Chapter 19: Venus Returns
(I have b een invisib le my whole life. My mother was always to b usy to ever really pay much attention to me. It was understandab le b ut it still sucked. She was a single mom, had b ills to pay, a roof to keep over my head. She worked a full time job during the week that b arely paid the effort she put in. So she had a to take on another job on the weekends...at a strip b ar. With no real education b eyond high school, her choice of career was rather limited. So I sorta raised myself. My father, had very little interest in me. He acted more like an ab sent landlord then a parent. Only showing up when it suited him which was rarely. Tossing my mom a b it of money, as if that was enough to cover the cost of helping her raise me. I came to find out, that he had a b etter life, a b etter wife and children outside the city. Why would he care ab out me, the misb egotten child b orn out of wedlock to his one time mistress.
So I learned early on to care ab out numb er one...me. I grew up on the streets. Crashing at friends, my mother's house when it suited me, even the youth shelter a few times when things were getting crazy. It was a hard life, I made a lot of stupid mistakes b ut I always learned from them. I was people savvy, ab le to adapt or manipulate any given situation to my advantage. Be it for personal gain or just survival. I prided myself on the ab ility to always land on my feet, no matter how b ad things got. Ab ove all else I knew b y adulthood that I was a survivor. I could overcome anything.
School had always b een ab out cliques. Everyone seemed to find a place to b elong, a niche that suited their personalities or hob b ies or would help them achieve success later in life. Me, I was what you would call a floater. I hung, I never
b elonged to any one group. I wasn't disliked b y anyone, nor did the more popular groups poke fun at me. Honestly, how could anyone make fun of me when they hardly knew I existed.
I was a lone wolf, I needed no one and no one needed me. Until I met Sere just b efore high school, I was never alone again. We were a team and soon I could say for the first time in my life I was surrounded b y people I could trust, people I could love unconditionally.
People I would give my life for.)
Venus crouched in the darkness of her cell, every muscle was coiled, rigid. Rage so prevalent that it rolled through her like fire. Mar's screams of agony echoed through the cell walls, tearing at her heart and soul. This time when she felt Princess Serenity touch her mind there was no hesitation, she no longer questioned her presence.
"That vile woman is killing Mars right now, I swear it!" She snarled into the darkness, the raw fury struck Serenity like a physical b low and she recoiled a b it. Venus b oiled with so many intense emotions is was like a roaring tornado howling in her mind. The helpless fury was consuming her. She clenched and unclenched her hands, hatred and loathing clawed at Serenity. Until she flinched away from the negative tide washing over b oth of them. She had no means to reach either of her Senshi physically so she did the only thing she was capab le of doing. She wrapped her spiritual self around Venus and held onto her, offering her whatever comfort she could.
"You will b e free soon. Believe in that, Venus. I will free Mars too."Princess Serenity's voice was soft b ut full of conviction.
"I swear upon my own star seed, Princess. I will free Mars and get us out of here!"Venus declared in a low snarl.
Serenity sensed strength in her that hadn't b een there b efore. Even after weeks of torture and starvation, Venus's iron will had never wavered. Her determination was renewed and she was ready to fight. Refusing to give up even now when she and Mars were b oth on deaths door.
This time there was no pain for Serenity to take on. Venus was b locking it with the intensity of her anger. Her focus was solidly on Mars. Serenity wanted to shield Venus from the terrib le sounds of Mar's suffering. The b eating she was taking was only feeding Venus's rage and determination. So she sat there with her, holding her as she shook with fury.
The door to her cell b urst open. Venus shot to her feet, startling Serenity and sending her spirit sprawling a few feet away. Two men in full b lack leather armour stood in the doorway, swords drawn and ready to strike. While two more rushed into the room and forcib ly yanked Venus to her feet. This time they didn't b ind her, b ut dragged her out of the cell, down a dim hallway then another, then another. The walls were a rough cut stone like the inside of a cave, always moving upward at a slow incline.
A moment later she was thrust into the sunlight. They tossed her into a snow b ank, forming a defensive circle around her. She cried out in acute pain as the snow b urned her skin, scramb ling b ack into a defensive crouch. Her toes aching as
the ice and snow melted under her b are feet. Darting her eyes from one man to another, keeping track of their movements like a frightened animal. The cold wind howled and frozen sleet struck every inch of Venus's naked b ody. The tiny particles of ice b urned and sliced through her skin like a million needles. She grit her teeth refusing to offer these sadistic b astards anymore amusement at her pain.
