Hearts in Time part 16: Secrets Kept
by
Lance the Flamesniper
"They'll need to find out eventually," Setsuna said as she
looked up into Lance's eyes. It had been several hours since they'd
left the church as husband and wife. It was something
impulsive on both parts, but it seemed so right. They'd
gone to the home Setsuna shared with Amara and Michelle.
They'd not been idle...or quiet for that matter.
"I know my love," Lance replied as he pulled her
closer. "When the time is right I shall tell them."
Setsuna snuggled into his warm embrace. "I can't
believe we're married."
Lance smiled down at his wife. "I hope you
aren't complaining?"
"Never! You make me feel like the luckiest
woman on Earth. Unfortunatly you'll have to return
to the temple soon."
"I wish that were not so," Lance sighed as he got out
of bed, his lithe, muscular frame moving with the grace of a
dancer. Setsuna's eyes followed his movements hungrily while
the moonlight through the window displayed him in delicious
detail as he hunted for his clothes. Lance however stopped
moving as he felt her eyes on him.
"Enjoying the view?" Lance asked amusedly.
"Of course."
"You make me feel bad about having to leave...."
Setsuna eased from under her blankets and practically
flowed toward him. "You don't have to leave yet," she replied
huskily as her lips met his.
*******
Amara laid awake in bed as the two in the next room
resumed their activites. She never knew that two people could
be THAT loud. Amara turned to ask Michelle what to do about
the noise only to find her sound asleep. Amara's eyebrow
twitched. Unknown to her, Michelle had put earplugs in when
they arrived home and had been peacefully sleeping ever since.
With a slight grumble Amara laid back down. "It's
going to be a long night!"
******
Malachite glared into nothingness as he planned his
attack. There were reasons that he hated Lance Jayd. Reasons
that he kept secret for eternity. For Prince Lance...Lance
Jayd....whatever name he chose to use, had killed dozens of
warriors including Malicite's best friend and fellow General
Obsidian. Malachite frowned. Had that damnable Swordmaster
not slain him he might have been sent forward like the rest
of the Negaverse Generals.
Malachite had seen the fight, though no one else did.
He still remembered it to this day....
******
The battle was pitched. The Moon Kingdom's forces
were faltering though the cost was becoming deadly especially
at the city gates. The survivors from the battle feild had
retreated into the city' outer citadel and were now preparing
to defend the Millenium's capital to the last warrior. Here
were warriors of every kingdom. Martian Archers with their
deadly aim; Uranian paladins with their long knives; Jupitari
Axe fighters and dozens of others. However these manned the
walls. The men at the main gates numbered only three.
There at the main gates was a Venusian who was skilled
with a whip. There was a Jupitari swordsman, his broadsward
crackling with lightning then there was their leader. Clad in
dark green battle armor, a black cape billowing in the Lunar
wind. Sheathed at his side was a Katana. Warriors would come,
warriors would get cut down then a cheer would rise from the
walls. Around the gates lay dozens of fallen negaverse
warriors when Obsidian arrived.
Obsidian was a tall warrior, seven feet tall with
black hair, dark eyes and a malevalent smile. In his hand
was a massive Scimitar and on his forearm rode a massive
shield. His confidence was borne from slaying many brave
defenders. This would be easy. "One side fools! Death has
come for you if you do not."
The leader had waved his allies aside. "Death comes
for us all. However it is not your face it wears. I will not
move. This gate is mine. I have claimed it thus. Take it if
you can. Otherwise...NONE SHALL PASS!"
With that there came a cheer from the walls. A cheer
that was echoed and that reverberated over the ranks of the
Negaverse. Obsidian snarled as he charged only to have his
blade met with a gleaming blade made of starsteel.
"Bad form warrior, we have not been introduced," the
swordsman said as calmly as he would have had this been
nothing more than a spar.
"I am Obsidian! General of the Negaverse!" The moster
of a man roared. As he parried a strike from the Gate
defender.
"Obsidian is it? Very well Allow me to tell you my
name then," the green armored man growled as he sheared his
enemy's shield in half with a lighting fast stroke. "I am
Prince Lance of Pluto. Master of the Shadow Storm
technique."
Obsidian grabbed his scimitar in both hands as he
squared off against the prince. Lance for his part had taken
a half crouched stance, his Katana held in a reverse grip.
Obsidian swung his blade only to have it met with a series
of rapid fire return slashes. By the time Malacite got to a
better vantage point, Obsidian was bleeding from a dozen
wounds along his arms while his opponent didn't have a
scratch on him.
