A/N - Please indulge me and let's assume that a night on the moon is the same length as a night on earth. :)
~ Chapter 3 ~
Word spread quickly through the palace about how the stranger had succeeded in solving the princess's three riddles, only to challenge the princess with one of his own. If she could discover his name before dawn, then he would agree to be executed.
The stranger had been swiftly escorted to a small waiting room, but no sooner had he sat down then there was a heavy knock on the door. He opened it to see a group of ten or so officials led by a severe-looking woman with short blond hair dressed in royal armor with a small white cat at her feet.
She stepped forward and gave the most imperceptible of bows, "I am Mikako of Venus, the captain of the royal guard. As we speak, messengers walk the hallways of this palace, knocking on every door, asking for your name. The princess has declared that no one is to sleep tonight and threatens to exile the entire court if we fail to discover your name. It is only a matter of time before we reveal your secret. On behalf of the Moon Kingdom, I ask that you confess your name."
Standing tall to challenge the woman's presence, he spoke with authority, "Captain, your kingdom is in great danger. An enemy has taken your princess as a host and threatens to bring ruin to this star."
The woman gave a mirthless laugh, "Nonsense. Our kingdom is secure. You are the one who will bring us ruin. Have you any proof of this claim?"
The prince frowned. Would admitting that he came from the Sun Kingdom and had witnessed this tragedy before give away his identity?
The white cat who had been sitting beside Mikako patiently, suddenly jumped to the prince's side. Commanding the attention of the captain and officials, it spoke in a very human male voice, "I will speak with the stranger alone. Please withdraw."
Mikako gave the cat a questioning look, furrowing her brow slightly, but nodded curtly and turned to leave.
Shocked to hear a cat speak, but even more dumbfounded to see its order being followed, the prince gazed aghast at the white feline as the door to the waiting room clunked shut. Once they were alone, the cat's demeanor seemed to change, and when he spoke again it was in a careful whisper, "I believe you. Follow me."
The cat weaved between the chairs and tables before jumping onto the windowsill of the open air window. With a slight nod of his head to beckon the prince, he jumped down into the palace garden below. The prince followed with much less grace, but managed to make it down from the second story window with the help of the vines that clung to the palace wall.
The cat plodded silently through the starlit garden, and the prince followed, trying to keep the inevitable rustling of his robes to a minimum. Reaching a small secluded pool surrounded by tight-knit trees and bushes, the cat jumped up on a nearby stone bench and took a seat looking at the prince. "Stay here. It should buy you some time until they find you," he said quietly.
"Thank you," the prince said simply, "but why?"
"My name is Artemis," the cat's eyes twinkled a bit, "I, too, am from a different planet. You're from the Sun Kingdom, correct?"
"Yes," a hint of fear in the prince's voice as he wondered how much the cat knew.
"Don't worry, I don't know who you are," Artemis smiled, "but, while the Moon Kingdom broke contact with the Sun Kingdom ages ago, my star still keeps tabs on it from time to time. Very discretely of course. What I mean to say is that we noticed a dark presence building in your star. We had hoped you would be able to banish it yourselves, but I suppose this was not the case."
"The Shadows are just that. Shadows," the prince said sadly, "Force, even magical force, has no effect on them. We cannot win against something like that. But I do know that if we can break the Shadows' connection to the host, then they will no longer have a foothold in our world."
"What can I do to aid you?"
"I must speak with the princess alone."
Artemis looked at him with an appraising eye, then finally said, "That will be difficult, but I'll see what I can do."
"Thank you."
And with that, the white cat vanished into the dark garden.
The prince sat quietly on the stone bench for a long time, his eyes following the movements of the small white fish in the pond as they darted through the dark water. His mind was filled only with thoughts of the princess, recalling her grace and beauty. But above all, he remembered that precious moment when he had taken her hand and she had looked so captivated by him that it seemed for an instant as if she might give in and fall into his arms. Looking up at the palace in the distance, he saw that it was lit from top to bottom, occasionally catching glimpses of people darting around or the sound of frenzied activity. Indeed, it appeared that the princess's orders were being followed to the letter. No one was sleeping tonight.
After what seemed like hours, the prince heard distant movement in the garden. He crouched beside the bench concealing himself as best he could among the bushes. Startled by the rustle of leaves beside him, he saw Artemis's face appear through the foliage.
