So I was sitting in my cubicle at work today, pondering the meaning of life, and I thought to myself, Boy, I really hate it when people post stories on fanfiction.net and then take FOREVER to post their chapters!

...and then I came to the horrific conclusion that I was one of those people! Ack! No, no, no!

My apologies for the delay! Special thanks and happy faces go out to the brave few who took a chance and REVIEWED Light of Love! Thank you very much for the wonderful feedback. I forgot to thank my alpha reader, Ancientwriter, in my last chapter. Of course, she is very busy right now and probably did not notice. ^_^

Before I start on a tangent about how much I hate people who ramble on in their Author's notes, I will go. If you eat turkey and do that whole Thanksgiving thing, have a good holiday. If you don't, have a good day anyway!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon is not mine. I claim no ownership to her odangos or Tuxedo Kamen's domino mask. A few original characters have been created by yours truly, and I would appreciate it if you did not snag them from me without requesting permission to use them.
-------
...in the last chapter, Jedite and Zoicite made a mockery of Endymion. After drinking a great deal of ale, the trio staggered through the snow. Just as they were about to get into a great deal of trouble with Kunzite and Nephrite over their antics, an eclipse took place above their heads and something odd happened to the Prince of the Earth.
-------
Light of Love: Red Moon--Chapter 2: Fate

Sailor Pluto pinched the bridge of her nose with her left
fingertips as she squeezed her eyelids shut. She shook her head
wearily. As she let out a deep sigh, she lifted her head and
opened her violet-red eyes.

The senshi wore a traditional sailor fuku, a sleeveless white
frock with a dark navy skirt--so dark it almost appeared black--
with a matching sash and bows. Her knee-high, dark navy boots
hugged her calves. Her skin was a dark bronze, which made the
white of her uniform practically glow. A shining ruby orb hung
from the dark choker wrapped around her neck. A pair of large,
matching wedged earrings dangled from her ears. She held a narrow
staff in her right hand that towered above her tall form, its plum
colored orb glowing tempestuously in the dim place.

Sailor Pluto occupied a space deep beneath the Moon Castle, in a
corridor stretching further than most were willing to traverse
during their curious wanderings. Unlike the opaque stone doors of
the Moon Castle, the door concealing Sailor Pluto and her world
was constructed of heavy old oak. Jagged designs, which had long
ago been carved in its surface, had worn away to reveal the
grooved, smooth grains of the wood. Beyond the heavy, dark brown
doors lay a chasm. Instead of having four walls, the room was an
open space spreading on forever, riddled with tiny pinholes from
the lights of far-off stars. A thin, low lying mist covered the
floor--if it could even be called a floor.

As the Guardian of Time, Sailor Pluto stood alone at the Time
Gate, silently witnessing all activity in the Silver Millennium.
Events, ranging from births, deaths, coronations and wars, were
documented in textbooks, but only Sailor Pluto's smoldering gaze
beheld them all. Her calm demeanor was a result of such
observation. How many times had she seen the Moon Kingdom fall?
How many queens had she mourned over?

Today, however, the calm persona she was known for had cracked,
revealing beneath its surface a weary, worried warrior. Her mind
was racing. Something was wrong; something terrible had happened.
Unfortunately, as the Guardian of Time, Sailor Pluto was forbidden
to discuss the present or the future with anyone.

Pluto turned her watchful gaze away from the swirling mass of fog
encapsulating her bare knees and thighs with cool moisture. The
golden keys dangling on the loose belt fastened around her waist
jingled happily. Her joints groaned in protest as she once again
shifted her body and directed her attention to the colored
timeline streaming out before her. Her long mass of dark emerald
green hair billowed behind her as she twirled. Every muscle in
her body craved sleep, but her mind ran frantic. The senshi
doubted that, even if she were to give into her physical fatigue,
her thoughts would allow her reprieve from her plaguing visions.

Since Linnaus' execution on the Sun three months ago, Sailor
Pluto's concerned gaze had fallen more often to the timeline
flowing before her. Pluto knew that the Lunar man's death did not
bode well for the planets. His murder may have been missed by the
Lunar people, but everyone had taken notice of his absence; his
correspondences, which were as witty and wise as Linnaus himself,
had completely stopped, setting the Royal Court of the Moon on
edge. In fact, all communication with the Sun had ceased three
months ago. No one knew where Linnaus had gone. Although they
had an unconcerned air in the public eye, the Moon Court had grown
distraught with worry.

So unsettling was Linnaus' disappearance to his cousin, Queen
Serenity, that she visited the Guardian of Time each day, quietly
inquiring about the Lunar man. Of course, Serenity knew better
than anyone that Sailor Pluto was not allowed to reveal such
secrets, but the Queen did not know where else to turn. Every
time the Queen inquired, the the solitary warrior lowered her head
remorsefully. Instead of revealing where Linnaus had been hiding
all of this time, the senshi shook her head. The hope in the
Queen's grey eyes faded a little more each day.

Sailor Pluto was almost grateful that she was not permitted to
divulge such horrid details--the bloody end of dear Linnaus.
Still, the stress had taken its toll on the solitary senshi;
wrinkles of worry had creased Sailor Pluto's brow and concern had
caused dark circles to form beneath her smoldering, mysterious
ruby eyes. The wise warrior dreaded to think of how the news of
Linnaus' execution would effect the balance of peace in the Solar
System. Sailor Pluto did not want to ponder such dark events, but
her solitary existence as the Guardian of Time left her much time
to anticipate such outcomes--both good and bad.

Her worries had been justified on the night of the eclipse, she
thought to herself, her eyes slanting. King Nefar of the Sun had
carried out his threat; the wicked, spiteful monarch had chosen
the darkest of nights to make good on his promise, depositing
Linnaus' decaying corpse on the Earth. With the Sun blocked by
the Earth, those of the Moon were unable to detect any abnormal
activity from the fiery star.