"You are quick, fool," Obsidian growled. "But it is
time to end this!" With that he charged.
Lance sighed as he batted the blade aside with enough
force to send it flying. "You are right General. It IS time to
end this." Lance seemingly became a blur as his blade slashed
downward in a diagonal slash from right shoulder to left hip,
then turned slashing upward from left hip to Right shoulder.
He continued the motion, this time coming parallel to
Obsidian's neck....
"NO!" Malachite screamed as Obsidian died.
Many days later the main gates fell....but only after
the three who were guarding it were sent to do other things.
With that memory in mind Malachite renewed his
planning.
*****
It was just before sunrise when Matt and Wraith awoke.
Though they'd slept an entire night they still both agreed
that it felt like a wrecking ball had hit them, though they
didn't know that it was because of Lance's shiatsu sleep
strike or the fact that they'd slept all night in a crumpled
heap. All they knew is that somehow they'd foolishly fell
asleep giving Lance his chance to betray Setsuna.
"I can't believe we were so STUPID!" Wraith growled
as he took stock of the room. It's futon was half made,
indicating that someone HAD slept there, the closet was open
and there were clothes missing. Wraith's eyes returned to Matt
with a look of disbelief.
"I think we lucked out and he stayed in," Matt summed
up.
"I'm not so sure. He's not here now," Wraith pointed
out as the the two friends began their search.
They looked outside. They checked the Furo and got
glared at as Raye had JUST went in there for her morning bath.
They looked in the fire room. They were just about to give up
and admit that Lance had managed to slip past them when they
heard someone in the kitchen singing.
"Oh she is my dear my darling one. Her eyes so sparkly,
full of fun! No other, no Uhhhther can match the likes of her.
Oh she is my dear, my darling one! My smiling and beguiling one.
I kiss the ground she walks upon...my pretty Suna girl!"
The two friends could only blink at that before running
to the kitchen. Inside was the sight of Lance, clad in his Dark
green and white robes, around his neck theough they couldn't see
it was a simple gold chain on which hung a simple gold band. He
seemed completely oblivious to his two friends as he stirred the
Miso soup he was working on for breakfast.
Lance for his part knew someone was behind him. He could
feel them watching him. He was glad for the few hours sleep he'd
gotten before returning to the temple. Even with that he was back
early enough that he'd managed to decieve his friends by messing
up his bed and putting his laundry in. "Have a seat my friends.
The fare for Breakfast won't be much since the priestess hasn't
sent me to the market this week, but there should easily be more
than enough."
"My aren't we CHIPPER this morning," Wraith grumbled.
"Yeah! What has you in such a good mood?" Matt added as
he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Why nothing is wrong my friends! 'And the day's at the
morn; morning at seven; the hillside's dew-pearled; the lark's
on the wing; the snail's on the thorn: God's in his heaven-
All's right with the world!' " Came Lance's reply.
"Enough with the Robert Browning rhyme response," Matt
growled. "What are you up to?"
"Why would I be up to anything? I had a good night's
rest and awoke early," Lance answered his smile a little too
wide.
"You're up to something," Matt replied.
"Me? What would make you think that? I am merely a
whisper carried away by a moonlight shadow," Lance replied as
he semi-quoted a song verse.
"Yeah a whisper who had a plan for something last
night. A plan that involved heading out to meet Sailor Pluto.
A plan that we were trying to block. Now we just woke up having
missed an entire night. Now what are you up to?" Wraith growled.
Lance took a sip of his miso, a bite of his broiled fish
then a few grains of his rice. He paused as if considering the
taste of his food, opened his mouth; then closed his mouth as
if reconsidering. "Can you keep a secret?" He asked finally.
"Yes!" Both shouted.
"So can I," Lance replied as both his friend's faces
dropped. "But do not worry my friends, you will know soon enough.
I have a meeting to attend to at Tokyo tower, later today and I
have to get ready soon. So if you'll excuse me," Lance finished
as he left the table.
******
Malachite knew what was expected of him. Necros expected
him to challenge Lance Jayd. Necros would get his wish. However,
Malachite was no fool. He had discovered that Necros had a secret.
A secret so important that if Lance Jayd ever learned it, there
would be nothing to prevent him from attacking Necros head on,
suicidal as that would be.
"If I fail this battle Necros, it will still be I who
laughs the loudest," Malachite said to himself. "With my last
breath I will tell Lance of your crime, and of the Twin sister
he never knew."
With that Malachite smiled. Yes even in death HE would
win.
