A.N. Sorry that it's taken so long. The end is definitely in sight. (Be warned, this isn't a happy ending.)


The Silver Age

Chapter 29


It had been three months.

Selenity watched the hologram of the moon phases on her bedroom wall. They flickered in a ghostly white light.

Three months since she'd seen or heard from Endymion. Since her mother had cut off all communication with the Earth.

Three months since she'd wept a single tear.

She felt completely hollow inside. Lately, her mind had begun to go somewhere else. She had the feeling that she hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, but her thoughts and feelings were so vague now, as if they were wrapped up in cotton, or as if she was going numb.


"I'm worried about her, your majesty," Venus ended, clasping her hands behind her.

The Queen watched the galaxy spinning by out of the glass domed ceiling of the throne room.

"Yes," she sighed, "So am I. She's barely eating, hardly noticing anything that's happening. I thought she would get over it."

Venus twisted her hair into a small knot. She knew, in her heart, exactly how impossible it would be for Selenity to "get over" Endymion. She knew because she had recently made an unnerving discovery of her own.

"Perhaps," she said, "Perhaps if we were to do something to take her mind off of him? She hasn't had much to distract her."

The Queen nodded.

"I - well, the girls and I - were thinking that a ball or a celebration might do the trick? You know how much she loves parties."

"Yes, and her birthday is coming up."

"Exactly," Venus smiled, "And we could plan it all. With your permission of course."

The Queen looked closely at Venus, but the girl withstood her monarch's scrutiny.

"There would be no question of any Terrans on the guest list, officially or otherwise."

The Queen's statement was a command.

Venus nodded quickly.

"Of course not," she said, "We would never violate the closed boundaries. Not even for Selenity."

Venus hated lying through her teeth, but sometimes there was no other option.

The Queen sat down on her crystal throne.

"Alright," she said, "Make the preparations. Let me be the one to tell her. Maybe she'll talk to me then."

Venus inwardly winced as she bowed.

It had been three months since Selenity had refused all contact with her mother. Venus knew that a party was unlikely to change the princess's mood. But Venus had more important matters to attend to. Like saving the universe.


"How could this happen!?" Endymion demanded, thumping his fist against the wooden table of the practice room.

The four men in the room with him didn't react. In fact, they almost seemed unnaturally calm.

"I don't understand why none of you said anything."

"I beg your pardon, Highness," Jaedite began, "But what exactly would you have had us say?"

"Tell my father I'm not interested. Tell him what a panderer she is!"

"Why don't you tell him yourself?" Nephrite growled.

Zoisite and Kunzite remained silent.

Endymion stared at them all in turn.

"What has happened to you?" he asked, softly.

"Ever since you made the vow to Beryl, you've been...different."

None of them except Kunzite met his gaze, and though his jaw was tightly clenched, his eyes seemed to hold some fading message for Endymion that the prince couldn't read.

"I don't understand it. It's like...it's like you want me to go through with this. As if you want me to marry Beryl."

Zoisite made a gurgling noise in his throat which turned into a cough. He had become increasingly paler in the past months, and thinner. Now he looked almost a wraith of his former self. There were circles under his eyes. Nephrite too seemed darker, his face looked harsher and his smile had turned into a sardonic sneer.

"My liege," Jadeite said, his voice taking on a silky quality that Endymion had come to loath in the last months, "Would it be such a terrible thing for you to marry Lady Beryl as your father wishes? I can't see any reason to the contrary."

"Can't you?" Endymion asked, bitterly, "You know there is a very good reason."

"Hardly," Jaedite purred, "And since your father cannot be crossed in this matter -"

"I should just accept it," Endymion finished.

"Well, I suppose that's what you would do, isn't it, Jaedite?" he spat.

Jaedite didn't flinch.

"Does none of you care that we are cut off from the moon?" he went on.

"Of course we care," Zoisite's voice, hoarse from coughing, rang out, "It's imperative that we get to the moon."

The other three nodded, almost as one.

Endymion suddenly felt cold. He shivered.

"Yes," he agreed, "Is there any news?"

He looked at Kunzite.

"There is," the tall man spoke, at last, "I have received news from Princess Venus that there is to be a ball held in honor of the princess's birthday. It will be our one chance to regain contact with the Moon court."

"Her birthday," Endymion murmured, "That's only a matter of days."

"Which is why we should postpone worrying about your engagement to Lady Beryl," Jaedite suggested, "And begin to make our plans."

There was something about the way Jaedite said this that made Endymion pause. In that moment, inside himself, he made a decision.

"Yes," he heard himself say, "Yes, I leave the plans to you."

Jaedite and the others seemed surprised for a moment that Endymion had agreed so easily. In the past three months he had fought all of their suggestions tooth and nail. This sudden compliance was almost suspicious. They would have to report it to Lady Beryl.

"I am...too overcome at the thought of seeing Selenity again," he went on, putting a hand to his face, "I am sorry that I accused you all of not wanting to help me. I'm...not myself."

"We understand, sire," Jaedite said, smoothly.

Endymion nodded.

"Let me know when you are ready to tell me your plan," he said, and they bowed to him as he left the room, each with his hand over his heart.

Once the door closed behind the prince, the four men turned as one to look at each other.

"Jaedite?" Kunzite asked.

Jaedite nodded, unfolding a hidden piece of paper from his sleeve and spreading it out against the table.

"We have only a few seconds," Kunzite murmured.

They joined hands and formed a circle around the table.

Concentrating their combined wills, they pushed at the darkness inside of them, the voice that controlled their thoughts, that eavesdropped on all their conversations, feelings, and private meditations. It was difficult to push it back, but when they were together, it was just possible to create a small space that the darkness couldn't enter.

"What did you learn?" Kunzite asked, panting in the effort of maintaing this barrier of concentration.

"They will be expecting us. They think we're coming as friends, but at least they will not be caught unawares." Jaedite's voice was strained.

"It's the best we can do," Kunzite finished.

"M-m-mer-" Zoisite stammered.

"She's true to you," Jaedite managed, "Always. They all are. And she's safe."

Zoisite opened his mouth, but couldn't speak. He nodded instead.

"For now," Nephrite groaned.

At that moment they almost lost the connection.

She was coming. She was right outside the door. They could feel her presence. The source of the dark energy that was always hungry.

"This may be -" Kunzite gasped, "The last time. Stay true. Each of you."

"For Endymion," he whispered.

"For Endymion," they echoed, then all of them fell to their knees.

The connection and the barrier were broken.

A sharp knock on the door caused all four of the men to straighten.

Kunzite rose to open it.

Beryl entered, arrayed in resplendent finery, amber jewels encrusted her neckline. Her hair flowed long and twined around the strange epaulets she'd taken to wearing recently.

"Hello, boys," she said with a smile. Her teeth seemed almost pointed.

"What present shall we bestow on the princess's birthday?"