Part IX

"A Ball? Tonight?" Diana asks incredulously.

"Hai. Both the Earth and the Moon peoples are very scared because of this attack," Serenity answers, "it would sooth them, give them a sense of normalcy."

"My Queen, with all due respects, I do not think this is a wise idea," Kunzite speaks up.

"Hai, that attack could be the start of something much bigger and more dangerous than any of us think," Nephrite puts in.

"There is going to be a Ball tonight," the Prince of Earth puts in, "You are all to be on your guards as usual, and that is that."

Kunzite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and Jadeite all bow, even though they're less than happy with the order.

Diana is about to protest, but clamps her jaw shut upon getting looks from the royalty.

HLM appears shyly at the doorway, worry clouding her eyes.

"This conversation is over," Serenity says in a firm voice, sending a glare at Diana who looks like she was about to say something else.

"HLM-san? You may enter," Serenity says softly, HLM stepping in.

"Thank you, Queen Serenity."

"Is there something amiss?"

"Well, truth be told, yes."

"What is it?"

"I communicated with my people this morning, and I found out there was an attack on my worlds yesterday. It was much like the one that happened in the gardens not long ago. I find this very disturbing."

"Do you need to return?"

"No. The people I left to lead while I'm away feel that they can handle the job and I trust them.

If my advice on the matter is welcome at all, I say we all be very careful."

Serenity nods, "I thank you all. Now I need some time to think. You are all dismissed."

Everyone bows to Serenity, Serena, and Endymion before heading out into the gardens.

Neph slips an arm gently around HLM's waist.

"M-chan, are you all right?" he asks.

 HLM sighs softly, leaning slightly against Neph. "I'm fine, just worried."

Neph sighs softly, pausing and hugging HLM tight.

After a few moments of silence, Diana speaks up, "You have every right to be. Hell, we should all be worried and trying to figure out if these
two attacks are related."

"Hai," Zoi says, wrapping his arm around his lover's middle, "and if there will be a repeat performance."

Kunz sighs softly and nods before freezing and narrowing his eyes, looking off at some distant place.

"Love? What is..."

Zoi's question answers itself as a tall pink and green skinned youma steps out of the bushes.

Immediately, everyone assumes ready positions in their various arts.

Before anyone can react, though, the youma holds its hands out, palms towards them.

With a sudden burst of light, everyone disappears.

Diana and Jae suddenly feel the cool, soft grass being replaced with cold, hard stone beneath their feet.

He pulls her close against him, protectively wrapping his cape around her. Neph does the same with HLM as does Kunz with Zoi.

A tall, regal woman steps out of the shadows.

Jae gasps, pulling Diana hard to him and clinging to her tightly.

"It's Beryl," he whispers into her ear.

"Oh Gods..."

Just then the woman utters two words.

"Join me."

HLM's eyes glow fiercely as she breaks from Neph's protective embrace.

"Why should we?" she asks.

"I can offer you unlimited power, little one," Beryl answers, yellow, lizard-like eyes sparkling with just a hint of anger.

"At what price?" HLM asks, defiance in her voice.

"M-chan, what the HELL are you doing?" Neph telepaths to HLM.

"Getting her mad enough so she gets distracted and her hold on us weakens enough for us to get away."

"You'll get us all killed!" Jae breaks in.

"She can't hurt me, and I'll make sure she won't get any of you."

Meanwhile, Beryl answers with, "You will be the servants of the wise and omnipotent Queen Mettalia."

"Oh, you mean the exceptionally smelly cloud of smoke? Honestly Beryl, you've really got to stop listening to the voices in your head. You
have no idea how much it hurts your image."

Beryl locks eyes with HLM, trying to force her to look away.

When she doesn't, Beryl shouts in frustration.

"Voices?! What do you think you youma are? CLOSET MONSTERS?!"

"Nah, they're to big to be closet monsters. They're more like things that go 'bump' in the night."

"Enough of this foolishness!" Queen Beryl shrieks, "I will break you! Then you will be MINE!"

HLM is silent, tense inside, relaxed outside, building her power.

Beryl sweeps her arm out, activating a mass teleport from her palm.

HLM growls and throws her own arms out, putting a shield up about herself and as many of the others as she can.

She's fast enough to save only herself and Diana.

"WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THEM, LIZARD EYES?!" she screams.

"Same thing I'm going to do with you and your friend, insolent one!"

"Like hell you are!"

Beryl lets loose with a force bolt of energy at the two, the wind the bolt kicks up blowing Beryl's long red hair back.

HLM's shields hold. Barely.

"Beloved M-chan," comes Neph's telepathic voice, as if from a great distance, "she is too strong, leave us."

Just then, Diana slings out her silver bow and takes an arrow out of the quiver, cocking it.

"But what about you?" HLM telepaths back.

Diana lets the arrow fly.

Beryl screams, the arrow imbedded in her shoulder.

"We'll be fine and we'll find a way back to you! Now go!"

"You will pay for that!" Beryl screams, tearing the arrow out of her shoulder only to have another imbed itself in her other shoulder.

"Beloved!" comes Jae's weak telepathic voice, "You're making her angry! She's going to kill you! Get out of there!"

"Jae..."

"It's all right. We'll find our way back to you. I love you with all my heart."

"And I you. My thoughts and heart will be with you, as they are now."

HLM teleports them both away just as Beryl  hurls the arrows at her and Diana.

They disappear just before the arrows pass through where their heads were.

Part VIII
Part X
Beginnings and Endings Index