Serenay Moon
Part 46: Blind Trust
©2002 Kitty Ocean

"Courage!" Zach growled and clenched his fist. "I thought we had got rid of you!"

Courage giggled and then laughed loudly. Very, very loud. "My goodness, you are killing me!"

"If only." Moka sighed and protected Mika.

"That doesn't matter, you are not going to bother us any more!" Derak gathered his powers. "Pineapple Canon!" The attack was launched, and went right trough Courage.

"Please, no more, no more!" Courage rolled through the air.

"I... I can't hurt her!" Derak looked astounded at his hands.

"Of course you can't!" Courage wiped away a small tear from her eye.

Kitt looked puzzling at her. "She... looks different." She mumbled. "She's not wearing an armour."

Zach looked at Kitt and then at Courage. "Why can't we hurt you?" Zach asked curious.

"Someone had beaten you in the Kill-Courage-Contest!" Courage smiled and floated to Zach. "My dear uncle Tempus wasn't satisfied with me any more." Zach looked puzzled, still being confused and not understanding what Courage mend.

Suddenly, it struck Zach like lightning! "My god, she's already dead!"

All jumped scared into each other's arms. "I hate ghosts!" Kitt cried. "Get her away from me!"

Moka and Mika cried waterfall tears behind Derak. "Save us Derak!!!!" They both cried. "I'm too smart to be haunted!" Moka cried.

"I'm too pretty to be haunted!" Mika cried even harder.

Courage laughed so hard, she gasped for air (like she needs any). "Oh, this is going to be so funny!" She looked at Zach and his friends. "I will love haunting you!"

Derak had remained silent and looked at Courage. "Hmm." He only said.

"What?" Courage asked. "What are you thinking?" She looked his directly in his face.

"You can't hurt us." Derak only said. Mika and Moka stopped crying.

Courage was astounded. "Ehm... that's true. But I can drive you crazy."

"Try me." Derak smiled. "Come on guys, we have defeated everybody who was trying to stop us so let's go get Chibi Kim."

"Hey, wait up!" Zach and Kitt followed Derak, with Mika and Moka following them.

Courage floated in the air. "Hey, don't forget me!"

 

In the castle, Queen BlackHeart's general walked at her and bowed. "My Queen, I have located the people you wanted. Though, they are not heavily armed. How can they...?"

The queen raised her hand, ordering him to be silent. "It's not your concern general." She replied. "I ordered you to locate them for me and I didn't order you to ask questions."

"Yes, my queen." The general left again.

"Wait!" The queen suddenly ordered. "I want you to go to my daughter and protect her. She's in the garden and I'm feeling danger approaching." The general obeyed and left the room. Queen BlackHeart then raised herself with dignity and left the throne room herself. Her long black hair danced with every move and her pale skin gave her the looks of a fragile crystal. Queen BlackHeart's beauty was as enchanting as deadly. She gracefully walked down the stairs and made a key appear. She placed the key in a key-shaped hole in the wall and placed her hand on it. "Key of darkness, in the name of the NightWing, unlock your prison."

The door slowly opened and a bright purple light escaped. However, the queen got not blinded. She walked in and looked at the magical prison. The cage looked like a glass bubble, holding a young girl with purple hair and glasses, who tried to fight the painful draining energy. She slowly looked up and saw the black eyes.

"How is my little bird doing?" Queen BlackHeart asked with confidence in her voice. The girl did not answer. "Why don't you answer, Lady Kim? Or should I say: Nova Young?"

It was indeed Nova Young who was trapped. Her head was full with small sweat pearls, but her red eyes looked determent.

"I know you want to transform into your ultimate Guardian form." Queen BlackHeart turned away and looked at a small crystal ball. She then turned around. "But you don't have enough energy for it any more!"

Nova Young looked at her. "You'll never get my crystal." She whispered. Suddenly, she screamed of agony and a light encircled her whole body. When the light faded, all that was left was Chibi Kim.

"I think I will." Queen BlackHeart and looked at the now bigger crystal ball. "Time is running out for you." She laughed. She then turned around furious and released an attack that went through the magical bubble, hurting the little Chibi Kim. "I should be celebrating this moment with my love, you brat! You killed him! I waited hundreds of years till I got the power I needed. And I shall not fail!"

Chibi Kim's face showed a soft smile. "Wanna bet?"

