Note from the Author:

Thank you for your patience. This chapter picks up from chapter two and then takes us into a moment of Endymion's childhood, a moment that established his desire to know more about his bloodline. Please review.

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If There Be Light, Then There Be Darkness

Written by Princess Kayla

Inspired by Naoko Takeuchi's "Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon"

Chapter Three - The Young Prince and the Fairytale

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Endymion dragged his feet as he made his way to the King's study. It was such a beautiful day outside, and the last thing he wanted was to be cooped up in another lesson with his father. How he longed to be a character in the book he was reading - Beyond the Horizon. He flipped through the pages, imagining a life other than his own.

To others, achieving a place in the palace was the purpose of existence. The majority of people longed to live in the heart of the Golden Kingdom. Be it a royal advisor or a humble servant, if one lived in the castle, ultimate happiness was achieved. Or, so people said.

For Endymion, however, his happiness seemed far out of reach. He could not understand the emptiness within him. He was the Prince, the heir to the entire Golden Kingdom of Elysion, yet he longed to be far away from the palace, from his royal destiny.

He closed the book with a sigh and continued to his meeting with the king.

Near the door to the study hung a large canvas - a family portrait from many years ago. He was a boy then, standing next to his mother and father. He could still remember how claustrophobic he felt beneath those clothes.

- . - . - . - . - . - . - . -

The bulk of the fur robes on his shoulders weighed the boy down as he stood upon the wooden box. Adding to the load were royal jewels and armor that swallowed him up. Struggling against the weight, he moved his feet in the attempt to find comfort.

"Young Prince, you must stop your moving," the painter ordered him with frustration, only making the prince sigh in equal discontent.

"Endymion, this will not take much longer," the beautiful Queen Calyce smiled gently at him. She took his hand and gave it a light squeeze, "As soon as we finish here, we will go and enjoy your birthday."

He nodded, however little excitement came. A birthday for the Prince of the Golden Kingdom of Elysion was not as enjoyable as the common people believed.

"May I ask how old the Prince has become on this day?" the painter inquired as he continued to take the paint from his palette and onto the gigantic canvas.

"My son is a no longer a boy," King Aethlius replied as he sat stoically at the Queen's side. "Thirteen years ago to this day, the kingdom was blessed with an heir to someday rule as King." Though he did not smile, there was pride in his deep voice.

"I will work diligently to capture the Prince's strength of stature now that he is no longer a child," the painter said with a determination that made Endymion stand a little taller.

"That is well and good, but he has much still to learn - so very much still to learn," the King added with a heaviness that left Endymion a bit disheartened. That happened often. One moment he would feel his father was proud of him and then the next he would feel he did not measure up to his father's desires.

The Queen gave Endymion another gentle smile and returned to her still pose as the painter continued his work.

...

Endymion entered his room, tossing the robes onto the floor. "Finally, finished?" Kunzite asked as he and three other adolescents stood upon his arrival. They were soldiers, chosen and in training to be Endymion's personal guard, the Shitennou. Even though their role was to protect and serve the Prince, a comradeship had developed over the past year.

"How did the 'costume party, go?" Zoisite annoyingly wrapped his arm around Endymion's shoulders. Endymion shoved him off, causing Zoisite to throw his hands up defensively, "Well, someone is in a bad mood."

"No, I am not," Endymion said with irritation. Zoisite exchanged glances with Nephrite.

"Leave him alone. It was probably miserable having to stand there so long in these," Jadeite commented as he picked up the robs, "These are extremely heavy."

"Once he bulks up some more, they will be no problem," Kunzite remarked and tousled Endymion's hair. Kunzite, the leader, was five years older than the Prince and sometimes found himself more of an elder brother than a soldier under royal order. While inappropriate around others, amongst the five of them there was often a bit of silliness.

"Stop that," Endymion moved out of them way, however there was a small smile on his lips. He stood up straight, "Today is my birthday; do I not deserve some respect?"

"Oh, yes, of course, Your Highness," Nephrite agreed with a snicker and motioned to the others for all of them to bow.

Even though he knew they were mocking him, Endymion laughed, "That is more like it!" He slumped a bit and let out a long sigh.

Jadeite questioned, "What is wrong?"

"Today is my birthday," Endymion repeated his sentence, this time with distaste.

"And why is that a bad thing?" Jadeite asked.

