Title: Chronicles of the Moon: Life of the Late Queen Serenity

By: semper_fi

Email: Goodnight_Spoon@hotmail.com or LadieAJ@sailormoon.com

Rated: TV PG; D, V, L?

Started: 4:07 PM; May 11th 2002

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is copyrighted as follows…Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha Ltd., DiC, CWI, Pioneer, Mixx, and quite a few other people. Any characters that you do not recognize are my inventions, and I would prefer that you not use them, except in and under special conditions.

Author's Notes:

Comin' at ya from Michigan with yet another fanfic…it's AJ! This fic is (like most of my others) quite "different", and although it's not impossible that someone else has written one similar to this one, I've never heard of it. Anywhoo…it's VERY IMPORTANT that you read this part, so that you understand how this fic'll be. This is surrounding the life of Queen Serenity – not Neo Queen Serenity. Queen Serenity (as in Sailor Moon's mother). This is about her life on the Moon; so if yer lookin' for *ANOTHER* Serena/Usagi/Serenity+Darien/Mamoru/Endymion fic…look somewhere else! That couple is highly over-used and over-rated. And their relationship is semi-immature anyway.

Hehehe…enough of my chattering.

Shout-outs/dedications/recommendations: if you like reading quirky, true-to-life romances that are not about Usagi and Mamoru, "Ami's Diaries" is for you. It's by Lady Guinevere, an extremely talented author and personal friend of mine. Also, for you Michiru+Haruka fans, anything by Rapha-chan is a great read. I would like to dedicate this fic to my buddies: Cindi, Ania, Sara, and my real-life sister, Rocky, who also writes.

Okay…here's the fic!

~~

Serene I fold my hands and wait,

Nor care for wind or tide nor sea;

I rage no more 'gainst time or fate,

For lo! my own shall come to me.

--John Burroughs, Waiting

Serenity stood straight, shoulders back, stomach in, chin up. Servants scurried about her room, their quick movements not drawing her eye. Her long white hair fell loose, draping onto the floor. A Lunarian's hair was her crowning glory, and it was said that it grew to such a length because of the effect Earth's glow had on it. It was for that reason that children born on the Moon were always given a room where the earthlight could shine upon them while they slept, nourishing their hair to grow long and pale, although only children of the royal line had hair of pure white.

Three servants approached Serenity, heads down; it was forbidden to look the king, queen, or even their heir in the eye. Serenity, who was wearing nothing but a white nightgown, held her arms out to the sides so that they were level with her shoulders. One servant, an older woman, unbuttoned the princess' nightgown and slid it off.

Serenity sucked air through her nose, and willed herself not to shiver, as she stepped out of her nightgown. A white dress was presented to her Queen mother, who sat in a chair on the other side of the room. At the queen's nod, the servants began dressing Serenity.

First came a white slip, which had a high neckline, long sleeves, and fell to the ground. A petticoat was added, then another and another. Each was smooth and billowy, with ruffles at the bottom. A loose-fitting white blouse was arranged on Serenity, and buttoned in the back. It had a very high collar, which almost overlapped her shoulders when lain flat, as it was now. There were slight ruffles at the top of the collar. The sleeves were almost snug at the top, but began to cling and bell outward at the elbow, and hung so long that they overlapped Serenity's fingertips, as was the custom.

Next came a long skirt, which came to the top ruffle of her petticoats. It ruffled as well, and when the servants had buttoned it up, three perfect lines of ruffles were visible. The skirt, too, was white, billowy, and very soft. Embroidered across it in random patches were dozens of tiny moons, done in thread that shimmered. A white, sleeveless robe was next, and it had ruffles upon ruffles across the breast, where it clasped.

Now came the accessories. Serenity lifted one foot, then the other, and the servants slipped white sandals onto her feet. A wide belt woven of white gold and melded into silver moons was presented to the Queen mother, who rose from her seat and took it into her hands. The belt was perhaps six inches wide, and tapered into white tassels at either end. The queen ceremoniously arranged it on her daughter, tying the tassels in the front. This was to symbolize that Serenity was no longer a child, but a woman, and old enough to marry. Now she was permitted to show the shape of her waist, and would never again wear a dress with an empire-waistline, as she had since the age of ten, when she was christened and publicly acknowledged as Crown-Princess to the Moon.

