Hi again! It's me Selena! Ok If you've been a little bored with this fic till now, I have a surprise for you. This part is intended to be super sappy and romantic. If you don't go for that stuff, then don't read it. I love it! It may not be as good as something written by Crystal Heart, Lianne, or Fushigi Kismet, but I'm proud. This is, after all, my first fic. I know that I don't have that much talent, but I try. I really wanted to get this part out this week. I worked really hard over spring break, and I had to try hard to fit this in, but I did it! Yah! ^_^ If you haven't read Crystal's latest, read it now. It's wonderful! (As always) If Lianne has the next part of Surfacings: Desperation out, read that too! Once again, a tremendous amount of thanks goes to Fushigi Kismet who takes precious time out of her schedule to correct my careless errors! You are a living angel! I enjoy all comments, even if they're not good. So, send them all to me at JMcChick@juno.com. Oh yah, the usual disclaimers apply. I'll shut up now. Bye. Enjoy! ************************* Cords of Silver and Gold Chapter 3: Power and Wonder ********************* Hidden behind the rose bushes, Beryl slowly rises form her crouched position. Her dried tears leave stains streaking down her cheeks. Abruptly, she whips around and runs into the black of the forest. Thunder and lightning crash in the sky above. She takes shelter form the approaching storm in a nearby cave. She falls against the cave wall, racking with sobs. Then she looks up at the sky and stomps her foot. "Ohhh…I hate her. How dare she take him from me! She, with her long silvery hair and perfect figure! I am just as beautiful as she is. How could he choose her over me?! After all we've shared!" she sobs. "Goddess! I wish she was dead!" Beryl picks up a stone and hurls it at the opposite wall. She stands in awe when it smashes into dust. A wind blowing through the cave hits against the jagged walls. A high pitched, snake-like gust beckons her. "Really?" It hisses. Beryl's eyes fill with fear and her body tenses. "Who's there?" She boldly calls. The cold wind blows past her heart again. "I can help you, Beryl. Swear your allegiance to me, and I will make sure that she never again sees the light of another day!" "Who are you? And why are you willing to help me?" "I am one that will make all your dreams come true. I am Metallia. I know of the one you want. The ebony hair and enthralling midnight eyes. He is Endymion, the Prince of Earth. What's this?! I see shock in your eyes. Did he never tell you who he really is? You poor, ignorant girl. Do you think he wants a poor, powerless woman? No. He wants a strong, confident one with the power to win his heart. You do not have anything to offer him…now. I can give it to you. Beryl, he shall be yours. You want power, do you not? Serve me, and you will command the most powerful force the universe has ever seem! Together we will eradicate the witches who seek to destroy us and vanquish the humanity of Earth." "Who is the girl that holds him under her spell?" "She is one of them. The girl is Selenity of the Moon, daughter of Apollo and Selenity. The light they possess is in the form of a Crystal. Do not look so surprised. There are many planets that hold Earth under their yoke. We will free this planet of its burden. Long have I watched the Moon Queen. I will possess her light, and with it, create my darkness. You, Beryl, will be second to none, save myself. With Endymion at your side, you will rule the universe! But first you must extinguish the girl and all with her. This will take a vast amount of life energy." "What exactly is it that you want me to do?" "Help me retrieve the Mystical Silver Crystal. In exchange, I will grant all that you ask for." ******************* Selenity stands on the grand balcony, her hair whipping in the morning breeze. Fresh dew covers the vining blooms with its crystal-clear droplets. They climb the great marble columns and Quartz structures. She closes her eyes and soaks in all the scents the wind carries with it. She sighs, choking back a tear. 'How am I ever going to get out of here?' She thinks. 'What does he want?' Selena remembers the man with the frightening gray eyes. 'Funny, I sensed something from him.' She looks down at the marvelous rose gardens and sighs lightly. Her mind begins to wander back to the man with the dark hair. She smiles. 'For as much as I know that I must leave, I don't think I want to. What is it about him that makes me feel this way? That's easy. Everything…' ###########(Flashback to the previous night) Arm in arm, Endymion escorts her through the long hallways and circular corridors of the castle. Her shoes lightly click as they walk on the rose colored quartz floor. Her heart jumps with every movement. All Selenity can do is pray that the butterflies in her stomach will go away. 