Thanks for reading! Heres Chapter: 5
Sailor Moon ain't mine.
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Fall From Grace
By: Emporess
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...indeed it shall be revealed-
Indeed the time has come for the advent.
-As I mouth 'advent'
My vision is disturbed
by the monstrous image of the worldly ghost
-somewhere in the desert
a monster with a lion's body and a human face
glares blankly and without emotion like the sun
and slowly moves its feet-
around in circles in the shadows of the frightened desert birds-
-Spoken by Hotaru
Naoko Takeuchi
Sailor Moon Super S, Act 6
Chapter: 5
Killer Instinct
"Mercury, are you sure its in the same place?" called
out Sailor Moon as they ran towards the park.
"Hai! My computer is showing trans-dimensional
fluctuations at that bench. Its got to be Sensei. The enemies
don't show up when I take a reading." Mercury disengaged
her visor so she could keep up with the others.
"That doesn't mean they aren't there." Mars was at Sailor
Moon's left, flanking her. She was determined to keep Usagi from
danger this time.
"You five stay back until I give it an all clear." Uranus
called out over her shoulder. She and Neptune were in the lead.
"No."
Uranus shot an angry glance at Venus. She was still
wearing those damn sunglasses she'd brought to the meeting.
"Excuse me?"
"I said no. I don't take orders from you." Venus'
voice was ominous. Despite the tension, none of them
slowed down. They kept running at top speed.
"Lets just see what its like when we get there, OK?"
Sailor Moon pleaded. The last thing they needed was an
argument. She glanced above her head and saw Tuxedo Kamen
making his way across the rooftops. Atleast their back-up
was in place.
"Look over there!" Jupiter cried, pointing over the
trees of the park. Brilliant rays of pink light were
shining up from the center of the area.
"Thats going to attract some unwanted attention,"
sighed Neptune. She shot Uranus a nervous look. They had
discussed what they would have to do in this situation.
Pluto's letter had left no room for debate. They were
going to have to take the woman out, whatever the cost.
They had no idea how the Inners would react if this
really was their Sensei.
"No hesitation." whispered Uranus to Neptune, in
a voice too low for the other Senshi to hear.
"Hai." she answered.
Michael and Aradia were approaching the Park in the
opposite direction of the Senshi. They were weaving in
and out of trees, their desperation to arrive before anyone
else making them move faster. "I think I sense them,
Michael."
Michael still held on to her hand as he pulled her
ever nearer. "I know hes here." The sentence came out
clipped, as if he could hardly speak it. "I sense him.
They're closer then we are. We're not going to make it."
"Then what can we do?" she asked, horrified with
the thought of facing 7 Senshi instead of just 1.
"We'll have to come clean. Startle them with the
truth." He hadn't looked back once. She had the feeling
he was trying to hide his expression from her.
"Your going to tell them everything?" She asked
incredulously.
"Everything."
Even at such a critical moment, Michael couldn't help
letting his thoughts wonder. Instead of Celeste, memories
he wouldn't mind fixating on, he seemed stuck on the Prince.
Like a fog the past seemed to wrap around him, weaving
a blanket of insecurities and misery.
"Mikel.... Mikel..." a voice sang. He glanced
around and saw a young man with black hair staring at him
curiously. He was holding a piece of paper for him to
look at. "Mikel, what does this say? I can't read it."
He took the paper from the boy and ruffled his hair
with his other hand. "Oh you can't, eh? Seems I'll have
to tell your teachers to spend more time on reading and
less on combat training."
The boy groaned. "I don't see why I have to learn
to read all the different languages anyway. I'll always have
servants who can do it for me!"
He tsked disapprovingly at the boy. "Thats no way
for a future King to talk. Endymion, without an education
you might as well be a pauper." He brought the paper
closer for inspection. He gasped when he recognized the
writing. "This is the King's personal stationary. Where
in the Kami's name did you get this?"
Endymion looked down a bit guiltily. "The last time
he-" The boy paused there and looked away. Mikel knew he
was searching for the proper word to describe his meaning.
The Prince's conversations with his Father really couldn't
be described as 'meetings'. Why the King harbored such a
dislike for his own son was beyond him. Everyone else
thought he was an adorable young boy. He was the spitting
image of his Father. Smart as a whip too. Only 13 years old
and already proving to be capable in almost every subject.
"called me in for an audience, I borrowed them."
"You stole them!" Mikel accused, shocked at the
audacity of it. "When your Father finds out-"
"He'll do as he always does." The bitter tone
the boy replied in was unusual for him. The Prince
had a calm, some people thought cold temperament,
inherited from his Mother. "Whether I defy him or
not, the result will be the same."
"Be that as it may, I have to advise you to-"
"Shut up Mikel!" He cried angrily. "I don't care about
your advice! Just do as I say and read that letter!" He
spoke with the authority he had been given at birth as
son of the ruler of Terra.
"Hai, your Majesty." Looking around to confirm they
were alone he began to read aloud. "At night I sit by
my fire, drink in hand, and contemplate the life that
I have led. The choices...."
I have made that led me down this lonely road.
Has it really been 30 years? 30 years since I
saw your sweet face, caressed your swollen belly
laden with our child? How could it have been that
long, my love. It seems like only yesterday I
rode my horse up to you in that small town and
asked your name.
"I am who I am, and you are the King, so my name
is unimportant, your Majesty."
You smiled coyly at me, and I felt it then, a pain
in my heart, a twinge. 'Ah,' I thought to myself.
'Ah, this one is special.' What an understatement
that was.
I gaze at your portrait day in and out. My
Kingdom goes on, ruled by my advisors, but I
sit in Purgatory here. My spirit died that
day, when you went on without me. If only my
life would end, and I could join you in eternal
slumber.
My Kingdom would go on, for I produced an heir.
Theres no reason for me to be here now. That boy
will rule, taking what is rightfully our child's.
How cruel was fate, taking both of you away from
me, leaving me wondering what happened. Couldn't
I have at least said, "Good bye."?
You would not recognize me now my Angel, for when
I look in the mirror, I don't see myself. Who is
this man gone prematurely gray? Whose nose is red,
with broken bloodvessels across his face? Who am
I to condemn a innocent boy for not being our
child, and in my mind inferior? A tyrant, an ogre.
My only fear is that I will not see you when I
die, for all the wrongs I have committed. Surely
the powers above will forgive my indiscretions,
to atleast let me gaze upon your face one final
time. If I can have that, I will gladly take
the sentence awarded to me.
The Prince had turned away from Mikel as he looked up from
the sheet. "Is that all?" he asked in a choked voice.
"Hai." Mikel put the sheets in his hands. "Endymion-"
"You won't tell him will you, Mikel?" his voice was still
strange, twisted. "He won't notice them missing, their all over
his suite."
"No, I don't suppose he'll notice." He put a comforting
hand on the young man's arm. "He's a sick man, son. Don't blame
yourself for this. If you need to talk about-"
The Prince refused to turn around, briskly shaking off
the hand. "I can handle him myself, thank you Mikel. I believe
I'll take a walk through the gardens." He strided away quickly.
"As you wish," Mikel bowed to the retreating form, feeling
utter sympathy for the boy. He knew how harshly the King treated
him, how cruel he could be. Hopefully, one of his Guardians
would find him out there and be able to provide him some
comfort.
'What a tangled web of treachery.' Michael thought as
he tried to focus his mind on the present. His lips twisted
into a snarl as he remembered the cause of all this, the
source of all his agonies, all their pain.
"Pluto," he hissed through clenched teeth, startling
Aradia.
"You won't do anything rash, will you?" she asked timidly.
He would not answer.
The woman's eyes fluttered open as she looked around,
dazed. She shivered, throwing the dirty hood of her sweatshirt
up across her head, hoping to be warmer. Aching she pulled
herself into a sitting position, trying to remember where
she was. How long had she been sleeping? Why was she outside?
Why couldn't she remember anything?
Fuzzy images swam in her mind, but they all seemed to
be jumbled up. Was she dreaming? Her body felt so heavy,
the joints flamed with pain. Had she been running in a
marathon? Her feet hurt.
Shakingly she tried to stand, keeping one hand on the
bench as she got to her feet. Her knees rattled. It was
taking super human effort not to fall to the ground. Her
head was pounding, horribly, like a base drum. Those
cloudy images dancing in and out of her vision, making it
difficult to focus on where she was, who she was.
"DON'T MOVE!" a voice commanded from up ahead. She
tried to see who was there but the concentration made her
dizzy. "Nani....?" she said, or thought she said anyway.
Something sharp was flying at her, a golden light
shining extremely bright. She heard girlish voices scream
from farther away. What they cried she couldn't tell.
Her reaction was instinctual. Her feet solidified
beneath her. Her stance straightened, steel replacing her
spine. Bronzed hands came up without her knowledge, moving
into position even as she yelled out, "HOLD!"
The Inner Senshi screamed in shock as Uranus advanced
on the woman. The poor soul was defenseless, wearing tattered
rags, shaking under the streetlight. Venus and the others
moved to intercept her but were blocked by a tower of water
called on by Neptune.
"NO! DON'T DO IT HARUKA-SAN! PLEASE!" Sailor Moon
screamed, not caring who heard.
"HOLD!" The voice renebrated through the park, echoing
off the trees. It wasn't spoken in Japanese. Instinctively
every Senshi froze at the Moon Kingdom command. Everyone in the
Silver Millennium would recognize that order, meaning to stop
immediately when issued by a superior.
Uranus was no exception, stopping dead in her tracks,
the point of the blade mere inches from the woman's jugular.
Her hand trembled as she attempted to follow through, her
body rebelling against her. Was this what Pluto had meant?
Her hesitation was enough for Tuxedo Kamen. He moved
past the water wall, pushing Uranus aside. The woman fell
forward, gasping, unable to hold her commanding appearance
any longer. She shook violently on her knees, her hands
clutching at her head. "N-nani...? How...? Oh God, Oh
God, Oh God." Her breathing was ragged as she switched
from Japanese to English babbling.
Tuxedo Kamen now faced a completely recovered, enraged
Uranus. She hissed through her teeth. "Move back, your Majesty."
He shook his head once, bringing up his cane. The Inner
Senshi were busy with Neptune, who was running circles around
them. They did however keep her from reaching her partner.
She leveled her sword at him. "Move or I *will* move you."
"Why do we have to fight? Why is it so important to kill
her?" Tuxedo Kamen asked confused. He hadn't seen her this
intense since the silence, in the Outers fanatical
determination to kill Hotaru-chan. The fact she referred to him
as 'your Majesty' didn't bode well for him either.
"You wouldn't understand." She moved in on him. "My
loyalty is to the Princess. Don't make me have to harm her
precious trophy."
He saw through her game immediately. She was trying to
make him angry and careless. "I don't want to fight you,
Uranus."
"Then get out of my way!" She rushed forward, bringing
the sword up. He brought his cane up to meet it, gasping in
shock as it split it in half. "Do you give up?"
