Fall
Prince Darien and the Guardians marched into the courtyard dispatching all who came between them and the princess. Serena was across the courtyard battling the evil sorceress, Serena had the upper hand over Beryl until she heard her name being called from across.
"Serena" yelled the prince and in that moment of distraction Beryl struck, she knocked the princess to the ground sending her sword flying two feet from her. She laughed "And so ends the reign of the moon kingdom" she said holding her staff up high over her head intending to strike the fatal blow.
Beryl grimaced when the blow didn't land, she looked down and saw that the prince had thrown himself between the princess and her. "NO!" she yelled at what she had done "He's mine!" she screamed. Beryl took the prince high above the ground, Serena scrabbled to her feet screaming for her to let him go.
"Run" said the prince in a horse whisper "RUN!" he said more forcefully. Serena did as she was told and ran but not away, she ran towards the prince "No Darien, I want to be with you" she yelled as she leapt up into the air, she reached her hand out to him as the prince did that same with their fingers almost touching Beryl struck.
"How sickeningly sweet, but sorry princess if I can't have him no one will" once again her staff held up high into the sky Beryl let out a yell then aimed and fired an energy blast and then everything went black.
The Queens Point of View…
"There they are" said Queen Serenity to Artemis and Luna who were following close behind. "Serena" she whispered "I am so sorry my daughter, but I have no choice"
"Your Majesty!" called Luna, Queen Serenity turned around and saw that Diamonds sandmen were rapidly approaching "We can't stay here, run" the Queen ran towards the palace courtyard and saw more sand men approaching where the fighting was taking place.
"What are they doing" asked Luna
"They are putting Metaria's minions to sleep," said Artemis
"I thought they were fighting on the same side"
"I guess their partnership over and done with"
"No time for talking" said the Queen when she took off at a run. The Queen was fast approaching the courtyard just in time to see her daughter leap up into the air towards the captive prince both of their hands outstretched reaching for each other when suddenly, a blinding light erupted from Beryl's staff and hit both royals killing them.
"NO! She's taken them both!" the queen cried in agony
"Oh, god no," cried Luna
"In the name of Nyx this can't be happening" gasped Artemis
"SERENA!" cried the Queen
"Your Majesty" called a voice from the right
"Pluto" said the Queen with tears running down her face.
Guardians Point of View…
"Hurry" said Venus as she tackled one of the soldiers to the ground, she let her light whip circle around her with one hand while she drew her sword with the other she retracted her whip and unsheathed her other Dao sword. She sliced through the first couple of men when she saw them "Sandmen!" she yelled to the others "Their coming!" she yelled narrowly avoiding getting her head chopped off.
"Mars, send a messenger hawk and tell all available members of our army to gather at the training courtyard," said Uranus
She did as she was told and summoned a few more flaming hawks and sent them on their way. Within minutes a handful of Lunarian soldiers made their way to the courtyard and joined the fighting.
"How is it that no one managed to figure out that Metaria's seal had weakened over the last couple of millennia" yelled Jupiter
"The Moon Kingdom is part of a realm of darkness a single light in that darkness has blinded us," said Mars
"What the hell does that mean?" asked Venus
"We've become too complacent and comfortable over the last couple of millennia," said Mercury
"What?!" asked Venus
"We got lazy Venus, that's what happened" said Mars shooting an arrow at a nearby opponent.
"Where is the Princess?" asked Mercury
"Over there" yelled one of the guardians. "Serena!" Darien called out to her, Serena looked his way and, in that moment, Darien realized his mistake Beryl had gotten the upper hand over her. Darien took off at a run and threw himself over the fallen princess. "Prince Darien!" called out Neptune "Damn it" she impaled another soldier with her trident and called out to the other guardians. Mars, Neptune, Uranus, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Jupiter all looked at him horror as the injured prince was lifted into the sky and the princess leapt up after him reaching for him and them there was a blinding white light. The Guardians cried in unison "Serena!"
"We failed" cried Venus "We were supposed to keep her safe, we failed"
Uranus looked around at the other guardians "Where is Pluto?" she asked but she was nowhere to be found. There floating off in the distance were the prince and princess' lifeless bodies, and Beryl laughing maniacally.
Beryl's Point of View…
"How could her have chosen her? she was his destiny not her; they were soulmates not them. Why did it have to be her? what did she have? why did he love her?" The Lady Beryl asked herself over and over and over for the last couple of weeks she would make them pay they will all pay for her pain. The princess was a good fighter, and she almost won the upper hand when then she saw it, her opening, Prince Darien screamed her name and in that moment the princess turned her attention to her beloved prince and Beryl Struck her down. She laughed and held her staff up high, "a gift from Metaria" she said just as she was about to deliver the killing blow when she saw it. Prince Darien had thrown himself between Her and the princess. "NO!" she couldn't believe it and for one single moment she was in complete and utter shock. But that moment passed, and then utter rage took over. "He's mine" she yelled. She lifted them up in the air with the intention of taking him somewhere safe where they could be together forever. Prince Darien told her to run "Yes run-away little princess he is mine" she thought but to her surprise she didn't run away instead she ran towards them and leapt up into the air after them. The prince and princess reached out to each other, their finger's almost touching Beryl declared that if she couldn't have the prince then no one would "Die!" she yelled and let a strong energy blast fire from her staff that hit the prince and the princess head on and with that it was all over the moon kingdom had fallen.
