Author's Note:
This is a sequel to Angelic Embrace. I thought about doing it, but I didn't until someone told me they thought a sequel was possible. You will really want to read the first one to find out what's going on.
As we all know the names of the Senshi, there's no need to go there, except to say that I use the Japanese names.
For a review, I'll list the names of the Shitennou:
Keagan Kris MacNeal (Kunzite)
Nick Michael Canter (Nephrite)
Jace Daniel Taencer (Jadeite)
Zale James Indiano (Zoisite)
You can contact me at Guardian4@cox.net.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Last Journey
Chapter 14: First Assault
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The screen flickered and on television sets around the world, a pair of faces filled the box. Blonde hair separated in long streamers fell past her shoulders. Next to her was a tall man with short black locks and piercing royal blue eyes.
On the top of their heads, two crowns sat.
Just behind them, people could see various world leaders, all rallying in support of the couple in front. Every once in a while, someone would shift and there would be a glance of a woman or man, or perhaps a strand of black or bright blond hair from off-camera.
"People of the Earth, we are the rulers of Crystal Tokyo," the woman began. "Behind us are the rulers of your countries. We are here to tell you what is going on: the man you saw on your TV a while back was Demando, leader of the Black Moon. His plan is to take over the Earth, to rule it as sole leader."
The man picked up where she had left off. "We are here today, to fight him. Demando," And his eyes were hard and hatred radiated off of him, "if you want a war, then the Earth shall answer. Prepare for war, because we will defeat you."
~~~~~
Demando swirled the wine is his cup and contemplated the television screen in front of him. So the entire Earth declared war against him, hmm? Well that was easily overcome. What did the countries of Earth think they could do against him? Against the Black Moon? No, the only one that should concern him would be Crystal Tokyo, and those warriors that fought for his future Queen.
"Sapphire."
Not just his brother Sapphire appeared, but also Rubeus and Esmeraude. His eyes lingered slightly on the green-haired woman, knowing full well that she desired him like he desired Serenity. But though she followed him and he did perhaps feel something for her, Serenity was more…He had to have her.
"Yes, brother?"
"You saw?"
"Yes."
"What exactly do they think they can do?" Rubeus demanded smugly, crossing his arms over his chest.
"My thoughts exactly. The only one we should worry about is the defenders of Crystal Tokyo. Tell me, you fought them. What are the strengths of the Senshi? Are they strong enough to defeat us?"
The three of them exchanged glances, obviously choosing to have Sapphire deliver whatever news they had. After his brother cleared his throat a bit, he began to talk hesitantly.
"They are strong, brother. Stronger than we had anticipated. I do think that if there were more than four of them, they could defeat us. But as it is—"
"There are more than four of them."
"What??"
The three voices simultaneously assaulted him, but he only smiled slightly inside at their shock. "Yes, there are four more."
"Eight Senshi and add those four male warriors and I think we have a problem," muttered Rubeus, counting up the odds in his head. "Only the three of us and you, my Prince, have any magical powers. Our droids won't last against them, certainly. We may be stronger than them, but their numbers of magical users outweighs us. They will exhaust our magic long before we do them."
"Not if we have some leverage to prevent them from attacking."
They looked up at him in surprise. "What are you suggesting?" his brother asked, a light in his eyes saying that he was catching on.
"I'm saying let's get something that will make them think twice about attacking."
"Like what?" Esmeraude questioned cautiously, not seeming to like where this was going.
An image of Neo-Queen Serenity floated in the air. "Her. Esmeraude, I leave you in charge of this." Her mouth opened, perhaps in protest, and he dropped his voice to a purr. "And if you succeed in this, I will be very pleased."
She closed her mouth suddenly and he knew his plan had worked. Even though she hated the idea, in order to please him she would succeed in it.
"But an assault on Crystal Tokyo?" muttered Sapphire skeptically. "Do you think you'll be able to do it?"
