Evening Star
For Love of the Past
Chapter 17
Had it not been for the arrival of the Moon's Supreme Sovereign, Queen Serenity, a darkness may have permanently settled over the Sun City.
Queen Serenity's visits were not common, being as she was restricted by situation and duty to keep her travels to the Sun City a rarity. However, her bond of friendship to Kiaya was too strong for her to stay away indefinitely. Her journeys to the sun became more frequent in fact, after Malachite's adoption by the Sun Queen. Serenity found she had grown quite attached to the little Prince during his stay at the Moon Kingdom, and out of respect for his murdered parents, saw to it that she became a part of his life as he grew. And, indeed she was. Malachite and she would spend hours, during Serenity's visits, together, with Serenity speaking mostly of the little Moon Princess which had held Malachite so enthralled as a child. In turn, Malachite spoke to Her Majesty of his training, and in length of Aurora.
After her visits, Malachite would spend additional hours more, telling Aurora of the Kingdom of Silver, which lay beyond the Border Mountains. Aurora had never been permitted to meet with Serenity, as protocol dictated, yet she, even as a child, had been held spellbound with images Malachite's stories brought to life: of a beautiful Queen and Maiden Princess of the Moon, living in a Kingdom of Silver Sands.
Serenity's arrival was like every other. She came during the night,
magically transporting herself by the power of the Silver Crystal to the
top most tower of the Sun Palace. And there to greet her, like so many
times before, stood a now very stoic Malachite, and Kiaya, whose eyes over
flowed with grief once concealed, but now bared for only Serenity's eyes
to see. Oh what, Serenity asked herself, her heart suddenly
taken over with fear, what has happened here? Is my arrival well
timed, or am I too late?
Serenity sat, watching her dear friend's back as Kiaya stood looking out over her Kingdom from the vast, gracefully arching window, which had claimed its place on the southern wall of her chambers. A silence had settled over them as Kiaya had tried, and obviously felt as if she'd failed, to justify her actions over the past two years. The tears that had fallen upon Serenity's checks had long since dried after hearing of the suffering her beloved friend, and her family, had dealt with during the years of her absence. I've been gone too long, Serenity silently berated herself, Oh Kiaya, forgive me. I should not have prolonged my absence for so many years. If only it were not for the duties which bind us.
Kiaya turned around to face Serenity, her eyes holding a look of heart broken defeat. "I have done all I can, Serenity," Kiaya whispered, her voice sounding grave and beaten, "all I can to make this right. I know of the sins I have committed, but what choice did I have? Sacrifice one's life for the other's love?! Aurora's training was for the good of the Universe; yet why do I feel so unsure? So unsure that I have harmed and hindered more than helped? Kiaya turned away from her friend's unwavering gaze, bowing her head in defeat. Gathering her strength, she made one last attempt to set things right. "Serenity," she whispered in a voice so low, "help me." At that whispered plea, Serenity looked sharply to Kiaya's turned back. Kiaya was never one to ask for help.
"Without question, you know I will; but how?" Serenity spoke with the assertion she had gained from being Queen for some many centuries. Kiaya turned eyes holding a dying glimmer of hope towards to Moon Queen. "Speak with Malachite. Give him back the hope he has lost, so that he may find the strength to fight – and win Aurora back. The Cosmos are at an imbalance with them apart, Serenity, you of all people must feel that." Kiaya looked to Serenity who gave her a nod of affirmation, stating in words unspoken, that yes she had sense the imbalance. "Therefore, as Guardians of this Universe, we must make this right. So, again I ask, help me."
Serenity, in all of her Royal Majesty, rose for the chair in which she
had been seated. With her voice soft with love and understanding, Serenity
replied to the question she had been posed. "As I told you before, Kiaya,
I will help you. Where is the Prince of Pluto, so that I may talk with
him?" Turning her head slightly once again, to look out the window to her
left, Kiaya answered simply, "In the Towers." With a slight nod, Serenity
left Kiaya's chambers.
