Chapter Four

Love Blossoms

 

The moon danced in the clouds, as Serena felt the warmth of

friends all about her.

            It was first night was allowed to leave her bed, the battle for her

life being two days ago.

            As she casually sat back in her chair, she drank in night mists, and

smiled, nervous.

            Darien sat across the balcony from her, and saw her delicate moon-

white profile.  Serena was a vision.  Almost a moon princess herself.  But

not the moon princess.  An ordinary human.

            Which was rare, it seemed, as he looked around him.  Amy and

Lita were princesses of different planets, sworn to protect a princess, and

that princess, of the Moon, was Lady Mina.

            Of course, the Moon Queen had not known of the revelation of the

Moon Princess.  The Moon Queen was still recovering.  Darien supposed

that having been drained of most of her energy, it would take a while for a

woman of such age to recover once more.

            As his thoughts fell back on Serena, though, his thoughts

deepened.  He could not help but think of how strange this whole tale was. 

Serena wasn’t a princess of a faraway kingdom, but she wasn’t a regular

girl…she was the Moonlight Maiden.

            The name suited her perfectly.  Her presence was a gossamer spell,

it seemed…always over him.  When she was in the room, it appeared that

his thoughts were focused only on her…had the Moon Queen been in the

room itself, Darien’s mind would only be on her.

            And that frightened him.  There was a strange feeling within his

heart.  It indicated that Serena Kingston was a very important girl…

            Such a feeling caused him to shiver.  He’d never felt this way

before about any person or thing.  He’d never felt the need to protect her,

as he had that night, when he had somehow known she was in danger.

            That was another thing that frightened him…to know that

somewhere deep within himself, he was willing to risk it all on a girl.

            Not just any girl…an enchantress, who had mastered the magic of

the moon.

            *It’s just a spell,* he assured himself.  *It has to be.*

 

            Sitting, staring at the moon, Serena sighed.  What was going to

happen now?

            With the strange happenings of Beryl, and entrance of Sailor

Mercury, as well as the disappearance of one of her best friends, Serena

didn’t know what to think.  and worst of all, the Moon Princess…she was

uncovered.

            Mina was in grave danger now.

            She’d have to guard Mina with her life now.

            That was the only way.

            Now, Serena felt her life start to tighten in her grasp.  Everything

was changing so quickly, and surprises were no longer unexpected.

            She clenched her fist.

            If fortune was going to toss her into oblivion, fine.  She’d fight it,

though.  With every breath.

 

            “So let me get this straight.  Lita’s a princess from Jupiter, sworn

to protect the moon princess, who is Mina.  Mina’s the granddaughter of

both the moon goddess Selene and the dark magic goddess Hecate?”

            “Yes…” Serena nodded her head.

            Amy, Lita, and Serena walked to Selene’s lake.

            Amy continued to talk, “And I’m the princess of Mercury, of the

court of Hermes, and I’m sworn to protect the princess as well.  And

this…” she took out the transformation stick, “is my royal color and seal?”

she pointed to the symbol.

            “Yes.  And we were supposed to protect the Moon Princess’s

identity, but that’s kinda crashed now.  We’re going to have to be on guard

from now on, for both people of the royal family.”

            “And who are you, Serena?” Amy asked Serena.

            “Who am I?  A normal human being, chosen to guard the princess,

and lead you, the guardians.  I am the Moonlight Maiden.  Selene is my

guardian, and she gives me my powers.”

            “Speaking of which…” Lita said.

            They had now reached the lake, which now reflected the full moon.

            Just now, the light on the lake started to gather to form a glowing

being, who stood now at the edge.

            Selene looked at the new girl, a small girl with shy blue eyes. 

“And who is this?”

            “This is my friend, Amy, the princess of Mercury.”

            “I thought I felt a force from Mercury a few nights ago…Amy, I

am happy to see you.”

            “I am honored to meet you.”

            Serena continued.  “But a problem has arisen.  A few nights ago,

Beryl attacked Serenity, and one of the Four Who Guard fell, defending

Amy…” Amy looked away, sadness, once again, locking her mind. 

“Then, the Moon Princess was revealed.”

            “Moon Princess?”

            “Yes…she’s Mina, one of the ladies in waiting.  So, what should

be done?  Her identity must remain a secret.”

            Selene’s face fell into determination, and worry.  “We cannot undo

the past.  You now have a very important task.  You must now protect two

members of the moon kingdom.  They must leave Earth as soon as they

can, to ensure their safety…Metalia and Beryl have too much power here. 

They must go to the moon.  And you must go with them.”

            Serena’s face paled, and she looked about her.

            *Duty before life.*  She nodded, stiffly.

 

            “Can I join you?” Kunz asked the shadow musing in the darkness.

            Jed turned to Kunz, and nodded silently.  “These aren’t any more

my grounds than yours.”

            Kunz sighed, sat down on the grass, and picked off a long stalk, to

chew as Jed did.  “I know you’re pretty pissed off that I danced with your

sister earlier, and now, I know you’re even more confused…”

            Jed looked at Kunz in silence, urging him to go on.

            “But I want to make peace with you.  I know we haven’t been

really good friends since that last ball, since Mina…”

            Jed smiled, “It’s hard to remember that Mina is a beautiful young

woman now, and not a little girl, urging me to play tea with her.”

            “She’s a beautiful woman…” Kunz said, softly.

            Jed looked at his friend.  “Yes, wonderful, but it seems we both

lose her now, huh?”

            Kunz looked at grass under her feet.  “Yes, looks like we do.”

            They sat in silence a little while longer, and Jed picked a new stalk

of grass and started to chew on it.  Jed broke the silence.  “You know, if

she really was my sister…I think I would have accepted

you…eventually…”

            Kunz looked at his friend, and held out his hand.  “We’ll never

know what would have happened, but Jed, thank you.  It means a lot to

me.”

            Jed looked at the moon.  “We have to stick together now, Kunz. 

We’re brothers.  We’ve lost one.  We’re only Three.  We have to hold on. 

We have to protect each other, from this force.”

            “We will,” Kunz held his hand to Jed.  “For life, the Four protect

honor, wisdom, courage, and truth.  While Zoy is gone, we will continue

to protect the four pillars of strength.  We will continue to guard wisdom,

for Zoy.”

            Jed took the hand firmly, nodding his head.

 

            She walked tiredly about the gardens.

            Lita sighed.  *What am I to do now?*

            Looking at the moon, she felt her heart beat faster, and she felt a

sense of confusion and fear come over her.  The future was so uncertain

now.  *How can a person who’s still fighting her past, manage to grasp her

future?*

            As she stood, looking down at the sleeping tiger lilies, she felt

steps behind her.  Turning around, Lita focused her gaze on Neph.  “Good

evening…”

            “More like morning…Lita are you all right?”

            “What do you mean?”

            Neph didn’t understand why he was out here.  It was all so odd, to

find out that she was the princess from some other planet, to find that she

was guarding some moon princess, that she was going to go away.

            Serena had taken a walk with Kunz, Jed, and him earlier this past

evening, and explained to them what was going on, most importantly,

what was to come.

            Things happened so quickly, he never understood anymore.  He’d

lost one of his best friends a few nights ago.  Since that event, the Four

Who Guard became only Three, and now, there was something that made

the situation tense.

            It was known to all Four that they were putting their life at risk

when they swore to defend the prince.  They knew that they were to battle

if any such a fight occurred, and that they might die.  They understood it

all when they swore in.  However, Neph had never realized that such a

death would actually occur.  Understanding and accepting were far from

each other.  He never thought there was a difference, until now.

            Zoy, who was the poet of the group, of deep emotions and

understandings, of wisdom.  Where was he now?

            Serena, a Moonlight Maiden.  Sworn to be empowered with the

magic of Selene.  A close friend, who had fenced with him, fought with

him, tested against him, and earned his respect.  The long road they had

traveled together was just shortened, considerably.

            And then, the whole business of the Moon Princess.  The business

in which Amy Milner and Lita Kylnmore were princesses, protecting Mina

McLullen.  Jed’s sister.

            Jed was taking it oddly.  From what Neph had heard, Jed never

even knew his “sister” was adopted.  There was a hurt in his eyes

whenever he looked at her now.

            And then, who knew what happened to the prince on that night. 

Darien had vanished right before the whole ceremony and battle started. 

He and Serena had done something.  Serena, who was found to be some

Moon guardian.  That night was never talked about by those two, but Neph

had a feeling from the strange looks in their eyes, that something had

happened that had tested them, and they had survived, only to wonder why

life was so strange now.

            And now, Lita was sitting among the sleeping tiger lilies at

midnight.

            A beautiful vision of auburn hair, spilling over her shoulders, her

body still clad in her forest green tunic and skirt.

            She looked worried.  “What should I have to worry about now?”

Lita asked, bitterly.  “I thought I had a concrete future just one week ago. 

But now, everything’s all mixed up, and some fairy tale is happening now,

around me.  There’s a princess who shouldn’t have been revealed, and I’m

a woman from another planet!  I couldn’t even stomach my own life

before.  How am I to take everything right now?”

            Neph held a hand up, to stop her talking, and gently took her hand. 

“Lita, I can’t say everything’s going to be all right, because I don’t even

know it myself.  I lost one of my best friends a few days ago.  I thought,

before, that we’d be around forever.  And now, everyone around me is

really someone else, and we’re all caught in a masquerade of magic and

myth.  I don’t know what to think.  But I do know one thing.  We are

going to stick together…all of us.”

            Lita looked at his strong clasp of her hand, and she looked to him. 

“Neph…thank you.”

 

            Amy lay in her bed, unable to sleep.

            There was no comfort.  Just pain, and emptiness.  *Zoy, I know

you’re out there, somewhere…*

            As she twisted once more in her sheets, she closed her misty eyes. 

