Ancient Prophecy 3

Departure and Battle

I do not own Sailor Moon or Ronin Warriors

Days passed as the Alden stayed with Serenity.  Just as Serenity became friends with Alden's, Alden became friends with Serenity's friends, the sailor scouts Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn.  Alden would look at the earth, amazed how the earth looked so big while he was on the moon.

'I wonder how everyone is doing down there,' he thought.

Serenity walked over to him, her hands on the small of her back.  "Alden?"

"Serenity," he looked at her and welcomed her with a kiss.  "I understand why you came to Earth.  It looks so different from the moon.  And the moon…it looks so wonderful up here."

"Alden--"

He went on saying how beautiful the moon was, "I've always thought--"

"Alden!" she yelled.

"Yes, my love?" He said, surprised by her tone.

She laughed lightly.  "Alden, I have something to tell you."

"What's the matter?" he questioned, "Is there anything wrong."

"I do not believe so," she said.  "Alden," she reached for his hand then placed it on her belly.  "I'm with child.  You're going to be a father!"

"T-truly?" he gasped, looking at his hand then at her.

"Yes, Alden."  She told him with a nod.  "You are the father of my unborn child.  Our child."

Alden smiled and kissed her forehead.  "A child.  A child of the moon and earth.  I'm going to be a father!" he laughed and embraced her.  "When did this happen?  Here? Back on Earth?  When will the baby be born?"

"It must've been conceived on Earth," she said. "Let me ask Sailor Pluto."  She turned her head to Sailor Pluto.  "Sailor Pluto!"

"Yes, my queen?" Sailor Pluto asked.

"We're curious to know how long I've been carrying my child," Serenity questioned.  "You being the ruler of time and space should be able to know."

Sailor Pluto held her garnet rod across from Serenity's belly.  "The child is a little over a month old.  It had to be conceived on Earth."

"The first time we made love," Serenity whispered to Alden and then looked at Pluto, "I do not know why I haven't noticed it before."

Alden frowned.

"Something wrong, Alden?" Pluto questioned.

"I leave in two months," Alden mumbled, taking the news all in.   He sounded heartbroken. "You will be around four months along around then.  I won't be able to see the baby be born."

Hearing this, Serenity sighed sadly.

"At least you'll be here in the beginning," Pluto said, trying to cheer them up.

"And you can still come back to visit us," Saturn added.

"I wonder what our child will be like," Alden said. 

"He or she will wonder about you too," Serenity whispered.  She came to tears. 

"Oh, your magesty, don't cry."  Saturn said, patting her shoulder.  "We'll take care of you when Alden leaves."

"There's nothing to fear," Pluto said, "we're with you."

Serenity squeezed her husband's hand.  "I don't want to raise my child alone."

"Your child will not be alone," Pluto stressed.

"I cannot leave her in this condition," Alden mumbled, "I just cannot abandon my wife like this!"

"You won't abandon her," Saturn said, "you can still come back.  Please, let's not be so sad.  This should be a happy moment."  She wrapped her arm around her shoulders.  "Why don't we make you comfortable?  Come and rest a bit."

"All right," Serenity glanced at her husband before leaving.

Alden turned his gaze back to Earth and sighed.

"Are you all right?" Pluto asked him.

He shook his head.

"Don't worry about Serenity," she said, "she'll be all right."

"It's just not that," he said.  "I feel torn between two worlds.   From Earth, the moon just looked like a big rock.  I never knew it could be a home to a princess and then I found Serenity.  Now, from the Moon, the Earth looks so insiginificant as did the moon did from Earth.  It looks so small from here, and yet, it's still so big."

"You miss your home, don't you?"

"I worry about what is going on over there, Pluto," Alden said.  "Have I told you about a demon emporoer coming to destroy Earth?"

"No!" she gasped, "when will it happen?"

"None of my clan members know," Alden said, "but I feel that it is soon.  I just hope that it doesn't come when I'm here.  But I don't want to leave either.  This is rather difficult."  He sighed and shook his head.  "However, I'd rather leave for Earth when I have to than to go on living my life without ever knowing Serenity."