Endymion turned his back to them and looked outside. From his window, he could see slightly beyond the castle walls into the village. Outside of the barriers, there was a great celebration in his honor, one he could not partake in. It was pointless to him. Instead, Endymion had his own party to go to. No, 'party' was not the suitable word for it.

...

"Let us raise a glass to the Prince of Elysion," Lord Desmond of the Northern Lands toasted in Endymion's honor.

The other dignitaries from across the Golden Kingdom raised their glasses and joined in with a resounding, "To Prince Endymion!"

Endymion, seated at the end of the long banquet table gave a simple nod and smile in not-so-sincere gratitude. This was not the way he wished his birthday would be. Men and women, who were present simply to prove their status to the King, surrounded Endymion. As they ate their royal dinner, they spoke to one another about 'imports and exports, wealth and legalities' - all things that bored Endymion. Once he had asked if his Shitennou could join the dinner, but his father stated how inappropriate that would be. So, instead, Endymion sat quietly pushing his food around on his plate.

Suddenly, far across from him, the King rose to his feet, "If everyone would please excuse the Queen and I, it is time for us to present our son to the people." Endymion looked up and stood to his feet, eager to get away from the dreary lords and ladies.

The King pulled the Queen's chair back and extended a hand for her. With grace, she took to her husband's side and followed him to a set of grand doors. She glanced back at Endymion, signaling him to join them. Endymion hurried over as two guards opened the doors.

A glorious round of applause roared through the air as the royal family stepped out on the huge balcony that looked out over the great golden gates of the palace. There the people of Elysion stared up at their leaders, cheering with overwhelming excitement. The King and Queen waved at the people while keeping their regal postures.

Then they moved aside, and the King motioned for Endymion to step forward. At the edge of the balcony, he followed his parents' movements and waved down at the people. The cheers grew louder and the festivities of his birthday went wild - festivities he could not be a part of. There on the balcony, high above, was the closest he would ever be to the celebration. It was not just the palace walls that trapped him, but his future as King.

Lowering his hand, the young Prince suddenly felt tired and could not wait to return to his room and say goodnight to another birthday.

...

The towering door shimmered. It was brilliantly crafted in pure gold. The frame was adorned with the images of knights with swords, riding amazing chariots and leading great armies. In the center, an enchanting Pegasus gazed down on those who stood before door.

His hand reached out and gripped the giant doorknob. It was warm, almost hot. It startled him, causing him to pull back. After a few moments, he regained courage and again grasped the handle. Slowly he turned it, only to find the door locked.

A sharp flash of light blinded him. He covered his eyes. The light began to dim. He looked at the handle where a keyhole appeared. There was something glowing from the other side. If only he had the key.

...

Endymion yawned a little too loudly, receiving a stern look of displeasure from his father. His eyes watered as he fought against the next yawn. It was not the birthday events that had left him tired; rather it was the dreams he had last night. Actually, it was the one dream that had repeated over and over - the elegant locked door with no key to be found. It was a short dream, but reliving it so many times left him exhausted.

With each yawn he suppressed his throat felt more constricted. The collar was just so tight; he could not help but tug on it. "Please stop your fidgeting, son," his father ordered. Endymion could not stop the look of frustration cross his brow. He missed the time when he was not required to stand with his father and mother as citizens of the kingdom approached the throne with their needs and grievances. Like his father had said the day before, Endymion was growing into a young man, and with age, responsibilities grew.

He could not understand how his mother and father could sit there, listening to request after request, with no look of boredom or distress on their faces.

Great King Aethlius sat on his throne with strong shoulders and reverent authority. Endymion looked at the eyes of the people and only saw respect for his father. While the people felt safe under Aethlius's rule, Endymion felt overwhelmed by him.

In contrast, his mother amazed him. She amazed the people of the land as well. It was said 'if you have the honor of looking upon Queen Calyce's face, you will be blessed with a long and peaceful life.' Her beauty and grace captivated the kingdom. When she entered a room, Endymion could feel a peaceful change in the air.

"Your Majesties," an old woman, worn by work in the field, kneeled before the throne, "My husband has been incredibly ill and my family was not able to produce the usual amount of potatoes this season. I am not able to sell the produce and provide my family with enough food for the remainder of the year. I come here asking for grace this year."

