Selenity returned to the Moon, more tired than she had ever been in her life. She felt so guilty for chasing Serena away, and greatly saddened by seeing the once vivacious couple so anguished. She had acted on impulse, hoping that if she could only be in the same room as Serena she could get her to come home.
She walked down the old hallways of her home, the walls covered in shadows and her spirit low. She turned past tapestries she'd seen so many times, and familiar faces of ancestors long gone. She stopped in front of a portrait of Serena and herself. Serena wore a mischievous smile on her face, her blue eyes glittering. Selenity missed that smile, those eyes. She headed for the dining room, arriving in time for the evening meal. She fell into her seat with no grace or control.
"Is something wrong?" Mina asked, leaning forward in her chair. The rest of Serena's court did the same, concerned about the Queen's wellbeing. They never would have dreamed that the Queen would say what she did.
"I saw Serena."
"What?" they asked together, their forks clattering against their dishes.
"All this time she's been in disguise, working as a maid in Darien's own castle." She shook her head. "Can you believe it?"
"Why didn't she just come home?" Lita asked. "We could have kept her from Darien!"
"I don't think we could have, Lita," Amy said quietly. "He would have found a way to her, or she to him. You know how they used to sneak out at night."
Raye was strangely silent. She kept her gaze on her plate, pushing her food around but she had lost the appetite to eat it. "I just wish she would come home."
They all slouched into their seats and grew quiet, agreeing with her with their frowning faces. They did not have near as much fun without Serena, nor did they serve any purpose for she wasn't there to protect.
"You remember the first time she met Darien?" Mina asked, her eyes growing starry. "It was a match made in heaven. She couldn't stop talking about him!"
"Oh, yes!" Raye laughed. "And the klutz tripped over a chair while following him, or trying to at least."
They smiled warmly at each other.
"One night, after their first dance together, she came into my room, swooning over him," Mina said. "She told me, 'He is the most wonderful person I've ever met. I think I might love him.'"
"She always had impulse feelings," Selenity agreed.
"Like the time she wanted that dog even though she was allergic to it!"
Dinner grew cold that night as the five women reminisced and told stories of Serena. They laughed and cried, and didn't leave their chairs until late that night, when they could scarcely keep awake anymore.
"It's good to see you again, Princess," Ryule said, bowing at the waist.
She returned the gesture, thankful she had thought of her former hiding place. "I only hope your offer still stands."
He smiled, wrinkles bunching up on his forehead. "Of course." She followed him inside through silent halls to a corner room. Two large windows looked out onto a mountainside garden with crooked trees and a humble stone path. A small cot sat in the corner with simple white blankets and sheets. There was a small fire at the bedside, and a table in the opposing corner. A bathroom connected at the right, next to her closet. She loved the quaintness of it all.
"We serve meals at six, twelve, and six," he said. "There are prayers all throughout the day, but you know to remain quiet."
She nodded. This is what she needed, a quiet place where she could forget everything and simply live from day to day, each like the rest and filled with total peace.
"I can never repay you for taking me in," she said.
"You'll never have to."
Ryule left her and she sank down onto the cot, gazing out the window. The shadows around her heart seemed to fade, content to know she wasn't chasing after Darien anymore. And she felt warmth, hope.
This could be her life.
Dinner was served on a long, wooden table, low to the ground so they sat on pillows while eating. Boiled vegetables and fish were on the menu that night, and though it wasn't much, she felt full. Meals were the only time when anyone really talked to one another, a sweet release from the silence.
"Are you comfortable, Princess?" they asked her.
She nodded. "Call me Serenity."
They smiled.
After dinner she went out to the gardens, following the stone path as it looped around and around, beneath long vines and knotted trees. Flowers sprouted around the path in gentle purples and bright reds. Soothing scents filled her nose, and sprigs of mint refreshed her. The starlight was clearer here, sparkling like a million diamonds.
