Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Finding Destiny ❯ Malachite Remembers ( Chapter 33 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Angel Love 
Another look into the past of the Senshi and the Generals. This time through a slightly different perspective.
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Adventure / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.30.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 702 | Status: Completed
Another look into the past of the Senshi and the Generals. This time through a slightly different perspective.
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Adventure / Action | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 10.30.2002 | Pages: 4 | Words: 3.7K | Visits: 702 | Status: Completed
Finding Destiny
Part 33
By Angel Love
Author's notes: I'm going back into the past, but this time I am doing it through Malachite. I thought that I would do something different this time.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Sailor Moon. I am just borrowing the characters for awhile. I do own the Guardians however.
Sailor Moon let out a small curse as she saw the attacks heading towards them. She could also hear Mars running towards them, but she knew that the fire scout would never make it in time to deflect any of the attacks; she would only get hurt in the process anyway. That was not something that Moon wanted.
"Go now!" Venus screamed at her leader, her wide blue eyes staring in disbelief at that the attack.
Moon looked down at her, shaking her head no. Quickly she made the decision to shield the other girl as much as possible with her own body, with any luck the other girl would come out of this with just a few scratches. Pushing down the now sobbing Venus, she whispered, "I would gladly die for you."
Malachite watched as Moon completely covered Venus with her own body. The smirk that he previously had on his face was completely gone now, replaced with a look of confusion as Sailor Moon's words echoed in his mind, making him recall another time when he had heard those words.
Malachite's mind (Silver Millennium):
Blue eyes met his, pain clear in their depths. He held her in his arms as he whispered, "Why?"
"Because I would gladly die for you," she whispered back.
Two and a half years before:
Malachite sat on the edge of the stone wall gazing up at the moon. It looked so lifeless, but he had heard the enchanting stories of the beautiful people of the moon. The people who lived for a thousand years before growing old. But the people of Earth were forbidden to go to the moon. It was a law passed by the Supreme Queen Serenity herself. It was done so long ago that no one could remember just why.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice behind him asked.
Malachite turned his head to look at his young charge, the Terrain Prince Endymion. He was a little thin, but his dark ebony hair and his piercing blue eyes told of the man he was to become. "Hello, Endy," he greeted warmly.
"Do you think we will ever be allowed there?" Endymion asked, longing coloring his youthful voice.
"You can always work a treaty between the Earth and the Moon when you become king," Malachite smiled warmly at the Prince. He knew that it was the Prince's dream to walk on the moon, speak to the people and to get passed the stupid fears that his people had of the other race.
Endymion gave him a rueful smile. "That's something to aspire to. I am sure my father would love to hear that one."
"You might be surprised," Malachite said, sliding off the wall to stand before the sixteen-year-old Prince. "Let's go train. You need some muscles on those scrawny bones."
Endymion took a playful punch at the other man, just to have it deflected easily. Then he turned and led the way to the training area, taking one last longing look over his shoulder at the bright orb in the night sky.
Two years later:
The four generals awaited the Prince in the clearing behind the palace. They were going to the moon to ask for the treaty the Prince had talked about for the last two years. His father thought that the idea was great, just like Malachite thought.
Malachite turned when he heard the footsteps of Endymion approaching. Like he has predicted several years before, the Earth Prince had grown into quite a man. He commanded the attention from anyone who saw him. His dark ebony locks fell over his forehead and his eyes held an intensity that the head general had never seen. His armor shone brightly in the sunlight, covering his well-muscled body. His cape flowed behind him as he walked with purpose towards them.
"How is the king?" Zoicite asked after they bowed respectfully before him with him rolling his eyes at them.
"I have said my goodbyes," Endymion said in a deep voice, his eyes on the ground before him.
"I'm sorry, my prince," the blonde general bowed his head.
Endymion clasped the man on the shoulder before looking at the rest of the generals. "It is time to make my dreams come true."
Jadeite grinned. "I believe that it is time to see if you can put all that talking that you do to good use."
They all laughed as they prepared to teleport to the kingdom of the moon. All thinking of the hopeful future they would all have. Unaware that they were about to meet five girls that would change their lives.
A couple of weeks later:
"Malachite!" a cheerful voice called out.
