Title: Crescent Mirror
Author: aaeris17
Rating: I?m assuming you are all mature enough to read this
Author?s Notes:
	My readers, you are all wonderful and supportive people.  
Thank you so much for all the notes of kindness and encouragement 
regarding my breakup in September. I have since met someone who 
reminds me very strong of Venus?s love Adonis? ;)  I guess there 
is an Endymion/Adonis out there for everyone! If anyone of you 
has any questions, don?t forget to email me! Aaeris17@yahoo.com



				***************Chapter 
12********************
					*******		  **********

	?CHILDREN!? Apollo roared as he thundered up the stairs and 
faced four sheepish looking young men and four very embarrassed 
young girls.  His eyes narrowed as he looked at the two at his 
feet, ?Stand up, NOW? he bellowed as Sir Lawrence arrived with 
Artemis and Luna in tow.
	A lanky boy disentangled himself and stood up, quickly 
turning red and still quite furious by his clenched fists.
	?He started it, Daddy,? a young female voice quickly 
assigned blame as she stood up.  Apollo?s face softened slightly 
as he gazed at his thirteen year old daughter.  Serenity shook 
out her long odangoes whose tails easily reached to her knees.  
She scowled at Endy.
	Sir Lawrence looked as he was going to burst with anger as 
he waited for the two to stand before them, ?THOU ART SIXTEEN 
YEARS OLD? He bellowed in the silence following his arrival, ?In 
less than a day, you shall be embarking on your Knight Quest in 
order to PROVE that you deserve this honor your Godfather has 
gifted to thee.  WHAT kind of knight DARES to strike a lady?? Sir 
Lawrence pointed his finger at Serenity, ?DO NOT look at me as 
such, Endymion.  Your behavior is disgraceful and I am NOT to be 
ashamed tomorrow night, young man,? Sir Lawrence?s voice dropped 
deadly low, ?Now, you will go to the Grounds this instant and put 
in a good day?s of hard work to remind yourself what you are 
trying to be,? he turned to Endy?s fellow knights in training, 
?Kunzite, I put you in charge, and as a punishment, I want the 
rest of you to join Endymion,? Three glaring looks being to burn 
holes in the back of Endy?s back as Kunzite bowed respectfully, 
?Leave, now? Sir Lawrence waved his hand furiously.
	Ami looked as if she was going to faint and Lita couldn?t 
meet the gaze of Luna and Apollo.  Rei stared at Serenity?s back 
as Serenity pulled her tunic into shape.
	?Girls, go with Luna, I want a word with Serenity,? Apollo 
didn?t even look at the other girls as Mina herded them out of 
the hall.  Serenity cringed as she heard Luna?s voice began 
berating them.
**Serenity?.Princess?Age, 13**

