Chapter 2
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Eight-year-old serenity stood in front of her father- a frightened look on her face as she held a large gold and silver sword "father I do not wish to fight" the young Princess cried, tears glittering in her eyes. Her hands shaking as she struggled to keep hold of the bulky weapon. Her watery blues turned to her senshi, "I have scouts to protect me"
Shaking his head, the mighty King held out his golden sword" my child with you being the heir to the Silver Millennium, we must prepare you to defend yourself in case of an attack" he repeated tiredly. "What would you do if your senshi were not around to protect you?"
Serenity looked at her father with wide eyes, "That would never happen father! They are the strongest in the galaxy, chosen by the silver crystal!"
"You must not relay on such things my child; an enemy will play your weaknesses and use them to destroy you."
Over the years, the King had thought his precious daughter many things…things that normally a princess was not required to know. Lessons that princes were thought, those who would become King. However, King Apollo went against the norm. His daughter would learn everything her male counterpart was expected to know. Serenity would not be just some common Queen, who stood behind her husband as he made the guidelines…no, he wanted his only child to be as great as a King with the poise and grace of a Queen. She will be no man's wallflower.
Nevertheless, this had been one lesson he was not looking forward to teaching. The idea that his child would be placed in a position for which she would be forced to defend herself, feared the King, however even with the queens adamant disapproval he felt the lesson was necessary
"Selene forbid it, but if the guards, myself, and your Senshi were unable to protect you, I need to know that you are capable of protecting yourself" he sent his daughter a pledging look "please serenity, angel, it would bring your papa peace to know you are safe in every way."
With her hands shaking and tears, falling from her eyes the young princess lifted the heavy sword holding it with both hands in front of her face shaking with fear "alright" she whispered.
On the sidelines four eight-year-old inner Senshi watched with fret "the king will not attack her to hard, would he?"
Mars, a raven-haired child turned to her bluenette friend, Mercury "all will be well, the King wouldn't hurt his only daughter" her response did nothing to ease her companion's concern, she sounded just as anxious
"I do not think he will be" the Senshi of Jupiter stated her emerald eyes darkening, brows frowned. "what I would like to know is, what is this ridiculous notion that we might not protect her? We're with her every second of the day"
"The King doesn't mean any harm Jupiter. He is only thinking of the worst case scenario…we're all fighting a battle, trying to protect our princess…in the process she is left unguarded. I for one would feel better if she could fight on her own" Venus continued to watch the lesson at hand.
Mars and mercury gasped as they watched their princess's body rolled over the dirt cover arena. Her arm bleeding and face bruised.
"Why must he put her through this?" Mercury rubbed her elbows as she watched her Princess roll on the floor again. "Serenity do not hold the sword against your face!" the King bellowed. Mercury cringed "I understand the logic if some unknown force was to keep us from protecting her, but what about the Silver Crystal…"
"She doesn't have the Crystal yet, Remember Mercury? Queen Serenity is the only one who can control the crystal…Venus is right, if some unknown force attack and we are all indisposed-counting the Queen-What will happen to her?" Jupiter reminded, as she placed a relaxing hand on her friends shoulder. "I'm sure the King will not be too hard on her…" it was then that the princess screamed in pain, her body thrown across the field.
The three Senshi went to run to their fallen princess, only to be stopped as the King held out his arm shaking his head. He turned his red eyes to his daughter, the pain was evident, he wanted to run to his child but knew he couldn't "Serenity" he barked angrily "how many times have I told you child?! You most never hold your sword upright and flat!"
Venus listened to her Senshi as they mumbled to one another before she spoke up "the king knows what he's doing; the princess needs to be taught, this is her own fault"
Mars gaped at the golden Senshi "But she's bleeding!"
"Do you not see that oversized discoloration appearing on her features?!" mercury hissed her eyes icing over with rage "the Queen will not be pleased"
"Pleased?! She'll be barking mad! he's being far too hard on her" Jupiter thundered
Venus shook her head, arms crossed "Were none of you paying attention? How many times did he or even us, for that matter, show serenity how to hold a sword?!" the Senshi's said nothing, "she held it flat a few inches away from her face with her eye closed!" the Senshi turned their eyes to their princess "So when the blow came the sword backlashes into her face dropping down cutting her arm and sending her flying, it's her own fault"
The Senshi watch as their princess struggled to stand, understanding crossing their features. "Sweet Hermes, protect her," Mercury whispered.
Serenity slowly stands, tears falling rapidly from her eyes as she struggled to hold the sword "let us go again" the King announced his voice stern but his eyes saddened.
Hours passed and soon the Queen stood glaring daggers at her husband and senshi "None of you found it prudent to inform me that my husband was using my daughter as target practice?!"
"Do not yell at them Serenity, they were only following orders" Apollo hissed turning to the senshi "take the princess to the hospital wing, have her healed and then send her to bed. She'll need her rest."
Queen Serenity waited until the senshi exited the arena, leaving her alone with her husband "I told you not to do this!"
"I told you I would not allow my daughter to be raised like some pampered prim!" Apollo put his sward away turning to his wife he hissed, "Have you forgotten that she is a target, that if we do not act she will be killed!"
"All we need to do is keep her away from Earth, from their so called Prince and nothing will happen, she will live. Our Kingdom will live!"
"Are you mad?! You heard what Cronus said, regardless of what we do the Moon will be attack by this evil Queen! What would you rather do? sit and wait for her to be killed or give our child a fighting chance?!"
Serenities fist gripped at the material of her dress "I won't let that happen, I will not let her die. With you and I fighting we could protect her! Apollo we have hundreds, no Thousands of guardian soldiers-Senshi, not to mention your brother, Izanagi. He would not let the Moon be destroyed let alone sit ideally by while his niece is slaughtered!" she took a breath "we are the rulers of every planet in this galaxy except the earth. I would say our chance of defending our home is in our favor." She raised her hand to his face gently begging him with her eyes "Please leave our daughter out of this"
Shaking his head Apollo pulled his wives hand from his face. Sad eyes looking into her crystal blue's "Your blind my love. Blind by your own hate…"
"What is that supposed to mean?!" she yelled as he walked toward the exit
"You're allowing your hatred for the Earth to make your decisions...its blinding you from the truth my love…a truth that I am sad to say I cannot ignore."