Malachite grinned as he saw the Princess of Venus running towards him. Her golden dress matching her golden hair. Its straps tied together at her shoulders. It fit her snuggly at her chest with a snug strip around her tummy. At her waist there were several silk slips over the skirt. And at the moment she held them up, showing off her high-heeled golden shoes, as she ran towards him at full speed.
He opened his arms and she fell right into them. "Hello Mina," he whispered into her sweet smelling hair.
"Hiya Mal," Mina beamed up at him, her breathing fast from her exertion.
Malachite brushed a gentle kiss across her lips before he pulled her down to set in the grass with him. He smiled when Mina snuggled her head against his shoulder.
He watched his Prince and the Supreme Princess Serenity sitting much the same way he was with Mina just a few feet away. He could hear Serenity's tinkling laughter and Endymion's responding chuckle across the distance. The sounds soothed his soul. And it seemed that it did the same for his girlfriend because she sighed contently and threaded her fingers through his.
"Mal?" her soft voice broke through his thoughts.
"Hm?"
"How did you become one of Endymion's guards?"
Malachite looked towards the man in question. "I was one of fifty boys raised with the possibility of becoming a bodyguard to the prince. When I was fourteen they had a tryout of sorts to test our fighting skills. Zoicite, Nephlite, Jadeite and myself were the best of the bunch." Mina giggled at the obvious pride in his voice. "After we were chosen to be Endymion's bodyguards, we began to learn the magic that was needed in our positions."
"Did you like Endymion and the others?"
"Yes. Endy gave off a certain spark even at twelve. It drew people to him. Zoi, Jade, and Neph are like little brothers to me. We all share a bond that would be extremely hard to break."
Mina smiled up to him. "Sounds like the bond that us inners and Serenity have. And Serenity draws people to her like moths to ice."
"That is flame, Mina," Malachite corrected gently.
"Oh," she blushed slightly in embarrassment.
Malachite chuckled. It amazed him how she would always mess up simple phrases. She was so cute when she got flustered. "So, just how did you become Venus, the scout of love?"
Mina looked away, her eyes filled with sadness. Her story was obviously not as happy or as simple as his was. "I was five when I came to the Moon," her voice was very quiet as she remembered her loneliness of that time. "My mother died when I was four. She was pretty and always so affectionate towards me. I remember that I didn't understand why one day Mama didn't wake up. And papa," she paused and took a deep breath. "Papa took it bad. He stopped coming to see me. My nurse told me that it was because I looked too much like my mother and it hurt him to look at me. So he didn't want to be around me."
Malachite gathered her in his arms. "Oh, Mina, I'm sorry."
She smiled shakily against his chest, snuggling more into his embrace. "I remember that people were always polite and always going out of their way to give me anything that I wanted. But no one gave me hugs or tucked me into bed. Or sang to me like she did."
"Then one day, I think it was a couple of days after I turned five, I was sitting outside in my little playground when I saw this giant door appear out of no where. It was large and white with a mist surrounding it. It opened and two women stepped out. One had long green hair and red eyes. But it was the other that captivated me. She had long blonde hair that curled all the way down to her ankles and soft hazel eyes. Her smile reminded me so much of my mother that I forgot that I wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. They seemed to fluster my nurse but for some reason she didn't go running for the guards."
"She and the green-haired girl, who I later found out was Sailor Pluto, nodded at each other and Pluto left with my poor, scared nurse. The blonde kneeled before me, her white boots just inches from me. She smiled at me so sweetly that I burst into tears. She gathered me into her arms and sung softly to me. It was the first time that anyone had ever held me since my mama had died." A fear tears fell from her eyes, soaking the front of his uniform.
"She stayed with me for several hours. We talked about everything that a five-year-old could think of. Then Pluto came back and announced that my father had agreed to me moving to the moon. The pretty blonde explained that I was going to the Moon to live with the royal family there. I remember being really upset that the girl wasn't coming with me."
"But she just hugged me tight and whispered in my ear, 'You are a child of love, Mina. You have such a bright future ahead of you. And great friends waiting to meet you'."
"When I was about to leave with Pluto through that strange door, I turned around and asked her if I would ever see her again."
She winked at me, smiled and said, 'I am your guardian angel. I will be there when you need me. Remember I am never far away'." Mina smiled at the memory of the beautiful young woman.
"Did you ever see her again?" Malachite asked, intrigued by the mysterious woman she had mentioned.
