Embracing Destiny
Disclaimer: Don't own.
By Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Note: Quick note here, just so everyone's aware, this *is* a SilverM AU story. Meaning it does not follow the original facts of the Silver Millennium. I figured I should warn. ^_^
Chapter Fifteen: A Plan
Serenity watched the two from the palace window. She peered at them somewhat jealously, but in the end, happiness for her friend won out. Venus deserved to have someone, and her own heartbreak shouldn't matter. She was glad for the pair, they did look to care for each other, and they had a lot in common. Especially regarding their duties. Both were leaders of protectors, and both took their duties so seriously.
It was a good match.
Too bad Endymion wasn't here to see it.
She felt the familiar twist of agony in her heart at his name, and tears began to sting her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to allow it again. She would not cry where people could see her. She couldn't.
They already felt so much pity for her, she couldn't let them see how much it was truly tearing her up inside. She knew they'd worry less if she would just smile, but somehow... she couldn't. It wouldn't come. She tried, she really did, but her face wouldn't obey her.
She turned from the window, and made her way down the hall. She wasn't watching where she was going, simply staring down at her tiny feet as she moved through the palace.
"Serenity."
She glanced up in dread. "Jadeite..."
He smiled slightly, in sympathy not pity, and stepped up to her. "Sorry to intrude, Your Majesty."
She shook her head, quelling her trembling limbs. She didn't want to see them. It reminded her too much of him... "It's alright," she murmured.
He glanced out one of the side windows that lined the whole section of the palace they were currently in, and chuckled. "I see Kunzite finally got up the nerve."
She nodded. "I suppose."
He then glanced at her worriedly. She was afraid he was going to ask her if she was alright, and she was even more terrified that she'd finally snap if one more person did so.
Instead, however, he said, "Earth is in shambles."
She blinked. "How so?"
"Beryl has completely taken it over, and is using it as her base. She proclaimed herself queen."
Serenity sighed sadly. "What of the people?"
Jadeite scowled. "Killed. Everyone who even looks like they're thinking of rebelling gets killed immediately. Only the people willing to serve her have survived. As slaves."
"That's horrible..."
He nodded. "Yes, it is." He hesitated, then spoke softly. "Your Majesty, I know this is painful to hear, but I thought...it might help some. Endymion was there. He...wasn't himself, more of a puppet, but he's alive, and Zoycite says that the mind control is probably not permanent. And he's alive."
She nodded, looking away to hide the tears in her blue eyes. "Thank you, Jadeite."
"Serenity, he wouldn't want you to cry so much," he said softly, watching her. "He's safe, and his safety is our hope to retrieve him."
Sighing, she turned to look at him. "I know, but it hurts all the same," she whispered.
He watched her sadly. "I know."
She turned away again. "Thanks for talking with me, I should go now."
"Wait, Serenity," he interrupted.
Glancing back at him, she asked, "What is it?"
He hesitated. "It's nothing."
She nodded, and walked away from the man who only desired to protect the woman his prince loved. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the guardians, that only hurt her more.
~~~
"Luna, how is Serenity doing?"
The feline stretched on the foot of the queen's bed. Former queen, she corrected mentally. "Not well, Your Majesty," the black cat said, resting her chin in her paws as she looked at the woman reading for bed. "She is very much heartsick."
The silver-haired woman nodded. "I would not expect less. Do you think it would be wise to instruct the Senshi on the Senshi Teleport? Perhaps they could go in and save my daughter's young man."
Luna shook her head slightly. "That wouldn't be prudent, Your Majesty. That would only cause more problems. It would be better if one person snuck in, not nine, or even the minimum number of four, if the Inners do the teleport alone."
Serenity nodded. "Of course, you are right. What would this kingdom do without you?"
Luna laughed softly. "It is only your desire to heal your daughter's heart that makes you think of such things without proper planning. I would advise having the Senshi teleport one over. But who would that one be?"
The former queen appeared thoughtful for a few minutes as she brushed her silver hair absently. "One of his guardians. They are trained well. Kunzite, I would think."
Luna nodded. "You should let him decide for himself which of them to send. I do not think you will have an argument from any of them regarding a rescue mission. They are all worried about their prince."
"That is true." She looked at the lunar feline. "Do you think it would work, or will we be sending one of them to be captured or killed?"
"I think...it is always a possibility, Your Majesty, but to not try is worse. They have a good chance if what Kunzite reported is true. However, Endymion will be strongly guarded."
"I do not doubt that. My daughter will not tell us what Beryl said, only that she took Endymion, and I fear it is for a very evil purpose, Luna. She wanted him. For whatever reason, it was him she came for, even though she knew my daughter was unprotected and has the power to destroy her. It is puzzling."
