Hello everyone! Here is chapter 10. My website is up! It's a bit boring at the moment. Feel free to check it out: www.geocities.com/~ladymharris or www.geocities.com/tokyo/bay/9408! Yeah! I'm still in the process of learning HTML(HELL!) Well, anyhow you'll notice as you read on or if you hadn't already noticed, that this story centers around Darien. I have tried to develop his character and Serena's too. And if you'll notice in this time period, he is very much older than Serena. I have included his generals, but not against him as you will see in this chapter and the later chapters. Yes, I know, I have changed the story quite a bit. I wanted to write it for my enjoyment also. And yes, there's alot of action here, I hope. But I warn you, I'm not an action writer, so sorry if comes out a bit choppy. I like to think that this story has been mostly romance! Well, I really don't consider my story a 'hentai'. It's more of a 'R' rating. Hentai, to me means soft pornography. I don't consider this story even soft pornography. Perhaps, I just don't care for the word porno being associated to this story (my story!). Yeah, yeah, quit blabbing. Okay, already! Also, I self-edited it again, so you're forewarned. Well, happy reading and drop me a note tell me what you thought of it, just go a little easy on me. ^_^. Lady M. Harris.

 

MOONLIGHT MIDNIGHT GLORY

 

 

Chapter 10

 

 

"A penny for your thoughts." Malachite said as he came up to Mina, who was leaning back against a nearby tree watching the celebrations. Most of the women and men were now dancing together. Some of the older adults sat around laughing and engaging in lighthearted jokes and merriment.

Mina's lovely face was facing forward, her hands were clasped behind her back, causing her body to slightly arch forward. Her long, golden hair seemed an even deeper, richer gold color with the fires reflecting off her hair. Even though it was slighter darker by the trees, he could see clearly how red and full her lips were. How he ached to taste them again! If only she knew how desirable she was to him at this moment. How he wanted to sweep her into his arms as his bold friend had done to his own woman.

"I was just wondering how you knew these people so well, as Darien does." Mina said looking up at him, under the cover of her long lashes.

My God, he thought, staring. She was such a beauty. He continued to gaze at her, almost speechless. "Actually, " he began, clearing his throat, then laughing quietly, "It's an old story and not too short of one either."

"Go on, I'm listening." Mina prodded, smiling slowly.

"Well, when I first met and got to know Darien, he would disappear for weeks at time. Pissing his parents off or rather King Daiman." He began, when Mina's surprised brows went up. "Well, I found I could relate well with Darien's personality and his off-hand, Devil-be-damned attitude. I made it my purpose to follow him the next time, he went off on one of his escapes. And I did eventually follow him and it didn't bother him, we were good friends by then. He never bothered to tell me though, that the next time he entered this tribe, he would be earning his true warrior name. Apparently, he knew I could handle myself."

"His true warrior name? You mean that name, 'Run-with-Fire'?" She asked, a little confused, remembering the name the tribe had shouted out as Darien carried Serena off.

"Yes, this tribe happens to be his other family." He explained. He knew, he was further confusing her. "His mother married the man you met named, 'Swift-Wind'. Darien was no more than a babe, at the time."

"Oh." Well, that explains Water-Weaver's connection to Darien. Then she thought of the implications. Darien was King Damian's illegitimate child. What a scandal that probably had been.

"Anyhow, when Darien and I rode into the village, we were attacked by all the warriors." He laughed at Mina's gasp of dismay. "He was and probably still is, their fiercest warrior. Can you imagine the might, it takes to throw off four warriors on you?" Malachite asked, chuckling as he remembered the event, fondly. There he was, trying to fight off two of their warriors, never realizing he was earning his own warrior name, in the process. Darien, came running towards him with such fire in his eyes, that he momentarily stunned the warriors with his fierceness. It was all he needed to lunge the warriors off of him, thus beating them at their game, he explained to Mina.

"So, that is how he earned his name?" She asked, when he finished, nodding to her question. "And yours? What is yours?" She asked, wondering. She could have imagined him then, as young as she was now, and almost as naive.

"White-Fire." He told her proudly, smiling. She looked up at his hair and giggled. Her giggle was infectious. He chuckled deeply with her, enjoying her company. She wondered what he had thought of her dancing earlier. It had been hard to tell, when his gaze had been dark and intense on her all evening.

Mina could smell his fresh, manly scent. She felt her skin prickle and her pulses leaping as she gazed back at him, under the flickering lights. His gaze flashed back at her, warming her senses. His eyes dipped for a moment to her lips, causing her tongue to dart out and lick her suddenly, parched lips.

