Title: Chronicles of the Moon: Life of the Late Queen Serenity
By: semper_fi
Rated: TVPG
Eamil: Goodnight_Spoon@hotmail.com
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon, not mine. Story, mine.
It's been a loooong time, but I'm back at long last! My computer is still down, but I've managed to write a little on my palm pilot and hotsync it to my grandparents' computer Pathetic? Ohhh, yes ^___^.
Anyway, I can't say that the next installments will be any quicker in coming, but I certainly hope that you'll al continue to AIM/email me and write reviews.
I wanna thank Lady Elanial for editing most of this chapter for me (the rest I typed up a few seconds ago and never had the chance to send her). Muchas gracias (or however it's spelled), chica!
Well, that's all. Enjoy!
~~
In a world filled with pain Where's the love for which we pray? What's goin on When our children can't play Homeless can't eat There's gotta be a better way
~~
"Well, tell her that I'm ill!" Serenity cried. "But princess," Annie soothed, "The Queen insists." "But who knows how long her ridiculous breakfast will last?" Serenity was at the end of her rope. "I promised Mea that I would be there-stop that!" she swiped Artemis away from the lacy white dress that Annie had laid out for her. Serenity took a deep breath. "Annie," she tried again, "If I do not show up, Mea will think that I betrayed him. This is my last chance." "I know that as well as anyone, princess," Annie retorted. "But the Queen is adamant. She would have me drag your carcass into the Queen's Gardens 'fore she'd consent to your missing it. This breakfast is very important to her." "But why?" Serenity wondered loudly. Annie shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't be knowin', but you'd best let me dress you, princess. Who knows," she continued, "You may of yet get out early." "Not likely," Serenity muttered beneath her breath, but committed herself to Annie's ministries. Serenity had been dressing herself lately, but it was strangely comforting to have Annie dress her once again. When she was fully clothed, Serenity glanced in the tall looking glass mounted on the wall. Her dress-no, gown, Serenity corrected herself, for what she was wearing was as formal as if she were going into court. It was long, billowy, and modest. Serenity stared a moment longer, wondering why this would bother her, and then turned to face the ivory vanity, which sat in the corner of her chambers. Once she had made her way over to it, Serenity rummaged through one of the drawers until she found her collection of ribbons, and then, selecting two white ones, set to tying her hair up into the loose loops that so infuriated her parents and husband. "Have my cloak and a scroll citing that my 'servant' is to take my mare out for a run, placed in the saddlebag of my white mare. I shall try to keep both appointments, although I shall suffer through the first." Annie ignored the princess's sullen remark, and instead concentrated on tidying up Serenity's chambers. When Annie said nothing, Serenity frowned, and then left the room. On her way to the Queen's Gardens she thought about her behavior as of late. She was not exactly neglecting her duties, but barely squeaking by, and this bothered Serenity. She took her duties seriously; things were simply out of order at this time in her life. She had her new husband, who summoned her to the wedding chambers three nights a week, and in addition to Raphael there was Mea and the Cause. The Cause. Was it really worth it, she had wondered on more than one occasion. There was never a doubt in her mind when she was out with Mea, helping to liberate the enslaved, but it was when she was alone at night, most often when she was sitting up, awake and brewing her willchide tea, that she wondered if the comfort of the slaves was really as important as her royal duties. But then she would remember that it was not the comfort, but he very lives of slaves that were at risk. She felt torn in different directions; and remembered the nightmare she had had the night before, after stealing the blueprints to the arena. In the dream she had been sitting on a throne, but it was not her Crown-Princess throne; it was the throne made specifically for the High Queen of the Moon, and she was sitting on it, presiding over court. Case after case passed by, and she ruled fairly and justly. Then Raphael came in, and he was holding a baby-their baby. He kept trying to pass it to Serenity, but she had refused to take it, shoving it away until it fell from his arms, and he followed its decent to the floor, trying to catch it. But then he stood back up, and his back stayed hunched over. He was now holding Luna and Artemis, and his face was Mea's. Serenity had been horrified as he approached, alternately wanting to rush off with him and yearning to be the best queen-and that meant staying with her people. He had reached her by then, and when he tried to pull her off of the throne, she held on to the armrests like they were her lifeline. Serenity kept on tightening and loosening her grip on the throne, not able to make up her mind. Finally Mea lost his patience and stormed from the room. But now she wanted to go with him, wanted out of this ruling business, out of her marriage, and out