Disclaimer: I do not own any Sailor Moon characters

Chapter 16: The 'Ship is Breaking

Serenity had recovered quickly after giving birth to the baby boy that had been anticipated for so long. She was now walking around with him in her arms and showing him the gardens even though he didn't know what all of it meant. She sat out in the sunlight, sitting along the glittering fountain with her scouts reading, laughing, and gossiping around her. Mina was all fussy, getting ready for her future marriage to Kunzite, Lita was busy tending to her own son, Rei was growling about how stupid Jadeite was, and Ami simply shrugged everything off while reading her book.

"He's persistent in his courtship toward me. Why won't he stop?" the Martian princess growled.

"Because he's stubborn like you," Serenity smirked, bouncing her baby in her arms.

"But he knows that he'll be killed by my brother! The Grand Prince will surely not show him any mercy…"

"You don't know that," the queen mused. "He may be a passionate man, but remember; you cannot spell compassion without passion."

"Where did you hear that one?" Ami asked. It wasn't like Serenity to spew out such words of wisdom.

"I think I heard it from one of the generals."

A female ward walked up to the queen and announced, "M'lady, there is a woman who requests an audience with you. She says she has been asked to serve as a nurse to your son."

"Send her in."

No one expected to see who appeared; the wench Catherine. Serenity clutched onto her baby a bit tighter and Rei and Mina stood up to their feet quickly where as Ami simply moved to sit next to the queen. They all stared her down maliciously. She just smiled and waved hello like nothing had happened between her and Endymion.

"What are you doing here?" Rei asked.

"I was called upon to nurse the young prince. The Duchess of Canterbury sent a flourishing recommendation. Your own husband signed off on it," she announced.

"You're joking!" Lita laughed.

"No, I'm not. Ask him yourself. In fact, during our last encounter, he said I would make a suitable nurse or house maiden to orphans. And, well, here I am."

Without breaking her gaze, Serenity stood up and said, "Mina, take hold of Cronus. Ami, I want you find those documents that some how missed my own inspection, and Rei I would like you to keep an eye on Catherine while I'm gone. Don't let her out of your sight."

"What about me?" Lita asked.

"You'll know what to do if she causes trouble," she winked.

With her orders dished out, she went strolling back into the castle, up a few flights of stairs and into the king's office where he was having a meeting with Kunzite about what to do with the protests that were getting worse and worse. He looked up at his wife and his face lit up, but upon quick inspection of her disposition, he grew concerned. He gestured for Kunzite to leave and closed the gap between him and his wife once they had privacy.

"What's the matter, dearest?" he asked.

"You signed off on Catherine being the nurse to our son?" she replied with an arched eyebrow.

"Catherine?" he repeated. "Catherine who?"

"Catherine your mistress Catherine!" she hollered. "Don't play dumb with me!"

"I'm not. The Duchess simply said that a woman by the name of Catherine had been tending to her for the last year and was doing a stupendous job. She highly recommended her and I obliged. I didn't know that it was her. If you'd like, I can send her away and ask for a new nurse."

"I wish you would just send her away from this kingdom completely. Even if she does return to the Duchess's room and board, that means that when it's time to send Cronus off to his castles and establishment, she will be there," she complained.

"I need a just cause to send her back to her own realm," Endymion explained calmly.

"You can't send her off just because I don't like her?" Serenity asked in a rather childish tone.

"No. I can't, darling," he sighed. "Will you at least let her stay a while until I can figure something out to send her away on?"

"Yes. Just keep her away from our child," she ordered.

Serenity kissed him on the cheek and was about to stroll out of the room when he asked her, "Will you share a bed with me tonight?"

She turned around and smiled at him, "Yes, your majesty."

"I look forward to it. Good day my lady."

Rei sprawled her body along the hard wood floor and looked over at the flickering fire in front of her. Jadeite walked in and stepped over her body, looking down at her pale white skin against the blood red dress she was wearing. He tilted his head as he studied her body from her supple, heaving breasts down to her pointed toes. She hadn't said yes to any of his advances and returned every gift he sent her. He knew that she didn't want to follow in the footsteps of Lita and be completely out casted by her family, but how much longer could she really ignore her feelings?

Jadeite straddled her waist and slipped his hand underneath her skirt, running his fingers along the inside of thigh. She opened up willingly for him to go further, but he was content with just playing around. Becoming rather annoyed and frustrated, Rei pulled him down and smashed her lips against his. He pricked his tongue in and out of her mouth, just enough to make her a bit more aggravated and she ended up pushing him away from her soft, thin lips. Jadeite grinned devilishly at her, removed his hand, but stayed crouching above her.