'Oh please don't let him see how red my face is!!' She begs. They round a corner and he stops before the door. "Here we are." She smiles nervously and thanks him. "Listen…um…don't worry about Kunzite. He's a little over cautious when it comes to foreigners." Her head shoots up. 'How does he know?!' She panics. "Um…right." 'Don't panic yet. Maybe he just means that you aren't from this realm like Molinda said.' "Yes, well, thank you. Goodnight." She quickly turns and slips in the door. 'Phew!' She sighs as she leans against the back of the door. 'His stare is so intense. I feel like he can see right through me…And yet…he makes me feel so good when I'm around him.' Selena groans and puts her hand on her head. 'This doesn't make any sense! Maybe I just need some sleep.' ############(End of flashback) Smiling, she closes her eyes and leans forward on the spindled railing. 'I wonder where he is now.' As if on cue, she feels that familiar presence. She stiffens and the butterflies return. "Good morning my lady. Did you sleep well?" Selenity stares straight ahead, desperately looking for something else to captivate her mind. "Y…Yes. Very well thank you." ' No, not really. I was up all night thinking of you. Sure, that will sound real good. Although, I'm not a bad liar.' She thinks. 'If I could only stop stuttering!' Suddenly she feels a burst of courage. She strengthens her resolve and whips around to face him. "How did you know?" He seems stunned for a moment by her abruptness, but upon recovering he asks, "How did I know what?" "That I'm not form here." "Well…um…you… you can tell. You seem different." 'Oh that was real swift. I couldn't lie to save my life!' "Besides not many people have never heard of The Four Lords." She looks up in shock. "How did you…" "Word gets around. Molinda is the sweetest girl you'll ever meet, but never trust her with a secret." Selena smiles. Losing his ever-resent confidence, Endymion stares at the ground. 'God, what is it that she does to me? I've got to get past this. Keep your focus, Endy.' "My Lady…" "Please, my name is Selenity." She curtsies. Her eyes grow wide when she realizes what she did. 'Perhaps they don't do that here! Usually, that's only done in court. Oh Gods!' He raises his eyebrows and bows low. "And I, Lady Selenity, am Endymion." 'She must be someone important. How do I tactfully ask her this? Oh forget it! Just say what ever comes to you.' "Lady Selenity…" "Please, just Selenity." "Selenity…I know that you're not from Earth. You're from the Moon Kingdom aren't you?" Her eyes widen and she backs away form him. "What exactly do you want from me?" She whispers. "No, no. Don't be frightened. I just want to ask you some questions. There is so much I want to know about it." "What makes you think that I should trust you?" He certainly hadn't anticipated this. 'Hmmm…what now?' "True, but give me a chance to earn your trust. I won't ask you any questions, and you won't ask me any. I want to know of the Moon, and I'm sure you want to learn of Earth. Well, let me show you. When I'm done, if you don't trust me by then, I'll forget about it. If you do, then you tell me what I want to know, and I'll answer anything you ask. Fair enough?" Selena thinks for a moment. 'What should I do? My head tells me to do one thing, but my heart another. Mother always says to follow your heart.' She looks up and smiles. "Alright. But first, you must tell me one thing." He smiles and his eyes light up like the night sky. "Anything." She holds out a red flower. "You must tell me what this is." Endymion looks deep into her eyes and takes her hand. "This, Selenity, is a rose." ******************* "…But Your Majesty, please let me go after her!" Venus pleads. "Venus, I do not even know where to send you. Earth is dangerous! If you go, it must be by your choice alone. I cannot interfere. I will not break my own law." "Yes! I take full responsibility." She cries desperately. "Now, tell me how I get there." The Queen envelops her in a hug. "Thank you, Venus. It is forbidden for me to ask. I am so happy you decided to go. She is all I have left." Her voice quivers and she begins to cry. Venus smiles warmly. "There is no choice to be made. My duty lies with the Princess. I would never abandon my best friend. Besides, I took the sacred vow, and I intend to keep it." "As do we." Echoes Mars. Mercury and Jupiter stand beside her. "We will not let you go alone." Mercury places her hand on Venus's shoulder. "We are a team. We are all her soldiers. If one goes we all go." Jupiter adds. Venus objects. "But…" Mars rolls her eyes and stomps forward. She stops directly in front of her and taps her foot. "Either