Dreamland Fantasy
Chapter 20
Author's Note: Hi everyone sorry about the late chapter this week trying to get everything out as quickly as possible, but having been doing some rewrites on the original ending of the story as the story is getting much closer with only a few chapters left. I hope you like what I have come up with for a little bit of a surprise ending. Please continue to send your thoughts and reviews. Also to answer a question I got gravitz and loy don't actually exist. I thought it would be interesting to have some of Serenity's thoughts coming out of Serena's mouth, so consider it a food they have only in the white kingdom. Thanks for following along Mars Light
Standard Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon never did, never will Thank you!
Serena sat up in her room alone while she held her phone in her hand seeing she had six missed calls from her friend Molly. She held the phone out and took a deep breath ready to dial her back and go over the same things they always did, school on Monday, Jonathan would probably come up again, and then there was always the go to movie and pop stars, but again she dropped the phone down onto the bed beside her, not ready to speak and carry on as though nothing happened. Even though for the rest of the world it didn't.
Her mother still went grocery shopping just as she knew she would. Sam had come up to ask her to do something together like she had promised him they would early that morning, but she wasn't able to keep her promise to him and feigned a headache instead.
Instead it was either keeping herself locked away in her room for most of the day alone, not because she was trying to avoid her family, but because she wasn't ready to face them or the world yet. She didn't know how to continue on and face each day that lied ahead knowing all that she had experienced and all the people she had et were now gone. While by some beyond comprehension reason she remained still alive. She should have died there and been hanged, or stabbed, or jumped to her death with him. Instead everything continued on around her like it was just another day.
She heard the wind rustling around outside and she could almost swear that it was calling out her name beckoning her to follow it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath knowing she was where she was supposed to be, this is her life daughter and sister, school age girl with friends maybe failing but she was living her life, but felt responsible for much more.
She looked down at her hands seeing they looked normal enough. Her nails were low from where she chewed on them nervously before a big test, and she had a small scar on the back of her hand that she had gotten back when she was eight after she fell off her bike.
She let out a small chuckle thinking she was over thinking things. She was only Serena after all not some princess and went to grab her phone up beside her, but then quickly dropped it back down to the bed seeing instead her hands were now covered in the blood of the innocent that was spilled because of her.
She closed her eyes and remembered the poor man that died trying to save her life and the fatal leap she took while holding tightly onto Endymion hand. She let out a deep breath knowing they had all died to save her life while she was still here.
She wasn't relieved to be alive that she was the only one to continue living with the knowledge the kingdoms had once existed. She wiped a tear away that ran down from her eyes knowing she had no way of even remembering that place. She wouldn't find it on any map or see any post cards and then took a deep breath thinking of him and his amazing smile that she would never see again. The only way she could remember him now would be in her own mind and heart.
She looked over onto her nightstand and saw her journal sitting there that she had started knowing it was her only way back to remembering. She reached over to grab the journal holding it up close to her heart, holding her secret memories dear.
She opened the book to a random page and smiled reading over the passage she wrote when she had first laid eyes on him she read quietly to herself "he is by far one of the most handsome men I have ever laid eyes upon, but there is something else, something more mysterious about this man, even though I don't know who he is yet. I feel in some way the two of us are connected" She let out a loud sniffle and closed the journal thinking of all that had passed from that moment on.
She knew that she didn't belong there that she was a trespasser in their world, but she also knew she would never meet anyone else quite like him. When her thoughts were interrupted hearing her mother call out from down stairs "Serena dinner?"
She stood up from the bed glad to have the distraction and placed the journal back down on her nightstand and looked herself over in the mirror seeing the blood on her hands was now gone. She looked like herself again, a normal teenager, then let out a little sigh knowing she may look like herself, but certainly didn't feel like it anymore.
She slowly walked down the stairs and turned to see her family sitting around the dinner table already just like the did every other night as her mother looked towards her happily telling her "perfect timing I was just about to serve"
Serena continued walking silently into the kitchen and took her usual seat at the table beside her brother Sam as Ilene went to put some spaghetti with meat sauce onto her plate.
