A/N: Special Thanks to my beta, Midnight's Violet Haze.

Perfect World

Chapter Seven: So Cold

Venus was anxious when she was received on Nemesis, but tried not to let it show. Calmly, she requested to be taken to see Prince Diamond, insisting that it was urgent when she was told that the prince was not well. She was lead to a room, but someone stood in the way. She vaguely recognized the woman, but couldn't place the name. "You can't go in there," the green haired woman told her.

"Why not?" Venus questioned.

"The Prince is not receiving visitors right now."

"Well, it's really urgent that I talk to him," Venus said.

"You'll have to wait," Emerald replied insistently.

Venus' express set in a hard line and she pushed the woman to the side. "Get out of my way," Venus said, opening the door. She paused at the sight before her. Her princess was pinned beneath Diamond, his lips pressed down onto Serenity's. Venus didn't think. Someone was trying to take advantage of her princess. Someone had taken her princess and was now trying to force themselves onto her. She didn't think. She acted. She raised her hand to attack the man that had her princess pinned and she was yelling without meaning to. "Get away from my princess!" She launched her crescent beam straight at Diamond.

The woman pushed Venus to the side just after her attack, her eyes widening in shock. The first thing she noticed was the growing stain on Diamond's white suit and the woman called out to him immediately. "Prince Diamond!" Before Venus could register anything else, Emerald turned to the offending warrior that had injured her prince. She threw out her hand, green energy shooting from her palm and knocking the senshi away. "You'll pay... for what you've done to him." She was shaking with rage as she charged the senshi.

"What I've done?" Venus cried in outrage as she dodged the woman's next attack. "What about what he's done? Kidnapping our queen! Trying to force himsel-" Venus' words were cut off as another shot of green energy flew at her and she had to dodge. She tossed her chain at the other woman, making a strike at her head, but Emerald dodged at the last second. Both woman were too angry for reason, so silence fell between them as they continued to fight.


The echo of a scream penetrated the underground layer of Saphir's lab and he looked up, wondering what the disruption could be. 'It can't be good,' he thought. He looked over to Rubeus, whose face also displayed concern. "Let's see what it is," he said. Rubeus nodded and the two teleported above.

Two separate things caught Saphir's attention as soon as he arrived where the commotion was from. One was the fierce battle between Venus and Emerald, the women looking like they were out to kill each other which caused a great deal of confusion in him, but the second claimed his attention entirely as soon as he noticed it.

He was in front of the open door to the room that Serenity and Diamond were in, the woman's eyes fearful and tear streaked as she cradled his brother's wounded body. Serenity noticed him right away, her voice shrill and hysterical as she called out to him. "Saphir! He's hurt, you have to help him! You have to help!"

Saphir was at his brother's side in an instant. "What happened?"

"His chest, you have to hurry!" Serenity pleaded.

Saphir lifted his brother's body into his arms and teleported away quickly. Serenity was still in shock, unable to move. Blood stained her white dress and she could still feel it spreading out over her. How had this happened? How had she allowed this to happen?

Outside the door, Rubeus was trying to interrupt the fight between Emerald and Venus. Neither woman was listening to him. The noise drew Serenity from her room and she yelled out, "Venus!"

The senshi of love came to stop immediately, her body responding to the harsh command before her mind did and Rubeus took the pause to restrain Emerald. Something like fear was creeping up within Venus as she looked at the hard eyes of her princess, eyes that she had never seen before. "Pr-princess?"

"Who asked you to come here, Venus?" Serenity questioned.

"No one… but you were missing and—"

"And who asked you to attack the prince of a planet known to be our ally?" Serenity interrupted harshly.

"I thought that he was—"

"WHO ASKED YOU TO DO THAT?" Serenity screamed.

"No one," Venus answered quietly.

"Exactly," Serenity said. "No one. Get out of here, Venus," Serenity said, turning her back to the other senshi. "I can't talk to you until I know that Diamond will be alright."

"But, Serenity—"

"If he dies, I will never forgive you," Serenity said quietly, but it carried to Venus and the senshi of Venus realized two things immediately that she should have already seen. The first was how serious and on edge Serenity looked, like she could kill if she had to, and it scared Venus. The second was that Serenity was in love with Prince Diamond and Venus had never noticed.

Venus did not want to leave like this. But staring at the shaking shoulders of her princess and the barely contained rage within, she realized that she didn't have a choice. Afraid that even an apology would throw her princess over the edge, Venus simply left.

