He ran from me, I loved this man and he ran from me! He said I was more than he but oh it was not so! Couldn't he see, I loved him and he loved me he was everything to me! I was exhausted and angry with myself, I lay back down and cried myself to sleep on the cool wet moss by the lake. The last thought I had as I drifted off into the darkness of my mind was that I still loved him and always would, if he hated me there was nothing I could do but end my life. Suddenly I heard my mothers' voice inside my head.
~ Serena, Serena it's your mother. The fate of the universe rests in your hands my daughter, I'm so sorry, I've failed you but there was nothing I could do. Beware the dark prince and his sword of evil, The swords' power is greater than that of the silver crystal. Please daughter, return to the Moon and collect the crystal, do not try to save us it is to late. I love you Serena and I always will, the fate of the universe is in good hands. I trust you Serena, you will do well.
~ NO MOTHER! ~
I screamed as her voice faded from my mind. "NOOOOOO" I sat up in bed bathed in sweat still screaming. I sat up so fast I almost hit Endy on the way up. I realized I was still Supreme Moon Angel and quickly shed my transformation. Endy suddenly leaned over me and touched his lips to mine, I laid back down on the bed and sighed, maybe he wasn't angry with me, maybe it was all a dream. But I knew that my mothers' frantic call was not a dream, I was the only one left to handle the silver crystal.
"Serena, I'm so sorry my love I never should have run from you. Please forgive me, there's so much going on in my life I was hurt and confused. I'm so sorry" as he said this he started to cry, I pulled his head to my shoulder and held him to me
"Endy, you had every right to run, I should have told you who I am. I guess now I don't really have a choice in the matter though." Confusion lit his eyes, those beautiful eyes. "Endy, I am Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, heir to the throne of the Moon. I am also Sailor Moon, Super sailor moon, and Supreme Moon Angel." He looked even more hurt now than he had in the park, but at least he didn't run from me. "listen to me Endy, I am no more than you, I am a human, a woman and I'm in love with you. You are my world, if anything ever happened to you I think I would just die. Please come with me to the Moon Kingdom, live with me and be my prince." Now he was startled but such joy covered his face.
"Oh Serena I would, honestly but you are a princess, I a commoner. There's no way you're mother would allow it."
"Endy, that's another thing, my mother is d-dead, as are the other planets monarchs, a terrible man who calls himself the dark prince has emerged and kidnapped my friends. There-there was a battle on the Moon and that Is why we were sent here as refugees. They lost Endy and now I am the only one left who can use the power of the silver crystal, but it may not be enough." I choked the words out through my tears.
"I'm so sorry Serena oh my love please don't cry I can't stand to see you cry. We'll save them Serena we will, we'll do it together you and me side by side. I will never leave you again, I love you Serena."
"Oh Endy, I wish it were that simple, the others In your house are also sailor soldiers and they have powers like me that they can use to aid me in my fight with the dark prince. I couldn't bear it if you were hurt Endy, It would be my fault if I led you to the battle and we were defeated. Please Endy, you must understand, say that you do you have to stay here and be safe."
"Serena I may not have special powers like you but you will need me nonetheless, I'm coming with you I couldn't stand not knowing what was happening to you on the Moon. I have to come with you my love there is no other way, if you say I cannot I will find a way, you cannot keep me from you when you are in danger." Now we were both crying and we lay down together and held each other for hours not caring what happened.
A little while later we got up and composed ourselves. I went out and told the others what had happened on the Moon, there were startled gasps and heartrending cries. I let them cry for a while as I had let myself and Endymion a few moments ago and then told them what we had to do. The sat up and said they were with me and we went to get dressed for a trip to the Moon. I found Endy in his room putting on his usual outfit, his black T-shirt and green button up with khakis. He was so handsome, I walked over and pushed myself up on my toes to reach him as I kissed him. He put his arms around my waist and lifted me off the ground, we laughed and then I went to my room to get my transportation pen. Everyone was very serious as we packed ourselves into the car and drove off to the waterfall, we didn't need any of the innocents on Jupiter to see us transporting ourselves to the Moon. Amy and Greg were holding each other in the backseat of the car whispering to each other. No one was smiling. We got out of the car at the waterfall and I showed them into the cave behind it.
