Subject: Past Loves: Part One by Fushigi Kismet --------------------------------------------------------------------- Author's Notes This a Part One of a six-parter. If you don't like romances, GO ELSEWHERE! Anime Quote of the Day: "On behalf of the Moon, you will be free again."ÑQueen Serenity after the destruction of the Moon Kingdom, Sailor Moon. Okay, now the DISCLAIMER: Sailor Moon belongs to a lot of people and companies, none of which include me. To give you a rundown, the show, characters, likenesses, manga, toys, etc. belong to Takeuchi Naoko, Nakayoshi, Kodansha, Bandai, Toei Co. Ltd., I know Buena Vista's in here somewhere, D.I.C. (All right, it's not the best dub job ever, but they are the ones who brought it over here, be thankful even if you do think D.I.C. sucks.), The Program Exchange?, blah, blah, blah, and probably many, many, many others. Copyrighted 1992. I am getting no money out of this, don't sue. Oh yeah, Moonlight Densetsu is copyright somebody 1992 (not me.) However, this is an original work by ME, and the original song, "ANGEL LIGHT" (No this is not a religious reference!) is MINE, and I will suck out your not-so-pure heart crystal, thereby KILLING you if you use it without my permission and even scarier SUE you if you do. Mwahaha! Uh, I'm not joking so please ask first if you have any manners or decency at all. Thank you. Sailor Moon Past Loves by Fushigi Kismet The beginning of "Moonlight Densetsu" starts playing. A painting of the Moon Kingdom appears. The camera pans away from it and we see Minako, Rei, Makoto, Ami, Usagi, and Mamoru looking at it in a store window. Yumeno Yumemi comes out and invites them in. They walk in and are instantly surrounded by dozens of paintings of the Moon Kingdom. Usagi sighs as she sees one of Queen Serenity. Mamoru puts an arm around her and holds her close. She leans on his shoulder, looks up at him while he is looking down at her and they smile. The screen flashes BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON PAST LOVES (in Japanese) and pans away until it is centered and surrounded by flashing colors. "Gomen ne sunao ja nakute," A young fourteen-year old Queen Serenity walks into the midst of a crowd, carrying two heavy wooden buckets filled with water. Her face is smeared with dirt and her clothes are plain. She looks up in surprise at a handsome young man who helps her. "Yume no naka nara ieru," Queen Serenity wakes up in the middle of the night, tears trailing down her cheeks. "Shikou Kairo wa shotto sunzen," Queen Serenity stares at her husband (the handsome young man from before) as he laughs insanely on his throne. She turns away. Her gaze is downcast. "Ima sugu aitai yo." Luna and Artemis (as kittens) run up to Queen Serenity and say something simultaneously. She smiles. "Nakitaku naru you-na Moonlight," Queen Serenity is alone in her gardens as she stares up at the full moon. She offers a prayer. "Denwa mo dekinai Midnight." She begins to glow in the moonlight, then turns around to face the camera. She is smiling and her crescent moon glows. "Datte junjou dou shiyou?" Cut to a scene of Queen Serenity blinking in surprise as the two kittens toss her a vial of some liquid. "Haato wa mangekyou." Cut to a scene of the full moon in the sky. The view spirals around it and then to the ground where we see a beautiful silver palace. It is *not* the one in Crystal Tokyo. "Tsuki no hikari ni michibikare," Queen Serenity sprouts her fairy wings and rises into the sky in a burst of sparkling lights and others rise with her. We see their shadowy forms and some of their profiles look remarkably like those of the eight Sailor Senshi of the future. "Nandomo meguri-au," A bright white light explodes, then fades and the Moon palace is there. Cut to the young Sailor Senshi staring at baby Princess Serenity, in Queen Serenity's arms, as she looks at them and giggles. "Seiza no mataki kazoe uranau koi yukue." The stars sparkle in the sky as Queen Serenity looks at them and sighs. The Earth hangs in front of her as she stands on her balcony. She turns away as Princess Serenity (now a toddler) runs in and hugs her mother's legs, obviously having had a bad dream. Queen Serenity bends down and hugs her. She smiles. "Onaji kuni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu." Prince Endymion, around six years old, sits bolt upright in bed and stares out his window (which is on the left side of the screen) at the full moon. The camera shifts to focus on a red rose in a vase on his table. The rose glows and sends out a scarlet light which fills the screen. It fades to show Princess Serenity, still a toddler, sitting bolt upright in bed and staring out *her* window (which is on the right side of the screen) at Earth. "Mo ichido futari de Weekend," Usagi and Mamoru sit on a blanket spread out in the park and eat a picnic lunch. Usagi is holding a pie in her left hand as she bends to pick up her fork. Mamoru turns to say something to her as she straightens up with a happy cry, her fork in her hand. He gets, you guessed it, a cream pie in the face. Usagi and Mamoru look at each other, (he's just eyes staring out of cream) then start laughing. "Kami-sama kanaeta Happy-end." Usagi uses a napkin to tenderly wipe the last bit of pie off of Mamoru's face and she smiles cutely at him. He catches her hand and smiles at her and they kiss. "Genzai kako mirai mo," Flash images really fast of toddler Princess Serenity in the past, teenage Usagi in the present, and Neo-Queen Serenity in the future on the screen. "Anata ni kubittake." Flash images really fast of six-year old Prince Endymion in the past, Mamoru in the present, and King Endymion in the future on the screen. "Deatta toki no natsukashii," Three-year old Princess Serenity and six-year old Prince Endymion walk into each other in the royal rose gardens on Earth and bump heads. They start to yell at each other, then quickly apologize and smile. "Manazashi wasurenai," The stars sparkle in the heavens again. Cut to a split screen of three-year old Princess Serenity (on the left side of the screen) and six-year old Prince Endymion (on the right side of the screen) sitting up in bed and staring out of their windows. (Since it's a split screen, there are no windows and it looks like they're staring at each other.) "Ikusenman no hoshi kara anata o mitsukerareru," Three-year old Princess Serenity plays with her older Sailor Senshi on the moon. Six-year old Prince Endymion plays with his older Guardians on Earth. "Guuzen mo chansu ni kaeru ikikata ga suki yo." Mamoru, Usagi, Rei, Minako, Makoto, and Ami walk through the park together, laughing and talking. Usagi, who isn't looking because she's talking to Mamoru, accidentally walks into Rei where she has stopped to smell some flowers. Rei gets up, self-righteous and annoyed and starts to yell at Usagi, who looks like she's about to cry, but then Minako, who's talking to Makoto and Ami and also isn't looking, walks into Usagi. Minako sudden stop causes Makoto and Ami trip and fall onto her while she's falling on Usagi, who's falling on Rei. They all land with a crash on the ground. Mamoru's the only one who's left standing and he gets a *huge* sweat drop. Everyone gets to their feet, start to yell, stop, then start laughing. "Fushigi-na kiseki Kurosu-shite nandomo meguri-au," Little Princess Serenity and little Prince Endymion stare out their windows some more. Cut to a scene of a rose spiraling in a beam of moonlight. There is the flap of a black cape at the edge of the pool of moonlight on the right side of the screen, the rest is hidden in shadows. On the left side of the screen a tiara flashes right before that person turns away into the shadows. "Seiza no matataki kazoe uranau koi no yukue." Another scene of the full moon and the earth. They spiral around each other, before coming to a stop. Superimpose a picture of Princess Serenity over the moon and Prince Endymion over the earth. They're looking at each other while holding hands and smiling. Pan away to show the other planets of the solar system in alignment. "Onaji juni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu." Queen Serenity smiles at the camera, before fading into the background with Luna and Artemis as kittens taking her place. They also fade out and the shadowy Senshi-like images seen before appear and fade out. "Shinjite-iru no," Queen Serenity appears smiling, little Princess Serenity at her feet waving. Little Prince Endymion appears next to her and they hold hands. All of the other Senshi as kids (Except Pluto who is still an adult) show up to the side of the trio and look cute. "Mirakura Romansu." The kittens appear and everyone poses for the camera and freezes in place. BITTER LOVE Prologue Many people forget that before Sailor Moon was ever an adventure, tragedy, fairy tale, or anything else for that matter, it was first and foremost a love story. A love story that spanned centuries and became legend. This is a portrayal of the events that led up to the beginning of that legend. There is no one who says that this is really what happened, will happen, or could happen. There is also no one who says that it isn't. And so begins the