Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Embers of a Flame ❯ Believe in the light ( Chapter 4 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: himitsu-no-hi 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Angst | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.24.2002 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.2K | Visits: 207 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Drama / Angst | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.24.2002 | Pages: 2 | Words: 2.2K | Visits: 207 | Status: Work In Progress
The Embers of a Flame ~ Chapter 4
By Himitsu no Hi
After their return to Mars things had progressively begun to darken.
Eris and Ares had spent the following weeks arguing constantly, until finally Ares' lost control and allowed his fists to say what his shouting could not. The beatings she endured however seemed only to make the queen more ferocious - and she eventually had the final say, managing to bring the west wing of the palace down upon herself and Ares. Whether a tactic of temperament or desperation, the king and queen of Mars did not fight again for some time afterwards. Ares hid himself away in his study, refusing to even look at his wife; he turned to drink and spent most of his time planning strategies of war. Eris however, withdrew into herself. The fiery spirit she was renowned for dissipated, as if she had accepted that her constant battle for freedom against Ares had been lost, her time was dedicated to the sacred flames, sometimes she would stay locked in the temples for days on end, refusing any contact with life outside of the fire's gentle glow.
And so Rei watched silently alone as her family crumbled around her.
Nine Months Later...
' Rei chan!!!
It hass ben a while since I last herd from you, I hope Fings are ok. I herd my mommy talking to my daddy about Mars, they sed ther is a dark clowd swinging intwo the place. That dose not sound like very nice wether so I'm writing to cheer you up!
Gess what! Ther is going to b a partie here tommorroow; I wish you and the othere princesses culd come, its so nice to have three bestest friends...mommy said the moon baby will arrive soon, so then we'll have for bestest feinds and we all live on the moon place together! We can have sleepovers every nite:)
Speek to you soon!
Big hugs
Love Minako
Xxx
Ps) I want to no more about the boy who vists you from harmonica-do you fink you'll get married? '
Rei sat outside in the lush palace gardens reading the letter she had received from Minako that morning, all of the princesses had agreed to keep in touch after their senshi awakening and Rei liked to hear from her new friends; their news helped to take her away from Mars, from the 'dark clowd' Minako suggested hung over the palace.
The Martian princess scowled as she read the last line of Minako's letter,
"There is no way I'm getting married..."
"To who?"
Rei jumped as a familiar voice spoke behind her,
"Oh hi Yuuichirou, I didn't know you were coming down today." she smiled pushing the letter from view and standing up to greet her friend. Yuuichirou grinned and took Rei's hand kissing it gently,
"I would visit thee everyday if the planets would allow it milady."
Rei stuck her tongue out and swatted him playfully across the cheek,
"Quit trying to copy the Venusian knights Yuuichirou," she muttered. His floppy brown hair hung over his blue eyes, which looked suddenly, upset.
"Yeah, well I will be a knight one day and I'll protect Mars from Harmonia just like my dad"
"Yes, but you will be a Martian knight-remember that!" Rei poked her finger into his chest and then took off in a fit of giggles,
"Come on sir knight, I'm a commander from the Sunian Armies come to attack Mars, catch me if you dare!"
Yuuichirou glanced up to see a bundle of red dress and raven-hair tumble down a nearby slope, he burst out laughing as the Martian princess picked herself up from the ground and sticking her tongue out ran off into the palace.
"Hey Rei-hime wait up!" he called, grinning. A smile was still stuck to his face as he reached the palace, tiptoeing around corners and through hallways after 'the enemy' He caught a glimpse of red and sped up along the corridor,
"I've got you now sunain scum!" he called as he spun around a corner. He blinked, the hallway was empty...
Rei gently closed the large oak door, pressing her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. She glanced around to find to her dismay that she had snuck into her father's study. Luckily he hadn't seen her; in fact he wasn't even sitting in his chair. The little princess was just about to hurry out when she heard the quiet sound of a wispy voice echoing from the far side of the room.