Of course, such an event would have, by itself, been horrible, but
to link that together with what else had occurred on that fated
night was too much for even the Guardian of Time to comprehend.
Sailor Pluto gritted her teeth, swallowing back the dread that
swelled in her throat. The planets were on the cusp of a great
battle--a war unlike any other she had ever witnessed. The
warrior squeezed her eyes shut, attempting to block out the images
that crept into her mind. Only the she knew for certain what the
final outcome would be.

Final.

The word hung in her mind. Throughout the centuries, Sailor Pluto
had stood at the Gate of Time, guarding it with her life. From
her perch, she had witnessed the spectacular cycle of life, in all
of its glory as well as in its gore. Kingdoms may have fallen,
but the continuity of time stretched forward like a long,
continuous string. The timeline may have tangled into a knot now
and then, but it still continued on. That is, it had until now.
For the first time in her life, Sailor Pluto could see the end of
the timeline, dangling in the distance like a frayed satin cord
caught in a tempestuous breeze. The end of the timeline could
only mean one thing: the Silver Millennium would soon end.

a woman's husky voice called from behind her.

The senshi jumped at her own name. She had been called
long ago, before she had become Sailor Pluto.

The Guardian of Time twirled on the ball of her foot, the garnet
orb of her staff flickering slightly. Shafts of dark ruby light
sparkled off the sheen of her dark forest hair. Her stormy,
violet-red eyes locked with the nut-brown gaze of Sailor Uranus.
The woman with cropped, sandy blonde hair normally would have
winked playfully at her friend, but she resisted as she noticed
the concern lining Sailor Pluto's face. Her own hard gaze
softened. Never in her life had she ever seen the Guardian of
Time so tired or worried.

We didn't mean to startle you, calmly whispered the soft voice
of Sailor Neptune. She stood to Sailor Uranus' right. Although
her soothing voice often sounded like a the warm sea lapping
against a sandy shore, it screamed through space, ripping at
Sailor Pluto's already frayed nerves. Sailor Neptune jumped
slightly, the short navy blue skirt of her fuku fluttering around
her legs. The Senshi of the Sea took in a deep breath. She
attempted to smile. Her long waves of aqua hair radiated in the
faint light flickering from the gilded mirror she held between her
hands.

Sailor Pluto's face flushed slightly. As the Senshi of Time, she
had anticipated their visit. She had just been so occupied with
the outcome of the worlds...

The senshi shook the worries from her head. No matter what
occurred, she must accept what loomed before her. Her nose
creased. She made a face, as though she had swallowed something
bitter.

Is something wrong? Sailor Uranus demanded. Pluto's distracted
vision attempted to focus on the blonde warrior. She blinked, her
eyes staring at the blue button at the center of the yellow bow on
Sailor Uranus' costume. Sailor Uranus frowned, crossing her
gloved hands across her chest expectantly.

Sailor Pluto shut her eyes tightly. Setting her mouth into a
determined, slightly amused smile, her eyes snapped open. She
peered into Sailor Uranus' rugged, questioning face.

Even if there were something wrong, she finally stated, I am
not permitted to divulge the details. Even to the both of you.

She hated to betray their friendship, but given the circumstances,
she had no choice. Her first duty was to her post at the Time
Gate.

Sailor Neptune nodded. We know that, she muttered. She held up
the talisman mirror with her right hand. Her aqua eyes flashed
dangerously as she peered into the reflective surface. Your
garnet rod has been glowing? she motioned her gloved hand toward
the top of Sailor Pluto's staff. It pulsated with light, beating
like a faint heartbeat I feel it, too. My talisman has been
emitting a strange energy. Neptune observed Sailor Pluto's eyes
widen as she added, Since the eclipse.

Pluto's face paled. The activation of their talismans only
provided more evidence of the end coming close. It was as it had
been foretold. Sailor Pluto may have witnessed many things, but
she did not want to live to see the end of the Silver Millennium.
Anything but that. The Guardian of Time blinked furiously,
attempting to hold back the tears welling in the corners of her
eyes.

A growl burst from Sailor Uranus. The silence was infuriating.
She could see the distress in Sailor Pluto's strained, tired face.
Obviously, the Guardian of Time knew of something terrible on the
horizon. In a quick movement, Sailor Uranus unsheathed the sword
on her hip. Gripping the ornately decorated pewter hilt, Sailor
Uranus held the long blade in front of her for two other senshi to
see. The sword glowed tempestuously, the metal quivering slightly
in her hands.

All three talismans came alive. Sailor Neptune's mirror began to
glow. The garnet rod resting in Sailor Pluto's right hand no
longer pulsed, but warmed to a steady ruby color. Energy bounced
between the talismans, flowing into the palms of the three senshi.
Several moments passed before the energy in the talismans faded.

Sailor Uranus and Sailor Neptune's eyes widened as they exchanged
a look of panic and concern with each other. Slowly, they turned
to face Pluto.

The prophecy is coming true, isn't it? Sailor Uranus questioned.
She sheathed her sword.

Pluto remained silent, staring at the haze swirling around her
feet. She refused to tell them, but as her eyes leveled to face
the two women, Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus knew the answer to
the question.

All three of the senshi were well aware of the prophecy that
foretold of the end of the Silver Millennium. From a very young
age, they had been trained to prevent it and to avoid it. The
prophecy warned of a union between the Earth and the Moon; it
stated that such a bond would cause a war so great that it would
destroy all of the planets.

Sailor Neptune shook her head in disbelief.

How could there be a bond? she pondered aloud. All Lunarians
must be present on the Moon for the eclipse. How could a union
have begun on that particular night?

Because not all Lunarians were present, whispered Sailor Uranus.
Her brown eyes grew wide as she focused on Sailor Pluto. She
clenched her fists tightly to her sides as she hissed, Is Linnaus
still on the Sun?

