She's My What?
By: SilverLunarStar
Chapter Twenty-One: Frozen in Time
Warning: Dark material lies beyond: bit of gore and torture.
Zsigmond rubbed his eyes, practically stumbling to his room. His eyes were dry from staring into various microscopes and computer screens all day. Without bothering to take any of his clothes off, he flopped onto bed and promptly fell into a deep sleep before he head even hit the pillow.
Apollo was minding his own business, humming a little tune as he gathered herbs. He was no witch, but he knew enough to make sure everyone was kept healthy. He stopped humming as he heard a scolding voice.
"We have told you time and time again, Princess, you should not come here. We have had an unstable relationship with Earth since Queen Gaia's demise. You're placing yourself in danger by being here, Serenity!"
Even before the name was spoken, he immediately knew who was on Earth; Princess Serenity of the Moon and one of her Royal Guards. Carefully, he tried to get a look, thinking about their conversation. He wouldn't exactly call their relationship with the people of the Moon 'unstable' – more like nonexistent. Ever since Queen Gaia died and King Aethlius married their advisor, the King withdrew the treaty that was being drawn by the two Queens.
Ever since that abysmal union, things have gone downhill for the people of Earth. The King's new wife convinced him those of the Moon were to blame. The funny thing was, Earth didn't start acting out until after their wedding. Earth would unexpectedly tremble, it would rain for days in places that had barely seen more than a few showers a year. Sea levels were rising, inundating the land; strong winds would gather and suck things in, destroying flat lands. Ouranos, one of his fellow colleagues, predicted it would only get worse. Hermes believed it had to do with the fact that Earth's chosen blood wasn't currently ruling. Prince Endymion, Earth's heir, would be of age to rule within a year.
He and the other Guardians would be by their Prince's side to help guide him through the transition; he, Ouranos, Hermes, and Ares. Apparently, however, they haven't been very good Guardians if those of the Moon have been able to sneak in.
Apollo didn't think they had anything to do with Earth's disasters, but they were breaking the laws.
"Metis, I wish I could apologize, but I will not. You know Earth has always fascinated me and…and there is someone who-"
"Oh, Serenity! Please do not tell me you have been coming here for a man!"
"No Metis, it has been for a woman," the Princess said sarcastically, surprising the eavesdropper.
"Serenity!" the other female pleaded.
"I've not done anything improper. He has just been showing me all of Earth's wonders and today we went horseback riding. It was amazing, Metis!"
"Is that why your hair is a right mess?" She eyed the disarranged buns. Sighing, she shook her head. "Serenity, while none of us think the people of Earth are beneath or better that those of the Moon, or other planets for that matter, it is still against the laws. Let's go."
Serenity looked like she was going to protest, but held herself back. "Fine."
"I better not catch you here again, Princess."
"Don't sorry, I won't." 'Get caught,' rang silently.
Metis sighed, frustrated, but didn't say anything about her remark. Instead, she grabbed both of the blonde's hands in hers. "You best apologize to Uranus and Neptune for your earlier remark," she said and closed her eyes; Princess Serenity huffed, before doing the same, her birthmark shinning gold and Apollo noticed a blue glow.
Trying to get a closer look, he observed his surroundings and calculated which position he could relocate to in order to get a better look. He was so focused on his new location that he took only a step before his foot landed on a small pile of dry leaves. Flinching, he suppressed his aura so he wouldn't be noticed by anyone who didn't know him. Looking back at the clearing, he was shocked that Metis had turned in his direction. The first thing he observed was, not the glowing blue symbol, but her…striking features. His breath caught in his throat, but then he realized she was looking intently, right at him. No, not at him, but at the area the noise came from. Before she turned, his eyes shot quickly to her forehead and he easily recognized the symbol. Once the two disappeared, he grabbed his bearings and headed back to the Prince's residence.
