First Born
The moonlight visits of King Endymion had become more passionate since that moonless night. Neo Queen Serenity was in high spirits that she had at last been able to feel his breath upon her lips and his delicate touch on her fingertips. Soon after that night things began to get better for the young couple. Despite all that the dark enchantress had done to strain and break the young couple's marriage they had at last succeeded at the one thing all couples all hope for. Neo Queen Serenity was now with child and she couldn't contain her elation.
While the entire Kingdom was in high spirits that in next to no time they'd have a new heir to the throne; scores of people still feared for what wicked deed that Beryl would do to the new heir. Therefore Neo Queen Serenity was guarded around the clock. She did appreciate the gesture, but after awhile it did become bothersome. She couldn't wait to see her child, or send her mother the good news.
King Endymion though euphoric he was about to become a father still was worried, and not just about his child and the responsibilities that came with it. No he was deeply saddened by the fact that he wouldn't be able to play with his child, or even hold them because it risked exposing his face. He was also going to be a polar bear for most of the day and night. So he wouldn't be allowed to share these precious moments with his beloved or the fruit of their love.
Only one person was more worried about the young couple's child, and that was Queen Gaia. She was the most worried about her grandchild's fate. She was always stood vigilant when it came to her son's wife. She never let the poor girl out of her sight. It had taken some time to get use to being invisible for she too was cut off from human contact. Still it was the only way she could think to help her son.
Right now she was arranging flowers in Neo Queen Serenity's room while the girl took a bath. Neo Queen Serenity never knew who was doing the flower arrangement; she thought it must be one of the servant girls. Queen Gaia stole a glance at the ravishing young woman as she got out of the tub. The young woman was still radiant as ever; even with the growing bulge of her stomach. She staggered for a moment and the Queen let out a breath. Almost as if on cue Eva arrived with the evening meal that the cook had prepared. Queen Gaia let out a sigh of relief as the redhead helped the moon sovereign to her bed.
"You alright, Neo Queen Serenity? Did you lose your balance or hurt yourself in any manner? Should I fetch King Endymion or perhaps the nurse? You sure you're alright? I better call the nurse anyway," Eva swiftly replied as she went to ring the silver bell. But Neo Queen Serenity caught her hand and smiled warmly at the redhead.
"I'm alright, Eva, the baby just kicked me is all. No need to be concerned, Eva. Both I and this baby are in good health. We are going to remain being in good health. So stop worrying!" Neo Queen Serenity assured the teenager in a wearisome tone.
"Forgive me, my Queen," apologized Eva as she poured some ginseng tea and offered it to the queen, "But we've got to make sure Beryl won't harm you or this baby. You've no idea at all the depth of her evil. She nearly destroyed the Kingdom and took countless lives prior to King Adam had sealed her banishment spell with his golden crystal. God I miss him, we used to play checkers on rainy days. He was always one for games and nature. He and Queen Gaia always spend the summer with Endymion in the meadow."
"I'm sure King Adam was a good and kind man. Endymion wouldn't be the noble and compassionate leader he is if his parents weren't such honorable and loving as well. I wish I could've met them. I've never even been to King Adam last resting place since coming to Elysion."
"Why? I'd thought you and King Endymion would've gone there many times. It's a beautiful white tomb with beautiful roses and cherry trees. Generations of our lands noble people have been laid to rest there. The crypt keeper is in fact my grandfather Luka. I can arrange a meeting for you and King Endymion to go there and pay your final respects."
"That would be lovely, but I don't know. I think Endymion feels shameful that he was cursed. Even though I know both his father and mother would be proud of him for deifying Beryl, I think he's still ashamed that he isn't human at most times. Perhaps he feels like he wasn't as brave or clever in evading Beryl's magic. And to make matter worse he still doesn't know what happened to his mother, Queen Gaia. I've got a gut feeling that she is still alive. I would very much like to meet her. I'm sure it would be nice for her to meet my mother. I'm sure they both would be good friends."
"I'm sure they'd like to be best friends, my Queen, but alas no-one knows what happened to Queen Gaia. One day she was here and the next day she vanished into thin air. Why don't you eat your dinner and I'll have this letter deliver to your mother," Eva suggested kindly as she took a scroll from the nightstand.
"Yes, that would be just fine, Eva. Whilst you deliver my letter I shall read the one my mother wrote for me. Ah my lovely mother, how I miss her so, from the time when I left the Moon she been so concerned about me," Neo Queen Serenity said as she let out a long sigh. Gazing out at the sunset she smiled warmly. "I'm glad Luna suggested this letter exchange. It was an incredibly good idea. It makes me less homesick. And it has made Mother less saddened too; she has been sending me a poem in each of her letter. I never knew that she was so gifted with poetry."
"I'm so elated that you're happy, my Queen. I hope it's not too rude to ask, but maybe you could read those poems to the children? I'm sure it would inspire them to be more creative and make them very happy. You know Queen Gaia was also gifted when it came to poetry. She also could make the most beautiful music. There wasn't a song she couldn't sing or an instrument she couldn't play. Each and every one of the Kingdom of Elysion misses that magical era so much. So would you give pleasure to our people and read some of your own mother's poetry?"
