| Author's Notes: there's not much to update since this fanfic is moving along at the pace I want it too. So keep reading and enjoy!! "When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." ---Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) American Musician, Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter The Darkness In The Night Chapter 4: A Fight for Power Treize knew that even though he had half the universe's planets aligned to him, this was a battle that would take some hard fighting and thinking to win. People didn't win battles through combat and skills alone, but through wisdom and knowledge. He'd learned as he'd grown that he needed to be both; quick to think in the battle field as well as in the mind. He'd practiced patience, now learned that he had enough for an entire universe. Today the leaders from the neighboring planets would be arriving, a meeting he'd called together through Zechs. They would discuss in full what would be done about Dimando and the constant attacks from the Colonies. They were advancing steadily, had almost taken over Neptune, but Uranus had come to there aid the last minute and barely held off there forces. He'd sent soldiers out there and pilots, pilots Zechs and Darien had trained. But even those few wouldn't be able to help against the massive army he was sure they were putting together. He walked through the gardens in his palace, stopped near the lilies that seemed to be blooming quite beautifully. Relena's favorite, he remembered. She'd planted them, watched them grow with pride. And now she wasn't here to see they were blooming once again. Her memory brought guilt to him, guilt that he hadn't listened to her suspicions, guilt that he'd brushed them away as if they were nothing. And now they had her. They'd had her for almost seven months and he didn't even know if she was alive or dead. He sat on one of the stone benchs, put his head in his hands. How could everything have just fallen apart around him? He'd always made sure to keep relations everywhere possible in smooth condition, and yet, somewhere he had gone wrong. The universe was in chaos and his power was limited. He knew that if he ever wanted peace to reign throughout the galaxy once again, he would have to fight with his entire being, fight to push the evil at bay and bring Relena back, bring everything the way it had once been back. The future of the universe rested on his shouders. Serena watched Zechs as he showed off to her in the beachs waters, splashing about and attempting to do tricks for her. She laughed when Yaten came up from behind and dunked him under water, then quickly swam away before Zechs could recover. Zechs resurfaced, tossing his white, blonde hair from his eyes, and glaring at her as she laughed. He walked from the water, dripping wet, his muscles glistening as he made his way to her, wearing only trunks, his upper body bare."Think its funny, do you?" She nodded, dressed herself in a black bikini, sitting back on some chairs Zechs had set up for them under the shade of a huge umbrella."I think its very funny."she tipped her face up for the kiss he bent down to give her. He lingered over it long enough to have him shifting uncomfortably."This isn't the place."he muttered, even when he got down in front of her and leaned in to deepen the kiss. She placed a hand on his chest, felt how hot his skin was beneathe her fingertips."Your right. Its not the place."she rested back on the chair and watched as he took a towel and began drying himself off."Zechs, we have to be getting back soon." He paused in drying off."You have the meeting, right?" She nodded."Every leader needs to be there. And even though I hate saying it, I am the new leader of the Moon."it still hurt to think of her mother, and with that memory came the memory of Darien. Zechs seemed to read her mind, tossing the towel aside and sitting next to her, putting a hand on her thigh."And I know you'll be a great leader."he cocked his head, wanting to see her smile again."I wonder how it will be, being the husband of the leader of the Moon." Her smile was quick, as it always was with him."You should feel privileged." "Believe me honey, I do."he picked up her hand, studied the engagement ring he had given her the week before."I still can't believe your mine."he murmured. She ran her hand through his hair, enjoying how he frowned thoughtfully at the ring. She loved when he frowned like that."Believe it Zechs."she bent and kissed him. They headed back to the palace, arrived to find several shuttles were landing at the spaceport behind the palace. She stepped out of Zechs' car and watched them land, knowing that this was the moment they would really decide on what they were going to do. Zechs came to stand beside her and watch. "Everyone's here."she whispered, not sure on how she felt about it. Her mother should have been there too, as well as Darien. "Yea."he ran a hand up and down her back."Come on, lets go inside. Trieze will be wondering where you are." They walked down the halls of the palace, came to the large meeting room where conferences were held and politics discussed. Treize was already there, sitting at the head of the table, with several of the other planets leaders sitting as well, arguing amongst one another. When he saw them, he stood and went to them. "Serena, are you ready? Everyone's here. We've been waiting for you."he could see the misery in her eyes and knew where it came from. Even though it had been months since there deaths, she still felt it deep in her