Destiny Decision

Chapter Ten

Thunder brewed in the dark, forbidding clouds above the Earth palace. Endymion stared out with a morose frown, his thoughts as black as the clouds circling his home. He sighed deeply and turned away from the window, his dark cape flying out behind him. His general Jadeite sat on the edge of a chair, staring down at his entwined hands. He didn't look up when the prince approached and took a chair across from him.

"You look as worried as I feel, Jadeite." The prince mused, balancing his head on his extended index finger, his elbow resting on the armrest.

Jadeite nodded, looking to the side as Endymion's study door was opened and Zoicite entered. "I have never seen a force such as this, Your Highness."

Zoicite walked up to the two men, his light blonde hair pulled back into a very tight ponytail and his uniform much more stern than the man usually preferred. In fact, because of the situation, none of the men seemed to be comfortable in anything other than their armor. The fighting had been going on for weeks, with no success seemingly in sight. Queen Beryl was strong, and her followers were multiplying because of Queen Metalia's power that was changing ordinary humans into hideous, fearsome monsters. And the warriors or Earth were reluctant to harm anyone whom they knew was human at heart.

The battles were beginning to wear Endymion down to despair. He was in a constant state of panic at every loud noise, and sleep was out of the question. He had written to Serenity, but he found that it was much easier for his own sanity (and of course hers) if he spoke as little as possible about the battles taking place. If she worried over him anymore than he knew she already was, he would quite literally go insane from the pressure.

It seemed, though, that this dark, stormy night was a stalemate in the battle. Beryl had been quiet the entirety of the day. The clouds had been brewing continuously, with thick rains pouring down over the lands for several hours at a time, stopping only briefly as new clouds moved in. Endymion usually hated dark storms, but this was the most welcome storm he had ever been through.

"Your highness, I have to say that the lack of attack today has been making me extremely worried." Zoicite was saying, standing close to Endymion's chair with one arm poised behind his back while the other touched the prince's armrest.

Endymion blinked and looked up at his general wearily. "You think she is using the storm as an excuse to rally more efforts, don't you?"

"I believe so."

Endymion sighed. He leaned far back into the chair, tipping his head back and putting both hands over his face. "Call my father, Zoicite," he said, his hands muffling his voice so that Zoicite had to strain to hear him. "Tell him of your suspicions and that I agree. Surely he will call for more troops throughout the Earth's kingdoms."

Zoicite nodded and bowed, turning to leave the room. He looked back over his shoulder at the prince. "Have you heard from the Moon, Endymion?"

Endymion shook his head. "No, I have not. It has only been three days since I sent my last letter to Serenity, though... and with how difficult it is to send or receive any communication, I am not hopeful in receiving a letter from her soon."

"I see." Zoicite paused. "I hope that Princess Serenity and the senshi are well."

Prince Endymion couldn't help but roll his eyes and grin. "For god's sakes, man. As if we all don't know. If you wish to inquire after Princess Ami, write to her."

A light pink stain began to spread over the man's cheekbones. He cleared his throat loudly. "I will go speak with the King."

Jadeite sat quietly, but he looked up when he heard the door shut loudly behind Zoicite. Endymion was looking at him ponderously, his head tilted. "Jadeite," he ventured. "What is troubling you? Other than..." Endymion waved his hand weakly to the windows.

Jadeite sighed deeply. "I have an extremely ill-boding feeling, Endymion."

Endymion raised his eyebrows and sat up in his chair, leaning forward to match Jadeite's pose. "What do you mean?"

"I feel..." The blonde man paused and thought for a moment. His dark eyes bore into the deep crimson carpet. "I know I do not have Princess Rei's perception, but I do feel as though something is very, very wrong."

"Look outside; that is obvious." Endymion muttered.

Jadeite shook his short blonde hair. "No, it's something more than that. I am afraid." He looked up and stared into the prince's blue eyes, his own violet ones becoming darker until they seemed black. "I am your loyal servant, Endymion. Please don't ever forget that."

Endymion reached out and grasped the man by the arm. "Don't talk this way, Jadeite. We will win this war, and then we will return to the Moon where you can continue to evaluate Princess Rei's... perception." He grinned for a moment before he shifted back into his serious tone. "I trust you completely Jadeite. I know we are all out of our wits because of this invasion, but we will succeed."

Jadeite nodded, but said nothing. His hands remained clasped together firmly.

Endymion did not sleep through the night. No one did. Even though it was only four in the morning, the King sent the four Earth generals to wake the troops and prepare them for defense and battle. Endymion stood with his father in the King's study while the elderly man looked over the blueprints and layouts of the palace and surrounding villages.

"She is too close, Endymion." The King muttered. "She is too close to gaining entry."

"What should we do, Father?"

"I have sent messengers out to as many kingdoms as I can manage. I only hope they can break through all the youma in order to get the messages through. We simply cannot handle this attack alone."

Endymion nodded, staring down at the layout. His father had drawn on the paper to indicate where the men were protecting the palace and the forcefield that was losing its strength everyday. He sighed, hating that at the moment all he felt he could do was stand idle. He moved away from behind his father's desk and walked over to the window, looking out where the soldiers were lining up. He drew in a breath. On the horizon, he could see where Beryl had a much stronger army of youma.

He cursed. "Zoicite was right. She used yesterday to strengthen her army."

"Do you see dark shadows?"

"Shadows, Father?" Endymion turned his head to look at the King.