"Perhaps she means to neutralize Serenity by inflicting such pain on her. I do not know the workings of this evil witch's mind. I only know that we have to try. Artemis or I could go with whoever we send. As a lookout, we are small enough. We won't be able to help fight, but stealth is needed, not strength."
Serenity hesitated then nodded. "I fear sending either of you into enemy territory, but perhaps you are right. We should let Serenity decide, however. She is queen now."
Luna nodded. "She makes wise decisions for one so young, even if her heart isn't in it."
Serenity smiled proudly, if a little sadly. "Yes, she is wise despite her youth. It is the pain in her eyes that haunt me, though. It makes me want to save this young man of hers myself. I'd use the Silver Crystal if I had to, just to make that sorrow disappear. I find myself wishing that she was still five and everything that hurt her I could heal with simple words and a kiss."
Luna watched the former queen sadly. "Children always grow up, Your Majesty."
Serenity nodded. "Yes, they do. And stop calling me by that title, Luna. I am not queen any longer. She is. Call me by my name."
The feline laughed. "Old habits are hard to break. I've served you for over 200 years, Your Majesty, and I was trained by my mother at birth to call you 'Your Majesty'."
She nodded. "I know. I wish to be called by my name now. I am helping run things for Serenity until she can function better, but I am not the queen any more."
"Why did you take Serenity to the Grove of Selene? Why did you give up your kingdom during such a crisis?"
"The legends, of course, of a descendant of Serene who falls in love with the Earth. Serenity is the one. I know it. I'm getting old, Luna. I may not look it, but I am. My heart hurts so much, and has these past 20 years. I ruled my kingdom and raised my daughter to rule after me. She has nothing left to learn from me. I am tired of ruling alone. I wish to see my Sollin again."
Luna's eyes softened. "I know it has been hard for you after the King's death, Your Majesty..."
She nodded. "I endured, though. And I strove to show nothing of this inner pain, not even to Serenity. But she's old enough now. She has help. She had Endymion to help her. Besides, when she gets him back, the Moon and the Earth will become one. It is best for all."
Luna watched the former queen sadly. "Only there isn't much left to rule, Your Majesty. The populations of the other planets are devastated. If anyone survives it..."
"I know. But someday... we can always rebuild."
"If there is a someday."
"Do not be so pessimistic, Luna. There will be. Serenity and her prince will ensure that."
"I hope so, Your Majesty," the feline murmured softly.
~~~
"You want one of the Guardians to go alone into the Earth palace?" the young queen asked in amazement.
"Not alone, Serenity. With Artemis."
Serenity blinked in shock. "But that's suicide! Why would you want to send one of them on this errand?"
"To rescue your prince, of course, daughter," the older woman remarked softly. "We cannot have too many people going, they'll be detected. Since you are queen now, it is up to you to approve the order."
Conflicting emotions waged on the newly-crowned queen. She so wanted to save Endymion, but could she truly send one of his own friends, his own guard, into enemy territory alone to save him? Could she send one of them to die?
"I..."
"It is the duty of the queen to know when the life of a man is expendable."
"Mother!" Serenity cried, appalled.
"You should never stop feeling remorse for such actions, of course. But when you weigh the needs of the kingdom against the life of one man... When you see how many lives can be saved by sacrificing one person..."
"I can't do that!"
"You must!" the older queen snapped. "You must learn that to be queen is to make sacrifices. In times of peace, that is not necessary, or as necessary, but this is war, Serenity. People will die. You simply have to help chose the lesser evil. You must help balance out the deaths so that one death will stop hundreds more. We need Prince Endymion back. His safety here will ensure hope for the rest of the Earth people. His knowledge and skill are vital to this war effort. He must be retrieved."
"I can't just send someone into certain death!" the young queen protested vehemently.
"It is not certain death, Serenity. It is a very real possibility, and it is likely, but to send someone to a needless death is not prudent at this time. If he succeeds, we get Endymion back. If he fails, we must try again."
"Mother!"
"You must decide, Serenity. And soon," and with those stern words, the former queen exited her daughter's private chambers. 'I'm sorry, Serenity...'
~~~
AN: Wow, longer this time... I'm working on the shortness of my chapters lately. It's just hard to write. *cough* Anywho...
Thanks to SilverWingPhoenix (Not in this story, they don't have to pass away, it just depends on the royalty and country or whatever, I suppose. Most of the time, yes, a person is King/Queen for life, and I wrote waaay in the first chapter she's 21, not below 20, and there really isn't an alarm system as the whole solar system has been at peace for hundreds of years as for the Senshi, Beryl is currently stronger then they are, so no, they didn't sense her until too late), daisy31, sqeekers, Sugar Spice Girl, Cereberus (THANK YOU!), Veronica, no use for a name, Faraday, and July (Nice idea, though I don't like Chibi that much to want to write that much about her. ^_^).
Lovies!
Disclaimer: Don't own.