"Just talk to you brother," he pleaded.

She pursed her lips, readying herself for an argument with him. He plopped down onto the ground beside her and started to play with her long black hair while she continued to stare into the glaring flames.

"I can't marry you," she murmured. "Why haven't you found some other conquest?"

"Because I love you," he reminded her.

"You say that, but like all men, you will falter and find a new love. Why don't you get a head start on it now?" she asked.

He grabbed her hand and kissed it gently, "I'd rather be tortured then love another; the two are practically the same in my book."

"You really don't get it, do you?" she replied, turning her gaze toward him and narrowing it considerably as she sat up on her elbows. "I want to have legitimate children. My brother is already in jeopardy of not finding a suitable match the longer he stays a bachelor. Since this is the case, then I must choose a person who is of a higher ranking than general or a corporal."

"I'm a lieutenant, thank you very much. I am second in rank!"

"That's not—"

Suddenly Rei tensed up and she straightened her body. An image beyond her control was coming to her head. She turned away from Jadeite and looked into the fire, her eyes glazing over slightly. He felt a little worried by the sudden disposition and scooted toward her.

"Are you alright?"

"It's … get me some jasmine tea, please," she whispered. As he got up to do as she asked, she started to describe what she saw, "Kissing … touching …. There's a blue ring on the left middle finger. The man is wearing a cape … he has a sword at his side … and he's ravaging her. They're in a passionate embrace…"

"Who?" he asked, returning with the cup of tea she asked for.

Rei sipped it quietly and then shook her head, "I don't know I couldn't see their faces."

Before Jadeite could throw more questions her way, a servant came running into the room frantically, "My lady! The queen is screaming!"

"What? Why didn't I see it? What's going on?"

"It's the baby! Quick!"

"No, no, no, no!" she yelled as she jumped to her feet and started to run out of the room, lifting her heaving skits up.

Jadeite followed her closely, but when they made it they were too late. Serenity was on the ground of the nursery cuddling and sobbing into the grey tinged skin of her baby boy. The prince was announced dead already by the physicians, but she wouldn't let go of him. She just kept screaming and wailing into the night with thick tears rolling down her pink cheeks. Endymion knelt down and rubbed her back, trying to hold in the tears that were threatening to fall onto his wife's silver haired head. He looked up at Catherine who was standing at the doorway with Demetrius behind her, almost in a protective manner.

"Weren't you supposed to be watching and tending to him?" Endymion asked her.

"The maid, Bessie, and I were taking turns," she answered. "It was her turn this shift!"

"He was fine! I checked on him every half hour! There was no crying! No gurgling! Nothing! Your majesties! I am truly … I …" but she the older maid couldn't answer.

She fell to her knees sobbing at what had happened. She didn't kill the prince; anyone could clearly see it. If she had, she wouldn't have been such a wreck and no maid was that good of an actor. Everyone's attention then moved over to Catherine who was now clutching tightly to Demetrius. Rei clenched her jaw a little bit as she studied the slut in front of her; there was the blue ring on her left middle finger. But it all seemed to have been placed out so perfectly. She was getting a weird vibe that she had done it.

"I want her out of my court," Serenity said quietly as she raised her head up from crying into her dead child.

"Who, my love? Bessie?" Endymion asked which only made the woman wail louder at the thought.

"No. Catherine. Get her out of here … NOW!" she roared.

"Serenity … you can't be—"

She stood up to her feet and handed the limp, bundled up child to Endymion, "Look at him. Look our baby. He dies the day she arrives? It's not some cosmic joke! It's a plan! She did it! I know she did! So it's either she goes, or I go…"

Endymion didn't answer right away. He stood up slowly and handed the child off to Kunzite, giving him instructions to put the baby in a casket immediately and to have a funeral ready by the next morning. All eyes were on him still when he turned around and faced his wife.

"I've had it, Serenity," he sighed. "You can go, but Catherine will not be terminated until we have found solid proof and evidence. I'm sorry, but that is all there is to it. I am too distraught, tired, and exhausted to deal with your tantrums and temperament. It's time you make up your own decisions; not me. You are queen after all."

She couldn't believe him. He was choosing her side! Of course he would. Why would he have changed through this? Clenching and unclenching her fists, she breezed out of the room with her scouts beside her. She informed them that she wanted her black attire to be pressed and ready for the morning as well as all of her things packed and ready to go for their departure.

