Last Time: Serenity ran to the ladder that led up to Ami's attic and hid away from their eyes. 'Please don't find me! Please' The door burst open, and she couldn't help peering back down to see what was happening…
Grandly, the first of the creatures swept into the room, gazing about with malicious glee. "A clock!" she noticed, to her companions. "Hmm... Mortal world, turned to ice... Here be Dark Minion paradise!" Her wicked laughter filled the room. Serenity cringed back, frightened.
The goblin moved toward the clock, and pointed at it with a strange-looking spiral. 'The unicorn's horn!' Serenity realized, horrified. It wasn't sparkling now, certainly. Instead it looked dull, ordinary and lifeless. But the clock suddenly spun to life, its hands moving too quickly and the little wooden figures rushing in and out of their homes. Demented chimes accompanied the scene, she wanted to cry out to stop it but she could not.
The other two greedily lapped and tore at the food that sat on the table, with not regard to table manners, but the first seemed uninterested.
"Hyah!" she cried, pointing the horn at Ami's fireplace. Fire immediately burst into being, startling her companions. She laughed again. This was much better then her old wand and best of all no chants or spell books required.
"How did you do that, Beryl?" the bucket-headed one asked. He had seen Beryl do magic before and she never had that kind of success.
"Yeah, tell us how you do those tricks!" the pig-faced one wheezed. Beryl swaggered arrogantly.
"Quite easy, actually! " She sneered.
"Lucky day!" the bucket-head exulted.
"Killed ugly, one- horn mule!"
"You act like you did it all!" Beryl accused angrily.
"It was me who shot the poisoned stinger!" She started to belt her companion with a frying pan to emphasize each word.
"Me...! Me...! ME...! ME…!"
"You only got the shot in because the little human girl led the beast astray!" the pig-face taunted her. 'Oh gods..'. Serenity closed her eyes tightly, but tears escaped past them all the same. She couldn't block out the sound, either...
"She was so sweet!" Bucket-head sneered.
"I could have eat her brains up like jam!" Serenity recoiled in horror.
"I could snap her bones like -- "
"ENOUGH!" Beryl roared, cutting off Pig- face before he could finish.
"Better hurry," she told them.
"The Dark Lord... he doesn't like to wait." The others seemed to agree, hurrying out the door. Beryl waved the horn once more, and biscuits flew from their bowl to scatter on the floor. She laughed coarsely, and followed her companions. Serenity still heeded watched them ride off through the attic window, tears streaming down her cheeks.
"What have I done?" she whispered brokenly, then her face set into a determined look.
"I'll make it right, no matter what I shall make it right" she promised fiercely, and hurried down the stairs -- to follow the ugly creatures.
Haruka stumbled forward, arms wrapped tightly around herself, trying to block out the cold and fear that tore at her.
"Serenity!" she cried desperately, but no answer came.
"Serenity!" She moved forward against the wind, determined to search until she had no strength left. The cold gnawed at her fiercely, but she couldn't stop yet... not while Serenity was still out there somewhere... she wasn't aware of when she'd collapsed, but she woke with a start to a tiny little voice calling her name.
"Haruka!" it teased her, giggling.
"Haruka..." There was warmth near her -- a fire. But she hadn't lit one...so where had it come from. Last she check they didn't just make themselves.
"Sere...?" She sat up.
"Haruka!" Something jumped into the clearing with her. She whirled around and was on her feet, in time to have a handful of sparkly substance thrown into her eyes. She spun as the person moved swiftly, circling her, but whoever it was, they were too fast for her (meh don't believe it for a second). More tiny giggling voices surrounded the clearing, seeming to spur them on. Finally, the mystery assailant jumped into a crouch directly in front of her. She looked young, but she probably wasn't. Knee leghth black hair that held a deep purple shined, with her bangs falling over her violet eyes and there was an impish grin on her face. She wore only a simple blood red tunic with black leggings, and a bow and arrows were slung over one shoulder. She looked as if she'd come to about Haruka's chin if standing and her ears were sharply pointed. Not human. She raised an eyebrow in greeting, as if to remind Haruka that she was staring.
"Hello!"
"Who are you?" Haruka asked, in astonishment. The girl grinned.
"And you thought you knew these woods!" she teased.
"But you've never even heard of me? Honestly, Haruka!"
"You still haven't told me who you are."