"No," Mina shook her head, looking up at the sky. "But somehow I know she is near and I will see her again." She smiled up at him.
"Did you ever ask Pluto about her?"
Again, Mina shook her head. "Pluto is not one to share any secrets. I know that if she decided not to tell me who she was at the time there was a reason for it."
Malachite smiled tenderly at her, amazed by her understanding. He reached in the pocket inside the jacket of his uniform and pulled out a red bow. At her inquisitive look, he gave her a roguish smile. He reached into her hair, unclasped the golden clip and replaced it with the bow. "I thought that you would like it."
She pulled a mirror out from her space pocket and looked at herself. She giggled and kissed him tenderly. "I love it! And I'll never wear anything else in my hair!" She slid her fingers along her satin bow and looked up at him with shining eyes. "I love you, Mal."
"I love you too." He tenderly kissed her lips.
The Moment the Generals arrived on Earth:
There were fighting everywhere they could see. The four generals fought desperately to get inside the castle, since it was impossible to teleport directly inside the palace duo to magical barricades. They had spent several long tiring hours securing the palace when the prince arrived.
"Malachite," Endymion shouted at the commanding general. "How bad is it?"
The general shook his head. He showed him the views on the various parts of the planet. Fighting was everywhere. Monsters were slaughtering the armies sent to protect the villages, leaving the innocent people at the mercy of the blood lusting monsters.
"Damn," Endymion cursed. "The palace?"
"The palace is secure for the moment," Nephlite answered. His arms were crossed and he was leaning against the walls, watching the monitors without any expression on his face.
"But it will fall if we don't get some help," Jadeite added, from his position next to the monitors, not watching the massacre on the screens.
Endymion closed his eyes and leaned his hands on the table in front of him. His cape surrounded him as he tried to contain the feeling of despair welling up inside of him. "Do we know where they are coming from?"
"No," Malachite answered softly. "None of us can figure out where these monsters originated from or just who their leader is."
"And we have no idea what their weakness is?"
"Actually, they have various weaknesses," Jadeite spoke up. "But all of them differ from physical, magical, to elemental. Each time you figure one out, the monsters change and you start from the beginning again."
"A very god strategy," Endymion mused, his blue eyes staring at the carnage on the screen. He felt sick to his stomach watching the way the monsters ripped their victims apart. He was thankful that there wasn't any sound; otherwise he probably would have lost his lunch.
Zoicite leaned against the wall next to Nephlite, crossing his arms in a similar stance as the other man. "Whoever is controlling them is one demented person."
The others nodded in agreement and began to plan their next move.
Several hours later, Endymion turned to look at the four generals. "I would feel better if you came with me."
Nephlite shook his head. "You need to get out of here. If we all go, they will feel the energy we exhibited. It wouldn't take them very long to figure out that you aren't here and come after us."
"You know that you will all probably die if you do this," Endymion searched each of their faces finding only determination.
Jadeite gave him a roguish smile. "We knew that was a possibility when we took this job."
"Dying to protect you would be a great honor," Malachite added.
Endymion gave them a bittersweet smile. "It was a honor to have you as my guards and as my friends." He turned away to hide the tears that were threatening to fall, but Malachite had seen the brightness in his eyes.
"Be safe, young prince," he whispered.
"If you get the chance..." Endymion started.
Zoicite laid a hand on the other man's armored shoulder. "We will follow."
Endymion nodded and began to prepare to teleport when Nephlite caught his eye.
"Please, don't tell them what is happening down here," Nephlite pleaded. "They will just come down here to help us. The girls are needed to stay there and protect the Moon and the rest of the Silver Alliance."
Endymion nodded. "I promise not to tell the scouts a thing," he whispered, knowing that he would regret the vow as it left his lips. Then he teleported away with a heavy heart.
The four generals breathed a sigh of relief but tensed as they heard shouting from the imperial guards that were stationed around the castle. The youma had made their way past the palace's defenses.
"Well, let's rumble," Jadeite said, giving them all a brave smile.
The four ran out of the room and into a desperate battle with the youma for their lives, the lives of the women that they loved and their prince and his princess. Each hoping that they would live to see a world of peace again.
Zoicite was the first to fall. Malachite watched in horror as his best friend became covered with youma. He turned away from the sounds of bone crunching and took his rage out on the youma nearest to him. "May you find peace in your walk through the valley of death, Zoi," Malachite whispered when the youma nearest him were gone and new ones were coming at him.