"Looks like somebody has a special place to bring the ladies!" laughed Haruka, looking at the blanket on the floor and the lantern in the corner. Michiru walked over to the lantern and picked something up from behind a rock, it was Serenas' bra. We blushed as Michiru handed the bra to Serena and everyone cracked up. Well at least some of the tension had been lifted. Serena pocketed the bra and everyone gathered round' her in a circle, she lifted her pen and yelled "Sailor Teleport!" When the colors stopped swirling around us we were standing In what must have been a beautiful garden, but the bushes and flowers had all withered.
We were really on the moon! It was amazing, it looked trashed, but looking at what was left of the building it must have been a formidable castle, the thought had me gaping in awe. I didn't get any déjà vu feelings so maybe I'd never been here. Then again maybe I wouldn't remember it if I didn't have amnesia. It was all so confusing! The others gaped, but theirs were expressions of horror and outrage at having their home destroyed thusly. This had been their beautiful home and now it looked like a pile of rubble. I stood there silently as the others transformed, feeling very left out.
"Mercury Power"
"Mercury Planet Power"
"Uranus Power"
"Neptune Power"
"Saturn Power"
"Moon Angel Power"
As the others became their more glorious, power-filled selves I stood there and watched, longing I could be like them so that I could help during the battle. When they finished I looked at the differences in their outfits. The four Sailor Soldiers looked almost exactly alike in sailor suits with miniskirts, but each miniskirt was the color of the planet the soldier came from and fought for. Greg, or Mercury Knight wore a blue, lightweight breastplate and swordbelt with a sky blue cape flowing behind his back. He was obviously Sailor Mercurys' protector. Of course Serena was completely different, in her angel guise. I followed them as they surveyed the landscape and made their way through the rubble. Everything was in ruins, there were large pillars lying on the ground where they had fallen and charred bits of tile where energy bolts had obviously been thrown. The others' walked along solemnly, trying not to cry over the destruction of their home. I felt very uncomfortable being the only one who didn't remember this place, and stayed silent as I followed them down corridors and pathways inside and out of the castle. Serena was in the lead and obviously trying to find a certain spot. Somehow he felt she needed something that had been hidden to keep it safe for her. Suddenly the procession halted at a large arch where the castles' main entrance must have been. What they saw outside was worse than anything before. Corpses littered the ground, charred and black, some already decomposing, others slower in their return to nature. What could possibly have done all this, caused all this suffering? Whatever it was it was could certainly have no heart to do such things to these innocents. Finally after what seemed like hours they came to the far boundary of the field of the dead. Before them now was a ring of bodies pressed into the soft spring grass. In the center was a single woman with golden hair tied up in buns with pigtails laid out behind her. Her features so alike Serena's though pressed into a mask of pain and sorrow. Sailor Mercury stifled a cry of pain and ran to one of the women in the circle, a woman with long blue hair and a dark blue gown on. Each of the soldiers found a person or two in the circle and knelt beside them to weep quietly for a few moments. It must be their parents Endymion thought. Serena stood calm and controlled in the center of the circle above her mothers' still body. She reached down and gently uncurled her mothers' fingers to reveal a glinting silver crystal embedded in her palm. Serena lifted the crystal and held it face up in her open hand as her eyes filled with unshed tears. She sat down by her mother and pulled the eyelids shut, then crossed her arms over her chest. The other soldiers were doing the same to each of the Kings and Queens in the ring. Serena stood and her scepter appeared out of nowhere before her. She reached out and placed the small silver crystal in a golden claw atop the heart. The crystal began to glow with a pale silver radiance and the crescent moon in the center of the heart atop the scepter began to change. The light flashed incandescent white for a moment and when they could all see again there was a white sword engraved upon it. This seemed to surprise everyone and I was ok with that since I seemed to be the only one that any of this surprised.
That had never happened before thought Pluto, the guardian of time. In all the past and all the future that she had seen never had the scepter had a silver-white sword engraved on it. This was strange, perhaps something had shifted the flow of time. She had to get back to the time gate to check it out.