"How rude and careless of me." The girl gave an exaggerated bow, the grin never leaving her face.
"Elfin maiden archer extraordinaire, Rei at your service, ma'am."
"Rei, hmm?" Haruka studied her.
"Precisely," Rei answered smoothly.
"Now you are going to answer my question, Haruka. You were in these woods when the snow started falling. I know you saw what was going on, and I know that the balance isn't right. Something happened today. What was it?"
Haruka closed her eyes and bowed her head. "I took Serenity to see the unicorns."
"You WHAT?" All humor left Rei's eyes at those words. She looked outraged, and quit frankly scary. More giggles erupted from around them at her outburst, but she silenced them with a look, and then turned back, an ominously serious expression was now upon her face.
"There's more," Haruka continued steady.
"She touched one..."
"Touched it?" Rei's eyes widened with shock and she glared at Haruka as if she'd caused every sorrow in the world.
"How could you let that happen? You know what that means, Haruka! Did you think you could escape unpunished?" Her expression was horribly accusing.
Her head snapping up, as she meet Rei accusing eyes, "She didn't mean any harm!" Haruka protested
"And I did it for her! I wanted her to see them. I love her, you see, and..." She trailed off, sinking to her knees. "This has all turned out so wrong...so very wrong… It was because I love Serenity..." She trailed off again.
'I said it! She thought, in amazement. I said I love her.' A wave of sorrow caught her. And she wasn't here to hear it she may never hear, why didn't I tell her whet I had the chance, no I'll find her and she will hear it.
"Love..." the pointed ere one stared at her curiously, anger gone.
"That's something else entirely, Haruka." She stated grinning once more.
"I'll tell you what. If you can answer one of my riddles, then I'll do everything I can to help you set things right. Because you will have to set things right," she said firmly.
"All right," Haruka agreed, somewhat bemused but unwilling to show it.
"I agree."
"OK, then." Rei smiled sweetly.
"What kind of bells do you know of that never ring?" She grinned impishly at Haruka.
"Take all the time you want to figure it out."
"Couldn't you think of a better one?" That tiny voice (NO I COULD NOT LEAVE ME ALONE) that Haruka had heard before now giggled, accompanying a small, glowing figure that fluttered around her head.
"I know the answer to that one..."
"Stop that!" Rei snapped her fingers, and the light zipped over to her.
"A fairy," she explained to Haruka.
"She's supposed to be serving me," she added, with a meaningful look at the sparkling little creature.
"Her name is Minako."
"Oh," Haruka managed weakly. Her head was spinning. 'Bells... bells..'. All she could think of was Serenity. An image pushed its way into her thoughts, of her beautiful Koneko-chan, sitting in a sea of flowers with a warm soft smile on her facie... Flowers! Haruka straightened in triumph.
"They're flowers! Bluebells!"
"That's right!" Minako sang out happily. Rei made a strangled noise and slumped down onto the ground. Then she sat up, and grinned.
"Kidding... You bested me, Haruka. I guess I'll have to help you now! Hey, Brown-Tom-et!" She waved, and a stumpy little tree melted into a tall slim girl with wavy brown hair and emerald eyes.
"How many time have I asked you not to call me that, I have a name you know. It's Makoto so USE IT!" Makoto twitched. Rei snatched a tinny pouch off her belt to reveal a smallish bottle.
"I knew you were hiding it somewhere," she grinned, grabbing the bottle. "We're drinking a toast -- to love! Thank you for offering to provide the wine, Brown-Tom-et. That was nice of you."
"I give up" Makoto sighed.
"HEY! That's my last bottle of wine!" the wood nymph complained.
Rei ignored her, producing a handful of thimbles to serve as cups. "This stuff is elderberry wine, Haruka," she explained.
"Probably the best drink short of heaven's fare. Trust me, this much is enough." She poured the thimbles and passed them out.
"Well, here's to you, Haruka!" she announced, standing.
"The only idiot I know who'd shatter the balance of the world to show her lover a couple of pretty animals!" She drank.
"To Serenity, too," Haruka added, before gulping her. Rei was right; a thimble-full was enough. Minako settled on her shoulder, still giggling.
"Are you always so moony-eyed over Serenity?"
"There's nothing wrong with that!" Rei grinned.
"But let's work on the business at hand, shall we? The first thing to do is find the unicorns. Screwball!" she called and a little light- haired dwarf came running with fur for Haruka.
