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Chapter 8 - Bad News and Good News

Endymion paced the length of the small cell he had been assigned. Due to the fact that any prisoner's stay was temporary, there was no attempts at making it comfortable in any way. He vowed to himself that when he was released, that would change.

Stopping at the back wall, he slammed his fist into the stones and cursed himself for a fool. Beryl had well and truly gotten him. He couldn't see any way out of it and wondered why Jadeite, who could tell the truth of it, hadn't already done so. He was unaware of his General's disappearance, and felt hurt that his loyalty had been so sorely lacking.

Gradually he became tired of the constant pacing and, with his back to the wall, sank down to the floor and rested his head on his drawn-up knees. He thought about Serenity and what she'd told him, as well as what little he'd learned from his mother before he'd made his foolish attempt to speak to Beryl. It didn't make sense to him, yet it did. His head was reeling with the possibilities.

Another thing he would change once he became King, Endymion reflected, was the isolation of Earth from the other planets. He had been completely unaware of their existence and it was wrong, he felt. Earth needed contact with the other planets, and they needed Earth. That settled, he decided to just wait it out. He knew he was innocent; he also knew that his family were working to free him. Endymion just wished they'd hurry up about it.

Suddenly he heard footsteps coming down the narrow, badly lit corridor. He looked up curiously as he knew that prisoners received no visits from anyone. A cloaked figure stood at the door, silently measuring him. The lone guard opened the door without a word and ushered the guest into the cell, locking the door behind him as he exited the cell.

Endymion rose quickly, knowing that if he were attacked, the worst position to be in was sitting on the floor. He waited for the unknown visitor to speak. He or she seemed to be waiting for him to say something, so he decided to wait him/her out.

Finally, the person spoke. It was not someone he expected, and he gave a small start. The figure lowered the cowl on the cloak and stepped forward, embracing the young prince.

"Prison seems to have knocked some sense into you Endymion," Kunzite teased as he hugged the young man in welcome.

"Kunzite! What are you doing here? Why all the secrecy? What's going on?" Endymion was babbling with shock and surprise.

Kunzite stepped back and looked away for a moment, clearly not relishing the role he was thrust into as messenger of bad news. He searched for a way to tell his liege the current situation in such a way that wouldn't upset or alarm him but couldn't find it, so he just came out with it.

"My Prince, I regret to bring you this news, but Jadeite has disappeared, almost at the same time as Beryl made her accusations about your conduct. We have people out searching but so far we've had no luck. That won't stop us though, we will search until we have found him..." he trailed off at the look on the young man's face.

Endymion looked away. Now that he knew why Jadeite hadn't come and corrected the story, he was even more alarmed. It appeared that this was something bigger than even he had dreamt. He thought that Beryl was just using him for her own purposes but this was beyond that. He could see that there was something else, so he looked enquiringly at Kunzite to continue.

Kunzite steeled himself. "Your father has taken several of his guards and part of the army to the area of the Royal Forest where you found Lady Serenity. It seems that the bandits there have become bolder than ever, torching the villages and taking off with anything and anyone they like, seemingly with impunity. We've also heard of the disappearance of the warden of that area, as well as the local governor. Something is going on Endymion and it's bigger than anything we've seen before. It may be safer for you to be here right now, but of course, we are still working to get you released and the charges seen for what they are, a blatant attempt by Beryl to discredit you."

Endymion gaped at him in shock. This was NOT what he'd expected at all. He'd taken the bandit attack for a one-off, and now it was growing into the beginnings of anarchy.

"I need to be there, I need to help my father," he tried to push past Kunzite, but was rebuffed.

"Did you not hear what I said, Endymion?" Kunzite asked, almost angrily. "It's safer for you here!"

Endymion punched the stone wall again, wincing in pain as his abused knuckles stung with pain. "I can't just sit here and do nothing, Kunzite. I may not have a kingdom to go back to if this escalates," he insisted.

Kunzite turned back to the door and as if conjured, the guard reappeared. He unlocked the door and allowed Kunzite to exit, before slamming it shut again and locking it. Kunzite turned back to Endymion.

"Rest assured, I will get to the bottom of this mess, find Jadeite and work out who is behind this latest incursion. We will not let anything happen to you, your family or your people. Don't worry about that, at least. Now try and get some rest and think about anything you may have seen or heard recently that could help us," and with that he was gone, replacing the cowl and leaving the prison, his footsteps echoing on the walls.

Endymion sat back down in his previous position again, fuming impotently. This latest news from Kunzite was definitely not what he'd expected, nor was the news welcome. At least he now knew that Jadeite was potentially still loyal to him and that news gave him comfort. He knew that if anyone could find the missing general, Kunzite could.

