Divinity: Fates and the Afterlife
Chapter Sixty-Four
The sound of chirping birds and the warm rays of the morning sun slowly brought back Serenity from her hazy and quite hectic slumber. Slowly, she fluttered her eyes open only to find out Megumi was no longer sleeping by her side—the last thing she remembered before falling asleep. She let out a groggy groan as she slowly brought a hand to her head, still feeling the heavy effects of the sedative Ami gave her the night before.
Serenity thought for a minute that everything had been a long and crazy dream and that it was just another lazy Sunday where she had overslept and Endymion would be in the living room reading the paper or working on something on his computer while drinking his usual morning coffee but it didn't take her long for the pain in her body remind her she wasn't sleeping on his side of the bed because she rolled over and kicked him out, or that it was just another simple day in their lives, soon after, it hit her, the simplicity Mamoru represented wasn't there anymore. He hadn't slept by her side, he hadn't wake up early to do all his morning routine, he wasn't waiting for her to make breakfast—he wasn't there at all.
She pushed herself back up and gently rubbed her sleeve over her eyes to wipe away the tears and took deep breaths to calm the anxiety that was trying to take over her again when a soft knock on the door snapped her out of her torment and turned to see Megumi walking inside the room with a hot cup of tea and placed it right where Endymion's mug used to be when she first returned. "Princess! You are awake!" She let out a soft breath of relief, "I brought you some tea," she sat on the edge of the bed and placed her cool hand on Serenity's warm forehead and smiled softly, "It will help you wake up and keep you calm after the rough night you had,"
Serenity blushed and turned to pick up the mug. She knew about her tendency to kick and roll during the night and that it had been an important factor of sleepless nights between the couple when she started to spend more nights over and Endymion began to learn more of her quirks during bedtime. Serenity turned to Megumi and gave her a weak but shameful smile; her lack of commentary proved she was completely oblivious to what had happened to her these past couple of days. She bit her lip, "I kicked you... I-I'm so, so sorry." She took a long breath and let it out, "Endymion is so used to it he doesn't pay attention to it anymore, I completely forgot to warn you about that,"
"Oh?" Megumi blinked a little startled but quickly figured the princess was still under the effects of the sedative, just as Ami had warned her, "No, no, do not worry about it. It is alright—no harm done, Your Highness."
Serenity sighed and gave the young girl an apologetic look, "My, you are going to think that I become this crazy woman in my sleep..."
"Not at all, Your Highness..." Megumi looked at her with curious eyes and a soft smile on her face, "Although, I must say, you were talking in your sleep quite much,"
"I-I was?" Serenity's eyes widened and felt her heart stop for a moment, Megumi continued, "Yes. You did not say a name but it was like if you knew the person you were talking to,"
"Can you remember anything I said?" Serenity looked down at the steaming mug in her hands and saw it was none other than her husband's favorite black mug. The same one she gave him for Christmas. Her delicate fingers slowly traced the small design of the constellation of Leo engraved on it as she continued to listen to Megumi in silence.
"They were mostly random words rather than an actual fluent conversation," the maid sighed softly, "I immediately thought you were re-living what you witnessed back there because you were pleading for help," Megumi cupped the princess cheek as she looked into her crystal blue eyes. She wished to know what happened, she wanted to know more about her brief reunion with the prince but she was aware that it was not something one could speak of so easily and without feeling any pain, it was still not time. "Is there anything I can get you, Your Highness? Are you feeling hungry? I can—"
Serenity shook her head tiredly, quickly interrupting the maiden, "No... not right now, thank you, Megumi." Megumi nodded and took a deep breath, "Princess... I do not know how you will take this but... there is somebody who wants to see you,"
Serenity looked at Megumi with a serious face and exhaled softly, "Well, it was expected. I knew they would come... I left without telling anyone..." she leaned forward and combed Megumi's wavy hair with her fingers and smiled, "It's alright..."
Megumi nodded and pointed the steaming mug "Please drink the tea," the motherly tone in her voice made the princess feel a warmth inside her chest as she watched her walk out of the room and brought the mug to her lips to take a small sip and let the delicate and sweet liquid sooth her throat and chest with its warmth. It wasn't long until another soft knocking on the door caught Serenity's attention and looked up to find Ami standing there with a worried look in her face, "Mer—" she said softly and sighed, taking a mental note that unlike her or the prince who started calling each other by their other name, at least for the time being, the girls still called themselves by their civilian name, "Ami,"
"Hi..." The bluenette said as soft and sweet as the rustling whispers of tree's leaves moving in the breeze in spring. An instant wave of relief washed some of Ami's worry as she saw Serenity awake and finally looking a little more like herself while sitting on the bed, still tucked under the fluffy duvet drinking tea. If she didn't know the truth behind the princess' puffy eyes, she would think it's just another lazy weekend and she just popped for a quick, casual visit. This is not something she was expecting to find, after what happened to her these past few days, especially the night before when she had to put a sedative to calm her nerves. She didn't want to risk her friend's mental state so she thought it would be best not to mention any of it, at least for now, "May I come in?"
Serenity nodded and turned to leave the steaming cup on Endymion's nightstand and leaned her head back on the headboard, still feeling a little light headed. Ami closed the door behind her to have enough privacy and pulled the lounge chair from the window all the way next to the princess's side on the bed. While they had a very deep level of trust and she had been inside that bedroom a few times before, she always respected the intimacy of the room and the bed Usagi and Mamoru shared as a couple. Ami always thought a bed was a sacred place, a haven of comfort and security, and not just a piece of furniture to use as a common couch—it is a philosophy she had since she could remember and she applied it with each and every one of her friends' bed and even her own. She also had a good share of quirks.
The bluenette sighed softly as she took her seat and looked at the princess, "I know it is a very stupid and inappropriate question to ask but... how are you feeling?"
Serenity had a sudden flash of the terran queen looking back at her with those beautiful eyes full of compassion and knowledge and felt all the raw anger that was overpowering her had slowly morphed into sadness and regret. With one shrug on her shoulder, the princess she shook her head, "Is there really a need for me to answer?" She sighed softly and closed her eyes, "My husband isn't here because he saved me from things I could have avoided in the first place."
Ami frowned, the tone in Usagi's voice wasn't familiar at all and not just because of the hoarseness as an aftermath effect of being crying non-stop or going in and out of panic attacks but because of the seriousness and maturity wrapped in her words, her tone while calm it felt disconnected, it held remorse and pain—too much pain. With time, they all have reached a level of maturity much higher than normal 24-year-old women did and Usagi was no exception; she had grown to be a very graceful lady with her well-known clumsiness and distrait nature showing up from time to time but the woman sitting in front of her with her silky hair falling like a cascade of moonshine around her face and her eyes with such intense gaze was clearly not that same sweet Usagi she knew. She was in another level, one that had seen good and evil as an equal force, both powerful and both very real.
"You are not seriously blaming yourself for what happened, right?"
