The Last Four:

Part Four: Azurite

"Azurite," an evil voice hissed in Azurite's head.

"Yes my High Queen Metallia," Azurite said.

" Have you a plan to bring my servants into the Moon Kingdom."

" We will use the generals my Queen."

" Perfect. I'll have Beryl brainwash them. When will the time be right?"

"Tonight at the Prince's going away ball. My Queen I have one favor to ask of you."

" What?"

" After the battle I want the princess."

" That could be arranged if all goes well." Azurite smiled.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Serenity woke up to the pleasant feeling of being in love. For the last week she and Endymion had spent every spare minute together. She stretched and turned over to look at the crystal vase on her nightstand, which held a single red rose. She jumped out of bed and ran into her closet coming out wearing a violet dress. She did her hair up in the usual style. She laughed as she remembered Endymion telling her that the first time he saw her with that hairstyle he thought they looked like two meatballs. She stuck some violets in her hair for good measure and ran out the door almost tripping over the two dozen roses that lay in front of her door. She picked them up and stuck them in a vase smiling. Then she ran out the door to find Endymion. She ran right into Makoto. " Oh Sere! You'll never guess! Nephrite's asked me to marry him!"

" I'm so happy for you Mako," Serenity cried.

" I was just talking to Mina and she was in a hurry to find Kunzite. He left two dozen yellow daises and tulips in front of her door. I heard Rei and Jadeite haven't been seen since last night and Ami and Zoisite shut themselves in the library early this morning and won't come out!" Makoto gushed.

Serenity's eyes got bigger as Makoto told her each piece of information. " I'll see you later Mako. I'm going to go find Endymion," Serenity yelled as she ran down the hall. " Ahhhee! I'm so sorry," Serenity said apologizing the second time that day for running into someone.

" Princess I've been looking for you," the person she had run into said.

She looked up to see Azurite and automatically stepped back five paces. She had to fight the urge to run the other way. " Yes Azurite," she said regally.

" It's about Endymion. I'm afraid he's just toying with your emotions. He does this to every pretty girl he meets. It would be best if you forget him and think about some other man that won't betray you," he said innocently.

" Like you," Serenity spat out angrily. She didn't trust this man and she wasn't about to believe one word he said.

" Like me," he said looking at her with a hungry look in his eyes.

She began to be really afraid now. She didn't like how he was looking at her. " I don't believe you. Endymion would never do anything to hurt me. He loves me!" she cried starting to tremble.

His eyes glazed over and he reached out to grab her arm with a grip like a steel claw his fingers digging into her soft flesh. She winced she could already feel the bruise forming. Tears started to form in her eyes. " Listen to me you little slut. Endymion cares nothing for you! I'm the one who loves you!" he said angrily yelling into her face. He pulled her close her to him and kissed her hard. She choked on her tears trying to get away from him but he wouldn't let her go. " Hel…," she started to scream but he slapped her hard across the face before she could get it out. The slap left a gigantic red welt on her creamy skin. He tried to kiss her again but Serenity sunk her teeth into his bottom lip and was rewarded with the taste of salty blood. He threw her to the ground kicking her hard in the ribs.

" What the hell is going on here?"

Endymion looked at the scene losing all feelings except hatred and anger at this man no not a man a thing who would do this to the person he held more dear then life itself. He glanced at Serenity lying on the ground sobbing. He allowed the cold feeling of hate to wash over him.

" The Princess and I were having a difference of opinion," Azurite said getting nervous as Endymion looked at him with pure hatred in his eyes. " Right princess?" All he got for an answer was another sob.

Endymion silently drew his sword pointing it right at Azurite. An unspoken challenge hung in the air. Azurite glared at Endymion his eyes reflecting a mix of fear and hatred. Suddenly with a gust of freezing wind he was gone.

" Serenity," Endymion said as he stepped toward her. Suddenly she jumped up and ran into his arms almost knocking him over. He wrapped his arms around he whispering comforting words that only lovers know.

" Oh Endymion he's crazy!" she wailed into his chest.

" He will pay for hurting you. I swear."

" No let him go. I never want to see him again," she said her eyes puffy from crying. He gasped as he saw for the first time her face. There was a hand mark across her cheek covering almost the whole left side of her face. The hand mark was outlined in red and it had already started to turn sickly shades of purple and green.

