I would first like to apologize to all fans of The Mage Princess for
taking so long in writing this last chapter. I have been extremely
busy and could not write as often as I wished. However, I still loved
writing this story and enjoyed the full 16 months that it was a part
of my life. I hope to continue with these characters in later stories
but that is not certain. I hope that this ending is up to everyone's
standards and that it answers all the questions everyone seemed to have
about the story. Please let me know if you want an Epilogue... if you
answer yes I'll just have to warn you that it means a continuation of
this story... if not it can just end right here. ~.^ I'm very happy
with the huge amount of positive reviews I received and with the fact
that people seemed to truly care about Hou/Darien and Kou as Chapter
Five came into being! I hope that the end satisfies all of my fans! ^^
A few disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon... if I did I would be
publishing these stories because I would have enough money to do so...
I'm also an extremely poor college student who has to rely on her
scholarship to pay off the registration fees so don't sue me... you'll
get nothing out of it! One more thing: Washi is my character... Hou is
also my character and I guess that Kou is my character too since she is
so very different from Serenity ne? ~.^ Anyway I made all of them up so
don't steal any of them, okie? ^^
New disclaimer: Yuufu, Narcissus, Ohamu, and Abura Kakyuu are also my
characters. No stealing!
New new disclaimer: Prince Rupert Heron is my character as well! I
ask for a lot, huh? ^__^
New new new disclaimer: Gosh there's a lot! The Ryuu, Kouryou, and Taka
are also mine!
I guess it's on with the story!
The Mage Princess
CHAPTER SIX
By: Sailor Berkeley
* * ~ ~ Darien ~ ~ * *
I reach over to encompass the warm body beside my own and bring
that warmth closer to me. Her contour fits mine perfectly and she gives
a little sigh and smiles in her sleep as I bury my face in her golden
hair. I breathe in deeply and am rewarded by the sweet smell of her. It
is hard to explain what it is exactly. A mixture of sweet air, violets
and cinammon all in one. I touch her mentally and am rewarded by that
same smell in tenfold as well as the soft touch of silk.
I'm not sure what I did to deserve this gift from the Gods but
I cannot imagine life without her. I don't know how I was deemed worthy
enough to keep her forever but somehow I passed the unspoken test to
become what I did. To be able to be next to her. She had gone through
so much. And so much of that would have not happened if it weren't for
me and my stupidity. I shake my head and sigh as I fall asleep and the
memories take hold of my dreams once again.
I turned around and grabbed my cousin by the waist to twirl her
around. Her green eyes sparkled at me and I couldn't believe that she
had come. She was supposed to be in Titania visiting some kind of
ambassador and had told me she would not be coming to the Moon. Yet
here she was, ready to be introduced to the girl of my dreams. The one
I intended to marry. I gave her a light peck on the cheek and she
swatted me away playfully.
"Daria, I would like to introduce you to Princess Serena
Serenity of..." But before I could finish my sentence I knew she was
gone. I could feel it. I turned my head anyway, my magic could be lying
to me. It never had before but perhaps this one time it had. I saw the
last remaining traces of white light surrounding the air where she had
stood and my heart audibly broke.
I try to wake up from the nightmare, knowing that I would not
be able to. I would have to sit through it all and remember every
little detail before I would be allowed to open my eyes. I frown in my
sleep as the next part of my nightmare begins.
Three months had passed since the girl of my dreams
disappeared from my life and I still could not eat or sleep. She was in
my every waking thought. No matter where I went or what I did I heard
the laughter of a six year old child, saw the big azure eyes of a
thirteen year old young girl and caught the golden twinkle of her hair
in the corner of my eyes.
My parents had begun to worry. They tried to do everything to
entice me out of my comatose state but nothing worked. I was too
imbedded in my own misery to be able to see the people around me.
Therefore I was as shocked as my parents when High Mage Taka,
the Hawk - the Zen'youkuhikouki, himself came to Earth.
On that day I had been lying perfectly still on my bed, eyes
closed and brows furrowed together. The red magic surrounding me burned
stronger and actually pained me as I tried to stretch it as far as it
could go. I wanted to reach her. To at least mentally touch her for a
split second before never seeing her again. As my mental self was
propelling itself through the upper atmosphere of the Earth, I felt the
sharp tuggings at my mind - the physical restraint of my body calling
me back. I fought it, knowing full well the risks of being too far from
my body with the undeveloped magic I wielded at the time. If I were to
strain the link my mind held with my body for too long, and without
the large amount of magic it would take to have me return, the two
would separate themselves completely. If that were to happen I would
never be able to return into my body and my mind would lose all its
knowledge of a physical entity thus joining the universal power flow
and losing all identity.
I had read this in many books. I had heard horror stories of
mental callings gone awry, but at that moment I did not care. I needed
to see her at least one more time. Even at the cost of my own body. I
pushed myself farther, coming closer and closer to the great white rock
circling the Earth as I could feel our connection growing stronger. I
could feel her getting closer to me.
With my mind screaming at me to return and the link between my
physical and mental self growing dim, I rushed on towards my goal. I
stretched out a mental hand as I realized that she was beginning to
notice my impeding arrival. As her presence was about to notice my own
I heard a screech so high it rivaled anything I had ever heard before.
A red blur whizzed past me and blocked my view of her.
At first I did not see what stood in my way. I tried to
struggle past the obtrusion but failed. Not only was I too weak by this
time, the red shape in front of me was as solid as a stone wall. I
raged at it, threw any last bit of magic I had in store at it before I
stopped and noticed what was standing there.
A Phoenix. The ancient Winged Magic. Its ruby eyes caught my
own and I could not move. Suddenly I was extremely ashamed of myself as
I caught a glimpse of its pity. I broke down at that moment and the
Houou gathered me in his Wings and carried me back down to Earth. Back
to my body. Back to my miserable self.
When I regained consciousness I was once more in my own room,
staring at the same grainy ceiling I had been staring at only hours
ago. At first I had no idea why I had such a blinding headache but the
memories came rushing back and a tear slipped down my cheek. I was so
close. So close to her.
"And what would you have done then?"
I jumped up at the voice and grabbed my head as I did so. That
really hurt. I closed my eyes tightly and did not open them until my
vision returned once more. Once I opened my eyes I had to blink a
couple more times to believe what I was seeing.
In front of me was the tallest man I had ever met in my entire
existence. Standing at seven feet and a half, with golden brown eyes
and a face consisting of sharp angles, was High Mage Taka, the
Zen'youkuhikouki.
"What would you have done, heh? Wandered forever the vast
universe with no identity and no soul? Doomed to the spirit world
forevermore?" He shook his head and his long brown hair rose and fell
and I briefly saw the shape of wings in his hair before they
disappeared from sight. "And what would the Houou do, without his
Chosen One?" He paused and looked at me admonishingly. "Very selfish of
you, Darien Endymion. Very selfish indeed."
"How was I to know about the Houou? And what would I care about
that anyway? My life is over. I do not want anything to do with anyone
anymore." I realized my words sounded childish even as they were
leaving my mouth, but I did not stop them. I feel ashamed, now, to
recall those words. But I was young then. And I wanted to sound
childish for once. To vent out my anger at the world. To keep myself
sane by doing so.
The Zen'youkuhikouki sighed and softly put his hand on my
furrowed brow. "Had I the power to do so, I would forever keep you from
the clutches of the Houou. Even if he means well."
I was surprised, and my eyes showed it. Even now I cannot
believe he had said that. A High Mage wanting to keep another Mage from
developing his powers is a rare sight. And a difficult thing for any
Mage to say since it is a feeling that will take a Mage further and
further into the Darkness.
He took his hand away and I missed the warmth it had brought. I
realized then that he had used his magic to relieve me of my headache.
"What am I to do? I will not go be a High Mage. I cannot. I am
too depressed to be of any help to the Houou." In my head I heard the
Phoenix's sad cry, his eyes dull and small.
High Mage Taka sat down on the chair next to my bed and drew
his hands together. "What if I were to tell you that there is a way for
you to continue living without the Houou and for the Houou to continue
living with you?"
I frowned. "That is impossible. If the Houou were to be with me
I would not be able to get away from him. What are you saying?"
The High Mage looked away from my curious eyes and refused to
look at me as he answered me.
"There was a time, long ago, when there was only one Winged
Magic. Only one person able to wield that magic per lifetime. Only One
Dragon." I nodded my head. I had heard this story before. But I allowed
him to continue uninterrupted. I wanted to know where he was going with
this. "Tired of living alone, the Dragon was not an easy Magic to
wield. He was angry, irritable, and tended not to listen to commands.
This went on for millenia. Until the day that the Dragon came to find
himself in the body of a young girl. Her name was Kouryou and her life
was devoted to the Ryuu. She loved him with all her heart, a feeling
that the Ryuu - the Dragon - had never experienced. Sadly, although
Winged Magic have feelings and thoughts of their own, they cannot take
on physical form. In that way the love the Ryuu and Kouryou had for
each other could never be consumated. The Ryuu grew so angry that not
even Kouryou could reach him, try as she may. It is said that one day,
going mad from his inability to physically touch Kouryou, the Ryuu grew
so angry that fire flew from his mouth. Fire so strong and pure that it
went through Kouryou's body and split her in half. That was how the
Houou was made. Kouryou's two halves became Kou, the Female Phoenix,
and Hou, the Male Phoenix. After that day the Ryuu was never again
seen."
I had heard the tale of Kouryou and her impossible love many
times. She was a legend. The woman from whom all Winged Magic was born.
In their lifetime, Hou and Kou were able to produce other Winged Magic
and were said to have been lovers. They both died at the age of 4,000.
That was 17,700 years ago. Not a single Houou had been seen since then.
'Until me.' A voice inside said. 'Yes, until me.' I replied.
"You have not heard the whole story, however." At this my ears
perked up. How had I not heard the whole story? It was common
knowledge. Even now, this story is known by everyone. It has become a
legend. "You haven't heard the whole story because only the
Zen'youkuhikouki is given the whole story to keep in secret. The fact
that I'm telling you this now breaks a very old tradition." High Mage
Taka sighed. "I hope that explains to you why I'm hesitant to tell
you." He smiled slightly before continuing.
