Meaning Of Life 2 Terry Dale Terry Dale 8 70 2001-09-21T15:47:00Z 2001-10-20T03:12:00Z 9 3342 19054 none 158 38 23399 9.3821 0 0

Meaning Of Life 2

Powers of the Seasons

On the other side of the kingdom lived the warlords and outers with their children. Although they would be with the others to guard Princess Purity, there was someone else they had to protect. They had to protect the last descendant of the ancient clan, Prince Zircon, son of Lady Kayura and Prince Diamond.  (AN: Ha, didn't see that coming, did you?  Thought since I wrote a story about her and Pegasus you'd think they'd end up together? Well, I surprised you, didn't I?… Okay, I'll continue now…)

Four sailor scouts, not the outers, stood on the castle wall on every other post. They were in their late teens. They were the children of the warlords and outers: The seasonal sailors.

The one standing on the far left had black hair that fell down past her shoulders with thick ringlets down to her collarbone.  Her black eyebrows were forked and her eyes were greenish-blue.  Her skirt, boots, and glove bands were lavender and her bows pastel yellow.  Her choker was purple decorated with what looked like a raindrop.  On her hands had a yellow kanji symbol: Loyalty.  In her hand she held the silence scythe. Her name: Sailor Spring, the daughter of Sailor Saturn and the man who used to be warlord of Cruelty, the ogre, Anubis.  She had her mother's ability to heal and her father's sense of loyalty, including an uncanny ability of telekinesis.

The next had long and wavy light brown hair that fell around her shoulders and she kept it in front her right shoulder in a small piece of ribbon. Her eyes were gray and she was the tallest of the four. Her sailor uniform was in bright, vibrant colors.  She had a great tan.  The skirt, glove bands, back flap and boots were bright blue and her bows bright pink. The kanji symbols of serenity were emblazoned on her hands. Her choker was bight blue with a golden sun. She held in her hand a scimitar.  She was the daughter of Sailor Uranus and the once warlord of Illusion, the tarantula, Dais and her name was Sailor Summer.  She spoke low and echoing, like her father.   Also like her father, she also had the power to cast illusions.

The next scout had wavy long green hair that fell down the middle of her back.  Her eyes were black with a hint of sea green.  The skirt, glove bands, boots and back flap were dark green and the bows dark red.  She had an olive complexion. The kanji symbol of piety was on her hands. Her choker was dark green with a yellow-green leaf. Strapped to her waist was the aqua mirror. Sailor Autumn was her name and she was the daughter of Sailor Neptune and Sekhmet, the warlord of Venom.   She had the ability to heal but in battle, she could unleash an attack of poison like her father.

Finally, the last scout had long blue hair that reached her knees with a tuft of hair in front ears, keeping them uncovered.  Her bangs looked spiky and wild.  And her eyes were a very cold shade of blue.  Her complexion was very fair, almost totally white with a soft blue tinge.  Her skin was always cold to the touch, though it did not seem to bother her.  The skirt, boots, back flap and bands were dark gray in color and the bows were maroon. The kanji symbol obedience was on her gloves in black.  On her black choker, was a decoration of a shard of ice. In her hand, she held the garnet rod. The warlord of corruption, Kale and Sailor Pluto were her parents and her name was Sailor Winter.  Like her mother, she could stop time.  But her power held out longer and she could also turn back time or make it go faster if she wanted to.  If she was especially angry, she could send someone to another time and place without even having to travel to the gate.  She could turn day into night and warmth into the bitter cold and one touch of her hand could send chills down one spine.  Like her father, she could also save those who had fallen to the darkness and see perfectly in complete darkness during a blizzard.  She also held an uncanny ability to tell a person of darkness with just by looking at them.  Sailor Spring could also do this, but only through touch.

"Sure is quiet tonight," commented Sailor Summer.

"Boring too," Sailor Autumn yawned.

"I see something," Sailor Winter muttered.

"What do you see?" Sailor Spring asked.

"Someone," she replied, "an intruder.  She brings trouble."

"Halt!" Shouted Sailor Summer, "who goes there?"

No answer.

"I demand you tell us who you are!" Sailor Autumn snarled.

The footsteps closer and a foot stepped over a dried leaf. A girl with long white hair with red streaks came closer.  "I am Jade.  The daughter of your father's perished lord."

"What did she say?" Sailor Spring mumbled.

"Don't mock us," Sailor Winter said.