He did the only thing he could do. Placing his arms out
he shielded the woman. "You'll just have to kill me." Cold
determination flashed in his eyes.
Uranus looked at him with regret. "So be it." The Space
Sword glinted as she brought it up over his head.
"MAMO-CHAN!!" squealed Sailor Moon in terror.
"NO URANUS!" Neptune whirled around in horror. The
distraction allowed Jupiter to uppercut her in the face,
knocking her back. The sea of water parted, as they ran
forward to stop her.
His attention was so focused on the sword he
didn't notice her foot swing underneath his, causing
him to fall. Without him blocking her, she had a clear
shot at the woman.
The woman, still lost in her delirium looked up
at the golden light coming towards her. For the first
time she could focus on the face holding it. "Hara-chan?"
The drive, the burning determination to protect
the Princess died on her face. The sword, which had
been aimed fatally at the woman's neck disappeared
back to her dimensional pocket. Haruka's vision
blurred, and she was lost. "Celeste-chan?"
Neptune watched from where she had fallen to the
ground, echoing the words of her partner. "Celeste-chan?"
Her eyes grew dazed before closing in unison with
Uranus'.
Their world lurched, as they found themselves
sitting together at a table overloaded with food. Servants
moved around them in immaculate white uniforms. They refilled
glasses, passed out food, basically hovered over them making
sure everything was to their liking.
"They're late," Haruka heard Michiru say, as she daintily
sipped from one of the silver goblets on the table.
"Hai, so what else is new?" She felt her lips open and
the voice come out. It took her a moment to realize she had
no control of her body. Panic tried to seize her before she
forced it down. 'This must be what the Inners referred to'
she thought, attempting to relax.
Michiru was doing much the same. It was alot like
moving through a dream, for you could see the actions
coming, and partake of them, yet have no way of stopping
them. Except of course for how real and in focus they
were.
Just then she felt herself standing with Haruka
as a couple approached the table. One had on a beautiful
floor length gown that shimmered with white sparkles
under light. Her long silver hair was done up in two
odangos. "Hello, your Majesty." She heard herself
and Haruka say. She waved their formalities aside.
"You know you don't have to do that," she said
smiling. Glancing back she smiled at the shadowed
figure who pulled out her chair for her. "Thank you.
Sorry were so late. SOMEONE overslept."
The blackened form was now taking her chair. Oddly,
Michiru could see the outline of her body, her face and
hair. She could even tell she was wearing pants and some
type of jacket. What she couldn't see was anything that
would distinguish her, any colors. It was as if an artist
had taken black paint and splashed it all over her. The
woman coughed. "I was a bit wore out."
A sight of Haruka filled her vision as she squeezed
her hand and gave her a wink. She didn't look any different
in the past, maybe a bit older is all. "I bet you were."
Queen Serenity gave a very unlady-like sigh. "I'm
afraid the poor dear must be getting old. Perhaps its
time I traded her in." She grinned.
Haruka felt the smile on her old selves face widen. "I
know how you feel, your Majesty. It is so bothersome to
have a partner who tires easily."
It seems the Michiru of the past was not much
different from her future incarnation. She was never one
to let Haruka win any jibes. "Oh, but your Majesty is
lucky to have someone with such experience. Fast and
earnest can only take you so far."
The Queen passed a look with Michiru and had to suppress
a giggle. "Well it seems we both possess something the other
values. How fortunate! Perhaps we could make a trade..."
"Certainly we should consider it.." Michiru heard
herself answer. By this time Haruka's face was etched in
shock. She was sure if she could see the shadowed form's
face, she would look equally scandalized.
Neither she nor the Queen could hold it in any longer.
They both erupted in laughter, smiling at their respective
partners. "Ne, if you could see your expressions!" The Queen
called, close to tears.
Haruka felt herself let out a breath she had been holding
in. "You both think your funny, eh?" She heard the other
voice call out in amusement. The blackened shape gave the Queen
a peck on the cheek.
Serenity was finally able to regain control of herself.
"All joking aside, have you considered my offer?"
Michiru got a vision of her folded hands as her past self
looked nervously at the table cloth. "Michi?" she heard Haruka
ask with concern. Her hand grasped her partner's tightly as she
tried to rein in her emotions.
"We've talked about it..." She began hesitantly. "It
doesn't seem very practical, with us being Senshi... demo..."
"But we want to do it," Haruka heard her past self finish.
"Its always been a dream of ours... We just never thought it was
possible."
"You will? Thats wonderful!" The shadowy shape reached over
and patted Haruka on the back.
Serenity went as far as to get up from her seat and
envelop them in a fierce hug, totally ignoring protocol. "I'm
sure you'll both make wonderful parents!"
Haruka and Michiru's past selves continued on but neither
of them heard it. A baby! They had raised Hotaru together, but
it wasn't the same as having their own child. In fact, they
didn't dream it was possible. But here was Queen Serenity,
telling them it could happen. Which meant, somehow, sometime,
they could have one in their time, in the future.
The darkened woman was speaking, "So when you get back
from the Outer Planets, Michi-chan can take a leave of abscence
to have the child. It'll be so great!"
"Hai," Michiru heard herself say. "I wish Pluto wasn't
making us leave."
"3 months," Haruka was saying. "Thats all. Pluto says
after that, we won't be needed for awhile." The happy
conversation seemed to get farther away after that. The
little scene seemed to dim. Haruka felt a hollow ache in
her gut. Of course, it hadn't worked out the way they planned.
Pluto had been right about not be needed. While they were
gone, Queen Beryl had arrived, bringing an end to the
Silver Millennium.
By sheer force of will, Michiru lingered in the memory.
Taking in the picture of the happy scene. She realized just
how much she had missed 2 people she hadn't even been able
to remember. They all looked so comfortable there, a form
of camaraderie that she and Haruka had not been able to
find in the other Senshi, not even Usagi. Even if she was
the Queen, Serenity and her lover had been their peers,
their equals, in ways no one else had. The image disintegrated
with that thought. "Oh Kami-sama, Celeste-chan!" She cried
outloud, or atleast thought she did.
Her eyes opened in time to take in the site of Haruka,
kneeling across the woman whose dirty sweatshirt covered her
face. The blonde had her arms limply around her, her face
pressed against her chest. She felt the same relief that
her partner did. Celeste-chan was safe. Their dear friend
was alive, in some form. No more tainted blood on their
hands.
Before she could even think of standing, she
heard the screams. In slow motion she turned, to
see Jupiter clutching at her side, lilac energy glowing
off her. The other Senshi seemed to be scattered off in
different directions, facing opponents. A girl with
spiky pink hair watched Michiru's movement with amusement.
"You want to be next?" The woman raised her hand high.
The force wave smashed her, and she knew nothing.
Dagon walked out from his shower wrapped in a luscious
purple robe. His white hair lay cascading down his neck
like silk. The purple robe made him look more attractive,
highlighting his albino-like beauty instead of worsening
it. The man hummed a happy little tune, using a matching
purple towel on his hair.
"Hello, Val-ka-chan," he sang his greeting. They were
in Dagon's private quarters. The room was scrumptious,
the bed and the walls done in alternating silks of purple
and black. The carpet was plush, many inches thick. The
bed was a king size canopy, all the furniture done in
a dark wood with ornate carvings. It was in perfect,
almost obsessive order. Nothing out of place, not
a speck of dust on the ground. Except for the corner
Valka occupied.
"Ne, how are you doing?" Dagon asked, glancing
at his 'associate'. The corner he occupied was bare,
deep gouges were etched into the wall by some sharp
object. The carpet was flattened down and matted
together, dark brown splotches which may have been
blood soaked into it. "Your still holding your arm,
I see."
As far into the wall as he could get without
going through it was Valka. He was wearing baggy
black pants. Naked from the waist up, you could
almost see faint lines across his skin, angry
jagged splotches. His right arm cradled his left,
which was shining with a inner pink light. He
refused to meet Dagon's stare. This irritated
him, as he moved up closer. "I am sorry I got
so carried away my friend, truly." The voice
was sugary sweet, making Valka feel like retching.
"A few hours, and it will be good as new, right?"
Valka continued to keep his face focused
on the wall.
Angry, Dagon moved forward, grabbing ahold
of his chin and raised it up so he could meet
Valka's swollen eyes. "I said I was sorry,
Valka-chan. The least you could do is reply."
Valka opened his mouth very deliberately-
and spit on him.
Dagon released him, backhanding him
into the wall. With one hand, he wiped his
face off. He stepped out of the corner.
"I don't know why you try to make this so
difficult. You can't win. Surely you realize
this."
With vague amusement, he watched Valka
hiss angrily, jumping to his feet as he tried
to charge him- and then bouncing back from the
force field on to the floor, where he lay mewling
in pain at his arm. "Why. Are you. Doing. This."
He panted between his sharp intakes of breath.
"Why?" Dagon asked.
"Why," Valka repeated, leaning on his one
good arm to get in a upright position. "You've
taken what you wanted. Why do you still keep me
here?"
He had never seen Dagon smile so
evilly. It was a smile of malice and hatred. "I
thought it was obvious. Even as we speak, your
sister is moving against those she thinks
have kidnapped her dear brother."
"Nani? Why would you tell her that?" Valka fixed
Dagon with a disgusted look. "She wouldn't leave that
library and Ula-san if I was on my death bed."
"Elementary, Valka-chan." He took a clean blue tunic
out of the closet and began to dress. "Freya-chan cares
more than you'd think. I simply mentioned that you had
disappeared after finding one of them and-"
"You bastard!" he growled, and would have stood
if the pain hadn't been so intense. "Shes going to think
one of them got rid of me, and then go after them. You
know those Senshi will annihilate her."
"Oh, I beg to differ. I wouldn't send one of my
lambs to the slaughter." His grin had an almost feral
aspect to it. "Our enemies are going to find the toy
I supplied her with very interesting."
"Iie," whispered Valka in denial. "You wouldn't
have..." Then his voice hardened. "Even if you did,
she knows the danger in using those crystals. She'd
refuse."
"She took them, eagerly. I've never seen her so
determined. It went better then I could have dreamed. At
first I just thought she'd sit there crying, making her
useless." He ran a comb one final time through his
snow colored locks before smiling at himself in the
mirror. "But then she got angry. Didn't even hesitate
in taking them. She actually commanded Ula-san to
follow her."
"If she dies, and Minako-chan dies, I'll have nothing,"
Valka realized dully.
"Hai." Dagon said, his grip on the comb tightening
so much it broke. "You'll have nothing but me. The way
it should be." He looked down at Valka with fevered, intense
eyes.
"Your mad..." Valka hissed.
"Perhaps..." Dagon murmured, reaching out to stroke
a lock of the other man's hair. Valka tried to move back,
but was immobilized as before. "But what does it matter
if I win?" He then spun around, the reverie broken. "Well
I'm off. Toro-sama had a few findings in the scrolls he
wished to discuss with me. You'll wait, won't you?" He
called, laughing at the infuriated expression on his face.
