							March 2000

 Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'm just borrowing them.

 Author's note: This chapter has a couple of gruesome scenes in it,
 read it at your own risk if you are squeemish.

 Rated R

			Secret Garden 3: Final Battle
				Scene 3


	Serenity sighed as Endymion dimmed their connection and looked
 out the window at the earth.  'So much to do,' she thought silently,
 her eyes glazing over as she turned her thoughts inwards, 'so little
 time to prepare for the coming destruction.  Can we really stop it? 
 Can we really avoid it?' she shook her head and looked back out the
 window, taking a long look at the colourful marble hanging in the
 black blanket of space before pushing herself off the huge bed and
 straightening her gown.

	Head high, the princess of the moon exited her chambers and
 walked swiftly to the war room, not bothering to knock as she strode
 in and paused in the entry way.  The screens were blank, the guards
 missing and Serenity blinked.  She must have come in on shift break. 
 Her eyes were drawn to a large map of the galaxy along with the
 unknown reaches, in three dimensions on a holo-projection table in the
 middle of the room and she approached it carefully, taking a seat. 
 Raising one, slender hand, she gently traced the tiny moon and the
 much larger Earth in the middle of the hologram, her hand passing
 easily through it.  She frowns slightly, her brow puckering around her
 Crescent moon mark as the area around the map near the Dark Moon
 wavered and blinked, a large cloud of something dark began to surround
 it and move slowly outwards towards the nearest planet of the Terran
 solar system, drawing near Pluto.

	Serenity watched, mesmerized, as the dark swarm advanced on the
 smallest of Pluto's moons and engulfed the uninhabited planet.  She
 gasped as it froze, seeming to hover around the moon before expanding
 in a sickening wave towards the main planet.  She watched, helpless as
 it moved forward steadily, advancing on the barren, dark planet that
 was the home of one of the royal family's most trusted advisors.  She
 blinked as the dark wave suddenly froze and seemed to hang around the
 rear of the planet, unable to continue forward.  A brilliant light
 teaming with red and green energy burst forth from the planet and the
 wave retreated to the moon, seeming to diminish in strength.

	Her brow puckered again as she watched, wondering what was on
 Pluto that defeated the black wave of destruction.  She gasped as the
 wave moved to the next planet in line and then was distracted as alarm
 bells began to ring through out the castle.  She started to get to her
 feet, hallway there when the door burst open and four soldiers dressed
 in palace colors stormed in, the sounds of fighting in the castle
 ringing through the halls.  "Princess!" One of them yelled at her as
 they noticed her presence in the room.  Three of them shut and barred
 the door as the fourth, the Captain of the guards, walked towards her
 and knelt, "Princess, the invaders have entered the castle and the
 Queen and her council are fighting in the throne room."


	"Stand, this is no time to be proper," Serenity informed him,
 "How fares the rest of the castle defences?"

	"Your guardians believe you are in your chambers and have
 blockaded the doors and are fighting to keep a substantial force out.
  The leader is cloaked from head to toe and is demanding you to be
 surrendered to them or he will destroy the castle and every last one
 of us."

	Serenity closed her eyes, drawing on her bond with Endymion for
 strength and reassurance.  If she was captured, Endymion would know. 
 If something happened to her, he would know and she knew he would come
 for her.  She swallowed and looked up at the guard, "Escort me to the
 throne room." She told him quietly.

	"But... Princess, if they catch you..."

	"I am able to defend myself, Captain, do as I say."

	A loud crashing sound came from the other side of the door and
 Serenity could hear the shouting of her mother's guards as the Captain
 looked visibly torn between keeping her there to defend her and
 following what boiled down to a direct order from his princess.  "Now,
 Captain, time grows short."

	He sighed and motioned for the men with him to move away from
 the door and looked at her, "I am sworn to protect you Princess, you
 will not come to any harm in my care."

	"I know, Captain.  Now, hurry, we must get there before they
 harm my mother."

