Thanks to reviewers:
TsukiyoTenshi
ascella star (she's not dead…yet. As for Kunzite/Malachite, well I can't give that away just yet.)
dark shadowed rose (I think you're the only person who laughed in their review. It greatly amused me.)
CaseClosed621
CherrySerenity-sama
MJ
Ariel Night
saveme57
sailorfan
and loveinthebattlefield
I know I left the previous chapter in a bad spot (and Uranus might have been a bit out of character…), but it's time to return to the silver millennium. But since that was such a cruel cliffhanger (but be warned, I can (and will) do worse), I'm taking CaseClosed621's suggestion of half silver millennium and half modern. There really isn't much happening in the past anyway.
Serenity nervously paced in the gardens. It had been quite some time since her mother had sent her away to speak to Endymion. She worried about what would happen, after all Endymion was not likely to be welcome on earth anymore. He was a prince without a kingdom, a young man with no land.
"Serenity," Luna called. "Your mother wishes to see you."
The princess immediately rushed into the palace, with the black cat running to keep up with her. When she entered the small room, she found her mother sitting calmly alone. A quick and frantic look around the room proved the one she wanted to see was not there.
"He will be back in a moment. I sent him to the medical chamber, he was injured," Queen Serenity explained.
Her daughter slowly approached her. "Mother, what's going to happen? We cannot go to war against earth, not if Endymion-"
"We will not start the war, but if they attack we will retaliate. Endymion understands that."
"But his parents-"
"Are lost," the queen finished. "I know you are young, Serenity. But there are things that must be done now. To ensure the safety of the entire universe. You are to do as you're told, am I clear?"
Serenity nodded.
"I discussed something with Endymion, which I now wish to discuss with you," Queen Serenity continued.
"What?"
"Your relationship with Endymion."
The young princess suddenly looked panicked, but quickly hid her emotions with a solemn expression. Her mother saw through the mask and continued.
"He is no longer of a royal rank, his parents have disowned him. They will likely be dead by morning, and earth has already fallen into the hands of Beryl. He has nowhere to go, and is certainly not high enough rank to marry a princess."
"NO!" Serenity exclaimed.
Her mother held up a hand to silence her. "Once again, Endymion agreed with me, that you should marry a man of royal standing. He said that he would step aside."
"What? You're lying! Endymion loves me, he wouldn't do that."
"It was his decision, Serenity. As a matter of fact he suggested that he step back and allow you to marry someone of at least equal ranking."
"I don't want to marry royalty! I want to marry Endymion!" Serenity jumped to her feet and fled the room.
By the time she reached her own room the young princess was sobbing. Luna and Artemis, who had been listening in and followed her once she fled the room stood outside the door hearing the cries.
"I've never seen her so distraught," Luna said quietly. "Certainly there must be another way."
"There's no way of knowing yet, Luna," Artemis replied.
"She never was a patient one," Queen Serenity said.
The cats glanced at her as she calmly approached.
"You majesty?" Artemis asked. "What do you mean?"
"He loves her," the queen said. "Which is why I must do what is best. The royal lineage of the moon kingdom is followed through the mother anyway."
With that as an explanation she entered the princess' room, leaving the two cats stunned as they realized what she meant. Queen Serenity sat on the edge of her daughter's bed, pretending not to notice the girl turn her head further away.
"You will be wed to him this evening," Queen Serenity said. "Once he and his generals have a chance to rest a bit. He has volunteered himself and his friends to lead our army against Beryl, should she attack. I will send the girls in to help you get ready."
By now Serenity had looked up at her mother in disbelief.
"Now stop your crying. You won't be a very beautiful bride if your eyes are all red."
Serenity laughed and threw herself at Queen Serenity. "Thank you, mother!"
"I can't believe you're the first to get married," Mars said, examining the white-gowned princess.
"I told you Endymion was her true love," Venus replied. "And the rest of us will follow closely behind in tying the knot," she added with a wink.
"I can't believe the queen approves of this," Uranus said. "It's so rushed. Whose idea was that?"
