Disclaimer: I do NOT own Sailormoon.
Chapter 1 : The beginning of the End
My name is Serenity and I am the Princess of the moon. My mother for whom I loved so dearly has just passed away after a long battle with a terminal illness and it's killing me. I suppose that would make me the Queen now but it's all still so surreal I'm not feeling ready to take on all of that responsibility. I've been having trouble coming to terms with this new loss. Which comes as no surprise to anyone else but to me I had always prayed that it wouldn't end like this. I prayed for months thinking that she had been misdiagnosed or something. She wasn't just my mother, she was my world and with her gone I felt lonely and lost.
It was decided by the monarchy that my uncle Richard was to rule the moon until I felt fully fit to accept the role as the moons new ruler. Until then it was brought to my attention that mother had wanted me to spend some quality time with her longtime friend, Miranda. I honored her last wishes and soon found myself traveling to the planet of nemesis where King Mitus and Queen Miranda ruled with their son Diamond. Miranda had always traveled to the moon on many occasions to spend time with my mother so I had become familiar and very fond of her.
I almost feared seeing her, thinking it would make me miss my mother even more than I already did, as if that was at all possible. But I craved the familiarity of Miranda's face to help get me through this difficult time. I was also nervous because I had never spent any time or seen much of the other two men in Miranda's life. Would they be bothered by having this stranger in their home?
I had arrived early in the morning and was soon greeted warmly by the queen herself.
"Serenity, I'm so pleased to see you." Miranda exclaimed excitedly before pulling me into her embrace.
This is what I craved. I held to her for what felt like forever and closed my eyes in an attempt to pretend that she was someone else, my mother, if at least only for a moment. It didn't work.
"Unfortunately it's under such terrible circumstances," Miranda stated with a somber tone.
I tried my best to hide how devastated I truly was. The numbness that encased my entire being helped me to achieve that. It even hurt to smile. I was struggling to move and at times I had to push myself to think. No one had spoken of my mother's death since the day it had happened.
It was an unspoken loss for our kingdom, the elephant in the room. I had spent so many days crying I felt that there couldn't possibly be anything left but upon being reminded, a tear drifted down my cheek. Miranda wiped it away as a tear fell down her own cheek. It showed me that I wasn't the only one suffering personally from this great loss.
"Don't be so sad darling, you will enjoy it here," she said, trying to convince me.
I only nodded as an attempt to try and make her feel better. She was being kind to me; I didn't want her to think me ungrateful. I was looking up into her eyes when a low voice came booming in to her left.
"That's right," The king said smiling.
He looked much older since the last time I had seen him. It had been years ago. He held more white in his hair now but still maintained those chiseled features that I had heard so many older women gush over during some of our banqueted events. He opened his arms out to me and I did my best to trudge forward and return the friendly gesture. It was brief but it indeed brought me a tad bit of comfort.
"We love you Serenity as we have loved your mother. I hope that you will enjoy it here, our home is yours." He told her trying his best to make her feel as comfortable as possible.
As I hugged him again he accepted and held me more tightly to himself. In the corner of my eye I saw as he turned to see his wife who was also getting teary eyed.
"Now, our son is around here somewhere." He announced as if surveying the room would magically make the prince appear. "No bother, he will be more than happy to give you a tour of the property later. Until then, you must be tired. We'll have someone show you to your room." Mitus informed me.
I pulled out of his embrace and smiled as best I could. My tears still threatening to fall from my eyes. He kissed my cheek and gestured toward an awaiting servant standing against the wall.
"This is Evone, she will show you to your room." He said.
Evone nodded politely to me and I nodded to everyone in return as a silent thank you and turned to follow closely after the servant down the hall.
We stopped just outside a set of double solid arched oak wood doors and paused. Evone turned to me as if to gauge my reaction and slowly opened the doors in unison. She appeared to be trying to make a big show of it, pushing off of them gently she moved out of my path. It was indeed an impressive space.
The bedchamber was enormous and beyond elegant. Whites, creams and crystals overpowered the space and I couldn't pinpoint one thing that stood out more than another. All I wanted to do right now was lie in that large padded bed with way to many pillows and curl up into a ball. I turned to look back at Evone and smiled.
"Thank you," I said quietly not even recognizing my own voice. A couple of tall men in pristine uniforms walked in holding my luggage and carried them over to what I presumed was a walk in closet.
"Would you like for us to unpack your things for you your highness?" Evone asked respectfully.
"No thank you." I said a little too rushed.
