The Winter Soldier and the Queen of the Moon [SailorBucky]

The next morning both Maeve and Bucky were silent, as neither of them really wanted to say goodbye, but they were compelled by their chosen circumstances. She accompanied him to the meeting point and as she imagined she found her companions, the sailor warriors who greeted their respective husbands who followed Bucky to defend him on the battlefield.

The next morning both Maeve and Bucky were silent, as neither of them really wanted to say goodbye, but they were compelled by their chosen circumstances. She accompanied him to the meeting point and as she imagined she found her companions, the sailor warriors who greeted their respective husbands who followed Bucky to defend him on the battlefield.

«Barnes, we're just waiting for you!» a voice said, and Maeve smiled at him.

«Listen to me." said the girl to her husband who nodded.

«I'll come home to you, I promise I'll write to you often and don't forget.»

«I promise I won't transform in Sailor Moon until you get back, I'll watch out for Howard and watch Steve from doing anything silly. Steve and his fixation on becoming a soldier.» said the blonde, who still had no idea that that night, Steve Rogers was selected by Dr. Erskine to face the training: according to the doctor, he was the best person to receive the super soldier serum.

They both knew, however, that the promise not to turn into a sailor warrior could not be kept, because if the world needed her, she would transform and rely as always on her friends.

The two parted with difficulty: Maeve and her friends reached the camp thanks to the sailor teleporter, dispersing to reach their positions and Peggy smiled as soon as she saw Maeve.

«Just in time! Let's go introduce ourselves to the recruits. I wonder why you decided not to accept oversight of the division, requesting that it be given to me.» Peggy said looking at her.

«You are better qualified than me for the job.» Maeve said, winking at her, implying—to prevent prying ears from figuring out who she really was—that if she was going to run elsewhere it was better for Peggy to be a point of contact.

«Recruits, Attention!» Maeve said as she walked beside Peggy Carter who spoke.

«Gentlemen, my name is Agent Carter. I will be supervising your induction today. She is Agent Kirk and she is my right hand man. If for some reason I am not present, you can and should refer to her without hesitation. To begin with, I shall need you to complete this document.»

«What’s with the accent, Queen Victoria? I thought I was signing up for the U.S. Army.» a soldier asked and Maeve rolled her eyes as she ordered a soldier to disturb some folders and at the same time there was an exchange between Peggy and the soldier who had been insubordinate. Her friend pulled him forward a few steps then punched him on the cheek and he fell to the ground and Maeve half-smiled.

She noticed after a few moments that Steve Rogers was in line and smiled as she noticed that he seemed definitely interested in Peggy. Not that there was actually anything wrong with it, in fact Maeve herself would probably have fallen in love with the girl too. She was intelligent and courageous, two qualities that the blonde didn't see in her, especially in her adolescence.

It was at that moment that Maeve realized that Steve had turned a little towards her. The two smiled at each other and Maeve gave her a wink.

«Soldiers, you better not mess with us.» Maeve said with a smile as a voice came from behind them.

«Agent Carter, Agent Kirk. I see you’re breaking in the candidates. That’s good.»

«General Philips.» they greeted the two cheerfully.

“You, get over there in that line and stand at attention until somebody tells you what to do.Watch out for the two officers, they are stronger than they look.» the general said to the boy who was still on the ground, who started the exercises: at the end of that week someone would become the supersoldier.

During the week Maeve was divided between army drills and helping Howard complete preparations for inoculation of the serum to the chosen one. The work had to be done quickly, but there was always some unforeseen event that delayed everything and she, Maeve, was the only patient person who could manage Howard's sometimes impetuous mood at work.

On the morning of the sixth day, Peggy asked Maeve if she could have her do the warm-up exercises because according to Agent Carter the moon princess tended to be too gentle and she needed her wrist for some exercises. Maeve joined Dr. Erskine and the general, the girl guessing that the two men were arguing about Steve.

"You don’t win wars with niceness, Doctor.»

«Shall we talk about Agent Kirk?» the doctor answered with a smile.

«Agent Kirk is nice, sure, but wars are won with guts and if our princess has them, let's see which of the soldiers has both combinations.» the general said, taking from the box of dummy grenades. They looked like real grenades, it had been difficult for Maeve to recognize a real one from a fake one used for training.

The man threw the grenade yelling, precisely «GRENADE!»

Everyone took cover, except Peggy who tried to reach it and Steve who threw himself over the grenade to contain the explosion and save everyone who was present.

«Get away! Get back!» Steve yelled.

«I don't mean to say, but it seems pretty heroic to me.» Maeve said, as someone told the soldiers it was a dummy grenade.

