Oceanus Procellarum: A Silver Millennium Adventure

By Lady Moon Goddess

Disclaimer: Do I have to say it?

Author's Notes: This is my longest chapter to date…with any of my stories. I feel very accomplished even though it took me who knows how long to get this chapter up and running. This is it, the final chapter. I put my heart and soul into this last one so I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Chapter Twelve: Rebirth

Princess Serenity opened the wooden door. The room looked foreign. She walked to the side of the bed, sliding her hand across the silk sheets. A fresh bunch of Lunarian roses sat in a vase on the bedside table. She sighed, breathing in their sweet aroma.

She found herself staring out the window, admiring the beautiful gardens that surrounded the palace. A pathway spiraled its way around exotic flowerbeds and marble fountains. Pathways ended with a row of benches, some of these encircled the palace itself.

Serenity walked into her closet, smelling the familiar fabric soap. She smiled, fingering the gowns of different color. She left the closet to find Kasei facing the bed.

"Welcome home, princess," he turned around, folding his hands in front of him.

"Kasei…" she extended her arms, wrapping them around his neck, "I have missed everyone so much," she quietly sobbed as he placed small kisses upon her head.

"You have been away for a long time," he stepped back, holding her shoulders, "too long," his expression changed, as did hers. She took another step—not in anger, but in shock, "I have found someone else," he said, listening to his words, almost wishing they weren't true.

Her tears stopped flowing, which surprised them both. She wiped her stained cheeks, and sniffled. "It does not surprise me that someone else noticed your qualities." She really had nothing more to say, but she continued, "I am…" she stopped, unsure if what she would say next was going to be a lie or the truth, "I am happy for you," she surprised herself — no twinge of guilt weighed her down. She inwardly exhaled, removing the cloud of stress that hovered over her.

"Serenity, I will always love you," he drew her into another embrace. She rested her cheek on his chest, "I will always try to protect you, know that," he released all feeling into one, last passionate kiss.

The sun rose until it reached the middle of the sky. A variety of merchants closed their shops for lunch while others remained open for business. Endymion walked through the marketplace with the Gaean emblem out on display for all to see. People acknowledged his presence, yes. However, if in public it was not required they offer a formal bow if members of the royal family were strolling about in a casual setting. Familiar faces glanced his way, and he smiled, recognizing the rightful owners of the shops.

He passed stand after stand before stopping at a well-known fruit shop. The saleswoman's brunette hair cascaded over her shoulders. Her dark eyes peeked through her tousled bangs as she looked at Endymion. "Your Highness! Welcome to my fruit stand!" her locks bounced as she addressed the prince.

"Hello, dear lady," his face was not covered, but she remained clueless, "I would like some raspberries. I am told they are delectable," he smiled as she gathered the fruit into a bag.

"How did you manage to stay unharmed during the war, dear prince?" she placed the bag onto a scale and soon the weighing-rock and raspberries were level.

She wrote down the weight and calculated the price as Endymion answered, "This lovely woman provided the most luscious and nutritious fruit, and I was able to keep up my strength."

At first, she didn't catch it. She continued calculating then said the price. He handed her a few coins as she handed him the fruit and his coarse hand touched her soft skin. "Thank you for all your help," he smiled, taking the raspberries.

Her arm remained extended and her jaw dropped.

The Gaean prince placed the raspberries beside the washing tub. He turned around to find Tierra in the doorway. He stared at his sister as he treasured her presence. She walked into his arms, clinging onto his shirt.

"Dear brother, I was surely convinced that Death had taken you," her captive tears finally freed themselves as she tightened her grip.

"Tierra…" he kissed the top of her head, "Father and I thought we lost you during the first attack on Earth when Mother—" she stopped him then.

"Endy, she dines with the gods and sings with the angels. Let us be thankful she guided us to one another."

They stepped back, holding hands. They shared a smile before walking to the throne room.

"Where were you that whole time?" he put his hand over her shoulder as she wrapped her arm around his waist.

"Well, I stayed with Eris on Venus. An immense explosion forced me into space, and Queen Venn found me drifting towards Venus' atmosphere."

He looked down at his sister, "Found you?"

She nodded, "Yes, I know. I was out-cold when she brought me to Venus."

"I am glad you were safe," he squeezed her shoulder then opened the throne door.

King Aarde was sitting on the wooden throne, resting against the cushioned backrest. He watched the two young people entering the chamber, and immediately smiled. "My dear children!" he rose to his feet and opened his arms to greet them, "What have you been doing all day?" the king hugged his heirs, finding he was cherishing them more each day.

"I took a stroll in the marketplace," Endymion replied, stepping back from the embrace, "It was so refreshing seeing our people happy once more."

Aarde nodded, for he had noticed the Gaeans new found bliss as well. "We have received an invitation to a ball," King Aarde removed the piece of parchment from his jacket.

But before he could read the particulars, Tierra snatched it from his hand. She broke the seal and opened it. Her eyes raced across the page, obtaining the information at speed. "The Moon Kingdom is holding a ball tomorrow!" she squealed.

This would be the first time in a year the young royals would be together. Tierra smiled at the thought of being with all her friends.

Endymion coughed, tearing Tierra away from her daydream. She continued, "Women are to have escorts," she giggled as she thought of her brother, "Endymion, you must be Serenity's escort."

Realization finally struck him like an ocean's wave. This ball would be no ordinary ball. Eighteen years had finally reached Serenity, and this party would be celebrating it. This would be the first time the universe's people would see Endymion and Serenity together as a couple.

Sudden worry wrapped itself around Endymion, choking him within its grip. He inhaled sharply and excused himself to his room.

Thoughts rushed through his mind. What would be the appropriate attire? How should he act? Their time together in exile was not exactly perfect, but he could not let the people discover their unhappiness. They needed to act like the lovers they were supposed to be.

He sat on the edge of his bed, resting his elbows on his thighs and propping his chin on his fists. "I must speak to Serenity," he said for his walls alone to hear.

The fact that he was going to leave a day early for the Moon did not surprise him. It almost excited him. A mad rush of panic consumed him, but his anxiety increased at the thought of displeasing Serenity.

He stared at the Lunarian portrait. King Sirius stood beside Queen Selenity with his arm wrapped around her waist. He remembered when Serenity was so little standing in front of her parents. Now, the painting had transformed from a tiny girl to a strong princess.

He softly touched the crescent at the bottom left-hand corner. The yellow Moon changed to white as the whole painting followed. His hand entered the portal first. His touch sent ripples around the portal, these ceasing their motion once his entire body had passed through.

The Moon could not have looked more radiant. All the flowers were in bloom, and the trees swayed in the quiet breeze. Different aromas drifted in the air, and each one competed in a contest of loveliness.

The Moon Gallery was surrounded by lavish gardens. Endymion took the path that led him straight for the palace. He watched its ornate doors grow ever larger with each approaching step.

He exhaled slowly, finding himself standing before the tall entrance. He looked to his side and yanked a rose from the nearest bush. He sighed and knocked on the marble door using its crystal knocker.

It was only a few short moments before a servant answered the knock. The huge, milky-white marble door slowly opened as the servant's head appeared. She smiled and welcomed the prince, allowing him to enter.

The servant guided Endymion to the throne room, passing other servants who remained attentive to their assigned tasks as they continued cleaning. Quick bows were sent his way, and he smiled in response.

The maidservant entered the throne room, announcing his arrival, "Dear queen and princess, Prince Endymion has arrived," she bowed and left the room.

Queen Selenity stood up from her throne. She picked up her long train and stepped down the short flight of marble steps to meet him on the threshold.

"Prince Endymion," she opened her arms, "So lovely to see you," she hugged her future son-in-law, "You must be exhausted from the portal," she stepped back and clasped her hands in front of her.

He smiled warmly at Serenity, "I am fine, actually," he declared, and held out the rose. Serenity's lips curved into a smile as she took the flower. Endymion reached for her free hand, placing a kiss on her delicate skin. "How are you, princess?" his eyes stared into hers as his lips withdrew from the back of her hand.

Her flesh tingled from the tender contact. She brought the flower to her nose and inhaled its sweet perfume. She grinned once more before heading towards a vase set between the thrones and placed it carefully amongst the other cheerful blooms that brightened up the chamber. "I am well," she responded and turned around, "How is Earth?" she walked towards him, her long tresses catching the breeze meandering its way through the open gallery looking out over the throne room's private garden.

"Much better," he cleared his throat, "Our people have managed to return to their daily lives," he stared at the marble floor then looked up to find Serenity standing before him. Her close proximity excited him, which brought him to change the subject, "Tierra is looking forward to the ball…"

Serenity grinned at the mention of the ball. "Since the war kept us all apart, I wanted to spend some time with everyone," she headed for the balcony then turned on her heel. She gestured for Endymion to follow.

They walked onto the balcony and looked over the grand city. She pointed to the banners as they ascended into the air. "They have been decorating this past week. My original plan was to have a quiet little party, but my mother turned it into an extravagant gala."

They shared a laugh, secretly enjoying one another's happiness. The laughter faded, and they rejoined Queen Selenity before the silence became awkward.

"Darling, I am traveling to Venus," the sudden outburst shocked all three of them; "It has been too long since I have seen some of my dear friends, and we are meeting on Venus."

Serenity and Endymion quickly glanced at each other then returned their attention to Selenity. She cupped her daughter's face then merged in an embrace.

"We all shall be attending your celebration, so do not worry, my beloved daughter," she moved to Endymion, hugging him as well, "I am surprised your father did not say anything," she rested her hands on his shoulders and smiled, "Well, I am off. Luna and Artemis are around here somewhere," the queen headed for the doorway, "Good-bye, my darling. Good-bye, Endymion," she waved and was gone. The sound of clicking heels ceased. Silence reverberated off the walls.

Serenity turned towards Endymion and paused for a moment. She inhaled and sighed, "Let us go take a stroll through the gardens shall we?"

Endymion exhaled and nodded nervously, "Yes, that sounds like a good idea."

The two royals walked along the marble path, passing rose bushes, fruit trees, and assorted other Lunarian plants. Birds flew from tree to tree, landing in their nests or upon a leafy branch. Little chirps sounded clarion calls to mothers to return home, and Serenity managed to capture the delightful sight of a mother bird and her babies and smiled in delight.

Serenity eyed the ground, counting her steps. She reached step forty-three before Endymion interrupted her thoughts. "So, midnight tonight you shall turn eighteen," he pronounced, breaking the spell, but the silence soon reasserted itself once more.

Coming from his lips, the thought was not so terrifying. His gentle voice made it seem pleasant enough. However, turning eighteen only meant more responsibilities, and that reality hit her once his voice stopped echoing within her head.

They reached the grand fountain that stood in the center of the garden. The crystal waters flowed down over its many levels then combined in a circular pool at its base. Serenity dipped her fingers in the refreshing water, letting the cool water splash on her arm.

Endymion took Serenity's hand in his and guided her to the nearby bench. The sudden pull on her arm surprised her and she almost lost her footing, and she tripped upon the jagged path. Endymion reacted quicker than lightning, catching her before she fell. Serenity gripped his toned arms, feeling the muscles contract beneath the layers of clothing.

She gazed into his dark orbs before clearing her throat. "Thank you," she regained her balance then walked towards the garden bench.