The prince was about to smile until he noticed the look of sorrow and pain on the cat's face. "I'm so sorry," Artemis whispered. The prince only had time to give him a questioning glance before the cat jumped forward into the clearing and suddenly yelled over his shoulder, "He's over here!"
The sound of armored boots announced the arrival of a squad of guards lead by the captain, Mikako. "Please come with us," she scowled, a hand on her sword reinforcing the hint of a threat in her voice. The prince reluctantly followed the squad to a large pavilion covered with an overhang of small twining white flowers where Serenity stood waiting. For a hopeful moment, the prince wondered if Artemis had indeed fulfilled his request. Then the princess stepped aside, and the prince saw his father, Liu, Yuri, and Hikari all standing surrounded by more guards.
The prince's heart sank. How could he have been so careless? Had he been so blinded by the princess that he had forgotten about his father and other companions? He looked across their faces, each one filled with fear, except his father, Ciro, who looked at him calmly in silence.
Serenity looked down on the prince with serene satisfaction, "Your face is pale, stranger. Apparently, I am right in thinking these people know your secret."
"No, you're wrong. I do not know them," he lied in vain, the worry in his face betraying him.
The princess glanced at the captain of the guard. Mikako held out a small pendant which suddenly lit up with a soft pulsing red light. "A lie, of course," she stated, looking at the princess. A proud smile spread across Serenity's face.
Trying his best to keep his nerves in check, the prince watched helplessly as the princess asked each of the captives in turn whether they knew his name, Mikako's pendent revealing immediately whether they were lying or not.
"Very well," Serenity proclaimed when the test was over, "Take the child and her mother away. But keep them locked up in case they can be of use later." She glanced meaningfully at the prince who felt his face tense with anger. Yuri and Hikari took one more hopeful look at the prince before the guards shuffled to obey the princess's command and take them towards the palace.
Serenity's eyes flashed at seeing victory in sight. "As for the rest of them," she said, "If they value their lives, they will tell me your name."
A pang of nausea struck the prince, and he looked up to see the princess enveloped in a dark aura even
stronger than before. Ciro and Liu saw it too, but the rest of the Moon dwellers seemed oblivious to the dark presence.
"Princess-" the prince began, but was interrupted as Liu stumbled forwards.
"Please, heavenly princess! I beg you, stop this madness," Liu pleaded, panic-stricken.
Serenity's cold eyes locked on her and filled with displeasure and malice, "Begin with the girl."
The air went cold. The prince could see a shadowy figure forming behind the princess. "No, don't!" the prince yelled and tried to run forward, but was restrained by the guards.
"Captain," Serenity summoned.
Mikako approached Liu, drawing her sword and pointing it at the raven-haired girl. She looked deadly serious as she spoke, "Tell us his name."
More shadows were forming in the princess's wake, still obscure and lacking solid form, but gaining strength with each second. The air grew heavy with dark energy, and even some of the guards began to notice something was wrong.
Liu shook her head desperately, staring in terror at the slowly materializing Shadow warriors around the princess, then glancing at the prince with tears in her eyes.
"This is your last warning," the captain growled, "Speak his name or you die!"
"I will not," Liu said quietly, but unwavering, her eyes still fixed on the prince.
"No! Don't touch her!" the prince was now struggling madly with the guards who held him back.
"Kill her," Serenity spoke, but the voice was not her own. Mikako raised her sword to strike.
A black creature leapt out of nowhere, toppling the captain of the guard and pinning her to the ground. Its claws dug into her shoulders, ripping the cloth of her uniform and drawing blood as they pierced her skin. Letting out an angry war cry, Mikako managed to kick the monster off of her and jumped to her feet, feeding energy to her sword which began to glow golden.
In a flurry of claws and swords, chaos broke out as the guards sprang into action against the tall creatures of pure black shadow that were suddenly appearing around them. The prince broke free of the distracted guards and ran over to his father and Liu.
"Stranger!" came a voice from the prince's feet. He looked down to see Artemis with a short sword lying on the ground before him. "Take it! I'll get reinforcements," the cat shouted quickly before fleeing in the direction of the palace.
The prince swiftly grabbed the sword, turning to his father and Liu. "Run quickly," he urged them, "You must hide!"
Liu opened her mouth to protest, but was forced to jump back as a Shadow warrior lunged at the group.