"Kouryou, unlike the story says, was not split in half. She was
split into four. You see, the Ryuu is so strong that his magic is the
equivalent of the two Houou put together. He is the equivalent of Hou
and Kou. Kouryou by herself, however, was a human with special powers.
Powers given to her by her home planet of Alieta. A Planet that was
destroyed eons ago. When the Ryuu split Kouryou he made her into four
humans. Two with all of the Ryuu's magic and two with no magic at all.
The other two humans were Ryuu and Kouryou, their love lasting through
the searing of magic and making them two normal human beings."
My head was swimming with this new information. Four people? It
made more sense. Why would the Ryuu spend all of his energy to never
see Kouryou again? Of course he must have done it for a purpose and not
because he went mad. I wondered why High Mage Taka was telling me this
when it finally hit me. "Do you mean that I could separate myself from
the Houou and become a normal human?" My voice squeaked as the words
came out.
The Zen'youkuhikouki nodded solemnly. I absorbed this slowly. I
looked inside myself and saw the Houou there looking at me solemnly and
sadly, his eyes dull from the pain of separation. I felt it too. The
pain would be enormous. I had only had the Houou inside of me for a
couple of hours but I still felt as if I could never live without him.
I also knew, however, that in the state I was currently in I could
never learn to become Hou. It would never work. And in that moment I
made my decision as I nodded at High Mage Taka and he raised his hands
to my temples.
I have never since felt pain so strong in my life. The Houou
screeched in agonization and fear as he tried to hold onto me and my
mind. I was sobbing uncontrollably, screams that could be heard all
over the castle tearing out of my throat. My mother and father told me
later that they tried to get into my room but the door would not budge.
Nothing could open it.
I felt as if my heart was being torn out of my body while I was
still alive. The Houou had his claws strongly gripping me and High Mage
Taka was softly whispering to him, telling him to let me go. To let it
happen. This went on for what seemed like years. If I think of it I can
still feel the searing pain as though a dormant scar is slowly waking
up. I could not imagine a life without the Houou and I started to doubt
my decision. But it was too late. With one final scream and a screech
from the Houou, he was gone. All I had left was my Earth magic. The
magic I have always had. It tried to nurture me, to fill me with its
golden light but it was not enough. The fire of the Houou was gone and
it could never be replaced. I collapsed on the bed, tears running
uncontrollably down my face. High Mage Taka fell to the chair, his
skin pale and clammy. And on the floor, curled up into a ball was a
seventeen year old boy with red hair and red eyes who had the fire of
the Houou running through his veins.
I don't know how long I spent trying to recover from that
traumatic moment. I don't know if I ever did recover. All I remember
next is the loneliness and the pain and the sorrow. The lack of the
Houou together with the lack of Serena was driving me deeper and deeper
into depression.
So it was not surprising that when Beryl of Elandia showed up
in my kingdom I was more than happy to share my life with her. We were
engaged after only 3 days. My parents were upset because they could not
see why we could not wait. I knew I didn't love Beryl, but I was lonely
and I needed someone.
The day before our wedding brought with it a feeling of
uneasiness. Beryl had shown, over and over, her horrible nature but I
had been too engrossed in my own self pity to have seen it. When I
finally noticed it, it was too late. She had me in her claws.
Beryl of Elandia was a beautiful girl. She had been born a
halfling, her mother a Lorean cat and her father an Earthling man.
All Lorean cats are female so they depend on the Corsean wolves to
procreate. Once a year the whole population of the Lorealis planet
migrates to Corsealis for a week to mate with the male Corsean wolves.
This migration is very dangerous because the Corsean female wolves hate
the Loreans who steal away their males for that week. Violence is not
uncommon and many Loreans die in the process. Beryl's mother, Vejur,
was about to get killed by a Corsean female when Shackom - an Earthling
man on vacation at Corsealis - saved her and brought her to Earth.
The two had one daughter, Beryl, a girl who looked human enough
but whose skin was a lavender color and whose teeth contained a small
set of fangs. People journeyed from all over to see the halfling and
gawk over her face and body. In time she demonstrated an affinity to
magic and began to take lessons from a visiting Mage. No one knew then
that this visiting Mage was becoming a Dark Mage.
Being young and inexperienced, Beryl was easily converted by
her teacher into the Darkness. She was a vain little thing, knowing
full well the power her beauty held over men. The Darkness knew then
that Serena was a threat. And he knew that I would die to protect her.
So he sent Beryl of Elandia to get rid of me. If I had only known this
then. I could have saved so much pain and suffering. But this was not
to be.
The night before the wedding I had a dream. It was a very
strange and unnerving dream, and one that I can recall rather readily
even now. My dream started as a normal dream. I was walking around the
woods that surround my castle, my four bodyguards surrounding me and
keeping me company. Little did I know then that those four were the
Hito, the ones destined to control time. I was joking with my friends
when suddenly the four of them disappeared and I was in a place I had
never seen before. It was a room, but not really a room. More like a
space. A red space. I could tell it was incredibly hot in there, the
temperatures reaching to more than 600 degrees, but I was comfortable.
The heat did not affect me at all. I sat and pondered this when a
figure began to take shape ahead of me. A man with dark red hair and
the most incredible green eyes stood in front of me. I stood and stared
at those emerald eyes for I have no idea how long. Mesmerized. I shook
my head and broke eye contact when I realized that he was smiling at
me.
"You don't look at all like I imagined you." Although his voice
was at a normal tone and level, it was impossible not to notice the
power behind that voice. I could almost detect a bit of a roar
underneath his calmness and amusement. I didn't know what to make of
it so I could not respond.
His smile grew wider. I remember noticing, in my dream, that
he had a lot of teeth. It's a strange thing to remember, I know, but
nevertheless I remember that detail very clearly.
"Well, there's still hope I guess. She is definitely better
looking." I frowned. This was getting a bit insulting. Plus, who the
hell was he talking about anyway? I opened my mouth to ask but was
stopped by the sound of his laughter. I had to cover my ears for that.
The sound ripped right into my soul. It was merry and horrid at the
same time. My bones shook as his laughter rumbled and I winced.
"No matter. I really did not mean to insult you." He smiled
even wider and I tried not to stare at his teeth once again. "What I
really want to do is warn you. I hate doing this. I feel like some sort
of fairy godmother." He stopped for a second. "Or godfather." He
laughed again as I winced once more. He took a deep breath before
continuing. "If you can't tell, I don't get out much." The smile again.
What a strange sense of humor. "But that is not the point of our
conversation today. I need to talk to you about this woman you are
planning on marrying." Suddenly his voice was serious and became as
hard as a stone. All of his old merriment was gone and I started to
miss it as I noticed how cold his eyes became.
I finally ventured a word. "Beryl?" I had no idea why he wanted
to speak to me about her, but I was willing to listen. And I doubt I
could have gotten away even if I wanted to.
"Yes. Beryl of Elandia. You must not marry this woman. She is a
Dark Mage, and she will attempt to destroy you as well as the ones you
love if you let her get too close. She is not trustworthy."
I was shocked. Beryl was the sweetest woman I had ever met. But
even as that thought came into my head, I remembered the one time I had
seen her deal with servants and the way she snapped at them and how
they cowered away when she walked into a room. I frowned. Why had I not
noticed this before?
"She has been keeping you under a spell, I'm afraid." I look up
at his words. "And she will be able to make this spell stronger and
stronger the longer you stay with her. If you marry this woman our
chances of survival will not be very good."
"Survival? What will she do?"
"She will bring with her the Darkness. She will unmake Light.
She will destroy Winged Magic and throw the entire universe into
upheaval. She will destroy you."
I winced as the words were spoken. His voice was getting louder
and louder but he was moving further and further away. When the last
word left his mouth he was so far away from me that I could barely
make out his emerald eyes. I knew he was going to leave me then.
"Who are you?" I yelled after him, hoping to receive an answer
before he completely disappeared.
The words slowly came back to me but they were so jumbled and
so low that I could not make them out. That was when I woke up to find
Beryl's eyes staring into my face.
I jumped up then, scared and out of breath. Her red eyes were
gleaming and the set of fangs she carried peaked out as she smiled. I'm
afraid to say that I actually stuttered as I spoke her name. I was only
rewarded by a wider and more horrible smile.
"Tsk tsk tsk." She shook her head as she shook her finger at me
in a way that made me gulp hard. "We have been snooping, haven't we?"
"I have no idea what you're talking..."
"Stop acting the fool, Darien." She snapped. "Don't think for a
minute that I am one either. I know you have broken free from my spell.
How did you do it? It was impossible to detect."
I looked at her rebelliously. There was no way I was going to
tell her anything. And there was also the fact that I had no idea how
it happened either. But I wasn't about to let Beryl know that.
"Never mind. I don't care. We are to be married today in any
case."
"You are quite mistaken if you think I will be marrying a
monster such as you." I spit this out at her, my eyes showing all of my
hatred. I could not believe I had fallen for her trap. Had fallen into
any spell that this horrid woman had cast.
Her eyes slit at my insult. "You are the one who is mistaken,
my darling husband-to-be. I am sure that you will beg me to marry you
once you hear my news." Her sinister smile was back and I shivered.
"What news?"
"Oh nothing important, I suppose. Just a little something I
heard about that little Moon brat."
At those words I jumped up and grabbed her shoulders, squeezing
them painfully. She only laughed at me as I left bruises on her perfect
skin. She suddenly stopped and looked at me with cold eyes.
"Your little girlfriend has just gone and found some Winged
Magic inside of herself. Some Houou Winged Magic. She is soon to be
leaving for Angreemon to begin her training."
"You lie." I squeezed her shoulders even more painfully,
wishing to silence her words.
"You know I am not lying."
I let go of her shoulders and looked at my hands for a moment.
It was true. I could feel it. Somewhere deep inside of me something was
whispering the truth to me. I brought my eyes up to Beryl's face and my
eyes burned with anger.
My words came out strained. "Why would that matter?"
She laughed as I clenched my fists in rage. "You know why it
matters. You know how dangerous Winged Magic is and how many accidents
occur in Angreemon. I have plenty of friends there, I wouldn't even
have to lift a finger." She slit her eyes at me as her voice grew even
colder than before. "And don't think that I wouldn't do it. You know
very well that I would. I will have your precious princess killed very
slowly and painfully if you do not marry me."
