Those Who Guard
Chapter 3
By Lady Saffir
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN SAILOR MOON.
AN - Well everyone, I think this might be the last chapter. My SM juices just
aren't flowing anymore...I've hit my Gundam Wing high at the moment.
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The Queen of Earth looked up at her son, eyes growing soft at
the sight of him. At the age of seventeen, he had all ready reached
his full growth, an impressive six feet, two inches. A shock of unruly
black hair fell into his face, making Aeris resist the urge to reach
up and brush it back.
His dark blue eyes, so attuned with his mood, were at the moment
A soft blue as he looked down at her.
"Why don't you come with me, mother. You say that you and
Serenity haven't had a 'gossip fest' for years. This is your chance,"
he said, his eyes begging her to agree.
"I am sorry, Endymion, but that cannot happen. I have matters
of the state, and you must remain undistracted." So saying, Aeris
turned to address Jadeite as he walked by.
"Though I'm sure he'll be distracted the minute he sees young
Serenity." The statement, said quietly so that Endymion would not
hear,brought the past back with a rush. Both Queen and General smiled
over the memory of Endymion, jaw dropping at a formal diplomatic function
when he was introduced to Princess Serenity. It had appeared that his
young playmate, who at one time had always been covered in dirt, was
now much more aware of her appearance. And used it to her
advantage, the Queen had privately noted.
"Watch him, Jadeite. Make sure he doesn't make a fool out of
himself," Aeris muttered, then swept out of the room.
"Only if it won't cause any permanent damage," Jadeite promised,
sketching a bow in his Queen's direction.
"Talking to yourself again, Jade? I thought that medicine Zoi gave
you would have stopped the voices by now," Endymion joked, walking by.
"If only you knew," Jadeite muttered. "If only you knew."
The palace was breath taking, Endymion noted. It more than
measured up to his ideals of the Moon Kingdom. Following their guide
through the halls, he couldn't help but appreciate the thought that had
gone into it.
Every nook and cranny contained something, no matter how small.
While silver was the predominant color, whoever had designed the palace understood the concept of contrasting. Dark, vivid colors seemed to
suddenly appear on the walls, making the eye focus on that spot in awe.
The tile in this particular hallway was white, with streaks of black
running through it. Wall tapestries depicted scenes from a forest.
Woven into the background of each were several Moon animals, so skillfully
hidden that to blink was to lose the image.
At last they came to a stop before a set of doors.
"Her majesty hopes that you will enjoy her hospitality for as long
as you desire. These are to be your rooms. The Queen has planned a ball
for later tonight, where she will formally introduce you to the court.
Feel free until then to refresh yourselves or become aquainted with the
palace. If you find anything lacking, please feel free to inform someone.
Good day, sirs."
With a bow the servant left, re-tracing his footsteps. Only when
the echo had died away did Endymion speak.
"Well, shall we? It appears that we have been left to our own
devices for now, gentlemen. Please, after you," he said, mock bowing to Jadeite.
"No, after you, I insist."
"No, I insist."
"I insist!"
"I said, I..."
"Would both of you shut up?! Enough all ready! Why don't you just
walk in together!"
That being said, Malachite swept past them, followed by Zoicite and
Nephryte. With a shrug and a wink, Endymion held out his arm. Jadeite
took it, and together they walked through the doors.
Ten minutes before the ball was scheduled to begin, a knock sounded
on the door.
Crossing to open it, Endymion was surprised by his guest.
"My Queen! I was not expecting to see you until later tonight.
What brings you to my quarters?"
"I am your guide to the ball, Endymion. I thought that this might
perhaps quicken the introductions, and allow us to have a bit of fun, in
the process."
Endymion raised an eyebrow. "Fun? What type of 'fun'?"
The Queen only smiled enigmatically. "Oh, you'll see, you'll see."
The words, though spoken lightly, were enough to make Endymion pause.
He wasn't sure if he wanted to ask.
"Well, my Queen, we are ready. Gentlemen, if you will?" Falling
around their Prince and his Royal escort, they proceeded to walk down the
hall.
As they neared the ballroom, more people began to notice them.
Several noble women nudged each other, pointing out their Queen's male companion. He was certainly a catch, they privately noted, and wondered
at his appearance. The Queen had subtly hinted that something momentous
was going to happen tonight, and this mystery man set the minds racing for
an explanation. Could it be that their Queen was going to re-marry?
Endymion noticed the looks they were receiving. *Is my armor causing
offense or something? Or is my hair a complete mess? Oh, I wish they'd
stop staring like that!* Sending a frown in the direction of several
nobles, he noted that they quickly looked somewhere else. *Ugh, I hate
court! Everyone is entirely too nosey!*
Sweeping into the room, the music suddenly stopped. Courtiers
everywhere bowed to the Queen, and sent a questioning glance at her young
companion and guards. Serenity merely smiled and motioned for the
musicians to continue.
Steering Endymion towards her daughter, Serenity smiled to herself.
She couldn't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces later. She
shrugged. Well, she'd promised Endymion fun, but she hadn't said who was
going to have fun. She knew she certainly was going to though.
"Endymion, I believe you have met my daughter before?" At his
answering nod she smiled. "Good. I'd like to formally introduce your
guards to the senshi."
At her nod, the senshi stepped forward, one by one.
"Endymion, I present to you Sailor Venus, the head of Serenity's
guard." A woman dressed in an orange dress stepped forward, bowing
slightly to him, then retreating behind Serenity.
"I present to you Sailor Mars. She is also a high priestess of our
religion." Taking a step forward, the woman in red bowed deeply before
the Prince.
"I present to you Sailor Jupiter. Jupiter is in charge of
Serenity's security." The tall woman stepped forward, acknowledging
Endymion with a curt bob of the head.
"And finally, I present to you Sailor Mercury, the healer of
Serenity's guard." The blue-clad woman bowed deeply to Endymion, then retreated to her position beside Sailor Jupiter.
The introductions of Endymion's guard followed, each man noting
which senshi appeared to be watching them closest. Malachite eyed Venus, sensing a worthy opponent, while Zoicite smiled benignly at Mercury.
Nephryte was determined to dance with the bewitching Sailor Jupiter,
while Jadeite merely wanted to discuss religion with Mars.
Each pair moved off, leaving Endymion alone with two Serenity's on
his hands. Unsure as to whom he should ask to dance first, the Queen
beat him to it.
"I believe that I shall retire to the refreshment table for a
little while. Serenity, would you care to show the Prince around?" At
her daughter's nod, Serenity moved off, hiding her smile until she had
her back to them. Tonight was going to be so interesting!
The silence between the two stretched on for several seconds, until
Endymion was sure he couldn't stand it any longer.
"Princess, may I have this dance?"
The Princess in question cocked her head to the side, then smiled
up at him.
"Only if you promise to drop the 'Princess' bit and call me by my
nick-name." With a sigh of relief, Endymion assented, then returned the
favor.
"You also must call me by my pet name. I will not stand on
formalities between us." He smiled down at her, once again impressed
with how his play-mate had turned out.
Serenity also was noticing how well her childhood friend had grown.
He bowed, she curtsied, and together they walked on to the dance floor.
After several minutes of comfortable silence, Serenity spoke.
"It seems that your guard has their hands full tonight. I doubt
that you shall see them for quite a while."