Queen BlackHeart stood still and suddenly turned around. Walking out of the door, her face showed anger and doubt. The door closed behind her, and she walked up the stairs. "They are not much different from the Guardians." She mumbled and her pale face showed an evil grin.

 

"And that's when I saw my mom again." Courage continued. "And dad was somewhere there too, still trying to invent stupid things no-one needs. Oh yeah, and I saw Ryu. And Aletheia. Aletheia doesn't like it much to be dead, but she accepted it. She's so deadly boring!" Courage floated to Zach, who was in front of the group. "Hey, are you listing!?" She yelled. "Have I already driven you guys crazy?"

Zach looked up. "Oh, are you still there? I didn't hear you." He said and walked through.

"Hey!" Courage said insulted. "That's not nice! You must pay attention to me!"

"We don't have to do anything." Kitt passed her without looking at her. "We got used to Mika, Moka and Derak, so we can also get used to you."

Courage began to boil. "What!?" She exclaimed. "I'm not annoying?"

Moka looked at her. "Oh, you are. But not enough to drive us crazy."

"It's nice to have you around here!" Mika smiled. "Welcome to the club!"

"What?!" Courage was astounded, but then got angry. "But.... You.... I.... But...." She then reached maximum boiling point. "Oooooooo!" She screamed angry. "I hate you guys!" And she then vanished. 

All crashed down and sighed deeply. "I thought she would never leave!" Zach sighed. "Thanks for that great idea Derak."

Derak smiled. "You are welcome. She reminded me of Maureen."

Kitt sighed deeply. "Don't remind me of her! She was completely psycho!"

"Who is Maureen?" Moka asked.

Derak explained. "She was one of my gang members. She already arranged our marriage when we met each other 1 day."

"Why did you never kick her out?" Kitt asked.

"The other girls liked her." Derak answered.

"Young girls can be so annoying when they are in love." All looked up and they saw a woman with long black hair and a pale skin.

Zach looked doubting. "I've seen her before." He mumbled. "But where?"

"I think you first saw me when the Guardians explained your mission." She devilishly answered.

"Oh yeah!" Zach smiled. "Thank you!"

Then all jumped back frightened. "It's the queen herself!" Kitt screamed.

"This planet is mine." Queen BlackHeart smiled. "Everything that happens, is controlled by me. Each birth, each death... each blooming flower." She raised her hand and vines shot out of the floor and grabbed Kitt, Mika, Moka and Derak. With the speed of the wind, the vines pushed them towards the end of a cliff.

"I control the earth too!" Derak growled and released his earth powers. He got free and jumped at the floor.

In the mean while, Zach looked at Queen BlackHeart. "Well... if it isn't Zach. Fire is your element."

"Yeah, so?" Zach asked and bit his tongue.

"Fire...." She smiled and walked around him. "It can only destroy. Air is needed from plants to grow, water gives plants what they need and earth is where they grow. Fire only destroys life. Fire is useless. You are useless."

"I am not!" Zach yelled.

The plants released Kitt, Mika and Moka above a cliff. Derak put his hands at the ground. "Grow, grow plants!" New vines grew and caught the falling Mika and Kitt, but missed Moka.

"Moka!" Mika screamed and stretched her arms. "Cosmic Shield!" She yelled.

Moka bashed hard at the shield, but was now also safe.

"Whatever you say, I'm not useless!" Zach growled and clenched his fists.

The dark queen laughed. "No, you are worse... You are DEATH." Zach lowered his arms. "Cave of Darkness!" The queen suddenly yelled and released a black attack.

 

"Zach!" Kitt yelled and ran at Zach, who lay against a tree. Moka leaned on Derak and Mika ran at Zach also.

"He's okay." Mika insured Kitt. "I feel nothing is injured."

Zach slowly woke up. "Kitt, is that you?"

Kitt hugged him firmly. "Of course it's me!" She smiled. "Who did you expect?"

"Where did Queen BlackHeart go?" Zach asked, looking around him.

"We don't know." Derak answered. "Mika, I think you'd better take a look at Moka. I'm not sure he's completely in one piece."

"My head hurts big time!" Moka softly said.

Mika smiled. "Just let me. Healing Heart!" The pink energy surrounded Mika's hands and slowly healed Moka.

Zach leaned against a tree. "Thanks for helping me up Kitt." Zach thanked. "But I rather love to get home soon, so let's go."

"Well, you know what I love most." Kitt smirked.

"Oh?" Zach asked smiling.

