:Grins sheepishly:. It's here...lol...after like half a year of not updating, I've finally written SOTP 7. This chapter hopefully will clear some things up, but don't you worry...it'll give you more to be wondering about. Lol. Enjoy, and don't forget to send me your feedback!

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon belongs to Kodansha, Naoko Takeuchi, Toei, Cloverway, etc.

"Shadows of the Past" by Tess: Chapter 7
Posted: 1-25-05

King Hematite reached for his wife's hand and leaned closer to her. "Great turn-out," he observed. "Don't you think?" The two were sitting in their thrones against the wall of the ballroom. Queen Serenity surveyed the room and nodded, smiling. Hundreds of people from all over the kingdom had come out for the celebration of little Princess Serenity's birth. She looked down at her tiny daughter, only two months old, asleep in her bassinet that had been placed between the two thrones.

"She's so precious," Queen Serenity breathed, brushing a golden ringlet from the princess's face.

"Of course she is," Hematite murmured, kissing Serenity's hand gently, and rubbing his daughter's face with his other hand. He looked up at Serenity. "Thank you," he whispered. "She's the greatest gift." Serenity blushed.

"No love, thank you," she replied. The couple's intimate moment was soon broken by a wail from Princess Serenity. Hematite looked down at his daughter and picked her up, his features marked with concern.

"Little Serenity, what's wrong?" he asked, gently nestling her in his arms while the queen looked on. The child only wailed louder.

"She's cranky," concluded her mother, glancing around. "It's far past her bedtime. It may be best to take her to the nursery." Hematite chuckled.

"And have her miss her own party?" he said. "Now that's not very fair, is it?" He gently stroked the baby's face and tried to hush her. He brought her face up to his. "No, it's not very fair at all," he muttered, frowning. Queen Serenity rolled her eyes lovingly as her husband lifted Princess Serenity up into the air, making whooshing noises and faces in an attempt to get her crying to subside. It worked. Soon, the baby princess was cooing and gurgling with delight as she flew through the air.

"Ah, the joys of parenting," came a deep voice from in front of them. Queen Serenity looked up to see none other than King Maginus, Queen Lara, and their three-year-old son, Prince Endymion. She jumped from her throne and threw her arms around Queen Lara's neck.

"Lara!" she exclaimed in delight. "You made it!" The Earth Queen chuckled.

"Of course we did!" she responded.

"We couldn't miss the celebration of the birth of your first child, Serenity!" added Maginus. He leaned towards her and whispered in her ear, "Knowing you two, she's the first child of many, I'm sure." A deep blush crept over Queen Serenity's cheeks as Maginus winked at her and laughed. Queen Serenity looked at her husband. He was in his own little world with his daughter, rocking her and making baby noises and faces at her. Serenity cleared her throat as Maginus and Lara laughed. King Hematite looked up, and surprise marked his features as he saw the small group in front of him. "Sorry to interrupt your private time over there, Hematite," joked Maginus. Hematite laughed good-naturedly, rose from his throne, and walked to them, the baby still in his arms. Queen Lara immediately rushed to look at her.

"Oh!" she breathed, watching the tiny person nestled in Hematite's arms playfully wiggle her small fingers and kick her feet. "She's beautiful! May I hold her?" Hematite nodded and handed Princess Serenity to Lara, who looked at her with an expression of delight and amazement. "She looks just like her mother!" Maginus moved closer to his wife and examined the child.

"Except for her eyes," he remarked. "And her smile. They are her father's." Hematite moved towards his wife and put his arm around her waist, gently cradling her a gainst him. His gaze moved downwards, to the shy little prince hiding behind his mother's skirts. A smile crossed his face as he knelt down at eye level with Prince Endymion.

"Hello, Endymion," he greeted. The small boy peeked out from behind his mother and grinned at Hematite. "You've grown so much since we last saw you! Do you want to meet someone?" Endymion nodded, saying nothing. Hematite motioned to Lara, who was still holding Princess Serenity, to kneel down. "Look Endymion. This here's my baby, Serenity." Endymion peered over his mother's shoulder at Serenity. The little princess yawned as Endymion examined her.

"She's tiny," Endymion whispered. Hematite laughed and nodded.

"Yes, that's right," he said. "But you're a big boy, right?" Endymion nodded.

"I'm three!" he exclaimed proudly.

