Moon Shadows

Chapter One: Dreams

Stars sparkled overhead as the Earth came into view. A lone soldier stands watch over the gates of the Imperial Palace, the starlight reflecting in his thoughtful blue eyes. Long, jet-black hair hangs down to his hips over a pristine white cloak. Two long strands of his dark hair hang over his chest and in front of his ears. He looks away from the horizon when he hears something move close by.

"Come on out, whomever you may be." The soldier says, in a rich, cultured voice. He is surprised when he sees a young girl stand up out of the bushes.

"Princess Serenity? What are you doing out here at this time of night?" the soldier asks, as the girl walks over to him, a sheepish look on her face.

"Please don't tell Mother! I just wanted to see him again. Please don't tell her!" Serenity pleaded.

"Him? Do you mean Prince Endymion? The Prince of the Earth?" the soldier asked, his suspicions confirmed when he saw a faint pink blush on the girl's cheeks.

"Hai." Serenity replied, shyly.

"Thought so. You were planning on going down there, weren't you?" the soldier asked.

"Hai." Serenity again said.

"Then you can't go alone." The soldier said, understanding the young princess' feelings towards the dashing prince.

"You're coming with me?! Won't you get into trouble for leaving your post?" Serenity asked, stunned that he was going to do that for her.

"I probably will get into trouble, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if something ever happened to you. I feel it is my duty, as much as it is the Senshi's duty, to protect you. Let me at least fulfill that part of my duty by providing for you an escort down to the Earth. I promise not to get in the way." The soldier said, gently.

"Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you so much, Saki!" Serenity shouted, as she leaped up and hugged the soldier, forgetting herself in her excitement.

"Oof, you're welcome, little princess! Now, let's go before anyone notices that you aren't where you should be." Saki said, as he gently ushered the girl forward, towards the blue Earth.

Usagi bolted upright, sweating profusely. It had been some time since she'd had such a vivid dream, and this one startled her.

"Luna? Where are you?" Usagi asked, whispering so she wouldn't wake her parents or brother.

"Right here, Usagi-chan. What's wrong?" Luna asked, as she jumped onto the bed and sat before her mistress.

"Luna…………….who was Saki?" Usagi asked, softly. Luna nearly fell over in shock and surprise.

"Saki…………….he was one of the Castle Guards back in the Moon Kingdom. Why do you want to know about him?" Luna asked, suspiciously.

"I saw him in a dream just now. Or was it a memory? He followed me to earth one time long ago because he didn't want me to go alone. Whatever happened to him, Luna?" Usagi asked, secretly afraid that he hadn't been reborn.

"He remained one of the Guards, but he wasn't allowed to see you after that incident. I believe Metallia killed him in the first attack on the Moon. He and his brother were very loyal to the Royal Moon family, and they fought bravely. It is almost certain that they have both been reborn here on earth." Luna said, hoping that that would be enough to satisfy her charge. It wasn't.

"How do I go about finding him? And his brother? I have a feeling that they were more than just Guards." Usagi said, suddenly wanting to find the mysterious, kindly Guard that had disobeyed the rules and provided safety on one of her long ago trips to earth.

"I don't know, Usagi-chan. Go back to sleep, and I will think about it." Luna said, wearily. When Usagi had done as she had been told, Luna exited the bedroom through the window, and headed for Minako's house, where she knew Artemis to be staying. When she had awoken Artemis and they had gone to the park, Luna told him of what had just gone on.

"We both knew that this would only be a matter of time, but I didn't know she would dream about him so vividly." Artemis murmured, as Luna looked at him nervously.

"It's because the same Royal blood flowed in their veins. Artemis, what will we do if those two do awaken and remember their past lives in the Silver Millennium? We certainly don't have the power to seal them away, and Usagi might not want to, though she has the power to." Luna said, fearfully.

"We can't rely on Mamoru, either, since his power has not fully awakened yet. It would take a long time for him to learn to control his power, much less wield it in such a way as to seal two potential problems away. Who can we rely on?" Artemis asked.

"Well, one thing is certain, we'd know if those two appeared in this city. And they aren't here now. Let's watch and wait. Maybe Usagi will forget this and move on, without attracting unwanted attention to herself in the meantime." Luna said, as she called their short and impromptu meeting to a close.

"I hope you're right, Luna." Artemis muttered, as he trotted away, heading for home.

"I hope I'm right too, for all of us." Luna murmured, as the sun rose behind her, bathing the path in a warm, golden glow.