The light was b linding after so many weeks trapped underground. She threw ab arm over her ravaged eyes. Her sight was distorted, unab le to focus properly. All she saw was flashes, b lurry images of the four men who had dragged her here. Gradually she b linked and squinted enough that she could clear her vision. She sucked in a cold b reath at the b rutal sight b efore her.
Mars was standing a few feet away, b loodied and b ruised. Her dark eyes were b leak, b oth Phob os and Deimos lay at her feet. Her familliars had tracked their master to this b arren mountain peak, standing guard for the last few weeks. Phob os would call upon the dawn and Demios would cry out at dusk. Loyal and resilant, they never wavered in their vigil. Until Mars had b een dragged out of the caves, then they must have attacked.
Their dark corpses were b roken and twisted together, their b eaks open in a final death scream. They had b een b urned alive b y dark fire, no dou the Dark Queens Torturer. The malicious woman dressed in all b lack armour and lavender cowl, that had b een slowly killing them for the last few weeks. Their deaths had b een a final gamb it to get Mars to talk...Venus was worried that it might have worked?
"Mars..." Venus b reathed, knowing that witnessing the b rutal demise of her familiars and b eing powerless to save them would have finally b roken her. Mars had tried to save them, she now b ore a ragged cut that ran down from her temple, over her jaw and lower down her neck. The flesh lay open,weeping b adly, with b lood streaming down her face. There was b oth panic and defeat shining in her eyes,
"Don't you do it, Mars! Don't you do it ! I command you to stand down!" Venus shouted, seeing the suicidal rage b urning b ehind all that pain in her eyes. She didn't care anymore, she was ab out to attack them with everything she had left. Uncaring if they took her life in the process.
The right side of her face was a mess. There was a ragged slash, crossing down her cheek from her temple. The ugly wound was fresh, b lood streamed down her face. Soaking her neck and smearing across her b are b reasts.
Serenity gasped when the tip of a b lade was pressed against Venus's neck. Mars was on the verge of b reaking, they were going to use Venus to finally snap Mar's will. The Dark Queen had no use for Venus anymore. She had grown tired, or b ored, or just frustrated with b oth Guardians refusal to give her the information she wanted.
(Now, Venus. You have to fight them. You have your hands. They will not b e expecting you to fight. I can't b ear it anymore. You have to try.)
Venus could feel the tears streaming down her Princess's cheeks as she b eseeched her to fight. Felt her helplessness, her determination to stop their suffering, she could not allow the Dark Queen to murder her Guardian.
Power like she had never felt b efore, flooded through their link. The silver light of the Imperium crystal b urned through every nerve, every muscle of her b ody. Until she roared in b oth pain and pure, unrestrained rage. Her b lue eyes dimmed, turning a b rilliant silver as Princess Serenity poured every ounce of her power into her soul.
Venus snapped her gaze up, so that she stared Mars straight in the eye. Serenity caught her b reath at the silent exchange b etween her two guardian's. They would fight and may the Goddess of death have mercy upon these soldier's souls b ecause they were not going t reathing much longer.
(I'm with you, Venus. I will never leave you again.) Serenity's voice was full of emotion, shaking with fury and so much devotion.
The men holding Mars b egan to scream and b ellow the same questions they always asked. Where was the gateway to the Moon? How do you activate the portal?
Mars stood there like a stone, her expression was impassive. Then she sagged in their arms, crumpling to the frozen ground as if she had fainted.
"All right, all right. I'll talk, just leave her alone." Venus wailed, in anguish. Raising her hands in defeat, luring the men who had dragged her out here just a little closer.
Venus's focus was razor sharp, her b ody so full of power from the Silver Crystal her skin was humming.
As two of men drew in, she whipped around ramming her fist into the knee of one man holding a sword.
Sweeping her feet under the one flanking her, his sword hit the ground. Along with his companion and Venus had that sword b efore either man could react.
She thrust the sword through the neck of the man she disarmed, ducking and spinning away to avoid the other two men now converging upon her. Slashing the sword tip through the neck of the man she had tripped, b lood splashed upon the snow staining it a gruesome red. In rapid succession she gutted the last two men. The world was tilting crazily as Venus moved, Serenity had a hard time keeping everything in perspective. As Mars exploded into action, lunging forward to get away from her captors. Venus had managed to kill four of the soldiers, b ut the two around Mars were to far away.
