Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Sailor Moon or its love song My Only Love. Its here at long last, readers, revealing the Soul Crystal and tragic romance. I hope I did this episode justice in my version. And if anyone thinks I better get on getting Angie off Stephen's ass by getting her in love with somebody else, forever shout your suggestions. She annoys even me.
Chapter 21
Cat's in the Cradle and the Silver Doom
~ The Dark Universe ~
Kitty stood before Specter, her head bowed neatly. She wanted to bite Xeno, all he cared about was Raven. He was weak and stupid like Raven was, and deserved to die, then she'd get all the credit. Xeno was the only one allowed to hold the crystals, the two they had anyway.
Those rotten knights had them, but not for long, soon they'd all belong to Lord Specter. Red and yellow were in their grasp at least, the other crystals were useless to those goody-goodies. Specter wasn't angry with her because they at least had two, but if she failed now, she'd never live to see their victory. With her plan, there would be no more problems.
"Well, Princess Kittiana….you said you have a plan to discuss, start talking….Though neither of you have done a good job, two crystals and no princess. This had better be good….or you join Viper and Raven in eternal torment," Specter grumbled out," The goddess and I both grow highly impatient….and that's not beneficial to your existences."
Kitty nodded, ignoring Xeno's knowing expression. "Kitty does, yes. Kitty knows the identities of Mars and Moon Knight."
Specter shot up straight, his eyes broadening with surprise. "You found them!? Tell me now!" he let out, rubbing his hands together evilly. Kitty grinned. "No…."
Specter glowered at her and stood. "No?…..YOU DARE SAY NO TO YOUR LEADER!!" he bellowed. Kitty nodded. "Kitty won't tell you unless you don't touch Kitty in harmful ways. Kitty wants security that she will rule, not stupid Xeno who does nothing but track and fail, then logic Kitty to death. Kitty wants to survive and be in charge of this mission…..Lord Specter gets Moon Knight, if Kitty goes on. Deal?" she smoothed out.
Specter tightened his fist a moment, snarling, but did not speak for a few moments. Composure came slowly, his voice a clamor of hate and anger. "If you bring me Moon Knight and the crystals he possesses….I will….spare your life…."
"Always….Kitty wants to hear it." She grinned.
He growled, but nodded sharply. "Always. I will not kill you as long as you do it. Now what is your plan….Kittiana….?" he hissed out venomously. Kitty nodded and gave a sly smile at a still serious faced Xeno.
"Good, Kitty's plan is to trap Moon Knight in a place of my choice. Kitty sent a special invitation to the arcade he hangs out at, the place where he thinks he can hide. He will think Kitty kidnapped his family and will kill them if he tells his comrades. He will come with the crystals to bargain for their lives, then you and Xeno can witness Kitty's triumph when she steals them and drains him his energy."
Xeno sniffed. "That plan could fail….how do you know he'll buy it without proof?"
She giggled and whirled about on one foot. "Kitty thought of everything, walking dead man. He'll come….and he'll fall for it hook, line and sickle. Kitty is staking Kitty's life on this plan, it can't fail. He cares too much about innocents. Trust Kitty."
Specter looked at Xeno, then Kitty, thinking hard and angry. "Then….if you succeed, you will be spared, but I want his energy, I want him to suffer after to steal the crystals. If you succeed, that is….My patience has worn out for your antics and the failures….Viper was lucky….he died at the hands of the knights, but you will die as Raven did if you fail one more time, worse than Raven even. You will suffer endlessly in the torture chambers before I send your mutilated body into the living death! Is that perfectly clear….Princess?" he laced out, the last word iced over as the devil's wings.
She nodded, knowing there would be no failure. "As clear as the spittle of a dying human, Lord Specter."
"Good, now you get ready with your plan…..Xeno and I will wait for your call. Go now….before I change my mind of your usefulness….." he hissed out.
Kitty nodded and vanished with a growl of her powers. 'Drain, shmain…..Moon Knight dies for what he did to Kitty's beautiful face…then Glamour will follow. Kitty can make up any story Kitty likes. Kitty will still have Mars Knight's identity tucked under Kitty's belt. They can't touch Kitty with that in mind, Kitty can make up whatever story Kitty likes about Moon's sudden 'accident,' yeah.' She thought wickedly, grinning to herself as she imagined that boy strung up by his intestines for what he'd done to her beauty.
~
Specter looked at Xeno sharply, his teeth locked in a feral sneer. "Follow her, I can't see her intentions, so you will be my eyes Xeno. I'm the one who is in charge of this mission, not some insane little cat bitch. She may have their identities in her grasp….but that will change. Stay where her plan will take place and watch the little bitch. She'll suffer regardless for challenging me with her childish stupidity. And don't you dare get caught….let her think she's holding the cards for as long as you can." Specter growled out lowly.
Xeno nodded. "Kitty will never leave my sights, sire. She will regret defacing your evil name with her moronic behavior." Xeno said in a bow, then vanished with the crystals in their velvet bedded case. Kitty would learn respect and humility very soon. Xeno was loyal and smart, though only a lowly knight. Specter should have sent him instead of Viper then maybe the earth universe would be theirs long ago.
It mattered little at this point to think of what if's and maybe's, the crystals were at hand and Moon Knight was coming. It would all end for someone soon.
~ Haitsuchi's Arcade Heaven ~
- Next Day, 4pm -
Stephen flushed the toilet. It had been a few days since his rescue and it was nice to have a toilet again, not jars, or Kitty 'helping' him go. That was a nightmare of perverted cruelty and he never wanted to suffer that crap again. He ate like a horse when he was freed, nearly cleaning Allan out of all his groceries. He nearly called up Gaia to ask if he could crash at her place, but he didn't want to put her in any danger, or get those feelings again.
He hadn't seen Gary/Gaia since he came to crash at the arcade. Akki never seemed to mind him and sometimes she would talk to him about Allan. She was very pleasant and nice, but to think of her taking Allan away from Japan forever just hurt. He'd never get to see his friend again except on holidays. He wanted to stay in his native country, but Allan deep down must have had different ambitions.
Allan tolerated him staying there, buying Stephen's story about his parents telling him to improve his relationship with his brat sister or else. His parents were tough enough to do such a thing. His grades were good enough right now that saying he flunked a subject wouldn't work. At least Allan was here for him now, but even Allan couldn't stop Kitty from going after Stephen or his family. He was so worried, but he worried even more that Kitty was waiting for him to check out his home and then blow it up before his eyes.
'Farther away I am, the safer they are….' He thought, zipping up as he walked back into the room. It was ok, sleeping on the couch or the card table. He had a bathroom, a fridge, and Allan had said he'd get his clothes cleaned up when he needed it. Today was already day eleven for his jeans and shirt. Thankfully Allan loaned him some boxers and socks because his own were pretty much smudged with dirt and sweat.
