Oceanus Procellarum: A Silver Millennium Adventure
By Lady Moon Goddess
Disclaimer: Naoko Takeuchi is the owner…not me.
A/N: Good thing I stopped where I did last chapter, or it would have been endless. Please enjoy chapter six.
~*~
Chapter Six:
Queen Selenity walked through the Gaean Palace, checking on each royal child of the Galaxy. They had to rest and recover from the night’s previous excitement. She found Serenity asleep in the library on the couch nearest the fireplace. The queen also came upon Kasei, Mars, Dorian, and Pluto within the library. Pluto greeted the queen, as she did not sleep often unlike her brother. Selenity smiled and asked what book she was reading. She named the book then set it down.
“Do you have any idea who attacked you?” Selenity asked as Pluto walked from her chair towards the queen.
“It is a new enemy. I did not sense death upon any of the seven,” Pluto’s mind began to remember the horrifying images of enemies caught in the endless death found on her planet.
Selenity felt something terrifying about the number seven, but nothing in her mind gave her reason to feel this way. “Let us not discuss the evil within our lives, but think of happiness. I am so joyous that everyone is safe,” the queen hugged Pluto, and they walked out of the library.
They headed towards the dining hall in order to get something to calm their spirits. “Endymion was the reason for all our safety — especially Serenity’s safety.” Pluto saw Luna and began talking to her, leaving Selenity wondering.
~*~
She folded her arms across her chest, preparing for failure. The seven shadows bowed, falling to their knees and laying face down to the cold floor. Beryl rose to her feet and approached the terrified figures. She grasped her staff and walked closer and closer, collecting dark energy with every step. The shadows shuddered in fear as Beryl stood before them. “I handed them right to you. They were unguarded, asleep at one point, and oblivious of their surroundings. My most unreliable general,” she pointed to Zoicite as he hid his face out of embarrassment, “could have completed this mission.”
The shadows covered their heads, thinking this would decrease the damage inflicted by their sovereign.
Beryl lifted her staff and was about to strike when Kunzite stopped her. The queen stared at her general, surprised at his boldness, this reaction followed quickly by anger. “How dare you stop me!” She slapped Kunzite forcefully, making him falter.
“My queen, I think destroying them would not benefit us,” his right cheek was kissed with red, and he placed his hand upon it.
Beryl slowly lowered her staff then walked back up to the threshold. She set her staff in its place then sat upon her throne. She sighed, leaning back casually taking a moment to think, “My future plans could use your special qualities,” the seven shadows sighed with relief, rising to their feet and bowing, “As for right now, I want all of my generals and newest army to attack…”
~*~
Selenity wished King Aarde and Queen Gaea good-bye as she walked through the portrait. Serenity watched everyone but Kasei and Mars enter their portals. They were also saying farewell when Kasei walked toward Serenity, “I hope we all can be together without being attacked,” Kasei smiled then placed a kiss upon her right hand. The princess smiled and watched him leave. Mars smiled at her friend and placed her hand gently on Serenity’s wound,
“Is your arm feeling better?”
Serenity smiled at her concern and gave her a hug, “Yes, and thanks for being there for me or I would have been dead at the first attack,” Mars nodded then followed her brother.
The royals of Earth approached Serenity, and her heart began to quicken its pace. Serenity looked at Endymion who had bandages all over his body, reminding her of the previous night. Queen Gaea hugged the daughter of the moon and smiled, squeezing her shoulder. King Aarde nodded then looked to his son.
Serenity waited for Endymion to say something, and looked into his eyes. Endymion did not speak, so she did, “I owe you my life, Endymion,” she stood in front of him and rose on tiptoe then placed a delicate kiss on his cheek, “thank you for watching out for me.”
Endymion could only stare at her, taken aback at the gesture, but he did manage to finally speak, “I would do anything to make certain that you are not harmed,” he took her hand and assisted her into the portal.
~*~
Serenity stood at her balcony, gazing at the blue and green planet before her. She sighed then walked to a chair and rested. She closed her eyes and soon fell into a slumber.
The child of the moon saw horrible images of war. She saw bodies burn from immense fires and soldiers die by the sword. She walked through the scene and found a palace—its defenses breached. She entered the palace and watched soldiers with no mark destroy everything. She found everything familiar but soon she was outside the palace once more. A giant cloud of black smoke materialized above the palace, and she watched the soldiers who bore no mark leave the palace quickly. The cloud gave off an intense light and when Serenity opened her eyes, the palace was gone. She covered her mouth as she noticed a pillar fall above her…
She screamed as Selenity tried to wake up her daughter, “Endymion!” Queen Selenity gasped and took a step back at her daughter’s outburst.
Serenity’s heart was about to explode due to its fast pace, and she wiped her face as sweat formed a layer over her skin. “Mother, what happened?” Serenity stared at her mother as Selenity slid down the wall and sat in the corner. Serenity stood up and went to her mother, “Mother, what happened!”
Selenity shut her eyes as tears escaped her closed eyelids and trickled down her cheeks. “Earth was attacked.” Serenity found herself stunned by this statement and fell on her butt. Queen Selenity took a deep breath, but she let her tears fall freely, “Queen Gaea was killed…”
Serenity’s mouth dropped and tears immediately formed in her ocean-blue eyes. Queen Selenity put her head against the wall and let the tears stream down her face. “The Palace was destroyed…” Serenity held her knees to her chest and buried her face into her knees, “Aarde and Endymion escaped to their hideout, but they do not hold any power over their planet.”
~*~
Queen Beryl sat on the only thing still standing—the throne. She smirked at the glorious site before her. The smell of blood and smoke attacked her senses, and she embraced the triumphant aroma. Her Seven Shadows had done their part, and they stood before her on one knee. She nodded in acceptance, and she laughed maliciously.