Ares' study comprised of two main rooms, one, which contained his large oak desk, was littered with official royal business, papers and files besieged the floor while paintings of previous kings secured the walls. In the far room however, divided from the other by a thick red curtain, Ares had ordered a large strategy table and chart to be built and installed, here he made out his battle plans, pretending to sink the ships of his enemies or blow up the homes of those who opposed his will; it was in this room that he stood now, talking to someone unknown. Rei crept silently towards the curtain, barely allowing herself to breath. As she neared the red fabric, the voices became clearer,
"Look at what they have done to you Ares, dear, sweet brother... In your own palace you are hidden away confined like some common prisoner to these four walls. You are the King! The god of Mars! Your fierce spirit should not be contained..."
"...Yes"
"It was all her fault, Harmony arranged this, she destroyed all of our lives Ares. I was an embarrassment, thrown from my own home into the wilds of a dark planet, but I survived... you are too powerful, too great a leader and so now you too are hidden away by her child...but you can survive dear brother...together...we can bring her down..."
Rei could hardly believe what she was hearing. Small fingers carefully inched back the curtain, Rei's heart pounded as she peered into the room. Ares stood with his back to the curtain, slumped over a black leather chair. A thin woman dressed in velvet black rags hung her arms around his neck; scraggily grey hair slithered down her back.
"Together Ares, we can have it all!"
"Yes Enyo, sister dearest, we will des..."
Enyo hushed her brother softly,
"We have company" she mused turning around to face Rei. The Martian princess gasped at the horrid features of the woman who now met her gaze, her mouth was open in a toothless smile (well she had one tooth) and her eye sockets were dark and hollow save for the single eye ball which rolled from one side of her face to the other. Rei's immediate instinct to run was futile, her feet refused to move as her eyes stared wide with terror at the woman who was planning to take her revenge on Mars,
"A little fire bird, came sneaking where it shouldn't have..."Enyo cooed brushing a bony withered hand over Rei's hair. Rei pleaded with her eyes for her father's help, but instead he rose slowly from his seat, blank stone cold eyes glaring at his daughter as he moved. Roughly he took Rei by her hair, pushing her small form against the wall,
"Do you know what happens to people who are caught spying fire brat?" he growled at her. She shook her head, tears already slipping down her cheeks,
"I kill them...painfully..."
Rei whimpered as Ares released his grip on her,
"Think carefully before you repeat what was said today-you saw nothing, you heard nothing...now go-!!" he roared.
Rei did not wait for Ares to change his mind, scrambling out of the study she did not stop running until she reached a secluded part of the woods just past the palace gardens, a place she always felt safe.
Yuuichirou was heading towards the kitchens to search for the Martian princess, when he saw a red blur bolt across the front lawns,
"Rei sama?" he muttered, doing an about turn he hurried after her, back outside.
The young lord peered into the final flower patch and sighed, he'd searched the entire gardens and still couldn't find Rei. As he glanced around trying to think of where she may have hidden herself his eyes caught sight of the Sacred Mars Shrine. He had often stopped to stare at the huge building when he and Rei were playing in the gardens, taken aback by its size and majesty. Rei had told him once, in vivid detail about a fire reading the queen had preformed claiming that one day she would be able to do fire readings too, it sounded beautiful-perhaps she was hiding in there...
Quietly Yuuichirou snuck up the temple steps, being careful not to trip up, he tiptoed around the outside of the building. The gentle sounds of crackling flames echoed from within, he was almost tempted to peer inside but knew that he could get in trouble for interrupting the queen if she was in there. As he continued around to the back of the shrine he called out softly for Rei, glancing in all directions in hope of finding the raven-haired princess.
"Lord Yuuichirou..."
The young boy jumped as the stern voice broke his silent search; he turned to see a concerned looking Eris. The Martian queen dressed in light purple material appeared tired and worn,
"Have you an idea where Princess Rei may be?"
The young lord shook his head,
"No your majesty, we were playing a game and I lost her... is something wrong?" Yuuichirou gulped, it was unusual to see Eris this way-did she know something about Rei? He would never forgive himself if something had happened to her because of him...
Eris looked out into the woods beyond the temple before turning a distant gaze back to Yuuichirou,
"Come, I believe fire bird needs our help..."
With that the queen took off into the thick of the woods, Yuuichirou followed behind her as quickly as possible but although the branches which snagged at their clothes and hair did little to bother the queen, they slowed down the young lord's progress somewhat.
