Title: Not Just A Memory: Chapter 5
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
Type: Romance
Rated: PG-13 (has blood scenes in it & some bad language)
E-mail: artemislunadiana@yahoo.com
Home Page: Casper's Sailor Moon Site
http://www.caspermoon.com

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This story is based in the Silver Millennium except that everything is
totally different in respects to where the characters are and what
happens to them. Since I hate the name "Amara", Haruka's name is Alex.
You'll understand why I'm saying this later in the story. I will be
using both the English and Japanese names.

Oh yeah, I don't own Sailor Moon, yada, yada, yada...

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Serena and Alex followed close behind Queen Cassiopeia. Serena was
trembling slightly from relief but also from fear. 'What did the
Queen of Earth want to do with her and Alex? What was happening
to Darian?' Alex was fuming. Her prey had been taken from her, and
her best friend was being subjected to the whims of a haughty Queen
instead of lying down and resting.

Queen Cassiopeia led them into a small sitting room and gestured for
them to take a seat. Serena sank down onto a small sofa, and Alex
sat down next to her and placed a comforting hand over her shaking
ones. The Queen did not miss the closeness and honest caring between
the two. However, that didn't mean that they good intentions. She
wasn't stupid, she saw the look her son had given the petite one.

The Queen smiled, almost slyly, "Tell me all about yourselves."

Alex would have jumped up and raged at her but Serena's soft-spoken
agreement stole her thunder. The Queen didn't miss that either. Alex
cast a worried look at Serena before deciding to tell their story,
Serena was in no shape to do it.

Alex left nothing out. She told the Queen everything, from their
being found in the forest by a woodsman, to their escape from Lord
Sibean. Once she reached that point, Serena spoke up and told of
her finding Darian injured after his hunting party had been attacked
by a wild panther. She left out that she saved the panther and could
speak to it. She told of Darian's recovery and departure. She spoke
of his return, but did not mention their declarations of love. She
spoke of her capture and arrival in the city. She didn't mention
the relief that had poured through her when Darian had entered the
throne room.

Little did she know, she didn't have to. Even if Queen Cassiopeia
didn't have the ability to feel what another feels, she could have
seen the honest, pure love on Serena's face. She was satisfied.
The girls' intentions were not evil, but... there was no way that
Darian and Serena could ever marry. She knew the Princess Serenity
was alive. She was constantly told by Queen Polaris of Mars that
the Princess Serenity would return and bring peace and happiness again
to the Universe.

Queen Cassiopeia sighed. With the death of Queen Serenity, the
alliances between the systems were crumbling. She had been more
than the leader of our Solar System, she had been the leader of
the entire Milky Way Galaxy. Queen Cassiopeia had received a message
from the Andromeda Galaxy earlier that day, the whole Universe seemed
to be falling apart. Yet Queen Polaris assured her every day that
the Princess would return and take the throne as Queen of the Universe,
one her mother had never had. 'Sere, why didn't you call for my help?
Why did Queen Akari of Pluto not warn us that you would be attacked?
Why did Queen Polaris not see your death in the flames? I lost
my best friend when you left...'

Alex and Serena had stayed silent while the Queen had thought quietly.
Without even thinking about it, Alex began taking down Serena's hair
and fixing it back into its usual buns.

Queen Cassiopeia was distracted from her thoughts by the movements and
glanced up. To say she was surprised would be an understatement. Alex
was fixing Serena's hair into the style that Queen Serenity had always
worn. As far as she knew, no one would dare to duplicate it because
of the amount of respect they had for her. She stood and walked over
to a small portrait on the wall. Queen Serenity's beauty and grace
were captured in the painting. She called the girls over to her.

"Do you recognize the woman in the painting?"

Serena and Alex stared intently at the painting. Both were beset with
emotions they couldn't explain. Queen Cassiopeia could sense their
confusion, but she couldn't sense their feelings of love and deep
sadness. She assumed that their confusion must stem from their
ignorance of who was in the painting.

"It is a portrait of Queen Serenity, it was made soon after she
married King Mikeal. The last one she ever sat for."

