Prologue |
Chapter One |
Chapter Two |
Chapter Three |
Chapter Four |
Chapter Five |
Chapter Six |
Chapter Seven |
Chapter Eight |
Chapter Nine |
Chapter Ten |
Chapter Eleven |
Chapter Twelve |
Chapter Thirteen |
Chapter Fourteen |
Chapter Fifteen |
Chapter Sixteen |
Epilogue
The morning dawned bright and clear, just like any other, and yet different. The people of the Moon slept off the effects of the previous night's revelry, dreaming of a future as bright as this dawn. To the casual eye, nothing had changed, but over the entire city lay a newly-woven blanket of security guaranteed by a pair of engagement pendants. Unfortunately for the wearers of said pendants, even a light filigree chain could chafe against the skin. Princess Serenity awoke bleary-eyed after a restless sleep and rubbed the red, irritated skin around her neck. Nobody had told her whether or not it was acceptable to remove the pendant while she slept. Even if it hadn't been for the blue stone and its chain nearly choking her as she tossed and turned, Serenity's sleep would have been just as fitful due to her unsettled mind. As the servants washed and dressed her for breakfast, Serenity could think of nothing but the events of the previous night. The air seemed cold against her bare shoulders as the maids fussed around their little Moon Princess, all grown up. The style of these new maiden-gowns left little to the imagination, and Serenity felt terribly exposed. One of the women rubbed some salve on the inflamed skin at Serenity's throat and covered the damage with powder as the others tied her hair into its customary buns. The Princess gazed at her reflection in the mirror, still in a sleepy daze. Her eyes swept over her image, following the lines of the white dress as it flowed down from beneath her arms to her feet. The blue jewel sparkled on her chest even when she wasn't moving. Had last night really happened? Had she really become engaged to a cold statue? Had she really asked a stable hand to meet her in her favorite garden? Serenity groaned as if she had drunk too much Moon Nectar, staring at the mirror with an expression of dismay. "More powder?" Her lady-in-waiting hurried forward to dab an extra layer over the ring of irritated skin beneath the engagement pendant. "Don't worry, Princess, I'm sure no one will notice." Princess Serenity longed to speak with her mother and apologize for her behavior the night before. It was all so silly, really; of course it would take time for Prince Endymion to become comfortable around his fiance. The Queen, however, was dining with the Earth delegation this morning. Their conversation would have to wait until later. Breakfast was usually a relaxed, peaceful respite from the pressures of duty, but this morning the Moon Princess would be allowed no time to be alone with her thoughts. Her dining companions were the four Sailor Soldiers, and from the moment Serenity sat down she was bombarded with questions. "A beautiful ceremony last night, wasn't it?" Mercury began diplomatically, trying to get information without prying. Sailor Venus cut in with a far more direct approach. "So, tell us, what is the Prince like?" she asked eagerly, ignoring the plate a servant had set in front of her. "He was handsome enough," Jupiter observed, glancing sideways at Serenity with a grin. "He's quite...young," the Princess of the Moon commented quietly, squirming in her chair. Mercury's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?" she asked, confused. "Prince Endymion is older than you, Serenity." At this, Venus stared at the blue-suited soldier with wide eyes. "But they're the same height!" she protested. The short-haired girl shrugged. "That's what the Golden Kingdom's records say," she explained. "I read that all the children of his father's line have late growth spurts." "No more distractions! Out with it, Serenity!" Sailor Mars demanded, focusing her violet stare on the young woman at the head of the table. "We want details!" There was no way to avoid this conversation. The Moon Princess knew by looking at the four eager faces that her friends would not accept demure silence. The only choice she had was of what she was going to tell them. For a heartbeat, Serenity considered the truth. The four girls were her closest friends, after all. She could trust them. However, she and Endymion had not yet had a chance to speak properly with one another. Their first and only meeting so far had been bound by ceremony and was under the watchful eye of the entire noble class. Once the situation relaxed a bit, the Prince might very well open his heart to his fiance. Serenity could not in good conscience taint the four soldiers' opinions of the Earth Prince if there was a chance it was all a misunderstanding. After all, he was her future husband and would be living on the Moon from this point on. Serenity knew what her friends wanted to hear, even if it was not the entire truth. "Prince Endymion is very mysterious," Serenity said finally, demurely blushing a delicate rose. "He's certainly a handsome and talented man, and a gifted dancer besides." "We all saw that!" Mars waved her fork impatiently. "Tell us what he's really like!" Now the Moon Princess shifted uncomfortably. "Well, we didn't have much opportunity to talk in private," she muttered. "Oh, come on, Serenity," the green-suited soldier of Jupiter teased as she reached for a goblet of water. "You had all evening together. Tell us the details!" The crystal-haired Moon Princess twisted her cloth napkin between her slender fingers and looked down at her plate, biting her lip. Only Sailor Mercury had been quietly watching Serenity throughout the conversation, her face becoming creased with worry beneath her gold tiara. When she finally spoke, her sympathetic eyes stayed on the Moon Princess, even though she wasn't speaking to her. "How would you know how much time they spent together, Jupiter?" Mercury asked. "Your eyes were on a certain young man all evening, as I recall." A dreamy look flooded the brunette's face. She leaned on one gloved hand and stared off into space. "Ah, yes, Prince Tairou of Neptune," she sighed. The attentions of the other girls, however, were fixed on Sailor Mercury, who was typically the last person to make comments about romance. "For that matter, Mercury," Venus spoke up with a coy smile, "you certainly enjoyed dancing with that refined blond man. From Saturn, wasn't he?" Now it was the blue-haired soldier's turn to blush, staring at the table. The skin of the Mercury warrior burned as her friends teased her with eager questions about the Saturnian lord. She answered as briefly as possible, becoming intensely absorbed in the fruit slices on her plate. Serenity gave Mercury a sympathetic, but grateful, smile. For the moment, at least, she was off the hook. "All right, Endymion, confess. What's bothering you?" "I told you to call me Endou from now on," the stable hand muttered, heaving another hay bale onto the cart. "All right. Endou." Dropping his own block of hay back on the ground, Prien ducked around the dark-haired man and plopped himself down on the very hay bale Endymion had been about to lift next. Shaking his short wheat-colored hair out of his face, Prien stared up at his friend with a determined expression. "Well?" he