Title: Chronicles of the Moon: Life of the Late Queen Serenity
By: AJ Martinez
Email: Goodnight_Spoon@hotmail.com
Rated: TV PG
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.
Getting closer to THE RAID, eh? ^___^ I'm very excited; I thought that this chapter would be THE RAID, but then I decided not to skimp on the details, sooo... Just a quick note: after looking through my saved version of Chronicles, I realized that I've been writing this fanfic for over a year! I started it on May 11th 2002 (although I didn't start posting it until much later).
Anyway, enjoy.
--
Serenity ate supper in her chambers that night, studying the blueprints and trying not to drip soup on them. Every few minutes the Crystal would toss in some comment, usually an insult, or point out some error. This was a disturbing pattern that Serenity had been noticing more and more. While the Crystal had never been kindly toward her, it now seemed to take personal offense whenever the princess made a mistake of any sort. And sometimes, when she was wearing the Crystal on its chain around her neck, Serenity could almost feel it questing out to her; like oft tendrils of hair brushing the edges of her consciousness and then retreating. It made her wonder what would happen on the day--and she was certain it would come soon--that the Crystal did not pull away. At this moment the Crystal was dangling from its chain, which was looped around the knob to Serenity's bedside table. Artemis was batting at it with a small, white paw, while Luna watched from under the bed, only her twitching tail giving away her hiding spot. As Artemis gave the Crystal a particularly forceful swat, Luna trotted out from under the bed and jumped to the top of the bedside table. They took turns swinging at it, until the chain slipped from the knob and the Crystal dropped to the floor. Then Luna bounded from her spot on the bedside table and pounced on the Crystal. Not to be outdone, Artemis tackled them both, and the three rolled under the bed. Smiling, Serenity went back to her blueprints. She had almost completely re-immersed herself in them when one of the kittens let out a pain-filled keen, which was almost drowned-out by the other's loud yowl. They both came jetting out from beneath the bed, running to opposite side of the room and tripping on their way, only to lay, coiled but writhing like a snake, one under the curtains near the balcony and the other by the door. Serenity jumped from the bed and ran to Luna, who was the closest to her. Kneeling next to the kitten, Serenity watched in horror as its muscles twitched and were in spasms. Luna let out another keening wail, and, the sound too much for her, Serenity reached for the kitten to comfort her. But when her hands closed around the furry body, Luna flipped over and sank her teeth into the princess's hand hard enough to draw blood. Too shocked to scream, Serenity jerked her hand away, staring at the small, circular pinpoints of blood. Luna's muscles were still twitching, and she lay on her side, fully surrendered. Her eyes were open but unseeing, and Serenity was overcome by pity. Carefully--cautiously--she lifted the kitten into her arms. The kitten gave no resistance, lying limply while Serenity carried her to the curtains by the balcony, where the princess collected her other kitten. Then, cradling them, one in either arm, Serenity retired to her bed and lay underneath the covers, holding her companions and stroking their backs as tears coursed down her cheeks. Underneath the bed, the Crystal glowed.
~~
The week dragged by for Serenity, although it was a whirlwind of activity. Her days were packed with political activities, studies, memorizing the blueprint, and covering her tracks; her nights were filled with Raphael. It had been exactly one week since the Crystal-kitten episode, when there was a knock on the door to Serenity's chambers. Annie hurried to answer it, and admitted a small woman into the room. She appeared to be in her early- to mid-twenties, with curly brown hair and a fair complexion. She wore the livery of the Queen's personal servants, but seemed ill at-ease with her position, hinting that it was a new one to her. Coming in contact with crown-princesses had certainly never been an errand of hers before today. The servant did a quick, bobbing curtsy, tugging on her forelock for good measure. As was appropriate, she waited for Serenity to speak first. "Yes?" Serenity looked up from her spot on the bed, where she was hoping to conceal Artemis, whom she had been playing with only moments before. The servants curtsied again. "The Queen wishes for you to take tea with her in the Queen's Gardens, are soon as is convenient for Your Highness." Finished with her message, she bowed her head and awaited a response. Serenity was pained. She supposed that she owed it to her mother to take tea with her; after all, in was only with the Queen's permission that she had been taking so many "sick days". "You may tell my Queen Mother that accept her invitation"--Serenity knew that it was not an invitation but a summon--"and that I will only be a minute." The servant curtsied one last time, then turned on her heal and walked out the door so quickly that she nearly trampled Annie, who had been kind enough to hold it open for her. "Well," Serenity said after a spell. "I suppose that I'm off."