The elderly man nodded, his face looking drawn and pale. "It seems Beryl also has a league of seven warriors... Shadows warriors. They were once human, but she ripped their hearts out and placed darkness inside them to create her Seven Shadows. When combined, the force of their power is very great indeed."

Endymion turned back to the window and looked out. In the distance he saw a dark cloud over Beryl's army. He felt a cold chill in his blood at the sight. "That cloud..."

"The Seven Shadows." The King joined him at the window, looking drawn and pale. "We have no choice."

Endymion frowned. "What are you saying, Father?"

"I need to contact the Moon Queen."

Endymion raised an eyebrow and stood silently for a long moment. He could not mean to ask the Queen to use the Ginzuishou. That was entirely outrageous; the Ginzuishou was only used if there was no other option.

"We need the senshi. The barrier is breaking."

Endymion's heart nearly jumped out of his chest. "No! Absolutely not!"

The King blinked and stared up at the prince in shock. "Endymion! Be sensible; they are the only ones who can help to defeat these youma. Without their help, our men will continue to be slain at the hands of these monsters!"

"Yes, and would you have four very young, very innocent girls drawn into a battle such as this? They've never fought before, Father. They are still young, still training! My god, all four are only fifteen years old!"

"This is what they are for, Endymion. They are trained, they are warriors!"

"They are the protectors of Serenity. I would not dare to inflict any possible danger upon the princess by having her senshi torn away from her into a battle where they are definitely outnumbered. No, I will not allow it. And if I won't allow it, you can be certain that Queen Serenity definitely will not."

The King cursed and stomped away from Endymion, smashing both of his hands into the side of his desk. "Damn it, Endymion!"

Endymion winced, but remained at the window for a second more, trying to calm his beating heart. He could not imagine frail, small Ami in the middle of a horrendous battle such as this. Was his father insane for proposing such an idea?

Endymion turned away from the window, retrieved his sword from a nearby chair, and went to the door. His father was still seething at the desk. Endymion sighed. The King would get over it, but there was no way he was putting Ami, Rei, Minako, and Makoto in the middle of such a perilous war where they could very well die.

Endymion walked noiselessly out of the room and down to the front of the palace to meet with his generals.

ONE WEEK LATER

The battling became worse. It was constant, and Beryl knew she was winning. Men were becoming scarce, and Endymion knew that it was only a matter of time before the protective barrier around the Earth palace was shattered. It was a powerful force, but it was breaking. The powers that the Earth held were limited, but the King was using the shield as forcefully as he could to keep Beryl's army of youma at bay. The men who dared to line the perimeter of the Earth palace's wall to protect it were falling so easily that Endymion felt his heart break at the sight.

As he did every day (and seemingly every night), Endymion walked swiftly down the corridors and out into the bright daylight of the front courtyard. He glanced around and noticed all four of his generals standing in a huddle, speaking urgently. He walked up to them.

"What is it?" He asked bluntly, looking from one man to the next.

Jadeite looked away.

Kunzite frowned. "We want to send you away, Endymion. We have all discussed it for several days now and we believe it may be the only way to save you."

Endymion raised an eyebrow at the white-haired general. "Well, that's a ludicrous notion. I would not leave now even if I could."

Zoicite began to open his mouth to speak, but the towers around the palace started to sound with loud, warning horns. All four of the generals suddenly tensed, knowing it meant that Beryl was coming... again. Nephrite whipped his dark brown hair out of his face and called to the men to ready their arms. Kunzite dashed away to climb the towers, giving Zoicite a pointed look before he went. The man nodded and turned to Endymion, who was drawing his sword. Zoicite and Jadeite quickly took him by the arms, startling Endymion, and pulled him away back toward the shadows of the palace.

Zoicite smiled wearily at the prince, while Endymion cursed and yelled. "Zoicite! Jadeite! What is the meaning of this?!"

The long haired man turned his head away, but kept his voice firm. "We will not take no for an answer, Your Highness. We know Beryl is highly jealous and wants to have revenge on you. We cannot risk the future of the Earth, the future of the Moon, and your own future to chance like this." The green-eyed man turned determined eyes to the prince. "We are not alone in this, either."

Endymion started to speak, but he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned and gaped. There in short sailor fuku stood Sailor Mercury with Sailor Mars directly behind her.

The man blinked repeatedly at the girls and snapped his head back to Zoicite. "What's going on here?"

Sailor Mars answered. "We're taking you to Mars, Endymion. The fire palace will protect you until Earth and the Moon are safe."

Endymion's eyes widened and he turned back around to face Mars. "Is the Moon under attack?"

"Not yet." Sailor Mercury whispered. "But there have already been youma appearing among the people. Not many, but... we have been fighting."

"Zoicite and I have written to the Moon. Serenity sent Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury to help us." Jadeite said softly, as if to placate the angered prince. "We know you want to stay here, but we... we have also spoken with the King, and he has agreed with us that going to Mars is the best solution for you at the moment. Mercury and Mars are here to take you."

Endymion was silent for a long moment. He gripped his sword in its holster until his knuckles turned white. He turned to the senshi with fierce eyes. "I will go to the Moon."

Mercury shook her head. "That's impossible. The Queen has forbidden it."

"I will not go to Mars if Serenity is on the Moon where youma are attacking. I will not have it." He glared at the two girls. Then his eyes became sad and soft, and to Mercury's eyes, he looked exhausted. "I cannot believe you are having to fight," he whispered. He looked at Mercury with fear. "You're too young and too... small."

Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars looked at each other for a moment, blinking. Then they laughed, startling all three of the men in front of them. Sailor Mars smirked and winked mischievously at them. Nodding to Mercury, she scampered away toward the edges of the Earth palace's borders. Endymion, Jadeite and Zoicite gasped.

