Let us step back a bit. About three-fourths of this chapter takes place in the past. When you find a split with this "oOoRedRosesoOo" it means "break, let's take a step back and make sense of the past." I hope this chapter will explain why Serenity has been so head over heels over a guy that wants her dead. Read to find out more!

Chapter 3: Sailor Moon's First Appearance

"Welcome home, Master."

Endymion shook off the cloak on his shoulders and gave a short nod to the man who took it. Endymion sat in a chair and looked crossly at the man, the only other man in his tent. He was back and there was no one at camp who didn't know that he had arrived unharmed with a man dressed like a woman. Endymion was not in the mood to be grilled by even his closer subordinates, so the only other man in the tent stared at Endymion as if waiting for orders for the front.

"Status report on the front lines," Endymion said as if reading his lieutenant's mind.

Kunzite ran a hand smoothly through his silver hair and spoke in his baritone voice, "The rebel troops marked at the Celestial Gates of the east front are uneasy. They sense a disturbance."

"The Witch?"

"No, Master. Nothing as sinister, but still powerful nonetheless."

Midnight blue met silver in the orange lamp light. "Any idea who might be the cause of this disturbance?"

"If I knew wouldn't it make more sense for me to just say?"

"Perhaps this matter is better for your judgment since I have been away for some time."

"Never doubted your return," Kunzite said as he poured a cup of ale for Endymion. He handed it to the general, who took it quietly and absentmindedly.

The liquid seemed to ease the soreness of his throat and satiate the emptiness in his belly. He spoke with collectiveness, now. "Kunzite, take five of the best mercenaries with you and move to the Gates. Secure it in three weeks time. No more than that."

"Less, Master?"

Endymion's teeth gleamed when he showed a smirk. "No hurry. You'd be bored until I secure the west side."

"You are nearer to the palace. It will be dangerous, Master."

"Not so much because it seems the witch has left for a while. Until she returns I believe I have the upper hand."

"Then, I shall wipe out as many forts as possible." Kunzite bounced on his feet as he swept the sword and scabbard into his two hands.

"You see to it." Before Kunzite disappeared, though, Endymion added for precaution, "Kunzite, let me remind you to show mercy to those who surrender."

With a sweeping bow, Kunzite left without a word.

Endymion looked out of his tent, frustration and apprehension intent on his visage. He knew what Kunzite was capable of; absolute torment and cruelty to any who were against the rebel army. It almost happened before and it could happen again. The first time it happened, Endymion had met Sailor Moon.

oOoRedRosesoOo

It was dusk and Serenity lay, crouched under a tree. The only protection she had was the darkness and the greenery that hid her otherwise dazzling uniform. Only the blue of her fuku and the red that faded to grey in the darkness were safe from sight. Everything else, including her brooch, tiara, earrings, white top, and her pink boots easily stood out in the black night. She had to press even lower when a few rebels trooped by the area, satisfied with their fill of loot.

The rebels thought they were safe after taking Fort Orange Hill. They were stupid and foolish. Beryl had a surprise for them in the back if they dared go further and Serenity knew it. She knew it because she had been in the conference on the Moon when Beryl had come up with the plan. 'Slice them from behind and they'll feel no pain.'

Serenity grimaced, feeling her leg cramp from the near five hours of disuse. Her stomach was growling and she was afraid she would give away her position if she dared twitch a muscle.

The last time she had been to Earth was before the war and before her mother died. Back then it was dazzling. She enjoyed seeing the flowers bloom in the spring, the colors on the leaves change in the autumn, the farm animals herding around the green meadows in the summer, and the white snow that seemed to dissolve and become one with the earth in the winter. It had been the perfect haven, but now Beryl destroyed the beauty. The soil was dry and the flowers were grey. Most villages were ransacked and burned down. Sweet smelling flowers were replaced by the scent of gunpowder and blood.