The Guardian of Time lowered her head. The question, although a
very simple one, made her heart sink. Aside from the people of
the Sun, she was the only one who knew of Linnaus' cruel death.
Once again, Pluto angrily thought, she was unable to tell exactly
what had happened to the Lunar man. Dancing around the question,
she uttered, Linnaus was not present on the Moon during the
eclipse.

Sailor Uranus managed to keep her temper in check, which was no
small feat for the senshi. She gripped the handle of her talisman
tightly, hissing through her teeth, That bastard probably snuck
off to the Earth and bonded with an Earth woman!

Sailor Pluto winced at the tone of Uranus' words. Linnaus was
indeed on the Earth; his body had been randomly deposited on the
planet's surface during the eclipse. However, she doubted if
Uranus would have chosen such a biting statement if she was told
exactly what had happened to Queen Serenity's cousin. The news
would break their hearts, Pluto imagined.

As she considered the true bond that had occurred, Sailor Pluto
wondered which would infuriate the blonde more: this supposed bond
with Linnaus or that of a more precious, innocent Lunarian. The
entire Moon Kingdom would be shocked and infuriated. Her eyes
darkened to a deep, smoldering red as she recalled the night of
the eclipse.

You must go back to your posts, muttered the Guardian of Time.
She had grown weary of their visit. Pluto rubbed her temples as
she turned back to the timeline. She normally savored her time
with the two senshi, but today her nerves were threadbare. As
she stared at the cords stretching before her, Pluto realized that
another visitor would soon be arriving; Sailor Neptune and Sailor
Uranus could not be present. We can discuss this later, she
told them quietly.

The two warriors turned and walked away silently.

She is so infuriating sometimes! growled Sailor Uranus beneath
her breath as they left. Not telling us a damn thing, and then
dismissing us like a couple of naughty schoolchildren!

Sailor Neptune stifled a giggle. Her talisman mirror warmed in
her hand, causing the Senshi of the Sea to hold the looking glass
to her face. As she peered into its reflective surface, she
smiled devilishly. She touched Uranus' shoulder.

I think our dismissal was appropriate, she laughed, holding the
mirror to her companion's face.

Sailor Uranus' eyes slanted as she gazed at the reflection. Her
image in the glass melted to reveal a small girl dressed in a
gauzy white gown wandering through a dim, abandoned corridor. Her
long, golden locks were down from the traditional royal bun
hairstyle of the Moon, but Sailor Uranus recognized the child
instantly. As a senshi of the outer solar system, she had never
met the precocious princess of the Moon. However, as she spied
the child's heart-shaped face, curious blue eyes, pouting lips,
and the upturned golden crescent moon symbol on her forehead,
Sailor Uranus instantly recognized the child as Princess Serenity.

The warriors of Uranus and Neptune made haste of their exit. On
their heels, as Neptune's talisman mirror had predicted, came the
arrival of the princess. She was wandering deep into the belly of
the Moon Castle during the wee hours of the night--when most Lunar
children were snoozing in their beds. The little princess, tired
of her sleepless night, had resolved on this particular evening
to seek out the answers to the questions plaguing her thoughts.
She was not completely certain that the person with the answers
lived deep beneath the Moon Castle, but hope ebbed her on,
encouraging her to take step after step deeper into the darkness.

Her bare feet slapped quietly against the marble grey floor tiles.
Strands of the child's long blonde hair danced behind her. Her
apple cheeks were pale. She swallowed back a sniffle as she
rounded a corner.

She paused, her bright blue eyes widening as she was greeted by
total darkness. Even during the darkest of nights, the rooms and
hallways of the Moon Castle were seldom ever pitch and black.
Even the shadows in the castle radiated with light. The princess
had never seen such darkness. Ever.

Courage, Serenity, she told herself quietly. Licking her lips
and swallowing the lump of fear in her throat, the child trudged
down the corridor, deeper into the basement of the castle. Each
step she took plunged her deeper into the black, so she chose each
footstep well, her toes hesitantly testing the dark, cold floor
beneath her.

After several moments, Serenity turned her head. She had walked
quite far. Where she had come from was now a glowy haze. The
child spun her head back into the darkness. The princess jumped
back as her toes slammed into something solid. She had reached
the end of the hallway.

The girl put her hands out in front of her. Her fingers expected
the cold touch of the marble walls of the Moon Castle but instead
were greeted by the grooves of a massive wooden door. She ran her
hands along the panel excitedly; it felt nothing like the other
doors in the Moon Castle. Other doors were as cold and solid as
the walls. This one was warm. The girl almost sensed the door
breathing.

Sliding the palm of her hands against its surface, the girl
discovered a curved piece of metal protruding outward. The
handle. She gingerly touched it with her fingers. A zing of
energy sparkled against her skin. She jumped in surprise. The
child then ran her hand along the other side of the door, to its
seam, only to be greeted by another identical door with a handle.

She grasped a knob in each of her small hands. Her heart rapidly
pounded against her chest. Serenity glanced back one last time.
For the past several months, she had traversed a portion of this
darkened hallway, only to have the fear consume her and cause her
to flee back into the light. The excitement and dread knotted her
stomach. A premonition rushed over her, cautioning her. Once she
opened these doors, her entire life would change forever.

The metal handles groaned as the girl twisted them. She pushed
the doors open with all of her strength, almost toppling into the
room before her. The girl caught her staggering form and stood
straight. A twilight seared with a foggy haze spilled out into
the hallway, splashing an erie light on the child's face. She
held in her breath as her eyes watered and adjusted to the faint
light.

Serenity drug a ragged breath through her lungs and stepped
forward. Her foot did not touch a hard, solid floor surface.
Instead, it seemed suspended in space. Swallowing, the
girlallowed herself to take another step. She felt almost as
though she were floating.

After she had taken several steps into the vacant space, the doors
slammed shut behind her. The girl jumped. A slice of panic cut
through her body. She turned her blonde head to the offensive
doors. She marveled at the ornate carvings of each massive panel.
Somehow, they had seemed much, much smaller on the other side.

