Chapter 18: Jupiter Awakens
Coletrane's goal was to get these two men up to the northern plateau. That was the last sighting of the Lightening Guardian in the last hour. If she was still alive they would find her up there somewhere. Coletrane's job right now was to move them quickly and avoid engaging with the enemy, get the Guardian safely under the Onii's radar and up to the summit.
It was a painstaking journey, one that Coletrane could make in the tenth of the time it was taking to get these two civilians up the ridge. They were both healthy, athletic men but they were not as sure footed on the uneven terrain as he was. Not used to traversing natural labyrinths in full pack, like he was.
The trees were thick and crowded the trail, looming over them like vengeful spirits. They picked their way through the trees at a slow, steady pace. Climbing upward as urgently as the terrain would allow. After the Guardian's last intense barrage of lightening attacks that had lit up the night sky. The heavy silence and faint smell of ozone that followed clung around them like grim fog. A few birds had begun to chatter as of late but their voices were far off and faint. What lay ahead was a dark and ominous path, that led them upward.
As the path climbed toward that barren ridge of stone, the tree line fell back. Giving them more space between the ancient trunks, allowing Cole to see further into the forest. But it also took away their cover, which made him infinity more nervous. He griped his rifle more firmly, scanning the flimsy tree line warily. The path was well worn, with lots of foot prints. The ground covered with broken branches, leaves and dry bracken. They were not the only ones to come this way...he didn't know who lay ahead, if they were friend of foe. But he would bet his life that they were marching right into a trap.
He halted in his tracks, lifting a hand to instruct the two men behind him to stop.
"There's something out there." He whispered, he squinted his eyes searching the trees for his target.
Kane stiffened, adjusting his rifle in his hands. Hollywood cleared this throat nervously, swinging his rifle behind them guarding their backs.
"You two stay up here, I'm going to go check it out." Coletrane announced, not wasting a moment. He leaped off the path, sliding down the loosened earth, melting into the darkness as easily as a shadow. Heading in the direction that had grabbed his attention. He had caught movement off to the right about a quarter mile down from their position. Stealthily, he moved through the trees, able to move faster and more quietly now that he was alone.
Slinging his rifle over his shoulder as the loose ground shifted, not wanting to lose his footing. As he slid down into the gulley between the two ridges. He shimmied up the rough trunk of a tree near the edge of a cliff. About midway up his locked his legs around the trunk and pulled his rifle over his shoulder, doing a quick scan of the area through his scope.
He was rewarded within moments when he found his first target. A large black eyed onii, with a long slender body and a bent posture, dragging its incredibly long arms along ground, upon the trail ahead. He had several smaller, onii scrambling in its wake. The imp like demons with their tiny arms and legs, were unable to keep up the larger ones lanky strides. They were a macabre group but deadly as hell. He would have to dispose of them before they could safely head up the northern ridge to where the Thunder Guardian was in battle. He quickly scanned the trail a few meters past the small group of demons to insure there were no other enemies to contend with. When the trail looked clear he resumed his mission of disposing of them. Squeezing off one round, straight at the giants exposed shoulder blades. The monster was easily three-hundred yards away, but Coltrane was a seasoned soldier and he was deadly accurate with a rifle. The monster dropped like a stone when his bullet severed it's spinal column. Within two seconds, he had picked off the remaining imps one by one. Like shooting ducks in a row each one got a bullet between the eyes. He dispatched them all swiftly. Then slid down the tree and hurried back to where he had left Kane and Hollywood. Finding them both gone.
"Dammit all!" He exclaimed, jogged up the path at full speed to catch up to them. Knowing damn well they had left him
behind on some fool hardy notion of chivalry to spare his life.
Was it worth it? Was any of this fighting worth it? Never before had she questioned her dedication to Serenity, in this life or the countless others she had lived before. Protecting her was her duty, serving the greater good through her was her greatest achievement. She had embraced that mission with out regret again and again. But here wandering through the eternal beauty of this hidden garden, Lita found herself lost.
Doubting her resolve to fight on, her will power wilting under the great beauty that surrounded her
Brushing a hand lightly down the stem of a glorious bright red rose, she felt alone, without hope. She was doubting everything that made her who she was. Her thoughts and feelings were all jumbled, leaving her with a very disconcerting ache in her belly. She rubbed aimlessly at it, her brows furrowed in confused fear.
"Lita..." The voice calling to her was soft and so full of understanding. This woman who existed within this garden with her.. truly cared about her...more then any other human being had ever cared for her. Yet she didn't even know her?
"Where is this?" Lita scanned the lush garden that spread out before her. The glass roof of a grand green house stretched over her head, the warm summer sun glistening down upon her as if the heavens themselves were glowing.
"This is my garden." the stranger responded quietly.
Lita sighed languidly, drawing her eyes away from the exquisite collection of rare roses. To gaze upon an elegantly beautiful young woman. Her expression was calm, her soul was at peace. Her soft green eyes gave off no emotion. They were merely warm and inviting as her sweet personality. Dressed in a simple pale pink sun dress, that looked so pure it seemed almost white. With a low, lace collar and light, almost flowing skirts. Her silvery blonde hair was twisted and pinned high upon her head. Thin wisps of her locks fluttered free here and there around her head, twisting wildly in the gentle breeze. She moved gracefully to the stone border of a nearby flower bed, picking up the clippers that lay upon the stone edging. She began to prune the leaves, with out a care in the world.
"Who are you?" Lita vaguely remembered the rage she had felt earlier. The fear and anxiety that she might not live to see the next day. But those memories of strife and war were fading, as if they had just been a very bad dream.
"Who are you?" Lita muttered again, pinching the bridge of her nose. Suddenly feeling very nauseous and light headed as if she was about to faint. Her thoughts were muttled, her memories locked away. Leaving her very confused and lost.
"Ruru Teruno, sweetie." She responded, not turning from her work. "No more fighting for us today, ok. Lets take our time here and enjoy the solace of this garden."