The next morning when she woke up, she felt a rushing wave of anger and depression fall over her. She immediately started to weep and scream into her pillow, causing Mina to rush in from the room next door. She found the queen up on her knees punching her pillows with feathers fluttering all over the place as she caused a privatized scene in her quarters. If she was going to get her anger out, she might as well do it now while she was still in her own chambers. When she finally relieved herself, she fell down and let herself sob in mourning of her child. She had to keep a strong face when walking down the aisle for the funeral that day. She notified her mother that she would be coming back home for an undisclosed amount of time and her mother responded to Mina that morning.

"My lady," she whispered, rubbing Serenity's heaving shoulders, "your mother has said it's a good idea. She agrees that this is a difficult time and that spending a few days at home would bring you back here refreshed and positive."

"What if I do not wish to return?" she sniffed.

"You have to, Serenity," Mina insisted as she sat down on the bed beside her. "You know your mother will not allow you to just stay. She believes the reason you are seeking refuge is because of the death of you child."

"I am … but this court …"

"This court is how it should be and nothing less. You …"

"I what?"

"Nothing your majesty."

"You believe I am spoiled! Everyone thinks my temper is out of control!" she shouted as she pushed herself off of the bed. She snapped her fingers to a servant, asking for help to be clothed and then turned back to Mina, "I think you all should wait here when I go to the moon. I'd like to see my mother on my own."

"You're majesty … are you certain?"

"Yes," she nodded. "Now help me get dressed."

The head lady in waiting did as she was asked to do and help the queen get into her black silk dress that was adorned with black jewels and beads on the bodice and along the sleeves. She was sewn into the corset in the back and was topped off by a silver and black necklace as well as a matching crown. Her hair was left to fall down her half bare back with a few braids made along her crown to match her outfit. When she was fully dressed, she let Mina go off and get into her own black gown. They met up with the other ladies who were in matching dresses, but their jewels were that of their planetary colors. They walked down the hallway that was now draped in black curtains. The weather seemed to coincide with the day's events; it was foggy, misty, and almost raining. The queen sighed when she was met by the king at the door of their church that was specifically built inside their palace for private reasons such as this. White flowers were placed along the edge of the pews and all around the mini coffin that was at the head of the church. The king and queen sat in the front row to the left and seemed to be listening throughout the sermon, but in reality, they were both trying keep on a mask. Serenity gripped tightly onto his hand, feeling the sweat filter in through his pores. She looked at him, trying to catch his gaze, but he would not have it. He was too upset to look at her.

When the ceremony was over, everyone walked up to the king and queen to give them their deepest condolences. They both kept their heads held high and did their best to not break down as their ears burned from the words of sorrow that were spoken to them. They left the church once the service was completely finished and walked back to the queen's chambers where most of her things were packed. The king waved off the servants and maids that were still tending to closing up her luggage.

"I trust your things have been dealt with quickly," he said to his wife when they were finally alone.

"Yes, your majesty," she replied.

"Please don't," he asked. "No formalities before we depart from one another, Serenity."

"Surely your majesty wishes for me to show him the upmost respect—"

"Cut it out, Serenity. You've been acting like a child for as long as I can remember. Maybe you will finally grow up when you return to the moon."

"I do not ask for much!"

"You ask for everything! You ask to wait for our marriage to be consummated! You ask for me to banish my mistress! You ask for a new law to be conducted over one that has been naturalized for centuries! All you have ever wanted, all you have ever needed has been given to you and yet you continue to argue, fight, and disobey me!" he roared, causing her to step back and nearly fall on the floor, but she caught her footing. "You are a queen, not a king! You're not even a queen regent for god's sake! Act like a lady! Act … like a wife."

She stepped toward him and was about to slap him across the face when he stopped her in her path, grabbing onto her arm violently. The two stared at one another defiantly, neither one backing down.

"I have acted like a wife to you!" she yelled. "I gave you a son and he was killed by that very mistress that you refuse to ban!"

"When one thing happens, you blow up and remove yourself from the matter entirely! Your duty as queen is to stand your ground beside me!"

"And you can do what you will? Run around all that you want?" she asked.

"I am king!"

"And I am queen!" She paused for a moment, wrenching her arm from his grasp. She studied him and told him, "Pack you things. Now. Retrieve all of your necessities and come with me to the moon. You want to see what a real queen is like?"

He backed up a bit and furrowed his brow, "You're serious."

"Yes. Maybe then you can see why I am so frustrated with this court!"

"Who are you to order me around?" he snapped.

"I am your wife, your partner and the Queen of the Earth. If you wish for someone other than that, then I suggest you remove my titles as soon as possible before I deliver you a proper heir to the throne. I'd gladly just be Princess of the Moon."

