The Stone Hearted Princess

by Queen

A story not of the Old Silver Millennium, but of the Old Earth, told through the eyes of one whose place in destiny was not as expected.... (complete)

8. A Divine Wind 2

The Stone Hearted Princess-

If I acted indecisively now, it would only make things worse. Going to Endymion now was out of the question. And my goal was now to create myself...oh, Goddess, to create myself dictator. Queen. Ard-rian, Shogun, Empress, whatever you want to call it, in any language. I could not do this entirely alone. I would need the support of the nobility. The military I was not concerned about. The common layers of society would support me in my quest, and I believed the majority of the nobility as well. But only if I could navigate outside of Gaia's view. Gaia was well loved, but the Moon was much despised, and she had lost supporters with her peace campaign. She would learn quickly, and so I must act quickly. The discussion with Swallow and Kitsune had been fierce, their arguments against mine solid. But each was loyal to me, as they had always been, and now would join my fight with their knowledge and expertise.

As great as their help and aid would be to me, I would need the support of Endymion's generals. I looked at myself in my mirror. My hair was braided, hanging like a rope down my back, and my clothes were simple. So different than the Moon Princess, with her fancy, bright ways. Soon, I promised myself. Soon she would be gone, if all went well, and I would be the Queen of the Earth. I would use the power of the Golden and Silver Crystals to keep that Metallia monster locked away. Where did she come from, anyway? It didn't matter. I whirled and paced out of my room, searching for Kunzite, who was leader of the quartet in the absence of Endymion. I happened to know that Endymion was legislating state business with the Queen this morning, which meant that the quartet would be off doing other things than hanging around their leader.

Gaia would never get rid of the Moon people. It was up to me. I had seen them, I knew how they behaved. I could even use that monster's weapon against her, the crystal ball. I didn't like it, but it was too useful to not use. And in war, (which this certainly was) all things are fair. And in love, as well.

"Dart!" I spotted the man hurrying along a hallway. The childhood nickname had never left him. He froze, backed up, grinned at me, and bowed.

"Can I help you my lady?"

"Lord Kunzite. Where is he?"

Dart thought about it a second, then shrugged. "Try the libraries. He's there sometimes this time of day. Anything else, lady?"

"No, that's all. Continue on your duties."

He winked, saluted, and hurried off. Flirt. Anyway, I took his advice, and headed to the royal libraries, where I did find Kunzite, idly flipping through a massive vellum covered volume of something. Whatever it was, I didn't care. "Kunzite!" I snapped, but kept my voice down. "I must speak with you. Now."

He glanced up, but his face became worried when he noticed how I looked. I turned, and began to walk away. I heard the book close, and steps behind me. So I assumed that he was following. Good. "Is everything all right?" He asked as we reached one of the side balconies that lined the hall not far from the library. I flicked my hand at the archway, casting an illusion. None would see us now.

"What's wrong? The Prince? Is Endymion-"

"Endymion is in love."

Kunzite stared for a moment, began to smile, stopped, frowned. Confusion was obvious. My anger did not seem to suggest the object of his affection was me. Of course, Kunzite was also taking into consideration my temperament, and that I may not necessarily be pleased if Endymion was in love with me.

"He is in love with the Moon Princess," I offered helpfully. Kunzite paled, but said nothing. Smart man.

"You're sure?"

"Very."

"He told you?"

"I have other ways of discovering truth."

Kunzite's gaze was even, and he shook his head. "How? No, never mind. That maid of yours, I assume?"

Think what you want, Kunzite, I don't need to tell you anymore than you need to know. "Swallow gives me the information I wish. You'd do well to listen to those that work for you."

"Don't get upset, my lady," Kunzite tried to soothe, since I was obviously annoyed. "A passing interest-"

"Ha. Do you seriously believe that?"

He thought for a moment. "No."

"You suspected it earlier?"

He nodded. "The ball."

Of course! Damn balls! First order of business when I was Queen would be to

outlaw stupid, ridiculous, romantic balls! Anyone in an assembly of over twenty with music would be tried, found guilty and their head on a spike! Damn stupid galas! I wanted to tear something apart. "I figured as much."

"It's forbidden. He wouldn't dare disobey Gaia's edict...."