"It would mean a lot to her if she heard you say that," Pluto said.

"She knows," he looked pleadingly at Pluto.  "Can you somehow quicken Serenity's pregnancy so I can see my child before I go?"

Pluto had to laugh.  "I'm sorry.  I cannot."

"I understand," Alden said.

"You'll see your child someday, Alden," Pluto reassured him.  "Just be grateful that you can stay during the first part of Serenity's pregnancy."

"I am grateful," Alden said.

*****

"I wonder how things are for him up there," Akira sighed, looking out the window as he held a blanket around him. 

"Akira?" one of the clan members said, walking passed the room.

"Bane," Akira said with a nod.  "It's odd having him gone, isn't it?"

Bane nodded.  "I know.  I just hope that evil emperor Master Bolo told us about won't come while Alden's gone.  Something tells me that Alden's the only one that will be able to stop it."

"Strange," Akira said, looking back at the moon.  "I feel the same way.  That's what Master Bolo had said."

"Alden's lucky," Bane said.

"It's not everyday you find a moon princess," Akira said as a matter-of-factly.

*****

Alden did his best to help and keep Serenity comfortable as she was carrying his child.  He read to her, rubbed her shoulders and would talk to her what their child would be like.  Far too soon, the time for Alden to return to Earth came.

"Take good care, Alden," Pluto wished.

"The same to the three of you," Alden said.

"Don't worry," Saturn said, "Serenity's in good hands."

"May I have a moment with my husband alone?" Serenity questioned.

"Of course, majesty," Pluto nodded and she left with Saturn.

Serenity forced a smile and took hold of Alden's hands.  "Now be careful." She said.  "And please give my love to Akira and the others, won't you?"

"I will," he said sadly.  He sighed as he turned her around and pulled her into him.  Serenity leaned into him, the back of her head on his shoulder.  He placed his hands on her belly and she fingered the back of his hands.

"The baby will miss you," she mumbled.  "I will too."

"This is not right," he said, "I can't just leave you now, not in your condition.  I should stay here and be a father to my child.  I want to hold it.  I want to hear it."

A tear fell down her cheek.  "I know this isn't the easiest thing to do."

"I understand now why leaving was so hard for you to do," he admitted, "but we weren't aware of your condition then."

"You don't have much time," she told him, rubbing her stomach as she turned around to look at him.  Alden kept his hand on her stomach too.  "I'll be all right.  You're not abandoning me, Alden.  I'll be watching over you. You'll know when the baby is born."  She cupped his chin and smiled for him.  "This isn't easy for me too.  But remember when you told me about the demon emperor?"

"Yes," he replied softly.

"You don't know for sure when he's coming," she said, "you should be on Earth when he comes.  Alden, what if you're the only one able to stop him?"

"You're right," Alden commented.  "I will stay on Earth until the emperor comes to destroy Earth.  But as soon as that thing is destroyed, I'll return here to be with you and our child."

"We'll be waiting," she whispered, looking at her belly. 

"How will I get back?" he questioned finally.

"Oh, yes," she said. She held her hands together and closed her eyes.  Bright brilliant white beams came from her hands. She pulled her hands away, opened her eyes and held in her hands, a fairly large pearl.  "Take this."

"A pearl," he whispered breathlessly.

"The pearl is the gem of the moon," she explained, "it will enable you to leave the moon and return."  When he didn't take the pearl, she pushed her hands forward, "go on. Take it."

Alden slowly picked the pearl from her hands and studied it between his forefinger and thumb.  On the pearl was the same moon symbol as on Serenity's forehead.

"Be careful, Alden," she said gloomily.  "And hurry back."

"I'll miss you," Alden placed his hand behind her head and kissed her moon shape birthmark on her forehead.  Then he bent down and his hand on her side, kissed her belly.  "And I'll miss you," he whispered, his lips an inch away from her abdomen. 

He looked up at her and Serenity smiled broadly as she got a little teary-eyed, "we'll both miss you, Alden."