Serenity looked down and bit her bottom lip softly, "I should have known better, Ami, that day... I should have let him know what I was planning on doing. I shouldn't have thought I could handle everything on my own like I always did." She frowned, "I know I am a sailor senshi—I know I can defend myself. I know I can fight and what I am capable of doing—I know how to do it, but a part of me still didn't want to believe that my level of strength was not the same as Asteria's, Athamas,' or even Endymion's. I should have accepted there were limitations, I should have listened..." She shook her head, still with her brows furrowed, "My actions were careless, he warned me—he asked me in the best way possible not to leave home without notice and now I know it was not because he was overreacting but because he knew they were waiting to hunt us like rabid beasts. He had a strategy that was keeping us safe here until the moment for us to fight came again. He was trying to heal on his own so he could have all his strength intact for when the time required him to access to its full potential. He asked me not to take off the pendant he gave me... and what did I do? At the first opportunity, I sneak out of the apartment while he's still sleeping and without the pendant, because I forgot to put it back on after I took a shower."
"It was an honest mistake, Usa-chan, you can't—"
"It was plain stubbornness, Ami—that's what it was." Serenity looked at her friend with hurt, "This wasn't something it could be solved with just one of us fighting, Asteria is a demon—was—" Serenity closed her eyes and shook her head when correcting her words as she remembered her being devoured alive by Endymion's fiery energy, it was still all too vivid and too confusing—she was too confused. "My selfish actions put him through so much and now... look at the result..." she opened her eyes, finally allowing her tears to come into view "He's not here."
It was so strange to hear Usagi admit defeat and accept the consequences of her actions. It was not because she believed all she did was right but because she constantly said she could be trusted and she always told everyone to rely on her. This is how it always was, everyone trusted her skills and power; she was dependable and she always found a way to justify her actions but this time, she was admitting that she underestimated both, the situation and her husband, and that had brought catastrophic results. Ami soon understood the intensity in Usagi's eyes was none other but anger toward her own self for having been so careless when times required other types of action, when it required for her to be patient, to listen and rely on them—to rely on her husband. In the end, she, just like her, and the rest of the girls still couldn't look at the prince as someone who knew war and malice like the palm of his hand. In a way, they were all still looking at him as Tuxedo Kamen and not as the warrior the shitennou tried so much for them to believe actually existed.
"So, to answer your question, Ami," Serenity looked at her with a serious face but with tears glistening in her clear blue eyes, "I am devastated."
Ami didn't know what to say after such bold statement and confession, for the first time in her life, she didn't know how to approach the always dependable, cute, and friendly Usagi. With a heavy sigh, Ami lowered her head with shame, "Please forgive me... although it is a very stupid and obvious question... I wanted to know how you were... after we found out you left the shrine... I got really scared and mortified,"
Serenity felt guilty for giving Ami such an intense lecture and took a deep breath, "I'm sorry—" she said in a softer tone and looked into her friend's wide eyes, "I needed to be alone... I needed to get away and seclude myself at the only place that could make me feel closer to him... somehow. I know it was very selfish of me leaving without saying anything, without thinking about anything or somebody else..."
"I understand—we all do," Ami said with worry still reflected in her powdery voice, "But... your health wasn't entirely recovered when that happened,"
Serenity gave her friend a soft smile, "Ami, sweet Ami. The doctor in you really wants to scold me for my carelessness... am I right?"
"No, it is not that. It's..."
"Ami?"
Ami sighed and gave her friend a much more steady glance, despite the sweet tone of her voice, "Usa-chan... I wanted—no—I needed to see you first to talk to you about something else, but, equally important,"
"Yes?"
Ami took a deep breath and hoped for the best as she just let her suspicions come afloat and manifest in the form of words, "Back when Mamoru was unconscious... I couldn't help but notice some things that were unusual in you. And while the girls and shitennou might have thought it was because you weren't eating or because you were depressed, which is a valid cause, I had the feeling it was because of something else... something that was happening within you, and since then, it has been on my mind and keeping me on the edge with worry."
Serenity tightened her lips and looked down and gave a nod in response, finally allowing Ami to peel the layers of her pain. Ami widened her eyes and unveiled her concerns, "Usa-chan... are you pregnant?" The bluenette noticed Usagi's shoulders tensing and her slender fingers tighten her grip on the duvet giving her the response she was looking for but she couldn't deny her friend's silent and nervous reaction took her by surprise. Serenity licked her lips and took a moment to continue, "It was unplanned and obviously unexpected for several and very valuable reasons, but, somehow... it happened." She shook her head with the same nervousness as before and took a deep breath and exhaled but it didn't matter how much she did it, she still looked unusually anxious. "I found out around the time we returned from our honeymoon... I had started feeling weird—off—and when I started making numbers they didn't match like they usually did and I realized something was not normal. I took a test just out of curiosity but then I took three more out of pure shock and disbelief only to find those coming out positive too; after that, Asteria appeared... Endymion fell unconscious, and well... everything else happened..."
"Oh my god..." Ami widened her eyes, "Usa-chan..."
Serenity nodded slowly, "It's so strange... the way your body starts to react to the changes so quickly... I don't know why the precautions we were taking didn't work. I don't know if it's because I'm not, well, we're not, normal or if our close contact with divinity affected it, but again, it doesn't make any sense." She sighed, "It took me a lot of self-control to keep it a secret and to not let any of the symptoms show while I was with you but everything made me feel so sick..." she looked at Ami with tears rolling down her cheeks. "I-I don't... know..."
"Usa-chan?" Ami frowned and pushed herself to the edge of her seat to be closer to the princess and hold her hand. Serenity tilted her head low again like if she was ashamed and shook her head, "The night before Motoki-oniisan came over... I felt a very strong and sharp pain that woke me up in the middle of the night and urged me to run to the bathroom..." Serenity's voice started to break into tears giving Ami enough information to understand what she was trying to say and jumped from her chair to sit next to her on the bed and wrapped her arms around her in a tight, supporting embrace and let her friend unleash her emotions. "It didn't stop... without control..." Serenity said between sobs, "It was an intense pain that lasted just a few seconds and after that... I was left empty and with an immense feeling of abandon and solitude... I knew what it was... I knew what had happened but I couldn't understand why… I still can't… I don't know why..."
Ami couldn't fight the tears pooling in her eyes and started crying over the loss of her friends' baby. Serenity's sobs were heavy and charged with the raw emotion and desolation; as a doctor, Ami had seen and attended several cases of miscarriages and how it deeply affects the future parents. She had seen their faces of shock and panic because it occurs so fast it doesn't give them enough time to digest what just happened. As a doctor, she had grown a thicker skin to endure the bitter side of medicine, the side where she fails to succeed and loses occur. Where she can't fight an inevitable death or disease, but she never thought something like this could ever happen to a woman like Usagi.
It was then when everything began to make sense to Ami as she put the pieces of the puzzle together; Usagi's pale face, her fragile figure, her lack of appetite, her lack of strength and motivation. She was depressed. She had a miscarriage under the shadow of another tragedy and she dealt with it in silence and alone.
"Usagi... oh my god... Usagi... why didn't you tell me anything!?" Ami broke in sobs and pulled her friend closer, "Why did you go through this alone?!"