Serenity walked in silence to the top most tower of the Sun Palace, resting place of the Sun Stone. Malachite had obviously not left her recent place of arrival, choosing to remain for reasons Serenity could only guess at. Arriving in the Tower, Serenity watched quietly as Malachite looked over the city that was in his charge. He was its Guardian, a responsibility he never took lightly. There was, however, one area of the city his sharp, observant gaze kept returning to – that of the Royal Gardens. "She's down there, isn't she?" Serenity spoke quietly. Malachite, if surprised by Serenity's presence, didn't show it as he calmly replied, "Yes."
"So, Kiaya has spoken to you of it?" Malachite asked, his tone neutral. Serenity, a small smile playing on her pale pink lips, walked up to stand beside the Warrior Prince, her long silken skirts rustling. "She has, yes." Malachite turned his eyes to the sage Moon Queen, his eyes dropping their carefully constructed shields, revealing all of the pain and suffering he had endured and had stood witness to. Serenity's eyes conveyed only love and understanding as she laid her hand softly upon Malachite's arm. "Oh, Young Prince, never loss faith. Talk to her, reach out to her. If she is the strong, independent young woman, the angel descending from on high as you have described her as being to me, than she will listen. Her heart will hear you, even if it seems her mind does not. Try, and keep trying. For if you give up, I promise you, you will forever live in the shadow of this lost love, and will never, in all your years, come to know what it is you truly stand to lose here. You were not destined to be star-crossed lovers, Young Prince. At least…" Here Serenity paused, a bittersweet smile toying with the corners of her lips. Malachite looked down at her, curious as to what her next words may be. The Queen of Ancients turned her eyes of gray up to look into eyes of stormy metallic blue, " At least, not yet."
A Miracle; a small smile of understanding graced Malachite's lips at Serenity's final words. He nodded slightly, and with his nod, Serenity stood up on her tiptoes, placing a small, motherly kiss on Malachite's cheek. With a small smile, she turned to leave. As she neared the entrance to leave the Tower, Malachite's voice stopped her. "How fairs your daughter, your Majesty?" At that question, Serenity turned, with a smile, to Malachite once again. She had forgotten, somehow. Malachite always wished to know how her young daughter was. "She fairs well, Young Prince," Serenity's warm smile grew brighter, "Though right now, I'm sure, if she were here, she would beg to differ." Cocking an eyebrow, Malachite inquired," Oh? And why is that, your Majesty?" Serenity laughed lightheartedly, "She has meet the Young Prince of Earth, who is, I believe, two years older than you, Malachite. She has been forced to act as hostess to him during his visits to the Moon, and swears to me that he is an arrogant, pompous prick!" Serenity's soft laughter continued, remembering how serious her daughter had been at the time. Malachite himself could not help but the humor in Serenity's story. "Though I can assure you I reprimanded her for the use of such language, I could not help but laugh," Serenity's laughter died down as she continued, "Prince Endymion is not such a horrid man, and in due time, I believe Serenity will come to see that."
Malachite nodded his head to that, and Serenity took her leave. "Remember my words, dear Prince of Pluto, and may the Gods keep you well," Serenity's voice came, soft and loving. "Good Bye, Malachite." And with that, she turned and left, Malachite's voice trailing after her. "Good bye…Serenity."
Serenity had almost come to the end of the seemingly infinite winding case of crystalline stairs, leading to the Top Most Tower, when the equally crystalline walls of the Palace showed through translucently. There, not far below her, was the Royal Gardens, providing Serenity with a clear view of the Sun Queen's Young Guardian. Sailor Star was excising her knowledge and her skills of battle in the presence of her noble steed, Firewalker. Serenity watched in reverence as Aurora continued on with her training alone, to ensure she forgot nothing. Serenity could do no more than shake her head at the situation at hand, and began to question Fate herself. Had this training truly been necessary? Personally, Serenity doubted it. But Kiaya had had a premonition that life as it had been known for centuries would be irrevocably changed, so maybe this was all part of the Gods plans. Serenity looked out over the Gardens at the Young Guardian, and whispering softly to herself said, "Forgive him, Star Princess. For only in you will he find his salvation."
Signing, Serenity continued on down along the winding stairs of crystal.