"What she means is you look absolutely beautiful," Neptune said with a pointed look at her partner. "And Endymion is lucky to have you as his bride."
"You look really pretty, princess," Saturn, the youngest of the eight scouts said.
Serenity smiled, her tears long forgotten. "I can't believe this is really happening. It feels a dream, but if it is I don't want to wake up."
"It's hardly a dream," Mercury said.
"I would say not," Queen Serenity said. "If you girls wouldn't mind, I would like a moment alone with my daughter."
The scouts quickly gave their respect to the queen and left the room. Queen Serenity looked proudly at her daughter.
"It's not too late you know," she said.
Serenity looked at her in confusion. "Too late for what, mother?"
"To back out. You don't have to marry him."
"I'm not going to change my mind."
Queen Serenity sighed. "I know. Which is why it is time for you to have this."
Serenity let her hands close around the small crystal her mother handed her. "Is this what I think it is?"
"It is a piece of the silver crystal, just enough to be more powerful than nothing, but not as powerful as the entire crystal."
"But if you broke a piece off-"
"The crystal will repair itself when it is needed most. Until then, I have made sure the greater part is hidden."
"But what about you, if the crystal-"
"I can protect myself, Serenity. I know Endymion is capable of protecting you, but I want to know you're safe." Queen Serenity smiled softly. "I don't know what this will do, I found it in an old book. But all you have to do is touch the crystal and say 'moon prism power'."
Serenity ran her fingers over the small crystal.
"Now let's get you to your future husband."
With the short notice, the wedding was a simple affair. No one but the queen, sailor scouts, and generals were in attendance. With the ending kiss, Endymion pulled his bride into his arms intending to never let her go. As the night wore on the couple slipped into the gardens to be alone.
"Are you sure about this?" Endymion asked again.
Serenity frowned at him and nodded. "Aren't you?"
"I would marry you a million times if it meant we were together forever," he said, leaning down to brush his lips against hers.
"How touching."
The pair quickly turned, seeing the woman with brilliant red hair standing a short distance from them. Endymion shifted to put himself between her and his new bride. He drew the sword he'd kept on him, Queen Serenity warning him to be prepared for Beryl's possible attack.
"Serenity run for help," Endymion said over his shoulder.
"I'm not leaving you," she argued, tightening her grip on his arm.
"Serenity!"
"Let the little princess stay, it'll make this much easier," Beryl said smiling.
With a raise of her hand, the woman tore Endymion and Serenity apart. The lovers screamed for each other as they flew in opposite directions. Endymion fell to the ground beside the fountain, disoriented from the crash into the marble.
Beryl turned her attention to Serenity. "A shame you won't even reach your wedding night."
Serenity reached up to the crystal. Beryl's eyes followed and widened.
"Moon prism power!" Serenity shouted.
A blinding light lit up the garden. Endymion shielded his eyes, and when he moved his hand a sailor scout stood where Serenity had previously been. Serenity looked down at her changed appearance. The crystal had settled itself into a broach in the center of the red bow on her chest.
"Impossible," Beryl said.
Serenity smiled. "I am a sailor scout."
Beryl regained her composure and summoned an orb of energy. She hurled it at Serenity, who leapt out of the way just in time. She reached up to the tiara on her forehead, slowly taking it off.
"Moon tiara action!" she shouted, throwing it towards Beryl.
The witch disappeared seconds before the attack hit her. The tiara returned to Serenity who lost her disguise and collapsed. Endymion rushed forward to catch her. By then the sailor scouts and generals had found them.
"Are you alright?" Serenity asked.
Endymion sighed in relief as he realized she was still alive. He held her closer to his body, feeling her small arms wrap around him in return.
Queen Serenity stood back and looked up towards earth. "The war has begun."
Darien stood in the doorway of his bedroom watching as Serena slept fitfully on the bed. They'd tried several times to wake her from the apparent nightmares, but had yet to have any luck. Eventually they'd given up and retreated to the small living room, all except Darien who hadn't moved for several hours.
"Darien, why don't you come join us?" Trista asked, joining him as the girls continued to sit in disbelief.
He shook his head.
"Darien, she'll be alright."
