Hi.
I'm going to cut this short and move straight to the Hellos.
Special Hellos and Thanks Yous to:
Shinigami (After all that work I put into answering your questions…::Shakes fist in mock anger:: What's going to happen to the Accursed One, eh? I'm not telling. If I did, why the heck would you guys continue to read this fic? You are a bold one with daring questions and all.)
Sarri-chan (I know, those are wild. I think I've added about three new stories or authors to my lists. Okay, hi. Thanks. Yeah, I'm working on the tension, this story is not over, but it will not drag if I can help it. Okay, it's in chapter nine. The group is discussing the inevitable war with the Dark Moon and the Accursed One and Nike comes up and mention that the planets are leery of Queen Serenity's continued rule so they have to come up with an alternative plan or new leadership. It was decided at that war meeting to make Endy the ruler of the Solar System. I'm working as fast as I can. ::Pouts:: Fine, throw your green snowflake, you won't get it back. ^_^. )
Serenity Miral (Howdy. Thanks. That was a rather special moment. He was due for one, but don't call this guy sweet. I take offense to that ::Smile:: Yeah, all that's coming soon and the kid. She had that coming since the second book. My call? My god, you are giving me a decision. ::Author fall from favorite chair in a faint.:: Anyway, thanks, and I'm working on it. Sceesh, you'd think I don't post but once a year or something—Hey, that's a good idea, and I might be able to rake in more reviews that way. Just kidding. )
Marni (Hi. Thank you. I was doing it for you ::Smile:: Is that a good thing?)
Adyen (::Falls to knees and sobs:: I'm sorry! Will you forgive me? God, using that much space just to say thank you! O the humanity! ::Collapses to floor screaming:: I'm such a bad author! Shoot me now and just put me out of my misery. Okay, I'm over it. Really? I didn't know that but I will try to cut down on the thanks and the notes, however, I do encourage you all to share your opinions concerning this fic with me and I think everyone deserves to be acknowledged for taking the time and effort to review. But if it will make you happy, I'll try to limit myself while writing the responses. I want everyone to be happy. I'm curious, though, how did you come up with one-fourth? I though it was more. ::Smile:: I'm teasing. But I will take this in account and put in more story. It's a good chance you are not the only who feels this way. Thanks, Adyen for pointing this dreadful habit out to me.)
ChibiChaos (Hello. Thanks, for saying this fic is cool. Now for your question. Rei's issue with Bunny. If you are referring to what's in this fanfic and you are reading the first ten chapters of Book One, Rei's soul has been poisoned. Read the notes at the end of chapter ten of this book, what Ananke did to Luna is similar to what had happened to Rei. Now if you are talking about the anime, I don't know. I would say that its insecurities. I'm not sure if that helped or anything. But in book one, yes, she's jealous. There's a war going on inside her body with Bellona trying to break free of the possession, but no—or maybe, Rei's not insane.)
Arabella Silverbell (Hi. Thank you. And I will press on.)
Wreath of Roses (I just love that name. Hey, how's it going? Thank you and thank you. We will see won't we? I had to do something to keep him from growing stale. Yep, the anime just ruined that character. Thanks. Hey, don't rush with anything. I hope you are better now and my best to you and yours. Be happy, rest, and just smell the roses. ::No pun::. You're not alone there, I love them too. Later.)
Ame. Sere (Whatzup! You got a bit of gore and the sickness and the fun has just started. Can I borrow your hose? I need to clean up all the blood and guts around my desk. Yep. He's a likable guy! ::Laughs:: I was not looking for anyone to agree with me about him, but I'm glad that you think he's human. Okay, enough about Endy, the way you guys go on about him, you'd think this fic was about him ::Grins::. Well, we both agree that Mamoru is a loser. Caroline is having an attack of conscience and she realized that Endy has grown past his need for her to accept him. She never had the time to be a mother to her son nor did she love him as a mother should have. He is just something to be used and discarded depending on her whims. And the reality of her relationship with Endy is hard for her to accept. The study of myths is a hobby of mine. Alright, I will take suggestions for Pluto, I have an idea for Kore. But Pluto is fair game.)
