Serena, My Love, Remember Me

By: SilverCrystalArtemis

Summary: I think you know, and I'm not in the mood to be redundant, but I will say this: things should start to get pretty interesting from this point on….

Author's Note: I'm really sorry about having so many chapters out late…..I've had way too much on my mind, and I know that's not a good excuse, but it's the only honest one I have. You want a more exciting one? Okay….The giant foam-loving penguins from an alternate dimension kidnapped me and turned me into their queen, but when they found out I couldn't lick my elbow, they de-throned me and used me for horrible tests involving (cringe) mayonnaise. ….okay, this just proves my previous point: DON'T DO DRUGS! Also, if any of you hate me now…..well I can't say I'm okay with it, but I understand, and I hope you'll all be able to forgive me someday…..maybe….?

Also, I want to take a small poll

Would you rather have:

a.) smaller chapters (two to three pages)

b.) medium-sized (five to eight)

c.) HUGE (sorta) (anywhere from ten to twenty pages)

This way, I'll just know how to NOT disappoint you

And, PLEASE, I want your insight/hopes/ ideas/ whatever you wanna send

If you don't hate me yet, I want to hear from you, all my loverly readers!

Chapter Eight

You Remember Me, But I…

Endymion stared, shocked. 'no longer'? Could that possibly mean…? No, it couldn't be, it just…..could it? "What do you mean, 'no longer'?" he asked, almost afraid of her answer.

Serena stared at him, then blushed. "What I mean, Highness, is that no one has called me that since my parents died. Not even Lady Beryl nor Samuel use such a formal name with me. I am Serena, nothing more, nothing less." She almost looked up into his face to gauge his reaction, but she realized that the hands she didn't notice clutching her shoulders fell, and even without looking up she could see his figure slouch considerably. Then, just when she thought she should apologize, (even if she didn't understand why; just as a formality), he just as quickly straightened again, as if something was not quite right.

"Beryl!" he asked, shocked and frightened. "What were you doing near Beryl?" Silently he swore to himself that if the scumbag had hurt her in any way, she would pay, and dearly at that.

Serena looked at him curiously, but answered him in a calm and dignified voice that belied her station. "Yes, Majesty. Lady Beryl, good saint that she is, took my brother and myself in, and raised us herself. You see, Lady Beryl owns a pub in town, and I work-"

"Endymion! ENDYMION!" a voice boomed from the hall, causing all private conversations throughout the castle to cease. Endymion sighed, noticing it as none other than his father, and knew that yet another of many fights was about to begin.

Frustrated, he began to leave, but then he noticed Sereni……Serena. She was standing on the other side of the bed now (when had she moved?), and was looking more or less like a scared rabbit. He went to move toward her, but she backed away again, standing against the wall. She seemed terrified, but not just of him. Then he remembered last night, and exactly why she was in his care.

"Majesty?" she asked in almost a whisper. He looked at her, unsure of what she remembered, and was about to reply when a thundering boom echoed around the room as a fist slammed into his door.

Serena squeaked, and attempted to melt into Endymion's wall as the voice of her king rang throughout the castle. Endymion realized what a terrible shock all of this must have been to her, and also realized that, as much as he wanted her company, the oncoming fight with his father would most certainly scare the poor girl into some sort of shock. After all, even though she was his Serenity, she wasn't, and he would have to regain her trust, possibly even her love. He sighed, and ran a hand through his limp black hair, trying to ignore the blows his door was taking.

He looked up, and noticed that his Serenity was living up to her nickname of "Bunny". At that moment, the once-known princess of the Silver Millennium was huddled in the corner, trying to hide under the blanket she took from the bed. He would have laughed had he not just determined to regain her companionship. He walked over to her, trying not to scare her any more than she already was. He walked around the bed, slowly, carefully, never breaking eye contact with the girl in his room. How rabbit-like she is… he thought, as he came within feet of her. So gentle, so innocent and sweet... Serenity, Darling, please remember me… He reached his hand out to her, hoping she would trust him, at least just for now.

