Not a Tame Princess

by The Mysterious Traveller

Many centuries ago Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom hears rumours about a mysterious 'Princess'... (Silver Millennium&New Characters - well OBVIOUSLY!)

31. Coming Home

Epilogue

Coming Home

And so the party from the Moon Kingdom returned home the following afternoon; bringing with them the Princess who had been absent for so long…too long as far as those who had set off the day before were concerned.

Rula gazed around breathlessly as she walked down the ramp leading out of the ship - the Moon Kingdom. This wonderful place had never strayed far from her mind no matter where she had been and what she'd been thinking about during the terrible happenings of the last few months. It was just as she'd struggled to remember it being though if anything could possibly be better than seeing it again then it could only be how she now felt as she came back to it. All the memories of the places she had ever been to during her life melted away now that she stood within the Moon Kingdom after being away for so long. Rula had met people on her travels, many of which her friends would never have believed if she'd told them about a few of them, but right now she couldn't remember a single one of their names.

This was the place where she had always felt content and safe. At peace with herself and the world - and now she was back. Nothing that had ever happened to her before being here seemed all that important right now.

Live in the moment girl, she thought as a smile crossed her face. The best place you could ever be is here and the best time that you could imagine is now. Here and now…what else could you ask for?

"Happy?" Queen Serenity asked, smiling as she noticed Rula's face.

Rula flinched as she realised that the others were all looking at her.

"I…" she stammered, floundering as she searched for something light-hearted to say and failing when she found that that just wasn't how she felt about being back in the Moon Kingdom at all. "I was just…"

"You know as a seasoned and experienced Universe-watcher I think that I can tell you all quite accurately just what she's thinking at this precise moment in time." Mars remarked matter-of-factly as she descended the ramp flanked by the Guards who had served as the party's escort during the trip to the Outer Moon.

"Oh yeah?" Rula sniffed as she gave the Martian girl an arrogant glance. "And what would I be thinking?"

"That you're overjoyed to be back but you don't think that you'd seem so tough anymore if you just showed it." Mars replied simply and smiled primly. "Am I correct?"

Rula reddened and the others - including Queen Serenity much to her indignation - laughed at the expression on her face.

They really couldn't help it.

"So what're we gonna do now?" Rula asked, a little tight-lipped after the laughter that had begun at her expense died down and gradually dwindled away.

"Well don't you think that it would be best if you got dressed to begin with?" Serenity remarked rather pointedly. "I for one think that would be the most sensible thing for you to do first, Universe." Rula shrugged blandly.

"Anything you say." She smirked. "What should I put on?"

"Your dress you foolish girl!" Serenity exclaimed. "Good heavens, what did you think I meant?"

Rula winced and lowered her eyes.

"Stupid of me." she muttered in embarrassment.

Serenity maintained her exasperated expression for a moment longer and then she simply couldn't hold it in place for a moment longer.

"Oh Universe, I was only joking!" she exclaimed with a laugh. "But really you ought to change first of all. Your dress is in the dressing room where you left it - I kept it for you. Go there and change…I must insist on that!"

Rula hesitated as she glanced at the Palace - being absolutely honest with herself she had to admit that she was still afraid of going in there. Scared of anybody seeing her after that terrible night in the Ball Room.

Mercury, who stood with her arm slid around Universe's waist, looked into her nervous eyes and spoke calmingly to her.

"Universe…look at me." Drawn by the sound of her voice Rula turned her head to meet the blue-haired girl's gaze. Mercury smiled reassuringly and gave her waist a squeeze. "Come on." She urged her friend in an encouraging voice. "Let's go inside - it will be alright. You'll see!"

Rula wavered and the Mercurian Princess tried again, her voice insistent. "You have my word." she told her friend smiling.

Rula gazed at her for a little while and gradually her face relaxed into a slightly nervous grin. Ever since they had been reunited the day before she and Mercury had been absolutely inseparable. Whenever she had walked into the same room as her Mercury had immediately gone over to her and having been without her presence for so long Rula had lapped up the attention.

Even now Rula hesitated from going into the Palace and facing anybody she might meet. Before they had left Charon that morning Chara had wished her luck warmly and just as Mercury had been a moment ago she had told her seriously that everything would be fine. Seeing that the doubt had lingered in her eyes Char had immediately offered to come with her and make sure that she would be all right. But she'd told him that the best thing that he could do was stay with his daughter Rika, assuring him with a grateful smile of more confidence than she'd actually felt inside that she'd be fine without him. Serenity hadn't said anything but she had secretly felt glad that Rula had turned down Char's offer - she knew that the Prince had felt worried about her and she felt grateful that his loyalty to her was so strong but she felt that what Rula needed to do now was face what might await her when she returned to the Moon Kingdom without his help or else she might not be strong enough to survive it when he eventually had to return home to Charon.

Serenity knew that it would be hard for Rula but she was certain that her charge would face it with courage in her heart even if she lacked confidence.

"Come on Universe!" Charon exclaimed as she stood in front of Rula. "What are you waiting for?"

"We'll be with you along every step of the way!" Venus added encouragingly. "Don't worry about it!"

"You are not alone," the Moon Princess informed her solemnly. "We are all here to help you Universe. Don't forget it."

"Universe, with friends!" Estrella announced from her place beside Charon's feet. "She'll be okay!"

"Universe…when'd you get to be such a wimp?" Jupiter asked with a good-natured smirk. "Whatever happened to that girl that we knew who never stood anything from anybody?"

Rula stared at her in shock - somehow Jupiter's half-mocking yet half-serious words had given her the determination to go ahead with this.

"Who's scared?" she exclaimed out loud. "If there's one thing that I'll never let anyone call me then it's a wimp! C'mon! I can't wait to get inside!"

Everybody laughed again and with that they walked up the steps and passed through the gates that led into the Palace grounds - on their way through a few of the guards gave Rula curious looks as they wondered who she was and she didn't go out of her way to enlighten them.

In the courtyard the group passed by Captain Blackabar who looked up at them gravely as they neared him.

"Ah, your Majesty." he greeted the Queen gravely. "I am afraid that no word about the Princess has come during your absence."

Venus giggled as Rula raised her eyebrow but remained silent.

"Oh really?" Queen Serenity inquired mildly with an easy smile on her face. "What a pity."

Blackabar looked at her in surprise.

"Er…indeed your Majesty." He stammered, taken aback by his Queen's apparently easy acceptance of what he had said to her. Serenity raised her eyebrow.

"Is there anything the matter, Blackabar?" she asked curiously. "You seem quite shocked to me!" Blackabar made an effort to collect himself.

"Well if you don't mind me saying so - ahem - you don't seem very upset by the lack of news, my Queen!" he remarked cautiously. "Don't you want the Princess to return after all?"

Serenity gave a laugh.

"Mmm…well I have been thinking that perhaps she is quite a bother to have around the Palace." She teasingly remarked, quite aware that Rula could hear her.

As Blackabar blinked at her in shock Xizor arrived in the courtyard bringing an extremely business-like expression with him.

"Your Majesty, I am relieved to see you back from Charon!" he exclaimed eagerly. "As it happens I devised a sure way to locate Princess Universe while you were away."

Venus had to cover her mouth in order to keep herself from howling with laughter.

"But I suppose that can wait for the time being." The ambassador remarked airily. "What news do you bring back from Charon, your Majesty? Once you are finished telling me I can tell you the details of my…"

"Charrenity, the Dance-Leader of the Lyanore, narrowly escaped becoming a fashion accessory and a Devil-Wolf went nuts and had to be put down like…a mad wolf." Rula informed Xizor with a grin. "Oh and local news has it that that wandering floozy Universe just got back to the Moon Kingdom."

Xizor glanced interestedly at her.

"Oh really? How splendid!" he remarked enthusiastically before turning to face the Queen once more. "Now about my infallible…" the ambassador's voice trailed away as his face registered complete and utter shock - spinning around he stared at Rula and gasped.

"Your Highness!" exclaimed Xizor and Blackabar as they stared in great astonishment at the cheerful huntress.

"Hi! It's real swell to see you two as well!" Rula laughed. "Can't stop now…gotta accessorize so we'll catch up later! Oh and Xizor…it WAS a good plan, right?"

Xizor's mouth was hanging open as he watched the girl being escorted into the Palace by Mercury, Charon and Venus as well as Estrella, who tagged along.

"Oh…very good your Highness." he murmured like a man in a dream as he turned to face Serenity and then added hopefully, "So you don't have any need to hear my plan, your Highness?"

Serenity smiled tolerantly - she was in a good enough mood to go through anything today. "Tell me all about it inside." she invited him.

Laughter was heard from inside the Palace as the four girls and the kitten disappeared into the distance.

Serenity was smiling as she looked at both Xizor and then Blackabar in turn. "As I told you Captain, Princess Universe is a lot of trouble…just as much trouble as a Princess is meant to be." She informed the dazed Captain of her personal Guard in a very matter-of-fact voice.

~*~*~

"Here we are." Beamed Venus as the group came to a stop outside the door of the Dressing Room. "By the time you step back out you'll be your old…I mean NEW self again Universe!"

"Can't wait." Rula muttered as she found herself thinking that she'd been here before - not this place but this moment in time.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Charon said enthusiastically.

Rula looked up at her sharply.

"Huh? So what, you guys wanna dress me now?" she exclaimed. "I can handle this by myself!"

"But…"

"But nothing!" Rula put her foot firmly on the ground. "Why don't you guys head off and do something? I'll find you when I've got ready."

Mercury nodded and stepped back - she was loath to let her friend out of her sight for a moment, afraid that if she wasn't with her at all times then she might disappear again but she knew that she had to let Rula have her way.

"Very well." The blue-haired girl agreed, nodding her head. "We shall meet up with you later Universe. Take all the time you want, we'll be waiting for you."

Rula smiled gratefully as she watched her friends walk away down the corridor.

"You guys." she muttered fondly as she turned towards the door and reached for the handle.

"Er…Universe? May I speak to you?"

With a jolt of surprise Rula looked over her shoulder, her hand still on the handle of the door - having thought that she'd been all alone she was surprised that she, a master tracker, had just been taken off-guard.

However as she saw Princess Mars standing there she just smirked and ceased to be surprised - as far as she'd always been concerned the raven-haired girl was like a shadow of the night, beautiful and quiet. Of COURSE Mars was the only person who'd ever manage to sneak up on her without even needing to TRY.

"Yeah, what?" Rula asked, wondering what this could possibly be about.

Mars hesitated as she gazed at the expectant face of the other girl - she'd followed the others here and waited until they had gone from the corridor before she had stepped forward, wanting to speak to Rula alone. Only now she found that it wasn't going to be as simple as she'd planned it over in her head early that morning.

Ever since this girl had disappeared from the lives of herself and her friends Mars had finally got back the full, or at least ALMOST full, attention of her best friend Princess Charon. However she had soon come to realise that it actually HADN'T been what she'd wanted ever since Universe had come to live in the Moon Kingdom at all. Universe was also Charon's friend, one who she cared for just as much as Mars herself…and if having this 'rival' out of the picture made her best friend unhappy then the raven-haired Princess couldn't possibly feel glad that she was gone and that she was the closest confidante of her friend again by default. That would have made her like a crow that grew fat on the misery of others. She'd realised that the day before when she and the others had first arrived on Charon.

Mars felt ashamed of the way she had behaved ever since Universe had arrived, ashamed for the way she had treated a girl who'd given her no real reason for being impolite and cold towards her.

"Whoah…if I'd known you'd take this long to get it off your chest then I'd have arranged a stand-in for myself while I got changed." Rula said bemusedly as she waited.

Mars laughed sheepishly.

