* a la Sonny and Cher/Brittney Spears* And the fic goes on . . .
Oh yeah, and I don't own Sailormoon. I do, however, own this story. I think as long as I mention it every couple of chapters, people will be able to remember for a while, don't you?
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Chapter 10
The Moon Kingdom was struggling. It was as if with the loss of their Princess, so too their happiness and prosperity were lost to them. There were some who even believed she was dead.
One day, a rumor whispered throughout the kingdom that an emissary from Saturn had arrived.
It was none other than the Princess herself. The youngest of the planetary sovereigns, Princess Saturn had barely reached adolescence. But she had a wisdom and a fearsome power of one beyond her age.
Her errand however was supposed to be kept from common knowledge. She arrived swiftly in the night, approaching the Lord Artemis, and demanding audience with the Queen. Artemis knew the child right away. Nodding, he led her to the Queen's private study and knocked lightly on the heavy door.
"The Queen spends most of her days locked up here," he noted unhappily to the girl.
Saturn said nothing, her small white face expressionless. Large amethyst eyes peered out from straight, long bangs of a similarly dark color.
Queen Serenity opened the door. The once gorgeous queen was now gaunt and sallow, hair disheveled and eyes circled in shadows from lack of sleep. When she saw Saturn, she let her in, dismissing Artemis with a quick nod.
Behind the safely closed door of her study, the Moon Queen addressed the young girl desperately. "Have you a message from the Time Guardian?"
The small princess nodded.
"Why is she silent? Will she not aid me?"
"The Time Guardian knows of your plight, my Queen." Her voice was small, high, youthful; at the same time dark and foreboding. Her eyes were hard gems.
"Then how can she do nothing?" the Queen cried in despair and rage.
Princess Saturn stood calmly. "The Queen is wise: she must think, and not let her sorrow cloud her judgment. It is forbidden for the Guardian to interfere. Do not think that she has any power to choose, for she is a slave to the will of Time."
"And this is Time's will?" Queen Serenity looked as if she might be sick.
"Perhaps. Even if the Guardian of Time did interfere, think what that would mean. She would then be obligated to right every wrong in the universe. If she refused, it would hardly be fair. It would be chaos. The balance is essential."
"Princess Pluto is one of my oldest and dearest friends," but she said it bitterly. "I know she can find a loop hole. She must."
The girl before her was so young, so grave. Tears overflowed and streaked the Queen's lovely face with shimmering trails.
"You must find a way without her." The way she said her let the Serenity know she meant her daughter.
"I can't," the Queen whimpered. "She is my heart, my very power lies within her."
"My Queen, you're being dramatic . . ."
"No! I mean it both figuratively and literally. It is the way with the queens of the Moon. If a Queen rises to the height of her power just before she bears a child, that power can go no further. It must be passed on with the girl child; with it, her essence, her very soul passes away through her body and into that of its successor. The ginzuishou is mine, but I have neither the power nor the will to wield it without Serenity. Kami, if I had told her, if she knew of her ability, perhaps she would be able to save herself now."
"She is a senshi?" It was a revered and sacred word.
"Yes, as all of you."
Saturn seemed to ponder this deeply, delicate hand resting thoughtfully on her chin. "Very well; I will relay the Queen's message back to the Time Guardian on the Queen's behalf. But I doubt that she will waver."
* * *
Earth settled into an uneasy peace.
The despondent Prince Endymion resumed his search for his princess, but he could put his all into it. He was still wary of a revival among the traitors and Sorceress Beryl.
In the deepest, darkest depths of the Earth, a malicious power waited for the right time to strike.
* * *
Prince Demando, alone in his room, revealed a tiny silver music box. Cranking it up, he opened the lid and let the haunting melody play. He had concealed the trinket in his garments and brought it back with him to Nemesis.
When Serenity had awoken after their confrontation, she got up and went away. But Demando felt like they had reached a stalemate, an un-final truce.
Although she still questioned him silently at every meeting, pleading with damp eyes to send her home, she also wished to be tender, careful with him, as if he could break. For reasons unknown, their bond had healed itself. Only a little, but it was enough.