all of us go or none of us. After all who knows what she's gotten herself into now." Queen Selenity gathers them all in a group hug. "Oh my girls, what would I do without you?" She sobs. "Do not worry, my Queen. We will bring her home safe and sound." Venus promises. "Of course." Queen Selenity takes a deep breath and dries her tears. "First you will need to disguise yourselves. Your hair and eye color is a bit unusual for the women of Earth. Come this way." She motions. The Queen walks from her chambers through the massive crystal hallways and corridors to a sealed off part of the palace. A large ornate doorway is the only connection. Above the door, A silver crescent moon, orbed by eight jewels, guards the entrance. A translucent blue glass plate blocks off the doorway. In hesitation, the girls look at each other. "Do not worry. Only those of The Silver Millenium may enter here." One by one they all step through. Once they pass through, they find themselves in a blindingly white room. Everything sparkles and glows with power. "We are in the heart of the Silver Tower." Mercury stares at the Queen in disbelief. "But…the tower is located some distance from where we stood before. It is not even joined with the palace!" She smiles. "Yes, I know. That is the only way to reach this place." She lights seven candles on a high lamp. Immediately the blinding light dies down, leaving the subtle glow of candlelight. In the center of the octagonal room is a large white pedestal. Beautiful carvings inscribe its base. Hovering above it is a large silver crystal. It glows with a white, hot light. Venus gasps. "Is that…the…the…" "The Mystical Silver Crystal? Yes. You are the first to lay eyes upon it in a long time. At least, not since Selenity was born. Do you remember the mirror? Anyway, it is best that it stays here. Power easily corrupts. The best way to prevent corruption is to have no power. If there is none, no one will seek to take it. Unfortunately, such a thing does not exist. Thus it will remain only a legend…a myth to be told to your children's children." Queen Selenity falls silent and stares at nothing. "Queen?" She flashes out of her stupor. "I am sorry." She walks over to large white, crystal case at the opposite end of the room. It rests on an ornate table. "These were constructed long ago, before you were born. They will hide your true identities, but only for a short time, so you must be careful." "What are they?" Mercury asks. The Queen opens the jeweled case. Four silver pendants lay amidst velvet lining. In each sits a gem. "This box used to hold eight, but the others have already been distributed." Gasps arise from all the girls. Mars breathes, "That one…" She points to a crimson one. "It looks like…" "It is a bloodstone with several fragments of The Star Ruby scattered throughout. Mars, you are the fiery Soldier of War. The bloodstone serves as a reminder of its outcome. I pray that you never see such a time." The Queen fastens the pendant around her neck. She turns to face all four of them. After fastening the remaining pendants, she explains, "Because each stone contains fragments of your crystals, this will be an easy way to channel your powers. You need not call upon your castles' help first. Jupiter, Soldier of Protection, a small piece of The Sacred Emerald. Mercury, Soldier of Wisdom, a dash of The Fair Aquamarine Garnet. Venus, Soldier of Love and Beauty, a part of The Amber Topaz Diamond. Close your eyes. Feel the power surge through you. Call upon it. Use it. Your strength will increase a hundred fold." A yellow flare encircles Venus. Her hair flies upward. Shimmering hearts radiate from her body. She slowly opens her eyes. The bewitching yellow eyes are now a soft china-blue. The once canary-colored stands of her hair are toned to a creamy blonde. A simple, yet elegant pale orange dress falls to her toes. Black cords weave a repeating x-pattern around her waist. One-inch thick straps hug her shoulders. Attached to them is a long, white cape. A silver tiara with a center of Amber graces her forehead. Snowflakes surround Mercury. As if the color is being drained, her hair turns white. Immediately, it darkens to a tea brown. Blue ribbons circle her body. A sky blue dress falls to the floor. Her dress follows the same pattern as Venus's. She too has a flowing white cape and a silver tiara endowed with Aquamarine. A flaming hawk shoots a path around Mars. Her hair darkens to a raven black. Her eyes gradually open to reveal an intoxicating violet. She wears a red dress and a white cape. Her tiara contains a Ruby. Electric pulses ionize in the around Jupiter. Her green hair turns into a rich brown. Brown also seeps into her eyes changing them to hazel. She wears a soft green dress with her white