I panicked greatly. My blood pressure rose. I began to sweat. My bones shook on their own. I wanted to scream. But I couldn't. Prince Janus used his magic to silence my voice. But, I forced myself to speak. I forced myself to yell.
"Janus!" I croaked. "Please don't!" my vocal chords became strained and damaged greatly the more I attempted to make noise.
"Silence, my princess. Your friends will be safe, if you know what is good for you." he commanded me. He gripped me tighter and made the knife slice through my skin so a stream of blood trickled down my neck.
Just then, I could feel my body being sliced through the rough wind. I felt stretched and pushed by a tough force. I realized that we were transporting to another location. I was leaving earth. Dammit - what would happen to my friends? They will be safe, yes, but worrying about me. I close my eyes, hoping that everyone of my friends would be okay and would be unharmed.
I felt my feet brush a familiar surface, and I realize we have landed on the moon, my home planet. I open my eyes and nearly cry in devastation.
The Moon Palace, a grand palace, almost castle-like setting was nearly demolished and destroyed. Everything around it laid in ruins and rubble. Everything was cracked and hard to walk in. I turned around to see the city below us, and nearly have my heart destroyed. A few fires still reign over the city, and the rubble that lays are the remains of what used to be houses. How many people have died? I choke back on the tears that threaten to fall down my eyes, wanting to remain strong in the face of my enemy. But, these are my people. These are innocent lives that have been killed. Innocent children... innocent lives...
"Princess Serenity, you will lead me to the location of the Silver Crystal." Janus commanded me roughly, holding my hands behind me and walking beside me. I could finally see him, and he looked like he slept well at night. Jerk.
I took a deep breath and nod at him. I walk up the stairs of what used to be my home, and as we near the large rubble blocking our way, Janus moves it aside instead of destroying. Why not rather destroy? It is much easier.
I walk inside the palace, desperate to know whether or not my parents, Luna, Artemis and everyone is okay. Where were they? Where they in here? Or were they stationed somewhere else?
"It is rumored that every child in the Royal Family is tested to see whether or not he or she is the true owner of the Silver Crystal for the past centuries." he broke the silence.
I raised my eyebrow. "How did you even know a person of the Selene bloodline could possess the Silver Crystal? How do you know of our customs?"
Janus didn't answer. Instead, he said, "I believe your parents are okay, Princess."
I looked at him with a bit of resentment. "And why should I believe you?"
He laughed a bit bitterly. "I am not saying you should believe me. But, it all depends on whether or not you want to believe what I have to say."
"Why are you doing this anyway? Working for Queen Metalia?" I asked with a bit of anger.
He smirked. "So, you are the visitor that Metalia has gotten. You know, she really does not like you because you have been eavesdropping."
"She doesn't have to." I murmured. "But, why are you working for her? What is your motive?" I turn a corner.
Janus sighed, but did not say anything. I suspected it was a private reason; either that, or he is too ashamed to say what he was really after.
We walk in silence for long minutes. We went down a couple of stairs, stairs only usable for those of the Royal Family. My ancestors made sure that only those of the Royal Family are able to have access to the Silver Crystal, and anyone else unaccompanied with a Royal member would be burned - or worse. I meet a door, a door which would separate us from the palace and the underground catacombs holding the Silver Crystal.
Janus slit my finger to get some blood, and dropped it onto the scanner. I then hovered my eye over another scanner, so it could read my retinal and other parts of my eye. Janus stepped back as a scanner underneath my feet appeared, scanning my body to make sure I was a Royal member.
Within a few minutes, the door opened, leading to a couple of stairs that were lit by torches on the wall. Janus pushed me down the stairs, but made sure I did not fall.
Just then, it seemed like he changed completely in the darkness of the dungeon. His skin became deathly pale, bags under his eyes sagged with blackness, his breathing became short and quick, and he looked as though he were going through hell.
"I have no motive for doing this, Princess Serenity." Janus whispered, as if he were afraid someone would hear him. "I am... I am under Metalia's control. She..." he sucked in a deep breath. "She threatened my galaxy. She threatened to kill all those that I love if I did not become part of her group. It happened first when I visited this Solar System, when I first met her, and then she seemed to... corrupt me during the ball. Forgive me... for doing that to you," Janus explained with great pain and sorrow.
"Prince Janus..." I whispered, feeling my heart swell with pain and sadness. He didn't want this at all. He was only forced to because Metalia promised to kill everyone he loved if he didn't.
