Part II: Chapter 23

The Beginning

"Mina run!" Kunzite yelled as he fell to the ground under two green-clad soldiers. His face was slick with blood from a cut on his forehead which bled onto his chest and shoulders. His white hair was caked with mud from the saturated earth that nearly enveloped him beneath the weight of the two men atop him. He struggled against them, his sword cutting into the arm of one while the other landed a blow to his jaw.

Mina spun around, her chest heaving with exhaustion. She too was covered with mud, it soaked the rich orange of her skirt and stuck to the bottom of her golden hair. "No, not without you!" She yelled. She could see Kunzite growing weaker with each thrust of his sword. She couldn't leave him, not now.

"Venus love me chain!" She shouted as a chain whipped from her hands and circled the waist of the soldier on top of Kunzite. She yanked it backwards and the soldier flew from him, crashing onto the earth.

Kunzite wasted little time. He jumped to his feet and with one deadly swing of his sword, cut into the soldier on the ground.

"I've got the others, I'll be fine. We'll meet on the moon." He said to her as he turned towards her, his chest heaving with each breath he drew. "Go…"

Mina put one hand on his cheek while her lips found his, seeking one last kiss before their departure. Kunzite's lips met hers as one hand went to her waist, holding her to him for only a moment before releasing her.

"Go Mina, get the other scouts. Pluto can open a portal." He said as he let her go. "I've got to find Darien."

Mina gave him a solemn nod as she turned, running down the length of the field. She kept her eyes up, trying not to look at the fallen bodies that littered the ground she passed. Barrick's soldiers had taken over the field quickly, cutting down anyone that tried to stand and fight. Most of the people around the platform had fled, running towards the dock for their ships which were quickly taking off while others sought shelters in the residence buildings. Most of the royals in attendance had brought small guards, certainly nothing capable of defending against the army Barrick had arrived with. Those guards fought valiantly but could not stop the steady flow of soldiers before them.

Her eyes flickered over to the other scouts who were set with a group of guards from Neptune and Pluto. They were quickly nearing exhaustion, already many of the guards had fallen but the scouts were doing their best to help. Oddly enough, none of Barrick's soldiers attacked the scouts, at least not with anything powerful enough to cause harm. It was if they didn't even see them, opting instead to target the guards around them.

"Mina!" Amy shouted as Trista opened a portal for them. The queen and king of Neptune rushed through followed by the queen of Pluto. Their guards followed with the scouts creating a ring around them, trying to give them cover to escape.

"We need to leave now!" Lita screamed over the clamor of the field, her eyes set on Mina who was still too far away.

Mina stopped as she could see the portal sputtering behind Lita. She ran as quickly as she could across the field but it was closing fast as more of Barrick's soldiers closed in. She watched helplessly as Lita stepped through and the portal closed behind her.

"Over here!" Fabian yelled to Mina as Nikko opened another portal, just beyond the platform.

Mina turned on her heel and ran across the field, jumping over the bodies of fallen guards from across the galaxy. She tried not to look at their faces, instead focusing on Fabian's outstretched arms. She could see his face caked with dirt and a large gash evident on his right shoulder which was bleeding freely down his shirt.

He put one foot through the portal as he reached for her, his eyes wide. "Mina hurry!" He urged as a group of Barrick's soldiers began to follow her, their eyes on Fabian, not her.

Mina put the last of her strength into her legs, willing herself to go faster as her heart pounded painfully against her chest. She flew into Fabian's arms, both of them falling through as it began to close, shutting out the soldiers.

Mina landed on his chest, sending him flying to the ground as the portal dropped them into a large room with rough stone floors and walls. She groaned as she rolled over, her back hitting the floor as she panted, trying to catch her breath.

Fabian remained against the floor for a moment, also trying to still his ragged breaths.

"He's lost his mind." Nikko said as he stood behind Mina and Fabian, his arms crossed. Unlike his brother, Nikko appeared unscathed. His white blonde hair didn't have a speck of dirt or mud on it but plenty of strands had broken free from the tie that held them back from his face. "He tried to take us all out."

