Happy New Year, minna!
Author's Notes
This Part is rated PG-13 for violence and mild profanity.
Uh, read this and have a nice day!  (I've got nothing to say,
grumble, grumble . . .)

Well, except . . .

After reading Ninx's conclusion to her 'fic, "Happiness is Like a
Phoenix" (Part 5 as well, btw), Lianne's conclusion to "Surfacings",
Janelle's Episode 16 of "Sailor Moon Neo," Laurel Anne's new part to
"Memories of Past and Present," and Jeff Hosmer's Part 12 of
"Zodiac," etc. etc. I rolled up my sleeves and vowed to write
something at least half as good as the above.  (Besides, I can't keep
my readers waiting much longer.  I don't like to let you down!)
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is:  Here (finally!) is Part Five.
   Hopefully, all questions have been answered in this part.  Some
may still be vague but I can't give *everything* away!  (Maybe in
another 'fic . . .)
Thank you, Renee, Mimin, Nicole, Anastasia, Sue Mei, Connie,
Chibi-isa, Becky, Glenda, Jay, Jade, Michi Kenshi, Ki Yong Choi (I
hope that's right), Zeena, and anyone I missed, this Part is for you
guys!  Especially Lianne-sama (You deserve the title!), who never
fails to move me with her writing.

	and

I hope you have a couple of hours to spare.

P.S. Sorry I posted up the wrong name, Anastasia!  You're being quite
angelic about the whole thing.  Uh, say hello to your mom for me,
*hehe*.  *HUGE* sweatdrop.

Anime Quote of the Day: "It's that dream again!  The same one that
I've been having every night!"ÑDarien to himself, Sailor Moon.

"It's your destiny."ÑLuna to Serena.
"My destiny?  I must be dreaming!"ÑSerena to Luna.
"It's no dream."-Luna to Serena, Sailor Moon.

Come, *your* destiny awaits.

SAILOR MOON: PAST LOVES
*DESTINED LOVE*

For dreamers, and lovers, and those who feel joy . . .
To my readers, who give me the strength to carry on . . .

The beginning of "Moonlight Densetsu" starts playing.

A painting of the Moon Kingdom appears.  The camera pans away from it
and we see Minako, Rei, Makoto, Ami, Usagi, and Mamoru looking at it
in a store window.  Yumeno Yumemi comes out and invites them in.
They walk in and are instantly surrounded by dozens of paintings of
the Moon Kingdom.  Usagi sighs as she sees one of Queen Serenity.
Mamoru puts an arm around her and holds her close.  She leans on his
shoulder, looks up at him while he is looking down at her and they
smile.  The screen flashes BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON PAST LOVES (in
Japanese) and pans away until it is centered and surrounded by
flashing colors.

"Gomen ne sunao ja nakute,"

Princess Serenity glares at Queen Beryl from across a room and
screams defiantly at her.  She is obviously restrained by something.

"Yume no naka nara ieru,"

Cut to a shot of the Inner Senshi, Mamoru, and Usagi still asleep in
the hospital.  'Elios is watching over them from Elysion.

"Shikou Kairo wa shotto sunzen,"

Cut to a split screen of the Senshi and the Guardians running towards
the center.  The picture resolves around until it solidifies as
another split screen with Princess Serenity on one side and Prince
Endymion on the other.

"Ima sugu aitai yo."

The Senshi, the Guardians, Endymion, and Serenity gaze at each other
on the Moon when there is a huge blast of light and there is an
enormous explosion.

"Nakitaku naru you-na Moonlight,"

Princess Serenity weeps as Luna watches her silently.  There is an
emotional struggle in Luna's eyes until she finally makes a decision
and runs out of the room, looking determined.

"Denwa mo dekinai Midnight."

Endymion and his Guardians are gathered in a circle in the rose
clearing, the full moon directly overhead.  They begin to glow.

"Datte junjou dou shiyou?"

Princess Serenity gazes out at Earth, then clasps her hands together
and shuts her eyes tightly, praying silently as tears trickle down
her cheeks for the safety of Endymion and his Guardians.

"Haato wa mangekyou."

The Inner Senshi come up behind her and place comforting hands on her
shoulder.  She weeps in their embrace, then they all turn worried
eyes to look at Earth.  The world spins really fast and the scene
turns into something else . . .

"Tsuki no hikari ni michibikare,"

There is a split screen with the Senshi on one side and the Guardians
on the other.  A brilliant silver light washes over the Senshi and
Guardians.

"Nandomo meguri-au,"

The stars seen between the moon and the earth sparkle.

"Seiza no mataki kazoe uranau koi yukue."

There is a four-way split screen.  On one side the Inner Senshi in
civilian dress (Minako in a princess gown) and the Guardians meet.
On the other the Inner Senshi in their princess forms and the
Guardians in their prince forms meet.  The Inner Senshi and the
Generals (Yes, Generals!  I did *not* mess this up.) stare at each
other in another one.  In the last one, the Inner Senshi in their
present-day reincarnations and four men who look suspiciously like
the Guardians take each other's hands.

"Onaji kuni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu."

Prince Endymion kneels on bended knee in front of Princess Serenity.
He holds her hand in his and the look in his eyes is earnest and
loving.  She smiles sweetly and they embrace as he slips a ring on
her finger.

"Mo ichido futari de Weekend,"

The Inner Senshi and the Guardians walk holding hands in the Royal
Gardens of the Moon.  Jadeite whirls Rei around and she laughs.
Makoto and Nephrite share a quiet, loving smile.  Ami sits down on a
swing attached to the branch of a tree and Zoisite pushes her high
into the air, grinning as she smiles with delight.  Kunzite puts his
arm around Minako and she leans into him, sighing happily.  She puts
a hand to his face and as he turns to look at her, she leans upward
and kisses him.  The others all laugh at the flustered expression on
his face.  Then he catches Mina in his arms and carries her as she
giggles and kicks her legs in the air, her arms wrapped around his
neck.

"Kami-sama kanaeta Happy-end."

Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion dance together in each other's
arms, not having eyes for anyone else as the Senshi and the Guardians
giggle from a corner of the room.

"Genzai kako mirai mo,"

Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, and Mamoru stand in front of a long
line of mirrors.  As they stare into them, their reflections stare
back at them and the reflections of the four Dark Kings seem to
appear behind them.  Their reflections switch to those of their past
selves and the reflections of the Kings also change to those of the
Guardians.  Then their reflections change again to those of their
future selves and the images of the Guardians seem to fade until they
are barely shadows.

"Anata ni kubittake."

Minako, Ami, Makoto, and Rei sit in a field of flowers, watching as
the dandelion fluff blows away on the wind, swirling in front of the
sun.  They shade their eyes and four figures sneak up behind them,
taking them by surprise.  They turn with a smile to see the
Guardians.

"Deatta toki no natsukashii,"

Then the four Senshi push the Guardians over and run away laughing.
The Guardians scramble to their feet and chase them, unable to keep
stern expressions on their faces as they break into laughter.

"Manazashi wasurenai,"

The stars sparkle again in the sky and Princess Serenity turns to
Prince Endymion with a serious expression on her face.  He takes her
hand in his.

"Ikusenman no hoshi kara anata o mitsukerareru,"

The Inner Senshi and the Guardians embrace, then part tearfully.
They whisper "I love you" to each other, then the Guardians and
Endymion join hands and disappear in a teleport.

"Guuzen mo chansu ni kaeru ikikata ga suki yo."

Queen Serenity glares at Queen Beryl, then raises her crescent moon
wand aloft and the world disappears in the sparkle of silver light.

"Fushigi-na kiseki Kurosu-shite nandomo meguri-au,"

Princess Setsuna looks up at the brilliant night sky, tears
shimmering on her cheeks.  Princess Serenity walks hesitantly up
behind her and offers her her hand.  Setsuna takes it and smiles
slowly as she looks at the princess.

"Seiza no matataki kazoe uranau koi no yukue."

The light of the moon bathes the sleeping face of Prince Endymion.
He opens his eyes to see Princess Serenity bent over him, looking at
him lovingly.  They both shut their eyes and kiss.

"Onaji juni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu."

Usagi and Mamoru kiss.  Then, holding each other's hands, they walk
off together.

"Shinjite-iru no,"

Queen Serenity and the cats gaze at Earth, Sailors Pluto, Uranus, and
Neptune standing behind them.  Freeze screen.

"Mirakura Romansu."

The Senshi and the Guardians stand together, holding hands, Endymion
and Serenity in the foreground, as the malevolent force of the Dark
Kingdom appears over the horizon of the Moon.  They all have
determined expressions on their faces.  Freeze screen.  Fade to
black.

DESTINED LOVE

Note: This Part takes place over the course of a year.  The ages that
follow are those of the characters at the beginning of this year.
Endymion is nineteen.  Serenity is sixteen.  Rei, Ami, Makoto,
Minako, Haruka, and Michiru are all nineteen.  Kunzite is
twenty-four, Nephrite is twenty-three, Zoisite is twenty-two, and
Jadeite is nineteen.  Setsuna is *really* old (sorry), and Hotaru
would be eighteen, but she was put back into eternal sleep and is
thirteen.  Queen Serenity is three hundred and twenty-six.  Luna and
Artemis are seventeen years old.  (They are alien cats with long
life spans.)  Their maturity level should be that of twenty-eight
year olds, but that is left up to speculation on the part of Artemis.
Kenji is twenty-seven, Ikuko is twenty-two, and Shingo is one.

*In the Past*
*One month later*
*Earth*

   Night had fallen several hours ago.  The stars twinkled in the
sky, but to Endymion, their light seemed cold and harsh.  Nothing
could brighten his spirits but the light that came from his Usako.
The light of her love.  Without her, he despaired.

   'Do you believe in destiny?' she'd asked him once.
   'Yes, and no,' he'd answered.
   She'd laughed, then asked him how he could have it both ways.
   He taken her by the shoulders, gazing into her eyes, and he'd
said, 'I believe in destiny, in that some things can't be helped or
avoided and some things are fated to happen, like our meeting, but I
also truly believe that we are in charge of our future.  We make it
what it is.  There is nothing that says that "this is what's going to
happen and that's that."  *We* make the difference, we can change
things.  Our future isn't set down in stone, we have to make the
right choices to insure that everything'll turn out all right, or it
won't.'  He laughed at himself then.  'Listen to me be so serious.
I'm sorry.'
   She'd put her arms around his neck and smiled at him, but her eyes
had been serious.  'I think you're right about destiny.  But are we
making the right choices now?  *Should* we be together?'
   'Don't worry, I have faith in us.  I have faith that the right
path is with both of us together.'
   Her eyes lost some of their seriousness and she asked in a low,
quiet voice, 'If you don't believe in destiny, then what do you
believe in?'
   He'd whispered in a loving voice, 'I believe in you, Usako.  I
love you.'  Then he had leaned forward, as had she, and their lips
had met in a kiss.

   Gazing into the night sky, Endymion clenched his right hand into a
fist.  "I don't care if you're from the moon!  I will always love
you, Usako.  Even . . . if it's from a distance."  Listening to the
words he had just uttered, he realized that he was giving up.  He
couldn't give up!  He couldn't lose her!
   "No!  There must be something that I can do.  There has to be."
The stone that hung around his neck caught his eye.  "Of course!  My
Guardians and I will see if the old Earthen magic still works."

   Beryl paced impatiently, her eyes scanning the ground as though
studying the cracks in the floor would help alleviate her
frustration.  "When will we begin the assault?!!!" she demanded of
the empty air.
   Slowly, slowly, Metallia's nebulous form materialized and her
voice rang out, "Patience, Beryl!  The time drawssss near."
   Beryl frowned.  "That is what you always say and we are no closer
to our goal!"
   "You are not, but *I* am.  Sssso, sssso closssse.  I can almosssst
tasssste ssssuccessss.  It will be ssssoon, Beryl, and then you
sssshall be Queen of thissss world, even assss I am Empressss of the
Universssse!"
   "Queen," Beryl said, licking her lips.  "Queen Beryl.  Yes, with
Endymion at my side!"
   "Ssssoon.  Our minionssss are almosssst gathered.  Thosssse
foolissssh humans have given ussss their ssssoulssss sssso that we
may defeat their enemiessss.  Thosssse youma will sssserve you well."
   "What will our kingdom be called, Empress?"
   "It already hassss a name.  We are the Dark Kingdom . . ."