demanded. "What's the problem?" For a moment Endymion's face was like stone as he fought a battle of wills against his fellow stable hand. The Earth-born orphan's well-practiced neutral stare was engulfed by Prien's stubborn patience. The blond man waited, his hazel eyes never wavering as he stared up from his seat on the hay bale, defying Endymion's desire to avoid the subject. This was not the first time Prien had tried to force Endymion to open up, nor would it be his first victory. At last, Endymion sighed and bent down to lift a hay bale adjacent to his friend's seat. Only Prien was more stubborn than Endymion. "Do you ever feel frustrated with your life?" the tanned man asked, straining his muscles to raise the block of feed above the others. "What do you mean?" Prien replied, getting to his feet and brushing hay off his trousers. "Well, all this," Endymion said vaguely, waving one arm to indicate the Moon Castle grounds. "A realm of possibility, and my life is limited by forces beyond my control." "Ah, this again," Prien grunted, shoving another block of hay onto the cart. "Look, everyone's life is determined by blood. You know that. It's the same with every other servant on the grounds." "Not quite the same," Endymion mumbled, but his friend still heard him. Prien seized the dark-haired man's shoulder and turned him around to face him. "None of us think any less of you or any of the other Earth-children. If anyone makes you feel differently, tell me and they'll be on the streets before you can blink." Prien's expression was stern in his seriousness. "Everyone knows you're the best handler in the stables, no matter what your birthright says." The blond man sighed as Endymion looked away without responding. "Come on, now, we've been over this before." Prien released his friend's shoulder and bent down to grasp the binds of one last hay bale. He paused, letting the block rest for another moment. "You know," Prien said quietly into the ground, "you have it better than many Lunarians." Endymion sighed and leaned heavily against the loaded cart. "I know," he murmured. "Despite Queen Serenity's best efforts, there are still many people desperate for a home and steady work." He leaned his head back, staring up at the sky. The sun's warmth poured over his face despite the artificial heat of the atmospheric dome. "I know I should be happy, Prien, I just...feel like I could be so much more," he confessed. "Like I should be so much more. Like I'm missing something, something important. Know what I mean?" "Can't say I do." The last hay bale in place, Prien pulled himself up to the driver's seat of the cart. "If you ask me, Endymion, you're making stars of sand." "Endou. It's Endou," Endymion reminded his friend, climbing up beside him. "Whatever. Just don't think about it so much, okay? There's lots worse places to be than where you are." Prien leaned back against the seat, giving his dark-haired friend a jab in the side. Endymion whistled to the horses that were hitched to the cart and the marble-colored work beasts began to move. With a lurch, the wagon started rolling forward. "You know," Prien said after a moment, "I bet I know what you're missing, Endy - Endou." "Oh, really?" the tanned man scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. He should've known the conversation would turn this way. "You need a woman." "Ah, that old tune," Endymion laughed, tossing his head. "You should know by now what I think of that, Prien." "Yes, yes," the blond grumbled. "No interest, better things to do, no time... I know your usual arguments better than you do. But it can't be very pleasant to go home each evening to an empty hut and a cold bed, my friend." "There are benefits to a single life," Endymion shot back. "Besides, what Lunarian girl would want an Earth-child for a mate?" "Look, Endy - Endou, you're not as bad off as you think," Prien argued, frustration in his tone. "You have a great position in the stables, a home of your own on the castle grounds...and you're not quite the ugliest stable hand around." "Was that a compliment, Prien?" Endymion joked, elbowing the other man in the shoulder. "If you ask me-" "I'm not." "-a potential love interest isn't as far away as you might think," Prien continued, ignoring Endymion's protests. "I'm not the only one who's noticed you've caught the attention of a certain young stable hand with green-" "That's enough!" The humor was gone from the tanned man's eyes and tone. The blond threw up his hands in surrender and fell silent. Endymion sighed and leaned on his knees, his body jostled by every bump beneath the cart's wheels. Misa was kind, beautiful, fun, talented - an excellent match. Why wasn't he attracted to her? He couldn't think of a single thing he disliked about her, and yet he couldn't shake off his subconscious' insistence that she just wasn't his type. As the horses pulled the cart toward the low, rough stable buildings, Endymion gazed up at the white domes and turrets of the Moon Castle rising high above. Even in the daytime sun, the castle seemed to glow from within with innate majesty. Walls and hedges hid the gardens from the stable hand's view. As they rounded a corner and started up a sloping hill, a familiar old wooden door became visible. Endymion felt a sudden nervous wave roll through the pit of his stomach. He was supposed to meet the Moon Princess there after he'd finished his morning duties. The very idea was absurd. He, an Earth-born stable hand, having a secret rendezvous with the heir to the Moon Kingdom? It couldn't be real. Most likely, it was only a joke. The Princess had been upset; she was probably only teasing him to amuse herself. If he actually went to the meeting place, he would be humiliated at best, arrested at worst. After all, he'd already had his warning as a child. Endymion still shuddered at the memory even after all these years. On the other hand, what if Serenity was testing his loyalty as an Earth-born servant of the Moon? Not heeding her request could be even worse than violating Artemis' order. The Princess herself had invited Endymion personally. He would have to go. His eyes climbed the castle walls again. More time alone with the Moon Princess... How should he act? What would he say? Overwhelmed by uncertainty, Endymion hunched over and ran his hands through his short dark hair. "What's eating you now, Endou?" Prien asked, noticing his friend's sudden nervousness. There was no response. "Hello? Endou?" The blond man shook Endymion roughly by the shoulder. "What? Who?" The tanned stable hand shot bolt upright, looking around them. "Endou. That's you, remember?" Prien teased, swatting Endymion over the head. "Oh." Endymion grinned sheepishly, arching one arm over his head to scratch the back of his neck awkwardly. "I guess I'm having some trouble getting used to this myself." "So what's on your mind?" Prien asked again, not letting up. Endymion slumped back against the seat. He knew he would probably regret what he was about to ask, but he needed some advice and Prien was his closest friend. "Well," he said slowly, "say there was someone. A woman." "Hey!" Prien exclaimed, straightening up. "It's about time you woke up and realized that Mi-" "It's not Misa," Endymion interrupted. "All right, all right," the blond man