Hi everybody. Well, it's finally finished. Sorry you had to wait so
long. But here it is, waiting to be read. One thing you need to know
is that I sort of twisted something. I can't tell you what exactly
because it would ruin the story. Anyways, this is rated PG for drama
and death. I added in some comedy. I don't know if it was successful,
though. I think you've waited too long already so here's Book 3
without further ado. Enjoy!!!
BETRAYALS OF THE PAST
By: Moonbunny83
6/29/01 - 1/04/02
E-mail: moonbunny83@hotmail.com
Sailor Moon created by:
Naoko Takeuchi
New characters and the Moon Gloria belong to me.
BOOK 3
THE SILVER MILLENNIUM - ON THE MOON
Sixteen-year-old Serenity stood on the balcony of her chambers,
gazing at the spherical, blue planet thousands of miles away.
"Earth . . .," she sighed. "It looks so breathtakingly
beautiful. If only Mother would allow me to pay a visit so I
can see Endymion once again after six long years." She let out
a breath of distress as she heard laughter and chattering from
down below. "Another ball," Serenity whispered in disgust.
"Don't they get sick of it? One gathering is the same as the
other. As Hunter would say, 'Boring and filled with royal
snobs.'" She removed her attention from the frivolous people and
continued under her breath. "All they do is gossip to their hearts'
content, eat until their seams burst open, dance until their feet fall
off -- those are supposed to be fun? It's a relief that I was able to
escape that prison of boredom."
"Talking to yourself again, Your Highness?" a voice asked
suddenly out of nowhere.
"What?!" Serenity gasped in surprise. "Who?- Hunter," she
croaked. "I thought you were someone else."
"A certain high and mighty bald-spotted feline, perhaps?" Hunter
asked, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
"You got me. Speaking of whom, have you seen-"
"No," he interrupted as he strode towards her. He looked down
from the balcony and inquired in a scolding tone, "Shouldn't you
be down there, Huntress? Mingling with the boring, royal snobs?"
"I suppose I should be," she responded in a bored tone.
"You suppose?" Hunter snorted. "Aren't you the hostess?"
"Um . . . I don't think so . . .," Huntress answered slowly,
hesitance obvious in her behavior as she started fidgeting with
her silk, elbow-high gloves. "I mean . . . Mother . . . Well,
she didn't say anything . . ."
"You don't think so?" Hunter chuckled this time. He glanced at
her for a brief moment and kept on, "You haven't changed a bit."
Huntress frowned good-naturedly. "What are you saying?"
He grinned at her. "Nothing. Nothing at all." That
nonchalant comment earned him a real frown from the Princess.
He only widened his grin in response. After a few seconds,
the two friends became silent as they stared at the darkened,
glittering cosmos that surrounded an infinite number of galaxies
with its endless splendor. Huntress sighed, deep in thought.
Hearing this, Hunter asked, "What are you thinking?"
"I miss him," she answered wistfully.
"Who?"
"Endymion."
An almost sinister look glinted in Hunter's eyes. "Why do you
miss him for?" he asked in a gruff manner.
Huntress, surprised at his odd behavior, responded carefully.
"Why, you asked? Because he's my friend." She raised an
eyebrow and added, "As well as he is yours."
Hunter appeared baffled at that announcement. He had never
referred to the Earth Prince as his 'friend.' It would appear
that the Princess is completely oblivious about his feelings
for Endymion, or rather, lack thereof. With his musings over
and done with, he returned his attention to Huntress.
"Huntress?" he asked with patience.
Huntress blinked those wide, cerulean orbs of hers and replied
with much innocence, "Yes, Hunter?"
"I have never liked that Earth snob."
Her eyes narrowed as she protested, "That's ridiculous!" She
took a deep breath and continued reprimanding her friend,
"I can still remember the day you saved his life as if it
happened only yesterday."
"I would rather not talk about that."
"And why not? You saved his life. You should be proud of
yourself," Huntress stated, puzzlement clear on her expression.
"Saving Endymion's life was not my primary concern during that
time . . ." he muttered to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," he quickly answered, Huntress' voice fading out as
his thoughts traveled back in the ocean of time six years
before, when he thought of spying on her and the infamous Earth
Prince.
FLASHBACK
ON THE MOON, SERENITY'S GARDENS, SIX YEARS AGO
"STOP!!!" ten-year-old Serenity shrieked, her once pretty gown
now sodden, spreading limply and heavily around her tiny body.
"I COMMAND YOU TO STOP!!!!"
Endymion ignored her indignation and continued his mischief.
With armor-clad legs apart, his hands knuckled on his waist,
his long dark cloak dancing with the wind, he glanced down at
the pool of water that surrounded the enraged Princess of the
Moon. He chuckled deep in his throat and complained, "But you
said you were hot. I only thought to do you a favor by pushing
you into the lake. Don't you feel much refreshed?"
"The only thing I'm feeling is your brainless head underneath
my hands drowning you with all my might!!!!" she growled.
Finally incapable of keeping his laughter bottled in and out of
earshot, he clutched his midsection and roared endlessly much
to the annoyance of Serenity. With surprising strength, she
heaved herself and her heavy dress out of the cold water. She
slowly advanced toward the unsuspecting Prince with a single
purpose in mind. The task wasn't as easy as she thought it would
be. Her clothing dragged her down and that only angered her
even more. With ferocity as her main source of power, she strode
up to the still hysterical Endymion and shoved him into the lake.
Her face brightened triumphantly as she observed the sputtering
cries coming out of the mischievous, young man. Her victory
ended too quickly, however when she noticed the armored body
submerging deep in the lake at an amazingly fast rate.
Serenity, her face now filled with horror, contemplated her
hasty retaliation. She kept on watching, her cold feet rooted
on the grassy floor, even as she heard a weak cry of help coming
from her ill-fated friend. She watched as the cruel waters
covered his mouth from such action. She watched and watched and
watched. What was a ten-year-old to do? Cry. And she did so
in anguish, her thoughts filled with her friend's dreadful fate.
BEHIND A NEARBY BUSH
"Hn," Hunter grunted in approval as he observed the splash
caused by the heavy armor worn by the Prince. He was pleased
to see Huntress avenge herself with such ferociousness. He
almost made his hiding place known when he saw the snob push
Huntress into the pool of water. But he knew she could take
care of herself. He glanced once again at the now huffing
Prince of Earth. Hunter smirked to himself. He was right.
His joy was short-lived, however, when he took notice of
Huntress' apparent distress. He couldn't stand seeing her
cry and decided to reveal himself at last.
ALONGSIDE THE LAKE
"What's the matter with you?" he asked casually.
Huntress looked up and saw a friendly face through rivers of
tears. "Hunter!" she sobbed, throwing herself into his arms.
Hunter patted her back awkwardly and waited for her weeping to
end.
UNDER THE LAKE
Endymion held his breath as he tried to unravel his stubborn
cloak from around his legs. His lungs were burning from lack
of fresh air. His armor did not help the matter. It was
weighing him down while his cloak had him trapped. 'This is
absurd. No way am I going to die, drowned in this lake.
A shallow lake at that,' he mused furiously. 'I have to survive
this. I can't die like this. Not without honor. Not without
telling her how I have grown to -,' His thoughts ended there
as he finally took one last precious breath.
NEXT TO THE LAKE
Huntress hiccupped as she attempted to explain the matters at
hand to Hunter. "Endymion . . . "
"What about the Earth snob?" he inquired, pretending to have
no knowledge of the dire situation whatsoever.
Huntress clasped his sleeves desperately as she managed to
shout, "Endymion is drowning! You have to help him." She
released her hold and sobbed. She added in a whisper, "Please
help him." Hunter stared down at her upturned face, soaked
in tears. He sighed and nodded reluctantly.
'I am doing this for Huntress. I am not saving the snob's
life . . .,' he thought silently as he dove under the
shimmering lake. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this.'
He swam beneath the waters and began his search. It only
took about a minute for him to find a dark mop of hair swaying
in rhythm with the small waves. Hunter kicked his legs to stir
himself forward. He took in the sight before him and realized
what had prevented the Prince to save his own skin. The monarch's
legs were completely enveloped with the cloak and his armor offered
no assistance at all. After snorting in disbelief at the Prince's
foolishness, Hunter hooked both of his arms underneath Endymion's
armpits and propelled himself and his heavy baggage toward the surface.
Upon reaching the destination, Hunter swallowed loud gulps of
air and hauled Prince Endymion next to an overly anxious
princess. Huntress sighed in relief and kneeled directly beside
the drenched young man. She searched for a pulse at the base
of his throat. What her fingertips found was a faint pounding,
very slow in rhythm.
"He's alive," her voice cracked with the discovery. "Hunter,
do something," she pleaded, staring up at him. Hunter grinned
and pushed Endymion's body forward to the point that he looked
like he was seated down. He grinned wider still as he gave the
unconscious Prince an extremely solid and firm pound on the back.
Huntress gasped in shock. "Hunter! You're only doing more damage
to him!" she protested. As soon as the words were out of her mouth,
Endymion started heaving water out of his system.
"Doing more damage, you said?" Hunter inquired. "If only that
were true . . .," he quietly added, observing Huntress launch
herself in Endymion's arms.
"Endy!!" Serenity exclaimed. "You're alive!!"
"Not for long if you don't stop squeezing the breath out of me!!"
Endymion gasped. He was freed at once and thankfully started
breathing at a normal pace.
"I am so sorry," Serenity apologized in a quiet tone.
"For what?"
"For almost killing you!" she sobbed.
"Ah . . . Don't cry, Sere. I forgive you. Don't worry yourself
about it." He gave her a soothing embrace. "After all, I did
have it coming," he laughed. He gently set her aside and
continued, "By the way, how in the world were you able to pull
me out of that lake?"
"Oh! It wasn't me! My friend, Hunter saved you!" She looked
around her garden and found themselves alone. "He's gone . . .,"
she whispered sadly.
END FLASHBACK
SOMEWHERE DEEP IN A DUNGEON
"You will bring the Moon Princess to me!" a deep snarling voice
demanded.
"I will, my liege," a different voice humbly answered, less
fierce than its master. "I have a plan -- a plan that will no
doubt make her succumb to my powers."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, master. Just give me time-"
"Time!! There is no time! I must have the Queen's successor
to the crystal. I must have her. If you value your life,
you will make sure I have her before the upcoming ball."
The master gave its underling a hard look that stipulates no
disobedience.
"With all due respect, master . . . Which upcoming ball do you
refer to?" The minion asked almost eagerly. Upon seeing its
superior's frown, an explanation hastily followed. "I mean since
those moon people always have a ball every week and all . . ."
The frown turned into a nasty scowl. "I will soon bring the
Princess to you, master." After bowing with respect, the lackey
promptly left the pungent, sickening odor of the cell in which
its master was imprisoned.
"You had better, my son. You had better." A deafening, silence
soon followed as the confined creature opened its mouth in
laughter, but with no sound coming out.
JUST OUTSIDE THE PALACE GROUNDS
A strange, young man looked intently at his outstretched palm.
Resting within its folds was a ring encrusted with genuine
pearls upon a golden band. He closed his hand with determination
and clutched it against his chest. 'Soon,' he thought. 'Very soon.'
With that in mind, he closed his eyes almost in regret and left the
palace without a backward glance.
At the same time, a fragile object slowly fell from his other
hand, unnoticed. It glided with the breeze until it touched the
cold, hard ground. Unknowingly, the man crushed the object with
the heel of his boot. A sob could almost be heard from afar as
the Moon Gloria was left alone, its spirit crushed, its beauty
destroyed, and lost -- forgotten, with the memories of childhood
and friendships shattered.
INSIDE THE PALACE TRAINING GROUNDS
A flash of golden streak flew across the palace training grounds
as a certain moon princess slammed hard against a wall. Her four
protectors rushed towards the fallen girl anxiously with no delay.
The dark-haired one gasped as she clutched Serenity's arm gently.
"Your Highness!" she cried. "Are you all right?"
The princess only groaned. "Mars, I'm fine." She stood up
wobbling and shook off all help from the four. She clutched
her head between both hands and closed her eyes in obvious pain.
"Are you sure, Princess?" blue-haired Mercury asked, doubtful.
Serenity sighed and with one opened eye, grinned shakily at
her friends. "I'm sure."
Fair-haired Venus frowned and snapped, "Then why are you moaning
and groaning about your head like that?"
Still grinning, she whispered, "I may have hit my head just a
bit against the wall."
Mars turned angrily towards the tallest of them all, the
brown-haired Jupiter. "Did you have to blast her that hard?"
Jupiter, standing a few feet away, answered with regret.
"It wasn't intentional. Besides, I really thought she saw it coming."
"I'm sure she did see it coming. Only problem is that her mind
was elsewhere at the time." Mercury raised an eyebrow
questioningly at Serenity. The Princess blushed and looked away,
her aching head long forgotten.
"I knew it!" Venus exclaimed. She looked at the embarrassed
Serenity in the eye and whispered, "It's Endymion isn't it?"
She laughed as the Princess shook her head in denial. "Ha! It is
him!" The Princess' face turned into an even brighter red as
Venus kept on ranting with delight. "You cannot lie to me, Serenity!
I am an expert in the matters of the heart. After all, I AM Venus,
the Sailor of Love!!"
"So you keep reminding us," Mars muttered under her breath.
Mercury asked the Princess, "Is this true?"
Serenity gulped nervously and stuttered. "I-I, um, I don't
know."
Venus unrelentingly demanded, "Do you love him?"
All four protectors stared at the Princess expectantly. Nobody
said a word as they waited for the answer. Finally, a faint
'I don't know' was heard.
Mars sighed and said quietly, "You do, don't you?"
"I really don't know. I haven't seen him in years so how am
I to know?"
Venus quoted wistfully, "As they say, 'abscess makes the heart
grow bigger.'" Everybody stared at her incredulously. "What?"
she asked, confused.
Jupiter snorted. "That's 'ABSENCE makes the heart grow FONDER.'"
"That's what I said!"
"No. You said that boils, swellings, eruptions, blisters,
carbuncles, and pustules -- to list a few -- make the heart
grow bigger," Mercury argued.
"Boiling cars and swelling bunks and what?" Venus asked with wide,
bewildered eyes.
"Which, if you looked at it in a twisted and distorted way,"
Mars stated calmly, her lips twitching in amusement, "is true."
"Disgusting!!" Serenity exclaimed. "All of you are in the
presence of a princess and you ought not speak so revoltingly!!"
"Hate to break the news to you, Your Royal Highness," Mars
began, "but we too are princesses of our respected planets."
Serenity retorted back, "Well, you happen to be on MY planet
and therefore you should show some respect!"
"Another news I hate to break to you, Princess, but the Moon is
not a planet. It is merely that . . . a moon." Mars smirked.
Jupiter grabbed the Moon Princess just in time to prevent an
all-out war. "That's enough, the both of you. Mars, quit baiting
the Princess and Your Highness, save your energy for training."
Serenity took a deep breath and replied, "Very well. I challenge
you, Fire Princess, to a one-on-one match."
"Oh, great!" Mercury shouted at no one. "The two of you haven't
changed a bit!"
Mars smiled. "Challenge accepted. This should be easy, with
you enamored with Endymion."
"I'll make you eat your words," Serenity growled.
Jupiter threw up her hands exasperatingly. "It's hopeless!"
