A fan fic by Caleyndar. Rating: PG. Notes: This chapter follows directly from where the previous chapter left off. This much a battle scene. Not much else happens. Other factors will be resolved in the following chapters. Once again, thankyou to those who e-mailed me. Please do so if you have any comments or questions. I will surely answer. Also, please visit my web site: http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Portal/5907/ Thankyou. And please, if you do decided to send the time and effort to visit my page, sign the guest book. Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; only the few I make up. The story, however, is mine. The Name Endymion... Part Three: Faces of War... Chapter Five... As soon as we had left the prying eyes behind, Jadeite and I transformed, clothing ourselves in our usual attire. Without a word, we linked our minds and located the other generals through my blood bond and teleported ourselves there. The world reformed itself around us, and we found ourselves standing on a board road paved with white stones, lined on either sides with silver trees. Warm sunlight streamed down through the fine golden leaves, striking the silver of the limbs and trunks, and the white stones on the road. Everything looked so peaceful, so utterly tranquil. Like that in a fairy tale. But it was not so. In one direction down the white stone road, the dream like world continued, ending in a handsome mansion, standing like a castle at the end of the driveway on which we stood. In the other, a nightmare was born. A black machine filled the entire road, and it?s height reached the highest branches on the trees beside it. It?s limbs were thin and long, like that of a spiders?. It?s single eye was green and red, and situated in the middle of it?s chest. Standing on the ground, looking up at the human creation in shock, were my three generals and the Inner Soldiers of Serenity?s Court. The Princess of the Moon Kingdom and the Prince of the Black Moon Kingdom were nowhere to be seen. And Sapphire stood staring at the monster with the deepest hate and anger. The deepest fear took me then, seeing this emotion imprinted on Sapphire?s face. Without thinking, I sprinted up and took him from behind. "Where are they!" I demanded, grabbing him by the shoulders. "Where is Serenity and your brother!" I shouted at him. He did not seem to feel or hear me. Then he suddenly let out a cry of rage and leapt away from me and flew at the one eyed contraption. In mid air, he formed a huge dark blue ball of energy in his hands and threw it with amazing power at the eye of the dark machine. The energy ball impacted with the air, never touching the black metallic surface. The blue energy was suddenly sucked into the eye in a vortex. And the monster grew larger. "Do you fools never learn?" a mocking voice asked. "Our technology has been developed to turn your magical powers into fuel for this machine! Every time you attack it, it becomes stronger!" My eyes fixed apon the figure of Blade standing apon the monster?s board, headless shoulder. Next to him stood his twin, Sabre. Both of them were dressed in black, with their symbol in silver across their chest. The dagger. And all over their bodies, strapped to their arms and legs and waists, were many weapons. Blasters, assassin?s knives, small blades, deadly spikes, explosives. You name it, they wore it. The monster raised one of it?s arms and pointed to at Sapphire, who had landed badly after using so much energy. At the end there formed a bright light. A laser powering up. "Sapphire!" I shouted and I ran up to him. He did not even look up. With nothing else possible, I knocked him out of the way just as the laser let loose it?s fury. "Shit, Sapphire, you could have died!" I yelled at him when we finally came to a halt on the ground. "I don?t care. I?ve failed my brother," was his only reply. There was no time for an answer. The monster was attacking once more. Neither my generals or the soldiers could do anything but dodge it?s attacks. Every weapon they had was powered by magic powers. Even Pandora?s Box. There was nothing they could do. We were defeated. But Serenity. I would not fail her! She needed my help! "Give Serenity back to me!" I screamed as I materialised my crystal sabre in my hand and leapt up onto the monster?s shoulder and faced Blade and Sabre. I cared not for my life. Only for her. And I cared not that she feared me. I loved her! "Oh, you must be Prince Endymion of the Earth Kingdom. What an honour it is to meet you!" Blade said mockingly, and bowed to me. "You love Serenity too? Oh, what a small world it is! Dearest Prince Diamond does too! Humm, you want to see her, to be with her?" "I want her back, safe and unharmed. Diamond too," I said darkly and menacingly. Blade just laughed. "Humm, you were at that restaurant last night weren?t you? I thought you looked familiar. Yes, I will given those two fools back to their kingdoms. Once they belong to me! And now that you?re here, well, I might as well take you too. Three birds with one arrow. What