As I was listening to her words I was formulating a plan. A way
to get in touch with Serena and let her know of Beryl's involvement. If
only I still contained the Houou inside of me. I sighed mentally.
Serena was Kou then. And Hou, the red-headed boy, was off to be with
her for eternity. They would be bound together by the Houou, that much
I was certain of. I should have kept the Houou inside of me. That way I
would now be able to stay with Serena. Suddenly I knew the answer to my
problems: Hou. I had to get in touch with Hou. My magic most likely
could reach him. He was a part of me and so contained some of my aura.
I could definitely reach him rather easily. I was about to close my
eyes when I felt nails digging into my arm.
"Don't even think about it. You will never be able to reach her
before I stop you. I am much stronger than you are, and you better
remember that. I don't think that your pathetic Earth magic could get
you very far. And just to make sure you never do any such thing..."
Before I could stop her, Beryl threw up a wall of solid brick
inside of my head. I could not reach my magic no matter how hard I
tried. All I gained was a terrible headache and a feeling of hatred
stronger than any I had ever felt before.
I was powerless. No, worse. I was in Beryl's clutches.
The next years were a blur. I do not remember them now, nor do
I wish to remember them. I went to various planets, travelled all over
the Solar Galaxy as well as hundreds more. We would not stay in one
place very long lest I start trusting someone and let word of my mental
imprisonment escape. I did not do much during those years, mostly I sat
and thought of Serena and wondered whether she ever thought of me.
I tried to stay out of Beryl's way. I did not want to so much
as speak with her and kept any contact at a bare minimum. She made me
uneasy and I could tell that her powers were growing by the day. I had
no idea how she was achieving that kind of power until one evening when
we were in Neptune.
On that night Beryl had left me alone in the room and, as
usual, I went into the gardens to think. Gardens had become my refuge
and solace. Each castle's garden was unique and beautiful in its own
way. The fire flowers of Mars, the ice fountains of Mercury, the
lightning streaked dirt of Jupiter; they were all beautiful. Neptune's
garden ranked very high on my list, though. In Neptune each individual
flower was made up of different colors of salt. Even the trees were
made of salt. This wasn't normal salt, it was hard and crystalline, and
it glittered in the light. In the middle of the garden there was a sea.
It sounds strange, and I barely believed it myself when I first saw it,
but it is true. By some magic unknown to me, one was able to see all
the way to the deepest bottom of this sea. There were great whales and
dolphins, huge fish that glowed in the dark and eels that would play
with your hand if you dipped it in. And all throughout this sea multi-
colored seaweed swayed in the currents. It was beautiful and
mesmerizing. I could sit and watch it for hours. The Princess of
Neptune and I met each other there often. We would watch the sea before
us and would not speak at all. Often we would sit there all night long.
On this particular evening, however, Princess Michiru Thesea
was in Uranus visiting the woman she would later marry, Princess
Haruka Tiran. So I sat alone in the dark. I guess that is why they did
not notice my presence.
I watched as Beryl sat down and started to meditate. I was
about to leave, for I did not want to be around her any more than was
absolutely necessary, when something stopped me. I looked at her and
noticed that a black cloud had surrounded her. Thinking that this was
unusual, I ducked down and watched her from the shadows.
Suddenly Beryl's eyes flashed open and looked straight at me. I
froze and felt my heart beat faster. It took me a few moments to notice
that she did not see me. She wasn't even there. It was as if another
entity had taken over her body. Her red eyes turned deep black, the
whites of her eyes completely taken over by darkness. Her hair seemed
to have a life of its own as it rose above her and hovered, wavering,
in the air. Evil in its purest form surrounded and entered Beryl of
Elandia. I shivered and cowered down. As pathetic as it sounds, I
almost whimpered. I had never before seen Evil with my own eyes. It was
a horrid sight and one that I wish I could forget.
When I finally took control of myself I noticed that Beryl's
lips were moving. I strained my ears to hear her. "... Not yet,
Master."
"Then you must work harder to find one." This voice came out
of Beryl's lips, but it was not her voice. The Darkness, the Evil,
surrounding her had somehow taken over her body to speak with her. I
had read about Soul Speaking, but had never actually seen it performed
before. It was not a necessarily evil thing, High Mages used it often
to speak to the spirits of the past. The hard part, and the dangerous
one, was convincing the spirit to leave. If a High Mage of too low a
rank attempted to Soul Speak, he might find his body taken over by the
spirit and his own soul left to wander the universe, bodiless.
Eventually, the soul would either join the universal flow or
unknowingly terrorize poor pasamages who would not understand why a
ghost was suddenly appearing among them. The Darkness' voice slowly
came back to me.
"... if you do not find me a body I will not be able to
accomplish my plans."
"Yes, Master."
"Don't fail me, Beryl. I will be very disappointed if you do.
I would also keep an eye on that Earthling." I froze when I heard those
words. Had he seen me? No, he really was concerned about me, or at
least about my abilities. I frowned. I had no magic. Why would I matter
to him? "He is a threat to me. He and the Other. Make sure you keep
that situation under control."
"Of course, Master," she replied as she closed her eyes.
I slowly slid deeper into the shadows and back to the castle
when I saw Beryl's eyes close, it meant that she was getting out of her
trance.
The Darkness' last words made no sense to me but I had plenty
of time to figure them out, or so I hoped. If I had any idea how little
time I had before those words made sense, I would have spent more time
pondering their meaning. Sadly, this was not to be.
Even though much of that conversation had made no sense to me,
that night I learned how Beryl was able to yield so much power so
quickly: She was using the Darkness as a continuous power supply. There
was no other explanation for it. That also meant that she was becoming
a bigger threat than I had ever expected her to be.
We were in Mars a few weeks later. I did not see the Darkness
during that time but I knew that Beryl still conferred with it when she
wasn't around me. Nothing unusual was brought to my attention during
that time except for the one visit Beryl received from another Dark
Mage whose name I later learned was Narcissus. He came one day and the
two sat in her room for three hours before he left again. I did not
spend any time in his company nor did I hear what they spoke of. Our
lives almost went back to normal before Beryl had another visitor. This
time it was a woman whose eyes showed fear and whose face was contorted
with pain. I caught only a glimpse of her before Beryl noticed me and
had me removed from the room. I did not see her again. I was surprised
when Beryl later told me we were to go to the Moon. Surprised and
angry. She had promised me never to hurt Serena as long as I stayed
away from her, and I had stayed away. Until this day I hadn't gone
anywhere near Serena, and yet Beryl was now bringing us closer than we
had ever been. It puzzled me exceedingly and I quickly became nervous
and upset. Any events that surrounded me until the moment that I saw
Serena on the Moon and she looked at me with pain in her eyes have
blurred since then. Only now, years later, can I piece together some of
the things that occurred around me, but they still aren't, and probably
never will be, completely clear.
The scared girl that arrived on Mars that day later became the
Dark Mage who attacked Princess Mina Dione and prompted Mina to use her
Winged Magic for the first time. Narcissus had found the girl as a body
for the Darkness. She became the victim of a Soul Capture. Her weak
will had allowed the Darkness to conquer her mind rather easily and
keep her soul trapped behind a cage. However, because she was so weak,
the Darkness' magic could not be used in full, which is why Mina had
been able to defeat her with a single spell.
The next few events are still not understood in full by anyone
except, perhaps, the Hito. I only know that Beryl somehow killed
Narcissus before we left for the Moon. He had left the Moon and stopped
in Kinmoku where Beryl met him and brought him back to Mars before
killing him. I have no idea why this happened. Perhaps Beryl did not
enjoy Narcissus' growing powers or the fact that he had been in
Angreemon for years before he had become Dark. I cannot even begin to
imagine her reasons for killing him because by that time Beryl had
become almost completely Evil. Solely preoccupied with herself, Beryl
would not allow anyone to stand in the way of her goals, and her
ultimate goal was to rule the universe next to the Darkness.
Soon after Narcissus' death Beryl learned of the Darkness'
capture and imprisonment. She looked for a new body to replace the
girl, whose name I never found out, and found a perfect candidate in
Prince Rupert of Jupiter. His mind was weak willed but his body was
strong and he was arrogant, a necessary component to performing a
successful Soul Capture.
From what I understand, Prince Rupert had no idea that he was
going to be used as the Darkness' holder until the Darkness actually
got a hold of him. After Kou and Hou mistakenly left that door open and
allowed the Darkness to escape, Prince Rupert Heron had been forced by
Beryl into our quarters and he subsequently had his body taken by the
Darkness.
I had been hiding in the shadows when I saw that mass of dark
energy enter the Prince's body; I still hear his screams echoing in my
brain. Soul Captures are extremely painful, almost as painful as
separating Winged magic from its bearer. I remember cringing and
feeling my body invonlutarily begin to step towards him. It took all of
my willpower to stop myself, and I was slowly losing that power. I was
about to give in and run to help the poor Prince when his eyes opened
and I knew that I was too late. His eyes were black pools and his soul
had been lost. Forever.
When he spoke I felt my brain pulsing behind my eyes, as though
it would escape the sound and leave my head. I grabbed my temples and
bent down with a gasp. I could not make out his words and when I tried
my headache just got worse so I gave it up. I still could not get up,
however, so I sat there and waited as the Darkness spoke to Beryl.
Although I could not understand them, I felt uneasiness in Beryl's
voice. Her voice was not painful to my ears, but I still could not
concentrate on her words - my mind was still in pain from listening to
the Darkness. But she was not happy, and she was nervous. This
surprised me since I had no idea that Dark Mages experienced that sort
of feeling, in fact their cockiness became their downfall in most
cases. The Darkness did not seem nervous, and I think that it assuaged
Beryl's fears. In any case, the two left the room a little later and I
sat with my head in my hands, taking huge breaths of air for at least
five minutes after they left. When I felt that I was finally ready to
get up, another surprise hit me and made me fall back down on the
floor, though not in pain. The Hito had grabbed hold of my mind.
