Author's Note: This first chapter was just a random thought process, but as I started thinking (after I had already posted the chapter), I really wanted this to be more than just a 1800 short story. So, this chapter is actually one that will fit later on into the story line. The second chapter is actually one that would pretty much begin Chapter 1, and I have yet to write a prologue. Feel free to give feedback - as one thrives off of possible criticism!

The Lunar Memoirs

Chapter 1 – The Beginnings of Love

It is amazing what one can think of late at night, while staring up at the Moon. As I sit here, basking in the moonlight, I often reflect back on my life on the Moon. The Negaverse destroyed all of that in one horrible evening, but they could never destroy my memories of my past.

Of course, back on the Moon, there would have been many more peaceful days, dream-filled nights, and overall bliss. Not to say that life in the Moon Kingdom didn't have its hardships. I'll never forget the political uprising that had happened a few years before the Negaverse became an issue. It was over something as simple as a open trade agreement between all of the planets and their moons. This brain-child would have created an economy that could have supported itself – there would be no low social classes, and there would be plenty of work for all. Queen Serenity always was one to support the development of the under-class, and she was truly looked up to by most other kingdoms for her strong stance. All I really remember, because it became so complicated, was that Mars was completely against the system because it did not hold any benefit for their monarchy. Queen Serenity held her ground though, of which I was truly impressed and proud of her composure. I was too young to remember much more of it, and I am no historical expert on the Planetary Trade Agreement by any means... oh well, it doesn't matter much now anyway. All that was is now gone and has been for quite a while.

Life on the Moon did have a sense of peace even in our "troubled" moments. I'd constantly stroll around the gardens and the terrace for hours. Although I lived in a beautiful palace that held multiple functions weekly, I still felt more captivated by the air, flowers, and overall aesthetics of the whole moonscape than I did for the socialization of the newest débutante, political figure, or other person of power. Of course, by saying this, I am not condemning the lives of such people, for I did enjoy the company of a few. Well, one in particular.

Prince Darien of Earth was one the few who actually acknowledged my existence without the need of an introduction. Mind you, perhaps it was because I tripped him up a few times, on purpose, so that we would start an unforced conversation. Of course, he was taken aback by my appearance, but perhaps he had not been accustomed to the ways of the Moon and appearances had their ways of being astonishing when meant to be plain and simple. After a rocky beginning, I found him to be a wonderful man- truly caring, full of life and love, and between you and I, a man with an excellent sense of appearance. What does one talk about when conversing with a prince from Earth? Pretty much anything that comes to mind – such as Moon Princesses, or perhaps Moon Princess to be exact.

When we first began the daunting topic of conversation, I, of course, had to be honest with him about the Moon Princess. After all, lying would do no good for him or myself. We would both be made fools! He casually asked about Queen Serenity's daughter and wondered if I knew her. I was quite blunt with the Prince and stated, "I know her quite well, as I have been given the task of being her guardian." I remembered that he smiled at this, amazed that a little cat could do so much for the kingdom. He mentioned that on Earth, cats were quite lazy and self-absorbed. I shuttered at the thought of my distance relations being nothing but merely animals!

Over the days that he stayed at the Moon Kingdom, I went on to discuss Princess Serena's day-to-day life within the Kingdom walls. There wasn't much to explain, but I tried to play up her importance and play down her flawed characteristics (as I knew them to be). I also made sure that he avoided the Princess at first, so that I had a decent amount of time to prepare him for an encounter. I mentioned how she was quite a gorgeous girl; a smaller, more delicate image of her mother, of which she would quite positively turn into. I discussed her friends from the other planets – the princesses from Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter. Each one of Princess Serena's friends were an important part of her life, as each had also pledged their allegiance to Serena and the Kingdom, they also indirectly pledged their friendship and support as well. There was also the interesting way of describing her characteristics. As always, I was honest with him, but did edit out a characteristic or two – klutziness, and her over-sensitive tear ducts. I did a wonderful job in describing Princess Serena as a compassionate, sensitive, and beautiful individual that was lonely. The last part hit Prince Darien hard, as I had meant to do. I did not mean to make the Princess sound as though she is not interested in seeing someone, but merely put into his mind that a girl, even though surrounded by people can be lonely and often looking for companionship.

