On my fourth day in the Moon Palace, someone knocked on the door of my room. I pressed the button and opened the door, and there stood Serenity, standing right outside my room in his white suit, giving me a sweet smile as always.

With both of his hands, Serenity carried a long chest of an emerald-like green gradient, decorated with golden accents and elegant patterns. Is it yet another present, that he wants to give me?

He presented the long chest to me, saying, "Aurora, I would like to give you this present!"

Being curious of what is inside the long chest, I asked, "What present is it this time, Serenity?"

He responded, "You will know when you open it."

Serenity... that boy never stops giving me surprises! First he surprised me with a star locket capable of communications between Earth and the Moon, and now, he presents yet another gift to me.

I put my hands by the locks of the long chest, wondering what is inside. I tried to fathom the mystery to me that was the present, ruling out many possible suggestions that would not fit the shape and the size of the chest. A dress certainly would not fit into this chest, unless he rolled it up into a thin cylinder. A pair of shoes? Only if he put one in front of another in a serial arrangement. A book? Its size would not fit in the long chest, either.

I slowly opened the locks of the long chest, and gradually lifted its lid up, revealing Serenity's second tangible present to me. And to my surprise, it was...

A Sword. Forged from Lunarian steel.

On the sheath, there is a monogram with the letter "A" with a crown above, and a moon crescent by its side. The typeface of the letter "A" did not resemble the typical Antikva typeface of Rome, nor the Fraktur from Saksa, and in fact, like many other typefaces I have seen in the Moon Kingdom, it is unique. The way the letter was written and presented carried a regal and feminine grace, which resonates with me very well. Did Serenity design a royal monogram, just for me?

The sheath is also made of Lunarian steel, but it came with a vibrant and vivid green finish, reminiscent of the viridescent grass in a vast field. Above the monogram, engraved patterns resembling the Northern Lights can be seen. It seemed, that Serenity paid much attention to intricate details, when he designed this sword for me.

"Serenity, thank you!" I hugged him and promised, "I will protect you with this very blade you gifted me."

I then unsheathed the sword, and swung the blade. It was then I discovered, that the sword glows in a luminous color, and shadow of the blade resembles the Northern Lights. To add upon that, the shadow also leaves magical green sparkles behind, when it fades! How elegant, and how fitting for a princess named Aurora.

Serenity saw the shining and sparkling blade shadow, and said, "the blade is enhanced with Lunarian magic, so that every swing looks like a Northern light. I crafted this, just for you."

Hearing his cute remarks about the sword, I could not help but to express to him, "How sweet!"

I then regarded at the glimmering green sparkles again before sheathing my sword, putting it next to my folded, emerald-green, battle attire.

I did not remember Queen Selene being informed of my visit to the Moon Palace as of the fourth day. And yet, the idea of meeting the Queen of the Moon herself has sometimes been in my consideration, ever since I heard legends and myths about the mysterious Selene - are the myths and legends about the queen of the moon real? How does the sovereign, who was worshipped on Earth as the goddess of the Moon, look like? And most importantly, how is she like, as a person? Is she just as kind and as regal as her son?

I could feel a sense of distance between Selene and me. I might be the daughter of a king, but what I thought mattered to me more at the moment, was that Selene is my elder, a sovereign that is more senior to me in terms of both rank and age, and most likely to be more powerful than her children.

Looking up from the center of the common room and staring at the blue sky through the doorway to the bridge, I hesitated, seemingly resigning to the fact that I would not bold enough to directly walk the bridge and meet the Queen spontaneously.

I needed some courage to meet the Queen of the Moon. And the most straightforward way flashed through my mind - perhaps I should ask her son, Prince Serenity, about "how" I can and should meet his mother.

With Serenity's room right in front of me, I stepped forward, pressing the doorbell next to his white and golden door.

He opened the door of his room, and greeted me again. "Aurora!"

I straightforwardly asked, "Serenity, I would like to meet the Queen... But I'm not very sure how I could and should meet her. I presume that she might be quite busy, as the ruler of the Moon Kingdom."

Serenity responded, "My Mother accepts appointments at Her office. She is open to meeting different people at her office, and they are mostly Lunarian citizens of different professions and ages. Since my Mother takes her status as ruler seriously, she had a rule that anyone who seeks an audience with her shall have a specific purpose."

He then opened a window on his holographic interface, seemingly showing a form for applying for an appointment at the Queen's office. He asked, "So, Aurora, what would you like to discuss with Her about?"

"Um..."

I hesitated for a while.

The way Serenity phrased his response somehow suggested that the person meeting his mother has to have some very serious reasons for requesting a meeting with her. What could be an "appropriate" rationale for me to have my request to meet the Queen approved?

I then brainstormed a few ideas for the subject of my request. I am Princess Aurora sounded too simple, and she might even infer from the wording that it might probably just a Lunarian citizen who pretends to be a princess. I had to think about a subject more impressive, one that would stand out and would catch the Queen's attention.