She bowed to him and bid for her maids to come back into her chambers. Endymion stormed out, not even taking notice of the people around him kneeling to him. He yelled for his servants to pack his things immediately for he would be departing from the earth to the moon in a short amount of time. He then hollered for his council to come and meet with him in his office. They rushed in from all over the castle where they were dispersed.

"Your majesty," they bowed in unison.

"Your graces," he replied as he paced around the room.

"Why have you called upon us in such haste?" Nephrite asked.

"Her majesty, Queen Serenity, wishes for me to join her on a trip to the moon," he announced.

"Why?" Kunzite blurted out. He tried to regain his composure, "Forgive me your majesty, it's just...."

"No, no, Kunzite. I fully understand. No forgiveness needed. She wishes for me to see what a 'real queen' does. Her words, not mine."

"What does that mean?" scoffed Zoisite.

"I shall soon find out. In my absence, you will all take care of the realm. I want you to investigate the death of my son immediately and use the fellow ladies if need be. This will be a trip strictly for me and my wife."

"Understood your majesty," Jadeite nodded.

They were dismissed promptly and soon the king was met by a ward who said his things were packed, ready, and that he was should board the ship. He curtly nodded and then breezed out of the room, throwing his cape over his shoulders as he did. When he made it on board, he was told by the captain that he would be lead to his own separate chamber than the one the queen was in. He smiled to the captain and then asked to see the cockpit. He was doing his best to distract himself from the things that had come about as of late. If he showed a good face to people, maybe they would suspect that everything was copasetic between him and the queen.

The trip, mind you, was a long one for the queen. She was in her chambers crying and sleeping the whole time. She wanted nothing more but to see her mother and be comforted. As she wallowed in her misery for the death of her child, she wondered if leaving her ladies behind was a smart idea…

"She shouldn't have named him after a king who has just died," Ami sighed as she sewed pearls along the edge of a veil she was making for the queen's return.

She and Zoisite were sitting in her living room chambers alone. She hadn't exactly been all that taken with him, but he was a charming lad. He often made her laugh, the two had witty banter together, however marriage was out of the question. Unlike her dear friend Mina, Ami was not blessed with parents who were happy to see a wedding come her way. Her mother had instilled in her that marriage was a despicable thing only meant for the benefit of men to mark their claim on a woman. She had watched her mother turn into a desolate queen of Mercury and allowed her younger brothers to run amuck and do as they pleased with the planet's resources. Mercury was in danger of becoming riddled with war which was one of the reasons she had fully agreed to being a lady in waiting to Serenity for the rest of her life. She wanted to pull herself away from the troubles that plagued her home so much. Thus, here she was, worrying about it from afar while at the same time having taxing thoughts about her queen and lady. At least here, she could do as she liked, use her smarts to her advantage and she didn't have to feign stupidity in order to be in the good graces of any many with power; not so long as she stayed in the good graces of her majesty.

"So do you think she cursed her own child?" Zoisite asked as he lay across the floor eating his lunch on a silver plate. He was picking at it like he was a child and eating with his fingers rather than the utensils given to him.

Ami glanced at his messy appearance and said, "If you're going to eat like that, could you please learn to use a napkin?" He did as he was asked and she continued to answer his last question, "I don't believe she intentionally cursed him, but the deceased King Cronus died just within the last year or so, did he not? I believe she should choose a new name for a new kingdom rather than giving into this old one."

"Old one?" he questioned.

"You cannot argue that this dynasty is slowly decaying and falling to its knees."

"I can."

"I've seen it happen on my own planet. There has to be changes made."

"Why?"

"Why not my lord? Do you not believe that things have been dragged on for too long?"

"What do you mean?"

"Some of the laws, the ways of living…. Take the recent uprising in the east for example—"

"You know about that?'

"I know about everything that goes on in this realm. All the documents you read or have read and summarized to you, I read afterwards. They are delivered to me personally.

"Anyways, the uprising should be dealt with immediately. Some representatives of the king should be sent out there and told that they will be listened to. The only reason why they are going against their lord and sovereign is because he will not even hear of their demands. It is much like how he deals with the queen."

"What?" Zoisite laughed. "The queen is a bratty child who gets what she wants all the time."

"She receives what is given to her, yes, but what she wants and desires most of all is equal power to that of the king."

"She cannot have it."

"Why?"

"She is a woman."

Ami stopped sewing and stared at the back of his head. He could feel her doing so and turned around to look at her. She had that glint in her eye that he had seen among so many of the women in court; it was daring him to continue.

