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 weeks following the near-disaster were anything but ordinary for Endymion and Princess Serenity. During the daylight hours they went about their usual business in their separate worlds, but nights were their chance for freedom. They met nearly every evening for at least a short time, taking an occasional night apart to catch up on lost sleep. Endymion would creep up to the Princess' balcony, Serenity would cover herself in the rough brown cloak, and they would slip away together. Sometimes they would go riding and sometimes stroll around the grounds, but most often they would just sit somewhere and talk. Although she did her best to hide it from the rugged stable hand, Serenity could no longer deny that she was quite attracted to him. He was an Earth-child, like the Prince she was engaged to, yet he was everything her fiance was not. Every time she looked at him, her heart skipped a beat and her skin felt as if it had been set aflame. He was so handsome, his smooth charcoal eyes and thick dark hair perfect complements to the bronzed tone of his skin. Serenity found herself spending more and more time in front of her mirror before their meetings, trying to look her best for him. She was a Princess with power and prestige on her side, but the stable hand was surely surrounded by well-built and skilled female servants. What if Serenity was not good enough for him? For his part, Endymion was not certain where the border lay between friendship and a stronger, deeper emotion. At first, he tried to rationalize his feelings. She was his Princess and future Queen; it was only natural for Endymion to be attracted to Serenity and want to protect her. He wanted to be her friend so he could escape the prison of his birth. Even so, Endymion had befriended many a person over the course of his lifetime and none of them made him feel like this. The presence of Princess Serenity was enough to send warm tingles through his body. When they were together, he could not stop gazing at her. He longed to run his fingers through her crystal hair, to hold her in his arms when she was sad. He often found himself leading Serenity somewhere at a run, just to have an excuse to take her hand, to feel the lightning shoot straight from his fingers to his heart at the touch of her smooth skin. Strangely, the Princess was never the first to let go. Endymion treasured every moment he spent with the Lunarian Princess, and he listened to her frustration with the confines of her life with a secret dismay. If he could have, Endymion would have rearranged the Moon itself to keep a smile on Serenity's face, but he was powerless to help her. "What is troubling you, Serenity?" Endymion asked gently as they sat side by side on a marble bench beside a quiet pond. The Princess seemed more melancholy today than usual, her blue eyes dull and lifeless behind the smile that came with Endymion's presence. Serenity was impressed. She had been hiding her sadness tonight, trying not to let it ruin her precious few hours of freedom with the stable hand. Only her mother had ever been able to find suffering by her daughter's eyes alone. "Prince Endymion is returning soon," she sighed. Serenity's heart consistently urged her to trust this servant with her secrets, and she willingly conceded. "My mother is hosting a masquerade ball to welcome him and his four guardians to their new home." "I thought you enjoyed balls," Endymion commented. Inside, he was sick to his stomach with worry. With her fiance back to stay, would Serenity stop meeting her midnight visitor? What if he never saw her again? Endymion struggled to maintain the illusion of contentment as every fiber of his being cried out for reassurance. "I do," the Princess replied, "but Prince Endymion will not dance with me. He will barely even touch me," she lamented, staring over the still waters of the pond. "At our engagement ceremony, he wouldn't stay with me a moment longer than absolutely necessary." Endymion bristled with disgust. Although only the castle servants knew his secret, he felt as if the Earth Prince were ruining his good name. The royal fool. Prince Endymion had the most beautiful woman in the solar system as his future wife - the gentlest, most caring and enchanting goddess alive -and he was taking her for granted. "Although," Serenity mused, "if he hadn't been so cold, I wouldn't have left the ball...and I wouldn't have met you." She titled her head toward Endymion and glanced up at him shyly, her large blue eyes half-hidden by her long eyelashes. "I suppose some hardships are worth the result." "I am glad you think so, Serenity." Endymion blushed as her eyes bored into him, their intensity causing all the blood to rush to his head. "In that case, perhaps I can forgive him for treating you so poorly." "If I'm already dreading spending one evening with him, how can I manage it for the rest of my life?" Serenity moaned. Leaning forward on the bench, she buried her face in her hands. "I wish I didn't have to go to the ball." Endymion laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, but he wished there was something more he could do to comfort her. "Look alive up there, Endou!" The stable hand in question jumped, startled, and looked down at his blond friend from his perch in the hayloft. Prien was glaring up at him; they were falling behind again. Endymion rubbed his eyes wearily and bent over his pitchfork, returning to his task of tossing loose hay over the edge so Prien could spread it across the stable floor. The other pairs of workers surrounding them were hard at work, their sections of the stable nearly finished. Endymion tried to summon up another burst of energy, but he was tired, so tired. He had barely slept the night before, having spent most of the dark hours lying in his bed thinking about Princess Serenity. What could he do to make her happy? He was only a servant of the castle, and a minor one at that. No matter how long and hard he mulled over the possibilities, Endymion could not come up with a plausible idea that would make any difference at all. Gifts were out of the question; he had hardly any money, and the Princess had everything she could ever want anyway. He wasn't a very artistic person, so creative gifts were not an option, and their secret meetings didn't allow much opportunity for travel. Besides, those things would only bring Serenity a brief moment of happiness, which would soon vanish into the oblivion of her growing depression. He knew what she really wanted, and it was something Endymion could never give her. She wanted to be engaged to a man who loved her; a man who would be her friend, counselor, and happy companion. A man who would dance with her at the masquerade ball. It was hopeless. Endymion froze, his grip tightening on the