The Greatest Dream of All
Fiona Lim
flim@hotmail.com
Author's Note:
Please tell me what you think - I can almost positively guarantee a reply.
~grin~ Enjoy the story, tell me what you think - flames included among
compliments please, and remember - if you hate it, tell me, then I know what
you don't like. If you like it, tell me, I'll write more. If you just want
to say 'hi' TELL me, I'll say 'hi' back!
~smiles~ Okay, maybe that was a little overboard, but I really like getting
feed back!
Yours: Fiona Lim
Disclaimer:
Everything in this story belongs to the people who created Sailor Moon (the
manga, the movies, the TV show ~English dubbed and Japanese made~). The
storyline, portrayal of characters, plotline, and other ideas (excluding the
parts of the storyline and portrayal of characters that was spoken about in
the TV show, manga and movies) belongs to the writer.
Prologue
Orbit around Earth,
Corridor Alpha Blue, Space Station Moon
Moon Kingdom
Station Moon hung in singular splendour between the planet Earth
and the natural satellite of Earth, the Moon - capital of the Moon
Kingdom. The light of the sun glinted off its silvery surface as it
turned slowly, halfway in the dark side of the moon halfway in the
light.
The golden ships that were usually coming in and out of its large bays
were silent this orbit, all departures and arrivals held back as one
ship readied to leave.
Anderel and Serenity stood together in Corridor Alpha Blue, both wishing
they could put off the inevitable.
"Your Highness, the Solar Flare has been filled three quarters." An
aide reported to Anderel.
Anderel nodded, "Send a messenger to Andrew and come get me when the
'Flare' is ready for departure." He commanded.
With a bow, the aide ran off, leaving the Queen and King of the Moon
Kingdom alone. The corridor was deserted as Security on the Station had
more or less sectioned off the Port the 'Solar Flare' was bayed in and
the surrounding area to protect the King and Queen - although an
assasination attempt on *any* Queen Serenity and her consort hadn't
happened since the *first* Queen Serenity over a thousand millenia ago.
"I don't want you to leave." Serenity whispered softly, staring up
at her husband.
"I know love." Anderel said, "I don't want to leave either." He
sighed, "But we really have no choice, do we?" he said, pulling her
into his arms, "The baby arrives in a month, and we still haven't been
able to find the Solar Scout. Andrew and I are practically the only
ones who have a strong enough Sensitivity to Solar and a close
connection to Princess Sara who might be able to find her succesor - and
we NEED to find the baby Scout of Solar." He said.
Queen Serenity sighed, resting her head against his shoulder, "I know -
but that still doesn't make it any better, does it?" she asked, "I
still wish you didn't need to go, and you still wish YOU didn't need to
go."
Serenity stared up at Anderel in silence, wondering at how far the
two of them had come since they had married so many years ago.
The Moon Kingdom had had a spate of border attacks when she'd first
taken the throne, and the Kingdom itself had been torn apart as half the
population wanted to remain at peace, leaving the light years beyond
Pluto to the bandits, while others wanted to fight back. It'd been the
border wars that had lost Serenity both Gaia - Sensei Earth - and Sara -
Sensei Solar. Serenity knew precisely why she'd married Anderel firstly
for. Their marriage had been for one reason only - to bind the Kingdom
together. After all, how many reasons were there for a ruler to marry
one of her vassals?
They'd both known what they were entering into when they spoke their
vows before over a million people, swearing allegience and honor on the
Silver Imperial Crystal. Serenity had no illusions - she knew Anderel
had married her to solve the border wars, after all, she had sworn the
oath for the same reason. Prince Anderel had given up the kingship of
Planet Solar to bring peace and unity to the Kingdom, and she had done
what she had to. It'd been a planned marriage from the start -
*But it's become so much more.* Serenity thought, *I never thought I
could love somebody as much as I love Anderel.* the aching emptiness
that widened in her heart every time she thought of being without him
for several *days* threatened to spill the tears that had been brimming
in her blue eyes for the past couple of days. *Oh Goddess - I love him
SO much. PLEASE don't let anything happen to him - dear Goddess
PLEASE.* she pleaded, wriggling further into his arms, the tears
started to fall, breaking through her control, Anderel must have felt
the wetness against his clothes.
