Notes at bottom. Thanks! -Lianne (liannesentar@hotmail.com) http://Lianne_Sentar.tripod.com *Blue Planet, White Moon* Part 7 Rated PG-13 (first time yet) for violence and darkness; wartime violence is pretty gory in this one War. The word echoed through the marble corridors, a metallic sharpness on the whispered breaths. It stank darkly, slightly, of blood, of tears; heaviness rested in the slightly shimmering air, weighing down the hearts of those who dwelled in it. The war had touched not even one of moonish blood, let alone come close enough to taint the perfect white of the kingdom--yet the pain and hopelessness of the war still wafted through the marble corridors, dragging down the hearts of those who were safe. Jupiter unfolded the parchment in her hands. After allowing her eyes to scan the neat handwriting, she, without looking, pulled a smaller folded paper from the envelope and held it up. "Here." Mercury glanced up from her book. "What?" "Here." Jupiter shook the folded paper without turning. "For Serenity." Mercury furrowed her eyebrows. "Then you take it to her." "I'm reading." "So am I." "I'm reading an update on the war." Jupiter shook the folded paper once more. "Nephlite's sent me a detailed list of new developments. By the time you've come back from Serenity, I'll be able to fill you in." Mercury paused. Sighing, she pushed back her chair, stood, and smoothed her skirt. She plucked the folded note from Jupiter's hand as she passed. "I expect a full report when I get back." Reaching the door, she paused once more and glanced back. "Based on what you're seeing, how is it?" Without looking up, Jupiter shook her head. ************ The head of the Moon Guard locked his pale blue eyes on the note. He turned it over and pulled at the unmarked seal. "No!" Mercury quickly clamped her hand over his. "It's *private*, Captain. You're not supposed to open it." "My perusals are confidential, Princess Mercury," the tall blond said simply. "This is for the princess Serenity's safety." Mercury scowled. "I'll personally guarantee the safety. Please don't open it." He glanced up at her. Locking eyes with hers, he arched one perfect eyebrow. "That personal?" he asked. "Yes. Please, Steven." He smiled, just slightly. "It's hard to say no to you when you're polite, Mercury." Mercury let out a breath in relief. "Thank you," she murmured. "I promise I won't ask anything of you unless I have to." The captain pulled his gloved finger from the seal and palmed the note. "I'll bring it to her now. Any other messages?" Mercury thought a moment. "Have her see Jupiter or me sometime later today," she said at last. "We may have something to report to her." The captain nodded. As Mercury walked back down the hallway, he turned and faced the golden door behind him. He rapped quietly on it. A moment passed. "Yes?" came the muffled reply. "Letter for you, princess. From the princess Mercury." There was the sound of shuffling, and the door creaked open. The princess turned her eyes far up to meet gaze of her guardian. "A letter?" she asked. The captain handed the folded parchment to her. "Mercury or Jupiter wishes to see you later, princess. Please let me know when you plan on leaving to see them." Serenity's cheeks hued slightly as she stared at the letter. "Oh," she mumbled. "All right. But please don't worry about me, Captain; I don't plan on leaving the castle or anything." "That's very heartening, princess. Please let me know if you need anything." Not looking up from her gaze on the note, she shook her head. "I'm fine," she murmured as she turned back to her room. His gloved hand on her shoulder made her freeze. "Princess." He applied a tiny pressure to her shoulder. "Would you do me a favor, please?" Serenity slowly turned, eyes wide. "Y-yes?" she breathed. His lips curved slightly. "Smile for me?" he asked. "I haven't seen you smile yet today." Serenity silently released the breath she'd been holding. She smiled at him. "Of course, Captain," she said. "I'm honored you're so concerned about my well-being." He released her. "Of course I am. Please rest easy, my princess." Serenity nodded before re-entering her room and closing the door. The mechanism on the knob had hardly clicked before she was at her desk, pulling the note open with frantic, shaking fingers. She breathlessly flattened the letter on the marble desk top and leaned over the scrawled, though clear, handwriting. Princess Serenity, I'm sorry it's been several months since I've written--things've been really bad lately. Father's been throwing me in the third line a lot as of late, and I come home from the fighting campaigns too shaken to do much of anything. It's terrifying out there, even with Zoycite by my side. Even *he* has trouble keeping up his spirits. I think this is the first time since we were tiny children I've seen him so close to depression. I'm sure you've already heard, but about a week ago the enemy finally declared war. The rules of war can be really idiotic-- we've been fighting for nine months, but no one would call it "war" until the enemy officially said it. To do so they sent a