"Rei! Get away from there!" Endymion yelled.

"Fire..." Once she reached the barrier, Sailor Mars pointed her hands into the air and suddenly the senshi twirled around. "SOUL!" Fire leaped out of the girl's fingers and scorched the entire perimeter, creating a fire barrier in front of the weakening force protecting the palace. The fire scorched and flamed, and it quickly started to fill in the breaks and gaps in the barrier, sealing it off again. Sailor Mars, pleased with herself, walked back to the group with one hand on her hip and the other tossing her long black hair behind her shoulder. She grinned at Endymion. "That barrier will not last very long. But it will help for a little while." She shook her head. "You cannot underestimate the senshi, Endymion. We are young, but we are powerful."

Mercury nodded solemnly, her arms crossed in front of her as one blue boot dug into the gravel they stood on. "If we could, all four of the senshi combined could help to protect the Earth palace."

"We cannot leave the Princess for long though." Mars said. "The Queen does not even know that we are gone. Serenity sent us and told us to hurry, but she would not rest once she and the Generals formed a plan to have you leave Earth."

Endymion sighed. "That headstrong girl; would she really have me leave my planet for my own selfish means? Even if it is safety?"

"You are not known to be a humble man, Endymion." Sailor Mercury quipped, folding her gloved hands in front of her.

The others raised their eyebrows at the senshi's candidness. Endymion only smirked.

"Thank you for the reminder, Ami."

"Anytime, Endymion."

Mars cleared her throat. "In any case, we need to leave now if we are going to."

Endymion turned back to Zoicite and Jadeite. "You can't be serious."

Jadeite shook his head. "It is the only way, Prince. I will not have the warnings that my heart is sending me be your downfall. Something is going to happen here, and you cannot be here when it does."

Sailor Mars raised one perfect eyebrow. "I am not the only one who senses it, I see."

Jadeite looked at Mars with a helpless shrug. "I cannot sense as you do, but I just... have... fears."

Mars put a hand on his arm. "I cannot feel exactly what it is, either, but... I know there is something ominous. Be very careful, Jadeite." She said the last few words in a whisper, smiling softly at him.

The man covered her hand with his, nodding and smiling in return. "I will."

"Endymion, we must go." Mercury stared off to where men were fighting youma on the boundaries. The battle had finally begun; the youma had reached the men surrounding the barrier and were attacking with astonishing power.

"There is very little time before that barrier breaks." Mars muttered.

Endymion looked at the two generals standing behind him, who nodded to him.

"See you soon, Endymion." Jadeite smiled encouragingly.

"I can say that we all will need some very stiff drinks after this." Zoicite grinned.

Endymion knew they were trying to ease the moment, but he let them. He smiled and nodded. "Let's just make sure that Nephrite does not make a fool of himself when drunk.... again."

"Endymion!" Mars waved her arm to where she had rushed up a little ahead.

He sighed and followed her reluctantly.

Sailor Mercury looked at the two generals and smiled weakly. "Take care." She nodded and started to walk away, before Zoicite grabbed her arm.

She blinked and looked up at the man. He had followed her several steps, and Jadeite had backed away in discretion.

"Zoicite?"

"Stay safe, Ami." He muttered, blushing. He dropped her arm.

She smiled and reached up to put a gloved hand to his face. "When this is all over, and we are all on the Moon again, I hope you and I will have..." She blushed. "Time together." She leaned up and quickly pecked his cheek, before smiling brightly, turning, and running to catch up to Sailor Mars and Endymion.

Zoicite turned to see Jadeite grinning at him. He sighed and tried to calm his red face. He did not show emotions with women very well.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Sailor Mercury shook her head back and forth furiously. "It cannot happen; I will not allow you to! For the last time, Endymion, no!"

Sailor Mars pinched her nose with her thumb and forefinger. "How I wish all four of us had been able to come," she muttered, speaking of her fellow senshi. "We could have used the Sailor Teleport instead of this dreadfully slow transport..." She sat kicking her leg languidly, staring out the window at the blackness of the sky around them.

Endymion glared at Sailor Mars for a moment before turning back to Sailor Mercury. "We must go to the Moon. I will not have Serenity on the Moon if it is being attacked."

"You stubborn, reckless man." Mercury sighed, twisting a strand of her blue hair around her finger anxiously. "You cannot be serious! It would be breaking the Queen's law!"

"I believe Serenity's safety is more important to me than the Queen's silly law!"

Sailor Mars sighed and stood. She waved her hand in the direction of the two arguing and walked to the front of the transport to speak with the pilot.

The two paused long enough to watch her go. Ami glared at Endymion and walked very close to him, the top of her head reaching up to his chin. She reached out and grabbed both of his arms, squeezing both firmly. "Endymion, Serenity gave us a single task of conveying you to Mars safely." She frowned. "I have just returned to Serenity's good graces, and you want me to disobey her orders, as well as the Queen's, for your own fancy?"

Endymion raised an eyebrow. "Just... how long was Serenity upset at you?"

Ami shrugged and turned her head away from him. "Only a few weeks, really." She turned back to him with a bright smile. "It's alright now, Endymion. Serenity understands."

Endymion nodded. Glancing quickly toward the door Mars had gone through, he laid his hand on Ami's cheek and kissed her forehead. "I am sorry you had to go through that. I know how close you are to Serenity..."

