Artemis' Rescue
Artemis ran along the shoreline of the North seas looking for anything that could aid in his escape back to Lunaris, tired and exhausted from running so much Artemis collapsed on the ground unaware of the treat looming behind him. Suddenly he heard a twig snap his ears twitching from the sound he opened his eyes, but it was too late he was cornered. He hissed at the men standing before him in a threatening manner, he positioned himself in a predatory manner poised to strike when suddenly an arrow flew from behind him and hit the Solarian soldier straight in the neck causing him to choke on his own blood. Artemis whirled around to look for the source of the arrow, when he saw a mermaid peeking out from the surface of the water holding a bow.
"Come little one we ca get you back to your kingdom," said the Mermaid
"How… you know what I don't want to know" said Artemis as he ran for the water's edge. Another Solarian soldier dived and caught Artemis by the back legs. Another mermaid rose from the water surface and landed another arrow in the left shoulder of the third soldier holding a sack. Dropping the sack the soldier stumbled backwards holding his arm. Artemis struggled against the remaining soldiers hold, a third and fourth mermaid appeared on the edge of the water one of them wielding a knife. She crawled towards Artemis trying to get to him when more Solarian soldiers appeared from the tree line.
Artemis yowled as he tried to get free from the soldier, one of the mermaids called out a siren's song towards the sea. Suddenly there came the sound of a conch shell being blown and a pitchfork breaking the waters surface. Artemis looked on with wide eyes and saw as a small contingency of Atlantean soldiers rise and walked towards the water's edge. The solder took the moment of distraction and grabbed Artemis more firmly around the torso and picked him up and started running in the direction of the woods. Once again Artemis howled and hissed at the soldier, he stopped to stuff Artemis in the sack his companion had dropped and in a moment of distraction Artemis took the opportunity to claw at the soldier's eyes blinding him. As the soldier dropped him to the ground Artemis ran back to the beach line listening to the sounds of the Solarian and Atlanteans soldier's fighting.
"Over here little one" called out a mermaid from the water's edge. Artemis dodged his way to the mermaid as the soldiers fought and jumped in the mermaids outstretched arms asking, "What's the plan?" Another mermaid appeared next to the one holding him in her arms "I hate being wet" said Artemis shaking his wet head. Both mermaids swam away from the ensuing battle, when they were far enough to be considered safe one of the mermaids muttered a spell in Atlantean and conjured a bubble from the water and wrapped it around Artemis. "There" said the mermaid.
"What's this?" Asked Artemis in wonder
"This will allow us to take under, you'll be able to breath while we swim you to the safety"
"Are you taking me back to Lunaris?" Artemis' voice sounded muffled from inside the bubble. The two mermaids laughed and said "Not exactly" at the same time and suddenly dived under the surface.
Artemis closed his eyes his eyes and took a deep breath as they drove under the water the two mermaids laughed in amusement and said in unison "it's alright our little feline friend" Artemis opened on of his eyes and one of the mermaids said "we told you as long as you are inside this bubble you will be able to breath" and with a shaking confidence Artemis let out a long suffering sigh when he saw that he was indeed able to breath he let out a triumphant laugh. "How long until we get to Lunaris?" He asked and the mermaids both looked at each other in confusion. "We told you" One of the mermaids said "we are not taking you to Lunaris"
"Then where?" Asked Artemis worried
"The middle of the Ocean"
"Why?" He asked incredulously, he was beginning to think this was all an elaborate ruse to kill him when one the mermaids said "There is a ship waiting a few miles from here your friends are waiting for you there"
The other mermaids chimed in "We take you halfway and the ship takes you the rest of the way home"
Artemis laughed with joy at the revelation and then relaxed as he soaked in the information.