heart, especially at a moment like this when they should have been there. He knew because he felt it too. She drew in a breath, nodded."I'm ready. Sorry I kept you waiting."she turned back to Zechs, looked up into his eyes. The calm there soothed her, took some of her nerves away. He cupped her cheek in his hand, smiled gently."You'll do fine. You are your mothers daughter. Remember that." He always managed to say the right thing to her at the right moment."I love you Zechs."she whispered. "I love you too."he bent and brushed her lips softly with his, holding her just a moment longer, then letting her go. He watched her walk into the room, so beautiful it made him ache, before Treize closed the doors quietly behind him. Once inside, Serena sat at Treize's right hand side, watching as everyone stopped arguing slowly to turn and look at her. Treize stood at the head of the table, demanding everyone's attention. "I've called this meeting for the sole purpose of discussing what will be done about this war that seems to have broken out. Its been slowly building for the past seven months, since the deaths of the leader of the Moon and my younger brother Darien, since the capture of the Moon."he was quiet a moment, gathering his patience to him because he knew arguments here would be inevitable."We need to take the offensive now, as well as the defensive." "If we attack, if we send our troops, then what will we have to defend ourselves with?"Amara, leader of Uranus, spoke from the end of the table."They'll be able to attack our homes without and we won't have some sort of defense against them." "And then they'd be able to take over our own world. I couldn't do it. I couldn't possibly leave my people to the mercy of the Colonies."Michelle, leader of Neptune, shook her head."We already have too much devastation, too much death and destruction. Were trying to rebuild what they destroyed." "So what are we supposed to do? Just let them advance, let them do as they want?"Lita's face was full of surpressed anger."We already lost Serenity, we've lost the Moon to them! Our hope, our light, is gone." "And do you want to lose more then that?"Amara shot back, her own anger rising."If we attack, then they'll take advantage of it." "Then we'll be looked at as cowards, as people who can't even form some sort of counter offensive against them."Raye shouted at Amara, firing up."Mars is no coward and we have several soldiers willing to go to this war to fight!" "Its so easy to speak of fighting, but actually doing it is another thing."Hotaru, leader of Saturn, sneered this at her. Raye's eyes turned black with rage, shooting out of her seat, but being quickly held back by Lita and Mina."How dare you assume what Mars is capable of? You bitch, you couldn't-" "Stop!"Treize bellowed loud enough to have all of them halting and turning to look at him."I didn't call this meeting so you would all start spitting at each other like cats. We need to remain united here. If not, they will win." "I know what there capable of."Serena spoke finally, after listening to them argue and hearing there fear."I know exactly what its like to watch your home be torn apart before your very eyes, to have your mother save you instead of herself."she looked down at her hands."I also know what its like to lose the man you loved all in one day." Treize reached over, placed a hand on her shoulder."Serena, don't." "No, I have too Treize."she sighed deeply, remembering Darien, remembering her mother."If we let them continue coming, they'll destroy everything they can. It is a risk, fighting them and feeling as if we leave our homes to be taken over, but unless we advance, they will kill everything around us. We need to plan together, fight together, make sure were all in this together. As long as we are, they can't touch us." No one spoke, everyone having heard the sorrow, and also the anger and hope in Serena's voice. Treize could see what she said had taken affect on them, that the leaders of the Outer System were considering now."Serena's right. They've taken the Moon, they've taken its leader and my brother, and they've taken my embassador. They've taken our self respect. What more will we allow them to take?"he added this, watching them all straighten. When no one said anything, he judged it as his oppurtunity to speak the plans he'd made before they all arrived."The way I see it, we can send someone's troops to fight, and meanwhile someone else could make sure to guard that planet and help keep its defense. We would help each other, come to each others aid." "The idea sounds good and since we've been training men and women the past few months, we should be ready to fight and possibly take back the Moon."Amy made the calculations of men that they had, and how many it would take to attack."I've had spies going to and from the Moon, coming back with an accurate description of how many troops are patrolling over there. They've reduced there number of men because they believe we won't try taking it back. They believe we've given up." Treize looked at Amy with new respect."You risked much doing that Amy." She nodded."I know, but someone had too. I didn't inform any of you because I wanted to keep it under a low profile."she was silent a moment, turned to look at Serena."The leader of the Colonies, Dimando, seems to have a specific obsession with you. He....he wants to take you. He means to make you his wife, to rule the universe by his side." Serena took this information calmly, even when everyone turned to stare at her."We'll see about