Against All Odds

Author: tokyo_rabbit

Rated: PG13

AN- Songs I listened to writing this: Incomplete by the Backstreet Boys; Speed and Sahara by Bond; In the Kingdome of the Blind the One-Eyed are Kings and Cantara by Dead Can Dance; Savana Dance by Deep Forest; Candles by Dirty Vegas; Sacrifice by Evanescence; Have you got it in you? By Imogen Heap; Dark Angel, Pt. 2 and Strange Lullaby, Pt. 2 by Lee Blaske; Full Moon by Robert Miles; Fear by Sarah McLachlan; Desert Rose by Sting; Forsaken and Angels by Within Temptation.

Chapter 8

The Vision

Nostalgia wasn't a word Minerva would use whenever she visited home. Displacement was more fitting. The Martian princess arrived on the red planet early in the morning. In the transportation antechamber of castle Phobos Deimos, Sailor Mars was met by three women, whom she had been longing to see for quite some time as the life-long duty of protecting Serenity kept Minerva on the Moon most of the time.

"Your Majesty," the women bowed.

"Duchesses, Commander," she received them.

The woman who wore a uniform that was a cross between a tunic and armor smiled at her, "They had told us you would be visiting soon, Princess."

If she had to choose, Sailor Mars would have given two names when asked ‘Who have you looked up to in your life?' First, she would have named the late Queen Morrigan, her mother. The second person was the woman who led her father's armies and one of the women who greeted her now, Athena. Her mother had died when she was young, but the Soldier remembered Morrigan's quiet strength and tenderness towards those she loved. She also recalled Athena teaching her the most important lesson she would ever learn in her lifetime.

Minerva laughed slightly, "I imagine they knew of this long before I had arranged to visit."

Each Soldier in the Guard was unique indeed. Something special about each woman set them apart from their comrades and brought a different strength to the team. Mercury had her genius, Jupiter her might, and Venus her charms. Mars had something else entirely. She had the Sight as did her mother and her mother before that.

Morrigan had foreseen what her daughter would become, and knew Minerva would possess the most powerful manifestation of the Sight in their bloodline. She was also aware her own life would be short, so when the Martian princess was born, Seers across the universe came to greet the new clairvoyant and offer their assistance to teach her as she grew. When two twin girls no more than eight walked up to Queen Morrigan, the infant in her arms began to squeal with delight. It was decided the twins, Phobos and Deimos would instruct Princess Minerva on how to control her awesome powers. Morrigan had not perceived that her daughter's protectors would bear the same names as those of the castle and Mars' moons, but being a Seer herself, she understood this to be destiny. These twins were the ones Athena and Minerva were speaking of and the other two women who had come to greet their princess.

"Welcome home, Princess," Phobos smiled, her cobalt eyes twinkling.

Deimos asked in the same kind tone, "Shall we help you prepare?"

Minerva nodded. Though she hadn't specified her reasons for visiting home, it did not surprise her that the twins knew exactly what it was she wanted to accomplish on Mars.

"Let us get this underway," Sailor Mars ordered.

The four left the room where travel between the planets was made possible for all peoples. Being who she was, a Soldier could ‘fly' anywhere she wanted to without such accommodations, but it was courteous to do so.

They wasted no time, walking through the intricate terracotta colored corridors of the castle coming upon a torrent of stairs. As the princess and her entourage climbed them, Minerva let her gloved hand reach out and touch the smooth, cream and brick red walls of the spiraling stairwell-- something she had done ever since a child whenever she needed to walk this path. Up and up they went until they reached the top of the stairs and one of the highest points of the palace. They were greeted by an elaborate archway that led outdoors. Stepping out into the day, they had arrived at the center of castle Phobos Deimos. They now stood on a rather large plateau, which in fact was the palace rooftop, but a visitor would have never guessed it to be. It was covered in the deep green grasses indigenous to the planet and several tall trees with thick, sienna trunks. Birds chirped happily and a few man-made streams could be heard as they trickled over rock and stone. Removing all footwear, they continued their journey.

Minerva always thought this place to be one of the most magical in the entire galaxy. Even now as a grown woman, it still held that mystique, and she relished in hidden child-like delight at the feel of the grass between her toes as they walked across the mesa to find additional flights of red, earthen stairs. These led to their destination as it sat upon the vast four-sided staircase: the sacred shrine of Mars, Temple of Sibyl.

