Part II: Chapter 7
A New Evil
"I found her." Endymion spoke as he set his wine glass down on the table.
Raven dropped her fork, her mouth still open, waiting for a bite of roast duck that would never come. "Excuse me?"
The royal family of Earth was seated at their grand dinner table, eating their evening meal after their return from the fire ceremony on Mars. A host of servants surrounded them, waiting along the walls, waiting to be summoned to refill their glasses or plates. Though nearly twenty people were in the dining hall, the only sound that could be heard was the clinking of the silverware against the porcelain plates or the thud of a glass being set back onto the table.
"Father, I want you to make contact with Queen Serenity." Endymion continued, ignoring his mother's intensive glare. Several of the servants, still quietly standing along the walls, lifted their eyes to stare at him in alarm.
"For what purpose?" King Arthur asked as he too set his wine glass down. His light blue regarded his son fondly, as if he were seeing him in a new light.
"I wish to court the princess." Endymion said as he met his father's gaze head on. His tone was firm, final. He didn't meet his mother's eyes, instead keeping his attention on his father.
"Well then… I will make contact with the Queen." Arthur beamed as he cut into the duck, taking his next bite merrily. "You've made me proud son. You haven't let Venus' rejection keep you down. The Moon is a sweeter reward."
"We don't need the Moon." Raven said, cutting into their conversation. Her blue eyes were fierce, blazing with unspoken anger that was boiling within her. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her own son?! Endymion did not have his memories back, at least not fully. How did that sniveling princess already manage to snag him? It was too early.
"Dearest." Arthur said as he took another bite of his dinner, shifting his gaze to his wife. "The Moon is the most influential kingdom in the galaxy."
"And we are the second." Raven replied bitterly. "We do not need their influence. Our kingdom is larger, stronger."
"It's not about our kingdom or theirs." Endymion said as he rose from his seat. "Mother, I don't know why you hate the moon so much but it doesn't matter now. I'm not pursuing Serena because of her influence or ours. I'm pursuing her because… because I love her."
Raven laughed heartily as she pushed her chair back from the table, rising to her feet to meet her son's glare. "Love? You don't even know her. How can you be in love?"
"I know enough." Endymion replied as he threw his napkin onto the table. "Father, make the arrangement. I will travel to the moon this week." He gave his mother one last look before leaving the room, pushing the double doors open with more force than needed. The heavy oak doors thudded against the stone walls which echoed within the vast dining room which had settled back into silence.
Raven's fierce glare returned to her husband as the servants who had been watching the entire ordeal, suddenly shifted their focus back to their shoes.
"You overstepped." Arthur warned as the doors shut behind Endymion. "He's a man now. The more you try to hold onto him, the faster he will leave you."
"I don't need your parenting advice." Raven snapped as she too threw her napkin onto the table. "I know my son. I know what he needs and the Moon isn't it."
"So you say." Arthur replied as he watched his wife cross the room, angrily stomping towards the doors. "But I will make the arrangements. We will go with our son to the Moon. I suggest you get yourself ready."
Raven ignored him as she pushed the doors open, stomping down the hall to her private chambers. Her hands balled into two tight fists as she huffed, muttering to herself as she tried in vain, to keep her emotions in check.
"My queen." Rhea spoke as Raven thundered into her chamber, grumbling louder.
Raven took a step back, her hand moving to cover her chest. She took a deep breath as her heart raced. "Rhea! Announce yourself next time. These are my private chambers!"
"My apologies, I didn't mean to startle you." Rhea said with a curtsy. She wore a short black dress that stopped at her knees just above a pair of sleek black boots. Her short auburn hair was longer than it was the last time, this time hanging just below her shoulder blades. It was straight as a board. Around her neck laid a golden chain that held a single red stone.
"What did you learn from the Moon?" Raven asked as she took a seat at her vanity, angrily ripping off her diamond necklace and throwing it into a drawer.
"All of the Shadow Warriors have their memories. The sailor scouts are still separated but most have their memories as well." Rhea reported as she watched her Queen.
"And what did you learn from the ceremony?" Raven probed as she pulled off her earrings next, this time carefully placing them next to her necklace. She wasn't particularly surprised many of the sailor scouts had their memories. It was too much to hope that they wouldn't, not with Fabian's desperate last minute attempt to keep them.