	The guards formed up in a diamond around her, the Captain
 leading her through the halls, the other three guards formed up
 around, and they fought their way to the throne room.  Two of the
 guards were killed as they approached the doors and the Captain
 engaged three of the men standing around firing some kind of energy
 bolts into the melee below.  Two of them were killed before the last
 realized they were being attacked from behind and the Captain put his
 sword through the last of the three's belly's, causing Serenity to
 advert her eyes as the man's guts spilled out in a red mess on the
 floor.

	The captain ushered Serenity into the throne room, the last
 guard watching their backs and Serenity froze in the shadows of the
 entranceway.

	The throne room was in chaos.  Small pockets of castle guards
 were fighting against men in full body cloaks and visibly outmatched.
  At least, Serenity thought they were men, their robes were shapeless
 and it was hard to tell.  Her eyes moved past the forms of the dead
 and dying, the red blood pooling on the floor and four pillars that
 had been smashed and lay strewn about the floor.  They passed over the
 forms of her aunt and the older guardians to her mother who was
 standing enclosed in their protective circle.  

	The five fought as a well trained unit as Queen Serenity
 directed their assault against the leader of the attackers.  As the
 Princess watched the Queen was pinned in the shoulder with a bolt of
 energy and went spinning to the floor.  Her scream lodged in her
 throat as the guards smashed into the wall surrounding her mother and
 the elder senshi.  Her mother didn't rise and she could see the blood
 beginning to pool around the feet of the elder senshi, her mother's
 white gown visible through their legs.  She swallowed hard as the
 senshi were blasted by some kind of energy wave from the leader.  One
 of the senshi, the blue haired genius from Mercury, crumpled under the
 assault, taking an energy bolt in the chest at the same time.  The
 other three quickly filled in the gap and were slowly wrapped in some
 kind of rope that crackled and drained until they could no longer
 stand.

	The leader of the attackers finally spoke and the voice sent a
 shiver of fear and loathing down Serenity's spine.  "I am looking for
 the Princess.  My guards have informed me that her room has been
 breached and she is not there, though the younger guardians continue
 to fight valiantly.  Turn the Princess over to me and we shall not
 harm any of you further."

	"Never." The pain soaked voice of Queen Serenity spoke up from
 the floor.  She slowly pushed herself to her feet, blood pulsing from
 her wound as she clamped her hand over it, the brilliant red stain of
 her blood clearly visible on the white gown.  "You can not have my
 daughter Diamond.  I would rather die than turn her over to you."

	"That can be arranged, Queen Serenity." He replied coldly,
 pulling his hood off his head to reveal his handsome features twisted
 in a mask of cool rage. "I can tear your palace apart, stone by stone,
 until you surrender your daughter.  If that does not work I will start
 by executing your subjects one at a time until you do so."

	Queen Serenity shakily rose to stand at her full height in
 front of him, "Do what you will to me, Diamond, but I will no give you
 my daughter."

	"A pity," he said calmly.  He motioned to one of his guards to
 bring forth the Queen of Mercury who was unconscious, her chest
 sporting a black mark, her jewel holding her bow together almost
 completely obliterated.  Princess Serenity noted that other than being
 unconscious the elder woman was remarkably alive.  That jewel had
 saved her life.  The Mercurian was dragged in front of Diamond and he
 raised his sword to her throat, resting the keen edged blade on her
 shoulder, "Now, Queen Serenity, hand over your daughter or I will kill
 the Queen of Mercury."

	"And start a war no Mercurian will every forget, Diamond.  You
 bluff, even you are not stupid enough to kill the ruler of a planet."

	His gaze burned with an insanity that Queen Serenity had never
 seen before and it caused her to shiver.  She had not thought him
 insane, but the need for him to possess her daughter sent chills down
 her spine. "I am capable of that and more, Queen Serenity.  I will
 kill your advisors, one by one, until you hand over your daughter." He
 waved his hand and the other three, still bound, were brought before
 him, being forced to kneel and bend over, exposing their necks to his
 view.  He gazed steadily at Queen Serenity and moved to the Queen from
 Mars, placing his blade upon her neck and saw her stiffen.  "Do you
 care to test me on this, your majesty?"

	"Do not give him the princess, Serenity," Mars told the Queen
 weakly through the curtain of her hair, "Even if it costs us our
 lives."

	"Silence!" Diamond roared

	"We die, keeping her safe." Jupiter added, "Do not let him have
 her."