luck!" I switched on my crystal and pointed it at his throat. "Oh, I am so scared!" he laughed. "Humm, Sabre, knock this smart ass out, will you? I grow tired of this planet. We?ll pick up Sword after this," he said to his silent brother. And then, turning back to me with a smile, he said, "And then, we?ll start talking about taking over your kingdoms!" I gave a soft smile and deactivated my crystal sabre and dematerialised it. "There?s no need to call me names, or to knock me out. I?ll come with you willingly. Should you promise not to harm a signal strand of Serenity?s hair." Blade raised a black eye brow. "Interesting, Endymion. You care for her that much? Oh, this will be fun! But of course, we have to knock you out! That?s the best part!" He smiled graciously at me. And before I could answer, Sabre, with his dark red eyes and evil smile, was in front of me. A shape blow was delt to the side of my neck and I was instantly no longer among the conscious. Did I know what I had done? Given myself to the enemy? And my generals and the Inner Soldiers. At least they were safe. For somehow I knew that the twins and their hideous creation had left with me in their grasp as soon as I laid a crumpled heap apon the shoulder of their black machine. Yes, I knew what I had done. But as for giving my kingdom away, I doubted that would happen. My Father did not care that much for me. And I cared nought for myself. I just wanted to see Serenity, to make sure she was safe, and to protect her. I don?t think I particularly cared whether I survived or not. Just as long as she did. Has not my attitude changed! For the better, most certainly. At least, towards Serenity. As for my kingdom and my people? To tell the truth, I couldn?t give a damn. About my Father, about my people. I wanted none of that. I was tired of thinking about others. I just wanted to be happy. To be with Serenity. Why should I have to give that up just because my people wanted it so? Oh, I know I was being selfish. But I was so alone. So weary of everything. I awoke with the worst headache I could ever recall having. I laid on a cold metallic surface, my check and belly pressed up against it. I emitted a soft moan and tried to get up, but any movement only made my head spin wildly. My eyes were closed, but even so, I knew that the room around me was very brightly lit. I feared to open them less the light blinded me and caused my eyes to ache. "Trying to hide from the world again, Endymion?" Always mocking was his voice. Only once had I heard it filled with joy. "Why does it matter?" I asked, not daring to open my eyes and see. "Everything in this world has a point in existing." His foot steps echoed on the metallic floor, heels clicking slightly. Closer, closer, until they stopped by my head. "Even you do, as pathetic as you are. No wonder your lost your dear Princess to Prince Diamond." "Don?t mock," I answered softly. "I don?t want to know." "Humm, that?s too bad isn?t it? Because I have something to show you!" A hand grabbed my hair and yanked me up, harshly, aiming to hurt, to cause immense pain. I made my face a mask, locking my mind from the pain. Still I did not open my eyes. A hand connected with my face, back handing me. He must have wore rings, jewelled rings, for I felt them cut into my cheek, and a moment later, the warmth of my blood seep down from the wounds. "Look, Endymion!" Blade?s voice commanded. "Look at how your dear Princess suffers!" It?s a lie. All of it?s a lie. I?m dreaming. I?ve been dreaming for the past two years. Something happened at that dance on our last night at camp. I was hurt. I was in a coma dreaming nightmares. I was no Prince. I was just Darien. And Serena was my girlfriend. Nothing more, nothing less. "Humm, still not going to look? I?ll hurt her more then. Her hands are only held by a force field now. But perhaps, perhaps I should do what they did to your Living Lord, the Son of God. Should I, Endymion? Drive nails through her hands?" Blade threatened. "No!" I screamed, my eyes flying wide open. Her form surrounded me, pictures of her on monitors all around me. Her bowed head, her arms stretched out, tied to a cross. I screamed. Again and again and again. Like a child I screamed. Blade?s cruel hand let go of my hair and I crumpled down onto the cold floor, tucking myself up into a ball and hiding my face from her pained form. There I stayed, sobbing. He laughed. Laughed. "I love to see you cry," he said, looking down at me still. "Blade, stop this! This is pointless," a girl?s voice interrupted. "Sword, everyone has their hobbies. Making others suffer just happens to me mine," Blade grinned at her. "I enjoy it too." Silence fell between them. "I never get to have any fun around here!" Blade finally said as he walked away. "If you weren?t my little sister, and if I didn?t love you, I would have your head severed from you sweet little neck and displayed in my room!" Sword placed a hand on my shaking shoulder after her brother had left. "I am sorry about what my brother has done," she sighed. "But it is