"Much." Rhea grinned as she approached her Queen. "Fabian and Mina plan to see Serenity about regaining their powers. They think she may have retained memories as well. But most notably…after the fire incident at the temple, Sailor Pluto appeared. She shared some rather interesting news."
Raven paused, one hand on her wrist, pulling off her diamond bracelet. She spun around on her stool to look directly at Rhea, her eyebrows raised. "She is still barred from the time stream is she not?"
"Physically, yes." Rhea agreed as she took a seat on a nearby chair, her black eyes shimmering menacingly. "Her instincts remain. She senses a stronger evil, a new evil. My queen, I do not think she was speaking of us."
Raven sighed, her chest heaving up and down with each breath. She had feared that their return would cause a rift in time. It appeared that she was right. Her powers were weak in this form. She needed the strength of the darkness to amplify them, something that wouldn't happen if she lingered on Earth. However leaving her family to do so, especially knowing her husband was due to meet his end soon, was still difficult to do.
"Rhea… we are in quite the predicament." Raven groaned as she rose to her feet, her hands immediately going to her hips. "Our original plans are falling apart. Mina refuses to marry my son, so we do not have the source of power we need. I do not have my full powers. The scouts will not even entertain working together to prevent the Negaverse's rebirth, though I'll admit, even that one was a long shot." She walked across the room as her thoughts ran. She wasn't out of options yet. The question was, how far was she willing to go to take control of the galaxy? The Moon seemed so trivial now, not with the knowledge of the future in her hand.
"Rhea… we need to find out who this new threat is. Return to the Moon, see what information you can gather. I think it's time I left Earth to gather dark energy. We need more power and we need more allies. The outer planets have always dwelled within the darkness, I think I may find their support invaluable." Raven said as she paced.
"Yes, my queen." Rhea said as she gave her a curtsy. She turned to leave but hesitated. There was still something weighing on her mind.
"Out with it." Raven said, sensing her hesitation.
"My sister." Rhea replied as she turned back to her queen. "You returned her to me in our last life in return for my service. She is alive during this one as well but she has not come to me."
Raven crossed her arms as she watched Rhea's expression turn somber.
"All I ask in this life is that you help me get my revenge on those that exterminated my family… and help me find her." Rhea said as her eyes met Raven's.
Raven could see tears threatening to spill down her cheeks. She could see the emotion swelling in Rhea's usually stoic face. She could feel her frustration, her rage, and her loss. Rhea was a strong ally, she couldn't afford to lose her loyalty now. "Very well. Once I have my powers restored we will bring your family's killers to justice." Raven replied as she felt a smile gracing her lips. "But you must do something for me…"
"Name it." Rhea replied almost instantly.
"Kill Serenity. Those sailor scouts must not regain their powers." Raven ordered as her gaze intensified.
Rhea's expression surprisingly, did not change. It was as if she had suspected her queen would ask her to do it. "Consider it done."
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"Something evil is stirring. Why else would you come?" Serenity asked as her slender hands gripped the marble railing of her bedroom balcony. The earth had risen into the night sky, shining down on the moon, lighting the dark night. She wore a simple white dress that hugged her curves. Her white hair was down loose, spilling down her shoulders and rippling down her back to form a silky puddle on the floor. Her balcony doors were open, letting the fresh night air into her bedroom as the palace occupants slept. She slept little these days. Dark patches were evident beneath her shimmering eyes.
Pluto curtsied to Queen Serenity as she approached her on the balcony. "I have managed to make contact with Neptune and Uranus. They will arrive next week to begin training. Saturn has closed their borders. No one is allowed in or out."
Serenity nodded, as if she had suspected Saturn would be a complication. "Given their chosen export, they often close their borders when their planet's security is threatened. The question is, who attempted to infiltrate the planet?"
"Only rumors, none of which seem plausible." Pluto replied as she watched Serenity tear her gaze from the night sky to watch her.
"Earth has contacted me about a courtship with Serena." She said simply with a long look.
"That is unusual. Queen Raven allowed this?" Pluto asked as she watched Serenity close her balcony doors, locking out the night's breeze.