Serenity rolled a little to her right when she noticed some of the area was cleared. She was curious to see what the commotion was about on the left. She started noticing the anguished cries and the female soldiers who stood in rows, back to back. The scene horrified her because with their heads hung low and the faces covered in grime and blood, she saw a trooper raise his sword at one of them. This one, however, looked like a woman taken right out of the village; a spy perhaps, who led to the destruction of many of her people. Serenity had to get closer by reaching up and over and pulling her body into the leaves and branches of a tree. She looked down, her heart beating ten beats faster than before. Her hand gripping a branch to steady herself trembled in anticipation.

"How did the witch know we were here?"

Here, Serenity knew that this wasn't the only woman, who betrayed the village. It was one of the strongholds of the rebel army led by Prince Endymion, former heir to Earth's throne before Beryl chased him off of his own planet. The only way for anyone outside to get it was through bribing a bunch of the villagers. Concern stormed into Serenity's mind as she thought furiously over what might have happened to many others before her arrival at the capture. She felt she was too late already.

"You Wretch! Tell me!" The man backhanded the woman and Serenity could see the blood flying from her mouth. The man reached into his army jacket for a handkerchief to wipe the flecks of blood on his pale hand. Then, with the same hand he touched his silver hair and smoothed it down his back. His face showed indifference and he didn't seem to mind the fact that his men were kicking another prisoner just a couple of feet behind him. In fact, the terror surrounding him seemed to make the man gloat. Such a scene was horrendous to the point Serenity almost hurled in her position.

"Say something! I know you can speak when you could take the pence of gold and say thank you to the enemy!"

Serenity almost lurched over when she saw him hurl a stone into her face. The black and blue mark under her eye where the rock had hit was now proof that her loyalty, it seemed, was to The Queen.

"Sister!" A little girl of about ten years of age rushed forward, thinking she could save the hunched betrayer of the rebel army.

The man seemed to turn and raise his hand at the child, but before he could even touch her a blur swept past him. Suddenly the girl was safe in the arms of a young woman on the roof of a hut. Silver pigtails billowed around the two of them and everyone who saw them held their breaths in awe.

That was the last straw. Serenity couldn't take it anymore. The branch in front of her snapped and she rushed to the aid the little girl. As she picked her up and pounced off the ground to gain back the speed and momentum to land on the rooftop, all she could remember were the tears on her pink, cherub face, and the fear that shined in her walnut sized, brown eyes. It gripped her heart and squeezed at her air supply, taking almost all her strength to land on her two feet safely without slipping.

Honestly, this was a man that frightened Serenity to the point of despair. If she had to fight him it would be quite the task and now that she dared protect this child, she doomed herself more.

"Who are you? What do you think you're doing?" He sputtered, rage gushing out of him as he flung his arm out at her in accusation.

"Protecting the innocent from the likes of you."

"Women are not to be trusted and you have created the biggest crime of taking the child as your ward, now," he bellowed.

"Release all of them or you fight me!" Serenity screamed, hoping that he didn't catch the tremor in her voice.

"I would gladly take you on, Woman," he snarled as he drew his sword and pointed the heavy metallic weapon at her. "But you do not look fit to fight," he whispered, the breeze in the night carrying his words to her. His eyes were a study on her uniform, which did little to conceal her legs and bare arms. Times were changing, but did women think they had a right to flounce about baring so much skin that would have been a shame in the past?

"Stay here and don't move," Serenity ordered the girl at her side as she pulled to her full height. All the time she motioned to the girl to sit, so she wouldn't fall the one story that kept her away from the man with the sword and a puddle of other men with dangerous eyes.

Now, he could tell that his challenger was still young. A child, not many more years older than the girl she had just saved; a bit wobbly on her two feet as she pinched the ruby on her tiara. She glared at him, hating the fact that he was going to be the first man she would have to fight at the start of her career as a vigilante. She had fought before, but never with a man, yet.

"Don't underestimate me," she roared, before sending the piece of jewelry in his direction. What he had thought was only an ornament, flamed with a gold light as it shimmered its way at him. It barely missed him, singing the grey material at his shoulder. He grimaced at the fact that her weapon was able to graze him.

Without blinking he spun on his heels again to avoid another attack that he almost missed seeing come at him. He was gasping for breath, landing on his stomach to avoid the gigantic white beam of light that seamed to crystallize out of no where.

