Disclaimer: I own nothing and never will.
Warnings: AU, bad language (not much:), Shounen-Ai, YAOI, YURI, Violence.
Pairings: Kun/Zoi, Nef/Djed, Neptune/Uranus, Endimion/Serenity, Pluto/OC.
A/N: Hello to everybody! Sorry it took me so long to update. After all, I'm evil, am I not?
Special thanks to: Jjinks (Thanks:), meguin (Thank you, I'll try, I did proofread them, unfortunately, I seem to notice mistakes only after posting and, besides, my Word is killing me, so I had to rely only on myself:), Dark-Kingdoms (I can die now, because I got the review from the author of "Onnagata"(Sorry, couldn't resist saying:) I know my grammar sucks sometimes. I was thinking of getting a beta myself. Though, I doubt I'll find one, I'll try).
Chapter 4
She felt like the walls, surrounding her, were the fence of a cemetry. She sat on her large bed and, finally, allowed her body to tremble. She was always strong, but now... she felt like her hot-tempered character had been drained away. And only shell of what she had once been was left. A shell with bright appearance and a name of Mars.
Last days were a real hell. Loneliness weighed heavily on her, crashing all the strength and calmness which she managed to gain during her life.
Her best friend was somewhere noone knew, most probably, in great danger. She and Serenity had come a long way to become friends, and even the difference of their ages - four years - didn't impede their friendship. True, many problems still stayed, especially with Serenity being always naive and silly, but these problems and their little quarrels were nothing in comparison with the feeling of a family, which their friendship caused. Deep in her heart Mars always thought about Serenity being her little sister, who, one day, would mature and become the greatest lunar queen of all the times.
Mars was also worried about Serenity's brother, with whom she used to have evening talks, which amused her greatly. At first they would talk calmly, then they both would argue and, finally, Mercury would come and create a living water shield out of herself, so that Mars or the lunar prince wouldn't burn each other and the castle. Young prince was promised to become the most powerful magician of the Moonlight kingdom.
Mars even pondered for a minute what kind of king Serenity's brother could have become, in case the men of the lunar family succeeded to the throne. But then shrugged the thought off. She was an inner, and her first and main duty was to protect Serenity. The young princess had to be saved by all means. Mars was ready to fight for Serenity to the death. Her choice between the two would, undoubtedly, lie on Serenity, no matter how unmerciful it would seem.
What was worrying Mars the most was that Queen Serena became, somewhat, disheartened. Mars wasn't tacken aback by Olvin's idleness, the king had always been miserable. What made the strong woman like Serena fall for such a man - Mars still couldn't understand.
More to say, Serena obviously avoided her own warriors. It seemed like she didn't care about her children at all, ordering everybody not to leave the Moon. Except for Neptune's departure, she didn't make any attempts to start searching for her daughter and son. And even the exception was questionable, because Neptune was an outer. And an outer's duties were to guard the kingdom's borders and nothing else.
Mars sighed and leaned back on the pillows.
If only my problems ended there...
Several weeks ago her loved one disappeared. The young man, who stole her heart, had been her friend for ages. Though, he was born on Earth, he studied here, in one of the moon academies of magic. When they were children they always used to play together. What had started with strong friendship, turned out to be the strongest feeling in the world. At least, from Mars's part. And that was the thing, depressing her greatly.
He said he had business to do and left for Earth... He didn't return when the time had come...
Mars clenched her fists.
I'm not going to sit here... Queen Serena may go to hell!
Mars jumped up from the bed and rushed out of her room. She had to find Uranus, the sooner the better.
IIII
Lady Griffon, the acknowledged by law lady of the North lands, stood near window, looking at the falling snowflakes with her blue tired eyes. Lands of her husband stretched in front of the castle, which became her home many years ago. The white valley, reflecting in her eyes, seemed too cold and forbidding to live on its territory. But she got used to living here. To tell the truth, lately she had to give in with many changes.
Her life had never been easy. She couldn't marry the one she loved, because at those times he was poor. And then her parents engaged her with the one she didn't love. The lord of the North, Lord Kuntan. Lord Kuntan did love, unfortunately for both, not her. Later, Lady Griffon found out who had managed to capture his heart. Now dead Queen Victoria, no less. He got married only to hide this fact, hovering in the court gossips, the gossips saying that Queen Victoria accepted his love.
However, Lady Griffon and Lord Kuntan, despite many obstacles, did manage to create some kind of a family. A family, based on respect and understanding. The birth of their son only strengthened their union. That was until something changed...
Something that neither her son, nor she knew. Kuntan became more secretive, his absences became more frequent. At first, Lady Griffon thought it was because of Victoria's death. The reality was much more cruel. Nothing was left from the man of honour her husband had once been.
And the knowledge of the truth almost killed her son.
Gods, Griffon, why do you always soften the words? It was your husband, who wanted to kill his own son...
Lady Griffon missed her child greatly, but she knew that something must be done to prevent the Earth Kingdom from vanishing. Someone had to become the head of the resistance. Adrian was too blind to notice the plot, Endimion - too busy.
Lady Griffon came up to the large mirror, situated in the dark corner of the room and covered with green fabric. She teared the fabric away and called for her daughter. Lady Griffon wasn't a magician, but as well as every woman, she had her own little secrets too.
Some of her secrets weren't so innocent as this mirror, carefuly hidden from Kuntan.
In truth, Lady Griffon had two children.
A son and a daughter.
IIII
Lady Naru looked at King Adrian, sitting on a large throne and talking with his son. Endimion stood near his father, leaning slightly forward, so as not to miss any words. The reception hall was full of people - laughing, talking and creating a terrible uproar.
Lady Naru sighed. The only reason she stayed there every week, when all nobility was gathering for reporting and other political matters, was King Adrian. Lady Naru, the lady of the East, whose husband died long ago during a war, loved Adrian, had been loving for several years now. She thought that with Victoria's death, she would have at least a small choice of capturing his heart.
She was wrong. Adrian continued loving Victoria even after her death. Thus, Lady Naru decided to distract herself somehow. She could have devoted her time to her son. The problem was that her son left their home several years ago. Lady Naru knew that he was alive and safe, for he had sent her a few letters.
The reason why he had gone was unknown to the lonely mother.
Suddenly, a young man rushed into the hall. His long straight bloody red hair, falling on his back, framed the sharp and stubborn chin and hid the excitement, sparkling in his silver eyes. He was tall and neat, and somehow wore the atmosphere of madness, spreading like the odor of a pungent perfume.
Lady Naru snorted, recognizing Mint. Mint was some kind of a messenger throughout the royal castle. People got used to say that Mint was always somewhere and, at the same time, nowhere. Noone knew how he had appeared in the castle, noone even knew anything about him, except for his name. How he had managed to win over the whole nobility was a mystery too.
- Your Majesty, an urgent message from Lady Beryl!
King Adrian leaped onto his feet.
- Speak!
Mint's trembling voice crashed the silence, caused by his sudden apperance.
- Hordes of gnolls have just attacked west borders of Lady Beryl's lands! She asks for help, my King!
Adrian called for his generals and stormed out of the hall, Endimion trying not to lag behind him.
Lady Naru sighed and turned to go, pondering about news.
Soon the hall emptied, leaving only Mint, standing in the shadows.
Noone saw how he chuckled and fell on the throne with a wineglass in his hands, obviously enjoying himself.
Finally, it's my time to enter the game... I have been waiting for far too long...