Phobos and Deimos in a somewhat ceremonial fashion, opened the doors to the temple acting in their capacity as shrine maidens while their princess was away. All walked into the preparation chamber of the ancient, ivy covered sanctuary. Without turning to face Athena, Minerva spoke, "Inform my father that I will visit him later. Tell him nothing pertaining to my visit to this sacred place."

She did not explain why discretion was paramount, but she knew the commander would understand. Before the warrior woman took her leave she bowed, "It is good to have you home, Minerva."

Sailor Mars closed her eyes when she heard the doors slide shut behind Athena. With a mere thought, the Soldier uniform faded away from her body and she was left standing naked. With this, the purification ritual began. Frankincense was burned and as she was bathed in sweet smelling water, the princess watched the smoke rise up through the open roof. Next, the twins anointed her in oils before she lay upon the stone table to be brushed with smoldering palm leaves as her protectors' quiet chanting filled the air.

Minerva's mind drifted aimlessly as she allowed all impurities to lift from both her physical form and spirit. She thought upon Freya the other night, taking her aside in Serenity's room to speak in private. "I need you to consult the Fires, Mars," she had said in Serenity's voice and with Serenity's lips, "It will leave me a little less guarded and hopefully it will also prove very useful to our investigation."

As Phobos and Deimos dressed their princess in ceremonial robes, she thought upon the moment she found out she was to be Sailor Mars. Her mother smiled sadly with the knowledge of it clearly showing in her eyes. King Ares, her proud father smiled and boasted that greatness awaited his daughter. And when she was three, Serenity was born. The young Seer was ready for her life on the Moon where she would be trained to become a fierce Soldier. However, before she was escorted from home, the sixteen-year-old Commander Athena took Minerva aside and told her the most important thing she would ever learn. She said as she held Minerva's tiny hands in her own, "Love her, Princess Minerva. If you do not, then it is all for naught."

Phobos and Deimos demurely knelt upon the ground and opened the doors that led to the innermost prayer chamber, where only those of the bloodline of the late queen could tread any further. Taking diffident steps, the only kind possible in the layers of silk she now wore, she entered the hall, allowing the doors to slide shut behind her. The Seer walked the length of the smoldering, dark room with little fires placed in braziers along the walls of the carpeted walkway; at the end of the causeway was the altar where she would kneel and See into the roaring Sacred Flames.

I do love Serenity, the princess thought as she knelt. It was the tie bound that the entire Guard -- Inner and Outer -- together. Sure, it was their life purpose to protect the Moon Princess, but once they had laid eyes upon the squirming infant all those years ago… it was destiny. Love at first sight, they joked often when they were alone. It was this adoration that made their duty far more amiable and imperative. She was their friend, their Princess, their little one…. If anything could help her keep Serenity safe, it was the Sacred Flame.

Legend had it that in the Beginning, the spirit of the planet Mars took the form of a phoenix. It soared over the newly created Martian lands, helping life spring forth and as it descended back into the core of the star, it burned with such intensity it scorched the earth where it fell. From the blaze, a woman was born who was to guard and use the Sacred Flames to help mankind. It was said that woman was Minerva's ancestor and the inferno within the temple was the very blaze left behind by the phoenix.

The princess saw the fire even as she closed her eyes. It reached out to her, crackled and popped, asking her the same question it would ask for all time: What is it you seek, beautiful child of fire?

Minerva began the mantra that would evoke and soon paint their elemental silhouettes before her:

"Oh Sacred Fire,

Answers of Time is what I require.

I seek the knowledge,

Of Wind, Fire, Water and Earth.

I ask your help, by rite of birth: Show me those who would do harm."

Sweat began to mix with the fragrant oils that slicked her skin as she slipped into a trance, her voice becoming thick, "Wind. Fire. Water. Earth." Repeatedly she spoke the names of the spirits, which would give her the answers she sought, calling them to reveal the danger facing Serenity. Time slipped by the priestess of flame unnoticed as it melted into oblivion and ceased to be. For Minerva, only the fire and she existed in this universe. This was the calming peace that absolute power brought to the one who controlled it.