They sat in silence as their minds raced with all-too many thoughts. Endymion sighed, realizing he could not evade the inevitable. "Serenity, I care for you."

"What…?" Her head jolted to the right, staring at him to make sure that what she had thought she had heard wasn't her imagination. He noticed the perplexed expression on her sweet face and repeated himself, "I care for you so much," he looked away for the surprise in her eyes frightened him. He stared forward as he continued, "I not only care for you, but I love you."

Serenity gasped internally. She never really thought it would be possible for him to feel that way about her. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words did not form. Her feelings were so complex, and no words seemed to do them justice.

Endymion tore his gaze from the fountain and turned towards her. But before he could speak, Serenity began, "I keep thinking about when we must marry, and it still frightens me," she fiddled with the lace on her dress then took his hand, "but," her eyes met his and locked, "I am not frightened by the thought of spending the rest of my life with you. I am frightened by the thought that it will not be forever," Serenity pulled him forward, their lips meeting in a much needed and overdue kiss.

Serenity looked at her reflection, adjusting the bodice of her dress. She smiled at the success of her first strapless gown. The flowing material cascaded to the floor as the tiny crystals sparkled in the light. A silk ribbon was tied beneath her bust and its bow appeared at the back of the garment. She stepped into her white heels and struggled to clasp a gold bracelet. She slipped her pendant over her head then examined the complete look.

Endymion greeted his friends as they passed him in the hallway. "So, who are you escorting, Kasei," Endymion eyed the Martian girl, noticing the crest on her red gown.

"This is Joudama. She is a distant member of the royal family. We have been training together, lately," they shared a smile before Kasei placed a small kiss on her cheek, "How is Serenity? I have not seen her in a couple of weeks," he wrapped his arm around Joudama's waist as Endymion watched the couple closely.

He hesitated, finding the right words, "She…" he looked at his black shoes then up at Kasei, "She is great, really great," Kasei smiled and nodded then took his leave.

Endymion softly knocked on Serenity's door, about to ask how much longer, but the door opened.

There she stood in an extravagant ivory gown. The crystals caught the new light in the hallway, sparkling in Endymion's eyes. "It took me two days to make this dress…" she rambled about the details, only taking quick breaths in mid sentence.

Endymion grinned, listening to every word, then bestowed a kiss upon her soft cheek. The rosy princess brought a hand to her cheek as her lips curved into a smile. He held out his arm, and Serenity fell in step beside him. "Were you waiting long?" she knew the answer to the question, but she submitted to the small test.

"I do not mind waiting for you," his gaze moved to her face, "I would wait forever if I must."

Pleased with his answer, she squeezed his arm and rested her head on his shoulder.

King Aarde and Queen Selenity stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, waiting for the appearance of their son and daughter. Small talk ceased to hold the topic of Earth's recent defeat over Beryl and moved onto Endymion and Serenity's marriage.

"I thought my daughter would never reach this age," Selenity sipped her fruity drink.

Aarde nodded, drinking his beverage as well. "We have a large amount of planning to do," they shared a small chuckle before the marble door slowly opened. The ballroom fell into an instant hush as the couple made their way down the stairs.

Serenity smiled with each step, taking quick glances down so as not to lose her footing. Endymion held her hand tight, giving her the extra confidence to know that she was not going to stumble. With her final step, a big sigh of relief left Serenity's lungs. She looked up at Endymion who placed another kiss on her cheek.

It had been a while since she felt the warm sensation from someone's affection. The last time her stomach twisted with knots was with Koudanshi. Her mind wandered to thoughts of him only for a moment before Endymion reclaimed her full attention once again.

"Is something wrong?" they twirled around the dance floor, swirling through the mass of people.

She looked up, confused by his question, "What do you mean?"

They followed the traditional dance, circling around one another before Endymion dipped her. "You have been quite absent-minded the whole night," he raised her from the dip, bringing her close.

She questioned 'the whole night' as she twirled out then back in towards him.

"Yes, the night is almost through, and you've barely said three words to me," he gripped her waist, lifting her into the air and making a complete turn. Once he set her down, he took her hands in his and stared into her blue orbs, "Have I done something wrong?"

"No, of course not."

The moment her mind focused on Koudanshi it was not just a moment but also a few hours.

The dance soon ended, and the quiet applause swept over the crowd. Endymion guided Serenity off the dance floor and offered her a drink. She nodded as she finished the small glass of water.

"Are you sure everything is all right?" he placed the two glasses on a nearby table.

Before she could answer, they were approached by Thor and Venus. "Serenity!" Venus hugged her dear friend as Thor shook Endymion's hand, "I adore your gown. It is so beautiful!" the soon-to-be queen of Venus examined the dress, touching a few crystals on its flowing skirts.

A newfound energy entered Serenity's body, and she answered with spirit, "It only took me two days."

Venus gasped at her statement, appreciating the dress even more. She nudged Thor, interrupting his conversation with Endymion, "Thor; Serenity made this in two days."

He looked at the dress, "You look stunning," he said sincerely before talking to Endymion once more.

"Are things going well between you and Endymion?" Her expression seemed concerned, knowing of the unhappiness Serenity had once experienced with Endymion.

Serenity looked over at the subject of their conversation, smiling to herself, "Yes, things are much better."

But that's not what Venus wanted to hear so she asked, "Do you love him?"

The question surprised her, forgetting at one point she did not love him. "Yes, I do, and he loves me, too," Serenity pulled Venus towards her in a conspiratorial gesture, whispering, "This is different from the love I had with Kasei," she stepped back, finishing, "in a good way."

Venus stood silent, ultimately surprised by her statement.

Thor and Endymion joined the two girls, "V, care to dance?" Thor held out his hand.

Small tears formed as she took Thor's hand, "I am so happy for you," they left for the dance floor, leaving Endymion thinking she was crying because of the dress.

Serenity wiped her mind free of Koudanshi. He was a remnant of the past; she had to remember that. She loved Endymion, and she could not fight it. "I am a little tired from tonight's festivities. That is the reason I have been acting strangely," she finally answered.

"Oh, I can escort you back to your room if you would like," he suggested, taking a few steps towards the staircase.

She waved her hands, "No, no, no," she said, "Let's go somewhere a little more private; it is too noisy in here," she grabbed his hand and weaved through the crowd, taking him to the terrace. She closed the glass doors, sealing off the sounds of the party.

Endymion gripped the marble railing as he watched the stars sparkle. His eyes traveled through the sky until he saw earth.

Serenity noticed his expression change and related to the love one has for their home planet. She cleared her throat, bringing his attention back to her. "It is a far more beautiful sight in my room," she hinted.

He grinned at the suggestion as she grasped his hand. They walked down the few steps to the garden and followed the path. Serenity found the lighted window and stopped. Serenity began gathering her dress and held it above her knee. She turned her back towards Endymion and asked, "Can you untie the ribbon?" she moved her hair to one side as Endymion fiddled with the silk material. She tied her skirt and moved towards the wall.

Endymion noticed the green vines growing up the palace wall then put it all together, "You wish to climb?" he questioned as Serenity gripped a vine.

"Yes, now, come on!" she planted one foot on the wall and then the other, and she began climbing up the palace wall. She stopped after a few steps to see that Endymion was only watching. "Endymion, what are you waiting for?"

He refrained from watching any longer and grabbed a vine. He lifted his feet up against the wall and followed suit. He soon caught up with Serenity, slowing his pace. He looked up, stealing a glance beneath her skirts. His eyes moved away as his face warmed.

Serenity leapt onto the small balcony, immediately untying the ribbon and letting her skirts fall. She walked into her room and checked her appearance in the mirror. She noticed her disheveled hair and strived to fix her wind-blown tresses.

Endymion jumped clear of the vine onto the balcony. He lost his footing and stumbled, but quickly regained his composure as Serenity returned.

"Do you not agree?" she pointed to Earth, but his eyes remained on Serenity. She offered a meek smile, allowing her arm to fall by her side, "This is a better view of Earth," she reminded both herself and Endymion of the purpose of sneaking to her room, but shoved it to the back of their minds.

The soft glow of the stars' radiance reflected off Serenity's porcelain skin, tempting Endymion to touch her heavenly flesh. He reached for her face as she took a step forward. His thumb rubbed her delicate cheek, and she took another step. She stared into his eyes, seizing the moment where she looked into his soul.

She sighed deeply, realizing the truth within her own heart, "I am bewildered at how quickly I fell in love with you," she leaned into his hand, closing her eyes and sighing once more.

The enticement heightened, and Endymion leaned forward, placing his lips upon hers.

A sweet emotion overcame the princess. She melted into the kiss and offered her own passion. Her arms wrapped their way around his neck as his hands found themselves on her waist.

She giggled for his hands touched a sensitive spot. She pulled back, still smiling, "Please forgive me," she chuckled, "I am slightly ticklish there," he did not move his hands, resulting in more laughter.

She grasped his hands, taking them off her hips. He smiled and watched her slowly recover. "I now know one of your weaknesses," his devilish smirk curved Serenity's lips.

"You wouldn't use it against me, now would you?" she placed her hand on his chest as her free hand twisted a strand of his dark mane.

The light joke turned into a sensual position. She looked up, finding his dark orbs staring down at her. She bit her bottom lip before sliding her hands down his chest. She focused on the Gaean emblem on his vest, hoping to occupy her mind.

Endymion placed a finger beneath her chin, bringing her eyes to his. The glossy surface revealed Serenity's inner thoughts. He offered a smile of comfort before wrapping his arms around her small frame. "I know you will be ready the night of our wedding, you mustn't worry, my koishii," he lowered onto her soft lips, kissing her sweetly.

She smiled, breaking the kiss, and placed her hands on the sides of his face. Her fingers moved against the smalls hairs, prickling them. "I love you, Endy," and she resumed the kiss.

It was Serenity's eleventh day of being eighteen, and she had not heard one detail about the upcoming marriage. She strolled down the hallway, smiling to servants as they passed. She peeked into the library, but found no one. She made her way to the terrace, and quickened her pace once hearing voices.

She grinned as she approached her mother, Luna, and Artemis, but it soon faded. The thin air smelled of tragedy and weeping echoed in her ears, even though the only sound was a bird's chirping.

All three faced Serenity as their expressions struggled to change.

"What is it?" she looked at Luna and Artemis who remained silent and then to her mother, "Mama, what is wrong?"

Queen Selenity gripped her daughter's shoulders. Squeezing them gently, she breathed in, "We received a letter from King Poseidon and QueenAmphitrite…" she paused, trying to look for the right words, "…Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto have been pushed out of orbit by an unknown force," Serenity gasped, bringing her hands to her mouth, "Neptune was the only one who managed to send a message out. They said that the portraits are not operational, and we are lucky if we receive the message entirely.

Serenity stepped back as she attempted to grasp the gravity of this news. She stared forward as her mind searched for a reaction. Shock plastered over her face and she refrained from expressing emotion. She finally looked to her mother asking, "Do the others know?"

Artemis nodded while Luna explained, "They should have received the news by now."

Serenity turned around, placing her hands upon her head. She breathed in deeply then exhaled, bringing her arms to her side. "Can we do anything?"

The long silence answered her question, and she stormed to the Moon Gallery.