Behind him, Jadeite stood, cleaning his sword on the edge of his jacket. He too appeared unscathed with only a few specks of mud and blood on him.

"I can only imagine how many royal families he wiped out." Fabian groaned as he sat up. "We were completely overrun. I didn't see many make it to the ships."

"Exactly like he wanted it." Nikko said solemnly as he put his hand out towards Mina, offering to help her up.

Mina quietly put her hand in his, allowing him to bring her to her feet. "Who?" She dared to ask. She was afraid of the answer. She had lost sight of Serena and Darien almost instantly once the fighting began and didn't see them on the field after. She hoped that they had escaped though it seemed unlikely Barrick would've harmed her.

"He wiped out the entire delegation from Titan himself." Fabian answered for him as he stood, wincing at the pain in his arm. "The King, the queen, the two princes… all of them… gone."

"He got what he wanted." Nikko said firmly as he shook his head. "Now on to the second part of his plan… which unfortunately, he hasn't revealed just yet."

"We need to get to the moon." Mina said as she looked around them again, still unsure of where they were. "I have to regroup with my team."

"We'll get you there." Fabian promised as he ripped the sleeve of his shirt off, taking a look at the cut on his arm. "You're on Charon, in our palace." He said, noting her confusion.

"Let me help you." Mina said a she walked over to him and grabbed the fabric from his hand, wrapping it around his arm and tying it over the cut to hopefully stop the bleeding. "I didn't see Serena anywhere… did either of you happen to see what happened to her?" She asked.

"Barrick pushed her through a portal." Nikko said with a huff as his eyes narrowed at Mina. "Wherever she is, she's safe. He won't hurt her… unlike some others."

She could feel his gaze upon her even as she worked on Fabian's arm. She could feel the hatred in his glance. She had yet to speak to Fabian about Kunzite. So much had happened on Neptune, she never got a moment alone with him. A fact that seemed to further infuriate Nikko as he approached her.

"What's going on?" Fabian asked as his gaze went from his brother to Mina. "What did I miss?"

"Mina needs to talk to you." Nikko said firmly as he pushed past them to the heavy iron door on the opposite wall. He opened it just enough to slip through. He paused at the door frame, looking over his shoulder at Mina. "I'll be in the hall. I've got to rally our troops to prepare for possible battle, I don't trust Barrick is through with his onslaught. He's got a kill list and I'm fairly certain we're on it." He said as he left, Jadeite following him silently. The door closed behind them.

Mina inhaled deeply as the door shut with a resounding thud that echoed in the empty room. She could feel a sense of dread settle into her stomach as Fabian's attention went to her. The moment the door closed she felt his presence behind her. She felt his hand go to her shoulder.

A week ago, his touch had made her knees go weak and her heart flutter against her chest at the chance to be alone with him. Today… all she could feel was the pang of regret. How had she let things get so far? She had promised him a chance when deep down, she had already made up her mind. It was Kunzite from the start. Fabian had always been a 'what if' that had grown to much more during the Silver Millennium. Only, what feelings she developed for Fabian didn't change the love she felt for Kunzite. And to make matters worse, he knew it.

"Fabian—" She began but he cut her off.

"Let me go first." Fabian said as he sighed, running his fingers through his dark hair.

Mina nodded and stood along the wall, trying to calm her nerves that were already on edge.

"I was so angry when I left the moon." He said as he turned from her, walking along the opposite wall. "The way I saw you looking at Kunzite and then the things I heard you say… I knew that whatever we had a long time ago didn't matter anymore." He turned back to face her, his expression hard but his eyes were red. "I fell in love with you Mina but you didn't fall in love with me… even after everything—"

"I care for you Fabian." Mina said, interrupting him as she took a small step in his direction. "I'm just not the girl for you."

Fabian nodded silently as she spoke, carefully avoiding her eyes. "You picked Kunzite."

"We're married." Mina admitted as she finally held up her left hand. A simple silver band sat around her ring finger holding one small diamond. She felt tears swelling in her eyes as she watched Fabian take a deep breath.

"I guess that's it then." He whispered as he turned away from her. "I can't even fight for you…"

"Fabian… I'm sorry." She whispered as she felt a single tear trickle down her cheek.