"This is a world of men, Lady Ami," he said to her.

"And who created these men?" she asked, arching eyebrow.

"W-well … um …"

"Their mothers did from their very womb. And the womb was hit by the seed of man; we are all equals in this universe. One cannot live without the other so why can we not treat each other as such? Why do women have to be inferior? You know that we go through the highest rank of pain in this world which can also be politely called child birth."

The last statement made Zoisite smile widely. He stood up to his feet and walked toward her, lifting her sharp chin with the tip of his finger, "You are beyond charming my lady. May I be allowed to pursue a courtship with you? Tend to your needs and wants? Be your …"

"Ever loving servant?" she finished. "I've read your letters to other ladies, your grace. That line is used often."

"Nothing gets past you, does it?"

"No. It does not."

"You will see. I will only love you soon."

"Marriage is not in my cards as of now, my lord," she protested.

"Then it's time to deal another hand," he winked before bowing to her and walking out of the room.

The raven haired scout strolled through the garden late at night quietly. She was followed closely by her recent courtier, Jadeite. She gestured to him to be as silent as possible as they listened to the hushed voices ahead of them.

"You wish to flee?" a deep voice asked from around the hedge. "But why?"

"Because I will be killed if I stay here any longer!" a woman snapped. It was Catherine. "I have already been accused of a wrong doing that was not my own … at least not intended as such."

"How so?"

"I only meant to give the baby medicine to hinder him from crying like the maid before me said he always did. I had a long trip, I needed rest! But … I gave him too much of it."

"So you did kill him."

"No! No! I didn't! It … it was an accident!"

"Do you know what you have done?" laughed the man.

"N-no? What did I do?"

"You have left the realm completely open and untouched by any male heir. Now those who wish to rule can come and tear this monarchy down!"

"That's treason he's speaking," Jadeite whispered.

Rei was about to turn around and tell him to be quiet when the man yelled out, "Who's there?"

"Idiot!" Catherine scolded.

Suddenly their footsteps started to quicken … away from Rei and Jadeite. The two rounded the corner only to see the flutter of a black cape around another bush. They heard the cloth rip and a curse or two fall from the lips of the male companion that Catherine had. When the two approached the man they didn't expect to find whom they did; Demetrius.

"You can run faster than I," Rei commanded to Jadeite, "go after Catherine. I can handle this man."

"Can you Lady Rei?" Demetrius snarled as Jadeite went running down the cobblestone path.

She stepped toward him as he tried to unhinge his cape from the thorny shrubbery and pushed him down onto the ground with her foot. She pointed a finger toward his stomach and with the will of her mind, she created a small burning sensation in his stomach. He started to shout and holler in pain, clutching onto his belly as though he were going into labor. After a moment of his shrieking, she couldn't bare it any longer and stopped her sorcery.

"My lord, unless you wish to go up flames, I suggest you stay where you are," she said.

"Yes ma'am," he wheezed.

Jadeite soon returned breathlessly saying, "I could not find her in the dark."

"What do you mean you could not find her in the dark?" Rei hissed.

"She was wearing midnight blue!" he quarreled. "I sent guards and dogs out to search for her, but I fear she would have climbed over the castle walls by the time they have gotten hold of her scent."

"You do not have to guess where she has gone," Demetrius whispered, still holding onto his stomach.

"Oh?" the scout inquired, raising an eyebrow with curiosity. "Where has she gone?"

"To the east. Her brother is starting an uprising there," he huffed.

A couple of guards came around the corner, shaking their heads at the eager expressions of the both Rei and Jadeite. She waved at them to take Demetrius away for tending to by Lady Ami and then more interrogation by the Lady Lita and Lord Nephrite. As they walked back to the castle, the blonde general tried to hold onto her hand, but she removed it immediately.

"I cannot accept your advances, my lord," she whispered as she came to a halt.

"Why not?"

"We've been through this. Because you are of a lower rank."

"Do you love me at all? Even a little bit?" he asked. When she didn't answer, he backed away and nodded, "I see. Well I'll continue to love you and do my best to prove to your brother, your family, and your planet that I am worthy of your hand in marriage… even if it takes me years, decades, centuries, it'll be worth it to have you."

She watched him walk away with a strange urge to run after him. She didn't have to admit her feelings to him like he had asked her to. Rei found it intriguing and different being with a person who could read her own mind rather than vice versa. Only time would tell what would come about from these actions with Catherine, Demetrius, the king and queen, and everyone else in court for that matter.

Please review! Lots more to come! ^_^