«He's too skinny.» said the general, leaving.

Only the doctor and Maeve remained and Maeve looked at the man.

«Doctor, I think you made the right choice. Steve Rogers is a good man.” she said, looking at the time.

«Thank you. Should you go back to Mr. Stark, Agent?» he asked, kindly.

«Yes, I'm helping him with final preparations for tomorrow.» she said, optimistic.

«Good.» the man said and they took his leave.

Upon arriving at the lab, Howard was starting to get impatient, but Maeve knew how to deal with his sometimes impulsive behavior and helped him. They lost track of time and by the time they finished checking that everything was in order it was midnight.

«Come on Mae, I'll take you home. Thank you for your invaluable help." Howard said and the blonde nodded.

«Don't worry, I was pleased to help you.» Maeve said yawning.

The next day, it was the big day and Maeve was helping Howard check the last few levels at the factory when Peggy and Steve showed up.

«Mr. Stark, how are the levels?« the doctor asked.

«Levels at 100 percent.» the man answered.

«Good.»

«We may dim half the lights in Brooklyn, but we are ready as we'll ever be never be» Howard admitted.

«Agent Carter, Agent Kirk, don't you think you would be more comfortable in the booth?» the doctor asked the two women.

«Yes, of course, sorry.» Peggy said looking at Maeve who nodded and they both started walking towards the stairs.

“Oh no, Doctor. Agent Kirk is staying here with me, this result belongs to her too» Howard said and Maeve turned away confused.

«Mr. Stark...»

«Dr. Erskine, I know you would like to protect Agent Kirk, but I know what I'm doing.» the man answered.

«Very well, then let's begin. Come back here, agent.» Dr. Erskine said then taking the microphone and began to speak "Ladies and gentlemen, today we take not another step towards annihilation, but the first step on the path to peace.»

At that moment Howard nodded to her and while Dr Erskine explained the various procedures, Maeve helped him arrange the last things and bring the various machines close to where Steve was.

There was a countdown, and when Dr. Erskine said, "Now Mr. Stark» Maeve walked over to a panel and turned a couple of knobs. When she could proceed, she Maeve reached for the pair of sunglasses Howard was handing her before instinctively reaching for her brooch and finding it she calmed down for a moment, hoping that Bucky could somehow give her strength.

When the proceedings were started, Steve's screams frightened everyone present: Peggy shouted to stop the procedure, Dr. Erskine gave the order to stop the reactor, and both Howard and Maeve started to do it when Steve yelled not to , that he could have done it. When the capsule in which the boy had been locked up was opened, Maeve realized that the supersoldier serum made her her job: Steve had actually become more muscular and tall, he didn't even look like the same boy she had known for a long time.

After a few minutes of helping Steve, congratulating Dr. Erskine, she Maeve wanted more than ever to hold Bucky in her arms and feel safe, but her instincts told her something was wrong.

An instant later, someone detonated a bomb in the cabin, a smartly dressed man killed Dr. Erskine with pistol shots and started running. If Peggy shot the unknown man, Maeve started chasing him up the stairs.

«Mae, no!” Howard yelled, as the girl was about to walk out the door and hearing her words he stopped. The man reached her and looked at her.

«Sorry to stop you, but let Steve handle it, it's his chance. Help me fix everything! It's a mess in here and...» Howard said and Maeve nodded.

In that moment, she felt completely useless and she knew Howard was right anyway: it was Steve's test. It was he who now had to prove that the doctor had not died in vain, he could prove the super soldier serum worked and could become a icon of hope for American soldiers.

"Like me." thought Maeve. She had felt like a beacon of hope for girls at a time when the world seemed to be recovering from a terrible world war. You would never have thought that a second world war was around the corner and it was the best time to pass the baton.

As much as she hated to let go of her duties as a sailor warrior, she Maeve let Steve go after the man who was gone; and then help Howard and those present to secure everything.

The next day Steve was all over the papers and Maeve decided to keep a copy to show Bucky as soon as he got home: Steve hiding behind a car door was a very nice picture.

Inside, Maeve felt something was wrong and she had a strange feeling, but she decided not to worry. That evening she wrote a letter to Bucky, trying not to worry too much.

Maeve was helping Howard understand Hydra technology, especially a kind of hybrid aircraft as it could also go underwater, but General Philips had asked her to help him understand what it was; also by virtue of the fact that the Moon had a decidedly more advanced technology than the Earth's.

«What have we got here?» General Philips asked Howard.

“Speaking modestly, I'm the best mechanical engineer in this country; but I don't know what's inside this things or how it works. We're not even close to this technology.»