With that said, she left the training grounds in disgust.
"I am not getting in the middle of this childish game you two
so love to play at every whim," Mercury announced and followed Jupiter
out.
Venus glanced at Mars and Serenity apologetically and quickly
caught up to Mercury. "I still don't understand what boiling
cars and swelling bunks are!" she cried. Mercury sighed and
patiently explained to Venus the meaning of the CORRECT quote.
Venus protested, "But don't hearts swell when you're in love?"
As the two leave the training grounds behind, Mercury's yell of
annoyance could be heard.
"I GIVE UP!!!"
SERENITY'S GARDENS
Hunter paced impatiently, frowning all the while. 'Where is
she?' he thought aggravatingly. He stopped without warning
and stared at his tightly clenched fist. He could feel the
ring inside his palm, embedding itself slowly. He opened his
hand and gasped at the undeniable beauty of the pearls. Hunter
stared, only stared at the future in which his palm clings to
with much ferocity -- a future that could very well begin his
life or end it. He gripped the ring with all his might and tried
to block everything around him. 'Am I doing the right thing?
Is this the only way to ensure Huntress' future and mine? What
if there is better way? What if-'
"I am so sorry!" Huntress, running, blurted out, interrupting
Hunter's thoughts. She halted in front of him, gasping for breath.
Hunter smiled at her antics and grasped her shoulders gently.
"Take a deep breath, will you?" he scolded.
Huntress released a deep sigh and continued. "Sorry. The scouts
and I were training and lost track of time."
"Training, huh?" he sneered. "You mean those good-for-nothing
scouts are actually good for something?"
"Hunter! Stop it. Why do you hate them so?"
Seeing Huntress in distress did nothing to improve his mood.
"I don't exactly hate them, as you put it," Hunter explained.
"We merely just don't get along."
Huntress frowned. "But you don't even know them."
"That's irrelevant. You know what that word means now, right?"
"Of course," she snapped. "Don't change the subject."
"Was I?" Hunter blinked innocently.
She ignored him and resumed the topic at hand. "Have you even
met them?"
"No, but that, of course, is-"
"Irrelevant," she interrupted. "I know, but that's a sorry
excuse to dislike them."
"Look. I don't want to talk about them anymore, okay?" Hunter
stated. "I didn't meet you here to discuss those losers."
Seeing her about to protest, he held up a hand and said, "I
know they're your friends, but as far as I can see, they don't
act like one."
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
"Never mind. Let's talk about something else."
Huntress narrowed her eyes. "If you think we're finished with
this subject, you're dead wrong."
"Look at what they've done to you already. You're like a bomb
ready to explode."
"I'm prepared to explode if it means defending my friends from
the likes of you!" Huntress retorted. Hunter's face paled with
disbelief and her eyes widened as she realized what she had said.
"Hunter, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to imply-"
"I know. Just forget it," he whispered and looked away.
Huntress grabbed his arm in a desperate attempt to make him
understand. "Hunter . . ."
Hunter faced her. "Don't worry about it. After all, I did
have it coming."
"No, you didn't!"
"Huntress! Let's just forget this conversation ever happened."
She released his arm reluctantly. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." He looked at his closed fist and knew without a doubt
that his time was running out. 'Not yet, not yet . . .'
Nothing more was said after that. The two friends stood side by
side quietly, neither saying a word, neither willing to forget
what has just occurred despite what has been agreed -- neither
willing to accept that their bond has been severed. Neither of
them was willing to acknowledge the fact that their friendship
is forever lost -- along with the Moon Gloria, with no hope of
ever returning home.
SOMEWHERE DEEP IN A DUNGEON
"Everything is going according to plan," a hoarse voice muttered
in triumph. "Broken friendships, lost hope -- the crystal is
mine!!" The monster heckled and cackled hysterically. "And you,
my son, will retrieve it for me . . .," he declared to no one,
the black pools of his eyes glittering with menace.
SERENITY'S CHAMBERS
Luna sat in silence, reflecting the day's events. The Princess
didn't know it, but she has been following her around, watching
her and listening whenever she is in Hunter's company. Luna
licked her paws and remembered the argument the two friends had.
Something was up. She could feel it in her bones. 'That boy is
hiding something. I just know it,' she thought to herself. 'I
have to find out. I won't be able to rest until I do. Maybe I
could . . .' Her mind made up, Luna scurried to the door as fast
as her four feline legs could carry her and left the palace
grounds against her better judgment.
OUTSIDE THE PALACE GROUNDS
Hunter stared at the darken sky and asked the stars above if he
was doing the right thing. The ring, still clutched in his hand,
started to glow immensely. 'Master is calling me,' he mused.
'I must heed his command.'
The silver-haired boy turned around and headed back towards the
palace with determined steps. He knew it was time. The Master's
plan is about to be unfolded. The crystal will become his.
'And Huntress will be mine.'
NOT VERY FAR AWAY
'What is that boy up to?' Luna pondered. She watched as Hunter
walked inside the palace gates. 'Where does he think he's going?
The way he walks, one would think he belongs in the palace.
He acts as if he has the right to mingle with his superiors.'
Luna ran after Hunter at a safe distance. She followed him to
a dead end and watched as he pulled a branch and patiently waited.
Not a minute later, the vine-covered wall opened with a groan to
reveal a hidden tunnel.
'What in the world?' Luna gasped in surprise. Her eyes widen
even farther as Hunter entered the dim hallway and the secret
entry starts to close. She quickly entered the passageway just
before it shut behind her with a soft bang.
Darkness swiftly enfolded her as soon as she was inside. Luna
begins to tremble the instant the bitter draft starts to seep
into her bones.
'Something is amiss,' she shivered. 'Where am I? It somehow
feels sinister down here. What in the world is going on?'
Realizing that Hunter is too far a distance away from her, Luna
dashed at a fast pace to catch up.
Suddenly, flashes of lights blinded Luna and she was forced to
halt her progress. 'What on earth-' She blinked a few times
to become adjusted to the now lighted surroundings. With her
eyes finally accustomed, she was able to discover her whereabouts.
"The underground palace dungeons?" she asked aloud under her
breath slowly. "How in the world did he find this place?
Nobody knows of this except for a few trusted advisors and
the Queen herself." Luna resumed her steps forward, cautiously
this time, musing all the while. "However did he find the
secret tunnel? Even I didn't know of any secret entrances."
She once became aware of the cells around her -- of the revolting
stench in the air -- of Hunter unhurriedly opening the largest cell
of them all. 'I've asked myself this before and I'll ask it again.
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?! Just who is that boy, really?'
INSIDE THE CELL
"Master?" Hunter whispered. "Are you here, my liege?" He
advanced inside the prison cell and stepped on something foul. "Ugh!"
"Where else would I be, fool?!" a deep voice snarled. "Out by
the pool sunbathing?!"
Hunter flushed in contrition. "My deepest apologies sire."
He tried to get rid of the muck, but to no avail.
The Master ignored him and continued growling. "What took you so
long?"
He tried kicking it off, but it still hung on. "I got here as
fast as I could, sire," Hunter explained, obviously distracted.
"Not fast enough! Anyways, as I was saying-"
The muck was hanging only by a thread now. "As you were saying,
sire?" Hunter asked in confusion, still concentrating at the task
at hand. "But you weren't saying anything."
"SILENCE!!" Hunter, noticeably stunned, at once dropped his
muck-covered shoe onto the sticky ground, undoing all his progress
in the process. "I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH DISRESPECT!"
"My deepest apologies sire!" Hunter apologized yet again. He
grimaced at his shoe and once more tried to remove the slime,
kicking furiously this time.
"Whatever are you doing, boy?!"
"Nothing, sire," he muttered.
Hunter kicked and kicked -- and unexpectedly, it worked. The
muck finally released its slimy hold and flew across the cell.
His eyes followed it, only to stop at the Master's furious face.
"You little-," he sputtered in disbelief. Hunter watched in
horror as the Master struggled to remove the slime off his face.
His attempts only made it worse and soon, the muck covered not only
his visage, but his hands and neck as well.
"My deepest apologies sire!" Hunter immediately cried out.
"I GROW TIRED OF YOUR APOLOGIES!!"
"My deepest apol-"
"ENOUGH!!" the Master interrupted impatiently. Regaining his
composure back, he resumed his tirade. "It is quickly becoming
apparent that you are not suitable for this task."
"But, my liege! I am suitable! I'm the perfect man for the
job!" Hunter protested.
"You have yet to prove yourself, my dear boy and you are a far
cry of being a man."
Hunter moved closer to the Master and desperately pleaded with
him. "Sire, my plan is fool-proof. Once I've made Huntress my
wife, we have only to rid of pesky obstacles and the crystal's ours."
"Ours?" the Master raised an eyebrow.
"I mean yours, sire," Hunter hastily corrected himself.
The Master stared at him quietly, contemplating whether or not
Hunter should be given a second chance. "All you have been doing
is spying on your precious Princess."
"So I could determine the best way possible to execute my plan,
my liege."
A heavy sigh was released and Hunter's fate was decided. "I
suppose you should be given a chance to unfurl your plan."
"You have my gratitude, sire."
"Indeed." The Master glared at Hunter as if regretting his
actions already. "You are dismissed." Hunter bowed with
respect to his liege and turned around to leave. "You have only
until the upcoming ball!" The Master added.
"Yes, sire!" With that, Hunter closed the cell and locked it
behind him, once again traipsing towards the darken secret halls.
LUNA'S VIEW
Ugh. What is that stench? It reeks down here.
I warily followed that boy, stopping just outside the cell and
intently listened. What is that boy doing? Is that what I think
it is? On his shoe? Hn. Serves him right.
Wait a minute. Who was that? That boy isn't alone in there.
I can hear another voice. Whoever or whatever is in there with
him sure sounds like a hungry wolf ready to leap for its dinner.
'SILENCE!!'
Meow? What in the world?
'My deepest apologies, sire!'
Is that-? On his face? Oh! This is just too sweet!! I could
feel cavities building up inside my mouth. I swear if this
weren't serious, I'd be laughing hysterically, mayhap even maniacally.
Ho boy!
'My deepest apologies, sire!'
How many times could a person apologize for something? Geez!
'ENOUGH!'
I'm on your side, oh mysterious one!
'Sire, my plan is fool-proof . . .'
Plan?! What plan is he talking about?
' . . . Huntress my wife . . . Crystal ours.'
WHAT?! That boy plans to marry the Princess? And the crystal-!
They're after the crystal?! I knew that boy couldn't be trusted.
I kept telling Serenity, but no. She wouldn't listen.
' . . . only until the upcoming ball!'
The upcoming ball? I don't have much time. I must inform the
Queen right away!!
I left the dungeons with haste, running in the same direction I
came in. I stumbled once, twice, but I kept on going. I have one
purpose in mind and nothing could detain me. Nothing! But-
I am about to break a promise made to a little girl. What choices
have I? A choice between trust and life. Without trust, there is
no life and without life, there is no trust. I am doomed either
way. I must think about the people of the Moon -- what is best for
the people.
Princess, please forgive me!
THE NEXT DAY -- INSIDE PRINCESS SERENITY'S CHAMBERS
"Princess, your mother the Queen has requested your presence in
the throne room," Myra informed Serenity.
"She has?" Serenity asked with mild surprise. Her mother has
never 'requested' her presence anywhere. It sounds like a summons
to her. Something must be wrong. Something must be troubling
the Queen. Whatever it is, it must be serious. This does not
bode well. Not at all.
"Yes, Princess. Right away."
"Thank you, Myra. You may leave now." The chambermaid curtsied
and left.
ROYAL THRONE ROOM
Luna paced back and forth nervously next to a furious Queen
Serenity. 'Maybe I should have kept their friendships to myself.
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the Princess' involvement.
Maybe . . . Oh, what's the use? It's too late to do anything now.'
A soft knock sounded like a cannon inside the eerily quiet room.
Queen Serenity glared a warning at Luna and commanded her daughter
to come in.
"You summoned me, Mother?" inquired the Princess upon setting
foot inside.
The Queen, in a no-nonsense tone, went straight to the point.
"You are hereby forbidden to enter your gardens! You are hereby
forbidden to socialize with that rapscallion! You are hereby forbidden
to leave the palace grounds unsupervised! You are hereby stripped off
of your gardens! You are hereby stripped off of your friendship with
that scoundrel!"
"Mother!" Serenity gasped.
"AND YOU ARE HEREBY STRIPPED OFF OF YOUR FREEDOM! PERIOD!"
"Mother, you can't-!"
The Queen only narrowed her eyes. "Oh, but I can. I am your
mother." She looked at her daughter grimly. "Have I made myself
clear?"
Tears started streaming down Serenity's face as she turned her
head from her mother to Luna. "But, why?" she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Luna, you promised! It was my birthday present," she finished in
a hoarse whisper. The Queen only stared at her, unmoved by her tears.
Serenity gave her a last pleading look, but it was ignored. With a
whimper, she ran out of the room without a backward glance.
Queen Serenity's shoulders sagged in distress as she watched her
daughter flee. Controlled tears glazed her eyes and she shook her
head sadly. "Was I too hard on her, Luna? Have I lost her? Have
I lost my only daughter?"
'You and me both, Your Majesty. You and me both.'
THE DAY BEFORE THE BALL -- A WEEK LATER
"Your Highness, shouldn't you be preparing for the ball?"
"Leave me alone, Myra," a muffled voice ordered under the heavy
blankets.
"But, Princess-"
"I'm not going to the ball. Now go away!"
Myra sighed in defeat. "With all due respect, Princess, but you
have been in your chambers for an entire week! You have to get
out sooner or later. It might as well be today."
Serenity impatiently threw the covers off and stood up in front
of her chambermaid. "You seem to have forgotten that my freedom
has been taken away, Myra." With that, she started pushing her
towards the door. "I appreciate your concern, but it is misplaced.
I am fine. I don't want to go out of my chambers and I don't want
to GO TO THE BALL!" she finished with a shout and locked the door
after pushing Myra out successfully. She slid down to the floor
with her back against the door and cried quietly.
PLANET EARTH
Terra, Queen of Earth, sighed in defeat. "It is imminent, then?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Garrick, captain of the guards, answered.
"There is an estimation of one day until she descends, although
as to the exact time, we have yet to guess."
"I have heard that there is to be a ball tomorrow night on
the Moon."
"Your sources are proven correct, my Queen. Do you believe
that," Garrick paused then resumed, "she would dare appear
at the same time as the ball?"
Terra frowned. "I wouldn't put it past her. She has always been
fond of theatrics and being the center of attention." She paced
back and forth and turned to Garrick in fear. "Underestimate her,
we must not, for surely she has grown much stronger since last."
Garrick snorted. "Aye. I am willing to bet that her greed most
assuredly has."
"Serenity must be warned," the Queen announced in a grave tone.
"Time is of the essence, Garrick and we must act now."
The captain bowed in agreement. "I will send a legion of troops
at once, Your Majesty."
"No!" Terra objected.
Garrick looked at her, baffled. "But, my Queen-"
"Pardon me for my outburst, Garrick," she interrupted, her mind
at work. "But we must not send thousands of foot soldiers and
cavalry on the Moon. It would only cause panic among the people
and that would be an advantage to her side." Terra stood in
silence, contemplating the best possible way to warn Serenity.
"What other way is there, Your Majesty?" Garrick inquired.
