Chapter Five

Playing with Fire

“You want to WHAT?” Raye asked her mother, eyes widening.

“Things are not safe as they are. We must protect, and since your

protectors all went away, I’ve asked one of the Four to guard you.”

“You asked JEDYTE MCLULLEN!” Raye said.

Merlyn sighed. She didn’t know what to do anymore. With the

discovery that all of Raye’s ladies in waiting were affiliated with the

moon, she wondered of Raye’s origins. The girl had been found by her

brother, in a basket, with rubies. Merlyn did not know where the other

girls were from, but she couldn’t help but wonder.

But now, she realized, Raye had to be protected.

Serena had reminded her of her daughter’s need for safety and

guardianship. Serena had suggested that Merlyn ask Kunz to send Jed to

defend Raye. As Serena had said, Jed was a fighter. His temper was

quick, but so was his fist.

Of course, now Raye was extremely upset.

“Raye, darling, what’s wrong with Jedyte?”

“He’s arrogant, unfeeling, rude, obnoxious, cruel, callous,

asinine…”

“Okay, I’ve got the picture, but Raye, I’m worried about you now,

and Serena said that Jed would be more than capable of defending you.”

“SERENA?”

“She was thinking in your own best interest…”

“I can defend myself.”

“Raye, not a word…”

“Mother…”

“Don’t argue with me on this one, because I’m not changing my

mind,” Merlyn started to pace. “I know I haven’t always been a caring

mother, but…Raye, you must understand that I…love you, very

much…and I don’t want to see anything happen to you.” She stopped,

looked at Raye. She held a hand to the uplifted face, and touched it softly.

“You’re so important to me…”

Merlyn turned away, feeling her heart pound. She never exposed

herself very often. “I think I’ll give you some time to think this over…”

she said, as she closed the door, and walked off.

Raye gathered herself into a little ball.

This was a horrible day…a horrible day. Her friends had gone

yesterday, and now she was alone.

The sun’s light stung her eyes, and a tear trickled down her cheek.

*Protected by Jed? That’s a death trap!*

But her mother’s words…that she cared for her daughter…Queen

Merlyn had never told her that before…and Raye felt, although

disgruntled at the situation, somewhat content that it had been done out of

love.

“You want me to WHAT?”

“You’ve got it. Princess Raye’s got to be protected. And you have

to take care of her.”

“Not in a million years. I will burn a slow agonizing death before I

have to deal with that bitch on a daily basis.”

“Jed, you cannot argue. Raye is now in more danger than ever, for

her ladies are all gone. It is your duty to the kingdom.”

“My duty is to protect the prince…”

“Your duty is to the family of Wyndica. Raychelle is in the family.

You have to protect her. Do so, now.”

Jed clenched his fist. *The bitch arranged this all, didn’t she?*

Lita stood uncomfortably in front of Serenity. “You wished to see

me alone, your majesty?”

The throne room was beautiful. It was a rotunda, and the dome

was all leaded glass. There was a love story, paved in stained glass at the

top, the center being a red, red rose. The floor was black marble, threaded

with gold, and there was a white strip of carpet leading form the door from

which Lita had entered to the throne. The rotunda was all glass, and white

marble columns surrounded on the outside, but on the inside, there were

five pillars. There was one in each direction. North, south, east west, and

each had the name of a planet scripted at the base. The last pillar was the

largest, which was behind Serenity’s white marble throne, cushioned in

gold satin.

“Yes, Princess Litanya. Your mother has expressed a wish to see

you…”

Lita felt her heart pound, as she felt her nerves currently being

stretched. “My…mother?” She had never had a mother in her life

before…and now…she was a princess, and she was going to meet her

mother, a queen. What was her mother expecting? Would she be

expecting an elegant little daughter, who could sew and dance? Lita

could, but…

“Queen Otonya Enscancis of Jupiter…” Serenity gestured to

Jupiter’s pillar.

A woman appeared, on the pillar, and Lita felt her heart and

worries stop.

Her hair was a fiery red, and her eyes were glowing with lush

green of jungles. Her face was pale, and Lita approached the pillar,

touching the image…

“Is that my daughter’s voice I hear?” she asked Serenity.

“She can’t see me?” Lita turned to the queen of the Moon.

“The alliance’s communications system works in the way that only

the person in the throne can be seen.”

“Can I…”

Serenity talked to the image. “Tonya, Litanya is currently in the

room now, and I think you’d like to see her.”

“Yes, I would…” the woman said, her eyes wide with anxiety.

Serenity got out of her throne, and extended her hand to Lita.

“You can meet her in person later, when her court visits, but I thought

there was no use delaying the introduction. You’ve waited long

enough…”

Lita took a deep breath, and stepped up the white carpeting from

the pillar to the dais. Serenity took Lita’s hand, and shook it.

Lita hugged the woman. “Thank you…” she whispered.

She sat in the throne, and said softly, “Hello, mother…”

“Oh, my…daughter…Litanya…”

They were silent, taking each other into their eyes and minds.

“You’re so wonderful and elegant, and such a lady…” Otonya

sighed, and reached out, though she couldn’t touch her daughter. “I wish I

could see you in person.”

“It doesn’t matter, mother. I finally got to see you…”

“Oh, my little Lita…there are so many things that I want to tell

you…”

Lita laughed. “There are so many things I want to tell you!” she

smiled, as tears started to fade form her eyes.

“But I want to start with something I’ve been waiting to tell you

for twenty years. I love you, my Litanya…I love you…”

Lita’s eyes started to well up in tears, as she heard the words that

she had never heard in her life before. The three words, so common to

others, were never uttered to her, and now…

She found her home.

“It was AMAZING!!!!” Lita smiled through tears. “Do you have

any idea how long I’ve waited to see her? And I finally, oh, it was

glorious, and we talked on forever, and oh, Amy, she loves me! My

mother, she loves me!” Lita got up, and danced about in circles, feeling

like she was on wings.

Amy smiled at Lita, but felt apprehension in her stomach.

Was she going to meet her mother as well?

Oh…

A pain. Did she ever belong to anyone before? Would she

disappoint her? Amy, who was pale and small, compared to the grand

Lita, or Mina. Amy was not a beauty by nature…she was…Amy.

And…her mother, would she be terribly disappointed in that? Would her

mother look at her with disappointment? Her mother, probably the queen

of ice in marvelous robes of fur, and ice-blue eyes, and glorious dark hair,

like a snow fairy…and Amy, well, Amy was an ordinary girl…not meant

to be the princess of some planet, was she?

“Amy?” Luna came in.

Lita looked at Amy, and gave her a hug. “Don’t worry, Amy, just

be yourself…”

Amy nodded, thinking that “herself” would not be loved…

“I don’t know if this is such a good idea…” Amy whispered. “I’m

not the daugther my mother might expect…”

Serenity paused, her lips pressed. “Invy? Just wait a while. I’m

having problems finding Amyliana…”

Amy looked at the pillar with a fear.

*Oh my gosh, she’s my mother…*

The woman had pale sapphire hair and ocean eyes…her eyes. The

wavy hair was gently pulled up, but loose tendrils bordered her pale snow

white face. Hardly the image she had imagined, but this one was warmer,

gentler, and prettier by far. She looked a lot like Amy, but so delicate and

beautiful. There was a single tear on the snowy cheek. “Serenity…maybe

this isn’t a good idea…she might not want to see me…after all, I’m the

only one of the queens of the court that isn’t really tall and beautiful…she

might be expecting a goddess, and you know me, I was a mere Earth girl

that the Prince of Mercury fell in love with…she’s going to look at me

with her father’s eyes…the ice blue of all Mercurians, and laugh.”

Amy stood, stunned. The worry in her eyes, and the tears of fright.

The shaking body.

“Oh, I wish to see her, but Amyliana might not like me…”

Amy felt the tension in her fade, filled with relief, but a need to

help this woman. *She’s just like me…* “No, mother!”

Invyerna Garent stopped her tears and looked up at Serenity

through the pillars. “That isn’t…is it? No, it’s too soon…”

Serenity gestured to Amy, with an approving smile. Amy stepped

forward, her heart pounding. Serenity took Amy’s hand, getting out of the

throne. Her smile told Amy there was nothing to worry about. At this

moment, Amy didn’t believe so either. “Mom?” she sat down at the

throne, feeling Serenity’s hands on her shoulders.

“Amy…” Queen Invy smiled…the same smile that Amy had. “I

wish I could touch you…this is so dream-like. You’re so beautiful…”

Tears came to her eyes. Amy smiled, and held her hand out. “You

are too, Mom…see, I have your eyes…and…your hair…” Amy gestured.

“Oh mother, it’s been so long…and I’m finally here, in front of you, and

you’re there, looking at me…oh, mother…”

“Darling…” tears of joy flooded Invy’s eyes. “My daughter…MY

daughter…”

Serenity sighed, as she paced the throne room.

That love in the eyes of the daughters and mothers.

Why wasn’t it there for her and Minalle?

And why was it there for her and Serena?

Over the past months, it was odd, and Serenity felt a slight shame,

but…she felt that Serena had become more her daughter, by the simple

fact that they understood, and saw something in each other.

Mina had been enthusiastic, but they didn’t seem to understand

each other…

It tore her heart out.

Maybe her sister would understand. Slouching back in her throne,

she closed her eyes and called for her

Venus’s pillar glowed, and Primavera Versitallia’s image glowed.

Prima was the older sister of Serenity. She was the true daughter of the

court of the moon, but did not take the throne, for she married the king of

Venus…and she always thought that the daughter of the goddess of the

moon ought to be with the goddess of the moon. Though Serenity had

been born and raised by the Lunar family, it was no secret that she was the

child of Hecate and Selene’s powers…the product of the edict of the gods.

She had the body that a child of their parents had made, but she was

infused with an extra power. The sisters were therefore related by blood,

but Serenity was also half-goddess as well.

“Prima?”

Prima, of the same blue eyes of her sister smiled. “What’s

wrong?”

“It’s just that…oh, my daughter…”

“I had heard that she was found. What’s wrong?”

“I don’t…understand her…”

“Oh dear…”

“She looks so much like Terrence, too. She’s got his hair, all

golden, but she’s got our eyes. Our family eyes. And she’s so sweet and

loving, but…Prima…I just don’t understand…I don’t…” she broke down

in tears. “Today, I reunited Tonya and Invy with their daughters, and they

are so happy now, and want to meet their daughters in person. They just

hit it off…”

“Has there been any sign of MY daughter? Or Vera’s?”

