I know I said to some people that last week, I’d get two things out, 
but unexpectedly, I found myself on a family trip to visit my cousins on 
Thursday, and so I didn’t get to work on it as I thought.  Then, things got a 
little complicated with the story…however, I have it here now.
	Hello, all of you out there who have waited for this moment.  I 
know late May didn’t make it, and I want to apologize to you all…writer’s 
block and AP exams, SATs, and finals had taken up my life then.  I have 
written you a pretty nice part…if I can say so myself.  No violence this 
time.  Considerable anger, dialogue and revelation…an all around time to 
stop fighting…physically, at least, and think.  I’ll have enough violence 
later in the story to make up for all this.  Besides…I got more physical last 
episode than I thought I would.
	Thank you for all your writing.  I’m glad that Guarding Heart has 
found a place in all your hearts and minds.  In the past months, I have 
received many e-mails about this…all leading to that certain point last 
week, when I said, "Hey!  Get working on this!"
	Though it IS  "Love Blossoms".  Don’t let the title deceive you 
though…I have to warn you now, there is some VERY naughty language 
in this one.  Just a warning.  
	Finally, I would like to thank Fushigi and Lianne and Sun Princess 
for helping me out of the rather weird situation.  And Lianne, thank you 
for the pep talk.  I think I surprised myself once I got my daily dose of 
good romantic sense. 
	Also, I would like to thank Mathilda for her idea…I have decided 
to use it.  Thank you much.
	So, let’s get on with it!!!!!

Love, Luck, and Luna,
Crystal Heart

Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters, but I wish I did.  But this story is 
mine!
	
Guarding Heart
Chapter Four - Love Blossoms
By Crystal Heart

	The moon danced in the clouds, as Serena felt the warmth of 
friends all about her.
	It was first night was allowed to leave her bed, the battle for her 
life being two days ago.
	As she casually sat back in her chair, she drank in night mists, and 
smiled, nervous.
	Darien sat across the balcony from her, and saw her delicate moon-
white profile.  Serena was a vision.  Almost a moon princess herself.  But 
not the moon princess.  An ordinary human.
	Which was rare, it seemed, as he looked around him.  Amy and 
Lita were princesses of different planets, sworn to protect a princess, and 
that princess, of the Moon, was Lady Mina.
	Of course, the Moon Queen had not known of the revelation of the 
Moon Princess.  The Moon Queen was still recovering.  Darien supposed 
that having been drained of most of her energy, it would take a while for a 
woman of such age to recover once more.
	As his thoughts fell back on Serena, though, his thoughts 
deepened.  He could not help but think of how strange this whole tale was.  
Serena wasn’t a princess of a faraway kingdom, but she wasn’t a regular 
girl…she was the Moonlight Maiden.
	The name suited her perfectly.  Her presence was a gossamer spell, 
it seemed…always over him.  When she was in the room, it appeared that 
his thoughts were focused only on her…had the Moon Queen been in the 
room itself, Darien’s mind would only be on her.
	And that frightened him.  There was a strange feeling within his 
heart.  It indicated that Serena Kingston was a very important girl…
	Such a feeling caused him to shiver.  He’d never felt this way 
before about any person or thing.  He’d never felt the need to protect her, 
as he had that night, when he had somehow known she was in danger.
	That was another thing that frightened him…to know that 
somewhere deep within himself, he was willing to risk it all on a girl.
	Not just any girl…an enchantress, who had mastered the magic of 
the moon.
	*It’s just a spell,* he assured himself.  *It has to be.*

	Sitting, staring at the moon, Serena sighed.  What was going to 
happen now?
	With the strange happenings of Beryl, and entrance of Sailor 
Mercury, as well as the disappearance of one of her best friends, Serena 
didn’t know what to think.  and worst of all, the Moon Princess…she was 
uncovered.
	Mina was in grave danger now.
	She’d have to guard Mina with her life now.
	That was the only way.
	Now, Serena felt her life start to tighten in her grasp.  Everything 
was changing so quickly, and surprises were no longer unexpected.
	She clenched her fist.
	If fortune was going to toss her into oblivion, fine.  She’d fight it, 
though.  With every breath.

	"So let me get this straight.  Lita’s a princess from Jupiter, sworn 
to protect the moon princess, who is Mina.  Mina’s the granddaughter of 
both the moon goddess Selene and the dark magic goddess Hecate?"
	"Yes…" Serena nodded her head.
	Amy, Lita, and Serena walked to Selene’s lake.
	Amy continued to talk, "And I’m the princess of Mercury, of the 
court of Hermes, and I’m sworn to protect the princess as well.  And 
this…" she took out the transformation stick, "is my royal color and seal?" 
she pointed to the symbol.
	"Yes.  And we were supposed to protect the Moon Princess’s 
identity, but that’s kinda crashed now.  We’re going to have to be on guard 
from now on, for both people of the royal family."
	"And who are you, Serena?" Amy asked Serena.
	"Who am I?  A normal human being, chosen to guard the princess, 
and lead you, the guardians.  I am the Moonlight Maiden.  Selene is my 
guardian, and she gives me my powers."
	"Speaking of which…" Lita said.
	They had now reached the lake, which now reflected the full moon.
	Just now, the light on the lake started to gather to form a glowing 
being, who stood now at the edge.
	Selene looked at the new girl, a small girl with shy blue eyes.  
"And who is this?"
	"This is my friend, Amy, the princess of Mercury."
	"I thought I felt a force from Mercury a few nights ago…Amy, I 
am happy to see you."
	"I am honored to meet you."
	Serena continued.  "But a problem has arisen.  A few nights ago, 
Beryl attacked Serenity, and one of the Four Who Guard fell, defending 
Amy…" Amy looked away, sadness, once again, locking her mind.  
"Then, the Moon Princess was revealed."
	"Moon Princess?"
	"Yes…she’s Mina, one of the ladies in waiting.  So, what should 
be done?  Her identity must remain a secret."
	Selene’s face fell into determination, and worry.  "We cannot undo 
the past.  You now have a very important task.  You must now protect two 
members of the moon kingdom.  They must leave Earth as soon as they 
can, to ensure their safety…Metalia and Beryl have too much power here.  
They must go to the moon.  And you must go with them."
	Serena’s face paled, and she looked about her.
	*Duty before life.*  She nodded, stiffly.

	"Can I join you?" Kunz asked the shadow musing in the darkness.
	Jed turned to Kunz, and nodded silently.  "These aren’t any more 
my grounds than yours."
	Kunz sighed, sat down on the grass, and picked off a long stalk, to 
chew as Jed did.  "I know you’re pretty pissed off that I danced with your 
sister earlier, and now, I know you’re even more confused…"
	Jed looked at Kunz in silence, urging him to go on.
	"But I want to make peace with you.  I know we haven’t been 
really good friends since that last ball, since Mina…"
	Jed smiled, "It’s hard to remember that Mina is a beautiful young 
woman now, and not a little girl, urging me to play tea with her."
	"She’s a beautiful woman…" Kunz said, softly.
	Jed looked at his friend.  "Yes, wonderful, but it seems we both 
lose her now, huh?"
	Kunz looked at grass under her feet.  "Yes, looks like we do."
	They sat in silence a little while longer, and Jed picked a new stalk 
of grass and started to chew on it.  Jed broke the silence.  "You know, if 
she really was my sister…I think I would have accepted 
you…eventually…"
	Kunz looked at his friend, and held out his hand.  "We’ll never 
know what would have happened, but Jed, thank you.  It means a lot to 
me."
	Jed looked at the moon.  "We have to stick together now, Kunz.  
We’re brothers.  We’ve lost one.  We’re only Three.  We have to hold on.  
We have to protect each other, from this force."
	"We will," Kunz held his hand to Jed.  "For life, the Four protect 
honor, wisdom, courage, and truth.  While Zoy is gone, we will continue 
to protect the four pillars of strength.  We will continue to guard wisdom, 
for Zoy."
	Jed took the hand firmly, nodding his head.

	She walked tiredly about the gardens.
	Lita sighed.  *What am I to do now?*
	Looking at the moon, she felt her heart beat faster, and she felt a 
sense of confusion and fear come over her.  The future was so uncertain 
now.  *How can a person who’s still fighting her past, manage to grasp her 
future?*
	As she stood, looking down at the sleeping tiger lilies, she felt 
steps behind her.  Turning around, Lita focused her gaze on Neph.  "Good 
evening…"
	"More like morning…Lita are you all right?"
	"What do you mean?"
	Neph didn’t understand why he was out here.  It was all so odd, to 
find out that she was the princess from some other planet, to find that she 
was guarding some moon princess, that she was going to go away.
	Serena had taken a walk with Kunz, Jed, and him earlier this past 
evening, and explained to them what was going on, most importantly, 
what was to come.
	Things happened so quickly, he never understood anymore.  He’d 
lost one of his best friends a few nights ago.  Since that event, the Four 
Who Guard became only Three, and now, there was something that made 
the situation tense.
	It was known to all Four that they were putting their life at risk 
when they swore to defend the prince.  They knew that they were to battle 
if any such a fight occurred, and that they might die.  They understood it 
all when they swore in.  However, Neph had never realized that such a 
death would actually occur.  Understanding and accepting were far from 
each other.  He never thought there was a difference, until now.
	Zoy, who was the poet of the group, of deep emotions and 
understandings, of wisdom.  Where was he now?
	Serena, a Moonlight Maiden.  Sworn to be empowered with the 
magic of Selene.  A close friend, who had fenced with him, fought with 
him, tested against him, and earned his respect.  The long road they had 
traveled together was just shortened, considerably.
	And then, the whole business of the Moon Princess.  The business 
in which Amy Milner and Lita Kylnmore were princesses, protecting Mina 
McLullen.  Jed’s sister.
	Jed was taking it oddly.  From what Neph had heard, Jed never 
even knew his "sister" was adopted.  There was a hurt in his eyes 
whenever he looked at her now.
	And then, who knew what happened to the prince on that night.  
Darien had vanished right before the whole ceremony and battle started.  
He and Serena had done something.  Serena, who was found to be some 
Moon guardian.  That night was never talked about by those two, but Neph 
had a feeling from the strange looks in their eyes, that something had 
happened that had tested them, and they had survived, only to wonder why 
life was so strange now.
	And now, Lita was sitting among the sleeping tiger lilies at 
midnight.
	A beautiful vision of auburn hair, spilling over her shoulders, her 
body still clad in her forest green tunic and skirt.
	She looked worried.  "What should I have to worry about now?" 
Lita asked, bitterly.  "I thought I had a concrete future just one week ago.  
But now, everything’s all mixed up, and some fairy tale is happening now, 
around me.  There’s a princess who shouldn’t have been revealed, and I’m 
a woman from another planet!  I couldn’t even stomach my own life 
before.  How am I to take everything right now?"
	Neph held a hand up, to stop her talking, and gently took her hand.  
"Lita, I can’t say everything’s going to be all right, because I don’t even 
know it myself.  I lost one of my best friends a few days ago.  I thought, 
before, that we’d be around forever.  And now, everyone around me is 
really someone else, and we’re all caught in a masquerade of magic and 
myth.  I don’t know what to think.  But I do know one thing.  We are 
going to stick together…all of us."
	Lita looked at his strong clasp of her hand, and she looked to him.  
"Neph…thank you."