"Yes, surprisingly." Serenity replied as she rubbed her chilled arms. "I don't trust that she's given up just yet. What troubles me is the series of events that are changing the future. The courtship of Fabian and Mina, the fire ceremony's incident and now this… too many deviations… too many unknowns… we have to do something."
"What do you suggest?" Pluto asked. Goosebumps were apparent on her arms too though it was unknown if they stemmed from the chilly night or something more sinister.
"I sent Serena to the ceremony in hopes that seeing Endymion would spur her memories. She has not regained all of them, but she remembers some. We must do more now. I suggest we begin training the princesses early. We cannot wait for something to happen. I do not have a good feeling about them being separated still. It would be foolish to wait for the events to unfold as they did before, not with so many new events occurring." Serenity said as she went to stand before her fireplace. She stared into the flames that crackled softly, sending waves of warmth into her skin.
"There is something else." Pluto added as she joined her queen by the fire. "Princess Lita has been taken, along with Nephrite. Raven has them, they are her prisoners."
Queen Serenity's brow furrowed at her words though she did not seemed surprised. "Yes, I heard that as well. Jupiter's regent, Lita's uncle, has not raised alarm, most likely still believing his niece is pursuing her studies on Saturn."
"Shall I retrieve her?" Pluto asked but was quickly met with Serenity's intense gaze.
"No." Serenity remarked as she took a seat by the fireplace. Her hands went to her temples, gently massaging them as she tried to focus. "She has already left the planet though where she is headed, I do not know. I don't think she's going to Jupiter."
"Raven let her go?" Pluto asked with a questioning look. Lines appeared on her forehead, hinting at her true age in that moment.
"No… she escaped." Serenity stated as she caught Pluto's eyes. "Oddly."
"Very odd." Pluto replied. "Raven doesn't make mistakes. What if she let her go?"
"Something we agree on." Queen Serenity said as a roll of thunder sounded in the distance. "Now the real question is why."
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Mina sighed as she felt the warm breeze hit her face. After a few days on Mars braving extremes from hot to cold, the humid Venus air embraced her like an old friend. It was midday, the sun was at its highest point. This was the usual time that she went riding, taking her horse, Lady, through the usual trail around the palace, sometimes splintering onto a hidden path in the forest. That was her routine. As always there were four guards with her, two close, one riding ahead and another, several hundred feet behind. She even wore her usual, a golden dress with a sleeveless bodice. Her hair was down, tied back with a rich red bow to keep it out of her face. High brown leather riding boots covered her calves, keeping her slender legs free of the dust that swirled with each gallop Lady took. Her skirts were hiked up high, allowing her ride as a normal rider, not side-saddle as many women did. She wore a wide smile on her face as Lady pressed forward, carrying her into the orange leaf forest. Fabian was due to arrive any moment. Serenity had graciously allowed him a few days off of his duty as a Shadow Warrior to visit Mina. Though they had arranged the visit as part of their courtship, what they truly intended was to leave the planet and to rescue Lita from Raven's clutches.
"Andrew." Mina said, calling to one of the guards behind her.
"Princess." Her guard replied as he kicked his horse. The horse ran faster, taking long strides next to Mina's. The guards were dressed in their blood orange uniforms, each bearing the insignia of Venus. A long red cape cascaded down their shoulders despite the warmth. It rippled like a flag behind them, flapping in the wind.
"Let's do something different today. It is warm. I want to go to the stream for a swim." Mina said with a grin. She had grown up with all of her guards as service to the crown often ran in families. Andrew's own father still served her father, guarding his private quarters and accompanying him on his own rides.
"Of course, as you wish." Andrew said with a nod of his head. "Shall we hang back?"
"Please. Allow me privacy lest you see something you shouldn't." She winked as she kicked her horse, taking off into the tree line.
Andrew nodded again, signaling to the other guards to pull back.
Mina's smile faded as she reached the tree line. Her horse slowed to a steady trot as they passed tree after tree. The soft trickle of the stream greeted her as she neared it. The warm water, bubbling happily as it rushed down to the base of the nearby mountains, seemed so serene. Lady entered the water, crossing carefully across the stone bed at Mina's hand.