Her musings over, Terra gave her full attention to the captain
and ordered, "Summon my son, Endymion immediately."
Garrick, understanding the Queen's decision, smiled in relief.
"As you wish, my Queen."
ELSEWHERE ON PLANET EARTH
"I miss her, Helios." Endymion confessed to his friend, the
priest.
"Then do something about it, Prince." Helios gave Endymion a
pound on the back and continued. "Spare us of your moping and
tell her how you feel before it's too late."
The Earth Prince scowled and protested, "I do not mope! And what
do you mean before it's too late?"
"Did I say before it's too late?" Helios looked at him with
feigned innocence. "Surely I did not!"
"Helios, I'm warning you . . ."
"Your Highness!" A gasping Garrick blurted out. "Forgive
my interruptions, my Prince, but the Queen has summoned you."
"Mother?"
"Yes, sire." Garrick took a deep breath. "It is of much
importance."
Endymion nodded and turned to Helios. "We are not finished with
this discussion, my friend." With a last glance at Helios,
Endymion left with Garrick to heed the Queen's summons.
Watching his friend leaving, Helios shook his head sadly and said
to himself, "I am afraid it will be centuries before we see each
other again, Prince Endymion."
ON THE MOON -- SERENITY'S CHAMBERS (THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BALL)
Myra, persistent as always, gave it another try. "Is there
nothing I can say or do to change your mind, Princess?"
Serenity gave the chambermaid a quick hug and whispered, "I am
afraid not, Myra."
"It really saddens me to see you like this, Your Highness."
"I will be fine," Serenity assured her with a smile. With a
gentle push, she said, "Now go and prepare for the ball."
"Your Highness-"
"That was an order and I will not tolerate disobedience,"
Serenity announced good-naturedly.
"Yes, Princess."
After Myra's departure, Serenity went to bed and tried shutting
everything and everybody out of her mind.
LATER THAT NIGHT
"Huntress!" Hunter yelled in hushed tones.
"Hmmm . . ." Huntress yawned. "Go away, Myra!" she muttered.
Desperate, Hunter started shaking her vigorously. "Wake up,
will you?"
"What do you want?" she whined. She slowly opened one eye and
gasped. "You're not Myra!"
"No, really?" he snapped sarcastically.
"Hunter!" Huntress pulled her covers up to her chin in
embarrassment, now fully awake. "What are you doing in my
room? You must leave right now! Mother-"
"I don't care about your mother," he declared, cutting her short.
Huntress' eyes widened in surprise at the change in him. "Look,
I need to talk to you. Right now."
"What's happened to you?" Huntress croaked.
Hunter's eyes twitched. "What do you mean?"
"You're different somehow . . ."
He heaved a sigh impatiently. "I'm sorry I snapped at you like
that but I don't have much time."
"Not much time for what?" Huntress asked, still bewildered.
Ignoring her, Hunter went on. "I've missed you, Huntress."
"I've missed you, too," she replied uncertainly.
Hunter smiled and looked at her in the eye. "This past week
has been torture, Huntress. Not seeing you everyday has opened my
eyes."
"What are you talking about?"
"I love you!" he blurted out.
"You do?" she stammered.
"Much more than I thought possible," he declared. Hunter
held out his palm and the pearls glittered in the moonlight.
"Will you marry me, Huntress? Will you make me the happiest
man alive?" He held his breath whilst he waits for an answer.
"This is too sudden . . ." Huntress began. "I don't know what
to say."
"Don't you love me?!"
"I do!" she answered quickly, too quickly.
Hunter narrowed his eyes and growled, "Then what's the problem?"
"I don't think I'm ready."
"Not ready?! We've known each other practically all our lives!
I've seen you with a red nose for goodness sake!"
Huntress shrugged. "I need time."
"We don't have time."
Huntress looked away and glimpsed at the window that leads out
to the balcony. 'What was that? I could have sworn I saw
somebody . . .'
"Huntress, look at me!" Hunter caught her chin in his palm and
forced her head to face him. "Look at me, Huntress. Look into
my eyes," he whispered gruffly. His green eyes started to glow
an eerie red and Huntress soon fell in a trance. Hunter smirked
triumphantly and continued. "Say you love me, Huntress."
In a monotone voice, she complied. "I love you."
"Say yes, you will marry me, Huntress."
"Yes, I will marry you."
Hunter smiled and chuckled. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"
He slipped the band onto her left ring finger and leaned in to
kiss her. The moment his lips touched hers, her nightclothes
changed into a white flowing gown with sheer, long sleeves that
shimmered at the slightest movement. At the same instance, both
disappeared into the night without so much of a trace except for
an imprint on the bed where the Princess' body had once lain.
OUT IN THE BALCONY
"This is so boring!" Venus complained.
"Shh! You're going to wake her up," Mars shushed. "We're
supposed to watch out for Serenity."
"Spy on her you mean," Jupiter butted in.
"Orders of her Majesty, the Queen." Mercury yawned and
watched the slumbering Moon Princess.
"But she hasn't left her room for an entire week!"
"Venus! Quit whining, will you?"
"Get off my back, Mars!" she growled.
Mercury, ever the mediator, said in a casual tone, "Think of it
this way, Venus. At least we know where she is at all times."
"This is so wrong," Jupiter announced. "We shouldn't be spying
on her like this. She's our friend."
Mars argued reluctantly, "We're her protectors. Our duties come
first." She looked at the three and explained, "Words of the Queen."
"We're dead when she finds out," Venus sighed.
"IF she finds out."
"She's not as blonde as she looks, Mars." Jupiter stated. "She
will find out sooner or later."
"Hey! I resent that!" Venus yelled.
Mercury, finally fed up, shushed her fellow scouts and looked
through the window pointedly. "Something's up."
Mars, now alerted, joined Mercury. "What do you mean?"
"There's somebody in there with the Princess."
"WHAT?!" Venus screeched. She received three dirty looks and
she apologized sheepishly.
"Who in the world is that? And how did he get in without us
knowing?" Jupiter asked Mars, peeking through the window.
"Nobody that we know of obviously."
"Let me through," Venus demanded while trying to squeeze in
with the others. "I probably know him."
Mercury moved a little to the left to give Venus some space.
"Do you know anybody with silver hair?"
"Um, let me think . . . No?" Venus wedged herself in and asked,
"Can you see his face?"
"No," Mercury answered. "The only thing visible to us is his
hair. Everything else is shadow."
"Darn! I wanted to see if he was a hunk."
"Venus!" Mars scolded.
"What? Can you blame me?"
"Um, girls?"
"Yea, Jupiter?"
"It just dawned on me . . ."
"Go on," Mercury encouraged.
"We're right in front of the window and the moon is shining
behind us."
"So?" Venus asked.
Jupiter rolled her eyes. "We're not concealed! We might as well
announce our presence!"
Mercury's eyes widened and she cleared her throat. "Um, I think
Serenity is staring right at us."
"What?!" Mars gasped.
"Hide!" all four called out in panic.
"Do you think she saw us?" Venus inquired meekly.
"Most likely," Mars muttered.
Mercury peeked in cautiously once more and what she saw made her
gasped out loud.
"What's wrong?" Jupiter demanded, stealing a look as well.
"Well, I'd be . . . He's proposed to her! And she's accepted!"
"WHAT?!" both Mars and Venus exclaimed.
"And they've both disappeared," Mercury finished for Jupiter.
"This is bad. Really bad," Jupiter mumbled.
"I'd say we've just failed our mission!" Venus cried out.
"What do we do now?"
"What we do now, Mars, is inform the Queen."
"Oh, yeah, Mercury! That's easier said than done!"
"She'll have our heads!" Venus blubbered.
"Let's go!" Mercury ordered in a straightforward tone.
"She'll have our heads, I tell you!"
EARLY THE NEXT DAY (THE DAY OF THE BALL) -- IN SERENITY'S CHAMBERS
"I've been waiting for you, daughter," Queen Serenity announced
gravely. Her usual gentle face was a thing of the past. The
Queen's face was haggard from lack of sleep, from endless worry,
from masked anger, from profound regrets.
"Mother?" Serenity turned around in horror. Her memory of last
night was limited. All she could remember was Hunter's proposal,
her saying yes for some unexplainable reason, her wedding taking
place in the middle of nowhere, and now . . . She was back in her
room with her mother glaring at her for reasons she could not
understand. "What is going on? Why are you in my room? And Luna
and the Scouts?"
"Hold her down," the Queen commanded the Scouts. Mars and Jupiter
marched forward and grasped Serenity's arms from either side with
strong grips that allowed no resistance.
"Mars, Jupiter, what are you doing? Let me go right this
minute!!" Serenity struggled and only caused the hold on her to
tighten almost to the point of pain.
"Stop squirming. You're only hurting yourself, Your Highness,"
Jupiter said gruffly.
"Please forgive us, Princess," Mars whispered.
"Mother!" Serenity gave the Queen a beseeching look that was
disregarded without a second thought. She fell down in anguish
onto the floor, bringing Mars and Jupiter with her.
Luna, tears glazing her eyes, pleaded with the Queen. "Your
Majesty, there must be some other way! I cannot possibly-
I will never forgive myself!"
Queen Serenity closed her eyes and looked away. "There is no
other choice. To ensure that nothing like this happens again,
it must be done!"
"But, Queen Serenity-"
"That was an order, Luna!" the Queen interjected. "Her
memories of that boy must be erased at once."
"Your Majesty-," Luna tried once more. All she received was an
impenetrable glare that stipulates no disobedience. The cat
hung her head in defeat and sobbed. "As you wish, my Queen."
"Mercury, Venus! Assist Luna!"
"Mother, please no . . ." the Princess begged. "Luna . . .
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars- if you ever were my friends,
you wouldn't do this!"
The Scouts, in hardened voices, declared simultaneously,
"Our duties come first."
"Luna Mind Meld!" Luna cried out. The crescent moon bald spot
on her head shone brightly, blinding all occupants of the chamber.
In accord with the light, Serenity's forehead glowed intensely,
revealing a crescent moon of her own.
"Please forgive us, Princess," Mercury pleaded desperately.
Serenity answered her viciously. "Never!"
The light vanished instantly and only a whispered promise could
be heard at a distance . . . "Never!"
ROYAL THRONE ROOM
Beran, the captain of the guards on the Moon, slowly entered the
royal throne room. "You sent for me, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, Beran." Queen Serenity answered. "Come forward." She
turned to Luna and asked, "The boy's name is Hunter?" Luna nodded
indifferently. Facing Beran once more, she commanded in a firm
tone, "Seek out the silver-haired boy named Hunter. Scour the
entire kingdom if you must. And bring the chambermaid Myra to me."
Beran bowed and replied. "Right away my Queen."
Upon the captain's departure, the Queen questioned Luna. "So
you say Myra is the boy's mother?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You realize what you must do, do you not?"
"I am to remove the chambermaid's memories of her son."
"It must be done, Luna."
Luna whispered sadly. "I know, Your Majesty. I know."
A knock reverberated in the room and the Queen demanded in a
loud voice, "Enter." A young woman came in cautiously, her eyes
avoiding those of the Queen's. "Are you the one called Myra?"
Myra curtsied and responded softly. "That I am, my Queen."
"How fares my daughter?"
"Asleep, my Queen."
Nodding in satisfaction, Queen Serenity looked at Luna sharply
and ordered Myra to come closer. "Now, Luna."
"What is going on-?"
"Luna Mind Meld!!" A familiar beam encompassed the royal throne
room and vanished in an instant, once more stealing precious
memories in an attempt to change the past.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Endymion proceeded to the double doors that lead to the royal
throne room.
"Halt! Who goes there?" Beran barked.
"It is I, Endymion, Prince of Earth, requesting a presence with
the Queen."
Beran squinted up at him suspiciously. "Have you proof of
identification, Prince of Earth?" At this insolent request,
Endymion brandished out a blood red rose from within the folds
of his black tuxedo, still covered with thorns.
"Would this suffice, Captain?"
Disconcerted, Beran grumbled a response. "Aye, Your Highness.
I beg your forgiveness for treating you as such."
"No harm done, old man. You were only doing your job.
Remarkably well, I might add."
Beran flushed at the compliment. "You are far too gracious,
sire. If Your Highness permits an advice?"
"Continue," Endymion nodded his consent.
"There is a hunted man out loose by the name of Hunter. The
only known fact concerning his appearance is long, silver hair.
He is considered to be dangerous. It will be wise to avoid him
at all cost."
'Hunter? That name sounds strangely familiar.' he thought
silently. Seeing that Beran was expecting some sort of answer,
Endymion quickly nodded. "Advice heeded."
Beran sighed in relief and opened the doors for the Prince.
"Entry granted, sire." Endymion nodded his thanks and marched
inside to speak to Queen Serenity of serious matters.
INSIDE THE ROYAL THRONE ROOM
"Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty, but I come with dire news."
"Endymion, your presence is never an intrusion," Queen Serenity
argued. "Come and have a seat and explain what you mean of
dire news."
After settling down next to Serenity, the Prince hastily
clarified his words. "I take it you have heard of Beryl?"
"Beryl?" the Queen blinked in surprise. "Do you speak of that
sweet child I once met on planet Earth?"
Endymion grunted. "That's her. Only she has grown into a
menacing witch." Seeing Serenity's frown, he continued.
"Growing up, she was ever fond of sorcery. She fancied herself
in love with me and once tried to make me succumb to her powers.
Realizing that she could not be controlled, Mother had her
contained. Unbeknownst to us, Beryl conjured up a monster by the
name of Metallia. She turned out to be weaker than her creation
and ended up under Metallia's spell. With the help of Metallia,
she is now a capable sorceress determined to steal the crystal from
you and destroy the Moon Kingdom in the process."
Serenity stared at him in shock. "What do you know of Metallia?"
"Nothing except for the fact that she is Beryl's creation. How
she came to be stronger than Beryl herself is unknown to us."
"It always comes to the crystal." Serenity shook her head.
She pondered for a few minutes and looked at Endymion in panic.
"When?!"
"Tonight."
"Tonight?"
"During the ball, Mother believes. I regret to inform you
at the last minute, but we only found out ourselves about
this early this morning."
The Queen stood up abruptly. "We must alarm the guards.
I don't need this right now. With what happened recently . . .
The Princess! My daughter!"
"I'll look out for her, Your Majesty. You needn't fret."
"Thank you. Now I must tell Beran . . . If you will excuse
me, Endymion." The Queen left the throne room, anxiety marring
her face, in search of Beran. Endymion soon followed after with
a single purpose in mind -- Princess Serenity.
THE BALL
"I can't do this. I just can't."
"Whatever are you muttering about now, Venus?" Mars scowled.
"I can't do this!" she screeched. "I can't act like nothing has
changed when in fact everything has!"
"Venus, you need to calm down!" Jupiter hollered back.
"Everybody's staring at us!"
"She's right, you know?" Mercury asked softly.
Mars nodded in agreement. "Yeah . . . But what choice did
we have?"
"It was for her own good."
"We were trying to protect her."
"Then why do we feel so crummy?" Mercury demanded.
Mars replied sarcastically, "Maybe because she promised to
NEVER forgive us?"
"But that was before the Mind Meld," Venus reasoned. "Since
that had something to do with Hunter, then she wouldn't remember
about any promises made, right?"
"Was that supposed to make me feel better?"
"What was suppose to make you feel better, Mars?"