You shouldn't have come, little princess, a woman's voice said.
Serenity twirled her head back around and peered into the mist.

The woman approached amidst a swirling, low-lying fog. Serenity
recognized her to be a sailor senshi, for she was dressed
similarly to the senshi of her mother's royal guard. This
particular senshi, Serenity noted, appeared slightly different.
Whereas the colors worn by the senshi guard of the Queen were
bright and colorful, the skirt of and sash of this warrior's fuku
were dark. The uniforms of the Queen's guard had short cropped
sleeves; this senshi's fuku had no sleeves at all. The princess
eyed the large staff in the woman's right hand. Although the
senshi was still approaching, the princess stood in awe over the
woman's thin, towering form.

When she was several steps from Serenity, the woman knelt down on
one knee.

Your highness, she whispered.

Serenity licked her lips. She stood frozen. The questions
suddenly drained from her mind. Several moments passed before
Serenity finally found her voice. It cracked in her dry throat.

Are you Pluto? she finally questioned. The Guardian of Time?

The woman nodded her head as she stood. Her tall frame towered
above the princess. Serenity craned her neck upward to look at
Pluto. A shadow concealed most of the warrior's face. The light
from the garnet orb of her staff sparkled tempestuously, the
flecks of magenta glowing in her ruby gaze. Serenity gasped as
she beheld Sailor Pluto's violet red eyes. Wisdom radiated from
the senshi's twin orbs.

You should not have come here, Sailor Pluto told her again. Her
voice echoed in Serenity's little ears. The princess shook her
head, as though shaking Pluto's words away.

I had to come, Serenity whispered. She frowned as she regarded
Pluto's slightly cloaked expression. The princess recognized a
knowing smile hiding behind Sailor Pluto's stern gaze. Recalling
that Sailor Pluto, as the Guardian of Time, could clearly see the
present and the future, Princess Serenity frowned. Her right
eyebrow raised as she said suspiciously, You knew I was coming,
didn't you?

Sailor Pluto smiled. The corners of her eyes creased with
delight. Of course, she replied.

Silence.

Although Sailor Pluto normally existed in a muffled, quiet world,
sharing the gap of silence with Princess Serenity contributed to
the warrior's already frazzled nerves. The Guardian of Time
shifted uncomfortably from one booted foot to the other. She
cleared her throat as she attempted to think of something to say.
Of course, she already knew what the princess wanted from her, but
Pluto had learned, in her rare interactions with outsiders, that
few people enjoyed her snappy responses to questions that had not
even been asked yet. So, instead, the senshi bit the bottom of
her lip and stared at the pinholes of light above her head. What
was she to say? How's the weather?

How did you know where to find me? she finally questioned. Her
voice scratched over the uncomfortable conversation.

I followed mother down here once, replied the princess. As she
spoke, Serenity realized that Sailor Pluto was merely making small
talk. Preferring the idle chit-chat to the questions screaming in
her head, the princess opted to carry on with Pluto's charade.
Serenity changed the subject--slightly. I read about you in
stories. I know I am not supposed to know about you or even meet
you until I become queen, but I had to come.

Sailor Pluto nodded thoughtfully. No more small talk. Staring
down at the golden-headed angel below her, the Guardian of Time
questioned, What did you want to ask me?

Serenity's heart thumped so loudly in her chest that she wondered
if Sailor Pluto could hear it. The wide cerulean blue eyes
snapped up, taking in the shadowed face of the warrior hovering
before her. Pluto's eyes sparkled and glowed like fire. The
princess licked her dry lips. She fidgeted with the skirt of her
white gown, balling the fabric into twists at her sides.

Two questions burned in Serenity's mind. She could see the words
of both of her questions clearly in her head, shining as brightly
as the stars surrounding the Gate of Time. Which one should she
ask? The princess did not know how much Sailor Pluto would be
willing to reveal. Gazing at the senshi suspiciously, Serenity
temporarily filed one of the questions in the rear of her
thoughts. Although she longed for the answers to both inquiries,
Serenity was more frightened of the reply for the latter. Sailor
Pluto may not provide any information for either question.
Swallowing her nervousness, the princess asked, What happened to
me during the eclipse?

Even mentioning the Terran Eclipse from three days ago caused
Serenity's insides to quiver.

Usually, the eclipse was a time of celebration for all of the Moon
Kingdom. As was tradition, all Lunarians were invited to the
castle for the eclipse ball. The event consisted of a giant feast
and a huge dance. After hours of waltzing, guests flocked to the
outdoor promenade skirting the ballroom to witness the eclipse.
The Lunarians marked the occasion by to creating as much noise as
possible; shouting, clanging pots and pans, and the whistles of
fireworks sailing into the sky were all facets of the event. Once
the sunlight was completely buried behind the Earth, Queen
Serenity would release the power of the legendary Ginzuishou. The
bright hot light of the powerful stone would bathe the Lunarians
in energy.

Princess Serenity had read countless legends as to why the Moon
Queen was expected to release the Ginzuishou's power. Lunarians
once thought that the eclipse brought with it destruction and
death. One story told of how the ancient Lunarians, during a
great feast, had cowered in terror over the sudden disappearance
of the light. Queen Serenity--the first Queen Serenity--unleashed
the energy of the Ginzuishou to protect her people. Such a
superstition had long been dismissed, but the tradition still
remained. Therefore, during the Terran Eclipse, the power of the
Ginzuishou was released.

The event had always been one of Princess Serenity's favorites.
The princess loved dressing up, waltzing the night away, and then
joining her mother and friends as they all watched the Earth
smother the light of the Sun. However, the Eclipse Ball from
three nights ago had not gone very well for the little princess.
She had spent most of the evening sulking.