A tear slid out form under her lashes, and tricked down her face, into the

sheets.

            She felt a warm hand on her cheek, wiping the tear.  The touch was

soft and treasuring.

            The hand soothed her hair, and Amy opened her eyes, to see a

shadow touching her.  *Zoy?*

            However, as she blinked again, she saw nothing.  No shadow.  The

transitory warmth of the touch lay in her heart, tinged with a bitter irony of

being coldly lonely.  *I knew it was you…why can’t you come to me?*

she turned into her pillow again, her tears starting to soak the fabric.

            At that moment, she felt another warmth touching her shoulder.

            Amy opened her eyes again, and saw Serena.

            She sat up and they hugged.

            “I know you loved him very much…” Serena whispered.  “He

loved you, and he’ll be back, for you.  Somehow, we’ll fight for him. 

We’ll get him back…”

            “We don’t even know what happened to him.  He could be…”

            “NO!” Serena whispered harshly.  “He’s too important to Metalia

right now.  She’ll keep him alive for a while.  She needs troops and leaders

to fight for the dark side, Amy.  We’ll find him, and we’ll take him back. 

We have to.”

 

            “The guardians of the Moon Kingdom would like to speak with

you, sire,” a page told Merlyn.

            Merlyn sat at her throne, Darien at her side, and Raye on the other

side.  The remaining three of the prince’s guardians stood to his side.  By

Raye, Mina stood, wearing her robes of white silk and gold.  “Yes, send

them in,” Merlyn said.

            Darien took care to watch the three young ladies who walked into

the room.

            Serena was a vision.  This was the first time he’d ever seen her in

her Moonlight Maiden gown in true light.  It was breathtaking.  The palor

of her face, the determination set in her blue eyes.

            Lita and Amy followed, in robes white silk, embroidered with

gold, signifying their affiliation with the moon kingdom.

            They all curtseyed, and Serena stepped forward.  “Your highness,

we have instructions from the Guardian Goddess of the Moon, Selene, to

protect the Queen of the Moon, and her daughter.  We are instructed that

we must travel with them to the moon after their visit to the Earth, and so

we come here to resign our posts as the ladies in waiting of Princess

Raychelle of Earth.”

            The formality was not enough to cover emotion.  Raye looked up,

startled.  “But, Serena…” her eyes were scared.

            Serena met the eyes smoothly, her eyes reflecting nothing.  She

had always learned her diplomatic skills very well.

            “Has your acceptance into Queen Serenity’s court been made

known?” Merlyn asked, silencing her daughter with a gesture of the hand.

            “No.  At the moment, Queen Serenity is still recovering.  I motion

for this request simply because I know that her highness would agree with

Selene that this is the only way to keep her daughter safe.  My companions

and I were born with the purpose to serve the kingdom of the Moon.”

            “Well, since there is no debate of the need for protection of the

lunar royal family, I will agree to this.  Lady Serena Kingston, Lady

Amyliana Milner, Lady Litanya Kylnmore, you are now dismissed from

the court of Queen Merlyn III of Earth.  Your services have been

appreciated, very much.”

            The three girls curtseyed, and turned, walking slowly out of the

room.

            The minute the door closed after them, Raye stood up from her

throne, and ran out of the room.

            Mina started to follow, but Merlyn gestured for stop.

            Jed stepped forward.  “Request to follow Princess Raychelle.”

            “Request granted,” her eyes followed the tall young man, worried

for her daughter.

 

            He found her sitting in the library, looking at the shelves of books,

a lost expression on her face.

            As he closed the door behind him, Raye did not acknowledge him,

but merely turned around, and sat down in a chair, to stare at the books. 

“It seemed smaller with Serena guided me through it, pointing out the

books she liked, and didn’t…” Tears started to come to her eyes.  “Go

ahead.  Princess Raye is finally in a predicament.  Laugh.”

            “Laugh?  I won’t even be that nice.  Your friends have a destiny to

protect the moon kingdom, and all you can think of is yourself.  Their

lives are being turned upside down, and all you can think is that you’re

being abandoned!”

            Raye turned to him, eyes narrowing.  “You have some nerve!”

            “How can you be such a bitch when it is so clear that your friends

need you?”

            “I need them!” she yelled back.

            “My sister, or so I thought, was just revealed to be some princess

from another planet.  My best friend, who is almost a sister to me, is

leaving me, and I just lost another best friend just a few days ago to some

force I don’t understand.  But, princess, you see that I still stand as I am,”

Jed said, angrily.

            Raye was speechless.  “You’re hurting…”

            Jed turned away, stalked to a window.  “I’m dealing with it.”

            “You don’t have to hide that stuff…” Raye said quietly,

understandingly.  “Not in front of anybody.  We are all very confused right

now.”

            “Yeah, not you.  You’re still the princess of the Earth, bratty

princess Raye.”

            Raye’s eyes narrowed, and she mumble softly, “I thought we might

be able to share our thoughts, but I guess I was wrong.  I am human as

well.  I’m scared, for my friends, for my mother, for the whole god damn

moon kingdom.  Everyone’s been hiding the truth from me.  I don’t

understand what’s happened to Zoy, no one does, but all I have to do is

look into Amy’s eyes, and I’ll know that she feels dead inside.  I look at

Serena, who cries at night, scared out of her wits, and Lita, who’s distant

and confused.  She doesn’t even know who she is.  I don’t know what is

going on, and who is going where, or even what has become of my life, or

theirs.  I can hardly believe I still live in the same place.  I don’t know

anything anymore.  The only thing that I know is that I’m suffering with

and for my friends, because I love them.  And now, I’m going to lose four

of the best friends I ever had.  I have no friends outside of the circle whom

understand anything of sorrow or sadness.  I thought you did.  You’re no

better than the rest of them.  You don’t understand, at all.  Good day, Sir,”

she curtseyed coldly, and exited the room.

 

            “Your highness, are you feeling any better?” Luna came to

Serenity.

            “Yes, Luna, I’m feeling much better.  Now, tell me what’s been

going on.”

            “Well, your highness, it seems the Moonlight Maiden has gone on

farther than we thought.  She has found both Guardian Mercury, and

Guardian Jupiter…Mercury was revealed the night we arrived.”

            “And what happened after I became unconscious?”

            “The girl…Mina McLullen saved you.  She called on some force

and caught Beryl off guard.  Before Beryl vanished, she claimed the girl

was the Moon Princess.”

            The blonde?  “I felt something in her…she looked a little like I did

when I was that young…”

            “But reports also indicate that there is actually a Serena Kingston

in the court.  The unnamed lady in waiting who was sick the night we

arrived.  It appeared that something happened with her and the prince, that

night, but the cause is unknown, and both Kingston and his majesty prefer

not to discuss the matter.”

            “Serena?  That was my daughter’s name…”

            “Yes…but she’s of the Earth.  At least, that’s what she’s said. 

She’s the Moonlight Maiden.  I haven’t had much a chance to talk to the

girls yet.  In fact, we have been left alone except for once or twice in a

day, when the young princess comes to inquire…”

            “Princess?”

            “Your daughter.”

            “Ah. Mina.  Well, seeing that I am better, I’d like to see them as

soon as I can…first, I want to speak to the maiden, though.”

            “All right, your highness.”

 

            They sat by the fountain.  “We’ll have to leave all this behind?”

Amy looked around.

            “Yes…” Serena, her fingers playing in the water of the fountain.

            “Oh, Serena, the moon?” Lita asked, her eyes wide with wonder

and fear.  “What’s it like up there?”

            “Don’t ask me…but I guess we’ll find out…” Amy said, looking at

her reflection in the water.

            At that moment, Serena splashed the water into the reflection, and

Amy looked up, surprised at Serena.  Serena smiled, eyes glittering.  She

splashed the water at Amy.

            Amy looked at Serena blankly…and then laughed, and splashed

water back at her, and caught Lita.

            Lita smiled as well, and they started a water fight.

            “We’ll call this training!” Serena smiled, as she stepped into the

fountain and started to splash them.

 

            Oh, they hadn’t had such fun for a while.  It was good to laugh

again.  *Trust Serena to make everything right again.*

            Amy’s bare feet were dipping in the fountain water, her robes

soaked.

            Lita was wringing out her hair.

            Serena was smiling at both of them, coming back from the palace

with some towels.  “Come on girls.  I got these for you…”

            “…thank you, Serena…” Amy said, softly.

            “No prob!’ she hugged her friend.  “I guess it all goes to show that

we have to be able to go on.  It guess it’s easier to get on when we realize

that we still have each other…” she said, smiling on the outside.  *Fight

this, girl…*

            “Poor Raye…” Lita said, suddenly.

            The girls looked to each other.  Raye…

 

            “Your majesty?” Kunz fell into step beside Mina.  Mina smiled to

him in relief.  She had been wandering the halls for someone to talk to.

            “Don’t even TRY to keep calling me that.”

            Kunz chuckled, the deep laugh penetrating her senses, making her

blush lightly.  “Princess of the Moon…I’ll always be able to brag about it

to friends…”

            “Please, Kunz, I’d rather not talk about the throne of the Moon

kingdom.  It appears that it’s all we ever talk about now.  Suddenly,

everyone is expecting me to know what’s going on, who’s doing what. 

Things are hardly in place, and I want to talk to Jed.”

            “Jed…” Kunz said, seriously.  “He’s been thrown out of whack by

all the events lately.  I think he’d really like it if you talked to him…”

            “Yeah.  I can’t believe it…all these years, he thought I was his

sister, and until a while ago, I thought he was my brother.  And now, we’re

going to be separated…no…” Mina sighed.

            Kunz took her arm reassuringly.  “You’ll still see each other when

you come to visit, or when we do.”

            “Yeah, but that isn’t the same, and you know that.”

