Disclaimer: Don't own nothin', no point suin'…

The song for Serenity and Endymion I chose is Loreena McKennit's "The Dark Night of the Soul"

…Oh night, thou was my guide…

…Oh night, more loving than the rising sun…

"Serenity!"

Again, those four pairs of eyes stared down at her with concern. Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Jupiter gathered around her bed, pleading with her to get up. She stared past them at the wall and said nothing.

"How could you have gone down there?" Mars demanded, her voice harsh with worry. "You could have gotten in so much trouble! You could have gotten killed!"

"Mars," Jupiter murmured. "Not now."

"No, Jupiter!" Mars snapped. "Now! If you had just used your head for once—!"

"I think she's sorry enough," Mercury whispered. "Oh, Serenity, don't cry!"

Serenity blinked, surprised. She had not noticed she was crying. After so many tears, what were a few more?

"Mars," she breathed. "Go away. All of you go away."

"No."

Mars sat down on the edge of her bed. "We're not going anywhere until you say something."

"I already said go away."

Jupiter dropped beside Mars. "We're not leaving."

Venus and Mercury looked at each other, then joined the other two. "We're staying," Venus added.

Serenity rolled away. "Do whatever you want."

"Fine!"

Before she could figure out what Mars meant, the covers were jerked away. She yelped, then found her hands seized at the wrist. Someone else grasped her ankles, and suddenly she was not on the bed. Upside down, she saw Mercury and Venus' surprised faces, and Mars' knees.

"What are you doing?"

Without answering, Jupiter and Mars carried her across the room. There came the crack of someone kicking a door open, and then she was inside a pale blue marble room. Understanding struck.

"Mars! Jupiter! Don't you daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaare!"

She was airborne, and then warm water closed over her head. She thrashed about for a second, her skirt tangling with her arms and making it impossible to swim. Then she saw bubbles floating by, and followed them up. Her head broke through the surface just in time to hear shouting.

"—can't just throw her into the bath!"

"She's out of bed, isn't she?"

"MARS!"

"VENUS!"

"Stop yelling, you two!"

"She is not going to rot there in that bed in a pile of depression! What good is that going to do anyone?"

"Mars, if you ever had an ounce of romance—"

"You've got enough for all of us!"

"Would you two stop it?"

"NO!"

Serenity floated in the warm water, watching her four best friends shouting at one another without a glance towards her. Heaving a resigned sigh, she began kicking her way towards the edge of the bath. Mercury turned towards the sound, and shrieked.

"Serenity! Give me your hand!"

Their Princess struggled to them, her legs working twice as hard against the waterlogged skirt. Mars looked down at her without apology, but leaned past Mercury to offer her own hand.

"Well, come on!"

Serenity reached up, grasping Mars' hand. Then she threw her whole weight back, and had the satisfaction of seeing her guardian fly over her head and into the depths of the bath. A vicious smile curved her lips, and she treaded water, waiting for Mars to reappear.

Black hair floated to the surface, then a pair of violet eyes rose. They found Serenity, fixed in a vindictive glare as her whole head came up. Both arched bows moved slowly up her forehead.

"That was not a good idea."

"Uh, Mars?" Mercury began. "Calm down a little."

"KYAH!"

Mars lunged, a tidal wave of warm water preceding her attack on her Princess. Serenity dove beneath the water, letting Mars soar past her. Her fingers caught the fiery princess's ankle, and she struggled deeper, towing her friend along.

Mars twisted, suddenly surging up in front of Serenity's eyes. She grappled with her fingers, trying to pry herself free, but Serenity shook her head and held on with both hands. Mars kicked out with her other foot, catching the smaller girl in the stomach. In return, Serenity yanked her leg closer, and bit her on the shin.

A bubble of surprise exploded from Mars' mouth as the Princess of the Moon, Heiress of the Silver Millennium, and Guardian of the Silver Imperium Crystal latched onto her leg with her teeth. Only stunned for a moment, she caught at Serenity's arms with her sharp nails, drawing long red welts down her fragile white flesh.

Serenity growled, the sound muffled and surreal under water. Her lungs ached for air, and her head felt funny. Still she held on, determined to out-stubborn Mars just this once.

Her eyes flew open wide as a strong hand seized one silver bun and began to pull. She saw an equally shocked look on Mars' face, and fingers tangled in her dark locks. They both released each other as they were yanked to the surface.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

"Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Jupiter glared at both of them, her dark hair damp around her angry face.

"What are you two doing!"

"She—!"

"No, she—!"

"Stop it!" Venus ordered, floating just behind Jupiter. "This is ridiculous!"

Mercury, beside their leader, nodded. "You two are behaving like children!"

The two drenched princesses pointed at each other, chorusing, "But she—!"

"What in all the solar system is going on!"

Very slowly, five young women turned to the door of the bathroom. Five girls sank lower into the water, cheeks flaming with shame. There, in all her elegant glory, stood a stunned Queen Serenity.

"What are all of you doing?"

"Ah, ha-ha!" Serenity tried. "Morning, Mama."

The Queen looked anything but amused.

"Come out of there this instant!"

There was a universal gulp, but the Senshi and their charge slowly made their way out of the bath. Jupiter, the first to the edge, heaved herself out, then turned to help Mercury and Mars. They, in turn, gave their hands to Venus and Serenity, respectively.

Then the five princesses of the inner solar system lined up in front of their Queen, smiling weakly.

Queen Serenity looked each over, her eyes coming to a sudden stop on the bite gushing blood down Mars' leg. Her silver brows rose sharply, and she gave Mars a startled look.

"Mars…have you been bit?"

"Uh…no, Your Majesty. It's just a scrape…from when I fell in the bath."

"And I take it those are not scratches on my heir's arms?"

"No, no Mama! Just some more scrapes."

The Queen sighed. "Alright. But I suggest none of you go for another swim in your uniforms, or your nightgown, Serenity. And I don't expect to see anymore scrapes. Understood?"

"Yes, Majesty."

"Yes, Mother."

The Queen shook her head, then turned towards the door. Over her shoulder she called, "I also expect to see all of you at the dressmaker's in ten minutes. You all need to get measured for your gowns for Serenity's birthday ball."

With these last words she floated out the door and disappeared.

Silently, the five girls eyed each other uncertainly.

"Well," Mars broke the silence, "we'd better dry up. I can't imagine Luna's face if we went traipsing through the palace looking like this. Come on."

She reached for Serenity's arm, but started as her Princess twisted away.

"For the last time, Sholeh, leave me alone!"

Mars glared, putting her hands on the wet waist of her uniform. "What is the matter with you?"

"Haven't you heard a single thing I've said?" Serenity cried. "Any of you? My heart is breaking! Doesn't that matter to you?"

"How can your heart be breaking over someone you've only met twice in your life?" Mars shot back.

Serenity shook her head. "I don't know! But it is! It hurts more than I ever knew anything could hurt! And I'm not going to forget him just because you introduce me to handsome men, or because you get angry with me! I'm never going to forget him, never, and it's going to hurt until I die!"

She flung herself past them all into her room. "And I hope that death comes soon, because I can't take this anymore!"

The door slammed closed between Serenity and her guardians. Only then did she let the tears come again.