Chapter 3 Knowing that the Sailor Senshi would never leave the royal family unguarded, Luke decided that the best way to catch up with at least some of the Senshi would be to stay in the palace itself. He wandered through one of Queen Selenity's many rose gardens, almost losing himself in the beautiful smells wafting up from the flowers. 'Focus Luke, Focus. The senshi are in trouble. Now is not the time to stop and smell the roses.' He chuckled softly to himself at the use of that old adage as he reached a set of steps leading to a pair of large, silver doors, engraved with the crescent moon symbol of the royal family. He took the stairs two at a time, hoping to find Sailor Senshi inside, but one especially. He'd been harboring a secret crush on Destiny, Sailor Saturn, for about a year now. Instead of going away, like he was sure it would, it seemed to be getting deeper. However, he never could muster the courage to tell her. 'I'm a Knight of Elysium, no stranger to situations which I may not return from alive. I've watched friends fall before me, as I was forced to go on, to avenge them. I've killed countless times...yet I can't even ask Destiny-chan out...' Shaking his head at the irony of the universe, he opened the sparkling silver doors and stepped into the throne room. The three Senshi started at the opening of the side doors. Without thinking, they reacted to what could possibly be an enemy attack. "Saturn Ring Blast!" "Neptune Atlantian Sinking!" "Uranus Deadly Landslide!" The three attacks flew towards the figure, who just barely managed to leap out of the way, holding itself aloft on a pair of huge dragon wings. "K'so! Senshi stop! I'm a friend!" he screamed, adrenaline choking him, making the words come in a frightened croak. "Phoenix Knight? Luke?" Saturn stammered, finally being able to make out the boy now that the sun wasn't shadowing him in the darker throne room. "Hai! It's me. By Kami I thought you were going to kill me!" he wheezed, one hand over his heart. A chorus of "Gomen Phoenix Knight-sama" and "Gomen nasai Luke-san" rose from the throats of the three sheepish looking senshi. Luke sighed "Iie, don't apologize. I'm actually relieved to know that, were I an enemy, I'd be dead right now and the royal family would be safe." His eyes briefly scanned the room. "Speaking of family, where is Sailor Moon?" Uranus spoke first. "She went out with Jupiter and Mars to search for more enemies, and hopefully more clues to the motives of this new enemy, Rhea." Luke sighed, hoping one of the other Knights could find those three and keep them safe. "And where are the rest of you? Mercury, Pluto and Venus?" Neptune replied. "They went to the gates of time along with Princess Pluto-sama, to try and scan through time for any information. We're all meeting back here in about three hours." "Three hours." Luke mused. "Well, it looks as if I'm in for a wait. King Endymion sent me to aid you, so I do hope you don't mind my company for a time." "Not at all!" the three girls said in unison. Luke wondered if he was hallucinating, for he could have sworn he saw a small blush creep over Saturn's face. Queen Selenity, who had been sitting in a chair near a window, talking with Hotaru, looked up. "It would be an honor to have a Knight of Elysium guarding me, and aiding these senshi." Her smile was bright enough to melt the poles of Earth, as was Luke's sudden blush. "I...iie, Your Majesty...the honor is mine," he stammered, with a deep bow. Uranus and Neptune struggled to suppress twin giggles. Just then, the main door burst open, and Prince Helios entered, carrying an unconscious Terran. Everyone fell silent, and even the Queen rose to her feet at the sight of both of them covered in blood, most of it Terran's "Terran-kun!" Luke cried, rushing forward to take the boy from the rapidly tiring Prince. Saturn was on his heels, directing Luke to lay the Knight on a table, hastily cleared away by Uranus, Neptune and Hotaru. Luke used his power to cause Terran to detransform, so that Saturn, one of the best healers among the senshi, could get a better look at his wounds. One glance told Saturn the gravity of it, and she shook her head, placing an arm upon Luke's. "It's bad, Luke-san...I don't know if even I can save him now." A small cry came from Helios' throat, as he sank to his knees, suddenly in tears. Luke, near tears himself, was quickly at his Prince's side, resting a comforting hand upon his back. Queen Selenity had glanced at the boy's wound, and it took every ounce of her will power not to be sick. The gash was huge; she could even see a few organs peeking out and the bottom of the boy's rib cage. Wordlessly, she took Saturn's hand, and motioned Hotaru to join them. "If the three of us work together, the power of the Ginzuishou, and the powers of the mother and daughter of the planet of Rebirth, Saturn, should be able to save him." Hotaru and Destiny looked at each other and nodded. "Hai Selenity-sama." They stood over Terran, and each raised their power tokens. The Ginzuishou first began glowing with a bright silver light. Hotaru held up her tiara, which was slightly larger than the one she used to wear as a senshi. The fluorite gemstone in the center began to glow with a soft blackish light. Destiny held aloft her Glaive, the blade beginning to glow with a light the same color as her mothers. Three beams shot out from the tokens and converged over Terran's body. The light grew stronger, and began to wrap itself about the boy. Just as the intensity became blinding to look at, it disappeared, and Terran lay there, covered in dried blood, but whole again. Helios, who had been half watching through his tears, sprang to his feet and ran towards his knight, wrapping his stunned best friend into a hug. Luke struggled to suppress a laugh at the comical look on his fellow knight's face. King Endymion, who had been hiding in the shadows watching, stepped forward and placed a hand upon Terran's shoulder. "Daijoubu?" he asked, quietly. "Hai," Terran replied with a smile. "Though I would kill for a bath right now." Startled, Helios stepped back from the boy, looking first Terran, then himself over. He suddenly burst into laughter. A moment later, Luke joined him. "Only Terran. Back from the dead, and all he can think about is how his current appearance will not impress the ladies." The laughter was cut short by Queen Selenity, who stumbled and would have fallen, had Endymion not been there to catch her. "Usako!" he cried, supporting his wife. "Are you alright?" Selenity nodded. "Using the Ginzuishou saps me of my strength. I just need a bit of rest." Nodding, Endymion swept the weak girl into his arms, and carried her toward a set of stairs behind the throne, stairs which led to corridors of sleeping chambers. "Uranus, Neptune, come with me and stand guard over the Queen while she rests." The two senshi nodded and followed after him. Hotaru glanced after them, before quietly saying. "I believe I will go rest myself. I had forgotten how draining healing can be." She also slowly began to ascend the stairs. Luke and Helios stood by the table, upon which still sat a very disoriented Terran. "Guess that leaves us to hold down the fort, ne?" Terran said in his usual flippant way. "Do you think you are strong enough to fight if needed?" Helios asked. Luke wondered exactly when his Prince turned into such a mother hen. 'Must be something Chibi-Usa did,' he concluded. Terran nodded and leapt off the table. "I feel great! Like I've just slept for a millennium. Those yomas don't want to cross me now! Nor that succubus either!" Helios quirked an eyebrow toward a snickering Luke, who mouthed to him "I'll explain later." Out of the corner of his eye, Luke noticed another figure. Turning to look at it, he saw that Destiny had fallen asleep, curled up on one of the many ornate rugs which were scattered about the throne room. He half smiled and walked toward the sleeping figure. Sitting down next to her, he pulled the girl's head into his lap, stroking back her long, purple-black hair from her face. Unfastening his cape, he twirled it off and covered the girl in it, holding her protectively while she slept. Helios and Terran exchanged glances. "Well, well, well...looks like Luke's finally deciding to make his move," Terran quipped. "Let him be," Helios admonished. "Love's not something to poke fun at." wondering if there would ever be peace again.