Before he could reply, Dagon had disappeared in purple
light.
"Forgive me, Minako-chan..." he whispered, as he knelt
down against the wall, involuntary tears flooding his eyes.
"Forgive me."
Venus raised her right leg, delivering a devastating
kick to the attacker in front of her.
Or it WOULD have been devastating, had it not passed
through it as if it wasn't there.
"Damn," she cursed, raising her arm and calling out
her power. "VENUS PLASMIC CHARGE!" The transparent shape
disintegrated under the onslaught of the orange beam.
The fight was not going well. First Uranus nearly kills
their Sensei. Then after regaining her senses, the enemy
attacks with...images? Holographic projections? Whatever they
were, they could only be taken out by their new attacks.
What complicated that even more was the fact their were
atleast 2 of those fighting that were not fake, but real
living people. She'd glimpsed them one or twice. They were
uninfected by the magic attacks, and had to be taken out
with hand to hand combat. Which they had failed to do
as of yet.
Jupiter was out of the fight early, one of the first
hit. Neptune got knocked out hard, she had no idea as to
her condition. Uranus and Tuxedo Kamen had been near Sensei,
where a whole bunch of the images had convened. They'd been
like sitting ducks without a dimensional power till Mercury
had made her way to the front. Mars and her had kept back
near Sailor Moon, and were steadily trying to reach the
others.
She had an advantage over everyone. It seemed the
sunglasses Valka had worn showed a residual energy. With
them, she could easily see an enemy close in before they
had a chance to strike. Out of the corner of her eye
she noticed a large focus of power, coming swiftly from
the right. "Mars, take Sailor Moon ahead."
"But Venus-" Sailor Moon started.
"No buts! Hurry!" Mars nodded taking Sailor Moon's
hand and pulling her along as Venus interposed herself
between them and the threat. To her surprise, the enemy
did not even take notice of them, seeming to be focused
on her.
A dark blur slammed into Venus so fast she didn't
have time to react. Strong hands reached under her neck,
lifting her off the ground. The woman that held her had
a familiar shade of black hair, yellowed skin, and an
almost identical pair of shades. "Where is he?" she
hissed.
"Who?" she croaked, desperately trying to pry the
woman's vise grip from off her neck.
The fingers tightened. "You know who, bitch. I know
it was you who did it, your wearing his shades. Where is
he?!" Her voice was shrill, demanding.
"Valka...?" she murmured.
"HAI!" Freya was almost screaming now. "WHERE IS HE?!"
Venus stared down at the woman, understanding beginning
to dawn on her. "You think I did something to him?" Her
voice was weak from the lack of air. "I wish I knew where he
was. The last I saw him was at the caves..." She yelped in
pain as the fingers became talons.
"Iie! You lie! He didn't take you to the caverns! He
told me he was going there with Dagon-sama!" She was looming
over Venus. "Why would he even think of-" She paused, her
angry expression wavering. Had he said he was going there
with Dagon? Now that she thought about it, he'd simply
said he was going there with someone 'special'.
"Oh, so I see you and Dagon-sama patched things up,
ne?" A 'cat caught the canary' grin on her face.
"I never said that." He said noncommittally.
"Suuuuuuure." Back and forth they'd went, teasing,
until he got fed up and left. When Dagon showed up to
tell her his suspicions, she assumed that her brother had
missed meeting him in the cave. The energy she was using
to keep the Senshi pinned the way she was made her head
throb. Furious for having to second guess, she tossed
Venus to the ground.
The Senshi hit hard, the momentum causing the shades
to fall from her face. Freya advanced towards her, determined
to finish what she started. Venus raised her head off the
concrete to meet her gaze.
It was just a second, just a brief illusion, a distant
memory. Through the haze the Verde Crystal was causing, she
saw the woman before her, who was bleeding from the forehead.
And she saw her mother.
Their features weren't really similar, no. Her mother's
hair had been dark, her eyes more green then blue. This
woman's face was prettier, beautiful in fact. It wasn't
anything so superficial as appearance.
Maybe it was her aura. The 'shine' to coin a phrase
Valka often used to describe human beings. The woman
was obviously tired, hurt, angry- but she wasn't defeated.
She stared at Freya the way her Mother had once stared
at the men who tried to take their home. Despite what
an enemy could do to her, there would be no retreat,
no surrender. Her Mother had died because of that.
Freya knew then that she told the truth. She
understood why Valka had risked everything just for this
girl, who was their enemy. The Senshi had a soul like
their Mother's. The realization replaced the blood frenzy
of the crystal, keeping the effects dormant till needed.
"Do you love my brother?" Freya asked, never once
doubting the answer she'd receive would be truthful.
Venus didn't know how to respond. Blood was dripping
down her face from her scalp. All around her friends
were in danger. This woman had given every pretense of
killing her. But something about the look of calm on
the woman's face, the look of peace that descended down
made Venus want to give her a truthful answer, one that
until that moment she may not have known herself. "I do."
Freya gave her a tight smile. "We're leaving." She
called out.
Ula's attention turned from Mars and Moon, who she
was about to engage. "Nani? Freya-chan, we haven't-"
"I said were leaving," she stated firmly, ignoring
Venus and the others around her. A portal opened up
behind both of them, and they stepped through it.
The phantasms they commanded disappeared as they left.
Mamoru felt like he was falling. The last thing
he remembered was watching Uranus be pushed backwards
off the woman she was embracing. Without thinking about
the consequences he tried to intervene between whoever
it was and the Senshi's friend. The hooded face had
looked up at him and muttered something he couldn't
catch. Then she grabbed his hand and there was a
light...
His feet touched the ground, light as a feather.
Around him were bushes of roses, blood red ones. Above
him were large columns of marble, in the semblance
of Greek architecture. He knew this place, somewhere...
"Elios!" he cried out in surprise, seeing the
priest before him. Now it was clear where he was.
Illusion, the Golden Kingdom. The last time he'd
seen it was during the battle with the Dead Moon
Circus. Then it had been in decay, rotted over with
the evil energy Nephrenia used to poison the planet
and his body. It looked different. Healthy, vibrant.
"Prince Endymion." The boy bowed to him. He looked
the same, his priestly robes, his white hair, and amber
eyes that never aged.
After getting over his shock he finally noticed
the figure across from him. The woman in silver, her
cloak pulled over her face. Glancing down he saw
he was in his royal garb. "What am I doing here?"
Elios did not answer. His face turned to take
in the woman. "How much do you remember of your
past, your majesty?"
"My past?" He echoed.
"The Silver Millennium," the woman whispered, her
voice sounding very familiar...
"I don't kno...." He began to say before trailing
off. Even as he spoke the temple around him seemed to
charge with golden light. Images began to appear in
his mind, things he may have wanted to forget.
From his birth, Endymion arrived in a world gone
far past its prime. His Mother, Lady Brigid, had died
brining him into the world. His Father, King Endymion,
was away on military campaigns. The King didn't return
to the Kingdom during the whole pregnancy. The doctor
had given him his name, on distant orders.
Endymion did not see his Father till he was
6 years old, having been raised by nannies and schooled
through the King's advisor. Endymion Sr. returned home
from his long battle triumphant. Parades, celebrations,
all ending in a royal ball where all the dignitaries
of Earth would be in attendance.
The King stood behind the young Prince, already a
handsome and precocious boy, one hand resting on the
boy's shoulder. Tightly. Painfully. To his credit the
young one did not resist, nor show any of his anguish to
the court.
When it was over he ran in his eyes over the lad
with evident disgust. "He favors you, your Majesty,"
stated the King's top advisor. "You should be proud."
He looked anything but. "Yes, he does." The Prince
felt like a bug about to be stepped on. "Atleast hes
quiet."
"Oh, hes very well behaved. We've already begun his
schooling. He excels at everything we teach him. Reading,
writing, hes far above his age level when it comes to
academics. It looks as though he has natural mage skills
as well. I have a listing of his progress right-"
"Why is he so short?" The King's voice cut in.
"Short? Your Majesty, hes only 6 years old." The
advisor sounded puzzled.
"I was never that short." He snorted with contempt. The
boy cringed.
"I'm sure he'll grow in time, your Majesty." He sounded
flustered. "If you'll look at his aptitude sheets, I'm know
you'll be pleased-"
The King waved the sheet of paper the man held for his
approval away. "I came home to speak of my Kingdom, not a
child. Tell me about the treasury. Should we raise tariffs?"
"Don't you want to hear about your son?" The advisor
asked again, glancing at the boy who looked devastated.
"I said I do not! Do as I command!" He turned his
angry eyes at the boy, focusing somewhere above his head.
"What are you waiting for? You are dismissed!"
The little Prince turned and fled, all thoughts of
proper manners forgotten by the harsh treatment. His
eyes overwhelmed with tears as he caught the King's
voice, "You see? He can't even show proper respect to
his King."
Much to the Prince's relief, his Father soon left
to battle again. The Kingdom was run by a council in his
abcesne. For the next 7 years, the boy trained in all
subjects, preparing for his eventual assecion to the
throne. When his Father did come home, they avoided
each other.
The King's rule was popular, if not prosperous. His
subjects loved him. He was their warrior King, riding
off into battle against the evil forces of the Kingdom.
Devious Mages, discontents, scoundrels, and rival
lands were no match for his armies. He was the unofficial
ruler of Terra, if for no other reason than the golden
light seemed to follow him where he treaded.
The one thing that kept the Earth from being well
off was the positions of the other planets. To them,
Earth was still a back water. Terrans were constantly
given a disadvantage in all trade. While the planet
was part of the Silver Millenniums alliance, it made
the least profit out of it. Mars particularly treated
it as if it was simply a colony to be bled dry.
If the King was looked on with fondness, his son
was viewed with admiration verging on awe. The Prince
was just as charismatic, humorous, resourceful, and
perhaps more handsome then his Father. Best of all,
he hadn't inherited the ruthlessness his Father sometimes
showed. Most thought he'd prove to be a firm and just
ruler. The only negative quality about him might have
been the cold demeanor he could use, much different then
the King's violent outbursts.
When the younger Endymion was 13, his Father came
back to his city for good. He had been out fighting the
demon legions of Beryl when he was wounded in his heel.
For the rest of his life he would walk with a limp, and
never again ride forth to battle.
The King became sullen, moody. He retired to his
wings in the Golden Palace, and was not seen for days.
He began to drink increasingly large sums of alcohol,
refusing to meet with anyone. If nothing else, the Prince's
training was doubled, the King's administrators anxious
to put someone on the throne. It was believed their
Monarch would do himself in any day now.
So it was with surprise that the Prince greeted the
news his Father wished for him to come to his chambers.
He wondered if his Father would bequeath the Golden Light
to him, the ancient symbol of the family who held
the crown.