Serenity cried and shook her head, "I couldn't do it... I couldn't tell anyone. I feel so ashamed... I feel guilty... afraid... I was taking care of myself, I promise I was Ami-chan!" She pulled back and looked into Ami's eyes desperate to prove her words, "I swear I was taking care of ourselves! At first yes, I was very scared because it was something new and unexpected but then... this unthinkable amount of joy overcame me and started reading all sorts of articles to do things right," she shook her head and closed her eyes, "When Endymion woke up from his coma... I couldn't tell him... I couldn't arm myself with enough courage to tell him that I was pregnant with his baby only to give him the news that I had lost it right after... I just couldn't do it... I was so ashamed and so afraid that he would get mad at me for not being careful or because I was not strong enough to carry our child,"
Ami shook her head and put her hands on each side of her face, "Usa-chan... what happened wasn't your fault. It wasn't because you were not strong enough to carry your baby, it wasn't because you didn't take proper care of it. I am telling you this as a doctor and as your friend, and I know Mamoru would have told you the same thing. He would never have thought you were weak, he loves you without measure, he would never have gotten mad at you. The only thing I do think would have upset him is to know that you went through this alone... that you didn't talk to him or anybody else about this. Usa-chan, this isn't something you can go through on your own, it's devastating."
Serenity dried her tears with her sleeve, "I spoke to Motoki-oniisan the day Endymion went to sign the papers for his medical leave and I told him what happened. He took several tests and even called for an ob-gyn specialist to evaluate my case and treat me. I meant going to the hospital to see him the day after... I don't know why... but I needed to hear it again, from somebody else. After visiting my parent's and on my way back, I kept thinking on how I could tell Endymion all this when Asteria appeared." Her hands started to shake as she let her emotions take over again, "Mercury... what if this baby was her? What if this is a punishment from the gods for faltering their laws? What if they did to me what they tried to do to Queen Gaia when she was expecting Endymion?"
"No, Princess." Ami shook her head, despite the valid reasons Serenity had to think as the cause for her miscarriage. To her, none of them were accurate or possible; "No... no. There are many reasons for a miscarriage that go beyond our control... I will not credit the gods for this because they do not deserve our attention. I will not grant them either my fury or ask for their mercy. I rather take care of this matter and support you as a human being, as your friend and your doctor than a woman with divinity—they won't have my tears and I won't let them have yours either or your pain for that matter. Share it with me, you are not alone."
Serenity widened her eyes and exhaled deeply, "Ami..."
"Princess," Ami shook her head, "I will not share a word of this to anyone—not until you decide to speak about it and if you feel like doing it. This will stay with me forever but you don't have to go through this alone. Please don't go through this alone."
Serenity sniffed and gave Ami a sad smile, "Thank you, Ami-chan... thank you from the bottom of my heart." She looked down at the duvet still suffering the strain of her fingers curled on it tightly. "That is not what breaks my heart the most..." she looked up to meet Ami's eyes with deep sadness, "He knew... all this time..." Ami widened her eyes to the news, "W-What?"
"Endymion knew I was pregnant and he knew I had a miscarriage—what I tried to keep a secret, he found out about it anyway; I suppose the minute he woke up from his coma he sensed something was wrong with me but he didn't say anything because he was waiting for me to be ready to talk about it. We were both dealing with the loss in silence." Serenity sniffed softly, "He told me... right before..." she frowned and took a couple of hasty breaths, giving Ami the cue to stop her and pull her into her arms again, "It's okay... you don't have to talk about it," she closed her eyes, "The only thing I will ask of you, Princess, is to let me take care of your health… please let me be there for you."
Ami felt Serenity nodding in silence and closed her eyes while thinking Kunzite's words from the night before. The woman in her arms was a true example of bravery, strength, and courage; her physical strength yes, it could not be put to compete with the princes' or Asteria's but the courage inside her was amazing; the passion in her heart was admirable and unbreakable no matter the situation. She was a true warrior.
This is what the general meant when he said that she was not the same woman from two thousand years ago. Clearly, she wasn't; this princess put her own pain aside and survived hell while leaving her beloved husband behind and still armed herself with courage to return to the home they shared together very much aware of the many memories waiting to cling to her spirit and still, stand on her feet hoping to find resolution to this swarm of madness around her.
O—o—O
Ami walked out of the bedroom after she stayed with Serenity until she finished her tea and examined her quickly with the promise of returning each day to check on her. She walked to the living room to get her purse and saw Kunzite was there with Minako and gave them a nod. After what happened the night before, Ami let Minako know what she had to do to help their friend and princess and was glad to see her there to show her support.
"Ami-chan..." Minako looked at her with worry, "How is she doing? Is she okay?"
Ami nodded with a much more relaxed smile, "Yes, she is still under some effects of the sedative I gave her last night but you know me, I wanted to check on her and make sure she's alright." She turned to Megumi and thanked her for allowing her to stay and for all her help and turned back at her friends, "I have to go to make a quick stop at my place to take a shower and then at the hospital for a few hours but please call me if anything happens."
"Yes, of course," Minako nodded and looked around, "Zoisite didn't come with you?"
"He is going to meet with us later," Kunzite said softly and turned to Minako, "You want to go see her?" He turned to Megumi, almost as he was asking for her authorization; Megumi nodded, "It is alright, she knew you were going to come,"
"She doesn't seem to know she had been mostly absent for the last four days since her return, in her mind, she just got here yesterday—so please, be careful with that." Ami patted Minako's arm, "I will see you later in the afternoon..." Ami leaned closer to give her blonde friend a supporting hug and walked out the door. Minako bit her lower lip nervously and turned to Kunzite who just answered with a nod as he quickly understood the blonde's hesitation and walked toward the bedroom. Minako turned and followed Ami out of the apartment until she caught up on her, waiting for the elevator "Ami-chan,"
The bluenette turned to look at her friend over her shoulder and blinked, "Minako-chan... I thought you were going to see her,"
Minako nodded and took a deep breath, "Yes, but... I-I..." she shook her head and closed her eyes, "How is she? Really..."
"Weak, but with proper care and plenty of rest she will be alright," Ami's soft voice was not enough to lift the heavy truth behind those words, also, she knew Minako wanted to know more than a medical opinion on her condition, "She's heartbroken," the young doctor finally said it, "She's desolated." Ami sighed softly, "Minako, the woman inside that bedroom is not good old bubbly Usagi but Serenity—a woman who has endured many trials and challenges. A woman who has experienced pain and has witnessed what true evil is like and that it's beyond our comprehension, but she is also a woman incredibly strong. She doesn't refer to Mamoru with his nickname which makes me think that she doesn't call herself Usagi, it seems that to her it doesn't feel natural, at least for this time being. They have surpassed all laws of nature and those of the gods to be considered regular civilians, but, she is still our dear friend and right now, she needs us despite trying to show us the opposite. She won't tell us that because she is trying her best to follow Endymion's tactics and keep her emotions at bay but she is clearly suffering." Ami cupped Minako's cheek softly and smiled, "She didn't leave because she didn't want to be with us, she's not mad at us and she is not trying to push us away... she just needed time. She's very scared and before you ask, no, just because she now calls herself Serenity, it's nothing like two thousand years ago. She's still the sweet friend we know and love, but... stronger, much stronger."