            “Look, Mina,” Kunz looked at her, as they stopped in the middle of

the hall.  “Life’s changing, quickly, and everyone’s found that they’re not

going to be able to decide what happens.  But the key is to remember that

in the end, everything is still the same.  To you, Jed will always be your

brother.  And for him, vice versa. The point is, no matter what happens,

Jed will not love you any less.”

            Mina smiled at Kunz, and said quietly, “You’re very wise…”

            “I learned it from Serena…” Kunz said, his face becoming grim. 

“She said that to me earlier today…when I asked her how I was to part

with her, when I’ve known her so long.”

 

            “If I have to hear more about the departure, or the moon kingdom,

I’m going to scream,” Lita muttered to Neph.

            “They can’t help it, Lita.  The future’s out of control.  They’re

trying to get it back in the reins.”

            “Yeah, right,” Lita rolled her eyes.  “The future’s overrated.  It

brings nothing but worries…”

            “Sure, Litanya…where’d THAT name come from?  You’ve always

been Lita to everyone here.”

            “It’s been my name from birth.  Only, I don’t use it.  But now,

when this whole mess came about, I thought it more clear to use the name

Litanya…perhaps my true mother gave me that name.  I thought it might

connect me to the past.  Amy’s taken her true name too…as well as Mina. 

When we were younger, we thought we all had weird names.  We wanted

them to be more normal.”

            “I’m SURE you’re the EMBODIMENT of normalcy.”

            Lita frowned teasingly to Neph.  He took her arm, and escorted her

back to the palace.  “Come along, Princess Jupiter.  You must get some

rest.”

 

            “Your highness?”

            “Yes Luna?”

            “I give you Lady Serena Kingston of Polaris, the Moonlight

Maiden…”

            Serena walked in, and bowed to the queen, who sat in a chair, by

the window.

            “Your highness…”

            As Serena’s eyes met Serenity’s eyes, Serenity gasped.  This girl

had a power in her that overcame all others.  Whatever warmth she had felt

when seeing the other ladies of the court, this girl possessed more warmth

than them all put together.  Her eyes were the distant blue of

moonsapphire, and her hair was light, with cords of sunlight, glinted with

moonbeam.

            Queen Serenity looked at Serena.  The Moonlight Maiden was a

strong and beautiful human being.  She felt a connection to this girl, but it

was so obvious the connection was visible because Selene guided them

both, and gave them both power to guard and guide.

            “Serena Kingston.  You are the guardian of the Moon?”

            “Yes, your majesty.  I was asked by Selene to accompany you to

the moon, and serve in Mina’s court…”

            “Mina…”

            “Yes, that is the princess’s name.  Actually, it’s Minalle. From her

birth, but everyone in court has called her Mina.”

            “My daughter’s name was Serena…”

            “This could get confusing…” Serena put a hand to her head.  “You

know my name is Serena…”

            “I guess that if my daughter has adopted the name of Mina, then I

shall agree as well.”

            “Your daughter is eager to meet you.  In fact, she is out in the hall

right now.  May I fetch her?”

            “Not yet…Lady Serena, will you please sit down?”

            Serena walked to the chair Serenity pointed to, and sat down across

from the delicate queen.  Her eyes were glittering, and her cheeks tinted

with exercise.  “Selene has contacted you more than once?”

            “Yes…I visit her regularly by the Lake of Tranquility.  She has

guided myself and my friends into being defenders of the moon kingdom,

and Earth.”

            “And Selene has instructed you to come to the Moon Kingdom

with me?”

            “Yes…” Serena swallowed.

            “And you have no qualms about leaving here?”

            “Do you have any qualms about bringing us there?” Serena asked

back, her heart starting to pound, tears starting to clench her heart.  “I will

be truthful and tell you that we are frightened of what is to happen to us. 

Just a few months ago, I didn’t even know of a moon princess…and I

didn’t even believe in a kingdom on the moon.  I will miss my family,

undoubtedly, and while my friends may find their true family, and courts

up in your kingdom, I am afraid to say that I will be leaving my own

behind.  Your highness, if these are not qualms, I don’t know what are, but

I trust Selene, and she has instructed to follow and care for you and your

daughter. I will do so.”

            The queen looked into this woman’s brave eyes, reflecting fear and

fight.  She could trust this woman.  She had a courage and a faith in

Selene, and therefore would serve well in the Moon Kingdom. 

            “I’m sorry, your highness, I shouldn’t have said those things…I

guess I can’t put the front up for everyone…”

            Serenity felt touched that she had been one of the few to see this

girl’s inner feelings, her thoughts and fears…she had a feeling that this girl

did not fear much, and if she did, she’d never let it conquer her.  “Don’t

worry, Lady Serena, I understand that you will miss your life here on

Earth, and your prince?”

            “My prince?”

            “Yes…I heard from my advisor Luna that on the night I arrived,

the prince rushed to your side for some reason or another…”

            “Prince Darien is not my prince…” Serena began, distantly.  “He

came to me that night to help me fight Beryl’s magic…”

            “So she kept you busy that night as well?”

            “Yes, and if it weren’t for the prince, I wouldn’t have survived…”

            “I understand…” Serenity nodded.  “So I owe him a great deal of

gratitude for saving my ward…”

            “Your what?”

            “You are now my ward.  Because Selene has chosen you to be the

guardian on the Moon, you will be under my care on the Moon.  While the

other girls have their own families, I will become yours.”

            Serena nodded, feeling a comfort to that.

            “Now, how is my daughter?”

            “She wishes to see you.”

            “Then I will see her now.”

            “Then I will let her in right now, and leave you alone…” Serena

got up off her chair, and offered Serenity her hand.

            Serenity took it awkwardly, and Serena smiled, and shook it.  “I

am going to serve you the best way I can.”

            “I have no doubt of that, Serena Kingston…”

 

            The blonde came rushing into the room, and knelt before Serenity.

            “Mother.”

            “My daughter…” Serenity looked at the woman, who knelt before

her.  She had seen her the night she had arrived, for a brief while, in

moonlight, but now she saw her daughter in full light.

            While the girl still possessed the warmth Serenity had felt the first

night, she realized that this young woman did not possess the power and

strength she had felt in Serena Kingston.

            She looked into the girl’s eyes, and found an ardent admiration. 

She took the girl’s cheek in her palm.

            This was not her daughter.  Serenity felt something fall in her

heart.  A disappointment.  The girl looked with foreign eyes.  They did not

possess a connection…as Serena’s did.

            Serenity shook her mind.  *Serena’s possesses the connection

because Serena is of Selene’s guardianship.  But Mina’s should as well,

for she is not only of Selene’s guardianship, but she’s my daughter.* 

Looking at the girl, she tried to understand, to see her daughter.  She tried

to find something familiar in the girl’s eyes.

            Mina’s did not reflect a true world of anything she recognized.

            Serenity smiled at the young woman, and gestured to the seat

opposite hers.

            There had to be a reason why this girl believed herself to be the

moon princess.

            Serenity shook the feeling off her.  What was she expecting?  That

she’d see the love and family in the eyes?  No, this had to be her daughter. 

Everyone thought so.  She looked just like her.  Serenity was expecting too

much.  And that’s why she was doubting her daughter.

            Doubting her daughter?  That was not right.  No, Mina was the true

princess of the moon.  Serenity was just having strange feelings about

seeing her daughter again, expecting their life to be perfect, when she

shouldn’t have expected that.

 

            The ball was extravagant, and large.  It was held on the first night

Queen Serenity of the Moon felt better.

            The ballroom was cascaded in moonlight and candlelight, and

celebration and wonderment twisted about the people, an excitement

clearly permeating the air.

            Darien bowed to those who greeted him in the procession line.  He

yawned absently, and looked the door.  He wondered when the Queen of

the Moon would make her entrance…with her daughter, and her

guardians…

            He looked at his sister.

            Raye was pale and looked ill.  Her violet eyes were almost as dark

as night now, and sadness was evident.

            He then looked to his mother, who stood, stately in green velvet,

her auburn and silver hair pinned up.  Her earthy eyes were of civility and

cordiality.

            As his eyes fell on the door again, he noticed that it had not been

open by two well-dressed guards…the two from the Moon.

            In came two figures, with white dresses, and the royal hair-style,

the gold crowns on each other their heads.

            Mina McLullen was a vision.  Her eyes were sparkling with

excitement at finding her heritage, and her mouth was soft and joyous. 

She wore a dress of white silk and gold beads and pearls.  The bodice was

of embroidery from the royal seamstresses.  The dress was of the most

delicate moonlily silk.  Darien smiled, softly and awkwardly.  His date

tonight was beautiful.

            Her highness the Queen Serenity of the Moon was dressed

similarly, and her eyes reflected a bit of confusion, but an altogether

stately, graceful and serene air.

            “Queen Serenity the First of the kingdom of the Moon, and her

daughter, Minalle the First of the kingdom of the Moon.”

            The two made their way to the throne, and met the prince, princess

and queen of Earth.  Darien stepped forward, and too the hand of the

Princess of the Moon.  “My lady…” he said, and awkwardly kissed her

hand, guiding her to stand next to him.  She stood, smiling nervously to

him.  The Queen of the Moon stood beside Queen Merlyn, and the two

smiled to each other.

            It was then that Kunz realized that the two who stood

uncomfortably next to each other were being set up.  His fist clenched. 

Darien didn’t want this.  Mina didn’t want this.  HE didn’t want this.

            “Princess Litanya of the court of Jupiter, and guardian to the

princess Minalle…”

            Lita stepped in, her auburn hair pinned up, with tiger lilies

blooming among the ruddy stream of curls.  Her dress was sea green silk,

or moonsilk, as she had found out from the queen.  She wore a intricately

filigreed gold tiara on her head, with an emerald winking at her forehead. 

Emeralds, from the lush depths of Jupiter’s jungles, sparkled at her ears. 