the way we are." "He said he loved you," I said shakily. "How can such a cold hearted man display such extremes?" I asked in almost pure amazement. "How can you love the one you must kill?" was her soft and sad reply. I was silent, my sobs slowly dying. "That is the curse and gift of being human. That we can feel every emotion at the same time. Love, hate, sorrow, regret. Everything. That is why you feel so confused, why you feel you must do one thing now, and another the next moment. Why you love Serenity. Why you also feel you must kill her. And it is why my brother can love me, and hate you," Sword explained kindly. "I hate being human," was all I could say. "She is gone now. Her image. I dislike to hurt others mentally," Sword told me. "But I would not try escaping. Your cell here is electronically sealed. Even your sub-space pocket in which you keep various items is sealed off from you. Trying to teleport out would also be useless." I laughed softly, at last daring to look up again. "A fine mess I have thrown myself into. The more I think about it, the more I like to sound of committing suicide." "No, Endymion. Taking the easy way out is never the answer. Others depend on you. Serenity depends on you," Sword said. "And what would you know!" I snapped, glaring at her from where I kneeled on the cold metal floor. "She doesn?t need me! She fears me!" A look of pain crossed Sword?s face, a grimace. She turned swiftly and left, following in her brother?s foot steps, her wavy black hair a gleaming mass in the bright light. With her gone, I turned my anger apon the shadow that stood next to the door, watching me watch his kindred. "Do you love watching me suffer too?" I demanded of Sabre. "You make me sick!" I spat. "I care not for the tactics my brother uses, nor the kindness my sister displays to you and your companions. Were I in charge, all of you would be dead by now. Better to kill you now and weaken your respective kingdoms, and then take control of them afterwards. There is no point in my view of why you must be kept alive," was Sabre?s cold reply. "You must understand the differences between my family and I. Blade has the burning heat, my sister the welcomed warmth. And myself, the searing cold. I will never display any kindness to anyone other than my brother and my sister." "I understand that. I care nothing for you, nor anyone else in this place. Only Serenity," I said, rising to my feet. "If she is hurt, you will pay dearly. For I can grantee you that if I will not avenge her in this life, I will in the next." Sabre?s lips curled up in a smile. "You are most amusing. You actually believe in such a thing? Well, dream on, Prince Endymion. I am sure your lovely dream will come true." He threw me one last evil look and exited through the door, the only part of the circular room which was not a screen. The thick metal door slid shut. The pain in my head hit me again, that headache I had awoken with. My cheek still bled from where Blade had back handed me, and without my powers, I could not heal it. Well, let it bleed. I deserved it. I always deserved the pain I was delt. I walked to the door and laid my right palm against it. I willed power to gather there and open the door. The only reaction I received was an increase of the pain in my head. Trying to use my powers brought it on. Logic led me to think that the field which sealed this cell disturbed the currents of power in my mind, which caused none of it to work, and my trying to make is work caused the disturbance to increase, and thus increased my headache. What had I gotten myself into this time! This was worst than being mortal! I turned and leaned against the door and let myself slid down until I sat on the floor. How was I going to get myself out? I had to save Serenity no matter what. I could not bare to sit around while she was in pain. But what could I do? I had no powers, no weapons, nothing! I was as helpless as a new born baby. Good going, Endymion. Act all brave and now you were in just as bad a position as the one you intended to save! I sighed and placed my head in my hands, wanting to block my stupidness away from even myself. Taking my hands away, I saw the blood from my cheek covering part of my wrist. This gave me an idea. I stood up once more and physically removed my armour and took off the top of my black uniform, leaving only a white long sleeved shirt. To the sleeves of this I ripped, discarding the rags apon the metal floor. I didn?t care if someone was monitoring me. I counted apon that. The screens which had so boldly thrust into my face her image. Her pained image. I will not allow this! Forming my hand into a fist, bare from any cover, I slammed it into the lifeless screen. The glass broke, falling away like crystals, all in slow motion. The pain of my fist connecting with the glass was almost unbearable. But for her, anything. And still I plunged my arm into the nest of wires behind the broken glass, deliberately slashing the flesh of my arms. Though I tried, I could not hold in the shock which coursed up through