"Hey." Anderel lifted her chin up, "It's only a couple of weeks,
Sere." He said, "I'll be back soon." Serenity nodded, sniffing.
"I'm sorry - I know you don't want me to cry." She said, "Blame it
on the pregnancy." She said, trying to smile.
Anderel grinned, "I'm glad you miss me enough to cry, Sere." He said
softly, "I just wish that you wouldn't. If it makes you feel better,
wail your heart out."
Serenity did smile then, "And the Court gossips would have a field day."
She said wryly, "I'll miss you every single day." She promised.
Anderel sighed, "I wish I didn't have to go - the baby's only a month
and a bit away." He said, brushing a hand down her obviously pregnant
stomach, "But we need to find the Solar Scout." He said, bending down
to brush his lips over her stomach; a look of awe crossed his face as he
felt his unborn daughter move, "It still amazes me, Sere - creating a
new life." He said.
Serenity smiled, running her hands through his soft brown hair, "You
should be an old hand by now, Ande." She laughed softly, "Andrew will
be devastated to find out you aren't as experienced as he thought."
"Andrew's too busy laughing over me acting besotted over you."
Anderel replied dryly.
"Did I hear my name spoken in vain?" a new voice interrupted
laughingly.
The Queen and Prince-Consort glanced up and held open their arms to
welcome their firstborn child and the heir to the Kingship of Planet
Solar.
"Said your good-byes to Danielle?" Serenity asked carefully.
The subject of Andrew's love life - or more precisely, the Lady Danielle
- had been a touchy one since both her and Anderel had cautioned him
about the fact that Danielle and her family was known throughout Court
as social climbers.
Andrew nodded, then grimaced tiredly, "I wish she could understand why I
had to do this." He said quietly, "I *hoped* she'd understand. But all
she did was cry and wail that I would miss her Mother's party."
Anderel glanced to Serenity, a questioning look in his eyes. One of
the few quarrels they'd had in the past three Earth-months had been
about whether they should intervene or not. It was no secret that the
eighteen year old Prince Andrew was in love - or at least THOUGHT he was
in love - with Lady Danielle of Saturn.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said of the Lady in question. But
neither parent could do anything about it till their son himself found
out the truth.
*Perhaps the time is now.* Serenity nodded fractiously.
"If she loved you, she would understand that you had to fulfill your
duties before you may attend to anything else." Anderel said carefully,
"Andrew. You're the future King of Solar and the older brother to the
heir to the Moon Kingdom. There WILL be women who will use their -
wills - to gain your affections and use you to advance themselves in the
Courts of the Nine Planets." He said slowly, glancing at Serenity and
willing her to intervene.
Serenity smiled innocently at him and shook her head, mouthing: "I
handle the 'women' talk, you handle the 'men' talk!"
He gritted his teeth and while Andrew was looking down at the ground
mouthed back: "I'm going to be there when you go through those 'women'
talk!"
Serenity smiled and placed a hand on her son's shoulders, "Andrew,
you've JUST turned eighteen, and the Lady Danielle is only seventeen.
You two have all the time in the world still. *Nothing* needs to happen
immediately. Think before you act, dearling." She said.
Andrew looked up, his face a dark red, "I know what you're talking
about, Mother, Father." he said with a sigh, "I guess I've known for a
while, but I thought maybe Danielle might fall in love with me instead
of the title if she got to know me a bit better." He said softly.
"There'll be somebody one day, Andrew - " Anderel said, pulling
Serenity close, "Who won't care who or what you are. And when she or he
comes, you'll know." He said, smiling into Serenity's clear blue eyes.
Andrew made a face, "That advice sounds like something straight out of a
book!"
"It might sound corny, but it's true." Serenity said, grinning,
"Love is hard to find, but it's well worth waiting and searching and
hoping. Even if when your partner does show up, he's not exactly
perfect." She said, glancing pointedly at her husband, "OR the man of
your dreams." She added.