One of the soldier's stalked towards Venus, while his partner moved in on Mars. Swinging his sword towards the dark haired Guardian's throat.
(NO!) Serenity screamed, this time her voice echoed over the rocky cliffs and snow packed peaks like a thunderclap. Her sudden explosion of sound startled b oth men and they paused in response, glancing around in fear. For her voice seemed to come from everywhere at once, shattering the very air itself.
Venus took her opportunity and dispatched the man closing in on her swiftly.
As Mars twisted away and grappled the soldier's sword out of his hands, slitting his throat in moments.
"Lets go!" Venus shouted, grab b ing Mar's hand. As several more voices exploded from the cave entrance. The naked women ran for cover, dirt and snow b lew up b eside them as arrows struck the ground. Serenity could hear the sharp whistles of more arrows screaming around them, then the dull thuds of the arrow heads striking trees b eside them.
(I need to save you...I need to draw more power from the crystal...b low those Dark Kingdom soldier right to hell!) Serenity's voice echoed in b oth their minds like a vengeful angel.
Both Mars and Venus shared a meaningful smile, never imagining that their sweet, little princess could ever b e so full of rage. They felt her righteous anger like a heated b rand upon their skin, right know they knew if she could will that kind of power from the Silver Crystal then she would set this whole mountain on fire and b urn the Dark Kingdom away to ashe.
But she was already exhausted and they needed her more then ever. Serenity drew their pain away from them.
Ab sorb ing their fear, taking every emotion except their own anger and determination to b e free. She then infused them with every ounce of her resolve.
The two women ran through the trees, heavy b rush and over a frozen stream, never stopping or looking b ack. The angry sounds of men grew more distant, shouts of alarm went silent.
(Keep Running!) Serenity b egged in their minds.
After an hour, Mars went down, this time she didn't get b ack up. Huddled in the dirt and snow b efore a wayward pine, she was b leeding heavily from several wounds. Her face was ashen and her b reathing was soft and lab oured.
"Get up, Eris. Come on, we gotta keep going. They'll b e tracking us, we haven't b een very sub tle in our attempt to elude them." Venus encouraged, crouching b efore her and pulling on her arm gently. Glancing b ehind them and glaring ruefully at the wide, clumsy set of tracks they left in the snow.
"I can't do it, Cytherea. Go on without me. Do not let me drag you down." Mars growled out, wincing in agony and wrapping her arms around her rib s.
"Hold your tongue! We go as a team...always! I will never leave you, we are the Princess's royal guard and I forb id you to die now! Even if I have to carry your ass out of these mountains." Venus professed, her eyes b urning with tears and determination.
"I don't think I'm going to make it..." Mars stated in a raspy voice. "They b roke something inside of me this time. Pretty sure I'm b leeding internally. You have to leave me."
Venus's hands curled into fists, frustration washed out from her and b athed the Princess.
(Serenity...help. Please, I don't know what to do now?) Venus called out to her in her mind, the intensity of her desperation slamming into the princess. Making her stagger against the rough stone of the cave wall she was hiding in.
(I'm connected to you right now...I don't know if I can change my focus right now...I'm still not so adept at using the Silver Crystal. My powers are not trustworthy...kinda random.) Serenity responded sadly.
(Try...please Princess. For me...Use me...Do whatever you have to do.) Venus pleaded.
Serenity wanted to scream in frustration, sensing Venus' s panic and worry.
Serenity's own panic was rising and she tried valiantly to keep it from spilling over into Venus. She didn't need her crazed emotions piling up onto her own. She had to b e strong for her...
Serenity took a deep b reath and sought calm, she needed to do this. What ever the cost, she had to save them. She owed her Guardian's, the Earth King and his General's so much. She needed to overcome all
the trails and trib ulations that lay ahead. If it ended in her own death, then so b e it...it was a price she was willing to pay.
(You need to touch her, Venus. Put your hand on her so I can help.) Serenity coaxed.
Venus dropped down and put her hands on Mar's chest.
"Venus...what are you doing. Stop dawdling and get out of here." Mars ground out in pain.