"Yeah, swimming of course!" Kitt laughed and Zach crashed down.  'Ha', Kitt laughed inside, 'Now you know how I feel all the time.'

Zach got up again and walked a few steps. Then he tripped over a rock. "Zach, joke time is over." Kitt helped him up again.

"I just can't see anything!" Zach cursed.

"Yeah, I know what you mean." Derak answered. "There are so many trees here, I can't see which way to go."

"Trees?" Zach asked. "What would a tree do in a cave?"

"Cave?" Moka asked, now completely healed. "Zach, what was the last thing Queen BlackHeart said?"

"I think she said 'Cave of Darkness'." Zach scratched his head and looked at Moka. "But I don't understand how transporting us to a cave will stop us."

All became silent. "Zach?" Kitt finally asked. "We are in a forest."

"No we are not." Zach laughed. "There is light in a forest and it's completely dark here."

"My god...." Mika softly whispered.

"What? I heard you Mika, what's wrong?" Zach asked.

Kitt took Zach's hand. "Zach, please sit down. No, not there, here." Kitt kneeled before him and looked in his eyes.

"Why are you so silent Kitt?" Zach asked. "Where did you go?"

"I'm right in front of you Zach." Kitt swallowed. "I... I think... that you are blind...."

It became completely silent. All that you could hear was a small bird singing it's song and the sound of the wind. Zach then laughed. "Nice joke guys!"

"Zach...." Derak took his hand. "Kneel and feel the ground."

Zach obeyed and kneeled. He felt the green grass. Zach swallowed and sweated. "I'm blind... ain't I?"

Derak nodded, but then realised Zach couldn't see that. "I fear... I'm afraid that you are right."

After a long silence, Zach started to cry. Kitt held him close to her and tried to comfort him. "It's okay Zach."

"It's not okay!" Zach cried. "I'm blind! I have useless powers and now I'm also blind!"

"You are not useless!" Moka said determent. "Blind people can do a lot of things!"

Zach tried to look at Moka. "Can blind people save the universe?" Silence was the only response that anyone could give. "You'd better leave me behind, I'll be just in your way."

"No!" Mika ordered. "We are not going to leave you behind! As a matter of fact, I'll try to heal you!" Mika put her hands on his face. "Healing Heart!" She whispered and released all her healing powers. But... after 5 minutes, Mika was exhausted. She looked at Zach with a sad face.

"It didn't work, did it?" Kitt asked with a trembling voice.

Zach was the first to accept the situation. "No, it didn't." He said, trying to be brave. "Mika's powers are not strong enough to cure me from Queen BlackHeart's spell. The only way would be to stop Queen BlackHeart herself."

"Then why are we wasting time here?" Derak jumped up. "When we'll get to the castle I'll make her cure you!"

"Don't worry Zachy-boy." Kitt smiled and took his hand. "We'll give you your eyes back. Or my name isn't Kitt."

"But your name isn't Kitt but Kitty." Mika said and as an answer, Kitt tackled her. "Moka!" Mika cried. "I hurt my knee!"

 

After walking for a long while (with Zach tripping over rocks and bashing his head against a branch a 100 times), they finally got out of the forest. They saw a huge valley and in the far away distance, they saw a small dot.

"Zach, can you give me the binoculars?" Moka asked, but the swallowed. "Oh, I'm so sorry Zach!"

Zach faked a smile. "It's okay. I think I can find it myself."

Moka took the binoculars from Zach and looked through it. "I think that is our destination." He concluded. "It has a large black castle in the centre of the city."

Mika took the binoculars and looked at the tiny houses. "That's the home of the NightWing?" She asked. "It's pretty small, isn't it?"

Derak sighed. "Mika, that city is still days away! It only looks small!"

"Oh." Mika giggled. "My mistake!"

"Hey, what's that over there?" Kitt pointed at an other small point, not very far away from them.

Mika looked again. "Oo, a lot of men with weapons! Do you think they will help us now that Zach is out of the game?"

Kitt pushed Mika quickly away and Moka caught the binoculars. "Nuh-uh." He shook his head. "Looking on their shields, I think they are part of the Queen's army."

"Let's find out." Derak suggested. "We can use any help we can get."

All agreed. "Wait." Zach then said. "Just leave me here."

"No way!" Kitt yelled. "We've been though this already Zach, we won't leave you behind!"