"Wind. Fire. Water. Earth," she felt her awareness stretch past her body, through the castle, beyond the sky and out over the galaxy as it settled itself like a net waiting to pull in any information the fates might provide. Only this state of unresisting openness would allow her to receive the Vision, leaving her vulnerable. The princess felt the pulse of the stars reverberating throughout her body like beacons of hope. She also felt the pinpricks of concentrated powers caused by those possessing potent star seeds like her own. Two in particular caught her attention for they shone brighter than any in her celestial. Curious, she narrowed her vision around them and watched with fascination as these immense powers played with one another, testing the other's boundaries. They seemed to be longing in their dance. For what, Minerva wasn't sure, but the magnitude of these presences was colossal.

Yet again, she pulled the net tighter. Who were these two beings? Recognition hit her as she realized one of them was Endymion's aura. But who was this other entity? Only Queen Selenity's power could match his in this day and era….

As she concentrated to learn the identity of the second power, she felt a great strain so she pushed harder. In retaliation, the light pulsed gently and pushed her awareness away. The anxiety she might have felt from this normally was soothed by the light as it retreated with a sigh and began to coax Endymion's golden light once again.

Minerva conceded that this wasn't the time to pursue that question. So, she pulled back and opened herself up once again, waiting for the Fire to speak as she drifted across the galaxy.

Suddenly, something grabbed her center where her heart beat calmly and yanked. Her eyes snapped open as her consciousness was pulled into a straight arrow as fast as light travels. The arrow flew and pierced the flame and it seemed to burst with life as the Vision pulled Minerva's Sight into it.

There was a corridor. It was long and winding as Minerva's consciousness traveled unhurriedly down its length. From the looks of it, she was convinced that if she could reach out and touch it, she would find it to be made of black ice…. But there was something else calling for her notice. It was a strange twinkling sound and it took her a moment to realize it was a music box playing, or so it seemed. Its song was melancholy and sinister and it provided no comfort to her. She continued on her way, eventually finding herself within a massive chamber.

If she could, she might have gasped, for in the center was a large crystal of ice where a lonely, beaten figure was encased. She tried to peer closer but as she was about to come upon the reason as to why this prisoner seemed familiar, a shadow lunged towards her. A horrible, horrible visage of nightmarish shadow screeched in her face and Minerva recoiled in horror as it took a hold of her mind and began to drag her into its abyss. It was killing her! She tried to break its hold on her and end the Vision, but the monster had too powerful a grip on her. And over the ceaseless melody she could hear her own blood-curdling screams of pain and terror ringing within her ears.

She tried everything to free herself, but it was impossible. Tears streamed down her face as she cried out in excruciating pain as her mind began to splinter. Slowly her sight grew dark and her breathing began to hitch as the life flowed from her body, death only moments away. Using the last breath she could catch, she wept out a single name, "Serenity…."

Instantly, an explosion of silver light sent the shadow creature back into its oblivion, releasing Minerva. She fell to the Temple floor, gasping and weeping, but though she felt her consciousness returning to her body, she was still blinded by the Vision. It wasn't over. Bit by bit she began to slump towards the ground for even though the shadow held her no more, the damage was done. Her mind couldn't hold together any longer and so it shattered. Princess Minerva collapsed blind to the white void surrounding her, blind to everything once and for all. She was dead.

- - - -

"Endymion," Nephrite called out as he rode beside his King, keeping his voice low, "I think we should stop and make camp."

It was late into the night and though they were well within the confines of the forest, their pace had slowed considerably since Serenity fell asleep within Endymion's arms. He himself had to admit that holding and keeping her comfortable was beginning to put a strain on him. It was a good plan.

"I agree," Zoicite, said, "There will be no way for us to reach The Glen before the morrow."

Endymion nodded and the caravan veered from the dirt road and found a large clearing to break camp. He nudged the sleeping girl gently and said softly in her ear, "Serenity, wake."

Her eyes slowly opened and she looked about her. It was dark and she could barely see a thing. Alarm arose within her, "Where are we?"

His arm tightened around her waist as he spoke soothingly, "We are in the Elysian forest. It is all right. We are merely stopping for the night."

