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Diamohns are Forever	By : SailorSol Category: Sailor Moon > General Views: 22490 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 56
- 57
- 58
DEVOTION

Soladite silently stalked to the joining of two corridors outside of Queen Metalia�s throne room. She was always on the alert for an attack, and the voices she was hearing belonged to two of the most ruthless of the senior officers. They had risen to their rank due mostly to the untimely deaths of their superiors. Since this was common in the Dark Kingdom, Soladite did not question it. This time, though, they were bandying about names that did not belong on their lips.

�How do you know that it will be Kunzite?� a man asked. His companion chuckled, a mirthless sound of pure malice.

�None of the junior generals have the power to stand against me,� he said. �Jadeite and Zoisite choose sparring partners purely for non-physical combat. Nephrite always chooses to fight youma, believing that a human opponent will not be enough of a challenge. Kunzite always chooses a mix, and more than one. Even if there is an inquiry, it will be blamed on a youma. No one would think that a mere human could bring down the mighty Kunzite-sama.�

�What are you going to do about Zoisite-sama?� the first man asked. He was a hulking specimen, with a reputation for pounding his opponents into submission. He had no concept of the dexterity that someone smaller would use.

�If Kunzite�s catamite gets in the way,� the second man, not so massive, but a relentless fighter, replied. �Then his fate will be the same. The Shitennou will be only two, paving the way for two to move in. If Zoisite accepts Kunzite�s fate, well, he�s beautiful, and powerful, and vicious. No one will ever know that it was not a fair fight. The poison on the blade is undetectable.�

�What about the trainees?� the first man inquired.

�Tanzanite is vicious but unstable,� he said. �She does exactly what the queen tells her. If the queen tells her that a youma was responsible, then she�ll take it out on the youma, not on me. She will get over Zoisite if he dies. Prince Galaxite is only waiting for the right opportunity.

�Soladite is one of the reasons for doing this,� he continued. �She is vicious and powerful, but she is too weak a person to survive without a protector. She will fall like a ripe plum into the hands of the next powerful man in her path.�

�You plan on being that man.�

�Count on it,� was the reply. �With Kunzite dead, she and Zoisite will be without a guiding force. With either of them, my rise to General is assured. With both, I could replace Kunzite as one of the Shitennou.�

�What if you fail?�

�If I fail to kill Kunzite, then I�ll just try again. If I kill one of the others that I�m sparring with, I can still blame it on a youma.�

�What will you do if one of them sees through your plan?�

�Not a chance,� was the confident reply. �The only person who might find out is Kunzite, and by the time he knows, he�ll be dead.�

Their footsteps began, receding, and Soladite carefully stepped around the corner to make certain she had correctly identified both speakers. They definitely needed to be taught a lesson in the real use of power. No one was going to take Kunzite away from her, especially not a puny human.

~*~*~*~

Over the next three days, Soladite carefully conceived a plan. She had told no one of what she overheard. She would prove to both those men how wrong they were, and she would do it without involving Tanzanite.

When Nephrite asked her what she was planning, she smiled sweetly at him and told him it was a special surprise. He smiled and kissed her forehead, indulgently dropping the subject.

Her smile lost its sweetness when he turned away from her. She had only just now found Kunzite again. No idiot man with more muscles than brains was going to take him away, even if Queen Metalia never let them spend another night together.

~*~*~*~

Finally, Soladite�s day arrived. Once every thirty days, the queen and the Shitennou observed training and fighting practice for all of their underlings, including generals in training. Soladite was in the arena with other trainees and the officers.

In the arena, Soladite waited impatiently for her turn to show her skills to the Queen. She hoped and prayed that none of the junior generals, or Prince Galaxite, would choose the well-muscled man who was her target. She kept a close watch on him, and on the blade he was wearing at his side.

Her plans were nearly spoiled when Galaxite announced that he would be sparring physically this time. She breathed easier when he chose several human officers, but not the man she was eyeing.

She was drawn from her contemplation of her victim by a touch on her arm.

