Title: Somewhere in Time

By: QueenBeryl

@---^---

Chapter 3: Introducing Evil

"I'm sorry, Sage Callypso. Forgive a mortal. I was detained by forces beyond my power.

I will be on time next lesson, Grand Sage." Beryl bowed, her locks falling over her oval-

shaped face.

"Very well, Beryl. You are forgiven." Sage Callypso nodded, glancing back down at her

book in concentration. "Today we will take your training up a notch. You have progressed

quite well, and I feel that you are strong enough to proceed."

"You are too kind, Sage." Beryl bowed again.

"I know. At the time, I wasn't sure why I should take you in when your parents died,

but I felt an odd need to do so. You can become a great Sage, Beryl. Perhaps even as good

as me, if I continue to tutor you." Sage Callypso put a long ribbon to bookmark the page

she was studying and closed the book. She looked up at Beryl and studied her. Beryl half

cringed at the word of her deceased parents. It still hurt her after three years. But she

was sixteen now, she had to be strong. She had to forget the pain and suffering and

focus on her training to become the greatest Sage that ever was.

"But Endymion, you can't be serious?" Zoicite demanded as he and Endymion walked toward the

Moon Portal at almost lunchtime.

"I _am_ serious, I'm going to marry her. Nothing will stop me. We'll wait about a

year and a half, then marry, and I'll be completely happy... for once." The last two words

were muttered almost under his breath, but Zoicite heard anyway.

Zoicite sighed. "I really wish you would pick somebody else, Endymion, I really do.

But seeing as how you're so set for it, I want to congratulate you. _Finally_ you've found

a woman worthy of you, and one you can actually love.... Even though she is a bit _young_."

Endymion was taken aback. Zoicite was usually the smartest, most law-abiding general

Endymion had ever met, and now he had gone soft? Something was wrong, and Endymion knew

exactly what.

"Very well, thank you, Zoi, for your congratulations. Now, I need to know... who

is the girl that has you the way you are?" Endymion raised an eyebrow.

Zoicite looked as if he could have blushed. He coughed briefly and shrugged, but a

wide smile crept up onto his normally serious face. "Mumble mumble."

"Excuse me?" Endymion asked, inclining his ear to Zoicite.

"I said... Princess Mercury." Zoicite looked away, as if saying the name was too

much for him to do with a straight face.

"Well, obviously!" Endymion smiled approvingly. "She is perfect for you, Zoi. Why

all the secrecy?"

"Because we haven't told anyone yet... really." Zoi stuffed his hands into his the

pockets of his uniform.

"Well..." Endymion started, recalling the previous night. "The rest of Serenity's

court and Serenity herself knows, but that was no fault of your goddess. I think it would

be a good thing for you two to go public. I mean, she's what, the second girlfriend you've

_ever_ had? Not that I'm saying it's a bad thing, but really, Zoi, you can't spend all your

time with your nose in a book. You have to explore life, to be free!"

"Free, eh? As free as you?" Zoi asked, inclining his head so that his golden hair

swished along behind him.

"I'm not the one in question here. I've found what I want, and I'm going to have it,

no matter what. And you-"

"Have also found what I want, and I'll have it too, no matter what." Zoi stated firmly,

catching Endymion off guard.

"You mean...?"

"As soon as she's a bit older we'll marry. Which, I'm happy to gloat, will be before

you and Serenity."

Endymion cursed. "Not fair, Zoi. Not fair, but as long as somebody approves of us, then

I'm perfectly okay with that." They both laughed as they reached the portal. Zoi typed in the

coordinates to the Moon Kingdom and they stepped through the door-looking portal.

When they got there, both Mercury and Serenity were waiting for them. They were

standing a little far off, talking quietly to each other, Serenity giggled and looked over to

the portal. Her eyes lit up and she ran to Endymion. Mercury followed at a bit of a slower

pace, but wrapped her arms around Zoicite all the same. Zoi winked at Endymion and slung his

arm around Mercury as they walked off. Endymion and Serenity walked towards the Red Rose

Garden, smiling.

"Tuh!" Mars stamped her high-heeled foot. "Where is Serenity? She was supposed to be

here almost twenty minutes ago!" Jadeite wrapped his arms around her waist. She made a half-

hearted attempt at shoving him off, but it didn't work.

