"Music exalts each joy, allays each grief,
Expels diseases, softens every pain;
And hence the wise of ancient days adored
One power of physic, melody, and song."
-- Apollo and Daphne --
At the end of the river, they stopped hastily when they saw a beautiful woman sitting by the shore. Her long wavy hair was shining of pure black, her lovely eyes were golden and she greeted them with a dazzling smile. The men were captivated with her beauty.
"Welcome. My father is expecting you." She spoke so softly and walked away. She was like a fairy with her white dress slithered with the breeze, barefooted.
The generals and the prince got off on their horses and followed the woman.
"Who are you?" Nephrite asked so gently, fearful that she might disappear in a sudden noise.
"I am Miranda, the daughter of Prospero." The woman bowed in respect. "My father has been expecting you for a while now. He sensed of your coming even before you arrive."
"How so?" Endymion frowned.
"Ahh… My father is one of the best archimage in our galaxy. Did you not know that, Your Highness?" Miranda asked.
"Evidently not, my lady."
Just then, Miranda stopped in the midst of the forest. "We are here now."
The men looked about and saw nothing.
"I see no cave. Perhaps the old man fibbed after all." Jadeite grunted.
Then they noticed Miranda, with her arms crossed on her chest and her eyes closed, chanting something.
"We approach the secret grove
With hearts and minds and flesh and bone.
Join us now in ways of old,
We have come home."
Before their eyes, a huge cave became visible out of nowhere.
"It is for protection that we must hide where we dwell. There are a lot of those who wants my father lifeless." Miranda said forlornly.
"We understand." Kunzite commented kindly.
When they entered the cave they noticed some magic books, apparatus and potions in a corner but didn't spot Prospero.
"Do not be troubled, my father will be with you in a little while." Miranda smiled at them and left.
Not long, they gave a start when a stature once again materialized in front of them.
"You!" Jadeite bellowed incredulously.
It was the old man from before who now wore a cape and smiling broadly.
"Hmm… yes it is I. Happy to see me, are you not?" He said jovially.
"What kind of games are you playing at old man?" Nephrite snapped.
"Now, now. Do not be livid. It is for your own good after all. And mine, of course." The old man said before sitting on a wooden chair. He gestured to the other chairs before him and they reluctantly took their seats.
"It was true what my daughter told you. A lot of people want me killed so in order for me to discern whether you are of no threat, I had to make you traverse the River of Ariel. It is not surprising that she made you go by. I reckoned when I met you that you are of good. Though, I have yet to be certain." He explained.
"I thought you are a wizard?" Zoisite asked suspiciously.
"I am." And as if to prove a point, a smoking pipe appeared in his hand and put it in his mouth.
"And what of Caliban? Did you send him for us?" Kunzite demanded.
"No, my friend. He spoke the truth. He was a creature made specifically to destroy me. Sycorax is my adversary for as long as I can remember. She is as old as I am too." He added with good humour.
"Why?" Endymion asked.
Prospero shrugged and took off his pipe. "She wants my Book of Incantations. I am sure you did not come here to ask me of her. So, gentlemen, what brings you here?"
"We are seeking for the celestial gems. I am not certain if you have heard of them but we presumed that at least one of them is here in Uranus. The Taakoizu." Kunzite explained.
"Hmm… well I can assure you that I have never heard of it." Prospero answered thoughtfully.
"How old are you?" Jadeite asked abruptly.
"Would you believe if I tell you I am a thousand years old?" Prospero enquired, raising his eyebrows.
When nobody made a comment he chuckled dryly. "Well, by the looks on your faces I would say you do not believe me. But I am. A thousand and one if you want to be precise."
"But then do you not know anyone who is older than that? A person who has lived for at least six thousand years perhaps?" Endymion asked exasperatingly.
"Such thing is not possible, Your Highness. Do you not know of your legend? The Silver Millennium granted people close to immortality but now that it is suspended in action nobody can live for more than two thousand years until the kingdom rises once again. Apart from The Elders but even that is a mystery to me."
"Then we are doomed to failure." Endymion sighed.
