalDaemon]

They already are in canon. They're basically the manifestation of their planet's soul given a physical form.

 

[Minami]

Actually that's an interesting point.

Also, I'd like to make PCHeinz's point: "if it happens in the anime, that's still canon."

The thing I noticed was people who even use the anime get the series seriously wrong.

The purification debate for one since we've heard that term dozens of times before Crystal Tokyo and seen it in action.

As Seiyaxusagi pointed out earlier, people also stupidly make Anime! Usagi into somebody who would brainwash people into slaves just so they don't do evil things when to defeat Anime Chaos, she sent it into the hearts of everyone along with the light of hope where they belonged so the whole universe could fight it off instead of burdening just Galaxia. She even told the scared Galaxia, that they needed to believe in the strength of the people they protect. That senshi didn't need to do everything alone.


As for the Sailor Crystals. It's power belongs to the senshi. They are the souls of the planets, the same souls that make the planet livable in the first place. They are the incarnations of their planets. They feel pain when their planets feel pain. They are two halves of one whole.

Usagi's Silver Moon Crystal is especially special since it was apparently broken off of Guardian Cosmos' mother seed before it traveled to the moon. They have just as much right to this power as Goku or Superman does.

One thing you also seem to be ignoring is Crystal Tokyo is far from a peaceful place by the end of the series. It just appears to be one. Like they mentioned a lot in the series true peace is unattainable. Wiseman was nothing compared to the new, immortal threat they constantly now have to fear in Sailor Chaos.

Sailor Cosmos also warned the sailors that Sailor Chaos has the ability to damage the world/worlds so badly that even she couldn't fix it. She/he has the canon ability to make stupidly powerful incarnations that are unlike anything else in the universe.

Usagi is literally the only one in the whole galaxy, possibly the entire universe with the capability of stopping him/her and also the only one who can defeat it's children.

The universe mention because Chaos said merging with Usagi was all he needed to rule the universe.

As for Usagi's position. Chibi-Usa and Diana mentioned a few things that proved Neo-Queen Serenity hated her position, from the ceremonies to the politics. She tried her hardest to avoid them when possible. But at the same time Usagi is also the only one with the power to protect everyone on earth.

 

[icefire]

1. Agree with a lot of your points.

2. Most of us only watch the anime. I couldn't get past volume 1 of the manga. Does it get better? This is why you should seriously give us a break, Minami.

3. I agree with you on the point that people seem to make Usagi seem like an evil God, and I don't think that is correct. However, she is evil IN A SENSE. Not devil Evil. Not Brain wash evil. But Dictator evil. Not Hitler-Dicator evil, but something close to George Orwell dictator. She is a good person at heart, but the road to hell is PAVED in good INTENTIONS. In the anime she banned Nemesis after all. Seems kind of harsh to condemn an entire race, unless the Manga says different?

4. One of the reasons Sailor Moon Fanfiction is bearable is because we have our own interpretations on the characters. We can argue philosophy etc. In one fic I can make Tuxedo Mask seem like an epic bad ass, in another I can make him seem like a clown, in another I can do both. That's why we continue to read SM fanfiction!

 

[Minami]

The manga takes a while to pick up the pace. But I prefer it a lot more to the anime. Setsuna was less of a mystery and more of a average teenage girl who happened to double as a school nurse and a physics student while not being a senshi. She definitely was a lot happier. Michiru and Haruka were a lot less bitchy. Chibiusa and Mamoru were competent in battle. The outers were the inners mentors and Usagi was a pretty mature person when it came to fighting.

In the manga Nemesis was originally used to exile criminals as a replacement of capital punishment. A prime example of those exiled was Wiseman. Anime! Black Moon were descendants of what they even considered awful people. They were rather sympathetic and would have peacefully talked with Neo-Queen Serenity of them returning to earth if Wiseman didn't poison Diamond to attack them.

A similar thing happened in the manga. But the people who were living on Nemesis were either killed by Wiseman or the Black Moon clan who abandoned earth and poisoned Nemesis when they were mining for the black poison crystal. Just so they could rewrite history so they could rule it while considering eternal youth a crime against god. They were willing to destroy the entire universe through a paradox if they couldn't have it. They were religious terrorists who bombed cities and Diamond as his first act in front of Neo-Queen Serenity was murder a injured little girl searching for her mom. They were even implied to have never been human in the first place. Just unknowing descendants of wiseman.

Both versions IIRC mention Usagi fixing the problems so Black Moon wouldn't happen in the first place. The future is constantly changing after all in Sailor Moon.

Edit: I'm off to bed now.

 

[daniel_gudman]

Usagi is literally the only one in the whole galaxy, possibly the entire universe with the capability of stopping him/her and also the only one who can defeat it's children.

Yeah. According to Usagi and her clique.

...

Besides, defeating space monsters is a different responsibility than ruling the world. We'll give her a goddamn pension and pay her a stipend to kick Cuthulu's face in or whatever, maybe she could stave off Yog Sotheth, even.

The doctrine of separation of powers applies. The idea that Usagi wields that kind of power is equally an argument to exclude her from political appointment. Just so that there's that client relationship. Checks and balances, folks.