"Really? Gaia named me heiress, but what about the peace deals that have been established? He's threatening to break apart the Earth, Kunzite. Without him, I have no claim to the throne. Without me, he cannot rule. Would you see the Earth governed by the Moon?"

The look of distaste was exactly what I had hoped for. Mistrust of the intruders was ingrained in the minds of the people. I would use that to my advantage. "What are you suggesting?"

"Take the Moon Kingdom."

He stared openly at me. "Are you mad? The Moon Kingdom? Impossible!"

"Not at all. Overthrow their Queen, take the Moon back into our territory."

"It was never claimed."

"It is the satellite of the Earth, and belongs to the Earth as much as Phobos or Deimos to Mars! Or Io to Jupiter! Charon to Pluto! They stole it from us, and you know that."

"That would break the treaty with Gaia. That's treason."

I hesitated. This was the thin ice, and I must tread cautiously. I wanted to keep Metallia and her threat out of the way of things, for now. This must be my doing, not hers. "Kunzite, your loyalty. Is it to a person, or is it to this planet we call our home?"

He looked as though he had been slapped. Slightly dazed, very astonished.

"You're going to overthrow Gaia."

I couldn't look at him directly anymore. I clenched my fists and enjoyed the

view of the formal royal gardens not far below us. "Where does your loyalty lay, Kunzite? To the Earth or to the person with the crown? Do not think this is an easy choice for me. I no more want to harm Gaia than you. But if I do not take the throne, Endymion will find some way to wed Princess Serenity. And then there will be a civil war. You know that. The people do not support Gaia in this...."

"When the wealth begins to flow in...." He tried to protest weakly.

"Perhaps. Perhaps not. Swallow, my maid, has already brought me information of a boycott of the silks. If Endymion marries Serenity, the Earth will be shattered. Gaia will support her son."

"And the Moon Queen? Will you assassinate her?"

I bit my lip. "No. I will exile her. Send her back to where she came from. Kunzite, do not think I do this for greed. I'm not a murderer."

"The Princess?"

I whirled on him. "I just said I am not a murderer! How dare you suggest such a thing!" I would not leave her to be a martyr, a ghost to come to haunt him in the night!

Silently, he watched me. He knew, by my actions. I was being driven by emotion, some love for my world, but most not. There was logic in my reasoning, but more behind it. There were reasons Kunzite was leader. I wondered if the other three

generals would have understood. "And the princesses of the planets?"

Ah. The giggle squad. He wondered about Venus, I assumed. I didn't want to give way, but I needed the support of the generals. I was willing to make concessions. "I will let them remain, if they so choose. Or they may go with heir Queen and Princess, but I will need their pledge of loyalty."

He nodded, appeased. What better way to ensure loyalty than to marry them? It would work well, for him, and he must be confident that she would remain. "Then you will join me, lord Kunzite?"

He hesitated a moment, and I waited. At last, he turned from the plants that grew so lushly below us, in their geometric, organized patterns. "Yes."

The rest would fall in line, one after another. If Kunzite, then Jadeite. If Jadeite, Zoicite and Nephlite. Kitsune began to speak to the lieutenants and commanders of the military and the space fleet. Swallow spread her network of spies, (for I finally accepted that was what they truly were) across the continent. It was not difficult to learn who would side with us, and who would remain loyal to Gaia. The coup de etat would not be difficult to arrange, not with the major houses the generals belonged to backing me.

Metallia was pleased, and in order to keep her oblivious to my own plans, I gathered the energy she wished, taking plants to her. As a demoness, she swallowed the energy their life gave off, corrupting it and making it her own. Any energy, any magic or power, could be turned against her opponent. I feared that Metallia would ask for the life force of humans. Casualties, they would have to be. For the greater good, and benefit of all. Casualties, in a war. Nothing more. Nothing personal. Just... casualties. That's all.

Metallia seemed stronger each time I saw her, and I wondered how. Human energy would be stronger than that of the unsentient plants. The mind creates thought, and is that not what creates the soul? It is said that the heart houses such things, but it is simply an organ. The mind is where a person truly thinks.