~~
The Queen sat on a delicate chair in front of a matching bistro table carved entirely of opal. Across from her perched the Healer Felicity. A liveried servant stood nearby, teakettle in hand; the tea would not be served until the Crown-Princess arrived. There was a rustling, and Serenity came walking through the grass. Sunlight glowed behind her, and the decorative trees all swayed in the breeze. Most of the flowers had stopped blooming this late into September, but some had just come into their glory, and the air smelled perfumed. Only Serenity's hair--still up in its loosely looped style--ruined the picture, in the Queen's mind. It was positively obscene, she knew, and wished that Serenity would come to her senses and let it back down, like her own. Serenity had reached the bistro set by now, and curtsied politely before her Queen mother. The servants rushed forth and pulled out a chair for Serenity, which the princess took without comment. After pushing it back in, the servant poured tea for each of the women, and then resumed her post, standing behind the Queen and to her left. After taking an experimental sip of her tea, Serenity placed the cup back on its saucer and on the table. She sat up straight; shoulders back, stomach in, chin up, and waited for her mother to speak. The Queen did not disappoint. "Serenity," she started, "I'm sure you remember Felicity, from the family of Grace." Serenity nodded at the other woman; she remembered her well enough from various encounters they had had over the last few months, at the Queen's urging. "She is here to examine you." Serenity gave a little start at those words; it was not like her Queen Mother to jump to the heart of a matter; she had expected at least twenty or thirty minutes of preliminary chatter first. As she turned herself over to the healer's ministrations, Serenity thought only of the Cause, and of her meeting at the cathedral the next day. She had, by now, memorized the blueprints to the best of her ability, and was certain that she could be of help in the raid. She imagined herself rescuing poor, sad slaves and having them hug and praise her. In her daydream, Mea was asking her if she would take a senior officer position in the Cause. She would move into the cathedral with Mea and the slaves, join their family, and pretend that the first fifteen years of her life had never happened. *But oh,* Serenity frowned, and stood so that Felicity could poke her belly. *What about the Moon? Who will be Queen if not me? And what about Raphael?* an image of his face, unsmiling but somehow warm, formed in her mind's eye. *He would be so terribly disappointed,* she knew. *And Mother and Father! They would die of the shock.* Saddened, Serenity turned herself completely over to the healer's ministries.
~~
The next morning Serenity awoke earlier than necessary, bathed, groomed, and then spent exactly forty-seven minutes twenty-four seconds choosing a gown. The night before she had decided on a foamy peach-colored gown that would froth around her ankles and had a high, modest neckline. But then the Crystal had pointed out that this would most likely be the first time that she met the five other of the team, and she would be meeting them as Luna, not the princess of the Moon. No, that gown would never do. So she had torn through her wardrobe, which, although flush against the wall and made to look almost like an armory, was large and expansive. She had dozens upon dozens of gowns in that wardrobe alone, but none of them was plain enough. Those that had no jewels and minimal embroidery or lace made up for it with expensive materials and were cut to show her royal status. Serenity, having finally selected one, had Annie fetch her sewing equipment and set to fixing it to look suitably modest. Jewels were removed, the cut was altered, and the finest embroidery was removed. When the dress was finished, rather than look at it with dread and disgust, as any noble, indeed any royalty would, Serenity thought of it as one of the final stages to fully stepping into her persona as Luna, her commitment with and to Mea and the Cause. She was an actress stepping into a particularly juicy role, and today was the pre-show pleasantries.
~~
When Serenity arrived at the cathedral she was ushered to the same third- story room as before, and given a seat next to David and at the alter. Mea had spread the blueprints open on the makeshift table, and barely glanced up when she was shown in. "...We shall approach from this angle," Mea jabbed a finger at the north- most side of the coliseum, "Coming from the east. There is a door"--he gestured at the blueprints--"and, we assume, a lock. That's where our companion, here, comes in." Mea turned to the man sitting on his right- hand side. "This is..." But Serenity's mind was already clicking into place. Excitement and anticipation had kept her from recognizing him sooner, but now her eyes remained locked on his. *Kunzite!* her mind screamed. Kunzite nodded slightly, acknowledging her with the barest of smiles. Crown-Prince of the distant kingdom of Solace, he had a bloodline as clean and royal as her own. They had met infrequently at conferences and balls, exchanged dances and pleasantries, and then gratefully escaped each other's company. Serenity had jokingly referred to him as "The Undertaker" after first meeting him, at age ten; but now the nickname seemed disturbingly prophetic.
~~
Beryl enjoyed watching Serenity's face turn from anticipating to horrified, then, in accordance to her royal training, blank and--Beryl stifled a laugh- -serene. Luck had crossed her path with the Prince's, and a mutual lust for power had fueled a wary companionship. In truth, Kunzite cared nothing for the liberating of slaves; he owned many himself. But Beryl's words had sparked his interest, her promises and strategies seeming plausible, if only they could remove the obstacle of Mea, if only the High King of the Moon toppled from power, if only, if only... So he had agreed to tag along on a mission, under the guise of a locksmith. Seeing Mea in action, he reasoned, was well worth the discomfort. According to Beryl, Mea was the first step to dominion; that made him the enemy, and Kunzite never underestimated the enemy.