   The Guardians were gathered in their conference room.  Kunzite was
staring at maps and muttering about Cathal, borders, and inadequate
defenses, while Zoisite was throwing darts at a bullseye, and Jadeite
was practicing sword-fighting techniques with Nephrite, who had taken
a break from charting the stars.  However, no one's attention, save
Kunzite's, was focused on what they were doing.  They were each
thinking of someone special that they had met recently.  As a result,
Zoisite kept missing the bullseye completely and Nephrite and
Jadeite's combat was sloppy.  Kunzite was just about to ask what was
troubling them all so much when the door slammed open with a bang and
Prince Endymion strode through.
   Everyone froze as Endymion eyed them.  Kunzite arched an eyebrow
in inquiry.  "Yes, my prince?"
   Endymion turned to the leader of his Guardians and said in a low
but authoritative voice, "I need to see you-all of you-outside, in
the gardens immediately."
   "Any particular reason?"
   "I must speak with you."
   "Can you not simply speak with us here?"
   "Don't question my orders!  Just . . . just come outside,"
Endymion faltered for an instant, then grabbing hold of his cloak,
strode out.
   Kunzite turned to exchange a look with the other Guardians.
"Well, *that* was certainly interesting."
   The others were already scrambling to strap on their weapons.
Jadeite sheathed his sword, then turned to Kunzite with a worried
expression on his face, "He *ordered* us.  What do you think he wants
to talk to us about?"
   Kunzite frowned.  "Trouble.  Or something else.  Well, let's get
going, anyway.  The heir apparent would not appreciate being kept
waiting."
   "You can say that again," Zoisite grumbled.
   Kunzite carefully hid a smile.  Not just anyone could ruffle
Zoisite's feathers.  Endymion was one of the few who could.

   They gathered outside in the gardens, awkwardly standing about.
Endymion started to pace, not speaking.  The Guardians wondered if he
was finally willing to reveal what had happened during his absence.
Sensing no immediate danger, they relaxed a bit, carefully watching
their prince.
   Finally, Endymion stopped and turned to face them, drawing in a
deep breath before he began.
   "Kunzite, Jadeite, Zoisite, Nephrite, I kind of need your help."
   "As always," Kunzite replied, patting the sheathed sword resting
at his hip.
   Endymion ignored him.  "Here's the thing, I've . . . um . . .
fallen in love."
   "Took you long enough!" Zoisite said, smirking.
   "Well, that's not really the problem . . ."
   Zoisite wagged a finger at him.  "Endy, what have you been doing?
Nothing naughty, I hope."
   Endymion glared at him.  "Of course not!  You've been hanging
around Kunzite too much!  Anyway, the problem's a bit more
complicated."
   "More complicated than that?"  Jadeite asked.
   "Zoi's been a bad influence," the Prince muttered under his
breath.  "Anyway, the girl that I've fallen in love with isn't from
around here."
   "A foreigner?  That could be a bit complicated," Kunzite said
thoughtfully.
   "More than you know.  She's not from this planet."
   "WHAT?!!!" Zoisite, Kunzite, and Jadeite cried.
   "She's from the Moon."
   While the three Guardians made incoherent sputtering noises and
looked disbelieving at their Prince, Endymion turned to the one
Guardian who as of yet had said nothing.  "You don't seem surprised."
   Nephrite shrugged easily.  "I do not find life on other worlds
odd.  The stars rule everything.  Everyone's destiny has been written
in them.  A fated romance lies in your stars.  I have seen it.  The
universe is a mysterious place.  Besides, it is not as though a
prince has never fallen in love with a girl from an enemy land
before.  The stars tell all of their tales, and they are many."
   "Uh, okay," Endymion replied, confused, but trying not to show it.
"I haven't exactly gotten to my favor yet.  I need your help to get
to the Moon."
   This time even Nephrite looked taken aback.
   Jadeite swallowed and said in a small voice, "Are we going to have
to pack for this trip?"

*The Moon*

	"Star bright,
	 Silver light,
	 Shining with all my love and might,
	 Shining with all my love tonight."

   Luna sighed as she looked at her princess.  Princess Serenity had
done nothing but sing that old song ever since she had returned to
the moon, her eyes bright with tears.  She would not speak of
anything that had happened and refused to answer any questions.
Reluctantly, everyone had decided to let the incident slide once
again.  Everyone but Sailor Venus.
   Venus had returned from wherever she had disappeared to only
moments before the Princess had arrived home.  She, like the
princess, refused to speak of what had happened to her, except for
her mutterings about a terrible evil that was returning.
   Luna took very little stock in her warnings.  Venus was
distraught; they all were.  Ever since that incident . . .

   Princess Serenity arrived in the Center Courtyard of the Moon
Palace.  She was sprawled on the ground, dressed in strange foreign
clothing.  She was weeping profusely, her delicate frame racking with
violent sobs.
   Queen Serenity had rushed forward to comfort her daughter, only to
be repulsed by her sharp words.  "Leave me alone, *Mother*!  Just
leave me alone!"
   "Serenity, whatever is the matter, dear?  Aren't you happy to be
home safe and sound?  Whatever possessed you to run off again?  You
know that Earth is forbidden!"
   "You wouldn't understand!  Stop judging me!  Stop making my
decisions for me!  This is *my* life, not yours.  Why can't you ever
let me be happy?!"
   "Sere, IÑ"
   It was then that Sailors Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury appeared in
the swirling colors of their auras.  They hesitated only an instant
to bow quickly to their Queen, Mars saying, "We were recalled."  No
other explanation was needed.  Then they rushed to their princess,
Mars rocking her in her arms as she wept bitterly.  "Shhh.  Sere,
it'll be okay."
   The princess jerked her head up.  "No, it won't!  It never will!
Not as long as I'm apart fromÑ"
   "It will never be all right again," a hard voice said as she
approached the scene.  Queen Serenity stepped aside to let her pass.
   "Venus," Jupiter said steadily, looking up at her leader.
   "So once again the princess has flaunted the laws of our esteemed
court.  Haven't you learned better by now, princess?  You have to
grow up and take your duties seriously!  Earth is dangerous."  Venus
looked down at Serenity, and no one but Artemis saw the flash of pain
in her eyes.  <I'm sorry, my princess . . .>
   Princess Serenity burst into another spate of crying.
   "Stop it, Venus!  You have no right to do this to her!" Mars cried
angrily.  She hated seeing Sere get hurt, especially by her friends.
She and Sere had their own share of disagreements, but the princess
always knew that Mars never meant anything that she said, not really.
   Venus gave Mars a cold stare.  "I have every right.  It's the
truth and the princess will have to face up to it sooner or later."
   "What do you know about this?" Mercury asked, staring up at Venus
from where she knelt at her princess's side.
   "An evil is returning and we must be ready to face it.  Especially
Sere.  She is the princess, and her duties are far greater than ours.
She can't let herself get distracted."
   Looking into her eyes, Sere knew that Venus *knew*.
   <<Do you knowÑeverything?>> she thought at her, dully.
   <<Everything,>> Venus replied.  <<Princess, it's not allowed.>>
   <<I don't care!>>
   Aloud, Venus said, "All princesses must make sacrifices.  Earth is
forbidden to you, forever."
   "No!"
   Queen Serenity moved towards her daughter, feeling helpless.
"Serenity, the Earth is forbidden to everyone on the moon.  A
princess cannot be exempt from such a law.  You are the Moon
Princess.  Our people look up to you.  You have to do your duty and
obey the laws that have been set."
   "Well, maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore!" Serenity
cried, getting to her feet and running off.
   The Senshi stared after her silently.
   Queen Serenity watched her daughter's fleeing form, her eyes wide
with disbelief, her lips trembling, "She can't have meant that!"  But
she knew in her heart of hearts, as they all did, that Sere had.

   Luna sighed again.  It was going to take them all a *long* time to
get over that.

   Artemis watched Luna from high atop the column that he was lazily
draped across.  He knew that she was troubled and so was he.  He
wanted to go to her and comfort her, but there was nothing he could
say or do to stop her heartbreak.  Sere was drifting away.
   However, he knew too that something had upset Venus greatly and he
was determined to discover what it was.  <Mina may seem flighty
sometimes, but she would never speak to Sere that way without reason.
Something terrible has begun, and she knows what it is.  I'll have to
keep my eye on her.>  He cast one last lingering look on Luna.  <I'm
sorry, Luna, I can't tell you what I suspect.  Not yet.  First, I
must speak to MinakoÑGuardian Cat to troubled charge.  You wouldn't
believe me if I told you, anyway.>  He turned to go, then looked back
once more at her.  <Keep safe, love.>  Then he got to his feet and
sprang away.

   Luna looked behind her.  She could have sworn that there was
someone . . . watching over her.  Catching the flash of moonlight
against a white fur-covered body bounding away from column to column
in the moonlight, she smiled.  <Artemis.  Thank you.>

   Ami flipped through the pages of the ancient tome.  After a
moment, she realized that she had merely been staring at the pages
for the last several hours without absorbing what the book actually
said.  Her heart was not in studying.  <Zoisite,> her mind whispered
treacherously, no matter how hard she tried to block it out.  <I
can't think of him now!  It would never have worked anyway.  I'm from
the Moon, and he . . . he's from Earth.  Earth is forbidden to us.
Still, I love him so very, very dearly.  I wonder if I'll ever see
him again?  I did promise . . .  And I always keep my word!>
   That resolved, she turned back to her book, but found her thoughts
drifting to a memory of a pair of sharp green eyes.  <<Zoisite . .
.>>

   Makoto ran her hands through the newly-turned soil and patted it
lovingly around the seedling.  She tried to forget, but everything
reminded her of him.  The color of the soil was the color of his
hair, the touch of the wind was like the caress of his hand . . .
Angrily, she kneaded her hands through the soil, and gradually she
relaxed as the simple process of planting took all of her attention.
   'I love you.  I want to spend my life with you,' rang through her
head, and again she stopped, staring blankly at the plants.
   "He meant it, you know," she said conversationally to them.
"That's why it hurt so much."  Her lower lip began to quiver and no
matter how she tried, she couldn't stay the moisture that sprang to
her eyes and trickled down her face.  Unable to suppress the pain any
longer, she curled up into a fetal position and cried, in between the
roots of an ancient tree.  It was silent save for her sobs, for a
long, long time.  When she finally stopped, she had only the strength
to whisper, "I love you, too," before she passed out from exhaustion.

   "It's WRONG!!!" Rei said angrily, pacing in her room.  "Wrong,
wrong, wrong!"
   Minako looked up at her from where she sat painting her nails on
Rei's bed.  "What's wrong with it?"
   Rei stopped her pacing to glare at Minako.  "You know perfectly
well what's wrong!  It's forbidden," she hissed.  "You told the
princess so yourself."
   Minako shrugged.  "So?  When's that ever stopped us before?"
   "You're incredible."  Rei seated herself next to Minako.
   Minako smiled brightly.  "I know.  Anyways, the princess is the
princess and she needs to be protected, but we can take care of
ourselves!  Besides, you've been obsessing over this guy so much that
I really have to see if he's as cute as you say."
   "But we can't just sneak back down to Earth!  Someone would catch
us for certain."
   "Hey, only you'd be sneaking *back* down!  *I* haven't been there
yet, remember?"
   Rei glared at her.  "You're not funny, you know."
   Minako just grinned.