Serenity awoke, feeling a faint sense of foreboding. She was still very concerned about Endymion and wanted to help but couldn't think of what she could accomplish from her home on the moon. She vaguely thought of avoiding the senshi and her mother but as she rose from her soft bed, she heard the hushed voices of Mars and Mercury outside her door. A look out her window showed her the seated Jupiter and Venus, deep in conversation.

She sighed. Her eyes fell on the viewscreens placed discreetly along the outside perimeter of the palace, and she smiled. She finally had a plan.

Dressing quickly and quietly, she went to the far wall of her room, pushing back the draping curtain and pressed the palm of one of the cherubim carved into the wooden panelling. A door slid soundlessly open and she slipped through as the door closed behind her.

She went through the narrow passage way to her mother's dressing room, and after ascertaining that her mother wasn't there, went out the door as if she'd just stepped in to talk to her mother, waving to the guards there with a smile. Serenity looked around for anyone looking her way. So far, so good. Everyone seemed to be at their normal duties this morning.

Serenity left the palace and went to her usual, isolated viewscreen and turned it on. Giving it the verbal command to search for the General Jadeite, she waited. After what seemed an eternity, it came up with a view of a bound and gagged Jadeite, being held in what looked like a small one-room shack. She pursed her lips. She was unfamiliar with Earth and was frustrated. She gave it another command and watched as it showed her something she didn't expect to see. Men in the King's livery were fighting close to where Jadeite was, but obviously couldn't tell he was there, as he was unable to make himself heard. She needed to tell someone, but who?

After giving it a little bit of thought, she decided to ask her mother for permission to go back to Earth and talk to Endymion's Generals. They would be the ones who could find and rescue Jadeite. She ran back into the palace and through the corridors to her mother's office, where she knew her mother would be working, even this early in the day. Getting past the guards, she opened the door and entered the room, to find her mother reading one of the many papers on her desk.

She sat on a nearby chair and waited for her mother to acknowledge her. Queen Serenity studied her daughter over the mass of papers on her desk. She seemed to be agitated, but was trying hard not to show it. Maybe there was hope for the girl yet, she mused. Clearing her throat, she finished sifting through the paperwork.

"What's the matter, Serenity? I can tell there's something bothering you. Does it have something to do with Prince Endymion?" she asked, startling her daughter.

Serenity started, then looked earnestly at her mother. "Please Mother, I have to go down there. Endymion is in trouble and I know how to help him now, but it's urgent. I may be able to save two men's lives, one of them Endymion's, but only if I go now. Please, may I go to Earth and help them. I can't think of any other way..." she faltered at the non-committal look on her mother's face.

Queen Serenity looked calmly at her daughter, giving no hint as to her true feelings.

Serenity tried to remain calm, but it was hard in the face of her mother's scrutiny. Looking down at her hands, she forced herself to remain quiet, well aware that any out-burst could cost her the chance to save both Endymion and Jadeite.

Apparently Queen Serenity was satisfied with what she saw, as she relaxed and smiled. "Of course you may go to save the Earth prince and his General. However...," she held up a hand as her daughter opened her mouth to speak. "However, you must be well aware that things are going on that we don't quite understand yet. There is also the small fact of your leaving without permission, not to mention going to Earth, which is forbidden." She looked sternly at the young woman seated in front of her.

"I'm afraid I can't let you go on your own. It's too risky. You're all I have, Serenity, I don't want to lose you. It would be the end of everything if anything happened to you," she looked almost sadly at Serenity. "I hope I don't need to impress upon you the seriousness of things. Your senshi will accompany you. I'm afraid I can't spare the older girls, nor the Saturn princess, who is obviously still far too young, but you will have more than enough help in Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury...," she was unprepared for Serenity's reaction as she leapt out of her chair and hugged her mother enthusiastically.

"Oh thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried as her mother struggled to free herself. She looked sheepishly at her mother as she let go and sat back down. "Sorry Mother, I don't know what came over me," she apologised.

Queen Serenity smiled again. "I was young and in love once too, you know," she grinned conspiratorially at the young girl who looked shocked. "I can see how it is between you and Prince Endymion, and while I am not happy about it, nothing is gained by forbidding you to see each other. I trust you to be discreet and tactful and I hope you don't disappoint me," she said as Serenity nodded soberly.

"I won't let you down, Mother. You can trust me. I won't do anything foolish. I've learned that much from all this," she said ruefully. She rose to go. "I suppose I should tell the others and get ready to go properly. Thank you for understanding, Mother. I hope I am in time to save Jadeite and Endymion."

Her mother smiled and nodded. "Good luck, dearest. I will speak to Her Majesty the Earth Queen and make the necessary diplomatic arrangements for you, although I believe it would be best if you kept a low profile while you're there. I know she understands that as well. May the Gods go with you and keep you safe."

The two women hugged and Serenity left shortly after to make preparations to leave for the Earth as her mother began to talk to the Earth Queen.

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