Dedicated to my reviewers who have been waiting for the action in this story to appear. Enjoy!
Earth Bound
Princess of the Moon
Chapter nine
"Miss Serena, if you would please." She leaped back, her face shining with mirth. "Now, now Quatre." She skipped away from him, throwing her arms out, and twirling.
She closed her eyes, breathing in the sent of the wilderness outside the kingdom. She had never been let outside the gates, and here she was, free!
"Oh Quatre, isn't it beautiful!"
Her eyes opened, and she stood before him, her face flushed. "Its nothing compared to Earth's beauty, but it's untainted. Its pure, and beautiful, while Earth is beautifully dangerous."
She sighed her heart fluttering in her chest. "Oh Quatre look, look at that!"
The blond Captain turned, following the maid's gaze. It was a gorgeous beast, with pure white fur, and a flowing white mane. A horn protruded from its head. Its long snout nuzzled the grass, before looking up. Its amber eyes stared at them, but didn't run as if threatened.
"Have you ever seen something so beautiful?"
Quatre shook his head, his breath taken by the lovely unicorn. "They are quite rare, even on the Moon. I believe there is only one family left, after the Dark Kingdom nestled its way onto the dark side of the Moon."
"The dark side?"
Serena turned from the white creature, to stare at the Moon Guard, with perked interest. The man nodded gravely, "Yes. On the other side of the Moon, where the light can never reach it, lies a kingdom filled with darkness." He glanced around them, with narrowed eyes. "If I'm correct, I would say we are not that far from it. It's where everything is bathed in darkness by a dark shadow. Queen Serenity says it grows bigger every year, feeding off Negative energy from the Earth above us."
She looked back at the creature, to see it lift its head, and look behind itself. It let out a whine, before trotting off, leaving them alone in the wilderness.
"Why hasn't the Queen stopped the Dark Kingdom?" Her eyes gazed about them, looking from one lovely flower and tree to the next. How could something so beautiful, be filled with darkness.
"The Queen has tried speaking with them. She wishes to settle peace throughout the universe, without violence. But the Dark Queen, has refused to be purged of darkness, but instead threatens to wipe out our Kingdom."
"What? She wants to destroy the Moon? But she can't, what about the Crystal?" The young guard frowned, his head lifting slightly as if trying to hear something from the distance. "The Queen restricts herself from using it. Considering, the Crystal takes so much of her energy, she chooses to bide her time until she has no choice."
Dropping her gaze, she asked, even though she feared his answer, "It takes her energy?" Looking up, her eyes fell onto the castle far in the distance. They had barely walked anywhere, yet they were far outside the gates. She should have been gratefully, happy to feel free. But all she felt was a longing to return. To hold her mother close, and cry for the burden that lay on her mother's frail shoulders.
"The Crystal needs energy in order to sustain itself. Without energy it would shatter. And if it were to shatter, the Queen would lose her life." He bowed his head slightly, his face strained with pain. "I have protected my Queen to the best of my abilities. But I failed to protect her when she needed it most."
Her hand rose to cover her heart, as if to protect it from a striking blow. "Quatre." Her voice was barely above a whisper, and he didn't seem to have heard her. He continued on, even though she silently begged him not to. "The Princess isn't ill, she's missing. And the Queen is beginning to fear the worst might have happened to her. I was unable to find the Princess, so I failed to protect my Queen from heartache."
Tears rushed to her eyes, and everything within her screamed to break free. Her mind cried to yell the truth. Her body groaned, wanting to snap in two. How could she have acted so selfishly?
Quatre slowly shook his head, a rueful look on his normally kind face. "Yet, I'm almost glad she is gone." Serena's brows drew together in confusion. "Now, her fate won't be sealed such as the Queen's. She won't be destined to die by sacrificing her life to save us."
"Oh Quatre."
He tried to smile, but there was no light within it. "I feel as if she is safer where she is now, than if she were within the castle walls."