Serena sat watching her mother slowly spooning the spaghetti onto her plate, but as she saw each strand falling slowly onto her plate. She could hear the echoing sound of each wave that crashed onto the cliff at the bottom of abyss they jumped towards.
She quickly moved her chair further back from the table and took a deep breath then waved her hand away telling her mother "not too much for me tonight Mom, I'm really not that hungry tonight"
Her father watched her strange actions with a worried expression, knowing she had kept herself locked away from her family and friends in her room all day and asked concerned "is everything alright Serena?"
Serena looked up to him knowing everything was fine and the was that it should normally be for everyone else, but herself and nodded her head telling him "yeah dad everything is fine"
Serena shook her head knowing she was in her kitchen not at the bottom of an abyss and looked up to see her father sitting across from her as she asked him "what was that dad?"
Ken looked to her concerned knowing she was acting even more strangely than usual asking again "I wanted to know if you are feeling alright tonight"
Serena looked down to see where the spaghetti was left on her plate and knew her reaction was uncalled for she nodded her head slightly telling him "yeah I'm just not as hungry as I thought"
Ilene looked to her while still holding the spoon out and shook her head telling her concerned "you haven't eaten anything all day. You aren't coming down with a virus are you? I have heard from other parents there is a nasty flu virus going around"
Serena looked to her mother and knew she had just given her an easy way out of the conversation and nodded her head telling her "yes I haven't been feeling myself today. Maybe I am coming down with something"
Ilene reached over and touched her forehead with her hand and replied calmly "well you're not warm, but try eating something to give your body some substance and then maybe you should go back up to bed and get some more rest"
Serena nodded her head knowing rest would not be what would help what ails her. Nor would it be something to happen for her this night or possibly the next one either, seeing how every time she closed her eyes she could still see his face staring back at hers.
She moved her chair back up closer to the table and looked around seeing her family carrying on as they did ever other evening. She picked up her fork and slowly started to take her first bite as she listened to her parent's conversation. While her mother asked "so Sam how was your day?"
Serena looked to her brother seeing he had obviously not been thrown by the canceling of their plans as he continued on telling everyone about a new video game his friend Bill down the street has. He told them "it has awesome graphics it makes you feel almost like you're really in the game"
Ilene shook her head knowing her son, he would soon be requesting one of his own and asked in her motherly tone "so how much is this awesome video game with great graphics?"
Sam looked to her with a little grin as he started to reply "well it is kind of expensive, but I can do extra chores and help around the house"
Serena tried to follow along with the conversation they were having, but was starting to feel a headache coming back on, only this time she was certain it was a real headache only due to the stress she was feeling.
She moved her chair back from the table and stood up as her parents looked to her concerned her father questioned "Serena?"
She looked over seeing the three of them starring back at her and took a deep telling them quietly "I'm sorry I just am really not feeling well. I think I will go lie down for a while"
Her mother looked to her seeing she did appear a little pale and nodded her head she told her "alright if that's what you need dear. Would you like me to bring up a plate of food or perhaps a bowl of soup would be better for you later?"
Serena looked to her mother and father seeing their concerned expressions and told them back quickly "yeah maybe later" then started to walk away from the room
She left the kitchen and stood by the stairs to go back to her room, but could still hear the conversation at the dinner table with Sam going on about the video game he played and all the real war time graphics. Hearing about how he got to shoot people and watch the blood splatter all over.
Serena shook her head knowing what she had experienced was no video game, and the blood splatter was no virtual graphic. She quickly rushed her way back upstairs to her room trying to hold back her own tears inside.
She entered her room and slammed the door shut behind her, then stopped in the middle of her room as she heard the sounds of the guards voices ordering them stop right there which was the last sound she heard before, she fell down to her knees remembering and cried letting the moment consume her.
She covered her chest with her hand feeling her heart still beating, but knew a hole now remained there, a hole that would never be closed and she didn't know how things would ever go back to being the same again. How would she just move on and go back to her normal life, like none of this had existed before, before he entered her life.