"Hey!" Anderel said, feigning a hurt look.
"Okay - the man who HAD stared in your dreams BEFORE you met him - or
her." Serenity corrected with a smile.
"I'm not even going to BOTHER figuring out what you meant there,
Mother!" Andrew said, rolling his eyes, "You do realize that you two
are going *totally* against popular court practice when it comes to
marriages. You're suppose to stop acting like newly weds by the time
you're expecting your second child!" he said good naturedly.
"Your Majesty, the 'Solar Flare' is fueled and ready to leave." an
Aide interrupted the family gathering.
Serenity's face fell, and Anderel pulled her close.
"It isn't forever." He murmured, "At least we know Princess Sara had
a child before she died. We'll start our search there, the young Sensei
Sun will be found. I'll be back in a month, and Artemis and Luna will
have found young Sensei Earth in time for little Serena's birth." He
promised.
Serenity felt the tears slip away and gave in to the urge to cry, "I'll
miss both of you." She sobbed, pulling the two most important people in
her life close to her, "Hurry home, please." she whispered.
"I'll miss you to, Mother." Andrew said, leaning down and kissing
his mother on her forehead before he walked quickly down the passageway
towards the docking bays.
"We'll return as soon as we find Sensei Solar." Anderel promised.
Serenity sighed and nodded, "Say hello to your parents for me, Anderel."
She said.
He nodded and then turned to follow the Aide to the 'Solar Flare'.
Serenity Crestmoon, hereditary guardian of the Silver Imperial
Crystal and ruler of the Moon Kingdom stared out of the window of the
window in the ship's wall, hands clasped around the Silver Imperial
Crystal as she watched the golden ship bearing her husband and eldest
son move away from the station. The engines burst to light, moving the
sleek, golden ship away towards the gleaming star that represented the
Planet Solar.
"The Goddess bless my loved ones, and give them speed." Serenity
prayed, "Let them return to my arms." she whispered, glancing up
to the glowing stars outside the view port.
*Get a hold on yourself, Sere.* she snapped at herself, *You're the
Queen, and space travel is as safe as can be. There's NO reason for you
to be this worried. Ande and Andrew will be back before Serena's born
and that'll be that!*
Turning, she stared down at the Moon - the center of power in her
kingdom - drawing strength slowly from it. The Moon glowed with life as
it orbited slowly around the larger Earth. The sun was rising slowly
over the horizon of the blue and green Earth, and even from this
distance, she could see the reflection of light from the marble towers
and walls that made up the Moon Palace.
"Your Majesty." Luna called in greeting.
Forcing her self to smile through the worry, Serenity glanced down to
the Guardian Cat. A Venusian sentient Cat, loosely related to their
lesser cousins: the earth cat, Luna Sickle was part of her Inner Court
as well as being one of the few Guardian Cats at the Moon Court. Most
of her kind chose to remain on Venus - their planet of birth - or join
the Armies to fight for their Kingdom. It was rare that a Guardian Cat
chose to join a Court, and even rarer that they became the advisors of a
reigning monarch.
*Whichever way, I'm glad I have Luna and Artemis.* Serenity thought as
she held out her hands and Luna jumped into them, *How would I have
managed without their advice, council and -* she grinned, *Gossip.*
Artemis Whitepaw was the most notorious gossiper at Court, though he was
as loyal as Luna was.
"What brings you here, Luna?" Serenity asked, "I thought you and
Artemis were on Earth searching for the baby Sailor Earth." She said.
Luna grimaced, a look of frustration coming onto her face, "I'm sorry to
report this, Serenity. Half of Earth have been searching, but no baby
with the Earth sign has been reported. It's almost as if she doesn't
exist yet or something." Luna squirmed out of her hands and started
pacing on the ground, "It's been eight months, Serenity. What will
happen if we don't find the Earth Guardian before your baby is born?"
she asked worriedly.