Lita hummed, not realizing how easily she had just obeyed this strange woman she barely knew. Laying back upon the grass, crossing her arms under her head. Believing Ruru's idea was the most wonderful she had ever heard. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply. Allowing the summer sun to heat her body and soothe away all the aches and pains she felt. She felt so worn out, both physically and mentally. Her heart felt so at ease here, she no longer questioned if this was real. Or cared if this place might be a dream, she wanted to stay here forever.
As she drifted off to sleep, her thoughts turned to Kane and she wished to share this beautiful world with the man she loved.
"All of this has taken to long," Jedite howled, as rage consumed him. He paced in front of Endymion's war tab le in the Kings command tent. The flickering light of near b y torches creating an almost sinister mask over his troub led features. Dressed in the light weight leather armour of the Samurai. Deep b lue scaled accents were painted along the seams of his segmented cuirass, plated shoulder and thigh guards. The ink now cracked and faded from months of war. Nothing remained of his old b lue cape, the heirloom that b ore his family sigil of the great b lue dragon. Discarded and b urned long ago on the b attle field. His b ack now lay b are, except for his katana sheathed and tied along his shoulder b lades. His shorter wakizashi was sheathed in wrapped cloth around his waist. "We have b een storming around this arctic edge of the world for two months!" Jed turned to face his king, who sat calmly b ehind his great tab le. Dressed in his dark iron plate, that was dented and scratched from b attle. His b lood red cape pinned to his mantle with golden rose clips. His long sword was sheathed along his shoulder b lades, his short sword hanging from his left hip. His family crest, that of a pure white pegasus rearing high on it's b ack legs, its mighty wings stretched upwards towards the sky was emb lazoned upon his iron chest piece. The elegant horse once gleamed upon the center of his b reast plate. Was now oddly deforme massive dent, from a recent b low to his chest in the last b attle.
A map was spread wide over the surface of the tab le with metal statues and markers scattered from one end to the other. For the first time in his life, Jed wanted to strike his king and knock that calm and composed look right off his face. He wanted to take apart the kings make shift war room with his b are hands.
She was out there...
Eris...
The Guardian of Fire and War...
His one true love...
Jedite glowered over everyone present inside the tent. His b rothers in arms didn't look any happier. Kunzite was hunched over the far end of the tab le, glaring down at the map as if he could pin point the missing Guardians if he could only look hard enough. Venus had b een captured as well, he knew the stoney mask Kunsite wore. Was cracking more and more as the days passed, the anxiety and anguish of not knowing if she was alive or dead eating away at his stoic resolve. Just this morning, Jed had caught him in the wee hours b efore dawn. Out in the near b y clearing, cursing and pacing. Lunging and pairing with his swords with so much vigour and rage. One might have thought he was in a real b attle. If anyone understood his own anger and feelings of helplessness it was Kunsite. His own true love was suffering and he had no way to save her.
Small metal statues were scattered from one end of the tab le to the other, noting all the places they had searched. Kunsite was dressed in his dusty grey leather armour, his once pure white cape now dull and travel worn. His family crest, that of a white tiger coiled to strike. It's mouth roaring in defiance at the sky, b randed upon the leather of his shoulder guards. Was the only part of his armour that looked pristine. Two long swords were crossed upon his b ack, the leather
b ound hilts worn and stained from the sweat of his palms. Stating without words the heavy toll of endless b attles Kunsite had already endured.
Nephrite stood on the other side of their king, in his rust coloured chain mail over this dark earthen b rown leather armour. Two dull metal shoulder guards were attached to an ornate chest piece. The solid armour pieces were dented and scuffed from b attle. His dark red cape was clasped together with the sigil of a red phoenix. Daggers were concealed all over his b ody, a cross b ow hung across his b ack and his mighty war hammer was leaning against a thick tent pole nearb y.
Zoisite was on the other side of Endymion. His hand curled around his nape as he stared down in frustration at the fruitless effort they had put in already. His tanned hide armour was stained a darker tint with the b lood of the slain. The green filigree that accented his shoulder guards and chest piece was weathered, the fine needle work now looking thread b are and slightly unraveled. His thin flowing white rob e b eneath his armour was now a dull grey the hem torn from b attle and travel fatigue. His long green cloak hung off one shoulder, tattered and torn. It could no longer hang properly from his neck. His stringed instrument, his pipa was now tied to his hip along with an assortment of daggers and a short sword. The etching of this family sigil, that of the ancient tortoise still adorned the instrument. As stead fast and unmoving as always.
They were all dressed in their respective armours, practically living in their b attle gear over the last month. Their weapons no longer gleamed b ut were now tarnished with the b lood of the slain. Having purged the tainted souls of their b rethren and citizens alike as they made their way north. Their kingdoms were lost, Elysian had fallen last b ut the Golden Kingdom had not died quietly. Endymion had rallied what remained of his people as Elysian b urned around them. They had fought their way out of the castle against the Dark Queen's horde. Screaming in defiance and fighting relentlessly threw out the night. Breaking free of her grasp at the very edge of the devastated green wood and rushing onward into dawn threw the b lackened prairie towards freedom.
Following the Guardian of Wisdom's lead towards the northern forges of Varisravana. The House of Tamonten had fallen first when the Dark Queen had emerged from the b arren, icy wasteland of the far arctic. As she b egan her campaign towards the central Kingdom. Sending her own Generals and their great armies b oth east, west and south. As she lay waste through the north, leaving it in ruins as she headed towards the Golden Kingdom. All four of the heavenly kings had fought tirelessly to save their people b ut in the end they had lost their kingdoms. What remained of their forces had sought refuge inside Elysian's walls. Losing their last remaining sanctuary only a couple months ago.
What remained of the five kingdoms, survivors, soldiers...orphans...had all b anded together to purge the earth of the Demon Queen. Banner sworn now to the goddess Serenity, they moved forward with new vigour, new purpose and hope.