that." After much planning and discussion, the leaders of the inner system planets finally came to an agreement on Treize's plans. They agreed he should also be named leader of the rebels, and protector of the future. Once everyone had gone and the room was quiet but for Serena sitting at the table, Treize came back in, went and sat next to her."I don't want you to worry about what Amy said. Dimando won't get you, I swear it." She looked up at him, smiled."I know. As long as you and Zechs are here, I'm safe." He nodded, stood."I have to go speak with Amy. I'd like to know what else she was able to find out."he waited for her to stand and follow him, where Zechs waited outside for her. He nodded once to them, then walked away. Zechs immediately sensed something was wrong."What is it? What did they say?" She sighed heavily, knowing she could never keep anything from him."It seems the leader of the Colonies, Dimando, has a particular obsession with me."she looked up into his worried blue eyes."He wants to take me and make me his wife." Zechs could feel blinding rage enveloping him, so huge and strong, he wondered that his head didn't merely explode."I see."was all he managed. Serena laughed, suddenly feeling better at the look on her beloveds face."Don't worry, he won't get me. I'm safe here. You'll protect me, won't you?"she teased. "With my life."he answered swiftly and solemnly. "Good. Now, how about we go up to my room? I have this.....need for you."she let her hand trail along his chest, watched his eyes narrow and darken. "I never could deny you Serena." Planet Namek The planet was a beautiful place, untouched by the spoils of war that raged throughout the galaxy. Namek had long taken the stance of not entering the fight, for the planets leader felt there extreme strength was too much for the technology of the universe. So they stood alone, away from it all, keeping to themselves and training there hard bodies everyday. It was one man who was King of the planet, with three men who stood under him as his Generals. One of these men, Goku, walked up the palace steps alone, the others still somewhere on Namek, training and sparring. Goku looked up, grinned widely when he saw the dark man sitting at the top of the steps."Its good to see you up and about finally." The other man stretched."I don't feel so weak anymore. My wounds have healed and the fever passed. Your wife says I have enough energy for an army." Goku laughed out loud."ChiChi says that about all of us." "Then I'm glad I rank up there with you guys."his blue eyes searched behind Goku."And the others?" "Still training. I came for a quick bite."they walked into the palace together."Do you think your ready to leave?" "I have to be. I've been out here for almost a year. There's a war brewing out there and I have to get back to it."he rubbed his hand over his face a moment."I have to get back to her." "We recieved news on her today."Goku recalled suddenly, watching the other man's eyes widen."She's been on Earth the entire time, protected by your brother. Darien, you risk a lot traveling at this time." "I have to get back. She needs me."he was quiet a moment."I need her." "Whenever your ready to go, Vegita will have a shuttle ready for you. You know that." "Yes, its thanks to all of you that I was able to survive. But now its time for me to go back." The Moon Night had long since fallen, washing over the planet in a silent cloud. Everyone was asleep, tired from a days patrolling or training. The only people about were a few guards making there rounds about the palace, bored by this constant job that to them was unnecessary. No one had attacked the Moon, no one would attack the Moon in there mind. Earth's alliance had long since given up. The Moon was there's. But Dimando insisted on the patrol, and insisted his men train. The true battle was yet to come, he said, and they needed to be prepared for it. Relena lay in bed, looking up at the ceiling, Heero asleep next to her, his arm banded around her middle, holding her close to him. In the past two months she had kept her mouth shut about Treize, not mentioning him ever or even the war that was going on. She had long since realized that if she ever wanted to make it off the Moon and back to Earth, she would need to trick Heero into seeing that she no longer cared about the war, that she had forgotten it, and would remain with him. She could see her plan had worked for Heero had seemed to relax with her, allowed her now to have moments to herself without even a maid with her. His guard where she was concerned had diminished. It made her feel guilty, especially on the nights after they made love, when he held after and rubbed his cheek against hers, whispering foolish endearments to her, promises he swore to keep. But she needed to get back to Treize, to Serena, and to where she trully belonged. Even if her heart would remain with him. In the past days she gone walking during the time Heero let her be alone, gathering herbs on the Moon. Serena had once told her, long ago, that if one collected all these herbs, then you could make a concoction to put someone to sleep. She had pointed out which herbs to Relena when she'd taken her on a tour of the Moon, and told her how exactly to make it. Relena had remembered this and decided to use this knowledge now, collecting the herbs and mixing them together that night while she had been in the bathroom, getting ready to go to bed. She'd brought up some wine with her before she'd headed up to there room, dropped the liquid she'd made