Once Upon a Blue Moon

Chapter 9 – A Blue Moon

If she had to chose, Serenity definitely had missed her bed the most. Though the rooms with Uranus and Neptune had been more than comfortable, there was something about your own bed that you just couldn't replace.

Finally, after two months away, the day had come when Serenity and her mother - along with Serenity's two guardians, Sailor Mercury and Jupiter and Queen Serenity's staff - were to return home. As they said their goodbyes to one another, Serenity thoughts returned to her soft bed and she looked forward to curing up under the sheets, Luna tucked in with her.

Serenity approached Sailor Uranus. The tall guardian placed her right hand across her chest, letting her hand rest on her heart, and bowed deeply to the princess. Serenity picked up the hem of her skirts delicately and curtsied in return. They both stood up in unison.

Sailor Uranus smiled warmly. "I hope you return to the Moon Kingdom safely, princess."

"Thank you," Serenity said. "I would like to return here again."

"I would very much like that," Uranus said. "And I know Neptune would too."

Serenity nodded. She looked around her. "Are you sure you are not lonely here on this planet by yourself?"

Uranus shook her head. "We are fine, princess. We are happy to complete our duty to keep you and the Queen safe." She stepped forward and stroked the princess's cheek. Serenity was a little taken aback at the sudden intimacy, but allowed the guardian to continue. "You may not realise it, but the light you shine over us keeps us strong." Uranus let her hand drop.

Serenity smiled at the Senshi, touched by her words. She curtsied again, and went to stand beside her mother. Giving Sailor Uranus a final quick wave, Serenity closed her eyes as her mother used the Silver Crystal to return them all home.

Everyone was waiting for them in the throne room. Serenity assumed a message had been send ahead of them to inform the palace. The advisors and staff in the room all bowed low at the returning royal family. The Queen greeted them warmly before setting them to work to help them settle back in after the journey.

Two voices called out over the crowd in unison. "Princess! Princess!"

Serenity looked up and beamed at the sight of Venus and Mars waving to the right of the thrones. The princess took Jupiter and Mercury by the hands and rushed down to them. The girls greeted each other enthusiastically, the girls all hugging each other one after the other tightly.

"Serenity!"

Serenity looked down at her feet. "Luna!" She bent down and picked up the feline, cradling her in her arms. "I missed you, Luna!"

Luna gave Serenity a gentle lick on her cheek, before nuzzling her. "I missed you too. Welcome home."

The reunited friends had so many stories to tell. With permission from her mother granted, the group left the throne room and retired to one of the private rooms. Taking their places on the soft furniture next to the open fire, they talked of all their experiences from the past two months. The hours seemed to pass by as they revelled in being in each other's company again. The afternoon quickly transitioned in to early evening, and still the girls chatted excitedly.

"Is Uranus really as tall as they say she is?" Venus asked her friends. She scratched a dozing Artemis's ear from where he lay next to her on the soft couch.

Mercury nodded excitedly, looking up at the girls from her position on the floor. "I would even say she was taller than Jupiter."

"Hey!" Jupiter piped in. She threw a pillow at Mercury. "She isn't that tall." The girls laughed. Jupiter felt herself blush in embarrassment. "What's so funny?"

"You are so easy to wind up," Mars giggled. She gave Jupiter a little nudge with her elbow, nearly causing her to fall off the sofa they shared.

"What about Neptune?" Venus continued.

Serenity let out a dreamy sigh. She shifted in her soft chair slightly, trying not to wake the sleeping Luna in her lap. "She is so beautiful! They both are. You should have seen the way Neptune was in the water."

"She certainly could keep up with Mercury very well," Jupiter added.

Mercury tried to hide her own embarrassment. "She is a very talented swimmer. And her musical skills are exceptional."

"Truly amazing," Jupiter agreed. "You couldn't help but feel as if there were soft waves washing over you." She closed her eyes as the memory came back.

"Sounds incredible," Sailor Mars sighed. "I wish we could have been there."

Serenity smiled to the raven haired guardian. "I promise I will take you there one day. What about here? Has anything happened?"

"Nothing much," Mars answered. "Just the usual. It has been fairly quiet."

"Venus?" Serenity asked, looking over to her.