Mina felt her heart begin to beat painfully against her chest. Her ears burned, tingling as Lady left the water and journeyed to the other side. She had never lied to her guards before. They were like family… but none of that mattered now. Only that morning Mina had received a note, found on her pillow when she returned from breakfast. It was written in Japanese, a language she hadn't seen since earth. It only contained five words: Woods across the stream. Hurry.
Now as Mina drew near the other side of the woods, woods that were denser, older than those on the side by the palace, she felt the hairs on her arms rise. The crisp yellow and orange leaves were redder, darker on this side. The trees were so close that the sunlight hardly reached their ancient trunks.
Lady whined as they entered the forest. She hesitated, stomping on the ground irritably. Mina gently rubbed her neck as she dismounted, taking care to reassure her. She nuzzled lady's snout with her cheek as her horse again whined. "Shhh… wait here… I'll be back." She assured her as she gave her a pat and turned towards the wood.
Though Mina's senses were on alert, she was not afraid. The note had to be from Fabian. Who else knew Japanese? Still, there was the chance that the message was a trap. She had thought of that too. A message telling her to leave the safety of her palace would be an easy way to take her. Though Fabian was supposed to arrive today, he could easily have journeyed through the palace gates to see her. Who else could have written it? Her friends? Raven? Tucked into the bodice of her dress was a thin, sharp dagger, stolen from her father's study. It would have to be enough to protect her in the off chance that the note wasn't from Fabian. Mina still had no powers, a fact that becoming very dangerous for her and her friends.
"Mina?" A voice called from before her.
Mina stopped mid-step. She knew that voice. It was low but not a man's. "Lita?!" She rushed forward, pushing through the heavy brush.
Lita appeared before her, running past the trees. She wore a simple white cotton dress. The edges were dirty and frayed. Several holes were visible within the sleeves. Her hair was back in a simple braid though many hairs had escaped and clung to the sides of her sweaty cheeks. Never had Mina see Lita so worn and troubled. Even her deep emerald green eyes appeared heavy with weariness and fear.
"You're okay… oh my gosh. Lita! I thought… I thought you were taken!" Mina breathed as the two girls embraced, holding onto each other tightly. She felt Lita's body shake under her grasp. Lita was one of the strongest women she knew, her tough exterior had cracked. Lita sobbed against her friend.
"I was." Lita whispered as she held onto Mina still, her grip only tightening. "The man next to my prison freed us. We couldn't get to Jupiter, we only managed to sneak onto a ship bound for Venus. It was our only option. No one believed I was the princess of Jupiter, especially in these rags. They wouldn't allow us to see you but the man who helped me, Nephrite, bribed one of your servants to deliver a note. I was scared it wouldn't reach you."
"Oh Lita…" Mina said, horrified as she listened to her friend speak. "You have so much strength to have endured all of that." She squeezed her tighter as Lita finally released her. She noticed her friend's emerald green eyes, now tinged with red, were full with tears still. "Wait…" Her eyes widened as she thought over what Lita had said. "Nephrite… you don't know him?"
"I've never seen him before." Lita said as she brushed back the loose strands of hair that clung to her cheeks still. "He is so kind to have taken me with him in his escape."
Mina nodded as she bit her lip. Lita didn't remember their past on Earth or the previous Silver Millennium. That complicated things further. She had come to Venus because the two had been close. Lita and Mina had grown up together as the Queen of Jupiter had been a good friend of the Queen of Venus. The two girls were just as close as their mothers that is, before they passed. Despite everything, Lita trusted Mina and knew she would offer her protection. Did Nephrite still have his memories? Was that why he chose to save her? Mina thought of Zoisite, who had his memoires but Amy did not. How strange that the tables had turned so as it had been the generals who had lost their memoires before.
"Come, let's go back to the palace." Mina told Lita as she took her hand, pulling her back to Lady. "I think I'll have a dress that fits you and I can have the servants draw up a warm bath…"
"Wait…" Lita said, pulling back on her hand slightly. Her dark green eyes scanned the wood around them as she searched for someone. "Nephrite? It's okay." Lita said to the trees behind her.
Mina watched as a tall man stepped out from behind a large ash tree. His dark hair was short and styled back from his face. His shoulders were broad, strong and muscular. He wore a black shirt and pants. At his waist sat a sword, resting against his hip. His dark blue eyes lifted to meet hers as a smile crossed his face.