Following Serenity's gaze, Endymion saw what she was looking at.
In the corner, Jadeite and Mars were having a heated debate, no doubt
about who held a higher religious level, or something like that. Craning
his neck to the left, Endymion saw Nephryte had succeeded in capturing
the Lady Jupiter's hand for a dance, and seemed quite pleased with himself.
Turning, Endymion saw that Zoicite had managed to catch up with
Mercury, who appeared flustered at her pursuer. He wondered what the
quietest of his guard was saying to cause such a reaction.
As the dance brought them around again, a swirling cape caught his
attention. Bowing low over her hand, Malachite then proceeded to bring
Venus' hand to his lips, which he then kissed.
Serenity, seeing the blush that crossed her friend's face, giggled.
"I haven't seen Venus blush in a long time! Oh, I can't wait until
tonight!" Laughing to herself, she looked up to catch Endymion's
questioning look.
"Tonight? What's so important about tonight?" He questioned.
"Why, after every ball, the senshi and I get together and discuss
every thing that happened."
Endymion raised an eyebrow. "A gossip fest, is it? Well, then,
fair Princess, we shall just have to give your senshi something to talk
about. After all, it isn't fair if they have nothing to tease you about."
Serenity started to protest when Endymion abruptly stopped.
Startled, she looked up, only to see him grin down at her. "Hold on
tight," he said, laughing as confusion crossed her face.
Grabbing her hand, he swirled her out, swinging around in a circle.
Quickly, he pulled her to him, absently noting that everyone was looking
at them. He smiled. It was a good first entrance.
Dipping the Princess low, he pulled her upright, then continued the
dance. Serenity looked up at him, eyes twinkling in merriment.
"You, sir, are a cad. Proper Princesses should not dance like
that," she admonished, laughing up at him.
"Whoever said that you were a 'proper' Princess? Or that I was a gentleman, for that matter?"
Laughing together, they were unaware of the knowing looks the court
gave them.
The dance ended, and Malachite bowed to his partner. "Forgive me,
Lady Venus, but I regret that I have business to attend to at the moment. Perhaps we may dance later," he said, looking up to watch her face.
Venus looked at him. "I am not sure, Lord Malachite. After all,
a proper gentleman would not leave a lady in distress, would he? It makes
one think that I am not beautiful enough to hold your attention."
Arching an eyebrow, she waited for his reply. When it came, none was
more startled than she.
"Lady Venus, your beauty is enough to make any man forget even the
most pressing business. However, I was charged by Queen Aeris herself,
to attend to this matter. However, if the Lady permits, I shall make it
up to her?"
At his questioning glance she nodded. "Aye, I believe that I can
find it in my heart to forgive you. It is just as well, for I have
matters of the state to attend to as well."
Each turned, their minds all ready focusing on their business.
After all, neither one could afford pleasure over business, at least at
the moment.
Artemis glanced up as his son approached. "Having fun? It appears
that the Mina was as well," he goaded, trying to get his off-spring to
rise to the bait.
"The Lady Venus," and here he paused to show his father their true
relationship, "had several good ideas on how to keep the guard in top
shape. She would be a worthy foe in battle," he admitted, turning to
look at the lady they talked about.
Artemis sighed. "I despair in you, Malachite. A beautiful woman
spends an hour dressing herself to draw attention to her beauty, and all
you can think of is how good she would be in battle."
Malachite merely scowled, then reached into his jacket. "Here is
the paper the Queen sent. She hopes that Serenity will find it
satisfactory?"
Taking the paper, Artemis nodded. "Aye, she will. Serenity wants
this as badly as Aeris does." Spotting someone from across the ballroom,
he smiled in acknowledgement.
"I will take care of this. Meanwhile, why don't you go talk to your mother. Perhaps ask her to dance?"
Malachite took the subtle hint. "As you wish, father. Enjoy the evening."
Likewise, Venus was following her orders. Stepping up to her
Princess and the Prince, she smiled at the pair.
"Endymion, might I perhaps borrow Serenity for a moment? I need to
talk to her."
Smiling, Endymion nodded his assent, then walked over to the table
where Nephryte was seated.
"How goes it, Nephryte? I hope you aren't causing too much
trouble."
His friend smiled broadly. "The women, Endymion! The women! This
must be heaven!" He cried, causing a his Prince to laugh at his antics.
"I am sorry, dear friend, but this isn't heaven. And shouldn't you
be saying, 'That woman! That woman!'? Unless of course the Lady
Jupiter has multiple personalities. But then, you would be attracted to
that, wouldn't you," Endymion mused, drawing a smile from the seated
man.
Queen Serenity watched the proceedings from the dais, drinking in
the sight of her daughter and guardians enjoying themselves. Endymion's
guard certainly could hold their own, she mused, watching as Jadeite won
an argument with Mars, and Zoicite finally convinced the shy Mercury to
dance. A slight wind swept past her, and she smiled, speaking without
turning to address her visitor.
"Old friend, I had hoped that you would be here for this occasion.
It is seldom that you put in an appearance."
Her companion chuckled. "You know what they all think of me. At
the first sight they imagine that I have come to stop some cataclysmic
event. I don't believe it has ever occurred to them that I might simply
want to enjoy myself."
At that, Serenity turned to the Senshi of Time. Her eyes widened slightly, and she laughed. "You're not wearing your sailor fuku! My,
this is an occasion, isn't it?" She teased, watching her closest friend.
Pluto smiled down at her. "We can't have something altering the
future, now, can we? And if I were to appear in battle dress, then what
shall be would never come to pass."
Behind her words, Serenity sensed their true meaning, and a slight
shiver passed through her body. This had more impact than she thought.
She must continue without delay.
At that moment, Artemis arrived. Bowing low to his Queen, then
Pluto, he held out the document for her to take.
Serenity silently accepted it, skimming over the contents. She
knew what it said, and didn't really care much for the trivialities.
Looking up, she smiled at her advisor.
"Where is Luna, Artemis? I would have thought that she would want
to be the first to know of this."
Artemis grinned. "I told Malachite to dance with his mother.
After all, Luna means well, but sometimes her advice isn't that sound.
At least, when it comes to something like this."
Serenity smiled, then with a look at Pluto and Artemis, stood.
Almost immediately a silence fell over the crowd, everyone waiting to see
what the Queen would say.
"Princess Serenity, please come before me." The crowd, murmuring
quietly, parted to allow the Heir to the Silver Millenium passage.
"Princess Serenity, it is on this day that I bestow upon you your
powers, so that you may train to protect your kingdom." Calling forth
the Silver Crystal, Serenity sent it a silent command. The Crystal
began to glow softly, the aura reaching out to surround its Princess.
After a few seconds, the glow faded. Mother and daughter shared a
smile before Serenity once more faced the gathering. "Prince Endymion of
Earth, come before me," she commanded.
Endymion stepped forward, his guard a few paces behind him. "Prince
Endymion, you come here today to learn the art of magik. Do you promise
to never use it to harm, and only to help those in need?" At his nod she smiled.
"Then it is with great joy that I announce the betrothal of
Princess Serenity, Heir to the Silver Millenium, to Prince Endymion, Heir
to the Terran Throne."
Shocked silence followed, then polite applause. After raising their
drinks in a toast to the new couple, many returned to the dance floor,
where they might gossip more easily.
