Mars moved through the windswept plateau with a purposeful stride, her crimson heels squishing into the soft grasses. Waist-high grasses swayed in the breeze, shimmering like their own ocean tide. The soft calls of insects and the barely audible rustle of grasses transformed the nighttime into a living entity.
She didn't need to look back to know Jadeite was following. She could feel his presence, an annoying shadow that she couldn't quite shake off. With every step, she muttered under her breath, cursing the dark forces that had desecrated the sacred site they were heading to.
"Try to keep up, Princess," Jadeite teased from behind her, his voice laced with amusement. "Wouldn't want you getting lost."
Mars stopped abruptly, causing Jadeite to nearly collide with her. She turned on her heel, eyes blazing. "I'm not the one who gets lost," she snapped. "We have a lot to get done. Don't mess around."
With a final smirk that made her waver between slapping him or kissing him, she turned back and continued. Soon, the ancient location loomed. A temple, not made from man, but formed by nature. Towering limestone pillars jutted from the ground, forming a rough circle around a central, smaller stone.
The formations, worn by time and elements, stood like ancient guardians, casting long shadows in the moonlight. The pale limestone was dark, a shadow of what it once was before the Dark Kingdom's corruption.
Mars frowned and blew out a breath. The rough circle of stones should be almost glowing with the light of the moon. Instead, they had become tainted, their surfaces marred by creeping shadows. The once vibrant limestone now absorbed the moon's glow without reflecting it back, as if the stones themselves were alive with a dark, consuming energy.
Determined to cleanse the corruption, Mars summoned her power. "Fire Soul!" she cried, her voice ringing out and rippling off the rock. Flames erupted from her hands, spiraling into a concentrated blast that struck the tainted stones. The fire crackled and hissed, combating the dark energy with its purifying heat.
When the flames died down, she could detect no changes in the aura. Frustrated, she stepped closer to a stone pillar and laid a hand on the cold surface.
She could feel the corruption emanating from it, evidence of the Dark Kingdom's growing reach. "We've got a job to do," she said, more to herself than Jadeite. "And no one is getting in my way." She cast a glance at him.
He held up his hands in surrender. "I promise, Princess. I'll stay out of your way."
Mars scowled and paced around the formation, each step heavy with frustration and sorrow. The stones seemed to scream out in silent agony, marred by the creeping shadows of the Dark Kingdom. This temple, once a beacon of lunar purity, was now shrouded in darkness. She could almost hear the stones' lament, a mournful cry echoing in her mind, begging for release.
"This place." Jadeite laid a hand on a stone pillar. "It's suffering."
Mars could only nod, the despair choking her. An oppressive energy hung heavy on the air, a tangible weight that pressed down on her. The ground under her feet felt wrong, tainted, and cold. It was as if the darkness had seeped into the earth itself, choking the life and light out of this sacred space. The vibrant stones, once alive with the moon's essence, now seemed to writhe in pain, their surfaces cracked and brittle under the malevolent influence.
"I can feel it," she said. And she could. It was a deep, empathetic sorrow for the suffering of this sacred place. The weight of the corruption bore down on her, amplifying her determination to cleanse this place and restore its former glory.
A pervasive shudder ran through her body, and only Jadeite's steady arms kept her from falling. She looked up, her eyes meeting his, and the fire that simmered below the surface seemed to ignite. The world could burn away, and she wouldn't care, as long as she could see his eyes. His eyes, deep and intense, almost held the very essence of the heavens' strength and resilience.
Their fated soul bond tugged at her, begging to be recognized. But they'd all decided to deny the bond, ignore it, pretend they didn't feel the bone-deep longing.
"Are you okay?" he asked softly.
Mars nodded, but couldn't speak as her eyes once again found his. The depth of understanding there went beyond words. She saw the flicker of worry, the unspoken promise of protection, and it made her heart ache with a strange mixture of longing and fear. If she wasn't so close to the gods, if her connection to them wasn't so strong, she'd break that rule.
Because being with him would be more powerful than even the strongest inferno.
She bit her lip, trying to steady herself, trying to remind herself of the promise she'd made. "Jadeite, I—" Her voice faltered.
He tightened his grip on her, his touch both gentle and firm. "I know."
His gaze never left hers, and she didn't look away. Even if it meant getting lost, she'd never be the first to break that connection. She wanted to lean into him, to draw strength from his unwavering confidence, but the rules and their duties kept her restrained.
"You're infuriating, you know that?" she said, hoping he couldn't hear how vulnerable she felt. Because right now, if he asked, she'd go against the gods. Consequences be damned.
Jadeite chuckled softly, a sound that sent a pleasant shiver down her spine. "I do, but it's part of my charm." His thumb brushed her cheek in a tender caress, and she leaned into his touch, unable to help herself.