His eyes darkened to the color of deep blue as he watched her nervously perch before him. How he wanted her! Watching her earlier as she danced with the other women, had inflamed him. Her seemingly graceful figure had pranced and swayed before him and the other men. The men had all jokingly snickered and betted who would win the Golden-One's attentions. He had told the younger men to take their bets elsewhere, that she was his, he had proclaimed. Much to his dismay and to their delight and laughter, more bets were made. Whether or not he could actually win her attentions. Grumbling and grinning at the same time, he told them to mind their own business. Again, he elicited more laughter and even higher bets.

"White-Fire?" He remembered her whispering as their bodies shifted closer.

Somehow, her hands found themselves on his chest. Her fingers gripped his silk shirt, tightly. She could feel his steady, rapid heartbeat. Was that for me, she thought, amazed? All of her thoughts and questions flew out of her head as their faces came within inches apart from each other.

"What do you desire, Mina?" He rasped out as he gazed into her enchanting depths, alternating between her lovely eyes and her very red, parted lips.

"White-Fire." And then, there was no more coherent thoughts after their lips met.

 

 

"Do you have any idea, what an impossible and teasing, little witch you are, Serena!" Darien said reflectively as he gazed down into her sleepy face. The little minx wore a soft smile in the darkness of their hut. His free hand was caressing her smooth flesh almost absentmindley. He bent down to kiss the hollow where her neck and collarbone met, feeling her pulsebeat under his lips. His hand wandered lower, seeking and he heard her soft sigh.

Serena's teeth caught in her lower lip as her body stirred to his caresses. "Only because you make me impOSSIBLE!" She gasped out the last word as his hand cupped her mound. The teasing fingers awakened the blanketed fires within her. Would it always be this way between them, this desire? She had hurdled all pretense, by admitting her love to him tonight. She knew she had stunned him with her revelation, but she had been helpless but to ride the tides of love.

Darien could still hear Serena's words of love echoing throughout his head, that she had cried out earlier as they made love.

They had arrived at their hut, with him almost stumbling as he tried to close the hut's door completely. When he had turned around, he was treated to the sight of her completely and unashamedly naked before him. The fire had burned in his narrowed eyes, gleaming at this erotic, ethereal creature of beauty.

Then she held her arms out to him and had clasped him passionately to her softly yielding body when he came to her. She had been ready for him, without wanting or needing any further preliminaries. Her lovely body arching fiercely against his, trembling and needy. Just as impatient for that first joining as his was.

She alone has the power to defeat me, Darien thought suddenly. She, of all the women I've known, she could be my downfall, my fatal weakness--but I can't resist her! Yet, she is mine and belongs to no other!

Never before, when they had made love, had she called out to him, telling him of her love for him. Sobbing her need as she did then. He had felt a raging pang of jealousy at that moment, that she could love so freely, when he could not. Until her caressing fingers, the spontaneous movements of her sleek and supple body had blotted out everything. Blotted out everything, but his own insatiable, unsatisfied need for her--for only this particular woman above all the others. This wild, bold, and sensual creature who gave herself to him completely and with utter abandonment.

"I?" Darien said innocently, as his tongue lavished her inner, most sensitive woman spot. When he paused, looking up at her from her soft thighs, there was a most distinctive, wicked smile on his lips. "Certainly not I, my sweet!" he replied, kissing her inner thighs.

Serena could do nothing, but to sigh a disagreement as he plunged forward to tease her again with his playful tongue. But, her fingers groped and tangled in his black hair, encouraging him to further torture her.

For a long time, the only sounds that could be heard from their hut were the sounds of pleasure.

 

 

Darien left the confines of their hut early that morning as the light began to creep into the dark sky. He had left their hut to fetch some fresh water for his canteen and to bring back some hot coffee for Serena and him. This morning was the best opportunity to tell her of the crystal's whereabouts and the purpose of the Cienna. He was already dreading the moment he would have to tell her. He knew that she was going to be angry. More like pissed, he thought, grimacing. He was just stretching his tired legs, then reflecting back on the incredible night he had spent with Serena. That was when a scream pierced the silence of the village.

Serena!

His face paled and his heart slammed against his ribcage, as he recognized who the screamed belonged to. Malachite and him reached their hut almost simultaneously. Mina trailed behind Malachite with a dawning expression of horror on her face. Warriors of the tribe also began arriving at the tiny hut. Even Lady Beryl emerged, confused at first, then horrified by the scene as she gazed at her companion. That had certainly not been part of the plan, she thought, dismayed.