Deny (Hi. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It was nasty, wasn't it? It had to be done. And yes, there will be no more Gods in this batch of Senshi. They've all been put out and accounted for. I'm not rushing. I know, I was just kidding around, so don't fret. Let's not go for forever, maybe half way there. ::Wink:: I understand, alright. Enjoy this one, I look forward to your next review.)
Galos (Hello. Alright, I know I breezed over that part, however, I would never leave something like that hanging without an explanation in the following chapter. But nitpicking is cool, a soldier must know what he or she is walking into or it's the end. Yes! Caroline's comeuppances have begun. It was a blow to her ego, but she had it coming and has more good news in the following chapters. Thanks. Yes, I know, I don't write battles that well, that's what my partner is for; unfortunately I will not let him touch any of my fics. But I do try to make the fights interesting and messy. That's all I can hope for. Anyway to continue. Woo hoo! Yes, I pulled one over you. ::Doing the happy dance:: I must give credit were credit is due, I was inspired by Book One of the Stars Series and Draegyn's Guardian of Selene for that bit. As for Ananke. Yeah, umm, her fate. Okay, yeah. Ananke…::Author walks away whistling Dixie:: I think that part was the most difficult to write. Thanks. I will make that change. Thank you. And lastly, Shinigami was very bold with the questions and…what? What doubts did you have, how come I'm the last to know about them? Aww, man! Just kidding. Thanks.)
Min H.H. (Hi. Min, you are so straightforward and honest in your reviews. I never know what to say other than thank you. I am very happy that you enjoy this series and has stayed with. Thank you for the reviews. I am very glad that you read this stuff. Thanks.)
Chapter Eleven
Darien looked up from his game on Endy's laptop and watched Caroline pace the length of the starboard wall. Behind her was a large bay window that which over looked his island home.
This place almost felt like home to the young Prince, now that the magic of his home world was released from it's hiding place. It was pouring up to the surface through the enchanted forests and rivers that flowed from Terra's heart. He knew from stories that all the treasures of Queen Gaia's kingdom disappeared under the sea when his father died on Silver Millennium. Without a terran ruler to support the magic, the Great Gods awoke a final time and sealed the throne of Terra and all her magic beneath the sea and covered it from all eyes for all time. Then his father was reborn, and as the heir of Gaia de Danaan he was able to return to Atlantis and free all the magic of Terra and make everything beautiful once more.
Erebus groaned slightly. Darien reached over and rubbed the wolf's belly.
"Don't about Father, Erebus," Darien said quietly. "Terran is with him and so is Uncle Kunzite and Mama's watching him from Silver Millennium. Father is safe."
Caroline looked at the little boy curious. "What is this Silver Millennium, Endymion?"
Darien wondered if she was joking or just trying to be mean. But there was genuine confusion in her green eyes so it was neither. The little boy stood up and walked over to the window and pointed to the bright, round moon in the sky.
"That's Silver Millennium." He told her. "It's where my mother is from."
Caroline looked to the moon then back the little boy and frowned. "That's the Moon."
He gave her a worldly look and told her. "There are other moons in the this System; The moon that orbits Terra is not the only one."
"Then it should be called Luna." Caroline declared plaintively.
"Luna is a Mau word." Darien told her. "My great-grandmother Queen Selene found the first kingdom on the white moon and she named it Silver Millennium, much the same way as my grandmother Gaia De Danaan's father name this star Terra."
"Stars are suns." She retorted coldly.
Darien sighed at her apparent stupidity. Pluto always told him to respect his elders and his father had repeatedly threaten to ground him until the next Ice Age. Darien bit his tongue and then said. "When you stand on another planet, Terra appears like a blue-green star in the distance. Like Mars is red and Venus is gold. They are all stars…"
"You talk as if you have stood on the other planets." Caroline said. It was meant to be a jib, but Darien nodded.
