Legend of the Dark Moon – Chapter 3
Her eyes surveyed the damage she had caused. Houses were overturned,
cows and sheep murdered, even the plants didn't escape from the horrible
force. Her whole face seemed to glow with an eerie kind of light, and she moved
her eyes to a man who was surrounded by what looked like people who were
trying to protect him. Her lips curled into a smirk, she was going to enjoy this.
The group of muttered strange words under their breath and multicolored
streams of power came flowing towards her. The smirk grew as she held up her
arm throwing her own black power at them knocking them to the ground
unconscious. Her new power was stronger than she thought, normally it took
twice to do that.
Her smirk changed to a smile, a vicious smile, and her red hair blew
around her as black power surrounded her body. Lighting flashed and thunder
growled. She thrust her hands forward and a dark black stream of fire burst into
the planets core. At first nothing seemed to happen but slowly the planet began
to break apart floating into space. With one last sputter the planet exploded
leaving nothing but a few asteroids.
She smiled at the stars and spoke to one far in the distance, "I'm coming, I
will do my master's bidding."
It seemed as if the star shone more brightly in return.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Serenity looked up as the door opened, for the last few hours she'd been
thinking about how she would do this and what she would say. Alex had offered
to come with her, but Serenity knew how bad her temper was especially when it
involved her family. So Serenity had come alone, even if she did wish she had
some back up.
Ryan himself was a little preoccupied as he stepped through the door into
his antechamber not noticing his daughter until he was standing next to her, she
was sitting in a velvet chair obviously as out of it as he was. He watched her for a
second before speaking, he was a little curious about why she was here, Serenity
never came to his rooms normally.
"Sere?"
Serenity blinked a few times losing her train of thought to concentrate on
her father, "Oh, father, when did you get here?"
He looked at her curiously she seemed a little more preoccupied, "Just
now, is there something the matter?"
Serenity nodded, "Maybe, I was just wondering why Charity isn't
attending Winter Festival."
He looked shocked for a moment before regaining his composure. "How
did you know about that?"
She watched him stumble over his emotions, and it confirmed what she
had already feared. "Dark Moon. Alex and I had decided that something was
happening, we just weren't sure what."
Ryan sighed and sat down in a chair adjacent to hers, "How did you find
out? Nobody was supposed to know."
Serenity almost hit him for being so uncaring and detached. "You really
don't understand do you? Charity told us, well she hinted at it. The rest we figured
out on our own."
His eyes closed and his voice was pained, "Do you really think I wanted to
do this? It was a final option, and the council voted on it. If I had a choice I
wouldn't do it!"
"I know, it's just we can feel what she's feeling. It's not easy." She took a
deep breath and changed the subject. "What do you think of Prince Mercury?"
Ryan looked a little stunned at both the subject change and the question.
"He seems to be a nice young man. Why? Are you already planning your
wedding?"
Serenity grinned, "Not me, but maybe Charity."
Again Ryan looked stunned.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Oh wow! You look great, the party's going to be so much fun. Who
knows maybe we'll even get to dance with some cute Lord!" Jupiter said. She
was required to attend in her senshi guise but her two friends were not.
Serenity smiled, "I don't know this dress seems to be to much for this
celebration, what do you think?"
The dress was a pale pink creation with tiny sequins glittering on the
bodice. "No, I don't think so, it looks great! It'd be a waste not to wear it!" Venus
said as she brushed her hair.
Alexandra nodded, "Sere it looks perfect!"
Serenity slowly smiled, "I believe you guys." She looked over at Alex's dress
it was a plain but graceful looking green dress that whistled when she walked.
"You look great too."
She blushed, she was insecure when it came to wearing dresses. "Thank
you, but I feel bad about Charity not being able to go."
Mercury's voice entered the conversation, "I know, even Queen Serenity
is going this year."
Since the whole palace knew of Charity's return they also knew of her not
attending Winter Festival. Charity herself had been amazingly understanding
since she returned, and she seemed different. More confident in herself and in her
friends.
Venus looked at Serenity through the mirror, "She'll be okay, and she has
a lot to think about."
Uranus looked at Venus questioningly, "What do you mean? What does
she have to think about?"
Neptune giggled, "Can't you tell?"
Uranus glared at her, "What does that mean? What's going on?"
"Charity's in love! That's why she's been walking around the palace in a
daze for the last three days!" Venus replied.
Uranus made a rude noise, "If whoever she's in love with breaks her heart
I'll make sure he's shipped back home in at least twelve pieces."
No one knew who the mysterious man was that is with the exception of
Serenity and Alexandra, and so as they finished preparing for the festival they
gossiped over who the man was. By the time they were through they had
decided that it must be Prince Endymion of Earth.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Charity watched from her balcony as her friends walked out of the
palace gates and into the city, they all waved and had promised before they left
to bring something back for her.
Her company for the night was a stack of books, twelve in fact, which
had been left for her by Luna. The black cat had not left until she gave her a
lecture on how important studies were. At the moment books were the last thing
she wanted to look at.
She had avoided attending the get together in Serenity's chambers
because she knew what they would be talking about. Dresses, food, and boys.
Most of all she didn't want to feel left out, so she had set in here writing a letter to
Adrian.