of the palace. But her fingernails were set so deeply into the throne that they would not come out, and she had to stay there. Time passed and she became one with the throne, as though they were not separate entities but only one, and she was no more. Another ruler came and sat on the Serenity/throne, and another and another, but Mea never returned. She had awakened then, in a cold sweat and with her head filled with the last disturbing images of the dream. She had tried to pull the covers over herself, but Raphael had rolled to the end of the bed and taken them with him, and if she wanted them badly enough she would have to wriggle up alongside him. Serenity had wanted the covers, but not that badly. By now she had reached the Queen's Gardens, and heaved the door open. She walked through the foliage, keeping on the dirt path until she saw her Queen Mother. The queen had ordered for a blanket to be spread out, and various plain foods and wines had been set out. Another woman sat with the queen, and although she wore the livery of the palace, several badges and the cut and color of the clothing showed her to be a healer. Women born to privilege did not learn professions, but those few who were inclined to do so became midwives, although they were also schooled in regular medicine. These gifted few had to pass far more inspections than their male counterparts, but they earned their weight in coin every week, should they be employed by royalty, as was this woman, who seemed to be about thirty-something, and had strawberry-blonde hair. "Good afternoon, Serenity," the queen greeted. "May I introduce Felicity. She is of the family of Grace, and is here to see you." "Pleasure to meet you, Felicity," Serenity said politely, although she was getting nervous. "The pleasure is all mine, Highness," Felicity replied. There was over twenty minutes of pleasantries and polite chatter before the healer finally turned to Serenity and said, "I hear that you have been suffering from nausea for almost two months; that's about how long you've been married, correct?" "That's right," Serenity had a sickening notion that she knew where this was going. Felicity nodded to the Queen, almost imperceptibly. "Serenity," the queen started, "It is my wish that Felicity examine you." "What?" Serenity asked, although she was not very surprised. The queen shot Felicity a look, and the healer set to work, beginning by asking Serenity questions, some of them very personal. Soon her inspection turned physical, and this part lasted for almost thirty minutes. When she was finished, Felicity was frowning. "Has your cycle been regular, highness?" Serenity nodded falteringly. "At times," she embellished. Felicity nodded, and then she and the queen walked a few feet away, where they spoke in hushed tones. When they returned the queen was frowning, as was the healer. "You're to see Felicity again in five days time," the queen informed Serenity. "You may leave now, if you wish." Serenity nodded, curtsied to her Queen Mother, and hurried away.
Serenity was upset. She had ordered that Annie leave her cloak in her saddle bag, but it had not occurred to her then that by doing this, she was essentially shutting herself in the palace. She could not just walk into the stables, have her horse readied, and then "change" into her servant- girl persona. Not without raising questions and eyebrows, at least. Well, you've certainly gotten yourself into a royal mess, the Crystal said, and Serenity sensed glee behind the Crystal's words. It was, as usual, finding her setback amusing. "Crystal," Serenity warned. She could not speak very loudly, for she was hiding in the entrance to the stables, behind a tower of hay. She had been standing there for the last ten minutes, and this was the first time that the Crystal had added its input. There was a pause, then, Slip me around your neck. Serenity fished the Crystal out from her drawstring pouch, which she had taken to wearing as of late, and then arranged the Crystal around her neck. It hung almost beneath her breasts, thin chain almost invisible but for a twinkle as the light caught it. "Well?" Serenity prodded, when the Crystal said no more. Well what? Came the response. Hurry and get your horse; it will be midday in less than fifteen minutes. "But I." Serenity broke off with a sharp gasp. The Crystal, annoyed with her nagging, had sent a burst of light straight into Serenity's brain that burned across the back of her retinas and seemed forever etched in her memory. She blinked, vision doubling, and stumbled out from her hiding place. A servant dodged the Moon Princess, but only a few even turned their heads. Steadying herself, Serenity blinked. Her body felt hot, and bursts of cold shivers scampered up her spine. How could. Serenity swallowed. The Crystal, it. her mind still could not comprehend what had happened. The Crystal had lashed out at her in anger, and she had felt it physically. Serenity reached toward the Crystal's chain, intent on removing it from her neck forever. Don't, said the Crystal, its voice once again amiable. Remove me from your neck and the servants will see you as the Moon Princess. So long as you wear me, you will be nothing more than another body to them. Still in shock, Serenity just nodded.
