Endymion staggered into the throne room. The sunlight filtering through the shattered windows seemed a cruel mockery of the scene before him. At once, his eyes fell upon the pool of crimson slowly spreading across the golden tiles.
His father's crown lay amid the red, the once pristine golden halo now stained with the lifeblood of its king, forever marked by this tragedy. Unwilling, yet unable to turn away, his eyes followed that taint upwards.
The king—his mentor, his father, his confidant, his friend—lay slumped on the throne, lifeless eyes staring at nothing. Unable to stand the sight any longer, he ripped his gaze away. Tears, hot and sharp, stung his cheeks. Through the bond, he felt Serenity. She recognized his anguish and mourned with him.
Completely overcome, he slumped to the ground. It seemed fitting somehow. The grand tapestries hung in shreds, torn and stained, remnants of their former glory. Like his father. Great cracks wove through the pillars, fragments of marble littering the ground. Like the King.
Shattered glass, like his mentor.
Broken weapons, like his confidant.
Scattered ashes, like his friend.
"This room will remain as it is, forever," he said, his voice echoing through the empty space.
Just as he turned away, the doors of the throne room burst open with a thunderous crash. More glass crashed to the ground, shattering in a dazzling display of rainbow and crystalline sound. Endymion froze as his Four Kings swept into the room.
Instead of their auras blessed by the Golden Crystal, an ominous shade of darkness followed them. Twisted and black, they were more shadow and hatred than light and goodness. Endymion immediately knew the Dark Kingdom had corrupted them. Somehow, his loyal knights were gone.
A volatile mix of fury, sorrow, and betrayal surged inside his chest. "You did this?" he motioned to the destruction.
"We did," Kunzite said coldly.
"How could you?" Endymion choked out. "How could you betray him? Betray the Golden Crystal? The Golden Kingdom?" He paused, unsure if he could continue. "How could you do this to me?"
Kunzite stepped forward, his face a mask of icy resolve. "This is for the greater good, Endymion. We must free the Earth from the influence of the White Moon."
"Greater good?" Endymion spat. "You've become puppets of the Dark Kingdom. This isn't freedom. This is madness!"
Zoisite's eyes glinted with dark amusement, a shadow of his former self. "You're too sentimental, Prince. Join Queen Beryl. Become King of the Earth, take up your rightful role in the new world. Then we will follow you forever."
Endymion didn't know what to say. With each word, with each moment that passed, he felt his loyal knights drift further away from him. Losing the king was hard enough. Being denied, Serenity was nearly impossible. Now his Four Kings? How was he going to survive?
Nephrite crossed his arms, a disdainful sneer on his lips. Endymion almost took a step back in shock. "The stars have changed, Endymion. This is what fate intended. We'll remove the influence of the Moon Kingdom and the Silver Crystal. You'll join with Queen Beryl, and destiny will be satisfied."
Endymion clenched his fists, trembling with the effort to contain his rage. He had to get himself under control. Serenity was becoming more and more afraid, and if she came down here… No. He sucked in a calming breath.
"You've destroyed everything," he said, his voice breaking. "Everything we've fought for, everything we believed in. When did this happen? When did you become like this?"
Jadeite's smile was a cruel mockery of the warmth it once held. "You're too blinded by your emotions to see the truth. The White Moon's influence is a poison, and we are the cure."
The words struck Endymion like physical blows, each one deepening the chasm of betrayal and loss within him. "Your injuries. The darkness hurt each of you. I thought Helios cleansed you. This isn't the way."
"The Dark Kingdom has only opened our eyes to the lies of the Golden Crystal and the Legendary Silver Crystal," Kunzite said. "We're now fully aware of the truth."
"Come with me to the moon," Endymion shouted, desperation seeping into his words. "Queen Serenity and the Legendary Silver Crystal can heal you."
As one, the Kings scoffed.
"Heal us?"
"We are beyond her reach."
"We are determined to see you by Queen Beryl's side."
"We will see the White Moon crumble."
"We will return the Legendary Silver Crystal to its true home—in the Dark Kingdom."
No, that couldn't be. They'd been through so much together, experienced so much. It wasn't possible that the darkness could entrench itself so fully in his Heavenly Kings. It wasn't possible. Endymion closed his eyes and reached out to the Golden Crystal.
A cold emptiness met his plea. The Golden Crystal refused to respond, no matter how much he poured into it. That could only mean one thing. The crystal was refusing to touch the darkness that consumed his friends. Then, with a start, he realized he couldn't actually sense the Golden Crystal anywhere. It was gone. Vanished.
Now the Golden Kingdom was no more.
His eyes snapped open. "No," he whispered. "It can't end like this."
But the Crystal's silence was absolute. It would not cleanse them, would not even acknowledge them. The Kings were beyond redemption, and the realization cut deeper than any blade. The betrayal was complete, and the weight of that final rejection settled heavily on Endymion's shoulders.