She wanted to touch him, wanted desperately to tell him that she was okay. But something seemed to fill her with a horrible darkness. It was like she breathed it in, the stench entering her lungs, and seeping into her blood. Her heart froze, fear stopping it from it regular beat.
"Did you feel that?"
She didn't necessarily have to ask him. She could see his body tense, his hand moving swiftly to the hilt of his sword. "Miss Serena." Even in the presence of danger, his manners flowed from him with a calming ease. His eyes didn't look at her, but at the bushes and trees around them. In the distance, a shadow crawled along the land swallowing everything beautiful with its negative energy. "Do you remember where the portal is?"
Looking back at the tree they had stepped out of, she nodded. "When I tell you, make a run for it. Go through and close it behind you." He was slowly inching to stand in front of her. His intent was to protect her no matter what might happen to him. "What about you. If I close it, you can't get through!"
She was looking wildly around them. Whatever was coming for them was growing closer. The size of the negative vibes she felt from it, startled her. It was huge, and it was fast. "Miss Serena, do not worry about me. I will run for the gates, and elude it. The Dark Kingdom's creatures cannot last long in the light."
Serena's eye whirled around. She looked in the direction of the castle. "But Quatre, you wouldn't make it. Its at least five miles to the North!" She wasn't going to leave him. She couldn't, wouldn't even if she could. She would not let him face whatever it was, alone.
"Go now!"
It burst from the trees, filling the sky with its massive body. She screamed, terrified by the grotesqueness of it. It permeated the air around her filling it with darkness. The flowers wilted, the grass burned as if the very nutrients it held, was sucked from its veins. The trees withered, the leaves shedding too early, and the bark curled, too dry to even stay on the tree trunks.
Covering her mouth to break off her screams of horror, she barely heard Quatre's order, "Serena go!" She shook her head, even though the offer was more tempting now, than ever before. She couldn't let him fight this thing alone.
The creature seemed to attack with a vengeance, as if Quatre was in its way. Looking around, she feared that it was after her. How could it know who she was? Or was it just the fact that she was alive and breathing, that it was after her?
The thing sent a crushing blow to the boy's head, sending him flying into a nearby tree, which splintered under the impact. "Quatre, no!"
The thing turned to her, but was instantly attacked again. Quatre plunged his sword into the creature's back. It screamed in rage, grabbing at him. Its long claws swiped at him. They slashed across his chest, meeting with flesh and drawing blood.
Serena screamed, as Quatre fell too his knees, unable to hold himself up. Blood flowed from the wounds the monster had inflicted upon him.
She shouldn't have stayed. Maybe that was what he had wanted. For her to run, and distract the creature, until he came back with help. She swayed on her feet, as his sword fell from his hands. Even as he pitched forward, he begged for her to run.
No Quatre.
Her heart lurched at the sight of his prone body. He was a good person. He hadn't deserved to give up his life. Why? Because as a soldier, I can protect the ones that mean something to me.
It was still too horrible to believe. How could he care for her? When she was being so selfish.
Looking at the creature, she watched as it rushed towards her. She blinked, and the cloth around her head fell, revealing the glowing crescent moon. The only thing that could actually give away who she really was. The creature hesitated, distracted by the change.
"You don't deserve to live." The moon then flashed, sending out a light filled with pure energy. The darkness screamed, being ripped apart from the inside out. The creature wailed with pain, before its body was cremated into a fine dust.
Light came back, healing what the darkness had destroyed.
She blinked, her knees quivering with fatigue. Weakness beat at her, trying to send her to the ground. But worry pushed her to go to the boy's side. He was staring up at the sky, his blue eyes gazing at the Earth. A trail of blood ran down between his brows, missing his eyes, and dripped of the end of his nose. Three jagged lines bubbles with red wine. The cuts were deep, maybe too deep for her to even heal. "Oh Quatre."
