Warning: The queens may appear OOC.
***********************************
Forbidden Love
Chapter 6 - Respond No Longer
Authors: Krys Yuy & Usa-chan
***********************************
"You have to come with us."
"Nani?" Serenity whispered, her blue eyes widening.
"You heard me," Heero replied.
The pilots stared in shock at the perfect soldier. He was asking the princess to go with them. This was an interesting turn of events. She must have done something drastic to him. That was the only explanation that they could come up with in their minds. Usually, Heero would have just taken the offer without even saying thanks.
Quatre nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, Serenity-hime. We will only go if you come with us," he said.
"Renity, it's not safe for you to be here anymore," Duo added.
"Iie, I can't..." she replied. "I have to stay here with my friends. I have to-"
"Marry the town idiot?" Duo snorted. "Renity, you have to come with us. The prince is wacky! Who knows what he will do after we're gone!"
"Especially if we're not here to protect you anymore," Heero said in almost a whisper, so only the princess could hear him.
"I don't know..."
"O-negai?" Quatre pleaded. "You're in grave danger. Can't you tell?"
"I know, but I have obligations!"
"To what? To take all this abuse?" Duo questioned. "Before you turn twenty Renity, you will know only pain!"
"It will stop..."
"When, onna? When?! Your mother denies the truth!" Wufei stated. "If she cared at all, her eyes would have been opened by now!"
"My mother loves me!"
"I'm sorry to say this your highness, but it seems your mother doesn't even care about your own well being," Trowa stated, his head bowed. "From what I have seen and heard so far, she only cares about her kingdom."
"That's not true!" Serenity denied. "How dare you!"
"Look around you, onna!" Wufei exclaimed, exasperated. "Your mother has us locked up and sentenced to be executed! And for what?! We have done nothing! We just came here to retrieve Yuy and Winner. Then Yuy here rescues you, and the queen refuses to hear an explanation!"
"You're lying!"
"It is the truth," Quatre said softly, not wanting to hurt the hysterical princess.
"I know she hasn't been caring as much lately... but she didn't even hear you out?" she asked timidly.
"Hai," Quatre answered.
Princess Serenity closed her eyes for a moment, then opened them to look at the pilots with teary eyes. "I'll arrange your escape," she stated. When she saw Heero open his mouth, she put her hand through the bars and held a slender finger to his mouth. "Shh," she whispered. "I will think about your condition, but that does not mean I will stand by and watch you die." She gave them all a reassuring smile, before disappearing past the door. 'You mean too much to me,' she added silently.
When she was out of earshot, Duo still retained his playful attitude and grinned somewhat weakly at Heero. "So, is she your girlfriend now, buddy?"
"Omae o korosu."
"Duo..." Quatre groaned.
"What?" the braided pilot asked innocently.
* * * * *
"Isis, please! I saw it with my own eyes! Those five boys have been trouble from the very beginning!" Queen Serenity stated with authority.
"Serenity, you have not heard a word I've uttered this entire time!" the Queen of Mercury retorted. "Those boys have done nothing wrong!"
"That boy... Herald, whatever is name is... after what he's done, you dare stand up for them?" she demanded. "Your own daughter could be in danger because of these... these... scoundrels!"
"I can assure you, Serenity, that our daughters are not in danger," a new voice stated.
Queen Serenity turned to glare at the newcomer. "Aphrodite, how would you know? You just arrived today."
"I am sure we would've sensed it for one thing," she said.
"Besides," Isis cut in. "Your own daughter has stated the truth! They didn't do anything to her!"
"Nani?!" the elder Serenity exclaimed. "When did my daughter awake?"
The Mercury Queen noticed her mistake too late. She decided to just go on with the conversation still and hope that the princess had enough time. "She had told me that a youma attacked her!"
"A youma?" the queen questioned, raising an eyebrow. "Here? I highly doubt that. It couldn't have gotten past the guards on its own."
"Serenity, why do you deny the truth?" Isis sighed.
