Total Eclipse: Minako's Story 
	Part 5
	By: Zellie


		


		"I won't ever be too far away to feel you..." - Whenever
You Call by Mariah Carey  



	I woke up surrounded by the wretched smell of dank, and
dismal dampness. The dark felt as if it had seeped into my skin. 
I was chilled to the bone and I thought I was melting or something. 
It was horrible. I needed light. The dark would kill me before that 
witch would. That, and the sufficating, stagnant air that was all 
around. I longed to feel the warmth of the sun against my face 
to warm my soul.  
	I climbed out of bed to look around for some clothing. 
My gaze fell upon the dress. It was all I had. My hair clung to my
body as tried to wriggle into the gown. I zipped it up defiantly.
I was royalty and was about to prove it. I had the grace, the
charm and the beauty of an heir, after all, I was. That witch, 
Beryl, could do her worst, but she would not break my resolve.
I had too much pride and strength. I looked around the room
for a brush. I walked over to the dresser and opened one 
of the drawers. There was a brush! I picked it up and started
to run it through my hair. I swept my hair up in some sort of 
self holding style, that looked tactful, at least. Then I walked
out of the room to explore. Besides, I needed food. 
	The corridor I had stumbled upon was long and
narrow but I had found a small door. Intrigued, I gently pushed
on it. It swung open with an eerie silence. When fully open,
it exposed a small outdoor area. I grinned, hoping to find 
sunlight, I walked outside and felt extreme cold, instead of 
the warmth I craved. "Urg." In a fit of fury I puched the door
back open and stormed back inside. At least it wasn't as
cold in there. My stomach growled reminding me that I needed
some form of sustinance. I sighed and continued to wander around. 
	It wasn't until about noon when I finally had the chance
for some food. Lady Hyacinth had found me and taken me to 
get something, anything would have done by that point. Then
I was about to have a conference with Beryl. I cringed. I didn't 
want to talk to the witch, but I would hold my head high and
answer all her questions with carefully measured tones. I 
swallowed the last of the terrible food I had to eat but at least
it was something...I hoped. 
	"Miss Minako, are you ready?" I nodded and
glared straight a head of me as I followed her to Beryl's 
chambers. The closer we came to her chambers, the more
the air smelled of death. I nearly choked when the first blast
of air hit me in her rooms. Tears welled up in my eyes, and
I quickly brushed them away. "My lady, she is here!"  Lady
Hyacinth called to her mistress.  A dark, snakelike figure
emerged from the darkness.  It hissed with pleasure.  I 
involunatrily shivered as it's cold, dark soul rushed towards me. 
                "Senshi." It hissed. "You are very strong...but I
wonder, how strong are you really?" Was this really their 
queen? This vicious horrid creature that wasn't even
imaginable? This creature ruled over a world that was human 
turned evil by choice, yet she was inhuman herself? "What 
keeps you going? Normal humans would have perished
by this point." I bowed my head and answered quietly.
	"Love. It's love that keeps me going.
Love, hope, faith... all these things you've never known,
which you'll never experience!" I stared at her defiantly.
"How can you ask these questions when you know the
answer truely! How can you kill with no emotion at all,
not a care?" I had over stepped my line. A cold, fast
hand struck my face and knocked me over with the 
force of the blow. 
	"You stupid child! How dare you question
me, senshi! I have full ability to crush your pure,
sweet life force right here and now! Watch what you
say, girl!" I stood up to face her directly. I stared deep
into her cold eyes, right into her empty soul.  I think I 
intimidated her a little by not cowering at her power. 
I was too used to it and too tired of the physical abuse
to stand for anymore. She would not hurt me the way
my father did. 
	"We are enemies! I stand for purity and
love! You will not, can not stop the power of the 
senshi! I swear to you right here and now, you will
never triumph! Even if you kill us off, there will always be
another generation to succeed us! Our holy, white magic will
prevail. I have the power right here and now to be rid of you if
I choose!" I clenched my fists tightly in my anger. My declaration
was true. The epic battle of good and evil will always be, but
I weep for the day when evil will triuph of those pure in heart.
I tried desperatly to calm myself.  The dark witch waved her hand. 
	"Release her. Let her go back to her people. But let it 
be known, senshi. From this day forth a great war will be waged. 
You and all of your decendants will never see peace again! I
hope to see you lying dead at the feet of your loved ones, 
one day, Aino Minako." With that I was outside in a cold place. 
I shivered, but not from the temperature, but from the seriousness 
of her words, for I knew they would come true. Shaking, I transformed.
I breathed in a deep breath to steady myself before 
I atempted to teleport back. 
	The light around me flashed and was gone.
Although I was home and it was much warmer, I was still
shaking. The palace shone brightly just ahead of me. The
light bright beauty of it contrasted perfectly with the darkness
