Seeking Love

Chapter 11

Serenity's foot swelled like a balloon. Now she was stranded with one of the most indecent men in the Universe, in the middle of a giant forest, with a sprained ankle. This trip couldn't get any worse.

"Mina, get on my back." Endymion was bending down. He turned his head around trying to give her a reassuring look that he wasn't going to just dump her back on the ground. "Come on, I'm not going to stay crouched all day."

Oddly enough, the sarcasm is what made her relent to him. As quickly and carefully as she could, she got her legs into his arms, and was pulling herself around his neck. His warm body took her mind away from her freezing self. The humidity had made her sweat, and now it was evaporating off her skin giving her the chills. She hadn't noticed how cold she was until now.

Endymion started to walk towards the opening.

"What do you think you're doing? Makoto said to stay here! The others should be here soon. Do you even know where you're going?" asked Serenity.

"I actually do. We are heading towards the reason we came out here in the first place."

"Wait, after all this, you think we can still get to the weapon with just us? You do realize the reason I'm on your back is because I sprained my ankle right?"

Endymion was more then aware of the girl on his back, and her body against him. Her breasts were pressed up against his shoulders, and that strawberry scent was wafting into his nose. At least she was light, and easy to carry.

"It isn't that far down here. On the map Nephrite gave me, it says it's only a mile down."

The man, whose shoulders she was riding on, was surprising her for once. Kunzite was acting his happy self again. Why was it that he seemed so bipolar.

The two transgressed farther into the darkness. Stalagmites and stalactites protruded from the surfaces. It kept getting darker, and less light was coming through. Endymion turned on one of the flashlights in his pack.

"I wonder why your ancestors decided to hide a weapon of light in a place so dark?" asked Serenity. "You would think that they would want to make it as difficult as possible for those allied with the dark realm to not retrieve it so easily."

Another few meters, and the only light source left would be the flashlight. Endymion's feet hit something wet. It was water, and the further he pursued, the higher the water traveled up his leg; it was up to knees now. If it got any deeper, he wasn't going to be able to carry Serenity, and hold the flashlight.

A splash resounded in the distance. Serenity yelped, and pulled her arms closer to Kunzite. Yep, it just got worse. "What was that?" Serenity asked.

"Umm.. probably nothing.." responded Endymion. His voice was a quite whisper. He stopped moving,

"Then why did you freeze?" said Serenity.

Something had just wrapped around his ankle. It felt slimy, and there was more then one. "Mina, I'm going to turn the light off now alright?"

"No!" she yelled at a whisper. "Why?" The flashlight turned off before she got a answer.

The world went pitch-black. Serenity tried to get her eyes to adjust, but to no avail. She wrapped her legs tighter around Endymion's mid-section. Then a glowing started to appear in the water. A type of algae was emanating a blue light. There was also a bright blue coming from Endymion's feet. What looked like a three over sized caterpillars had wrapped themselves around him, but now was slowly releasing their grip. Seemed like the light from the flashlight wasn't making them too happy.

"It's alright, I think we're going to be okay."

Looking around them, Serenity asked,"Kunzite, do you see where we are?"

"Looks like a blue cave to me."

A rhyme Serenity heard from her mother as a child came to mind. She could still repeat it word for word.

When one is looking, for what one can't find

Find what you look for in a mine

These mines, you see, are of the sky

High and high above our lives

Keep walking, walking, until you see

More then just trees, but three of these

They bring light to darkness, and love to thee

But only if you can truly see

She had always thought it was just a child's tale, silly really, but now that she thought about it. It sounded a lot like this damn island they were stuck on.

"Wow, a child's rhyme. You think we are in a child's rhyme?" asked Endymion cynically.

"From what I think, ya – I do."

"From what I think, I think this place is making you crazier then normal. Wait until I tell everyone your reaction when you heard that splash." Endymion let out a small laugh.

"You were scared too! You just don't want to admit it because you're a 'man'" teased Serenity. "Anyway, the poem says that we need to keep going until we see something in threes."

"Can't be anymore specific?" Endymion teased back.

"It's a rhyme. Forward march" ordered Serenity.

They continued, and luckily the water didn't get any deeper. Wherever they made movements, the light refracted and would turn different colors of the rainbow. The water was acting like a prism for the algae. Eventually, the water retreated, and they were back on dry ground. The glowing had stopped, and Endymion turned the flashlight back on again. Turning a corner, only a few meters away there seemed to be an exit. Jogging to it, Endymion went straight through a pair of arches. Serenity took a glimpse behind them. She saw that there were two jade Foo dogs. She couldn't tell if they were placed there to guard the entrance, or to keep people in.

Where they stood seemed to be outside, but there was no breeze or scent of fresh air, and their voices still echoed.

"We must be in a large cavern," Endymion said.

"Ya, but I swear I can see stars above us, don't you see them too? Maybe I am going crazy."

"No, I can see them too." Endymion set her down to lean against him. His arms and back were sore.

"Look over there." Serenity pointed upward. "That's the big dipper, and there's the little."

"This is getting freaky. We are in a cavern that shows the exact constellations as outside. The ancestors must have been geniuses, or complete cranks."

Serenity looked over at the man standing beside her. Kunzite wasn't being too overbearing. Looking at his face lit by the stars, she noticed how sculpted it was. He was actually quite handsome. His jaw line was strong, and his eyes looked like they could kill a person if they looked at you. While at the same time, there seemed to be a hidden compassion deep inside. How odd that she would notice his features in this place, they both looked like they just survived a hurricane; drenched from head to toe.

Endymion could feel Mina's eyes on him, turning towards her, her blue eyes were staring right at him. They seemed familiar, had they been in his dream? No, that didn't seem right. He knew that he remembered them from somewhere though. Abruptly, she started talking.. but he couldn't hear her.