She looked over and saw somehow her journal had been knocked down to the floor. She picked it up and took a deep breath then opened it to the last blank page. She knew up until this moment she had avoided writing it, but now it was time.
She picked up a pen nearby and started to write her thoughts from tat last moment "there was no way out nowhere to go. We both knew it and I was prepared to die with him if I must. I looked up into his eyes and saw he felt the same way as he spoke those final words to me all or nothing and I was ready to give up all I had for him"
She closed her eyes picturing herself being back in that place standing on the edge of the cliff once again with him holding her hands in his own, feeling the same fears and also the same peacefulness with their decision, but she was still here and he died solo.
She opened her eyes and took a deep breath then looked around, but she wasn't in her room any longer. She felt a cold shiver running down her spine and stood up slowly seeing wherever she was it was cold and dark.
She knew somehow it continued and where ever it was she was back in the kingdoms but how why? She looked down to see the same gown that she wore was now soaked through and torn raggedly.
She looked around desperate for some sign or evidence that she wasn't all alone here as she took a deep breath unsure what to do. If she should go in deeper to explore when she heard a loud groan almost like a beast and then stopped and quietly whispered out "Endymion" not wanting to sound louder afraid to attract whatever animal lived here, while still hoping that she would hear a reply.
She waited a moment frozen in fear that something would jump out at her at any moment, but nothing came and there was only silence. She took a few deep breaths knowing she wouldn't hear an answer back from him either. Endymion was gone, she was left alone in this place and now she was not sure where she was or how to continue on.
She looked around knowing there was nowhere else to go but forward and started to walk carefully watching her step not sure what she would find here, but felt inside she had to know.
She could feel the air was growing heavier the deeper she went and there were small puddles of water underneath her feet, so she was obviously near water of some kind. She felt her heart racing as she heard a noise and stopped, worried it was the same animal she heard before and gently called out "is there anyone here?"
She wrapped her arms around herself tightly knowing she was all alone in this place and felt frightened with the questions lingering in the air. Why was she here now? Why was she brought to this place? she carefully walked forward and saw a small light up ahead.
She gulped down the lump in her throat remembering yesterday with the young man who saved her life to lose his instead and felt her hands shaking with nerves. Questioning if she should continue on ahead or stay back hidden in the darkness.
She took a deep breath knowing what her head was telling her stay back be safe, but she knew what the answer must be whatever was waiting for her. It was beyond the darkness and she had to continue moving further. She walked up slowly trying to keep in the shadows as the light started to become a little brighter the deeper she went
She carefully crept forward seeing a wide open space just beyond the next turn and was not sure what she would find once she turned the corner and let out a deep gulp then did so anyway.
She was immediately taken back feeling her heart stop beating and carefully walked forward. She felt like everything stopped moving and for a moment she was somewhere else, not of this place or her own as she kneeled down and gently touched Endymion's body seeing how pale and cold he looked.
She covered her mouth to keep herself from crying as she shook her head and looked up questioning angrily "why, why did you bring me here?" when she felt his cold hand come up on top of her own.
She looked down to see him shocked that he was still live watching as his eyes slowly opened and he looked to her weakly telling her "you must go?"