chuckled. "If you are not ready to admit it, I will not force you." "This woman," his friend said hesitantly, "is quite above me in status, yet it would be good for my position if she found me likeable." Yes, being friends with the Princess could very well help Endymion out of the career rut he was trapped in. That was the most likely reason why he wished to befriend her. "Tell me, Prien...what does one say to a woman like that?" Prien stared at his friend with narrowed eyes. "What are you so worried about? None of the castle servants care what planet you were born on, you know that. Whoever she is, you won't have any trouble winning her." Leaning his face into his hands, Endymion groaned. Prien didn't understand...but Endymion had no desire to explain further. "Please, Prien." "All right, all right." The blond man stared off into space for a moment, thinking. Endymion's gaze stayed fixed on the wooden door in the stone wall as they rolled past. Would it really be open for him? Would there be guards waiting on the other side? Had last night been a dream? "Well, first of all," Prien finally began, making Endymion jump, "don't compliment her on how beautiful she is. She hears that all the time, from everyone. If you want her to notice you, comment on something else, like the sound of her voice or her friendly personality." "But she is beautiful," the dark-haired man protested. "Yes, but she knows that," Prien argued. "Even if she won't admit it, she knows she's beautiful. Everyone tells her so. You need to be unique, so she'll remember you." "All right." Endymion's mind worked frantically, going over every detail of the previous night's meeting, looking for ideas. "What else?" "Get interested in the things she's interested in," Prien advised. "If you don't know, ask. Women love to talk about themselves. With Misa, I don't think you have to worry about her hobbies being needlepoint or tapestry weaving," he joked. "It's not Misa." "Sure, sure, whatever you say." Prien playfully nudged his dark-haired friend in the ribs. Endymion sighed. Princess Serenity glided smoothly down the marble corridors, heading for the balcony overlooking the courtyard where the Moon Knights' demonstration was to take place. Her guardians, the four Sailor Soldiers, surrounded her in a precise square. This was for appearances only, of course; the Princess was perfectly safe within the Moon Castle. The crystal-haired young woman concentrated on moving as gracefully as possible, her flowing skirts nearly floating around her legs. This was her first full day as an engaged woman, and Serenity wanted her royal training to become habit. After her emotional episode the previous night, she wanted nothing more than to show her mother that she was worthy to be the heir to the Moon Kingdom. It was a beautiful day, as most of them were. The next rain had been scheduled for after the departure of the King and Queen of Earth, to allow the visiting monarchs to enjoy the full beauty of the Moon. Sunlight streamed into the Moon Castle through the tall windows, filling the alabaster world within with soft light. Here and there, flecks of blue brilliance danced across the white walls, reflected by the blue stone hanging at Princess Serenity's throat. Serenity was concentrating so hard on placing her feet correctly that she almost didn't notice when they rounded the final turn, coming into view of the small crowd waiting on the balcony. The murmur of conversation caught her attention, and she looked up to discover her mother and her retinue, along with Earth's royal family and their attendants. The Princess felt suddenly exposed, standing before all these people with her arms and shoulders bare. This maiden-gown was certainly going to take awhile to adjust to. "Ah, Serenity!" The Queen came forward, followed closely by Luna, who stood ready for the slightest instruction from her mistress. The Princess put on her best smile. Her mother's dress was sleeveless also, as befitted a woman past her childhood, but it was completely form-fitting, exposing all the perfection of the Queen's slender curves. Princess Serenity was thankful that she would not have to wear an adult dress until her wedding day. "I trust you are well this morning?" the ruler of the Moon asked, reaching out to take her daughter's hands in her own. The Queen's smile held its usual warmth, her voice its everyday casual tone, but her daughter could feel the trace of tension in the lavender-haired woman's delicate hands. The Princess saw a flash of desperate concern as she looked into her mother's eyes. "Yes, Mother, I am well," she replied, adding all the sincerity and contentment she could muster to her own smiling expression. She longed to explain that everything was fine, but that would have to wait for a more private moment. Queen Serenity seemed to catch the hint, as an instant flood of relief lightened her entire demeanor. "That is good to hear," she said softly, searching her daughter's pure blue eyes for signs of unrest. Finding none, she released the Princess' hands and began walking back toward the balcony, extending an arm to beckon her daughter to follow. Surrounded by a cloud of attendants, the King and Queen of Earth nodded respectfully at the approaching monarchs. King Arton was a tall, strong-looking man with dark hair and a serious expression. At first glance, he seemed a rock that the strongest storm could not disturb, but as Princess Serenity drew closer, she detected an uneasiness in his eyes that she could not identify. Queen Elana smiled warmly at her future daughter-in-law, her delicate golden crown a perfect complement to her auburn hair. Prince Endymion had obviously inherited most of his mother's physical traits. As for the Prince himself, he stood in his mother's shadow, dressed in a simple black tunic and cloak. The moonstone around his neck was striking against the darkness of his clothing. He watched the approach of his bride-to-be with a neutral expression, even when Princess Serenity gave him a slight shy wave. "Good morning, your majesties," the Moon Princess greeted the Earth rulers, curtseying gracefully. Behind her, the four Sailor Soldiers turned aside and headed toward Artemis, who was waiting by the staircase that led to the courtyard below. "Is everything prepared?" Sailor Venus asked the white-haired man as they descended out of sight. As the premier soldiers of the Moon Kingdom, they would be organizing the Moon Knights' demonstration. "Good morning, my dear." Queen Elana's voice was sunshine, but Princess Serenity could feel her ocean-blue eyes sizing her up, evaluating her suitability as mate to her son. Prince Endymion did not speak, standing motionless beside his mother. "There is time yet before the demonstration," Queen Serenity commented, her gaze flickering between her daughter and the stoic Prince of Earth. "Perhaps Serenity and Endymion would enjoy a walk in the castle gardens." Princess Serenity's heart lifted. Leave it to her mother to offer the perfect suggestion. "I would be delighted to show Prince Endymion around the grounds." The Earth Prince, however, turned to glance at his parents without a word. Elana looked back at her auburn-haired son and gave him a slight, brief nod. "Very well," Endymion said, with a small bow. Serenity