A smile came to his lips as he felt her relax once again within his embrace. However, he surmised that the moment she realized that she was snuggled against him, that she would bolt right out of the saddle. That bothered him because over the hours he had grown to like her being there….

They stopped and Nephrite helped a weary and sore Serenity down from the saddle. Endymion sighed and stretched his muscles before he made the descent himself. As the footmen rushed around, tending to a series of tasks to be done, Endymion began to unsaddle Loki. A gasp caught his attention and he turned to see Serenity in the arms of Nephrite, having obviously saved her from a nasty stumble.

"Are you all right?" The General asked, clearly concerned.

She nodded, "I think so."

Endymion nearly dropped the heavy saddle on his toes as a strange emotion raged through him. Nephrite practically carried the Princess, setting her down at the base of a tree, but it was the way he held her had Endymion fuming. The man held her as if she were the most precious thing in the whole world to him… as if he loved her--!

Luna climbed out of the carriage and spotted her charge. She rushed over to the girl, "What is the matter?"

Serenity winced as she rubbed her calves, "I am sore, that is all."

The light provided by the full moon was snuffed out as a silhouette cast itself over her. She peered up to see a grouchy looking Endymion standing before her. He sighed as he crouched down in front of her, "If you are not used to riding, your legs turn into noodles. That and it does not help that you—"

"Help that she what?" Luna prompted worriedly.

He was going to say ‘that you had such a workout the night before,' but reason kicked in before he got it out, "Nothing."

Endymion reached for her arm and grasped her shoulder, "Here."

She swatted at his hand as he began lightly massaging it, exclaiming, "What do you think you're doing?"

He opened his mouth to explain, but Luna took a swipe at the back of his head, "Get your paws off her!"

"Will you just let me do this?" The King bellowed as he slapped his hands on his thighs in exasperation.

Nephrite chortled, "Trust him."

Again, he reached for her but did so at a hesitant pace. Serenity was giving him a glare to match all glares and he knew that if he tried anything fiendish, it would be his last. Endymion started at her shoulder, began to knead the muscle, and worked his way down her arm. She gasped as tingling warmth spread from his fingers into her, abolishing the aching wherever it was that he touched her. Looking down she noticed that the tips of his fingers glowed with a soft, golden light. Instead of asking what it was that he was doing, she just closed her eyes and reveled in it. He worked down her forearm and came to the palms of her hands. Slowly he used his thumbs to ease any tension that might have been there before, finishing with her fingers. Endymion smirked as he attended her other arm; the look of absolute bliss on her dirt-smudged face was all he needed to banish all of his irritability. He also suspected that she was wriggling her toes with pleasure inside her boots.

Having finished with both arms, he moved to her feet and pulled a boot off. Sure enough, her toes were curled in delight. His hands moved to touch her thigh and her eyes flew open, but he interrupted her protest by echoing Nephrite, "Trust me."

His voice was silky and it caused her heart to skip a beat. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she nodded but didn't take her eyes off him. Again, he began to work his magic as he slowly massaged her thigh, where no man had ever touched her, and took his sweet time working his way to her knee. Her breath quickened a degree and she knew she must be blushing, but what he was doing was perfectly innocent. She couldn't let him—or Luna for that matter—see the effect he was having on her.

"Good heavens!" Her guardian huffed and stalked off, unable to watch.

Nephrite laughed, patting his King on the shoulder and followed the cat woman, leaving them alone.

Endymion's gaze never veered from his hands as he dealt with her calf, but she could clearly see the smirk on his lips. It widened to a grin and a dimple showed when he came to her foot, knowing what it was that he was about to do to her. His eyes flew to her face to watch her expression as his thumbs pressed against the arch of her foot. Serenity had to clamp a hand over her mouth to catch the moan that escaped her lips and he halted his assault on her.

Looking around frantically, she saw that no one had heard, as everyone was preoccupied with preparing camp. They were slightly secluded due to the distance from their traveling companions and the shade of night almost hid them from sight.

"Do you want me to continue?" Endymion asked her, having never taken his gaze from hers.

Their eyes locked. Practicality was screaming that she tell him no, but her head was swimming in ecstasy. She could no longer be responsible for what she said or did at this point.