"I'm not mocking you," Jade told them, "I'm here to ask you to serve me as your fathers served mine."

"She's insane," Sailor Summer muttered.

"Our fathers," mumbled Sailor Spring and she looked at her fellow sailors, "I think she means Tulpa!"

"Your father is Emperor Tulpa?!" demanded Sailor Autumn in a shout, looking as if she was about to be sick.  The others gasped.

"Was," Jade said, "but the ronin warriors destroyed them!  I am going to have revenge for that, blood for blood! And you're going to help me!"

"Not a chance," Sailor Spring said, "We are friends with Neo Queen Serenity and we won't betray her!"

"We're not going to help you avenge someone our fathers helped destroy!" Sailor Autumn growled.  "Now be off with you!"

"Especially since our fathers have trouble sleeping at night because of what your father forced them to do!" Sailor Summer added with a sneer.

"We won't do it!" Sailor Winter cried, "our fathers have changed since then."

"I'm afraid you have no choice!" Jade snapped.

"How dare you speak that way to us!" Sailor Summer growled.

"If you won't come voluntarily," Jade clenched her hands into fists, "then I'll have to force you!" she sent a massive energy blast at the scouts and they leapt of the wall.

"You'll have to do this without our help," Sailor Summer said.

"What you reap is what you sow," Sailor Spring began.

"And your harvesting time is about to end!" Sailor Autumn finished.

"Oh, I'm scared!" Jade whined sarcastically.

"You'd better be!" Sailor Summer snarled, "Summer Heat Drought!"  She sent an intense heat wave that dried up the grass and flowers, draining all the moisture and smacked Jade with the enormous heat wave.

Jade groaned as she stumbled back, "you'd think you could stop me with a little lack of moisture?"

Summer grunted under her breath.

"Then how about an abundance of moisture?" Sailor Spring demanded, "Spring Rain Pour!" The clouds rumbled with thunder and it began to pour like crazy, the raindrops fell so hard that they felt like knives.

Jade fell to her knees and began to sink in the mud. 

"Autumn Venom Leaf Smother!" Sailor Autumn sent a blow of wind and poisonous leaves to Jade and once they touched her, they began to burn her skin and bury her alive.

"Winter Bitter Blizzard Blast!" A very piercing cold gale of wind blasted at Jade with snowballs the size of rocks and continued to bury her in a frozen grave.

"Mess with the seasonal sailor scouts, will you?" Sailor Spring demanded.

The snow began to melt and a pair of red eyes that were once green started burning.  Jade stood up with a growl, "you can't defeat me!  You will serve me or die!"

The seasonal sailors cringed and closed their eyes.

Inside the castle, the outers wondered where the girls were.  They could hear the commotion outside.

"You think the girls are alright?" Hotaru asked her husband.

"I'm sure they're fine," Anubis answered, "they're probably training outside."

"I'll go check on them," Hotaru opened the door just in time to see the girls crash inside, Autumn through the door and Spring and Summer through the left wall and Winter through the right.

"Girls!" Pluto shouted, "Priscilla!"

"What is going on?" Kale demanded.

"We're being invaded!" Sailor Winter replied with a shout as she got to her feet.

"By whom?" asked Sekhmet.

"Her!" replied Sailor Autumn, pointing to the figure outside.

Jade walked in, "aw, what a lovely home.  Too bad I'll have to turn it into ruins!"

"She's the daughter of Tulpa," Spring answered with a wince.  "I don't know who her mother is."

"That's right, I didn't tell you did I?" Jade demanded with a sneer, "my mother was Queen Beryl!"

Trista gasped, "She tried to destroy Princess Serenity!"

"My mother did at one time," Jade said, "but that twit was reborn.  She tried to destroy her a second time but you stood in her way!" she pointed her fingers at the warlords, "traitors!  You betrayed my father!  I will punish you by death!"

"You have no right to be here!" Lady Kayura shouted, "Leave now or we will kill you." 

Behind her stood her son, Prince Zircon.  He had short blue hair shaped like Sapphires with many white highlights. He was a tall and handsome eighteen-year-old boy. His eyes were long with a deep violet and his had his father's long sharp nose. On his forehead was a silver four-pointed star. He wore a blue and white suit similar to the one his father wore.  He looked on in surprise.

Jade stepped back, "wait, you're Lady Kayura."

"That's right."

"You were my father's best servant," Jade said.

