Moonlight Midnight Glory

Copyright Information


All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2001 Michelle Harris

No part of this fan fiction or story may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the author.

Published by Michelle Harris
Other Pen Names: Lady M. Harris

For information, please contact:
Michelle Harris at ladymharris@yahoo.com

Published electronically in the United States of America


Dedication


In loving memory of Audra Turner, who was my steadfast and best friend.  For always standing beside me when I was most in need of a true friend, and for her unconditional friendship and love.  We love you and miss you, Audra.

In loving memory for my father, Dwayne William Stumbaugh, Senior.  Wish I could have been there to tell you that I loved you before you left us for that great blue yonder.


Is this the horrid dragon beast

Of sinew strong and deep of chest

And never needing rest?

A steed, the best?

Then seize a saddle from the rack

And strap it on the beastie's back,

Of courage never have a lack,

No turning back.

The beast has served and flown the earth around.

You've sought your treasure, forced him to the ground.

He turns around.

Long of fang, the fiercest eye and talons, not discounting,

No fault of choice, nor better beast you'd ever take ahunting.

But now you're caught and find the peril is dismounting----

Woodiwiss

 Acknowledgements


This story was  written for the dedicated fans of the Sailor Moon circuit at A Sailor Moon Romance's (www.moonromance.com) web site.  There are many talented authors who inspired me to take up the pen at writing fan fictional stories and more.  Those notable authors are Sexylyon, Andrea Hui, Sailor Mac, Mark Berger, Amy and countless fan readers who encouraged me to continue writing.  You guys know who you are!  And a very special thanks to those, tireless individuals who helped me edit this book from its awful beginnings, Kim Gneiting, Sue Coyne and Traci Holzer.  And last, but not least, a special hug and kiss to my loving husband, Harris and our beautiful children who made this story possible!


Chapter  1 Creations Silver Millennium

Earth . . . 

Prince Darien was bored watching the informal banquet begin to fill with large crowds of people. He was already familiar with most of them because most of the guests were from his court, Earth.  Although some of the faces were strange to him, it was those of the Moon planet that were not familiar to him. Earlier, his parents had introduced him to several delegates from the Moon Kingdom.  The introductions were casual and Darien was having a hard time remembering the names and matching them to the corresponding faces of those he had met today.

The banquet was intended for his royal court ambassadors and delegates to become acquainted with the royal court of Moon. Likewise, allowing the ambassadors and delegates of the Moon Kingdom to acquaint themselves with Earth's royal court.

He could definitely say the banquet was a royal smash. Everyone was getting along famously.  Darien felt he could finally have some peace to himself by returning to his chambers.  Remembering that Kunzite—his close friend and most trusted General Ambassador of the Middle Eastern countries—had promised to send a skillful, young maiden of the Moon Kingdom to his chambers this evening for a back massage, he quickened his pace.

Her most royal majesty, the Supreme Queen Serenity, of the Moon Kingdom had directly summoned Prince Darien.  She requested that his parents delegate the matters of Earth becoming familiar with Silver Millennium rulings to the Earthly prince.  This would also entail the position of an Elite Ambassador of Earth falling into his capable hands, and his parents relented happily.

Six months earlier, Earth was unaware of the powerful and vast kingdom they called the Silver Millennium.  Centuries before, Queen Serenity had quietly placed a screen over the rest of the galaxy.  This led Earth to believe it was the only living planet.  It also showed her power and wisdom, allowing Earth to develop its technology and culture without the interference from the other planets.  She kept them shielded like this until Earth could understand the scope of its own existence and its own place in the galaxy. Then, like a loving mother, she slowly lifted the shield from Earth's blocked view.  Then one day, the Moon Kingdom was revealed in all its regal and splendorous glory to the astounded Earth scientists.