Tears filled her eyes, "You're going to be okay. I'll- I'll go get help."
His eyes moved from the glowing globe to her. They widened with shock, before tears filled his eyes, and they softened upon her face. "Princess. I- I finally found you." Serena nodded, "Yes, yes you did, now come on, help me get you out of here. More are coming Quatre. We-"
His eyes glazed over, and in her arms, his body relaxed. "Quatre?" She lifted her hands to his face, wanting to touch him, but too afraid to. "Quatre?" Her fingers trembled, and her shoulders shook with a force. "No." She shook her head, her eyes unable to leave the blank cerulean blue pools staring up at her. They had just been filled with hope and happiness. How could they lack any emotion now? How could he not speak to her, when she asked him to? Her voice wavered, cracking with so much emotion, "No!"
Energy poured through her body, lighting her soul on fire. Her head flew back, and she couldn't hold back her anguish cries, "Quatre!!!" and then a beam of white light broke free.
~~~~
Queen Serenity gently pushed the door open, so that she could enter the dust covered room. Her sad violet eyes moved over the unmade bed, to the dress draped over a silver chair.
She sighed heavily, closing the door silently behind her. The balcony doors had been left open, letting a breeze blow in. Serenity crossed her arms over her chest to fight back the chilling cold.
Hesitantly, she walked, her strides weak and shaky. "My dear, dear daughter." Tears filled her eyes, as she paused by the bed. A book had been left open, one showing the glowing ball of Earth. "Was I such a bad mother, that I sent you away from me?"
Her delicate hand went to her mouth to cover it, as a sob bubbled deep in her throat. Her knees buckled, and the strong willed Queen collapsed. "My baby girl, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry I wasn't good enough. I'm sorry for pushing you too hard."
A sob ripped from her throat, and her body shattered with uncontrollable emotions. Her hands on their own accord dragged the sheets off the bed, and she held them close to her heart. She wrapped her arms around them, as if they were her child, and she held them to her chest as if they were a baby. "Come back to me, Sere. Come back to me, so that I can hold you again in my arms." Her body racked with torn sobs. And she left the painful tears wet the sheets, she held protectively to her.
A bright light broke through the open doors, blanketing the Queen in its warmth. Slowly she lifted her head, to look, but she had to shield her eyes from the brightness. It was as bright as the sun, and just as warm. The heat filled her heart, and slowly brought her to her feet.
The bright light filled her with strength, and it dried her tears. "Serenity." She stepped towards the glowing light, carefully stepping out onto the balcony. Where was the light coming from?
Its white glow was covering everything, surrounding the Moon in its heavenly light. What force could have brought this to their home without being noticed before? It was outside the castle gates, near the dark side of the moon. But it was too beautiful to be evil.
Glancing down to the courtyard she saw her daughters personal guards staring at the light. Calling out to the leader, she said, "Venus, find out what it is, and bring it back."
The sun kissed, blonde haired girl looked up, startled to hear a voice coming from that room. "Your Highness?"
The Queen didn't dare take her eyes from the bright light again, "Find it. Take the others, and bring whoever or whatever it is, here."
Venus nodded, and turned to the other three girls. "Let's move out." The Queen crossed her arms over her chest to fight off the biting wind. "Your Majesty?"
"Yes Luna?" The black feline leaped to the railing, her long tail swaying behind her. "Didn't you send Miss Serena, and your personal guard in that general area?"
The Queen frowned, thinking over the coordinates she had sent the Earth maid, and the young guard. "Oh dear." Turning, she hurried from the room, needing to reach the teleportation room before something dreadful happened.
~~~~
Sailor Venus slid to a stop near the edge of the tree line. Glancing behind her, she motioned to her blue haired partner. "Mercury do a scan on the surrounding area."
The light hadn't faded since they had started upon their journey. And now that they had reached the light, she could feel a slight sensation prickling on her bare skin. It was like her inside were on fire. Whatever the force it was, it was trying to ward them off.
