A/N I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters...Unfortunately.
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In the time of the Silver Millenium the entire galaxy lived in peace. Ruled by the beloved Queen Serenity, the Moon kingdom was the most beautiful, prosperous and peaceful of all the planets. Her daughter Princess Serenity was training to follow in the Queen's footsteps and be a revered and fair ruler. And, Princess Serentity wanted nothing more to be a good Queen like her mother, but that was not to be her destiny for a very, very long time.
"Serenity?"
"Oh, mother." The princess said taken by surprise.
"Staring at the Earth again." The Queen said knowingly, as she stepped out onto the balcony.
"It is so beautiful mother. I just cannot believe that any place that beautiful cannot have beautiful people too. They must be."
"It is a beautiful planet." The Queen said admiring as well.
"Oh, I wish I could go there."
"I know you do my love. Perhaps one day the Earth and the Moon will have good relations as we did in the past." Queen Serenity sighed before kissing her daughter on the cheek. "Now, you should go to bed. You have a big day tomorrow."
"I know. Goodnight mother." Princess Serenity took one last look at the Earth before retiring. Perhaps one day she would get to see the Earth after all.
The next day, Princess Serenity sat in Serenity Royal Garden with her court, the Princesses from Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus. They gathered in the same place every year for each of their birthdays to exchange presents.
"Happy Birthday Princess Serenity." The Princess of Mercury said smiling. She handed over an elegantly carved wooden box.
"Oh, thank you Epona." Princess Serenity said eagerly. To her dismay it contained a book written in the ancient language. It was her least favorite subject of study.
"I know as Queen you will have to be able to read the Lunar scripts from the ancient books so I thought this would help you practice."
"Great." Princess Serenity said placing the book beside her. "I'll start tomorrow."
"Oh, open mine." The Princess of Venus said excitedly. "I had to have it sent from home and it was not easy to find."
Princess Serenity took the small box from her hand and opened it to reveal a beautiful amber colored pendant dangling on a delicate chain. "Oh, Cytherea it is exquisite." She sighed.
"It is a very rare stone that is supposed to help you find your true love. If you wear it at the ball tonight I am certain you will have no trouble finding your Prince."
Princess Serenity leaned over and embraced Princess Venus. "Oh, you have one too." She noticed.
"Well, since I already sent them in search of yours I thought it wouldn't hurt for me to find my true love too." Princess Cytherea said with a wink. They both burst into a fit of laughter.
"Are you ready?" The Princess of Mars asked.
Princess Serenity just nodded and placed her hands in hers.
"Princess Serenity," Princess Mars began in a threatening voice as she leaned closer. "If you want to become Queen you have to stop being so impulsive, but since that will probably never happen you should-"
"Hesperia!" Princess Serenity yelled, pulling her hands away from Princess Mars. "What kind of fortune is that???"
"How do you expect to be great like Queen Serenity if you are not serious?"
"What does that mean?" Princess Serenity yelled back. "When I'm Queen I will be serious."
"Well, you won't know how if you don't start now." Princess Mars said pointing her finger.
The two Princesses just stared each other down for a few moments before finishing their daily spat by turning away from each other in a huff.
"Happy Birthday." Said, Princess Jupiter, trying to distract the Moon Princess. It would only take a few minutes and she and Mars would be talking again as though nothing had happened. Princess Jupiter presented the cake, the latest creation made by the cook as per her instructions.
"Ohh, Europa. It looks almost too good to eat." Princess Serenity said smiling. "But, I will."
They quickly devoured the cake leaving nothing but a few remnants behind.
"Now Princess Serenity, have you thought about what would you like to do?" Princess Venus asked.
"Yes." Princess Serenity said looking down nervously, not certain even she would have the nerve to do it.
Every year on the Princess' birthday she was allowed to do have a wish. She was allowed to do or get one thing that she wanted no matter what it was.