He had given his shirt and jeans a rinse in the sing yesterday, but Akki walked in on him and screamed for Allan. Though he was in a daze when it happened, half hoping it was Gaia. He'd never intended to see her lovely body so thoroughly, but it was a crazy accident. She was probably avoiding him after his stupid attempt to kiss her. He still felt guilty, yet part of him wanted another chance at her lips, to love her mouth with all he felt in his heart. Then Glamour came to mind. He loved her too, which hurt. Gaia was around him more often than Glamour, but he'd fallen in love with Glamour first. He couldn't choose, he just couldn't, he loved them both and it was killing him.
Wham!
Stephen's thoughts peeled away as he walked right into the table and tripped right over it. "Yow! Oof…." He let out as he hit the ground front first. He pushed himself up gradually, the wind near knocked out of him. Then came someone clapping.
He looked up, still pushing himself off the floor and saw Allan holding a package in his hands. "I give you a 5.3 for the landing." He said with a grin.
Stephen sniffed and stood up fully. "Very funny…what a lousy place to put a table."
Allan sighed. "It's been in the same spot for years, Stephen, you daydreams just moved it for you magically. Evil elves and all that….Spooky." Allan laughed.
"Oh you're a real cut up today….I'm peeing my pants and rolling in the aisles its so funny," Stephen glowered," How about you tell me what's in the package before I heave a heart attack from the hilarity?"
Stephen didn't mean to sound so crass, but he saw nothing to laugh about when everyone he knew and loved could die if they were near him. It just weighed on his mind, he wanted to be free of the burden of Kitty, free of all the danger, but one could wish in one hand and shit in the other, then see which one piles up first. 'Always the crap….life sucks.' He thought as Allan presented him with the package.
"Its for you….no return address though, not very heavy either. Probably a bomb of someone you rammed into." Allan snickered.
Stephen frowned. "That's not funny….sincerely not funny…eh but in case, could you wait in the arcade if it is….?" Stephen let out sarcastically. Allan nodded. "Sure, sure….take your time….like it would be." He said, then left the room and the door clicked shut.
Stephen gulped a bit and set the package on the table. He pulled his talisman out and used the tip to cut through the shoddy tape. Kitty wouldn't send him a bomb. Only cowardly humans sent bombs. He wasn't a very important person so he doubted he'd be worth the explosives. Stephen sucked in deep breath and cut it open, then carefully opened the package up with his eyes shut.
He waited a few seconds before opening one eye. Nothing had jumped out at him yet, so the worst wait was over, for now. He looked inside, finding a small opal and a blood stained wallet and a doll. He blinked at them and picked the wallet up, the blood fresh and warm on the leather. He opened it up and there was his mother's license staring back at him with her bad hair day picture. One of her earrings sliding out of it to clink upon the table's surface, with the bottom lobe still attached. "Mom?….!" he gasped and dropped it, reaching in for the doll. It was his sister's doll, the same overly expensive doll that wet it diaper, some blood on the dress and some of his sister's hair. "Casey. Oh gods, no….!" he yelped and grabbed the opal, it sparked in his head and levitated out of his hand. It now hover a few feet away, across the table about, glowing a soft white.
He waited a moment until it made a soft humming noise and a holographic image of Kitty herself, holding his unconscious sister in her arms. The white clad cat witch had a dagger pressed to Casey's neck, drawing blood. "Casey! You let her go you bitch! I'll kill you!" h yelled at the image, but it just smiled brightly at him.
"Not likely, Moon boy….If you want to see mother and sister alive and in one piece, meet Kitty at the park where Kitty attacked you and dark boy. Come now before Kitty gives sister and mother happy faces on their faces and necks, with Kitty's claws. Come alone with the crystals and tell no one….or they die. Ta-ta, pretty boy." She giggled, then the opal shattered.
Stephen dropped the doll and ran out of the arcade fast, peeling past Allan. He didn't hear what Allan said. Stephen didn't care. His mother and little sister were going to die because of him, he couldn't let someone else die. Mark already had, that was one too many. Now his family was in danger. He couldn't let it happen. The crystals were in his pocket. He'd gotten them back before coming to the arcade to hide.
'Mama….Casey…gods, you didn't do anything to them….no, I won't let you die, no more dying!' his mind screamed as he ran for the park. He couldn't save Mark, he'd never gotten the chance, but he could save his mother and sister. He would, he'd save them and make Kitty pay dearly for even touching them.
He saw the park sign coming up and slowed himself down. He'd overshoot the spot where he and Gary/Gaia had been attacked if he ran too fast in the park. It was all coming down on him. He hadn't changed a thing or protected anyone. His mother and sister were in danger because he didn't face Kitty as soon as possible. He could have tried to find her harder, to challenge her anything, but now he and Mars were known to her sick little mind. Ray was in danger too so long as Kitty was alive. He had to end it today, or it'd never stop.
"Stephen! Wait!" a voice called out, Gary's muddled cold voice. 'Gaia?' he thought and stopped in mid-jog. He had not gone but a few feet from the entrance when the voice came. He turned around slowly, his cheeks threatening to redden.
"Gary….wha…what are you doing here?" he asked, his cross-dressing best friend in her male disguise running up to him. Sweat was on her face, dripping off softly. "I was yelling and yelling and you wouldn't stop….what's the rush?" Gary panted, taking off her sunglasses a little to wipe her wet brow.
"You were? How….long were you running after me?" Stephen asked, nearly smiling at how her gloved fingers slide on her skin, taking the sweat away softly. He shook his head hard to get such thoughts out of his head. The sunglasses went back on, Gary standing up straight and looking at him. "I was walking to the arcade when I saw you shoot out like a bat out of hell….what's wrong, you look so worried and flushed." Gary let out, catching her breath gently.
"I….uh, its complicated….I have to get into the park somewhere to meet someone. Its personal…I…don't want you to get hurt or anything…Gary." He said softly, taking a step towards her. She flushed a bit. He could see his presence alarmed her, but he didn't know why. He was so confused about his feelings, he didn't know what to think.
"You're in trouble….its not illegal is it? Is someone forcing you to do something? Come on, we're best friends. Let me help. You're helping me too….friends should help each other….right?" she said, stepping closer as well.
"Yeah but….this is different. No, its not illegal, but….its dangerous….someone took my…ah gods, if I tell you, she'll hurt them. I can't Gary."
Gary shook her head. "Its ok….you don't have to tell me, but at least let me watch you back. No telling what this person might do to you. You can't go it alone….maybe I…thought alone would save me, but my nightmares come back regardless of me staying hidden. I'm helping you whether or not you say yes." Gary said sharply.
Stephen hissed his breath out, but Gary stood there determined. She did have a valid a point. Friends helped each other, like he wanted to help her, but he wanted to be more than friends with Gaia. Maybe, now was a good time to tell her what he'd thought about, maybe, put his mind at ease.