"Actually, I was more like his toy!" Lady Kayura sneered, "He made puppets out of me and the warlords!"

"Who's that?" Jade asked, cocking her head.

Zircon folded his arms, "why should I tell you?"

"Wait, he's your son, isn't he?" a grin spread across her face,  "I didn't know there was a new member of the ancient clan."  An ice shared appeared in her hand.

Zircon took a few steps back, "what do you want?" he asked.

Jade jumped with the ice shard in hand, close to stabbing Zircon.  Zircon tightned his fist, beginning to form an energy blast to protect himself.

"Stop her, somebody!" Sailor Summer cried.

"Frozen in Time!" Sailor Winter shouted.

Time stopped and Jade was an ice sculpture in the air.  Zircon pulled his hand down and it stopped glowing.

"Good work, sweetheart," Kale said, thinking she stopped time.

"But Kale, it wasn't me," Trista mumbled innocently.

"But if you didn't, who did?" Kale asked.

They looked at their daughter and smiled, "our daughter."  Trista answered.

"Run, your highness!" Sailor Winter ordered, "now while my power holds out!"

"Thank you, Sailor Winter," Zircon didn't wait another moment and fled to a secret passage way.

The ice melted and Jade fell down.  Sailor Winter lowered her staff and winced as Spring wrapped her arm around her.

"Are you alright?" Spring asked.

"I won't be able to do that again for a while," Winter said.

"Have you cooled down enough?" Sailor Summer inquired.  "Would you like me to warm you up?"

Jade rose to her feet, "where is he?" she demanded.

"Why would we tell you?" Diamond questioned.  "We will not let you harm him or our soldiers!"

"Your son may be safe for the moment," Jade said, "but your soldiers won't!  This is your punishment for refusing to side with me!"

"What are you going to--" Spring started to say.  Winter could not freeze time again because she used up her strength to do it.  Jade removed their sailor uniforms, turning them into harmless mortals.

"Our powers!" gasped Sailor Summer, now Gwen.

"Enough of this!" Kayura swung the staff around and as it jingled, Jade gasped and disappeared.

"She's gone," Chloe, Spring said.

"I suppose she's afraid of the ancient's staff," Priscilla commented, who was once Sailor Winter.

"I don't think we've seen the last of her," Diamond said.

"As Beryl's daughter," Trista said, "I'm sure she's after Princess Purity too."

"But how can we stop her?" Ivy, Autumn asked. "She took our powers.  We can't transform anymore." (Ivy, like Poison Ivy?!  Thought it went well.)

"We will talk about this later," Kale said, "we'll think of something.  You girls must be exhausted."

"Yes, go and get some rest," Trista said.

Pricilla sighed, "all right then."  They trekked to their quarters.  As Priscilla got into her room, Zircon was waiting for her there on her chair.  "Your highness." Priscilla mumbled.

"I've been through all these passages a lot that I found one to your room," He said.

"I'd better put a lock on it," she joked and smiled, "is there something I can do for you?"

"I just wanted to thank you for saving me back there," Zircon said.  "I'm sure it took a lot of your strength."

"At least I'm not punished the same when my mother stops time," Pricilla said. "However, Jade took away our powers so we cannot transform.  We cannot protect you."

"I'm sure you'll find a way," he said as he stood up. He smiled, "thank you, Pricilla." 

He slid the back of his fingers on her cheek.  Priscilla flinched.  His hands were warm. 

"You're cold," he whispered.

"I'm always cold," she said, "my father used to be the warlord of corruption, you know."

"But you're not cold," Zircon told her, "what you did back there was a not a cold thing but a warm thing to do.  It's only your body that is cold but your heart is warm."

"Prince Zircon, I--" Priscilla mumbled and he silenced her by placing a finger to her lips, now turning a soft shade of blue. 

"Even your lips are cold," he said, "but I bet they are sweet."

Priscilla breathed in deeply.  She always had a special place for Zircon in her frozen heart though she thought he didn't love her. 

Priscilla closed her eyes and a tear formed in her eye. As it fell down her cheek, it froze.  Zircon took the frozen tear and looked at it.  It was still frozen even in his warm hand.  Holding it, he leaned forward and placed his thumb over Pricilla's chin and kissed her.  Pricilla's eyes fluttered rapidly and slowly reached her frozen hand to Zircon's cheek.  She feared of freezing him but he stayed with her and kissed her forehead. 