Taking her focus off the glowing light, she looked to the smallest of their group. She was dressed in the traditional uniforms, consisting of a sailor suit, short skirt, high-heeled boots, and two bows held at the small of her back, and the other over her chest. Her colors represented her home planet, ice, and watery blue.
From the visor that covered her blue eyes, the girl read off, "Enemies located in the between the six o'clock, and eleven o'clock position. Three hundred yard, and closing."
Venus nodded, and she unconsciously flipped her blonde hair from her shoulder. "And the light?" Her blue eyes moved to the raven-haired girl. She was very alert to what surrounded her. She was dressed in the same uniform as Mercury, minus the boots, but wore high heels instead. Her colors came from her home planet Mars, fiery red, and deep purple. Her violet eyes scanned the area the light was emitting from.
"I don't sense any evil. It's trying to ward us off, with illusions. Mercury?"
Venus looked back to her short friend. She girl tapped her earring, and her visor vanished. "Your assumption is correct. I was able to gather little data from the energy surge. It is more of a defense mechanism, to ward off danger from its castor. Its main objective is to send signals to our brain cells, of the illusion of great pain, and peril, if we were to advance any further."
Venus nodded, "All right. Jupiter, you and Mars, give the enemy a warm welcoming, while Mercury and I gather the source of the light. We will meet at the transporter in ten minutes. Last one in, closes the gateway. Are we clear?"
The last one of their group pumped her arm in the air, "You got it V. Let's go Mars." Jupiter was the tallest out of all of three of them. She had auburn hair, and bright green eyes. She wore the traditional uniform, but with ankle length, high heeled, boots. And her colors represented her home planet Jupiter, which were deep green, and light pink.
Venus waited till the two dispersed, following her orders. Turning to her partner, she nodded, and waited for the girl to lead the way to the source of their concern.
Pushing passed the bulky limbs, and thick bushes; the two soldiers entered a large clearing. And in the middle, the white light was surrounding, were two figures. Venus stepped closer trying to make out the one sitting up, and holding the body of the second in its arms. "Mercury scan it. We need to know what we're up against."
The blue haired girl nodded, and pulled out a tiny computer. She flipped the lid, and it instantly buzzed with life. Venus's eyes searched the clearing for any sign of threats. The smell of death was thick in the air. Crouching down she touched the glowing red liquid that stained the light colored grass. Staring at the familiar substance on her white gloves she frowned. "Mercury?"
The girl quickly supplied, not bothering to take her eyes off the tiny screen. "I'm picking up a faint trail of negative energy. It appears there was a battle. I'm also picking up one strong source of energy within the light."
Venus stood, and wiped the blood onto her orange skirt. "Only one?" Mercury stared at her results, "if there is another in there, I can't pick it up. The light is sending strong energy signals. Whoever is inside it is stronger than the light's power."
Venus, nodded, "Use your fog Mercury, give the person a feel of safety, so that they take down the shield."
Mercury nodded, and put away her computer. "Right. Mercury Bubble Blast!" Throwing out her arms, a cloud of bubble formed, and filled the clearing with a thick fog. Venus quickly asked, "Can you see them?"
The shorter girl supplied, "Yes. She's taken the shield down."
Venus glanced at her partner, "she?" Mercury nodded, slightly solemnly. "Yes, and she seems to be in great pain. I believe the second entity with her, is dead. The Dark Kingdom has already sent out their scout, and it has drawn the boy's blood."
"Boy?" Venus was frowning deeply now. Nodding the blue haired girl replied, "Yes. He's a royal guard. From the castle." The blonde haired girl cursed beneath her breath, "What were they doing out here in the first place?"
The two were torn from their conversation, when a beeping sound filled the silence. Looking down, Venus pulled out a tiny devise. Hitting the green button, she watched as Jupiter's face appeared on the tiny screen.