"Ok, but, we're keeping to the trees, and when we reach that clearing we got attacked in, you stay in the brush so she doesn't see you…ok? I don't want you hurt too….it'd kill me to lose you," Stephen let out, biting his lip softly," and I need to talk to you….as well."
Gary nodded and got up beside him. "Me too….actually….let's…get going." Gary said softly, in her real voice.
Stephen smiled a bit and started to walk through the canopy of trees over the path they always took to Gary's apartment. It was different now, Gary wasn't his best male friend. Gary was his best female friend, a beautiful and hauntingly enchanting female. So much had changed since he saved Cyrus from being crushed, he was a super hero, his childhood friend was dead, he'd made new friends and enemies, thrust into a world he didn't fully understand, but his heart was the same. It wanted to understand how he felt, and now he had the chance to talk to Gaia about it, to take a chance and see what fate had in store for his heart. He might not get another chance. Kitty and him, one on one would be a difficult battle.
"Gary….I….well, I have this friend who has," he breathed out, wanting to kick himself for taking the coward's road,"…. feelings for this woman. He's loved her for a long time and was his first kiss, but….she's evasive, she's tortured and wants to go it alone. It hurts him so much to see her like this and he loves her so much but….he doesn't know if she wants to be with him. She always runs off on me and won't let him help her. The last time I spoke with him, he said….she was hurt, but….then she just ran off again. Then he…." He said softly, then looked at the leaves on the trees.
"Then he what?" she said, looking a bit disturbed, almost guilty about what he was saying.
'Yeah, while we're talking about me and making myself feel like a jackass. Gods, why did I have to make it sound like someone else's problem….I'm such a moron. Stephen…. You're such a cowardly liar!' He thought.
"Then he….met another girl, a girl that he just never noticed till recently and he don't know what it is but feels familiar about her. He's utterly confused and awful. He swears up and down that he can't feel so greatly for two women but he does. It's her eyes, he says, something in them tells him to remember something he can't. He….feels so much for them both, but, the other girl, she….it hurts so much to think how she has suffered too. He wanted nothing more than to pick her up and tell her it'd be all right and they would face it together, but he wound up making an ass out of myself and may have hurt her feelings. He feels so guilty about hurting her feelings….he knows he must have." He let out.
Gary watches him, still walking softly. "I….He doesn't know what to do anymore and its driving him insane. Every time he tries to think, he sees her eyes and wants to cry. Gary…..what…should he do….? Is he a horrible person for the way he feels….or what?" He said softly. He wanted to scream, to cry, anything so she would say something, but she just stared quietly at him.
"I'm sorry….if you hate me for saying all this. It's all right. I'm not the most together guy in the world….I may be smart and such, but when it comes to people, I'm a screw up. I…uh…can't really help my friend real well with his problem. I'd understand if you never wanted to speak to me again for bringing it up." Stephen added fitfully, rubbing at his arm as he walked on. 'Keep talking Stephen, look even more retarded than you do now….maybe she might deck you instead of just slap you silly….she has to know who I am talking about.' He thought sorely.
Gary touched her chin a moment, following him evenly. Her form seemed brighter in her male disguise, almost heavenly. He'd probably dream about her too and it would drive him insane. He'd deserve it for being so stupid to think Gaia felt love for him. He was the meathead babbling his heart out to her only a week or so after he'd discovered Gary was a woman. It was his own fault for being such a ditz with romance, his fault.
"Stephen….I….don't hate you." She said softly. He blinked a few times, stopping in mid-step as the words processed within his mind. "You….you don't?" he whispered out.
He shook her head. "I doubt I ever could….and you don't have to hide from me, like I don't have to hide from you. When you left my apartment, I wanted to tell you something else instead of what came out of my mouth….I was afraid you wouldn't understand but…."she let out softly, a tear streaming down her cheek. He gripped her hands softly, warmly holding them in his.
"But what….? Don't cry, please…." He said softly.
"Oh, please do cry, boys…..cause you're about to kiss the girls good-bye, baby! Time to play with Kitty!!! Aahahahahahahaaa!!" Kitty's voice cackled above them. Stephen gripped Gary's hands tightly as he looked up, seeing the white clad evil princess throw a white ball of light at them. "No! Gary run!" Stephen yelling, pushing Gary away, but it was far too late. The ball struck them hard, lighting cracking inside as it lifted them both off the ground. Stephen felt his mind dulling, darkness coming through the light. 'Gaia….' He thought, then everything went black, never able to see that he and Gary were being floated to Tokyo Tower.
~ Shinden Fenikkusu Doujou~
(Sacred Phoenix Dojo)
"He's late…." Ray muttered, watching Charlie a moment trip over her broom and she swept off the stone paths. It was a miracle she stayed upright at all, but he singing wasn't so bad. He could hear her sometimes softly singing her heart away, love songs mostly. Grandfather had woken up the day after his encounter with Kitty and the darkness inside his soul, back to pinching young ladies hind ends and boasting himself away. He was back to the dirty old man Ray knew, as well as the sane teacher. Charlie wasn't doing back flips or trying to be a super hero, nor taking any outward abuse from the bokkens.
Some things were sane, at least. Grandmother told him what he had told her to do, and he seemed to grow quiet and then took grandmother to their room. Ray hadn't seen them, except at meals and the occasional class he stood in with. Grandfather seemed to be thinking things over his behavior. Soon Ray would only have to think of being betrothed as a bad dream, that his grandfather was at last safe from that white fluffy psycho kitty tart.
"He's not usually this late, Ray….Maybe detention?" Lamont let out, chewing on his cherry bubble gum. As he blew his bubble, Angela's fingernail popped it quickly. Her face held a scowl. "Snowflake might be in danger, and if he got detention or something, he'd had to have been in school today, lame brain. Did you bother to tell him about the meeting in class?" She let out harshly.
Lamont sniffed, sticking his tongue out at her. Cyrus was in his lap, looking worried as well. The cat yawned a bit with a roll of his eyes. "I saw him in school, he left early. He said he didn't feel well….so he probably went to the arcade. I didn't stop there, I came right here, and yes, Miss Ice Queen, I told him we were meeting about Lady Venus and all….that she might be the princess of earth. I mean she had a cat of her own, she has to be as special as Stephen, I gather." Lamont replied.
"Yes, that cat spoke as I do….she might know more about the princess, and if that Lady Venus is who we have been searching for….we can at last vanquish Lord Specter." Cyrus said proudly, hopping off Lamont's lap and rubbed against Ray's leg.
Ray nodded towards Cyrus then frowned at Lamont. "How come you weren't drooling all over her….with your blonde fetish and all….you didn't even ask for her phone number or a date."
Lamont just rolled his eyes and went on chewing. "I'm particular…..she just didn't do much for me ok? Yes, she had nice hair, cute lips and long legs but…I don't know….She wasn't my type."
"I thought anything blonde in a skirt was your type."