She stepped quietly into the room, to step next to Mina, not expecting any

eyes on her.

            Neph’s were.  His eyes were pinned on her the moment she had

entered the room.  She was a vision.  As she courteously bowed to the

queens, and their children, she caught a glimpse of him from the corner of

her eye and winked.  He almost laughed, choking himself to maintain

dignity.

            “Princess Amyliana of the court of Mercury, and guardian to the

princess Minalle…”

            Amy walked in slowly, looking about, curiously, sadly.  Her hair

was pulled back by two drops of Mercury’s finest water sapphires,

trimmed with crystals of the first water.  Her eyes were large and sad, and

the depths of blue echoed the loneliness and solitariness of the ocean.  She

was dressed in blue gossamer moonbeam, a silky material, collected in the

finest looms in the Moon Kingdom.  She wore a silver and diamond tiara,

a sapphire glimmering at her forehead, of a shade almost as blue as her

eyes.

            She felt the sorry eyes upon her, but would not cave.  She walked

stiffly to the front, and bowed.  Behind the door, Serena sighed.  Her

throat contracted again, as she realized that she was to enter next.

            “The Maiden Serena Kingston, of the service to the goddess

Selene, and ward to the Queen Serenity, and guardian to the royal Lunar

family…”

            Every eye in the room fell on the beautiful young woman who

entered the room.  Because she was not of the royal court of the moon by

blood, she did not receive gifts from Queen Serenity.  Serena wouldn’t

have taken them, for she knew she was merely a mortal girl, who was

chosen to guard Selene’s power, and progeny.

            However, she wore the gown she had been stitching in moonlight

for the past several days.  She outshone even Mina, and the Queens.  She

came in, courageously, and alone.

            She was like the rest of the Earth…common humans, who didn’t

know much of the life on other planets…a girl who deserved no major

distinction.  She had slaved over her dress to stun everyone.

            Now, as she realized that every eye was on her, and not the royal

families, she felt a guilt.  She shouldn’t have done this.  Lifting her head,

and accepting that it was too late, Serena walked into the room.

            Her dress was a the silk of Earth, and it was of a purity even the

Queen of the Moon would envy for.  It was not Moonbeam, Moonlily, or

Moonwhatever…but it was wonderfully beautiful.

            Serena had hand-sewn every aspect of that dress.  The high collar

was of lace, embroidered with gold, and seeded with beads, and collared

around her neck.  From there, a gauzy chiffon material covered her chest

until it met a while silk at the top of her breast.  The chiffon was

embroidered with white thread, and sprinkled with pearls and gold beads. 

The white silk that met the chiffon came as a sleeveless dress,

embroidered at the meeting point with the gold thread and pearls.  The

straps of the gown came over her shoulders, and met at her back, where

embroider chiffon covered only a few inches from her neck.  Plain white

silk shimmered at the rest of her back. Below her breast a line of pearls

circled, and from there, the white silk dropped to her feet.  There was a

layer of chiffon over the silk, lightly embroidered her or there with gold

thread, and seeded with beads and pearls.

            She wore simple pearls in her ears…a gift she had received from

her mother after graduating finishing school…they were Kingston pearls. 

She also wore her blond hair up, into coils weaving among white rosebuds

and small pearls.

            She walked through the room, attention of all, focused on her, and

her attention focused on walking right, doing everything right.

            Her eyes first fell on the Prince.  His gaze was of sheer

astonishment…his eyes were of a dark blue that enveloped her in heat.  He

was dressed in a white satin tunic and pants, a red sash across his chest,

spangled with medals.  He wore black boots, and a red cape.  She sighed. 

He looked wonderful in white.

            She looked away just as quickly as she looked to him to see her

eyes fall on Merlyn, whose eyes shone with admiration…and perhaps

guilt.  She wondered why until she followed Merlyn’s side glance to Mina,

whose arm was threaded in Darien’s.

            It shouldn’t have hurt.  But it did.  Merlyn knew, somehow, and

Serena’s pain felt even more exposed.

            Mina was uncomfortable, but her eyes were gleaming with ardent

admiration of her friend’s beauty.  However, Mina felt discomfort at being

next to the man whom she thought was meant for her childhood friend. 

Serena smiled courageously to her, and looked back to Merlyn, and smiled

indifference.

            She smiled to Serenity, who was impressed and proud of the

Moonlight Maiden…and somewhat puzzled at the resemblance Serena had

to Mina, and herself.

            Serena then looked to Kunz, Neph, and Jed, and smiled to them. 

They all smiled back, though Jed’s eyes were flashing in an anger.  She

followed his sneer to Raye.

            Raye, who was dressed in her gown of red velvet fire.  She looked

scorched by Jed’s angry gaze.  However, she kept her perfect beauty about

her like a cloak.  It was a daring, beautiful look for her.  Her hair was wild,

down her shoulders, and rubies glittered teasingly at her ears.  Her eyes

were dark with determination, and Serena met them and smiled to her

friend.

            Raye felt the warmth of fury from Jed, and a warmth of friendship

from Serena.  Ignoring Jed, she focused on Serena, and smiled back,

courageously.

            These exchanges, and revelations of thought and worry, took place

within the length of time Serena walked down the white velvet carpet to

the throne.  She now stopped and curtseyed.

            As told by Luna and Artemis, she did not stand with the princesses

of Mercury and Jupiter, but next to Luna and Artemis, as a protector of the

family, not the princess.  She felt alone now.

            She stood alone.

 

            Darien shifted his hands uncomfortably around Princess Minalle. 

This was not working out.

            Minalle was not relaxed, and she looked preoccupied, her eyes

wandering away to somewhere else.

            His thoughts, however, were not engaged in her anyway, so he

didn’t care.

            However, his thoughts WERE engaged in the woman who came

into the court today, stunning everyone.

            The first time he had met her, he had realized that Serena Kingston

was a woman to fear.  A fighter, hot-tempered, and determined.  The

second time he had met her, he had realized that Serena Kingston was a

woman to desire.  A beauty, whose every move echoed the underlying

theme that made her an undeniable beauty.  However, neither of the

women had ever shown him what he was going think of her now.

            Serena Kingston was a woman to respect.  A woman, with

intelligence, charm, understanding, and the world’s knowledge.  Granted,

she was always a pain to work with, but she wouldn’t be Serena if she was

otherwise.  She was a woman who believed in justice, as passionate about

her beliefs as she was about fighting.  Tonight, she had entered the court of

princesses, alone with the distinction that she was the only one who came

from Earth, and held her own.  Not a lady, who merely walked in, meekly

bowing.  Serena Kingston held up her head, acknowledged that though she

was not a princess, she was not lesser than the rest of them.

            Seeing her stand for herself, for her kingdom, made him feel a

warm sense of pride, in his people, in her.

            With that pride, came respect.

            As he rounded a waltz turn, he noticed the Mina’s worry deepen,

he turned her to focus on the two people dancing peacefully across the

room.

 

            Serena and Kunz danced peacefully, and she said softly, “You like

her, don’t you?”

            “Yes, of course I do…” Kunz muttered.

            “So what are you going to do about it?”

            “What do you mean?”

            “We are leaving in a few weeks, after Queen Serenity has seen the

Earth kingdom.  From the looks of the Queen Merlyn and Queen Serenity,

they are surely contemplating an alliance, especially with the attack of the

moon kingdom.  A marriage would be a considerable way of sealing the

alliance…”

            “So you’re saying that Darien and Mina are being pushed

together?”

            “It’s not that hard to see.  Look at them, and look at the queens.”

            Merlyn and Serenity looked hopeful.  Darien and Mina danced on

awkwardly.  Kunz turned back to Serena.

            “He’s looking at you…”

            “Who isn’t?  This dress has caused more trouble than

admiration…”

            “You sewed this by moonlight?  How could you see?”

            “Oh, the candles helped as well, and the difficult parts I did during

the day, when no one was looking.”

            “Serena, you have definitely changed…”

            “No, I’m still the same.  I just had to change my surface.”

            “We’re going to miss you,” he said.

            “I’m going to miss you too,” she said, impulsively kissing his

cheek.

 

            He seethed in his spot.

            Serena, kissing Kunz.  Darien looked to Mina, who looked

saddened by the action.  “I’m sure she did it to comfort him for her

departure…after all, she’s trained with them for years now.  He’ll miss

her…” Darien said, making excuses for the boiling rage inside of himself.

            As they stiffly continued to dance, they were cut in when Jed came

upon them.  “May I cut in?”

            Darien very understandingly and willingly gave up his hold on the

princess, and handed her to her brother. 

            As Mina started to dance with Jed, she whispered softly, “I don’t

know what’s going to happen, Jed, but I’m going to tell you now, that I am

still your sister, in my heart.  Nothing can change the past.  We can affect

our future.  If you give up connection to me now, I understand, but Jed, I

love you.  I’ve known you since you were so little…you must understand. 

I am your sister, if not by blood, then by right, by heart.”

            Jed looked to Mina, sadly.  “Moon princess, huh?  My sister’s out

there, on the moon, with the weird hair-do, in possession of great magical

powers. I’d never believe that…”

            “But you must believe that your sister loves you…”

            Jed looked to his sister.  “Yes, I know that…” he kissed her on the

forehead.  “I wanted to give you this…” he took something out of his

pocket.

            It was a small round jewelry box, the size of a palm, carefully

polished.  There was an opal oval, polished purely and brilliantly at the

center of the cover of the box.  The box was of polished mahogany, and

the light gleamed carefully from the candlelight.  “I know you were

always partial to opals, and I made this for you, to give to you on your

birthday, but I don’t think we will be able to celebrate it together.”

            Mina’s eyes started to collect tears, as she felt the cool polished

wood in the middle of her palm.  “It’s beautiful…I like it…a lot, Jed. 

Thank you,” she hugged him.

