Serenity skipped class, lunch and dinner. She couldn't face anyone until she had figured out how to face Endymion after earlier. He had been so like the man she had known four years ago, and she tried to shake the feeling of his arms wrapped around her, the slight brush of his lips against her own. 'Forget it! I won't like him! Never! I can't! Not after what I've seen!'

Angry tears slid down her face, Serenity trying to fight her growing attraction of the Earth Prince. Endymion had been so gentle with her, his voice warm and sensual. For a brief moment, he had allowed his barriers to drop, revealing all his desire for the servant girl. She blushed, having felt in his mind what he wanted of her. His eyes were so blue, and again she cursed.

"Care to talk about it." Serenity froze, seeing her father leaning against her door. If he wanted, Saturn would be able to read her like an open book.

"Not really," she whispered, unable to meet his gaze.

"Serenity, I've allowed you a certain sense of privacy, but you're leaving me with little choice but to force my will. I had hoped you would trust me enough to tell me what troubles you, why you don't sleep at night and why at every turn you're trying to make Endymion hate you."

"It's nothing," she whispered. Saturn and Serenity both knew she was lying, his large frame closing the distance between them.

"Serenity do not make me do this," he threatened in a low voice. Saturn watched the turmoil in her expression, Serenity close to the breaking point. "Why do you keep a secret that hurts you so much?"

"Because it's only a nightmare! That's all it is! It has to be!" Serenity cried, going to her father. She couldn't keep it up anymore, her cries echoing through the halls. Saturn held her, wanting to take all her fear and pain away. He had done it for her mother, but with the growing threat on Earth, he had dared not. Saturn was seriously re-considering his thinking. Serenity was too much like Selene that it frightened him.

"Will you tell me?" he persisted, gently stroking back her long bangs. Saturn wondered why it was down, but chose to ignore it and focus on his daughter's nightmares.

"It's the same one, over-and-over again. A dark shadow has taken over Earth, destroying everything in its path. After it defeats Earth, it moves towards Lunaria. Everyone tries to fight against it, but..."

Saturn had felt the growing shadow on Earth, but until now had never known how serious the threat was. "Serenity, tell me the rest."

"Everyone dies! First my friends, Endymion's personal guards and then us. All that remains is my mother and you. Please, tell me it's only a nightmare! Make it go away!"

Saturn began to chant in a soft voice, feeling Serenity go limp in his arms. With ease he lifted and carried her to her room, tucking her into bed like he had done when she was little. He was seething with rage, knowing her dream was much more. It was a vision of the future, and he needed to speak with Rei, Endymion and his four personal guards.

He found Stephon in the dining halls, drinking himself into unconsciousness. "How close is Elysion to falling?" Saturn demanded. They were alone, and the God of Death was beyond being gentle. Too much was at stake for him to be other wise.

"I wouldn't know. Endymion rarely comes home anymore, and he stays too himself. I've asked him a few times, but he never fully answers. He took over full control of the war four years ago; I was too old to keep battling the growing unrest on our borders."

"How long does he stay gone at a time?"

"Months, sometimes a year. He doesn't smile anymore, and I'll never fully forgive myself for it. The civil wars is part of the reason I didn't want to join the Alliance. Selinity doesn't need our problems, but I finally realized that if I didn't, she would be faced with them on her front doorstep unaware."

"What else aren't you telling me?"

"Terra's dying," he said.

Saturn froze. The only way to kill Terra was through the Earth itself. Her son would feel it as well, but not as directly as his mother. "From what?"

"The doctors think it's a tumor, but Terra says it's because of the planet. Something about our enemy has poisoned the land, and she's become so weak and tired. We try to hide it from Endymion, but..."

Saturn left the King to his drink, knowing he would get no further information from him. He could no longer sit in the sidelines, not if he wanted to stop the future Serenity had predicted. Catching Jedite in the halls, "Get the other personal guards and Endymion, and meet me in the throne room."