" Oh Sere he will pay," Endymion said holding her tighter. She started sobbing again as led her back to her room.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" Oh my God. Sere what happened," Rei cried as she saw her friend walking down the hall with Endymion with a big bruise on her face. She ran up to them and Endymion transferred the crying Serena to Rei's shoulder. Jadeite ran up right behind Rei with a concerned look on his face.

" What happened," Rei almost yelled.

" Azurite hit her," Endymion said.

" What!" Rei and Jadeite yelled at the same time.

" How dare he! Just wait till I get my hands on him the bastard," Rei yelled her temper quickly flaring.

"Jadeite gather the generals and put the palace on alert. I'm going to go talk to the Queen. Rei will you please take care of Serenity," Endymion said.

" Come on Sere let's take you to Hotaru and see what she can do about healing that bruise," Rei said leading Serenity off. Jadeite went to gather the generals and Endymion went to talk to the Queen.

" Hotaru are you in here," Rei yelled as she entered the place where the sick or injured animals were kept.

" Coming Rei," Hotaru yelled. She put down the puppy she had been playing with and got up off the floor dusting the dirt of her pale gray skirt.

" Oh!" Hotaru cried as she turned around to see Serenity with a hand mark across her face. " Oh Sere what happened! Sit down," she said pushing a chair toward Serenity.

" Azurite hit her," Rei said.

" What! Oh my gosh I always thought he was a little off but I never thought he hurt anyone," Hotaru said examining Serenity's face. " He hit you pretty hard Sere. I think he threw some kind of dark energy at you when he hit you. That's probably why it's so big. I don't know if I can heal it entirely but I can take the sting away and some of the puffiness. You can probably heal it better yourself with your powers." Hotaru placed her hand on Serenity's face and a purple glow covered her hand. Hotaru took her hand away to reveal what was once a gigantic purple and green blotch to now be a faint hand mark that was light red.

" Thank you Hotaru. It feels much better," Serenity put her hand up to her face and concentrated. A white glow erupted. She took her hand away to reveal a normal cheek without the slightest trace of hand mark.

"Hotaru what did you say about dark energy," Rei asked.

" Well, I couldn't heal the bruise all the way and normally I can heal just about everything. The only reason I can think of why I couldn't heal it is that he threw some kind of dark energy at her when her hit her. It had to be strong to or I would have been able to heal it," Hotaru said.

" Where would Azurite get dark energy," Rei asked.

" From the force that's slowly taking over Earth at this very moment." Rei, Serenity, and Hotaru all turned around to see Queen Serenity standing there.

" Oh mother," Serenity cried rushing into her mother's arms.

" I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this dears but the Earth has been invaded by dark energy. A Queen named Beryl had invaded with a massive army of dark creatures. They have already conquered half of the earth. The generals are going back at once," the Queen said a tear slipping down her cheek.

" Oh mama," Serenity cried sobbing. Rei and Hotaru were to astonished to do anything. They had finally found true love and now they were having it ripped away from them with the chance of it never returning. It felt like their souls were being ripped in to thousands of tiny pieces.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jadeite slammed his fist into the table, which was covered with maps and paperwork. He had finally found the right girl and now he had to leave her. He knew his other friends were taking this as hard as he was especially Endymion. He slowly sank into his chair with his head in his hands. He only had an hour until he would have to leave. He should find Rei and tell her what was happening but he knew that if he saw her he wouldn't be able to leave. He didn't look up when the door slowly opened.

" Go away," he whispered.

" Jadeite?" a voice whispered.

He looked up into dark violet eyes that were spilling tears. " Oh Rei!" He jumped out of the chair and gathered her into his arms crushing her against him.

" Those bastards how dare they take you away from me," Rei said through clenched teeth. Her sadness was replaced by her temper as she said into Jadeite chest, " I'll toast every one of them."

Jadeite chuckled as he kissed the top of her head and pulled her away from him so he could see her face. " I'm coming back Rei. I swear."