            “I’ll miss you, but you know, us McLullens…wherever we are…”

he started.

            “We fight to the end!” Mina laughed.

 

            Serena walked to the balcony, to catch some of the cool Earthy air. 

As she breathed in, she thought she had never smelled a fragrance so

lovely.  Looking at the moon, she wondered what Earth would look like

from up there.

            As she stood there, she could feel the gentle breezes come through

here, and a chill started at the base of her spine.  Someone was on the

terrace as well.  She listened carefully, and sighed,  “Good evening, your

highness.”

            Darien stepped from behind a potted plant.  “I didn’t know who

was coming out here…I just wanted some time alone…”

            Serena sighed in understanding.  “We all wish for that, lately.  It

seems that none of the royal court has been successful in that.”

            Her whole person was beautiful right now.  And it had nothing to

do with her hair, her dress, the night air, or the music that caressed the

evening air.

            It had everything to do with the eyes that looked at him.

            Truth, fear, anger, confusion.

            Humanity.

            The most beautiful sight in the world had to be in those eyes.  The

sight of a woman, who was acting with courage, to fight her fears.

            Others may not have been able to fight.  This lady, who had

punched him five years before, could.  Serena Kingston had gained

something from him that no other woman had gained before.  Respect.

            “You’ve been holding up well…”

            Serena turned to him.  “What do you mean?” she asked, confused.

            “Others might have caved.  Have you any idea how much fear is in

your eyes?”

            Serena was shocked to find that he could read her so well now. 

“Save a girl’s life and you think you know her…” she said,  “Look, your

highness, I don’t know what the joke is, but this isn’t funny…”

            “No joke,” Darien said.  “You don’t have to pretend with me,

Serena.”

            Serena looked at him.  “I’m not pretending anything.”

            “Serena, I know you’re scared.”

            “No, I’m not.”

            “Will you stop contradicting me?”

            “Then stop telling lies,” she countered smoothly.  “You thought

you knew me before, Darien.  You think you know me now, Darien.  But

I’ll tell you one thing; you’ll never know me.”

            With that, she turned back to the ball room, and walked back to the

party.

            Darien was left on the balcony. *Try to be nice, and you get

brushed off.*

 

            Serena was swearing as she got back into the bedroom.  She settled

on the bed, and yanked off her shoes.

            “Of all the rude, impertinent things for him to do, this is the

worst!”

            Amy sighed in the darkness.

            Serena jumped.  “Amy, what are you doing here?  The ball doesn’t

end for another hour or so…”

            “What are you doing here?” Amy countered.

            “I told the queen I didn’t feel good.”

            “How do you think I feel?” Amy replied sardonically.  “A

ball…hm…a night of romance,” she said bitterly.

            “Oh Amy, I…I’m sorry…” Serena said, walking to Amy’s bed,

hugging her.  “I’ve just been having a bad night…”

            “What happened?”

            Serena sighed, “Nothing.”

            “It can’t be nothing.  You were ready to throw your shoes across

the room.”

            “Look, let’s not talk about it, okay?”

            “Serena, please.  You’ve kept all this to yourself lately.  You

haven’t said anything about what you’re thinking, or feeling…”

            “I’m not supposed to.  I have to be rational.”

            Amy’s tears started to come again.  “What’s going on with you

Serena?  You’re fighting so hard…”

            “Oh, Amy…” she saw her friend crying, and held her.  “I’m sorry

I’ve been hard on everyone.  Things are just very difficult now.  I’m sure

everything will be all right.”

            “Will you tell me what’s going on with you?”

            “No…” Serena said.  “I don’t want to depress you.”

            “At least tell me why you left the ball early…” Amy pleaded. 

“You’ll feel better.  I promise.”

            Serena sighed.  Amy wasn’t going to let up until Serena told her

something, and Serena did want to talk about it…to herself, later.  “All

right.  I’m pissed off at Darien because the jerk thinks he knows me…”

            “Has he tried to be a chauvinistic pig again, because Serena, we’ve

discussed what you had to do…just count to a hundred…”

            “Yeah, I know, but he didn’t do that this time…”

            “What did he do?  Humiliate you?  Degrade you?”

            “He…he…he told the truth!” Serena stammered out.

            Amy was speechless.

            “He told the truth…” Serena repeated to herself.  “Excuse me,

Amy, but I think I have to think a little right now, to myself…”

 

            Lita sighed, walking around the garden.  “The tension in the

court’s obvious.  No one knows what’s going on, and with Amy being

confused, lost and depressed, and the queens forcing Mina and Darien to

spend time together, Kunz is resigned, and Serena is mad at Kunz for not

fighting for Mina.  She’s made at Darien for telling some truth.  She’s mad

at everyone.”

            “Can you blame Serena?  You all are going home.  She’s leaving

it…”

            “Yeah, I’m going home to somewhere I have not idea about. 

Going home to a father and mother I had never met.  Going to home to a

place I have never seen.  Earth is my home too, Neph…”

            Neph looked at Lita.  “You’re going in a few days…”

            “Yes, I am…I hope you haven’t spent ALL your time mulling over

Serena’s future…it only depresses me.”

            “As a matter of fact, I’ve been working on a surprise with Darien

and Kunz and Jed…it’s for Serena…” 

            “And that would be?”

            “If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.”

            “Neph…” she said.  “Fine, don’t tell me, but I’ll find out…”

            “You’ll find out, when you find out…with everyone else.”

            “Can you give me a hint?”

            “No,” he smiled.

            “You’re…”

            “Charming, I know,” he smiled.

            “I was thinking more along the lines of ‘frustrating, perplexing,

and irritating…’”, she sighed.

            “You’ll miss me when I’m gone…” he teased.

            “Yes, I will…” Lita sighed.

            “Merlyn has mentioned some trips that Darien will have to make to

see the Moon kingdom, to discuss Beryl.  I have been asked to join him. 

Should I come?”

            Lita’s eyes widened, glittered.  “Of course!”

            “Lita…” Neph said, taking her hand in his, kissing it gently. 

“I…like you…a lot, but…”

            “But there are some things better left on the shelf…” Ltia said,

wistfully.  “Just leave it, Neph…” she said.  “Don’t worry about me…it

doesn’t matter, not now, nor will it ever…I…I like you too…” she

whispered, squeezing his hand.

 

            “RAYE!”

            Raye slowed her horse, and turned around, looking at Serena,

whose horse was racing across the fields, catching up.

            Raye smiled at Serena as Serena approached Raye and her horse

Lynda.   “I almost went out of my mind when I found out you went out

without telling anyone.  I searched all over the palace, and then I looked

out my window to see you leaving on your horse!” Serena caught her

breath.  “Raye, it’s not safe to do this anymore.  We let you before, but

now, there’s an evil force out there…”

            “I can fend for myself…” Raye said.  “I have to.”

            Serena looked at her friend, her hand reaching out, and taking

Raye’s.  “You don’t.  We’re still going to be your friends.  Nothing

changes that.  So what if the miles increase.  I’ll write you.  And you can

come up and visit with your brother.”

            Raye nodded, her eyes starting to fill with tears.

            “However, Raye, I want you to be alive to do it.  You MUST take

care of yourself, and you MUST be accompanied by guards.  I’m worried. 

With the four of us around, it was easy to always be able to protect you. 

But now, we’re leaving…”

            “I can take care of myself, really…”

            Serena’s eyes narrowed.  “Don’t play noble miss to me, Raye.  I

know you.  You CAN take care of yourself.  But what if Beryl sends three

guys to tackle you, or four?”

            “If she sent a hundred, what would one guard be?”

            “Raye…”

            “I know, I’m again being unreasonable, but Serena, mother’s

already worried to death over the kingdom right now, and Darien’s being

shoved in Mina’s path, and they’re both trying to make sense of the whole

thing.  There is no one to take care of those matters right now, and I can’t

just go and hire on a bodyguard.  I don’t know the first thing about that

kind of thing.  And my mother would kill me if she considered my choice

in bad taste.”

            Serena nodded, slowly.  “Well, right now, I’m still going to protect

you…”

            “You’ve already got two people to protect.  Believe me.  You can’t

handle another.”

            “Lita and Amy can take care of those two right now.  I’ve got a

duty to MY princess, the princess of Earth.”

 

            She was furious when she stormed into the throne room.  Furious

at Merlyn.  For more than once reason, but she’d only mention one.

            Merlyn looked up at Serena, and something akin to fear started to

come into her.

            Serena counted to ten.

            “Lady Serena…” Merlyn smiled, carefully.  “What can I do for

you?”

            “Why don’t you ask what you can do for your daughter?” Serena

said, with an edge that bit.  “Raye went out riding today with no

supervision whatsoever, and no one was even aware of her departure!”

            Merlyn frowned.

            Sarena sighed.  “Your highness, I know you didn’t mean to ignore

your daughter, and I can see how with everything going around, you’ve

been too busy pushing your son into the moon princess…”

            Merlyn sat back, shocked.  “Serena Kingston…”

            “Your highness, I’m sorry…” Serena said, the fury in her eyes

starting to ebb.  “I didn’t mean that.”

            Merlyn could see that Serena was pulled so thin now that she was

ready to snap.  “It’s all right.  I understand…I’m sorry about the whole

setup between you and Darien, but I’m very afraid right now that Serenity

desires the match…she hasn’t really told me, but I can guess that the

marriage would be the best route for safety against Metalia right now.”

            Serena’s fist clenched, and Merlyn knew that explaining things like

this was getting no where.

            Serena noticed the guilt in Merlyn’s face and forgave her, smiling

bravely.  “I came to speak to you about Raye.  I think she needs a mother,

and a guard.  Right now, she’s been pushed aside, and neglected.  Her four

best friends are leaving the day after tomorrow.  I think she needs support,

from her mother.  As for the guard matter, it is no secret that Metalia is

power-driven.  She’s after any human being, and considering Raye’s also

the princess of Earth, she is at considerable risk.  You must protect her.”

