Chapter 10:

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The afternoon’s golden rays of sunshine rained down upon the city imbuing the buildings with a certain crystal like quality. Lita began her trek back towards her apartment, her mind clearly on other things than on truly getting there. It had turned out that the day had been far more interesting than she had initially thought it would be. After all, it was not everyday that you found out your best friend’s worst enemy also happened to be her long lost soul mate from nearly a millennia before, right. This is all happening too fast, I do not know if I can handle any more surprises. Next thing I know Beryl is going to be announcing that she is not evil anymore.

“Hah! Fat chance that’s ever going to happen!” Lita said aloud to herself, drawing stares from her fellow pedestrians. They must think I am crazy. Lita thought mortified at the idea. But then who cares what they think? They are not my Princess; she is the only one I truly need to worry about.

She had to wonder though, how had all of this happened? It seemed as if fate was finally going to stop kicking them around and allow them to defeat this present evil. Lita stopped at the crosswalk waiting patiently for the sign to flash ‘walk’ and for some reason she could not shake the feeling that something big was going to happen soon. Never the less there was nothing she could do about it until something actually happened.

Her chestnut brown hair floated with the breeze, her brown eyes suddenly serious. She could feel an ominous change in the weather. Looks like a big storm is headed our way in more ways than one. Lita thought to herself, the breeze smelled of salt air and the temperature felt slightly humid.

There was so many things that she still had to mull over. After all, it is not everyday that you meet royalty from a millennia before. She still thought that it was unfair and so wrong not to tell Serena who she truly was. Her long legs began once more to move of their own accord as she slightly registered that the sign had changed as her thoughts went back to the meeting with Luna and the girls after Serena had fallen unconscious.

Flashback…

Luna sat down amidst the circle of girls crowded down around Serena. “There are some things that we need to discuss. These very things must be kept a secret from Sailor Moon your leader.”

“Why Luna? What could it possibly be that we have to keep it from Serena?” Raye asked worriedly. There were very few things that Luna asked them to keep from their leader.

“Luna?” Lita asked worriedly, she did not truly understand but she had an inkling that it had to do with whatever they were discussing before they entered the meeting.

Mina looked around at the girls and she cleared her throat to catch their attention. She knew that Luna could not continue and it hurt her to see that someone as strong as Luna could break down. It was obvious that the royal advisor did not want to have any secrets from her mistress but this was necessary. “What Luna is trying to say girls is that we’ve located the Moon Princess.” Mina said suddenly as she looked at every girl present in the room her bright blue eyes landing lastly upon their unconscious leader.

“What?” all three girls cried out in shock? This was a surprise to them they had heard nothing about the Moon Princess in months and now they were being told that she had already been found. How could that have possibly happened? It was true they had been searching for her left and right but to be found in mere months that was unthinkable.

“When? Where? How?” Amy cried out not being able to form an entire sentence. After all, she had been searching for the Princess with a program on her mini-data computer for months and she had yet to uncover anything. She hated to think that she could possibly have failed in her duties much less have failed her friends. She needed to know what it was she missed.

Artemis long white blond hair shone in the light of the room, as his lithe figure sat down beside Luna on the other side of their Princess almost as if to shield her from some unknown danger. “The truth of all these things is far weightier than we had surmised.” He stated calmly even though his insides were squirming with anxiety. “It turns out Princess Serenity was right underneath our noses this entire time.” He reached out his hand and gently placed it atop of Luna’s trying to calm his companion’s obvious anxiety the action did not go unnoticed by Luna or Mina for that matter. “The White Moon’s Crown Princess is none other than Serena Tsukino, also known as Sailor Moon.” Artemis said softly as his blue eyes turned to look at the unconscious girl on Raye’s bed her long golden blond hair spilling onto the floor.

“Serena?” the girls said softly. This was the biggest shock of their lives and obviously the most surprising. They had known their leader was important but not this important. After all, who actually could have suspected that their best friend was also royalty? She never acted like a princess; she just seemed to be a normal human girl who happened to have secret powers and was a guardian of earth.

“When did you discover this?” Amy asked the most logical question. So logical in fact it left the rest of the girls wondering why they had not asked it first.