Minako sighed softly, "I know she's not plain old Usagi anymore—she's never been, ever since she knew her past and the battle with Galaxia, she took everything with seriousness. After this, is only natural for her to be in a different stage in her life. I understand she has embraced her nature and true self and I'm glad, I think we all should follow their steps because we are not simple people and we need to make peace with it the same way they did. What truly worries me is what comes next... what will happen to her now. We don't know anything about Endymion and I don't want to ask her anything she doesn't want to tell us yet but I also need to know what happened to see what can we do to help her."
"I understand, I am in the same page as you are... the ideal would be to bring Endymion back but you and I know it's not as easy as it sounds." Ami nodded and tilted her head to the side, "But we can't rush her... what Kunzite said is right, she just went through something very traumatic and we can't ask more of what she is willing to give us; I think this cannot be even compared to the battle with Galaxia, this is darker, much more challenging and complicated. We need to give her time; maybe she feels more open to talking to Kunzite since he is Endymion's close friend... if there is somebody who knows the prince as close as Serenity does, is him."
Minako nodded and gave her friend a sad smile as she looked down, "I don't know why I am so scared Ami... for the first time in my life, I don't know what words to say to make her feel better... this is something we never imagined it could ever happen."
"Hug her," Ami said softly, "Just wrap your arms around her and pull her into a sisterly embrace, she needs that. She wants that. She doesn't need words... she needs support and understanding." the bluenette pulled back and patted her friend's arm with a gentle touch, "That tragic princess that had to sit back and wish for peace no longer exists... she's a soldier determined to fight and stay strong so she can find a way to see her husband again and build a new world where there is no place for divine judgment or injustice. That Venus, is the foundation of the new Silver Millennium and Crystal Tokyo—that is what I believe and you should believe it too."
Minako looked at her friend with renewed faith and strength, she was right, she was afraid but mostly because since it all started, Usagi has been on a roller coaster of emotions and challenges one stronger and more difficult than the last that she didn't know how long it took for her spirit to completely break. She didn't know if it was destiny, fate, or just an undying revenge from the gods above, but she was being put to the test with whom she loved the most. It wasn't new that Sailor Moon had to endure many trials in the past, it wasn't new for her to be strong for the both of them but this time, things were different, both were strong, both were determinant, both were their own kind of warrior. Nobody was being brainwashed, nobody wanted the world just to gain power, this time, they were being treated like criminals—all of them, but especially the prince and princess for living a forbidden love and going against the laws of the gods for thousands of years. Ami was right, they all had to step out of the shadows and embrace the warriors living inside them; this was a time to fight, to make a difference and to create a world where they all could live together and in peace.
All of them.
"Please keep me informed... at this point, we are not sure if she will have another episode, but we need to be prepared in case she does. I will come back as soon as possible."
"Are you going to tell Motoki about this?"
Ami sighed softly, "I don't know. How can I tell him that his best friend is in hell—literally." She shook her head, "He knows our lives and stories but he has a lot on his plate too with Reika's anxiety. I would feel so guilty to be the responsible for worrying him even more," she rubbed temples and took a deep breath when she heard the soft bell of the elevator, "But I think it would be best to keep him on the loop..."
"Yeah," Minako nodded, "Alright, let me know,"
"Sure," Ami pinched Minako's nose in a sisterly manner and turned to walk inside the elevator and watched her friend in silence as the doors closed between them.
O—o—O
Kunzite stood outside the bedroom door for a minute thinking how it has come again for him to be there for similar reasons, equally serious and equally inevitable. He turned the knob to open the door and peeked inside the calm and silent bedroom. He turned to his right and saw the curtain on the large window dancing with the morning breeze allowing the warm rays coming from the sun filter softly and print soft patterns over the fluffy duvet covering the princess who was curled on the bed right where he remembered the prince was sleeping when he was unconscious, taking it that she was on his side on the bed. The shitennou looked at her in silence for a minute before turning on his heel to let her sleep.
"I didn't know you were here..."
Kunzite widened his eyes when he heard her soft voice and turned to look at her still curled up on the bed, "Princess..." he cleared his throat, "I—please forgive my intrusion while you were sleeping, I shouldn't have come here this way."
"I wasn't..." Serenity opened her eyes slowly, "I can't... it's not the same... without him, nothing is the same. It doesn't matter how many sheets and comforters I ask Megumi to help me add on this bed... it's still very cold, it's stiff and uncomfortable." She slowly pushed herself up and turned to look at him, "Please, come in."
"I do not intend to take much of your time, Princess, I just wanted to come and see you… make sure you were alright," Kunzite closed the door and walked to the chair Ami left beside the bed but didn't sit. "Princess... I know it is needless to say, but... I am here—"
"I know, Kunzite." Serenity nodded and looked down, "Although, I don't think I deserve such considerations, especially from you..." she closed her eyes. Kunzite frowned confused, "Princess?"
"I don't have the courage to look you in the eye,"
"Why?"
"Because..." Serenity shook her head and tightened her grip on the fluffy duvet, "Endymion is like a brother to you... and..." she wiped her falling tears brusquely, with anger, "I couldn't bring him back with me... no matter how much I tried. I feel like I failed you—all of you, and I can't deal with it... I feel terrible..."
Kunzite felt his chest constricting just by seeing the princess struggle so much with her emotions, she was afraid of looking at him, she was really ashamed. "Princess..." he pulled the chair back and took a seat, "Please do not feel responsible for what happened. You did not fail me or any of the other shitennou. Endymion knew what he was doing."
Serenity sighed heavily, trying her best not to cry again; Kunzite shook his head and gave the princess a sad smile, "Princess... when it comes to you, he moves whatever needs to be moved and fights whoever stands in his way. This has been a reality for him for more than two thousand years and he doesn't care because it is you who he is fighting for,"
"Kunzite..." Serenity finally looked at him with tears in her eyes, "He is there because I was careless, because I thought I could take care of this on my own."
"Endymion predicted all this. Not exactly like things ended up happening, of course, but he knew Asteria was going to create an opportunity to get to him—she was taunting him and measuring his level of patience to achieve something we still do not know much of." Kunzite took a deep breath, "Princess, I will not sugar coat things for you because you perfectly understand the situation and because you, just like him, are a warrior who knows there is a consequence with every action and decision you make in battle. Yes, your actions were careless and you should have told him of your plans of going out that day—their target was him, and to get to him, they had to get to you first because they know how much he cares for you."
Serenity nodded as she swallowed the blunt words from the general with acceptance while wondering if the prince ever felt this miserable every time Kunzite gave him a reality check. This was probably the main reason why he had a closer relationship with the prince; the man was brutal and Endymion was the kind of man that liked to be told things as they came without any preamble as he did. Kunzite wasn't lying when he said he did not sugar-coated things making it a different approach from the girl's tactics but and as strange as it was, it was something she needed. Again, it was the nature she admired of the terran people, their passion and perspective in life.
Kunzite exhaled softly, "Yes, letting him know would have been a much better choice, but I understand it is not in your nature to wait for others do things you know and feel you can handle on your own. You act the same way Endymion acts with us; you two are a guardian's worst nightmare—unpredictable and stubborn."
Serenity frowned, "We're... sorry?"
