Time for Everything
The Guardsman Chronicles, Chapter Ten
by Rick Federle
Mina stirred, opening her eyes. She was snuggled up with
William, who was apparently asleep. After the battle with Azmaria
yesterday, he'd spent part of the night struggling with the
nightmares that haunted his sleep. But the worst of his nightmares
seemed to have finally passed. She turned her head to read the
clock. It read 4:23. It was difficult for her to sleep with William's
nightmares, but she'd managed to get a couple of hours after all.
Her eyes turned back to meet William's, his eyes studying her.
"Did I wake you?" She asked quietly as their eyes met.
"No, I was watching you sleep." He confessed, glancing
away for a second. "What were you dreaming about? You were
smiling."
Mina smiled again. "I was dreaming about you." She
explained, resting her head against his chest. "I love you." She
whispered, surprised slightly by the sudden intensity in her voice.
William looked down at her and on impulse Mina raised her
head and pressed her lips against his. As she did, she felt a hunger
to be one with him, to surrender herself to the passions they shared,
to lose herself for just a moment rise out of the center of her being
and fill her, threating to consume her completely. She rolled on her
back, pulling him up on top of her. She fumbled with the buttons of
his shirt then slipped her arms underneath it and around him, her
fingers curling into claws at his back. As her fingernails dug into
his skin, he gave a soft groan of complaint, pulling his lips away
from hers slightly.
She raised her head, her lips seeking his, and he replied with
a hunger that matched her own as their lips met again. He took his
hands from her back as he pressed her into the mattress, his fingers
clumsily parting the top button of her blouse. He pulled his lips
away from hers and pressed them into the hollow of her neck below
her larynx. She gave a soft moan, tilting her head back as his lips
caressed her skin.
"No . . . wait . . . we shouldn't." He pulled back from her
suddenly, rolling off of her, forcing her to let go of him. He turned
away from her, his face pressed into a pillow.
Mina blinked a couple of times as her breathing slowed to
its normal pace and as the realization hit her she bolted from the
bed and disappeared into the bathroom. She leaned against the
sink, her knees weak from the sudden cascade of emotions.
Mina sighed wearily. It was getting more and more
difficult. They'd promised each other and themselves that they'd
wait until they were married, but they'd almost crossed that line.
She felt rather than heard William enter the room after a few
minutes. She looked up into the mirror to see him standing in the
open doorway, his eyes worried. He'd taken the time to rebutton
his shirt before coming to checking on her.
"Mina? Are you okay?" He asked after a moment.
She turned to him. "Just a little weak in the knees." She
admitted, giving him a brave smile. "I'll go sleep on the couch."
She told him, starting for the doorway so she could brush by him.
He snagged her by the waist, stopping her in mid step.
"No." He reached up and refastened the button on her blouse, then
offered her his hand.
Their eyes met wordlessly, reading forgiveness in each
other's eyes. Mina nodded and took his hand. Together they went
back and sat on the side of the bed. "Are you sure?" Mina asked
after a moment.
"Yes." William lowered himself back on the bed, not quite
suppressing a shudder. He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment
and when he opened them, he read the worry on Mina's face.
"Something's not quite right. Can you stay for a while longer?"
"I can." Mina decided. She curled up next to him, putting
her arms back around him.
He put his arms around her, drawing her close as he pulled
the sheets back over top of them. "Thank you." He whispered,
resting his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes, trying to
ignore the nightmares that rose to fill the void left behind.
* * *
Azmaria smiled slightly as she glanced around. Several
dozen Negawarriors were assembled. Azmaria had decided this
would be a sufficient group to take the Scouts out of the picture
once and for all. The Negawarriors would pound on the Scouts
until they were too exhausted to fight. Then they'd kill the Scouts.
With a nod, Azmaria and her warriors teleported across
dimensions.
* * *
"What happened, Mina?" Serena asked as she, Amy, Lita,
and Raye came up to the table where Mina and William were
sitting. "You weren't in school today."
"Long night." Mina glanced back at William, who hung his
head and she gave a soft sigh. "A very long night."
"One of those." William explained, drawing a nod from the
four girls. He closed his eyes. "And it's not over yet."
Mina reached across the table, taking his hands in her own,
squeezing them once for reassurance. He opened his eyes and
looked at her. "Let's go." She told him and William nodded.
"Sorry, gang." Mina smiled slightly by way of apology, her eyes
sober. The two rose and Mina dropped a tip on the table before the
two disappeared into the crowd.
The four girls exchanged a glance then headed back out into
the mall.
"I don't know how they stand dealing with those
nightmares." Serena commented after a moment.
"They do because they have to." Raye said quietly.
There was a sudden explosion of light and noise at the main
stage nearby. "I'm back!" Azmaria called with a laugh. "Tell
those Sailor Brats to come and get me!"