Lamont grinned snidely at her. "Anything of my own species….and female, so that wouldn't include you. I just happen to prefer blondes….sentimental reasons anyway. I don't go stalking my interests to hysterics."
"Why you little ape!" Angie hissed, reaching to slap him, but ray got between them. "Enough already!! Ok, so even Lamont has standards. Give it a rest. We're concerned about the meathead, aren't we? If he went to the arcade early from school….he should really be here by now." Ray growled out.
"Who isn't here, Ray-san?"
Ray stopped in his movements a moment, his head finally turning towards his grandfather's voice. The short old man and the old woman were not but five feet away, so quiet one could have heard a butterfly's wings flit.
"How long were you standing there?" he asked.
The old man smiled and shrugged, approaching them with grandmother. He whispered something to her and the old woman went off down the path, where Charlie had vanished to, probably tripping away. "Only a minute, Ray-san, I saw Miss Angie-chan going and Lamont, and decided it'd be a good time to interrupt your group chat. So who isn't here?"
"Stephen, Grandfather….he's a touch late, is all. We're worried." Ray told him, praying his grandfather was being honest. The elder man nodded and made a slight gesture with his hand towards Ray. "Come here, Ray-san, I hope you have a little time to speak man to man with your old grandpa. You grandmother told me I was doing some odd things a while back." He said, grinning a bit.
Just like his grandfather to think it was amusing. "Yeah….we were worried something was very wrong with you, you scared me a bit." Ray let out softly, trying to act like he didn't understand what occurred either. The elder man sighed. "Well, you grandmother also told me how you acted when I was acting strange, that you stood up to me for that girl Charlie when I….was misbehaving in my tutelage," The old man blushed out, rubbing his nose," I spoke with Charlie and she confirmed it, and also told me that you never left until some horrible beast attacked me. That you jumped in to stop it before she went unconscious. Is this true? I wanted to hear it from your own lips, Ray-san."
Ray shrugged a bit, rubbing the back of his neck. He looked back a bit and saw grandmother coming back, tugging Charlie by her hand. The young woman looked like she'd fallen in the koi pond again. She even had a few cherry blossoms stuck in her hair. He sniffed a bit, how clumsy and awkward she was. It was a wonder she was able to walk.
He looked back at his grandfather, rolling his eyes a bit. Why care about what Charlie did? She was just some tipsy airhead, trying to defend herself. She was of no more concern to him anymore. "Yes, what she and grandmother said is true. I did my best….to defend you. It worked out, I got lucky." Ray said. It wasn't far from the truth. His grandfather would have hurt a lot of people as a beast. If Ray had done nothing, Stephen and Glamour would have died, with or without Lady Venus' help as well.
The old man smiled as grandmother and Charlie got up beside him. Grandmother had a pouch on her hip, something of a dark blue velvet color. He hadn't noticed it before. It was on her left side. He had been more intent upon looking at his Grandfather being outside for once, if he really remembered what happened. His worries were dampened now, but now he wondered what was up.
"Well, that synchs it. Grandmother, proceed." Grandfather grinned.
Grandmother smiled, making Ray worry again. She grabbed up Charlie's hand and tugs her to Ray, then grabbed up one of his hands. Ray felt his stomach tighten as their hands were gripped. He tried pulling out of it, but Grandfather slapped at his hand and shook his head. 'NO, no, no! I'm having a nightmare! I solved this problem when we stopped Kitty. Jeez, why me!? I don't even know her that well….ah….no one is safe, men and women are betrothed at random!' he thought wildly.
He could hear Lamont giggling and felt the wild urge to break that blonde-chaser's teeth in, but each time he tried to move, his hand was slapped. 'Just wait, Lamont….you me, and a katana have an appointment.' He thought harshly as his grandmother pulled out a long and thin red ribbon and wrapped their hand elegantly in it. It was soft and sleek, pure silk, and pure insanity they were using their old family tradition. It wasn't essentially a Japanese tradition, but his family's ancestors adapted it from an ancient Greek tradition. It was unique here as far as he knew.
He had to stand for it, and hoped their excuse for this was worth his personal freedom being stomped on. "Since it has been approved in my will as of yesterday and your father agreed as well, I officially betroth Ray Hitodama to Charlene Kunokun, with two witnesses not of the family to verify as such."
"Better make that three, mister-giggle-." A cheery voice let out. Ray turned and saw a young lady with long blonde hair and pink hair band with a small bow atop it. Her eyes were a cheerful blue, similar to her happy and joyous expression. There was a soft reddening in her cheeks, an obvious blush, and her hands to her cheeks. She was enjoying this miserable moment of his. At her feet, was that same amber cat, its tail swaying back and forth.
"Three then….miss uh…"
"Martina Keikoku*, Mister Hitodama. I'm a friend of Stephen's….we met near the junkyard a while back, old friends. Tee-hee." She giggled out, waving at the others.
'She's Venus….that cat of hers gave her away more than her little comment, and she's no help either.' Ray thought.
Ray simply turned away. She wasn't helping him either. "All right, three witnesses and our tradition continues. This betrothal is official, unless Charlene or Ray break it by adultery…..therefore, Ray will be ousted from the family….or….Charlene will be kicked out of the dojo. Faithfulness….matters." grandfather said with a light chuckle.
'If it mattered, would you grab young women's asses near constant? Adultery, I'm not even friggin' married!!' he thought angrily, glaring at his grandfather as his grandmother released their hands. "But you weren't yourself the last time you decided this, why are you not changing your mind?" Ray demanded.
"When Charlie and your grandmother told me how responsibly you acted towards your family and a bystander, I reconsidered thinking you a selfish boy who had a violent temper. What you took bravery and maturity to stand up to me, and to protect Charlie and me. I have misjudged you, Ray-san," grandfather beamed proudly," You have grown so responsible since you started making friends outside the military school. I have your friends to thank for my decision. You have certainly earned the right to be my heir, so long as you remain true to this arrangement. If your friend Stephen were here, I'd thank him too….but now its time for tea. Come Grandmother, and Charlie, lessons at 5 after you've cleaned the rest of the path."
Ray just stood and stared at his grandparents, watching them tread away. He and Charlie looked at each other for a moment afterwards, still in shock for the suddenness and the reason, slowly pulling out of the ribbon. Charlie wrapped it up neatly and put it in her pocket. She smiled a little, a soft pink in her cheeks. "He asked me to be honest and all….so I was." She said softly, rubbing at her cheek.
Ray nodded stiffly. "I guess…..sorry about all this. I know it's a shock and….well, not different, but….you know…." He tried, but then she smiled at him and patted his hands.
"I'm not sorry anymore." She said with a cheerful giggle and ran back down the path.
"How romantic." Martina tittered, clasping her hands together as if she was the one being romanced.
"Oh shut up you…..You're Lady Venus, you came here for a reason, but how did you know we'd be here? And stop that mushy pose, you're making me ill." Ray snapped.