"She has the same hairstyle you've always worn, Serena," Alex
said noticing the similarities between the Queen and her best friend.

Queen Cassiopeia also noticed the similarities between the two. She
couldn't be sure without Queen Polaris or Princess Rei, but... could
Serena really be the Princess Serenity? 'Hadn't Mik and Sere called
the Princess Usagi... Serena?'

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Queen Cassiopeia had sent Alex and Serena off with her personal maid to
change clothes and get cleaned up, while she set off to find her
husband and son. She found them standing in the War Room, which she
decided was appropriate for the yelling that was currently taking
place. Once she entered the room, it stopped. It was rare for Darian
to lose his temper and she couldn't recall of a single time when he
had yelled at his father. He glanced at her before dropping his gaze
to the floor in embarrassment.

"Can you believe what this boy is saying!" King Orion shouted at his
Queen angrily, "He says he'll give up his throne for that little
nobody!" Darian glared at his father, angered still further by his
harsh words.

Queen Cassiopeia stared at her son in shock, she knew he had feelings
for Serena but she hadn't expected that he could feel so much for her,
not after the Princess Serenity had such an impact on him. He had
only met her once, but once was enough to seal them together, forever
so she thought.

"Forget about the throne. Even If you were to marry a common woman,
it wouldn't matter." Queen Cassiopeia sighed, "What about the
Princess Serenity?" she asked softly.

Darian's face softened in sadness, "Mother, she's gone. Put aside
those hopeless dreams, I did. And I found happiness, in someone I
love very much. Nothing you say can change that."

"And what if the Princess is alive? What of your betrothal?" King
Orion asked coldly.

"Declare it void!" Darian practically shouted.

"We can't do that!" Queen Cassiopeia said stunned.

"So you're saying I can never marry unless it is the Princess
Serenity?" he asked somewhat sarcastically.

"It is was agreed that on the Princess Serenity's 19th birthday, you
and she will join in marriage." King Orion began.

Darian cut him off, "Her 19th birthday will be in less than a month,
actually, 17 days, her birthday was June 30."

Queen Cassiopeia found herself saddened by the thought that her son had
memorized his betrothed's birthday and still remembered it after all
this time. 'What a pair they would have been...' she thought.

"So, in 17 days," Darian continued, "If she doesn't show to be wed,
than I am free of the betrothal. When that happens, I'll marry
Serena."

King Orion and Queen Cassiopeia couldn't come up with any reasons
to stop Darian's plans. "Fine," King Orion said, "If the Princess
Serenity does not appear on in 17 days to wed, you may marry this...
Serena..."

Queen Cassiopeia watched apprehensively as Darian left the room, she
turned to her husband. 'Should I tell him my suspicions about
Serena?' she wondered. 'What if Serena isn't the Princess, and she
does show up to wed?' Queen Cassiopeia's eyes betrayed her worry.
She didn't want her son hurt. "What if the Princess is found, dear?"

King Orion sighed and rubbed a hand over his brow, the tension
headache obvious, "I don't know, love. I just don't know..."

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Alex stared at her reflection in the full-length mirror. "I'm not
so sure about this..."

Serena glanced up at her. "About what?"

"This!" she replied gesturing at her reflection.

"What's wrong with it? Feeling uncomfortable because you actually
look like a girl?" Serena teased.

"You're finished miss," the maid said as she tied Serena's sash.

"Thank you," Serena told her.

"You're welcome," the maid said and left the room.

Serena walked over to Alex and stood beside her so that both girls
were seen in the mirror. They both wore floor-length white dresses.
Alex's dress had no sleeves, just a silver sash that swept around
her neck from her bosom. It was skin tight to her waist and then
hung free with two long slits up either side that reached her
thighs. It was trimmed in silver at the bottom. Serena's dress was
almost the exact same except the silver was replaced with gold and there
were no slits in her dress.

"I feel so uncomfortable..." Alex mumbled.

"Why?"

"Because, for the first time in years, I won't be wearing my knife..."