�Kunzite-sama is angry,� Amethyst said. �Unless you wish that man dead, I do not think you should look at him so much.�

�Thank you, Amethyst,� Soladite said, kissing her on the cheek. �I am not trying to decide how to bed him. I am trying to decide the best way to teach him a lesson he will never forget.�

�I do not think Kunzite-sama knows that,� Amethyst replied. She finished braiding her blue hair and secured both braids on top of her head with a twist of vine.

Soladite turned to look in the direction of the Shitennou, and smiled brightly when Kunzite looked her way. Her smile faltered before his scowl, and he avoided her eyes as he turned back to watch Galaxite defeat four opponents at the same time, without using nonphysical force.

Finally, after what seemed to be an unending wait, Soladite was called. She jumped to her feet and strode to the precise center of the arena. She bowed to the Queen, and then turned and bowed to Kunzite and the other three Shitennou. She saw Nephrite say something, but it did not lift the scowl from Kunzite�s face.

Soladite felt her resolve stiffen. She would protect him from this threat, even if he never looked at her again.

Ever conscious of the eyes on her, Soladite stood up, conjured two staves, and tossed one of them to the second man she had heard speaking: he caught it with a cruel smile that reminded her of Takara. The resemblance only made her more determined to both embarrass and defeat him.

�As you wish, Soladite,� he said, rising from his seat with the staff in his hand. �When I win, you are mine.�

�Agreed,� Soladite said, smiling at him. �When I win, you will find out the price of losing.�

She stood quietly as he twirled his staff and paced back and forth before her. She kept her smile in place while he feinted with the staff, seeking to unnerve her.

He finally grew impatient and swung at her. She ignored her audience, but a muttered curse from where the Shitennou sat told her that Kunzite was not as indifferent as he pretended to be. She easily ducked the blow and dealt a crippling strike to one knee.

Soladite waited, crouched on the sand, while her opponent recovered his equilibrium and adjusted his stance. When he swung at her again, she jumped over his attack and landed another blow, this time to his elbow. How dare he call her weak and assume an easy victory!

She continued in the same vein, causing similar damage to his other elbow, both shoulders, and finally the remaining knee and both ankles. He lay on the sand, gasping in pain, his staff useless next to him.

Soladite stood over him, her golden eyes glowing with power and barely suppressed fury.

�So I am weak, am I?� she asked him, striking him a painful but not damaging blow with her staff. �Tanzanite is unstable, is she? Zoisite and I would be ripe for the plucking without Kunzite-sama, you said? Do I look weak to you? You pathetic, arrogant, brainless HUMAN!� With each question and epithet, her staff fell on him again.

Soladite brought her staff down across his chest one last time with a great deal of force. Those watching could hear ribs break under the blow. She tossed her staff away, vanishing it and its double before it hit the ground. She took a few steps back and spread her hands. The man before her rose a few feet in the air.

�Lo, how the mighty have fallen,� Soladite intoned in an amplified voice that carried to every corner of the arena. �I heard you plotting. You aimed too high, this time. You sought station and position that you are not worthy of, and not fit for. You sought to murder one of the Shitennou with treachery and poison, not in combat, and not just any of the Shitennou, but Kunzite-sama himself. You are about to reap the consequences of you folly. What punishment does my Queen decree?� Soladite turned towards where Metalia sat, smiling.

�Let the punishment be of your choosing, Soladite,� Metalia�s voice was heard by everyone in the arena. �If he was fool enough to conspire where he could be overheard, then he is too foolish for the Dark Kingdom.�

�As my Queen commands,� Soladite responded. She considered only for a moment, and then spun power around the man that had no immediate effect. After a moment, he began shivering violently, and his fingertips had begun to swell and take on the distinctive blackening of frostbite. He began moaning more loudly, sounds of a person in torment, as his fingertips swelled ominously. Soon, the skin of the fingertips burst, and the fingers themselves began to swell. No blood came from the burst flesh, though, and the temperature in the arena was much colder than it had been moments before.

After twenty minutes, the skin of both hands had burst, and other areas had swollen. Several of those watching, including the Generals and Metalia, had figured out what Soladite was doing. She was freezing the man�s very blood.

