A/N:Another installment for your reading pleasure! Thanks again for all the support! I hope all of you enjoy this latest installment. This one, admittedly, was a bit more tricky in it's execution than the last,and very late at that do to some set backs, personal reasons, the start up of yet another semester...the list goes on But thank you to all of you who have waited so petiently and cheered me on. I do it for you guys and gals out there!
Oh, and don't forget to please rate and comment on what you think. And again, to the Moonie Community!
Legaleese: You know the drill by now right? Sailor Moon is not owned by me,but to the amazing Naoko takeuchi. This work of fiction is for fun and fun only.
Ok, on with the show!
CHAPTER III
Princess Serenity stood on the balcony, her eyes drawn up to the sky where the brilliance of Earths blue luminance hung like a jewel in the sea of stars and velvet black of fallen night, wondering...
What was it like, living up there on Earth? She had heard that it was possibly the most beautiful planet in the whole solar system with its vast oceans and diverse ecosystems. She wondered if the Prince-King of Earth was just as beautiful as his home world. Many of the rumors around court reflected these opinions, saying his eyes were as a deep blue as the deepest oceans or lakes and his hair as dark and soft as the Earth night sky in fall.
"He sounds beautiful..."Serenity thought dreamily, as her soft white hand absentmindedly combed through one of her long thick lockets of silver white hair,her eyes never leaving the view of the blue gem in the sky.
The desire to run away and see the universe, explore new depths, and live abandoningly wild was at times, so great that it nearly overwhelmed her. But every time she thought it would consume her, the thought of her mother, and her friends brought her back to reality that she must remain here. Family,friends, and fear. She longed for such freedom, but she never knew a time in her life that she was ever truly free of the palace and its many guards, and watchers. The concept of utter and complete freedom was a foreign reality and left her feeling at times incapable of living anywhere but here, in the vast gilded cage that was the Royal Palace.
"But they mean well, and they just want me safe."
Even as she did thought this however, the nagging voice in the back of her head added,
"They may want me safe, but I know what would be best for me. I would be fine I am sure of it. Don't they understand that I just want a life of my own like everyone else?"
Her brow furrowed ever so slightly at the thought. The expression didn't suit her small pretty face. It was a face meant for large smiles and loud, sweet laughter. But she couldn't help it. The thought was dark and filled with things Princess Serenity didn't usually ever think of. She was, over all, a happy young woman with a loving parent and wonderful friends that were loving and true,even beyond their duty to protect her as her personal guard and were in many respects, as dear to her as her own mother. But the thought remained. And it bothered her greatly to feel the little seed of frustration grow ever so slightly.
The young woman put the thought aside, looking down and refocusing her vision on the beautiful Earth high above her and let her mind take her to the beaches of Earth with a figure with dark hair and shining dark blue eyes...
Sailor Venus happened apon the Princess who was daydreaming again on the balcony with her back to the entrance to the dining hall, pausing at the entrance for a moment to look apon the Princess, her thoughts heavy again with the shadow of the days events and omens.
Serenity...You have no idea how much danger there is that is after you. No idea at all. To be able to dream like this, unburdened with the harsh reality...I envy you. But I'll protect you. No matter what. I promise. We all did...I promise, I won't let anything happen to you, ever...But how were they going to protect her? The Kingdom?
Venus clenched a tight fist,the small voice of want and fear within her ringing in her ears.
Father..What am I to do?
She thought to herself or rather like a silent prayer. A prayer she knew would go unanswered.
Venus hadn't seen him in person without it being a royal function in nearly 3 years. Some would say it cruel to do so. It was a time of peace after all, and she was a Princess, a member of the Royal court just as entitled to the fruits of peace as any other. But she knew, as well as the others that Senshi Business always came first. In order to protect not just the Royal family, but their own families as well. Sacrifices were needed for peace to endure...
"Minako, what are you doing here? Keeping an eye on me are you?" the Princess said smiling broadly as she walked over, arching her feet on tip toe to give Venus a long embrace. The change in address from Senshi name to her given always put Venus off her footing a little bit. As if she needed reminding from time to time that she really wasn't just a Senshi...But it littled bothered her now as her friend's slender arms wrapped around her neck.
