Author's Note: Uhm, again, no translastions ^-^ Review, review, review!
Chapter Four
Days later, Endymion was back home in his own solar system, visiting Serenity a few hours before the ball began.
"Mother's spending some time with Selena before the ball. Afterwards, she supposed to spend some time with me and some of the other girls. Mother agreed to let us go off for a while."
"Sounds like fun."
"Endymion, are you all right? You have been so quiet since you got back from your trip."
"Oh... I am all right. I suppose I am just wondering how Selena will act around me. The last time I saw her, it seemed like she would rather have me die than see me again."
"Well, I have not had much chance to talk to her, but she seems much happier now. I am sure she has realized what is meant to be cannot be changed."
"Of course. Four years should have been plenty of time. I would be surprised if she even gives any of it any thought at all."
That night, the ball was almost, if not equally, as grand as the Princess Serenity's had been. All the palace staff had gossiped all day long, passing along the word from the few that had already seen her. They all had adored Selena as a child, and now could not wait to see her nearly grown up. The entire kingdom buzzed with excitement and anticipation. Never, in the entire Moon Kingdom's history, had there been two such balls in only one generation. If anything at all in the ballroom lacked the grandeur of the Princess Serenity's ball, it was easily made up for by how dazzled people were at seeing their miracle princess again.
Complete silence fell as they noticed their celebrated princess at the top of the staircase. No signal from the queen had been required. As Selena slowly descended the stairs with a gentle smile on her face, the people in the ballroom were amazed. It seemed that the princess had aged beyond her sixteen years and already become a woman. She was clothed in a white, fairly simple gown. With long sleeves, the dress was cut to reveal her slender shoulders, and it did not bell out but instead fell straight down with a short amount trailing behind. Her body filled out her dress well. But one change made very nearly the biggest difference. Not only did it give her the look of someone a few years older, it made her look decidedly more elegant and sophisticated. In place of her once long, waving hair was a hair cut that left her hair quite short, but still decidedly beautiful. Time almost seemed to freeze everyone else as they watched her cross the room to be with the queen and Serenity. When she finally sat down, the queen needed to signal for the music and dancing to continue.
"Selena... they're in such awe of you. I guess it really is your time to be in the limelight... I almost feel as if you're the next queen and I am simply here."
Selena laughed a little, shaking her head. "Hardly, Serenity. It is probably only because it has been four years since anyone last saw me."
They both looked up to find a man... no, woman, standing before them, dressed in a navy blue tuxedo. Princess Serenity smiled. "Princess Haruka! It has been so long since you last came to the Moon to visit!"
"Yes, and I must apologize for that. All of the outer planets have been quite busy lately. But, we are here now and, if it is alright, request that the two Moon princesses come to speak with us."
After receiving a nod of agreement from their mother they rose and left with Haruka, Selena hanging onto her arm as she gave small waves to people she recognized. Serenity was given the impression of a beauty queen.
They walked outside onto the balcony to find the other seven planetary princesses already out there. After they had politely greeted the two newcomers, Princess of Pluto took Selena off to the side.
"Princess..."
"Setsuna. I know what you are going to say. But look to the sky. It rains not. There is only Earth and a sea of stars to look upon, no dismal clouds."
The older of the two sighed. "That is true. Perhaps you do not truly know what you have done. What is done is done." She leaned down to hug the slightly shorter girl. "You will always be welcome at the Gates of Time, no matter what happens."
When they released each other, Selena slightly bewildered, Setsuna gestured to her fellow princesses of the outer planets. They joined hands, disappearing in a flare of their individual auras.
Selena joined the others now. "Where were they off to?"
"Oh, you know those four. Always expecting the worst. They're off to train and insist that after the ball, we go join them." By 'we' the Princess of Venus meant the inner princesses.
"I would not be so quick to assume they are wrong, Minako. You must remember who Setsuna is."
"Ami's right... But I don't understand why they could not have at least stayed for the ball." The Princess of Jupiter gladly agreed with the smartest of their number, the Princess of Mercury.
"Because those four are our system's outer defenses! They must begin training first and train harder and longer than any of us. If evil ever did enter our kingdom, then they would be the closest to its first attack. If they fail, then the Moon would be attacked-"
The Princess of Mars found a hand clamped over her mouth, and for the first time noticed that several people had stopped dancing to look out at her and listen.
Grinning sheepishly, she obligingly kept quiet.
Princess Serenity headed back inside with the inner planetary princesses, leaving Selena to herself for a few minutes.
Leaning forward against the balcony railing, Selena gazed up at the stars with a long sigh. Then a slow smile appeared on her lips, a happy smile that she was now getting used to wearing.
"Hello, Sela."