"Do not give up so easily, my prince. We will find them if it is the last thing we shall do." Nephrite murmured, clasping the prince on the shoulder.
"Well then did you not notice any bizarre things that occurred in the past thousand years?" Zoisite asked.
Prospero frowned. "About 20 years ago or so there was a big dark blue burst of light over the valley of the Oberon Mountain not far from here. I went to find out what was going on but all I could see was the big sign of Uranus imprinted on the earth. I am not certain that would help you."
"We will go and try our luck. Perchance there are still some traces left for us to find if any at all." Kunzite said who stood up and so as the others.
At that moment Miranda came back and approached them.
"Ah, my daughter, be a dear and escort these gentlemen to the Oberon Mountain."
"But, of course father." Miranda smiled warmly.
"That is not necessary, my lady. If you could just tell us the way then we will be on our way. We do not want to trouble you any further than we already had." Kunzite said curtly.
"Nonsense. How about we all go? It is not far away from here after all." Prospero bellowed.
"If you insist." Nephrite said tersely.
Prospero took his wooden staff that was as tall as he from a corner and Miranda wore a cape very much like her father.
Once they were outside the cave faded away from sight.
Prospero and his daughter shared a mount and they galloped to the Oberon Mountain.
Unbeknownst to them, the female warrior from before pursued them in astonishing speed. She was not on a horse or any kind but merely sprinting. She became one with the wind, making her agile and silent.
They arrived in Oberon Mountain in short time. The five men surveyed the area.
"There. In that area. Go take a look." Prospero pointed something in the south.
The men followed it and saw the big symbol of Uranus Prospero had stated. Zoisite levitated a few feet off the ground to examine the symbol.
"He is telling the truth. It is the symbol of Uranus." He informed the others.
"What could it mean though?" Jadeite said thoughtfully.
Nephrite crouched on the ground and laid his hand on the symbol.
Upon closing his eyes a vision came in his mind.
"What is it?" Kunzite enquired.
He shook his head. "Not much. All I see is this sign on a person's forehead. A glowing sign."
"What does that mean?" Endymion muttered.
"It means either two things. He must be a warrior of Uranus who can lead us to the Taakoizu or he must be one of the celestial warriors himself who already carries one of the gems." Zoisite said.
"Hmm… though I doubt we can find someone who has a glowing symbol on his forehead." Jadeite retorted.
Suddenly, Endymion hunkered down beside Nephrite and used his hand to brush some dirt from the bottom of the sign.
"Everyone take a look at this. Some inscription of some kind." He said.
The others squatted beside them and read the message.
"Quod perditum est, in venietur." Nephrite read.
"What was lost, shall be found." Kunzite frowned. "Interesting."
"I ask again, what does it mean?" Endymion said, frustrated.
"Your guess is as good as mine, my prince." Zoisite answered.
They sauntered around for more clues but found none. They strolled back towards Miranda and Prospero who were waiting for them patiently.
"So, did you find anything gentlemen?" Miranda asked.
They all shook their heads in answer.
"Not much that can help us I'm afraid." Jadeite replied.
The winds suddenly howled around them.
"Sycorax." Prospero said.
The men looked in confusion and Sycorax appeared before them. She wore in black and her greyish black hair spun in the wind. She, too, carried a staff longer than she, with a pale crystal hanging on its pointed end. Caliban stood behind her, very much alive, his red eyes fixed on Kunzite.
"What! I killed that beast! How is he alive?" Kunzite snarled.
"Hello Prince Endymion. Earth Generals. How nice to see you, finally." Sycorax drawled. "Now where is that gem? Hand it over to me!" She demanded.
The men stepped back and glared at the wench.
"We don't have it." Endymion growled.
"What do you want of the gem?" Nephrite demanded.
"That is none of your concern, my young general. Now hand it over to me before I lost my patience!" Sycorax shouted.
As one, the men brought on their weapons, ready for battle.
"Mistress, let me deal with the white-haired warrior. I want vengeance with him." Caliban growled.
"Very well Caliban. Do not disappoint me again for I have no intention of reviving such incompetent beast like you!" The witch snarled.
And so, Kunzite and Caliban faced each other once more.