She winked. "Oh all guys in love say that, just to deny it so they don't look soft and cute. –giggle- Yeah, I am Venus, and this is my friend Hina, my guardian cat. Hina went to your school and heard your Stephen and Jupiter talking before Stephen left the school. I was following him for a while till he burst out of the arcade and…kind'a…maybe lost him." She shrugged, walking up the steps to where the three knights stood. Cyrus sat at Ray's feet, looking at the amber cat intently.
"Did you see where he was headed, Miss Martina?" Cyrus asked. Martina giggled and smiled at Cyrus.
"Wow, another talking cat, cool. I hope you're not as naggy as Miss Prim Hina is. She is such an old lady sometimes, she even sasses me about my stellar wardrobe and keen shopping sense….and all the sweets and goodies I eat, and my comic books…..oh yeah, and how much time it takes me to pretty up in the bathroom and stuff.." The young lady counted off, wagging her finger at Hina. The cat looked annoyed and skittered up ahead of her.
Ray felt a pinch of horror in his soul when he saw the girl's attire. She had on an almost knee length pink skirt and knee high white stockings with pink flat bottom shoes. Her shirt was something out of a tasteless abstract painting, pink and canary yellow angular shapes on her long sleeves while the front had a big pink heart dead center within more of the delicate yellow. He felt like he was looking at a human wearing fresh and playfully colored taffy clothing, something out a sugary nightmare.**
'The insanity never ends, does it….now we have a total airhead with us to add to Stephen ditz land mind. Perfect…..what else could happen?' Ray thought, swallowing hard to control the geyser of bile that was threatening to peak out of his throat.
Cyrus frowned a bit, as much as a cat could, and looked to Hina. "Is your attention span a little larger, I hope and pray?" he asked. Martina huffed and planted her hands on her hips, her nose scrunching up.
"Yes, thankfully there's a brain between us. We saw him go into Tokyo Park with a dark haired young man. The youth had maroon attire on and was wearing sunglasses, and his voice was…a bit congested." Hina let out gently.
Ray nodded. "Sounds like ole Gary…..he's a close friend. What else, Hina?"
The amber cat nodded and continued. "Stephen seemed to be in an awful hurry to get inside….then we decided to reveal ourselves to you, and see if we could help find him. While Martina was walking here, since apparently she's not made to sweat, I was running, and saw a dark cloud forming over Tokyo Tower. I believe it might where your friend is now….for the tower seemed to grow darker with every second we moved." Hina said softly.
"Then we should go there now. Stephen and Gary might be in trouble." Lamont said. Angie nodded. "Yeah, we're a team, Kitty could have done something to make him go there….let's go!" Angie piped and started off quickly. Lamont nodded and began to go as well when Martina huffed. "Oh, silly running, I'm not wearing the right shoes for this….eeep!" she was saying, then Lamont hefted her over his shoulder.
"Oh shut up and I'll do the running, you dizzy bimbo!" he growled and sped off. Ray shrugged and followed, the guardian cats at his heels. "I just had to ask, didn't I? Only more can happen if you ask….damn. He better be all right, silly meathead, going off alone. Stephen, you better be ok or I'll kick you ass." Ray uttered.
Cyrus panted a bit and nodded. "Save it for Kitty. She's probably done something since she knows his true identity. He's the leader so in her mind he's the one Lord Specter wants the most. We had better hurry, Stephen is the only one that can banish the evil nature of possessed people. Without him, we might have to take innocent life trapped in the evil shells."
"Good point. But he still better be ok…." Ray breathed, running as fast as his legs could carry him along the sidewalk.
~ Tokyo Tower ~
"Nnnghh…..ow….wha?" Stephen mumbled, feeling something cold and solid under him. His icy blue eyes opened with a light flutter as he pushed himself off of it, seeing it was a metallic tile floor. He groaned a bit, and got on his knees, setting his hand to the side when his head began to pound. "Ahh….eh?" he breathed, his eyes moving to what his hand had touched. It looked like vine, a big purple one with green veins, like it was alive. It pulsed in his hand. He snatched his hand away from it watching it squirm like a disturbed worm. "Oh puke….what the hell happened….oh gods, Kitty….Gary! Gary, where are you!!?" he called, scrambling to his feet.
"Unnnghhh….here….what hit me?" Gary's softened voice replied a few feet away. Gary was laying on her back against a few of those disgusting vines. She pushed herself off them after she gave her head a decent shake. "Oh disgusting….gah!" Gary yelped and shot up, jogging over to Stephen with a squeamish look on her lips.
"What happened? Where the hell are we?" Gary gagged, rubbing the back of her neck. Stephen looked around and saw row of windows across from them overlooking several busy and darkened streets of Tokyo. "The tower….we're inside Tokyo Tower, but what's happened to it?"
"Like you don't know, hahahaha!"
Stephen flinched at the sound of Kitty's awful voice, sounding like she was all around and enjoying it. "Where are my sister and mother? What have you done to them!?" he shouted.
"Get to the elevator and you'll find out….if you can. There is sort of a time issue, pretty boy. AHAHAHAHAAAA!" Kitty cackled, her voice rising so much the room started to shake. Stephen felt something hit his shoulder lightly, then tumble off. He looked at it, and saw it was some loose pieces of stone.
His eyes lifted sharply to the cracking ceiling, thorns forming all over it like a virus, each one cracking around the rim. "RUN!" Stephen yelled, grabbing Gary's hand and speeding for the elevator as the first shattering thorn fell, stabbing through the floor. 'Shit, shit, shit, shit!!!!!!' his mind screamed, the door seeming within his reach, but the noise of falling stalactites growing every closer.
"Oh gods, jump for it!" Gary shouted, and hurled herself and him hard as her feet pushed off. They said a moment before rolling across the floor into the well lit elevator. A final shattering stalactite fell right before the door before the elevator closed, and began to move upwards.
"Good thinking…man, what the hell?" Stephen gasped. The last thing he needed was to involve poor Gary in his strange fate. "What is she on about. I know that voice, she attacked you before, when she hurt me instead. What is her problem?" Gary panted, standing herself up, then turning towards the glass of the elevator.
Stephen followed her actions, his eyes gazing out across Tokyo and Shiba park, many office buildings, and cars rolling down the streets. To them, this was just a storm, they weren't enlightened enough with the truth to know what was going on here. They were problem free, so long as Stephen and the Galaxy Knights protected them from what lurked in the shadows and the cold air. Kitty was dead serious now, involving Gary now without hesitation. She was beyond insane, and ten times as dangerous than her sister or brother.
"It's a tricky subject. We just have to hope she's on another floor or change ours," Stephen offered, tapping at the buttons then went to pound them," Come on!"
The buttons vanished the moment his fist made contact. "Shit….we're going up no matter what we do now….she's got it all rigged." Stephen groaned, and went back to the elevator window way.
