The skies over lake Kultajärvi gradually lightened up, as dawn is about to break. I lightly kissed Aurora on the cheek, as she asked me to yesterday.

I whispered, "Aurora. In the name of the Moon, please awaken!"

At first, nothing seemed to happen. I was quite disappointed, thinking that even though Maleficent was erased, Aurora could still not be saved. I thought everything the Sailor Guardians and I did was all for nothing, that even though we defeated the evil fairy, we still failed to break Aurora's curse. Being deeply saddened by this thought, I collapsed, crying in despair.

Does that mean, those days by the lake were just a fever dream?

Does that mean, the time she spent with me and my sisters on the Moon, was just a short flicker?

Does that mean, the love between Aurora and me had to come to an untimely end?

I knelt in front of Aurora's bed, my heart still not ready to reconcile with the fact that I would no longer be able to be with Aurora and to make her happy. Like a stream of sparkling diamonds, tears were running down my visage, dripping onto the edge of the bed.

Looking back at the moments I have had with Aurora, I still remembered being discovered by her by the shore of the lake a few weeks ago. When she told me about her curse, I also wept for her. And whenever I cried for her, she would comfort me, like the warming light of the Sun that shines on the Moon. We did many things in the forest together, we went to the Moon, we had a celebration for her both on the Moon and on Earth. It was just yesterday, when the both of us were holding hands and knowing fellow young royalty from various countries. Aurora was delightfully introducing me to her royal peers, specially emphasizing the fact that I am from the very moon they see in the night sky!

But now, Aurora is in her slumber. Was defeating Maleficent and giving her the kiss she asked for not enough to be an act of true love, that shall break the curse of the heroine who broke mine?

I looked around the room, and had a glimpse at the clock of her room. At the time, the short hand was pointing directly towards the right. It was then, when I turned my sight back to Aurora's bed, I noticed a faint golden light, weakly shining around Aurora.

What was that?

The skies of the dawn kept getting brighter, as a red line of nascent sunlight emerges from below the dark blue skies. The strengthening magical glow around Aurora took my breath away, with the beat of my heart getting gradually faster with every minute. Could it be the magic of the Moon and true love, healing Aurora from the curse?

I kept anticipating, waiting for the moment when Aurora fully awakens. All the sorrow that I had in my heart moments ago, turned into hope, as my eyes gradually stopped tearing up. This hope, albeit uncertain, kept me by her side, motivating me to stay with her and wait for her to awaken. The cool girl I met in the forest, the princess who I admire for her confidence, the heroine who cut down Nehelenia and broke my curse...

I believed more and more firmly, that she would awaken.

More light begun to enter the horizon from below, gradually pushing out the darkness as minutes pass, and the golden glow around Aurora grew even more intense as the sky lightens up.

Is she finally awakening?

I kept anticipating, minute by minute. The color of the zenith was consistently changing and shifting, from pure black at first, to black with traces of deep blue upon the break of astronomical dawn, and now, a solid blue color as we are further into the dawn...

The short hand of the clock pointed at five.

By that time, the golden light surrounding Aurora was at its brightest, and finally, I could see Aurora moving by a bit.

"H... Hy... Hyvää... huomenta... Serenity..."

Even though she is still a bit sleepy, I could not be more overjoyed!

Aurora has awakened.

The girl who discovered me at the shore of the lake, has awakened.

The courageous princess who broke my curse on the Moon, has awakened.

Seeing that she was finally broke free of her curse, I could not help, but to shed tears of joy, only hours after weeping for what I thought was her permanent farewell.

"Aurora, y... you're back!"

She gradually got up, and held me by her side. "Serenity, I know that Selene has always been blessing us."

I leaned my head on the shoulder of my newly reawakened lover, my eyes sparkling with glittery Lunarian tears. "Thank you... Thank you for defeating Nehelenia. You are everything I could have asked for, Aurora!"

"No, Serenity. I should thank you for breaking my curse. You're such a sweet boy, and you've made me happy."

I wiped my tears and said, "In a way, we have broken each other's curses. We've entered a new era of love between Earth and the Moon!"

She then pointed at the view of the daylight, emerging above the northeastern horizon of lake Kultajärvi. "Look at the breaking dawn over there, Serenity. Is it beautiful?"