of the sky behind it. It was just beging to be dawn. I turned 
towards my beloved sea. The early morning rays sparkled 
against the water. It was so beautiful, so peaceful. I kelt down
in the sand, tears streaming down my face. All this would be ruined, 
destroyed, and I was the cause of it all. Even though I now know
it was inevitable, I could still feel the coldness surround me
and I feel it was all my responsibillity.  I stood up a bit
staggeringly.  The castle was my destination. I walked up
to it as fast as I could, detransforming as I went, until I could run. 
	I ran in the door and stopped. The castle was
silent except for the sound of muffled sobs ecchoing through
the halls. I turned and ran up the stairs, through halls and 
corridoors, heading for Usagi's room. The door was shut,
but the sound was certainly comming from her room. I tried
the door, but it was locked as well.  I knocked gently on the
door. I heard a sniffle. "I said...Leave me alone!" I grinned.
She didn't know it was me.
	"Mi-Minako!" I turned to see Rei and Makoto
behind me. "Is it really you?" Makoto asked as I ran
and hugged them sobbing. 
	"Of course, silly!" I clung to them taking 
comfort in their familliarness. Makoto hugged me back
and Rei pushed me off her to back up a little. "You guys!
I'm so happy to be back!" I broke down then, the tears 
filling me with hope. 
	"Why do you always make these dramatic
entrances?" Rei asked, teasing. I smiled as I swallowed
my tears and whiped the rest from my face. "Are you 
really okay, though? You look like you've lost your will
to live or something..." She said looking me deep in the
eyes. I shook my head, trying to hide what I knew for a 
later time. 
   	"It's nothing, really." I watched as Makoto
walked over to Usagi's door and called to her. 
	"Usa-chan, We've a surprise for you!" She
frowned, awaiting Usagi's reply. "Usagi! Co'mon, I'm serious,
you're going to like this." She leaned against the
door preparing to fight with her if needed.
	"How many times have I told you? 
I don't care! Leave me alone. I...don't...care..." She 
sounded as if she had begun to sob again. 
	"Let me try, girls. " Queen Serenity said from
behind us. We all quickly turned and bowed. She glanced 
over us until she saw me. "Minako? You're safe! Thank 
the heavens!" She hugged me. I smiled.  Queen Serenity
walked over to the door and knocked on it. "Usagi. Come 
on dear, please come out." Usagi stormed to the door 
and thrust it open.
	"What?" She asked, annoyed. Her mother 
pointed over towards me and I waved, sheepishly. "Minako!"
 She ran towards me, at full speed and ran into me while 
hugging me tightly."You're okay! I'm so relived!" *This is 
what keeps me going, this feeling of being cherished, Beryl.*
I thought to myself. I held on to her until she moved to let go. 
"We've got to find the boys! Kunzite's been worried sick! I don't
think he's slept all night. But then, none of us have." She said
eying the other two girls.  Usagi then bustled down the hall ahead
of us. I could see the questions in Rei and Makoto's eyes though. 
I knew I was in for some serious questioning.  We started walking
down the hall and Makoto knocked gently on Ami's door.  
	"Ami-chan?" Ami came to the door and rubbed
her eyes wearily. I could see the dim glow of the computer
behind her. Makoto smiled. "You can take a rest now. We
found her...rather she came back to us." Ami looked over to
me and smiled. 
	"I'm glad you're home Minako." I walked
over to her and hugged her, smiling. 
	"Me too, Ami-chan. I really missed you 
guys." She nodded.  Then looked at the other girls. 
	"Get some sleep, guys. And Minako, you 
have an appointment with me in the afternoon. I want to 
check you out, okay?" I nodded.  "Good. Get some rest now, 
all of you." She slipped back into her room, and I heard her shut 
off the computer.  We then proceeded to follow Usagi.  By the 
time we caught up with her, she was already proclaiming
hystericly that I had returned. 
	"I swear it! No really!" The other girls walked 
ahead of me, as I stopped short to watch a little. I needed to 
watch my friends happy just for a moment.They smiled with
amusement. "Please, you have to belive me this time!"
Then I decided to prove her right. 
	"She's not lying." I said as I stopped next to her. 
	"Mina-chan..." Kunzite said astonished. I nodded
as I walked up to him, tears in my eyes again.  He clasped me
tightly to him and I never felt safer in his embrace. "Mi, you're
alright! Aren't you?" He looked me over once.  I nodded. "Thank
the gods! Minako...don't you ever do that again!" 
	"I won't I swear it, I won't. It was so scary Kunzite! So 
scary." I clung to him, finding the most comfort in his arms. It was
like when my mother used to comfort me when I was hurt or Daddy
had done something to me. I felt safe, wanted, and loved. I craved
this feeling like I had never craved anything before. I felt so much 
love for all my friends that moment. That is one time I'll always
remember. I knew I was needed. 

	~Notes from Zellie~
	        Well, well. What a strange turn of events. 
Minako back, so fast? What reason could be behind this?
 We'll have to wait and see, now won't we? Heh heh heh...Well, 
my children, sleep well tonight...oops, wrong story! Heh... Anyways,
Adios, my adoring fans! (The very few I know.) ~Zellie