Mars made a complete turn and paled. "Your Highness!"
"Is there something the matter?" Princess Serenity raised an
eyebrow. "You appear as if you've seen a ghost."
Mars stuttered. "Uh . . . Gh- ghost?"
Jupiter intervened in an attempt to rescue her fellow scout.
"She has a headache, you see?"
Mercury, understanding what Jupiter was up to, quickly added,
"Yes, that is correct. And I have suggested a long hot bath."
"A very long hot bath," Venus piped in, not to be left out.
"Of course, not a VERY very long hot bath," Jupiter corrected.
"You wouldn't want to get all wrinkly like a bunch of prunes."
Venus nodded in agreement enthusiastically. "Not at all. It
wouldn't be appropriate to look all dried up in front of the
gentlemen. I'd rather have a splitting headache than appear like
some senile, old lady."
"No indeed," Mercury finished.
Serenity only stared from one eager face to another in disbelief.
Her gaze stopped at Mars and the Moon Princess raised an eyebrow.
Jupiter nudged the still-frozen Fire Princess to get her attention.
Shaking her head clear, Mars responded in a croak. "I don't like
prunes."
Upon hearing a sound that suspiciously seemed like a snort
coming from Venus, Serenity shook her head incredulously and declared,
"I will not ask. I'll talk to the four of you later when your brains
are not so dried up." The Moon Princess swiftly left the Scouts'
company in seek of a better conversation.
Venus sagged next to Mercury. "That was close."
"Uh, huh." Jupiter joined the other two. "You know, Mars,
you could have helped us back there instead of standing still like
some Chinese terracotta statue."
Mars only looked at her silently and announced in a firm voice
this time, "I don't like old ladies, either."
ELSEWHERE . . .
'Boring . . . This ball is way too boring!' Serenity complained
to herself. She started up the stairs to escape all the noise when all
of a sudden, a warm hand stilled her progress. Serenity looked down
to see a white glove covering hers. Looking up, she found herself
staring at the most mesmerizing green eyes she had ever seen. She
could sense herself being pulled into the deep pools, almost as if
she was falling into an abyss with no way out. Serenity felt like
she was being drawn into a dream, or rather, into a nightmare. But
that doesn't make sense. 'What is happening to me?'
"May I have this dance, Princess?" a deep voice requested.
Speechless, all Serenity could do was nod once and she was
pulled into the throng of dancers in the middle of the room. Two
arms enveloped her in a warm embrace and she had never felt such
security in her entire life. Strangely, though, it didn't feel right
to her. It felt fake. 'What is going on here? Who is this man?'
"Who are you?" she asked, voicing her thoughts.
"Shh," the man hushed. "Who I am is of no importance."
"But-"
The man loosened the embrace and looked at her in the eyes.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Out in your gardens."
"My gardens? How did you know about my gardens?"
"Just come with me." The mysterious man gave her hand a tug
and she had no choice but to follow him quietly for he really did
have the most mesmerizing eyes she had ever seen.
SOMEWHERE NEARBY
"Where is she?" Endymion muttered under his breath. "Sere,
where on earth are you?" The Prince of Earth impatiently wove his way
through the mass of bodies on the dance floor looking for the missing
Princess. Without warning, a flash of golden tresses blinded his
line of sight. There, only several feet away from him was Princess
Serenity dancing with a man with silver hair. "Silver hair?" he mused.
"Wait a minute, didn't Beran say something about a man-" Realizing that
Serenity was dancing with none other than the hunted man, Hunter,
Endymion quickly rushed over to the unsuspecting partners when he was
suddenly blocked. "What the-" He looked down to find an old couple
squinting up at him.
"Young man," the old lady practically screeched. "You would be
better off if you would look at where you are going."
Endymion blinked down at his adversary. "I do beg your pardon,
madam. Now if you don't mind-" He tried to wedge past the pair
but once again found himself held back.
"But I do mind," the lady protested. She wrapped both arms
around Endymion and announced loudly, "As compensation for your
lack of manners, you shall dance this waltz with me."
"Madam!" Endymion objected. He tried to pry open the arms
around him, but they were like metal.
"It would do you good to listen to her, pup," the old man
suggested in a nasal tone. "Never takes no for an answer, she does."
Endymion caught a glimpse of that same golden locks and they
were headed for outside. His concern for Serenity's safety gave
him the strength and the audacity to unwrap the old lady's arms
from him and to lift her off the floor, setting her out of the
way. His path finally unhindered, he took off without another word.
"Well!" the old lady sniffed. "Young men these days! They lack
manners and respect for their elders." She gave her husband a long
look and ordered, "Dance with me, old man!"
"I'd be happy to oblige, old woman."
SERENITY'S GARDENS
"Come, Huntress."
"What did you call me?" Serenity gave him a bewildered look.
Hunter's face hardened and he spat out, "They really did erase
your memories, didn't they?"
"What are you talking about?"
Ignoring her, Hunter once again pulled Serenity along with him
and continued. "But no matter. That could be easily remedied."
"What is going on? Who are you?" the Princess demanded.
Hunter's grasp tightened and Serenity gasped out in pain.
"Let me go! You're hurting me!"
"I believe I just heard the Princess asked you to let her go."
"Who's there?" Hunter tensed and pushed Serenity behind him.
Endymion stepped out into the light and revealed himself.
"Endy!" Serenity cried out in relief.
"Ah . . . The great Endymion, Prince of Earth," Hunter growled.
"Finally, we meet face to face."
Endymion faltered in surprise. "You know me?"
"More than I care to wish." He turned his attention back to
Serenity who was cowering in fear behind him. "I'm not good
enough, am I? I'm not a prince like him. I am merely the son
of a chambermaid." He laughed bitterly. "Oh, wait! I'm not
the son of anybody. Even dear old Mother can't remember me."
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"You will soon enough, Huntress. That, I vow -- ugh!" Hunter
looked down and found a blood red rose piercing his heart. He
staggered his stance and watched in astonishment as Endymion
grabbed Serenity away from him.
Endymion shot him a fierce glare and said in a grim voice, "You
are finished here, Hunter. You better leave before I alarm the
guards."
"Go ahead, for all I care. I'm not afraid of anything or
anybody."
"Then you're a fool."
More would have been said if it weren't for an ear-splitting
shriek coming from the inside of the palace. Endymion,
remembering Beryl's expected arrival, didn't waste another second
as he scooped up Serenity in his arms and ran out of the gardens
in haste.
Hunter, about to follow behind, suddenly heard a voice in his
head. 'Stay right where you are, fool. It is not our time,
yet.'
"What do you mean, my liege? Don't you wish for the crystal
anymore?" Hunter pulled the rose out of his chest and grimaced as
his precious blood flowed.
'Of course I wish for the crystal you idiot! Now is not the
time.'
Stomping the rose with the heel of his boot, he asked, "What
is going on, sire?"
'A sorceress by the name of Beryl has descended to wreak havoc
amongst the inhabitants of the Moon kingdom. It would seem she
is after the crystal as well.'
"If that is true, Master, shouldn't we fight her for it?"
'No, because she will not be given a chance to even touch the
crystal.'
"What do we do now, Master?"
'We'll bide our time.'
"But, Master-"
'Patience, my son. Our time has yet to come.'
INSIDE THE PALACE
Pandemonium swept over like currents of waves as guests
tripped over themselves in an attempt to escape Beryl's invisible
wrath. The four Sailor Scouts assisted people out one by one,
looking for the source of their panic. Evil surrounded the entire
palace and yet, the cause was nowhere to be found. Queen Serenity
clutched the crystal to her chest while she surveyed the destruction
of Beryl's arrival. Darkness seeped in, shattering all means of light,
preparing the Moon kingdom for the coming of its Queen. Beran, captain
of the guards, was organizing legions of troops though he knew in his
heart that hope was lost. This time. But he also knew that this would
happen again someday. How he knew, he doesn't know. All he was sure of
is when that time comes; a new hope will be born, along with power even
greater than that of his Queen.
JUST OUTSIDE THE PALACE KEEP
Endymion and Serenity grasped each other's arms, staring at the
ominous clouds rolling just above the palace. The clouds separated
to finally reveal the entity within their folds. Beryl, with a
menacing hold of her stare, lifted every being inside the palace
and tossed them over her shoulders, obliterating them into nothing
but dust.
"Endymion?" she called out in a shriek. "Where are you, my
love? I know you are here! You had better show yourself if you care
at all for these Moon people!" Beryl ended with a flick of her wrist,
once again blasting the kingdom into pieces.
The Prince of Earth hid himself and Serenity, holding her away
from him. "You understand what I must do now?" Tears flowed down
the Princess' face, unchecked as she reluctantly gave a nod. Tilting
her head up towards him, Endymion leaned in for a final kiss.
"I love you, my Moon Princess. Never forget that," he whispered
against her mouth. Releasing her, memorizing her features for the
last time, he turned away to leave.
Serenity grabbed his arm desperately. "Wait!" Endymion faced
her yet again and found the Princess holding out an object to him.
She sniffed and shakily gave up her precious treasure as proof of
their love. "I wish for you to have this." She covered his hand
with hers and the locket opened of its own accord, releasing a
beautiful melody filled with promises.
Endymion smiled at her and kissed her hands reverently. "I'll
keep it next to my heart for all eternity," he vowed. He suited
words with actions as he slipped the golden chain over and
around his neck, the locket resting right next to his heart.
Serenity clung on to him with all her might and Endymion had
no choice but to pull away lest Beryl finds them.
Serenity seized nothing but air, finding herself alone in the
dark. Watching Endymion flee farther and farther away from her,
she murmured to herself, "I love you, too, my Earth Prince. We'll
be together again. You'll see. That's my solemn vow."
ELSEWHERE
"Beryl!" Endymion roared at the top of his lungs.
The witch turned around to face the enraged Prince and laughed
in delight. "Endymion! I knew you'd see it my way!"
"What do you want, witch?"
"Tsk tsk, Endymion," she scolded. "Is that any way to greet
your betrothed?"
"For the last time, we are not betrothed!"
"Oh, but we are! I'm making it so."
"You are deranged," Endymion spat out in disgust. "Tell me
what you want!"
"I thought it was rather obvious, Prince. All I am here for
is the crystal," she stated in a bored tone. "And of course, the
death of the Queen and the Princess," she hastily added.
"Over my dead body."
"That could easily be arranged. After all, you are not that
vital to my plans."
"Leave now before I am forced to kill you."
"Kill me," Beryl gasped. "Oh, my. I am shivering in my heels."
She gave him a smirk and continued. "What do you plan to kill me with,
Prince Endymion?" She glanced at the jeweled hilt sheathed at his
waist. "With your little wooden sword? I think not." Beryl stared at
him thoughtfully and questioned, "What are thinking about, Your
Highness? Or is it a who?" She grinned evilly and breathed out,
"Is it a certain
Moon Princess?"
"Leave her out of this," Endymion snarled.
"Silly me," she went on, ignoring Endymion thoroughly. "I
meant to say a certain FORMER Moon Princess. And her she is now. Or
rather, what's left of her." Her power brought forth a transparent
bubble with an unconscious Serenity trapped inside.
"No! You'll pay for this, witch!" Endymion lunged at Beryl
uncontrollably, his sword raised.
"Well, now. Kill or be killed," Beryl mused. She raised a
bony finger and pointed it at the frenzied Prince. A surge
of energy was freed and struck Endymion with a full force.
Beryl sighed. "Tough choice."
"You will not escape here alive." A firm voice announced
somewhere not far away.
"The all-powerful Queen Serenity." Beryl cackled.
"You will pay for the suffering you have caused."
"Look around you, Your Majesty. Your so-called invincible
kingdom has been exposed bare. Your beautiful daughter and
her beloved prince are under an eternal sleep. Your hopes for a
bright future have been crumpled by the darkness of the past. You
will soon join everything and everybody that was dear to you.
The only thing that is protecting you is that crystal, which, by
the way, will soon be mine."
"You will never get your hands on the crystal!"
"Want to test that little theory of yours?"
Queen Serenity advanced towards Beryl at a slow pace with a
single objective in mind. She blocked the evil that surrounded
Beryl and strongly declared, "You may have destroyed the palace,
but you have yet to lay a hand on the hopes and dreams of the people."
"What people?!" Beryl screeched. "There is nobody around but
you and me, Serenity! You are delirious!"
"Don't you hear them, Beryl?" the Queen asked soothingly.
Beryl shivered as she surveyed the destruction that rested about
her. "Hear who?! Where?!" she demanded.
"They're everywhere, Beryl," Serenity assured her. "Surely
you can see them, hear them," she paused then resumed in a whisper,
"feel them?"
"You are mad!" Beryl laughed hysterically. "And they call me
insane!"
Serenity halted in front of Beryl and said calmly, "You have
only to open your eyes, Beryl. You have only to open your heart."
"Get away from me, witch!!"
"Let go, Beryl. Fight Metallia."
"I told you to get away!" Beryl started to retreat in a
quickened pace.
"They're calling you, Beryl. The people are talking to you.
Can you not hear them?" Queen Serenity opened her hands to
reveal the crystal. It glowed softly, warmly, of the people's
hopes and dreams. "Listen for them, Beryl."
"No! Just give me the crystal and I'll let you live."
Serenity narrowed her eyes. "No evil can ever touch the
crystal." The Queen paused and looked at Beryl beseechingly.
"They're giving you a second chance, Beryl."
"Who?"
"The people of the Moon. The people everywhere."
"I don't want it."
"Take it, Beryl. It's your last chance."
"No!"
"Defeat Metallia and live again."
"No!" Beryl faltered and glanced behind her. She kept on
withdrawing, trying to escape Serenity's plea, trying to escape the
voices of the people, that she didn't see where she was going. One
more step backwards and Beryl would have been lost, for just behind
her is a crevice big enough to send her to her death -- an abyss surely
to swallow her whole -- a void that was created by her own greed.
"Beryl-"
"Never!" With that outburst, the crystal released an aura that
held the people's hopes and dreams, finally sending Beryl to her
demise.
"You should have taken the chance." Serenity shook her head
sadly and for the first time, examined the damages and the deaths
caused by greed.
"Your Majesty?"
"Luna," the Queen said softly. "It is a relief to see you are
still alive."
"But is it worth it, my Queen?" The black cat curled herself
at Serenity's feet.
"Yes." Seeing Luna's confusion, Serenity explained. "When one
hope dies, another is born -- much more stronger than the last;
strong enough to overcome any obstacles, strong enough to build
everlasting dreams."
"Meow?"
"Oh, Luna," Serenity chuckled without humor. "Don't you
understand?" Luna shook her head and the Queen serenely smiled.
"Then close your eyes, my friend. Many many years from now, you
will understand."
Queen Serenity, with the help of the crystal, planted seeds
of hopes within the lost people of the Moon kingdom. Seeds that,
in the future, will surely flourish with life.
END BOOK 3
There. It's finally done. All 30 pages of it.
I'm quite proud of myself. :P
Well, e-mails are most certainly welcome. Hope you liked it.
Look out for Book 4: Secrets of the Past. Unfortunately, don't
expect it anytime soon. My winter break is over and it's
school again.
*^_^* moonbunny83
long. But here it is, waiting to be read. One thing you need to know
is that I sort of twisted something. I can't tell you what exactly
because it would ruin the story. Anyways, this is rated PG for drama
and death. I added in some comedy. I don't know if it was successful,
though. I think you've waited too long already so here's Book 3
without further ado. Enjoy!!!