Approaching the gates of Moros
"Halt" said one of the Moeri guards "who goes there?" He asked the four cloaked figures riding to the gates of the Kingdom of Moros. One of the riders stopped in front of the guard and removed their cloak to reveal Venus Guardian of Light. "Lady Venus!" Exclamatted the guard in awe "So it's true the guardians have awakened" he said as the other guardians removed their cloaks to reveal their identities. "We are here to speak with the Queen, of matters of great importance" said Venus in a commanding tone that brooked no argument. The two guards stationed at the gates motioned towards the lock "I'm sorry but the gates have been magically sealed as to prevent an invasion" said the second guard.
"The I suggest you get the key," said Jupiter
"Wait" said Mercury in a hushed tone
"What is it" asked Venus
"We are not alone"
Mercury turned her horse towards the road behind them and pointed "We've been followed" she said as the guards and the guardians prepared for a fight only to be met by the vague figure of a tall woman carrying a staff. "About time you showed up," said Pluto. The others lowered their guards and greeted their fellow comrade as she approached. "Need some help?" The other guardians smiled "so I guess this was your doing then?" Said Mercury.
"Who else?"
"How's the Queen's mood?" Asked Jupiter
"Same as always, here allow me" Pluto raised her staff in the air and then brought it down hard on the ground in front of the gates. The Jewel at the end of her staff glowed a bright red light before the gates of the kingdom open allowing them passage to the realm of the underworld. Pluto looked back at her friends and said "You know you were followed last night right" the other guardians looked at each other before Mars and Jupiter turned to look for any sign of an enemy sentry.
"Don't worry I took care of the pest last I night while you slept"
"Do you know who it was?" Asked Mars turning to look at Pluto
"It wasn't a Solarian soldier I can tell you that, whatever it was it serves Metaria's will"
"Serves her will. What do you mean?" Asked Mercury
"I mean, that whoever it was it was created by Metaria herself"
"While in captivity?" Said Jupiter in surprise "how is that even possible?"
"That is something I intend to find out" said Pluto as she faded away from the other's "Must be fun being omnipresent all the time" said Mars as the guardians rode through the streets. The people peeked out their windows and through door slits slowly coming out of their homes and business to stare.
"These people have been living isolated and alone for the past year, haven't they?" Asked Venus with a sad look in her eyes as one young child looked to her and asked, "Are you here to save us?"
Venus dismounted her horse and approached the child only to be take back by the child's mother and father coming towards her looking furious "Samara come here" said Samara's mother. "But they are here to save us, right," said Samara
"Don't count on it darling, if you ask me this is all their fault to begin with" the man said with disdain in his voice as other joined him. "The Moon Kingdom was said to be the most powerful dynasty in the realm they have a priestess among their more powerful guardians and yet they could not stop their own destruction, they could not keep their own Queen alive and yet they come here hoping for what? To restore the so-called light of the moon" he laughed bitterly as others among the gathering crowd agreed. "Haven't you done enough damage to us all?" Asked Samara's father.
"We are here to correct that mistake" said Mars riding to the front
"No, you are here to get us killed, that's what you are here for" said a voice from the crowd as other's started yelling for them to leave their kingdom in peace.
"Listen!…" yelled Jupiter when a hand on her shoulder stayed her growing fury "It's not worth it, come on let's move on to the palace" said Mercury as the crowd started to heckle them and throwing garbage in their direction. Venus remounted her horse and looked at young Samara with sorrow in her eyes. "The people have lost faith in us" she told the other guardians when Mars rode up beside her "The best way to earn their trust back is to do our job, we ask the Queen for passage find the princess and destroy Metaria once and for all"
"What makes you think Serena can destroy her for good. If the void could not destroy her…"
"The Void could not destroy its own creation because of it's attachment to it's child"
"Still the princess maybe the descendant of gods but she is not a good herself"
"I believe in our princess" said Mercury "Maybe you need to believe in her too, Jupiter"
"I do, but I still say prepare for the worst"
They rode the rest of the way in silence. As the guardians approached the doors of the castle Pluto appeared once more. "I have news about a certain white furry friend of yours"
"Artemis?" Questioned Venus with a hopeful lilt in her voice "Is he alright, he's unharmed? Isn't he?"