cape. Her tiara contains an Emerald. The Queen stands before them smiling. "Well done. Now, listen. The only way to travel to Earth is to use The Great Seal. However, there is more than one connection. I can only remember one. If I could only…" #################### (Flashback) "Eos, Congratulations!" In a pale, golden chair a woman sits nursing her newborn son. Her hair is black streaked with blue, violet, and red. The baby's alert, blue eyes flash with mischief. A beautiful woman with black hair and midnight blue eyes sits next to her. Queen Selenity joins them and exclaims, "The protector of the dawn has yet another son! Tell me, will he be named after the fourth stone?" "Of Course. I knew Jadeite's name long before he was even conceived. Now the formation is complete. My heart may rest at ease." Gaea laughs. "Yes, but mine may not. All that screaming! You have scared me to death. I am more afraid now than I ever was, and I still have six months to go!" Eos's rich laughter fills the large room. "Compared to raising them, giving birth is the easiest part. You have wanted a child for so long. It will be the greatest gift you shall ever receive. You will see. There is no greater miracle than that of life." Just then a loud crash comes from the gardens below. Eos rises and looks out the window. Three young boys covered in mud run along side the vast lake, holding up spears and screaming war cries. Eos shakes her head. "Then again, I could be wrong." Selenity and Gaea burst into laughter. "You will know soon enough." She turns toward Selenity. "What about you, Your Majesty?" The Queen blushes madly and looks down. "Perhaps soon." ################## (End of Flashback) Queen Selenity breaks her thought. "The Four Lords! There must be five of them!" Venus walks over. "What is it? What about The Four Lords?" "The Four Lords of Earth are the sons of Eos, protector of the dawn and of Queen Gaea. There must be four seals close to or in each of their castles so that they would have easy access to The Golden Palace." "Yes, I remember. We met them at the celebration of the Prince's birth." Says Venus. "You cannot enter the Holy Land where the Palace is located, but you can arrive safely at the other four. When you are ready to go, leave the palace. Go through The Silver Gardens. Follow the path until you reach The Silver Tower. The Great Seal lies at its base. Speak the ancient script written on the plate and you will reach your destination. I can help you no longer. The details are up to you. But this I pray; have a safe journey and bring the Princess home. Farewell." She steps through the doorway. ******************* "Come with me." "Where are we going?" "To show you my planet." "Now?!" "Yes, now!" Endymion leads her into a dark, dense part of the forest. He takes her hands and closes his eyes. His body begins to glow a bright gold. Selenity's eyes widen in fear and she grabs onto his shirt, almost ripping the fabric. She screams and clenches her eyes shut as they disappear. In an instant the surroundings change. Pine trees and ferns no longer grace the terrain. Lush tropical plants grow next to exotic palms and vines climb their trunks. Selena stares at the scenery. She looks up at him. Only then does she discover how close she is to him. She quickly lets go of his shirt. "Who are you? And how did…" Endymion places his fingers over her lips. "Shh…No questions, remember?" He whispers. His eyes flash with mischief as he grabs her hand and pulls her toward the faint sound of music, but Selena hesitates. "Come on, this is it!" The forest clears and in their midst lay a most unusual village. Fortified walls enclose tall clay buildings with scalloped tops and canopied Islamic windows. The strong beat of a drum and the sweet wind of a pan flute fill the air with harmony. Curious, Selenity starts toward the entrance, but a strong hand stops her. "No, this way. We have to pick up something first. Otherwise, we'll be completely out of place." Trustingly, she allows him to guide her to the rear of the village. The wall does not enclose the back of one of the large towers. Endymion puts his fingers to his lips. "Shh…" Then he motions for her to stay where she is. Carefully he climbs through a low set window and disappears into the house. The cold night air sends a chill down her spine. Something warm touches her shoulder. She whips around to see a tall man dressed in strange garb. She screams, "Endym…" A callused hand covers her mouth and she struggles in vain. "Shh! It's me!" Released by her captor, Selenity whirls around. The man with midnight blue eyes quickly removes his turbaned headdress. "Ohhh!" She narrows her eyes and tries to look angry, but fails miserably. She breaks a smile and shakes her head. "You sure know how to