She missed him, she missed the holy green of his eyes and the dark black
hair which seemed to fit in with the stars. She knew that she probably wouldn't be
able to see him for a while either, he was the crown prince of Mercury, and he
had duties to uphold. That didn't mean she was happy about it.
A maid quietly knocked at her door, and handed her a small box with a
note on top. Thanking the maid she closed the door and ripped the note
opened. It was from her father. It simply said, 'I'm sorry. I know this won't make up
for it but I can't stand to see you sad. Hopefully it will keep you company.'
Curious she lifted the lid off the box, and giggled at it's contents. Inside
was a kitten, it's eyes as the same shade of green as Adrian's and it seemed to
be quite confused as to why it was being stuck in a box.
"Meow, are you my new mistress?"
Charity giggled again at the term, "No, I'm just your owner, but if you'd
like to leave you may."
The cat cocked it's head to the side, "I would like to stay, but I do not
know your name mistress."
"I am Charity, so stop calling me mistress." She looked down at the cat's
brown fur and scratched her behind the ears, "What's your name?"
The kitten purred, "Selene."
She couldn't help smiling, "Selene is my favorite goddess."
Selene looked around the room, "Do you not have any food? I have not
eaten since this morning when the pretty King found me in the alley."
Charity looked startled, "Don't you have a family?"
Selene shook her head, "No, but the King told me that you'd make a
good family and you would treat me nice."
"Of course I will, just don't go taking any lessons from Luna. She'll have
you bossing me around in a couple of days."
"Is Luna a cat too?"
Charity nodded as she picked up the cat and began to walk out of her
room towards the kitchens, "Yes. I don't know if we have anything cooked or not,
but I'm sure we'll be able to find some tuna somewhere."
Selene began to purr as Charity continued to pet her, "I've never had
tuna before."
"Never?" She picked up a can of tuna from the counter where no doubt
her father had left it, "Here, try it."
The cat purred contently as she ate the tuna.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Two hours later the festival was in full swing and music could be heard
through out the capital. Charity was watching the festivities from the balcony in
the throne room, it had the best view of the city. Selene was fast asleep beside
her tired from the tour she had been given.
Charity was almost beginning to think nothing would happen tonight. Of
course that's when it did. Charity was walking back through the throne room to
go to her room when she her laughter. The kind that makes you cringe inside.
"So you're all the protection they left? I was sure there would be more,
after all isn't the castle the most important part of a kingdom?" The voice was
high and screechy and it reminded her of nails on a chalkboard.
"Who says the castle needs more protection then me? After all nothing
has happened so far." Charity made her voice sound carefree, but she was just
beginning to feel nervous.
The person rose from the throne surrounded by long red hair, she wasn't
pretty, but she looked elegant except for the evil, which shone, in her eyes.
"Believe me little girl, you won't be able to hold me off. But I will be gentle on you,
you remind me of myself."
Charity set down Selene who was already awake and whispered in her
ear, "Find the pretty king you were talking about, and bring him back here. Tell
him to leave the senshi at the festival."
Selene meowed and ran off her feet padding on the stone floor.
Turning back to the woman Charity smiled, "Aren't you going to introduce
yourself? It would be awfully rude not to."
The woman grinned, "I am Beryl, and I have been chosen to annihilate
anything and anyone who has business with the Moon Kingdom or it's Alliance.
And you are?"
Charity smiled, "Oh you probably don't know me. I'm Charity, better
known as Dark Moon."
Beryl seemed to think this over, she had never heard of anyone called
Dark Moon, but she did know that Charity was the third princess of the Moon
Kingdom. Her master had said she was not a threat. "Princess Charity a pleasure
to meet you, but I am afraid that you will be buried here tonight."
"We'll just have to see about that wont we?" She closed her eyes and
concentrated on her magic, black lightning stuck her and when it cleared Dark
Moon stood ready for battle. "Now, can we get on with this? I was just about to
go to bed, I'm afraid it's been a tiring day."
Beryl laughed, "I do believe I will enjoy this battle young princess. I hope
you said goodbye to your loved ones."
Charity yawned, "This talk is getting old, would you please get on with it? I
would like to get back to bed."
Beryl sneered and a blood red energy beam at her, but before it even
got close to reaching her it dissipated into nothing. Beryl stared confused at the
spot where her attack should have hit, and threw one twice as powerful back.
Charity just smiled as she watched the second one do the same as the
first, Beryl was underestimating her power. If she continued throwing little attacks
she wasn't going to get anywhere.
"What are you doing? You can't be that powerful!" Beryl was pissed, she
threw her most powerful beam at Dark Moon.
Charity was unprepared; she had thought that Beryl didn't have any real
power. Cursing her own stupidness she was thrown back into a wall, in the
process twisting her ankle and gaining little cuts and bruises. With an angry
scream she threw back one of her own attacks, "Moon Strobe Beams!" The dark
energy separated into tiny beams, hitting Beryl who had figure her own attack
had already killed the moon princess.
Beryl wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, "Maybe this will be
an interesting battle, tell me Princess how many attacks do you have up your
sleeve?"
Charity just grinned.
In anger Beryl growled and used the attack she had used to destroy the
plant of Solar, only this time the dark black power was focused on one person.