was not quite certain whether the man's response was intended for his fiance or his mother. The Prince stepped forward and offered his arm, and the black-clothed man and white-robed woman moved off together toward the stairs. Their parents watched them disappear down the staircase. "What a lovely couple they make," Queen Elana sighed, smiling at the Moon Queen. "They are sure to create such beautiful children." "Indeed." After years of practice, Queen Serenity's smile of response showed not the slightest hint of strain. "With the combined ancient powers of the Earth and Moon, the future is certain to be an era of peace." At this, King Arton cleared his throat and coughed lightly into his fist. A servant approached with a tray bearing two goblets of water, and the Earth monarchs moved toward the offered beverages. Queen Serenity and her retinue headed out onto the wide marble balcony, crossing from the shadows into the bright sunshine. "Someday, we will have to tell them," Luna muttered through her teeth from her place at Serenity's elbow. "Tell them what?" the Queen asked innocently, arranging the folds of her tight-fitting dress idly, but her eyes were averted. "That the women of the line of Serenity can bear only one child," the woman in yellow pressed. "No need," the fair-haired Queen said quietly, resting her slender hands on the rail of the balcony. Below, Sailor Venus stood on a platform, directing her division of the Moon Knights into position. "By the time that secret becomes impossible to keep, my Serenity and her husband will be ready to rule both worlds." The Moon Queen's thin lips curved into a casual smile. King Arton sighed heavily, swirling the crystal-clear water around in his goblet. His wife sipped her own water in a relaxed manner as they took a few steps away from their servants. "Someday, we will have to tell them," Arton rumbled in a low tone, leaning close to Elana's ear. "Tell them what?" The Queen of Earth moved to rejoin her attendants, but her husband stopped her with a hand on her arm. "That Endymion does not possess the ancient Earth powers," Arton hissed. Elana whirled around to glare up at him, fire blazing in her eyes. "He will," she said fiercely, barely keeping her voice below the servants' hearing. "He is still young. The powers will emerge in him." "And if they do not?" The King was unfazed by his wife's intensity. "If our firstborn still lives-" "He is gone." The goblet shook in Elana's hand. "He is dead, lost forever," she continued bitterly, in a tone that permitted no argument. She would never forget that day, no matter how many years passed. It had happened years ago, during a period of unrest between the Earth and the Moon. After decades of discord and increasing mistrust, the situation had finally approached the boiling point. Historically, the people of the Moon had been regarded as gods that watched over the blue-green planet, especially the legendary Moon Goddess, Selene. As Earth evolved and more advanced civilizations developed, curiosity about the true nature of the Lunarians grew. Eventually diplomacy and permanent communications were established, and in the eyes of Earth's people, the Lunarians began to descend from their heavenly clouds. The goddess Selene was revealed to be Queen Serenity, little different from the monarchs of Earth, her kingdom little different from the Golden Kingdom. This was where the real trouble began. Forgetting the immense age difference between the two kingdoms, the people of the Golden Kingdom soon decided themselves worthy of status equal to that of the other planetary kingdoms, especially the Moon. The palace of Earth's rulers was bombarded with protests and entreaties from citizens desiring everything from interplanetary travel to extended lifespans. The citizens of Earth demanded that their rulers no longer bow down to the supremacy of the Moon. Attendance at the temples of Selene dwindled. Heeding the cries of their people, King Arton and Queen Elana, who had only recently taken the thrones, petitioned for Earth to be admitted to the Silver Alliance. As Earth had not yet developed the technology to travel through space, had not achieved complete political stability, and possessed no Sailor Soldiers, the request was refused. The older planetary kingdoms still viewed Earth as a headstrong child, not yet mature enough for their company. The council did concede that the hereditary powers of the Golden Kingdom's royal family had the potential to someday develop the strength of a Sailor Soldier, but for the moment, all appeals were denied. Enraged and insulted, the people of the Golden Kingdom drew close to rioting. Its young rulers, unprepared to handle such a situation so early in their reign and with their backs against the wall, made a critical mistake. King Arton issued an ultimatum: If the Silver Alliance did not accept Earth as an equal, the Golden Kingdom would seal off all access to the blue-green planet. In response, Queen Serenity decided to cease all contact with the young world she had watched over for so long. At the time of this turmoil between the Earth and the Moon, Prince Endymion, the first Endymion, was little more than one Earth-standard year old. King Arton and Queen Elana's firstborn son had dark hair like his father and soft gray eyes that promised to match the luster of Arton's someday. Even at such a young age, flowers always bloomed more fully around the boy, a sure sign that the Earth powers had reached a new generation. The sapling planted on the day of his birth had already reached the second-story windows of the palace, and it was the first to sprout leaves and the last to lose them. Since Endymion learned to crawl, his mother often spent hours a day with him in the grass beside the slender tree. After Endymion's first birthday passed the young Prince rapidly became a real handful. The dark-haired boy learned quickly, too quickly sometimes for the attendants who were responsible for keeping him out of mischief. The rather simple duty of a nursemaid became far more complicated once the young Prince had learned to walk. Before anyone expected, he was racing around the halls of the palace, his small legs keeping him well out of reach of even his parents. Proud of their son's rapid development, the King and Queen rarely disciplined Endymion or tried to curb his adventurous behavior. Thus, the servants of the palace had plenty of fine clothing for their own infants, as long as they did not mind scrubbing out a bit of mud or mending some tears in the fabric. Arton and Elana would have reined in their royal toddler's mischievous nature had they known how much grief it would cause them. Half the palace staff gathered around the teleportation platform after the decree came down from the Moon. Together they watched in humbled disbelief as the column of light rising from the platform began to sputter and shift, the link to the Moon being severed and shut down. Their guardians, their gods, were abandoning them. Enchanted by the dancing, flickering light, young Prince Endymion suddenly darted forward from his place. Distracted by what was happening and then startled by their son's impulsive act, the King and Queen had only enough time to cry out their firstborn's name before the dark-haired boy leapt upon the