Not long after Zoicite's fall, Malachite heard Nephlite scream out Jadeite's name. A sense of loss filled Malachite's heart, as he knew that the youngest of the generals was gone as well.
He was becoming overwhelmed by youma and he turned to see that Nephlite was too was surrounded. Their eyes locked as they both began to fall under the pain from the blows, claws and teeth.
Malachite was surprised when the youma didn't kill him. Instead they dragged his broken body to the throne room, two physically holding him up in a standing position.
Sitting on the throne was a young girl/monster. She had flaming red hair and an evil, insane glint in her red eyes. Malachite recognized her as one of the noble's daughters that he had seen around the castle many times, always making eyes at Prince Endymion. He wondered how such a pretty young girl had become this cackling evil monster with fangs. In one of her hands was a staff with a dark orb sitting on it, it glowed slightly when she laughed.
"Hello, boys," she snickered at their condition.
Malachite looked around to see the other generals were also being dragged in and held up by the youma. His relief that they were alive was short lived by the woman's hideous laughter.
"You will all fit in perfectly with my plans," she cackled.
"Why are you doing this, Beryl?" Malachite hissed.
Beryl gave him a sinister smile, showing off her fangs. "The destruction of the Moon Kingdom and the rest of the pitiful planets in the Silver Alliance. And I can't forget your handsome prince. I have lots if plans for my future king."
"Endymion will never love you," Jadeite hissed.
Beryl laughed. "He will either love me or he will die. In the end he will choose me." She waved a clawed hand. "But you four will help me destroy your beloved scouts."
"Never," they all hissed out.
Beryl just smiled and walked up to him. She dug her nails into his cheek as she whispered, "You don't have a choice." The dark orb in her staff lit up as she touched it to the wounds she had just inflicted on his face.
Malachite gasped as he felt the darkness filling his soul. No matter how hard he fought he could not stop it from taking over his soul. His last words before he passed out were, "Mina, forgive me."
On the Moon:
The evil Malachite hacked his way through the soldiers of the Moon Kingdom, his black eyes searching for the blonde hair of his prey.
There.
She was battling several youma and had her back to him. Her orange skirt swirling as she kicked several of them sending them flying several feet. Her magical attacks flying when they landed, destroying them before she moved on to her next target.
He wiped the blood from his sword and was about to attack her when she whirled around and kicked his sword out of his hands. Her blue eyes glared up at him dangerously. "If you are going to kill me, do it with me facing you, traitor."
Malachite smirked as he drew out two boomerangs of dark energy. He was about to throw one at her when he saw her eyes widen and she threw herself at him, knocking him out of the way of a wayward arrow. Unfortunately, by doing this, she stepped right into its path. It caught her in the chest sending her flying back.
Malachite didn't know why he caught her before she hit the ground. He knew that she was mortally wounded, and he knew that she did it for him and it only confused him. As he brought her shaking body close to him her blue eyes met his. He knelt down with her in his arms. "Why?" he whispered.
"Because I would gladly die for you," she whispered back.
Malachite felt something burning through the blackness of his soul at her words. He could feel the darkness melting away. He closed his black eyes and when he opened them again they were gray again. "And I for you," he whispered.
Venus smiled tenderly at him. "I knew you were in there somewhere."
Malachite looked down guiltily. He knew all of the horrible things that he did, but he was unable to do anything to stop it.
Venus lifted a trembling hand to his face, her serious eyes looking at him. "Don't. Don't feel guilty. You had no control over your actions," she told in firmly, then her eyes softened once more. "Just promise me something."
Malachite searched her face, memorizing every detail. "Anything."
"In the next life," she gasped for breath, "love me... again. Protect me... when I... need it."
Malachite nodded, tears building in his eyes. "I give you my word."
Venus snuggled her head against his shoulder and he heard her sigh his name. He felt his heart clench at her next words.
"Goodbye, Sere... Mal..."
She went completely limp in his arms and he crushed her lifeless body to him. He looked up at the palace with despair to see Serenity leaning heavily on the railing of her balcony sobbing out her grief. Her eyes reflected her sympathy and the forgiveness she felt for him. Then suddenly her entire stance changed and she cried out, pointing behind him.