Charity.
Dark Moon's eyes widened, this wasn't the kind of attack a human could
throw. No, there was no way Beryl had learned this kind of magic on her own. Her
own shield was buckling under the power.
Beryl laughed triumphantly, and forced more of the power at her
breaking the shield that was protecting her. "I'm sorry princess, but my mission is
to kill the royal family of the moon. That would be you."
The attack had pretty much put Charity in unconsciousness, but she
wasn't going to black out until she knew she'd defeated Beryl. With her eyes
closed she began gathering as much power as she could from the things around
her. She could hear Beryl's shoes clicking on the stone floor heading towards her,
and she continued to gather power. She knew there was no way she would be
able to kill her in the state she was in, but hopefully she could get her to leave or
maybe Selene would bring her father back in time.
Beryl was unaware of her victim's thoughts as she continued to approach
her in hopes of finally finishing her off.
Finally, she could feel the breath on her neck as Beryl leaned down to see
if she was still alive, and with every ounce of power that she had in her body and
the power she had gotten from the living things around the castle and she threw
at Beryl. With all her energy gone she let the blackness envelop her, and for once
she welcomed it.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Eight days later
Sailor Mercury checked her computer for the fifth time in two minutes as
she waited for Charity to wake up. The computer had told her that Charity would
wake up sometime soon, but she was becoming impatient.
For the last eight days she'd been sleeping. The whole palace was
worried, in fact most of her room was covered in flowers and candies from
people who wanted her to get better. There was a rather large vase of white
roses that seemed to be from someone who really wanted her to get better, and
everybody couldn't wait to see who they were from. Most of the senshi had
already decided they were from Prince Endymion.
Nobody knew what had happened the night of Winter Festival, when the
senshi returned they found the throne room in ruins, and King Ryan crying over his
daughters body. At first they had all thought she was dead, but Mercury had
scanned her and she was alive. But barely.
The news spread through the alliance like wildfire, and princes and
princesses arrived at court to stay until Charity awoke from her slumber. The two
most concerned seemed to be the Crown Prince of Mercury and the Crown
Prince of Earth. Both had arrived only two days after the news had been
released.
Sailor Mercury had been curious as to why her brother had come, after all
he never seemed worried about anything that happened to the royal family
before. She knew she'd find out soon enough, if fact that's why she hadn't told
anybody that Charity would awaken today.
Charity groaned and opened her eyes blinking at the bright rays of the
sun, which shone through her window. At first she thought it all must have been a
dream, but that was about the time she realized her whole body hurt.
"How do you feel? You've been out for eight days." Mercury questioned
her voice full of worry.
Charity smiled, "I feel like I got run over by a carriage. How about you?"
Mercury giggled at her friends sense of humor, "I'm fine, but don't try to
move around you'll get a nasty surprise."
She cringed; she could already feel the effects of the battle. "What
happened? Did I get her?"
Mercury grinned, "I guess so, because she wasn't here when King Ryan
came back. We didn't find either of you till later, and Ryan has been blaming
himself for your injuries."
Charity frowned, "I wish he wouldn't do that."
Mercury smiled and helped her set up against some pillows, "There now
you can see all the flowers."
Charity's eyes widened, "Where did they all come from?"
"Princes, Lords, Counts. Who knows? You haven't been awake to open
them!" Mercury thrust the note that came with the white roses at her. "This is the
most interesting one, it came with the thirty-six white roses."
Charity blushed already knowing who it had come from, but she happily
ripped open the note. It said, 'Charity, if you ever do that again I'll kill you myself.
Adrian'
"Well is it from your boyfriend?"
Charity looked up from the note shocked, "Boyfriend?"
Sailor Mercury set down on the edge of the bed, "We all know you're in
love with someone. Who is he? Prince Endymion? He has been walking around
the palace in a daze since he heard of your battle."
"Endy's here? He shouldn't have come, he has to put his kingdom back
together!"
"So it is Endymion! The girls said it was but I didn't think he was your type."
Mercury stated.
Charity laughed, "Me and Endy? No, I'm not in love with Endymion. I do
think he and Sere would make the perfect match though."
Confused Mercury tried again, "Then who is it?"
She looked at her friend worried she wasn't sure what Mercury would think
about her courting her brother. In a whisper she replied, "Adrian."
Instead of the shock that she had expected Mercury just smiled as if she
had already known. "I guessed when he showed up here a couple of days ago,
but I wanted to hear it from you before I said anything. I always knew you two
were the perfect match but I could never get him to come to the palace so I
could introduce you two."
"Adrian's here?" Charity almost jumped out of bed to find him, but quickly
regretted it as she felt the sharp pains in her sides.
"Wow! Calm down, he's in conference with your father right now anyway.
He told me he planed to stop by when he got through. Why don't you take a
nap? I'll wake you when he comes okay?" Mercury asked as she picked up the
book she'd been reading before Charity woke up.
Realizing how tired she was she agreed, and couldn't wait to wake up.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"You want to marry my daughter?" Ryan asked the young man in front of
him. Prince Mercury had been pacing nervously around the room for the last half
hour trying to get to the point of the meeting.
Adrian smiled nervously, "Yes sir."