Even now, Darien could only shake his head as he thought about the events of the past six months. It still astounded him when he thought about Queen Serenity and how much power she held. No person should ever have that amount of power; the power to create or destroy an entire galaxy.  Yet, she was nothing less than a just and gentle ruler. Queen Serenity was as wise as she was old.  Most within her realm knew that she was more than five hundred years old, but when looking at the queen, one would have to guess her age.  For she did not look a day over thirty.

This thought brought Darien back to his present musings and why he was looking forward to his impending back massage. He was looking forward to the relaxing time.  The endless hours he spent with the delegates and ambassadors from other planets, was very taxing.  The new responsibilities included many long, tiring evenings at dinner parties, afternoon luncheons, and numerous meetings. The relentless pace was making him sharp and disgruntled, which was usually not his nature. He needed a respite for his aching mind and body.***

The Supreme Princess, Princess Serena, was present for the banquet. Although, not many guests were aware that she would be attending the party. Princess Serena was a well-known—and well-guarded—princess of the Moon Kingdom. The vast, surrounding planets knew how much the Queen loved and protected her only child.

Serena had decided not to make an appearance at the banquet tonight. She had several reasons, mainly because of the crowds of swans that would attend to her.  That alone would be enough to deter any princess. Although the banquet was informal, all the other pomp and circumstance would make it dreadfully boring; the formal bowing, the boring court rules, and etiquette to follow. Sometimes, Serena wished she could just attend one occasion without adhering to all the ridiculous formalities that accompanied the engagements.

Serena slipped away quietly from her chambers, leaving behind her lady-in-waiting, Princess Mina of Venus, who was softly snoring on Serena's chaise.  Serena thought it would be great if she could get her hands on some of that fabulous, chocolate soufflé with chocolate whipped topping.  She had glimpsed it earlier before slipping out of the banquet hall while everyone was setting up for the upcoming evening.

Princess Raye of Mars, another one of Serena's ladies-in-waiting, had smuggled in some Moon Haze into their chambers earlier that evening. The young women indulged in the forbidden drink, giggling quietly among themselves, as they talked about boys and stolen kisses in the dark.

Of course, Serena had experienced some stolen kisses, but they were rare occurrences.  Most of the loathsome boys were either petrified of her mother, her stunning beauty, or the awesome power she would someday possess.

Serena's lovely lips curled in distaste as she remembered a recent encounter with the last overzealous boy. It was at the last gala she attended. Somehow getting past the Moon Warriors—her guardians, who were also known as her ladies-in-waiting and princesses of the surrounding planets—he cornered her behind a large palm plant. He then began whispering sweet nothings into her astonished ears.  Then without so much as a by-your-leave, he pushed her back against the stone wall and planted his boyish body in front of her, blocking her view of the crowd.  He should have been smart enough to listen to Serena when she politely began to push him away from her.  He would have left the gala unnoticed. Instead, overwhelmed by the sight of her breathtaking beauty and her intoxicating, sweet scent, he tried to kiss her lips and press his body more intimately against hers. The boy obviously did not believe the speculations that someday, Princess Serena would yield powers that would far exceed her mother's, and so further pressed his unwanted attentions upon her.

Serena had thought the blonde-haired boy was cute at the time. She recalled his name was Cheron, but did not remember if they had ever met before that particular gala.  She definitely did not care for the way his kiss slobbered all over her lips or the way he began to maul her like some questionable lady of the night! Seething anger had erupted within her as his hand grabbed a fistful of her breast. Faster than the blink of an eye, a blast of white energy slammed into his precious, lower body.  However, even in her anger, she made sure she did not kill the boy, just merely stunned him with a controlled burst of power.

Angering Serena was not easy. Because of the power she could unleash from within her, her mother had schooled her to control her anger at a tender age. Even when angered, she had to maintain her composure or lives could be lost thoughtlessly.