"Of course I'll do that. It would be a great honor. Now why don't you go give that letter to the traders? I wish for Mother to know that I'm alright and that the baby will be born soon. She must be very excited that she will soon be a grandmother."
"It shall be done, my Queen." And with a curtsy Eva left the room skipping down the candlelit corridor. Neo Queen Serenity smiled as she closed the oak doors behind her. She noticed right away that Eva had already sent the guards to watch her. She made a force smile but shrugged it off. And soon began to eat her dinner.
Watching from the windowsill was Queen Gaia. She had a longing look etch upon her delicate features. She would've loved to read her some of the poems she had written since her daughter-in-law had arrived. She also would've dearly loved to sooth her to sleep with either the flute or harp. Still if she was to save from harm her son's family she must remain invisible and unheard. She let her ocean blue eyes so like her son's gaze at the moon, wondering if Queen Serenity was just as worried as she was.
Right now on the Moon Queen Serenity was gazing at the Earth wondering if her daughter was okay. From her letters she was beyond doubt take pleasure in her life upon the mysterious sapphire and emerald planet. She did know her daughter was having a few predicaments in her marriage because of the curse, but she was still in high spirits all the same. She was even happier that she was in next to no time to be a grandmother. So as she read her daughter's latest letter she let her tears of joy flow down her face.
"Are you, all right, my Queen?" asked Luna troublingly as she stepped upon the balcony. The young queen jumped very high in the air. For a moment she felt as clumsy as her daughter. She just laughed at herself and got back up. The black cat looked at her queen with a bit of bemusement. Staring her ruby eyes at the queen she repeated her first inquiry. "Are you sure you're okay? I've never seen you seem so clumsy."
"I'm fine, dear, sweet, Luna. I was just reading Serenity's letter."
"Oh, how is the Princess? Is she and the baby okay?"
"Well, dear, Luna, she still has a little way to go before the baby is born. But she did tell me she had a marvelous time learning to bake pies and she is attempting to gain knowledge of how to play the harp. She hopes this year to witness the summer that was stolen from her before. I hope she does. After all Serenity was born in the summer, so it be nice for her to have fun in the summer like she always dreamed of. Looky here, Luna. She even drew a picture of herself! Oh isn't she beautiful?" Queen Serenity sighed as she showed the cat the letter.
The black cat stared at the letter. It was written exceptionally poorly. Serenity wasn't known to be exceptionally good at sentence structure or calligraphy. Nor would she be called a reasonable artist. Still it was very nice of her to try and that she put her heart into it. Therefore she just thoughtfully listened to her Queen translate her daughter's letter.
"Dear, Mother.
"How are you doing? Have you skated recently? I wish I could go skating but I cannot. Not while I'm expecting because everyone fears that Beryl would crack the ice and both me and the baby would drown. The weather conditions are still complicated. We totally missed summer because of Beryl. I've not been totally cut off from summer. We have some greenhouses that host more than a few plants and the palace zoo has abundance of animals. So she didn't take everything from me. Yet I'm still sad that I didn't have an opportunity to go swimming with the swans. On the other hand, Mother, the colors of autumn were purely eye-catching and you should experience the wind tickle your face. I never image such breathtaking colors possible. And the winter may be hard and cold, but it still was enchanting nonetheless. I do feel a bit irritable though, and not just because I'm having a baby either. It with everyone trying to protect me it is becoming increasingly hard to even breathe! I really enjoyed that last poem you sent. The way you portray the dance between the moon and the sun and how the stars sing was very nice indeed. I'll let you know when the baby is born. Tell Luna and Artemus hi for me.
All my love, your lovely daughter,
Serenity."
"Wow that was most deep. She is getting a bit better with each letter. I'm glad she is happy. Still I worry for her."
"As do I, dear, Luna. Still I did give her my blessing. We can only hope that God will watch over her and that he sends her an angel or two to protect her and Endymion. Come, let us go skating. I fancy a quick escape and then I shall write my letter back to her."
Back in Elysion Neo Queen Serenity was sound asleep. The last letter her mother had written clutch in her delicate fingers. Her yearning to witness summer was blossoming abundantly outside her room. When morning came she would be in for a big surprise indeed and as she dreamed she thought she heard a most delightful melody.
Yes despite the danger Queen Gaia couldn't hold back the urge any longer. She had brought the star locket and opened it so Neo Queen Serenity could sleep more soundly. She also used this song to mask her golden harp she was playing. It was risky but she just had to help the new Queen get a good night sleep. Outside it was midnight and soon Endymion would arrive. It also happened to be Neo Queen Serenity's birthday and at the stroke of midnight when King Endymion had come she awoke just as a lunar eclipse was happening.
"Serenity! Are you alright?! What's going on?" he cried franticly as he hurried to her bedside. She looked both in pain and yet happy at the same time. It was a bit confusing for him. But she just turned and smiled at him.
"Oh, Endymion! I think its time!"