She timidly reached her hand up towards her prince, for some reason knowing that he would never hurt her. Their hands touched, and if she didn't know any better, she thought she saw something akin to joy in his eyes. He took another step toward her and, just as he was about to pull her up, a small door to his room opened, revealing a frazzled brunette in a tan work-dress. If Serena didn't know any better, she would have thought the woman to be nothing more than a house servant, until she saw the prince bow slightly to her, a respect only shown to royalty and nobles, even among each other. Knowing that this woman deserved her respect, at the very least, Serena fell back to her knees, bowing down to the Lady before her.

Lita had heard the king's booming voice this morning even out in the gardens, and knew that it had to do with either the mysterious girl's appearance in that castle, by word of the servants, or his son's absence from yet another one of those frustratingly long balls, all planned for the sake of finding Endymion a bride. She sighed, knowing that it was in no way good for Serenity to witness any…discussions between the stubborn prince and his equally stubborn father, she decided to take it upon herself to whisk the girl away for the day, trying not only to keep her occupied, but also to maybe help her remember something.

She ran into the kitchen and, following the secret passages that had been there, and that she had known, for more than five hundred years, she worked her way, quietly, quickly to Endymion's room. As she turned through this passage and stopped at that one, her memories took over, and she let herself reminisce about all the times she followed this way to get Serenity out of Endymion's room before anyone else noticed. How many times had it been that she had caught them in very compromising positions, and whisked Serenity away only seconds before someone dangerous had caught them?

As she reached the door, she flung it open, not even bothering to slow down for it. She stopped dead at the sight of Endymion, leaning down as if to pick the scared Serenity off of the floor. She felt as if she had been transported back centuries, to a time when the two people in this room were engaged, and took every opportunity handed to them, and even some not, to hide away together. Endymion turned around and saw her, and bowed jokingly, a reminder of the long-standing joke between them.

"Endymion, you are one of my best friends; there is absolutely no need for you to bow to me. Besides, I'm not used to you showing respect for anyone in a position of authority," The brunette in a flowing green dress remarked, while walking down the halls of the Moon's palace with her best friend's betrothed.

Endymion laughed, and turned to face her, causing her to do the same. "It is not that I respect your 'royal authority', Lita," he exclaimed, his black cape moving with his laughter. "What 'authority' do you have that I could not overpower myself?"

Lita, about to retort almost angrily, stopped as the Prince of Earth began talking again.

"I bow to you out of fear! You are the only person to have ever bested me in any fight, and I wish to never experience your wrath again."

Endymion and Lita stood staring at each other, friendly smiles playing on each of their lips, as each fell back into thoughts of the way things were. Neither noticed or cared for the moment that the solid wood door that led to the Heir of the Kingdom's room was now being shaken to its core by His Majesty's royal beating. However, both were dimly aware that one of the most important characters in their lives was hiding under the satin comforter of Endymion's bed, now pulled off of said sleeping apparatus and covering the shaking form of the small sixteen-year old peasant who woke up next to one of Their Majesties.

Serena leaned back against the wall, becoming more confused and frightened by the minute. Here she was, having just woken up in a more than comparable and illegal position, while His royal majesty was breaking down the door, probably with a hangman in tow, and the prince was standing there, staring at some girl, most likely her own age, serenely smiling? An indignant spark rose within her at the thought of his supposed heartlessness. Forgetting all but the righteous anger coursing inside her, she stood up to her full, less than imposing height of five feet and three inches and began to address His Majesty. The sound of her own voice, however, brought her down to her reality, reminding her that any word said against either of these people before her would have her dead faster than she could fall to her feet and beg for their divine mercy. She immediately shut her mouth, praying the Holy Lord and Savior she had been praying to since she was a small girl would assist her now, in her time of dire need. Please, Mary, mother of God, she entreated silently, allow your divine powers to save me now…

Apparently, Mary was not taking messages, as Endymion, almost having completely forgotten her presence, stared at her for a moment before regaining his senses. His face turned from an expression of ignorant bliss, to shock, remembrance, joy, and, just as his door was beginning to fall off of its hinges, realization and fear. He instantly pulled Serena unceremoniously off the floor, and pushed her toward Lita.