pitchfork until his knuckles turned white. It was a masquerade. A ball wherein the identity of every attendee would be hidden. Perhaps...but did he dare venture, even invisible, into the jaws of the dragon? The very thought made his blood run cold. "Endou!" Prien yelled again as the shower of hay stopped falling around him. His Earth-born friend, however, was too lost in his own thoughts to hear him. The day finally arrived and the Sailor Soldiers were once again standing beside their monarchs in the teleportation chamber, this time awaiting the return of the travelers from Earth. A tiny groan of dread escaped Princess Serenity's throat as the party shimmered into existence on the stone platform. Although Prince Endymion would be making many visits to Earth, the Moon would be his home from now on. Most of his baggage had already arrived and was set up in a suite of rooms in the royal wing, near to Serenity's own. Closer to the Queen's apartments, larger quarters were being prepared where the young couple would live after their wedding. Without his parents by his side, Prince Endymion seemed rather small, sad, and alone. He greeted his fiance with a kiss on the hand, and as he straightened up, the Princess could see the lost and uncertain look in his blue eyes. He had the nervous look of a castaway marooned on a strange world. This encounter felt different than any of their previous meetings. Princess Serenity was engaged to this Prince of Earth, who had given up his entire life to be here with her, and yet she had spent so many hours at the side of another man and fully intended to continue doing so. She felt dreadfully guilty and could not hold Prince Endymion's gaze without blushing, acutely conscious of the bracelet of orange beads around her wrist. "Welcome back, Prince Endymion," the Princess croaked, her throat terribly dry. A servant appeared at her elbow almost instantly with a chalice of water, which the crystal-haired young woman eagerly accepted as an excuse to look away from her betrothed. "Where are your guardians?" Queen Serenity asked, her eyes roaming the assortment of servants gathering the last pieces of luggage from the teleportation platform. "We've heard so much about them." Beside her, Luna collected reports and documents offered by the Moon delegation as scientists hurried past with samples and equipment. Prince Endymion's face was like stone, more impassive than even his fiance had seen before. "They had further matters to attend to, with the appointment of new generals and such," he said in a dead voice. "They will be joining me here as soon as they are able." Returning the chalice to the servant's tray, Princess Serenity turned back to the Earth Prince, her blue eyes soft with pity. She had forgotten about Kunzite and the others, who were supposed to come to the Moon with their master. Without them, Prince Endymion was truly alone on this world. She could not imagine what it would be like to be on a strange planet without the Sailor Soldiers and did not want to experience it. With a feeling of resigned sympathy, Princess Serenity realized that she was the closest thing he had to a friend on the entire Moon. She could not brush him aside. "Come, Prince Endymion, I will show you to your rooms," she invited warmly, putting on the best smile she could muster for the diminished husk of a man who stood before her. They headed toward the exit, side by side, in silence. Now that he was far away from the shadows of his parents, perhaps the Earth Prince would finally warm up to his bride-to-be. But, Serenity mused with a fresh pang of guilt, did she still want him to? Gradually, the crowd and the confusion within the teleportation chamber began to disperse. Sailor Venus briefed Mercury and Mars on the Princess' remaining appointments for the day and sent the two soldiers to join the servants accompanying the young couple, then left with Sailor Jupiter to check on the additional security that had been set up around Prince Endymion's apartments. The scientists and diplomats trooped away to their offices and homes, leaving Luna with a stack of reports. Queen Serenity, however, lingered longer than most of the crowd, leaving with her retinue when only a few travelers remained. Accompanied only by Luna and the few servants who always hovered around her, the Moon Queen returned to her offices near the Silver Alliance council chambers. A few ambassadors nodded or bowed to the monarch as she passed, but once the group entered the first room of the royal office suite, they had complete privacy save for the Queen's two personal scribes who waited there. After giving her servants their instructions, Serenity and Luna crossed into the small private meeting room alone, closing the door behind them. The circular room with its round table and five chairs was empty, as was the expansive angular Crystal Office visible through the open door at the other side. They did not have to wait long before a soft knock came from the scribes' room. Luna hurried to open the door. A nervous member of the scientific team that had traveled to Earth was standing there, holding a small packing crate in his trembling arms as if it were a priceless treasure. At a nod from Queen Serenity, he gingerly set the wooden box on the floor and slid one side open. A sleek white cat darted out of the box and across the carpet toward the Queen. At first glance it seemed like an ordinary cat, its snowy hair cropped short against its skin, but even while running the creature had a proud poise that was obvious from the angle of its ears to the way it held its tail aloft. With a spring in its step that outshone the capabilities of any normal animal, the white cat leapt up to the top of the round table and trotted across to the Queen, bending its head to the smooth surface in a graceful bow. Back at the entrance to the meeting room the scientist hurriedly gathered up the packing crate and scurried away, and Luna closed the door firmly behind him. "Artemis," Queen Serenity said cooly, looking down her nose at the small cat with the gold-colored crescent moon mark set into the fur on its forehead, "you know I find it uncomfortable to converse with animals." "Very well, my Queen," the cat sighed in the smooth low tones of an adult man, which seemed out of place coming from a small white feline. The creature whirled around with a whisk of its snowy tail and jumped back down to the carpeted floor, landing beside Luna's feet. It shook itself briskly. The sleek furry body swelled and elongated, growing larger and changing form all at once. Luna pressed a button, and a concealed panel in the wall slid open with a faint hiss, revealing a narrow closet filled with familiar clothing: white suits and yellow dresses. She pulled out a white cloak and held it ready as Artemis stretched out