"Well, Endymion, then I need you to do a special favor for me. It's a prince's job to take care of princesses, you know that?" The boy nodded gravely. "Well, since you're such a big boy, I want you to protect Princess Serenity from any bad things that might happen to her. You always have to be nice to her and help her out, ok?" Endymion nodded again. "Do you promise?"

"I promise!" Hematite chuckled as he stood. Turning to Maginus, he said,

"He'll make a fine man one day, my friend. I am sure of it."

Later that night, Serenity and Maginus made their way to the wine table to get drinks for Hematite and Lara, who had stayed by the thrones with the children, who were both fast asleep. "She'll make a beautiful woman one day, Serenity," he remarked. Serenity smiled in gratitude, but said nothing. Something very strange was going on. Her heart caught in her throat and her stomach back flipped. She suddenly had a terrible feeling that something awful was going to happen. The crowd of people in the ballroom seemed overwhelming and Serenity suddenly clutched Maginus's arm.

"Maginus!" she gasped. "I need to get out of here"

"Serenity? Are you ok"

"No, no I'm not. I need to get out." Maginus quickly led her through the heavy doors to the outside hallway. Serenity braced herself against the wall as her world began to spin.

"Serenity, what's wrong?" Maginus asked frantically. She opened her mouth to answer him but found that she couldn't. Her eyes rolled into the back of her skull and she fell forward. Luckily, Maginus's arms were there to catch her before she would have hit her head on the marble floor. "Serenity!" he pleaded, slapping her face. She gave no response. His pulse racing, he picked her up and headed for the nearest room. They'd been walked for a short while when Serenity's eyes fluttered open and looked up into the concerned brown eyes of her friend.

"Maginus, I," she began. "I can't..." Her voice trailed off.

"Shh," he interrupted, gently running a hand over her face. "You'll be ok. You trust me, right?" Serenity smiled.

"Of course." Neither one of them noticed the quiet figure in the shadows behind them.
Maginus reached Serenity's bedroom and lay her down on the bed. His pulse racing, he thrust a hand through his hair. What was wrong with her?

'Think, Maginus, think,' he told himself. It occurred to him to check and see if she had a fever. His father had been a doctor, and had always told him that one could get a more accurate temperature reading from the back than from the forehead. Serenity moaned as Maginus gently rolled her over onto her back. He reached for the zipper of her dress and pulled it about a third of the way down, making care that he didn't see more than was appropriate. He ran his hand over her back and drew a sharp breath. She was burning up!
Suddenly, he was interrupted by a furious voice.

"Get your filthy hands off of her!" King Hematite emerged from the shadows near the bedroom's doorway, rage written all over his face. Maginus gasped and immediately jumped away from Serenity.

"Hematite, this isn't what it looks like!" Maginus exclaimed. Hematite laughed sardonically.

"It isn't what it looks like? I've been watching the two of you since the hallway, and it's exactly what it looks like," Hematite spat. Maginus began to approach his friend. "Stay away from me."

"Hematite, you know we wouldn't do that to you! I'm your best friend!" Hematite's eyes narrowed.

"Friend...I can't believe I ever called you my friend." A wave of unfamiliar emotion contorted his features. Unable to control himself, he struck Maginus hard across the face, causing him to fall to the ground. Holding a hand to his face, he stared at Hematite in shock. "FRIEND! Never again will I call you my friend!" Hematite struck him again, leaving him unconscious. Serenity was now aware of what was happening. She struggled to zip her dress and rush to her husband.

"Hematite, what's gotten into you?" He turned to look at her.

"You," he hissed. "You...don't even speak to me. You've betrayed me in the worst way"

"Betrayed? I've done nothing!" Serenity's voice softened and she placed a hand on her husband's arm. "Love, I would never do such a thing...I could never be with anyone but you" Hematite angrily pushed her arm away.

"Serenity, I saw you!" he screamed. "I saw you!" His voice cracked. "I saw you cheat on me with him!" Tears filled Serenity's eyes.

"Why won't you trust me? I love you"

"A lie I've led myself to believe for the past few years," Hematite replied. Serenity felt as if she'd been slapped.

"How can you say that? Our love is...beautiful...a love like ours"

"A love like ours was forbidden from the start," Hematite interrupted bitterly. "I understand, Serenity. You just thought you'd marry me and have your fun with Maginus later." He got closer to her. "But now, I've had my fun with you. Goodbye, Serenity. I'm leaving this place...leaving you, leaving him. Leaving this whole life!" Tears flowed freely down Serenity's cheeks as she threw her arms around her husband's neck.