Ryan smiled, Adrian seemed to be exactly what Charity needed. He was
out going and caring and Charity would be able to lean on him for what she
couldn't do herself. "Why would you like to marry her, Adrian?"
Adrian sighed nervously, "I love her, sir."
Ryan's smile grew bigger, "I can't think of a better reason myself, but this is
a major decision. Are you sure you're ready for this? Charity isn't even of age, I
have to approve this."
Adrian grinned, "I've never been more ready for anything in my life." He
paused for a second, "When I found out that Charity had been injured it scared
the life out of me, I knew I wouldn't be able to live without her. Besides we're soul
mates."
Ryan looked shocked, "You're soul mates? When did you find out?"
"The day before she returned home."
"That's great! You have my permission."
Adrian smiled excitedly, now all he had to do was get up the courage to
ask her himself.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The knock at the door startled Sailor Mercury out of her reading stance.
She hadn't told anyone that Charity had woken up, so she wasn't sure who could
be at the door. Quietly she opened it, but she knew that she probably wouldn't
be able to wake Charity up.
"Adrian?"
Adrian smiled as he walked into the room his eyes lingered on Charity
where she was sleeping peacefully. "She hasn't woken up yet?"
Sailor Mercury smiled, "No quite the opposite, it seems she woke up just
long enough to tell me a little about you. When I told her you were here she tried
to jump out of bed to chase you down."
Adrian chuckled, "What did she tell you?"
Mercury smiled, "Not much, don't worry I won't tell the others. At least not
yet." She paused for a second as she remembered his meeting with the king.
"What were you talking to the king about?"
He blushed and looked down at the ground and barely whispered, "I
asked him if I could marry her."
Mercury gasped, "You did? What did he say?" Mercury knew that Charity
wasn't of legal age, but Ryan had a soft spot for her.
Adrian smiled but didn't look up from the floor, "Yes."
At that point Sailor Mercury did a very unMercury thing, she began to
jump up and down. "Oh my gosh! That's so great! I can't wait till she wakes up-"
Charity opened her eyes groggily, "Wait till whose up? I'm up."
Mercury just smiled and picked up her book, "I have to go, Alex called an
extra training session she said I could skip it to watch over you, but I think I'm
leaving you in good enough hands."
Adrian smiled and shut the door behind her. "How do you feel?"
Charity grinned, "I feel much better now, thank you for the roses they're
beautiful."
He smiled back, "Well, I figured that they would cheer you up, but if you
ever have the craving to do something like that again I WILL kill you."
"Hey, I didn't even think I was going to make it for a minute."
Adrian grimaced, "Don't talk like that, I can't imagine it if you didn't live.
Where would I be then?"
Charity was too stunned to do anything but smile.
"I have to ask you something."
She nodded, and again she felt the nervousness he was feeling.
"W…Will you marry me?"
For the second time in one day Charity tried to jump out of bed, this time
the consequences were a little worse. Her sides felt like someone was stabbing
her over and over again, and her leg burned.
Immediately Adrian was at her side putting her back against the pillows,
"You're really going to have to stop doing that."
"YES! YES! YES!"
Adrian chuckled, "You know for someone in as much pain as you are
you'd think you'd have no energy left."
Charity smiled and pulled his head down to hers and for once she wasn't
a bit shy. She just kissed him with every ounce of passion she could find.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The news spread through the alliance like wildfire, and everyone was
excited about the upcoming wedding. Charity gradually got better and before
long she was back at training, and much harder then before. It kept nagging at
her that she hadn't been able to defeat Beryl, and she was afraid of what would
happen if she couldn't next time.
The wedding was thrown together quicker then any other wedding in
history. The reason was the fact that nobody knew what was going to happen
next, and everybody wanted to be ready.
It had been decided that after the wedding the two would stay in the
capital until it was time for Adrian to take the throne of Mercury.
The only thing that really changed was the fact that Charity now was able
to be a senshi, Sailor Mercury. Of course there was no need for her to ever
become the second senshi of Mercury, but the point is she did have the ability to.
So the next two weeks came and went in peace nobody attacked and
the kingdom rejoiced the new engagement. And finally it was time for the
wedding.
Everybody who was anybody attended, and the ceremony took place
on a balcony where anyone who wanted could watch. That was one of the most
important things to Charity. The honeymoon was short, but it was everything they
expected.
When they returned it was back to training, but both of them were more
confident in what they could do. Charity was no longer shy, it was as if Adrian
was her backbone and as long as she had him she could stand on her own two
feet.
And Serenity had finally been introduced to Prince Endymion, and just as
Charity had expected they feel in love immediately. They were planning to be
married after her coming of age ball.
Nobody had heard anything about Beryl, but they all knew that she
couldn't be dead. So they all waited in patient weariness.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"You did not complete the task I gave you, would you wish to be
replaced by Metallia?" An inky black voice said.
Beryl lay on a stone bed her eyes wide with fear, "I will complete the task
master! I will do as I pledged."
The voice spoke again, "You have one last chance, attack at the coming
of age ball for the Princesses Alexandra and Serenity. Dark Moon will not be
attending; she will be in the middle of the galaxy. Take advantage of it."
Beryl sneered, she would get her revenge on the brat, but first she would
do as her master bid. Then there would be no place for the freak to hide.