"What?" he said. Her lips started moving again, then the look of confusion spread across her face.

She moved her mouth slowly, and he could read her lips saying, "I can't hear you."

Serenity started clapping her hands, they could both hear the echoes. Why can't he hear me? I can hear myself. There is some strange magic going on here, she concluded.

Endymion started saying something to Serenity, "I think that line in the poem about 'truly seeing' might be playing a role."

All Serenity could read out was, 'Thin we shine.. poem.. choosing roles.' She replied back, "I don't know what you're saying. Pronounce your words more clearly." He didn't seem to have any problems reading her lips.

He repeated his sentence, but along the way made some pretty grotesque and funny faces. If only she had a camera to capture them.

Why was she laughing at him, Endymion thought. They were getting nowhere, again. This girl must think we are playing a game. This was turning out to be ridiculous. Why should they be following a stupid rhyme anyway! It only half made sense. Where were they going to find three of anything in a cavern full of stars. He shut his eyes in frustration, and used his hand to rub his temples. A headache was starting to come upon him.

He must be in deep thought, thought Serenity. Following his lead, she closed her eyes as well. Oddly enough, it didn't seem like she closed her eyes. Reaching her hands up, she felt her eyes to double check that her senses weren't fooling with her. She felt her eyelashes, and her closed lids. Why could she still see? Looking around, she saw that Kunzite had completely disappeared. She was in the cavern all by herself. Studying the stars, she now saw that there were tiny lines connecting the twinkling lights. They were outlining the constellations! Opening her lids, she saw Kunzite again. Giving him a nudge, he looked at her. She motioned for him to close his eyes, and then to look up. She saw his initial shock, and then understanding. Together they searched the room for anything that correlated with 'three'.

There! Orions belt! Pointing it out to Kunzite, they went over to it. It was at head level, and arms length. Endymion made sure Mina would be alright by herself, and started walking towards the three lights. He was almost able to touch it when the floor opened up below him.

Serenity could hear Kunzite's scream in front of her. Now what? She half hopped, and half crawled to him. She couldn't see him, then looking closer she could see his fingertips. Moving as fast as possible, she grabbed his wrists.

"I've got you!" yelled Serenity. Endymion could hear her again.

This girl is not going to be able to lift me out of here, thought Endymion. He had no clue how far the drop was below, but he had a feeling it wasn't good.

"I don't think you've got me at all!" replied Endymion.

"Trust me, I've got you. Just because I have a sprained ankle doesn't mean I can't lift you out of here. Give me your hand."

He wasn't ready to let go of the curve, but Mina was his only chance. Reluctantly, he let go with one hand, and grabbed Mina's forearm. She started pulling him. Feeling less cautious, he let go completely. She kept trying to pull him out. Serenity started searching for more leverage. She could do this, she had trained with her dad when they had gone on all those adventures. She was going to save him.

The surface that Endymion was trying to climb up started to crumble away. It was like a small avalanche beneath him, and the hole he was in gradually grew bigger.

"Move back, let me go! We're both going to fall in!" he shouted at Mina.

"No! I'm not letting you go." Tears had started welling up, and began streaming down Serenity's face. She had to do this. Endymion began descending back into the hole. No! I'm strong, Serenity told herself, but she couldn't find any other way to get the man back up. There was only one other choice. She took a deep breath, and started to scoot forward towards the gaping mouth ready to consume her.

The two went tumbling into the chasm. They clung to each other, for they were all each other had.

Two still bodies laid unconscious on the cold floor. Endymion was the first to wake. Quickly rolling over to see Mina, he discovered they were on a black marble floor. How had they survived that fall? Putting his fingers to Serenity's neck, he checked for a pulse. She was still alive, blood was still flowing through her veins. He started to bend over her, he had no idea why. Maybe he felt like he was protecting her from whatever was to come next, and maybe he was being drawn to her like a child to their mother.

Small specks of light started to surround the two. Endymion looked up, and saw that the tears still fresh on Mina's face began floating up above them. They swirled closer and closer until they became a blue floating globe. Then a beckoning voice, coming from no distinct direction, called out to him.

"You, Prince Endymion of the Earth Kingdom, are you prepared to take upon yourself the duty to protect us; the people, the life, and the freedom of this world, this Galaxy?" The voice had no distinct gender, but contained a tone of prestige and long earned wisdom.

Endymion was speechless, he could only get himself to shake his head.

"Then I intrust you with this Globe, made from a sacred bond, the most powerful bond one may ever have. You must cherish it forever, until death. Make sure not to loose it, and keep it close to you. You must not let anyone destroy this power, or let it dwindle into the darkness."

"Y-y-yes. I promise to do as you say."

"You seemed hesitant. I am not willing to give such a gift to the unworthy. Are you worthy my son?"

"Yes. I promise to keep it close to me, and to use it in the name of the Earth Kingdom." He breathed in a gulp of air. "No one shall weaken it's power, and I will keep it close to my heart." Endymion said this into the empty air. In response, he could tell the being was satisfied.

"You then, take it."

The blue globe began to shrink to the size of a blue snowflake. Endymion reached his hands out to grab it, but it passed right through his fingertips. It continued down to Mina where it was absorbed by her body. Mina began to glow a warm blue, and then the light dissipated.

"I told you, take it," the voice repeated itself.

Endymion wrapped his arms around Serenity. She laid on his lap, and her eyes fluttered open. Her iris's were bluer then ever. Around the edges, an electric blue ring sparked. The realization that she was the weapon came to Endymion's mind.

Woah! I know that was one of the longer chapters, but once I got going.. I was gone. Lots of adventure! Ya! Next Chapter will be up soon.