Princess Serenity pulled away a little then,looking up at her friend with concern. Her arms still hanging off of her friends tall frame.
"What's wrong Minako? You're all tense. Did something happen today? Was it Artemis again?"
Venus smiled and laughed off the Princess's very perceptive inquiry. "I mustn't let on that anything serious has happened," Venus reminded herself. "No no, not really. I mean, today was pretty harsh on training. These new group tactics that Luna and Artemis want us to learn are hard to coordinate and you know the girls,one minute they are focused warriors then next they're-"
"They're a bunch of wily pups. Haha!"
Venus laughed. "Yes, Thats a good way of putting it."
"You'll get it. You always do. It'll just take time right? I have no worries about you. All of you are always there for me, and never let me down or Mother."
Venus lips upturned into a quiet close lipped smile.
Ah, but Serenity, what if we do this time?
Venus straightened her back and placed a hand cocked to the side of her hip,. The other hanging comfortably lose at her side. "And you, what have you been doing hmm? Daydreaming of Earth again hmm?" Venus said as she pointed a gloved finger winking at Princess Serenity.
"Actually yes. Yes I was." Princess Serenity said with mock authority.
"I want to know Minako...," Princess Serenity said then stopped before continuing. All the fun out of her voice. "Is it true..,"
"what is true?" Minako asked, suddenly feeling sweat forming on her palms and on her back making her Senshi suit stick uncomfortably to her skin, her heart pounding a million miles a minute...
"Is it true that the Prince-King of Earth is as handsome as every says he is?"
"Oh, well I don't know. I have never had the pleasure of meeting the famous Prince-King. But," and Minako leaned in close to the Princess then, "I heard from a silver butterfly that you will in three days time when you accompany your mother to the diplomatic mission to Earth."
"Really?" Serenity asked, the excitement barely contained in her bright icey blue eyes.
"Well, that is the rumor." Venus said smiling,a bit too broadly.
Serenity took her friends hands then, dancing in a circle with her (rather forcefully to be honest) laughing with such force and jubilee it echoed down from the balcony, down into the North gardens and just short from the dining halls entrance where Queen Serenity stood watching the two girls dance,and laugh, and do what any normal pair of girls would do, not wanting to disrupt this moment of happiness for her child, watching with half aching heart before walking into the dinning hall...
The crystal mausoleum stood out from the dark lush grass that surrounded the area like a fallen star of giants, amongst a sea of crystalline grave stones. Winged protectors both beautiful and frightening stood ever present for all eternity protecting the deceased and their holy resting place within the cometary of the holy royal family. Many of the crystalline grave markers were slowly being overtaken by the dark thorny vines of blossoming rose bushes over the passing of generations of queens and kings long passed.
Alone within the vast grave yard of kings, and queens stood the dark figure of the Prince-King. His simple but rich tunic blowing slightly within the evening breeze that swept threw the graveyard, knocking a few dead leaves onto the current of the winds into his eyes that were dark with shadows of contemplation only a loved one left behind could hold. Thoughts raced through his mind,yet he could not hold the thoughts for long as one by one they were consumed within the ever present emptiness.
Thoughts of his childhood mingled with the thoughts of the diplomatic talks with the Moon Kingdom that were only three days away. Of parents and their reassuring presence,and their long ago passing.
Endymion curled his hands into knots of fists at the thought of it,fighting back a tidal wave of grief that threatened like an ever present assassin of the shadows to over flow and consume everything in it's wake.
Mother, Father...
The sound of a dry twig suddenly snapping behind him startled him back into the present, as his hand grasped the hilt of his sword reflexively.
"Stand down your Majesty, it is only me." Said the strong male voice.
Endymion turned to see a tall man, muscular and imposing. His body posture speaking of years worth of well honed battle instincts with the intimidating underlining poise of the great self control of a predator. The mans darker completion was a startling contrast to his naturally shiny shoulder length white hair and intense gray-blue eyes.