After thinking about many ideas for the subject, and rejecting them one after one, I finally came up with this idea: First girl from Earth to land on the Moon wishes to greet the Queen of the Moon Kingdom with the utmost respect. I think this would at least work.

I then spoke the subject out, as the system transcribes my words into text in the subject field, and I continued with the description, which, introduced who I am and my background on Earth.

Having selected my time slot and entered the subject for the appointment, I then moved on to the next page, which showed the available time slots to meet the Queen. A majority of hours have been occupied, but there is a time slot conveniently available today, and thanks to my instincts, it did not take longer than a second for me to select the time slot, and subsequently send the request for approval.

For the rest of the time, I borrowed a book from Serenity's bookshelf. That book was about Lunarian history, and I thought it would be a good idea to read that book to spend some time, before I go to meet the Queen.

"Selene built a kingdom on the Moon, the only natural satellite orbiting planet Earth, the third and only habitable planet in the Solar system. As years passed, technology progressed under her reign. Her people, the Lunarians, have developed and engineered vessels capable of transporting passengers and cargo around the Solar system.

A few years after the first Lunarian space vessel was built, Selene ventured around the Solar system and its planets. The Sailor Guardians of the planets, having lived their lifes in a seemingly perpetual solitude on otherwise unhabitable worlds, were astonished to see Selene arrive on their planets. Selene sensed the strong force potential of the Sailor Guardians, and reached out to them, offering them the title of "Princess of the Moon Kingdom" and a chance to break free from their solitude. In return, the planets shall be protected by a unified team of Sailor Guardians.

After travelling to all the seven lifeless planets and recruiting their Sailor Senshi, Selene effectively rules over almost all of the Solar system, thus starting the Silver Millennium..."

The history book was intriguing to me, and I learnt about how the first incarnation of Selene built a kingdom on the Moon. I would continue to read the book, until a sound caught my attention.

"Your appointment request has been approved."

That was what was written in my room's holographic interface. Upon sighting these words, a mixed influx of emotions momentarily took over my mind - the excitement arising from finally having the opportunity to meet the mythical Queen of the Moon, and, on the other side, the anxiety that came with meeting a highly powerful and influential figure.

I went back to reading the history book, deciding to calm myself for a bit.

When I was about to begin reading the section about the beginning of the second century of the Silver Millennium, I checked the time, and realized that I had to go see the Queen.

I then left the book at my room, and walked up the spiral staircase in the center of the common room. Every step I made signified a step closer to meeting the Queen, and when I reached the top of the staircase, I sighted the doorway to the bridge right in front of me. I then looked down at the floor of the common room, and realizing that I have made it to the top of the Sailor Guardians' Tower, I decided that there is no going back - I shall be bold, and go on to meet the Queen. Having made up my mind for the last time, I marched forward, out of the Sailor Guardians' Tower and stepping onto the bridge.

On the bridge, I looked around and had a broad aerial view of the Moon Kingdom's capital, standing high above the ground. I was impressed by a bridge that high, with such breathtaking, miniature views of a town.

As I went through the doorway, I entered the Queen's Tower, taking the elevator up to the penultimate floor, which, I remembered, was where the Queen's office was located.

And as soon as the doors opened, I stepped out of the elevator, and found myself in a hollow white space.

The door to the Queen's office is marked with a large crescent moon in the center, surrounded by elegant patterns by its four corners. The edges of the door are decorated with iridescent lights that cycle from red to yellow, then to green and blue, and finally violet and back to red.

Like a reindeer in the forests of Earth, the beat of my heart has been constantly accelerating, as the steps of my silver shoes produces wave after wave of quiet, yet audible, sounds, in an otherwise silent, and perhaps tranquil, blank space of white. Inside my mind, I remembered that Serenity and his sisters described their mother as a loving and caring queen. And yet, I subconsciously fear the queen, due to how her title as "Queen" and her status as the monarch of the whole Moon exerts an aura of high, supreme and unreachable authority and power.

I swiped my keycard, hoping to finally meet the high ruler and the supreme sovereign of the Moon Kingdom.

The door opened, revealing a panoramic view of the Moon Kingdom's capital city, viewed from the continuous glass windows of the floor. Behind the desk, an elegant and regal lady stood at my height, wearing a beautiful and well-defined long dress as white as the snow and the clouds of my kingdom. In front of her dress is a white bow, with a golden moon crescent in the center. She has the same crescent moon mark on her forehead as Prince Serenity's, and she wears golden earrings as well. I was astonished by the immeasurable amount of grace the lady carried - she really is the Queen of the Moon, and Serenity's mother - Queen Selene!

I walked closer and closer to her desk, with my heart only beating faster with each moment of anticipation. And yet, I attempt to calm myself, and try my best to present myself as a graceful and well-mannered princess.

"Your Majesty," I curtsied in front of Queen Selene.

Selene made a welcoming gesture, greeting me. "Welcome to my office, Your Royal Highness. Please take a seat."