Anxiously he stood outside the King's door, knocking
once. "Enter." A deep voice resonated from inside. Opening
the door he glanced around curiously. The walls were dark,
lined in red velvet, highlighting the dark paneling and
oak furniture. It was a harsh room, flamboyant yet
vicious in a way the young man could not describe. The
room was dominated by a large, hearth size fireplace above
with held a 4ft high painting done with oils.
His Father sat in a beige chair, a ruby drink in
his hand. The stench of the brandy could be smelled
from the doorway. The King was in an appalling display of
disarray, dressed in dirty gray trousers and a frayed purple
robe. Smudges appeared all over him, from where he'd wiped
his greasy hands. The Prince kept his face expressionless,
though he tried to move downwind of him. "You called for
me, Sire?"
"Do you know why you were born?" The King asked,
his voice low and slurred. His attention was focused on
the ground.
"Pardon?" The boy asked, sure he'd misunderstood
him.
"Are you deaf?" He slammed his drink down on the
desk next to him, where it cracked up the side of the
glass. The boy had to stop himself from cringing. "I asked
you if you knew why you were born."
He sensed whatever answer he gave would be the wrong
one. The King obviously wasn't asking him if he knew HOW
he was born. This was not to be a discussion of human
reproduction. "I'm not clear about what your Majesty
means."
"WHY?! WHY WERE YOU BORN?!" The King yelled,
jumping up till he was two inches from the boy's face.
His face was twisted up, nostrils flared, looking almost
demonic.
"Y-YOU WANTED A HEIR!" The Prince shrieked in
response to the other man's yelling. He couldn't keep
his voice calm.
"Iie," the older Endymion's voice dropped to a
sinister tone. "Iie, they wanted a heir. My advisers.
They were afraid that I'd die in battle, and all of
the Kingdom would be usurped. So against my orders,
they sent in their hand-picked Jezebel, and 9 months
later you came. A little robot they can mold into
their perfect King." His large hands wrapped around
the Prince's collar yanking him off his feet. "I'm
not dead yet, leech. You won't trail on my coattails
to the throne." With a mighty heave he threw him
back against a wall.
The Prince sat there for a moment not moving.
He wasn't hurt in the fall, not really. Stunned was
more like it. When the King had first grabbed him,
he had to stop himself from blocking the hands.
It was a capital offense to assault the King, regardless
of the circumstances. He could only stare as his Father
came to tower over him. "Well?! Are you just going to sit
there?!"
The younger Endymion slowly... VERY slowly... picked
himself off the ground. He stood up, at the same time
moving backwards so he could put some breathing distance
between himself and his Father. With that done, he began
to speak, in a low, steady tone. "I apologize for however
I have offended you, your Majesty. It was never my intention
to have you "carry" me to the throne. Tell me how I can
appease you and I will be more than happy to do so." The
Prince wore his neutral expression, and tried to keep
his thoughts pure. The King must be atleast as skilled
at him in telepathy-
"I'm better." The older Endymion said aloud glaring
at him. The boy met his gaze. Things could have gotten
very ugly if the advisor had not come in then.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you, but Guardian
Jedite has requested his heignesses' presence in the Throne
Room. It seems they had a scheduled lesson for today."
"Now? You didn't inform me of any lesson..." The
King gave him a suspicious look, which the man totally
ignored. He stalked over to the bar, taking another
glass from the shelf before pouring a drink.
"I can send one of the servants to do that for you,
your Majesty." The adviser told him, waiting for his
response.
Older Endymion simply waved a hand at him in an
act of dismissal. "No, I don't need anyone hovering all
over me when I'm trying to relax." He brought the glass up
to his lips and tilted it backwards, pouring nearly
3/4 of its contents down his throat. His shoulders
seemed to bunch up as he lay the drink back down on the bar
and closed his eyes. "Leave me."
"Of course, your Majesty." The adviser bowed even
though the King couldn't have seen him. His face turned
to the Prince's and he raised his eyebrows, indicating
he should follow him.
The Prince complied, accompanying him out the door. He
watched his Father warily as he left. The King stayed slumped
over the bar his eyes focused on the picture above the fire
place mantle. "What does Jedite want from me?" he asked, trying
not to show how tired he really was.
"Go lay down and rest, your Highness."
"But Jedite...." The Prince trailed off as he saw the other
man wink at him. "Thank you, Mikel." He said gratefully.
"No problem. This will all blow over in a few days. Just
wait and see." And with these words of encouragement, he left
the Prince to rest.
The problem was things didn't blow over. The King's
attitude didn't improve. If nothing else he got less tolerant
of his son. Their 'discussions' became more and more violent
as time went on. The younger Endymion's civility towards
his father waned.
"What do you want? Why do you keep calling me in here?
So we can brawl like peasants in a pub?" He wiped a trail
of blood from his lips.
The older Endymion was calmly drinking from a mug
as he waited for his opponent to stand. "I expect you
to prove yourself worthy of the title you were given."
The Prince's sword clashed with his as he sought to
drive him and his words back. "Worthy of it? Oh, have
I embarrassed his Majesty with my behavior?" His lips
twisted into a sneer. "Perhaps I should follow my King's
example and spend my time drinking wine and wallowing
in self pity. What a fine leader you have turned out
to be!"
"Little bastard," The King hissed, breaking
the stalemate of their swords by sending a powerful energy
charge at him. Yellow trendils of pure pain slammed into
the Prince and sent him reeling. He lay on the ground,
staring up at him. "you will never have that power. You
will never have the shine of the Earth. You will not
feel its touch, its movements, the rapture. Never."
Something broke in Endymion then. Three years of
constant battle and harassment had driven the Prince beyond
his breaking point. "How do you know what I feel?" He used
the sword to prop him back on his feet. A strange glow
overtook him. Golden light radiated his features as
he moved forward. "I hear it, old man. I hear it singing
to me." He leaned forward swinging the sword in a long
arch. Golden energy laced up the sides of it.
The sword stopped in midair just inches from the King's
chest. It seemed the world stilled all around them. The wind
that had been howling outside the windows ceased. The busy Palace,
home to hundreds, seemed to quiet. Father and son stared
at each other, maybe really looking for the first time.
Beads of sweat broke out on both their faces. Yellow
light clashing with the more rich golden hue. The intensity
required to keep their opponent at bay was nearly too much
for both of them. Finally, experience won out on youth, the
King knocking his son to the ground with the hilt of
his sword.
The Prince made no move to stand. He kneeled on
the floor, panting heavily. Never before had he exerted
his mage skill in such a way. In fact, he'd never heard
of anyone else using it like that either. Instead of drawing
on his own life essence, he'd tapped into a rich reserve,
stranger and more powerful than anything he had previously
experienced. Energy crystals paled in comparison.
"Masaka...!" The King gasped, clutching at his
chest. At first, the Prince feared he was having a heart
attack. He was surprised by the intense emotions that
thought caused, none of which were joy. "Its still
there," the King seemed to be reassuring himself. "Hai,
I know its there. But I felt it. I felt him tap into
it.... How?" He looked down on the boy again, no
malice in his face.
Three years. Three years spent arguing, fighting,
trying to cause weakness and pain. Before that a boy's
lifetime of hurt and neglect. Now two strangers stood
before each other not knowing what to do.
"Go on," the King said softly to the boy. Young
man. 'He's 16,' he reminded himself. 'Not a boy at all.'
"Get out of here. Go to the gardens, to the libraries,
your chambers. Get some rest."
This was kinder then the King had ever spoken to
his son. "Why?" The Prince asked.
In was not one, but many questions. A million
different interpretations could be read into it. Even
the questioner wasn't sure what he really wanted to
know. The King took the most literal. "You'll need
to be in good shape for the coronation. It can be
daunting with the ceremonies, the appearances, ritual.."
"Y-y-you mean...?" The Prince asked in awe.
"Hai." The King's eyes again focused on the picture
he so liked to look at. The mysterious woman he was
so pledged to it stole his reason, ruined his life. "My
chapter is finally over. Theres nothing left for me now."
"Father?" whispered Endymion, the first time he
had ever called him that.
The King's eyes closed. "I don't have an explanation for
you, away to make everything better." He continued in a defeated
tone. "The only defense I have is that I loved her, I loved
both of them, so much. When they left, so did my love. I had
nothing left to give you or anyone. I'm sorry."
The Prince waited for him to say something more. To call
him his son. To tell him he had atleast cared a little. But
he didn't. "Go." he whispered softly.
"Hai." The Prince limped away, and shut the door, sealing
the fate of never knowing his Father, or any of his family.
The Golden Light ceased and he awoke back in Elysion.
He stared at the woman across from him. Dim memories of what
had happened to change fate yet again came at him. "You!" he
said accusingly. "You were what ruined my reconciliation! It
was you!" Mamoru wasn't sure who was speaking, he or Endymion,
or if they were even separate identities anymore.
The figure in the silver cloak drew back her hood, and
for the first time in many a year someone saw her as she was.
Long, purple hair cascaded down her shoulders. Bronzed
skin with a flawless complexion. Beautiful face. Indigo
eyes. Like Mamoru's. Like his Father's.
"Masaka..." he whispered again, for with that face it
seemed more emotion was drawn up. Not from a distant
reincarnation, but his life here on Earth as an orphan.
"Sensei?" he asked, 2 sets of memories flooding him at
once, making him dizzy.
"You are sure you want to do this?" Elios asked the
woman. She nodded solemnly.
"I will not accept," came Endymion's voice. Mamoru
wanted to run to the woman and embrace her, but the Prince
seemed to be firmly in control. Jealously and hate mingled
with admiration in his past life's memories.
"I didn't think you'd care," she said, betraying no
emotion.
"I will not owe you a debt." He glared at her
fiercely. Mamoru on the inside wanted to scream with
frustration. He had no idea what was going on. And
no control of it either.
"When we return, she will kill me." The woman
said simply. "The Garnet will return to where it belongs.
We must complete this. It is yours Endymion, never mine
to begin with."
"I will not accept." He repeated firmly.
"I'm sorry my Prince," Elios murmured. "It is not
for you to descide." A white glow rose over his kneeled
form. The woman's chest began to radiate golden light.
"Iie! IIE! IIE!!" The Prince called, even as he
saw the beam connect her to him. He screamed in pain
and rage as he felt it enter him, no matter how much
he tried to deny it. Mamoru finally was able to
surface, and he cried as he saw the dimension dim
around him. "I won't let her kill you Sensei! I'll
protect you! I've missed you..." and he could
speak no more as the world lurched away from him
Maybe he imagined it. Later he would think
back on that moment. The confusion made it impossible
to tell. But he could swear he had heard the whisper,
the name that brought back so many memories.
"Brave little knight," she seemed to call out.
"Such a brave little one." And then there was nothing.
=======================================================
Questions? Comments? Arrows?
Angst88@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/emporess888/
-Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
===============================================================
Sailor Moon ain't mine.