When I was younger I had been assigned Kunzite as my bodyguard
and protector. Slowly, over the years, the other Hito gathered on Earth
and began their training there. I had no idea that they were the Hito
until many years later, when I had left Earth and had been travelling
with Beryl for at least two years. It came as no shock to me, however,
because I had always felt their connection. I did not know they were as
powerful as all that, but I knew that the four of them were special in
some way or another. In either case, Kunzite and I had known each other
since we were both five years old. Because of that, we had grown up
with a special connection of our own. I could read his thoughts as he
could mine. We used to speak to each other from far away to play tricks
on the palace staff and got into more trouble than I care to remember.
I have no idea how we were tolerated, but we were happy children and
the staff spoiled us and laughed at our antics when we were not around.
Zoicite, the Mirai, arrived when I was eight. I still remember
my parents' surprise when he arrived and Kunzite and I immediately took
him under our wing. The three of us were seen everywhere together.
Later I found out that Zoicite had been such a surprise to my parents
because they had had no prior knowledge of his arrival. Zoicite was
not from the Sol System, he came from the Ygran System, a galaxy so far
away that there were no maps marking its existence. Zoicite took six
years to arrive on Earth, he had known he was needed there when he was
only two years old.
The next to arrive was Jadeite, the Kuji. He came from the
Benabair System. It was not far enough away that we had never heard of
it, but it was strange enough that my parents received quite another
shock when he joined our little group. This happened when I was twelve.
Jadeite had not come for the same reason as Zoicite, who could see the
future, but because he had seen the past and knew of his past life. He
knew that he was a Kuji and so he went out looking for the Hito and
stumbled upon the Earth by luck. He had been travelling for two years
and was happy to find the ones he had been searching for. Because of
his Gift, Jadeite remembered Kunzite and Zoicite from centuries ago,
when they were named something else and when they were not all together
at once. The Hito had never congregated in one place, but Jadeite had
met the other three at separate times in his past lives. He knew more
about them than any of the others. He was quickly incorporated into our
little group and the four of us were inseparable.
However, I knew there was something wrong. Although we were all
extremely close and would protect each other's lives, if ever the need
arose, I knew that they were keeping something from me. I did not mind,
though, because I knew there must be some reason for their secrecy. I
knew that they would tell me, sooner or later. So I kept to myself and
pretended not to notice the shared glances and the tenseness.
As close as I ever got to Zoicite and Jadeite, my connection
with Kunzite was never reciprocated by the other two. I knew that and
they knew that. I noticed that Kunzite could speak to Zoicite and
Jadeite and so he became a sort of mediator between us. When I found
out later that Kunzite was a Garandou, I almost laughed. It had been so
obvious that I wondered why I had never thought of it myself.
Nephrite, the Douji, did not arrive until we were all eighteen.
I was surprised, but the other three had been waiting for him for a
long time. I knew then that he was the missing piece, the problem that
I had always sensed but had never mentioned. The four were perfect
together and I sensed this keenly. Soon after Nephrite arrived I
married Beryl of Elandia and left Earth. We never got close, but I was
his friend because the others were his friend. Looking back, I'm glad I
left when I did. If I hadn't the Hito could never have formed. The four
of them, especially Kunzite, were always afraid of making me feel left
out and that was not good for the Hito. My presence was a burden to
them. Even now, years later, the four of them deny this fervently, but
I know it's true. Because I left, the four of them were able to achieve
the closeness they needed to meld together and finally become the first
Hito in the universe.
Kunzite and I left off talking to one another after I left and
I know that we both missed it. So it was like welcoming an old friend
when I felt his presence enter my mind and take me with him into the
Past, Present and Future.
What I learned during those minutes with the Hito is still not
clear. I understood it all as I was accompanying them, but if I try to
think about specifics, they escape me as though they are laughing at
me. I know this is because I'm not one of the Hito, and so I am unable
to store the information as well as they are. I don't have the training
nor do I have the capability to do so. Nevertheless, I can still recall
the overall story they were trying to tell me.
As I followed Kunzite through his mind, I saw that Nephrite,
Zoicite and Jadeite had joined us. I looked at them as we stopped at
some point in time. When I was with the Hito it did not matter where I
was, only when I was. It was a very difficult thing for me to
comprehend, but I took it in very quickly. My problem now is with
remembering the understanding that I experienced during those moments.
I can't remember the details of what they were trying to tell me, but I
remember seeing Kunzite's face and noticing that his eyes, instead of
changing colors all the time as I was used to seeing, was now three
different colors all at once. Each of his eyes had a third of a color
in them. I sat and stared, mesmerized, until I noticed that they were
laughing at me. I shook my head and smiled, trying to pay attention to
his words.
Eons ago, when the Universe was first made, Light and Dark were
equal, making it impossible for one to conquer the other. This went on
for millenia until, as though a glitch occurred in space, the Ryuu was
born. He was a creature of balance and goodness, but one that walked a
fine line. Because his goodness was greater than his evilness, the
Dragon would naturally have certain bouts of madness, making the Ryuu
angry and filling the Darkness with energy. This would keep the balance
between Light and Dark for many more millenia.
That was when Kouryou met the Ryuu. While Kunzite was telling
me this, I could see images flitting through his eyes, and I would
accompany them, as though watching a moving picture. I don't remember
many of these images, but the one that stuck with me is the image of a
young girl. I cannot rid myself of this image, and think about it all
the time.
A girl with wide eyes, eyes that remind me of Serena's, stare
into my own. However, her eyes are a brilliant green. Her hair is a
dark auburn red, it flows in the wind, and looks as though it would
catch on fire and fly away if it could. Her face is heart-shaped and
her cheekbones are high and proud, as though they are far too proud for
her body; her features are sharp and soft at the same time. As I watch
a young woman with moccha colored skin and velvet black eyes comes up
behind the girl and throws her arms around her, as though she would
protect her from the world. The girl reaches up and grabs the woman's
arms, at the same time looking up and laughing merrily.
I do not remember anything else after that, the image changed
and Kunzite went on talking as I attempted to follow the story. I know
that Kunzite explained to me why the Light and the Dark fell out of
balance, but I cannot remember it. I think I'm not meant to know. But
in any case, Light and Dark became separate entities that were at war
with each other at all times. From that war Mages were born. Mages were
made to keep the Balance. A Mage walks the line between Good and Evil.
A Mage keeps the Universe in balance.
But then the firt Dark Mage was born. Once that happened,
Lightness started to fail and Darkness began to prevail. But because
Light and Dark are entities that do not know time nor space, when this
happened it began to spread during every different time span: Past,
present, and future.
The Darkness grew and grew, becoming the large mass of black
energy that Kou and Hou encountered. Kunzite told me that Prince Rupert
was going to kill Hou and Kou if I did not go to them and that if the
Darkness were to win this the entire universe would be lost.
As I was trying to process this information a tall woman with
dark green hair appeared in front of us. I recognized Princess Setsuna
Chares immediately. She was dressed as Sailor Pluto, and she held her
Time Staff in her right hand. Her voice echoed in this place and I at
once knew that she was a lot more powerful than she would have the rest
of the universe know.
She looked at me and told me that not only would this universe
be destroyed, all the parallel universes were being destroyed. Until
that point, I had never heard of parallel universes, but since the
daughter of Chronus told me that, I knew that it must be true. She told
me that the lost equilibrium between Light and Dark in this universe
was upsetting the equilibrium in all universes, and the time-space
continuum was meeting in places where they shouldn't be meeting.
"You must hurry, Prince of Earth. You must meet the Houou once
again, or we are all lost." As I heard her words, I was thrust out of
Kunzite's mind and found myself once again on the floor, blinking hard.
The next thing I remember, I was running into the throne room
and reaching out to Hou, who grabbed my hand instinctively and thus had
his world thrown off its axis. As soon as I found Hou's hand in mine I
felt the fire of the Houou spread in my veins and I could hear its
Song echo in my brain. I was so joyous I wanted to laugh. And it was in
that moment that I regained all of Hou's memories from the last ten
years that we had been separated. I walked with him through all the
corridors of his mind, living through his triumphs and failures and
slowly gaining the knowledge of being a High Mage and, more
importantly, of being the Zen'youkuhikouki.
At the same time, Hou's mind melded with mine and we became one
person. It's difficult to explain to others how exactly this worked, I
myself can't understand it fully. All I know is that whatever Hou felt,
I felt, and vice versa. There was no Hou and Darien. There was only us.
And we were Hou when the Houou ran wild through us, and Darien when the
cooling Earth magic calmed us. And then there was no us. There was only
I. Prince Darien Endymion of Earth. High Mage Hou. And suddenly I knew
how Serena and Kou coexisted. How they were the same person and yet
they were two different beings who lived in one body.
And then I became Hou and I lended my strength to my love, who
took my hand in surprise. And the rest is history.
I wake up in the morning, rested and yet restless. I open my
eyes and see blue orbs staring into my own.
"Good morning, sleepy head."
I smile and pull her against me, kissing her my good morning.
"Dreams again?" Her eyes flicker with sadness for a second as
she becomes worried for me.
"Yes, but nothing too bad." I wait until all worries leave her
eyes before I smile. "It has been too long for them to worry me now."
She sighs and rests her forehead against mine. "It's been five
hundred years, my darling."
Sometimes I forget it's been so long. I nod and lose myself in
my thoughts when I feel her start to get up. I tighten my hold on her.
"And where do you think you're going?"
"I must see my mother before she leaves, you know that. I only
have five more months with her." And the sadness comes back in her eyes
as I hold her even tighter against me.
"She won't be completly gone, you know. And we'll have a little
one of our own to care for." I put my hand against her slightly swelled
belly and imagine myself holding my daughter close to me. I knew it
would be a daughter, a Lunarian Queen's first born was always a
daughter.
Serena blinks away a tear and smiles at me. "Yes, I know. And
she'll have plenty of friends." I know she's referring to the little
Planetarian Princesses and Princes who had been coming along for the
last five years or so.
"Yes, she will. And she will remember your Mother. She always
will."
"I know." She whispers to me.
I hold her for a while longer and play with her golden hair
that is slowly becoming silvery white as our daughter's birth date
approaches.