"Oh I am sorry Universe…it is just that I am not as good as YOU are at being impulsive! I am just too nervous to stand in front of a ballroom full of people and tell a tyrant EXACTLY what I think of him for one thing."

Rula's face burned red but she smiled, accepting the remark.

"That's okay…I'm as bad at keeping my mouth shut as YOU are at voicing your thoughts. Hey don't worry about it - 'live and let live' right? If YOU can stomach ME then I can wait as many decades as you like for you to form a complete sentence when talking to me."

Mars smiled gratefully as she realised just what was really going on here - Rula had already guessed what was on her mind and, sensing that she was having trouble SAYING it, she had decided to let her off the hook in her own unique way.

"You honour me with your tolerance Universe." She declared with a perfectly straight face.

It was an old Martian saying, one of the customs of her people that she had so loved to absorb as a young girl, and she was startled when Rula gave her the correct response: "Your honour is mine Princess Mars."

With a whimsical look on her face Rula turned the handle and - leaving Mars to blink away in the corridor - stepped into the room closing the door after her.

When she turned fully around however gave a jump of surprise. "Oh…you!" she exclaimed blankly.

Katarina jumped - startled by the sound of the door closing and still more deeply shocked when she realised that she recognized the voice.

"Princess Universe, is that you?" she asked, her voice trembling as she turned around.

The handmaiden's face wore a curious expression as she turned to gaze at Rula – or, as far as she was concerned, Princess Universe as she had always known her, standing there looking just the way she had on the day she had first met her.

Since Katarina seemed to be lost for words as she stared at her Rula decided to be the first to break the silence.

"Hey there girl!" she grinned and took a step forward, opening her arms to hug the handmaiden. "Bet you weren't expecting to see me!"

Katarina did not reply but as Rula came towards her she flinched and backed away just a step, away from her outstretched arms.

Rula frowned and stopped in her tracks. "Hey what's the matter, kitten?" she asked as she lowered her arms to her sides. "Aren't you my friend anymore?"

Katarina finally spoke and her voice surprised the huntress - it sounded strangely quiet, almost hesitant.

"You're…back." She said, her tone still respectful - almost TOO respectful - and oddly neutral. "You have come back, your Highness."

Her expression was neither happy nor resigned - if anything it seemed disinterested.

Rula felt puzzled and more than a little hurt as she stared at the handmaiden and wondered what the reason for her apparent indifference towards her could be.

"Kat - you are glad to see me, right?" she asked earnestly.

Katarina stared at her for a moment longer and then seemed to huff slightly.

"Does it really matter what I think, my Lady?" she asked stiffly. "I suppose that you would like me to help you into your dress now?"

Rula's expression grew dark as the other girl turned and went over to the wardrobe.

"Is this about what I used to be before I came here?" she asked in a voice that was taut with the quietness of slowly brewing anger.

This wasn't like Katarina at all - the lively and warm handmaiden who she'd known was acting like a stranger, or more accurately, treating her like one.

Katarina froze as those words stopped her in her tracks.

Rula breathed heavily - she could feel herself staring to tremble but not with anger, with upset. "That's it isn't it?" she whispered fiercely. "That's what's wrong between us! Because I was…"

The girl broke off - she felt too angry and upset to go on so instead she waited for Katarina to say something.

An explanation for the way she was acting…a denial…an apology…anything.

Feeling the thickness of the atmosphere Katarina turned to look at her again.

"It really isn't my place to say…" she began hesitantly.

"Don't give me that!" Rula spat. "Answer me!"

The fierceness in her voice took Katarina aback and her face softened although she remained wary.

"Is it true?" she asked gently. "Were you a…Star Raider?"

Rula glared at her in disbelief - it wasn't the question that pierced her heart like the edge of a knife but the way that Katarina had asked it.

"So that IS it!" she snarled bitterly. "Why you stuck-up…"

Katarina's eyes widened as she realised what Rula must think she had meant.

"Oh that isn't it!" she gasped and now she suddenly seemed to have returned to her earnest self. "I didn't mean…"

"Well what did you mean?" Rula demanded hotly as she tried to calm down. "That you only liked me because you thought I was a Princess? Is that it, Katarina?"

"No, no!" Katarina cried almost in tears. "That isn't it at all!"

"Then what?" Rula asked, slightly more gently as she saw how distraught the other girl was becoming.

Katarina lowered her eyes and tried to calm herself.

"Universe, you always treated me like a friend." She said quietly. "Whenever I talked to you I felt as comfortable as I do when I'm with another serving girl…sometimes I even forgot that you're a Princess! And I never forgot what you did for me when we first met. Anybody else would certainly have told her Majesty what I said about her daughter but you gave me another chance. I will always be grateful to you for that."

"So what's this all about?" Rula asked in exasperation. "Why are you being so skittish with me?"

"I thought that our friendship was special, Universe." The handmaiden blurted suddenly. "I was a servant and you liked me enough to talk to me like one of your friends."

"Kat!" Rula interrupted her in a very severe tone. "Don't you remember when we first met? You liked me before you knew I was a Princess! So why should things be any different between us now that you know I haven't always been one?"

Katarina thought about that for a moment.

"Well…I suppose things aren't different, really." She admitted as she blushed a little.

"You're damn right they aren't!" Rula smiled as she folded her arms. "You're not gonna let something like where I came from and how I used to live get in the way of our friendship are you, Kat?"

Katarina gasped.

"Oh no!" she exclaimed. "I think that you are the most wonderful girl I have ever met! I could never think badly of you, Princess!"

Rula gave a laugh as she went right up to the handmaiden and hugged her.

"That's good. Remember, kitten - where a person came from and anything that they might have done before doesn't matter. It's who they really are that counts - what they are behind what they're called. That's the special thing about a friendship like ours…whether or not I'm a real Princess doesn't come into it."

Katarina smiled proudly as she embraced the girl who had always been far more beautiful and grand than a Princess in her eyes.

"I am happy to see you again you know, your Highness." She assured Rula. "I am glad that you did not quite forget me…oh Princess Universe I was so afraid that I would never see you again!"

"Call me Universe." Rula told her firmly.

Katarina stepped away from the girl and smiled, feeling honoured.

"Well now, I suppose that I had better hurry up and put you in your dress." She exclaimed as she turned back to the wardrobe. "I'll have you looking like yourself in no time Pri…I mean Universe!"

"'Look'?" Rula snorted and then laughed. "Kitten, I'm always myself!"

The handmaiden frowned but to the end of her days she never did manage to understand that.

"So, what have you been doing while you were away Universe?" she asked eagerly. "I'm sure that you must have had an exciting time!"

The servant girl felt a surge of admiration for the Princess who had travelled to many places and seen so many things, had had so many adventures, while she had never left the Moon Kingdom since she had been very young.

Rula frowned as she thought about everything that she'd been through over the last few months and then her contorted grimace slowly twisted into an almost crazed grin.

"Gawd Kat, I just wanna forget about it!"

~*~*~

"How do you feel Mercury?" Venus asked with a grin. "You know, now that she's back?"

Mercury looked at the blonde girl and smiled thoughtfully.

"Happy, Venus." She said clearly. "Happier than I ever thought that I could ever feel…but I am."

The Princesses were all sitting in the courtyard as they waited for Rula to re-appear. It had been over an hour since she had been escorted to the Dressing Room to undergo her fantastic transformation all over again and in her absence Queen Serenity had gone to make arrangements for a spur of the moment party to celebrate her return home.

The Princesses had been surprised by the Queen's intention to present Universe to the Court all over again, especially now that the truth about her was well known, but Serenity had been adamant that the event should take place and that Universe would attend.

Serenity knew that if she let Universe keep out of sight then she would only grow more and more determined not to face anybody from the court and so she had decided that before the night was over the purple-haired girl would face her fears so that she would be able to move on with her life.

The Princesses all knew that she was making a wise decision but all of them felt worried about what might happen when Universe stepped under the gaze of all those people.

"Mercury…you really do care for her, don't you?" the Moon Princess remarked as she thought that she had never seen the usually shy and withdrawn girl so radiant before.

Mercury looked at her and spoke from her heart.

"Yes." She replied in such an honest and uncomplicated voice that the others all stared at her and realised just how much her friend's return meant to her.

The others exchanged what struck the Mercurian as deeply strange looks and she frowned at them in suspicion. "What?" she demanded in an unusually sharp voice. "What was that look?"

Each one of the others flinched guiltily as she caught them red-handed.

"Oh…n-nothing Mercury!" stammered Charon. "We were simply…"

"Don't you 'nothing' me!" Mercury interrupted hotly as she put her hands on her hips and gazed sternly at each of her friends. "What were all of you thinking just then?"

There was a short silence as they hesitated to reply and then Mars voiced the thought that had passed through each of their minds since they had first realised that Mercury and Universe had become good friends.

"The thing is Mercury - we were all sort of surprised that you and Universe got so close." The raven-haired Princess explained hesitantly. "None of us really expected you and her to become friends - not so quickly anyway."

"Because of her temper and manners?" Mercury exclaimed, ready to flare in defence of her friend.

"Of course not!" Charon replied calmingly as she and the others mused about just how like Universe the blue-haired Princess had become. "I love her just as much as you - all of us do but you are so different from her! I was surprised when I saw you both together the first time, that's all."

"Er…when you say that we all love her…" Jupiter cut in anxiously.

"Shush." the Moon Princess frowned reprovingly.

Mercury's indignation died away as she thought about it - she had asked herself the same question many times.

"I know - it is strange." She confessed. "But in spite of our differences I feel so close to Universe that while she was away I felt completely lost. It was as if I had lost a piece of my heart. Before then I had thought that she was just my friend but when I thought that I would never see her again I knew that she meant so much more to me." She looked at each of her friends and noticed that Jupiter in particular seemed to hanging on her every word. "Universe is important…she's a part of me. Whatever she feels, so do I. That was why I didn't speak to her that night - I couldn't bear to see her eyes, they were so hurt that I choked. I would rather die than see her unhappy and lonely, but who would she have if I weren't here?"

"Queen Serenity…and the rest of us?" Venus volunteered with a grin.

"And me!" Estrella piped up not wanting to be left out.

"I know, I know…but it's different - what we have." Mercury insisted. "I know that you would all look after her if I weren't here but I can sense that she would feel just as I did when she left…and I have never felt pain like I did then in all my life, my friends."

Jupiter had been gazing at her, a strange look on her face and now she got up and walked up to the Mercurian.

"Mercury…I think that we finally understand each other." She said quietly.

This was the nearest that the brown-haired Princess ever came to apologising to Mercury and Universe for the way she had tried to break apart their friendship, but it was enough for Mercury, who smiled gratefully - and just enough for Universe, who had only just arrived and heard what Jupiter had said - she stopped and a peculiar look crossed her face but then she shook it away.

With an exaggerated cough Princess Universe announced her presence and the others all turned to look at her - the vision of her standing there was overcoming and as one they breathed in shock.

The girl who now stood under their intent gazes was the mirror-opposite of the fierce and dirt-smeared huntress who had come back with them from Charon - indeed the contrast between them was sense shattering.

Rula was gone and this time she would not be coming back.

Princess Universe's hair cascaded all the way down to her waist, once more unstained and as purple as an amethyst. The dark blue gown fit her curving form perfectly and shimmered like the sea as she stood gazing at them - her gloves covered her hands and the length of her arms.

As the others stared at her they were shocked into speechlessness - even though they had known that it was coming and what to expect they could barely grasp just how different she now looked.

Universe grinned shyly.