"Y-your highness, I--," Priscilla said and cleared her through, "you're welcome.  It was my pleasure to save you from certain death.  It is my job to protect you, you know."

"I've always loved you," he admitted.

"You have?" she asked, her smile widening, "really?"

He nodded.

"I love you too, my prince."  She bit her lip, "I just wish there was some way for me to protect you. That Jade woman will be back and we'll be helpless."

He smiled, "Don't let that worry you.  I'm not entirely helpess."

"I just like…serving you," she said.  "I'll do anything for you, Zircon."

"Yes, I know." He opened his hand to see the tear still frozen in his hand.  "Mind if I hold onto this?"

Pricilla let out a short laugh, "of course not, your highness.  Keep it to remember me, in case something happens to me.  Make a necklace out of it if you wish.""

He took her hand and kissed it as he wished her sweet dreams and left.

A wave of warmth instead of coldness hit her and she shivered in surprise, used to being cold.  Sighing, she wrapped her arms around herself, "Zircon," and fell down on her bed, trying to keep herself from giggling.

"Your Majesty," Pluto said, sending a message to Neo Queen Serenity's mirror.

"Sailor Pluto?" Neo Queen Serenity gasped, "so good to hear from you!"

"Have you seen a girl named Jade?" she asked.

Neo Queen Serenity sighed, "unfortunately.  She plans to destroy my home and my daughter Princess Purity.  Has she harmed anyone?"

"No, but she has taken away our new scout's ability to transform," Sailor Pluto said,

"She is after Prince Zircon too.  She wanted to turn our girls against us and serve her because their fathers served hers."

"How dare she even think of it," Neo Queen Serenity hissed, "are they all right?"

"Yes, they'll be fine but they are unable to protect Prince Zircon," Pluto said, "We'll need the help of your new scouts. I trust you have given them the new transformation pens."

Neo Queen Serenity nodded, "we felt it was time the moment Jade came unannounced. Our new scouts will help you.  Yuli and Vincent can protect Princess Purity while they are away.  Together, Pluto, we will get through this.  Jade cannot be all that powerful, can she?  Can we stop her?"

"Jade nearly killed our girls after they refused to side with her," Pluto reported, "and they thought they stopped her when they fought.  I regret to say as the daughter of a demon king and an evil queen, Jade will probably the most powerful enemy we will have to face."

Neo Queen Serenity breathed a sigh of anxiety and tried to keep a firm face, "well, we destroyed her parents, we can destroy her.  Our scouts will win. We have to believe that. I'll tell our scouts immediately."

"Thank you, your majesty," the image of Pluto disappeared.

Neo Queen Serenity stood up and went to the throne room to give the scouts the message.  They were surprised.

"You will leave tomorrow morning," she said. "Yuli, Vincent and the rest of us will protect Princess Purity while you are away."

"Wouldn't it be easier if we found out where she was hiding?" Sailor Strata Moon asked, "If we find her home then we can ambush her."

"But we don't know where her home is," Neo Queen Serenity replied.

"Maybe I should go," Princess Purity said.

"No, it's too dangerous!" Yuli cried.

"It's me she's after," Princess Purity explained, "I should be in on it.  After all, it's my fight too."

"My sister," Sailor Strata Moon said, "you asked me to lead the new scouts and that's what I'm going to do.  Don't tell me you're going to change your mind."

"If this gets to be too much," Princess Purity said, "I may have to join." She smiled,

"You're right, I did ask you to do this and I have complete faith in you.  I will leave it up to you for now.  Good luck."

"Thank you," Sailor Strata Moon smiled.

*****************************

Sailor Strata Moon sat on the post of the palace wall and sighed.

"I thought I might find you here," Masked Phoenix said.  Now at eighteen, he had a goatee without a mustache.  It made him look very manly and would make Rowena swoon if she wasn't so distant from him. 

{AN: I decided to give him a little facial hair.  He already has a ponytail, why not add some facial hair?  Besides, Mia's half French, so that would make Vincent part French too and French guys have mustaches and goatees!}

"Masked Phoenix, what are you doing here?" she asked.

"Making sure you don't freeze," he took off his cape and put it around her shoulders.  "I wish you didn't have to go."

"You know what our sister said," she retorted.  "I have to go."  She stood up, his cape falling down around her ankles, "the girls only have been scouts for a few hours and they know nothing about battle. I have to lead them."

"Then I'll go with you," he said simply.  "It's dangerous out there."