The queen looked lovingly at her husband and he nodded, "We see your need and wish to help you meet it. Do not worry about providing your portion this year. You may keep your produce for your family, but we ask you to repay our kingdom by serving in the kingdom's orphanage until next harvest."

The woman smiled, "Thank you so much, my King. It would be my honor to help the children in need." She bowed her head in thanks. After standing, she paused and looked at Endymion with a loving smile, "Your Highness, I hope you had a wonderful birthday celebration." Endymion nodded even though he wanted to roll his eyes.

The woman then grinned back at his parents, "Your Majesties, I pray for our young Prince and that the power of Elysion would flow through his veins." She curtsied and took her leave.

That was the first time someone mentioned 'the power of Elysion' in front of Endymion. When he heard it, he felt something warm from inside his chest.

The sound of a trumpet grabbed his attention, and he noted the people bowing as his parents stood from their thrones. "We thank you all for serving our kingdom. We must now retire," the King said and turned to his Queen. She took his hand graciously.

"Come, Endymion," his mother beckoned him. He followed behind them as they walked down the hall. "I pray that next harvest produces more for the sweet woman and her family and that her husband recovers soon," the Queen said softly to her King. He smiled warmly at her. That was just her way; she loved the people of Earth and wanted the very best for all. She was admired by her people and by her husband.

"My love, I know your prayers will be heard," the King lifted her hand to his lips and lightly kissed it. His love for her was evident. He treasured her above all valuables a king could obtain. Though the Queen could make him go weak in the knees, the King was not weak in any other way. When the people of the kingdom felt frail, they would simply look upon their King and feel secure. The King's strength was encouraging and gave his people the desire to stand strong against all obstacles. All respected him.

However, that strength intimidated Endymion at times. For as long as Endymion could remember, his father never told stories or played games. He was often quiet around him, and Endymion felt he was more a king than a father - or what he imagined a father to be. Endymion respected his father, but he wondered if he would ever be like him or if he even wanted to be.

"Endymion?" His father said his name, bringing him out of his unexpected stupor. He was more tired than he thought.

He blinked, "Yes, father?"

King Aethlius shook his head, "You really must get that daydreaming under control."

"I apologize," Endymion hung his head, aware of his father's disappointment.

"Come, Endymion," Queen Calyce took her son's hand, "Escort me to my room. Your father has some documents that need to be signed."

"Yes, mother," Endymion agreed and waited as the King kissed the Queen, parting ways.

As mother and son walked down the hall, Endymion yawned again. "Your mind must need rest, my son," Queen Calyce commented and with a wise expression, added, "Sometimes, our thoughts are unsteady; it can be exhausting for a mind." She paused and turned to him. With her soft hand, she brushed his hair from his forehead. "What is going on in there, my dear one?"

Endymion shrugged slightly, but he knew that he could not hide things from his mother. She had a sixth sense when in came to his feelings, so he went ahead and confessed his thoughts. "Mother, why do we sometimes call our kingdom 'Elysion'?"

She tilted her head in surprise; this was not a question she expected. "I am not quite sure. 'Elysion' is a reference from stories told long ago, though."

"What kinds of stories?" his interest was peaked.

"Well," she began, "stories all begin somewhere, but as they are told time and time again, details change and some are even lost. Elysion has become more like a fairytale now."

"Like the story of Selene that people tell?" Endymion asked, remembering the statue in the palace gardens.

She nodded. She could not help but smile as she remembered her little boy sitting in her lap at the base of the sculpture. Oh, how fast time flew. His innocent eyes had been full of wonder when she told him the tale of the Goddess and other fables. He always loved her stories.

She continued the fairytale as they returned to their walk, "Elysion was the beginning of the Earth. It was a paradise."

"Paradise?" Endymion questioned.

"Yes. It was a place of perfect happiness," she continued, "Imagine the beauty of our world today magnified. At that time, there was only the Light - the beautiful golden Light."

Endymion was eager for more. "Is that why we call it the Golden Kingdom?"

"Yes it is, but it was even greater than now. Only good existed there." She paused and her voice dropped with sadness, "but the Light was interrupted. The Darkness seeped into Elysion."

"What is the Darkness?"

She frowned, "The Darkness is the evil desires of our heart. She moves among us, through the deepest levels of a person's soul. Her greatest desire is to overcome the Light. She wants to destroy the Light because the Light is beautiful and powerful."