TBC
by
Lance the Flamesniper
"They'll need to find out eventually," Setsuna said as she
looked up into Lance's eyes. It had been several hours since they'd
left the church as husband and wife. It was something
impulsive on both parts, but it seemed so right. They'd
gone to the home Setsuna shared with Amara and Michelle.
They'd not been idle...or quiet for that matter.
"I know my love," Lance replied as he pulled her
closer. "When the time is right I shall tell them."
Setsuna snuggled into his warm embrace. "I can't
believe we're married."
Lance smiled down at his wife. "I hope you
aren't complaining?"
"Never! You make me feel like the luckiest
woman on Earth. Unfortunatly you'll have to return
to the temple soon."
"I wish that were not so," Lance sighed as he got out
of bed, his lithe, muscular frame moving with the grace of a
dancer. Setsuna's eyes followed his movements hungrily while
the moonlight through the window displayed him in delicious
detail as he hunted for his clothes. Lance however stopped
moving as he felt her eyes on him.
"Enjoying the view?" Lance asked amusedly.
"Of course."
"You make me feel bad about having to leave...."
Setsuna eased from under her blankets and practically
flowed toward him. "You don't have to leave yet," she replied
huskily as her lips met his.
*******
Amara laid awake in bed as the two in the next room
resumed their activites. She never knew that two people could
be THAT loud. Amara turned to ask Michelle what to do about
the noise only to find her sound asleep. Amara's eyebrow
twitched. Unknown to her, Michelle had put earplugs in when
they arrived home and had been peacefully sleeping ever since.
With a slight grumble Amara laid back down. "It's
going to be a long night!"
******
Malachite glared into nothingness as he planned his
attack. There were reasons that he hated Lance Jayd. Reasons
that he kept secret for eternity. For Prince Lance...Lance
Jayd....whatever name he chose to use, had killed dozens of
warriors including Malicite's best friend and fellow General
Obsidian. Malachite frowned. Had that damnable Swordmaster
not slain him he might have been sent forward like the rest
of the Negaverse Generals.
Malachite had seen the fight, though no one else did.
He still remembered it to this day....
******
The battle was pitched. The Moon Kingdom's forces
were faltering though the cost was becoming deadly especially
at the city gates. The survivors from the battle feild had
retreated into the city' outer citadel and were now preparing
to defend the Millenium's capital to the last warrior. Here
were warriors of every kingdom. Martian Archers with their
deadly aim; Uranian paladins with their long knives; Jupitari
Axe fighters and dozens of others. However these manned the
walls. The men at the main gates numbered only three.
There at the main gates was a Venusian who was skilled
with a whip. There was a Jupitari swordsman, his broadsward
crackling with lightning then there was their leader. Clad in
dark green battle armor, a black cape billowing in the Lunar
wind. Sheathed at his side was a Katana. Warriors would come,
warriors would get cut down then a cheer would rise from the
walls. Around the gates lay dozens of fallen negaverse
warriors when Obsidian arrived.
Obsidian was a tall warrior, seven feet tall with
black hair, dark eyes and a malevalent smile. In his hand
was a massive Scimitar and on his forearm rode a massive
shield. His confidence was borne from slaying many brave
defenders. This would be easy. "One side fools! Death has
come for you if you do not."
The leader had waved his allies aside. "Death comes
for us all. However it is not your face it wears. I will not
move. This gate is mine. I have claimed it thus. Take it if
you can. Otherwise...NONE SHALL PASS!"
With that there came a cheer from the walls. A cheer
that was echoed and that reverberated over the ranks of the
Negaverse. Obsidian snarled as he charged only to have his
blade met with a gleaming blade made of starsteel.
"Bad form warrior, we have not been introduced," the
swordsman said as calmly as he would have had this been
nothing more than a spar.
"I am Obsidian! General of the Negaverse!" The moster
of a man roared. As he parried a strike from the Gate
defender.
"Obsidian is it? Very well Allow me to tell you my
name then," the green armored man growled as he sheared his
enemy's shield in half with a lighting fast stroke. "I am
Prince Lance of Pluto. Master of the Shadow Storm
technique."
Obsidian grabbed his scimitar in both hands as he
squared off against the prince. Lance for his part had taken
a half crouched stance, his Katana held in a reverse grip.
Obsidian swung his blade only to have it met with a series
of rapid fire return slashes. By the time Malacite got to a
better vantage point, Obsidian was bleeding from a dozen
wounds along his arms while his opponent didn't have a
scratch on him.