“No…” Serenity said, realizing. “Oh, Prima, I’m sorry, here I am,

obsessing over why my daughter doesn’t connect with me, when you are

worried about your daughter…if she’s still alive…oh, Prima, I’m so

sorry…”

“Don’t worry…” Prima said, slowly. “I know, you’re just worried.

Don’t worry, your daughter will understand you…and you will understand

her…you just have to be patient. Sometimes, a connection can be made in

an eyelock. Others, it may take years of practice…”

Serenity nodded slowly. “Yes, of course…” she said softly. *I

hope we find your daughter soon, Prima…*

Serena’s figure was a ghostly silhouette in front of the palace

windows.

Luna looked at the figure, confused at how such a small girl could

possess the power to fight so hard.

The girl was dressed in a white night gown, and her blonde hair

cascaded down her back, golden sunlight.

She was staring at the Earth, and there was something in her hand.

Luna approached her, as she saw that the girl’s eyes were the color

of the oceans of the Earth, and filled with salty water. A small tear fell

from her eye down her ivory cheek. “Lady Kingston…” Luna felt a

stirring in her heart for the girl.

Serena turned around quickly, grabbing her object protectively.

She sighed with relief when her gaze fell on the brunette who entered the

room.

She wore robes of gold embroidered with black, and her wavy

night black hair was a rush of silk that fell to her hips. Her eyes were a

deep blue, the color of the Moon’s sky at daylight, a beautiful sight Serena

had just seen today.

As she turned to look at the Earth, she saw a sight that beat all

others. Home.

Luna had heard of this strange human girl, from Earth, who

guarded Selene’s granddaughter, who possessed the connection with

Selene. She had been suspicious of her, for she had never heard of the

Moonlight Maiden. There was no record of this odd girl in the history of

all the Moon Kingdom.

As she saw the girl now though, she felt pity. “It’s beautiful, isn’t

it?” she joined the girl.

Serena nodded.

Luna looked at the article in the white clasp of Serena’s thin,

elegant hands. “A gift from your family?”

Serena looked at the blue velvet, and the handkerchief that was

slightly damp now…she lightly fingered the monogram, “DW” in delicate

calligraphy. “A friend…” she said, opening the pouch, and catching a

faint smell of the Prince’s cologne in the handkerchiefs. She turned to

Luna. “A good friend.”

Luna nodded, and they stood together in awkward silence, each

wanting to say something.

Luna finally began, by holding out her hand, “My name’s Luna

Dimiantya.”

“Serena Kingston,” the shook hands. Serena noted that Luna’s was

rough and strong, similar to her own. She appreciated the warm feel.

“Tell me, Luna, if I may call you that. You were born here?”

“Yes, you may call me Luna, and I have served here twenty-one

years…”

“You look as old as I do…but you certainly act as if you’ve been

in the queen’s guard for quite some time…” she said, noting the youthful

face, her lesser height.

Luna laughed. “I’ve served the court of Rhysterial, that’s the

surname of our dynasty, since I was only six.”

“Rhysterial? They didn’t announce that as the last name of any of

the royal family at the balls…”

“Rhysterial is the surname of the deceased King Terrence, and his

sister Tranquillity. Her majesty feels so much pain when she remembers

the husband and sister she had…and her child…that she prefers not to hear

the dynasty name uttered…” Luna said, softly.

Serena felt the sadness in Luna’s eyes, and retreated to discussion

of the child, carefully. Serena needed to know what had happened…“You

were around when Queen Serenity had her child?”

“Yes. Queen Serenity’s child was born twenty years ago. I had

only begun my apprenticeship. I was but seven, and only a kitchen maid.

After the incident, I became the queen’s own personal secretary, and on

my eighteenth birthday, the Queen made me her advisor.”

“And Artemis?”

Luna blushed. “Artemis was inducted as a guard when I was

sixteen. He was eighteen. He’s trained to be her bodyguard, but soon she

trusted him as well. He’s now an advisor as well.”

“Mmm…” Serena said, noting Luna’s blush. She teased, “He’s

handsome, isn’t he?”

Luna’s face became very rosy, and Luna looked at her feet, then

looked up, “Tolerable enough, I suppose…”

“What? With those lightning blue eyes, and that long slinky snow

hair…mmmm….” Serena teased lightly.

Luna’s face burned with embarrassment. “Oh…yes, I suppose he

is a LITTLE handsome…” she said, letting the words out, like strings of

pure gold, of the rarest kind. “But he doesn’t need to know THAT…his

ego’s already big enough. Would you…mind…um…” she asked, a

childish look on her face.

“Only if you tell me what happened the night Serenity gave her

child up, and where these guardians came from,” Serena smiled, with

friendship glowing in her eyes, and curiosity evident on her features.

Luna drew in a breath. “We call it the ‘Day of Sadness’, because

after, Serenity had lost something in her life. Seven months before, she

had found out that she was pregnant, and wanting to protect her daughter

form Hecate, she hid in the palace, and conducted all affairs there. She did

not want her sole remembrance of her husband Terrence to fall to the dark

side. This night, she woke with an especially bad dream, and realized that

her daughter would never survive if she were to stay in the Moon

Kingdom. She then decided that she couldn’t keep her. Sadly enough, she

decided to take her daughter, and send her to Earth. Now around this time,

Serenity’s court, the present queens of their kingdoms, the planets, were

all either pregnant, or already had a baby daughter. The five queens met

promptly that night, and they decided together to preserve the new

generation, to send them into a safe place. Since Earth was the only place

that was not in the league, and therefore, the least possible place they

would be expected to hide them, Serenity sent the girls down to Earth, in

gold baskets, and their mothers each lined the baskets with family jewels

for their daughter’s welfare, and included a note, imploring care for their

daughters. When Serenity had her baby, she sent her daughter to Earth as

well, in a basket, and that is where the daughters grew, and were supposed

to continue normal lives, until there was a danger of the Negaverse…”

“Negaverse…is that Beryl and Metalia…er…Hecate as you call

her?”

“Yes, Metalia had not known of the girls’ birth, nor had she even

known of the child…she first came to Earth to vanquish the kingdom, and

gain power of the planet, since it was in the middle of the Five star

alliance, which is what the Lunar court was part of. By being in the

middle of all the alliance geographically, and being so close to the

headquarters of the alliance, the moon, Metalia would stand to gain much

power if Earth fell. But, the day that Beryl saw Mina use that power of

hers, I think, and this is only what I guess, she remembered a legend of a

moon princess, and she realized she might be able to find the legendary

granddaughter…”

“Yes, Raye was telling me about the myth…only I suppose when

Beryl saw it…”

“She saw the truth…” Luna completed.

They looked to each other. “So that’s where we are now.”

“And where will we go?”

“I don’t know…” Serena said.

“And how do you fit in all this?” Luna asked, curious.

“I’m just a normal girl. I was born and raised on Earth, and my

father decided to give me a good education, so I went to a boys’ academy.

After a while, I accelerated, and made it into the cut for the prince’s

guard…”

“Don’t you mean princess’s?”

“It’s a long story…” Serena said. “I trained for the prince’s guard,

and did not make the cut, because…” she did not want to talk about

Darien. “…Because of some complications…but because the queen liked

me very much, and because I earned it, I was chosen to be a lady in

waiting to the princess. And that is where I was, when the nightmares

came…about this evil woman. One night, I was awakened by this spirit,

and I went to find her. She was Beryl. We were battling, and for a while,

I was losing…when I was saved…by Prince Darien…” her voice trailed

off again. *Darien to the rescue…* “After that, well, he was struck

down…this sorceress had a lot of magic, and I was going to fall, when I

looked to the moon, and just knew, I was to call upon the powers of

Selene. That’s how I became the Maiden.”

Luna put a hand on Serena’s shoulder. Seeing the girl shift

uncomfortably, she reassured Serena that she had done the right thing to

open herself. “I don’t know what it is about you, Serena Kingston, but I

like you, very much.”

Serena turned to look into honest, and beautifully shone eyes. “I

like you too, Luna…” They started walking, and Serena put her hand

around the woman’s shoulder, “Now about your Artemis…”

“Your majesty?” Serena walked out to the gardens. She found

Serenity sitting at a bench, watching the Earth. “You wished to see me?”

“Hello, Lady Serena…” she said.

“Just call me Serena.”

“Then you shall call me Serenity…”

“Oh, no…I couldn’t possibly…” Serena said.

Serenity sighed. “Then just sit down here for a while.”

Serena sighed, and nervously settled down next to Serenity. “You

wished to see me?”

“Yes. I’m just having problems, and I thought…well maybe you’d

help, or at least listen…” Serenity began. “Mina’s trying hard to become

my daughter, but it’s difficult, and I’ve tried as well, but…we, we just

don’t…”

Serena sighed. She had feared this would happen. “I think that

we’re still in the whole novelty of the situation. We’ll get into this soon

enough…I hope…”

“And you?”

Serena looked at the queen.

“Serena, I’m not blind. I’ve seen you walking about the halls, as if

you were lost, late at night, and I’ve seen you sit at this very bench,

watching the Earth, clutching something at your chest. I know it must be

difficult for you, since you belong to Earth, after all, but Serena, I’d like

you to know that as my ward I am acting as your mother as well.”

Serena looked at the woman, with an understanding.

“What are these flowers?” Serena asked, changing the subject,

smiling conversationally. She did not know what to say to this woman.

“I’ve been out here with Luna, and I have never seen so rare species of

flowers as I have seen up here…”

“Ah…I also wanted to talk to you about Luna.”

“What about her?” Serena asked.

“Thank you.”

“Thank you for what?”

“Luna’s never been really social before. But as I see her stay

around you, I see you two getting along. At first, I thought there might

have been some tension, since you were the guard, and she was an advisor,

but your opinions coincided, thankfully, and what you didn’t agree on you

went over very logically. And now, Luna’s not that afraid of stating

herself anymore, and she’s got Artemis on a leash now…”

“It’s always good to have a man worshipping after you…” Serena

smiled.

Serenity grew slightly wistful. “Yes, it is…”

Serena began cautiously. “Look, if I touched a nerve…”

“No, you just reminded me…”

“Did he love you very much?” Serena asked quietly,

understanding.

“I worshipped him. He worshipped me. The minute we saw each

other, there was that feeling…you know? That feeling of knowing I had

finally found my home…in a man…not any palace…”

So that was it. Home was in the company you kept? Serena

looked at the Earth, wistfully. Where was her home? With this woman at

her side, or with the couple in Polaris, or in the young men who resided in

a palace somewhere down there?