Pushing open the wooden door, Serenity stepped out from the shed-like basement, which connected into the tunnels, and into the Cathedral's courtyard. She had tied her gelding to a tree in the woods, and left her cloak in the saddlebag. As the sunlight hit her, Serenity blinked and looked down. And saw her dress. It was smudged with dirt and grass-stains. Agitated, Serenity ran her fingers through her long white hair, shaking loose an array of dirt and twigs. When she rubbed at her dress it only made matters worse. Look up. Serenity's head snapped up. A guard was racing toward her. "You, there," he called. "Stand where you are and do not move!" Serenity gathered breath to speak, then let it trail out. As the guard approached her, Mea came out from a side door in the Cathedral. "Mea!" Serenity called. The guard's head whipped toward her. "What is it that you wish of Lordship?" "I." Serenity stopped. The Crystal! She remembered belatedly. Reaching to her throat, she removed the necklace quickly, stuffing it in her drawstring purse. "I said not to move! Are you stupid?" It was at that moment that Mea wobbled up, his hunched back making walking laborious. "What seems to be the matter, Benjamin?" he shot Serenity a look that clearly said, There had better not be a problem here. "This chit has no respect. I tell her to stand still and what does she do? Unclasps her necklace." The guard looked perturbed, and waved his spear in Serenity's general direction. "I don't recognize her, Lordship; I haven't the foggiest idea as to why she's runnin' about in the courtyard dressed like that." Suddenly his eyes widened. "I'll bet she's a spy!" he jabbed at Serenity with his spear. "What is that that you're carrying? Serenity was outraged. "That," she said distinctly, "Is none of your business." The Benjamin took a step forward, and Serenity shot Mea a look. Sighing, pretending to be exasperated, Mea hobbled forward and laid a hand on the guard's arm. Benjamin jerked his head toward Mea quickly. Then he turned and went back to patrolling, leaving Serenity and Mea where they stood. When Mea's eyes traveled to the scrolls, which Serenity held up her side, the Moon Princess hugged them closer to herself. Shaking his head very slightly, Mea turned and began walking away. When Serenity did not follow immediately, he turned around and raised both eyebrows at her, clearly impatient. As Serenity followed him, she wondered. After all that she had done, after all that she had been through, would he ever let her into the Cause completely? Of course not, replied the Crystal silkily. He's not a dolt. Although Serenity wished to reply to that with a quick, biting insult, the memory of the Crystal shocking her that morning seeped into her brain, and with it a cold sweat. It had been like nothing she had ever experienced. A cold, hot nothingness that made her head throb and her vision blur. Time had crawled by at a lightening fast pace, thoughts had contradicted themselves, and the ground beneath her feet had danced frantically. Serenity had felt unbalanced, indecisive, and crowded, as though her skin were stretched taught over her thoughts and feelings, and her soul was oozing from her eyes in the form of tears. But she hadn't cried, Serenity remembered. No, she had just stood there, and then gone about her day within minutes. Walking away from it as though nothing had happened at all, as though the Crystal was as much her friend as it ever was, and as though her small, foolish, uncoordinated actions could make a positive difference in the long haul. Perhaps even now the Crystal is reading my thoughts, Serenity mused. Or, perhaps she is controlling my thoughts; placing them in my head to induce paranoia. As they reached a door in the side of the cathedral, Serenity paused and waited for Mea to open the door for her. He stood and waited also, and it took Serenity a moment to realize that he expected her to open the door for him. Better placate him, the Crystal advised. Serenity scowled at no one in particular, and flung the door open quickly. It almost caught Mea on the shoulder, and he looked up at her agitatedly from beneath shaggy, overgrown bangs. Nevertheless, he shuffled through the door and Serenity hurried in behind him, letting the door shut so abruptly that it almost caught his heels. You're lucky that it didn't, the Crystal put in. Best not to toy with a man like that. Serenity was silent, but the next time that they came to a door-and the time after that, and on for the next ten minutes-Serenity opened it without being nudged or stared at, and was careful with how it swung closed. The direction that they had been traveling in was slightly upward, infrequently going up a short flight of stairs. The architecture was very gothic, and nothing like the sweeping stairways and easily accessible hallways of the Moon Palace. Everything was made of large gray rocks, most bigger than Serenity's head. There were no rugs on the floors, no tapestries on the walls, but there had been, she could tell. There were spots that seemed lighter than others, and Serenity guessed that whatever painting or decorative vase had been there once was long gone. Sold for food? She wondered, but couldn't help wishing that they were still there. She was not used to being in drab places, and they made her very uncomfortable. She was a bold contrast, what with her white gown, white hair, and white skin. They reached another door, this one with a guard standing in front of it. Like the other