	"I said Silence!" He yelled again, lashing out and kicking
 Jupiter in the side.  The Queen of Jupiter groaned and fell forward.

	"We are old, Serenity.  The girls will guard her well, do not
 mourn us, protect her and the girls."

	"Silence!" Diamond roared, his sword flashing as he brought it
 down on the neck of the Queen from Venus.  		

	Queen Serenity's voice echoed in the stillness of the room as
 Mianna's head dropped from her shoulders and rolled along the floor,
 her brilliant golden hair turning a burnished orange as blood poured
 from the ragged wound that was her neck, soaking the strands and
 pooling in the stones of the floor.  As Diamond and Serenity watched
 her form flickered, her uniform dissolving until she lay wrapped in a
 white gown, quickly turning red in the widening pool of blood.  Her
 head lay, her eyes staring at the ceiling, a few feet from her body in
 a nest of blood soaked hair.  Her face held a serene expression, as if
 being relased from life was a blessing.

	Princess Serenity hid in the shadows of the main doorway, her
 face white as she watched Diamond's sword rise in the air and swing
 down towards her aunt's neck.  She closed her eyes, cowering in the
 doorway, unable to watch, the guard keeping her quiet and blocking her
 way to help.  She turned her thoughts inwards on instinct, searching
 for Endymion and quickly finding the link...

*******

	Endymion went to his knees on the training field as the waves
 of anguish, fear and sorrow bowed him over.  "Enydmion!" shouted a
 couple of his guards, "My Prince, are you alright?" Their voices were
 faint in the background as his heart clenched with fear and
 understanding.  The moon had been attacked and Serenity was in mortal
 danger.  

	"Serenity," he whispered raggedly, holding his head and
 focusing on her energy on hers.  He felt her despair, her fear as
 clearly as if it were his own, his stomach clenching and bile rising
 in the back of his throat as he smelled the tangy, metallic smell of
 blood, tasted it on his tongue and saw it through her eyes.  Her fear
 was so viable he felt his skin go clammy and began shaking.  He
 swallowed hard, reaching out to caresses her soothingly through the
 bond, offering his assurances he would be on his way to her as fast as
 he could.  

	He caressed their bond with his heart, enfolding spectral arms
 around her and giving her his strength as he felt her terror.  He saw
 the scene, saw the sword going for her aunt's throat and heard
 Diamond's demands for her.  He felt his blood boil at the Dark Moon
 prince trying to take what was his.  He fed his anger until his own
 fear stole into his heart, Serenity's plan of action coming to him in
 a quick series of images.  'No!' he shouted at her, terrified,
 'Serenity! Please!  Darling, no!  Don't do this, hold out...
 Serenity?'
  
	"Serenity!!"  He screamed her name, the sound torn from his
 throat as she cut their bond almost completely, her plan still fresh
 in his mind.  He screamed her name again, his eyes focusing on the
 distant orb of the moon in the sky, "Serenity!"

	"Is something wrong my prince?" asked one of the guards
 hesitantly.  They'd been trying to get his attention for the past five
 minutes and suddenly he'd screamed the name of his wife with such
 agony it was as if she were dead.  If nothing else, it was a little
 disconcerting.  

	Endymion fought to get to his feet and then turned on the
 guards ranged around him, his expression betraying a mixture of
 something akin to loss, rage and bewilderment, "We must leave.  Now. 
 I need to get to the moon."

	"But... Endymion, we cannot..." he trailed off as Endymion
 rounded on him, his eye burning with rage and worry.

	"I said we are leaving now.  Not in ten minutes, not in an
 hour, not tomorrow.  Now.  My wife is in mortal danger and I intend to
 get there.  We leave now." He whirled and raced from the practice
 field heading for the main chambers and the means of getting to his
 wife.

********

	Serenity took a deep breath as she heard the last of her
 mother's guards perish in protecting her, the sound of the skull
 hitting the stones echoing along with her mother's anguished scream. 
 Tears streamed down her cheeks, her eyes stung and her heart bled. 
 She couldn't allow more people to die for her.  She knew if her mother
 did not give in soon, or if she did not do something, more people,
 maybe even her mother, would die.  The captain had his hand firmly
 over her mouth so she couldn't scream and she clawed at his hand,
 indicating she wanted to talk to him.  "Do not scream, your highness,"
 he hissed, "or it will be both our lives."