            Merlyn looked at the girl, and smiled softly.  “What am I ever

going to do without you?  You always could see the problem…” she

sighed.  “You can leave us,” she gestured to the guards at the door.  “I’m

quite safe with Lady Kingston…”

            After the guards had left, Merlyn sighed, sinking down from her

formal posture.  “I didn’t know about this problem at all…I guess I was all

caught up in the moon kingdom and Beryl…”

            Serena smiled softly, “I understand, and Raye does as well, but her

understanding and her need for activity and excitement counter each other

in such a way that she must always be outside and active.”

            Merlyn sighed,  “You’re right, you know.  I’ll talk to her more

often and make sure she’s all right.  But meanwhile, I need to find her a

guard.”

            “I have a suggestion.”

 

            Kunz escorted Mina through the halls, gently taking her arm.  “I’m

sure you’re frightened right now.  You’re going home tomorrow night.”

            “I’m terrified!  To see a whole new kingdom, and to say I am its

princess…Serena is taking all this so well.  She seems immune to

change…”

            “Once a guard, always a guard.  She has always possessed a calm,

and a cool.  She was always logical.  Could handle a fight.”

            “I’m glad she’s coming with me.  Perhaps she’ll tell me what the

hell I’m supposed to do.  I don’t want to marry Darien, and he doesn’t

want to marry me.  I don’t know how I am to rule, or anything.  I just

discovered my life, my past.  And now, I seem to know less than I even

began with.”

            Kunz took her hand.  “You’ll find it, Mina, you will…”

            “I hope so…” she said, not pulling her hand from the clasp.

 

            Serena was a lonely figure, watching the sun set over the Earth.

            Would there be beautiful sunsets on the moon?

            She sat at a hillside, watching it remembering it.  Her horse grazed

a few feet away.

            Tomorrow, she’s spend most the day with her parents, and say

goodbye to many of her friends.  She’d spend time with Neph, Kunz, and

Jed.  She’d cry a little with Raye.  But today, tonight was for reflection.

            Her life, as a lady-in-waiting to the Princess Raye of Earth, was

over.  A strange life.  It all began when a young man rejected her.  Her fist

clenched.  That man made her life complicated by tons.

            She’d been best friends with a group of young men, who were the

best in the world.  She’d fought against them, laughed with them, and

loved them.  They were almost her brothers.

            And now, she was going to let them all go.  Her brothers.  Her

men.

            She was going to leave a princess behind, who kept her own ideals

somewhat romantic.  A girl who forced her to dream a little of princesses

and palaces…and perhaps princes…a strong girl, who now stood, alone.

            And then, there was the prince.  A young man who had ruined her

life with a flick of the wrist, and then saved it just as quickly, only a matter

of nights ago.  A young, handsome man, whom if they had actually gotten

to know each other, she could have liked.  A man that she could have,

perhaps, even loved, if given the chance, and the tolerance.

            There was a great deal to admire in the prince of Earth.  He was

stubborn, but still managed to see the whole picture.  He was getting better

at it now.  He was intelligent, and strategic.  He knew when and where and

who, if not what.  He was gracious to subjects, if not her.

            She’d miss him, though she’d never tell HIM that.

            Sighing into the wind, the chill of loneliness came into her blood.

            Leaving her home.

            A new future.

            Serena never let her emotions fall into her strategy.  She had

always congratulated herself on standing firm and tall, just.  Right now,

though, she had the uncomfortable belief that nothing was going be safe

and secure in her life…that her life was no longer in her grasp.

            The wind was a demon who bit into her mind, bleeding fear into

her thoughts.

 

            When Serena came in for dinner, Darien’s eyes were focused on

the serenity of her face.  Placid, unfeeling.

            On the surface.  He could only guess what was underneath.

            She sat across the table from him…Mina being next to him, in the

place Serena used to occupy.

            He had wanted to take some time to talk to her, ever since the ball. 

He shouldn’t have just told her that, so harshly, but he was so worried

about her…for her.

            He would, he vowed.  Tonight.

 

            The figure was in an old worn green shirt, and worn pants.  Her

hair cascaded wildly over the shoulders, and she sat on a bench, knees

pulled to her body, chin resting on her knees.

            It was the final hour, and the twilit sky drifted across the lush Earth

            A few minutes, alone.

            She didn’t even hear him approach.

            “Lady Kingston…”

            She nearly jumped.  “You’re getting better at creeping up and

staying hidden, your highness…”

            “I strive to drive you crazy…” he said, lightly.

            “You’ve succeeded, admirably,” she returned, warmly.  After a

small, awkward moment of silence, she started, “Your highness…I would

like to apologize…”

            “No, no need to.  I came here to apologize to you, for being so

blunt and prying.  It was none of my business to intrude on your affair…”

            “No, I deserved it…in a way, Darien…you were…right…and I

suppose I just didn’t want to hear it…but when I think about the fact that I

have to leave home…”

            The first tear came.  Home.

            Where was home, now?

            Some cold planet, across the sky?

            *This ought to be one of those nightmares…* Serena thought. 

*The kind that you can just wake up from, and forget ever happened.  The

kind that you can just laugh at, and forget about…* tears started to flow

readily. 

            The sting was unbearable.  There was an empty hollow where

home was in her mind, where her life was, where her future, her whole

existence was.

            The others had been strong.  She had tried to be as well.  But now,

the stress just pulled at her.

            Darien looked at the crying woman.

            The tears were glitter diamonds in her sapphire eyes.  The tears

enveloped his heart, and wrung at his emotions.  He awkwardly reached

into his pocket, and brought out a blue velvet pouch, and handed it to her.

            She looked at it.

            “Open it…”

            She opened it, and almost laughed to see fresh handkerchiefs

folded neatly inside.

            “I want you to keep this…when my father died, my mother sewed

this herself.” Darien said.  “You’ll need it more than I…”

            Serena smiled.  “I certainly hope not.”

            “Serena, you’ve been strong these past days, and I admire all the

strength in your blood and eye.  But everyone cries.  Everyone’s human,

and is susceptible to emotion, strain, and stress.  I apologize for being part

of that stress…I have done nothing to help the situation…you must have

felt horrible after facing someone you loathed so much…having him tell

you what you should feel…”

            Serena laughed quietly, suddenly.  It felt good to laugh.

            “What?”

            Her eyes sparked with a pleasing tease, and tears welled up readily,

in humor and in relief.  “I was also going to apologize to you for not

respecting you all these years…because you are very perceptive,

Darien…” she smiled, almost laughed.  Her face became serious as she

then said, “I also…wanted to thank you about saving my life…” she

looked to the bench.

            He looked at her.  “Are you done feeling guilty about yelling at

me?”

            She looked at him.

            “You didn’t have to apologize and grovel, Serena,” he said gently. 

“In fact, I deserved it…I treated you with no respect at all, from day

one…”

            Serena truly laughed, goldenly.  “I’ll admit, I was well ready to kill

you that day…”

            “But?” he prompted her.

            She looked to him.  “How did you know there was a ‘but’?”

            He met her eyes steadily.  “Because if you had resolved to kill me,

as I would have in your position, I would be dead right now.”

            Serena laughed again.  “I didn’t kill you then, Prince Darien

Wyndica, because I was going to let your mother do it for me…”

            “What am I going to do without that stunning wit of yours?” he

said, taking her face in his hands.

            Her face was lily soft, her eyes now strangely distant.

            “Um…well, tomorrow, I shall leave, so I suppose I must go back

in…” she said, returning the pouch to Darien.

            “Keep it.”

            She stroked the velvet, bringing it to her lips.  “I cannot keep this

without giving something back…”

            Darien smiled.  “It’s a gift…”

            “Then I shall give you one as well…” she reached into her pocket

for something, finding a strange, slightly large object.  She drew it out. 

“My locket…”

            “What?”

            She opened it, and a melody of moonlight and magic sweetened

the air.

            The locket was gold, and star-shaped.  “My father got this for me

when I was born.  I’ve had it ever since I was small.  I thought I lost

it…but now, since I have it, since you gave me a treasure…I give you

mine…” she presented him with the locket.

            “No, I can’t take it.”

            “But you have to.  It’s only fair.  You gave me something

important to you.  You know me.  I believe in fairness.  I have to give you

something important to me.”

            Their eyes lifted to meet, and he took the locket, and hands.  “Fine,

I’ll take care of it.  Maybe when we see each other again, I’ll be able to

give it back to you…”

            “And I’ll be done using your handkerchiefs…” she smiled.

            She looked away from him, and sighed, starting to get up.  “It felt

good to laugh, cry…I might be inclined to say that your presence was very

much appreciated tonight…”

            He tucked the locket in his pocket, and got up with her, taking her

hands again.  “I’m glad…”

            “So when shall you visit?” she asked, curiously.

            “So you SHALL miss me,” he teased.

            She blushed.  Of all things, she had blushed. 

            “I’ll visit when I can.  I truthfully do not know when I’ll

visit…things have happened so fast that the Earth kingdom has not been

overly concerned with its own future…”

            Serena rolled her eyes.  “I could see THAT…”

            He smiled gently.  “I am glad we are parting in good feelings, Lady

Kingston…”  He lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed it gently.

            She smiled, uncomfortable, and he took her arm.  “Come, I shall

escort you back to your room.  You need some rest, or tomorrow, I fear

you shall be a mass of tears.”

 

            Edward and Lauryl Kingston walked through the garden with their

daughter.  “You look a lot more calm than you did yesterday,” Edward

observed.

            “I was terrified, and I guess I still am, sort of…I didn’t, and I still

don’t know if I belong up there…”

            Her parents sighed.  They didn’t know either.  They had seen the

moon queen arrive, and had found out that their daughter was the

Moonlight Maiden, guardian of the powers of Selene.