Her eyes surveyed the damage she had caused. Houses were overturned,
cows and sheep murdered, even the plants didn't escape from the horrible
force. Her whole face seemed to glow with an eerie kind of light, and she moved
her eyes to a man who was surrounded by what looked like people who were
trying to protect him. Her lips curled into a smirk, she was going to enjoy this.
The group of muttered strange words under their breath and multicolored
streams of power came flowing towards her. The smirk grew as she held up her
arm throwing her own black power at them knocking them to the ground
unconscious. Her new power was stronger than she thought, normally it took
twice to do that.
Her smirk changed to a smile, a vicious smile, and her red hair blew
around her as black power surrounded her body. Lighting flashed and thunder
growled. She thrust her hands forward and a dark black stream of fire burst into
the planets core. At first nothing seemed to happen but slowly the planet began
to break apart floating into space. With one last sputter the planet exploded
leaving nothing but a few asteroids.
She smiled at the stars and spoke to one far in the distance, "I'm coming, I
will do my master's bidding."
It seemed as if the star shone more brightly in return.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Serenity looked up as the door opened, for the last few hours she'd been
thinking about how she would do this and what she would say. Alex had offered
to come with her, but Serenity knew how bad her temper was especially when it
involved her family. So Serenity had come alone, even if she did wish she had
some back up.
Ryan himself was a little preoccupied as he stepped through the door into
his antechamber not noticing his daughter until he was standing next to her, she
was sitting in a velvet chair obviously as out of it as he was. He watched her for a
second before speaking, he was a little curious about why she was here, Serenity
never came to his rooms normally.
"Sere?"
Serenity blinked a few times losing her train of thought to concentrate on
her father, "Oh, father, when did you get here?"
He looked at her curiously she seemed a little more preoccupied, "Just
now, is there something the matter?"
Serenity nodded, "Maybe, I was just wondering why Charity isn't
attending Winter Festival."
He looked shocked for a moment before regaining his composure. "How
did you know about that?"
She watched him stumble over his emotions, and it confirmed what she
had already feared. "Dark Moon. Alex and I had decided that something was
happening, we just weren't sure what."
Ryan sighed and sat down in a chair adjacent to hers, "How did you find
out? Nobody was supposed to know."
Serenity almost hit him for being so uncaring and detached. "You really
don't understand do you? Charity told us, well she hinted at it. The rest we figured
out on our own."
His eyes closed and his voice was pained, "Do you really think I wanted to
do this? It was a final option, and the council voted on it. If I had a choice I
wouldn't do it!"
"I know, it's just we can feel what she's feeling. It's not easy." She took a
deep breath and changed the subject. "What do you think of Prince Mercury?"
Ryan looked a little stunned at both the subject change and the question.
"He seems to be a nice young man. Why? Are you already planning your
wedding?"
Serenity grinned, "Not me, but maybe Charity."
Again Ryan looked stunned.
*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*
"Oh wow! You look great, the party's going to be so much fun. Who
knows maybe we'll even get to dance with some cute Lord!" Jupiter said. She
was required to attend in her senshi guise but her two friends were not.
Serenity smiled, "I don't know this dress seems to be to much for this
celebration, what do you think?"
The dress was a pale pink creation with tiny sequins glittering on the
bodice. "No, I don't think so, it looks great! It'd be a waste not to wear it!" Venus
said as she brushed her hair.
Alexandra nodded, "Sere it looks perfect!"
Serenity slowly smiled, "I believe you guys." She looked over at Alex's dress
it was a plain but graceful looking green dress that whistled when she walked.
"You look great too."
She blushed, she was insecure when it came to wearing dresses. "Thank
you, but I feel bad about Charity not being able to go."
Mercury's voice entered the conversation, "I know, even Queen Serenity
is going this year."
Since the whole palace knew of Charity's return they also knew of her not
attending Winter Festival. Charity herself had been amazingly understanding
since she returned, and she seemed different. More confident in herself and in her
friends.
Venus looked at Serenity through the mirror, "She'll be okay, and she has
a lot to think about."
Uranus looked at Venus questioningly, "What do you mean? What does
she have to think about?"
Neptune giggled, "Can't you tell?"
Uranus glared at her, "What does that mean? What's going on?"
"Charity's in love! That's why she's been walking around the palace in a
daze for the last three days!" Venus replied.
Uranus made a rude noise, "If whoever she's in love with breaks her heart
I'll make sure he's shipped back home in at least twelve pieces."
No one knew who the mysterious man was that is with the exception of
Serenity and Alexandra, and so as they finished preparing for the festival they
gossiped over who the man was. By the time they were through they had
decided that it must be Prince Endymion of Earth.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Charity watched from her balcony as her friends walked out of the
palace gates and into the city, they all waved and had promised before they left
to bring something back for her.
Her company for the night was a stack of books, twelve in fact, which
had been left for her by Luna. The black cat had not left until she gave her a
lecture on how important studies were. At the moment books were the last thing
she wanted to look at.
She had avoided attending the get together in Serenity's chambers
because she knew what they would be talking about. Dresses, food, and boys.
Most of all she didn't want to feel left out, so she had set in here writing a letter to
Adrian.