================================================================
Fall From Grace
By: Emporess
================================================================
...indeed it shall be revealed-
Indeed the time has come for the advent.
-As I mouth 'advent'
My vision is disturbed
by the monstrous image of the worldly ghost
-somewhere in the desert
a monster with a lion's body and a human face
glares blankly and without emotion like the sun
and slowly moves its feet-
around in circles in the shadows of the frightened desert birds-
-Spoken by Hotaru
Naoko Takeuchi
Sailor Moon Super S, Act 6
Chapter: 5
Killer Instinct
"Mercury, are you sure its in the same place?" called
out Sailor Moon as they ran towards the park.
"Hai! My computer is showing trans-dimensional
fluctuations at that bench. Its got to be Sensei. The enemies
don't show up when I take a reading." Mercury disengaged
her visor so she could keep up with the others.
"That doesn't mean they aren't there." Mars was at Sailor
Moon's left, flanking her. She was determined to keep Usagi from
danger this time.
"You five stay back until I give it an all clear." Uranus
called out over her shoulder. She and Neptune were in the lead.
"No."
Uranus shot an angry glance at Venus. She was still
wearing those damn sunglasses she'd brought to the meeting.
"Excuse me?"
"I said no. I don't take orders from you." Venus'
voice was ominous. Despite the tension, none of them
slowed down. They kept running at top speed.
"Lets just see what its like when we get there, OK?"
Sailor Moon pleaded. The last thing they needed was an
argument. She glanced above her head and saw Tuxedo Kamen
making his way across the rooftops. Atleast their back-up
was in place.
"Look over there!" Jupiter cried, pointing over the
trees of the park. Brilliant rays of pink light were
shining up from the center of the area.
"Thats going to attract some unwanted attention,"
sighed Neptune. She shot Uranus a nervous look. They had
discussed what they would have to do in this situation.
Pluto's letter had left no room for debate. They were
going to have to take the woman out, whatever the cost.
They had no idea how the Inners would react if this
really was their Sensei.
"No hesitation." whispered Uranus to Neptune, in
a voice too low for the other Senshi to hear.
"Hai." she answered.
Michael and Aradia were approaching the Park in the
opposite direction of the Senshi. They were weaving in
and out of trees, their desperation to arrive before anyone
else making them move faster. "I think I sense them,
Michael."
Michael still held on to her hand as he pulled her
ever nearer. "I know hes here." The sentence came out
clipped, as if he could hardly speak it. "I sense him.
They're closer then we are. We're not going to make it."
"Then what can we do?" she asked, horrified with
the thought of facing 7 Senshi instead of just 1.
"We'll have to come clean. Startle them with the
truth." He hadn't looked back once. She had the feeling
he was trying to hide his expression from her.
"Your going to tell them everything?" She asked
incredulously.
"Everything."
Even at such a critical moment, Michael couldn't help
letting his thoughts wonder. Instead of Celeste, memories
he wouldn't mind fixating on, he seemed stuck on the Prince.
Like a fog the past seemed to wrap around him, weaving
a blanket of insecurities and misery.
"Mikel.... Mikel..." a voice sang. He glanced
around and saw a young man with black hair staring at him
curiously. He was holding a piece of paper for him to
look at. "Mikel, what does this say? I can't read it."
He took the paper from the boy and ruffled his hair
with his other hand. "Oh you can't, eh? Seems I'll have
to tell your teachers to spend more time on reading and
less on combat training."
The boy groaned. "I don't see why I have to learn
to read all the different languages anyway. I'll always have
servants who can do it for me!"
He tsked disapprovingly at the boy. "Thats no way
for a future King to talk. Endymion, without an education
you might as well be a pauper." He brought the paper
closer for inspection. He gasped when he recognized the
writing. "This is the King's personal stationary. Where
in the Kami's name did you get this?"
Endymion looked down a bit guiltily. "The last time
he-" The boy paused there and looked away. Mikel knew he
was searching for the proper word to describe his meaning.
The Prince's conversations with his Father really couldn't
be described as 'meetings'. Why the King harbored such a
dislike for his own son was beyond him. Everyone else
thought he was an adorable young boy. He was the spitting
image of his Father. Smart as a whip too. Only 13 years old
and already proving to be capable in almost every subject.
"called me in for an audience, I borrowed them."
"You stole them!" Mikel accused, shocked at the
audacity of it. "When your Father finds out-"
"He'll do as he always does." The bitter tone
the boy replied in was unusual for him. The Prince
had a calm, some people thought cold temperament,
inherited from his Mother. "Whether I defy him or
not, the result will be the same."
"Be that as it may, I have to advise you to-"
"Shut up Mikel!" He cried angrily. "I don't care about
your advice! Just do as I say and read that letter!" He
spoke with the authority he had been given at birth as
son of the ruler of Terra.
"Hai, your Majesty." Looking around to confirm they
were alone he began to read aloud. "At night I sit by
my fire, drink in hand, and contemplate the life that
I have led. The choices...."
I have made that led me down this lonely road.
Has it really been 30 years? 30 years since I
saw your sweet face, caressed your swollen belly
laden with our child? How could it have been that
long, my love. It seems like only yesterday I
rode my horse up to you in that small town and
asked your name.
"I am who I am, and you are the King, so my name
is unimportant, your Majesty."
You smiled coyly at me, and I felt it then, a pain
in my heart, a twinge. 'Ah,' I thought to myself.
'Ah, this one is special.' What an understatement
that was.
I gaze at your portrait day in and out. My
Kingdom goes on, ruled by my advisors, but I
sit in Purgatory here. My spirit died that
day, when you went on without me. If only my
life would end, and I could join you in eternal
slumber.
My Kingdom would go on, for I produced an heir.
Theres no reason for me to be here now. That boy
will rule, taking what is rightfully our child's.
How cruel was fate, taking both of you away from
me, leaving me wondering what happened. Couldn't
I have at least said, "Good bye."?
You would not recognize me now my Angel, for when
I look in the mirror, I don't see myself. Who is
this man gone prematurely gray? Whose nose is red,
with broken bloodvessels across his face? Who am
I to condemn a innocent boy for not being our
child, and in my mind inferior? A tyrant, an ogre.
My only fear is that I will not see you when I
die, for all the wrongs I have committed. Surely
the powers above will forgive my indiscretions,
to atleast let me gaze upon your face one final
time. If I can have that, I will gladly take
the sentence awarded to me.
The Prince had turned away from Mikel as he looked up from
the sheet. "Is that all?" he asked in a choked voice.
"Hai." Mikel put the sheets in his hands. "Endymion-"
"You won't tell him will you, Mikel?" his voice was still
strange, twisted. "He won't notice them missing, their all over
his suite."
"No, I don't suppose he'll notice." He put a comforting
hand on the young man's arm. "He's a sick man, son. Don't blame
yourself for this. If you need to talk about-"
The Prince refused to turn around, briskly shaking off
the hand. "I can handle him myself, thank you Mikel. I believe
I'll take a walk through the gardens." He strided away quickly.
"As you wish," Mikel bowed to the retreating form, feeling
utter sympathy for the boy. He knew how harshly the King treated
him, how cruel he could be. Hopefully, one of his Guardians
would find him out there and be able to provide him some
comfort.
'What a tangled web of treachery.' Michael thought as
he tried to focus his mind on the present. His lips twisted
into a snarl as he remembered the cause of all this, the
source of all his agonies, all their pain.
"Pluto," he hissed through clenched teeth, startling
Aradia.
"You won't do anything rash, will you?" she asked timidly.
He would not answer.
The woman's eyes fluttered open as she looked around,
dazed. She shivered, throwing the dirty hood of her sweatshirt
up across her head, hoping to be warmer. Aching she pulled
herself into a sitting position, trying to remember where
she was. How long had she been sleeping? Why was she outside?
Why couldn't she remember anything?
Fuzzy images swam in her mind, but they all seemed to
be jumbled up. Was she dreaming? Her body felt so heavy,
the joints flamed with pain. Had she been running in a
marathon? Her feet hurt.
Shakingly she tried to stand, keeping one hand on the
bench as she got to her feet. Her knees rattled. It was
taking super human effort not to fall to the ground. Her
head was pounding, horribly, like a base drum. Those
cloudy images dancing in and out of her vision, making it
difficult to focus on where she was, who she was.
"DON'T MOVE!" a voice commanded from up ahead. She
tried to see who was there but the concentration made her
dizzy. "Nani....?" she said, or thought she said anyway.
Something sharp was flying at her, a golden light
shining extremely bright. She heard girlish voices scream
from farther away. What they cried she couldn't tell.
Her reaction was instinctual. Her feet solidified
beneath her. Her stance straightened, steel replacing her
spine. Bronzed hands came up without her knowledge, moving
into position even as she yelled out, "HOLD!"
The Inner Senshi screamed in shock as Uranus advanced
on the woman. The poor soul was defenseless, wearing tattered
rags, shaking under the streetlight. Venus and the others
moved to intercept her but were blocked by a tower of water
called on by Neptune.
"NO! DON'T DO IT HARUKA-SAN! PLEASE!" Sailor Moon
screamed, not caring who heard.
"HOLD!" The voice renebrated through the park, echoing
off the trees. It wasn't spoken in Japanese. Instinctively
every Senshi froze at the Moon Kingdom command. Everyone in the
Silver Millennium would recognize that order, meaning to stop
immediately when issued by a superior.
Uranus was no exception, stopping dead in her tracks,
the point of the blade mere inches from the woman's jugular.
Her hand trembled as she attempted to follow through, her
body rebelling against her. Was this what Pluto had meant?
Her hesitation was enough for Tuxedo Kamen. He moved
past the water wall, pushing Uranus aside. The woman fell
forward, gasping, unable to hold her commanding appearance
any longer. She shook violently on her knees, her hands
clutching at her head. "N-nani...? How...? Oh God, Oh
God, Oh God." Her breathing was ragged as she switched
from Japanese to English babbling.
Tuxedo Kamen now faced a completely recovered, enraged
Uranus. She hissed through her teeth. "Move back, your Majesty."
He shook his head once, bringing up his cane. The Inner
Senshi were busy with Neptune, who was running circles around
them. They did however keep her from reaching her partner.
She leveled her sword at him. "Move or I *will* move you."
"Why do we have to fight? Why is it so important to kill
her?" Tuxedo Kamen asked confused. He hadn't seen her this
intense since the silence, in the Outers fanatical
determination to kill Hotaru-chan. The fact she referred to him
as 'your Majesty' didn't bode well for him either.
"You wouldn't understand." She moved in on him. "My
loyalty is to the Princess. Don't make me have to harm her
precious trophy."
He saw through her game immediately. She was trying to
make him angry and careless. "I don't want to fight you,
Uranus."
"Then get out of my way!" She rushed forward, bringing
the sword up. He brought his cane up to meet it, gasping in
shock as it split it in half. "Do you give up?"