"Screwball, is that rally your name?" Haruka asked the dwarf
"No, it's Al not that she'd use it" he complained "how ever said elves where kind never met her"
"This'll help," he said gruffly, setting the fur around Haruka's shoulders.
"I need to find Serenity," Haruka insisted.
"I know," Rei answered. There was sympathy in her eyes.
"I fear the worst," Screwball said slowly, and silence settled over them. (Screwball is not from Sailor moon, though there are a few screwballs in there especially in the dub version)
"Serenity!" Haruka blundered through the snow, ahead of the others. The forest seemed endless, but she couldn't -- just could not -- give up. Her love was out there somewhere, possibly alone and freezing, and she would find her -- no matter what.
"Serenity!"
"Haruka." Rei tugged on her sleeve.
"Wait."
"What?" The girl snapped, almost rudely. She couldn't wait, not while Serenity was still out there. Rei didn't seem offended.
"Over there," she said, pointing to a small hill.
"Can't you feel it, Haruka? We have a duty to fulfill here -- whether you want to or not." Haruka stopped, and looked at Rei.
"I guess so," she gave in, finding herself unable to argue.
The unicorn lay in a patch of a clearing, snow blanketing him in his sleep. By the time they had made there way over to him, the female had already arrived, and was nuzzling her mate in despair. Sorrow hung over the area like a low fog. There was no denying this, not any more.
"I need to talk to her," Haruka whispered, already climbing over the hill they crouched behind. The mare watched her approach, eyes deep and sad. Unintentionally, Haruka felt tears creeping down her face. She had caused this, no matter how she tried to justify it. Her intentions had been good, but she couldn't escape blame with only that. Serenity hadn't known... how could she have known? But Haruka had. And now a unicorn had been killed... Its horn was cut off. Haruka gazed into the eyes of the female unicorn. 'I'm sorry,' she wanted to say. 'I didn't mean it.' She felt frozen, paralyzed with her inability to speak. Then a wash of acceptance rushed over her, and Haruka was released. She fell to her knees.
"Forgive me," she whispered, through the tears.
"I meant no wrong." Her head bowed, and she held still, waiting for judgment, another moment past. Haruka breathed deeply, and tried to make herself open to further communication. Instructions flooded her mind, and she looked back up into the unicorn's eyes.
'This is what you must do, ' they seemed to tell her. 'Now go.' Numbly, Haruka got to her feet and stumbled back to the others.
"Well?" Rei demanded, when she remained silent.
"What did it say?"
"We have to get the other horn back," Haruka told her slowly.
"Or we'll be stuck like this." The unicorn whinnied, as if to urge her on.
"We've got to pick out a champion to fight back the Dark Lord."
"Well, that'll be you of course!" Rei said cheerfully then moved right along, leaving no chance for arguments.
"Come on, Haruka, and we'll get you some weapons. Brown-Tom-et, you stay here!" He gave the dwarf a stern look.
"And make sure you guard that unicorn well!"
"Like my own life!" Makoto pledged.
"Better!" Rei corrected.
"She's all we've got left!" Makoto sighed.
"Here we are!" Rei opened the door to the cave.
"You'll find armor and weapons in here, but..." She grimaced.
"I can't go in with you. Minako will have to show you the way."
"This way, Haruka!" Minako called, and Haruka scrambled to keep up. The cave was so small that she was forced to crawl through it.
"Over here! Come on!" She flew forward into a brightly lit room littered with good coins. In the center stood a stand holding a chain-mail shirt and a huge sword and shield. There was an almost reverent feel to the objects, and even to the room itself. It was bemusing, to say the least. Haruka wasn't quite sure what to make of all this. A sudden whizzing sound made him jerk around in surprise, and there stood a girl in filmy light clothing, her light blond hair wild and a pair of translucent wings emerging from her shoulders. A shower of sparkles surrounded her, and she smiled at Haruka, blue eyes alight with mischief.
"Minako?" she whispered, in shock.
"Nobody knows, except for you," she told her softly.
"Don't tell Rei, OK?" She stared.
"Promise!" she hissed fiercely, and she jerked a nod, still shaken. Minako smiled.
"I can be anything you want me to be," she whispered.
"Even what your heart desires most." She looked toward the sword and mail shirt.