Ami sighed and backed away from him. Shaking her head, she smiled sadly at him. "Even such innocent affections cannot happen, Endymion. I can't risk letting my heart want you again."

He nodded and sat down, looking away.

"In any case..." she started again. "We can't go to the Moon."

Endymion cursed. "Ami, doe once you are the one who isn't being reasonable. You actually expect me to just... leave Serenity on the Moon while there are youma multiplying? Beryl's power is obviously spreading! I cannot leave Earth and the Moon to cower while Serenity is in possible danger!"

Sailor Mercury sighed and turned away from him, sitting in the chair Mars had vacated. "We are going to Mars as we have previously discussed and that is final. As senshi to the princess, we are in complete control of this mission and you have no say so in the matter."

The door opened and Sailor Mars came back. "Actually, Mercury..."

Both of the other transport occupants looked up in surprise.

Sailor Mars cleared her throat. "We're going to the Moon."

Endymion's face lit up and he rushed toward Sailor Mars. He took both of her gloved hands and kissed the back of each. "Sailor Mars, thank you!"

Sailor Mars shook her head and smiled warmly at him. "He's right, Ami. We need to get Serenity off the Moon and fast."

Mercury leaned over and buried her face in her hands. "This was not what Serenity wanted us to do, Rei! Do you have no regards for the princess's orders?!"

Mars waved a hand at the girl. "Yes, yes, but really, do you think Serenity will complain at Endymion's appearance?"

"Her mother will kill him if she finds him on the Moon!" Mercury hissed lowly. "I don't think Serenity would be very happy with that!"

Mars sat beside the girl and pursed her lips. "Good point. I suppose then... that we shall have to disguise the Prince!"

The two girls looked up at Endymion, who squirmed slightly and backed away. "I don't like that look, princesses...."

"I have never worn anything so disgustingly filthy in my life." Endymion muttered to the two ladies walking in front of him.

"Shh!" Sailor Mars turned to glare at him. "Unless you want to be captured and have the Moon Queen send you sprawling over space back to Earth, with Mercury and myself after you for disobeying the law, you had better shut your mouth!"

Endymion grumbled and trudged along after the girls. Sailor Mercury turned and grinned at him in his stable hand attire. Plain brown breeches, a coarse white shirt, a dark brown vest, and a low brimmed brown cap made the ensemble look perfect for the situation.

"I think the look suits you well, Endymion. The humble prince has finally made an appearance."

Endymion cast an evil glare to the girl, who demurely looked away.

Sailor Mars, intrigued, roped her arm through Mercury's and walked several paces ahead. "I'm surprised Endymion lets you get away with such speech, Ami. And when have I ever heard you say such things to anyone?"

Sailor Mercury smiled innocently. "Let us just say that Endymion owes me a great deal. Therefore, I shall say what I please."

Sailor Mars raised a slender black eyebrow, but could not question the blue haired girl any further when she suddenly stopped and turned to Endymion. Mercury looked around hesitantly before speaking, making sure no one was in hearing range.

"Endymion, you must hurry to Serenity and tell her to make haste in getting to the transport I will arrange. We will send you both to Mars."

Sailor Mars nodded. "I will go to the other senshi and have Venus distract Queen Serenity." She rolled her eyes. "She is an expert in the art."

Endymion glanced up at the palace. "I will never reach Serenity like this."

The three suddenly froze when they heard an alarming trumpet suddenly sound close by. A line of Moon warriors ran past the group. Sailor Mars grimaced at the nearby sight before them. A group of at least ten youma, tall with disfigured arms and legs, were sauntering up to the Moon palace. The fire senshi turned to the others. "I believe there are enough distractions at the moment that now is the moment to get Serenity out! We will worry about telling the Queen of our precaution later!" She glared back to where the men were being attacked by the youma. "I must help them! You two, hurry!" She dashed away toward the youma, calling up her fireballs and launching them toward one of the once-humans. Crippling to the ground, the monster started to decay in front of the group.

Endymion and Mercury grimaced but said nothing. Looking over his shoulder, Endymion suddenly spotted Princess Serenity on her balcony, looking down to where Sailor Mars and the soldiers were. He heard her gasp out Mars' name.

Mercury glanced in panic at him. "Hurry, go!"

He nodded and dashed into the palace, avoiding a guard right when the man turned his head.

Sailor Mercury ran back to the transports, calling out for a pilot to hurry and make ready a transport to leave for Mars. Stopping suddenly, Mercury's ivory skin turned to an alabaster shade. She yelled to the pilot once more that she would be back soon and then took off running to a higher point. Dashing away from the palace's stone pathways, she rushed up to the top of a hill and gazed out at the Earth below.

"No." She whispered, her eyes growing wide and her face continued to pale until she knew she resembled a ghostly apparition. "No!"

The Earth was black. Completely black. A dark cloud was swarming dangerously around the planet. Mercury squinted and suddenly gasped. The cloud was moving, and it was moving quickly, but it wasn't moving around Earth. It was coming toward the Moon!

"Endymion! Serenity!" She yelled, and turned to run back to the palace.

"Endymion! What in the world are you wearing? What are you doing here? Mother cannot find you here!" The man had just burst through Serenity's bedroom doorway, and he rushed up and grasped the girl in his arms.

Endymion cursed and threw the cap he was wearing to the floor. He kissed Serenity quickly and then rushed to her wardrobe. "Hurry, Serenity. Get a few things together; we are leaving for Mars."

Serenity put a hand to her lips. "I was sending you to Mars!"

Endymion looked over his shoulder at Serenity. "You would think of my safety before your own. You are going to Mars, Serenity. Now hurry! Stop standing there."