A soft glow illuminated the Gaean Portrait Hall. Endymion stopped in mid-stride as he pondered the identity of the visitor. He watched the brilliant light fade and saw the silhouette materialize.

Serenity immediately noticed Endymion's presence and bolted into his arms. Her quiet sobs heightened as she released all her sadness. He squeezed her gently as he rocked her from side-to-side. He placed several kisses upon her head as her tears continued to stream down her face.

She gasped for breath as she searched for the correct words, "Endymion…the outers…" she struggled with each word. Her voice shook, and Endymion hushed her, stroking her tresses.

"There is nothing we can do," he stared into her glossy orbs as small tears escaped her delicate golden lashes.

She buried her face into his chest as her crying continued.

"It was an unknown force?" Endymion leaned his elbows upon his thighs as his mind searched for some type of explanation.

Serenity nodded as she fingered her star pendant. She stared at the golden locket, smiling as she remembered the sweet memories that came with it. Her vision soon blurred, but she attempted to contain herself, "My mother also said there was nothing that could be done."

Endymion looked at her, but she continued to stare at her pendant. He reclined against the couch, clasping his hands behind his head. He sighed, closing his eyes before speaking, "We must stay strong," he said, reassuringly, as he heard Serenity sniffle, and brought his attention to her, taking her hand, "They are still alive, Sere. They are just farther away," his poor example of a smile only saddened Serenity more, leading to more choked back tears.

"First, we lose Dorian, and now we lose our entire Outer District," she fell into his arms, weeping once more into his chest, "Can't our universe have a time of peace?"

~*~.

Serenity stood on a wooden stool, surrounded by walls of mirrors. Her arms lifted parallel to the floor as the seamstress focused on the bust of the dress. She stared at herself in the mirror, losing her thoughts to a daydream.

The seamstress disappeared, and she stood alone. Endymion approached her slowly with a red rose, taking her hand and placing a small kiss upon it. She smiled sweetly as she placed a hand against his smooth cheek. But, her hand was snatched by another man—a masked man. Koudanshi took her hand, placing it upon his chest. His mouth formed "I love you," but his silken voice did not honor her ears. He handed her a golden rose as he stood beside Endymion. She stared at the two roses before her daydream ended.

"All I must do is sew the detailing on, my princess," Serenity paused before nodding and slipping off the garment.

The seamstress left for her workstation as Queen Selenity entered. She received a bow from the worker before aiding her daughter with the ties.

Queen Selenity broke the silence, "Darling, it has been four months since the discovery of the Outers dilemma. Does it continue to trouble you?" she pulled the material together to form a bow before turning her daughter towards her.

Serenity stared at the crystal tiles before moving her eyes to her mother, "I still dream of the days I was on Earth…" Selenity listened as she continued, "I have not adapted to being on the Moon again yet…" Serenity smiled before taking her mother's hands in hers, "…that's all," Serenity placed a kiss upon her cheek before heading towards the door, "I am off to meet with the others."

Queen Selenity wished her good-bye, noticing her mood taking a complete 365-degree turn.

Serenity stepped out of the portrait as she grabbed someone's hand for balance. She thanked him as she looked at his face, but her eyes tricked her. It was Koudanshi. She gasped and blinked several times before his face was now that of Endymion's.

"Serenity, what is wrong?" he placed his hands on her shoulders, gripping them tight.

She caught her breath before answering, "Oh, nothing. I was not expecting you to be here so soon," she laughed it off before joining the others outside.

The royals greeted one another with the traditional hugs and kisses before heading towards the horses.

The group assumed their mounts before Jupiter gave instructions, "We shall be traveling to the Celestial Hills…"

Confusion swept over Serenity. The Celestial Hills were on Earth…

"…Nature had taken its course over the land but we have fixed the area. My dear brother found its location," Jupiter gestured towards Thor before signaling everyone to follow.

Hooves stamped upon the ground, leaving a messy trail from the palace all the way to the Hills.

Endymion gazed at the gentle rolling Hills. Confusion swept over him in that moment. The Celestial Hills were on Earth…

His sense of disorientation soon passed as he dismounted and joined the others as they strolled up the largest of the hills. He remained behind everyone , watching the exchange of laughter along with secret glances. He directed his own surreptitious gazes toward Serenity as she did him. The princess blushed as she strategically left her group to join Endymion.

"These hills are as beautiful as Earth's," she commented, grabbing his hand. Endymion graced the ground with his charming smile, embarrassed by the small sign of affection.

The brilliant sun stretched over the hills, warming the cool strands of grass. Small circles formed—one down the hill and another around the Martian emblem.

"Mother used the take us here almost everyday…" Jupiter recalled.

"That was until the war," Thor commented, leaving the group suspended in an uneasy quiet.

Kasei quickly added, "Thank the gods it ended before too many lives were lost."

The young royals spent the whole day at the scenic hills. Several Moons now took the place of the sun and lent as much light as possible. Kasei and Mars formed a fire giving more light and much needed warmth. Serenity and Endymion nuzzled together, creating their own warmth.

Discussions continued around the circle, ranging from married life to politics. Serenity rested against Endymion's chest, slowly drifting to sleep. But before her dreams could begin, she was shaken awake, but not by Endymion. She sat up, placing her hand on her forehead. She felt heat exude from her crescent as images immediately entered her mind.

"The Palace is being attacked," she whispered, only audible to Endymion.

"What? Sere, what did you say?"

Kasei and Mars shared a quick glance before jumping to their feet, "We have to go back to the palace!" Mars said as fire emitted from her palms.

"The palace is under attack!" Kasei started running down the hill.

Thor and Jupiter looked at one another, doubting the Martians. "We can see the palace from here, and it seems fine," Jupiter stood, keeping her eyes on the palace.

"I see mass chaos and panic consuming the palace…" Each word had the same inflection; Serenity spoke as if possessed.

Endymion rushed to her side, "Serenity!" he shook her gently, hoping to bring her out of the trance, "Serenity!" he called her name until she finally regained her sense of normalcy.

She wavered, falling into Endymion's arms and touching her crescent once more. This time a blanket of sparkling white dust covered her body. She opened her mouth to speak, and Jupiter bolted to her side. She stole Serenity from Endymion's arms and shook her violently, scaring the others. "Serenity! What else do you see!" Jupiter screamed as if the transformation burdened Serenity's hearing.

Serenity's blue eyes were swallowed up by a sea of white dust. She turned her face towards Jupiter — her "eyes" staring directly into those of the other woman.

"Queen Moshtari is injured…" Thor began shouting orders to the other men as Venus ran to Jupiter's side.

"King Jove is-" Serenity stopped abruptly, with no intention of finishing her sentence.

Jupiter collapsed onto the cool grass as Venus tried to break her fall. The white dust lifted from Serenity's body, fading into the night sky. She fell to her knees, vomiting. Endymion held her long locks back as she coughed and wiped her mouth, "Jupiter, I am so sorry," she wobbled to her feet, holding Endymion's arm for support.

The palace seemed unharmed as they approached the colossal oak doors. Thor busted open the doors to find…nothing. It appeared as if no attack had occurred. Thor turned on his heels and headed towards Serenity. He gripped her by the throat with the slightest effort, for if he placed any significant pressure upon the princess, it would crush her windpipe in an instant. "What an act you put on for us…" everyone stood shocked as Thor smashed her back against the wall, "…Must you always be the center of attention." Serenity gasped for air, with no success. Endymion was about to prepare to throw a punch, but Thor stopped him, "If you do anything, she will not live," Thor left it at that. Serenity attempted to speak, but Thor applied more pressure.

Jupiter left the scene, searching for proof. She entered the hallway to find her mother sitting against the wall with a massive pool of blood surrounding her. Moshtari faintly smiled as Jupiter guessed that she had lost almost a half jug of blood from her wound. "Mother!" was all that fell from Jupiter's lips, "W-W-What happened?" she tore a piece of cloth from her gown and hastily dressed the wound, winding the material around her side.

"Shadows…there were so many of them," she strained for a deep breath, "It was so…sudden. There was…no time," she winced, setting her head against the wall.

"Where is father?"

Moshtari stared at her daughter. She hesitated, hoping Death would take her before she had to explain. Jupiter repeated herself, causing Moshtari to look the other way. It seemed as if Death would not come until after, "Look in the library if you must." Jupiter ran for the next doorway, looked inside, and cried out in shock.

There he was.

He hung from the chandelier with his lightning sword shoved through his chest. Jupiter brought her hand to her mouth as tears blurred her vision, of which she was oblivious. She ran back to her mother, hoping for more details. "Who did this?"

Moshtari's short breaths became infrequent. She touched her daughter's face saying, "I love you."

Jupiter stormed from the hallway and towards Thor. She charged across the room throwing the table in the middle of the room aside. Sparks flew from her fingertips before actual bolts materialized. As she screamed, a wave of lightning struck Thor—only Thor. He lost his grip upon Serenity and she ran to Endymion. Thor turned to face Jupiter who was inches away from him. "What is the matter with you?"

She grabbed his shoulders, sending wave after wave of electricity through his body. "You fool! Serenity was telling the truth, and if you had not wasted your time attacking her, mother might still be alive!" She sent one last wave of energy before wiping her brow. "You fool…," she repeated, as if the gods would forgive Thor's stupidity and revive Moshtari.

Everyone stared at the Royal family of Jupiter, shocked, scared, and sympathetic. Serenity approached the enraged princess, placing a delicate hand on her shoulder, "Jupiter," she turned to Serenity with tears streaming down her pink cheeks, "we shall take care of everything…" they collapsed into an embrace while Serenity continued, "You two can stay at the Moon palace for as long as you would like." Jupiter pulled back, offering a faint smile before bursting into tears once more.

The funeral was no longer the main discussion point. As time slipped by, gossip soon switched back towards the much-anticipated wedding of the millennium, to lift the spirits of the people and royal families of the alliance. Queen Selenity helped bring the focus back to the event by throwing another marvelous ball for the future king and queen of the Silver Millennium.

Luna stood behind the princess as they both gazed at her fancy handiwork. "Luna, you have outdone yourself as usual."

It looked like the traditional Lunarian gown, only the accent color was silver instead of gold. The silver streaks beginning to appear in Serenity's hair were now more noticeable.

She hugged her second mother and kissed her quickly before running to meet Endymion at the grand staircase.

Endymion straightened his emblem while he waited for Serenity. He stared down at his shiny black shoes before hearing the clicking of Serenity's heels. He greeted her with quick passionate kiss — no matter how impossible it was to keep it brief. They heard the man announce them as the double doors slowly opened.

The couple strolled down the staircase as everyone stopped their conversations to acknowledge their entrance. Serenity loosely gripped Endymion's arm and smiled at her mother instead of the floor.

Fifty-seven steps later, they greeted Queen Selenity before scanning the room to find their friends.

Queen Selenity noticed them searching amongst the guests and approached them. "My dears, the Inner royals will not be here tonight," she received a confused look, "Our communication has failed, and the portraits are not working as well."

Serenity and Endymion glanced at one another before Endymion said, "I just used the portal to get here tonight."

"The Gaean portrait seems to be the only one functional, but I have not seen your father yet…"

"He said he wanted to stay on Earth and try to fix some problem…I guess he was talking about the communication problem."

