Disclaimer: Naoko's playground, I just sneak in to play on the slide.
Feedback: Is full of feedback-y goodness that must comprise at least 50% of
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Thud, Thud, Thud…..
The horses hooves beat mercilessly on the cold dry earth of the forest floor
pounding the hard track to leave a cloud of dust in it's wake. The riders
hood was pulled close over his face and the rider's body was leaned forward
and low, almost lying over the horse's neck. Despite the horses foaming
mouth and the sweat streaking down it's side the rider kept whipping at it
with the crop gripped tightly in his left hand. Together they made a picture
of desperation, each step taken as though life depended on it.
Which it did.
The hood fell back. The mans face could have been handsome, another time
another place, had his silver hair been clean and combed, had his strong
figure and proudly arched face not been trembling and marred by scratches, a
departure gift from what seemed like hundreds of sharp leafless twigs and
branches.
And oh yes, if he wasn't a murderer who had tried to massacre an innocent
race to achieve his own ends.
The former self-crowned 'Prince' Diamond swore under his breath, the Earth
prince and his guards were still behind him and getting closer every moment.
He dug the sharp metal at his heels cruelly into the horse's side and hit it
again but the horse had been pushed too hard for too long, it fell, sending
Diamond flying across the ground to slide painfully to a stop in the stones
and the mast. The black moon pendant, a parody of the white moon royal seal,
snapped off the chain and rolled into the darkness.
Prince Diamond lay sprawled where he had landed, stunned, blood welling
sluggishly from a cut on his forehead. It was at that moment that he knew it
was over. Even as he thought it, the five men pursuing him ground to a stop
on his left side, and a man with hair of a white-silver hue so like his own
seized his arms from behind, his grip harsh and unyielding. He wouldn't have
tried to fight anyway, he was staring into the middle distance watching the
dreams that only he could see crumble to ash on the wind.
His mind returned to the now, and the dimly heard words of the dark haired
prince were forced into sickening clarity
"You, criminal Diamond, born Cuprite of Black moon have been found guilty on
the two counts of treason and of attempted genocide, the punishment for this
is death".
There was to be no trial, in cases like this they were jury, judge and
executioner, his guilt was beyond dispute.
Still…
Just because he had been caught didn't mean that the first part of his plan
would be stopped, he had put it into action before the alarm had been
sounded. His captor's face changed from hostile to wary at the gleeful
expression Diamond had unconsciously displayed.
"The sentence is to be carried out immediately".
He was forced down to his knees, as a traitor he was entitled to no better,
and from experience they knew not to try and lock him away to await a formal
execution.
"Have you any last words?", that at least they would allow him.
He looked into the prince's face, Diamonds cold, cold eyes burned with
malice that strengthened him, if only for a moment.
"Yes 'your Highness'" the words mocked him "You've caught me but my plan has
already started, the wheels of fate already turn to my will. I may not
destroy your kingdom, but I have already done enough to crush you, heart and
soul."
The prince's eyes were disgusted, but there was a flash of something else in
those blue orbs, fear? It was masked in an instant but Diamond knew the
prince understood his meaning.
"Yesssss…." The words were breathed like a serpent sliding through his lips,
and for a second Diamond triumphed.
"Kill him" a flat order from one of the guards.
The sword swung towards his neck and he couldn't keep silent.
The man that was Diamond screamed.
And the star known as Serenity fell.
Feedback: Is full of feedback-y goodness that must comprise at least 50% of
your daily fan intake…
Thud, Thud, Thud…..
The horses hooves beat mercilessly on the cold dry earth of the forest floor
pounding the hard track to leave a cloud of dust in it's wake. The riders
hood was pulled close over his face and the rider's body was leaned forward
and low, almost lying over the horse's neck. Despite the horses foaming
mouth and the sweat streaking down it's side the rider kept whipping at it
with the crop gripped tightly in his left hand. Together they made a picture
of desperation, each step taken as though life depended on it.
Which it did.
The hood fell back. The mans face could have been handsome, another time
another place, had his silver hair been clean and combed, had his strong
figure and proudly arched face not been trembling and marred by scratches, a
departure gift from what seemed like hundreds of sharp leafless twigs and
branches.
And oh yes, if he wasn't a murderer who had tried to massacre an innocent
race to achieve his own ends.
The former self-crowned 'Prince' Diamond swore under his breath, the Earth
prince and his guards were still behind him and getting closer every moment.
He dug the sharp metal at his heels cruelly into the horse's side and hit it
again but the horse had been pushed too hard for too long, it fell, sending
Diamond flying across the ground to slide painfully to a stop in the stones
and the mast. The black moon pendant, a parody of the white moon royal seal,
snapped off the chain and rolled into the darkness.
Prince Diamond lay sprawled where he had landed, stunned, blood welling
sluggishly from a cut on his forehead. It was at that moment that he knew it
was over. Even as he thought it, the five men pursuing him ground to a stop
on his left side, and a man with hair of a white-silver hue so like his own
seized his arms from behind, his grip harsh and unyielding. He wouldn't have
tried to fight anyway, he was staring into the middle distance watching the
dreams that only he could see crumble to ash on the wind.
His mind returned to the now, and the dimly heard words of the dark haired
prince were forced into sickening clarity
"You, criminal Diamond, born Cuprite of Black moon have been found guilty on
the two counts of treason and of attempted genocide, the punishment for this
is death".
There was to be no trial, in cases like this they were jury, judge and
executioner, his guilt was beyond dispute.
Still…
Just because he had been caught didn't mean that the first part of his plan
would be stopped, he had put it into action before the alarm had been
sounded. His captor's face changed from hostile to wary at the gleeful
expression Diamond had unconsciously displayed.
"The sentence is to be carried out immediately".
He was forced down to his knees, as a traitor he was entitled to no better,
and from experience they knew not to try and lock him away to await a formal
execution.
"Have you any last words?", that at least they would allow him.
He looked into the prince's face, Diamonds cold, cold eyes burned with
malice that strengthened him, if only for a moment.
"Yes 'your Highness'" the words mocked him "You've caught me but my plan has
already started, the wheels of fate already turn to my will. I may not
destroy your kingdom, but I have already done enough to crush you, heart and
soul."
The prince's eyes were disgusted, but there was a flash of something else in
those blue orbs, fear? It was masked in an instant but Diamond knew the
prince understood his meaning.
"Yesssss…." The words were breathed like a serpent sliding through his lips,
and for a second Diamond triumphed.
"Kill him" a flat order from one of the guards.
The sword swung towards his neck and he couldn't keep silent.
The man that was Diamond screamed.
And the star known as Serenity fell.