Greetings, everyone! It has been a while since I last posted, and I am
very, very sorry for that. My expectation of having a carefree,
lacksadasical summer was squashed by gainful employment, which, on a daily
basis, sucks the lifeforce from me, creative or otherwise. sorry! That
being said, I'll get down to business:
Disclaimer, disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. (insert witty comment here about wishing to own Tuxedo Mask)
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In chapter 12 (which was the last chapter posted before this one, which, now that I think about it, is pretty obvious, considering this chapter is number 13...boy, my ability to note the obvious is mind-blowing, is it not? ), Serenity arrived on the Earth and bumped into a certain handsome fellow, who just happened to be Prince Endymion. They don't know who they really are quite yet, as each of them are travelling "incognito."
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Chapter 13: Threat in the Moonlight
Endymion lifted the round iron knocker on the front door of the inn. He paused before allowing the metal to fall. He twisted his head to look at the small girl standing next to him. A smile twisted the corner of his mouth as he observed her fidget with the frayed edge of her red cloak. The prince frowned suddenly and cleared his throat.
"Remember, Usa," he told Serenity. "I do all of the talking. You keep quiet."
Serenity nodded mutely. Endymion had already told her—several times—that she was not to speak to anyone. Had she not been so tired, cold, and hungry, the princess of the Moon may have put up more of a protest. Presently, however, Serenity was relieved that she was not expected to carry on any conversations.
The Terran prince turned his attention back to the door. He exhaled loudly and he dropped the iron ring. The princess flinched at the loud noise created by the knocker. Endymion strained forward to listen for the sounds of footsteps within. Satisfied that someone was approaching, Endymion dropped his hand from the knocker and laced his fingers together in front of him. He glanced at Serenity from the corner of his eye.
"Just remember, Usa," Endymion whispered, "I am your brother. We are on our way to Packwon to meet up with our father."
"What is a Packwon?" Serenity questioned, in the same quiet tone.
"It's a town to the South," the prince replied.
"But I don't think my father is in that town," argued Serenity, thinking of Linnaus.
"It doesn't matter," Endymion stated, his voice rising a little. "It's just important that we have a believable story. Otherwise, people may become suspicious."
"Suspicious?" Serenity snorted. "Suspicious of what?"
The door in front of them swung open. Both the Moon Princess and the Terran Prince jumped with surprise. Warmth and light greeted the pair. Serenity squinted. Endymion blinked as his midnight eyes adjusted to the bright light. He focused his attention to the short, stooped old man standing in the doorway. The man lifted the lantern he held in his right hand and leaned forward. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Serenity and Endymion.
"What is it?" he demanded in a gritty voice.
Endymion cleared his throat.
"We are in need of a room, sir," the Terran prince requested. He flashed a confident smile.
The old inkeeper remained silent. His gaze shifted from Endymion to Serenity. The princess, noting the innkeeper eye her suspiciously, bowed her head and stared at the worn floorboards of the porch.
Endymion, assuming that perhaps the elderly man was deaf, repeated his question.
"Do you have lodging, sir?" the prince inquired in a louder tone.
The elderly man bit the inside of his cheek. He pursed his lips together and made a sucking sound. He continued to stare at the pair. A strange frown twisted his wrinkled face.
The Terran prince suddenly realized that the innkeeper's odd expression was not because he couldn't hear. The old man seemed to stare at their clothes. The prince glanced down. Endymion's eyes widened with horror.
His black boots were covered with mud. The right knee of his soiled trousers were torn. Recalling his earlier head wound, Endymion quickly lifted his left hand and felt the base of his skull. His injury had completely healed, but his hair and the collar of his cloak were stiff with dried blood.
Endymion shifted his eyes to look at Serenity. The princess glanced sideways to return his gaze. The prince observed a smear of dirt her right cheek. He lowered his eyes to look at her clothes. The bottom of Serenity's cloak and the edge of her skirt were caked with mud. Much of her golden hair had fallen out of its braid; the stray strands stuck out haphazardly from the front of her hood.
Covered with grime, he and Serenity looked like a pair of homeless street urchins, the prince thought miserably to himself. No wonder the innkeeper was suspicious of their presence on his doorstep at such a late hour.
Endymion sighed as he turned to face the old man. The prince casually wiped the sweat and grime from his forehead with the back of his hand. He attempted to flatten any possible fly-away strands of hair by combing it with his fingers.
"Please, sir," Endymion pressed. "As you can see, we are weary from our travels."
The innkeeper lowered his lantern a little and coughed.
"What relation are ye?" he finally asked.
"Brother and sister," Endymion quickly said, smiling. Serenity licked her chapped lips and smiled too.
The innkeeper's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward.
"Funny," he muttered, rubbing his chin with his right hand thoughfully. "But ye don't look related."
"Oh, um, we have different mothers," the young man quickly explained. Before the inkeeper quizzed him any further, Endymion continued his rehearsed statement. "You see, our father moved to Packwon for the winter. A week ago, our mother, I mean," he motioned to Serenity, "her mother, died. Our father sent for us to join him in Packwon, but we have no other kin to escort us across the Puissant Territory."
Serenity's gaze widened as she listened to Endymion spin his lies. He had never mentioned that he was going to say her mother had died. A pang of guilt pinched inside Serenity's chest. She wondered if her mother had even noticed that she was missing from the Moon Castle. She wondered if her friends even cared that she was gone.
Once Endymion finished speaking, Serenity cast a horrified look in his direction. He nodded to her, silently warning her not to contradict him. Serenity sighed. She faced the innkeeper with desperate, mournful eyes.
Serenity's act was pursusive. The innkeeper thought the blonde child might burst into tears. At such a late hour, the old man was too tired to deal with a sobbing little girl and her proud brother. He decided not to prod any further regarding Serenity and Endymion's family ties.
"Have ye got any money?" the innkeeper finally asked.
"Of course," Endymion said. He reached for his coin purse. With horror, the prince realized that his purse was missing. He fumbled in the pocket of his trousers for a coin or two.
Fortunately, while Endymion attempted to find his money, the innkeeper's wife called the elderly man back into the house. The man, still suspcious of the pair standing on his doorstep, excused himself and shut the door behind him. Endymion and Serenity were alone again. The prince turned to the Moon princess.
"Do you have any money?" he asked her.
Serenity nodded. She reached into the pocket of her skirt and withdrew a folded white handkerchief. The prince held his hands beneath Serenity's; the princess shook the fabric. Dozens of coins fell into Endymion's cupped hands. The Terran prince pivoted away from Serenity and faced the faint light coming from the curtained window on the right side of the door. He peered at the pile of polished gold and silver sparkling in his hands. His eyes widened.
"Where did you get all of this?" the prince whispered.
"My father gave it to me," Serenity lied. In truth, the coins had come from Sailor Earth.
"This is a small fortune, Usa," Endymion muttered. He held one small gold coin to the window light. Squinting, Endymion read the inscription. The writing was in an old language; the prince was only able to spell out the name of the king on the head of the coin.
"Great Tyrenus," he said quietly. Frowning, he stated, "These coins are very old."
"Is that bad?" Serenity asked. Panic coursed through her veins like quicksilver. Would her disguise be betrayed by a small pile of money?