"My whole galaxy was threatened; innocent lives would be killed because of me... Even I am not strong enough to go against her." he started trembling uncontrollably. "I would be better off dead than working with her. Do not feel sorry for me," he quickly said. "Rather, pity me, for not being strong enough to go against her."
"If she threatened to kill those that you love, then you have a reason to go with her. Would you rather go against her and watch your friends die than be with her and let your friends live?" I questioned back, looking at him with sadness.
"Yes, but you also watch their hatred and anger towards you when they realized that you have turned their back against them." Janus murmured, seeming on the verge of crying. "But... it is better that they live."
I lowered my eyes, feeling so terrible for Janus. I thought he would be the bad guy, but really, he's just trying to save those that he loves. Because of Queen Metalia, he's had to go against his galaxy, his friends, his family, his whole life, just to save those that he loves.
As I was about to say something, a bright light blinds my eyes. As the light dims slowly, I began to realize that there was a large room, and in the middle of the large room, there was a pillar that held the Silver Crystal. I felt a sudden draw to it, as though my body yearned for it. My eyes never left it's pure form, and I could feel my heart become faster and my skin sweat with nervousness. A few shining crystals laid here and there, and it looked like an easy journey.
If you were not of the Royal family.
As Janus was about to step, I stopped him. "Do you believe that it is this easy?" I questioned him.
He looked at me, a bit surprised.
"There are traps everywhere. One false move, and it could be over for you. Only a Moon family member knows how to maneuver through this path." I explained to him. "I need both of my hands free to do this." I say to him, as my vision becomes a little unfocused.
He cuts off the bounds that hold my hands together, and I rub my wrists a bit achingly. Redness lines my wrists, but I ignore it and focus on what was at hand.
I looked at the flooring of the tile, remembering the pattern my mother taught me when I was young. She trained me for this day to come, for the time when I would be able to venture into this room and see if I was the chosen one. When I was young and my mother told me about the legends of my ancestors being tested, I always thought they believed on false hope, and that I would not be chosen as the possessor. And yet, I always knew that something was missing from me. I felt drawn to the Silver Crystal like a mosquito to light, and I could feel as though it were drawn to me as well.
Carefully, I stepped down a few steps of the stair, and place my foot on one of the tiles gently. Nothing happens, and I sigh a breath of relief. "If any contact with a tile not towards the path of the pillar occurs, then the person will be electrified and barely alive to make it back." I murmured as I began to sweat. I lift up my dress in bunches so that I could see clearly and that no tile will have any contact.
I step onto the next ones, feeling my adrenaline glands work as hard as they can muster. So far, nothing bad has occurred, but I do not want to get my hopes up.
I continued to walk gently, maneuvering through different tiles leading from one way to another way. Although the path seemed as though it would not lead me to the pillar, it finally did after long minutes of waiting. Within yards of the Silver Crystal, I could see that it was becoming more and more drawn to me, pulsating with power and desperation to go back to their owner.
I, too, felt the same way. I became more and more drawn to it as I was walking. It was like I craved for it, and it's light filled the emptiness inside of me. As I walked closer to it, it became brighter and brighter as it's owner got closer and closer. Once I stepped on the last tile, the floor glowed, signaling it was safe to walk on any tile. Though, Prince Janus didn't take his chances, and stayed where he was.
I looked at the crystal. It was beautiful and bright, unlike anything I've ever seen. I was about to touch it when it glowed so brightly that I had to cover my eyes. Just then, I felt a hot, yet frosty sensation make contact with my body. I felt it go inside of me, filling up my body with light and warmth. I wanted to scream because of the painful contact, but it felt a bit pleasurable and nice. An uncomfortable sensation flooded my veins and blood stream, yet it felt calming and relaxing. I felt like tearing out my organs because of the torture occurring inside of me, but I also felt relief flood into them.
I grasped the pillar as I thought I was about to fall down, but instead, Prince Janus caught me.
"Princess Serenity," he breathed. "You are the possessor of the Silver Crystal." he breathed, as if astonished.
I knew what was going to happen next. He would take me to Metalia, where she would attempt to take control of me and use me to destroy the entire cosmos. But as of the moment, I was too dazed, disoriented, and weak to even disagree.
"Princess Serenity, now that you have become the holder of the Silver Crystal, I want you to get out of here."
"What?" I asked abruptly, astonished at what he said.