By Selenity Jade (Jadesama@aol.com)
Note: Quick note here, just so everyone's aware, this *is* a SilverM AU story. Meaning it does not follow the original facts of the Silver Millennium. I figured I should warn. ^_^
Chapter Fifteen: A Plan
Serenity watched the two from the palace window. She peered at them somewhat jealously, but in the end, happiness for her friend won out. Venus deserved to have someone, and her own heartbreak shouldn't matter. She was glad for the pair, they did look to care for each other, and they had a lot in common. Especially regarding their duties. Both were leaders of protectors, and both took their duties so seriously.
It was a good match.
Too bad Endymion wasn't here to see it.
She felt the familiar twist of agony in her heart at his name, and tears began to sting her eyes. She blinked them back, refusing to allow it again. She would not cry where people could see her. She couldn't.
They already felt so much pity for her, she couldn't let them see how much it was truly tearing her up inside. She knew they'd worry less if she would just smile, but somehow... she couldn't. It wouldn't come. She tried, she really did, but her face wouldn't obey her.
She turned from the window, and made her way down the hall. She wasn't watching where she was going, simply staring down at her tiny feet as she moved through the palace.
"Serenity."
She glanced up in dread. "Jadeite..."
He smiled slightly, in sympathy not pity, and stepped up to her. "Sorry to intrude, Your Majesty."
She shook her head, quelling her trembling limbs. She didn't want to see them. It reminded her too much of him... "It's alright," she murmured.
He glanced out one of the side windows that lined the whole section of the palace they were currently in, and chuckled. "I see Kunzite finally got up the nerve."
She nodded. "I suppose."
He then glanced at her worriedly. She was afraid he was going to ask her if she was alright, and she was even more terrified that she'd finally snap if one more person did so.
Instead, however, he said, "Earth is in shambles."
She blinked. "How so?"
"Beryl has completely taken it over, and is using it as her base. She proclaimed herself queen."
Serenity sighed sadly. "What of the people?"
Jadeite scowled. "Killed. Everyone who even looks like they're thinking of rebelling gets killed immediately. Only the people willing to serve her have survived. As slaves."
"That's horrible..."
He nodded. "Yes, it is." He hesitated, then spoke softly. "Your Majesty, I know this is painful to hear, but I thought...it might help some. Endymion was there. He...wasn't himself, more of a puppet, but he's alive, and Zoycite says that the mind control is probably not permanent. And he's alive."
She nodded, looking away to hide the tears in her blue eyes. "Thank you, Jadeite."
"Serenity, he wouldn't want you to cry so much," he said softly, watching her. "He's safe, and his safety is our hope to retrieve him."
Sighing, she turned to look at him. "I know, but it hurts all the same," she whispered.
He watched her sadly. "I know."
She turned away again. "Thanks for talking with me, I should go now."
"Wait, Serenity," he interrupted.
Glancing back at him, she asked, "What is it?"
He hesitated. "It's nothing."
She nodded, and walked away from the man who only desired to protect the woman his prince loved. Unfortunately for him and the rest of the guardians, that only hurt her more.
~~~
"Luna, how is Serenity doing?"
The feline stretched on the foot of the queen's bed. Former queen, she corrected mentally. "Not well, Your Majesty," the black cat said, resting her chin in her paws as she looked at the woman reading for bed. "She is very much heartsick."
The silver-haired woman nodded. "I would not expect less. Do you think it would be wise to instruct the Senshi on the Senshi Teleport? Perhaps they could go in and save my daughter's young man."
Luna shook her head slightly. "That wouldn't be prudent, Your Majesty. That would only cause more problems. It would be better if one person snuck in, not nine, or even the minimum number of four, if the Inners do the teleport alone."
Serenity nodded. "Of course, you are right. What would this kingdom do without you?"
Luna laughed softly. "It is only your desire to heal your daughter's heart that makes you think of such things without proper planning. I would advise having the Senshi teleport one over. But who would that one be?"
The former queen appeared thoughtful for a few minutes as she brushed her silver hair absently. "One of his guardians. They are trained well. Kunzite, I would think."
Luna nodded. "You should let him decide for himself which of them to send. I do not think you will have an argument from any of them regarding a rescue mission. They are all worried about their prince."
"That is true." She looked at the lunar feline. "Do you think it would work, or will we be sending one of them to be captured or killed?"
"I think...it is always a possibility, Your Majesty, but to not try is worse. They have a good chance if what Kunzite reported is true. However, Endymion will be strongly guarded."
"I do not doubt that. My daughter will not tell us what Beryl said, only that she took Endymion, and I fear it is for a very evil purpose, Luna. She wanted him. For whatever reason, it was him she came for, even though she knew my daughter was unprotected and has the power to destroy her. It is puzzling."
