One and a Half Years Later…

"We've been bargaining for far too long. It's time we prepare our troops for action." Serenity sat in the conference as her mother discussed the plans to go forth with the war. Since the day Minako had come to get her in the gardens there had been numerous attempts for peace.

As it turned out, the force attacking was not a stranger to Queen Selenity. When she had first taken the throne she had defeated and banished an evil force into the far corners of the galaxy. Now, years later, it had regained its strength and was preparing to attack. Her name was Queen Beryl. Four generals, all of whom had once worked for Queen Selenity, followed her in her attempt to conquer the Moon Kingdom. What was sad was that Serenity had known the men whom had betrayed the alliance. Wufei had pitied her for thinking that there was no evil left in the world. For that pity he had received quite a few bruises.

On her sixteenth birthday Queen Selenity had revealed the source behind Serenity's power. When she was born she was given the Silver Imperium Crystal. The Queen had split it between them, keeping the larger half for herself. It was the source of all her powers, the reason she was so strong. Until the final half was in Serenity's possession she would never be able to see or fully utilize its power. She had learned to call upon the strength it offered her when she was training and had built upon its power with her own. Now, as the war approached them, she became fearful. Beryl wanted the crystal for herself, wanted to control the universe with it. To do so she would need to kill her. It scared her to death.

The meeting passed Serenity by in a blur. She wasn't sure she even grasped the point of it aside from declaring war. Making her way through the palace halls she soon found herself in the darker corridors, the ones less used. When she was younger she had loved hiding in them, playing her own little games. That part of her had been lost when she'd begun to attend the meetings her mother held with the elders. Hiiro had once told her that he adored her innocence. That it was the one thing he never wanted her to change about herself. Sadly she realized she had let him down. She felt much older than she was. It was hard to imagine that in a few more months she would be seventeen and married to Endymion.

Her body had matured when she'd finally turned sixteen. No longer was she short and slightly pudgy. Her legs had become long, her figure had obtained curves and she had grown slightly taller. Mina and Makoto would often laugh about how she'd become the perfect hourglass. How she'd turned into the ideal young woman. In a way she didn't want to be a woman. She wanted to be a little girl again. That way she wouldn't have to worry about the condition of her clothes, how she stood, how she walked, or how she spoke. None of that had mattered.

Leaning against one of the marble pillars she stared up into the glass that allowed her to see the outside. From her vantage point she could see the earth perfectly in its entire splendor. Often she'd wanted to run there, to escape her duties. Now it was too late. Her engagement had been announced nearly a month earlier. She was doomed to marry a man that had no feelings for her, and for whom she had no desire to marry. He and Rae had never kept their relationship a secret from her, had often flaunted it. Would it continue when she was wed to him? Would she be forced to play the perfect wife and Queen while he had his affair with her? The thought of all that was to come, of the possibility that her mother's kingdom wouldn't survive the war, soon took its toll upon her. Lowering her head she allowed a sob to escape her. It had been a long time since she'd allowed herself to cry.

The sound of approaching footsteps quickly stopped her though. Furiously she wiped away her tears, frustrated with herself. If she couldn't handle what was happening now how would she ever be able to run the Moon Kingdom, let alone the Silver Alliance? Looking up she saw Duo approaching her, dressed in the typical armor of earth only having it all black. His cloak was as she remembered it from when they had first met; trailing around his feet and billowing with every stride he took. Unconsciously she reached up and clasped the intricately carved silver cross that hung around her neck. It was yet another gift her mother had given her when she had turned sixteen. It was the cross her father had given her mother as a promise of his love.

"Serenity, may I please speak with you?" Standing tall she squared her shoulders. She would not allow him to see her weaknesses.

"It's nice to see you too Duo. What is it you need to speak with me about?" He cringed at the animosity in her voice.

"I've been put in charge of the first regiment. The moment Beryl strikes I am to go out and fight." Once more she averted her gaze upward, forcing a bitter laugh. Throwing her hands to her side in exasperation she looked at him with a frown.

"And what am I supposed to do about that? Am I supposed to care? What difference will this make Duo? Huh? What will it do? You've been gone for nearly two years. You can't come back whenever you like and expect me to accept it!" Angry tears had gathered in her eyes at this point. What did he expect her to do?

Taking her hands in his Duo kissed her knuckles. Millions of thoughts raced through her mind as he looked up at her, his eyes sparkling like pools of liquid amethyst. His braid was as long as she remembered it, his bangs falling unceremoniously into his eyes. Why was it that he suddenly looked so handsome? He was taller than she remembered, much taller. Since he had left her alone in the garden she had begun to expand on the thoughts she had had. She knew in her heart that she cared for him. Much more than she was willing to admit. It frustrated her because it didn't matter. She was engaged and he was a free spirit. He had no ties and was free to roam the universe as he pleased. How could it be that Endymion could have his way yet she could not? It tore her heart apart. And just as she had made her peace Duo had to come back and remind her of her inner demons.

"I have something to say that I have wanted to say for a long time. For years I've been fighting it. Three years ago I realized I couldn't do it anymore. I was just too afraid to say anything." Puzzled she allowed him to caress her cheek as he gazed into her eyes. "I'm in love with you Serenity. I have loved you since the moment we met. I just wanted you to know in case anything happens to me."