Besides stunning the boy, the bright, white flash of light shocked many guests as well. It was a rare event, even for the Moon inhabitants, to witness the power of the royal Moon court. The Moon Warriors had come rushing in pursuit. Their royal garb already transformed into their warriors' uniforms. In all the confusion, some guests had panicked because they had never witnessed the legendary Moon Warriors in action.  It had been eons since any type of threat had been made or known to the Moon Kingdom.

In the midst of the uproar, Queen Serenity had teleported from an important meeting.  She had been in negotiations with King Damian and Queen Augusta of Earth to insure that their son would meet with all the surrounding planets' delegates to discuss upcoming affairs.  What is more important, they were beginning the discussions for joining the Earth Kingdom with the rest of the Silver Millennium.

Serena had flushed with embarrassment as she noted the worry in her mother's face. As the queen gazed down at the fallen boy, she began to understand.  He was still unconscious and sprawled helplessly beside her daughter's silk skirts.

Among the uproar of the crowd, Serena felt a twinge of guilt as she remembered how her mother had gathered her up in her arms.  The Moon Warriors lifted the unconscious boy, with his anxious parents in tow and then escorted them out of the gala.  Serena remembered watching the excited faces of her warriors, how they seemed enthused facing any type of danger.  A tiny smile lit across her lips for the moment, they were hungry for a fight.  Too bad their enthusiasm and hard-won training was wasted on such a useless threat, Serena thought grimly.

Peeking up at her mother's face, the expression she saw there also perplexed her. Queen Serenity had an almost suspicious, amused smile on her face.  Then it was gone, masked again by her usual, famous serene expression.

Naturally, she did not want to ever repeat that episode.

Her brows gathered in a frown as she made her way down the dark, winding hallway. This side of the palace was quite dark. It was considered off limits to all guests except to the immediate families of Earth's royal court and those of the Moon Kingdom.  It was mostly closed off for security during the banquet.  

Serena's thoughts wandered back to the boys and the way they would gawk at her.

Her mouth went dry just thinking about the boy at the gala and the events that took place. Princess Lita of Jupiter would always tell her that they were just in awe of her legendary beauty. The only way Serena would respond to that comment was to stick her tongue out at her. 

Lita always had boys calling at her palace.  She was like a magnet; tall and lithe, her long hair the color of brown, autumn leaves, and soft green eyes.  Lita liked to act tomboyish, preferring to participate in sport activities and to hang out with boys and men of different age groups. She always got along famously with boys their age.

Lita and Princess Mina of Venus bickered constantly because just like Serena, Mina was considered very beautiful.  She also had a reputation of being unapproachable although she was quite friendly.  This was completely opposite of Princess Lita of Jupiter and Princess Raye of Mars, where they had no qualms about approaching or talking to boys.

Princess Amy of Mercury was definitely the shyest princess out of all them.  Amy was also considered as lovely as she was smart.  Everyone within the royal court of the Moon Kingdom agreed that someday Princess Amy would be the next girl-genius of the decade.  This was evident by the way she surpassed every major exam given to her.

Serena thought that probably out of all the princesses, she was most envious of Princess Raye.  With her long, purple-black hair and fiery personality, she was every bit as beautiful as the rest of the princesses.   Like Lita, she didn't have any problems with going after the boy she liked. She always had a boyfriend—or more appropriately, a companion of sorts.  The princesses were destined to be virgins until their wedding day.

Princess Raye had once remarked that Mina was much like Serena as she commanded much attention among the male population on Venus.  She was very beautiful with her long, golden hair reaching just to the back of her knees, gorgeous blue eyes, and a lithe figure with endless legs.  Yet, it was Serena who had something the girls longed for, a subtle and alluring sensuality. Sure, the princesses knew Serena was smart and beautiful, but she had that kind of provocative lure that men dreamed about in their beds.