Not the castle, but a decent-sized house at the edge of the forest. This was where he and the other guardians usually resided in, but ever since his father married 'that witch' as the Prince referred to her (and he did mean literally), Endymion had moved in with them. Their Prince seemed to enjoy himself there; he had a bit more freedom as well. After he had started some serious training as Prince, Endymion had hardened some and was no long as carefree as he used to be. Of course, that's usually what happened with responsibilities weighing upon them.
'Speaking of the Prince of Earth…' This was a well-known saying all around the land and was often used as a joke when one was talking about a male and they're suddenly within eyesight. In this case, however, he meant it in the very literal sense. The Prince of Earth, Endymion, was currently in the stable next to the house, tending to the extra horse they kept. Apollo paused. 'Why is he tending to Lily…?' In his mind's eye, he saw the Princess of the Moon and her Mercurian guard. What the Moon Princess said came flooding back, 'You know Earth has always fascinated me and…and there's someone who… He's just been showing me all of Earth's wonders and today we went horseback riding…-'
'Oh crap,' thought Apollo, 'apparently we really haven't been doing a good job guarding the Prince like we had thought.'
"Apollo," Endymion called out in greeting.
As mentioned man neared the stables, he started, "Endymion, we need to talk."
The Prince stared at his friend warily. When he heard him utter, "I know about the Moon Princess," his face held a stricken look.
"And to think I once thought it was impossible for them."
Metis almost jumped when she heard someone speak behind her, but as soon as arms wrapped around her, she leaned back comfortably. "We all thought so. Of course, once Queen Selenity became involved, the Scouts and I should have known better."
"She is amazing," Apollo agreed, "However, you were right to be wary. The men and I would have sworn Cassiterite had the acting King wrapped around her fingers."
"Thankfully, he understood Serenity and Endymion's union would benefit Earth."
"Well, when you have eight other planets on the Moon's side," he joked. Turning somber, he fiddled with a chain around his neck. "Once our dear friends are wed, do you think ours will be valid?" He looked at the ring looped through the gold chain thoughtfully.
Taking out her own necklace with ring, she looked at it, then his hazel-green eyes. "Don't want to have another wedding, dear?"
Looking directly into her late day ocean eyes, he responded, "I'd marry you a hundred times if I had to so we could let worlds know about us."
"Know about what?"
The two whirled around and came face-to-face with a smug Prince and amused Princess.
Throughout all the chaos, the Princess of Mercury looked for her husband. Dispersing fog around her, she maintained a clear head. While she retained her main objective of protecting the Moon, she searched for Apollo though all the blood and dead/dying bodies. 'Oh Goddess, please let him be safe.'
"I'm perfectly safe, Mercury. I didn't know you cared so much."
She almost got whiplash from how fast she turned; she almost snapped at him – this was no time to be joking! – but he was suddenly before her and her resolve weakened. Instead, she threw her arms around him. "Oh Apollo, I was beginning to think something dreadful had happened to you." Her shoulders shook with her effort to contain her tears.
The man Metis had her arms wrapped around stiffened before allowing himself to return her embrace. As her shoulders shook, he smiled cruelly, the woman oblivious to the change in her husband. "Now, now Metis, there's no need for tears." Lifting her head, he cupped her face, making to wipe her tears. As soon as his fingers touched the salty water, they froze.
Metis felt her face stiffen almost immediately after Apollo's hands touched her face. She couldn't move fast enough and watched with fascinated horror as he held a perfectly frozen teardrop. "Apol-"
"Don't even think about it, Mercury. You have no right to refer to me by my given name. My title, General Zoicite, will do for you, I think. Although," his features, which had remained genial at first, were now twisted and cruel, "I doubt you'll even have a chance to speak with all the screaming you'll be doing."
The Princess of Mercury berated herself for not realizing sooner that this creature wasn't her husband. "What did you do with the real Apollo? If you've harmed him-"
He cut her off, laughing. "What makes you think I'm not him? Because your dear husband would never be so callous? Maybe I'd be the same man you bewitched?"
"You've been bewitched alright-" Her mind worked quickly.
