Title: Somewhere in Time

By: QueenBeryl

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Chapter 2: Continuing the Birth Celebration

"'No?'" Nephrite questioned, figuring such was true. Endymion never really cared for those other

girls, why should he care for her?

"I don't liker. I think... I think I'm in love with her."

"'Love...her'?" Nephrite almost fell over. "I don't believe it. You've never fallen in love

before...."

"I know... I didn't mean to... it sorta happened."

"No one falls in love that quickly, Endymion. NO ONE."

"It wasn't really that quick. I've known her most of my life. Now she's not just the child,

anymore. She's..."

"A woman?" Nephrite finished, pulling him inside the castle.

"Yeah." Endymion was lost in thought. How could he possibly love a thirteen-year-old. He was

almost eighteen, for crying out loud. But there was something about her. Something that drew him to her.

He didn't know what it was... or how it came to be. He just knew it was right... it had to be.

"Well, I suggest you either fall out of love with her... or somthing quick. You know that a love

between the Moon and Earth is forbidden. It was a set taboo since the solar system was created, you know

that, Endymion."

Endymion looked at Nephrite as if he had just been slapped. He had forgotten that anything like

that between the Earth and Moon was, indeed, forbidden. But it couldn't be! The only woman he had ever

even _considered_ falling in love with was the one he couldn't have. But he wanted her, oh did he want

her, and Endymion always got what he wanted. Always.

"I know what you're thinking. Don't do it. Just go and marry some nice, respectable princess

from... anywhere else, just not the Moon." Nephrite shook his head. Just then Jadeite wandered over,

his arm around a dark-haired girl. When he realized there were other people he stopped and stared for

a minute, until he realized it was his King and fellow guardian.

"Well, isn't this a, erm, plesant evening. Meeting you both here on _Earth_ instead of at the

Moon Birth Celebration. Hmm... Prince, what _are_ you doing here?"

"I _should_ be asking you the same thing, Jade." Prince Endymion almost smiled, shaking his

head.

"Well, it was a while since the Princess of Mars was on Earth, and I decided to show her

around." Jadeite smiled, squeezing the princess's shoulder.

"What! The 'Princess of Mars?' She is supposed to be on the Moon with the Moon Princess!"

Nephrite looked considerably taken aback. This made Mars and Jadeite giggle. Jadeite was not meant to

giggle; he looked completely unusual.

"Well, I think it's high time we _all_ returned to the Moon. The Birth Celebration isn't over

yet, and we will be missed." Endymion turned, realized what he said, then looked back, smiling

mischeviously. "Well, _some_ of us will be missed." And he headed off to the forest where the portal

lay. Nephrite shook his head and followed, while Mars and Jadeite kissed and followed as well.

They were all taken back to the Moon, which was now lit up with fireworks. The sky was bright

and beautiful. Endymion thought it would be very romantic... if he had someone to share it with, that

is. He sighed, and wandered toward his favorite place on the Moon Kingdom, the Red Rose Garden. It was

always in bloom, no matter the time of the year. It was widely known for its enormous bright red roses,

but it had other features too. there was a pond in the middle, that never rippled, even if you threw

stones in it. There were beautiful silver roses, which only grew on the Moon. But Endymion never

really cared about anything else, except for the red roses. They symbolized long-lasting love and

undying passion. He smiled and walked over to a rosebush, picked a red rosebud, and was about

to go kneel by the pond when he heard a young female voice that sounded oddly like...

"Serenity! I can't believe you! What if your mother found out? You'd be more than a little

put-out, she'd have killed you! Kissing with the Prince of Earth! You know its a t-" Venus repremanded.

"Taboo. I _know_!" Serenity pouted, folding her pale arms across her chest. "I can't help

it, Venus. I really can't. There is something... different about him. I can feel it."

"He is very notorious for his... um, freedom, Sere. You know that... everyone knows that.

He's a free spirit." Princess Jupiter stated, placing her hands on her hips, a mild look of disgust

on her heart-shaped face. Her long brown hair was pulled back in the usual style of Jupiter, a simple

ponytail, held together with a long green ribbon. Her green eyes scowled, looking up towards Earth.