start of a legend, forever enduring. *In the beginning* In the beginning and once upon a time, and all that sort of thing, there lived a King and his Queen. He was a very famous King, having performed many famous exploits before becoming King and was known to his people as a Hero. She was less famous, having been a simple commoner, but there were things about her that were more talked about than any of the King's exploits. Her beauty for one, and her magic for another. This Queen was no ordinary Queen, for she was Serenity, Queen of Earth, and last of the Great Sorceresses of the Moon. Serenity sighed as she glided gracefully down the hallway. This was the last time. She turned a corner and stared at the mess in front of her. Pots and pans lay strewn about, food was littered everywhere, boxes and barrels full of dried food had been tipped over and looked into and left spilt on the floor. Flour covered everything. The two kittens lay in a heap in the midst of the disaster area. They were coated nose to tail by a fine layer of flour. A nervous looking woman stood by, wringing her hands. She rushed forward, and curtsied awkwardly. "Oh, m'Queen, I'm quite sorry for sending for you for such a little thing as this, butÑOh, lookit what they've done to m'kitchen!" The woman burst into tears and Serenity sighed again. This is definitely the last time. She walked over to where the cats were napping. One of their tails twitched. Serenity knelt down and poked at the kittens none to gently. "Wake up! Hey, wake up, you two!" One of the kittens rolled over onto his back and snored. The truly white one, Serenity decided. Serenity stood up and dusted off her hands, then shouted, "By *order* of your *Queen*, GET UP NOW!!!" Startled and frightened, the kittens leapt to their feet. Trembling, they looked up into the face of their Queen, who had, by now, calmed down considerably. The cleaner of the two kittens took two trembling steps forward. "Y-your Majesty, um . . . w-we d-didn't mean to . . ." Serenity looked severely down at the kitten, "So, since this is the fourth time this week, every other time was just an accident as well, I assume?" The kitten meekly stepped back and bowed her head, sneaking behind the other one, whom she pushed forward. He looked up at Serenity in fright and tried to explain himself. "Uh, er, um, y-you see, Your Highness, we're j-just k-k-k-kittens, a-and we don't know any b-better . . ." Serenity looked down at them, "Save it. I've heard enough excuses from you two to last me a lifetime! As royal cats and ambassadors of Mau, you should know better." At the mention of "royal cats and ambassadors of Mau" the two cats straightened up and lifted their heads proudly, almost defiantly. The crescent moons on their foreheads shone. The Queen did not miss this and inwardly she smiled, while outwardly she frowned. "Do not mistake me, you two may be very important dignitaries, but I am afraid that I cannot allow you to continue disrupting Palace life. Unless you wish me to send for each of your parents and have them take you home, and send two *older*, more *mature* cats in your place, I suggest you shape up." "Yes, ma'am," they replied weakly, the defiance gone from their stance. "Now," she said, "you, Luna, Guardian Cat of the Royal Family, and Advisory to the Queen, I expect you to spend more time on your lessons and less time on playing. Is that understood?" "Yes, Your Majesty." "And you, Artemis, Guardian Cat of the Royal Guard, and Advisory to the Queen, I expect you to spend more time on your training and less time on playing. Is that understood?" "But Your Highness, I'm just a cute kitten!" He meowed cutely. Luna looked at him in disbelief. Serenity sighed. Geez, he was cute, but this was the last time. Putting iron in her voice, she repeated, "Artemis, is that understood?" "Yes, Your Highness." "Good, now help the cook clean up and get to work. Oh, and if I hear any more about you misbehaving and making a mess, I will send for your parents." She turned and walked out of the mess, the cook thanking her profusely on the way out. The Queen sighed again. I'm growing tired of lecturing kittens. The full moon will be up tomorrow night, I will consult the moon then as to what I should do about . . . She shook her head. She wouldn't think of it now. Thinking about it hurt. Behind her, the two kittens were staring at the enormous mess. "Oh great," Luna said gazing at the flour-covered room, "we'll be grown up before we clean this place up." She turned to Artemis where he lay dozing on the floor. "And it's all *your fault*, lazybones!" She smacked him with her paw and he sprang to his feet, shouting, "LUNA! That hurt!" "Good!" she said, chasing him around the kitchen. "I'm GLAD!" Behind her, Queen Serenity heard something crash and she sighed. *Later that day* "SERENITY!!!!" came the loud, bellowing voice again. "I'm coming!" she cried, rushing down the hallway, pausing only to gather her skirts up again. The people she passed bowed respectfully in her wake but she had no time to respond. The people shook their heads knowingly. The poor Queen had been summoned by her husband. Serenity arrived at the throne room, slightly out of breath. "Yes, Sire?" she said respectfully. "You summoned me?" The King sneered at her. "Of course I did! Where were you?" "I was out in the gardens." "Well, you shouldn't have been. You should have been in here attending to me. I have something to tell you." He smirked. "Something you'll want to hear." "Yes?" "You know that I've been worried about an heir?" "Yes," Serenity whispered, frightened. He couldn't have found a new wife, could he? If he had, then Serenity knew that she would be executed immediately. she thought to herself. She felt the life within her stir. The King continued talking. "Well, you don't need to worry anymore, my dear." He laughed madly. "I have found the answer to all of my problems. Eternal life," he whispered. His eyes blazed oddly. "What?" Serenity asked, stunned. "I have learned a great secret. There is a rare liquid, know as the Elixir of Eternal Life, that will grant immortality to whomever partakes of it. That will be us." He gestured to her. "I will have no need of an heir. I will live forever with you at my side. I will rule all of Earth!" He laughed again and began muttering to himself. "Then no one can oppose me. Not those brutish barbarians from over the mountains, or those seafaring villains. All the kingdoms of the world will fall to me, one by one, and I will rule the world!" He turned to his royal couriers. "Send forth the message for my armies to seek out this most precious vial of liquid and bring it to me, their King!" "Yes, Sire." The couriers nodded and ran off. Serenity left, unnoticed. She went to her royal chambers and locked herself in. Then, with her back to the door, she slid to the ground and began sobbing. "He has taken leave of his senses. He is mad! So mad . . . What will I do now? He has no need of an heir. Oh, daughter, daughter, I am so sorry for what he has become. Power has corrupted him. He is a tyrant now. I had not wanted to believe it, but the people fear him. I fear him. Oh, sacred moon, give me guidance! How can I stop him? He cannot be allowed to rule forever." Serenity thought dully. " I wish . . . I wish I could stop him from hurting more people." Two blurs leapt down from the top of the queen's bed. "Never fear, Your Majesty," they said in unison. Queen Serenity looked up through her tears. The images were blurry, but the two crescent moon signs flashed golden and she knew them at once. "Luna. Artemis." "Your Highness," they replied. "The time has come when you have need of us. As your cat advisors, we must inform you that drastic measures must be taken to insure that the King does not gain possession of the Elixir of Eternal Life. It is for the good of the kingdom as well as yourself." "I know. You're right. But I don't have to like it. IÑI still love him, despite the monster that he's become." Luna cocked her head and looked at the Queen. "The King is unstable. Soon, if nothing is done, the country will collapse." Artemis jumped up a little and placed his front paws on the Queen's knees. "Your safety is also at risk. The King may decide that with eternal life, you are expendable. We must also make the safety of the Princess a priority." Queen Serenity looked wide-eyed at her two feline advisors. "How did you know?" Luna and Artemis exchanged a self-satisfied look. Luna replied for the both of them. "We're cats. We're allowed to have *some* secrets." *Late that night* Serenity rested a hand on the door of the royal bedchamber as she looked back at bed that she shared with her husband. He was still asleep. Good. She slipped out of the room, lithe and quick in the darkness. She stealthily clung to the shadows, searching for support, for comfort, but all she found was the cold impartialness of the still quiet. She shivered in the night and wrapped her arms around herself. She hurried on. She made no sound as her bare feet ran on the cold, hard marble of the tiled floor, of the long, wide, pillared hallway, but they heard her. Two pairs of eyes gleamed in the darkness