I didn't mean to come across so rude, I just wanted to be by myself and absorb everything that was going on around me. She nodded her head and left with the two men making sure to close the door in her leave. I let out a pent up sigh of relief and slowly walked over to the bed. Sliding my hand along the soft material of the top blanket I let out a small sob, I shouldn't have come. It wasn't helping me being here. In fact I felt as if I had abandoned my duties in coming here, but then again I needed to remember this is what my mother asked of me. I climbed in under the sheets not caring that I was fully dressed. This warm bed and large room left me feeling more alone than I had ever felt in my life.
I had cried for what seemed like days and no one bothered me too much. Servants dropped off trays of food and maids came to tidy up but that was about it. I think Miranda had felt my tension that first day and decided it was best to leave me alone so that I may get situated, but this morning she was requesting for me to join the family for breakfast.
I took a long shower and tried for the first time after my mother had passed away to fully get myself ready. I put my hair up into a high ponytail and brushed on a light layer of makeup. I went over to my bags that still remained unpacked and pulled out a pair of billowy high waist, cream colored pants pulling them on. I matched them with a long sleeved rolled neck, cropped sweater and a pair of ballerina flats.
I threw a couple of gold bangles on my wrists and walked out into the hall without looking in the mirror. The less I saw of myself the better. All I see when I look in the mirror is a more childish version of my mother. I had inherited her looks and while at one time I felt that was something to be proud of now more than ever I resented it.
After leaving my room I realized I didn't exactly remember where the dining hall was located. On my second day here Evone had taken the princes' place in giving me a tour but apparently it had all been a waste of time because it appeared as if I was already lost. Lucky for me I ran into a maid rushing down the hall with a set of clean sheets and she guided me in the right direction. I made a point to listen more closely to the directions this time. I wasn't a complete screwball, it was easy to get lost in this place, it was huge.
As I walked into the dining hall all I saw was a long dining table sitting in the center of the room, with all major parties in attendance. My eyes went from Miranda to Mitus warmly, but when they landed on who I assumed was the prince I froze. He was the most attractive man I had ever seen in my life. Blazing velvet eyes and a strong structured face, much like his father.
The only similarity he had to his mother was his movement. He was fluid and relaxed. He oozed pure sexual masculinity. I knew his type; I'd been courted by plenty of men like him. A playboy of sorts. The look he gave me alone revealed an arrogance that couldn't be described.
"Nice of you to finally join us Princess," he said somewhat shrewdly, as if I had offended him by being late. I looked up at the large clock on the wall and saw that I was, in fact early.
I sat down in the seat across from him to show that his comment didn't have any effect. He smiled wickedly at me eliciting aggravated glares from his parents. He ignored them and continued to keep his gaze trained on mine. I mockingly smiled back and he finally turned away clearly annoyed by my equally childish antics. There goes your good looks buddy, a bad attitude will do that to a person, I thought giving him a last once over.
"Son, you seem to have forgotten yourself." The queen said softly, with a hint of anger as she looked between him and myself.
"I'm sorry Serenity," Diamond said with not the least bit of sincerity.
"Now that's better," Miranda said with a bit of cheerfulness.
"You look wonderful Serenity, we are more than happy to see you join us." She said reaching out and putting her hand over mine reassuringly.
I smiled at her. It was something my mother would have done and it brought a sudden pain to my chest. She must have felt me disengage and pulled her hand away in understanding.
"Children we are to set sail soon. Our good friends Duchess Ginger and Prince Fredrick are to be married at sea and they have requested our attendance," Miranda informed us happily.
Diamond chuckled and both of his parents looked to him displeasingly.
"And what a couple they make," he said sarcastically.
The couple had been known for their loud and constant arguments. For them to be married is for enemies to be put in a room together. Serenity knew this and was surprised as well when she'd hear of their engagement eight months back.
"Now son, you have yet to choose a bride, so let's not knock what we haven't tried, shall we?" King Mitus said with a bit of frustration in his voice.
"Believe me, I've tried plenty," the Prince said distastefully right back with a sleazy smile on his face.
The king stood abruptly clearly angry with disapproval at his son's blatant disrespect.
"We have heard of your excursions and they will stop, for we will not have you sully such an honored name boy, " the king yelled reprimanding to the prince.
All I could do as this was taking place was look down and feel incredibly uncomfortable. It was then that I snuck a peak at Diamond who in that very moment just happened to turn and look to me. Darn my luck! I assume he was curious as to whether the conversation interested me or not. The king finally sat back down after his wife patted his hand and quietly argued for him to not make such a scene. The king then turned to the door as a large Siberian black tiger entered. Rolling his eyes he turned to the prince.