Serenity touched her stomach protectively, thinking of the young life
within. "We will have to keep searching, Luna. Like draws to like, and
the young Sailor Earth will appear." She sighed, "I only wish that Gaia
was still alive." She murmured.
Luna frowned, - a feat for a cat - "Gaia ?" she asked, "Who is Gaia,
Serenity?" she asked.
Serenity chuckled, *If it's one thing Luna hates, it's not knowing
something. Almost as much as Artemis hates being out of the gossip
vine.* "Gaia was the Sensei of Earth, she was killed in the Border Wars
at the same time Sensei Sun - Princess Sara - went. That's why we still
don't have either of their successors at Court yet." She turned back to
the window, mussing as she let her mind wander, "The Guardians of Earth
have always been given the title of Chaeviani." She said, her tongue
twisting slightly around the archaic term, "Funnily enough, they've also
been the last of the young Sailor Scouts to be found, this time
included. I only knew Gaia for several months. She was found before I
was born of course, but for one reason after another, we never really
talked till I was eighteen. We became - you could say - friends I
guess. Maybe we could have become best friends, but the border wars
started." Her face darkened, "She and Sara died protecting my parents."
It had become less painful over the years, but the loss - the 'what ifs'
and 'what could have been' still lingered. Maybe they would never
leave.
"Chaeviani." Luna said, steering the subject smoothly, "I don't
recognize the word - it's from one of those ancient languages isn't it,
Serenity? What does it mean?"
Serenity shrugged, "I don't know." She opened her mouth to speak some
more when the Moon Station shook.
A huge roaring suddenly boomed through the entirety of the Station,
drowning out the humming of systems. Around them, red lights went off.
It roared around them, surrounded them, and Serenity screamed as she and
Luna were shaken to the ground. Stumbling, she grasped onto the wall
and then she saw the ball of fire flaring up in the distance of the
stars.
And even before the light dimmed and the roaring stopped, she knew.
"NO! ANDEREL!" she shrieked, dropping down to her knees, "ANDREW!
ANDEREL!" tears streamed down her face as she touched the glass, "Oh
Goddess!" she whispered, her hand sliding down the viewscreen.
"Your Majesty!" an aide ran towards Serenity, "Your Majesty! The
Solar Flare - His Majesty and Prince Andrew -" the aide gasped out,
tears falling down from his eyes, "They - the ship. . ." the aide
trailed off as he saw the pain reflected in Serenity's eyes, "I'm so
sorry, your Majesty." He whispered, dropping to his knees, "There was
nothing we could do."
Serenity shook him away, "No. . ." she moaned, touching the Silver
Imperial Crystal that hung around her neck from the Moon Necklace, "I
won't let this happen - I won't them die!" she wept, rising shakily to
her feet, "I won't let this happen. . . Please!" she pleaded, "Moon.
. . Healing. . ."
"No!" Luna leapt to her feet groggily, "Serenity don't! The baby!
You don't have enough energy with the baby!" she shouted.
Even through the panic and the emptiness that shivered through her
heart, Serenity heard and a part of her that was Queen knew her duty was
to make sure the next in line would be.
Serenity crumbled to her knees, weeping wildly, "Anderel. Andrew." She
whispered, looking up at the aide and Luna.
Then the despair in her face fled to be replaced with panic and pain.
She touched her stomach, "Oh Goddess, Luna!" she whispered, "The baby!"
moaning she shook, "I - the pain - Luna!" she clenched her jaw, her
face stark white in pain.
"Run! Get the Healers! There are some Mars Priestess and Mercury
Healers on duty here on the Station - thank the Goddess! Go get them!"
Luna snapped at the aide, "RUN! The Queen is going into labor!" she
shouted.
The Aide glanced at Luna then ran down the corridor.
"Luna -" Serenity whispered.
"Save your breath, Serenity." Luna said softly, butting her head
gently against Serenity.
"Save - the baby." Serenity murmured, "Whatever - you - do. . .
Save our baby. . ." she closed her eyes, concentrating on surviving
the pain.