Serenity paused. She could hear the thoughts stirring in Serena’s

head. “We were very much in love. We got married within weeks…”

Serena couldn’t help but feel the romantic in her sigh.

“I had a good year with him…”

“A year?” Serena thought. Hardly enough time to spend with the

man of your life, when all of eternity was before her.

“Yes…then…” Serenity trailed off, looking at the girl.

As if understanding, Serena put her hand on the queen’s shoulder,

and said softly, “You don’t have to say anything more. Luna’s told me

about this…”

“He loved me…why did he have to go?”

“Because he DID love you…” Serena said.

“And…my baby…oh, she was so beautiful…” Serenity cried. “Oh

why did I have to let her go?”

Serena rigidly took the queen’s hand, and held it tightly. “You

loved her, your highness. There was no other way but to let her go…you

wanted her to be safe…”

“Oh, I’ve been so lonely. If it weren’t for Luna, all these years,

and even she wasn’t easy to understand me…” she looked at Serena. “But

you understand me…” she looked at the young girl. “I don’t know what it

is about you, Serena Kingston, but…you…you understand me…”

Serena felt the tears coming, and tried to keep them down. She

didn’t want to be emotional now. She was determined to hold up the

front. She had somewhat managed it before she came (except for in front

of that stupid Darien…) and now she wanted to keep herself concentrated

on her goal. She had her moments of course, but they’d pass, after she

walked them off, and cried about it a little. But right now, in the queen’s

presence, she realized a connection with this woman, who wanted Serena

to share her burden with her, and take some of her own burden. “Your

highness…you understand me too…”

“No! Never!”

“That’s IT! I am sick of this. Forget you, you half wit. I don’t

care if you’re in danger. You’re a pain in my ass.”

“Oh, I thought that was your FACE!” Raye shouted at him, and

turned away, sighing angrily.

Jed turned to her. The princess of Earth had fiery eyes, and her

hair was tossed about her face, falling from the chignon she had put it in.

She was beautiful, he had to admit, but…well, he turned around, and

looked away.

Raye sighed, trying to calm herself down. “This isn’t working out.

I have no idea’s whose this is, but it’s lame!”

Jed’s fury had just spun itself into a dead end. The irony of the

situation. No one knew why they were together, but they just were…the

anger in his whole being started to juggle in his mind, and he laughed.

Raye nearly jumped. The laugh, his laugh, it was warming and

pleasing to hear. She turned to look at her guard. “What are you laughing

at?” she asked, eyes narrowed.

He couldn’t stop laughing. He tossed his golden head back, and

smirked to the clouds.

It was a sight. He wore a loose white shirt over some tan pants,

with black boots. His sunshine blond hair was delicate silk thread in the

sunlight. His eyes, which were burning ice before, were now summer sky.

Raye’s heart started to pound. She turned, “Forget it…”

Her body was clad in a red gown of velvet, with golden

embroidery. “Wait!” he smiled.

She stopped, as if she had heard that the palace was on fire. What

did he just say to her?

He caught up to her, and started to walk alongside her.

“And if you are to guard me, how are you doing so without your

weapon?”

“I thought I’d kill you with it…” he said, trying to contain his

smile.

Raye looked at her guard. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing…” he said, trying not to laugh.

Paranoid, she sighed, and walked on…finding that he hastened his

pace to catch up. Smiling mischievously, she turned to him, and flashed

her best smile.

She was a stunner when she smiled. The night hair, the sparkling

twilight purple eyes, and the dimples and blush. And most of all, the pure

joyous message she conveyed in her smile.

But the hint of wickedness in her eyes wasn’t pleasing to him.

She laughed heartily as his eyes deepened in suspicion, and she

took off.

“Dammit, princess!” he took off after her.

She led him into the maze, and within minutes, he was lost. He

walked around a bit. He’d done this maze plenty of times after training,

when he and Serena would play tag. But he’d never run himself into a

fury with her. He had always kept a cool head, and played the strategy.

Now, he played to catch the princess. She was undoubtedly not safe this

way. He slowed down, and listened. Play it Serena’s way, he thought.

He listened carefully. The ruffling of cloth was just a wall of

leaves away.

He carefully walked around the corner…

She felt an arm go around her waist from behind, and she was

lifted up, and slung over a shoulder. “AUGH! Let me go…I have a guard,

somewhere…” Her blood ran cold. *Where is he?*

“You mean me?” Jed teased, as he slapped her behind.

Raye laughed with relief. She laughed so hard her stomach hurt,

and she felt sick. “Oh I’m going to throw up soon…”

“Too bad. I’m taking you back in…” Jed said, determined, but

concerned.

Raye started pounding on his back, and wriggling. “Let me go!”

Kicking out, she almost succeeded in making his lose his balance, but he

kept walking. The next time she kicked out, she felt a sharp pain in her

leg. “OW!”

“Now you’ve done it…” he said.

“What did I do? You’re the one who’s being a Neanderthal.”

“I was protecting you from yourself…” he said.

He came to a bench, and carefully placed her on it. She sighed

with relief, as she felt her stomach in its upright position again. *I thought

I’d lose my breakfast!*

However, he kneeled before her and started lifting her skirt.

She kicked him in the chest and took him by the hair, “What the

hell do you think you’re doing?”

Jed fell back. The girl WAS tough. He wanted nothing more than

to just leave her here, but the sound he heard when she kicked that wall at

that angle were not good. It sounded like a twist. “I WAS trying to check

your leg…”

“You’re not a doctor!” she said.

“I was going to be one…I still am studying to be one…” he said,

settling her back down, and kneeling in front of her. “I don’t enjoy this

either, so just let me examine and get this over with,” he held out his hand.

She looked at him reluctantly. She could take care of herself. It

was just a small bruise, probably.

But it was so painful. Finally, she gritted her teeth, and placed her

foot in the palm of his hand.

He pushed up the skirt a little, and told her to hold it that way.

Admitting that her calves were VERY nice, and started to unlace

her boot, ever so gently.

The touch was gentle, but she felt ever inch of it.

He took the boot off, and examined the socked foot, feeling a few

muscles, and testing them out. Then, he started to gently rotate the foot…

She cried out in pain. “Watch it, dork!”

“Found the problem. Just as I thought…”

“I’m not a mindreader. Why don’t you just tell me what you

thought?” Raye said, sarcastically. She had to admit, he had a touch…it

was soothing, until he touched her ankle like that.

“You twisted your ankle by kicking the stone wall with your foot

at a wrong angle…”

“Geez…all that from a foot roll?” she asked him, as she started to

reach for her boot.

“Oh no. That’s going to hurt to put on you…you have to wear

loose shoes for a while, and I’ll bandage up the foot when we get back

inside.”

“And how do you propose we get back there? Fly?” Raye asked.

“No, but I don’t want to make you limp back either…that could be

bad right now, and you’ve already exhausted yourself earlier…” he handed

her the boot. “You take care of this…”

She smiled in remembrance.

He stood up, and scooped her up in his arms. “But you’re

exhausted yourself, too!” Raye said. “Put me down!”

“There’s no other way we could get back to the palace, and I’ve

got some energy still…I was hired because of that.”

She was amazingly light in his arms, and Raye felt a twinge of

feminism in her…she felt so beautiful and delicate…a feeling that she had

never had before. She felt precious…she felt like a treasure, and she felt

pampered. She fell back in his arms, and in the rhythm of his step, fell

comfortably asleep, having exhausted herself today.

“Darien?” Merlyn stepped out onto the moonlit balcony.

Darien nearly jumped, but remained where he was.

Merlyn looked at her son’s features, which appeared to be locked

in concentration…and a regret.

“Don’t worry mother, I’ll be in…” he said, softly.

She wanted him to speak to her, but he had been keeping to

himself lately. Seeing that cold solid finality in his eyes, she knew he

wanted to be alone right now. She turned, and walked away, into the

palace.

Darien watched his mother walk back in, and then turned to look at

the sky once more.

A dream…it was floating with clouds, as if it were some material

layer that he could climb up to, and push himself out of…

A pale last quarter moon sadly remained distant…hiding among

the clouds, as if ashamed to face him, or afraid to. Distant, elusive…

He looked down to his hands, which held a golden star. He gently

opened it, and heard a love song of many years ago…

Should he have just let her go?

He almost laughed. No, even if he tried to prevent her, Serena was

so staunch on her ideas of duty and honor that she’d leave…even if he told

her that sometime, in these past few weeks, that he had realized that some

part of his life left when she left. She’d stay on her moon, guarding her

moon princess.

But if he was just given the chance, right now, he’d tell her that her

laugh, and her smile made the heavens dim, and that her touch made the

sun seem cold by comparison…the expression of her eyes left the summer

to wonder where the warmth had gone…

There was a part of him that whispered that he was in love with

her. But another part told him that he was too practical to fall in love with

her, because she was so…so different from what he had expected. She

was so odd, and different. Stubborn. Opinionated. Pushy. Frustrating.

Perfect.

“No, you’re so wrong. Juliet died AFTER Romeo. I should know.

I read Shakespeare as often as I eat!”

“But he was visiting her funeral bed when he died!”

“Only because he thought she was dead…”

“But she wasn’t?”

“No, she drank a potion to look like she was dead, so that he’d

come back and they’d run off together.”

“Why didn’t she just wait until he went to her? It would have been

less complicated that way.”

“She didn’t want to get married…”

“Wait…wasn’t she married already?”

“Yes, she was married.”

“Then why was she worrying about it?”

“Her parents wanted her to marry someone else.”

“But she couldn’t. She’s already married.”

“Her parents didn’t know that.”

“She should have told them that.”

“They would have killed her!”

“It’s been a LONG time since I’ve read Romeo and Juliet, and I

didn’t even get it then. What a waste of life.”

“I think it’s romantic.”

“To die?”

“No, to be together, no matter what, even in death.”

Jed rolled his eyes. “Whatever, your highness…”

“And you said that you liked Hamlet better than Romeo and

Juliet?”

“Actually yes.”

“What’s so good about a prince dying?”

“I think it’s insightful…more insightful than dying for love…” Jed

chuckled, suddenly.

Raye looked at him, her eyes narrowing. “What are you laughing

at?”