She missed him, she missed the holy green of his eyes and the dark black
hair which seemed to fit in with the stars. She knew that she probably wouldn't be
able to see him for a while either, he was the crown prince of Mercury, and he
had duties to uphold. That didn't mean she was happy about it.
A maid quietly knocked at her door, and handed her a small box with a
note on top. Thanking the maid she closed the door and ripped the note
opened. It was from her father. It simply said, 'I'm sorry. I know this won't make up
for it but I can't stand to see you sad. Hopefully it will keep you company.'
Curious she lifted the lid off the box, and giggled at it's contents. Inside
was a kitten, it's eyes as the same shade of green as Adrian's and it seemed to
be quite confused as to why it was being stuck in a box.
"Meow, are you my new mistress?"
Charity giggled again at the term, "No, I'm just your owner, but if you'd
like to leave you may."
The cat cocked it's head to the side, "I would like to stay, but I do not
know your name mistress."
"I am Charity, so stop calling me mistress." She looked down at the cat's
brown fur and scratched her behind the ears, "What's your name?"
The kitten purred, "Selene."
She couldn't help smiling, "Selene is my favorite goddess."
Selene looked around the room, "Do you not have any food? I have not
eaten since this morning when the pretty King found me in the alley."
Charity looked startled, "Don't you have a family?"
Selene shook her head, "No, but the King told me that you'd make a
good family and you would treat me nice."
"Of course I will, just don't go taking any lessons from Luna. She'll have
you bossing me around in a couple of days."
"Is Luna a cat too?"
Charity nodded as she picked up the cat and began to walk out of her
room towards the kitchens, "Yes. I don't know if we have anything cooked or not,
but I'm sure we'll be able to find some tuna somewhere."
Selene began to purr as Charity continued to pet her, "I've never had
tuna before."
"Never?" She picked up a can of tuna from the counter where no doubt
her father had left it, "Here, try it."
The cat purred contently as she ate the tuna.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Two hours later the festival was in full swing and music could be heard
through out the capital. Charity was watching the festivities from the balcony in
the throne room, it had the best view of the city. Selene was fast asleep beside
her tired from the tour she had been given.
Charity was almost beginning to think nothing would happen tonight. Of
course that's when it did. Charity was walking back through the throne room to
go to her room when she her laughter. The kind that makes you cringe inside.
"So you're all the protection they left? I was sure there would be more,
after all isn't the castle the most important part of a kingdom?" The voice was
high and screechy and it reminded her of nails on a chalkboard.
"Who says the castle needs more protection then me? After all nothing
has happened so far." Charity made her voice sound carefree, but she was just
beginning to feel nervous.
The person rose from the throne surrounded by long red hair, she wasn't
pretty, but she looked elegant except for the evil, which shone, in her eyes.
"Believe me little girl, you won't be able to hold me off. But I will be gentle on you,
you remind me of myself."
Charity set down Selene who was already awake and whispered in her
ear, "Find the pretty king you were talking about, and bring him back here. Tell
him to leave the senshi at the festival."
Selene meowed and ran off her feet padding on the stone floor.
Turning back to the woman Charity smiled, "Aren't you going to introduce
yourself? It would be awfully rude not to."
The woman grinned, "I am Beryl, and I have been chosen to annihilate
anything and anyone who has business with the Moon Kingdom or it's Alliance.
And you are?"
Charity smiled, "Oh you probably don't know me. I'm Charity, better
known as Dark Moon."
Beryl seemed to think this over, she had never heard of anyone called
Dark Moon, but she did know that Charity was the third princess of the Moon
Kingdom. Her master had said she was not a threat. "Princess Charity a pleasure
to meet you, but I am afraid that you will be buried here tonight."
"We'll just have to see about that wont we?" She closed her eyes and
concentrated on her magic, black lightning stuck her and when it cleared Dark
Moon stood ready for battle. "Now, can we get on with this? I was just about to
go to bed, I'm afraid it's been a tiring day."
Beryl laughed, "I do believe I will enjoy this battle young princess. I hope
you said goodbye to your loved ones."
Charity yawned, "This talk is getting old, would you please get on with it? I
would like to get back to bed."
Beryl sneered and a blood red energy beam at her, but before it even
got close to reaching her it dissipated into nothing. Beryl stared confused at the
spot where her attack should have hit, and threw one twice as powerful back.
Charity just smiled as she watched the second one do the same as the
first, Beryl was underestimating her power. If she continued throwing little attacks
she wasn't going to get anywhere.
"What are you doing? You can't be that powerful!" Beryl was pissed, she
threw her most powerful beam at Dark Moon.
Charity was unprepared; she had thought that Beryl didn't have any real
power. Cursing her own stupidness she was thrown back into a wall, in the
process twisting her ankle and gaining little cuts and bruises. With an angry
scream she threw back one of her own attacks, "Moon Strobe Beams!" The dark
energy separated into tiny beams, hitting Beryl who had figure her own attack
had already killed the moon princess.
Beryl wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, "Maybe this will be
an interesting battle, tell me Princess how many attacks do you have up your
sleeve?"
Charity just grinned.
In anger Beryl growled and used the attack she had used to destroy the
plant of Solar, only this time the dark black power was focused on one person.
Charity.
