Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.

Royalty In Hiding

Chapter One: Royal Awakening

Complete silence reigned in the massive cave-like room at the top of the starlight tower after Darien had transformed into Tuxedo Mask.

Serena was shocked. Darien was Tuxedo Mask. The jerk who she was always running into as if by divine intervention, and who seemed to make it his business to tease and make fun of her, was Tuxedo Mask. He was the guy she had had an instant and intense crush on for months.

Why hadn't she seen it before? In fact, why hadn't she seen it earlier when he was talking to Zoycite?! He shouldn't have known who the dark general was or anything about him, and yet she hadn't given it a thought beyond wondering why Darien was talking to him as if they knew each other.

Even on the elevator ride she hadn't thought about it, but she admitted she had been distracted by his statement to protect her. She had been surprised and pleased at his words, but she had wondered how he planned to do that.

Then he had told her about his memory loss and the princess from his dreams as explanation for why he was doing what he was doing. It had been incredibly personal, and his telling her had surprised and pleased her. That he trusted her of all people to know something like that.

And now here he stood as Tuxedo Mask staring at her as she stared at him, and she idly wondered how he had thought and felt when she transformed in front of him.

She heard a noise and they both glanced at Zoycite standing in the distance, and were brought back to reality.

"You have to run!" She said as she ran up to him. It was clear a fight was about to happen, and she didn't say it but she was worried since he was injured.

"I can't. I have to fight, and beyond that I want to stay to protect you." Darien replied and she sighed.

"Then be careful." She said with a frown. "I'm here if you need me."

Serena watched him step forward, as she moved to the side, in preparation to fight. She held in another sigh and turned around, and began to walk away from the area so she wouldn't be in the way.

Suddenly she heard a pained gasp and she turned her head to look back, her eyes widening in surprise as she saw Darien standing not too far from her with a large shard of crystal sticking out of his back.

"Ah!" She cried out and ran to him as he collapsed. "Darien! Darien?" She called as she dropped to the floor beside him and lifted him, cradling his upper body.

"Darien." She said urgently as she gently touched his face, and watched him struggle to open his eyes.

"I'm glad you're safe." Darien said once he managed to open his eyes. "I'm on your side you know. Always have been and always will be." He finished weakly.

"Darien." She called as she watched his eyes close. "Darien!" She called in distress, her eyes tearing up.

"Darien? Darien please, please wake up." She begged. "You can't go. You have to stay with me." She pleaded and watched his eyelids flutter, as if he was trying to open them, and then stop.

The tears in Serena's eyes finally escaped as she realized he was dying right in front of her, and all because he had been protecting her.

Unnoticed by anyone a pulse spread from her first tear and moments later the seven rainbow crystals floated through the ceiling. Zoycite was the only witness to the crystals entrance and watched them combine together one by one until only a slightly large silver crystal floated in the air, sparkling brilliantly.

He watched Sailor Moon's Crescent Moon Wand appear out of thin air and the crystal attach itself to the crescent of the wand and float until it hovered in the air above the moon scout.

Serena cried as she tried fruitlessly to wake Darien. Suddenly she felt lightheaded and felt compelled to stand, and too distraught to resist she slowly stood. Her eyes landed on her wand and as soon as she spotted the silver crystal her eyes dilated and her head felt even lighter.

From one moment to the next her sailor suit transformed into an elegant white gown, and her mind cleared, leaving the knowledge that she was the Moon Princess they had been searching for.

She grabbed her floating wand and sank gracefully to her knees. She heard Zoycite attack and she braced herself, and allowed the force of the blast to pass her, before she blasted him back, watching as he slammed into the wall and crumbled to the ground.

She placed her wand next to her and turned her attention back to Darien.

"Please do not leave me." She begged him and was rewarded with his eyes opening. He gazed up at her and she saw the pain in his eyes but also softness.

"Princess. My Princess. I've finally found you." He breathed out happily. "Finally seeing you has allowed me to remember who I am. I am Endymion. Prince Endymion." He managed to say proudly.

Serena's eyes widened at his revelation and she finally remembered her name.