“You remind me…of…Katherine…” he burst out laughing. “…in

the “Taming of the Shrew…”

Raye’s face boiled with anger. “You conceited MORON!” she

wanted to slap him. “Maybe I may appear like a bitch, but I’ll have you

know that Katherine wasn’t really a bitch, only misunderstood…”

“…and in your case, that is DEFINITELY the reason, but even

then, it’s stretching it…dying for love…” he laughed.

“I’ll have you know that Romeo and Juliet actually isn’t my

favorite Shakespeare,” Raye said, loftily. She was hurt. She had exposed

herself, and had just been slapped across the face.

“Oh?” Jed noted that she was now closing up. *Damn Jed, you

just had to laugh at her, didn’t you?* Now she would be impossible again.

*Not that she isn’t always impossible, but when we debate…it’s different

from when we actually FIGHT…*

“It’s Much Ado About Nothing…” she said, softly.

“Oh, a happy sappy romantic story,” Jed couldn’t resist rolling his

eyes. *Of course, the happy sappy romantic, choosing the happy sappy

story…* The choice did not surprise him.

“My favorite Shakespearean characters are Benedick and

Beatrice…”

“But they chewed each other’s heads off, when they weren’t

gawking at each other.”

“Who said that love has to be a happy little calm pond, or a cool

spring day? It can be a summer thunderstorm, and full of conflict, but as

long as in the end, there is that feeling…of belonging…” she looked at

him, ready to fight his challenge.

There was something in her look now, that challenge, that

intrigued him. There was a small dimple at the corner of her cheek that he

felt tempted to kiss. With the firelight, playing off her pale face…and the

fire, being reflected in those endless purple eyes…Jed turned away, trying

to compose himself. *What are you THINKING, Jed?* “You are WAY

too romantic for my tastes,” he said, clearing his hoarse voice.

Raye smiled slyly at his uncharacteristic discomfort, but felt a little

fluttering herself. After all, the fire caught the golden strands of his hair,

and made them look alive, and his eyes, they looked warm as the fire.

And his voice…with that rasp that made her toes curl…“Everyone

deserves something to dream for. Leave me to my dreams, and I won’t

laugh at yours, if you actually have any.”

Jed turned, surprised to Raye. “Who says I can’t dream?” he

challenged her, his eyes a dangerous dark blue, that made Raye’s heart

stop.

Raye looked away. Over the past month, she’d had to spend most

of her time with this young man, and learned about him, and his temper.

But now, as she looked at him, his hair, falling gently in his eyes, so soft

in the light she wanted to touch it…the feeling of actually LIKING him

made her eyes water. She blamed it on the firelight. “Um…I’m tired, Jed.

I think I’ll turn in right now…”

Jed followed her with his eyes as she got up from their place across

each other in the rug.

The firelight played off her body perfectly, and she looked

beautiful, as she turned to him.

He got up as well, “Come on, I’ll take you to your room…” he

offered her his arm, a gesture which he had never executed before, for any

woman, even Serena.

She took his arm awkwardly. “All right…”

“Kunz, you must save me!”

“Mina?”

“Help me…you must…”

The darkness was enveloping, and he couldn’t see clearly, but it

was Mina who beckoned him. Oh God, was she in danger? Sweat

blanketed his forehead, and he looked about him. “Mina?”

“Here…” her voice guided him.

Through the dream he worked.

He found a sword at his feet, and he took it up…”Just keep calling

me, Mina. I’ll find you!”

“Kunz…Kunz…” The voice pulled him, making his heart hurt. He

head to find her. The adrenaline was coursing through his system, and

fear plunged a dagger in his heart. Was she all right?

There was a forbidding door. He tore against it, and slammed it

open. “Mina, I’ll find you.”

“Kunz hurry…” she cried. Her voice…so fearful…so distant. He

moved faster. “I’m coming…”

Pushing through the mists, he moved around trees, and rocks,

ended at the spot where he could hear her voice, right through the wall of

darkness. He felt a pulling back.

A monster? He withdrew his arm from the monster, and found it.

A dark presence. “No! I have to save her…” he pushed at the monster,

brandishing his sword. “I’m a trained general, and I’m not afraid to use

this…”

Oh god…he had to stop him.

“Kunz, what are you DOING?”

Kunz’s eyes were wide open, but totally not there. His gaze was

straight ahead, into nothingness, and there he stood, brandishing a sword.

In one fell swoop, Kunz threw Jed aside.

Kunz threw himself against the door to Raye’s room, demanding

entrance.

Jed had awoken when he saw a shadow leave the room. He felt

something cold in the air, and followed. And now, he realized it. Raye

was in danger, of his friend. His friend was under the influence of

something sinister…

He yelled for help, and threw himself onto Kunz’s back. He had to

stop Kunz. What was the crazy guy mumbling about…having to save

who?

Raye opened to door to hear Jed scream at her to keep it closed.

He was trying to strangle or deter Kunz. “What is going on here?”

Kunz’s eyes, normally cool icy blue were midnight blue, fell on

her…yet they didn’t. Was he imagining, or seeing someone else?

“Beryl…” he grabbed for her arm, his sword ready to slit her

throat.

“No!” Jed kicked Kunz’s sword arm. Kunz yelped in pain as the

sword fell to the ground.

He did not, however, let go of Raye. His grip tightened, and now

his pained hand clasped her throat. “Call off your minion, Beryl.”

Raye panicked. Trying to stomp on Kunz’s foot , and jostling

around, she looked at Jed, for some answer, some guidance.

Both hands went about her thin throat and she felt herself being

lifted off the ground. She screamed, but the grip got tighter around her

neck. Jed picked up the sword, but stood helpless. Hurt his friend? He

had already lost one. This was undoubtedly a scheme of Beryl’s…to

guide his friend into killing Raye, thinking the princess was actually the

evil sorceress. He had to save her, but without hurting Kunz.

The sight of the pain in her face, she looked so delicate and small

right now, with fear rushing from her like a torrent. Her throat looked so

pale in the grasp of Kunz’s hands. He couldn’t let her be hurt. He

couldn’t.

Darien and Neph now rushed to the doorway of the room, having

woke up in hearing all the screams. Merlyn was quick behind them, but

then stood helpless as well, unarmed, and confused.

Jed stepped toward Kunz. “Don’t make me use this, Kunz. We’re

friends, but I can’t let you hurt her.”

*I WON’T let you hurt her…* he looked at her frightened eyes.

A deep violet, almost black with fear. No, he was going to protect her. It

was his duty to do so. It was his desire to do so. The princess had to be

saved. Raye had to be saved.

“Let her go!” he yelled at Kunz.

“Call off your minion. Where is she, Beryl?”

“Who? Where is who? What is going on?” she gasped, trying to

get the air into her chest, confused. *Oh Jed. What are you doing?

You’re supposed to protect me!*

“Mina! And don’t play dumb with me Beryl, you know perfectly

well what’s going on” he growled, shaking her violently. It seemed her

throat was collapsing.

Kunz was frustrated. He had Beryl by her throat. She HAD to tell

him where Mina was. If she didn’t…he shook the thin body of the queen

of darkness roughly.

Raye felt her lungs jangle, and she could swear that she heard her

heart thud against her rib cage. She felt like a rag doll, and with his hands

about her throat, she didn’t know how much longer she could hold up.

Jed stepped quietly behind Kunz. With the grip of the sword, he

hit Kunz in the back of his head.

Cringing at the pain he had done to his friend, he nearly backed off

totally.

Kunz felt the blow, but he had to keep on fighting. For Mina. He

dropped Beryl suddenly, and turned to the minion. “You’re persistent, but

I’m even more persistent. I’ll kill you!”

In his foible to collect himself, Jed tried to grip his sword, but it

fell to the ground. He was left unarmed.

Kunz tackled him.

They fell on the marble floor, Kunz on top, and Jed had the wind

knocked out of him.

Raye watched, frightened. Her leg felt broken. She had landed in

a crash on the marble floor, and now Jed was in danger. She felt her heart

pound. She had to do something. Why were Darien and Neph just

watching? They had to do something.

The two started to run in, but were put off with a sound that made

their heads pound and ears bleed. They felt pressure in their minds…as if

a dark spirit was trying to force its way in through their ears. Merlyn

watched, pale-faced…fear clutching her heart. She tried to collect herself,

but she felt a weight in her that dragged her to the ground and anchored

her there. She felt clasps about her ankles, and screamed with pain as she

felt the clasps tightening, cutting into her skin.

Raye sat helpless, feeling a throbbing in her head from confusion,

panic. But she only saw one thing right now. Jed.

He was knocked out cold. Kunz was reaching for the sword. Kunz

just had to kill this evil being. To protect Mina. He’d kill this one, and

the next, and the next, and all of them until he got to Beryl, and he’d slit

her throat…no more theatricals. He’d kill Beryl, and find Mina on his

own.

HELP ME. Her inner soul cried out. HELP ME SAVE HIM! She

implored, not knowing who she was begging, but only that she needed to

save Jed. She felt her soul on fire.

I Need You! she called to the heavens. Help me save him!

She felt a glow in the palm of her hands, and a sizzle in the air. Her

palms felt heated. Every part of her body hurt, but she dragged herself to

the two, and put the palms of her hands against Kunz’s neck.

At contact, a sizzle. A burning in her hands.

The dark insignia, which she had not noticed before, on his

forehead, glowed red, and vanished, as Kunz fell to the ground,

unconscious.

She felt the power leave her. What was it? Was it just something

inside her? Or did she just catch Kunz at a weak moment? But, no. There

was a power in her, at that one moment. But now it was gone.

She felt the dark presence leave her room, and she saw her brother

and his guard suddenly freed of their pain, before they fainted. Her

mother lay unconscious, but looked all right.

She then looked to her guard, and placed his head in her lap, gently

rubbed blood from a cut in his cheek, and gently touched a soft spot she

knew would be a bruise later on. Relief was a warmth that was quick to

replace all emotion in her. She was relieved, gratified that he was still

alive. She bent down and kissed his lips softly, and held his head to her.

He was all right.

His eyes opened slowly. There was a swelling at one eye, but the

other saw clearly. The princess was all right. Raye was all right.

Had it been a dream? What had happened?

She was holding his head, and gently touching his hair.

“Raye…”

He noticed two bruises, on each side of her neck. Oh god. She

was all right. There was no dream. Something had happened.

“Shh…” she said quietly, as he sat up. He felt his muscles groan.

He must have cracked a few ribs. He felt a pain on his right side.

“Are you all right?” he asked her, taking her white hand in his.

They tingled. There was something about her smooth hands.

“I think when Kunz dropped me I broke my left leg when I landed

on it. It kills right now.”