Dark Moon's eyes widened, this wasn't the kind of attack a human could
throw. No, there was no way Beryl had learned this kind of magic on her own. Her
own shield was buckling under the power.
Beryl laughed triumphantly, and forced more of the power at her
breaking the shield that was protecting her. "I'm sorry princess, but my mission is
to kill the royal family of the moon. That would be you."
The attack had pretty much put Charity in unconsciousness, but she
wasn't going to black out until she knew she'd defeated Beryl. With her eyes
closed she began gathering as much power as she could from the things around
her. She could hear Beryl's shoes clicking on the stone floor heading towards her,
and she continued to gather power. She knew there was no way she would be
able to kill her in the state she was in, but hopefully she could get her to leave or
maybe Selene would bring her father back in time.
Beryl was unaware of her victim's thoughts as she continued to approach
her in hopes of finally finishing her off.
Finally, she could feel the breath on her neck as Beryl leaned down to see
if she was still alive, and with every ounce of power that she had in her body and
the power she had gotten from the living things around the castle and she threw
at Beryl. With all her energy gone she let the blackness envelop her, and for once
she welcomed it.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
Eight days later
Sailor Mercury checked her computer for the fifth time in two minutes as
she waited for Charity to wake up. The computer had told her that Charity would
wake up sometime soon, but she was becoming impatient.
For the last eight days she'd been sleeping. The whole palace was
worried, in fact most of her room was covered in flowers and candies from
people who wanted her to get better. There was a rather large vase of white
roses that seemed to be from someone who really wanted her to get better, and
everybody couldn't wait to see who they were from. Most of the senshi had
already decided they were from Prince Endymion.
Nobody knew what had happened the night of Winter Festival, when the
senshi returned they found the throne room in ruins, and King Ryan crying over his
daughters body. At first they had all thought she was dead, but Mercury had
scanned her and she was alive. But barely.
The news spread through the alliance like wildfire, and princes and
princesses arrived at court to stay until Charity awoke from her slumber. The two
most concerned seemed to be the Crown Prince of Mercury and the Crown
Prince of Earth. Both had arrived only two days after the news had been
released.
Sailor Mercury had been curious as to why her brother had come, after all
he never seemed worried about anything that happened to the royal family
before. She knew she'd find out soon enough, if fact that's why she hadn't told
anybody that Charity would awaken today.
Charity groaned and opened her eyes blinking at the bright rays of the
sun, which shone through her window. At first she thought it all must have been a
dream, but that was about the time she realized her whole body hurt.
"How do you feel? You've been out for eight days." Mercury questioned
her voice full of worry.
Charity smiled, "I feel like I got run over by a carriage. How about you?"
Mercury giggled at her friends sense of humor, "I'm fine, but don't try to
move around you'll get a nasty surprise."
She cringed; she could already feel the effects of the battle. "What
happened? Did I get her?"
Mercury grinned, "I guess so, because she wasn't here when King Ryan
came back. We didn't find either of you till later, and Ryan has been blaming
himself for your injuries."
Charity frowned, "I wish he wouldn't do that."
Mercury smiled and helped her set up against some pillows, "There now
you can see all the flowers."
Charity's eyes widened, "Where did they all come from?"
"Princes, Lords, Counts. Who knows? You haven't been awake to open
them!" Mercury thrust the note that came with the white roses at her. "This is the
most interesting one, it came with the thirty-six white roses."
Charity blushed already knowing who it had come from, but she happily
ripped open the note. It said, 'Charity, if you ever do that again I'll kill you myself.
Adrian'
"Well is it from your boyfriend?"
Charity looked up from the note shocked, "Boyfriend?"
Sailor Mercury set down on the edge of the bed, "We all know you're in
love with someone. Who is he? Prince Endymion? He has been walking around
the palace in a daze since he heard of your battle."
"Endy's here? He shouldn't have come, he has to put his kingdom back
together!"
"So it is Endymion! The girls said it was but I didn't think he was your type."
Mercury stated.
Charity laughed, "Me and Endy? No, I'm not in love with Endymion. I do
think he and Sere would make the perfect match though."
Confused Mercury tried again, "Then who is it?"
She looked at her friend worried she wasn't sure what Mercury would think
about her courting her brother. In a whisper she replied, "Adrian."
Instead of the shock that she had expected Mercury just smiled as if she
had already known. "I guessed when he showed up here a couple of days ago,
but I wanted to hear it from you before I said anything. I always knew you two
were the perfect match but I could never get him to come to the palace so I
could introduce you two."
"Adrian's here?" Charity almost jumped out of bed to find him, but quickly
regretted it as she felt the sharp pains in her sides.
"Wow! Calm down, he's in conference with your father right now anyway.
He told me he planed to stop by when he got through. Why don't you take a
nap? I'll wake you when he comes okay?" Mercury asked as she picked up the
book she'd been reading before Charity woke up.
Realizing how tired she was she agreed, and couldn't wait to wake up.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"You want to marry my daughter?" Ryan asked the young man in front of
him. Prince Mercury had been pacing nervously around the room for the last half
hour trying to get to the point of the meeting.
Adrian smiled nervously, "Yes sir."
