Author's note: Thank you for continuing to support this fan fiction! Sorry for this coming a little late, but I promise there will be more to come soon. Hope to gain some new readers soon, but I truly appreciate the ones that have stayed with this story. We are far from over! Hope everyone enjoys reading this chapter because I sure did enjoy writing it!
As I ran up to my room to put on my armor and grab my sword, I saw the locket that Princess Serenity had given me at the ball. I opened it slowly and listened to the music play as I closed my eyes. My sweet Serenity, who would do something to her? She wouldn't hurt a fly, and I couldn't imagine her ever making anyone angry at her. The dispute between our two kingdoms has been long over, although I was never quite sure what it was about.
I sighed and tucked the locket into my pocket. I would find who had done this, and they would live to regret this day. And if they had hurt her…no I can't think like this. As I ran back down stairs I caught sight of Kunzite coming up from the underground basement. He had a strange look that I had never seen before. Shaking my head, I kept going. I don't want him to be aware that I knew the Princess, much less that she was lost and that I was looking for her alongside her guardians.
When I got back downstairs, I saw the girls waiting impatiently for my return. I knew that this was hurting me, but I could barely imagine their fear and pain. They had all known each other while growing up, and no doubt had strong bonds. I still had no clue what their plan was, but whatever it was I am in. Suddenly, we all turned out heads when we heard glass breaking. Looking towards one another and trying to pinpoint where the noise had come from.
As the girls looked towards me I could see the distrust in their eyes. However, I could see that they soon saw the equal amount of confusion and fear in mine. Suddenly, they started running towards the kingdom, sensing something I obviously could not. As I followed them closely, I noticed Kunzite standing completely still. He still had a strange look on his face, but now I was worried. "Kunzite! Look at me!" When he didn't turn but only started shaking I became suddenly anxious. Something was wrong here, though I wasn't quite sure what.
I looked up at the ceiling as I suddenly heard footsteps overhead. I was obviously in a basement, though I wasn't sure where. I looked around until I saw a small set of stars that ended at a wooden door fastened to the ceiling. Walking up the set of stairs, could feel a hint of electricity coursing through my body. I tried to open the door to no avail, after a few harsh shakes I realized it was locked tight.
I shut my eyes and sighed, bracing myself for what had to be done next. Being a princess, I had spent a long time being protected. Never once had I thought about fighting or having to protect myself. Not only was I ill equipped to fight mentally, but I was weak physically. I was pampered by servants, protected emotionally by my mother, and physically protected by the Senshi. However, there was no one here to protect me but myself.
Somehow, I felt a sense of confidence in myself I had never felt before. It was that confidence that gave me the strength to take a deep breath and kick the hatch off after two tries. I smiled, knowing I would have never been able to do that before and feeling apt to be more than a sill princess in need of saving. I ran out of the small doorway and found myself in a room that looked like a royal ballroom. I turned around and caught sight of a picture that brought tears to my eyes. In disbelief of the picture hanging in the ballroom, I hit my knees and sobbed.
The painting was of Endymion, in all his armor. If this was his castle, could he have brought me here? Thinking of all the warnings I had been given by Mother, I sobbed harder. I had defied her, and because of that she was dead and my kingdom was in trouble. I heard footsteps running towards me and looked up in time to see Venus, followed by the rest of the Senshi, coming towards me. Behind them I saw Endymion running, my face turned from sadness to anger looking at him.
I slowly stood and everyone stopped moving. I wasn't sure if it was because of my transformation or the look in my eyes. Either way I knew that I had to tread lightly if I was to find out what happened.
"Princess," Princess Mars spoke first in a voice that hinted at her fear, "are you alright? And how, when, did you grow taller and obviously stronger?" She eyed the door hitched that was broken and then back to me. I wanted to tell them everything, however I was certain that I couldn't trust Endymion anymore. Instead of speaking to Princess Mars, I walked towards him.
"Endymion, why am I here? I believe you will be able to answers their questions better than I can. After all, here I stand inside the ballroom of your kingdom." He looked confused for a split second, then his face turned into hurt. The Senshi's faces also twisted into confusion. I was surprised to see them trusting the prince of a kingdom we had been told to hate. I turned to Venus in hope of her clarification. "You trust Endymion? I am in his castle, I was locked in his cellar, he was the last person seen with me!"
Suddenly I felt a hand on my back, and turned my head to face Endymion again. I was shocked to find tears in his eyes. But what surprised me more was that by looking into his eyes, I somehow knew that he had not been the one to hurt me. There was something that I could not quite describe, but spoke of his true protectiveness of me. It was the same look I had seen in the Senshi's eyes many times. With a tear falling slowly down my cheek, I turned and hugged him. As his strong arms enveloped me, I felt safer and more secure than I had ever felt before.
As I sobbed into his chest, I could feel his hand gently rubbing my back. He pressed a soft kiss onto the top of my head. "Oh Serenity, I thought I had lost you. Please forgive me for leaving you unprotected. I will always protect you, from now on. I promise my sweet Serenity." Smiling I pulled away and caressed his cheek.
"Thank you, now that I know that it wasn't you who took me we need to find out who it was. I'll need all the help I can get, whoever took me also killed my mother." I heard gasps from all the Senshi and turned to face them. I nodded to recognize the disbelief in their eyes. "Before she died, she sent me the power of the Silver Crystal and a message. The power of the Crystal gave me the strength to break out of a glass container I was in, it also made me taller and grew my hair longer than Mother's. It also changed me into this strange outfit, like that one you all have on. I suppose it gave me the power to be the Queen of the Moon Kingdom." I sighed and wiped a tear from the corner of my eye before continuing.
"She told me that she was killed by the people who took me, the power from the Silver Crystal made me levitate and my body had a faint white glow for a bit. Her last energy was used to give me the strength to save myself." I felt Endymion put a hand on my shoulder and give it a gentle squeeze. "We must find who has done this and avenge her death." They all nodded and I felt better knowing that I had those I loved around me, even if Mother was gone, she was still with me here. I wasn't sure exactly how, but I could feel her strength and presence willing me to go on and fight.
"Princess, or should I say Queen," Princess Mercury started, "if you were here and Prince Endymion didn't take you, who did?" Suddenly Endymion sucked in a deep breath then he ran out of the ball. Confused and a little startled, we all turned towards him and watched him run out of the ball. Quickly we composed ourselves and ran after him.