As we sit there and think of our daughter, the Houou comes to
us unexpectedly and my hair and eyes turn red as Serena's hair turns
the vibrant gold it is when she is Kou. We look at each other and kiss
as the Houou sings us its approval. I am finally happy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Do you want an epilogue? Did you love The Mage Princess? Did you hate
it? Let me know! E-mail me at cfmc@uclink.berkeley.edu with your
thoughts!
taking so long in writing this last chapter. I have been extremely
busy and could not write as often as I wished. However, I still loved
writing this story and enjoyed the full 16 months that it was a part
of my life. I hope to continue with these characters in later stories
but that is not certain. I hope that this ending is up to everyone's
standards and that it answers all the questions everyone seemed to have
about the story. Please let me know if you want an Epilogue... if you
answer yes I'll just have to warn you that it means a continuation of
this story... if not it can just end right here. ~.^ I'm very happy
with the huge amount of positive reviews I received and with the fact
that people seemed to truly care about Hou/Darien and Kou as Chapter
Five came into being! I hope that the end satisfies all of my fans! ^^
A few disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon... if I did I would be
publishing these stories because I would have enough money to do so...
I'm also an extremely poor college student who has to rely on her
scholarship to pay off the registration fees so don't sue me... you'll
get nothing out of it! One more thing: Washi is my character... Hou is
also my character and I guess that Kou is my character too since she is
so very different from Serenity ne? ~.^ Anyway I made all of them up so
don't steal any of them, okie? ^^
New disclaimer: Yuufu, Narcissus, Ohamu, and Abura Kakyuu are also my
characters. No stealing!
New new disclaimer: Prince Rupert Heron is my character as well! I
ask for a lot, huh? ^__^
New new new disclaimer: Gosh there's a lot! The Ryuu, Kouryou, and Taka
are also mine!
I guess it's on with the story!
The Mage Princess
CHAPTER SIX
By: Sailor Berkeley
* * ~ ~ Darien ~ ~ * *
I reach over to encompass the warm body beside my own and bring
that warmth closer to me. Her contour fits mine perfectly and she gives
a little sigh and smiles in her sleep as I bury my face in her golden
hair. I breathe in deeply and am rewarded by the sweet smell of her. It
is hard to explain what it is exactly. A mixture of sweet air, violets
and cinammon all in one. I touch her mentally and am rewarded by that
same smell in tenfold as well as the soft touch of silk.
I'm not sure what I did to deserve this gift from the Gods but
I cannot imagine life without her. I don't know how I was deemed worthy
enough to keep her forever but somehow I passed the unspoken test to
become what I did. To be able to be next to her. She had gone through
so much. And so much of that would have not happened if it weren't for
me and my stupidity. I shake my head and sigh as I fall asleep and the
memories take hold of my dreams once again.
I turned around and grabbed my cousin by the waist to twirl her
around. Her green eyes sparkled at me and I couldn't believe that she
had come. She was supposed to be in Titania visiting some kind of
ambassador and had told me she would not be coming to the Moon. Yet
here she was, ready to be introduced to the girl of my dreams. The one
I intended to marry. I gave her a light peck on the cheek and she
swatted me away playfully.
"Daria, I would like to introduce you to Princess Serena
Serenity of..." But before I could finish my sentence I knew she was
gone. I could feel it. I turned my head anyway, my magic could be lying
to me. It never had before but perhaps this one time it had. I saw the
last remaining traces of white light surrounding the air where she had
stood and my heart audibly broke.
I try to wake up from the nightmare, knowing that I would not
be able to. I would have to sit through it all and remember every
little detail before I would be allowed to open my eyes. I frown in my
sleep as the next part of my nightmare begins.
Three months had passed since the girl of my dreams
disappeared from my life and I still could not eat or sleep. She was in
my every waking thought. No matter where I went or what I did I heard
the laughter of a six year old child, saw the big azure eyes of a
thirteen year old young girl and caught the golden twinkle of her hair
in the corner of my eyes.
My parents had begun to worry. They tried to do everything to
entice me out of my comatose state but nothing worked. I was too
imbedded in my own misery to be able to see the people around me.
Therefore I was as shocked as my parents when High Mage Taka,
the Hawk - the Zen'youkuhikouki, himself came to Earth.
On that day I had been lying perfectly still on my bed, eyes
closed and brows furrowed together. The red magic surrounding me burned
stronger and actually pained me as I tried to stretch it as far as it
could go. I wanted to reach her. To at least mentally touch her for a
split second before never seeing her again. As my mental self was
propelling itself through the upper atmosphere of the Earth, I felt the
sharp tuggings at my mind - the physical restraint of my body calling
me back. I fought it, knowing full well the risks of being too far from
my body with the undeveloped magic I wielded at the time. If I were to
strain the link my mind held with my body for too long, and without
the large amount of magic it would take to have me return, the two
would separate themselves completely. If that were to happen I would
never be able to return into my body and my mind would lose all its
knowledge of a physical entity thus joining the universal power flow
and losing all identity.
I had read this in many books. I had heard horror stories of
mental callings gone awry, but at that moment I did not care. I needed
to see her at least one more time. Even at the cost of my own body. I
pushed myself farther, coming closer and closer to the great white rock
circling the Earth as I could feel our connection growing stronger. I
could feel her getting closer to me.
With my mind screaming at me to return and the link between my
physical and mental self growing dim, I rushed on towards my goal. I
stretched out a mental hand as I realized that she was beginning to
notice my impeding arrival. As her presence was about to notice my own
I heard a screech so high it rivaled anything I had ever heard before.
A red blur whizzed past me and blocked my view of her.
At first I did not see what stood in my way. I tried to
struggle past the obtrusion but failed. Not only was I too weak by this
time, the red shape in front of me was as solid as a stone wall. I
raged at it, threw any last bit of magic I had in store at it before I
stopped and noticed what was standing there.
A Phoenix. The ancient Winged Magic. Its ruby eyes caught my
own and I could not move. Suddenly I was extremely ashamed of myself as
I caught a glimpse of its pity. I broke down at that moment and the
Houou gathered me in his Wings and carried me back down to Earth. Back
to my body. Back to my miserable self.
When I regained consciousness I was once more in my own room,
staring at the same grainy ceiling I had been staring at only hours
ago. At first I had no idea why I had such a blinding headache but the
memories came rushing back and a tear slipped down my cheek. I was so
close. So close to her.
"And what would you have done then?"
I jumped up at the voice and grabbed my head as I did so. That
really hurt. I closed my eyes tightly and did not open them until my
vision returned once more. Once I opened my eyes I had to blink a
couple more times to believe what I was seeing.
In front of me was the tallest man I had ever met in my entire
existence. Standing at seven feet and a half, with golden brown eyes
and a face consisting of sharp angles, was High Mage Taka, the
Zen'youkuhikouki.
"What would you have done, heh? Wandered forever the vast
universe with no identity and no soul? Doomed to the spirit world
forevermore?" He shook his head and his long brown hair rose and fell
and I briefly saw the shape of wings in his hair before they
disappeared from sight. "And what would the Houou do, without his
Chosen One?" He paused and looked at me admonishingly. "Very selfish of
you, Darien Endymion. Very selfish indeed."
"How was I to know about the Houou? And what would I care about
that anyway? My life is over. I do not want anything to do with anyone
anymore." I realized my words sounded childish even as they were
leaving my mouth, but I did not stop them. I feel ashamed, now, to
recall those words. But I was young then. And I wanted to sound
childish for once. To vent out my anger at the world. To keep myself
sane by doing so.
The Zen'youkuhikouki sighed and softly put his hand on my
furrowed brow. "Had I the power to do so, I would forever keep you from
the clutches of the Houou. Even if he means well."
I was surprised, and my eyes showed it. Even now I cannot
believe he had said that. A High Mage wanting to keep another Mage from
developing his powers is a rare sight. And a difficult thing for any
Mage to say since it is a feeling that will take a Mage further and
further into the Darkness.
He took his hand away and I missed the warmth it had brought. I
realized then that he had used his magic to relieve me of my headache.
"What am I to do? I will not go be a High Mage. I cannot. I am
too depressed to be of any help to the Houou." In my head I heard the
Phoenix's sad cry, his eyes dull and small.
High Mage Taka sat down on the chair next to my bed and drew
his hands together. "What if I were to tell you that there is a way for
you to continue living without the Houou and for the Houou to continue
living with you?"
I frowned. "That is impossible. If the Houou were to be with me
I would not be able to get away from him. What are you saying?"
The High Mage looked away from my curious eyes and refused to
look at me as he answered me.
"There was a time, long ago, when there was only one Winged
Magic. Only one person able to wield that magic per lifetime. Only One
Dragon." I nodded my head. I had heard this story before. But I allowed
him to continue uninterrupted. I wanted to know where he was going with
this. "Tired of living alone, the Dragon was not an easy Magic to
wield. He was angry, irritable, and tended not to listen to commands.
This went on for millenia. Until the day that the Dragon came to find
himself in the body of a young girl. Her name was Kouryou and her life
was devoted to the Ryuu. She loved him with all her heart, a feeling
that the Ryuu - the Dragon - had never experienced. Sadly, although
Winged Magic have feelings and thoughts of their own, they cannot take
on physical form. In that way the love the Ryuu and Kouryou had for
each other could never be consumated. The Ryuu grew so angry that not
even Kouryou could reach him, try as she may. It is said that one day,
going mad from his inability to physically touch Kouryou, the Ryuu grew
so angry that fire flew from his mouth. Fire so strong and pure that it
went through Kouryou's body and split her in half. That was how the
Houou was made. Kouryou's two halves became Kou, the Female Phoenix,
and Hou, the Male Phoenix. After that day the Ryuu was never again
seen."
I had heard the tale of Kouryou and her impossible love many
times. She was a legend. The woman from whom all Winged Magic was born.
In their lifetime, Hou and Kou were able to produce other Winged Magic
and were said to have been lovers. They both died at the age of 4,000.
That was 17,700 years ago. Not a single Houou had been seen since then.
'Until me.' A voice inside said. 'Yes, until me.' I replied.
"You have not heard the whole story, however." At this my ears
perked up. How had I not heard the whole story? It was common
knowledge. Even now, this story is known by everyone. It has become a
legend. "You haven't heard the whole story because only the
Zen'youkuhikouki is given the whole story to keep in secret. The fact
that I'm telling you this now breaks a very old tradition." High Mage
Taka sighed. "I hope that explains to you why I'm hesitant to tell
you." He smiled slightly before continuing.