“A couple of nights ago when I found Serena on the balcony of an abandoned apartment complex. In the midst of a crying fit her royal birthmark was revealed.” Luna said slowly. As tears flowed freely from her eyes, she had made a tremendous bungle of things now. When Serena had first found her she had felt an immense amount of potential and power in the young girl. She had trained the Moon’s future Queen as a warrior something that was extremely forbidden by Lunar Laws. So forbidden in fact that very strict laws had been enforced on the moon to keep from endangering the royal line, that breaking this particular law was punishable by death.

“Does she know?” Lita asked far more worried for her young friend than the little known lunar law that Luna was worried about. After all, they all knew how stressful it was for Serena to be Sailor Moon they could not imagine how she was taking being the Moon Princess.

“Royal birthmark?” Raye asked Luna as she stared past the older woman and towards the thousand-year-old princess lying on her bed. A girl that she would have thought less of a princess and more as a best friend but now that she reconsidered, she could rather see why? After all, Serena had befriended them all. Serena loved unconditionally and bestowed her attention to even society’s outcasts.

“Princess Serenity’s royal birthmark and symbol of the White Moon Kingdom’s Royal Family is a golden crescent moon upon their brow. The same mark that Artemis and I carry emblazoned upon our own brows.” Luna said quite firmly hoping to ignore Lita’s question. Praying that by answering Raye’s question it would put Lita’s out of her mind.

“So would that make the both of you a part of the Royal Family?” Amy asked Luna. After all, if the crescent moons were a symbol of lunar royalty then that would make Artemis and Luna royalty since they too carried the moon upon their brow.

“No. Our crescent moons are only here because of our oath of loyalty to the royal family. An oath that was consecrated by blood.” Artemis answered for his partner. “Should we break our oaths the moons would disappear and our lives would be forfeit by the goddess Selene herself.” Artemis’ voice had gone deathly low, it was a scenario that neither himself nor Luna could ever imagine nor would they wish too. After all their hearts belonged to the Moon family, they could never bring themselves to betray them.

“Hello? Someone answer my question.” Lita demanded. She needed to know if Serena knew. Wanted to know how her best friend took that piece of news. It seemed to be the most innocent of questions one that should not have been ignored. Yet it seemed as though that was exactly what Luna and Artemis were doing, ignoring it. Why would they do that? She had to know, right?

“Sorry Jupiter, what question would that be?” Artemis asked hoping it was a question entirely different from the one she posed earlier. He knew it was a question that they wanted to avoid but they would not be able to for much longer anyways.

“Does Serena know?” Lita demanded to know once more. It was the most logical of all the questions. However, it seemed as though the guardians were trying to avoid it and she had to wonder why they would do such a thing. After all, were they not supposed to be here to protect Serena?

Luna swallowed hard. How could she tell the girls what it was that she needed to tell them? She decided that honesty was in fact the best policy. “No. Serena does not know that she is the Princess that we have been searching for all of these months. After all, would you be able to tell her? Would you be able to thrust that upon her already heavily burdened shoulders?” she declared softly and heartbrokenly hoping that she could emphasize the point, that Serena could never be told. This had to remain a secret protected by her guardians and scouts one she had to discover on her own.

“She needs to know.” Lita cried out. Serena could not go on thinking that the Princess was another when it was she. It just would not be fair to the younger girl after all if it had been her she would have wanted to know, wouldn’t she?

“She can never know who she truly is that is a secret that she must discover on her own.” Artemis said quietly. It was a hard thing to do, to keep her identity as Princess a secret from her. However, he knew that the two halves of Serena’s soul needed to merge as one in order to be able to use the Silver Moon Crystal to its full potential. Although he was not even sure if he wanted her to be able to do such a thing. The Silver crystal gave power to its wielder; Serena would act as a conduit for that overwhelming power and would release it along with her own. However, such as the crystal gave power so it could cause the death of its wielder by draining their strength and leeching off the wielder’s own power. It could kill Serena to unlock the true power of the crystal.

“What do you mean she has to figure it out on her own?” Raye asked wondering what could be the harm in telling Serena the truth. After all didn’t every girl dream of being a princess she knew that she had and still did.