"Probably off with Endymion." Mercury stated matter-of-factly. She sat down on a white

stone bench next to Zoicite and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Well she shouldn't be!" Venus stated, looking irritatedly at Mercury. "It's one of the

greatest t-"

"Taboos. We _know_!" Nephrite stated while leaning against a tree. Jupiter sat on a

bench near him, in a leaned-back casual position.

"But nobody thinks anything of it except for ME!" Venus threw her hands in the air,

her golden hair swishing in agreement.

"That's not true. I think about it too, love, but there is nothing we can do. I'm sure

all the Guardians here are full aware of the taboo dangers, but we are all helpless." Kunzite

appeared out of nowhere, and kissed Venus, who blushed.

"He's right, Ven." Jupiter stated, standing up and brushing off her back end. "We are

all aware, but we can't do a da-" she got a reproachful look from Mercury... "do a _dang_

thing about it. It has been set in motion, and there is no stopping it. _You_, Goddess of LOVE,

should know above all else what an effect love has. Even _if_ there is a taboo, nobody can

stop it."

"She's right you know." Serenity stated, coming up behind Venus and making her jump,

hitting Kunzite in the chin with her head.

"Don't DO that!" Venus rubbed her head.

"Sorry, but she's right. And I'm sorry, I didn't _mean_ to fall in love with my Endy,

but it just happened. Just like... it happened with all of you."

All blushed, except for Jadeite, who kissed Mars full on the lips.

"Well, now that we're all here, it's time we began." Mercury stated, sounding really

formal. "We need to decide what to do... wait.... Where is Prince Endymion?"

All looked irritably at Serenity. Venus shook her head, making Kunzite step back, just

in case.

"He said he'd be right ba- here he comes!" Serenity sat down, pulling Endy with her

when he was close enough.

"Like I was saying, we need to decide what do to about Seren- Zoi, stop. About Serenity

and Endymion's relationship. If the Queen of the Moon should _ever_ find out..." Her voice

trailed off, giving the perfect affect for all there to think about it.

"I say we just keep it a secret. Every once in a while, we can let her _accidentally_

escape to Earth, while we distract the Queen, then all will be well!" Jupiter exclaimed, pacing

back and forth in front of the bench.

"Oh, yeah, and get our butts fried by the Queen herself when she finally finds out what

happened to her daughter!" Mars spat.

"Actually, I think it's a really good plan..." Venus stated thoughtfully.

"You would."

"Shut up, Jadeite." Venus snapped, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"That would be deceiving the Queen!" Zoi stated, as if it was the worst thing in the

Universe to do.

"He's got a point." Mercury stated, smiling.

"All who agree with Jupiter, say I!" Nephrite shouted, still leaning against a tree.

Six said I. Only Mars, Jadeite, Mercury, and Zoicite didn't speak.

"Well, majority rules!" Serenity stated, hugging Endymion.

"The vote needs to be unanimous..." Mercury started.

"No, I am Princess Serenity of the Moon, and I say majority rules!"

All sighed wearily except for Endymion, Serenity, and Nephrite who scowled. Zoicite and

Mercury both sweatdrop.

"Well, the rest of the celebration starts in fifteen minutes, so let's go!" Venus said

excitedly, grabbing Kunzite by the hand and pulling him along. The rest of the group followed

closely behind.

"Oh, Serenity, you can't be sure of it? My boy goes around with many... but he wouldn't ever

think of... Chibi Serenity is his longtime _friend_!" Gaea stated frantically to the Queen of

the Moon. Serenity had just spoken her thoughts that Endymion and Serenity had become too close

for simply being friends. Holding hands, whispers, and giggles were one thing, but the way they

were acting was another. Serenity thought it very odd because it had been a long time since her

daughter and Endymion had even _seen_ each other, let alone held hands and such.

"Gaea, I saw them in the Red Rose Garden together. Friends don't kiss like _that_, no

matter how close they are. It's not that your son isn't worthy of my daughter, you know that,

it's just..." Queen Serenity's voice trailed off. It even hurt her to say it. If she was right,

as she knew she was, it would mean breaking her daughter's heart. Serenity didn't just throw

away her kisses and affections, she meant them. This fact frightened Queen Serenity because

this was a love that was never meant to be.

"The ultimate taboo..." Queen Gaea finished, sighing. "Oh, I wish it weren't so. She, she

hasn't been to Earth, has she?"

