"For Serenity's Sake" By: Isis @}->-- isis@moonkingdom.com Rated: G Alternate e-mail: isis_cw@yahoo.com Disclaimers: Sailor Moon is not a product of my imagination, yet this manipulation of its characters and story line is. Please do not copy. Author's Notes: Close to year since "For Argument's Sake" entered SM fandom, the humble goddess has returned. Though I had many requests for a follow up to my first piece, I felt that I had to try my hand at a Silver Millennium fic first. I drew quite a lot from the manga and I hope I do not confuse any of you with this. If so, please e-mail me with any questions; I would hate to have you confused all the way through! With that, welcome to the second installment of the kingdom of Isis. Two special notes must go out; first to Taf, my beta reader, who put up with my madness for months on end waiting for me to finish this thing!! God love ya, Taf, thank you!! Second a special thank you for everyone who read "FAS" and wrote to me about it. You guys are the best. I never expected such results. Thank you. BTW, for anyone wondering I ALWAYS return e- mail, there have only been a few exceptions that I could not contact. {}[] Kisses and hugs to all!! PS. To all mythology loving individuals out there… consider this a test! ;-) This is dedicated to everyone who still likes to dream and will not allow life to interrupt them! Prologue @}->-- The dome of the planet sat low in the vast blankness of the night sky. The huge orb had eaten away the sun nearly an hour before, and since the visitors had grouped themselves around the unfamiliar palace. Yet, still one small form lingered at the rail of the balcony, watching intently the giant as it too prepared for its nightly rest. The boy showed only eight years, yet the depth of his eyes in contemplation could rival the muses. And, as now, something troubled the youth enough to weigh in on his thoughts. It had been a short trek, and swiftly taken, that had brought the child and his mother to foreign soil and would take them home again before the sun's rays managed to skirt the obtrusive planet once more. But the trouble was not the trip itself but in what he had found on it. Beauty, eloquence, and a small, nearly family orientated, center to this "aloof and removed" kingdom as he had heard it sited so many times. He was young and of seemingly little consequence to those he may over-hear. He believed he would find more of the same here, only he had been mistaken. The people he had found were considerate and inviting to him, much as his mother's inner court always acted towards him. The queen herself seemed curious of him and asked him frequently to voice his opinion of her home. He had taken quite a liking to the gentile, soft-spoken, silver-haired woman. His mother had spoken of the queen's daughter who, it was rumored, was kept locked within the high tower, so over- protective was her mother. The boy turned to look up at the heights of the palace rising to meet the silver stars above him. In his innocent imaginings he could see a small playroom and chamber where the little princess stayed most of her days being frequented often by the queen. He wondered silently if there truly was such a place, though try as he might he could find no lights illuminating the windows of the tall spirals visible to him from his post. He had asked his mother earlier if he would ever meet the princess but she had simply smiled and told him he was much too inquisitive, yet she did relate that the girl had not yet reached her third year and therefore was still too young to be introduced to court life. So the young one's vigil continued as he rounded again to the sinking sphere. The peaceful landscape lay dark but unforeboding to him. His deep blue eyes could just pick out the huge fountain that streamed below. Small fairy-like lights displayed it in soft shadows and sparkles. The boy balanced himself on his toes so that he could reach a height to place his chin on the cool stone railing. His eyes drifted back to the orb that was threatening to be eaten away by the distant trees. His confused thoughts turned back to those of his home. Why did so many think so badly about this pretty place? He liked it here… @}->--_____________ "If there is light in the soul, there is beauty in the person. If there is beauty in the person, there is harmony in the house. If there is harmony in the house, there is order in the nation. If there is order in the nation, there will be peace in the world." -Chinese Proverb Personal Note: "If I had more time, I would write a shorter story." – Samuel Clemens ;)