*Back on Earth*

   The Guardians spent the next couple of days preparing for their
trip.  Kunzite was gathering weapons and reviewing information on
what was known about the Moon and its so-called Moon Kingdom.
Nephrite was seeking guidance in the stars, and devising the best
path to reach the Moon.  Jadeite had the most work, as his realm was
the Realm of Soul, which was the most closely connected with magic.
He spent hours researching the dusty old tomes in the Royal Library.
Zoisite sometimes gave him a hand.  Zoisite himself was making
contingency plans in case the Lunars were hostile.
   Endymion was thinking up the actual plan, and putting his kingdom
in order, so that when he left there would be no unforeseen
situations that could not be adequately handled.  It was an
undeniably difficult task, but the thought of seeing his Usako again
kept him going.
   As he was still officially not old enough to take charge of his
kingdom yet, the ministers of state and his advisors still ruled.
Thus, even though that matter was *still* difficult, it was simpler
than he had thought it would be to receive permission to leave on a
"diplomatic" mission.  They had wanted Kunzite to remain behind, but
Endymion had insisted on his presence and they had acquiesced
reluctantly.
   The only thing that worried Endymion was that the kingdom of
Cathal was still seeking to invade his borders.  He had sent in part
of his army though, and they had managed to drive the Cathals from
the captured town of Edmunston.  There had been no survivors of the
citizenry reported.
   He and all four of his Guardians had swore viciously at the news
and had redoubled the number of troops stationed around the border.
Neither Endymion nor his Council had been willing to go to war over
it . . . yet.  Still, the Cathals had seemed to settle down and
several spies reported that they were truly sorry for what they had
done.
   Endymion believed none of it, but now was the time for his own
personal mission.  With Cathal momentarily at peace and the threat of
an all out war sometime in the near future, he figured that his last
time to seek out his Usako would have to be now.

   Endymion turned to his Guardians who stood waiting for him.  "Are
you ready?" he asked.
   All four of him placed their right fist over their hearts in a
warrior's salute as they bowed their heads slightly.  Kunzite
answered for all of them.  "As we'll ever be."

*The Moon*

   Princess Serenity paced about the Royal Gardens of the Moon.  She
gazed up into the sky to stare at the blue-green earth that spun
there.  <So beautiful.>
   "Cookie for your thoughts?" a voice asked quietly.
   Serenity turned to see that Venus did indeed stand there, a cookie
in her hand.  The princess tried to smile, but found that she could
not.  With a sigh, she turned away, looking once again at the Earth.
   The forced smile that had been on Venus's face faded and she
looked at the cookie critically.  <The princess is refusing food.  I
must have hurt her more than I meant to.>
   The princess's clear voice broke through her thoughts.  Venus
looked up to see her still staring up at the blue planet.  "You told
me once not to be your friend.  You also told me that if I wanted
things to happen, then I should go out and make them happen.  Your
advice seems to have its flaws."  The princess smiled fleetingly,
just for an instant.  Venus wondered at the lack of bitterness in her
voice.  But Sere . . . Sere could never be bitter.  It was against
her nature.
   "I wondered, you know, for a long time why I was a princess.  I,
of all people, daughter of the Queen of a solar system.  And then,
one day I knew."  She turned to face Venus, her eyes sparkling with
tears, not of grief or pain, but those of joy.  "It was the day I
looked into his eyes, Venus.  I knew then that I had to be a princess
to deserve *him*."  Her eyes got a far off look in them and Venus
could only watch silently as she continued.
   "The way he looks at me, talks to me, holds me in his arms . . .
It is too much for me!  It is as though when I am with him, I am safe
in a land that is beyond anger, fear, or pain.  There is only love
there.  His love for me and mine for him.  He loves me."  Her eyes
focused on Venus again.  "I love him."
   She turned away and again began walking, Venus trailing behind
her.  "I do not deserve him.  He is all that I have ever dreamed of.
Love is so wonderful, why can't everyone feel it?  Have you ever been
in love, Venus?"
   Sailor Venus stopped short in her tracks and managed to speak
around the large lump that had formed in her throat.  "Yes."
   "Then you know the feeling.  Do you know the heartbreak, too?"
   In a very quiet voice, "Yes."
   "I never want to be apart from him, Venus.  I don't care if his
world is forbidden!  No one can forbid love.  It is not possible.  If
there was no love in the world, then we would be nothing.  We would
be monsters, lifeless, uncaring *things* not people!  We would be-"
   "The Dark Kingdom," Venus interrupted.
   Serenity fell silent.  After a moment, "They attacked once, didn't
they?"
   Venus nodded even though Sere still had her back turned to her.
"They will attack again.  They need energy, but it is emotions that
they crave.  They can feel nothing but anger, hatred, and pain.  Love
is alien to them, and though they will not admit it to themselves,
they want it."
   "I pity them," Serenity's voice rang out.  "Poor creatures, what
kind of a life is that which they lead?"
   "Do not pity them, Sere!  Hate them!  Hate them with all of your
heart and soul!"
   "Hate them?  Then would I not be just like them, Venus?"
   Venus was silent for a long time, letting the statement sink in.
<Have I become just like them?  Am I no better than they are?>
Without realizing it, tears began to trail down her face. In a weak
voice she responded, "Perhaps."
   Serenity shook her head slightly.  "No, Venus, you are not like
them.  You can still love, can't you?  You can still feel joy, and
hope, and sorrow.  *You* are still a human being, with all the flaws
there of."
   Venus sighed.  "There is one thing that I care about, princess."
   "What, only one?"
   "Yes.  You.  It is my duty to protect you.  It is my obligation to
myself.  To protect you . . ."
   "From myself?"
   "If I must."
   "Mayhap I do need protection from myself, but there is one thing
that you need never protect me from."
   "Him?"
   "That's right.  He would never hurt me, Venus."
   "You're wrong.  Everyone hurts one another.  You hurt the ones you
love.  It's human nature.  Everyone can't help but betray everyone
else, and destroy all of the good things that they have."
   "Well, maybe you're right and I'm wrong, but he would never betray
me . . . in his heart.  As for forbidding me to see him . . . that is
nonsense and both you and I know it.  It is not human nature to let
itself be kept from what it wants."
   "Is he what you want?"
   "I need him.  I love him.  Isn't that enough?"
   Venus had no answer, instead she said, "Your mother will be
expecting you at Court soon."
   Princess Serenity turned around and smiled her first truly genuine
smile in days.
   <Probably because she know that she's won,> Venus thought sourly
to herself.  Serenity winked as though she had overheard and Venus
couldn't be sure that she hadn't.  Somehow though, just talking with
the princess had made her feel better about the whole thing.  The
danger might still be coming, but they would both be ready for it.
   "Come now, Venus, the Lunar day is beginning.  We can't keep
everyone waiting, now can we?  Escort me to Court."
   "Yes, my princess."
   They began to walk back towards the Moon Palace when Princess
Serenity stopped suddenly.  "Venus?"
   "Mmmm?"
   "Where's my cookie?"
   A sweatdrop formed on Venus's head as she laughed inanely.  "Uh,
uh well . . ."
   "You ate it, didn't you?" the princess asked flatly.
   Venus laughed nervously, put on an innocent face, then hung her
head and said, "Yeah."
   "SAILOR VENUS!!!!"  Serenity shrieked.
   Venus dashed into the palace and took of running down the
hallways, Serenity right on her heels.  The princess tripped, fell on
her face, then scrambled to her feet and continued to chase the
errant Senshi.
   From high atop a pillar, Luna stared down and slowly a feline
smile spread across her face.  <It looks like things are *finally*
getting back to normal.>  With a contented purr, she settled down and
curled up for a nap.
   From the next column over, Artemis gazed a Luna with a worried
look on his face.  <Somehow, I don't think it's going to be that
easy.>  He bounded off as Luna slept.  <Not that easy at all.>

   Beryl looked at the Seven Shadows that she had called forth from
her dark crystal and dismissed them.  "*THESE* are my vaunted
warriors?"
   Metallia let out a hiss.  "They are extenssssionssss of mysssself,
Beryl.  Are you mocking me?"
   "I, mock you?  Never, my empress."
   "You had better not be, Beryl.  You had better not be."
   "So what can they do, my empress?"
   "They are capable of massss desssstruction and together they can
form an extenssssion of me that hassss power comparable to mine.
They will desssstroy the ssssorceressssessss for ussss."
   "The Moon Princess is mine!" Beryl screamed in rage, having long
ago ascertained with the help of Metallia the true identity of the
princess.
   "Of coursssse, Beryl.  In thissss *only* may you have rightssss
over me.  I promissssed her to you, Beryl, and Endymion, in return
for your sssservice.  Sssshe issss yourssss to kill and he yourssss
to have assss you will."
   "Yes," Beryl hissed, satisfied for the moment.  "Will I have no
other warriors?"
   "The Youma-"
   "The Cathals are idiots!  Already Endymion's forces have defeated
them!"
   "Do NOT interrupt me, Beryl!!!  The new batch will be an
improvement.  Do not fear, Beryl, they will be strong enough.
However, you have need of thosssse who can control them.  You cannot
be everywhere at once."
   "And who would control THEM?" Beryl asked spitefully.
   Metallia chose her next words carefully.  "You have need of . . .
Generalssss.  Dark Kingssss for your Dark Kingdom."
   "Generals?" Beryl asked, an idea forming in the back of her mind.
"Kings?"  She broke into malicious laughter.  "No, not kings at all,
but princes!!!  Kings indeed!!!"
   "Beryl, what are you thinking?" Metallia asked, annoyed that she
could not for once read Beryl's thoughts.
   "Endymion would not suspect that those most loyal to him would
serve us!  Oh yes, I shall have these Kings that you speak of
Empress, and destroy any last thoughts of rebellion in Endymion!"
   "You would take *THEM*?" Metallia asked, catching on.
   "Who better to serve under Endymion and myself?"
   "Beryl, I did not give you enough credit.  You sssshall sssserve
me well, and sssso sssshall they."
   "But first," Beryl said, swirling her hand in the air, "I will
send out a probe to the so-called Moon Kingdom to test their
defenses.  I have the feeling that Endymion will soon be there as
well.  What better time?"
   "It will give them warning that we are coming," Metallia warned
her.
   "So what?  Let them know.  Let them live in perpetual fear for
their miserable lives.  Nothing they can do can stop us.  I will send
my minion . . . when I am sure that Endymion is there."

*On Earth*

   Endymion and his Guardians stood together in a circle in the rose
clearing.  The full moon shone directly over them.  He had not wanted
then to invade his treasured private spot, but Jadeite had insisted
that the magic would be stronger if performed at a spot that had
already been exposed to magic.  As the Guardians already knew where
the clearing was, he had had no choice.  Besides, he would take any
advantage that would help him reach his Usako.
   <This will work!>  Endymion thought determinedly.  <It has to.>
   Taking each others hands rather uncomfortably, the five of them
concentrated together.
   Nothing happened.

   "Focus!" Endymion said.
   "We *ARE*!" they yelled back.
   Endymion sighed.  <Please, please, let this work.  I wish for
nothing more than for the five of us to be able to harness our magic
so that we can get to the moon, and Usako and I can be together.  We
swore that we would.  Don't make me go back on that vow.  I love
her.>
   The script on the archway began to glow silver in the moonlight.
None of them noticed.
   Slowly, slowly, each of them began to feel their power growing,
flowing through and filling them.
   "I feel it!" Zoisite cried, exuberant.  "My power!"
   "Good, now concentrate," Endymion returned.  They did.
   Endymion felt the blood inside of him burn with fire as the power
in him grew, and he could feel the magic of the other four begin to
reach him as their auras rose about them.  Then, all of a sudden,
their power peaked and with a flash of light, they were gone.
   The moon shone after them.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

   Setsuna frowned.  <It begins.>  Nevertheless, she felt strangely
at peace once she knew that this future was set.  <I can change
nothing now.  Forgive me my Queen, my princess . . . my prince.  I
know now that this is what Destiny had intended at the start.  Even I
am helpless against *her* machinations.  What must be . . . will be.>

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*The Moon*

   The group of five appeared with a blinding flash of light in the
throne room, directly in front of Queen Serenity.  After ascertaining
their surroundings, they stood and bowed in unison to the Queen.
   Queen Serenity rose up from where she sat in indignation.  "Who
are you and why have you come here?"  She motioned the guards over to
the intruders.
   The pair of guards moved as though to apprehend the strangers but
were repelled by another flash of light.
   "Sorry," Jadeite said with a rueful smile.  "I guess the spell
hasn't quite worn off yet."  He had been the one who had researched
the actual spell, and the shield they had cast about themselves as
added protection would take a moment or two to wear off.
   The guards looked quite taken aback.  Queen Serenity frowned.
"Just who are you?"
   Kunzite straightened and bowed again as the other four dropped to
a half-kneel, half-crouch, the right leg down and the left leg up, in
a carefully planned square formation around him.  Kunzite smiled
respectfully at the Queen as he said, "I am Prince Endymion of
Earth."