his legs and arms, his fur fading into pale skin, the hair on his head growing long in compensation. He pushed himself up on his hind legs as they lengthened until he rose above Luna's height, and his front paws elongated into hands and fingers. His facial features spread out and redefined themselves into a man's. After a moment, no trace of Artemis' feline form remained save for the golden bald patch on his forehead, which became a smooth reflective crescent moon mark like the one on the Queen's own brow. Artemis took the cloak from Luna and wrapped it around his waist, leaving his sculpted chest bare. "Did anyone suspect you?" the Queen asked. The white-haired man shook his head. "I made sure nobody was around when I left the supply crates or returned to them," he assured the monarch, who nodded in satisfaction. "Now, Artemis, your report," Queen Serenity requested, taking her seat at the opposite side of the table. There was a moment of silence as the man looked uneasy, as if reluctant to speak. "The situation on Earth is...less than optimal," he said at last, struggling to maintain his professional demeanor. The Queen's eyes narrowed. "Explain." "It seems the populace of the Golden Kingdom is a fickle body," Artemis confessed, his face becoming downcast. "Not all of Earth's people are pleased by the new treaty. A significant percentage of the population still believes itself equal to the Lunarians, and thus disapproves of the Earth monarchy's attempt to reconcile our disagreement." Artemis' long fingers clutched at the fabric around his waist as his face darkened. "Cruel lies are being muttered amongst the servants and even some of the nobility," he growled, his knuckles whitening against the cloth. "They insult your honor, the legacy of the Moon, the blood of the Princess..." With a heavy sigh, Queen Serenity stared down at the smooth black-accented marble of the tabletop. "I had hoped they had learned the error of their ways," she said quietly. "Will King Arton and Queen Elana be able to keep things under control?" Artemis averted his eyes. "The majority of Earth's people are eager to renew ties with the Moon, but the others feel their rulers are spineless weaklings for catering to the undeserving Lunarians," he practically spat. "The Golden Kingdom is strong, but opinions are not easy to change, even for monarchs." "Yes, I know," Queen Serenity commented with a distant half-smile. "There are many who do not approve of my daughter being wedded to blood of an inferior planet, royalty or no. My people, however, trust my judgment." "The dissent is not widespread," the white-haired man said, adding a positive note to his report. "If Earth's monarchy can prevent the rise of a strong revolutionary leader, the opposition should die down on its own. The King and Queen are not ignorant of the situation; Prince Endymion's four guardians have remained on Earth to help derail any potential rebellion." "I suppose it would only make the situation worse if we were to step in," the Queen mused, leaning back in her chair. "Very well, we will give the Golden Kingdom a chance to resolve its own problems. However, be prepared, both of you," she added with a nod to Luna as well. "I may need to ask you to undertake additional missions." Luna returned the nod in agreement, but Artemis coughed lightly into his fist. "My Queen, the Royal Family of Venus has authorized me to ask a favor on behalf of my homeworld, Mau, in exchange for my services in this matter." "And that is?" "The people of Mau would like to obtain a few feline specimens from Earth for study," Artemis explained, assuming the air of a dignified emissary despite his half-clothed state. "We are always looking to learn about possible ties between us and other species." "I think that can be arranged," Queen Serenity replied thoughtfully. "Although, I must admit, I'm surprised that Mauans would approve of research on animals." "Believe me, my Queen," Artemis replied, a dark cloud settling over his face, "our treatment of the cats will be far more humane than the fate of strays on Earth." Queen Serenity stared up at the tall man in shock for a moment, then composed herself. "The marriage of Serenity and Endymion will bring many changes for Earth, that is certain," she said quietly. Placing her hands flat against the table, the Queen pushed herself up to her feet. "Thank you for your assistance, Artemis. Please, dress yourself," she continued, indicating the open closet with a wave of her arm. Her gentle gaze flitted back and forth between the white-haired man and his fellow Mauan, Luna, who was still standing close beside him. Quite close. "I shall be studying reports in my office for a while," Serenity informed them casually, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Luna, I shall not require your services for the next hour." With a twinkle in her eye, the Queen glided through the door to the Crystal Office and closed the door behind herself, leaving Luna and Artemis alone in the privacy of the conference room. The hilt of the sword felt cold and rubbery in Endymion's fingers as he numbly went through the usual motions. His brain was alive with thoughts of the masquerade ball that was to take place that evening, leaving no room for more than mechanical fencing patterns. Was he really going to go through with his plan? How could he even consider it? Yet, it would be so wonderful to see Serenity's pale face light up with delight. Surely, that would make it all worthwhile. A sharp twinge of pain shot up Endymion's arm as Sir Marton knocked the sword out of his feeble grasp. The ringing clang of the blade clattering across the stone floor jolted the stable hand back to reality, and he jerked his head up and focused his eyes on the Moon Knight in front of him. "Where are you today?" Marton demanded, lowering his own sword so that it no longer pointed directly at Endymion's heart. "If your mind is not on your lesson, there are other tasks I could be attending to!" "I apologize," Endymion said quickly, snatching up his weapon from the floor. "Please, sir, do not end our sessions. I will try harder." With a chuckle, the older man allowed a smile to spread across his face. "Do not worry about that. It is a pleasure to teach you, Endou. Your skills are remarkable." Surprised by the unexpected compliment, Endymion did not know what to say. He stared at the Moon Knight for a moment, his lips parted, but no words emerged. "If I had the means, and you the blood, I would make you a true squire," Marton sighed, idly wiping a fingerprint from his blade with a fold of his shirt. "I should not admit this to you, Endou, but your talent surpassed mine long ago." "W-what?" the bewildered stable hand stammered, his confusion finally finding speech. "I don't understand." "For the past year," the Moon Knight