" I don't think I could live if you didn't," Rei said starting to cry.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Corundum ran down the hallway to Hotaru's room. He pushed open the door with the purple seal of Saturn on it. " Hotaru are you in here?" Hotaru looked up from the pillow she had her face buried in with tears streaming down her face. Corundum thought his heart would snap in two. " Corundum," she said jumping off the bed and running into his arms. " Why do you have to leave," she wailed.

A tear slipped out of the corner of Corundum's eye as he held the women he swore he would always love. He vowed she would never cry because of him again. He would come back alive.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Makoto sat under her favorite oak tree. Her leaf green dress was spread out around her and her auburn hair was tumbling down her shoulders. The trees were all around her surrounding her protecting her from the world that would be so cruel as to tear the man of her dreams out of her arms. The tears started rolling down her cheeks from her emerald green eyes.

She was gorgeous. Nephrite had decided that along time ago but seeing her there was almost more then he could take. She was crying. Crying because of him. He silently came up behind her. She turned around to look at him with her eyes brimming over with tears. Without saying a word she jumped into his arms and hung onto pleading with him not to go away. You might die. I might live.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Cassorite walked down the main corridor of the palace. He knew exactly where to find her. She had said it was one of her favorite places. He turned right and came into what was known as the Hall of Neptune. There was a hall in the place dedicated to every planet but this was one of the most beautiful. Like her he thought. The hall was decorated with large mirrors and portraits of the royalty of Neptune. At the end was a large window that when the stars were shining just right you could see the aqua colored planet of Neptune. He saw her. She was curled up on the window seat looking out at the dark sky gazing toward her home world. He came up behind her. She turned around and looked at him. " I knew you would come." He hugged her and they just stayed like that not wanting to move. Not daring to for their perfect world of love was shattering all around them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Minako ran towards the portal to earth praying that she wouldn't be to late. She had heard not five minutes ago that the generals were leaving. She was out picking wildflowers when a servant had rushed to her and told her the news. Kunzite must have been looking all over for her. She looked around frantically. There was Cassorite holding on to a crying Michiru. Over there were Rubellite and Haruka. Jadeite and Rei were saying their good-byes in front of that rose bush over there. Minako saw everyone but Endymion, Serenity, and the one person she wanted to see Kunzite. He saw her hair catch the sunlight as she turned her head to look around the clearing where the portal to earth was. " Minako," he shouted to get her attention. She whipped around and ran straight for him a movement like Princess Serenity when she was running for Endymion. He braced himself for impact. She ran into him and hugged him with all her might. " Min…you're…I can't…breathe." She lessened her grip and looked up at him her aqua eyes spilling over with tears. " Don't cry. I'm coming back. Here I've got something for you." He took her hand and placed something in it. She opened up her hand to find a gold heart locket.

" Oh Kunzite I don't have anything for you. Wait. Here take this," she said undoing her red hairbow and handing it to him. " I know it's not much but…"

He silenced her by putting his finger to her lips. " I love you my Minako."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Endymion found Serenity in the garden where they had shared their first kiss. She was sitting on a bench surrounded by rose bushes. Peach, yellow, purple, pink, and white roses framed her figure. She wasn't crying but twirling a kind of rose that only grew on the moon in her fingers. The rose was blood red and tipped with silver all around. Endymion came and sat beside her. They sat like that for awhile in silence nether of them willing to speak for fear that they would both break down in tears.

After a short time she looked up at him with her endless eyes that were older somehow. It was like she had grown from sixteen to seventy in a few short hours. " I know you have to go. Promise me you'll come back," she said calmly.

" I promise. I will come back for you know matter what happens or how long were separated. I'll come back," he said gathering her into his arms.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

" I can't believe they're gone," Makoto said staring out the window.

" I can't ethier," Michiru said sitting in a cushioned chair with her knees drawn up to her chest.

" They're coming back," Minako said trying not to cry again.

" Of course they're coming back," Hotaru said trying to be cheerful.

" They would have left tonight anyway," Rei said.

" The ball! I forgot all about it. Mother said she wasn't going to cancel it because it would help get everyone's spirits up," Serenity said speaking up for the first time since Endymion had left.

" I don't think I could stand to go to a ball," Ami said. " I don't like them anyway and this would even be worse."