BETRAYALS OF THE PAST
By: Moonbunny83
6/29/01 - 1/04/02
E-mail: moonbunny83@hotmail.com
Sailor Moon created by:
Naoko Takeuchi
New characters and the Moon Gloria belong to me.
BOOK 3
THE SILVER MILLENNIUM - ON THE MOON
Sixteen-year-old Serenity stood on the balcony of her chambers,
gazing at the spherical, blue planet thousands of miles away.
"Earth . . .," she sighed. "It looks so breathtakingly
beautiful. If only Mother would allow me to pay a visit so I
can see Endymion once again after six long years." She let out
a breath of distress as she heard laughter and chattering from
down below. "Another ball," Serenity whispered in disgust.
"Don't they get sick of it? One gathering is the same as the
other. As Hunter would say, 'Boring and filled with royal
snobs.'" She removed her attention from the frivolous people and
continued under her breath. "All they do is gossip to their hearts'
content, eat until their seams burst open, dance until their feet fall
off -- those are supposed to be fun? It's a relief that I was able to
escape that prison of boredom."
"Talking to yourself again, Your Highness?" a voice asked
suddenly out of nowhere.
"What?!" Serenity gasped in surprise. "Who?- Hunter," she
croaked. "I thought you were someone else."
"A certain high and mighty bald-spotted feline, perhaps?" Hunter
asked, his eyes crinkling with amusement.
"You got me. Speaking of whom, have you seen-"
"No," he interrupted as he strode towards her. He looked down
from the balcony and inquired in a scolding tone, "Shouldn't you
be down there, Huntress? Mingling with the boring, royal snobs?"
"I suppose I should be," she responded in a bored tone.
"You suppose?" Hunter snorted. "Aren't you the hostess?"
"Um . . . I don't think so . . .," Huntress answered slowly,
hesitance obvious in her behavior as she started fidgeting with
her silk, elbow-high gloves. "I mean . . . Mother . . . Well,
she didn't say anything . . ."
"You don't think so?" Hunter chuckled this time. He glanced at
her for a brief moment and kept on, "You haven't changed a bit."
Huntress frowned good-naturedly. "What are you saying?"
He grinned at her. "Nothing. Nothing at all." That
nonchalant comment earned him a real frown from the Princess.
He only widened his grin in response. After a few seconds,
the two friends became silent as they stared at the darkened,
glittering cosmos that surrounded an infinite number of galaxies
with its endless splendor. Huntress sighed, deep in thought.
Hearing this, Hunter asked, "What are you thinking?"
"I miss him," she answered wistfully.
"Who?"
"Endymion."
An almost sinister look glinted in Hunter's eyes. "Why do you
miss him for?" he asked in a gruff manner.
Huntress, surprised at his odd behavior, responded carefully.
"Why, you asked? Because he's my friend." She raised an
eyebrow and added, "As well as he is yours."
Hunter appeared baffled at that announcement. He had never
referred to the Earth Prince as his 'friend.' It would appear
that the Princess is completely oblivious about his feelings
for Endymion, or rather, lack thereof. With his musings over
and done with, he returned his attention to Huntress.
"Huntress?" he asked with patience.
Huntress blinked those wide, cerulean orbs of hers and replied
with much innocence, "Yes, Hunter?"
"I have never liked that Earth snob."
Her eyes narrowed as she protested, "That's ridiculous!" She
took a deep breath and continued reprimanding her friend,
"I can still remember the day you saved his life as if it
happened only yesterday."
"I would rather not talk about that."
"And why not? You saved his life. You should be proud of
yourself," Huntress stated, puzzlement clear on her expression.
"Saving Endymion's life was not my primary concern during that
time . . ." he muttered to himself.
"What was that?"
"Nothing," he quickly answered, Huntress' voice fading out as
his thoughts traveled back in the ocean of time six years
before, when he thought of spying on her and the infamous Earth
Prince.
FLASHBACK
ON THE MOON, SERENITY'S GARDENS, SIX YEARS AGO
"STOP!!!" ten-year-old Serenity shrieked, her once pretty gown
now sodden, spreading limply and heavily around her tiny body.
"I COMMAND YOU TO STOP!!!!"
Endymion ignored her indignation and continued his mischief.
With armor-clad legs apart, his hands knuckled on his waist,
his long dark cloak dancing with the wind, he glanced down at
the pool of water that surrounded the enraged Princess of the
Moon. He chuckled deep in his throat and complained, "But you
said you were hot. I only thought to do you a favor by pushing
you into the lake. Don't you feel much refreshed?"
"The only thing I'm feeling is your brainless head underneath
my hands drowning you with all my might!!!!" she growled.
Finally incapable of keeping his laughter bottled in and out of
earshot, he clutched his midsection and roared endlessly much
to the annoyance of Serenity. With surprising strength, she
heaved herself and her heavy dress out of the cold water. She
slowly advanced toward the unsuspecting Prince with a single
purpose in mind. The task wasn't as easy as she thought it would
be. Her clothing dragged her down and that only angered her
even more. With ferocity as her main source of power, she strode
up to the still hysterical Endymion and shoved him into the lake.
Her face brightened triumphantly as she observed the sputtering
cries coming out of the mischievous, young man. Her victory
ended too quickly, however when she noticed the armored body
submerging deep in the lake at an amazingly fast rate.
Serenity, her face now filled with horror, contemplated her
hasty retaliation. She kept on watching, her cold feet rooted
on the grassy floor, even as she heard a weak cry of help coming
from her ill-fated friend. She watched as the cruel waters
covered his mouth from such action. She watched and watched and
watched. What was a ten-year-old to do? Cry. And she did so
in anguish, her thoughts filled with her friend's dreadful fate.
BEHIND A NEARBY BUSH
"Hn," Hunter grunted in approval as he observed the splash
caused by the heavy armor worn by the Prince. He was pleased
to see Huntress avenge herself with such ferociousness. He
almost made his hiding place known when he saw the snob push
Huntress into the pool of water. But he knew she could take
care of herself. He glanced once again at the now huffing
Prince of Earth. Hunter smirked to himself. He was right.
His joy was short-lived, however, when he took notice of
Huntress' apparent distress. He couldn't stand seeing her
cry and decided to reveal himself at last.
ALONGSIDE THE LAKE
"What's the matter with you?" he asked casually.
Huntress looked up and saw a friendly face through rivers of
tears. "Hunter!" she sobbed, throwing herself into his arms.
Hunter patted her back awkwardly and waited for her weeping to
end.
UNDER THE LAKE
Endymion held his breath as he tried to unravel his stubborn
cloak from around his legs. His lungs were burning from lack
of fresh air. His armor did not help the matter. It was
weighing him down while his cloak had him trapped. 'This is
absurd. No way am I going to die, drowned in this lake.
A shallow lake at that,' he mused furiously. 'I have to survive
this. I can't die like this. Not without honor. Not without
telling her how I have grown to -,' His thoughts ended there
as he finally took one last precious breath.
NEXT TO THE LAKE
Huntress hiccupped as she attempted to explain the matters at
hand to Hunter. "Endymion . . . "
"What about the Earth snob?" he inquired, pretending to have
no knowledge of the dire situation whatsoever.
Huntress clasped his sleeves desperately as she managed to
shout, "Endymion is drowning! You have to help him." She
released her hold and sobbed. She added in a whisper, "Please
help him." Hunter stared down at her upturned face, soaked
in tears. He sighed and nodded reluctantly.
'I am doing this for Huntress. I am not saving the snob's
life . . .,' he thought silently as he dove under the
shimmering lake. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this.'
He swam beneath the waters and began his search. It only
took about a minute for him to find a dark mop of hair swaying
in rhythm with the small waves. Hunter kicked his legs to stir
himself forward. He took in the sight before him and realized
what had prevented the Prince to save his own skin. The monarch's
legs were completely enveloped with the cloak and his armor offered
no assistance at all. After snorting in disbelief at the Prince's
foolishness, Hunter hooked both of his arms underneath Endymion's
armpits and propelled himself and his heavy baggage toward the surface.
Upon reaching the destination, Hunter swallowed loud gulps of
air and hauled Prince Endymion next to an overly anxious
princess. Huntress sighed in relief and kneeled directly beside
the drenched young man. She searched for a pulse at the base
of his throat. What her fingertips found was a faint pounding,
very slow in rhythm.
"He's alive," her voice cracked with the discovery. "Hunter,
do something," she pleaded, staring up at him. Hunter grinned
and pushed Endymion's body forward to the point that he looked
like he was seated down. He grinned wider still as he gave the
unconscious Prince an extremely solid and firm pound on the back.
Huntress gasped in shock. "Hunter! You're only doing more damage
to him!" she protested. As soon as the words were out of her mouth,
Endymion started heaving water out of his system.
"Doing more damage, you said?" Hunter inquired. "If only that
were true . . .," he quietly added, observing Huntress launch
herself in Endymion's arms.
"Endy!!" Serenity exclaimed. "You're alive!!"
"Not for long if you don't stop squeezing the breath out of me!!"
Endymion gasped. He was freed at once and thankfully started
breathing at a normal pace.
"I am so sorry," Serenity apologized in a quiet tone.
"For what?"
"For almost killing you!" she sobbed.
"Ah . . . Don't cry, Sere. I forgive you. Don't worry yourself
about it." He gave her a soothing embrace. "After all, I did
have it coming," he laughed. He gently set her aside and
continued, "By the way, how in the world were you able to pull
me out of that lake?"
"Oh! It wasn't me! My friend, Hunter saved you!" She looked
around her garden and found themselves alone. "He's gone . . .,"
she whispered sadly.
END FLASHBACK
SOMEWHERE DEEP IN A DUNGEON
"You will bring the Moon Princess to me!" a deep snarling voice
demanded.
"I will, my liege," a different voice humbly answered, less
fierce than its master. "I have a plan -- a plan that will no
doubt make her succumb to my powers."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, master. Just give me time-"
"Time!! There is no time! I must have the Queen's successor
to the crystal. I must have her. If you value your life,
you will make sure I have her before the upcoming ball."
The master gave its underling a hard look that stipulates no
disobedience.
"With all due respect, master . . . Which upcoming ball do you
refer to?" The minion asked almost eagerly. Upon seeing its
superior's frown, an explanation hastily followed. "I mean since
those moon people always have a ball every week and all . . ."
The frown turned into a nasty scowl. "I will soon bring the
Princess to you, master." After bowing with respect, the lackey
promptly left the pungent, sickening odor of the cell in which
its master was imprisoned.
"You had better, my son. You had better." A deafening, silence
soon followed as the confined creature opened its mouth in
laughter, but with no sound coming out.
JUST OUTSIDE THE PALACE GROUNDS
A strange, young man looked intently at his outstretched palm.
Resting within its folds was a ring encrusted with genuine
pearls upon a golden band. He closed his hand with determination
and clutched it against his chest. 'Soon,' he thought. 'Very soon.'
With that in mind, he closed his eyes almost in regret and left the
palace without a backward glance.
At the same time, a fragile object slowly fell from his other
hand, unnoticed. It glided with the breeze until it touched the
cold, hard ground. Unknowingly, the man crushed the object with
the heel of his boot. A sob could almost be heard from afar as
the Moon Gloria was left alone, its spirit crushed, its beauty
destroyed, and lost -- forgotten, with the memories of childhood
and friendships shattered.
INSIDE THE PALACE TRAINING GROUNDS
A flash of golden streak flew across the palace training grounds
as a certain moon princess slammed hard against a wall. Her four
protectors rushed towards the fallen girl anxiously with no delay.
The dark-haired one gasped as she clutched Serenity's arm gently.
"Your Highness!" she cried. "Are you all right?"
The princess only groaned. "Mars, I'm fine." She stood up
wobbling and shook off all help from the four. She clutched
her head between both hands and closed her eyes in obvious pain.
"Are you sure, Princess?" blue-haired Mercury asked, doubtful.
Serenity sighed and with one opened eye, grinned shakily at
her friends. "I'm sure."
Fair-haired Venus frowned and snapped, "Then why are you moaning
and groaning about your head like that?"
Still grinning, she whispered, "I may have hit my head just a
bit against the wall."
Mars turned angrily towards the tallest of them all, the
brown-haired Jupiter. "Did you have to blast her that hard?"
Jupiter, standing a few feet away, answered with regret.
"It wasn't intentional. Besides, I really thought she saw it coming."
"I'm sure she did see it coming. Only problem is that her mind
was elsewhere at the time." Mercury raised an eyebrow
questioningly at Serenity. The Princess blushed and looked away,
her aching head long forgotten.
"I knew it!" Venus exclaimed. She looked at the embarrassed
Serenity in the eye and whispered, "It's Endymion isn't it?"
She laughed as the Princess shook her head in denial. "Ha! It is
him!" The Princess' face turned into an even brighter red as
Venus kept on ranting with delight. "You cannot lie to me, Serenity!
I am an expert in the matters of the heart. After all, I AM Venus,
the Sailor of Love!!"
"So you keep reminding us," Mars muttered under her breath.
Mercury asked the Princess, "Is this true?"
Serenity gulped nervously and stuttered. "I-I, um, I don't
know."
Venus unrelentingly demanded, "Do you love him?"
All four protectors stared at the Princess expectantly. Nobody
said a word as they waited for the answer. Finally, a faint
'I don't know' was heard.
Mars sighed and said quietly, "You do, don't you?"
"I really don't know. I haven't seen him in years so how am
I to know?"
Venus quoted wistfully, "As they say, 'abscess makes the heart
grow bigger.'" Everybody stared at her incredulously. "What?"
she asked, confused.
Jupiter snorted. "That's 'ABSENCE makes the heart grow FONDER.'"
"That's what I said!"
"No. You said that boils, swellings, eruptions, blisters,
carbuncles, and pustules -- to list a few -- make the heart
grow bigger," Mercury argued.
"Boiling cars and swelling bunks and what?" Venus asked with wide,
bewildered eyes.
"Which, if you looked at it in a twisted and distorted way,"
Mars stated calmly, her lips twitching in amusement, "is true."
"Disgusting!!" Serenity exclaimed. "All of you are in the
presence of a princess and you ought not speak so revoltingly!!"
"Hate to break the news to you, Your Royal Highness," Mars
began, "but we too are princesses of our respected planets."
Serenity retorted back, "Well, you happen to be on MY planet
and therefore you should show some respect!"
"Another news I hate to break to you, Princess, but the Moon is
not a planet. It is merely that . . . a moon." Mars smirked.
Jupiter grabbed the Moon Princess just in time to prevent an
all-out war. "That's enough, the both of you. Mars, quit baiting
the Princess and Your Highness, save your energy for training."
Serenity took a deep breath and replied, "Very well. I challenge
you, Fire Princess, to a one-on-one match."
"Oh, great!" Mercury shouted at no one. "The two of you haven't
changed a bit!"
Mars smiled. "Challenge accepted. This should be easy, with
you enamored with Endymion."
"I'll make you eat your words," Serenity growled.
Jupiter threw up her hands exasperatingly. "It's hopeless!"
With that said, she left the training grounds in disgust.
"I am not getting in the middle of this childish game you two
so love to play at every whim," Mercury announced and followed Jupiter
out.