confessed, meeting his student's dark gaze with steady, sincere eyes, "I have been teaching you techniques that I myself have been unable to master. With a little confidence in yourself, I believe you could best all but the most accomplished Moon Knights in the Guard. I have seen many soldiers, Endou, and none of them have ever shown such a degree of innate ability as you have. It is almost as if an ancient power were lending you strength." The tanned young man laughed nervously, unsure how to react to Marton's words. Was this some kind of joke? "I see you do not believe me," the older man said with a wry grin. "Did you never wonder why we stopped sparring during your lessons and simply practiced new techniques instead? Come, I will prove it to you. Let us have a real match." The Moon Knight backed up a few paces and spread his legs, crouching down into position as he raised his sword arm. Endymion stared at him in disbelief, still stunned by his teacher's words. "Sir, I-" "Enough," Marton cut him off, but his eyes were twinkling. "Prepare yourself!" He lunged at Endymion, thrusting his sword toward the Earth-child's torso. Even caught off-guard, it only took a moment for the tanned man to brace himself and raise his own blade to deflect the blow. Throwing Marton's sword aside with an electric squeal of metal on metal, Endymion leapt forward to drive his weapon at his teacher's heart, but the older man jumped aside with practiced agility and had his blade ready to block the stable hand's next attack. They crossed swords and hovered, frozen, for a moment, straining against one another's strength. Both men grinned at each other over their crossed blades, the exhilarating rush of adrenaline pulsing through their veins. Getting into the swing of things, Endymion decided to try one of the techniques he had recently learned, which was designed for just this kind of situation. Shifting his feet, he gripped the hilt of his sword firmly in both hands and pulled it around in a wide arc - a perfect Crown of Mars - and was so surprised he nearly dropped his weapon as Marton's sword flew out of his hand and slid across the floor. There was a long pause as Endymion, with the tip of his blade against his teacher's throat, stared at the Moon Knight with wide, startled eyes. Sir Marton began to laugh, breaking the spell. "You see?" he chuckled, spreading his hands in a shrug. "But...a simple Selene's Star could have defended against that!" the stable hand protested, still in disbelief over his victory. He let his sword arm drop limply to his side and Marton bent down to collect his weapon from where it had fallen. "I have never mastered that technique," the Moon Knight admitted, straightening up. "It is said that those who cannot do, teach." He clapped a hand to the younger man's shoulder in a friendly manner. "You would have made a fine Moon Knight, Endou." "Thank you, sir." Endymion's tongue felt like marble in his mouth. Had he really achieved so much? All these years, he thought he was simply learning what any squire would, nothing more. "Now, I need to prepare for tonight's ball," Marton informed him. "It seems you've had a lot on your mind lately, Endou. Why don't you take this evening off?" "No!" Endymion burst out, a little too loudly. "That is not necessary," he said in a more normal tone. His plan would be ruined if Marton sent him home without doing his chores. It would be much less suspicious for him to leave late than to return in the still of the night. "Are you sure?" the older man asked, looking at his pupil curiously. "I insist," the stable hand replied, trying not to sound too desperate. "Very well. Don't work too late, all right?" Sheathing his weapon, Sir Marton left the room, leaving Endymion alone. The rest of the afternoon passed like a hundred years. Endymion polished every shield and piece of armor three times over as slowly as he could manage, feeling sick to his stomach with apprehension. Even at this point, the moment of truth, his mind was still running wild with uncertainty. It would be so much easier, so much safer, to just leave now and return to his hut. Why was he even considering this? Why was he risking what little he had? Deep inside, he knew the answer. To see her smile. Even the thought of that bright, warm smile brought a lightness to Endymion's heart and calmed his unease. Princess Serenity was truly a special woman, beautiful inside and out. She deserved any small measure of happiness he could provide her. Before long, Sir Marton had dressed and departed for the ball. The house was quiet. With shaking hands, Endymion laid down the polishing cloth and stood up, standing perfectly still for a long moment. Not a sound, save for his own ragged breathing, disturbed the air. The light had faded from the sky and the room was dark when the stable hand finally headed for the door. Suddenly, there were voices in the hall and another door slammed shut. Endymion jerked his hand back from the latch and leaned against the wall of the room, trying to calm his pounding heart. He had forgotten the two hired women who came twice a week to clean the Moon Knight's house. "...absolutely terrible," an uneven middle-aged voice was saying. "Everyone was all smiles to the lords and ladies, of course, but the servants saw the truth behind the illusion." "Disgraceful," a younger voice commented, her tones growing louder as the women approached the room where Endymion was hiding. "You'd think the people of Earth would be more grateful, after everything Queen Serenity's done for them." "After all, it was Earth that started the whole thing," the older woman agreed. "I say, if that's the way they're going to behave..." The voices faded away as the two women headed off down the main staircase. Endymion sighed, half in relief and half in concern. These were not the first servants he had heard tell of distressing events on Earth. He was anxious to speak to Serenity about it; to hear the nobility's view of the situation. Endymion stood still until he heard the front doors of the house open and close. He knew he should just leave this place, return to his hut, and abandon his insane plan. Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped out into the darkened hallway. He could not change his mind now. He had already gone down to the shops and spent most of his savings on accessories for the evening, including a thin white mask that was waiting for him in his hut. It was too late to take the easy way out. The stable hand crept down the corridor and into the master bedroom. By the light of the blue-green Earth, he crossed the empty chamber and approached Sir Marton's closet. The Great Hall was alive with motion, the floor covered in costumed couples whirling the night away. It was an evening of decadence, filled with light music, fine wines, and elegant and elaborate clothing; a celebration of wealth and utopian bliss. At the center of it all danced the hopes and prayers for the society's future: the Moon's future rulers, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion. The woman in white and the man in black were the perfect image of a fairytale match, their grace as they danced unmatched by any other couple in the hall. At the beginning of the evening, Princess Serenity had had high hopes. She and Prince Endymion had spent much of the afternoon together, and although the auburn-haired man still barely spoke to her, she remained optimistic. Besides, this time his parents weren't there to guide his actions. At least he hadn't abandoned her as soon as ceremonially possible; the couple was actually completing a dance for the first time. Still, Prince Endymion hardly said a word, even when spoken to. Serenity tried several times to engage him in conversation, but only got a few words in response. Perhaps it was too soon, and he was homesick, but Serenity refused to stop trying. At the same time, she found it difficult to look her fiance in the eye for long. She felt guilty, the face of her future husband reminding her of the nights she had spent beside another man, the bracelet of orange beads burning around her wrist. The song ended, and the Earth Prince released the hands of his betrothed. Serenity gazed at him imploringly as a new tune began, but he looked around the hall uneasily as if searching for an escape. "Do you not like dancing?" the Princess asked. "I had hoped we could enjoy your welcoming ball together." "I find it tiresome," Prince Endymion replied, his blue eyes blank and cold through the eyeholes of the black mask that covered the top half of his face. "I am sorry, Princess, but I am not in the mood for celebration." "Well, let us sit down for a while, then," Serenity suggested brightly, but her smile became strained. She loved dancing. Was this how it was going to be at every ball for the rest of her long life? The young couple returned to the dais together, weaving amongst an endless mass of happy pairs of masked dancers. The floor was crowded, and they were jostled and nearly separated several times, but the Prince never once reached back for his fiance's hand or even looked back over his shoulder. At last they reached the throne of Selene and its accompanying high-backed chairs; two richly-upholstered seats had been placed on the top step of the dais and would remain there until the Princess became Queen. The Moon Princess nearly flopped down in her chair, momentarily exasperated. Prince Endymion seated himself demurely in his own chair beside hers. He seemed a bit more comfortable out of the crowd and raised to the height of royalty, but his face was still set in a neutral expression. The marble throne was empty. After a moment's search, the Princess located her mother gliding across the dance floor in the arms of the King of Mercury. The Prince and Princess sat there on the dais as two more songs began and ended, and the ruler of the Moon moved from partner to partner, laughing and smiling and enjoying the luxuries of her kingdom. Princess Serenity was jealous. She hoped some young lord would approach and ask her to dance, as had happened in every other ball she had attended, but with her new fiance present so close to her, it seemed no other man was bold enough to be the first to ask. She glared at the silent Earth Prince out of the corner of her eye. It just wasn't fair. "A lovely evening, isn't it?" Serenity asked at last, unable to bear the awkward silence any longer. "Yes, Princess." The apathetic young man did not turn to look at her and kept staring blankly at the crowd below them on the dance floor with a bored expression. Serenity sighed. "So, if you do not enjoy dancing, what activity do you enjoy? What are your hobbies, Prince?" "I study. I train," was the response. Serenity waited for him to elaborate, but he did not continue. "What subjects?" she prompted, squeezing the arms of her chair so tightly she thought her fingers would break. It was taking all the effort she could muster to keep her voice calm. "History, writing, and the like," Prince Endymion replied after heaving a wearied sigh of his own. "I have also studied all the preferred riding and swordsmanship techniques...although I suppose that training will be useless now," he added under his breath. "Oh, no, there's no reason to stop doing any of the activities you enjoy," the Princess said brightly. "I'm certain you will find our military facilities to your liking. Our training fields are well-equipped and the Sailor Soldiers may even be able to teach you some new skills. Our stables, as well, are stocked with the finest breeds." At these words, Serenity blushed with shame as the tanned face of a certain stable hand materialized in her mind. Those chisled shoulders and arms, that gentle smile... She felt strangely warm all over. "Sailor Mercury can assist you to further your scholarly studies," the crystal-haired Princess continued hurriedly, steering the conversation away from the stables. Distracted by the fire in her cheeks, she did not notice Prince Endymion's body slowly tensing with confined irritation. "The knowledge of the entire Silver Millennium is stored in our library," she rushed on. "I am not fond of studies myself, but even I can find something of interest there. Perhaps-" "Do you never stop talking?" It was a muttered hiss that slipped out through clenched teeth, barely audible above the music and laughter permeating the Great Hall, but Serenity heard it. She heard the bitter, irritated frustration, the bristling annoyance, the forceful honesty of those words, and it struck her like a sharp slap in the face. She gasped, feeling as if she had been doused with ice-cold water, and stared at her fiance as her lips went numb. Prince Endymion stared back, his eyes wide with horror at the words he had just uttered, but he could not unsay them. "I... I... Excuse me." Princess Serenity shot out of her chair, turned away from the Earth Prince, and scurried off down the steps of the dais and into the preparatory chamber, leaving her silver eye-mask lying on her seat. Letting the doors bang shut behind her, she flew through the rear door and into the corridor beyond, fleeing up to the royal wing alone. Her eyes stung and her cheeks burned with humiliation. Was that all she was to him? A nuisance? The hallways Serenity half-walked, half-ran down were dark and empty. Everyone was either attending the ball or assisting behind the scenes. To not participate in one of the Queen's celebrations was unthinkable to servants and nobles alike. The Moon Princess fled up to her chambers and headed straight out onto the balcony, throwing the doors open so forcefully that they rebounded off