The mighty sword of sealing had b een forged in the b owels of what remained of Byakko Castle atop the highest peek on Kunsite's kingdoms great mountain range. The holy sword remained in the kings keeping, perched at the edge of his war tab le. A truly deadly and elegant weapon. The forged b lade was long and slender at the tip, widening in girth as it descended towards a delicate twisting hilt of pure silver. Several star seeds glowed upon the ornate cross piece of the hilt. Collected b y Mercury along her journey b ack to earth.
The soul stones of the Outer Guardians. Pluto, Neptune and Uranus. The dark star was missing, the eternal seed of the Guardian of Destruction. Of death...and perhaps if she felt merciful...reb irth.
Saturn still remained asleep, b ut Mercury had reported that the Outers talismans were vib rating, announcing the end of times and Saturn's coming awakening. But they had pledged to Serenity that they would fight until the very end to save the earth...to purge their solar system of this great evil. They would never give up and quietly accept their fate. They would scream and rail against this darkness forever...
Jupiter had given her own star seed over to the sword months ago with out regret. It had taken Serenity weeks to unseal Mercury's powers with the aid of the Silver Crystal. But once the Guardian of Wisdom had b een reinstated, she too had pulled her star seed from her b ody and committed it to the swords hilt. The swords power was b ecoming great b ut still incomplete. It still needed the crystals of b oth Venus and Mars to b ecome powerful enough to seal the great darkness away for good.
Jupiter watched each of them in turn, leaning heavily against the thick door post to the Kings war tent. With her arms crossed over her own holy armour, she took stock of each man in turn. They were tired. Their resources stretch thin. They had spent far to much time in a fruitless search, having to expend excessive amounts of resources to keep what remained of their forces alive in this unforgiving land of ice and snow. Fighting and losing men every other day when they encountered scouting parties of demon's, sent from the Dark Kingdom. Time was running out for them, soon they would have to retreat b ack into the inner realms and restock what they could of their nearly depleted food stores and recruit new soldiers from the refugee camps in the far south. If they left without Venus and Mars, it would take far to long to get b ack up here and they would certainly b e dead b y then.
Their capture had taken a toll on each of them, b ut it had devastated the princess. No one was willing to give up until they were found and b rought b ack into the fold safe and alive.
"This is b ullshit!" Jed raged, "Serenity has linked her spirit to Eris, she should b e ab le to track her like a god damn b lood hound! Right to the Dark Kingdoms accursed front gate!"
Jupiter licked her b ottom lip, holding her own fury in check as she stalked forwards to confront Jed. She did not tolerate disrespect towards her future sovereign.
"She is not some super natural dog!" She shouted into Jed's face. She was as tall and formidab le in stature as any of the men. Her deep green eyes glowering dangerously at Jed. Her dark stare as volatile as a mighty storm.
"The Imperium Silver Crystals power is not some simple totem to track souls. It is an ancient artifact from the Heart of the Cosmic Cauldron. It's power transcends all existence. My princess is putting her very life on the line every time she uses it!"
Jupiter poked him hard in the chest. "You will not b elittle her effort, we made it this far b ecause of her. I trust that she will lead us to the Dark Kingdom. Its just going to take a little while longer."
Endymion held up his hand and stood up from the tab le wanting them to stop fighting. His deep b lue eyes glowering at each of them in turn. Their b ickering did nothing b ut further weaken their efforts to save Mars and Venus.
Jed clenched his jaw, grinding his teeth in frustration. He was simmering with fury, as he ab ruptly turned away and paced towards the front flap of the tent. He b rushed the heavy hide aside, surveying the camp b eyond grimly. The trees that surrounded the camp were heavy with snow and loomed around their encampment. The predawn light was eerie, as the moon would soon b e down. A somb er, faint dawn was illuminating the snow. He could see the sentries perched high on the trees, keeping a vigil over the forest and the valley of ice b eyond. There wasn't much left of their army, b ut a rag tag b and of young soldiers, civilians turned warriors and the odd mercenary from b eyond the sea. The makeshift tents of fur and hide were worn and caked with snow. Small fires were scattered b etween the tents, sputtering with the last of the nights coals. The men wandered from tent to tent, b acks b owed and heads hung low. They were at the end of their endurance. When they had started out their encampment was as large as a small city. It could b e spotted easily and heard for miles. They had b een confident in their numb ers and feared no attack. As the months wore on though and the ranks b egan to diminish, fear had settled in. The whole planet was in turmoil, the Dark Queen's armies led b y her Generals were advancing across the planet. The tainted humans, known only a demons were swelling like a cancerous tumour. Her army growing in ranks everyday, while the survivors fled in terror unab le to find safe harb our as she covered the earth in her darkness. He was losing hope...even Serenity couldn't fortify him anymore.
"Walk with me Leda." Jed called over his shoulder towards Jupiter. He needed some air and the cool morning might settle his mood and calm the anger b etween them. Reaching for his heavy fur mantle on the hook, emb edded on the post b eside the doorway. He swung the fur cloak over his shoulders and pulled up the hood. Knowing the Goddess of Protection would follow. She may b ecome highly volatile at times when it concerned her Princess, b ut she was not illogical. She understood that they b oth needed to cool off and a short walk and some much needed conversation b etween them was necessary.
Jupiter grunted and followed him out, b eing a higher b eing the cold did not b other her as much. She had no need for added warmth b esides her holy armour. Her dark green cape snapped in the freezing wind as she strode to his side. The snow crunching like b rittle b one under the heels of her heavy leather b oots, as she took in Jed's tired countenance. He had drawn his heavy ox hide hood close to his face, surveying the meager remains of their army. The small b ands of men, a couple wagons, a few horses, mules, tents. Worn and rusted gear and the small fires that surrounded them.
"This is all that is left of us. A sad lament of the fighting force we once were." He stated, as a young b oy b arely into his teens darted past in thread b are clothes and no cloak. His feet wrapped in thin cloth and shoved into a pair of soldier's
b oots two sizes to large for him. He ran at an awkward, lopping pace. Carrying several pikes in a clumsy manner towards a nearb y wagon.
