PS: Hello guys, I have to apologize for my sloppiness, today I realized I jumped a chapter in the chronology and I'll have to rearrange it again, but nothing that will alter the events you already read so far, actually it will fill a hole in the story. I'm sorry for that. Writing in two different pcs and having a crazy life lately affected my mind hahaha, my bad. I'll reupdate today's chapter adding another flashback for Serenity. I'm really sorry for the confusion :(
A/N: I'm not english native, but I have the tendency to write in english, I apologize for any misspelling or confusing line.
Thank you all who are reading and following the story! :)
Disclaimer: The main characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi.
Dawn comes, and we part ways once again.
My dreams becoming distant apparitions.
I turn to the warm wind for help, the wind I felt every time you held me...
As I was bathed in the light that followed on your heels
Spring is announced when the wild plants break out in a dance.
Summer comes and in the fields are patterns of grass set out to dry
The autumn moon rises, let's celebrate its fullness.
Winter passes by, and I count off all the days and months again.
I can still see the too-distant blue sky when I close my eyes. (it was so warm.)
As I reminisce, I take your hand as I pluck the flowers and sing (there is no clue.)
Within the memories that are now coming back to me.
I'm setting out to find my way back to you.
Spring is announced when the mountain leaves break out in a dance.
Summer comes and in the fields are patterns of grass set out to dry
The autumn moon rises, let's celebrate its fullness.
Winter passes by, and I count off all the days and months again.
Dawn comes, and we part ways once again.
My dreams becoming distant apparitions.
I turn to the warm wind for help, the wind I felt every time you held me...
As I was bathed in the light that followed on your heels ("SHIKI no UTA" (Song of Four Seasons)-performed by Minmi)
After talking to Rei, Serenity was wandering alone at a very beautiful park. Her mind was full, had she done the right thing by commenting about her dreams to Rei? Why did she do that? Apparently the fire had confirmed Luper and her loved each other in a long past life before the Silver Millennium. Those kind of revelations just made her feel worse about all the beliefs she had had over the years since her 14 year old when she became a sailor and learned some part of her past and her future, it seemed the destiny was always playing some prank on them with several overturns over the times.
"Luper... Something I could never expect... I also did love someone else... And since then, things started to change in me in a speed I lost control of my famous well composure..." she spoke to herself and remembering the day she met the man in this life
Flashback
It was morning, the blue and clean sky and the bright sun enhanced the beauty of Crystal Tokyo. The birds chirped and played at the water at the fountains. The nature, the trees were more beautiful than usual, the green was so vivid that it got the attention of Serenity who observed it mesmerized on her way for the meeting at the City Hall of Crystal Tokyo.
King Endymion was at her side, but it seemed like there was no one there due to the cold silence between them.
They arrived at the structure and were accompanied by the Minister until the main meeting room where they would meet the unknown figure who was already waiting for them.
Endymion entered first followed by the Queen. Serenity felt weird shivers at the exact moment her eyes laid on the very handsome man who had a very light brown hair nearly blond, clean skin and penetrating green eyes who smiled at her making her heart accelerate and make her breath stop for a moment.
The man stood up from his seat and proved he was as much as tall like Endymion, very well dressed and extremely polite. He greeted the King first and then greeted Serenity with a discreet, but intense look into her eyes making her blush a little.
"Your Highnesses, it's an honor meeting the two of you. My name is Luper." The man said revering them
Serenity felt a stronger shiver hearing that name, even distantly, it sounded familiar to her. Serenity did everything she could to keep her composure discreet, but something told her Luper was very aware of the sensations he was causing her.
"Luper… a shepherd and nature activist…I've heard about you." Endymion said politely, yet disguising his mix of feelings about the man
"Yes, you can define me like that. Those are my main activities among others." the man replied
"Interesting you got attention with your critics in how we are dealing with the changes in the climate and how those changes are affecting the nature worldwide." Endymion said with a serious tone almost in reprobation
"That's correct, but I have one point to correct… I did criticize how the most powerful and influential countries are dealing with it, I didn't criticize you two in specific because I'm sure you two are concerned about the events, but we, the protectors of the nature needed a more present and firmness from the people in charge to rule this world."
"I understand and that's why we accepted this meeting. We'd like to hear your ideas and who knows work together for a better world." Endymion said with a serious tone
"Of course." the man nodded in agreement
"However, what is going on is not so simple, but you can be sure we are working hard on it to solve it as fast as we can, but we all need to work together for the same goal." Endymion said
"Surely. That's why I'm here to represent my allies and partners as well."