Serenity choked as she recalled the horrid night. Her eyes laced
over with tears. She glanced up at Sailor Pluto. The Senshi of
Time stared back at her, a glint of sympathy lining her face.
They both knew that something terrible had happened to the
princess that night.

Instead of dwelling on her own suffering, Serenity's concerned
thoughts wandered back to the source of all of her sorrow:
Linnaus. He had disappeared. Every waking hour since he had been
gone, including the night of the Terran Eclipse, Serenity had been
consumed with worry over her cousin. She wanted to ask Sailor
Pluto where Linnaus had gone, but she bit back her tongue.

The Moon Princess had a few fuzzy memories of her dead father,
consisting mostly of blurred images of his face or the faint
sensation of being held in his arms. King Anorth had passed away
before his daughter could recognize the tenor of his laugh or the
color of his eyes. Without protest, Linnaus had stepped up to
assist the recently widowed Queen in raising her infant daughter.
When Princess Serenity had scraped her knees tripping up the grand
marble staircase of the Moon Castle, it was Linnaus who had lifted
her from the steps, carried her inside, and tended to her wounds.
If Serenity had nightmares, Linnaus was often the one who rushed
to her room and rocked her back to sleep.

Serenity's childhood was riddled with memories of Linnaus. He had
been the one who had taken Serenity on voyages to Mercury,
Jupiter, and Venus. Linnaus often spoken to the young girl about
truth, love, and compassion. Like a father, Linnaus told Princess
Serenity she that was special. He excitedly described the day she
would become queen. He often declared that she would be a greater
queen than even her own mother. Linnaus promised that he would
always be at her side, beaming like a proud father.

Serenity had often wrapped her short pink arms around his middle,
squeezing him tightly, telling him, You're so much better than a
daddy, Innie! Serenity was, at that point, unable to say his
name with competence. became the Lunarian's endearing
nick-name.

I'll be here, my princess, he used to whisper in her hair, his
voice a light breeze dancing around her head, I'll always be
here.

Serenity squeezed her eyes shut, fighting back the tears that
threatened to fall. Her heart became a heavy rock in her
tightening chest. She wanted to believe Linnaus. He would always
be there. But he had missed the eclipse.

She glanced up at Sailor Pluto. The Guardian of Time remained
silent, allowing the princess to wallow a little longer. Serenity
may have suppressed her question to Pluto regarding Linnaus'
whereabouts, but the senshi was aware of where the princess'
thoughts were taking her. Pluto's eyelids lowered slightly, as
she recalled the the gruesome death of Linnaus. Again, she was
grateful that she was not permitted to divulge such macabre
secrets to such an innocent soul.

A patchwork of recent memories overloaded the princess' senses.
Serenity eyed Sailor Pluto suspiciously. She wondered if the
Senshi of Time had something to do with this sudden flood of
remembrances. Before she had a chance to ask, Serenity recalled
the last time she saw Linnaus. Eight months ago. Right before he
departed for the Sun.

You had better save me a waltz! Linnaus had whispered playfully
to her, winking a grey eye at the crying princess. He knew that
the Terran Eclipse Ball was the princess' favorite event. Your
dance card will be filled, most assuredly, but one waltz is mine.
Promise?

Serenity had bit her bottom lip--a most unbecoming nervous habit,
her mother often told her--and nodded her blonde head. Linnaus
had then taken the small princess into one of his mammoth hugs--a
most unbecoming habit for a member of royalty, the Queen often
chastised--before turning to the teleporter. As she had watched
Linnaus' tall form disappear into the shaft of light, Serenity
swallowed back her sorrow.

Now, as she stood in the cavernous room with Sailor Pluto,
Serenity recalled the last private conversation she had with
Linnaus. The night before he left on his journey to the Sun, he
had crept into her room to tuck her in. Serenity's face had
fallen with grief and sorrow when he had told her he was leaving.

I am going to the Sun for a little while as a favor to your
mother, Linnaus had whispered to her, holding her quaking,
sobbing form against his chest. He was so warm; she loved the
steady thumps of his heartbeat. Remember how I told you about
the wars between the Earth and the Moon?

Serenity nodded. She enjoyed the tales Linnaus told. Unlike
Sailor Mercury's boring class lessons, Linnaus' stories were based
in lore and legend. He told her of brave soldiers, weeping
maidens, and strong, stoic queens. Always, he emphasized that war
and strife were despicable outcomes. Linnaus despised war. He
told her of the sacrifices that must be made to ensure that peace
would always last. Hate is a wasted emotion, he would declare.
To emphasize his point, he would peer into Serenity's awe-stricken
face with his calm, piercing grey eyes. The crescent at the
middle of his forehead would flicker as he told her, Always love your enemy.

The princess wondered if this was why Linnaus had always been so
infatuated with the Earth. Most Lunarians hated the Earthlings.
They dismissed the population dwelling on the blue and green
planet as barbarians, too ignorant to acknowledge the other
planets and too arrogant to care. Linnaus confessed that the
Earth people were He still loved them. Serenity had
always regarded the Earth as the prettiest planet in the solar
system; Linnaus had fervently agreed. Linnaus' tales encouraged
Serenity to also fall in love with the Earth. When Serenity was
younger, Linnaus played imaginary Terran adventure games with her
in the gardens, he posing as Tskino Innie and she masquerading
as his lovely, precocious daughter, He promised that
some day, he would take the curious little Moon Princess to the
Earth.

The King of the Sun is an unhappy man, Linnaus had explained to
her on the night before his departure, And he doesn't like the
Moon. Your mother wants me to pay a visit and smooth over any
ruffled feathers. While I am gone, promise me you'll be a strong,
good little princess?

Serenity had nodded, swallowing her fear and sorrow. Linnaus
beamed. His smile warmed her heart. He then told her that he
would be back before she knew it, and they would take that trip to
the Earth.