   The Sailor Senshi raced down the hallway to the throne room.  They
had all transformed as soon as Luna had arrived to tell them of the
intruders.  All except for Minako, who as the leader of the Senshi
had elected to carry out her own *personal* duty to protect the
princess.  So three Sailor Senshi ran down the hallway, and one
princess look-a-like, her hair gathered up in two buns with two long
blonde ponytails flowing down from each one, and dressed in the royal
gown.  "Princess Minako on her way," she muttered under her breath.
She hated this duty.
   As Kunzite rambled on to the Queen about the numerous factors that
had pushed him into making the decision to visit the moon on an
exploratory and purely "diplomatic" mission, Endymion couldn't resist
looking around.  He noticed that the other Royal Guardians were
looking around as well.  The difference between him and them, he
thought to himself, was that they were not looking for anything in
particular, while he was looking for something very important indeed.
   His gaze wandered around the throne room until it came to rest on
a figure half-hidden in the shadows.  He couldn't be sure . . .  The
Odangos were the same, but then it seemed as though that particular
hairstyle was very common on the moon.  The Queen even wore her hair
that way.  Then their eyes met and as he gazed into the deep blue of
hers, something like an electric current shot through them both.  It
was her, he was sure of it.  "Odango Atama," he breathed, so low that
no one else even realized that he was speaking, "I've lost you once
before, but I swore to myself that I would never lose you again.
I've found you, Usako, and this time, it's for keeps."

   Serenity pulled back into the shadows.  It couldn't be.  "Mamoru?"
she whispered to herself.  She risked another look and his eyes met
her.  An electric shock surged through her.  "Mamo-chan."  <How is it
possible?  I've missed you so.  Can you really be here?>  She mouthed
"later" to him, and he nodded imperceptibly.  Her eyes shone as she
mouthed the next words before leaving the room.  "I love you."
   Endymion watched her go and whispered softly.  "I love you too,
Usako."

   As the Senshi entered the room, all of the Guardians and Endymion
turned to look.  Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Jadeite, Nephrite, and
Zoisite all gasped simultaneously as they saw each other.
   "That's him," Sailor Mars said in astonishment.
   "Hey, who?" Minako asked eagerly.  She looked at where her friend
was staring as though she'd seen a ghost.  "Hey Rei, he *is* cute,
she said in a happy whisper.  Butwaitaminute," she said in a rush,
"what's he doing here?"
   Sailor Mars didn't answer her, continuing to stare at Jadeite who
was staring at her.  Minako sighed, looked at the other Senshi who
were in the same shape then turned to look at the intruders.  Rei was
a lucky girl, Jadeite *was* cute.  Ami and Makoto were lucky too, the
guys *they* were staring at were gorgeous.  She looked at the
dark-haired one staring with a dazed expression on his face.  Now
that was what she called handsome.  The tall one who was standing
turned to look at her and their eyes met with a crackling electric
shock.  No, *he* was handsome.  She sighed, looking at him dreamily.
Maybe she was going to like this assignment after all.

   "So you're from the Golden Kingdom?" Queen Serenity asked.
   "Yes, Your Majesty."
   "The last I heard, the Golden Kingdom was ruled by King Gaian and
Queen Terra."
   "They are deceased."
   "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Queen Serenity said regretfully.
They had been nice enough people and good rulers.
   "What of the young prince that I met on my last trip to Earth?  I
believe his name was Endy?"
   "Um," Kunzite thought fast.  <I don't look a thing like the real
Endymion!  Why didn't he tell me he'd met her before?>  "The young
son of King Gaian and Queen Terra is regretfully no longer with us,"
he said slowly, covertly looking at Endymion from the corner of his
eye.  He was staring off into nothing and mumbling something to
himself.  <Well, his *mind* certainly is not with us!>

   Rei stared at Jadeite, barely aware that she had spoken to Minako.
What had she said?  It did not matter.  Neither did the fact that
Minako was replying to her.  All that mattered was that Jadeite was
before her.  It could not be he, that was an impossibility, and yet .
. .  It was his face, his eyes.  It was Jade, it was!  <Jadeite!>
   She drank in the look of him, as he faced her, his eyes burning
with his love for her. He looked so handsome, kneeling there, his
gray cape pooling about him, his black gold-trimmed armor newly
polished.  His blonde hair was a little unruly and she wanted nothing
more than to run her hands through it.  <Oh, Jade!>
   An uneasy feeling nagged at her, though.  Why was he here?

   Jadeite stared at Rei.  At least, he thought it was Rei.  He
couldn't be certain having never seen her dressed in something that .
. . ahem . . . *short* before.  Still, he managed to wrench his gaze
to her face, and that held all of his attention.  It *was* his Rei
that stood before him, it could be no other.  No one else, in his
mind, possessed such unparalleled beauty.  Her eyes bespoke him
eloquently as he stared into their fiery violet depths.
   <Rei, Rei,> his mind sang.  It took all of his self control to
stop himself from leaping up and running to her, to enfold her in his
arms.  He could not tear his gaze away from her.  He did not want to.
<What is it about you, Rei, that you make me love you so?>  He could
not say what it was, only that he did love her with every ounce of
his being.  <I will not lose you again, my dark-haired goddess, my
red-hot flame.>
   Still, a thought rose unbidden at the back of his mind and try as
he might, it would not leave.  Why was she here?

   <Goddess,> Makoto thought, involuntarily putting a hand to her
mouth.  Realizing what she was doing, she took it away in the same
instant.  <He's here.  Why is he here?  I drove him away!  Goddess,
Goddess, he looks at me with such eyes - eyes of reproof, full of
pain.  Have *I* done this to him?  Does he love me this much?  Then I
must be doubly sure this time to drive him away!  Oh, but how . . .
can I bear the reproof in those eyes?  Nephrite, Nephrite, I'm
sorry.>
   She looked away, her eyes shadowed.  If they had been visible,
anyone could have seen that they were dark with pain.

   <It's her,> Nephrite thought, dully.  <Is this some type of cosmic
joke?  Do the stars in the heavens enjoy my pain and suffering?>  He
continued to stare at her until she looked away from him.  All of a
sudden he was angry, and then the anger had fled and he was left only
with an unshakable sensation of loss.  <I have lost her . . . for
good.>
   He began addressing himself.  <Stupid.  I am so stupid to have let
her slip through my fingers.  Fool!  You have loved twice and lost
both times.  Can you not accept the fact that you were not made to
love?  Your kind of love is worthless.  What are you willing to give
up for your love?  Nothing.  And that is what you should receive in
turn.  I'm sorry.  I'm sorry I hurt you, my love.  You deserve better
than to be loved as one such as I.>
   <Why, oh why, are you here?>

   <ZOISITE!> her mind shrieked, before she could restrain herself.
Ami bit her lip and forced herself to calm down.  <How in the Nine
Worlds did he get here?  How did he know that I was here?  Oh, it
doesn't matter!  He's here!  Zoisite . . .>
   She looked at him as he shot her a look full of meaning.  She
blushed.  <Goddess!>  His green eyes twinkled maddeningly at her and
she saw him hide a smile as his face adopted a suitably serious
expression.  <Hah, him be serious?!  Get serious!>  Her expression
turned wistful.  <I wanted to see him so . . .  Maybe the princess is
right.  Maybe if you wish hard enough, wishes do come true.  Ami!>
she berated herself.  <That is *the* most unscientific thing you have
ever thought in your life!  I don't care!> she shot back at herself.
<I don't care . . . as long as he's here, science can take a hike!>

   Zoisite stared at Ami, *his* Ami.  Same blue hair, blue eyes . . .
a shorter skirt though.  <Hmmm . . . not bad.>  He quickly silenced
that errant train of thought.  <She's here.  I never thought-Don't
think.  You could never outthink her, you twit!  Did she know?  Did
she know somehow that I'd come?  I think I knew.  I knew that somehow
I'd find her.>
   Her eyes spoke volumes to him and he could feel his heart leaping.
<She's glad I'm here!  I'm glad she's glad.  it doesn't matter why
either of us are here, everything would be perfect if only she would
just smile . . .>  And then she did and for Zoisite, everything *was*
perfect.

   Queen Serenity sighed.  This whole situation was impossible.  She
would have to deal with it, though.  She beckoned impatiently to her
Senshi as they stood in the doorway.  Why weren't they coming in?
   They saw her gesture and entered slowly, flanking Minako as they
had been trained to do, both when she was in this guise and when she
was their commander, Sailor Venus.  They ascended the stairs up to
the dais her throne was positioned atop and ranged themselves behind
her.
  She gestured to the silver-haired Prince Endymion.  "Prince
Endymion, this is my daughter, the Princess Serenity."
   Minako took a step forward and curtsied gracefully, as she had
been taught.  Queen Serenity watched as the prince's eyes lighted on
her, then flickered away.  He rose a fluid motion, his Guardians with
him, and bent over the princess's hand.  "It is a pleasure, Princess
Serenity," he said, kissing it as per court etiquette.  Minako's eyes
became hearts and the Queen cleared her throat meaningfully.  Minako
immediately dropped her hand and curtsying again, she backed into her
place.
   "These are her Guardians," the Queen said, gesturing as the Senshi
came forward, ignoring the Earth Guardians flinch at the word, "the
Sailor Senshi.  Mars," Rei bowed, "Mercury," Ami bowed as well, "and
Jupiter."  Makoto bowed, but no one missed the tortured expression in
her eyes as she gazed at Nephrite save Nephrite himself.
   "Allow me to introduce my Guardians," Kunzite said smoothly.
"Jadeite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and . . . Mamoru."  Kunzite cursed
inside.  Why couldn't Endymion simply have taken his name?  But no,
he had insisted on Mamoru.  Queen Serenity didn't seem to notice the
dissimilarity in the names, though.
   "Very well," she said.  "I shall have quarters prepared for you
and your men, for the course of your "diplomatic" mission."
   Kunzite did not miss the emphasis that she had placed on the word
and he fervently vowed that the mission would be as diplomatic as
possible.  After all, it wasn't like his men were going to start
mingling with all of the Lunars.
   Then he took a look at the Guardians and watched the peculiar way
in which they were looking at the Senshi.  They looked smitten.  He
felt like slapping himself in the forehead.  By the King, what had
they gotten themselves into?