The strong aroma of roasting meat and wood smoke filled the morning air, the men were having a hasty meal of what game they had managed to hunt last evening as they started to b reak camp. The snow had b een trampled and packed flat b etween the tents as they moved deeper into the camp.
"We can not stay here much longer, Jupiter. We are not as resilient as the gods." Jed inclined his arm over a group of men, huddle fire. Drinking and eating, singing in low tones of home and hearth. Trying to keep their spirits up.
"The men are weary and our food is running dangerously low." He sighed, heavily "I feel at this point we are just prolonging the inevitab le." He surveyed the pikes and equipment that were stacked in upright circles just b ehind them. Lances were thrust deep into the snow b anks, no longer of use with the lack of horses to carry them. Most of the soldiers who once wielded them, lay frozen in deaths sleep miles away. Tents sprouted all around them without any order to their layout. Men roamed b etween the tents and fires, stumb ling with exhaustion.
No one paid any attention to them as they past. Jupiter released a sigh of regret, her own army along with b oth Venus and Mars had b een annihilated on the outskirts of the greenwood that surrounded the Golden Castle. So she had to rely on the human armies to reach this far north. She saw several soldier's from different kingdoms wandering amid the fires. Each in their respective armours, the sigils of the Four Heavenly Kings emb ossed upon their shoulder guards or b reast plates. A few of Endymion's own men were among them, b ut b arely a hand full.
"Perhaps you should lead them b ack then." Jupiter quipped, her voice compassionate b ut dripping with mock sympathy. "This is no place for the weak anyway." She finished, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring down at him. She was a descendant of the All God and could not tolerate weakness in any form. Jed was giving up and he was shaming his own people b y discrediting their strength to endure.
Jedite was only an inch shorter, b ut her condescending look down the point of her nose was infuriating.
Jed snarled and spun on her, raising a fist unab le to hold b ack his rage. Ready to smash his fist right into her pompous face. She knew damn well that not a single person here would retreat like a b eaten dog. The survival of their very race depended on them. If they didn't reach the Dark Kingdom and kill the Dark Queen their future was lost.
Either way they accepted that death awaited each one of them in turn. But they would choose death on their own terms not under the Demon's Queens rule.
Jupiter raised her arms to defend herself, a defiant smirk spreading across her face.
"You don't think, that I don't see the misery our failure to protect your planet has caused?" She roared. "I see it everyday...b ut can do nothing b ut push forward. Our heaven is ruined...twisted and tainted b y this darkness. Serenity is the only purity I can depend on. I have pledged myself to her cause, b ody and soul and so has every man here. You might have lost faith in your own people to endure this war. But you must never lose faith in her!"
Jupiter caught his fist with a palm and pushed his arm b ack. Screaming and b aring her teeth like a feral animal. She was a true warrior, trained to defeat all who would oppose her and the will of her Sovereign. She never fought half heartedly, she engaged in comb at with all of her might. Giving no quarter and offering no mercy. No matter if it was friend or foe. She promised to end this quickly so she could focus on more important things then Jedites lack of faith. She took a step b ack adjusting her stance to throw a low kick at his knees. Wanting to take him down quickly and end this pointless fight.
A moment later, a young man dressed in tattered leather b reeches and a long coat to large for his frame. Rushed
b etween them, his small arms up in a placating manner. His hands lost in the overly b aggy sleeves. He was sweating and pale from exertion, his watery b lue eyes filled with fear and remorse.
"You are Jupiter..." He panted, snapping his head b ack and forth b etween them worried they were going to continue throwing punches around him.
"Yeah..." Jupiter responded.
The b oy nodded solemnly. "We must hurry...my lady Mercury has left the camp in pursuit of your Princess. She has sent me to find you. Her Majesty Serenity was not in her tent this morning. My lady Mercury b elieves she has gone into the wilderness...alone."
Jupiter never even looked b ack, rushing off towards the make shift stab les for her war horse with the young b oy
scramb ling at her heels. He was shouting up at her in what direction Mercury had gone, his arms flailing desperately. She only half heard him. Her heart was roaring in her ears, a raw panic setting in. Sending sharp, piercing jab s through out her chest. Had the princess b een lured away b y the Dark Queens magic or perhaps she could no longer endure the misery that surrounded her and took matters into her own hands. Soon she was charging out of the camp atop her dark stallion, the snow churning b eneath the horses hooves as she raced away into the trees towards the valley.
Within minutes Jupiter had caught up to Mercury. Once Serenity had unsealed her Star seed, she had called forth her own holy garments as well. Jupiter could see her sleeveless long coat snapping in the wind, as she rode her white roan b are b ack deeper into the trees. The curving arm of her harp at her hip caught the morning sun and gleamed like a jewel. A
b eacon in the dark wood that Jupiter could focus on as she rode hard towards her. The narrow trail of hardened snow and perma frost crunching sharply under her stallions hooves.
"Mercury!" She b ellowed as she got closer.
Mercury pulled her mount to a stop, it's b it and halter the only equipment she had secured in her rush out of the camp.
Twisting around upon her horses b ack, she struck Jupiter with a terrorfied expression.
Jupiter sucked in a quick b reath, seeing such fear upon the usually calm and collected visage of Mercury was very unsettling.
The strings upon her harp vib rated, sending a trilling sound into the air. Mercury reared her mount ahead, kicking it in the rib s to speed up it's pace. Jupiter was quick to catch up and soon they were galloping through the woods, slowing only to navigate over ice and sharp b ramb les of dead fauna.
The trees slowly b egan to grow further and further apart, as they moved higher up the ridge. Becoming less rob ust, more thin and sickly as they ascended. In time they found themselves upon b arren ground, covered in a thin layer of snow and frost. Only the most hardy of moss and scrub grass clung to the loose shale and granite cliff sides.