guards, he wore no uniform, and the only thing that set him apart from civilians was his glaive. Serenity stared at it. She had read of glaives, and even seen a picture of one in a book before, but they were rumored to be very rare, and something of legend. It was said that the only ones who knew whether glaives were real or not were the royals of Saturn, for it was from Saturn that the rumor had originated. When the guard saw Mea he opened the door for him and Serenity, and they walked into a room that was small by comparison to the rooms in the Moon Palace, but was actually on the larger side of the chambers in the building. By now Serenity guessed them to be on the third or fourth story of the cathedral, and the room's structure, as well as the various stairway ascensions that she and Mea had made in reaching the room supported that theory. The chamber itself was round, well lit, and there was a large table in the center of the room, obviously left over from before the cathedral had been plundered and its goods bartered away. The table was made entirely of stone, and intricately carved. The legs had vines and a great many runes chiseled into them, and on the top of the table was a shallowly carved cross-a crucifix, although Serenity had no way of knowing this. This building was once occupied by missionaries from Earth, the Crystal explained. No one knows how they managed to venture from their small planet to the Moon, but venture they did, and they brought with them their Christian beliefs. Had this cathedral built for them, they did, and then carved everything else themselves. The table that you are staring so avidly at used to be an altar. It was very holy to them. Back then Lunarians were very hostile to the missionaries, and, in fear, they secluded themselves to this room, taking with them their altar. A few years after that they moved on to another city, leaving the cathedral and their altar behind. The slaves moved in, and none of them had the strength to lift the altar, or even to budge it an inch from its spot. It has stayed here ever since, in a room that they now use for meetings. The information was conveyed to Serenity's mind in the blink of an eye, although it took Serenity a moment to process this all correctly, and then another few seconds to mull it over. "So, this is the Moon Princess," a voice taunted. Serenity snapped back to reality, and realized with a start that the room was occupied. Around the table sat three people; one Serenity recognized as a graying man in his mid thirties who was usually seen around Mea and ran odd tasks for him, and the others were Beryl and Nicolas, the guard. "David, Beryl, Nicolas," Mea gestured toward each as he said their names. He paused, and then turned slightly to the side so that he was facing no one. "Serenity." Serenity frowned; it was insulting to introduce her without using her full title: Her Royal Highness, Crown-Princess Serenity of the Moon. This was usually followed by a respectful tugging of one's forelock, a pressing of one's knuckle to their forehead, a curtsy, or a bow. Foolish princess, chided the Crystal. He won't be tamed by your expectations. There were two empty mix-matched chairs around the table, and as Mea took his Serenity quickly claimed her own. The chair was hard and she felt uncomfortable, but knew better than to raise any complaints. "Have you brought the blueprints?" Mea asked abruptly, although his voice was smooth and low; almost the purr of a feral cat. Having quite forgotten the scrolls at her side, Serenity was now thankful that she had brought them; there would be no small-talk, no appetizers-- they were here to plan, in essence, a war, and that was the only thing on their minds. "I have not neglected my end of the bargain," Serenity replied in a leisurely manner. Handing the scrolls over to Mea, she hoped that her hands had not left wet marks on the paper. Mea took the blueprints from Serenity with a curious look in his eyes, and held her gaze even as he released the scrolls from their cardboard casing. She was finally the one to look away, and then only because his eyes seemed to have burned her with their quiet intensity. Beautiful, isn't he? the Crystal commented. Not in a human way, though, nor in a physical way; no he could not truly be called attractive, not by the Moon's standards. But his voice is deep and his eyes are deeper. Disturbed by the Crystal's words, as well as by her own reaction to them, Serenity retorted, Well, he's all yours. Foolish princess, the Crystal repeated her its earlier phrase, but left it at that. Serenity tried not to look at Mea with any emotional attachment, but as she watched him stare at the blueprints, hovering over them in an almost miserly but definitely fatherly way, she was almost able to overlook his hunched back and dark hair. In fact, the dark hair gave him an edge up over other men--it made him exotic, in a way. But certainly not for a princess, Serenity thought fiercely. What am I thinking? He hasn't a drop of royal blood in his veins, and if the information I received at that meeting is to be trusted, it's possible he hasn't even a drop of Lunarian blood in him! Would that be so bad? The Crystal asked. Serenity didn't answer because, truthfully, she had been thinking the same thing.
WELL, whatcha think? I hope that you liked it.
IMPORTANT NEWS:
I'm putting on an awards ceremony, called the ASMR Readers Choice Fanfiction Awards. To nominate a fic/author or vote for your favorite, go to . Thanks!