"Don't be ridiculous, Serenity!" Luna snapped, "You always were one
to be melodramatic. You are NOT going to die! You're going to be here
to take care of the baby princess!" she snapped, her voice taking on a
lecturing tone.
But her eyes were worried and by the time the Mars High Priestess and
the Mercury Healers appeared, the black cat was in a frenzy of worry and
panic.
"Luna!" Arsolia, High Priestess of the Goddess and the youngest
sister of the King of Mars, bodily lifted the Guardian cat away from the
Queen's moaning body, "Luna, there's nothing you can do here! We're
transporting Queen Serenity back to the Moon. I want you to get Artemis
and gather the First Court in the biggest gathering hall back at the
palace. There's a chance we might loose Serenity or the baby. People
have to know!" she shouted, "They have to be ready!"
Luna shook her head in confusion then wriggled out of Arsolia's hands,
nodding, "In the Spring Hall. The First Court will be gathered." She
promised and fled down the hallway towards the Portal Room.
Earth
Terra Home - Palace of Earth
Moon Kingdom
Darian Endymion, second child of King Robert and Queen Danavie
Endymion of Earth jerked up off his bed, heart pounding as the remains
of the dream slipped away.
*What -?* the six year old Prince pulled himself out of his bed,
walking towards the window. *What woke me?* the dream receded to the
back of his memory, slipping from his grasp like morning mist before the
sun. He leaned out of the window, staring down at the courtyard below.
Terra Home was a huge, sprawling palace built in a forest. He breathed
deeply, inhaling the green smell he'd always identified as 'home'.
Terra Home wasn't the greatest or biggest of the palaces that the
Endymion Family called as home, but it was the only one of the palaces
Darian really thought of as 'home'. He had been born here, and the
greatest memories of the six years of his life had been wandering among
the gardens here, helping the gardeners as they went about their work.
Not exactly grand work for a Prince in line to the Throne of Earth as
well as being the Chosen Guardian of the Earth-Stone but he enjoyed it.
Darian let his mind wander now like he had once done in the gardens
below, trying to remember the dream, and at the same time, remembering
the honor that had been gifted him just yesterday afternoon. . .
"You must be Darian."
Darian had glanced down at the two cats his parents had been speaking
to. They looked EXACTLY like the cats around Terra Home other than the
fact that each had a crescent moon on their forehead.
"Yes. . ." he frowned, "How do you do?" he asked politely,
flushing as he realized he was talking to two CATS.
The white cat had laughed at his flush, "My name is Artemis, Darian."
He introduced himself, "And this is Luna. We're Queen Serenity's
Advisors."
"TWO of Queen Serenity's advisors." The black cat - Luna - had
corrected in a voice that reminded Darian of one of his tutors.
"We've come to Earth to find Sailor Earth for the baby Princess
Serena." Artemis explained, "The young Sailor Earth hasn't been found
yet though, and Earth needs a representative when the baby has been
born."
"We've come today to ask whether YOU'd like the honor of representing
Earth at the baby's official Presentation if Sailor Earth hasn't been
found yet." Luna explained.
Darian had glanced nervously at his parents, both had nodded to him,
saying wordlessly that this was HIS choice.
"Yes!" Darian had near shouted with joy.
The chance of going to the Moon to see THE Queen Serenity! To be there
when the baby heir to the Queenship of the Moon Kingdom was born. The
illustrious occasion had been the talk of the Court on Earth for
*months*. He hadn't thought he'd even get a CHANCE to go! And now
THIS, out of no where. The Goddess must have been smiling on him.
Artemis had laughed again at his incredulous look and Luna had smiled.
"This is just a precaution mind you, Prince Darian." Luna had said
carefully, "If Sailor Earth is found by Princess Serena's birth or
presentation, you won't be asked to represent Earth." She warned.
Darian nodded, "I understand." The chance was all he wanted, it was
enough to know that he had a hope of being there when the heir and
firstborn daughter of King Anderel and Queen Serenity was presented.
Darian was thrown out of his memories as a shrieking filled the
air. He covered his ears in pain as he glanced up at the sky and
blinked back tears of pain as he stared directly into a huge glowing
ball of fire.