Somehow, Mars snapped herself out of his captivation. With the spell broken, they worked swiftly to get the ritual set up. He combined the items while she set up the ring of sacred fires.
Jadeite paused in his work and looked up at her. "You know, Mars, you light up my life more than these sacred fires ever could."
If any other man said those words, she'd burn him alive. But somehow it was cute coming from him. Not that she'd tell him that. "If you spent half as much time on the ritual as you do on flattery, we'd be done by now."
He softly chuckled as he mixed the dried moonflowers with some lavender. With a whispered prayer, the collected items bound, waiting for the fire that would consume them.
"Do you always look this stunning when you're saving the world?" Jadeite grinned, his eyes sparkling.
"Only when there's someone around who needs to be reminded to stay focused." But damned if she didn't square her shoulders and lift her chin a little higher.
"How do you manage to look so graceful while conjuring fire?"
"Do you always have to talk so much?" Mars asked, arranging the sacred stones in a precise circle.
"Only when I'm around a certain beautiful woman," Jadeite replied with a smirk, positioning the incense holders.
Mars fought back a smile. "Focus, Jadeite. This isn't the time for your antics."
"Oh, I am focused," he said, leaning in a little too close. "Just not on the ritual."
She huffed out a breath and glared at him, but the warmth in her chest showed her true feelings. If it wasn't against the rules, she'd be with him. Body and soul.
With the elements prepared and the sacred fires set, Mars and Jadeite took their positions across from each other in the center of the temple. They exchanged a look, a silent acknowledgment of the gravity of their task. Mars took a deep breath, channeling her powers as she prepared to light the sacred fires.
"Ready?" she asked, her voice steady.
Jadeite nodded, his expression uncharacteristically serious. "Ready."
Mars closed her eyes, focusing her energy. She raised her hands, and flames burst forth, igniting the sacred fires with a brilliant, ethereal glow. The light from the fires flickered and danced, casting intricate shadows on the limestone pillars. By her side, Jadeite scattered the holy items, each one catching the flames and burning with a brilliant intensity.
Jadeite added his powers to the mix, creating a blend of moon and earth magic. The air crackled with a divine energy as their powers intertwined. They blended and swirled around each other like two lovers in a dance.
Mars struggled to ignore the way the firelight danced across Jadeite's eyes, highlighting his features and making him look like a god. But it wasn't just his looks, even his power sang a siren song that tempted and teased. His very essence spoke to her, the blood flowing through his veins called to her. Everything inside wanted to be with him.
Jadeite caught her staring and smiled, a seductive sort of grin that made her heart skip a beat. "Focus, Mars," he teased. "Your thoughts are distracting me."
She hoped the shadows of night would hide the blush that crept up her face and focused on the task at hand. The strings of their fated bond swirled in her mind, adding their own power to the mix of sacred words and fire. Perhaps one day, in another life, they'd be able to explore a life together.
Settling back, she closed her eyes and let the energy flow across her. The fires were struggling to combat the darkness, and she urged a little more spiritual energy into them.
A sudden wave of power hit her, making the world spin and dim. A cold shiver ran down her spine, but she kept her eyes closed. Without warning, the vision slammed into her mind with brutal clarity.
She knew this place. The Moon Kingdom, now overrun with enemies, its once peaceful grounds in chaos. Angry mortals brandished weapons, screaming for vengeance. Scattered unmoving shapes adorned the pristine crystal pathways, familiar colors that sent bolts of horror down her spine. Fires raged, consuming everything in their path. The air was thick with the acrid stench of smoke and blood, mingling with the cries of the wounded and dying.
Amidst the chaos, Endymion was trying to get Serenity to safety. He pulled her along a walkway between the grand structures, striking at anyone who dared get too close. Serenity clung to his hand, her face a twisted mask of panic. Despite his battered and bloodied armor, Endymion pushed forward.
A shadow loomed before them, dark and monstrous. Mars wanted to cry out a warning, tell them of the danger that approached. Beryl, her eyes glowing with dark power, advanced toward them, her screaming rage echoing across the crystal.
"Endymion!" Serenity screamed, her voice filled with desperation.
But there was no stopping it. With a cruel smile, Beryl's dark sword lashed out, striking Endymion. He staggered, his face contorting with pain as the dark energy engulfed him. Crimson red tainted the white, flowing outward over every crack and crevice.
Mars tried to scream, to help, to do anything, but the vision didn't relent. Helpless, she watched as Endymion fell to his knees, clutching at the red flowing from his chest. Serenity dove forward, the crimson now poisoning her dress, staining the snowy fabric forever.
"Serenity…" Endymion's voice was weak, barely a whisper. He reached out to her, his hand trembling. "I'm sorry. I failed you."