The conversation continued for about an hour. Both sides explained their conditions and worked for a deal for both to be satisfied. At the end of the meeting, Endymion said his goodbye for the man and left the room first because he had an important call in another room. Serenity stayed behind not sure if it was right to stay alone with that man that so much intrigued her, but she had no option, she had to wait for Endymion for them to go back home.
Serenity and Luper continued talking for a while in friendly terms until she decided it was the moment to leave and look for her husband. Luper stood up along with her in a gesture of education and headed to her way to accompany her until the door.
"Once again, I'm so flattered for had finally meeting in person Milady. I look forward to see you more times." The man said revering her and gently took her hand on his and kissed it then looked at her deeply in the eyes while still knelt down at her
Serenity was paralyzed by the touch, all her buttons seemed to have been pressed. The shivers went down her spine making her feel her legs weaken by those warm lips on her skin. Her breath seemed like to choke and she blushed. She couldn't deny to herself that that man knew how to intrigue her with his subtleness, but intense vibe. She smiled awkwardly, "have a nice day mister Mr. Luper." She spoke forcing her voice to sound as normal as she could
She turned around, holding the urge to look back. When she passed the door she saw her husband coming at her way. She disguised her composure, but it was evident to her husband that something happened because of the rubbish on her cheeks
"Did something happen?" he asked in a serious tone and briefly looked at Luper who was still inside the room, but not looking at them
"No, why do you ask?" she said trying to look as much natural as she could
"Your cheeks are reddish." He said with an exclamation tone
"It's the heat, let's go home!" she spoke avoiding eye contact and making her way out of that place
Endymion remained in silence, thoughtful, not convinced with her reply. He looked at the room once more and saw Luper sitting on the couch with sight to them, but apparently he was busy with his cell phone. Endymion took a deep sigh and followed his wife.
Luper smiled with an unreadable expression and just moved his eyes watching the couple walking away.
End of Flashback
She had to admit that learning her life in the Silver Millennium and her love for Prince Endymion had set a sort of pattern that somehow was broken when they learned about his old past with no one less than Rei! It shattered her beautiful fantasies about the whole thing, she just wasn't so much aware of how deep that wound was in fact, and that wound allowed her to permit her soul being taken by Lilith back then, but had she really faded once and for all? Had her darkness been really destroyed? How could she not hate Kaname or even Rei, but now she felt like she wasn't away from hating Endymion?… they say hate is the love that got sick, was that really the case? Possibly it was, she couldn't recognize her Mamo-chan in a long time into their marriage, not that he didn't keep his promise to be with her and be dedicated to her and their daughter because he was always a loving and caring husband and father, but… there was always a but… she had to share him. So she questioned herself about her own feelings for him, had she ever really Loved him for sure? Was love what she felt about him or a strong passion combined with a teenage fantasy of first love? She always had a possessive feeling for him and that wasn't a secret, but comparing his feelings and relationship with Rei made her reflect about her own.
Sitting on a bench, she continued questioning herself lost in her thoughts.
"He had killed for her, he had killed her, but he still wanted her… How sick this can look, but at the same time I can totally relate to it right now? Not that I want to kill him, but I wish I could kill these feelings I have for him currently! I can't judge him when I just turned to be like him!" she reasoned comparing his story with Rei and her current state of feelings for him, "He lies to her like he lies to me! How can it be possible? Now I can relate to her at the moments she hated him for so long! I can't judge her when I am feeling like her in not trusting him any longer…" she finally started to cry, "Now the good memories don't seem enough to erase his flaw!" she continued, "Would she be able to forgive him once again if she discovered the truth that he was the real father of Rina? Why I couldn't tell her? Does it turn me into his accomplice?" she spoke in sobs
Serenity was taken by her sadness, alone in the park, just her and the trees and a cold wind embracing her light and soft skin. It was cozy. She allowed herself to enjoy the cold breeze. The tree leaves shook, she didn't notice a very handsome man was standing behind her, watching her moment. Her eyes were closed and she just opened it when she felt a warm and soft touch of hands on her delicate shoulders skin, she looked up and her ocean pool gaze met those emerald eyes. She couldn't move, she didn't want to move… that gaze was so familiar to her and washed away her pain. Memories started to unlock. The man dried her tears with a delicate touch of his fingers on her face, their hearts were accelerated. Noticing she had no hesitance with his presence, slowly he leaned down his face, stopping for a few millimeters his lips to touch hers. They could feel each other breathes. He hesitated, he needed her permission. Fully excited by the feel of that adventure, Serenity lift her arms up holding his head making a pressure for him to lean closer. They surrendered to an intense, but tender kiss. Her memories were finally fully open and so were her old emotions, but she still couldn't believe it.
