Suki: Hello minna-san! I thought you'd all like to know that I'm wearing my senior prom dress right now. Why . . . because I CAN!
Usagi: And I thought I was a princess . . .
Suki *pouting*: But I've only worn it once before now, so at least I'm getting some use out of it.
Usagi: Okay, you just keep telling yourself that.
Starchild: I have a certain soft spot for Demando too . . . well, obviously. ^-^;
Jane: Tragic, yes! That's what I was going for.
Gackt Camui: Arigato, arigato, arigato, arigato, arigato, arigato, arigato, arigato!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NO, DON'T CRY! *sniff, sniff* When I see other people cry, I cry! *clings to Camui-san* So saaaaadddddd!
Amy@angel: Your constancy is so flattering! I can always count on you to leave me an encouraging heartfelt review.
kula: Thanks for the song title. It's great, ne?
StarChild: On your seat, huh? Awesome! I didn't think about suspense, but heck, if it works . . .
JadesRose: Thank you, thank you, thank you for always being so honest. I can always count on you to give it to me as it is! You're right; Endymion was in Serenity's life first. Gomen, I should have been more specific. When I said "got there first" I meant it figuratively. In my personal belief (and therefore in my story) I don't believe in love at first sight – rather, I'd like to think that it's a process, that we grow into a deeper love through our shared experiences and how we react to them. So when Demando kidnapped Serenity, yes, she loved Endymion more. But throughout her stay on Nemesis, she grew into a deeper love of the White Prince, and that love outgrew her love for Endymion. (Where with Endymion it was still a puppy love, her trials and incidents with Demando caused their love to be greater.) Serenity reached the mature love with Demando before she had a chance to with the Earth prince. I admit it wasn't fair for Endymion, but eh . . . that's when we get back to the whole plot thing. Hope that makes a little more sense. ;)
dizzy4: Hehehehe. I know. It's not usually done! But hey, you can't say I was never original! Thank you for the lovely compliments.
Bunnychu: *bows* I am at your service! You're so enthusiastic!
ella: Since you asked so nicely . . . *wink, wink* I'm so glad its your favorite. That's quite a compliment.
Fallen Dragon: Cool name. Wicked twist? Wicked twist! Awesome! That's two for suspense! I think.
MistyWing: That's great that you can look at a fic with unbiased, and since you don't like Demando/Serenity, all the more flattering then when you compliment me.
DemonRyu: Plot twist . . . three for suspense!
SailorVeggie SailorAnime: Aaaaaaahhhh! You actually said suspense! Score! That's four for Suki! *bows* Thank you for giving your blessing for my break.
neme: *blink, blink* ". . ."
Spiritwing: I like them too, and I agree that it's so hard to find really satisfying fics nowadays. That's why I figured I better write my own. I'm honored that you count mine among the good ones. At any rate, that's what I was hoping for. For more great fanfiction, visit Meredith Bronwen Mallory.
little-moonlight: Thank you. Little words of encouragement like yours are truly motivating.
Cat: Perfect? WOW. @.@ Thank you.
Seamagik: Yes, I try to make it plausible, not just pulled out of thin air. If everyone's not in character, it kinda destroys the whole point of fanfiction. At least, that's how I see it.
Lilia: Thank you, but if I'm the best creature in the world, we're definitely going downhill!
Amy: My friend Amy from Elfwood, right? Awesome . . . didn't know you were following along with this humble little fanfiction; thought you stuck to fictionpress. ;) But thanks so much for dropping by!
EbonyFox: "Browraisers"? Does that count as suspense? *gets all hopeful* I am on a roll!
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed and to those who haven't – thanks for reading!
Chapter 15
The figure in the dark blue hooded cloak weaved its way through the throngs of panicking people in the crowded city streets. The populace was fleeing in the opposite direction. They were making their way to the shelters on the outskirts of the capital. News had leaked through to the populace. An enemy had bumped into their force field and unwittingly discovered Nemesis.
While the Prince was still determining whether or not a call to arms would be necessary, the women, children, and civilians were being ushered to safety.
The figure continued to the palace, but did not approach the main entrance. Moving around to the side of the grand structure, it revealed an unknown side door. A small hand from beneath the cloak moved to touch a smooth panel near the door. The panel glowed and the heavy metal door slid open. The figure slipped inside, unseen.