"Not bad, necessarily," Endymion sighed. The prince quickly decided that the money would be safer in his posession than in the girl's. He grabbed two of the smaller coins and pocketed the rest. "It's just strange."
The prince wanted to ask Serenity questions about the money, but the door opened and the innkeeper once again emerged. Endymion approached the man. The Prince of the Earth placed the two gold coins into the expectant innkeeper's shaking hand.
The elderly man held one coin between his fingers and stared at each side. He frowned.
"What's this?" he demanded. His eyes widened with irritation. "A trick?"
Endymion sighed. He cast an annoyed look at Serenity before facing the innkeeper.
"It's not a trick," he answered. "The coin may not look familiar, but it's made of real gold. Bite it if you like."
The elderly man squinted suspiciously at both Serenity and Endymion. He pinched the coin flat between his thumb and forefinger and brought it to his lips.
"See?" Endymion said as the innkeeper bit down on the coin. "That should be more than enough money for one night."
Once he and Serenity had been led to their quarters, Endymion laughed. Their room was just slightly larger than a closet. It was narrow, with only enough space to hold one single-sized bed and a wash basin. Located on the opposite end of the room was a small fireplace; the innkeeper had started a fire before leaving the prince and princess alone.
"More than enough money was right," muttered Endymion, mostly to himself. He bent down to avoid a low beam in the ceiling.
The princess crossed to the fireplace and sat in front of the hearth. She pulled her gloves off and held her hands close to the small blaze. Her fingers were frozen; the warmth of the fire caused her cold skin to prickle and hurt. She couldn't believe how frigid this world was. Endymion told her earlier that winter lasted longer in this territory than on the rest of the planet. Serenity removed her hood and placed it beside her. She silently wondered why anyone would want to live in such a cold, dreary place. She found it difficult to believe that Linnaus lived anywhere around here.
"We need to get plenty of rest," Endymion mentioned. Serenity shrugged at his comment and turned her attention to unbraiding her hair.
The prince unfastened his cloak and removed his sword. He tossed the items beside the the bed. He turned to the wash stand and poured a small amount of water into the bowl. The Terran prince grimaced as he noticed the brown shade of the liquid.
"Well, it certainly isn't a palace," Endymion commented as he reached for the already soiled towel sitting on top of the wash basin.
Serenity smiled slightly and laughed. "That's for sure!" she agreed. The princess lifted her skirt above her ankles and began to unlace her boots.
Endymion dipped the towel in the water and wiped the grime from his face. He leaned forward to clean the crusted blood from the base of his neck.
"You can have the bed, Usa," Endymion told her as he wrung the towel out in the basin. Droplets of crimson bled into the water. "I'll sleep on the floor. I think we should plan to wake up early tomorrow. Where did you say your father was?"
The prince turned to face the fireplace. Serenity had leaned back against the footboard of the bed. Endymion could only see her bare feet and ankles from his position near the wash basin.
"Usa?" the prince said quietly. He placed the towel beside the bowl and approached the fireplace. Endymion's face reddened as his eyes settled on Serenity's seated from. The princess had taken the liberty of undressing down to her slip and camisole. Her heavy skirt, blouse, stockings and boots were heaped in a pile beside her. Serenity had also taken her hair down. Her brassy yellow locks cascaded in soft waves around her face. The princess' bare limbs glowed in the firelight. Her eyes were shut. Her mouth was slightly opened. Her chest rose and fell steadily.
She was asleep.
Endymion felt the breath catch in his lungs. "Usa?" he said again. The words scratched his throat. He licked his lips and combed his fingers through his thick black hair. The prince glanced to the top of the bed and back down to the sleeping girl seated on the floor.
Endymion stepped closer to Serenity, careful not to wake her. He stooped down and delicately lifted her up. He was careful to anticipate Serenity's spark of energy when he scooped his hands beneath her. The cotton of her underclothes was much thinner than that of her blouse and gloves. Endymion accepted her energy; her power coursed through his body and made him feel alive. As he raised Serenity off of the hard wooden floor, the prince was surprised at how light she was in his arms. Earlier, when she had fallen into the sinkhole in the woods, Serenity seemed so heavy.
The prince lifted her over the footboard and carefully placed her on top of the mattress. Serenity stirred a little but did not awaken. Endymion pulled the blankets over her and tucked them around her body. He turned to step away, but paused when he heard the princess whisper a word.
"Innie," she said, so quietly that Endymion almost thought he had imagined it. He frowned at the girl in the bed. Was he only drawn to protecting her because she was a child?
Shaking his head, Endymion dismissed his ponderances and reached for a folded blanket on the other side of Serenity. He glanced once again to her face. The corner of her lips were drawn into a slight smile. Her cheeks were pink from sitting so close to the fire. She appeared content. An ache resonated in Endymion's chest; he wondered if her innocence was what pulled him to her.
Impulsively, the prince bent forward and kissed Serenity in the center of her forehead.
His lips sparked and tingled from touching her skin. A jolt of energy passed through his body, causing his heart to beat wildly. The prince stepped away from the Moon princess. Endymion brought up his right hand to his mouth. He pressed his palm to his lips, as if he were trying to hold onto the sensation of kissing her for a little while longer.
Serenity sighed in her sleep and rolled over. Her back now faced the prince. Her blonde hair spilled over the side of the bed like a curtain. She nuzzled her face into her pillow.
Endymion frowned and dropped his hand to his side. He rolled his twilight eyes and turned to face the fireplace. He unfolded a blanket in front of the mantel and drew his thoughts away from his travelling companion. He had far more important things to worry about.
After his encounter with Beryl earlier that day, Endymion suspected that his uncle was involved in some way with King Nefar. He had to warn his father of the Solarian threat, but he could not go back to Jade Castle. The Solarian soldiers would be waiting for his return. Well aware of his uncle's negative feelings toward him, Endymion also suspected that Duke Bartleby's own guards may try to kill him on site.
'I'll have to think of something else,' the prince thought sullenly to himself. He reached for a log and threw it on top of the dwindling fire. Endymion sat in front of the hearth. He stared at the log as it was consumed by the flames. His eyes burned a little from the light. He bowed his head and blinked. He glanced down to his right hand. Opening his palm, Endymion recalled the power of the Golden Crystal. He had only had the odd-shaped rock for one day. Already, he had lost it.
Endymion squeezed his eyes tighter and shook his head. He couldn't worry about the Golden Crystal now. Helios may be angry with the young prince for losing the stone, but Endymion had attempted to find it. For all the prince knew, Beryl had the crystal. He assumed she had lied about everything else, so why would he expect her to be forthcoming regarding the whereabouts of the Golden Crystal?
The prince wanted to forget about the mytical stone. He thought of his mother instead. The last time he had seen her was the morning before, when he, Jedite, and Zoicite departed from Elysion to meet King Demetrious at Jade Castle. Kunzite had mentioned that he and Nephrite would escort Queen Kyrena to Jade Castle on the following day. The Terran Prince frowned. He had lost a day because of his encounter with Beryl. Was his mother now at Jade Castle? Was she also in danger?