platform. A shrill shriek of pain ripped through the air as the child discovered the column of colors was not harmless light. Before the eyes of his parents, Endymion's small body was torn apart and swallowed by the destabilizing technology. Her son's scream of agony still ringing in her ears, Queen Elana lunged toward the platform with a strangled cry, but it was too late. The column of light sputtered one final time and then winked out completely, a metallic odor filling the air. By the time Elana flung herself upon the circular platform, it was nothing more than a mass of marble and metal. There was little that could be done. All communication with the Moon had been cut off. The temples of Selene were being destroyed by angry rioters. Even if they could ask Queen Serenity if their son had somehow made it to the Moon alive, the kingdom would never forgive its rulers for being the first to break the mutual silence. Not only that, but to publicly admit the heir of the Earth was lost would be a dreadful blow to the reputation of the Golden Kingdom among the other planets. In the end, the grieving King and Queen were forced to admit that their firstborn child had most likely been destroyed as the teleportation beam disintegrated. Prince Endymion was gone. For duty's sake, the royal couple abandoned all hope of finding their gray-eyed boy and set their minds on conceiving a new heir to the throne. Their second child was truly his mother's son, with auburn hair and blue eyes, and was born not even a year after his elder brother's disappearance. In this crucial time of tension between Earth and the Silver Alliance, the Golden Kingdom did not want it known that this child was not their firstborn. The boy was also named Endymion, and would be kept in seclusion for several years, the rulers citing reasons of security. In reality, he was to be hidden until he was old enough for outsiders to believe he was two years older with a delayed growth spurt. In the years of silence following the deactivation of all communication devices, the Golden Kingdom began to realize the value of its long-time guardian. All interplanetary trade with Earth had been cut off. Breeding programs designed to bolster Earth animals with desirable traits from beasts of other worlds ceased. Farms and industries suffered as they lost the aid of the Moon's researchers. When new diseases broke out, the Golden Kingdom had to develop its own cures. Queen Serenity's wise counsel was sorely missed in tough situations, and the young rulers often found themselves at a loss. Beyond that, it seemed the Moon Kingdom had even had some kind of peaceful effect on the planet itself, an effect that was wearing off. Winters became longer and colder. Wild animals boldly attacked villages. The mystics of Earth said it felt as if the world were slowly dying. Poverty and death were gradually increasing. The Golden Kingdom remained stable, and the situation was not yet serious, but everyone knew it was only a matter of time. When the people of Earth began to penitently rebuild the temples they had once destroyed, crying out to Selene for forgiveness, King Arton and Queen Elana knew it was time for them to admit their mistake. Striking a balance between the attitudes of equality and humility, the Golden Kingdom began an elaborate effort to mend relations with the Silver Alliance, admitting to its status as a child kingdom but looking forward to the day when it might reach maturity. With the acceptance of Prince Endymion as the seed of both kingdoms' future heirs, the Earth had achieved a valuable goal. It would even be worth the loss of the King and Queen's second son. Elana smiled fondly as she thought about her auburn-haired boy. The charade had been successful; nobody suspected his true age. Prince Endymion was the Golden Kingdom's dearest treasure and its best-kept secret, and no one could be trusted to protect that secret more than Endymion himself. From birth, the child had been kept on a short leash by parents determined not to repeat their mistakes, and had been taught to respect and obey their instructions without question. This was a perfect son who would never disregard his parents' wishes. He would never destroy himself before his mother's eyes. Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion strolled together through the warm morning sunshine. Serenity breathed deeply of the gardens' fragrant air, feeling much more at ease now that she was outside. The sun's rays were like a comforting embrace upon the bare skin of her arms and shoulders. Perhaps she could learn to like this new style of dress after all. The betrothed heirs moved slowly down the wide main avenue of the gardens behind the Moon Castle, a long marble road that began at the rear balconies and continued to the distant wall. Ribbons of water separated their path from islands of brilliant blossoms, the perfectly still pools reflecting crystal clear images of the sky above. Slender pillars rose from the waters, towering overhead. Serenity was pleased to see Prince Endymion's stoic expression falling victim to simple curiosity, his eyes roaming their surroundings. She was careful to leave her hand free at her side, half-outstretched, just in case he might feel motivated to take it in his own. So far, Endymion had made no such moves, walking silently beside her. "So, what do you think of the Moon so far?" the Princess asked brightly, hoping for the best. "Your home is quite pleasing to the eye, Princess," Prince Endymion replied. His betrothed bit her lip. Would he never drop the formal language? "It is quite different than the Earth, I suspect," she prompted. "Indeed." Serenity fought the urge to growl within her throat or stamp her foot in frustration. Instead, she drew a calming breath of sweet fragrance and turned her head toward her companion as they walked. "I have never been to Earth," the crystal-haired girl commented. "I should like to hear about your home." Prince Endymion sighed quietly, his stiff shoulders drooping slightly. He paused for a moment, as if searching for words. "Earth is...more alive," he said softly. "Alive?" Serenity looked puzzled. "There are more trees," the Prince explained hesitantly, "and the air is never still. There is always a breeze stirring the leaves." He looked up. The dome over the inhabitants of the Moon gave the satellite an artificial atmosphere, but there were no clouds, and even in the midday sunshine the sky was dark enough that some of the brightest stars were still visible. "And the sky is brighter on Earth, a brilliant blue...like your eyes." "My - what?" The Moon Princess blinked. Had this emotionless statue really just compared her eyes to the sky over his homeworld? "Ah, well, it is as blue as - as -" Prince Endymion looked around wildly for another comparison. Serenity thought she caught the hint of a blush on his cheeks. Unfortunately for the Earth Prince, the only other acceptable analogy was also in his fiance's possession. "It is as blue as the stone on your pendant," he amended. The Princess' hand automatically flew to her throat. The chain of the engagement pendant was just long enough for her to catch a glimpse of the stone, and she raised it before her eyes. The blue jewel sparkled in the sunlight, sending tiny cerulean beams