"Oh, no. Don't worry about that, Gaea. My daughter is very obedient and would never

disobey me. There is another matter, on which I wish to speak with you, Gaea. A war is brewing

between the planets Mars and Neptune. Nobody knows which side started it, but we all know whose

going to finish it. Neptune is a peaceful place, and Mars is war-ridden. Neptune would hardly

stand a chance. This peaceful Silver Millennium isn't really staying as long as I thought it

would. The end of the thousand years will be up soon, and I fear that after that...."

"That's not all, the people on Earth are becoming restless... I fear they might soon

wish to war. I pray it will never come to that. You..." Gaea's eyes widened profusely. "You

don't think it's... it's..."

"Neherenia is still where she was sent." Queen Serenity stated firmly, her voice going

cold, sending a chill through the entire room.

"When was the last time you checked?"

"A few months ago. And I would have felt it if she had escaped, Gaea, you know that."

"Whew. I was just making sure, Serenity. It's always better safe than sorry."

"Right." Serenity nodded, but the thought lingered in her mind, what if Queen Neherenia

of the Dark Moon was thriving? Finding a way to communicate while still inside the mirror in

Serenity's bed chambers? Serenity supressed a shudder. No way could that happen, she thought,

not in a million years.

"Muahahahahaha!" A female voice cackled, the tones hollow, as if life were barely there. "Soon,

we shall see who the ultimate ruler is, Serenity. I will be Queen of the White and Dark Moon, and

you and your pitiful daughter will be NOTHING! Heh, heh, heh."

The mirror in Serenity's room darkened, revealing the woman that was seen many years ago

when Princess Serenity was just a small child. She pressed her hand against the mirror, running

a long red fingernail down the glass. She raised her hand again and tapped it, as though it might

open. The glass shivered and looked as though to break.

"Soon, the end of the Silver Millennium will be at hand, and I will be able to see to it's

ultimate destruction!" Neherenia laughed viciously, her eyes glowing. Too bad nobody was in the room,

otherwise, they might have been able to stop it.

Two years have passed since Princess Serenity's coming of age Birth Celebration.

And it seemed for a time that nothing would matter; everything was under control. Venus

was the first to get married, because in those days one married young. Suprisingly, Mercury,

of all the guardians, was next, followed by Jupiter. Mars was a bit more stubborn, and

held out a few months longer, to Jadeite's disapproval. Queen Serenity had never found

out that her daughter was escaping to Earth while one of the Guardian Goddesses were asking

her questions, coming to her with problems, and the like.

Tragedy on Earth struck about a month after the celebration. It turns out that

Poseidon was killed in battle, and this brought much grief to the Earth Kingdom, especially

the Earth Palace. Gaea and Endymion went to the Moon often, Gaea to be consoled by her

dear friend Queen Serenity, and Endymion to be the same by Princess Serenity. As it happened

Serenity could feel her friend slipping away. Gaea was never really strong of spirit, she

always had Poseidon as her support but now he was gone, and she was quite weak and

vulnerable. Two months after her husband died, Gaea simply didn't wake up one morning. It was

believed that Gaea died of a broken heart, for she had always been with the love of her life. A

vast mourning was spread through both the Earth and Moon Kingdoms. Queen Serenity refused

to be seen for several days.

"It's just like when Ophichius died..." she muttered, shaking her head. She sobbed

uncontrollably in the confines of her bed chambers. No one heard these cries save it be

the woman in the mirror.

Now, the stabbing pain has relaxed into a dull endless throbbing, which many try to

ignore. Princess Serenity and Endymion's relationship blossomed even more over the time,

and now that the princess was fifteen and one half, they decided to become engaged.

"Serenity," Endymion whispered, holding her close, "Serenity, I love you. I want to

ask you for your hand in marriage."

Serenity lifted her head, her eyes meeting his. "Really, Endy?"

"Yes, my love."

"Alright then, I accept!" Serenity hugged him, and they kissed under the beautiful

star-lit sky.

Now, even if they were to elope, certain things would eventually make it to the

ears of the Moon Queen, so their engagement couldn't be disguised for long. Finally,

Endymion mustered up enough courage to tell the Moon Queen of his plans for her daughter.

"I should have known. So, she has been to Earth as well, I presume?" Serenity asked,

as though she had really known all along.

Endymion hesitated; he had forgotten that she was forbidden to go to Earth. "Erm,

yes, My Queen, but it was all my doing, I asked her to come and-" Queen Serenity raised

a hand to silence him.

"True love cannot be stopped by simple wishes of mothers and queens. I always

wondered, though, why her guardians always pestered me at odd hours..." the queen laughed,

"but I see that now. I was once like her, you know. Long... ago...."