Serenity stared at her mother in shock. *Mother...* she ground out mentally, *what are you up to?* Chancing a look at Endymion, she saw
that he was just as surprised. *I correct myself. What are you and Aeris
up to?*
The Queen merely sent a mental smile to her daughter before
stepping down from the dais. "Endymion, if you would care?" Gesturing
toward the dance floor, she made her intent plain. She wanted to talk to
him, and she wanted to now.
Gnashing his teeth mentally, Endymion smiled at the Queen and bowed
low over her hand. "My Queen, may I have this dance?" As they took their
spot on the floor, Endymion cast one last pleading look to Malachite.
Shrugging to himself, Malachite did the only thing he could think
of. "Princess, might I have this dance?" Still shocked, Serenity merely nodded, taking the proffered hand.
Endymion stared at his partner. "My Queen, is there something you
wished to discuss with me?"
Looking at the young Prince, Serenity felt something tugging at the
back of her mind. It was almost as if someone or something was trying to
push her to something. With a slight shock of recognition, she realized
that this young man before her was mentally prodding her. Her eyes
widened with another thought. He was unaware of what he was doing. It appeared, Serenity mused, that his powers had not lain dormant these past
few years.
Ignoring the sensation, she concentrated on her words instead.
"Yes, there is something I wished to discuss with you. I see that
your mother had not informed you of your eminent betrothal. When my
daughter was born, it was suggested that this marriage occur. The final contract was signed yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Endymion sputtered. "But, you mean...my mother knew perfectly well what was going to happen and she did nothing to inform
me?!" The dam of emotions finally burst, leaving red spots before
Endymion's eyes.
Serenity, sensing this, quickly moved to calm him. "Would it have
made a difference, Endymion? Why are you so against it? Do you find my
daughter repulsive?"
Endymion snorted. "Oh, yes, that is why I've spent the entire night glaring at any young man that dared to look at Sere the wrong way. Your daughter is very beautiful. And it will only increase as she ages."
At that point he stopped, unsure of his emotions.
"Then what troubles you? We both know you find her attractive,"
seeing the slight blush that spread across his face, she nodded. "Yes,
I'm not blind. I did notice all of those glares you've been handing out
left and right this evening. We both also know that the two of you get
along superbly. Neither of you are plain, daft, or penniless, so what
bothers you so?"
Endymion shifted uncomfortably. "It is only, I mean...I'm a ruler,
so I've never been stupid of the fact that I would probably have a
political marriage, but, well..." he trailed off, feeling as if he had
made a fool of himself.
Serenity stared, her features softening when she realized the
problem. "You had hoped to be able to marry for love?" She asked softly.
Endymion nodded, pushing on with his thoughts. "I love your
daughter, I know that. But I do not know if it is the love one feels for
a sister, or a close friend, or what it is. But I do not think that it
is the love of...well, of a lover," he finished.
Stopping in the middle of the floor, Serenity smiled up at him.
"You have three years to figure that out. As is our custom, the Heir not
only will receive her full powers, she will also be wed on the day of
her seventeenth birthday. Three years, Endymion. Use that time wisely."
So saying, Queen Serenity, ruler of the Silver Millenium, slipped
deftly through the crowd, heading for a destination only she knew.
Endymion stared after her, heedless of the swirling crowd around him.
Princess Serenity frowned up at her uncle. "Malachite, were you
aware of this betrothal?" Waiting for an answer, she noticed that he
refused to meet her eyes.
"You did know! Why didn't you inform me?!" She asked, feeling
slightly betrayed. This was the man that played hide-and-go-seek, that
had taught her the art of sword fighting, that had treated her as a
younger sister, not as a niece.
Malachite looked down at her. "And if I had told you, what would
you have done? Confronted your mother, embarrassed her publicly by
refusing the match, thrown down all of your titles and powers at her feet,
to storm off in a childish manner? You act as if she has sentenced you
do a slave camp. Endymion is kind, intelligent, powerful, rich - what
more could you want in a husband, Serenity?"
Serenity was looking nothing like her name-sake at the moment, her
blue eyes flashing angrily. Unconsciously, she began to summon her power,
when a warning look from her uncle made her pause.
"Serenity, stop this at once! I know that you feel betrayed that
neither your mother, your senshi, nor myself told you of this, but it is
the way of life! This is the price you pay for being of Royal blood.
Now, tell me honestly, what is wrong." Malachite commanded, daring her
to disobey.
Serenity stumbled haltingly over her words, choosing them with care.
"Malachite, all my life, I have...known, somewhere...somewhere deep
inside of me, that mother...mother did not truly love my father," she
whispered, feeling a tear trickle down her face.
Malachite noted this, and silently wiped it away. "Oh, Serenity,"
he whispered, "understand, it doesn't always have to be that way. You
have three years to get to know Endymion better. Use it to your full
advantage. Spend time with him. Learn of his likes and dislikes. Learn
to see the man behind the title." Kissing her gently on the forehead,
he hugged her once more, then went in search of the Queen.
Malachite found Queen Serenity the same time she found Pluto.
Pluto merely nodded a greeting, then suggested that they retire to the
rose gardens for privacy.
Walking down the silver path, Malachite felt a sense of peace
surround him. The feeling seemed to wrap him in a warm blanket, leaving
him to wonder how he had ever lived without this constant state of
serenity. Glancing at his aunt, he snorted. Well, he knew two
Serenity's, and neither one ever projected this aura.
Pluto stopped beside a hidden bench. "Perhaps we might rest here?"
She suggested, indicating that they take a seat. Standing before them,
she began to speak quietly.
"I know that they both feel betrayed that their closest advisors
did nothing to inform them, and you must put a stop to this feeling as
soon as possible. If they begin to feel that they cannot trust their
closest allies anymore, then that feeling will turn to hate. They will
not trust the other, for they will think that each hid the news from them.
"If they believe that their advisors and each other are planning
events without their knowledge, then all is lost. Each will begin to
seek ways of revenge, and that path will lead them to the enemy's door."
At this Pluto paused.
"You might as well come out here, Sailor Venus. I know that you are
there, so stop hiding in the bushes."
With a sheepish look on her face, Venus emerged from her hiding
spot. Malachite had to smile at the sight of her. Her trek through the
middle of the rose bushes had left her with bits of leaves in her hair.
Loose petals adorned the top of her head, while her beautiful orange
dress had several snags and tears in it.
Malachite moved, allowing the senshi of Venus to sit, then looked expectantly up at Sailor Pluto.
"You were saying?" he prodded.
Shooting him a pointed look, she continued. "I was saying that each
needs to be completely honest with your royal charges. In order to make
sure that this happens, Prince Endymion and his royal guard will be
staying on the Moon for an extended period of time.
"Princess Serenity will travel to Earth, where
she will learn the customs of her future husband."
Here Pluto paused, giving both Malachite and Venus a measuring
glance. "And to ensure that both the Princess and Prince will feel
entirely comfortable with the other's guard, two of Endymion's guard will
stay on Earth, and two of Serenity's court will stay on the
Moon."
"Malachite, you and Nephryte will stay on Earth,
while Zoicite and Jadeite will reside here. Sailor
Venus, you and Sailor Jupiter will travel to Earth."
Malachite regarded the timeless senshi with an
air of amusement.