"Prince Endymion himself saw it!" the Moon Queen stated. "He saw that Herald character in the act!"
"Did he?" the Queen of Venus asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course he did! He told me himself! I have no reason to lie," the elder Serenity commented.
"Then why, may I ask, did he not protect her from him, your majesty?" asked Isis.
The queen, who had done nothing but defend her view and the prince, was rendered without an answer to the Queen of Mercury's question.
"Is your brave and valiant prince of Earth too cowardly to protect his own fiancee?" Aphrodite added. "Your daughter?"
"Surely, if he had seen her struggle, and if he's as kind as you say he is, the princess wouldn't be in that condition," Isis commented.
"And if that Heero," the Venus Queen corrected, "character is as vile as you claim him to be, why would he bring her back to the palace? Just to get caught? Those boys do not look stupid, my queen!"
Queen Serenity shook her head and forced herself to talk. "The prince would not lie! Besides, those boys are a threat to my kingdom!"
"Are they?" Isis asked with narrowed eyes. "You know it is not in my nature to talk this way, Serenity. But you are out of line-"
"Iie!" the elder Serenity exclaimed. "You are out of line, Isis! What gives you two the right to challenge my judgment?!"
"Ever since you put your kingdom ahead of everything else!" Aphrodite snapped.
"What in the moon are you talking about?" she demanded.
"Serenity, you are not who you once were," Isis replied. "You have tossed your own daughter aside. By the gods, she nearly died and I don't even see you shed a tear!"
"She's fine! If Endymion hadn't gotten me-"
"Then you wouldn't have sentenced those five boys to their deaths on false accusations!" finished Aphrodite.
"What kind of mother have you become?" Isis asked in a low tone.
"Neither of you have the right to talk to me in this way," Serenity stated, anger evident in her eyes.
"Yes, we do. We are just concerned about you and your views now," Isis explained.
"None of you have anything to do with this! You have no business coming here and telling me what I should and should not do!"
"That's where you are wrong, Serenity!" exclaimed Aphrodite.
"Am I? Why is that?"
"Anything having to deal with love concerns me!" she retorted. "Isis here also has a right... since you have just sentenced our daughters' soulmates to be executed!"
"Nani?"
"That's right. You heard me, Serenity. Soulmates."
"Iie! My daughter's destiny lies with the prince of Earth!" the queen exclaimed. "Go, Aphrodite, Isis. I need not hear your foolish lies anymore."
The two Inner Queens sighed, realizing their argument to have been futile. "Yes, my queen," they chorused before exiting the throne room.
Isis glanced at Aphrodite as they headed down the hall. "Soulmates?" she echoed.
The Queen of Venus smiled softly. "Hai, Isis," she replied. "Soulmates. Just don't tell the girls."
"I won't. They already have enough to worry about."
* * * * *
Princess Serenity entered her room to find all her senshi and the generals gathered there. "Minna-chan, what are you doing here?" she questioned.
"We have gathered together to form a plan to save those guests of yours, Serenity-chan," explained Jadeite.
"Soo ka?" she replied. "I was just going to find all of you to do just that!"
"We're not just going to let them die, Koneko-chan," Haruka commented. "I can tell they mean too much to you already."
"Hai," Michiru agreed.
"Well, what are we going to do?" asked Makoto, her mind on Duo.
"Anyone have any suggestions?" Minako added.
"Well, we could distract the prince," Jadeite chimed in as he gestured to his fellow generals.
"Hai, we can keep him far away from the cells for the rest of the night," Kunzite agreed.
"And throughout the morning," said Zoicite.
"What about us?" Rei demanded.
"Isn't it obvious, Rei-san?" asked Nephrite. "You, as well as the other Senshi, will be breaking the prisoners out."
"Ruka-chan, can you and Michiru leave tonight?" the princess inquired.
"Why, Koneko-chan," Haruka mocked hurt. "I didn't know you found our company so disagreeable."
