Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Consequences: Book Two-An New Order ❯ Chapter Two ( Chapter 2 )

Chapter Two

"I will not allow it." Queen Serenity's ringing voice could be heard throughout the entire office of administration. Irritation and disbelief shown on the powerful monarch's features as she regarded her daughter sitting across from her desk.

Serena looked her mother, pleading. "They are alone on a foreign world, Mama." For the last hour she had been trying almost in vain to have her mother agree to sending her to Terra. "Please, Mama. Neptune and Uranus do not deserve this sort of treatment…"

"I never said they did," the Queen retorted, sounding more than hurt that her daughter would accuse of her willfully causing another pain. "But Serenity, you do not understand that Endymion has demanded a price for our presence on Terra."

Serena smiled sadly. "I know what Endymion wants, Mama, and I willing to do whatever it takes to bring them home, alive." She said gravely, "Mama, do you honestly believe that Silver Millennium can suffer the consequences of not aiding the Queen of Uranus and one of Styx's nieces? We cannot afford to not intervene, Mama. Our kingdom is still too weak and our sovereignty is in question by members of the Alliance. We must do whatever it takes to prevent a war in the solar system."

"Do you think to tell me my duties, daughter?" Serenity said coldly. "I am aware of the opinions of the high council. Yet I am still the High Queen. My word is still law in this Star System."

Serena lowered her head humbly. "Forgive me, your Majesty. It was not wish to offend her Majesty nor question her wisdom. It is only my personal desire to be of an assistance to her Majesty and her Kingdom. I would to do any to prevent a war between the Silver Alliance and Terra, Mama. Pluto has sorely misused Uranus and Neptune and she left them there to die. And I feel deeply for them both. They are confused and feel threatened-"

"Which they should be with Endymion threatening to kill any Senshi found on his planet." The Queen said tartly.

Serena frowned, "Mama, you're not helping."

"Bunny, I only have your best interest at heart." Serenity reached for her daughter's hands and held them to her heart. "Endymion is not to be trusted…"

"He will never hurt me." Serena insisted.

"And how can you be so sure, chérie?" her mother asked softly.

"I need you, Serena," he spoke directly into her mind.

Her mind raced, along with her pulse. Magic was flowing to her and coming out of her. Endymion was doing this to her, drawing on her Silver Crystal and feeding her the power of his Golden Crystal. It was too much for her to handle. She screamed out in pain as her knees buckled beneath the onslaught of their combined power.

Serena looked away. Ever since she and Endymion shared their power to defeat Metallia, she had always felt him. She couldn't explain it and it bothered and frustrated her to no end. "I just know." she turned back to her and met her gaze firmly. "Just as I know that this is an action I must take to rescue Neptune and Uranus and protect the Silver Alliance."

"Bunny, we can try something else. I will deal with the High Council of Uranus and Styx. I am sure I can prevent the planets from going to war as well as save Atalanta and Xanthe. However, I will not allow you to sacrifice yourself." Serenity declared impassionedly. "If you go to Terra, I am afraid that you would never it. And I cannot bear that though, Serenity."

"We don't know that," Serena said. "Mama, I am willing to take on any risk to save them, I will give up my freedom." Then she smiled, "Don't worry, Mama, it's not like I am going there to marry him, I'm just going for visit, with my attendants and Royal guards of course."

Serenity was still reluctant to agree, but she gave consent.

Serena rushed off to tell Mercury, but there was going to be a change of who was going.

*******

"You want Saturn to join us?" Eros asked. She was not very confident about her Princess' plan, but it could be modified before they left for Terra.

Serena nodded thoughtfully. "I know this will take her away from her duty of waiting for Pluto. But I honestly believe that she will be asset to us while we are on Terra. If Atalanta and Xanthe were to see both of you then maybe they would believe that Pluto has gone traitor…"

"Or maybe they will believe that Persephone has betrayed them as well and we have all joined Endymion." Nike suggested as she sat down on Athena's floor.

Serena pursed her lips in deep thought. "That's a risk we have to be willing to take." She told them. She laid down, resting her head on Athena's legs. "But we can't go there looking like we are trying to find the Outers and escape with them."

Eros nodded, "So, who else do you want to take besides Persephone?"

Serena looked at Nike apologetically. "Eros and Athena." She said. Nike looked away sadly, but Serena sat up quickly and reached for her hands. "Nike, I am not trying to exclude you, there are the reasons I chose them makes sense. Eros is my chief guardian and protector. Everyone knows that Athena is my confidante and best friend. And Persephone was my first lady-in-waiting since she is my closest kinswoman as well as second in command of the Senshi."