"Sycorax! What is the meaning of this?" Prospero demanded of the old witch.
Sycorax turned her attention towards him. "Ah, Prospero. My great enemy. I'm afraid I have found much more valuable and much more powerful than your piece of tome. It is such a pity to be wasted on a mortal, do you think not?"
"You miserable wench! Why don't you just die and leave the world to those who deserve it!" Prospero shouted and blasted Sycorax with his staff. It hit her on the shoulder and left Sycorax furious.
"Why, you!! You will pay for that you old brute!!" She screeched and also pointed her staff to Prospero.
The two battled with each other, magic to magic.
"So, what are we supposed to do while the two battle each other?" Jadeite said, amusingly.
The four men along with Miranda watched Kunzite and Caliban battled with each other. They darted their eyes towards Sycorax and Prospero who were more exchanging insults to each other than battling. They seemed to be of equal match.
Kunzite evaded another fire that went in his way. He couldn't get close enough to the beast to give him damage for Caliban kept breathing fire on him.
Suddenly Caliban howled in pain. Kunzite saw one of Jadeite's arrows on the beast's heart. He took this as an advantage and sprinted towards Caliban, slicing his head off.
Twice that day, the beast came crashing down, hard.
"Well, that was easy." Jadeite commented.
Kunzite glared at him.
They heard a shriek and when they turned around, they saw Sycorax lying flat on the ground with her staff broken and blood oozing from her shoulder.
Before they could say anything however, two figures appeared a few feet off the ground.
"You useless woman! We told you to attack them once they get the gem!" Shouted one of them.
The generals eyed the two figures hovering Sycorax. One was a beautiful female with short black garb clinging on her body, her long lime mane reaching on her knees that covered with black boots. Three huge emerald stone necklaces adorned her neck and a black upturned moon symbol on her forehead. Her male companion was wearing a white trousers and deep blue coat with little bits of sapphire stones on each side. He, too, had a symbol of black upturned moon on his forehead. He raised one gloved hand towards Sycorax and blasted her, turning her to ashes.
Endymion looked on, horrified while the generals' faces were impassive.
"Prospero, Miranda, leave at once!" Zoisite demanded of the two. They obliged and mounted on their horses.
"Do not be alarmed, we have no use of them." The man said, amused.
Then the female turned her eyes on them and smiled evilly.
"So, Yoningumi… we meet again."
"Midori no Esmeraude… Ao no Safiiru… I should have known it was you who were behind all this." Kunzite snarled.
"Alas, Kunzite, have you not missed me?" Esmeraude smiled flirtatiously at the enraged general.
"Why is Kunzite so angry with that woman?" Endymion whispered to Jadeite, who eyed the reddened Kunzite with akin to amusement.
"It seems Esmeraude has developed some kind of… infatuation with our leader." Jadeite answered.
"Ah…"
"Esmeraude! Stop it! You should remember we're here on a mission." Safiiru gritted his teeth.
"Gentlemen, we're here to give you a deal. Tell us where the gems are and we won't kill you." He continued.
"Kill us? I would like to see you try Safiiru. You do nothing but bluff." Nephrite smirked.
Safiiru crossed his arms over his chest and grunted. "As much as I would like to take you up on your offer Nephrite, I cannot kill you yet until we have the celestial gems. After all, Prince Demando seemed to think you men are the key on retrieving the gems." He mocked.
"Pity." Nephrite drawled, his eyes narrowed.
Esmeraude, who was still looking at Kunzite, was about to turn away when she became aware of Endymion.
"Well, well… the prince of Earth… what a handsome young man." She said and walked towards the prince.
Zoisite rolled his eyes at the woman who ignored him. Jadeite smirked.
"So, Prince Endymion, I'm pleased to make your acquaintance." She said, extending her hand towards Endymion's armoured chest.
"Fortunately I cannot say the same thing about you. You might be beautiful on the outside but I can see right through you. Inside, you are like a bat who only comes out at the hours of darkness to conceal your hideous face." Endymion drawled.
Esmeraude reddened in fury and clawed Endymion on the face. Endymion wiped the blood on his mouth with the back of his hand.