AJ
It's been a loooong time, but I'm back at long last! My computer is still down, but I've managed to write a little on my palm pilot and hotsync it to my grandparents' computer Pathetic? Ohhh, yes ^___^.
Anyway, I can't say that the next installments will be any quicker in coming, but I certainly hope that you'll al continue to AIM/email me and write reviews.
I wanna thank Lady Elanial for editing most of this chapter for me (the rest I typed up a few seconds ago and never had the chance to send her). Muchas gracias (or however it's spelled), chica!
Well, that's all. Enjoy!
~~
In a world filled with pain Where's the love for which we pray? What's goin on When our children can't play Homeless can't eat There's gotta be a better way
~~
"Well, tell her that I'm ill!" Serenity cried. "But princess," Annie soothed, "The Queen insists." "But who knows how long her ridiculous breakfast will last?" Serenity was at the end of her rope. "I promised Mea that I would be there-stop that!" she swiped Artemis away from the lacy white dress that Annie had laid out for her. Serenity took a deep breath. "Annie," she tried again, "If I do not show up, Mea will think that I betrayed him. This is my last chance." "I know that as well as anyone, princess," Annie retorted. "But the Queen is adamant. She would have me drag your carcass into the Queen's Gardens 'fore she'd consent to your missing it. This breakfast is very important to her." "But why?" Serenity wondered loudly. Annie shrugged her shoulders. "I wouldn't be knowin', but you'd best let me dress you, princess. Who knows," she continued, "You may of yet get out early." "Not likely," Serenity muttered beneath her breath, but committed herself to Annie's ministries. Serenity had been dressing herself lately, but it was strangely comforting to have Annie dress her once again. When she was fully clothed, Serenity glanced in the tall looking glass mounted on the wall. Her dress-no, gown, Serenity corrected herself, for what she was wearing was as formal as if she were going into court. It was long, billowy, and modest. Serenity stared a moment longer, wondering why this would bother her, and then turned to face the ivory vanity, which sat in the corner of her chambers. Once she had made her way over to it, Serenity rummaged through one of the drawers until she found her collection of ribbons, and then, selecting two white ones, set to tying her hair up into the loose loops that so infuriated her parents and husband. "Have my cloak and a scroll citing that my 'servant' is to take my mare out for a run, placed in the saddlebag of my white mare. I shall try to keep both appointments, although I shall suffer through the first." Annie ignored the princess's sullen remark, and instead concentrated on tidying up Serenity's chambers. When Annie said nothing, Serenity frowned, and then left the room. On her way to the Queen's Gardens she thought about her behavior as of late. She was not exactly neglecting her duties, but barely squeaking by, and this bothered Serenity. She took her duties seriously; things were simply out of order at this time in her life. She had her new husband, who summoned her to the wedding chambers three nights a week, and in addition to Raphael there was Mea and the Cause. The Cause. Was it really worth it, she had wondered on more than one occasion. There was never a doubt in her mind when she was out with Mea, helping to liberate the enslaved, but it was when she was alone at night, most often when she was sitting up, awake and brewing her willchide tea, that she wondered if the comfort of the slaves was really as important as her royal duties. But then she would remember that it was not the comfort, but he very lives of slaves that were at risk. She felt torn in different directions; and remembered the nightmare she had had the night before, after stealing the blueprints to the arena. In the dream she had been sitting on a throne, but it was not her Crown-Princess throne; it was the throne made specifically for the High Queen of the Moon, and she was sitting on it, presiding over court. Case after case passed by, and she ruled fairly and justly. Then Raphael came in, and he was holding a baby-their baby. He kept trying to pass it to Serenity, but she had refused to take it, shoving it away until it fell from his arms, and he followed its decent to the floor, trying to catch it. But then he stood back up, and his back stayed hunched over. He was now holding Luna and Artemis, and his face was Mea's. Serenity had been horrified as he approached, alternately wanting to rush off with him and yearning to be the best queen-and that meant staying with her people. He had reached her by then, and when he tried to pull her off of the throne, she held on to the armrests like they were her lifeline. Serenity kept on tightening and loosening her grip on the throne, not able to make up her mind. Finally Mea lost his patience and stormed from the room. But now she wanted to go with him, wanted out of this ruling business, out of her marriage, and out of the palace. But her fingernails were set so deeply into the throne that they would not come out, and she had