"This is simply a recon mission," Eros interrupted her. She turned to Nike fully, her amber eyes alight with the prospect of chaos and destruction if the terrans tried to cross them. "We will need you and Bellona here as backup incase something fails. With us on Terra, I will take control of the Outers, Athena can disable the Terrans technology in case we need to escape quickly and Persephone will be our assurance to the Outers. You are to stay and monitor all activities and make sure that when we are ready to leave, we can leave Terra without losing the Princess."

"Our primary duties are to make contact with the Uranus and Neptune and to get them out." Serena told them. "And then you all."

"No," Athena said sharply. "Our duty is to get you out. Once Uranus and Neptune understand the situation it will be a race for us to get off Terra."

Serena frowned. "I can teleport us all from Terra's surface, so don't worry about me. My crystal will protect me and I can protect myself."

Athena started to protest, but Eros laid a hand on her shoulder and shook her head. She was already formulating their escape, so the Princess was in no danger from Endymion or anyone else. Their only problem now lay in getting there.

"Anyone has a suggestion short of us just sneaking onto Terra and having Endymion hunt us down?" Eros asked.

Serena laid down again and closed her eyes, "I can always finagle an invitation out of Endy." She told her.

"Your highness must have forgotten that the terran King is not overly partial to having Senshi on his planet."

"Which is a huge contraction since he is the Senshi of Terra.." Nike pointed out.

"I know," Eros rolled her eyes. "Why can't this man be reasonable?"

"Maybe because we are not thinking of Endymion as man." Athena looked about at the uncomprehending faces. "You know, he's a man, Eros. A MAN." She stressed the word.

It took the Queen of Venus a moment and then she slapped her brow. "How could I've been so stupid."

Nike and Serena were exchanging looks, then the Queen of Jupiter said, "I don't know what you are talking about."

"We have been going about this terran rat the wrong way." Eros stood up and started pacing, "We need to be sublet in handling Endymion. He is a wary bastard and cagey to boot, so whatever we do, it must be direct or he will become suspicious. Yet must keep in mind that Endymion is just a man, and he all the masculine weakness. Your highness, you are his greatest weakness." Eros dropped down before the Princess and grabbed her shoulders. The girl squeaked when she saw the fanatical look in the Venusian's eyes. "You are the perfect bait."

"Bait?" The Princess yelped.

"Oh, yes. Bait." She stood up and jerked the girl to her feet. "You are exploit you feminine wiles. Use everything you can on this rat and bring him down. But first, we need to do something about this gown and maybe your hair, I think." She pulled the frantic girl along with her as she hurried from Athena's chamber. "Come along, Senshi, we have a battle to plan for and win."


*******

Endy was serious contemplating matronicide as he stalked out of the house and into the gardens. It was late, he was tired, agitated and just this side of angry; However, his thickheaded mother could not seem to grasp that fact and continued to harass him until he reached the point were he wanted to strangle her.

Caroline St. Michaels was a pain in her Royal son's backside and forehead. She was like arthritis or bad toothache the type of pain that just would not go way unless you had it removed permanently.

She was a redheaded shrew, who lived by the social registry and only associated with those with the proper pedigree. Which was why she left Endy's dad and abandoned him to marry Kris' father. The only good thing that came out of that was Endy getting Kris as his brother. Still, it failed to endear Caroline to him. And her actions a few years later destroyed any chance of the two ever having any sort of relationship.

Endy groaned as he rubbed viciously at the headache over his eyes. Dark sapphire eyes bleed out to a dark lavender as the pain almost became too much for him to bear. It was becoming harder to him to maintain his illusions especially when he was under extreme stress. And right now, he was swimming in it. Endy stumbled through his rose garden to a pathway marked by two ancient oak trees that served as the gates. He hurried to the two trees and stepped into darkness.

With sound of relief, he allowed the illusion fall and he entered Elysium.

******

It was the supper hour and Kris was yet to find his brother. It was not like his brother to run from anything. The boy overly confident in himself and his abilities. It took a lot to cause a slight panic in Endy, which never lasted long. It was Kris and the others who did the worrying and fearing. Like right now. Where the hell was Endy?

Kris stormed outside and scoured all of Endy's usual hiding places. His horse was in the stable, his motorcycle was in the garage, and Endy did not drive. Kris checked the barracks, his friends hadn't seen the young king, and they were looking for Jamie who had stolen some game. That was Endy's MO. Kris told them the game was Endy's quarters and he would have Umino return it. Speaking of the kid, Umino had been trying to locate his brother as well. Artemis wanted him in the planning room; he had checked the gardens but came up empty. Which meant that the teleporting brat could have been anywhere on Terra.