the marble walls. It was a clear, cool evening, and Serenity shivered slightly as she swept up to the balcony's railing and leaned heavily against it, resting her forearms on the cold stone. Why couldn't she be engaged to someone she could be friends with, at the very least? It wasn't that they had nothing in common; Prince Endymion refused even to talk to her, to get to know her and let her get to know him. It had been a month since their engagement ball, and they still knew next to nothing about each other. Her fiance just wouldn't try to improve things between them. Did he hate her that much? Serenity's throat choked up, but she swallowed the flood of unshed tears. She couldn't stay out here; her absence from the ball would be noticed. Soon, she would have to go back downstairs, and she didn't want to be a red-faced, tear-soaked wreck. She just wanted to stay on the balcony a little longer, to be alone and away from it all just a little longer. Just another moment of peace and quiet, and then she would go back. Sighing, the Princess gazed up at the night sky, alive with twinkling stars. The Earth was full again, having completed an entire cycle while her fiance was away. The Moon was once again illuminated by the blue-green glow of its anchoring world. As Serenity watched, bright fireworks of pink and yellow burst around the shining orb, a treat for the common people who could not attend the ball. It had been a night just like this, a clear, beautiful night, when she first laid eyes on her betrothed. That evening, too, there had been a ball, and an upset, and a flight. Serenity turned her gaze away from the Earth and hung her head, tears pooling beneath her closed eyelids. Both nights, intended as evenings of celebration, had brought her nothing but pain. Well...that wasn't entirely true. She had met two Earth men that first night and although her fiance was a devastating disappointment, the second man was a delight beyond her wildest dreams. While every moment with Prince Endymion was a torturous struggle, the dark-haired stable hand made Serenity feel light and free, bringing happiness to even the worst days. If only she could see him now, everything would be all right...but he knew of the ball and would not dare come near the castle tonight. Still, she wanted so badly to see him, wanted to hear his soft voice call the name her fiance refused to say. Lifting her hands from the marble railing, the Princess clasped them together beneath her bowed chin, interweaving her fingers as her mother had done beside the Crystal Tower. If she could make a wish on the Silver Crystal...she would wish to see the Earth-born stable hand, now. "Princess Serenity!" a voice whispered urgently from below. Her eyes popped open in surprise and she jerked her head up, searching the ground. Standing by the edge of the reflecting pool, beside a decorative pillar, was a man. He was tall and muscular, and was dressed elegantly in a sharp black tuxedo with a red-lined cape flowing from his shoulders. His dark hair was neat and trimmed, and his stance hovered between pride and nervousness as he clung to the shadows of the pillar. Dressed up as he was, Serenity almost didn't recognize him. "Endou!" she exclaimed in surprise. The stable hand stepped forward into the light. He wore the tuxedo well, carrying an air of nobility perfectly. She could almost believe he was one of the guests dancing inside the castle. "Please pardon me for being late to the ball," Endymion called up to her softly, a smirk playing across his lips. He had come here first because it was a familiar place and had not expected to actually find the Princess on her balcony. It seemed he had been right. Serenity's evening was not a pleasant one thus far, and Endymion was glad he had decided to come. Perhaps he would not have to risk sneaking into the ball after all. "I have been waiting for you," the Princess replied, her heart feeling light and fluttery inside her chest. All her sadness and frustration had evaporated almost instantly at the sight of him. "I don't know why, since we had not planned to meet tonight, but I hoped you would come. I wanted to see you so badly." "Serenity, there are some disturbing rumors spreading among the...er, in the city," Endymion said, amending his words in case anyone was listening. "I'd like to speak with you about it, if I may." It seemed wrong to bring up serious matters at a time like this, but the stable hand felt like he needed an excuse for his unexpected visit. Serenity bit her lip, looking around nervously. "I can't leave here tonight, Endou. I've been away from the ball too long already." High above, a few more fireworks exploded against the stars. What bad news might he be bringing to this night of celebration? "Perhaps it can wait, then," Endymion replied. "I apologize for disturbing you, Serenity." He turned to leave. It was a stupid idea, coming here. "No, please, Endou, don't go!" the Princess called out after him. He stopped and looked back at her. "Please, don't leave. I..." "Who's there?!" A handful of castle guards approached the area, coming down the walkway along the reflecting pool. Endymion nearly jumped out of his skin. He should run, now, he should get out of here...but he had already come so far, and she seemed so happy to see him... He had to go through with his plan. "At the ball," he called up to Serenity, backing into the shadow of the pillar. "I will see you there!" Endymion whirled around and ran along the castle wall, the black cape flowing out behind him, and disappeared around a hedge. "Endou..." the Princess whispered, leaning against the railing as he disappeared. The guards rushed across the courtyard below her balcony, chasing after her visitor at a full run. What if they caught him? If they questioned him, could he keep up his disguise? Heart pounding in her chest, Serenity hurried back into the castle. In the Great Hall, the revelry continued, the masked and disguised dancers twirling in time with the music, enjoying the bounty of the Moon Kingdom. Amidst the crowded celebration, it seemed no one had noticed the absence of their Princess. At the rear of the hall, Serenity nervously descended a side staircase, clutching her skirts in one hand and the marble railing at her right with the other. Her eyes searched the shifting flood of guests. Could a stable hand really find his way in here? From the stairs, she could see all the way to the dais, and at its base, Prince Endymion was looking as stiff in the arms of Sailor Venus as he had been in his fiance's. Serenity chuckled to herself. Perhaps the soldier of love would have better luck extracting some emotion from the stoic Earth Prince. On the other hand, the man would certainly not find Venus less talkative than his betrothed. As she neared the foot of the stairs, a firm grip