"Take her, quickly!" he exclaimed, shoving both of them toward the servants' entrance, even as all three stared in horror as the door was being opened little by little with each devastating blow of the king. "If he finds her, there will be hell to pay for all of us. Just make sure she enjoys herself, and don't let anything overwhelm her!" He looked into Lita's eyes as he make the last comment, passing on to her the point that nothing- memories, people, last night even,- was allowed to ruin Serena's first day back in the presence of her family, as they considered themselves. He turned then and looked down into Serena's eyes, smiling comfortingly in an effort to eradicate the fear that was so evident in his love's eyes. "Don't worry, Miss Serena," he whispered, kissing hr hand as any gentleman would, momentarily ignoring the cries of "Endymion!" from beyond his door, "I assure you there is no safer nor pleasanter company than that of the Lady Lita. I will be down to fetch you soon, my Bunny". Not even realizing his slip, Endymion turned one more time to Lita, who was tugging desperately on Serena's other hand, while staring at the half open door. "I will be down to retrieve her once his anger has subsided. Until then, keep her out of sight." With that, Serena and Lita were pushed through a closing door by the Prince, who then leaned against the framework in relief.

It was at this lucky moment that His Royal Majesty, King Leos, finally broke through his son's bedroom door, red in the face, with an entourage of frantic and worried servants and advisors in his destructive wake. The burly man crossed the expanse of the room in a matter of seconds, and upon reaching his son's relaxed form, which immediately straightened at the lethal look on his father's face, raised himself to his full stature, slightly taller than his son, and demanded, "Endymion, for God's sake, you had better have a damn good excuse for your absence last night."

Taking a deep breath, his last thought being of his beloved Serena, Endymion stepped into the pit of fire that was his father's wrath, possibly never to return again…

Serena was not having a good day. Period. She woke up in a new place, away from her family, her home, in a position which could have cost her her head. The king himself would probably soon be after her blood, and now, to top it all off, she had rug-burns running down her right arm from where this woman- Lita, was it?- was grabbing her, and dragging her through the darkened rough corridors that lead to the servant's quarters, or so she supposed. She was amazed as to how this woman could know where she was going, let alone get there so fast and surely, where Serena herself could barely see the nose on her face. She could see so little, in fact, that she found herself tripping on every knot in the wooden floor, but every time she began to fall, she was jerked forward again, Lita still sprinting through the gloomy hallways.

She was quickly becoming frustrated again, being dragged by this apparently insane woman to God-only-knows where, and was about to allow herself to make some snide comment to the lunatic –kidnapping her for all she knew!- when she realized it might be in her best interests to handle the situation politely.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, hoping to gain the woman's attention. However, she didn't even seem to notice, and perhaps even ran faster through the dismal corridors. "Excuse me," she tried again, almost forcing herself not to yell. The girl in front of her immediately stopped, causing Serena to run into her, and promptly fall onto her back on the rotting floor. The girl turned around before Serena had the chance to stand and stared at her, angry and horrified.

"What do you think you're doing?" she whispered furiously, though had she not been in hiding she would have been screaming. "We are right outside of the ballroom, where hundreds of people are working at this very moment. Do you want to get us caught? I should just leave you here and send the guards after you!"