He did the only thing he could do. Placing his arms out
he shielded the woman. "You'll just have to kill me." Cold
determination flashed in his eyes.
Uranus looked at him with regret. "So be it." The Space
Sword glinted as she brought it up over his head.
"MAMO-CHAN!!" squealed Sailor Moon in terror.
"NO URANUS!" Neptune whirled around in horror. The
distraction allowed Jupiter to uppercut her in the face,
knocking her back. The sea of water parted, as they ran
forward to stop her.
His attention was so focused on the sword he
didn't notice her foot swing underneath his, causing
him to fall. Without him blocking her, she had a clear
shot at the woman.
The woman, still lost in her delirium looked up
at the golden light coming towards her. For the first
time she could focus on the face holding it. "Hara-chan?"
The drive, the burning determination to protect
the Princess died on her face. The sword, which had
been aimed fatally at the woman's neck disappeared
back to her dimensional pocket. Haruka's vision
blurred, and she was lost. "Celeste-chan?"
Neptune watched from where she had fallen to the
ground, echoing the words of her partner. "Celeste-chan?"
Her eyes grew dazed before closing in unison with
Uranus'.
Their world lurched, as they found themselves
sitting together at a table overloaded with food. Servants
moved around them in immaculate white uniforms. They refilled
glasses, passed out food, basically hovered over them making
sure everything was to their liking.
"They're late," Haruka heard Michiru say, as she daintily
sipped from one of the silver goblets on the table.
"Hai, so what else is new?" She felt her lips open and
the voice come out. It took her a moment to realize she had
no control of her body. Panic tried to seize her before she
forced it down. 'This must be what the Inners referred to'
she thought, attempting to relax.
Michiru was doing much the same. It was alot like
moving through a dream, for you could see the actions
coming, and partake of them, yet have no way of stopping
them. Except of course for how real and in focus they
were.
Just then she felt herself standing with Haruka
as a couple approached the table. One had on a beautiful
floor length gown that shimmered with white sparkles
under light. Her long silver hair was done up in two
odangos. "Hello, your Majesty." She heard herself
and Haruka say. She waved their formalities aside.
"You know you don't have to do that," she said
smiling. Glancing back she smiled at the shadowed
figure who pulled out her chair for her. "Thank you.
Sorry were so late. SOMEONE overslept."
The blackened form was now taking her chair. Oddly,
Michiru could see the outline of her body, her face and
hair. She could even tell she was wearing pants and some
type of jacket. What she couldn't see was anything that
would distinguish her, any colors. It was as if an artist
had taken black paint and splashed it all over her. The
woman coughed. "I was a bit wore out."
A sight of Haruka filled her vision as she squeezed
her hand and gave her a wink. She didn't look any different
in the past, maybe a bit older is all. "I bet you were."
Queen Serenity gave a very unlady-like sigh. "I'm
afraid the poor dear must be getting old. Perhaps its
time I traded her in." She grinned.
Haruka felt the smile on her old selves face widen. "I
know how you feel, your Majesty. It is so bothersome to
have a partner who tires easily."
It seems the Michiru of the past was not much
different from her future incarnation. She was never one
to let Haruka win any jibes. "Oh, but your Majesty is
lucky to have someone with such experience. Fast and
earnest can only take you so far."
The Queen passed a look with Michiru and had to suppress
a giggle. "Well it seems we both possess something the other
values. How fortunate! Perhaps we could make a trade..."
"Certainly we should consider it.." Michiru heard
herself answer. By this time Haruka's face was etched in
shock. She was sure if she could see the shadowed form's
face, she would look equally scandalized.
Neither she nor the Queen could hold it in any longer.
They both erupted in laughter, smiling at their respective
partners. "Ne, if you could see your expressions!" The Queen
called, close to tears.
Haruka felt herself let out a breath she had been holding
in. "You both think your funny, eh?" She heard the other
voice call out in amusement. The blackened shape gave the Queen
a peck on the cheek.
Serenity was finally able to regain control of herself.
"All joking aside, have you considered my offer?"
Michiru got a vision of her folded hands as her past self
looked nervously at the table cloth. "Michi?" she heard Haruka
ask with concern. Her hand grasped her partner's tightly as she
tried to rein in her emotions.
"We've talked about it..." She began hesitantly. "It
doesn't seem very practical, with us being Senshi... demo..."
"But we want to do it," Haruka heard her past self finish.
"Its always been a dream of ours... We just never thought it was
possible."
"You will? Thats wonderful!" The shadowy shape reached over
and patted Haruka on the back.
Serenity went as far as to get up from her seat and
envelop them in a fierce hug, totally ignoring protocol. "I'm
sure you'll both make wonderful parents!"
Haruka and Michiru's past selves continued on but neither
of them heard it. A baby! They had raised Hotaru together, but
it wasn't the same as having their own child. In fact, they
didn't dream it was possible. But here was Queen Serenity,
telling them it could happen. Which meant, somehow, sometime,
they could have one in their time, in the future.
The darkened woman was speaking, "So when you get back
from the Outer Planets, Michi-chan can take a leave of abscence
to have the child. It'll be so great!"
"Hai," Michiru heard herself say. "I wish Pluto wasn't
making us leave."
"3 months," Haruka was saying. "Thats all. Pluto says
after that, we won't be needed for awhile." The happy
conversation seemed to get farther away after that. The
little scene seemed to dim. Haruka felt a hollow ache in
her gut. Of course, it hadn't worked out the way they planned.
Pluto had been right about not be needed. While they were
gone, Queen Beryl had arrived, bringing an end to the
Silver Millennium.
By sheer force of will, Michiru lingered in the memory.
Taking in the picture of the happy scene. She realized just
how much she had missed 2 people she hadn't even been able
to remember. They all looked so comfortable there, a form
of camaraderie that she and Haruka had not been able to
find in the other Senshi, not even Usagi. Even if she was
the Queen, Serenity and her lover had been their peers,
their equals, in ways no one else had. The image disintegrated
with that thought. "Oh Kami-sama, Celeste-chan!" She cried
outloud, or atleast thought she did.
Her eyes opened in time to take in the site of Haruka,
kneeling across the woman whose dirty sweatshirt covered her
face. The blonde had her arms limply around her, her face
pressed against her chest. She felt the same relief that
her partner did. Celeste-chan was safe. Their dear friend
was alive, in some form. No more tainted blood on their
hands.
Before she could even think of standing, she
heard the screams. In slow motion she turned, to
see Jupiter clutching at her side, lilac energy glowing
off her. The other Senshi seemed to be scattered off in
different directions, facing opponents. A girl with
spiky pink hair watched Michiru's movement with amusement.
"You want to be next?" The woman raised her hand high.
The force wave smashed her, and she knew nothing.
Dagon walked out from his shower wrapped in a luscious
purple robe. His white hair lay cascading down his neck
like silk. The purple robe made him look more attractive,
highlighting his albino-like beauty instead of worsening
it. The man hummed a happy little tune, using a matching
purple towel on his hair.
"Hello, Val-ka-chan," he sang his greeting. They were
in Dagon's private quarters. The room was scrumptious,
the bed and the walls done in alternating silks of purple
and black. The carpet was plush, many inches thick. The
bed was a king size canopy, all the furniture done in
a dark wood with ornate carvings. It was in perfect,
almost obsessive order. Nothing out of place, not
a speck of dust on the ground. Except for the corner
Valka occupied.
"Ne, how are you doing?" Dagon asked, glancing
at his 'associate'. The corner he occupied was bare,
deep gouges were etched into the wall by some sharp
object. The carpet was flattened down and matted
together, dark brown splotches which may have been
blood soaked into it. "Your still holding your arm,
I see."
As far into the wall as he could get without
going through it was Valka. He was wearing baggy
black pants. Naked from the waist up, you could
almost see faint lines across his skin, angry
jagged splotches. His right arm cradled his left,
which was shining with a inner pink light. He
refused to meet Dagon's stare. This irritated
him, as he moved up closer. "I am sorry I got
so carried away my friend, truly." The voice
was sugary sweet, making Valka feel like retching.
"A few hours, and it will be good as new, right?"
Valka continued to keep his face focused
on the wall.
Angry, Dagon moved forward, grabbing ahold
of his chin and raised it up so he could meet
Valka's swollen eyes. "I said I was sorry,
Valka-chan. The least you could do is reply."
Valka opened his mouth very deliberately-
and spit on him.
Dagon released him, backhanding him
into the wall. With one hand, he wiped his
face off. He stepped out of the corner.
"I don't know why you try to make this so
difficult. You can't win. Surely you realize
this."
With vague amusement, he watched Valka
hiss angrily, jumping to his feet as he tried
to charge him- and then bouncing back from the
force field on to the floor, where he lay mewling
in pain at his arm. "Why. Are you. Doing. This."
He panted between his sharp intakes of breath.
"Why?" Dagon asked.
"Why," Valka repeated, leaning on his one
good arm to get in a upright position. "You've
taken what you wanted. Why do you still keep me
here?"
He had never seen Dagon smile so
evilly. It was a smile of malice and hatred. "I
thought it was obvious. Even as we speak, your
sister is moving against those she thinks
have kidnapped her dear brother."
"Nani? Why would you tell her that?" Valka fixed
Dagon with a disgusted look. "She wouldn't leave that
library and Ula-san if I was on my death bed."
"Elementary, Valka-chan." He took a clean blue tunic
out of the closet and began to dress. "Freya-chan cares
more than you'd think. I simply mentioned that you had
disappeared after finding one of them and-"
"You bastard!" he growled, and would have stood
if the pain hadn't been so intense. "Shes going to think
one of them got rid of me, and then go after them. You
know those Senshi will annihilate her."
"Oh, I beg to differ. I wouldn't send one of my
lambs to the slaughter." His grin had an almost feral
aspect to it. "Our enemies are going to find the toy
I supplied her with very interesting."
"Iie," whispered Valka in denial. "You wouldn't
have..." Then his voice hardened. "Even if you did,
she knows the danger in using those crystals. She'd
refuse."
"She took them, eagerly. I've never seen her so
determined. It went better then I could have dreamed. At
first I just thought she'd sit there crying, making her
useless." He ran a comb one final time through his
snow colored locks before smiling at himself in the
mirror. "But then she got angry. Didn't even hesitate
in taking them. She actually commanded Ula-san to
follow her."
"If she dies, and Minako-chan dies, I'll have nothing,"
Valka realized dully.
"Hai." Dagon said, his grip on the comb tightening
so much it broke. "You'll have nothing but me. The way
it should be." He looked down at Valka with fevered, intense
eyes.
"Your mad..." Valka hissed.
"Perhaps..." Dagon murmured, reaching out to stroke
a lock of the other man's hair. Valka tried to move back,
but was immobilized as before. "But what does it matter
if I win?" He then spun around, the reverie broken. "Well
I'm off. Toro-sama had a few findings in the scrolls he
wished to discuss with me. You'll wait, won't you?" He
called, laughing at the infuriated expression on his face.