Still, Demando wrestled with himself, two opposing wills. He wanted to send her home, because it was what she wanted. At the same time, he was selfish.
Fool, he told himself, what more can you ask of her? She doesn't want you.
But I don't care, he tried to make himself believe, what does it matter if she wants me or not, as long as I have her? I could force her. I have the power.
It was true. He could do it physically, or he could hypnotize her, turn her into a mere doll to use in whatever way he pleased.
No, I cannot. I will not. It would be the same as destroying her.
It was settled.
* * *
One day, when he had collapsed from illness and exhaustion, the Princess came into his room and turned Rubeus and Esmeraude out. Beruche had told her of the Prince's ailment, and Serenity had come to him in his need.
"Leave him be," she scolded sternly. "Can't you see that he's ill? He needs to rest."
"And what if I don't?" Esmeraude stuck up her nose.
"Do you care nothing for your Prince?" the golden one parried back.
That one caught Esmeraude off guard. She stormed out of the prince's chamber.
Rubeus remained sitting on the bed where Demando now lay, barely conscious.
"Leave," she ordered him, undaunted by his superiority.
"Who are you to order me, bitch?" The manipulative man's voice was low and menacing. "You think just because you hold favor with my Prince that you are my queen now? You haven't married him yet, Princess."
"Rubeus . . ." Demando warned, but he was weak and not very threatening.
"Rubeus!" a voice boomed from behind them in icy anger, sounding for all the world like the Prince's, and making the two adversaries jump. It was Saffir. "Get the hell out."
Rubeus did – very quickly.
Together, Saffir and Serenity approached the weary sovereign's bedside. Saffir sat on his left, legs hanging off the edge. Serenity, on his right, knelt on her legs.
Demando sat up a little. "I'll be fine, just let me rest a moment"
"Onii-chan," Saffir reprimanded his elder brother. "Why do you do this to yourself? Send the damned advisors away for once and just rest."
Serenity watched with a touched heart as the brotherly bond manifested itself before here. "You're right as usual, Saffir. Take over for me, won't you?"
Saffir nodded his assent.
The moonchild stroked Demando's damp white hair out of his face, then caressed his forehead. He lulled to sleep instantly at her touch. "He's feverish," she said to Saffir, worriedly. "He may be in bed for several days."
"I'll make sure no one disturbs him."
* * *
Four months.
Serenity was on the couch in Demando's room, trying to remember what the Moon Kingdom looked like. To her dismay, the memories of it were hard to summon. The thought of home conjured up misty dreams, recollections of laughter and smiling, friendly faces, beautiful fountains, and scattered diamond stars, before being replaced with mental images of her present surroundings. Only her loved ones remained completely intact: Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Luna, Artemis, Endymion, Mother; all of them bright and clear as day in her consciousness. How she missed them! Where were they? She fought back tears, assuring herself that they were searching for her.
From beneath his piles of covers, lying on his stomach, Demando murmured what sounded like her name. Serenity rose and drew near him, bending close to his face. She turned her ear in his direction. "What is it, Demando-sama?"
His eyes opened half-way. "I'm so cold."
She touched his face. His skin burned her fingertips. It had been two days and the fever had not broken. She knew the Moon Kingdom would have had appropriate medicine for such a malady, but on Nemesis drugs were scarce – even for a prince.
"I can't bring you any more blankets. The heat will kill you."
" . . . I like your warmth."
"My warmth?"
Murmuring, "When we're together; it works better than blankets."
She smiled, humoring him, thinking it was only the fever.
"I still haven't gotten you a present."
"What?"
"I want to give you a gift."
"Oh. What kind of gift?"
"I don't know." His voice was slurred and drowsy.
Serenity straightened and looked down at the floor. She knew what he could give her – her freedom; but now was not the time for that. She didn't wish to upset him in his state. She was always thinking of others.