"Kouryou, unlike the story says, was not split in half. She was
split into four. You see, the Ryuu is so strong that his magic is the
equivalent of the two Houou put together. He is the equivalent of Hou
and Kou. Kouryou by herself, however, was a human with special powers.
Powers given to her by her home planet of Alieta. A Planet that was
destroyed eons ago. When the Ryuu split Kouryou he made her into four
humans. Two with all of the Ryuu's magic and two with no magic at all.
The other two humans were Ryuu and Kouryou, their love lasting through
the searing of magic and making them two normal human beings."
My head was swimming with this new information. Four people? It
made more sense. Why would the Ryuu spend all of his energy to never
see Kouryou again? Of course he must have done it for a purpose and not
because he went mad. I wondered why High Mage Taka was telling me this
when it finally hit me. "Do you mean that I could separate myself from
the Houou and become a normal human?" My voice squeaked as the words
came out.
The Zen'youkuhikouki nodded solemnly. I absorbed this slowly. I
looked inside myself and saw the Houou there looking at me solemnly and
sadly, his eyes dull from the pain of separation. I felt it too. The
pain would be enormous. I had only had the Houou inside of me for a
couple of hours but I still felt as if I could never live without him.
I also knew, however, that in the state I was currently in I could
never learn to become Hou. It would never work. And in that moment I
made my decision as I nodded at High Mage Taka and he raised his hands
to my temples.
I have never since felt pain so strong in my life. The Houou
screeched in agonization and fear as he tried to hold onto me and my
mind. I was sobbing uncontrollably, screams that could be heard all
over the castle tearing out of my throat. My mother and father told me
later that they tried to get into my room but the door would not budge.
Nothing could open it.
I felt as if my heart was being torn out of my body while I was
still alive. The Houou had his claws strongly gripping me and High Mage
Taka was softly whispering to him, telling him to let me go. To let it
happen. This went on for what seemed like years. If I think of it I can
still feel the searing pain as though a dormant scar is slowly waking
up. I could not imagine a life without the Houou and I started to doubt
my decision. But it was too late. With one final scream and a screech
from the Houou, he was gone. All I had left was my Earth magic. The
magic I have always had. It tried to nurture me, to fill me with its
golden light but it was not enough. The fire of the Houou was gone and
it could never be replaced. I collapsed on the bed, tears running
uncontrollably down my face. High Mage Taka fell to the chair, his
skin pale and clammy. And on the floor, curled up into a ball was a
seventeen year old boy with red hair and red eyes who had the fire of
the Houou running through his veins.
I don't know how long I spent trying to recover from that
traumatic moment. I don't know if I ever did recover. All I remember
next is the loneliness and the pain and the sorrow. The lack of the
Houou together with the lack of Serena was driving me deeper and deeper
into depression.
So it was not surprising that when Beryl of Elandia showed up
in my kingdom I was more than happy to share my life with her. We were
engaged after only 3 days. My parents were upset because they could not
see why we could not wait. I knew I didn't love Beryl, but I was lonely
and I needed someone.
The day before our wedding brought with it a feeling of
uneasiness. Beryl had shown, over and over, her horrible nature but I
had been too engrossed in my own self pity to have seen it. When I
finally noticed it, it was too late. She had me in her claws.
Beryl of Elandia was a beautiful girl. She had been born a
halfling, her mother a Lorean cat and her father an Earthling man.
All Lorean cats are female so they depend on the Corsean wolves to
procreate. Once a year the whole population of the Lorealis planet
migrates to Corsealis for a week to mate with the male Corsean wolves.
This migration is very dangerous because the Corsean female wolves hate
the Loreans who steal away their males for that week. Violence is not
uncommon and many Loreans die in the process. Beryl's mother, Vejur,
was about to get killed by a Corsean female when Shackom - an Earthling
man on vacation at Corsealis - saved her and brought her to Earth.
The two had one daughter, Beryl, a girl who looked human enough
but whose skin was a lavender color and whose teeth contained a small
set of fangs. People journeyed from all over to see the halfling and
gawk over her face and body. In time she demonstrated an affinity to
magic and began to take lessons from a visiting Mage. No one knew then
that this visiting Mage was becoming a Dark Mage.
Being young and inexperienced, Beryl was easily converted by
her teacher into the Darkness. She was a vain little thing, knowing
full well the power her beauty held over men. The Darkness knew then
that Serena was a threat. And he knew that I would die to protect her.
So he sent Beryl of Elandia to get rid of me. If I had only known this
then. I could have saved so much pain and suffering. But this was not
to be.
The night before the wedding I had a dream. It was a very
strange and unnerving dream, and one that I can recall rather readily
even now. My dream started as a normal dream. I was walking around the
woods that surround my castle, my four bodyguards surrounding me and
keeping me company. Little did I know then that those four were the
Hito, the ones destined to control time. I was joking with my friends
when suddenly the four of them disappeared and I was in a place I had
never seen before. It was a room, but not really a room. More like a
space. A red space. I could tell it was incredibly hot in there, the
temperatures reaching to more than 600 degrees, but I was comfortable.
The heat did not affect me at all. I sat and pondered this when a
figure began to take shape ahead of me. A man with dark red hair and
the most incredible green eyes stood in front of me. I stood and stared
at those emerald eyes for I have no idea how long. Mesmerized. I shook
my head and broke eye contact when I realized that he was smiling at
me.
"You don't look at all like I imagined you." Although his voice
was at a normal tone and level, it was impossible not to notice the
power behind that voice. I could almost detect a bit of a roar
underneath his calmness and amusement. I didn't know what to make of
it so I could not respond.
His smile grew wider. I remember noticing, in my dream, that
he had a lot of teeth. It's a strange thing to remember, I know, but
nevertheless I remember that detail very clearly.
"Well, there's still hope I guess. She is definitely better
looking." I frowned. This was getting a bit insulting. Plus, who the
hell was he talking about anyway? I opened my mouth to ask but was
stopped by the sound of his laughter. I had to cover my ears for that.
The sound ripped right into my soul. It was merry and horrid at the
same time. My bones shook as his laughter rumbled and I winced.
"No matter. I really did not mean to insult you." He smiled
even wider and I tried not to stare at his teeth once again. "What I
really want to do is warn you. I hate doing this. I feel like some sort
of fairy godmother." He stopped for a second. "Or godfather." He
laughed again as I winced once more. He took a deep breath before
continuing. "If you can't tell, I don't get out much." The smile again.
What a strange sense of humor. "But that is not the point of our
conversation today. I need to talk to you about this woman you are
planning on marrying." Suddenly his voice was serious and became as
hard as a stone. All of his old merriment was gone and I started to
miss it as I noticed how cold his eyes became.
I finally ventured a word. "Beryl?" I had no idea why he wanted
to speak to me about her, but I was willing to listen. And I doubt I
could have gotten away even if I wanted to.
"Yes. Beryl of Elandia. You must not marry this woman. She is a
Dark Mage, and she will attempt to destroy you as well as the ones you
love if you let her get too close. She is not trustworthy."
I was shocked. Beryl was the sweetest woman I had ever met. But
even as that thought came into my head, I remembered the one time I had
seen her deal with servants and the way she snapped at them and how
they cowered away when she walked into a room. I frowned. Why had I not
noticed this before?
"She has been keeping you under a spell, I'm afraid." I look up
at his words. "And she will be able to make this spell stronger and
stronger the longer you stay with her. If you marry this woman our
chances of survival will not be very good."
"Survival? What will she do?"
"She will bring with her the Darkness. She will unmake Light.
She will destroy Winged Magic and throw the entire universe into
upheaval. She will destroy you."
I winced as the words were spoken. His voice was getting louder
and louder but he was moving further and further away. When the last
word left his mouth he was so far away from me that I could barely
make out his emerald eyes. I knew he was going to leave me then.
"Who are you?" I yelled after him, hoping to receive an answer
before he completely disappeared.
The words slowly came back to me but they were so jumbled and
so low that I could not make them out. That was when I woke up to find
Beryl's eyes staring into my face.
I jumped up then, scared and out of breath. Her red eyes were
gleaming and the set of fangs she carried peaked out as she smiled. I'm
afraid to say that I actually stuttered as I spoke her name. I was only
rewarded by a wider and more horrible smile.
"Tsk tsk tsk." She shook her head as she shook her finger at me
in a way that made me gulp hard. "We have been snooping, haven't we?"
"I have no idea what you're talking..."
"Stop acting the fool, Darien." She snapped. "Don't think for a
minute that I am one either. I know you have broken free from my spell.
How did you do it? It was impossible to detect."
I looked at her rebelliously. There was no way I was going to
tell her anything. And there was also the fact that I had no idea how
it happened either. But I wasn't about to let Beryl know that.
"Never mind. I don't care. We are to be married today in any
case."
"You are quite mistaken if you think I will be marrying a
monster such as you." I spit this out at her, my eyes showing all of my
hatred. I could not believe I had fallen for her trap. Had fallen into
any spell that this horrid woman had cast.
Her eyes slit at my insult. "You are the one who is mistaken,
my darling husband-to-be. I am sure that you will beg me to marry you
once you hear my news." Her sinister smile was back and I shivered.
"What news?"
"Oh nothing important, I suppose. Just a little something I
heard about that little Moon brat."
At those words I jumped up and grabbed her shoulders, squeezing
them painfully. She only laughed at me as I left bruises on her perfect
skin. She suddenly stopped and looked at me with cold eyes.
"Your little girlfriend has just gone and found some Winged
Magic inside of herself. Some Houou Winged Magic. She is soon to be
leaving for Angreemon to begin her training."
"You lie." I squeezed her shoulders even more painfully,
wishing to silence her words.
"You know I am not lying."
I let go of her shoulders and looked at my hands for a moment.
It was true. I could feel it. Somewhere deep inside of me something was
whispering the truth to me. I brought my eyes up to Beryl's face and my
eyes burned with anger.
My words came out strained. "Why would that matter?"
She laughed as I clenched my fists in rage. "You know why it
matters. You know how dangerous Winged Magic is and how many accidents
occur in Angreemon. I have plenty of friends there, I wouldn't even
have to lift a finger." She slit her eyes at me as her voice grew even
colder than before. "And don't think that I wouldn't do it. You know
very well that I would. I will have your precious princess killed very
slowly and painfully if you do not marry me."
