No I don't own Sailor Moon. If I did I wouldn't need to write fanfiction about it. It would just be called a new series. Then I'd be rich and that would be awesome.
Note: to some of you this may look familiar. That is because I have deleted the old version of this story in favor of this version that I have been working very hard on. For the most part things are almost the same, however, there are many new things that have been added. I hope that those of you who read this before will find this a better written story. With that being said please enjoy. If you can tell me some way in which I could further improve this story please review. If you just enjoy it review also everyone loves a little good feedback.
Birth of an Era
A cry split the silence of the birthing chamber. The queen took a rasping breath, and screamed again this time more loudly.
"Push Mum, the babe is almost out," said the midwife.
"I can't!" the queen said panting, "I'm too tired. Please don't make me."
"Mum the baby is almost here you have to. Just give it one more good push," she said insistently. Gathering the last vestiges of her strength the queen gritted her teeth and pushed. Sweat beaded and rolled down her brow unhindered, and unnoticed. Her teeth parted to let loose a scream that could no longer be kept in. Her hands clamped down on the sheets to either side of the bed until her knuckles turned white. Long pale hair hung about her soaked with sweat. She grunted and suddenly there was a shrill cry.
"And out she comes," exclaimed the midwife, "See! one more good push was all it took." She cut the umbilical cord, and then turned to the waiting basin of warm water. She cleaned and checked the child thoroughly. The midwife turned. The queen reached for her new baby girl, and the midwife handed her down smiling gently. Gazing lovingly into the bright eyes of the newborn the new mother absentmindedly patted the swaddling clothes back from the child's face.
"Is it a girl like I'd hoped," the queen said quietly.
"It is Mum, just like you said she would be," the midwife said smiling.
"She's so small," said the mother quietly.
"Aye, but she will be strong. She came out screaming and full of life. That one is going to give you trouble mark my words," quipped the wrinkly midwife coming closer to pat the newborn on the head, "A good strong girl like that one aught to have a good strong name, but be careful because children have a way of playing jokes on you."
"Oh I've had the name picked out for weeks. Her name is going to be Serenity. Now that I see her here laying in my arms it seems even more perfect than before," she said as she gazed lovingly down at the baby girl. The perfect little girl burbled to herself, content in her mother's arms.
"Now if you ask me giving a child a name like that is just asking for trouble," the midwife grumbled as she wiped any leftover sweat from the new mother's brow. The mother nodded mutely already completely enraptured with her new baby. Deciding her services were no longer needed the midwife began packing her things. The midwife looked back at the new mother wishing she would have more time with her new baby girl. In no time at all she would be whisked away to the maids so that the queen could return to her duty.
A soft knock sounded on the birthing room door and before the queen had a chance to respond a tall man was already moving through it. It was clear that just the thought of being in a birthing room made him supremely uncomfortable. He moved slowly to the bedside and looked down at the little scrunched face in the swaddling clothes. He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his pale blue eyes. The queen looked up at him reluctantly, and grudgingly offered up the precious bundle. The man picked up the baby nervously not quite sure what to do with it. The baby's pale blue eyes opened wide and looked up searchingly. She burbled for a moment and then began to cry. The man looked startled and somewhat upset that the child was the crying.
"Why does she cry like this? I am her father after all," he griped with thinly veiled annoyance. After a few moments of half-hearted fussing he returned the still crying child to her mother.
"How should I know, Koray? Perhaps she is hungry. She was just dozing off and hasn't eaten anything yet," she said in an attempt to placate the short tempered man. He nodded reluctantly at the queen's logic, and gave the child back. She bared a breast and tried to angle the child towards it. Unbeknownst to the king this was a crucial moment for both child and mother. Often children died early in life simply because they never learned to latch onto their mothers breast. Serenity, however, had no such problem and took very little time to find her mothers waiting breast. She latched on tightly and began to suckle hungrily. The King watched with increasing discomfort.
"I will expect that you will be ready for the proper public reception of the child tomorrow," he said. His tone sounded no different than normal, but his posture said otherwise. He was standing with muscles strained from stress.
"Of course My King I will be ready. My guardians will help me get ready."
"Good. I'm sure that they will do a very thorough job," he said. He turned and left the room closing the door quietly behind him. He nodded to the four formidable women turning the corner at the end of the hall, and hurried away in the opposite direction. He did not miss the looks of disdain each of the women had for him. They swept down the wide marble hall toward the birthing room not bothering to knock. They simply entered knowing that they were expected.
The queen looked up into each woman's face with obvious relief. The first woman to step forward was tall with a long slender caring face. Her hair was soft and wavy. The auburn locks were cropped close to her face in a fashion very popular on her home planet of Mars. She was the least outspoken of the guardians, but only because she rarely often had to voice her thoughts. Her inner strength often helped to strengthen those around her.