	Amy lay in her bed, unable to sleep.
	There was no comfort.  Just pain, and emptiness.  *Zoy, I know 
you’re out there, somewhere…*
	As she twisted once more in her sheets, she closed her misty eyes.  
A tear slid out form under her lashes, and tricked down her face, into the 
sheets.
	She felt a warm hand on her cheek, wiping the tear.  The touch was 
soft and treasuring.
	The hand soothed her hair, and Amy opened her eyes, to see a 
shadow touching her.  *Zoy?*
	However, as she blinked again, she saw nothing.  No shadow.  The 
transitory warmth of the touch lay in her heart, tinged with a bitter irony of 
being coldly lonely.  *I knew it was you…why can’t you come to me?* 
she turned into her pillow again, her tears starting to soak the fabric.
	At that moment, she felt another warmth touching her shoulder.
	Amy opened her eyes again, and saw Serena.
	She sat up and they hugged.
	"I know you loved him very much…" Serena whispered.  "He 
loved you, and he’ll be back, for you.  Somehow, we’ll fight for him.  
We’ll get him back…"
	"We don’t even know what happened to him.  He could be…"
	"NO!" Serena whispered harshly.  "He’s too important to Metalia 
right now.  She’ll keep him alive for a while.  She needs troops and leaders 
to fight for the dark side, Amy.  We’ll find him, and we’ll take him back.  
We have to."

	"The guardians of the Moon Kingdom would like to speak with 
you, sire," a page told Merlyn.
	Merlyn sat at her throne, Darien at her side, and Raye on the other 
side.  The remaining three of the prince’s guardians stood to his side.  By 
Raye, Mina stood, wearing her robes of white silk and gold.  "Yes, send 
them in," Merlyn said.
	Darien took care to watch the three young ladies who walked into 
the room.
	Serena was a vision.  This was the first time he’d ever seen her in 
her Moonlight Maiden gown in true light.  It was breathtaking.  The palor 
of her face, the determination set in her blue eyes.
	Lita and Amy followed, in robes white silk, embroidered with 
gold, signifying their affiliation with the moon kingdom.
	They all curtseyed, and Serena stepped forward.  "Your highness, 
we have instructions from the Guardian Goddess of the Moon, Selene, to 
protect the Queen of the Moon, and her daughter.  We are instructed that 
we must travel with them to the moon after their visit to the Earth, and so 
we come here to resign our posts as the ladies in waiting of Princess 
Raychelle of Earth."
	The formality was not enough to cover emotion.  Raye looked up, 
startled.  "But, Serena…" her eyes were scared.
	Serena met the eyes smoothly, her eyes reflecting nothing.  She 
had always learned her diplomatic skills very well.
	"Has your acceptance into Queen Serenity’s court been made 
known?" Merlyn asked, silencing her daughter with a gesture of the hand.
	"No.  At the moment, Queen Serenity is still recovering.  I motion 
for this request simply because I know that her highness would agree with 
Selene that this is the only way to keep her daughter safe.  My companions 
and I were born with the purpose to serve the kingdom of the Moon."
	"Well, since there is no debate of the need for protection of the 
lunar royal family, I will agree to this.  Lady Serena Kingston, Lady 
Amyliana Milner, Lady Litanya Kylnmore, you are now dismissed from 
the court of Queen Merlyn III of Earth.  Your services have been 
appreciated, very much."
	The three girls curtseyed, and turned, walking slowly out of the 
room.
	The minute the door closed after them, Raye stood up from her 
throne, and ran out of the room.
	Mina started to follow, but Merlyn gestured for stop.
	Jed stepped forward.  "Request to follow Princess Raychelle."
	"Request granted," her eyes followed the tall young man, worried 
for her daughter.

	He found her sitting in the library, looking at the shelves of books, 
a lost expression on her face.
	As he closed the door behind him, Raye did not acknowledge him, 
but merely turned around, and sat down in a chair, to stare at the books.  
"It seemed smaller with Serena guided me through it, pointing out the 
books she liked, and didn’t…" Tears started to come to her eyes.  "Go 
ahead.  Princess Raye is finally in a predicament.  Laugh."
	"Laugh?  I won’t even be that nice.  Your friends have a destiny to 
protect the moon kingdom, and all you can think of is yourself.  Their 
lives are being turned upside down, and all you can think is that you’re 
being abandoned!"
	Raye turned to him, eyes narrowing.  "You have some nerve!"
	"How can you be such a bitch when it is so clear that your friends 
need you?"
	"I need them!" she yelled back.
	"My sister, or so I thought, was just revealed to be some princess 
from another planet.  My best friend, who is almost a sister to me, is 
leaving me, and I just lost another best friend just a few days ago to some 
force I don’t understand.  But, princess, you see that I still stand as I am," 
Jed said, angrily.
	Raye was speechless.  "You’re hurting…"
	Jed turned away, stalked to a window.  "I’m dealing with it."
	"You don’t have to hide that stuff…" Raye said quietly, 
understandingly.  "Not in front of anybody.  We are all very confused right 
now."
	"Yeah, not you.  You’re still the princess of the Earth, bratty 
princess Raye."
	Raye’s eyes narrowed, and she mumble softly, "I thought we might 
be able to share our thoughts, but I guess I was wrong.  I am human as 
well.  I’m scared, for my friends, for my mother, for the whole god damn 
moon kingdom.  Everyone’s been hiding the truth from me.  I don’t 
understand what’s happened to Zoy, no one does, but all I have to do is 
look into Amy’s eyes, and I’ll know that she feels dead inside.  I look at 
Serena, who cries at night, scared out of her wits, and Lita, who’s distant 
and confused.  She doesn’t even know who she is.  I don’t know what is 
going on, and who is going where, or even what has become of my life, or 
theirs.  I can hardly believe I still live in the same place.  I don’t know 
anything anymore.  The only thing that I know is that I’m suffering with 
and for my friends, because I love them.  And now, I’m going to lose four 
of the best friends I ever had.  I have no friends outside of the circle whom 
understand anything of sorrow or sadness.  I thought you did.  You’re no 
better than the rest of them.  You don’t understand, at all.  Good day, Sir," 
she curtseyed coldly, and exited the room.

	"Your highness, are you feeling any better?" Luna came to 
Serenity.
	"Yes, Luna, I’m feeling much better.  Now, tell me what’s been 
going on."
	"Well, your highness, it seems the Moonlight Maiden has gone on 
farther than we thought.  She has found both Guardian Mercury, and 
Guardian Jupiter…Mercury was revealed the night we arrived."
	"And what happened after I became unconscious?"
	"The girl…Mina McLullen saved you.  She called on some force 
and caught Beryl off guard.  Before Beryl vanished, she claimed the girl 
was the Moon Princess."
	The blonde?  "I felt something in her…she looked a little like I did 
when I was that young…"
	"But reports also indicate that there is actually a Serena Kingston 
in the court.  The unnamed lady in waiting who was sick the night we 
arrived.  It appeared that something happened with her and the prince, that 
night, but the cause is unknown, and both Kingston and his majesty prefer 
not to discuss the matter."
	"Serena?  That was my daughter’s name…"
	"Yes…but she’s of the Earth.  At least, that’s what she’s said.  
She’s the Moonlight Maiden.  I haven’t had much a chance to talk to the 
girls yet.  In fact, we have been left alone except for once or twice in a 
day, when the young princess comes to inquire…"
	"Princess?"
	"Your daughter."
	"Ah. Mina.  Well, seeing that I am better, I’d like to see them as 
soon as I can…first, I want to speak to the maiden, though."
	"All right, your highness."

	They sat by the fountain.  "We’ll have to leave all this behind?" 
Amy looked around.
	"Yes…" Serena, her fingers playing in the water of the fountain.
	"Oh, Serena, the moon?" Lita asked, her eyes wide with wonder 
and fear.  "What’s it like up there?"
	"Don’t ask me…but I guess we’ll find out…" Amy said, looking at 
her reflection in the water.
	At that moment, Serena splashed the water into the reflection, and 
Amy looked up, surprised at Serena.  Serena smiled, eyes glittering.  She 
splashed the water at Amy.
	Amy looked at Serena blankly…and then laughed, and splashed 
water back at her, and caught Lita.
	Lita smiled as well, and they started a water fight.
	"We’ll call this training!" Serena smiled, as she stepped into the 
fountain and started to splash them.