But before Venus could answer, there was a soft knock at the door.

"Serenity," Queen Serenity called from the other side.

Serenity felt a chill run down her spine. Excusing herself from the girls, she stood up, cradling Luna in her arms, and went to see her mother. She closed the door softly behind her, making sure the Senshi could not hear her.

The Queen stood by one of the windows, gazing out at the night sky. Serenity approached and stood silently beside her mother, waiting.

"You acted tremendously on our trip," the Queen said with a smile. "Like a true future Queen."

Serenity bowed her head in respect. "Thank you. I hope I made you proud."

Queen Serenity looked lovingly at her daughter. "I am always proud of you, Serenity, no matter what you do." She kissed her on the top of her head. She looked her daughter in the eye, and saw the pain she had tried to hide from everyone. The Queen had been thinking about this decision for quite some time now. Seeing how frail her daughter had become in such a short amount of time steeled her resolve. "Go."

"Go?" Serenity asked, unsure by what her mother meant. "Go where? Mother, have I done something wrong?"

"No, Serenity, not at all!" Queen Serenity held her daughter's face in her hands. "I merely mean, you need to go and see him."

Serenity felt her heart jump. Surely her mother didn't mean…"See who?"

The Queen smiled. "You know who."

Serenity felt her heart fly in her chest. She squeezed Luna little too tightly, waking her up. "Really?" she asked her mother breathlessly. "But, mother-"

Queen Serenity placed a gentle finger on her daughter's lip. "Serenity, you know I want you to be happy, yes?" Serenity nodded her head. "I can see that right now, you are not, but you're trying so hard to hide it. You're putting everyone else before yourself to make sure they are happy instead."

Serenity looked away, not able to look her mother in the eye. She had hit the nail on the head. She looked down at Luna in her arms. Her feline guardian looked up at her with eyes full of love and concern.

The Queen tilted her daughter's head up to look at her. "I can see the pain this is causing you. You need to see him, Serenity." She enveloped her daughter in a hug, careful not to hurt Luna.

"But what about the law?" Serenity asked as they separated. She felt Luna jump out of her arms and rest at her feet.

"Your majesty," Luna began, but she was silenced politely by a flick of the Queen's hand.

"I will deal with the consequences," the Queen said. "Now go, quickly, before anyone else sees you." She beamed at the princess. "Just make sure you return as soon as possible. This is our little secret."

Serenity smiled, overjoyed at the news. She rushed in to her mother's arms again, thanking her over and over. They hugged tightly, before Serenity left, heading down the corridor in a rush.

Queen Serenity watched her daughter go with a heavy heart.

"Your majesty," Luna asked. "Are you sure this is a good idea? You enforced that law for a reason."

"I know," the Queen answered calmly.

"But the dark clouds over Earth," Luna protested, "they continue to grow. Serenity could be walking in to danger."

"Love is always dangerous," Queen Serenity replied. She gave a heavy sigh. "I know this does not make sense, Luna. But you can see how ill Serenity has become." Luna nodded. Like many others, she had noticed Serenity's loss of weight. "All I want is for my daughter to be happy, and I will fight to protect her from any harm."

But even as she said this, the Queen felt a deep uneasiness in her heart. She hoped she had done the right thing.

He found himself running. Though it was late and he knew many people were turning in for the night, Endymion couldn't stop himself from running. His footsteps echoed around him as he made his way through the palace. He took no notice of the strange looks from the few people he passed. They were not his concern at the moment.

He had been in the library only moments before, pouring over books that may help with the dark cloud that was slowly taking up more and more of the land around them. He was about to turn in for the night, his eyes aching from reading countless words and phrases, when he had felt it: that familiar pull in his heart that made it feel like it was glowing brightly.

He burst through the terrace doors and ran down the stairs. He could see the glow fading in the garden ahead of him. He knew that light. He ran faster, urging his legs forward. He turned a corner and stopped suddenly.

Standing before him, underneath the Moon's rays, was Princess Serenity.

Endymion stood frozen where he stood. She was here. Two months they had been separated, but she had finally returned to him! But as he took her in completely, he saw the pale shade of her skin and the way her dress just didn't quite fit as it had before. She had been suffering during their separation, and it broke his heart.