"I'm sorry everyone but something has happened at the time gate. I must go" With that I transported myself back to the time gate. Nothing appeared disturbed, but something had definitely changed. Pluto knew everything about time and quickly saw what had happened. She should have known Serenity would fight against destiny if she revealed to much. Now the pattern was interrupted, not even Pluto knew what would happen now, not with this new fort in the time stream. It was even possible that Serena would not uncover Darien. Obviously Pluto knew that Endymion was really Darien, but if Serena did not find out Reenie might never be born. She had to protect Reenies' birth at all costs, too much relied on the young girl. Pluto went back in time to try and rectify Serenitys' mistake, and be sure Serenity did not reveal too much before her death. The sword was still imprinted on the scepter, but all should go pretty much as it was set up. "I'm sorry Serenity, but that's not allowed, Serena must experience this on her own."
She was gone in a flash of brilliant purple light, back to the time gate. Ah, that Pluto always so mysterious, and ever attentive to her time gate. It was a lonely job she had, she was the solitary scout destined to forever guard the time gate and protect Queen Serenitys' offspring. Sometimes Serena even felt sorry for Pluto, wishing she could go to the time gate just to sit and talk with Pluto, get to know her, but that was impossible. As an apprentice to the last guardian of time Pluto had been taught to control her emotions, pack them down inside her and keep a tight reign on them when they must be used. Serena knew the lonely scout of Pluto knew more than she ever revealed, there was always the danger of giving something away that would change the flow of time and Pluto hated having to go back in time to fix their mistakes.
"oooooaaugh" Mina tried valiantly to lift her head and peer into the darkness beyond. ~ Was he here? Was that monster sitting there watching them? ~ She had learned to be careful of how much she moved when he might be in the room. The memory of that cool wet hand sliding down her cheek sent chills through her, such evil! She risked a swift head twist to see if he was there, then sure that he wasn't she turned and looked at the girl chained beside her on the wall. They had lost feeling in their arms some time ago from being chained spread-eagle to the wall, about five feet off the floor. Such humiliation, chained naked and helpless to a wall as he did whatever he liked! She barely recognized the battered, bruised body to her right as Raye. The dark prince seemed to like Lita the most, she was the tallest and he had said that he liked a challenging spirit for him to break. She was sure none of them could feel the pain any longer, so bruised and battered they were numb, they had not once been fed and had stagnant water shoved down their throats by some daemon every day. How long had it been now since they had been captured? She Lita, Raye, and Adam were the only four in the room. They had been specially chosen because of their powers as Sailor Soldiers, the dark prince thought they would be the most fun to break, to have those sworn to fight evil begging him to let them help conquer the universe. "R-Raye?" she asked choking on the bile that rose at the sight of her tattered body, "Raye, are-are you awake?" So hard to force out even one simple sentence. Raye obviously couldn't speak and so she bobbed her head once in response issuing a small whimper of pain. At least they were still alive, the prince seemed to be careful with that, certainly couldn't let his little pets die on him now, could he? I turned my head back to the left, painful though it was and saw Lita bobbing her head. I looked straight ahead to the wall on the other side of the room, closet was more like it, she had about ten feet between herself and Adam. He was in as bad a state as we were, body torn and bleeding, dark circles under and around his eyes, both from lack of sleep and punches delivered by the dark prince for talking back. I whispered his name, it was all I could do to make my voice work like that, "Adam, Adam are you a-awake?" He lifted his head and raised his eyes to meet mine, my poor brother to see him chained and battered like this was torture! "I got a message in m-m-my head from princess Serena, they-they're coming right now to save us" I thought the news might hearten them a little give them something to hope for, but all I heard were sighs of regret. ~ Would they reach us in time? ~
I stood up slowly not wanting anyone to think me weak and stared down at the lifeless form of my mother, laying silently beside her was my father, they did their duty. I started to cry as I felt arms encircle my waist, knowing Mercury Knight was feeling the same pain, trying harder than I to get over it so he could comfort me. I tilted my head back and was greeted by his haggard, but smiling face. Then I looked over to where Serena was in the center of the circle above her own mother and saw a brilliant white light stream from the silver crystal and change the crescent moon symbol on her spiral scepter into a brilliant white sword. What could it mean? I tried to analyze it using my minicomputer but the computer couldn't even discover what the symbol might mean. I saw the look on Serena's pale face and decided to check her over with the computer as well, didn't want to have a sick princess on our hands did we! She was fine, she needed rest and comfort but those were things we didn't have the time for. Time! Pluto had disappeared right after the scepters change and had not returned, but that was Pluto for you! I turned myself towards Mercury Knight to nestle into his arms and he reached down and pulled my chin up with his thumb. He raked back his hair with the other hand as he leaned down and kissed me. I melted into his arms, sobbing with grief, my mother just died, I could see the others were also crying, no one ashamed to show their feelings to friends. Endymion was the only one without a parent here but he too had tears running down his face, his mother had died earlier on Jupiter. He dashed into the circle and caught princess Serenity as she collapsed, "SERENA!" he cried, alarmed. I walked over to him and let him lay her down in his lap while I checked her pulse and monitored her with my computer for a few minutes. I stood up and told him that she was fine, all she needed was a little rest. Endymion agreed to carry her on his back until she woke up and we set off in the opposite direction back towards the castle. Suddenly the ground began to shake and they all lay down with their hands over their heads to protect themselves from any debris. Endy lay atop Serena's sleeping form, Mercury Knight had assumed the same position with me. Booming laughter fell from the clouds, the voice deep and resonant, definitely a man.
