Chapter 11
Home Bitter-Sweet Home
The morning sun was trying to get into the room, I could feel it. I stretched my back and then curled into a ball, snuggling under the covers as much as I could. The soft sheets hugged me in a warm embrace, the way Endy did every morning. I smiled and turned over, fully expecting to bump into Endy and cuddle up with him. The bed next to me was empty.
I frowned and stretched my arm out, feeling around for his warm body. All I found was cold emptiness. I rolled onto my back, fully displeased that he had already left the bed. I stretched my arms above my head and finally willed my eyes to open. As my vision adjusted, I saw a sheer white canopy above me, tinged slightly pink. I smiled and closed my eyes again, then froze.
Pinkish-white canopy? Endy didn't have a canopy at all!
I shot up in bed and stared at my surroundings wildly. Well, the room wasn't unfamiliar, but it certainly wasn't Endy's room. I was in my room, that is, my room back on the Moon. How did I get to my old room?
I swung my legs out from under the covers and padded across the chamber to the window. I pulled back the curtains and allowed the sunlight to rush into the bedroom, illuminating everything. Yes, this was most definitely the Moon. there was the view I was so accustomed to of the gardens. The same statues, the same flowers, the same bushes, the same trees; everything was the same.
Feeling rather perplexed, I walked back towards the bed, making a detour on the way to the wardrobe. All my gown were there. I shut the doors and walked to the small adjoining washing room. I splashed some cool water on my face and ran a damp cloth over my neck, trying to clean away any remaining sleepiness. Once that was done I brushed my teeth and rinsed my mouth out, feeling more refreshed and ready to start pacing the room.
As I reached the bed for the fifth time on my trek between it and the wardrobe it hit me; Endy and I had been planning to come here! That was it, of course it was. We must have arrived late at night and gone right to bed.
Why didn't I remember the trip then? I twirled my hair around my finger, trying desperately to remember any scraps of the trip to the Moon, or even the preparations and departure. There was nothing though.
I nearly jumped out of my skin when the door opened. I screamed, making the person entering the room scream too.
"Serenity, what's going on!" the person demanded as we both stopped screaming.
I blinked at the figure of Luna standing before me. "Luna?" I said hesitantly. She didn't look very pleased as she clutched one of her hands to her chest, her bosom rising and falling rapidly.
"What are you doing, trying to scare me half to death?" she hissed, closing the door behind her.
"You surprised me," I retorted, sinking down onto the bed in a sitting position.
Luna strode over to the wardrobe. "I was just coming to wake you up, but I see I'm too late," she said as she took a dress from the wardrobe and walked over to me. I stood and took off the nightgown, slipping into the dress quickly and allowing Luna to do up the back. The routine was familiar and old, one we had done for years and years.
This time it was different though. "Luna, when did we get here?" I asked as she laced my back.
"What do you mean?" she asked me.
"I mean what time did the ships arrive last night?" I asked
"Oh, that," Luna paused as she finished tying the lace and nudged me in the direction of the vanity. "They arrived just after midnight."
I sat down on the chair and waited as Luna undid the braid my hair was in and began brushing the strands out.
"I don't remember it at all," I murmured, staring at my reflection in the mirror.
"Of course you don't," Luna replied matter-of-factly. "You were fast asleep. Goodness knows you can sleep through anything."
I still didn't understand why I didn't remember anything at all, not even leaving the Earth. I would have been excited to do that, and yet I could remember nothing at all...
"Your mother wants to see you before breakfast," Luna said as she put up my first bun.
"Why?" I asked, leaving my former train of thought. Well, of course she wanted to see me, it had been so long since we had seen each other. Yes, we had exchanged a number of letters, but that wasn't the same.
"You'll have to talk to her to find out," Luna replied. I noticed a small smile tug on her lips as she said this.
Everything seemed so strange yet familiar. Luna was treating me the same way she did before I left, performing our usual routine. Even when we had been on the Earth together she had treated me differently. I suppose it was nostalgia, bot of us on the Moon, in my old room...ahh the memories. The scenerio seemed too familiar though; something special was happening and we had been like this before? Ugh, I was going crazy.
"Luna," I said as she put up my second bun. "Where's Endy?" A confused look passed over Luna's features before we were interrupted by a knock on the door. I stood from the seat. "Enter," I called. It was going to be Artemis.
The door opened and a silver-haired Artemis poked his head in. "I'm just making sure Luna wasn't having too much difficulty getting our dear princess out of bed," he said cheekily, smiling at us. How had I known that? I suppose Artemis was simply too predictable for his own good. The sight of him made me smile though.
"Artemis!" I cried out as I dashed over to him, bouncing on my heels. I hadn't spoken with him since I had left the Moon, and I was happy to see him once again.
Artemis gave me a funny look. "Are you all right?" he asked.
I nodded. "Of course I am," I replied, getting an urge to hug him. It was the first time I had felt a need to touch a man since Endy and the feeling scared me.
"You seem rather energetic this morning," he finally said, smiling at me.
Well of course, I hadn't seen him in almost a year, and Luna in several months. Wasn't it natural for me to be excited to see them?