   It was later in that day when Endymion finally managed to slip
away to meet Serenity.  Somehow, he knew where to find her.  It was
if his heart was leading him to her.  He found her where he knew she
would be, among the roses in the Royal Gardens of the Moon Palace,
even if he had had no idea at the time where they were.
   He crept up behind her and enfolded her in his arms.  She gave a
little cry, then a smile crept across her face as she whirled about
in his arms and flung her arms around him with an exclamation of
happiness.  "Mamo-chan!"
   "Usako," he murmured in her ear.
   "You came, you came," she cried.
   "How could I stay away from my Usako?  My bunny of the moon."
   "Don't.  I'm not a bunny."
   "Oh, but you are, Usako.  You're *my* bunny.  When I look up at
the Moon, all I see is you."
   She pulled away a little and smiled.  "I wish that I was all that
you saw.  You are all that I see.  Your Earth, it is as blue as your
eyes."
   "Then you *did* think of me when we were apart!"
   "Could I think of aught else?  Why would I want to?"
   "Usako . . ." he whispered, kissing her.
   She closed her eyes and sighed in pleasure.  This, this was where
she wanted to be.  Safe in his arms.
   They parted a little and gazed at each other lovingly.  Her eyes
were bright with tears.
   "How did you get here?" she asked, softly.
   "Usako, I never thought I'd see you again.  I couldn't bear it!  I
*had* to find a way to get to you."
   "Mamo-chan, I'm not . . .  Well, I'm-"
   "MEEOORRROWWRRRR!!!" the vicious black blur of fur, teeth, and
claws screamed, leaping towards Endymion.  It landed on his head and
tried to claw at him unsuccessfully as he stumbled backwards in
surprise and knocked the cat off of him.
   She landed on her feet and glared at the Prince.  "Stay away from
the princess!"
   "LUNA!  What do you think you're doing?" Princess Serenity asked,
perturbed and more than a little irritated.  She went to check on
Endymion to see if he was all right.
   He was holding a hand to his head and looked rather dazed.
"Usako, did that *cat* just talk to me?"
   "She certainly did," Serenity replied, sticking a tongue out at
the cat.  "Nasty, *NOSY* thing, isn't she?"
   "I am not nosy!" the cat said, affronted.  "That is Artemis's
department.  I am simply looking out for your well-being."
   "Well, don't!  I am perfectly well right here with Mamoru and *he*
is doing quite a good job of insuring my well-being, thank you!"
   Luna scowled.  "Your mother will *not* be pleased!"
   "Humph!  That's exactly why you are *not* going to tell her,
Luna."
   The cat snorted.  "And how did you come to that conclusion?"
   Serenity smiled and Luna backed away a step at the pure
devilishness in her eyes.  "Luna, would you like me to tell Mother
what *really* happened to the fish that was to have been the main
course at the feast last week?"
   Luna's eyes narrowed and she hissed.  "You wouldn't!"
   "Wouldn't I?"
   "Artemis ate most of it!"
   "Ah-ah-ah, Luna.  Aren't you always telling me that it's not nice
to blame one's own mistakes on others?"
   Luna shot her a dirty look, then stalked off, muttering darkly to
herself.  <Now, when did she start getting so smart?!  Oooo, that
girl is *SO* infuriating!>
   Princess Serenity burst into infectious giggles as she watched her
Guardian stalk off and soon Endymion joined her.

   Jadeite snuck out of his room, looking warily around him.  <Good.
No one in sight.  If Kunzite caught me, I'd be a dead man.  Now, if I
can just get away without being seen . . .>
   "Well, hello, what do we have here?" a low voice whispered in his
ear from behind him.
   Jadeite stiffened, then whirled about, taking his discoverer by
surprise and swinging her around.  "REI!"
   She laughed, but quickly quieted down.  "Shhh!  Jade, they'll
hear!"
   He immediately set her down.  "You're right, of course."  They
both looked about the deserted hallway anxiously.  There was no one.
They were alone.
   "Jade," Rei said, as soon as she was sure no one was watching
them, "what are you doing here?!"
   He took her in his arms again.  "Well, first I want to kiss you to
make sure that you're real, and then I'll answer your questions."
   Rei let out a giggle as he bent to kiss her and his lips brushed
hers, but then they both stiffened as a chuckling sound was heard.
Jadeite cautiously opened one eye, and let Rei go in a swift movement
as he saw who was watching them.
   "Uh, Zoisite . . .  Hi!"
   Zoisite chuckled louder.  "You certainly do put on quite a show,
Jade!  Hahaha."
   "Shhh, you fool!" Rei and Jade both said, then exchanged a quick,
wry look at one another before turning back to Zoisite.
   He smiled.  "Who's to hear?!"
   "The Guards?  Any of a million Lunars?  The Queen?  Nephrite?
Ku-The Prince?" Jadeite rattled them off.
   Zoisite stopped laughing at the mention of the last and his voice
dropped as he looked anxiously around.  "Oh yeah, *him*.  I nearly
forgot."
   "Forgot?  How can you forget something like that?!!!" Jadeite
shouted.
   "SHHH!" Rei, Zoisite, and Ami cried.
   Jadeite shut his mouth, then stared with Rei at Ami who had been
standing behind Zoisite.  "Uh, hi?" she said, giving a little wave.
   Rei rolled her eyes.  "Not you too, Ami!"
   "Well, you're one to talk, Rei!"
   Rei opened her mouth to reply, then shut it.  Since when had Ami
had enough backbone to speak back to her?
   Ami smiled smugly.  <Reach for the sky, Zoisite.>
   The foursome exchanged a despairing look then all began to talk at
once.
   "What's going on-?"
   "I think we shou-"
   "Zoisite, why're you-?"
   "Let's get organiz-"
   They sighed.
   "Look," Zoisite finally said, "let's discuss this all later."
   "The first intelligent thing you've said," Jadeite replied.
"Let's."
   Ami smiled.  "Good, now that that's settled, I have something to
*talk* to you about, Zoisite."
   "Coming!" he said with a smile, as she dragged him off down the
hall.
   Rei and Jadeite exchanged a quiet laugh.  Then Rei smiled as well.
"Well, what'll we do now?"
   "I think we should follow them and get them back for disturbing
us," Jade said, his eyes lighting up, as he rubbed his hands
together.
   Rei sighed and put her arms around him again.  "I can think of
*much* better things that we could be doing, Jade.  After all, they
*did* interrupt us."
   Jadeite's eyes lighted up more and a smile spread gradually across
his face.  "I think you're quite right.  He opened the door to his
quarters and took Rei's hand in his.
   "What are you doing, Jade?" she asked, unable to hide the laughter
in her voice.
   "We're going to be somewhere where we *can't* be interrupted."
   She was only able to get out one cry of laughing protest as he
yanked her in and shut the door behind them.

   Zoisite and Ami walked down to the lake.
   "It is very peaceful here, Ami."
   "Yes, it is."
   "Why are you here?"
   "Why are you?"
   "Does it matter?"
   "Does it matter to you?"
   He knelt and picked up a rock, skipping it on the surface.
"Questions, questions, it is always questions with you, Ami.  Never
answers.  Every time I ask one, you have to ask me another.  You are
trying to confound me."
   "Perhaps I am.  I have never been close to anyone before," she
said, picking up rock and skipping it further than his.
   He picked up another one and skipped it still further.  "Are we
close?"
   She skipped another stone further out, "You know the answer."
   "You see?  Never a straight answer."  He picked up at rock and
when he threw it, it hurtled across the surface.  "You told me you
believed in love at first sight.  Did you mean it?  You never
actually told me you loved me, you know.  Do you?"
   "What do you think?"  She picked up another stone but before she
could throw it, he caught her arm and held it firm.  "Zoisite, let
go."
   "Just answer this one question, Ami, and I'll never make you
answer another."  His eyes pleaded with her.
   She faltered, as he lowered her arm.  "I-I . . ."
   "Ami?  Please, just an answer!"
   "Oh Goddess, yes!" she burst out, tears appearing.
   "That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Zoisite asked gently, tipping
her face up to his, seeing the love in her eyes that he had known was
there.  "Why are you so afraid of love, Ami?"
   "I don't know.  I just am."
   "You don't want to get hurt by it.  I won't let you get hurt.  I
love you, Ami.  Now, smile," he murmured, tipping her face more, his
lips almost touching hers.
   "Zoisite, I-" she began to protest.
   "Smile," he said, kissing her, drowning out her protests and her
tears.
   When they pulled away, he said again, "Smile."
   She did, and it was the most blindingly beautiful smile he had
ever seen.  "Kiss me again, Zoisite," she said, "and I'll smile as
much as you want.  I love you."
   He allowed himself a smile as he kissed her again.

   "Nephrite."
   He stiffened at the sound of his name, said by *that* voice, *her*
voice.  He forced himself to relax and slowly turned to look behind
him.  He looked at her standing slightly in the gray stone archway
that led into the Gardens.  Her hair was down for once, tumbling
about her shoulders in rich dark waves.  Her stance was uncertain but
her eyes were clear and calm.
   "Mako," he said softly.  It seemed like a millennium since he had
last spoken her name or had even dared to think it.
   She walked forward slowly, one hesitant step at a time, as though
fearing to get too close, too soon.  She stopped a foot away from him
and simply gazed at him.
   They did not speak.
   Finally, Nephrite turned away, gazing up at the stars that looked
so different, so very different than they had on Earth.
   "I was wrong," she said in a voice void of emotion.
   Again he stiffened, but this time he could not relax as he
replied, his throat choked with emotion, his eyes shut against the
pricking feel of his tears, "No.  You were right."

   Makoto felt her throat thickening and tears forming as he said
that.  <Goddess, I'm too late!  I pushed him away, and now that I
want him back, it's too late!>
   "Why, did you decide that, all of a sudden?" she asked, her voice
deceptively calm.  Inside, she was screaming.
   "I was in love, once," he replied.  "It was several years ago, but
I have never forgotten it, or her.  She was very special to me.  She
was the only daughter of a good friend of my mother's.  As she grew
up, I had been like a big brother to her, but when she was grown, she
began to see me as something else, and truth be told, I saw her as
more than a little sister as well.
   "Somehow, we found that we loved one another, and nothing could
have been sweeter . . . that is, until I was called away . . . by
duty."
   "Duty?" Makoto asked, her throat dry.  "What duty?"
   "At the moment of my birth, it had been foreseen that it was my lot
in life to serve the Prince of Earth, Endymion.  There are four of
us, Guardians as you are, who have been chosen to protect our prince.
When I was born, Endymion had not yet been conceived, but as I said
before, it had been foreseen.  I was a prince as well, eldest son of a
monarch who ruled one of the four kingdoms that made up Endymion's.
My realm was the Realm of Stars, the Realm of Strength.  And so, I
was chosen.
   "However, though I was of the order, and I was one of Endymion's
protectors, I had never been called upon to serve him until . . .  My
love and I had planned to marry.  Can you believe that?  I was to
marry her.  Nevertheless, before we could wed, I was called away to
take up my duty as his protector.
   "I went.  I could do nothing else.  My love wept as I left.  I
promised her that I would return, that we would be together.  That
was a promise that I was not to keep.  As soon as I met my prince and
the others, I realized that it was my *duty* to protect him.  Nothing
could stand in the way of that.
  "I, like the others, have devoted my life to serving my prince.  He
is first in my life and always will be.  That is why I had to let
Naru go.  She deserved, as you do, Mako-chan, to be loved
unconditionally.  Umino, her childhood friend, loved her with all of
his heart and she learned to love him as well.  They can be happy.
We can't be . . . not together."  He looked away from her.
   "Idiot," she whispered, stroking the side of his face and turning
his face to her, "the two of us, we are the same.  I, too, have
devoted my life to another.  I will serve my princess now and
forever.  *She* is first in my life, as much as your prince is to
you.  I understand, as nearly no one else could, what you are
feeling."
   "MakoÑ" Nephrite began, but Makoto gently placed a finger on his
lips to silence him.
   "And I know, too," she whispered softly, her eyes shining, "that
neither of us will ever be happy apart.  Because we each understand
the other, we can be together.  We can love each other.  And I do.  I
love you, Nephrite."
   She bent her head and kissed him, softly, lingeringly, lovingly,
and without even realizing it, he found himself returning the kiss.
When they finally separated, they stood a little ways apart,
Nephrite's hands on Makoto's shoulders, as she stared up at him, eyes
filled with love.  Looking into Makoto's eyes, Nephrite felt the
truth of her words, and the strength of his love for her and he said,
his heart full, "I do love you, Mako-chan.  I love you, too."
   She smiled as he drew her to him, and as their lips met again, he
felt the singing of the stars.