"How dare you!! No one insults Midori no Esmeraude and get away with it! No one!" She screeched.
She disappeared and reappeared a second later a few feet on to the air, and stood glaring violently at the prince.
"Esmeraude! What are you doing?" Safiiru called to her before reappearing at her side.
Esmeraude shrieked in fury. "Kiraru. Akiraru. Buuru Burazaazu. Come forth!"
Twin male emerged before them. One had dark skin, one was lighter, and both had long platinum hair. They, too, had upturned black moon symbols on their foreheads.
"Obliterate them! Particularly that impudent of a prince! Make him suffer!" Esmeraude ordered before disappearing.
"Esmeraude! Baka! That was not the order!!!" Safiiru growled infuriatingly before disappearing as well.
"What did you lead us into, Endymion?" Jadeite muttered.
Kiraru and Akiraru split themselves into two.
"Damn. Now there are four of them. Jadeite you stay with the prince. Zoisite, Nephrite, come with me." Kunzite ordered.
"I can fight. Bear it in mind that you've trained me well enough." Endymion said brusquely.
"Yes, but it is dangerous Endymion. We've battled creatures like them before whereas you--" He was cut off and landed with an 'oof' on the ground when one of Kiraru's double blasted him on his back.
Endymion evaded the other blast meant for him with his sword and swiftly sliced the enemy. He crumbled instantly. Endymion ambled towards Jadeite who was still on the ground, regaining his breath.
"I told you, I could fight." He said arrogantly and extended his hand to help Jadeite. The other man's eyes widened and suddenly drag the prince on the ground when another negative blast energy came their way.
The other double that Endymion killed before reappeared again.
"What in the damnation? They can't be killed. They keep coming back." Jadeite said and stood up.
Nephrite shot his mace on his enemy's chest and he, too, disintegrated but then reappeared almost as quickly, sending a blast headed for Nephrite who was thrown off towards Zoisite who was levitated a few inches on the air. Both of them stumbled towards the earth.
Kiraru and Akiraru laughed evilly and split themselves again into two. Now there were six of them and three were grappling opposite Kunzite.
Kunzite was able to elude every negative energy that propelled his direction from reading Akiraru's and his double's minds.
"Kunzite! Look out!" Jadeite shouted and attacked Akiraru's other clone behind Kunzite telekinetically.
Endymion was fighting off Kiraru's double when Kiraru himself emerged after the oblivious prince.
"Hello, prince. Mistress Esmeraude sent this for you." He cackled and before Endymion could raise his sword to defend himself, Kiraru sent off a very large negative energy and the prince was sent sprawling several feet away, unconscious.
"Endymion!" Kunzite cried out and sliced Kiraru's other double.
"Prince!" Zoisite also bellowed and went to check on the prince.
"It's all right! He's only unconscious!" Zoisite shouted, breathing a sigh of relief.
"Stay with him!" Nephrite shouted back, destroying Akiraru's double. Jadeite shot three arrows destroying the rest of the doubles.
Kiraru and Akiraru prepared to split themselves again when a sword came flying out of nowhere and embedded itself to Kiraru's forehead, on his black moon symbol.
Kiraru screamed and he swiftly turned to cinders. What was only left of him was a dark jewel with a black moon insignia on the centre.
Akiraru shouted in anguish for his twin brother. "You'll pay for that humans!" He raged and attacked Nephrite who was nearer to him.
Nephrite went sprawling for the second time. Jadeite tried to hold off Akiraru but he disappeared and reappeared in front of him and blasted him, leaving him unconscious as well.
Akiraru directed his attention to the still unconscious prince and Zoisite but a whirl of wind tackled him to the ground.
He sent one last blast before he, too, crumbled, with same sword imbedded on his forehead. He, as well, turned to ashes and the dark jewel was the only thing that left of him.
The rest of them looked on to their rescuer.
The figure before them was fairly tall, with short blond hair; green eyes sparkled with triumph and wore a tattered garment.
Kunzite approached the person and extended his hand. "I thank you, brave warrior, for saving our lives."