Serenity, too, saw the pain the separation had caused Endymion. The heavy bags under his eyes were proof of his sleepless nights, and his shoulders drooped ever so slightly, looking defeated. The past two months had caused them both so much pain. Serenity felt her heart was about to burst.

Without a word, the lovers rushed towards each other and fell in to each other's arms. They held on tightly, not wanting to ever let go again. They pulled apart only slightly, enough to place their lips together and kiss. They poured all their longings and relief at their reunion in to the kiss, showing each other just how much they meant to one another.

Reluctantly, they broke apart. They remained silent as they caught their breath, still gripping on to the other, not trusting to let go. Endymion brought his hand up and brushed a tear off of Serenity's soft cheek, not quite believing she was really here.

Serenity held Endymion's hand in place on her face. "I kept my promise."

Endymion let out a laugh and kissed her again. "You certainly know how to keep me on my toes."

Serenity gave the prince's hand a squeeze. "I am sorry I could not contact you. I was so far away."

"You have nothing to apologise for," Endymion said, pulling the princess in to his chest. He rested his chin gently on top of her head. "I understand."

"You are safe though?" Serenity asked.

Endymion nodded. "Yes. But what about you? You look so frail."

"It's nothing," Serenity reassured. "I will be fine." She held him tighter. "I was so worried about you."

"And I you." He kissed the top of her head.

"What happened with the dark clouds?" Serenity asked.

Endymion pulled her away from his chest so he could look in to her eyes. He gave a heavy sigh. "You were right to try and warn me. They have appeared in the east and are starting to spread. They are still too far away to cause us any harm, but we are monitoring them."

Serenity nodded her head, unsure of what to say. "I wish I had been here to help you."

"It's OK," Endymion soothed. "Venus explained as best she could."

"Venus?" Serenity looked up in to Endymion's deep blue eyes. "Sailor Venus came back?"

Endymion nodded. "She escaped whenever she could to tell me any news she had of you."

"I had no idea…" Venus had helped Endymion? Serenity couldn't comprehend it. She knew her Senshi cared out her, but she had no idea they would be willing to go so far. She wasn't sure how it was possible, but she suddenly loved her guardians more than ever.

Endymion slipped his hand inside his tunic and pulled out the precious object he kept close to his heart. He held it out to Serenity on the palm of his hand. It glistened in the moonlight. "Here, this belongs to you."

Serenity looked down at the star locket. "You kept it?"

"Of course I did!" Endymion said. "Why would you ask such a thing?"

Serenity shook her head. "I was being silly. Of course you kept it. Thank you." She placed her hand on Endymion's and closed his hand around the locket. "But this is my gift to you. I want you to have it."

Endymion kissed her forehead. "You have given me so much already, Serenity. I am already the luckiest man alive." He tucked the locket back inside his tunic, and held Serenity close. "I missed you."

"I missed you, too." Serenity placed her head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat. She had missed being held like this. She wished she didn't have to leave him and return to the Moon.

An idea hit her then. A stupid, ridiculous idea. But like with many of her ideas, once it was in her head, she would not let it go. Besides, she had always wanted to try it. Why not now?

"There is something I want to show you," Serenity said excitedly. She removed Endymion's hands from her body and held them in her own between them. "Close your eyes."

Endymion gave her a quizzical look. "Serenity…"

"Just trust me," Serenity beamed. She gave him a quick kiss.

He didn't really have much of a choice. He recognised the determined look in her eyes. She wouldn't let it go, whatever she was planning. So Endymion closed his eyes diligently. He felt Serenity squeeze his hands reassuringly, before all went silent. Too silent. It was unlike Serenity to stay quiet for this long. He peeked a look at her, and saw she was concentrating hard on something. He closed his eyes again and waited.

A strange tingling sensation touched his skin where Serenity held him. It trickled up his arms, through his chest, and spread across his entire body. Something bright hit his eyelids, but he kept them closed. He suddenly felt the ground beneath him disappear, but he did not fall. He felt the pit of his stomach drop as he and Serenity floated for just a few seconds before he felt his feet touch the ground again. The light faded slowly, and the warm sensation left his fingers. Still, Endymion kept his eyes closed.