Endymion clenched his teeth together as he thought about his uncle's deception. Had all of this been a part of Bartleby's plans? Was his intention to trap the royal Terran family inside of Jade Castle so that he could forge an allegiance with the Solarian King?
The prince shivered. He could stay up all night and obsess over his Uncle Bartlby and King Nefar. He needed to sleep; tomorrow, when his body was rested and his head was clear, he could think more about how to deal with the Duke.
He unlaced his boots and placed them next to the fireplace. Endymion yawned as he straightened his legs and lowered himself onto the bottom blanket of his make-shift bed. The prince pulled the top blanket over himself. He clamped his eyes shut.
As the prince nodded off, his last thoughts lingered on Serenity. Endymion wondered how much danger he had already put her in by escorting her through the territory. He must leave her tomorrow; he couldn't help her find her father when his uncle's plotting threatened to throw the entire kingdom into upheaval The prince needed to think of a way to tell Serenity he must leave her. The thought of dissapointing the girl left Endymion's heart heavy and cold.
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Orleana wrinkled her nose and frowned as she gazed out beyond the thicket to the two-story house located on the other side road. She raised her hand to move the bare branches that blocked her view to get a better look of the dwelling. The house was dark and shadowed. The thatched roof sagged slightly in the middle.
Orleana cast a distrustful look to the young red-headed woman crouching beside her.
"Are you certain this is correct?" the princess of the Sun demanded.
"Yes," whispered Beryl. "This is where the tracks end."
The Solar princess nodded.
They had a devil of a time finding the tracks. The Solarian military had detected the energy from the Moon easily enough, but pin-pointing the exact place where the Lunarian individual had landed proved more difficult. The first tracks in the snow were not found until mid-afternoon, giving the Lunarian a very generous head start. What was more disconcerting to both Orleana and Beryl, who had been assigned to be the Solar Princess' tracker and guide, were the additional pair of tracks they found beside the Lunarian's.
When they discovered the tracks in the snow, Orleana had stared hard at both sets. The first pair were small. A definitive heel indented the snow. The shape of the foot encouraged Orleana that her suspicion was right; the Lunarian traveller was a woman, possibly a Senshi. Perhaps, the Solarian princess considered, these steps were created by Sailor Mercury's tall boots or Sailor Jupiter's high-topped shoes. Just thinking about an encounter with any of the Sailor Senshi made Princess Orleana tremble with excitement and anticipation. She couldn't wait to test out her polished skills in a battle with her former teachers.
The other pair of tracks were less telling, although Beryl was instantly distressed by their presence.
"Bigger feet, deeper in the snow," she muttered when she first spotted the pair. She crouched down and outlined the shape with her right finger. She sucked in a breath as she stood up and faced the Princess of the Sun. "Perhaps we should return to Jade Castle and ask the Duke for reinforcements. I think the Lunarian is travelling with a man."
Orleana had balked at the suggestion. Beryl was a daft cow. Why should Orleana, practically a full-fledged Senshi herself, be frightened of one single man?
"The Sailor Senshi has already gained much distance by now," the Solarian replied. "We can't waste time returning to the castle. It's already getting dark"
Beryl nodded silently, secretly wishing she didn't have to accompany Orleana at all. Day ebbed into night; Beryl's tollerance of the spoiled Solarian princess wore thin. The only useful thing Orleana had done all evening was to create a ball of white light, which she held in front of her like a lantern. Beryl hated walking in the woods in the dark; she was glad to have some sort of a light source to illuminate their way through the snow.
The tracks ended in Alendoor, on the front steps of the local inn. Judging from the footsteps, Beryl guessed that the pair stayed concealed in the woods for as long as they could.
"Why would a Senshi stop here?" Orleana pondered out loud. Her orange gaze shifted from the inn's heavily shadowed front door to each of the building's darkened windows. "She'd be like a sitting duck in a shack like that."
A devious, pleased smile spread across her face as she considered what she had just said. The Solar Princess extinguished the glowing light in her palm. Beryl let out a whimper of shock over being left in the dark.
"Let's get this over with," muttered Orleana. She untied the cloak at her neck and allowed the fabric to fall at her feet as she stood up. Beryl gasped as she gazed at Orleana's Senshi costume in the moonglow. The gold of the princess' thigh-length skirt sparkled as she stepped forward.
Movement from the house caught Beryl's attention. The red-head tugged on Orleana's left glove. The princess of the Sun turned to chastise the servant. Beryl silently pointed to the front door of the inn. Orleana shifted her orange gaze. A figure emerged from the building. She quickly stepped back and crouched down beside Beryl.
A small, barefooted girl, dressed in a white camisole and a cotton slip, stood in the door way. She paused for a moment before crossing the small porch and decending the three steps to the snowy street below. Her long blonde hair drifted behind her like a veil. The girl took five steps forward and stopped. Her blue eyes stared directly at Orleana and Beryl, who were only a few yards in front of her. Beryl shivered under the young girl's penetrating arctic gaze. Orleana merely stared back, hardly believing what she saw.
The soft blue hue of the moonlight made the girl's skin glow. An upturned golden crescent shape appeared at the center of her forehead; it lit up her face.
The princess of the Sun gasped. Indeed, the young girl standing before her was Princess Serenity. The Moon Princess' eyes were fixed and glazed; Orleana guessed that the young Lunarian was under some sort of a spell.
"This is going to be a lot better than I thought!" Orleana whispered to Beryl. She stood once again. The Solarian concentrated and pressed her hands together, willing the energy to form between her palms.
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"Serenity," whispered a haunting voice. "Serenity, I'm here. Come to me."
The voice penetrated Endymion's dream and shook him from his sleep. The prince groaned as he opened his eyes. He felt as though he had just dozed off. Was it already time to wake up?
Endymion blinked his twilight gaze and allowed his surroundings to come into focus. He was laying on the floor in front of the fireplace. A few orange embers glowed in the hearth. The room was dark and chilly; clearly, it was still night. Endymion sighed and clamped his eyes shut..
"I am here, Serenity," hissed the voice again. It seemed to come from everywhere. "Please, hurry to me."
The prince shivered. Endymion sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He felt the cold air blowing in from a draught behind him. The prince shifted his tired gaze to glance over to Serenity. The blankets were ruffled; the bed was empty. Panic filled Endymion's stomach with dread as he turned completely around and noticed the open door.
"Usa?" he said quietly. He hoped she was standing in the hallway. Remembering the intensity of Serenity's energy and his strange bond to her, Endymion shut his eyes and attempted to locate her through meditation. The prince's second pair of eyes led his mind down the stairs of the inn, through the front door, and down the front steps.
Endymion's twilight eyes snapped open. The prince jumped to his feet, crossed over to the bed, and leaned to look out of the window.
The Terran filled with relief as he spotted Serenity. She stood in front of the inn. The prince of the Earth frowned as he noticed that she was dressed in only her underclothes. A strange aura surrounded the princess. Endymion sensed that something was wrong. A grim prescence had taken hold of the girl.
The prince reached for his boots. He absently pulled them over his feet and turned to stand. The prince threw his cloak over his shoulders as he exited the room. He lept down the stairs. Endymion approached the front door, which had been left ajar.