He was ready to retaliate, but the chance was short lived. Endymion sauntered into the battle field, his eyes blazing with rage.

"Kunzite, what the hell do you think you're doing?!" He seethed.

"We've been breached, Master. I've been only trying to…"

"Enough!"

Serenity leapt from the rooftop and ran up to Endymion. "Sire, he threatens and abuse the innocent."

Endymion turned, stunned, to her. With a short nod of understanding, he moved to disentangle the woman that had been tortured by Kunzite.

In an attempt to stop him, Kunzite shouted, "Master, that one is a spy!"

The cold, fixed stare that Endymion gave him, stopped him short in his tracks. The man who had the higher command silently ordered half the prisoners to be released and made his way to the heroine, who had dared defy Kunzite and protected the innocent.

"Thank you," he said, taking her hand and kissing her gloved knuckles.

Serenity blushed and turned her head away in embarrassment.

"Your name?"

"Ah… Sailor Moon." She was flustered by his affability.

"Never heard of you nor have I heard of or seen the kind of magic you possess." He was referring to her tiara and the brooch at her bosom.

"I've been meaning to tell you in person," she spoke, shifting uncomfortably, on the move to have him follow her. "It isn't safe here, Sire. You must go. Queen Beryl has set a trap and—"

His hand seized her upper arm and he pulled her to a stop. His eyes turned dark as he fixed her with a glare that made the hair at the back of her neck bristle. "I do not understand. I wish to know which side you are on."

"Huh?"

"You saved those women, trouble to my army, yet you warn me of future danger here. Your actions and speech baffle me I must say."

"My name is Sailor Moon," she said slowly and quietly. "I am from the Moon and I stand to protect those in harm's way."

"A champion of justice, then?" He said doubt cast into his eyes.

"A champion of both love and justice," she retorted as if the additional 'love' was just as important as 'justice.' She shook his arm off of her and gripped his shoulder. "Listen to me!"

Her eyes pleaded with his and it opened his heart out to her just a little.

"I don't know what's over those hills. Waiting for you could be an ambush or explosives, Sire."

"Endymion."

Serenity shook quietly, her eyes opened windows to her surprise.

"Endymion," She grounded through clenched teeth, "Let me accompany you further through the pass."

"Lady, it will not be necessary."

"I insist."

"Don't test my patience," Endymion said, his brows drawn in irritation.

"Then, don't try to flirt your way out of my protection!"

"Flirt?"

Serenity balked, wishing she had thought before she had spoken. "I'm sorry. I get agitated by circumstances. I mean no offense, Sire."

Endymion looked appalled. "I am deeply offended nonetheless."

He was gesturing to his right hand man and had reigns handed to him. With princely grandeur he mounted his steed again. The humorous grin he wore accented the hint of jest in his deep blue eyes.

"It's alright, Sailor Moon." He said her name with a kind of deliberate drawl. It made Serenity feel weak in the knees, but she stood fast on her heels to see him off. However, there was no way Serenity was going to let him face danger alone. She was going to be one step ahead of him for precaution, so languidly Sailor Moon was absorbed into her surroundings again.

"You may go home where you belong, Sailor Moon… Sailor Moon?" Endymion steered his horse this way and that, but saw no young woman in a fuku standing next to him. It should have been a good thing for him to know that she had taken leave and decidedly to go home, yet there was a slight disappointing feeling settled in his heart. He wondered what the weighty feeling could have meant.

Endymion and fifty of his men traveled swiftly over the path. Their galloping entourage was picking up dust and covering them in earth. Endymion tried to forget the young woman that had worn her heart on her sleeve. He did not know woman like her still existed. He thought the extent of his compassion for her stemmed from their shared beliefs. She was so naïve and so very much like his younger self before this all-out war.

He only had about a minute to think when suddenly a blast up front took the two men leading the pack off their line and flushed the rest of Endymion's thoughts away. Endymion, who had fallen back to check on the others called out commands. "We are under attack! Raise your shields! Do not worry about me!"

So selfless! He was not like a legend, but he was a legend!