She came around a bend and stumbled across a fountain, splashing quietly into a deep pool. In the center sat a statue of the Moon Goddess, the resemblance to Serena unsettling. It reflected back the light of the stars, and seemed to resonate magic. She walked around it, reading an inscription in the stones around its base.
Ask with a pure heart,
And your wish granted will be,
But ask with malice in your soul,
And a dark fate shall befall thee.
Serena closed her eyes, thinking of what she really wanted.
"I wish," she said, "that Darien would be happy."
The wind picked up, twisting around her and sending strands of her hair across her face. She opened her eyes slowly to see the fountain glowing golden. It began resounding like cathedral bells, sending waves across her vision. It grew louder and louder until she grew dizzy, swaying on her feet. It filled her ears, and overloaded her senses, until she fell into the sweet silence of unconsciousness.
At that very moment, in a ballroom filled to the brim with royalty, a young lady dropped her purse, and unknowingly walked on. Darien, who wished not to be there at all, but was required to be since he was hosting the ball, spotted the purse, and picked it up.
"Excuse me, Miss," he called, but the lady did not hear. He chased after her, pushing through the crowded ballroom, until he could tap her on the shoulder. She turned, surprised to see the Prince following her.
"You dropped your purse," he explained, handing her the small beaded bag. She smiled, revealing a beautiful set of pearly white teeth in bright contrast of her tan skin. Her jade eyes glittered with a contagious happiness. He smiled in return, for the first time in a long time. "I'm sorry, I'm being rude. I am Darien."
"Prince Darien of the Earth," she corrected him in a teasing way. She curtsied. "And I am Princess Kaelin of the Calypso system."
"Ah," he said. "I've been to the Calypso system. It's very warm there."
"Our sun is twice the size of yours," she pointed out.
"That could be the reason." They laughed, and Darien felt alive for the first time since the curse. "Would you be so kind as to dance with me?" he asked, opening his hand to her.
She slipped her dainty, gloved hand in his. "I would love to."
Many months passed and Serenity had fallen into her life as a priestess. She wore simple white dresses, and reported for meals on time. She took nightly walks in the garden, now steering clear of the wishing fountain though she wasn't even sure if she would ever be able to find it again. She spent her days meditating, and exercising her magic. In this remote place she let her magic flow freely, causing her to become luminous at all times. She was happy and at peace in a place where she did not have to remember or worry about anything.
One night as she took her walk, a young priest joined her, his face more jovial than any other priest she'd seen. Round brown eyes glimmered up at her.
"Good evening, Serenity," he said quietly, bowing at the waist.
"Good evening," she said, greeting him in the same way. "I'm afraid I do not know your name."
"I am Asher," he answered. "I hope you do not mind if I join you on your walk tonight; you do seem very alone."
"I do not mind either way," she answered. "I only walk to breathe in the air, and stretch my legs."
For awhile they walked in silence, enjoying the company though they said no words.
"Did you always glow before?" Asher asked.
Serena laughed and it felt good to feel the familiar tremble in her stomach. "No, not always. It disturbed some people, so I kept my magic more tightly bound."
"And now?"
"Now I can let everything flow freely; it takes less energy."
"What can you do?"
Serena looked at him, her eyes glittering in excitement. "Many things. Do you wish to see some?"
Asher had never seen magic before; his family possessed none in their line, and after leaving his family he had come straight to the temple where no one had much, and rarely used what little they had. He nodded his head vigorously, and Serena directed him to stand to the side.
She rubbed her hands together, silver sparks collecting there and as she drew her hands apart they formed a small sun. It grew and grew, to the size of a child's kickball, and then she threw it up so that it floated feet above their heads. It was bright, drowning out the darkness of the night sky.
"Amazing," Asher said.
Serena grinned. "I'm not done yet."
She held out held out her right hand and drew water from the small pond yards away. It formed tight ribbons of water that she sent to circle around the sun with a flick of her wrist. Rainbows danced across the air, swirling into the sky and splattering across the ground. Colors danced across their faces and their white clothes as the ribbon spun and twisted.