Jedite paled. If the God of Death was summoning them, then all hell was about to brake loose. Saturn was shaking with anger, and something else. 'Is he afraid?' He took off like a bolt of lightning, not wanting to be on Saturn's bad side. The God of Death found Rei in the temple, sitting in front of a fire. He waited for her to finish, curious to what she saw. The fire suddenly flared to life, revealing an evil shadow with glowing red eyes.

Saturn immediately yanked Rei back, not a moment too soon as razor sharp claws reached to pull her in. "You are not to do another," he commanded, clearly shaken by the vision. Saturn knew this power, this very darkness he had tried to destroy so long ago. The black shadow snarled at him, trying to over power him.

Rei shrieked, but Saturn shielded her in a blaze of black light, throwing all of it at the shadow. It screamed in fury, fading away until the fire was once again at its normal levels. "Go to the throne room; now!" Rei dared not to disobey, fleeing down the halls as if the very hounds of hell were on her feet.

"Why do you come here?" the shadow echoed in his mind. "This is not your concern!"

"You involve the gods by your very presence!" Saturn boomed, shaking the very foundation of the castle. All mortals froze in terror, feeling the presence of the two powerful beings challenging each other. "Five millennium ago you managed to escape the sentence of death; I will not give up so easily this time. Leave this place!"

The shadow laughed, retreating for a better moment to strike. "You cannot protect them forever," it promised.

Endymion ignored the lecture from his friends. He had managed to throw her off guard, and he planned on keeping it that way. 'She's hiding something from me? Why is she trying so hard to push me away?' His guards had to show up. A few more minutes and he would have had her telling him anything he wanted to hear. A determined glint came into his eyes, one that promised to accept the challenge she had given him; Endymion never lost. 'That servant girl has bitten off more than she can chew.'

He promised not to wander off again, climbing into bed. In seconds he was fast asleep, pulled into a powerful dream. He approached a beautiful land, unaffected by the scars of battle. It was nothing like Earth. A river flowed on his right, to fall off a cliff and into a large lake at the bottom. Birds flew and sang over head, red rose petals blooming in every direction.

"What is this place?"

"This is Lunarian, before the wars of so long ago."

"Lunaria was in a war?"

"She has forgotten about the destruction that made the sands gray and the waters sink beneath the land. You're more in tune with a planet's cry of pain that most; have you not felt the Earth hurting."

"She's dying," Endymion said sadly, wishing he could prevent it. "Who are you?"

"I am a messenger, sent to help you and the Light of Hope."

"Light of Hope?"

"You've been drawn to her since the beginning, Golden One. She's so close to flickering out; please do not let her repeat the past. Her heart is lost, crying out, and very alone. It will take a strong person to bring her out of the shell she has created."

"I don't understand," Endymion said, still looking for the source of the voice.

"Do you not remember nine years ago, the twins you brought into this world?"

"I could never forget that day," he said. "Selinity was dying, and I felt compelled to save her. I don't understand that power I've been gifted with, but it's there and I've used it when necessary."

"What color was the energy you felt?"

"Golden."

She was tall with long golden hair. Endymion was taken by surprise, the woman reminding him so much of Serenity that he almost thought it was her. Her eyes were a crystal blue, filled with a sadness that made him look away. "You have yet to choose a wife, Endymion, son of the Earth. Why?"

"I feel nothing for any of them. I've tried to find her, the one person I can connect to."

"Do you already not think of her? She was the first person you thought of upon seeing my image?"

"Why do you look like her?"

"Why did you think I was her?"

"I don't know why she popped into my head! She's only managed to crash into me every day since I've been here. There isn't a girl more annoying than Serenity, but she does give me rare amusement."

"Is that why you chose to kiss her?" She smiled, watching the red blush creep up his face.

"What male wouldn't want to kiss her?" he tried to protest. It was a weak one and they both knew it. "I felt sorry for her." Endymion was starting to wish he was back in the room with his four guards. This dream was too strange.