keep me on my toes." A grin plasters across his face. "Of course. Here put these on." Endymion hands her a long, neutral-colored, hooded robe. She slides it on over her dress and tucks her long hair inside the hood. He takes a beaded turquoise sash and ties it around her waist. Selena notes that the same color ornates his turban. He also wears a long robe in a rich, dark brown. Next, he places a clear gauze-like veil over her face. Only her indigo eyes show through. Selenity stares back into a blue abyss through her veil. Her heart goes in tune with the pulse of the ever-louder beat of the drum. He cocks his head. "This way." He leads her through dark halls and alleys. She stares at the long, silky wisps of his black hair that peek through the funny hat. Her lips form a sly, sideways smile. No matter how much she chides herself, Selena knows that right now, she'd follow him anywhere. At this particular moment she had a VERY strong urge to want to run her fingers through that dark hair. 'Gods! What am I thinking?! I don't even know him!' Unconsciously, she stops walking, and lets go of his hand. "Are you ok?" He asks. He stands before her looking concerned. "Fine." She whispers. 'Don't look into his eyes! My heart is beating too fast. Gods! Please don't let him hear it.' She silently begs. Too late. He lifts her chin. She has no choice but to flow with the currents of the azure fathoms. 'There's no one like her.' He thinks to himself. 'Where did such love and beauty ever exist before?' Snapping out of his stupor, he smiles. "Come on. It's just around the corner." In the center of the village stands a large, circular crowd. People, tall and short, are dressed in robes, turbans, and veils of various colors. They wear shoes with pointy curled tips! Some women wear exotic flowers in their hair. Palm trees add splashes of green to the courtyard. The people laugh and clap their hands with the music. Endymion leads Selenity to the fore of the crowd. In the center, couples whirl round and round, tapping their feet and swaying their arms in tune. Selena stands her mouth agape, drinking in every movement. Her eyes flash and dance with the couples. She claps her hands like the rest, and then turns to face him. "They move with such intricate patterns! How do they move their feet so?!" Without an answer she turns and devotes all her attention to the dance. Endymion watches her curiosity and wonder with fascination. A wicked grin crosses his face. He pulls her out to the center of the court. Her eyes widen and she desperately tries to go back to the outside. "What are you…I can't!" But he doesn't let go of her hand. "Yes you can! Just do what I do." "But…" Caught in the midst of twirling arms and tapping feet, she feels overwhelmed. Although Endymion doesn't follow the steps exactly, he looks as though he were a natural. He smiles upon seeing the timidity and fear in her eyes. Her eyes look up at him, pleading for help. "Come on. Here…Tap your feet like this. Don't do anything complicated. That's right! Now…put your arms up like this. Turn your wrists and sway your arms. All right! You got it!" Selena smiles and laughs uncontrollably. She casts her eyes on those dancing along side her. Everyone has happy faces, rejoicing in their revelry. She then turns her attention back to him. His eyes flash with mirth and exercise. Suddenly, the beat shifts. He takes both of her hands in his and they pull in opposite directions, spinning in a circle. She closes her eyes and throws her head back, laughing all the time. ******************** The two sit crouched behind the brush at the edge of a dense forest. His neck is stretched upward to see above the bushes. "Endymion, where are…" "Shh! If I remember correctly, there should be a …Yes! Look!" He whispers hoarsely. Selenity gets up on her knees and peeks out. Many tents surround a large bon fire. Men dressed in scant clothing dance around it. Several women stand around them holding burning rods. Each one sparkles with a different color. Their eyes tightly shut, the women sway form side to side and sing chants. "It's a ritual ceremony. They're praying." "To who?" "To Mother Earth and to The Holy Land." "What do they pray for?" Endymion closes his eyes and cocks his head. They pray for a long, rich life in harmony with nature and for protection…" He falls silent. "What is it?" "And for the Sun…to…bring life and melt away the darkness." His eyes flash with pain and he looks down to stare at the ground. She places a small hand on his. "Are you all right? What's wrong?" Endymion quickly looks back to the camp. "Nothing." He stops, squints his eyes, and cocks his head to one side. "Funny, I've never heard that before." The men stop their dance. A very old man with wrinkled, sagging skin