Venus glanced at Mars and Serenity apologetically and quickly
caught up to Mercury. "I still don't understand what boiling
cars and swelling bunks are!" she cried. Mercury sighed and
patiently explained to Venus the meaning of the CORRECT quote.
Venus protested, "But don't hearts swell when you're in love?"
As the two leave the training grounds behind, Mercury's yell of
annoyance could be heard.
"I GIVE UP!!!"
SERENITY'S GARDENS
Hunter paced impatiently, frowning all the while. 'Where is
she?' he thought aggravatingly. He stopped without warning
and stared at his tightly clenched fist. He could feel the
ring inside his palm, embedding itself slowly. He opened his
hand and gasped at the undeniable beauty of the pearls. Hunter
stared, only stared at the future in which his palm clings to
with much ferocity -- a future that could very well begin his
life or end it. He gripped the ring with all his might and tried
to block everything around him. 'Am I doing the right thing?
Is this the only way to ensure Huntress' future and mine? What
if there is better way? What if-'
"I am so sorry!" Huntress, running, blurted out, interrupting
Hunter's thoughts. She halted in front of him, gasping for breath.
Hunter smiled at her antics and grasped her shoulders gently.
"Take a deep breath, will you?" he scolded.
Huntress released a deep sigh and continued. "Sorry. The scouts
and I were training and lost track of time."
"Training, huh?" he sneered. "You mean those good-for-nothing
scouts are actually good for something?"
"Hunter! Stop it. Why do you hate them so?"
Seeing Huntress in distress did nothing to improve his mood.
"I don't exactly hate them, as you put it," Hunter explained.
"We merely just don't get along."
Huntress frowned. "But you don't even know them."
"That's irrelevant. You know what that word means now, right?"
"Of course," she snapped. "Don't change the subject."
"Was I?" Hunter blinked innocently.
She ignored him and resumed the topic at hand. "Have you even
met them?"
"No, but that, of course, is-"
"Irrelevant," she interrupted. "I know, but that's a sorry
excuse to dislike them."
"Look. I don't want to talk about them anymore, okay?" Hunter
stated. "I didn't meet you here to discuss those losers."
Seeing her about to protest, he held up a hand and said, "I
know they're your friends, but as far as I can see, they don't
act like one."
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
"Never mind. Let's talk about something else."
Huntress narrowed her eyes. "If you think we're finished with
this subject, you're dead wrong."
"Look at what they've done to you already. You're like a bomb
ready to explode."
"I'm prepared to explode if it means defending my friends from
the likes of you!" Huntress retorted. Hunter's face paled with
disbelief and her eyes widened as she realized what she had said.
"Hunter, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to imply-"
"I know. Just forget it," he whispered and looked away.
Huntress grabbed his arm in a desperate attempt to make him
understand. "Hunter . . ."
Hunter faced her. "Don't worry about it. After all, I did
have it coming."
"No, you didn't!"
"Huntress! Let's just forget this conversation ever happened."
She released his arm reluctantly. "Are you sure?"
"I'm sure." He looked at his closed fist and knew without a doubt
that his time was running out. 'Not yet, not yet . . .'
Nothing more was said after that. The two friends stood side by
side quietly, neither saying a word, neither willing to forget
what has just occurred despite what has been agreed -- neither
willing to accept that their bond has been severed. Neither of
them was willing to acknowledge the fact that their friendship
is forever lost -- along with the Moon Gloria, with no hope of
ever returning home.
SOMEWHERE DEEP IN A DUNGEON
"Everything is going according to plan," a hoarse voice muttered
in triumph. "Broken friendships, lost hope -- the crystal is
mine!!" The monster heckled and cackled hysterically. "And you,
my son, will retrieve it for me . . .," he declared to no one,
the black pools of his eyes glittering with menace.
SERENITY'S CHAMBERS
Luna sat in silence, reflecting the day's events. The Princess
didn't know it, but she has been following her around, watching
her and listening whenever she is in Hunter's company. Luna
licked her paws and remembered the argument the two friends had.
Something was up. She could feel it in her bones. 'That boy is
hiding something. I just know it,' she thought to herself. 'I
have to find out. I won't be able to rest until I do. Maybe I
could . . .' Her mind made up, Luna scurried to the door as fast
as her four feline legs could carry her and left the palace
grounds against her better judgment.
OUTSIDE THE PALACE GROUNDS
Hunter stared at the darken sky and asked the stars above if he
was doing the right thing. The ring, still clutched in his hand,
started to glow immensely. 'Master is calling me,' he mused.
'I must heed his command.'
The silver-haired boy turned around and headed back towards the
palace with determined steps. He knew it was time. The Master's
plan is about to be unfolded. The crystal will become his.
'And Huntress will be mine.'
NOT VERY FAR AWAY
'What is that boy up to?' Luna pondered. She watched as Hunter
walked inside the palace gates. 'Where does he think he's going?
The way he walks, one would think he belongs in the palace.
He acts as if he has the right to mingle with his superiors.'
Luna ran after Hunter at a safe distance. She followed him to
a dead end and watched as he pulled a branch and patiently waited.
Not a minute later, the vine-covered wall opened with a groan to
reveal a hidden tunnel.
'What in the world?' Luna gasped in surprise. Her eyes widen
even farther as Hunter entered the dim hallway and the secret
entry starts to close. She quickly entered the passageway just
before it shut behind her with a soft bang.
Darkness swiftly enfolded her as soon as she was inside. Luna
begins to tremble the instant the bitter draft starts to seep
into her bones.
'Something is amiss,' she shivered. 'Where am I? It somehow
feels sinister down here. What in the world is going on?'
Realizing that Hunter is too far a distance away from her, Luna
dashed at a fast pace to catch up.
Suddenly, flashes of lights blinded Luna and she was forced to
halt her progress. 'What on earth-' She blinked a few times
to become adjusted to the now lighted surroundings. With her
eyes finally accustomed, she was able to discover her whereabouts.
"The underground palace dungeons?" she asked aloud under her
breath slowly. "How in the world did he find this place?
Nobody knows of this except for a few trusted advisors and
the Queen herself." Luna resumed her steps forward, cautiously
this time, musing all the while. "However did he find the
secret tunnel? Even I didn't know of any secret entrances."
She once became aware of the cells around her -- of the revolting
stench in the air -- of Hunter unhurriedly opening the largest cell
of them all. 'I've asked myself this before and I'll ask it again.
WHAT IN THE WORLD IS GOING ON?! Just who is that boy, really?'
INSIDE THE CELL
"Master?" Hunter whispered. "Are you here, my liege?" He
advanced inside the prison cell and stepped on something foul. "Ugh!"
"Where else would I be, fool?!" a deep voice snarled. "Out by
the pool sunbathing?!"
Hunter flushed in contrition. "My deepest apologies sire."
He tried to get rid of the muck, but to no avail.
The Master ignored him and continued growling. "What took you so
long?"
He tried kicking it off, but it still hung on. "I got here as
fast as I could, sire," Hunter explained, obviously distracted.
"Not fast enough! Anyways, as I was saying-"
The muck was hanging only by a thread now. "As you were saying,
sire?" Hunter asked in confusion, still concentrating at the task
at hand. "But you weren't saying anything."
"SILENCE!!" Hunter, noticeably stunned, at once dropped his
muck-covered shoe onto the sticky ground, undoing all his progress
in the process. "I WILL NOT TOLERATE SUCH DISRESPECT!"
"My deepest apologies sire!" Hunter apologized yet again. He
grimaced at his shoe and once more tried to remove the slime,
kicking furiously this time.
"Whatever are you doing, boy?!"
"Nothing, sire," he muttered.
Hunter kicked and kicked -- and unexpectedly, it worked. The
muck finally released its slimy hold and flew across the cell.
His eyes followed it, only to stop at the Master's furious face.
"You little-," he sputtered in disbelief. Hunter watched in
horror as the Master struggled to remove the slime off his face.
His attempts only made it worse and soon, the muck covered not only
his visage, but his hands and neck as well.
"My deepest apologies sire!" Hunter immediately cried out.
"I GROW TIRED OF YOUR APOLOGIES!!"
"My deepest apol-"
"ENOUGH!!" the Master interrupted impatiently. Regaining his
composure back, he resumed his tirade. "It is quickly becoming
apparent that you are not suitable for this task."
"But, my liege! I am suitable! I'm the perfect man for the
job!" Hunter protested.
"You have yet to prove yourself, my dear boy and you are a far
cry of being a man."
Hunter moved closer to the Master and desperately pleaded with
him. "Sire, my plan is fool-proof. Once I've made Huntress my
wife, we have only to rid of pesky obstacles and the crystal's ours."
"Ours?" the Master raised an eyebrow.
"I mean yours, sire," Hunter hastily corrected himself.
The Master stared at him quietly, contemplating whether or not
Hunter should be given a second chance. "All you have been doing
is spying on your precious Princess."
"So I could determine the best way possible to execute my plan,
my liege."
A heavy sigh was released and Hunter's fate was decided. "I
suppose you should be given a chance to unfurl your plan."
"You have my gratitude, sire."
"Indeed." The Master glared at Hunter as if regretting his
actions already. "You are dismissed." Hunter bowed with
respect to his liege and turned around to leave. "You have only
until the upcoming ball!" The Master added.
"Yes, sire!" With that, Hunter closed the cell and locked it
behind him, once again traipsing towards the darken secret halls.
LUNA'S VIEW
Ugh. What is that stench? It reeks down here.
I warily followed that boy, stopping just outside the cell and
intently listened. What is that boy doing? Is that what I think
it is? On his shoe? Hn. Serves him right.
Wait a minute. Who was that? That boy isn't alone in there.
I can hear another voice. Whoever or whatever is in there with
him sure sounds like a hungry wolf ready to leap for its dinner.
'SILENCE!!'
Meow? What in the world?
'My deepest apologies, sire!'
Is that-? On his face? Oh! This is just too sweet!! I could
feel cavities building up inside my mouth. I swear if this
weren't serious, I'd be laughing hysterically, mayhap even maniacally.
Ho boy!
'My deepest apologies, sire!'
How many times could a person apologize for something? Geez!
'ENOUGH!'
I'm on your side, oh mysterious one!
'Sire, my plan is fool-proof . . .'
Plan?! What plan is he talking about?
' . . . Huntress my wife . . . Crystal ours.'
WHAT?! That boy plans to marry the Princess? And the crystal-!
They're after the crystal?! I knew that boy couldn't be trusted.
I kept telling Serenity, but no. She wouldn't listen.
' . . . only until the upcoming ball!'
The upcoming ball? I don't have much time. I must inform the
Queen right away!!
I left the dungeons with haste, running in the same direction I
came in. I stumbled once, twice, but I kept on going. I have one
purpose in mind and nothing could detain me. Nothing! But-
I am about to break a promise made to a little girl. What choices
have I? A choice between trust and life. Without trust, there is
no life and without life, there is no trust. I am doomed either
way. I must think about the people of the Moon -- what is best for
the people.
Princess, please forgive me!
THE NEXT DAY -- INSIDE PRINCESS SERENITY'S CHAMBERS
"Princess, your mother the Queen has requested your presence in
the throne room," Myra informed Serenity.
"She has?" Serenity asked with mild surprise. Her mother has
never 'requested' her presence anywhere. It sounds like a summons
to her. Something must be wrong. Something must be troubling
the Queen. Whatever it is, it must be serious. This does not
bode well. Not at all.
"Yes, Princess. Right away."
"Thank you, Myra. You may leave now." The chambermaid curtsied
and left.
ROYAL THRONE ROOM
Luna paced back and forth nervously next to a furious Queen
Serenity. 'Maybe I should have kept their friendships to myself.
Maybe I shouldn't have mentioned the Princess' involvement.
Maybe . . . Oh, what's the use? It's too late to do anything now.'
A soft knock sounded like a cannon inside the eerily quiet room.
Queen Serenity glared a warning at Luna and commanded her daughter
to come in.
"You summoned me, Mother?" inquired the Princess upon setting
foot inside.
The Queen, in a no-nonsense tone, went straight to the point.
"You are hereby forbidden to enter your gardens! You are hereby
forbidden to socialize with that rapscallion! You are hereby forbidden
to leave the palace grounds unsupervised! You are hereby stripped off
of your gardens! You are hereby stripped off of your friendship with
that scoundrel!"
"Mother!" Serenity gasped.
"AND YOU ARE HEREBY STRIPPED OFF OF YOUR FREEDOM! PERIOD!"
"Mother, you can't-!"
The Queen only narrowed her eyes. "Oh, but I can. I am your
mother." She looked at her daughter grimly. "Have I made myself
clear?"
Tears started streaming down Serenity's face as she turned her
head from her mother to Luna. "But, why?" she sobbed uncontrollably.
"Luna, you promised! It was my birthday present," she finished in
a hoarse whisper. The Queen only stared at her, unmoved by her tears.
Serenity gave her a last pleading look, but it was ignored. With a
whimper, she ran out of the room without a backward glance.
Queen Serenity's shoulders sagged in distress as she watched her
daughter flee. Controlled tears glazed her eyes and she shook her
head sadly. "Was I too hard on her, Luna? Have I lost her? Have
I lost my only daughter?"
'You and me both, Your Majesty. You and me both.'
THE DAY BEFORE THE BALL -- A WEEK LATER
"Your Highness, shouldn't you be preparing for the ball?"
"Leave me alone, Myra," a muffled voice ordered under the heavy
blankets.
"But, Princess-"
"I'm not going to the ball. Now go away!"
Myra sighed in defeat. "With all due respect, Princess, but you
have been in your chambers for an entire week! You have to get
out sooner or later. It might as well be today."
Serenity impatiently threw the covers off and stood up in front
of her chambermaid. "You seem to have forgotten that my freedom
has been taken away, Myra." With that, she started pushing her
towards the door. "I appreciate your concern, but it is misplaced.
I am fine. I don't want to go out of my chambers and I don't want
to GO TO THE BALL!" she finished with a shout and locked the door
after pushing Myra out successfully. She slid down to the floor
with her back against the door and cried quietly.
PLANET EARTH
Terra, Queen of Earth, sighed in defeat. "It is imminent, then?"
"Yes, Your Majesty," Garrick, captain of the guards, answered.
"There is an estimation of one day until she descends, although
as to the exact time, we have yet to guess."
"I have heard that there is to be a ball tomorrow night on
the Moon."
"Your sources are proven correct, my Queen. Do you believe
that," Garrick paused then resumed, "she would dare appear
at the same time as the ball?"
Terra frowned. "I wouldn't put it past her. She has always been
fond of theatrics and being the center of attention." She paced
back and forth and turned to Garrick in fear. "Underestimate her,
we must not, for surely she has grown much stronger since last."
Garrick snorted. "Aye. I am willing to bet that her greed most
assuredly has."
"Serenity must be warned," the Queen announced in a grave tone.
"Time is of the essence, Garrick and we must act now."
The captain bowed in agreement. "I will send a legion of troops
at once, Your Majesty."
"No!" Terra objected.
Garrick looked at her, baffled. "But, my Queen-"
"Pardon me for my outburst, Garrick," she interrupted, her mind
at work. "But we must not send thousands of foot soldiers and
cavalry on the Moon. It would only cause panic among the people
and that would be an advantage to her side." Terra stood in
silence, contemplating the best possible way to warn Serenity.
"What other way is there, Your Majesty?" Garrick inquired.