He was about to walk outside when a strange sense of forboding came over the prince. Endymion pitched forward as his abdomen twisted into knots. He fell to his knees. His palms fell flat against the floorboards of the hall.
'Not now!' Endymion thought to himself. He shut his eyes and clenched his fists to alleviate the pain. He breathed heavily through his mouth.
In addition to the strange apparition that had taken hold of Serenity, Endymion sensed a very different type of darkness. Something outside posessed a strange, powerful energy; Endymion could feel it building with intensity. He twisted his head to look out the front door of the inn. Endymion's chest tightened as he spotted Serenity. A faint aura of light drifted from the princess, sucking her energy as it whispered to her.
"Come, Serenity," the voice urged. "I will let you find me."
"Usa!" the prince shouted, rising to his feet. He expected her to turn when she heard his voice. Instead, she pivoted slightly on her right foot and stepped toward the forest.
The Terran prince's attention shifted away from the girl to the woods in front of her. He spied a glowing light of some sort, just behind a small thicket of trees. Endymion reached down to his waist for the hilt of his sword.
"Damn it!" he muttered to himself as he realized he was unarmed. The prince searched the room for any sort of weapon. His twilight eyes spied a walking cane—presumably the innkeeper's—propped beside the front door.
Endymion lunged for the wooden stick and ran outside. He bound toward Serenity.
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"Oh gods," muttered Beryl as she spotted the Terran prince emerge from the building. Her green eyes widened with surprise. She held a hand up to her mouth. . "What?" hissed Orleana impatiently. She had been so busy powering up that she hadn't noticed the second figure standing in front of them.
"Prince Endymion," Beryl said. She pointed at the young man running to Serenity.
Orleana frowned and shifted her orange eyes to look back through the thicket. A tall young man rushed to the side of the Moon Princess. His hair was disheveled and his clothes were soiled. He held some sort of a short staff in his right hand.
"That's the great Terran Prince?" the Solarian princess laughed. She tossed her loose raven locks over her shoulder and stepped forward. "I'll just take care of both of them, then. Father will be so pleased."
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The prince grabbed Serenity's hand. It was cold to his touch. Endymion's midnight gaze widened as he noticed the foggy look in her eyes. He grasped her by the shoulders and gently shook her.
"Usa, wake up!" Endymion told her gently. The strange symbol at the center of her forehead flickered. The prince frowned as he recognized its crecent shape. He had seen this symbol in his dream.
A rustling of the brush caused Endymion to turn around. He noticed the outline of a female figure. She extended her arms out in front of her.
"Solar Wave Deflection!" shouted the woman.
A huge wave of white hot light roared toward Endymion and Serenity. For a quick moment, the prince paused as he took good look at the source of the power. A dark-haired young woman wearing a very tight white top and an extremely short skirt stood behind the floodgate of energy. She unleashed her attack just a few yards away from Terran Prince and the Moon Princess. The delight on her face indicated that she would show no mercy.
Endymion stepped between Serenity and the hot wave of power. He threw his cloak over the princess and held the cane in front of him to deflect the attack. He shut his eyes and squeezed Serenity tighly with his left arm. The prince knew he was useless without his sword; he only prayed that the blinding light and heat would pass quickly.
Instead of knocking Endymion and Serenity over, the wave of energy was absorbed into the end of the prince's cane. Their attacker staggered back, obviously surprised.
Endymion opened his eyes and stared at the oddly dressed woman on the opposite side of the clearing. He glanced to the cane, which now sparkled with golden, hot energy. The prince could sense the power shifting inside the stick. He looked back at his foe. The woman breathed hard. A mark in the center of her forehead glowed. The orange hue of the sun symbol matched the color of her eyes.
She was a Solarian.
The prince's midnight gaze narrowed as he stared at his opponent. Contempt and rage flowed through his body. He pointed the end of the stick at her chest.
"How dare you!" he shouted at her. The woman stepped back. Endymion noticed another figure run into the woods, but he did not take his eyes off of his attacker. The prince knew that this Solarian was his only foe.
The woman held her hands together in front of her chest. She willed another ball of energy to her palms. She raised her arms above her head. A flurry of ice daggers twirled between her hands.
"Illuminated ice erruption!" she screamed. She lowered her hands in front of her, which caused the shards of ice to shoot at Endymion. The prince waved the cane in front of him to deflect the attack. The blades of ice stuck to the sides of the stick like a magnet.
The woman dropped her arms. Her orange eyes widened with horror. Her lungs drew in the cold winter air. She held it in as she considered her next move.
The prince of the Earth smiled. He held the cane in front of him like a sword. He still held Serenity close to him with his other arm.
"Finished?" Endymion inquired, sweeping the cane back and forth. Three ice daggers shook loose and flew at the Solarian. The woman shrieked and ducked her head. When she again stood, the contempt in her face was easy to see in the moonlight.
"Good," the prince muttered. His eyes darkened as his face drew into a scowl. "Then I suggest you run like hell!"
The Solarian frowned at first, but as the prince of the Earth lowered his cane, she realized how deadly he had become.
"Reversal!" shouted the prince. The remaining ice blades came off of the sides of the cane and whistled through the air, toward the Solarian. The young woman screamed. She sprinted into the woods as quickly as her legs could carry her. She thought about throwing up a deflection shield, but the energy released by the prince—her energy, she thought solemnly to herself—was too fast and strong. She darted behind a tree and hid as the ice daggers stuck into the other side of the trunk. She turned around in time to see her Solar Wave Deflection attack crashing toward her. The young woman screamed and fell to the ground as the hot white light singed her back side.
Once the woman had dissappeared into the woods, Endymion relaxed a little. The cane slipped from his grip. His knees wobbled a little. The prince lifted his cape and glanced down at Serenity. The girl seemed unfazed by the attack. Endymion stepped away from the princess and waved a hand in front of her face. She didn't blink.
"Serenity," whispered the wind. Endymion turned. "Come to me."
The crescent symbol flickered at the center of Serenity's forehead. The princess stepped forward. Endymion stood in front of her to block her path.
"She will not come to you!" the prince growled defiantly at forest. "Not now, not ever."
He lifted Serenity into his arms. The prince frowned as he noticed that there was no spark of energy between them. The dark aura he had sensed earlier still encapsulated her tiny figure. The prince walked up the front steps of the inn. He glanced down at Serenity's face. Her wide, vacant eyes stared past him. The prince gazed at the crescent symbol in the middle of her forehead. It pulsed and glowed.
"You are going to have a lot of explaining to do," Endymion mumbled absent- mindedly.
He climbed the steps to the second floor and slammed the door of their room with his left foot. The princess' body twitched lightly in his arms and became limp. Endymion would have panicked, had it not been for the tingle of energy he felt from her skin. He looked down and breathed with relief as he noticed her eyelids had closed. The upturned crescent symbol had disappeared from her forehead.
Yawning, Endymion sat down on the edge of the bed. He scooted himself across the mattress so that his back was supported by the headboard. The prince pulled Serenity to him. The girl was still asleep. He cradled her in his arms. Endymion glanced out of the window and noted that the dawn would soon come. The prince sighed with relief. Given recent events, he realized that both he and Serenity were not safe in this village.