"You have to leave, now." he said with urgent eyes.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Look, Metalia does not know that only the Selene bloodline can be possible holders of the crystal. She was not the one planning this. I was. I knew you were the holder from the first time I met you, so I arranged this day so that you could possess the crystal and that Queen Metalia will not." Janus explained, walking me back to the stairs briskly. "Queen Metalia cannot know of this. I planned this out secretly. We should be lucky that Metalia does not even know that I am not leading armies."
"What are you doing?" I questioned him with worry as he grasped my shoulders.
"Metalia cannot find you, Princess. You must go back to Earth, and hide in safety, okay? Beware of Beryl; she is the one that truly works with Queen Metalia. Now that you have your full powers, it'll be easier to conceal them. You must hide and protect yourself from Metalia." he breathed heavily, looking around a bit scared. "For my sake, please go into hiding. Stay with your friends and with Helios."
"You are coming with me," I told him, feeling a loss of breath.
"I cannot,"
"Why not?"
"Metalia will become suspicious, and Beryl might find out. I must go back to Metalia."
"But if she finds out what you have done, you will be killed!" I gripped his clothing with worry and fear.
He smiled mournfully. "Then, I will have repaid for the sins I have committed."
"No, you can't do that Janus!" I beg him. No. No one was going to die. God-knows-how many people have been killed; there need not be anymore! "Janus, please don't do that!"
He smiled once more, stroking my hair. "You are truly pure of heart, Princess Serenity. You are able to still see the goodness in the worst of people."
"That's because you are good!" I told him, almost to tears. Even though I hadn't known Janus, except the assumption that he is an evil man, wanting power or just sex, he was an innocent life under the control of a horrid being. No one deserves that.
"You are truly worthy of the Silver Crystal." he smiled, bowing down and lightly pecking my hand. "It was an honor to know you, my princess,"
As I was about to protest, the crystal catacombs began to shudder and shake. Dust fell from the ceilings, as well as some ceiling parts threatening the sanction of this place. I felt the trembling of the ground, and the pillars began to crack. A deep and dark sensation was arriving, and it felt so evil and so inhumane.
"Dammit..." Janus cursed.
"...What?" I asked slowly, feeling as though the Silver Crystal was beginning to take it's effects on me. My vision became fuzzy and clustered, and I felt as though everything I ate at the party would come right back out. Pain shot inside of my body everywhere, and it was unbearable and searing hot, and yet freezing cold. I clung to Janus with one arm and clutched my chest tightly, feeling my lungs empty and desperate for air. "Janus..." I gasped before falling to the ground. I felt my cranium shatter, but it did not compare to the unbearable pain coursing through my bloodstream.
"...enity..." Janus' voice echos out as my vision becomes a blotchy black. The words of the prophecy replace his voice and bang against my head roughly until I believe going deaf is better than hearing this. It chills my spine and suffocates me. The last thing I saw was inhumane black creatures crowding the both of us, and Janus using his beautiful, powerful energy to keep them away. The last prayer I made was to keep Janus safe from harm.
~Endymion's POV, Meanwhile~
"I will be back," I promised to my mother, who looked at me a bit sternly.
"Endymion, abandoning your own party-"
"I'm not abandoning the party. I'm just... meeting with someone else." I told her.
"And who might this someone else be?" she raises her eyebrow.
"It's Serena," I finally told her, hoping she would get off my back.
Her eyes brighten at that name. "Oh, you're meeting Serena! She's such a sweet girl, you know? She's my favorite." my mother winked at me in 'that' way. "You know, ever since she's come over, I've noticed that you have started to smile more." her eyes softened. "I've seen you laughing, and I've seen you be happy. It melts my heart to see you so happy, Endymion."
"I will see you later, mother," I quickly turned around and made my way to the balcony, where the girl of my dreams awaited for me. When I saw her the first time in here, I nearly thought I would die. She was so beautiful, so pure, so innocent. I nearly fell when I saw her. I couldn't even control my blush; I hoped she didn't feel my heart rate while we were dancing. Gods... when we were dancing, I thought we were in heaven. I could feel her body melt into mine, and all I wanted to do at that moment was hold her and protect her. Just protect her from all the evil, and give her all the love I had.
It is true that ever since I saw Serena, I've become more happier and expressed more emotions. At least, that is what my guards and family tell me. Whenever I'm with Serena, I feel... happy and glad that she is around.
So, as I neared the balcony, I had to remind myself to breathe. My hands became sweaty, and my throat dried. Was this what it was like to feel in love? I took a deep breath, plucked up the courage, and walked out on the balcony to see Serena.