She kept herself silent, afraid to explode angrily at this presumptuous girl, but more afraid of the repercussions of such an action to let it occur. The girl sighed exasperatedly, running a hand through her auburn hair, and after a few moments looked at Serena and smiled encouragingly, almost friendly, and reached her hand out to help the young girl to her feet. "Forgive me," she said, making eye contact with the affronted and frightened girl, "I shouldn't have said that. My only excuse is that my nerves have been more than just a little on edge. Come with me, and we'll find somewhere safe to talk, alright?" Serena searched the girl's eyes for any indication of sincerity, and found more honesty and loyalty than she ever thought possible shining back at her from the emerald eyes. She smiled weakly, still a little bit wary of everything she encountered today, and placed her hand in the other girl's, allowing herself to be helped up. Once standing, the other girl gripped her hand in an assuring way and ran through the corridor again, once again achieving a breakneck speed. Serena sighed, sure of the fact that this long day was just going to get longer.

"This is unbelievable! It's more beautiful than all the rumors I've heard. Is it true that all of this is tended by one person?" Serena questioned, awed, walking through the utopia that was the Royal Gardens with her new….friend?. She couldn't believe it, anything that had happened. She woke up this morning, sleeping in the finest fabrics available, next to the most handsome and desirable man in the world, only to be whisked away by a pretty girl who couldn't be much older than herself, now walking through the most exclusive and beautiful estate in the world. She had always dreamed that, someday, somehow, she would be able to see, just once, the indescribable and ethereal euphoria that was known as the Royal Gardens. She had always loved flowers of all kinds, and had always wished to, if nothing else, at least witness someone being able to tend to more than just the common weeds found outside of every home in this district of the kingdom. The green and red, the blue and the pink, the common and exotic, the domestic and even the potentially dangerous. She never thought she would see anything so naturally beautiful in her entire life, and it seemed like a dream come true.

Lita- that was the girl's name, after all- smiled sheepishly, breaking eye contact with Serena and bending down to tend to a limping lady slipper. She took a fallen twig from a nearby tree and, taking the soft pink ribbon out of her hair, allowing it to fall down her shoulders, she tied the stick to the plant, as a sort of splint. "Thank you," she said, standing up again and wiping her barely dirty hands on her skirt. "It's not as difficult as it seems, though. It's really not a job; I just do whatever needs to be done- a little here and there today, a little there tomorrow. I find it to be very relaxing, and the plants are just so beautiful." She looked around at the greenery, happily, almost star-struck, as Serena stared in shock at the girl before her who just admitted to tending to the miles of plantation surrounding her in a comforting embrace. No wonder she wears such common clothing Serena thought, There's no way she would be able to wear silks and satins if she was going to get dirty all the time. She realized, though, that she completely understood how Lita could enjoy it. Being in these gardens, this private utopia, she felt as if all of her problems had died away, and that all that mattered now, all that had ever mattered and all that would matter were the beautiful plants surrounding her, releasing a happiness all their own which mixed with hers and multiplied into an almost indiscernible ecstasy.

"But how long did it take you to accomplish this?" she asked in wonder, beginning to walk again. They were heading to the rose bushes, she noticed. Her favorite flower. She had always wanted for someone to give her such a flower, just once in her life. She always dreamed that her future husband, her love, would give her one on their wedding day, just as she always hoped she would find love the same way the fairytale princesses did, riding up to her doorstep and claiming to love her for eternity, from one lifetime into the last.

"My father was one of the king's most prized knights, but he and my mother were killed while abroad almost seven years ago. His Majesty took me in more then, and gardening just started out as a sort of therapy for me. Endymion used to go away to study regularly, when we were much younger, and every time he would return he would bring me all sorts of different plants, from all over the world. My collection just grew out from under me, and somehow became what it's known as today. I've always loved flowers, though. They bring a sort of peace just looking at them."