Serenity bowed her head reverently, and the queen went back to sit in her chair by the window. Now Serenity brought her arms out in front of her, and strong, wide bands made of white gold were clamped onto her wrists. She let her arms drop to her sides.

A servant stepped forward, bearing a choker. It was identical to Serenity's belt, and was tied onto the princess' neck, holding up her high collar, which still hung over the edges of the choker. The bracelets and choker were commonplace, as it was forbidden for a Lady to bare her neck or wrists; those three spots were suppose to be the most vulnerable, and also the most sensual. They were not to be seen by anyone, save close friends, family and servants of the same gender.

Last came a short, sheer veil, which shimmered. It was arranged so as to hide Serenity's face below the eyes, and Serenity had to force herself not to groan at this. Veils were not a necessity, and were only worn by the highest of nobility, as if to single themselves out and proclaim themselves better than others, even of their class…in addition to that, it made eating politely and in a dignified manner almost impossible.

Their task finished, the servants all scurried off, leaving Serenity and her mother to their privacy.

The Queen mother got up from her chair, and walked to Serenity at a dignified pace, not speaking until she had reached a proper distance for conversation. "Today is the day, Serenity; you are now a woman. Happy birthday."

Serenity bowed her head. "Thank you, mother."

The queen drew herself up, as if making a decision, then swooped Serenity into a fierce embrace. Before Serenity could think to respond, as the royalties frowned upon physical contact, her mother had released her, and was hurrying from the room.

"The guests are beginning to arrive," her voice floated to Serenity as the queen opened the door. "You are to make your entrance in exactly one hour." Then she was gone.

"Yes, mother," Serenity said to the empty room.

She stood there, motionless, for a moment, before realizing that what her mother said was true; she had an entire hour to herself. Serenity could not recall the last time she had been permitted any privacy, although she was usually lonely; even when forced to entertain among her fluttering Ladies.

Almost as if on cue, there was a knocking at the door. Serenity froze, suspecting that it was a certain Lady Tranquility, who just couldn't seem to keep her distance, in the hope of earning favor with the High King's daughter. Although Tranquility was but a few years older than Serenity, and certainly of good stock, the two had never been close, and Serenity found her company tedious if not fake. The only daughter of a neighboring kingdom, Tranquility sought power that she never could control, and seemed perfectly happy with her lot in life; she attended all the parties, wore all the latest fashions, and was friends with all the nobles.

Serenity, while she was favored for her obedience and beauty, was kept on a short rein, and went to balls with the evening planned out: dance with that elderly duke to gain favor and good will toward her father; smile at the new princeling to win her father an ally; and generally be the perfect princess—as she was trained to be.

The knock came again, and Serenity found herself holding her breath, lest it should betray her presence. Finally, after five minutes passed and the knocking had discontinued, Serenity decided to head to the ball, although she had time to spare.

Opening her door slowly, Serenity peeked out before walking into the hallway. The hallways consisted of white marble, and little else. Cursing the loud sound that her feet made when hitting the floor, Serenity adjusted her pace, and crept down the hallways.

She had only been walking for a few minutes when she passed her father's study, which also doubled as a conference room to very important guests. This had always been a very special place for her, although her father had forbidden her access to the room by her seventh birthday, when he found her hiding behind curtains on the balcony during a meeting.

But now he wasn't there, and Serenity still had over thirty minutes before she was to make her entrance. Taking a furtive look around, Serenity placed her finger on the doorknob. There was a small nip, as a device inside took some of her blood—to ensure that she was not only nobility or royalty, but of the High King's direct line—then there was a clicking noise, and Serenity was able to open the door.