It was her strength that bothered me. It wasn't until I noticed the weather that I began to understand. Ever since the day of the ruined picnic between Endymion and myself, the clouds had remained grey, dingy and dark. Especially near to where we had eaten lunch. I took a horse, and rode out, suspicious. As I had feared, the jutting black rock Endymion and I had seen had grown tremendously. Multiple pillars of ebony stone were sticking out of the ground. Some sick perversion of the monoliths near Caer Sidi. I rode away, not wanting to see what was being done to my world, polluting it.

The papers were staggering. I sat at my mahogany desk, the quill in my hand darting rapidly over the electronic parchment. Orders, to the south, in preparation. My plan was nearing completion, the lords in order. I pressed the send button, and the screen scrolled away, off to Zoicite to arrange the starfleet required to transport soldiers and artillery to the Moon. Spacebarges would not accomadate people easily, but all was nearly done. Gaia had said nothing, and in fact was withdrawn. Word was brought to me that she had taken ill, but that was possibly a cover. The Queen was having nightmares. Well, so was I.

There was a knock at the door, which was open, so I looked up slightly to see Endymion standing there, his face unreadable. "We need to talk," he said.

Those fateful words always seem to herald the end. "Sit. What is it?"

He did not take a chair. I put my quill down, folding my hands. I did not know how he would go about this. Endymion was not the type to ignore me, whether he wanted to or not. Would he simply announce his plans, to wed Serenity? Or would he talk privately with me, or with Gaia first? I began to feel little stirrings of doubt on my part. If he had talked to Gaia, then perhaps she reacted differently than I had thought. Maybe she said no. Maybe I was preparing a coup for no reason.

"Long ago, you told me that you did not wish to be Queen."

"That's true," I agreed, the feelings of doubt and hope dying at his words. Why would he ask such a question if he did not plan to carry though? "Did you come to discuss the wedding?" Fine, I was being bitchy. But it would be on his head as much as mine, for betraying the Earth. And me. He deserved it.

"No, I didn't. Will you walk with me?"

"No, Endymion, I don't think so. I have work, and I'd like to stay here." I made a broad gesture at the desk and the items that decorated it. He grimaced, but did not insist.

"I...we...." Frustrated, he shook his head. "I don't want to marry you."

Big shock. "I know."

"You don't want to marry me. It's ridiculous for us to...." His voice died as I smiled faintly at him. He looked at me, confused. "What?"

"Nothing. Please, continue."

He was suspicious now, that I was being so calm. Nice, even. Good.

"I have decided to marry the princess of the Moon, Serenity."

My smile was plastered now, faint, but there. So it was certain.

"Have you told your Mother?"

"I wanted to speak to you, first."

Ah. I see. How polite of you, to dump me before you tell your Mother. "She has accepted your proposal? Serenity?"

"Yes."

"Then I suppose everything is perfect. I won't have to be Queen, you will still

be King, and Gaia's wish that our worlds will be allied will come to pass."

"Yes," he agreed slowly. I could tell he was still suspicious of me, eying me warily. He expected a storm, but he would get nothing. I don't throw tantrums anymore. Rage is best when hidden. "You're not upset, since this changes things?"

"Why should I be upset? You solved our problem, didn't you? You assumed that I would support you, so you asked, and she accepted. Gaia will be happy. Why don't you go tell her?"

Endymion wanted to ask me what I was up to, I could tell. But he didn't dare. Not when the stakes were this high right now. Not when he was blinded by love, as emotionless as he always seemed to be. The man had the personality of a stick

sometimes. And all this over him. He would be mine in the end, not the Moon Princess'.

Endymion was standing, and I stood politely to say good-bye, bowing slightly and smiling. "I'll speak to you later," he said, "with Gaia. I'm going to the Moon tonight, to announce it with Serenity to the Moon Court at once. It's her birthday."

"Tell her happy birthday," I told him, trying not to let my strength leave. I put my hands on my desk for support. "And that she's lucky to be alive."

Endymion's eyes narrowed at my wording. I met his gaze, staring back with equal force. Legs, don't fail me for another minute or so.... At last, he left, black cloak whisking through the door at his departure. I sank gratefully into the chair, plush with pillows. I closed my eyes and breathed for a moment, gathering myself. He was going to announce it publicly tonight, on the Moon, at the Princess' birthday party. Why hadn't I considered it? Swallow had mentioned it several days ago...I should have thought of that. My fault. But I was ready. I turned the chair to the vidscreen, and waved my hand over the control pad, summoning the image of Kitsune.