Her musings over, Terra gave her full attention to the captain
and ordered, "Summon my son, Endymion immediately."
Garrick, understanding the Queen's decision, smiled in relief.
"As you wish, my Queen."
ELSEWHERE ON PLANET EARTH
"I miss her, Helios." Endymion confessed to his friend, the
priest.
"Then do something about it, Prince." Helios gave Endymion a
pound on the back and continued. "Spare us of your moping and
tell her how you feel before it's too late."
The Earth Prince scowled and protested, "I do not mope! And what
do you mean before it's too late?"
"Did I say before it's too late?" Helios looked at him with
feigned innocence. "Surely I did not!"
"Helios, I'm warning you . . ."
"Your Highness!" A gasping Garrick blurted out. "Forgive
my interruptions, my Prince, but the Queen has summoned you."
"Mother?"
"Yes, sire." Garrick took a deep breath. "It is of much
importance."
Endymion nodded and turned to Helios. "We are not finished with
this discussion, my friend." With a last glance at Helios,
Endymion left with Garrick to heed the Queen's summons.
Watching his friend leaving, Helios shook his head sadly and said
to himself, "I am afraid it will be centuries before we see each
other again, Prince Endymion."
ON THE MOON -- SERENITY'S CHAMBERS (THE NIGHT BEFORE THE BALL)
Myra, persistent as always, gave it another try. "Is there
nothing I can say or do to change your mind, Princess?"
Serenity gave the chambermaid a quick hug and whispered, "I am
afraid not, Myra."
"It really saddens me to see you like this, Your Highness."
"I will be fine," Serenity assured her with a smile. With a
gentle push, she said, "Now go and prepare for the ball."
"Your Highness-"
"That was an order and I will not tolerate disobedience,"
Serenity announced good-naturedly.
"Yes, Princess."
After Myra's departure, Serenity went to bed and tried shutting
everything and everybody out of her mind.
LATER THAT NIGHT
"Huntress!" Hunter yelled in hushed tones.
"Hmmm . . ." Huntress yawned. "Go away, Myra!" she muttered.
Desperate, Hunter started shaking her vigorously. "Wake up,
will you?"
"What do you want?" she whined. She slowly opened one eye and
gasped. "You're not Myra!"
"No, really?" he snapped sarcastically.
"Hunter!" Huntress pulled her covers up to her chin in
embarrassment, now fully awake. "What are you doing in my
room? You must leave right now! Mother-"
"I don't care about your mother," he declared, cutting her short.
Huntress' eyes widened in surprise at the change in him. "Look,
I need to talk to you. Right now."
"What's happened to you?" Huntress croaked.
Hunter's eyes twitched. "What do you mean?"
"You're different somehow . . ."
He heaved a sigh impatiently. "I'm sorry I snapped at you like
that but I don't have much time."
"Not much time for what?" Huntress asked, still bewildered.
Ignoring her, Hunter went on. "I've missed you, Huntress."
"I've missed you, too," she replied uncertainly.
Hunter smiled and looked at her in the eye. "This past week
has been torture, Huntress. Not seeing you everyday has opened my
eyes."
"What are you talking about?"
"I love you!" he blurted out.
"You do?" she stammered.
"Much more than I thought possible," he declared. Hunter
held out his palm and the pearls glittered in the moonlight.
"Will you marry me, Huntress? Will you make me the happiest
man alive?" He held his breath whilst he waits for an answer.
"This is too sudden . . ." Huntress began. "I don't know what
to say."
"Don't you love me?!"
"I do!" she answered quickly, too quickly.
Hunter narrowed his eyes and growled, "Then what's the problem?"
"I don't think I'm ready."
"Not ready?! We've known each other practically all our lives!
I've seen you with a red nose for goodness sake!"
Huntress shrugged. "I need time."
"We don't have time."
Huntress looked away and glimpsed at the window that leads out
to the balcony. 'What was that? I could have sworn I saw
somebody . . .'
"Huntress, look at me!" Hunter caught her chin in his palm and
forced her head to face him. "Look at me, Huntress. Look into
my eyes," he whispered gruffly. His green eyes started to glow
an eerie red and Huntress soon fell in a trance. Hunter smirked
triumphantly and continued. "Say you love me, Huntress."
In a monotone voice, she complied. "I love you."
"Say yes, you will marry me, Huntress."
"Yes, I will marry you."
Hunter smiled and chuckled. "Now that wasn't so hard, was it?"
He slipped the band onto her left ring finger and leaned in to
kiss her. The moment his lips touched hers, her nightclothes
changed into a white flowing gown with sheer, long sleeves that
shimmered at the slightest movement. At the same instance, both
disappeared into the night without so much of a trace except for
an imprint on the bed where the Princess' body had once lain.
OUT IN THE BALCONY
"This is so boring!" Venus complained.
"Shh! You're going to wake her up," Mars shushed. "We're
supposed to watch out for Serenity."
"Spy on her you mean," Jupiter butted in.
"Orders of her Majesty, the Queen." Mercury yawned and
watched the slumbering Moon Princess.
"But she hasn't left her room for an entire week!"
"Venus! Quit whining, will you?"
"Get off my back, Mars!" she growled.
Mercury, ever the mediator, said in a casual tone, "Think of it
this way, Venus. At least we know where she is at all times."
"This is so wrong," Jupiter announced. "We shouldn't be spying
on her like this. She's our friend."
Mars argued reluctantly, "We're her protectors. Our duties come
first." She looked at the three and explained, "Words of the Queen."
"We're dead when she finds out," Venus sighed.
"IF she finds out."
"She's not as blonde as she looks, Mars." Jupiter stated. "She
will find out sooner or later."
"Hey! I resent that!" Venus yelled.
Mercury, finally fed up, shushed her fellow scouts and looked
through the window pointedly. "Something's up."
Mars, now alerted, joined Mercury. "What do you mean?"
"There's somebody in there with the Princess."
"WHAT?!" Venus screeched. She received three dirty looks and
she apologized sheepishly.
"Who in the world is that? And how did he get in without us
knowing?" Jupiter asked Mars, peeking through the window.
"Nobody that we know of obviously."
"Let me through," Venus demanded while trying to squeeze in
with the others. "I probably know him."
Mercury moved a little to the left to give Venus some space.
"Do you know anybody with silver hair?"
"Um, let me think . . . No?" Venus wedged herself in and asked,
"Can you see his face?"
"No," Mercury answered. "The only thing visible to us is his
hair. Everything else is shadow."
"Darn! I wanted to see if he was a hunk."
"Venus!" Mars scolded.
"What? Can you blame me?"
"Um, girls?"
"Yea, Jupiter?"
"It just dawned on me . . ."
"Go on," Mercury encouraged.
"We're right in front of the window and the moon is shining
behind us."
"So?" Venus asked.
Jupiter rolled her eyes. "We're not concealed! We might as well
announce our presence!"
Mercury's eyes widened and she cleared her throat. "Um, I think
Serenity is staring right at us."
"What?!" Mars gasped.
"Hide!" all four called out in panic.
"Do you think she saw us?" Venus inquired meekly.
"Most likely," Mars muttered.
Mercury peeked in cautiously once more and what she saw made her
gasped out loud.
"What's wrong?" Jupiter demanded, stealing a look as well.
"Well, I'd be . . . He's proposed to her! And she's accepted!"
"WHAT?!" both Mars and Venus exclaimed.
"And they've both disappeared," Mercury finished for Jupiter.
"This is bad. Really bad," Jupiter mumbled.
"I'd say we've just failed our mission!" Venus cried out.
"What do we do now?"
"What we do now, Mars, is inform the Queen."
"Oh, yeah, Mercury! That's easier said than done!"
"She'll have our heads!" Venus blubbered.
"Let's go!" Mercury ordered in a straightforward tone.
"She'll have our heads, I tell you!"
EARLY THE NEXT DAY (THE DAY OF THE BALL) -- IN SERENITY'S CHAMBERS
"I've been waiting for you, daughter," Queen Serenity announced
gravely. Her usual gentle face was a thing of the past. The
Queen's face was haggard from lack of sleep, from endless worry,
from masked anger, from profound regrets.
"Mother?" Serenity turned around in horror. Her memory of last
night was limited. All she could remember was Hunter's proposal,
her saying yes for some unexplainable reason, her wedding taking
place in the middle of nowhere, and now . . . She was back in her
room with her mother glaring at her for reasons she could not
understand. "What is going on? Why are you in my room? And Luna
and the Scouts?"
"Hold her down," the Queen commanded the Scouts. Mars and Jupiter
marched forward and grasped Serenity's arms from either side with
strong grips that allowed no resistance.
"Mars, Jupiter, what are you doing? Let me go right this
minute!!" Serenity struggled and only caused the hold on her to
tighten almost to the point of pain.
"Stop squirming. You're only hurting yourself, Your Highness,"
Jupiter said gruffly.
"Please forgive us, Princess," Mars whispered.
"Mother!" Serenity gave the Queen a beseeching look that was
disregarded without a second thought. She fell down in anguish
onto the floor, bringing Mars and Jupiter with her.
Luna, tears glazing her eyes, pleaded with the Queen. "Your
Majesty, there must be some other way! I cannot possibly-
I will never forgive myself!"
Queen Serenity closed her eyes and looked away. "There is no
other choice. To ensure that nothing like this happens again,
it must be done!"
"But, Queen Serenity-"
"That was an order, Luna!" the Queen interjected. "Her
memories of that boy must be erased at once."
"Your Majesty-," Luna tried once more. All she received was an
impenetrable glare that stipulates no disobedience. The cat
hung her head in defeat and sobbed. "As you wish, my Queen."
"Mercury, Venus! Assist Luna!"
"Mother, please no . . ." the Princess begged. "Luna . . .
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars- if you ever were my friends,
you wouldn't do this!"
The Scouts, in hardened voices, declared simultaneously,
"Our duties come first."
"Luna Mind Meld!" Luna cried out. The crescent moon bald spot
on her head shone brightly, blinding all occupants of the chamber.
In accord with the light, Serenity's forehead glowed intensely,
revealing a crescent moon of her own.
"Please forgive us, Princess," Mercury pleaded desperately.
Serenity answered her viciously. "Never!"
The light vanished instantly and only a whispered promise could
be heard at a distance . . . "Never!"
ROYAL THRONE ROOM
Beran, the captain of the guards on the Moon, slowly entered the
royal throne room. "You sent for me, Your Majesty?"
"Yes, Beran." Queen Serenity answered. "Come forward." She
turned to Luna and asked, "The boy's name is Hunter?" Luna nodded
indifferently. Facing Beran once more, she commanded in a firm
tone, "Seek out the silver-haired boy named Hunter. Scour the
entire kingdom if you must. And bring the chambermaid Myra to me."
Beran bowed and replied. "Right away my Queen."
Upon the captain's departure, the Queen questioned Luna. "So
you say Myra is the boy's mother?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"You realize what you must do, do you not?"
"I am to remove the chambermaid's memories of her son."
"It must be done, Luna."
Luna whispered sadly. "I know, Your Majesty. I know."
A knock reverberated in the room and the Queen demanded in a
loud voice, "Enter." A young woman came in cautiously, her eyes
avoiding those of the Queen's. "Are you the one called Myra?"
Myra curtsied and responded softly. "That I am, my Queen."
"How fares my daughter?"
"Asleep, my Queen."
Nodding in satisfaction, Queen Serenity looked at Luna sharply
and ordered Myra to come closer. "Now, Luna."
"What is going on-?"
"Luna Mind Meld!!" A familiar beam encompassed the royal throne
room and vanished in an instant, once more stealing precious
memories in an attempt to change the past.
LATER THAT NIGHT
Endymion proceeded to the double doors that lead to the royal
throne room.
"Halt! Who goes there?" Beran barked.
"It is I, Endymion, Prince of Earth, requesting a presence with
the Queen."
Beran squinted up at him suspiciously. "Have you proof of
identification, Prince of Earth?" At this insolent request,
Endymion brandished out a blood red rose from within the folds
of his black tuxedo, still covered with thorns.
"Would this suffice, Captain?"
Disconcerted, Beran grumbled a response. "Aye, Your Highness.
I beg your forgiveness for treating you as such."
"No harm done, old man. You were only doing your job.
Remarkably well, I might add."
Beran flushed at the compliment. "You are far too gracious,
sire. If Your Highness permits an advice?"
"Continue," Endymion nodded his consent.
"There is a hunted man out loose by the name of Hunter. The
only known fact concerning his appearance is long, silver hair.
He is considered to be dangerous. It will be wise to avoid him
at all cost."
'Hunter? That name sounds strangely familiar.' he thought
silently. Seeing that Beran was expecting some sort of answer,
Endymion quickly nodded. "Advice heeded."
Beran sighed in relief and opened the doors for the Prince.
"Entry granted, sire." Endymion nodded his thanks and marched
inside to speak to Queen Serenity of serious matters.
INSIDE THE ROYAL THRONE ROOM
"Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty, but I come with dire news."
"Endymion, your presence is never an intrusion," Queen Serenity
argued. "Come and have a seat and explain what you mean of
dire news."
After settling down next to Serenity, the Prince hastily
clarified his words. "I take it you have heard of Beryl?"
"Beryl?" the Queen blinked in surprise. "Do you speak of that
sweet child I once met on planet Earth?"
Endymion grunted. "That's her. Only she has grown into a
menacing witch." Seeing Serenity's frown, he continued.
"Growing up, she was ever fond of sorcery. She fancied herself
in love with me and once tried to make me succumb to her powers.
Realizing that she could not be controlled, Mother had her
contained. Unbeknownst to us, Beryl conjured up a monster by the
name of Metallia. She turned out to be weaker than her creation
and ended up under Metallia's spell. With the help of Metallia,
she is now a capable sorceress determined to steal the crystal from
you and destroy the Moon Kingdom in the process."
Serenity stared at him in shock. "What do you know of Metallia?"
"Nothing except for the fact that she is Beryl's creation. How
she came to be stronger than Beryl herself is unknown to us."
"It always comes to the crystal." Serenity shook her head.
She pondered for a few minutes and looked at Endymion in panic.
"When?!"
"Tonight."
"Tonight?"
"During the ball, Mother believes. I regret to inform you
at the last minute, but we only found out ourselves about
this early this morning."
The Queen stood up abruptly. "We must alarm the guards.
I don't need this right now. With what happened recently . . .
The Princess! My daughter!"
"I'll look out for her, Your Majesty. You needn't fret."
"Thank you. Now I must tell Beran . . . If you will excuse
me, Endymion." The Queen left the throne room, anxiety marring
her face, in search of Beran. Endymion soon followed after with
a single purpose in mind -- Princess Serenity.
THE BALL
"I can't do this. I just can't."
"Whatever are you muttering about now, Venus?" Mars scowled.
"I can't do this!" she screeched. "I can't act like nothing has
changed when in fact everything has!"
"Venus, you need to calm down!" Jupiter hollered back.
"Everybody's staring at us!"
"She's right, you know?" Mercury asked softly.
Mars nodded in agreement. "Yeah . . . But what choice did
we have?"
"It was for her own good."
"We were trying to protect her."
"Then why do we feel so crummy?" Mercury demanded.
Mars replied sarcastically, "Maybe because she promised to
NEVER forgive us?"
"But that was before the Mind Meld," Venus reasoned. "Since
that had something to do with Hunter, then she wouldn't remember
about any promises made, right?"