"Serena?" I questioned. No answer. "Serena?" I questioned more loudly. Where was she? I began to get nervous. I used my powers to sense her presence, but I sensed none anywhere It was like she vanished - she wasn't anywhere in the vicinity of this palace. My heart began to race faster. I looked all over the balcony to see where she could be. She wasn't anywhere. My throat tightened at that revelation. I saw her go in, but I never saw her come out. I ran over to the edge, and looked to see where she was. But no such luck. I looked behind me, and something caught my eye. A few drops of blood.
My blood pressure rose to the extreme. But, thinking for the best, I calmly walked back in and looked for Helios. When I saw him, standing by the wall calmly, I walked towards him.
When he saw me, his eyes brightened, and he bowed. "Prince Endymion, are you enjoying yourself?"
"Yes," I lied. "Helios, have you seen Serena?"
"Wasn't she at the table?" he asked calmly, but I could see alarm in his eyes.
"No, I asked her to meet me at the balcony. I saw her go out, but she never came back in." I could hear the shakiness of my voice.
"Are you sure?" he stiffened.
"Yes. I am wondering where she is. I used my magic to scan her presence, but... I couldn't sense her anywhere."
Helios' eyes widened, but he calmed down. "May I?" he relaxed his body and checked for her presence the way I did with my magic. After a few minutes of intense and unbearable waiting, Helios came back and started to shake uncontrollably.
"I... I cannot find her." his voice shook and his eyes had fear in them. This state that Helios was in surprised me greatly; usually, he was calm and relaxing during situations like this. But, he was literally shaking and sweating.
"It's okay... it's okay..." I breathed to myself.
"Endymion," Helios gripped my shoulders tightly. "For the time being, stay by Beryl's side. I will search for Serena, okay?"
"No, I will help you." I argued.
Helios creased his eyebrows. "My prince, your parents will be disappointed if you leave-"
"I do not care. Serena is lost. We cannot find her anywhere - it's like she just vanished, like a mirage. You expect me to wait beside Beryl and hope that you will find her? I cannot even think without wondering where she is, Helios." I growled a bit.
Helios put his hand through his hair, as if stressed. By the way Helios was acting, it seemed as though Serena was more than just a girl to him. They seemed closer, ever since she came here, she's been close to him. Not that I'm jealous or anything.
"Endymion, please." he looked at me with such serious eyes that I thought they were cutting through my own. "I understand you have feelings for Prin- Serena. But, you must stay here."
"I cannot stay here, Helios." I protested.
"Endymion, I am serious. It would benefit if you were to stay here." he stared into my eyes in a manner so chilling that I began to believe it. Yes... Helios would find Serena. I should trust Helios. Mother and Father would be disappointed if I left...
"...Okay..." I whispered, unable to shake the uneasiness I was feeling.
"Good," Helios' eyes flickered, and backed off. "Now, I will search for Serena while you are here, okay? You will stay here until the party is over, when you will go back to your room and sleep."
"Okay," I answered, lowering my eyes.
"Enjoy the party," Helios patted me on the shoulder before turning around towards Serena's friends, who were dancing with my friends. He interrupted Mina's dancing with Malachite, and after a few seconds of listening, Mina's eyes widened wide. Her eyes watered, but she stayed composed and took a deep breath. Helios told the others, who tried to compose themselves at the news.
I turned my back around and walked out to the balcony. I shut the door tightly, wanting all noise to disappear. I wanted all that horrid noise to disappear. I wanted the people to go away. I wanted to be alone. I walked over to the railing and gripped it roughly. I nearly broke it off due to my stress and worry. Serena, where are you? I cannot find you anywhere at all!
I looked up to the moon in all it's glory and heavenly aura. I thought about the stories my mother told... about the king and queen ruling on the moon... about the prosperous Silver Kingdom... Serena said that could be a possibility of life on other planets besides this.
I took a deep breath and paced around the balcony. I was unable to sit, for I was too worried. I was unable to breath, because I was afraid. I walked around more, summoning some of my magic to help calm me down. I lit a small golden ball and tossed it into the air. Once it was in the air, it circled around me in a calming and soothing manner. I tried to relax as the magic circled me. It worked for some time, but eventually, my worriedness got the better of me.
"Endymion?" a voice asked me, and I groaned inwardly.
"Yes, Beryl?" I questioned, containing my annoyance.
"Are you okay?" she questioned me worriedly.
"I am fine. I just have a slight headache." I murmured.
"Would you like some tea to soothe it out?" she offered.