	She nodded and the pressure on her mouth eased.  She looked at
 him, her eyes swimming with tears, "I have to stop this.  I can not
 allow they to kill my mother even if it means surrendering to him,
 Captain." She told him quietly, her voice cracking as Diamond
 continued to threaten her mother.  "Daniel, please, I cannot bear to
 have their deaths, nor yours on my conscience, please." she pleaded.

	Daniel shook his head, his anguish clear in his brilliant green
 eyes, "I cannot, Princess, I am sworn to protect you and your mother."

	"I know.  If you do not allow me to go, Diamond will kill my
 mother.  Do not worry for me, Captain, you have been a good friend and
 companion since my earliest days, please trust me and trust my
 husband.  Endymion will come for me if I get taken by Diamond, he will
 find me and he will deal with Diamond.  Please Daniel," her voice
 cracked as she saw her mother being forced to kneel, the blade going
 to her throat as blood continued to ooze from the wound in her
 shoulder.

	Daniel looked torn, seeing the Queen being readied for
 execution.  His gaze sought hers again, "You promise to be careful? 
 You swear your husband will come for you?"

	"I swear it, Daniel.  He will be here within the hour, tell
 him," she paused, tears continuing to pour down her face, "Tell him I
 love him and will be waiting for him to come and rescue me."  She
 touched his hand once more and then burst into the throne room,
 "STOP!" she screamed as Diamond began to lift his sword.  The bodies
 of her mother's court lay in a row to the side, their heads lying a
 few feet from their necks.  She adverted her gaze, focusing on Diamond
 who had his sword behind his head, his gaze roaming over her figure
 covetously.  Serenity felt her skin crawl and felt her nerve wavering.
  She braced herself and awaited his words.
 

	"Princess Serenity, a delight to see you my dear."

	"Leave my mother alone, Diamond, I will go with you peacefully
 if you do not harm her or anyone else on the moon, further." Her voice
 was steady, calm.

	"Serenity! No!" the Queen's voice cut through whatever Diamond
 would have said in reply, "Don't do this darling, please!"

	Serenity's eyes found her mother's, "I must."

	Diamond pushed the Queen away with a booted foot and grabbed
 the princess, his grip bruising in its force and she knew she'd sport
 the imprint of his hand on her arm for days. "You are mine, Princess,"
 he hissed triumphantly.

	Princess Serenity saw the wildness in his eyes and felt her
 stomach clench, the fear making her nauseous.  She began to shake and
 willed herself to stop.  If nothing else, she would be brave.  She
 smiled at her mother, "Get well, and take care of my friends."

	Diamond increased the strength of his grip, "Hush, my dear, we
 will be going to our new home soon." He told her pleasantly, his grip
 at odds with his tone as he dragged her up to the top of the dias with
 the throne.  Serenity fought his grip but the floor was slick with
 blood and she was dragged along almost effortlessly.

	Queen Serenity watched helplessly as Diamond tugged her
 daughter away and then yelled at his forces and disappeared from view
 in a brilliant flash of light and smoke.  "Serenity!" The Queen
 whispered in agony, her eyes on her daughter even though the flash and
 smoke hurt her eyes. Her friends had died for nothing; Diamond had
 gotten his prize.  Hot tears spilled down her cheeks as she laid her
 face in her arms and wept.  

********

 Author's note: Alright, I know it's not my conventional "romantic"
 stuff, but I'm trying to drive a point home here.  This is a war where
 people will be killed... Ok, killing off all the advisors might have
 been a long shot, but there is a method to my madness I assure you,
 and for those of you who don't think I include the outer senshi
 enough, they're going to be playing a bigger part in the rest of this
 story... I know you're all looking forward to the romantic parts, but
 not everything is romance, and as I said, it is war.  

 Ok, flames, questions, comments,suggestions: e-mail me.  
 Jade_Max@innocent.com

 Thanks, I appreciate the feedback.

 Jade_Max

