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[shadowedgold]

Venus smirked to herself, tossing the clear bag of crystals up and down idly. They were beautiful, shining and glinting in the dim light of the Dark Kingdom, and they were going to be the key to her greatest success to date. After tonight... Well, Beryl would be worshiping the ground she walked on! With a little whistle, the senshi sauntered down

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[shadowedgold]

As soon as they reach her room, Venus stumbles forward to collapse on her bed. It's so soft, and she's so tired... she almost falls asleep right there. Instead, she weakly tries to tug Mars down with her, just wanting her close for now.

"It- it hurt so much. And now she has that- that terrible weapon. How- What are we going to do, Mars-chan?"

[shadowedflames]

Mars doesn't have to be told twice; she lays down on the bed beside Venus, entwining their hands and their legs, here for comfort and warmth as they face each other to talk.

"We'll figure something out," she promises. "Mercury-chan's so smart, she'll figure out what we have to do to combat it. And Metalia's way stronger than the ginzuishou, right?"

Come on, work with her.

[shadowedgold]

She nods a bit, moving to lay her head on Mars' shoulder, squeezing her hand in an effort to reassure them both. "She saved us... It should be strong enough. I'm just so afraid I'll lose you again, or Mercury-chan or Jupiter-chan. I can't lose you!"

[shadowedflames]

"I won't let that happen," Mars promises, lightly caressing Mars' hand with her thumb. "No matter what happens, I'll be here for you. So try to get some rest, alright? You'll only make this harder and take longer if you don't rest."

[shadowedgold]

In response, she curls closer to her lover, as if trying to burrow into her. When she speaks, her voice is weak through everything whirling in her mind. "You'll never leave me?"

[shadowedflames]

"Of course not. Don't even say that." But her voice is gentle as she strokes a lock of long, golden hair back from Venus' face.

"Think about everything we've gone through and everything we mean to each other." She switches her tone intentionally to one of mild annoyance. "If I can stand you mooning over that picture of Kunzite, I can stand by you through the important things, too, you know!" She grins, showing she hadn't been (too) serious about the complaint.

[shadowedgold]

She manages a laugh at the comment, but in the end it only makes her hurt more, and instead she leans up to steal a quick kiss from Mars' lips. Only when she's achieved that does she let herself back down, her eyes starting to drift off. If she's here, safe in Mars' arms, she knows she can rest easily.

[shadowedflames]

Mars lets out a long sigh, not nearly as confident as she's pretending to be for Venus' sake. Before she can indulge her thoughts too long, however, there's a polite knock at the door. She rouses Venus, and invites whoever it is in.

Whoever it is. It's a male voice. It has to be the prince. What does he want?

Wait. If he's- No, even if he's healed, she's mad. But she'll be polite for now.

"Come in."

[illuminedshield]

Endymion enters, but stays in the doorway at first.

"I realize you may not want to see me," he begins. "But please, accept my regrets and apologies for what has happened. I swear to you both on my honor, I will not rest until Venus is healthy, too. We will end the princess' plots together."

[shadowedgold]

She was half asleep by the time the knock sounded, and no, she just wants to sleep! The pain and need for rest make her, perhaps, more grumpy than she should be as she leans back against Mars to look at the prince.

"Then you should have just come with me." Then maybe she could have gotten out of there without getting blindsided by that damn princess. She doesn't truly hate him though... she just doesn't care.

"If you want to make it up... Prove it. Save the shitennou."

[illuminedshield]

"I should have done," he agrees immediately, with that same serious earnestness. "And you have my deepest apologies, and my deepest thanks for your aid. At that time, I didn't understand, but now I do."

He puts a fist over his heart, a salute on which to make his pledge. "I vow I will save the shitennou."

[shadowedflames]

With everything going on around her, Mars sighs. He might, might be well-meaning, but can't this prince see that Venus is exhausted and in need of rest? She settles for a not-too-threatening glare, just enough to suggest what will happen if he fails to keep his word or hurts Venus any further.

[shadowedgold]

"Then do it." There's a bit more anger in her words now, as her thoughts drift. "You're the one who led them to that witch. It's your fault they're in her hands."

If takes a lot of effort to keep herself even, and one hands squeezes Mars tightly... Please, don't let her look weak in front of this man.

[illuminedshield]

"I know that," he says firmly, still not losing his composure despite the apologetic words. "But telling me that won't bring them back alone. She's too powerful. All of us have to this together."

His own expression firms, maybe even hardens. "And then together all of us will defeat her."

[shadowedgold]

"You may help us," she says harshly. Something about the way he says it strikes a cord somewhere deep within her. As if he thinks they haven't been trying. As if he can just easily step into their circle. Venus draws herself up as much as she can, struggling against her exhaustion, as arrogance tints her voice. "The only people I trust are the senshi. But you can prove your worth by assisting when we tell you to."

[illuminedshield]

It's a face-off between the senshi leader and the Dark Kingdom prince. Finally, for the sake of peace and progress (and because isn't she right, isn't this his fault?) Endymion relents.

"I'll follow your lead about these things," he tells her. "But your unity with the senshi is why you've come this far and why you stand so strong. Can't you understand you're even stronger with one more?"