Before reading:
I do not claim own of Sailor Moon or any related indicia. Characters that I have created will be listed before each chapter if they appear in said chapter, and I do not mind you using my characters in your stories, if you ask.
Because I rarely receive feedback on my fan fictions, I would enjoy it very much if you would read and review this story. If you have an offensive review, please e-mail it to me instead of posting it in the reviews section, however if you are only criticizing, putting it in the review section is more than welcome. Thank you.
Extra:
The story is moving along, and it's coming to an end. I had hoped not to end it so soon, but I figure that no one wants to read a 20-chapter fan fiction. This is the beginning of the end, sort of. (For all of you outer scout fans, don't worry.)
My Characters in this chapter:
Prince Ceres
Aiko
Kohaku
Endimion stood up and bowed deeply. "Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, please accept this rose as my formal apology for being rude."
Serenity stopped crying and stuck her nose in the air playfully. "I'm sorry, Sir Endimion of Earth, but I do not think I can except such a thing from someone so ungrateful." He winked at her as she took the flower and jumped up, her long hair curling into the air.
Endimion grabbed one of the stray stands and tugged lightly. "Why is your hair down?"
"You came before I was… Oh no!" Serenity looked back at the palace where Luna seemed to be looking for her. "I have to go, they'll be wondering were I ran off to. Tonight, you'll take me, right?"
Endimion nodded and hugged Serenity gently before pushing her on her way. Today was the Princess' fourteenth birthday, and the day that would change nearly everything. Endimion sat back down on the bench, leaning backward to look up at the Earth.
The Prince jumped as he noticed a battered, beaten girl stumble towards the bench. "Endi-" she said, before collapsing. Endimion had leapt up just in time to keep her from hitting the ground. He pushed some of the dark green hair from the girl's face, trying to find any thing familiar, but failed.
"Serenity!" called Luna as the young princess ran through the garden towards her. "You shouldn't run off like that!" Serenity stopped just short of her guardian, huffing slightly. "Just because Prince Endimion comes to visit, doesn't mean you can just run off!"
"Yes, I know," she said with a sigh as the two entered the castle. They walked in silence through the castle, going up a flight of stairs and down a long corridor. "Luna?" Serenity asked as they neared her room where Kohaku would be waiting. "May I ask you something?"
"Yes, Princess?" Serenity led Luna to a balcony and sat down on the bench, overlooking the massive fountain in the front of the palace. "What is it? You seem troubled."
"Luna… I still have feelings for Ceres." She turned to her guardian and spoke before she could reply. "I know that I shouldn't, but I do! I just can't stop loving him!" Luna smiled sweetly and sat down next to the girl, gazing out towards the lake in the center of the kingdom.
"Serenity, you will always have feelings for Ceres." The black haired woman turned as Serenity gasped. "You will never forget the way it felt being around him, or the way he held you when you cried. You can't forget those precious memories. All you can do is make better memories. Memories that can easily overshadow any feelings you had for the Prince of Earth."
Serenity stood up and turned to Luna, smiling through her hurt eyes. "New memories? Moments that can overshadow those of Ceres. New memories that involve roses?" Before waiting for an answer, she left Luna on the balcony and went into her room to prepare for the party.
Artemis stepped out onto the balcony and took the now vacant seat on the bench. "Do you really think that encouraging her feelings for Ceres is going to help the situation?" He turned to her as he spoke, his eyes full of concern.
"Yes. It may be our only hope. She needs to remember her feelings for Ceres to strengthen her feelings for Endimion."
"And if those feelings weaken her against Ceres?"
"Then we will have a slight problem."
Serenity ran through the paths of the city, looking for her friends. 'I can't remember where we agreed to meet!' she thought frantically as she turned the corner and headed towards the lake. She was wearing a pale yellow dress similar to that of the one she wore the night she was taken by Ceres. The thought made her shudder slightly as she saw a silhouette on the bench. Her bench.
The Princess was relieved to see that her friends were nearby, but each had a strange look on their face as they approached the bench. Serenity soon followed suit to see whom they had met up with. A small gasp was released from her lungs as she saw Endimion sitting on the bench with a girl.
"Endimion?" she asked, nearing the bench and seeing the girl clearly for the first time. Her eyes were a beautiful shade of emerald green that sparkled against her olive skin. Her hair was also a deep emerald color and reached the top of her shoulders. This girl was pretty, and she was snuggling up to Endimion. "Who is this?"
"This is Aiko," he said, matter-of-factly and then noticed the stern look on Serenity's face. He stood up and Aiko followed suit, holding on to his arm tightly. Rei turned to Makoto who shook her head disapprovingly and then looked to Minako, who seemed to be fuming. Kunzite laughed nervously and pulled on Minako's arm, trying to calm her. "I just met her after you had run off earlier."
Ami gasped softly and felt a hard nudge from Zoicite. "Sorry," she whispered in response to the look he had given her. Everyone's gaze seem to instantly turn to Serenity, waiting for some type outburst, however, it never came. Serenity just stood there, smiling. The look made Ami shift her weight uncomfortably before she had to break the awkward silence. "So, the party is tonight. Do you think that Queen Selenity will make another announcement?"
No one answered her question as they all stood there, waiting for Endimion to catch on. Slowly, Serenity's smile changed and she turned away from the group, running towards the transport platform. 'I don't care where I go, I just want to be away from Endimion,' she thought as she heard the yells of concerned friends behind her. Then a voice cut through the rest, a voice she hadn't heard in three years.
"Serenity? Where are you going?" Ceres was standing next to the platform, a foot propped against the wall he was casually leaning on. A sweet smile had settled on his face as Serenity slowed and stopped before him. At this moment, Serenity's emotional walls came crashing down around her. She had missed his face, his voice, and his gentle touch. It took everything in the girl's power not to cry as she threw herself into his arms, not caring about the plans or that he only wanted to use her. All she cared about what that he was here, holding her, while Endimion was playing with his new friend.
"Serenity!" came Endimion's voice as he neared the platform. "What are you doing?"
The young princess lifted her head, revealing her tear filled eyes. "Why do you care whether I go or not? You never cared at all!" she choked out as Aiko and the others came running from behind Endimion. The prince looked devastated as Ceres began to pull on Serenity's arm. Aiko in turn came to pull on Endimion but was thrown back almost violently.
"Serenity! Don't do this! You have it all wrong!" he cried, running towards her. She looked away, whipping a tear from her eye. She would not cry for him. The clear blue eyes of the young lady looked up into the cold gray eyes of the Prince of Earth and she realized her mistake. It was too late by then. The colors of the Moon's landscape were beginning to twirl as the wind around the two began to move. She felt herself being lifted from the platform and most likely transported to Saturn, where she will meet her fate.
A.N. I'm sorry that it's so short. I hope that you enjoy it anyway.