“As I said before this is something that cannot be forced upon her.” Luna said with strength of will that was reflected in her eyes as she raised her head to look each girl in the eye. She needed to get the point across and she was using every ounce of her strength not to cry that was not something she wanted the girls to see.

“Try to understand where we are coming from. At this moment in time, she can barely handle the pressures of being Sailor Moon. Would you girls like to inflict even more burdens on her young shoulders by forcing her to know that she is the Moon Princess?” Artemis said strongly in his quiet tone as he turned to look upon the golden child who was the center of their world. A world that had been shattered by the forces of the Dark Kingdom and their evil Queen and now the rebirth of that kingdom lay within the young fourteen-year-old girl that lay behind him.

“Besides there are other reasons to consider besides that one. As Princess Serenity, the royal blood within her carries enormous power.” Luna said as she began to toy with Serena’s long soft hair. Trying to make the girls understand how fragile Serena’s state of mind was at this moment in time was proving to be problematic. After all, how could they understand that within Serena’s small body was an unmatched power that could not only kill every being on the planet but her as well?

“I thought that she had no power. I thought that was why we were searching for the silver crystal.” Amy stated quite simply. That was the reason that she had assumed for the extensive search of the crystal. After all how could she carry power if she needed the crystal and it always seemed as though the guardians were insinuating that she needed it for that reason.

“The silver crystal amplifies the powers of the Moon Family. Even without the crystal, she holds frightening power in her own small frame. Power enough to destroy thousands if she should ever lose control. But if she had the crystal she could destroy entire worlds with even the smallest of whims.” Artemis stated in a matter of fact tone. It was his way of explaining why they had to take these precautions with Serena. After all, who would want to unleash a young girl with that amount of power without any precautions or any knowledge of how to use it?

“Why would we care to unleash such dangerous power?” Lita asked in awe. She could not believe that Serena actually held that much power in such a petite frame. After all this was one of her best friends, the one girl who loved everything. She could never lose control of herself in such a way, could she?

“Care to or not we have to safe guard both of these powers because if either Serena or the silver crystal were to fall into the hands of the Dark Kingdom. Chaos would ensue. In their hands, they would hold the most powerful being in the entire world. It would be a lot worse if they managed to get a hold of both of them.” Luna was trying to state the facts as they were and in such a delicate way for the girls to understand. Nonetheless, she was trying hard not to terrify them; after all, they were still young girls.

“What exactly do you mean?” Mina asked, finally voicing her own questions. She had already been told half of what they were being told. However, she wanted to clarify everything for both herself and her fellow scouts. It needed to be crystal clear the reasons why Serena should not be informed.

“Do not be a fool. They do not just want to possess the Silver Moon Crystal. Even if they found it Beryl would never be able to put it to use, neither would her master Metallia. The crystal is tied to Serena’s blood and it pulsates with every beat of her heart. The crystal will answer to her will alone and none other.” Luna stated that fact with such an alarmed voice that she was beginning to scare the Scouts even though that was the last thing she wanted.

“So you’re saying that if Serena were to fall into the hands of the enemy, then we could pretty much consider it the end of the world.” Mina said it so simply that the rest of the girls jumped at such a gloomy thought.

“Far worse could be done, using Serena and the crystal. She could destroy our entire galaxy, the whole universe. As I said when she discovers who she truly is her powers will be vast beyond knowledge. That is why this is knowledge she must discover on her own.” Luna wanted to force the girls to stop asking so many questions and to understand why things were being done the way they were.

“She holds that much power? Power enough to destroy the universe?” Amy asked cautiously. She could not see Serena doing such a thing, not even in all her fights with Darien did Serena ever truly lose her rationality.

“Did you think there was any other reason for the Dark Kingdom to want her? She’s the catalyst that could change the course of fate and time.” Artemis blurted out so suddenly that he blushed when the girls all turned to look at him flabbergasted at the very idea of their friend in Beryl’s clutches following that evil witch’s whim.

“Is there anything else we should know about?” Mina asked knowing that there was. However, the girls might not want to know any more secrets that they would have to keep from their Princess. It was unavoidable; everything they did or said now could very well change the course of time. The girls needed to know about Endymion, and his significance. Moreover, what better time than now while Serena lay unconscious on the bed, that would be the girls’ motivation to keep this single most precious being in the universe safe from all harm or evil.