"My lady?"

"Kamikaze."

She stared for a moment, pale, her lips drawn. "Hai. Tai-fun. Wakarimasu."

The screen went black. 'Divine wind', in Kitsune's tongue. Like a divine wind, we would sweep away the intruders. The order was given. I stood, and shut off my end of the channel.

It was time.

Into the sheath I placed my sword, letting it slide in gracefully with it's deadly killing edge. Swallow was holding my shield in her hands, a rounded one, painted a blackish green pattern of ivy around the edge, wooden, so that any opponent's sword would stick a moment. A moment to my advantage. It was settling into evening now, the crimson sky bleeding into the water, staining it with ribbons of scarlet.

"You will remain here, Swallow, that's an order."

She didn't want to stay, and was being particularly pointed in her argument.

"You'll need me!"

"For what, Swallow? You can't fight-"

"You know damn well I can!"

"Not in a battle like this!" I hissed back, frowning and taking the shield. "You conduct my information beautifully, and I need you here, to hold down communications. There's no reason for you to be risking your life on the Moon. It's too dangerous."

"I've been to your battles before, and you never stopped me then."

I was getting tired of this, as I strapped the shield to my forearm. "That's an

order, Swallow. You remain here!"

She glared at me, folding her arms, and finally let me win. When this was over,

I'd never hear the end of it. But I would have Kitsune at the front line with me, and it was bad enough I needed her along to fight. Swallow would be safe, at least. More or less, anyway.

After a moment, she sighed and said, "The transports should be almost ready.

You need to get to the docking bays."

"Mn," I nodded, glancing in the full length mirror. "This is going to be nasty."

"Be careful."

"Oh, yeah, I'm so reckless."

"You are."

"Am not. I plan everything. Isn't this all coordinated?"

Swallow rolled her eyes. "That's beside the point. The Crystal Palace on the Moon will be heavily guarded."

"That's why we're taking the reinforcements we are."

"Be careful."

I looked at Swallow, and she seemed to really mean it, not just in the casual way. Her face was drawn, nervous and anxious. Poor Swallow. I gave her a quick hug. "We'll be victorious. Don't worry so much," I gave her a bright smile, trying to look encouraging. "We'll win. Everything will be better. No Moon Kingdom, just the Earth. United as one. Imagine every planet in the system under a single rule. One leader, one goal, one dream. Nothing will be able to stop us then. Nothing!"

"Don't be so proud. The gods don't like mortals who think they are as powerful

as the Shining Ones. The Wheel that Fate turns brings people high, only to let them drop low again. One swift hour may change the course of destiny forever, and possibly destroy a man."

I didn't take Swallow's words lightly, but I wanted to see her at least supportive when I left. "Well, I'm no man, Swallow. I make my own destiny. Don't worry. All right?" Weakly, she smiled, nodded once. "Good. I'm going to get going. I want to catch the first transport off the Earth."

"Good luck."

"Thanks. I'll see you later, Swallow."

She nodded, smiling faintly, and waved as I headed out the door.

The hallways were bustling, and people skittered away from me as they saw who I was. My feet clicking sharply against the marble, soldiers from across the continent had flocked at my call, coming together and amassing at the gates of Thymos, their skyships dotting the hillsides around the land. Nobility were scurrying to stay out of their way, unsure as to what was going on, and why. Rumors were flying, I was sure. The Earth has declared war! They would say this, whispering behind their hands and closed doors. To the Moon Kingdom! The Silver Millennium will fall tonight, and we will be rid of these people at last! But to declare war? Did Gaia sanction this? A coup? No, impossible. Wasn't it?

I slammed into a young man in the rush, who was running full tilt down the hallway. Dart staggered back, regaining his balance, and for once did not look like a mischievous young boy. He was scared, and I could see it in his face.

"Princess," he gasped, seeing me. "The Queen. She sent me to get you. She's not well. Gods, there's something wrong with her!"