"That is not the point, Princess..." Kunzite crossed his arms, "You are very courageous and that is one of the many of reasons why you are a sailor senshi worth of having as an ally and also, why you have Endymion's heart in your hands," he shook his head, "It is why he asked me to look after you if any of this happened."
The princess looked up with tears in her eyes, "W-What?"
"You underestimated him," Kunzite narrowed his eyes, "With us, it happened the other way around, when we first learned he was just an aid to you instead of the warrior we knew he truly was..."
Serenity felt completely taken by surprise with his comment; Kunzite nodded, "Yes, as horrible and brutal as that sounds, it is the truth—Endymion was just an aid, a distraction." He sighed softly, "You knew of what he, as Prince of Earth, was capable of doing because he probably mentioned it at some point in your relationship but you probably did not want to believe it entirely because you had never seen him covered with someone else's blood. You never really saw him go berserk and calculating, but this time you did... you saw it—that murderous glare in his eyes that freezes you to the bone, am I right?"
Serenity felt a cold rush running through her entire body the minute she remembered that look Kunzite was talking about. She wanted to say something but she couldn't give a straight answer because not even she could really explain what happened to the terran prince. Kunzite nodded and leaned back in his seat with a knowing look in his face, "That is the famous monster you heard it existed on Earth, Princess."
Serenity widened her eyes with shock, Kunzite sighed softly, "Endymion is not a merciful warrior. Yes, as a person, he is kindhearted, high-minded, fair, educated... charming as only he can be and he can even be funny at times... but when he is fighting, he does not seek kindness in his opponents and he certainly does not wait for them to show any type of benignity. Endymion was trained to become desensitized and kill from a very young age and you just witnessed it for the first time. It is normal for you being this scared and terrified... yes, it is not an easy thing to witness, there is nothing good about it, but as harsh as this may sound, that is who he is."
Serenity felt a strong tug in her chest and lowered her gaze; she thought of how Kunzite's words made perfect sense to what she saw when he was fighting Asteria, and it was true, she had seen him swing his sword before but it was nothing compared to what she witnessed back there. The cold and stoic behavior, the brashness of his words, the deadly glare in his darkened eyes. She heard Kunzite taking a deep breath and looked at him with an apologetic glare for exposing her husband in the rawest way possible.
"To us..." The general continued with a soft cautious tone in his deep voice, "That is the man that guided us in the battlefield, the one we followed with pride; that is the man we know and not the one in a black suit and a mask. Our Prince never looked down or stepped back, he never hesitated or covered his face to hide from an enemy—that man you saw back there is the man that lead an entire army and won countless of victories earning him all those medals and badges you probably remember he had." Kunzite crossed his arms and curved the corners of his lips in the faintest of smiles, but the pride was more than evident. "That man broke the royal mold when he became the first crowned prince to work as the king's strategist and political advisor and took the role of Commander of the Royal Army of Elysion. He earned all those things on his own, as a powerless mortal being and without knowing nothing about his divine nature. That is how strong and determined Endymion really is, Princess, he is a master of discipline." The general's smile turned sad, "When you met him, you got to see just a tiny fraction of all the things he represented and you got to know a side of him he never showed to anyone, not even us—his brothers. When we returned to Elysion after the war and once our training was over, the prince grew tired of the routine of being a royal soon after; he did not enjoy being at the palace because he hated being treated like an amusement for the court—he really despised being on social events."
The comment cracked a sad chuckle out of Serenity, Kunzite smiled, "Your smile only confirms that he still does..."
"Oh yes, he does," Serenity nodded, "Without measure… he hates being in crowded places."
"Endymion was slowly being asphyxiated by the banality of his royal heritage and title and if it has not been for you, Princess, he would have been consumed by the weight of the crown put upon his head. A crown, he never liked wearing in the first place." Kunzite noticed the shock in Serenity's eyes and sighed softly, "I know it is not a pretty sight, I know it is intimidating and frightening to see him change so drastically when all you know of him is charming and beautiful. The prince has a dark side too and when options run thin, drastic measures must be taken whether we like it or not; he knows this well, we all do—you included. As soldiers, we are trained that way and we, as Shitennou and his guardians, understand it. Endymion is not the typical prince coming straight out of a fairy tale. He damn looks like one, sure, but, that has never been his intention. He was a boy that wanted to prove himself he could be someone reliable, a guardian worthy of his kingdom. He studied and trained very hard to become his own kind of warrior surpassing all expectations from his family and the gods."
"Yes, I know..." Serenity nodded, "And even so... I asked him to reconsider. I asked him to choose another path but..." she dried the tears rolling down her cheeks, "I can't ask him to be someone he's not—I can't ask him to fight the same way I do because we are not the same, despite fighting for the same cause."
"So, you have realized it," Kunzite nodded, "I am glad, because it is very important to understand that this is not about who has more power or who can do things better. You two had different backgrounds, different training and different reasons to become who you are today. Endymion was a confused boy who wanted to be taken seriously—he wanted a place in the world but not as a royal. His family while very kind and noble, was very strict and demanding with his education and regime, obliging him to live up to meet their high standards and honor his dynasty with pride—a dynasty he did not know in its entirety but still kept intact."
Serenity sniffled softly and nodded, closing her eyes. "But let me tell you this," she opened her eyes when she heard Kunzite's voice again and looked up at him with expectant eyes. Kunzite shook his head with a warm smile, one very different from the others, one that showed surprise and awe, "In all my years of knowing and serving him, I have never seen that man as happy as when he is with you. You bring sense to his complicated life and you bring him peace; he does not smile with anyone the same way he does with you, you are, without a doubt his perfect match."
"Kunzite..." Serenity's eyes started to cloud with a new batch of fresh tears, feeling moved by his words. Kunzite nodded, "That is how it has to be in battle too—you two have to complement each other and that is where you failed, Princess, because you cannot do everything on your own... not anymore. You made a vow as husband and wife and you have to rely on him as much as he has to rely on you. In a way, he had done it all those years he was deprived of the truth and his skills." He leaned forward and tapped her forehead softly with his finger bringing Serenity a nostalgic feeling in her heart because it was something Endymion always did when he tried to lighten the tension while in the middle of an argument or a serious conversation.
Serenity tightened her lips and closed her eyes, letting her tears roll down her cheeks, "I'm at loss Kunzite... I don't know what to do..." she started sobbing, "Yes! Yes, I've realized all this... but I did it too late, I accept my mistakes, I know I failed, but look at what cost! He's not here and I don't know what to do! You say I bring sense to his life but he brings sense to mine... I can't... I can't do this without him! I need to see him! I want him here with me!" Her eyes widened when she felt Kunzite pull her close in a brotherly embrace, "K-Kunzite..."
"You are very strong, Princess, but you do not have to go through this alone, please, do not give yourself to grief—rely on Venus and the girls, rely on Megumi, rely on the Shitennou and rely on me."
Serenity widened her eyes when she remembered those were the same words the terran queen had given her before they parted ways. It was so vivid, the warmth in her hold, that protectiveness only mothers could give their children when hurting and it moved her to the core because she also wished she could see her again.
"I just don't understand it Kunzite... why did he say he had to stay in that horrible place?" Serenity's sobs were muffled in the general's chest, "I don't understand why he couldn't come back with me... Asteria was defeated! He killed her and Athamas too!"