To step into the study was to step into another world. A glistening mahogany desk sat before the balcony, centered nicely, and rugs littered the floor. On one wall—and one might note that the walls were painted a cool, faded green—hung a portrait of the royal family, and the others were covered with maps, and strategies. The room smelled faintly of ink and paper, as well as the signature cologne that the king loved to wear.

Serenity wandered to the high-backed chair behind her father's desk, and sat down in it, pulling her hair out from underneath her. The princess leaned back into the chair, slouching, and sighed contentedly.

There was a sudden rattling, and Serenity jumped up. Someone was coming into the study, and she must not be caught where she was forbidden to be. The door was starting to open now, and Serenity hurried onto the balcony, pulling the curtains closed behind her. She could not see into the study, but could hear clearly enough, as what sounded like two men walked in. One was obviously her father; Serenity could always pick his controlled, dignified gait out in a room. The other's steps were quicker, but not to the point of paranoia.

The scent of cologne wafted to Serenity, and there was a creaking sound as the king took his seat. The other man remained standing.

"Let's make this quick, shall we? Today is a day of celebration, not politics."

"Yes, Your Majesty. I quite understand, and I would not bring this up at such a time, were it not of great urgency…"

Serenity recognized the voice as that of Charles, her father's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

"Proceed."

"The planets are in turmoil, Majesty. Mars and Jupiter bicker relentlessly, each claiming the others' strength is an impressive show of bravado. Uranus resents Venus, seeing them as petty; a waste of space. Earth is quite far behind us all by means of technology, and their latest escapade into space resulted in a crash on Mercury, for which the royals argue is an attempted raid, not an accident. Pluto keeps to itself, but its research into Time is starting to become fruitful, and Mars blames it for everything and anything. Saturn, as we all know, is the home of mages and wizards beyond our understanding…one of their experiments went wrong and nearly threw Jupiter off orbit, and just a bit closer to Mars, who took the advance as an attack. Mars demands our assistance in a siege against Jupiter, for without us they cannot hope to win; they're little more than religious zealots with weapons training, them. Saturn's spies found this out and tattled to Jupiter, in the hopes of winning back good will. The High King of Jupiter demands our answer, and the…"

"Enough," there was a pause, and Serenity could picture her father rubbing his temples. "I wish to hear no more of their squabbles. I will deal with it later; right now I have a Coming of Age celebration to attend, and you know how the Queen dislikes tardiness."

"Yes, sire."

"Report to me tomorrow, before the midday meal. Dismissed."

"Yes, sire. Good day, sire."

The quick steps were drown out as the king rose from his creaking throne, and the two men headed for the door. It wasn't until it had shut that Serenity dared to rise from her hiding place, and then she stood in the study, quiet as the dead.

The planets at war? Serenity shook her head. Father will take care of it; he always has.

Serenity ran down the hallways, knowing that to walk would make her late, and insult the royals, who were affronted easily. As she reached the ballroom doors servants hurried her off to the backstage area, where she was powdered and fussed over. She could hear from the other side of the thick curtains her father making a speech from the dais. As the speech wound to an end she was placed behind the curtains and to the side, as she was not the first to enter the ballroom. First the minor nobility and visiting dignitaries would be announced and would make their entrance into the ballroom, in a "paving the path" type ritual, then Serenity would make her entrance.

An announcer droned. "The duke and duchess of Dun…"

Serenity fidgeted, never having liked grand entrances, although they were what she was born for. The names continued, until the servants hurried her closer to the curtain, a sure sign that her name was close at hand.

"…Their Majesties, King Leon, Queen Grace, and Crown-Prince Raphael of Constance; betrothed to Crown-Princess Serenity…"

Serenity stood stock still, trying to register the words. She felt numb. The king was talking again.

"…It is now my privilege and deepest honor, to present to you my daughter, who is no longer a child but a woman, and as such is being wed to Crown-Prince Raphael during the Summer Invocation. I give you my daughter!"