as they followed her. Moonlight shimmered on her hair as Serenity paused for a breath in the rose garden, feeling more secure outside of the palace walls. "You shouldn't exert yourself so," a voice whispered in the darkness. Serenity had stiffened at the sound of the voice, but forced herself to relax as the lithe dark form leapt from the darkness into the patch of moonlight. "Luna," Serenity said in a reprimanding tone, "you mustn't frighten me so." Luna looked back up at her Queen and said nothing, but her eyes glinted in the moonlight. Artemis padded up behind Luna on silent cat feet and settled himself down next to her. Serenity turned away from them to look up at the nearly full moon. "Luna, Artemis, what did you wish to speak with me about?" she asked softly. Artemis looked at Luna for permission then began speaking. "Your Majesty, we have received word that the Elixir has been found and will arrive at court tomorrow." Startled, Serenity turned from her contemplation of the moon to stare at the two cats. "How do you know this?" Luna replied. "We may be kittens, but we are still your advisors. It is our job to know." "So the Elixir is arriving. What do you want me to do?" "You must prevent the king from drinking it." "At all costs." "I can't kill him!" "No, of course not," Luna reassured her, hastily. "But you must at least delay him. For a week, a day even. The rest will be up to us." "What are you planning to do with the Elixir? Destroy it?" "We can't destroy it. It's a magical fluid. The only way it will cease to exist is if someone drinks it." "But who?" Luna looked at her firmly. "No! I don't want to be immortal! I just want to live a normal life." "Then you should never have married the king." "He was kind before. A hero. Just let him drink it. I couldn't bear to live alone forever anyway." "You're not alone. There's the princess. Majesty," Luna pleaded, "you can't let your husband drink the Elixir. Being immortal, he would be able to conquer the world, eventually. Think of how many people he'd hurt. Think of all the people that he's hurting right now." Serenity closed her eyes and tried to block out the image of that family who had been brought in that morning. The family that had lacked the money to pay the taxes and had been evicted. She thought of the husband and wife, dressed in clothes worn down to ribbons so they could say money for food for the children, clothes, shoes . . . But after the taxes, they hadn't had enough money to feed themselves. Serenity remembered the look in the man's eyes as he was led off to the dungeons. He should have been angry. His eyes should have smoldered with contempt for them, but they hadn't. His eyes had been older than his years, bitter, broken, and despairing. There had been a desperate appeal in his eyes to her. She had told the guards leading him off to stop, let him go, but the King had rounded on her, furious, and order the guards to take him away. The woman and the five, scraggly children had screamed and cried, and begged for mercy, but the King had simply smiled. He then had ordered the guards to put them to work on the chain gangs. They too had been led off and Serenity had been helpless to stop them. The image, horrific though it was, might not have stuck with her quite so forcefully if the youngest child, the small emancipated girl with eyes too big for her face, and a crippled leg had not turned to look back at Serenity. Her eyes, grey pools of suffering and pain had looked bravely into Serenity's own. Then the child had wiped her eyes with a dirty sleeve and hugging a shapeless stuffed toy to her, had turned away and hobbled off holding her weeping mother's hand. Serenity blinked and found tears in her own eyes, which she didn't bother to hide. "All right, Luna," she whispered in defeat, "we'll do this your way." "You won't have to be alone," Luna said in a quiet voice. "You can take your Court." "They can be trusted!" Artemis piped up. Serenity smiled. "You're good friends. Both of you. But where shall we go to escape my husband?" Luna turned to stare into the sky and Artemis did as well. Serenity followed their gaze. "The moon?!" she asked incredulously. "There is a legend," Luna said carefully, "that one day a kingdom, ruled by a Queen of the Moon, will rise up and become the perfect utopia. This kingdom shall last for over a thousand years, into eternity, or so I was told." She looked at Serenity. "Perhaps, my Queen, that time has come." "Perhaps it has." *The next morning* The Elixir came as Luna and Artemis had said it would. Serenity convinced her husband to wait to drink it and hold a lavish celebration before he left mortal life behind forever. Pleased, he had agreed with her suggestion and had locked the precious vial of liquid away in his private treasure room. He had then dismissed her so that she could find something appropriate to wear. Serenity had left, but not to change. She had sent for her Court, which consisted of her ladies in waiting. They arrived and anxiously awaited whatever she had to say. As she was about to begin, eight swirling shapes, eight swirling masses of energy took shape around her. Serenity recognized them all. "Pluto," she said, acknowledging the leader. Pluto walked up to Serenity. "It is Setsuna here. Serenity, you can not do this. It will alter the flow of time." "And who is to say that this is not as it should be?" "No one should be immortal!" "You are." "And that is why, I know." Setsuna said this quietly and her eyes and Serenity's eyes locked. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Serenity's startled silver eyes met Setsuna's solemn red ones. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> Setsuna turned, her staff in her hand and disappeared. The other figures of the eight remained and they walked up to Serenity with firm, implacable expressions. The Sorceress of Mars intoned, "Queen Serenity, last of the Sorceresses of the White Moon, you seek immortality, do you not?" "I do." The ladies-in-waiting rustled their dresses nervously before the Sorceress of Jupiter shot them a look which silenced them. "So you seek to live past the number of years that have been granted you?" Sorceress Mercury asked. "No," Serenity replied. "I seek to prevent the Elixir of Eternal Life from falling into my husband's hands. "So you would drink of it?" Sorceress Venus asked curiously. "Yes." "And you wouldn't share!" Mars broke in. Serenity looked at her incredulously. "WHAT?" Everyone, including the ladies-in-waiting turned to look at Sorceress Mars. She blushed bright red and mumbled something that no one could hear. "Where would you go to escape the King's wrath?" Sorceress Neptune asked to get everyone's attention back on the matter at hand. "I would journey to the moon." "That's impossible!" Sorceress Mars snapped. Everyone stared at her again. "Well, maybe not, but it is *really* difficult," she murmured. "Difficulty is not the issue," Sorceress Uranus said. Sorceress Jupiter nodded. "Agreed." She turned to Serenity. "What were you planning to do on the moon?" Luna spoke up then and everyone directed their attention to the cat. "Surely, you are familiar with the legend? A millennium of peace for all the planets, a utopian society ruled over by the Queen of the moon?" Jupiter nodded. "I know of what you speak and I find no fault with it. Peace would be a welcome change." She turned her attention back to Serenity. "Queen Serenity, Sorceress Moon, we have come to beg a boon of you." "A boon?" "We would that you relinquish some of the fabled fluid so that we too may enjoy your extreme longevity!" Sorceress Venus piped up. "Um," Serenity began, flustered. What was she to say to her fellow sorceresses? Sorry, but I don't think there's enough? Sorceress Uranus shot Sorceress Venus a venomous look, then turned to Serenity. "It is a magic liquid, a drop is enough." Serenity looked at her. "How can I trust you? Any of you? Immortality isn't something to be taken lightly." "No," Sorceress Neptune spoke up. "It isn't. But Serenity, you won't be alone and neither will we. We will swearÑall of usÑby the planets that provide us with power that we will not misuse the gift of immortality." "To put your mind at ease, Serenity, we will vow our allegiance to you, and our children shall vow their allegiance to your child." Sorceress Mercury smiled. "Come, Serenity, you shall have control over the moon and we our planets and they shall be in harmony. Then this Silver Millennium that you speak of shall be accomplished." Queen Serenity shot Luna an angry look. Did everyone know of her unborn child? Luna shrugged as best a cat could and did not meet her Queen's eyes. Serenity looked at the eight sorceress in front of her and her ladies-in-waiting cowering in the back of the room. "All right," she said, giving in. Then she looked at them all sharply, especially Mars. "Bring your followers and apprentices if you would, and your husbands if you must. Bring them, and quickly, and when it is time that we make our escape from this world, you shall know it by the signal that I will send forth. Be ready." They nodded in understanding. Queen Serenity stopped them before they could