~~
Mea frowned, watching the faces of Beryl and Serenity, which had now returned to a professional blank. Beryl had seemed pleased, Serenity horrified, and Kunzite... *You should have checked him out more thoroughly,* Mea berated himself. But Beryl had given her word, saying that he had come from a reputable family and had known him for years. Now, however, Mea was starting to have second thoughts; they did not have the flowing chemistry of two who had known each other for any drawn-out amount of time; indeed, they seemed to have a working relationship and little else. *But why would Beryl lie?* Mea wondered. *It could gain her nothing; we've been working toward the liberating of slaves for years now, and her sincerity I could never place under suspicion...* "A locksmith, eh?" Mea as broke from his reverie as Thomas leaned forward over the table, eyes fixed squarely on Kunzite. Kunzite tore himself away from his own thoughts with a slow leisureliness that bordered on rudeness. He regarded Thomas for several moments in unblinking silence. The silence became deafening, Thomas turning from his naturally ruddy color to red, and then a scarlet that threatened to turn purple. Then Kunzite smiled, the expression more a baring of teeth than anything else. "That's what he said; or weren't you listening?" Thomas' eyes bulged, and he made a move as if to get up, but a warning look from Mea kept him in his seat. Not near finished, Mea turned his smoldering gaze on Kunzite. When he spoke, his voice came out in the slow purr of a man suppressing a growl. "Next time you have the urge to act superior--don't." he clipped off the word like a whip, and remained staring into Kunzite's eyes until the white- haired prince lowered his gaze in assent. Then he went back to the planning.
~~
Raphael stood on his balcony, a glass of brandy in his hand. He gazed into his cup, the amber liquid fascinating his eyes and helping to distract him from his thoughts. Turning to face his chambers, Raphael let his gaze roam, purposely avoiding the bedside table. He glanced back down at his snifter, then tossed his head back and drained it. The liquid seemed to move slow as molasses, sliding around in his mouth and then into his stomach, where it sat like lead. Steeling himself, he walked over to his bed and sat. Without turning his head, Raphael plucked the paper--which sat in a sorry, crumpled wad--from the bedside table and unfolded it meticulously, until it lay nearly flat across his knees. Then he finally turned his gaze downward. The blueprints were smudged, where ink had dripped before drying completely and lines had been blurred. One line was in a wrong place, the reason for its disposal. Raphael sighed and thought of his informant, who had brought the almost- blueprint to him. "From her waste basket," he had said simply, then taken his leave without waiting for payment. *What use would she have for these blueprints?* Raphael asked himself for what must have been the hundredth time. *More to the point, what reason does she have to copy them?* But the answer came simply enough, even to his alcohol-muddled senses. She was making a copy for someone else, someone who would not have access to the blueprints otherwise; someone who should not have access to them. "I should make a report," he said aloud, as if to convince himself of the necessity. But even as he said the words, an image of Serenity's face formed in his minds' eye; beautiful and haunting, but more than anything else, haunted. Raphael let out a keening, whining sound, and crushed the heels of his palms to his eyes, resting his elbows on his knees. The paper fell, and Raphael let it lay there while he gathered strength. Dozens of emotions whirled and danced through Raphael's mind; admiration mingled with embarrassment at her antics, the urge to protect, and a niggling sense of worry and dread; but mostly duty. Raphael got up and strode over to his personal liquor cabinet. He took out the brandy, then he rang for a servant, pouring himself another snifter while he waited. There was a knock at his door scant seconds later. "Enter," Raphael barked. A short, thin man entered--his personal steward, brought along from Constance--and bowed, waiting for the prince to speak first. "Fetch me my stylus and paper." The man hurried about Raphael's chambers, shortly approaching His Majesty with the desired items. Raphael took them without comment, and scribbled a note. Waiting for the ink to dry, he watched his steward melt wax, and then, rolling the paper into a scroll, held it out. The steward dripped hot, red wax on the scroll to bind it closed, and Raphael stamped it with his signet ring. While the steward looked for a scroll-case, Raphael watched the wax dry and considered. It was not too late to turn back, he knew, but wouldn't. The steward came trotting up with a scroll-case, and Raphael handed the paper to him. "Take this to Captain of the Guard Leon," Raphael said. "Do not wait for a reply." "Yes, Highness," the steward replied, and hurried off to do his prince's bidding. Once alone, Raphael went out to stand on his balcony, and tried to squash the small prickles of guilt that he was beginning to feel. He had not implicated his wife in the letter, only ordered that the arena be closely watched. It was his duty, after all; and Raphael knew duty. *What about duty to ones' wife?* his mind rebelled. *What about...* Raphael never let himself complete the thought. He knew his duty, and it was first to his subjects, secondly to himself, but always to the Moon.