He turned to see a massive blast of dark energy heading towards him. He shielded Mina's body with his own even though he knew she was already dead and took the full amount in his back. He looked back up at the Supreme Princess one last time before his world went black. Thankful that his pain was over.
To be continued...
Part 33
By Angel Love
Author's notes: I'm going back into the past, but this time I am doing it through Malachite. I thought that I would do something different this time.
Standard disclaimers apply. I don't own Sailor Moon. I am just borrowing the characters for awhile. I do own the Guardians however.
Sailor Moon let out a small curse as she saw the attacks heading towards them. She could also hear Mars running towards them, but she knew that the fire scout would never make it in time to deflect any of the attacks; she would only get hurt in the process anyway. That was not something that Moon wanted.
"Go now!" Venus screamed at her leader, her wide blue eyes staring in disbelief at that the attack.
Moon looked down at her, shaking her head no. Quickly she made the decision to shield the other girl as much as possible with her own body, with any luck the other girl would come out of this with just a few scratches. Pushing down the now sobbing Venus, she whispered, "I would gladly die for you."
Malachite watched as Moon completely covered Venus with her own body. The smirk that he previously had on his face was completely gone now, replaced with a look of confusion as Sailor Moon's words echoed in his mind, making him recall another time when he had heard those words.
Malachite's mind (Silver Millennium):
Blue eyes met his, pain clear in their depths. He held her in his arms as he whispered, "Why?"
"Because I would gladly die for you," she whispered back.
Two and a half years before:
Malachite sat on the edge of the stone wall gazing up at the moon. It looked so lifeless, but he had heard the enchanting stories of the beautiful people of the moon. The people who lived for a thousand years before growing old. But the people of Earth were forbidden to go to the moon. It was a law passed by the Supreme Queen Serenity herself. It was done so long ago that no one could remember just why.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" a voice behind him asked.
Malachite turned his head to look at his young charge, the Terrain Prince Endymion. He was a little thin, but his dark ebony hair and his piercing blue eyes told of the man he was to become. "Hello, Endy," he greeted warmly.
"Do you think we will ever be allowed there?" Endymion asked, longing coloring his youthful voice.
"You can always work a treaty between the Earth and the Moon when you become king," Malachite smiled warmly at the Prince. He knew that it was the Prince's dream to walk on the moon, speak to the people and to get passed the stupid fears that his people had of the other race.
Endymion gave him a rueful smile. "That's something to aspire to. I am sure my father would love to hear that one."
"You might be surprised," Malachite said, sliding off the wall to stand before the sixteen-year-old Prince. "Let's go train. You need some muscles on those scrawny bones."
Endymion took a playful punch at the other man, just to have it deflected easily. Then he turned and led the way to the training area, taking one last longing look over his shoulder at the bright orb in the night sky.
Two years later:
The four generals awaited the Prince in the clearing behind the palace. They were going to the moon to ask for the treaty the Prince had talked about for the last two years. His father thought that the idea was great, just like Malachite thought.
Malachite turned when he heard the footsteps of Endymion approaching. Like he has predicted several years before, the Earth Prince had grown into quite a man. He commanded the attention from anyone who saw him. His dark ebony locks fell over his forehead and his eyes held an intensity that the head general had never seen. His armor shone brightly in the sunlight, covering his well-muscled body. His cape flowed behind him as he walked with purpose towards them.
"How is the king?" Zoicite asked after they bowed respectfully before him with him rolling his eyes at them.
"I have said my goodbyes," Endymion said in a deep voice, his eyes on the ground before him.
"I'm sorry, my prince," the blonde general bowed his head.
Endymion clasped the man on the shoulder before looking at the rest of the generals. "It is time to make my dreams come true."
Jadeite grinned. "I believe that it is time to see if you can put all that talking that you do to good use."
They all laughed as they prepared to teleport to the kingdom of the moon. All thinking of the hopeful future they would all have. Unaware that they were about to meet five girls that would change their lives.
A couple of weeks later:
"Malachite!" a cheerful voice called out.
Malachite grinned as he saw the Princess of Venus running towards him. Her golden dress matching her golden hair. Its straps tied together at her shoulders. It fit her snuggly at her chest with a snug strip around her tummy. At her waist there were several silk slips over the skirt. And at the moment she held them up, showing off her high-heeled golden shoes, as she ran towards him at full speed.
