Resuming Battle
Mars stood on the wall that ran the length of the city limit when she heard a sound coming from her right. "Venus" she said looking at the brooding figure. "I wanted to apologize for my outburst earlier"
"Its ok I understand you are frustrated and angry, we all are"
"Is there anything you can tell us about what is coming"
"I can see our enemies have taken over the sun kingdom, I can see them coming from the south, but I can't see Metaria. I don't know what she is planning its like she is hiding in my blind spots"
"Anything on the princess?" Mars just shook her head in the negative and looked solemnly down to the tree line. "How did we let this happen?" asked Venus.
"Millenia we lived in peace and harmony, like I said we let our guards down"
"What about Pluto?"
Mars turned to look at her comrade with a questioning look "She can travel the dimensions and bend time to her will, why didn't she warn us?"
"You know why? Messing with time is dangerous even for her, she could have changed the outcome in far worse ways than we could ever anticipate"
"Fair point"
"Where is Jupiter?"
"In the temple, trying to access Mercury's holographic computer to determine the best strategy for us"
"Jupiter is trying to strategize?"
Venus laughs at Mars statement before remembering the dire situations they currently facing and schooling her features. "Do you remember when we were chosen"
"Of course,"
"We were just children back then"
"I know"
"Nothing is eternal, not even us"
"One day everything we built will return to ashes"
"Yes, but today is not that day" said Mars with resolution in her voice and then turned back to watching the night sky. "Do you miss him?" asked Mars "Yes" answered Venus.
"Do you regret it?"
"There was nothing I could have done, Metaria had already poisoned his heart"
"I'm sorry"
"So, am I what about Jadeite?"
"Last I remember I had taken him prisoner the archers were taking him to the dungeons"
"Maybe…"
"He can give us some insight" finished Mars
"Exactly"
Lunarian Temple…
"Damn it!" Jupiter slammed her fist on the table in frustration. Luna was not looking much better. "Patience Jupiter" said Luna with a determined look on her face "I can't work this damn thing; they are coming for us and there is nothing I can do"
"Please Jupiter have faith"
"Faith, kind of hard at this point don't you think?"
"No"
"Where is Artemis?"
"Down at the docks, trying to communicate with our allies in depths of the ocean"
"You let him go alone?"
"Can take care of himself I'm sure"
"Because you have faith"
"Exactly"
Jupiter laughed bitterly at that tears streaming down her cheeks "Now, now you are the guardian of thunder soldier of sky we need you" said Luna "What if we fail again"
"You won't"
"How can you stay so positive during all this"
"Well one of us has to"
Lunarian Docks…
"Have the Atlantean soldiers ready for a land and sea-based assault, we know they are coming from the south if you can intercept them, we can stop them from reaching the city" Artemis told the messenger from the deep.
"What about Neptune"
"She is still asleep, so far it is only been Jupiter, Mars and Venus"
"I'll relay the message"
"Thank you" said Artemis as the messenger swam under the waves. Artemis turned around heading back towards the temple when something caught the corner of his eye. Artemis eyes widened when he saw the advancing scout from Solaris and tried to run but there was another one waiting to grab him from behind. The soldier grabbed Artemis by the collar and shoved him in a sack but not before Artemis managed to scratch his face with his claws and give out a loud meow.
Lunarian Wall…
"Artemis!" cried Venus
"They are here" said Mars with a look of shock "Something is wrong with Artemis"
"They are not coming from the south, we need to get to the north woods now, go and get Jupiter and meet me there"
"Ok" cried Venus as both guardians ran in opposite directions. Venus ran as fast she could back to the temple, but it wasn't fast enough she was intercepted by a large looking soldier in black armor. She reached for her duel Dao swords at her back and took on a fighting stance. The solider just smiled and that frustrated Venus even more. "What are you going to do little girl, fight me?"
"That was the plan"
"Look at you, you don't look like you could take down anyone much less me" said the soldier condescendingly
"You keep thinking that" and with that she stricked cutting a jagged line down his face. The soldier just laughed harder "where is he?" she asked before striking again missing him by half and inch. "Where is who little one?"
"Don't give me that, where is Artemis?" the soldier continued to laugh at her rage.
"I know you have him, that scratch on your face says it all, now where is he?" she asked again striking and missing as the soldier moved around her. "He is fast" she thought to herself "But I can be much faster" and with that she struck again this time cutting a large gnash down his abdomen the soldier cried out in outrage while Venus' lips spread in a large grin when suddenly she felt it and her grin spread wider. Venus placed one of her Dao swords back in its holster and stood tall. The soldier bared his teeth in a menacing grin and charged straight for her when suddenly he felt something wrap around him. His smiled faltered as he realized what she intended to do. The coil of Venus' bracelet wrapped tightly around him, with all her strength she concentrated as the power of the sun ran through her and obliterated her enemy reducing him to a pile of ashes. She laughed as she felt the blood trickle down to her lips, her effort not without consequence. She collapsed as her legs gave out on her and noticed another dark figure coming towards her. She stood on shacking legs as she prepared to face her opponent but as she drew near a bolt of lightning struck him square in the chest a look of shock passing through his features as his body slid down to the ground dead.