A soft, gentle hand lifted his chin and locked eyes with him. "I know what's in your heart, Prince of Earth. Listen to the song and follow it. The Silver Light needs your golden one, to support her when the time comes. Take care of the Light, Golden Protector."

The woman faded, and Endymion found himself once again in his rooms. He had no intentions of breaking his promise, but he couldn't resist the pull that had him traveling across the desert and into a deserted cave. Endymion had thought about going back to sleep, but all he could hear was laughter and joy, a strong harmony echoing in his mind. It seemed to be singing along with a melodic one, intertwining with the golden one.

He saw the hidden lakes, some still having green grass where the sun touched them. Unlike everyone else who had made his journey before him, Endymion was fully awake and aware of his surroundings. As he walked through the tunnels of the cave, he could see the reflections of the nine planets, including Earth which was a brown color. He passed into a room that had nine pillars, all the crystals gone.

Endymion continued on, the pull coming from deeper within the cave. It was bigger than any cave on the moon, the Earth Prince coming to a door that looked like it would be impossible to open. Touching his hands to it, a Golden Light flared all around him, slowly opening to reveal a sight that left him breathless.

In the center of the room, held by nothing, was a golden crystal, shining with a brilliance that grew with each step Endymion took towards it. If he stopped, it would dim, as it if were sad that he would come no closer. Curious and afraid, he finally made it to the crystal to have it caress his skin without ever having to touch it. It felt like part of the half that was missing in his life, but the other half was still empty and lonely. 'She yearns for your warmth, Golden One.'

Endymion stared at the crystal, 'Are you supposed to talk?'

'I am much more than a crystal, similar to the Silver One. We are an entity all of our own, waiting for the right time to awaken. The crystals of the planetary nine are all souls of former goddesses fused with powers taken from those that still live in Olympus. In time they will reveal themselves far more asleep that ourselves. Selene knew of us, guarding all the crystals until she one day fell against the shadow that now threatens your world. This shadow is far older than Saturn thinks, strong throughout the millennums. You are not among the planetary nine, but the protector of the Silver One.'

A golden chain appeared on the crystal, wrapping itself around his neck. 'No one will be able to remove the crystal other than yourself and the Silver One.'

The light dimmed, but refused to be silent, singing in his mind with the other. 'Stop that!' Endymion growled in irritation.

'Go to her and I will. You already know who she is.'

'Do I even get a say in this?'

'You already made your choice; why are you so stubborn to admit the truth?'

'Because no decent man would think the thoughts I have about their future wife.'

"Where is he?" Jedite asked, meeting back up with the other Generals. "We've been searching for three hours!"

Kunzite swore, his gray eyes troubled. They had searched all of his favorite places, all of them empty. Saturn had ordered a search for the High Prince, demanding he be escorted to the throne room immediately. "Have any ships left Lunaria?"

"No."

"Dammit, where is he?"

Nephrite again checked Endymion's room, hoping he would have returned by now. King Stephon was too drunk to be of much assistance and Terra was ill again. "I suggest we go to the throne room and hope that he finds his way. All we can do is leave a note until he returns."

"Some guards we turned out to be. We can't even keep track of one man!"

The four generals headed for the throne room, flinching when they saw Saturn pacing back and forth. A black aura was glowing dangerously around him, Rei sitting silently in front of the throne. Her skin was deathly pale, but none of them were certain if it was Saturn she feared. "Saturn," Luna cried out, the feline racing into the throne room. "Endymion has been found. Artemis is bringing him here."

"Where was he?" Saturn growled.

All eyes turned to the doors when they opened, Endymion walking in. He looked ready to drop from exhaustion, his head ringing from the two songs that wouldn't stop. Endymion clutched at his head, unaware that his personal guards were reaching to catch him before he fell.

"He's burning up," Zoicite gasped.

"What is that?" Luna asked, spotting a golden light around his neck. She tried to touch it, but Saturn quickly snatched the feline up, ordering the other Generals to do the same.

"That crystal will destroy any who try to touch or take it from him."

"What is it?"