Jupiter didn't have much of an opinion of Endymion, because he was so... free.

"Jupiter's right, Serenity. You are too young to get involved with him. He's... not what anyone

expects you to-" Mercury started, running a hand through her short blue hair.

"I know! No one expects me to break a taboo. But I've gone and done it, haven't I? I've gone

and fallen in love with the only person I am forbidden to. No one can help who they fall in love with,

though. You three should know that most of all! Jupiter, you're in love with King Nephrite. You, Venus,

what about King Kunzite? Mercury, you can't deny your feelings for King Zoicite." Serenity huffed,

glaring at her court. Princess Mercury's eyes widened, and she blushed. Jupiter and Venus looked at

Mercury, as this was new news to them.

"Merc? Et tu*? I never thought _you_ would fall in love, and with King Zoicite, nonetheless!"

Jupiter looked shocked, and slapped her friend on the back. "Way to go!"

"That is not the point!" Mercury blushed even more. "The point is that _Serenity_ is in love

with _Endymion_! That is _forbidden_, whereas our love interests have no taboo attached to them. And

I never told you silly girls because Venus would try to... _inhance_ our relationship, and Jupiter,

you would try to find out everything about him, and threaten to destroy him if he did anything I was

not pleased with."

Both Venus and Jupiter looked taken aback, but all there knew it was true. Jupiter turned away

and Venus looked sheepish. Just then Mars met up with them, her violet eyes searching the small

group. She breathed in deep, as if she had just come from running a marathon, her face set sternly as

though she didn't want anyone to notice she was the slightest bit ruffled.

"Mercury is right, you know. That is the point, not your love lives." She stated, matter-of-

factly, nodding as well. Her temper seemed a bit lax and controlled, but nobody really seemed to

take heed.

Venus nodded and looked at her raven-haired companion. She squinted her sapphire eyes and gasped.

"Mars! Is that a... hicky?!"

Immediately Mars's hand flew to her neck, covering the mark in question. "No. It's a bruise."

"Hmm. I wonder how you got a bruise on your neck. In a shape that looks awfully like a HICKY!"

Jupiter pulled Mars's hand away from the spot.

"Weird coincidence?" Mars suggested, blushing faintly. Serenity laughed, covering her mouth.

"I think not, Mars." Mercury stated. Her intelligent blue eyes were all knowing. "It was from

him, wasn't it."

Mars blush spread. "I don't know who you mean, Mercury."

"Jadeite."

All gasped, well, all except for the hidden Endymion. Yes, even Mars gasped. She didn't realize

that anyone had seen them slip out of the Moon Palace. It's not as if they really _did_ anything....

"How did you know?"

"I saw you two leaving earlier, together... alone." Mercury smiled, her words dripping with

insinuations and mystery. Everyone turned to first look at Mercury, then back to Mars, whose blush

suddenly appeared considerably darker and more defined.

"Dang." Mars ran toward the Moon Palace, the three other guardians in hot pursuit for details.

Serenity was about to follow, but heard her name being hissed by a large rosebush. She walked over, and

was going to question her sanity and the bush when Endymion stepped out, smiling. Suddenly she seemed

to forget everything. Nothing else mattered, except for her and Endymion, alone, in a beautiful rose

garden.

"So, I hear that you love me, Serenity." Endymion stated as they embraced. He held her close,

wrapping his arms and cape around her. She curled her arms around his tan neck, and ran her slender

fingers through his dark sleek hair.

"It's rude to eavesdrop, Endy." Serenity scolded, looking up into his deep blue eyes. He slid a

finger down her pale face, making her shiver slightly.

"I didn't mean to, really, it just sorta... happened. Besides, I love you too." He leaned his face

towards hers, and their lips met. The tingles started there, and spread everywhere. Serenity was sure

that everyone could feel what she felt. Endymion knew that loving Serenity was different than anything.