He stood up and wrapped his arms around her.  "I'll return as soon as I finish my quest. I promise.  If I am not back by the time the child is born, forgive me."

"You'll know when the child is born," she told him.  "You will know.  Do not worry."

He stepped back and cupped her chin.  They looked into each other's eyes and kissed.  "Hurry, Alden, you don't have much time."

He nodded and walked to the edge of the moon.  He looked over his shoulder to her.  "I love you."

"I love you too," she said, half crying, half smiling.  "I love you too, Alden.  Hurry back."  She waved to him.  "Goodbye."

"Farewell."  He held out the pearl to the earth and immediately a beam from the earth connected to the pearl and carried him to Earth.

Serenity shuffled to the edge of the moon and continued to wave and call to him.  "Goodbye my husband…my love…goodbye.  Until we meet again."

*****

Akira went outside to because the clan's tiger was growling.  "An intruder?" he gasped.  He checked the ground but he didn't see anyone.  He sighed, "Come on. Let's take a little walk, you and me."

The tiger seemed to be on edge.  It was sensing something.  "You miss Alden, don't you?" Akira questioned.  He looked up at the sky and focused on the moon.  He saw a beam of light with a bubble.  "What in the world?" 

The bubble came to earth and landed on the ground.  It carried Alden inside.  Akira recognized him immediately.

"Alden!  Old Friend!" he cried, "you're back!" he ran to him.  The tiger sniffed him as Akira helped him to his feet.  "Are you all right?  Where is Serenity?  Still on the moon?"

Alden nodded, rubbing his head.  "She sends her love," he said.

"Let's get you inside," Akira said.  "I'm sure Master Bolo would like to talk to you.  How was life on the moon?"

"It was wonderful," he replied.

Akira chuckled and raised his voice as he came to the temple.  "He's back everyone!  Alden's back!"

*****

Months passed.  Everyone drew anxious when the emperor would come.  They weren't sure but knew it was soon. They all knew though that Alden was going to be a father someday. As Alden was eating dinner with the others, he heard a noise.

"Did you hear that?" Alden questioned suddenly.

"Hear what?"

He heard the noise again and ran outside, Akira right at his side.  "What is it, Alden?"

"It sounded like a baby crying," he replied, looking around.  The others came outside with worried faces.

"But I--"

"Alden," he heard his voice in the sky.  He looked up and saw Serenity holding a newborn child in her arms as she sat on the quarter moon.  "You have--"

"A daughter!" Alden shouted.

"What?" Akira asked, thinking his friend has gone mad.

"A daughter, Akira," Alden looked at him.  "I have a daughter!  See, do you see Serenity there, on the moon, holding our child?"

Akira raised his eyebrow and looked up.  However, he didn't see Serenity.  "NO, I don't see her."  He sighed, but believed him.  Akira smiled and patted his shoulder.  "Congratulations, Alden.  We should celebrate!"

"Alden has a daughter!" the others cried.  "That must make us uncles!"

"I wish I could be there now," Alden said sadly.

"Oh, don't worry Alden," Akira said.  "You will see your child someday."

"Yes," Alden whispered, "Someday."

SIXTEEN YEARS LATER

"Alden, if only you could be here today," Serenity sighed as she sat in her throne.  She looked to the empty throne next to her, where her husband should be. 

"Lovely day, isn't it your majesty?" Saturn asked.

"Hmm? Oh, yes, yes it is."

"The other sailors are very happy for Princess Serenity," Saturn said, "or maybe even jealous.  Endymion, Prince Darien is a very handsome young man."

There was some commotion outside.  "What is that?" Serenity demanded, rising from her throne. 

"Stay back, majesty," Saturn warned and then Princess Serenity came through the doors laughing with her Prince Darien and her friends, the sailor scouts.

"Come join us outside Mother!" Princess Serenity shouted.   "Darien wants to show you Earth!"

"It's very beautiful," Darien said.

"Most beautiful," added Sailor Mars.