to stay there. Time passed and she became one with the throne, as though they were not separate entities but only one, and she was no more. Another ruler came and sat on the Serenity/throne, and another and another, but Mea never returned. She had awakened then, in a cold sweat and with her head filled with the last disturbing images of the dream. She had tried to pull the covers over herself, but Raphael had rolled to the end of the bed and taken them with him, and if she wanted them badly enough she would have to wriggle up alongside him. Serenity had wanted the covers, but not that badly. By now she had reached the Queen's Gardens, and heaved the door open. She walked through the foliage, keeping on the dirt path until she saw her Queen Mother. The queen had ordered for a blanket to be spread out, and various plain foods and wines had been set out. Another woman sat with the queen, and although she wore the livery of the palace, several badges and the cut and color of the clothing showed her to be a healer. Women born to privilege did not learn professions, but those few who were inclined to do so became midwives, although they were also schooled in regular medicine. These gifted few had to pass far more inspections than their male counterparts, but they earned their weight in coin every week, should they be employed by royalty, as was this woman, who seemed to be about thirty-something, and had strawberry-blonde hair. "Good afternoon, Serenity," the queen greeted. "May I introduce Felicity. She is of the family of Grace, and is here to see you." "Pleasure to meet you, Felicity," Serenity said politely, although she was getting nervous. "The pleasure is all mine, Highness," Felicity replied. There was over twenty minutes of pleasantries and polite chatter before the healer finally turned to Serenity and said, "I hear that you have been suffering from nausea for almost two months; that's about how long you've been married, correct?" "That's right," Serenity had a sickening notion that she knew where this was going. Felicity nodded to the Queen, almost imperceptibly. "Serenity," the queen started, "It is my wish that Felicity examine you." "What?" Serenity asked, although she was not very surprised. The queen shot Felicity a look, and the healer set to work, beginning by asking Serenity questions, some of them very personal. Soon her inspection turned physical, and this part lasted for almost thirty minutes. When she was finished, Felicity was frowning. "Has your cycle been regular, highness?" Serenity nodded falteringly. "At times," she embellished. Felicity nodded, and then she and the queen walked a few feet away, where they spoke in hushed tones. When they returned the queen was frowning, as was the healer. "You're to see Felicity again in five days time," the queen informed Serenity. "You may leave now, if you wish." Serenity nodded, curtsied to her Queen Mother, and hurried away.
Serenity was upset. She had ordered that Annie leave her cloak in her saddle bag, but it had not occurred to her then that by doing this, she was essentially shutting herself in the palace. She could not just walk into the stables, have her horse readied, and then "change" into her servant- girl persona. Not without raising questions and eyebrows, at least. Well, you've certainly gotten yourself into a royal mess, the Crystal said, and Serenity sensed glee behind the Crystal's words. It was, as usual, finding her setback amusing. "Crystal," Serenity warned. She could not speak very loudly, for she was hiding in the entrance to the stables, behind a tower of hay. She had been standing there for the last ten minutes, and this was the first time that the Crystal had added its input. There was a pause, then, Slip me around your neck. Serenity fished the Crystal out from her drawstring pouch, which she had taken to wearing as of late, and then arranged the Crystal around her neck. It hung almost beneath her breasts, thin chain almost invisible but for a twinkle as the light caught it. "Well?" Serenity prodded, when the Crystal said no more. Well what? Came the response. Hurry and get your horse; it will be midday in less than fifteen minutes. "But I." Serenity broke off with a sharp gasp. The Crystal, annoyed with her nagging, had sent a burst of light straight into Serenity's brain that burned across the back of her retinas and seemed forever etched in her memory. She blinked, vision doubling, and stumbled out from her hiding place. A servant dodged the Moon Princess, but only a few even turned their heads. Steadying herself, Serenity blinked. Her body felt hot, and bursts of cold shivers scampered up her spine. How could. Serenity swallowed. The Crystal, it. her mind still could not comprehend what had happened. The Crystal had lashed out at her in anger, and she had felt it physically. Serenity reached toward the Crystal's chain, intent on removing it from her neck forever. Don't, said the Crystal, its voice once again amiable. Remove me from your neck and the servants will see you as the Moon Princess. So long as you wear me, you will be nothing more than another body to them. Still in shock, Serenity just nodded.