The Queen was sick? Or was she just commanding me before her, to answer for what I was causing now? "What's wrong? Is she ill?" I grabbed his arm, steadying him as people eddied around us, soldiers parting like the sea in wake of a ship. The storm was brewing. Dart licked his lips, and I pushed him out of the way of the people, closer to the wall. "What! Tell me now or I leave with them!"

"Gaia summons you, in the royal name. She's not well!"

"How is she not well?" I demanded, exasperated. Dart, you imbecile. Usually you were so quick with this sort of thing, since you were royal messenger. "Is she sick?"

"No, but she's holed up in the throne room, and won't come out. She just sits and stares, and won't answer. She's gone mad!"

A man shoved against me in the crowded hall, and I cast a sharp glance to see who. The person was lost in the crowd, faceless and nameless. I tucked us closer to the wall. Gaia was acting insane? No, this couldn't be good. Gaia was too strong to let this chaos around us get to her. A trick? No, she wouldn't kill me, not even if she wanted to. Then what? A last attempt to stop me? Unlikely. I hoped she was all right. I had to be sure. "Are there any halls that are clear nearby?"

He nodded, licking his lips. "The back hall, that leads to the side entrance of the throne room. I took that way. Everyone's heading out to the launch pads."

Even as I heard him speak, the sound of a starship powering up reached my ears. It would launch soon, the flagship of my small fleet. I wanted to be on it, on the bridge with Kitsune. She knew to take off without me if I was detained, but still. I didn't want to hide away anymore. Now was the time to let these things surface. I had to talk to Gaia.

"Get out of here, Dart. Get to the countryside, if you can. I don't know how the battle will go. May the Goddess protect you." I gave him a small push into the flow of people, and ducked down the hallway, weaving my way along until I reached an empty hall, running swiftly to the throne room along the pathway that Dart had told me of.

The door was locked. I tugged at it, but the mahogany timbers were sealed shut. No one was around, having other things to do in the mess I had created. My illusions were worthless now, and I had no magic to blast through the doors. No wall of water or stream of fire or even a lazer. Such magic would have been useful now. Well, nothing like the old fashioned way. I slid my sword out, adjusting my grip, then swung it in a neat arc, severing the knob from the door, the brass falling to the ground with a ringing clatter as it shuddered open a crack.

"Gaia?" I didn't need to shout to call, and whispered it instead, seeing her sitting on her throne, hands in her lap, resting there, cradling some faintly glowing object. She wore her nightdress, white and pale, emerald hair waving long down her face, obscuring it from my vision. As I stepped within the room,she did not stir until I was near to the dias, where she slowly looked up, and I could see faint, unspilled tears in her eyes. Water covered them, making the violet transparent and gleaming, the color of the sunset clouds. One tear fell, splashing down onto her cheek, hanging there.

She finally saw me, and smiled a small smile, like a sickly child. Then she spoke, soft and delicate. "I can't read you anymore, alanna."

She ran a finger over the Golden Crystal, which she held in her lap. It was what was glowing, yet I had never seen it do such a thing before in my life. The pendant was gone, and it was the bare Crystal, cupped in her long hands. "I always could. But not anymore. You were always so open, even when you were angry. I see why you do what you do now. But still, your mind and heart are closed. That demoness has led you down this path, hasn't she?"

Metallia? How did she know...no, this was Gaia. Of course she knew. I felt very cold suddenly. No, she knew. Of course she knew. But my question should be, why did she not do anything? Then if she wouldn't, I would. I'd have to.

She lifted her face to the high arches of the ceiling, and did not look at me. "You wish to own the Crystal of my world. Once, I wished to give it to you, and gladly. You were strong enough to wear it. I would have seen you wed to my son, who I am so proud of. I would call you daughter. I still would, if you would stop this. So many chances I watched you pass by. You did not speak to me of the demon in the garden. I would have taken a stand against it, with you at my side, my heiress, my Earth Princess. Our Crystal is so strong. United with its Queen, it is invincible."

At last, she looked at me, violet eyes shimmering. "You will never wear it," she said to me, words soft, but sharp. "I'll seal it away, where you will never think to look. It's power will remain hidden from you, no matter how hard you search for it, eluding you in the future that will come, even as you seek out other power not of this Earth. There is evil in the universe, alanna. And our world has no defense. No way to protect itself. Only this tear."