"Queen?" Endymion looked up.

"Oh, it's nothing, Endymion, Prince of Earth. Go on, you have my blessing." Serenity

decended from her throne, smiled, and kissed Endymion's cheek. He bowed and left hurriedly,

going to tell his Serenity of the blessing.

"Yes, I was once like her..." Serenity muttered, eyes becoming glazed over in

memory.

"She gave her blessing? Even though it's a taboo? Something must be wrong!" Mercury

stated, sitting down, a worried thoughtful expression crept onto her face.

"Well, nothing... stands in the way of love." Venus stated, placing her hand on

her slightly pudgy stomach and plopped into a sitting position as well.

"Serenity, you're younger than any of us were when we got married." Mars scolded,

as if it was Serenity's fault.

"I'm not married _yet_, Mars." Serenity huffed and picked the petals off a flower.

"Besides, at least we're going to wait until we're married for... you know. It's not like

we're really rushing things. We've been together for about two years, and we are going to

be engaged for three months. Then we'll marry, and by then I'll be about a month short

of sixteen. You all were sixteen when _you_ married, and Mars and Venus are already preg-"

"Don't you dare bring _that_ up, Serenity!" Mars fumed. "I was well over sixteen

when we married, and you'll still be a few months short of your birth day."

"One month."

"Whatever, that's beside the point. There must be something wrong with the Queen,

for her to give her blessing." Mercury stated again, returning to the previous subject,

hoping both to stop the feud and get information. "Perhaps, Serenity, you should talk to

your mother. You two haven't spoken much recently, you know."

"Fine, I'll do that!" Serenity stormed off to her mother's bed chambers.

Serenity knocked on the oak door, and a small voice said, "You may enter." Serenity

entered the brightly lit room, to discover her mother sitting on a small pouf in front of the

mirror. She turned as her daughter came in and shut the door.

"Ah, my little Serenity, what do you want?" The Moon Queen perked up a bit.

"To talk with you, Mother." Serenity sat down beside her mother on the floor.

"I'm sure Endymion told you I gave you a blessing."

"Yes."

"And you wish to know why." The queen looked at her daughter, who nodded.

"Yes."

"I was like you once, Serenity. Young and careless. I was a few years older than

you when my mother pressured me to get married. I was somewhat of a tomboy then, and even

though I was interested in men, I would never let on, sort of like your Guardian Mars. I

decided that a trip to Earth would to me good. Back then, however, simply going to Earth

was a taboo. I didn't care about any of that nonsense; I just wanted to be free to lead my

own life. I thought that nobody understood that, but then I met Gaea. From the moment we met

in the forest just outside her palace, we hit it off. We were the greatest of friends, and

nobody could say otherwise. Gaea was already wed to Poseidon then, and he also helped me

escape to Earth every now and then, so my mother wouldn't know... or my guardians for that

matter.

Well, when Gaea was due to have her baby, Endymion, they sent for a healer who would

help with the delivery. His name was... Ophichius. He was so handsome... he was as tall as

your Endymion, with bright blue eyes, your eyes, and long black hair that he kept tied back

in a ponytail. He carried a staff which held most of his power, and he looked so regal...

and I fell for him, Serenity. I fell hard. Not much of his healing power was needed, because

Gaea was always so physically strong, and she was up and about a few hours after delivery.

Ophichius and I started talking, and by then he really had me hooked. We were in love,

and there was nothing we could do about it. He proposed to me two years to the day from our

first meeting, and I accepted. The only problem was I wanted my mother's blessing. So he went

to her, and she denied it. I was so hurt and upset that she could deny me the only thing I

really wanted, and I went to speak with her. I told her that she wanted me to marry so much,

now here I was, getting married, and she didn't want me to do it. She said that I was first

off forbidden to even go to Earth, and then I fell in love with an Earthling. We argued and

fought until I left, without the blessing, and eloped with Ophicius.

My mother died soon after the wedding, probably because she refused to believe that

we were together, and she would rather have died anyway. I began to rule the moon. Well, as

the Fates would have it, we kept trying to get pregnant, but a year passed, then another, and

nothing. Finally, I was pregnant with you, and I knew, right then, you would be the next

Serenity. I was so excited. I had everything I ever wanted: a loving wonderful husband, the

Moon Kingdom, friends, Guardian Goddesses, and you, my pride and joy.