«Agent Kirk? Does he have any considerations?» the general asked.

«I don't think I'll help you right now, it's not my field of expertise, but I'm doing extensive research.» Maeve answered.

Actually, the girl she sent everything to Luna in the control room on the Moon, but she still hadn't received any details.

«Then who is?» was Senator Brandt's question to General Philips about the plane.

«Hydra, I'm sure you've been reading our briefings.» was the general's reply.

"I'm on a number of committees, General.» admitted the embarrassed Senator.

«Hydra is the Nazi deep science division. It’s led by Johann Schmidt, but he has much bigger ambitions.» Peggy said that she had joined them.

«Hydra is practically a cult, they worship Schmidt, they think he's invincible.» said the general.

«So what are you going to do about it?» Brandt said looking at the general.

«I spoke to the President this morning. As of today, the SSR’s being re-tasked. We’re taking the fight to Hydra. Pack your bags, Agent Carter and Agent Kirk. You, too, Stark. The forth of us fly to London tonight.» said general.

«Okay general.» Maeve said.

«Sir, if you'll allow me, I'd like to participate,» Steve said, and Maeve looked at him with a half smile.

The general's response was a refusal; but the Senator promoted Steve to Captain and told him that he would boost troop morale.

After that exchange, Maeve joined him and smiled at him, motioning for him to hug him. The man squeezed her, but the girl thought Steve was strangely tense.

«Congratulations, Bucky would be as proud of you as I am.»

«Mae, are you sure?” Steve asked, in response.

«Yes, I am. Now go and assert yourself, she will tell him everything in the next letter. I love you, Steve.” she said quietly, not telling him that she had never received a reply to her letters or the transmitter, but now was not the time to upset him.

Inwardly, Maeve prayed that Bucky would keep the transmitter hidden so that it would not be stolen or lost.

«I love you and I love Bucky too.» Steve answered, then hugged her again and sighed, before leaving.

The first trip to London Maeve barely remembered and the time spent on English soil was a succession of days all the same that she spent with Peggy and Howard.

The world collapsed on her one rainy day in Italy, she was helping Howard fix a car when she recognized Kunzite, Bucky's right hand man who appeared to be heartbroken as well as very tired. Was that the 107th regiment?

«Jadeite» she called him and the boy shook off her, joining her.

«Princess Serenity.» the man answered once he reached the girl and making a slight bow.

«Is this the 107th Regiment?» she asked.

«What's left of it.»

«Okay. If you are here, is Endymion here?»

«No, princess. I was saved by a miracle. Since we have been separated I have not been able to contact him or find him, as I have not been able to get in touch with others. I'm desolated. Kunzite is definitely still with him.»

«I know you did your best, Jadeite, don't worry. We will find it again. May I give you a message?»

«Of course, Princess Serenity.»

«Warn Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Mercury of my intention to reach Endymion as soon as I know its coordinates.»

«Do you want my presence?»

«You don't have to come too, Jadeite, but thank you. You have to rest. Thanks again.»Maeve said, starting to stride toward the tent where she knew General Philips was.

At that moment, Howard strode up to her.

«Is everything fine? You need me?» Howard asked, striding after her.

«I don't know, but I need you now more than ever, Howard.»

Upon her arrival the general gave her a copy of Bucky's dog tag: he was officially declared missing. At the news of her Maeve, after putting on the dog tags, hiding them under her white shirt, she looked at the general, cold.

«I kindly ask you to tell me what my husband's last orders were." the peremptory blonde asked.

«I can't as you have been assigned to the SSR and I can't afford to send you on a suicide mission too.»

«It's not right! You sent my husband and…»

«Calm down, Serenity.» Howard said softly, placing a hand on her shoulder.

«I'll calm down only when the general tells me exactly where my husband is.»

At that moment, before the blonde got any further angry or before the general answered the question, Steve arrived.

«Maeve please let me do the talking.» Steve said looking at her and Maeve nodded.

The boy asked if a rescue mission was planned and if he knew where the missing team was.

«They’re thirty miles behind the lines. Through some of the most heavily fortified territory in Europe. We’d lose more men than we’d save. I don’t expect you to understand that, because you are a chorus girl.» the general admitted reluctantly, Maeve sensed that the man was not quite covertly mocking the role that had been entrusted to him by the senator.

«If you don't trust him, you should trust me, General.» Maeve said annoyed.

«You Captain should be somewhere else and you Princess should help Mr. Stark with the project you've been assigned. Go away, let me work.» he said softly.

Maeve and Steve spoke briefly about where Bucky should be, but if the boy started briskly walking towards the show venue followed by Peggy; Maeve started walking towards a tent that was rarely used and hid inside, Howard followed her.