Serenity snapped back into reality and nodded, rushing to pull her traveling trunk out from its spot in the corner of the room. She scratched her head slightly and looked up at Endymion. "I have never packed for myself."

Endymion chuckled lightly and shook his head. "There is no time to worry over it being perfect, my love. We can always buy a few things on Mars if needed."

Serenity nodded and smiled softly. She went up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "It's almost as if we are going on our own private vacation. An early honeymoon." She whispered, kissing his lips softly.

Shaking his head, Endymion smiled and gently disentangled her arms from around him. "Serenity, we will have time for that, but we must hurry now."

Pouting, Serenity nodded and went to her wardrobe, pulling out several dresses and handing them to Endymion to put in the trunk.

"Serenity! Endymion! Endymion! ENDYMION!" The couple's heads both jerked up at a shrill, terrified scream.

A cold shiver went down Endymion's spine. Serenity froze and her eyes widened. She stared at Endymion.

"Was that... Ami screaming?" She whispered.

Endymion frowned and rushed out to the balcony. He looked down to see Sailor Mercury, and he could even tell from the distance that she was incredibly pale.

"Ami! What is it? We are getting Serenity's things..."

"There is no time! You have to come NOW or you will never get away! Beryl is coming! She is coming for the Moon!" Sailor Mercury pointed behind her.

Endymion looked up and he found himself losing the color in his own face. Serenity had joined Endymion on the balcony and she clutched him by the sleeve. "Endymion? What is it?" She furrowed her brow as she stared up at him. Noticing his gaze, she turned her head. She gasped at the sight of the black Earth with the approaching black clouds.

Gulping, Endymion wrapped a shaky arm around Serenity and pulled her to him. "We must leave your things, Serenity." He looked down to Mercury. "We're coming!"

Turning, Endymion started to run, pulling Serenity by the hand behind him.

Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Venus, and Queen Serenity rushed outside to see the forming clouds. They stopped at the edge of the palace garden and stared, their faces fading into white, terrified tones.

"Your Majesty! What shall we do?!" Sailor Venus squeaked, her voice so shrill it hurt Jupiter's ears beside her. The tall girl put a hand on Venus' arm, wincing.

The Queen held the Moon Wand in her hand, the Ginzuishou glimmering in its resting place. She wrung her hands around the wand and stared out. "First, you must find Sailor Mercury and Sailor Mars. Your powers are not as strong when you are all separated." She gazed miserably at the Earth. "My God, Metalia is spreading her destruction so quickly... I have never seen such an onslaught of power."

"The entire planet of Earth is..." Sailor Jupiter muttered.

"Yes." Queen Serenity cut her off before she could complete the thought. "I pray the King, Prince, and Generals are safe."

"Venus! Jupiter! Your Majesty!"

The three turned their heads to see Sailor Mars clicking madly in her stilettos, her long, black hair blowing wildly behind her as she ran toward them. She stopped in front of them and heaved out heavy breaths. "I have helped the warriors to kill many youma, but..." She turned behind her and pointed. "There are many more coming."

Queen Serenity nodded, her gaze stern as she took in the sight of her many warriors raising arms against a barrage of youma. "Find Mercury. You all need to prepare for war."

The three girls looked at each other with vast amounts of worry in their eyes.

Sailor Jupiter gazed out over the gardens and then past them to where the transports were. She gasped. Sailor Mercury was running toward the transports, her blue boots easily spotted in the vast sea of white roses. "Sailor Mercury!"

The others whipped their heads around to see her.

"Why is she running toward the transports?" Venus murmured. "She would not run. Mercury is not like that!"

Their eyes all snapped to Sailor Mars, who fidgeted.

"Sailor Mars, what is Mercury doing?" The Queen raised an eyebrow, her voice stern.

"Well, Your Majesty..."

"Look! It's Princess Serenity! And... a stable hand?!?!" Sailor Venus jumped up and down until she saw the man Serenity was being pulled by the hand by. "He's trying to kidnap Serenity!" She started to rush toward them, but Mars grabbed her arm.

"Wait!" She shook her head pleadingly. "That is not a stable hand, Venus! It's Endymion! They are going to Mars!"

Queen Serenity's eyes turned furious. "What is Endymion doing here?!"

"We were... Your Majesty..." Sailor Mars looked down. "Serenity sent us to Earth to get Endymion off the planet and take him to Mars. We... we thought it best if we... sent Serenity to Mars as well."

The Queen started to say something else, but was interrupted by a million shrill screams. The group all suddenly doubled over, covering their ears.

"What is this?!" Jupiter shouted through the screams.

Queen Serenity wrenched her eyes open and gazed over to where Serenity and Endymion were. "No! Serenity! Senshi, the Princess!"

The senshi around her forced themselves to look up to see a woman with fiery red hair in a long violet gown and a gnarled staff in her hand approaching the Princess and Prince where they cowered on the ground covering their ears at the screams.

"Beryl is here." Jupiter whispered so low that the others could not hear her. The three senshi pushed themselves to their feet. "Queen Serenity, stay here out of danger!" Jupiter yelled behind her as they ran. The Queen, her hands still clasped over her ears with the Moon Wand gripped tightly in one hand, tried to nod but winced at any movement that caused the screaming to become louder in her ears.

They noticed that behind Beryl, the Seven Shadows loomed. As they pushed themselves into a run toward the couple, the screams only got louder.

"The screams are coming from those monsters!" Mars yelled.