turn to leave. "If you will vow to follow me, into a bright and happy futureÑa peaceful future for allÑthen I will grant you this immortality that you seek. But as for my child, your children shall be her playmates, her friends, her guardians, and also . . . her Senshi. This do you swear also, on behalf of your unborn children?" They nodded again, and then each knelt before her and gave her their vow, on behalf of them and theirs, to follow Serenity into a peaceful future. Then they left, and Serenity turned to her ladies- in-waiting. "Will you come?" she asked. They nodded, silent, and Serenity sent them out to collect their family, their things, and she swore them to secrecy so that the king should no naught of this. When they left, even Luna, and she was alone, Serenity sank back onto her bed, and she wept. She wept for a long, long time, for the love that she was leaving behind. The love that had once bloomed had wilted and faded until it was no more than a few brittle petals in her hand, with a hint of the scent and sweetness that they had once had. A thought crossed Serenity's mind as she rubbed at her red-rimmed eyes when she had finished weeping for her lost love after she had finished plotting out her betrayal of him, and it was this: Men are weak . . . but so are women. It was late that night, after all the feasting and toasts drunk to the king's immortality that Serenity had decided to take a walk. By herself, in the gardens. She loved the gardens, the solitude and peace of mind she found there, and she knew that she would miss them. As she bent to sniff a rose, she felt a presence behind her, and without rising she knew who it was. "Hello Setsuna," she said calmly as she inhaled the fragrance of the rose appreciatively. "What brings you here?" Setsuna's voice answered her in the blue-darkness of the evening. "So they begged a boon of you. Fools, to wish for immortality." Serenity straightened but did not turn. "Then you must think me more of a fool, Setsuna, for granting them their request." "No," came the response and Serenity was surprised, though she did not let it show. "No, I do not think you a fool. Out of all of *them* you are the only one that escapes that title." Serenity sighed and felt the heaviness of the mantle of responsibility she carried settle more firmly about her shoulders, weighing her down. "Setsuna," she said, her voice gentle. "Why did you come?" There was the faintest sound of movement from behind her and Serenity knew that Setsuna was shifting her grip on her staff. "I came, Serenity, to say that I too will serve you. And I will watch over your unborn child." Serenity gasped and pressed her hands firmly against her mouth so that the sound would not escape, but she knew that Setsuna knew. "You would vow your allegiance to me?" she asked carefully. "No, Serenity," and Setsuna's voice was chiding, "you know that I would not. I comeÑand you know that this is hard for me to sayÑwith an offer of friendship, for we will both live for a very, very long time, and among all of the others, you are the only one that I do not think of as a fool." "Why me?" "Because you alone do not wish for immortality, but choose to take it, so as to spare others the burden. That is not a wise thing to do, but it shows compassion. Perhaps you alone have compassion enough to befriend one such as me." "Give yourself more credit, Setsuna. You could have more friends." "But I choose not to." "I know. And for that reason, I am honored by your offer, Setsuna, and I accept. I will be your friend." She began to turn around to face Setsuna but she said "Stop" in a tone that brooked no argument. "What is the matter?" Serenity asked, calmly. "You mustn't turn around, Serenity. You know the game we play. If anyone asks, you have not seen me, at least not here." "And I have not," Serenity replied. "One rarely sees you, Setsuna. The Sorceress Pluto is quite elusive." Setsuna let out a chuckle as she twirled her Time Staff. "And I intend to remain that way." Then she was gone. Serenity smiled at that then turned around. Instantly the smile faded from her lips and from her eyes as she viewed the scene before her. Artemis and Luna were leaping desperately trying to stay ahead of the angry group of guards who were chasing them while waving torches and spears. The two kittens leapt over a rake lying in the garden, and the guard in front missed grabbing them by inches. He didn't manage to avoid the rake however, and fell, sprawling, his torch bouncing to the ground and catching the ornamental bushes on fire. The others immediately following him fell on top of him while those further back ran screaming from the fire. Meanwhile the two cats were merely yards away from Serenity. She could see that Luna was carrying a vial of something in her mouth. The cat hurriedly sent her a thought. <> She tossed it to Serenity while the Queen simply blinked in surprise. At the last instant she jerked herself into motion and caught the vial of priceless elixir. "Drink it!" Luna cried, her voice barely carrying of the roaring flames that had engulfed the bushes and flowers and were heading for where Serenity stood. Serenity thought to herself. Nevertheless, she gathered the power within herself and it coalesced, then exploded in a bright golden beam that flared from the crescent moon on her forehead into the sky. she thought wearily. Suddenly, they were there. The Sorceresses and their families and Courts. Before Serenity could even ask "how?" Setsuna turned to her and said in a rush, "Sorceress Pluto, Guardian of Time, at your service. Now hurry, Serenity. Time grows short!" Serenity uncorked the vial with a pop and bringing it to her lips thought to herself, However, it was then that her husband arrived on the scene and she found herself swallowing more than she had intended. She stared at the vial in horror, her mind quickly surmised and she passed the liquid to Sorceress Mars who took it eagerly and downed her drop. She then passed it to Sorceress Mercury and so on until the nearly empty vial was back in Serenity's hands. Sweat ran down her face from the heat that the flames all around them were giving off. Her husband and his guards could not get past the wall of fire between them and the Sorceresses. Serenity stared at him with blank eyes as though she had never seen him before. The roaring of the flames covered whatever he was shouting at her, but no doubt it was nothing more than a long string of obscenities. The world fazed in and out and patterns of lights played themselves out in front of her eyes. She shook her head to try and clear her mind and focus her vision. Her eyes fell on Luna and Artemis and impulsively she beckoned them forward. They scampered up to her and she poured the last two drop of the liquid into their mouths. Then she rose unsteadily and tossed the glass vial into the fire where it exploded. She smiled at her husband, feeling faint and then the bubbly, light feeling inside of her spread to her back. She heard a gasp from behind her and looked over her shoulder only to see transparent, gossamer, fairy wings on her back. She giggled, The exuberant feeling within her faded and she stared clear-eyed, through the flames at her husband. Her eyes met his and he glared back at her accusingly, hatred, anger, and fear in his eyes, and also sadness. Serenity felt a wave of love rush over her. Tears ran down her face unheeded and she let out a broken sob. Then Setsuna touched her gently on her shoulder and said, "My Queen, we can't stay anymore. The fire is too out of control. It will engulf us in an instant. We must leave." Serenity nodded, silent. Her first tear trailed down the side of her face, then hung there, glittering. It sparkled, then sudden it shot forth a white-silver light about itself and when the light vanished, a crystal glowed in Serenity's hands. "What is this?" she asked, incredulous. "It is your tear. Your first tear was pure elixir and reacting to the strength of your desire, it turned into a crystal. This crystal will reacts to whatever is in her heart. All of your love, grief, hate, angerÑanythingÑhas been incorporated into that crystal. And only you can fully harness the power in your heart through that stone. But hurry, my Queen, we *must* leave!" Setsuna urged her as the fire was burning closer and the King's guards seemed ready to strike. Serenity nodded, more determinedly this time, and by the strength of her will, the crystal rose into the air in front of her and sent out a blinding flash of silver-white light. Sparkling lights twinkled about them. Then they were rising through the air, all of the Sorceresses and those they had brought with them, and the two cats as well. Serenity spread her wings and rainbow colors shimmered over them. Then when they were all in the sky, there was another flash of light and they were gone. They reappeared on the moon. Serenity fell to her knees and the crystal dropped from the air in front of her. Luna ran up to her and nuzzled her, worried. "Are we really on the moon?" Sorceress Mars asked. Sorceress Mercury looked around and after seeing the Earth hanging in the brilliant night sky, she said, "I would