The Light and the Darkness

Chronos sat outside, looking up at the sky where Neptune loomed large above. He prayed to all the gods in their glory that he would not have to resort to what he was thinking of doing. But he had started the process and now there was no turing back, he sighed. He knew Ra had arrived but there was something he had to do, he thought, getting up.

Ra was impatient. Since nothing moved to threaten him, he was ready to move on. It was as no one had even noticed his presence.It was almost to good to be true but Ra didn't care. If it was a trap, he would deal with it.

Serenity was so close now, he could feel her power surrounding him.She would be his soon.

Setsuna was worried. She felt powers waking from Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. Something was happening but what, she did not know. Worse, she realized that Chronos was nowhere to be found as she ran though the empty corridors of Charon Castle, looking for him. She couldn't face Ra alone, she knew that she couldn't fight him without her father.With a sinking heart, she suddenly knew that she was alone in the castle.

Serenity stood outside on the terrance with Luna and Artemis, looking at Ra's ship that had appeared in the sky. Her hand tightend on the moon wand, she would show Thor that she didn't need his help, she would save her own kingdom. Suddenly, there was a flash of blue light and three rings fell out of nowhere. A man, appearing around sixteen or seventeen, appeared in the rings. He looked at her as the rings vanished, smiling. Luna and Artemis stepping in front of her but the man pushed them out of his way, knocking them unconsious to the floor.

"At last, my eyes behold the loveliness of Serenity. I am Ra, the most powerful of the universe," he said with an unaturally deep voice, reaching out to put his hand on Serenity's cheek.

"You..are...a..MONSTER!" Serenity cried and hit him hard across the face with her wand, leaving a long, thin, cut across one cheek. Ra ignored it, opening his palm to her. An orange jewel in the center of his palm lit up and he aimed the light towards Serenity.

The moon wand dropped from her limps hands as she collapsed to the floor. Ra smiled, closing his hand. She was his at last, he thought, looking down at her still body.

Setsuna froze when she saw the time staff laying on a nearby couch. Her father never went anywhere without it or even allowed anyone else to touch it. Tears gathered at her eyes as she picked up the staff, feeling its cold weight in her hand.

"Pluto planet power make-up!" she yelled as short wand with the symbol of Pluto on it appeared in her hand. Now she was ready to face Ra, she thought as she ran out the door, time staff in hand.

"Serenity?" Luna sat up as she came to. Her hand ached but she had to find the queen. Artemis laid next to her, still out but Serenity and the strange man had vanished. "SERENITY!!!" her call echoed through the empty hallways.

Ra looked down at Serenity whom he held in his arms as he walked down the hallway. So beautiful, he sighed to himself, running his hand along her pale hair. After all his waiting, he had simply walked in her and taken her. It seamed a little easy but then again, Ra didn't care since he held her now.

"Put her down. Now," a woman with long dark green hair holding a staff appeared before him. Startled, he paused, sensing a dangerous energy around her. Her eyes were cold yet stormly,they held great anger and fury. She noticed Serenity's eyes flickering but kept Ra's attention on her. "Put her down or else I'll hurt you," she said. Ra sensed she was not bluffing and would not hesitate was he not holding Serenity. he smiled slowly as Serenity put her hands around his neck.

Ra woke alone in a dark room, a light sheet covering him. He wasn't dead as they had assumed but in truth, he was close to it. Serenity had caused much damage to the host which would require the sarcophagus to repair, he winced, sitting up. He touched a red jewel on his wrist band and disappeared.