"You have to take it, Haruka!" (A mail shirt is a shirt made out of little mettle rings I think If you've seen The Fellowship of the Ring. Part of the Lord of the Ring trilogy that Metal shirt that saved Frodo's life) She blinked at her, then reached forward, hand shaking. Her face set with determination, as his fingers closed around the sword's hilt. It felt familiar, even though she had never laid eyes upon it before.
Serenity's eyes were wild with desperation as she climbed the hill. The forest branches had made short work of her clothing, and it now hung in rags. She felt cold to the very core and seemingly beyond, but it didn't matter. Through the bushes that blocked out the cave at the top of the hill came the harsh sound of goblin laughter, set off by the soft crackling of a fire. Serenity peered in through the heavy thorns.
Beryl was laughing.
"The magical horn is mine, mine, mine!" she exulted. "Now all creatures will love the night, and worship dark minions as divine, vine, vine!"
"You shouldn't be talking like that, Beryl!" Bucket-head warned.
"Why not?" Beryl sneered.
"I've got the power now!"
"Plenty big power!" Bucket- head scoffed.
"Hah!" Beryl turned from him, and began to chant,
" Higher, higher, burning fire! Singing like a choir! " She shrieked a laugh as the fire increased to three times its original size.
"It seems a shame to waste such power!" Pig-face remarked.
"Waste?" Beryl faced him. "Better watch out, old pal! Or I'll turn you into little pork chops!"
"Why not turn everything into garbage!" Yumcha suggested. "A great towering mountain of slop... wouldn't that be oh so magical?"
"Ooh!" Beryl turned from him.
"Higher, higher, burning fire! Singing like a choir!" Again, her shrieking laughter filled the air.
"ENOUGH!" A darkness seemed to rise up and ripple across the earth. Serenity stifled a gasp and cringed back behind the hill, trembling violently. There was a presence about this new figure that was overwhelming. Serenity had an ominous feeling in the pit of her stomach. This thing was so evil... Wrongness hung over it heavily. It made Serenity feel weak and afraid. The horn flew from Beryl's hand to the waiting grip of the Dark Lord.
"The unicorns are dead," it mused. "Is this not true?"
"True, Lord!" Beryl assured him.
"Very plenty true!"
"Undeniably true!" Yumcha added.
"You lie!" the Dark Lord snapped. He pointed to the east.
"Here is dawn!" Serenity looked, and saw the sun rising. Hope rushed through her. 'Not everything is lost, not yet. There is still hope'.
"Stallion is dead," Beryl assured him. "Dead as dreams."
"Out with it!" the Dark Lord demanded.
"The mare lives still!" Yumcha admitted guiltily.
"If even one unicorn walks the earth," the Lord of Darkness told them,
"My power is not complete!"
Beryl protested "It's just the mare, Lord!".
"She has no power!"
"Only the power of creation!" he thundered.
"Get the mare! I command you." The trio bowed low before their Lord. Serenity turned and ran.
"Who goes there?" By the time she reached the unicorn's clearing, Serenity was so exhausted that all she could do was half-stumble, half-slide down the side of the hill. She was tightly controlling her hysteria, but choking sobs escaped her all the same. She looked upward toward the fire, where a brown-haired amazonish girl regarded her with suspicion.
"I-it's just me," she barely whispered. The unicorn reared back, as if furious or very afraid.
"You!" The girl glared.
"You're the cause of all our sorrow!"
"I know! I'm sorry... I'm sorry...!" Serenity sobbed, trying to force the words out past her numb lips.
"I didn't know; please, I really didn't mean it! Forgive me!" She flopped forward onto her face, still shaking with fear and sadness, the cold was a part too.
"I'm not the one you should be asking!" the girl shot back fiercely.
"I have to set it right!" Serenity cried.
"Please, let's hurry! They're going to come for her; the Dark Lord sent them back! We have to leave now!" She looked at the unicorn, which regarded her steadily.
"She's got to get somewhere safe, before they come!"
"Before who come?" The girl frowned.
"Goblins! The Witch! I don't know what they are but we have to hurry up and leave!" Serenity nearly screamed in frustration. Too late, an arrow shot forward, piercing right past the girls head barley missing. Serenity choked back more sobs. 'Another life... that's another life I've cost…' She ran forward, trying to urge the unicorn onward, but it seemed reluctant to leave the resting place of its mate. Serenity whirled around in a fierce stance, as the veil creatures advanced upon them, net held ready...
AN: Comment, questions, suggestion, please review.