Rage that consumed and heartbreak that shattered surged through Endymion. It devoured every rational thought or calming influence. His vision blurred with tears and fury as he launched himself at the Four Kings. "I won't let you go!"
In a single motion, he pulled his sword, and the throne room erupted into chaos once more. Endymion slashed, each strike driven by a potent mix of love and loss. Metal clashed against metal as they parried each swirling strike, but each impact felt hollow against the dark power that had corrupted his friends.
Kunzite countered, his movements swift and merciless. He parried Endymion's attack with ease, his now cold eyes gleaming with twisted satisfaction. "You're no match for the darkness, Prince." He drove a knee into Endymion's gut.
Endymion doubled over, gasping for breath, but he refused to back down. He lashed out again, catching Zoisite across the jaw. The brief satisfaction was quickly overshadowed by a sharp slice from Nephrite, sending him sprawling across the floor.
"You'll come with us, Endymion," Zoisite said, his voice dripping with malice. "Queen Beryl wishes to make you king of Earth."
Endymion struggled to his feet, his muscles and heart screaming in protest. Blood trickled down the cut along his ribs. "You're my brothers. You always will be."
Jadeite's laughter echoed cruelly through the grand hall. "We chose power over weakness, destiny over delusion. You're the one clinging to a lost cause."
Endymion raised his sword just in time to catch a blade heading for him. He fought with everything he had, his muscles burning, his joints aching, but the pain only fueled his resolve. He had to protect Serenity, the Moon Kingdom, the Legendary Silver Crystal.
The skirmish was brief but brutal. They had trained as brothers for so many years that they were all equally matched, each knowing the weaknesses of the other. Endymion's strength began to wane, his movements growing sluggish as the emotions and the Kings' relentless assault took their toll. His former friends outnumbered and overpowered him, each strike serving as a reminder of the bond they once shared, each blow shattering it a little more.
With a final, desperate surge of energy, Endymion lunged at Kunzite, but Kunzite deflected his attack effortlessly. The Kings, unified in their dark purpose, dealt him a crushing blow that sent him crashing to the ground.
Bruised and battered, Endymion lay on the cold floor, gasping for breath. The Kings loomed over him, their expressions foreign and unknown.
"You've lost, Endymion," Kunzite said softly, almost regretfully. "There's nothing left for you here."
"Come with us," Nephrite said. "Destiny always wins."
"Queen Beryl will treat you like the king you now are," Jadeite added.
Zoisite offered him a hand. "We'll remain brothers, now and forever."
Endymion didn't take his hand.
"Come, let's wait for his decision," Kunzite said.
Their footsteps echoed across the marble floor, and with each resonating sound, Endymion bid them goodbye. He reached into his tunic and grasped Serenity's locket. The delicate reminder was a lifeline, a fragile grasp on a destiny he couldn't yet obtain. One day, their fate would be different. Perhaps that alternate life included his Kings.
He clutched the locket tightly, feeling the faint warmth it radiated, the only warmth in the cold and empty place surrounding him. Through their cursed, fated soul bond, he could feel her—the love she had for him, the concern that gripped her. "I won't give up. For you, Serenity, I'll keep fighting."
Endymion lay on the cold stone, his mind a whirl of anguish and disbelief. Slowly, he pushed himself up. This room was now a tomb of shattered dreams and broken loyalties. Then his eyes fell upon the crown. It lay amidst the debris, blood still staining its golden surface.
With each movement a struggle, he crossed to the fallen crown. His hand, quivering and bloodied, closed around the cold metal. He could almost hear his father's voice, speaking about the previous Kings, about the struggles that formed the crown. His heart broke anew, knowing he'd never hear that voice again.
This circle of metal and crystal, once a symbol of the Golden Kingdom's strength and wisdom, now felt like a cruel mockery of everything they'd lost. Fresh tears burned his eyes as he lifted it.
Each step toward the throne was a battle against the pain and sorrow that clenched his heart. He'd lost his father, his friends, and his kingdom all in the span of a few hours. As he ascended the dais, he silently begged fate to change. Somehow, he hoped to wake tomorrow and find this all a terrible nightmare.
"I'm sorry, Father." The sight of his father's vacant eyes and the blood that marred his regal robes was almost too much to bear.
"I'm sorry that I failed you as a son." Endymion's entire body shuddered as he stood over the fallen king.
"I'm sorry I failed you as a prince." With a deep breath, he raised the crown and placed it back on his father's head. The gesture was both a farewell and a vow.
When the crown settled into its rightful place, Endymion stepped back. There was only one choice he could make. He had to protect the Silver Crystal and the Moon Kingdom. He had to protect Serenity. Refusing to drag his eyes away until the last possible moment, he crossed behind the throne and entered the secret chamber.
Only two people knew about the small room: the King and the Prince of Earth. Even his loyal knights didn't know of its existence. Because of one simple fact: it was a direct portal to the Moon. Kneeling before the crystal altar, he gripped the cold stone tightly.