suddenly seized her hand on the marble banister. Princess Serenity stopped short and looked down with a gasp, startled. There he was, her beloved stable hand, standing beside the staircase in his inky-black tuxedo. The collar of his white shirt was turned up to conceal the silver tattoo that marked his neck, and a thin white mask covered his eyes, hiding them from view. In this guise, he seemed familiar, somehow, but Serenity could not pinpoint the memory. "Princess, may I?" Endymion squeezed her slender hand gently. The white gloves felt strange against his flesh, but without them, his rough and calloused hands would quickly betray his station. The tuxedo was a stiff, confining thing, but he would gladly wrap himself in broken glass if it gave him another moment beside Serenity. The Princess' heart pounded in excitement, but she held her face steady. This would be risky enough without her elation drawing more attention to them. She gracefully glided down to the floor of the Great Hall, carefully holding her skirts out of the path of her glass slippers. The masked man moved away from the staircase and stood facing her, holding out a gloved hand. Serenity raised her own arm and slowly placed her fingers in his grasp. "Endou," she whispered. She almost couldn't believe it. This was a dream come true, a dance with a man who truly cared for her. His strong arm tugged her forward and she sailed smoothly into his embrace, her head barely reaching his shoulder as he placed his free arm firmly around her waist. "Did you not know I could dance, Serenity?" Endymion said quietly with a teasing edge to his voice. They began to move together, swaying from side to side, their feet mirroring each other's steps with little effort. "My life is not all horses and hay." Gently, the young man pushed the Princess away from him and swung her around by one arm in a wide arc. Serenity let her head fall back, and her eyes slid closed, her streams of hair rippling around her. It felt so natural, dancing with him, her free arm trailing out to her side as she glided through the air. There was no awkward stiffness, no calculated and precise steps. There was only the relaxed pleasure of the dance. The Great Hall was by far the most enormous room Endymion had ever set foot in. Surrounded by elegant finery, both adorning the walls and clothing the other dancers, he felt terribly out of place. Not only that, but somewhere in this crowd was a man Endymion was rather rapidly growing to hate: Serenity's cold and heartless fiance. Feeling the pressure of hundreds of members of the nobility, the stable hand confined his dance with the Princess to the far corner beside the staircase. He was masked, and there was a large enough crowd to be lost in, but he didn't want to take any further risks by drawing attention to them. "Obviously, if I were found here, it would be a disaster," Endymion muttered to his dance partner. "So, please pardon my appearance." He pulled Serenity close again and the Princess slid up to his side, her head hovering beside his right shoulder. "Do not worry, Endou," she replied, looking up at his masked face. "It is acceptable for any woman to dance with any man at a celebration like this, even an engaged one. No one will suspect you. You look wonderful - perfect - like any other nobleman," she assured him, admiring the smooth angle of his chin and the slope of his shoulders beneath the black suitcoat. "The time may be coming when being of Earth will be worse than being of common blood," Endymion murmured. Inwardly, he cursed himself. Even at a precious time like this, a dream come true, dancing with a beautiful Princess in the Great Hall of a castle, he could not stop himself from bringing up the negative things that troubled him. Wrapping one arm securely around Serenity's waist, he dipped her backward, swinging her head so low that her hair pooled like quicksilver on the tiled floor. The Princess automatically raised one leg for balance, her flowing white skirts rippling outward. Even at the bottom of the dip, she lifted her head slightly to look at Endymion with puzzled eyes. "What do you mean?" Serenity asked when her masked partner had lifted her upright again. "It seems the delegation to Earth was not given as warm a welcome as they expected," the tuxedoed stable hand replied. The two of them swung apart at arm's length, linked together by one pair of clasped hands, and Endymion's cloak rolled out to the side, revealing the lush red velvet lining on its inside. The man had to admit he rather enjoyed wearing this cape, which was light enough for even the slightest breeze to send it flying. The style of the nobility did have its good points. The Princess and the stable hand pulled themselves close to each other again. "There is still some bitterness toward the Moon in the Golden Kingdom," Endymion continued. "Stop." Throwing caution to the wind, Serenity laid her head against her dance partner's chest, one ball of hair pressing into his white shirt. "Please, let's not talk about such things right now," she said softly. "I just want to enjoy this dance, this evening...this time with you." Her head was warm, even through the starched shirt, and Endymion knew she could feel his heart pounding within his chest. He looked down at her through the thin white mask, and she raised her head, her blue eyes gazing up at him imploringly. Their bodies had not been so close together since the ride on the black stallion, and Endymion felt tingly all over. Before he could hesitate, the stable hand lifted an arm and wrapped it around her slender shoulders. He wanted to stay like this, just like this, forever, just holding her in his arms. "As you wish, Serenity. I will dance with you as long as you like." The Princess leaned into the tall Earth-born man, soaking in his warmth through her cheek, and rested one pale hand against his chest. She had danced with countless noblemen over the course of her lifetime, but now she knew the true meaning, the true purpose of spending hours surrounded by music in the arms of a man. The reason was not the ceremony but the intimacy, the closeness, the enveloping presence of a loved one. After several dances, it became too risky for Princess Serenity to continue spending the evening exclusively with one man. Yet, she was certainly not eager to return to her fiance's side, nor did she want to leave the stable hand's. Instead, she led her companion out on the balcony that adjoined the Great Hall, and they moved away from the doors to stand between two tall pillars. From here, they could see an inlet of the expansive Sea of Serenity, which extended from the castle grounds on this side to a distant district of the city, its lights casting flickering reflections on the water. Although the dancing still continued inside, the fireworks had