"You did it my dear girl" said the disembodied voice of Metaria "Now, Get me the crystal"
"What about them?" she gestured to the fighting guardians
"They are off no consequence now, the crystal gets me the crystal and set me free"
"Where is it?" she asked but there was no answer "Metaria!" she yelled
"Wait" said Metaria "It's coming, the crystal is coming to us"
Diamonds Point of View…
"What have I done?" Prince Diamond had commanded his sandmen to turn on Beryl and her forces "Serena" he whispered as one of his sandmen entered the room waiting for his orders "Go to the door to the bastion, find the citizens of the moon kingdom put them all to sleep" he commanded
"Until what time my prince?" asked the sandman
"Tonight, the light of the moon will fade, wake them up when the moon rises again" he told his faithful servant
"And what of the guardians?" he asked
"Put them to sleep as well, one day the moon shall rise again I'll make sure of it"
Determined the prince hatched a new plan and took off to the training yard. There he saw it Beryl holding the prince captive Serena trying in vain to reach him and the blast from her staff and then nothing it was as if the world had stopped turning. There wasn't much time the sun was beginning to rise in the horizon and the light of the moon was rapidly fading.
Queen Serenity's Last Stand…
Queen Serenity made it to the courtyard just in time to see the sandmen putting all including the guardians to sleep.
"Your Majesty you need to hurry the sun is rising," said Luna
The Queen look up into the sky held out her hands when suddenly, she is knocked backwards by the Lady Beryl.
"Give me the crystal" she commanded
"Its power is too great for you to handle Beryl"
"You don't know how powerful I've become I can do anything!"
"No, Beryl don't you see Metaria is just using you, you need to let it go Beryl she won't give you what you want"
"Shut up you know nothing! You don't know my pain! You don't know my sorrow!" she screamed in agony and rage. Queen Serenity used her power to knock Beryl back, but she just kept on coming she could feel it her power was weakening as the sun rose on the horizon. But the good news if the Queen's was weakening then so was Metaria's as children of the dark their power was amplified during the night. She had to make this fast, she had little time left Queen Serenity called out to the power of the moon and rose high above the sky under the fading light of the moon the crystal erupted from her chest and rose up high above the light sky. The crystal shone bright against the lightening sky. Beryl stood back up and charged at the queen, but she was pulled back as the queen was engulfed in a brilliant white light. The light of the crystal grew more brilliant until it erupted all around her and then the queen fell and landed with a dull thud. The moon faded completely from the night sky and dawn rose once again.
"Your Majesty!" called out Luna
"Your Majesty!" called Artemis
Suddenly Beryl stood of shaking feet holding on to her staff for support laughing. "Poor little Kitties" she said. "Now witness the moon kingdom has fallen, look at your Queen look at your precious princess and look at the almighty guardians, fallen. It is Metaria's time to reign" the laughed.
"No, there is still hope for our future," said the Queen
"What hope? You? Your Majesty, you lay there dying and your beautiful little daughter is dead" she laughed again and then walked away. Luna and Artemis both approached their dying queen.
"Your Majesty what can we do?" asked Luna
"It didn't work Metaria is still in control, and the princess is dead," said Artemis
"I didn't use the crystal to imprison Metaria, I used it to bring them back"
"Take care of my daughter Luna guide her as you have guided the others. Please the crystal…" she didn't get to finish.
"What? No! My Queen please Your Majesty, YOUR MAJESTY!" cried Luna she nuzzled Artemis and let the tears fall.
"Luna get a hold of yourself we need to get to the others," said Artemis
Luna sniffled "Your right, come on" she told him and then they both took off at a run towards the courtyard. When the two feline familiars reached the training courtyard, they saw it the Lady Beryl was bend over the prince stroking his face affectionately. They hid from sight behind some rubble as she opened a portal and had two of her soldiers carry the prince through. "Where are they taking him?" asked Artemis
"I don't know, we can't worry about that now we need to get to the princess," said Luna. "The guardians what happened to them"
"They are still alive" said Artemis as he looked down at Jupiter's face "I think their asleep, I thought I saw the sandmen around here earlier. Their gone now, come on"
Before they could reach the fallen princess the two feline's saw prince Diamond approaching, he scooped the princess in his arm and took off.