"A Solarian Crystal. There hasn't been one since the beginning of time, since the birth of the stars. We don't even remember who created it, only that the God's soul was infused with it. It's far older than the Silver Crystal Selinity now carries."

"Silver One..." Endymion gasped, trying to stay conscious. "Need... Will stop..."

Serenity, despite the thick spell Saturn had placed her under, sat up. She only wanted to sleep, but couldn't fight a song that had suddenly popped into her head. 'Please stop,' she begged. She tried to get rid of it, but the song only intensified with each passing moment. Fighting Saturn's compulsion to sleep was making Serenity extremely sick, sweat forming on her brow.

She dragged herself through the halls, unaware of the voices calling out to her. Serenity was being pulled, drawn to a similar song that refused to be ignored. Her friends tried to grab her arms, but she ignored them, heading towards the throne room. She was getting close, Serenity stumbling before she stood back up and continued.

"Go get a doctor!" Hotaru cried out, following her sister. "Serenity, snap out of it!"

Serenity shook her head, but the fog only thickened. It was so loud, making her cry out. 'Stop!'

'Silver one...' the other song called.

Hotaru was relieved to see her father in the throne room, but gasped in alarm when she saw Endymion on the floor, curled into a fetal position. His entire body was trembling in pain, the Earth Prince begging for it to stop. "Dad!" Saturn was already heading for Serenity when she collapsed beside Endymion, their hands accidentally touching as they both slipped into oblivion. For the first time, both slept without dreams, the songs fading to a faint whisper.

Kunzite reached to pick her up, but was violently thrown through a glass window. A red-golden light faded, slightly flickering a warning should any dare to approach again. "What the hell happened?" Nephrite asked, pulling out his sword.

"No!" Rei shouted in warning. She closed her eyes, focusing on the two crystals. Rei could feel the two separate minds, their souls connected to Serenity and Endymion. "To pull them apart will only anger the crystals further."

"Serenity has no crystal," Hotaru said.

"No, but her mother does. We never fully figured out what it could do, only that it was different than the ones her royal guards possessed."

"We can't leave them like that!" Kunzite grunted, holding his side painfully. Suddenly the room was bathed in a golden and silver light, taking Endymion and Serenity with it. "Now what!"

Saturn released a string of curses, inventing new ones in a matter of seconds. If he had been angry before, he was throughly enraged at the disappearance of his daughter and the High Prince of Earth. "Find them!" Soldiers were put on high alert, all the inner and outer kingdoms ordered to search for them.

Endymion instinctively pulled her closer, afraid the music would start again if he let go. He had been faintly aware of Serenity reaching for his hand, and then everything had gone silent. She turned over, her face against his chest. His eyes flew open, Endymion sitting up in alarm. Where the hell was the castle and what had happened to their clothes.

He started to pull away, but the crystals protested violently by loudly slamming into his head. 'Stop!'

'The Silver One!' They cried in unison.

'Dammit, I know who the hell she is, but couldn't you have left our clothes! She's going to flip out!'

'Why? You are destined to be together,' another voice said, different from the golden crystal. He didn't see one around Serenity's neck, but he knew she was somehow connected to one.

'It's not that simple! Please, I won't leave her, just give us our clothes back.'

'Clothes are unnecessary,' the golden crystal commented, as if it thought Endymion's request foolish. 'Have you not desired her like this, imagined her in such a way?'

'Dreams and reality are two different things!' Endymion argued, turning his back away from Serenity's all too perfect body. They were in a valley of flowers he had never seen, trees scattered in different locations. In the distance, he could make out a golden structure. 'Where are we?'

'Home,' the two voices echoed in unison.

'Are you going to give back our clothes?'

The crystals reluctantly agreed, still not understanding why he would want her without in his dreams, but with in reality. They weren't the clothes he had been expecting, finding himself dressed in a white tunic with golden leaves on his head. On his feet were brown sandals, Serenity dressed in a white dress that might as well have left her without the clothes he had requested.