"I remember too. I am Princess Serenity." She revealed. Her eyes fluttered closed as she began to remember her past, her memories playing rapidly in her mind, yet easily understandable.

~~Flashback~~

"This is very important Serenity." Queen Serenity said. "You must make contact if we are to help them."

"I understand mother." Serenity assured her mother. "However, I do not understand why you chose me for such a task." She added and watched her mother smile.

"I chose you because I trust you to do the job." Her mother answered. "Beyond that, you have been interested in the Earth since you first learned what it was, and even more so in recent years. Perhaps this assignment will help to finally satisfy your curiosity."

Serenity nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed in her embarrassment.

"Now, you will have silent protection every time you are there. They will also investigate the situation as well as relay any messages or information I have for you." Her mother added and she nodded.

"They will not be visible? All three of them?" Serenity asked, pushing pass her embarrassment and her mother nodded.


She watched him from the cover of a pillar as he moved leisurely through the beautiful garden. He was even more handsome up close. And fascinating. Everything about him completely fascinated her.

This was the fourth time she had watched him. She knew she needed to make contact with him, but she was so shy. The fact that he seemed to be the only one who could make her feel this way also fascinated her and drew her to him.

The way he dressed, the way he walked, the way he held himself, and the confidence that radiated from him all drew her to him.

Serenity knew that their meeting was important for the safety of his planet, and ultimately the rest of the planets in their universe, but she was also aware that her mother was giving her the chance to meet him and see what would happen between them.

She would have to thank her mother for this opportunity. Now, if she could only force herself to speak to him.


Serenity was once again watching him, trying to work up the nerve to approach him. She had managed it the last time, but just as she was about to approach him someone else came looking for him and he left.

She sighed softly as he walked among the flowers in the setting sun. He looked so peaceful and she wondered if that was why he chose to walk there, to gain peace.

He turned suddenly and looked her way and she hid behind the pillar, startled at being seen.

She peeked out again, her heart pounding, only to find him headed toward her. His pace was casual so she hoped he wasn't angry.

"Hello?" He called quietly and she shivered at hearing the sound of his voice for the first time. It was beautiful in its low tone, conveying confidence and self-assurance. Yet even with his greeting she couldn't approach him.

Serenity was a coward. She needed to talk to him, wanted to talk to him, but she was frozen in place. What was wrong with her?! She knew what was wrong with her. She liked him. She had never liked a man before. She had always seen them as friends or acquaintances, so there was no reason to feel as she currently was.

He stopped before he got to her, his deep blue eyes curious as they gazed on her. She could easily tell that it was for her benefit that he did so.

"My lady." He said with an elegant bow before straightening. "I am Endymion." He introduced himself, his eyes once again on her.

She took a breath and stepped away from the pillar. She wanted to know him. Now was the time. She would not waste the opportunity her mother had given her.

"It is a pleasure to meet you my lord." She said with a graceful curtsy. "I am Serenity."


A light tapping on her balcony door had Serenity moving swiftly to open it and let in her cloaked guest. Once inside she closed the glass door and drew the curtains closed. She turned and was instantly swept up in a strong hold and a passionate kiss.

"Serenity." Her guest breathed her name as their lips parted. "Endymion." She replied breathlessly as she clung to him.

They moved to her bed as he removed his hood, and she informed him how happy she was that he had come. She was concerned about her guardian scouts. They were aware that she had been going to see him, but fortunately they were unaware of her diplomatic mission.

"Still, I am worried about the level of anger and animosity they are directing toward me." She confided.

"Do you feel you are in danger?" Endymion asked with a frown.

"I do not but I think they are overly angry, and I am unsure where this intensity is coming from." Serenity said with a light sigh. "I have a bad feeling, but I have so far been unable to consult with my mother about it."

"It is good that you have separate guardians when you come to the Earth if you are this worried. With the level of anger you describe it is highly likely your guardian scouts would not perform their duty properly." He said.

"Speak to your mother as soon as you can, and be more cautious and aware of your surroundings." He advised. "Especially when you are with those girls. I do not want you taking any chances with your safety."

"I will do as you say." Serenity promised.