"He's taking her, come one we better follow," said Luna
"Right best not to lose him," said Artemis
Diamonds Plan/Beryl's Resolve…
Prince Diamond took the sleeping princess in his arms and walked back into the palace all without knowing he was being followed. He walked down the forbidden corridor and through a new set of double doors. Luna recalled seeing all but one of the guardians asleep on the courtyard Pluto guardian of time. "Where is he going, and where is Pluto" asked Artemis.
"Don't know but we are going to find out come on" she said and continued through the door. Artemis following close behind the two cats founds themselves walking down darkened forest.
Prince Diamond walked for twenty minutes before he stopped dead in his tracks. The prince used his third eye to reveal a large and glittering white castle in the middle of the forest. The princess in hand the prince continued to walk and ascended the steps as the doors opened. The place was dark darker than the kingdom of death Luna thought and cold they followed the prince through the double doors and into an empty white room with a large bed, Prince Diamond had placed the princess on the bed and walked out, Luna and Artemis remained unseen by the grieving prince. Luna and Artemis walked back through doors they came from. "We need to do something," said Artemis.
"We need a plan," said Luna
"We need the guardians"
"I know, the question is how"
"There is nothing you can do now dear friends," said an unseen voice. Both felines turned then and saw the guardian of time walking towards them. "At least not right now" she said
"What do you mean?" asked Luna and Artemis
"And why aren't you asleep like the rest of the guardians" aske Artemis
"What do you know?" asked Luna
Back to the day of Mars' prediction…
"What do you see?" asked the Queen to Mars.
"Darkness, Conflict and Destruction"
"But that is not all, I also see a malevolent entity something that will strike at the very heart of both Lunaris and Solaris. There is also light"
"Light?" she asked. "Yes, the light will defeat this coming evil and there will be peace once again, but should the light fail, all will be lost" she finishes. "What light are you talking about is it the Crystal?" the Queen asked.
"I cannot say for sure your Majesty all I can say is that we better prepare for war"
"Anything else?" the Queen asked.
"A sacrifice must be made," says Mars.
"A sacrifice? What kind of sacrifice?" asked the Queen.
"I'm sorry I can't,"
Mars did as instructed and walked out but before she could warn the general Pluto appeared before her. "What aren't you saying Mars"
"What?"
"I know there is more to your prediction than you are saying, what did you see?"
"You are the guardian of time, you tell me!"
"What did you see?"
"The princess dead along with the Solarian prince"
"Is that the sacrifice we must make"
"No, I also saw Metaria and a great battle, but I couldn't see who wins, the point is Metaria is coming back, and she will start a yearlong battle starting on the night of the Silver Millennium."
"And what of her Majesty?"
"It is not her battle to fight or ours for that matter"
"Then who's is it?"
"Serena"
"I thought you said she dies"
"I also said there was a sacrifice"
"The Queen?" Mars just nodded her head in confirmation.
"Anything else" asked Pluto
"The prince shrouded in darkness"
"And?"
"This is not an exact science there are limits to my power of perception, I can see all the scenarios the multiple outcomes either we rise, or we fall there are many variations just as you can not affect the future, I cannot see everything, all I can tell you is that the decision has been made and were in the midst of a war"
Back on the Dark moon palace…
Diamond stood at the foot of the princess bed "Welcome to the dark moon princess, I am so sorry I'll make this right I promise" a single tear ran down his cheek. "I just wanted you to see me princess, me and only me"
Back in the ruins of Lunaris…
The sandmen moved quickly, they carry the sleeping guardians to the temple and placed them on their respective chairs to await the yearlong sleep. The sandmen moved gracefully out the door only for the last of the sandmen to turn and extinguish all the lights shrouding the room in darkness.
The Dark Realm…
Beryl placed the prince inside a dark coffin laughing "Soon my dear, I'll see you soon" she told him and asked Metaria to open his eyes to her truth. "Do not worry my dear all will be yours in due time. All in due time" she told the Lady Beryl as the hooded figure stood behind her with an evil smile on her face. When suddenly darkness covered the prince shrouding him, he opened his eyes only for the soft golden hazel of them to be replaced by darkness he smiled a twisted smile all the while looking at the Lady Beryl.
Back on the Dark Moon…
Prince Diamond had long since left the sleeping princess in the chamber a lone tear escaped her eye rolling down her cheek and staining her pillow.
The Ruins of Lunaris
Artemis and Luna looked on at the destruction of their kingdom the remaining soldiers who survived the battle were taken by the sandmen and placed in the catacombs beneath the still standing palace. Luna nestled against Artemis crying "Come one Luna" he told her, and they turned back to the temple they entered the chamber with the sleeping guardians "One year… one year and the war will resume" she told Artemis
"Do you think she knows?" He asked
"Who?"
"Metaria"
"No, Metaria has many gifts, but precognition is not one of them. Right now, she thinks she's won but we will show her the moon will rise again"
"Let's hope so"
"I know it will"