"Iie, silly," the princess giggled. "I want you and Michiru to hide Heero and the others in your shuttle on the way back to Uranus."
"Hai, that's a good idea," Ami commented. "The queen wouldn't suspect you helping them at all."
"What am I supposed to say?"
"Leave that to me," Michiru said, smiling softly.
"All right," Haruka consented. "We have to get the shuttle ready then. We'll see you later, ne? Ja, minna-chan." She walked out the door.
"Good luck," Michiru added, before following her companion.
"It's a vague plan, but I think it'll work," Kunzite commented.
"One last thing," Serenity said.
"What's that?" asked Jadeite.
"I have to tell all of you something."
"Well, what is it, oojo?" asked Nephrite.
"You know how a youma attacked me?"
They all winced slightly, but nodded their heads. "Hai."
"That was Endymion's idea," she replied gravely.
"Nani?!"
"Serenity-hime, are you sure?" asked Ami.
"Hai. I heard it with my own ears, as well as Hiiro-kun and the others in the prison."
"It's not safe for you here anymore, Serenity-chan," Jadeite commented.
"That's exactly what Duo-kun had said!" she exclaimed.
"Well, it isn't," Minako agreed.
"Heero said they would only go if..." she trailed off.
"If what?" Zoicite prompted.
"If I go with them."
"You should go, Serenity," Rei commented with a sad look in her eyes. "You are no longer safe here in your own home."
"But what about you?"
"We're safe, oojo," Makoto said. 'At least for now,' she added silently.
"I can't leave you!"
"We can't take about this right now, minna-chan!" Ami exclaimed. "We're running out of time!"
"Okay, lets go," Minako said.
"Matte! I have to say good-bye," said Serenity. She hugged the four generals tightly. "I'm sorry we couldn't spend more time together, Jadeite-chan, Kunzite-chan, Zoicite-chan, and Nephrite-chan."
"That's all right, oojo," Nephrite said with a smile.
"Lets go!" Rei hissed from the doorway.
"Ja, minna-chan," Serenity whispered, before dashing down the hall with her guardians.
The generals stared after them, before going down another hall. 'Take care, Serenity-hime,' they thought.
* * * * *
Sailor Pluto looked on these events with dawning horror. She could not stop what was about to happen, nor could she convince her queen of the truth. She had been blinded by the need of her kingdom. No matter what Pluto could do, the result would be the same. 'Why does it have to be this way?!' she demanded in her mind. 'Why?!' As the scene she was watching vanished, it was replaced with those of the Inner Senshi and generals. Despite her knowledge of the catastrophe that was about to happen soon, she permitted herself to let out a small smile as her gaze lingered on a certain general with silky brown hair. Then she frowned and shook her head, turning to figure out some way to help her princess, knowing that she was no longer safe. However, she was satisfied with the spell she had cast on the pilots' weapons. They didn't seem to notice that their ammunition never ran short. She made sure that they would be able to protect the princess and keep her safe.
* * * * *
Ami suddenly stopped in her tracks as she remembered something. Everyone else stopped as well and huddled around her.
"What is it, Ami-chan?" asked the princess.
"I was thinking... Zoicite-san and the others might need this," she stated softly as she pulled a vile from her sub-space pocket.
"What are they going to need that for?" asked Venus.
"They might need to come and help us. It won't do if they are distracting the prince all night," Ami replied. "It's part of the potion I had whipped up earlier and had forgotten about it."
"What's the difference between this one and the one we used before?"
"The one we used before was only to temporarily knock him out, then he would be awake fully," Mercury answered. "The one I now have in my hand knocks the person out for twelve hours and no one can do anything to get that person awake until the time is over."
"That will give us enough time," Rei said.
Makoto received the bottle from Ami, and clutched it in her hand. "I'll take it to them," she offered.
"All right, Mako-chan," said Venus. "We'll meet you in the dungeons."
"Hai," the Senshi of Jupiter replied, before darting down the hall.