"Y—yes," Serenity said and she didn't recognize her own voice. It was low and smoky and filled with the desire for more. This startled and excited her at the same time, but she did her best to try to look unaffected.

He smiled and started to massage her foot, sending shivers up her spine. She would never say it aloud, but she was ecstatic that he was spending an unnecessarily long time on her foot. Biting her lower lip, she prepared herself as he removed her other boot.

Endymion loved every minute of this. He'd bet money on the fact that if they were alone, truly alone, that she'd be mewing at this point.

A thought crossed his mind and even though it would be going a bit far, he went for it. He started in reverse and began on her other foot, watching the bright light in her eyes become even brighter. It was sending him into an exhilarating daze hearing her breath quickening like it was.

Torturously slow, he purposefully made his way up her strong calf. Next, it was her knee and after… his prize. Endymion moved his strong hands at a snail's pace as he massaged her thigh, lingering and prolonging the experience and their eyes never left one another's. Serenity's breathing began to hitch and it was music to his ears as he came closer and closer to her center, but just as he would have touched her in that most sacred of areas, he stopped all together.

Having taken that route, it brought them close together. Their ragged breathing could be felt against each other's faces and Serenity's gaze couldn't help but flick down to stare at his lips, which hovered inches away. He grinned and she felt him take a hand from her thigh and grasp her hand in his, "Feel better?" She nodded imperceptibly and he brought her soft hand up and kissed it with a lengthy, sensuous tenderness that did make her coo ever so slightly. Endymion smiled knowingly, "Good. I am glad."

Then as quickly as he had come, he had gone back to finish unbridling his horse. She sat there for an age it seemed cooling off. That was close. What had come over him for Endymion to perform that sinfully wonderful service? He could have simply rubbed her down and been done with it, but no, he had to devastate her senses. But more than that, what was wrong with her? She'd let him do all of it!

Shaking her head, she stood and watched from across the clearing as he sent an uninhibited Loki into the woods while the other horses were being tied off. Feeling her ogle him, he turned to look at her in return. Once again, she shivered at the sultry look he was giving her.

"Serenity," a voice called.

Luna walked up and touched the girl's shoulder, "Are you better now?"

The Princess nodded, tearing her gaze away from Endymion.

The guardian led her over to a tent that had been pitched. That was where they would be staying for the night. Serenity felt relieved to be able to rest, really rest, but she wondered if she could hammer down her excitement enough to sleep at all.

As she and Luna settled down for the evening, Serenity squeezed her eyes shut and began to force herself to think of other things.

‘Serenity….'

She propped herself up. Did someone just call her?

"Luna?"

"Hmm...?"

"Did you say something?" She asked.

The woman rolled over, "No, now sleep."

Laying her head back down, she ignored the sense of foreboding she now felt and fell fast asleep.

- - - -

‘Return….' A voice called soothingly.

The last remnants of life within the corpse pulsed.

‘Return to me Guardian of Fire,' the voice beckoned again in a whispering tone.

Again, her soul throbbed.

‘Return to me. You have yet to finish your task, beautiful Guardian of Fire….'

A hand pressed against the forehead of the lifeless carcass and a miraculous thing happened. Just as the last drop of soul within Minerva's body was about to trickle out, the stream pulsated once more. Only this time, the river stopped its departure into the next world and began to throb with a familiar rhythm -- the rhythm of a heartbeat fluttering back to life.

The fire princess was dragged back into the world of the living as her spirit flowed back into her body. Slowly, her mind stitched itself together and in a short time her ability to breathe returned and she coughed and sputtered as she pushed herself off the floor, clutching at her throat.

Looking up, she saw a shadowy figure with warrior's eyes gazing down upon her with love and kindness, ‘Beautiful Guardian of Fire… your task is not yet done….'

Before she could ask anything, the stranger was gone. Minerva sat up and looked around but only the void greeted her. What just happened? She looked around as something strange reminded her she was still within the Vision…. In the distance she heard… singing? Many voices jovially sang out in harmony and she turned to see a forest lit with small particles of light floating in the air.

‘The festival is fast approaching….' The voices resonated.

Minerva gasped, "Serenity…?"

‘And I hope it will be my time….'