"Damn it! I knew you wouldn't recognize me. I'm like six inches taller in these shoes!" she exclaimed in a teasing voice and when they didn't say anything she added anxiously, "Hey you guys, please don't think that I'm strange because of how I looked before you first met me. I'm the same old Universe you know, it's just that…"

"…That you're different." Venus put in.

Universe grinned and looked over at Mercury for approval but to her surprise her friend's face was grave.

"What's up Mercury?" she asked, trying to make her voice sound as casual as possible. "Aren't you glad to see me lookin' like my old-new self again?"

Mercury just smiled and the purple-haired girl felt weak at the knees.

"Don't be silly Universe. You should know that I'm always glad to see you, however you look!" she replied as she took Universe's hands into her own. "I'll always recognize you no matter what…as long as your eyes stay as gentle as they are now."

"Universe!" cried a voice from above and looking up the purple-haired girl saw Queen Serenity, her face beaming with pleasure and satisfaction, standing at the rail of a balcony looking down at her.

Serenity's face was adorned with a dazzling smile as she looked down at Universe, who now stood appropriately - and decently - dressed once more. "Could you come inside for a while? There is something that I want to talk with you about."

"Sure!" Universe called back and with a satisfied nod the Queen turned and disappeared from view.

"Guess I'd better go and chew the fat." The purple-haired girl told the others as she faced them all. "Catch ya'll later!" It was then that she remembered the promise that she had made the day before and a serious look crossed her face as she turned to gaze at Serenity's daughter. "Hey Moon Princess…" she began and suddenly grinned. "You know I've often wondered why you're just called 'The Moon Princess'! I mean, why don't you have a name like everyone else?"

The Moon Princess stared at her in astonishment.

"But of course I do!" she exclaimed taken aback. "My name is Serenity, just like my mother, or 'Serena' for short!"

Universe blinked and then went red as she processed this.

"Oh." she muttered embarrassedly. "Well…I never, really."

"If you don't ask then you'll never find out anything Universe." Princess Serena told her severely.

Universe went crimson - She's definitely Serenity's daughter…she thought as she cringed. "There's something I need to say." she said hastily and then launched into what she had been about to say. "I saw Darien while I was on the trail and…"

For some reason the name 'Darien' caused Princess Serena's stomach to flip over. "Darien?" she exclaimed as the others looked at each other.

"Yeah! Remember him? He's the Prince of…"

"Of course I remember!" Serena replied just a little tartly. "But you met him?"

"Yeah - while I was on Earth." Universe hesitated and then decided that there really wasn't any need for her to tell her about what had gone on while she'd been there - after all it would be all over the galaxy in a few days. "The thing is that he asked me to give you a message from him."

"Yes?" the Princess of the Moon Kingdom prompted, feeling a little surprised.

"Darien asked me to tell you that he's sorry for what his brother said about you on the night…well, you know…" Universe said with an awkward shrug

Serena stared at her in surprise.

"But why?" she exclaimed. "His brother said those things, not him! It wasn't his fault."

Universe laughed.

"I know, I know!" she replied. "That's what I said but he was still anxious for me to tell you that he's sorry about it. He obviously cares about what you think, Serena."

Serena's face was thoughtful as she mused about the strange young Prince of Earth.

"You know, before you met Mu and Darien you hadn't met any of the people of Earth because your Mother wanted to protect you from what happened to her." Universe remarked thoughtfully. "Mu's the kind of person she never wanted you to experience but his brother's the kind who proves that not all Earthlings are bad - actually no people in the universe are completely good. They're just a mix of good and bad…the Earth people are just like the people of your Kingdom, Serena."

Serena's face now wore a firm look.

"We are all just the same Universe." she replied gravely. "There is nothing different about us…nothing at all."

~*~*~

While she waited for Universe to arrive Serenity sat on her couch pondering deeply - her face was slightly thoughtful as she mused about the matter that she had not been quite able to get off her mind since a certain conversation that she had shared with Queen Chara the day before.

It had troubled her all morning and even now still weighed heavily on her mind - when she had strolled out onto her balcony to take her mind from it by looking at the horizon her eyes had happened to fall upon the very girl who had been on her mind for the past day.

It had been then that she had made her mind up and decided that it was high time that the matter was sorted out - she was fully determined to settle this once and for all.

There was a knock at her door - followed by four more in rapid succession and she smiled wryly.

This could only be one person.

"Come in, Universe." She said, her voice just loud enough for the purple-haired girl to hear her clearly as she rose to her feet.

There was a slight pause and then almost hesitantly the door-handle turned and the door opened to reveal Universe standing there with a very wary look about her. She'd been brought to the Queen's personal sitting room by Blackabar, who had met her in the hallway and told her that Serenity wished to have a little talk with her.

The description 'little talk' had set every one of her nerves on end and she had a vague suspicion that she was for it. But as she gazed nervously into the room Universe had to admit that it didn't look like that she was at all – hell, this place had velvet cushions, so she just couldn't imagine being given an earful in here.

But more than that Serenity was smiling as she faced her and that alone banished from her any fear that could have remained - this woman had done so much for her and she couldn't imagine her luring her here so that she could shout at her in private.

Almost like a reflex she returned the Lunarian Queen's smile - she couldn't understand why but she'd always felt good whenever Serenity was around. Even back when they had first met on that hectic day on Planet Min she had felt calm when she had looked into Serenity's eyes - that was something that she hadn't ever had a lot of chances to experience during her life as a Star Raider.

Maybe it was her wonderful fragrance that soothed her, or her gentle beauty that filled her with awe and made her yearn that she could be just like her…or could it be the fact that Serenity was the first woman who had ever looked at her and seen her as something more than just a wandering fight - a person?

"Thank you for coming, Universe." Serenity said pleasantly as the purple-haired girl simply stood staring at her in wonder. "But don't stand out there dear - come inside and sit down!"

Shyly - and even now she couldn't get used to the concept of doing stuff in this way - Universe walked into the room and curtsied for Serenity. This time her movement was absolutely perfect with none of the awkwardness that had encumbered her until today.

Serenity watched approvingly and then instinctively she found herself wanting to do something that had done quite often in her youth - a smile touched her face and she decided to do it.

It had been a long time but the motion came naturally to her since she had practiced it to perfection when she had been young.

Universe watched in surprise as Queen Serenity took the sides of her skirt between her fingers and thumbs and bent her knees ever so slightly - the entire movement flowed with sheer grace.

Universe was bewildered as she realised what Serenity was doing but then her face flooded with shock and she gasped.

"No!" she exclaimed as she rushed forward to stop the Lunarian. "YOU mustn't curtsy, Queen Serenity! Not for ME!"

Serenity raised her eyebrows in amusement as Universe grabbed both her wrists to stop her from completing the gesture.

"And why ever not? Aren't you significant enough to warrant such courtesy?" she asked teasingly.

Universe gawped in disbelief and shook her head firmly.

"Of course I'm not!" she spluttered. "You're the Queen of the Moon! You can't curtsy for someone like me!"

Serenity gave a rich laugh as she gently eased her wrists from Universe's fingers.

"Well I am surprised that you should feel that way - but I am afraid that I must insist on doing so, my humble Princess." She said in her very firmest and most regal tone though her eyes never lost their warmth. "It is the least that I can do to express my gratitude and respect towards the one whom both the Moon Queens of our galaxy owe so much to."

Realising what she was talking about Universe stood back and didn't interfere as Queen Serenity completed the curtsy but she sighed inwardly - it just didn't feel right to her at all.

Serenity smiled as she slid her arm about her shoulders and ushered her over to the couch - the Queen's face remained pleasant but now her eyes were serious as she set Universe down and then walked over to a comfortable armchair that faced opposite. "So…you really are you again." She observed warmly as she lowered herself into the chair and gazed across at Universe.

"Yeah." Universe smirked as she felt comfortable, yet bemused - she could feel in the air that something was going on here that she didn't get but she trusted Serenity so she decided that whatever it was it didn't matter. "Looks that way."

Serenity thought for a while and then she decided to get straight on to the matter that had been troubling her so badly.

"Universe, there is something that I have been worrying about since yesterday." she said firmly, her voice absolutely no-nonsense. "I called you here especially to talk about it."

Universe gulped.

"Uh-huh?" she responded warily.

Here it came.

"Chara and I talked about plenty of things while you slept last night." Serenity said a little more gently and then as she gazed at Universe intently to catch her reaction to what she was about to say she added, "She told me a lot about what you were doing while you were away…and something about a man named Dirk?"

The Queen's voice was extremely meaningful and before she could stop herself Universe caught her breath sharply - Serenity keenly observed the cautious look that leapt to her face the instant that Dirk's name was mentioned and realised that she would have to be quick.

"Universe…you look worried." She remarked mildly. "What is the matter? Do not worry about what Chara said. You should know that she would never say anything bad about you behind your back."

Universe nodded quickly.

"I know. I know that you love her like a sister." she sighed. "Actually I think that I kinda love Chara as well."

"Then what is the matter?" Serenity persisted.

Universe opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"I…" she stammered in turmoil.

Slowly Serenity leant over.

"Universe…do you trust me?" she breathed as she gently began to stroke the purple-haired girl's forehead.

Universe blinked - she felt wonderfully warm as Serenity caressed her.

"What?" she breathed, feeling both puzzled yet relaxed at the same time - it was an odd combination of emotions.

"Do you trust me?" Serenity repeated softly as she passed her fingers gradually back and forth over Universe's forehead.

Universe sighed contentedly.

"Yeah - I do." She whispered. "I really do."

With a sad smile Serenity prepared to do what she must. "Then please try not to feel so nervous Universe – I am not going to hurt you."

"Mmm?" Universe had been so lost in contentment that she hadn't quite caught that.

Serenity did not reply - now that she had gained Universe's permission she used her contact with the purple-haired girl to delve into her mind and her past, which she had spent so much time and effort trying to hide from her…

…"Why are you in such a bad mood?" Rula piped up as she watched her only companion with the intent curiosity of the young.

Dirk sat on a rock beside her as he impotently tried to remove the bloodstains from his knife - his face was indeed black and expressed the sheer magnitude of the foulness of his present mood.

"This place…this planet." He growled darkly as he carried on wiping away at the blade of the knife as if his life depended on it - which considering that the stains prevented the blade from sliding out of its scabbard very smoothly it might just do one day. "I hate it."

Rula, who was nine years old at the time and still innocent to some extent, looked around at the grassy glade - the group had chosen Venus as the planet they settled on that month and she had noticed that Dirk's temper seemed to have gone from bad to well nigh unbearable.

But as she looked around at the clear river that bubbled nearby and breathed the cool fresh air she really couldn't see any reason to hate Venus.

Dirk just growled and said nothing.

Still fascinated by the reason for his bad temper Rula looked at the series of scars that ran over Dirk's face, permanent and disfiguring - instinctively her hand left her side and then stopped in mid-air as she hesitated.

It had been three months since the day that Dirk had beaten her for stabbing him - surely he'd have forgotten all about it by now?

After all, who'd remember something that had happened such a while ago?

"Is this where you got those?" she pressed as she decided to risk it - as she reached out to touch his scarred face with her fingers she continued. "Was it a Venusian who…"

The girl's questions went no further. No matter how bad she had partly been fearing his reaction might be it was far worse than any expectation her young imagination would have ever been able to come up with - if there had been a roof then Dirk would surely have hit it at that moment, if there had been a handle then there'd have been no doubt he'd have flown right off it.

But there was suddenly a whole lot of red in the glade and he saw all it in a flash of sudden and intense rage.

Dirk wheeled on her and grabbed hold of one of her fingers.

"Don't you ever dare to bring your filthy hand anywhere near my face again or I'll snap it clean off and make you eat it!" he snarled as he bent her finger viciously back and then shoved her roughly away from him.