	Oh, they hadn’t had such fun for a while.  It was good to laugh 
again.  *Trust Serena to make everything right again.*
	Amy’s bare feet were dipping in the fountain water, her robes 
soaked.
	Lita was wringing out her hair.
	Serena was smiling at both of them, coming back from the palace 
with some towels.  "Come on girls.  I got these for you…"
	"…thank you, Serena…" Amy said, softly.
	"No prob!’ she hugged her friend.  "I guess it all goes to show that 
we have to be able to go on.  It guess it’s easier to get on when we realize 
that we still have each other…" she said, smiling on the outside.  *Fight 
this, girl…*
	"Poor Raye…" Lita said, suddenly.
	The girls looked to each other.  Raye…

	"Your majesty?" Kunz fell into step beside Mina.  Mina smiled to 
him in relief.  She had been wandering the halls for someone to talk to.
	"Don’t even TRY to keep calling me that."
	Kunz chuckled, the deep laugh penetrating her senses, making her 
blush lightly.  "Princess of the Moon…I’ll always be able to brag about it 
to friends…"
	"Please, Kunz, I’d rather not talk about the throne of the Moon 
kingdom.  It appears that it’s all we ever talk about now.  Suddenly, 
everyone is expecting me to know what’s going on, who’s doing what.  
Things are hardly in place, and I want to talk to Jed."
	"Jed…" Kunz said, seriously.  "He’s been thrown out of whack by 
all the events lately.  I think he’d really like it if you talked to him…"
	"Yeah.  I can’t believe it…all these years, he thought I was his 
sister, and until a while ago, I thought he was my brother.  And now, we’re 
going to be separated…no…" Mina sighed.
	Kunz took her arm reassuringly.  "You’ll still see each other when 
you come to visit, or when we do."
	"Yeah, but that isn’t the same, and you know that."
	"Look, Mina," Kunz looked at her, as they stopped in the middle of 
the hall.  "Life’s changing, quickly, and everyone’s found that they’re not 
going to be able to decide what happens.  But the key is to remember that 
in the end, everything is still the same.  To you, Jed will always be your 
brother.  And for him, vice versa. The point is, no matter what happens, 
Jed will not love you any less."
	Mina smiled at Kunz, and said quietly, "You’re very wise…"
	"I learned it from Serena…" Kunz said, his face becoming grim.  
"She said that to me earlier today…when I asked her how I was to part 
with her, when I’ve known her so long."

	"If I have to hear more about the departure, or the moon kingdom, 
I’m going to scream," Lita muttered to Neph.
	"They can’t help it, Lita.  The future’s out of control.  They’re 
trying to get it back in the reins."
	"Yeah, right," Lita rolled her eyes.  "The future’s overrated.  It 
brings nothing but worries…"
	"Sure, Litanya…where’d THAT name come from?  You’ve always 
been Lita to everyone here."
	"It’s been my name from birth.  Only, I don’t use it.  But now, 
when this whole mess came about, I thought it more clear to use the name 
Litanya…perhaps my true mother gave me that name.  I thought it might 
connect me to the past.  Amy’s taken her true name too…as well as Mina.  
When we were younger, we thought we all had weird names.  We wanted 
them to be more normal."
	"I’m SURE you’re the EMBODIMENT of normalcy."
	Lita frowned teasingly to Neph.  He took her arm, and escorted her 
back to the palace.  "Come along, Princess Jupiter.  You must get some 
rest."

	"Your highness?"
	"Yes Luna?"
	"I give you Lady Serena Kingston of Polaris, the Moonlight 
Maiden…"
	Serena walked in, and bowed to the queen, who sat in a chair, by 
the window.
	"Your highness…"
	As Serena’s eyes met Serenity’s eyes, Serenity gasped.  This girl 
had a power in her that overcame all others.  Whatever warmth she had felt 
when seeing the other ladies of the court, this girl possessed more warmth 
than them all put together.  Her eyes were the distant blue of 
moonsapphire, and her hair was light, with cords of sunlight, glinted with 
moonbeam.
	Queen Serenity looked at Serena.  The Moonlight Maiden was a 
strong and beautiful human being.  She felt a connection to this girl, but it 
was so obvious the connection was visible because Selene guided them 
both, and gave them both power to guard and guide.
	"Serena Kingston.  You are the guardian of the Moon?"
	"Yes, your majesty.  I was asked by Selene to accompany you to 
the moon, and serve in Mina’s court…"
	"Mina…"
	"Yes, that is the princess’s name.  Actually, it’s Minalle. From her 
birth, but everyone in court has called her Mina."
	"My daughter’s name was Serena…"
	"This could get confusing…" Serena put a hand to her head.  "You 
know my name is Serena…"
	"I guess that if my daughter has adopted the name of Mina, then I 
shall agree as well."
	"Your daughter is eager to meet you.  In fact, she is out in the hall 
right now.  May I fetch her?"
	"Not yet…Lady Serena, will you please sit down?"
	Serena walked to the chair Serenity pointed to, and sat down across 
from the delicate queen.  Her eyes were glittering, and her cheeks tinted 
with exercise.  "Selene has contacted you more than once?"
	"Yes…I visit her regularly by the Lake of Tranquility.  She has 
guided myself and my friends into being defenders of the moon kingdom, 
and Earth."
	"And Selene has instructed you to come to the Moon Kingdom 
with me?"
	"Yes…" Serena swallowed.
	"And you have no qualms about leaving here?"
	"Do you have any qualms about bringing us there?" Serena asked 
back, her heart starting to pound, tears starting to clench her heart.  "I will 
be truthful and tell you that we are frightened of what is to happen to us.  
Just a few months ago, I didn’t even know of a moon princess…and I 
didn’t even believe in a kingdom on the moon.  I will miss my family, 
undoubtedly, and while my friends may find their true family, and courts 
up in your kingdom, I am afraid to say that I will be leaving my own 
behind.  Your highness, if these are not qualms, I don’t know what are, but 
I trust Selene, and she has instructed to follow and care for you and your 
daughter. I will do so."
	The queen looked into this woman’s brave eyes, reflecting fear and 
fight.  She could trust this woman.  She had a courage and a faith in 
Selene, and therefore would serve well in the Moon Kingdom.  
	"I’m sorry, your highness, I shouldn’t have said those things…I 
guess I can’t put the front up for everyone…"
	Serenity felt touched that she had been one of the few to see this 
girl’s inner feelings, her thoughts and fears…she had a feeling that this girl 
did not fear much, and if she did, she’d never let it conquer her.  "Don’t 
worry, Lady Serena, I understand that you will miss your life here on 
Earth, and your prince?"
	"My prince?"
	"Yes…I heard from my advisor Luna that on the night I arrived, 
the prince rushed to your side for some reason or another…"
	"Prince Darien is not my prince…" Serena began, distantly.  "He 
came to me that night to help me fight Beryl’s magic…"
	"So she kept you busy that night as well?"
	"Yes, and if it weren’t for the prince, I wouldn’t have survived…"
	"I understand…" Serenity nodded.  "So I owe him a great deal of 
gratitude for saving my ward…"
	"Your what?"
	"You are now my ward.  Because Selene has chosen you to be the 
guardian on the Moon, you will be under my care on the Moon.  While the 
other girls have their own families, I will become yours."
	Serena nodded, feeling a comfort to that.
	"Now, how is my daughter?"
	"She wishes to see you."
	"Then I will see her now."
	"Then I will let her in right now, and leave you alone…" Serena 
got up off her chair, and offered Serenity her hand.
	Serenity took it awkwardly, and Serena smiled, and shook it.  "I 
am going to serve you the best way I can."
	"I have no doubt of that, Serena Kingston…"

	The blonde came rushing into the room, and knelt before Serenity.
	"Mother."
	"My daughter…" Serenity looked at the woman, who knelt before 
her.  She had seen her the night she had arrived, for a brief while, in 
moonlight, but now she saw her daughter in full light.
	While the girl still possessed the warmth Serenity had felt the first 
night, she realized that this young woman did not possess the power and 
strength she had felt in Serena Kingston.
	She looked into the girl’s eyes, and found an ardent admiration.  
She took the girl’s cheek in her palm.
	This was not her daughter.  Serenity felt something fall in her 
heart.  A disappointment.  The girl looked with foreign eyes.  They did not 
possess a connection…as Serena’s did.
	Serenity shook her mind.  *Serena’s possesses the connection 
because Serena is of Selene’s guardianship.  But Mina’s should as well, 
for she is not only of Selene’s guardianship, but she’s my daughter.*  
Looking at the girl, she tried to understand, to see her daughter.  She tried 
to find something familiar in the girl’s eyes.
	Mina’s did not reflect a true world of anything she recognized.
	Serenity smiled at the young woman, and gestured to the seat 
opposite hers.
	There had to be a reason why this girl believed herself to be the 
moon princess.
	Serenity shook the feeling off her.  What was she expecting?  That 
she’d see the love and family in the eyes?  No, this had to be her daughter.  
Everyone thought so.  She looked just like her.  Serenity was expecting too 
much.  And that’s why she was doubting her daughter.
	Doubting her daughter?  That was not right.  No, Mina was the true 
princess of the moon.  Serenity was just having strange feelings about 
seeing her daughter again, expecting their life to be perfect, when she 
shouldn’t have expected that.