walks in front of the fire. He holds up his hand and chants foreign words. Several young women put on white veils. After forming a circle around the fire they join hands. Small children, bearing hundreds of bunches of white roses, create a barrier between the women and the rest of the people. All the women tilt their heads up to the sky. They fill the air with a high, sweet melody with their combined voices. "This song…it's a lullaby. Sunset draws near so they ask the Moon Goddess to provide light to see through the darkness…" ******************* "Close your eyes." Endymion moves foreword to tie a cloth over her eyes. "Don't you trust me?" She asks. "I trust you. But this is something you've got to see all at once." She smiles and gently closes her eyes. "Alright." After tying on her mask, he takes her hands, and guides her through the trees and brush. Faintly, Selena hears the sound of running water. As they move foreword, it becomes louder and louder. Sprays of water fall as mist across her face. Small droplets catch on her long lashes, as he lifts the mask away. Almost in slow motion, she raises her eyes. She couldn't move, couldn't speak; it is as though she is paralyzed. A beautiful, crystal-clear waterfall cascades from a jutting rock mass. Flowers containing all colors of the spectrum dance within its reflection. Pale, pink lilies float in the small pond at its base. Delicate petals from blooming tree blossoms flitter through the air and gracefully land in its shallow depths-creating floating pools as the minute waves dissipate. Rose bushes and trees orb this sacred haven. Lush, green plants conceal it from the outside world. Butterflies of blue and violet flutter past her awe-struck form. She closes her eyes and slowly reopens them, if only to confirm that this is no mere dream, but real. Upon focusing, a red blur shifts into the form of a rose. Afraid it might shatter once within her grasp, she delicately accepts his gift with the smooth tips of her fingers. She casts her eyes upward to meet with the expanse of a blue abyss. "Endy…I...I've never seen anything like it." She whispers. He gives her a half smile. "I thought you'd like it." "Like it! How could I help but...love it." Her voice lowers as she speaks the words, the last few barely audible. Her heart quickens. The warmth in the pit of her stomach rises, sending chills down her spine. She feels both hot and cold at the same time. The two lone figures' breath quickens. Unresisting, she allows him to draw her closer. His right hand caresses her face, bringing her still nearer. As gentle as the butterflies that land on the tips of flower petals, he brings his lips to meet hers in a sweet, soft kiss. He pulls away to study and memorize every feature of her face. She opens her eyes only to lose herself again. Unbelievably, he draws her yet closer. Their lips meet for a second time. This one is deep and passionate, love just beginning to dawn within them. She wraps her arms around his neck and runs her fingers through the wispy ends of his hair. Breathing heavily, she rests her head on his chest. Warm and protected, she never wants him to let her go. The steady beat of his heart and the now faint sound of lightly falling water lull her to sleep. *********************** Venus opens her eyes. She gasps. The waves of the ocean gently crash against the sandy shore. The full moon glows brightly. 'It's so beautiful' She thinks. A lush forest surrounds the beach. *********************** Kunzite's head snaps up. He turns toward his three brothers. "Did you feel that? Someone's here. And it's not the Prince." He moves his eyes, scanning every inch of the room. Nephrite looks up wide-eyed. "Someone's entered my domain as well." Kunzite looks at Zoisite and Jadeite. They both nod to confirm that their domains where violated as well. "Hurry. Go to each of your seals. Be careful. Send the signal if you need help. God Endymion, where are you?" *********************** Someone attacks Venus from behind. She whirls around. Before she can get a good look at her attacker, he comes at her again. He holds her wrists behind her. Venus leans foreword. Freeing her arms, she hurls him to the ground. Lightning fast, he is back on his feet. 'Damn he's good!' She thinks. 'But not good enough!' She kicks him in the stomach. With a groan, he grabs her waist and pins her to the ground. 