Poisoned From Within
By Bashfulglowfly
Chapter Ten
The group made it to the opening in the hill just as the sun was starting to set. Endymion was worried about Serenity being too tired to go on. He could see that she was very pale.
Serenity stood on her tiptoes and kissed him lightly. "I'll be fine. Watch." She cupped her hands together.
"No! Princess! Don't do it!" hissed Uranus.
Serenity looked at the Wind Senshi with surprise. "What do you mean?"
"Don't use the Ginzuishou! Beryl and Metallia will be able to detect it!"
Serenity smiled. "I wasn't planning on using it. Yet, at least." She cupped her hands together again and whispered under her breath. Her hands began to glow and color came back into her face. Then she went to each of the others and touched them.
Endymion felt completely refreshed. As if he had a perfect night's sleep.
Pluto raised an eyebrow. "That's a dangerous spell to know."
Serenity smiled at her. "Only if you use it over and over again. I won't use it again on any of you today."
Kunzite looked at her. "I'm guessing that despite the fact that I feel excellent, if it's used time and again, it wouldn't be good for me?"
Pluto nodded. "The spell fools you into thinking that you are rested. But it's using your body's own energy. If you use it several times in a few days, you will die."
"Not fun."
"No."
Neptune looked into her mirror again. "The other Senshi are this way."
The group moved as quickly and as quietly as they could. They could tell that they were going down. As they went lower and lower, it got warmer. They removed their furs and hid them in a small alcove.
Endymion held Serenity's hand. She clung to it like it was her lifeline. He knew that she was nervous about seeing the Inner Senshi again. He just hoped that she would actually forgive them the way she said would.
"I will forgive them. I promise." Came her soft voice.
Endymion raised her hand to his lips and gently kissed it. "I'm sorry for doubting you."
"I'm doubting myself." Came the soft reply. "Part of me wants revenge for what they did but the rest of me says that they aren't the ones who deserve to be punished."
Endymion didn't say anything but pulled her close to his side as they continued to walk down another level.
"They're over there." Said Neptune pointing at a large opening.
Suddenly a pain-filled shriek echoed off the walls.
The group froze then began to run in the direction that Neptune was pointing.
They burst into a tremendous cavern and stopped in horror at what was before them.
The Inner Senshi were dangling from chains embedded in the ceiling, their hands manacled above their heads and their nude bodies were covered in blood, unable to touch the floor.
It was obvious that the scream of pain had come from Mars because a youma turned in surprise at the entry of the rescuers its hand still on the knife that was hilt-deep in her leg.
Jadeite snarled and with a burst of speed, he attacked the youma who tried to defend itself but it wasn't able produce a weapon before the nearly berserk Shitennou cut it in two. He turned to find another victim but there weren't any. The only ones still alive in the cavern were the rescuers and those to be rescued.
The four girls were quickly lowered from the ceiling, their nude bodies covered by dresses magically produced by Kunzite. Endymion and Saturn used their powers to heal the grievous injuries while the Shitennou held the women they had loved so long ago.
Serenity hovered anxiously nearby with Pluto, Neptune and Uranus standing close to her watching for other enemies.
Finally, Endymion and Saturn were finished. The Inner Senshi had been completely healed.
Slowly they began to wake. But it was obvious that they were still under the power of Beryl and Metallia because when they laid eyes on the Shitennou, they transformed and prepared to attack.
"Stop." Serenity's low voice barely echoed but the Inner Senshi heard her and they turned.
"Endymion's whore." Came Venus' monotone voice.
"Endymion's love." Corrected Serenity as she approached the girls who had been her friends and sisters. "Your friend. Your sister."
"We have no friends." Said Mars.
"We have no sisters." Said Jupiter.
Mercury said nothing but produced a blade of ice and lunged for Serenity.
"SAILOR MERCURY, I FORGIVE YOU!"
Mercury stopped short, frozen by Serenity's words. The sword fell from her grasp and shattered on the floor.
Humanity entered Mercury's eyes then her face.
Serenity smiled.
"SAILOR VENUS, I FORGIVE YOU! SAILOR MARS, I FORGIVE YOU! SAILOR JUPITER, I FORGIVE YOU!"
Humanity returned to the other three.
The Inner Senshi collapsed to the rough stone floor and began to cry.
Serenity walked over to them and knelt in front of them and gently touched each on their head. Venus looked at her, tears still rolling down her face. "Why didn't you kill us?"
Serenity shook her head. "Kill you for something that wasn't your fault? That would make me as bad as Beryl. I could not live with that sin on my soul."
"We've done so many bad things to Endymion, the Shitennou and to the People of Earth." Said Jupiter.
"So you deserve some sort of punishment?" asked Serenity raising one eyebrow.
The Inner Senshi nodded at her.
"Very well." Serenity rose to her feet and stared down at the four kneeling before her. "This is my decision. For the rest of your lives, however long or short they may be, you will live a life of servitude to Truth, Honesty, Justice and the People of Earth, forever putting their needs before your own. You will furthermore stand by the side of which ever one of Shitennou who chooses make sure you fulfill this punishment and provide them with love, comfort and as many children as they want."
The Shitennou grinned.
Mars choked and glared at Jadeite who had the largest grin. "You want me to be that fool's love slave?"
Serenity smirked at her. "You asked to be punished."
"I'm not a masochist."
"Too late now."
"Bitch."
Endymion bristled a bit at the insult then realized it was said in the same tone of voice that he would use to insult his brothers and relaxed.
"Let's get out of here." Said Uranus.
"You aren't going anywhere." A strange voice echoed around them.
The cavern grew marginally brighter.
In the lighter gloom they could see a throne with a red-haired woman sitting on it.
"Dye job?" asked Uranus, not bothering to keep her voice low.
"Lousy one." Said Neptune scornfully. "Tacky dress too."
The others choked back laughter, stunned that they could even laugh in such a situation.
Beryl glared at the ocean Senshi who coolly stared back.
Beryl turned away first. She turned her eyes to Endymion and smiled. He shuddered at the sight of the yellowed, pointed teeth. "Dearest Prince." She tried to purr the words but it sound like a ragged engine. "Come to me and we shall dominate the world!"
"No thank you." Came his reply.
Beryl's eyes flashed and her face contorted into a snarl. "Join me or die!"
"You die first!"
Beryl screamed an enraged command and the youma who had been hidden in the shadows attacked. The Senshi and Shitennou defended themselves as Beryl cast spells down upon the group but they were blocked and shattered by Endymion's counter-spells and sword.
Serenity stood and waited. She was an ocean of calm amidst the battle.
Just as quick as the attack started, it ended. The bodies of Beryl's youma were strewn across the cavern floor like broken, bloody rag dolls.
Beryl collapsed in her throne, panting for breath.
Endymion, sword still drawn, began to advance towards her.
Beryl began to babble, promising everything from gold and gems to sexual perversions that shocked even Jadeite.
Endymion continued to advance.
Beryl tried one more spell.
A large spear-shaped crystal came from the floor and arrowed straight for Serenity.
Serenity did not move.
"Silence Wall."
The crystal spear shattered harmlessly to dust against Saturn's shield.
Endymion's hand filled with roses and he flung them at Beryl. One buried itself deep into her breast. Beryl screamed in agony as the rose bloomed.
Beryl cast a desperate spell and disappeared.
Serenity spoke. "She has gone to her master."
The others looked at her.
Serenity smiled calmly. "Now the fun really begins."