Serenity joined the conversation, "What do you think caused it, Mama?"

Selenity shrugged, "It might be caused by an abnormal alignment of the planets…or even a sudden meteorite shower…I am not sure." She kept her tone light, hoping not to worry the two young monarchs or herself, for that matter.

Serenity nodded and said a quick goodbye as Endymion swept her onto the dance floor. Queen Selenity watched the couple with a smile as she sipped a glass of water.

A sweet melody sang through the room as Serenity glided across the floor with the help of Endymion. He held her close, placing his hand on the small of her back and the other upon her shoulder blade. They swayed as the song continued with a periodical dip thrown in now and then. Serenity rested her head upon his firm chest, letting Endymion know she wished to remain in that position for some time to come.

During the celebrations, the future heirs to the Silver Millennium found themselves consumed with passion in Serenity's chambers. Their lips remained locked until their lungs were deprived of oxygen. Serenity pulled back, panting quick and hard. Her chest rose and fell at an extreme rate, exciting Endymion. He ripped open his shirt before lying upon Serenity.

Her knees touched his broad shoulders as she dug her fingernails into his toned back. His lips traveled over her clavicles before meeting her defined cleavage. His mind signaled him to stop. Serenity's eyes opened, wondering why the abrupt halt. Her moaning ceased, and she realized the passion was slowly slipping away.

She quickly tried to solve the problem, "Endymion, keep going," she placed a hand on his cheek, hoping he would interpret the gesture as a sign to continue.

Endymion knelt back, causing Serenity's knees to fall. He looked away — almost ashamed of his actions. Serenity cleared her throat before pulling her skirts over her knees and moving to sit beside him.

She set her head upon his shoulder as she rubbed his chest in a soothing motion, "Endymion…what is troubling you?" she placed a tiny kiss on his shoulder before placing her head upon his shoulder again.

"I…" he sighed, "We should not be doing this," he stood up from the edge of the bed as he searched for a button on his shirt before realizing he had torn them off. He turned his back on Serenity, embarrassed by his actions, "I shall return to Earth…" he muttered and moved towards the door.

"Endymion…" she extended her arm then repeated his name.

He stood in the doorway gripping its frame. His hands fell to his sides as he turned around to face her. His eyes gazed upon the goddess sitting before him. He stepped forward and offered a goodnight kiss, denying every urge in his body the full pleasure of her love.

"I think it is best I return to Earth…," he said reluctantly as he began to tie up his shirt.

He left Serenity speechless on the bed.

Endymion stepped through the portal as the sun pierced the void and shone its first rays upon the Moon.

He stepped from the portrait to find the gallery destroyed. The roof was completely absent along with the wall parallel to the pictures. He immediately reached for his sword, unsheathed it, and assumed a defensive stance. He stepped over rubble, losing his balance for only a moment.

The sun remained hidden on Earth; thick, black clouds consumed the once sapphire sky. He slowly walked around the palace, hugging the outside walls. He saw bodies lying everywhere. He stopped at the ones bearing the Gaean emblem. He placed his two fingers on their wrists, hoping to feel a pulse.

Not one out of the thirty men he checked owned a pulse.

He continued his way, searching for any clues to who had attacked or was still attacking his home world. He made it to what had once been the throne room. His stomach sickened at what he discovered. This was all too familiar. Footsteps brought his mind back with just enough time to hide. He knelt behind what remained of his father's throne — sword still in hand. He heard an ear-shattering, annoying cackle and instantly recognized it.

He watched the four commanders enter the room — Zoicite the first to enter, "The princess must be hiding somewhere," he said as he cleaned his blade with his handkerchief, "We would know if she used a portal."

Nephrite was the next to enter with a bandage wrapped around his thigh — it was soaked entirely with blood. He bent over, took the piece of cloth in his back pocket, and tended to his wound.

Jadeite flipped his black crystal in the air, "I cannot believe that pathetic king actually injured you," he caught the crystal in his open palm, holding back a burst of laughter, "If it were not for my lovely crystal, he might have severed your leg," the lowly general laughed, the sound tinted with ferocity.

Endymion's heart wrenched. His stomach clenched in agony.

Nephrite stood up, jerking his hair behind his shoulders. "There is no honor in slaying an opponent with the crystal," his voice held no inflection, insult, or hate. Nephrite let the statement seep into Jadeite's psyche, knowing it would cause frustration later.

Jadeite shrugged it off as Kunzite passed by him. "Gentleman, the queen is not happy."

Zoicite groaned, "Is Her Majesty ever?" Sarcasm and mockery lined his words, making him flinch once he finished his statement. But no thunder or lightning followed his comment.

Kunzite made no memory of his statement before continuing, "Endymion has returned from the Moon. We must find both Tierra and Endymion and kill them. The queen—"

"Generals!" Everyone turned towards the guard, "We have the princess."

Endymion felt the color drain from his face.

Tierra sat on her bloody knees, disregarding the pebbles and dirt in her wounds. She decided to stop tugging the chains around her wrists. She barely had enough strength to sit up. A guard stood either side of her. She sneezed, trying to cover her mouth with her shoulder. The guard on her left said, "Excuse you." She thanked him, resulting in the other guard backhanding her. She fell silent, knowing that saying anything would lead to more pain — her manners had gotten the best of her. The courteous guard stood appalled…internally.

Kunzite entered the small chamber, snickering at the sight of the princess, "My dear, how long did you think you could hide from us?"

She opened her mouth to speak but the guard stopped her by hitting her once more. She fell onto her side, bruising her shoulder upon the marble floor as blood escaped from the corner of her mouth.

Nephrite entered the room followed by Zoicite. The two generals stood beside Kunzite and all three watched the princess of Earth struggle to sit up. Zoicite chuckled, hoping Nephrite could not hear.

Tierra turned her head to one side, spitting a clot of blood from her mouth, aiming for the guard's shoes. The blood sprayed on his boots, and Tierra was then forced onto her back. She grunted from the immense push, coughing up more blood. Her legs remained motionless along with her arms. Movement was pointless she decided.

Jadeite joined the generals and hovered over the bloody mess. "I guess I will not have to put my crystal to work," he looked at the others, sharing a laugh with himself.

But Tierra silenced his laughter by quickly swiping his feet from beneath him. The general tumbled to the floor, leaving Zoicite hysterical. He hastily rose to his feet, red with anger and embarrassment. He clenched his crystal, producing a black aura around his fist.

Kunzite lifted his hand, creating a shield around the princess. "Jadeite," he looked at Kunzite, "we need information, and she has it," Kunzite watched Jadeite retreat from Tierra and stand behind him.

"Do not be foolish…" Zoicite piped in.

Jadeite raised his fist before Nephrite gripped his wrist, "Yes…" he forced Jadeite's arm down, "do not be foolish." Zoicite dared to laughed, but Nephrite sent a glare his way, silencing his chuckling.

Kunzite released the shield and took three steps forward, "Princess, if you cooperate…" Kunzite circled her, "we will kill you fast."

He blocked Tierra's rebuttal with the shield—her bloody spit glided down the shield. With a wave of his hand, the shield disappeared once more. She winced as she landed on her knees. "You will not get anything from me," her lungs strained to receive enough oxygen with each breath, "I will not talk."

Nephrite rolled his eyes as Zoicite folded his arms after listening to her. "Is it really necessary for her to be alive?" Zoicite whined.

Kunzite turned his head towards the source of complaint, "Silence!"

Zoicite stepped backward, stunned by his harshness.

Kunzite continued, "Do not make this difficult," his voice dripped with threat.

Endymion was perched upon a nearby column. He managed to find one close to Tierra that was not damaged. He clasped his sword's handle, keeping it at the ready. He watched the scene play out below him, resisting the temptation to jump down and kill the four men where they stood.

Tierra coughed, wiping her bloody palm on her tattered gown. "I would cooperate if you would have kept our agreement…" she coughed again, wheezing as she caught her breath.

"Your pathetic father did not honor the agreement," Nephrite said, barely audible.

Jadeite chimed in, "Yes, your father is to blame!" He took a couple steps only to be pushed back by Nephrite.

"Princess Tierra, you can still save your brother…" he knelt in front of her, lowered his voice, and went over the agreement once more.

Endymion leaned forward, trying to hear Kunzite. He shifted his weight too far, causing the pillar to tip over. The marble column smashed into the floor, bringing all eyes to Endymion.

Zoicite was the first to comment, "How lovely. He is here to save his sister," he cackled as his body transformed to flower petals and disappeared.

Nephrite unsheathed his sword as he advanced towards Endymion. "You cannot save her," he slashed Endymion's thigh, slicing the first layer of skin.

Endymion struck Nephrite on the back of the head with the hilt of his silver sword, knocking the general to the floor. Endymion continued running, evading Jadeite's attack from his black crystal. Endymion took a red rose from his cloak and threw it at Jadeite. Jadeite pulled the rose from his neck, ripped a piece of cloth from his jacket, and applied pressure to the wound.

Endymion, undeterred, rushed towards Kunzite and Tierra. He speedily threw multiple roses at Kunzite. The lead general eluded each rose before twisting Tierra's wrists behind her back. Endymion stopped a rose in mid-air. It lingered an inch from Tierra's nose before dropping to the floor.

"Your sister has made an agreement with us, and she must keep her part of the deal," he said, wrapping his free hand around her slender neck, choking her.

"Kunzite, stop!" Endymion yelled as he extended his arm.

"Tierra, you know the consequences of your actions," he squeezed her neck, "do you wish to disregard our accord?" his face remained close to hers as she gasped for breath, trying to answer him.

"Yes…"

Kunzite let her body fall to the floor. "She is all yours," a white aura began to consume him, "but first…" he took his laser sword and shoved it into her chest, twisting it before he completely vanished.

Endymion rushed to his sister's side and collapsed upon his knees. He gently placed her head on his lap—tears forming as her body shivered as he moved her. "Tierra—"

She put a finger to his lips, "Wait…you have to stop them," her lungs complaining at the absence of air by making her cough, "th-the agreement…" she gasped, tears escaping her eyes, "you have to stop them," she repeated.

"What was the deal?" he wiped blood and tears from her face as she fought to speak.

"I had to deliver Serenity to the Dark Kingdom in order to save the rest of the universe." Her body quivered with each word she spoke, "If I did not come through, they swore they would kill you, father and the rest of the royal families of the Silver Millennium." She fought for breath, but soon knew she would lose the battle, "I am so sorry…" she stared into her brother's dark blue eyes before Death robbed her amber eyes of life.

After his deep moment of mourning, he rushed to the Gallery. He needed to warn someone - anyone. As he turned the corner to enter the chamber, a blade swiped at his chest, slicing the first layer of clothing. Kunzite stood tall, smiling as he saw skin slowly become exposed from the slash.

"End this while you are still ahead, Prince of Earth," he snickered, "Our plan has been put in action for years now..."

They paced around each other. Kunzite's laser swords shined bright—almost blinding Endymion. The two soldiers remained defensive, waiting for the other to attack.

Kunzite grew impatient, ending the silence by slashing one sword at Endymion. The laser missed its target, purposefully, and ricocheted off the frame of the Venusian portrait and plummeted into Endymion's shoulder blade.