What had she done?


It was nighttime on Earth when the attack came. Bombs rained down from the sky, falling first in the outskirts of Crystal Tokyo and moving inward. In this way, Jupiter had a great amount of warning before the palace came under attack. She ran through the halls telling soldier to be at the ready and searching for her fellow senshi, but found that she was alone.

That was bad.

Jupiter had no trouble taking on enemies by herself, but she didn't have any way to safely combat bombs. If the others were with her, they could create a forcefield. If Serenity were here, she could even do such a thing herself. There was a manual shield that Endymion had created that could be raised to protect the palace, but she didn't know how to use it! Endymion, Mercury, even Venus had learned to use it! But she was completely clueless.

"Dammit!" she swore. Where the hell had Venus disappeared, too?

"Commander, Jupiter!" The first ready set of soldiers called out to her. The soldiers were trained to follow any of the senshi's orders and though Venus was known to be their highest ranking commander, as she was also the leader of the senshi, they saw Jupiter just as highly, as she was the one that most often trained them. They had steady gazes, readily awaiting her command. They believed in her. Jupiter swallowed. This would not go as she wanted.

Putting her game face on, she steeled herself. Crystal Tokyo had been created with the anticipation of peace, but they had also been thoroughly prepared for war. "Someone quickly send word to alert the King of what has happened. Those of you trained for it, ready the cannons and meet me outside. D Squad and C Squad, evacuate the city. Move everyone inward and underground where you can. A Squads and B Squads, you'll come with me."

"Yes, commander!" They all replied at once. There was no time to hesitate. She didn't know what she could really do, but if she could detonate those bombs before they hit the ground, that would be a start.

They all ran quickly to the outside, moving outward so that they were close enough to attack the bombs, but not close enough to yet be hit by the resulting explosions. Planting her feet firmly and raising the antenna from her tiara, she released a large electrical wave into the sky, creating a wide spread net that set off several of the bombs. Beside her, the sound of cannons was nearly deafening, soon followed by the sounds of explosions in the sky.

"A Squad. B Squad. We're moving further out," she commanded. "We can't do enough damage from here." She turned to two scouts standing at the ready. "Send the word out to the next fleet readied that they should take the opposite side."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Move out!"


Neptune and Berthier greeted King Endymion and the senshi privately. The group was taken to a private room where the two waited and Berthier paused at the sight of King Jasper as he entered. Her shock lasted only a moment before she pulled herself together and greeted the group. "Hello to all of you. Welcome to Neptune, King Endymion. I regret to tell you that we have not yet prepared any accommodations for you. You gave us very short notice for your trip."

Endymion was about to reply when King Jasper stepped forward, eyes on Berthier. "Berthier," he said. "What are you doing here?"

The smile that was on her face faltered only slightly as she looked him. "I am the Neptunian adviser," she answered him. She turned her gaze back to Endymion. "Now, about your stay—"

"Why are you here, Berthier?" King Jasper repeated. He was wearing a sterner face than previously as he looked at her and she was forced to look back at him. "Why are you here, when you left with the Phantom?"

The two senshi moved into fight ready positions at the identification of their enemy and Endymion, too, held his cane at the ready, should he need to strike. Berthier answered very calmly. "King Jasper, I am here to take care of Neptune while the Queen is away. She asked me herself to keep her planet in good standing and I have been here for quite a while. Ask the people, they all know me."

"Where are the others, Berthier?" he demanded.

"I am sorry, King Jasper, but I can't tell you that. This is for your own good," she told him. "It is not my wish to bring you any harm, so please—"

"I think it would be for your own good to tell us where the other warriors and the Phantom are," Endymion said harshly.

Berthier glared at Endymion. "It is none of your business!" she said to him. "Worry about things that concern you!"

"If you won't tell us," Mars began, calling her fiery bow into her hands. "Then we'll make you!" She shot off fiery arrows at Berthier, but the woman was quick to dodge. She called her own watery powers to her and launched them towards Mars, who also dodged.

Endymion made his way with Jasper over to where Neptune stood. "Are you alright?" Endymion asked her.

"Yes, but I'm too weak to do anything," Neptune answered. "They did something to drain me of my energy. I barely have enough to remain in this state."

King Jasper reached hesitatingly towards the earring that was in Neptune's ear. "This looks like..." He touched the purple crystal and a shock of energy went through both Jasper and Neptune. The King let out a cry of pain and Berthier turned toward him.

