The Cold, and The Light
sequel to "Rose's House"
Story idea originally by minako
Adopted to continue with permission by Elena Chamberlain

Chapter One: It's the Fear

Aino Minako was many things, most of which she wished she were not. She was a princess of Venus, she was the Queen of the Moon, she was the lover of two men - one of which she was truly in love with - and she was also dying inside. After getting separated from her beloved princess and being caught in Adonis' trap, Minako found herself wilting away. Her spiritual energy was definitely growing weaker and weaker.

Adonis seemed to have noticed this while they began breakfast that morning. She had hardly touched the fruit brought to her by Kate Higkiss. Minako smiled at her husband and looked out of the window at the sound of morning practice outside. Kunzite, Jadeite, and Nephrite were training the newest recruits from Earth.

"You know, perhaps you are pregnant," Adonis had said it so casually that she allowed her fork to drop and clatter once it hit the plate. She mumbled 'I'm sorry' for almost destroying the very expensive and very old piece when Adonis touched her hand. "Perhaps I should have Lord General Zoisite check on you. If you're pregnant, we should know."

Minako nodded, slipping her hand away from his and excusing herself from his presence. She left the King's dining room quickly and made her way down the hallway until she made it to her own corridors. Inside Lady ChibiUsa and Momoko where chattering away, stopping only when she entered and stood, her hand resting against the hand rail for support. Suddenly feeling nauseated and her head reeling, Minako rushed into the bathroom. She threw up inside the chamber pot that had recently been cleaned, and re-emerged from her weakened state to her bedroom. She coughed once, and smiled at the two younger girls.

"My Lady, perhaps it is time to visit Lord General Zoisite." Minako glared faintly at ChibiUsa. Very insulted to have, for the second time that day, been told what to do about her weakened state. She asked that Momoko and ChibiUsa go fetch Zoisite at once and sat on her bed. If she was pregnant, she was in deep trouble. Having a lover besides your husband will do that to a woman.

Minako lied down on the silk comforter and felt the gentle landing of Artemis on her bed. She turned to the white tomcat and smiled as he plopped his furry body on her stomach. What was she to do now?

Zoisite stared at the computer screen, brooding over the information for the hundredth time. His eyes were tired and he rubbed the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. Grumbling, he rose off the chair and made his way to the kitchen. He was starved and having a bit of food would do him some good.

"Lord Zoisite," Momoko's soft voice snapped him out of his state of half consciousness.

"Um, yes?" He ran a hand through his hair and fixed his line of vision on the two.

"Queen Minako is in need of your services. She is in need of a test."

Zoisite's left eyebrow dipped, making his expression seem confused yet thoughtful. "What sort of test?"

"The King believes that the Lady may be pregnant with his child." ChibiUsa said. Zoisite nodded, casting his gaze downwards.

"I shall be there in a few moments. Just let me collect my things."

He inwardly sighed. Pregnancy, the worst fear becoming true for the secret lovers. Zoisite gathered his test tubes and medical bag, ran some water over his face, and brushed his teeth quickly. He set out after ChibiUsa and Momoko, allowing them to lead him to Minako's bedchambers.

He hoped that she was not pregnant. Even though the King had begun visiting Minako regularly to produce an heir he was quite sure that his drugs would prevent any such conception. Not only to protect Kunzite and Minako's relationship, but to prevent Minako's most important task as Adonis' Queen. To produce an heir would be to cement his rule on the Moon.

That just could not be. They needed more time. Time to figure out what had happened to the Queen, and time to fix what had gone horribly wrong five years ago.

Momoko knocked at the door, allowing Zoisite to enter inside the first room and wait until she would return. Ten minutes later, Zoisite entered the spacious room to see that Minako was hugging a chamber pot and currently throwing up. ChibiUsa was holding back her thigh-length hair. Momoko handed her a glass of water and smiled. Minako swished around some of it and spit into the chamber pot.

"Feeling sick?" Zoisite lightly joked, kneeling down beside her and patting her shoulder.

She looked at him despairingly and spoke in a quiet tone. "I am not up for any of your jokes now. I can't seem to eat or keep anything down. I'm so tired and confused. I can't be pregnant, Zoisite, I just can't!"

Zoisite placed his bag on the nearest table and began to set things up. He handed her a small test tube and smiled.

"Let's not panic. First thing to solving this problem is to pee in the test tube. We'll worry once I get the test results."

Minako nodded and made her way into the bathroom.

His queen was possibly pregnant. This was a wonderful thing for Adonis. Finally after many nights of trying, his wife would soon bear a child to rule after himself. Adonis pulled his cape closer as he made his way across the lowest level of the castle. It was damp and dark, but he didn't care. He was on his way to report to Queen Metallia and this was important.

Adonis stopped just short of the dungeon and pressed his hand against the smoothest stone. The wall opened before him as he made his way lower. He walked several feet down the cool and dark tunnel, which finally led him to a brightly lit cavern. Before him were two deep crevices, each taking up half of the wall and then sealed with the finest glass casing. On the top was the faint blue light of Queen Selenity. On the bottom was the deep, dark light of his mistress, the Lady and master of Beryl and himself. He bowed calmly and announced his presence to the queen.

"Speak," the deep, raspy voice of the entity grumbled. "Speak quickly, Adonis, for I grow impatient of your whining."

Adonis kept his facial expression where it was. He did not want to anger her further. Instead, he remembered the beautiful Venusian and cleared his throat.