"Well?" Princess Mars asked impatiently. She knew if it was taking Princess Serenity this long to say it, it was probably something they shouldn't be doing.
Serenity stood up and walked a few feet away from them, staring up at the sky. She turned to them with a smile beaming on her face. "I want to go to Earth."
There was a collective gasp among the other Princesses but Princess Serenity had expected that.
"Princess Serenity, we cannot." Princess Mercury said.
"We are not allowed to go to Earth." Princess Jupiter reminded.
"Yes, we are." Princess Serenity continued. "If that is what I want as my birthday wish, then we are allowed to go."
"I knew this was going to get us in trouble." Mars said dropping her head in her hand.
"What did Queen Serenity say?" Venus asked.
"She said…that I could do whatever I wish today." Serenity answered diplomatically. Technically it wasn't a falsehood because it was her birthday wish. Even if Queen Serenity hadn't actually approved a trip to Earth, it should fall under that category. Serenity dropped to her knees before her friends to convince them. "Oh, please. Don't you want to see what truly it looks like? I mean not just in paintings and looking into the sky. We would not have to stay long. We shall not even be missed. Everyone is so busy preparing for the party tonight. All we have to do is a sailor teleport and see what it looks like in person. It will just be for an hour or so and no one will know. Oh, please this is the only thing that I want."
"We will get into so much trouble if we are caught." Jupiter said.
"I'll explain it to mother and take the blame myself. She wouldn't punish me on my birthday."
"What about the Earth humans?" Mercury asked. "If we are caught there we could be captured."
"They wouldn't actually capture us. And we wouldn't be doing anything wrong. We are not invading. We would just be exploring. And we could just as easily teleport back. Come on. Please." Princess Serenity begged.
"Well, I'm in. I've always wondered what Earth males look like. I wonder if they are handsome?" Venus mused.
"Yes! I know I could count on you Cytherea. Europa?"
"Well, I suppose I am a little curious about the Earth males too. Perhaps they are taller." Jupiter said.
"Yes! Yes!" Princess Serenity said clapping as she bounced excitedly. "Epona?"
"Hmm, I don't know." Mercury looked around with a worried expression on her face.
"Just think about all the research you have done and lessons we have had about Earth, don't you actually want to see it?" Princess Serenity continued.
"After all you can't really know a place until you actually go there." Venus added. The idea of Earth males was interesting her more and more.
"I suppose you do have a point." Mercury conceded.
"You too Epona?" Mars said surprised.
"It could be considered a kind of research trip." Mercury said blushing.
"I have a really bad feeling about this." Mars said ominously.
"You have a bad feeling about everything." Princess Serenity joked waving it off.
"Come on Hesperia." Venus said.
"Come on Hesperia." Added Jupiter.
"Come on Hesperia." Princess Serenity said, clasping her hands over her chest. Looking up at her friend with affected innocence and an exaggerated pout she begged. "Please. For my birthday."
"This is not going to end well." Mars said dropping her head in defeat.
Everyone else cheered and the group was excited for their little adventure. Princess Serenity could not believe that she was actually going to see the real Earth. The girls all stood and clasped hands. Princess Serenity not wanting to lose Venus' necklace quickly secured it around her neck.
"Are you sure we should be doing this?" Mercury asked nervously.
"Now, Epona, this won't work if you have doubts." Princess Serenity warned. "Do you remember what happened when we tried to go to Saturn?"
"Oh, right. I'm sorry. I'm ready." Mercury said clasping hands again. "Mercury Planet Power."
"Mars Planet Power." Princess Hesperia called.
"Jupiter Planet Power." Princess Europa called.
"Venus Planet Power." Princess Cytherea called.
"Cosmic Moon Power." Princess Serenity called.
Teleporting always came with a peculiar feeling. It came from inside, deep within your stomach. It started with a little tickle that soon grew as it moved away from your center. Soon your entire body was tingling and suddenly nothingness. Well that wasn't an accurate description. Perhaps it was weightlessness. You didn't lose consciousness but there was a feeling of being suspended and beyond everything in space and time. And suddenly once again you were back in reality.