"No!" she turned around, "You can't, you have to stay here and take care of Rini!"

"Yuli can protect her," he said,  "Let me protect you."

"You can't come, Masked Phoenix," Sailor Strata Moon said, "Rini told me to lead the new scouts and I'm going to do it for my sis---"

"Rini is my sister too!" he snapped.

"Then you have to stay behind and protect her," Sailor Strata Moon whispered, "Don't you understand, Vincent? It was Rini that brought us together.  If anything happens to her, then we will fall apart.  I don't need you to protect me.  I'll be fine!  Rini is in worse danger than I am!"  She turned back around and Masked Phoenix tried to get close to her but she pushed him away.  "Our sister needs you more than I do."

"I don't believe you," he said.

"Don't make this hard, Vincent," she sniffed, "You were ordered to stay.  It's important that we go to the other castle.  Zircon is the last of the ancient clan.  You know what danger we would be if he dies?  It is also my duty to protect him as much it is to protect Rini.  This is the way is has to be, Vincent.  I don't need you.  I don't need anyone."

"Rowena, you don't mean that," he said, reaching for her arm.

She wrenched her arm away, "Don't touch me.  I am a sailor scout and a ronin warrior.  I can't be a fighter and be with you at the same time.  Just leave me alone, okay?" she turned around and left him.

Masked Phoenix sighed, fearing that it will be the last time he would see Rowena or Sailor Strata Moon again.  'Rowena,' he thought, 'Tuxedo Mask always showed up at the right time to save your mother and the scouts.  Love will always bring me closer to you so don't expect me to stay behind for long.'

Yuli noticed him standing out by himself.  "Hey, she wasn't in the mood for goodbyes, huh?"

Masked Phoenix shook his head.  "I wanted her to stay or at least let me go with her.  Have you noticed a change in her?"

Yuli shrugged, "Hey, she has a lot to think about.  Leading a group isn't very easy you know."

"She just keeps pushing me away."

"She'll realize how much you mean to her," Yuli said.  "Lighten up, man!" he slapped him in the back.  "Rini wants to play a game."

He forced a smile, "thanks, Yuli."

Sailor Strata Moon ran to the orchard, her tears falling down her cheeks.  Luther was there tending to the trees. "Luther!" she shouted and stopped in surprise, "are you all right?  Why are you working in the orchard after Jade almost killed you?"

"I am all right," he said, "why are you up at this hour of night?  You have a long journey ahead of you."

She fell at his feet, "Luther, I need your help!" she cried, "I don't know if I have what it takes to do this mission!" she covered face with her hands.

"There, there now," he said, kneeling down before her, "dry your eyes."

Sailor Strata Moon dried her eyes with the back of her hand, what little use it did as more tears spilled from her eyes.  She sniffed and looked at the kanji of symbol of life on her hand. She looked at it wonderingly. "Life sucks."  She muttered.

"My child, I never expected you to speak in such a way," Luther said with a grim smile.  He didn't yell at her for saying such a phrase, as most parents would have.  He was surprised but also a little impressed that she was being truthful about herself.  "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, I'm sorry," she blushed and cleared her throat, "what I meant was, life's not fair."

"Ah, I know, I know," he agreed, "Life can be confusing at times."

"Do I have it in me to lead the next generation of sailor scouts?" She asked, "Robyn's jealous of me.  I know my mother was Sailor Moon and she led the last sailor scouts, but she didn't want to be a sailor scout in the first place or even the moon princess.  She wasn't very good at first."

"But she got better, didn't she?" Luther asked.  "She learned an important lesson in life, to fight for love and justice."

"And my father, he wasn't the leader of the ronin warriors," Sailor Strata Moon mumbled, "Ryo of the Wildfire was."

"But he was a valuable member, wasn't he?" Luther put out, "he also learned a lesson in life, to save his friends, even if it costs himself his own life."

"What's my lesson, Luther?" she inquired, "what's my meaning in life?  Can you tell me, Luther, the meaning of life?  Can you?"

"My dear child, that is one thing I cannot tell you," Luther told her, "you'll have to find the meaning of life by yourself."

"You think I will?" she asked, a frown appearing on her face.

"Of course," he said with a smile, "you do, of course, carry the soul of life within you.  You'll figure it out soon, my child and you'll learn things the moment you let another arrow of life force fly."

"You're right," Sailor Strata Moon stood up, "Thank you, Luther."