Gary just nodded absently, sighing to the starry sky. He could see her beautiful eyes, how troubled they looked, so sad and alone. He didn't want that, not now. Gary was too good a person to be sad.
"What's wrong? Gary?" Stephen asked.
"I don't really know who I really am, Stephen. It just occurred to me, we may die when we get up there, and I still don't know who I really am, if my name is really the right one."
"Why do you say that, you said the hospital told you who you were right?" Stephen replied. Gary shrugged, looking to the moon softly, the pregnant moon with a gentle smile. "Yes, but….I've always had this feeling I was someone else, but I can never really remember it. I barely remember the earthquake that took my parents from me. All I have left of them are shattered and sparse memories and…my pin, my rose pin, it's all I have left of them." She said, patting at her suit jacket's overturned lapel," I just wonder often, who I really am inside, and if I'll ever find what I am looking for."
'Sounds almost like what Glamour was talking about….nah, they couldn't be the same person. No way….' He thought, and patted Gary's shoulder. "You'll find it, you just have to have hope and believe in your actions. You'll know the truth someday, Gary….I'll even help." Stephen said softly.
Gary looked at him and let off a little smile. "Thanks….I used to thinking going it alone was all I needed, but….I still don't know everything after all this time. I'll consider it, ok?"
"Sure, but first we have to figure out how to escape the nut bar in white." Stephen chuckled, looking around a little.
"That too, Stephen, that too. "Gary sighed, and went back to looking at the moon. 'Hey, she called me Stephen….finally.' he thought grinning.
~ Outside ~
"We're here….holy shit, what's happened to the tower? "Lamont yelped, his gaze rising up it slowly. Angie and ray stopped just behind him, gasping sharply. The tower was almost organic looking, these strange purple vines with green lines in them blocking the doorway, wrapped all around the tower, giving it a ghastly, creaking form. Thorns of stone and metal were sticking out of the ones flat skin of the tower, the exterior coiled with the pulsing vines and the metal and cement portions as black as death. The windows were gaping jaws, blood drooling from every ghastly orifice, snarling and growling loudly every few moments.
The very top of it was a slightly obscured, but he could see something moving towards it on the front side. "Hey…Hey, I see an elevator running, look!" Lamont shouted, pointing up. Ray got beside him and squinted at it. "Its Stephen, I can see his hair from here….I guess Gary is with him….I can't be sure, but they're headed for the top," Ray said tentatively," We need to buy more spy stuff from that catalogue, like binoculars and cameras. Ah….I can't see them anymore, they're too high and getting higher. We have to get inside now."
Lamont nodded. "Yeah, before Kitty gets her mice….Stephen can't transform with Gary around….let's do it."
"Excellent, let's kick some Dark Universe butt." Martina cheered, jumping up high with her fist in the air.
Angie groaned. "Try not to help right now, Martina, you're killing this for us." She drawled out. Martina sniffed and stuck her tongue out, then raised her red ring topped with a yellow heart to the sky. "Venus Love, Transform! Ahh!" Martina yelped, transforming into her knight form, her whip letting out a sharp crack when it was complete.
Ray raised his ring with Angie, and then Lamont followed.
"Mars Fire, Transform!"
"Mercury Ice, Transform!"
"Jupiter Thunder, Transform!"
Four knights together, Jupiter never would have believed they'd find so many knights to defend their country and the world in so little time. Time went by so fast when something important was happening, and exciting. Fun had nothing to do with it, but it helped.
"Now let's crash this party. Spiral Shocker, blast!!" he called, ramming his pole-arm against the ground. The cyclone of electricity rammed into the living vines. They let out a scree, some blasting away, but more were coming in to replace what Jupiter had destroyed. "Hurry, hit them at the same time! We can't give it a moment to heal! Spiral Shocker!!" Jupiter shouted, getting nods from the others as his attack tore into the new vines.
"Icicle Daggers, freeze!" Mercury crowed, the shards of ice ramming into what they could and made many of the vines bleed then freeze before exploding from the pressure.
"Raging Hell Fire, BURN!" Mars shouted, the balls of fire laying waste to more, making them shriek and flail in utter agony of Mars' power.
"Flirtation Choker, encircle!" Venus shouted, her whip wrapping around a bunch, tearing them apart, black liquids staining the pavement. "Run in now! While it injured! We have to get to the top!" Jupiter cried out and darted into the dark entrance, Mars and Mercury followed. Venus came last, letting her attack out a final time so the cats could follow.
The entrance sealed up behind them quickly, and the vines pried themselves off the walls, shrieking for the blood of the knights. Jupiter almost missed Raven, almost. She hadn't gone too all out except in homicides. Now the very tower was after them, and not just the pulsing purple vines, now vines were being created from the very supports and walls, metal and stone lunging at them. "HEAD FOR THE STAIRS! Quickly!!" Jupiter cried out, back flipping away from a stone vine. It crashed through the floor, and ripped itself out of it. It wanted Jupiter dead and wouldn't let the floor or one miss stop it.
"You wanna play? Let's play…." He hissed, and jumped over it again, landing on its wavy form," Sorry tower, but its you, or me, Spiral Shocker!!"
His power flushed out towards the source of the vine, the walls itself. The vine fell, taking him down with him, but Jupiter was able to leap away and follow his friend into the stairwell. He hoped that the damage would be repaired, but a vine couldn't come out of no wall.
"Icicle Daggers! Taste pain, no one takes my Snowflake from me! Hah!" Mercury shouted and new vines began to follow them up the stairs. It would be quite the trip, but for their friends, they'd have to. Stephen and Gary could be in real danger, more than them, and Stephen couldn't transform without putting Gary at more risk.
Jupiter just kept running, letting his power out as the others were as they all fought their way up the long stairwell. They had to make it or their friends would never survive. 'We're coming Stephen, we're coming." He thought, then suddenly felt the ground vanish from under his feet.
"Oh shit, we're not coming! Ah!" Jupiter screamed. The vines were tearing the stairs beneath them away, and he was standing on one of them. He felt himself fall a bit, before his hands shot out for the broken ledge. Mars and Venus came back while Mercury kept shooting ahead. He held no grudge against that, she'd be able to help Stephen, and they'd all catch up with her.
Mars pulled him back onto the steps as a vine viciously passed under him. It would have cut him in half if they hadn't come back. Venus' whip shot out and lashed it in half. "You ok, Jupiter?" Mars asked.
He nodded. "Yeah, let's go, faster…eh, and no more stair problems." He let out with a grin, and they all dashed anew up the shaking stairwell.
~ Elevator ~
The elevator shook violently, ramming Stephen and Gary into the side of the elevator. "What?" Gary gasped, pressing herself to the glass quickly to try and look up, Stephen followed her actions, his eye widening with horror. Rays of dark energy were crashing at the elevator cables. They were nearly there and they were being attacked. 'Damn you Kitty! You coward!' he thought and tried to pry the doors open.