"The Light is stronger than the Darkness?" Endymion asked.

"Yes and no," his mother reasoned, "The Darkness tempts and deceives, and once she gets a foothold, it is hard to escape." The Queen paused when she noticed a frown pulling at the young Prince's lips. She gave his hand a comforting squeeze. "But, we ultimately determine who is the conqueror. The Darkness and the Light battle within us, but we decide who has the most control. We choose." She frowned, "Sadly, the original people of Elysion, even though they lived in the most glorious time on Earth, let the Darkness creep in and take control."

Endymion was confused, "Then Elysion no longer exists?"

She smiled, "Remember, where there is darkness, there is always light. There were heroes in those days that chose the Light. They pushed the Darkness aside and fought against it. Through them, the Light grew and grew until the Darkness was overcome. From the remnants of the battle, a King rose. Your great, great, great, great-grandfather."

"Is that why I am a heir to the throne?" Endymion asked.

She grinned, "Yes, my Prince."

"Is that why the woman today said that she prays that I would have the power of Elysion in my veins?" he was very curious.

"Some believe that the Light loved the First King so much that she blessed the King with a gift," she could see his anticipation growing, "It was the gift of powerful magic that he was to use to keep the Darkness under control."

Endymion looked at the palms of his hands. "Is that magic in my blood?" He never really believed in magic. Magic was a part of myths, and myths were not real.

"I am not sure." They stopped outside of his mother's room, and she whispered, "I like to believe that you do." She smiled lovingly and touched his cheek, "I believe you are so full of the Light, and with it, you have incredible strength. That strength will make you a great and wonderful King someday, and I know you will lead your people in a good and honorable way."

She kissed the top of his head, "Now go rest yourself, my dear one, and let the Light within you warm your soul." As she entered her room, she said, "I love you with all of my heart."

"I love you too, Mother," Endymion smiled and waited for the door to shut before he headed to his room. Even though his mother's story was one of imagination, he knew it would never fade from his mind.

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He smiled softly as he looked at the elegant likeness of her in the painting. He always did love his mother's stories. They were fond memories that connected the two of them in a special way. Even, now, as a man, he still felt young in his mother's presence. When he was overwhelmed with the pressures of royalty, he would simply look to her and feel at ease.

"Your Highness?"

For the first time, Endymion was aware of the guard standing next to the door to the study. 'Time for instruction,' he thought, disappointingly. "I am here to see the King." The guard knocked and spoke loudly, "Your Majesty, the Prince is here to see you."

"Let him in," a deep voice called from the other side. The guard opened the door for Endymion. King Aethlius looked to his son and motioned to a chair for him to sit.

The door shut behind him as he bowed his head to his father. He went to the chair, "How are you, Father?"

The King nodded, "Well. I hope you are doing the same."

"Yes, Father."

"I wanted to continue our discussion from yesterday," the King began, "Did you understand the importance of collecting a sufficient amount of purified water before the summer months approach?"

"Yes," Endymion replied, trying hard to be interested in the topic, "We must be prepared to assist the people with water in case the wells run dry in the heat of the summer."

"Very good," his father continued, "and, what should be done if there is a shortage and the people become distraught, seeking help from their royals?"

"We must begin by calming the people and asking them to come together so that the..." Endymion was distracted by the sound of birds right outside the window. His thoughts drifted away from him as he watched the birds float into the wind.

"Endymion?" the King called for his attention, "My Son, please pay attention."

Endymion blinked and turned back to him, "Forgive me, Father." He attempted to collect his thoughts, "Um...where were we? Oh, water...the needs of the people..."

His father sighed, "Son, I know this all can be tedious, but I assure you, you must be prepared for whatever situation that comes, no matter how mundane it may seem."

Leaning back in his chair, Endymion sighed as well, "I understand."

"I had to go through the same instruction with my father," he said, "You will appreciate this some day." King Aethlius gazed off and for a moment, Endymion saw a hint of sadness in the crinkle of his father's brow.

"Father?" Endymion asked softly.

Collecting his thoughts, King Aethlius took a book from the table next to him, "Let us go ahead and refresh ourselves on the different class systems throughout the kingdom."

"Class systems," Endymion nodded, trying to focus.

"You will need to understand because we will have meeting with the Eastern dignitaries next month and..."

"Why are we royal?" The question slipped out before Endymion knew it.

