Chapter 5
The world was in chaos. Explosions rocked the ground while smoke and dust filled the air. The sun was blocked out by an oppressive darkness, it's shadow chilling to the bone. Warriors fought for and lost their lives in droves. The ground was covered in blood and gore. Nothing and no one was able to stop the evil that was swallowing the Earth whole.
Nephrite gripped his claymore in one hand and gazed at the scene before him. Nearly all of his troops were gone, decimated. Even the most powerful mages had been destroyed. All of what would be come to be known as North and South America had been laid to ruin. The Negaverse wiped out everything in it's path, and it's red headed witch queen was just as ruthless. Even now, nearly 10 miles away, he could hear her cackling laughter as she killed innocents, stealing their lives and energy to fuel her conquest.
Summoning the last of his strength and courage Nephrite prepared himself to face Beryl and her minions. He had no way of knowing that he was the last surviving general of Earth's Imperial army; his three fellow generals having already fallen. Even his King and Prince had been taken. All he knew was he had to protect his planet until he was dead, having sealed his oath long ago.
At the same time though, he knew he would break another oath he had made. An oath to a woman as powerful and as passionate as him. A warrior of her own planet, who even now, was preparing to defend her princess and the Silver Moon Kingdom. Lita, his Jovian love. The woman he wanted as his wife and the mother of his children. Part of his heart and soul would always belong to her.
It would be the only thing that would save him in the end.
"Nephrite, stop!" Lita screamed at the man she loved. At least, it was the body of the man she had sworn her heart to. She and the sailor scouts had learned that as the Earth fell to the darkness, so did the generals. Prince Darien had barely been able to warn the Moon Kingdom before the Negaverse began it's attack.
"I must serve my Queen." Even his voice was different, hollow and cold. Lita refused to believe it, remembering how his voice was the last time they spoke. Warm and growly, deep and strong, sending shivers of delight down her spine. His beautiful, bright cobalt eyes were now dull and nearly black. Lips that had one scowled as easily as they smiled were blue and lifeless.
"No -" Lita lifted her own sword to block his attack, thankful that they had trained together in the past and she was prepared for his strength. "You don't."
He didn't respond as his attacked, each strike just as powerful and precise as the last. Lita knew she was in for the fight of her life. Her lover was a gentle man who stargazed, but that was just part of him. He was a warrior first and foremost, trained from a young age.
Each of Darien's generals had a purpose. Malachite was the head of Security, protecting the prince and directing the other three generals. Zoicite was in charge of Intelligence, gathering information from spies and political targets. Jedite was in charge of Strategy, making battle plans and commanding the troops.
It was Nephrite that was the most dangerous of the four. He was the Enforcer. He trained the troops and was the one who physically protected the prince. He was a combination of all three generals. He was genius smart, focused like a laser, and charismatic enough to move mountains.
Lita had been helpless to the entire package deal. He was in her estimation, the perfect man. He matched her in every way, and still made her feel small and protected. That in itself was a feat, since she had every single quality that he did. She was the Sailor Scout version of him. They were equally matched.
It was their equality that made them be the last two standing when all the others had fallen. Both had felt their counterparts fall and knew that there was no way to win. It was a fight to the death. No winner, no loser. Somehow though, it didn't matter. They couldn't not finish what had been started. It was a destiny written in the stars long before their birth.
As Queen Serenity sent them through time and space, those very same stars twinkled. They knew that their children would live again and know happiness. They were immutable; their power unwavering and unchanging.