"Do not touch that, my king! It will harm anyone but my sisters and the Phantom." Berthier called to him. Mars used the distraction to fire another arrow at Berthier, caching her in the back and Mercury followed up with an ice attack that cut into Berthier's arms and legs. She turned to glare at the two senshi. "You'll pay for that," she said, raising her own attack again. Mercury quickly created a fog to obscure them, forcing Berthier to pause, eyes straining to find where her two enemies had gone. A blast of water slammed into her from one side, followed closely by fire, which she tried to fight with her watery powers. "I won't go down that easily!" she yelled.

Berthier fought off the majority of the fire, charging in the direction that the attack had come from. She called both water and ice to her, to the room, pulling from the heavy condensation that hung in the Neptunian atmosphere. The temperature of the room dropped quickly. As soon as she caught sight of red through the slowly lifting fog, she attacked. A rush of freezing water slamming into the red senshi. Mars tried to counter, but the coldness lessened the strength of her fire as Berthier overwhelmed her. The water slowly turned to ice, taking over Mars limbs as the power continued to stream at her. Mercury took advantage of Berthier's focus being elsewhere. She walked up behind the blue clad woman and struck her hard against the back of her head, the blow being enough to daze and distract, but not yet enough to knock her out. Berthier tried to turn, but Mercury kicked her in her mid section mid-movement, knocking her into the wall. Berthier's head connected with the wall and she was knocked out cold.

Mercury rushed over to Mars, whose breathing was slow and labored. Endymion rushed to her side once the fog was completely lifted. He lifted Mars' cold, ice covered body into his arms. "Will she be alright?"

Mercury activated her visor and looked over her fellow senshi. "She should be fine, but we need to thaw her out and quickly." Mercury paused as a beeping came from somewhere in the room and she turned to see that Neptune had moved to one of the computers in the room.

"Oh no," The other senshi breathed out quietly.

"What is it Neptune?" Mercury questioned.

"A message from Earth," Neptune told her gravely. "Your planet is under attack."

"What!" Endymion exclaimed. "We've got to get back."

"Mars isn't in any condition to travel," Mercury said. "And if there's an attack, she won't be able to defend herself or rest properly."

"We can't leave her here," Endymion said.

"Mercury," Neptune called. "This thing." She pointed to her earring. "Can you get it off of me?"

Mercury took out her mini computer and began to tap at the keys rapidly. "I should be able to remove it, but it won't be painless."

"That doesn't matter." Neptune told her. "If you can get this thing off then I think I may be able to regain my energy. If I can do that, I can look after Mars while you both go back to protect your planet."

Mercury nodded. "That sounds like a good plan."

"And what if the Phantom returns here," Endymion protested. "We should not leave either of you."

"Your planet isn't any safer," Neptune returned harshly. "And if we go there now, neither of us is in the condition to help you or defend ourselves. If we stay, we'll at least have a chance. And this time I'll see him coming," Neptune added angrily.

"It's the best chance we've got," Mercury argued. "King Jasper, what can you tell me about this thing. You seemed to recognize it earlier?"

"It is similar to talismans that my people wear, but it's filled with a dark energy," he answered. "We use ours to contain magical energy. It connects us to our crystal."

Mercury nodded. "Then I may be able to destroy it and be done with it."

"What will you do about her?" Endymion asked, looking at the unconscious Berthier.

"Dungeons," Neptune answered without hesitation. "I'll take care of her, don't worry."

"I will remain here, as well," Jasper said. "If that is not a problem," he added, looking to the Neptunian senshi.

"No bother at all," Neptune replied. "We should do this quickly. Serenity will be needing your help."

The room fell quiet then, no one willing to admit that they had lost their princess. Subconsciously, Endymion's hold on Mars increased and Neptune's eyes narrowed slightly as she noticed the action.


Jupiter was increasingly angry as she watched the bombs that exploded in the distance. It was impossible to stop them all, though they had done their best to try. It pissed her off to no end thinking of the people that she had failed, was failing, with every far off explosion. And she had gotten reports of the enemy soldiers that had eventually began to attack as well. She hadn't had time to identify them as she went to fight them off, but she had been greeted by an unexpected sight.