berserk wolf into our camps, and it nearly killed two men before we managed to run it through. The note strapped to the animal's body was the declaration written in blood. We don't know much more about the enemy than we did the first day they attacked. Their warriors appear to be human, but are far too strong to be. They don't just attack head on--they ransack random towns and villages and kill countless innocents. Half our dead vanish, and nearly all of theirs do as well. They carry no flag and went by no name until this week. We now know they call themselves the Legions of Mettalia. Wait. I'm sorry--I shouldn't be telling you this. I don't want to scare you or dampen your spirits or anything. I heard the moon is starting to feel the depression of the war, but I don't want you to worry. Ok, Serenity? Please don't worry. We're fighting for everyone's safety, so it's your faith that keeps us going. Actually, speaking of that and on a lighter note, I've never seen Malachite quite so ... odd, I guess you could say. I don't know if you've noticed him around, but he's been jumping to the moon every month or two. You know those ribbons Venus gave him? He still wears them, even under his sweaty helmet on the field, and to bed, and to dinner, and all that. It's actually a little funny. He won't take them out, so he just washes them when he washes his hair, and they're starting to get faded and worn out. Nephlite always has to fix them. It's odd--I've never seen Malachite do anything like that. It seems a little silly that he would never take a girl's ribbons from his hair, but whenever I ask him about it, he just ... y'know, smiles the way that he does, and it suddenly doesn't seem silly or unlike him at all. It's throwing me off a little. I'm sorry, I'm ranting. Am I ranting? Ignore me, Serenity, I've been a little out of it lately. I'm sorry this is turning out to be such a pathetic letter. Anyway, how've you been? From the reports I hear, besides Mars spraining a wrist a few months back, you and your Guardians have been well. Your birthday's in June, right? Not much longer before you'll be thirteen. How does it feel? Do you feel older? I'll bet you look older. How do you usually celebrate your birthday? I'm sure it'll be a good one. I won't be able to come in person, but I'll send you a present, ok? You should have a big party, with a cake and everything. Maybe a cheesecake, right? An Earthian cheesecake would be perfect. How easy is it to import food from up there? Well, it may be harder than usual because of the war, but I'll bet the princess of the moon can get her hands on one stupid cheesecake. Maybe you should try that. Since you asked last time, yeah, my generals are doing well. Everyone's tired because of the fighting, but they're all healthy, and there haven't been any major injuries or anything. Zoycite's been paired with me on the field for the past month or so, with Jedite two lines behind us, Nephlite in the line before us, and Malachite, with my father, in the front. I won't say that doesn't scare the *crud* out of me, because it does. Mother's been out of her mind with worry lately, and Malachite's mother moved into the palace with her daughters to keep from freaking out too badly. The front line's a nasty place to be in this war, considering casualty rate is around 45% there and only gets worse every day. Malachite got stuck in a forest battle for several extra hours once, into the night and everything, and we were all sure he was dead. I think I really freaked out, because Nephlite slept in my bed with me until Malachite returned just before dawn. That shook us all up pretty bad. His mother cried her eyes out and was bedridden for several days. I don't know what she'd do if he actually ... y'know, died. I think we all feel that. Death. I mean, with all the soldiers and innocents who have been killed in the war already, we can't *not* think of it. We've all been putting in extra prayers between battles and training, and we've been doing lots of extra prayers for the dead. I used to think about death a lot, but on Zoycite's advice, I stopped. We all try to keep our spirits up so we won't get too depressed or anything. It's hard, but we're doing all right. Wait. Sorry. I didn't meant to talk about all of that. Um, let me see, what else ... father and mother are planning to visit the moon within a month or two, so you'll probably see them then. Father's ban on me hasn't lifted at all, and it's not exactly an appropriate time to try and talk him out of it, so I'm afraid I won't be coming along. One of these days I'll get him to let me go back to the moon. I've been fighting on the field pretty well, and he's been happier with me as of late, so maybe. I really hope so; I want to see you again. I have to go in a minute, so that's about it. I never stop thinking about you, Serenity, and I won't, not now or ever. I keep dreaming about you, about us seeing each other again and the war ending and everyone being happy. Those dreams always make me feel so relieved when I wake up, and for a minute I forget about the war and the fighting and I just remember