Sailor Mercury was running toward the group from the opposite direction. "Serenity! Endymion!"

The four reached the group. "Beryl!" Sailor Venus yelled, stepping forward closest to the dark queen. "As the leader of the senshi, I command you in the name of the Queen of the Moon to relinquish your arms and your hold on good humans of Earth and surrender!"

The other three surrounding senshi tensed at the situation. Sailor Venus was flirtatious and air-headed when she was allowed, but Venus' true leadership abilities were simply in hiding for when they had to appear. The slender, orange-fuku clad senshi stared in fury at the dark queen, her usual bright blue eyes deadly with anger.

Sailor Jupiter, the tallest and strongest senshi, gritted her teeth at the shrill screams still coming from the monsters, her heart hammering in her chest and her brow scrunched in determination. Sailor Mars, her heeled feet gripped into the ground, fisted her hands at her sides as if to charge on the dark queen at a single word.

Sailor Mercury looked around at her friends and her own heart felt heavy with fear, wishing they could go back to their easier days when the only thing to be afraid of was heartbreak. She glanced over at Endymion. By this time, he had finally been able to stand to his feet, pulling Serenity close to him and letting her bury her head in his chest to shield herself from the continuous screaming. He caught Mercury's eye and they stared at each other for a long moment.

The moment was broken when Queen Beryl, laughing shrilly, covered her bright red lips with her long, grotesque fingernails and silenced her seven shadows with the raising of her gnarled staff. Serenity visibly relaxed and could turn her head in Endymion's arms to stare at the terrifying dark queen.

"Why, the planetary princesses believe they can protect their precious Moon princess?" Beryl grinned, revealing sharp, dangerous teeth. "Earth was so easy to destroy that I doubt the Moon, with it's tiny army and four pathetic, untrained senshi, will be any different!"

Sailor Mars started to push herself forward, but Sailor Venus whipped out an arm where she stood in front of her and shook her head. "Calm yourself, Mars." She whispered. "Do not give in to her insults." Sailor Venus looked over the expanse of flower gardens that they were standing in to where Mercury stood on the other side. Venus motioned with her head for the senshi to join them, but Mercury shook her head. Venus raised an eyebrow, until Sailor Mercury ran forward to stand in front of Endymion and Serenity. She glanced at Venus, who nodded firmly in agreement.

Mercury turned her head slightly. "When you get the chance, when we distract her, run to the transport." She whispered to Endymion behind her. The man nodded, his eyes unable to stop glaring at the red-headed woman who was not far away from them.

Queen Beryl smirked at the water senshi in front of her. "Really, little girl, do you believe you will put forth any resistance?"

Mercury braced herself. "You will not harm the Princess and Prince! In the name of Mercury, I won't allow it!"

Beryl raised one thin eyebrow. "Oh?" The woman snapped her fingers and the seven shadows began to laugh shrilly as they parted behind her. The four senshi braced themselves. "I have four very eager, willing new fighters who, I'm sure, will disagree."

Endymion gasped. "NO!"

Behind the shadows, four tall, distinguished men walked out of the darkness and into the light. Their regal armor and Earth uniforms were gone, replaced by a gray uniform for each one, with one man's uniform differing only slightly, as a long gray cape with white on the underside blew out behind him.

"Jadeite!" Sailor Mars' hands fell from their fists and flew up to cover her mouth. The man looked so different! Gone was his easy smile and laughing blue eyes, to be replaced by a deep, stern frown and a cold, icy stare in his eyes. "Jadeite..." Mars whispered, her hands dropping to her sides when she realized he only stared back at her with hatred. "No, Jadeite..."

"Nephrite!" Sailor Jupiter started to rush forward but stopped herself when she noticed the stony look of Neprhite's eyes. His dark brown eyes* had lost their kindness, and Jupiter felt her own green eyes filling with tears. She quickly shook her head and shut her eyes, refusing to let the tears fall and show her weakness.

"Kunzite!" Sailor Venus turned white. "No, how could this be?!" Kunzite, apparently still the General leader, his long white cape showing his supremacy, showed no affection in his pale eyes as he stared at Sailor Venus. She clasped her hands together. "Kunzite...?" she whispered, her eyes soft and pleading. "Kunzite... it's me. It's Minako." She started to go toward him, only to have him raise his sword in the air as if to slash at her. She gasped and stopped. "Kunzite..."

Endymion suddenly remembered Jadeite's feelings from the weeks past. He cursed. "Jadeite saw this coming. He knew something was going to happen. He was so fearful."

Mercury, tensed in front of the prince, stared over at the cold green eyes of Zoicite, his usual light happy mood replaced with a dark and forbidding glare that soaked into her chilled skin. "They are not themselves."

"No, they are not." Endymion whispered, and Ami could hear the heartbreak in his voice. She felt her heart wrench. They were his closest friends, and they had been taken away from him into the hold of the enemy. She could not imagine how much pain he was feeling.

"Endymion." Serenity reached up and put a hand to his cheek. "I'm sure Mother can use the Ginzuishou to bring them back to themselves. Its power is cleansing."

Endymion smiled down at her, nodding his head and turning his head to kiss the inside of her palm.

Queen Beryl cursed at the sight. She raised her staff. "My loyal servants, now begins your true mission!" She turned her head to the stone-like generals. She grinned. "Eliminate the princess.... and all those who protect her."

"NO!" The senshi rushed forward as the generals moved to attack.

Endymion moved to put Serenity behind him. He reached for his sword. Blinking, he looked down and cursed. He was still in the disguise. He did not have his sword. His blood froze at being defenseless.