As I was listening to her words I was formulating a plan. A way
to get in touch with Serena and let her know of Beryl's involvement. If
only I still contained the Houou inside of me. I sighed mentally.
Serena was Kou then. And Hou, the red-headed boy, was off to be with
her for eternity. They would be bound together by the Houou, that much
I was certain of. I should have kept the Houou inside of me. That way I
would now be able to stay with Serena. Suddenly I knew the answer to my
problems: Hou. I had to get in touch with Hou. My magic most likely
could reach him. He was a part of me and so contained some of my aura.
I could definitely reach him rather easily. I was about to close my
eyes when I felt nails digging into my arm.
"Don't even think about it. You will never be able to reach her
before I stop you. I am much stronger than you are, and you better
remember that. I don't think that your pathetic Earth magic could get
you very far. And just to make sure you never do any such thing..."
Before I could stop her, Beryl threw up a wall of solid brick
inside of my head. I could not reach my magic no matter how hard I
tried. All I gained was a terrible headache and a feeling of hatred
stronger than any I had ever felt before.
I was powerless. No, worse. I was in Beryl's clutches.
The next years were a blur. I do not remember them now, nor do
I wish to remember them. I went to various planets, travelled all over
the Solar Galaxy as well as hundreds more. We would not stay in one
place very long lest I start trusting someone and let word of my mental
imprisonment escape. I did not do much during those years, mostly I sat
and thought of Serena and wondered whether she ever thought of me.
I tried to stay out of Beryl's way. I did not want to so much
as speak with her and kept any contact at a bare minimum. She made me
uneasy and I could tell that her powers were growing by the day. I had
no idea how she was achieving that kind of power until one evening when
we were in Neptune.
On that night Beryl had left me alone in the room and, as
usual, I went into the gardens to think. Gardens had become my refuge
and solace. Each castle's garden was unique and beautiful in its own
way. The fire flowers of Mars, the ice fountains of Mercury, the
lightning streaked dirt of Jupiter; they were all beautiful. Neptune's
garden ranked very high on my list, though. In Neptune each individual
flower was made up of different colors of salt. Even the trees were
made of salt. This wasn't normal salt, it was hard and crystalline, and
it glittered in the light. In the middle of the garden there was a sea.
It sounds strange, and I barely believed it myself when I first saw it,
but it is true. By some magic unknown to me, one was able to see all
the way to the deepest bottom of this sea. There were great whales and
dolphins, huge fish that glowed in the dark and eels that would play
with your hand if you dipped it in. And all throughout this sea multi-
colored seaweed swayed in the currents. It was beautiful and
mesmerizing. I could sit and watch it for hours. The Princess of
Neptune and I met each other there often. We would watch the sea before
us and would not speak at all. Often we would sit there all night long.
On this particular evening, however, Princess Michiru Thesea
was in Uranus visiting the woman she would later marry, Princess
Haruka Tiran. So I sat alone in the dark. I guess that is why they did
not notice my presence.
I watched as Beryl sat down and started to meditate. I was
about to leave, for I did not want to be around her any more than was
absolutely necessary, when something stopped me. I looked at her and
noticed that a black cloud had surrounded her. Thinking that this was
unusual, I ducked down and watched her from the shadows.
Suddenly Beryl's eyes flashed open and looked straight at me. I
froze and felt my heart beat faster. It took me a few moments to notice
that she did not see me. She wasn't even there. It was as if another
entity had taken over her body. Her red eyes turned deep black, the
whites of her eyes completely taken over by darkness. Her hair seemed
to have a life of its own as it rose above her and hovered, wavering,
in the air. Evil in its purest form surrounded and entered Beryl of
Elandia. I shivered and cowered down. As pathetic as it sounds, I
almost whimpered. I had never before seen Evil with my own eyes. It was
a horrid sight and one that I wish I could forget.
When I finally took control of myself I noticed that Beryl's
lips were moving. I strained my ears to hear her. "... Not yet,
Master."
"Then you must work harder to find one." This voice came out
of Beryl's lips, but it was not her voice. The Darkness, the Evil,
surrounding her had somehow taken over her body to speak with her. I
had read about Soul Speaking, but had never actually seen it performed
before. It was not a necessarily evil thing, High Mages used it often
to speak to the spirits of the past. The hard part, and the dangerous
one, was convincing the spirit to leave. If a High Mage of too low a
rank attempted to Soul Speak, he might find his body taken over by the
spirit and his own soul left to wander the universe, bodiless.
Eventually, the soul would either join the universal flow or
unknowingly terrorize poor pasamages who would not understand why a
ghost was suddenly appearing among them. The Darkness' voice slowly
came back to me.
"... if you do not find me a body I will not be able to
accomplish my plans."
"Yes, Master."
"Don't fail me, Beryl. I will be very disappointed if you do.
I would also keep an eye on that Earthling." I froze when I heard those
words. Had he seen me? No, he really was concerned about me, or at
least about my abilities. I frowned. I had no magic. Why would I matter
to him? "He is a threat to me. He and the Other. Make sure you keep
that situation under control."
"Of course, Master," she replied as she closed her eyes.
I slowly slid deeper into the shadows and back to the castle
when I saw Beryl's eyes close, it meant that she was getting out of her
trance.
The Darkness' last words made no sense to me but I had plenty
of time to figure them out, or so I hoped. If I had any idea how little
time I had before those words made sense, I would have spent more time
pondering their meaning. Sadly, this was not to be.
Even though much of that conversation had made no sense to me,
that night I learned how Beryl was able to yield so much power so
quickly: She was using the Darkness as a continuous power supply. There
was no other explanation for it. That also meant that she was becoming
a bigger threat than I had ever expected her to be.
We were in Mars a few weeks later. I did not see the Darkness
during that time but I knew that Beryl still conferred with it when she
wasn't around me. Nothing unusual was brought to my attention during
that time except for the one visit Beryl received from another Dark
Mage whose name I later learned was Narcissus. He came one day and the
two sat in her room for three hours before he left again. I did not
spend any time in his company nor did I hear what they spoke of. Our
lives almost went back to normal before Beryl had another visitor. This
time it was a woman whose eyes showed fear and whose face was contorted
with pain. I caught only a glimpse of her before Beryl noticed me and
had me removed from the room. I did not see her again. I was surprised
when Beryl later told me we were to go to the Moon. Surprised and
angry. She had promised me never to hurt Serena as long as I stayed
away from her, and I had stayed away. Until this day I hadn't gone
anywhere near Serena, and yet Beryl was now bringing us closer than we
had ever been. It puzzled me exceedingly and I quickly became nervous
and upset. Any events that surrounded me until the moment that I saw
Serena on the Moon and she looked at me with pain in her eyes have
blurred since then. Only now, years later, can I piece together some of
the things that occurred around me, but they still aren't, and probably
never will be, completely clear.
The scared girl that arrived on Mars that day later became the
Dark Mage who attacked Princess Mina Dione and prompted Mina to use her
Winged Magic for the first time. Narcissus had found the girl as a body
for the Darkness. She became the victim of a Soul Capture. Her weak
will had allowed the Darkness to conquer her mind rather easily and
keep her soul trapped behind a cage. However, because she was so weak,
the Darkness' magic could not be used in full, which is why Mina had
been able to defeat her with a single spell.
The next few events are still not understood in full by anyone
except, perhaps, the Hito. I only know that Beryl somehow killed
Narcissus before we left for the Moon. He had left the Moon and stopped
in Kinmoku where Beryl met him and brought him back to Mars before
killing him. I have no idea why this happened. Perhaps Beryl did not
enjoy Narcissus' growing powers or the fact that he had been in
Angreemon for years before he had become Dark. I cannot even begin to
imagine her reasons for killing him because by that time Beryl had
become almost completely Evil. Solely preoccupied with herself, Beryl
would not allow anyone to stand in the way of her goals, and her
ultimate goal was to rule the universe next to the Darkness.
Soon after Narcissus' death Beryl learned of the Darkness'
capture and imprisonment. She looked for a new body to replace the
girl, whose name I never found out, and found a perfect candidate in
Prince Rupert of Jupiter. His mind was weak willed but his body was
strong and he was arrogant, a necessary component to performing a
successful Soul Capture.
From what I understand, Prince Rupert had no idea that he was
going to be used as the Darkness' holder until the Darkness actually
got a hold of him. After Kou and Hou mistakenly left that door open and
allowed the Darkness to escape, Prince Rupert Heron had been forced by
Beryl into our quarters and he subsequently had his body taken by the
Darkness.
I had been hiding in the shadows when I saw that mass of dark
energy enter the Prince's body; I still hear his screams echoing in my
brain. Soul Captures are extremely painful, almost as painful as
separating Winged magic from its bearer. I remember cringing and
feeling my body invonlutarily begin to step towards him. It took all of
my willpower to stop myself, and I was slowly losing that power. I was
about to give in and run to help the poor Prince when his eyes opened
and I knew that I was too late. His eyes were black pools and his soul
had been lost. Forever.
When he spoke I felt my brain pulsing behind my eyes, as though
it would escape the sound and leave my head. I grabbed my temples and
bent down with a gasp. I could not make out his words and when I tried
my headache just got worse so I gave it up. I still could not get up,
however, so I sat there and waited as the Darkness spoke to Beryl.
Although I could not understand them, I felt uneasiness in Beryl's
voice. Her voice was not painful to my ears, but I still could not
concentrate on her words - my mind was still in pain from listening to
the Darkness. But she was not happy, and she was nervous. This
surprised me since I had no idea that Dark Mages experienced that sort
of feeling, in fact their cockiness became their downfall in most
cases. The Darkness did not seem nervous, and I think that it assuaged
Beryl's fears. In any case, the two left the room a little later and I
sat with my head in my hands, taking huge breaths of air for at least
five minutes after they left. When I felt that I was finally ready to
get up, another surprise hit me and made me fall back down on the
floor, though not in pain. The Hito had grabbed hold of my mind.
When I was younger I had been assigned Kunzite as my bodyguard
and protector. Slowly, over the years, the other Hito gathered on Earth
and began their training there. I had no idea that they were the Hito
until many years later, when I had left Earth and had been travelling
with Beryl for at least two years. It came as no shock to me, however,
because I had always felt their connection. I did not know they were as
powerful as all that, but I knew that the four of them were special in
some way or another. In either case, Kunzite and I had known each other
since we were both five years old. Because of that, we had grown up
with a special connection of our own. I could read his thoughts as he
could mine. We used to speak to each other from far away to play tricks
on the palace staff and got into more trouble than I care to remember.