Lita would snicker at Serena's innocent expression.  Lita had once remarked: "How can such an innocent be so sexy?"  Serena was tall with thick, long, silver hair, a trademark that distinguished her as a Supreme Princess.  All Supreme Princesses were born with silver hair.  It was done up high on her head, in two rope braids or little, round "balls," with long silver streamers of hair flowing from her braids, reaching well below her knees.  She had long, sooty lashes that framed her large, smoky gray eyes. Her lips were rosy and very full-'kissable' as one boy once remarked to her. However, it was her figure, which Lita had referred to, of which men dreamed.  Serena had the perfect figure eight; no small, dainty breasts on her.  Her breasts were upright and full, followed by a narrow waist, curvaceous hips, and long, shapely legs to complete her figure. The kind of legs men dreamed about being wrapped around them.  She remembered Lita smirking at the statement. The girls had joined in the laughter, blushing simultaneously.

Serena grinned shamelessly as she thought of them again, giggling and laughing when the subject had then turned to sex. She remembered them gathered in her chambers.  The large balcony doors were open, the warm breeze shifting through their hair as the morning sun filtered glittering highlights off the girls' hair.  The princesses were gathered on her balcony, on huge, white silk pillows.  Their heads were bent together, and the soft, billowy silks of their white skirts spread about them in disarray.   They giggled and whispered like little children as they discussed the forbidden subject.

Abruptly, her thoughts shifted back to the present as Serena came to a set of large, dark, wooden double doors. This wasn't here the last time I came this way, she thought. Perhaps, I've indulged in too much Moon Haze.

Serena hesitated only for a moment before deciding to knock on the doors.  Waiting impatiently for the guards to let her out, she repressed the urge to tap her foot.  What happened next though, took her completely by surprise.

The door was shoved open quickly, strong hands grasped hers and dragged her unceremoniously into a dark room. She was dimly aware of the door shutting with a loud thud behind her.  Serena was too startled to say a thing, only able to gasp in dismay as she found herself gazing into the most startling pair of blue eyes, with the longest, darkest eyelashes that had ever graced a man. They gleamed wickedly at her, narrowing shrewdly as they quickly, boldly and openly assessed her figure.

"Well, Kunzite said he'd send a Moon maiden," he drawled smoothly as he studied her slowly, his hard eyes traveling insolently over her. "Kunzite certainly hadn't seen you.  Otherwise, he would have kept you for himself!"

With her hands still firmly clasped within his, and before she could to utter a word in protest or a retort, she found herself roughly jerked forward and drawn into his steely embrace.  Or worse—his lips suddenly coming down on hers hard and possessively.

She had been kissed a couple of times in the past, but never like this!  His body pressed intimately against hers so that she was forced to feel the entire length of his hard body. Unlike the boy at the last gala, whose movements were clumsy, this was a man who was very sure of himself, his kisses expertly executed and demanding. His mouth was hard and merciless, his lips seeming to sear hers open, forcing them apart to accept the onslaught of his tongue.

When she would have moved her head to try to escape him, his hand merely held her head in place, grasping the long, silvery braid of her hair in his fingers.  He wrapped his other arm around her slim waist, holding her body firmly in place against him.

Serena felt breathless as he held her against him. She could feel her mind begin to spin.  Her head fell back as wave after wave of warm heat enveloped her.  Tiny, involuntary whimpers were forced from her throat as the man continued his pillage of her mouth.  When she thought she would faint, the man suddenly loosened his hold, raising his head slightly to gaze at her face.

"By God, do all Moon maidens look like you?" he asked harshly, studying the contours of her face and swollen lips. His desire muddled mind acknowledged sluggishly that her hair was very different. It was the color of brilliant, white diamonds gleaming in the hot sun, he thought as desire continued to cloud his mind.

Serena tried vainly to regain her breath, trying desperately to rein in her senses that seemed to be running away from her.  "Sir-!" she could only gasp out with a sense of dawning horror.  She watched helplessly as his fingers reached out to touch the silk strap of her dress.  She could feel his fingers playing with the strap that held up part of her dress.  The teasing fingers rolled it back and forth against her heated shoulder as if to challenge her with a response. He laughed huskily as it slipped down and fell away, revealing the curved mound of her creamy breast.