*The next day*

   Minako stared at her hands.  She had let him be killed.  She had
let him be killed not because he had plotted against the Queen and
Princess, not because he had chosen another over her, and not because
he had trusted her so much and so littleÑtelling her his plans, but
hiding his lover from herÑbut because she loved him and no matter how
much he pretended, he hadn't loved her.  So in one lightning quick
haze of scorned love and rage, that one instant of indecision, she
had let him be killed.  She saw again his broken body, being torn
into pieces, the blood-red eyes of the youma glaring balefully out at
her from where it crouched over the body of her beloved.  She closed
her eyes tight against the memory. <I killed him with my indecision
as surely as if I killed him with these hands.  I killed him.>  Her
eyes snapped open.  <I killed him because *I* was a fool for
believing in him!>
   She stared dry-eyed at her hands.  <Now, neither he or Onee-chan
can be happy.  Everyone's just as miserable as I am, and I don't feel
any better.  I feel worse.>  She remembered her Onee-chan's scream of
anguish as she learned of his fate.  Then she had plunged a dagger
into her own heart, so that she might join her lover in death.
Sailor Venus had just stared, horror-stricken at this second horror
and had screamed in despair.  Despair that she could not kill herself
and join them.  She had a duty more important.
   She leaned her head back against the rough stone.  <I didn't have
to kill him, even to protect the princess.>  She knew perfectly well
in her heart of hearts that he would never have gone through with it,
and knowing hurt.

   "Are you all right?" a rough voice asked.
   Minako started.  "What?" she asked her hands.  Then she looked up
and saw Kunzite.  <How did he get there without my noticing?!  I must
be getting soft!>
   "I said," he repeated gently, sitting down next to her, as she
inched further away, "are you all right?"
   "Yes, I'm fine."
   "Are you quite sure, Princess Serenity?"
   "Yes," she replied, getting to her feet.  "Thank you for your
concern, Prince Endymion.  Now, I must be going, I had not realized
how late it had gotten.  I have duties that I must attend to."
   "Of course," he replied smoothly, bowing as she swept by with a
swish of her skirts.  When she had passed, he straightened and looked
after her.  <Late?  It's only seven in the morning!>

   Kunzite resigned himself to another long session with Queen
Serenity.  The "diplomatic" meetings were taking a lot out of him.
This time, he did not even have the others with him.  He had tried to
gather them all together, but they had all ignored his summons and he
had seen them walking around like lovesick idiots, arm in arm with
the Senshi.
   Well, at least his prince had found what he was seeking.  That had
been the whole reason for the visit and the ruse in which Kunzite
pretended to be Endymion to protect him and allow him time to find
the girl.  He *had* found the girl that he was looking for and she
was indeed lovely.  Kunzite could not fault him.  Endymion had the
right to fall in love.  The others though . . .  Oh, the fools!  What
did they think they were doing?  They had a duty to perform!  They
had no time to be off whispering romantic nonsense in the ears of the
girl-warriors of the Moon Kingdom.
   "Is something troubling you, Prince Endymion?" a soft voice asked.
   He looked up, startled to see Queen Serenity staring at him with a
peculiar expression on her face.  "Uh, no, no, Your Highness.  Just
lost in thought, I suppose.  Your kingdom really is quite lovely," he
said, skillfully changing the subject.
   He could tell that he had not fooled Serenity at all, but she
played along saying, "I'm glad that you think so.  It took a lot of
time and energy to make it as beautiful as it is now.  Still, it is
not Earth."
   Kunzite thought that he detected a note of wistfulness in her
voice.   "You have been to Earth?"
   She outright laughed.  "Of course I have been to your Earth."  She
sobered, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes and saying in a
quiet voice, "You see, it is my Earth as well.  Once, a very long
time ago, I lived there as well.  In fact, I was Queen of it.  Yes, a
very long time ago," she said, her eyes getting a far away
expression.
   "Mother, perhaps we should get back to the point?" the princess
asked plaintively.
   Kunzite's attention shifted to the princess as the Queen
responded, "Of course, dear.  Forgive me."
   "*Me* forgive *you*?" the princess sounded incredulous.
   Kunzite managed to catch her eye and she flashed him a coy look as
he winked at her (completely against protocol).  She smothered a
giggle.
   Kunzite was rather surprised at himself.  He *never* went against
the rules.  Not even a little.  Well, maybe a little.  But to wink at
the princess of a foreign land?  Whatever had possessed him?  Still,
something about the girl had attracted his interest.  She could seem
so happy and cheerful one moment, but this morning, she had seemed so
sad.  Her sadness drew him as readily as her laughter.  He wanted her
to laugh, to forget that sadness existed.  What was she doing to him?
   She smiled at him, and forgetting himself, he smiled back.  It was
at that moment that he tossed all of his other concerns aside as a
new feeling, warm and bright, bubbled up inside of him.  Kunzite, the
most hard-hearted of the four Guardians, was falling in love . . .
with the Princess of the Moon.  And he swore to himself that she
*would* love him in return.

   Minako stared at Kunzite.  <There's something about him.  About
his eyes . . . the way he looks at me.  No, stop!  You can't have
feelings for him!  You can't!> she yelled at herself.  <You're
supposed to be the Princess!  He's the Prince of Earth, if you have a
relationship with him . . . where will it lead?  You're not *really*
the Princess!>   Looking up at him though, she couldn't help but feel
the long silent emotion stirring in her heart.  <Oh, Selene!>

   As they were leaving the conference room that day, he caught her
hand and drew her aside, whispering softly to her as she paused, "I
wish to speak with you later.  Will you meet me in the Gardens?"
   "No," she whispered back, but before Kunzite's heart could begin
breaking, she continued, "By the Fountains."  Then she was gone, but
it didn't matter to Kunzite because she had agreed to meet him!  His
heart skipped a beat, before he brought himself under control.  <Calm
down.  You're acting like a child,> he chided himself, then broke
into a grin anyway.  He started whistling and strode out the door,
completely missing the flash of two blue eyes who had been observing
the scene intently.
   Artemis glared at the Guardian, then slipped out the way he had
come in.  <Luna was right, those Earthers are nothing but trouble.>

*Later that afternoon*

   Kunzite strode over to the largest of the fountains, presumably to
look at the fascinating display of sparkling water.  He ignored the
couples that strode about arm in arm, including his own men and the
Senshi, who bolted for cover when they caught sight of him.  He
rolled his eyes.  <Like that would help.>  He would really have to
have a talk with them, later.
   Princess Serenity was waiting for him as she had promised, her
back to the fountain, gazing out at the sky.
   "Princess Serenity," he said without preamble.
   He had expected her to start in surprise as other women would do,
for she was surely not aware of his presence, but she simply raised
her left arm and pointed at the blue sky.  "Look, isn't it pretty?"
She didn't look his way.
   Kunzite looked up and saw that she was pointing at a cluster of
white clouds near the horizon.  He supposed it did look nice and said
so.
   "They're simply clouds," she said absently, "but if this whole
world had not been created through magic, there would be nothing but
barren rock and the night sky.  Sometimes, I wonder what it'd be like
to set foot on a *real* world, a normal world.  Not one molded to fit
someone's fantasies, but one that was simply made to be what it is.
No more, no less."
   Kunzite gazed back at the sky.  <The whole world created by magic?
All this, the trees, the plants, the animals, the splendor all about
him?>
   "Oh yes," the Princess said, "its all created by magic.  Every
last bit of it."
   Before Kunzite could wonder if she had read his mind, she glanced
at him from the corner of her eye.  "Why did you ask me here?  And be
quiet about answering . . . it's inappropriate for me to associate
with you alone."
   Kunzite opened his mouth to ask about the freedom of the Senshi,
then shut it again.  Of course the Senshi would have more freedom
than their princess!
   She looked at him, amused, her long golden hair cascading down
past her waist, and shining like the sun as she said flippantly,
"You look like a fish when you do that."
   Immediately, he felt rather offended, but his anger faded as he
realized the humor in the situation and he began to laugh, low
rolling chuckles of amusement.
   "SHHH!" she said desperately, glancing around at the passerbyers
who stopped to stare and whisper a giggled comment to one another.

   Minako found her temper rising and she began to stalk off,
contemplating going to the practice ring and demolishing a couple of
targets.  Prince Endymion caught her wrist, his gray eyes sparkling
in amusement and pleading with her as he said, all humor carefully
wiped from his voice, "Please stay."
   "I can't," she said shortly, turning away again.
   "Please?" he asked.
   She stood there, her wrist beginning to burn from the feel of his
hand around it, and she wanted to do nothing more than to give into
her impulse to turn back to him and kiss him.  But she knew that she
couldn't.  <I am the Princess,> she reminded herself, <and I must
break this off as quickly as possible.>  "Let me go," she said
quietly, putting as much steel into her voice as she could.
   He dropped his hand and pulled away from her, sighing.  "I'm
sorry.  I didn't mean to offend you, Your Highness.  It's just . . .
I haven't had a good laugh in ages."
   Minako felt a blush creeping across her face.  <This is too much!
Stop it!>  "I'm sorry," she said shortly.
   She saw the Prince shut his eyes and wince in pain, from the
corner of her eye.  <Oooo, Goddess!>
   "So'm I," he said in an emotionless voice.  Then, "May I see you
again?"
   "You may see me whenever you like.  I am often about in public."
   "May I see you alone again?"
   Unable to resist, Minako uttered the tantalizing, "Perhaps," then
fled as fast as she could for the safety of the Palace.
   "Perhaps," repeated Kunzite with a rare smile on his face.
"Perhaps, indeed."

   The Guardians gazed out of the brush at him in amazement.
Nephrite and Zoisite exchanged a look while Jadeite simply gaped.
Then all three of them turned to each other and said, "Kunzie's
*interested* in somebody?!!!"  Then each clapped a hand over the
other's mouth, peering over the brush to make sure that he hadn't
heard.  He hadn't.
   "Can we go now?"
   "Are you three done playing spy?"
   "Is this the way you like to spend your free time?" three
impatient-sounding female voices asked, and the three Guardians
turned to see their three Senshi gazing at them with annoyed
expressions on their faces.
   The Guardians gulped, then submitted themselves to being dragged
to their feet by the women they loved and hauled off to wherever they
were taking them.

   Princess Serenity giggled as she watched the three couples go.
Endymion, who was standing right behind her so she could lean on his
shoulder, couldn't help but wonder why she looked so mischievous all
of a sudden.  "What's going on, Usako?"
   "Ooo, Rei-chan looked SO mad!"
   "So?"
   "Do you know where they're heading, Mamo-chan?"
   "Where, Usako?"
   "My guess would be the pools.  They're the only things over
there."
   "Ah," Endymion said, catching on.  "I take it several "someones"
are going to get a dunking?"
   "Ami-chan's favorite form of torture.  It's her week to devise
torture, anyway."
   "There's a schedule?" Endymion asked, apprehensively.
   "That's right," Serenity replied, turning to face him, "and you
better not make me mad.  My torture's the worst."
   "Is that so?" he asked, moving his lips closer to hers.
   "Mmm-hmmm," she murmured as their lips touched . . .
    . . . then there was the sound of three gigantic splashes and a
couple of loud, "YEOWS!!!"
   Serenity and Endymion exchanged a look and burst into laughter.