" Well, I'm sure mother won't make us go," Serenity said. After she said that they all lapsed into silence. The time flew by and soon it was dark and they were all still sitting exactly were they had been sitting before. " Has anyone seen Setsuna," Ami asked braking the silence.

" Not since this morning," Minako said. " She didn't look very happy."

It all hit them suddenly. Setsuna knew. She knew that all this was going to happen.

" That bitch," Rei said jumping up. " She knew all this was going to happen! She knew and she didn't do anything to stop it! She didn't even warn us!" Her anger immediately left as she broke down into the sobs she'd been holding back since Jadeite left. They all sat there in silence no one knowing quite what to say.

" It wasn't her fault Rei," Serenity said softly more tears running down her face.

" What was that," Haruka said jumping up. The palace seemed to tremble as the sirens that said the Moon Kingdom was being attacked went off. The door burst open as Luna and Artemis ran in in their cat forms.

" Were under attack! Transform yourselves girls!" Luna yelled.

" Mars Power!"

" Jupiter Power!"

" Mercury Power!"

" Venus Power!"

" Neptune Power!"

" Uranus Power!"

Beams of color wrapped themselves around as they transformed into the Sailor Senshi. The Senshi ran out the door. " Wait," Serenity cried as she grabbed Sailor Mars's arm. " What do I do?"

" Don't be an idiot Serenity. Stay here and don't go outside," Sailor Mars said as she ran out the door to join the rest of the Senshi.

" Here's the plan. The palace guard will take the outer line of defense with the Outer Senshi. The Inner Senshi will stay inside the palace gates and take care of anyone or anything that get past the Outer Senshi," Luna said.

Serenity listened to this silently. She hoped they would be all right. She should be helping them not sitting in her room. She walked over to her window. Watching the battle below. A flash of red caught her eye. That looked like…like no it couldn't be. " Endy," she yelled just a dark cloud appeared over the palace. It seemed to be laughing. She could hear the screams of frightened people as the cloud unleashed death onto the Moon Kingdom. What could have happened on Earth that Endymion would be here instead of there. Where were the generals Serenity thought to herself.

*Back on Earth*

As soon as the Generals and the Prince stepped out of the Portal from the Moon Kingdom creatures surrounded them. Before anyone could react one had grabbed Jadeites arm. Gold Fire Destroy! A beam of light shot from Endymion crackling with golden electricity. The creature, which resembled a giant can of hairspray, recoiled instantly and disintegrated. This went on for some time. One of the creatures would get two close and would be ran through with a sword or blasted back. The Generals were getting tired. There was no way they would ever get to the palace. They were fighting a losing battle.

" Endymion! You must go back to Moon and tell them what's going on," Kunzite yelled over the roar of the battle around them.

" I'm not leaving," Endymion shouted back stabbing a creature with his sword.

" Please Endymion for Serenity and the Senshi. They have to know what's happening," Zocite yelled. Endymion reluctantly gave in and together they cast a portal for the moon. Endymion stepped through and was soon out of sight. As soon as he was out of sight all the creatures disappeared and they were left alone in a barren field. They sheathed their swords and started walking towards the Palace of Earth. When they got there what had once been one of the most beautiful castles in the Silver Millenium was reduced to a pile of smoldering rubble. They heard a maniacal laughter and looked up to see a woman who might once have been beautiful. Her long red hair was streaming out behind her and her green eyes gleamed with hatred and malice.

" Welcome to my service gentlemen," the woman said but didn't say. They clearly heard the voice but the woman's mouth didn't move. Her eyes glowed. " I am Queen Beryl and I serve the Most High One Metellia." The name echoed in their heads with an evil too great to describe. An evil that would attack peace loving planets and make their people cold and hating. An evil that drove people mad, made them murder, and do harm. An evil that twisted people's minds around until the one's they loved turned into their enemies. The generals fell to the ground holding their heads between their hands. A blackness engulfed them surrounded them. They were lost, all memories of love and friendships were buried deeper then one could imagine in the bottom of their souls. The Generals who got up off the ground were not the Generals that left the Moon Kingdom promising to come back to their loved ones no matter what. They were pale shadows. Not really them except in the physical sense. They were now only programmed to kill, hate, and take orders. They had no memories and only two purposes to serve Metellia and to kill the Senshi.