~~
Serenity slept in on the day of the raid. She had stayed up very late the night before, excitement and nerves keeping sleep at bay. Although she would not be meeting Mea at the cathedral until sunset, Serenity hurried through a bath and, when breaking her fast in the Great Hall, complained to her mother of a headache. The queen, worried for her daughter, gave Serenity permission to retire to her chambers, but Serenity thanked her profusely and said that she would rather try to make it through her studies and duties. As sunset drew closer, Serenity could feel her anxiety mounting. *What if I misunderstood him?* she thought. *What if the raid *started* at sunset, and I end up missing it and letting them down?* a new thought occurred to her, and Serenity blanched. *What if we get caught?*
Sensing her emotional turmoil, the Crystal quested toward her mind, and Serenity had the strangest sensation of tightening at the corners of her forehead, as though her head had suddenly become too large for her skin to contain. Her thoughts became clouded, and she could feel the Crystal questing deeper into her consciousness. Dread prickled through her, and Serenity shook her head, trying to frighten the Crystal away. "Is something the matter, princess?" Serenity's answer came out as a moan, and her professor set down his book immediately and rushed to her side of the table. "Princess!" he cried, standing at arm's length. His hands twitched as though he meant to help her, but fear of her authority kept his hands at his sides. Meanwhile, Serenity could feel the Crystal settling in her mind, warming and melting until it filled every crevice. "Stop," Serenity gasped. "Get...get out..." The Crystal, which hung around her neck, began to burn and tremble. Serenity fell off her chair, and the professor gasped. "Guards!" he shouted. "Guards!" Oblivious, Serenity gathered her last ounce of strength and repelled at the Crystal. She felt a sharp pain in her head, heard a popping sound, and then the Crystal was gone. She was again alone in her mind. Panting, Serenity lay on the floor. Her body ached as though from internal bruises, and she could feel a muscle in her leg twitching. But in the back of her mind, she felt a strange, cool tickling, as though the Crystal had forgotten part of itself, part of its power, in her mind. Still fearful of another attack, Serenity forced mental barriers up, heedless of their merit; indeed, little of the Crystal would stay now that it had had a taste of her potential.
~~
Serenity lay in her bed, her muscles still aching from the Crystal's intrusion. Daylight was beginning to fade, but she could not muster the strength required to sit up in bed. She had been carried to her chambers by two palace guards, and only then had the onslaught begun. Healers had rushed in and out of her room, the king had visited to check up on her, and all the while her Queen Mother had sat on the bed by her side, clipping off orders and stroking Serenity's hand. The only one who had not slipped in to see her was Raphael. At that moment the door opened, and Annie crept in, although the Queen had ordered that no visitors be admitted to see the Princess until the next day. In her arms Annie held Luna and Artemis. "Annie." Serenity said the name more as statement than greeting. "Princess," Annie said in return, and let the kittens jump from her arms. Artemis ran up to the bed and jump up next to Serenity. "Where were they when everyone was in here?" Serenity asked, and it took Annie a moment to realize that the princess was referring to the kittens. "With me, princess," Annie answered, after clearing her throat. "After the guards brought you in I was sent to fetch your Queen Mother, and I brought them with me. Luckily, I ran into Martha on the way, and she took them back to our quarters." Serenity nodded sagely at the rambling, then tapped her hand on the covers until Luna jumped up and sat beside her, watching the princess's fingers prance over the quilt. They sat in silence for a while, until Annie asked, "Princess, will you still be going on the raid?" Serenity paused, then groaned. "Oh, the raid..." Laboriously, she rolled until she had reached the side of her bed, then set her feet on the floor gingerly. It was another moment before she actually stood up, and then she wobbled precariously. "Fetch my cloak, Annie," Serenity ordered, then walked stiffly over to her wardrobe. Throwing open the doors, she selected a gown she had worn to the cathedral previously, and then, too tired to dress herself, held her arms out to the side, so that they were level with her shoulders. Falling into the pattern easily, Annie dressed the princess, and when Serenity sat, put on the princess' sandals. It was another moment before Serenity stood again, and then she did so slowly and shakily. The princess walked over and sat at her vanity. Annie stood before her and brushed out the long, white hair, then secured it in the twin loops that Serenity now found so appealing.
"Princess?" Annie ventured, when Serenity remained sitting. Serenity yawned. "Yes?" Annie was silent for a moment, trying to find words that would not sound disrespectful. "Hadn't you better be going?" Serenity thought on that for a moment. Then, "Yes, Annie," said she, at last. "Fetch my cloak." "I already have, highness," Annie replied, and shivered. She wondered if the healers had administered any medication. "Oh." This seemed to stump Serenity, but at last she took to her feet and walked to her bed, where the cloak lay. It took her a few moments to arrange it accordingly over her shoulders, and another few to say good-bye to the kittens; but at last she was ready. Serenity walked over to the door and stood in front of it for a beat, then glanced back at Annie and smiled. Annie smiled back, and then the princess took her leave.
~~
Oooh, now I'm all inspired (with any luck, the next chapter will be out in about a week; sooner if you're reading it from ASMR). You know what I just realized? I misspelled my own word. Willchide is spelled with two L's, not one. My mistake. -_-' As usual, please participate in the ASMR Readers Choice Fanfiction Awards (). Vote for me! (joy of all joys, I have been nominated^^). Ciao, and remember: email/AIM/critiques are a writer's best friend!