I have no idea how we were tolerated, but we were happy children and
the staff spoiled us and laughed at our antics when we were not around.
Zoicite, the Mirai, arrived when I was eight. I still remember
my parents' surprise when he arrived and Kunzite and I immediately took
him under our wing. The three of us were seen everywhere together.
Later I found out that Zoicite had been such a surprise to my parents
because they had had no prior knowledge of his arrival. Zoicite was
not from the Sol System, he came from the Ygran System, a galaxy so far
away that there were no maps marking its existence. Zoicite took six
years to arrive on Earth, he had known he was needed there when he was
only two years old.
The next to arrive was Jadeite, the Kuji. He came from the
Benabair System. It was not far enough away that we had never heard of
it, but it was strange enough that my parents received quite another
shock when he joined our little group. This happened when I was twelve.
Jadeite had not come for the same reason as Zoicite, who could see the
future, but because he had seen the past and knew of his past life. He
knew that he was a Kuji and so he went out looking for the Hito and
stumbled upon the Earth by luck. He had been travelling for two years
and was happy to find the ones he had been searching for. Because of
his Gift, Jadeite remembered Kunzite and Zoicite from centuries ago,
when they were named something else and when they were not all together
at once. The Hito had never congregated in one place, but Jadeite had
met the other three at separate times in his past lives. He knew more
about them than any of the others. He was quickly incorporated into our
little group and the four of us were inseparable.
However, I knew there was something wrong. Although we were all
extremely close and would protect each other's lives, if ever the need
arose, I knew that they were keeping something from me. I did not mind,
though, because I knew there must be some reason for their secrecy. I
knew that they would tell me, sooner or later. So I kept to myself and
pretended not to notice the shared glances and the tenseness.
As close as I ever got to Zoicite and Jadeite, my connection
with Kunzite was never reciprocated by the other two. I knew that and
they knew that. I noticed that Kunzite could speak to Zoicite and
Jadeite and so he became a sort of mediator between us. When I found
out later that Kunzite was a Garandou, I almost laughed. It had been so
obvious that I wondered why I had never thought of it myself.
Nephrite, the Douji, did not arrive until we were all eighteen.
I was surprised, but the other three had been waiting for him for a
long time. I knew then that he was the missing piece, the problem that
I had always sensed but had never mentioned. The four were perfect
together and I sensed this keenly. Soon after Nephrite arrived I
married Beryl of Elandia and left Earth. We never got close, but I was
his friend because the others were his friend. Looking back, I'm glad I
left when I did. If I hadn't the Hito could never have formed. The four
of them, especially Kunzite, were always afraid of making me feel left
out and that was not good for the Hito. My presence was a burden to
them. Even now, years later, the four of them deny this fervently, but
I know it's true. Because I left, the four of them were able to achieve
the closeness they needed to meld together and finally become the first
Hito in the universe.
Kunzite and I left off talking to one another after I left and
I know that we both missed it. So it was like welcoming an old friend
when I felt his presence enter my mind and take me with him into the
Past, Present and Future.
What I learned during those minutes with the Hito is still not
clear. I understood it all as I was accompanying them, but if I try to
think about specifics, they escape me as though they are laughing at
me. I know this is because I'm not one of the Hito, and so I am unable
to store the information as well as they are. I don't have the training
nor do I have the capability to do so. Nevertheless, I can still recall
the overall story they were trying to tell me.
As I followed Kunzite through his mind, I saw that Nephrite,
Zoicite and Jadeite had joined us. I looked at them as we stopped at
some point in time. When I was with the Hito it did not matter where I
was, only when I was. It was a very difficult thing for me to
comprehend, but I took it in very quickly. My problem now is with
remembering the understanding that I experienced during those moments.
I can't remember the details of what they were trying to tell me, but I
remember seeing Kunzite's face and noticing that his eyes, instead of
changing colors all the time as I was used to seeing, was now three
different colors all at once. Each of his eyes had a third of a color
in them. I sat and stared, mesmerized, until I noticed that they were
laughing at me. I shook my head and smiled, trying to pay attention to
his words.
Eons ago, when the Universe was first made, Light and Dark were
equal, making it impossible for one to conquer the other. This went on
for millenia until, as though a glitch occurred in space, the Ryuu was
born. He was a creature of balance and goodness, but one that walked a
fine line. Because his goodness was greater than his evilness, the
Dragon would naturally have certain bouts of madness, making the Ryuu
angry and filling the Darkness with energy. This would keep the balance
between Light and Dark for many more millenia.
That was when Kouryou met the Ryuu. While Kunzite was telling
me this, I could see images flitting through his eyes, and I would
accompany them, as though watching a moving picture. I don't remember
many of these images, but the one that stuck with me is the image of a
young girl. I cannot rid myself of this image, and think about it all
the time.
A girl with wide eyes, eyes that remind me of Serena's, stare
into my own. However, her eyes are a brilliant green. Her hair is a
dark auburn red, it flows in the wind, and looks as though it would
catch on fire and fly away if it could. Her face is heart-shaped and
her cheekbones are high and proud, as though they are far too proud for
her body; her features are sharp and soft at the same time. As I watch
a young woman with moccha colored skin and velvet black eyes comes up
behind the girl and throws her arms around her, as though she would
protect her from the world. The girl reaches up and grabs the woman's
arms, at the same time looking up and laughing merrily.
I do not remember anything else after that, the image changed
and Kunzite went on talking as I attempted to follow the story. I know
that Kunzite explained to me why the Light and the Dark fell out of
balance, but I cannot remember it. I think I'm not meant to know. But
in any case, Light and Dark became separate entities that were at war
with each other at all times. From that war Mages were born. Mages were
made to keep the Balance. A Mage walks the line between Good and Evil.
A Mage keeps the Universe in balance.
But then the firt Dark Mage was born. Once that happened,
Lightness started to fail and Darkness began to prevail. But because
Light and Dark are entities that do not know time nor space, when this
happened it began to spread during every different time span: Past,
present, and future.
The Darkness grew and grew, becoming the large mass of black
energy that Kou and Hou encountered. Kunzite told me that Prince Rupert
was going to kill Hou and Kou if I did not go to them and that if the
Darkness were to win this the entire universe would be lost.
As I was trying to process this information a tall woman with
dark green hair appeared in front of us. I recognized Princess Setsuna
Chares immediately. She was dressed as Sailor Pluto, and she held her
Time Staff in her right hand. Her voice echoed in this place and I at
once knew that she was a lot more powerful than she would have the rest
of the universe know.
She looked at me and told me that not only would this universe
be destroyed, all the parallel universes were being destroyed. Until
that point, I had never heard of parallel universes, but since the
daughter of Chronus told me that, I knew that it must be true. She told
me that the lost equilibrium between Light and Dark in this universe
was upsetting the equilibrium in all universes, and the time-space
continuum was meeting in places where they shouldn't be meeting.
"You must hurry, Prince of Earth. You must meet the Houou once
again, or we are all lost." As I heard her words, I was thrust out of
Kunzite's mind and found myself once again on the floor, blinking hard.
The next thing I remember, I was running into the throne room
and reaching out to Hou, who grabbed my hand instinctively and thus had
his world thrown off its axis. As soon as I found Hou's hand in mine I
felt the fire of the Houou spread in my veins and I could hear its
Song echo in my brain. I was so joyous I wanted to laugh. And it was in
that moment that I regained all of Hou's memories from the last ten
years that we had been separated. I walked with him through all the
corridors of his mind, living through his triumphs and failures and
slowly gaining the knowledge of being a High Mage and, more
importantly, of being the Zen'youkuhikouki.
At the same time, Hou's mind melded with mine and we became one
person. It's difficult to explain to others how exactly this worked, I
myself can't understand it fully. All I know is that whatever Hou felt,
I felt, and vice versa. There was no Hou and Darien. There was only us.
And we were Hou when the Houou ran wild through us, and Darien when the
cooling Earth magic calmed us. And then there was no us. There was only
I. Prince Darien Endymion of Earth. High Mage Hou. And suddenly I knew
how Serena and Kou coexisted. How they were the same person and yet
they were two different beings who lived in one body.
And then I became Hou and I lended my strength to my love, who
took my hand in surprise. And the rest is history.
I wake up in the morning, rested and yet restless. I open my
eyes and see blue orbs staring into my own.
"Good morning, sleepy head."
I smile and pull her against me, kissing her my good morning.
"Dreams again?" Her eyes flicker with sadness for a second as
she becomes worried for me.
"Yes, but nothing too bad." I wait until all worries leave her
eyes before I smile. "It has been too long for them to worry me now."
She sighs and rests her forehead against mine. "It's been five
hundred years, my darling."
Sometimes I forget it's been so long. I nod and lose myself in
my thoughts when I feel her start to get up. I tighten my hold on her.
"And where do you think you're going?"
"I must see my mother before she leaves, you know that. I only
have five more months with her." And the sadness comes back in her eyes
as I hold her even tighter against me.
"She won't be completly gone, you know. And we'll have a little
one of our own to care for." I put my hand against her slightly swelled
belly and imagine myself holding my daughter close to me. I knew it
would be a daughter, a Lunarian Queen's first born was always a
daughter.
Serena blinks away a tear and smiles at me. "Yes, I know. And
she'll have plenty of friends." I know she's referring to the little
Planetarian Princesses and Princes who had been coming along for the
last five years or so.
"Yes, she will. And she will remember your Mother. She always
will."
"I know." She whispers to me.
I hold her for a while longer and play with her golden hair
that is slowly becoming silvery white as our daughter's birth date
approaches.
As we sit there and think of our daughter, the Houou comes to
us unexpectedly and my hair and eyes turn red as Serena's hair turns
the vibrant gold it is when she is Kou. We look at each other and kiss
as the Houou sings us its approval. I am finally happy.
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Do you want an epilogue? Did you love The Mage Princess? Did you hate
it? Let me know! E-mail me at cfmc@uclink.berkeley.edu with your
thoughts!