Queen Cassiopeia walked in, in time to hear her. She smiled as the
two girls curtsied. It was amazing how much Serena looked like Queen
Serenity. She turned her eyes to Alex and found herself doubly amazed.
She looked like the Amazon-like Queen of Uranus, Aeryn. 'Amazing...'
She shrugged herself out of her wanderings, "I think I can help you,
Alex."

Alex raised a brow in puzzlement. Queen Cassiopeia walked over to the
small dresser in the room and opened the top center drawer. She pulled
out two small silver knives and two silver sheathes. She walked over
to Alex and handed them to her. "Put them around your thighs, with
the knives in easy reaching distance."

Alex did so happily. When she straightened again, her hands brushed
comfortingly across the handles of the knives. She'd feel them every
time she walked. Serena looked at them amazed at how they actually
seemed to complement Alex's dress.

A knock sounded on the door and the maid who had helped them entered
the room, "They are waiting for you, Your Majesty."

"Thank you, Lilly." Queen Cassiopeia turned to the girls, "Lilly
will guide you to the ball."

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Alex and Serena had hoped to enter the ball unnoticed, but they hadn't
realized the stir their beauty would cause. Men stared at them in
amazement and women looked on enviously. They had barely entered the
room before they were asked to dance. Serena too nervous to say no,
began dancing with a young man who seemed more interested in her bosom
than in actually dancing. Alex, at a loss of what to do with herself,
also danced. But her partner seemed more interested in her legs and how
high he could make her dress come with every twirl on the dance floor.
Alex soon taught him better when she reached for one of the knives and
calmly told him she knew how to use it. Serena wasn't so lucky. She
endured an entire set with her partner before she managed to escape.

The word soon circulated to stay away from Alex, but to head for Serena
because she never refused to dance. No one but Alex noticed the
helpless looks Serena was sending her. Alex racked her brain, trying
to figure out some way of getting Serena's admirers away from her. As
it turned out, she didn't need to bother. The Earth Royal family was
being announced.

The dancing stopped as the King, Queen, and Prince made their way to
the thrones. The Prince Endymion stood to the side of his mother and
scanned the room for Serena and Alex. King Orion gestured for the
music to begin again. Darian immediately began looking for Serena,
she was so tiny, he hadn't seen her from the dais. Before he could
make it very far, he was beset by a group of young women wanting to
dance. He was trying to think of a way to politely refuse when a tall
blonde in a white dress came up to him. He almost didn't recognize
Alex.

"May I have this dance?" he asked her, disappointing his admirers. She
accepted his hand and the two entered the dance floor. "Where is
Serena?" he asked the moment they began to dance.

"On the other side of the room, but if you want to get across without
being stopped," she said nodding towards the group of girls anxiously
awaiting him, "You'll have to dance across."

"Then let's go." He swept her across the floor, moving in the direction
she had said Serena was in.

They were almost in sight of Serena when Alex said, "Darian, get her
away from them."

He looked at her puzzled, "What do you mean?" Then he saw. Serena
had gathered quite a crowd of young men. Darian could barely
control his temper at the way they were ogling her. They stopped
dancing and approached Serena and her latest partner.

The moment Serena spotted Darian, relief flooded her face. She stopped
her partner and pushed away from the close hold he had on her. She
curtsied, "Prince Endymion," she said softly. Her partner bowed to him,
but was obviously miffed at being interrupted from his close embrace with
his very embarrassed partner.

"Serena," he said calmly and held out his hand. She gratefully accepted
it.

"Darian," she smiled at him. The two walked away from the gathering
before beginning to dance.

Alex smirked at the young men staring in surprise at the couple. The
Prince Endymion had searched the room for this girl, had called her by
her name, and she had responded with his nickname. Serena had been
labeled off-limits. Alex left them, their chins still on the floor, to
retreat to one of the many balconies.

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Alex walked to the edge of the balcony and sighed. She was glad that
Serena was able to spend time with Darian, but she couldn't wait to
get away from the palace. She hated wearing dresses. She heard a
noise and whipped around, both knives out and ready. She was greeted
with the sight of a beautiful young woman, probably about her age. She
had shoulder-length aqua colored hair and captivating eyes.