dancing over the alabaster skin of her fingers. She tried to imagine a sky as bright and vibrant as this, and a fresh breeze tugging at her hair and skirts. "I should like to visit Earth someday," she said. "It sounds like a beautiful place." Prince Endymion cleared his throat. "I hope I will be able to visit there often myself," he said, a hint of a question in his voice. "My parents and friends, of course, are there..." "Oh, certainly!" Serenity exclaimed. She suddenly felt dreadfully selfish. She had been so upset about being forced into marriage, but at least she was not being taken from her home. Prince Endymion was definitely making the greater sacrifice for this union between their worlds. The auburn-haired man was giving up the crown of an entire kingdom to live as second-in-power on a strange world. "You'll be free to visit Earth as often as you like," Serenity assured her fiance. A shadow of relief flowed across her companion's face. Had he truly thought he would be a prisoner on the Moon? "I only hope I might accompany you sometimes. I would like very much to see Earth." Prince Endymion's face darkened slightly, and he turned away, continuing to walk down the wide avenue. The Moon Princess narrowed her eyes in determination and hurried to catch up to him. For a moment, the briefest hints of emotion had leaked through her fiance's cold exterior. She knew if she just kept trying, she could get through to him. Shielding his eyes from the light, Endymion checked the position of the sun. The Moon Knights' demonstration would be beginning soon. His gaze rolled down the hillside toward the corner where a certain gardener's entrance lay half-hidden in the overgrown ivy. Would it really be open for him, or was it all a cruel trick? "Endou, what are you doing?" Prien called. The Earth-child turned away from the window to face his friend, who was busily brushing down a snow-white steed, the mount of a Moon Knight. All the stable hands had been called to the high-class end of the building to help prepare the cavalry horses for the second half of the demonstration. "Going to leave all the work to us?" Misa complained, grinning at Endymion over another beast's back. The dark-haired man jumped down from the ledge that ran beneath the windows and returned to his work, smoothing out the fine hair on a black stallion's side. A stable hand had no business being in the royal gardens. It would be best if he stuck to his work and stopped dreaming about befriending monarchs. On the hay-strewn main floor of the stables, dozens of workers and beast handlers groomed and saddled the horses of the Mounted Guard. Endymion bent to his task, combing the tangles out of his charge's tail. On the Moon, a realm of crystal and marble, the black stallions were the rarest beasts in the stables. Only the highest-ranking Moon Knights rode them, and the senior squires were almost always their handlers. Out of all the stable hands in the employ of the Moon Castle, only Endymion was trusted to assist in caring for the inky black horses when the staff was shorthanded. Endymion stroked the nervous stallion's neck reassuringly as a squire lifted a saddle onto the horse's back. He loved working with these sleek, muscular animals, their color obtained through crossbreeding Moon steeds with the wild horses of Earth during some long-forgotten age. Endymion knew it was silly, but he often felt a bond of brotherhood with the handsome black horses. As the tanned man ran his hand over the stallion's velvet skin, it seemed he could almost feel the Earth blood pulsing through the beast's veins. It seemed to resonate with his own life's blood, singing the same song of distant lands, fresh breezes, rolling grasses... Beyond that, Endymion sometimes felt as if the majestic creatures held a strange measure of respect for him, a distant quiet reverence. Today, the horses seemed uneasy. The beasts surrounding the tall young man were skittish, stamping their hooves against the ground. Endymion suspected they were detecting the haste of preparation in the air, and the unusually large crowd in the stables was anything but reassuring to them. Suddenly the dark-haired man whirled around to face another of the black stallions, being saddled by a squire. At first glance everything seemed normal, but an instant later the powerful beast tossed its head, tensed its muscles, and reared up on its hind legs, kicking at the air. The squire, a thin red-haired man, was flung to the ground and lay sprawling on his back. Around them, other horses were stirring, stamping, shifting... Endymion was already moving, squeezing between horses and handlers as he darted toward the source of the potential stampede. The squire only lay there for a moment, gaping up at the thick black forelegs flailing above him, before a pair of strong rough hands seized him by the arms and yanked him out of harm's way. Then those same tanned hands reached up for the horse's bridle and the dark-haired Earth-child pulled the black stallion back to the ground. The beast neighed indignantly, but Endymion calmed it with soothing hands and gentle words. The squire climbed to his feet with wide, astonished eyes. Without a word, Endymion handed over the horse's reins and returned to tending his own stallion. The tension among the other horses gradually mellowed out. The stable hand could never figure out how he always seemed to know when something was about to happen among the animals. Surely it was some small noise that had attracted him...but he couldn't help feeling as if he had some connection to the four-legged offspring of Earth. Giving the horse a final once-over, Endymion glanced up at the catwalk that lined the far side of the stable. The stablemaster, head of all the beasts' quarters, stood there talking pleasantly with a handful of Moon Knights. The well-dressed man, who was rather short and stocky for a Lunarian, had not even noticed the near-disaster that Endymion had averted. The stablemaster continued his conversation, glancing at the floor below only to shoot the stable hands an occasional impatient glare. Endymion growled within his throat, even when Prien and Misa complimented him on his quick thinking. He could be up there. He should be up there, directing the proceedings. Few of the stable hands worked as well with the horses as Endymion, and everyone knew that. He would be up there, dressed handsomely and giving tips to the Moon Knights, were it not for his blood. As a mere orphan, he might have had a chance at a transfer to the Mounted Guard's stable. As an Earth-child, he could not even hope for any position higher than what he already had. This could not go on. Endymion could not live the rest of his life like this, having reached the top of his career at such a young age. There had to be a way to escape the golden prison in which his birth had trapped him. His thoughts returned to the Moon Princess. She would be Queen someday. If he could befriend her, could show her that even an orphaned Earth-child had talents that could benefit the Moon, surely she could bend the rules of class and ancestry. Princess Serenity was Endymion's only hope for a chance to reach his full potential. He would go to the arranged meeting in the garden. Even if it was a trick and he was arrested, at least