The girl didn't wait to be introduced, "Venus we need to get out of here. They've sent a horde of demons. Get the source, we need to get out of here!"
Venus nodded, "All right, but we're going to need help. There are two bodies."
Jupiter bit out through clenched teeth, as she attacked a hideous monster, "Got it. Pack up Mars, we're getting out of here!" Venus watched as the connection died, and she put away the communicator. "Mercury, you heard her, lets move."
Mercury nodded, and waved her hands to part the fog. As she did so, Venus went into action. Racing across the clearing she reached the girl sitting on the ground. Before the girl could react, the blonde soldier scooped her up into her arms. Crouching down, she propelled herself up into the air, and landed with ease on a tree branch nearby. "Mercury!"
Just then Jupiter came bursting from the foliage. She ran to the prone body on the ground, and scooped him up into her arms. Mars came out next, and grabbed the sword lying useless on the ground. As the three soldiers left the clearing, Mercury crossed her arms over her chest. Tipping her head back, her body turned in one slow circle. Her arms uncrossed out in front of her, and bubbles formed once again. "Mercury Bubbles Blast!"
Yet another fog formed in the clearing, giving the girl's a chance at a good get away.
Mercury was the last to reach the teleportation unit. Stepping through the tree, she hit the button closing the gate until it would be needed once again.
Turning from the portal she looked to her fellow soldiers. She caught their shocked and surprise looks. Looking at Venus she followed the girl's gaze. Sitting on the floor, where the golden haired soldier had laid her, was the girl. She had been the one who had created the light, Mercury was sure of it.
Mercury gasped, her gloved hand flying to her mouth to cut off her sob. "Oh my dear Serenity." It was the only thing that could escape passed her covered lips.
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See action!!!! Hashanah…. Not much, but its some. I promise to add more later. This story is mostly a romance, so I'm sorry to those of you who thrive on action like myself, but this one was a test on my ability on the mushy stuff. Hehehe. I hope you guys liked it.
Now for the wonderful reviews!!!
Melodi Moon: Better than the first year of high school? Gah I hope so. I got lost in high school. Hell I got lost in high school in the 10th grade. I have such a bad sense of direction. Hehehe thanks for the review.
Fangboy: Hiya, tyvm for the review.
John Steppenwolf: Ceiling wax? Hmmm, sounds interesting. Too bad, I was looking forward to reading more fanfics, I hardly read them at all lately. Well its great to hear from you again, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.
Moongirl: I know I felt bad doing that to the Queen. But, I had to in order to write this story.
Adrelliehs: I am happy to get so many reviews. I'm thrilled to get this many reviews. I like your name a lot, how did you come up with it?
Tenshi-Chikyuu: I hope this chapter was to your liking… ty for reviewing.
AnimeGirl: ty for the review
Starlight131: I love Heero too! Hehe. I'm glad you like this story so much.
Fir3 FairY: Yea, thank you for such a wonderful complement, you made my day. And I have, I am writing a story right now, that I do plan to publish. With my own characters, and plot. YES!!!! Hehe, I'm so excited. Ty for the review.
Hoshi yue: hey welcome to Earth Bound, ty for the review!
Hikari: hi pre reader!!! well I wont disappoint you, this is going to end really sad.
Silly Smiles: hiya, hehe I hope you liked this chapter. Hehe
Shi: hey!!! I'm so sorry about your story. I've had something similar like that happen, but instead, someone stole the disk I had saved it on. I got so depressed. Good luck on your other stories, and if you rewrite the one you lost, good luck on it.
Heeros Bunny: glad you like it. Ty for the review.
Elemental Angel Number 4: yea a favorite reviewer of mine. I'm so lucky to have people who review so much. Its just makes my heart swell with joy. Ty so much!!!
Dark Universe: hey!!! I'm glad you like it so far. I hope this chapter enticed the story a bit more for you.
Well I'm outie, tty all later!!!!
LP