	The ball was extravagant, and large.  It was held on the first night 
Queen Serenity of the Moon felt better.
	The ballroom was cascaded in moonlight and candlelight, and 
celebration and wonderment twisted about the people, an excitement 
clearly permeating the air.
	Darien bowed to those who greeted him in the procession line.  He 
yawned absently, and looked the door.  He wondered when the Queen of 
the Moon would make her entrance…with her daughter, and her 
guardians…
	He looked at his sister.
	Raye was pale and looked ill.  Her violet eyes were almost as dark 
as night now, and sadness was evident.
	He then looked to his mother, who stood, stately in green velvet, 
her auburn and silver hair pinned up.  Her earthy eyes were of civility and 
cordiality.
	As his eyes fell on the door again, he noticed that it had not been 
open by two well-dressed guards…the two from the Moon.
	In came two figures, with white dresses, and the royal hair-style, 
the gold crowns on each other their heads.
	Mina McLullen was a vision.  Her eyes were sparkling with 
excitement at finding her heritage, and her mouth was soft and joyous.  
She wore a dress of white silk and gold beads and pearls.  The bodice was 
of embroidery from the royal seamstresses.  The dress was of the most 
delicate moonlily silk.  Darien smiled, softly and awkwardly.  His date 
tonight was beautiful.
	Her highness the Queen Serenity of the Moon was dressed 
similarly, and her eyes reflected a bit of confusion, but an altogether 
stately, graceful and serene air.
	"Queen Serenity the First of the kingdom of the Moon, and her 
daughter, Minalle the First of the kingdom of the Moon."
	The two made their way to the throne, and met the prince, princess 
and queen of Earth.  Darien stepped forward, and too the hand of the 
Princess of the Moon.  "My lady…" he said, and awkwardly kissed her 
hand, guiding her to stand next to him.  She stood, smiling nervously to 
him.  The Queen of the Moon stood beside Queen Merlyn, and the two 
smiled to each other.
	It was then that Kunz realized that the two who stood 
uncomfortably next to each other were being set up.  His fist clenched.  
Darien didn’t want this.  Mina didn’t want this.  HE didn’t want this.
	"Princess Litanya of the court of Jupiter, and guardian to the 
princess Minalle…"
	Lita stepped in, her auburn hair pinned up, with tiger lilies 
blooming among the ruddy stream of curls.  Her dress was sea green silk, 
or moonsilk, as she had found out from the queen.  She wore a intricately 
filigreed gold tiara on her head, with an emerald winking at her forehead.  
Emeralds, from the lush depths of Jupiter’s jungles, sparkled at her ears.  
She stepped quietly into the room, to step next to Mina, not expecting any 
eyes on her.
	Neph’s were.  His eyes were pinned on her the moment she had 
entered the room.  She was a vision.  As she courteously bowed to the 
queens, and their children, she caught a glimpse of him from the corner of 
her eye and winked.  He almost laughed, choking himself to maintain 
dignity.
	"Princess Amyliana of the court of Mercury, and guardian to the 
princess Minalle…"
	Amy walked in slowly, looking about, curiously, sadly.  Her hair 
was pulled back by two drops of Mercury’s finest water sapphires, 
trimmed with crystals of the first water.  Her eyes were large and sad, and 
the depths of blue echoed the loneliness and solitariness of the ocean.  She 
was dressed in blue gossamer moonbeam, a silky material, collected in the 
finest looms in the Moon Kingdom.  She wore a silver and diamond tiara, 
a sapphire glimmering at her forehead, of a shade almost as blue as her 
eyes.
	She felt the sorry eyes upon her, but would not cave.  She walked 
stiffly to the front, and bowed.  Behind the door, Serena sighed.  Her 
throat contracted again, as she realized that she was to enter next.
	"The Maiden Serena Kingston, of the service to the goddess 
Selene, and ward to the Queen Serenity, and guardian to the royal Lunar 
family…"
	Every eye in the room fell on the beautiful young woman who 
entered the room.  Because she was not of the royal court of the moon by 
blood, she did not receive gifts from Queen Serenity.  Serena wouldn’t 
have taken them, for she knew she was merely a mortal girl, who was 
chosen to guard Selene’s power, and progeny.
	However, she wore the gown she had been stitching in moonlight 
for the past several days.  She outshone even Mina, and the Queens.  She 
came in, courageously, and alone.
	She was like the rest of the Earth…common humans, who didn’t 
know much of the life on other planets…a girl who deserved no major 
distinction.  She had slaved over her dress to stun everyone.
	Now, as she realized that every eye was on her, and not the royal 
families, she felt a guilt.  She shouldn’t have done this.  Lifting her head, 
and accepting that it was too late, Serena walked into the room.
	Her dress was a the silk of Earth, and it was of a purity even the 
Queen of the Moon would envy for.  It was not Moonbeam, Moonlily, or 
Moonwhatever…but it was wonderfully beautiful.
	Serena had hand-sewn every aspect of that dress.  The high collar 
was of lace, embroidered with gold, and seeded with beads, and collared 
around her neck.  From there, a gauzy chiffon material covered her chest 
until it met a while silk at the top of her breast.  The chiffon was 
embroidered with white thread, and sprinkled with pearls and gold beads.  
The white silk that met the chiffon came as a sleeveless dress, 
embroidered at the meeting point with the gold thread and pearls.  The 
straps of the gown came over her shoulders, and met at her back, where 
embroider chiffon covered only a few inches from her neck.  Plain white 
silk shimmered at the rest of her back. Below her breast a line of pearls 
circled, and from there, the white silk dropped to her feet.  There was a 
layer of chiffon over the silk, lightly embroidered her or there with gold 
thread, and seeded with beads and pearls.
	She wore simple pearls in her ears…a gift she had received from 
her mother after graduating finishing school…they were Kingston pearls.  
She also wore her blond hair up, into coils weaving among white rosebuds 
and small pearls.
	She walked through the room, attention of all, focused on her, and 
her attention focused on walking right, doing everything right.
	Her eyes first fell on the Prince.  His gaze was of sheer 
astonishment…his eyes were of a dark blue that enveloped her in heat.  He 
was dressed in a white satin tunic and pants, a red sash across his chest, 
spangled with medals.  He wore black boots, and a red cape.  She sighed.  
He looked wonderful in white.
	She looked away just as quickly as she looked to him to see her 
eyes fall on Merlyn, whose eyes shone with admiration…and perhaps 
guilt.  She wondered why until she followed Merlyn’s side glance to Mina, 
whose arm was threaded in Darien’s.
	It shouldn’t have hurt.  But it did.  Merlyn knew, somehow, and 
Serena’s pain felt even more exposed.
	Mina was uncomfortable, but her eyes were gleaming with ardent 
admiration of her friend’s beauty.  However, Mina felt discomfort at being 
next to the man whom she thought was meant for her childhood friend.  
Serena smiled courageously to her, and looked back to Merlyn, and smiled 
indifference.
	She smiled to Serenity, who was impressed and proud of the 
Moonlight Maiden…and somewhat puzzled at the resemblance Serena had 
to Mina, and herself.
	Serena then looked to Kunz, Neph, and Jed, and smiled to them.  
They all smiled back, though Jed’s eyes were flashing in an anger.  She 
followed his sneer to Raye.
	Raye, who was dressed in her gown of red velvet fire.  She looked 
scorched by Jed’s angry gaze.  However, she kept her perfect beauty about 
her like a cloak.  It was a daring, beautiful look for her.  Her hair was wild, 
down her shoulders, and rubies glittered teasingly at her ears.  Her eyes 
were dark with determination, and Serena met them and smiled to her 
friend.
	Raye felt the warmth of fury from Jed, and a warmth of friendship 
from Serena.  Ignoring Jed, she focused on Serena, and smiled back, 
courageously.
	These exchanges, and revelations of thought and worry, took place 
within the length of time Serena walked down the white velvet carpet to 
the throne.  She now stopped and curtseyed.
	As told by Luna and Artemis, she did not stand with the princesses 
of Mercury and Jupiter, but next to Luna and Artemis, as a protector of the 
family, not the princess.  She felt alone now.
	She stood alone.

	Darien shifted his hands uncomfortably around Princess Minalle.  
This was not working out.
	Minalle was not relaxed, and she looked preoccupied, her eyes 
wandering away to somewhere else.
	His thoughts, however, were not engaged in her anyway, so he 
didn’t care.
	However, his thoughts WERE engaged in the woman who came 
into the court today, stunning everyone.
	The first time he had met her, he had realized that Serena Kingston 
was a woman to fear.  A fighter, hot-tempered, and determined.  The 
second time he had met her, he had realized that Serena Kingston was a 
woman to desire.  A beauty, whose every move echoed the underlying 
theme that made her an undeniable beauty.  However, neither of the 
women had ever shown him what he was going think of her now.
	Serena Kingston was a woman to respect.  A woman, with 
intelligence, charm, understanding, and the world’s knowledge.  Granted, 
she was always a pain to work with, but she wouldn’t be Serena if she was 
otherwise.  She was a woman who believed in justice, as passionate about 
her beliefs as she was about fighting.  Tonight, she had entered the court of 
princesses, alone with the distinction that she was the only one who came 
from Earth, and held her own.  Not a lady, who merely walked in, meekly 
bowing.  Serena Kingston held up her head, acknowledged that though she 
was not a princess, she was not lesser than the rest of them.
	Seeing her stand for herself, for her kingdom, made him feel a 
warm sense of pride, in his people, in her.
	With that pride, came respect.
	As he rounded a waltz turn, he noticed the Mina’s worry deepen, 
he turned her to focus on the two people dancing peacefully across the 
room.

	Serena and Kunz danced peacefully, and she said softly, "You like 
her, don’t you?"
	"Yes, of course I do…" Kunz muttered.
	"So what are you going to do about it?"
	"What do you mean?"
	"We are leaving in a few weeks, after Queen Serenity has seen the 
Earth kingdom.  From the looks of the Queen Merlyn and Queen Serenity, 
they are surely contemplating an alliance, especially with the attack of the 
moon kingdom.  A marriage would be a considerable way of sealing the 
alliance…"
	"So you’re saying that Darien and Mina are being pushed 
together?"
	"It’s not that hard to see.  Look at them, and look at the queens."
	Merlyn and Serenity looked hopeful.  Darien and Mina danced on 
awkwardly.  Kunz turned back to Serena.
	"He’s looking at you…"
	"Who isn’t?  This dress has caused more trouble than 
admiration…"
	"You sewed this by moonlight?  How could you see?"
	"Oh, the candles helped as well, and the difficult parts I did during 
the day, when no one was looking."
	"Serena, you have definitely changed…"
	"No, I’m still the same.  I just had to change my surface."
	"We’re going to miss you," he said.
	"I’m going to miss you too," she said, impulsively kissing his 
cheek.

	He seethed in his spot.
	Serena, kissing Kunz.  Darien looked to Mina, who looked 
saddened by the action.  "I’m sure she did it to comfort him for her 
departure…after all, she’s trained with them for years now.  He’ll miss 
her…" Darien said, making excuses for the boiling rage inside of himself.
	As they stiffly continued to dance, they were cut in when Jed came 
upon them.  "May I cut in?"
	Darien very understandingly and willingly gave up his hold on the 
princess, and handed her to her brother.  
	As Mina started to dance with Jed, she whispered softly, "I don’t 
know what’s going to happen, Jed, but I’m going to tell you now, that I am 
still your sister, in my heart.  Nothing can change the past.  We can affect 
our future.  If you give up connection to me now, I understand, but Jed, I 
love you.  I’ve known you since you were so little…you must understand.  
I am your sister, if not by blood, then by right, by heart."
	Jed looked to Mina, sadly.  "Moon princess, huh?  My sister’s out 
there, on the moon, with the weird hair-do, in possession of great magical 
powers. I’d never believe that…"
	"But you must believe that your sister loves you…"
	Jed looked to his sister.  "Yes, I know that…" he kissed her on the 
forehead.  "I wanted to give you this…" he took something out of his 
pocket.
	It was a small round jewelry box, the size of a palm, carefully 
polished.  There was an opal oval, polished purely and brilliantly at the 
center of the cover of the box.  The box was of polished mahogany, and 
the light gleamed carefully from the candlelight.  "I know you were 
always partial to opals, and I made this for you, to give to you on your 
birthday, but I don’t think we will be able to celebrate it together."
	Mina’s eyes started to collect tears, as she felt the cool polished 
wood in the middle of her palm.  "It’s beautiful…I like it…a lot, Jed.  
Thank you," she hugged him.
	"I’ll miss you, but you know, us McLullens…wherever we are…" 
he started.
	"We fight to the end!" Mina laughed.