Princess Serenity did not open her eyes at first. She wanted to hold on for a few moments and just get accustomed to the new scents and sounds around her. Was this real? Was she really on Earth? The real Earth? She knew she had to open her eyes to make certain but she was so afraid that perhaps the teleport didn't work and she would just find herself in the just Serenity Gardens still. But, the scent in the air was nothing like the scent of the Moon flowers, and Lunar blossoms that was surrounding them just a few minutes ago. Finally Princess Serenity opened her eyes.
And screamed.
The other Princesses opened their eyes as well with almost all of having the same reaction. A strange beast stood before them, its black eyes watching them suspiciously. It was brown and slender and it looked like it was built to run. If it chased after them they could never outrun it. It slowly began moving forward.
"It's going to attack us." Princess Venus said as they clumped together.
"Not if I can help it. Jupiter Power-"
"Europa don't!" Princess Mercury interrupted. "It's not going to hurt us."
"What?"
"Then why is it coming closer?" Venus asked.
"It is a deer. It is not dangerous. They are herbivores." Mercury explained. "Didn't any of you pay attention in Earthology?"
"Well, I suppose I didn't really pay that much attention." Jupiter admitted reluctantly.
"Considering we were never going to see it." Venus added.
"You guys are hopeless." Mars sighed.
"It's so cute." Princess Serenity said taking a tentative step forward. "You are not going to hurt us are you? I knew you wouldn't."
"Then why did you scream Princess Serenity?" Mars asked wryly.
"It doesn't signify anything. I was just surprised."
"Right. Right. Of course."
The deer apparently losing interest in the Princesses immediately departed.
"Oh, Saturn's moons." Princess Serenity sighed looking around. "It's more beautiful than I envisaged."
There was collective agreement among the other Princesses and at this moment none of them regretted their decision to use Princess Serenity's birthday wish to break the Moon Kingdom's Earth contact rule. It was so beautiful and so colorful. It was filled with sights and sounds they had never experienced before. They each began to step out to explore. They were in some kind of garden with the forest on three sides creating a deep crescent. Up ahead, away from the forest the could see more flowers and trees and the turrets of a large structure in the distance.
"Now, we shouldn't stray too far away from each other. It would be safer for us to stay together or at least in groups." Mercury advised.
Princess Serenity wasn't really listening. She was finally on Earth. Her Earth. She looked at the thick forest with its towering trees. Before the forest was dusted with lavender flowers making a lovely contrast against the deep green grass. To the right, the gardens became more formal. There was more symmetry and separation from one type of flora to the next.
"Oh, what is that scent?" Princess Serenity asked softly, walking farther away.
They were surrounded by so many different flowers it was hard to distinguish one from the next. Many of these blooms she had never seen before, as they were indigenous to Earth. There were yellow flowers in the shape of bells. And orange ones that looked like the pattern of a star. There were ones with large white dew covered petals. But none of them corresponded to the scent she was trying to find. Finally turning the corner she found herself alone and surrounded by the flower omitting the scent she had been following. It was so beautiful and this part of the garden was filled with them. There were white, pink, yellow ones but her favorite was the red ones. They looked so passionate, if a flower was allowed to look that way. The red petals snugly enveloped each other making it appear as if the flower was holding itself in a warm embrace. It was the most perfect blossom she had ever seen. She leaned down to inspect it closer and inhale the scent, too engrossed in her new discovery to hear the sound of hooves approaching her.
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Prince Endymion was riding through the Endymion Forest with his four generals. They were returning to the Palace after investigating strange occurrences on the outer rim of the Golden Kingdom. These occurrences were becoming more frequent. The animals were beginning to act very strangely. They were attacking humans even though there was enough food in the forest. They did not even appear to be hunting; they were simply attacking people at random. Two towns were attacked so far and though some said they could feel an ominous presence deep in the woods it was more logical that the animals had simply gone mad. The citizens were given permission by the Prince to hunt and destroy the animals that had attacked and report any changes.