With a distressed yelp Rula fell to the ground clutching her finger with her other hand - she was too shocked by what he'd just done to cry out but at the same time she didn't feel surprised at all by what he'd just done to her.

The girl's eyes were wide and she did not dare to try to move her finger in case she discovered that she could not.

Dirk sniggered spitefully as he got up and walked over to where she knelt.

"Then again…you're in just about the best position to put your hand…" he began slowly and thoughtfully as he reached out towards her.

At that moment one of the others called out Rula and Dirk's names and the scarred hunter swore - it was time to leave. "Lucky break for you, girly." he snarled as he swung away and walked off leaving the girl behind, still stiffened and shocked by what had happened. "If you're not careful you'll end up with just as many scars as me one day."…

Serenity was breathing very gently and her face was a completely blank picture of shock as she broke off from her telepathic probing of Universe's memories.

Throughout the next few minutes she kept numbly stroking Universe's forehead - her eyes were closed and her mind was filled with horror as she tried to grasp and accept what she had just experienced while reading Universe's mind.

When she eventually broke the deep silence Queen Serenity's voice was trembling with emotion.

"Oh dear." she whispered softly, as she slowly took her hand away.

Universe frowned - her voice seemed to quiet and full of anguish.

"Huh?" she muttered and opened her eyes to gaze at her in puzzlement.

Serenity's eyes were closed but the purple-haired girl could see the tears trickling from beneath her eyelids as she bit her trembling lip.

Universe was confused as she gazed at her, not really knowing what was going on nor what she should do. "What's wrong?" she exclaimed.

Serenity calmly opened her eyes and as she gazed at her with pure honesty in them Universe understood what had just happened.

~*~*~

At first Universe had been furious when she had realised what Serenity had done - as she had paced up and down the sitting room she had shouted at the top of her voice, demanding to know who Serenity thought she was, intruding in her mind like that, yelling that she'd had no right to do what she'd done.

However Serenity had simply sat and listened and Universe had raised her voice even higher as she had continued to yell frantically, trying to get her to react to her anger in a little way at least.

Queen Serenity had remained calmly silent however as she had gazed compassionately at the angry and hurt girl and simply allowed her to release her fury - after all she could not blame her. Universe had trusted her and she had used that special trust to look into the privacy of her mind.

After a while Universe's voice had stammered brokenly and then died away into silence as she had finally tired herself out - then she had looked over at Serenity and at the sight of her sad and understanding eyes her lip had begun to tremble and she had finally crumbled inside.

Somehow she had come to sit on the couch with Serenity's arms around her as she'd wept in anger and bitterness but no longer at what the Queen had done.

Dirk's prophecy had been fulfilled…here she was today, with far more scars than she would ever have imagined or feared that she would ever bear in her life. However it was not so much her body but essentially her soul that had suffered so many wounds that it would never truly heal…

"I had to do it, Universe." Serenity murmured as she held the purple-haired girl in her arms. "I had to know."

Universe was too hurt and exhausted to say a thing.

Queen Serenity felt so protective of her now - now she knew just how much pain that this girl had carried around all her life and just how much it had damaged her as she had grown up.

"I…I didn't want anyone to know." Universe sniffled. "It was mine…mine to deal with…no-one could know." She uncovered her eyes and looked up suddenly with angry tears streaming down her cheeks. "Ya know…sometimes when I was really weak I'd wish that I could have been a boy." She whispered with savage bitterness in her voice. "That way he'd never have even noticed me!"

"You are not weak Universe - not many people could have lived through such an ordeal as you did." Serenity told her comfortingly. "But you must not keep secrets from me. I am here for you Universe…we all are. You have friends who care about you."

"I know." Universe muttered as she pushed herself away from the Lunarian and they sat looking at each other. "But it doesn't change how I feel."

"Tell me." Serenity told her simply.

Universe sighed heavily and then for the first time in her life she told someone about her feelings about Dirk.

"Dirk was the one person I hated with all my heart in all my life. But the thing is that I knew him since I was very small…there aren't a lot of people that I can say that about." She said sombrely. "In fact I can count the number of people who really know me with one hand…and most of them are dead now."

"But there is something that you have still not told me…" Serenity whispered as she watched Universe closely. "…Isn't there?"

"I…" Universe stammered, unable to lie as her eyes filled with a sickening new fear. "…I CAN'T tell you."

"But why not?"

"Because I'm SCARED…scared that if you knew the full truth about how I feel then you wouldn't want me in your home, your Kingdom." she gave a heavy swallow. "…Or anywhere near you or the others."

Serenity's eyes were thoughtful and speculative as she gazed at her - they did not betray anything that she might have suspected. Her hand slid down the girl's arm and came to rest on the top of her hand.

Universe shivered - the back of her hand had come into sharp contact the so many faces before and it felt strange but at Serenity's gentle touch she couldn't imagine having ever used her hard and tense knuckles to hit anybody. This comforting contact made it much easier for her to speak…at least her throat no longer clenched whenever she thought about daring to tell anyone here about how she TRULY felt.

"I know that even in the face of what he was gonna do to the Lyanore I should feel bad that Dirk died…I know that that's the way I should feel, even if it was only a little bit." Universe confessed, "…but I can't feel that way. Queen Serenity, I'm GLAD that he's dead and I hope he suffered as his life bled out of him. So what d'ya think? That must make me a REAL monster, mustn't it?"

As the purple-haired girl stared expectantly at her Serenity merely gazed back for a moment - and then she simply gave a heartbroken smile, a smile of compassion and forgiveness.

"Not at all my dear…indeed I would say that your feelings prove that you are perfectly HUMAN." She replied, regretfully yet with acceptance. "And however bad you must feel at present be assured…there is no shame in your feelings."

Serenity's eyes were gentle and caring but there was a glint of iron present in their depths as she thought about things that were no longer within her power to do.

Dirk would now never realise it but when he had died he had actually been set free - if he had come beneath her judgement then for generations to come men would have shuddered at the memory of the fate which she would have condemned him to as punishment for his treatment of Rula.

Now the evil hunter was gone and she would never be able to punish him for his crime - the best that she could do was try to repair the damage that he had done to the person he had wronged.

"I know you Universe - and I am going to help you get through this." Serenity told her, her voice firm and regal once more. "You'd best grow to like the idea of having me in your life for a while longer."

Universe looked up at her and the smile that came on her face was teary but dazzling. "Queen Serenity…you're the best." She declared. "I'm so glad to know you – you're the most amazing person I've ever met."

Serenity rose to her feet and the purple-haired girl got up unbidden along with her.

"I too am glad to have met you - you have grown up so much since the day we first met." She told Universe, her silver voice ringing like a bell. "The strength and courage that you carry inside are beyond your young years and I am so proud of you."

"Nah…I haven't changed at all. I'm scared…of noises in the dark…of the looks in people's eyes as they walk up to me…but most of all of being alone." Universe admitted with a sigh.

"You worry far too much about what other people think Universe." Serenity told her severely. "Think for a moment – do you remember the Legend of the Outer Moon Princess?"

Universe nodded, thinking about Venus's recital at the Queenship Celebrations.

"Well – did your friend Princess Charon seem any different to you after you'd heard it? Had anything changed between the two of you? Was your impression of her in any way altered?"

Universe shrugged - she realised that she'd been so wrapped up in herself, in her own reluctance to sing at the celebration, that she hadn't really THOUGHT about the story she'd heard, "Not really."

" Well then! You should realise that however others see you and despite anything they might say or believe about you makes no difference at all to who you are." Queen Serenity laughed and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. "For instance, do you know what the people of Earth call ME?"

Universe shook her head. "No." she replied interestedly. "What?"

With a laugh the Lunarian woman told her: "Selene the Goddess of the Moon." She said dramatically.

Universe gave a gasp. "A…goddess?!!" she exclaimed loudly in astonishment.

Serenity practically doubled over as she took in the look on Universe's face.

"Yes, really! It is true!" she exclaimed and then seriously she added, "So, Universe, are you going to allow the Earthlings' perception of me change anything between us? Look at me - do you see me any differently now that you didn't a moment ago?"

Universe gasped and her eyes widened in horror - she realised that this was just what she had asked Katarina earlier. "No way!" she exclaimed.

Serenity smiled - she was deeply touched by the sincerity in Universe's eyes and she felt greatly encouraged that things would go well that evening.

"That's good. What would I do without my warrior?" she laughed affectionately.

A thoughtful look crossed her face as she looked at Universe - something had just occurred to her. Where the realisation had come from she had no idea but as she thought about Universe's upbringing she couldn't believe that she had taken this long to think about it.

Reaching over to a table she picked up a book that she had left there a few days ago and held it out to the purple-haired girl. "Universe - take this book and read to me." She instructed.

Universe froze at the mere sight of the thick book in Serenity's hand, but since the Queen's expectant eyes were on her she accepted it. Serenity watched as she carelessly flicked through the book as if she was trying to find a good page to start on - but she wasn't fooled.

There was a knowing smile on her lips as Universe turned page after page and after a long and gradual while she voiced the realisation that had dawned on her. "Universe?" she murmured as her eyes gleamed in understanding. "You don't know how to read…do you?"

Universe's face turned crimson.

"I'm…I'm sorry." She stammered as she dropped the book, feeling ashamed though she'd never really worried about it before. "I…"

"Oh it's alright Universe!" Serenity told her in an assuring voice. "You have done nothing wrong."

The Queen's face was whimsical - she had never encountered a girl who could not read before but now that she came to deal with the problem she found that she was quite eager to deal with it.

"It's not a thing that you need to be ashamed of but you really must learn to read." Serenity told her firmly.

Universe scowled blackly.

"Do I have to?" she exclaimed.

"Of course! Reading is an essential skill in everyday life Universe!" she exclaimed. "Not only for a Princess but for anybody! You have to learn to read Universe, alright?"

Universe stood still - Serenity was looking strictly at her and it was obvious that she had put her foot down and wasn't going to budge it an inch.

"Okay, okay." She heaved a sigh and shrugged her shoulder. "Whatever."

Serenity gave a smile of satisfaction.

"Good."

"Queen Serenity," Universe looked at her and her eyes were now plain and earnest - she'd come to realise what was now in her thoughts very recently and suddenly she just had to voice it. "When you asked the others to teach me to be a Princess…you really wanted them to teach me how to be a girl, didn't you?"

Serenity nodded her head, smiling sadly.

"I wanted you to fit in Universe." She said, explaining herself. "I knew that you were having a bad time when you first came here and I thought that by teaching you better manners the others would begin to understand you better. Now I know that that was not the way to do things. People should make friends with people because they see past their faults, not because they make the effort to hide them."

Universe scowled again.

"So you're sayin' that you like me even though I'm rough 'round the edges and almost never do what you say?" she asked sarcastically.

"No Universe. Far from it." Serenity replied firmly. "Those are the things that make you who they are. Certainly they may make me angry with you from time to time but they are a part of you Universe, so I can live with them so that I can live with you as well." then she laughed, "Just as I said you are sometimes a source of frustration and disappointment for me but that is worth bearing because I like having you here."

Universe frowned for a moment and felt unsure about how to feel about that - then she shrugged and let it be.

"Whatever." She replied. "Ya know it's weird. I've had this totally bizarre and life-changing year but now that everything's finished and I take a good look at myself I find that I'm still basically the same as I was before I met any of you. What's that all about?"

"Who you are, Universe." Serenity explained and no matter how many times the girl asked she would not tell her what she meant.

Universe felt unbelievably frustrated as she gave up - if this was what 'the joy of discovery' was then she wished that she could find the person who'd first defined it and boil them in oil.