"I have." He sounded almost wistful. "I've been on every planet and moon in the solar system and have traveled outside of our universe with my mama a few times but nothing is like standing on Silver Millennium watching the sun rise over Terra." He smiled sadly. "I wish I could go there right now."
Endy couldn't sleep. The newly awaken magic of his planet was making it hard for him to concentrate on anything. Magic was infusing itself in the planet's energy fields and it was corrupting all the work created by man since the Fall as it brought to life places of myth and legend. He had heard Mike's report to Kris, people all around the globe were seeing the major sites and cities from the Golden Kingdom's past. Misdirecting mists faded away, illusions disappeared and from Mt. Olympus to Easter Island it all changed.
Unfortunately this influx of magic and the receding spells could have destroyed the areas they were in, just as bringing the heart of Atlantis could have wiped out the costal cities of the four continents that were touched by the Atlantic ocean, had not Endy been as strong as he was and able to use his Golden Crystal effectively.
Still, it was kind of disturbing to look about Atlantis and see a forest and no dead fish. He knew it odd that he would question the validity of his home world's magic, but it was kind of creepy. He was hoping or expecting to walk into a salt-water marsh and his beautiful palace lay in ruins or something and he would have to recreate all life on Atlantis, but no such luck. The ground was stable and bone dry. The vegetation was lush and thriving and from the looks of over growth that surrounded the palace, the only people who would be needed to restore his palace would be an army of gardeners, carpenters, and masons. The seal that was placed over this land had protected it beneath the gray Atlantic and somehow allowed the plant life to thrive and keep its waters sweet. But all human and animal life had been extinguished. Not even Terra's heart could have completely healed itself after the attacks of Metallia and her witches. But now, with the warm sun reaching it and Endy helping her along, Terra would be completely healed.
He started to turn away and return to the campsite and came to a halt. The thick brush he had walked through was gone and in its place was a lush meadow. Endy looked back at the Golden Palace and it was gone as well and out of nowhere there was a towering columns of gray stones and long corridors. Endy turned around in a complete circle. He was in a rotunda or a nave. Nine columns surrounded him, on each of them were inscribed the names of the Tuatha De Danaan. He looked up at the stone slabs that was locked in the between the columns as they rose up to create the dome and he read the names that had been painstakingly craved into them; Daghda Belenus de Danaan and on another he read Georgianna Dania Shields, Gaia de Danaan, Queen of Terra, daughter of Daghda Belenus and Danu Erda. His stepmother in this life and his mother in both. But who would have done this? And where was he—It suddenly became clear, he was in the Nemeton of Tara, the Royal Crypt of the terran royal family. He was Ireland, in a newly arisen monument no doubt but the looming question that was most present in his mind was how the hell did he get here?
Endy sent out a call to his guardians and he drew his sword from the air. Something had invaded his planet and drew him to a graveyard most likely with one goal in mind and that was to assassinate him. Endy took up a defensive stance, his crystal ready at the slightest whisper of an attack. With all his senses in tuned to his surroundings, he was able to cut down the first of his attackers. Endy whirled and his right foot connected with a metal breast plate and he sent that person rolling, with a backhanded gesture Endy blasted the attacker and raised his sword to meet another. He altered his blade in mid swing and his sword sliced through the arm of his would be killer. The being, metallic looking man screamed in agony and Endy finished him off the same way as he watched more of them come. Endy mouth crimped in annoyance as the bastards' numbers seemed to increase and he found himself surrounded on all sides. He was not about to surrender, but he wasn't foolish enough to believe that he was going to survive this battle. His right hand clenched convulsively around the hilt of his sword. If he was going to die, he was going do so fighting.
