Thank you for being patient! I've had a major case of family emergancy, school overload, and writer's block! I made sure this one was packed full to make up for it. Don't forget to comment and share the story! Thanks and hope you enjoy!
I watched as Serenity walked down the hallway to her mother's room to find something to dress her mother in for her burial. I had faint memories of my own mother's burial, but watching someone I loved so dearly go through the same pain was almost too much for me. I stopped at the doorway as she went inside and opened her mother's wardrobe. I watched her eyes slowly look over the wardrobe and then slowly look towards me. "Endymion, come here please." I heard the hollowness of her voice and saw fear in her eyes. I rushed to her side and looked in horror at what I saw hanging.
Handing from the wooden clothes rod, was a ribbon wrapped blade. The white satin ribbon was stained with blood and the blade hung with wet blood dripping from the end. Immediately I pulled Serenity into my arms and placed her face into my chest. I looked over to where Princess Jupiter was standing, I could see the confusion however I knew now was no time to explain. "Princess Jupiter, can you please come close this wardrobe?" She nodded and I picked Serenity up in my arms cradling her tight. I could feel the sobs breaking through her and felt near powerless to help her.
My head snapped up as I heard footsteps nearing us, I could see the concern on Jupiter's face as she turned to me. "I'll see who it is." She said quietly and I nodded thankfully. I sat down on the Queen's bed and held Serenity tight to my chest. I could tell that all the blood had drained from her face and that all of her strength had been replaced by shock. I looked into her eyes, but it was as if she was swimming in a fog that I could not penetrate. I looked up as Jupiter returned with Princess Mercury and my Shitennou. Mercury ran over to my side to look upon Serenity and I could see that she could feel the despair in her like me.
I started to lay her down on the bed and put her in Mercury's capable hands, but Serenity's fragile hands grasps onto my chest. I looked into her eyes and knew that she needed me right now. "Mercury, why don't you, Jupiter, and Kunzite go meet up with Princesses Mars and Venus? They need to know this latest development. Zoisite, Jadeite, and Nephrite can stand guard." I looked around and realized a member of my Shitennou was missing. "Zoisite, where is Nephrite?"
"Well sir," he started, "we looked for him before we left however he was nowhere to be found." I shook my head in confusion but realized that right now this was none of my concern.
"Well then just you and Jadeite will stand guard." He nodded and they walked out shutting the door and leaving Serenity and I alone. I looked down into her eyes, and it seemed as if they were two hollow pools of blue. I had seen her act so strong all day, she was probably exhausted on top of scared and hurt. I ran my hand through her hair and placed a kiss on top her head. "Serenity, why don't you get some rest? You may feel better afterwards." She shook her head and I saw a flicker of determination in her eyes.
"I can't, I have to be out there fighting whoever did this. I have to bury my mother…" I watched as a single tear flowed down her cheek.
"You won't be of much use in a fight as tired as you are. We can bury your mother when all of this is over, that way we can give her the burial she deserves. If anything happens your guardians and my Shitennou can handle it. But, what I need for you to do is rest. Even if it is only for a little while."
"Will you stay?" I gave her a soft smile and almost laughed. After everything that had happened today, she honestly thought I would leave her now.
"Love, I will be here the entire time." She smiled for the first time and slowly laid down on the bed. I laid next to her and pulled her in my arms once more. I smiled once more as I felt her fall asleep almost instantly. I looked down upon her sleeping face and watched in awe as the strong woman that she had turned into in a matter of one day, slipped back into the face of the innocent girl I had first met. I longed for her to be back as that innocent young girl. To not know the hardship of war or murder, to not feel the pain of losing your mother. We were now both one in the same, we were both orphans. But unlike me, she would have someone that loved her to support her through this.
As I slipped into sleep in Endymion's arms, I felt the warmth and soft beat of his heart against my cheek. He had known what I needed the most, comfort. But luckily, he had always known that I needed sleep. I felt myself fall into my dreamland and let my sorrows fade.
I looked out upon an ocean in my dream, I could see the moon in the sky and watched as its reflection danced upon the water's surface. I looked to my left and saw a little pink haired girl sitting on a bench under a tree. She seemed to be crying so I walked toward her and sat down.
"Hello, what's your name little one?" She looked up at me, her eyes had the same pinkish tint as her hair. She smiled big and hugged me.
"Mama don't be silly! You know who I am!" I looked down at the little pink haired girl wrapped around my waist in confusion. I wrapped my arm around her shoulder willing to play along until I got my answers.
"Well, let's just pretend that I don't." I got up and shook her hand. "I am Princess Serenity, it is nice to meet you." I smiled as the little girl giggled and stood up.
"No, I'm Princess Serenity! You're Queen Serenity! But Daddy calls me Chibi-Serenity so that we don't get confused!" She took my hand and pulled me to the water's edge and pointed to our reflections. "And one day I'll be a strong Queen just like you!" She hugged me and ran off to play. I watched her go still slightly confused. Was this my future? I looked back at the castle and realized that it was not my Kingdom, nor Endymion's. Where was this place? I walked towards the Kingdom to investigate and was startled by a loud bang. I looked in the sky to see a large flash of light that looked much like an explosion.