that would bring change to his stagnant life. "Sailor Mars' temper is as hot as her fire, but I know she truly cares about me," Princess Serenity finished. She and Prince Endymion were walking through the tall hedges of a smaller garden now. This was a truly peaceful place, devoid of all sound. Everything was perfectly still; not a single green leaf moved. The couple's shoes on the stones and the rustling of their clothing were all that broke the background silence. Serenity walked slightly ahead of her fiance, leading him toward a particular garden. "Tell me about your friends," she suggested. The Earth Prince sighed quietly, his eyes roaming the motionless bushes. Serenity suspected he was growing tired of her questions, but she was not about to give up. After a long pause, he finally began speaking. "My closest advisors are all the friends I need," he said. "They are my guardians, much like your Sailor Soldiers, and are the generals of Earth's army. Kunzite is their leader. He is a strong, serious man who works hard at his duties..." The Princess listened attentively, watching Endymion with a sideways glance as they passed a small marble fountain. The young man's demeanor seemed to brighten as he spoke of the friends he had left behind and the pleasures of his homeworld. He still kept his stoic exterior, but beneath, a hint of feeling was beginning to shine through. A gradual mist of sadness began to drift into Prince Endymion's eyes as he described each of his advisors in turn. Serenity had to admit his royal blue gaze was rather enchanting when it was not glassy and blank. Her fiance did not look directly at her, but the cool blue orbs shining from beneath strands of auburn hair, contrasting with the fairness of Endymion's skin, reminded the Moon Princess of the fresh, clear pools that were threaded through the gardens. Somewhere beneath the cold, sterile Prince there was a man with thoughts and feelings. Without even realizing it, Princess Serenity's steps brought them to her favorite garden, sequestered in one of the far corners of the private grounds. It was a small hideaway, overflowing with flower-encrusted pathways and vines. A few small trees pushed toward the sun, their tender branches thin from growing in very little wind. Clear water burst forth from a pedestal in the center of the garden, forming a small pool at its base. Eagerly, Serenity locked her eyes on her fiance's face to see his reaction to her favorite spot on the castle grounds. After a moment, her smile faltered. Prince Endymion looked around the garden casually, blinking in the sunlight, but his face remained impassive. His eyes had regained their blank, glassy look. He stared at his surroundings with a dull expression, without a flicker of interest. The Moon Princess steeled her resolve and forced the smile back to her face. She wasn't going to give up now. The crystal-haired girl stepped forward and took a deep breath of the fragrant air, closing her eyes to absorb the feeling of the sun's warmth on her skin. The sweet scent of flowers filled her from head to toe, easing the weight on her soul. Opening her eyes again, Serenity turned to face her auburn-haired fiance, putting on her most friendly smile. "Endymion, what is your favorite flower?" she asked brightly. The blue-eyed man sighed, looking around lazily. "Princess, my life has not allowed much time for flowers," he said stiffly. "Well, from now on, you will have more time to relax," Serenity commented. "The color of the gardens is refreshing, is it not?" Endymion nodded vaguely. Trying not to show her exasperation, the Princess pressed on. "Look around the gardens," she suggested. "Find your favorite flower and bring it to me." Cold sterile eyes bored into her. "Why?" The Earth Prince's voice was neutral and empty. "Please, Endymion," Serenity sighed, begging with her eyes. "As you wish, Princess." In a swirl of black cloth, Prince Endymion turned and strode away from his fiance. He headed off into the small garden and disappeared behind a tall bush. Princess Serenity wandered idly down the pathway to the center of the garden, which was paved with small stones. This place had seemed so much larger when she was a little girl, like an entire world. She had been so innocent then, wanting nothing more than to play with her guardians. As a child, she thought those days would last forever. It had been years before she understood the responsibilities that came with her birth. Reaching the fountain, Serenity reached out to touch the clear water bubbling from the marble pedestal. The crisp, cool liquid flowed over her fingertips, splashing against the hem of her dress. The Princess smiled vaguely, remembering all the times she had been scolded for playing in this fountain. It was here that she had met the first boy she had ever talked to. She remembered it as if it were yesterday. A boy older than she, with dark hair and gray eyes, had wandered into the garden. He had obviously been a servant of the palace, with his dirty face and clothes. Serenity hadn't cared. Any child was a potential friend. The grown Princess raised her head, and her gaze fell on the old gardener's entrance, through which the boy had invaded her world. The wooden door was barely visible beneath the ivy, which had grown thicker over the years. Only a few panels showed through the curtain of green. Serenity remembered how startled she had been to see a boy walk through that door. He had seemed so...natural, really, in his patched clothes, more real somehow than the immaculate courtiers that surrounded her mother all day. It had intrigued her. Most likely, that was what interested her in the man she had met last night, Endou. His muscular, rough-skinned body, tanned by the sun, represented a life where stability was earned, not given. The Princess was curious about the world beyond the castle walls, a world she only glimpsed through the words of servants. Endou. Princess Serenity had told him this door would be open for him to visit her. She sighed, nervously clutching the white fabric of her dress in her hands. She had been upset; surely she had merely been desperate for a sympathetic ear. She couldn't possibly have really wanted a second meeting with the stable hand. Besides, she was engaged; it would be inappropriate for her to associate with another man. A sound behind Serenity caught her attention, and she turned around. Prince Endymion was back, strangely fast for a man who had never seen many of these flowers before. The Princess stepped toward the approaching Prince, away from the vine-covered door, leaving it firmly locked. She felt a twinge of guilt, but brushed it aside. It was unthinkable for her to befriend a lowly stable hand. When Endou found the door locked, he would surely dismiss the planned meeting with the Princess as a fleeting whim of royalty - if he showed up at all. Serenity's face brightened when she noticed her fiance was indeed returning with a flower. Last night everything had seemed hopeless, but now there was a chance that she and Prince Endymion might become friends. Her eyes narrowed as Endymion drew closer, and she realized the plant he carried was a tiny, pale thing, little more than a weed. Why would he choose that flower out of all the beautiful, colorful blossoms that