I looked out to the scenery of daybreak over the lake outside the window, and turned back to her afterwards, saying, "Indeed it is! Just like you."

She giggled, wrapping her arms around my shoulder. "How cute of you to speak like that! I like it."

She then walked out of her bed and opened the door, and apparently, she was surprised.

She found out that my sisters are behind the door!

Momentarily, she became excited by their presence. "Hey, princesses! I didn't expect you to be here, too!"

Clapping her hands, Venus jokingly said, "Congratulations, Serenity and Aurora!"

I knew that Venus would always tease me in a playful way, and she has teased me in front of Aurora a few times as well. However, having just shared a purely romantic moment with Aurora, I can't help blushing!

Aurora then looked at Venus and said, "I should also thank you, Venus. You've taught me sword skills, and you've helped me slay Nehelenia. Now as I think back, it seemed that all the five of you stood against Maleficent and successfully took her down. It's unbelievable that the Sailor Guardians are capable of defeating two very powerful magic-wielding enemies, within a matter of days."

Mercury said, "we are able to defeat Nehelenia, because you were there to use your magic to turn our missing attack into a hit. After Nehelenia was defeated, a new power awakened inside Serenity. While he cannot use it directly, his presence greatly strengthened our power. This is the reason why we are powerful enough to defeat Maleficent afterwards - you empowered us, Aurora."

Mars then proclaimed in a proud voice, "either way, we, five princesses and a prince, are now living a carefree life with no Nehelenia or Maleficent to worry about!"

Aurora nodded, saying, "I agree, Mars!"

She then told my sisters, "Come in!"

We then started chatting and having fun throughout most of the early morning, as more light from the warm Sun entered the room.

Soon enough, Aurora has observed, that the short hand of the clock pointed towards the number 8.

"Now that it is eight o'clock, I think it's time for Serenity and me to report to King Tapani and Queen Lea at the throne room, about last night's battle. Would you mind if you continue having fun in this room? We'll be back shortly."

Venus smiled, "Sure, Aurora. Your parents must be very happy to see that you have survived this battle!"

Aurora and I then proceeded into the throne room together, and bowed before King Tapani and Queen Lea.

I then reported, "Your Majesty, I would like to inform that we have survived."

King Tapani expressed his gratitude in his majestic voice. "Thank you, Prince Serenity. Without you and your sisters, my daughter would never be freed of her curse. Ever since meeting you, Aurora has became even more prepared for her role as future queen. She learnt the ways of the sword, and successfully protected you from Nehelenia, the evil witch who cursed you when you were born."

I bowed again, "I am grateful, Your Majesty."

Tapani then spoke in an affirmative tone, "I know that you love her wholeheartedly, son. I am glad that she feels joyful in your presence."

With a determined resolve, I said, "And I promise that I will never let her down, Your Majesty."

Tapani then looked into me, as if I was his son that he never had. With a tone reminiscent of a proud father, he told me, "you are still very young, but I am confident that you will be a good king for both the Moon and the Earth. I have faith in you, minun poikani."

The moment he expressed his faith in me, the resolve deep within my mind to love Aurora and be a good king has been reinforced. Owing much gratitude to his words, I spoke with the utmost sincerity, "Thank you, Sir."

He thanked me back in his language, "Kiitos."

As we bowed before Tapani and Lea again, we turned and exited the aisle.

Before exiting the door, Tapani called my name. "Serenity,"

I turned my head towards the King.

"Onnea matkaan."

I nodded and wished him, "Olkoon kuunvalo kanssanne."

I then turned my head back forward, stepping out of the hall. We then headed back to Aurora's room, where my sisters are waiting for us to continue the fun.

The Kingdom of Kultajärvi prospered under protection from Selene and the Sailor Guardians. Never again, has there been an attack from beings of Chaos on the kingdom.

After Aurora's re-awakening, we stayed on Earth for a couple more weeks. In the first few days, celebrations of Aurora's sixteenth birthday continued, with lots of pomp and circumstance on the streets of the royal capital. The people of Kultajärvi thanked the Goddess of the Moon for blessing their kingdom and breaking the curse of their princess.

In a finely decorated carriage painted with the colors of Northern Lights, the Princess of Kultajärvi waved hands at her citizens, with the Prince of the Moon by her side, and his sisters behind her. When will it be known among the populace, that their princess had not only been to the Moon, but has also slain the usurper who gave the Moon Prince a similar curse?