"IT'S TIME?!" he cried out loud as the sheets became wet as Serenity's water broke. Her screams as the labor pains and contractions came awoke the whole castle up. Rushing in came both Eva and the midwives. Endymion made sure to stay in the dark and unknown to him or anyone else in that room was that Queen Gaia was watching over all of them. She used a bit of her magic to ease Neo Queen Serenity's pain and for a brief moment she held her hand as the painful labor process increased.
By morning the whole kingdom rejoiced for the birth of the new heir. Neo Queen Serenity had given birth to a baby girl. Her coloring was most extraordinary, pink hair and red eyes. Neo Queen Serenity said it was because she had been born during a lunar eclipse. They had decided to name her Usagi Small Lady Serenity. But to keep it short they nicknamed her Chibiusa.
Quick as a flash word spread around the world and too the Moon as well about little Chibiusa birth. While everyone was most happy for a healthy baby only two people seemed troubled by her birth.
Beryl was beyond pissed off at Endymion's child. For she had wanted to be the mother of his children. This act only intensified her anger and hatred for Neo Queen Serenity, and she swore she'd have her vengeance soon upon the moon princess.
Unworried about Beryl's threat for the moment, Neo Queen Serenity was extremely euphoric. The love she felt at the moment as being a new mother was so powerful it washed out any feelings of negativity. She was right now feeding her beloved daughter who seemed like her quite hungry.
"Slow down, Chibiusa," she scolded playfully her daughter as she suckled. The pink hair infant stopped suckling for a moment and looked her ruby eyes right into her mother's. She had only been born a few hours ago. So her mind was empty of memories and she was so unaware of her new world. Still she did know her mother. As she looked at her mother she smiled and then burped, which caused Neo Queen Serenity to start giggling. "Oh, Chibiusa, you're my world and it's a wonderful world that I see. There never been not ever before a child born of Earth and Moon. So you've got a very special heritage indeed. I can't wait till you meet your grandmother, Queen Serenity. She gonna just love you. Then we'll go with Daddy and see your grandfather's grave. Oh yes! You'll have a great life my Small Lady."
The newborn just looked puzzled at her mother and yawned. A midwife came over and took the drowsy infant from her mother. "Nap time," she said as she placed then her in a nearby cradle. Chibiusa didn't make much of a fuss as the midwife tucked her under the pink silk sheets. "There, Small Lady, time to go to sleep, and you must sleep too, my Queen. You're gonna need your strength if you're to care for this beautiful miracle."
"All right, Molly, I'll sleep. But could you give this letter to the traders for me? I want to tell my mother all about Chibiusa."
"Of course, my Queen, of course," as the kindly old woman took the letter from her and ushered the rest of the midwives out of the room. With one final look around the room the young queen fell into a contented sleep.
At the same time as Neo Queen Serenity slept she wasn't as alone in her room as she thought. Queen Gaia was ever vigilant and hadn't abandoned her post. She had never left the young girl's side. She strolled over to her granddaughter's cradle and smiled at the sleeping infant.
"Oh, what a darling little child, so sweet, a perfect little princess," she mused blissfully. At that moment the room changed from loving and warm to heartless and cold. Beryl was coming and she was in no doubt going to harm Chibiusa. Therefore in a desperate attempt to save her granddaughter's life she removed the infant from her cradle and wrapped her up in a protective cloak of invisibility.
Neo Queen Serenity awoke with a start at the sound of thunder. She glanced over at window and standing in front of it was an ugly scarlet pale faced woman. She knew at once this had to be Beryl. Though she had been on Earth for a little over year she still hadn't seen her. Beryl adored watching her victims from afar suffering in the misery and anguish of her dark magic.
"So you're the one. The little girl who thinks she can have my Endymion. Well it's too bad I've no power over you. But his child is mine now! Come to me little death," as she swooped over to the cradle.
"Stop! Don't you dare touch her! Get away from her! Go now!"
Beryl ignored her and looked at the cradle expecting to see a baby in a white laced dress but to her surprise the cradle was empty! "WHAT?! Impossible!"
"I said get away from her! Get out I said!"
Beryl heaved the wooden cradle to the ground breaking it in two. But there was no baby anywhere. "Whoever did this will pay dearly! You may have won for now, little girl, but make no mistake, Endymion is mine!" and she vanished in cloud of purple smoke.
"Wait! What have you done to my baby?! Chibiusa!" she cried as she toppled over to the cradle and found her daughter was gone. As the midwives came rushing in she was crying her soul out at the loss of her daughter.
As the midwives tried to soothe her Queen Gaia held the infant close to her heart and whispered. "Try to understand."
That night when midnight came Endymion found his wife still crying while holding her daughter's pillow. She stopped crying long enough to gaze at the dark face of her husband. "Oh, Endymion! Our baby's gone."
"We'll get her back, someday. I promise you, my love. One day this curse will be over and then we can get rid of Beryl forever. Don't worry we shall see Chibiusa again someday."
And back on the Moon Queen Serenity who had just finish reading about the birth of her granddaughter who went from being euphoric to a crippling depression when Luna came in with an urgent message of the unfortunate tragedy of the loss of her newborn granddaughter and she too start to cry as her soul was ripped apart.