"I can buy you another dress, silver maiden.  Just let me taste you again."

Before she could say another word, his lips claimed hers again.  She could feel his arms tightening around her, drawing her even closer than she thought was possible.  Oh God, no, no, she thought, do men really kiss like this? Her knees went weak and she swayed against him, helpless over the waves of burning fires that continued its onward climb over her. She felt half awake, faintly aware of some strange creeping sensation—a lingering, languor that seemed to take control of her—an acceptance that had nothing to do with her dazed mind or her body.

The combination of his body, the animal heat, and his demanding kisses became too much for her inexperienced mind to endure. When his fingers found the rapidly hardening point of her nipple through her silk dress, she struggled fervently back to reality.

For the first time since her encounter with the stranger, she realized with shock that she had not engaged in her powers to deter him.  This notion momentarily confused and stunned her. The man mistook her sudden cease of movement for surrender and he began to plunder the soft hollow of her exposed throat.   

With a half cry of dismay and something else she did not want to understand, she haphazardly gathered her powers together.  A silver glow began to emit from her, engulfing the two of them within its dazzling light.

Prince Darien lifted his head from the maiden's smooth throat, dimly aware of the intoxicating energy surrounding them. The fog in his brain evaporated the moment his body embraced her powers with shock.

Serena did not stun the man as she had the boy at the gala.  Instead, he took all she had to give him.  He miraculously absorbed the enormous blaze of power like a cushion. It enveloped him and then her again, stunning her as his emotions and an immense power, as strong as her own, flowed freely back to her.

For a brief moment, she witnessed his emotions and felt his strong desire for her, through him.  Meanwhile he, through her, felt her helpless surrender to desire that she did not understand for him. For a brief moment, they shared their minds and souls, and essentially became one.

Doing this was not possible, her mind cried out! It was written only in the stars, the ancient Legends of becoming one with another as they did. They called this, the binding of minds and souls, Soul Mates. This cannot be, her mind cried out again.   She was one of the most powerful women in the galaxy, second only to her mother. Yet this stranger, this man, had enveloped her powers as if he had cradled a babe in his arms.

"Who are you?" Darien demanded, his eyes narrowing as he shoved her away from him.

Serena blinked, still gasping for breath.   Her knees were still weak from his heated kisses and the energy drain. She would have collapsed, but he caught her. An angry blush stained her cheeks when she saw the dangerous and cold fury in his eyes directed at her.

"Who am I?" she spluttered, anger shaking her voice.  "You-you! How dare you drag me into this room, and-and attack me like some loose harlot?"  Serena was so mad at this point; she stood there, panting for her breath, trying to gather her strength.

The anger in Darien dissipated as he held her at arms' length. As he studied the girl, the frown on his forehead deepened. This girl doesn't look like a common servant, from the look and quality of her dress . . . he thought. She looks more like some highborn Moon lady; stunningly beautiful, he summarized quickly.  His gaze wandered slowly over her full lips, still swollen red from his kisses. He had to drag his gaze from her mouth to concentrate on what she was saying.

Serena became flustered and angry all over again as she noticed the man's attention was drawn to her lips, and not on what she was saying. "And what do you mean, who am I?"  Her eyes narrowed. "I should be demanding that of you!" she spat.

"If you are not the girl Kunzite sent, then . . . who are-" Darien began, but she abruptly cut him off.

"Would you let go of me?" Serena cried out.  Then without warning, he did.

"Oh!" she spluttered loudly as she landed on her rump, her white skirts bellowing around her in a flurry of layered silk.  "I don't know who this Kunzite is, but if you hadn't attacked me like-like some monster, perhaps I would have had the chance to explain that I had somehow got lost in those godforsaken, dark hallways!" she retorted.