Pushing open the wooden door, Serenity stepped out from the shed-like basement, which connected into the tunnels, and into the Cathedral's courtyard. She had tied her gelding to a tree in the woods, and left her cloak in the saddlebag. As the sunlight hit her, Serenity blinked and looked down. And saw her dress. It was smudged with dirt and grass-stains. Agitated, Serenity ran her fingers through her long white hair, shaking loose an array of dirt and twigs. When she rubbed at her dress it only made matters worse. Look up. Serenity's head snapped up. A guard was racing toward her. "You, there," he called. "Stand where you are and do not move!" Serenity gathered breath to speak, then let it trail out. As the guard approached her, Mea came out from a side door in the Cathedral. "Mea!" Serenity called. The guard's head whipped toward her. "What is it that you wish of Lordship?" "I." Serenity stopped. The Crystal! She remembered belatedly. Reaching to her throat, she removed the necklace quickly, stuffing it in her drawstring purse. "I said not to move! Are you stupid?" It was at that moment that Mea wobbled up, his hunched back making walking laborious. "What seems to be the matter, Benjamin?" he shot Serenity a look that clearly said, There had better not be a problem here. "This chit has no respect. I tell her to stand still and what does she do? Unclasps her necklace." The guard looked perturbed, and waved his spear in Serenity's general direction. "I don't recognize her, Lordship; I haven't the foggiest idea as to why she's runnin' about in the courtyard dressed like that." Suddenly his eyes widened. "I'll bet she's a spy!" he jabbed at Serenity with his spear. "What is that that you're carrying? Serenity was outraged. "That," she said distinctly, "Is none of your business." The Benjamin took a step forward, and Serenity shot Mea a look. Sighing, pretending to be exasperated, Mea hobbled forward and laid a hand on the guard's arm. Benjamin jerked his head toward Mea quickly. Then he turned and went back to patrolling, leaving Serenity and Mea where they stood. When Mea's eyes traveled to the scrolls, which Serenity held up her side, the Moon Princess hugged them closer to herself. Shaking his head very slightly, Mea turned and began walking away. When Serenity did not follow immediately, he turned around and raised both eyebrows at her, clearly impatient. As Serenity followed him, she wondered. After all that she had done, after all that she had been through, would he ever let her into the Cause completely? Of course not, replied the Crystal silkily. He's not a dolt. Although Serenity wished to reply to that with a quick, biting insult, the memory of the Crystal shocking her that morning seeped into her brain, and with it a cold sweat. It had been like nothing she had ever experienced. A cold, hot nothingness that made her head throb and her vision blur. Time had crawled by at a lightening fast pace, thoughts had contradicted themselves, and the ground beneath her feet had danced frantically. Serenity had felt unbalanced, indecisive, and crowded, as though her skin were stretched taught over her thoughts and feelings, and her soul was oozing from her eyes in the form of tears. But she hadn't cried, Serenity remembered. No, she had just stood there, and then gone about her day within minutes. Walking away from it as though nothing had happened at all, as though the Crystal was as much her friend as it ever was, and as though her small, foolish, uncoordinated actions could make a positive difference in the long haul. Perhaps even now the Crystal is reading my thoughts, Serenity mused. Or, perhaps she is controlling my thoughts; placing them in my head to induce paranoia. As they reached a door in the side of the cathedral, Serenity paused and waited for Mea to open the door for her. He stood and waited also, and it took Serenity a moment to realize that he expected her to open the door for him. Better placate him, the Crystal advised. Serenity scowled at no one in particular, and flung the door open quickly. It almost caught Mea on the shoulder, and he looked up at her agitatedly from beneath shaggy, overgrown bangs. Nevertheless, he shuffled through the door and Serenity hurried in behind him, letting the door shut so abruptly that it almost caught his heels. You're lucky that it didn't, the Crystal put in. Best not to toy with a man like that. Serenity was silent, but the next time that they came to a door-and the time after that, and on for the next ten minutes-Serenity opened it without being nudged or stared at, and was careful with how it swung closed. The direction that they had been traveling in was slightly upward, infrequently going up a short flight of stairs. The architecture was very gothic, and nothing like the sweeping stairways and easily accessible hallways of the Moon Palace. Everything was made of large gray rocks, most bigger than Serenity's head. There were no rugs on the floors, no tapestries on the walls, but there had been, she could tell. There were spots that seemed lighter than others, and Serenity guessed that whatever painting or decorative vase had been there once was long gone. Sold for food? She wondered, but couldn't help wishing that they were still there. She was not used to being in drab places, and they made her very uncomfortable. She was a bold contrast, what with her white gown, white hair, and white skin. They reached another door, this one with a guard standing in front of it. Like the other