            They wondered if it had anything to do with the basket of gold she

had been found in.

            They had heard in the past few days of the girls from other planets. 

They had heard of the girls, being orphaned when they were young.

            But they had not heard of baskets of gold.

            “But?” Lauryl prompted.

            Serena was ready to burst out laughing…*How does everyone

know there’s a ‘but’?*  “But, I think I have made my peace, and accepted

my future, whatever it is…” She reached into her pocket, and clutched the

velvet pouch inside.

            She had cried when the others had slept last night.  The

handkerchiefs had been soaked through.  But she found, in the end, that

she was all right, that she would be.  Her fear had not subsided, but her

panic had, and so had the stress.  She now stood before them, placid,

serene, and determined, and afraid.

            She did not know what gave her the serenity.  Maybe it was her

tears.  She had not cried since she was a young girl…whenever THAT

was.

            “Serena, you’ll be all right…and if a Moon goddess is willing to

lead you up there, I think you must follow…” Lauryl smiled, pushing a

lock of hair behind her daughter’s ear.

            “We’ll write to each other…” Edward said, kissing her on the

forehead.

            “I’m still scared, mother.”

            “We all are, but courage is doing something you’re afraid to do,

and if you’re the Serena Kingston we raised, you will do what’s right, in

your mind, and heart.”

            Serena looked into her mother’s careful eyes, and nodded slowly.

 

            “And that’s another for me…” she said, as she swept Jed’s rapier

from his hands.  Sunset played around them.  Serena knew that soon, she’d

have to go inside, bathe and get ready for departure.

            “Serena…you always knew how to fence perfectly,” Neph smiled.

            “Learned form the best…” she winked back to him.  “Care to fight

me?” she said.

            She was dressed in a lawn shirt, and worn pants.  Her hair was

pulled back in a dirty ponytail, and her face was smeared with sweat and

dirt.  If it hadn’t been from her womanly figure, she would have looked

very similar to the way she did when she was only fifteen and only starting

in the training.

            “I’ll take you on…” Kunz took a rapier.

            She smiled.  “Sure…” she started.  They fenced a while, and

Serena got a mark.

            Kunz shrugged, and disarmed her next.

            She smiled.  “Not bad, but it’s not over.” she dove between his

legs, and grabbed her rapier, swiftly standing up again.

            Kunz laughed.  “If there’s one thing I’ll miss the most about

you…”

            Serena smiled, wickedly.  “I’d think you’d miss Mina more!” she

said, suddenly going in for a lunge, disarming him quickly, taking his own

rapier in her other hand.

            “You cheated…” Kunz said.

            “I won…” Serena flashed back.

            “Let me have a try…” a new voice joined the group.

            Serena looked to Darien, trying to keep her calm.

            “Darien, she’ll kill you…”  Jed said, laughing.

            “I can handle it…” he said, picking off a rapier from the side,

walking to Serena.  “Lady Kingston owes me a victory…I’m going to get

her back for humiliating me in court three years ago.”

            “Fine…” Serena shrugged, trying to look careless to his presence. 

It was strange seeing him now, in front of other people.  Had they known

that the two who fought now had finally made their peace?

            “Hey Serena!” Raye came, with Mina, Lita, and Amy standing

with her.

            “Hey Raye!  I’d hug you, but I smell, and I’m about to defeat your

brother…”

            “Don’t be too sure…” Darien smiled.

            The battle was locked within minutes.  Serena let her usual careful

steady rhythm go, and went in for a hit.

            She succeeded in disarming him, and having the point of her rapier

at his throat.  “I win…”

            “Not necessarily,” he smiled, crouching quickly and tripping her. 

Her grip on the rapier loosened, and it flew form her hands.  He stood over

her, with it his hand.

            She immediately reached back to grab his rapier, and countered his

offensive move.  She then fought herself up, and stood.  Again locked in

combat, she fought aggressively.

            “You’re trading finesse in for hits…you’re fighting recklessly,”

Darien warned.

            “What should you know about fencing?” she teased.

            He circled his sword out of her lock, and attacked, clearly, quickly

cutting off the first button of her shirt.  She looked down, and he took

advantage of that moment, to disarm her and pin her to the ground, with

his rapier at her throat.

            She breathed lightly, afraid the tip would puncture the skin at her

neck.

            “Don’t be afraid,” he said.  “I wouldn’t want to scar that pretty

little throat…” his rapier went down to the next button of her shirt.  It

circled the button carefully, considering it.

            “Don’t you dare do this to me in front of my friends…” she said,

ready to burst out laughing…the whole event was rather humorous…he

was a VERY skilled swordsman now..

            He smiled, his eyes dangerously flashing, but tossed aside the

rapier to the stand where the others were, and grabbed her arm, pulling her

up.

            “Good game,” she burst out laughing.  “I don’t think I’ve ever been

soundly defeated before…” she offered her hand.  “The Earth’s in good

hands, your highness.”

            He took her hand, and shook it heartily.

 

            “So the invincible Serena Kingston was finally defeated, huh?”

Raye teased, as Serena changed behind a screen.

            “Not defeated.  I’ll get him back.  He was just lucky,” she pulled

off her shirt. smiling.  “He can parade around for now.  But because he

WAS lucky, I have to mend my shirt…” she said, getting a corset and

starting to fasten it on.

            Raye leaned back on the bed.  “I think it’s romantic…catching you

in a sword fight.”

            “Romantic as a mosquito…Raye, you’ll never change…” Serena

stepped out, wearing pantalets and her corset, walking to the cabinet with

her dresses.  After choosing a dress, and standing at the door of the

cabinet, considering something absently, she looked to Raye.  “I hope you

never change…”

            Raye nodded, tears starting to come to her eyes.

            Serena sat on the bed, next to Raye, dress over her arm.  “I’ll miss

you…”

            Raye nodded slowly.

            Serena looked to the quilt.  “I know, it’s crazy, with all this that’s

going on.  You’re being left in the dark, Raye.  I’m sorry.  I can’t tell you

any more than you already know, because I’m afraid I don’t know much

more than you do.  It’s frightening, and I know you feel as if you’re being

abandoned…” she said, softly.

            “It’s okay,” Raye’s eyes tried to brighten.  “I understand…really, I

do.  Duty calls.”

            “You always understood, Raye, even if we didn’t all understand

you…” Serena teased.

            “Serena…I’m going to miss your jokes, a lot…you always

understood me the most out of everyone…”

            “No…I think there may be someone who may understand you

more than anyone could possibly imagine…I think he’s putting some high

expectations on you, though…you have to show him you can stand strong,

before he starts to truly understand you …” Serena said mysteriously.

            “My brother always expects the best out of me…”

            Serena sighed.  *She doesn’t see it yet, but she will.*  “Not

Darien…”

            Raye looked to Serena, questioningly.

            Serena patted her arm.  “Don’t worry.  It’ll come together.  I mean

it in more than just that.  Everything will come together, and though I

know you’ll feel lost for a while, I know you’ll find a way…”

 

            Serena’s hands started to sweat fear as she walked about the garden

with Jed. 

            Wordlessly, he took her into his arms, and held her.  “I’ll always

remember the day when you stormed into the barracks, and told me that

you weren’t in the Four.  It opened the sky for me, Serena.  It’s strange

and cruel of me to say, but I had a feeling that if you had made it, I

wouldn’t have been in the Four.”

            Serena looked at Jed.  “If I was in the five, you’d still make it in

the Four…”

            “If you were in the final five, there wouldn’t even be a need for

Four,” he smiled, taking her cheek into his palm.  “My sister…you were

the one who I’d always go to.  The day when we found out that we both

were going to Terryl Manes to train to be the prince’s guard…”

            “Jed…” Serena choked up, “I don’t know how much I’ll get to say

to you tonight, but I want you to know, I’m going to miss you.  Out of the

Four, you were my favorite…maybe because we’ve been friends for so

long, but Jed, I always felt that need to protect you, even though you

protected me from bullies when we were younger…”

            “…before you learned how to fight…” Jed said.  “That was a long

time ago, before we grew up, and had things torn from us…” he started,

bitterly.

            “We’ll get him back,” she said, simply.  “Zoy’s one of us, and we

always survive, got that?” She felt the tears, but forced them away.  “Trust

him.  You always did before.  He won’t let us down.”

            “He won’t…” Jed said.

            “I’ve got to say some more good byes, but I wanted to say one

more thing.  I know strange things are happening, and more strange things

will happen, but you’ve got to know, Jed, we’re all counting on

you…some of us will count on you more than others…fight for everyone,

protect everyone…that’s what the Four are all about.  You represent the

pillar of courage.  Remember that, and you’ll never fail,” she hugged him

tightly.

 

            Mina knocked on the door softly, “Raye?”

            Raye turned from her book on her desk to the girl who stood at the

doorway.  “I thought you were Serena…she told me she’d meet me

here…”

            “No, she’s still talking to Jed…”

            Raye rolled her eyes.

            “But that’s all right,” Mina said, “because I wanted to talk to you.”

            Raye looked at Mina.  “Sure…”

            Mina walked to Raye, and started to pace in front of Raye’s chair.

            Raye smiled, and took her friend’s hand.  “You’ve been my lady in

waiting for five years now.  You can tell me anything…”

            “Raye…I want to say that I’ll miss you, very much,” Mina said,

dropping to her knees in front of Raye, and holding her hands out to

Raye’s.  “I’m terrified.  In the past years, the only things that have been

clear about my future always were that I’d be in your service, regardless of

where my past was, who I really was…but now, I find I have to abandon

even that.  I wanted to say, Raye, that I loved serving for you.  I loved to

be your lady in waiting.”