The crowd dove for cover, heading for the exits.
"Let's get her." Lita suggested.
"Right." Serena agreed with a nod. The four disappeared
into the nearest store, ducking into a set of changing booths to
transform. Amy tapped the all call button on her communicator and
whipped out her transformation wand.
The four Scouts exploded out of the store. "For love and
justice, I am Sailor Moon." Sailor Moon began. "And you have
interrupted these people's shopping." She leveling a finger at
Azmaria, who waited patiently on the stage.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Azmaria interrupted, waving a
hand dismissively. "Hurry up and make your speech so we can get
to the fighting part.
The four paused, glancing at each other.
"I spy four Sailor Brats." Azmaria commented. "Where's
the rest of you Sailor Wimps?" She caught sight of the Outers as
they came into view near Sailor Moon and the others.
"Goody, goody, goody." Azmaria rubbed her hands
together. "Main course!" She yelled into the air. The Scouts
drew back in surprise and revulsion as the Negawarriors she had
gathered materialized around them.
"I think we have a problem." Jupiter commented
unnecessarily.
Mina glanced down at her communicator in surprise as the
all call came across. She leaned over to William's ear. "All call."
She whispered. He nodded and the two began looking for a place
to transform.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Dead Scream."
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
Azmaria brushed aside Sailor Moon's attack while half a
dozen of her Negawarriors died while closing. The Negawarriors
leaped into hand to hand combat, with at least three on each Scout.
"We could use some help here." Sailor Moon panted,
frantically blocking attacks from three Negawarriors at once.
"Tell me about it." Jupiter agreed, her hands moving
skillfully to block the attacks of several Negawarriors. "Jupiter Oak
Evolution!"
The Negawarriors leaped over the attack before pressing
her again.
"Venus Meteor Shower!"
The energy beams tore into the ranks of the surprised
Negawarriors, sending several of them crashing to the ground.
Some of them turned only to find the Guardsman among them, his
body a blur as he went through their ranks like a hot knife through
butter. The Negawarriors tried to swamp him, but they just died
faster.
"Hi, gang." Venus flashed them a smile as she landed next
to Sailor Moon.
"Man, can that guy move." Mars commented, impressed.
"Does he plan on leaving any for the rest of us?" Uranus
asked.
"Probably not." Venus said. "He's getting himself some
payback."
Azmaria frowned as she watched the Guardsman tear the
ranks of her Negawarriors to shreds. She'd been expecting him to
show up, but not until after she'd trashed the Scouts. Time to take
him out, then.
The Guardsman looked up at Azmaria, leveling the point of
his sword at her. "You're next." He said and began to advance
toward her.
"Hardly." Azmaria waved a hand at him. His left fist
clenched and unclenched several times as he drew to a halt. "Now
kill her." She pointed at Sailor Moon.
The Guardsman slowly turned toward the Scouts, his eyes
blank. He raised his sword and began to advance toward Sailor
Moon. "You die now." His voice was hollow, empty.
"What are you doing?" Venus asked, stepping in front of
Sailor Moon.
"Must kill her." He continued his slow advance toward the
two of them. "Must obey master."
"Snack time!" Azmaria called with another laugh and
another dozen Negawarriors materialized around the Scouts.
"Problem." Mars said as the dozen Negawarriors closed on
them.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Dead Scream."
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
Saturn tried to cut one in half with her Glaive only to have
the Negawarrior sidestep the attack.
"Stop it." Sailor Venus said. "It's me. What's wrong with
you?"
"He belongs to me now." Azmaria said, her eyes narrowed
in concentration. "I control him."
"Not if I can help it." Venus disagreed as she stepped
toward the Guardsman. He hesitated when she reached him and
she pushed the blade out of her way. She stretched up and kissed
him, throwing her arms around his neck, pouring all her love for
him into the kiss. He lowered the blade, his arms hanging limply at
his side.
Azmaria's eyes narrowed as she fought to keep him under
control.
The sword fell to the floor with a clatter as he put his arms
around her. Azmaria shook her head as she staggered back, her
control lost.
Venus pulled her lips away from his. "Thanks." The voice
was his own again. She smiled and nodded.
"That was low." Sailor Moon said, stepping around the
couple. The other Scouts advanced to join her.
"Well, look at the time." Azmaria gave her a smile. "Gotta
go." She vanished.
* * *
"Mina?" William asked as he clung to Mina that night.
"Yes, William?"
"Will you marry me?"
"I already said I would."
"I mean formally." He clarified. "Mina, will you marry me?
Will you be my wife?"
Mina looked up into his eyes, realizing how serious he was.
"Yes, William. I will marry you. I will be your wife." With that,
she closed her eyes and curled up against him, feeling content and
happy. She was where she belonged, in the arms of her love.