"You want me?" He bellowed ferociously. His power snapping about him like wild flames. "Come on!" He charged forward only to be thrown back by an invisible force. Endy hit a column and went crashing through it and smashing into a wall. He fell to the stone floor with a sick thud. His sword slipped from his trembling fingers, but the Gold Crystal had reabsorbed itself into his body and was rapidly healing him, but it wasn't fast enough. Another blast sent Endy flying through the wall and onto a stone sarcophagus. Endy laid there for a moment, trying to catch his breath. He felt a trickle of blood run down the side of his face and his ribs felt like someone had taken a cricket paddle to them a few times.
"So this is the mighty King of Terra." Someone sneered. "You are still weak and pathetic in this world as you were in the last."
Endy laughed bitterly as he opened his eyes, "I'm just having an off day," he said sardonically. "But then so does everyone." He turned to the person, his lips curling in disgust. "But then you wouldn't know that, considering you haven't the strength to contend with me, Diamond."
The white haired Prince of Nemesis was taken off guard by Endy's knowledge of himself. And he could not think of a rejoinder fast enough to hide this fact, Endy noted as he sat up. The crystal was better than morphine and worked better too. Endy boost his healing abilities to their max as he watched the bleached prosier.
"You know I am going to kill for touching my son," Endy said nonchalantly. That brought the freak out of his stupefaction. "You looked at fiancée, threatened my son, lusted after my fiancée, and then you put your nasty feet on my planet." Endy shook his head and tsked. "You know, I was tempted to let Senshi get you and let my wolf tag along just so he could piss on your shoes…" He sucked in a breath and sighed, "But then you came to Terra, bringing your droids into this holy place and a sin." He glanced over Diamond's shoulder and to see a gnarled little being that looked like it was wearing a turban and a smock with a face upon it strolled into the light, but behind him he was trailing mist that flowed all about them and filled the room. He turned back to Diamond, "Get you sword out, boy, I'm going to give you a quick lesson in humiliation…"
"You think you can defeat me?" Diamond snapped, once again in control of himself. "I watched how easily Zirconia batted you about." He sneered, "You were as weak as kitten—"
Whatever eased Diamond was going to say was cut off when Endy plowed his fist into his face. Diamond's head snapped back and he went down like a log. He turned to the true threat, one of Chaos' generals, a sin. Endy fixed the thing with a leveled stare and demanded icily. "Who are you?"
The little man looked up at Endy, a cold gleam appeared in its eyes as it smiled at the King of Terra. "I am Master Zirconia," he said in a freakish voice, "Servant of Chaos, you may call me Lust."
Endy would have laughed at the little thing when he said that, but now was not the time. "Lust?" He asked doubtfully. So he could not help himself. "You don't look all that tempting to me."
Zirconia smiled ingratiatingly at him. "Lust exceeds the carnal inclinations of humans." The sin told him as it came forward. "I am sure that your father taught you that man also lusts for power and wealth as well as carnal pleasures."
"Wouldn't that be considered greed?" Endy asked conversationally. The mist that surrounded the meadow was steadily changing into shadows.
Zirconia could sense Endy's fear and smiled viciously. "No, young warrior, the two are very different. Lust is what the Queen of the Silver Millennium has felt throughout her years on your planet." He said silkily.
"What would the Ruler of the Solar System have to covet?" Endy asked.
"Yes, what would the daughter of Selene want?" Zirconia tipped his head one side as he gave the pretense of pondering this question. "She ruled the universe for centuries after your father returned from Elysium. She did not do what a faithful guardian would have done and returned this Solar System to it's rightful master…"
"You speak in riddles," Endy cut him off coldly. "I have no time for your games, Lust."
"I shall speak plainly then…"
"No," Endy snapped, "You shall release me from this insipid spell and leave my world."
Zirconia ignored him and went on, "Neither Selene's heir or Cosmos will allow you to claim your rightful throne as ruler of this System, Prince Endymion."