Serenity kneeled on the cliff facing the incoming attack. She had already felt it, but was not experienced enough to make out what kind of magic she was up against. She kept her eyes trained on the general, who also already knew where the attack was coming from.

There was no one in the pathway. This was dark magic at work. It must have been foreign to most of the men, since some of them were shocked to find thick, crackling, and black bolts of energy striking them numb. The attacks sounded as it rained from the sky, spoiling the earth in smog.

Endymion was thrown off his horse. Covered in blood and dirt, the prince called out again, "Stand your ground, men! Do not scatter!" Only about ten of his men listened as they gathered around their leader, forming a protective ring around him. "No! Do not do that! They will see!"

He was a strategist! Serenity looked to the moon and willed it's reflection to give her the power that this man so obviously possessed. Then, she did a dive and landed neatly next to the ring of men. They were too busy protecting their general to notice her land next to them. The brooch on the front of her uniform fell open as she whispered an incantation. Silver dust filled the air as she started spinning in the air beside them. Her magic and power were pure, but lasted only for an instant.

The only man, who seemed to notice the new recruit, was the prince himself. He gawked in disbelief, absolutely drawn into her energy. Hope welled in his heart and he started seeing smiles on the face of men even at their grim state of minds. The black energy disappeared, and almost immediately, Serenity withdrew her magic. Her brooch clicked shut.

She scanned the area as if to cover her tracks.

"Casualties! Injuries!" She barked, assuming the position of Endymion, who still seemed at a lost for words in the moment.

"The captain has a head injury!" The army physician replied.

Serenity made her way to the captain and had only touched the wound to make it better.

"Miracle," someone cried.

Serenity was in too fervent a rage to care what these men had to say. The praises and wishes were left unheard as the girl moved quickly to make her leave.

However, she was stopped short by the tall general with the dark blue eyes. His phantomlike gestures to his men to be silent worked like a charm. It did help the buzzing in her ear to quiet a bit.

"I thought you had gone back."

"I hate to brag, but didn't I tell you so?" Serenity laughed. "I'm only doing my job."

"No, you're like me," he said, following her receding form. His men stayed back to give them room.

"Me? I guess I'm a rebel, too. But did you also know I am a wanderer and a fugitive?" The sound of her own laughter rang in her ears as Serenity staggered forward and was instantly caught in the arms of the man she had just saved.

"You are like me because we fight for the same cause."

Serenity gazed up at him, her vision a blur, his face just swimming in and out of focus. Serenity leaned back against his arms to ease the painful swelling of her mind.

"What is this cause you speak of? Justice or your kingdom?"

Endymion was deeply offended by her menacing tone.

"I don't really know you, Sire. And I'm not really in the right state of health to chat."

"Then don't." He grated. And with that said, he seized her lips with his for an after-battle kiss.

When he released her, Serenity looked hard and long at him. It was funny, how her vision was clearing up. His kiss had a healing effect on her and it felt great even if it was a bit open and a total violation to her dignity and innocence.

It was like dropping a ton of bricks over his head when she pulled her head back. "You are a flirt, Sire. I will take my leave now," Serenity laughed again, slipping from his grasp and bounding over the cliff. She gave him a final solute before sliding down the other side.

oOoRedRosesoOo

Endymion dropped his cup ale and clenched his hair in his shaking fingers. It was too much on his soul to have never seen her again after that day. The young woman he had grown fond of in mere hours of his more youthful years was now grown-up. It had been six years since he met her and there was not a day he did not wonder where she was or if she was staring at the Earth when he was. He constantly speculated on her whereabouts. He even accosted some of the men, who had claimed that they had seen her fighting with them again. Was it real? It could have been a figment of their imagination--a beacon of hope--that saved them that faithful day or any other day the accosted men said she had arrived. She was very real to him, no matter what everyone else thought. He knew how real she was because even after six years he remembered her texture and taste, but above all, he remembered the yearning that was to follow for the rest of his days on the battle field. About a handful of the witnesses who had survived the war so far and that were present during the attack, could attest to the fact that the general and former Prince of Earth was in way over his head.