***
Serenity shook her head sadly. "I can't believe it," she said. "Why...what happened?"
"I've no idea!" Rei exclaimed. "He just spontaneously...combusted. I tried to near him, but he waved me back. 'A soul for a soul', he whispered. I don't know what he meant by that...perhaps he thought that by my soul awakening, his had to be sacrificed."
"And this gave you control over fire?"
"I didn't listen to him, and approached him," Rei continued. "When I touched him, my hands did not catch on fire! I held him until he died, crumpled to the ground..." Tears were running down her cheeks now. She batted at them with lithe fingers.
"The sheep are nearly naked," she said, with a
little giggle.
Serenity turned to the sheep. There was
golden fleece caught all over the brambles, and they did seem to be moving more
sluggishly, a bit colder than they normally were.
Taking a prayerful stance again, Rei briefly closed her eyes and emitted another blast of fire a condsiderable distance from the bramble bushes. It took a little while for the sheep to notice the tongue of fire, but once they did, they bleated and herded towards the fire.
"When they all leave, you can collect the fleece," Rei said. "The fire will burn out on its own."
Serenity's own eyes welled with tears. "Thank you so much," she said.
"I should leave before Queen Beryl returns and perceives what occurred." Rei stood and arranged her skirts, then flashed a dazzling smile at Queen Serenity. "It was very nice talking to you, Queen Serenity. I hope you succeed in your journey."
"And you in yours," Serenity said, rising and throwing her arms around Rei. Once again, a strong warmth overtook her...
"Thank you. I would never have accomplished anything without your assistance."
Rei hugged her back while waving her off at the same time. "No matter!" she exclaimed. "I was only happy to do a service for the famed princess of the moon!"
"Only Serenity to you, my dear friend," Serenity replied.
*****
"Don't touch me! I am not here for your unholy wishes!"
A clanging noise rang out and Pallas scuttled from the room she had been attending to Beryl's own servants in, followed closely by the servant himself. Lifting her hands, Pallas shot a steady stream of strong blue magic towards the servant, knocking him over.
"What is going on?"
Pallas and the servant both turned to face the king. As weary as he was, he had a stately, commanding air about him that made both of them stand up straighter.
"This maid of yours does not serve me well."
Endymion glared at the man. Pallas opened her mouth, but Endymion shook his head.
"I shall send you another one, then."
"No...I like..."
"Fool!" A fit of rage overtook the king, and he stormed towards the man. "You say she does not serve you well, and yet you like? You like what? I shall not have you trying to impose yourself on my staff! Get yourself on – I shall send you another maid, or you can wait on yourself!"
The manservant glared at King Endymion, then slunk off into his quarters, defeated.
Endymion sighed heavily. Pallas ran to throw her arms around him.
"Thank you, my king," she sobbed softly. "He was trying to..."
"I know," Endymion said, patting the young girl's head. "The Erebese have been under the rule of Beryl for a long time, and, like her, they believe that they can do anything to anyone they please."
Pallas looked up at Endymion. "Maybe they can, King Endymion-sama," she said.
The young king shook his head vehemently. "No," he said. "They can't. No one can abuse anyone at their whim. And we shall make sure of that."
He clenched a fist, squeezing tightly until he felt pain in his hand. Punishment for what he allowed himself to fall into – for what he brought his kingdom's subjects into. "We cannot allow them to abuse people forever. We must defeat them."
*****
Beryl looked from the pile of golden fleece before her to the de-wooled sheep frolicking quite a ways away, then back again, a puzzled expression on her face. In fury, she threw her hands in the air.
"Someone helped you!" she exclaimed. "Never did you do this by yourself!"
Serenity looked at the floor, not wanting to concur with Beryl's words.
In frustration, Beryl shook her head, throwing her lovely auburn tresses into a whirlwind around her head.
"May I see my husband now?" Serenity asked meekly, not allowing herself to hope too much.
"No," Beryl said. "Never did you do this by yourself. However, I will give you an opportunity to prove that you really have the stout heart and singular prudence you make such a show of. Tomorrow I shall give you another task. Good night." A flash of crackling black lightning, and she was gone from Serenity's sight.
Serenity stared at the place where Beryl had been, then reached into a fold in her dress. There she has stored a bit of the meat Rei had left her. She must be strong; her weakness had destroyed her relationship with her husband and chased him away. This time she would stand strong, and she would prevail.
*****
As Queen Beryl stomped into the war room of the palace, the four generals that had been reclining at the ornate table stood in salute. General Zoisite rolled his eyes, but was promptly elbowed by General Kunzite.
"Men!" Beryl bellowed, although the men were already at attention. She looked suspiciously around. "Where is Endymion?"
"In his...your...quarters, my queen."
"Fetch him."
Generals Nephrite and Kunzite nodded and left the room. They returned ten minutes later with a weakly struggling King Endymion, who still looked worse for the wear. His infection was not being properly tended to – Helios stole minutes when he could, but Beryl aimed to keep him sick and weak.
"We're declaring war on the independent kingdoms of the Earth."
Endymion's eyes widened. "What?!"
"You heard me, your highness." Beryl smiled. "I've already signed the commission into law. Of course, I cannot speak for Elysian. But I've already sent a force to Babylon. They're small and will cave easily."
Endymion turned his eyes to Nephrite. Babylon was the general's city of origin. The young king studied his former general for signs of disturbance.
Ah! His eyes flickered, and he opened his mouth, but closed it almost instantly and shook his head.
Endymion also realized that he was not alone in his study. Zoisite, Kunzite, and Jadeite had all shifted their eyes to face the general. There was sympathy in each of their eyes – some more than others, but all of them shared the emotion.
They did remember. There was some semblance of their former lives in their minds. If only he could bring it to the fore!
Beryl nodded slightly to the four generals and looked towards the door. "I'm leaving to ready myself for dinner," she said awkwardly. She strode towards the door and departed, leaving the five men to their own devices.
They stood in silence for a while, each left to their own thoughts. Then Endymion raised his head.
"Why?" he asked quietly.
Nephrite turned to Endymion. "Why what?"
"Why...did you leave? I thought you died..." He surveyed the four. "I received reports that all of you died on your leave...in various ways. Drowning...a house fire..." He looked at Nephrite and Kunzite. "Suicide..." Were they falsified reports?"
The generals looked away – all but Kunzite. He turned his sharp grey stare to the king.
"Beryl has the power of Hades with her," he replied simply. "She has powers beyond your comprehension. We are dead. Our souls belong to her."
"But you're alive," Endymion protested.
"No, King Endymion," Zoisite said, shaking his head. "We are dead."