“In fact there is. There is a prince; he was the Crown Prince of Earth, Prince Endymion.” Artemis replied for his companion even though he hated to say that name, after all, he did blame Endymion for the fall of their empire. If Endymion had become betrothed to Beryl, perhaps things would have turned out far differently. Then who was he to complain about the hands that fate dealt them. They had the Princess now all they need is the Prince and the Silver Crystal.

“Endymion…” Serena whispered as everyone in the room turned to look at her. She was still unconscious but the way she said his name, the heartbreak in her voice. It saddened the girls to hear her like that.

“Prince Endymion? What would he have to do with us?” Raye asked curiously, as she threw cautious glances at their sleeping leader. She wanted to know what a Prince of Earth would have to do with the Moon Kingdom. Not to mention that the way Artemis said his name seemed to imbue that the guardian did not like said prince very much.

“Prince Endymion was Princess Serenity’s betrothed. He is her soul mate; Serena’s downward spiral has been caused because Endymion is not here to support her.” Luna said as she bowed her head trying desperately to keep the tears at bay. There was no way she could break down in front of the Scouts, not when they needed her to be strong for them.

“Great now we need to search for a Prince.” Lita said, in truth they were turning out to be more like treasure hunters and detectives than protectors of the earth.

“Yes we must search for the Prince, Queen Serenity told me that would be the only way to bring Serena happiness.” Luna conveyed to the girls trying to make them understand why Prince Endymion was so important to the whole equation.

“Why do we have to?” Amy asked. After all, it was only reasonable that they were here to guard Serena and protect the Earth. So then where could this Prince be and why would his presence lighten Serena’s mood.

Luna sighed, perhaps they would understand and be more willing to find the Prince if they knew the entire story or at least what she could remember of it. “A long time ago contacts between the moon and the earth was forbidden. Princess Serenity in her hunger to see the beauty of earth broke that mandate. She traveled to earth through the strength of her powers once there she met a young man, Endymion; he was pretending to be a shepherd to get out of the duties of his royal personage.” Luna paused for breath this was a long story and she was going to have to shorten because she was not exactly sure how long Serena would remain unconscious.

“Serenity was naïve; she had gone to earth still dressed in her royal dress and with her royal birthmark still glowing upon her brow for the world to see. Endymion fell in love with her at first sight, eventually they were meeting clandestinely.” Luna needed them to see that the love held between these two was far more important to Serena than they could have ever imagined it would be. “He eventually revealed to her his identity and they announced to Queen Serenity and Queen Gaea that they were in love. In an effort to help their children’s love along the Queens’ announced the beginning of a peace treaty. Needless to say neither Queens’ people were very happy, much less was Queen Gaea’s husband who had already announced a candidate for marriage, Beryl.”

“Beryl discovered the truth on the night of her betrothal ceremony with Endymion because he never showed up. He was in the royal gardens with Serenity, which was why that betrothal fell apart. Eventually, Endymion and Serenity were betrothed with the blessing of Gaea and before Queen Serenity. It was on that night that Beryl attacked the moon. Endymion was slain by Beryl’s sword, and our beloved Princess could not bear to live without him. She took his sword and thrust it through her body as the suicide rite demanded. That was when our Queen decided to send you all to a new future on Earth and with the last of her strength using the crystal as a catalyst. She did just that. It was with her death that our beautiful and peaceful Kingdom fell.” Artemis finished the story for Luna he knew that she could never tell that part of it without breaking down in tears. More than any other Luna loved their Princess like a mother and it was this reason that she was trying so hard to keep her own tongue in check when she wanted to do nothing but tell her ward who she truly was. Nevertheless, Luna understood the kind of harm that could cause both Serena and the world.

“I understand why we must find him.” Mina said blue eyes shimmering with unshed tears. Her voice had gone terribly soft that the rest of the girls had to strain to hear her. She was after all the Sailor Scout of Love; she above the others could understand what that kind of love could do to a person. Hadn’t they all experienced that kind of love in their past?