But he never returned. Serenity may be young, but she could tell
that something horrid had happened to Linnaus. Why else would her
mother cry or the senshi grow somber at the mere mention of his
name?

For a long time, the princess remained optimistic. He would come.
He had promised. Not until the night of the Terran Eclipse had
Serenity allowed herself to think the worst. Even then, she held
onto a small string of hope. She still expected him to come
bounding into the ballroom in a black tuxedo, a devious smile
painted across his face.

Once she realized that Linnaus would not be arriving at the ball,
Serenity had rushed outside for some air. Her body filled with a
variety of emotions--pain, anger, fear, disappointment, and
sorrow. Sobs of agony threatened to burst out of her. She
clutched the carved marble railing for support. The cool night
breeze breathed through the princess' filmy dress, causing her to
shiver. The fresh air tickled her small nose.

Her watery blue eyes gazed upward to the blue and green sphere
hovering before her. It was the planet Linnaus loved. The
shadowy blue orb smiled at the princess from its universal perch.
Her wide, blue eyes watched as large swirls of white shifted and
slowly drifted over the Earth's surface. The clouds faded in some
places, revealing the textured brown and green crust of the
planet. The girl stared at it longingly. Breathing deeper, the
princess closed her eyes and smiled. For the first time tonight,
a calm hushed over her worries. A wave of tranquility passed
through her.

It's beginning! shouted a man on the promenade below. Like the
other male partygoers, this man wore a finely tailored tuxedo,
complete with coat tails, top hat, and shiny, patent leather
shoes. He laughed nervously as he raised a white, gloved hand
toward the sky.

Serenity hadn't even noticed the eclipse. Her blue eyes widened
at the sight in the bright, illuminated heavens before her. A
dazzling ball of white-hot flame danced in the distance. She,
too, saw that a slight edge of darkness had begun to consume the
bright orb. Serenity looked down at the man, who did not seem to
notice her presence in the balcony above.

Swallowing back his excitement, the man spun around. He may have
expected his gaze to be greeted by the hundreds of party guests
filing out of the grand ballroom to join him on the huge, outdoor
promenade, but he was alone. Music, blended with conversation and
laughter, drifted from the opened doorway. The man sighed in
disappointment. He frowned, his eyes falling downward. A white
feline emerged from large ballroom. Taking in the sight of the
feline, the man's nose wrinkled.

the man declared, his voice dripped with sarcasm, Are
you the only one who cares to witness this glorious event with
me?

Relax, Ferro, the feline chided, The guests are enjoying
themselves. Do you want to create a panic?

the man huffed, turning to face the sky again, I thought
that seeing this was the whole point of coming here. Ferro
motioned a flippant hand upward toward the bright light. His arm
fell down to grip the cool stone rail of the balcony. The man
sighed and leaned forward. Ferro's previous elatedness washed
away to reveal his normally reserved pallor. He frowned.

Ah, there is Ferro we all know and love, Artemis chuckled. His
paws plodded across the cold, pale grey marble tiles beneath him.
He paused at Ferro's feet and gazed upward to the finely suited
man standing before him.

Serenity smiled at Artemis' comment. Ferro, the lead commander of
the Moon's army, was not often excitable. Of course, Serenity
reasoned, they were standing in the midst of a celestial
phenomenon. The princess pondered if Ferro's strange, giddy
behavior had something to do the drama unfolding in the sky.
Could even the stoic, unrelenting Ferro fall victim to the moods
of the planetary cycles?

Ferro's steel grey eyes fell to the feline at his feet. He
motioned to the railing with his left hand. Care to join me? he
asked.

Artemis jumped atop the balcony railing. His green eyes were
greeted by row of emptied goblets. Artemis' smile widened and his
right eye arched upward slightly. Enjoying the bit of the drink,
I take it? the feline surmised. Ferro's grey eyes glared at the
cat. Artemis laughed. The feline settled himself on his rear
haunches.

I was attempting to enjoy myself, Ferro muttered. The commander
frowned at the glasses resting on the rail. His vision faltered.
He shook his head quickly in an attempt to correct his unsteady
gaze.

I suppose you are entitled, commented Artemis. The two were
silent for several minutes as they watched the creeping darkness
swallow more of the fiery star. Both seemed to be deep in their
own contemplations. The only noise hovering in the ever darkening
sky were the lilting sounds of the celebration behind them.
Although Artemis and Ferro did not speak, Serenity could not help
but wonder what they were thinking of.

Finally, Ferro cleared his throat and uttered, Still no word?

Artemis' pointed ears fell flush against his head as his green
eyes turned downward. Solemnly, he shook his head.

Ferro nodded thoughtfully. That is strange, he whispered.
Nervously, he ran a hand through his neatly combed, grey hair.
Ferro glanced upward toward the ball of fire. Something terrible
must have happened.

The feline tilted his head to the sky. he uttered
somberly. After another silence, Artemis added, You know, in the
entire history of the Moon, no Lunarian has been absent during the
eclipse. Linnaus would not have have missed it.

Fear bore into Serenity's stomach, a lump swelling her throat.
She had been angry, sad, and disappointed all evening, and Linnaus
had been the center of all her emotion. Now, dread drained the
color from her cheeks. Was Linnaus in danger? Had something
happened on the Sun? He had mentioned that King Nefar was a
temperamental ruler. Had the King done something to her cousin?
Tears began to spill from her eyes. She choked on the sorrow, but
allowed the drops to slide down her face.

