"Serenity! Slow down!" Serenity laughs and slowed to a walk.
"I'm sorry I'm just so excited to see earth! I've only read about it or heard whispers of what it was like." She still hadn't let his hand go. "It's so different, so much better than how people on the moon describe it. And the people here are kind and gentle. That man who gave me the flowers was so sweet." Pink, yellow, orange, and red roses, some of which he had helped put into her buns and some she held in a basket that he bought her to carry them in. "I cannot wait till I can come again. I hope it is soon." She smiled then looked to the sky, the moon just slightly visible now.
"Will you be in trouble when you go back?" Endymion looked as her smiled turned into a sad, regretful face.
"Perhaps, but it was worth it. I have to go back soon. I have already been here longer than I should have." He frowned, Endymion didn't like her leaving, and she was so different than anyone else he had ever met. She didn't hide her feelings, she was happy and she was kind, and caring. She cared what he thought, what he wanted. He had only been with her for sixteen hours but he felt as if he had known her for a lifetime. Oh no, Jadeite was right, he was going mad! Ha!
"Come visit me soon, I will miss my new friend. I am truly glad you ran into me today. I'll show you more each time you visit." She smiled and hugged him.
"And I am also glad. I will visit as soon as I may, but in the mean time I will find a way to contact you." She smiled and reached up to her hair to pull one of the roses out. "Keep this while I'm away, it will remind you of today. Another will appear in your room whenever I plan to visit" She smiled at him and then hugged him once more and walked up ahead a little bit. "Goodbye Endymion, I will miss you more than I can say." And just like that she was gone, her words echoing in the silence.
Endymion looked down at the rose, it was red. The symbol of love. Was that what he felt? No he just didn't have very many friends who were girls. Since most of them only talked to him in hopes he would marry them. Bah! Serenity was a friend, he would miss his friend. He went back to the palace and placed the single rose in a vase and poured water into it. Then he brought it over and placed it on the table beside his bed, a reminder of his new friendship with the girl from the moon.
Serenity walked lazily into her room and sunk to her bed. Earth was amazing! Who knew all the splendid delights it offered. Oh, if only her people knew the kindness and beauty of the earth and its inhabitants! But alas, relationships between the moon and the earth were forbidden. The alliance that formed their small peace and the god's demanded it. Her actions today were foolish and would have severe consequences if anyone found out what she had done. But it had been wonderful, she hadn't expected love earth so much, nor had she expected to find such a wonderful friend! Her next visit would have to be soon. She buried her head in her soft pillow thinking of her day with Endymion, the warm, intelligent prince of earth!
Knock, knock! Venus and the rest of her friends filed into the room tired looking they came and sat on her bed. Venus spoke first,
"Serenity," She hesitated then looked her square in the eyes, "Serenity, we know where you went today." Serenity's heart froze.
"What do you mean I was here," She knew she wasn't convincing anyone.
"Serenity, don't lie, especially not to us. We know where you were today. We are not the Queen. We are your friends, guardians to, but friends first." Jupiter spoke softly; she knew how badly the princess longed to see earth. They wouldn't ruin this, not for Serenity who so rarely asked for anything.
"I went to earth, I know it was dangerous and stupid, but I just, I just… I'm sorry, I won't go again, I promise." She looked down, fighting to hold back tears. When she couldn't hold them back she excused herself to her bathing room. Tears streaked down her pale face, she sniffed then rinsed her face with cold water. As she was drying her face, the girls came in. Mercury took the towel and helped Serenity dry her face. She hugged then said,
"Serenity, we have no intention of stopping you from visiting earth."
"Has if we could!" Mars interrupted. They all laughed at that.
"What we are saying," Venus said, "Is that when you wish to go to earth you take us along. Are job is to protect you Serenity, let us do our job, please?" Venus smiled and the princesses reaction. Her whole face lit up and she hugged all her friends in her tiny arms.
"REALLY??? Thank you, thank you!!! I swear I will take every one of you when I next visit earth! Thank you!" All her friends smiled and laughed. Untangling themselves from the princess's arms they sat on her bed and started asking questions about her adventures on earth. Serenity was so excited that she really could not give them an actual account of her day that made sense. She turned to her friends and smiled mischievously,
"I shall tell you no more, you all have to see for yourselves. We're going to earth. Tomorrow!" Her friends looked at her, first shocked, then excited. Giggles and jokes could be heard as the girls planned for their visit to earth!
Earth
As Endymion lay in his bed, trying without succeeding to find sleep, he thought about his day with Serenity. And the wailing he got from Malachite when he finally did show up for training. He tossed over and looked again, for about the 100th time on the single red rose, a beam of moonlight now shining on its soft petals. He looked up at the moon. When he looked back at the rose he was shocked to see another flower, identical to the other. She was coming, and soon! Sleep was determined impossible.