you. Tell your guardians my generals are thinking about them, too. I think they're starting to feel the same way about them the way I'm feeling about you. War changes a lot of things. There's some weird ache that wells up in me when I see Malachite fight in the front line, sweat flying in little sparkling drops from his face and those worn, yellow and orange ribbons clinging weakly to his swishing hair. To be perfectly honest with you, I actually cried about it once. I don't know why. I was in bed, trying to sleep, and I just thought about him fighting with those ribbons in his hair. I think I ... cried myself to sleep that night, come to think of it. God, Serenity. I miss you so much. Endymion Serenity carefully pulled her shaking fingers from the parchment. Her heart hurt, badly, and she had the feeling that hurt wouldn't fade anytime soon. She couldn't say Endymion was a master at writing--based on the several letters he'd written her since they'd separated, she had a solid case for proving the opposite, actually--but the letter on her desk was even more fragmented and awkward than usual. She could practically feel the pain and fear as she ran her fingers over the slightly-smudged ink. Three months without a letter had worried her, but this note, finally received, worried her more. "God protect him." She clasped her hands tightly and closed her eyes. She needed to do praying of her own. "God," she pleaded. "Please, God, protect him ..." ************ Endymion fell to the ground, panting, and watched his blood drip to the damp soil. He gripped his sword more tightly. "Up, my prince!" shouted a voice. "Surges from the right, taking out the third line! Fourth line is too backed-up to help!" Endymion coughed up blood and staggered to his feet. Blinking his blurring eyes, he watched as a red-eyed member of the Legion cleaved his way through an Earthian soldier. Half a dozen other Legion members, all with the same horrible red eyes, hacked their way in behind him. Endymion snarled. He felt his adrenaline rise, the heat of anticipation and fear course through his veins. His grip, wet with sweat, slipped; he had to redo the hold on his hilt as he positioned his body and tightened his muscles. "Third line, defend from the right!" Zoycite, bleeding heavily from his thigh, appeared beside him. "Don't let them break through! Second line needs to progress and fourth line needs protection!" Endymion licked cracked and bloody lips. "Where've you been?" he asked his general as he watched the progressing Legion attacked by Earthians. Dozens more of both the enemy and the allies swarmed into the fray. Zoycite managed a sort of snort-laugh. "Lounging whilst being fed grapes," he muttered. "Where do you think?" Endymion's ocean eyes swung briefly to Zoycite, then back to the enemy. "Your leg looks bad." "Thanks for noticing. But as long as I can get to the medic before too long, I'll be fine." Endymion set his sight on a Legion member attacking a frantic knight. The prince gripped his hilt with both hands and charged forward, the point of his blade out. He ran his sword so far into the Legion fighter a bloody foot of blade emerged through the other side. The fighter shrieked like a demon. "The head!" Endymion shouted to the shocked knight. "Take off his head before--" He was cut off as the Legion member started thrashing wildly and clawing at the embedded sword. Endymion's hands were wrenched from the hilt; the fighter whipped around, screaming and focusing his burning red eyes on the prince. The fighter raised his own bloody sword high above Endymion, and the prince, empty-handed, could only stare. With a clean slice, the fighter's head detached from his body. The head hit the bloody ground half a moment before the rest of the carcass, right at Endymion's boots, as Endymion's knees buckled. His hands slapped against the ground as his knees buried in the wet dirt. "Up!" Zoycite's voice was clear behind him, even in the terrible din of battle. "Up, Endymion! You're not dead!" Endymion's body had begun to shake at some point. Forcing his eyes up from the ground, he grabbed the carcass before him and rolled it as far over as he could. He stumbled to his feet, held the body down with his boot, and wrenched his blade free. He'd expected to die. As he blinked watery eyes, he realized he'd had every reason to expect that--indeed, would have been foolish to have *not* expected that--yet only a few moments later, here he stood, as alive as he had been, a new death at his feet and his sword back in his hand. He'd expected to die, and now he had to go back to killing, as if nothing had happened had there not been a headless corpse rotting by his bloody boots. It was far from being his first death, or his first time on the battlefield, but he still felt like burying his face in his hands or puking his guts out. So close. So close to being dead. Endymion had had more than a lifetime's worth of war. "Endymion!" A hand grabbed his shoulder and whipped him around. Endymion found himself meeting eyes with a panting Zoycite. "Hey!" the general shouted. "You're ok, right?" Endymion