~~RIH~~

"Your eyes are so far away love. What are you thinking?" Darien asked as he sat on the couch next to Serena, interrupting her remembrance.

The pair was in Darien's apartment having decided to spend the day there so they wouldn't be disturbed or joined by anyone.

"Just remembering the day we learned about each other." Serena replied softly as she blinked at him.

Darien nodded and he too began to remember the day everything changed.

~~RIH~~

Serenity sighed lightly as she looked out at the crashing waves of the blue water that made up the earth's ocean. It was a peaceful sound and beautiful to look upon as the sun glistened on the water's surface.

Suddenly strong arms wrapped around her waist and she leaned back into the warm firm body of her love. She had confided in him about her discovery of the betrayal of her guardian scouts and the horrible things they had said to her.

Endymion could only console her and sympathize with her. He had been busy and distracted with spending as much time with her as he possibly could, meeting with her, her mother, and her guardians stationed on the Earth to try and find out what the danger was to his planet and how to stop them, but not so much that he hadn't noticed his generals acting similar to what she described in her scouts.

"I know it is hard." He said as he held her tighter. "They were not just your guardians, they were your friends. I understand completely; I understand why it hurts so much. However, you are strong and you are handling this very well."

"You are as well." Serenity said as she smiled sadly.

"Thank you." He said before he kissed the top of her head.

After all, both their sets of guardians had been corrupted by the evil plaguing his planet. The only difference was that his guardians hadn't said anything to him in terms of complaints or their true feelings.

Still, at least he could fight and protect himself. Serenity hadn't been trained to fight, and his princess didn't have the personality for it anyway. She didn't like violence.

Endymion sighed. "I wish your guardians stationed here were your primary guardians. They are older, mature, and have an understanding of situations that the younger scouts do not."

"At this point I wish so as well." Serenity said softly as she closed her eyes.


Serenity stood on the balcony of her bedroom and stared out in horror at the scene taking place before her eyes. The angry shouts and cries of pain carried easily to her ears as she watched the moon soldiers fight against the earth soldiers to defend the palace.

"Serenity!" She suddenly heard and looked over quickly to see Endymion landing on her balcony. She ran to him as he hurried toward her and embraced him with all her strength.

"Are you okay?" She asked worriedly.

"I am fine." Endymion assured her before explaining what was happening.

The evil had completely taken over the people of his planet and turned them against the Moon. He had tried to stop the army, tried to reason with his generals, but they were beyond him now. They would not listen. So he came to her as quickly as he could. He couldn't help his people anymore, but he would protect her.

The couple left Serenity's room and moved swiftly through the palace partly to find the Queen and partly to find a safe place to go. It was clear when they reached the bottom floor that the palace had been breached.

They came across earth soldiers in twos and threes. He couldn't kill people he had worked with his whole life, so he knocked them unconscious.

They went out the main doors and on to the stairs only to be greeted by vicious fighting, dead or unconscious soldiers lying around, and blood splatters scattered around the once pristine grounds of the royal palace.

Before they could continue on their way part of the sky seemed to darken, becoming blacker then it should have been, and suddenly a woman with long wavy red hair and a clinging purple gown appeared in the air high above them.

"Come Prince Endymion. Come to our side and be with me." She said persuasively.

"No." He said instantly. "I refuse to have anything to do with the one responsible for corrupting my people."

Endymion recognized her as a woman who worked in his palace, and had seemed to have a lot of jobs in the areas he was in when he was at home. It was clear from her changed looks and actions that she was very much involved with what was currently happening.

"Then I will kill that little girl, so I can have you all to myself!" She decided angrily.

As soon as she finished her declaration the darkness in the sky suddenly split like a seam, and a narrow concentrated blast came out heading straight for Serenity.

Endymion didn't hesitate. He stepped in front of Serenity, and took the hit, instantly collapsing to the ground.

Both women were surprised and shocked, but only Serenity reacted in her grief.

"Endymion!" She screamed as she dropped to his side, but he didn't answer. She knew he was dead in that moment. He always answered when she called his name.