"Fire bird" Eris called, coming to a stop; the following silence in the forest was broken by the sound of gentle sobs. Yuuichirou finally caught up with Eris, gasping for breath he peered beyond the queen to a sight that almost broke his heart. Rei sat curled up into a tiny ball her silken hair was matted to her flushed face, covered in dirt and twigs, tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook with apparent fear. As Eris moved forward to comfort her daughter Yuuichirou swore a solemn oath that he would do all in his power to protect Rei as long as he lived, so that she would never have need to cry again.
Rei crawled into her mother's embrace, the warmth and familiarity of unconditional love enveloping her as she tried to shut out what she had just experienced. Her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and fears quietened as Eris slowly rocked her in her arms,
"Shush fire bird, its alright, shush, I know, I know, everything is okay." Eris soothed,
"Rei hime, there are some people in this world, in this galaxy even whose soul is full of darkness, these people will try to trick you and hurt you and make you cry and if you let them see your fear, or a single tear fall from your eyes then the darkness in them can grow and attack, you must always stay strong for those you love and for yourself so that you can defeat the dark and evil souls. If you believe in the light fire bird, if you do not fear the dark, you will be happy and safe..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ares carelessly cleared his strategy table with a swift wave of his arm, slamming his fists onto the hard surface,
"How Enyo! How did I let myself become so weak! Spied on by an insignificant brat! A planet ruled by that woman will sink into nothingness I refuse to be ruled by her! Mars should be stronger than that!" He yelled, cheeks red with anger. Spinning around to face his sister his eyes burned with rage,
"How do we destroy her once and for all?"
Enyo's eyes narrowed as a devilish grin spread across her face. Her withered hand stretched out, caressing Ares' face,
"Soon brother, soon there will be nothing but darkness..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That evening as Eris sat by her daughter's bedside, humming softly to lull the princess into healing sleep a gentle tapping sounded at the door. Eris rose from her seat, kissing Rei lovingly on the forehead before she slipped out of the room. A maid curtseyed before the queen,
"Sorry to disturb you your highness but news has arrived from the Moon Kingdom- Her majesty Queen Serenity has gone into labour, the new child of the moon is expected shortly."
Author's babble:
Many thanks to Myst_Lady and R.B.N for the reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! I have another um 5 or so chapters almost done so hopefully I'll be able to update more often!!
Thanks again!
H.n.H
By Himitsu no Hi
After their return to Mars things had progressively begun to darken.
Eris and Ares had spent the following weeks arguing constantly, until finally Ares' lost control and allowed his fists to say what his shouting could not. The beatings she endured however seemed only to make the queen more ferocious - and she eventually had the final say, managing to bring the west wing of the palace down upon herself and Ares. Whether a tactic of temperament or desperation, the king and queen of Mars did not fight again for some time afterwards. Ares hid himself away in his study, refusing to even look at his wife; he turned to drink and spent most of his time planning strategies of war. Eris however, withdrew into herself. The fiery spirit she was renowned for dissipated, as if she had accepted that her constant battle for freedom against Ares had been lost, her time was dedicated to the sacred flames, sometimes she would stay locked in the temples for days on end, refusing any contact with life outside of the fire's gentle glow.
And so Rei watched silently alone as her family crumbled around her.
Nine Months Later...
' Rei chan!!!
It hass ben a while since I last herd from you, I hope Fings are ok. I herd my mommy talking to my daddy about Mars, they sed ther is a dark clowd swinging intwo the place. That dose not sound like very nice wether so I'm writing to cheer you up!
Gess what! Ther is going to b a partie here tommorroow; I wish you and the othere princesses culd come, its so nice to have three bestest friends...mommy said the moon baby will arrive soon, so then we'll have for bestest feinds and we all live on the moon place together! We can have sleepovers every nite:)
Speek to you soon!
Big hugs
Love Minako
Xxx
Ps) I want to no more about the boy who vists you from harmonica-do you fink you'll get married? '
Rei sat outside in the lush palace gardens reading the letter she had received from Minako that morning, all of the princesses had agreed to keep in touch after their senshi awakening and Rei liked to hear from her new friends; their news helped to take her away from Mars, from the 'dark clowd' Minako suggested hung over the palace.
The Martian princess scowled as she read the last line of Minako's letter,
"There is no way I'm getting married..."
"To who?"