"Where's Endy?" Artemis asked Kris the moment as he entered the dinning room. Artemis sat at the head of the table. He wore reading glasses as he read a report in his hand. He was looking expectantly at Kris but the young warrior shrugged.

"I don't know, Artemis." He took his seat next to Endy's empty one. "The last time I saw him, Endy was cursing Caroline and that was two hours ago."

"We should really do something about that woman." Terran said from the other end of the table. He was cutting to what could have only been the side of a steer dosed in steak sauce. "She came here with a group of desperate little girls and their equally desperate mothers just she could play lady of the manor. What that woman has done is disruptive to staff. She's making demands on everyone and she pissing people off."

"I know that." Artemis said with a hint of frustration. "That woman has tried my patience as well. She has seemed to have forgotten that this is a school as well as military installation. We are not here to have parties or cater to the whims of bored and jaded socialites. Nor can we allow her to disrupt Endy's schedule. He has to be prepared for his tour"

"You want to ship her off?" Kris asked hopefully.

"Ship whom off?" Mike asked as he and the other stragglers trooped inside.

"Caroline and her plague." Kris told him as he started to fill his plate. "By the way, have either of you guys seen Endy?"

All eyes turned to Jamie. The blond general looked around at all the expectant face and he asked, "What?"

"James, where is Endymion?" Artemis asked with a hint of impatience.

"Elysium." He said sourly. "Where else can he run to escape his mother?"

Kris shook his head, "Should have known."

"He's been doing that a lot these days." Troy said worriedly.

"I'm trying not to read too much into it." Artemis told them, "However, this is the fifth time he has disappeared this week. Terran, can you not talk to Endymion and find out what is troubling him?"

Terran swallowed a mouthful of his steak as he cut off another chunk. "I've been trying, but you how Endy been avoiding direct personal questions since he discovered hair growing on other parts of his body other than his head."

"Yes, the King is overly fond of secrets. And I feel he is hiding something rather important from us." Artemis said quietly. "Kristopher, I want you to-"

"His energy transference with the Princess did something to him." Kris ran a hand through his short silvery hair and scrubbed his face. "That's what Endy been hiding."

"And you are just saying something about this now?" Artemis said coolly.

Kris looked up at his mentor, "Endy has kept this from me as well. Only today did he chose to fill me in."

"What's so special about today?" Terran asked him.

"Nothing really. We were just watching the surveillance video of Sailor Neptune when Endy announced that can see a Senshi's true form." Kris told him. The others were looking at him blankly, only Artemis seemed to understand to what he was referring, and the white haired instructor bade him on. "While looking at the tape, I told Umino and Endy that it was impossible to know if the girl was terran or not. Endy came over, took one look at the screen and said conviction that the girl was indeed the Senshi of Neptune."

"Endymion recognized Xanthe of Aglaia?" Artemis sounded skeptically.

Kris shook his head. "I think he knew her."

"Kris, you just said…" Jamie started to interrupt, but Kris cut him off.

"She could have been anyone," the stony eyed youth said, "And for second, I though Endy was trying to be a wise ass. Until he started pointing out a few things that no one really would have noticed even if they had not been paying attention-I take that back, there were a lot things that Endy saw that no one, could have noticed with the naked eye."

"Such as?" Artemis asked.

Kris raised his eyes to the ceiling as he ticked the things off. "Endy saw the water moving towards Neptune. He said that the coffee in store keeper's cup and the water in the fish tanks was responding to her presence."

"Did he say more?" Terran asked.

Kris nodded, "Endy seems to believe that Neptune is unaware of her new found abilities."

"And he is correct." Artemis told them.

"Why do you say that?" Troy asked curiously.

A facial muscle was moving wildly in Artemis' right cheek. Terran knew how his friend felt at this moment. Artemis was conflicted by his loyalties to the Senshi, each he had personally trained and cared for as if they were his own. Then there was his pledge to Endymion and Terra. Artemis might have felt like he was betraying one for the other, but Terran suffered from no such problems. His loyalty belonged solely to Endymion.

"You can't put a Senshi in his or her element and not expect the element to respond." Terran told them. "Neptune is water, 100% and all water, no matter it's form is drawn to her like a magnet. It's the main reason you would never want to face she and Athena Diana together in battle. They could draw on each other's magic for Daghda knows how long and survive to destroy their enemy. That was one of the main those two were never partnered up in Silver Millennium, Right, Art?"

"It was more to it than that." Artemis told him. "Aphrodite knew the two could be a powerful and deadly force by working together. My Queen wanted to make them stronger through independent means therefore she encouraged the two cultivate natural partnerships with the other Senshi."