She held the Golden Crystal against her cheek, touching the place the droplet of water still stained. The brightness increased to blinding, and I stepped back, shielding my eyes. "Run away, alanna, and fullfill the place you have chosen for yourself in destiny. Do not blame Fate, for you have chosen your role with your own hands. Run away, alanna. Run away."

Light poured from the Crystal, in a way I had never seen before. Legends whispered that its power was the magic of the Earth, power that slumbered until it was needed. So bright the light was, piercing the darkness.

"Run away," she says, and the words echo in my thoughts, as I hear her through her magic of the mind.

"I'll seal it away. And keep it safe forever."

I ran, my footsteps carrying me from her, and through the silent weeping, I heard the sound of the starships blasting into the new night sky.

"I'll create a safe place, for our world."

Though the panes of clear glass, I saw my flagship spread its wings as I ran, taking off into the sky, into space, where the sails would extend, catching solar winds, sending it swiftly on its way to the battlefield of the Moon.

"Sacred, holy, a place of beauty and peace. None will harm this place, and it will keep our world safe."

Gaia, why do you still let me hear your words in my mind? Go away! I am not evil! I will seal away Metallia, defeat the Moon, unite the power of the two Crystals on my own! I will banish Serenity, both Princess and Queen. They will be gone, I will be happy! I will be Queen!

"I'll cry a river of tears, and let each seal away the temple, a barrier between our power and the darkness it attracts. That demon is our dark counterpart, alanna. The Moon has its own, locked away in a mirror...."

I clutched my head with my hands, trying to force Gaia's echoes out of my mind. Now was no time to hesitate! I did not work for Metallia! I hated her! I hated all of them! Get away from me! Leave me alone! I am only doing what I think is right! Gaia, can't you understand that? The Moon is a place of sacrilege, with blasphemous people who claim to be gods, lording and spying on our movements!

A thought came to me, and I understood it. "You can't read me anymore."

The sounds Gaia sent to my mind drained away.

I respected you, Gaia. All this time...you were not only watching me. You were listening to my mind. My thoughts. Your power is that of the mind, and you snuck inside my thoughts, spying on me in a way that makes the Moon Kingdom's observation seem insignificant. What way more exposes a person than to touch their very thoughts? You betrayed me. You betrayed me the day we met, peering into my mind to see if I was right for the duty of Queen. I'll remove you from the throne, Gaia. I'll smash that dark crystal Metallia gave me, after I've destroyed her. There will be no reign of mental terror on my world. I swear it.

"Are you all right?" A soldier was tapping me on the shoulder. He was dressed in the gleaming gear of a captain, first rank. "Lady Princess? Is everything well?"

"Yes," I told him, and looked around. The bridge of a ship, the engines humming underfoot. She was ready to launch. "Engage the engines."

He snapped to attention, saluting, then turned and barked orders at his crew. They flew into action, fingers flying over control panels, and the main screen showed us lifting up into the air, turn about, and then begin forward as the sails extended along the sides of the ship.

As we gained altitude, a shockwave hit the ship, and everyone staggered to the side. "On the main screen! Now!"

"You heard her! The palace! Now! Get it online!"

Warning lights glowed redly as the static cleared. Thymos was engulfed in a torrent of golden light, flowing up into the darkness. The land was shifting, roiling like the sea. There were no earthquakes here, yet the fabric of the land was tearing, the palace itself a tiny island of tranquility in the terror.

"Remove it from my sight. I don't want to see it anymore."

"But, Lady Princess," the captain started to protest.

"She's doing this to spite me. Do you follow my orders, or not?"

Stuttering, looking ashen, he managed, "Take it offline."

The screen went black.

Seal it away, Gaia, if you can. I will have the Silver Crystal. I will have the people of Earth behind me. You will not be able to hide forever. I'll come and dig you up, unbury the past, break whatever seal you place on the palace. I will never give up, not until I'm dead. I'll find you, and I'll take that Crystal away from you. I will be Queen. Now, finally, I truly wish to be what I was born for.

I will be Queen.