The Guardsman Chronicles, Chapter Ten
by Rick Federle
Mina stirred, opening her eyes. She was snuggled up with
William, who was apparently asleep. After the battle with Azmaria
yesterday, he'd spent part of the night struggling with the
nightmares that haunted his sleep. But the worst of his nightmares
seemed to have finally passed. She turned her head to read the
clock. It read 4:23. It was difficult for her to sleep with William's
nightmares, but she'd managed to get a couple of hours after all.
Her eyes turned back to meet William's, his eyes studying her.
"Did I wake you?" She asked quietly as their eyes met.
"No, I was watching you sleep." He confessed, glancing
away for a second. "What were you dreaming about? You were
smiling."
Mina smiled again. "I was dreaming about you." She
explained, resting her head against his chest. "I love you." She
whispered, surprised slightly by the sudden intensity in her voice.
William looked down at her and on impulse Mina raised her
head and pressed her lips against his. As she did, she felt a hunger
to be one with him, to surrender herself to the passions they shared,
to lose herself for just a moment rise out of the center of her being
and fill her, threating to consume her completely. She rolled on her
back, pulling him up on top of her. She fumbled with the buttons of
his shirt then slipped her arms underneath it and around him, her
fingers curling into claws at his back. As her fingernails dug into
his skin, he gave a soft groan of complaint, pulling his lips away
from hers slightly.
She raised her head, her lips seeking his, and he replied with
a hunger that matched her own as their lips met again. He took his
hands from her back as he pressed her into the mattress, his fingers
clumsily parting the top button of her blouse. He pulled his lips
away from hers and pressed them into the hollow of her neck below
her larynx. She gave a soft moan, tilting her head back as his lips
caressed her skin.
"No . . . wait . . . we shouldn't." He pulled back from her
suddenly, rolling off of her, forcing her to let go of him. He turned
away from her, his face pressed into a pillow.
Mina blinked a couple of times as her breathing slowed to
its normal pace and as the realization hit her she bolted from the
bed and disappeared into the bathroom. She leaned against the
sink, her knees weak from the sudden cascade of emotions.
Mina sighed wearily. It was getting more and more
difficult. They'd promised each other and themselves that they'd
wait until they were married, but they'd almost crossed that line.
She felt rather than heard William enter the room after a few
minutes. She looked up into the mirror to see him standing in the
open doorway, his eyes worried. He'd taken the time to rebutton
his shirt before coming to checking on her.
"Mina? Are you okay?" He asked after a moment.
She turned to him. "Just a little weak in the knees." She
admitted, giving him a brave smile. "I'll go sleep on the couch."
She told him, starting for the doorway so she could brush by him.
He snagged her by the waist, stopping her in mid step.
"No." He reached up and refastened the button on her blouse, then
offered her his hand.
Their eyes met wordlessly, reading forgiveness in each
other's eyes. Mina nodded and took his hand. Together they went
back and sat on the side of the bed. "Are you sure?" Mina asked
after a moment.
"Yes." William lowered himself back on the bed, not quite
suppressing a shudder. He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment
and when he opened them, he read the worry on Mina's face.
"Something's not quite right. Can you stay for a while longer?"
"I can." Mina decided. She curled up next to him, putting
her arms back around him.
He put his arms around her, drawing her close as he pulled
the sheets back over top of them. "Thank you." He whispered,
resting his forehead against hers. He closed his eyes, trying to
ignore the nightmares that rose to fill the void left behind.
* * *
Azmaria smiled slightly as she glanced around. Several
dozen Negawarriors were assembled. Azmaria had decided this
would be a sufficient group to take the Scouts out of the picture
once and for all. The Negawarriors would pound on the Scouts
until they were too exhausted to fight. Then they'd kill the Scouts.
With a nod, Azmaria and her warriors teleported across
dimensions.
* * *
"What happened, Mina?" Serena asked as she, Amy, Lita,
and Raye came up to the table where Mina and William were
sitting. "You weren't in school today."
"Long night." Mina glanced back at William, who hung his
head and she gave a soft sigh. "A very long night."
"One of those." William explained, drawing a nod from the
four girls. He closed his eyes. "And it's not over yet."
Mina reached across the table, taking his hands in her own,
squeezing them once for reassurance. He opened his eyes and
looked at her. "Let's go." She told him and William nodded.
"Sorry, gang." Mina smiled slightly by way of apology, her eyes
sober. The two rose and Mina dropped a tip on the table before the
two disappeared into the crowd.
The four girls exchanged a glance then headed back out into
the mall.
"I don't know how they stand dealing with those
nightmares." Serena commented after a moment.
"They do because they have to." Raye said quietly.
There was a sudden explosion of light and noise at the main
stage nearby. "I'm back!" Azmaria called with a laugh. "Tell
those Sailor Brats to come and get me!"
The crowd dove for cover, heading for the exits.
"Let's get her." Lita suggested.