"My queen, my wife has possibly produced an heir to the throne. I believe I have started to comply to the deal made with you. I shall produce an heir to be yours to raise, and take over. Then my debt to you will be paid in full."

"Spare caution, Adonis, for your queen is not as faithful as she may seem." The raspy voice chuckled. "You are blind to her beauty and your love for her. Think, boy, think well. If this child is not of your blood, no debt has been paid and your soul will become mine forever. Time is not on your side."

Adonis' hand clutched his cape in anger. His wife would never go back on her word. She had made a promise to love him and only him. He bowed and turned to leave.

"My daughter," the weak gasping voice of Selenity struck him. He did not turn. "Where is my daughter? Please, please I beg of you and give me back my daughter."

"Shut up you old witch!" Adonis yelled. "Your daughter is no more! You will no longer rule this dead moon! I will! I will have everything you took for granted! Now shut up and die. Leave your pitiful cries for ears who care!" He stamped out of the tunnel. The malicious laugh of the entity that was Metallia followed him through, until all that was left was the thud of the entrance shutting behind him.

"Mother!" Usagi sat up. Her body was cold with the chill of the night, and sweat tinged at every part of her body. She took several moments before realizing that she was simply dreaming. Breathing hard, she pulled the sheets off her and slipped on a robe instead.

She crept out of the crowded servants quarters that she shared with her senshi, and made her way to the kitchen. Placing a red kettle on the stove to boil, Usagi sat next to the island, 1 drumming her fingers across it as she waited. The distinct whistle of the steam flowing through the pot made her jump. Quickly she removed the pot and poured the scalding liquid into her cup. After fixing the tea the way she liked she found no need to drink it. She merely allowed the liquid to cool and ran her fingertips long the brim of the glass.

"Having trouble sleeping?" Usagi jumped and clutched her chest. She stood immediately and bowed in his presence.

"I'm sorry, your highness. I did not mean to wake you. I just wished to make a cup of tea." She felt him pull her upright to face him.

"Please don't bow. It's quite disturbing to have such a beautiful woman bow before me." Usagi blushed. She pulled her hands away gently and offered to make him a cup of tea. Endymion agreed and she chattered away nervously.

The question had been in her mind for five years, 'What would you talk to a prince about when you are no longer royalty?' but she found herself chattering non-stop. Until, that was, she had run out of breath and he was grinning at her. She smiled back, not knowing what to do next.

The first time she'd met Endymion, Usagi had been flustered. Perhaps even taken by him. After the ceremony between him and Beryl, she couldn't find the courage to speak to him. It was true he was forced to marry, but the Prince was quiet around her that she found a crush forming even when she hadn't meant one to be.

"I hope that Beryl hasn't been too hard on you. I do know how bossy she can become."

Usagi blushed and shook her head violently. "No, my queen is very kind."

Endymion laughed. "You don't have to be so cautious around me, you know. I am quite willing to keep your secrets."

Usagi giggled, her fear giving way just a bit. "Of course…"

"Endy."

"Er… Endy."

Minako flumped onto the bed and began to hyperventilate. Momoko was trying to get her to regain her normal breathing pattern. Slowly but surely Minako was able to regain her voice.

"Pregnant? I am… Pregnant!" Zoisite nodded solemnly.

"Yes I'm afraid so. Would you like to know who the father is? I can tell you right now." He was showing her the hologram from his palm computer. Minako nodded.

"As you can see from the two samples of blood, the only one that matches is the one on the left. This clearly indicates…"

"Zoisite just spit it out! Please!"

"The child is Adonis', Minako, I'm so sorry. But there is no mistake about it." Minako began to cry. The tears fell down from her slim face into the folds of her dress. She cried loudly and profusely.

Of all the people, of all the chances in the world, it would be her fate to have to carry the child of the man she was dreadfully married to. She sobbed into Zoisite's shoulder, and did not stop until the heavy foot falls and thick clearing of a very recognizable throat interrupted her.

"What have you done to make my Queen cry this way, Lord Zoisite?" Minako straightened up. Zoisite bowed as did all the girls.

"My Lord, I have only just given your queen the happiest of news." Minako nodded, brushing away bits of tears and hair from her face.

"Yes, he has just informed me that I am with child, my love. We are to have a baby." Adonis, who was clearly happy, hesitated in approaching her.

"Then why did you cry?"

"Because I am so happy, my lord. I am happy. Women are emotional creatures after all. Especially when we are with child."

"This is terrific!" Adonis smiled and hugged his wife. "We, no, the whole Moon will celebrate! For days! This is the most unexpected event. Tomorrow we will announce the pregnancy and send word to the Earth at once. The King and Queen will want to hear of the great news!"

Minako smiled and looked to Zoisite and the girls. She bid them goodbye, and, while she hugged Zoisite, whispered in his ear to send word to Kunzite before the formal announcement. Zoisite simply nodded and left. Kunzite would surely want to kill someone after hearing the news. He needed to be sure that someone was not Adonis.

-End Chapter One-

AN: Here it is Chapter One! Wee! Hope you all like it! Cause it took me forever and a day to write up. Planning was huge snot too. Lots of surprises and I hope you all are a bit happier with my explanations. I know I have a tendency to move too fast.

1 An island is usually set inside a modern American kitchen. It is a small space used for chatting, eating, and other banter for small groups. There may also be storage space wooden stools that accompany it.