AN: Here's a new story I'm working on for fun. It may or may not ever be completed, but we'll see. I got the idea for it one day when I was bored and liked it, so yeah. The first chapter is kind of short though… Oh well. This is also unedited, so please ignore any mistakes, or mention them in a review and I'll try to fix them. Enjoy, and please review.

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon belongs to Naoko Takeuchi.

Selene's Promise

Chapter One: The Beginning of the End

It was almost impossible to believe that she was actually being coronated; that she was finally taking over her mother's throne. Not that she had wished to, but rather had been forced to for the security of her planet. It was an odd coronation no doubt, as the Princess, soon to be Queen, stood awkwardly in her riding clothes and fully covered in dirt. Her blue eyes were bright with tears that could not be shed because she needed to be strong for her people. Yet she wanted desperately to be alone to mourn the loss of her mother and was angry that the ceremony seemed to go on forever.

Those who witnessed the crowning were either weeping loudly or kneeling in prayer. Queen Serenity had been their savior, their hope, their goddess. They could only hope her daughter would be able to bring salvation to their now dying race. The Moon was in turmoil, and Princess Serenity would now have to heal it.

A delicate silver crown decorated with pink diamonds was lowered onto the Princess' silver hair and she was given her mother's staff to complete the ceremony.

"I present to you Her Royal Highness, Queen Serenity II, daughter of the late Queen Serenity," a priest said and the witnesses bowed gratefully, praying once again for the safety of their home. Serenity quickly curtseyed then left the room in hurried steps, at last allowing her tears to fall. Her weeping echoed through the halls and carried throughout the castle, leaving not a single Lunarian without the feeling of utter despair.

"Endymion? ENDYMION!" A woman screamed out of the crowds, desperate and afraid. Her arms were reaching out to a man in armor, but she was slowly sinking under the mass of people. She could barely breathe, but still continued to reach out in hopes to catch him. Endymion's own efforts to reach her were in vain, as the crowds pulled on his cape and grabbed for his hands, enveloping him in a cocoon of flesh and bone. He could smell the acid burning their skin, destroying them. Destroying his people, his family, his home.

Closing his eyes, Endymion tried to drown out the terrified screeches of his mother and tried to reason that this was all a dream. This couldn't be happening; it just wasn't possible. The bodies surrounding him muffled his own screams as he fought to ignore the pain of his own burning flesh, and the strange itching feeling of it instantaneously growing back. But how long can I continue to regenerate myself? He thought, struggling to keep consciousness.

"Selene save us…" he cried out, looking straight up into the sky and at the moon that hung above his head. "Please, let this nightmare end."

As Queen, it was necessary for Serenity to have a personal guard which would protect her and be the last defense for the castle. Those in the guard had been trained for this very moment on the moon since their birth, having been sent from their home planets to serve their purpose. They were Sailor Senshi and were born as such. Nothing could keep them from their duty as protector to the Moon's heir.

There were four senshi in total, one from each of the inner planets: Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus. Each carried their planet's symbol on their forehead when in battle, and each wielded the power of their home planet as well. Not only were they the protectors of the new Queen Serenity II, but they were also her friends. As such, they had prepared to comfort their friend during the funeral being held for her late mother. They had also made all the preparations for the funeral, knowing exactly what Serenity would want done, but also knowing that in her anguish would be unable to do herself.

"It doesn't seem fair that she would be taken so easily," whispered Jupiter, whilst arranging flowers around the coffin. Queen Serenity had been like a mother to all the senshi, since they had rarely seen their own parents.

Mercury turned towards the brunette and sighed, "It was her choice to use all her powers to buy us more time." She looked around the room sadly. She wondered how Mars and Venus were doing with consoling their new Queen.

The room was covered in white roses and pale-coloured cloths. The coffin sat at the front of the room, the same place where Queen Serenity II's coronation had taken place just the day before. It had a mix of gold and silver designs decorating the outside, and luxurious silver silk lined the inside. Queen Serenity was wearing her traditional lavender gown, with slight alterations to enhance her features. Her entire body seemed to glow, aside from the crown that still sat on her head, which seemed dull.

Mercury and Jupiter finished the last touches and slowly moved towards the rooms doors. There was no use postponing the inevitable, and so they quickly went to call in the priest. They would begin the ceremony as soon as Serenity arrived.

The funeral passed in a blur for Serenity. She barely remembered giving a speech, and could not even recall what the priest had said. However, she remembered the moment she held her mother's hand and kissed her forehead for the last time. She could not find the strength to hold back tears as they had lowered the coffin into the ground, and had almost tried to stop the whole thing. Just once more she wanted to see her mother, but the senshi held her back. There was a long line of people who came to lay flowers on her grave, and then it was over.

Serenity found herself being lead to her bedroom by the senshi, but still could not speak. She was exhausted from crying, but knew that she would have another sleepless night. The world was ending and she was left alone to try and salvage it. Her doubts began to cloud her thoughts, and so she was surprised when she found herself staring at her bedroom door.

"Serenity, you should try and sleep," Mercury said, squeezing her friend's hand for comfort. Serenity didn't move, and so Mars opened the door with a sigh and gently pulled her inside after her. The other scouts rushed to come in also, after Mars let out a shocked gasp. Serenity's hand flew to her nose to block out the horrible stench, for there on the floor lay a man; a man who was half naked and who's skin was melting.