"Yeah, but I never got the hang of that natural partners theory." Terran told him.

"It works on the same principles of a soul mate." Kris answered for him. "But instead of being in love with the person you are working with, the relationship become one like that of a very close relative."

"My girls thinks of each other as sisters." Artemis smiled faintly. "We encouraged them see one another as family and develop those type of bonds."

"Why would you all go through something like?" Troy asked.

"Because of the old saying." Mike answered for him. "Blood is thicker than water. They are extremely close to one another and would die for each other."

"So how did Pluto fall out of this loop?" Jamie asked him

Grief clouded Artemis blue eyes, "Until recently, we did not know Pluto had abandoned her partnership with Saturn…"

"Maybe it could explain why she went rouge?" Troy said.

Mike agreed, "Is it possible that something went wrong in their relationship that could have caused Pluto to snap?"

Artemis shrugged, "Anything is possible, but we will not know until we talk to Persephone herself, for only she could give us some insight into Ananke's discontent."

"We should have that chance very soon." Kris told him.

"How so?"

"Endy plans to have the Senshi come to."

"Endymion is stubborn, but he is no fool." Artemis said confidently. "I know that if either Terran or myself were to approach him with this subject and show it from all possible points of views he will agree-"

Just then the dining room door was thrown open and red faced, profusely sweating soldier came in. "My lord Artemis, sir. There is an urgent transmission coming from the Lunar Palace."

*******

He marched into his private chambers and closed the door after giving the order that he did not want to be disturbed for any reason unless it was the Moon,( which he had intended as a joke,) only to find himself fifteen minutes later in the communications room with Troy, a sleepy looking Jamie, Mike, and a pissed off Kris. Umino shoved a cup of coffee into his hand along with printed copy of the Lunar Queen's latest transmission.

A second one without waiting for a reply aroused everyone's suspicion.

"Satellite imaging coming in." A technician reported. "We have established communications."

"Proceed." Endy took a head set Umino held for him. He was not in the mood to deal with one of Queen Serenity flunkies or her, Endy muttered to himself. If this wasn't an emergency or something, that lackey was going to get to hear about it. How dare that moon twit summon him. He was already pissed off because of the crap his mother was trying to pull; he did not need his future mother-in-law adding to his already foul mood.

Static appeared on the screen. Endy assumed his posture of superiority

"What do you think they want?" he heard Mike ask Kris.

His brother shook his head.

Endy tuned everyone and everything else out as focused his attention on the screen as it cleared and he eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He, like all the others in the communications room, had been expecting an emissary or someone other low ranking official to appear with message from the Queen, Endy was completely taken off guard as he openly gawked at the vision of ethereal loveliness on the screen.

"Endy?" Serena's expression was slightly puzzled as she looked at the dark haired king. "Oh, I assumed that I would be talking to Umino or your brother. What are you doing there?"

Damn. This was low. He knew what they doing, he amazed that the moon folk was would go so low as to tempt him with this-this…

Kris glanced back his brother and swore. "Aww, hell, we just lost, Endy." He muttered.

Umino looked worriedly at his king. "Sire?"

Her long hair hung about her in shimmering waves of pale silk, just like her dress, if it could have been called that. What that dress was was short, a tiny sheer little thing in the front that was showing more leg than he had ever seen on her outside of a surveillance photo. His eyes homed in on her chest and stayed there until part of her messages got through his lust-hazed brain-He started to tell her about all the naughty thoughts that were dancing about in his head, but he remembered himself before the embarrassing words slipped out. (Okay, he would not have been embarrassed.) "Where else would I be, Princess? This is my planet." He managed to say after he reluctantly drew his eyes away from the more interesting parts of her body.

She looked as if she wanted to roll her eyes. It was only her training and sense of propriety that stopped her from doing that and say much worst. Serena forced herself to smile at the snide little…

"Endy," she said sweetly. "I was just informed by the Secretary of Intergalactic Affairs that I am to go on a goodwill tour of our solar system."

His right brow rose questioningly. "What's this got to do with me?"

To answer him, Serena played a dirty trick on him that shut down Endy's brain for a good two minutes which was all the time she needed. When Endy finally came back to his senses, the Princess was asking him "…can I come?"

Endy blinked incredulously. Come? He was more than willing to make her come as many times as she liked-Whoa! His mind left his personal gutter, kicking and screaming. "You want to come to Terra?" He demanded warily. What was that little strumpet-in that delectable, gossamer gown that showed her rosy tipped…Uh, what did she want again?