"No thank you, Beryl. But, it is very kind of you," I whispered, trying to massage the headache away. "I think I just need some time to be alone."
"Oh, okay," her smile faltered, and she closed the door, leaving me alone back in solitude and silence.
I gripped pieces of my hair in frustration. Why was I so worried over Serena? Why was I stressing out this much over her? Was this what love feels like? Was this what it was like to care for someone so much?
I tried to take a deep breath at the realization that I was having a panic attack. I slowly breathed, attempting to calm down the rage beating of my heart. I put my hands on my knees, hoping the shaking would eventually stop. I willed myself to calm down, and willed my body to relax even if it would kill me.
When I met Serena, everything changed. I started to smile more often because she made me laugh. I started to become more happier because she gave me that feeling inside of me. With Serena, I felt like a part of me has been returned back to me. She made me feel so happy and so loved; I don't want her to disappear. She was the only great thing that has happened to me in my life.
I looked up at the stars and gazed at them in a daze. I will myself to sleep, hoping I would be able to endure the next day.
~Serenity's POV, two days later~
I woke up abruptly, sweating profusely yet feeling shivering cold on the inside. My breathing was abnormal and quick, my heart rate uncontrollably fast, and my body in unbearably torturing pain. I felt bruises throb against my body, and my migraine keeping me conscious with pain. When I tried to open my eyes, it was dark and easy to look at, but sounds in the distance ached against my ears.
I sat up slowly, looking around my surroundings. I was on a simple bed with a blanket covering me. The furniture was mostly dark blue, with a few gold accents here and there. I clutched my chest tightly as I felt pain swell in there, and I laid back down, moaning with pain and agony.
"Princess," a soft voice whispered.
I forced my eyes to open once more as the light blinded me. Through my eye lashes, I could see a beautiful teenager. She had short sandy blonde hair and dark blue eyes. She wore a long navy dress, complimenting her figure beautifully. She walked over to the bed I was sleeping on, and sits on it. Her insignia of Uranus glowed with a navy blue; it was a horizontal line with two lines on the ends and a line in the middle line, there was a circle on the below the horizontal like. (A/N: see Uranus astronomical symbol).
"Princess," she touched me softly. With that touch, I felt some relief inside of me.
I choked a gasp, shivering and shaking uncontrollably. Every inch of me was covered with pain, yet I could do nothing about it. I just wanted it to stop.
"Princess Serenity,"
I moved my head to her as she looked at me. She smiled a bit as her mouth began to form words. "I am Princess Uranus. You are on the planet of Uranus at the moment."
"Princess... Uranus..." I breathed. I was on the planet of Uranus. I was in the battlefield zone.
"Shh... don't speak, my princess. You must rest. Now that you have been chosen by the Silver Crystal, it will take time for the Silver Crystal effects to die down. I have contacted Helios and the other princess, and they are on their way."
I continue to shiver though, tightening the blankets laying over my body.
"Princess, just go back to sleep..." she rubs my arm gently. Her voice then turns into a melodic tune, and she starts to sing to me a soft lullaby to allow me to go to sleep.
I continue to breath quickly, and I can sense her worry and concern over my well-being for me. I gripped her dress, scared to fall asleep for fear that I would see the darkness and be lost in evil and the void.
She calmly grasped my hand
"Princess Uranus," I hear Helios' voice arrive.
"Helios, she is here. But, be gentle. The Silver Crystal is doing more harm to her than good." Uranus doesn't leave my side as Helios walks over. He puts a warm hand on my sweating skin, and I feel a little warmer on the inside.
"Princess Serenity," he whispered gently in my ear.
I moaned in pain as response.
"Serenity!" my friends' voices blare into my ear, and I pulled my blanket hand over my ears. Everything became too loud for me and I just wanted it to go away.
"Be gentle," Uranus murmured.
Four hands touch my arm, and I relax a little. My friends are alright. They are here with me, and they are alright. I heard a few sobs coming from them, and I felt their worry and concern for me with each touch.
"We must let her go to sleep," Helios murmured to the rest. "I didn't realize the Silver Crystal would do this to her..."
"None of us knew it would do this to her," Uranus said to him.
"But, the Silver Crystal has to settle in. It hasn't been with it's true owner for thousands of years," Mercury explained.
What? What did that mean?
The hands get off my arm, except for Uranus'. I hear her voice sing once more, cooing me into a gentle and calming sleep. Her voice calmed down my jittery nerves, and soon, I fell back into a sleep.
Did that mean that everyone knew I was destined to have the Silver Crystal?