The woman to her right was a small mousy thing barely more than 14 with long wavy blonde hair. Her bright blue eyes reflected how unsure she was. She had never dreamed of seeing the queen let alone becoming her personal attendant. After the untimely death of the last representative she had been chosen and was still in shock that she was now living in the palace.
Behind the child was a very motherly looking woman obviously the oldest of the lot. She had a full head of Jet black hair which was only beginning to get streaks of silver. Though she was older her body was still toned from years of use. Her face was lined with wrinkles and a few scars, but her golden eyes sparkled with mirth and happiness.
Finally the last of the four was a vibrant looking woman in her mid thirties with bright red hair and green eyes. Her skin was a constant golden color gained through years spent under the hot sun of Mercury.
"My lady she is beautiful. She will be a heartbreaker just like her mama," murmured the oldest woman senior in age even to the queen.
"You would say that Ana'ye. I don't know when the last time I was a heartbreaker. It certainly wasn't any time this century," she said with a smile that twinkled deep in her eyes. She doted upon the older woman as though she were a second mother.
"Is she always going to be that wrinkly and pinched looking or do they grow out of that?" asked the fiery haired guardian with an earnestness that was in its own way endearing. Michelle often forgot to think before she spoke.
"I think she's a perfect little child," murmured Maino, "It's so wonderful that she will grow up here in peace and comfort." Maino smiled placing a gentle kiss on the babe's forehead. She looked into the Queen's face, and noticed a sudden darkness in her eyes. She shifted uncomfortably as she looked away from the young girl.
"My lady what's wrong? Why do I see fear in your eyes?" Michelle blurted out with characteristic frankness, "Why would you have cause to be afraid?" The auburn beauty scowled turning a harsh eye on the fiery woman. Sighing heavily the queen stared up into the faces of her friends wishing for once that she weren't so transparent.
"I should have known that it would be impossible to hide the fear that is growing inside of me. Sometimes I wish you all weren't quite so perceptive. Of course I don't know where I would be now if you weren't," she said with a smile that only barely touched her eyes, "Truthfully I've been having terrible dreams the last few weeks of my pregnancy. When I think about the future of my child I am overwhelmed with a sadness I can't explain."
"My lady, do not allow these terrible thoughts to ruin the precious new moments with your child. This sadness often comes to new mothers after the birth of their child. This foreboding may yet only be the worried thoughts of a mother bringing a new life into the world. We of all people know how harsh the world can be. These feelings will pass," mused Ana'ye. She wiped the brow of the queen and gently kissed the fussy bundle in her arms. The dire mood dissolved quickly. It was no match for the little child that was waiting to be doted on.
The youngest member of the group who had up until this point been silent began to approach the queen timidly. She knew as the youngest and unproven member of the team that she would remain as a friend to the new princess. Smiling softly the queen tucked the swaddling clothes around the child.
"Would you like to hold her Maino? Of all of us you will be the closest to her," asked the queen with a knowing smile. The mousy girl nodded soberly and reached her hands out very slowly. She took the child with the utmost care and stared down into the tiny face. With the same intelligent eyes that rejected her father the babe looked up and giggled. The young guardians face lit up with relief. Each woman laid a gentle hand on the babe's brow. They all doted as much on the baby as they did on their younger compatriot.
"My lady we will return tomorrow to ready you for the child's reception tomorrow," said the calm and logical voice of the Martian guardian, "Right now you should really get some rest," She carefully took the child from the younger girl and handed her softly to the queen.
"You're right as usual Eselle. I could really use a good long sleep," said the queen stifling a yawn, "Will you make sure to send the midwife back in when you leave. I want a few moments alone with Serenity before I fall completely asleep."
"Of course your majesty," replied Eselle bowing slightly. The others smiled indulgently and nodded turning to go. They watched the queen as they left and knew that the queen no longer noticed anyone but Serenity.
A soft knock sounded at the door and the queen sighed with exasperation. She wasn't ready to be separated from her child just yet. She'd only been a mother for a day. One day was not enough time to spend with her child. There were so many more things she wanted to experience. With the birth of Serenity she had felt a dark cloud settle over her own fate. Every moment she had felt it like a stray hair one could not locate. It was always tickling, but never found. She wasn't ready for all of this pomp and circumstance. All the same she realized that she needed to get it over with.
"Come in," she said brusquely.
"Sorry to bother you your majesty, but your husband is asking for the child now as is his right," said the nurse maid softly.
"Yes I knew this time would come, but I do hate to give her up so soon," said the queen as she looked down into the face of her child. Serenity had just finished getting her fill of her mother's milk. She was now sleeping contentedly in her mother's arms.