Something terrible must have happened. Ferro's words echoed
between her ears. Her legs wavered beneath her. Serenity
clutched the railing for support. She stared up to the shadow
that was the Earth, slowly blocking her view of the Sun.
Somewhere, on that bright, burning orb, was her cousin. She hated
the Earth for blocking her view. She knew, as she watched the
dance of light and dark, that something dreadful had happened to
her dear Linnaus. was in trouble, and there was not a
damn thing she could do about it. Serenity's tears became a
torrent of sorrow and dread. She was helpless.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a young girl, dressed in a green,
floor-length ball gown, who bustled out to the promenade below.
Serenity recognized the brown hair and tall frame. It was Makoto,
the Princess of Jupiter. The heels of Makoto's shoes clicked
lightly as she walked up beside the man and the feline. She
smiled at the two before peering upward to the sky. Noting the
dark orb covering the light, the girl's green eyes sparkled in
excitement. Tossing her head of auburn hair toward Ferro and
Artemis, she waggled an accusing finger at them.

Shame on you! Makoto said teasingly, You didn't tell any of us
that it had started.

Before either cat or man had a chance to respond, Makoto spun
around, picked up her long skirts and scurried back into the
ballroom. Serenity heard her declare inside, It has started!

The musicians stopped playing in mid-note and the guests ceased
their conversations. Come quick! she added.

Serenity rolled her blue eyes. No longer did she wish to revel in
the celestial event. She heard the guests milling about, their
chatter drowning in her ears as they all filed onto the promenade
below. As she witnessed the Earth swallow the Sun, Serenity's
thoughts drifted to Linnaus. Indeed, something terrible must have
happened to have prevented the Lunar man from keeping his promise.

Slowly, the Earth crept across the sky, blocking the rays of
sunlight that mocked the Moon. The sky darkened slowly, casting a
blood-red shadow across the Moon castle.

This eclipse is a bad omen, Serenity heard Ferro mutter.

She glared hatefully at the sky. Although she was alone, she
nodded her blonde head thoughtfully. This eclipse was was not
only bad, she surmised. It was evil. Even now, days later, she
shuddered to think of how the Moon became washed in the blood red
light.

As the shouts from guests below shattered the silence, the
princess was overcome with intense, aching pain. The air cut into
her lungs like tiny blades. Serenity clutched her chest and
gasped for breath. The Moon Princess fell to her knees. She
blinked back her tears as she collapsed to the stone floor of the
balcony. Her fingers clenched into tiny fists as she attempted to
take in a breath. Tears clung to her eyes. She slumped forward,
her face smashing into the hard tiles beneath her. Her teeth
sliced into her bottom lip. The metallic taste of her own blood
flowed into her mouth.

Serenity struggled to draw in a breath. She rolled over onto her
back, clutching her throat with her hands. Before her lids
lowered one last time, Princess Serenity forced herself to look up
at the eclipse once more. The Earth was now surrounded by a halo
of light. A calm rushed over her. No longer did she hear the
deafening clatter from the partygoers. Everything was muffled and
silent.

No one knew for certain how long the princess was unconscious.
She was discovered by one of her friends and classmates, Princess
Rei of Mars, who had run off to search for her after sensing a
strange aura in the air. When Rei discovered Serenity's fallen
form, the little Princess of the Moon was barely alive. Her
breathing was shallow. Soon, another of her friends, Princess Ami
of Mercury had scurried to the balcony above. Ami, who was
normally so calm and composed, had begun sobbing uncontrollably as
she attempted to wake her friend.

Sailor Pluto lowered her eyelids and smiled sympathetically to the
golden-haired child standing before her. The child who had been
so close to death several nights before. Of course the Guardian
of Time knew exactly what had occurred and why it had happened.
Too bad, she thought, that she couldn't tell the princess.

You collapsed, Pluto finally concluded. She raised her eye
critically as she said, Did you think that, just because you are
a princess, that you are free from fainting spells?

It wasn't a fainting spell! Serenity snapped defensively. Her
eyes narrowed into blue slits as she whispered, Something
happened to my body. Something tore through me--physically. And
something happened, after I closed my eyes.

Serenity held her breath in, waiting for Sailor Pluto's response.
The senshi's eyes darted across the vacant space, as though she
were peering at an imaginary bug scurrying up a nonexistent wall.
The princess let out a small grumble of frustration.

Princess Serenity had not told anyone--her mother, her friends,
anyone--about what occurred while she was unconscious. Everyone
had been so shaken up after she collapsed that the princess grew
reluctant to share anything else that may cause additional
distress. Instead, she bottled up the experience inside of her
like an unwanted secret. Like it or not, Sailor Pluto was about
to become her confidante.

She licked her lips.

After I closed my eyes, she began slowly, carefully selecting
the words as she spoke, I saw the outline of a man surrounded by
a hot ring of fire. He looked like he was running away from
something. Toward me. I thought it must be Linnaus. I ran
toward the figure, with my arms held out wide. We came closer to
each other, but the man was washed in shadows--I couldn't see his
face. He towered above me. He was so close to me that could
sense his fear.

At first, I asked if he was Linnaus, but he just ignored my
question. Instead, he told me, It's coming!' His voice was
ragged, and he was gasping for breath like he had been running.
He was practically hysterical. He crouched over, burying his face
in the palms of his hands. So I stepped toward him. I reached my
hand out to him. I touched the right temple of his forehead. A
jolt of negative energy sparked through me. My body jerked but,
for some reason, I kept my hand on his skin. It felt like the
pain and misery of millions of lives seeped into my fingertips.
It crawled beneath my skin. It was so painful that I let out a
scream of fear. I was so frightened.

But I wasn't alone. The man stepped in and held me close to him.
The thumping of his heart was in my ears. It was so loud that my
heartbeat soon matched his. We stood for several moments,
exchanging the negative energy until it dissipated. And then a
calm swirled around us.

The man slowly let go of me, and I took a step back so I could
look into his shadowed face. He was tall, but he must have been
stooping down so that our faces were closer together. As I
reached up to touch his cheek with my hand, a blinding, brilliant
light burst from my fingertips. For a brief moment, I saw him.

He was not Linnaus. His hair was dark, velvety black and his
eyes were the most amazingly dark blue I've ever seen. Midnight,
like the heavens. As he was looking at me, those brilliant eyes
widened. He opened his mouth, as if to talk, but then the light
suddenly became brighter. We were torn apart.