Serena looked back at him feeling as if a huge weight was just lifted off of her, feeling enormous relief consume her body knowing he was still alive. She shook her head and was unable to keep the tears back and felt them come streaming down her cheek as she told him "you're alive"
He nodded his head weakly and took a few deep breaths telling her slowly "yes, but I can't protect you any longer. I'm sorry Serenity"
Serena looked to him not sure how it was possible they both had survived the jump, but they did and shook her head telling him relieved "that doesn't matter now. What matters is that you're here and you're alive, together I'm sure we can get through this. I can protect you for a while until you get your strength back"
He looked to her and his eyes opened wide, then a weak smile crossed his face telling her "your back"
Serena nodded her head feeling joy inside knowing he knew it was her and took hold of his hand in hers she told him "yes I'm here to help you, we can do it together, all or nothing right"
Endymion looked to her seeing how full of life she was and shook his head weakly telling her "that won't be possible any longer"
Serena looked to him knowing he was just giving up. It was obvious he was hurt yes, but she wouldn't let him give up as long as he had air still left in his lungs she wouldn't let him go and shook her head telling him assuredly "sure it is. Just think of all the things you still have to do, all the people who need you Endymion. Remember you told me all about how you had to keep on fighting for them"
He looked to her and suddenly as though it was all made clear to him, a little smirk crossed his face and he took her hand is his own telling her "now it will be up to you"
Serena looked to him confused and concerned questioning "me, but I'm not"
He smiled slightly seeing even now, she didn't see what confidence he did in her as he told her back "you once asked me why you were brought here for what reason. I have seen that reason with my own eyes in your actions and your words. You are brave and courageous enough to be a leader and kind enough to bring about peace"
Serena looked to him with a shake of her head feeling like it was too much being put on her. The entire fate of the world telling him "no that's not true, I'm not some princess, I'm just Serena"
He looked to her and saw her worried expression then let out a little chuckle telling her "exactly you're not a princess, you are so much more than that you are a fighter and have a strong and loving heart"
She looked to him and wiped a tear from her eyes, knowing she would leave this place alone and shook her head saying back "I can't do this not without you. I'm not even supposed to be here"
He took a long deep breath knowing there time was growing shorter and held her hand weakly with a nod of his head replying back "I am not sure by what magic it is that brought you here, but you changed my life for the better and I will forever be grateful for it"
Serena held onto his hand tightly knowing he was saying goodbye as she cried "don't talk like that. Don't start saying goodbye. We are going to get you out of here" as she tried to put her arm around him to help him up, but he shook his head no as she begged "come on, I'll help you we'll get you better. You'll be fine"
He looked to her seeing the tears running down her cheeks for him and shook his head telling her sorrowfully "it's too late for that, my time is running short now and I am okay with it, but you must promise me Serena"
She shook her head no not ready to lose him not again as he she felt him raise his hand up weakly and wipe away her tear telling her "You must promise you won't give up. You will get out of here there are others who can guide you, follow the river down and no matter what happens. You don't stop trying until your last breath keep fighting whatever comes your way. Keep that spirit inside you alive and you will live a long and full filling life Serena"
She looked to him trying to hold the tears back in her eyes, knowing he was growing weaker and no matter what she did or said there time together was growing shorter and nodded her head telling him "I will do, all that I can"
Endymion took a deep breath and nodded his head telling her "I know you will" as he took a deep breath and told her "you look so much like Serenity"
She felt chocked up knowing Serenity was his love and nodded her head telling him "yes"
He looked to her seeing the sad expression in her eyes and with love he spoke telling her "but you are Serena confident outspoken and brave and you must promise me you will live your life"
She looked back at him surprised by his words as she held his hand within her own hoping to bring him some peace telling him "I will do all I can for this world"
Endymion looked to her and shook his head sadly telling her "no I have done all that I can, but you must survive. You have a family that loves you and a full life still ahead of you to live Serena. Go find that special someone who puts the brightest smile on your face"
She felt chocked up unsure what fate had dealt her. Why bring her to this place just to lose him like this as she held his hand in her own telling him "I already did"
Endymion looked back at her with a little smile and then took a long gasp for breath telling her "I wish it was under other circumstances that we were to meet, but don't be afraid to open your heart, find your true love and when you do don't let them go for anything. You taught me that and much more too"
Serena saw with her own eyes him growing weaker as he lied his head down and she moved herself so he lied onto her lap instead of the cold ground, while he took a few last shallow breaths.
She knew time his to go was coming nearer as she cried out "no Endymion don't go please. I still need you with me"
He turned his head to look up to her and spoke softly "I won't be far away" and then reached out and took her hand in his own and closed his eyes softly asking "tell me about them?"
Serena looked to him feeling her own heartbreaking in half knowing she would be losing him soon whether she was ready to or not and tried to be calm and strong for him now asking "tell you about who?"
