Chapter Ten

Somehow, it seemed like a lifetime had passed since Princess Serenity had last stepped foot on the Moon Road entrance hidden deep in the woods. She had left this place three months ago with happy tears in her eyes as she and Aryon ran away together. And now—with a husband by her side and a child growing in her womb—she returned with a heavy heart.

"Princess," Demetrius said, clearing his throat. She turned to look at him, suddenly feeling exhausted. Whatever expression he saw on her face made his own eyes soften with pity. "Child, we're almost home. Just hang on a little longer. We need your power and the power of the Silver Crystal. When it and your mother's crystal are finally joined together again, the full power of the Moon Kingdom can be restored."

Serenity nodded quietly and stood in the middle of the marble platform. She looked uncertainly at Aryon, who held her hand and gave her a confident nod. "What about Aryon?" she asked in a quiet, shaking voice. "What… what will my parents do? Will Aryon be safe?"

Demetrius straightened, leveling a serious gaze at the couple. "I shall protect him."

Aryon raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What?"

"I do not know what the King and Queen shall do upon our return," Demetrius clarified. "It is my understanding that Serenity is their top priority. And when they discover the new developments of your marriage and your child, they will be unable to harm you. Until they discover that, I will do all I can to protect you from any rash actions they may take."

Serenity smiled, her heart warming. "Thank you, Demetrius."

He harrumphed and turned away. "I am not doing it for you. If they were to harm the father of the heir to the Silver Crystal, there would be an intergalactic backlash. My job is to protect the royal family. I am merely fulfilling that role."

Still, Serenity placed her thin, dainty hands on the guard's arm, smiled gratefully up at him, and kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

Reddening, Demetrius turned away. "Shut up." He cleared his throat and folded his arms across his chest. "Let's go, Princess. Lead us home."

Serenity nodded and took a deep breath. As she retrieved the Silver Crystal from the inside of her blouse, she looked towards the moon. "Moon Prism Power!" she shouted in a loud, clear voice, gripping the crystal tight. She felt a surge of energy flow through her as a bright light enveloped all three of them. Within seconds, the group soared through the air with lightning speed, leaving the cold Earth behind them.

Dread crept into the young princess's heart as she watched the moon grow, taking up most of her vision. Fear caused her throat to close up, and she suddenly found she wasn't able to breathe. What would her parents say? Would they separate Aryon from her? Would they force her to divorce him? Surely they couldn't do that. They had been lawfully married. They had a child. Even if they didn't approve of it, they couldn't take him away from her… could they? The thought crushed her heart. She couldn't live her life away from this man now. He was everything to her. She refused to believe that a life could exist apart from him.

Their path began to slow down, though they hadn't yet reached the Moon Kingdom. Startled, Demetrius looked back at Serenity. His brow furrowed in confusion. "Princess! What is happening?"

Serenity looked around, terrified. "I… I don't know!" She wrapped her arms around her midsection, trying to get a grip on her emotions and thoughts. She couldn't let everything overwhelm her, but it was too difficult. The fatigue from travel, the growing child inside of her with a weakened heartbeat, the uncertainty of her future with Aryon… everything surrounded her and threatened to smother her alive.

Cutting through the darkness and strife, Serenity felt a warm light envelop her. Aryon, whose hand had never left hers, wrapped his arms around her and held Princess Serenity tight. "I am here," he whispered gently. "Do not fear. Do not falter. You are strong. You are the Princess of the Moon Kingdom, heir to the Silver Crystal. Have faith in yourself. Have faith in us."

Her body relaxed into his arms, and she knew his words were true. He was there for her. He would stay by her side. Aryon, her soul mate. With his strength, she could go on. She could face the uncertainty. The doubt and fears and inner turmoil calmed in that instant, and a new surge of energy poured into the Silver Crystal. The group picked up speed and continued in their journey to the Moon Kingdom. Demetrius looked back at Serenity and Aryon, his expression pensive as he regarded their embrace.

The next time their descent slowed, they had landed gently on the Moon Road entrance's marble platform. Serenity lowered her arms and released the Silver Crystal. As soon as she took a step, however, her knees gave way. Light-headed and weakened from the journey, Serenity felt her body fall towards the cold marble beneath her. Two strong arms held her upright, though, and she felt Aryon's familiar embrace keep her steady.

"Just a little more," he said. "We will get you the rest you deserve."

"There they are!" a voice shouted just a few meters away from them. "Guards, alert the King and Queen! Demetrius has returned with the princess!"

Serenity turned, but she was too dizzy to discern who had come to greet them. She heard quick footsteps running away from them and others approaching them. Another voice shouted, "Someone else is with them! It must be the man who kidnapped Serenity! Demetrius has brought him back for judgment!"

Serenity felt Aryon's hold on her tighten as his body jerked quickly away from hers. She realized with panic that someone was trying to take him away from her. "No…" she murmured weakly. "No!"

"Arrest him!" another guard yelled angrily. "Don't let him get away!"

"No!" she shouted, but her voice seemed no louder than a whimper. She opened her eyes, trying to find Aryon's face. His eyes held hers, but too many guards were trying to drag him away from her. "Aryon!" she cried, gripping his arms tighter as their bodies separated.

"Leave the boy alone!" she heard Demetrius shout, but it was no use. No one stopped pulling, and Aryon's hands were now just barely hanging onto Serenity.

Feeling his grip slip away from hers, Serenity felt a surge of rage flood her heart. How dare they? How dare they try to take her husband away? They didn't understand! They didn't know him! They couldn't arrest him—she wouldn't let them.

"I said no!" Serenity screamed, suddenly clutching the Silver Crystal in the palm of her hand. A white light surrounded them, striking anyone who tried to come between her and Aryon. The tugging stopped, and she felt his embrace tighten around her again. When the blinding light disappeared, Serenity looked around to find all Guards forced to their knees several yards away from them. They all stared with confusion and fear as Serenity gazed back at them with the regal stance of one who controlled infinite power. "If you touch him," she announced, "I will kill you."

There was a moment where all Serenity could feel was triumph and pride as she realized she had succeeded in keeping them away from Aryon. But her bravado could only last so long. She had used the Crystal too much. She had grown weaker from their travels and from being away from the Moon Kingdom's power for so long. Suddenly, it was all too much for the young princess's weakened body.

She pitched forward, her world going black as she fell into her husband's arms.