A/N: I know I've been very random in my updates but who knew this whole college, work, fraternity thing would keep a girl so busy. (it's a co-ed fraternity ok?) But yes here I am and as you all know I like to randomly put songs into my stories and this one just fit so well and it adds such a tender moment between Serenity and Caril that will cause all of you to cry later….

Serenity looked out over the balcony. She had changed so much overnight. Her silvery locks turned grey, and her sky blue eyes turned so dark they nearly became as black as the dress she now wore. She stared out at the starry sky, knowing home was so far away and knowing that she would never return to it.

"I will never regret my choice, but I can't live through the consequences. I gladly lay my life down for Endymion and my people."

………………………………………………………………..

Caril walked through the dark castle looking for the figure he knew so well. The girl who held him with a glance, entranced him with a laugh, and made him love her with her spirit. Luckily it was not hard to find her. She was looking over the balcony, he was vaguely surprised to see not a single guard around her, they all knew she could never leave.

He watched her from the shadows shocked at the change in her appearance, she looked nothing like the Serenity he had talked and laughed with cuddled up in her bed. As he watched her she began to sing in a hushed whisper but with each word it grew stronger, more desperate, he could feel her sadness come upon him and it nearly crippled him.

Sound the bugle now - play it just for me
As the seasons change - remember how I used to be
Now I can't go on - I can't even start
I've got nothing left - just an empty heart

I'm a soldier - wounded so I must give up the fight
There's nothing more for me - lead me away...
Or leave me lying here

Sound the bugle now - tell them I don't care
There's not a road I know - that leads to anywhere
Without a light feat that I will - stumble in the dark
Lay right down - decide not to go on

Caril felt a tear slide down his cheek and he knew somehow he must give Serenity the strength to have hope and not give up. He would need her to fight and live on if she was ever to return home once he released her from her vow.

He felt his own voice rising up to greet hers.

………………………………………………………………………………..

As Serenity voiced her sadness, the final words enforcing in her mind just how bleak her future was, she nearly fell to the floor. As tears began to slide down her cheeks she heard a voice coming from the shadows.

Then from on high - somewhere in the distance
There's a voice that calls - remember who you are
If you lose yourself - your courage soon will follow

So be strong tonight - remember who you are

You're a soldier now - fighting in a battle
To be free once more - That's worth fighting for

For a moment Serenity believed she was imagining the voice until Caril stepped out from the shadows. He took her in his arms as he finished his words, knowing she was ready to fight when he saw her silvery hair once more.

"Caril what are you doing here? You know you can't be here, I gave my vow and you as a member of my court must follow that vow." Serenity said finally breaking free of his embrace as the truth of reality came down upon her.

"Actually I am not a member of your court. Your brother and the royal council banished me from Court so that I could come rescue you." A sly grin came across his face as he saw surprise and then horror wash over Serenity's.

"But that means you can never come back to the Moon Palace…" Serenity trailed off realizing the sacrifice her dear friend had made for her. "Caril I…Why would you do such a thing?" Serenity asked looking deep into his violet eyes.

"Because you're needed back home. Endymion is in shambles without you, the Senshi can't focus on anything, and Andrew spends every moment trying to find some way to save you. Hence this hairbrained rescue plan. Serenity you are the ray of sunshine that keeps everyone else sane and happy. The moon kingdom will never be the same without you and I don't want to see a universe without you in it. Now lets get you home." Serenity was somber but she nodded none the less, knowing that she couldn't throw away the sacrifice Caril had made for her.

Caril took Serenity into his arms and gave her a reassuring hug. "Lets get this over with." Serenity nodded and held him tightly before letting him go once more.

Caril unsheathed his sword and raised it above his head. "Prince Diamond of the Dark Moon, I, Caril Legere Saturne, Crown Prince of Saturn and Exile of the White Court of Serenity, challenge thee!" Caril had no more than finished his words before Diamond appeared before him.

"So you exiled yourself from Serenity's court just to try and get a crack at me Prince Saturn? Well it shall be my pleasure to kill you in front of the one you love so dear." Diamond's voice dripped with laughter and malice as he unsheathed his own sword and pointed it toward the prince.

They faced each other circling and waiting for the right moment to strike, for the moment Serenity was ignored as the two men battled with their eyes.

"Goddess Selene, Protector of the White Moon, and Celestial Mother to the Lunarian Royal Family, I call upon your wisdom, your guidance and most of all your strength, grant protection upon the rightful victor of this battle." Serenity words grew louder as she spoke the incantation hoping the goddess would listen to her prayer and keep Caril from harm.

"You think your precious goddess will do anything to help you Serenity, see if she'll stop this!" Diamond sent a blast of dark energy toward the princess who was still lost in meditation with the goddess. Caril saw the blast and jumped in front of it bracing for the impact with never came. He turned his head in terror fearing the energy had reached his target but instead he saw Serenity unharmed and staring at him in shock.