Something else resurfaced in Universe's memory - after all the intense events that had taken place over the last few hours her memory of this particular one had become lost amid the blurring tangle but now as she sat here, in the peaceful Kingdom of the Lunar Moon it stood within her mind as clear as the starlight that twinkled beyond the doorway that led out onto the balcony.

An uneasy look crept onto her face and she hesitated, tempted to just let the whole thing go but knowing that she owed it to the Queen to let her know about what ELSE had happened to her on Charon.

"Queen Serenity…" she began almost timidly.

"Yes?"

"You said…you told me once that there are many kinds of danger in this world." Universe paused and then laughed shakily. "You weren't wrong."

Serenity gazed at her, a blank expression on her face as she wondered what the purple-haired girl was driving at.

"Why do you say that?" she asked quietly, yet in a tone that made it clear without a shadow of a doubt to Universe that she desired an answer - a startling frown was now prominent on Serenity's face as she felt certain that she saw SOMETHING uneasy and worried in Universe's eyes.

"I kinda met…HER," Universe explained, as if she were talking about the superior tastiness of red meat in comparison to the white, prepared stuff that spent a while in the pantry before it found its way to her mouth. "You know, Queen Beryl. While I was away."

The effect that this announcement had on Serenity wasn't QUITE what Universe had vaguely expected - she'd imagined that the Queen of the Moon would be really rather impressed to hear that she had seen and spoken to her greatest nemesis and come out of the encounter unscathed and untainted by her seductive magic.

But instead the lilac eyes of Queen Serenity filled with alarm.

"You WHAT?" she exclaimed, her silken face seeming to become paler than usual as she walked right up to Universe and put her hands on her shoulders. "Universe…are you saying that you met HER? What did she do to you? Tell me at once!"

Universe gawped, momentarily shocked by the change in Serenity's manner – the Lunarian woman's eyes were deeply worried and almost fierce as she strove for answers. The Queen of the Moon was clearly horrified that she had been anywhere near Beryl even though strictly speaking she had not ACTUALLY been in the Dark Queen's presence…but as she thought about that Universe realised that, that was exactly the problem.

Queen Serenity DIDN'T know that she'd been okay…she DIDN'T know that she hadn't been harmed by Beryl. And that was what filled her with fear…for HER.

"Hey…it's okay! Honest!" Universe replied in a less boastful and much more subdued and abashed voice. "I wasn't anywhere near her - she used a pool to show me a projection of herself from her Throne-Room while I was alone on Charon."

"AND?" Serenity demanded as she gazed into the depths of Universe's eyes as though trying to see something there.

"She…she tried to make me join her side." Universe said quietly and then in a burst of honesty she told the ENTIRE truth. It was the very least that she could do for this woman who had so feared for and shed so many tears over her while she'd been away. "No…she wanted me to be the General of her army of demonic freaks…and to lead them against you."

Serenity's eyes showed no trace of surprise, remaining intent as she gazed into Universe's eyes - the mirrors of her soul, the very thing that she was intensely worried about.

"What did you say in answer to her proposal, Universe?" she asked gently, a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth as she realised that the Princess's soul was clear and untouched by the evil of the Dark Kingdom.

"I told her that I'd never work for her. I told her that my heart would always be right here in the Moon Kingdom." Universe hesitated and then finished. "…With you all."

Serenity's expression was extraordinary as she gazed at Universe and allowed the words to wash over her - and then her face trembled with sheer emotion and disdaining the girl's shoulders she suddenly wrapped her arms tightly around Universe.

"Oh Universe, I might have lost you!" she whispered as she hugged the startled girl closely, feeling overjoyed that her eyes were as clear and beautiful as ever, that the ugly coldness of those enslaved by the Queen of Darkness was nowhere to be seen in those warm pools of light. "Oh thank heavens that you are safe. If she had harmed you I don't know what I would have done."

"She can't." Universe assured her, feeling a little embarrassed by the tight hug but at the same time warmer than she'd felt in months. "I'd rather die than betray you. You mean so much to me…all of you."

The sheer honesty of this sentiment that came from a girl who was usually so guarded about her true emotions surprised Serenity - gently easing herself away from the Princess she stood back and gazed into her eyes, and, even though her own were red-rimmed, they shone greater than her own tears.

"Oh, Universe. I know how you feel whenever you're with me. There is no need for you to tell me…but know that you are special, not as a Princess but as a friend TO your friends." She smiled dazzlingly. "And to ME."

Universe smirked and then she really couldn't help it and smiled happily, openly…honestly.

"Well - I think that we are quite done now." Serenity remarked as she looked at her. "You may go back to the others now Universe, but if you like then you may stay here until your eyes dry."

Universe smirked - that was just the sort of thing that the Queen would think of.

"Queen Serenity…you're the best." she said warmly, and meant it.

Serenity smiled and then suddenly widened her eyes a touch - she had remembered something else.

"Oh that's right…I forgot." She exclaimed. "Universe, there is somebody who would like to see you."

Universe stared at her and then she groaned in exasperation.

"Not Char!" she exclaimed and rolled her eyes at the ceiling. "Don't tell me he's here."

Serenity laughed.

"Not him, Universe." She assured the girl as she turned and walked over to the door. "I mean someone else who has really wanted to see you ever since your return…and she should be here right about now."

Universe raised her eyebrows as the Queen opened the door and looked down at the floor of the corridor outside.

"You can come in now." She pleasantly told whomever it was who had clearly been waiting respectfully to be summoned all this time and then looked back at Universe. "I shall leave the two of you alone together. Goodbye for now Universe - I'll see you at the celebrations tonight."

Universe gave an almost convulsive start.

"Celebrations?" she cried in shock as Serenity walked through the doorway. "What cele…huh?!!" she caught sight of who had just walked nervously into the room. "YOU!!!"

Luna's face was extremely sheepish as she stood and gazed up at Universe, whom she had not seen for many months - the cat seemed to want to say something to her but could not quite find the words that she wanted.

Universe stared blankly down at her. "Well, what?" she demanded as her face quickly flooded with resentment. "What do you want?"

Luna flinched at the tone of her voice.

"So, you've come back then." The black cat said, a little uncertainly.

"Looks that way, doesn't it?" Universe snapped and Luna had to admit that the question had been rather superfluous.

"Listen to me Universe - I want to apologise to you for what happened between us the week you first came." Luna said hurriedly. "The thing is that when I saw you in the Crystal Chamber I jumped…"

"…At the chance to call me a thief and a liar?" Universe put in helpfully.

Luna sighed - she had known that this would be difficult.

"Listen, Universe - I am sorry. You must admit that you didn't exactly help yourself a lot."

"And you really gave me a chance to explain didn't you?" Universe retorted sarcastically.

"Universe, I acted as I did because I thought that you were going to steal something belonging to the Queen." Luna's voice was suddenly so serious that Universe actually stopped to listen. "I know now that you weren't trying to do anything of the kind but I am loyal to her Majesty - that was why I jumped on you."

Universe had been about to sneer but now she stared at the black cat.

"Huh?"

"I was quick to accuse you without knowing the exact facts because I did not want something that belongs to her to be stolen." Luna explained anxiously. "I would do anything for Queen Serenity…even give up my life. Now do you understand?"

The purple-haired girl simply stared intently at her as she thought about what the cat had just told her so earnestly. There was a strange unreadable look on her face and the silence hanging over them both was heavy and expectant.

And then slowly Universe began to smile - she understood only too well how Luna felt.

~*~*~

Later that evening.



Universe gulped as she stood with her hands clasped together behind her back - she was shivering from head to toe as she stood in the corridor just outside the Ballroom. Mmm…didn't I already déjà this vu? She thought as she eyed the tall white double-doors with a look on her face remarkably similar to that of a hunted animal.

It was true - this was the third time that she'd stood here not wanting to take a single step further…and the third time that she had no choice but to do just that.

The first time that she'd been here had been the evening that Serenity had first presented her to the people of the Court and she had truly become a Princess. The second had been the evening that she had been obliged to meet and greet Emperor Mu.

On the first occasion she had been extremely unwilling to go on because she had doubted that she'd been doing what was the right thing for herself and the second she had refused out of pure stubbornness, but now she felt afraid.

They say that the third time's always the luckiest…but for me it's the hardest of all. Universe thought with a bleak and yet wry smile. I can't do this…I just can't!

"Are you nervous, Universe?" the Moon Princess asked, sounding very concerned - she was watching the purple-haired girl closely and she could not help but feel worried.

Universe looked over at Serena - she still couldn't get used to calling or thinking of her by that name. The other Princesses had met her and walked with her to the Ballroom. The gesture had mostly been to show her that she wasn't alone and that they would be there with her every step of the way but also so that they could make sure that she actually made her way there.

The others were gazing at her - Mercury's face looked worried but her eyes were most assuring.

"Is that the newest fashion? Seems like everyone's asking pointless questions this year!" Universe retorted.

"It will be alright." Serena went on kindly as Universe fell into stoic silence. "Trust me - they will see through all of the rumours and see you as you really are. Do not worry about it so badly."

"Uh-huh…I think that you underestimate the seductiveness of human nature, Serena." Universe said with a nervous laugh.

"Pardon?" Serena looked confused.

"I think that she means that some people will jump at the chance to believe nasty things about others when they are given a chance." Mercury offered quietly. "Is that right Universe?"

"Couldn't have put it better myself." Universe responded wryly.

"Why?" Estrella piped up - she was confused as to why people could think like this about people who she loved.

"Just the way things are in the world Estie. If something's shouted loud enough then some people are prepared to believe it without even thinking about whether it's true or not." Universe replied softly. "But don't worry about it, cuz the people you're with aren't anything like that - they're far from it."

Mercury smiled - Universe tried so hard to hide her true sweetness but whenever she spoke to Estrella she didn't seem to try to hide anything.

"It's time Universe - you know that you'll have to face them eventually." Charon said crisply. "Choose quickly - are you going to go in there of your own accord or are we going to have to escort you the rest of the way? Either way you're going to face this tonight. We won't let you run away again."

Universe smiled even though she flinched at the back-handed comment - she remembered that Princess Pluto had said something very like that to her when they'd clashed half a year ago.

"That is correct Universe." Mercury told her simply. "I won't let you be afraid any longer. Are you coming?"

Universe rolled her eyes and thought the whole thing over in her mind and then did the only thing that she could.

"Okay - I'll go." She replied confidently with a decisive nod of her head.

The others stared at her in astonishment - they had not expected this and did not believe it for a second.

"REALLY?" Mars replied, her voice dripping with scepticism.

Universe snorted and shook her head.

"Nahhhh." She chuckled. "This is how I actually feel right now you guys - OMIGOD I can't do it!!! I can't, I can't, for god's sake don't make me go in there!" she paused and then while the others stood dazed she sighed and shook her head. "But on reflection my first reaction to your ultimatum sounded way cooler so I'm sticking with that one. So - are we going?"

Without waiting for a reply and before she could decide that she preferred her second reaction the brown-eyed girl flung the white double-doors open and faced her fear.

~*~*~

Well into the evening.

"And you find that kind of rootless existence appealing do you, your Highness?" asked the Duchess Ashral - there was a snide smirk on her face as she disguised what Universe would have described as her bitchy remark as an innocent little question of hers.

Universe managed to keep from going for the throat of the woman who had begun this unprovoked conversation with her and contented herself with grinding her teeth behind her lips as she smiled coolly at her.

"Oh absolutely - you wouldn't believe what I save on cost of upkeep and mortgages alone." She replied with a perfectly straight face.

The duchess looked ruffled that she had taken the bait but still she persevered, still hoping to get a rise out of her.