"I know ma'am, but it is tradition. You will have the child back soon enough," she said apologetically. The young nurse maid took the sleeping bundle holding her against her chest expertly. She smiled down at the queen and curtsied. The queen watched as she bustled out of the room cooing down into the face of the babe as she went.
Soon after the nurse maid left four eager faces peered around the door into the birthing chamber.
"We've come to fetch you," said Ana'ye smiling brightly.
"I'd really rather it wasn't time for you to fetch me," muttered the queen with a sigh.
"This will be over soon and you do get to wear a really pretty dress you know," blurted Michelle. Eselle glanced sideways at her and sighed. Ana'ye merely managed to look slightly less than indulgent.
"I know that, but I just wish that I had more time with my daughter. I'm sure you can understand that. From this day forward I simply have to go back to doing what I did before daughter or no. I wish I had more time to be a mother," the queen said quietly. Maino placed her hand gently against the queen's. Selene turned and looked down into her upturned face.
"Everything is going to be alright your majesty. I'm not too old to be a companion for the princess. It would be nice to have someone to play with. I had lots of siblings back home. It would be a joy to steal her away from the nurse maid and play with her," Maino said quietly. Selene looked down into Maino's big round blue eyes finding herself smiling in spite of herself. The other women smiled indulgently at the much younger member.
"That would be wonderful Maino. You can play with Serenity any time you want to," said the queen smiling softly. A tentative smile spread across Maino's face and she suddenly looked a little less unsure of herself.
"Sorry Selene, but it is time we got you back to your own room," said Ana'ye.
"I know," she sighed, "Let's get this over with so I can get some real rest." Ana'ye nodded and moved to the side of the bed to extend a firm hand to the queen. Selene accepted the hand gratefully and rose shakily. The other women flocked around her to help bolster her up. The three oldest guardians led her out of the room leaving Maino to shut the door behind them. When they had all passed through the door Maino shut the door on the birthing room. After this day the birthing chamber would be sealed until it was needed again.
In preparation for the ceremony all of the traditional clothing had already been taken to the queen's apartments. The guardians had also ordered her a plate of food knowing she would be famished. They settled her comfortably on one of the luxurious couches the sitting room offered and then began to bustle around setting things up for the easiest use. In no time they had the room resembling a large dressing room. Her dress was hung properly on one of the moveable racks they had found in her room and a plate of sumptuous food was placed squarely in her lap.
"Really ladies I'm not the invalid you all seem to think I am. I'm really feeling much better," said the queen as she guiltily popped another lush grape into her mouth.
"We know that we just like mothering you sometimes," said Ana'ye with a smile. The queen smiled and polished off the rest of the small plate.
"When you are finished your majesty we will help you get dressed," said Eselle matter-of-factly.
"I suppose the sooner I get all of this over with the better," said the queen with a sigh. The queen stood and set the plate aside on the neat little coffee table. Each woman hurried to get a different piece of the outfit ready. Ana'ye, as the oldest, had the task of dressing the queen. She reached for the silken confection as the queen undressed and caressed the expensive fabric expertly.
The garment rustled sinfully as Ana'ye pulled it off of the hanger. A great amount of time had been spent structuring the simple dress. The gown was strapless with a train that was longer than was the fashion. Little adorned the dress. A white bow with trailing ribbons was placed on both the front and back. Over the front bow was placed a shining crescent moon brooch. The queen accepted the dress as well as the help getting into it. The dress had been made before the pregnancy had taken its greatest toll on her figure, but had been designed to be forgiving.
Maino stepped forward holding the queens earrings nestled in her hands. The earrings had been lovingly crafted from two golden teardrop beads. The queen accepted them and gently tugged them through her ears. Each bead hung at an angle from the queens perfect ears and enhanced the classic beauty of her face.
Michelle labored under the weight of the queen's regal cloak. It was cumbersome and overly ornate in comparison to the queen's elegant dress. The edge was trimmed in white fur and the lining was made of a sumptuous golden fabric. It was the only traditional article of cloth. At some point in the kingdom's history it had been in fashion. Now the cloak was merely cumbersome. The queen wished desperately that it could stay behind on the hanger.
"I'm huge," the queen whined fretfully. The others balked descending on her as only other understanding women can.
"Don't fret the weight will come off in no time. That happens to every new mother," assured Ana'ye ever to the rescue.
"You look regal your majesty," stated Eselle simply.
"The dress is so forgiving no one will ever notice," added Michelle. Ana'ye shot Eselle an exasperated look. Maino just managed to stand aside and look sheepish. Eselle rolled the finely made headpiece around in her fingers caressing the tiny pearls that made up to bulk of the piece of jewelry. She picked up one end and pulled it lengthwise out of her hand. With the other hand she caught the stray end. Adding the final touch she lifted the fine strand over the queen's head and looped it tightly around her brow. Selene loosed her fine silver bangs from under the delicate chain and took full stock of the effect her ensemble made.