Even though she was quite a bit younger, it was as if she was the only person he had ever been with. She

was the One. The one who could change everything about him. And he was willing to let it happen. Because,

for once in his life, he was head-over-heels in love. In love with a thirteen-year-old Moon Princess, with

long silver bun-pigtails and amazing blue eyes.

Serenity woke up the next morning completely refreshed and a bit on the more ditzy side. Today was the

second day of the Birth Celebration, but that didn't seem to phase her at all. It would end at midnight,

so there was plenty of time to think about it later. It was about 8:00 in the morning, and Serenity

stretched. She left her room, walked down the hall, opened a cupboard, retrieved a towel, and went to

shower. She turned on the water and undressed. She undid her hair, letting the silver locks fall to the

tile floor. She stepped in the shower and smiled, letting the nice warm water flow over her, clensing

her.

She emerged from the bathroom feeling 100% better, but still in a daze. She couldn't wait to see

Endymion today. She really couldn't; so instead of waiting until 11:00 to meet him, she ran off directly

to the Moon Portal to go to the planet Earth. She emerged on Earth, in the same forest she had entered

just last night, and proceeded to the Earth Palace. Her long dress got a bit dirty from the forest floor,

but she didn't mind. She was going to see Endymion, and that was all that mattered.

Endymion was outside the palace, he hadn't gotten much sleep last night. He could hardly close

his eyes, and when he did he dreamed of Serenity. Not that that was a bad thing, I mean, he was in love

with her. But then he thought about it again; maybe it _was_ a bad thing. She was the ultimate taboo, and

he was hers. He cursed out loud, angry that he had to fall in love with her.

Suddenly, Endymion felt as if he wasn't alone. He turned to find a young girl peering at him

from behind a tree. He walked over and discovered Serenity, giggling.

"Do you always talk to yourself?" Serenity giggled, embracing him.

"No, but then again, I'm not myself today. I haven't been myself since yesterday before I

saw you again." He kissed her forehead where the golden moon crescent was, then her nose, then her

mouth, gently. "By the way, I thought we were going to meet on the Moon at eleven. You're a few hours

early, Princess."

"I simply couldn't wait to see you, Endy. Last night... was the most wonderful night of my life."

Serenity sighed, placing her head against Endymion's broad strong chest. The top of her head fit perfectly

under Endymion's chin, and he smiled.

"Well, Bunny Princess," said he, "be prepared for many more 'wonderful nights,' together, with me.

I know there is a taboo, one where we shouldn't fall in love, but I fear it's too late. In that case, I

want to marry you." The last words stuck in Endymion's throat. He had never proposed before. He was

nervous but knew it was what he wanted more than anything.

Serenity lifted her head. "Really? You mean it?"

"Yes, but not until you're older, though." He knew it would kill him, but he would wait until the

end of time for this angel.

Serenity's face fell. "'Older?'" She repeated, her eyebrows drawing together. "But, why, Endy?"

"You can't get married when you're thirteen, it's much too young. But I promise you I'll wait if

you will."

"I promise."

Another young woman watched on, hidden in the shadows of the trees. She turned and leaned her back

against the tree, sighing irritably. "'I promise.'" She mocked in a fake shrill voice. "Well," she stated,

her voice lowering to its normal pitch, her red-orange eyes gleaming in a mysteriously evil way, "I don't

think that promise will last too long, Serenity. Endymion will see the error of his ways soon enough. Then,

oh, yes, then he'll come back to me. He'll love me, the way I love him!" A mysterious cackle left her

throat and she stalked off to some unknown part of the palace that was her master's magic room. The young

red-brown haired woman was the apprentice of Sage Callypso, the sorceress. It was time for her lessons,

and she didn't want to miss them. She felt that someday they would come in handy, perhaps when she got

Endymion to fall in love with her.

The Sage looked up from her spell book and scowled. "You're late, Beryl."

To Be Continued....

The story didn't exactly go how I thought it was going to, but I think it turned out okay, don't you think?

Hope you all want to see the next part!

LITTLE FOOTNOTES:

* "Et tu" comes from Shakespear's "Julius Ceasar" when Ceasar says "Et tu, Brute?" which means "You too,

Brutus?"