	Serena walked to the balcony, to catch some of the cool Earthy air.  
As she breathed in, she thought she had never smelled a fragrance so 
lovely.  Looking at the moon, she wondered what Earth would look like 
from up there.
	As she stood there, she could feel the gentle breezes come through 
here, and a chill started at the base of her spine.  Someone was on the 
terrace as well.  She listened carefully, and sighed,  "Good evening, your 
highness."
	Darien stepped from behind a potted plant.  "I didn’t know who 
was coming out here…I just wanted some time alone…"
	Serena sighed in understanding.  "We all wish for that, lately.  It 
seems that none of the royal court has been successful in that."
	Her whole person was beautiful right now.  And it had nothing to 
do with her hair, her dress, the night air, or the music that caressed the 
evening air.
	It had everything to do with the eyes that looked at him.
	Truth, fear, anger, confusion.
	Humanity.
	The most beautiful sight in the world had to be in those eyes.  The 
sight of a woman, who was acting with courage, to fight her fears.
	Others may not have been able to fight.  This lady, who had 
punched him five years before, could.  Serena Kingston had gained 
something from him that no other woman had gained before.  Respect.
	"You’ve been holding up well…"
	Serena turned to him.  "What do you mean?" she asked, confused.
	"Others might have caved.  Have you any idea how much fear is in 
your eyes?"
	Serena was shocked to find that he could read her so well now.  
"Save a girl’s life and you think you know her…" she said,  "Look, your 
highness, I don’t know what the joke is, but this isn’t funny…"
	"No joke," Darien said.  "You don’t have to pretend with me, 
Serena."
	Serena looked at him.  "I’m not pretending anything."
	"Serena, I know you’re scared."
	"No, I’m not."
	"Will you stop contradicting me?"
	"Then stop telling lies," she countered smoothly.  "You thought 
you knew me before, Darien.  You think you know me now, Darien.  But 
I’ll tell you one thing; you’ll never know me."
	With that, she turned back to the ball room, and walked back to the 
party.
	Darien was left on the balcony. *Try to be nice, and you get 
brushed off.*

	Serena was swearing as she got back into the bedroom.  She settled 
on the bed, and yanked off her shoes.
	"Of all the rude, impertinent things for him to do, this is the 
worst!"
	Amy sighed in the darkness.
	Serena jumped.  "Amy, what are you doing here?  The ball doesn’t 
end for another hour or so…"
	"What are you doing here?" Amy countered.
	"I told the queen I didn’t feel good."
	"How do you think I feel?" Amy replied sardonically.  "A 
ball…hm…a night of romance," she said bitterly.
	"Oh Amy, I…I’m sorry…" Serena said, walking to Amy’s bed, 
hugging her.  "I’ve just been having a bad night…"
	"What happened?"
	Serena sighed, "Nothing."
	"It can’t be nothing.  You were ready to throw your shoes across 
the room."
	"Look, let’s not talk about it, okay?"
	"Serena, please.  You’ve kept all this to yourself lately.  You 
haven’t said anything about what you’re thinking, or feeling…"
	"I’m not supposed to.  I have to be rational."
	Amy’s tears started to come again.  "What’s going on with you 
Serena?  You’re fighting so hard…"
	"Oh, Amy…" she saw her friend crying, and held her.  "I’m sorry 
I’ve been hard on everyone.  Things are just very difficult now.  I’m sure 
everything will be all right."
	"Will you tell me what’s going on with you?"
	"No…" Serena said.  "I don’t want to depress you."
	"At least tell me why you left the ball early…" Amy pleaded.  
"You’ll feel better.  I promise."
	Serena sighed.  Amy wasn’t going to let up until Serena told her 
something, and Serena did want to talk about it…to herself, later.  "All 
right.  I’m pissed off at Darien because the jerk thinks he knows me…"
	"Has he tried to be a chauvinistic pig again, because Serena, we’ve 
discussed what you had to do…just count to a hundred…"
	"Yeah, I know, but he didn’t do that this time…"
	"What did he do?  Humiliate you?  Degrade you?"
	"He…he…he told the truth!" Serena stammered out.
	Amy was speechless.
	"He told the truth…" Serena repeated to herself.  "Excuse me, 
Amy, but I think I have to think a little right now, to myself…"

	Lita sighed, walking around the garden.  "The tension in the 
court’s obvious.  No one knows what’s going on, and with Amy being 
confused, lost and depressed, and the queens forcing Mina and Darien to 
spend time together, Kunz is resigned, and Serena is mad at Kunz for not 
fighting for Mina.  She’s made at Darien for telling some truth.  She’s mad 
at everyone."
	"Can you blame Serena?  You all are going home.  She’s leaving 
it…"
	"Yeah, I’m going home to somewhere I have not idea about.  
Going home to a father and mother I had never met.  Going to home to a 
place I have never seen.  Earth is my home too, Neph…"
	Neph looked at Lita.  "You’re going in a few days…"
	"Yes, I am…I hope you haven’t spent ALL your time mulling over 
Serena’s future…it only depresses me."
	"As a matter of fact, I’ve been working on a surprise with Darien 
and Kunz and Jed…it’s for Serena…"  
	"And that would be?"
	"If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise."
	"Neph…" she said.  "Fine, don’t tell me, but I’ll find out…"
	"You’ll find out, when you find out…with everyone else."
	"Can you give me a hint?"
	"No," he smiled.
	"You’re…"
	"Charming, I know," he smiled.
	"I was thinking more along the lines of ‘frustrating, perplexing, 
and irritating…’", she sighed.
	"You’ll miss me when I’m gone…" he teased.
	"Yes, I will…" Lita sighed.
	"Merlyn has mentioned some trips that Darien will have to make to 
see the Moon kingdom, to discuss Beryl.  I have been asked to join him.  
Should I come?"
	Lita’s eyes widened, glittered.  "Of course!"
	"Lita…" Neph said, taking her hand in his, kissing it gently.  
"I…like you…a lot, but…"
	"But there are some things better left on the shelf…" Ltia said, 
wistfully.  "Just leave it, Neph…" she said.  "Don’t worry about me…it 
doesn’t matter, not now, nor will it ever…I…I like you too…" she 
whispered, squeezing his hand.

	"RAYE!"
	Raye slowed her horse, and turned around, looking at Serena, 
whose horse was racing across the fields, catching up.
	Raye smiled at Serena as Serena approached Raye and her horse 
Lynda.   "I almost went out of my mind when I found out you went out 
without telling anyone.  I searched all over the palace, and then I looked 
out my window to see you leaving on your horse!" Serena caught her 
breath.  "Raye, it’s not safe to do this anymore.  We let you before, but 
now, there’s an evil force out there…"
	"I can fend for myself…" Raye said.  "I have to."
	Serena looked at her friend, her hand reaching out, and taking 
Raye’s.  "You don’t.  We’re still going to be your friends.  Nothing 
changes that.  So what if the miles increase.  I’ll write you.  And you can 
come up and visit with your brother."
	Raye nodded, her eyes starting to fill with tears.
	"However, Raye, I want you to be alive to do it.  You MUST take 
care of yourself, and you MUST be accompanied by guards.  I’m worried.  
With the four of us around, it was easy to always be able to protect you.  
But now, we’re leaving…"
	"I can take care of myself, really…"
	Serena’s eyes narrowed.  "Don’t play noble miss to me, Raye.  I 
know you.  You CAN take care of yourself.  But what if Beryl sends three 
guys to tackle you, or four?"
	"If she sent a hundred, what would one guard be?"
	"Raye…"
	"I know, I’m again being unreasonable, but Serena, mother’s 
already worried to death over the kingdom right now, and Darien’s being 
shoved in Mina’s path, and they’re both trying to make sense of the whole 
thing.  There is no one to take care of those matters right now, and I can’t 
just go and hire on a bodyguard.  I don’t know the first thing about that 
kind of thing.  And my mother would kill me if she considered my choice 
in bad taste."
	Serena nodded, slowly.  "Well, right now, I’m still going to protect 
you…"
	"You’ve already got two people to protect.  Believe me.  You can’t 
handle another."
	"Lita and Amy can take care of those two right now.  I’ve got a 
duty to MY princess, the princess of Earth."

	She was furious when she stormed into the throne room.  Furious 
at Merlyn.  For more than once reason, but she’d only mention one.
	Merlyn looked up at Serena, and something akin to fear started to 
come into her.
	Serena counted to ten.
	"Lady Serena…" Merlyn smiled, carefully.  "What can I do for 
you?"
	"Why don’t you ask what you can do for your daughter?" Serena 
said, with an edge that bit.  "Raye went out riding today with no 
supervision whatsoever, and no one was even aware of her departure!"
	Merlyn frowned.
	Sarena sighed.  "Your highness, I know you didn’t mean to ignore 
your daughter, and I can see how with everything going around, you’ve 
been too busy pushing your son into the moon princess…"
	Merlyn sat back, shocked.  "Serena Kingston…"
	"Your highness, I’m sorry…" Serena said, the fury in her eyes 
starting to ebb.  "I didn’t mean that."
	Merlyn could see that Serena was pulled so thin now that she was 
ready to snap.  "It’s all right.  I understand…I’m sorry about the whole 
setup between you and Darien, but I’m very afraid right now that Serenity 
desires the match…she hasn’t really told me, but I can guess that the 
marriage would be the best route for safety against Metalia right now."
	Serena’s fist clenched, and Merlyn knew that explaining things like 
this was getting no where.
	Serena noticed the guilt in Merlyn’s face and forgave her, smiling 
bravely.  "I came to speak to you about Raye.  I think she needs a mother, 
and a guard.  Right now, she’s been pushed aside, and neglected.  Her four 
best friends are leaving the day after tomorrow.  I think she needs support, 
from her mother.  As for the guard matter, it is no secret that Metalia is 
power-driven.  She’s after any human being, and considering Raye’s also 
the princess of Earth, she is at considerable risk.  You must protect her."
	Merlyn looked at the girl, and smiled softly.  "What am I ever 
going to do without you?  You always could see the problem…" she 
sighed.  "You can leave us," she gestured to the guards at the door.  "I’m 
quite safe with Lady Kingston…"
	After the guards had left, Merlyn sighed, sinking down from her 
formal posture.  "I didn’t know about this problem at all…I guess I was all 
caught up in the moon kingdom and Beryl…"
	Serena smiled softly, "I understand, and Raye does as well, but her 
understanding and her need for activity and excitement counter each other 
in such a way that she must always be outside and active."
	Merlyn sighed,  "You’re right, you know.  I’ll talk to her more 
often and make sure she’s all right.  But meanwhile, I need to find her a 
guard."
	"I have a suggestion."