Asher clapped for her as the water flew back to the pond. Serena sent the sun flying into the sky, where it exploded brightly; throwing harmless sparks across the sky like fireworks. She turned and bowed, happy to give someone something they could enjoy.
"That is brilliant," Asher said, truly meaning it. "You must be related to the goddess."
"That I am," Serena said. "She is my own grandmother, on my mother's side of course."
"You must be very blessed."
Serena turned away at that comment, her face directed towards the sky at a small sapphire, giving light back to her world. "That I am not."
There was an awkward silence as Asher realized his mistake. He took Serena's hand in his. "Forgive me, I did not mean to sadden you."
Serena smiled. "Of course you didn't, but some things cannot be avoided. Come now, it's not your fault. Do you wish to see some other magic?"
"Always!"
Serena perked up and began molding the elements to her will once more. Her walks with Asher soon became routine as well, and when she was not praying or meditating, she was coming up with new ways to astonish him with magic. She enjoyed his youthful exuberance; the same she used to have. She loved his innocence, and when she was with him he made her forget all the bad things, for he did not know such things even existed in the world.
But still, late at night when the temple was silent with sleep, she would be awake looking out her window at the Earth. She would make her usual wishes, and guess what Darien was doing at that very moment.
She never did guess correctly.
Darien was utterly happy. He dreamt no more of Serena and the sorceress. He spent his days with Kaelin at the park or horseback riding. They dined in the evenings and danced the nights away. He kissed her for the first time underneath a full moon, and felt no regret. His life was continuing well, guided by Serena's wish.
On this particular night he was pacing in the Main Hall, waiting for Kaelin to arrive. They were going to picnic underneath the stars and he was going to tell her something he had not said in a long time.
The doors opened and she stepped in, capturing his attention immediately. He bowed, kissing the top of her hand in greeting, then straightening and kissing her on the cheek.
"I missed you," she said, slipping her hand into his. She'd been gone for a week, having to take care of some business in her own system, and everyone had noticed the couple's restlessness and gloom.
"I missed you, too," he said, leading her out into the courtyard. They sat down on a soft blanket, and Darien took wine from a basket, pouring a glass for each of them. An old tree bent over them, hiding away a full, watching Moon.
"You have never taken me here before," Kaelin said. "It's beautiful."
"I have something I wanted to tell you," Darien said, brushing past Kaelin's comments.
She smiled. "What is it?"
"I love you, Kaelin."
Serena was walking down the paths, the shade from the trees protecting her from the sun's rays. She hummed a soft tune beneath her breath, when suddenly the pain of the curse burnt her skin once more. She fell onto the stone, curling into a ball. She screamed, disrupting all prayers and drawing the priests out into the gardens. They circled around her, watching as black flowed out of her skin and slithered away into the bushes. She stopped screaming as the pain subsided, and breathed heavily. She pushed herself onto her feet, eyeing the smiling priests around her.
"Study yourself well, Serenity," Ryule said mysteriously. Asher grinned at his side.
Serena dove into her currents of magic, scrutinizing herself and feeling as if something was missing inside her, something important. It took her a moment to realize her skin felt warm and her heart free. She searched and searched but found no traces of the curse.
She laughed, dancing around, feeling as free as she had ever been. Her magic sparked around her like fireworks erupting about her head. The monks remained silent, watching, waiting for her to grasp exactly what this meant.
She halted, staring at the Earth which was fading into the daylight sky. She felt her heart collapse around her feet. If she was no longer cursed, then Darien was no longer in love with her. She swore at the hag who cursed her, becoming so angry that flames darted from her fingertips. She was forced to pull in her magic and emotions.
"It's what I wished for," she said very quietly, trying to calm herself down. "I wanted him to be happy, and he is."
"And you, Serenity?"
She sighed, and blinked away tears. She faced Asher, apologizing with her eyes. "I…"
"I am going home."