"A little wet and exhausted but otherwise he is fine" Venus smiled a bright smile and for the first time in days she felt hopeful again. "Come the Queen is ready to see you" said Pluto as she faded away once again.
On the Nautilus
"Shouldn't they be here by now" asked Luna for the umptieth time in the last hour "I thought mermaids were supposed to be the fastest swimmers in the world"
"They will be here Luna" said Saturn to the fretting cat, Neptune had outfitted a small ship for them to take out into the middle to the sea halfway between the kingdoms "I just worry" said Luna with a tired expression on her face, Saturn knelt down and petted her on the head trying to be reassuring when they hear the look out yelling "Hard to starboard!" At that Luna and Saturn ran to the railing in the direction the look out was pointing when sure enough the were two figures swimming towards them under the waves. Two mermaids emerged. From under the water and looked up at the small ship speaking softly.
I believe we have something for you" they said in unison before using their water magic to lift the bubble contains a very green and sickly-looking Artemis. The bubble landed on the deck of the ship and burst depositing Artemis right in front of Luna "Artemis are you alright?" Asked Luna but before he could answer Artemis threw up the contents of his stomach onto the deck and collapsed "Artemis!
Artemis!" Said Luna worried
"I'm alright, but I would not recommend doing that ever" said Artemis about his least favorite mode of travel. Luna gave a small "Meow" before nestling her head against his in a supporting gesture. "You'll be alright" she said. Saturn came near and scooped up the limp feline and said "come let's get you below so you can rest. Captain! We are ready to set sail" Neptune nodded in assent and turned the wheel of the ship. As the Nautilus pitched to the side Artemis mewled at the motion, "I think I'm going to be sick again" he said as Saturn carried him down below and placed him on a bed in one of the small cabins. Luna hopped on the bed beside him and laid next to him. Saturn turned and walked out the room giving them some much needed privacy, once the door was closed, Luna looked at him and whispered how much she missed him these last few days and to never disappear like that again. Artemis just smiled and burrowed deeper into the blanket for warmth falling asleep. And for the first time in days Luna slept as well.
In the Solarian throne room
"How incompetent are you?" Yelled the Lady Beryl as the prince looked on from his place in the corner with a look of absolute boredom. "How could you… LOSE A SMALL CAT!" She screeched like a harpy in anger. Her voice just kept getting louder and louder and more piercing to the point the prince had to discreetly cover his ears to get the offending sound to muffle. "Why do I love her?" the prince tried to comprehend in exhaustion, he hadn't been sleeping well the last couple of nights and his dreams kept getting more and more intense. The silvered eyed girl from his dreams kept calling his name nothing more but his name being called out into the night. As much as he loved Beryl those eyes there was something about them that drew him in. He shook his head at the fanciful thoughts and tried to focus on the matter at hand.
"DARIEN!" Screeched Beryl trying to get his attention.
"What" said the prince in a stern tone looking at Beryl as if she had grown an extra head. "Haven't you been listening" she asked him.
"No"
"What do you mean, NO"
"I mean No, Beryl" he said and walked away only for her to follow him, trying to get his attention "My love why do you treat me with such indifference?" she asked
"It's not indifference it's contempt Beryl" he said shocking her into silence. "Did I shock my dearest, just because we are to be married doesn't mean that I must tolerate the way you treat my men and my people, face it Beryl you are thing, but a cow meant for breeding and producing an heir for me. Now be silent and go back to your vanity" It was a harsh truth but a truth non the less, the more time passed the more he felt sure of the one truth he has been denying to himself all along, he didn't truly love the Lady Beryl. She was once a beautiful sight to see hair the color of copper that has dulled as time wore on and soft features that once reflected youth and beauty have twisted and sharped at the edges giving her a more ferocious feature he didn't find at all appealing. "A cow" he thought to himself "That is all she is" used for breeding that was all.
Beryl stared at the prince's retreating form in awe and shock still processing the things he said to her. Behind the lady Beryl was the hooded figure hiding a sinister smile.