Poisoned From Within
By Bashfulglowfly
Chapter Eight
Usagi was frightened to death.
She had expected to see Mamoru.
She had not expected to see Prince Endymion fighting the Senshi.
She looked around and could not see his Shitennou anywhere around. She had read the reports of civilians occasionally getting injured in the fights but she couldn't let Prince Endymion be hurt!
"Please, you must leave him alone!" she begged.
From behind her a cold monotone voice spoke. "She stinks of him." Usagi looked over her shoulder and saw Mercury standing behind her. The Senshi's blue eyes were disturbingly lifeless.
"Kill her." Came the equally monotone reply of Venus.
Endymion managed to get his hand beneath the links of Venus' chain and pulled. He took a deep breath and screamed "RUN USAKO!"
Usagi looked at Prince Endymion. He used Mamoru's name for me…how…But she lost all train of thought as Mercury's hands clamped around her throat and began to squeeze. She dimly heard Prince Endymion's bellow of rage and heard the other three Senshi attack him. She clawed uselessly at Mercury's gloved hands but she was losing consciousness. Her hand started to fall limp but it became tangled in her necklace.
I don't want to die. I forgive all of you. Help us.
She felt the necklace dissolve.
Endymion saw Usagi's arms go limp and roared out his pain. The next thing he knew he was flat on his back and blinking away the spots from his eyes.
"WORLD SHAKING!"
"DEEP SUBMERGE!"
"SILENCE WALL!"
"Dead scream."
The Senshi screamed as the attacks slammed into them.
Endymion managed to sit up just in time to see Mars and Jupiter teleport, their bodies bruised and bloodied, uniforms torn. Sailor Venus wasn't in much better shape but she paused long enough to collect the body of Mercury. Endymion couldn't tell if the Ice Senshi was dead or unconscious.
He turned to look and there were three women and a girl standing there. They wore uniforms similar to the Senshi but in different colors. But he ignored them to stagger to his feet and to Usagi's side.
He could feel his healing powers working on his wounds, so his mind was clearing from the pain. He knelt by Usagi's side and simply stared. When Usagi had come across the fight, she had been wearing her favorite sundress that matched her eyes. But now, she was wearing a flowing white gown with gold embroidery across the bodice. Her hair, which had been in a simple long braid, was now in two buns with ponytails trailing down. On her forehead glowed a crescent moon.
Usagi had transformed into Serenity.
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The atmosphere in the apartment was tense to say the least but Endymion wasn't paying any attention to anything but the woman lying on the bed before him.
He had Healed the vicious bruises on Serenity's throat while they were still in the park. But she hadn't wakened. Not when he called her by both of her names, not when Shingo called for her. He had even asked the outer Senshi to call her name.
Nothing.
"I'm going to the roof." Nephrite muttered in Kunzite's ear.
"Don't take too long." Came the equally quiet reply.
"Stars tell things in their own time." Nephrite quietly transported out of the room.
Jadeite nudged Zoicite and pointed to Shingo who was casting quick looks at Saturn. Zoicite grinned. "Cute!" Jadeite grinned back.
The Senshi with ocean-colored hair looked at them with narrowed eyes then at Shingo who was now openly gazing at Saturn who was looking at him from beneath her lashes with a blush on her cheeks. That Senshi whispered to the Senshi with the short blonde hair. That Senshi looked at the two youngest in the room, grinned and shrugged.
Everyone in the room jumped when, with a cry, Serenity sat bolt upright in the bed, her hands reaching out to something unseen.
"Serenity? Sere." Endymion brushed his hand across one shoulder and down her arm.
Serenity turned dazed eyes to him. "Dimi?" Her voice was uncertain.
Endymion took hold of her hand and kissed the back of it. "It's me, my love."
"They were attacking you. My Senshi. My sisters. They were attacking you. Why?" Her voice was full of agony.
Endymion pulled her into his arms. "Think, darling. You have to remember. You know the answer."
Serenity lay still in his arms, face pressed against his neck. Endymion simply held her close and stroked her back. Then she gasped and looked up at him. "They killed me. Then they committed suicide!" She buried her face in her hands but the others could hear her clearly. "Adonis, you poor damned fool! Oh Mother! How could you do such a thing?" She looked up tears running in silver tracks down her cheeks. "Dimi. Dimi. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I…I should have told you."