with the herbs into one of the glasses. Afterward, she'd gone into the room, where Heero waited in bed for her, already naked and grinning at her. She'd convinced him to have a cup of wine with her, that the night was quite warm and the wine cool. He'd agreed, gulping it down, then tossing the cup aside and grabbing her to him. She had never asked Serena at the time how long it took to work, or if worked its magic slowly. Obviously it hadn't affected Heero in the least at first, for he'd been as ravenous as ever, taking her roughly beneathe him. After they'd erupted together, he'd began kissing her again, only to roll to his side and fall into a deep sleep instead. She'd waited silently beside him for an hour, waited to see if he awoke, but he hadn't even moved, merely continued snoring softly beside her. She decided it was time to make her move. Crawling out from under his heavy arm slowly, she climbed off the bed and stood, going to her closet and removing some clothes, quickly slipping into them. She glanced at Heero as she dressed, and saw he hadn't moved, only continued sleeping. When she was finished dressing, she went to him, gazing down a moment, then bent and kissed his cheek tenderly. "When this war is over, perhaps then we can be together."she whispered to him, studying his handsome face a moment longer before turning and leaving the room. She snuck down the halls, out of the palace, toward where the space shuttles were kept. Treize had shown her long ago how to pilot one just in case and she remembered well. She stopped every now and then when a guard walked by, held her breath until he had passed, then continued on her way. She would have to board a shuttle without anyone seeing. It shouldn't be so hard because no one patrolled the space port at night. That at least was in her favor. She ran toward the nearest space shuttle, opened the cargo doors and raced inside, quickly closing them behind her. When she went to the front and strapped herself in, starting up the engine, she heard the alarms on the planet go off. One of the guards nearby must have heard her start the shuttle and alerted the others. But it was too late. She had the shuttle off the ground and airborn by the time they had made there way over there. "I should have known she was planning something."Dimando shouted when he was told it was her that had escaped."She was too agreeable, too sweet and innocent these past few weeks. But I trusted Heero to watch her and--Heero! Where is he?! HEERO!"he bellowed it throughout the palace, making his way upstairs with Seiya right behind him."There's no way he would have let her go unless she'd done something to him." He shoved the doors to the room they had shared open, halting at the sight of his friend still sleeping."Heero!"he went to him, shook him sharply until he opened his eyes slowly."Heero, goddamnit! Wake up!!" Still groggy from the affects of the concoction, he eyed Dimando and Seiya narrowly."What?" "Wake up! What is WRONG with you?! Don't you realize whats happened?!"Dimando shouted down at him. Heero glared at him as he sat up."Will you shutup? Your going to wake up Re-"he turned as he spoke and froze when he saw she wasn't beside him. Dimando and Seiya watched this."He doesn't know."Seiya whispered. Heero's head whipped around to look at them."Know what? Whats happened? Where's Relena?!!"he shot out of bed as he asked this. Dimando and Seiya glanced at one another."She's gone. She took one of the space shuttles and escaped only half an hour ago." Staggered, Heero shook his head, could feel his heart slowly breaking inside him."No....she wouldn't. She loves me, she wouldn't leave me!" "She's gone Heero. She never belonged here. Her place is with Treize. I was only holding her because putting her and Treize together is a very bad combination. Those two have the sharpest brains in this universe." And they watched, helpless and shocked, as he threw back his head and roared his despair. The Planet Earth Treize was in his office when one of his men came in and informed him a shuttle from the Moon was coming, that it entered the atmosphere and was about to land. He was up and out before the soldier could finish. He'd stopped only long enough to tell Serena and two of them had gone together, Zechs busy elsewhere training pilots. They watched the shuttle descend, watched it land neatly and precisely over the space port landing zone on earth. Treize felt something inside him tremble, something familiar in the way it had landed. "I wonder who it could be."Serena murmured, watching the cargo doors open slowly."Perhaps some civilians who managed to escape, or even some-"she halted abruptly. Relena came walking down and out of the cargo doors, her smile brilliant when she spotted Treize and Serena waiting for her. With a shout, she was racing toward them. Serena was too shocked to move, watched numbly as Treize shot forward and caught her in a fierce embrace, lifting her off the ground as the both of them laughed together. But when Relena pushed away and went to her, she burst into tears, hugging her tightly. "Hey, this is a nice welcome."Relena hugged her, frowned at the sharp trembles moving over Serena's slight frame."I'm ok. Come on, don't cry like that. Where's Darien? He'll dry those tears up quick enough." Serena pulled away at this, staring at Relena. She turned and glanced at Treize, saw him lower his eyes quickly, and knew something was wrong."Whats happened? Whats going on? Where's Darien?" "Come on Relena."Serena took her hand."There's some things you