"I'm so sorry," the young woman said, "I didn't mean to startle you."

Alex put away the knives and grinned, "No, I'm sorry, it was a
knee-jerk reaction."

The girl grinned, "My name is Michelle."

"Alex."

"Mind if I join you?" she asked and walked to railing. She rested her
arms on it, leaning down, ever so slightly.

Alex found herself charmed by the cute picture she made. Michelle
looked over at her and smiled. "My parents brought me here, hoping
I'd catch the Prince Endymion's eye. What about you?"

Alex leaned down in a similar position, bringing their heads close
together. "I'm his guest."

Michelle's eyes widened, "Are you his..."

Alex raised a brow in puzzlement, "His what?"

Michelle laughed, "Obviously not." She laughed again, "I thought
you might be his mistress or something."

"Me?" Alex asked amazed. "No, he's in love with my best friend."

"Really?" Michelle asked, "What about his betrothed?"

"Betrothed?"

"You didn't know? He's suppose to marry the Princess Serenity. I
don't see how, since she's suppose to be dead, but as far as I know,
they have never declared the betrothal void."

"Hmm...I guess he never even thinks about it. I wonder how he's
going to get around that one..."

"What do you mean?"

"He's been jumping through hoops just to be with her. I don't
have a clue how he thinks he can get out of a betrothal..."

"That doesn't bother you? Aren't you worried about your friend?"

Alex grinned at her, "No, I suppose not. I have faith in him.
I'm sure he'll figure something out."

Michelle smiled at her, she thought Alex was beautiful, and so
confident. She had looked amazing holding those knives. Alex
smiled back, entranced by the flecks of humor in Michelle's eyes.

'What am I thinking? She's a girl...' they both thought. They
were puzzled by the attraction they felt for each other.

"Michelle?" they heard a voice call.

"My mother... Will you meet me tomorrow?" Michelle asked suddenly.

"Sure, where?" Alex asked, holding in her anticipation by force of will
alone.

"In the Tokyo Rose Gardens, at the center of the maze, noon."

"I'll be there."

Michelle smiled at her and darted away to answer her mother's call.

***********************************************************************

Alex entered the ballroom. She glanced around and her eyes settled on
Serena and Darian, dancing, oblivious to the world. Alex smiled and
watched them dance until the ball ended. She walked with Serena up to
their room in silence. Serena was too busy thinking of the wonderful
night she had with Darian, and Alex was too busy thinking of the
aqua-haired beauty she'd be meeting the next day. They both fell into
dream filled sleep. Each dreaming of the one who laid so heavily on
her mind.

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Queen Cassiopeia entered her chambers quietly. She glanced around,
worried her husband might see or hear her. She sat down and pulled out
her communicator. Queen Polaris' bronze beauty was soon visible on the
screen.

"Cas?" Polaris frowned, "This isn't the normal time you call, is
something wrong?"

"No, but I think something may be right!" Polaris looked puzzled at
that but Cassiopeia barreled on, "Can you or Princess Rei come to Earth
for a short visit?"

"Yes, we both can... why?"

"I think I may have seen the Princess Serenity and Princess Haruka!"

"WHAT?! I'm on my way!" ~bleep~

Queen Cassiopeia leaned back and soon began to laugh in relief. Pol
was coming and if Serena was the Princess Serenity then everything
would be absolutely perfect. What could possibly go wrong in the three
days it took to travel from Mars to Earth?

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How was that? Sorry it took so long in getting this chapter out. Don't
worry, it isn't over yet, i'm thinking at least two more chapters if not
three. i'll do my best to get them out to you asap

E-MAIL ME! I crave attention!
And visit my AWSOME site! www.caspermoon.com

These......hold animal thoughts
These...''...hold human thoughts
These...""...hold verbal communication (of course)

Thanks to everyone who helped me with this story...yep, that's you
Amber! Luv ya dearly! Thanks to Andrea for posting it!

ANYWAY! Catch ya on the flip side!

~Artemis Luna Diana~

I've decided to put a date and time on my chapters so i have some idea
of the time it takes me to write chapters...

August 8, 2001; 8:34PM