"Thank You, Your Majesty."

I then took the seat at the other side of her table.

Putting all my effort to sound humble and thankful in front of the Lunarian sovereign, I told her my backstory. "Ever since I was a young girl, I have always wanted to visit the Moon and explore the space and the stars, whenever I looked up to the night sky. However, Earth lacks the technology to explore space at this moment, and it is by complete luck, that I get to visit the Moon. I feel like a major wish of mine has been fulfilled, and I am highly grateful for that."

With a regal and warming smile, Selene said, "I feel great for you, Aurora. I think you might be the first person from the Earth to fulfill your curiosity for the space, and land on the Moon. On behalf of the Moon Kingdom, I would like to welcome you to our wonderful land."

I then continued, "If I may note, Your Majesty, my sixteenth birthday will be within this month. This would normally mean a jubilant celebration for me, but unfortunately, I have been cursed by an powerful evil fairy from one of Earth's countries when I was born. Her name is Maleficent, and she cursed me that I shall eventually pass away at the sunset before my sixteenth birthday. The curse was only able to be partially lifted afterwards by the fairies of my kingdom, so that I would fall into an eternal slumber, waiting for an act of true love to awaken me once again. I then lived the life of a common forest girl for the next fifteen years and several months to come, until one day, when I met Your son and went to the Moon."

I glanced at the Lunarian cityscape briefly, before refocusing on Selene. "For me who thought I was just going to fall to the curse in the forest and wait for someone to discover me and awaken me, I suddenly felt like my wish was fulfilled just in time in the final months before my sixteenth birthday..."

With a tone of sympathy, Selene sorrowfully said, "Oh, my dear princess..."

She thought for a while, while concentrating her mind on me.

"Your curse sounds so horribly similar to that of my son's. He was cursed to never ascend the throne alive, when he was an infant. Seeing that you would soon enter your slumber, I would like to offer you a very special chance to celebrate your birthday at the Moon Palace in the next few days, together with my daughters and my son."

Hearing Selene's offer to organize a birthday party for me, I could not be more surprised. The Moon Kingdom has never stopped surprising me with gifts, one after one, regardless of whether it is a tangible item, or an intangible opportunity. From the chance to build a relationship with Prince Serenity, to the Star Locket, then to the chance to visit the Moon Palace and to meet Serenity's every sister, and the gown of the Northern Lights, as well as the chance to learn a variety of Lunarian arts, and a sword designed specifically for me, and now, a royal birthday party...

I stammered at first from this overdose of surprise, before regaining organization and form in my words. "It... it is with my... highest gratitude, that I accept this offer, Your Majesty."

Selene seemed not to put too much of that on her mind, and thanked my acceptance. "I am honored to see your dreams fulfilled, Aurora. I hope you find your days in the Moon Palace pleasant."

With a light smile, I confirmed her wishes. "It has been pleasant, indeed. I was impressed by the futuristic, yet aesthetic and regal, design of the Palace, and Your daughter, Princess Venus, gifted me this gown that I am wearing right now. This gown is the most beautiful one, that I have ever seen throughout my life, and it fits my name, Aurora, since its colors match those of the Northern Lights of Earth, which I am named after. I learnt sword skills and martial arts, and I believe these skills would shape me into a better ruler for the future."

Selene said, "It is great that you get to gain valuable experiences, as well as tangible presents, on the Moon. Princess Aurora, you shall be blessed with an act of true love in no time, and by then, you shall awaken again, and live a life of wonders!"

The Queen's words blew a refeshing breeze of optimism into my mind. I have never felt so optimistic about the breaking of my curse before, not even during the happiest days I spent in the forest. Back then, I just simply accepted that I would "eventually" be awakened from the curse, though I don't know who will awaken me - and when he or she will awaken me. After Serenity, his sisters, and now, his mother, came into my life like a ray of moonlight in the night sky, I became even more optimistic about my future.

I responded, "Thank You, Your Majesty."

Selene then said, "Then I shall declare this meeting concluded. May the Light of the Moon be with you, always."

I stood up and curtsied to her once more, before leaving her office.

Selene.

Before I came to the Moon, I thought she was a goddess who only existed in legends and mythology. People believed that she existed because people believed so.

After meeting Serenity and his sisters, I finally knew that Selene does actually exist, and is the real monarch of the Moon that shines over our night sky. And yet, I thought of her as a highly regal, elegant and powerful figure, one that I could never imagine myself becoming, even when I become queen. It took me much courage to arrange a meeting between me and her. Only after visiting the Queen's office upon an appointment, did I realize, that Selene is actually a kind-hearted and a caring queen, despite all the power and influence she wields. From what I perceive, she is as gentle and as compassionate as her children, perhaps even more so, as their mother, and as the mother figure for her nation.

No one from Earth has ever been able to seek an audience with the sovereign of the Moon. It sometimes might be luck that determines when and what type of opportunities come to you, but you have to be proactive to seize the opportunity in time, and not miss out.