"You know, my dear, I must say that you don't strike me as being quite as rough around the edges as I had thought." She remarked, making sure to laugh mildly so that once again her comment sounded like a playful dig rather than the spiteful comment that it actually was.

"Hey the real me is no match for the legend I'm afraid." Universe replied, her voice dripping with sympathy as she gazed right into the eyes of the dark-haired woman who had got her into trouble so many months ago. "But of course YOU know that, don't you? If you want to talk to a living legend then go and speak with Princess Charon - with her they got it right. But I'm sorry that I haven't turned out to exciting enough for you - from what you told me you came a really long way to be here tonight so no hard feelings, huh?"

Just a flicker of irritation ran across the woman's face - she managed to hide it well but Universe's keen and experienced eye managed to catch it just before the Duchess blinked and she held back her own more satisfied smirk.

The Princess could tell that the woman had been expecting her to erupt with rage in the face of the provocative digs that she had hurled at her and that now instead she herself was angry that it wasn't going to happen. The really strange thing was that Universe actually found frustrating the woman who had caused so much trouble for her a lot more satisfying that crushing her ribs underfoot. Withholding what the duchess had been expecting so gleefully filled her with a smug satisfaction of her own which she was surprised to find wasn't a lot different from the way she'd felt while beating the living daylights out of Dirk the day before.

"Well." the Duchess said, with just a faint hint of huffiness smoking in her voice as she decided to end the conversation but still felt unwilling to do so without what she wanted. "Doesn't time go by so quickly when you're in such charming company?"

"I really wouldn't know, your Grace."

"Mmmm…you don't say?" purred the duchess, her voice dripping with poisonous honey as she stepped back to depart. "Well a fine evening to you, Princess Universe. I did so enjoy hearing about your former life on the trail. My friends will be so interested!"

Without waiting for a reply she turned away and with brisk indignation she glided away to the far end of the Ball-Room, fuming as she rejoined her circle of friends who had been intently watching her conversation with Universe from afar and were desperate to hear about every word that she had breathed.

Abandoned and alone again Universe just smirked. Anyway she bet that none of them could have taken on Emperor Mu's Marauders, single-handedly fought Dirk to the finish or have spent a year leading a group of men without being opposed.

Why settle for being like all of the rest when you could be the best?

"Loser." Universe muttered as she turned away and swept the hall with a gaze, running her gloved fingers through her hair as she carelessly flicked her eyes here and there in search of somebody interesting.

Astonishingly enough coming back hadn't turned out to be the nightmarish ordeal she'd been expecting. In fact the worst event of the entire evening had been the very moment that she had first walked into the Ballroom and been seen for the first time since the night she had confronted Mu and come off worse for the encounter.

As word had quickly spread throughout the entire room all eyes had turned in her direction and stared at her. The long straining silence that had reigned as she had gazed back at them without speaking had been awful - and had lasted for one single minute.

Realising that they had been staring everybody had averted their eyes in embarrassment - and Universe had felt her heart climbing back from her shoes. And as the evening had got underway she had found that now that general perception of her had changed she was actually able to move more freely than ever before.

The best thing was that she was no longer surrounded by men seeking her hand for the Dance-Floor and that meant that she could spend more of the evening with her friends. It still bothered her that a lot of the people felt nervous of her, some curious and a number who were scornful and quick to look down on her now that the truth was known about her but she was heartened to find that there were some who still treated her just as they'd always done.

Indeed many young women seemed in awe of her since not many of them had been very far away from home other than attending social events like this - to them she was somebody extraordinary and during the evening they had cast many shy glances over to her and would have quite liked to have spoken to her, only they were still nervous.

Universe smirked. Give 'em time girl. She told herself, content to wait.

It was weird. Mu had actually done her a favour by revealing her secret. Now she could see that these events would no longer be the long, crawling ordeals that they had once been. Indeed they looked like becoming enjoyable once the people got used to having her back again.

"Well done, Universe." Whispered a sweet voice she knew so well that when she had been at the other end of the cosmos she had still heard it in her heart - an arm linked gently with her own just to let Universe know that its owner was with her.

Not that Universe needed to hear or feel her to know that she was there with her - they were bound together by heart and the understanding that they shared went beyond anything that they could do or say to each other.

Universe turned and looked at her friend with a glad smile - profound bonds were always wonderful but she also found it indescribably nice to look at her lovely face and dive into her eyes.

It was the salt on the meat.

Mercury's eyes were radiant as she looked up at the purple-haired girl - the stress and strain of the past few months of anguish was gone like shadows banished by the arrival of light.

Mercury's heart was happy once more and her smile took Universe's breath away as her crystal blue eyes shone now that she was this close to her friend again after so many days of believing that she would never see, never speak to or touch her again.

And yet the Mercurian still could not feel wholly at peace because as she looked into Universe's brown eyes she could see that her friend was still worried about something. "What?" she asked in concern. "What is it?"

Universe gazed at her, spellbound by the pure beauty of her eyes and realised that it had been her love for this girl that had kept her alive when she'd all but given up on life, driven her on when she could have given up and died. Even when things were dark and bleak she could still look to her future with hope in her heavy heart because of what she had grown to feel for Mercury - this girl was her reason for carrying on.

There was nothing complicated or difficult to understand about how she felt - Universe loved Princess Mercury with all her heart and soul and she vowed never to allow anybody to take that away from her and destroy the joy that she felt whenever she was by her side.

"Hey…Mercury." Universe said, as she was filled with a sudden burst of frankness - there was still one last thing she wanted to get off her chest that she hadn't thought of when talking to Serenity earlier, compared to the things that she had discussed with the Queen this one seemed silly but for some reason she knew that she'd go crazy unless she confessed it to somebody. "Can I tell you something? I bet you'll laugh…but…"

"Universe, why don't you tell me whatever it is that is on your mind so that I'll know whether to think you are being silly or not?" Mercury's voice stopped her rambling with its calm and assuring tone, though the girl herself was astonished by the nervousness on Universe's face. "Well?"

Universe stared at her for a moment - if they'd been talking anywhere but here then she'd have had to force her voice up through her throat to prevent it from choking her to death but now here under the warm light of the chandeliers and in this peaceful moment of relief and contentedness she found that she could just say it…so she did.

"Last night - in the palace of Charon." She paused just for a moment to remember how soothing it had been to feel Mercury's heart beating against her since her friend had insisted on sleeping in her bed as though afraid that she might run away again if she were out of her sight for even a minute and then went on. "That was…well call me stupid for mentioning this but that was the first time that I've EVER slept in a bed my whole life."

To her surprise Mercury gazed at her in astonishment.

"Whatever do you mean?" she exclaimed. "You must have slept in a…"

"Nah." Universe said simply as she shook her head and marvelled at how good she felt now that she'd managed to get this off her chest. "Mercury, listen. Most of my life I've lived on the trail. I never knew where I'd end up next - some nights I'd sleep on the ground of an open field, sometimes in a bush or up a tree, maybe a ditch if it was dry enough. But last night was the first time I slept in a real bed."

"But…but while you were here…?" Mercury stammered, still staring in ever deepening astonishment at her friend who she was finding more and more layers of as she grew closer to her.

"In the garden, up the big tree." Universe explained. "Before the night I…" she paused again and it was on the tip of her tongue to say 'left' but she now felt better saying it as it had really been, "…ran away, I'd never even seen my room here Mercury. In fact if the Star Raiders and I ever slept at an inn I'd curl up on the floor rather in a bed."

"But…why?" Mercury asked her in bewilderment.

"I…dunno. Guess that it was something to do with needing to prove to myself that I was strong enough to be among them. I know it sounds stupid and really pathetic but I needed to feel like I was tough in every way." Universe smiled, as she finally understood a part of herself. "I guess…even while I slept I wanted to feel stronger than anyone else by living with the ache in my bones. Stupid, don'cha think?"

But Mercury was looking at her as though she'd never thought anything to be less stupid, pathetic, silly or laughable.

"Oh UNIVERSE," she said with sympathy in her voice. "Have you EVER been happy and carefree?"

Immediately Universe thought of the plains of Ayadi. It was a happy if not painful memory and as soon as she felt she'd basked in what she'd lost there she returned to the present where she had exactly that which she'd recovered when she'd returned to the Moon of Pluto. "Yeah." She said, and knew that she meant it.

"You must sleep in your room from now on." Mercury said firmly as she interlaced her fingers with Universe's and looked into her eyes. "All right, Universe?"

Universe laughed - it no longer mattered anymore and it felt good to please Mercury so easily, without having to do anything great to prove herself to her and gain her pride. "Sure." She grinned and then frowned as she remembered the darkness that she had seen around her friend's eyes during their time on Charon and her strange behaviour around a certain person among their group. "Mercury…you don't have to hate Jupiter for my sake y'know." she said seriously and the blue-haired girl gave a startled flinch. "I'm right, aren't I? You fought with her about me while I was away."

Mercury lowered her eyes and felt a pang of guilt as she remembered how she had spoken to the brown-haired Princess the day before - today her conscience had begun to prick her and she had regretted the angry words that she had flung at her friend.

"I…" she said quietly, with no idea what she would say.

"Go on." Universe urged her as she put her hands on her shoulders. "Talk to her - I know that you're longing to. It doesn't matter how things are between Jupiter and me Mercury - I don't want you to fall out with her over me. And you know that I can't be happy if you're feeling sad and torn in half."

Mercury looked up at her in surprise - at first she was sure that her friend was only saying this to make her feel better but as she looked at her sincere face she realised that Universe had meant every single word.

"It's alright?" she asked anxiously.

"Sure." Universe smiled and urged her away. "Go ahead - I'll keep!"

"Why don't you come too?" Mercury asked. "We can sort it out - the three of us! We can make it alright once and for all."

"Nah." Universe shook her head. "That can wait Mercury - this is more serious than the problem that Jupiter and I have with each other. That can wait but this can't - you two are friends and I shouldn't get in the way of that. Now go on! Talk to her!"

Mercury stood and gazed at her for a moment and then she nodded her head and smiled. "Thank you Universe." She said gratefully. "You are a true friend!"

Universe watched as she walked away to apologise to Jupiter and heal the rift in their friendship - there was a wry smile on her face. Now that's one that I've never heard before.

"Your Highness?"

Universe looked around, scowling as the new voice startled her out of her reverie - and then she stared at the person who had come up behind her, her eyes widening with surprise as she registered him.

"YOU!" she exclaimed but with a grin on her face.

Lord Jujuka laughed.

"Just as charming as ever, your Highness!" he observed cheerfully. "I'm glad - glad to see you again and glad to see that you haven't changed a bit."

"I'm always myself! But seriously, what're you doing here?" Universe demanded. "You can't have known that I'd come back today, could you?"

Jujuka gave her one of the winks that had always made her smile.

"Let's just say, your Highness, that I had a feeling a day or two ago that I would want to be in the Moon Kingdom again very soon." He laughed. "Can you tell me that I was wrong to trust my instincts on that one?"

Universe just grinned and felt pleased to see the friendly Reimoan Merchant again. "Trusting your instincts…we humans are so befuddled by what we feel that it's more like trustin' to luck." she muttered, meaning it.

"But truly Princess, I am proud to be here tonight." He told her seriously. "The gift to have been able to see you restored to the place you rightfully belong is not one to take lightly."

Universe merely sniffed in response but she really felt touched by the support that he was giving her - it made her feel all the more hopeful that the people of the Court would accept her back.

"Jujuka…there's something that I want to tell you…" She began anxiously as she decided that he deserved to know the truth, if nothing else, from her.

Jujuka raised his hand and smiled. "

Your Highness - Queen Serenity has already acquainted me with the truth." He told her seriously. "I just want you to know that my loyalty to you remains just as strong as it has always been, if not stronger."