He took a deep breath struggling to still breathe air from his lungs, while he held her hand in his own not letting her go yet asking "tell me about you and your family"
Serena looked to him and wanted to cry knowing she wanted more time, there was so much still to say and do but she was running out of it with him and replied "I am just a normal under achieving teenager like I said before"
He opened his eyes and looked to her with a shake of his head and told her proudly "you are so much more than that, don't ever let yourself or anyone ever think otherwise"
Serena nodded her head knowing she could try harder, maybe before everything happened she had been a normal teenager and didn't care much about school or how her actions affected others, but now everything was different. She was different and nodded her head telling him "yes I guess I am" as she let out a little sigh telling him "I never asked for all of this to happen, to come here, meet you and have everything change"
He looked to her and gave a little nod of his head telling her "for that I am most grateful you did"
Serena looked to him and could no longer hold back the tears that she held, they ran down her cheeks instead as she cried "Endymion there is so much I want to still say and do"
He gently held her hand knowing he felt the same and wanted to know more about her as his breathing became slower he looked to her asking "tell me something a story if you will, about your life"
She looked to him shaking her head saying with a small chuckle "there is so much to say, I wouldn't know where to begin"
He took a deep breath and closed his eyes telling her softly "just tell me a happy memory of your life"
Serena nodded her head knowing his time was growing shorter and what he wanted now was to die somewhere peaceful with no fighting going on and took a deep breath telling him "well I do remember this one time with my family I don't know if it was happy, but memorable. We were on a trip up in the mountains staying at this little cabin we saw a brochure for online"
She started to smile knowing some of the things she mentioned he had no idea what they were, but still listened contently at the memory as she smiled telling him " well the brochure didn't mention that no one had lived there in years and the whole placed wreaked of dead animal"
He nodded his head as he let out a little smirk hearing her tell a story of her life in her Serena like way as she held her nose and waved her hand in front of her face emphasizing the smell then continued on telling him all about the problems they encountered on their trip, but then finally she took a long breath telling him "after everything that happened well in the end it wasn't so bad. Mom found a bag of marshmallows and that night we were making s'mores over an open camp fire; and during the evenings. The sky was like a painting with the moon was so big and bright and the stars were all shining brightly it was actually really beautiful. Each night we would sit out and laugh by the camp fire together telling each other stories late into the night"
Endymion opened his eyes back up and looked to her kind face then let out a sigh telling her "it sounds perfect. You have made wonderful memories and still have your life ahead of you to create many more Serena. Don't forget the people that need you. I want you to live it live your life to your fullest and be happy"
She looked to him growing weaker knowing the time was coming nearer to say a final goodbye as he took a deep breath and put his hand to his chest trying to grab something. She looked to him concerned as she watched him weakly struggling telling him "you need to take it easy, you should rest"
He shook his head telling her strongly between breaths "no not yet. I have to finish I must complete this" as he reached up to his neck and grabbed a chain with a gold key that hung around it and carefully took it off then placed it down in her hand telling her "it is up to you now"
Serena looked down at the key in her hand confused if he was giving her some sacred key to his kingdom and shook her head telling him "no, no I can't I'm not the one"
Endymion looked to her and took a deep breath telling her "you will keep it safe for me and know when the right keeper for the key comes, until then you must guard it"
Serena looked to him and then down to the gold key she held shaking her head questionably knowing this wasn't over asking him "but how will I know?"
Endymion looked to her with a weak smile telling her "you will, you always have, and that is why I trust in you to do so. Why you are here to complete this last mission. I am unable to keep going, but you have bravery and courage in your heart Serena, unlike anyone I have ever known you can do this"
Serena looked to him with tears running down her cheek as she looked to him with a shake of her head telling "please Endymion I am not what you think I am. Please I can't do this on my own, don't leave me here not like this"
He looked to her and held her hand as tight as he could then shook his head telling her softly "I won't, I will never leave you. I promise somehow someway I will always be with you"
Serena looked to him and let the tears run down freely from her cheeks knowing he was growing weaker and nothing she said or did would change life and death, then shook her head telling him "I love you"
He gently reached up with his hand and softly touched her face wiping away her tears as he filled his lungs with air telling her back "you have always had my eternal allegiance and my love to Seren…" as his hand dropped down to his side and he exhaled his last slow breath and died into her arms.