He heard Serenity giggle. "Open your eyes."

Slowly, Endymion did as he was asked, and the sight that greeted him was enough to take his breath away. "What…?"

He was in a beautiful wild garden, full of bright and unusual plants that looked like nothing he had ever seen before. They stood beside a small pond. In the middle was a statue of gold and silver of two lovers in an embrace. Endymion couldn't help but think it looked exactly like the one in his mother's garden. But the truly astonishing sight that greeted him was up in the night sky.

Serenity looked up at the prince with concern. "Endymion, are you OK?"

It took Endymion a little while to try and put a sentence together. "Where are we?"

Serenity smiled. "We're in my secret garden."

Endymion pointed up at the night sky. "Th-that's…" He stuttered, not quite able to get the words out of his mouth. "That's…Earth."

Serenity stood beside him, gazing up at the sky. "You once asked what it looked like from the Moon. I thought I would show you."

Endymion nodded, still completely in a daze. Serenity's words from their first meeting flickered in to his mind. "A blue gem…"

"Or a blue Moon," Serenity giggled. "Welcome to my home."

Endymion took a few uneasy steps backwards. "The Moon? I'm on the Moon?" He watched Serenity nod her head. "But, that's impossible! How can I breathe? How can these plants be here? How can…" He became lost for words. He ran his hands through his dark hair.

Serenity stepped forward, taking Endymion's hands in her own. "It's because of the Silver Crystal. It keeps us alive and protects us."

"Like our Golden Crystal…" Endymion said under his breath. He looked down at Serenity. "Thank you. Thank you for bringing me here. This is…this is incredible!" He lifted Serenity in to his arms and spun her around. The princess laughed at his joy. After a few spins, he placed her back on the ground, and kissed her. "How did you do this?"

Serenity gave a very unladylike shrug. "I just did what I normal do when I come here, but just tried a little bit harder." She looked around the garden. "I thought I would bring you here so no one would see us"

Endymion nodded and followed her gaze. "So this is your garden?"

"Yes," Serenity answered with a nod. "I come here when I want to be alone. Like you do with your mother's garden."

Something glinted in the starlight in the corner of Endymion's eye. He looked up, his gaze falling on to the statue in the centre of the pond. "That look's like…"

"The one back on Earth," Serenity finished. "I noticed it too."

Endymion took a few paces towards it, scrutinizing every detail. "How did it get here?"

"I'm not sure. It has been here ever since I started coming to the garden."

Endymion looked up at the blue Earth above him. "Same with the one on Earth. It must mean something." A thought occurred to him. He looked back at Serenity. "How do we get back to Earth?"

"Easy," Serenity said. She gave the prince a wink, before stepping towards him and gently closing his eyes with the tips of her fingers. Holding on to him, Endymion felt her use her power to transport them from the Moon and back on to Earth. The light was blinding, but felt so incredibly warm.

When Endymion opened his eyes, he saw they were back on Earth in one of the courtyards hidden in the gardens. They stood in the centre on top of the pale tiles, the white pillars surrounding them glowing softly in the moonlight.

Endymion was in a state of shock. Incredible but awe inspiring shock. He held on to Serenity, pulling her in close. "You are truly amazing, Serenity!" He gazed in to her bright blue eyes. "I love you."

Serenity smiled back at her prince. "I love you too."

Wrapping his cloak around them to keep them warm from the night's chill, Endymion bent his head and gently kissed Serenity. The princess wrapped her arms around his neck, brushing her fingers through his hair. Endymion held her around her waist, pulling her in close. They lost themselves to their kiss, feeling like the only two people in the world.

But hidden in the shadows of the pillars, a pair of eyes glinted in the moonlight. The eyes narrowed in anger as it saw the couple embraced lovingly. A pale hand reached up, just visible in the Moon's rays, and flicked its bright red hair, before the figure melted in to the shadows.

A/N: So what started as one chapter eventually ended up as two. I thought it best to upload them at the same time as nothing much happens in chapter 8.

Again, I want to give a special thank you to everyone who reviewed the previous chapter: natashasurgirl, PrayerGirl, Aemilius95, Moonprincess998 and Artemis630. It's your reviews that keep me going, so thank you for being my inspiration.