“Let me see it.”

She moved back to lean against her bedpost as he drew up her

nightgown a peak to see her leg.

“Out of the frying pan into the fire…” she started conversationally,

trying not to think about the pain. “I mean…I just twisted the ankle on

this foot just a week ago, and now the leg’s broken…”

“I can work on it…I think it’ll be all right once I work on it, but

it’ll be very painful.”

“Then you can work on it later. How are my mother and my

brother, and Kunz? Neph?”

Jed painfully got up, and went to each person. Holding a hand to

his side, he examined each thoroughly. They were all breathing regularly.

It appeared things were all right. Kunz was sleeping all right, and had a

bruise on his left cheek, but other than that, he was fine. The Queen, the

Prince, and Neph were all right. Whatever had hurt them was

psychological.

“What happened after I passed out?” he asked quietly.

“I don’t know…I just saw you and I prayed…and I felt

something…and I went and I touched him at the right moment, and that

horrid mark on his forehead disappeared. I don’t know…I just don’t

know…” she started to cry, with emotional relief, and physical release of

the tension in her body. Letting it go. Just letting it go.

Jed took her into his arms, and held her.

“I didn’t want to lose…” she said. *…You…* she completed in

her mind.

Her eyes were wide with exhaustion, and her head hurt.

But she couldn’t sleep now.

It was afternoon, and everyone supposedly was to get rest.

But she couldn’t do it.

She couldn’t close her eyes.

The darkness…to leave herself unprotected.

But she wasn’t unprotected.

Jed was right there, sitting by her bed, watching her.

And that was what kept her from slipping into the dreams, and kept

her thinking.

The rush of having saved him left her confused.

She felt relief. And warmth with the knowledge that he was still

alive.

But that was unexplainable.

They’d spent the last month together, arguing about everything

conceivable in the mind. They’d fought over a thousand times. But

now…

But now, it landed them in the dead zone. The feeling.

THAT feeling.

Uh oh.

*You idiot. You went and fell for him, didn’t you?*

She looked at him now.

He sat in front of a window, and the outline of the afternoon

golden sunlight was about him. The light made a halo of his blonde hair,

and his face was shadowed, but she could still see the warm fury and

fierce protectiveness in his eyes. His face was pale, and etched in worry.

“Don’t worry…” she said softly.

*Leave that to me.* she thought. He was VERY handsome. She

had known that before. But now, he seemed so…so much more

handsome, and so much more perfect. The way he cared for her, and yet

distanced himself was endearing. But that was it.

*You just let yourself in this one, Raye. You know he doesn’t like

you. He was forced to do this, and all he’s done since he’s started was

gripe and complain.*

Disappointment trampled across her stomach, as she felt it well up

in her throat as well. She found it difficult to swallow. *Why me? Why

now? Why HIM?*

She had waited for this moment all her life…the moment when

she’d realize that she loved someone, the feeling that love existed would

fill that little emptiness inside her. And now, she realized, that though she

realized that love existed, and that she loved him, the emptiness was not

remedied.

Only he could fix that.

And that would never happen. She was NOT going to tell him

anything. If she did, he’d laugh at her, and tell her to get lost. Or worse,

he might scorn her feelings, for the simple reason that he never liked her in

the first place.

HE NEVER LIKED HER IN THE FIRST PLACE. *Oh god,

Raye, you ARE crazy…*

Her eyes were closed, and there was a bruise on her cheek. Her

side hurt, and there were bruises there as well, as he had found out earlier

from the nurse who had examined her.

His head ached.

It all moved so fast. The fear of seeing her die, but the relief of

saving her, and then falling into oblivion, to find her all right, and

everyone unconscious around him. Raye’s explanation of the events did

not help. It made no sense, and no one else knew what happened. He felt

helpless, and confused. Most of all, frustrated.

But there was a feeling of content that this dark-haired beauty was

sleeping on this bed, and he was watching her.

There was a lot of work to do. Right now, her majesty was

meeting with Darien and deciding what to do. Kunz was being examined

thoroughly, but the haunted look in his eyes told Jed that Kunz would

never forgive himself, even IF it wasn’t his fault.

Anger was the order of the day for Jed, though. The anger that the

dark force could cause such a pain in Kunz, and the anger that he hadn’t

been able to protect Raye, that she had to save him.

No, it wasn’t an issue of pride. If it was, he’d slap himself,

because Serena would if she were here. He felt no shame in being saved

by a strong, determined young woman. That was not the issue. It was an

issue that he didn’t protect his charge, and she nearly paid the

consequences for it.

She nearly died.

He let her nearly die.

Something gripped his stomach, and twisted it, making him cringe,

and lose color in his face. Heat was leaving his face as well, leaving him

cold. Next time, he’d be better. In fact, there’d be no next time. He’d

protect her with his life.

“WHAT HAPPENED!?!?!?!?!?” Serena screamed. She wanted to

hit something. The frustration at not being there to protect. It plodded

into her stomach, and made the anger come to her head.

Luna and Artemis looked at each other. They knew Serena wasn’t

going to take this very well. But they didn’t know that she’d be so angry.

“I should have BEEN there!” she started to pace. “I want to be

there now.”

“But Serena…” Luna began. “Surely, you know that with the

recent attack on the royal family of Earth leads us the speculate whether

the royal family here is safe enough.”

“Because I was not there, my best friends were endangered.”

“Could you have done anything about it?”

“Yes! I could have…” she started, but trailed off as she looked at

the two advisors. “I’m going back.”

“You can’t just go back. You’re in charge of the guard here…”

“No, I have to go back. My roots are on Earth. Many of my

friends are still on Earth, and I don’t care who says I’m not going back,

because I shouldn’t have left in the first place.”

Anger had flooded her cheeks. She should have been there. She

threw herself away from the two, and ran down the halls, out the door to

Cloud Way.

Oh god, had he almost died? She couldn’t get over it. The minute

she had heard that there’d been an attack on the royal family…Darien

flashed in her mind. She was always Raye’s guard, but she had always

seen to personally that the prince would be protected when she was

around.

She couldn’t help but feel a little shudder of relief when she found

out that Darien was all right.

The feeling was fleeting, though, when she was informed that Raye

and Jed had nearly died fighting Kunz. And Kunz…what was he feeling?

*He’d want to kill himself for what he’s done…oh, I want to be with you,

Kunz, I want to be there for you, Raye, Jed…*

She loved them, and she didn’t want to lose them. And oh, to hear

that they were in danger, without her there, beside them, to protect them.

*Oh* Tears came…quick and hot. Pouring down her face.

“WHY?????” she screamed out to no one. Why couldn’t she be

there? Why did she have to stand aside and let others handle it? Dammit,

they were her friends, and she cared for them too. *I may not be their

guard in paper, but in heart, I am always their guard.*

She looked at the Earth. *WHY????*

Why couldn’t she be there to help them? They had nearly died.

NEARLY died, and the Lunarians were expecting her to just stand and

calmly accept that fact?

“No…I’m not an IDIOT…” she muttered. She had to get down

there, somehow. To make sure everyone was all right. She should have

been there already.

But instead, she remained up on the moon. And she had to stay

here as well. Because they needed her here. She needed to be here.

But…what about Earth?

She’d arrived here a month ago, and it had been one long journey

for her mind to get to level it was at now. At first, she did not like the

moon very much because it prevented her from being with her mother and

father, and kept her from going home. But she had grown to appreciate

the surroundings, and feel attached to it, once she saw how much she was

needed here.

She loved the moon. She loved the people, and she loved her

moon queen, and the princess. She had a feeling of hominess that had not

been at Terryl Manes. It reminded her of her parents back in Polaris, and

when she thought of them, she’d lose that content she was just starting to

develop.

But it was beautiful up here. It was a different kind of beautiful

from the beautiful of Earth. The clouds were silvery paths that could lead

anywhere around the Earth, and sometimes, Queen Serenity brought her

daughter and her guardians down the layer of clouds, where they walked,

looking down at the Earth.

Serena descended the moonlight stairway to the Cloud Way, and

stepped off the staircase, and walked.

The Cloud Way had become one of her favorite places. She came

here now. Sitting down on the white feathery edge, she looked below her

at the dark sleeping Earth.

She’d usually come here, to look down, and dream of the palace of

Earth, and worry. Now, she came to worry.

Darien was safe, but Raye had nearly died. Raye, her romantic

little princess, almost died. And Jed…almost her brother…she shuddered.

Playing with the mists absently, she blew a clumpful out of her

hands, and saw it float away. What she wanted more than anything was to

rush down the rest of the Moonlight staircase, and enter Earth, and run to

the palace.

But she couldn’t.

Her honor would not allow it. She had an obligation to the moon

kingdom and although she had stamped her feet and yelled at the top of

her lungs to Luna and Artemis, she was not going to just leave for Earth,

because their argument held truth. The Moon Family could very much be

in danger right now. And if she left, and if anything happened, she’d

never forgive herself. She loved her Moon family.

Being the person in between was hard enough before she left. It

was even more difficult now. She felt a deep love for Queen Serenity, and

her majesty possessed a great deal of patience and understanding. And if

anything happened to her, she’d feel a deep loss. And her friends…no, she

could not leave them. What if they suffered because she was not there to

protect them? Like her friends on Earth had?

But what about her Terran friends? Her Terran royal family? The

royal family of the planet she had been born? Although she did love the

moon, she still felt a tinge of guilt, that she should enjoy and love the

moon so much, when she came from the Earth. After all, without the title,

that’s what she was, wasn’t she? A Terran girl?

She loved her Earth. She loved her parents. She loved the queen

of the Terran kingdom, as much as she loved the queen of the Lunar

kingdom. And now, she stayed in indecision.

She wanted to be there, to heal her friends with this new talent that

she had started to master. She wanted to use Selene’s powers to keep her

friends, all her friends, safe.

The impact of her first hearing that there’d been an attack was an

attack on her heart. To hear that her friends had to defend themselves, as

strong as they were…she should have been there.

But could she have been there? No. Her duty, her life had been

devoted here, and if she had left them, she’d never feel comfortable,

fearing for the Lunar family all the while she was gone. And that left her

nowhere, as she had always been.

Would she ever truly belong anywhere? Would she ever feel a

secure restful feeling?

A part of her wished Darien was here.

She reached into her robes, and drew out a blue velvet pouch. The

sight of it comforted her, but she immediately burst into tears. Darien.

Darien would understand her feelings. Like he had before.

Darien.