"Crescent Beam!" Sailor Venus felt her heart sting as Kunzite attacked her, white flashes of light hurtling toward her as she slashed back with her crescent beams. "Kunzite, it's me! It's Minako! Please stop!" He hurtled another white slash at her and she screamed as it struck her across her face, sending her flying back to the ground. "Kunzite..." She whispered, tears slipping out of her eyes. "It cannot be..." She started to push herself up off the ground, knowing that she was rushing toward her from behind.

"Fire Soul!" Fireballs lit from Sailor Mars' fingertips and hurtled toward Jadeite, who blocked them effectively and ran toward her, energy forming in his hands as he attacked her. A flash hit her and she screamed as she fell backward, her back scraping into the hard ground, her fuku ripping.

Serenity screamed. "Sailor Mars!" She started to rush toward her, only to have Endymion reach out and grab her.

"No, Serenity. They would not want you to." He mumbled urgently. Serenity felt tears spring into her eyes as she watched Sailor Mars struggle to push herself up.

Sailor Jupiter lifted her hands. "Supreme Thunder!" She brought her hands together and formed lightning and stuck it toward Nephrite, only to have him suck the thunderbolt from her and throw it back at her. She gasped and twirled to dodge the attack, but he charged toward her with his own attack and pummeled her to the ground.

Zoicite glared stonily at Mercury, who refused to move in front of him. She found herself staring at how odd he seemed now, how changed he was. He looked almost... feminine. Where was the strong, lean man she had known before? He was gone to be replaced by this cold, icy man whom she knew felt nothing for her at all. She hardened her heart toward him. She felt nothing for him either, she decided. If she was going to attack him, she had to believe that. "We were nothing, we were nothing." She repeated to herself softly before reaching her hands out in front of her and cupping them together. "Shabon Spray!" She yelled, and a mist overthrew the entire area. She wrenched her head back around to Endymion and Serenity. "Go now!" She hissed through the mist. Endymion nodded at her and Serenity reached her hand out to grasp hers quickly before the couple began to run.

Mercury took in a deep breath before turning to see the mist fading. "Shabon Spray!" She called out again, and through the mist, she saw Zoicite lunge toward her. She gasped as he knocked her to the ground.

Serenity turned her head as Endymion pulled her behind him, and she yelled out. "Ami! Ami, no!"

Suddenly she felt Endymion halt and she crashed into his back. He stumbled slightly before grabbing her to his side. The princess looked up. Beryl grinned in front of them, wagging her finger lazily back and forth. The seven shadows behind Beryl were beginning to look antsy. Beryl raised both of her hands, grasping the staff she held above her head. "Go, my minions! Combine your powers and destroy this wretched place!"

The shadows leaped out from behind her. Endymion and Serenity covered their faces with their arms as wind began to swirl faster and faster above their heads as the monsters began to combine. Endymion pulled Serenity to him and tried to run, only to have Beryl snap her staff between them, sending them both flying backward away from each other. Endymion quickly stood to his feet and started to go to Serenity, but Beryl snapped her staff in front of him. "Endymion," she drawled. "I will give you a choice of life, if you will surrender yourself to me." She motioned with one thin arm to where the senshi and generals were battling. "You will be with your friends again."

Endymion backed away and glared at her. "I would not join you for anything in the world."

Beryl's eyes flamed and she reached her staff out. "Then I shall take what is most precious to you!" Power and energy began to form at the top of it and it leaped out toward the Princess.

Serenity, still on the ground, turned her head and squeezed her eyes shut, expecting the blow to hit her. She heard a shout above her and she turned and looked. Gasping, tears choked out of her eyes. "Endymion! NO!" In front of her, Endymion smiled weakly and fell into her arms, a hole burned through his skin at the impact of Beryl's attack.

Beryl blinked repeatedly and stared at her staff. "Endymion, you fool! For this simple, stupid little girl?!" She raised her staff again.

Endymion, weak at the attack, grasped onto Serenity and brought her close to his chest. "I love you, Serenity."

"Endymion, no! Don't say it like you're..." She sobbed. "No!"

From above, Beryl was strengthening her staff to attack the couple again.. Serenity looked up with hate in her eyes at the furious queen, and she quickly stood and put herself in front of Endymion, her fists clenched at her sides. "No! You can have me, but you won't hurt him again!"

"Serenity," Endymion choked, trying to stand. He grasped onto her and pulled her close to him, leaning heavily against her. "Serenity, I am your protector. This is my duty... this is why I am allowed to marry you, to love you."

Serenity shook her head. "No, no, no..." she cried.

"I will have no more of this!" Beryl roared, and a massive amount of power surged out of the staff to engulf both of them. They clutched onto each other as they felt themselves wrenched onto the ground as the impact stole life out of both of them. They screamed but would not be separated, and Endymion used every ounce of energy left him in to keep Serenity in his arms.

From above, the shadows had formed a daunting, massive monster and it was attacking the palace into ruins. Warriors were dying as soon as the shadows passed over them, the men being engulfed into the darkness. Queen Serenity was trying to summon forth the power of the Ginzuishou. She raised the Moon Wand above her, tears flowing down her face as she began whispering to the Moon Wand to give her power. The two cat guardians, Luna and Artemis, cried and cowered close to the Queen, knowing she was the only hope.

The senshi, tired and unable to stop the generals' attacks, fell one by one, their powers failing them as they were pulled apart, the darkness of the generals' power being too strong to handle. Sailor Jupiter, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Venus all lay dead in front of the three generals, and the three men walked away without looking back.