Even the reluctant queen had to admit that the figure she presented was impressive. She knew how to puff herself up even when she didn't feel particularly happy with the state of her body. Members of royalty would probably put the greatest actors on the stage to shame.
"This will do nicely. It will have the right effect," said the queen sounding surer of herself then she had before.
With the final preparations finished the guardians reluctantly withdrew to leave the queen alone for a few moments. Selene barely gave herself another glance. She knew now that anymore time spent would simply be delaying the inevitable. She left her chambers and began the lonely trek to the throne room. She had to go alone as was tradition. In little time the impressive doors to the throne room loomed above her. The guards to either side made great show of opening them for her. They swung silently outwards revealing the packed throne room beyond. Beyond the throne room awaited the white marble floors and walls reflecting the early morning sunlight. Above the great domed window ceiling showed a perfect cloudless blue sky.
As the queen entered a hush fell across the crowd. Representatives stood and sat depending on their age and status. Each was dressed in the fashions and colors representing their home planets. All could agree, however, that the queen was pleasing to look at. She had done the one thing all her predecessors had done. She had presented her kingdom with a female heir. Now all she had left to do was to formally present the child. As she took the last few steps towards the dais complete silence fell over the crowed as they waited with bated breath for the beginning of the traditional words.
"I have given you this day a child who is to be royal heir of this peaceful Moon Kingdom," she said firmly projecting her words clearly.
"By what will the people know their future queen, mother Queen?" asked the crowd.
"This child, the fruit of my body, and the extension of my heart and soul shall henceforth be known by the name Serenity," said the queen the emotion of the occasion swelling inside of her.
"Come my Queen and raise your child so that her people may see and know her," declared the king in a booming voice. With deliberate slowness the queen climbed the few stairs to the dais and took into her arms the fussing child. She brushed a small kiss on the dimpled cheeks and then turned raising the child so that all attending might see her. A great roaring cheer went up from the crowd. Representatives from all planets within the Silver Millennium stood recognizing the new leader. Each leader bowed their head in a small show of allegiance to the child who would one day lead them.
In the front row a small toddling boy blushed as he bowed his head. It was the one big duty his father had allowed him. His father hid a smile on his down turned face and nudged him reassuringly. He smiled with all of the pride a five year old can muster knowing that he had done his duty right. He fidgeted and stole a look at the baby who was now just beginning to fuss a little more loudly. The older woman that often accompanied his father looked over at him and motioned quietly that his head should still be down. He huffed and scuffed his boot on the marble and looked down at his toes wishing as he often did that he was older. When the child was lowered and again cradled in the arms of her mother the woman looked down at the young boy and bestowed him with a hard won smile.
"Do you know who that child is Little Prince?" asked the woman.
"Didn't the pretty queen lady say Selenerty? he asked looking up with earnest cerulean eyes.
"That's very close. Her name is Serenity. Do you know anything else about her?" she asked waiting for a gush of words from the young child.
"She's a princess. Isn't that right? Is that like a prince?" he asked a little unsure.
"Yes that's exactly right. It's very much like a prince. Girls are known as princesses though. Some day I bet you'll get to meet her," she replied rewarding him with another smile.
"Really?" exclaimed the easily excitable child.
"Really, I can promise when you're older you will meet her. Maybe you'll even get to know each other," she said looking up at his father. He frowned softly looking meaningfully at the older woman. She locked garnet colored eyes with the wary king. To any one paying attention it was obvious that a power struggle was going on between the two adults. The child between the two was, however, blissfully unaware of any tension.
"Papa I'm hungry do we have to stay longer?" asked the child making it obvious that if allowed he would think of another reason why they should leave.
"Of course we can go now," said the courtier who was obviously his father never breaking his eyes from the woman in front of him. She shook long strands of forest green hair out of her face and suddenly turned and left disappearing into the crowd. The king stared a few moments longer after she had disappeared into the press of bodies. Suddenly a pair of chubby fingers tugging at his tunic brought his attention back to the little cherub at his side.
"Papa can we go get something to eat now?" asked the child repeating his earlier plea.
"Of course Endy, we can go get something to eat right now," replied the kind. He scooped the toddler up into his arms and took one last look back at the queen and her new born daughter.
Author's note: As some of you may have realized the original version of this story has been deleted. This was because I went on a rampage of revision. I'm mostly done revising the material which has already been posted. I will be re-posting a revised chapter once a week up until I start getting to new material. At that point I'll be finally posting new material, and working at finishing this beast. To those of you who read the original version of this story thank you, and I apologize for revising it this way. I really do hope that you can bear with my, and enjoy the new chapters when they come out in the near future. For those of you new to this I hope you enjoy it, and enjoy the chapters that are to come.