"Excellent jump your highness." Zoisite gushed as the Prince easily cleared the River of Gaia.
"Do you plan on moving up in the ranks by using flattery? I do not think even your pretty boyish face is enough to tempt the Prince. Though it may tempt others." Nephrite laughed out loud, as he not so surreptitiously glanced at Kunzite.
"You overstep your bounds, Lord Nephrite." Kunzite warned.
"We shall see." Nephrite said snidely. "Jadeite let us ride." With that instead of waiting for his superior Kunzite to go before him, Nephrite rode ahead and took the jump with as much confidence as Prince Endymion had. Lord Nephrite was the Prince's closest friend and even though he was second to Kunzite, the highest-ranking officer, punishments for insubordination hardly ever came his way. He would never directly disobey one of Prince Endymion's orders but to have a low born person like Kunzite giving him orders was more than he could take not matter what the pale haired General did in the previous war to earn him to title of Chief.
"Do not let him affect you. You shall get your turn." Kunzite said to the still fuming Zoisite.
"Oh, I shall make certain of it." Zoisite replied.
"I shall cut through the roses and I am certain to make it back before any of you." Prince Enymion called behind them. He knew there was a slight rivalry between his generals but he usually laughed it off. It was something he had grown accustomed to. The Prince settled into his seat forcing his horse into more speed. He wanted a few moments without the useless banter. Even Nephrite would not come charging through the gardens for fear of destroying any of the Queens precious flowers. As he prepared to jump the rose bushes an apparition in white stood up before him taking him by surprise. The Prince knew if he made the jump he would trample her, trespasser though she was. He reared his horse hard and Apollo disliking the sudden change of course, and perhaps the scream that came from the white clad interloper, bucked and for the first time since he was a child Prince Endymion was thrown from a horse.
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Princess Serenity stood up just in time to see the black horse galloping toward her at a dangerous speed. Oh, no, she thought frozen in fear. She was going to die. She was going to die on Earth. And Queen Serenity would not be able to save her because her mother had no idea where she was. Whose foolish idea was it to take this forbidden trip again? Oh, yes. It was hers. Oh, she could just hear Princess Mars telling her I told you so. Of course she would be dead so she supposed she would not have to hear it after all. Well, at least she got to see Earth, Princess Serenity thought. It was her birthday wish though admittedly she did not want it to be her last wish. She did not know that she was screaming until she heard the sound of her voice echoing in her ears. The errant rider reared his horse hard and the horse bucked throwing the finely dressed rider to the ground.
Realizing she was alive Princess Serenity quickly ran to the fallen rider to make certain he was as fortunate. He lay on his side, turned away from her. Princess Serenity immediately dropped to her knees and turned his body towards her, placing his head on her lap.
"Oh." Princess Serenity sighed for the first time seeing his face.
Her heartbeat sped up. He was so… beautiful. She had never seen anyone with features she liked more. The soft rise and fall of his chest assured her that he was alive and the elation she felt with that knowledge went far beyond what she should feel for a stranger. She just kept staring at his face. Was this was the only time she would ever see his face? After all, she was not allowed to be here. She could not come back. He certainly could not come to the Moon. So this would probably be their only interaction. And, he was unconscious. But, even asleep he looked beautiful.
Princess Serenity wanted to seal his features in her memory. He was the most perfect creature she had ever seen. Even if they never talked, even if he never looked at her, every moment spent in his presence made her heart do flips. She gently brushed his hair away from his brow, and with a soft groan he began to move. And just when Princess Serenity thought her heart was beating so fast that it would propel itself from her chest he opened his eyes.
And his eyes locked with hers.
And she was certain her heart had stopped.
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So what do you think. Working on the second chapter. Please Review and let me know.