Kunzite closed his eyes and took a deep breath; he wanted to tell her what the prince did to free her from that place. For what he heard so far, he figured it was something she still ignored but he didn't know if it was alright to say it at this point because he still didn't know what happened with exactitude. He noticed Serenity was starting to shiver and growing anxious, giving him the cue to end the conversation, "Princess, you need to take care of yourself—I feel like I have said this too many times, but it is the truth. That is the first course of action to solve this mad riddle—your health. You cannot do anything in this state. You are limited and—"
"I understand,"
"Do you, really?"
"Yes," Serenity took a deep breath, "You are awfully strict Kunzite... are you always like this with him?"
"Worse, much worse." Kunzite arched his brow "That man needs a much more brutal approach to make him understand but, to be fair, he is the same with me. He is not all peaches and cream with everyone, just so you know." He pulled back and looked into her eyes, "Remember what I said, you two had two different reasons to become who you are today—one of his reasons was his family, and right now, he is trying to save what it is left of it in any way he can," he wiped the princess' tears and tilted his head, "And you need to help him by doing the same, you need to be strong and take care of yourself because you are his family—the minute you became his wife, you became a part of an incredible dynasty, one the gods fear and admire at the same time, a family of grand warriors... so, you need to step up and fight, Princess. You need to pay homage to it."
Serenity looked into his intense gaze and frowned slightly, remembering Asteria's words when she tried to prove a point and taunted the prince to kill her in front of her, "How much do you know, Kunzite?"
Kunzite caught up right away with what she was asking and gave her a small smile charged with pride and confidence, "Enough to believe this is not over."
Serenity widened her crystal blue eyes; and then, it came to her, that word: catharsis. It echoed in her mind; catharsis is needed to evolve. Evolve, evolution—growth. And then, it ringed with realization, what Gaia had said:
"I realized it was impossible to pull him away from his fate because it is the same as mine. He is here to protect Earth and help it evolve."
Serenity put the pieces together and started to remember the moment Endymion woke up from his coma and later explained to her how he had gone through a catharsis in order to make peace with who he is—he evolved. He has been in constant evolution. Every challenge he has had in his life has shaped him into who he is now, someone always stronger, wiser, and more prudent. A better version of himself. From his difficult childhood to this very moment in his adulthood, he has always evolved. They had reached a point where there weren't alter egos or identities to take when times required it, that was no more. Mamoru and Endymion were one in the same and he had evolved into a better version of himself and now, she had to do the same, but damn it, how painful and distressing this all was. The man was a force of nature, one that always encouraged her to strive for more—to grow, to explore, to learn and earn experience. He was a hard teacher, she always complained about it and sometimes resented it. His practicality and brutal honesty often hurt her overly emotional spirit, but it now made sense why. His own experiences and life choices had helped her shape her own, she learned from his failures and bad decisions and when he didn't give her the words she wanted to hear it later made her realize he had done it so she could make her own mistakes and learn from them; she had fallen, she had failed too, but she learned how to break bad habits and make a way in life. No matter how difficult or bitter the experience, no matter how hard or awful, he was always there; sometimes in silence, others with encouraging words, but he was was always there to help her grow and now, he was doing it again. Endymion was teaching her how to believe and rely on her strength and good will, he was teaching her how to stand on her own and think with a cold head by putting Earth's fate in her hands. As painful and hard as it was, he was helping her evolve.
Serenity blinked when she felt Kunzite pinching her nose lightly and saw him stand up, "We will give you the space you ask but please let us know if there is anything you need. Please try to have some rest, Princess. You need to regain your strength, now, is there anything I can get you before I leave?"
"No, thank you, Kunzite..." Serenity shook her head slowly, "Thank you for not leaving our side."
Kunzite shook his head, "I would never do such a thing, I care too much for you two. If Endymion is not around, you as his wife take his place, so, that makes me your right hand and your brother too."
Serenity's eyes gleamed with unshed tears, "Kunzite..."
"Try to have some sleep, Princess. I will close by if you need anything." Kunzite smiled softly before turning on his heel and walked out of the bedroom. Minako was waiting for him in the living room and turned to look at the general when he walked back, "H-How is she?"
"Exhausted—those panic attacks are taking a toll on her," Kunzite said softly as he took a seat next to her on the sofa and took a hold of her hand, "She is confused—she is not aware of what Endymion did to release her from that place and she is not aware of those episodes she's been having nor how much time she's been in such state." He sighed softly, "I do not blame him for not telling her, it would have been much more difficult for her to deal with all this," he sighed and tightened his grip on Minako's hand, "She needs her friend but she also needs plenty of rest, I would recommend we should let her sleep for a while,"
Minako nodded "I understand..." she turned to Megumi, who was standing behind the long island bar that divided the kitchen from the living room, "I wish to stay until she wakes up again—make her eat something, I promised Ami-chan I would make her eat," Megumi smiled softly and nodded, "Of course, Lady Venus,"
The blonde slouched back on the sofa and hugged her knees with a mortified look on her face, "I wish I knew what to do... I am at loss, I too want to know why did he stay... what was going through his mind when he did that..."
Kunzite looked at her and sat next to her on the sofa, his hand reached to grace her cheek for a minute before pulling her into a loving embrace and closed his eyes and remembered the conversation he had with the prince before all of this happened. "There are reasons that go beyond our understanding, Venus, but that does not mean everything is lost." Minako pulled back and looked into his gray eyes with deep curiosity, "You know more..."
"I know what Endymion is capable of doing and that is enough for me to believe in my words." Kunzite turned to Megumi behind the bar, "And I know you too because you have witnessed it first-hand." He sighed, "Right now, Princess Serenity must be our top priority—her safety and her health... this planet is pulsing because she is linked to Endymion,"
"But now that we know Asteria is dead..." Minako frowned, still very confused "What should we expect?"
Kunzite pursed his lips and shook his head, "I do not know Venus..." she turned to look at her, "All I know is that we must keep Princess Serenity safe until we figure out a way to bring Endymion back. Maybe she is the key but we will not know until she is fully recovered. We still do not know what happened there... she is still not ready to talk. Saturn gave us valuable information but that moment between them before they parted ways is crucial… we do not know what happened in between."
O—o—O
Inside the bedroom, Serenity had gotten up to go to the bathroom after Kunzite had left and on her return, she heard Venus' soft voice as she stood by the door and listened to the conversation between her and the general. She noticed the worried tone in her friend's voice and couldn't help to feel bad for being the cause of it; she wanted to call her, she wanted to open the door and walk over to her, give her a hug, and tell her that she was going to try her best to be alright but right now, just the fact of staying awake was a matter of life or death for her.