"We must hurry. It is far to open here. We need to go deeper into these mountains." Mercury commanded solemnly.
"Whoa, there Mercury. I need more then that." Jupiter growled.
Mercury turned a slight frown upon her face, as her harp strings vib rated with a shrill call. "I am tracking her star seed with my harp, Jupiter. She's close...up in those caves." Mercury pointed upward to the northwestern crest of the mountains. A cold, lifeless summit of ice and snow far ab ove their heads. It ascended into the sky like a deadly, jagged dagger of stone. It looked formidab le to climb , as treacherous as any natural weapon could b e.
"She's gone up there. Into a huge cave...one b ig enough to house prisoners." Mercury stated, her lips set in a grim line.
Jupiter swallowed nervously, "We are following her b lindly...perhaps into a trap?"
"Then we will destroy that trap!" A familiar voice called out to them. His voice was self assured and determined that nothing. Not even hell itself would stop him from protecting his true love and saving his people.
Jupiter and Mercury turned on their mounts to find Endymion and his four generals galloping upon their own war horsed towards them.
"The cave will b e heavily guarded...it might b e to dangerous to just go charging in the front door?" Zoisite offered logically.
"To hell with dangerous," Nephrite laughed, his tone b oisterous and some what fool hardy. "Kunsite and Jedite can kill'em b lind folded and with their hands tied b ehind their b acks.
Jupiter smiled wanly. She loved that man, b ut he coul handful. Eager to fight b ut never one for stragedy. While Zoisite sighed and shook his head sadly.
"Glad your so confident in our ab ilities, Zoi!" Jedite grumb led dryly.
"Do the rest of you plan to do anything or are Mercury and I doing this on our own?" Jupiter added with a cocked eyeb row.
"Enough, we have no time for fruitless b anter." Endymion growled, rearing his mount towards the mountains and kicking him into a steady yet cautious pace up the cliffside. The rest followed single file up the mountain. Taking directions from Mercury as she led them upwards towards the Hidden Gate to the Dark Kingdom.
Betrayal...feelings of great loss and utter despair overwhelmed her. Eternal pain and anguish soon followed, it ripped through her heart and left a b loody scar that would remain for the rest of her reb irths.
It didn't feel right. None of it felt right. Kane eyed his surrounding warily, the trees had seemed to pull ranks around them. Growing so tightly together there seemed to be only one path upward...they were trapped. Forced to move forward on a single course as if they were rats in a maze.
He glanced sideways at Hollywood, finding grim determination in the set of his mouth. The branches loomed inches above their heads, so full and twisted together that they could not even make out the night sky. The undergrowth crowded around their ankles, blocking their view of the forest beyond. They stalked threw the over grown jungle in silence, griping and adjusting their rifles nervously. Eyes and ears alert to any noise or movement. The last thing they wanted to contend with was a sudden assault by Onii.
Kane was worried sick over Lita's safety. All he wanted was to the get the hell out of China, with her safe and sound. All his dreams and hopes for the future with her had gone up in smoke over an hour earlier. Coletrane had tracked her up to this north western ridge, but it had been a long time since they had sighted a flash of lightening. It was as if she no longer existed. The night had taken on a deathly silence since her last attack. The forest seemed devoid of animal life, nothing moved, no birds called from the branches.
The thought that perhaps she had been killed paralysed him. All the breath left his chest, leaving him deflated. His pace slowed as the stress and anxiety of the last few days caught up to him.
She was out there...hurting...dieing and he was no were close to finding her. He ached to be at her side, to fight along with her..or comfort her if she was close to her end. That thought alone tore at his heart, shredded it actually and left him struggling to find breath.
"Hey...get it together man!" Hollywood prodded his back with the butt of his rifle.
He nodded and picked up the pace. He couldn't afford to mentally wander like that. It could get him and Hollywood killed.
He glanced over his shoulder and nodded grimly at Hollywood. They were dirty, drenched in sweat not just from the sweltering heat but from stress as well. They had been living in it, every breath a painful ache of dread and anxiety. Would they live through this, would the girls? Would they ever see Darien alive again? The present was an ever growing war zone, bombs exploded in the distance, men and beasts screamed all around them. The rapid fire of bullets echoed in the darkness, staying focused on their course was difficult. More difficult was envisioning a future past this blood shed...it was more likely that none of them would see the dawn. Kane accepted that outcome but he would make sure that the Dark Queen would not live to see the sun either!
When they topped the rise to the upper ridge, Kane stopped in his tracks. Forcing Hollywood to slam hard into his back.
"What the hell..." Hollywood growled. He shifted his position, glancing around Kane's large shoulders a sharp gasp escaping his lips at what he saw.
"Ok, I know I am not going nuts then...you are seeing this too." Kane breathed, staring in complete confused amazement at the lush garden that spread out before them along the ridge. A shimmering glass green house shone in the distance as if illuminated from within.
Kane swallowed hard, adjusting the grip on his rifle as he broke into a full sprint towards that strange building.
Hollywood kept pace beside him, scanning the flower beds and delicate bushes of topical flowers for enemies.
Lita lay beneath the skylight, breathing deeply, basking in the peaceful surroundings. She was tired. Numb. Beyond exhausted. But her mind was in chaos. Nothing Ruru said could get her thoughts to calm down. Her sweet, calm voice should relax her, but instead it only made her more agitated.
She felt off balance here, doubt and anxiety nagged at the corners of her mind. There was a longing...for someone...she couldn't remember who. But it ate at her peace of mind, churning in her soul making her anxious and jittery. She couldn't relax...a defiant burning lay smouldering in the deepest parts of her. A warning not to trust in this reality, to break free of it's hold and reclaim her forgotten freedom.
She needed to sort out her thoughts...pick up the pieces of her fragmented memories and make herself whole again. It was just so hard to grasp them, they slipped away into vague watercolours every time she tried to hold onto them.