There was a peculiar look on Universe's face as she stared at him.

"Thanks." She replied simply, her cheeks reddening a little and a smile of simple gratitude on her face.

There was a warm and assured smile on Princess Charon's face as she watched Universe from a distance - she had seen the wonderful, special moment that the two friends had shared and nobody around the green-haired Princess noticed the sparkle that shone in her eyes as she thought about her own plans for Universe's future.

The purple-haired girl had taken a long time to realise it but now she knew that this was where she belonged - right here in the Moon Kingdom with them, her friends. Charon knew that Universe - who she knew only too well by now - would be stubborn about it but she didn't feel worried about that for a moment.

After all, if she was too stubborn to realise what was right for her then the people who knew what was right and proper for her would be able to arrange her life for her - people Queen Serenity and, of course, herself.

Universe would naturally protest at first but Charon was confident that she would eventually come around - and the knowledge that she would be there to help her if things did not go so smoothly made her feel happy and relieved.

No matter what happened Princess Charon was certain that everything would work out fine in the end - and if her friend Universe ever needed her than she would be there for her.

Jupiter's face was unusually gentle and thoughtful as Mercury walked away from her looking a lot more relieved and unburdened by their talk together. The brown-haired girl just couldn't work out how she should feel about Universe after everything that had happened since the day she had walked into their lives.

Jupiter still felt a faint resentment towards this girl who was as strong as herself - though deep down inside she secretly admitted that in terms of fighting skill if not in brawn Universe was clearly superior to her. Also her close friendship with Mercury made her feel jealous - but as she watched the blue-haired Princess feeling so happy whenever she was with Universe, Jupiter simply couldn't think of anything bad to say about her…nothing especially bad anyway.

Anyway…anybody who could fight an older, more powerful man for the sake of a Lyanore child deserved her respect, if nothing else.

"Tough kind of girl." Jupiter remarked with a wry smile as she finally gave up on her feud with Universe for Mercury's sake.

After, all the only thing that it had caused had been misery for her friends and, as she now realised, herself.

"Mmm?" Mars asked by her side and raised her eyebrows.

"Nothing important." Jupiter grinned as she shrugged her broad shoulders.

Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom could not help but feel quite satisfied by the way everything had turned out as she watched Mercury rejoin Universe who was obviously happy to have the blue-haired girl back with her.

The promise that she had once made to Universe had meant just as much to her as one of her duties as the Moon Princess and now as she watched Universe's happiness she was finally assured that she had managed to keep it.

Universe was now one of her friends and truly belonged among them.

Serena felt deeply proud - she had fulfilled her responsibility to her Kingdom and her Mother but even more importantly than either of those she had made a new friend - and Universe would now be able to live a peaceful life for the first time ever.

However as she turned and cast her gaze through the gap between the gently fluttering drapes that covered the way to the balcony behind her Serena's eyes suddenly became slightly pensive and even faintly worried - her mind was troubled by the thought of a boy who even now was facing mortal danger while she basked in the safety of her own and the comforting presence of her friends and family.

Prince Darien.

Serena's eyes were distant as she walked out onto the balcony - all the while her expression was detached and her thoughts were solely with the young Prince of Earth. Being honest with herself she was at a loss about what to think of Darien - from the very first moment that his melancholy yet wondering eyes had gazed at her she had often found her mind wandering to thoughts about his honest and yet wary face.

In spite of the malicious and unforgivable wrong that his brother had done to them and no matter how much misery had come of it Serena had never thought badly of him at all. After all, Darien was just as much a victim of his brother's malevolent ways as Universe had been - being judged by the deeds of Mu and suffering for them in silence.

Now that he was taking a stand against the tyranny of his brother the galaxy would soon hear of Prince Darien's battle to liberate his people from the evil rule of Emperor Mu.

Serena felt almost unbearably worried about him already, even though she couldn't understand why she should be so concerned about a man she had only met for one night - after all, they had not exchanged more than a couple of words.

But though she could find no possible understanding of the dizziness that she felt whenever she remembered the depths of his blue eyes the Princess knew one thing in her sincere heart and it was that everything would be alright somehow or another.

Raising her eyes Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom saw it shining in the starry sky like a blue and green diamond - Earth.

A smile of wonder spread across her face. "Darien." she murmured ponderously and her voice was so gentle and sweet that the wind carried it far away from the balcony on which she stood dreaming of Earth and its Prince.

~*~*~

"Complete the sacred vow Darien."

"We live together, we die together - Freeborn forever!"

The rich, warm glow of the fire burning peacefully in the fireplace of Orlando's living room gave the Chieftain's beard a shimmering glaze as he walked toward the latest member of the resistance movement known to the people of Earth as the Freeborn.

"I want to thank you - because you spoke to the others I'm sure that they'll keep their courage up." He said gratefully to the dark-haired young man as he shook his hand heartily.

Darien accepted the Chieftain's sturdy handshake with a glad smile.

"All I want is to do what I've always wanted - to make a real difference for my…OUR people." he said simply. "I'm proud to have been accepted by the Freeborn, Chief Orlando."

"Seriously though, I think you did well when you spoke to them Darien - I'm obliged to you."

"Don't talk about obligations." Darien replied. "There's no such thing as favours between fellow country-men - like I said it was my pleasure. I'm glad that they were all so inspired by my story about how Universe helped me to find my true purpose that they decided to continue resisting Emperor Mu."

Orlando noticed that the dark-haired Prince no longer referred to the golden-haired tyrant as 'brother' and whole-heartedly approved. It really was for the best that Darien thought of Mu as the enemy now because that was just what he was - a scourge feeding from the suffering of the lands.

Just then there came a knocking at the door and before Orlando could bid whoever it was to enter it swung open - illuminated against the darkness by the fire-light were Emilia and Jess, who both seemed excited and apprehensive at the same time.

"Your friend just got back." Jess told Darien before either of the men could say anything. "And he brought a couple of people with him."

"Well don't leave them out there lass - send them in!" exclaimed Orlando as he wondered who it could be to have the pair in such a state.

Darien had already begun to guess and he had turned completely around to stare at the doorway in excitement but also a fair amount of worry.

Jess and Emilia exchanged an odd look and then disappeared from the doorway. A moment later Jadeite stood there in their place and walking into the room behind him were a bulky and well-built man, a dashing silver-haired man who swaggered confidently as he strode into the living room and a man who was more slender and gaunt than the other two and stuck closely to the silver-haired man as he followed his companions.

They were the other three Generals of the Earthern Empire - and now they were all together again.

"Darien, you young rogue!" bellowed Nephrite as soon as he caught sight of the Prince. "What's all this about? All you were supposed to do was find out who started that fire and now here we find you the most wanted man in the Empire!"

"Explain, Darien!" cut in Kunzite before the Prince could even open his mouth. "The first we knew about any of this was when we were almost arrested by a party of Imperial Soldiers your brother sent out to tear the land apart to find you! If we hadn't ran into Jadeite then we'd have been in the dark about where to find you!"

"All Jadeite here would say was that we'd better wait and hear it from your mouth itself!" Zoisite added, as he finally managed to get a word in edgeways.

"I can explain, you three." Darien sighed as he prepared himself for a long conversation. "I'm sorry about stranding you - it wasn't what I had planned, believe me! But now that you're here I might as well tell you how things are now. To answer all of the questions that you're no doubt dying to ask me - YES I've decided to turn my back on the Imperial rule and join the Freeborn. For the first time I've seen just what Mu's been doing to our people and now I'm determined to do everything that I can to bring him down and end his tyranny. And before you try to dissuade me I'll tell you that I've given my word to the people of this village that I'll fight to the death on their behalf - I'm not going to go back on my vow and break faith with my people; so what do you mean to do about it?"

Darien caught his breath - he really needed it after all of that - and hoped for the best. The looks on their faces weren't at all encouraging but his mind was made up and there was no way that he was ever going to change it. But even if they weren't prepared to support what he was doing he wanted to have their approval at least.

"So…you REALLY intend to go through with this?" Nephrite asked grimly.

Darien's eyes were unrelenting as he turned to gaze at him.

"I do."

"Then you'll leave behind the Empire and turn against your brother - our high sovereign and ruler of the entire planet?" Kunzite pressed, a dark frown on his face as he stared at his dark-haired charge.

Darien transferred his gaze towards the silver-haired general.

"That's the plan." He replied bluntly. "What do you have to say about it?"

For a moment there was a pause and then Zoisite, who had been standing with pursed lips and a disapproving face up until this moment broke into a huge glad smile.

"Good lad!" he exclaimed and the clap that he dealt the prince's back with knocked all of the mounted tension away, along with Darien's breath, which had secretly been trembling in his throat.

"You had all of us worried about you for a while there!" laughed Nephrite as he stepped forward and grasped Darien by the hand. "When Jadeite brought us here and we first started to think that maybe you'd joined up with Orlando and his band of merry men we all agreed that it was too good to be true! Excellent decision, my friend!"

As his hand was rigorously shaken Darien stared blankly at all three of the newcomers - his mind reeled.

"Wait a minute, you mean to tell me that you're all glad that I've turned against the Empire?!!" he exclaimed in disbelief.

"Oh but of course, young 'un!" Zoisite chuckled. "Don't you understand? We all knew about Mu's tyranny Darien…anyone who isn't a fool knows him for what he really is. But you always acted like you didn't realise what was going on so we all decided not to say anything so that you could find out for yourself. In the meantime we all vowed to stay and make sure that nothing bad happened to you. We're all relieved that you've finally opened your eyes - welcome to the world, Darien!"

For a moment all that Darien could do was gawp at them all but then he frowned and a moment later he too was laughing as he just let himself be glad that everything was fine between him and his mentors.

"So glad to have arrived in one piece." He said with a grin and then turned serious. "You four…thank you all. I have a lot to be grateful to you for. You stayed loyal to me through the years that I spent acting like I was deaf and blind. But I have one last thing that I want to ask of you all."

"Darien, you don't need to make a great big long-winded speech leading up to your asking the favour of us." Jadeite told him reprovingly. "They all know what you want from them - consider it already done. After all, we've stuck by you for all these years so we're unlikely to let ourselves be shaken off now, are we?"

Darien breathed an utterly relieved sigh - he'd been mortally dreading asking them to stay and help him for fear that they might refuse and now he was feeling light-headed. "Thanks." He said simply as his shoulders sagged and the worry of the last few minutes fell away.

Suddenly Jadeite slapped his head - he'd just remembered something important.

"Hey that's right!" he exclaimed. "While I was out there I heard some news about your little Warrior-Woman, Darien!"

At this Orlando's ears pricked up and suddenly he was rapt with attention - both he and Darien realised who the curly-haired General was talking about.

Meanwhile Nephrite, Kunzite and Zoisite all looked at Darien in curiosity.

"Hey, hey!" laughed Nephrite suggestively. "So you finally found yourself a wench, huh Darien?!!"

"It's always the quiet ones, isn't it?" Zoisite muttered and Kunzite snickered.

"Shut up, it's not like that, you three!" Darien exclaimed as he turned to Jadeite, his blue eyes shining expectantly. "You have news about her, Jadeite?"

"Yup. Are your ears burning?"

"What do you think? Let's hear it!"

"Let's get those two in here first." Orlando spoke up before the curly-haired General could go on with what he'd gathered while out in the open. "They've both been worrying non-stop about her since she left us."

"There's really no need Orlando…we're right here." a cheery voice piped up from somewhere very close by.

Orlando and the rest of them turned and there outside the window stood Emilia and Jess who had both evidently been crouching beneath the window-ledge for a while now. "Well…since you've obviously both been hanging onto every syllable up to now I guess that you might as well hear it." The chieftain said irritably.