When the time for delivery came, I felt myself growing weaker and weaker. I found

it hard to breathe, and I couldn't move properly. Your father used his power to sustain me

during that hard time. I hoped and prayed that everything would be okay with you. I refused

to lose you, at any cost." Serenity's voice falterd, tears were streaming down her sullen

beautiful face. She looked away from her daughter, who was also in tears, and gazed at the

ceiling. "I didn't... realize how great a cost it would be. My choice was either my husband...

or my beloved daughter. I didn't have much of a choice, because your father... your father

loved me so much... he used the very last of his energy and strength to sustain me and you,

so that we could live. Perhaps, if my body had been stronger, I could have... he wouldn't

have to...." Serenity faltered again, closing her eyes.

"Oh, Mother!" Princess Serenity cried, wrapping her arms around her mother's neck,

sobbing as well. "I... I didn't know! Daddy..."

They stayed like that for some time, simply holding onto each other and crying. Now

Princess Serenity understood why her mother had given her blessing. Why going to Earth was

forbidden but not exactly a taboo. Why falling in love with anyone from Earth is a taboo. Her

mother had made the mistakes, paid the prices, and didn't want her only daughter, the one she

fought so hard to keep, to make the same errors she did. The taboos were only to protect

the princess. Love was a dreadfully wonderful thing. It was cold fire, dark hope, and a

restless sleep. Now Serenity understood why her mother allowed the things she did, why she

forbade the things she did. For once, the Queen and the Princess of the Moon Kingdom in the

Silver Millennium understood exactly how the other felt.

"Well, Beryl, your training has quite improved. I'm well impressed." Sage Callypso smiled

evilly, brandishing vicious looking fangs. Her eyes glowed as though pure evil, her black

hair fell all around her, almost to the floor.

"Thank you Sage. Is it time then?" Beryl stood before the Sage, much taller and

with longer hair.

"Yes, today you meet Metallica, Queen of Darkness. Today you become Sage Beryl.

A Queen Sage. Queen Beryl of the Negaverse. The Silver Millenium ends in four weeks. You

will be trained by Mettalica herself to become the ultimate ruler... well, below she and I,

of course."

"Yes, Sage Callypso." Beryl stated, clearly having other power arrangements in mind.

"Now, you will travel to the mountains, and there will be a cavern that shows no light

for seven miles around. This is the cave of the Seven Dark Crystals. Touch _nothing_, Beryl.

You will go throught the seven interlinked caves when you reach a wooden door. Enter through

the door, and Metallica will be waiting for you. She will train you until the Silver Millennium

ends. Understood?" Callypso breathed.

"Yes, great Sage." Beryl bowed and exited the hidden room of the castle. She left almost

immediately toward the desired (and specified) destination, only stopping for about ten minutes

to view the Prince of Earth holding the woman he loved. She looked on enviously, baring her

fangs. "Oh, Endymion, one day, very soon, you will love _me_, and not some pretty little twit of

a Moon Princess." She laughed maliciously and departed, now fueled even more to see the spoken

Queen Metallica.

She traveled for thirteen days until she reached the Seven Dark Crystals Cave. She did

as she was told, until she arrived to the door. She twisted the rusted handle and shoved forward.

At first nothing could be seen in the darkness, nothing but two glowing lights from somehere

straight ahead. They glowed bright red, and seemed to peer at her. Beryl shivered and started

to wonder if this was really a good idea. She thought for a moment that maybe almost ultimate

power wouldn't be worth it when she heard a wispy, airy voice.

"Come in, come in, Beryl. I knew you would come."

"Uh, Queen Metallica?"

"Yesss. I am she... come closer to the lights, child, and I'll see what I can do."

"Beryl did as she was told, and as she moved closer, the door shut and seemed to lock

behind her. Beryl turned to see the door, then turned back and walked toward the lights again.

Suddenly, she was engulfed in blackness, horrible thoughts entered her mind... ones of revenge

destruction, power, wealth, fame... all the things she wanted. Only too late did she realize

that the red lights weren't lights, they were Metallica's eyes.

To Be Continued...

Originally this was going to be two separate chapters, 3: Introducing Evil, and 4: A

Millennium Draws to a Close, but I decided to melt them into one larger chapter. The next

chapter should be titled A Millennium Draws to a Close because that is the actual chapter that

the Millennium will, indeed, close, and that's where mishap and mayhem come in to mess up

everything.

I look forward to any comments you have, whether good or bad! I also hope you like the

story so far!

*OH, and thank you to all the people that told me to hurry up and get on with the story.

I need the encouragement!