	Kunz escorted Mina through the halls, gently taking her arm.  "I’m 
sure you’re frightened right now.  You’re going home tomorrow night."
	"I’m terrified!  To see a whole new kingdom, and to say I am its 
princess…Serena is taking all this so well.  She seems immune to 
change…"
	"Once a guard, always a guard.  She has always possessed a calm, 
and a cool.  She was always logical.  Could handle a fight."
	"I’m glad she’s coming with me.  Perhaps she’ll tell me what the 
hell I’m supposed to do.  I don’t want to marry Darien, and he doesn’t 
want to marry me.  I don’t know how I am to rule, or anything.  I just 
discovered my life, my past.  And now, I seem to know less than I even 
began with."
	Kunz took her hand.  "You’ll find it, Mina, you will…"
	"I hope so…" she said, not pulling her hand from the clasp.

	Serena was a lonely figure, watching the sun set over the Earth.
	Would there be beautiful sunsets on the moon?
	She sat at a hillside, watching it remembering it.  Her horse grazed 
a few feet away.
	Tomorrow, she’s spend most the day with her parents, and say 
goodbye to many of her friends.  She’d spend time with Neph, Kunz, and 
Jed.  She’d cry a little with Raye.  But today, tonight was for reflection.
	Her life, as a lady-in-waiting to the Princess Raye of Earth, was 
over.  A strange life.  It all began when a young man rejected her.  Her fist 
clenched.  That man made her life complicated by tons.
	She’d been best friends with a group of young men, who were the 
best in the world.  She’d fought against them, laughed with them, and 
loved them.  They were almost her brothers.
	And now, she was going to let them all go.  Her brothers.  Her 
men.
	She was going to leave a princess behind, who kept her own ideals 
somewhat romantic.  A girl who forced her to dream a little of princesses 
and palaces…and perhaps princes…a strong girl, who now stood, alone.
	And then, there was the prince.  A young man who had ruined her 
life with a flick of the wrist, and then saved it just as quickly, only a matter 
of nights ago.  A young, handsome man, whom if they had actually gotten 
to know each other, she could have liked.  A man that she could have, 
perhaps, even loved, if given the chance, and the tolerance.
	There was a great deal to admire in the prince of Earth.  He was 
stubborn, but still managed to see the whole picture.  He was getting better 
at it now.  He was intelligent, and strategic.  He knew when and where and 
who, if not what.  He was gracious to subjects, if not her.
	She’d miss him, though she’d never tell HIM that.
	Sighing into the wind, the chill of loneliness came into her blood.
	Leaving her home.
	A new future.
	Serena never let her emotions fall into her strategy.  She had 
always congratulated herself on standing firm and tall, just.  Right now, 
though, she had the uncomfortable belief that nothing was going be safe 
and secure in her life…that her life was no longer in her grasp.
	The wind was a demon who bit into her mind, bleeding fear into 
her thoughts.

	When Serena came in for dinner, Darien’s eyes were focused on 
the serenity of her face.  Placid, unfeeling.
	On the surface.  He could only guess what was underneath.
	She sat across the table from him…Mina being next to him, in the 
place Serena used to occupy.
	He had wanted to take some time to talk to her, ever since the ball.  
He shouldn’t have just told her that, so harshly, but he was so worried 
about her…for her.
	He would, he vowed.  Tonight.

	The figure was in an old worn green shirt, and worn pants.  Her 
hair cascaded wildly over the shoulders, and she sat on a bench, knees 
pulled to her body, chin resting on her knees.
	It was the final hour, and the twilit sky drifted across the lush Earth
	A few minutes, alone.
	She didn’t even hear him approach.
	"Lady Kingston…"
	She nearly jumped.  "You’re getting better at creeping up and 
staying hidden, your highness…"
	"I strive to drive you crazy…" he said, lightly.
	"You’ve succeeded, admirably," she returned, warmly.  After a 
small, awkward moment of silence, she started, "Your highness…I would 
like to apologize…"
	"No, no need to.  I came here to apologize to you, for being so 
blunt and prying.  It was none of my business to intrude on your affair…"
	"No, I deserved it…in a way, Darien…you were…right…and I 
suppose I just didn’t want to hear it…but when I think about the fact that I 
have to leave home…"
	The first tear came.  Home.
	Where was home, now?
	Some cold planet, across the sky?
	*This ought to be one of those nightmares…* Serena thought.  
*The kind that you can just wake up from, and forget ever happened.  The 
kind that you can just laugh at, and forget about…* tears started to flow 
readily.  
	The sting was unbearable.  There was an empty hollow where 
home was in her mind, where her life was, where her future, her whole 
existence was.
	The others had been strong.  She had tried to be as well.  But now, 
the stress just pulled at her.
	Darien looked at the crying woman.
	The tears were glitter diamonds in her sapphire eyes.  The tears 
enveloped his heart, and wrung at his emotions.  He awkwardly reached 
into his pocket, and brought out a blue velvet pouch, and handed it to her.
	She looked at it.
	"Open it…"
	She opened it, and almost laughed to see fresh handkerchiefs 
folded neatly inside.
	"I want you to keep this…when my father died, my mother sewed 
this herself." Darien said.  "You’ll need it more than I…"
	Serena smiled.  "I certainly hope not."
	"Serena, you’ve been strong these past days, and I admire all the 
strength in your blood and eye.  But everyone cries.  Everyone’s human, 
and is susceptible to emotion, strain, and stress.  I apologize for being part 
of that stress…I have done nothing to help the situation…you must have 
felt horrible after facing someone you loathed so much…having him tell 
you what you should feel…"
	Serena laughed quietly, suddenly.  It felt good to laugh.
	"What?"
	Her eyes sparked with a pleasing tease, and tears welled up readily, 
in humor and in relief.  "I was also going to apologize to you for not 
respecting you all these years…because you are very perceptive, 
Darien…" she smiled, almost laughed.  Her face became serious as she 
then said, "I also…wanted to thank you about saving my life…" she 
looked to the bench.
	He looked at her.  "Are you done feeling guilty about yelling at 
me?"
	She looked at him.
	"You didn’t have to apologize and grovel, Serena," he said gently.  
"In fact, I deserved it…I treated you with no respect at all, from day 
one…"
	Serena truly laughed, goldenly.  "I’ll admit, I was well ready to kill 
you that day…"
	"But?" he prompted her.
	She looked to him.  "How did you know there was a ‘but’?"
	He met her eyes steadily.  "Because if you had resolved to kill me, 
as I would have in your position, I would be dead right now."
	Serena laughed again.  "I didn’t kill you then, Prince Darien 
Wyndica, because I was going to let your mother do it for me…"
	"What am I going to do without that stunning wit of yours?" he 
said, taking her face in his hands.
	Her face was lily soft, her eyes now strangely distant.
	"Um…well, tomorrow, I shall leave, so I suppose I must go back 
in…" she said, returning the pouch to Darien.
	"Keep it."
	She stroked the velvet, bringing it to her lips.  "I cannot keep this 
without giving something back…"
	Darien smiled.  "It’s a gift…"
	"Then I shall give you one as well…" she reached into her pocket 
for something, finding a strange, slightly large object.  She drew it out.  
"My locket…"
	"What?"
	She opened it, and a melody of moonlight and magic sweetened 
the air.
	The locket was gold, and star-shaped.  "My father got this for me 
when I was born.  I’ve had it ever since I was small.  I thought I lost 
it…but now, since I have it, since you gave me a treasure…I give you 
mine…" she presented him with the locket.
	"No, I can’t take it."
	"But you have to.  It’s only fair.  You gave me something 
important to you.  You know me.  I believe in fairness.  I have to give you 
something important to me."
	Their eyes lifted to meet, and he took the locket, and hands.  "Fine, 
I’ll take care of it.  Maybe when we see each other again, I’ll be able to 
give it back to you…"
	"And I’ll be done using your handkerchiefs…" she smiled.
	She looked away from him, and sighed, starting to get up.  "It felt 
good to laugh, cry…I might be inclined to say that your presence was very 
much appreciated tonight…"
	He tucked the locket in his pocket, and got up with her, taking her 
hands again.  "I’m glad…"
	"So when shall you visit?" she asked, curiously.
	"So you SHALL miss me," he teased.
	She blushed.  Of all things, she had blushed.  
	"I’ll visit when I can.  I truthfully do not know when I’ll 
visit…things have happened so fast that the Earth kingdom has not been 
overly concerned with its own future…"
	Serena rolled her eyes.  "I could see THAT…"
	He smiled gently.  "I am glad we are parting in good feelings, Lady 
Kingston…"  He lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed it gently.
	She smiled, uncomfortable, and he took her arm.  "Come, I shall 
escort you back to your room.  You need some rest, or tomorrow, I fear 
you shall be a mass of tears." 