* * *
The next day the Prince recovered, but Princess Serenity wouldn't allow him out of bed until the fourth day arrived. At this time, Rubeus and Esmeraude received a severe tongue-lashing from their master, a punishment like tiny cuts all over made from chips of ice.
Serenity went to the walled garden often and ate fruit from the pomegranate tree. There was a story that came along with it from Earth, but she couldn't remember it now: something about a goddess who ate a pomegranate and regretted it.
Prince Demando kept good to his word. He allowed the princess to leave the safety of the palace in the company of the Ayakashi siblings. But the streets and alleyways and market places of Nemesis's capital city were disheartening. Dilapidated, once-exquisitely crafted buildings were desolate. Starving homeless crowded into corners, thieves didn't think twice before stealing from those who needed more, and petty bickering arose sometimes leading to a duel, and in most cases, death.
A bawdy man had tried to grab the girl as she passed, but Cooan had slashed the man across the face and he let go. He saw the sisters glowing with dark power, and new them to be nobility. He apologized roughly and went away. Serenity avoided the city after that.
Inside the palace, though, it wasn't so bad. Now completely stabilized to the dark energy from the heart of Nemesis, Princess Serenity lived out her days much like she had in her own palace.
She gave up asking Demando to take her home. His answer was always the same.
"But what about your present?" she had entreated. "You want to give me a present . . . this would be the best gift of all."
Sorrowfully, he denied her even that.
She tried to adjust to the idea that this place would be her new home. It wasn't unthinkable. She had friends now: the Ayakashi sisters and Saffir, and even Demando. Amazingly, the two strained companions now found ways to interact that did not lead to a heart wrenching quarrel. Serenity knew she could do good here. She had a talent for tending the sick – as demonstrated with Demando – in both her kind, nursing ways, and learned knowledge of medicines. She always hinted that the Moon Kingdom had the best cures, but either people did not catch it, or pretended not to do so to avoid conflict. And the Nemesians liked her. They started coming to her for advice, and made an effort to please her. With her help, the people of Nemesis, at least in the fortress-palace, were more civilized than ever before. For the princess, it was rewarding.
"I could live here," she whispered to herself lying in bed at night, "I could be happy."
She could. It didn't matter as much where she lived, as long as the quality of her life was the same. True, she missed the beauty of her home planet, but she had love here, laughter and companionship. Only one thing kept her from contentment: she longed to see her family and friends and fiancé. And she fretted, wondering why they hadn't found her yet. Did something terrible happen she had no way of knowing about? Had they given up on her? Had they forgotten? She couldn't believe they would.
At the dawning of the fifth month, Serenity was in the tall-windowed sitting room. The yellow clouds looked to be thinning. It was a beautiful, unusual day for the tenth planet. Beruche, Calaveras, Petz, and she were at one end of the room, unraveling a beautiful, long, black ribbon. Demando, Saffir, and Rubeus were at the other end, arguing with lowered voices. The men called it "discussing." The woman preferred to have no part in it. Leave the complicated governing to the males. They were less capable than females, but if they wanted the responsibility, let them have it!
"Where's Cooan?" Calaveras speculated out loud. "You think she would be here to fawn all over Rubeus."
Scattered laughter arose from the group of young women.
Beruche said, "She and Esmeraude had to go to the market place. I'll bet they're searching for love potions."
Serenity worked at a knot in the thick, tangled ribbon. She sighed and dropped it to her lap. "This is impossible. What are we doing this for anyway?"
"This ribbon's not an ordinary ribbon," Calaveras chided.
"There are only so many throughout Nemesis," added Beruche.
"But what are they used for?" Serenity persisted.
"Ceremonies," replied Petz, who hadn't spoken until then.
"Oh."
Serenity pulled at the knot. To her excitement, it came undone. "Finally!"
There was a curt laugh behind her. Saffir was there watching with dancing eyes. "Don't know about the ribbons, little moon rabbit?"
Golden eyebrows came together and she shook her head, causing her curling strands to float around her, then settle back down again. "What are they for?"
"Here, we'll show you." He offered her his hand and helped her up.