"Shut up! Mars. We go together." Venus stated, ob stinately. (Do it now, Princess...Hurry)
Serenity opened herself fully to the Silver Crystal. It b omb arded her with so much power, she was staggered. Sagging against the cold stone of the cave, she willed herself to stay strong as she channeled that power outward towards Mars. (Keep it together...Serenity. I can maintain these links...I can prevail..) Sweat b eaded upon her forehead. Her b reathing went shallow and she teetered precariously on her feet. Hot white light flooded her consciousness. She felt Venus's surprise as she too, felt the power of the Silver Crystal moving through her. The healing energy washed through Venus, flooding over Mars in a cocoon of holy light.
Mars eyes flew open. Color washed b ack into her face, the gash along her damaged cheek drew closed and healed instantly. She b egan to draw in deep b reaths. "Oh my..." She gasped in awe.
Serenity never let up, pushing all of the Crystal's energy threw Venus. She was weakening quickly and she knew there was still a long way to go b efore Mars was healed. Getting them b oth safely away from the Dark Kingdom Soldier's now hunting them was another fight yet to come.
Then Mars b roke away suddenly. "Thats enough!" Her voice was harsh and laced with worry. Serenity understood, she had connected to the Guardian of War many times over the weeks as well. She knew how taxing this would b e upon her.
(Serenity...) Venus called out in her mind, hearing her princess's soft moan of pain threw their link. It splintered her heart and sudden panic b urned threw her. ( Princess, are you alright? Stay with me..I know your weak b ut we still need you?)
(It's alright, Venus. I'm fine, I am not dying...I feel like it) Serenity voice was light and sweet laughter echoed threw Venus's mind. (Mars b roke the link b efore it got to b e to much for me to handle. I wasn't ab le to heal her completely. But she should b e ab le move now...I can't say for how long.)
Venus closed her eyes in relief. (Thank you, Princess.)
(Break away from me now!) Mars voice invaded b oth Venus and Serenity's link. Her voice was hard and demanding. (I can feel how weak you are now, I have no idea where you are or what kind of mess you might b e in right now. But b e careful and as soon as this is over and we find you. You have a lot of explaining to do and I want to make damn sure you are alright!)
Venus gasped and spun upon Mars, her face full of shock that she was capab le to connect to her link with Serenity, with b oth Phob os and Deimos dead. The ravens had b een her connection to the spiritual world she didn't think that power was still possib le for Mars?
(I promise.) Serenity's tone was quiet, now sounding more like a chastised child then a fully grown woman. She could feel the fear Mars felt towards her condition. She understood that her wounds had b een fatal and that her princess had taken them upon herself when she was healed. Serenity could b e in real b ad shape and not letting on.
(Serenity...) Venus called weakly. (Are you still with me?)her voice was worried. It cut through the anxiety she felt ab out
b reaking her connection to Mars. Serenity took a deep fortifying b reath and then focused all her attention b ack on Venus.
(I'm here. Get Mars up and get moving...I need you to head south, along the ridge and then west...over a narrow pass...b elow wit thick forest of evergreens and spruce is a valley..help awaits you there.)
Venus nodded and reached down for Mars, pulling her up to her feet and half dragged, half carried her farther into the trees.
"I can walk!" Mars ground out, ripping her arm out of Venus's grasp savagely. Falling to the ground with a yelp. She stub b ornly crawled a few feet away, snatching a long, thick stick from under an ancient pine. Then slowly raised herself up, leaning heavily upon the b ranch. Her face was set in a grim frown as she shuffled forward. Determined to move forward under her own power. She didn't grimace when she walked and her steps quickened easily with the aid of her walking stick.
Serenity b reathed a sigh of relief and concentrated on helping Venus. As the two Guardian quickly left the patch of forest b ehind for more rocky terrain. They cut a path through a narrow ravine. It got so tight that they had to turn sideways to edge through. Rocks cut into Venus's feet, b ut she shielded her princess from the pain. The soles of her feet were soon damp with b lood.
The terrain levelled out when the ravine opened up into a wider valley. The Guardian's kept to the ridge line, moving stealthy through the b rush. Just b efore they could slip into another more dense patch of trees, the whine of an arrow sliced through the air. Then pain exploded through Venus's leg, as th arrow head tore through her calf. She stumb led and went down.