*Later that evening*

   Minako sat at the desk in her quarters, staring dismally out the
window located over her desk, as the curtains around it blew in the
cool night breeze.
   A soft footstep sounded in the doorway behind her.
   Long white hair swung softly in the breeze as the curtains
fluttered still more, and without turning Minako knew who it was.
   "Did anyone ever tell you that you have green eyes like a cat?"
   Artemis smirked.  "All the time."
   "Do you think you're related?" she asked and Artemis knew who she
meant.
   He sniffed.  "Not likely.  Your people and mine don't mix.
Often," he added as an afterthought.
   "Why ever not, Artemis?" she asked lightly, trying to keep the
conversation from becoming too serious.  She did not want to talk
about *him* and yet she did.  One thing was certain, she did *not*
want to hear what Artemis would have to say about him.
   Artemis frowned, missing his whiskers in his human form.  "You
know why not.  It is inconvenient.  But this is not what we are here
to talk about."
   "I don't know what you mean, Artemis.  This is *my* room and I was
just about to go to bed, *not* to talk about anything."
   "Meana!"
   She flinched at his use of that old nickname and the peculiar way
that he said it that made her know that he was saying "Meana" and not
"Mina".  "I told you not to call me that."
   "The Senshi do."
   "But they're saying it as Mina, and they *never* say it when I'm
around.  I am Venus."
   "But you're not.  You're Minako.  Well, Serenity for awhile, but
for right now, you're Meana."
   "Artemis!"
   "Remember, you may be the leader of the Senshi but I am one of the
Queen's advisors and I *trained* you.  I still outrank you, and I
always will.  So if I say you're Meana, then you are.  Regardless,
your clever ploy to get me off-topic is not working.  Talk."
   "Can I refuse?"
   "MeÑ"
   "All right, all right.  What do you want me to say?"
   "Prince Endymion.  What do you feel for him?"
   She felt tempted to reply that it was none of his business, but
she knew that she couldn't.  "He's an *interesting* man."
   "Meaning that you're interested."
   Minako sighed.  <I shouldn't be so attracted to him.>
   "Be careful, Sailor Venus.  He's hiding things from you."
   "Aren't we all?" she asked, again interjecting that light tone
into her voice.  "Don't worry, I'll watch my back.  You have nothing
to fear."
   "If only I could be so sure," he said, morphing back into a cat in
one swift motion.  "Remember, Venus, we're all counting on you."  He
shot her a sharp look, then gracefully leapt out her window.
   "I won't forget," she whispered to herself.
   Then she laid her head down on the desk and cried herself to
sleep.

*The next morning*

   Minako walked about the Gardens, still in her princess dress,
still pretending to be Serenity.  She twisted her hands nervously as
she walked, her gaze downcast.  <Artemis told me to stay away from
him, and I should . . . or else, *it* could happen, again.  Forgive
me,> she thought quietly to herself, her heart twisting in her chest.
<Forgive me.>
   She stopped and knelt by a pretty bluish flower growing along the
path.  <Wildflower,> she thought immediately, then her gaze was
arrested by the sight of it.  <Her favorite flower.  Oh, Goddess, it
only grows at the time of year when they . . . when they . . .>  She
quickly calculated the date in her head, then let out a tiny
despairing cry.  <It's been four years, already?!  For years with
them . . . without *him*.  Selene, *why* did it have to happen?>  She
slowly got her feet, and sat down on a nearby out of the way stone
bench.
   She placed her face in her hands and expected to start weeping any
instant, but the tears wouldn't come.  <I've cried too much,> she
thought, lifelessly.  <I can't cry anymore.  Why can't I cry for
them?!>
   A hand touched her gently on the shoulder, and a low, concerned
voice asked, "Are you all right, Princess?"
   She turned to look at him, torment and despair warring in her
eyes.  "No, I'm not."
   Kunzite looked at her steadily and again the feeling rose up in
him, the ache in his chest, the *need* to protect her and be there
for her.  <Why do I feel like this?>
   She looked away from him, her hair falling forward as she stared
at her hands in her lap.  "Do you know what it's like to see someone
die and *know* that you could have stopped it?" she murmured quietly.
   Kunzite said nothing, he simply sat down next to her on the bench.
   "I wish I could forget.  Oh stars, I wish I could forget!  But I
can't.  I can't."  The last came out in no more than a whisper.
   Kunzite hesitantly put his arm around her and said, "I am a
General as well as a Guardian and a prince.  I am also a human being
and I understand what you are feeling.  I know that some things can
never be forgotten no matter how you try.  People die, Princess
Serenity, and there's nothing that will ever lessen the feeling of
loss, but that's just the way life is.  You have to hurt to feel
better, and sometimes, you just have to let go of the pain."  Saying
these words, Kunzite realized that he had, finally, let go of the
pain from his past.  And it was because of . . . her.
   She looked up at him, her eyes oddly trusting.  "You understand.
You do.  I-Thank you.  You've helped me."
   Unable to break his gaze, he responded in a voice thick with
suppressed emotion, "Thank you, my lady.  Anything . . . anything for
you, Princess Serenity."
   She knew that he meant it.  They found each other pulled closer
and closer together . . . and then their lips met and Minako shut her
eyes tightly, losing herself in the sweetness of their kiss.  Their
hearts were full.

   She only wished that the name on his lips was hers.

*Later that afternoon*

   "WHAT?!" Princess Serenity cried out jumping to her feet.
   The others nodded their assent to what Rei had just said.  Minako
hung in the back of the group, smiling a little as she touched a hand
to her lips without the others noticing.
   "There's really going to be a ball *TONIGHT*?!!!" Serenity
exclaimed, grabbing Rei by the shoulders.
   "Yes, now GET OFF OF ME, SERE!!!" Rei shouted back, her temper
flaring.
   Serenity didn't hear her.  She did remove her hands, though, but
only to clasp them together in excitement, her eyes shining.  "A ball
. . .  There hasn't been one in ages!"
   Makoto smiled, "Sere, there was one last month."
   "Oh, that doesn't matter!  Who cares about that one?  The point is
. . . there's a ball TONIGHT!"
   Ami looked at her princess in amusement. "Of course there is.
It's the only polite thing to do when ambassadors from another world
come.  It *is* in honor of the Terrans, you know."
   Serenity turned to her, her face alight, then suddenly said, "Huh
Ami, did you say something?"
   The others face-faulted in disbelief.
   "Sere, don't you listen to anything?!" Rei asked, annoyed.
   "Of course I do!  There's-"
   "We know, we know," Rei interrupted acidly, "a ball-"
   "-in honor of the Terran ambassadors," Ami continued.
   "-tonight," Makoto finished.
   "Tonight," Minako repeated slowly, the word tasting strange on her
tongue.
   The five girls exchanged a look then suddenly screaming broke out!
   "Omigosh . . . tonight!" Minako shrieked.
   "We'll never be ready in time!"
   "Aaaah!"
   Several loud crashes resounded from the Princess's quarters.

   Jadeite and Nephrite, who were passing by, exchanged an
exasperated look and shook their heads.
   "Just ignore them," Jadeite said.
   "That's what I was planning on doing," Nephrite responded.

*Later that evening*

   Princess Serenity and her Senshi had managed to dress adequately
for the ball.  Serenity was more nervous than she should have been
since she was *not* expected to be *the* Princess tonight, merely a
minor Lady.  That was always the case when potentially hostile
ambassadors came to visit.  The Senshi insisted that it was for her
safety and the Moon Princess could not argue the point.  So Minako
*became* Serenity for the duration and the real princess faded into
the background.  No one noticed as Minako and Serenity did bear such
a close resemblance that they might have passed for sisters.  A
little illusionary magic didn't hurt matters either.
   Serenity enjoyed the playacting since as a relative "nobody" she
did not have to be as stiff and formal as she usually did and her
mother could not keep as close an eye on her and her activities.
Thus, she usually did not care about how others viewed her as much,
but tonight it was different.  Tonight, Mamoru would be there as
well.  Serenity nervously brushed imaginary dust off of the skirt of
her dress as her Senshi reassured her that she looked lovely.
   Ami was dressed in a lovely sky blue dress and Princess Serenity
was amazed that she had even attended.  The Princess Mercury rarely
attended any balls, preferring to study or continue her research.
Serenity didn't even know whether she could dance.
   Makoto was wearing a rather (in Serenity's opinion) low-necked
emerald-colored dress, that brought out the sparkle in her green
eyes.  It was no surprise to the princess that the Princess Jupiter
was attending since she had never, in Serenity's memory, missed a
single one of the balls or celebrations on the moon.
   Rei was attired in a red dress that brought out the purplish
highlights in her hair.  The Princess Mars looked ravishing in her
gown but to Serenity's eyes, she was just as nervous as Serenity
herself.  Rei flashed a smile Serenity's way, the worry in her eyes
fading a little.  Serenity smiled back, then turned her attention to
the last member of the group.
   Minako outshone everyone else, save Serenity herself, in the white
and gold dress she wore.  The Princess Venus had chosen something out
of Serenity's own closet (with her permission) to wear, and Serenity
enviously admitted to herself that it looked better on Minako.  It
was mostly white with gold embroidery along the hem of the skirt and
on the short sleeves.  She looked the least happy of them all to be
there, though.
   Princess Serenity nodded to the others, then she nodded at the
doormen.  The doors of the ballroom swung open for the five
princesses.  Minako entered in the lead, flanked by Rei, Ami, and
Makoto.  Serenity trailed several feet behind.  As they entered, they
were all assailed by the obnoxious fanfare of trumpets and the
bellowing of their names and titles, all save Serenity, who was
mentioned as a Lady of the Court and no more.  She didn't care at all
as she caught sight of Endymion.

   Princess Serenity made an angelically beautiful vision as she
stepped into the doorway.  The light fell on her in such a way that
it seemed to make a golden halo of her hair, and it made the white
color of her dress blaze into being.  Her blue eyes were shining
softly with her love for Endymion as her eyes alighted upon him from
across the room.
   He caught his breath as he gazed at her, the sweetness of the
smile on her face, the open adoration in her eyes.  She had never
looked so beautiful to him as when he saw her there, and to him, she
was lovelier then any of the others in the room, the world.
   He strode up to her and bowed over her hand, kissing it gently.
"My lady, may I have this dance?"
   She flushed prettily and curtsying elegantly to him, responded
with a soft, "Yes, yes you may."
   Endymion and Serenity both straightened and he drew her onto the
dance floor, a smile of pure joy on her face.

   The Senshi watched their princess dance with her prince in a
mixture of envy and misgiving.  They had earlier come to accept that
their princess cared for this particular "Guardian" as much as they
cared for theirs.  Once they had begun associating with their
Guardians, they could not help but notice how much time their
princess was spending with the man known as "Mamoru."  Venus had
seemed to know something but had refused to comment.
   As they were all in relationships with Earthers themselves, they
could not possibly refuse their princess, and when they saw how much
happier she seemed with him, they could not say anything at all.  So
they stood near the entrance to the ballroom, watching her dance with
him.
   "May I have this dance?" a voice asked, interrupting their
thoughts and the four women turned to see a blonde-haired man bowing
to the Lady Mars.  Three other men, were ranged behind him.
   Rei smiled at Jadeite, and with a whispered, "Stop that, you
idiot," she took his hand and walked onto the dance floor.  One by
one the other men claimed their ladies for the dances until only
Kunzite and Minako were left.
   "Would you care to dance?" Kunzite asked, as he and Minako gazed
out at all of the other couples dancing.
   "It *is* customary for the Princess to be asked *first* and *not*
last, Prince Endymion," Minako chided gently.
   "Still, I think it is even less customary for the Princess to
refuse," Kunzite said smoothly, still looking out at the couples.
   Minako gazed wistfully out at all of the other Senshi dancing, and
the lords and ladies as well.  <They sure *look* like they're having
fun.>  "C'mon," she said determinedly, grabbing his hand, "we're
wasting time."
   He followed willingly and before he knew it, they had danced three
dances straight.