He fell to one knee, grabbing his shoulder. He was in immense pain. He groaned, steadying himself on both knees. Kunzite stopped, appreciating his good aim. "I guess you wish to make this difficult for yourself," he tossed his other sword in the air. It flipped several times before the handle landed in his palm.

Endymion dragged himself to his feet and assumed a battle stance. Sweat formed on his brow and began to fall down his cheek as blood streamed down his back. He closed his eyes, focusing all his energy on the actions he was about to perform, "I guess your queen does not know when to stay down," he looked up, his dark eyes now intense with a mixture of emotions. He ran towards Kunzite, yelling with rage, and pushed him through a portal.

They landed on Mercury. Kunzite rolled onto his feet, regaining some composure. He flicked his snowy hair behind his shoulder as his eyes refocused.

Endymion stood motionless. Mercury was also in ruins. The once sparkling blue waterfalls were now brown. He looked to the ice lands that appeared to be one giant puddle. He stared at Kunzite in puzzlement, "How...When..." he stopped, he needed to think out his questions before opening his mouth, "How long ago did you invade?" he listened to the distant cries and screams, wincing in pain for all those who dared not show pain.

Kunzite examined the planet, not recognizing it. He turned around, trying to imagine the palace that used to stand within the smoky city. "This was our first invasion after the Outer District," Kunzite reminded himself, "We have been here for..." he sighed, trying his best to recall, "We have been here for...for almost three months now..." he went over it in his mind, nodding at the recollection.

Endymion stood motionless. Mercury has been in ruins for three months... it didn't make sense. Why did they not say anything?

"If they spoke of our presence here, we would have killed their Royal family," he sneered, "That seems to keep them quiet long enough for us to kill them."

Endymion jumped towards Kunzite with pure hate driving his attack. His sword barely missed Kunzite's neck by the shortest of margins. The smooth general slithered passed his attacks and countered them easily. Another laser sword materialized out of his palm, and he threw it at the wounded prince. Endymion evaded the blade. On its return, he removed the first laser from his shoulder, releasing a flow of fresh blood. Wincing as he reached under his cape and took out four roses. Kunzite deflected the first of these, flicking them into the distance. Before Endymion could attack with the remaining two roses, Kunzite pushed him through another portal.

Endymion kicked the general off and jumped to his feet. He quickly examined his surroundings before blocking another attack. Their quick footing kicked up red dust, irritating both their eyes. They stepped away from each other, taking a moment to refocus. "You have Mars as well?"

Kunzite flipped his sword in the air once again, catching its hilt firmly in his left hand. "Prince Endymion!" He looked at the ground and kicked up more dust then vanished before reappearing behind Endymion. "All but the Moon have been invaded and conquered..." he placed his sword at Endymion's neck, burning his skin slightly from his close proximity, "Selenity is the only living monarch of the Silver Alliance, and of course, you and little miss princess of the Moon are the only royal heirs left alive."

Endymion elbowed the general, escaping his grip. A red rose left his fingers and flew towards Kunzite. It pierced the Shitennou's chest, but it did not reach his skin, only embedding itself in his armor. Kunzite laughed at his pathetic attack. "It will take more than your pitiful roses to save your precious Serenity," he removed the rose and threw it to the ground.

Endymion's mind flew into a panic. The Moon would soon be under attack. He was here fighting Kunzite. There was no time to hesitate—he needed to travel back to the Moon.

Serenity leaned against the railing as she stared out into the gardens. The beautiful Lunarian rose bushes were in bloom, spreading a sweet scent all the way to Serenity's balcony. She smiled as her mind drifted to thoughts of Endymion. His voice echoed in her mind as she imagined him before her. She pictured herself raising a hand to his cheek before a knock interrupted her waking fantasy.

"Serenity," Luna called through the door, "I have some news for you."

Serenity noticed the excitement in her voice and left her musings at the balcony so as to revisit them later. She hurried to the door and opened it, "Luna, come in," she immediately grinned after Luna's bright smile greeted her.

Luna took Serenity's hands in hers and guided her to the bed. The two sat on the bed, giggling — for what reason, Serenity did not know. She waited, knowing Luna would say in only a matter of seconds what had brought this on.

"I am pregnant."

Serenity's jaw dropped with tears soon destined to fall as well. The princess remained speechless as Luna continued, "Selenity has already made plans for a ball in celebration of the news for tonight," Serenity embraced the soon-to-be mother, opening her mouth to speak but Luna resumed, "I still have been unable to contact him on Venus…" she bowed her head, her bangs catching the light and turning from black to purple.

Serenity placed a hand on her shoulder. "There must be a celestial storm that is preventing communication," her tone lent, as much reassurance and support to the Mauan as she could muster, "Do not worry."

Luna lifted her head and met her dear princess's eyes, "Thank you."

Serenity found herself on her balcony once again that night. The ball still had many hours to go, but Serenity was ready to retire. She sighed, hoping she would feel better with fresh air in her lungs, but her mood remained unchanged. She leaned upon the crystal railing. She looked up into the Lunarian sky, seeing Earth nestled among the stars always lifted her spirits. She sighed — this time feeling better and decided to return to the party.

She made her way down the staircase, sliding her hand down the cold, smooth marble rail. She stopped, startled by a hand grabbing her own. "May I have this dance?"

She quickly turned, overjoyed to see the unexpected: Koudanshi. The masked man swept her onto the dance floor, twirling her all the way. He pulled her in close, and she rested her cheek upon his chest, reminiscing those occasions she would stay like that for hours.

"Koudanshi, why are you here?" she whispered — not really interested in the answer. She inhaled his scent, surprisingly recognizing it from someplace else. She sniffed again, but his answer distracted her.

"Our galaxy is under attack. The Moon is the only free planet," he placed a hand behind the small of her back, sending pulses through her body. He slowly dipped her, holding her low and whispered, "The Dark Kingdom plans to attack at any moment," he raised her torso, bringing her close once more, "You and your mother are in danger."

They stopped. Her emotions took a complete turn from love to fear. Her mind involuntarily thought of Endymion as she blurted, "I need Endymion."

His countenance was unreadable. Inside he was happy that she cared, but on the outside, he needed to remain unaffected. Serenity left his arms and ran to her mother's side, interrupting her conversation with Luna, "Mother, there is talk of a Dark Kingdom attack,"

They both turned to her in disbelief. Queen Selenity paused, trying to process the thought, "But...we defeated them so long ago..." she hesitated as the recent terrible turn of events began to make sense. "Luna, alert the Commander of the army; tell them to be ready to counterattack." Luna nodded and picked up her skirts as she ran across the ballroom and up the stairs.

Queen Selenity summoned her crystal, raising it out of its cradle. It hovered between her palms as she cleared her throat, "My dear Lunarians," she addressed. Her voice resonated throughout the hall, capturing the guests' attention, "I am afraid the celebration must be stopped early," she waited — panic never helped so she searched for the correct words, "I am issuing a standby order for our army. I need any available warrior to suit up and be prepared for an attack," fear spread through the crowd like a wave. Women gasped, some screaming as their men folk stood by them, comforting them with kisses and embraces. "We suspect the Dark Kingdom is about to lay siege to the Moon. Please, do not take this lightly," the panic level rose severely, but there was nothing to be done about that. Soon, Selenity needed more than her crystal to be heard, "I need everyone's cooperation. Go home and follow my orders — listen for the Tranquility Bell."

Massive fear hung over the people of the Moon. If it were not for Selenity's calming voice, the entire city would surrender to annihilation. In a matter of minutes, the streets were packed with soldiers, trained and untrained, one quality especially known in Lunarians—loyalty. This trait had helped the Moon win wars on several occasions, and this was going to be one that needed that spirit most.

Queen Selenity sat on her throne, resting her chin on her fist. Serenity paced back and forth, trying to form some sort of plan. Koudanshi stood in the throne room, debating whether he should stay or return as Endymion. He gazed at Serenity, admiring the woman she had become. Her gangly figure transformed into a strong, yet petite build. The princess's long, yellow locks now had flashes of silver intertwined; even her high cheekbones added to her womanhood. He smiled, basking in her beauty, as she approached him.

"Koudanshi," her voice did not have its usual sweetness, but was lined with newfound authority, "I have witnessed your expertise as a warrior, and it would make me very happy if you would stay and fight with our army," no smile followed. She gave him a moment to think, readying herself in case she needed to persuade him.

"Princess, I would gladly serve with your army, but as—"

It was now or never.

"Good. It pleases me to know that you will be fighting on our side," she quickly interjected, "Now, if you would excuse me." She hastily bowed, forgetting the man she once loved was standing before her, and went to her mother's side, "My dear mother, I must take part in this coming battle," as Selenity was about to disagree, she continued, "You will need my help…" she stared into her mother's anxious eyes, "…you know this."

Queen Selenity remained silent as she embraced her daughter. She pulled back, brushing the hair our of her daughter's eyes the way she did for her as a child. But Serenity wasn't a girl now, but a powerful woman, and she was proud of who and what she was becoming. Serenity smiled before heading for her chamber.

Koudanshi stood outside the doors to her bedchamber. The hallway was empty except for the masked hero. His head bowed — his eyes focused on some point on the floor as he clenched his hands behind his back. He heard no sound emerging from inside her room, giving him doubt that she was still there. A heavy sigh punctuated his mood as he looked up and raised a fist to the door. He faltered, undecided whether he should be there at all.

Suddenly, Koudanshi heard a slight struggle and immediately opened the door and unsheathed his sword. Once inside the chamber, his eyes dwelled on the scar presiding over her abdomen. His voice lost its function. He offered a hand, and she accepted. He lifted the woman to her feet as she tightened the silver belt that hung around her tiny waist.

It had been so long…"Seion?" he whispered—afraid that if he acknowledged her, she would disappear into the abyss.

She paused; Serenity was still in the same mindset. Not all the sweet memories flooded her mind until after they kissed.

Queen Beryl—her fiery red hair lay perfectly against her angular face — as she reclined against the cushioned black marble throne; her hands drifted around the crystal orb as four shimmers of light materialized before her.

Jadeite was the first to bow. He rested on one knee before rising as Nephrite, Kunzite, and Zoicite simply bowed their heads. Zoicite giggled and found himself elbowed in the ribs by Kunzite for his trouble.

"My dear queen—"

Her eyes opened revealing red irises, the sight ending Kunzite's statement. She slowly rose to her feet as her orb reattached itself to her staff.

She descended the short flight of steps, staff in hand and smirked, "It is finally time…" Zoicite looked to Kunzite, seeing shock on the face of his superior. Beryl gazed into her orb as she continued, "My power, and your own and that of our army has increased exponentially." So saying, four surges of black lightning left the orb, plummeting into the chests of the Shitennou.

Zoicite and Jadeite's stance faltered as Nephrite and Kunzite stood tall, the silver haired leader cleared his throat, "With this new power, we shall overcome the Moon with little resistance."

The smirk reappeared upon Beryl's face as a shadow formed behind her. "I have no doubts." The shadow grew with each passing second, soon reaching the ceiling. "Especially since some old friends have decided to help once more."

At the center of the shadow, seven crystals, ranging in color, shone through the darkness. The seven shadows that attacked the children of the galaxy all those years ago combined to make the ultimate warrior.

Beryl cackled as she transported her army to the Moon.

