Chapter VII

The next morning, Diana and Neph are having morning tea together. It’s become a sort of tradition for them to have tea and breakfast together at least once a week. They also have the tendency to talk about current events as they dine. This morning’s topic is HLM.

“So you’re saying that M-chan has powers that people of her worlds classify as godlike?” the Earth and Moon warrioress asks the Elemental Guardian.

He nods and sips his tea. “However, they don’t worship her; she’s more of a world leader. Her people love and respect her, as she does them.”

Diana reflects his nod thoughtfully. “And she was discovered as a child. Wouldn’t she be more like the Buddha or Dali Llama?”

Neph shakes his head. “Not really, because she’s not a spiritual leader. In fact, her people no longer have religion.”

“Really?” Diana looks up from her tea in surprise.

“Hai. They used to, years and years ago, but all the different beliefs almost destroyed the worlds. The pharaoh back then had a power very similar to hypnotism, so instead of letting his people kill themselves off, he hypnotized them into believing that a difference of opinion over religion is not worth killing your neighbor over. Instead of fighting, the people talked. Eventually, religion just died off. With it went the obsessive and fanatical behavior that accompanied it.”

She pauses a moment to gaze ponderously into the honeyed green depths of her tea before responding. “Hmm…that’s interesting. So she can’t be a religious leader because there’s no religion on her worlds.”

“Exactly, but I suppose the concept of having powers equal to those of a god hung around.”

Diana nods. “Let’s hope the evils that hide just on the horizon around here don’t get their paws on her.”

“Hai,” Neph responds. “Imagine the destruction they’d cause.”

At that thought, they both shudder.

While Neph and Diana have their morning tea, HLM is in conversation with Cal.

She frowns and shivers slightly at what Cal tells her.

“The guards were able to defeat the monsters, but everyone was very shaken by the experience.”

“Do I need to return? That sounds all too similar to what happened here,” HLM replies, worry in her eyes.

He shakes his head. “We have everything under control.”

She bites her lip. “If there’s going to be a war, I should be with the people I love to defend them, not on foreign soil a universe away.”

“Do not worry, my pharaoh! You know as well as I do that you will know if something serious enough to bring you home before it even happens.”

“Ok, Cal. So long as you and the others are sure. I’m still going to warn the people here to be careful just as I am with you. It seems there are going to be some very dangerous times on the way.”

He nods. “Yes, my friend. Take care.”

“You too. Let my people know that all is well at the moment but to be careful.”

“Yes, Pharaoh.”

With one last nod, HLM closes the connection with a sigh.

Indeed…dangerous times are coming. Will we be able to survive?

Neph sighs internally as Diana incredulously asks, “A Ball? Tonight?”

“Hai,” the Queen answers. “Both the Earth and Moon peoples are very scared because of this attack. 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,” the silver haired leader of the Elementals speaks up.

“Hai,” the Celestial Guardian adds. “That attack could be the start of something much beggar and more dangerous than any of us think.”

“There is going to be a Ball tonight,” the Prince of Earth says firmly. “You are all to be on your guards as usual. That is that.”

The four Guardians bow, although not happy with that decision.

Nephrite sees Diana clamp her mouth shut on a protest at the glare she gets from the royalty.

Serenity’s eyes flicker to the doorway just before she sends a glare at the red haired warrioress who looks as if she wishes to say something else. “This conversation is over.”

She looks back to the doorway and says in a gentle voice, “HLM-san? You may enter.”

“Thank you, Queen Serenity,” the alien pharaoh responds as she steps in.

“Is there something amiss?”

“Well, truth be told, yes.”

“What is it?”

HLM takes a deep breath, taking comfort from Neph’s calm gaze. “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, I say we all be very careful.”

Why can everyone see the wisdom in those words except for the royalty? Neph ponders to himself.

The Silver Queen nods. “I thank you all. Now I need some time to think. You are all dismissed.”

Before going out to the gardens, everyone bows to Serenity, Serena and Endymion. As they go, Neph slips an arm around HLM’s waist.

“M-chan, are you all right?” he asks.

She sighs softly, leaning a little on his strong frame. “I’m fine, just worried.”

He sighs, pausing to give the young alien a hug.

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 nods and sighs softly before freezing and narrowing his eyes and looking into the distance.

“Love? What is…”

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

Before anyone can react, short of assuming ready position, the youma holds its hands out, palms towards them. With a sudden burst of light, everyone disappears.

HLM’s eyes widen as Nephrite draws her into his protective embrace. Before them stands the woman from the divinations and the legend.

The frightening woman then utters two cold words.

“Join me.”

Neph watches in amazement as the young woman in his arms effortlessly breaks free, her eyes glowing with an animal ferocity.

“Why should we?” she asks in a strong voice.

“I can offer you unlimited power, little one,” the demon-like woman answers, a small glimmer of anger showing in her yellow, reptilian eyes.

“At what price?” The young pharaoh seems to excrete defiance from every pore.

“M-chan,” Neph telepaths desperately to HLM, “What the HELL are you doing?!”

“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 HLM’s question with, “You will be the servants of the wise and omnipotent Queen Metallia.”

I don’t like the sound of that, Neph thinks to himself.

“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.”

The demon queen locks eyes with the exotic pharaoh, trying to force her into looking away.

When she doesn’t, Beryl shouts in frustration, “Voices?! What do you think youma are? CLOSET MONSTERS?!”

“Nah, they’re too big to be closet monsters. They’re more like things that go ‘bump’ in the night.”

“Enough of this foolishness!” Beryl shrieks. “I will break you! Then you will be MINE!”

Nephrite sees with shock that HLM’s body is impossibly relaxed, even as he knows she must be tense inside and building her power. Beryl sweeps her arm out, initiating a mass transport form her palm. In the same instant, HLM growls and throws her own arms out, putting a shield up about herself and as many of the others as she can. She only gets the shield up over herself and Diana.

Nephrite abruptly finds himself sprawled out in a small stone cell. He shivers when he realizes that he’s unclothed. He gets to his feet and looks around, feeling his energy slowly draining away.

How did I get here?!?

He then realizes that he can vaguely sense what’s going on with Diana, HLM and Beryl, and concentrates on trying to help in any way he can.

“WHAT DID YOU DO WITH THEM, LIZARD EYES?!” HLM screams.

Beryl lets loose with a force bolt of energy at the two, the wind kicked up by the attack blowing her long, red hair back.

Neph falls to his knees as he sense HLM’s shields strain at the attack.

"Beloved M-chan,” he telepaths, forcing his way past the barriers he’s suddenly aware of, “she is too strong. Leave us.”

“But what about you?” HLM’s faint telepathic voice comes, wrought with worry.

He senses Beryl’s scream as an arrow from Diana’s silver bow imbeds itself in her pale shoulder.

With the last of his strength, he sends one last message.

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

At that, he passes out.

“You will pay for that!” Beryl screams, tearing the arrow out even as HLM feels her heart break slightly.

Diana lets another arrow fly to bury itself in the evil queen’s other shoulder.

The young pharaoh senses another telepathic conversation going on, but is forced to initiate a teleport when she sees Beryl hurl the blood encrusted arrows at them. Both women disappear just as the projectiles are about to hit them.

Chapter VI
Chapter VIII
Life Between Worlds Index