   Queen Serenity frowned as she watched the couples dance, then she
turned to Luna who rested at her side.  "Who *is* that young man that
Serenity has danced with non-stop, Luna?"
   Luna twitched her tail in slight agitation, "*That*, Your
Highness, is Prince Endymion's Guardian Mamoru."  <They're dancing
too close for my liking!> Luna thought disapprovingly to herself.
   "Hmmm, Luna, keep an eye on them, all right?"
   "Huh?" Luna asked, turning to Serenity.  "Aren't we *already*-"
   "I meant a *closer* eye on them."
   Serenity gestured to the dance floor and Luna backed away.  "Oh
no, you're *not* getting me to dance!"
   "Luna," Serenity said in a firm tone, "I am your Queen."
   "But-but Your Highness, I-"
   "Don't have a partner," Artemis interrupted breezily, as he walked
to them.  He was in his human form, dressed in his traditional white
suit.  He wore his crescent moon medallion of state and his green
eyes sparkled devilishly.
   Luna had to admit that he looked quite dashing.  <But he's *still*
not getting me to dance!>
   Sensing Luna's frame of mind, the Queen shot Artemis a glance and
thought, <<Dance,>> at him, then turned about and left.
   Artemis broke into a grin and looked down at the cat sitting in
front of him.  "Now, don't be ridiculous, Luna.  You don't want Queen
Serenity to *order* you to dance."
   Luna sighed, then gave up.  With a flash of light she turned into
a dark-haired, long-legged, human woman, dressed in a black and
yellow dress, also wearing her crescent moon medallion of state.  <If
I must, I must.>
   "You must," Artemis said, grinning wider.
   "Don't read my thoughts!" Luna snapped, then reluctantly took his
hands and began to dance.

   Zoisite lead Ami in the dance.  "You dance very well for someone
who hasn't danced before," he commented.
   Ami bit her lip to keep from grinning, which would have been
*most* unlady-like.  "You're a very good teacher, and you lead well."
   "Do I?" he said, gazing intently at her.
   "You do."  She smiled.

   Jadeite winced as Rei's sharp heel dug into his foot.
   "Oh Jade, I'm sorry!" she said immediately.
   "It's all right, Rei," he replied, trying not to groan.  <Maybe
she should take lessons.>
   "I'm not very good at dancing," she admitted.
   "Yeah well, you have other talents that more than make up for it,"
he countered.
   Her eyes twinkled with mischief.  "I do, don't I?"
   Jadeite merely winked at her in reply.

   Nephrite and Makoto had somehow managed to dance out onto a
balcony.  It was deserted but for them and as they swayed to the
music, Nephrite began to lead her in a different dance.
   "We're not dancing to the music," she noted.
   "Yes, we are.  The music of the stars.  Can you hear it?"
   Makoto cocked her head to listen and slowly . . . slowly . . . she
heard the soft strains of celestial music.  "Oh, I hear it!"
   "Good," he said, kissing her forehead.  "Let's just dance to that
melody, shall we?"
   "It's lovely," she whispered.  "Let's."

   Kunzite and Minako danced slowly together.  She was dancing with
unconscious grace.  Whenever she pretended to be Serenity, she seemed
to adopt all of her mannerisms unconsciously.  Minako just hoped that
she wouldn't start falling on her face.
   "Would you like to stop?" Kunzite asked.
   "You're not quitting on me so soon, are you?"  She felt
disappointment lance through her.
   "Not as long as you avoid stepping on my foot."
   "Deal!" Minako said, and cautiously avoided getting anywhere near
his feet for the next several hours.

   As the evening wore on, Serenity and Endymion continued to dance
unceasingly.  The others were all taking a break, and had gathered in
a corner of the room, goblets of wine in their hands as they gazed
out at the other couples.
   Minako couldn't help but giggle and the others turned to her in
surprise.
   <She had better *not* be drunk,> Rei thought sourly, then broke
into a smile as she felt Jadeite rest his arm about her and she
settled into the crook of his arm.
   "What's so funny, Princess?" Ami asked.
   Minako gestured out at the dance floor.  "Oh nothing, just that
Luna and Artemis haven't stopped dancing yet."
   "Luna?" Makoto asked, stifling a yawn.  "You've got to be kidding.
Luna never dances."
   "Well, she is now, and it doesn't look like she has any plans of
stopping!"
   The other Senshi gaped as they saw it was true.
   "No way," Rei exclaimed.  "I must be seeing things."  She put down
her wine abruptly.  "Jade let's dance the effect of the wine off."
   He shrugged.  "All right."
   The others snickered in amusement.

   Luna let Artemis lead, resting her head on his shoulder.  <I
really should be keeping a closer eye on the Princess . . .  But who
knew lazy old Artemis could dance so well?  I'm actually having fun,>
she admitted to herself.
   Artemis hid a smirk.  <Ah, here I am dancing at an elegant ball, a
beautiful lady on my arm.  What could be better?  Who knew bossy old
Luna could actually lighten up and have a good time?  I'll have to
thank Queen Serenity.
   <Hmmm . . . we really should be keeping a closer eye on the
Princess . . . both of them.  I don't trust that Prince Endymion or
that Mamoru guy.  Something just seems a little odd about them.
Well, one more dance, then we'll go see what they're doing.>

   Queen Serenity looked at the dancing couples and sighed in
contentment.  Everyone was having a good time.  She shot several
looks at the Senshi who had the decency to look guilty.  Some people
could have *too* good of a time.  She alleviated their fears by
smiling benignly at them.  Everyone deserved the chance to cut loose
once in a while.
   Her attention turned to the Princess Serenity, the *real* Princess
Serenity.  She was still dancing with that so-called "Mamoru".
Something struck her as odd about him, as though they had met before
. . .  She looked over at the rest of the Guardians and Prince
Endymion.  There was something out of place with all of them.
Something that she should know . . .  She dismissed the thought for
the evening and promised herself that she would think of it later.
Right now, it was almost midnight and time for the ball to end.
   She was quite glad that everyone had enjoyed themselves.

*Five days later*

   Princess Serenity sighed in pleasure.  She and her "Mamo-chan"
were walking arm and arm through the Royal Gardens for what must have
been the fiftieth time since he had arrived on the moon.  They never
tired of looking at the elegant beauty of the flowers, and Serenity
had surprised him with her knowledge of their names.  She had
especially pointed out the Forget-me-not, which she had informed the
amused young man, meant "true love".  He had good-naturedly informed
her that he would *never* forget her and that his love was very
*very* true.
   She smiled at the memory of the kiss.  Ah, this life was so sweet.
She wished that she could stay forever as a nobody and spend every
waking moment with her love.  That would make her life perfect.  She
suppressed the twinge of guilt that hit her as she thought of how she
had *still* not told Mamoru the truth.  But . . . he seemed so happy,
just the way things were.  She didn't want to change anything.
   The Senshi seemed happy too.  The other men that Mamoru had
arrived with had seemed to take to them instantly, and vice versa.
It was almost as if they had all met somewhere before . . .  Serenity
didn't dwell on it.  The fact that everyone was content was enough
for her.
   The past few days had passed in a flurry of picnics, outings,
tours of the City of Selene, the capital city on the Moon, and
various other antics.
   Serenity hid another smile at the memory of when Jadeite had
gotten it into his head to serenade his love at two o'clock in the
Lunar morning.  It had been very sweet and romantic and his voice had
been pleasing, but Rei had *not* been pleased at being woken up and
had promptly thrown a shoe at him.
   There was also the time when Zoisite had decided to get Ami back
for his dunking and had replaced all of her volumes of literature and
science with copies of "Miscellaneous Quotes From Various Court
Jesters Throughout the Ages (While They Were Drunk)."  Needless to
say, she had also *not* been amused, and another dunking had ensued.
   Then there had been that impromptu star reading that Nephrite had
performed, unknowingly in the midst of the sporting fields.  He was
*still* nursing the bump from the ball that had hit him in the head
from behind.  Makoto had been very upset since she had been the one
who had hit the ball . . .
   Prince Endymion . . . Endymion had by far gotten into the most
trouble.  Unintentionally, of course.  He had done his best to be as
charming as possible in his (rather public, not-so-secret) pursuit of
Minako.  His surprise had been very great when no less than THREE of
the Ladies at Court had thought that he was interested in *them*.
One had sent her husband out to hunt him down, the other had hurled
insults at him, and the third had started chasing *him*.  Once
everything had gotten straightened out, everyone involved was
suitably embarrassed and Minako had locked herself in her room for an
entire afternoon and had refused to come out until Kunzite had
recited three volumes worth of love poetry in an apology.
   Serenity sighed happily and clung tighter to Endymion's arm.
Things had certainly been anything but dull since Mamoru, his fellow
Guardians, and their prince had arrived.  And she wouldn't want it
any other way.

   The malevolent dark cloud of energy that Beryl had called into
being and sent out days ago massed itself.  It send out dark tendrils
to find what the nearest source of energy.  It found it.  Instantly.
The strength of the energy called out to it . . . and it came.

   Rei gazed up at Jadeite from where she sat on his lap, her head
resting against his shoulder, on a bench in the Royal Gardens.  "I
have waited all of my life for someone to love."
   He looked back down at her, his eyes soft with his love.  He could
barely speak to say tenderly, "And have you?"
   She reached up for him and he bent down, so that she could twine
her arms around his neck, and he could put his arms around her.  He
held her for an instant, uncertain, before she replied, "Of course I
have."
   "And he is?"
   "You, Jade, only you," she whispered, her lips curving in a smile.
   He smiled, long and slow.  His hold on her turned loving as he
swept her to him so that their lips could meet.  "Do you love me?" he
murmured as he kissed her.
   "I do.  I do."
   "That's good, because I could not live without you, my Rei."
   "Ja-"  Rei pulled away, slipping off of his lap to stand.  She
looked around uneasily.
   "Rei, what is it?" Jadeite asked, concerned.
   "I have the oddest sensation that we are being watched."
   Jadeite rose to his feet, reaching for the sword sheathed at his
side.  He growled, "If it's Zoisite again, I'll-"
   "You'll what?" a voice rang out, amused.
   "Zoi," Jadeite grated out.
   Zoisite appeared in a swirl of pink cherry blossoms, Ami clinging
to him.  They dropped to the ground and stood there.  "You really are
quite amusing, you know," Zoisite said with a laugh.
   "Zoi," Jadeite said in a warning voice.
   Zoisite looked rather annoyed.  "Don't call me that."
   Rei frowned.  "And why shouldn't he?  What were you doing, spying
on us?  Aren't you two ashamed of yourselves?  Honestly, Ami!" Rei
berated the blue-haired girl.
   Ami looked rather abashed and Zoisite moved to stand in front of
her.  "Now, now, Rei, no need to get nasty.  Ami hasn't done
anything.  It was all my idea."
   "She doesn't need your protection!" Rei snapped.
   Zoisite opened his mouth to argue, but Ami put a restraining hand
on him.  "She's right, Zoisite."
   "Ami-"
   "No, she is and we had no right to be invading their privacy,
anyway."
   Rei looked a tiny bit mollified.  "At least *you*'ve realized
that.  I forgive you.  As for Zoisite here-"
   "But you were so hilarious!"
   "Zoi!" Jadeite said, angrily.
   "Oh come on, Jade.  You should have seen yourselves!"  He batted
his eyelashes and said, "Oh Jade, I love you *so* much.  Forever and
ever and ever . . ."
   "THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" Jadeite thundered, jumping on Zoisite.  Zoisite
let out a startled shriek, then the two of them began pummeling the
living daylights out of each other.  Ami and Rei exchanged a look,
and rolled their eyes.
   "Boys will be boys," Rei said caustically.
   "Yes, but will men ever grow up?" Ami asked.
   "Ow!  That's my eye you son of a-"
   "Shut up, you lily-livered pansy!  You had it coming!"
   "Who's a pansy, you wuss?!"
   As the sounds of the scuffle reached them, they both sighed.
Heavily.
   "No," Rei said in answer to Ami's question.  They sighed again.
They both walked over to the two brawling boys and Rei started to
say, "Look boys, it's time to sto-"  She never finished.

   The dark energy had found what it had been seeking.  The
dark-haired one, she shone like a beacon with her energy.  Angry
energy.  Energy that it could use.  The others, their power was great
as well, but this one . . . this one it had sensed first.  This one
it would have for its own.
   It entered her.