"What? It can't be?" Diamond looked at both Serenity and Caril unable to understand how neither of them had been harmed by his blast, but as he stared he noticed a pale silver glow around Caril.

"You dared to harm the life of the Moon Princess, I with the help of the Goddess Selene will ensure you pay." Caril's voice echoed booming with power that he knew was not his own. He felt strength and reassurance radiating through him…he would not fall in this fight…he would win and his beloved Serenity would return home safe and sound.

"How can that be? You are not a member of the Royal Court you cannot survive a bonding with the Goddess!" Diamond called out trying to get Caril off his guard in the hopes of wining the fight. He failed to notice Serenity's face pale with realization. Diamond shot an energy ball at the chest of Caril who did not even dodge. The ball hit him and had Diamond not see it hit the Prince he would have thought the ball had missed entirely.

"Now let me try Prince Diamond." Caril's voice was even and calm but it radiated power. His entire body glowed silver and he shot a pure bean of light energy at Diamond, who could not avoid the beam. The powerful beam, imbued with the strength of the goddess destroyed Diamond into nothing more than a pile of dust.

"The will of the Goddess be done." Caril whispered softly as he fell to the ground.

"Caril! NO!" Serenity screamed and ran to his side. "Please Goddess, Please spare my savior, my protector, please he does not deserve to die!" Serenity's tears soaked Caril's breast as she cried over him.

"Do not cry Princess, Please I wish for you to be happy. I regret nothing, I would always give my life for you. Take care of my Hotaru, she will understand as you should. I love you…Serenity." Caril's words struck deep into Serenity's heart and she could feel every bit of it breaking. She needed Endymion and the Senshi, she needed their strength to get her through this.

"Goddess please don't let this be the end. Let his sacrifice warrant his rebirth, let his spirit come upon us again, and let his life be filled with the happiness he died to bring to me." Serenity uttered that last prayer over and over again as she felt strong arms reach around her. She didn't even look up to see that Endymion and the Senshi had come to bring her home. Andrew knelt to face his sister.

"Serenity, I need you to move so I can teleport his body home to his parents, there is nothing more you can do. I cannot bring him back to the palace of the White Moon." Andrew's words were soft and gentle but to Serenity's broken spirit they sounded dull and cold. Unable to watch, unable to face any of them she teleported herself away from them, away from everything to the one spot she had always gone to cry.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Serenity looked over at the rosebushes. The winter cold kept them from blooming, kept them from bringing any sort of comfort to her distraught spirit.

"Oh Goddess Selene, how could you let him die for saving me! I shall never forgive you!" Serenity lashed out at her god in frustration. She heard footsteps and knew they belonged to the only person with any chance of bringing her comfort. As the footsteps neared the rosebushes began to bloom in an array of reds, whites, pinks and yellows. It was so beautiful it had the power to dry the tears coming from her eyes.

"Oh Darien, it's not fair." Darien sat beside her and took her into his arms. Holding her tight, relishing having her back again, but feeling his heart break, both at her sadness and the idea that it had been someone else to save her, someone else to sacrifice himself for her.

"I know Serena, I would have stopped him if I could. I would have gone in an instant if they had told me." Darien felt a tear fall softly on his cheek as he thought about barging in front of the court with his desperation, and being met with Caril's fist. Only to wake up and hear of his plan and of the sacrifice he gave.

"We can't bring him back Serenity, those are powers only afforded by the Goddess Selene, but we can honor his memory. We can ensure his memory is honored by the White Court and we will use the honor of his death to finally ensure peace between the Moon Kingdom and Saturn. They will join the Alliance and we will bring peace to his people. We will make sure all of his dreams come true Serenity, I promise you." Darien whispered strongly in his ear trying to make his determination of bringing all the honor in the universe upon the man who had done so much to bring his Serenity back home, overcome the sadness he felt over his sacrifice.

"Yes Darien you are right there is much to be done. I will speak to the White Court immediately and then I will speak to Saturn, once they join the Alliance we will be able to keep watch over his people and protect them with the power Prince Caril never had." She looked deeply into Darien's eyes, and knew that for the rest of her life she would be with no other but him, but she also knew that part of her heart would always belong to Caril. "I loved him Darien, I love him still. I love no other as I love you, but I loved him."

Darien registered no shock at those words, he had thought as much by Caril being willing to make such a sacrifice, but he held his Princess tighter, unable to imagine what would have happened if he had lost her to Diamond…or Caril.

"I love you Serenity, I was lost without you." Serenity gave a small smile and captured Endymion's lips with her, and as they both closed their eyes and surrendered to the kiss, she teleported them back to the moon, back home, back where they belonged.

A/N: Look I made it somewhat long to make up for my absence…I'm unsure if I want to leave it with Caril dead. I may do a sequel or at least and epilogue, so keep and eye out!