She took the offered hand. "It was of no trouble."
When the wind blew her mane, it was then that they became aware of the sign of Uranus gleaming on her forehead.
"Look, he had the sign." Jadeite pointed out unnecessarily, who by now regained from the blow he received.
Zoisite assisted Endymion who also recovered, to sit up and together they advanced the warrior in question.
The female warrior was taken aback when they addressed her as a 'he' but didn't rectify them.
"What is your name, gallant warrior?" Nephrite asked.
"Ten'ou Haruka." She responded.
"I am Kunzite, this is Nephrite, that short blond warrior over there is Jadeite and this is Zoisite." Kunzite bowed, still watching the warrior.
"And I am Endymion, prince of Earth." Endymion said.
Haruka did not comment, merely looking at them with narrowed eyes.
"Tell me, Haruka, do you have the Taakoizu?" Zoisite asked, brusquely.
She frowned, not comprehending what he meant. "What is that?"
The men looked at each other in confusion and disbelief. Then Jadeite stepped towards Haruka and rubbed her glowing forehead.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!" Haruka growled and stepped back.
"It is real." Jadeite confirmed the men.
"What is? What are you talking about?" She demanded.
"The sign on your forehead." Nephrite said exasperatingly.
"What sign?" Haruka scowled.
Zoisite frowned and glared at the warrior. "Are you trying to tell us that you don't know you have a glowing sign of Uranus on your forehead?"
"What!" Haruka demanded and raised her hand towards her forehead. When she thought she didn't feel anything she lowered her hand and glared at them.
Then, to their astonishment, the men saw the sign disappeared.
"What the--? It vanished." Endymion murmured.
"Perchance it was only your imagination. I assure you I do not go prancing around with a sign on my forehead." She mocked.
Kunzite's eyes narrowed and extended his sword and pointed them at Haruka's throat. "All right who are you? Are you one of Esmeraude's minions?"
Haruka arched a brow. "If I am, would I have helped you?" She said calmly.
"Perhaps it was a trick to get us to trust you and then strike us when you get the chance." He exclaimed.
"Surely you are far too experienced and clever to fall for that kind of trick?" Haruka said cunningly.
Kunzite assessed her and slowly lowered his weapon. "Fine. Then answer our question. How did you get the sign on your forehead?"
Haruka raked her hand on her hair in exasperation. "I told you. I don not know. I am not even convinced I have a sign on my forehead." She said, eyeing them all. "When I saw you I had this feeling that you are linked to me in by some means. And no I cannot explain that to you for I do not even know it myself."
"So you are telling us you do not know where the Taakoizu is?" Endymion asked.
"I do not even know what that is."
"Are you positive?" Zoisite demanded.
"Yes." Haruka hissed, looking at him.
"Then what does my vision mean?" Nephrite muttered to himself.
"You have the gift of sight?" Haruka asked, a little surprised.
He nodded in answer.
"Look, let's discuss this in another place. I do not want to face Esmeraude and Safiiru once they decide to come back again. Besides, it is getting late. We should be heading back towards the Miranda Castle." Jadeite explained to them, eyeing the darken clouds.
"You, come with us. We want to keep an eye on you." Zoisite told Haruka.
"It may interest you to know that I do not take orders from anyone. I go where I decide to go." Haruka drawled and crossed her arms over her chest.
Zoisite eyed the blonde warrior. "Is that a challenge I hear in your voice warrior?"
"And here I was thinking you were clever." Haruka taunted.
Zoisite was about to advance when he felt Endymion's hand on his shoulder.
"Enough!" Endymion said to Zoisite and turned his attention towards Haruka. "Forgive us for our rude behaviour noble warrior, but we may need your further assistance on looking for the Taakoizu. If you would kindly help us then I am forever in your debt." He pleaded.
Haruka glared once more to Zoisite. "Fine. I will help you find this Taakoizu you speak of, but let me assure you that I don't take kindly from orders. I will do my way and you do yours. Is that clear?"
Kunzite nodded. "Clear enough. Now let's go before the darkness claims us."
-- The story is Copyrighted © by dloveheart 2002 --
(some characters excluded)