He opened his arms and she fell right into them. "Hello Mina," he whispered into her sweet smelling hair.
"Hiya Mal," Mina beamed up at him, her breathing fast from her exertion.
Malachite brushed a gentle kiss across her lips before he pulled her down to set in the grass with him. He smiled when Mina snuggled her head against his shoulder.
He watched his Prince and the Supreme Princess Serenity sitting much the same way he was with Mina just a few feet away. He could hear Serenity's tinkling laughter and Endymion's responding chuckle across the distance. The sounds soothed his soul. And it seemed that it did the same for his girlfriend because she sighed contently and threaded her fingers through his.
"Mal?" her soft voice broke through his thoughts.
"Hm?"
"How did you become one of Endymion's guards?"
Malachite looked towards the man in question. "I was one of fifty boys raised with the possibility of becoming a bodyguard to the prince. When I was fourteen they had a tryout of sorts to test our fighting skills. Zoicite, Nephlite, Jadeite and myself were the best of the bunch." Mina giggled at the obvious pride in his voice. "After we were chosen to be Endymion's bodyguards, we began to learn the magic that was needed in our positions."
"Did you like Endymion and the others?"
"Yes. Endy gave off a certain spark even at twelve. It drew people to him. Zoi, Jade, and Neph are like little brothers to me. We all share a bond that would be extremely hard to break."
Mina smiled up to him. "Sounds like the bond that us inners and Serenity have. And Serenity draws people to her like moths to ice."
"That is flame, Mina," Malachite corrected gently.
"Oh," she blushed slightly in embarrassment.
Malachite chuckled. It amazed him how she would always mess up simple phrases. She was so cute when she got flustered. "So, just how did you become Venus, the scout of love?"
Mina looked away, her eyes filled with sadness. Her story was obviously not as happy or as simple as his was. "I was five when I came to the Moon," her voice was very quiet as she remembered her loneliness of that time. "My mother died when I was four. She was pretty and always so affectionate towards me. I remember that I didn't understand why one day Mama didn't wake up. And papa," she paused and took a deep breath. "Papa took it bad. He stopped coming to see me. My nurse told me that it was because I looked too much like my mother and it hurt him to look at me. So he didn't want to be around me."
Malachite gathered her in his arms. "Oh, Mina, I'm sorry."
She smiled shakily against his chest, snuggling more into his embrace. "I remember that people were always polite and always going out of their way to give me anything that I wanted. But no one gave me hugs or tucked me into bed. Or sang to me like she did."
"Then one day, I think it was a couple of days after I turned five, I was sitting outside in my little playground when I saw this giant door appear out of no where. It was large and white with a mist surrounding it. It opened and two women stepped out. One had long green hair and red eyes. But it was the other that captivated me. She had long blonde hair that curled all the way down to her ankles and soft hazel eyes. Her smile reminded me so much of my mother that I forgot that I wasn't supposed to talk to strangers. They seemed to fluster my nurse but for some reason she didn't go running for the guards."
"She and the green-haired girl, who I later found out was Sailor Pluto, nodded at each other and Pluto left with my poor, scared nurse. The blonde kneeled before me, her white boots just inches from me. She smiled at me so sweetly that I burst into tears. She gathered me into her arms and sung softly to me. It was the first time that anyone had ever held me since my mama had died." A fear tears fell from her eyes, soaking the front of his uniform.
"She stayed with me for several hours. We talked about everything that a five-year-old could think of. Then Pluto came back and announced that my father had agreed to me moving to the moon. The pretty blonde explained that I was going to the Moon to live with the royal family there. I remember being really upset that the girl wasn't coming with me."
"But she just hugged me tight and whispered in my ear, 'You are a child of love, Mina. You have such a bright future ahead of you. And great friends waiting to meet you'."
"When I was about to leave with Pluto through that strange door, I turned around and asked her if I would ever see her again."
She winked at me, smiled and said, 'I am your guardian angel. I will be there when you need me. Remember I am never far away'." Mina smiled at the memory of the beautiful young woman.
"Did you ever see her again?" Malachite asked, intrigued by the mysterious woman she had mentioned.
"No," Mina shook her head, looking up at the sky. "But somehow I know she is near and I will see her again." She smiled up at him.
"Did you ever ask Pluto about her?"