The King was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Because his mind had been in the past today - remembering his mother's story of the first King of Elysion - Endymion wondered what his father thought about the subject. "I guess I wonder why we are the ones to lead the Golden Kingdom? Do we really deserve this?"

The King smiled gently, "Endymion, we are blessed to be the ones who lead; it is in our blood."

Endymion remembered the old woman's words from his childhood, 'I pray for our young Prince and that the power of Elysion would flow through his veins.' "Father, is there power in our veins?"

"Yes, we have been given great responsibility for this kingdom," he responded easily.

Shaking his head, Endymion tried to carefully choose his words; he felt silly asking the King, but he longed to know if there was any truth to the story his mother told him when he was a boy. "I mean, is there magic in our blood? Magic from Elysion, from the Light?"

The King laughed, "Is your mother still telling you fables?" Endymion did not respond, and the King's brow furrowed. "My son, are you asking me this in seriousness?"

Swallowing, Endymion hoped that the heat in his cheeks was not seeping through his skin. "Lately, with all of this studying, I have wondered about the history of our bloodline. I have reviewed the historical documents many times and the origin of our kingdom seems unclear. I have heard of Elysion, the Light, and the Darkness..."

"Endymion," his father said each word slowly, "We must not talk about such things."

Endymion's back straightened, "What are you keeping from me?"

His father lowered his voice, "Endymion, you must be careful what you say. When my father was King, a panic broke out because of the fear of magic."

Endymion spoke quietly as well, "I remember something about that in the historical orders. There was an uprising when Grandfather was king. Many died."

He nodded, "I was a boy when it all happened. I remember that a man was accused of using magic to awaken evil in the hearts of others. Eventually, he was leading as many as fifty men and women. It is said that he led them into villages where he absorbed the energy of all living things, including people." The King took in a deep breath; the memories must have been overwhelming. "Your grandfather did the only thing he knew to do. He ordered his army to wipe out the group of rebels and their leader."

"Did this man have real powers?" Endymion was obviously captivated.

"I do not believe in such things, but..." the King paused, a look of distress covering his face, "…my father took me to one of the villages after the battles had ended. I will never forget the bodies of the victims; they were shriveled as if all life had been sucked out of them." The King sank deeply into his seat, "If only the stories were true. If only Helios were real, perhaps Father would have prayed to him and the Light would have prevented all those deaths."

"Helios?" Endymion questioned the name.

His father sighed and placed his hand to his head, "That is enough for today, my son."

"But, Father, we just started," Endymion pleaded, actually interested for the first time.

"Son, I need to rest," King Aethlius let out a ragged breath.

Disappointed, Endymion nodded and rose to his feet. As he walked by, the King grabbed his arm, "Endymion, you must not speak of magic. Remember your studies. You learned about the ban of sorcery; it came about because of all of that. After the battle, your grandfather had to make a declaration in order to calm the people. He declared all forms of sorcery illegal, and if anyone is accused of it, they must be brought to the courts for trial. However, the people are so fearful of it, they take matters into their own hands, going so far as to murder anyone who even speaks of it."

"Can magic be good," Endymion questioned, "Do all forms need to be banned?"

The King shook his head in aggravation, "Endymion, magic does not exist. It's the 'idea' of darkness that gets into the thoughts of the people. The 'idea' of magic scares people, and fear causes people to do horrible things."

Endymion's pulse quickened. He could tell his father was hiding something. 'Could there be more to the stories - the fairytales?' "Father, please tell me about Helios and the Light."

His father looked up at him with weary eyes, "Son, I am quite tired. Please, that is enough."

Endymion longed to push his father further, but seeing him slouch in his chair made him stop. He noted a weakness in the King that had never been there before. Endymion felt a strange ache in his heart. "Yes, Father, I will leave you be now."

As he left the King's study, he noticed the sun slipping away. An idea came to his mind. Soon night would come and with it, the opportunity to visit the palace library without the eyes of the guards and servants.

'Beryl,' Endymion remembered the young woman's name. She worked in the library, organizing all of the kingdom's documents. Perhaps, she knew of books that the King hoped would stay hidden away.

Anticipation built within him, and he hurried back to his room where he waited for the cloak of night.

. . . . . . . . . .

Final Note from the Author:

Hearing from you motivates me to continue. - With Love, Kayla -