"So you admit it!"
"But it wasn't I who did the brainwashing!" Taking advantage of his hesitance, she exclaimed, "Shine Aqua Illusion!" A swirl of pure water appeared before the Goddess of Wisdom, while not the Heiress of Mercury, was still the daughter of King Okeanos of Mercury, God of the Oceans.
Zoicite acted swiftly and created a shield.
Unfortunately for Metis, her attack repelled right back, the pressure doubling back at her, soaking her to the bone. Before she even had a chance to reabsorb the moisture, she felt herself stiffen involuntarily. Her eyes widened at the overall chill and her own body betrayed her, freezing over. She sucked in a sharp breath, already feeling her internal organs shutting down.
A malicious grin marred the blonde's handsome face. "I never did get to finish your ice lessons, did I? Maybe a part of me knew you were manipulating me and I made sure to work slowly. Or," he paused, "maybe you're not as wise as everyone says you are. Fake goddesses trying to take over the universe." He mocked.
Her eyes flashed. "So are you saying the late Queen Gaia was a fraud? She was the most influential, after Queen Selenity."
He stood before her in a flash, backhanding her. "There you go, thinking all of you are better than us mere Earthlings. Do you know why your head is the only thing I left unfrozen?" His hand traveled to her damp hair, threading his fingers through it. "Because I wanted that brilliant mind of yours alert." Without another word, his unoccupied hands went to one of hers and swiftly broke two fingers off. A gleeful smile took over his face at her latent, painful scream.
Metis' head spun. A Mercurian's mind was fascinating, with its capability of multitasking like no other, having a hundred different thoughts per minute. It differed from Mercurian to Mercurian just how well they were able to retain these thoughts. As Princess of her planet, Metis had shown promise very early and was bestowed with the title 'Goddess of Wisdom' at forty-eight orbital cycles (a little less than twelve of Earth's orbital period). At this very moment, however, there were very few thoughts running through her synapses.
First and foremost wasn't the pain, but the safety of her Princess. Next, she thought about who could have corrupted her husband so deeply and thoroughly, and, in half a millisecond, she remembered his suspicions of the King's wife and her daughter. Cassiterite was dead, executed by the King himself. So that left Beryl. It had to be. What could-? Metis found just how well her pain receptors were still functioning as Zoicite became angry and started snapping the rest of her fingers off. She knew she didn't have long and she wished with all her heart there was something she could do for the man she loved.
Zoicite noticed a tear roll down the cheek he had hit only minutes before. He let out a breath and it froze at the corner of her mouth. His green eyes locked with her blue ones. He smirked before leaning in and licking the frozen teardrop. Looking into her eyes one last time, he was shocked by what he saw.
Forgiveness.
Rage coursed through him and he covered her mouth with his in a bruising kiss.
Once she saw Zoicite's interest in the tear right by her lips, a plan had formulated. Concentrating on the remaining water still in liquid formation within her, she waited exactly six seconds from the beginning of the kiss before letting the water expel, flowing into him like the rapid waters on Earth.
He tried to push her away, he really did. His body would not respond, no matter how hard he tried. The hand in her hair simply gripped her harder, closer. Everything that she was flowed into him and his respiratory system began to shut down as his lungs were filled.
Warmth spread through both their chests, the chains with their rings that represented eternity coming together, but it was only a figurative warmth. Water continued to fill the lungs of one of the Earth's Guardians until they collapsed and he drowned. Falling down, his ring still linked with hers, dragged her with him. Her body, still covered in sheets of ice, inevitably shattered, her head rolling away once it no longer had a support system.
Zsigmond awoke, gasping and coughing. Sitting up, he continued to cough until his throat stung harshly. Making his way to the bathroom, he thought, 'What was that all about?' Turning the faucet on and splashing water on his face, he looked up into the mirror and was suddenly bombarded with image after image of his past. Bile arose in his throat and he dry-heaved until his esophagus was raw. Zsigmond shuddered, his teeth clattering. Never had he felt so cold in his life; he had been in control of ice for as long as he could remember, always able to cool, or warm up enough to melt solid, water from within and around him.