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So there you have it. The end of Chapter 13. Please review! I hope to have the next chapter posted soon.
Hollie
Disclaimer, disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. (insert witty comment here about wishing to own Tuxedo Mask)
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In chapter 12 (which was the last chapter posted before this one, which, now that I think about it, is pretty obvious, considering this chapter is number 13...boy, my ability to note the obvious is mind-blowing, is it not? ), Serenity arrived on the Earth and bumped into a certain handsome fellow, who just happened to be Prince Endymion. They don't know who they really are quite yet, as each of them are travelling "incognito."
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Chapter 13: Threat in the Moonlight
Endymion lifted the round iron knocker on the front door of the inn. He paused before allowing the metal to fall. He twisted his head to look at the small girl standing next to him. A smile twisted the corner of his mouth as he observed her fidget with the frayed edge of her red cloak. The prince frowned suddenly and cleared his throat.
"Remember, Usa," he told Serenity. "I do all of the talking. You keep quiet."
Serenity nodded mutely. Endymion had already told her—several times—that she was not to speak to anyone. Had she not been so tired, cold, and hungry, the princess of the Moon may have put up more of a protest. Presently, however, Serenity was relieved that she was not expected to carry on any conversations.
The Terran prince turned his attention back to the door. He exhaled loudly and he dropped the iron ring. The princess flinched at the loud noise created by the knocker. Endymion strained forward to listen for the sounds of footsteps within. Satisfied that someone was approaching, Endymion dropped his hand from the knocker and laced his fingers together in front of him. He glanced at Serenity from the corner of his eye.
"Just remember, Usa," Endymion whispered, "I am your brother. We are on our way to Packwon to meet up with our father."
"What is a Packwon?" Serenity questioned, in the same quiet tone.
"It's a town to the South," the prince replied.
"But I don't think my father is in that town," argued Serenity, thinking of Linnaus.
"It doesn't matter," Endymion stated, his voice rising a little. "It's just important that we have a believable story. Otherwise, people may become suspicious."
"Suspicious?" Serenity snorted. "Suspicious of what?"
The door in front of them swung open. Both the Moon Princess and the Terran Prince jumped with surprise. Warmth and light greeted the pair. Serenity squinted. Endymion blinked as his midnight eyes adjusted to the bright light. He focused his attention to the short, stooped old man standing in the doorway. The man lifted the lantern he held in his right hand and leaned forward. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Serenity and Endymion.
"What is it?" he demanded in a gritty voice.
Endymion cleared his throat.
"We are in need of a room, sir," the Terran prince requested. He flashed a confident smile.
The old inkeeper remained silent. His gaze shifted from Endymion to Serenity. The princess, noting the innkeeper eye her suspiciously, bowed her head and stared at the worn floorboards of the porch.
Endymion, assuming that perhaps the elderly man was deaf, repeated his question.
"Do you have lodging, sir?" the prince inquired in a louder tone.
The elderly man bit the inside of his cheek. He pursed his lips together and made a sucking sound. He continued to stare at the pair. A strange frown twisted his wrinkled face.
The Terran prince suddenly realized that the innkeeper's odd expression was not because he couldn't hear. The old man seemed to stare at their clothes. The prince glanced down. Endymion's eyes widened with horror.
His black boots were covered with mud. The right knee of his soiled trousers were torn. Recalling his earlier head wound, Endymion quickly lifted his left hand and felt the base of his skull. His injury had completely healed, but his hair and the collar of his cloak were stiff with dried blood.
Endymion shifted his eyes to look at Serenity. The princess glanced sideways to return his gaze. The prince observed a smear of dirt her right cheek. He lowered his eyes to look at her clothes. The bottom of Serenity's cloak and the edge of her skirt were caked with mud. Much of her golden hair had fallen out of its braid; the stray strands stuck out haphazardly from the front of her hood.
Covered with grime, he and Serenity looked like a pair of homeless street urchins, the prince thought miserably to himself. No wonder the innkeeper was suspicious of their presence on his doorstep at such a late hour.
Endymion sighed as he turned to face the old man. The prince casually wiped the sweat and grime from his forehead with the back of his hand. He attempted to flatten any possible fly-away strands of hair by combing it with his fingers.
"Please, sir," Endymion pressed. "As you can see, we are weary from our travels."
The innkeeper lowered his lantern a little and coughed.
"What relation are ye?" he finally asked.
"Brother and sister," Endymion quickly said, smiling. Serenity licked her chapped lips and smiled too.
The innkeeper's eyes narrowed. He leaned forward.
"Funny," he muttered, rubbing his chin with his right hand thoughfully. "But ye don't look related."
"Oh, um, we have different mothers," the young man quickly explained. Before the inkeeper quizzed him any further, Endymion continued his rehearsed statement. "You see, our father moved to Packwon for the winter. A week ago, our mother, I mean," he motioned to Serenity, "her mother, died. Our father sent for us to join him in Packwon, but we have no other kin to escort us across the Puissant Territory."
Serenity's gaze widened as she listened to Endymion spin his lies. He had never mentioned that he was going to say her mother had died. A pang of guilt pinched inside Serenity's chest. She wondered if her mother had even noticed that she was missing from the Moon Castle. She wondered if her friends even cared that she was gone.
Once Endymion finished speaking, Serenity cast a horrified look in his direction. He nodded to her, silently warning her not to contradict him. Serenity sighed. She faced the innkeeper with desperate, mournful eyes.
Serenity's act was pursusive. The innkeeper thought the blonde child might burst into tears. At such a late hour, the old man was too tired to deal with a sobbing little girl and her proud brother. He decided not to prod any further regarding Serenity and Endymion's family ties.
"Have ye got any money?" the innkeeper finally asked.
"Of course," Endymion said. He reached for his coin purse. With horror, the prince realized that his purse was missing. He fumbled in the pocket of his trousers for a coin or two.
Fortunately, while Endymion attempted to find his money, the innkeeper's wife called the elderly man back into the house. The man, still suspcious of the pair standing on his doorstep, excused himself and shut the door behind him. Endymion and Serenity were alone again. The prince turned to the Moon princess.
"Do you have any money?" he asked her.
Serenity nodded. She reached into the pocket of her skirt and withdrew a folded white handkerchief. The prince held his hands beneath Serenity's; the princess shook the fabric. Dozens of coins fell into Endymion's cupped hands. The Terran prince pivoted away from Serenity and faced the faint light coming from the curtained window on the right side of the door. He peered at the pile of polished gold and silver sparkling in his hands. His eyes widened.
"Where did you get all of this?" the prince whispered.
"My father gave it to me," Serenity lied. In truth, the coins had come from Sailor Earth.
"This is a small fortune, Usa," Endymion muttered. He held one small gold coin to the window light. Squinting, Endymion read the inscription. The writing was in an old language; the prince was only able to spell out the name of the king on the head of the coin.
"Great Tyrenus," he said quietly. Frowning, he stated, "These coins are very old."
"Is that bad?" Serenity asked. Panic coursed through her veins like quicksilver. Would her disguise be betrayed by a small pile of money?