"Perhaps she means to neutralize Serenity by inflicting such pain on her. I do not know the workings of this evil witch's mind. I only know that we have to try. Artemis or I could go with whoever we send. As a lookout, we are small enough. We won't be able to help fight, but stealth is needed, not strength."
Serenity hesitated then nodded. "I fear sending either of you into enemy territory, but perhaps you are right. We should let Serenity decide, however. She is queen now."
Luna nodded. "She makes wise decisions for one so young, even if her heart isn't in it."
Serenity smiled proudly, if a little sadly. "Yes, she is wise despite her youth. It is the pain in her eyes that haunt me, though. It makes me want to save this young man of hers myself. I'd use the Silver Crystal if I had to, just to make that sorrow disappear. I find myself wishing that she was still five and everything that hurt her I could heal with simple words and a kiss."
Luna watched the former queen sadly. "Children always grow up, Your Majesty."
Serenity nodded. "Yes, they do. And stop calling me by that title, Luna. I am not queen any longer. She is. Call me by my name."
The feline laughed. "Old habits are hard to break. I've served you for over 200 years, Your Majesty, and I was trained by my mother at birth to call you 'Your Majesty'."
She nodded. "I know. I wish to be called by my name now. I am helping run things for Serenity until she can function better, but I am not the queen any more."
"Why did you take Serenity to the Grove of Selene? Why did you give up your kingdom during such a crisis?"
"The legends, of course, of a descendant of Serene who falls in love with the Earth. Serenity is the one. I know it. I'm getting old, Luna. I may not look it, but I am. My heart hurts so much, and has these past 20 years. I ruled my kingdom and raised my daughter to rule after me. She has nothing left to learn from me. I am tired of ruling alone. I wish to see my Sollin again."
Luna's eyes softened. "I know it has been hard for you after the King's death, Your Majesty..."
She nodded. "I endured, though. And I strove to show nothing of this inner pain, not even to Serenity. But she's old enough now. She has help. She had Endymion to help her. Besides, when she gets him back, the Moon and the Earth will become one. It is best for all."
Luna watched the former queen sadly. "Only there isn't much left to rule, Your Majesty. The populations of the other planets are devastated. If anyone survives it..."
"I know. But someday... we can always rebuild."
"If there is a someday."
"Do not be so pessimistic, Luna. There will be. Serenity and her prince will ensure that."
"I hope so, Your Majesty," the feline murmured softly.
~~~
"You want one of the Guardians to go alone into the Earth palace?" the young queen asked in amazement.
"Not alone, Serenity. With Artemis."
Serenity blinked in shock. "But that's suicide! Why would you want to send one of them on this errand?"
"To rescue your prince, of course, daughter," the older woman remarked softly. "We cannot have too many people going, they'll be detected. Since you are queen now, it is up to you to approve the order."
Conflicting emotions waged on the newly-crowned queen. She so wanted to save Endymion, but could she truly send one of his own friends, his own guard, into enemy territory alone to save him? Could she send one of them to die?
"I..."
"It is the duty of the queen to know when the life of a man is expendable."
"Mother!" Serenity cried, appalled.
"You should never stop feeling remorse for such actions, of course. But when you weigh the needs of the kingdom against the life of one man... When you see how many lives can be saved by sacrificing one person..."
"I can't do that!"
"You must!" the older queen snapped. "You must learn that to be queen is to make sacrifices. In times of peace, that is not necessary, or as necessary, but this is war, Serenity. People will die. You simply have to help chose the lesser evil. You must help balance out the deaths so that one death will stop hundreds more. We need Prince Endymion back. His safety here will ensure hope for the rest of the Earth people. His knowledge and skill are vital to this war effort. He must be retrieved."
"I can't just send someone into certain death!" the young queen protested vehemently.
"It is not certain death, Serenity. It is a very real possibility, and it is likely, but to send someone to a needless death is not prudent at this time. If he succeeds, we get Endymion back. If he fails, we must try again."
"Mother!"
"You must decide, Serenity. And soon," and with those stern words, the former queen exited her daughter's private chambers. 'I'm sorry, Serenity...'
~~~
AN: Wow, longer this time... I'm working on the shortness of my chapters lately. It's just hard to write. *cough* Anywho...
Thanks to SilverWingPhoenix (Not in this story, they don't have to pass away, it just depends on the royalty and country or whatever, I suppose. Most of the time, yes, a person is King/Queen for life, and I wrote waaay in the first chapter she's 21, not below 20, and there really isn't an alarm system as the whole solar system has been at peace for hundreds of years as for the Senshi, Beryl is currently stronger then they are, so no, they didn't sense her until too late), daisy31, sqeekers, Sugar Spice Girl, Cereberus (THANK YOU!), Veronica, no use for a name, Faraday, and July (Nice idea, though I don't like Chibi that much to want to write that much about her. ^_^).
Lovies!