Chapter Eight – By Chibi Maylan

Helios bolted for the ballroom, as he made his way through the dance floor and up to the stage, where his father, Queen & King were sitting and chatting amongst themselves, until they stopped to see Helios puff out:

"Rini – unconscious – Beryl" he huffed. Damon raised an eyebrow, he stood up. "What is it, son? Rini wants some berries, was it?" Damon asked. Helios shook his head, and breathed in, gaining back a steady pulse. "Princess Rini is unconscious – Beryl's been here." He shouted, as the music went to a halt. The dancers stared up at the young prince, and many began to murmur. King Endymion stood up. "You have heard the Prince! All must stay in the ballroom and not leave until I return, our finest guards must be called upon!" the King ordered, as Helios guided Rini's father to her room.

Princess Rini layed on her bed, her eyes were shut by Lady Saturn, as they began to 'scare' her. Neptune and Pluto cried in a corner as everyone else crowded by the Princess' bedside.

"What are we to do? We can't use our magic, and the Queen probably can't counter the spell either." Cried Neptune.

Suddenly, the castle began to shake, as everyone in the room lost their balance and fell to the ground. Rini's bed rose high and thick vines had grown from beneath, the ceiling crumbled and caused the ceiling to cascade onto the King and the Ladies. Helios flung himself away in time, as a chunk of stone came crashing down. Helios gazed up to see Rini's bed still rise with the vines.

A rather large cackle was heard, as the balcony window sprung open by force, and in came Beryl.

"Merciful fools, trying to hide the dear Princess for the past years. Now, they have been buried under the rubble of their own castle! Alas, I shall take over the good for nothing castle and reign as Queen of all the region!" she cackled.

Helios ripped his magical badge away, and let his curse appear; he formed into a magnificent Pegasus, and charged at Beryl, who had not seen him in the far corner of the bedroom. She turned to see him charge straight for him, when she held a single hand at him, flinging him to the door. "You fool, you cannot harm me. I am, of course, Queen Beryl!" she shrieked. The earth beneath Helios shattered and rumbled, as the vines that entangled the bed had risen higher, along with Queen Beryl. Queen Beryl gave Helios a smirk, and air-kissed in her direction, before disappearing with Princess Rini and her four-post bed. Helios growled, as he turned to see the Ladies, their hair tangled and messy as the lifted themselves out of the rubbled mess that caved them in. King Endymion was brushing off his shoulders.

"Helios, where is she?" King Endymion called out, unable to reach the young prince, as the large crack had split the room in two. Helios gave a snort, unable to speak until he called find his magical badge, which he had clumsily thrown from his human-form chest.


"That evil witch!!" screamed Lady Jupiter, slamming a fist on the marble table.

Helios, finally finding his magical badge, stepped into the room in his human form. All the ladies' teary-eyes gazed upon the young Prince, as he walked to the far empty seat in silence. Serenity stood up, "Helios... I beg your pardon, but my guardians and I are –"Helios simply raised his hand, and took the seat.

"I want to help bring the Princess back, your majesty." He replied, with a quick habit of ruffling his hair. "I was there when Beryl came, and I will be there for the rescue of the young Princess Rini." He stated. Serenity smiled, clearing her tearful eyes. "Thank you, Prince Helios... Please everyone, attention to Jupiter.." Serenity called out, as Jupiter stood up.

Jupiter cleared her throat, grabbed her Jupiter pen and held it in front of her. "Rini must be rescued. And I suggest that my team shall be first to attempt her rescue. We shall leave tonight, as honorary sailor scouts, to help fight for justice against that evil... witch" Jupiter said, knocking on the table to emphasize her words.

"I shall accompany your team" Helios called out, his sword readily by his side.

Serenity took thought, then nodded in agreement. "I entrust you, my dearest friends, will come back in triumph. My Inner Senshi, come forth and rescue my daughter safely." Serenity said softly, as she sniffled in her tissues.

Everyone gave a respectful bow, as the Queen retired to her room, much in despair of the nights' dramatic period. Lady Neptune, Saturn, Uranus & Pluto stood up, all nodding to what Saturn whispered.

"We place our faith in your rescue, we shall stay and try to guard the Kingdom as it is..." Lady Neptune stated, her aquamarine eyes stared into Prince Helios' eyes, exploring his expression. "Young Prince, take care!" she added, before they had exited.


Queen Beryl walked around the sleeping Princess Rini; she had advised Malachite to transport her to the highest place in her castle, away from her idiotic goons. "Place her in one of the dark crystals, if they thought I'd be treating her like royalty; they where utterly wrong!!" she cackled, watching Princess Rini float in front of her, before Malachite and herself apparated to the highest tower room.

Malachite placed the young Princess onto the four-post bed once again, the vines had crawled over the honey-sweet oak post bed frame, it's thorns struck out dangerously, prickling Malachite's shoulders when he leaned forward and placed the dark crystal into the small fragile hands of Rini.

Beryl gave another evil cackle, watching the crystal dissolve into Rini's body.
Malachite pushed the blankets over the Princess, smirked and murmured. "Good eternal sleep, Princess Brat."

Queen Beryl wiped her tears, "Oh! This can't be true! I have got the Princess, heir to the throne of that god forsaken Kingdom in my clutches, and yet, I'm absorbing her as we speak. In just days, I'll be a clone of her, Malachite! Then, I shall behead the royal pain-in-the-ass King and Queen, and claim the crown, as a fake Rini!" She smiled, as Malachite kissed her hand.

"Why, my Queen. What a lovely plot you have created. I shall check on the clone crystal within the next hour." He said, taking a bow and dissolved himself from the tower. Beryl beamed, unable to control her happiness of her mission. She twirled her coral hair between her pale white fingers, as she pranced around the small room.


"Helios, are you sure about this?" King Damon tapped his shoulder, as the two men walked down the staircase, where the Ladies had transformed into their Sailor Scout form, awaiting the young prince. "More than I'd ever be, father. That daughter is the young maiden I had met upon the forest. The same girl that had trapped my thoughts and dreams. I must rescue her, father, I must."

King Damon watched, as his only son took hold of his sword and ran towards the Inner senshi, before they disappeared into the sky....


To Be Continued...