	Edward and Lauryl Kingston walked through the garden with their 
daughter.  "You look a lot more calm than you did yesterday," Edward 
observed.
	"I was terrified, and I guess I still am, sort of…I didn’t, and I still 
don’t know if I belong up there…"
	Her parents sighed.  They didn’t know either.  They had seen the 
moon queen arrive, and had found out that their daughter was the 
Moonlight Maiden, guardian of the powers of Selene.
	They wondered if it had anything to do with the basket of gold she 
had been found in.
	They had heard in the past few days of the girls from other planets.  
They had heard of the girls, being orphaned when they were young.
	But they had not heard of baskets of gold.
	"But?" Lauryl prompted.
	Serena was ready to burst out laughing…*How does everyone 
know there’s a ‘but’?*  "But, I think I have made my peace, and accepted 
my future, whatever it is…" She reached into her pocket, and clutched the 
velvet pouch inside.
	She had cried when the others had slept last night.  The 
handkerchiefs had been soaked through.  But she found, in the end, that 
she was all right, that she would be.  Her fear had not subsided, but her 
panic had, and so had the stress.  She now stood before them, placid, 
serene, and determined, and afraid.
	She did not know what gave her the serenity.  Maybe it was her 
tears.  She had not cried since she was a young girl…whenever THAT 
was.
	"Serena, you’ll be all right…and if a Moon goddess is willing to 
lead you up there, I think you must follow…" Lauryl smiled, pushing a 
lock of hair behind her daughter’s ear. 
	"We’ll write to each other…" Edward said, kissing her on the 
forehead.
	"I’m still scared, mother."
	"We all are, but courage is doing something you’re afraid to do, 
and if you’re the Serena Kingston we raised, you will do what’s right, in 
your mind, and heart."
	Serena looked into her mother’s careful eyes, and nodded slowly. 

	"And that’s another for me…" she said, as she swept Jed’s rapier 
from his hands.  Sunset played around them.  Serena knew that soon, she’d 
have to go inside, bathe and get ready for departure.
	"Serena…you always knew how to fence perfectly," Neph smiled.
	"Learned form the best…" she winked back to him.  "Care to fight 
me?" she said.
	She was dressed in a lawn shirt, and worn pants.  Her hair was 
pulled back in a dirty ponytail, and her face was smeared with sweat and 
dirt.  If it hadn’t been from her womanly figure, she would have looked 
very similar to the way she did when she was only fifteen and only starting 
in the training.
	"I’ll take you on…" Kunz took a rapier.
	She smiled.  "Sure…" she started.  They fenced a while, and 
Serena got a mark.
	Kunz shrugged, and disarmed her next.
	She smiled.  "Not bad, but it’s not over." she dove between his 
legs, and grabbed her rapier, swiftly standing up again.
	Kunz laughed.  "If there’s one thing I’ll miss the most about 
you…"
	Serena smiled, wickedly.  "I’d think you’d miss Mina more!" she 
said, suddenly going in for a lunge, disarming him quickly, taking his own 
rapier in her other hand.
	"You cheated…" Kunz said.
	"I won…" Serena flashed back.
	"Let me have a try…" a new voice joined the group.
	Serena looked to Darien, trying to keep her calm.
	"Darien, she’ll kill you…"  Jed said, laughing.
	"I can handle it…" he said, picking off a rapier from the side, 
walking to Serena.  "Lady Kingston owes me a victory…I’m going to get 
her back for humiliating me in court three years ago."
	"Fine…" Serena shrugged, trying to look careless to his presence.  
It was strange seeing him now, in front of other people.  Had they known 
that the two who fought now had finally made their peace?
	"Hey Serena!" Raye came, with Mina, Lita, and Amy standing 
with her.
	"Hey Raye!  I’d hug you, but I smell, and I’m about to defeat your 
brother…"
	"Don’t be too sure…" Darien smiled.
	The battle was locked within minutes.  Serena let her usual careful 
steady rhythm go, and went in for a hit.
	She succeeded in disarming him, and having the point of her rapier 
at his throat.  "I win…"
	"Not necessarily," he smiled, crouching quickly and tripping her.  
Her grip on the rapier loosened, and it flew form her hands.  He stood over 
her, with it his hand.
	She immediately reached back to grab his rapier, and countered his 
offensive move.  She then fought herself up, and stood.  Again locked in 
combat, she fought aggressively.
	"You’re trading finesse in for hits…you’re fighting recklessly," 
Darien warned.
	"What should you know about fencing?" she teased.
	He circled his sword out of her lock, and attacked, clearly, quickly 
cutting off the first button of her shirt.  She looked down, and he took 
advantage of that moment, to disarm her and pin her to the ground, with 
his rapier at her throat.
	She breathed lightly, afraid the tip would puncture the skin at her 
neck.
	"Don’t be afraid," he said.  "I wouldn’t want to scar that pretty 
little throat…" his rapier went down to the next button of her shirt.  It 
circled the button carefully, considering it.
	"Don’t you dare do this to me in front of my friends…" she said, 
ready to burst out laughing…the whole event was rather humorous…he 
was a VERY skilled swordsman now..
	He smiled, his eyes dangerously flashing, but tossed aside the 
rapier to the stand where the others were, and grabbed her arm, pulling her 
up.
	"Good game," she burst out laughing.  "I don’t think I’ve ever been 
soundly defeated before…" she offered her hand.  "The Earth’s in good 
hands, your highness."
	He took her hand, and shook it heartily.

	"So the invincible Serena Kingston was finally defeated, huh?" 
Raye teased, as Serena changed behind a screen.
	"Not defeated.  I’ll get him back.  He was just lucky," she pulled 
off her shirt. smiling.  "He can parade around for now.  But because he 
WAS lucky, I have to mend my shirt…" she said, getting a corset and 
starting to fasten it on.
	Raye leaned back on the bed.  "I think it’s romantic…catching you 
in a sword fight."
	"Romantic as a mosquito…Raye, you’ll never change…" Serena 
stepped out, wearing pantalets and her corset, walking to the cabinet with 
her dresses.  After choosing a dress, and standing at the door of the 
cabinet, considering something absently, she looked to Raye.  "I hope you 
never change…"
	Raye nodded, tears starting to come to her eyes.
	Serena sat on the bed, next to Raye, dress over her arm.  "I’ll miss 
you…"
	Raye nodded slowly.
	Serena looked to the quilt.  "I know, it’s crazy, with all this that’s 
going on.  You’re being left in the dark, Raye.  I’m sorry.  I can’t tell you 
any more than you already know, because I’m afraid I don’t know much 
more than you do.  It’s frightening, and I know you feel as if you’re being 
abandoned…" she said, softly.
	"It’s okay," Raye’s eyes tried to brighten.  "I understand…really, I 
do.  Duty calls."
	"You always understood, Raye, even if we didn’t all understand 
you…" Serena teased.
	"Serena…I’m going to miss your jokes, a lot…you always 
understood me the most out of everyone…"
	"No…I think there may be someone who may understand you 
more than anyone could possibly imagine…I think he’s putting some high 
expectations on you, though…you have to show him you can stand strong, 
before he starts to truly understand you …" Serena said mysteriously.
	"My brother always expects the best out of me…"
	Serena sighed.  *She doesn’t see it yet, but she will.*  "Not 
Darien…"
	Raye looked to Serena, questioningly.
	Serena patted her arm.  "Don’t worry.  It’ll come together.  I mean 
it in more than just that.  Everything will come together, and though I 
know you’ll feel lost for a while, I know you’ll find a way…"

	Serena’s hands started to sweat fear as she walked about the garden 
with Jed.  
	Wordlessly, he took her into his arms, and held her.  "I’ll always 
remember the day when you stormed into the barracks, and told me that 
you weren’t in the Four.  It opened the sky for me, Serena.  It’s strange 
and cruel of me to say, but I had a feeling that if you had made it, I 
wouldn’t have been in the Four."
	Serena looked at Jed.  "If I was in the five, you’d still make it in 
the Four…"
	"If you were in the final five, there wouldn’t even be a need for 
Four," he smiled, taking her cheek into his palm.  "My sister…you were 
the one who I’d always go to.  The day when we found out that we both 
were going to Terryl Manes to train to be the prince’s guard…"
	"Jed…" Serena choked up, "I don’t know how much I’ll get to say 
to you tonight, but I want you to know, I’m going to miss you.  Out of the 
Four, you were my favorite…maybe because we’ve been friends for so 
long, but Jed, I always felt that need to protect you, even though you 
protected me from bullies when we were younger…"
	"…before you learned how to fight…" Jed said.  "That was a long 
time ago, before we grew up, and had things torn from us…" he started, 
bitterly.
	"We’ll get him back," she said, simply.  "Zoy’s one of us, and we 
always survive, got that?" She felt the tears, but forced them away.  "Trust 
him.  You always did before.  He won’t let us down."
	"He won’t…" Jed said.
	"I’ve got to say some more good byes, but I wanted to say one 
more thing.  I know strange things are happening, and more strange things 
will happen, but you’ve got to know, Jed, we’re all counting on 
you…some of us will count on you more than others…fight for everyone, 
protect everyone…that’s what the Four are all about.  You represent the 
pillar of courage.  Remember that, and you’ll never fail," she hugged him 
tightly.
 
	Mina knocked on the door softly, "Raye?"
	Raye turned from her book on her desk to the girl who stood at the 
doorway.  "I thought you were Serena…she told me she’d meet me 
here…"
	"No, she’s still talking to Jed…"
	Raye rolled her eyes.
	"But that’s all right," Mina said, "because I wanted to talk to you."
	Raye looked at Mina.  "Sure…"
	Mina walked to Raye, and started to pace in front of Raye’s chair.
	Raye smiled, and took her friend’s hand.  "You’ve been my lady in 
waiting for five years now.  You can tell me anything…"
	"Raye…I want to say that I’ll miss you, very much," Mina said, 
dropping to her knees in front of Raye, and holding her hands out to 
Raye’s.  "I’m terrified.  In the past years, the only things that have been 
clear about my future always were that I’d be in your service, regardless of 
where my past was, who I really was…but now, I find I have to abandon 
even that.  I wanted to say, Raye, that I loved serving for you.  I loved to 
be your lady in waiting."
	Raye’s eyes teared up, "You don’t know how much that means to 
me…"
	"We had lots of fun, didn’t we?" Mina said.  "That time, Lord 
Huntington was here, we went all star-eyed, and argued over who he 
stared at the most…"
	"…when he was really staring at Serena, and we got SO mad at 
her…" Raye’s eyes bubbled with laughter.
	"So we took her pillow, and we put in a bag of uncooked lima 
beans in there…"
	"And she couldn’t sleep for NIGHTS!"
	They hugged, unable to sit up straight for all the laughter and relief 
they felt coursing through their system.