"Where…is…the princess?" Koudanshi asked between kisses.

She stopped undoing his armor as she tried to think of an answer. She pushed him down onto the bed. "She left to speak with her mother again," Serenity surprised herself at how well she lied, but then she remembered: it is not Serenity speaking, it is Seion.

She crawled over Koudanshi to finish taking off his armor. She struggled, indicating she needed him to assist her. Their fingers battled to untie his cape, shirt and belt. His simple white undergarments slightly exposed, yet his mask remained in tact as he turned Serenity on her back.

Endymion fiddled with Seion's silver belt before throwing it across the room. He placed a finger on the scar across her stomach. He outlined it, sending sensations up and down her spine. She arched her back, the action releasing more testosterone through his body. He hastily slid her black pants down, exposing her frilly white undergarments, and decided to leave them on. He placed his lips upon her abdomen, the texture of smooth, hot skin, silken and moist making his senses reel as her back was arched to its fullest extent. His lips made their way up her upper torso, colliding with more black material. He used his teeth to make a small tear then ripped her top in two, exposing more frilly white undergarments that soon joined the slew of clothing piled on the floor.

Serenity panicked. Her hood was the only thing hiding her crescent. Surely, if any more clothes came off, her identity would be discovered. She was fearful that her status would ruin the fantasy. She searched around the room while Koudanshi was preoccupied with her chest. She saw a mask she once wore at a ball some years ago. Her eyes fluttered as the sensations increased dramatically. She reached for the white mask with gold feathers and detailing on the nightstand beside her. She carefully slid herself towards her objective, hoping it would not disturb his actions. Her fingers skimmed the outline of it, but her arm soon dropped. She tried once more to reach for the mask and with a grunt of effort — easily mistaken for pleasure — she retrieved it.

Success! Serenity quickly pulled back her hood and put on the mask. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, she could now fully enjoy the road to ecstasy, moaning all the way.

Endymion returned to her lips, noticing the change in an instant, "New mask?" he smiled.

"Unfortunately," Seion commented.

Endymion questioned her response with words and expression.

Serenity paused from her animalistic desire and placed a hand on his cheek, "Will I ever see your face?" all hints of aggression left her tone.

Endymion sat up as guilt began to burden his thoughts. He sighed, "I imagined all this happening with our masks…on."

Serenity sighed in frustration as she removed herself from the bed, draping the sheets over her bare skin. "Koudanshi, I want to be with you — all of you!"

Endymion leaned against the headboard and stared at the bed, embarrassed to look her in the eye.

"It does not matter who you really are; I will still love you."

It was with those words her heart twinged with pain. She loved Endymion, too. Her mind reflected on her newfound happiness with Endymion, this thought causing her distress.

Endymion looked up after several moments of silence. He saw Seion standing at the end of the bed with a pondering expression adding to her alluring countenance. He moved closer to Seion, making the bed squeak. He sat at the end of the bed. He grabbed her hand and massaged her palm. "Seion, I will love you with or without your mask." He pressed his lips against her soft hand, hoping to recreate the rapturous mood. He released her hand — the temptation building once more. His lips covered her navel and gradually moved over her chest to her collarbone as he stood up and slowly drew her in front of the bed. She dropped the sheet around her petite body, the pool of linen at her feet, slid to the floor as a result of the tingling sensations overwhelming her senses. He placed a hand at the small of her back as he lowered her onto the bed.

Serenity positioned herself a little further on the bed. Her heels planted firmly on the edge of the bed as her thighs hugged Koudanshi's torso.

Endymion fixed his dark eyes on her oceanic ones, successfully removing all uncertainty from Seion's face. He kissed her forehead, "I suggest…" then her neck, "we finish the night…" then her shoulder, "with our masks…" then her breast, "on…" then near her ribs, "then afterwards…" then on her scar, "we shall…" then on her thigh, "reveal ourselves…" His hands began to press lower and lower, caressing her body in ways that had her melting with the wonder of him. "Is that all right?" He moved to the floor, on his knees as he kissed her tender inner thighs.

Serenity looked down, only finding Koudanshi's dark mane visible. She felt her undergarments slide over silken skin to her ankles before her back involuntarily arched again as she let out a series of yeses.

Endymion lifted her garments up before moving along her supple body, making his way back onto the bed. He crawled over her to gaze at her lovely face and wiped a thin layer of perspiration from her brow. "I am glad you agree," he laughed, pressing his lips against hers before she could respond.

Serenity flipped Koudanshi onto his back, surrendering to the sudden desire driving her to claim him. Serenity panted as she straddled him. Catching her breath, she realized Koudanshi was still partly clothed. She lifted an eyebrow, making his lips curve once more. She stood at the end of the bed with her hands on her hips. She gripped his pants and slipped them off. She gestured for him to move up, and he obeyed. She crawled seductively over his responsive body, keeping her eyes locked with his as she removed his undergarments.

Endymion pushed his head back into the mattress. He felt her soft yellow hair before banging his fist on a nearby pillow. His sounds were not loud even though his mind, among other things, wished to explode.

Seion slid her body against his—Endymion noticing the frilly barrier. She sat upon his chest, playing with his black locks as his hands explored her chest once more.

Serenity's head reclined as she placed her hands on his. Once Koudanshi had his fill, she looked down and placed her palms upon his chest. She lowered her lips to his as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Koudanshi fingered the undergarment, hinting Serenity take care of it. She carefully stood up, lifting each leg out of them and dropped them casually on the floor. She returned to her position as they listened to each other's erratic breathing. A smile crept on Koudanshi's face before Serenity nodded in agreement.

Serenity lowered herself, and they began to make love.

Queen Beryl overlooked the city. She glared at the palace, envious of its enormity. She turned to face her troops and nodded her head in satisfaction, knowing the number of men was massive. "Kunzite!"

The snow-haired general hurried to her side.

"Did all fifty thousand men transport?"

"Yes, my lady," he answered, giving the men courage with his raised fist.

Beryl smirked, exposing one of her fangs. "In a few moments, we shall attack," she turned towards him, "ready the troops." He bowed his head before rejoining the other generals.

"Jadeite, you're with the eastern troops," Kunzite pointed to their location and Jadeite ran to join the men. "Nephrite, you are head of the southern men," Nephrite made his way towards them. "And Zoicite, you will lead the western division."

Zoicite remained stationary. Kunzite furrowed his brow before repeating himself. Zoicite remained motionless.

Kunzite leaned in, "Zoicite, what is the matter?" he whispered angrily.

The general brought a fist up to his chest. It shook with concern as he shut his eyes, "Kunzite," He opened his eyes and looked forward; knowing Kunzite's silver eyes would only make it worse. "Be careful," Zoicite placed a hand on Kunzite's chest before leaving to join his forces.

Luna stared at the ceiling of her bedchamber. She rolled onto her side as she drew her knees to her chest, making the sheets rustle. Silent tears escaped onto her pillow despite her best efforts to control her emotions. She sniffled as a guest knocked on her door. She slowly sat up and wiped the tears from her cheeks before clearing her throat and allowing the guest to enter. She placed her hands in her lap and offered a weak smile.

"Artemis?" She exclaimed—her expression resuming its forlorn appearance.

She ran to his side as he collapsed to the floor. His hair stained with red and his clothes sanguinary; he had taken part in a recent battle.

With all her strength, she lifted him onto her bed. She removed his shirt, finding several open wounds. His eyes wandered aimlessly around the room as he mumbled in a nonsensical manner. Luna gathered pieces of cloth and any medicinal herbs she could find in her quarters. She tended to his injuries as he slowly became more coherent. After a while, he sat up and was himself once again.

"Artemis, what are you doing here? We lost all communication with the rest of the planets…how did you—"

He stopped her by placing a hand over her mouth. In a sweet gesture, he shushed her before taking his hand away. "Venus has been taken over by the Dark Kingdom," he whispered.

Luna gasped in disbelief.

Artemis looked paranoid as his eyes darted around the room. He rose and strode towards the window, pulling the curtains back. "I see that the Moon remains unharmed; thank the gods," he returned to Luna's side. "Have you taken precautions?"

She nodded as her hands hugged her stomach. She looked down and watched her small belly rise and fall. Her eyes caught his as she gripped his hands. "Artemis, I have something I should tell you; it is very important."

"Does the queen know about—"

"I am pregnant."

His face seemed devoid of any emotion. His eyes focused on nothing in particular as his body fell limp. Luna squeezed his hands, hoping to bring him out of his trance. She caressed his cheek as she said his name.

He blinked and recovered from the shock. "You must stay out of danger." What was supposed to be a statement ended up being a command. "You must go to the safe room in the palace until I come and get you." He gripped her shoulders as they stood up.

"Artemis, I must fight beside you as always. I will not be a burden upon this kingdom!" she yelled through her tears. They rushed into a tight embrace — Luna holding onto him for dear life, resistant to any notion of letting go.

He reluctantly pulled back and brushed away a stray tear treading down her face. "With all my strength, I will protect you."

Nephrite stood at the front of his fleet with his arms folded. He gazed at the Moon Kingdom with mixed emotions. His mind observed two things: the Dark Kingdom's rightful place and Nasakebukai.

He sighed and looked back at his soldiers. He took a quick glance at the moon city then back at his men. He shook his head in disbelief at what he was about to do.

"Jieichou!" he yelled.

A black-haired man ran towards Nephrite, bringing a hand to his chest in a salute used by the Shitennou. "Yes, Master Nephrite?"

He paused. Was he sure about this? He shook his head again before continuing, "I need you to be in charge of the men until I return…" he stared off into the distance and took a hesitant step towards the city.

Confusion was visible on the man's face and led to his question: "Master Nephrite, where are you going?"

He immediately became defensive, "That is not your concern! If my absence is discovered, I will kill you myself!" he gripped the man's collar, pulling him close and sending a second threat with his eyes.

The man nodded and fixed his collar once Nephrite released him. "Do not worry; I shall handle it." He placed his hand on the Dark Kingdom crest and Nephrite followed suit.

Nasakebukai sat in her rocking chair as she slowly drifted off to sleep. She had successfully put all her siblings to sleep, and she was tired from the exertion. She softly hummed, hoping it would keep her awake. She exhaled and decided to give in to her sleepiness. In a few minutes, her humming and rocking ceased, and she was fast asleep.

Nephrite watched her, smiling to himself. He stepped out from behind the curtains and stood before her. He listened to her calm breathing and gazed at her angelic face. The lighting in the house only accented her features and made her that much more beautiful in his eyes. He inched his hand towards her cheek and placed it gently upon her skin. Her reaction was a quiet sigh as she adjusted her position in the chair. He noticed her eyes beginning to open.

Her vision was slightly blurred as a result of reawakening, but she would recognize that auburn mane anywhere. "Nephrite?"

Serenity rolled onto her side, wrapped in a sheet. Koudanshi's arm lay across his forehead. He sighed. Serenity nuzzled against him as he wound his arm around her shoulders. Her head upon his chest. She slowly massaged his chest. She sighed, "Is it time to be unmasked?"

Endymion exhaled and took a quick breath, "I guess it is time."

Before they could reach for their masks, a knock sounded at the door.

"Princess!" Artemis called.

Serenity gasped, unsure of what to do.

He knocked again several more times and repeated her name.