Turning around, Selena continued to smile, unabashed by the angered look Prince Endymion wore. "Hello."
Striding forward so that he may speak without being overhead, Endymion spoke furiously. "Hello?! Is that all you can say after you purposely laid such a vicious trap?"
The princess's smile fell just slightly as she turned back and leaned against the balcony again. "You promised me you would harbor no regrets over what we did."
"That was before I knew who you were! Selena, you must know that after all this time, that it is your sister that I want to be with! If you end up pregnant... you know what will happen. At the least, we'll both be banished for betrayal."
A faint smile came to her lips, and she turned to Endymion once more. "My dear Prince Endymion... don't you think I considered all that? If it so happens that I do have a child from it, Serenity will not know who its true father is. Not from me. That would be your decision alone." She paused briefly, looking up to the stars. "I know your love for my sister, and the love she had for you. I know it because I, too, feel it." She looked back to him once again, lavender orbs meeting blue. "I also know you will never look at me the same way you do my sister, because I know you will never love me that way. But even is I live an eternity, that night will have been enough for me. I will always love you, Endymion, no matter whom you may pledge your eternal love to."
Endymion's hard expression softened considerably. "Selena... you cannot know that already..."
"Can't I? I am two years older than my sister was when she fell in love with you, and I'm the age you were at the time. I've known you longer, and I know more about you. Serenity does not know that look you get in your eyes when you battle. She does not know how childish you can be when around friends. I know I cannot truly hope fore even friendship any longer, but only ask that you would treat any child I may bear as you would any niece."
"Selena, I-"
"Endymion! There you are!"
They both turned to find that Princess Serenity was approaching.
"I was looking all over for you!" She latched her arm through his. "What were you two up to all this time?"
Before Endymion could speak, Selena grinned. "Just catching up on lost time, sister dear. I was telling him about that duel I had at the dojo, fighting the man I had to switch hands for, remember?"
Endymion smiled as Serenity laughed merrily. "Yes! That was so amusing! I wish I could have seen you at it. Perhaps you two could duel one day?" She turned to look at Endymion. "To see how much she'd improved?"
Endymion nodded his head in silent agreement, not trusting himself to speak at the moment. He knew he could never bring himself to hurt his beloved in such a way. Serenity would never learn of this indiscretion from him, or anyone else for that matter.
As he was drawn back inside, Endymion glanced back to Selena. She stood alone and tall, as is bracing herself for a lifetime spent thus.
Chapter Four
Days later, Endymion was back home in his own solar system, visiting Serenity a few hours before the ball began.
"Mother's spending some time with Selena before the ball. Afterwards, she supposed to spend some time with me and some of the other girls. Mother agreed to let us go off for a while."
"Sounds like fun."
"Endymion, are you all right? You have been so quiet since you got back from your trip."
"Oh... I am all right. I suppose I am just wondering how Selena will act around me. The last time I saw her, it seemed like she would rather have me die than see me again."
"Well, I have not had much chance to talk to her, but she seems much happier now. I am sure she has realized what is meant to be cannot be changed."
"Of course. Four years should have been plenty of time. I would be surprised if she even gives any of it any thought at all."
That night, the ball was almost, if not equally, as grand as the Princess Serenity's had been. All the palace staff had gossiped all day long, passing along the word from the few that had already seen her. They all had adored Selena as a child, and now could not wait to see her nearly grown up. The entire kingdom buzzed with excitement and anticipation. Never, in the entire Moon Kingdom's history, had there been two such balls in only one generation. If anything at all in the ballroom lacked the grandeur of the Princess Serenity's ball, it was easily made up for by how dazzled people were at seeing their miracle princess again.
Complete silence fell as they noticed their celebrated princess at the top of the staircase. No signal from the queen had been required. As Selena slowly descended the stairs with a gentle smile on her face, the people in the ballroom were amazed. It seemed that the princess had aged beyond her sixteen years and already become a woman. She was clothed in a white, fairly simple gown. With long sleeves, the dress was cut to reveal her slender shoulders, and it did not bell out but instead fell straight down with a short amount trailing behind. Her body filled out her dress well. But one change made very nearly the biggest difference. Not only did it give her the look of someone a few years older, it made her look decidedly more elegant and sophisticated. In place of her once long, waving hair was a hair cut that left her hair quite short, but still decidedly beautiful. Time almost seemed to freeze everyone else as they watched her cross the room to be with the queen and Serenity. When she finally sat down, the queen needed to signal for the music and dancing to continue.
"Selena... they're in such awe of you. I guess it really is your time to be in the limelight... I almost feel as if you're the next queen and I am simply here."
Selena laughed a little, shaking her head. "Hardly, Serenity. It is probably only because it has been four years since anyone last saw me."