Standing before her was her Princess giggling at King Endymion before he gently pulled her into his embrace.

‘To find a love who's not reproaching….'

The Soldier's eyes widened when she witnessed Endymion take Serenity's chin into his hand and tilt her head up. Slowly he brought his lips down to hers in a tender kiss. Another explosion of light engulfed her as the last verse floated to her ears, ‘And who is gentle, sweet, and kind.'

Minerva blinked and she once again was in the Temple of Sibyl, lying in front of the Sacred Flame as if she had fainted. She arduously got to her feet and turned her back on the fire. Walking as fast as possible after her trying ordeal, she came to the doors to the outer shrine chamber and when she opened them, two figures rushed forward and caught her as her knees gave out.

"Sleep… let me sleep…." Minerva rasped out.

Phobos and Deimos looked at one another worriedly. What had their princess seen?

-

The crown princess of Mars drifted from nightmare to nightmare for hours on end and through the night. It was noon when she gradually emerged from her comatose state. Sluggishly and painfully, she opened her violet-eyes and looked around, unmoving because her body felt as if it were made of stone. No, movement would not return to her for a little while longer, but she felt a weight pressing upon her bed on her left. Minerva saw her proud father sitting by her side, his gaze stern as he looked off into the distance.

She tried to talk, but her voice was useless. The king turned to see where the hoarse rasping came from. The moment he saw his daughter's eyes open, he breathed a heavy sigh and all the tension in his tired eyes washed away. Ares brought his hand to his face and pinched the bridge of his nose as he sternly said, "Phobos, bring the princess water."

The duchess was at Minerva's side in a flash with a cup of sweet water. She held the girl's head up and smiled sadly as she watched her drink greedily. After the inevitable coughing fit was over, the Seer's voice returned, "Your Majesty."

Ares opened his eyes and looked upon his daughter once more, "What drove you to take such a risk?"

It was true that seeing into the Flame was dangerous, possibly the most dangerous form of casting. When one used the Sacred Fires, they left themselves open and venerable to any sort of assault. That was why the veiled enemy was able to grab hold and kill her. Dangerous yes, but it also was the most powerful form of divination in the entire galaxy.

Minerva felt her eyes grow moist. It was evident that her father had been wrought with worry ever since he learned of her collapsing. He was such a proud, boisterous, jovial man when Queen Morrigan was alive… and after… he was quiet, contemplative, and a recluse. She couldn't tell him what the Soldiers were planning and she most definitely would not tell him she had died in that chamber.

This was the most concern she had seen him express for her in quite some time. They were not close, it was true, but at no fault of one or the other. Losing a loved one… well, it changes people and Minerva knew that.

"I had to," she whispered.

He turned away at this. Ares felt that barrier between them: cold, strong, and unyielding. It was present now even as he grieved for his daughter's life, wishing that things were different so she could bear her soul to him in this frail state-- in any state.

"I understand," he said and stood to go but stopped when the girl caught his black tunic in a feeble grasp.

"I am sorry," her voice wavered with emotion, "I cannot say what it is exactly…. Duty binds me, Father."

The king nodded and sat down once again, taking her hand in his, saying for the second time, "I understand."

Minerva blinked back tears and looked about the room, trying to stave off the growing dread within her, "I am afraid."

"Afraid of what, my daughter...?" His voice now had a steel edge in it. His daughter was of Martian blood and she bore within her veins generations of fearless warriors. Nothing shook them, to see her frightened, and on the verge of weeping… it was no light matter.

"I saw in my dreams war and a mother drowning her child," she answered, eyes closed, "And in the fire—" She moved her free hand laboriously to cover her mouth, stifling a sob as flashes of the Vision came back to her, "Within the ice… Papa, she had silver hair!"

As Minerva broke down crying, everyone within the room—Athena, the twins, and Ares—exchanged a look of anxiety. Silver hair… she spoke of Serenity. The rumors of the assassin all came to mind and the Duchesses ran forward to soothe their princess. The king squeezed her hand and spoke with conviction and fire in his eyes, "There has been an age since the last Great War with the Dark One Metallia, and if this vision comes to pass, know this my daughter: the armies of our people will not stand idly by. Let the enemy come. The Silver Court will prevail!"