"That's not what I mean." Zach replied. "If I go along and they are hostile and they will find me, I'll put you guys into a big risk. I can't let that happen." Zach swallowed. "I'll stay behind, hidden, so I won't cause any trouble. And you can pick me up when it's safe."

It was silent. Everyone knew this was the best idea, but all hated it. "We'll get back for you Zach." Kitt promised. "I really really promise that."

"I know you will." Zach smiled.

 

They left Zach behind, hidden between some bushes and a tree. When Zach thought they were out of sight, he softly started to cry.

"Why are you crying Zachy-boy?" Courage re-appeared and floated before him. "Why did they leave you behind? Got in a fight?"

"Oh Courage, not now." Zach whipped away some tears.

Courage sat next to him. "Oh! But this is the best time to drive you crazy! I'm very annoying, remember? I haunt you when you don't want me to." It became silent and Zach still looked before him. "Hey, I heard it was a polite thing to look at someone when he's talking to you."

"And?"

"Ehm... Well... What's the fun of haunting if you can't see the annoying faces I make?"

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but someone beat you in the Destroy-Zach's-Life-Contest." Zach rubbed his eyes again.

"Huh?" Courage looked at Zach again. Suddenly, it struck her as lightning! "What tha freak?! You are blind!"

"Thanks for reminding me of it."

"How did that happen?" Courage asked. "Where was I? I can't believe I missed that!"

"And the winner is..." Zach smiled, knowing Courage hated this. "Queen BlackHeart!"

"Darn!" Sulking, Courage folded her arms. "Mm, why didn't I think of that when I was still alive?"

Zach laughed. "I'm feeling so sorry for you!" Then his face became sad again.

Courage growled a bit. "So, what are you going to do now?"

"What can I do? I'm blind." Zach asked.

"And?" Courage wanted to know. "So you are blind now and can't do anything any more? Hello, my big brother is blind and still alive! He's the best fighter of the universe!"

"I didn't knew you had a brother."

"Neither did I." Courage swallowed. "Okay, so I don't have a brother, but I'm trying to say that being blind isn't the end of the world. The end of the world, that's the end of the world."

"I can't fight any more." Zach looked down.

Courage floated to Zach's other side. "Can you hear?"

"Yes."

"Which side am I from you?"

"On my left, so what?" Zach said.

Courage jumped up. "If you can hear, then you can fight! Get up and follow your friends!"

"You only want to see me killed." Zach remained sitting.

"True, but not now." Courage answered. "I promised my uncle one thing after he died. He wants you to stop Queen BlackHeart, so he has his revenge for killing him."

"It was his own fault." Zach stood up.

"No, it was your fault." Courage giggled. "You stopped him too often. Watch that rock. If you just told the Guardians- duck for that branch- you just didn't want to do this gig, I would still be alive."

Zach walked further, touching the trees to get a soft sense of direction. "If your queen didn't want the Guardians to be destroyed- autch- we would never been asked to- darn!- fight you."

"True- mind that rock-, but if the Guardians didn't kill her husband- go left or you'll trip again-, she would never be that angry."

"But then you wouldn't get any money. Argh!" Zach tripped but got up again.

"Being poor alive- there is a tree in front of you-, or being rich dead. What a choice." Courage yawned. "Why don't you just roll down this hill; it would get you with your friends so much faster."

"Well, I would rather stay alive." Zach slowly walked down the hill. "I can't feel any trees any more."

"That's because there aren't any." Courage looked back. Zach crashed against a tree. "Except for that one."

 

In the mean while, Kitt, Derak, Moka and Mika spied on the soldiers that were approaching. "The queen said that they should be around here somewhere." One said. "Our orders are to destroy them. Even though they have powers, we are with too many to be held back for a long while."

"Mika, sit still!" Derak hushed.

"I feel something slimy!" Mika peeped.

"Kwork...." They then heard and a purple frog-like creature jumped before Mika. She became completely pale and then screamed her longues out!

The soldiers stood ready when they saw Mika jumping. "Get them off me!" She screamed. She then jumped into Moka's arms.

"I feel a problem coming up." Derak mumbled to Kitt, looking at the huge army.

Kitt swallowed. "I feel it too. I'm just glad Zach isn't here."

"Charge!" The soldiers yelled.

"Run!" Kitt yelled and all started running.

 

"No wonder Tempus talked in himself!" Zach cursed. "You keep on rattling even though no-one cares any more!"

"Are you saying I talk to much?" Courage asked insulted.