(Venus!, Oh...goddess...Oh, b lessed crystal...) Serenity voice echoed in Venus's mind. Without thinking, Serenity used every b it of her flagging strength to draw away her pain and heal her. Agony pulsed down her leg and b lood seeped into the thin layers of her pure white skirts. She flooded Venus with hope, determination...and rage. She took away the pain, gritting her teeth against the urge to scream out. As spiritual fire coursed through her veins. She couldn't afford to give away her hiding place...at least not yet.
(Get up! You're alright, Venus...you gotta keep going!) She shouted.
This time it was Mars who reached down and pulled Venus to her feet.
(Thank you...Princess.) Venus responded, her tone was somb er b ut full of steel.
Serenity closed her eyes, her consciousness sliding slowly into ob livion. She had to hold on, she had to keep them strong. She couldn't falter now. Not now...not ever...She had made each of them a promise.
That she would never leave them again...free them...that she would protect them...until they were safe.
She wouldn't fail!
Venus and Mars charged into the over grown woods and then took cover b ehind an thick spruce. Its heavy b ranches hanging low, holding weeks worth of snow.
Serenity sensed Venus's determination that they would never b e taken alive again. That she would die fighting and take as many of those b astards with her.
Blood ran more freely down her leg, Serenity never glanced down to see the extent of her injuries. She merely grit her teeth, as the pain b ecame unb earab le. She was further weakened b y the fact that not only had she taken Venus's pain she was also shielding her Guardian from feeling her own agony.
Her head pounded, nausea washed over her and the tunnel vision she was now enduring of the damp cave surrounding her, swam in rapid circles.
(Serenity..for goodness sakes. You have to stop this.) Mars invaded her mind.
(Back off...Eris...You are distracting me.) Serenity ground out, not expecting that Mars could reconnect their link with out her approval. Her ravens were dead? How was she doing this?
All at once Serenity felt warmth and strength pour into her, b olstering her up when she needed it the most.
(Eris...Mars...) Serenity b reathed in disb elief.
(Our link can go b oth ways, Princess...) Mars responded, her voice calm and full of an immortal knowledge of the Spiritual Realm that her princess had yet to learn. (You have to unlock Venus's powers, that Evil Queen sealed b oth our Star Seeds. You lack the power to free b oth of us at once. I can deal with my own seal later. Hurry!)
Serenity didn't argue, she didn't have the strength and she couldn't afford to slip her focus away from Venus. She delved deep into Venus's inner self, seeking out her star seed. Finding it sealed away in the same manner as Mars. A darkness shrouded the vib rant light of her star seed. Walled it away b ehind an impenetrab le fortress, b uilt upon malice and despair. Serenity pushed against that wall tentatively, unwilling to shattering it all at once. The dark energy was far to powerful for her to handle all at once, she needed to investigate its fortifications first. To find the chinks and vulnerab le spots in its armour, then she would b egin to dismantle it. Unravel the tapestry of the seal one loosened weave at a time, until it was gone. The emotional energies used to create it no longer interconnected, the spell unb ound and left to dissipate b ack into the ether.
Serenity worked diligently at the seal, untying and pulling free each weave. Venus felt her princess pulling at her spirit. It was unnerving and she gripped the sides of the tree trunk, her eyes wide in b oth fear and wonder.
"Be calm, Venus. Do not fight Serenity, allow her to b reak the seal." Mars encouraged, leaning heavily against the trunk b eside her.
"Her connection is so much more intense then b efore...more intimate..." Venus gasped, squeezing her eyes shut. Her soul quivered in response to Serenity's invasion, as she slowly, gently, unb ound her Senshi powers. Venus gasped and her eyes flew open in sudden alarm and pride when the heat of her powers coursed through her b ody once again.
Mars saw the change in her Sister in Arms, the cocky, confidence, flaring in her b lue eyes once again.
"Make your attacks count, Venus. If you don't hit your marks, we are done." Mars stated, her dark lavender eyes fierce.
Venus stepped b ack from the tree, b owing her head and curling her left hand into a fist. Raising her arm up over her head and then spread her finger's wide. Gathering all the light from the universe and channeling it down her fingers, her arm to her star seed. With a flash of b rilliant gold light, she stood tall in her Guardian armour. Of an elab orate gold chain mail b reastplate, covering a tan leather shirt and b reaches. Sweeping arm guards, leg and shoulder pieces that resemb led the rays of the sun protected her. At her left hip was an elegant b road sword, on her right hip a coiled chain made of pure light. Her b londe hair snapped like a cape at her b ack, a b rilliant if sassy smile spread over her lips. Her b lue eyes flaring with power and vengeance.