He reminded her of that conversation she had with Queen Serenity

a few weeks ago. Of being home with a person.

A longing tore her stomach. Where was he now? Was he

peacefully sleeping? Or was he being threatened by nightmares which she

couldn’t fight for him? Was his life in danger?

Was he dreaming about her? Was he thinking about her?

She had dreamed of him often, and she hardly went through a day

without thinking of him. How could she not? He was so…so infuriatingly

unforgettable. She missed his arguments, and she missed his transient

compassion. She missed his strong heart. But most of all, she missed

him.

She had let it slip in so quietly, she had no idea that the storm that

would come would be so painful. The pain of wanting to see him. She

wanted to see him, and she wanted to throw herself into his arms, and cry

out all her worries to him, and have him comfort her. She wanted him to

hold her. She wanted to be near him, and feel his presence. She wanted to

see him smile at her, because the pain of not seeing him was getting to be

unbearable.

She couldn’t sleep, because she’d worry, about him. No, she

couldn’t let anything happen to him, because he was so important.

She’d let him become important to her, because she had liked him.

Now, it was indisputable that she…

*Curse Raye and her romanticism…*

She stood up on her cloud, and screamed in frustration across the

skies. The frustrations. The screams echoed all about her, giving her a

sense of aloneness. Cold. She looked around her, dizzy. Cold. Alone.

No one.

She clutched at the velvet packet, and collapsed to the floor of

clouds, rolling herself up into a little ball, crying. “Darien…”

But no reply came, because she didn’t expect one. He wasn’t with

her right now. He wasn’t ever going to be again. Because they were too

different now, and too distant.

Even the deepest love couldn’t overcome the obstacle that had now

been set between them. A distance. His duty as a prince. Her duty as a

guard. No, the deepest love would fade in all the chaos.

And what she felt was…was deeper than that…she cried harder.

*Don’t make me think of this right now…*

No matter how close he’d be with her in the future, they’d still

remain distant, separated by that stupid invisible wall.

He wasn’t even hers by heart, or right. By right, he was Mina’s.

Strategically, it was EXTREMELY desirable that he marry her. Serena

knew she ought to advocate it. Before, she felt that bitter feeling inside,

and now, she recognized it as jealousy, though she’d never let HIM know.

Now, though…she wanted him to be safe…and with the recent attack…

Maybe the arranged marriage wouldn’t be such a bad idea. Her

heart stung when she thought about it, but she realized the practicality of

the situation. That way, Serena could keep a watch over everyone.

They’d all be one place, and she’d be able to protect everyone she loved.

She’d be able to protect him.

He’d be alive.

That’s what counted, wasn’t it? As long as he was alive. Besides,

he never loved HER. He might as well just have a happy life with

Princess Minalle…

But could she leave such a thing to happen to her heart? Would

she be all right about it? His marrying her friend? When she…felt that

way? And when her friend had an…interest in someone else?

But he’d be alive. Everyone would be protected. She could

protect them all.

“Serena?” the wind whispered over the misty landscape.

Serena pushed herself up from the cloudy surface to look about

her.

A glowing being walked towards her.

“Serena…I thought I might have found you here.” Selene walked

to her, putting her hands over Serena’s shoulders.

It was the first time the Moon Goddess had ever touched a human.

Her touch almost wavered, but she looked at the young girl’s wide eyes,

filled with confusion and anger and sadness, and kept her grip on the

shoulders firm. “You want to see him, don’t you?” she asked, quietly.

“I want to see them…” she corrected the goddess.

Selene was not an idiot. She’d seen Serena many nights, haunting

the halls of the palace at night, crying, and clutching that blue velvet

pouch. But seeing the flicker in Serena’s eyes, she decided not to

challenge the girl’s feelings right now. “It’s not advisable.”

“I know…” she said. “I don’t want to leave anyone here. If I turn

my back, Beryl and Metalia will know. I have to stay, to keep them safe.”

Selene remained quiet as Serena took the goddess through her own

thought processes. “But I’ve been thinking…about protection, I mean.”

“What about it?”

“I think it’s time there was an alliance made between the Lunar and

Terran kingdoms; they should unite under own kingdom. It’s about time.

If they united, then we could keep tabs on what’s going on, as one, rather

than just as two kingdoms. Plus, the army would be two times as large,

and our powers would be unbeatable. I think Metalia should know that if

she messes with one kingdom, both are coming after her throat.”

“So should we send them an ambassador?” Selene began, quietly.

Serena had thought this out a lot.

“Yes, and no. We should see if they are interested in such an

alliance, but essentially, the alliance will not be made by treaty.”

“What do you mean?”

“I think we should do it…” Serena breathed in deeply.

Selene watched, patiently.

“…by marriage. I think that if the royal families united in

matrimony, they would all be together in once place, and we’d be able to

protect them all…” *I’d be able to protect them all…*

Selene could practically hear the thoughts in Serena’s mind. *She

wants to protect them all, and she doesn’t know how else to keep them all

under her care…* “Marriage?” she asked, carefully.

“Yes, between the princess of the Moon, and the prince of Earth.”

“Have you told anyone else?”

“No, but Queen Merlyn of Earth had been thinking about it before

we left Earth. At first I didn’t see why, but now, I see that such a union

could be very advantageous. I know Minalle and Darien aren’t really in

love, but I just don’t see what else to do…it’s the only way to keep them

all safe…” she started to cry. She wasn’t going to cry about this.

*Besides, what else is love besides that dumb pain you get? And the

knowledge that you’ll get hurt?*

*She loves him…* Selene looked at the girl, who now cried into

her lap. She had speculated, but now she knew. This strong woman loved

him enough to give him up to another just so she could protect him, and

keep him alive…

“I’m going to tell her majesty the queen of the Moon about this and

see what she thinks, but I think she’ll agree this is the only way to fight

Metalia, especially since Beryl has been recently been able to manipulate

the actions of the court through dreams. Maybe if we keep closer tabs on

each other, this won’t happen again…” she said, whispering to herself.

“Kunz, it’s not your fault!” Neph shook his shoulders.

“I endangered the life of the princess. I nearly killed one of my

best friends…I nearly killed Jed,” his head was in his hands, as he sat on

the edge of his bed, fighting the headache.

Neph looked, worried at his friend. What would he have felt if he

endangered the lives of all these people, thinking he had to get to Lita?

“She sounded so real…she sounded helpless…” Kunz continued to

mutter.

“Kunz, it’s not your fault. Beryl manipulated you. You couldn’t

have known…any one of us would have fought as hard as you did if we

were in your position.”

“But I nearly KILLED two people!”

After Kunz had come out of unconsciousness, he had refused to

rest or sleep. He’d never sleep, he vowed to himself.

Of course, it was a silly promise. But when he posed such a threat

when he was asleep…

And good god! What would Mina think?

Neph jumped back, upon hearing the last question muttered aloud.

“Kunz, Mina will think what we think…that you were a victim, just as

much as Raye and Jed…”

“But I didn’t nearly die…oh god, she’ll blame herself…for not

being here to stop me…geez…” he clutched at his hair with furious

fingers.

Neph frowned. “Kunz…” he swore. “Kunz. You’re being a huge

idiot right now. Things happen. It’s not always our fault. We accept

these events, and use them to build off of. We change to accommodate to

mistakes, we don’t dwell on them.”

“But how can I not?”

“Kunz, what are you blubbering about? You represent the pillar of

honor, and as far as I see, you have none right now! Why don’t you live

up to it some time, Kunz?”

“Fuck honor!” Kunz stood up.

Neph shoved Kunz back to sit on the bed, and gripped his fist, to

prevent himself from slugging him. “You can’t just toss it aside! You

were specifically chosen to represent honor. Honor is maintaining respect

from and for others, but most importantly, from yourself and for yourself.

Damn! You fought through the ranks of more than a hundred men, and

got damn lucky when Serena was canceled from the list, because she’s ten

times the person you’re being right now. Be the person you were raised to

be. Be the person you were trained to be. Be the person you are!”

Neph stormed out, leaving Kunz to wonder at Neph. It was the

first time he’d ever seen Neph yell at him. Neph, who always seemed to

possess a calm.

“NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!” Mina cried.

“Sh…it’s all right…” Amy looked helplessly to Lita, who stood on

the other side of Mina’s hunched-over body. “He’s all right…Raye was

able to get to him before he killed Jed.”

Mina’s body was raking with sobs now, and looked at the two.

“Don’t you get it? It’s not about him! He fought for me! He had tried to

save ME…if I’d been there, I may have been able to stop him! If I’d been

there, none of this would have occurred!!! And I know that he’s blaming

himself for all this…”

Amy said softly, “It wouldn’t have mattered if you were there or

not. Beryl’s manipulative…” Tension was wearing away at her own

nerves. “Mina, you couldn’t have done anything, you got that?” she said,

taking her friend’s tear-paved cheeks in her hands. “It’s not your fault,

and it’s not Kunz’s. It’s Beryl’s.” Amy’s eyes started to wade in tears.

“It’s Beryl’s…” she said softly.

Lita looked at the girl who now sat next to Mina, crying next to

her.

“You got that?” Amy asked, distantly.

Mina looked at Amy. Had she cracked?

“Oh…Zoy…” she whispered. Her haunted eyes focused on

Mina’s. “You couldn’t have helped your immobility…you couldn’t help

your helplessness…you weren’t there to see the darkness come over

him…” her voice cracked as she finished the last sentence. It was clear

that she wasn’t talking about Kunz anymore.

Mina grabbed her friend’s shoulders, shaking her. “Amy…”

She blamed herself.

Lita looked at the two, fear, but also calm, in her eyes. She took

both in her arms, and they hugged. Tears came to her eyes. “It’s not any

of your faults. Things happened, got that? Always believe that. You are

not to blame. This is all a mind game. Beryl’s trying to throw you into

guilt. Don’t let that happen. We’ve got to pull through, and we will.”

“I don’t know if it’s going to be a happy marriage, but your

highness, I’ve talked this over with Selene, and we think it advisable that

you DO consider this…”

Serenity looked at her ward. Selene stood next to the girl, hand to

her shoulder, offering support to do this.

Oh to see the fear and heartbreak in those eyes. The storm of

regret. The determination flushed through though, and the blue was

steady, and held in constancy right now.

Serenity loved Serena. With more breath than she could give.

The girl was very special. Over the past month, she’d had many

problems trying to connect with her daughter. Mina was a dear girl, and

Serenity knew that Minalle was trying hard, but in the end, Serenity could

not feel the strength of the bond that she had with her ward.