Serenity's sobs broke something within Mars's chest. The sound was too primal, too real. "Endymion! Don't leave me!"
But nothing could stop the inevitable. His eyes closed, and his body went limp. It seemed like all the light was extinguished as Serenity's eyes dimmed. Now all that remained was a hollow, unbearable grief. Mars knew her princess would never recover.
Serenity didn't hesitate before she grabbed Endymion's sword and turned it on herself. The vision blurred, except for her blood mingling with his. Crimson overtook everything.
Mars gasped, her eyes snapping open. The vision left her trembling, her heart pounding with fear and sorrow. She clutched her chest, the weight of the sorrow and anguish overwhelming and raw.
"Mars, Mars," Jadeite was nearly shouting. "Are you okay? What happened?"
She didn't know how to answer, if she could, if she wanted to. Almost like if she spoke those words, it would become real. But she couldn't deny the truth. She'd just gotten a premonition. That was their future, her future, the princess's future, the prince's future.
She nodded, but her eyes were distant, haunted by the vision. "I saw them," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "I saw Serenity and Endymion… they were… they were…"
Jadeite pulled her close, his warmth grounding her. "It's just a vision. We can change it. We have to believe that."
But she knew the truth.
Tears welled up, threatening to spill over as she looked at him. The weight of the vision pressed down on her, drowning her in the inevitable future. "Jadeite, I don't want to lose them. I don't want to lose you."
His eyes softened, and he cupped her face in his hands, his thumb gently brushing away the stray tears. His touch was warm and comforting, grounding her in the present. "You won't lose me, Princess. I'm right here, and I'm not going anywhere."
The bond between them pulsed, the embers of their shared souls flaring and drawing them closer. Mars wanted to forget it all—the horrible vision and the future that would come to pass. He pulled her tighter against him, and she shuddered. His warmth was intoxicating, a soothing balm against her frayed nerves.
Softly, he raised her chin until their eyes locked. Jadeite leaned in, and she knew she wouldn't resist because this might be her last chance to have this moment. His lips met hers, and heat exploded between them. The world faded into flame and passion. The only reality that mattered was their connection.
It was a moment of pure, unspoken emotion, a promise that transcended lives. Mars clung to him, pouring all her fear, love, and desperation into the kiss, hoping that it could somehow change their fate. His scent, a mix of earth and something uniquely his, filled her senses, anchoring her in this fleeting moment of peace.
As they pulled apart, Jadeite rested his forehead against hers, their breaths mingling in the cool night air. "We'll find a way," he whispered, his voice filled with determination. "We have to, because I will not give up on you."
Mars closed her eyes, savoring the closeness, the reassurance in his words. "We'll find a way," she echoed, not really believing her words.
Jadeite sat back and grinned at her. "We still don't have to be back for a while. Why don't we…"
Without warning, dark energy exploded from the dying embers. Shadows writhed and twisted, coalescing into a malevolent force that shot straight toward her.
Perhaps this was how the ending began.
Jadeite's reaction was instantaneous. He hurled himself into the path of the dark power, his own energy flaring brightly in a protective shield. Light, fire, and darkness exploded outward, showering the area in violent manifestations of clashing forces. The impact sent them both sliding across the ground, the rough terrain scraping at her skin. His shield dimmed, flickering like a dying flame, and he collapsed, gasping for breath, his eyes filled with pain and determination.
"Jadeite!" Mars screamed, scrambling to his side.
She couldn't stop trembling as she reached for him, terror and agony threading through her heart. She had to act fast. Gathering her strength, she summoned her fire, focusing her energy into a banishing spell. For a moment, she thought it wouldn't work. Then the dark power recoiled, hissing as it dissipated into the night.
Jadeite lay on the ground, coughing and clutching his chest. His usually vibrant red aura was now dim, shadows lingering at the edges. He looked up at her, his eyes filled with concern and fear. "Are you okay? Please tell me you're okay."
Without thinking, Mars threw herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck. She pressed her lips to his in a desperate kiss, pouring all her fear, relief, and love into the embrace. His arms came around her, gripping her. When they finally broke apart, he gave her a weak smile. "I guess that means yes."
But even in the dim moonlight, she could see the change in him. His aura was not as bright as it should be, a lingering darkness tainting its purity. Her heart ached with worry. "Your aura… are you sure you're, okay?"
He nodded, but she could see the strain in his eyes. "Yes, I'm fine. The lingering effects of encountering the darkness will fade. It just... takes time. I'll be fine, Princess."
Mars didn't believe him, not entirely. The vision she had seen, combined with the dark energy that had struck him, filled her with a foreboding sense of disaster. She held him close, her fear deepening with every passing moment. She whispered a silent prayer to the gods, hoping that they could find a way to change their fates and save the ones they loved.