By Sailor Nena

Before I go any further, I must warn you that the story I am about to recite is not about Queen Serenity’s love life. The reason I include it in the introduction of this book is that it is relevant to the story of our Princess. I should also explain who I am, and what right I have to say my account is the only true version of the Princess’s life on the Moon and on Earth. I am Sailor Nena, daughter of the Story Tree. I was born of my mother like Anne and Allen were born of the Tree of Life. My only mission in life is to follow our Princess and record her life. Two years before her birth, I was born with a quill on my right hand and this book on my left. My quill allows me to add any needed explanation, like this one, to the book after I am done. At the time I edit this, I am sixteen years old and have been reborn a human. The paragraph before and the one that follows were written when I was but a day old and still living on the Moon. The story of the Queen’s first love was told to me by my mother nearly two years after the events took place. Time may have damaged them, but my retelling has tried to keep them as accurate as possible. Please read and try to understand what took place.

The Prince’s name was Neffarious. He was the perfect example of what a prince should look like; he had golden blond hair and ice cold eyes. His smile had something hidden in its darkest grin, and his height and broad shoulders made him look like the perfect protector for any young princess. They were introduced at Serenity’s birthday party. He seem to prefer her company to any of the other girls’. Her father did not like this. He suspected something foul in this young man, like most father’s suspect in any young man that becomes his daughter’s suitor. The Princess, on the other hand, was charmed by this young man that seemed to encircle her with his smile.

Like most royal celebrations of the time, the birthday party lasted over three nights, and in every night, Prince Naffarious had secured the first and last dance, not to mention, any he could seize in between. All the royal families agreed: they made a wonderful couple. In fact, there was only one man in the known universe that did not approve this pair; it was the Princess’s own father, King Sagacious. As it was mentioned before, he was not going to give away his baby girl to just anyone. He had raised her himself after her mother, Queen Serene, died in child labor. He did his best to keep his daughter from the hands of this young ruffian, but with the Earth uniting into one kingdom, he was too busy with foreign affairs to keep a close eye on the young Princess.

The Prince only stayed there a week, but in that week he nearly managed to destroy the Silver Millenium and any chance of a happy future for anyone in the universe. It seems nearly impossible for one man to do all this, but I remind my reader that we are also dealing with the most powerful thing in all of the universe, love. Every night Prince Neffarious would draw Serenity into the farthest garden and talk sweetly to the Princess. With every passing hour the Princess allowed herself to be convinced that she too loved him. What else could we expect from this sheltered Princess, whose only knowledge of love came from the bias views of fairy tales, where all Princes are charming and good?

Finally, on the big day, Neffarious proposed to Serenity. She readily accepted, as she thought was her duty. As she did, the skies broke open and released every thunder clash and lightning bolt it could find upon the unaware Moon. They made plans of eloping. Serenity was filled with such excitement for the adventure that she never questioned if she was doing the right thing. Of course in a castle that size, it was impossible for anything to be kept a secrete for long. The King found out and jailed the Prince. Serenity, infuriated, confronted her father. She screamed, hissed, and, yes, even cursed at her father. That is, she did until she realized that her father was not alone in the room.

Prince Guile was visiting Serenity’s father in hopes of receiving a clear account of what had happened on the Earth. He was incredibly refreshed to see a Princess that fought for her love. It was the perfect ingredient in a monarch, or at least that was his opinion at the time. Then again, what of her was not perfect? Her eyes ere as clear and blue as water; her hair reminded him of threads made of the purest gold, and her mouth was a delicate flower, softly red with a touch of nectar. With all this, she still had something Guile valued more; she was intelligent. Unlike most Princesses, you could hold an intelligent conversation with her for over thirty seconds.

When Serenity was sent out of the room by her father, Guile began to argue her case. His eloquence was worldly, his argument, heartwarming, and his emotions were badly concealed. His majesty, the King, quickly understood the real reason for Guile’s action. He loved Serenity so much that he would rather see her with another man than suffer. Sagacious saw another suitor at the door, but unlike the first, he was gentle, good, and truly in love. To prove a point, the King took Guile to the Prince’s cell only to prove that Neffarious defined his name. Neffarious agreed to leave the Princess alone if he received a large sum of money and was allowed to leave without this incident or the deal being exposed.

Guile was horrified by this. This man that had the love of the perfect woman in creation, traded it all for a good reputation and some spare change. Was there any hope for Love with nefarious men like Neffarious in the universe. He did the best he could to save Love’s reputation in the heart of Serenity. He became a close friend, and Serenity welcomed Guile’s steady dull manner over Neffarious’s passionate restless behavior. After a month, Guile left to complete his military training and promised to return.

In the three months of Prince Guile’s absence, the Princess changed. It was not a radical change that left everyone worried. It was more like a young flower spreading its last petals to reach its full bloom. She spent her days by her father’s side learning how to be a proper ruler. She found that her "Fairy Books" lacked this important information. Her behavior towards the opposite sex also change. She no longer waited for her "Prince in Shining Armor" to sweep her of her feet. She now looked for an equal partner that would be good company and an efficient king.

Prince Guile had heard of this change, but he did not believe it until he saw it himself. He was proud that she would no longer be taken as a lovesick fool, but a competent young woman. Their afternoon walks resumed and without realizing it, so did their love. He adored her so much that he feared pushing her away with a proposition. On the other hand, she loved him so, that she feared losing him to anyone. She was forced to make her first real decision of her life.

Two weeks after he returned, Serenity threw pebbles at his window during the night. When he looked out she told him that she needed to talk to him. He rushed to her side, and they walked together to the serene lake, just in front of the castle. There she kneeled on her right knee, took out a diamond ring, and proposed. After thirty seconds of shock, he quickly accepted.

They informed the King immediately, and the wedding was held in a few months. All in the known universe were invited, except our previous Prince. The wedding was the social event of the season. The king and Queen of Earth also made their first appearance with their first born son, Darien of one year of age. It was now accepted throughout the universe that the humans of Earth were now under one crown, and that crown belonged to King Altruest and Queen Perceptimine. Serenity and Perceptimine quickly became friends, but their busy lives did not allow for many visits.

Three years latter our Princess was born. Like all her female ancestors on her mother’s side, she was named after the first woman to ever live on the moon, Serenity of the Moon. Yes I know it is hard to believe, but for countless generations the Moon Kingdom has been ruled by the first born child (male or female), and ever since the first monarch, it has always been female. The shorten version of her name was Serena (it is so much easier to have a difference in the name), and she was a beautiful baby with eyes the color of the sea, and hair more radiant than the sun. Her cheeks were always rosy, and her lips were as red as the reddest rose.

Here I end my first chapter, and here begins my second. Serena’s childhood had only a few, but important, events worth mentioning, and if you care to turn the page, I will relate them to you, beginning with how she met her scouts.