Two female warriors were wiping out her soldiers like they were nothing! A blue haired woman that wielded matching fire who Jupiter recognized as Koan of Nemesis and a woman wearing green that shot black lightning named Petz. She didn't think of a strategy when she saw them, she just attacked. She was regretting that now. She had been so eager to take out her frustrations and anger over this attack, her missing princess, Endymion and Mars' betrayal, that she just wanted to hit something. To punish something. Taking on these two women was more than she had bargained for.

Petz caught one of Jupiter's punches in her hand as Koan launched a volley of fire balls at her. She couldn't dodge, so she unleashed a large electrical attack that lit up the entire area. She had already commanded the soldier that were still in the area to depart, so no one else would be caught in her attack. Both women let out grunts of pain, but Petz did not loosen her grip. Jupiter did not allow the woman to attack again, though. She lifted Petz off her feet and slung her over her shoulder, slamming her hand onto the ground. Jupiter didn't get much of a chance to feel victorious as Koan launched another burst of fire into her back, pushing her away from the woman.

"Petz, are you alright?" Koan asked, kneeling over her sister.

"Fine," Petz answered, slowly sitting up and glaring at Jupiter, who was also slowly rising. "Don't take your eyes off of her."

"I won't," Koan nodded, turning to face the senshi with hard eyes.

"We should end this before anyone else shows up," Petz said, charging her hands with lightning as she stood. Koan nodded in agreement calling fire into her palms.

Jupiter had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach as she rose to face her two opponents.


Venus stood in shock when she first arrived back on Earth, but immediately moved into action. It took her only a moment to find out that Jupiter had gone to fight and that word had been sent to King Endymion, and then she went to raise the shields around the palace and further, if the power would permit. She did all this anxiously, wanting to join Jupiter on the battlefield. How could she have been so stupid as to leave her fellow senshi alone? Once the shields were raised, she took off towards the location a soldier reported Jupiter to be.

She found her already engaged in combat, but it didn't look good. Venus quickly attacked one of the two women and ran towards her comrade. "Jupiter!" she called out.

Jupiter turned to face Venus with relief. "Venus!" she breathed out, but the moment of distraction was not ignored by her enemy. Petz released a blast of black electricity that hit Jupiter head on, causing her to cry out.

"No!" Venus yelled, unleashing an orb of yellow energy that exploded the ground beneath Petz's feet. "Are you okay?"

"These two are tough," Jupiter said, rather than answering the question.

"Don't worry," Venus replied. "We're together now." She turned to look at the blue haired woman who was readying another attack. Venus ran towards her, throwing out her chain and capturing Koan, who immediately began to struggle. "I don't think so," Venus said. "Jupiter, I've got one!" Venus called, turning to look at her fellow senshi.

Jupiter was trying to catch her breath as Petz came up behind her. She grabbed the senshi of storms, unleashing a charge of electricity that Jupiter fought with one of her own. The two powers collided and impacted with a large explosion, forcing Venus to cover her eyes and brace herself as the earth was rocked.

"Petz!" Koan yelled.

When Venus uncovered her eyes, both electric warriors were unmoving on the ground. Venus approached very slowly, hesitantly. "Jupiter…" She asked lowly, afraid to move too close, dreading the answer proximity would bring her.

"No!" Koan said, an angry look in her eyes. "You'll pay." She couldn't escape the chains, but she was able to maneuver her hands and summon an orb of dark power that crackle with black electricity. She used her fire to ignite it and the area that both she had Venus stood in went up in flames.


Serenity held her hand against the glass that surrounded Diamond. The wounded prince was laying still on a medical table with a glass covering, a dark energy pulsing over him. "Will he be alright, Saphir?" she asked softly, unable to turn her gaze from him.

"The energy from the dark crystal should help him, but I can't say for certain," he told her. Saphir was standing behind her, his eyes also watching Diamond. Rubeus and Emerald were standing together by the door, silent and turned away from the two.

"I'm going to fix this," she said. "I'm going to save Diamond and I'm going to defeat the Phantom."

"And how do you plan to do that?" Emerald asked her. "How do you plan to fix this when this is your fault!"

Serenity turned to met Emerald's gaze steadily. Both woman had watery eyes and tear stained faces, but Serenity's was resigned with sorrow and Emerald's face was filled with anger. "Once I defeat The Phantom, and this plague is gone from us all, we will all be able to heal," she told Emerald. She turned back to face Diamond, whispering to him. "Wait for me, Diamond. Heal swiftly, for I shall need your help in grabbing the happiness we both deserve." A tear fell onto the glass, and Serenity watched him a moment longer before turning to leave.