She had bonded with her ward enough to know how much Serena

was sacrificing in this marriage.

Could she do it? Could she just pretend she didn’t know what

Serena felt for Darien, and just let her heart break?

“Serena…” she said. She looked at Luna and Artemis with a

certain strain in her eyes. They took the hint, and left the room, taking the

guards with them. “Serena…”

Serena held herself rigid. Selene tightened her grip on the girl’s

shoulder, to give her support.

“Don’t…” she stammered, walking away from them both. Her

hand balled into a fist, and she turned from them, holding a fist to her

mouth, and biting down on it. She had been determined not to cry. And

she’d be damned if she did so now.

Serenity’s arms when around the girl, and she held her.

She felt the pain. “Serena, don’t be afraid to cry…you can’t stand

stoically all the time, especially since you have such a passionate soul.”

Serena collapsed against Serenity’s breast, and sobbed. “Oh, I love

him so…”

There was no question about who they were talking about. “Does

he know?”

“No, he doesn’t, and he shouldn’t…” she continued to cry. “He

has to marry Mina. It’s for his own good, and hers, though she will hate

us at first for doing this to her.”

“Serena, I’m not sure if we should do this then…”

“No, don’t you see, your majesty? We HAVE to, to protect them.

If they’re here with us, or if we’re down there with them, we can protect

each other…”

“And you can protect everyone. You can be there fore

everyone…is that it?”

“It’s better that he’s alive and married than dead!”

Serena backed out of Serenity’s embrace, and looked away.

Serenity looked at Selene, who continued to stand still, patiently to let the

girl’s feelings come to calm once more.

“Anyway,” Serena began, “I would like to be the ambassador to

Earth, to set up the proposition…if you approve of this…Merlyn knows

me, and she can trust me, and that will make negotiations go quicker. I

know it’s dangerous to just leave the Lunar court like this…but I would

like to be the one…so do I have your approval?”

Did she approve of this? Serenity felt that if she approved, then

she’d stab the girl in the heart, but if she didn’t, and if she forced Serena to

stay here, when she felt divided between two places, Serena’s heart would

be torn apart. “What if he married you?” she asked.

For a brief second, there was a fluttering of the heartbeat. It

showed in her eyes. Then, there was darkness. “He can’t marry me. I’ve

got a duty to protect this kingdom, and that’s hardly queen material.

Heck, I had to be TRAINED to be a lady-in-waiting.”

“It makes no difference if you couldn’t get the surface. What

matters is on the inside, and I have not known a woman with more

integrity, intelligence, passion, zest for life, than you.”

Serena was touched by the words. They meant a lot to her. More

than they would normally. There was a special connection she had with

Serenity, and hearing these words made her feel suddenly princess-

like…and royal. But she wasn’t royalty. SHE WASN’T ROYALTY.

“Besides, the alliance is to be made between the two families, and the last

time I checked, I was a part of neither…”

“…by blood, perhaps, but you are my daughter in heart and spirit.”

“Mina is your daughter by blood and right, and therefore should be

the betrothed,” Serena argued. Besides, she didn’t want to force herself on

Darien. He showed too much compassion to her to make her want to

anger him by forcing him into matrimony with her. She didn’t even know

if he loved her. “Mina will be engaged to Darien…” she said, more to

herself than to the two who stood in the room with her.

Serenity knew Serena was hurting, but Serena was also stubborn.

She sighed. “All right, I give you my approval…”

“I’d like to go down there as soon as I can. It shouldn’t take more

than a few days if we work fast. I don’t want to leave here too long…”

“I understand…” Serenity nodded her head.

Serena tried to force herself to leave.

But she couldn’t.

She couldn’t. Are you going to be all right? her eyes seemed to

ask Serenity and then Selene.

Go…

She was silent, and looked at her shoes more than anything else.

“I thought I brought you outside so you could see things that are

outside. If I had known you were going to look at your shoes the whole

time, I would have thought twice before taking you out…” Jed teased

lightly. Her arm was around his shoulder, and his around her waist. She

was practicing walking on a broken leg.

Raye looked at him, startled.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, seeing her eyes, two pools of twilight,

quiver.

“Nothing…” she said, looking away. *I love you. That’s what’s

wrong.* She wanted to scream it at him, she wanted to throw herself into

his arms, and be held in his embrace, and feel protected. Right now, the

contact between them was infuriating. To be in his arms, but to know that

it wasn’t more than help he was giving her.

Jed looked about them.

Sunsets were meant to be romantic, and relaxing, not moments

filled with tension. He looked at the girl. What was wrong with her? He

continued on, looking around for any sign of trouble.

There was a whole feeling of uneasiness in him right now. What

was going on? The world was darkening around them, and it was natural

of course, since night was approaching. But something else…

“HELP!!!!!!”

Jed recognized that voice. “Zoy?” The fear in that voice. He had

to help his friend. He wanted to go look for his friend, when he realized

that Raye relied on him to keep her footing. He stayed at her side, but

called out. “Zoy, where are you?”

But…Raye felt a coldness in her stomach. It started to spread to

her heart, and now she felt it in the sweat on her forehead. She gripped

Jed’s shoulder tightly. *Don’t believe him!!!!* she tried to convey to

him.

“I don’t think we should stay around here…” Raye said softly to

Jed.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Raye. Zoy’s around here…” he smiled, a

boyish joy was in his voice, his eyes. The strain was now easily vanishing

from around his eyes.

“No!” Raye said. “We should go…”

“What are you talking about?” Jed backed from Raye.

“Help!” They could hear his voice, as Jed’s hands went fromm

Raye’s body.

She fell to the ground, now unsupported. Her skirts belled around

her, and she gave a small cry of pain. “What are you doing?” he

demanded of her. He felt a small pain inside at seeing her hurt like that,

but stood firm. “Zoy’s been gone for who knows how long, and he’s

finally back…and you want to LEAVE?”

“I don’t…I don’t…TRUST him…” she said. “Not now…there’s

something in the air…”

“Or your imagination…” Jed said, hurt, as he backed away. “It’s

perfectly safe here…” he continued.

“No…” Raye begged.

“Here, I’ll go look around for Zoy, you just wait here…” Jed said.

“NO JED!!!” her eyes widened with a huge fear. *You’d think

that she’s fearing for my life…* Jed thought, sardonically.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be around the area. If anything happens to you,

I’ll be here in a flash. But I’ve got to find Zoy…”

“Don’t leave me here!” Raye said.

“I can’t believe you’re being like this. One of my best pals is

crying for help and you don’t want me to help?” he looked at her, eyes

narrowed.

He pushed himself away, and stalked off.

“Jed, Jed!” she cried after him.

He smiled from the shadows. Mission accomplished. He’d get the

bitch right now.

Jed was always a little too gullible for his own good anyway.

His lips curved as he smiled to Beryl. “I’ll go get her right now…”

“No, I want you to get your friend…” Beryl ordered him.

“She’s all open right now…”

“I’ll take care of her. She’s a feeble little thing. We don’t need to

kidnap her. She has no power. But your friend…we don’t usually find

Jedyte alone, and he would be an incredible asset to the dark side.”

“What do you mean?” Zoy asked, dark eyes narrowing. Jealousy

ate at him like a disease.

Beryl smiled in annoyance and triumph. It had been hard, but she

had finally been able to gain control of Zoicyte’s mind. However, he was

FIERCELY competitive to gain the most power aside of her. “I mean that

I need good leaders in my army,” she explained, exasperated.

“I thought I was the leader of you army…” Zoy asked, a snarl in

place on his lips.

“I need more than one, you half wit, but if you’re not going to

cooperate, I might as well get rid of you and give your friend all the

power…” she frowned.

It did the trick. Zoy’s pressed together. “I’ll get him…”

“Yes, and meanwhile, I’ll deal with the little princess…” she told

him, her cold blue lips pressed together. “I’ll deal with her…”

Raye looked around her. She had to get to Jed.

She had to.

Fear tasted bitter in mouth, and her head was reeling. But she’d be

damned if she was going to let himself walk off like that, into the arms of

danger.

She pushed herself to her knees as she felt another presence around

her. It was not Jed. There was a coldness in the wind. “Who are you?”

She saw her…Raye’s eyes never wavered as she got up to her feet,

ignoring the pain. “So you’ve finally come to get the job done yourself,

huh, Beryl?”

Beryl frowned. “Are you presuming something?”

Raye ignored the pain in her leg as she stood tall and smirked at

her. “I just thought it odd that you had to rely on another person to

execute YOUR business.”

“I don’t waste my time on pathetic little girls.”

“I’m not a little girl…” Raye said, a fire flashing into her eyes.

Beryl walked to the girl. “Such determination…I always thought

you had more than you let on…but you’d never be of any use to

me…always too soft. You were never strong enough to fight anyhow.”

Raye’s hands started to feel a tingle…the familiar tingle. Her

temper was rising.

Beryl twisted her wrist.

Raye felt her weak leg jerk out from under her and collapsed once

more to the ground. Sweat mingled in tears of pain. But she’d have to

fight. Beryl would stop at nothing until she was dead.

“Zoy?” he ran deeper into the forest.

Raye must have been nuts to say that he couldn’t go after his

friend. Zoy had needed help. And there was no mistaking it.

The fury in him had been enough to make himself walk away from

her. Fury directed at her. And now, her stupid highness had just

endangered herself. She was not safe back where he had left her, and he

was willing to admit it now.

But would he walk back and admit defeat? And what about Zoy?

Where was he, anyhow? “Zoy, where are you?”

“Right here…” he heard a low rumbling laugh.

He turned and detected movement from the shadows. Zoy did not

sound like he was in any pain at all. To the contrary, Zoy looked fit.

However, his normally blue-green eyes…they were black. And Zoy’s

posture was held stiffly. Cloaked in all black, Jed would not have seen

him, had it not been for the pale snow-white face, with the thin lips

pressed together in a wicked smile. Jed found a clump at his throat. He

had not listened to Raye. She was back there, all alone…and he was in a

trap…

“I’m impressed.”

“Don’t be…” Raye muttered.

She was holding her lungs open with her mind. She felt dark

smoke crowd in, but imagined herself, pushing it out. *Just keep fighting

her…you have to. Oh, Jed…*

Beryl’s hands were in front of her, open, and palms face down.

She was pushing down on air, but her magic was pressing down on Raye’s

lungs.

Raye tried to cough, but she couldn’t. Was this how it was

supposed to end?