The next thing I remember is being awakened by Rei and Ami. Rei
looked so frightened. Ami was crying.

The princess' voice was solemn, quiet, and pained. A single tear
slipped down her right cheek. She brushed it away adding, I know
it was the power of the Ginzuishou that brought me back. But I
don't know if it saved that man.

Sailor Pluto smiled at the princess' concern. The child did not
even know if this man was real, and yet, she was concerned that he
had not survived. The senshi considered what Serenity had told
her. Pluto knew that the Ginzuishou had pulled Serenity back, but
the power shared between the princess and her stranger was far
stronger than that of even the opaque stone. In a rare
revelation, the Guardian of Time uttered, He had been poisoned,
and you helped him get better.

A glint of hope shined in Serenity's eyes. She smiled slightly.
Her cheeks flushed. The princess was about to ask another
question, but the solemn face of Pluto warned her against it.
Instead, she shook her head incredulously, whispering, You can't
tell me who he is, can you?

The warrior shook her head.

And you can't tell me what happened to Linnaus? Serenity asked.
If he's alive or dead?

Pluto cast her eyes to her booted feet. Again, she shook her
head.

I will only tell what I am allowed, princess, Sailor Pluto
explained. Which, unfortunately, is often very little.

Serenity frowned as she regarded this statement. After
considering her words, she uttered, Can you at least tell tell me
if Linnaus' soul has passed to the other side?

If any color remained in Sailor Pluto's face, it drained away at
this moment. The princess was essentially asking if Linnaus were
dead. However, the way she had phrased the question was horribly
deceptive. Sailor Pluto was allowed to answer this question, but
her answer would be equally deceptive. Linnaus had not been given
a proper burial, or any sort of death rites, and so his soul was
trapped, somewhere with his body, on the Earth.

His soul has not crossed over, the senshi replied. She turned
away from Serenity's face. It was better to look away from the
hopeful, optimistic face of the little princess.

The senshi took several steps toward the timeline, away from the
princess. She paused and turned to again face the girl.

You were correct, Princess Serenity. Pluto told her, glancing up
at the garnet orb resting on her staff. You did not have just a
simple fainting spell during the eclipse. You have many
challenges ahead of you, and that episode was the beginning. The
Guardian of Time shifted her ruby gaze to the blonde-headed,
barefooted girl standing on the edge of space. Her lids lowered
over her eyes as she said to the princess, Trust your heart.

Sailor Pluto pivoted on the ball of her foot, her dark emerald
hair twirling around her. The Guardian of Time returned to her
vigil at the timeline. The princess remained where she stood,
watching the dark skirt of Sailor Pluto's uniform sway slightly.
She soon disappeared into the mist.

Serenity sighed heavily. She picked up the fabric of her
nightgown and turned back to the large wooden doors. The large
panels had conveniently--and silently--been opened. The princess'
sparkling blue eyes widened dubiously at the sight. She cast a
final look over her shoulder, back toward the vast, spacious dark
expanse of Sailor Pluto's world. Taking a deep breath, she tossed
a few loose strands of honey blonde hair over her right shoulder
and walked forward. Toward the the corridor of the Moon Castle.
Her bare feet stepped onto the marble floor. The familiar, cold
sensation zipped through her heels. She paused as she heard the
wooden doors shut tightly behind her, like the sealing of a tomb.
A large smile parted her lips.

Your highness? cackled a voice in the darkened corridor. The
princess nearly jumped out of her skin. She twirled around, her
gaze resting on a pair of yellow cat's eyes peering at her in the
hallway. A golden upturned crescent moon--identical to the one on
the princess' forehead, glowed between the pair of eyes.
Instantly, the princess recognized the face.

Serenity asked skeptically. The eyes bowed down, as
though nodding. What are you doing here? the princess demanded.

I could ask you the same question, Luna responded, emerging from
the shadows.

The princess could barely see the outline of the feline advisor.
Luna's black coat blended in well the darkened corridor.

I couldn't sleep, Serenity honestly replied. It had, after all,
been her reason for visiting Sailor Pluto. Even in the pitch of
night she could see Luna frown skeptically. I was just wandering
around the castle and came across this door. Isn't it beautiful?

She motioned to the large black thing hovering in front of the
both of them. In the cloak of night, the door's beauty was well
hidden. Serenity cursed herself inwardly for saying such a stupid
thing. Stepping forward, she held a hand to the grooved surface.

I mean, it seems beautiful, she quickly added. The carvings
are amazing. To the touch, I mean.

I wouldn't know, the cat hissed bitterly. I have paws, not
fingers.

Serenity responded. She dropped her hand from the wall.

Enough of this ridiculousness, Luna stated. You should be in
bed. You'll hardly be keeping an eye open for your lessons
tomorrow.

Serenity groaned. She had a hard enough time keeping awake during
Sailor Mercury's boring lectures on most days. Wishing the feline
a good night, the princess rushed up the hallway, toward the light
of the castle. A smile danced across her face.

Sailor Pluto's words of caution fell to the wayside as the
princess remembered her meeting with the solitary soldier. All
that she cared about was that the man in her dream was safe, and
Linnaus was alive! Serenity knew that she could now face any
obstacle. She practically skipped back to her bedchamber. The
moon princess fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, a
man with dark hair and midnight blue eyes haunting her dreams.
-------
End of Chapter 2
-------
So, as usual, I am begging for your feedback. As it is Thanksgiving weekend, and many you have nothing better to do than to spend four days coming out of your turkey comas, go ahead and take a minute to tell me what you think.

I am going to Canada next weekend (I love Canada!), so I apologize in advance if the next chapter is late. The chapter is written, but I need to comb through it one last time before I post it.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read the story (and the lenghty author's notes).

Hollie
holliedaye@hotmail.com

Keep your eyes peeled for Chapter 3: Desperation