have to say yes." Sorceress Mars made a face. "It isn't much to look at, now is it?" "Maybe not," Sorceress Jupiter replied, shrugging. "Hey, wait a minute, how come we can breathe up here? There's no air!" Sorceress Venus made choking noises, clutching her throat dramatically and Sorceress Mars looked on in alarm. "We're all going to die up here!" "Don't be ridiculous!" Serenity snapped, harsher than she meant to. Her tone softened. "There is air up here. I came prepared." The other Sorceresses understood at once. She had sucked some air from the site that they had so suddenly departed and by forming a magic barrier had surrounded them with it. "It will not last for long," Sorceress Neptune observed wryly. "Then we must do something about that," replied Sorceress Uranus, rolling up her sleeves. Sorceress Neptune shot her friend an exasperated look, then throwing her hands in the air, said, "Oh, all right!" The sorceresses, and Serenity who had shakily risen to her feet, joined hands and formed a circle while the other people nervously stood out of the way. They chanted and their brightly colored auras rose about them, and then a burst of power hurtled out from them in all directions and wrapped the entire planet. Flowers and grass grew beneath the feet of the people, air filled the air, and the bleak barrenness of the moon was transformed. "I guess we have to start building someplace to live," Serenity said calmly. The sorceresses all got sweat drops and groaned. In due time,Ñ283 years that isÑthe Moon palace and its grounds was *almost* finished. Of course, credit must be given where it is due, so all of the palaces of all of the planets of the Solar System were almost done as well. *Ahem,* anyway, during that time, a great many things transpired, not the least of which was the birth of the princess Serenity. The birth of the princess should have been time for rejoicing, instead it was one of the saddest days of Serenity's life. The other sorceresses had convinced her that until they had children, to fulfill their oath and protect the princess, she would have to be frozen in moonbeams, so that when she was allowed to live again, her guardians would be old enough to protect her. And so, with tears nearly blinding her, Serenity had acquiesced to their demands and had frozen her baby daughter in moonbeams. Luna and Artemis had followed soon after, as they had requested to be kept in sleep until the time came when they could see the full glory of the kingdom and of the princess. Eventually, the other sorceresses did give birth to their daughtersÑfor it had been agreed that women were stronger and more able to protect the princess, as only daughters of sorceresses displayed any powerÑ, and froze them all in turn, waiting until the next sorceress's daughter would be born. So the years passed, and the kingdoms grew, as did the populace. So too, did Serenity's grief grow. Each night, Serenity would weep, knowing that she would never see her husband again and it would be a long time until she saw her daughter smiling and laughing. When five of the sorceresses had given birth, save Mars, who could not, and had instead adopted a foundling child who was born of a line of Power, Pluto who had never sworn an oath, and Saturn who obstinately refused to have children for another eighty-three years, Serenity decided that enough was enough and their children were freed from the moonbeams, each on the day of their birth. They were then raised by their parents, until such a time as they came into their powers. It came as a shock, when a year later, Sorceress Saturn gave birth to a daughter. Sorceress Saturn, a tall, striking woman with her ivory skin, vivid purple eyes, and long dark hair was out of all of them, the least eager to honor her oath, and she did not take to children well. Still, she had sworn an oath and so she presented her child to the court. Baby Saturn, or Hotaru, as her mother had named her, was an odd infant. Her wide eyes were too old for a child, and too innocent for an adult. She was sweet and scary at the same instant and her birth foretold that this indeed was the strongest guardian born. Luna had once told Serenity of things called "star seeds" and Serenity was forced to conclude that hers must be very strong indeed. Staring into her eyes, Serenity knew that if ever this child's full power were released upon the world, there would be *no* world. Knowing this, she issued a decree. "Guardian Saturn's power shall only be awakened when the three Talismans of Power are brought together, and that will signal the end of the world." She then produced the three talismans of the sorceresses and gave each to a guardian. The mirror to Neptune, the sword to Uranus, and the garnet orb to Pluto, who appeared to receive it. To each she whispered a message. "You are the farthest planets from this world, you are the most distant, and to each you, who should never meet till the end of the world, or some other time that may be ordained, I give you a powerful magical talisman. For each of you, pure-hearted souls, the talismans shall become a part of, until the time comes for the holy grail to appear and give its power to the Messiah or the Anti- Messiah, to prevent the coming of the end, or to ensure it. From this day forth, your duty is not to protect the princess, but to protect the Silver Millennium from threats from outside, and in doing so, protect the princess in this manner. And so, from this day onward, you will be known as the Outer Senshi, and the other four as the Inner, as you protect the princess from things outside the kingdom and they protect her from things inside." The two little girls and Pluto took the talisman given to them, and departed, with only Pluto lingering for an instant to say, looking at Saturn, "Is she . . . ?" When Serenity nodded assent, Sorceress Pluto turned away. "A heavy burden to bear." She vanished through a portal. Turning to look at the child, who was being carried off by her mother, Serenity whispered to the now empty throne room, "It is indeed." Thus it came to be that three years after the rebirth of the Outer and Inner Senshi, and two after the birth of Saturn that Serenity could bear to wait no more, and made plans to awaken her daughter from her slumber. Her first act in preparation for this was the awakening of her advisors, Luna and Artemis. Luna cracked open an eye and yawned. "Is it morning already, my Queen?" Serenity smiled back at her. "Yes, two hundred and eighty three years after you fell asleep." Luna's eyes snapped wide open, a look of disbelief on her face. "T-two h-hundred eighty three YEARS?!!" She looked over at Artemis who was still asleep and murmuring, "No Ma, I wanna sleep in some more. Just another five minutes." She poked him with a paw, "Idiot! YouÑwe've been asleep for nearly THREE CENTURIES!!!" Artemis rolled over, still mumbling, "Okay, wake me up in another twenty years. I'm having a terrific dream about me and Luna . . ." Luna rolled her eyes then looked up at her Queen. "My Queen, I have a favor to ask." "Yes, Luna? What is it?" Luna got a mischievous expression in her eyes. "Have you any water you could spare?" Queen Serenity's expression was rather puzzled. "Water? What kind?" "Oh, preferably something ice-cold. A bucketful should do quite nicely." Serenity was smiling now. "I'm sure it can be arranged, Luna." She turned to a page. "Fetch a bucket of cold water, will you?" "Yes, Your Majesty," the boy said with a twinkle in his eye. *Ten minutes later* "YEEOOWWW!!!!" Then, "LUUNAAA!!!" Serenity smiled as the soaking wet Artemis chased Luna all over the courtyard of the castle, both yelling insults at each other the entire time, and startling people walking through. It was good to have things back to being the way they should be. *Later that day* Queen Serenity and Luna slowly walked down the hallway together. It was still hard for her to believe that so much time had gone by. Luna looked up at her Queen who had a rather absorbed look on her face, as though she was thinking of something far, far away. "My Queen?" she asked. "Hmm?" Serenity asked, not really paying attention. "My Queen, what has transpired since last we saw each other?" Serenity snapped back from her musings and smiled at Luna. "That would take a *very* looong time to go over. Let's just say that our Silver Millennium seems to have come about." She sighed blissfully. "It was very hard work and took a long, long time, but all of the Sorceresses now have a kingdom on each of their planets. Of course, they are all part of the Silver Millennium and our Moon Kingdom is in charge, but the SorceressesÑas you knew themÑseem quite content with this arrangement. "Oh, Luna, one word of advice, you must refer to the Sorceresses as Queens and use all of their titles. They are very picky about that." "Yes, Your Majesty." Serenity hid a smile. "Don't be stuffy, Luna. I didn't mean me!" "Of course not, Your Majesty. By the way, did you ever get a guardian from Saturn?" "Oh yes, Luna," Serenity said, gravely. "We did indeed. She is quite powerful and will be quite destructive." "Umm," Luna tried to change the subject. "What did you find out about