More than one person looked to Metalia to stop her. Metalia shook her head, observing the cold fury on Soladite�s face as she brutally wrung moans, then cries, and then screams from her helpless victim. The man moved from screaming to cries for mercy, to pleading, to begging. He was now only babbling, a tortured creature knowing only pain.

�I weary of this game,� Soladite finally said. With a sweep of her arms and a final shriek from her victim, the process finished. Where there had once been a man, there was a frosted over chunk of meat, glinting in the subdued light. Soladite looked about, coldly holding the eyes of the junior Generals, Takara, and the other victim, before lowering her hands.

�No one will remove Kunzite-sama from his position, save my Queen,� she said in a voice that seemed to ring through the arena. �No one will unseat my Queen while I draw breath in the Dark Kingdom.�

She bowed again to Metalia and to the Shitennou, and then left the arena. Behind her, the solidly frozen chunk of meat that had once been a deadly fighter dropped to the ground and broke into several pieces.

Outside the arena, the second man caught up with her before she could teleport to her chambers.

�Are you planning to tell the Queen?� he asked. Soladite studied him for a moment, waiting until he fidgeted.

�Soladite-sama, please!� he said. �Are you planning to tell the Queen?�

�What is it worth to you?� she asked, studying him closely. �You would have allowed it to happen, and said nothing. I will allow nothing to harm Kunzite-sama, including some muscle-bound fool.� She stared at him evenly, golden eyes as cold as the ice she had turned his companion into. Behind them, they could hear other trainees being ordered to use the dead body as target practice, both for weapons and spells.

After a very long moment, the man knelt before Soladite and bowed his head in submission. He brought his right fist up to his left shoulder in respect.

�He was wrong to think he deserved to be one of the Shitennou,� he said. �I was wrong to not discipline him. I give you my oath now, Soladite, that I shall be loyal to you unto death. My life is yours to do with as you please.� He waited while Soladite thought the whole matter over.

�Is this an admirer, Soladite?� Jadeite�s voice startled the man into looking up, but he lowered his head again, and continued to wait.

�Perhaps it�s a pet,� Quartzite said from Jadeite�s side. He walked forward and walked around the powerfully built man, enjoying the nervousness that he was causing.

�It�s a servant,� Soladite said, having made her decision. �He offered himself to me if I wouldn�t tell the Queen that he knew about the plot. I�ve decided that he could be useful.�

�You should bind him to you, then� Jadeite said. �Nephrite can show you how tomorrow.�

�Very well,� Soladite said, staring down at her new servant. �I will be in the arena with Nephrite tomorrow. Do not make me wait.�

~*~*~*~

In her quarters, Soladite allowed her carefully constructed mask to break and crumble. Kunzite had misunderstood her interest in the human officer. He still did not believe that she loved him. She curled up on her bed in misery, wondering if he would truly believe now, or if he would think that she was just trying to get ahead.

A knock on the door drew her out of her melancholy. She checked her appearance, and then schooled her features before she opened the door.

Jadeite stood in the doorway with an enormous bouquet of pink roses in his arms.

�Kunzite sent me with these,� he said as he entered. The roses turned out to be in a crystal vase. Jadeite made a pedestal and set down the arrangement.

�He told me to make sure that I delivered them directly to you,� he continued. �He also asked me to tell you that he regrets doubting you. Zoisite was a bit more direct. He said that Kunzite should have known better than to think you�d prefer that muscle-bound caveman to the most perfect man alive.�

�Zoisite is correct,� Soladite said, burying her nose in the fragrant blossoms. �No one could ever measure up to Kunzitosama. No one should ever try.�

�I am certain that Prince Galaxite would disagree with you,� Jadeite said, watching her stroke the velvety petals as if they were the skin of a lover.