*A ship has exploded!* Darian realized.
King Anderel and Prince Andrew's quest to Solar to find Sailor Sun had
been well known through out the Nine Planets - the search for the Nine
Sailor Scouts of the unborn Princess had been advertised through out the
Kingdom as they searched, each parent looking at her child's forehead
for the elusive sign of their planet, in hope's that THEIR child would
be the new Princess's companions and Inner Court. The journey of the
King and Prince to Solar for one of the two remaining young Scouts not
to be found had been known for months. There was only ONE ship that
would have left Space Station Moon this day. . .
*The Solar Flare!* Darian pulled on his pants as he dashed out of his
room to his parents.
Moon
Spring Hall
Moon Kingdom
"What is all this about?" one disgruntled courtier demanded.
The huge hall was filled to the brim with the First Court, made up of
the essential ambassadors, politicians, courtiers, Healers, Priests and
Priestess and all others that made up the First Court of the Queen and
King of the Moon Kingdom. Not many were pleased at being dragged out of
their warm beds - or in some cases - the balls, parties, negotiations
and other what not that filled the lives of these people.
There was only one other Court that was more privy to the Queen's
knowledge than the First Court, and that was her Inner Court: which was
made up of her Sailor Guardians, her closest advisors and the King and
Prince.
"Advisor Luna, I demand an explanation for this!" Ambassador Utari
of the planet Uranus demanded over the noise, "I have an important
function in less than an hour!" he snapped.
Luna glared at him from her perch on the Throne's arm, "You are all to
remain here till the Mars High Priestess has arrived news on the Queen."
She said sternly, "By order of the High Priestess in place of the Queen
Serenity."
The noise receded then. If the gathering of the First Court had been
commanded by Queen Serenity, then they could not complain. Their oaths
and vows demanded that they obey the summons of the Queen.
A path opened before High Priestess Arsolia as she walked into the
Hall. The familiar symbol of Priestess - the red flames dancing up one
pure white sleeve and trailing down to encircle her waist - as well as
the totally white robes that marked her as High Priestess of all the
Moon Kingdom, stood out from the other, more flamboyant clothing of the
Court. Arsolia glanced at the faces around her. Some held worry - for
their Queen, for the negotiations, business and others they had left
behind to answer the summons - others held greed - what was the
emergency, and how could they gain from it - and some held nothing at
all - those were the ones who had barely scraped through the
requirements to be part of the First Court. Grimly, Arsolia hoped that
these people were as qualified as most of them boasted - because if the
worse became, they would be called apon to prepare the Moon Kingdom not
only for the loss of their King but also of their Queen.
"What is the news, your Holiness?" Luna asked.
Arsolia turned to the waiting faces, "King Anderel and First Prince
Andrew were killed this Earth-eve as the 'Solar Flare' exploded three
points out from Space Station Moon." She said, her words carrying
across the silence, "In trying to save them, Queen Serenity collapsed
into labor."
The court exploded into talk.
"What of the baby heir?" one courtier demanded finally, his voice
louder than the others clamoring to be heard.
"The baby is early, and alarmed." Arsolia said slowly, "Queen
Serenity herself is weakened and in distress, the Mercury Healers are
hard at work, but it's unknown whether either the Queen or the baby
Princess will survive." Arsolia said, and though her entire being
radiated calmness and serenity, she fought inside to hold back the panic
she felt, "You have been brought here to wait, and bring back news to
your people should the worse or the best happen." She went on and
stalked through the crowd, ignoring the voices raised in question.
There were other things more important than the egos and demands of the
people gathered in the Spring Hall.
***
There was pain. A great pressure pushing her - away.
*To where?*
A light. . .
*No! I don't want to go there.*
Pain. . . always the constant pain. . . She didn't want to go - didn't want to leave.
She was loved here. She was SAFE here.
*Don't make me go.*
Vaguely she registered sounds for the first time.
Screams.
Uncomfortable.
*Don't make me go.*
A soothing touch. A thought, a face. . . No - not one face. . .