On his hip was a light sabre, while Serenity possessed a harp that was close by. Leaning over, he brushed back the blond curls around her throat, her hair having been pulled back by a golden circlet. It fell to her ankles in perfect waves, not making it any easier for Endymion's resolve. "Serenity," he whispered against her ear.

She flipped over, throwing her arm around his waist. Her lips were pressed against his throat, endangering every good intention he ever had. "Dammit, Serenity, if you don't wake up I refuse to be held responsible for what happens next!"

Blue eyes slowly opened, regarding Endymion in a sleepy daze. She had been sleeping so soundly, to wake feeling safe and warm. The nightmare had vanished, replaced by golden sunshine and laughter all around her. It took her a moment to realize she was against Endymion, the High Prince gritting his teeth in obvious pain. "Did I hurt you?" She asked with concern.

Endymion glared at the woman, wondering how she could be so naive. "Serenity..." he growled. Was he angry with her? His eyes were glazed, filled with a fierce longing. Serenity, picking up his thoughts gasped, but not soon enough. The High Prince rolled her beneath him, trapping her arms to the ground. "You little minx," he whispered. "I forgot that you could read my emotions and thoughts."

"You know who I am?"

"Did you honestly think that I wouldn't figure it out?"

"Endymion..." He had meant to do this in the gardens of Lunaria, lowering his lips against her trembling mouth. Serenity gasped, giving him entry to explore further. Nothing had prepared him for this moment, feeling as if he had finally died and gone to heaven. Endymion forced himself to stop, helping the still disoriented Princess to her feet.

He could think of better things to do than explore, purposely projecting his thoughts towards Serenity. She stepped back in alarm, feeling as if her clothes weren't enough to protect her. Endymion gave her a devilish grin, the one she was all too familiar with. "Don't you dare look at me like that!"

"Would you prefer I act on my male instincts?" He teased, satisfied to see her blush. Endymion had been right about the princess. Serenity knew how to push people away, but when it came to personal relationships, she didn't know how to react.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked, looking away from him.

"Serenity," he whispered, gently pulling her against him. "I have no desire for the Lunarian throne and never will. Elysion is my home, and I love it there."

"But..."

"Is that why you try so hard to hate me?"

Serenity lowered her eyes, unable to meet his gaze. "No," she finally admitted.

"Then tell me. You weren't like this before I left. What happened?"

"Do you remember the nightmare?"

"Hai, but you never told me about it."

"You and everyone I cared about was slaughtered by the war you now fight. At first I thought it was only a nightmare, but it was the same every night. I thought if I kept you at a distance, it wouldn't hurt to loose the best friend I've had since I was a baby."

"Sere..."

"No! I can't do this! If you die..."

"Serenity!" Endymion grabbed her tear stained face and gently kissed them away. "I would much rather have known love before I die than to have the little girl that I've always sworn to protect, suddenly hate me. Another thing, stop trying to be a servant; you're horrible at it."

"Hey!" Endymion silenced her protest with another kiss, his hands moving to her hips. "If we don't get moving," he promised, his mouth moving to her throat, "I'm not going to stop."

Serenity found she preferred to walk with her bare feet, holding her sandals in her hands. This was the first time she had ever seen grass, loving the feel and smell of it. "This place is beautiful."

An hour later they came to a golden city, built on the edge of a mountain. Large pillars rose to the sky, a man and a woman sitting on a throne. To his right was another man, his hair the same color as Serenity's. Not knowing why, Serenity and Endymion found themselves bowing, knowing they were in the presence of powerful beings.

"Rise, son of Terra and daughter of Saturn." They lifted their heads, still kneeling. "Welcome to Olympus, home of the Gods."

"She looks so much like her," said the woman with sitting on the throne. "Is she...?"

"They have yet to realize who they are Hera. You must rest, dine and then we will talk."

The man beside the powerful god on the throne approached them, smiling in amusement. "Come," he said gently. "It's been many centuries since we've had guests; we have waited long to see two of the many we have lost millenniums ago."