�Galaxite can disagree all he wants,� she said, frowning. �I don�t care if he is the Queen�s son. I don�t love him, and I never will. I owe him nothing but the same loyalty as any other General.�

�He may test that someday, Soladite,� Jadeite cautioned. �You must be ready.�

�I have no eyes for anyone but Kunzitosama,� she said. �I never have, and I never will.�

�I know that,� Jadeite said. �Not that I haven�t wished it was otherwise, but I am content with Quartzite. Galaxite is accustomed to getting what he wants, though.�

�He will have to learn to deal with disappointment,� she said stubbornly. �He cannot compare to Kunzitosama, or even with you. He comes up short, no matter what.�

�You just don�t like dark hair,� Jadeite teased. �You once told me that Nephrite was your least favorite of the four of us.�

�Yes,� Soladite said, frowning again. �I wonder if that was subconsciously because of Takara.�

�Possible,� Jadeite said. �Do you have a return message for Kunzite?�

�Yes,� Soladite said. She raised a hand and concentrated. In her hand, a perfect rose formed of blue crystal.

�Give him this,� she said, handing it carefully to Jadeite. �Tell him that my devotion to him is as imperishable as this crystal, but far less fragile.�

�He will get your message,� Jadeite promised. He disappeared immediately, leaving Soladite with proof that Kunzite had forgiven her.

~*~*~*~

Soladite twisted around in the armchair in her quarters, biting her lip to keep from screaming in pain.

In the middle of a training session, she had felt a sharp pain in her right forearm, which quickly became a burning agony. A sharper pain to her left thigh had followed, making her scream and collapse. Jadeite had immediately stopped the training session, picked her up, and taken her to her quarters. Now, she was waiting for Hematite to come see her.

She looked towards the entrance when her door opened, and sighed in resignation when Jadeite came in.

�Hematite is busy,� he said. �The mystery is solved, however. I know what happened.�

�What?� she asked, doing her best to make her speech intelligable. There was a numbness starting to spread through her system.

�Kunzite got hurt,� he said. �It seems that Alexandrite heard some of the youma talking about a wild youma that staked out part of the desert area as its territory. They call it the White Demon. This youma is approximately horse-shaped, and the other youma are all afraid of it. Alexandrite thought it would prove his bravery if he went out and either fought it or rode it.

�Alexandrite managed to find it, and to get on its back. He came away with a few hairs in his hand, but he got thrown off almost immediately. He started bragging to Quartzite that he was braver than any of the Shitennou, especially Kunzite. He told Quartzite that since you and Tanzanite came here, Kunzite has gotten soft.

�Kunzite went out there?� Soladite asked through clenched teeth.

Jadeite nodded soberly.

�The Demon stomped on his arm and bit him in the thigh,� Jadeite said. �Hematite is working on him quickly, because it turns out that the Demon has a poisoned stinger in its tongue. When it bit him, it poisoned him, too. Hematite needs to get the poison neutralized as soon as possible.�

�How long was Kunzite on it?� Soladite asked, struggling to her feet. Now that she knew the source of her pain, she pushed herself past it.

�A bit longer than Alexandrite, according to Nephrite,� Jadeite replied. �Soladite, if you�re thinking what I think you are, you are mad if you think I�m going to permit it.�

�I have to,� she said, turning pleading eyes on him. �Alexandrite will go back there and try again. When Kunzite gets better, he�ll have to go out there again. He�ll get hurt again. If I beat them both, Kunzite won�t have to do that.�

�No, Soladite,� Jadeite said firmly. �I forbid it. You�re still in training. You have to obey me.�

�No, Jadeite,� Soladite argued. �I have to do this.�

�I�ll tell the Queen,� Jadeite said.

Soladite froze and looked at him.

�You can�t,� she objected.

�I will,� he said. �If that is the only way to stop you. The Queen will forbid it.�

�Jadeite,� she whined.

�No,� he said firmly. �I will be informing Nephrite, as well. You are not going after the White Demon, Soladite.�

�If one of the others goes out there, Jadeite,� Soladite growled. �I�m going no matter what you say. I will tame that youma and present it to Kunzite-sama as a gift.�

***** *****

One week after Kunzite�s injury, Soladite was suffering along with him. She didn�t tell anyone that her arm and thigh still hurt her, and that she couldn�t sleep without taking a strong pain draught.

Soladite haunted the halls outside his quarters when she was not training or sleeping. She pestered Hematite and Zoisite for news, anxious to know that he was not going to die.

She sent her servant to the various libraries in the keep for references on youma poisoning, and then sent him to Hematite with the results of her research. She painstakingly created delicacies she remembered sharing Kunzite him when she was a child, and sent her servant to Zoisite with them.

