"Cursed"
By: LunaBell
Serenity found Luna in the prayer room early the next morning. Unfortunately, she hadn't got much sleep the night before due to her recurring nightmare. Every time she closed her eyes it would replay like a broken record. Death would surround her like fog, to the point she felt that she couldn't breathe. It had been hell!
Dream Sequence
Fire surrounded her as she moved through the destruction. Bodies litter the blood soaked earth, while cries came from those not yet gone. Even women and children lay among the dead. She stopped as she came to the burnt remnants of what had once been a large statue to the goddess Artemis. It was different from the ones she'd seen before.
Artemis stood holding the crystal in her upturned palms.
A strangled cry to her left caught her attention as she moved away from the stone. Upon reaching the place that the noise originated, she came to an abrupt halt. Bile crawled its way up her throat as she took in the grisly scene before her.
The once playful Generals of Ellysion lay mutilated on the barren ground. They would have been unrecognizable, if not for their uniforms. Falling to her knees, she choked back tears as she took Jadeite's lifeless hand into her own. They hadn't deserved this.
The laughter was what finally brought her out of her melancholy. It surrounded her with a sense of dread. Looking at her friends once more she followed the detestable sound.
She found herself in a clearing surrounded by dilapidated buildings. In the center stood a crudely erected throne, and sitting upon it was none other than Persephone. Covered in blood, she cradled the Silver Crystal in her hands.
She was about to move forward when she noticed movement from behind the throne. A figure dressed in robes moved forward to place his hands over the crystal. Persephone giggled as dark power seeped through her fingers to slide across the ground, incasing every thing in its path. The man's words were the last thing she heard before everything went black.
"You have no power here, Serenity. You might be the new chosen, but I will never allow you to replace me."
End Dream Sequence
Serenity shook herself to clear her head. She needed a vacation.
Luna, just noticing her presence, finished her prayer to Artemis before turning to face her. "You're up early, dear." She frowned when she noticed the dark circles under her wards eyes. "Serenity, you look like you didn't sleep a wink!"
"You'd be right about the not sleeping part." Serenity grumbled.
Luna clucked like a mother hen before ushering her toward the breakfast room. She had always been a little overprotective of the young woman. "Why couldn't you sleep, Sere?"
"I had a dream, Luna." She rubbed her eyes before sighing. "Well, it was more like a nightmare."
Luna sat down and motioned for her to continue. So she explained what all she had seen and felt while in the dream. She noticed how her friend began to pale as she explained her surroundings. It wasn't until she mentioned the statue that Luna finally told her to stop.
"Do you realize where you were in that dream?"
Serenity shook her head as she watched her mentor pace. "No, I have never been there before. Does it hold some kind of significance?" At Luna's silence she continued. "It was a premonition, wasn't it? My dreams are showing me the future."
"I'm not sure. The place you just described to me was the center courtyard of Celeste." Luna answered.
Serenity slumped further into her seat. She had been told stories about the once grand kingdom. Her mother used to tell her about how the goddess Artemis, in the form of a deer, had been saved from a hunter by the kingdoms princess centuries before. In repayment for the girls help she had granted her the Silver Crystal for protection. The glowing crescent moon that adorned the women's foreheads were Artemis's way of letting everyone know that they were her chosen. After that day only the women of Celeste had ruled, passing the stone from mother to daughter.
"What does it mean, Luna? Is Persephone the long lost Princess of Celeste?"
Luna turned sharply at Serenity's question. "No, there is no way that the goddess would allow such a being to be keeper of the crystal."
"But, Luna, we don't know how Artemis feels. Perhaps this is what she intended all along." She tried to reason.
"She didn't! The future will not be filled with death and decay. My goddess has already set things into motion," Luna stormed to the doors before finishing over her shoulder, "and it shall be done as she directed."
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Serenity paced her room as she thought about her conversation with Luna. Ami sat reading on her settee while Rei reclined on her bed playing with Sirrush. The fire priestess had taken a liking to the dragon over the last few days, though he seemed to be merely tolerating her attentions. It was proved two seconds later when Rei yelped in outrage.
"That little shit just scorched my fingertips!" Rei exclaimed as she cradled her abused appendages.
Ami giggled as the little fire-breather made his way to Serenity to chase after her hair. "It would seem that he has tolerance for only one person."
"You would think he would feel more of a connection with me since we both hold the element of flame."
Serenity smiled as she picked up her trouble making pet. The other two watched as Sirrush curled his tail about her arm before puffing smoke to show his affection. It was astounding to watch the black creature practically purr in contentment.
"Shouldn't he be trying to kill us rather than acting like a well fed tabby?" Rei asked with a grunt as she leaned back against the headboard. "He's a dragon. Aren't they supposed to eat fair maidens and kill foolish knights?"
Ami set down her book. "In a technical sense, yes. Dragons are revered for their size and total lack of compassion. They kill to eat, whether it is man or animal, and they feel no remorse. There have been instances when a dragon has attached itself to a human, but it is usually because they have helped it in some way." She turned to look at Serenity. "Do you know how King Endymion came across his two pets?"
"Sirrush told me that he had saved them as eggs and raised them among humans. Though they still attack livestock, they see no reason to harm the creatures that protect them."
Rei blanched as she looked from Sirrush to Serenity. "Are you telling me he talks to you?"