Ryan smiled, Adrian seemed to be exactly what Charity needed. He was
out going and caring and Charity would be able to lean on him for what she
couldn't do herself. "Why would you like to marry her, Adrian?"
Adrian sighed nervously, "I love her, sir."
Ryan's smile grew bigger, "I can't think of a better reason myself, but this is
a major decision. Are you sure you're ready for this? Charity isn't even of age, I
have to approve this."
Adrian grinned, "I've never been more ready for anything in my life." He
paused for a second, "When I found out that Charity had been injured it scared
the life out of me, I knew I wouldn't be able to live without her. Besides we're soul
mates."
Ryan looked shocked, "You're soul mates? When did you find out?"
"The day before she returned home."
"That's great! You have my permission."
Adrian smiled excitedly, now all he had to do was get up the courage to
ask her himself.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The knock at the door startled Sailor Mercury out of her reading stance.
She hadn't told anyone that Charity had woken up, so she wasn't sure who could
be at the door. Quietly she opened it, but she knew that she probably wouldn't
be able to wake Charity up.
"Adrian?"
Adrian smiled as he walked into the room his eyes lingered on Charity
where she was sleeping peacefully. "She hasn't woken up yet?"
Sailor Mercury smiled, "No quite the opposite, it seems she woke up just
long enough to tell me a little about you. When I told her you were here she tried
to jump out of bed to chase you down."
Adrian chuckled, "What did she tell you?"
Mercury smiled, "Not much, don't worry I won't tell the others. At least not
yet." She paused for a second as she remembered his meeting with the king.
"What were you talking to the king about?"
He blushed and looked down at the ground and barely whispered, "I
asked him if I could marry her."
Mercury gasped, "You did? What did he say?" Mercury knew that Charity
wasn't of legal age, but Ryan had a soft spot for her.
Adrian smiled but didn't look up from the floor, "Yes."
At that point Sailor Mercury did a very unMercury thing, she began to
jump up and down. "Oh my gosh! That's so great! I can't wait till she wakes up-"
Charity opened her eyes groggily, "Wait till whose up? I'm up."
Mercury just smiled and picked up her book, "I have to go, Alex called an
extra training session she said I could skip it to watch over you, but I think I'm
leaving you in good enough hands."
Adrian smiled and shut the door behind her. "How do you feel?"
Charity grinned, "I feel much better now, thank you for the roses they're
beautiful."
He smiled back, "Well, I figured that they would cheer you up, but if you
ever have the craving to do something like that again I WILL kill you."
"Hey, I didn't even think I was going to make it for a minute."
Adrian grimaced, "Don't talk like that, I can't imagine it if you didn't live.
Where would I be then?"
Charity was too stunned to do anything but smile.
"I have to ask you something."
She nodded, and again she felt the nervousness he was feeling.
"W…Will you marry me?"
For the second time in one day Charity tried to jump out of bed, this time
the consequences were a little worse. Her sides felt like someone was stabbing
her over and over again, and her leg burned.
Immediately Adrian was at her side putting her back against the pillows,
"You're really going to have to stop doing that."
"YES! YES! YES!"
Adrian chuckled, "You know for someone in as much pain as you are
you'd think you'd have no energy left."
Charity smiled and pulled his head down to hers and for once she wasn't
a bit shy. She just kissed him with every ounce of passion she could find.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
The news spread through the alliance like wildfire, and everyone was
excited about the upcoming wedding. Charity gradually got better and before
long she was back at training, and much harder then before. It kept nagging at
her that she hadn't been able to defeat Beryl, and she was afraid of what would
happen if she couldn't next time.
The wedding was thrown together quicker then any other wedding in
history. The reason was the fact that nobody knew what was going to happen
next, and everybody wanted to be ready.
It had been decided that after the wedding the two would stay in the
capital until it was time for Adrian to take the throne of Mercury.
The only thing that really changed was the fact that Charity now was able
to be a senshi, Sailor Mercury. Of course there was no need for her to ever
become the second senshi of Mercury, but the point is she did have the ability to.
So the next two weeks came and went in peace nobody attacked and
the kingdom rejoiced the new engagement. And finally it was time for the
wedding.
Everybody who was anybody attended, and the ceremony took place
on a balcony where anyone who wanted could watch. That was one of the most
important things to Charity. The honeymoon was short, but it was everything they
expected.
When they returned it was back to training, but both of them were more
confident in what they could do. Charity was no longer shy, it was as if Adrian
was her backbone and as long as she had him she could stand on her own two
feet.
And Serenity had finally been introduced to Prince Endymion, and just as
Charity had expected they feel in love immediately. They were planning to be
married after her coming of age ball.
Nobody had heard anything about Beryl, but they all knew that she
couldn't be dead. So they all waited in patient weariness.
^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^*^
"You did not complete the task I gave you, would you wish to be
replaced by Metallia?" An inky black voice said.
Beryl lay on a stone bed her eyes wide with fear, "I will complete the task
master! I will do as I pledged."
The voice spoke again, "You have one last chance, attack at the coming
of age ball for the Princesses Alexandra and Serenity. Dark Moon will not be
attending; she will be in the middle of the galaxy. Take advantage of it."
Beryl sneered, she would get her revenge on the brat, but first she would
do as her master bid. Then there would be no place for the freak to hide.