"Was that supposed to make me feel better?"
"What was suppose to make you feel better, Mars?"
Mars made a complete turn and paled. "Your Highness!"
"Is there something the matter?" Princess Serenity raised an
eyebrow. "You appear as if you've seen a ghost."
Mars stuttered. "Uh . . . Gh- ghost?"
Jupiter intervened in an attempt to rescue her fellow scout.
"She has a headache, you see?"
Mercury, understanding what Jupiter was up to, quickly added,
"Yes, that is correct. And I have suggested a long hot bath."
"A very long hot bath," Venus piped in, not to be left out.
"Of course, not a VERY very long hot bath," Jupiter corrected.
"You wouldn't want to get all wrinkly like a bunch of prunes."
Venus nodded in agreement enthusiastically. "Not at all. It
wouldn't be appropriate to look all dried up in front of the
gentlemen. I'd rather have a splitting headache than appear like
some senile, old lady."
"No indeed," Mercury finished.
Serenity only stared from one eager face to another in disbelief.
Her gaze stopped at Mars and the Moon Princess raised an eyebrow.
Jupiter nudged the still-frozen Fire Princess to get her attention.
Shaking her head clear, Mars responded in a croak. "I don't like
prunes."
Upon hearing a sound that suspiciously seemed like a snort
coming from Venus, Serenity shook her head incredulously and declared,
"I will not ask. I'll talk to the four of you later when your brains
are not so dried up." The Moon Princess swiftly left the Scouts'
company in seek of a better conversation.
Venus sagged next to Mercury. "That was close."
"Uh, huh." Jupiter joined the other two. "You know, Mars,
you could have helped us back there instead of standing still like
some Chinese terracotta statue."
Mars only looked at her silently and announced in a firm voice
this time, "I don't like old ladies, either."
ELSEWHERE . . .
'Boring . . . This ball is way too boring!' Serenity complained
to herself. She started up the stairs to escape all the noise when all
of a sudden, a warm hand stilled her progress. Serenity looked down
to see a white glove covering hers. Looking up, she found herself
staring at the most mesmerizing green eyes she had ever seen. She
could sense herself being pulled into the deep pools, almost as if
she was falling into an abyss with no way out. Serenity felt like
she was being drawn into a dream, or rather, into a nightmare. But
that doesn't make sense. 'What is happening to me?'
"May I have this dance, Princess?" a deep voice requested.
Speechless, all Serenity could do was nod once and she was
pulled into the throng of dancers in the middle of the room. Two
arms enveloped her in a warm embrace and she had never felt such
security in her entire life. Strangely, though, it didn't feel right
to her. It felt fake. 'What is going on here? Who is this man?'
"Who are you?" she asked, voicing her thoughts.
"Shh," the man hushed. "Who I am is of no importance."
"But-"
The man loosened the embrace and looked at her in the eyes.
"Come with me."
"Where?"
"Out in your gardens."
"My gardens? How did you know about my gardens?"
"Just come with me." The mysterious man gave her hand a tug
and she had no choice but to follow him quietly for he really did
have the most mesmerizing eyes she had ever seen.
SOMEWHERE NEARBY
"Where is she?" Endymion muttered under his breath. "Sere,
where on earth are you?" The Prince of Earth impatiently wove his way
through the mass of bodies on the dance floor looking for the missing
Princess. Without warning, a flash of golden tresses blinded his
line of sight. There, only several feet away from him was Princess
Serenity dancing with a man with silver hair. "Silver hair?" he mused.
"Wait a minute, didn't Beran say something about a man-" Realizing that
Serenity was dancing with none other than the hunted man, Hunter,
Endymion quickly rushed over to the unsuspecting partners when he was
suddenly blocked. "What the-" He looked down to find an old couple
squinting up at him.
"Young man," the old lady practically screeched. "You would be
better off if you would look at where you are going."
Endymion blinked down at his adversary. "I do beg your pardon,
madam. Now if you don't mind-" He tried to wedge past the pair
but once again found himself held back.
"But I do mind," the lady protested. She wrapped both arms
around Endymion and announced loudly, "As compensation for your
lack of manners, you shall dance this waltz with me."
"Madam!" Endymion objected. He tried to pry open the arms
around him, but they were like metal.
"It would do you good to listen to her, pup," the old man
suggested in a nasal tone. "Never takes no for an answer, she does."
Endymion caught a glimpse of that same golden locks and they
were headed for outside. His concern for Serenity's safety gave
him the strength and the audacity to unwrap the old lady's arms
from him and to lift her off the floor, setting her out of the
way. His path finally unhindered, he took off without another word.
"Well!" the old lady sniffed. "Young men these days! They lack
manners and respect for their elders." She gave her husband a long
look and ordered, "Dance with me, old man!"
"I'd be happy to oblige, old woman."
SERENITY'S GARDENS
"Come, Huntress."
"What did you call me?" Serenity gave him a bewildered look.
Hunter's face hardened and he spat out, "They really did erase
your memories, didn't they?"
"What are you talking about?"
Ignoring her, Hunter once again pulled Serenity along with him
and continued. "But no matter. That could be easily remedied."
"What is going on? Who are you?" the Princess demanded.
Hunter's grasp tightened and Serenity gasped out in pain.
"Let me go! You're hurting me!"
"I believe I just heard the Princess asked you to let her go."
"Who's there?" Hunter tensed and pushed Serenity behind him.
Endymion stepped out into the light and revealed himself.
"Endy!" Serenity cried out in relief.
"Ah . . . The great Endymion, Prince of Earth," Hunter growled.
"Finally, we meet face to face."
Endymion faltered in surprise. "You know me?"
"More than I care to wish." He turned his attention back to
Serenity who was cowering in fear behind him. "I'm not good
enough, am I? I'm not a prince like him. I am merely the son
of a chambermaid." He laughed bitterly. "Oh, wait! I'm not
the son of anybody. Even dear old Mother can't remember me."
"I don't know what you're talking about!"
"You will soon enough, Huntress. That, I vow -- ugh!" Hunter
looked down and found a blood red rose piercing his heart. He
staggered his stance and watched in astonishment as Endymion
grabbed Serenity away from him.
Endymion shot him a fierce glare and said in a grim voice, "You
are finished here, Hunter. You better leave before I alarm the
guards."
"Go ahead, for all I care. I'm not afraid of anything or
anybody."
"Then you're a fool."
More would have been said if it weren't for an ear-splitting
shriek coming from the inside of the palace. Endymion,
remembering Beryl's expected arrival, didn't waste another second
as he scooped up Serenity in his arms and ran out of the gardens
in haste.
Hunter, about to follow behind, suddenly heard a voice in his
head. 'Stay right where you are, fool. It is not our time,
yet.'
"What do you mean, my liege? Don't you wish for the crystal
anymore?" Hunter pulled the rose out of his chest and grimaced as
his precious blood flowed.
'Of course I wish for the crystal you idiot! Now is not the
time.'
Stomping the rose with the heel of his boot, he asked, "What
is going on, sire?"
'A sorceress by the name of Beryl has descended to wreak havoc
amongst the inhabitants of the Moon kingdom. It would seem she
is after the crystal as well.'
"If that is true, Master, shouldn't we fight her for it?"
'No, because she will not be given a chance to even touch the
crystal.'
"What do we do now, Master?"
'We'll bide our time.'
"But, Master-"
'Patience, my son. Our time has yet to come.'
INSIDE THE PALACE
Pandemonium swept over like currents of waves as guests
tripped over themselves in an attempt to escape Beryl's invisible
wrath. The four Sailor Scouts assisted people out one by one,
looking for the source of their panic. Evil surrounded the entire
palace and yet, the cause was nowhere to be found. Queen Serenity
clutched the crystal to her chest while she surveyed the destruction
of Beryl's arrival. Darkness seeped in, shattering all means of light,
preparing the Moon kingdom for the coming of its Queen. Beran, captain
of the guards, was organizing legions of troops though he knew in his
heart that hope was lost. This time. But he also knew that this would
happen again someday. How he knew, he doesn't know. All he was sure of
is when that time comes; a new hope will be born, along with power even
greater than that of his Queen.
JUST OUTSIDE THE PALACE KEEP
Endymion and Serenity grasped each other's arms, staring at the
ominous clouds rolling just above the palace. The clouds separated
to finally reveal the entity within their folds. Beryl, with a
menacing hold of her stare, lifted every being inside the palace
and tossed them over her shoulders, obliterating them into nothing
but dust.
"Endymion?" she called out in a shriek. "Where are you, my
love? I know you are here! You had better show yourself if you care
at all for these Moon people!" Beryl ended with a flick of her wrist,
once again blasting the kingdom into pieces.
The Prince of Earth hid himself and Serenity, holding her away
from him. "You understand what I must do now?" Tears flowed down
the Princess' face, unchecked as she reluctantly gave a nod. Tilting
her head up towards him, Endymion leaned in for a final kiss.
"I love you, my Moon Princess. Never forget that," he whispered
against her mouth. Releasing her, memorizing her features for the
last time, he turned away to leave.
Serenity grabbed his arm desperately. "Wait!" Endymion faced
her yet again and found the Princess holding out an object to him.
She sniffed and shakily gave up her precious treasure as proof of
their love. "I wish for you to have this." She covered his hand
with hers and the locket opened of its own accord, releasing a
beautiful melody filled with promises.
Endymion smiled at her and kissed her hands reverently. "I'll
keep it next to my heart for all eternity," he vowed. He suited
words with actions as he slipped the golden chain over and
around his neck, the locket resting right next to his heart.
Serenity clung on to him with all her might and Endymion had
no choice but to pull away lest Beryl finds them.
Serenity seized nothing but air, finding herself alone in the
dark. Watching Endymion flee farther and farther away from her,
she murmured to herself, "I love you, too, my Earth Prince. We'll
be together again. You'll see. That's my solemn vow."
ELSEWHERE
"Beryl!" Endymion roared at the top of his lungs.
The witch turned around to face the enraged Prince and laughed
in delight. "Endymion! I knew you'd see it my way!"
"What do you want, witch?"
"Tsk tsk, Endymion," she scolded. "Is that any way to greet
your betrothed?"
"For the last time, we are not betrothed!"
"Oh, but we are! I'm making it so."
"You are deranged," Endymion spat out in disgust. "Tell me
what you want!"
"I thought it was rather obvious, Prince. All I am here for
is the crystal," she stated in a bored tone. "And of course, the
death of the Queen and the Princess," she hastily added.
"Over my dead body."
"That could easily be arranged. After all, you are not that
vital to my plans."
"Leave now before I am forced to kill you."
"Kill me," Beryl gasped. "Oh, my. I am shivering in my heels."
She gave him a smirk and continued. "What do you plan to kill me with,
Prince Endymion?" She glanced at the jeweled hilt sheathed at his
waist. "With your little wooden sword? I think not." Beryl stared at
him thoughtfully and questioned, "What are thinking about, Your
Highness? Or is it a who?" She grinned evilly and breathed out,
"Is it a certain
Moon Princess?"
"Leave her out of this," Endymion snarled.
"Silly me," she went on, ignoring Endymion thoroughly. "I
meant to say a certain FORMER Moon Princess. And her she is now. Or
rather, what's left of her." Her power brought forth a transparent
bubble with an unconscious Serenity trapped inside.
"No! You'll pay for this, witch!" Endymion lunged at Beryl
uncontrollably, his sword raised.
"Well, now. Kill or be killed," Beryl mused. She raised a
bony finger and pointed it at the frenzied Prince. A surge
of energy was freed and struck Endymion with a full force.
Beryl sighed. "Tough choice."
"You will not escape here alive." A firm voice announced
somewhere not far away.
"The all-powerful Queen Serenity." Beryl cackled.
"You will pay for the suffering you have caused."
"Look around you, Your Majesty. Your so-called invincible
kingdom has been exposed bare. Your beautiful daughter and
her beloved prince are under an eternal sleep. Your hopes for a
bright future have been crumpled by the darkness of the past. You
will soon join everything and everybody that was dear to you.
The only thing that is protecting you is that crystal, which, by
the way, will soon be mine."
"You will never get your hands on the crystal!"
"Want to test that little theory of yours?"
Queen Serenity advanced towards Beryl at a slow pace with a
single objective in mind. She blocked the evil that surrounded
Beryl and strongly declared, "You may have destroyed the palace,
but you have yet to lay a hand on the hopes and dreams of the people."
"What people?!" Beryl screeched. "There is nobody around but
you and me, Serenity! You are delirious!"
"Don't you hear them, Beryl?" the Queen asked soothingly.
Beryl shivered as she surveyed the destruction that rested about
her. "Hear who?! Where?!" she demanded.
"They're everywhere, Beryl," Serenity assured her. "Surely
you can see them, hear them," she paused then resumed in a whisper,
"feel them?"
"You are mad!" Beryl laughed hysterically. "And they call me
insane!"
Serenity halted in front of Beryl and said calmly, "You have
only to open your eyes, Beryl. You have only to open your heart."
"Get away from me, witch!!"
"Let go, Beryl. Fight Metallia."
"I told you to get away!" Beryl started to retreat in a
quickened pace.
"They're calling you, Beryl. The people are talking to you.
Can you not hear them?" Queen Serenity opened her hands to
reveal the crystal. It glowed softly, warmly, of the people's
hopes and dreams. "Listen for them, Beryl."
"No! Just give me the crystal and I'll let you live."
Serenity narrowed her eyes. "No evil can ever touch the
crystal." The Queen paused and looked at Beryl beseechingly.
"They're giving you a second chance, Beryl."
"Who?"
"The people of the Moon. The people everywhere."
"I don't want it."
"Take it, Beryl. It's your last chance."
"No!"
"Defeat Metallia and live again."
"No!" Beryl faltered and glanced behind her. She kept on
withdrawing, trying to escape Serenity's plea, trying to escape the
voices of the people, that she didn't see where she was going. One
more step backwards and Beryl would have been lost, for just behind
her is a crevice big enough to send her to her death -- an abyss surely
to swallow her whole -- a void that was created by her own greed.
"Beryl-"
"Never!" With that outburst, the crystal released an aura that
held the people's hopes and dreams, finally sending Beryl to her
demise.
"You should have taken the chance." Serenity shook her head
sadly and for the first time, examined the damages and the deaths
caused by greed.
"Your Majesty?"
"Luna," the Queen said softly. "It is a relief to see you are
still alive."
"But is it worth it, my Queen?" The black cat curled herself
at Serenity's feet.
"Yes." Seeing Luna's confusion, Serenity explained. "When one
hope dies, another is born -- much more stronger than the last;
strong enough to overcome any obstacles, strong enough to build
everlasting dreams."
"Meow?"
"Oh, Luna," Serenity chuckled without humor. "Don't you
understand?" Luna shook her head and the Queen serenely smiled.
"Then close your eyes, my friend. Many many years from now, you
will understand."
Queen Serenity, with the help of the crystal, planted seeds
of hopes within the lost people of the Moon kingdom. Seeds that,
in the future, will surely flourish with life.
END BOOK 3
There. It's finally done. All 30 pages of it.
I'm quite proud of myself. :P
Well, e-mails are most certainly welcome. Hope you liked it.
Look out for Book 4: Secrets of the Past. Unfortunately, don't
expect it anytime soon. My winter break is over and it's
school again.
*^_^* moonbunny83