            Raye’s eyes teared up, “You don’t know how much that means to

me…”

            “We had lots of fun, didn’t we?” Mina said.  “That time, Lord

Huntington was here, we went all star-eyed, and argued over who he

stared at the most…”

            “…when he was really staring at Serena, and we got SO mad at

her…” Raye’s eyes bubbled with laughter.

            “So we took her pillow, and we put in a bag of uncooked lima

beans in there…”

            “And she couldn’t sleep for NIGHTS!”

            They hugged, unable to sit up straight for all the laughter and relief

they felt coursing through their system.

 

            “I’m glad I got a moment with you, Serena…” Merlyn said,

walking through the gardens with the girl who had captured her

imagination and mind so many years ago.

            “I always have time for your majesty…”

            “No, don’t call me that…” Merlyn said.  “Call me Merlyn, right

now, because I am not speaking to you as a queen.  I am speaking to you

as a woman who has seen you grow up these past five years.”

            Serena blushed, “All right, Merlyn…”

            “Serena, the court’s going to be awfully boring without you…”

Merlyn said.

            “I’m going to miss Earth.  I’m going to miss teaming up with you

against Darien…I’ll never forget the day he turned me down, and you

came rushing into the room, demanding why I hadn’t hit your son

harder…” Serena pealed with laughter.

            “A hundred of Those Who Guard will never be able to replace you,

Serena…”

            “And a woman, who possesses more magic than the whole world,

will never be able to take the place of you in my heart…thank you,

Merlyn, for watching out for me, for encouraging me.”

 

            The sun was starting to set when Neph managed to get a moment

alone with Lita.

            “So…I guess, this is…it?” Lita said, worriedly, regretfully.

            “Yes…I suppose so…” Neph said, looking into her eyes,

unwittingly searching for something.

            “Neph, you will write, won’t you?” Lita asked, concerned.

            “I will write, and I will visit…” Neph said.

            Lita almost collapsed with relief.  “Come as often as you can.  I’m

going to look for you everyday…”

            “See if you can come back sometime, Lita…”

            “I will try…” she said, trying to hold back tears.  He hugged her.

            It hurt.  It punched at her heart, and the pain spread throughout her

thoughts, and she could think of nothing more than the fact that she had

leave back this man.  This man whom she loved.

            She turned away, and looked the sunset.  *Fool.  You’ll only miss

him.  You don’t love him…you can’t…do you know who you were?  Who

you are?  You only THINK you love him.*  Memories of his touch and

kindness haunted his mind.  She shouldn’t have felt this way.  But it was

so mysterious in coming, a slow blooming admiration that blossomed so

quickly, and when she found out, she could do nothing.  And now, she had

to let it stay that way.  “Um…It’s sunset…I think I have go…we’re

leaving the minute the sky turns dark.”

            Neph turned to the sinking sun.  If only the Earth was a land of

daytime, with no nightfall.  If only Earth was a land of no love, no

complications.  “All right, then…” he said, leaning forward, pecking her

cheek briskly…”Write…” he said, clearing his throat.

            She turned, starting to walk back to the palace.

            “Wait, Lita…”

            Lita turned around, anxious to hear him say three words.  It was

foolish…he was engaged…but… “Yes?”

            He looked at her eyes again, to find no change in the emotions…he

saw a mournful face, a frightened face, but no flicker of emotion, or love,

“Take care…” he said, resignedly.

            “You too…” she said, turning away, and walking away.

 

            The princess of the Moon was escorted through the halls, as she

tried to memorize every step, every portrait, every laugh, every joke.

            “You look like it’s the end of the world…” Kunz kidded, joining

her.

            “Not far from it…” she sighed.  “I’ll miss Earth a lot…”

            “I’ll write you, and giving you flowery descriptions of the snow

falling over the hills in winter, and the sun kissing the mountains at

sunset…” he said, laughing as her eyes started to fill up with tears.  On a

more serious note, his face darkened.  “Just kidding.  I know I shouldn’t be

doing this to you right now.  This is nothing to joke about.”

            Mina’s face was a pale white, a ghost of courage lurked in her

eyes.

            “Are you ready for this?”

            Mina’s oath was out on a bitten mutter.  “I can’t say that I am…”

            “But you can’t change that…” Kunz finished for her.  “Mina, I’m

going to miss you…” he said, taking her hand in his, bringing it to his lips.

            Mina looked at her hand, and away.  “I’ll write…” she said,

determined.

 

            The court of the Moon lined up, proceeding to the stairway to the

heavens.  Queen Serenity and her daughter walked ahead of the others,

Luna and Artimis on either side of them.

            Behind them, Princess Amyliana and Litanya strolled, in white

traveling cloaks, the hoods over they heads.

            Serena followed at the end, in her Moonlight Maiden rboes, a

white traveling cloak over her robes, and hood pulled low over her eyes. 

She did not show any signs of her past hour of sadness.

            Her blue eyes were not determined, cold, and unfeeling.  Cool,

steady.  Her face was pale, and her lips were drawn in a straight thin line

of fight.

            The procession stopped in front of the court of Earth.  Merlyn

started the short goodbye ceremony, “The court of Earth was pleased by

your visit to our kingdom, and hope that you may repeat the honor soon.”

            Serenity replied courteously, “I am sure, as you will be sure to visit

out kingdom soon.”

            The Queens shook hands, and Merlyn offered her hand to Mina,

who took it.  “Princess Minalle, thank you for all your service to my

daughter.  My kingdom will miss you greatly,” she said.

            At that moment, the McLullens stepped forward from the crowd of

spectators, and were brought to Mina, who looked to Serenity.  Serenity

nodded in approval.  She quickly approached her Earth parents, and fell

into their arms, crying.  She then turned to Kunz, who stood in the line of

Three, next to Darien.  The sadness and regret was evident, but she turned

into her parent’s arms.

            “Ladies Litanya and Amyliana, your service was also greatly

appreciated.  The court hopes you return to visit soon,” Merlyn extended

to Lita and Amy.  The two nodded.

            Neph discreetly stepped form the Three men who stood by Darien. 

Lita approached him, offering her hand to him, and they shook hands, their

hands gripping each others as if the world were going to end if they broke

contact.  Reluctantly, they let go, and Lita whispered into his ear, “Write.”

            Lastly, Serena approached Merlyn.

            “Lady Serena, I have the greatest knowledge that you will

represent our world to the best of your ability.  Take your place by the

moon kingdom’s side.  Your services are done here.  We have taxed on

your skills and life too long,” she offered her hand to Serena.

            Serena took the hand, and curtseyed to the queen, showing the

highest acknowledgment of the queen’s words.  Standing in her place, she

turned around to see her parents, and walked to them, hugging them.  As

she started to walk to the procession line again, she was halted by a hand

on her arm.

            She looked at the hand, to its owner, and shrugged off his touch,

bowing to him.

            “Milady, I wish to offer you something…” Prince Darien said,

formally, offering a scroll.

            “Read it aloud …” Darien said, looking to Kunz, Neph and Jed for

encouragement.  They nodded.  “…now.”

            Serena unrolled the scroll, and started reading the scrawl aloud to

the audience.  “Now, therefore, be it resolved by Prince Darien of the

house of Wyndica, that any female in the kingdom who chooses to pursue

an education, can join any academy she chooses…” Serena said, eyes

widening, looking up to Darien’s eyes.

            Lita looked at Neph, and he nodded.  The surprise for Serena.

            Serena looked surprised, and gratified.  This time, when she met

Darien’s eyes, she understood his respect for her, the respect that she had

fought for…granted.

            The talk yesterday…he had spent that time, showing her…but she

hadn’t seen it.  Now, she did, and it warmed her heart.  Everything made

sense…

            In full respect for him, she gave him a curtsey, as she had done for

the queen of Earth.  She offered her hand.  And finally, the tears came. 

But not tears of anger, nor sadness…tears of a warm joy at finally being

respected for the person she was.

      *Thank you…* 

            The clearing of the throat broke the interlude.  Serena looked away,

and smiled, embarrassed to the Queen of the Moon.

            Serenity had seen the two standing next to each other, seen the

admiration of acceptance in each of their eyes.  She felt a pride for her

ward.  The Moonlight Maiden had earned much respect for being herself.

            She then looked at her daughter, who now was looking at a young

man standing next to Prince Darien.  The man had long white hair, smooth

blue eyes, and a tough build.  The expression was one of finality, as if she

were being sentenced, and that this would be the last time they’d ever see

each other. 

            Serenity’s heart hurt.  There was so much sadness in this

departure…but it was for the best.  She felt her mother’s presence here,

too much…

            Serena joined the procession, and Serenity finished the short good

bye ceremony.  “Thank you, people of Earth.  I have enjoyed my stay here

very much, and have come to admire your spirit and planet in the highest

light.”

            The court of Earth bowed, and the court of the Moon proceeded up

the stairway of moonlight.

            Serena turned, from the procession, to let her eyes fall back on her

home, her tears starting to chill her heart and soul.  The eyes searched for a

lasting picture, an image to remember.  They searched for her parents.

            But they fell on the prince of Earth, who looked to her with great

regret.  The eyelock pulled at her thoughts, and she turned away, looking

to the Moon, her future.

            The prince of Earth reached inside his pocket, and clutched the

locket that lay safely inside.

 

            Somewhere in the shadows, stood two figures, watching the

procession, silently.  A woman, with fiery red hair and evil, bloodshot

eyes smiled wickedly…a whole planet without the pesky guardians to

hinder her plans.  She would have it, soon.  She looked at her first general

and smiled at her first triumph.

            The man who stood next to her was silent, and strangely cold.  The

ice was pumping in his blood, the darkness fell like a cloud over every

single expression in his eyes.  His heart had been suspended in ice.  He

had no feeling now.

            But as the girl with the short blue hair turned from the moon

staircase, turning around to look back…unwittingly look at where he

stood, a tear slid from the corner of his eye.

 

Continued in the Next Section…