~*~
The young woman stood before the queen with a baby wrapped in a blanket in her arms. “Now, why is it you needed to steal this blanket?” Kunzite asked the trembling woman.
“My baby…” the woman answered, “has nothing.”
Kunzite looked to his queen who crossed her legs. Queen Beryl opened her eyes and rose to her feet. She approached the woman who fell to one knee and bowed her head. Beryl stopped in front of her and glared at the woman with her child. Beryl kicked the mother, pushing her on her back — the baby rolling out of her arms. Beryl placed her heel on the mother’s neck and motioned for Kunzite to pick up the screaming baby. “If you did not have this baby, then you would not have a reason to steal…”
The mother’s eyes widened, and she grabbed Beryl’s leg, trying to escape. Kunzite handed the child to Beryl, then he made the mother rise to her feet. The young woman tried her best to escape Kunzite’s grip, but she couldn’t. She watched Beryl unwrap her child and throw the blanket to Nephrite.
“I shall dispose of this child so you shall steal no more.”
The mother screamed as she extended her arms, trying to reach her child. Beryl placed the baby on the black marble floor and stepped away. The hysterical mother continued fighting against Kunzite, tears splashing on the floor. Queen Beryl faced the child and prepared her staff. The mother fell to her knees and buried her face into her hands. Kunzite shook the mother and forced her eyes to look. The mother took one sharp breath in as she saw the dark energy form.
~*~
The smoke from the blast soon passed. The child no longer lay in that place. Queen Beryl relaxed her shoulders and put her staff back in its cradle by her throne. Kunzite stood up, leaving the mother weeping on her knees.
Queen Beryl froze to the spot and surveyed her surroundings. “What is that noise?”
Kunzite began to look around the throne room along with the other three generals and found no source for the sound. Nephrite approached the queen and pointed towards the upper corner of the room. “Look, my queen.”
The other generals looked to where he was pointing and found the mysterious figure standing atop the pillar.
“Midnight Warrior…” Queen Beryl’s fists clenched as she saw her nemesis. The man in black with silver armor stood with a baby in his arms.
“Queen Beryl,” the hero jumped from the pillar landing gently on his feet, “it has been over two months since our last meeting.”
The queen glared at the man, discreetly signaling her generals to attack on her mark. “Why do you continue to be a nuisance?” She slowly walked back towards her staff while Midnight followed her. “I do not know why you think helping these pathetic souls will do any good,” she stopped once she was in reach of her staff, and quickly looked at Kunzite, “My kingdom will be held together with strict discipline,” Beryl grabbed her staff and fired an energy blast straight for him while the four generals launched their own attacks.
Midnight leapt athletically into the air, standing on top of the pillar once more. The attacks followed him, and he made his way towards the mother of the child in his arms. He held the baby close and slid quickly beside the mother. He handed the baby to her and with lightning speed, he grabbed her around the waist and headed for the door. But their avenue of escape was blocked by Beryl’s guards. Queen Beryl laughed as she saw her enemy trapped. Midnight set the mother down, and they backed away from the soldier’s swords and found themselves surrounded.
“My dear Midnight Warrior, I am not sure if you can escape this time,” she closed the distance between them and stood face to face, looking into his eyes, “There is no way out.” She laughed once more and looked out at her kingdom. The throne room looked over the entire kingdom. It was surrounded by trees of all kinds, shading the room. A roof of black marble was supported by the pillars to shield those within from the elements. No walls surrounded the room for no one would even dare try and attack.
Queen Beryl walked to the edge and looked down. She gazed at the long descent and soon stepped back, “It would save me the time and energy from destroying you if you would just jump.” The queen pointed to the drop then nodded and the guards forced them to the edge. Midnight held the mother’s arm and slowly backed up. He looked over his shoulder and stared at the steep drop below, taking in the trees intertwining branches on the way down. The mother faltered as half of her foot went over the edge. Midnight quickly helped her recover her footing then stopped. They both turned to face their ‘deaths’ when Midnight Warrior grabbed the mother’s waist and jumped.
Queen Beryl’s smile faded to anger when she saw them standing safe upon a tree branch. She growled as she ran to the edge and cursed him. Midnight waved at the queen then jumped to the next tree and the next until they were out of sight.
“Kunzite!” she yelled, “I want every last soldier out looking for him.”
She paced back and forth, her arms folded in front of her chest.
“And if the mother and child are found?” Kunzite waited for his queen’s answer when Nephrite joined him at his side,
“We’ll make sure that both the child and mother are destroyed this time,” Beryl smiled at the word ‘destroyed’ and placed a hand on his shoulder,
“At least I have one general of whom I can depend on,” she lightly squeezed his shoulder then sat on her throne.
Nephrite smirked at the victory of winning Beryl’s affection. Kunzite rolled his eyes, discarding the thought of any competition. Nephrite took his shoulder and Kunzite turned around,
“The festival is approaching,” Kunzite scratched under his jaw, “and she needs someone to spend the night with.” Nephrite smirked once more then let his shoulder go.
~*~
Midnight Warrior placed the mother down and sighed, “That was quite exhilarating.” He smiled then turned his attention to the child, “I hope I did not hurt your baby in some way.”
The mother looked up at her savior and kissed his cheek, “Thank you.” She walked into her house and Midnight headed for home.
He reached a cave on the outskirts of the kingdom and began removing his armor. Scars from previous rescues were revealed and he placed his hands under a small waterfall and washed the sweat from his face. An older man stood and greeted the younger man, “Anything new today?”
He hugged the older man and sat beside him, “No,” he sighed then took off his boots, “The people will be safe for a month or so. Beryl’s army will be looking for me, and they will focus on nothing else.”
The older man smiled, “Good, my son.”