Sailor Mercury pushed Zoicite off her for long enough to run toward the royal couple. She cried when she saw them, lying together, their arms snaked around each other in death as they had been in life. "No," she whispered. "Serenity... Endymion." She dropped down to her knees in front of them. "NO!" She screamed, gripping her fists together. She turned to see Beryl walking away, laughing as she walked toward the darkness that was now the destroyed Moon palace.

Suddenly, she felt very cold. She turned her head and above her, Zoicite stood with a sword reached outward. She looked down at her fuku, where the cold metal was pressed through and blood was streaming forward, covering the silky white fabric and staining the blue bow that adorned her breast. She felt spots form in her sight and she gasped for breath as she realized the immense pain she felt flooding through her was a sword pressed directly through her heart. She fell forward, her head landing on Endymion's shoulder.

PRESENT

The four girls and Mamoru all stared silently into Usagi's pale face as the flashback ended.

"The Queen..." Usagi whispered. "My mother... she... knew it was too late to save us all, but she used her own power and the power of the Ginzuishou combined, and she... defeated the Seven Shadows and sealed them inside the Ginzuishou. It then broke apart and they scattered into the seven rainbow crystals... all of this which you know." Usagi stared down at her shaking hands. "Her heartbreak at the sight of all our deaths turned into pure strength and power and she cleansed the universe of youma, and she weakened Metalia's power incredibly. The use of the Ginzuishou's immense power killed her, but... she used the power to send us all here, to lead new and normal lives free of youma and evil, where we all might be happy." Usagi sighed. "But she didn't destroy Metalia... she couldn't. Metalia was too powerful."

Luna turned her head away. "I remember it. I remember being with the Queen when she used the Ginzuishou."

"She charged us to find the senshi should evil arise again." Artemis whispered. Minako reached over and rubbed the cat behind the ears.

"So this new enemy is Metalia." Makoto stated quietly, her green eyes unusually dark from seeing the previous scenes.

Usagi nodded. The blonde stood. "Yes." She gazed at the door. "I am... spent for the day. I'm going to go home."

Rei stood and reached out to hug the girl. "You must have used a great deal of power to show us all that."

Usagi still held the Moon Wand in her hand. "I did." She whispered. "I promise we will all talk tomorrow, but I... I am so tired." She turned, picked up her book bag, slipped the Moon Wand inside it, and headed outside.

The rest of the group sat silently for a moment, but Ami suddenly stood and broke away from the group to run outside after Usagi.

"Usagi-chan! Usagi-chan!"

Usagi was close to the steps to the shrine, and she turned her head to the blue-haired girl. She sighed. "Not now, Ami." She started down the steps again.

"No!" Ami suddenly yelled. She blushed when Usagi stopped and stared up at her. She usually didn't yell. She cleared her throat. "Serenity forgave... Princess Ami. Why can't you forgive me?! Mamoru and I have had no relationship!"

Usagi sighed deeply and shook her head. "Do you really think this is about Mamoru?!" She looked up at Ami with sad, hurt eyes. "It isn't at all, Ami. You are my friend. Not Mamoru. Mamoru has nothing to do with this! You are my friend, and you... kept things from me! You lied in such a way that it betrayed my great trust in you! You knew all about the past through all of these dreams; you knew about everything! Endymion, me, and yourself...and yet you still kept silent?! When I should have complete faith that my friends, not just my senshi but my friends, are honest and trustworthy, you show me that you are far more hidden than you say! You tell me you are my friend, and yet you hide things from me? I don't care what happened in the past, and just as I forgave you then, I forgive you now for that because it was out of anyone's control! But lying to your friends is in your own control, Ami!" Usagi glared at her. Then she sighed and turned her head away. "I don't want to talk anymore. I want to go home." The girl suddenly rushed down the stairs, running so quickly that Ami had no time to reply.

"Usagi-chan!"

Ami turned around sadly and looked behind her to see Mamoru standing a few steps away from her. Her eyes filled with tears and she sniffed loudly. Mamoru went toward her and grabbed her to him in a hug. "It's alright, Ami-chan. It's alright, Usagi is just mad. She'll come around, she will... I'm so sorry, this is partly my fault, I'm so sorry... shhh..." Ami sobbed into his shirt as he soothed her, letting her tears course freely down her face. She had had to endure the horrifying dream of the destruction of the Silver Millenium twice, she was broken and sad at Usagi's anger, and she had no clue how to make it better. What else was there for her to do but cry?

*Okay, I have decided to have Nephrite's eyes as a dark brown, but it isn't always the case. Some of the pictures in the manga show his eyes as being a light blue, while other pictures show them being a soft brown. Also in the anime, they're kind of a darkish bluish color... I think. It's hard to tell. To make it easy on myself (and because I love brown eyes) I just went with the brown that I've seen in some manga scenes.

Also, there is one thing I'm not certain on: fuku, the word for the senshi uniforms. Is the plural of fuku just fuku or is it fukus? Fukus just sounds odd to me, but does anyone really know what it is?

There is the end of this chapter! Yay! I'm so excited; I really enjoyed writing this chapter..... up until the end where I had to say everyone died, which.... totally sucked. But now we're in the present again, so the next chapter will be focused on that. I have a plan in mind for where I'm going, but I'm just not sure how many chapters more it will be before the story is finished. I would judge and try to give you all an idea, but I don't want to limit myself or outreach myself, lol.

I hope you all liked this chapter, and please review and tell me what you think! I appreciate every single review I get! Thank you all SO much!