"Not bad, necessarily," Endymion sighed. The prince quickly decided that the money would be safer in his posession than in the girl's. He grabbed two of the smaller coins and pocketed the rest. "It's just strange."
The prince wanted to ask Serenity questions about the money, but the door opened and the innkeeper once again emerged. Endymion approached the man. The Prince of the Earth placed the two gold coins into the expectant innkeeper's shaking hand.
The elderly man held one coin between his fingers and stared at each side. He frowned.
"What's this?" he demanded. His eyes widened with irritation. "A trick?"
Endymion sighed. He cast an annoyed look at Serenity before facing the innkeeper.
"It's not a trick," he answered. "The coin may not look familiar, but it's made of real gold. Bite it if you like."
The elderly man squinted suspiciously at both Serenity and Endymion. He pinched the coin flat between his thumb and forefinger and brought it to his lips.
"See?" Endymion said as the innkeeper bit down on the coin. "That should be more than enough money for one night."
Once he and Serenity had been led to their quarters, Endymion laughed. Their room was just slightly larger than a closet. It was narrow, with only enough space to hold one single-sized bed and a wash basin. Located on the opposite end of the room was a small fireplace; the innkeeper had started a fire before leaving the prince and princess alone.
"More than enough money was right," muttered Endymion, mostly to himself. He bent down to avoid a low beam in the ceiling.
The princess crossed to the fireplace and sat in front of the hearth. She pulled her gloves off and held her hands close to the small blaze. Her fingers were frozen; the warmth of the fire caused her cold skin to prickle and hurt. She couldn't believe how frigid this world was. Endymion told her earlier that winter lasted longer in this territory than on the rest of the planet. Serenity removed her hood and placed it beside her. She silently wondered why anyone would want to live in such a cold, dreary place. She found it difficult to believe that Linnaus lived anywhere around here.
"We need to get plenty of rest," Endymion mentioned. Serenity shrugged at his comment and turned her attention to unbraiding her hair.
The prince unfastened his cloak and removed his sword. He tossed the items beside the the bed. He turned to the wash stand and poured a small amount of water into the bowl. The Terran prince grimaced as he noticed the brown shade of the liquid.
"Well, it certainly isn't a palace," Endymion commented as he reached for the already soiled towel sitting on top of the wash basin.
Serenity smiled slightly and laughed. "That's for sure!" she agreed. The princess lifted her skirt above her ankles and began to unlace her boots.
Endymion dipped the towel in the water and wiped the grime from his face. He leaned forward to clean the crusted blood from the base of his neck.
"You can have the bed, Usa," Endymion told her as he wrung the towel out in the basin. Droplets of crimson bled into the water. "I'll sleep on the floor. I think we should plan to wake up early tomorrow. Where did you say your father was?"
The prince turned to face the fireplace. Serenity had leaned back against the footboard of the bed. Endymion could only see her bare feet and ankles from his position near the wash basin.
"Usa?" the prince said quietly. He placed the towel beside the bowl and approached the fireplace. Endymion's face reddened as his eyes settled on Serenity's seated from. The princess had taken the liberty of undressing down to her slip and camisole. Her heavy skirt, blouse, stockings and boots were heaped in a pile beside her. Serenity had also taken her hair down. Her brassy yellow locks cascaded in soft waves around her face. The princess' bare limbs glowed in the firelight. Her eyes were shut. Her mouth was slightly opened. Her chest rose and fell steadily.
She was asleep.
Endymion felt the breath catch in his lungs. "Usa?" he said again. The words scratched his throat. He licked his lips and combed his fingers through his thick black hair. The prince glanced to the top of the bed and back down to the sleeping girl seated on the floor.
Endymion stepped closer to Serenity, careful not to wake her. He stooped down and delicately lifted her up. He was careful to anticipate Serenity's spark of energy when he scooped his hands beneath her. The cotton of her underclothes was much thinner than that of her blouse and gloves. Endymion accepted her energy; her power coursed through his body and made him feel alive. As he raised Serenity off of the hard wooden floor, the prince was surprised at how light she was in his arms. Earlier, when she had fallen into the sinkhole in the woods, Serenity seemed so heavy.
The prince lifted her over the footboard and carefully placed her on top of the mattress. Serenity stirred a little but did not awaken. Endymion pulled the blankets over her and tucked them around her body. He turned to step away, but paused when he heard the princess whisper a word.
"Innie," she said, so quietly that Endymion almost thought he had imagined it. He frowned at the girl in the bed. Was he only drawn to protecting her because she was a child?
Shaking his head, Endymion dismissed his ponderances and reached for a folded blanket on the other side of Serenity. He glanced once again to her face. The corner of her lips were drawn into a slight smile. Her cheeks were pink from sitting so close to the fire. She appeared content. An ache resonated in Endymion's chest; he wondered if her innocence was what pulled him to her.
Impulsively, the prince bent forward and kissed Serenity in the center of her forehead.
His lips sparked and tingled from touching her skin. A jolt of energy passed through his body, causing his heart to beat wildly. The prince stepped away from the Moon princess. Endymion brought up his right hand to his mouth. He pressed his palm to his lips, as if he were trying to hold onto the sensation of kissing her for a little while longer.
Serenity sighed in her sleep and rolled over. Her back now faced the prince. Her blonde hair spilled over the side of the bed like a curtain. She nuzzled her face into her pillow.
Endymion frowned and dropped his hand to his side. He rolled his twilight eyes and turned to face the fireplace. He unfolded a blanket in front of the mantel and drew his thoughts away from his travelling companion. He had far more important things to worry about.
After his encounter with Beryl earlier that day, Endymion suspected that his uncle was involved in some way with King Nefar. He had to warn his father of the Solarian threat, but he could not go back to Jade Castle. The Solarian soldiers would be waiting for his return. Well aware of his uncle's negative feelings toward him, Endymion also suspected that Duke Bartleby's own guards may try to kill him on site.
'I'll have to think of something else,' the prince thought sullenly to himself. He reached for a log and threw it on top of the dwindling fire. Endymion sat in front of the hearth. He stared at the log as it was consumed by the flames. His eyes burned a little from the light. He bowed his head and blinked. He glanced down to his right hand. Opening his palm, Endymion recalled the power of the Golden Crystal. He had only had the odd-shaped rock for one day. Already, he had lost it.
Endymion squeezed his eyes tighter and shook his head. He couldn't worry about the Golden Crystal now. Helios may be angry with the young prince for losing the stone, but Endymion had attempted to find it. For all the prince knew, Beryl had the crystal. He assumed she had lied about everything else, so why would he expect her to be forthcoming regarding the whereabouts of the Golden Crystal?
The prince wanted to forget about the mytical stone. He thought of his mother instead. The last time he had seen her was the morning before, when he, Jedite, and Zoicite departed from Elysion to meet King Demetrious at Jade Castle. Kunzite had mentioned that he and Nephrite would escort Queen Kyrena to Jade Castle on the following day. The Terran Prince frowned. He had lost a day because of his encounter with Beryl. Was his mother now at Jade Castle? Was she also in danger?
Endymion clenched his teeth together as he thought about his uncle's deception. Had all of this been a part of Bartleby's plans? Was his intention to trap the royal Terran family inside of Jade Castle so that he could forge an allegiance with the Solarian King?