"I got this!" Venus nodded, her smile twisting into a fierce scowl. Uncurling her chain of light, she snapped it out at her side. It flared to life like a living thing, stretching and lengthening as if waking from sleep.
More arrows slapped the trees and ground around them. Mars ducked b ehind a different tree, further out of range.
Glancing over her shoulder at Venus, as she retreated.
"They are still a good distance away. Don't attack until your sure you got them." Mars advised.
Venus merely nodded, used to Mars and her b ossy, know it all attitude when she was stressed out.
She was their leader and far superior to the rest of the Senshi concerning comb at and strategy. But arguing the point with Mars was a useless endeavour and it was easier to just concede.
The valley around them went deathly quiet. Wind howled eerily through the trees, twigs snapped nearb y. Chills vib rated down Serenity's arms. She was Venus's only b arrier to the b itter cold, already Mars was shivering violently. She was her only protection from the pain of all the injuries she had sustained earlier, that should have her unconscious and on the ground.
She needed to hold out just a little longer, until this was over. Slipping down the cave wall, Serenity forced every once of her remaining energy to remain conscious and linked to her Senshi.
In the distance the Dark Kingdom Soldiers crept forward, drawing closer to her Senshi's position. Mars held up a finger to tell Venus to hold.
"Wait," the raven haired Guardian mouthed.
Venus nodded and tightened her grip upon the hilt of her whip of light. Its length glowed and snapped with energy in need of release.
The soldiers were ab out a hundred yards away, when hoof b eats thundered threw the trees. Five armoured men on horseb ack exploded from the tree line up on the northern ridge. They charged down the valley, screaming their war cries, swords gleaming in the faint sun light of mid day. The dark soldier's who had b een pursuing them, stopped and quickly turned tail and ran. The archers shot wildly at the charging men, tripling and scramb ling for cover in the trees.
"What the hell?" Venus laughed, tears of pure joy flowing down her face. As she watched Endymion and his generals
stampede into the trees after the soldiers.
Mars stared, mystified. Her heart b eating so fast and so hard it was nearly b reaking free from her chest.
"Thank you, Princess," Venus b reathed, "They've come for us..."
The hard sound of hooves echoed just b ehind them, b oth Mars and Venus turned to find Mercury and Jupiter on
horseb ack. Cresting the upper ridge of loose shale and snow, making their way down to the trees. Venus had never b een so happy to see her sister in arms in her whole life. She wanted to run to them, as they cantered their mounts threw the fringe of pines at the b ottom of the valley. She wanted to scream their names and wave her arms franticly. But she remained under cover b ehind a tree, as Mars limped up b eside her. The most glorious smile gracing her face.
They paid no attention to the screams of their enemies b eing stuck down b y Endymion and his men. Their hearts b ursting with joy at finally b eing free...feeling safe and protected once more in the company of family and friends.
Mars couldn't help it, she swung an arm over her head and gave a cry of victory. Jub ilation filled Venus.
(We did it, Serenity!)
Venus waited for the reassuring response from her Princess b ut she had fallen silent. Dread gripped her until finally she felt the faintest glimmer of her pressence stir. Warmth b lossomed through out her b ody again, soothing her worry and physical agony.
(I knew you could do it.) Serenity responded softly.
Her confidence imb ued Venus with strength and she walked out of cover from b ehind the staggered from the tree line, as Mars started out as well. The two Senshi helped each other as they went to meet their comrades. As they drew closer to Mercury and Jupiter, Venus's pulse quickened and tears b lurred her vision.
"Mercury...Jupiter..." Venus croaked, as Mars sagged against her. Dropping her stick and draping an arm around her shoulders, needing more aid to keep moving forward.
Venus grunted and wrapped a steadying arm around Mar's b ody, accepting her weight with out missing a step.
Tears streamed down Mars's face, the full force of her grief at losing Phob os and Deimos hitting her hard. Along with the exhilaration of finally knowing freedom again, after nearly giving up all hope.
Adrenaline left Venus, even Serenity's unwavering support could not b olster her up any longer. Venus dropped to her knees as Mercury and Jupiter dismounted and rushed to their sides.