The curtains were flung open, and Serenity's training took control. She curtsied, and took the corner of her skirt with one hand, lifting up. With the other hand resting lightly on the guardrail, she descended the stairs into the center of the ballroom. A young man waited for her at the bottom of the staircase, and he bowed deeply, while she curtsied. He offered her his arm, and Serenity took it. The two headed for the dais, the crowds parting as they went.

The King and Queen stood as they approached, and the Queen curtsied, spreading her skirts wide. Serenity and her escort curtsied and bowed in turn, and he left them. The king took Serenity by the arm, and led her to a throne at his left-hand side, where she sat.

Jonathan, the Prime Minister, knelt before Serenity, and she offered him her foot. Ceremoniously, he unfastened her sandals, and pulling a new pair of sandals from his robes, began lacing them up. Serenity kept her eyes on the crowds; she already knew what this ceremony would entail. The Prime Minister was simply changing her sandal-flats to a pair identical, save that the new ones had heels. This was to signify her entrance into womanhood.

Serenity's face felt flushed, and her thoughts seemed thick and sluggish. No, she thought. Not this way. They wouldn't do it this way. But she knew that they would, and had. Serenity wanted to stop the party, and to demand an answer. She had grown up knowing that she would someday be married, and that it would be a marriage of convenience, but somehow she had lead herself to believe that the time just wouldn't come before she was ready. And regardless of her fantasies, Serenity had never imagined her parents would spring the marriage on her in such a public fashion.

…But now her father was standing, and offering her his hand. Serenity took it, and the two royals walked onto the dance floor. A soft piece was playing, and they began to dance; just as they teachers had instructed them to.

It had been hours, but the ball was one that would last all day, and for another fourteen after that, each day of feasting representing one of Serenity's fifteen years. Every night she must make another grand entrance, and each was expected to be more lavish then the last.

Feeling ill and light-headed, Serenity wound her way through the crowds of milling nobles, and out into the Royal Gardens. A few couples lounged on antique benches, but that night, early summer was too cold for most to endure, what with drink and warmth so close by. As for the weather, Serenity paid it no heed.

She kept to the shadows, and hoped that no one would see her. Serenity walked along the outside of the castle until she reached the walls. The walls were made of a speckeldy, resilient stone that had been melted and stirred, while liquid diamonds were added to the concoction; for it was common knowledge that nothing could break diamonds, save another diamond.

Serenity slumped against the wall, and felt its unyielding frigidness against her cheek. She looked up, and the wall went up for as far as the desolate moon princess could see. She sunk further down, and was soon sitting, nestled in a corner made halfway of wall and half of castle. As Serenity slouched further, her hair caught on the texture of the palace, and she spun to untangle herself. The quick movement snagged one of her long belled sleeves, and Serenity pulled. Her sleeve gave before her hair did, tearing, and all Serenity could think was, Mother will be so upset.

The thought brought tears as Serenity remembered her evening, and her betrothal. The Spring Invocation was but weeks away, and to throw a royal wedding together so fast was impossible. The truth glared at her, bright and as unyielding as the palace walls: her parents had been planning this wedding for at least seven months, and had simply not seen fit to tell her.

As she cried, Serenity braced her hand against the palace and yanked her soft hair from the bricks. Then an idea came to her. The wall had no handholds, and was smooth as silk, but the palace did…

"Something troubling you, Highness?"

Serenity spun, and a hooded figure greeted her. Gender was hard to tell, as the person was very tall, and wrapped in gray robes. No hair was visible, and the face was shadowed like a hood. Serenity stared at the material; it was shabby and thin. A commoner?

Serenity disregarded the idea at once. Guards stood at all the entrances into the palace, and were only admitting through the main gates. Also, as a special precaution, they carried Trackers, small pen-like handheld machines that took samples of blood and could tell if the person was to be permitted or not. This celebration was open to all royalty and even minor nobility; there was no guest list. There were, however, the guards. Should someone not qualify—that is, should their blood prove them unworthy—they would be turned away.

"Highness?"

Serenity realized that she had been staring for much longer than was polite. Not remembering the initial question, Serenity answered with, "Yes."

The figure moved closer. "Talking about it sometimes helps."