"Dammit, they're stuck tight!"
"Oh gods, she's going to drop it. That psycho! How are we going to get out!?" Gary said frantically.
Stephen looked up again, the elevator jerking again as another ball of energy hit closer, then another even closer. 'Not dropping us, she's going to blow us up….gods, we have to get out of here, but Gary, she'll know my secret. ' his mind raced.
He couldn't involve her, but if he didn't, they'd die and his crystals would be Kitty's anyway. The world would suffer after their tragic fate for his hesitation. "Life is all that's important. I won't let her kill anyone else!" Stephen said allowed, pulling out his pendant and raising it high.
"What? Stephen, what are you talking about?" Gary asked quickly, pressed to the elevator doors. "Kitty's hurt this world for the last time, I won't have it. Moon Sword, Transform!! AHH!" he shouted, the pendant glowing and drenching him in light before Gary's startled eyes.
"Oh my gods….Stephen is….the Moon Knight!" Gary's shocked voice rang out as the final spheres of dark energy came screaming at the elevator itself.
~ Top of the Tower ~
Kitty giggle softly, filing her nails gently as the explosion of the elevator reached her tender ears. "Oopsie, the elevator went boom. Kitty is embarrassed, what a terrible accident. Oh well, Kitty will just collect Moon Knight's crystals and leech off Lord Specter some more. No crystals if he tries anything now….heh, heh." Kitty giggled.
"No fucking way, cat bitch!" Moon Knight's voice rang out, making her nail file skew a but, cutting her knuckles a bit. She hissed and throw it down, glaring towards the voice. He jumped out of the smoky passage the elevator was once within, holding that young dark-haired boy to his side securely.
The Moon Knight set him down, his sword out and his other hand with the crystals inside. "This was supposed to be a fair trade for my mother and sister, no cheating or you get crap." Moon scowled, looking around for his family.
Kitty grinned. "Well, pooh, Kitty didn't do a thing, it was a simple accident." She cooed, and pointed off to the right," Kitty wouldn't break her promises."
'Why is he still alive, dammit. Kitty wants him spewing blood now!!' she thought angrily. To her right were Stephen's 'mother and sister.' Moon Knight was as sappy as she knew he'd be, falling for her tricks. If he had recalled that she had made the Dark Universe Knights, he'd know these two were fakes, genetically altered animals made to look like his family. Why bother with such boring things, she'd have killed the real things out of spite, so it was better to use these, but he didn't know that, apparently.
"Now…hand over the crystals….and whoever wins the fight, well, lives." She grinned, and held out her ugly hand. He sniffed. "Fine…." He said, and started to toss them to her, when that dark young man stopped him. "Don't it's a trick!" the man let out.
"Gary please, my mother and sister, those are them she'll kill them if I don't. How could you know anyway?" he asked.
Gary flipped up his lapel and his rose pin shimmered softly. "Cause I know….I feel it. They're fakes, clones, like the Dark Knights."
Kitty flinched a bit. How did this boy know about the Dark Knights were clones. The earth people called them monsters, clones never came into the discussions of those weak creatures. Moon seemed surprised as well. "How…how do you know that?" Moon uttered.
Gary stepped back a bit, and pulled his glove off, letting his slender hand touch the pin softly. "Because I was there….Earth Bloom, Transform! Oh!" he said in a woman's voice, and red surrounded his body.
Kitty shielded her eyes a moment, then her face welled up with rage at the sight of Lady Glamour. That bitch was hard to find because she dressed up like a man all this time, Glamour had been at her fingertips to kill so many weeks ago and she let it escape her. Not this time, no way. Glamour was going to die tonight, with her stupid Moon Knight.
Kitty hissed as Glamour went over to Stephen's fake family, her blade out, and cut the fake mother's arm. The tied up creature became a chameleon woman as the blood began to flow, and when the fake girl was cut, she became a devilish bird imp. Moon growled at Kitty, but Kitty's own hisses and growls were surpassing his. Her plans were ruined now.
"Well….goodie for you. Kitty still knows who you both are and will tell Lord Specter, unless you fight Kitty….fair too. If you want to change that, you fight me fair and square….with the crystals as the prize. There is no escape from the tower unless Kitty dies, or both of you die. Kitty will just leave you here to rot of you refuse."
Moon looked at Glamour, and she looked back at him, and walked back. "You give your word, winner take all?" Glamour said sharply. Kitty nodded, looking sick about the word 'fair.'
Moon nodded a bit. "Fine, winner take all, but if you try anything, you'll regret it." He said and set his crystals down. Glamour nodded and glared at Kitty. "Same goes for me, little miss kitty brat, you'll never get the soul crystal." She spouted, making Kitty sick from her just words.
~
Glamour set her crystals down by Moon's, and they glittered together. "Xeno, Kitty has the crystals, come….now." she crowed. Moon and Glamour stared at her until Xeno appeared beside her with the velvet bedded case in his hands. Their crystals floated off the ground and inserted themselves with those the Dark Universe already had, Xeno smirking at them lightly before disappearing again.
"What is this? Where did he take the crystals, Kitty!" Glamour yelled. She had taken enough abuse, nearly dying twice at Kitty's hideous grip, now the crystals were out of their sights. That wasn't part of the deal.
"Insurance….so you don't try and cut and run with the prize in the middle of our duel. Kitty would be," she said, her eyes flitting a bit around Glamour, then back again to Glamour's face," Hurt if you started acting unfair when Kitty is being perfectly fair."
Glamour rolled her eyes and readied her blade. "I'm sure….now any last words before we beat the living daylights out of you?" she shot back.
Kitty grinned, and flipped her horrible hand up a bit, aiming it right at Glamour, though nothing came out. She heard a slight shift of something metal, but figured it was her boots, and kept her stance.
"You can die….right now!" Kitty cackled.
"GLAMOUR!! Look out!!" Moon shouted and ran at her. The metal noise came again and she forced her body to whirl around. A arm length shard of metal was shooting towards her, deadly sharp and moments away. They and flash of white came into her gaze, something warm and solid, shoving into her, shoving her down, then came the warm spatter across her front and finally a pain in her stomach. It burned like hellfire, so she felt dizzy as she fell.
It faded, but the pain remained, so she opened her eyes to see why. Her eyes watered terribly, Stephen laying partially across her lap, the metal thing sticking out the right side of his back. It had gone through him and as her eyes traveled further down, she saw the rest of it was in her stomach, attaching them in blood and steel, in pain. 'Death….oh….Oh no, Stephen!' her mind wept.
Kitty was laughing at them wildly, she'd cheated, and that awful little bitch had remained true to her evil nature and cheated. Glamour had been her target, but Moon Knight had seen it in time to get in the way, and now they would die together.