Endy raised a brow at the use his former title, but he chose to say nothing now about the slight. He let Zirconia go on about Queen Serenity and Serena's supposed betrayal of the Solar System and himself. Basically it was the same bull that Beryl had told him before she went berserk and killed him and apparently the Accursed One had no new material. He had to wonder if the sin knew that it could not effect him? He could feel the workings of Zirconia's spells weave around him, but they like crystal webs hanging in the air that could be shattered with the slightest touch. But those shadows were another story and they were getting closer with each moment. He felt Diamond rousing behind him, Endy stepped back and kicked Diamond in head with the heel of his boot and called his sword to his hands.
Zirconia seemed to have been expecting this. "I see that master was correct in saying that simple persuasion would not work on a God." He said coldly, "No matter, Prince. The seeds of corruption and fear have already been planted in your planet's heart?" And with that, the sin made a sweeping gesture and Endy found himself standing in a meadow. He looked down and a far as he could see, the land was covered by a strange black pall.
Endy knelt and reached out to touch the darkness, with an oath, he started back to his feet. He looked about once more, this time with clear, fearful eyes. He was surrounded on all sides in a sea of black roses.
"What is the meaning of this?" He asked aloud, his voice was strained in his own ears. "What is this…" He yelled but was cut off when as he started to choke. He hawked and gagged, as he coughed up something wet and slimy. He removed his hand from his mouth and paled. Blood, black blood… Endy dropped to his knees and stared at his hand in horror.
"We can't kill you out right, Endymion." Zirconia's voice floated down to him, "Your planet protects her most favored child and you in return protect her…"
"Where is this place?" Endy shouted. "What are you doing to me?"
Zirconia laughed, "You sent you guards to Ireland, but the time they discover you are not there, it will be too late."
Endy sniffed the air and that triggered another attack. His crystal was trying to fight watch curse that had possessed his body, but Zirconia had been smart, Endy would give him that even as he laid on his knees choking on the black blood.
"You will not have the grace of this most gruesome death," Zirconia cackled, "To you, I send three of my most treasured pets." Endy raised his head slightly and saw three beings, two male like creatures and a female one. Endy tried to pull himself up, but he was knocked down and the three pounced on him with weapons drawn. "This is your end, son of Helios. Darkness shall rule the light and Chaos will destroy Order…"
Serena came out of her trance with cry. "Endymion!"
Ares came rushing back into the prayer room, his eyes clouded with worry. "Princess, what is it?"
Serena struggled to her feet, walls of flames leapt at her as she transformed and ran from the room. Cosmos ran to the first window she saw and run through it. She was hundreds of meters above the surface and was falling, but only for a moment. Cosmos stretched her wings and with a powerful beat, she was flying and soon moving faster than light, yet still she was not going fast enough. Cosmos knew with a frightening certainty that she would not reach Terra or Endymion in time.
Kris looked about the crypt and swore. Erebus sniffed at the hole in the wall that Endy had been blasted through and he growled.
Troy scanned the blood samples on the floor near the sarcophagus and on it.
"I feel darkness here," Jamie said coldly. He touched the pillar that had been demolished. "It's a very strong evil…It's corrupting the leys," he turned Kris, his blue cold with rage. "I can't sense, Endy."
"Shit!" Kris yelled. He had been counting on Jamie's ability to feel the leys to lead them to his brother. "How the hell did he leave Atlantis?"
"Better question," Mike said coolly, "How did he get here without teleporting?"
"How do you know that he didn't?" Athena asked over Troy's computer.
"Because when Endy moves through Terra, the planet resonates." Troy said absently. "The leys that James feels are like trip wires for Endy's signature. When we want to find him, we feel the leys. Endy can't hide on Terra unless he's in Elysium."
"How do you know he's not there?" She asked, trying to keep the concern out of her voice.
"Elysium's head Priest reports that Endy has not been there since he left the Princess there." Kris told her. "Have you been in contact with Bellona?"
"Yes, but it will take time for her to search Mars' scared flames." Athena blinked and frowned, "We have a temporal disturbance…"
Mike perked up, "Where?"