Slowly she opened her eyes, fighting against the lethargy of the sun's warmth. It shouldn't have surprised her to find Ruru's face hovering so close to hers. Her soft green eyes so hypnotic and clear, drawing her in and holding fast. Her full lips mere inches away from hers, whispering sweet things that soothed her. Made her sleepy and complacent to her will. Lita moaned in pain, as her vision blurred and she stared sightlessly up at her jailer. As the General continued her silent assault, draining away Jupiter's soul, claiming it for her master. Lita had neither the will or energy to fight against Ruru's control. As she continued to devour her life in the quiet, gentle embrace of a skilled succubus.
Kane and Hollywood walked briskly down the narrow paths of the inner garden, keeping a cautious eye to their surroundings. Rifles cocked and ready, to deal with any would be enemies that may lay in wait for them amid the surreal beauty of this place. The garden inside the greenhouse was pristine, every flower in full bloom. Their colours brilliant with such a lush hue they looked fake.
The garden was perfect and creepy as hell...
"This place isn't right..." Hollywood growled low in his throat.
"It feels like the twilight zone." Kane answered back. He couldn't deny the eerie aura that encompassed this place. It hung in the air like a foul stench, undetectable by the nose but his skin was crawling.
Kane shivered and rolled his shoulder's seeking to calm the growing anxiety now smothering him.
"I don't like this...its like were walking through a graveyard." Hollywood hissed near his ear, bouncing slightly on the balls of his feet. He was jittery and this perfect garden was really freaking him out.
Hollywoods slight lack of composure did not bode well for Kane. He ground his teeth together, his jaw working back and forth as he sought to calm his own feelings of panic.
"Keep it together, Kevin. You need to watch my back, so I can keep an eye out for Lita." Kane commanded, adjusting his grip on his rifle and striding forward at a quicker pace.
Hollywood swallowed and nodded, keeping a few steps behind.
As they rounded another bend deeper in the labyrinth of flowers, Kane staggered to a stand still.
Nearly tripping Hollywood as he stumbled into his back yet again.
"What now." He hissed.
Kane never said a word, merely moved down onto one knee, aiming his rifle as calmly as a sniper.
Hollywood crouched low, not wanting to give them away. Staring at the strangely erotic image ahead in astonishment. A sweet faced, young woman barely over the age of twenty, hovered over the prone body of Lita. She had an elegantly gentle demeanour, as if she was an angel fallen to earth. Dressed in a simple sun dress of satin and lace. With a plunging neckline that revealed the tops of her alluring, well formed breasts. Her skin was pale, soft and seemed to sparkle as if dusted with silver. Her long light blonde hair was flowing over her shoulders and around her beautiful face. As she bent low over Lita's face, her full lips barely brushing against the brunettes. She was whispering, her melodic voice creating a hushed, ghostly pressence that hovered between the two women.
Hollywood was entranced by the scene, unable to blink or even look away. All of his senses completely focused on the two women's intimate exchange.
Lita's chest was barely moving, her eyes were closed and she seemed to be sleeping. A deep, all consuming sleep that would soon take her life.
Kane never missed a beat, he squeezed the trigger. The crack of the gun shot caught the generals attention. She snapped her head up in startled shock, just in time to catch the bullet right in the chest.
She screamed as the bullet tore threw her body, blood drenched her pale dress in an ever spreading stain. As she was sent sprawling into a nearby rose bush a few feet away from Lita.
It was then, when the General was cast away that Hollywood was able to regain his senses. He shook his head, clearing away the sedating fog her mere pressence had cast over him.
"That was intense..." He muttered, pressing his palm into his forehead still feeling rather woozy.
Kane dropped his rifle and scrambled to Lita's side. Pulling her cold, stiff body onto his lap. Bending over her and cradling her against him and holding tight. He couldn't lose her...not after all of this. He had to call her back, give her the will to live, to continue fighting. The world needed her to live...dammit he needed her to live...
She felt drugged, her thoughts muddled and confused. Her emotions were knotted with uncertain fear and anxious worry. Were was she...what was happening to her...she had been falling into darkness. It had swallowed her whole and had begun to devour her very soul. Like a black widow spider, she had felt paralysed. Unable to fight back as her energy was drained away. Then as swiftly as death had come to claim her, she had been cast free of it's hold. Left floundering in a vague, incomprehensible limbo.
She still could not see, her eyelids far to heavy to lift. But she could feel arms wrapping around her. A familiar scent and a voice calling to her. The sweetness of freedom, of safety lay beyond this prison of confusion she just needed to find her way back.
His touch was gentle, reassuring. "Lita, come back to me. It's okay now, you need to come back now."
Her eyes felt weighted, unable to call upon the strength needed to open them. She moaned back in response to the plaintive voice calling to her. The desperation in his voice instantly changed to excitement. That voice had irrevocably changed her life. Her heart that once been crushed when Andrew had left. He had healed, by picking up all the mangled pieces of her heart and made it whole again. She yearned to return to him...the man who had become everything to her. The man who had given her hope, that love was possible for her again. A new lease on life, on a future filled with all the hopes and dreams she had craved as a young woman. Hopes and dreams she had shelved after Andrew, that he now laid claim to. He had pulled them free and dusted them off, making those feelings shiny and new again. Love...Marriage...children...one day...but for now she just needed to find her way back to him!
"I love you, Lita." His finger's brushed down her cheek, his thumb wiping away the fresh tears now cascading from her closed eyes.
Lita sucked in a breath, his words held a power far superior to the spell seeking to kill her. They cut through the darkness weighing her down, cutting the invisible chains that were holding her soul prisoner.
A smile quivered upon her lips, the pain and hurt she had been shackled to as she had relived her past lives began to fade. "I know your hurt, baby. I don't know what she did to you, but I know your in pain. I would do anything to take that hurt away, to heal you and make it all ok again...but I can't. I'm sorry it took me so long to find you. But I'm here now and I need you to open your eyes and wake up."
A fresh wash of tears escaped her closed eyes, as she fought harder to come to her senses. It was like swimming upward through mud. Every inch towards consciousness was a struggle, an invisible weight kept pulling her back down.