I ran after the little girl to protect her but couldn't find her anywhere. I started to scream as I felt as if I was being burned by fire. "Endymion! Endymion help!" Suddenly I was being shook awake and I looked up to Endymion's face wrinkled in fear.
"Serenity, what's wrong? You were yelling for me and crying, what's wrong?" I wrapped my arms around him and cried, I was so scared of what that dream meant. I could feel myself shaking but I couldn't quite understand why. I'd had nightmares before, but somehow this one didn't feel as if it was a dream. It felt more real, almost like a glimpse into the future. Hopefully that wasn't the case, whatever that explosion was couldn't have been good.
"It's okay, I'm sorry I scared you. I was just having a nightmare." I looked up at him, trying to convince him that I was truly okay. "I think I'm ready to get up now though." I could tell that he doubted me, but he also had concern in his eyes. I placed my hand on his cheek and tried to muster up my best smile. "I'm okay now, I really did need sleep. But now, I have a job to do. After all, I am about to become a Queen and I need to start acting like it." He leaned down to kiss me and I finally felt okay for the first time today.
"Alright then, what would you like to do first?"
"I need to meet up with my guardians and we all need to sit down and make a plan. Whoever is doing this is diabolical, not only did they brainwash Kunzite but they killed my mother. Then somehow knew where to put that dagger where I would see it. They must have inside knowledge of this kingdom, and that makes them that much more frightening." Endymion got a strange look in his eyes and looked towards the door. "What's wrong?"
"Nephrite's missing…I can't believe I was so ignorant. Whoever brainwashed Kunzite has gotten to Nephrite." I watched him get up and run towards the door. When the door swung open both of his Shitennou there on guard looked startled. "Find Nephrite, now!"
"But, sir," Zoisite started, "we tried…" I watched as the gentle Endymion turned intimidating.
"Whoever got to Kunzite got to him, he needs to be found! Get Kunzite and go find him! No one is safe until he is found, understood?" I watched Zoisite and Jadeite nod and run off to find Kunzite. I stood and came to his side and took his hand in mine.
"We need to stick together, we must find the girls immediately. I can't risk losing another person." He nodded and squeezed my hand tight. "Where did you send them?"
"They are searching the castle and they are all together. It should not be too hard to find them." I looked down the hall and saw them running towards us.
"Or for them to find us apparently." I smiled as Venus ran as fast as she could once she saw me and wrapped her slender arms around my waist. "I'm okay." I whispered to her and she looked up and smiled. "Right now we have to have a little meeting." I looked as Luna pulled up the rear and something in her eyes struck me as odd. "Luna, why don't you go lie down for a bit. You've had a long day." She nodded and walked away unwillingly. There was something gnawing in the pit of my stomach about her, but I couldn't place my finger on it. Just in case, I didn't want her to hear our conversation. As of right now, everyone that was here at the time of her murder was suspect. "There is a small meeting room in the back of Mother's bedroom, we can go talk in there." They nodded and followed me back to the end of her room.
There was a thick oakwood door that kept out sound that was locked. I pulled a necklace with a small key off of my neck and used it to unlock the door. The girls all stared at me in wonder and confusion. "Mother gave this to me long ago, it opens every door in the Kingdom." They noddede as I opened the door. Inside was a medium sized room with a round table inside. There were eight chairs around the table and a cabinet full of documents long passed down throughout the kingdom. Along the walls were bookshelves filled with history of our Kingdom and the other Kingdoms of the universe. I knew that in the upcoming days I would have to document Mother's death, however that was not something I needed to think about right now.
I took a seat at the head of the table and watched as the girls took seats around the table as well. Endymion stood behind me with his hands on my shoulders for support, knowing that this conversation would not be an easy one. I took a deep breath in and started.
"Whoever did this is part of our Kingdom, at least the person who killed my Mother is. The putting of the dagger into her dresser had to have been done by someone who knows their way around this castle. Until we can figure out exactly who this is, trust no one, not even Luna." The girls looked around in shock, obviously contemplating who could have done this. "That's not the only thing. One of Endymion's Shitennou, Nephrite, is missing. We have reason to believe that whoever brainwashed Kunzite has brainwashed him. This person is out to get us, we must stay alert. We will not separate, we will trust only each other. Unfortunately, I don't believe Endymion's Shitennou can be trusted." I looked up at Endymion and he nodded silently in agreement.
"We must be ready to fight, no matter what the cost. I can't promise that I will be the most skilled fighter, I haven't had as much training. But, I will try my hardest to protect all of you." Jupiter stood up and walked over to me.
"How about we train you. That way we can learn to fight together and you can learn to fight in general. It won't take long, we just have to figure out what power you do have and utilize it!" I looked up at Jupiter and smiled, she would have thought of this. I stood up and hugged her.
"I knew I could count on you. Yes, let's train. But we have to have somewhere that we can't be found." Endymion came over to my side and smiled.
"I think I know of just the place." He said as he put his hand back on my shoulder. "We'll have you ready to battle in no time."