need to know." "I don't believe it."Relena sat quietly in Serena's room, the room she and Zechs shared, the two of them alone."He can't...I mean, Darien was just so....oh God."she covered her face with her hands. Serena reached up, stroked a hand over her hair."I know. I'm sorry." "Your sorry? Jesus Serena, you loved him. How can you tell me your sorry when you must be in more pain reliving it then me?" Serena smiled slightly. Relena had always been so unselfish."No, its fine. I've had months to cope. It was hard at first, but he and my mother would have wanted me to move on. I know they'd want me to take a stand and reclaim the Moon." Relena stared at her."Your amazing, you know that? Really amazing. God, Darien and Serenity. Bastards. And I never knew. He never told me."her thoughts turned toward Heero, anger coming over the guilt of leaving him. "He?"Serena questioned. "Oh. Um."she bit her lip, looking over Serena's shoulder and seeing a man's pair of trouser slung over a chair in the room."Hey, wait a minute. Who's are those?"she pointed at them. Serena looked over her shoulder, turned red when Relena cocked a light brow at her."Oh, well. Well, you see, I-"she broke off as the doors to the room swung open. Zechs strode in, more handsome then ever, tanned from spending countless hours training pilots in the sun, his blue eyes vibrant, his blonde hair streaked from the sun."Where is she?"he spotted Relena, went to her and grabbed her in a hug before she could speak."Oh its good to see you!" Laughing, she hugged him back."Well look at you, all tanned and handsome as ever."she pulled back, looked up at him and studied him."Somethings different. Hhmm, I can tell."dismissing this, she teased,"I always knew you to have great manners, but here you come barging into this room without even knocking." He frowned."Why wouldn't I? Its my room too." He watched Relena's eyes widen at this and realized Serena hadn't told her yet."Oh. Well. Shit."embaressed now, he stepped back and rubbed at the back of his neck. Relena turned to Serena, watched the small woman nod."Oh wow. You guys....I need to sit down."she sat heavily in her seat again."So much has changed. God, almost too much." Serena patted the hand Zechs had laid on her shoulder."Could you leave us alone Zechs?" "Sure."still a bit red, he left them alone, closing the doors softly behind him. "You AND Zechs?"struggling to get over the shock of it, she looked at Serena."Do you....well, do you love him?" "Yes. Very much." Relena let out a long sigh."I'm glad then. Somehow, I always knew Zechs loved you. I still remember when he came back from the first time he had gone to visit you and Darien on the Moon. He was.....dreamy eyed."she decided."Light in the head. I knew something had happened, but I never asked him. I was never too sure." "Were supposed to be married soon."Serena said, smiling when Relena blinked."I want you to be my maid of honor." "Sure. Ok. Everythings so crazy around us, but at least this is right."she hugged Serena a moment."I'm happy for you. I really am. Darien would have been happy too, I know he would have." Later, she went to Treize' room, where he stood out on his balcony, looking out at Earth. She approached him from behind, stood next to him and admired the spectacular view a moment as well. "I'm glad your back."he whispered, turning to her. She grinned."You better be glad. I want to see how bad you've been doing without me. I'm surprised Earth didn't simply fall apart, or even-"she was cut off when he hauled her into his arms and kissed her. She was so shocked it took her a moment to pull away from him."Treize! What are you doing?!"she pushed at him, even more shocked when he began kissing her throat. "God Relena, I love you."he ran his lips along her throat, up to her face where he pressed them into her forehead."I didn't realize it until after they'd taken you. When you didn't come back, I just.....I couldn't...."he cut off and buried his face in her hair. She didn't know how to react. She'd had feelings for him once as well. Before they'd captured her she'd thought about acting on them, but he'd never shown any type of interest toward her physically, only in her mind. So she'd never said a thing, and then they'd taken her and she'd fallen in love with Heero. But now he was holding her. Now he was telling her he loved her. And she should be with him after all, love him like she had before. He stood for what she believed in, fought for a safe universe. Unlike Heero, who opposed everything she wanted, had helped in murdering Darien and the leader of the Moon AND had kept both these facts from her. "Treize....this is all way to fast for me."but she stopped pushing at him, instead wrapped her arms around him and soothed."I don't know how to feel." "I know and I'm sorry. You've been through so much, but I needed to tell you. I needed to hold you."he captured her lips again, kissed her slowly, tenderly. She had tensed when he had kissed her again, but slowly responded, opening her mouth under his and welcoming him inside. "I'm so glad your here with me now."he held her, kissed her lips gently."Because now that your here, we'll be able to stop them for sure. I know we will." A small shuttle flew through the galaxies space, with a lone man inside. He rested as the flight took him home, sleeping soundly safely inside. And in his dreams, saw her as she had been a year before, beautiful and welcoming, and waiting for him. Stay tuned for chapter 5, can you guess who's on there way back? haha~sailorperfect@yahoo.com |