AJ
Getting closer to THE RAID, eh? ^___^ I'm very excited; I thought that this chapter would be THE RAID, but then I decided not to skimp on the details, sooo... Just a quick note: after looking through my saved version of Chronicles, I realized that I've been writing this fanfic for over a year! I started it on May 11th 2002 (although I didn't start posting it until much later).
Anyway, enjoy.
--
Serenity ate supper in her chambers that night, studying the blueprints and trying not to drip soup on them. Every few minutes the Crystal would toss in some comment, usually an insult, or point out some error. This was a disturbing pattern that Serenity had been noticing more and more. While the Crystal had never been kindly toward her, it now seemed to take personal offense whenever the princess made a mistake of any sort. And sometimes, when she was wearing the Crystal on its chain around her neck, Serenity could almost feel it questing out to her; like oft tendrils of hair brushing the edges of her consciousness and then retreating. It made her wonder what would happen on the day--and she was certain it would come soon--that the Crystal did not pull away. At this moment the Crystal was dangling from its chain, which was looped around the knob to Serenity's bedside table. Artemis was batting at it with a small, white paw, while Luna watched from under the bed, only her twitching tail giving away her hiding spot. As Artemis gave the Crystal a particularly forceful swat, Luna trotted out from under the bed and jumped to the top of the bedside table. They took turns swinging at it, until the chain slipped from the knob and the Crystal dropped to the floor. Then Luna bounded from her spot on the bedside table and pounced on the Crystal. Not to be outdone, Artemis tackled them both, and the three rolled under the bed. Smiling, Serenity went back to her blueprints. She had almost completely re-immersed herself in them when one of the kittens let out a pain-filled keen, which was almost drowned-out by the other's loud yowl. They both came jetting out from beneath the bed, running to opposite side of the room and tripping on their way, only to lay, coiled but writhing like a snake, one under the curtains near the balcony and the other by the door. Serenity jumped from the bed and ran to Luna, who was the closest to her. Kneeling next to the kitten, Serenity watched in horror as its muscles twitched and were in spasms. Luna let out another keening wail, and, the sound too much for her, Serenity reached for the kitten to comfort her. But when her hands closed around the furry body, Luna flipped over and sank her teeth into the princess's hand hard enough to draw blood. Too shocked to scream, Serenity jerked her hand away, staring at the small, circular pinpoints of blood. Luna's muscles were still twitching, and she lay on her side, fully surrendered. Her eyes were open but unseeing, and Serenity was overcome by pity. Carefully--cautiously--she lifted the kitten into her arms. The kitten gave no resistance, lying limply while Serenity carried her to the curtains by the balcony, where the princess collected her other kitten. Then, cradling them, one in either arm, Serenity retired to her bed and lay underneath the covers, holding her companions and stroking their backs as tears coursed down her cheeks. Underneath the bed, the Crystal glowed.
~~
The week dragged by for Serenity, although it was a whirlwind of activity. Her days were packed with political activities, studies, memorizing the blueprint, and covering her tracks; her nights were filled with Raphael. It had been exactly one week since the Crystal-kitten episode, when there was a knock on the door to Serenity's chambers. Annie hurried to answer it, and admitted a small woman into the room. She appeared to be in her early- to mid-twenties, with curly brown hair and a fair complexion. She wore the livery of the Queen's personal servants, but seemed ill at-ease with her position, hinting that it was a new one to her. Coming in contact with crown-princesses had certainly never been an errand of hers before today. The servant did a quick, bobbing curtsy, tugging on her forelock for good measure. As was appropriate, she waited for Serenity to speak first. "Yes?" Serenity looked up from her spot on the bed, where she was hoping to conceal Artemis, whom she had been playing with only moments before. The servants curtsied again. "The Queen wishes for you to take tea with her in the Queen's Gardens, are soon as is convenient for Your Highness." Finished with her message, she bowed her head and awaited a response. Serenity was pained. She supposed that she owed it to her mother to take tea with her; after all, in was only with the Queen's permission that she had been taking so many "sick days". "You may tell my Queen Mother that accept her invitation"--Serenity knew that it was not an invitation but a summon--"and that I will only be a minute." The servant curtsied one last time, then turned on her heal and walked out the door so quickly that she nearly trampled Annie, who had been kind enough to hold it open for her. "Well," Serenity said after a spell. "I suppose that I'm off."