"So I see you found your way here at last, aren't you pleased with my little collection, so many people, and you'll be glad to hear that I have your friends here with me, right? Wouldn't you like to see them one last time?"
the voice was taunting us, toying with us, trying to make us do something but it wouldn't work. My computer finally identified the voice and its location. So, he was hiding in the basements was he, well we'd find him out and then we'd deal with him and get our friends back.
"Here" said the voice, "a gift to my new friends" suddenly a huge picture blocked out the clouds. It was a small room, more like a box with four sides and an open top facing the gray sky. On the far wall I could see Adam hanging naked, spread-eagled against the wall bound with chains. He was bloody and bruised all over and he couldn't lift his head to look at us, if he could even see us. The picture turned and zoomed out to reveal the others, Mina, Lita, and Raye, each chained to one of the other walls, all of them naked and chained the way Adam was. Looking at them she could see Lita was covered in long gashes from breasts to thighs blood still dripping down her legs to make a puddle on the floor beneath her, obviously she had been whipped while chained to the wall. I looked over toward Raye and was horrified, Raye was the most battered of all, covered in bruises and scrapes, in some places Mercury could just make out teeth marks in her skin, blood dripping from between her thighs. Mercury didn't want to look, but knew she had to and turned at last to face Mina, Mina had tubes and wires running across her body, attached to the skin in some places stuck into it in others, steel wire plainly visible against her pale white breasts. Their eyes were all lackluster and hopeless and they obviously couldn't see their friends staring at them from above. All this had been done recently and she was sure the evil man who was talking to them had done it just before he came so he could goad them into an unthinking attack. I was glad princess Serena wasn't awake at the moment, knowing her with her terribly strong emotions she would try to kill him right now, on his ground, his terms. It was just beginning to rain and we watched in horror as the small room began to fill with reddish colored water, the drains stomach level so that the people chained inside had time to fear drowning before the water drained away. I was infuriated, but I remained calm and lightly tugged on my earring, my blue visor instantly crossing my face. I scanned the picture and located the room in the palace.
As I watched the water rise with horror I heard Mercury yell something.
"This way, I know where they are!" I ran after her hoping my legs wouldn't give out and tried to keep an even pace with her, after all I was her guardian and protector wasn't I? We ran down corridor after corridor in the palace, not even taking the time to find out in which direction we were going. I finally caught up with Mercury and grabbed her arm, careful not to hurt her. She looked up at me with hatred in her eyes and I stumbled back a step.
"Mercury love, we need to know where we are before we continue, also it might not be wise to go charging in if there is a daemon somewhere ahead is it?"
She looked at me for a moment as if she didn't know who I was then let herself lean against me crying once again, hurt and afraid for her friends. We waited a moment for everyone to catch up, Endymion arriving last with Serena draped accross his back. When we were finally together we began running again hoping against hope that we could reach our friends in time, I didn't even notice it when Endy began to fall behind and finally disappear. We came to a section with three doors and Mercury didn't even pause, she ran through the one to her left and continued on.
Like it so far? please e-mail me @ starlight949@aol.com with any comments, suggestions, or concerns. thanx! :P
Back to Part One Chapter Ten
Part Two Chapter Two
