Title: The Thirteenth Year
Summary: When All-American girl Serena Warren turns thirteen, weird things start happening. Every night she dreams of the life of a Moon Princess and as time progresses, her dreams become more and more real, so that finally, she cannot distinguish between the life she leads in her dreams and the one she is trying to live during the day.
Author: Silver Sparklze
Reason for Writing: A challenge, issued by Lunarian Amethyst
Author's Notes: Nothing yet…maybe later.
~Dream Sequence: Moon Kingdom, Silver Millennium~
Princess Serenity gazed down at planet Earth, from her vantage-point on the Moon. She sighed longingly. How she wished she was down there, swimming in the oceans, sitting under the trees, and, most importantly, being with the one person she loved most in the world. Prince Darien.
Princess Serenity turned around, when she heard her mother, Queen Selenity heading towards her.
"Hello, daughter," Queen Selenity said gently, taking her daughter's pale outstretched hand. Both she and her daughter had the same hair-style, two odangos placed atop their blonde heads, with hair streaming down to their knees on either side.
"Hello, Mother." Princess Serenity replied.
"What are you doing?"
"Looking down at Earth." Princess Serenity sighed. "Mother, I miss him so much." Queen Selenity smiled at her sadly.
"And you will, until the day you see him again. But Serenity, you know that he must stay on Earth, to keep the peace there, just as you must stay here, to do your duty towards your people." Princess Serenity sighed again, nodding.
"Yes, Mother, I know." She said. Her eyes lightened suddenly, as she spotted the man running towards them both. "Prince Darien!" She cried, "You're here!" Prince Darien frowned, brushing his black hair away from his face, his blue eyes concerned.
"Thank goodness nothing has happened yet." He said.
"What is wrong, Prince Darien?" Queen Selenity asked. Prince Darien bowed to Princess Serenity, before turning to Queen Selenity, and bowing to her also.
"The Negaforce has possessed a lady from Earth named Beryl, and she, in turn, has possessed other humans. They are on their way to attack. You cannot trust anyone from Earth, your Highness." Queen Selenity nodded, sad.
"Yes, I know," She said, "And it breaks my heart that it has come to this. We must go to war. I am afraid you cannot stay here, Prince Darien. Word will reach my army in but moments and they will try to attack you. Your love to my daughter can never be spoken aloud." Prince Darien nodded, and Princess Serenity gasped, tears filling her expressive blue eyes.
"No!" She cried, "It cannot be!"
"I'm afraid it is so, Princess," Prince Darien said, "But do not worry. I shall fight for the Moon Kingdom, even though it means fighting against my own people, and we shall meet again. I promise you." He hugged Princess Serenity tightly, but did not dare to do more while her mother, the Queen, was watching. Queen Selenity seemed to understand this.
"I shall leave you to say your farewells. Do not cry, daughter, for I will do everything in my power to protect you all." She left them alone together.
Princess Serenity clung to Prince Darien, her tears falling freely.
"You can't leave," She said, "I won't be able to bear it. I love you too much!" Prince Darien hugged her close,
"And I love you, Serenity," He replied, "Don't worry, we will meet again. Until then, here is a locket, a symbol of our love for one another." He handed her a gold star shaped locket, which, when she opened it, played her favourite song.
"Oh, Darien," She hugged him again, and kissed him passionately, trying to pour all her love into the kiss. Finally, Prince Darien pulled away.
"Farewell, Princess," He said, before hurrying off.
Princess Serenity's protectors, fellow warriors, and best friends, the Sailor Scouts all helped her fight, but one by one, beginning with Sailor Jupiter, they all died. Finally, Queen Beryl – as she called herself – attacked Princess Serenity, and she screamed in pain, calling out for somebody, anybody, to help her. Prince Darien heard her pleas, and ran to help. He saved her from the attack, and gently placed her down on the ground, though she clung to him desperately.
Queen Beryl was very impressed by his strength.
"Prince Darien," She said, looking at him greedily, "If you will be my prince, I will spare your precious Princess, and we will rule the world together." Prince Darien looked at Princess Serenity desperately, before replying.
"Never! I'd rather die than marry an ugly old hag like you!" He shouted.
"Why you little monster!" Queen Beryl shrieked, and she pulled him up into a tornado of immense power.
"Darien!" Princess Serenity screamed, grabbing his hand. She was pulled in too, and she yelled her head off in fright, holding Prince Darien's hand tighter. Meanwhile, Queen Selenity had noticed what was going on, and was desperately trying to get close enough to pull her daughter, and, hopefully, Prince Darien, out of Beryl's spell.
Queen Beryl had obviously seen Queen Selenity coming, for instead of torturing Princess Serenity and Prince Darien any longer, she sent one last energy bolt, and, screaming, both Princess Serenity, and Prince Darien died.
~Galaxy Dorm, Planet Orphanage, New York~
"NO!!!!!!" Serena Warren sat up in bed, yelling her head off. She pressed a hand to her forehead, breathing hard, blue eyes wide with fear. One of her roommates woke up too, and glared at her.
"Go back to sleep, Rena," She said, "We've got a huge test tomorrow morning."
"Sorry, Rochelle," Serena apologised to Rochelle Harvey. "I had a nightmare." Rochelle's face softened.
"Well…ok. But maybe you should tell Miss Jason. These nightmares have been getting worse, and it's almost your 13th birthday."
"I know, I know," Serena pressed her hands to her forehead again. "It's always the same. This girl, who looks just like me, dies, and so does her boyfriend, in this huge war. I can feel every bit of pain, every bit of despair. It's so weird." Another girl, Amelia Mickel woke up then. She turned over, looked at them both, and sighed.
"Another nightmare, Rena?" She asked. Serena nodded mutely.
"Please, Rena, talk to Miss Jason. I'm sure she can help. There has to be an explanation for why you keep on having these nightmares. I just hope they're gone by your birthday." Serena nodded,
"Hai, me too. It'd be a nice present." She said. Amelia looked at her oddly.
"Why are you speaking Japanese?" She asked, "In fact, how do you know any Japanese? Your language at school is German." Serena shook her head,
"Sorry, I dunno," She said, although, actually, she did, in her dream, Princess Serenity and Queen Selenity's discussion was in Japanese, although they switched to English the moment Prince Darien came onto the scene. But Princess Serenity's and Prince Darien's private talk had been in Japanese too. Serena tried to dispel the images. She was reading way too much into this. Perhaps she'd better speak to Miss Jason after all.