that fancy crystal of yours?" Serenity brightened and settled into her lecturing tone. (She acquired it from Sorceress Mercury, natch.) "I am linked to this crystal through my fairy form. It is Queen Mercury's belief that if I ever die, the crystal will form another sort of link with me and keep some part of me alive. A spirit, I should say." "Yes, well, Your Highness, I don't think you should worry about that. You did drink the elixir after all." "We all drank the elixir, Luna, but Setsuna informed me yesterday that we are not living a form of true immortality as is the case with her." "The elixir will keep us alive for a thousand years, or more perhaps, but we can be killed and eventually the fluid will lose its potency." She turned to smile at Luna reassuringly. "But not for a long, long time. Oh, let's not talk about endings! My mother told me that there was no such thing and I am inclined to believe her. Let's talk about a happier subject. How goes the building of the East Wing?" "Slow." Luna made a face. "Very, very slow." In fact, the cat hadn't seen so much as a centimeter of progress since she had started overlooking the building of the last wing of the palace. "Is it really taking that long?" Serenity asked, disappointed. She had wanted the building to be done before the princess was awakened. "I haven't seen a single person lift so much as a hammer." Queen Serenity burst into laughter. Luna gazed at her Queen apprehensively. "What's the matter, Your Highness?" Serenity calmed herself, then turned to Luna, her voice still filled with barely suppressed laughter. "Oh Luna, don't be silly, the East Wing is being built by magic, as has everything else around here." Luna shot her an incredulous look. "You mean all thisÑ?" "Is built by magic." Serenity nodded. Luna blushed a deep red, (well, as deep as cats can blush) and muttering, "I'd better go check on construction," she ran off. Serenity looked after her and let her laughter out. The Princess Serenity blinked open her eyes. She was in her mother's loving arms. FacesÑall these facesÑstaring at her. Princess Mars was closest, with the rest of the Inner Senshi gathered about, and the Outer Senshi a little further off. The two cats were perched on Princess Venus and Princess Mercury's shoulders. All of the Senshi were young, three years of age, and Saturn was barely two. "PrincessÑ" Sailor Venus breathed, no longer a princess but a Guardian. "Serenity," Sailor Mercury finished for her. Sailor Jupiter smiled at the infant. "We're your Guardians." Sailor Mars smiled, "Yeah, always." Princess Serenity looked at them all and smiling, she began to giggle, and the Inner Senshi giggled with her. The Outer Senshi just smiled a little. "I'm Princess Minako, Sailor Venus!" the little blonde chirruped happily. "Leader of your Senshi!" "I'm Princess Makoto, Sailor Jupiter!" the taller brunette said proudly. "I'm your personal bodyguard." "I'm Princess Ami, Sailor Mercury." The blue-haired girl smiled. "I'm your tutor, I guess. Everyone says I'm smart." "I'm Princess Rei, Sailor Mars!" the dark-haired girl declared. "I'll be your best friend, okay? 'Cause I know we're gonna like each other." The other girls glared at her. Rei got a sweatdrop and quickly said, "I'm sure we'll all be good friends." The tallest child there, short-haired blonde, stepped up to the princess. "I'm Princess Haruka, Sailor Uranus. I carry a talisman for you, and I'll protect your kingdom." An aqua-haired girl stepped to her side. "I'm Princess Michiru, Sailor Neptune. I too carry a talisman for you, and I'll protect your kingdom." There was a swirl of purple light and Sorceress Pluto appeared. "I'm Setsuna," she whispered into the baby's ear, where no one else could hear, "Sailor Pluto. I carry a talisman, too. But as for protecting your kingdom, well, I'll protect you, little one, my future Queen." She stepped back, bowed to Queen Serenity, and vanished. A little girl, barely able to talk yet toddled up to the Princess. "Princess Hotaru of Saturn. I am the Senshi who must not awaken. I bring the era of silence, but you bring the era of life and light." Anti-Messiah and Messiah stared into each other's eyes, then slowly, they both smiled sunnily. Luna looked at the little dark-haired girl and shuddered. Hotaru turned to look at Luna and reached out a hand. "Nice kitty." Luna purred uneasily. Princess Serenity giggled again, and everyone's attention returned to her. Artemis had gotten up to the Queen's shoulders and was letting the baby reach up and stroke his silky fur as he purred. Luna thought, irritated. Artemis smiled and purred loudly as he read what Luna was thinking from the way she was glaring at him. Queen Serenity smiled at her daughter. Princess Serenity smiled up at her mother and the funny white kitty. She giggled. *Three years later* Princess Serenity bolted upright in bed, breathing heavily, her sheets tangled about her. Her golden hair hung in a tangled mass about her shoulders. Irritated, she pulled it away from where it clung around her neck and straightened out her sheets, pulling them around her as she gazed about in the utter darkness of the room. Getting up, with her blanket wrapped around her and trailing along the ground, she walked over to her balcony. Her thin lace curtains fluttered transparent in the breeze and through them, Serenity could see the glittering light of the stars. She stepped through the curtains onto the balcony. From there she could see all of the stars twinkling in the heavens and the blue-green Earth hung comfortingly in front of her. As she stood there, ignoring the sharp bite of the wind, she calmed and she thought about her dream. The dream. It was always the same. She was alone in the endless darkness, dark as pitch, dark as death. Of the dark itself, she was not afraid. What she feared were the things that lurked in the dark. Hideous things with no form or face that she could look upon, only eyes, glinting red in the darkness, and the long bony hands that they reached out to claw her with, pulling her, tearing at her hair and face and eyes, so that all she could do was raise her arms to try and shield her face. But that left her with no way to defend herself against the things that lurked in the dark. She would pray, pray for a shield to protect her from the things in the dark. Sobbing, she would scream, and then . . . he would come. Prince Endymion bolted upright in bed, breathing heavily, his sheets tangled about him. His dark black hair was tousled. He ran a hand through it, unconsciously trying to comb it neater. He gazed about in the utter darkness of his room, unseeing in the thick gloom. Getting up, he shoved aside the tangled mess of sheets and walked over to his balcony. His curtains blew in the wind, but he passed through them, still unseeing, his eyes replaying the events of his dream. On his balcony, he could see the starry heavens, the stars bright pinpoints marking the patterns of the constellations that he knew by heart. The full moon hung, a silvery-white sphere of light in the sky. Seeing it, his heartbeat slowed and his breathing became more regular. He ignored the icy chill in the air and thought about his dream. The dream. It was always the same. He would be alone in the darkness, utterly alone, save for the voices that whispered in his ears. Nasty voices, promising power and threatening pain. Feeling the scalding hot stink of their breath in his ears, he would run in the darkness, the all encompassing darkness, all the while feeling their breath on his face. He cried in torment as the icy darkness of nothing whispered ugly lies, "You have sold your soul" and running he would stumble in the dark. Then he would pray, pray for a light to see by, a light to run by so that he would escape these invisible tormentors of his soul. Falling, he would cry out, and then . . . she would come. Serenity drew in a deep breath. Endymion drew in a deep breath. Then together their dreams merged, becoming one in the expanse of that unending darkness, that soul-stealing night. She felt them clawing at her, their fingertips sharp as knives. He felt them whispering in his ears, their voices menacing in their snarling animal voices. And then the hands were gone and she looked up. And then the voices were gone and he looked up. And their eyes met across the expanse of that terrifying darkness, blue into blue. Serenity thought, gazing at the boy who stood, like a shield against the darkness. Endymion thought, gazing at the girl who stood, glowing with a silver light, forcing the darkness away. Blue gazed into blue, two sets of eyes shining with inner light in the darkness of the depths of their souls. And slowly, ever so slowly, they began to walk towards one another. And then they were facing each other after what seemed like both a moment and an eternity. Serenity spoke regally, the words still dignified as ever in the child's voice. "My thanks, my prince." Endymion replied with as much nobility in his tone, despite his age. "My thanks, my princess." And blue gazed into blue as their thoughts echoed in the stillness of the darkness that seemed less massive and ominous than it had a moment before. <> <> Their hands met as she took his in hers and hers in his. Holding each other's hands they were joined, linked unto infinity, a circle of strength unto themselves, keeping out that which lurked in the night of their souls. But then, the darkness would come again, pulling them away from each other and each would cry out in pain as they parted, flesh ripped from flesh, soul ripped from soul. <> <> Then each was alone in the darkness again, but each clung desperately to a promise made. Serenity stared at the earth. Endymion stared at the moon. Then each turned and returned to bed, and to the endless dreams and the memory of an unbreakable promise. "Come along, Serenity!" her mother called, a bit impatiently. "We're going to be late!" Serenity skipped up to her mother, her little blonde ponytails bouncing. the Queen thought fondly. "Are we really going to Earth, Mommy? Really?" "Yes, bunny," her mother said absently "We are." "MOMMY!" "What?" Serenity asked snapping back to the present and staring at her daughter in concern. "What's wrong, sweetie?" "You did it AGAIN!" "What? What did I do?" "You called me THAT again." "I did? Oh, I'm sorry, Sere. I didn't mean too." Serenity thought guiltily, Princess Serenity glared at her mother. She hated that. She hated it *a lot.