guards, he wore no uniform, and the only thing that set him apart from civilians was his glaive. Serenity stared at it. She had read of glaives, and even seen a picture of one in a book before, but they were rumored to be very rare, and something of legend. It was said that the only ones who knew whether glaives were real or not were the royals of Saturn, for it was from Saturn that the rumor had originated. When the guard saw Mea he opened the door for him and Serenity, and they walked into a room that was small by comparison to the rooms in the Moon Palace, but was actually on the larger side of the chambers in the building. By now Serenity guessed them to be on the third or fourth story of the cathedral, and the room's structure, as well as the various stairway ascensions that she and Mea had made in reaching the room supported that theory. The chamber itself was round, well lit, and there was a large table in the center of the room, obviously left over from before the cathedral had been plundered and its goods bartered away. The table was made entirely of stone, and intricately carved. The legs had vines and a great many runes chiseled into them, and on the top of the table was a shallowly carved cross-a crucifix, although Serenity had no way of knowing this. This building was once occupied by missionaries from Earth, the Crystal explained. No one knows how they managed to venture from their small planet to the Moon, but venture they did, and they brought with them their Christian beliefs. Had this cathedral built for them, they did, and then carved everything else themselves. The table that you are staring so avidly at used to be an altar. It was very holy to them. Back then Lunarians were very hostile to the missionaries, and, in fear, they secluded themselves to this room, taking with them their altar. A few years after that they moved on to another city, leaving the cathedral and their altar behind. The slaves moved in, and none of them had the strength to lift the altar, or even to budge it an inch from its spot. It has stayed here ever since, in a room that they now use for meetings. The information was conveyed to Serenity's mind in the blink of an eye, although it took Serenity a moment to process this all correctly, and then another few seconds to mull it over. "So, this is the Moon Princess," a voice taunted. Serenity snapped back to reality, and realized with a start that the room was occupied. Around the table sat three people; one Serenity recognized as a graying man in his mid thirties who was usually seen around Mea and ran odd tasks for him, and the others were Beryl and Nicolas, the guard. "David, Beryl, Nicolas," Mea gestured toward each as he said their names. He paused, and then turned slightly to the side so that he was facing no one. "Serenity." Serenity frowned; it was insulting to introduce her without using her full title: Her Royal Highness, Crown-Princess Serenity of the Moon. This was usually followed by a respectful tugging of one's forelock, a pressing of one's knuckle to their forehead, a curtsy, or a bow. Foolish princess, chided the Crystal. He won't be tamed by your expectations. There were two empty mix-matched chairs around the table, and as Mea took his Serenity quickly claimed her own. The chair was hard and she felt uncomfortable, but knew better than to raise any complaints. "Have you brought the blueprints?" Mea asked abruptly, although his voice was smooth and low; almost the purr of a feral cat. Having quite forgotten the scrolls at her side, Serenity was now thankful that she had brought them; there would be no small-talk, no appetizers-- they were here to plan, in essence, a war, and that was the only thing on their minds. "I have not neglected my end of the bargain," Serenity replied in a leisurely manner. Handing the scrolls over to Mea, she hoped that her hands had not left wet marks on the paper. Mea took the blueprints from Serenity with a curious look in his eyes, and held her gaze even as he released the scrolls from their cardboard casing. She was finally the one to look away, and then only because his eyes seemed to have burned her with their quiet intensity. Beautiful, isn't he? the Crystal commented. Not in a human way, though, nor in a physical way; no he could not truly be called attractive, not by the Moon's standards. But his voice is deep and his eyes are deeper. Disturbed by the Crystal's words, as well as by her own reaction to them, Serenity retorted, Well, he's all yours. Foolish princess, the Crystal repeated her its earlier phrase, but left it at that. Serenity tried not to look at Mea with any emotional attachment, but as she watched him stare at the blueprints, hovering over them in an almost miserly but definitely fatherly way, she was almost able to overlook his hunched back and dark hair. In fact, the dark hair gave him an edge up over other men--it made him exotic, in a way. But certainly not for a princess, Serenity thought fiercely. What am I thinking? He hasn't a drop of royal blood in his veins, and if the information I received at that meeting is to be trusted, it's possible he hasn't even a drop of Lunarian blood in him! Would that be so bad? The Crystal asked. Serenity didn't answer because, truthfully, she had been thinking the same thing.
WELL, whatcha think? I hope that you liked it.
IMPORTANT NEWS:
I'm putting on an awards ceremony, called the ASMR Readers Choice Fanfiction Awards. To nominate a fic/author or vote for your favorite, go to . Thanks!
AJ