Realizing that she had misspoken, Serenity sought to explain. "No, I mean…I'm alright…I just," she sighed. This is not the way that a princess conducts herself. "I'll be alright." She answered. "Thank you for your consideration, though."

The person nodded sympathetically. "The marriage surprised us all, princess."

Serenity looked up at the person sharply, but she was alone. Sighing, Serenity whispered, "No one more than I."

Taking a look about to ensure that she was truly alone, Serenity began to place her fingers in the handholds the palace offered, and slowly, using windowsills and the wall itself for support, she climbed the wall. It took longer than she perceived it as—the better part of two hours—but then Serenity was on top. Her dress was dirtied and she could smell her own sweat, but the exertion felt good. The guards would not patrol this part of the wall for another thirty-seven minutes, so she was safe from prying eyes.

Walking across the wall, Serenity reached the edge, built to keep soldiers from falling to their deaths. She looked over, and the height made her dizzy; that she had climbed up but moments earlier seemed ludicrous. Taking a deep breath, Serenity stepped up onto the edge, and held her arms out at her sides, as if she could fly away, leaving it all behind. The jump presented a solution to all her problems; no more marriage, no more parties, no more intrigue…

At that moment her foot set on something and she slipped. Serenity fell hard on the stones, landing on her bottom. A spying glass rolled away, gleaming slyly. Taking the spying glass in her hand, Serenity stood up and held it to her right eye, looking in the direction of the city. The last colors of twilight were fading, and she saw people tending horses and closing shops. They went on about their lives; oblivious to the danger they would be in should their king or queen make a decision that turned fatal. Oblivious to the planets' strife. Oblivious to her unhappiness.

She looked to the center of the large city, where there were the bathing houses, the arena, and the marketplace. One bright tent drew her attention, but not as much as the girl in front of it. She wore dirty rags, and her hair was cropped short. A thick metal collar was around her throat, and the bracelets covering her wrists looked more like shackles. She sneaked around the tent, and Serenity saw that there was a chain attached to her collar. The girl, who could not have been more than thirteen, knelt, and searched for something in the sparse grass. Then she straightened, and Serenity and to squint to see what she held. It was a large, sharp rock.

Kneeling again, the girl began to bash it against the chain, which must have tethered her to something, although Serenity could not see. The girl continued to hit the chain, and then a guard walked up. The girl started violently, then cowered. The guard said something to her, and then pulled her, by the wrists, to her feet. He slid her shackles farther up her arms, so that they rested on her elbows, and the girl began to cry.

Serenity felt her cheeks grew hot in a mixture of embarrassment for the girl and anger at the guard. The guard held up a Tracker and put it to the bottom of girl's right wrist, and at that moment another man came up, this one out of the bright tent. He made a loud noise when he saw the girl, and cuffed her on the side of the head. She fell to the ground, trembling, and the man thanked the guard. Then he grabbed the girl by her collar and flung her to her feet. The girl complied, and then he was dragging her into the tent.

Serenity saw it before the man did; the girl still had her sharp rock. She came alive at that moment, and attempted to stab the man. The guard had obviously noticed it at the same time as Serenity, and was able to knock away the girl's desperate attack. Screaming in fury, the man swung at the girl, his closed fist catching her on the neck. She began to shake and hyperventilate, but the man paid it no heed, and continued to hit and kick her even as she fell to the ground. The guard did nothing, but when the man's violent tantrum was over he shook her head, shrugging, and said something that made the man laugh. The two parted ways, leaving the girl's battered corpse on the ground to bleed.

After she had recovered from the initial shock, Serenity stepped back from the edge; she had a cause.

Well, what did you think? I decided to revise this first chapter because some of the stuff just didn't fit. I only had to add one sentence, though. Did you catch it?

Anyway, I'm hoping to already have chapter three out by the time that this goes up. Please continue to read and email me, and if you haven't yet, what are you waiting for?! I'll email you back; promise^^

Ja!

semper_fi

Goodnight_Spoon@hotmail.com