It was like a dam b reaking, pain flooded through her. The fire of exhaustion b urned through her limb s, muscles throb b ed and ached from over use. Even her veins demanded rest.
Venus realized that Serenity's strength was gone. She could no longer shield her, she had protected them b oth for far to long already. She glanced up to see horror upon Mercury's and Jupiter's face as they ran towards them. She understood how gaunt, completely naked and b loody they must look.
They had just escaped hell, the agony of the ordeal tore threw her b ody until she was consumed in agony. She pitched forward, b racing her palms against the b itter cold of the snow as Mercury and Jupiter surround her.
(You're safe now..) Serenity's voice was weak as she finally withdrew. Her departure felt final this time. Not like the other times when she promised to come b ack.
(Please, stay on earth. Be free, safe and happy. I need to finish this on my own terms.) Then she was gone, leaving a giant yawning hole in the pit of Venus's soul. Her fingers curled into the thin layer of snow, clawing up frozen dirt. "No! Don't do this! Goddamn it, don't leave!"
"Venus, calm down. It's me...Mercury. Your ok, now. We're here. We are not going to leave you. We are going to take you b ack to our camp."
As Mercury knelt down to help Venus up, she went b allistic. The fury, sorrow and frustration at all that had happened to her finally overwhelming her common sense. She had never felt so alone in her life.
She struck out with b oth fists, clipping Mercury in the jaw when the b runette attempted to evade the attack. Falling
b ackwards on her b utt, rub b ing her chin tenderly. Her dark b lue eyes full of fear and worry as she watched Venus wail
towards the grey, unfeeling sky.
"Don't go! Don't go! Please don't leave me." Venus screamed b rokenly.
Jupiter had just hauled Mars up into the saddle of her war horse, leaving the raven haired Senshi to sag forward against the mighty horses neck in exhaustion. As she raced b ack to Venus's side, kneeling b efore the grieving Senshi, palming her face with b oth hands and holding her focus. As she lowered her face until they were mere inches apart. "Cytherea, we here. We are going to take care of you now. Everything is going to b e alright. We are getting out of here."
"She's gone..." Venus gasped out.
"Who?" Mercury asked, her guts twisting with a nagging dread that she already knew who.
"Serenity...she's is leaving us b ehind...here on earth..." Venus croaked out, the words were painful. Her throat was raw from screaming Tears streamed down her face, as she confronted Jupiter. Then she closed her eyes as pain engulfed her, collapsing to the cold earth b arely lucid. There was just to much pain, to much loss. In her mind, Venus had an image of her Princess huddled in a cave high up in the mountains. Curled up into a tight b all, suffering alone from using the Silver Crystal for far to long. It was more then she could b ear then her mind went b lank.
Mercury knelt b eside Venus, surveying the array of ugly wounds criss crossing her whole b ody. The extent of the damage was unb elieviab le, no human would have survived it. But Venus was a Senshi, b orn from the b loodline of the Gods. Bearing a will and endurance far greater then a mere mortal.
"I thought she was going into the Dark Kingdom?" Mercury admitted, her mind reeling at the prospect that Serenity was heading b ack to the Moon alone to take on her mother.
Jupiter stared at her in horro and disb elief. "We have to hurry!" She declared, hauling Venus's limp b ody up in her arms and draping her over Mercury's mount.
They never waited for Endymion and his generals to return. Urging their mounts into a full run, they raced towards the Moon Temple.
Thousands of lives washed over her, through her unconscious self. She ab sorb ed as much as she could, b ut the trauma and regret was ceaseless. Always the failures of her first life would seep into her current self, affecting her in such terrib le ways. There was no mercy, no peace...just war...and regrets...
Mina was roughly shaken awake, snapping her eyes open in sudden alarm. Confronting the looming figure of Hollywood hovering over her. A tight frown marring his face. She came instantly to awareness, the grim fuge of her past lives drifting away back into the recesses of her mind. Blinking numbly for a moment as she rose threw the layers of dream and back to reality. Moonlight shone down upon the barren plateau she had been sprawled upon. The gentle light illuminated her surroundings faintly, falling upon a body a few feet away.
A woman with short, curly blonde hair lay face down in the dirt. She was barely dressed, in a tight black halter and short flowing skirt, with a white taffeta underskirt. That made the skirt fluff out as if it was a ballerina's tutu. It was a rather tacky outfit, making her look like a slutty pop star. Mina had cringed at the sight of it, she felt her own fashion sense was way better.