"Lets go, minna-chan," Serenity said as they continued on their way.
* * * * *
Jupiter ran until she saw the four tall figures that were Prince Endymion's guardians. "Minna-chan!" she whispered fiercely.
Jadeite turned, surprised. "What is it, Makoto-san?" he asked.
"Here, take this," she replied, thrusting a bottle into Nephrite's hands.
"Nani?" Zoicite questioned with a tilt of his head.
"Give it to the prince," she instructed.
"What will it do?" Kunzite inquired curiously.
"Knock him out for twelve hours," Jupiter murmured for only them to hear, a smirk on her face.
"I like that idea," Jadeite said, grinning evilly.
"Use it wisely," she stated.
"Don't worry," Nephrite replied. "We will."
"And try not to be suspicious," she added.
"Okay! Would you go already?" Kunzite asked.
"All right, all right," Makoto sighed, turning. However, she faced them again one last time as Nephrite reached out to hold her back.
"Good luck, Mako-hime," he whispered softly to her, caressing her cheek gently. Then he followed his generals to their prince.
Makoto held a hand to her cheek, feeling the tingles, but something was missing. 'Duo...' She turned and began to run back to catch up with her fellow Senshi. She stopped dead in her tracks when shouts were heard, ringing through the corridors.
"The prisoners have escaped! The prisoners have escaped!"
"Report to the Queen!"
* * * * *
"Nani?" the queen asked, making sure she heard right. "Did you say... they escaped?"
"Yes, my queen," said the soldier, who was down on one knee.
"Where is my daughter's court?" she demanded, about to rise from her throne.
"They are safe, your highness. I had checked on them before I came here. They are all in Serenity-hime's bedroom."
"Good," the queen commented, sitting back down. "Make sure they stay there. No one is to go in or out of that room, understand?"
"Yes, my queen. Except there's one more thing."
"What's that?"
"The princess isn't with them."
"What?! Have the dungeons been searched?"
"Yes. We believe they took off for the nearest village and have vacated the prisons."
"I approve," she said. "Now go, and tell the rest of the guards to try and catch those fiends! And bring back my daughter!"
"Yes, your majesty," the soldier replied as he got up and walked out the door.
The Moon queen watched him leave, before rising from her throne and out a door. She was led into a large white circular room with elegant designs. She stepped forward toward a silver pedestal.
Queen Serenity stared at the holy jewel in its protective encasement. She punched the numbers in the panel by it, and the small dome separated, leaving the crystal open. She reached in and pulled it out, cupping it in her hands as it started to hover, glittering softly. She shut her eyes and felt the power radiating from it.
"Holy Ginzuishou, answer my plea," she prayed. "Tell me where my daughter is and let her forget these foolish antics. Let her see the true path of her destiny. Show her the way with Prince Endymion by her side. O-negai, Ginzuishou. O-negai..."
The shimmering crystal glowed brilliantly before dying out just as fast. The queen opened her eyes in disbelief and horror. She collapsed to her knees with the crystal still hovering slightly. Luna and Artemis entered and immediately rushed to her side.
"Your majesty? What's wrong?" Luna asked, worried.
"The Ginzuishou..." 'It refused me...'
"Nani?"
"It's not responding..."
* * * * *
Jupiter frowned, just outside the throne room. She had heard the conversation that had passed between the soldier and the queen. She had not been inside her princess's bedroom. The soldier had obviously been mistaken. 'What is going on?'
She jumped back as the soldier exited the room and spotted her under blonde bangs. She began to back away as he advanced on her, not saying a word. "Don't come near me," she stated in a warning tone.
The soldier stopped directly in front of her, and chuckled. "You know, Mako-chan..." he began as he lifted his head, meeting her eyes.
"Nani?!" She glanced at his front pocket, and something pink glinted in the hall's lights.
Cobalt blue eyes danced with merriment as the soldier's hands took out the pink object. "Disguise pens are pretty handy. I think I'm getting the hang of it."