"Looks as if your partner has decided to join us," Mitus announced rolling his eyes.
I turned to the door to see who he was referring to and in walks this large, just as arrogant cat. His collar was incrusted with diamonds. Diamond just smiled and signaled the servants with a snap of his fingers. They pulled out one of the chairs and replaced it with a much larger one. The tiger climbed up into it and sat comfortably on his hind legs.
A plate full of food was swiftly set down in front of the feline and it didn't hesitate to devour everything. The king and queen both sighed disapprovingly. Diamond didn't care, he just smiled and pet the animal as it ate. While the tiger gave little notice to Serena, it was thoroughly intrigued by Diamond.
"This is Raja, he at least joins us for meals," Diamond said casually in my direction trying his best to nudge me.
After shaking their heads the king and queen both let out a loud sigh of annoyance and frustration. He had succeeded in annoying her and that comment had done it. I just stood up angrily without having even touched my meal and gave him a hard look before leaving. The prince looked surprised as if he didn't expect me to react in that way, I don't know why, it seemed as if that was exactly what he was trying to get me to do. It didn't occur to me until I was halfway down the hall that I had left without properly excusing myself.
I couldn't see him anymore, but I could still imagine him sitting there petting that diamond clad cat. Then I heard him say, "Princesses these days…. sheeesh! So touchy."
I could hear his parents start bickering with him in an attempt to defend me but I didn't care. Prince Diamond had already made it clear that he was not open to the idea of me being here in his house and although that shouldn't matter, it left me feeling even more unwanted and unloved. The sound of their voices drowned out the closer I got to my room. I had found it successfully without even having to think about it and all I wanted to do is get back in bed and cry myself to sleep like I had done every night since my mother had passed.
About an hour or so later I had still not fallen asleep. I was in bed weeping silently when all of a sudden the sound of my door swinging open alarmed me. I lifted my head and saw Raja, in all his feline glory slink stealth fully into my room. I must not have shut the door all the way earlier when I rushed in here after breakfast.
Raja didn't look like an animal to care much for anyone except for that asshole Diamond, but for some reason he was looking to take an interest in me. Maybe it was because I was a fresh face and he didn't want me here either, I thought to myself as I went back to my sobbing. Raja suddenly jumped up on the bed. It didn't surprise me, I was almost hoping the animal would rip me to shreds and end this nightmare I was living in, but when all Raja did was began to nudge his head against my shoulder it made me want to engage with the animal. I started out by petting him, rubbing his ears back and he purred approvingly.
I began to mimic the princes' strokes from earlier. The feline who recognized the familiar touch moved himself to lie next to me. The acceptance he had just given me made me feel whole even if it was just for a moment. I wrapped my arms slowly around his body in a hug and continued to cry. Raja didn't seem to mind. He just laid there, rested his head on the mountain of pillows and closed his eyes.
Later that night, Diamond could be found whispering Rajas name silently around all columns and corners in the hall.
Usually I would walk into my room and Raja would be right there at the foot of foot of the bed waiting for me, but on this particular night he was nowhere to be seen. I made my way towards the guest quarters after having checked the rest of the property and saw that the door of the room I presumed was Serenity's quarters, was left open a crack. It allowed for the light in the room to shine dimly into the darkness of the hall. I suddenly became curious. I had looked everywhere else, maybe Raja for whatever reason had wandered into there. I glanced over to the few guards who were standing tall alongside the wall as they kept keen watch at their posts.
"Gentlemen," I said quietly with a nod as I slowly crept up to the door.
They nodded back respectfully. What I saw astounded me. My Raja was protectively resting at the princess's side, cradled loosely in her arms as she slept. The enormous bed was covered in silk linens that had a pinkish gold sheen to them. I couldn't help but notice how weak and innocent she looked. Fragile was the only word I could use to describe her dried, tear stained face.
Noticing her lack of warmth in the chilling room I by instinct pulled the comforter higher up so that it rested at her bare shoulders. A strand of her golden mane lay draped across her face and it bothered me to no end, so I brushed it aside lightly. Her skin was so incredibly soft I gave into my desire to touch it once more and slid the back of my hand gently across her cheek. Looking at Raja laying there comfortably I let out frustrated sigh.
"Traitor." I found myself whispering out loud to Raja.
I couldn't help but think this woman was going to make for an interesting set of months.
I decided to just let the pair be, but before leaving the room I turned off the light and shut the doors. There must be more to this woman if Raja can trust her. Raja was definitely not a trusting kitty.
Little did he know, the extent of trouble those two would cause.