The young woman's arms were twisted behind her back, her legs curled backwards as if she had died while being bound. An ugly gash circled her neck, her skin blackened and crusted by a deadly burn. Matching burns circled her wrists and ankles, illustrating how viciously she had been killed.
Mina swallowed hard as the memories of her gruesome battle with the Queen's general flooded through her. She had a Genesis power to manipulate sound waves, her voice capable of such high frequencies she had nearly burst Mina's eye drums. Mina had been on the defensive for most of the battle, ducking from one hiding place to another. Able to shoot off a few bolts of light, before Mimete's sound attacks made her insanely dizzy and disorientated. So that she had no choice but to put more distance between them. Her tactics soon changed from one of capture to simply trying to kill her.
"Mimi Hanyu..." Mina whispered, staring grimly down at the body. She had lain in wait, in the canopy of a ancient tree. When Memete drew in close, taunting her with her arrogant sing, song voice. Mina had snared her around the neck with her whip and hoisted her up into the tree. Coiling her burning chain of light around her body, her wrists and her legs like a python. Twisting and constricting the young woman until her neck snapped and her ribs were crushed.
"Who?" Hollywood glanced briefly at the corpse, nodding in acknowledgement.
"She was from America, lured by the Queen with the promise of becoming a Pop Idol." Mina laughed bitterly. She had
similar dreams of wealth and acceptance, if it wasn't for Raye's love and her friends she might have allowed such goals to become an all consuming obsession. Just like this woman had.
"How did you know all that?" Hollywood smirked.
"She never shut up about herself!" Mina snapped back. She didn't want to reminisce about how she had just snuffed out the life of a human being. Who would now have dreams and aspirations never achieved. It was a terrible feeling, knowing she had killed another person. But she had had no choice, it was kill or be killed that was the position the Queen had placed them in.
"She wanted my body...my soul...for her master..." Mina snarled, wondering what further evil awaited them upon the summit.
"Damn..." Hollywood growled, scrubbing a hand down his face in agitation.
As the world flashed with brilliance, as if a huge flare had gone off in the sky above. Mina cried out in alarm and shot her gaze towards the summit.
"Sere..." She breathed, scrambling to her feet.
Hollywood had already seen several flashes of light on his way up the mountain. What ever was going on up there, Sere was fighting for her life.
"Lets get up there, then." Hollywood rose to his feet and offered her a hand up. Mina accepted it and soon they were charging down a narrow path of loose earth up towards the summit.
Her rage was swelling out of control as they cut a path through the upper forest. Hollywood could barely keep up. Serenity needed her and that was enough for Mina to summon inhuman endurance and speed to scale this mountain in minutes. Fear clawed at her, that she might already be to late and another reincarnation awaited her in the end. Their destiny's stalled yet again.
She had been jealous of the others, that they had managed to ascend before her. She had felt so inadequate, left behind in regards to Sere's protection. What she had believed was a boon, turned out to a curse. She should have relished her ignorance of the past. Trusted in what her friends had said, that knowing the truth was far more brutal. Ever since high school, Lita, Raye, Amy...and her. They had been a team, their sole purpose was to love and protect Sere. They lived, breathed the same air, they had a bond so close it was unexplainable.
"Mina you need to slow down." Hollywood called, as she had now pulled far ahead. Rounding a bend in the trail and disappearing from view. She was lost to her troubled thoughts, her nagging dread that Sere might be dead before she even got there. She couldn't slow down, if anything she needed to move faster! Mina broke into a full sprint up the path, the Queen was going to was no doubt about that. For all the suffering her selfish actions had inflicted upon her daughter...upon them all. Mina kept up her ruthless pace through the trees, focusing on her rage and the need to exact her revenge upon Queen Selene. Her pulse was like a hammer, pounding furiously through out her body. Charging her whole body with energy. More flashes of light exploded over the sky, violent and desperate.
What was going on up there?
Mina entertained countless scenarios, none were positive.
Sere was fighting all alone...she needed her...needed them.
Mina charged through the last of the thick overgrowth, running at top speed down a plateau towards a cliff. She screamed to the heavens in futility, as she skidded to an abrupt stop at the very edge. Lacking the hope, the faith to make that final leap. As the sky was seared with light, transforming the mountain side into a fake dawn.
"Serenity!" She screamed.