As she gazed down at him her grief knew no bounds. The Earth had been taken over, her planet was being taken over, her people were dying before her eyes, her guardian scouts had betrayed her, and now her prince was dead, having died to protect her.

Serenity could not take this. She would most likely be killed without him, and she did not wish to live without him anyway. So she decided to take matters into her own hands.

She grabbed the hilt of his sword and pulled it free from the sheath at his waist and took a steadying breath as she adjusted the sword to her liking before plunging it into her stomach as hard as she could.

The pain was unbelievable but soon numbness took over as she laboriously pulled the sword out and collapsed on the stairs next to her prince. She groped for his hand and found it just as the last of her strength left her, tears trailing from her eyes as her vision slowly went black.

~End Flashback~

Serena opened her eyes with a light gasp as her past finished playing in her mind's eye. Her eyes roved around the large room and finally lighted on Zoycite as he got to his feet. She narrowed her eyes at him and picked up her wand and pointed it at him. He tried to defend himself but she was quick.

She remembered her lessons on the silver crystal and how to use it. What she was about to do wasn't something she had been taught, but she knew the crystal responded to her heart and will and that it could be done.

A beam of thick white light shot from the silver crystal at her mental command and struck him in his chest. He immediately crumbled to the floor and she knew he was dead. They could not afford to let him go back to inform the Dark Kingdom of their real identities.

She sighed and looked to Darien, her Endymion, and pointed her wand down at him. This time the white light that emerged was soft and bathed his whole body, healing him as it embraced him in its warm glow.

Darien slowly opened his eyes and slowly sat up. They stared into each other's eyes before he slipped a hand behind her head and pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss full of happiness, sadness, pain, and love.

"Are you in any pain?" Serena asked when they separated. She knew he was healed but she wanted to be sure.

"No I'm fine." He assured her. "Thanks for healing me." He added with a soft smile. "Did healing me affect you in any way?"

"No." She said as she shook her head lightly. "There was no effect at all."

Serena sighed and stored her wand away before shifting back into Sailor Moon.

"I killed Zoycite before he could attack us and leave and spread the news about us." She explained and they looked over to him and saw his body begin to turn to dust.

"Good." Darien said approvingly as he looked to her. "We should keep your identity a secret from your Scouts since I remember very well the improper job they did as well at their betrayal."

"I agree." Serena said with a firm nod. "We should keep all of your identities a secret. None of the girls nor Luna and Artemis seem to know that there had even been a prince in the picture with the Moon Princess. Beyond that I just don't trust them, and if we can't trust them with my identity then we definitely can't trust them with any of yours."

"Then that's what we'll do." He agreed before they heard the sound of footsteps. He quickly fixed his appearance, putting his hat and mask back in place as they got to their feet.

The footsteps grew louder and soon the Sailor Scouts and their cat guardians appeared at an opening to the room looking ready to fight.

~~RIH~~

The pair recalled that just when the girls and cats arrived Malachite had shown up, angry that his friend had been killed and demanding the rainbow crystals back.

Serena and Darien had instantly played stupid and claimed the Dark Kingdom already had the rainbow crystals.

Malachite hadn't like that answer and attacked them, fighting them and trying to kidnap Tuxedo Mask in the process. None of them know why he was trying to take Tuxedo Mask, but fortunately he didn't succeed and went back to the Dark Kingdom defeated and empty handed.

After that day Serena and Darien kept their public interactions the same at first then slowly changed so that everyone could see that they were getting along and becoming better friends. As far as her friends were concerned nothing was different between her and Darien besides them becoming friends since none of the girls had believed they had been friends in the first place. What everyone didn't know was that Serena and Darien began to date and train secretly.

It was hard but it was similar to how they behaved in the past so they called on those memories to help. Aside from that Serena's friends began to notice as Sailor Moon she was becoming closer and closer to Tuxedo Mask, whom they still thought of as the enemy.

During this time Darien made sure to let Raye know that he wasn't interested and wouldn't go on any more dates with her. However, that didn't stop her from trying to change his mind every chance she got, which he found more and more irritating since he didn't understand how someone could want to be with a person who didn't want them.