"But I love you!" she sobbed. He pushed her away, his own eyes filling with tears.

"And I, disgracefully, will always love you." He swallowed the lump in his throat. "I hope he can make you happy, Serenity!" He started towards the door and through the hallways of the palace, Serenity following him all the while.

"Hematite!" she sobbed as she followed him outside the palace. "But don't you remember all the times we've had? All the love we've shared? You're the only person I've ever loved!" He continued, stone-faced, into the royal stables and hoisted himself up onto a gray horse. She grabbed his wrist. "Don't go! Please don't leave me!" He looked at her tear-stained face. He heard her desperate sobs. A tear slipped down his own cheek.

"I'm sorry I wasn't good enough for you, Serenity," he choked out.

"But you were! You are!" He glared at her and angrily shook off her wrist. He raised the reins and prepared to leave. "But what about our daughter?" Hematite's eyes narrowed.

"She'll know the truth about her mother someday," he vowed. "I'll come back for her. That's a promise. Goodbye, Serenity." He then sped off into the night, leaving Queen Serenity crumpled down in the hay, sobbing in anguish.

"But I love you!" she screamed, gasping for breath. "I love you! I love you!"

Queen Serenity shot up in bed, hot tears pouring down her face. "No!" she gasped, clutching her bed sheets. "Not him! Not now!" But she now knew who was behind her daughter's disappearance. Hematite had kept his promise. She drew her knees up to her chest and buried her face in the sheets. "But I love you," she whispered. "I love you! I love you!" Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Come in," Serenity said hoarsely. It was Lara and Maginus.

"Serenity, Endymion has," Lara began breathlessly, but then she got a good look at her friend's face. "Serenity, are you ok?" Serenity shook her head shakily.

"No. I had a dream...it's him. He's behind all this...I know it. I dreamt about...about the night he left." Lara gasped and Maginus drew a sharp breath.

"Hematite?" he asked, visibly shaken. His own memories from that horrible evening were flowing through his mind. Serenity nodded.

"What were you saying about Endymion?" Serenity asked Lara absently.

"Well, it's just," Lara began. "He's gone."

"Gone?" Lara nodded.

"We believe he's gone to rescue Serenity. He holds himself at fault for...what happened, I know it. That's why he told no one of his departure. He didn't want to burden us."

"But it could be dangerous!" Serenity protested, her voice rising. "There's no telling what could happen to him...Maginus' son...oh God it hurts...I can't think of him that way...I still love him too much. But, I know what I must do." Serenity set her mouth in a firm line and swallowed the lump in her throat. "I will go. I will go and find Serenity and Endymion."

"We'll go with you," offered Maginus, putting a gentle hand on Serenity's shoulder.

"I'm afraid I must forbid it," Serenity replied. "This is something I must do alone."

"Serenity!" Maginus protested. "No! It's far too risky...we need to be there with you!" But Maginus could see in Serenity's eyes that her mind was made up." "But how will you know how to get to them?"

"You know how," she replied firmly. "The same way that Endymion will know how to get to Serenity." Both Maginus and Lara could see in Serenity's eyes that she could not be convinced to stay. They exchanged and glance and nodded at each other.

"We'll leave you then, Serenity, to prepare yourself," Lara said. She leaned over and gave her friend a warm hug. "Be strong, Serenity. I know you can do it."

Queen Serenity sank onto her bed, breathing heavily. She had dressed herself, and now had one more thing to do before embarking on her journey. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and let her mind wander to memories that she had tried to shut out years ago. She knew that if she concentrated hard enough, she would accomplish her goal. Suddenly, she began to feel fear, then anger, and then pain. However, none of these emotions belonged to her. She had succeeded.

Far away from Queen Serenity, an excruciating pain shot through Hematite's head. He fell to the ground, clutching his head in agony. Then, as quickly as it had come, the pain left him. He stood up shakily. "No," he whispered, sinking back into his chair "It's not possible. She couldn't have..."

End Chapter 7

Wheee! That was fun! No, I didn't accidentally delete anything at the very end. She could't have what? Dun dun dun...lol wow I'm a touch delirious today. Anyway, Chapter 8 will be out...erm...sometime...lol. Hope you enjoyed 7, and I hope you let me know your thoughts! I'm out!

Tess