"How did you come to these arrangements, Sailor
Pluto? Did you think of this in power and ability, or
did you merely pick four names out of a hat, leaving
your choices to fate? Or perhaps the Fates themselves
told you who should be with whom?"
Sailor Pluto bowed to him, allowing the time
keys at her waist to chime softly. Fingering them,
she gave Malachite a tolerant smile.
"You forget, Lord Malachite, that while I am in
the confidence of the Fates, I am also the guardress of
Time. I know the future. And while I am not permitted
to interfere with the Time flow, I can take steps to
insure that the correct path is followed.
"As what now must happen to insure that the
future happens," Pluto said mysteriously, waving them
forward.
As the Queen of the Silver Millenium, along with
her most trusted advisor, top security advisor, and
nephew watched, the scene that appeared before their
eyes made them gasp in awe.
Dancing lightly into the rose garden, Princess
Serenity led Prince Endymion forward into her secret
haven. Twirling like a ballerina, Serenity continued
to amuse the Prince with her antics.
Endymion laughed to himself as Sere continued
her beautiful dance, abruptly tripping over her own
feet. Laughing openly now, he hurried to help his
Princess up, absently noting to himself at how the
silvery light in the air only increased her beauty.
It had been a strained few moments there, after
both Malachite and the Queen had left the ballroom.
Hesitantly approaching the Princess (your fiancée, his
mind noted) he had been unsure of what to say. Finally,
with a shrug of the shoulders and a gleam in his eye,
he had done the only thing possible.
"My beautiful Princess of the Moon, heir to the Silver Millenium,
Sere," here she had
giggled softly at the pretentious title, followed by the
silly nick-name, "may I have this dance? It seems that
we have been left to our own devices."
With a curtsy that matched his bow, she had
replied with an unprecedented snobbiness in her voice.
"Well, my Lord Prince, heir to the
Terran throne, heartbreaker of Lunar women, and knight
in shining armor, Endy," another giggle, breaking her
concentration, "I believe that you forget my three
remaining guardians. Especially Sailor Jupiter," she
added, casting a glance at the tall warrior.
Another bow, this one more exaggerated then
before. "Ah, but you forget MY guardians." With an
unseen gesture by the Prince, each General grabbed their
chosen partner, and whirled them onto the dance floor,
leaving Princess Serenity laughing helplessly, and
Prince Endymion smiling at his success.
After three dances Serenity had dragged him
outside, wanting to show him something. Now he found
himself in one of the most beautiful gardens he had
ever seen, in awe of the tranquility around him.
"It is...beautiful," Endymion said quietly, his
eyes sweeping the interior quickly. It appeared that
only one type of rose grew here, and all in the
brilliant red that he loved.
"Simply, amazing," he breathed, walking to the
nearest bush. Slowly, gently, he reached out, ready to
pluck the luscious bloom from the stem.
"Stop!"
The Princess' cry caused Endymion to jerk, his
fingers brushing the thorny stem. With a cry he
snatched his hand back, putting the hurt finger to his
mouth.
Glancing at Serenity, Endymion saw that her eyes
were wide open. She trembled slightly, something he
doubted was caused by the night air.
Forgetting his finger, he walked over to where
she was. "Serenity," he asked softly, "what is wrong?"
Ignoring him, she walked over to the rose
bush, bending down to gently lift the rose away from the
bush. Gesturing Endymion over, she turned her eyes
back to the rose. Closing them, she quickly jabbed her
index finger on the single thorn, then turned to look
up at Endymion.
Serenity motioned for him to come closer, and
baffled, he did. Quickly grabbing his hand, she jabbed
his finger on the thorn also.
With a muffled oath he pulled away, turning to
ask her what she was doing. What he saw made his jaw
drop. The rose, originally a deep red, was now a
crystalline blue. The base was a dark sapphire color,
gently fading outwards until the petals were tipped with
silver.
"What..." Endymion breathed, unable to take his
eyes away from the beautiful sight. Smiling, Serenity
placed the rose in his hand, then guided him to another
rose bush.
Merely smiling at his questioning look, she
pantomimed touching the rose to the bush. Sighing to
himself, Endymion acquiesced, deciding to humor her.
What happened shocked him to the core.
With a simple touch, the entire bush, rose petal
by rose petal, turned into crystal. The silver of their
petals caught the Earth light perfectly, reflecting it
back in a thousand different directions.
"Oh," Endymion whispered, amazed at the bushes change of
appearance.
Delighted to have caught the Prince unaware, Serenity
Continued with her surprises. Dancing over to the next bush,
She motioned for him to follow. This time, she took his hand,
Placing it on a single rose. Instantly, the rose and the
Surrounding greenery turned to crystal.
Turning to the Princess, Endymion demanded an explanation.
"What is happening? How is the this happening?"
Serenity smiled.
"It is known as the Destiny Effect."
"The WHAT effect?!"
Serenity laughed, enjoying Endymion's confusion.
"That is not its real name. The name came about when a man
said that the rose's transformation was caused when the blood
of a Princess was mixed with that of her true love, the one she
was destined to be with for all time."
Pausing thoughtfully, Serenity continued. "I've never actually
seen the roses turn, but I've always believed in the story. It
sounds too romantic not to be true."
Endymion smiled, thinking how easily it was to believe in
such myths. "I agree. Such stories must have a grain of truth in
them."
At that, Serenity blushed. "Ah, there's actually more to the
story." Refusing to continue any farther, she ignored Endymion's
pleas.
A mischievous smile found its way onto Endymion's face,
causing his eyes to glint in merriment.
"Well, then, Princess, if you won't tell me voluntarily, I
suppose that I shall have to torture it out of you."
Lunging at the startled Princess, Endymion continued to give
chase, laughing as Serenity glanced back to see him gaining ground.
Endymion easily caught her, wrapping powerful arms about her
waist and swinging her around to face him. Breathless, she stared
back at him, waiting to see what he would do.
"Well?" he asked expectantly, "are you going to tell me, or
do I have to tickle it out of you?"
After an experimental tickle, and a startled yelp later, Serenity
agreed to tell.
"All right! All right! I yield! Just, please, don't tickle,"
she begged.
"It goes like this. The man, who was actually a poet, said that
if the roses turned to crystal, then the love was strong. But he also
went on to say that the roses would light the entire night sky if the
couple kissed, and their souls bonded."
Endymion nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. "Well, I hope everyone
brought sunglasses, don't you?"
Without giving a warning, Endymion swiftly captured Serenity's
mouth with his own. With a startled gasp, her lips parted, turning the
chaste kiss into a passionate embrace.
Around them, the crystal roses continued to glow with Earth light.
gradually brightening, they began to emit a powerful white light.
bathing the area in light, the shadows began to recede as the power of
the light increased.
With a gasp, Malachite, Venus, and Pluto covered their eyes, tearing
from the intensity of the light. Queen Serenity, smiling sadly,
watched as her daughter's soul and that of the young Prince's melded
together, forming a seamless column of silver and black. "To the
future," she whispered, raising her hand to bless her daughter.
*********************************************************************
Ah...I am thinking that perhaps that is a good place to stop the story, maybe with an
epilogue. Please leave me a note and tell me what you think!
Lady Saffir
Rinoah7@cs.com
Chapter 3
By Lady Saffir
DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN SAILOR MOON.