Venus laughed then, "What took you so long?" she asked as she stared over her shoulder and the descending form of Jupiter her wings on full display as her feet touched the ground. "Sorry, I guess I should have warned you it takes a while before your strength return"
"You seems to have recuperated just fine"
"Not really, that bolt wasn't nearly as strong as I wanted it to be"
"Took care of him" said Venus pointing to the dead body off to her left. Jupiter grabbed her right arm and slung it over her shoulder. "Come on you need rest" said Jupiter
"No! we need to head to the north woods they are attacking from the north Mars is there now"
"You are not strong enough yet"
"Yes, I am, I have to be" she said with determination. Jupiter picked up her fallen sword and handed it back to her as she hefted her up and took flight in the direction of the north woods.
North Woods…
Mars stood on a large boulder firing arrows at all the oncoming opponents. There were too many to count and she was vastly outnumbered. Her fire arrows were not as strong as they usually were, and one opponent simply dodged it and came straight for her. She jumped off the boulder and ran in the opposite direction just as the large minotaur collided with the boulder and sent it flying. "So much for one guardian being able to destroy a village I can't even hold my own against a small army" she thought. When suddenly a bolt of lightning came from behind her striking an enemy she had failed to notice. "Need a little help?" said Jupiter's voice as she descended down next to her carrying a fairly fatigued Venus with her.
"I was doing just fine, thank you"
"Sure, you were" said Venus with a faint hint of a smile as more of Metaria's forces ran towards them. "Come on let's take care of these monsters" said Jupiter wielding her metallic claws just as Venus and Mars readied with their weapons. "Were outnumbered" said Venus holding on tightly to her swords when suddenly a thick mist surrounded them hiding them from their enemy's view and vise versa. It was then that Jupiter heard the cries coming from the enemy lines and the sound of blood being spilt. Jupiter, Mars and Venus looked at each other and smiled "Mercury" they said in unison as more cries came from beyond. "Come on" said Jupiter taking flight reaching high above the sky and calling on the dark clouds sending volts of lightning down below.
Mercury held her Chakrams in her hands and moved around the north woods with a kind of elegant grace no other could achieve. One by one their enemies fell at her hands when suddenly the mist cleared and there were only the guardians left standing. "Anyone else?" asked Mercury with fury in her voice but all she received in response was a few low moans coming from the battlefield. The woods were all littered with body parts and blood cover all the flora. Venus went about decapitating all of the enemy soldiers that remained alive after their little scuffle she was just about to take the head of another when she heard Mercury's voice call out for her to wait. "Leave him alive" she said
"Why?" wondered Venus
"So he can deliver a message"
The soldier just lay there staring at them relieved he would get to see another day. "Tell Beryl that we are back, and we will restore our kingdom and destroy Metaria in the process…" the soldier listened intently to the message Mercury was relaying. Once she was finished the guardians stepped back to allow him to stand on his own two feet. "Wait!" called out Venus and the soldier froze in place "Turn around" she told him. Then she struck cutting off his hand and sending him on his way. The soldier cried out in pain and ran, as the guardians all turned their back to him and headed back to the city.
Lunarian Temple…
"Thank god you are awake; I couldn't work this stupid holocomputer of yours to save my life" said Jupiter
Mercury just laughed as she swiped through the many schematics of the city. "How do you feel?" asked Venus from the lounge chair she was resting on. "A little unsteady but otherwise I'm ok. Just glad to be back" said Mercury "Luna already filled me in on what is going on, how do you feel?" she asked Venus with a concerned look on her face.
"Drained" she responded.
"That's to be expected, but the longer you are awake the faster your powers will return" said Luna as she walked into the room.
"Any news on Artemis?" asked Venus.
"No, I haven't been able to find him anywhere"
"We have to assume he has been taken" said Mars from her perch on the large bay window
"That's what I was afraid off" said Venus
"They can't kill him, he's immortal remember"
"No, but they can torture him" said Venus despondently
Solarian Palace…
Beryl sat in the throne room prince Darien sitting next to her she placed her hand on his and he sighed "What is it my love" she asked.
"Nothing" he responded staring out the windows at the sunrising over the mountains, when suddenly a wounded soldier missing a hand was dragged into the throne room and dropped unceremoniously at their feet. "Speak" said another soldier holding a spear.
"My Lady, I bring a message from the inner guardians" said the soldier. That got her interest and her blood started to boil in her veins. "My men failed" she said quietly "I'm sorry my lady even in a weakened state they were too strong for us" said the soldier but he was cut off by Beryl "You said you brought a message, what is it?"
"They said, that they are back and that they would restore their kingdom and the princess will ascend to the throne and take back what is her" said the soldier and that caught the prince's attention as he stared at the soldier with an unblinking stare as he relayed the message about a mysterious princess, when all of a sudden images paraded in his mind of a soft smile and black hair that shone in the night. The prince shook his head to clear it from such thoughts, he loved Beryl he told himself but there was a small corner of his mind that wondered why. Suddenly Beryl roared and gave the signal for the solider with the spear to end the other man's life. The soldier screamed in agony staring off in the direction of the prince as the light left his eyes.