The young princess spoke as if Queen Serenity never saw it, only because Queen Serenity hadn't told her about her trip on Earth.  She wanted Alden to do it.  But he never did.  Queen Serenity feared that maybe he died on Earth.  Queen Serenity walked down the red carpet and out the doors.

"Again, welcome to the Moon Kingdom," Queen Serenity said to Prince Darien as they walked to the edge of the moon.

"Isn't the Earth so beautiful, Mother?" Young Serenity questioned, "Can we go?"

Queen Senerity sighed.  She decided the worst had happened.  Alden really had died on Earth and wasn't coming back.  He probably didn't win the battle with that demon he told her about.  'You're really not coming back, are you, Alden?' she thought.

"Mother, is there something wrong?" Princess Serenity asked, noticing the faraway look on her face.

"Serena, I need to speak to you," Queen Serenity said quickly.  She looked at the others, "a moment, please."

They nodded and walked away.

"What is it, Mother?" Princess Serenity asked, concerned.  "What's the matter?"

"The time has come," she said.

"What has?"

"You've wondered who your father was."

"Yes, I have.  Who is he?" she asked.  "Is he coming?  You told me I'd get to see him someday."

"I'm afraid he won't be coming," she said sadly.  "Your father, like Prince Darien, has a home on Earth."

"You never told me my father was on Earth!" she gasped.  "Have you been on Earth?"

"Yes, that was where I met your father, Serena.  Your father was a very good man.  We were married and he came with me to the moon."  She explained.  "But he could not stay or his life would've been shortened.  He had a quest to fulfill on Earth and he promised was soon as he finished it he would return. You never got to meet him and I'm afraid that he wasn't able to see you either."

Serena sniffed, "he didn't see me when I was born?"

"No, he left for Earth while I was carrying you," Serenity replied.  "But he knew you were going to be born.  He knew he had a daughter but it has been 16 years since he left the moon and I'm afraid, he'll never be coming back.   Your father needed to do a task, destroy an evil being.  It seems as though the demon he had to fight destroyed him instead."

Serena covered her mouth, "You mean--to say--that--that I'll never see--see my father?  Ever?"

Queen Serenity bit her lip.  "He hasn't come back. I don't know if he'll never will."

"No, I don't believe it!"  She shrieked, shaking her head and balling her hands into fists.  "It can't be true!  I never got to know my father!  I want to see him!  I must see him!"

"Oh, my dear," Queen Serenity said, teary eyed, "I want to see him too." She pulled her daughter to her.  "I want to see him too."

"It cannot be!" she wailed, "I wanted my father to see me today!  Today is my wedding day and he won't be able to see me!"

"Now listen, listen to me," she said firmly, pushing her back.  "Sweetheart, even if he will not return does not mean that he will not be with you.  Today is your wedding day and I am very sure that he is here with you in spirit.  When I leave, I will still be with you.  Do you understand?  Your father was a great man."

"I want to see him." She said again.

"I am sure he wants to see you too," Queen Serenity agreed.

*****

"Sixteen years," Alden sighed.  "Serenity, please tell our daughter about me."

"Awfully dark tonight, isn't it?" Akira asked.

"No moon," Alden said.

"That explains it," Akira muttered, looking up. "You should return to the moon.  Serenity must miss you and I'm sure you'll want to see your daughter."

"I do, Akira," Alden said.  "More than anything but it is my duty to stay here until the demon emperor comes.  He can come any day now.  Tonight even."

"We've waited sixteen years," Akira groaned.  "Obviously he isn't coming."

"I sense danger though," Alden said.  "Evil."

There was a sudden burst of laughter in the air.  It sounded so evil, so maniacal that it made every villager shiver with fright and the animals to run around in a rage.  The clan's tiger, White Smoke was growling intensely.  Alden placed his hand on the animals hide and looked up in the sky.

"He has come," Alden said lowly, "Evil has finally showed his ugly face."

"Oh no," Akira mumbled.

"Akira, get everyone ready," Alden ordered, "it is time for us to battle."

Next Chapter: Fight Me, Demon--Fight Me, Witch