"And rightly so." Jess responded cheekily, in spite of his frown at her eavesdropping.

"That's right." Emilia agreed as they both climbed into the house via the window. "So let's hear about what she's been up to, Jadeite!"

Orlando still scowled disapprovingly and wondered why it was that he had to be surrounded by women who just couldn't do what they were told and after he a moment he turned back to the others, having failed to stare down either of them.

"Okay then - what's the word?"

Jadeite cleared his throat.

"Well, basically…don't expect her to be coming back to rejoin your rebellion." he said haltingly and then when he'd given them a chance to gasp in horror he added, "Just kidding - I wanted to give you all a little shock! Well actually it's partly true but you'll see why in a minute. Anyway…basically the Star Raiders were on Charon but somebody sent them packing." he said and his voice left absolutely no doubt in the slightest about who exactly the 'somebody' who everybody had been whispering about was.

"And the Lyanore…?" Emilia piped up anxiously - for some reason she felt especially worried about them.

"Fine - every last one of them." Jadeite assured her. "The Raiders never even got near them."

"She did it!" Jess exclaimed joyfully. "Yay!"

"That's only the good news." Jadeite suddenly added.

Emilia felt a chill.

"And what's the BAD news?" she exclaimed. "Did something…?"

"No bad news…I just thought that now you'd all like to hear the REALLY good news." Jadeite explained and the dark-haired girl gave an annoyed huff - she was beginning to think that this General had a particularly twisted sense of humour.

"There's more?" Darien asked with a grin. "Universe managed to protect the Lyanore! What could possibly be any better than that?"

"How about the news that her Highness, the esteemed and fiery hell-cat we all know and love as Princess Universe, returned to the Moon Kingdom this very afternoon?" Jadeite asked with perfect innocence.

Emilia's dark scowl lifted and, like the coming of dawn after the darkest night, her face brightened.

"What did you say?" she gasped as a smile began to pull the corners of her mouth upward.

"Well, as Darien said nothing could be better than that."

"So, she went home then." Orlando said as he breathed a huge sigh and many years of strain and care seemed to drain away from him and leave a relieved grin on his face at that moment. "I'm glad."

"She made it back." Jess exclaimed happily.

"Mmm…well what else did you expect?" Emilia smiled in relief. "Our Princess is quite a character, after all."

"Well I think that this proves what we've been thinking - that Universe is an inspiration to anyone in trouble." Orlando declared as he looked at each one of them. "She's living proof that anybody can do what they set their hearts on if only they have the courage and determination to face their fears and be all that they can be. I'm not gonna lie to you all…a long and hard road lies ahead for anybody who decides that they want to fight for our freedom. There'd be no dishonour in backing out of this deal but if that's the case then anybody who wants to should leave now because there'll be no turning back for any who decide to stay and fight. But remember Universe - she has been able to go back to her life because she has the courage. If only we can follow her example then maybe one day we'll finally have what she's managed to find…a life that we can live in freedom."

"Maybe?" Darien echoed. "You sound just a tad doubtful Chief."

"I'm counting on you Darien." Orlando said flatly. "We've got to be together in this…all of us. The days to come are either going to lead us to a better future…or to our graves."

Darien stood in dark and doubtful silence as the weight of those words hung over him like an ominous cloud - he could feel everyone looking at him for an answer to the question that Orlando had generously left unasked so as not to put any more pressure than he needed to on his young shoulders.

A deep foreboding seemed to cover him in shadow as he hesitated as if whatever he said next would determine the outcome that lay at the end of the struggle that was soon to come.

It was going to be hard and agonizing and before it was all over many lives - Freeborn and Imperial Loyalist alike - would be lost, but he couldn't even shed a tear in case they saw it and thought that he was despairing before the battle had begun and all lost heart themselves.

If he allowed that to happen then their fates would all be sealed…and that was something that he couldn't allow to happen.

The Prince had no idea why but from somewhere out of the doubt and indecision that had surrounded him he remembered one person whose face had shocked him to the core - the Moon Princess.

Darien couldn't think why he should think of her right now but he began to wonder what she would do now if she were in his place - and he felt sure that whatever she would say now it would be the right thing and he just wished that he could see her handle this situation so that he'd know what to do now.

Then he realised that he'd already seen her do so - it had been the moment when she had stood up to his evil brother after he had revealed Universe's secret to the entire court of the Moon Kingdom.

Even though she had been helpless to do anything against him she had faced Emperor Mu bravely in her home and she had said what had been in her heart - that had been a moment of true courage and no amount of training could teach you that.

Darien felt suddenly calm as he realised what truly mattered - no matter what might happen in the future he had to remain true to himself, no matter how bad his chances of success might be.

Whether the Freeborn triumphed or were defeated remained to be seen and the chance that they might lose scared him but now he realised that it wasn't really the point - putting all of his heart and soul into the struggle for freedom against his evil brother was what he would do with his life now.

Prince Darien took a moment to thank three people for what they had done for him - the first was Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, who had been the first person ever to tell him that he was not accountable for his brother's sins, that he was far more than his brother's shadow. The second was Princess Universe, who had set him on his true path in life and lastly the beautiful Princess of the Moon, who had given him the courage to take it.

Knowing that just like his future he would have to face them all sooner or later he turned to speak to them all - his life-long friends and protectors the Generals, his new friends Emilia and Jess and his new mentor Orlando, who had started out hating him and now saw him as something like a brother.

All were waiting for his word - they were all depending on him and he knew that it was up to him to make the difference for their sakes.

"Let's do it." Darien spoke in a voice that was hard with a determination that was a whole new level of passion for him. "We'll all fight together and make the world a safe place for freedom…as long as we trust and believe in each other."

~*~*~

Drut scowled unhappily as he lay on the throne that had until the day before belonged to Prince Darien - as he lay on his side like a lazy dog, the side of his head wedged against the armrest he stared over at Emperor Mu who was sitting in his own Imperial Throne in deep brooding silence.

Drut could not help but worry - not about the fact that Mu had had all of the Marauders put to the death apart from him upon their return to the castle but because of the fact that his liege had been grim-faced and totally silent since the previous night. Drut was concerned about the tyrant, who had decided to execute his fellow pillagers rather than risk having them give away his secret now that things had drastically changed around there. The only reason that he himself had been allowed to live had been because of his total devotion to the Empire, as vile and corrupt as it had become under Mu's rulership.

"My liege…" Drut began as he decided to say something.

"Not now Drut - I'm thinking." Mu snapped abruptly and lapsed back into dark silence as he stared ahead at nothing in particular.

The tyrant was hunched forward on his throne with his neck craned forward as if he was trying to glimpse something far off and his chin was cupped in the ball of his hand - the expression on Mu's face was strangely unreadable was he thought deeply.

Drut bit his lip and was tempted to do as he'd just been told and be content in the knowledge that he'd done his duty by obeying the word of his Emperor - but somehow that just didn't feel like it was enough.

"My Lord Emperor…you are the greatest man on the face of this Earth! Why should you have any reason to feel miserable? Just because the Freeborn have gained much sympathy from their neighbouring towns." Mu remained still and silent as a snake coiled up in its den, not registering whether he had even heard. "…Just because that vixen Princess Universe escaped from you and to add insult to injury has now returned to the Moon Kingdom…" the tyrant did not so much as glance in Drut's direction, instead he remained staring ahead brooding about the way events in his life had turned recently and in what direction. "…But above all else I must point out that just because your treacherous brother has turned against the Empire and now despises you does not mean that you are any less…"

THWACK!!!!

As Drut lay stunned by the blow to his head Emperor Mu leant back into his throne and tilted his head so that his eyes gazed up at the high ceiling of his throne-room - as he closed his eyes and gritted his teeth his arms fell slackly to his sides and the mace fell from his fingers.

For once however anger was farther away from his mind as it had ever been.

"Darien." muttered the golden-haired ruler of Earth, and with none of his subjects to hear his voice he sounded sad and even regretful as he thought about his only remaining family whom he had alienated himself from.

This was the only time in his entire life that Emperor Mu the tyrant ever realised the true price of his ways.

~*~*~

Queen Serenity felt deeply assured for the first time in a long while as she watched the girl to whom she had given many reasons to live from her secluded spot in the Ball-Room.

The Queen's eyes were unusually distant as she watched Princess Universe dancing with Princess Mercury, her radiant face smiling as she and her friend weaved this way and that comfortably, not caring that neither could dance very well but instead taking pleasure out of each other's presence.

For just a moment Universe slowed her pace down - not to please anybody around her or to prove anything to anyone but to take a good long look at Mercury. This girl was just what she had yearned for - ever since she had been a little girl in the middle of the wilderness and with each and ever passing moment that went by as she looked at her beautiful and kindly face she felt it like a heartbeat.

It was the one thing that she'd never been able to find by travelling anywhere in the universe…and she had found it here by standing completely still.

Now she understood how it felt to know friendship and family, love and compassion and for the first time in her life she was home.

And one of the best discoveries that she'd made from everything that had happened was that only she controlled what she'd do with her life…not the Star Raiders, not the Royal Court.

It was her decision to make…it was up to her.

Though her eyes were distant Queen Serenity's thoughts could not have been any closer and more firmly focused on the purple-haired girl at this moment. All of her work had come to fruition and at long last the girl she had met so long ago had accepted not only what but also who she was.

Now she was whole at last - and now not only in name but also in spirit she had become Princess Universe.

Serenity had to admit that it had not been her triumph alone, for others had helped Universe recognize the beauty of life and friendship and one person in her life embodied both of those things for the purple-haired girl.

"Maj' Stee…?" Estrella had seen her sitting all by herself and being Estrella she ran to make sure that she did not remain like this. "…You lonely?"

Serenity laughed softly and reached down to pick the kitten up.

"No, Estrella." She said with a fond smile as she felt an emotion that no words could ever have done justice to. "Never so long as I am with the people who are so dear to me."

Estrella was unusually quiet for a moment as she sat with the Lunarian Queen. "Yes?" Serenity prompted the ginger kitten with a wry smile as she sensed that there was something on Estrella's mind. "What are you giving so much thought about? Tell me - I do value your opinion, you know."

Estrella swelled proudly.

"Universe…changed." She declared solemnly as she spoke her mind. "Not same as when she first came."

Queen Serenity's lilac eyes were proud as she looked down at her with surprise - Estrella was innocent about many things about the world and the way in which it moved but she knew her own heart at least.

"No Estrella…she isn't." she agreed. "Universe is different now - she has been tamed, and it is Mercury who had tamed her."

Lapsing into contented silence the Queen of the Moon allowed her eyes to drift one last time across the Ball-Room to settle upon Mercury and Universe - both happy and together again at last.

Oh Universe. She thought as she slowly closed her eyes and smiled as she began to catch up on the rest that she had earned after the effort and hardships of the last few months. There will never be another one like you.

~ The End ~

Afterthoughts: Well.that's her story. I took me a while to finish this and right now I haven't the juice to tell anymore!! Mind you I have to say that I'd like to do a sequel sometime in the future.just let me rest up from this one and get my lazy bones back into gear. In the meantime comin' up is the next present-day Sailor Charon story - the Queen of Charon. In the meantime if anyone's interested in reading Angelic Moonlight's, Sailor Charon fics then I really recommend them.surprisingly enough this was great fun to write and I'm really sorry that it's over.

Lastly I'd just like to thank my friends Jess and Em.without whose enthusiasm I could never have written this.

Well.I'll just be signin' off no now so before I go I'll say that I hope you enjoyed this.after all to coin a phrase 'You can't write without a reason'.

Later.