Rei jumped as a familiar voice spoke behind her,
"Oh hi Yuuichirou, I didn't know you were coming down today." she smiled pushing the letter from view and standing up to greet her friend. Yuuichirou grinned and took Rei's hand kissing it gently,
"I would visit thee everyday if the planets would allow it milady."
Rei stuck her tongue out and swatted him playfully across the cheek,
"Quit trying to copy the Venusian knights Yuuichirou," she muttered. His floppy brown hair hung over his blue eyes, which looked suddenly, upset.
"Yeah, well I will be a knight one day and I'll protect Mars from Harmonia just like my dad"
"Yes, but you will be a Martian knight-remember that!" Rei poked her finger into his chest and then took off in a fit of giggles,
"Come on sir knight, I'm a commander from the Sunian Armies come to attack Mars, catch me if you dare!"
Yuuichirou glanced up to see a bundle of red dress and raven-hair tumble down a nearby slope, he burst out laughing as the Martian princess picked herself up from the ground and sticking her tongue out ran off into the palace.
"Hey Rei-hime wait up!" he called, grinning. A smile was still stuck to his face as he reached the palace, tiptoeing around corners and through hallways after 'the enemy' He caught a glimpse of red and sped up along the corridor,
"I've got you now sunain scum!" he called as he spun around a corner. He blinked, the hallway was empty...
Rei gently closed the large oak door, pressing her hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing. She glanced around to find to her dismay that she had snuck into her father's study. Luckily he hadn't seen her; in fact he wasn't even sitting in his chair. The little princess was just about to hurry out when she heard the quiet sound of a wispy voice echoing from the far side of the room.
Ares' study comprised of two main rooms, one, which contained his large oak desk, was littered with official royal business, papers and files besieged the floor while paintings of previous kings secured the walls. In the far room however, divided from the other by a thick red curtain, Ares had ordered a large strategy table and chart to be built and installed, here he made out his battle plans, pretending to sink the ships of his enemies or blow up the homes of those who opposed his will; it was in this room that he stood now, talking to someone unknown. Rei crept silently towards the curtain, barely allowing herself to breath. As she neared the red fabric, the voices became clearer,
"Look at what they have done to you Ares, dear, sweet brother... In your own palace you are hidden away confined like some common prisoner to these four walls. You are the King! The god of Mars! Your fierce spirit should not be contained..."
"...Yes"
"It was all her fault, Harmony arranged this, she destroyed all of our lives Ares. I was an embarrassment, thrown from my own home into the wilds of a dark planet, but I survived... you are too powerful, too great a leader and so now you too are hidden away by her child...but you can survive dear brother...together...we can bring her down..."
Rei could hardly believe what she was hearing. Small fingers carefully inched back the curtain, Rei's heart pounded as she peered into the room. Ares stood with his back to the curtain, slumped over a black leather chair. A thin woman dressed in velvet black rags hung her arms around his neck; scraggily grey hair slithered down her back.
"Together Ares, we can have it all!"
"Yes Enyo, sister dearest, we will des..."
Enyo hushed her brother softly,
"We have company" she mused turning around to face Rei. The Martian princess gasped at the horrid features of the woman who now met her gaze, her mouth was open in a toothless smile (well she had one tooth) and her eye sockets were dark and hollow save for the single eye ball which rolled from one side of her face to the other. Rei's immediate instinct to run was futile, her feet refused to move as her eyes stared wide with terror at the woman who was planning to take her revenge on Mars,
"A little fire bird, came sneaking where it shouldn't have..."Enyo cooed brushing a bony withered hand over Rei's hair. Rei pleaded with her eyes for her father's help, but instead he rose slowly from his seat, blank stone cold eyes glaring at his daughter as he moved. Roughly he took Rei by her hair, pushing her small form against the wall,
"Do you know what happens to people who are caught spying fire brat?" he growled at her. She shook her head, tears already slipping down her cheeks,
"I kill them...painfully..."
Rei whimpered as Ares released his grip on her,
"Think carefully before you repeat what was said today-you saw nothing, you heard nothing...now go-!!" he roared.
Rei did not wait for Ares to change his mind, scrambling out of the study she did not stop running until she reached a secluded part of the woods just past the palace gardens, a place she always felt safe.