AN - Well everyone, I think this might be the last chapter. My SM juices just
aren't flowing anymore...I've hit my Gundam Wing high at the moment.
**********************************************************************
The Queen of Earth looked up at her son, eyes growing soft at
the sight of him. At the age of seventeen, he had all ready reached
his full growth, an impressive six feet, two inches. A shock of unruly
black hair fell into his face, making Aeris resist the urge to reach
up and brush it back.
His dark blue eyes, so attuned with his mood, were at the moment
A soft blue as he looked down at her.
"Why don't you come with me, mother. You say that you and
Serenity haven't had a 'gossip fest' for years. This is your chance,"
he said, his eyes begging her to agree.
"I am sorry, Endymion, but that cannot happen. I have matters
of the state, and you must remain undistracted." So saying, Aeris
turned to address Jadeite as he walked by.
"Though I'm sure he'll be distracted the minute he sees young
Serenity." The statement, said quietly so that Endymion would not
hear,brought the past back with a rush. Both Queen and General smiled
over the memory of Endymion, jaw dropping at a formal diplomatic function
when he was introduced to Princess Serenity. It had appeared that his
young playmate, who at one time had always been covered in dirt, was
now much more aware of her appearance. And used it to her
advantage, the Queen had privately noted.
"Watch him, Jadeite. Make sure he doesn't make a fool out of
himself," Aeris muttered, then swept out of the room.
"Only if it won't cause any permanent damage," Jadeite promised,
sketching a bow in his Queen's direction.
"Talking to yourself again, Jade? I thought that medicine Zoi gave
you would have stopped the voices by now," Endymion joked, walking by.
"If only you knew," Jadeite muttered. "If only you knew."
The palace was breath taking, Endymion noted. It more than
measured up to his ideals of the Moon Kingdom. Following their guide
through the halls, he couldn't help but appreciate the thought that had
gone into it.
Every nook and cranny contained something, no matter how small.
While silver was the predominant color, whoever had designed the palace understood the concept of contrasting. Dark, vivid colors seemed to
suddenly appear on the walls, making the eye focus on that spot in awe.
The tile in this particular hallway was white, with streaks of black
running through it. Wall tapestries depicted scenes from a forest.
Woven into the background of each were several Moon animals, so skillfully
hidden that to blink was to lose the image.
At last they came to a stop before a set of doors.
"Her majesty hopes that you will enjoy her hospitality for as long
as you desire. These are to be your rooms. The Queen has planned a ball
for later tonight, where she will formally introduce you to the court.
Feel free until then to refresh yourselves or become aquainted with the
palace. If you find anything lacking, please feel free to inform someone.
Good day, sirs."
With a bow the servant left, re-tracing his footsteps. Only when
the echo had died away did Endymion speak.
"Well, shall we? It appears that we have been left to our own
devices for now, gentlemen. Please, after you," he said, mock bowing to Jadeite.
"No, after you, I insist."
"No, I insist."
"I insist!"
"I said, I..."
"Would both of you shut up?! Enough all ready! Why don't you just
walk in together!"
That being said, Malachite swept past them, followed by Zoicite and
Nephryte. With a shrug and a wink, Endymion held out his arm. Jadeite
took it, and together they walked through the doors.
Ten minutes before the ball was scheduled to begin, a knock sounded
on the door.
Crossing to open it, Endymion was surprised by his guest.
"My Queen! I was not expecting to see you until later tonight.
What brings you to my quarters?"
"I am your guide to the ball, Endymion. I thought that this might
perhaps quicken the introductions, and allow us to have a bit of fun, in
the process."
Endymion raised an eyebrow. "Fun? What type of 'fun'?"
The Queen only smiled enigmatically. "Oh, you'll see, you'll see."
The words, though spoken lightly, were enough to make Endymion pause.
He wasn't sure if he wanted to ask.
"Well, my Queen, we are ready. Gentlemen, if you will?" Falling
around their Prince and his Royal escort, they proceeded to walk down the
hall.
As they neared the ballroom, more people began to notice them.
Several noble women nudged each other, pointing out their Queen's male companion. He was certainly a catch, they privately noted, and wondered
at his appearance. The Queen had subtly hinted that something momentous
was going to happen tonight, and this mystery man set the minds racing for
an explanation. Could it be that their Queen was going to re-marry?
Endymion noticed the looks they were receiving. *Is my armor causing
offense or something? Or is my hair a complete mess? Oh, I wish they'd
stop staring like that!* Sending a frown in the direction of several
nobles, he noted that they quickly looked somewhere else. *Ugh, I hate
court! Everyone is entirely too nosey!*
Sweeping into the room, the music suddenly stopped. Courtiers
everywhere bowed to the Queen, and sent a questioning glance at her young
companion and guards. Serenity merely smiled and motioned for the
musicians to continue.
Steering Endymion towards her daughter, Serenity smiled to herself.
She couldn't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces later. She
shrugged. Well, she'd promised Endymion fun, but she hadn't said who was
going to have fun. She knew she certainly was going to though.
"Endymion, I believe you have met my daughter before?" At his
answering nod she smiled. "Good. I'd like to formally introduce your
guards to the senshi."
At her nod, the senshi stepped forward, one by one.
"Endymion, I present to you Sailor Venus, the head of Serenity's
guard." A woman dressed in an orange dress stepped forward, bowing
slightly to him, then retreating behind Serenity.
"I present to you Sailor Mars. She is also a high priestess of our
religion." Taking a step forward, the woman in red bowed deeply before
the Prince.
"I present to you Sailor Jupiter. Jupiter is in charge of
Serenity's security." The tall woman stepped forward, acknowledging
Endymion with a curt bob of the head.
"And finally, I present to you Sailor Mercury, the healer of
Serenity's guard." The blue-clad woman bowed deeply to Endymion, then retreated to her position beside Sailor Jupiter.
The introductions of Endymion's guard followed, each man noting
which senshi appeared to be watching them closest. Malachite eyed Venus, sensing a worthy opponent, while Zoicite smiled benignly at Mercury.
Nephryte was determined to dance with the bewitching Sailor Jupiter,
while Jadeite merely wanted to discuss religion with Mars.
Each pair moved off, leaving Endymion alone with two Serenity's on
his hands. Unsure as to whom he should ask to dance first, the Queen
beat him to it.
"I believe that I shall retire to the refreshment table for a
little while. Serenity, would you care to show the Prince around?" At
her daughter's nod, Serenity moved off, hiding her smile until she had
her back to them. Tonight was going to be so interesting!
The silence between the two stretched on for several seconds, until
Endymion was sure he couldn't stand it any longer.
"Princess, may I have this dance?"
The Princess in question cocked her head to the side, then smiled
up at him.
"Only if you promise to drop the 'Princess' bit and call me by my
nick-name." With a sigh of relief, Endymion assented, then returned the
favor.
"You also must call me by my pet name. I will not stand on
formalities between us." He smiled down at her, once again impressed
with how his play-mate had turned out.
Serenity also was noticing how well her childhood friend had grown.
He bowed, she curtsied, and together they walked on to the dance floor.
After several minutes of comfortable silence, Serenity spoke.
"It seems that your guard has their hands full tonight. I doubt
that you shall see them for quite a while."