"Come, we should hurry along so your mother isn't waiting for you too long," Luna suddenly said as she escorted me back to the vanity and put a few finishing touches on my hair. I rolled my eyes but let her work nonetheless. Artemis stayed with us, waiting patiently while Luna primped me. When Luna finally finished with my hair I stood up again, ready to face the day.
I followed Luna and Artemis out the door and down the hallways. Servants that we passed bowed their heads and smile at me. I recognized each one, and I felt a sensation of joy spreading through me. It felt good to be home.
And yet, if felt odd to be home.
We reached my mother's library. It was one that she had for herself, one where she thought and studied alone. She was there in the mornings usually, composing letters and preparing for the day. I loved coming there, she always seemed so relaxed and at ease when she was in her own space.
We reached the room and Artemis knocked. I heard my mother call for us to enter before Artemis opened the door and allowed Luna and me to enter. Mother was standing next to one of the book cases lining the walls with one of the old tomes in her hands.
"Ahh, Serenity, good morning. Did you sleep well?" she said as she turned to look at us.
"Good morning. Yes, I slept fine. Apparently I slept through everything," I replied, feeling a wonderful ecstasy permeating through me. Mother! I had missed her so much.
Mother nodded as she closed the book and placed it back on the shelf, a smile spreading across her lips in the process. "Yes, you did. No one tried to wake you up though."
I walked over to her and wrapped my arms around her waist. She gasped a little as she automatically placed her own arms around my shoulders. "I missed you, mom," I whispered as I inhaled her fresh scent. I was suddenly very grateful that she had asked to see me before breakfast, so we could have an informal moment together.
"Missed me?" I heard her ask. "Whatever do you mean?"
I pulled back a little so I could look at her face, but kept my arms around her waist. "I've been gone so long," I stated, gazing up at her confused face.
"Where? Serenity, you haven't left the Moon yet."
My breath hitched in my throat as I let my arms drop to my sides. Mother's hands slipped to my shoulders as she gazed intently into my eyes. Hadn't left? "Of course I left," I started to say slowly. "I've been gone for months. On the Earth. Don't you remember?"
A look of pure concern filtered across mother's features. She placed one of her hands gently on my forehead. "Are you all right? You're not feeling ill, are you?"
"I feel fine," I replied, pulling away from her touch. "I just came back last night. You said yourself I slept through my our arrival."
"No, you slept through the arrival of our visitors. You've been in the palace the whole time," Luna said from behind me.
I glanced over my shoulder at her. "Luna? You don't remember? You were on the Earth with me though, you stayed there until a few months ago." What was going on?
I saw mother glance at Luna and Artemis worriedly. Artemis walked up to us. "Perhaps we should go and get you some breakfast," he said to me and placed his hand gently on my elbow.
That touch sent liquid fire rushing through my veins, a searing heat that threatened to devour me. My panic rose and I have a shriek, jumping away from Artemis as if I had been scalded by his skin. I could already feel tears forming in my eyes and running down my cheeks as I continued to whimper.
"Serenity! What is wrong with you?" I could faintly hear mother asking before I felt her arms around me. I let my sobs subside as she patted my back gently.
"My humblest apologies if I hurt you, Princess," I heard Artemis say, his words stinging. Of course he hadn't hurt me.
"Luna," mother said, "take her back to her room and make her lay down. Artemis, make sure breakfast is taken to her room along with plenty of water." She sighed deeply. "Maybe it's too soon," she whispered.
"Too soon?" Luna asked as she came up beside me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders, prying me away from mother.
"Too soon to introduce her to suitors. The excitement of their arrival must be too much for her right now."
I looked from one woman to the next frantically. "Suitors? Arrival? Now?" What was she talking about? I didn't need suitors, I was already married.
Luna and mother glanced at each other. "Yes, of course. We've been planning it for months, remember?" Luna asked. "You're being introduced to society this week."
I felt light headed and dizzy. Now I knew why everything felt so familiar, so odd. I had done it before, all those months ago, before I met Endy.
But how could this be?
I was given no time for thought as Luna led me to my room, just as mother had instructed. Artemis had disappeared, probably still in shock from my reaction to him. The hallways seemed endless as we walked, everything seemed unreal. I felt as if I was walking in a dream, yet I knew I was awake. Once Luna and I arrived at my room, I asked to be left alone. I needed to clear my head, clear my head and think.
As soon as I was in my room alone, after multiple interrogations from Luna as to whether or not I was all right, I flopped onto my bead and stared up at the gossamer curtains hanging above me. What was going on? It was as if I had been transported through time, or if everything that had happened up to that point had only been a dream.
Had it? No, it had felt so real, and my mind and body were still unwilling to let any male touch me, even Artemis. It had to have been real. Endy was my husband, I lived on the Earth.
I closed my eyes and rubbed my eyelids. I knew what I had to do; I had to call out to Endy, he would come and find me and make everything better. I focused and gave a tug on our heart string, that golden thread that would link Endy and me for all eternity.
My heart felt like it stopped beating and my breathing halted.
The string.
It was gone.
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--Disclaimer--
I do not own the rights to Sailormoon or any of the characters. That honor belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, and I am simply a lowly author who can use her characters for my plots.
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A/N: Well, I hope this chapter managed to put a little suspense and mystery into the story. Hopefully you liked it . Anja.