filled the gardens? The Earth Prince marched up to his betrothed, his youthful face as neutral as always, and held the flower out to her. Serenity took it from him timidly, with a stab of inner pain as Endymion shifted his fingers to prevent them from brushing against hers. She looked down at the pitiful, feeble plant, trying to guess the answer to her question even before she asked it. "And what inspired you to choose this flower, Endymion?" the Princess inquired, swallowing her disappointment. "It was there," the auburn-haired man replied simply. Serenity looked at him quizzically until he was forced to continue. "You asked me to bring you a flower, Princess. I have brought one to you, have I not?" The pale young woman sighed, shaking her head until her streams of crystal hair waved back and forth over the stone path. "I wanted you to choose a flower that meant something to you," she grumbled. Something flickered in her companion's eyes, and Prince Endymion looked away. "There is no such blossom here," he muttered. Serenity was at her wits' end. She stared at her fiance, stepping closer to him so that he could not help but look at her. "Endymion, we are to be together for the rest of our lives," she said, more bitterly than she meant to. "This can not go on. Please tell me what is troubling you so. Do you dislike the Moon? Are you displeased with this marriage? With...me?" The Prince looked at her, his royal blue gaze meeting Serenity's evenly as they faced each other from equal heights. "Do you really want to know how I feel about all this?" he asked quietly. "I do," the Princess replied, her gaze never faltering in her sincerity. "I must know." "I can be honest, and you will not hold anything I say against me?" Endymion pressed. "I can not punish you for speaking the truth," Serenity assured him, trying to remain calm. An uneasy wave of nervousness surged in the pit of her stomach as she dreaded what he had to say, and yet, she was eager to hear it. For a moment, Prince Endymion looked away, uncertain. Then he turned back to stare intently at his betrothed, as if to ensure she would take him seriously. "I have no desire to marry you, Princess Serenity," the Earth Prince said coldly, his eyes clear and sincere for the first time. "I do this because I am bound to. It is my duty, nothing more. I have no interest in becoming your lover or your friend, beyond what is required of us to ensure the continuation of our royal houses." Serenity felt cold. She was surrounded by a fog of numbness. There was no light, and even the fragrance of the flowers was sucked away, leaving her alone in a world of emptiness. All that remained was the ice-blue stare of Prince Endymion's dark eyes, emotionless as he spoke the words that shattered her fragile dreams. "I had hoped you would feel the same," the Prince continued. "I did not intend to hurt you, but it seems you were hoping for something that can never be. I have left my home - my life - behind because it is my duty, nothing more. It will always remain so." The young Princess swallowed hard. The Moon was spinning around her, but she forced herself to stand firm. All chances at love, at happiness, destroyed? It couldn't be. Was she truly doomed to spend the rest of her days with a man who did not, would not, care about her? Despair threatened to bring tears to her eyes, but she fought them away. "All right, then," she forced herself to say, although her tongue felt like stone in her mouth. "I'll speak to my mother. If both of us are unhappy, perhaps she'll see that we shouldn't be married." "No!" Startled, Serenity looked at the Prince and was shocked to see a genuine expression of fear on his perpetually apathetic face. All the color had drained from his cheeks, and his eyes were wide with horror. "Please, Princess, do not break our engagement," Prince Endymion begged, looking almost panicked. "My parents have worked so hard to make our union possible. They will be devastated if I do not become your husband. The people of the Golden Kingdom are depending on this treaty to end their suffering. I can not fail them!" "The treaty between the Earth and the Moon would not be in jeopardy," Serenity said, but her fiance shook his head vigorously. Suddenly, he reached out and gripped the Princess by her upper arms, touching her for the first time not required by custom or ceremony. His hands were smooth and warm against her bare flesh, soft from a life as part of the nobility, but the long-awaited touch brought no excitement to Serenity's heart. "It is my parents' greatest wish that I be accepted as your consort," Prince Endymion said desperately. "I may not want to marry you, but I must! Please, Princess. You said you would not punish me for my honesty!" "I apologize," Serenity said softly. "I will not breathe a word of this to my mother." Prince Endymion heaved a sigh of relief. Suddenly, he seemed to realize what he was doing and released the crystal-haired girl abruptly. "I apologize as well, Princess, if I have offended you." "Not at all, Endy-" Serenity stopped as her companion bristled and a flash of indignant anger flared on his face. "Prince," she amended wretchedly. The young man seemed satisfied by this. "The demonstration will be starting soon," Prince Endymion commented. "Perhaps we should return to the castle." "Of course," the Princess replied, moving toward the exit with a half-smile. She still felt numb, as if she were dead inside. She was engaged to this man, and yet he showed her no emotion beyond self-preservation. It was so disappointing, so...different from the only other Earth-child she had ever met. Serenity stopped at the bend in the hedge that would separate her from the secluded garden. At that moment, she wanted nothing more than a conversation outside the confines of formality. "Please excuse me, Prince. I need to examine the garden for weed growth while I'm here. There's no need for you to wait; go on without me." Endymion looked uncertain. "It would be unseemly for us to return separately," he said. "I will rejoin you before you reach the castle, there is no need to worry," Serenity said brightly. The Prince nodded slowly, then turned and continued down the path alone. Pausing for a moment, the Princess took a deep, steadying breath. Then, before she could reconsider, she hurried back to her favorite garden, her skirts rustling against the stones. After glancing around quickly to make sure no one was watching, Serenity scurried up to the nearly-hidden gardener's entrance. With trembling hands, she carefully worked the tendrils of ivy away from the old wooden panels. Soon she uncovered the lock, a simple sliding bolt of metal. After all, it was only intended to keep people out of the gardens; who on the inside would open it? Steadying her nerves, Serenity wrapped her delicate fingers around the bolt and tugged it aside. The faint scrape of metal on metal seemed deafening in the silent garden, the soft click of the lock opening a startling blast. The Princess fought to quiet her breathing. She knew she should lock the door again and leave, but she could not bring herself to do it. "I'll be back," she whispered to the old wooden door. Princess Serenity whirled around and hurried to rejoin her fiance, a strange excitement bubbling within her heart. |