"Then why isn't she waking up?"
"She's regaining her energy. Just give it time."
"She would have been fine if you could control your scouts," Darien muttered.
"Look, prince, none of us knew who she was. There was no way we could have!" Amara shouted. "If I had known I wouldn't have hurt her! She's my cousin."
"Then how could you not know she was Sailor Moon?"
"You're her soul mate, how could you not know?"
The two glared at each other.
"That's enough," Mina said. "Darien, Amara knows what she did was wrong. Serena wasn't killed. Just let it go."
He turned back to the girl in his bed.
"And we all thought they'd both kill each other," Raye muttered.
"It is kind of funny though," Lita pointed out. "I mean, they're like worst enemies and now they're supposed to be lovers?"
"But Darien's always liked her," Hotaru said smirking.
"Yeah, but we can't just assume they'll fall together," Raye pointed out. "They can't get along for five minutes without arguing."
"She has a point," Amara agreed. "You're too old for Serena anyway. She is fourteen."
Darien glared at her.
"We don't even know he's Endymion," Amy reminded them. "Or that Serena is the princess."
"She is," Luna said, speaking for the first time.
"So the princess is Sailor Moon," Michelle said. "It's a good way to hide her."
"It wasn't the queen's idea," Pluto replied. "She didn't know."
"Do you think that's why she said there was no princess in this life?" Darien asked.
"Why wouldn't she want us to know? Why would she keep us from awakening?" Mina asked.
"To protect you."
Everyone turned to the girl weakly leaning against the doorframe beside Darien.
"Serena, you need to rest," Amara said.
"I'm fine," Serena insisted. "I'm going home."
"No you're not," Darien argued.
She looked to him in surprise. "Yes I am."
"Here we go again," Raye muttered.
The scouts and three generals remained silent as the two stared at each other. Darien with concern, Serena with annoyance. Serena moved to pass him, and he stopped her.
"Let go of me," she said.
"Go back and rest."
"Don't touch her," Amara said, entering the feud and shoving Darien away from her cousin.
Serena found herself pulled against her older cousin. She pushed away, falling back and being caught by Darien. He quickly lifted her up and returned her to the bedroom, dumping her on the bed.
"What is wrong with you?" Serena demanded.
"We're just worried, princess," Trista said. "We want you to rest. And then you're going to explain."
"Explain what?"
"Why you didn't tell us," Amara said.
"There was nothing to tell."
"You tried stopping the scouts from awakening," Artemis said.
Luna sat back, meeting Serena's eyes with a worried expression. The rest of the scouts gathered around, leaving Darien sitting next to Serena on the bed, and the generals in the doorway.
"We're supposed to protect you," Trista said. "Until you're strong enough to control the silver crystal and we can all stop Beryl once and for all."
"I don't need your help," Serena said. "I won't lose anyone in this life."
"Serena, you've blocked our memories," Mina said. "What happened? You're the only one who knows."
"You already know what happens. Everyone died. The sailor scouts, the generals…Endymion…and…"
"And who?" Darien asked gently.
Serena shook her head. "Please just let me go home."
"We don't trust you alone," Amara said. "For all we know you'll take the crystal and go fight Beryl now."
"We don't want to lose you, Serena," Amy said.
Serena stared at the wall.
"You're not alone in this battle," Darien added. "Serena."
"I think I'd rather you call me meatball head," she muttered. "I can't fight Beryl yet anyway. I only have part of the crystal. I don't know where the rest is. Queen Serenity hid it. Even I don't know where it is. For all I know it's been destroyed. Or by now it could be in Beryl's hands."
So sorry, but this is actually not the end of the silver millennium story. One more part to it, obviously being the end where they're all sent to the future. So bear with me. As for the wedding, I didn't go into much detail because it didn't seem too important.
As for the argument between Amara and Darien… I can't remember if they got along in the show or not, I know there was tension between the inner scouts and outer scouts, and I think Darien was included in that tension. In here they're probably not gonna see eye to eye because of Amara's protection of her cousin.
Since I combined chapters, there will only be 23 or possibly 24 total here so we're almost at the end!