In retrospect, I know that I did not give Princess Serena the chance she deserved in meeting Prince Darien without my interference, but Queen Serenity did become worried about her daughter and her socialization. It was not as though Serena was an invalid, or a person that would outright insult a guest, nor was she the type of girl that would embarrass herself by stating something rather stupid. She was rather shy and quiet, not really willing to take chances when chances were not needed, particularly to her own personal benefit. Princess Serena knew her destiny was to follow in her mother's graceful footsteps and it was her first priority.

Perhaps I should have left the matchmaking up to Venus and his wonderful workers, but I started the proverbial ball, and I finally needed to put the two together to see how it would work. So, as Prince Darien and I were talking on the terrace, one lovely evening, I had made sure that Princess Serena would be walking past us for a meeting that she was supposed to have with me about one of her many and ever-changing ideas for her independent course of study. Of course, as I knew, she would be a touch late. She always was, and not to my surprise – even her reincarnated self is constantly late. Some things never do change. As Prince Darien began asking me a question about the Princess and her favourite something-or-other, I quickly excused myself on the sight of Princess Serena sauntering her way toward our very spot. I hid myself under a rose bush and attempted to hear the fruits of my labour.

"Why does she always have me traipsing around the palace when we could have met in my sitting room?" I then heard her light feet quicken their pace as she continued down the terrace.

At this moment, I knew that I had to have some sort of visual to go with the audio, so I stealthily moved into a potted plant right beside Prince Darien. Now, if I had any faith in Earth and it's chosen prince, it would have been in that first moment that I had to depend on Prince Darien to begin a conversation with the Princess. Obviously she wasn't going to stop for anything.

"Princess?" He sounded calm and collected, and slightly inquisitive.

She stopped a few feet away from him, her dress still trying to follow the direction that it was headed only seconds earlier.

"Yes?" She was out of breath and was still focused on her destination.

"I was wondering if you'd have a moment to talk. I've heard so much about you from Luna!"

I nearly keeled over at that moment. My faith in Earth faltered at the mention of my name. Of course, Princess Serena knew that when I had 'meddled' in something, that it needed to be set straight right away.

She came closer to Prince Darien and laughed, "You've been talking to my cat, have you? She is a great companion, but does enjoy her meddling in other peoples affairs. I'm sorry that she chose you as a target."

Prince Darien laughed, and replied, "A target, no! I was the one that actually first started the conversation. I had accidentally stepped on her tail, which forced her to talk; on Earth the cats don't talk... it came as quite the surprise!"

Princess Serena had come directly adjacent to Prince Darien and as the minutes flew by, they began a marvelous conversation that helped direct their feet into the gardens for a stroll. This was the first meeting of the two, but absolutely not the last.

The Prince was on the Moon for a few more days; those days were spent between meeting with the advisers of the Moon Kingdom and the other Kingdom delegates, and Princess Serena. They were inseparable: they dined together in the dining hall (morning, noon and evening), even at night – they stayed up until the early hours of the morning talking about Earth and the Moon, and the possibilities of a relationship. I kept myself sparse within those last days, as it was Princess Serena's time to enjoy her fruits of love and labour. I, of course, updated Queen Serenity of my observations; she was pleased at her daughter's enjoyment of life and the way it as meant to be as a young adult. The Queen approved of Prince Darien and could only wish their relationship fertile soil for it to grow and blossom.

The day that Prince Darien left for Earth was one of the hardest for Princess Serena. She refused to go out to the gardens, and secluded herself to her room and the dining hall, of which her appetite only grew larger. Queen Serenity became worried for her child, and although she knew not to involve herself in the Princess' private affairs, she thought that it would do no harm in making a visiting arrangement between Prince Darien of Earth and the Moon Kingdom once a month for a few days – to appease her daughter's heart, and stomach.

Looking back at the relationship between the two, I find a lot of similarities between the relationship before the horrible devastation of the Earth and Moon from Negaverse and the one developed now. It's amazing how love continues throughout time and space; it is truly eternal and knows no boundaries.

As I look upon the Moon from Serena's window, I can only continue to reflect upon the lives we all once lived, and the lives some of us continue to live.