"The longer we wait the stronger they become" said Darien standing from his place on throne and walking off.
"He is right my lady; the curse is weakening, and it is only a matter of time before the Lunarian army is stronger than ever" said another voice.
"You!" screeched Beryl "You said this would be taken care of, now we stand on the brink of losing everything"
"Not everything" said the cloaked figure
"What is that supposed to mean, how can you stand there and be so calm when the guardians are awake and growing more powerful by the minute"
"Because we found her"
"What?"
"The princess we found her"
Lunarian Temple…
Mercury was searching through the holographic database when it came to her "Guys! GUYS!" she shouted to get the other guardian's attention. "What is it?" asked Jupiter as she walked out the room where the other four guardians still lay sleeping on their thrones.
"I think I found her"
"The princess?" said Venus lifting her head from its resting place "Yes" said Mercury
"Where?" asked Mars
"When Luna told me about the sandmen and how they were all over this city I got to thinking"
"You know now that you mention it don't you find it highly suspicious that the sandmen have just disappeared" said Jupiter
"Just let her finish" said Mars
"Thank you, I ran a scan of the Somnus capitol city, and I found nothing"
"That's bad"
"Then I ran a scan of the kingdom of Moros"
"So?" asked Venus
"So, Moros shows heavy activity, in fact its bustling"
"Moros is one of the children of the night like us are you suggesting that they are conspiring with the enemy" said Mars
"No, on the contrary I think that Moros is helping us, or should I say helping the princess"
"That's impossible" said Luna "When Artemis and I went there to beseech Queen Nehelenia's help she said she couldn't risk the door of time falling into the wrong hands"
"I think Queen Nehelenia and the sovereign of Somnus are working together and they have the princess or at least they know where she is"
"What makes you say that?" asked Luna quizzically
"Because when I ran the scan, I found the unique energy signature that the sandmen give off"
"If that is true then there is only one person we can ask" said Jupiter
They all turned to the door all of a sudden when they heard the distinct sound of footsteps on the marble floor Jupiter having gained most of her strength back walked out of the room ready to face off against the unknown intruder when suddenly she came back in the room. "Stand down everybody, I think I just found the person who might just give us the answers we need" Venus, Mercury and Mars stared at each other and saw that behind Jupiter there was a familiar shadow. The shadow of an old comrade "Pluto!" they said in unison. "Hello, old friends" said Pluto cheerfully
"I thought you were still asleep" Mars
"Technically I still am but you know the laws of time mean little to me"
"Why didn't you tell us"
"You know perfectly well that I couldn't it could change things for the worse"
"Then why are you here now?" asked Venus
"Because it is time"
"Time for what?" asked Mercury
"You found something didn't you?" asked Pluto changing the subject
"Yes, I did"
"What did you find?"
"The Sandmen are in Moros, but you knew that already didn't you"
"Yes, I did"
"Why are they there?" asked Mars
"Because Prince Diamond is holding the princess on the dark side of the moon isn't, he?" said Mercury her suspicions confirmed
"What?" asked Venus confused
"Prince Diamond is holding the princess on the ruins of the old kingdom and the only way to get there is through the door of time"
"But Pluto sealed the passage of time during the attack so that Metaria's forces couldn't spill into the other worlds didn't she," said Luna
"I did" said Pluto "But the actual door of time is located beneath the city of Moros"
"So, that's our target designation the dark side of the moon"
"It's no that simple. The princess is still under the curse and the silver crystal is still missing" said Pluto
"The problem is Serena is still technically the princess" said Venus
"So?" asked Jupiter
"Even if we had the crystal it's power can only be used by the Queen and she is dead" said Mars
"Another problem is that we are not all here and the armies of the moon kingdom will only awaken when the general commands it, as long as Uranus and Neptune sleep, we are still outnumbered" said Luna
"I wouldn't worry to long about that" said Pluto as she faded away leaving the other guardians stunned "Where the hell is she going" said Venus
"Never mind that look" said Jupiter pointing to the doorway as another shadowy figure holding a staff approached the door. "Saturn" said Jupiter in awe.
"The Queen?" asked Saturn
"Gone"
"The others?"
"Still under the sleeping curse"
"What happened?" asked Saturn. The other guardians and Luna began to fill her in on the events of the last twelve months when they were finished Saturn looked at them solemnly "I failed" she whispered to herself "No, you didn't this isn't the end, you should know that better than anyone you are the guardian of rebirth and the soldier of destruction"
"What now" she asked the others
"Now we get something to eat we need to build up of strength"
"And then?"
"Then we strategize"
Solarian Palace…
"What is this?" asked Beryl
"A little present my queen"
"LET ME OUT OF HERE" screamed Artemis
"One of the Lunarian familiars, he could be quite useful to us" said the cloaked figure
Beryl just smiled clearly pleased with her prize.