~~
The Queen sat on a delicate chair in front of a matching bistro table carved entirely of opal. Across from her perched the Healer Felicity. A liveried servant stood nearby, teakettle in hand; the tea would not be served until the Crown-Princess arrived. There was a rustling, and Serenity came walking through the grass. Sunlight glowed behind her, and the decorative trees all swayed in the breeze. Most of the flowers had stopped blooming this late into September, but some had just come into their glory, and the air smelled perfumed. Only Serenity's hair--still up in its loosely looped style--ruined the picture, in the Queen's mind. It was positively obscene, she knew, and wished that Serenity would come to her senses and let it back down, like her own. Serenity had reached the bistro set by now, and curtsied politely before her Queen mother. The servants rushed forth and pulled out a chair for Serenity, which the princess took without comment. After pushing it back in, the servant poured tea for each of the women, and then resumed her post, standing behind the Queen and to her left. After taking an experimental sip of her tea, Serenity placed the cup back on its saucer and on the table. She sat up straight; shoulders back, stomach in, chin up, and waited for her mother to speak. The Queen did not disappoint. "Serenity," she started, "I'm sure you remember Felicity, from the family of Grace." Serenity nodded at the other woman; she remembered her well enough from various encounters they had had over the last few months, at the Queen's urging. "She is here to examine you." Serenity gave a little start at those words; it was not like her Queen Mother to jump to the heart of a matter; she had expected at least twenty or thirty minutes of preliminary chatter first. As she turned herself over to the healer's ministrations, Serenity thought only of the Cause, and of her meeting at the cathedral the next day. She had, by now, memorized the blueprints to the best of her ability, and was certain that she could be of help in the raid. She imagined herself rescuing poor, sad slaves and having them hug and praise her. In her daydream, Mea was asking her if she would take a senior officer position in the Cause. She would move into the cathedral with Mea and the slaves, join their family, and pretend that the first fifteen years of her life had never happened. *But oh,* Serenity frowned, and stood so that Felicity could poke her belly. *What about the Moon? Who will be Queen if not me? And what about Raphael?* an image of his face, unsmiling but somehow warm, formed in her mind's eye. *He would be so terribly disappointed,* she knew. *And Mother and Father! They would die of the shock.* Saddened, Serenity turned herself completely over to the healer's ministries.
~~
The next morning Serenity awoke earlier than necessary, bathed, groomed, and then spent exactly forty-seven minutes twenty-four seconds choosing a gown. The night before she had decided on a foamy peach-colored gown that would froth around her ankles and had a high, modest neckline. But then the Crystal had pointed out that this would most likely be the first time that she met the five other of the team, and she would be meeting them as Luna, not the princess of the Moon. No, that gown would never do. So she had torn through her wardrobe, which, although flush against the wall and made to look almost like an armory, was large and expansive. She had dozens upon dozens of gowns in that wardrobe alone, but none of them was plain enough. Those that had no jewels and minimal embroidery or lace made up for it with expensive materials and were cut to show her royal status. Serenity, having finally selected one, had Annie fetch her sewing equipment and set to fixing it to look suitably modest. Jewels were removed, the cut was altered, and the finest embroidery was removed. When the dress was finished, rather than look at it with dread and disgust, as any noble, indeed any royalty would, Serenity thought of it as one of the final stages to fully stepping into her persona as Luna, her commitment with and to Mea and the Cause. She was an actress stepping into a particularly juicy role, and today was the pre-show pleasantries.
~~
When Serenity arrived at the cathedral she was ushered to the same third- story room as before, and given a seat next to David and at the alter. Mea had spread the blueprints open on the makeshift table, and barely glanced up when she was shown in. "...We shall approach from this angle," Mea jabbed a finger at the north- most side of the coliseum, "Coming from the east. There is a door"--he gestured at the blueprints--"and, we assume, a lock. That's where our companion, here, comes in." Mea turned to the man sitting on his right- hand side. "This is..." But Serenity's mind was already clicking into place. Excitement and anticipation had kept her from recognizing him sooner, but now her eyes remained locked on his. *Kunzite!* her mind screamed. Kunzite nodded slightly, acknowledging her with the barest of smiles. Crown-Prince of the distant kingdom of Solace, he had a bloodline as clean and royal as her own. They had met infrequently at conferences and balls, exchanged dances and pleasantries, and then gratefully escaped each other's company. Serenity had jokingly referred to him as "The Undertaker" after first meeting him, at age ten; but now the nickname seemed disturbingly prophetic.
~~
Beryl enjoyed watching Serenity's face turn from anticipating to horrified, then, in accordance to her royal training, blank and--Beryl stifled a laugh- -serene. Luck had crossed her path with the Prince's, and a mutual lust for power had fueled a wary companionship. In truth, Kunzite cared nothing for the liberating of slaves; he owned many himself. But Beryl's words had sparked his interest, her promises and strategies seeming plausible, if only they could remove the obstacle of Mea, if only the High King of the Moon toppled from power, if only, if only... So he had agreed to tag along on a mission, under the guise of a locksmith. Seeing Mea in action, he reasoned, was well worth the discomfort. According to Beryl, Mea was the first step to dominion; that made him the enemy, and Kunzite never underestimated the enemy.