* * *
In the main control room that adjoined to the room that was the heart of Nemesis, Prince Demando paced. The hour had struck. The Dark Enemy of the solar system had discovered them. It was fight or flee.
Stopping abruptly and jerking to the side, he slammed his fist into the beeping, blinking machinery in an out burst of frustration. "What the hell am I to do?! We are in no condition to fend off such a powerful adversary. Even the Moon Kingdom cannot deter it! And if we make an attempt to flee . . . I fear we will be sooner dead even than if we fought!"
The people in the room stilled and hushed in fear. Even cynical Rubeus said nothing.
Saffir moved forward and guided his brother's angry hands away from his beloved circuitry, but did so silently. He flicked on a switch and a large screen lit up in front of them. It showed the position and numbers of the gathering enemy around Nemesis. At first there had been only a few, probes sent out to further inspect their findings. Then more and more had arrived as they began to realize they had stumbled upon a hidden kingdom. They still had some time before the Dark Kingdom waged an all out attack. But not much.
Saffir turned to look at Demando. "Only say the word, 'Nii-chan. We will do it."
Demando's eyes were latched onto the screen. "We will go down fighting." Lowering his head, he whispered, "May our deaths help you, angel." No one heard him.
The creatures in the room resumed their activity. They bustled about him, preparing, giving orders.
Calaveras came in, unaware of a dark figure following her. The Ayakashi entered, but the figure paused in the door way, looked round. In the dark navy cloak, it was almost impossible to notice in the blinking, bustling, dimly-lit control room.
Demando felt the settling of eyes on him, staring. He looked up and at the figure, eyebrows knitted. Its gaze had eerily called up his own. Who was it?
The figure motioned and turned aside, making its way through the room and into archway to the heart of Nemesis. The Prince willfully followed.
In the privacy of the heart of Nemesis, the pulsing, dark energy sent off a strange glow and a low hum. It was quiet and numbing after the activity in the control room. The large black poison crystal was at the center. Demando absorbed its energy. As the crown prince, he was the wielder of the black crystal and its power. He was its medium and he understood that if he was to use its strength to the fullest it in defending his people, it would almost certainly mean his death. His hope lay in the fact that Queen Metallia knew nothing yet of the crystal's existence.
The hooded figure, who was looking up at the crystal, its stance betraying thought. The White Prince approached, but kept two feet distance between them. Something, something familiar, but he was tired, and his mind just wouldn't touch on what it was. Fortunately, he needn't have tried.
The hood fell back and the angel was there, so real he thought he must be dead.
"You . . ." he murmured.
She smiled sadly. "I came just in time."
He took a step, cautiously, put out his hands. Lightly, afraid the beloved image would shatter, he touched her arms imperceptibly. "Are you well?"
She nodded, chewed her lower lip hesitantly. She wanted to throw her arms around him, but she didn't know what she was supposed to do. She hadn't thought so far ahead. Instead, she took a baby step toward him.
The child stirred due to the proximity of its father, and Serenity moved backwards fearfully in reaction, twice the distance she had just crossed. Demando dropped his arms. He was no longer in reach of her.
She swallowed painfully, eyes glittering. "Y-you have to help us."
He gazed at her questioningly, but respectfully, then followed her glance to the black crystal.
Looking at him again, she continued, "The ginzuishou is weakened. It may regain its strength, but I fear by then it will be too late."
"The Moon is doing so poorly?" He was surprised. The Time Guardian had told him that with the princess there, it would triumph.
Serenity nodded. "I – it's my fault." Instinctively she raised her hand to her concealed stomach, then dropped it. But the Prince didn't notice. "It will be a close victory . . . but we cannot do it alone."
She moved forward again, needing to communicate the urgency to him. "As long as we're divided, we will be so easy for the Enemy to conquer. Demando . . . join your forces with the rest of the Silver Millennium. You have power. Though it seems an insignificant addition to the nine other kingdoms, I know it could mean the difference between victory and defeat."
He comprehended, but was skeptical. "The Queen will never trust us."
"The Queen will. It is our last hope. Don't you see?"
He was quiet. " . . . There's something . . . different about you."
Despite the warm stuffiness in the heart of Nemesis, Serenity shivered.
He was tempted, so tempted to break his own edict and to clutch her to him then and there.
"You will help us then?" her voice spoke waveringly.
"Yes."
"You must contact my mother."
"I will."
"You should do so immediately," the quavering grew, tone rising.