* Her mother had the most annoying tendency to call her "bunny" of all things, all the time! She had had a hard enough time getting Rei-chan to stop calling her that, the first time she had heard it. Serenity broke into a smile at last. "I forgive you," she said. They were going to Earth, beautiful, beautiful Earth, and she'd have a chance to find the boy in her dreams. That alone couldn't make her stay angry. But just to be on the safe sideÑ"Just this once," she added. Her mother smiled. "Okay, buÑI mean, Sere." The princess let out an exasperated sigh, then grabbing her mother's hand, she said, "Let's go, Mommy." The Queen nodded hurriedly. "QUEEN TELEPORT!" They vanished. Back on the moon, Princess Rei sulked. "It isn't fair." "What's the matter, Rei-chan?" Sailor Venus bounced up. "It's not fair that Sere gets to go without us. We're her best friends! And we're supposed to protect her!" Venus frowned. "They're just going to dull old Earth. Nothing's going to happen. 'Sides, we've gotta keep training. So anywayÑ" Venus got a sneaky look on her face as she whacked Rei on the arm (but not hard). "YOU'RE IT!!" Rei scrunched up her face and glared at the fleeing Venus. Then she quickly transformed into Sailor Mars and yelled, "I'M GONNA GET YOU, VENUS! JUST YOU WAIT AND SEE! FIREÑ" She chased her all around the training yard, fire spurting from her fingertips, as Venus laughed and dodged, yelling encouragement and insults. "C'mon you can do better than THAT!" Her laughter rang throughout the palace, as the other Inner Senshi joined the game. Queen Serenity left her daughter in the Royal Gardens with a warning not to wander off, before she entered the forbidding archway that led into the Earth Palace itself. Princess Serenity, staring at all of the beautiful flowers, promptly disregarded her mother's command and wandered down one of the paths. Then her interest in the flowers got the better of her. "They're SO pretty." She looked at the roses to the left of her and smiled, walking down the path. Prince Endymion, bored as usual, stifled a yawn and stared at the roses to his right with a bored expression on his face. He brushed a hand along the miniature sword at his side, his bored expression becoming slightly agitated, then even more bored. Serenity looked at the flowers. Endymion stared at the flowers. Since neither was looking at where they were going, it should be perfectly obvious that they collided. "OW!" Endymion yelled, rubbing his sore head. "Ouch," Serenity said, painfully. "WHY DIDN'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU WERE GOING?!!!" they both shouted. A bird squawked in fright and flew off. The two children glared at each other. Then they burst into laughter. When their laughing had slowed, they both apologized and smiled at each other. Princess Serenity stared curiously at the older boy. "What's your name?" "I'm Endy," he said smiling. "Who're you?" "I'm Sere." She giggled. "Do you live here?" "Uh-huh. In the big palace." "Oh. I live in a palace too, 'cept it's up there." She pointed towards the sky. "Up where?" Endy asked, confused. "On the moon, silly. Where else?" "You live way up there? Wow. Are you an angel?" She giggled again. "No, but I wish I had wings so I could fly." She spun around and fell down, laughing. Endy laughed too. "Well, I'll tell you what, Sere." "What?" "You can be my guardian angel, 'kay?" "'Kay. An' you can be mine, right?" "Sure." "It's a deal." Sere got to her feet and stuck out her hand. Endy took it and shook it. "Deal." "Double deal," Sere said. "Triple deal," Endy countered, not to be outdone. "Uh, uh, quadruple deal." "Well, er, qu-qu-quinÑ" "Quintuplet deal!" they shouted together and laughed. Then Sere turned serious all of a sudden. "We're friends, right Endy?" "'Course we are. We promised to protect each other." "Good." "Won't you just consider an alliance?" Serenity asked, desperate. "No." King Gaian glared at her. "No, I will not." Queen Terra made a placating gesture with her hands. She turned to Serenity with a rather flustered smile, her delicate features conveying her regret. "I'm sorry, my dear, but you know how it is. I am afraid that the people would never accept the idea. There are still some people who believe that it would be better were *we* not in power. We have only the people's interests at heart, as I am sure that you do. But I do not think that the people would take kindly to an alliance with the Lunar Kingdom." "Moon Kingdom," Serenity corrected absently as she silently thought to herself what she was sure both the King and Queen were thinking, She looked up into Terra's concerned gray eyes, shouting in her mind, Her treacherous mind supplied the hideous thought, It was dead, dead and turned to dust beneath her fingertips. Others ruled there now; it had been absorbed into another kingdom, but the ruins of her castle, of her capital, they remained, their glory forgotten. She had gone thereÑwalked among the garden paths that she had once so loved, and wandered through the empty halls thick with dust and the weight of the long, long yearsÑand everything, *everything* crumbled beneath her light and loving touch. She had left, staring at the ruins with empty eyes, willing the tears to come, but they had not. That is, they had not until little Serenity had skipped up to her holding a wilted rose, dead and decaying like everything else, and had asked innocently, "Mommy, isn't it pretty?" Then Serenity had fallen to her knees with a wail of anguish, great sobs shaking her shoulders, tears flowing from her eyes and dripping to make wet spots in the ancient dust that settled about her. Little Serenity had dropped the flower and awkwardly put her arms around her mother, making soothing noises though she was obviously confused. When she had cried as much as she had been able, her daughter had asked her, very quietly, "Mommy, are you all right?" Looking up into her daughter's worried eyes, Serenity had stroked her face and whispered, "Yes. I'm all right." And seeing her daughter, she was. Together they had walked away from the ruins of the past, into the brighter future. Queen Terra's next comment brought Serenity back to the present. "ÑAnd with the destruction of Cathis by Morganite, and the burning of BendolÑ" "Excuse me," Queen Serenity interrupted. "Did you say Morganite?" Queen Terra paused. "Why yes. Morganite the spellcaster. But no need to worry, she was executed for her crimes two years ago. The villagers all said that she was a witch. Well, when there was a village, I mean . . ." Serenity shut her eyes. "Why does it matter to you?" King Gaian asked, narrowing his eyes and leaning forward. Serenity opened her eyes. "Honestly, darling, that's beside the point, isn't it?" Queen Terra interjected. "She's dead." "Hmmph, well, I still don't like it," he muttered under his breath. Queen Terra turned back to Serenity with an apologetic smile. "Well, back to the subject at hand. After the destruction of Cathis by Morganite two years ago and the burning of Bendol after her death, the people are quite apprehensive and are trying to avoid any new tragedies as best they can. What with war with Cathal only years away at the most,Ñthey're such an aggressive countryÑI'm afraid they would think this alliance too much of a risk." "I see," said Serenity, calmly, and she did see, but she didn't like it. "But can't we work out *some* kind of anÑ" "I'm sorry but that is impossible at this time," Terra said quite firmly, but not unkindly. "The negotiations are at an end," King Gaian said quite gruffly. "I'll have someone escort you out." "Then I'm banished?" she asked, her mind refusing to work properly. "We're all banished from the world of our birth? We cannot even set a foot on the soil?" Her eyes pleaded with them for some other solution, some other way. "I'm sorry, but until the people of Earth can learn to accept you, I'm afraid