Yuuichirou was heading towards the kitchens to search for the Martian princess, when he saw a red blur bolt across the front lawns,
"Rei sama?" he muttered, doing an about turn he hurried after her, back outside.
The young lord peered into the final flower patch and sighed, he'd searched the entire gardens and still couldn't find Rei. As he glanced around trying to think of where she may have hidden herself his eyes caught sight of the Sacred Mars Shrine. He had often stopped to stare at the huge building when he and Rei were playing in the gardens, taken aback by its size and majesty. Rei had told him once, in vivid detail about a fire reading the queen had preformed claiming that one day she would be able to do fire readings too, it sounded beautiful-perhaps she was hiding in there...
Quietly Yuuichirou snuck up the temple steps, being careful not to trip up, he tiptoed around the outside of the building. The gentle sounds of crackling flames echoed from within, he was almost tempted to peer inside but knew that he could get in trouble for interrupting the queen if she was in there. As he continued around to the back of the shrine he called out softly for Rei, glancing in all directions in hope of finding the raven-haired princess.
"Lord Yuuichirou..."
The young boy jumped as the stern voice broke his silent search; he turned to see a concerned looking Eris. The Martian queen dressed in light purple material appeared tired and worn,
"Have you an idea where Princess Rei may be?"
The young lord shook his head,
"No your majesty, we were playing a game and I lost her... is something wrong?" Yuuichirou gulped, it was unusual to see Eris this way-did she know something about Rei? He would never forgive himself if something had happened to her because of him...
Eris looked out into the woods beyond the temple before turning a distant gaze back to Yuuichirou,
"Come, I believe fire bird needs our help..."
With that the queen took off into the thick of the woods, Yuuichirou followed behind her as quickly as possible but although the branches which snagged at their clothes and hair did little to bother the queen, they slowed down the young lord's progress somewhat.
"Fire bird" Eris called, coming to a stop; the following silence in the forest was broken by the sound of gentle sobs. Yuuichirou finally caught up with Eris, gasping for breath he peered beyond the queen to a sight that almost broke his heart. Rei sat curled up into a tiny ball her silken hair was matted to her flushed face, covered in dirt and twigs, tears streamed down her cheeks as she shook with apparent fear. As Eris moved forward to comfort her daughter Yuuichirou swore a solemn oath that he would do all in his power to protect Rei as long as he lived, so that she would never have need to cry again.
Rei crawled into her mother's embrace, the warmth and familiarity of unconditional love enveloping her as she tried to shut out what she had just experienced. Her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and fears quietened as Eris slowly rocked her in her arms,
"Shush fire bird, its alright, shush, I know, I know, everything is okay." Eris soothed,
"Rei hime, there are some people in this world, in this galaxy even whose soul is full of darkness, these people will try to trick you and hurt you and make you cry and if you let them see your fear, or a single tear fall from your eyes then the darkness in them can grow and attack, you must always stay strong for those you love and for yourself so that you can defeat the dark and evil souls. If you believe in the light fire bird, if you do not fear the dark, you will be happy and safe..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ares carelessly cleared his strategy table with a swift wave of his arm, slamming his fists onto the hard surface,
"How Enyo! How did I let myself become so weak! Spied on by an insignificant brat! A planet ruled by that woman will sink into nothingness I refuse to be ruled by her! Mars should be stronger than that!" He yelled, cheeks red with anger. Spinning around to face his sister his eyes burned with rage,
"How do we destroy her once and for all?"
Enyo's eyes narrowed as a devilish grin spread across her face. Her withered hand stretched out, caressing Ares' face,
"Soon brother, soon there will be nothing but darkness..."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
That evening as Eris sat by her daughter's bedside, humming softly to lull the princess into healing sleep a gentle tapping sounded at the door. Eris rose from her seat, kissing Rei lovingly on the forehead before she slipped out of the room. A maid curtseyed before the queen,
"Sorry to disturb you your highness but news has arrived from the Moon Kingdom- Her majesty Queen Serenity has gone into labour, the new child of the moon is expected shortly."
Author's babble:
Many thanks to Myst_Lady and R.B.N for the reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying the story so far! I have another um 5 or so chapters almost done so hopefully I'll be able to update more often!!
Thanks again!
H.n.H