Serenity slowly walked back and careful enough of not making any noise that would get their attention and rush back to check on her. Lost in her own thoughts, the princess stepped into the walk-in closet she shared with her husband and in an almost automatic fashion, she started to rummage through his neatly organized clothes. She took a deep breath and inhaled all the notes of his cologne settled in every nook of his drawers and hanged clothes, sending shivers down her spine and playing cruel tricks with her mind by making her feel like if he was standing right there. Her hands began to shake nervously as she dug deeper through his belongings and let a wave of desperation curl up in the pit of her stomach with every drawer she pulled open and searched carefully through his folded t-shirts, underwear, sleepwear and sweatshirts. After a few more minutes of intense search, her crystal blue eyes gleamed with tears as if she had found the most sacred treasure, more than the one that currently hung from her neck. With so much care and longing, Serenity pulled Endymion's gray hoodie from the very bottom of the last drawer she opened; she quickly hugged it with all her might and sniffed the settled aroma of his scent mixed with the faint fresh notes of his aftershave.
Tears started to roll down her cheeks as she softly snuggled her face against the soft fabric of his favorite hoodie—one of the few only things he has ever refused to throw away despite being a little stained by the many times she secretly used it to lounge around the apartment when he was not there. Hanging on to the tradition, she put it on and pulled the hoodie all the way up to cover her tear stained face and sat down on the shaggy carpet; it didn't take long for the princess to start feeling vulnerable again and broke in soft sobs as she tucked the hems of the sleeves of the over-sized sweatshirt with force. Serenity was perfectly aware of what she promised Ami and Megumi, and now that she had spoken to Kunzite she could not stop thinking about the things he said. She knew what she had to do, she had to look out for herself and take her time to regain her strength but she couldn't ignore the empty feeling inside her; she knew she had her friends' support and the shitennou's as well but it was not the same—it was never going to be the same because nobody understood her the way her husband did.
The princess leaned her back on the open drawer from where she pulled out the sacred piece of clothing and closed her eyes, "I'm wearing your hoodie, Mamo-chan..." Serenity felt his name roll from her tongue with sentiment and sniffled with melancholy at the lingering scents trapped in the fibers of the fabric, silently wishing they didn't wear off with use, "Are you thinking of me as much as I am thinking about you right now?" She started to sob and curled her fingers tight around the pendant, "I can't do this alone Endymion... why are you being so hard on me? This is pure torture... I am not like you... you're so weird..." her sobs intensified and so did the pain in her chest as she remembered all the things they have done together; the many times they've spent their afternoons cuddled in bed or on the couch watching bad t.v., kissing, joking around, or eating take out. Serenity started to feel like if her life was slowly draining from her body no matter how much she tried to keep composed and strong and slowly felt the heaviness take over her fragile body and slowly gave in to sleep.
O—o—o—o—O
Ares entered his brother's throne room that was also known as the ante-room of the Underworld. He was wearing his ochre-gold armor and the clear signs of worry and distress written all over his face. "I came here as soon as I got your sign,"
Hades arched his brow and gave a studious look at his brother, "I heard you started calling for the Celestial Army of Polemarchos... with our brother's consent."
"This shall not come as news to you, Hades, you were there when Zeus agreed to the plan," Ares frowned, "You knew this was going to happen eventually—after many warnings on my end."
"Have you succeeded, Ares?" Hades frowned, "Have you gathered the entire army already?" He noticed the tension in his brother's face and body. Ares narrowed his gray eyes, "You called for my presence just to ask me something you already knew was going to happen?"
Hades sighed, "I called for you because war is your jurisdiction and protecting Olympus your duty. Which is why I feel obliged to give you an important piece of information."
"What is that?"
"I know of your little escapades to Earth," Hades arched his brow "And I also know the hybrid's awakening has to do with you—you have broken two taboos and I am concerned with what you are about to do next. You have been making reckless decisions lately, little brother, and I want to know where we stand..."
"I do not understand what you are trying to do," Ares frowned, "Provoking me is getting old, Hades, you have to come up with something better since I no longer care for your foolish taunting,"
Hades pursed his lips, "It is... it is getting old," he arched his brow, "But the reason I called for you is to inform you that the problem has been taken care of,"
"What do you mean?" Ares narrowed his eyes. Hades crossed his arms, "Asteria—she was the root of the problem. She was opening several portals connecting this realm to the mortal one—the disruptions we felt were because she was continuing the labor of the rebels,"
"I still do not understand what do you mean,"
"Asteria has been killed—her soul is now under my full domain,"
Ares widened his eyes with surprise, "Killed? You killed her?"
"Of course not," Hades scoffed and waved his hand dismissively, "I hate the smell of blood—or the feeling of it for that matter."
"I do not have time for this Hades," Ares sighed, "It is true, she may have been involved, but the Andromedian has been manipulating an army of sha—"
Hades narrowed his eyes, "I knew she was going to betray me sooner or later, no matter how much or how well she managed to disguise it, she held too many grudges against our kind and she worked for her own benefit," he interrupted his brother's rant, "By granting her liberty, it was only a matter of time for her to try to gain some confidence to work on something on her own; the Andromedian is part of that little work of hers. She was orchestrating his every move—she gave the orders and I caught her red handed. Also, your... wife, or... whatever she is at this moment… she aided her too."
Ares widened his gray eyes with horror, "Eris?"
"Yes, Eris. But I will address that issue at a later time, she represents no threat," Hades looked at his brother, "It is only a matter of time until the Andromedian falls to its demise too."
"What makes you so sure?" Ares frowned, "Hades, what are you still not telling me?"
Hades arched his brow, "In her quest of gaining the power to cause a rebellion, Asteria was manipulating the fates of those condemned to the rivers to follow her and started gathering enough souls to turn them into shadows to be at her service and soon merged them with the actual army of shadows from the Underworld. But to make it stronger, she needed more, and she knew that if she took more souls from my realm I would notice her plan so the next best move was—"
"Stealing the souls and energy of those alive..." Ares muttered with surprise, "She opened a portal to Earth," Hades nodded, "Exactly—around the time you went on your little adventure to awaken the hybrid."
Things fell into place, as Ares listened to his brother put the pieces of the puzzle together and who was behind the waves of malice that had been threatening for centuries. All this time, he thought Athamas was the author of it but now that Hades mentioned Asteria, it made perfect sense as to why Athamas quickly joined the cause; he was a lost soul and Asteria recruited him on his very last breath granting him power from the Underworld to go in and out as he pleased without being unnoticed or harmed with Eris' help. The man that entered that day at the main chamber in the Olympian palace was Athamas corrupted by Asteria's dark power and his intentions were to continue the war of the rebels, those that claimed to be the true titans in the universe. She wanted to gain power and she tried to take it from the place gods would never have suspected, but she was not expecting to see that planet had strong guardians and a polemarchos protecting it.
"The hybrid's awakening gave Asteria enough exposure for me to fix my attention on her." Hades said from his intimidating throne and narrowed his eyes, "But what completely ruined her plan was not me finding out... but, another much interesting fact." Ares turned to Hades with a disconcerted look, "What do you mean?"
"Without her knowing... she was offering me the deal of a lifetime," Hades quirked his brow proudly, "And as a god who likes to make a good deal, I could not ignore her plan."
"Hades..." Ares felt a cold rush running down his spine as he looked at the accomplished look in his brother's eyes. Hades leaned back and crossed his arms, "Asteria committed one precious and perfect little mistake—she kidnapped Serenity's daughter and dragged her to Thanatos with her."