Before he could reply, Dagon had disappeared in purple
light.
"Forgive me, Minako-chan..." he whispered, as he knelt
down against the wall, involuntary tears flooding his eyes.
"Forgive me."
Venus raised her right leg, delivering a devastating
kick to the attacker in front of her.
Or it WOULD have been devastating, had it not passed
through it as if it wasn't there.
"Damn," she cursed, raising her arm and calling out
her power. "VENUS PLASMIC CHARGE!" The transparent shape
disintegrated under the onslaught of the orange beam.
The fight was not going well. First Uranus nearly kills
their Sensei. Then after regaining her senses, the enemy
attacks with...images? Holographic projections? Whatever they
were, they could only be taken out by their new attacks.
What complicated that even more was the fact their were
atleast 2 of those fighting that were not fake, but real
living people. She'd glimpsed them one or twice. They were
uninfected by the magic attacks, and had to be taken out
with hand to hand combat. Which they had failed to do
as of yet.
Jupiter was out of the fight early, one of the first
hit. Neptune got knocked out hard, she had no idea as to
her condition. Uranus and Tuxedo Kamen had been near Sensei,
where a whole bunch of the images had convened. They'd been
like sitting ducks without a dimensional power till Mercury
had made her way to the front. Mars and her had kept back
near Sailor Moon, and were steadily trying to reach the
others.
She had an advantage over everyone. It seemed the
sunglasses Valka had worn showed a residual energy. With
them, she could easily see an enemy close in before they
had a chance to strike. Out of the corner of her eye
she noticed a large focus of power, coming swiftly from
the right. "Mars, take Sailor Moon ahead."
"But Venus-" Sailor Moon started.
"No buts! Hurry!" Mars nodded taking Sailor Moon's
hand and pulling her along as Venus interposed herself
between them and the threat. To her surprise, the enemy
did not even take notice of them, seeming to be focused
on her.
A dark blur slammed into Venus so fast she didn't
have time to react. Strong hands reached under her neck,
lifting her off the ground. The woman that held her had
a familiar shade of black hair, yellowed skin, and an
almost identical pair of shades. "Where is he?" she
hissed.
"Who?" she croaked, desperately trying to pry the
woman's vise grip from off her neck.
The fingers tightened. "You know who, bitch. I know
it was you who did it, your wearing his shades. Where is
he?!" Her voice was shrill, demanding.
"Valka...?" she murmured.
"HAI!" Freya was almost screaming now. "WHERE IS HE?!"
Venus stared down at the woman, understanding beginning
to dawn on her. "You think I did something to him?" Her
voice was weak from the lack of air. "I wish I knew where he
was. The last I saw him was at the caves..." She yelped in
pain as the fingers became talons.
"Iie! You lie! He didn't take you to the caverns! He
told me he was going there with Dagon-sama!" She was looming
over Venus. "Why would he even think of-" She paused, her
angry expression wavering. Had he said he was going there
with Dagon? Now that she thought about it, he'd simply
said he was going there with someone 'special'.
"Oh, so I see you and Dagon-sama patched things up,
ne?" A 'cat caught the canary' grin on her face.
"I never said that." He said noncommittally.
"Suuuuuuure." Back and forth they'd went, teasing,
until he got fed up and left. When Dagon showed up to
tell her his suspicions, she assumed that her brother had
missed meeting him in the cave. The energy she was using
to keep the Senshi pinned the way she was made her head
throb. Furious for having to second guess, she tossed
Venus to the ground.
The Senshi hit hard, the momentum causing the shades
to fall from her face. Freya advanced towards her, determined
to finish what she started. Venus raised her head off the
concrete to meet her gaze.
It was just a second, just a brief illusion, a distant
memory. Through the haze the Verde Crystal was causing, she
saw the woman before her, who was bleeding from the forehead.
And she saw her mother.
Their features weren't really similar, no. Her mother's
hair had been dark, her eyes more green then blue. This
woman's face was prettier, beautiful in fact. It wasn't
anything so superficial as appearance.
Maybe it was her aura. The 'shine' to coin a phrase
Valka often used to describe human beings. The woman
was obviously tired, hurt, angry- but she wasn't defeated.
She stared at Freya the way her Mother had once stared
at the men who tried to take their home. Despite what
an enemy could do to her, there would be no retreat,
no surrender. Her Mother had died because of that.
Freya knew then that she told the truth. She
understood why Valka had risked everything just for this
girl, who was their enemy. The Senshi had a soul like
their Mother's. The realization replaced the blood frenzy
of the crystal, keeping the effects dormant till needed.
"Do you love my brother?" Freya asked, never once
doubting the answer she'd receive would be truthful.
Venus didn't know how to respond. Blood was dripping
down her face from her scalp. All around her friends
were in danger. This woman had given every pretense of
killing her. But something about the look of calm on
the woman's face, the look of peace that descended down
made Venus want to give her a truthful answer, one that
until that moment she may not have known herself. "I do."
Freya gave her a tight smile. "We're leaving." She
called out.
Ula's attention turned from Mars and Moon, who she
was about to engage. "Nani? Freya-chan, we haven't-"
"I said were leaving," she stated firmly, ignoring
Venus and the others around her. A portal opened up
behind both of them, and they stepped through it.
The phantasms they commanded disappeared as they left.
Mamoru felt like he was falling. The last thing
he remembered was watching Uranus be pushed backwards
off the woman she was embracing. Without thinking about
the consequences he tried to intervene between whoever
it was and the Senshi's friend. The hooded face had
looked up at him and muttered something he couldn't
catch. Then she grabbed his hand and there was a
light...
His feet touched the ground, light as a feather.
Around him were bushes of roses, blood red ones. Above
him were large columns of marble, in the semblance
of Greek architecture. He knew this place, somewhere...
"Elios!" he cried out in surprise, seeing the
priest before him. Now it was clear where he was.
Illusion, the Golden Kingdom. The last time he'd
seen it was during the battle with the Dead Moon
Circus. Then it had been in decay, rotted over with
the evil energy Nephrenia used to poison the planet
and his body. It looked different. Healthy, vibrant.
"Prince Endymion." The boy bowed to him. He looked
the same, his priestly robes, his white hair, and amber
eyes that never aged.
After getting over his shock he finally noticed
the figure across from him. The woman in silver, her
cloak pulled over her face. Glancing down he saw
he was in his royal garb. "What am I doing here?"
Elios did not answer. His face turned to take
in the woman. "How much do you remember of your
past, your majesty?"
"My past?" He echoed.
"The Silver Millennium," the woman whispered, her
voice sounding very familiar...
"I don't kno...." He began to say before trailing
off. Even as he spoke the temple around him seemed to
charge with golden light. Images began to appear in
his mind, things he may have wanted to forget.
From his birth, Endymion arrived in a world gone
far past its prime. His Mother, Lady Brigid, had died
brining him into the world. His Father, King Endymion,
was away on military campaigns. The King didn't return
to the Kingdom during the whole pregnancy. The doctor
had given him his name, on distant orders.
Endymion did not see his Father till he was
6 years old, having been raised by nannies and schooled
through the King's advisor. Endymion Sr. returned home
from his long battle triumphant. Parades, celebrations,
all ending in a royal ball where all the dignitaries
of Earth would be in attendance.
The King stood behind the young Prince, already a
handsome and precocious boy, one hand resting on the
boy's shoulder. Tightly. Painfully. To his credit the
young one did not resist, nor show any of his anguish to
the court.
When it was over he ran in his eyes over the lad
with evident disgust. "He favors you, your Majesty,"
stated the King's top advisor. "You should be proud."
He looked anything but. "Yes, he does." The Prince
felt like a bug about to be stepped on. "Atleast hes
quiet."
"Oh, hes very well behaved. We've already begun his
schooling. He excels at everything we teach him. Reading,
writing, hes far above his age level when it comes to
academics. It looks as though he has natural mage skills
as well. I have a listing of his progress right-"
"Why is he so short?" The King's voice cut in.
"Short? Your Majesty, hes only 6 years old." The
advisor sounded puzzled.
"I was never that short." He snorted with contempt. The
boy cringed.
"I'm sure he'll grow in time, your Majesty." He sounded
flustered. "If you'll look at his aptitude sheets, I'm know
you'll be pleased-"
The King waved the sheet of paper the man held for his
approval away. "I came home to speak of my Kingdom, not a
child. Tell me about the treasury. Should we raise tariffs?"
"Don't you want to hear about your son?" The advisor
asked again, glancing at the boy who looked devastated.
"I said I do not! Do as I command!" He turned his
angry eyes at the boy, focusing somewhere above his head.
"What are you waiting for? You are dismissed!"
The little Prince turned and fled, all thoughts of
proper manners forgotten by the harsh treatment. His
eyes overwhelmed with tears as he caught the King's
voice, "You see? He can't even show proper respect to
his King."
Much to the Prince's relief, his Father soon left
to battle again. The Kingdom was run by a council in his
abcesne. For the next 7 years, the boy trained in all
subjects, preparing for his eventual assecion to the
throne. When his Father did come home, they avoided
each other.
The King's rule was popular, if not prosperous. His
subjects loved him. He was their warrior King, riding
off into battle against the evil forces of the Kingdom.
Devious Mages, discontents, scoundrels, and rival
lands were no match for his armies. He was the unofficial
ruler of Terra, if for no other reason than the golden
light seemed to follow him where he treaded.
The one thing that kept the Earth from being well
off was the positions of the other planets. To them,
Earth was still a back water. Terrans were constantly
given a disadvantage in all trade. While the planet
was part of the Silver Millenniums alliance, it made
the least profit out of it. Mars particularly treated
it as if it was simply a colony to be bled dry.
If the King was looked on with fondness, his son
was viewed with admiration verging on awe. The Prince
was just as charismatic, humorous, resourceful, and
perhaps more handsome then his Father. Best of all,
he hadn't inherited the ruthlessness his Father sometimes
showed. Most thought he'd prove to be a firm and just
ruler. The only negative quality about him might have
been the cold demeanor he could use, much different then
the King's violent outbursts.
When the younger Endymion was 13, his Father came
back to his city for good. He had been out fighting the
demon legions of Beryl when he was wounded in his heel.
For the rest of his life he would walk with a limp, and
never again ride forth to battle.
The King became sullen, moody. He retired to his
wings in the Golden Palace, and was not seen for days.
He began to drink increasingly large sums of alcohol,
refusing to meet with anyone. If nothing else, the Prince's
training was doubled, the King's administrators anxious
to put someone on the throne. It was believed their
Monarch would do himself in any day now.
So it was with surprise that the Prince greeted the
news his Father wished for him to come to his chambers.
He wondered if his Father would bequeath the Golden Light
to him, the ancient symbol of the family who held
the crown.