Following Serenity's gaze, Endymion saw what she was looking at.
In the corner, Jadeite and Mars were having a heated debate, no doubt
about who held a higher religious level, or something like that. Craning
his neck to the left, Endymion saw Nephryte had succeeded in capturing
the Lady Jupiter's hand for a dance, and seemed quite pleased with himself.
Turning, Endymion saw that Zoicite had managed to catch up with
Mercury, who appeared flustered at her pursuer. He wondered what the
quietest of his guard was saying to cause such a reaction.
As the dance brought them around again, a swirling cape caught his
attention. Bowing low over her hand, Malachite then proceeded to bring
Venus' hand to his lips, which he then kissed.
Serenity, seeing the blush that crossed her friend's face, giggled.
"I haven't seen Venus blush in a long time! Oh, I can't wait until
tonight!" Laughing to herself, she looked up to catch Endymion's
questioning look.
"Tonight? What's so important about tonight?" He questioned.
"Why, after every ball, the senshi and I get together and discuss
every thing that happened."
Endymion raised an eyebrow. "A gossip fest, is it? Well, then,
fair Princess, we shall just have to give your senshi something to talk
about. After all, it isn't fair if they have nothing to tease you about."
Serenity started to protest when Endymion abruptly stopped.
Startled, she looked up, only to see him grin down at her. "Hold on
tight," he said, laughing as confusion crossed her face.
Grabbing her hand, he swirled her out, swinging around in a circle.
Quickly, he pulled her to him, absently noting that everyone was looking
at them. He smiled. It was a good first entrance.
Dipping the Princess low, he pulled her upright, then continued the
dance. Serenity looked up at him, eyes twinkling in merriment.
"You, sir, are a cad. Proper Princesses should not dance like
that," she admonished, laughing up at him.
"Whoever said that you were a 'proper' Princess? Or that I was a gentleman, for that matter?"
Laughing together, they were unaware of the knowing looks the court
gave them.
The dance ended, and Malachite bowed to his partner. "Forgive me,
Lady Venus, but I regret that I have business to attend to at the moment. Perhaps we may dance later," he said, looking up to watch her face.
Venus looked at him. "I am not sure, Lord Malachite. After all,
a proper gentleman would not leave a lady in distress, would he? It makes
one think that I am not beautiful enough to hold your attention."
Arching an eyebrow, she waited for his reply. When it came, none was
more startled than she.
"Lady Venus, your beauty is enough to make any man forget even the
most pressing business. However, I was charged by Queen Aeris herself,
to attend to this matter. However, if the Lady permits, I shall make it
up to her?"
At his questioning glance she nodded. "Aye, I believe that I can
find it in my heart to forgive you. It is just as well, for I have
matters of the state to attend to as well."
Each turned, their minds all ready focusing on their business.
After all, neither one could afford pleasure over business, at least at
the moment.
Artemis glanced up as his son approached. "Having fun? It appears
that the Mina was as well," he goaded, trying to get his off-spring to
rise to the bait.
"The Lady Venus," and here he paused to show his father their true
relationship, "had several good ideas on how to keep the guard in top
shape. She would be a worthy foe in battle," he admitted, turning to
look at the lady they talked about.
Artemis sighed. "I despair in you, Malachite. A beautiful woman
spends an hour dressing herself to draw attention to her beauty, and all
you can think of is how good she would be in battle."
Malachite merely scowled, then reached into his jacket. "Here is
the paper the Queen sent. She hopes that Serenity will find it
satisfactory?"
Taking the paper, Artemis nodded. "Aye, she will. Serenity wants
this as badly as Aeris does." Spotting someone from across the ballroom,
he smiled in acknowledgement.
"I will take care of this. Meanwhile, why don't you go talk to your mother. Perhaps ask her to dance?"
Malachite took the subtle hint. "As you wish, father. Enjoy the evening."
Likewise, Venus was following her orders. Stepping up to her
Princess and the Prince, she smiled at the pair.
"Endymion, might I perhaps borrow Serenity for a moment? I need to
talk to her."
Smiling, Endymion nodded his assent, then walked over to the table
where Nephryte was seated.
"How goes it, Nephryte? I hope you aren't causing too much
trouble."
His friend smiled broadly. "The women, Endymion! The women! This
must be heaven!" He cried, causing a his Prince to laugh at his antics.
"I am sorry, dear friend, but this isn't heaven. And shouldn't you
be saying, 'That woman! That woman!'? Unless of course the Lady
Jupiter has multiple personalities. But then, you would be attracted to
that, wouldn't you," Endymion mused, drawing a smile from the seated
man.
Queen Serenity watched the proceedings from the dais, drinking in
the sight of her daughter and guardians enjoying themselves. Endymion's
guard certainly could hold their own, she mused, watching as Jadeite won
an argument with Mars, and Zoicite finally convinced the shy Mercury to
dance. A slight wind swept past her, and she smiled, speaking without
turning to address her visitor.
"Old friend, I had hoped that you would be here for this occasion.
It is seldom that you put in an appearance."
Her companion chuckled. "You know what they all think of me. At
the first sight they imagine that I have come to stop some cataclysmic
event. I don't believe it has ever occurred to them that I might simply
want to enjoy myself."
At that, Serenity turned to the Senshi of Time. Her eyes widened slightly, and she laughed. "You're not wearing your sailor fuku! My,
this is an occasion, isn't it?" She teased, watching her closest friend.
Pluto smiled down at her. "We can't have something altering the
future, now, can we? And if I were to appear in battle dress, then what
shall be would never come to pass."
Behind her words, Serenity sensed their true meaning, and a slight
shiver passed through her body. This had more impact than she thought.
She must continue without delay.
At that moment, Artemis arrived. Bowing low to his Queen, then
Pluto, he held out the document for her to take.
Serenity silently accepted it, skimming over the contents. She
knew what it said, and didn't really care much for the trivialities.
Looking up, she smiled at her advisor.
"Where is Luna, Artemis? I would have thought that she would want
to be the first to know of this."
Artemis grinned. "I told Malachite to dance with his mother.
After all, Luna means well, but sometimes her advice isn't that sound.
At least, when it comes to something like this."
Serenity smiled, then with a look at Pluto and Artemis, stood.
Almost immediately a silence fell over the crowd, everyone waiting to see
what the Queen would say.
"Princess Serenity, please come before me." The crowd, murmuring
quietly, parted to allow the Heir to the Silver Millenium passage.
"Princess Serenity, it is on this day that I bestow upon you your
powers, so that you may train to protect your kingdom." Calling forth
the Silver Crystal, Serenity sent it a silent command. The Crystal
began to glow softly, the aura reaching out to surround its Princess.
After a few seconds, the glow faded. Mother and daughter shared a
smile before Serenity once more faced the gathering. "Prince Endymion of
Earth, come before me," she commanded.
Endymion stepped forward, his guard a few paces behind him. "Prince
Endymion, you come here today to learn the art of magik. Do you promise
to never use it to harm, and only to help those in need?" At his nod she smiled.
"Then it is with great joy that I announce the betrothal of
Princess Serenity, Heir to the Silver Millenium, to Prince Endymion, Heir
to the Terran Throne."
Shocked silence followed, then polite applause. After raising their
drinks in a toast to the new couple, many returned to the dance floor,
where they might gossip more easily.