nodded, brain hazy. Zoycite shoved him back around and pointed to a few Legion members breaking through the Earthian ranks. "We'll get off the field soon, I promise," he snapped. "If we can beat those few guys back, this area should be stabilized again. Can you do that with me?" Endymion swallowed the tears lumping in his throat and nodded. He wiped blood off on his pants, regripped his sword, and spread his feet. Zoycite raised his own blade just as he reached over and let his fingers gently brush over Endymion's cheek. "I love you." Zoycite didn't bother turning. "So don't die, ok?" Legion fighters charged then. The prince got his sword up to block an incoming blade, then panted and pushed up against his attacker. He saw Zoycite battling out of the corner of his eye, but couldn't pay it any attention as the Legion fighter shoved inhuman weight against him. Endymion was pushed down, his arms shaking, his knees bending as he frantically fought to stay on his feet. He held his breath and shoved their swords around in an arc; the fighter's hands twisted painfully, and he pulled back for a half moment. Endymion took the half moment and slashed across the fighter's belly. The fighter howled and faltered. Endymion pulled his sword back and rammed it into the fighter's heart. The humanoid creature hacked up blood, red eyes wide, and spasmed. For a brief instant, his eyes flickered to some other color. Endymion froze. He suddenly realized what he was staring at. He'd already run the fighter through, buried his sword in his flesh, and he hadn't even realized what he was staring at. Hot and cold fear gripped him. Shocked into a stupor, his sword fell from his numb hand. The fighter crumpled. Endymion, his body shaking, dropped to his knees and took the fighter's shoulders. Eyes wide, the prince rolled the body over. Red, glazed eyes. The fighter, barely alive, still managed to snarl and claw at the prince. His dirty nails scraped bloody ridges into Endymion's neck; the sudden stinging snapping him back to some sense of reality, Endymion abruptly pulled his hands off the fighter's body. He stared at the creature, stared until the red eyes rolled to the back of the head and the fighter gurgled a death moan. Stared as a crash of metal, Zoycite's cry, and the thumping of a body in dirt came from nearby. *No.* Endymion gripped his arms, shaking, unable to turn from the fighter's carcass. Zoycite suddenly stumbled up, panting heavily, and grabbed Endymion's shoulder. "Up!" he shouted. "We're not done, Endymion!" Endymion turned terrified eyes up at his general. "Look," he croaked, pointing to his kill. Zoycite shook his head in frustration. "You killed him, Endymion! You're fine! Come ON!" "No." He clutched Zoycite's wrist, pulled him closer, and pointed again. "*Look*," he repeated. "Look at his face." Zoycite snarled angrily, though did as he was bid. "What?" he snapped. "He's dead." "Look at his *face*, Zoycite." Endymion swallowed. "And imagine him with blue eyes." Zoycite scowled. A moment of staring, then he suddenly froze; his mouth opened, but no sound came out. "G-good God," he breathed. "I'm seeing things." Endymion's fingers tightened over Zoycite's wrist. "So it's not just me?" he breathed. "Do you see Thomas, too?" "Thomas. Thomas of Riverside. The knight who worked in the palace guard." Zoycite turned his huge eyes to his prince. "He was among the slain more than a month ago." Endymion wanted to throw up. The world swam before his eyes, to the extent where he could hardly see the twisted features of the dead Legion warrior before him. Thomas of Riverside. Among the slain. Among the slain who vanished from the battlefield the night of their fall. Screaming brought Endymion back to the present. He looked up to see the fighting still thick around him, both allies and enemies piling dead on the wet ground. Zoycite took Endymion's arm and pulled the two of them to their feet. "Not much ... longer," Zoycite managed, pushing his back against Endymion's and taking the ready position with his sword. "Stay back to back with me and try not to fight outwards too far." He slid back a hand, took Endymion's, and entwined their fingers. "Not much longer," he repeated, breathing heavily. Endymion carefully pulled his fingers from Zoycite's and gripped his hilt. As a Legion warrior charged him, as Endymion stared into those red eyes in that tanned, humanoid face, he prayed more fervently to God than he ever had in his life. "Protect us," he breathed. "Oh, God, who is our enemy?" To be continued ... -Forgive the violence. Some plot here, whee, next time more plot, whee, hope you're still enjoying this fic. Thanks for continuing to read. ^_^ Next part will be out ... hmm. Not sure yet; stay tuned to the page. Hopefully sooner rather than later (many tests coming up, then I'm out of the country for a week). Thank you! -Lianne (liannesentar@hotmail.com) http://Lianne_Sentar.tripod.com *Sailor Moon and all its characters copyright © Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha Ltd./Toei Animation, Co., Ltd. This story part copyright © Lianne Sentar, December 2001.