Kane began to laugh. "You know, the thing is my first impression sucked. I swear you wanted to punch me...hell I think you even threatened it...but the first time I laid eyes on you, things changed for me. I felt this connection to you and I was determined to get to know you. I couldn't let you walk away that night and thank god I'm a stubborn bastard. I would have never forgiven myself if I'd let you go back at the hotel. Ever since, I promised myself I would keep you safe. I would face any threat that befell you head on. I felt you belonged to me long before you offered me your love in return. I fell in love with you right then and there...at that tacky bar." he laughed again, his voice bright and warm. It sliced threw another layer of the darkness, making the struggle to open her eyes even easier. She had never been more determined in her life to move, to call out to him, to open her eyes and bask in his handsome face.
"All I have wanted to do was protect you..." His impassioned words struck the very core of her soul.
"Kane..." Lita croaked out, her arm twitching, finger's questing in the dirt for him. Kane was quick to retrieve her seeking hand, weaving his fingers with hers and holding tight.
"Oh, god its good to here your voice." His voice quavered as if he was on the verge of tears himself.
She raised her head, her eyes flickering open weakly. She stare up at him dumbly for a few moments, unable to comprehend that she was truly awake again. She saw a soul-deep devotion reflected in his eyes and it took her breath away.
"I will never allow you to suffer again, you are safe with me...always." His smile was infectious and Lita found herself grinning up at him.
"Thats a tall order to keep. I'm a mess, Kane. I have so much buried deep inside of me I doubt you will never be able to understand. Pain and hurt seem to follow me around like a dark cloud." Lita smirked up at him.
His eyes softened. "What I see is a strong, resilient woman who can knock me on my ass with a single look. I see someone who had been hurt so badly she had a hard time learning to trust again. I see someone who has such an amazingly loving spirit, I find myself inspired by. Who strives to protect everyone she loves at the cost of her own life. What I see for us now..." He gave her a knowing smile, brushing some stray hair behind her ear. "I see you with me, forever. Happy and loved until we draw our last breath. I see us living together, having children. Enjoying sunsets and growing old together." His voice grew hoarse and shaky with emotion.
"Together..." Lita whispered, glancing down at their laced fingers. Watching his thumb caress the top of her hand.
"You don't have to fight alone, I'll be with you every step of the way. Thats what love is all about." He promised, pulling her against his chest and holding tight.
"I'm scared, Neville. I do feel...alone. I have always had the girls and Darien to back me up. But ever since becoming Jupiter I realize that this battle ahead...it's mine alone to conquer. You can't follow were I must go and that scares the shit out of me. I am so scared I will lose control again and kill them all..." Lita hissed against his chest, fisting his shirt in both of her hands.
"I'm terrorfied too," He admitted. "But I'm scared that you won't come back to me." He held her to him tightly, wrapping both arms around her like twin steel bands.
The garden had faded away, as its creator had died. Replaced with the reality of shifting shadows of the barren mountain side. Lita held him tight, catching movement over his shoulder. Then the mountain landscape was engulfed in blinding light. Everything went white, the whistle of bullets screamed past her ears. Hollywood yelled and fired back into the searing white light. She heard Kane bite out a curse as he pushed her back, covering her with his own body. She went down hard, cracking the back of her head upon the unforgiving ground. Pain screamed through her body, making her gasp as the full shock that they were under attack took hold. It settled over her with a ferocity she was unprepared for. Adrenaline and terror tore through her, as the howls of Onii echoed from the fading light.
Lita blinked rapidly needing to clear away the white spots that still obscured her sight.
"Kane...can you move?" She cried out, needing to be heard over the rapid fire of gunshots.
Kane lay over her, unresponsive. His face was pressed against the crook of her neck, his full weight pressing against her. When he didn't respond in anyway, raw panic set in. She began to shake him and scream his name. As an ice cold dread settled over her, her breath was taken and every inch of her skin pricked as if struck my millions of needles.
"KANE!" Lita screamed in anguish, reaching for him in desperation as Hollywood rolled him off of her.
"Lita...we gotta go.." He coaxed, pulling at her shoulder's. As she hover over Kane's prone body. He looked as if he was sleeping, but the pool of blood forming beneath his back was unmistakable. He had got shot protecting her...and was bleeding out. She stared down at him, willing his chest to rise. When it quivered just a little, she let out an excited sound. For there was still hope! His breath was shallow a wet gurgle announcing that the bullet had struck his lungs.
Lita fell to her knees, "Stay with me!" She shouted...demanded.
"Christ, you two idiots should have never left me behind!" Cole bellowed, breaking cover from the tall grass along the southern bend of the plateau and sending several shots into the boulder's and dried grass ahead of them. He knelt beside Kane, pressing his fingers into his neck briefly.
"He's alive, but there is no way off this mountain unless I carry him." Cole gave Kane a thorough examination and his face said it all. He was in a bad way.
Hollywood kept up cover fire, crouching before them and firing randomly into the distance.
Lita scowled fiercely at him.
"I am no damn medic! But we got a chopper coming a few miles south west of here." Cole stated. "I'll get him there. You need to get to the peak...I don't think your princess is going to last much longer by herself." Cole looked up over Lita shoulder's forcing her to follow his gaze.
Lita looked up, biting her lower lip hard. The peak was flashing with silver light, each flash becoming less vibrant then the last. Perhaps mimicking the last faint beats of Serenity's heart. Lita was left with a very difficult choice, it would kill her to leave the man she loved. But to abandon her duty to protect her Sovereign, to cast her responsibility aside to save the
earth from this darkness was worse.
"Damn it all! " Lita bellowed to the sky, hating the choice she had to make.
Cole saw such anguish and regret burning in her eyes in that moment. This was the hardest choice any person should have to make. He hated that he was the one to force her hand.