Serenity stared at her mother in shock. *Mother...* she ground out mentally, *what are you up to?* Chancing a look at Endymion, she saw
that he was just as surprised. *I correct myself. What are you and Aeris
up to?*
The Queen merely sent a mental smile to her daughter before
stepping down from the dais. "Endymion, if you would care?" Gesturing
toward the dance floor, she made her intent plain. She wanted to talk to
him, and she wanted to now.
Gnashing his teeth mentally, Endymion smiled at the Queen and bowed
low over her hand. "My Queen, may I have this dance?" As they took their
spot on the floor, Endymion cast one last pleading look to Malachite.
Shrugging to himself, Malachite did the only thing he could think
of. "Princess, might I have this dance?" Still shocked, Serenity merely nodded, taking the proffered hand.
Endymion stared at his partner. "My Queen, is there something you
wished to discuss with me?"
Looking at the young Prince, Serenity felt something tugging at the
back of her mind. It was almost as if someone or something was trying to
push her to something. With a slight shock of recognition, she realized
that this young man before her was mentally prodding her. Her eyes
widened with another thought. He was unaware of what he was doing. It appeared, Serenity mused, that his powers had not lain dormant these past
few years.
Ignoring the sensation, she concentrated on her words instead.
"Yes, there is something I wished to discuss with you. I see that
your mother had not informed you of your eminent betrothal. When my
daughter was born, it was suggested that this marriage occur. The final contract was signed yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Endymion sputtered. "But, you mean...my mother knew perfectly well what was going to happen and she did nothing to inform
me?!" The dam of emotions finally burst, leaving red spots before
Endymion's eyes.
Serenity, sensing this, quickly moved to calm him. "Would it have
made a difference, Endymion? Why are you so against it? Do you find my
daughter repulsive?"
Endymion snorted. "Oh, yes, that is why I've spent the entire night glaring at any young man that dared to look at Sere the wrong way. Your daughter is very beautiful. And it will only increase as she ages."
At that point he stopped, unsure of his emotions.
"Then what troubles you? We both know you find her attractive,"
seeing the slight blush that spread across his face, she nodded. "Yes,
I'm not blind. I did notice all of those glares you've been handing out
left and right this evening. We both also know that the two of you get
along superbly. Neither of you are plain, daft, or penniless, so what
bothers you so?"
Endymion shifted uncomfortably. "It is only, I mean...I'm a ruler,
so I've never been stupid of the fact that I would probably have a
political marriage, but, well..." he trailed off, feeling as if he had
made a fool of himself.
Serenity stared, her features softening when she realized the
problem. "You had hoped to be able to marry for love?" She asked softly.
Endymion nodded, pushing on with his thoughts. "I love your
daughter, I know that. But I do not know if it is the love one feels for
a sister, or a close friend, or what it is. But I do not think that it
is the love of...well, of a lover," he finished.
Stopping in the middle of the floor, Serenity smiled up at him.
"You have three years to figure that out. As is our custom, the Heir not
only will receive her full powers, she will also be wed on the day of
her seventeenth birthday. Three years, Endymion. Use that time wisely."
So saying, Queen Serenity, ruler of the Silver Millenium, slipped
deftly through the crowd, heading for a destination only she knew.
Endymion stared after her, heedless of the swirling crowd around him.
Princess Serenity frowned up at her uncle. "Malachite, were you
aware of this betrothal?" Waiting for an answer, she noticed that he
refused to meet her eyes.
"You did know! Why didn't you inform me?!" She asked, feeling
slightly betrayed. This was the man that played hide-and-go-seek, that
had taught her the art of sword fighting, that had treated her as a
younger sister, not as a niece.
Malachite looked down at her. "And if I had told you, what would
you have done? Confronted your mother, embarrassed her publicly by
refusing the match, thrown down all of your titles and powers at her feet,
to storm off in a childish manner? You act as if she has sentenced you
do a slave camp. Endymion is kind, intelligent, powerful, rich - what
more could you want in a husband, Serenity?"
Serenity was looking nothing like her name-sake at the moment, her
blue eyes flashing angrily. Unconsciously, she began to summon her power,
when a warning look from her uncle made her pause.
"Serenity, stop this at once! I know that you feel betrayed that
neither your mother, your senshi, nor myself told you of this, but it is
the way of life! This is the price you pay for being of Royal blood.
Now, tell me honestly, what is wrong." Malachite commanded, daring her
to disobey.
Serenity stumbled haltingly over her words, choosing them with care.
"Malachite, all my life, I have...known, somewhere...somewhere deep
inside of me, that mother...mother did not truly love my father," she
whispered, feeling a tear trickle down her face.
Malachite noted this, and silently wiped it away. "Oh, Serenity,"
he whispered, "understand, it doesn't always have to be that way. You
have three years to get to know Endymion better. Use it to your full
advantage. Spend time with him. Learn of his likes and dislikes. Learn
to see the man behind the title." Kissing her gently on the forehead,
he hugged her once more, then went in search of the Queen.
Malachite found Queen Serenity the same time she found Pluto.
Pluto merely nodded a greeting, then suggested that they retire to the
rose gardens for privacy.
Walking down the silver path, Malachite felt a sense of peace
surround him. The feeling seemed to wrap him in a warm blanket, leaving
him to wonder how he had ever lived without this constant state of
serenity. Glancing at his aunt, he snorted. Well, he knew two
Serenity's, and neither one ever projected this aura.
Pluto stopped beside a hidden bench. "Perhaps we might rest here?"
She suggested, indicating that they take a seat. Standing before them,
she began to speak quietly.
"I know that they both feel betrayed that their closest advisors
did nothing to inform them, and you must put a stop to this feeling as
soon as possible. If they begin to feel that they cannot trust their
closest allies anymore, then that feeling will turn to hate. They will
not trust the other, for they will think that each hid the news from them.
"If they believe that their advisors and each other are planning
events without their knowledge, then all is lost. Each will begin to
seek ways of revenge, and that path will lead them to the enemy's door."
At this Pluto paused.
"You might as well come out here, Sailor Venus. I know that you are
there, so stop hiding in the bushes."
With a sheepish look on her face, Venus emerged from her hiding
spot. Malachite had to smile at the sight of her. Her trek through the
middle of the rose bushes had left her with bits of leaves in her hair.
Loose petals adorned the top of her head, while her beautiful orange
dress had several snags and tears in it.
Malachite moved, allowing the senshi of Venus to sit, then looked expectantly up at Sailor Pluto.
"You were saying?" he prodded.
Shooting him a pointed look, she continued. "I was saying that each
needs to be completely honest with your royal charges. In order to make
sure that this happens, Prince Endymion and his royal guard will be
staying on the Moon for an extended period of time.
"Princess Serenity will travel to Earth, where
she will learn the customs of her future husband."
Here Pluto paused, giving both Malachite and Venus a measuring
glance. "And to ensure that both the Princess and Prince will feel
entirely comfortable with the other's guard, two of Endymion's guard will
stay on Earth, and two of Serenity's court will stay on the
Moon."
"Malachite, you and Nephryte will stay on Earth,
while Zoicite and Jadeite will reside here. Sailor
Venus, you and Sailor Jupiter will travel to Earth."
Malachite regarded the timeless senshi with an
air of amusement.