Chorn had dragged Serena out of their hut, with his arm clasped around her neck, as his other hand held a jagged dagger. The razor sharp tip of the jagger was dangerously held close to her jugular vein in her neck. Serena, the foolish girl, struggled constantly as she tried twisting her body away from Chorn. Darien wanted to shout out to her to hold still, even as the blinding rage overwhelmed him.

"Let her go, Chorn!" Darien demanded, his harsh voice low, but steady. The fact that it was steady, surprised him as he watched Chorn's hand slip. The dagger drew a tiny sliver of blood. Serena squeaked, ceasing her movements.

Laughing with glee, "Over my dead body!" Chorn shouted. "She is mine now! And I have, what I came here for: the Blue Crystal!"

"The Blue Crystal?!" Darien shouted, his body stiffening as his suspicions were confirmed about Chorn. "You can have it, just let her go!" He said as he stepped forward slightly. He was going to blast Chorn to the moon and back.

Chorn had no idea that Darien had any powers, but he knew Mina did. Looking at Darien, he spoke to Mina, "Don't try anything with your powers, Mina!" he said as Darien hesitated. A large, swirling black hole appeared from behind Chorn and Serena. "Anything you hurl at me will bounce off me and will surely kill Serena and everyone else!" He taunted and laughed, maliciously.

Watching Darien, "Do you think me a fool, to let her go for the crystal, Darien? I will have them both!" Chorn said as the black hole picked up a torrid amount of wind. Everyone present could feel an utter darkness of evil penetrate their presence. Laughing gleefully, "But since, you are her husband and she cannot be married unless she's a widow. I must, of course, get rid of you!" Chorn laughed nefariously as he directed a blaze of light at Darien, intending to kill him. At the same time, Chorn and Serena stepped through the black hole.

"Seerreeeennaa...!" Darien shouted as he leaped towards them. He was thrown back as the blaze of light stunned him, and then it was reflected off of him. It hit everything in its path as it struck huts, burning them within an instance. Men and women screamed and scattered as they ran for cover. Fire erupted on the grounds and nearby, the huts began to burn furiously.

"Venus-Love-Me-Chain! Contain the fire!" The transformed Mina shouted as Sailor Venus. She threw spirals of golden, rippling tiny hearts, condensed together to form a lasso of gold, containing the raging fires.

Running up to Sailor Venus, "I call upon the Goddess of Sailor Mercury! I am your vessel, do as I ask of you! By the power invested and granted to me as Water-Weaver, put out the fire with your cooling waters!" Water-Weaver shouted, as her body swirled magically, her hands lifting towards the small stream. The stream suddenly raged like an ocean, and lifted a flow of an enormous amount of water, putting out the fires. Sailor Venus gaped at Water-Weaver.

Even as Chorn and Serena began disappearing into the black hole, Chorn cut short his laughter as he watched Darien slowly get up. "Nooooo!" he croaked. Impossible! Darien had no powers! Just as he watched Darien, Darien looked up at him. His eyes narrowed with cold hate and anger. Darien's raging voice boomed into Chorn's head, even though he could barely see him now.

"You will rue the day, you fucked with me and mine, Chorn!" The steely voice sliced through the darkness and penetrated through Chorn's body. And then, Serena and Chorn were gone.

 

 

Even as the black hole disappeared, the Earth shook. Trembling as if someone had awakened her peaceful sleep. Yet, it was not Earth awakening, but Earth being attacked.

Two Sailor Senshis, Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter appeared out of nowhere as the mayhem began. Bedraggled and tired, they nearly collapsed before Malachite and Sailor Venus. Another Sailor Senshi, appeared sobbing as she neared them. Sailor Mars. They all appeared to have battled and lost.

"What's going on?" Malachite shouted, alarmed at this new turn of events. "Has the world gone mad?"

"Yes, Metilla has attacked the planets!" Sailor Mars said as she collapsed onto her knees. Tears spilled from her clinched eyes.

"Serena has been taken by the Beryls!" Sailor Venus cried out to the Senshis.

Shocked crossed the faces the weary Sailors Scouts. Sailor Jupiter's face began to contort with anger as she looked over at Darien. He stared fiercely back at her, returning her glare.

"How could you have let her be taken?" Sailor Jupiter cried out as she tried to hit him with her fist. He easily dodged it, catching her fist in his hand. He opened his mouth to answer her, but Sailor Venus spoke instead.

"It wasn't his fault, Sailor Jupiter!" Sailor Venus cried out as she threw her body between them. "Stop it right now! We should not be fighting with each other. The Beryls will surely win, if we continue to point fingers!" She finished. Jupiter's face crumbled as she stared into Venus' face. Her arm dropped as if in defeat.