Ares' face turned pale and widened his eyes in horror; Hades continued without giving his brother a chance to speak, "This, of course, ignited the hybrid's rage and went after her—breaking the taboo of traveling to the fourth dimension and crossing realms,"
"Hades,"
"The hybrid managed to enter this realm and I finally got to see what it looks like. Those piercing eyes are unmistakable."
"Hades..." Ares shook his head still with an expression of horror on his face, "What did you do?"
"I must say, I was truly impressed. He inherited the magnetic beauty of his titan dynasty—nothing I imagined him to look like, to be honest with you. I was expecting something more common, you know, due to his mortal side..."
"Hades!?" Ares dig his claymore sword on the ground, "What did you do!?"
Hades looked at his brother and brought his hands together, "The hybrid fought the sins at the Gates of the Underworld—Grief, Anxiety, Disease, Agony, Fear, and Lust. He slashed and beheaded hundreds of my demon harpies along many shadows from the five rivers, he severed all three of Cerberus's heads and even made deals with Charon. But even so, he was not going to get any further ahead on his own, he needed my permission to walk through the fields of the Underworld if he wanted to get to Thanatos. Asteria was becoming a nuisance to me, so, I offered him a deal, one he could not ignore," his gray eyes darkened, "Serenity's freedom in exchange for his soul,"
Ares' widened his eyes in horror, Hades smirked, "But of course, I had to take care of Asteria first so... in order to free Serenity's daughter—"
"He had to do the job first... he killed Asteria…"
Hades leaned back in his throne chair with the most satisfied look in his face, "Right. So, the rebel is no more, the Andromedian too, and the soul of the hybrid is finally secured in hell and under my control. I tackled three big issues with one majestic stone and solved the problem you were not able to solve for thousands of years—you are welcome."
"Where is Serenity?"
"Saturn took her with her back to Earth, I suppose. I did not pay much attention as to what was going to happen to her after the hybrid found her," Hades sighed with deception, "It is impressive how that many senshi have gathered to show their support and loyalty to that monster—my child included. She came to warn me about Asteria but everything Saturn said was something I already knew. She tried to persuade me to free the hybrid but of course, that is certainly not going to happen." The lord of death crossed his arms, "You tend to underestimate my power but I remind you, Ares, there is a reason why I am the God of the Underworld, the Lord of Silence and Death. I do not have an interest in play foolish games. My power does not rely on barbaric displays of gore."
Ares stood in front of his brother with rage marking his eyes, "You have no idea of what you have done Hades!"
"I did what needed to be done!" Hades raised his voice to match his brother's thundering tone, "Do you really expect me to free him too?! After everything that creature represents?! After everything he has done!?"
"What happened with Asteria was your mistake, Hades! You allowed this madness to go this far!"
"The hybrid is part of a curse that has followed us for thousands of years!" Hades stood from his throne and pointed an accusing finger at his brother, "And you are not far behind me, Ares, you are as treacherous as I am because you too wanted that creature on your side for your own selfish motives."
"That is a lie!"
"Why did you awaken him, Ares!? Why going to the mortal realm behind our back?!" Hades walked down the stairs of his throne, "I will tell you why... because this threat was heading to become a war, one you would not be able to control if you did not gather the Celestial Army—but that army would not have been complete if you did not have Helios' power under your control. In the end, that is all that matters in this realm and we all want it—power."
"Take me to where he is..." Ares narrowed his eyes, "I want to speak to him! I need to see him!"
"Please, do not be sentimental, it does not suit you. You do not need such a thing and there is nothing for you to know, Ares. The hybrid is in Inferno as we speak and he will soon be taken to where he truly belongs. You cannot go any further without my permission and I will not grant it to you. That place is malice itself, which only confirms, even more, the poisonous nature of that monster." Hades frowned, "Do not be so upset because I got to win, little brother, if it makes you feel better—I may consider giving him a position to put such extraordinaire power to use, maybe with the judges of the Underworld, Rhadamanthus might need a collector... or maybe I will offer him Asteria's position and make him guard the Gates of Tartarus... who knows..."
"You devil!" Ares roared with anger and grabbed Hades by his high collar, "What is wrong with you!?"
"No, no—what is wrong with you?" Hades quirked his brow and slapped his brother's hand away, "I brought order back into this Alliance! Unlike you, I do not need to use brute force like you tend to do to accomplish a task—I do not like to impregnate myself with the disgusting stench of blood. That is for trained beasts like you or Gaia's hybrid spawn. Why else would I command it to kill Asteria if it was not for that? I know what he is and the power it holds. The crime this demon committed is enough to condemn its soul and lock it in place—it murdered more than one 'divine' being."
"He will not stay there—if he managed to cross to this realm, he can get out the same way. Do not underestimate Helios' blood, and do not underestimate that young man's anger either. You have done enough to his family to make him hold an eternal grudge." Ares frowned with deception, in return, Hades sighed with annoyance and grabbed the parchment that appeared out of dark flames sparking from his right hand and showed it to his younger brother with enough confidence to cast a proud smirk, "The hybrid willingly signed its own sentence and condemned its soul to this realm, Ares," he quirked a brow and disintegrated the parchment the same way it appeared, "His body is bound to stay here, no matter how much he tries, Endymion De Terra belongs to the Underworld like it should have been since the very day he was born... at last... his soul and fate are under my control."
"No," Ares shook his head, "I cannot accept it, I will not accept it. His soul is not yours to have Hades and he will not stay long in that rotten realm of yours—mark my words. Fear the consequences of your actions."
"You can try and convince yourself with whatever you want, Ares," Hades sighed and turned to walk to his throne again, "Now that you have been informed you can stop playing hero with your little army of polemarchos and go back to your usual, annoying self," he sat in his obsidian chair, "Do not bother informing Zeus, I will do it, in proper time."
"You just made a terrible mistake Hades," Ares narrowed his eyes, "You may believe you have solved the problem but it goes much deeper and it is much darker than you can imagine. This realm is being corrupted and it is still under threat—this does not stop with Asteria being dead and I will continue to fight until it is really over. I will find the true responsible but in the meantime... for your sake, and for all of ours... I really hope this does not get out of your damn control because I will not come to your aid."
Hades narrowed his eyes, "What are you trying to say?"
"You know perfectly well what I am saying,"
"Are you threatening me?"
"Take my words as you wish," Ares narrowed his eyes and shook his head with disappointment as he turned to walk away. He felt he had failed to accomplish his mission of saving Helios' dynasty and stopped once he was far enough to take a moment to process what just happened and kneeled behind a pillar feeling crushed and defeated and closed his eyes; all those years he lived for the promise he made to himself and to Gaia was tainted, his spirit was broken, "This cannot be it..." he muttered, feeling a terrible pain in his chest, "This cannot be how things end..." he took a deep breath, "This cannot be over... Hades cannot win..." Ares opened his eyes when the image of the terran queen came to his mind when they met and sighed, "Gaia... please lend me your strength... for the first time in my life... I need guidance... I am at a complete loss..."
The Divinity Series is rated M. Violence, cursing, and intimacy may occur.
I do not own Sailor Moon, just this plot and some of the characters.
A/N: You can find the reference to the mug in "The secret in the details," and a reference to the gray hoodie in "A tissue to the rescue" in Divinity: A day in the life.