~~
Mea frowned, watching the faces of Beryl and Serenity, which had now returned to a professional blank. Beryl had seemed pleased, Serenity horrified, and Kunzite... *You should have checked him out more thoroughly,* Mea berated himself. But Beryl had given her word, saying that he had come from a reputable family and had known him for years. Now, however, Mea was starting to have second thoughts; they did not have the flowing chemistry of two who had known each other for any drawn-out amount of time; indeed, they seemed to have a working relationship and little else. *But why would Beryl lie?* Mea wondered. *It could gain her nothing; we've been working toward the liberating of slaves for years now, and her sincerity I could never place under suspicion...* "A locksmith, eh?" Mea as broke from his reverie as Thomas leaned forward over the table, eyes fixed squarely on Kunzite. Kunzite tore himself away from his own thoughts with a slow leisureliness that bordered on rudeness. He regarded Thomas for several moments in unblinking silence. The silence became deafening, Thomas turning from his naturally ruddy color to red, and then a scarlet that threatened to turn purple. Then Kunzite smiled, the expression more a baring of teeth than anything else. "That's what he said; or weren't you listening?" Thomas' eyes bulged, and he made a move as if to get up, but a warning look from Mea kept him in his seat. Not near finished, Mea turned his smoldering gaze on Kunzite. When he spoke, his voice came out in the slow purr of a man suppressing a growl. "Next time you have the urge to act superior--don't." he clipped off the word like a whip, and remained staring into Kunzite's eyes until the white- haired prince lowered his gaze in assent. Then he went back to the planning.
~~
Raphael stood on his balcony, a glass of brandy in his hand. He gazed into his cup, the amber liquid fascinating his eyes and helping to distract him from his thoughts. Turning to face his chambers, Raphael let his gaze roam, purposely avoiding the bedside table. He glanced back down at his snifter, then tossed his head back and drained it. The liquid seemed to move slow as molasses, sliding around in his mouth and then into his stomach, where it sat like lead. Steeling himself, he walked over to his bed and sat. Without turning his head, Raphael plucked the paper--which sat in a sorry, crumpled wad--from the bedside table and unfolded it meticulously, until it lay nearly flat across his knees. Then he finally turned his gaze downward. The blueprints were smudged, where ink had dripped before drying completely and lines had been blurred. One line was in a wrong place, the reason for its disposal. Raphael sighed and thought of his informant, who had brought the almost- blueprint to him. "From her waste basket," he had said simply, then taken his leave without waiting for payment. *What use would she have for these blueprints?* Raphael asked himself for what must have been the hundredth time. *More to the point, what reason does she have to copy them?* But the answer came simply enough, even to his alcohol-muddled senses. She was making a copy for someone else, someone who would not have access to the blueprints otherwise; someone who should not have access to them. "I should make a report," he said aloud, as if to convince himself of the necessity. But even as he said the words, an image of Serenity's face formed in his minds' eye; beautiful and haunting, but more than anything else, haunted. Raphael let out a keening, whining sound, and crushed the heels of his palms to his eyes, resting his elbows on his knees. The paper fell, and Raphael let it lay there while he gathered strength. Dozens of emotions whirled and danced through Raphael's mind; admiration mingled with embarrassment at her antics, the urge to protect, and a niggling sense of worry and dread; but mostly duty. Raphael got up and strode over to his personal liquor cabinet. He took out the brandy, then he rang for a servant, pouring himself another snifter while he waited. There was a knock at his door scant seconds later. "Enter," Raphael barked. A short, thin man entered--his personal steward, brought along from Constance--and bowed, waiting for the prince to speak first. "Fetch me my stylus and paper." The man hurried about Raphael's chambers, shortly approaching His Majesty with the desired items. Raphael took them without comment, and scribbled a note. Waiting for the ink to dry, he watched his steward melt wax, and then, rolling the paper into a scroll, held it out. The steward dripped hot, red wax on the scroll to bind it closed, and Raphael stamped it with his signet ring. While the steward looked for a scroll-case, Raphael watched the wax dry and considered. It was not too late to turn back, he knew, but wouldn't. The steward came trotting up with a scroll-case, and Raphael handed the paper to him. "Take this to Captain of the Guard Leon," Raphael said. "Do not wait for a reply." "Yes, Highness," the steward replied, and hurried off to do his prince's bidding. Once alone, Raphael went out to stand on his balcony, and tried to squash the small prickles of guilt that he was beginning to feel. He had not implicated his wife in the letter, only ordered that the arena be closely watched. It was his duty, after all; and Raphael knew duty. *What about duty to ones' wife?* his mind rebelled. *What about...* Raphael never let himself complete the thought. He knew his duty, and it was first to his subjects, secondly to himself, but always to the Moon.