On another day, Aurora also invited the royal friends we've made at the celebration to a more private party. There, I get to further build friendships with the fellow princes and princesses from neighboring kingdoms I first met at the official celebration days ago!

I asked, after sipping my cup of tea, "Toivo, do you often observe the phases of the Moon from Earth?"

Prince Toivo responded. "I do, Serenity! The people of Häme think of the Moon Goddess as a powerful figure who spins golden yarn, and weaves clothes out of them." He continued to elaborate, with his hands, enclosed in a pair of white gloves, simulating the phases of the Moon. "Every night, the phases of the Moon shift in a subtle pace. It first waxes into a full moon, then it wanes into a new moon. We record days, by tracking the meticulously changing phases of the moon in the night sky."

Väinö also gave his response. "The people of Savonia also track the phases of the Moon. Centuries ago, our people saw the moon in the night sky in the form of a full, bright silver plate, and at other times, it looked like a bow, as in our national symbol. Some nights, the Moon is nowhere to be seen. We then drew the shape of the Moon we observed every night, and slowly found a pattern, after comparing all similar Moon phases."

During the later days, Aurora invited me and my sisters to join her on her boat, where she would row and sail us to different parts of the kingdom, from the Kultajoki Seaport, to the frontier villages of Enontekiö, Lokka and Kemihaara! To make things even funnier, Aurora insisted that we all dress up in commoners' outfits that were stored in the wardrobe of her room, so that no one will easily know our identities!

In her room, Aurora held a blue Kultajärvi commoner's dress, and asked my sister, "Mercury, do you want to try this folk dress? It's blue in color, and I think it suits you quite well."

Mercury smiled, and gave a cool response. "Why not, Aurora?"

She then put on the blue commoner's dress with a spell, and looked into the tall mirror to have a glimpse at her new outfit. Surprised by how good she looks in the dress, Mercury exclaimed, "I now look like a civilian girl from one of your villages!"

Seeing Mercury being dressed up in her kingdom's costume, Aurora applauded in joy. "Bravo, Mercury!"

After almost half an hour of choosing our favorite commoner's dresses and dressing up ourselves in them, we finally made our way to the pier outside the castle, where Aurora's boat is now docked.

The six of us then rowed the boat together, along the long Kultajoki river, towards new and scenic destinations.

More days have gone by, and the day for us to return to the Moon has come. By then, Kultajärvi has entered its nautical polar day, where it would be bright enough in midnight to see the horizon. The Northern Lights are no longer easily visible from Earth's surface, but that also means, the season for the late night sun has begun!

Queen Lea accompanied us to the landing site at the forest, sending us off.

She gifted me a pin of the twin winged pikes, the national symbol of Kultajärvi, decorated with diamonds. "Thank you, my dear boy Serenity. You're so adorable, and you've made my daughter happy. You're the best gift heaven has ever granted for her."

I bowed in front of the queen. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I will make sure that I will love her with all my heart!"

She then gifted my sisters the same present, though the gemstones she used are different for each of my sister. The pin gifted to Mercury was decorated with sapphires. For Mars, she got a ruby-decorated pin. For Jupiter and Venus, their pins are decorated with emeralds and topaz. "And you all, my dearest princesses of the Moon Kingdom. Thank you for breaking my daughter's curse."

Venus curtsied and responded, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Aurora has been an inspirational role model for all of us to follow. We'll ensure that she will have a good time on the Moon with us!"

Before Aurora boarded the spaceship, Lea shared an emotional hug with her, telling her daughter in tears, "And at last, it is time to say farewell, my daughter. We shall see each other again very soon!"

Just as the six of us boarded our ship back to the Moon, we looked back at the Kultajärvi Castle once more. The Earth was once a mysterious and unknown place we've only heard of in the books and observed from long across the sky on the Moon. However, a fateful encounter between Earth and Moon changed everything forever.

Serenity, Prince of the Moon Kingdom, cursed to never ascend the throne alive.

Aurora, Princess of the Kingdom of Kultajärvi, cursed to an eternal sleep at her sixteenth birthday.

We broke each other's curse in the name of the Moon, and became destined lovers across the sky, much like the full moon and the northern lights. The spaceship soared through the sky, leaving behind a trail of hope and love.