'Oh no! I have no choice!' She holds her pendant and closes her eyes. Kunzite jumps off her when she starts to glow. In her place stands a woman with canary hair and yellow cat eyes. A golden gown flows around her body. "Venus Love Chain!" A glowing chain of linked hearts forms in her hand. Venus runs toward him and tackles him to the ground. At first, Kunzite is too stunned to say anything. He squints his eyes and whispers, "Princess Venus?" *********************** Feeling a loss of warmth, Selenity shifts her position. She groggily opens her eyes to discover that she lay in a bed of rose petals in the grasses of 'their paradise.' More awake, she sits up. The first light of day is soon to descend upon a cloudless sky. Feeling the cool morning air slip up her dress, she adjusts the black cape that lay over her. She looks at her surroundings. 'It is just as beautiful as the night before." She thinks. A small four-legged creature with spots on its back drinks from the cool waters. A smaller creature with white fur, long ears, and a fluffy tail amuses her immensely as it munches on the grass. Snapping twigs and blowing leaves startle her. She whips around to stare at high black boots. "Endymion! How is it that you always manage to scare the life out of me?!" She shrieks. He smiles and helps her stand. "I still have something I want to show you before this night ends. But we have to hurry or we'll miss it." He leads her towards the edge of a steep mountain summit. Selenity becomes frightened when he doesn't stop walking. She pulls his arm. "No! Stop!" Endymion stops just as his toes reach the end. "Don't worry, I can't fly. At least, I don't think so. I wouldn't jump anyway." He smiles. Selena covers her eyes with her hands and groans-half in frustration, half in relief. "Come closer." "No!" "Don't be stubborn. I won't let you fall. Trust me." Selenity takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. She nods in agreement. He takes her hands and pulls her toward him. She refuses to open her eyes. Endy turns her around to face the spectacular view. He positions himself behind her and raises her arms. "Now, stay like this. Open your eyes when I tell you." "No! I can't. I'm scared." "Hey, I 'm right here, and I'm not going to let anything happen to you." He raises his arms to match hers and hold her hands from behind. He whispers in her ear, "Feel the breeze blow across your face and through your hair. Listen to the Earth as she calls to you." Selena relaxes and leans against him. The Earth sings a gentle melody to prepare all for the Sun's awakening proclamation. The gentle breeze caresses her face as it circles her body. But she does not feel cold. "Selenity, open your eyes." He gently whispers. Her heavy lids slowly rise. Below her are vast forests and extensive valleys splashing the terrain. To her right, sits massive snow-covered mountains. Far off in the distance a shore leads to a never-ending sea of water. Above the gentle waves, the sky changes with tones of red and violet. "This place is called The Land of the Rising Sun. Watch and you'll see why." The bright sun in shades of gold gradually begins to ascend and burn with all its radiance the misting clouds and newly fallen dew. Awe-struck and mystified she whips her head around. Endymion has his head down and his eyes shut as if engaging in a silent prayer. She turns and places her hand on his face. He jumps and his eyes snap open. They quiver with a great sadness. She lets her eyes speak for her. His eyes clear and return her gesture. Endy places his hand on her cheek; the other he wraps around her waist. They kiss deeply in the silhouette of the golden star. The gentle breeze lifts her hair and causes it to fly. Her skirt blows against him. The gentle gusts swirl around them and bring them even closer. ************************ Metallia's deep demonic voice calls to her servant. "Beryl, come here!" A tall woman enters. She wears a long, revealing, sluty, purple gown. Her eyes are black. She enters and bows low to her growing leader. "Look!" Metallia points to midnight crystal. A holographic image appears. Queen Selenity sits surrounded by the two remaining members of her court. "See how happily the Moon Queen sits on her throne, clustered around by all her starry lights. But here, there is no light." The slits in the mass of darkness turn blood red. "And there never shall be. I cannot see what flowers are below me for many a time I have been in love with easeful death." The gaseous entity turns back to face Beryl. The young woman falls into a trance as she stares at Metallia. Red flashes as she hisses, "It is time for you to fulfill your mission." ************************ Well?! What do you think? I know I left a lot of loose ends, but don't worry. Keep reading and you'll find out what happens. I don't think I will have chapter 4 out next week. I'll try to have it out in two weeks, but I can't make any promises. AP exams are coming. Unfortunately, I have lots to study for. But you can send some encouragement and all ideas to me if you like. Remember I'm at JmcChick@juno.com. See yah!! _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]