Serena had a vapid smile on her face as she prattled on. "Patricia suggested it and think it is a wonderful idea. To have you formally welcome me…"

Endy's eyes narrowed and he stepped closer to the screen. "And while you here, promoting yourself, you get to sneak off with your rogue Senshi?" She looked so soft and inviting with all her glorious hair falling about her…Down boy. Focus. He ordered himself.

Her smile back brittle around the edges, but Serena refused to be baited. She was going to finagle an invitation from that weasel even if it was the last thing she would ever do. "Endy, be reasonable." She told him. "By allowing me on Terra, you will be showing the other rulers of the universe-"

"Spare me that bull, my dear," he said cutting her off and another vivid image in his head. He wondered if someone spiked his coffee. His eyes narrowed, or maybe it was just her. Damned little witch was trying to seduce him mentally. Well ha the joke was on her. The lunar Queen and damned people had played straight into his hand. Getting to ogle his Princess was just a bonus. Endy just stood back and let her continue to try to talk him into letting she and her Senshi come to Terra. Endy fought hard to keep the sardonic grin off his face as he threw in for good measure.. "I'm sure you moon folk and the rest really do want to establish some type of peace between the Silver Alliance and Terra, however, my love, but the answer is no." She was not stepping one delicate little foot on Terra until she agreed to become his wife.

Serena stared at him in open mouth astonishment before shrieking, "What?"

"You heard me," he told her. "I said-"

"I know what you said," she retorted hotly, "You have just told me, ME, the supposed love of your life, no I can't come to see you."

"I may love you, but I am not stupid, Serenity." He told her. "If you think for one moment that I-"

"Endy," Terran shouted from outside the room, "Get out here now, before I kill your damned mother…"

For a moment, Endy just stood there, staring at the door with a look of pure horror on his face, like a deer caught in the headlights. His mother was going to make him do something he was going to regret for the rest of his life. Well maybe not for the rest of life, maybe for a couple minutes, but he would get over as long as it meant she was out of his hair.

He was tempted to just let Terran kill her. Then he remembered the woman had given birth to him; that alone should have been points in her favour.

"Endymion?" His mother called in her sickening sweet, singsong voice.

Then again…

"Endy?" Serena asked in a heartbroken, little voice, "Who was that?"

His head whipped from the door to the screen so fast it was wonder he did not have whiplash. He looked at Serena, the though of his mother and her friends an idea popped up in his devious little mind and he smiled. A cruel, malicious grin that could scare a holy man suddenly became charming and amicable.

"Love, I would be honored if you were to grace this savage planet with your divine presence." He said smoothly.

Serena's left brow went up at his rapid change of moods. "Huh?"

"Darling, my angel, love of my life, my Princess…"

"Endy, you're scaring me-" Serena said shakily. In their past life, when ever he started on his praises, that usually meant he wanted something. The rat bastard!

"Come to Terra." He told her. "You're right. I need to be concern about Terra's standing in the intergalactic community. Therefore, we will be honored to receive you…"

Fear vanished, but doubt was still there. "What's the catch?" She demanded quickly. He was giving in way to quickly.

Prince Charming just vanished and the cynical King returned, "Look. You called me asking to come to my planet and I just said you could." He almost yelled at her. "What the hell more do you want from me? A fucking engraved invitation? That is not going happen. Come if you want, damn it. I don't care, but it just better be you, your goddamned ladies and two guards. Nothing else, Serenity, or swear to God…"

She began to wonder if saving Uranus and Neptune was really worth this. But she pushed that out her mind. Yes, they were worth it. She was their Princess and it was time for her to be serious, Endy be damned.

"Thank you," she chirped, "The girls and I will be there in the morning."

"Girls?" He demanded, "I'm serious, Serenity. No fuc…" But the transmission was cut off.

From the back, Kris cleared his throat. Endy turned around to face his smirking friends. "Well, Endy, I guess the Senshi are coming to Terra."

Endy shook his head in disbelief. "How did she do it?" He was a bit awe-stuck. "How did I lose control of my game?"

"Look at it this way, Endy." Jamie threw a companionable about his king's shoulders. "You are getting what you wanted without appearing weak."

"Yeah," Troy muttered, "But at what cost?"

Endy was incensed, he knew who to blame. The doors to the communication room were thrown open and he smiled maliciously. And there was his victim. Caroline stood in the door with her hands on her hips as she glared down at him. He suddenly had a picture of Beryl in his mind and was itching to summon his crystal and just take his mother out.

"Endymion Alexander Darien Shields-" she began.

"Caroline Joanna Elizabeth Shields-St. Michaels," he countered. "You have just ruined my life."

She froze, stopping in mid rant as she meet the enraged look on her son's face. She wondered what had she done to deserve his ungrateful behavior this time?



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