The defeat of the Dark Kingdom happened very differently then they imagined it would have had Sailor Moon's identity as the Moon Princess been revealed and Tuxedo Mask been captured.

Malachite went around collecting those who had housed the rainbow crystals for a reason they had never learned, and in the end there was a fierce battle. Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask were unexpectedly taken to Beryl and together they fought and defeated her despite the strange power up she had undergone.

During the fight Darien was surprised to find crystals that housed the spirits of his guardian generals as he knew them in the past before they had been corrupted. He took the crystals after their spirits encouraged him to defeat Beryl, to get revenge for them, and to be happy. He figured he might be able to speak to them and get advice and guidance from them when he needed it.

Fortunately, because Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask were taken to Beryl the Scouts never learned about Serena being the Moon Princess or of Darien being the Earth Prince.

After the Dark Kingdom was defeated there was peace for a while. Serena and Darien were able to focus more on their relationship, but then eventually a new enemy arrived that used cards to drain people of their energy.

About the same time a pair of siblings arrived in the city and began to go to Serena's school. It didn't take the secret couple long to realize that Alan had taken a liking to Serena and Anne had taken a liking to Darien.

The situation was frustrating since they couldn't get the siblings to leave them alone by telling them they were dating each other, because they went to Serena's school and it would eventually get back to the girls.

They and the girls continued to fight off the card monsters that were sucking people's energy while at the same time Serena and Darien continued to fight the advances of the siblings that had taken a liking to them.

It all came to head one day when Serena's teacher told her to bring Anne her homework since she and her brother had been out sick. She had even been given the siblings address so she hadn't had the excuse of not knowing where she lived.

After school she went to the arcade where she knew Darien was waiting for her because she wasn't going alone. She didn't want to put him near Anne but she didn't want to chance being alone with Alan in their home even if he had toned down his advances.

Darien definitely didn't want her going alone and was happy to escort her. They made it to the sibling's apartment fine and Serena handed over Anne's homework, but before they could leave they were invited in for a snack. They couldn't decline without being rude so they accepted, knowing they wouldn't be there long.

They ate and talked with the brother and sister before Anne announced she wanted to show Serena something in her room. Serena shrugged and thought 'why not', so she followed her and immediately got a bad feeling when the doors opened on their own. Sliding open as if they were mechanized.

She was pushed in and fell to the floor as Anne called out to something to take her. From there things got crazy with a massive tree growing out of control, and Anne and Alan turning out to be the enemy that had been terrorizing the city and stealing people's energy.

Serena and Darien transformed and she contacted the girls, and they did their best to avoid the trees attacks. The girls eventually showed up, their task having been slowed by the tree roots throughout the building attacking them, and they all fought the tree and the siblings.

Eventually the tree contacted Serena, Darien, and the siblings to tell its story, and Serena killed the tree at its request allowing it to start over as a tiny sapling. The siblings took the sapling and left the planet, thankfully not revealing the fact that Darien was Tuxedo Mask before they went.

Serena sighed as she came out of her thoughts of the last few months and curled up against Darien.

"I still don't understand why my mother decided I would be the ambassador between our planets." She said. She knew what she had thought in the past but she hadn't been sure. She had allowed herself to believe what she wanted since her mother never gave her a definite reason.

"Maybe it's because she didn't trust anyone else and needed to keep the situation a secret until we could figure out what was going on." Darien suggested.

"That's a good reason, probably the main reason, but I think there's more. The way my mother told me speaks of another reason." Serena said with a slight frown.

"Perhaps your mother noticed your preoccupation with not just the Earth but with me, and decided to send you there secretly to make contact. She might have been giving you the chance to meet me and see where things went while dealing with the situation on my planet." Darien said eventually after some quiet thought.

"Since she knew something evil was there and wanted to try to begin establishing a closer relationship with the planet so you all could help more easily when it was needed." He added and Serena nodded.

"I think that's most likely the reason, which makes me happy. I'm glad my mother would do something like that for me instead of forbidding me and arranging a marriage." She replied.

"Me too." Darien agreed. "I'm happy we had our time in the past, and I'm especially happy we remembered it and were reunited in the present."