"Right." Serena agreed with a nod. The four disappeared
into the nearest store, ducking into a set of changing booths to
transform. Amy tapped the all call button on her communicator and
whipped out her transformation wand.
The four Scouts exploded out of the store. "For love and
justice, I am Sailor Moon." Sailor Moon began. "And you have
interrupted these people's shopping." She leveling a finger at
Azmaria, who waited patiently on the stage.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Azmaria interrupted, waving a
hand dismissively. "Hurry up and make your speech so we can get
to the fighting part.
The four paused, glancing at each other.
"I spy four Sailor Brats." Azmaria commented. "Where's
the rest of you Sailor Wimps?" She caught sight of the Outers as
they came into view near Sailor Moon and the others.
"Goody, goody, goody." Azmaria rubbed her hands
together. "Main course!" She yelled into the air. The Scouts
drew back in surprise and revulsion as the Negawarriors she had
gathered materialized around them.
"I think we have a problem." Jupiter commented
unnecessarily.
Mina glanced down at her communicator in surprise as the
all call came across. She leaned over to William's ear. "All call."
She whispered. He nodded and the two began looking for a place
to transform.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!"
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Dead Scream."
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
Azmaria brushed aside Sailor Moon's attack while half a
dozen of her Negawarriors died while closing. The Negawarriors
leaped into hand to hand combat, with at least three on each Scout.
"We could use some help here." Sailor Moon panted,
frantically blocking attacks from three Negawarriors at once.
"Tell me about it." Jupiter agreed, her hands moving
skillfully to block the attacks of several Negawarriors. "Jupiter Oak
Evolution!"
The Negawarriors leaped over the attack before pressing
her again.
"Venus Meteor Shower!"
The energy beams tore into the ranks of the surprised
Negawarriors, sending several of them crashing to the ground.
Some of them turned only to find the Guardsman among them, his
body a blur as he went through their ranks like a hot knife through
butter. The Negawarriors tried to swamp him, but they just died
faster.
"Hi, gang." Venus flashed them a smile as she landed next
to Sailor Moon.
"Man, can that guy move." Mars commented, impressed.
"Does he plan on leaving any for the rest of us?" Uranus
asked.
"Probably not." Venus said. "He's getting himself some
payback."
Azmaria frowned as she watched the Guardsman tear the
ranks of her Negawarriors to shreds. She'd been expecting him to
show up, but not until after she'd trashed the Scouts. Time to take
him out, then.
The Guardsman looked up at Azmaria, leveling the point of
his sword at her. "You're next." He said and began to advance
toward her.
"Hardly." Azmaria waved a hand at him. His left fist
clenched and unclenched several times as he drew to a halt. "Now
kill her." She pointed at Sailor Moon.
The Guardsman slowly turned toward the Scouts, his eyes
blank. He raised his sword and began to advance toward Sailor
Moon. "You die now." His voice was hollow, empty.
"What are you doing?" Venus asked, stepping in front of
Sailor Moon.
"Must kill her." He continued his slow advance toward the
two of them. "Must obey master."
"Snack time!" Azmaria called with another laugh and
another dozen Negawarriors materialized around the Scouts.
"Problem." Mars said as the dozen Negawarriors closed on
them.
"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!"
"Mars Flame Sniper!"
"Jupiter Oak Evolution!"
"Dead Scream."
"World Shaking!"
"Deep Submerge!"
Saturn tried to cut one in half with her Glaive only to have
the Negawarrior sidestep the attack.
"Stop it." Sailor Venus said. "It's me. What's wrong with
you?"
"He belongs to me now." Azmaria said, her eyes narrowed
in concentration. "I control him."
"Not if I can help it." Venus disagreed as she stepped
toward the Guardsman. He hesitated when she reached him and
she pushed the blade out of her way. She stretched up and kissed
him, throwing her arms around his neck, pouring all her love for
him into the kiss. He lowered the blade, his arms hanging limply at
his side.
Azmaria's eyes narrowed as she fought to keep him under
control.
The sword fell to the floor with a clatter as he put his arms
around her. Azmaria shook her head as she staggered back, her
control lost.
Venus pulled her lips away from his. "Thanks." The voice
was his own again. She smiled and nodded.
"That was low." Sailor Moon said, stepping around the
couple. The other Scouts advanced to join her.
"Well, look at the time." Azmaria gave her a smile. "Gotta
go." She vanished.
* * *
"Mina?" William asked as he clung to Mina that night.
"Yes, William?"
"Will you marry me?"
"I already said I would."
"I mean formally." He clarified. "Mina, will you marry me?
Will you be my wife?"
Mina looked up into his eyes, realizing how serious he was.
"Yes, William. I will marry you. I will be your wife." With that,
she closed her eyes and curled up against him, feeling content and
happy. She was where she belonged, in the arms of her love.