Again, Mina shook her head. "Pluto is not one to share any secrets. I know that if she decided not to tell me who she was at the time there was a reason for it."
Malachite smiled tenderly at her, amazed by her understanding. He reached in the pocket inside the jacket of his uniform and pulled out a red bow. At her inquisitive look, he gave her a roguish smile. He reached into her hair, unclasped the golden clip and replaced it with the bow. "I thought that you would like it."
She pulled a mirror out from her space pocket and looked at herself. She giggled and kissed him tenderly. "I love it! And I'll never wear anything else in my hair!" She slid her fingers along her satin bow and looked up at him with shining eyes. "I love you, Mal."
"I love you too." He tenderly kissed her lips.
The Moment the Generals arrived on Earth:
There were fighting everywhere they could see. The four generals fought desperately to get inside the castle, since it was impossible to teleport directly inside the palace duo to magical barricades. They had spent several long tiring hours securing the palace when the prince arrived.
"Malachite," Endymion shouted at the commanding general. "How bad is it?"
The general shook his head. He showed him the views on the various parts of the planet. Fighting was everywhere. Monsters were slaughtering the armies sent to protect the villages, leaving the innocent people at the mercy of the blood lusting monsters.
"Damn," Endymion cursed. "The palace?"
"The palace is secure for the moment," Nephlite answered. His arms were crossed and he was leaning against the walls, watching the monitors without any expression on his face.
"But it will fall if we don't get some help," Jadeite added, from his position next to the monitors, not watching the massacre on the screens.
Endymion closed his eyes and leaned his hands on the table in front of him. His cape surrounded him as he tried to contain the feeling of despair welling up inside of him. "Do we know where they are coming from?"
"No," Malachite answered softly. "None of us can figure out where these monsters originated from or just who their leader is."
"And we have no idea what their weakness is?"
"Actually, they have various weaknesses," Jadeite spoke up. "But all of them differ from physical, magical, to elemental. Each time you figure one out, the monsters change and you start from the beginning again."
"A very god strategy," Endymion mused, his blue eyes staring at the carnage on the screen. He felt sick to his stomach watching the way the monsters ripped their victims apart. He was thankful that there wasn't any sound; otherwise he probably would have lost his lunch.
Zoicite leaned against the wall next to Nephlite, crossing his arms in a similar stance as the other man. "Whoever is controlling them is one demented person."
The others nodded in agreement and began to plan their next move.
Several hours later, Endymion turned to look at the four generals. "I would feel better if you came with me."
Nephlite shook his head. "You need to get out of here. If we all go, they will feel the energy we exhibited. It wouldn't take them very long to figure out that you aren't here and come after us."
"You know that you will all probably die if you do this," Endymion searched each of their faces finding only determination.
Jadeite gave him a roguish smile. "We knew that was a possibility when we took this job."
"Dying to protect you would be a great honor," Malachite added.
Endymion gave them a bittersweet smile. "It was a honor to have you as my guards and as my friends." He turned away to hide the tears that were threatening to fall, but Malachite had seen the brightness in his eyes.
"Be safe, young prince," he whispered.
"If you get the chance..." Endymion started.
Zoicite laid a hand on the other man's armored shoulder. "We will follow."
Endymion nodded and began to prepare to teleport when Nephlite caught his eye.
"Please, don't tell them what is happening down here," Nephlite pleaded. "They will just come down here to help us. The girls are needed to stay there and protect the Moon and the rest of the Silver Alliance."
Endymion nodded. "I promise not to tell the scouts a thing," he whispered, knowing that he would regret the vow as it left his lips. Then he teleported away with a heavy heart.
The four generals breathed a sigh of relief but tensed as they heard shouting from the imperial guards that were stationed around the castle. The youma had made their way past the palace's defenses.
"Well, let's rumble," Jadeite said, giving them all a brave smile.
The four ran out of the room and into a desperate battle with the youma for their lives, the lives of the women that they loved and their prince and his princess. Each hoping that they would live to see a world of peace again.
Zoicite was the first to fall. Malachite watched in horror as his best friend became covered with youma. He turned away from the sounds of bone crunching and took his rage out on the youma nearest to him. "May you find peace in your walk through the valley of death, Zoi," Malachite whispered when the youma nearest him were gone and new ones were coming at him.
Not long after Zoicite's fall, Malachite heard Nephlite scream out Jadeite's name. A sense of loss filled Malachite's heart, as he knew that the youngest of the generals was gone as well.