"Kunzite, what are you doing here," Endymion said, his voice unusually flat as he turned his back to his visitor, hand slipping almost lazily away from his sword hilt. "I thought you and the others weren't suppose to be here till tomorrow."
The tall man showed off a brilliant shining smile.
"Well, I decided to come a day early. I had the distinct feeling that I was needed here a bit sooner rather than later. Seems I may have been right. You seem troubled Endymion..."
Endymion stood in front of his parents grave and for a heart beat didn't answer. Refusing to turn around,holding on a little bit longer on his inner grief as Kunzite stood behind him ever petinctly before speaking.
"You'd think it would get easier. But it never does...I miss them. I miss them so much,my heart breaks for the want of it. I miss their laughter, and arms around me. I miss the days we had when I was a child, out in the summer sun out in the fields...I miss the days when I didn't have the sheer weight of an entire planetary kingdom on my shoulders. I am at a loss Kunzite. How am I suppose to rule properly without their guidance? How can I even be a King with such thoughts within me?"
Kunzite took a step closer, his hand moved from his sword to his Kings shoulder.
"Endymion, you rule because you were meant to. These thoughts, these..doubts,these are what make true kings. Your parents, may their souls be blessed, they would be proud of all that you have done in the years of their passing. You've rebuilt a city, and the people of Earth once more. We shall be great again thanks to you. Mark my words. You shall be the greatest of Earths kings, and I for one am honored to be by your side."
A small grin sprouted on Endymion's lips dispite of himself. Kunzite always knew what to say to bring up his spirits.
"Ah, but easy for you to say, you're not a deified king! And besides, it's your job to be a yes man isn't it?" Endymion said
"A yes man huh? Is that all I am? Weapons Smith Master, General-King and ass kisser? Lovely title. Really. Haha!"
Endymion placed his hands apon his friends shoulders then,his sea blue eyes staring into his friends own gray-blue.
"Friend. You are a friend to me Kunzite long before you are a Weapons Smith Master, or General-King.
Masters and Generals can always be found but true friends, true brothers, ah. Now that is indeed a rare treasure if there were any..."
The mans heart warmed at the young Prince-Kings poetic display of brotherhood. His own hands went to the young mans forearms clasping them lovingly. How he loved him and would do anything for him. Fight off entire armies of villainy,unspeakable horrors, evil sorcerers, even the whole Sailor Senshi army if it meant protecting his dearest friend from harm.
"Aye. Aye. No truer words were ever spoken."
The two embraced each other before letting go again.
Kunzite stepped back,his hand resting on his tunic belt. "So, these diplomatic talks with the Moon Kingdom about our boarders, they will be in three days time?"
"Yes. Though I must admit I am not looking forward to them. Percisly because it is a talk of our mutual borers, things could get rather...messy, if we are not careful."
"heh, Messy is an understatement M'lord. These talks could get down right ugly if we let them."
"Yes...but at least these talks shall be happening on our own terms,here, on Earth. That should help if for nothing else than to show a bit of strength to our guests."
Kunzite grinned mischievously. "I see your intergration of psychosocial warfare with battle tactics is working out well for you your Majesty. You've learned quickly."
"Well, I had a good teacher, but beyond that, it needs to work. We are the only world without the political pull of Sailor Senshi at our side. Even if they did work to protect the Moon Kingdoms' Heir and Queen, it would at least give us something to work with. As it stands, we have to use what we have at our disposal which isn't too bad as it is, but it isn't as grand as Senshi either."
"Still, I do not trust the Moon Kingdom..I'll keep the peace as long as they do,for the good of our Kingdom. There is no need for more blood shed to be spilt. The blood of my parents lives was payment enough for the Moon Kingdoms Silver Millennium Treaty."
"It is a wise decision," Kunzite said as he nodded his agreement. But perhaps too soon, as Endymion looked up at the sky, where the moons silver crescent hung like the most delicate of blades in the air above him, his eyes harsh and distant before looking back at the General again.
"But if they break their word Kunzite, may their Gods show mercy apon them...
For I swear our armies shall not."