"How did you come to these arrangements, Sailor
Pluto? Did you think of this in power and ability, or
did you merely pick four names out of a hat, leaving
your choices to fate? Or perhaps the Fates themselves
told you who should be with whom?"
Sailor Pluto bowed to him, allowing the time
keys at her waist to chime softly. Fingering them,
she gave Malachite a tolerant smile.
"You forget, Lord Malachite, that while I am in
the confidence of the Fates, I am also the guardress of
Time. I know the future. And while I am not permitted
to interfere with the Time flow, I can take steps to
insure that the correct path is followed.
"As what now must happen to insure that the
future happens," Pluto said mysteriously, waving them
forward.
As the Queen of the Silver Millenium, along with
her most trusted advisor, top security advisor, and
nephew watched, the scene that appeared before their
eyes made them gasp in awe.
Dancing lightly into the rose garden, Princess
Serenity led Prince Endymion forward into her secret
haven. Twirling like a ballerina, Serenity continued
to amuse the Prince with her antics.
Endymion laughed to himself as Sere continued
her beautiful dance, abruptly tripping over her own
feet. Laughing openly now, he hurried to help his
Princess up, absently noting to himself at how the
silvery light in the air only increased her beauty.
It had been a strained few moments there, after
both Malachite and the Queen had left the ballroom.
Hesitantly approaching the Princess (your fiancée, his
mind noted) he had been unsure of what to say. Finally,
with a shrug of the shoulders and a gleam in his eye,
he had done the only thing possible.
"My beautiful Princess of the Moon, heir to the Silver Millenium,
Sere," here she had
giggled softly at the pretentious title, followed by the
silly nick-name, "may I have this dance? It seems that
we have been left to our own devices."
With a curtsy that matched his bow, she had
replied with an unprecedented snobbiness in her voice.
"Well, my Lord Prince, heir to the
Terran throne, heartbreaker of Lunar women, and knight
in shining armor, Endy," another giggle, breaking her
concentration, "I believe that you forget my three
remaining guardians. Especially Sailor Jupiter," she
added, casting a glance at the tall warrior.
Another bow, this one more exaggerated then
before. "Ah, but you forget MY guardians." With an
unseen gesture by the Prince, each General grabbed their
chosen partner, and whirled them onto the dance floor,
leaving Princess Serenity laughing helplessly, and
Prince Endymion smiling at his success.
After three dances Serenity had dragged him
outside, wanting to show him something. Now he found
himself in one of the most beautiful gardens he had
ever seen, in awe of the tranquility around him.
"It is...beautiful," Endymion said quietly, his
eyes sweeping the interior quickly. It appeared that
only one type of rose grew here, and all in the
brilliant red that he loved.
"Simply, amazing," he breathed, walking to the
nearest bush. Slowly, gently, he reached out, ready to
pluck the luscious bloom from the stem.
"Stop!"
The Princess' cry caused Endymion to jerk, his
fingers brushing the thorny stem. With a cry he
snatched his hand back, putting the hurt finger to his
mouth.
Glancing at Serenity, Endymion saw that her eyes
were wide open. She trembled slightly, something he
doubted was caused by the night air.
Forgetting his finger, he walked over to where
she was. "Serenity," he asked softly, "what is wrong?"
Ignoring him, she walked over to the rose
bush, bending down to gently lift the rose away from the
bush. Gesturing Endymion over, she turned her eyes
back to the rose. Closing them, she quickly jabbed her
index finger on the single thorn, then turned to look
up at Endymion.
Serenity motioned for him to come closer, and
baffled, he did. Quickly grabbing his hand, she jabbed
his finger on the thorn also.
With a muffled oath he pulled away, turning to
ask her what she was doing. What he saw made his jaw
drop. The rose, originally a deep red, was now a
crystalline blue. The base was a dark sapphire color,
gently fading outwards until the petals were tipped with
silver.
"What..." Endymion breathed, unable to take his
eyes away from the beautiful sight. Smiling, Serenity
placed the rose in his hand, then guided him to another
rose bush.
Merely smiling at his questioning look, she
pantomimed touching the rose to the bush. Sighing to
himself, Endymion acquiesced, deciding to humor her.
What happened shocked him to the core.
With a simple touch, the entire bush, rose petal
by rose petal, turned into crystal. The silver of their
petals caught the Earth light perfectly, reflecting it
back in a thousand different directions.
"Oh," Endymion whispered, amazed at the bushes change of
appearance.
Delighted to have caught the Prince unaware, Serenity
Continued with her surprises. Dancing over to the next bush,
She motioned for him to follow. This time, she took his hand,
Placing it on a single rose. Instantly, the rose and the
Surrounding greenery turned to crystal.
Turning to the Princess, Endymion demanded an explanation.
"What is happening? How is the this happening?"
Serenity smiled.
"It is known as the Destiny Effect."
"The WHAT effect?!"
Serenity laughed, enjoying Endymion's confusion.
"That is not its real name. The name came about when a man
said that the rose's transformation was caused when the blood
of a Princess was mixed with that of her true love, the one she
was destined to be with for all time."
Pausing thoughtfully, Serenity continued. "I've never actually
seen the roses turn, but I've always believed in the story. It
sounds too romantic not to be true."
Endymion smiled, thinking how easily it was to believe in
such myths. "I agree. Such stories must have a grain of truth in
them."
At that, Serenity blushed. "Ah, there's actually more to the
story." Refusing to continue any farther, she ignored Endymion's
pleas.
A mischievous smile found its way onto Endymion's face,
causing his eyes to glint in merriment.
"Well, then, Princess, if you won't tell me voluntarily, I
suppose that I shall have to torture it out of you."
Lunging at the startled Princess, Endymion continued to give
chase, laughing as Serenity glanced back to see him gaining ground.
Endymion easily caught her, wrapping powerful arms about her
waist and swinging her around to face him. Breathless, she stared
back at him, waiting to see what he would do.
"Well?" he asked expectantly, "are you going to tell me, or
do I have to tickle it out of you?"
After an experimental tickle, and a startled yelp later, Serenity
agreed to tell.
"All right! All right! I yield! Just, please, don't tickle,"
she begged.
"It goes like this. The man, who was actually a poet, said that
if the roses turned to crystal, then the love was strong. But he also
went on to say that the roses would light the entire night sky if the
couple kissed, and their souls bonded."
Endymion nodded thoughtfully, then smiled. "Well, I hope everyone
brought sunglasses, don't you?"
Without giving a warning, Endymion swiftly captured Serenity's
mouth with his own. With a startled gasp, her lips parted, turning the
chaste kiss into a passionate embrace.
Around them, the crystal roses continued to glow with Earth light.
gradually brightening, they began to emit a powerful white light.
bathing the area in light, the shadows began to recede as the power of
the light increased.
With a gasp, Malachite, Venus, and Pluto covered their eyes, tearing
from the intensity of the light. Queen Serenity, smiling sadly,
watched as her daughter's soul and that of the young Prince's melded
together, forming a seamless column of silver and black. "To the
future," she whispered, raising her hand to bless her daughter.
*********************************************************************
Ah...I am thinking that perhaps that is a good place to stop the story, maybe with an
epilogue. Please leave me a note and tell me what you think!
Lady Saffir
Rinoah7@cs.com