He took several moments as he kept his back to her, both his hands on his hips. His breathing had grown uneven and ragged. It was as if he was attempting to take hold of his emotions as well, grappling with the fact that the woman he had risked his life for on more than one occasion, would never be his. When he finally turned to her his eyes were dark and his lips were pursed into a thin line.

Mina could see the pain etched onto his face as his dark green eyes found hers. She could see him struggle to find his words as one hand went to his shoulder where the scar from Jupiter was still healing.

"Dammit Mina…" He finally spoke, his eyes never leaving hers. "I've given everything to you."

"I know." She admitted as she felt his words hit her like a truck. She didn't know what to say to him. What words could she use to ease his pain? There were none. All she could do was watch him as she felt more and more guilt take hold of her.

"I should've listened to Nikko." He said as he shook his head. He scoffed once, as if chiding himself for his actions. "He was right when he said people like us don't belong. We are never enough."

"There's a girl out there for you Fabian, it just isn't me." Mina said as she took one careful step towards him. "You're a good man, probably one of the best I've met. You're valiant, smart and caring—"

"But not enough." He finished for her as he pushed past her and went to the door. His fingers curled around the handle but he hesitated.

"You're still needed in this galaxy. You and Nikko." Mina insisted as she brushed away her tears. "Despite what's happened with me and you, we're still on the same side. We fight the same battles. We have to stop Barrick. We have to stop the Negaverse."

"I don't need to pick a side." Fabian muttered as he shook his head. "I never needed to. I chose the darkness before and it saved my life. When I chose the light…when I chose you… I nearly died." He paused as he looked over his shoulder at her, taking in the sight of her for a moment.

Her cheeks were saturated his tears. Her long blond hair was tangled and matted with mud from the battle on Neptune. Despite it all, she was still the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. "Perhaps you're right Mina. You're not the girl for me. I belong to the darkness and you to the light. I won't harm you… or your scouts… but do not count on Charon as an ally." He said firmly as he pulled the door open and left the room, leaving the woman he risked everything for, behind.

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Serena took several deep breaths as she sank to the cold floor. Barrick had just unleashed a full army on the royal families of the galaxy. Before he had pushed her through the portal she had seen his army span out, cutting through the first row of people beside the platform before they even knew what was happening. How many lives had been lost? How many families extinguished?

She shuddered as she thought of her team, hopefully alive and well, fighting against Barrick's force. He had promised her they wouldn't be harmed but was she wise to trust him? He had promised her that she'd see her mother and she'd jumped at the chance without realizing she had just left everyone behind to face him alone.

Tears streamed down her cheeks as she wrapped her arms around her waist, fighting to calm her ragged breaths as sobs wracked her body. What had she done? Where was Darien? Nikko?

"Serena—"

She paused as she heard a familiar voice behind her, soothing and soft. She instantly stood, her jaw nearly dropping as she saw her mother behind her. Serenity wore a long white gown, the type she usually wore around the palace. Not a single hair was out of place and no bruises or cuts lined her thin arms or shoulders. Was she seeing things? Was it truly her?

"Mom?" Serena asked, not daring to believe her eyes just yet.

"It's me Serena." Serenity replied as she held out her arms to her. "I'm okay."

"Mom!" Serena gasped as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. She ran to her, racing into her arms that closed around her, holding her tightly. "I thought you were dead. Raven said you were dead…"

"She tried to kill me." Serenity said simply as she brushed back Serena's golden hair. "She convinced King Albert to trap me on Saturn. She wanted me dead but he couldn't quite bring himself to do it. Instead, he imprisoned me… that is until Barrick saved me." She said softly.

"What?" Serena asked as she pulled from her, her blue eyes wide. "He… he saved you?"

"Yes." Serenity admitted as she gestured around them. Beyond her arms was a large glass wall, depicting a violent sandy storm that was raging just beyond the glass. Thunder boomed, shaking the glass that held firm against the might of the storm. "He brought me here, to Jupiter."