my arm and into every other cell of my body. I gasped, clenching my teeth together. Don?t think of the pain. Anything but the pain. Like needles they cut into me. Thousands of red hot spikes scraping along my tortured flesh. And then I pulled it out, slicing open my flesh even more. The bright red blood gushed forth, as my restless heart pumped and pumped as I tried desperately to shut out the pain that screamed through my entire arm. A moment more. If I had judged wrong. If no one was watching me. Then I would have just thrown away my life. Seconds passed. The blood still flowed, many rivers of red drenching my skin and dripping on to the dull silver floor. My head began to spin. Stay conscious. Should I fail now, the harm I had just caused to myself would have been pointless. Shut the field down! Nothing happened. You fool, Endymion. You have not only failed yourself. You?ve failed her. Well, at least my pain will end now. I closed my eyes. And my clouded mind was cleared. I smiled. With a flash of blue light, my arm was healed, as was my cheek. My crystal sabre was in my hand, and my armour reformed itself around me. Not more than a second or two had passed. My head ache returned. But they were too late. Smiling, I activated the weapon, and it?s blazing blade appeared, glowing blue, the colour the of the planet I had loved so dearly in my Innocent Life, but which I had always taken for granted. This, I plunged into the metal door. With three strokes, I was free. Serenity, Serenity, Serenity. I could not feel her mind. The Weapons must have activated the electronic field throughout the entire building. This would make in more difficult. I tired once more. Nothing except the dull ache. But then I felt something in my heart. Her pull apon my soul. My soul recognised hers! Relief flooded though me as I ran though the bare corridors, letting my body guide me. My sabre was at all times ignited and held in my right hand. The Weapons themselves were no where to be seen, but their guards were everywhere. I hated to strike those poor souls down. But my only concern then was my love and her safety. To hear their screams, to smell the burnt and charred flesh, to see disembodied limbs fall apon the ground, made me feel light headed. And had my mind not been so full of anxiety to get to Serenity, I would surly have been horrified at myself for such senseless murder. For that was all it really was. Cold blooded murder. No matter the motive. And then I was there, standing in front of the towering metal doors which separated Serenity from me. Without a further thought, I poised the weapon above it and attacked. The blade cut through as if the metal was nothing but the softest butter. A portion of the door fell inwards and landed on the floor with a sound that resembled a clap of thunder. The sight that I beheld when the door no longer obstructed my view shocked me, though I had already seen it. My only love, caught in such an obscene position. High above the ground it took her. As if she was truly an angel who belonged in Heaven. Her eyes were closed, as if she was unconscious. There was pained look apon her face. Not far from her crucifix stood Diamond?s. His pure white suit was dirty and tattered, his long cape ripped. So he had tried to protect her before he fell. I thanked him for that. He looked up then, though the dark force field which surrounded both the crucifixes, his eyes locking apon mine, icy cold as always, forever full of hatred. But then he glanced over to Serenity, and he merely closed his eyes, as if saying to me, ?do what you must, enemy, to save her?. I did not hesitate. Stepping though the downed door, I stood in attack position to face Blade and Sabre, whom were each guarding a crucifix. Sword stood inbetween the two crucifixes, looking at me with calm eyes, neither offering help nor aggression. Deep down, I knew there was no way I could win. Not with the interference field up which prevented me from using my powers. My martial arts skills were good, but I could never best any of the Weapons alone, much less when they attacked together. But still I refused to admit defeat. I had come this far in saving Serenity. I would do my best to finish what I had begun. I stepped forward, my crystal sabre in front of me. I faced Blade first, for he stood in my path to freeing Serenity. He smiled evilly at me and produced an energy blade much like my own, only green in colour, like his eyes. And without waiting for me to make my move, he leapt towards me, weapon raised, eager to dissect me in half. I jumped back just as his weapon would have cut me from head to feet, landing nimbly a few meters from my origin. He attacked again, and this time, I blocked his blows with my own. Blade was strong. Stronger than I was physically. My hope began to fade. I could never win. And then the end came. As I side stepped to miss a blow from his blade, I did not see his foot sweep out. He impacted with my lower legs, and swept my feet out from under me. One moment I was standing. The next, I was on my staring up at the