He smiled devilishly, and looked intently at the both of them. Zoisite turned his gaze to Mercury, and saw her in total terror. Her body was quivering and she had embraced herself as if trying to protect her from Ren. Her eyes showed a plea that would have melted a heart of steel, but it appeared that the Prince had no heart, 'cause he just laughed at his victim's panic.

A wave of rage ran through Zoisite's body, and summoning his power once again, he yelled: "Zoi!" at the top of his lungs, while directing one hand towards the Prince. A furious wind appeared from nowhere, and surrounding the evil being, transformed into a huge and strong wall of crystal. Ren was caught on the other side, and Zoisite just heard him yell in fury.

However, Zoisite didn't wait for him to scream again, he ran to Mercury, and taking her hand, ran away, entering one of the passages that led away from the clearing. Big amounts of energy could be felt on the other side, and he knew his crystal wouldn't hang on too long. He couldn't move very fast, 'cause Mercury was limp, and didn't move properly. Stopping for a second, he shook her, and said: "Lady Mercury, answer me. We can't escape from him if you don't help me. Lady Mercury, wake up." Her panic-loaded eyes looked at him without seeing him, and she just whispered something that Zoisite couldn't understand.

Knowing that she was in a shock, he raised his hand, and muttered: "Sorry, Lady Mercury." With energy, but not too hard, he slapped her in the cheek. The hit sounded to him as a thunder, and immediately looked at her face. She was opening her eyes now, and they were crystal clear.

Releasing her, Zoisite said: "Lady Mercury, please excuse me. It was the only way to get you out of that state." To his surprise, the young princess smiled, and said: "You are excused, lord Zoisite. Thanks for waking me up. I don't know what happened to me. I know you wouldn't hurt me if it wasn't necessary. You promised it. Now let's go, Ren may break your barrier in any moment."

As if her words were a prophecy, a rattling sound echoed through their ears, as the crystal wall broke into a million pieces. On the other side stood Ren, with rests of energy still in his hand. His evil grin had disappeared, and was now replaced by a serious frown. "Hand me the princess, and I will kill you quickly," he said. Zoisite stood in between Mercury and Ren, shielding her with his body. "Never. First you'll have to kill me," he answered.

Ren smiled again, and answered madly:" That's something that can be fixed."

He extended one hand, and pointed it to Zoisite. The General pushed Lady Mercury aside, but she caught his arm, and whispered, so low that only Zoisite could hear: "When I give you the word, move." Surprised, he looked through the rim of his eye at the girl behind him, and saw her moving her hands, and muttering some magical words. Hesitantly, but with no other choice, he stared at Ren, who has laughing maniacally, and saw that his hand was shining. Whatever you are doing Lady Mercury, do it quick. Ren will shoot me at any moment now.

Sweat wetted his back, but he stayed in place. I promised to protect her. I will not fail her, she trusts me. Just after this thoughts crossed his mind, Ren yelled, and shot black energy at him: "Die, you pitiful Earthling!"

At the same time, Lady Mercury screamed: "Move, Lord Zoisite!" He threw himself aside, and turned back to look at her. The energy beam was moving at incredible speed, and was aimed directly to her heart. However, the young princess just closed her eyes, moved her arms in front of her, and called the magical words: "Mercury Reflex Mirror... APPEAR!!" She opened her eyes in a sudden, and light blue energy surrounded her. Time slowed down, as an ice shield formed in her arm. She covered her chest with it, and the black energy crashed the ice. It resisted, and unexpected to everyone, reflected the beam and shoot it back to Ren. He didn't do a thing to protect himself, and the energy hit him in the stomach.

He was sent back, and landed unconscious on the floor. When she was sure Ren wasn't moving, Mercury stopped concentrating, and the ice shield disappeared. Zoisite stood up, and walked towards her.

"My God, Lady Mercury. That was amazing. Are there any other tricks I should know about?" Mercury shrugged, and answered blushing. God, she looks pretty with the red in her cheeks. The were silent until Zoisite cleared his head and said: "Come on, I don't think Ren will be very long like that. We must move fast." He took her hand, and they ran together into the gardens, leaving behind them an unconscious prince, and not knowing they were entering the North side of the Moon...