A Past Romance Returns  by Sailor Starlite rated PG-13 Here's a weird fic--I know there is already a ghostie-mortal realtionship story out there, but this is my version of it. SM doesn't belong to me--ya know this. this story is dedicated to Mako-chan, who in the future will approve or disapprove what story gets posted or not. The Chiba Ghost Serena looked around the castle, a little creeped out. There was something about this place that was familiar. She shook off the feeling. Probaly because of all the talk about it. Her family had agreed to live in this place for a year. Sammy thought it would be a drag--there was nothing exciting to do here, he said. Serena thought it was romantic, but as she thought before, a little creepy. "Oh, yes, there is a legend about this castle. It has been around for thousands of years. The last time it was inhabiated, though, was about a thousand years ago, when the legendary Prince of the Earth lived here. There was a terrible battle, and the entire Chiba family vanished. Prince Endymion had fallen in love with someone, and he died protecting her. Some say he still haunts the place, preventing anyone from living here, and won't be satisfied until he gets his princess back." The original caretaker looked pretty happy to hightail it out of there. Serena looked out the window across the lands before she got ready for bed. Her family was being a pain, as usual. Her lips trembled as she looked outside. She wished she could just escape. She wouldn't be able to stand one more minute with them. She crawled into bed and let her thoughts drift off towards sleep. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ Prince Endymion wandered around the castle, grinning. New people to scare away! Hey, when you're a ghost, there isn't much to entertain you. Plus, this was *his* home that people were traisping through. Granted, he hadn't *lived* in it for a thousand years, but still--it was his, and he didn't want strangers in here. He paused at the first door he came to, and he realized with a wrenching in his heart, was Serenity's suite. She had stayed in that room when she had visited him on Earth. His chambers were right next door. He decided not to go in there and mourn tonight. He had more exciting things to do. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ Serena woke up suddenly when she felt a presence outside of her room. Thinking it was just her parents coming to check up on her, she fell back asleep. Illene Tsukino stared at the door opened by itself. Nobody walked in the room, but the candled wavered as if a breeze was blowing throught the room. She shivered at the cold air. Drawing her robe around her, she went to the door to shut it, but before she could get to it, it slammed shut by itself, and she was almost positive he heard ghostly laughter. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ THE NEXT DAY @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ Serena tugged on the door in her room, wondering where it might lead her. It revealed another room, perfectly spotless. She admired the hangings on the walls, and then she came across a small painting of a woman with a hairstyle exactly like hers, and bright blue eyes. The woman/girl looked exactly like her. Scrawled near the bottom was a note. "My beloved, Serenity" Serena's eyes unfocused for a moment. Why did that name seem so familiar? It was like she had heard it before. She felt a presence behind her, and she turned around to see a man with midnight blue eyes and black hair staring at her. She gasped and fled the room, putting the picture down before she did. Serena sat down on the floor, wondering what had happened. Who was that guy? Maybe the caretaker or something. Someone else? She didn't know how he got in the room without her hearing him. The sky was darkening, and she quickly went down to dinner. Eating her dinner slowly, Serena asked her mother a question. "Is there anyone else living here besides us, Mom?" She asked. Serena's mother looked surprised. "No...no one but us. Why? Did you see someone?" She asked. Serena nodded. "A man. In the room next to mine." Ilene exchanged a look with Ken. "Maybe you saw the ghost." She said with a grin. Serena contemplated this. To her it didn't seem that strange at all. Endymion paced up and down the hallway before going to Serenity's door. That girl...who looked so familiar...she was in Serenity's room. He quickly walked in, and observed the sleeping girl in the bed. She was so beautiful. Her golden hair reminded him of Serenity's. He kneeled down beside the bed to take a closer look at her and realized, with a start, she looked *exactly* like Serenity! Her eyes opened and stared at him sleepily, then with shock. "You..." She whispered. Endymion didn't wait for her to finish. He vanished. Serena stared at the spot that the man had stood. Her heart ached. She was at the verge of remembering something...and then he vanished. "Endymion." She whispered. Endymion was about to leave the room entirely, when he heard his name being whispered. In the same tone of voice Serenity always used. He quickly appeared back at her side, then noticed she was sleeping, tossing back and forth in her sleep. "Endymion! No! Don't let them take you!" She called over and over again. Endymion wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms. He was reaching for her when her door opened and her parents came in. He was gone quicker than light, and observed her silently, invisibly. Her parents conforted her, to a certain extent, until she had settled down. Once she was sleeping peacefully again (or so they thought) they left the room. Endymion waited, for another nightmare might arise. He stayed with her the entire night. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ The next day Serena went directly to Endymion's room after breakfast. She had no idea that she was being followed. She gently picked up certain items, and held them lovingly, wistfully. She saw a portrait leaned up againist the wall, and she knelt before it, tracing the face. Prince Endymion stared at her, his dark blue eyes seeming to smile at her. She touched the painted hair, wishing that it was real, and she could run her hands through its silkiness. A tear dropped down as she spoke to the portrait. "I don't know what's happening to me. I had strange dreams of you, Endymion. That is where I 'remembered' your name. I feel as if I have known you...always known you. But that is impossible, is it not? You are a prince from a thousand years ago...long before my time. But I can't help thinking that there is some connection between 'Serenity' and me. Like I was her. Oh, Endymion! I wish you were here!" Endymion reached for her again, then pulled away when her brother ran into the room. "Come on, Serena! Mom and Dad are going into town!" Serena waved him away. "You go, Sammy. I want to be left alone, 'kay?" Sammy shrugged. "Suit yourself! Bye, Serena." He ran out the door, and soon Serena heard the car pull away. She sighed and went back to her room, curling up on the bed. "Who are you, Endymion? What are you doing to me?" She whispered. "I don't even know you, and I think I love you." She didn't notice Endymion by her side until he gently touched her face. Serena looked up with a gasp, and saw Endymion's dark blue eyes staring into hers. She raised a trembling hand to his face, and he held it there with his own hand. "Serena...Serenity...." He whispered, hardly believing that she was here, before him. She stared at him. "Endymion? How is it that I love you, without knowing you? Are you even real?" She asked. He nodded. She looked at him again. "How is it that I can hold you? Touch your face? I thought you were a ghost..." She trailed off, seeing confusion in his eyes, too. "I don't know, Serena....I think that we are what we used to call 'in between'." I remember that we used to meet here, when we couldn't meet face to face. It was our bond...." She smiled. "I am glad." She whispered. Endymion put his arms around her, and she snuggled into his arms. "I am still not sure of what I know, Endymion, but I am sure that I love you. I hope that we can keep meeting like this." Endymion put his lips to her hair and then moved down to kiss her forehead lightly. "Soon we can meet again, Serena. I love you." Serena woke up with a start. What had just happened? She turned to see Endymion staring at her with longing in his eyes. She walked up to him, and tried to hold him as before, but her hand went right through him. Tears formed in her eyes, and the ache was felt between them. He brushed an ethreal hand across her cheek. "Until the next full moon, love. Tomorrow night. Then we can hold eachother, like we did in your dream." With one final caress on her cheek, he faded away. @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@@ 'Was that real?' Serena asked  herself, 'Or only a dream? It was so real.' She walked around in a daze, before finally ending up in her room again. She fell asleep on the small couch, and fell into a beautiful dream. Prince Endymion smiled as he saw Princess Serenity come into the ballroom. They had only met a few times before, but they had fallen in love at first sight. He immediatly swept her into the dance, and she smiled happily at him. They danced for what seemed like hours, and when they felt the need to rest, he pulled her to a door that led to their secret room. They went here to escape the nobles who were after both of them...for their money. They were happy only with eachother. Serenity giggled as he pulled her close to him, her arms leaning againist his strong chest, snuggling into him. He held her tight, and led them over to the bed. He layed her down on the pillows, and leaned over her, a smile on his handsome face. She reached up to trace the planes of his face, and he responded by leaning down over and kissing her lightly on the lips. After it had finished, she gazed at him with love-filled eyes. "I will always love you, my prince, my Endymion." She whispered. He kissed her again. "And I you, dear Serenity. No matter what happens to us, I will always find a way back to you. And then we will never be apart." Serena sat up straight in her bed, putting a hand to head. "Oh, what happened?" She murmered. "How did I get in my bed? The last thing I remember is falling asleep on the couch..." Her voice trailed off as she looked around the room. It was different...She gasped when she recognized the room as the one in her dream. She saw Endymion sleeping beside her, and she smiled. No matter what happened, she knew she was not as frightened with Endymion beside her. She leaned over and brushed the dark strands of hair out of his eyes, and smiled down at him. How she loved him! She knew what was happening now was just a brief glimpse of what she once shared with him, and that she would always treasure this moment that time had given her. (AN: maybe Pluto?) She knew that her and Endymion's relationship in the future was almost hopeless, for he was a ghost. She wouldn't give up, though. With love, she was sure something would work out. Serena leaned over and kissed Endymion lightly on the lips, as he had done earlier. He opened his eyes and smiled at her, pulling her down for a deep kiss. She never knew that a kiss could do this to you. It was magical. But with that kiss, and those thoughts, Serena found herself staring at the ceiling, wondering what had happened. She knew that if she did not permently join with Endymion soon, her soul would crack in two. Endymion thought about the girl, Serena...his Serenity reborn....he saw how much she loved him, as much as he loved her. It was incredible, that even though she was reborn without any of her memories, she still loved him. He looked up at the moon, with a pleading look on his face. "Queen Serenity, please grant your daughter and I this chance. I still love her, I have never stopped loving her." The spirit of the Moon smiled at him. "Of course, Endymion! Who do you think arranged for her to come here? Now, go now. Serenity needs you near her." He nodded, and bowed to the mother of the woman he loved. Serena sat down before