Many faces.
*My Guardians.*
***
Moon
Royal Library
Moon Kingdom
Through out the history of the Moon Kingdom, there had been one
tradition that had carried on. From the first Serenity who had fought
and defeated the evil Empress, through out all her descendants, the
tradition had almost ceased being tradition and had become necessity.
The tradition was that which created the nucleus of Inner Court of the
Queen. Her Sensei Guardians, those eight warriors who guarded her from
the day she was born to the day she died.
From each planet, a baby was found - chosen by the PLANET itself -
bearing the sign of his or her world. On the conception of the baby
Serenity - the future Queen of the Moon Kingdom - the chosen baby's sign
would appear, and from then on, no matter who or what the baby's family
was - within certain restrictions of course - the destiny of that baby
was intertwined with that of the unborn Princess.
Those chosen ones were to become the most trusted of all the Moon
Kingdom, they were the Guardian Scouts - sometimes called the Sailor
Scouts of the Sensei Guardians - of the Serenity. The Guardian Scouts
did not need to be the child of the Sensei who had been Chosen to be
part of the Queen's Inner Court, but it was rare that an unknown was
chosen. The chances of finding the Scout of the Planet in the family of
a Sensei was far stronger than finding her - or him - in a strange one.
As the generations and the Queens had passed, the Inner Court had
become more and more important. The Guardian Scouts were sometimes all
that stood between the Queen's death by assasination, poison or any
other form of attack.
Now they were gathered there, the seven young Sailor Scouts. Their
eyes closed as they prayed silently that the unborn baby their lives
would revolve around, would remain alive.
"We're her Guardians - and yet we can't help her." Princess Rei, the
young, four year old Scout of Mars, whispered.
"If she should die -" Lady Mina said heartbrokenly, the five year
old Sailor Venus, so called Guardian of Love, sniffed back a tear.
" - we would be nothing. Everything would be for nothing." young
Queen Alexandra - the spirit of Uranus - said sadly.
Queen Michelle reached over to touch Alexandra's hand in comfort, the
two were the oldest among the seven already known Scouts - they were
also the closest having known each other since they were born, and both
understanding each other and the pressures of being both a Guardian
Scout and the ruler of a Planet.
"I feel so helpless." Lita, the youngest daughter of the Warrior-
King of Jupiter, said.
"We would have failed." Princess Ami said softly.
They prayed in silence, each to their own Gods and Goddesses, more
fervently than they ever had in their short lives.
Darian stood apart from the young Scouts. He was alone among them -
he didn't belong here - but somehow, he felt as if there was more at
stake here than the life of his future Queen.
For the first time in his six years, he felt the TRUE fear one feels
when one fears for another person's life. *She CAN'T die!* he shouted
silently.
He stared at the closed door of the library where they'd all been
gathered to wait. *Princess. . . Can you hear me?* he imagined the
thought spiraling out of the room towards where the Princess Serena was.
*Please stay alive. You CAN'T die.* he pleaded, *Please. . . If you
just stay alive. . .* A sense of urgency filled him, like nothing
he'd ever experienced before. *Princess!*
The fire popped and died - in the worry, nobody had bothered to feed
it. It was the popping of the fire which startled them all to look up.
And in that moment, as the flames died, sending the entire room into
darkness, the symbols flared on their foreheads.
The symbols that had marked them forever more as different from the
people who had brought them up. That had marked them as the Guardians
of an unborn baby now born into the world.
"She's alive." Heather, the eight year old Queen of Saturn,
exclaimed, her face shining as the symbol of Saturn glowed.
"The Queen?" Michelle asked, standing up, "Are we the Guardians of a
Queen or a Princess?"
All eyes turned to the door of the library, the only light in the rooms
from the symbols that marked their Princess's entrance into life.
The door swung inwards and the elder Sensei Uranus walked in, her black
hair swinging from her long braid, "The Queen is alive." She said
simply, "Long live Queen Serenity and the Heir of the Moon Kingdom,
Serena, the Princess Serenity."