"Why?" Serena asked, struggling to understand Barrick's intentions. He had saved her once on the Moon already, seemingly coming from nowhere to save her from Queen Raven's assassination attempt. She hadn't understood his motive then either. Now he had saved her mother? What was it that he wanted so badly that he would risk his life to save them?

"You're guess is as good as mine." Serenity replied as she shrugged. "He only said we needed each other. He seems to think we can stop the Negaverse. I'm not sure I believe anything that comes from his lips."

"He… he saved me too." Serena admitted as she glanced around them, knowing that at any moment, Barrick could appear. "Raven tried to kill me on the Moon. He saved me then and all he told me was that we needed each other…" She trailed off, realizing that Barrick had promised to return for her when the moment was right. Did he know of the challenge and of the threat from Saturn? Could he see the future like Trista? How would he know that she would need to be saved again?

"It seems we have more questions than answers." Serenity said simply as she crossed her arms. "But whatever his actions, Serena… do not trust him. He deceived you before, he will do it again." She warned.

"I know." Serena whispered just as a black hole sprouted in the middle of the room. It was a portal, dancing just above the middle of the floor. She watched as Barrick emerged, appearing more weathered than when she had last seen him. His face was covered in mud and flecked with blood. His hair was disheveled and falling into his face.

"Ladies, glad to see you two are well." Barrick said simply as the portal closed. He shed his dirty, muddy cloak and let it fall to the ground around him. He crossed the room and went to the corner to a large porcelain bowl. He dipped his hands in it and washed his face and hands carefully removing each speck of mud and blood as best he could.

Serena watched him, stunned that he could be so casual when his men had just killed hundreds of people. "Barrick… what did you just do?"

"I did nothing less than what was deserved." Barrick replied as he dried his face with a green towel and discarded it on the floor near his cloak. "All of those people were guilty of committing crimes against their own people. All I did was extract vengeance."

"You're a murderer." Serenity said as her blue eyes narrowed.

"I'd like to think of myself as an executioner." Barrick said as a sly grin crossed his face. "Justice has been served."

"Do you not have any feelings?" Serena asked as she approached him cautiously. "Do you not care for anyone in this galaxy apart from yourself?"

His grin faded as she came to a stop before him. His dark eyes met hers as his expression softened. "Isn't it obvious?"

Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as he regarded her for a moment and then turned back towards Serenity.

"Your scouts have gone to the Moon to regroup, I suspect Endymion's men won't be far behind." Barrick said as he straightened his shirt. "I'm sure you're ready to return to your people Serenity but there are a few matters we need to discuss first." He continued as the cruel glint returned to his eye.

"What could we possibly do for you?" Serenity asked as her eyes narrowed. "The Moon does not associate with killers."

"There's something I need from you and you need from me." Barrick said simply as he clasped his hands together behind his back, ignoring her comment.

"What do you need from me?" Serenity asked.

"Not you—" Barrick said as he looked past her to Serena. "You."

"Me?" Serena asked as she glanced at her mother and back at Barrick.

"Yes you…" He took several steps toward her and glanced at her waistline. "I know your secret princess."

Serena took a careful step back from him as one hand went to her stomach. She could feel her mother's eyes on her, wide with amazement but she couldn't look at her, not now. All she could feel was a sense of dread as Barrick's eyes settled on hers.

"You're going to convince Nikko to tell me where he hid my brother." Barrick said as he stopped just inches from her. "And in return, I'll return Jupiter to Lita and stop killing all of the people that aided in the extermination of my family."

"Nikko wouldn't tell me anything." Serena said carefully as she took a cautious step back from him.

"I think you can be very convincing princess—" His eyes dropped to her stomach again as he came to a stop just inches from her. "Because you're going to tell him that the baby is his."

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"What now?" Queen Raven asked as her dark eyes settled on King Albert's back. "Serenity escaped, Serena is still alive and any hope we had of recruiting more planets to our cause was just eradicated!"

"Calm yourself." King Albert said as he turned towards her. His expression was dark as he regarded her. "You're beginning to sound deranged."

"Maybe that's because that girl is going to get my son killed!" Raven shouted as she grabbed a nearby vase and threw it to the ground. It shattered against the floor loudly, spreading all around them in a shower of blue porcelain.