Endymion knew what she was about to say. "I know. I know that we were going to have a baby." Shingo made a startled noise but didn't speak. "I understand why you didn't say anything."
Serenity broke down and sobbed apologizing all the while. Endymion felt the tears roll down his face but he held his beloved closer. "Don't cry, my love. I understand. I really do. I forgive you for not saying anything. Please don't punish yourself."
Shingo watched as his sister collapsed then with a sob of his own flung himself into Kunzite's open arms.
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Nephrite returned to the apartment. But came into the living room where everyone except Endymion and Serenity were waiting. He shook his head before anyone could ask anything. "They were not helpful. Too many factors at the moment."
Kunzite just shook his head. "I'm guessing that there are too many decisions that can be made by Endymion and Serenity for anyone to predict what will happen."
"They will make the right choice." Said a quiet voice.
Kunzite looked at the speaker. It was the woman with the long green hair and the staff. He stood up and bowed. "Forgive me, we forgot to introduce ourselves. I am Kunzite and this is Nephrite, Jadeite and Zoicite." Each of the other men bowed at their name. Kunzite placed his hand on Shingo's shoulder. The boy was dozing on a sofa, worn from worry and tears. "This is Tsukino Shingo, brother to the princess."
"I am Sailor Pluto." Said the green haired woman. "This is Sailors Neptune, Uranus and Saturn." The two other women and the girl nodded at their names.
Kunzite realized that the four women had been standing near the window. He gestured to the seating arrangement, "Please sit down. May we get you something to drink?"
"That would be lovely, thank you." Said Neptune.
The three older Senshi sat down on the other sofa, but young Saturn quietly walked over and sat down next to Shingo. She did not touch him but her large purple eyes gazed down at his sleeping face. The older three looked at each other, Pluto had a small smile while Neptune and Uranus looked concerned but did not say anything.
Zoicite and Jadeite brought out the teapot and various cups. Zoicite laid his items on the table. Jadeite followed suit but knocked the TV remote to the floor. It bounced on the floor and somehow turned on the TV. The sound blared with roaring cars. Uranus jumped to her feet, sword in hand.
Nephrite flung out a hand. "No! It's okay. It's just the television."
Uranus glanced warily at him. "Television?"
"The viewing box." Said Neptune. "Remember? The princess used to watch it quite often when she was younger."
"Yes, I remember." Uranus put her sword away and looked closely at what was going on the screen. Pointing at it "What is this?"
Jadeite replied. "Formula One racing."
"What is that?"
Jadeite explained. Uranus listened. "So they are able to go fast? They are encouraged to go as fast as they can?"
"Yes."
Uranus' blue eyes gleamed and she turned back to the TV. She sat down in the floor and gazed, enraptured, at the cars moving around the track. "Michi, I have got to do this!"
Neptune looked at her and sighed.
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Endymion and Serenity came into the living room holding hands. The others in the room stood up except for Shingo who was still asleep and Saturn who had moved his head to her lap.
Endymion had shed his armor and was wearing a simple black tunic, black leather trousers and black boots that came to his knees. Serenity was still wearing her white dress but had removed her shoes. Serenity leaned over the sofa and brushed her free hand through Shingo's hair then stroked Saturn's cheek. She released Endymion's hand and moved to the other three Senshi and held out her hands. Pluto, Neptune and Uranus wrapped their arms around her and held her close. Uranus sniffled.
Serenity pulled back a little bit. "I am so very sorry that I didn't release you before now. Please forgive me."
Neptune smiled gently and in her silvery voice replied. "Dear Princess, it's alright. We understand not wanting to remember."
Pluto also smiled. "It was troublesome but being stone wasn't all that bad. It could have been worse."
Serenity turned and looked at everyone in the room then back at the Outers. "Yes, it could be worse. You could be in the Inners' shoes."
"How bad is it?" asked Kunzite.
"They hang from the walls and the flesh is slowly stripped from their bones as they scream and in the morning they will go through it again." Came Serenity's response.