Endymion slipped out of bed as he began to acquire his clothing. Seion pushed him into the closet and grabbed a robe. "Stay in here, I shall handle it." He took this opportunity to dress.

Serenity closed the doors and searched for her gown. After dressing, she quickly removed her mask and opened the door. "Yes, Artemis?"

He rushed into the room and gestured for Serenity to close the door behind him. "My dear princess, I need you to go to the safe room and remain there until I…"

Their voices were muffled from where Endymion stood within the closet, their conversation completely unintelligible. He desired to know what was occurring so he inched the closest door open. Artemis's back was facing him and he only saw part of Seion's long tresses. He listened carefully as he watched.

"Artemis, I will not stand aside as I normally do." She threw her hands in the air in a fit of frustration. "I am not a little princess anymore…"

Did Seion just refer to herself as…princess?

Serenity felt a sudden wave of dizziness and brought her hand to her head as her stance faltered.

Artemis held up his hands in defense, "I know that, but it would allow me to not worry as much if I knew you were safe."

Serenity softly smiled at his concern before regaining her poise and returning to her line of thought. "I sincerely apologize, but I cannot do that. My mother needs me…my kingdom needs me, and I am finally capable of protecting them." She crossed her arms as a sign that her word was final.

Artemis lowered his head in defeat as he walked towards the door and opened it, and stood in the doorway, facing her once again, "All I ask now is…" he lowered his gaze for a moment before meeting her eyes, "be safe, princess." And with that, he closed the door behind him.

Serenity sighed as she placed her hands upon her hips, swaying on the balls of her feet. She felt a surge of guilt due to her decision. But in order to help the kingdom survive, she needed to participate. She continued to remind herself of that fact over and over in her mind as she inhaled and exhaled deep long breaths several times.

Her thoughts changed when she heard the closet door squeak. Her head shot up, and she stared at Koudanshi. Her arm holding the mask became paralyzed. It was no use anyway. He had already seen her face.

Endymion stood stunned. His eyes took in the sight before him: Serenity with her long golden tresses, marine blue eyes, and yellow crescent. He opened his mouth to speak, but words did not form. He remained speechless, hoping after a few moments he would wake up and have Seion at his side.

"Koudanshi," she whispered as she clutched the mask, "I…I wanted to tell you so many times," Her eyes searched the floor, hoping to find something worth looking at. "I wanted to tell you tonight, remember?" Her cheeks pinkened from the heat that rushed to her face. She wiped a tear away before it graced her cheek with her index finger.

Endymion could not decide whether the fact that Serenity was Seion was a relief or a burden. But then he realized, if Seion were not Serenity, he would be having an affair.

Images of Endymion flooded her mind. This man must know she is engaged, and he will surely tell, Serenity concluded. The mere thought of causing Endymion pain, filled her heart with despair. Her tears fell more frequently and her fingers could not keep up. She sobbed in silence as she tried to think of an explanation.

"Please…" she wept, "Do not tell, Prince Endymion. I really do love him." She buried her face in her hands as she hunched over.

Then it occurred to him; she does not know he is Endymion.

Without ceremony, he removed his mask and gripped Serenity's shoulders. "I know you do…" he gently shook her, causing her to straighten and uncover her face.

Her eyes had already swollen. Serenity questioned his statement, not understanding its meaning. She took a couple of seconds to regain her vision, blinking several times to clear away the tears.

"Serenity, it's me," he smiled, finally realizing that they were always in love, even though they were not aware of it.

Her jaw dropped as she stared at his familiar face. "Endymion?" She brushed his cheek with the back of her hand. "You have been Koudanshi the whole time?" She gazed at him in awe — still not positive this was really all happening.

"You've been Seion the whole time?" He stroked the back of her head and ran his fingers through her long tresses.

She nodded.

He nodded.

They recalled all the moments they shared as Koudanshi and Seion and replaced them with their true identities. They decided that Fate wanted them to fall in love, and it was their destiny to be together. The gods had written their love story in the stars, and a little quarreling in the beginning was not going to change that.

Queen Beryl stood, feet apart in front of the city's gates. She cackled as the two guards attempted to stop her. She shoved her staff into the ground before grabbing the first man's neck and snapped it. She then lengthened her fingernails and sliced the other man's neck with a resounding snap. Their bodies hit the ground as she wiped her bloody nails on Jadeite's sleeve.

She clutched her scepter and raised it above her head. Dark Energy collected from the night sky and entered the orb. Black lightning then erupted from the crystal and blasted the gates to pieces. The unfaithful soldiers standing behind her flinched; unharmed by the cloud of debris descending upon them. This, due to her shield. Kunzite shook his head as the soldiers tried to regain their composure.

Queen Beryl threw any would-be opponent into the nearest wall, crushing their bones on impact. Moon Warriors ran to their positions as Queen Beryl levitated into the air. Numerous energy blasts emitting from her orb as she watched the city begin to burn. She tilted her head back and laughed, hearing the pleasurable sound of screaming in the distance.

"My Shadows of the night," she called, "Destroy the Silver Millennium Palace!"

Serenity rested her head against Endymion's chest and touched his cheek. She sighed and smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and left tiny kisses along the natural part in her hair. She relished the moment, committing it to memory, before a sudden headache foiled her sweet thought. She groaned as the pain intensified. She pulled back, placing a hand to her forehead and winced as she doubled over.

"Serenity?" Endymion questioned, holding out his arms to catch her.

She brushed her fingers over her crescent, immediately withdrawing them as she felt the heat exuding from her blazing symbol. "Endymion… we need to—"

It was too late. The ceiling began to collapse on top of them, and the floor cracked beneath them. Serenity reached for Endymion. He quickly grasped her hand, evading a massive stone that fell from above and crashed through the floor, landing in the room below. They ran out of the chamber and made their way down the hallway — the marble floor crumbling behind them with every step.

They reached the staircase, and it had already lost half its steps. Endymion looked around, hoping to find an alternative route, but an idea hit him. He noticed the railing was not damaged, and he turned to Serenity. She was deep in prayer, clutching her pendant. He swiftly scooped her into his arms, dodging another piece of the ceiling, and slid down the railing. Thankfully, his boots had enough traction to stay on the crystal pole. He jumped, landing nimbly on his feet, only taking one-step to regain his balance. Serenity maneuvered herself until she was back on her feet. They then ran for the entrance.

Before they reached the doors, a silvery light and cloud of flower petals blocked their way. Kunzite and Zoicite stood before the last heirs of the Silver Millennium, barring their way. Serenity's eyes squinted as soon as she recognized the two commanders.

"Princess Serenity," Kunzite addressed her formally with a mock bow, "It has been quite some time since our last encounter." He stood tall — strength and power filling the room due to his presence.

"Go to hell, Kunzite," she snipped, clenching her fists.

Zoicite stepped forward, pointing his finger at the princess, "You shall not address Master Kunzite like that…Zoi!" He opened his hand and flower petals shot forth from his gloved palm.

Endymion pushed Serenity out of the way, as he threw a rose before shielding himself with his cape.

Zoicite stared into Kunzite's icy eyes as he watched the pain faintly appear upon his face. The rose hit the seam of his armor, piercing Kunzite's back. Zoicite kept his eyes locked on Kunzite's, hoping the general would meet his eyes. Kunzite kept his gaze above Zoicite's head, not ready to reveal his emotions. "Master Kunzite…" Zoicite whispered as he gripped his leader's upper arms.

Kunzite reached for the rose in his back, slightly wincing, and pulled it out, throwing it to the floor. He slowly turned around — his laser swords forming out of his palms. "Prince Endymion, you do not think your pitiful roses can stop one of the Great Four of the Dark Kingdom, do you?" Not wishing for an answer, he jumped into the air and plummeted towards Endymion. He raised his sword above his head and gradually forced it down on the prince.

Endymion had unsheathed his own weapon and readied his defense. Their blades clashed and pushed against one another, the metal scraping and the sound echoing throughout the room.

Serenity watched from a distance, praying for Endymion's safety. She opened her star pendant and revealed the Silver Crystal. Zoicite instantly noticed its presence and advanced on the princess.

"Zoicite," Kunzite shouted, "Stop!" He pushed Endymion away, hoping to reach Zoicite before…

"Fire Soul!" A massive ball of fire enveloped the general, leaving him lying helpless on the floor.

Steam rose into the air as Zoicite extended his hand towards Kunzite.

"Zoicite!" The leader of the Great Four disappeared before Endymion and reappeared in front of Zoicite, lifting the wounded general to his feet.

Kunzite stared down at Zoicite's face, observing all the burns on his once perfect complexion. "Master Kunzite, is my face unharmed?"

He sighed and looked away, unwilling to answer. He turned his attention towards the unexpected attack. "How did you survive our invasion?"

Princess Mars stepped in front of Serenity and folded her arms. "Most of us survived, Kunzite."

With those words, Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter stepped into view, wearing their traditional gowns. Kunzite sneered, acknowledging his failure to destroy all the royal heirs.

"I see that your brothers and sisters could not join us," he snickered.

Images of their lost siblings attacked their minds. This led to the shedding of tears for each of them.

"We will not forgive you for all the destruction and pain you have caused this galaxy!" Jupiter yelled. She turned and faced her friends, "We must protect Princess Serenity," and before her attack, she smiled at Serenity. "Supreme Thunder!" Electricity encircled her body, originating from within and from the dark sky.

The wave of lightning aimed for Kunzite, but he was too fast. He disappeared before her attack could strike and materialized after it had passed. He kept hold of Zoicite, squeezing his hand periodically to keep him responsive.

Zoicite loosely gripped Kunzite's collar, capturing his attention. His weakened voice uttered Kunzite's name, forcing the Shitennou to look down. "I shall take you to the medic in a moment; all will be well soon." Kunzite's words were lined with comfort and hope, trying to convince himself more than Zoicite.

"Master Kunzite, it is not necessary," His raspy voice was barely audible, causing the other man to lean in to catch his words. "I would rather die in your arms." Zoicite forced one last smile before his final breath.

"Zoicite!"

Kunzite gripped Zoicite's hand, but it soon transformed itself into flower petals that escaped through his fingers, and joined the strong wind.

Kunzite clenched his fists in rage. "You four will not survive the night," he hissed. He clapped his hands creating a wave of energy and directed it towards the princesses.

Each raised their arms in front of them in a protective manner, blocking as much force as possible. The wave struck, leaving each girl winded.

"You ladies tired already?" He clapped his hands once again — this time a ball of energy formed between his palms. With each passing second, it expanded until it was bigger than his head. "I have not even begun to fight."

Venus stepped in front of the pack and pointed her finger towards the ceiling. "Crescent Beam!" She then aimed her index finger towards Kunzite, sending a flash of orange light at the general.

In horror, they watched as Venus' attack was absorbed by Kunzite's dark energy. Venus took a step back as she squeezed her hand. "What happened?"

"That was pathetic!" The black energy turned orange and reached its maximum growth. "It is time to finish this." He grunted as he forced the energy towards Venus.

She brought her arms up once again to ward off the attack, but as the energy enclosed around her, she collapsed to the floor lifeless.