Through it all, she did not say anything to Jadeite or Nephrite about hunting down the White Demon, although she had retrieved maps that showed her where its territory was.

The two lower members of the Shitennou watched her wear herself down, worrying over Kunzite and keeping up with her training.

Finally, Nephrite went to the Queen.

� � I do not believe that it is truly under her control,� he finished his report to Metalia. �She diligently trains, and then after a few hours of sleep, she is either researching youma poisons or lurking around Kunzite and Zoisite�s quarters. It is as if she truly cannot rest until she knows Kunzite will be well.�

�What do you suggest, Nephrite?� Metalia said. �Hematite informs me that Kunzite is recovering, partly due to Soladite�s research.�

�Relax your stricture, My Queen,� Nephrite said. �If Soladite sees for herself that Kunzite is recovering, I believe that it will reassure her.�

�Her attachment to Kunzite is unnatural,� another voice interrupted.

Nephrite turned to see Galaxite come striding in, bow to the Queen, and then climb the steps of the dais to sit a few steps below the throne.

�Her obsession with Kunzite is detrimental to her,� Galaxite said. �It will end up being the end of both of them.�

�It�s not her feelings for Kunzite,� Nephrite argued. �It�s the separation from him that is driving her. Once she is vetted as a General, she will shine above us all. I will take my demotion gracefully.�

�I will speak with Soladite,� Metalia said. �If Nephrite is correct, then I will relax the stricture until Kunzite is recovered.�

�It�s a mistake, Mother,� Galaxite said.

�That remains to be seen,� Metalia said. �Soladite, report!�

It was bare seconds before Soladite appeared in a golden flash, unfailingly obedient to the Queen�s summons.

Metalia took a few moments to look at the former Senshi. Soladite�s skin had paled, not in the way that one expected from being in the Dark Kingdom, but in an unhealthy fashion that spoke of too little rest and food, and too much work. Instead of raising her right fist to her left shoulder, Soladite did the opposite. She was holding her right arm as if it pained her. Also, her weight was off-center. She was favoring her left leg.

Those signs, and Metalia�s knowledge of her past, made the Black Queen�s mind up for her.

�I have heard that you have assisted Hematite in his search for an antidote to the White Demon�s venom,� Metalia said. �I commend you on this, Soladite. I do not, however, like what I see. You are neglecting yourself in favor of your after-hours research.�

�It has not been my intention, My Queen,� Soladite said, bowing her head. �I wished to help Hematite, and I do not wish to neglect my training. I have had trouble sleeping, recently.�

�Have you spoken to anyone about it?� Metalia asked.

�Hematite is the only one to speak to, My Queen,� Soladite answered. �He is busy with Kunzite. I got the formula for pain draughts from one of the books in the library closest to Hematite�s quarters, and I am sleeping better.�

�Why do you need pain draughts?� Metalia asked. �Has Jadeite or Nephrite damaged you in your training?�

�No, My Queen,� Soladite said. �They have caused me no more pain than I can handle. The pain comes from a different source.�

�Speak, Soladite,� Metalia said. �What is this other source?�

�I felt Kunzite-sama�s pain when he was injured,� Soladite said softly. �The pain has lessened as he has healed, but it is still there. I cannot sleep without the pain draughts.�

�That explains your lack of rest,� Metalia said. �Soladite, until Kunzite is well enough to return to his duties, you may spend your rest periods with him. You must eat regularly, in a fashion that Hematite will approve of. You may assist Hematite with Kunzite if he requires or requests it. When Kunzite is fully recovered, then you return to your own quarters, and the two of you may not interact again until your training is complete.�

�Yes, My Queen,� Soladite said, bowing from the waist. �Thank you, My Queen.�

�You are dismissed, Soladite,� Metalia said. She allowed herself a smile of satisfaction as the former Senshi disappeared in another golden flash.

�That was a mistake, Mother,� Galaxite said.