Serena sat there on the ground with nothing, but quiet around her as she shook her head crying "Endymion" but there was only silence back as she begged out louder "Endymion" but still only silence as she closed her eyes tight and let out the pain in her heart as she screamed out "Endymion"
She looked around the small cave they were in knowing now he was truly gone and she was all alone. She looked down at his life less body and felt her whole body shutter as she cried out "please you can't leave me here, not alone like this"
She wiped a tear from her own eyes and gently moved his body to the side as she folded his arms gently over his chest so he looked like he was sleeping and placed a gentle kiss to his lips as a final goodbye.
She stood up and looked around seeing she was left alone in this lifeless cave and wrapped her arms around herself tighter feeling a chill all around her as she shook her head telling herself "I'm only Serena, a school girl. I don't know how to do this" when she looked down at her hands and saw the gold key Endymion had given to her start to glow brightly.
She held the key tightly in her hand feeling the warmth that it was giving off of it and held it closer to her heart. She took a deep breath and then felt a glowing aura it was giving off spreading out all around her and then suddenly the whole cave was lit with a bright light. She looked around at the glow of the cave and felt there was something much more here, something that could never be explained that was beyond herself.
She took a deep breath feeling something amazing beyond her thoughts and words, and then the light started to move away quickly out of the cave. She quickly chased after it trying to keep up as she screamed out behind it "no wait please"
She chased the light right up to the end of the cave entrance and was standing outside on a small ledge by a large body of water. She looked up and saw that they were right at the bottom of where they had jumped as she looked out and felt the waves crashing up against the rocks hearing the same sound she heard at dinner this evening and then looked out on the horizon seeing the same light that was inside the cave, now going off further into the distance towards the bright sun.
She stood there for a moment seeing the horizon up ahead and took a deep breath, then looked down to the key she held in her hand and put it around her neck. She gripped the key tightly as she looked out onto eternity and would forever keep him close to her heart always then looked around for some way to escape saying "I promise, I won't give up"
She took a deep breath and remembered him mentioning something about a river to follow and tried to figure out what to do next, knowing she was alone now to make the right choices. She knew there was still so much left undone as she looked around for her way out when she heard from behind her "Serena"
She quickly turned around to see her mother standing in her doorway holding a bowl of chicken soup out in front of her as she realized she was back in her own room again.
Her mother looked to her concerned stating "I brought you up some chicken soup because you weren't feeling well. I thought I would actually in you in bed"
Serena looked to her mother and right now she was not ready to eat anything and nodded her head telling her "yeah, I'm still not really feeling myself"
Ilene nodded her head as she placed the soup down on her nightstand telling her "well why don't you get to bed. I'm sure staying up late many nights has you feeling tired and your body could use the rest"
Serena nodded her head replying "yes your right" as she went over and started to turn down the covers on her bed as her mother brought the soup over and looked to her oddly asking "where did you get that necklace from I don't remember seeing it before"
Serena looked down and saw she was still wearing the gold key around her neck and held onto it tight with her hand knowing it was her responsibility to guard it well as she looked to her mother with a little smile telling her "a special friend"
Her mother nodded her head curiously wondering if it was a special boyfriend telling her "I see, well I would like to meet this special friend of yours someday"
Serena took a deep breath knowing he was gone and that it would never be possible as she shook her head telling her sadly "I don't think that will ever be possible mom"
Ilene looked to her seeing Serena seemed very sad as she nodded her head telling her "is there something on our mind that you want to talk about"
Serena looked to her mother knowing she was very in tune with certain things especially her family as she shook her head telling her "no I am just tired and cold use some rest"
"Ilene nodded her head as she reached over and gave Serena a kiss on her forehead telling her "alright well get some rest for now we'll talk in the morning okay"
Serena nodded her head as she watched her mother walk out of the room and close the door behind her as she lied down on her bed and held the key tightly in her hand and told him "I promise".