blade poised above my throat. Blade smiled triumphantly. "You disappoint me, Endymion," he said, grinning like the Devil. "I would have thought the son of the God of War would be a little more difficult to best in a fight. But I was wrong. Alas, you will die, and you will never know the fate of you dear princess. But don?t worry! I?ll be sure to cause her a lot of pain!" The glowing blade was raised. I would not close my eyes. I was not that cowardly. And then it descended, Death knocking apon my door. A great explosion suddenly tour though the entire complex, throwing Blade off balance, Sabre and Sword too. My headache was suddenly gone. The field was down. And the first thing I sensed was that my generals were here, as were the Inner Soldiers and Diamond?s brother, Sapphire. For when the shield had been down for that one moment, and I had used my powers, my generals had sensed it, and it had lead them here. I smiled. Now I had the advantage. I got to my feet just as the Weapons did, and I smiled at them, showing them openly what I meant to do. I dematerialised the crystal sabre so that my hands were free, and then I placed my hand slightly apart, with palms facing one another. And there I let all my pent up energy grow. A ball of blue electric energy. Small at first, and then larger, and larger. All I wanted to do was to destroy this creature who had hurt my princess. "No, my Prince!" Kunzite?s voice rang out from behind me. "You?ll destroy everything if you let loose your powers! Yourself, and Princess Serenity!" The realisation became clear in my mind, and I dissipated the energy in disgust. I would have hurt her! I could have killed her! What a fool I was, and always have been! My generals stood behind me know. I knew where they all positioned themselves without turning around. After all, part of me lived inside of them. Serenity?s Court and Sapphire stood behind my generals, facing the Weapons also. They were still an obstacle between us and our goal. "You can not beat all of us," I said softly at last. "My Prince is correct," Kunzite continued. "If you surrender now, we will allow you to live. Make us fight you, and you will surly die. As you already know, your interference field is down. We have our powers. There is nothing you can do." Blade sneered at my High General. "Oh, you make me so afraid. Let me remind you that we still have the Princess and the Prince. We still have what you want." "And now, we have what you want," was Kunzite?s puzzling reply. As he spoke, Zoisite suddenly appeared behind Sword. He took her by surprise, and with hardly a struggle, the younger sister of the Weapons was held captive by my fourth general. The twins looked behind them, just in time to see Zoisite teleport Sword and himself over the short distance to stand behind me once more. Blade?s expression was one of conflict, as if he was fiercely calculating what he would do now. He cared dearly for his sister. Loved her even. But like any human with pride, he did not wish to admit defeat. And then he finally turned to face the crucifix apon which Serenity was tied, and lifted his glowing green blade and plunged it into the base of the dark force field which held her there. A small explosion was produced, and then the force field flickered and died. Without the energy to hold her weakened body in place, Serenity began to fall. I teleported to the base of the crucifix and caught her just as she was about to hit the ground. She was unconscious, her face contorted in pain. I embraced her, so thankful that she was alive and safe within my arms. Turning around, I saw Sabre did the same as his brother, and Diamond was being supported by Sapphire. He was conscious, and even now glared at me. I carried Serenity?s slight form over to Diamond. He was stronger now, and stood on his own. White energy surrounded him as he healed himself. Diamond looked at me as I placed Serenity in his arms, uncomprehending of why I did what I did. "Take care of her, Diamond," I said, my voice seemingly strong. But inside, I was killing myself. "She needs you now, and though I love her, I will do what she wants." And then I turned away from them, not wanting the Prince of the Black Moon Kingdom to see the tears welling up in my eyes. My generals were staring at me with wide eyes, disbelieving what they had just witnessed. Even the Inner Soldiers looked shocked. "Let Sword go, Zoisite," I commanded. "I want nothing more to do with this place. Let us return to the Dark Dragon Kingdom. There are a few matters I have to clear up with a friend of mine." Zoisite did as I ordered, and Sword stayed immobile as my companions and I all backed away from her and her brothers. "I do not want to ever see your faces again," I said to the Weapons. "And if you dare threaten any of us again, be sure that I will personally see to it that you will be rewarded with death for your troubles." And with those last words said, I teleported away from that dark world in which I had almost met Death and descended into the depths of Hell. End Part Three, Chapter Five.