The prince shivered. He could stay up all night and obsess over his Uncle Bartlby and King Nefar. He needed to sleep; tomorrow, when his body was rested and his head was clear, he could think more about how to deal with the Duke.
He unlaced his boots and placed them next to the fireplace. Endymion yawned as he straightened his legs and lowered himself onto the bottom blanket of his make-shift bed. The prince pulled the top blanket over himself. He clamped his eyes shut.
As the prince nodded off, his last thoughts lingered on Serenity. Endymion wondered how much danger he had already put her in by escorting her through the territory. He must leave her tomorrow; he couldn't help her find her father when his uncle's plotting threatened to throw the entire kingdom into upheaval The prince needed to think of a way to tell Serenity he must leave her. The thought of dissapointing the girl left Endymion's heart heavy and cold.
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Orleana wrinkled her nose and frowned as she gazed out beyond the thicket to the two-story house located on the other side road. She raised her hand to move the bare branches that blocked her view to get a better look of the dwelling. The house was dark and shadowed. The thatched roof sagged slightly in the middle.
Orleana cast a distrustful look to the young red-headed woman crouching beside her.
"Are you certain this is correct?" the princess of the Sun demanded.
"Yes," whispered Beryl. "This is where the tracks end."
The Solar princess nodded.
They had a devil of a time finding the tracks. The Solarian military had detected the energy from the Moon easily enough, but pin-pointing the exact place where the Lunarian individual had landed proved more difficult. The first tracks in the snow were not found until mid-afternoon, giving the Lunarian a very generous head start. What was more disconcerting to both Orleana and Beryl, who had been assigned to be the Solar Princess' tracker and guide, were the additional pair of tracks they found beside the Lunarian's.
When they discovered the tracks in the snow, Orleana had stared hard at both sets. The first pair were small. A definitive heel indented the snow. The shape of the foot encouraged Orleana that her suspicion was right; the Lunarian traveller was a woman, possibly a Senshi. Perhaps, the Solarian princess considered, these steps were created by Sailor Mercury's tall boots or Sailor Jupiter's high-topped shoes. Just thinking about an encounter with any of the Sailor Senshi made Princess Orleana tremble with excitement and anticipation. She couldn't wait to test out her polished skills in a battle with her former teachers.
The other pair of tracks were less telling, although Beryl was instantly distressed by their presence.
"Bigger feet, deeper in the snow," she muttered when she first spotted the pair. She crouched down and outlined the shape with her right finger. She sucked in a breath as she stood up and faced the Princess of the Sun. "Perhaps we should return to Jade Castle and ask the Duke for reinforcements. I think the Lunarian is travelling with a man."
Orleana had balked at the suggestion. Beryl was a daft cow. Why should Orleana, practically a full-fledged Senshi herself, be frightened of one single man?
"The Sailor Senshi has already gained much distance by now," the Solarian replied. "We can't waste time returning to the castle. It's already getting dark"
Beryl nodded silently, secretly wishing she didn't have to accompany Orleana at all. Day ebbed into night; Beryl's tollerance of the spoiled Solarian princess wore thin. The only useful thing Orleana had done all evening was to create a ball of white light, which she held in front of her like a lantern. Beryl hated walking in the woods in the dark; she was glad to have some sort of a light source to illuminate their way through the snow.
The tracks ended in Alendoor, on the front steps of the local inn. Judging from the footsteps, Beryl guessed that the pair stayed concealed in the woods for as long as they could.
"Why would a Senshi stop here?" Orleana pondered out loud. Her orange gaze shifted from the inn's heavily shadowed front door to each of the building's darkened windows. "She'd be like a sitting duck in a shack like that."
A devious, pleased smile spread across her face as she considered what she had just said. The Solar Princess extinguished the glowing light in her palm. Beryl let out a whimper of shock over being left in the dark.
"Let's get this over with," muttered Orleana. She untied the cloak at her neck and allowed the fabric to fall at her feet as she stood up. Beryl gasped as she gazed at Orleana's Senshi costume in the moonglow. The gold of the princess' thigh-length skirt sparkled as she stepped forward.
Movement from the house caught Beryl's attention. The red-head tugged on Orleana's left glove. The princess of the Sun turned to chastise the servant. Beryl silently pointed to the front door of the inn. Orleana shifted her orange gaze. A figure emerged from the building. She quickly stepped back and crouched down beside Beryl.
A small, barefooted girl, dressed in a white camisole and a cotton slip, stood in the door way. She paused for a moment before crossing the small porch and decending the three steps to the snowy street below. Her long blonde hair drifted behind her like a veil. The girl took five steps forward and stopped. Her blue eyes stared directly at Orleana and Beryl, who were only a few yards in front of her. Beryl shivered under the young girl's penetrating arctic gaze. Orleana merely stared back, hardly believing what she saw.
The soft blue hue of the moonlight made the girl's skin glow. An upturned golden crescent shape appeared at the center of her forehead; it lit up her face.
The princess of the Sun gasped. Indeed, the young girl standing before her was Princess Serenity. The Moon Princess' eyes were fixed and glazed; Orleana guessed that the young Lunarian was under some sort of a spell.
"This is going to be a lot better than I thought!" Orleana whispered to Beryl. She stood once again. The Solarian concentrated and pressed her hands together, willing the energy to form between her palms.
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"Serenity," whispered a haunting voice. "Serenity, I'm here. Come to me."
The voice penetrated Endymion's dream and shook him from his sleep. The prince groaned as he opened his eyes. He felt as though he had just dozed off. Was it already time to wake up?
Endymion blinked his twilight gaze and allowed his surroundings to come into focus. He was laying on the floor in front of the fireplace. A few orange embers glowed in the hearth. The room was dark and chilly; clearly, it was still night. Endymion sighed and clamped his eyes shut..
"I am here, Serenity," hissed the voice again. It seemed to come from everywhere. "Please, hurry to me."
The prince shivered. Endymion sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. He felt the cold air blowing in from a draught behind him. The prince shifted his tired gaze to glance over to Serenity. The blankets were ruffled; the bed was empty. Panic filled Endymion's stomach with dread as he turned completely around and noticed the open door.
"Usa?" he said quietly. He hoped she was standing in the hallway. Remembering the intensity of Serenity's energy and his strange bond to her, Endymion shut his eyes and attempted to locate her through meditation. The prince's second pair of eyes led his mind down the stairs of the inn, through the front door, and down the front steps.
Endymion's twilight eyes snapped open. The prince jumped to his feet, crossed over to the bed, and leaned to look out of the window.
The Terran filled with relief as he spotted Serenity. She stood in front of the inn. The prince of the Earth frowned as he noticed that she was dressed in only her underclothes. A strange aura surrounded the princess. Endymion sensed that something was wrong. A grim prescence had taken hold of the girl.
The prince reached for his boots. He absently pulled them over his feet and turned to stand. The prince threw his cloak over his shoulders as he exited the room. He lept down the stairs. Endymion approached the front door, which had been left ajar.
He was about to walk outside when a strange sense of forboding came over the prince. Endymion pitched forward as his abdomen twisted into knots. He fell to his knees. His palms fell flat against the floorboards of the hall.