"All is lost, if we lose her." Jupiter cried out, "My planet...my parents, my people...are all gone!" She whispered. Collective gasps answered her. She wanted to cry as Mars had, afraid of admitting to the hurt that sliced through her deeply. She felt that if she cried, then she would be indeed, admitting to defeat.

"It's true! All the planets, except for the moon, were wiped out by the Beryls and Metilla!" Sailor Mercury spoke up, her voice cracking in the process.

"The outer Senshis are still with Queen Serenity, defending what's left of the Moon." Sailor Mars said, then she shook her head, "The Moon's defenses are weakening. And we were sent to Earth to protect Serena." Sailor Mars recounted. "Apparently, we came too late!"

"You have been summoned back to Palace by your father, Prince Darien." Sailor Mercury said to Darien. His face was now stony and cold.

"What about Serena and the crystal?" Malachite asked his friend. "Do we even have an idea of where it is at?"

"Yes, I do. And we will return to the palace," He said to the Sailor Senshis, Darien could feel the waves of shock over admitting to the whereabouts of the Silver Crystal. Ignoring the looks, he said to his friend, "Chorn left without the Silver Crystal, Metilla won't abide that kind of mistake. When he returns, I'll be waiting for him and Metilla."

 

 

When they arrived at the palace, devastation was already evident around some global parts of the world. The skies had darkened with the Beryl's evil and negative presence. Generals and armies had assembled outside of the palace's walls and roamed within the city. Guarding the people, who now were sheltered within the basements of the city's evacuation centers. Fear and uncertainty lined every face within the palace. Even more armies had assembled throughout the world, preparing to take up defense for their planet and to protect their freedom.

King Damian, Queen Augusta, Darien, Darien's most trusted generals; Malachite, Jadite, Nephrite, Zoisite and the inner Sailor Senshis all had assembled within the palace's Conference Rooms trying to determine the best way of defense for Earth. It was then, that Darien and the Sailor Senshi's received even more ominously tidings, from the Moon.

With stunned horror, everyone within the Conference Rooms witnessed the last stand on the Moon. Materializing like a play-by-play screen scene on the wall of the Conference Room, Queen Serenity spoke to all those within and on Earth.

Tired and haggard, she looked for once, her years. "My fellow Earthlings, I have tried and without success to defend my world and all the planets. It is with great regret, that I have failed my duty to you. The Moon's defenses have been wiped out. My people..." She wept, but continued. "are all gone. I have sent the outer Senshis back to your world, as you are now the last to survive. Fate hangs on your shoulders now." She looked down and reached into a hidden pocket within her gown. She pulled out a golden, crescent wand. Embedded within the wand, like a tiny, flower, was a Silver Crystal. She smiled tiredly at their gasps as they realized what she was holding. The only one who did not seemed surprised was Darien.

"Prince Darien, " She began, looking at him with sad, soulful eyes. "You must find Serena. She is now the only hope to defeating Metilla. Everyone has underestimated you in your powers, including my daughter. I have not. I know the amount of power you yield, it is far beyond anyone's wildest imaginings. You are a force powerful alone, to be reckoned with. There is none, second to you, except for Serena. You are the Rightful Owner of the Silver Millennium Crystal, as is Serena. You are the Golden Champion as she is your Silver Champion. Together as Soul Mates and with the crystal, will you then, be able to defeat Metilla and Beryl's impending doom. It is all up to you now."

Then looking at everyone sadly, she said, "My last gift to you," then she raised her trembling arm up, holding the Moon Wand tightly in her hand. In the background, booming sounds shook the Moon's Palace walls. "With this gift, the Moon Wand will open a hidden portal to any dimension, including Metilla's closed off portals. You will see them, Prince Darien. This will be your only chance to save her. This is my last gift to you, be strong and open your heart, " Queen Serenity said these last words to Darien, "and love will conquer all evil. Farewell." She cried, as tears streamed down her cheeks.

The Sailor Senshis cried out in disbelief as the Moon Wand's crescent beams erupted and blazed throughout the Moon's Palace wall's. All covered their eyes as the picture on the Conference Rooms wall's turned into a blinding, white blaze. Then the white disappeared, and there was only the plain wall. But even then, the Conference Rooms stayed bright as everyone rushed to windows to witness in the dark sky, a flashing light of bursting, blinding explosions from the Moon. And then, the light was gone and the darkness filled the skies again.

 

 

 

The battle begins in chapter 11. Stay tuned. Lady M. Harris.