ended for the evening, and the night was still and quiet. "I am concerned your fiance may not be what he seems," the stable hand confessed. He had removed his mask and stood facing the young Princess beside the railing that lined the balcony. "It worries me that you have heard none of this." He had explained the rumors he had heard amongst the servants, but Serenity heard little of it. Earth, diplomacy, arranged marriages; none of that mattered right now, here in this moment. It was almost like a dream, standing in a beautiful evening like this with the full Earth shining above, alone with this man...the man she loved. She could no longer deny that this stable hand was her heart's desire. Every word from his lips was poetry, every movement of his body was a dance that spoke to her soul. He was so handsome, in anything he wore, but the elegant black tuxedo added a touch of class that placed him above any other man. Her eyes drank in every detail of him, from the short locks of dark hair that trailed beside his eyes to his strong chin and thin lips. His lips... She could not prevent herself from watching them as they moved, every word seeming like a song written just for her. Endymion reached out and took the Princess' hand in his. "Promise me you'll be careful around him, Serenity. Will you do that?" The way she was looking at him made it difficult to breathe. Her eyes were shining with a light unlike anything he had ever seen before, as if looking at him was a priceless gift, a treasure. He gazed into those beautiful cerulean eyes, their depths wrapping him in waves of tingling warmth that spread throughout his body. Truly, it was Princess Serenity who was the treasure, an elegant goddess of light and life. His blood did not matter to her. She looked at him and only saw the man he was, a man she liked very much. "I promise," Serenity said softly, her mind consumed by the feeling of his hand surrounding hers. Her breathing rebelled against her, quickening against her will, her chest rising and falling more rapidly as she tried to control herself. She didn't like this small distance that separated them. She wanted to be close to him again, in his arms again, but she resisted - because that wasn't all she wanted. She wanted more, something more. "Why did you come here, Endou?" she asked, unable to tear her eyes away from the smooth liquid midnight gaze of the taller man. Her feet slowly slid forward, her shoes creeping across the marble floor. "Why did you take such a risk for me?" "To make you happy, Serenity. To see you smile." Endymion squeezed the Princess' hand. "That's all I want, in all the Moon." Was it an illusion, or was she moving closer to him? His arms ached for her warmth, his skin burned with the heat of desire, and somewhere, deep within Serenity's eyes, he found an answering yearning. The moment was beyond compare. They were alone, on an elegant balcony beneath the bright earthlight, and the essence of the evening itself seemed to surround them in the embrace of romance. There could be no more perfect time than this. Endymion made his decision. If he was arrested, executed, or imprisoned for the rest of his days, it didn't matter. He was in love with Princess Serenity, was perhaps the only man who would ever truly love her, and he could not deny her the experience of a pure expression of true love. Nor could he deny it to himself any longer. His hand shaking around hers, Endymion pulled Serenity to him and wrapped his other arm around her, enfolding her in his velvet-lined cloak. He looked down at her and discovered her eyes closed, her face tilted up toward his, waiting, anticipating. Asking. He bent toward her, letting his own eyelids slide closed. Their lips met. Serenity felt her heart race into a frenzy as a soft liquid heat rushed over her mouth and flooded throughout her entire body. Tendrils of electric energy rushed through her skin, streaming from the velvet softness of the man's lips until even her toes tingled. Her breath stilled, her pulse pounded, and she was surrounded by warmth inside and out as a gloved hand slid around her waist and pulled her close. Her eyes were shut, but there was light everywhere, a rush of blood that roared through her veins and set her flesh on fire. Endymion leaned into her. His lips had never touched anything so soft and yielding as the mouth of the Princess, nor had he tasted anything so sweet. His blood exploded into song, alight with energy that whipped his pulse into a hammering rhythm, and his hands slid over the supple skin of her shoulders and the smoothness of the small of her back. She fit so perfectly in his arms and he never wanted to let go, never wanted to lose this feeling of ecstasy that raged from his mouth to the pit of his stomach. It was paradise, and yet Serenity felt liquid pooling beneath her closed eyelids. She wanted nothing more than this, and yet, how long could it last? It was forbidden, eternally forbidden. A tear escaped her long eyelashes and rolled down her pale cheek. Still, she could not resist this feeling. Deep within her body, a flame was smouldering, and then burning. A heat was growing in a place where she had never felt anything before. There was more that could be had here, lots more, and she wanted it. The elation returned and Serenity sighed into him, her lips parted, her mouth opened to admit him- "Princess? Are you out here?" Both of them broke off the kiss simultaneously and drew apart, each one gasping for breath, panic flooding their faces. Serenity reached up hurriedly to swipe a tear off her cheek and Endymion stared at her, a knife of dread piercing his heart. She was crying? Had this been a mistake? She had seemed so eager, so hungry for what he wanted to give her... Her heart pounding, Serenity hurried past the stable hand as footsteps approached on the balcony. Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter came around the bend in the castle wall, dressed as always in the sleeveless bodysuits that were their uniforms, although on formal occasions like this they wore long skirts that brushed the floor. Without the warmth of the young man surrounding her, the Princess felt terribly cold and wondered how the soldiers could bear the endless days in their usual clothes. "Ah, here you are, Serenity!" Jupiter exclaimed, a relieved smile spreading across her face. "We've been looking everywhere! What are you doing out here?" "I just came outside to get some air," Serenity replied awkwardly, her mind racing as she struggled to find an explanation for the presence of a strange man at her side. Swiftly, she invented a story. It was weak, but it would have to do. "This...this is..." The Princess turned to indicate her visitor with a sweep of her arm - and found only empty air behind her on the balcony. The stable hand had vanished. |