'This is nothing to what Am- Metis must have felt,' he thought darkly. Thinking about what he did to his love long, long ago, he shuddered even more harshly. 'I didn't just fight and kill her, I tortured her!' He had been the only one of the four Shitennou who didn't remember the details of their dark past. They may have not been Beryl's puppets this time around, but what they had done to the Senshi of their hearts in their past lives was enough to last lifetimes. As if killing her hadn't been enough. Glancing at the clock glaring 4:20AM, he wrapped himself up in a thick coat and made his way to his lab.
It was 2:00PM when Ami had arrived at the Manor. After a snack, courtesy of Nahele, she was whisked away to a lab only her dreams had built until now.
After greeting her, Zsigmond promptly let her know what it was they were looking for and set to work.
Four hours later, Ami rubbed her eyes tiredly. She was frustrated that, so far, all tests had not come up with anything, but what was even more irritating was the fact that the blond man had been giving her the cold shoulder practically the entire time, except to hand her a few things she needed and answering her questions curtly. Finally, after another hour, she had enough. "I'll be back tomorrow, after school," she said briskly. "Hopefully, you'll be a bit less frigid by then."
Zsigmond stiffened at her choice of words, but tried to apologize. "Am-"
"Oyasumi nasai, Zsigmond-san." With that, she exited the lab. Once upstairs, she found Nahele headed her way.
"Ami-san, you're not staying for dinner?" He looked at her deeply.
"I'm sorry Nahele-san, I can't. Not tonight. Thank you, though. Is Usagi upstairs?"
"No, she's setting the table if you want to say goodbye."
"Thanks."
Heading to the dining room, she saw her best friend placing the utensils next to each plate.
"Ami-chan!" the blonde exclaimed when she noticed her. "You've finally emerged from the cavern and joined us normals!"
It was always easy to laugh and enjoy yourself with Usagi, Ami thought as she laughed along. "I think I've been with you too long, Usagi-chan; I needed some type of social conversation after the past few hours," she unintentionally let slip.
Concern filled her eyes. "Was Zsigmond being a complete idiot?"
Normally, the blue haired girl would downplay people's actions towards her, but the way the blond man had acted left her feeling…cold; she nodded in response. She was so lost in her thought; she didn't see the surprise cross her friend's face. The way he had acted towards her was achingly familiar, but how could it be? She had just met him. 'Now you know that's not true, Ami.' She knew better. While she may not have all her memories of the Silver Millennium, she had the impression he was as distant as he was today whenever he deemed it necessary to shut down his feelings, once, a lifetime ago.
Usagi was worried. Out of the four Shitennou, she had thought Zsigmond the most reasonable of the lot. She wondered what happened. 'Well, I'm just going to have to talk with him. All of them.' "I'll see what I can do-"
"No Usagi-chan, it doesn't matter."
"But it does," she said firmly. "First, because you're my best friend and you're also a part of the Senshi; he has no right to disregard you. They also need to learn to let go. I'm not supporting their past actions, but they need to if they're ever going to live a life here and take advantage of their second chance because not many are as lucky."
Ami knew there was no talking her friend out of it; once she set her heart on something, she always followed through. Instead, she smiled and hugged her before leaving.
To be Continued…
Yes, this is what I've been working on all this time. Yes, this is all I have, thus far! I'm sorry! I tried, I really, really tried to write more, but I couldn't. I DO have a fair idea of what I want next, but every time I tried to write, it felt awkward and out of place. It wasn't until today (2/13/2011) that I realized I needed to split my idea in half. So here's the first part of Frozen in Time. Zsigmond and Ami still have a lot go work through (as do the other couples), so we'll see where it leads.
I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Thank you for all your reviews, alerts, and favorite-ing! Until next time!
Lots of Love on this Day of Love and Friendship,
~*Eli