Athena shook her head, "The readings are not clear. I have dispatched Dirae to find out what is causing it—"
Jamie looked up at the dome ceiling and Mike shouted, "We've got company coming."
Kris drew his sword, "Friend or foe?"
"It's Cosmos," Athena told them. "She will enter your atmosphere in five minutes. I think she may have a lock on Endymion." She looked at the reading she had gotten from Troy. "Whomever your king was fighting was not at all strong. The magic used here was by a corruptible influence…"
"A what?" Jamie asked, confused.
"A dark agent or a sin…"
"Holy crap!" Jamie whistled.
"Chaos decided to attack Endy directly?" Troy asked quickly.
Athena nodded, "But it sent one of its generals to do so and a bait. The was to distract Endymion long enough for the sin to place whatever spell it used on him."
"Alright," Kris said sharply, "We are going to meet Princess Serenity and I hope you are right, Athena."
"They are soul mates," she told him, "Both Eros and Bellona assures me that their bond will always lead one to the other."
Endy didn't have time to react. He could not stop coughing long enough to prepare a defense. Damn it, he could not die like this. What happened next went by so fast, Endy was positive he was seeing things.
In a flash of rainbow coloured skirt and a long gossamer bow, a young woman threw herself at his attackers. She came up quickly and slammed the female creature in the chest with a powerful round house and dodged the counter attack of another and with a quick motion, she grabbed something out of the air and threw it, it sounded as if a gun had gone off. Endy looked up and saw that was sticking out the tiger-like humanoid was a rose. A beautiful crimson, steel tipped rose. The tiger fell and the fish and hawk took a step back from Endy and his saviour?
Endy turned to the woman. She wore a fuku, but it was not one that he had ever seen, it was a riot of colours that oddly reminded him of the Eternal senshi colours. She had on knee length boots that had little crescent on the tops, a heart shaped with little wings of to the side and a crescent moon in it's center. His eyes trailed up wards to pouty, little mouth that reminded him of Serena's, strong chin, delicate little nose and big ocean blue eyes ringed with long black lashes. If he had to guess her identity the next part was a damned give away. Two twin buns on the side of her head and flowing down her back were twin rivers of ebony hair.
"Damn," he said or tired to, but another fit hit him and those idiots tried to attack him once more.
She moved once again, her deadly roses flying out, but two more villains joined the fray.
"Looks as if you could use a bit of assistance there, Gigi."
Gigi? Endy cried mentally. What the hell kind of name was 'Gigi'?
"Can it, Elios." Gigi sucker punched the fish and wiped out something that looked like a kaleidoscope. "This bullshit is over." She cried.
Elios tsked, "Watch your mouth, Sis, you know how Father feels about you cursing." He helped Endy and smiled, "Hello, Father, incase you haven't figured out yet, we are your children."
Endy stared at him blankly. "You have silver hair." He said.
Gigi was pissed, the freaky twins tagged teamed her and her twin was too busy making chitchat with their father's past self to help her. Her moon insignia flared and she called out, "Moon Gorgeous…Meditation."
Zirconia cried out in pain as his crystal eye was destroyed. In the background, his master was screaming in agony.
"The Guardians of Elysium have made contact with the terran King." Envy whispered. He turned and walked out of the room. The stakes of this war had just been raised.
"Elios," Gigi yelled as she marched over to him and their father. "I am so going to kick your ass."
Endy looked from one to the other. These were his twins, a boy and girl and the girl looked just like him. He did not know if he was disappointed or what, but one thing was certain about.
"When I wake up, I'm going to wash your mouth out with soap." He slurred and then he passed it, but oblivion did allow him to hear his angel before he slipped into the land of the unconscious. He heard Serena's shriek his name and he figured that all was right in his world. Even if he had a daughter with a potty mouth.
Chapter Twelve to follow soon.
Remember: NO FLAMES, IF YOU DON'T LIKE THIS DON'T READ IT.