Serenity and Endymion stared at each other in confusion, following the man as he commanded. He seemed to float on air, guiding them to a table filled with fruits, meat and wine they had never seen nor tasted. They were placed close together, their legs and arms almost brushing together as they ate. Serenity blushed, easily picking up Endymion's thoughts. "Stop that," she hissed, trying not to gain the attention of the God watching them.

Endymion grinned wickedly at her, feeling himself relax in the home of the Olympians. He forgot about the wars on Earth, the barriers he had learned to erect as he was forced to kill again and again. Endymion was deadly with a bow, even deadlier with a sword. He excelled during all his military training, surpassing all his teachers in a matter of months.

"Stop what? Serenity, you really should quit reading my thoughts. They're not always for a lady to see nor hear."

"You're doing it on purpose!"

A soft chuckle reminded them that they weren't alone, "We have prepared a warm bed and bath. It has been several years since either of you have had a chance to relax and sleep without dreams."

The bed chamber they were taken to was enough to fit ten, a large bed of silks and furs in the center. A warm fire blazed at the back, the wood never running out. In another chamber was a pool of hot water, heated by the mountain. The closing of the door, reminded Serenity that they had been shown only one, meaning that the Gods had assumed both were a couple.

"They can't be serious," she gasped, backing away from Endymion like a cornered rabbit. Laughing, he headed for the bath, already tossing aside his tunic. Serenity quickly turned around, red all the way to her feet. Her father was going to kill her!

"What are you afraid of?" he taunted, swimming ten feet out before settling on the other side. Drops of water dripped from his dark bangs, sliding down his well defined chest.

"I already had my bath," she replied, jumping beneath the covers. The bed was made of soft feathers, sinking beneath her weight. Serenity forgot why she shouldn't be sleeping in the same room as Endymion, already fast asleep. Endymion shook his head, having already accepted his life with her. The woman had said Serenity would need a protector and a lot of patience. He knew better. A few moments and one good kiss he would have her eating out of the palms of his hands.

Not bothering with a towel, Endymion washed his hair, swam around for awhile and approached the bed. Serenity looked so peaceful while she slept, safe and warm. Did they have to return to the world of mortals? It was peaceful here, where the violence of hate and war could never touch them.

Slowly, he pulled back the covers, studying her. Her short dress came to her thighs, rising and falling as she breathed. The bed was more than big enough to keep them separated, but he didn't know if he wanted to keep up the act. Endymion knew one moment of passion would never be enough. He wanted her again and again, to hear her screams of pleasure. Strong arms encased her body, his head inches away from her inviting lips.

Serenity was right, he had been purposely feeding her images of what he desired of her, knowing the affect it would have on her. She couldn't fight it forever, nor would he let her. "A day, perhaps two, Sere. I won't wait any longer than that."

Pulling on a fresh change of clothes, Endymion climbed into the bed, already falling under the same spell as Serenity. Forcing himself to move, he managed to reach for the sleeping blond and pull her into his protective embrace. The song of the crystals murmured their agreement, settling down. If every day and night was like this one, he never wanted to wake again.

"Is it really them, Zeus? No one's seen either of them in so long," Hera whispered.

"Yes and no. Their true power remains asleep, awaiting the time when they will be able to merge with their re-incarnations. This shadow they fight has emerged more than once, taking Apollo first. Before he vanished, he fused all his power into a single crystal, hiding it until the appearance of his re-incarnation. Millenniums later, Selene met the same fate, torn and exhausted by the same shadow. There are others, as well."

"What about Saturn? Will he too fall?"

"Saturn is too powerful to die at the hands of this shadow, but he will suffer before peace is truly found. None will know a fate harder than the ones Endymion and Serenity will be forced to walk. This is not only a test of their love, but strength and courage. The God of Time has seen their future; Saturn will have no choice but to remain strong. They will need him more than they do now."

"Haven't they suffered enough?" Hera asked, wishing for the cycle, fate has spun, to end.

"The guardians of these two will need our power, and we must be prepared to give it when called upon."