that's the way it'll have to be. I can't speak for the other kingdoms, but I believe that their answers will be the same. I am truly sorry." And looking into King Gaian's eyes, she knew that he was. Nodding briskly and getting a hold of herself, she stood, and gathering her skirts, she swept out of the room, a servant holding open the door for her and guiding her out. In the room that she had just left, King Gaian turned to regard his Queen. "I hope we did the right thing." She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "I was for the best, darling, though I do feel for that woman and her people." She turned to gaze out the doorway that Serenity had just left through and thought silently, her eyes brimming with tears, "Sere, we're leaving," Queen Serenity said, taking her daughter's hand. The princess looked up at her mother pleadingly. "Aw, Mommy, can't we stay just a little longer?" "We have to leave, Sere." "But I was just talking to my new friend. His name is Endy." "I'm Prince Endy," the boy said politely. "You must be Queen Serenity." "Yes. I am." "Will Sere come back to visit?" Endymion asked, hopefully. She was a lot of fun. Queen Serenity gazed on the boy sadly. "I'm sorry, my Prince, but Sere shall not see you again. We have been banished from this world and your father was not inclined to negotiations. Farewell." She took her daughter by the hand and in a flash of light, they were gone. Endymion stared sadly after. "G'bye, Sere." The next day the King and Queen were found dead and Crown Prince Endymion, heir to the throne, was devastated. All thought of the day before vanished from his mind and so too did the image of the little girl with the strange hairstyle that he had befriended. His advisors cried out against the Moon Kingdom, inferring that they had caused the death of his parents. Hardening his heart, Endymion was inclined to agree. So with a sinking heart, Endymion was forced to believe that the kind woman had come only to commit treachery and kill his parents, and that any alliance between the Earth and the Moon could never be. Thus, it came about that the decree banishing all members of the Silver Millennium from setting foot on Earth was passed, with the punishment of death as a result, and a war between the worlds. Anger was the only thing that Endymion felt towards the Moon and its people. When he dreamt at night, the shining light that was the girl was swallowed by the darkness, and he lost his way. Endymion knew himself to blame, though he did not know why. So he swore to himself that if ever their paths crossed in life, he would protect her from the darkness as he had failed to do before, and this time he would not fail . . . In the shadows, an auburn-haired little girl smiled at the havoc she had caused as a tiny voice whispered into the darkness, <> Back on the Moon, though she hated herself for doing it, Queen Serenity blocked away the princess's memories of Earth. So it was that Princess Serenity had no memory whatsoever of the boy she had befriended, and when the dreams came again, she did not recognize the mysterious boy that came to save her, as the one she had met. But still the promise remained, the unbreakable vow, "I will find you . . ." To be continued . . . A brief musical intro is played involving a keyboard, xylophone (maybe), soft drums, guitar, and harp. A full white moon on a black background fades into existence. "My heart says to me," Queen Serenity stares at the earth from her balcony. "I love someone so dearly," She turns away, tears falling from her eyes. "That I know," She looks at the wedding ring on her finger. "There's no one for me," She blinks away some tears. "But you." She looks at Earth again with a sad little smile. "I would like you to see," Three-year old Princess Serenity looks at Earth's roses with a big smile. She walks down a path. "What is wrong and what is true," Six-year old Prince Endymion walks down a path, looking at the roses with a bored expression on his face. "I am in love," They walk into each other. "(I am in love)" They both begin to yell. "I am in loveÑ" They stop and look at each other. "With you." They apologize and smile. "Angel light," Chibi-Rei puts her fingers together (as in her Fire Soul). "Please bathe me in your love tonight," She gets a spark, then jumps back, having burnt her finger. "I am longing for a glimpseÑ" Chibi-Makoto's little attenae comes out of her tiara. "Of your Angel light." She zaps herself with her lightning and falls down, burnt looking and eyes swirling. "I will be forever yours tonight," Chibi-Ami does her "Shabon Spray Freeze" motions. "Just smile at me," But she freezes the ground she's standing on and slips on the ice, falling down with a surprised expression on her face. "With that Angel light." Chibi-Rei, Chibi-Makoto, and Chibi-Ami laugh at each other. "Angel light," Chibi-Minako looks at them and sniffs. "You are like an angel in my sight," She goes through the motions for her love me chain and it looks like she's done it perfectly. "I have never felt a love as bright," The other girls stare in amazement. "As your Angel light." Then the chain wraps up Chibi-Minako so that her arms are trapped. She hops around and the other girls laugh. "Angel light," Chibi-Haruka, Chibi-Michiru, Luna, and Artemis look at the inner scouts and face-fault. "You bring love to lift the darkness in my life," Chibi-Haruka attempts her World Shaking, and does it pretty well. "I am enveloped by your Angel light," However, the ground underneath her feet shakes, making her fall down. "Please say that it's all right," Chibi-Michiru tries her Deep Submerge. "That I let you in my life." She ends up getting soaked. "Angel light," Cut to show Baby Hotaru sitting an a plaid blanket off to one side, watching. "As I hold you in my arms tonight," Baby Hotaru makes her miniature Silence Glaive appear. "I won't let your dreams give you fright," She lifts her tiny scythe. "You don't have to fight," All of the Chibi-Senshi jump on top of her to keep her from doing anything. "It'll be all right," Hotaru struggles beneath the pile of Senshi on top of her. "My Angel light," Everyone gets off of her. "My Angel light." They look at each other and laugh sheepishly. (Sweat drops all around.) "Angel light," Pluto watches all this and sighs. "I am filled by love when I get you in my sight," She raises her Time Staff but their is a flash of purple lightÑ "I just want to forever hold you tight," Ñand she has accidentally reverted to a child. "'Cause together just it feels so right," All of the Chibi-Senshi plus the cats laugh at Chibi-Setsuna. "So just bathe me in yourÑ" Still a child, she gets mad and tries her "Dead Scream" attack on them (the staff *is* smaller BTW), butÑ "Angel light," Ñthe wind messes up her hair instead of doing anything. "I will be forever yours tonight," Everyone's still laughing, but Setsuna suddenly reverts to her usual adult self, and begins chasing the Chibi-Senshi and the cats, who all get panicked looks on their faces. "Shining in yourÑ" Queen and Chibi-Princess Serenity show up all of a sudden, and everyone crashes into a big pile in front of the princess. "Angel light." Chibi-Princess Serenity looks at them with a happy expression and giggles. White rose petals blow across the screen. Next, Sailor Moon Past Loves Part Two: First Love Sailor Moon injured? Princess Serenity gone? I will not forgive those who stand in the way of love! In the name of the moon, I will punish you. The moonlight carries the message of love. P.S. A couple of other good writers, you'll love them even if you hated *my* stuff. Lady, Jendra (Sorry about the water scene, there are only so many ways to wake somebody up. Gomen), Tenshi & Jenn, John Biles(& Jeff Hosmer), Courtney Wells, Connie Somerville Kotkins, Lianne (Hey, I wrote my fire scene before I read yours, which makes the whole thing *really* creepy, but great minds think alike, ne? I swear on Usagi and Mamoru's love that I had the same idea, but for a different reason! Now if that isn't a binding oath, I don't know what is. P.S. The scene's in Part Two.) Ross TenEyck (Now that's REAL poetry), Janelle Jimenez (The first half of Zodiac sucked, everything else RULES! And, no, I don't really talk like this.), Laura Hudson, (Have I listed *everyone* yet? No? Oh, okay.) Eric "Greywolf" den Biesen, Mike Chenoweth, John Gibbons, Larry Drews(where's the rest of "Rebirth"?), Renee Markowicz, Lauren Griffin, Douglas Helm, "Tuxedo" Will Wolfshohl, Jennifer Wand (I'm doing something with the "R" arc too . . . BTW, I loved "Darien's View"!), Pandora Waldron, Andrea Principe, Ninx, Zorina Skye, Andrew Garde (*Ahem*, "Together Once More"?) and the ever present Chris Davies. Read Sailor Moon: A Love Story aka Sailor Moon: The Greatest Dream of All by Shadows of Light or Fiona Lim. Oh yeah, Monica Shin's "Duty, Choices" inspired the epilogue (Part Six) of this series so go read it after Part Five comes out. I Know there are tons of other good SM fanfic writers too, but *hehe* I haven't had time to read their stuff yet, so I couldn't say who. (I'm getting there, I'm getting there! *Relax*.) This is a pretty good list to start from though.