The man was the one to apart from that delicate touch, their eyes met again. There was confusion in her gaze.
"Luper…" her voice came out more as a whisper, "Why are you here?" she asked with a low tone
"You called me." he replied sitting by her side
"How?" she asked with a puzzled face
"Your heart…" he replied moving his hand towards her chest and stopping from a few millimeters to touch her skin
Serenity opened her mouth in reflex thinking he would touch her breast. His close stops just made her go crazy. He knew how to drive her mind crazy. She could feel his touch even if he didn't touch her, maybe it was due to the memories lingered on her skin directly invoked from her mind due to her old feelings for him.
"My heart called you?" she asked even more puzzled
"Well, that too…" he spoke with a distant gaze
"What else called you?" she asked intrigued
"The Nature."
"Oh… your activism."
"No Selene! The Nature is really dying all around the globe! If we don't do anything about it, the Sun might kill all the life in the planet!" he spoke with a saddened gaze
"Selene" she thought, her mind almost stop hearing that name. Apparently, what the Sacred Fire had revealed about that persona, now the green-eyed man confirmed she really called Selene, the Moon Goddess a long time ago. She would need time to process that. "The Sun? You mean, Endymion or the star itself?" she asked widening her eyes
"Endymion what? His name is Apollo! But I'm not exactly talking about him, but the star itself!" the man spoke with a bit of annoyance by hearing about his rival
"Why are you saying that? What's wrong with the Sun?" She spoke intrigued by his words ignoring his jealousy
"I'm not the one to answer you about the Sun! He is its ruler right? All I know something is going on in that Sun and is not good and with the help of humans killing the Nature of the planet… life will be extinguished soon! If that moron doesn't do anything about his own territory, it will be his fault the death of the life on Earth!"
"That moron is my husband!" she responded in reflex
"Bad choice you made… a very bad choice!" he let out a sigh of annoyance
Serenity didn't reply back and looked down. Her bad thoughts and feelings for Endymion came to her mind. She couldn't help the thought she had chosen someone else's love, when she had one just for her own, who was in fact right there next to her and hadn't shown any resentment for her so far.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." He spoke with an apologetic tone
"You didn't… you were sincere." She shook her head still looking down
"I didn't apologize for my words, but for my tone." He replied touching her hand
Immediately she looked at him speechless
"That's how I like you… with your head up." He spoke with a warm smile, "What happened to you my goddess… being a queen has broken you?" he spoke staring deep at her eyes
His words felt like a sharp blade in her inner feelings. She really felt like becoming a queen had turned out to be a nightmare.
They remained in silence for a long time.
"How do you expect us to stop the end of the nature? We have the son of the fire, Kaname, won't he be able to help us?" Serenity broke the silence remembering of her dreams about Kaname and the dark future
"The Healer, which I respect immensely, but still far away from his god nature… he can be useful, but not yet the savior he is supposed to be."
"How do you know that?"
"I'm the ruler of the Nature… I hear things that people just tell when they are alone…" he spoke making a mystery
"Now I know why you said I called you… you heard my confessions at the yard full of trees in the castle…"
"Yes, I did hear that. But I've heard other things too…" he spoke with an unreadable gaze
Serenity continued staring at him waiting for more. Seeing the interest in her eyes, he continued telling a few more revelations, "I heard Apollo and Coronis at their very first meet, he was mesmerized and intrigued watching from behind a tree her bathing at his private well… I heard the despair of Helios when his beloved bird Bennu was killed by his Martian lover and his sacred ritual of pyre and woods to tribute his special bird in the attempt to bring her back to life… I helped the woman who rejected Apollo and made her to be a part of the nature too to protect her from his stalk… I heard the conspiracy to kill his son Epios… I've witnessed your Martian soldier reconnect with herself at her moments in contact with Mother Nature… I've also heard your other soldiers confessions while alone… I've witnessed your Uranus soldier kissing you… I've heard the boys that proved your daughter with the moron that your Martian soldier husband cannot have children of his own… hmmm, I've heard a lot of things." He spoke not giving many details
Serenity was mute, most of the things he cited she knew and she blushed when he mentioned the kiss Sailor Uranus gave her becoming the second person that her lips felt in her entire life and how that made her tremble when she thought of Mamoru. She was also intrigued about the details about Kaname and Helios and she felt a sort of anger or jealous learning about some other woman that the so called Apollo fell in love, it just made her think even more that the man she fell in love wasn't a man of just one woman.