Albert hardly flinched but rather crossed his arms. "You done?" He asked dryly.

Raven opened her mouth to argue even more but hesitated as Albert's eyes narrowed at hers.

"What we need is to regroup. The first unit is ready. The second will be done in two weeks. That's more than enough time." Albert said as he looked over the balcony railing. Below what had been a lavish garden was overrun with tents. Behind them was a field of fire, being fed steadily by a line of men.

"Your forges are a marvel." Raven said carefully as she joined his side. "I've never seen weapons made this way."

"That's what makes them so powerful." Albert remarked. "Now that you've calmed, tell me, how much more time do we have?"

Raven looked up into the sky. The cloud cover on Saturn was always a dark brown sometimes sandy. It made the surface dreary and warm. The landscape was closer to a desert, dry and hot. The day she had arrived the sky was a light beige but now, it had transformed to a murky gray, a color even Albert had rarely seen. "It's nearly time." Raven whispered. "I can feel the darkness even now. It's growing."

Albert's grin only stretched as he watched his men scramble below, trying to contain the fire before them. "Then let us begin."

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The palace on Earth was in an uproar. Guards rushed all around the palace, some in confusion while the others were searching for their friends, cousins, brothers, anyone they knew that had gone to Neptune with their king. Endymion had just returned to the planet and with less than a quarter of the men he had traveled with.

"What happened?" A girl dressed in a sleek purple dress asked a passing guard as he rushed by, caught off guard by the sudden commotion.

"There's been an attack on Neptune at the Grand Council Meeting." He said as he stopped, his chest heaving with each breath he drew. "The King was injured."

"Endymion?" She asked as she pulled her cloak tighter around herself. "I am one of his physicians. Where is he? I must tend to him!"

The guard studied her for a moment, not recognizing her from his usual rounds. Her hair was a fiery red and her fingers were long and thin. She looked young but the royal insignia on her black cloak was the same many of those in the king's service wore. "I've never seen you before." He remarked. "Nor have I ever seen a female physician."

"The King recruited me to his service before his father passed." She said as she pointed to her cloak, her dark eyes flashing. "I have just finished my training at his request. If he is hurt I need to help him now!"

"This way." The guard said as he led her into the palace and up the stairs to King Endymion's room.

The girl jogged alongside him, lifting her skirts as she ran, sprinting up the wooden staircase. They reached the king's bedchamber in no time though the scene that met them was horrifying. A team of five male physicians were scattered around a pale and sickly-looking Endymion. His shirt had been removed and it seemed as if his body had been battered beyond recognition. Cuts and gashes lined his stomach and arms and his face was so purple and swollen it was a miracle he could still breathe.

"Is he alive?" She asked the guard as he stopped at the doorway, not daring to enter the room.

"He's bleeding too much." One physician said as he held a bandage to his king's side. "I need another one!"

Two physicians ran for the cart, bumping into each other and knocking off half the contents of the cart.

The girl sprung into action, pushing past the men in the room as she shed her cloak on the floor. She went to the physician's cart and pulled out small vial from the bottom. It appeared almost empty except for a sandy colored substance within, hugging the bottom corner. She quickly opened it and pushed the physician at his side out of the way. She poured the substance over his open wound, and within moments the bleeding slowed. She grabbed a bandage from the cart and quickly wrapped it around his side, careful not to disturb his other wounds.

While she worked the men around her had stopped to stare, amazed at the sight of a woman tending to their king before them. Never had their king been treated by a woman and yet here was one, better trained than they were, saving his life.

"Who are you girl?" One of the men beside her asked.

The girl stood, her dark red eyes taking in the sight of the stunned men around her. It wasn't the first time she had stunned a room full of men. She was quick, smart and cunning, perfect for the service of the king. She had jumped at the chance to work at the palace, especially after her eyes had befallen the young prince, strong and handsome. She knew from the moment she had seen him, that she belonged at his side. Today, she proved it.

She stood a little higher as she proudly she ran a hand through her long, wavy red hair. "I am the king's newest physician. You can call me Beryl."