Feel free to e-mail me your constructive criticism and praise. I appreciate your suggestions on how to better my writing.

This story is a revised version of "Princess Serenity's Revenge" and will hopefully be much better. This is a fan fiction about Serenity/Usagi and Endymion/Mamoru.

* Thank you, Margie-chan, for your help!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is copyright (c) 1992 Naoko Takeuchi/Kodansha, TOEI Animation. English Language Adaptation copyright (c) 1995 DiC Entertainment.


The Beginning of Forever: Chapter 9
Charlyne
charlyne_o@hotmail.com
Chapter Rating: PG13


Serenity's eyes were red and puffy from the tears she'd been crying. In the deep part of herself that still felt amusement, she was surprised she hadn't drowned in the river of tears she'd cried. She'd been like this since she'd stormed out of the meeting with her mother four hours ago. The Senshi had finally stopped knocking on her door two hours ago when they realized she was not going to let them in.

She still could not believe what her mother had said. How could the woman be so cruel to her own daughter? Memories of the meeting haunted her, the images flitting in front of her mind's eye, tormenting her.


"You wanted to see me, mother?" Serenity asked.

"Yes, Serenity. I have something of utmost importance to discuss with you."

Serena took a seat and watched her mother warily. The queen was clearly agitated, which was not a good sign. The extremely rare occurrence certainly boded ill.

"Serena," the queen started, then paused for a moment. She sighed, straightened her shoulders, and took her daughter's hands in her own. "You know the heir cannot be illegitimate. It's against the laws."


Serenity scowled. Her mother had talked of laws, yet she is the queen! What use is the crown without power behind it? Serenity knew that her mother had plenty of power to change laws. The Queen was ruled by tradition, not laws.

Anger made Serenity's blood boil and caused her eyes to flash silver. She was ashamed that the woman had borne her. And her father, the great and noble king, had not even felt the meeting worthy of his presence.

The nerve of her mother, acting as if she was helpless to change the laws! And then, after what Serenity viewed as excuses, her mother had dropped the bombshell.


"Serenity, you cannot keep the child."

"What?" Serenity shouted, jumping from her seat. "Mother, you cannot be serious!"

"I am very serious, daughter. You are only sixteen--"

"Nearly seventeen!" Serena interrupted.

"--and I know that you cannot handle the responsibility a child brings."

"Yes, I can! It's my child; mine and Endy's! Many princesses have children by my age," Serenity argued, holding a hand protectively over her stomach.

"Do not argue with me, Serenity. The decision has already been made. The child will be taken at birth, the ceremony will be held a month later, then she will be given to a good family. Do not try to locate her. It is best for you to just move on, you will marry Seiya and produce a real heir."

"My child will be the real heir! You will not take her away. What of her birthright? You cannot erase her heritage."

The Queen glared at her daughter. "That is precisely what the ceremony will do. She will be stripped of her natural powers and her link to the family--and the Silver Imperium Crystal--will be severed."

"But, mother, this is your grandchild!"


Tears filled Serenity's eyes as the scene replayed itself in her mind. Her child taken away from her, her link with her child severed, and her child given away like an unwanted puppy.

It was beyond imagining. She had never thought her parents to be cruel, but, then again, she had never seen this side of them. She wish she never had.

A sob escaped her as she sat down at her desk and pulled out a sheet of parchment. She would have to write to Endymion and let him know of this. How she dreaded it!

Wiping her tears with a shaking hand, Serenity dipped her quill in the inkwell and hesitated over the paper before forcing herself to write.

My Dearest Endymion,

I have terrible news to tell you. I've just come from a private meeting with mother and you will not believe the awful things she told me.

Our child will be taken at birth and then mother will strip her of her powers! Her own grandchild! She's breaking my heart and does not even care. She expects me to marry Seiya and act like nothing happened.

I stormed out of the meeting after calling my mother some very unkind names and have been locked in my room since. The Senshi have tried to comfort me but I would not let them in.