�That is your inexperience speaking,� Metalia said. �Soladite is as tightly bound to Kunzite as Sailor Sol was to Atlas. She will never return to the Senshi. When we are ready to take over Earth, it will be child�s play.�

~*~*~*~

Soladite quietly entered Kunzite�s quarters. Her eyes immediately went to Kunzite�s still form. Hematite was bending over him, power glowing in his hands.

�Hematite?� she said softly. �The Queen said I could see him.�

�I know,� he said without turning away. �Come over here.�

Soladite approached cautiously, hesitant to disturb the healer�s concentration. She stayed at a distance until he straightened and beckoned to her.

�He needs you,� he said. �Zoisite stays with him when he�s not fulfilling the Queen�s orders, but it�s not enough. I�m pleased that my mother has seen that.�

He guided her over to the far side of the bed, where Kunzite�s arm was spread out. He encouraged her to climb onto the bed and lay down with her body pressed against Kunzite. To her surprise, Kunzite�s arm folded around her, and he turned so that his face was pressed up against her curls.

�Just stay with him,� Hematite said softly. �Get some rest. I�ll bring something to eat in a while.�

Soladite nodded, already feeling her pain receding and the fatigue that she had fought with for the last week pulling her into oblivion.

***** *****

After two more weeks, Kunzite was up and about and fit for duty. Soladite returned to her quarters calmly and confident that he was recovered.

As soon as she got there, she pulled out the map that showed the location of the White Demon�s territory.

She had barely begun to study it when she heard the Queen in her mind.

//General Assembly.//

Soladite quickly hid the map away and teleported to the throne room as soon as she rose to her feet.

Tanzanite was standing in front of the dais, holding a pair of reins attached to a hackamore. The hackamore was on the head of a creature that looked like a cross between a horse and a dragon, complete with wings and a reptilian tail.

It was bone white all over its body, including the spines that stood along its neck and the two horns that protruded from above each eye. It turned to look at Soladite with its glowing red eyes, and then turned its attention back to Tanzanite.

�Everyone is here, Tanzanite,� Metalia said. �Did you create this youma?�

�No, My Queen,� Tanzanite said, bowing. �I have tamed the White Demon. He will allow myself, Soladite, Zoisite, and Kunzite-sama to ride him. No one else will stay on him for more than a minute.�

�I�ll take that dare,� Alexandrite said, stepping forward.

Nephrite and Jadeite snickered, looking at one another.

Soladite looked from Alexandrite, to Kunzite, to the youma waiting placidly beside Tanzanite. She smiled at Alexandrite as though she were a cat and he were a canary.

�I would not recommend it, Alexandrite,� she said. �You do not have the Queen�s permission to risk yourself with this youma. If Tanzanite says that you will not stay on him, then it is so.�

�I�ll take my chances,� Alexandrite said.

�No,� Zoisite said, stepping forward. �If Tanzanite�s words are true, I should be able to mount this youma without any trouble. I am far more adept at escaping than Alexandrite.�

�Very well, Zoisite,� Metalia said. �Mount the beast.�

Zoisite cautiously approached the dangerous youma while Tanzanite spoke to it softly.

Tanzanite nodded, and Zoisite moved to its side. It obligingly folded one leathern wing and stood still while he clambered up onto its back. It shifted a bit, but then settled when Zoisite found a seat and stopped moving around. Tanzanite handed him the reins she was holding and urged him to walk the youma around. Zoisite nudged the youma�s sides with his heels and to everyone�s surprise, the White Demon sedately started walking around the throne room.

Everyone held their breath. After Alexandrite and Kunzite, they half expected Zoisite to be thrown and trampled.

After several minutes, Metalia sat forward and smiled at Tanzanite.

�Well done, Tanzanite,� she said. �You have exceeded anything I could have expected. Please return the youma to its territory. I will think of an appropriate reward for you.�

�Thank you, My Queen,� Tanzanite said, beckoning the White Demon to her. It obediently approached her and stopped. Zoisite immediately dismounted and shakily walked over to Kunzite.

�A reward is not necessary, My Queen,� Tanzanite said. �I was merely trying to teach Alexandrite and the others that challenging the Shitennou will only result in myself or Soladite removing the challenge, in one way or another.�

TBC
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Diamohns are Forever