He was becoming overwhelmed by youma and he turned to see that Nephlite was too was surrounded. Their eyes locked as they both began to fall under the pain from the blows, claws and teeth.
Malachite was surprised when the youma didn't kill him. Instead they dragged his broken body to the throne room, two physically holding him up in a standing position.
Sitting on the throne was a young girl/monster. She had flaming red hair and an evil, insane glint in her red eyes. Malachite recognized her as one of the noble's daughters that he had seen around the castle many times, always making eyes at Prince Endymion. He wondered how such a pretty young girl had become this cackling evil monster with fangs. In one of her hands was a staff with a dark orb sitting on it, it glowed slightly when she laughed.
"Hello, boys," she snickered at their condition.
Malachite looked around to see the other generals were also being dragged in and held up by the youma. His relief that they were alive was short lived by the woman's hideous laughter.
"You will all fit in perfectly with my plans," she cackled.
"Why are you doing this, Beryl?" Malachite hissed.
Beryl gave him a sinister smile, showing off her fangs. "The destruction of the Moon Kingdom and the rest of the pitiful planets in the Silver Alliance. And I can't forget your handsome prince. I have lots if plans for my future king."
"Endymion will never love you," Jadeite hissed.
Beryl laughed. "He will either love me or he will die. In the end he will choose me." She waved a clawed hand. "But you four will help me destroy your beloved scouts."
"Never," they all hissed out.
Beryl just smiled and walked up to him. She dug her nails into his cheek as she whispered, "You don't have a choice." The dark orb in her staff lit up as she touched it to the wounds she had just inflicted on his face.
Malachite gasped as he felt the darkness filling his soul. No matter how hard he fought he could not stop it from taking over his soul. His last words before he passed out were, "Mina, forgive me."
On the Moon:
The evil Malachite hacked his way through the soldiers of the Moon Kingdom, his black eyes searching for the blonde hair of his prey.
There.
She was battling several youma and had her back to him. Her orange skirt swirling as she kicked several of them sending them flying several feet. Her magical attacks flying when they landed, destroying them before she moved on to her next target.
He wiped the blood from his sword and was about to attack her when she whirled around and kicked his sword out of his hands. Her blue eyes glared up at him dangerously. "If you are going to kill me, do it with me facing you, traitor."
Malachite smirked as he drew out two boomerangs of dark energy. He was about to throw one at her when he saw her eyes widen and she threw herself at him, knocking him out of the way of a wayward arrow. Unfortunately, by doing this, she stepped right into its path. It caught her in the chest sending her flying back.
Malachite didn't know why he caught her before she hit the ground. He knew that she was mortally wounded, and he knew that she did it for him and it only confused him. As he brought her shaking body close to him her blue eyes met his. He knelt down with her in his arms. "Why?" he whispered.
"Because I would gladly die for you," she whispered back.
Malachite felt something burning through the blackness of his soul at her words. He could feel the darkness melting away. He closed his black eyes and when he opened them again they were gray again. "And I for you," he whispered.
Venus smiled tenderly at him. "I knew you were in there somewhere."
Malachite looked down guiltily. He knew all of the horrible things that he did, but he was unable to do anything to stop it.
Venus lifted a trembling hand to his face, her serious eyes looking at him. "Don't. Don't feel guilty. You had no control over your actions," she told in firmly, then her eyes softened once more. "Just promise me something."
Malachite searched her face, memorizing every detail. "Anything."
"In the next life," she gasped for breath, "love me... again. Protect me... when I... need it."
Malachite nodded, tears building in his eyes. "I give you my word."
Venus snuggled her head against his shoulder and he heard her sigh his name. He felt his heart clench at her next words.
"Goodbye, Sere... Mal..."
She went completely limp in his arms and he crushed her lifeless body to him. He looked up at the palace with despair to see Serenity leaning heavily on the railing of her balcony sobbing out her grief. Her eyes reflected her sympathy and the forgiveness she felt for him. Then suddenly her entire stance changed and she cried out, pointing behind him.
He turned to see a massive blast of dark energy heading towards him. He shielded Mina's body with his own even though he knew she was already dead and took the full amount in his back. He looked back up at the Supreme Princess one last time before his world went black. Thankful that his pain was over.
To be continued...