"I know."
". . . Then – why are you just standing there and looking at me?" she burst, salty warm wetness breaking through. The tears poured so heavily she could drink them.
"Am I not allowed to look at you?"
She sniffed. "Look at me, please look at me," burying her face in her hands, uselessly attempting to hold back her tears.
"It was all I was ever meant to do – to look and not touch; certainly never to have. The beautiful things, the wonderful things . . . they were never meant for me. Not flowers, not peace, not happiness, not you."
"Not me?"
"No."
"I have something that's yours . . ."
"Do you?" he raised his eyebrows, not taking her meaning.
She didn't elaborate.
But he knew something was terribly wrong. She was trembling like water and growing quickly pale. Her eyes focused on the ground, needing to keep balanced. She started to sway. Her legs gave way beneath her, dropping to the floor. She just couldn't hold herself up any more.
Expecting to hit the hard, cold stone, she was startled to feel herself enveloped in soft warmth. He had caught her round the front and lowered them gently down together. She was clinging to him in total support, half sitting in his lap, face tucked into his chest. She was safe. But still, she clutched at him, resisting childishly as he carefully tried to pry her away to look at her.
Then it struck her that her stomach was crushed up against him.
Her face was that of a guilty little girl as she tipped her head to look up at him.
His breaths were quick and shallow.
The child leapt again. They both felt it.
For a long time, they just looked at each other, he drinking in her aura. The warmth she had introduced to him so long ago, which he had thought could never be surpassed in strength or power had done the impossible – it had grown. They were their own little trinity: she in him, he in her, their baby made of both.
A connection with his offspring banished any doubt that the child was not his.
"Six moths," he sighed, "I've missed sixth months. Why didn't you tell me?"
"I was so afraid you would turn us away!" she sobbed.
He tucked her head into his neck and rocked her assuringly, placed light kisses onto her forehead. "Never, never . . ."
Something happened to the ginzuishou; it alerted her. It was being drained by the black crystal.
Startled, Serenity jumped back. "The crystal . . ." she murmured, her eyes glinting.
Demando looked to the black crystal, but the princess jerked her head back and forth. "Mine." She placed her hand over her breast. "The black crystal is draining it!"
"It is inside you? How -."
"Never mind; make it stop!"
He hesitated. Slid her gently off him onto the floor. Placed his hand where she had shown him, leaned forward, and concentrated. After a while of his struggling, she put her own hand on top of his and helped. They could each feel it: the two conflicting energies. Slowly but surely, they worked the powers around each other, successfully keeping each from destroying the other one.
"They're too much in opposition!" Serenity cried.
"Shhhhh," Demando hushed her. "We'll make it work."
They did. But it was hard.
They nearly finished dividing and retaining the clashing gems, when a separate awareness intervened, seemingly out of nowhere. The lovers felt their grasps over the jewels being slowly overtaken. The control was not being usurped, but almost reinforced by an outside source. The outsider was taming the haywire crystals, doing what Serenity and Demando had struggled to do but in an instant.
No, outsider was wrong, Serenity apprehended.
Eyes widening, she whispered, "It's the child."
* * *
A darkness loomed over the Moon Palace. Queen Serenity quailed. She was out before the lake behind the luminous structure on the hill. A threatening wind chopped the waves over the water. The Queen's silver hair sprawled out behind her, whipping and whirling like two angry swans.
Sorceress Beryl had made an appearance early that morning among her ranks dealing serious blows to the Lunarians and their allies. The attack was focusing in on the Moon. Serenity must fight. But her daughter had the ginzuishou. Fortunately, Metallia did not know this.
The darkness gathered, centering around a vortex. An ominous power could be perceived from the black clouds. In a jolt of terror, Serenity realized that it was none other than the poisonous Queen Metallia herself, gathering her formless malignant energy into the lunar sky. It would take several hours for the evil to fully manifest itself enough to be able to attack with accuracy and potency, but in the course of a war that was no time at all.
"Daughter," the queen whispered to the violent wind. "Come home soon . . . and safely."
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Random Suki fact for the day: Paraphernalia inhabits my bed. At one time, there were extra pillows, extra blankets, text books, books, a pencil, glasses, a lap top, clothes, a heating pad, and a cat all on my bed – while I was sleeping in it. (Okay, so I exaggerated. The lap top was another time.) I love paraphernalia . . . This has been another random Suki fact for the day.