"Lita… that's not Nephrite." Mina said as she took a step backwards, pulling Lita towards her as he drew his sword. Her heart began to race as she felt a ripple of fear tear through her. Why didn't she think of it sooner? If Lita didn't have her memories, how could she have written in Japanese?
"Correct princess." He spoke as he took a step towards them. His smile turned cruel ass he placed a hand over the hilt of his sword.
"Nephrite, what are you doing?" Lita asked as she glanced at him and then at Mina. Her eyes went back and forth between them. She could see Mina's fear. "Who are you?"
"My name isn't Nephrite." He snapped at Lita as a twinge of annoyance cut through his face. His blue eyes settled on Mina as he straightened up, giving her a charming smile. "It's Barrick. Prince Barrick actually. But you both knew me once as someone else…"
"Blake." Mina whispered as she remembered. She had last seen him with Serena back in Tokyo. He had been her fiancé from the United States. He was a lawyer, boring and unmemorable. Serena had told them he had returned home just before Raven hit the city with the biggest earthquake it had seen in centuries yet here he was, staring at her back in the Silver Millennium. "You… you were using her." Mina spoke as she realized. Blake had shown up at a curious time, just as things were beginning to get very dangerous in Tokyo. He knew they were Sailor Scouts, just as the rest of the world learned as well. Despite this information, he had never seemed too troubled by it. Why hadn't she noticed it then?
"I've used a lot of people." He admitted with a nod to Lita. "You're not special."
"Where's Nephrite? What did you do with him?" Mina said as she felt a flurry of anger rise within her. Her hands balled into two tight fists. Next to her Lita took a step back from Barrick, regarding him with wide eyes, still full of tears.
"Don't worry about him, Idra has him occupied." Barrick said with a shrug as his smile grew smug.
"Why do all of this then? Why did you need Serena? Why did you spend so many years with her?" Mina asked as she felt her heart begin to race.
"Once Endymion abandoned his princess, it was all too easy to get her to fall in love with me. Sweet words, a charming smile, a kiss here and there, I daresay, she even loved me." He explained as he slowly withdrew his sword from its sheath. The sound of metal on metal cut through the forest deafeningly, sending a flock of birds into the sky. He looked at the shiny blade admirably, as if he missed the feeling of a sword in his hands as he continued to speak. "You Sailor Scouts, so ruled by your emotions. I could've done the same to any of you but then again, Serena had the most power. I could feel the energy of the Silver Crystal within her. It gave me new life. I didn't need to steal energy from any mortals, it came freely to me with her near. Once she moved in with me my powers amplified. I could summon old friends who had perished during the last battle of the Silver Millennium… old friends like Raven… and Idra."
"But why?" Mina asked as she felt a nasty feeling growing within the pit of her stomach. If Blake had resurrected Raven, he must have had a more sinister plan than gathering energy from the Silver Crystal. Plus, Pluto had thought she had revived Raven when she saved Saturn. Was that not true? Had she been manipulated as well?
"Raven returned with a thirst for revenge. She wanted to take the Silver Crystal to reclaim her kingdom and kill the Moon princess in the process, the one woman who took her precious son from her. Nikko's purpose was to reclaim his princess, the only woman he ever loved that drove him to near madness. My desires are much more complex." He explained as he pointed his sword at the two girls. "I only want one thing. Death. I'm past revenge. I didn't lose a woman I loved. I lost much more. I lost my entire family to the greed of this galaxy as well as my kingdom. I had to watch every single person on my planet die and no one, not Jupiter, Venus, Earth, the Moon or Mercury did anything about it. Now is their reckoning. I don't want power princess… I want chaos, and a lot of it. The Negaverse will find it much easier to take over a galaxy without resistance this time around." He said as he pointed his sword behind him, deeper into the wood. "Now start walking." He ordered. "We're going on a trip."
Mina kept her feet firmly planted onto the ground as Lita moved forward, walking towards Barrick. She stopped when she noticed Mina's hesitation. She cast an unsurely glance her way as fear crossed her features.
"I'm not leaving." Mina said firmly as she withdrew her dagger. It wouldn't hold up well against Barrick's sword but it would give Lita a chance to run to the palace for help.