“Really Mina you do? Then would you care to explain the reason why to the rest of us?” Raye retorted, she was not truly comprehending anything they were being told. Mayhap it was just too much information all at once.

“We must find Endymion; he is our key to unleashing Serena’s true power. With him she could tap into the true potential of the crystal.” Mina said delicately she did not want to scare the girls either.

“Haven’t you been listening? Are we even sure we want to release such frightening power?” Lita asked despairingly as she thumped her fist upon the table in front of her. It was just too much too soon for the tall Amazon. Maybe if they had taken their time to tell them maybe, then she would have accepted it but it was just overwhelming.

“Try to understand us, Mina. That power is too immense should she lose control of that energy she could devastate our planet, our solar system.” Amy said softly in the aftermath of Lita’s obvious show of anger. “This is too much too soon. Can you understand where we are coming from?” She was trying to soothe any rising anger in the room. Everyone needed to understand the possible outcomes and all the details without any added frustrations. Their secret from their best friend was looming over their heads now and that was the cause of the rising tension and anger that much she understood.

“I understand why you all would be scared. Nevertheless, understand it from our point of view. If we allow Serena’s downward spiral to continue and if she uses the crystal against Beryl and Metallia in the final battle that very outcome may in fact ensue. That is why Artemis and Luna are asking us to search for the crystal and the prince.”

Mina glanced at the girls hoping they would understand. “That is why Serena must never be told the truth. We have to allow both halves of her soul to merge as one and only one other could help in that aspect and that is Endymion. Even if we do not search for him, he is tied to our Princess by love and by fate’s red string. They are soul mates there is nothing we can do to stop that, but we can stop Serena’s depression and the only way to do that is to find Endymion sooner rather than later.” Mina had stated those last facts so vehemently that the other girls agreed however reluctant they were. They knew that Mina had a point in what she was telling them. It was the truth and they needed to accept that, and as one, they all turned to stare at their friend, their leader and their Princess. She was the one they had searched so long and hard for, the most powerful being in the galaxy. She was Princess Serenity whether she knew it or not and as her guardians, they needed to protect her even if it was from herself.

Flashback Ends…

Lita shook her head to clear her mind as she finally noticed that she was standing in front of her apartment. She did not know how she got here without accident but she thanked the gods for her safe trek home. Her mind however, was still trying to process all that had happened since that day. They knew who the Princess and the Prince were now all they needed was to find the crystal. To think Darien was Serena’s soul mate who would have thought that the world’s two biggest enemies were also madly and desperately in love with one another. Only problem was Darien was the only one who would admit it and neither of them knew they were royalty.

She took the keys out of her pocket, and entered. Her small cozy apartment always felt like a country garden instead of an apartment, and yet even though she’d decorated it to her liking she was still missing the one thing everyone else but her had; a family. Maybe that was the reason why she felt so protective of Serena and the other girls, they felt like her family. In fact, to her they were family, and she needed to protect Serena even more so now that she was the head of the family. Lita flopped on the couch, she was exhausted and she still had to take care of her plants but right now, she had too much to think over. Serena, Darien and the Crystal. Life had gone from being about shopping, friends and boys and had done a complete 180 to being about long lost monarchs and their powerful heirlooms and the evil out to destroy them.

Across town at a small café called Merv‘s, Luna and Artemis were busy discussing what currently happened to be on Lita‘s mind. Luna could not help but feel badly about her role in this completely messy situation. She could not believe she had completely forgotten who the Princess and Prince were. “Artemis, if we had still been on the Moon Kingdom I would have been executed for training our Princess to fight.” Luna said sadly, as she absently played with the straw floating around in her pop drink.

Artemis looked up at Luna; he suddenly understood what it was that was bothering her. After all, how else can you feel when you‘ve realized you‘ve broken laws that are sacred to your heart and mind. “Luna, we are no longer living on the moon. You said yourself that Queen Serenity said that neither she nor the Goddess Selene blame you for anything that’s happened.” Artemis said brusquely as he wrapped an arm around Luna’s shoulders the first time he had made this room in millennia. He could not allow his companion to keep blaming herself for something she had done. Especially not when I feel for her the way I do.