"Venus!" Serenity yelled as she ran to her. She fell to her knees and examined Venus' scarred body. Her yellow and orange gown was singed along with her golden tresses. Serenity noticed the Venusian emblem appear on her forehead and hoped it would not fade away. After a brief moment, the symbol weakened and soon disappeared. Serenity gripped Venus' hand as her tears fell to the floor.

Kunzite readied another attack and directed the energy towards the Moon princess.

"Serenity!" Mercury yelled as she jumped in front of the oncoming blow. Both Mercury and Serenity were lifted off their feet and were hurled into the nearest wall, shattering the marble surface, leaving an indentation. Serenity sat up and looked down to find Mercury lying beside her. She pulled the ice princess onto her lap as Mercury's crest shone upon her forehead. Serenity rocked her friend back and forth as the blue mark faded.

Mars and Jupiter glanced at one another, nodding their silent agreement, and began a joint attack.

Mars snapped her fingers. A spark of fire started at her fingertips then spread to the rest of her body. She had transformed into a being of pure fire.

During her transformation, Jupiter went through her own. She elevated her hand above her head as the sky sparkled with lightning. A bolt struck her body, causing an explosion of light to issue forth. Once the light waned, Jupiter's electric form was visible.

"Kunzite, you have caused too much destruction for one lifetime." Mars pointed at the commander.

"Yes, and for your behavior, you shall be punished!"

Mars and Jupiter rose into the air as the intensity of their state heightened.

"Supreme Thunder!" Jupiter crossed her arms in front of her chest as her fingertips collected energy. She raised her knees and curled her body into a ball before kicking outward, expanding her limbs and sending a wave of electricity towards their common enemy.

"Fire Soul!" Mars folded her hands, as she began the familiar prelude to this attack, creating a massive sphere of fire that shot out from her fingertips.

The two attacks converged into one before making its way towards Kunzite.

Before it struck, he managed to create another energy field that sucked up the storm.

Jupiter and Mars dropped to their feet in disbelief as they prepared to block their own energy that rebounded towards them.

"Good-bye, ladies."

The electric-fire energy ripped through their defenses — their attempts to shield themselves having no chance against it. Mars fell forward onto the floor as Jupiter collapsed, falling onto her back.

Serenity left Mercury's side and went to Mars. Now on her knees, she turned Mars on her back and brushed her bangs aside, as with the others, the Martian insignia slowly disappeared and she caught a glimpse of Jupiter's green crest as it faded away.

Kunzite released a malicious laugh, "You're next, Moon princess."

Another black energy sphere formed between his open palms.

"Kunzite, stop!"

The energy slowly subsided as he waited for her to appear.

"You have done well, my dear Kunzite. You have proven why I named you the leader of the Great Four." Queen Beryl materialized beside the leader of the Shitennou — scepter in hand.

Kunzite bowed his head slightly before turning towards Serenity and the fallen princesses. Endymion stood before the princess and pushed her behind him.

"My queen, I have eliminated the remaining four Inner District royals and I—"

"I see that Zoicite was eliminated in the effort," she commented.

Kunzite searched his pocket and took out a petal, clasping it gently before putting it back.

"Go help our fleet. I shall finish them both."

And with her command, silver light flashed, and Kunzite was gone.

"My darling Endymion, you are still protecting this child?" She gazed at her orb then back at Endymion.

"Yes, and I shall keep protecting her after I destroy you." He extended his arm before Serenity, unsheathing his sword with the other.

Beryl growled at his threat, exposing her fangs. "You could be the King of Earth and the Moon, but you would waste that opportunity so you can be with this little girl?"

His silence answered the question and heightened her temper.

"How dare you deny me! Now, I shall kill you both!" She raised her staff, collecting energy from the Shadow Warrior above the palace. She pointed the orb towards Endymion and Serenity. She screamed as a fraction of her life force left her body with the attack.

Endymion faced Serenity and stretched his arms out as the wave of dark energy struck him with full force. He yelled with the pain as Serenity screamed out his name. Endymion's eyes were losing their life-light as his arms dropped to his side, and he fell to the floor.

She clutched Endymion's hand, bringing his cold fingers to her lips as his Gaean crest upon his chest shattered.

"My only regret is that Endymion had to die in order to destroy you," Beryl began to gather energy as the Moon Princess continued to sob.

But before Beryl could attack the grieving young woman, the ceiling crumbled over them. Serenity pulled Endymion's limp body away from the ruins for she needed more time to mourn the loss of her true love.

She rested her head upon his chest, the hard armor failing to offer comfort. She listened for a heartbeat, but only heard a deafening silence. She sat up, eyes already swollen from her stinging tears, and caressed his cheek. His expression was not one of dismay. Rather, he seemed asleep, this prompting her to check for a heartbeat once more. Her deep sobs thick with anguish as all the horror of the night began to sink in.

She dared to sit up again, her hands falling into her lap. As they fell, they brushed against the hilt of Endymion's sword. Her eyes focused on the silver handle. She sat still for a moment and stared at the shimmering object as her heart continued to ache. She gripped the hilt and gradually unsheathed it. The bright metal glowed in her eyes as she observed the sharp edge.

She looked down at Endymion one last time before she brought the tip to her chest. She stared forward before closing her eyes and ended it all.

"Serenity!" But she was too late. Queen Selenity watched as her daughter pierced her heart with Endymion's sword.

Luna then rushed into Artemis's arms as she tried to rid her mind of what she had just seen.

"No!" Selenity shrieked as she fell to her knees. She covered her eyes, tears escaping between her fingers.

Luna attempted to conceal her emotions as she placed a hand upon Selenity's shuddering back. "Selenity…" she choked back tears as her stomach twisted with nausea.

Queen Selenity began wiping the tears from her face as she struggled to her feet. "I must end this," her heart wrenched as her eyes focused on her daughter's lifeless body.

Artemis stepped forward and stood beside Selenity, placing a delicate hand on her bare shoulder. "My queen, let us leave this room," he suggested, gently pulling her away from the devastating scene.

She forced her arm away and clenched her fists, "No. I must end this here and now," she whispered.

Her chest ached as her heart pounded fiercely. She summoned her crystal. It hovered above her right palm, and she explained her plan as she stared into the luminescent jewel, "I shall seal away this evil being. I must restore both the Moon and Earth;" Artemis nodded his understanding, knowing full-well the inevitable would come at the end of her explanation, "You all will be reborn on Earth during a time of peace…" Selenity brought both hands towards the crystal — it now hovered between her open palms. "Once I unleash the power of the crystal, it shall destroy me…"

The consequences of using the Silver Crystal were common knowledge, but even though she was aware of this, Luna had some hope that it was not completely true.

"Selenity—"

Selenity turned her head towards Luna; "It is the only way," her voice remained calm — counter to Luna's distressed tone. "The Silver Crystal can lock away Beryl, her commanders, and the evil spirit that possesses her. My sacrifice is necessary to save the universe and return it to a state of happiness." Sorrow outlined her words as tears slowly contoured her cheeks. "I shall send you two to the future as their guardians. You will be sent in a manner that will allow you both to watch over them without suspicion," Selenity stared at the crumbled ceiling, seeing puffs of smoke disperse above the palace. "My wish is for the universe's heirs to live normal and happy lives."

"Selenity…" Artemis murmured as Luna wiped away another tear.

The queen faced her two dearest friends, attempting to curve her lips into a smile. "May the gods bless everyone's new life journeys on Earth."

Luna stopped wiping her tears away and allowed them to fall freely. "I know of one who will…" she left Selenity confused before finishing her statement, "You…when you reach Paradise."

The intended outcome of Luna's comment was a desired smile, but it only resulted in a renewed rush of tears.

Selenity gazed upon her lifeless daughter. She shut her eyes, trying to focus on the needed energy. She took a deep breath and slowly released it as she lifted the crystal above her head. She mumbled an ancient chant as the light intensified from the pulsing crystal. Once the chant had concluded, a pillar of energy blasted through the remaining portions of the roof, piercing the heart of the Shadow Warrior, separating the monster into seven jewels.

Queen Selenity screamed as she felt her life force leaving her body with each passing moment.

The white light covered the entire planet, destroying all Dark Kingdom soldiers.

Nephrite stepped back from his kiss with Nasakebukai and collapsed to the floor. She screamed in horror as she watched his body wither away.

"Nephrite!" She reached for him, but he was gone.

Kunzite gripped his sword as he felt a rush of pain flowing through him. He fell to one knee, bringing a hand to his chest as he watched his men disappear into the abyss. He yelled in pain and called for Zoicite to join him.

Jadeite dropped his sword in mid-attack, allowing a Lunarian soldier to pierce his heart before disintegrating.

Queen Beryl stared at her hands, as they slowly became one with the Lunarian wind. She screamed for her master as her physical form dissolved into nothingness. "Queen Metalia!"

Once the evil was ridden from the planet, the light encircled each person on the Moon, creating a barrier. Serenity and Endymion floated up into the sky as Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, and Venus joined them. Their bodies healed within the shield and soon they were as shooting stars, on their way to the reborn Earth of the future.

Then, there was only Luna and Artemis left. Selenity lowered the crystal in front of her chest, and the light began to dim. She breathed slowly and heavy as her knees started to lose their strength, but she remained standing erect and resolute. "Good-bye, Luna…good-bye Artemis…" Selenity remained motionless as the last of the Silver Crystal's power took Luna and Artemis to Earth.

Queen Selenity dropped the crystal—the jewel breaking into thousands of shards as it hit the ground. Her kneecaps striking the stone floor. She inhaled a deep breath and sat upright against a pillar, reclining her head and opening her eyes. She stared into the starry sky as her corporeal form began to fade and become one with the constellations.

It was night, and the only light came from a nearby streetlamp. Luna blinked several times before trying to stand up, realizing she was unable. She examined herself to find her once tanned skin covered with hair…not hair, fur. She struggled as she attempted to use all four limbs simultaneously and after several minutes, she was moving about freely, finding the action came naturally to her.

What happened? Luna looked around observing the signs advertising "Two for the Price of One" and "Open Late" specials. It didn't make sense.

She walked past a building that read "Arcade," and she decided to venture inside. The clear doors slid open of their own accord, and she walked inside, observing the chairs set in front of…something. She jumped up onto the chair, completely sliding off it the first time she tried to do this. She fell onto the cold floor, landing on her feet—paws. She tried again and made it. She sat on the chair and saw her reflection. She had transformed into a cat. She shut her eyes and then opened them to find her reflection unchanged. She noticed her forehead still bore the Lunarian symbol and felt some sense of normalcy. Her paw placed pressure upon a button causing the screen to light up. Its flat dark surface, mirror-like was blank and made no noise. Luna stared at it, wondering what was going to happen. Suddenly, a beam of light shot into her crescent moon.

She left the arcade with the thought, "Find Usagi Tsukino."

The End

?

Well, my friends that it is for Oceanus Procellarum: A Silver Millennium Adventure. I have finally completed it. I tried to make sure there were no loose ends. And if there is…I can just fill them in later in the sequel. So, yes, there is a sequel. It will start right where I left off.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. I hope you enjoyed this entire story. It was my first Sailor Moon story, and I hope I did it justice.

Thank you for all the reviews, support, and advice. I hope you follow the next installment as close as you did this.

Once again, big thank you to Loki! *hands giant bouquet of yellow roses & bows*

Thank you!