"It's not really talking, more like projecting images and emotions. It's how he and his brother communicate with Endymion."
Ami nodded before continuing her narrative. "I believe that Sirrush is from the Premorphus breed. They are known for changing their size to suit their surroundings. It also puts them at a disadvantage as they are easier to kill in their smaller form. They can usually be found farther south, around the Seratolla Mountains."
The girls continued their conversation until the dinner bell chimed. Serenity settled Sirrush on the bed while Rei and Ami gathered their things. It was nice being able to relax and talk without having to constantly look over their shoulders. Little did they know that their time of peace would soon shatter like so many pieces of broken glass.
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The wind howled as the Elders reached their destination. They had come to see if the rumors circulating through the land were true. Two figures stood, patiently waiting for someone to speak.
"Is it true? Is she alive?" Feidhlim asked with a quaver to his speech.
Nodding, the young woman came forward. The crescent moon glowing faintly in the moonlight. "I am the one you seek."
Each man stared in shock. For there could be no doubt that this was it. Their search was finally over. One by one they fell to their knees. All but Donovan of Ellysion. The woman looked to him in question.
"Why do you not bow?"
He shrugged. "You are not yet the Queen of Celeste. I will bow when it is official."
As the others remained silent Besierwan jumped to his feet in affront. "How dare you speak thus to her Royal Majesty?" His eyes glowed with unspeakable rage.
"There is no guarantee that she will live long enough to receive the Silver Crystal."
Aramaus held up his hand before Besierwan could sputter out a comeback. "He has the right to hold his allegiance until she has been restored to her throne. Though I'm sure Princess Persephone will require an apology when the time comes."
Donovan sneered as he returned to his carriage without another word.
"You must forgive him, my lady. We have just returned from speaking with High Priestess Serenity and I'm afraid she didn't paint of very good picture of you with her story." Roibhilin commented in defense of his ally.
Persephone visibly stiffened at the Priestess's name. "I'm sure I will apologize to her as soon as we meet. I had simply been under a lot of stress, and knowing she was in possession of my crystal put me on edge."
All nodded in sympathy for the woman's plight before heading inside to make the arrangements for her eminent coronation.
Meanwhile, Donovan called one of his vassals to him. It seemed that things were moving faster than he had expected. It was time to bring in the reserves. Serenity would need all the help she could get.
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They received the news early the next morning. The coronation was to take place three days hence. This meant that in three days Serenity would have to give the Silver Crystal over to the newly found Princess of Celeste.
Luna was livid. She cursed the messenger from the Elders, and had the man running for safety not ten minutes after his arrival. Rei and the others watched in silence as she prowled about the counsel room. Every now and then she would stop and mutter to herself before continuing her pacing. Ami looked over to Serenity who only shrugged.
Serenity was too caught up in her own disappointment to care about Luna's odd behavior. She had seen this coming. The dreams had foretold that it would be Persephone who controlled the crystal. Everything was falling apart before her eyes and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
Was death and destruction truly the only thing left to them?
Luna stopped moving as she came to a stop in front of the hearth. "We can't allow this to happen."
Rei and Ami exchanged bewildered looks before turning back to the older woman. "How are we supposed to stop it? Why should we even try? She is the rightful owner of-" Rei was cut off when Luna slammed her hands down onto the table.
"She is not the rightful owner! She is an imposter who wants the title and crystal for her own selfish means. She will destroy this land and everyone in it. Is that what you want, Rei?"
Luna's outburst had stunned the three young women. "How do you know she's an imposter Miss Delmaris?"
The question caught Luna by surprise. She let out an aggravated breath before sitting down. "Because I know where the true owner is."
"What did you say?" Serenity asked breathlessly.
The girls moved in close to here her answer. "I know where the princess is."
"And you never thought to tell me about this?"
Luna looked up at Serenity with defeated eyes before answering. "It wouldn't have mattered. She can't reclaim her birthright where she is."
"Why not, Luna? I can't believe that you have sat here and lied to my face. All these years you knew where she was! I should never have been given this damned Crystal!" Serenity ranted.
"Calm down, Sere. I didn't tell you because it wasn't my place. I was told to keep what I knew a secret, and I would never betray my goddess." She glanced up at the others.
Ami looked stunned. "Are you saying that Artemis asked you to keep it a secret?"
"Yes, she told me many things, and asked that I help protect the future ruler of Celeste."
"But if she is to rule Celeste why can she not be brought forward?"
"Because she is not the future ruler, Rei. I know where she is," Luna paused before letting go of a secret she'd carried for over two decades, "because I buried her myself a few hours after the destruction of Celeste."
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The vassal didn't wait for the King's reply before running hell bent for the exit. He had delivered his message as his lord bid. As far as he was concerned, he had done his job. There was no reason to stick around.
Endymion rubbed his jaw as he pondered the message. It seemed that his little bunny would be in need of his help. "Kunzite, ready the men. We leave for the Moonlight Temple within the hour."
"Even if we leave now, we'll barely make it in time for the coronation." Zoicite pointed out.
Endymion grinned as he moved off toward his chambers. "We're not going for the coronation." He turned to look at his men. "We're going to help Serenity make her escape."
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Cliffhanger!!! Hope you enjoyed and please review!