Anxiously he stood outside the King's door, knocking
once. "Enter." A deep voice resonated from inside. Opening
the door he glanced around curiously. The walls were dark,
lined in red velvet, highlighting the dark paneling and
oak furniture. It was a harsh room, flamboyant yet
vicious in a way the young man could not describe. The
room was dominated by a large, hearth size fireplace above
with held a 4ft high painting done with oils.
His Father sat in a beige chair, a ruby drink in
his hand. The stench of the brandy could be smelled
from the doorway. The King was in an appalling display of
disarray, dressed in dirty gray trousers and a frayed purple
robe. Smudges appeared all over him, from where he'd wiped
his greasy hands. The Prince kept his face expressionless,
though he tried to move downwind of him. "You called for
me, Sire?"
"Do you know why you were born?" The King asked,
his voice low and slurred. His attention was focused on
the ground.
"Pardon?" The boy asked, sure he'd misunderstood
him.
"Are you deaf?" He slammed his drink down on the
desk next to him, where it cracked up the side of the
glass. The boy had to stop himself from cringing. "I asked
you if you knew why you were born."
He sensed whatever answer he gave would be the wrong
one. The King obviously wasn't asking him if he knew HOW
he was born. This was not to be a discussion of human
reproduction. "I'm not clear about what your Majesty
means."
"WHY?! WHY WERE YOU BORN?!" The King yelled,
jumping up till he was two inches from the boy's face.
His face was twisted up, nostrils flared, looking almost
demonic.
"Y-YOU WANTED A HEIR!" The Prince shrieked in
response to the other man's yelling. He couldn't keep
his voice calm.
"Iie," the older Endymion's voice dropped to a
sinister tone. "Iie, they wanted a heir. My advisers.
They were afraid that I'd die in battle, and all of
the Kingdom would be usurped. So against my orders,
they sent in their hand-picked Jezebel, and 9 months
later you came. A little robot they can mold into
their perfect King." His large hands wrapped around
the Prince's collar yanking him off his feet. "I'm
not dead yet, leech. You won't trail on my coattails
to the throne." With a mighty heave he threw him
back against a wall.
The Prince sat there for a moment not moving.
He wasn't hurt in the fall, not really. Stunned was
more like it. When the King had first grabbed him,
he had to stop himself from blocking the hands.
It was a capital offense to assault the King, regardless
of the circumstances. He could only stare as his Father
came to tower over him. "Well?! Are you just going to sit
there?!"
The younger Endymion slowly... VERY slowly... picked
himself off the ground. He stood up, at the same time
moving backwards so he could put some breathing distance
between himself and his Father. With that done, he began
to speak, in a low, steady tone. "I apologize for however
I have offended you, your Majesty. It was never my intention
to have you "carry" me to the throne. Tell me how I can
appease you and I will be more than happy to do so." The
Prince wore his neutral expression, and tried to keep
his thoughts pure. The King must be atleast as skilled
at him in telepathy-
"I'm better." The older Endymion said aloud glaring
at him. The boy met his gaze. Things could have gotten
very ugly if the advisor had not come in then.
"Your Majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you, but Guardian
Jedite has requested his heignesses' presence in the Throne
Room. It seems they had a scheduled lesson for today."
"Now? You didn't inform me of any lesson..." The
King gave him a suspicious look, which the man totally
ignored. He stalked over to the bar, taking another
glass from the shelf before pouring a drink.
"I can send one of the servants to do that for you,
your Majesty." The adviser told him, waiting for his
response.
Older Endymion simply waved a hand at him in an
act of dismissal. "No, I don't need anyone hovering all
over me when I'm trying to relax." He brought the glass up
to his lips and tilted it backwards, pouring nearly
3/4 of its contents down his throat. His shoulders
seemed to bunch up as he lay the drink back down on the bar
and closed his eyes. "Leave me."
"Of course, your Majesty." The adviser bowed even
though the King couldn't have seen him. His face turned
to the Prince's and he raised his eyebrows, indicating
he should follow him.
The Prince complied, accompanying him out the door. He
watched his Father warily as he left. The King stayed slumped
over the bar his eyes focused on the picture above the fire
place mantle. "What does Jedite want from me?" he asked, trying
not to show how tired he really was.
"Go lay down and rest, your Highness."
"But Jedite...." The Prince trailed off as he saw the other
man wink at him. "Thank you, Mikel." He said gratefully.
"No problem. This will all blow over in a few days. Just
wait and see." And with these words of encouragement, he left
the Prince to rest.
The problem was things didn't blow over. The King's
attitude didn't improve. If nothing else he got less tolerant
of his son. Their 'discussions' became more and more violent
as time went on. The younger Endymion's civility towards
his father waned.
"What do you want? Why do you keep calling me in here?
So we can brawl like peasants in a pub?" He wiped a trail
of blood from his lips.
The older Endymion was calmly drinking from a mug
as he waited for his opponent to stand. "I expect you
to prove yourself worthy of the title you were given."
The Prince's sword clashed with his as he sought to
drive him and his words back. "Worthy of it? Oh, have
I embarrassed his Majesty with my behavior?" His lips
twisted into a sneer. "Perhaps I should follow my King's
example and spend my time drinking wine and wallowing
in self pity. What a fine leader you have turned out
to be!"
"Little bastard," The King hissed, breaking
the stalemate of their swords by sending a powerful energy
charge at him. Yellow trendils of pure pain slammed into
the Prince and sent him reeling. He lay on the ground,
staring up at him. "you will never have that power. You
will never have the shine of the Earth. You will not
feel its touch, its movements, the rapture. Never."
Something broke in Endymion then. Three years of
constant battle and harassment had driven the Prince beyond
his breaking point. "How do you know what I feel?" He used
the sword to prop him back on his feet. A strange glow
overtook him. Golden light radiated his features as
he moved forward. "I hear it, old man. I hear it singing
to me." He leaned forward swinging the sword in a long
arch. Golden energy laced up the sides of it.
The sword stopped in midair just inches from the King's
chest. It seemed the world stilled all around them. The wind
that had been howling outside the windows ceased. The busy Palace,
home to hundreds, seemed to quiet. Father and son stared
at each other, maybe really looking for the first time.
Beads of sweat broke out on both their faces. Yellow
light clashing with the more rich golden hue. The intensity
required to keep their opponent at bay was nearly too much
for both of them. Finally, experience won out on youth, the
King knocking his son to the ground with the hilt of
his sword.
The Prince made no move to stand. He kneeled on
the floor, panting heavily. Never before had he exerted
his mage skill in such a way. In fact, he'd never heard
of anyone else using it like that either. Instead of drawing
on his own life essence, he'd tapped into a rich reserve,
stranger and more powerful than anything he had previously
experienced. Energy crystals paled in comparison.
"Masaka...!" The King gasped, clutching at his
chest. At first, the Prince feared he was having a heart
attack. He was surprised by the intense emotions that
thought caused, none of which were joy. "Its still
there," the King seemed to be reassuring himself. "Hai,
I know its there. But I felt it. I felt him tap into
it.... How?" He looked down on the boy again, no
malice in his face.
Three years. Three years spent arguing, fighting,
trying to cause weakness and pain. Before that a boy's
lifetime of hurt and neglect. Now two strangers stood
before each other not knowing what to do.
"Go on," the King said softly to the boy. Young
man. 'He's 16,' he reminded himself. 'Not a boy at all.'
"Get out of here. Go to the gardens, to the libraries,
your chambers. Get some rest."
This was kinder then the King had ever spoken to
his son. "Why?" The Prince asked.
In was not one, but many questions. A million
different interpretations could be read into it. Even
the questioner wasn't sure what he really wanted to
know. The King took the most literal. "You'll need
to be in good shape for the coronation. It can be
daunting with the ceremonies, the appearances, ritual.."
"Y-y-you mean...?" The Prince asked in awe.
"Hai." The King's eyes again focused on the picture
he so liked to look at. The mysterious woman he was
so pledged to it stole his reason, ruined his life. "My
chapter is finally over. Theres nothing left for me now."
"Father?" whispered Endymion, the first time he
had ever called him that.
The King's eyes closed. "I don't have an explanation for
you, away to make everything better." He continued in a defeated
tone. "The only defense I have is that I loved her, I loved
both of them, so much. When they left, so did my love. I had
nothing left to give you or anyone. I'm sorry."
The Prince waited for him to say something more. To call
him his son. To tell him he had atleast cared a little. But
he didn't. "Go." he whispered softly.
"Hai." The Prince limped away, and shut the door, sealing
the fate of never knowing his Father, or any of his family.
The Golden Light ceased and he awoke back in Elysion.
He stared at the woman across from him. Dim memories of what
had happened to change fate yet again came at him. "You!" he
said accusingly. "You were what ruined my reconciliation! It
was you!" Mamoru wasn't sure who was speaking, he or Endymion,
or if they were even separate identities anymore.
The figure in the silver cloak drew back her hood, and
for the first time in many a year someone saw her as she was.
Long, purple hair cascaded down her shoulders. Bronzed
skin with a flawless complexion. Beautiful face. Indigo
eyes. Like Mamoru's. Like his Father's.
"Masaka..." he whispered again, for with that face it
seemed more emotion was drawn up. Not from a distant
reincarnation, but his life here on Earth as an orphan.
"Sensei?" he asked, 2 sets of memories flooding him at
once, making him dizzy.
"You are sure you want to do this?" Elios asked the
woman. She nodded solemnly.
"I will not accept," came Endymion's voice. Mamoru
wanted to run to the woman and embrace her, but the Prince
seemed to be firmly in control. Jealously and hate mingled
with admiration in his past life's memories.
"I didn't think you'd care," she said, betraying no
emotion.
"I will not owe you a debt." He glared at her
fiercely. Mamoru on the inside wanted to scream with
frustration. He had no idea what was going on. And
no control of it either.
"When we return, she will kill me." The woman
said simply. "The Garnet will return to where it belongs.
We must complete this. It is yours Endymion, never mine
to begin with."
"I will not accept." He repeated firmly.
"I'm sorry my Prince," Elios murmured. "It is not
for you to descide." A white glow rose over his kneeled
form. The woman's chest began to radiate golden light.
"Iie! IIE! IIE!!" The Prince called, even as he
saw the beam connect her to him. He screamed in pain
and rage as he felt it enter him, no matter how much
he tried to deny it. Mamoru finally was able to
surface, and he cried as he saw the dimension dim
around him. "I won't let her kill you Sensei! I'll
protect you! I've missed you..." and he could
speak no more as the world lurched away from him
Maybe he imagined it. Later he would think
back on that moment. The confusion made it impossible
to tell. But he could swear he had heard the whisper,
the name that brought back so many memories.
"Brave little knight," she seemed to call out.
"Such a brave little one." And then there was nothing.
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Questions? Comments? Arrows?
Angst88@aol.com
http://www.geocities.com/emporess888/
-Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill.
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