"Oh, well! That's just great! Just where the hell were you heading?"  Despite the so-called reasonable sound of his voice, a steely quality was underlying his harsh words, making her answer sullenly.

"I was going to the banquet. I thought that I had arrived at the right doors.  The guards said that I only had to knock and they would let me out, but when I knocked on them, you dragged me into this room—and you-"

"Attacked you?"  He actually had the nerve to grin wickedly at her.

Anger surged through her again, bringing her to her feet.

"This is not funny, you're-"

"Yes, I know, a monster," Darien interrupted her, "and it isn't funny because it's not everyday one runs across a Moon maiden who displays that amount of power?"  He quirked a dark eyebrow at her flushed face.  "Perhaps we should introduce ourselves.  I am Prince Darien of the Earth Kingdom, Elite Ambassador for Earth and son to King Damian and Queen Augusta, rulers of planet Earth, at your service, madam." He bowed slightly, mocking her with the pun of the half bow.  

Anger washed over Serena again, for she knew that he had just insulted her. Not one to be outdone by insults, she quickly—and very gracefully—curtsied deeply.  She missed the prince's eyebrows rising as her white, silk skirts flared elegantly around her.  Her silver head bowed low to him. "I am the Supreme Princess to all of the surrounding planets, Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom.  Daughter to the Supreme Queen, Queen Serenity, ruler of the Silver Millennium, at your service, your highness!"  She added the last word sarcastically; indicating she knew her station was well above his.

The cad only had the gall to laugh at her taunting!

"Well, perhaps that explains the power backing you," he said.  He reached down and clasped her arm tightly, hauling her up and against him.

"Yes, but that does not explain how an Earthling, such as yourself, could have the same amount of power as myself.  It's not possible—at least not here!"  She was getting breathless again as she struggled against him.  The feel of his hard length did something strange to her senses. Remembering his emotions for her when they had shared minds, she began to struggle even more fiercely, fear of her uncertain emotions driving her.

"Would you cease your movements?" Darien bit out, his eyes narrowing again. "I am not going to hurt you!" How can I, he thought? He wasn't even sure what he was doing with her and he was already regretting his actions. Soul Mates! Jesus, he thought.  What if the Legends are right? I don't have time for young virgins! Especially one that's destined for me, he thought angrily.

"Before you go back to the banquet, you better think long and hard about what just happened between us. You know the Legends speak true and I have the feeling that you don't take the duties of your kingdom lightly."  His grip on her arm was beginning to hurt.

"I don't care about the Legends, and—oh!"  She shook her head, unable to believe what had just happened as she continued to struggle against him. "This can't be true—you? I will not be coupled with you!"

"My thoughts exactly! However, before you go barking up the wrong tree, I suggest you go on back to your room and get a hold your mother.  I'm sure she's already felt the surge of energy that you so kindly displayed for my benefit," he retorted as he pushed her toward the door.

"I don't bark!" she huffed angrily, still trying to release her arm from his tight grip as he opened the door. Before she had a chance to say anything more, his lips came down on hers, hard and brief.   Then he deposited her outside his door, slightly dazed.

"Now, run along like the good little girl you are," Darien said, grinning wickedly.   He swapped her hard on her rear, evoking a furious gasp from her at the same time. She left him, looking over her shoulder and glaring at him simultaneously, all the while mumbling incoherent expletives.

Author Notes:  This is the story that started it all for me.  My love for Sailor Moon started nearly four or five years ago, when Sailor Moon first came out in the US and Netscape was still king on the Internet.  This story was my second attempt at fan fiction writing, when there were no stories surrounding Darien and Serena pair.  The only romantic stories on A Sailor Moon Romance at the time only involved Raye and Darien.  And I was tired of reading action and fighting stories.  Then I came across Sexylyon's Interlude and was lost.  She inspired me to write and the rest is history…for me anyways. 

Please enjoy this one, it will only be around for a short while.  It is complete. 

Lady M. Harris