"Father!" the prince shouted as the Shadow grabbed hold of Ciro and threw him into a tall hedge several paces away. Gritting his teeth, the prince ran forward, swinging his sword to drive away the Shadow.
Managing to get between the monster and his father, the prince soon found himself cornered by three more Shadows. He glanced at Liu in the distance. She was watching in horror as a black portal crackling with dark energy was opening around the Moon Princess who now seemed to be lost in a trance.
The prince's thoughts raced. The portal! All the Shadows needed to do now was free the darkened heart of the princess from her physical body and the gateway would be opened.
Sensing the danger, Liu glanced desperately at the prince. He was frantically trying to break away from the Shadows and get to Serenity. Liu's face grew grave and determined. She ran up to the princess and sank to her knees in front of her, grabbing hold of the fabric of the princess's dress. "Princess!" Liu screamed at the top of her lungs.
Serenity's blank eyes seemed to register the presence of the desperate girl in front of her, and a flash of humanity returned to her face.
"Liu!" The prince's voice screamed a warning, and Liu turned to see a Shadow leaping forward, its claws raised to strike down the princess.
"No!" Liu jumped up spreading her arms wide to protect Serenity as she took the blow herself, long claws slashing deep into her unprotected skin.
Serenity watched as Liu's small form collapsed lifelessly at her feet, her simple robes stained with blood. For a moment, all grew still as the princess's eyes widened with understanding. "So," she whispered softly, "love can be strength as well." A single tear slowly collected and fell down her pale cheek.
Dazzling light burst forth from Serenity's chest, illuminating the entire garden as it pierced through the Shadow warriors, dissolving them all instantly. The black portal around her flickered and collapsed on itself, leaving no trace behind.
As the light began to fade, the prince ran up to Liu's body, falling to his knees and taking her hand in his. His dark hair hid his face as he whispered softly, "Thank you, Liu." A comforting hand fell on the prince's shoulder, and he looked up to see his father looking down at them sadly.
Looking up again, Ciro addressed the onlooking crowd, "This courageous girl has protected your princess and saved us all. Will one of you help me carry her?" A young guard stepped forward and helped the former king carry Liu off towards the palace.
The prince turned his gaze to Serenity. She had taken a few steps back, her face awash with conflicting emotions and eyes filled with genuine fear. He stood and tried to step towards her, but she held up a trembling hand. "Stay where you are, stranger!" Her eyes darted around the assembled crowd, "Leave us! All of you, be gone!"
Mikako hesitated before offering a tentative bow and motioning for the guards to follow her in the direction of the palace.
Serenity tried in vain to compose herself as she stood alone before the prince. She looked up at the slowly brightening sky, and hung her head. "My heart is free again, the shadows gone. Yet, I look into your eyes and feel like all is lost. I am defeated. Not by a trial, but by my own heart. My glory is over."
The prince's face filled with tenderness. "No," he said softly, "It has only begun." He could not help but step forward and gently caress her cheek with his hand, wiping away the tear that had fallen.
The princess sighed, her eyes fluttering shut, and leaned into his hand relishing his warm touch. He leaned forward and gently placed his lips upon hers. She relaxed, abandoning herself to warmth of his kiss, then pulled away looking sorrowful and embarrassed.
She lowered her eyes, "Go, stranger. You have my heart. Do not seek a greater victory. Please, go. Take your secret with you."
The prince smiled gently, "I have no more secrets. My name and my life are yours to do with as you wish."
He knelt before her, spreading his arms and lowering his head. His golden robes shining as they caught the first rays of the rising sun, he declared, "I am Eos, son of Ciro and heir to the Sun Kingdom."
Serenity stared at him for a long moment, disbelieving, entranced by his radiance. Then she closed her eyes as if making a momentous decision. She couldn't help it as her face softened into a gentle smile. When she spoke again, her voice had regained its regal authority, "No, my prince. I know your name now... Your name is love."
The prince looked up at the princess in shock, his eyes questioning. She nodded reassuringly, almost shyly, and bent down to take his hands as she brought him to his feet before her. The prince's face shone with unrestrained joy as he broke into a radiant smile. She kissed him gently, and he put his arms around her drawing her close. Gold and silver robes fluttered and intertwined in the breeze as they stood embracing, basking in the glow of the newly risen sun.
~ Fin ~