"You are quick, fool," Obsidian growled. "But it is
time to end this!" With that he charged.
Lance sighed as he batted the blade aside with enough
force to send it flying. "You are right General. It IS time to
end this." Lance seemingly became a blur as his blade slashed
downward in a diagonal slash from right shoulder to left hip,
then turned slashing upward from left hip to Right shoulder.
He continued the motion, this time coming parallel to
Obsidian's neck....
"NO!" Malachite screamed as Obsidian died.
Many days later the main gates fell....but only after
the three who were guarding it were sent to do other things.
With that memory in mind Malachite renewed his
planning.
*****
It was just before sunrise when Matt and Wraith awoke.
Though they'd slept an entire night they still both agreed
that it felt like a wrecking ball had hit them, though they
didn't know that it was because of Lance's shiatsu sleep
strike or the fact that they'd slept all night in a crumpled
heap. All they knew is that somehow they'd foolishly fell
asleep giving Lance his chance to betray Setsuna.
"I can't believe we were so STUPID!" Wraith growled
as he took stock of the room. It's futon was half made,
indicating that someone HAD slept there, the closet was open
and there were clothes missing. Wraith's eyes returned to Matt
with a look of disbelief.
"I think we lucked out and he stayed in," Matt summed
up.
"I'm not so sure. He's not here now," Wraith pointed
out as the the two friends began their search.
They looked outside. They checked the Furo and got
glared at as Raye had JUST went in there for her morning bath.
They looked in the fire room. They were just about to give up
and admit that Lance had managed to slip past them when they
heard someone in the kitchen singing.
"Oh she is my dear my darling one. Her eyes so sparkly,
full of fun! No other, no Uhhhther can match the likes of her.
Oh she is my dear, my darling one! My smiling and beguiling one.
I kiss the ground she walks upon...my pretty Suna girl!"
The two friends could only blink at that before running
to the kitchen. Inside was the sight of Lance, clad in his Dark
green and white robes, around his neck theough they couldn't see
it was a simple gold chain on which hung a simple gold band. He
seemed completely oblivious to his two friends as he stirred the
Miso soup he was working on for breakfast.
Lance for his part knew someone was behind him. He could
feel them watching him. He was glad for the few hours sleep he'd
gotten before returning to the temple. Even with that he was back
early enough that he'd managed to decieve his friends by messing
up his bed and putting his laundry in. "Have a seat my friends.
The fare for Breakfast won't be much since the priestess hasn't
sent me to the market this week, but there should easily be more
than enough."
"My aren't we CHIPPER this morning," Wraith grumbled.
"Yeah! What has you in such a good mood?" Matt added as
he narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
"Why nothing is wrong my friends! 'And the day's at the
morn; morning at seven; the hillside's dew-pearled; the lark's
on the wing; the snail's on the thorn: God's in his heaven-
All's right with the world!' " Came Lance's reply.
"Enough with the Robert Browning rhyme response," Matt
growled. "What are you up to?"
"Why would I be up to anything? I had a good night's
rest and awoke early," Lance answered his smile a little too
wide.
"You're up to something," Matt replied.
"Me? What would make you think that? I am merely a
whisper carried away by a moonlight shadow," Lance replied as
he semi-quoted a song verse.
"Yeah a whisper who had a plan for something last
night. A plan that involved heading out to meet Sailor Pluto.
A plan that we were trying to block. Now we just woke up having
missed an entire night. Now what are you up to?" Wraith growled.
Lance took a sip of his miso, a bite of his broiled fish
then a few grains of his rice. He paused as if considering the
taste of his food, opened his mouth; then closed his mouth as
if reconsidering. "Can you keep a secret?" He asked finally.
"Yes!" Both shouted.
"So can I," Lance replied as both his friend's faces
dropped. "But do not worry my friends, you will know soon enough.
I have a meeting to attend to at Tokyo tower, later today and I
have to get ready soon. So if you'll excuse me," Lance finished
as he left the table.
******
Malachite knew what was expected of him. Necros expected
him to challenge Lance Jayd. Necros would get his wish. However,
Malachite was no fool. He had discovered that Necros had a secret.
A secret so important that if Lance Jayd ever learned it, there
would be nothing to prevent him from attacking Necros head on,
suicidal as that would be.
"If I fail this battle Necros, it will still be I who
laughs the loudest," Malachite said to himself. "With my last
breath I will tell Lance of your crime, and of the Twin sister
he never knew."
With that Malachite smiled. Yes even in death HE would
win.
TBC