'Not now!' Endymion thought to himself. He shut his eyes and clenched his fists to alleviate the pain. He breathed heavily through his mouth.
In addition to the strange apparition that had taken hold of Serenity, Endymion sensed a very different type of darkness. Something outside posessed a strange, powerful energy; Endymion could feel it building with intensity. He twisted his head to look out the front door of the inn. Endymion's chest tightened as he spotted Serenity. A faint aura of light drifted from the princess, sucking her energy as it whispered to her.
"Come, Serenity," the voice urged. "I will let you find me."
"Usa!" the prince shouted, rising to his feet. He expected her to turn when she heard his voice. Instead, she pivoted slightly on her right foot and stepped toward the forest.
The Terran prince's attention shifted away from the girl to the woods in front of her. He spied a glowing light of some sort, just behind a small thicket of trees. Endymion reached down to his waist for the hilt of his sword.
"Damn it!" he muttered to himself as he realized he was unarmed. The prince searched the room for any sort of weapon. His twilight eyes spied a walking cane—presumably the innkeeper's—propped beside the front door.
Endymion lunged for the wooden stick and ran outside. He bound toward Serenity.
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"Oh gods," muttered Beryl as she spotted the Terran prince emerge from the building. Her green eyes widened with surprise. She held a hand up to her mouth. . "What?" hissed Orleana impatiently. She had been so busy powering up that she hadn't noticed the second figure standing in front of them.
"Prince Endymion," Beryl said. She pointed at the young man running to Serenity.
Orleana frowned and shifted her orange eyes to look back through the thicket. A tall young man rushed to the side of the Moon Princess. His hair was disheveled and his clothes were soiled. He held some sort of a short staff in his right hand.
"That's the great Terran Prince?" the Solarian princess laughed. She tossed her loose raven locks over her shoulder and stepped forward. "I'll just take care of both of them, then. Father will be so pleased."
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The prince grabbed Serenity's hand. It was cold to his touch. Endymion's midnight gaze widened as he noticed the foggy look in her eyes. He grasped her by the shoulders and gently shook her.
"Usa, wake up!" Endymion told her gently. The strange symbol at the center of her forehead flickered. The prince frowned as he recognized its crecent shape. He had seen this symbol in his dream.
A rustling of the brush caused Endymion to turn around. He noticed the outline of a female figure. She extended her arms out in front of her.
"Solar Wave Deflection!" shouted the woman.
A huge wave of white hot light roared toward Endymion and Serenity. For a quick moment, the prince paused as he took good look at the source of the power. A dark-haired young woman wearing a very tight white top and an extremely short skirt stood behind the floodgate of energy. She unleashed her attack just a few yards away from Terran Prince and the Moon Princess. The delight on her face indicated that she would show no mercy.
Endymion stepped between Serenity and the hot wave of power. He threw his cloak over the princess and held the cane in front of him to deflect the attack. He shut his eyes and squeezed Serenity tighly with his left arm. The prince knew he was useless without his sword; he only prayed that the blinding light and heat would pass quickly.
Instead of knocking Endymion and Serenity over, the wave of energy was absorbed into the end of the prince's cane. Their attacker staggered back, obviously surprised.
Endymion opened his eyes and stared at the oddly dressed woman on the opposite side of the clearing. He glanced to the cane, which now sparkled with golden, hot energy. The prince could sense the power shifting inside the stick. He looked back at his foe. The woman breathed hard. A mark in the center of her forehead glowed. The orange hue of the sun symbol matched the color of her eyes.
She was a Solarian.
The prince's midnight gaze narrowed as he stared at his opponent. Contempt and rage flowed through his body. He pointed the end of the stick at her chest.
"How dare you!" he shouted at her. The woman stepped back. Endymion noticed another figure run into the woods, but he did not take his eyes off of his attacker. The prince knew that this Solarian was his only foe.
The woman held her hands together in front of her chest. She willed another ball of energy to her palms. She raised her arms above her head. A flurry of ice daggers twirled between her hands.
"Illuminated ice erruption!" she screamed. She lowered her hands in front of her, which caused the shards of ice to shoot at Endymion. The prince waved the cane in front of him to deflect the attack. The blades of ice stuck to the sides of the stick like a magnet.
The woman dropped her arms. Her orange eyes widened with horror. Her lungs drew in the cold winter air. She held it in as she considered her next move.
The prince of the Earth smiled. He held the cane in front of him like a sword. He still held Serenity close to him with his other arm.
"Finished?" Endymion inquired, sweeping the cane back and forth. Three ice daggers shook loose and flew at the Solarian. The woman shrieked and ducked her head. When she again stood, the contempt in her face was easy to see in the moonlight.
"Good," the prince muttered. His eyes darkened as his face drew into a scowl. "Then I suggest you run like hell!"
The Solarian frowned at first, but as the prince of the Earth lowered his cane, she realized how deadly he had become.
"Reversal!" shouted the prince. The remaining ice blades came off of the sides of the cane and whistled through the air, toward the Solarian. The young woman screamed. She sprinted into the woods as quickly as her legs could carry her. She thought about throwing up a deflection shield, but the energy released by the prince—her energy, she thought solemnly to herself—was too fast and strong. She darted behind a tree and hid as the ice daggers stuck into the other side of the trunk. She turned around in time to see her Solar Wave Deflection attack crashing toward her. The young woman screamed and fell to the ground as the hot white light singed her back side.
Once the woman had dissappeared into the woods, Endymion relaxed a little. The cane slipped from his grip. His knees wobbled a little. The prince lifted his cape and glanced down at Serenity. The girl seemed unfazed by the attack. Endymion stepped away from the princess and waved a hand in front of her face. She didn't blink.
"Serenity," whispered the wind. Endymion turned. "Come to me."
The crescent symbol flickered at the center of Serenity's forehead. The princess stepped forward. Endymion stood in front of her to block her path.
"She will not come to you!" the prince growled defiantly at forest. "Not now, not ever."
He lifted Serenity into his arms. The prince frowned as he noticed that there was no spark of energy between them. The dark aura he had sensed earlier still encapsulated her tiny figure. The prince walked up the front steps of the inn. He glanced down at Serenity's face. Her wide, vacant eyes stared past him. The prince gazed at the crescent symbol in the middle of her forehead. It pulsed and glowed.
"You are going to have a lot of explaining to do," Endymion mumbled absent- mindedly.
He climbed the steps to the second floor and slammed the door of their room with his left foot. The princess' body twitched lightly in his arms and became limp. Endymion would have panicked, had it not been for the tingle of energy he felt from her skin. He looked down and breathed with relief as he noticed her eyelids had closed. The upturned crescent symbol had disappeared from her forehead.
Yawning, Endymion sat down on the edge of the bed. He scooted himself across the mattress so that his back was supported by the headboard. The prince pulled Serenity to him. The girl was still asleep. He cradled her in his arms. Endymion glanced out of the window and noted that the dawn would soon come. The prince sighed with relief. Given recent events, he realized that both he and Serenity were not safe in this village.
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So there you have it. The end of Chapter 13. Please review! I hope to have the next chapter posted soon.
Hollie