The shard melted away, leaving the bleeding holes in them. She could feel herself get light headed, but she didn't want to give up. She forced herself to painfully sit up, turning Stephen over gently so the back of his head was in her lap. The bleeding was getting worse, his eyes were lidded weakly, and they were going to die all because of Kitty. She'd get the last laugh.
'No, I won't let it be…. No! She can't win! Not him, anyone but him….so much I wanted to tell you….so much….'she thought painfully.
Deep
in my soul
Love so strong
It takes control.
"Stephen, please, hold on….please….," she let out, here eyes watering badly, stroking his hair as if it would make it feel any better," Please, Stephen don't die, please….I never got to tell you….how I felt."
"Gaia….," he let out weakling, his icy blue eyes growing paler, his skin even more so," Me too….-cough – cough – I have to….tell you….how I felt….about all of you. Now I know….you're the….woman I love….all this time, I loved you….since we met in my first battle…cough…..Gaia….I love you…..Nngh…ah it hurts….I don't want to die….I can't let it end, not when I've fallen in love. Not….ah…"
Now
we both know
The secrets bared
the feelings show.
Gaia shook her head. "Oh…Stephen, I tried to deny how I felt when we met in the arcade….but your eyes…oh gods, this can't be happening. You have to be all right, you can't leave me now….please….I love you, Stephen." She said, her eyes threatening to spill her sorrow.
Driven far apart,
I'll make a wish
On a shooting star….
She felt his cool hand weakly grip hers, his eyes watching her softly with a weak smile, his eyes lidding worse. "You…do? I'm…not alone….you feel the same?….Gaia…." he let out breathlessly, tears streaming down his elegant face
There will come a day,
Somewhere far away
In your arms I'll stay
My only love….
"Yes….I do….we'll be together, just, be ok….don't go, please!" she begged and her first tear fell and mixed with his. The tears began to shine on his cheek, and hers shined back brightly.
Even
though you're gone
Love will still live on
The feeling is so strong
My only love….
~ The Dark Universe ~
Xeno had enough to hang Kitty with. She had tried to kill the two people instead of draining them, and had now tried again. He had faded out once the blood came, but now, all he had to do was wait.
As he smirked to himself, the crystals suddenly began to glow and rose up from their velvet bedding. He gasped softly as they sparkled and flew away from him, vanishing into the darkness.
"What….Lord Specter must hear of this…." He told himself, and vanished.
~ Top of the Tower ~
Mars slammed his shoulder into the top door, and it caved in quickly. No sooner had he burst in did he see Glamour and Moon lying on the floor, their tears sparkling with the blood, the smell of it ripe in the air. Kitty was a ways off, grinning madly over her deed. Mars heart broke, Stephen was dying, and so was Glamour. They'd come too late.
Jupiter, Venus, and Mercury came up beside him, gasping sharply at the tragic scene. "Oh no….Snowflake, oh no." Mercury yelped, clutching her heart. Tears began to leak out of her mask piece, trickling down her cheeks.
Jupiter looked sick, rubbing at his own tears and Venus was shivering. The cats were at her feet, looking horrified. "Moon Knight! Glamour, oh gods,…..we're too…..late?" Cyrus started, then his jaw went slack. Mars blinked back a few of own tears as a brilliant silver and golden light grazed his vision.
...You've
reached the deepest part
Of the secret in my heart
I've known it from the start
My only love...
Glamour's head flung back suddenly as her tears flowed faster than her blood. Her chest began to glow a golden haze, and Moon's began to glow silver, his teeth grit tightly as his own blood pooled around his body. "What the….," he said softly, watching the glowing lights become crystals. They floated above the pair's heads, the Spectrum crystals streaming out of the shadows of the ceiling. He watched the rainbows glitters float into the merging gold and silver crystal until they were gone and the remaining two became one.
A brilliant light came, and caressed across their dying friends' bodies, making them near vanish into the blinding glow. Mars looked away a moment when it flashed out, stinging his very eyes.
There
will come a day
Somewhere far away
In your arms I'll stay
My only love.
"It's the soul crystal!" Hina cried out, then she made a yelping sound. Mars looked back saw Stephen and Glamour, but not as he knew them. The Soul Crystal, a brilliant white, hand sized gem, floated above the two, but Glamour was now dressed in a long and flowing, sleeveless black dress that sparkled like the night sky with rose print running along the hem and collars, a golden crown of roses about her beautiful head, her sword raised up, crossed over Stephen's.
Stephen, and even mars had to admit it, was an angelic beauty before him. Stephen wore an elegant open, sleeveless robe with silver lining, and white and silver chest armor under it. His pants were that of royalty, with white calf high boots with silver lining upon his feet and atop his head was a silver diadem just above the silver moon symbol on his forehead.
He was gripping Glamour's hand, his free hand with his sword crossed along Glamour', the Soul Crystal just above the small half triangle their blades had formed. Their gaze was on one thing, Kitty. Together as one, they were alive, standing in their own shed blood, their soft angelic eyes.
Kitty hissed at them, as if her victory mattered the most, that her foolish pride needed mending. "What!? Who the hell are you? You're supposed to be dead, what have you done! Kitty killed you!" she hissed out, her fists clenched. The Soul Crystal began to glow, no answer leaving its keepers' lips.
"My gods, Stephen and Glamour are the Prince and princess!" Cyrus yelped before a pain took him as well, and all Mars could do was gaze at his friends. "Stephen's a prince…. one we have been searching was right under our nose…gods." He uttered softly, watching as Kitty was right now, wondering what would happen now that they'd finally found the royals they had been so avidly trying to find.
...You've
reached the deepest part
Of the secret in my heart
I've known it from the start
My only love...
My only love.…….
To Be Continued….
*1.Martina 2.Keikoku means 1.Who loves all (or warlike) 2. beauty, you decide what fits her best
**Venus is a joke character, a personal joke against the blonde jokes and the character Serena, who is a major airhead and a crybaby that makes blondes look bad. Venus is not made as a joke against blondes, but against the blonde myths and Serena herself. Not all blondes are airheads, just like not all brunettes are airheads, and redheads, dark hairs, and men of similar shades. It's all in a personality, not hair color. No, I am not blonde, just trying to set the stereotypical record straight here about hair color myths.
Extra Info: 4-2 Shiba
Koen, Minato-Ku, Tokyo
Tel: +81 3 3433 5111; Tokyo tower
address, overlooks Shiba Park.
Correction Alert!!: Also, if I got Gary/Gaia's family pin shape wrong, someone let me know so I can correct it cause I forget where I introduced it, or if it were a rose or a globe. Sorry, I worked on this chapter with an upset stomach and headache last night. Being sick while writing isn't peachy!
Teaser: The Moon Prince and Earth Princess revealed, and they discover their past, how they met, fell in love, and the tragedy of their secret love and the Moon Kingdom. Life will never be the same for Gaia or Stephen.
From good to worse, Xeno will see who Gary really is.