"Yes, I'm saying that!" Zach then bashed his head against a branch. "Why couldn't you warn me about it?" He asked, rubbing his head.

"I talk to much, remember?"

At that moment, Zach heard a familiar voice: "Splendour Sparks!"

"That's Mika!" Zach smiled and ran at the voice.

Zach crashed against a tree. "And that's a tree." She kneeled at him. "Get your butt together and help them!"

Zach stood up. "But how, I can't see where I'm go-" Zach then tripped again and rolled down the hill. In his roll, he tackled several soldiers.

Kitt saw Zach coming. "Zach!" She yelled and ran him- dizzy as can be. "What are you doing here?" She then saw a few soldiers coming up. "Trident Power Wave!" The trident appeared and released its strong attack.

"Kitt, where are you? Speak to me!" Zach ordered.

Annoyed, Kitt snapped back. "I'm a bit busy out here!" She yelled. "And I thought you were the one who said you should stay behind!"

"I chanced my mind." Zach now knew where Kitt was. "And I'm here to help!"

"You can't help without knowing where the enemy is!" Derak protected Zach also. "You might hit one of us and then this journey is over!"

"Do you trust me?" Zach asked.

"What? Zach, not now!" Kitt yelled.

"Do you trust me?" Zach screamed again.

Kitt and Derak saw Zach's eyes. "Yes, I trust you. With all my heart." Kitt then answered.

"Derak?" Zach demanded to know.

Derak swallowed. "I know we had our differences, but I trust you. I know you wouldn't do anything to get us hurt."

"Mika?" Zach tried to find her. "Do you trust me?"

Mika pushed away a soldier. "I have blind trust in you!" She answered and attacked some soldiers so she could protect Zach also.

Moka joined them. "You don't have to ask it me Zach, if Mika trusts you, I trust you."

Zach swallowed. "Then... I'm sorry...."

All turned around, wondering what Zach mend. Zach raised both his arms. "Ember Rain!" He yelled. A massive Fire attack escaped from his hands and blew away everything around him... even his friends....

 

When Derak opened his eyes again, he saw a blue sky. He noticed he was lying on the ground and got up. He looked around and saw soldiers lying around him. They weren't dead, but very unconscious. Derak felt that they wouldn't get up within the hour.

Derak then jumped up, looking for his friends. The first he saw was Mika. She mumbled and felt her head. "My poor head...." She sighed.

At that moment, Kitt and Moka woke up also. Derak helped Mika up and looked at Kitt and Moka.

"I'm fine." Kitt answered if she knew what he wanted to ask.

"Me too." Moka nodded.

"Where is Zach?" Kitt suddenly asked and looked around. About 15 meters from there away, she saw Courage sitting on the ground. "Zach!"

Kitt ran at Courage, hoping she would find Zach there also. "Dang, I never knew he would do that...." Courage whispered impressed.

Kitt kneeled at Zach's body. "Zach?" She asked with a trembling voice. "Don't tell me...."

At that moment Zach started to wake up also. Kitt grabbed Zach with all her power and hugged him very tightly.

"I didn't survive this just to get killed by you Kitt!" Zach gasped for air.

"You scared the hell out of me!" Kitt looked angry at Zach. "How could you do that to me?" Derak, Mika and Moka joined them.

"I wanted to help!" Zach defended himself. "And this is my only attack that I don't have to aim!"

"And it's also your only attack that you are not ready for yet!" Courage yelled at Zach. "I said that I ASSUMED you could see again if you stopped Queen BlackHeart's army. I wasn't sure of it!"

"You... can see again?" Kitt asked.

"Every single colour of your eyes!" Zach smiled and hugged Kitt.

Kitt got tears in her eyes, but Derak bumped in. "So, Ember Rain is for you what Aqua Dragon Love was for Kitt?"

Zach nodded. Courage yelled. "It could have also killed you, you baka! You are not strong enough yet, so you better put that attack in the closet again!"

Zach chuckled. "Okay, thanks for the advice Courage."

"Advice?" Courage asked.

"Yes, you really helped me a lot." Zach smiled.

"But... I... I'm evil!" Courage screamed. "I'm not the kind of girl that helps! I'm very evil, remember? I never helped you out!"

"You sure did!" Zach thanked.

"You did?" Mika asked. "Oh, thank you so much Courage. You are so sweet!"

"What? But... When... I... But..." She then became completely red. "Oooooo! I hate you guys!" And she vanished again.


End of episode 46

<< Previous - Next >>