They both looked up to find a man... no, woman, standing before them, dressed in a navy blue tuxedo. Princess Serenity smiled. "Princess Haruka! It has been so long since you last came to the Moon to visit!"
"Yes, and I must apologize for that. All of the outer planets have been quite busy lately. But, we are here now and, if it is alright, request that the two Moon princesses come to speak with us."
After receiving a nod of agreement from their mother they rose and left with Haruka, Selena hanging onto her arm as she gave small waves to people she recognized. Serenity was given the impression of a beauty queen.
They walked outside onto the balcony to find the other seven planetary princesses already out there. After they had politely greeted the two newcomers, Princess of Pluto took Selena off to the side.
"Princess..."
"Setsuna. I know what you are going to say. But look to the sky. It rains not. There is only Earth and a sea of stars to look upon, no dismal clouds."
The older of the two sighed. "That is true. Perhaps you do not truly know what you have done. What is done is done." She leaned down to hug the slightly shorter girl. "You will always be welcome at the Gates of Time, no matter what happens."
When they released each other, Selena slightly bewildered, Setsuna gestured to her fellow princesses of the outer planets. They joined hands, disappearing in a flare of their individual auras.
Selena joined the others now. "Where were they off to?"
"Oh, you know those four. Always expecting the worst. They're off to train and insist that after the ball, we go join them." By 'we' the Princess of Venus meant the inner princesses.
"I would not be so quick to assume they are wrong, Minako. You must remember who Setsuna is."
"Ami's right... But I don't understand why they could not have at least stayed for the ball." The Princess of Jupiter gladly agreed with the smartest of their number, the Princess of Mercury.
"Because those four are our system's outer defenses! They must begin training first and train harder and longer than any of us. If evil ever did enter our kingdom, then they would be the closest to its first attack. If they fail, then the Moon would be attacked-"
The Princess of Mars found a hand clamped over her mouth, and for the first time noticed that several people had stopped dancing to look out at her and listen.
Grinning sheepishly, she obligingly kept quiet.
Princess Serenity headed back inside with the inner planetary princesses, leaving Selena to herself for a few minutes.
Leaning forward against the balcony railing, Selena gazed up at the stars with a long sigh. Then a slow smile appeared on her lips, a happy smile that she was now getting used to wearing.
"Hello, Sela."
Turning around, Selena continued to smile, unabashed by the angered look Prince Endymion wore. "Hello."
Striding forward so that he may speak without being overhead, Endymion spoke furiously. "Hello?! Is that all you can say after you purposely laid such a vicious trap?"
The princess's smile fell just slightly as she turned back and leaned against the balcony again. "You promised me you would harbor no regrets over what we did."
"That was before I knew who you were! Selena, you must know that after all this time, that it is your sister that I want to be with! If you end up pregnant... you know what will happen. At the least, we'll both be banished for betrayal."
A faint smile came to her lips, and she turned to Endymion once more. "My dear Prince Endymion... don't you think I considered all that? If it so happens that I do have a child from it, Serenity will not know who its true father is. Not from me. That would be your decision alone." She paused briefly, looking up to the stars. "I know your love for my sister, and the love she had for you. I know it because I, too, feel it." She looked back to him once again, lavender orbs meeting blue. "I also know you will never look at me the same way you do my sister, because I know you will never love me that way. But even is I live an eternity, that night will have been enough for me. I will always love you, Endymion, no matter whom you may pledge your eternal love to."
Endymion's hard expression softened considerably. "Selena... you cannot know that already..."
"Can't I? I am two years older than my sister was when she fell in love with you, and I'm the age you were at the time. I've known you longer, and I know more about you. Serenity does not know that look you get in your eyes when you battle. She does not know how childish you can be when around friends. I know I cannot truly hope fore even friendship any longer, but only ask that you would treat any child I may bear as you would any niece."
"Selena, I-"
"Endymion! There you are!"
They both turned to find that Princess Serenity was approaching.
"I was looking all over for you!" She latched her arm through his. "What were you two up to all this time?"
Before Endymion could speak, Selena grinned. "Just catching up on lost time, sister dear. I was telling him about that duel I had at the dojo, fighting the man I had to switch hands for, remember?"
Endymion smiled as Serenity laughed merrily. "Yes! That was so amusing! I wish I could have seen you at it. Perhaps you two could duel one day?" She turned to look at Endymion. "To see how much she'd improved?"
Endymion nodded his head in silent agreement, not trusting himself to speak at the moment. He knew he could never bring himself to hurt his beloved in such a way. Serenity would never learn of this indiscretion from him, or anyone else for that matter.
As he was drawn back inside, Endymion glanced back to Selena. She stood alone and tall, as is bracing herself for a lifetime spent thus.