	"I’m glad I got a moment with you, Serena…" Merlyn said, 
walking through the gardens with the girl who had captured her 
imagination and mind so many years ago.
	"I always have time for your majesty…"
	"No, don’t call me that…" Merlyn said.  "Call me Merlyn, right 
now, because I am not speaking to you as a queen.  I am speaking to you 
as a woman who has seen you grow up these past five years."
	Serena blushed, "All right, Merlyn…"
	"Serena, the court’s going to be awfully boring without you…" 
Merlyn said.
	"I’m going to miss Earth.  I’m going to miss teaming up with you 
against Darien…I’ll never forget the day he turned me down, and you 
came rushing into the room, demanding why I hadn’t hit your son 
harder…" Serena pealed with laughter.
	"A hundred of Those Who Guard will never be able to replace you, 
Serena…"
	"And a woman, who possesses more magic than the whole world, 
will never be able to take the place of you in my heart…thank you, 
Merlyn, for watching out for me, for encouraging me."

	The sun was starting to set when Neph managed to get a moment 
alone with Lita.
	"So…I guess, this is…it?" Lita said, worriedly, regretfully.
	"Yes…I suppose so…" Neph said, looking into her eyes, 
unwittingly searching for something.
	"Neph, you will write, won’t you?" Lita asked, concerned.
	"I will write, and I will visit…" Neph said.
	Lita almost collapsed with relief.  "Come as often as you can.  I’m 
going to look for you everyday…"
	"See if you can come back sometime, Lita…"
	"I will try…" she said, trying to hold back tears.  He hugged her.
	It hurt.  It punched at her heart, and the pain spread throughout her 
thoughts, and she could think of nothing more than the fact that she had 
leave back this man.  This man whom she loved.
	She turned away, and looked the sunset.  *Fool.  You’ll only miss 
him.  You don’t love him…you can’t…do you know who you were?  Who 
you are?  You only THINK you love him.*  Memories of his touch and 
kindness haunted his mind.  She shouldn’t have felt this way.  But it was 
so mysterious in coming, a slow blooming admiration that blossomed so 
quickly, and when she found out, she could do nothing.  And now, she had 
to let it stay that way.  "Um…It’s sunset…I think I have go…we’re 
leaving the minute the sky turns dark."
	Neph turned to the sinking sun.  If only the Earth was a land of 
daytime, with no nightfall.  If only Earth was a land of no love, no 
complications.  "All right, then…" he said, leaning forward, pecking her 
cheek briskly…"Write…" he said, clearing his throat.
	She turned, starting to walk back to the palace.
	"Wait, Lita…"
	Lita turned around, anxious to hear him say three words.  It was 
foolish…he was engaged…but… "Yes?"
	He looked at her eyes again, to find no change in the emotions…he 
saw a mournful face, a frightened face, but no flicker of emotion, or love, 
"Take care…" he said, resignedly.
	"You too…" she said, turning away, and walking away.

	The princess of the Moon was escorted through the halls, as she 
tried to memorize every step, every portrait, every laugh, every joke.
	"You look like it’s the end of the world…" Kunz kidded, joining 
her.
	"Not far from it…" she sighed.  "I’ll miss Earth a lot…"
	"I’ll write you, and giving you flowery descriptions of the snow 
falling over the hills in winter, and the sun kissing the mountains at 
sunset…" he said, laughing as her eyes started to fill up with tears.  On a 
more serious note, his face darkened.  "Just kidding.  I know I shouldn’t be 
doing this to you right now.  This is nothing to joke about."
	Mina’s face was a pale white, a ghost of courage lurked in her 
eyes.
	"Are you ready for this?"
	Mina’s oath was out on a bitten mutter.  "I can’t say that I am…"
	"But you can’t change that…" Kunz finished for her.  "Mina, I’m 
going to miss you…" he said, taking her hand in his, bringing it to his lips.
	Mina looked at her hand, and away.  "I’ll write…" she said, 
determined.

	The court of the Moon lined up, proceeding to the stairway to the 
heavens.  Queen Serenity and her daughter walked ahead of the others, 
Luna and Artimis on either side of them.
	Behind them, Princess Amyliana and Litanya strolled, in white 
traveling cloaks, the hoods over they heads.
	Serena followed at the end, in her Moonlight Maiden rboes, a 
white traveling cloak over her robes, and hood pulled low over her eyes.  
She did not show any signs of her past hour of sadness.
	Her blue eyes were not determined, cold, and unfeeling.  Cool, 
steady.  Her face was pale, and her lips were drawn in a straight thin line 
of fight.
	The procession stopped in front of the court of Earth.  Merlyn 
started the short goodbye ceremony, "The court of Earth was pleased by 
your visit to our kingdom, and hope that you may repeat the honor soon."
	Serenity replied courteously, "I am sure, as you will be sure to visit 
out kingdom soon."
	The Queens shook hands, and Merlyn offered her hand to Mina, 
who took it.  "Princess Minalle, thank you for all your service to my 
daughter.  My kingdom will miss you greatly," she said.
	At that moment, the McLullens stepped forward from the crowd of 
spectators, and were brought to Mina, who looked to Serenity.  Serenity 
nodded in approval.  She quickly approached her Earth parents, and fell 
into their arms, crying.  She then turned to Kunz, who stood in the line of 
Three, next to Darien.  The sadness and regret was evident, but she turned 
into her parent’s arms.
	"Ladies Litanya and Amyliana, your service was also greatly 
appreciated.  The court hopes you return to visit soon," Merlyn extended 
to Lita and Amy.  The two nodded.
	Neph discreetly stepped form the Three men who stood by Darien.  
Lita approached him, offering her hand to him, and they shook hands, their 
hands gripping each others as if the world were going to end if they broke 
contact.  Reluctantly, they let go, and Lita whispered into his ear, "Write."
	Lastly, Serena approached Merlyn.
	"Lady Serena, I have the greatest knowledge that you will 
represent our world to the best of your ability.  Take your place by the 
moon kingdom’s side.  Your services are done here.  We have taxed on 
your skills and life too long," she offered her hand to Serena.
	Serena took the hand, and curtseyed to the queen, showing the 
highest acknowledgment of the queen’s words.  Standing in her place, she 
turned around to see her parents, and walked to them, hugging them.  As 
she started to walk to the procession line again, she was halted by a hand 
on her arm.
	She looked at the hand, to its owner, and shrugged off his touch, 
bowing to him.
	"Milady, I wish to offer you something…" Prince Darien said, 
formally, offering a scroll.
	"Read it aloud …" Darien said, looking to Kunz, Neph and Jed for 
encouragement.  They nodded.  "…now."
	Serena unrolled the scroll, and started reading the scrawl aloud to 
the audience.  "Now, therefore, be it resolved by Prince Darien of the 
house of Wyndica, that any female in the kingdom who chooses to pursue 
an education, can join any academy she chooses…" Serena said, eyes 
widening, looking up to Darien’s eyes.
	Lita looked at Neph, and he nodded.  The surprise for Serena.
	Serena looked surprised, and gratified.  This time, when she met 
Darien’s eyes, she understood his respect for her, the respect that she had 
fought for…granted.
	The talk yesterday…he had spent that time, showing her…but she 
hadn’t seen it.  Now, she did, and it warmed her heart.  Everything made 
sense…
	In full respect for him, she gave him a curtsey, as she had done for 
the queen of Earth.  She offered her hand.  And finally, the tears came.  
But not tears of anger, nor sadness…tears of a warm joy at finally being 
respected for the person she was.
	*Thank you…*  
	The clearing of the throat broke the interlude.  Serena looked away, 
and smiled, embarrassed to the Queen of the Moon.
	Serenity had seen the two standing next to each other, seen the 
admiration of acceptance in each of their eyes.  She felt a pride for her 
ward.  The Moonlight Maiden had earned much respect for being herself.
	She then looked at her daughter, who now was looking at a young 
man standing next to Prince Darien.  The man had long white hair, smooth 
blue eyes, and a tough build.  The expression was one of finality, as if she 
were being sentenced, and that this would be the last time they’d ever see 
each other.  
	Serenity’s heart hurt.  There was so much sadness in this 
departure…but it was for the best.  She felt her mother’s presence here, 
too much…
	Serena joined the procession, and Serenity finished the short good 
bye ceremony.  "Thank you, people of Earth.  I have enjoyed my stay here 
very much, and have come to admire your spirit and planet in the highest 
light."
	The court of Earth bowed, and the court of the Moon proceeded up 
the stairway of moonlight.
	Serena turned, from the procession, to let her eyes fall back on her 
home, her tears starting to chill her heart and soul.  The eyes searched for a 
lasting picture, an image to remember.  They searched for her parents.
	But they fell on the prince of Earth, who looked to her with great 
regret.  The eyelock pulled at her thoughts, and she turned away, looking 
to the Moon, her future.
	The prince of Earth reached inside his pocket, and clutched the 
locket that lay safely inside.

	Somewhere in the shadows, stood two figures, watching the 
procession, silently.  A woman, with fiery red hair and evil, bloodshot 
eyes smiled wickedly…a whole planet without the pesky guardians to 
hinder her plans.  She would have it, soon.  She looked at her first general 
and smiled at her first triumph.
	The man who stood next to her was silent, and strangely cold.  The 
ice was pumping in his blood, the darkness fell like a cloud over every 
single expression in his eyes.  His heart had been suspended in ice.  He 
had no feeling now.
	But as the girl with the short blue hair turned from the moon 
staircase, turning around to look back…unwittingly look at where he 
stood, a tear slid from the corner of his eye.

To be continued…

What shall happen?  What will happen to Raye?  Will Darien visit the 
kingdom?  What shall happen to our heroines?  Is Beryl plotting 
something?  Will Neph and Lita every have the courage to face their 
feelings?  Will Mina and Kunz?  What will happen to Serena and Darien?  
Mina and Darien?
Chapter 5, "Playing with Fire" will come out when it does.  Sorry.  Can’t 
think right now.