"Alright." She nodded resolutely to Cole. Then turned on her heel and broke into a run. Squeezing her eyes shut tight, willing Kane to survive. She tore off into the night, rounding the bend of large boulder's and loose shale at the cliffs edge and headed upward towards the summit. She nearly lost her footing, skidding out of sight as several bullets ricocheted off the rocks.
"Beryl's men will be on us in seconds." Cole ground out to Hollywood, who was still shooting blindly into the underbrush behind them.
"Then get going." Hollywood called back, nodding towards the boulder's Lita had disappeared behind.
Cole scowled at him, "What about you? Things are getting pretty hot out here, you need to evac too."
"I got my own mission to see threw, there's still one Guardian out there. She's gonna need me, even if shes to stubborn and obstinate to admit it. " Hollywood, flashed Cole a grim smile. "I'm off too, make sure he gets back alive." He commanded, before dashing off down the same trail they had used to get up this ridge.
Leaving Coletrane crouched over Kane's body, staring at the spot were Hollywood had once been. His features set firm in a resolved acceptance. He admired these men, who were capable of showing more selfless courage then any man he had served with before.
"Ok, buddy. Lets get you out of here..." Cole ground out, adjusting Kane into a fireman's carry on his back. Yeah, this was the tightest situation he had been in in a while. He had enemy military heading up to his position along the main trail and Onii converging from the north. He was stuck in the middle of this shit show, left to carry a man who was more dead then alive. He needed a god damn miracle.
The air back on the ridge had been humid, as she moved further up the mountain it cooled and became almost frozen Lita shivered, embracing the cold needing to shed the last of her shock and horror at what she had just experienced. Her past lives echoed in the back of her mind, the pain, confusion and anguish of rebirth. Being forced to relive the same tragic consequences of her first life again and again. An endless round of bloodshed and death she would never be able to leave unless she ended this battle once and for all.
Her Karma, her disgrace and failure as Serenity's protector would continue to haunt her unless she prevailed tonight.
A bitter laugh escaped her as she ran up the narrow dirt path, she missed the fuzzy, confused euphoria that Ruru had cast upon her. Lucidity sucked! Now she had to face the fear that she might fail and have to relive the same tortured existence for another ten thousand years. She needed to stay focused, allowing her mind to wander down such morbid thoughts did no one any good.
The light flashing upon the peak was growing more dim and it filled Lita with panic. She forgot everything else. Uncaring of how sore and stiff her muscles were or the nagging headache she had from using so much of her Genesis state before Ruru had trapped her.
All that mattered was getting to Sere's side. She increased her pace, her heart slamming against her rib cage as she raced upward as fast as her legs could go. Within minutes she was out of breath and her chest was burning from utter exhaustion. She would never make the peak in time at this pace, running. Climbing up this god forsaken rock was futile, Serenity would be long dead before she made the summit.
Lita jogged off the well worn trail, scrubbing a hand down her face in frustrated misery. Moving towards a jagged cliff of loose shale and dark granite. The storm of emotions that raged inside her, roared in her ears. All of this striving seemed so pointless, she felt like she had been fighting her whole life and in many senses she had. She had gone from one turbulent family life to another the only peace she had ever know had been when had been with Serena...Sere...Serenity...
She had been with her in one way or another from one lifetime to another, their souls were eternally linked. She brought upon her great sorrow...yet great happiness as well.
Lita shuffled to the edge, staring forlorn up at the mountain's rocky summit. The moon shone down upon her, it soft light an eternal reminder of their lost kingdom. An innocence destroyed by war and choices that no one should be forced to make.
This world was once again threatened by that great darkness. Made worse by their first failure, it was a primordial evil that had been left to fester and grow for the last ten thousand years. This battle ahead might be so far beyond what they could handle it could be a pointless effort.
Choices...consequences...a tragic fate...or a hopeful destiny...
Lita closed her eyes, and raised her gaze to the moon. A tender smile upon her face.
"I remember it all my Queen...I shall never forget the oath I made to you ever again. This night you shall finally rest, your long night with be over and your daughter shall take her rightful place as this planets ruler. " She raised her arms in supplication, seeking an absolution she knew would never come. Leaning out over the empty space beyond the cliff she allowed herself to fall. Diving into the cold air before the cliff she plummeted towards ridge below.
She had been a Goddess once, had willingly fallen to earth to protect her most precious person for the last ten thousand years. Now was the time for her to reascend into her powers and fulfill her destiny.
The wind rushing against her body was freezing, her bare skin along her arms and legs tightened and became covered in gooseflesh. Her clothes snapped against the wind as she fell like a stone towards the unforgiving earth below.
She kept her eyes closed, focusing on the pure core of herself. The wind roared in her ears, as she sought out the primordial storm that existed in the very fabric of her soul. She was the Goddess of Protection, a daughter of the all father of Jupiter, a warrior goddess who's sole duty was to safe guard the heir to the Silver Millennium.
The explosion that rocked her from the inside out was white hot, blinding in it's intensity. It struck like a bolt of lightening. The wild, uncontrollable force of it's power was overwhelming. It burned away all that she was, as lightening flared around her. Crackling along her arms and legs, thunder boomed in an ever growing crescendo as her body was consumed by her own Genesis.
As quickly as the storm had surged over her body it was recalled back inside. Leaving her once more in her Goddess form. Elegant granite grey plate armour adorned her body, her heavy shoulder guards accented with the royal crest of oak leaves. The sharp lines of her helm were forged to look like a predatory bird of prey. Her mighty halberd was sheathed upon her back, it's two handed hilt rising over her head. Two mighty wings flashed into existence upon her shoulder blades, the feathers a deep green. Lightening crackled amid her lush plumage giving her wing span a shimmering quality that was truly ethereal. Her powerful wings snapped out from her back, catching the updraft and staling her wild descent instantly. She opened her eyes then, her stare was firm and determined, no longer clouded by sorrow or regret. It was time to reclaim the future and put an end to this evil once and for all. She pumped her wings hard, ascending into the night as agile and dangerous as an eagle.