«What are you going to do?» Howard asked softly.

«Silver moon crystal power, make up!» Maeve said softly as she transformed and looked at Howard.

«I'm going to look for my husband and if I know Steve enough, I think he's thinking the same thing. You are the best pilot I know, so they will need you. I'll be fine, Howard. We will see you again soon. I love you.» she said softly.

After placing her palm on the ground, she concentrated and began to scan planet Earth, looking for Bucky, exactly as Bucky taught her long ago, but she didn't know why she couldn't find him.

«I'm going to be flustered. I can do this.» Maeve thought.

«Listen to me, you can come with me and the others. At least you can be supportive to Steve and he can protect you.» Howard said at one point and Maeve jumped.

Maeve hadn't realized that Howard was still there, thinking he was gone, but she actually she hadn't heard him leave as focused as she was.

«Let's be realistic, I'd slow Steve down and the girls wouldn't be able to follow me if they wanted to. My teleportation is…reliable.» Maeve said knowing full well that she had to accept and not balk.

«Go, Howard now. Please come back soon.» she said and Howard looked at her.

«Ok. Get home safe, Serenity»

«I'll do my best" she said in response.

After Howard left, Maeve saw the other girls arrive still in civilian clothes.

«Maeve, Jadeite relayed your request. We won't let you go alone.» Venus said with a smile.

«Then where are we going?» Mars asked.

«According to the general's words, the 107th is 30 miles behind the lines and in armored territory. I still haven't been able to locate Bucky.»

«You will find it. If you need anything, ask for it.» Mercury said and Maeve nodded. She wanted to ask where the lines were and how much she could calculate 30 miles, but she decided to leave it alone: she didn't want to use a map, she didn't want to waste more time than she already had.

«Try again, look for him.» Jupiter said, putting a hand on her shoulder and her friends followed suit.

«Okay.»

After what seemed like an eternity to Maeve, she located Bucky.

«I found him.» Maeve said exultantly and then added «Are you coming with me?»

«Always» said Venus and also her friends transformed.

They arrived inside a brick building, where there was rioting and explosions outside.

Mercury recalled her viewer too advanced compared to the terrestrial technological situation, she said «The prince is in there»

When Maeve walked into a seemingly empty room, but with machinery pointing at a cot.

«Sergeant 3-2-5-5-7»

The girls joined him and Maeve smiled at him as the girls freed the man from the leather buckles that held him to the couch.

«Hey, Endymion» Serenity said.

«Serenity…?» he replied.

«It’s me, my love. Lie down a moment longer» was Maeve's reply and she healed some wounds with the power of the silver crystal, as well as she helped him to become lucid again.

«You're the one with healing powers, Bucky, but we'll work it out.» she said encouragingly.

At that moment, as they were trying to help Bucky up, Steve arrived.

«Bucky? Oh my god, girls! Are you fine? How did you do? I'll help him up, don't worry..» Steve said.

«This is not the time to explain to you, we have to go. We're fine.» Venus said, cutting her short.

«I thought you were dead.» Steve said looking at his friend.

«I thought you were smaller. What happened to you?» Bucky said staring at Steve in disbelief.

«I joined the Army. Let's go and I'll tell you everything.»

«Look, we can take Bucky to camp right now.» proposed Mercury.

«No, better that they see me arrive on my own legs. He helps the morale of the troops.» Bucky said and Maeve nodded.

They were talking about the super soldier serum, when they reached a railing: there were explosions underneath. Steve ducked behind his shield and Maeve used the silver crystal to protect herself, Bucky and the other female warriors. They ran up the stairs and Maeve was about to ask to beam everyone outside when Schmidt appeared.

«Captain America. Sailor senshi. How exciting. An honor to meet you, but above all you captain, I’m a big fan of your films.» Schmidt said then started he own rant against Steve himself, before leaving to that burning place via an elevator; while the place where they stood was in flames.

«Let's rise at the door if you want to get out of there. Let's join hands.» Maeve said and so they did.

Once out of there, the sailor warriors - with the exception of Maeve - decided to return to the base to avoid being seen and to return to civilian clothes on their return, while Maeve decided to immediately return to agent clothes. Bucky, Steve and Maeve, thus gathered all the people of the 107th regiment present.

«Now I'm going back to camp too.» Maeve said to Bucky.

«No, I really don't think so. You are part of our rescue.» Bucky said.

«I know, but...» she said.

«You took part in our rescue, stay with us.» Jadeite said, giving her a wink, to which all the others agreed and applauded.

They all walked back to camp together, Steve in the lead, followed by Bucky and Maeve.