~~
Serenity slept in on the day of the raid. She had stayed up very late the night before, excitement and nerves keeping sleep at bay. Although she would not be meeting Mea at the cathedral until sunset, Serenity hurried through a bath and, when breaking her fast in the Great Hall, complained to her mother of a headache. The queen, worried for her daughter, gave Serenity permission to retire to her chambers, but Serenity thanked her profusely and said that she would rather try to make it through her studies and duties. As sunset drew closer, Serenity could feel her anxiety mounting. *What if I misunderstood him?* she thought. *What if the raid *started* at sunset, and I end up missing it and letting them down?* a new thought occurred to her, and Serenity blanched. *What if we get caught?*
Sensing her emotional turmoil, the Crystal quested toward her mind, and Serenity had the strangest sensation of tightening at the corners of her forehead, as though her head had suddenly become too large for her skin to contain. Her thoughts became clouded, and she could feel the Crystal questing deeper into her consciousness. Dread prickled through her, and Serenity shook her head, trying to frighten the Crystal away. "Is something the matter, princess?" Serenity's answer came out as a moan, and her professor set down his book immediately and rushed to her side of the table. "Princess!" he cried, standing at arm's length. His hands twitched as though he meant to help her, but fear of her authority kept his hands at his sides. Meanwhile, Serenity could feel the Crystal settling in her mind, warming and melting until it filled every crevice. "Stop," Serenity gasped. "Get...get out..." The Crystal, which hung around her neck, began to burn and tremble. Serenity fell off her chair, and the professor gasped. "Guards!" he shouted. "Guards!" Oblivious, Serenity gathered her last ounce of strength and repelled at the Crystal. She felt a sharp pain in her head, heard a popping sound, and then the Crystal was gone. She was again alone in her mind. Panting, Serenity lay on the floor. Her body ached as though from internal bruises, and she could feel a muscle in her leg twitching. But in the back of her mind, she felt a strange, cool tickling, as though the Crystal had forgotten part of itself, part of its power, in her mind. Still fearful of another attack, Serenity forced mental barriers up, heedless of their merit; indeed, little of the Crystal would stay now that it had had a taste of her potential.
~~
Serenity lay in her bed, her muscles still aching from the Crystal's intrusion. Daylight was beginning to fade, but she could not muster the strength required to sit up in bed. She had been carried to her chambers by two palace guards, and only then had the onslaught begun. Healers had rushed in and out of her room, the king had visited to check up on her, and all the while her Queen Mother had sat on the bed by her side, clipping off orders and stroking Serenity's hand. The only one who had not slipped in to see her was Raphael. At that moment the door opened, and Annie crept in, although the Queen had ordered that no visitors be admitted to see the Princess until the next day. In her arms Annie held Luna and Artemis. "Annie." Serenity said the name more as statement than greeting. "Princess," Annie said in return, and let the kittens jump from her arms. Artemis ran up to the bed and jump up next to Serenity. "Where were they when everyone was in here?" Serenity asked, and it took Annie a moment to realize that the princess was referring to the kittens. "With me, princess," Annie answered, after clearing her throat. "After the guards brought you in I was sent to fetch your Queen Mother, and I brought them with me. Luckily, I ran into Martha on the way, and she took them back to our quarters." Serenity nodded sagely at the rambling, then tapped her hand on the covers until Luna jumped up and sat beside her, watching the princess's fingers prance over the quilt. They sat in silence for a while, until Annie asked, "Princess, will you still be going on the raid?" Serenity paused, then groaned. "Oh, the raid..." Laboriously, she rolled until she had reached the side of her bed, then set her feet on the floor gingerly. It was another moment before she actually stood up, and then she wobbled precariously. "Fetch my cloak, Annie," Serenity ordered, then walked stiffly over to her wardrobe. Throwing open the doors, she selected a gown she had worn to the cathedral previously, and then, too tired to dress herself, held her arms out to the side, so that they were level with her shoulders. Falling into the pattern easily, Annie dressed the princess, and when Serenity sat, put on the princess' sandals. It was another moment before Serenity stood again, and then she did so slowly and shakily. The princess walked over and sat at her vanity. Annie stood before her and brushed out the long, white hair, then secured it in the twin loops that Serenity now found so appealing.
"Princess?" Annie ventured, when Serenity remained sitting. Serenity yawned. "Yes?" Annie was silent for a moment, trying to find words that would not sound disrespectful. "Hadn't you better be going?" Serenity thought on that for a moment. Then, "Yes, Annie," said she, at last. "Fetch my cloak." "I already have, highness," Annie replied, and shivered. She wondered if the healers had administered any medication. "Oh." This seemed to stump Serenity, but at last she took to her feet and walked to her bed, where the cloak lay. It took her a few moments to arrange it accordingly over her shoulders, and another few to say good-bye to the kittens; but at last she was ready. Serenity walked over to the door and stood in front of it for a beat, then glanced back at Annie and smiled. Annie smiled back, and then the princess took her leave.
~~
Oooh, now I'm all inspired (with any luck, the next chapter will be out in about a week; sooner if you're reading it from ASMR). You know what I just realized? I misspelled my own word. Willchide is spelled with two L's, not one. My mistake. -_-' As usual, please participate in the ASMR Readers Choice Fanfiction Awards (). Vote for me! (joy of all joys, I have been nominated^^). Ciao, and remember: email/AIM/critiques are a writer's best friend!
AJ