her parents, still sleepy from earlier. Her parents were yelling at her, but she didn't register the words until she heard 'adopted.' "What?" She gasped. Illene Tsukino nodded in satisfaction. "We had hoped you would never have to find out, but since you didn't turn out the way we wanted you to, I have to tell you the truth. We just found you one day. But you are worthless, Serena! Or should I say, Serenity? That was your name, you know. After this trip is over, you're going from our house. Now, go to your room. I don't want to have a daughter that doesn't reach our expectations." Serena's eyes filled up with tears, and then she sensed Endymion's presence beside her. And he was not happy. His dark blue eyes had darkened even further with anger, and he was about to let loose his wrath, when her parents spoke again. "And all that ridiculous talk about your ghosts and magic? Humph. Maybe you are just a ghost yourself! You're certainly air-headed enough to be." Her 'mother' laughed at her own joke, pitiful as it was. Serena leaned against Endymion's strength."Maybe I am." She whispered quietly, and walked away, Endymion following her. When Serena got to her room, she simply fell on the bed, crying silent tears into her pillow. Endymion couldn't let his love be so hurt like that. After he helped her, he was going to pay her 'parents' a visit. He layed beside her on the bed, and gathered her in his arms, his face nuzzled in her hair. "Shh, my sweet. Please don't cry." He moved down to her face and gently kissed her tears away, and stroked her hair softly. She finally calmed down, and he just held her. "See, my love, we can be together forever, just like I promised. Do you want to be with me forever, Serenity?" He asked. She nodded. "How?" She asked. As if in answer, the moonlight swept across the bed, enveloping the two in its light. Serena closed her eyes and felt the power of the Moon in her. It called out to her....Endymion's arms tightened around her. "Yes, love. That is your kingdom up there. Let your power take us there." He said. Serena concentrated, and soon she felt solid ground underneath her feet, and a dress sweeping the floor. Endymion was beside her, and she smiled. "It worked." She whispered. She would have said more, but then a woman with silver hair and lavender eyes came up before them. Serena's eyes widened to see her mother. She curtsied before her, then ran into her arms. She remembered everything. Her past, her kingdom, her mother, and friends. They all appeared, too, and gave Serenity a hug. "Are you here to stay, Serenity?" Rei asked. She looked up at Endymion, and held his hand tightly. In response, he laced his fingers through hers. "Yes...Endymion found me...I want to be with him forever." She said softly. Queen Serenity looked serious. "If you intend to change your mind, now is the time, daughter. You only have a few minutes before you can no longer live on Earth. The next time you descend there, you will be as much a 'ghost' as we are." Serena/Serenity looked amazed. "You are all ghosts?" She asked. Queen Serenity shook her head. "In a way. Here on the Moon, or any of the Kingdoms of the other planets beside Earth, we are alive to everyone, because they still believe, and we all are connected in that web of magic. Endymion is of Earth, but his soul is tied to yours, so he will always be alive to us. Earth however, has lost the gift to accept us, for they were the ones who attacked us originally. The only one who tried to stop it was Endymion, and that is how he saved you. You wandered around Earth as a live spirit until you found Endymion again." Serena nodded. "I do not wish to go back." She said firmly, except as a spirit. My soul belongs here, where it was made, and it belongs with Endymion, who is the other half." Queen Serenity nodded. "So be it!" She said. A few seconds later, Serena felt the life force that had her spirit alive on Earth fade. She fell into Endymion's arms fully. "Now we can always be together." She said. Endymion grinned. "Yes...but first I want to teach your so-called parents a lesson. They shouldn't speak to royalty that way." She grinned to. "We'll be back, Mother." She called, and left to descend to Earth with Endymion. Illene Tsukino shivered as the cold breeze blew into the room. She stared as two figures approached, the same as the couple in the painting she had just found. It was a portait of Prince Endymion of 'Earth' and his fiancee, Princess Serenity of the 'Moon.' She even had a crescent moon painted on her forehead. She didn't believe that they were real. But here they were, standing before her. "Hello, Mrs. Tsukino." Endymion said pleasantly. "I'd like you to meet my fiancee, Serenity. I think you would know her better as Serena. That is the name you gave her, after all." Illene's eyes widened. "You have to be joking!" She exclaimed. "Serena, who is this man, and how did you get him to pull this trick on me?" Serena's eyes darkened in anger. "'Tis no joke, Illene, 'Mother'. I am Princess Serenity. You were right about me being a ghost. Thank you for your insight. If it wasn't for you, I would never be able to be with whom I truly belong." Illene said no more, for she fainted. Serena giggled, then helped her mother into bed, placing a copy of "The Legends of Moon and Earth" in her lap. "I'm sure she'll always remember me." She said, grinning. Endymion held his one and only love close. "Always." @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@ @@ Serenity smiled at her husband, Endymion. They were almost ready to unite the Moon and the Earth, after several thousands of years. "But...if we go down to Earth again, won't we be alive?" She wrinkled her nose at the thought. She liked her form now. Endymion chuckled and brought her in for a deep kiss. "No more than we are now." He whispered. "For you will always be with me, we will never be apart." Serenity responded in kind. "I like that." She said. Okay....strange ending...but if anyone wants me to write a sequel, write me at MemoryStar@juno.com. I don't know if I'll make the deadline!