I want to run away. We'll take our child and escape. On Earth, your people have no powers and with a simple charm I can prevent people--even my own--from recognizing us. Except, mother can track me on the other planets. She can't track me on Earth.

I'm not being rash; it's a very good plan as long as we're not caught. We have a month for me to recover from the birthing and to find where mother has hidden our child. Then we can take her and leave. Please tell me you agree! I do not want our baby taken away and given to another.

I must go now, I love you. I will have you informed when the baby comes, though I'm sure you know that the baby is mostly likely to be born on June 30. Goodbye, my love.

Forever Yours,

Serenity

Tearstains caused the ink to smear down the page, but Serenity did not care. Her body shook violently as she sobbed, the force of it doubling her over. She felt as if, in reality, her heart were breaking.

The sudden cramp caught her off guard and she gasped. Clutching her stomach, Serena stumbled to her bedroom door and pulled it open. With a weak cry for help, the young princess collapsed.


"Amy, hurry up! Is she going to be all right?" Raye demanded. Her eyes were worried as she looked down at Serenity. The princess was laid out on her bed and was extremely pale.

The five girls had come rushing, in Senshi form, to the princess's room when they had felt her distress. Although the five girls were not linked, Princess Serenity had a strong magic of her own that she could not fully control yet, despite the extensive training. In truth, the full extent of the princess's power was not yet known. When Serenity had collapsed, she had sent out a strong wave of power indicating her pain and it had alerted her four friends.

The Senshi had arrived to find Serenity lying on the floor, unconscious. She'd had quite a bump on her head, but no bleeding that could be seen. Amy had immediately been sent to fetch her minicomputer and scanner, and Lita had run off to inform the Queen, if she did not already know, and the royal family's personal physician. Raye and Mina had huddled around Serenity's small form and watched her closely.

Amy walked in the room at a fast pace and glared at Raye. "I'm going as fast as I can, would you rather I fall and break my neck? Then you'll have two people to worry about."

Raye scowled but said nothing more. She backed away from Serena's bed to make room for Amy and crossed her arms. Mina stood near Serenity's desk and looked as if she were writing something. She then tucked the note into the small handbag she had with her. Raye wondered about the note, then shook her head and forced her mind back to more important matters, mainly the health of her good friend and the child said friend was carrying.

Amy was typing quickly at her computer, having already completed the full body scan. She blew out a relieved breath and looked up from the computer, a small smile on her lips. "She's going to be all right," she announced to the three girls. "I'll wait to explain until Queen Serenity gets here."

As if Amy's words had conjured the Queen, elder Serenity entered the room followed closely by King Chander and Lita. The queen's eyes were filled with tears as she knelt beside her daughter's bed. Looking up at the Mercurian princess, the queen asked, "How is she?"

Amy smiled softly and patted the queen's shoulder. "She's just fine, Your Majesty. It seems she went into early labor and the contractions were quite powerful. She collapsed and went unconscious, but the labor stopped and there was no bleeding. Also, no harm has been done to the baby as far as I can tell."

The queen nodded and held one of her daughter's limp hands in both of her shaking ones. "I trust you, Amy, but I still want Dr. Zeki to confirm what you've said."

"I understand, Your Majesty," Amy replied. She walked over to her four friends and quietly shooed them from the room so that the king and queen could have some time alone with their daughter. The four girls walked down the hallway together, then split up to go into their rooms. Mina, however, continued to walk.

Endymion should know of this and I'm sure Serenity would want this letter posted without her parents seeing it, Mina thought. She had discovered the tearstained letter laying open on the princess's desk and had decided to take it before either one of the nosey guardians, or Serena's parents, could see it. She'd added a small note on the bottom telling the prince of Serenity's collapse and her diagnosis. Endymion would be worried, but relieved that Serenity was all right.

Mina wished only happiness for her friend, but felt it was a tall order. The Goddess would surely have to be smiling down on the young couple for everything to work out well.