"If you come with me I can tell you many more things, including who the enemy really is and how to prevent the end and save us all." he pressed her hand a bit
"Where are you going to take me?" she spoke reluctant
"To my land, where I can show you things to prove you everything I'm saying… don't worry, I won't do anything to harm you. You know I'm not that type!" he spoke with a warm gaze and gentle smile
Serenity was hoodwinked, there was something in his touch that made her surrender to his wishes. Standing up together, he guided her holding her by the hand.
It was afternoon; Endymion was lying on the couch of the main lobby. After noticing Serenity and Chibiusa weren't home, he fell asleep.
Chibiusa arrived and thought it was weird seeing her father sleeping in that place, but she didn't want to disturb his sleep, so she avoided making noises and headed to her bedroom.
Endymion was in a deep sleep and didn't notice her presence.
Flashback
Endymion's silhouette found himself flowing slowly arriving at the land at a location that resembled so much Heliopolis in its glorious days. He could see from afar the Golden Castle. He felt home.
Slowly he walked until the main entrance of the Castle, standing for a while in front of the big main double doors that led to the main hall entrance. He saw the doors opening after he took a deep breath preparing himself to search that place after a long time.
The interior was full of gold decoration, luxurious, everything was well organized and many statues in real size of Helios. He observed every detail of it, he felt a profound nostalgia.
Out of sudden he heard a noise of glass breaking, he looked behind to see a little ginger boy with a frightened expression looking at the blood coming from the open wound in his hand.
Endymion ran to the aid of the child. For a moment, their eyes met and briefly, Endymion could see the anger in that kids's eyes which vanished when they heard someone calling the kid who looked at the direction, "Apollo!"
Endymion widened his eyes hearing the child's name and seeing the approach of aged Helios calling the child's attention, "What did you do? This is the glass of the Time!" Helios spoke very annoyed
"I didn't do anything, it broke alone!" Little Apollo protested
"Don't lie to me Apollo, you were playing with it again, weren't you?" the old man insisted
"No! I just held it for a while and it exploded in my hand!" the little child spoke with sincerity
Helios could read the truth in the kid's speech, with an intrigued face, he seemed to be looking at the direction of Endymion who was completely ignored until that moment, "It exploded? So it just can mean one thing…" Helios spoke thoughtful
"What does it mean?" Little Apollo asked
"The Time Warp… I guess we have a guest here… someone that doesn't belong to this time line… and if this broke in your hand… Oh Apollo, I pray for your future! I hope you will be wise enough to diminish the unluckiness in your love life because you will break a Divine Rule by falling in love with my beloved Bennu when she returns home someday and fecund her egg…" Helios predicted the future and his eyes were completely white and his third eyes shone a strong light
"Bennu the bird? Why would fall in love with a bird?!" The kid smirked with total incredulity in those words, "This is impossible, that bird is dead! And I'm not into animals for that!" the kid continued rolling his eyes in disgust
"You still don't get it… she wasn't just a bird. But I really hope you stay away from her when she comes. You cannot fall in love with each other and much less fecund her egg or it will bring a long time of disgraces… and many time warps until the harmony will be restored after several tries." Helios spoke getting his vision back
Endymion had a shocked face, he was facing his own memory. It explained why the kid and Helios didn't pay attention at him, but somehow, it fit the real memory of that day, he as a kid, was angry at himself for his sloppiness and knew he would be blamed for breaking such object, now there was the explanation of why it really broke. And Helios really seemed to look at a specific spot during his lecture, now he knew what Helios really saw, King Endymion. "I did everything he told me to not to do… I didn't recognize her, I didn't understand her return, I immediately fell in love with her, I did fecund her egg and we had several lives of tries and many moments of disgraces…" Endymion spoke to himself with tears in his eyes
"Heal that wound, it's dirtying the floor. We are late for the classes of today!" Helios spoke walking to another corridor
"But, what about the glass…?" Apollo spoke looking back at the location where the supposed glass remains should be, but it disappeared. Endymion could see that last scene with the child and then he could see himself walking backwards standing once again at the outside of the castle that now was in total ruins."
End of Flashback
Endymion woke up with a start in pure sweat. He was even confused in where he was. He looked to the sides to recompose himself recognizing the Crystal Castle. His breath was choking. Feeling his body hurt for sleeping on the couch, he headed to the master's room to take a shower and change his clothes.
Well guys that was it for now. I hope you liked it! What are your guesses? Stay tuned!
A/N: So here we see a conflicted Serenity, what do you think it could happen? Would she fall for her old love and new temptation or she would be stronger than those conflicted feelings?
Take in account that she is aged and more mature, she's not a teen anymore and is in a longterm relationship with Endymion and we know that long relationships tend to get outworn with the time being, especially after severe crisis or too much swallowed negative feelings... it's not about lack of love, but a case of hurt and comfort.