They entered the rose garden now, and Serena was mesmerized by the multitude of colors. There were pale pinks, the color of a baby's rosy cheeks, and there were whites purer than the newly fallen snow. There were haunting blues that could shatter your soul if you became to entranced, and bright yellows that could make even the dying smile. There were two-toned roses, acting as examples of Mother Earth's affinity for decorating, and Serena's favorite, the deep reds, blushing as deep as the blood that ran through every lover's heart. She gasped unconsciously, reaching a hand up to grab at her heart, beating a thousand miles an hour within the cage of her chest like a wild bird. She never thought she would see anything more beautiful in her life, until a small butterfly flew up to her and landed on her hand, now placed delicately on her chest. The small creature stretched its wings, perched comfortably, and Serena did all that she could do at this point: she smiled. She smiled, and giggled, and laughed until she had tears spilling from her eyes. The butterfly took flight again, but only flew around Serena, causing the girl to squeal in delight. Lita looked on smilingly, yet filled with a masked pain the weight of which even she had not been able to fathom, for only she knew that this same scene had played itself out identically more than half a century before. It was only when Serena grabbed her hands and impulsively led her in a childhood dance that she began to laugh herself, until they both fell to the ground, still laughing too hard for either of them to notice the figure slipping back into the shadows…..

Endymion walked through the gardens, passing under the willow tree and pausing, taking his time to think about his beloved. She was back. He had her with him again, near enough that he could hold her, kiss her, love her the way he had….but he couldn't. He couldn't even reminisce with her of their past. He could have hit himself for his brainless slip of the tongue earlier, something she would most certainly ask about later, something he didn't have a reply for. How could he explain to her that it was his pet name for the girl a lifetime ago, when she was Princess of another planet, and he her unworthy intended? How long would he be able to live this act in front of her before he brainlessly blundered, and scared her away from him indefinitely? The mere thought of her fearing him shattered his heart into countless pieces, a feeling he would never grow accustomed to, no matter how often he felt it, habitually as it was fast becoming. He sat under the wispy branches of the tree, now dancing limply in the gentle breeze, and idly played with a blade of grass he had uprooted before he heard laughter from somewhere nearby. He followed the sound, only to find it lead into the rose gardens. His heart pounded within his chest, recognizing the chiming noise as the mirth of his sweetheart, and he increased his pace, needing at that moment nothing more than to be near her.

Endymion entered the barrier to the roses in time to see Serena, his Bunny, laughing and smiling as a butterfly flew circles around her, landing again on her now open palm. His heart fluttered at the sight of her; she looked so beautiful as she was now- cheeks rosy from laughter, small tears of joy spilling from her eyes, dancing with Lita through the roses, her skirts flowing around her like an angel in her robes. His smile faltered when he watched a small rose bush she passed rustle gently, and a few small petals fell from one of the newly blossomed flowers. He felt it symbolic, almost ironic, reminding him of the intangible hourglass running on his Serena's precious time. If something didn't happen soon, it never would. They would lose their chance with their friend, and he would lose his one chance at true happiness in this lifetime. He sighed, stepping backwards into the shadows of a mighty tree he had brought as a gift to Lita himself on his first visit to the Indian territories. He hid behind its strong limbs and branches reaching down, willow-like, to the ground, ready to become extensions of the grand trunk. He stumbled, sadly, fearfully, demurely, back to the castle, wanting to go back into his rooms and restart the entire day, wishing for his Serena to wake up to his soft kisses on her cheeks, look him in the eye, and gasp as she remembered. She would wrap her arms around him, crying, smiling, loving him again, they way she had once upon a time.

He walked past a Moon's Tear, a delicate, white, heart shaped plant; the last of its kind, and a tear escaped his eye. He turned one final time to the rose gardens, now out of sight, and whispered, "Serena, my angel, remember me…..please".

A.N. #2: Starts up monstrous lighting-collecting machinery IT LIVES! IT LIVESS! If by some miracle any of you are still interested in this story, and would like to say/ask anything to me, I will be MORE than happy and willing to oblige. I appreciate you sticking with me through this. The only explanation I can give you is that life has become horribly rough, and despairingly horrible at points, but, no matter how long it takes, this story WILL be finished. Sorry if this chapter is choppy or weak; it'll pick up again, I promise. I love you ALL, with ALL my heart. Sincerely.