He chuckled as he swung his sword forward, coming within inches of her dagger.
Despite her shaking hands, Mina didn't flinch. She may be a princess again but she was not going to be a hopeless one. She was strong. She had strength within her, especially when it came to protecting her friends. Her eyes set on Barrick's, bent in concentration.
"Lita, run to the palace." Mina ordered as she took a step towards a very surprised Barrick. "NOW!"
Lita hesitated only for a moment, glancing once at both of them before taking her skirts in her hands and running back behind Mina, headed for the stream as she screamed for help.
"You're a fool." Barrick stated as he took one mighty swing of his sword.
Mina flinched as the sword hit her dagger, sending her flying to the ground. She quickly found her feet again, still clutching the dagger as he came at her again, this time growling as he lunged. She dodged his reach, dancing just outside of his grasp but his other arm reached out, grabbing her skirt.
Mina screamed as her feet left the ground and she landed on her butt, hard. The dagger flew from her hand as Barrick abandoned his sword and pulled on her skirts, pulling her to him. Mina thrashed as she felt her body being dragged but Barrick held her firm. She could see him drawing nearer as he pulled her to him. As his hands gripped her hip, she sent a strong, swift kick right at his face.
Barrick yelped as his head snapped back, sending him flying onto the ground.
Mina took her chance, she grabbed her skirts in her hands and started running for the stream. She pushed past the heavy brush, feeling the thorny branches tearing her skirts as she fled. The stream was close. She could hear the familiar sound of the rushing water as the red trees began to thin out, revealing its glistening waters. She could see Lita on the other side, next to her guards that had their swords drawn. Behind them Fabian appeared on his horse, his hair wild from the hard ride. She could see his dark green eyes widen as Lita began to scream, pointing at her.
"Fabian!" Mina screamed as tears of relief began to sting her eyes. She was so close. If she could make it to the stream, her guards could protect her. "It's Blake!" She yelled.
They all began rushing towards her, shouting words she could not hear. The guards mounted their horses, galloping to the stream as Fabian led the charge. He unsheathed his own sword as the wind picked up, sending a flurry of orange and golden leaves swirling around her.
Mina stopped as she felt her feet leave the ground. She was being lifted with the leaves that continued to swirl around her. They locked to each other, wrapping around her wrists and ankles. Her eyes popped open as she felt herself zooming backwards, back into the dark wood as she screamed. Before her Fabian and her guards grew smaller and smaller as she continued to fly through the air. Just as quickly as it began she was dropped back onto the forest floor, right at Barrick's feet.
A dark bruise had already appeared on his face, strikingly similar to the shape of her boot. His blue eyes had turned black, completely swallowing the white of his eyes. His breathing was shallow and ragged as he stared down at her. "You shouldn't have done that." He said as he reached down and grabbed her.
Mina screamed again as she squirmed and fought against the leafy restraints that held firm around her wrists and ankles. If only she could get her feet free, she could make one last run for it. The sound of galloping hooves drew her attention away, stopping her for only a moment. She could see her guards and Fabian nearing. The horses knew the woods well. They navigated easily through the brush to find her. She felt hope seep into her chest as their images grew sharper. Her deep blue eyes met Fabian's just as he came into the clearing. She could see the determination lingering with his rich, emerald green irises, but behind that she could sense his fear. Never had she seen such a look in his eyes before.
Before she could scream again she felt two hands wrap around her waist, lifting her into the air. Her body was thrown over Barrick's shoulder, as easily as if she were no heavier than a bag of flour.
"LET HER GO!" Fabian yelled as he jumped off his horse, his sword ready to meet Barrick's. He was just a few feet from them, the fear gone now from his eyes. He was ready to fight, ready to defend the woman he loved against this new enemy that had snuck up on all of them.
Barrick instead grinned as the ground beneath them began to shake and rumble. The guards behind Fabian quickly lost their footing, crashing to the ground but he kept on his feet, his hold still firm on his sword. "Come get her if you want little prince." He laughed as his grip tightened on Mina. "But first you'll have to find me." And with his last few words a dark portal opened behind him.
Before Fabian could react Barrick stepped through, plunging them into the darkness within as Mina screamed.