"Absolutely." She laughed behind her fan, but deep in her eyes, Demando could see the worry.
His attention turned back to the image and he took a sip of his drink. Soon she would be his.
~~~~
The explosion shook the entire palace and sent Kunzite running out to see what had happened. He was joined a moment later by Venus. Their grim moods took in what they saw with a sinking heart. They had not expected an attack so soon. Or perhaps, they had not anticipated it to be at Crystal Tokyo.
Droids ran rampart through the city, wounding badly and killing citizens as they made their way to the palace with a single-minded intensity. Floating in the air was the woman with green hair.
She watched the attack with serious eyes, the smug and superior smile she had shown them at the council building gone. A slightly green aura floated around her form. When her eyes met theirs, she did nothing but stare.
"Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite!" Kunzite snapped into his communicator. "Get Serenity, Endymion, Chibiusa, and Pyralis out of here! Once they're gone, get back here to fight!"
Venus was already giving orders of her own. "Mars, Jupiter, Mercury! Evacuate the civilians from the palace immediately! Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Saturn! Meet me at the palace doors to fight the enemy! Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, when you have evacuated the civilians, meet me and the other Senshi in battle."
Affirmatives from both his own communicator and Venus' made a chorus of agreement, barely able to hear it at all over the sounds of screaming and destruction. Kunzite, steeling his spine and resolve, was about to jump into battle when another kind of scream shattered everything and turned him into a cold lump of fear.
"Serenity!"
Down below near a side door that was used for emergency royal evacuation, Endymion was screaming out his beloved's name as a dark bubble surrounded her, dragging her upward toward the green-haired woman. At Endymion's feet, Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoisite were trying to move, but it was obvious from where he was standing that the multiple wounds they had, that their lives were in serious jeopardy.
"Serenity!"
Venus' voice was just as loud as Endymion's had been and she rushed forward toward their enemy. Before he could pull her back, a blast of power slammed her into the palace walls. She slid down and didn't move.
"Venus!"
The thought that his wife was dead, that Serenity was being taken away, and his friends were dying took over and suddenly he wasn't sure what he was doing exactly. He ran forward, but neither to Venus nor his friends.
He ran to Endymion, preventing him at the last second from making the same foolish move that Venus had.
"Let me go! Serenity!"
"And let you die? No!"
Endymion struggled in his grip, but Kunzite's arms were like steel cables. Seeing Mercury, Jupiter, and Mars run from the palace, he screamed at them, "Find the Outers and help them!"
"What about Serenity?" demanded Mars.
Kunzite's eyes slammed into hers and his icy cold control made her follow his order without another argument.
"Endymion! Help me!"
Hearing the raw fear in her voice, his king redoubled his efforts to break free. He almost succeeded, too, until Kunzite could get a firmer grip on his arms.
"Serenity!"
"Endymion, what do you think you're doing? Don't you have something called the Golden Crystal?"
His friend didn't even acknowledge that he heard him, but the crystal blossomed before his chest. A blast that sent shockwaves throughout the ground and shook the foundations of every building still standing pierced through the air and straight at the green-haired woman.
It met some sort of shield that began to immediately turn a reddish color under the extreme amount of magical stress.
To prevent his friend from heaping so much power into the crystal and dying, Kunzite let his own magic to touch inside Endymion. With his power boosting it, the golden light's diameter went from five feet to fifteen. The dark bubble holding the Queen shattered and she fell as the green-haired woman drew every inch of power she had to protect herself.
Kunzite was not particularly worried because there were seven Senshi gathered together and they caught her expertly. The thought of seven, and not eight, Senshi sent fear and self-loathing up his spine. It was his fault for being too slow to save his wife.
The barrier shattered, but in the seconds it took for it dissolve, the woman was gone.
~~~~
End Chapter 14.
Should be almost done now…HoE is put on hold until this is done. I just don't have time to write two right at the same time.