Luna continued to look at the pop in her cup; she knew he was trying to comfort her. However, she still felt horrible, for as long as she had lived she had served the lunar family and its laws. Those laws were always close to her heart there were certain things that she had never thought she would have been able to do. However, I did. I did everything that I would never have done before. I know that my goddess and my Queen do not blame me but I will always blame myself. “But Lunar Law declares that the royal family is not allowed to fight unless it is a dire emergency and only then with the Silver Moon Crystal. You know as well as I do why these laws were even passed.” Luna whispered vehemently, making sure, that no one else could hear her outburst. “The only way to keep our monarchs from being drained by the crystal was to ensure that they never wasted their energy doing any other type of fighting.”

“Snap out of it Luna! You are never like this. Do you think our Queen and Goddess would be pleased with this self-loathing? You said so yourself that Queen Serenity was proud that her daughter had learned to fight without the Crystal.” He wanted to make sure that she understood that no one blamed her. How could they? Wasn’t she teaching the princess valuable lessons?

“I know what she said Artemis but I’ve still broken the laws.” Luna said softly. Those laws had been her life, her moral compass, guiding her through the perils and intrigues of life that was always on the verge of collapse in a perilous court. She had survived for so long by following all the laws strictly.

Artemis was beginning to get frustrated it seemed that no matter what he could possibly tell her it wasn‘t getting through to her. “You’ve broken the laws of a kingdom that no longer exists. No one is going to hold you responsible for what has been done. Serenity and Endymion discovering one another is our biggest concern from now on.” Artemis said as his fingers bit into the flesh of Luna’s shoulder. He was beginning to despair of her ever coming out of this. After all what good is a guardian who was too caught up in hating herself?

“There were some things that were hidden from us. Obviously, we were not meant to discover that Serena and Serenity were one and the same. So maybe the fates meant for it to happen this way. Maybe she was supposed to become a warrior. Have you ever thought of it that way? Maybe that’s why Serenity was sealed inside of herself?” He whispered as his fingers relaxed and he lifted his arm from around Luna. There was no point in it to continue where it was; it was not as if Luna was getting any comfort out of it. She seemed to fall deeper into an abyss to which he had no access.

Luna threw herself into Artemis’ arms so glad he was here. She did not know how she would have handled this without him. He would now be her guiding force. Much the same as he became all those years ago when we… Best to leave that thought unfinished. What happened then has nothing to do with today. My thoughts should be on helping Serenity. “Thank you Artemis, thank you.” Luna cried out tears of joys falling from those luminous blue eyes. Maybe he is right. Maybe the fates meant for it to be this way. Maybe my beloved Princess Serenity was always meant to be the warrior her ancestors could never become.

Artemis became lost in those deep blue pools. She was so close, so many memories of them together on the Moon Kingdom, so much love he knew was there… However, he refused to act upon them; he did not know what she would think. He was not even sure if she remembered, and he wasn‘t sure he wanted to know if she didn‘t remember. Instead he just held on to her tighter wishing with all his will that this wasn’t some dream, hoping that someday maybe even their love would finally come full circle. Hoping that maybe she would actually make the first move just as she had done so long ago. Perhaps our love is not yet meant to be. So much is going on as it is, could I really add onto the burden already piled on her shoulders by requesting that we renew what we once had? No I do not think I could ever do that to her, at least not now.

“Artemis…” Luna began timidly. She did not know what to say, or for that where to start. All she knew was that their love must be put aside for now. At least until we are finished with the problems that are already stacked upon us. I cannot think of myself when Serenity needs so much more from me. If I started to think of what was once between Artemis and me it might detract from the help Serenity needs.

“I know Luna. I know. I will wait until you are ready.” Artemis whispered softly into his beloved’s ear. He knew her so well that he knew what she was thinking. They could not act upon their love because it would distract them from the matter at hand. That in itself could prove fatal to their charges and they were unwilling to risk that.

“Thank you Artemis.” Luna said softly as she held onto him tighter. He understood, and he was not angry. She was glad and yet at the same time she was sad. She could not quite understand it herself. Is this how Serena feels when she thinks of Darien and Tuxedo Mask? Torn between what she desires and what she feels compelled to do.