*NO!* she dove deep within her soul to find the fires of her life.

Summoning them, she felt the heat sizzle deep inside. Chanting an old

romantic chant she had learned in one of her scriptures, she felt the fire

travel into her blood. It moved into her heart, and then to her lungs. She

was burning brightly. The flames in her licked at the darkness, and fought

through.

She did not understand this power.

Beryl watched, confused, as she felt her own hands heat up. Her

palms were sweating.

She felt a burn as she withdrew them from her spell position to

look at them. They looked black. What had this girl done? There was

something in the girl. She bodily grabbed Raye’s now weak body and

shook her. “What did you do?”

Raye felt hot tears in her eyes. “I don’t know!” She didn’t. What

was this?

Immediately, she got too hot to touch, and Beryl had to drop her.

No, the girl put up too much resistance, now. Beryl was surprised though.

Maybe the Princess WOULD be a profitable asset to her army.

But as of yet, the princess would put up too much resistance, and Beryl did

now know if she had enough power to fight the girl, having been

weakened considerably by the strange and unexpected powers this girl

had.

*But there will be a time…* she vowed. Not only would Raye

already be at her feet, weak and helpless, but eventually, Beryl would get

Metalia to grant her with more of the dark powers she longed to master in

order to make the girl submit.

Raye landed with pain, but the dark energy left. Beryl faded into

the shadows. “You’re fine for now, brat, but I’ll get you. For now, I’ll

settle for your friend…”

She felt the dark cold vanish as she looked at her hands in a new

light. They burned with an energy that she could not understand. What

was going on? She felt something inside her, struggling to fight to get out.

But what?

She felt a cold slap of fear as she heard a growl deep in the forest.

*Oh God, Jed…*

She pushed herself up off the ground, and started to work her way

through the forest, the pain in her leg protesting each step of the way.

She was not aware that a pen with the crest of Mars had

materialized in her pocket.

“Then I shall leave immediately…”

“Wait!” Selene felt something grip her. She looked outside the

pillars to the sky…

Serena watched in fear. What had happened? What did Selene

see?

“There is activity in the Mars sector. Sometimes, there are

sporadic little bursts in sectors, when the powers of the planets are used by

accident, but the activity is hectic. This means that someone has used the

powers of Mars, and is starting to be able to control those powers.

Princess Mars has used her powers…”

“…and she’s not with us, which means that she’s in danger…she

could be drawn into Beryl’s clutches…or fighting for her life right now!”

Serena almost panicked.

“Wait, let’s not panic…” Serenity said. “It’s possible that the girl

used the powers without realizing what they were…”

“But that leaves us in the same position. We have to find Princess

Mars,” Serena said, looking at Serenity. “Luna once told me that you and

your court sent the princess and her guardians in baskets lined with jewels,

with a note, stating their name. Do you know the princess of Mars’s

name?”

“I don’t remember, but I know someone who may…” she gestured

towards one of the pillars of the throne room, as she sat at the throne.

“Come on, Vera…”

“Serenity? What’s going on?” Verana Torthyn asked, afraid.

A women’s image appeared on the pillar Serenity had just gestured

to. She was dressed in fiery red robes, but the minute Serena saw the face,

she felt her stomach sink. The eyes, the hair…but was it possible?

“We think your daughter needs out help, but we don’t know where

to start. Selene’s reported that there’s been a use of Martian powers.”

“My daughter’s ALIVE?” Verana’s eyes widened. “Oh, dear gods

and goddesses, my daughter’s alive!”

“We need to know her name…” Serenity said. “We need to find

her before anyone else does…”

“It’s Raychelle…” Serena said, distantly.

Serenity froze, about to ask Serena how she knew, but looked

again at Vera. *Of course, the resemblance…why didn’t I see it earlier?*

The Queen of Mars looked at Serenity. “Yes, that’s right…it’s

Raychelle. Who is that, Serenity?”

“It’s the Moonlight Maiden…she’s my best warrior…thank you,

Verana, we’ll find your daughter.” Serenity looked at Serena.

“But she can’t be…” she said. “But Raye looks just like her…and

yet…”

“She’s the princess of Earth! It’s not possible!” Serenity

completed for her.

“But if her name’s Raychelle…and if the resemblance is THAT

strong…regardless of the impossibility of the occurrence, you must find

her.” Selene declared.

“Oh god, Raye’s in trouble?” Serena felt her heart tumble over her

stomach. *Fight, Raye. I’ll find you.*

He was falling. It was cold.

So cold.

All around him, the dark was cold, and he felt it seep in his system.

The blood in him was starting to freeze, and he was starting to feel dizzy.

“Zoy…” he struggled to form the words on his lips. “What’s going

on?”

“My new mistress has given me a wonderful gift…the power of

ice.”

Jed felt an ice crystal form around his heart, as it struggled to keep

on beating in that wall of ice.

“I told you to take him, not kill him…” Beryl materialized beside

him.

“He was being resistant…”

“I won’t let you take me…Zoy, I know you’re still you. Come

ON!! Wake UP out of this stupid spell!”

Beryl laughed at the youth who now was on the ground, gasping

for breath. She knew it was painful, because there were ice needles in his

lungs.

“Jed!”

“Raye?” he looked up, eyes unfocused. The voice…oh no, was she

all right? “Get away from here!”

Beryl stopped Zoy with her arm, and cloaked them both in

shadows…

He was pale, and shivering.

“God, what have they done?” she asked no one in particular.

Her hands tingled with rage and fire. She moved to his side.

“Leave here, Raye. Leave…”

“No! I’m getting you out of this mess…” she rubbed her hands

together, warming together. Her eyes closed in concentration. When she

opened them again, they were dark, heated by a fire.

She them took them over his chest.

He felt a freedom in his lungs, his heart. She was melting the ice

in him, just by running her hands over his chest. As he was just feeling

freedom, he saw in the corner of his eye…Zoy…in all black…

“Raye!” he screamed, pushing out of the pathway of the dagger.

She felt herself being shoved to the ground, and every muscle

groaned. What was going on? She heard Jed scream in pain now.

No, what was happening? She feared it. Was he dead?

She turned around, and looked through the hair that had fallen in

her face. He was bleeding profusely at his shoulder. She narrowed her

eyes at Zoy. “What’s wrong with you?”

She reached into her skirts, and drew the dagger that she had

carried ever since the incident a few days ago, which was strapped to her

thigh. Before, Beryl had kept her restrained with magic. But now, there

was nothing magical about the battle before her. It was a matter of finesse,

and strategy. *Forget the physical, and get mental. Don’t get emotional.*

she reminded herself.

Jed’s eyes widened, as he wanted to protect her. But his sword

arm was in considerable pain.

Zoy lunged for her, and she dodged, taking a piece at his shoulder.

He cried in pain, and summoned an ice to take her heart.

But her inner fire burned it all away. “You just TRY that again…”

she sweat.

“No, but I’ll try…” Beryl laughed wickedly, realizing that the

princess was considerably weaker than she was previously, having now

fought, and walked though pain. Maybe THIS was her chance…

She struck Raye down with an invisible wall, caving in. Raye

cried out, and fought it. “Please…” she prayed to her inner fire.

It burst through slowly, and when it was through she was almost

ready to die by exhaustion.

Jed moved to her, to stand in front of her. “I won’t let you hurt her

anymore…”

“Just try and stop me…” Zoy smirked, as he carelessly tossed an

ice dagger through the air, aimed at his heart, before Beryl could stop him.

But Raye could.

Seeing it fly at him. She had to save him. She shoved him aside,

and let him fall to the ground beside her, as she felt the dagger in her back.

She fell, almost unconscious, into his lap.

Jed looked at the girl, who lay in his lap, with fire in her eyes,

blackening her face. “What the hell do you think you were doing?” he

yelled at her. “I’m supposed to be protecting you!”

“Don’t you understand? I would die for you!” Raye whispered,

tears in her eyes from the pain, as she closed her eyes, and lost her

consciousness.

“Forget him. Take her!” Zoy demanded of Beryl.

Beryl was ready to strike him down for impertinence, but saw his

point. The girl showed much potential, and now, she was so weak she

could easily be converted.

She made a circling motion with her hands, and darkness took

Raye into nothingness.

Jed tried frantically to grab at her, to keep her from vanishing in

his lap…

Jed looked up at the woman, with pure hate in his eyes. “How dare

you!?” he took up the dagger Raye had dropped, and threw it at her heart.

But it was swallowed by a dark force field. “Perhaps I should take

you as well.”

“I’d rather die before I served the likes of you!” Jed spat out,

starting to slowly push himself away from the two who stood before him,

and came walking towards him.

“So be it…” Beryl said, gathering dark energy into a ball.

*NO!!!!!!*

A slash was against the top of her wrists, and Beryl fell back. Her

eyes focused angrily on her wound. She looked up to see the young

woman in white, her blue eyes determined, and golden hair floating behind

her. “Just watch who you try to harm…” The girl’s voice was steel.

“So she’s returned…watch out…” she muttered to Jed, knowing it

was time for retreat. “The next time I come for you, your girlfriend and

the moon nitwit won’t be there for you anymore…”

Zoy laughed evilly, and vanished as well.

Jed simply fell back, and looked up to the skies. What had

happened?

Had she arrived too late? What had happened? Her face was pale,

but eyes were locked in concentration.

Serena approached him, and waved her hand over him, watching

his wounds disappear, as her magic worked its way on him. Jed opened

his eyes to focus on Serena.

“Oh Jed, I just came, and I saw…oh, no…Raye…is she?”

Jed looked at the spot around them, to where she had lay, dying

away. Now, he noticed beside that spot, a pen flashed. He took it up, to

see a pen, with a strange crest on it.

Serena saw it, and looked away, her tears starting to come…

“They have her…” he said, softly, gripping the pen in his hand.

He had seen this before…it was in the hands of Lita, and Amy, when they

had… “Serena…”

She looked at him, her eyes now pained, as she saw the frustration,

and confusion in his own gaze. Understanding his questioning look, and

his gaze at the pen, her mouth froze. *She WAS…* “Mars…” she said, a

simple word.

*Princess Mars, huh?* he thought, looking down at the pen once

more. *No, not Princess anything, not princess Earth, not princess Mars,

and not even Raychelle…simply Raye…* he closed his eyes.

*Raye…* tears forced through his thick lashes.

He could hear her words in his mind…

*Don’t you understand? I would die for you!*

*Raye…*

Continued in the Next Section…