"Queen Serenity, the King is…" Could he actually say those words? Speaking them aloud meant that it was real, and he didn't want it to be reality.
He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to muster the strength. Through the bond, he felt Serenity's gentle encouragement, her love bolstering his resolve.
"Queen Serenity, the King is dead." The words tumbled from his lips, each one a dagger to his heart. "The King is dead, and the Dark Kingdom has compromised the Four Heavenly Kings, my guardians."
Within seconds, the Queen's shimmering form appeared, floating above the small altar. The hologram flickered with the crystalline brightness of the Moon. "Prince Endymion, this is grave news. I'm so deeply sorry, Endymion."
He hung his head, relying on the solid stone before him for support. It was all he had, all that kept him upright. "The Golden Crystal has vanished. I cannot sense it, and without its influence, I cannot commune with Elysion and Helios. Not now that he's sealed all the corridors."
"I understand. With the sudden and traumatic death of its steward, that is understandable."
"But without it. Without its ability to harness the beautiful dreams, what is the Golden Kingdom?"
The queen's image flickered for just a moment before snapping back into clarity. "Destiny has arrived. The Golden Kingdom is no more. I'm sorry, Prince."
If the death of the king was an unbearable weight, the end of the Golden Kingdom was the shattering of his very soul, leaving nothing but a void of despair and hopelessness. Rage quickly flowed into the gaps left behind. The Dark Kingdom did this. They caused this, and he'd see it destroyed.
"What do you wish to do now, Prince Endymion?" Queen Serenity asked.
His grip on the crystal altar tightened. Pain lanced up and down his arms and spine, but he wouldn't relent. "I want to see the Dark Kingdom destroyed. I want to see Queen Beryl dead. I want to see the Four Kings returned. I want vengeance."
Queen Serenity's image softened, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Some of those desires are noble, but vengeance is dangerous. It will not bring back what has been lost. It will only consume you further until you, too, are lost. Focus on what you can still protect."
What did he have left to protect? The weight of the locket pressed against his chest.
"My Queen, can I come to the Moon? Can I protect Princess Serenity? The Golden Kingdom is no more, and now all that I have is there."
The moon queen didn't hesitate. "Yes. You're welcome here, Prince Endymion. But you must protect her with your life."
"I swear to you, I will do everything to protect her. Even using my life as her shield."
Endymion closed his eyes. There was nothing left for him here. Now the Golden Kingdom was nothing more than a memory.
"Queen Serenity, destroy this place. Don't allow it to be used by the Dark Kingdom."
Queen Serenity gave a curt nod. "It will be done."
With that assurance, Endymion turned back to the crystal altar. The small room, once a secret haven, now felt like a tomb of crushed dreams. He placed a hand on the secret door, the closest he could make it to his father for his last goodbye. Lowering his head, he couldn't think of anything fitting to say. He didn't know how to say goodbye to his home or king.
The crystal altar started to glow, a soft luminescence spreading across the room, casting an ethereal light on the walls. The air shimmered, a low hum filling the space as the portal opened. More light burst forth, forming a swirling vortex of silver and white.
With a final glance at his father's ultimate resting place, he stepped into the light. The moonbeams pulled him upwards, begging him to leave behind the ruins of his past and step into an uncertain future. The soft voice of the moon whispered pleas to save her princess.
"I will do my best."
As he drifted upwards, his heart ached with the weight of what he was leaving behind. The Golden Kingdom, once a beacon of beautiful dreams and hope, lay in ruins. His father, the king, was dead. His trusted knights, the Four Heavenly Kings, had turned against him, corrupted by the Dark Kingdom.
The loss was almost too much to bear, yet the moon's light was there. Reminding him of her touch. He wouldn't falter now. Not when her future rested in his hands.
The moon's distinct energy continued to embrace him, and just below his feet, the secret room collapsed. Stone buried the crystal altar. Rock covered the room. A strange sort of power surged around him, and he looked downward. A soft light flowed like liquid silver, forming delicate patterns in the air before descending upon the fallen king.
The light enveloped his father, the king, and when the light faded, he rested in a crystal coffin embellished with gold filigree. With a tremendous crack, the ground under it gave way, and slowly the coffin sank until it vanished. He knew that she'd sent it to Elysion, where his mortal flesh could be entombed forever.
"This is my tribute to you, noble king," Queen Serenity's voice filled the portal. "May your star seed find the Galaxy Cauldron to be reborn."
A deep peace settled on his soul. "Thank you, Queen Serenity."
Memories of the Golden Kingdom accompanied him as he traveled to the moon. The grandeur of the palace, the colors of the gardens, the laughter of his friends, the wisdom of his father. Each image was a dagger to his heart, but he let himself remember. He'd never forget his past, not when it had shaped him into the man he was.
Now all that remained was to fight. Fight the rising darkness. Fight for Serenity. Fight for the Moon Kingdom. And if he failed, he'd pray. Pray that the Galaxy Cauldron would put his star seed close to hers. So they could experience the life they would have had together.