"Uh, Saffir, what are you doing?" Petz nagged patronizingly. She really was better at it than Calaveras.
Saffir, still holding Serenity's hand, led her over to Demando and Rubeus.
Petz made a noise to let them know what she thought of them, but the three sisters watched in interest.
Demando and Rubeus were reclining in two opposite sitting chairs. Saffir and Serenity faced the Prince of Nemesis, who gazed up questioningly. Serenity gave Saffir the same look. But Saffir said, "Your Majesty Prince Demando of Nemesis, I would like to present to you Her Grace Princess Serenity the Second." He grinned connivingly at his brother, who furrowed his eyebrows at him disapprovingly.
Saffir took Serenity to the center of the room before the windows. Uncharacteristically bright light flowed in and all around her, warming her limbs. Saffir dropped her hand, then retreated to Demando. Grabbing him roughly by the arm, he hauled the older man up out of the chair and pushed him to the center of the room next to Serenity.
Demando craned his neck over his shoulder to glare at his little brother. "Saffir . . ." he warned.
"Ladies," Saffir gestured, "the ribbon."
On command, the sisters stood and brought the sacred black ribbon to the three enveloped in light, giggling and smirking knowingly.
Serenity was curious and eager to see what would unfold.
Rubeus snorted, still lounging in his chair. "You're sneaky, Saffir."
The younger prince paid him no heed. Instead he leaned closer to Serenity and prodded quietly, "Take his hand."
She slowly reached forward and clasped Demando's hand in her own. It hung limply in her grasp. She looked at him. He was internally debating something. He opened his mouth, breathing inward to speak, paused, then closed it, exhaling softly. She smiled at him reassuringly, but he did not return the action.
The Ayakashi started to wrap the black ribbon around the joined hands. It gleamed in the daylight. They too were actually smiling sincerely. Beruche held out one end of the ribbon to the Princess, who took it in her free hand. The other end Saffir placed in Demando's.
"Stop it, Saffir," Demando commanded, but made no attempt to halt the process himself. His was paralyzed, as usual, by his conflicting wills.
Saffir looked his brother in the eyes, for the first time serious. He placed his hand on the elder man's shoulder, then turned his head toward Serenity.
She gazed up at him innocently.
"Say what I do," Saffir instructed. "As this sacred ribbon . . ."
"As this sacred ribbon . . ."
"So too do I . . ."
"So too do I . . ."
"Bind myself to thee."
"Bind . . myself . . ." Serenity stopped, face clouding over. There was something about the promise that gave her a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
A huge crash startled everyone, as the doors to the room flew open. Serenity, momentarily blinded from the brightening light pouring through the windows, squinted.
Esmeraude stood fuming. "What the hell are you doing?!"
Cooan peered around her from the doorway.
In a sudden burst of deadly cold temper, Demando tore at the ribbon fervently, freeing himself from their entanglement, and strode away, nearly knocking over the two newly arrived women in his haste.
Serenity looked from Demando, to the women in bewilderment.
Cooan gawked.
Meekly, her voice giving way, she asked Saffir, "What just happened?"
Saffir's face was emotionless, serene, his brother all over. He didn't answer.
"Petz?"
She sighed, eyes closing. "What happened, Serenity-hime, is that you just wed yourself to Prince Demando."
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Hey diddy, hey diddy, hi diddy too.
Leave me a review,
You know you want to!
Hey diddy, hi diddy, sing ho!
Note:
Serenity's explanation to Saturn of her link with Serenity II is my conjecture of why Neo-Queen Serenity loses her ability to transform into Sailormoon; why Chibi-Usa becomse Sailorchibimoon; and why, keeping the former two things in mind, the original Queen Serenity never seemed to have a senshi form of her own.
If Neo-Queen Serenity gave up her senshi power, but her daughter became a senshi, it seems rational to assume that perhaps even Queen Serenity the First was a senshi at one time. She lost the power when she became queen, but Sailormoon retained it.
Does that make sense? *shrugs* It's just a thought . . .