	I felt my body cringe as it did when I was younger as 
Father stared solemnly at me.  He did not even look angry as much 
as he looked tired.
	?Child,? Father began, ?Walk with me,? he offered the nook 
of his elbow and I cautiously took it.
	He walked with me in silence as he led me to the Upper 
Gallery of the Main Castle.  I knew where we were going and only 
apprehension build inside of me.
	?Daddy,? I began as we entered the large golden archway 
that marked the beginning of the Luster Portrait gallery.
	?Serenity, Princess of Luster, the first Princess of Luster 
I might add,? Father began softly as we stopped in the lobby.
	I stared at my moccasins.  Some princess I was, clumsy, 
tomboyish, and not one bit of the beautiful idol Mama was.
	?Sere,? Father lifted my chin up, ?What does thou despair 
over?? he asked as only he could.
	I rolled my eyes, ?Am I a disappointment?? I asked softly, 
remembering Lawrence?s speech to Endy.  My eyelids fluttered 
lower as I felt tears creeping onto them.  Would I ever do 
anything right?  I always fought with Endy.  I never learned how 
to cook properly despite countless hours of lessons.  I was 
hardly the pretty, graceful Princess everyone expected me to be.
	Father?s face contorted, as if he could not understand my 
question, ?How are you a disappointment?  Cause you fight with 
Endy?  I did not bring you here to lecture you on your failures 
for you are my darling daughter, a teenager, but never the less, 
Serenity, my little Princess,?
	Father took my hand and walked with me down the hall, ?By 
now you are well versed in the histories of the Earth, the Moon, 
and the Sun.  You understand better than majority of our subjects 
the kind of world we now inhabit,? Father gestured to murals on 
the way depicting the joining of the Nine Kingdoms and the 
creations of the kingdoms on Earth, ?You also, dearest, 
understand the great responsibility you hold in this Kingdom,?
	I focused intently on the passing murals, my history 
lessons were coming to life before my eyes.  The legendary Sailor 
Senshi, their last appearance, in full regalia that was not quite 
different from the ones the girls and I donned in practice.  
Father was not talking, simply letting me take in my legacy as 
Luna and Artemis never forgot to remind me of.  My eyes drifted 
to the portraits of the last King and Queen of Earth: before they 
handed their rights to the Earth to be split between the Sol and 
Lunar kingdoms.  My eyes stuck to the striking cobalt blue of the 
eyes of the Queen.  She reminded me very vaguely of someone I 
knew, but I knew not.
	?Did you know, Sere, that the late Lady Gaia was one of the 
last Princesses of the Earth?? Father whispered as he bent down 
to me.  I now stood at his shoulder when I was once carried upon 
them.  I shook my head, rather intrigued.
	?Does that make Endy???I stopped not knowing what rank to 
assign him.
	?Prince of Earth? Why, yes, it does,? Father nodded 
happily, ?His ancestors were amazing people, Sere.  He comes from 
a proud line of people devoted to their subjects and the 
happiness of their lives,? Father prompted me to walk onwards.
	?Does he know?? I began to ask Father who shook his head 
?no?, ?Why not??
	Father looked faraway, ?Lawrence and Gaia long ago agreed 
to keep his true heritage a secret.  Young men are cocky enough 
without additional airs adding to their chipped shoulders.  What 
I have disclosed to you I do not plan on telling Endymion until 
he returns from his knight quest,? Father pointed to a mural that 
showed the surrounding lands of Luster, ?I plan on granting him 
some of his rights as Prince of Earth.  He is a good young man, 
despite you provoking him into very unseemly brawls,? Father 
raised his eyebrow very achingly and caused me to blush.
	?Why are you telling me this?? I asked looking back at the 
portraits of the late King and Queen of Earth.
	?You are growing older, my girl, and upon your sixteenth 
birthday will accept your birthright as heiress to the Kingdom of 
Luster.  You must be aware of how your world functions and to 
answer the problems of the present, one must turn to the past,? 
Father gestured to the murals, ?These murals help us remember 
what we must never forget, the darkness, the wonder, the hopes of 
many that lie within our power to destroy or, ?he stopped in 
front of one portrait, ?or resurrect,? he finished.
	Before me stood a floor to ceiling tiled mural of Mama from 
around the time of her coronation as Queen of Luster.  She was 
using the legendary Silver Imperium Crystal to end the Shadow 
Wars.  I lovingly fingered her Crescent Moon Wand, an item quite 
familiar to me.
	?Tomorrow night is the Anniversary of the birth of our 
Kingdom, your House, and your Namesake.  Tis also the last night 
the knights will be with us before departing for their year long 
quest around the kingdoms,? Father began walking again, ?I ask 
little, darling,? Father looked down at me.
	I nodded, ?I know,?
	?You know what?? he prompted
	I sighed and smiled a toothy smile at him, ?Not to pick a 
fight with Endymion or provoke any sort of misbehavior between my 
ladies and his knights,?
	?And?? Father pushed harder for more.
	I blew my bangs out of my eyes, ?No magic.  Magic stays 
inside the stadium and is not a game or a toy to use to for??
	?Your own pleasure,? Father finished.
	I rolled my eyes and Father leaned over and tugged on my 
ponytail, ?Ah, Sere, I think your mother begs your presence now,? 
He nodded towards the exit, ?I am going to go calm Lawrence and 
see that he does not punish the boys too much,? With that Father 
kissed my forehead and whistling walked away.
	I stood for a few moments in the Gallery looking at other 
pictures.  I need to be a better Princess.  I shouldn?t make 
Father or Lawrence so unhappy.  I twisted my mouth unhappily, 
even if Endy was a brat who really did start all of it by calling 
me ?dumpling head or meatball head or odango atma? whatever 
language he preferred to tease me in that day.  I adjusted my 
tunic top and skipped off to find Mother.  I carefully avoided 
the main hall and anyplace where Luna might still be lurking 
ready to add her earful to the matter.  I imagined the girls were 
hard at work cleaning up somewhere?I imagined the stables 
considering not one of us would have been able to easily do that.  
	I skirted around the stairs and clung to the crystal 
banisters to keep from slipping and knocking over anything more 
important.  I hate being such a klutz.  In fact, I hate it even 
more when Rei or Endy or sometimes Jade in a foolish mood point 
it out.  I become even more self conscious and fall.  
	Nobody understands me; I frowned slightly as I approached 
Mother?s reception area.  Her room was one of my favorite rooms 
in the house.  Completely white marble and crystal it echoed her 
childhood home of the Lunar kingdom.  I wished I had met my 
grandparents, but they were lost sadly in the early years of the 
Shadow Wars.
	?Sere, come in darling!? Mother called from inside.  She 
sat in her glass throne smiling over the desk that had been set 
up in front of it.  With a slight wave of her hand, she waved the 
desk aside and patted the divan next to her, ?Come, come! I feel 
as if I never see you!?
	I laughed happily and crawled onto the white satin divan 
and curled up with my head on her armrest, ?You aren?t terribly 
mad, are you Mama?? I asked smilingly, placing my chin on her 
arm.
	Mother laughed gleefully and put her hand to my cheek, ?Oh 
dear, if I got mad at every fight you had with Endy I would be at 
my wit?s end!? She teased before her expression became slightly 
more serious, ?But, darling Sere, he is leaving, and you two are 
getting FAR too old for this nonsense,? She sighed and ruffled my 
bangs, ?Should your goodbyes be marked with further bruises??
	I scoffed, ?Mother, I am not going to miss him!  Let him 
leave with bruises! I care not,? I shrugged my slim shoulders.
	Mother?s eyebrows fell into a V, ?Sere,? she warned
	I sat up to begin explaining myself, ?Mother, do not give 
me that look! I shall miss the rest of the boys quite fondly!  
Jadeite is so much fun!  Nephrite knows nature inside out!! 
Zoiscite is always there when you need him! And..? I searched for 
words to describe Kunzite, the love of Mina?s life, ?When 
Kunzite?s there Endy leaves me alone, more or less!? I finished 
triumphantly.
	Mother?s face broke into a small smile, ?And how do the 
girls feel about this??
I grinned; gossiping with Mother had to be one of my favorite 
times with her.  I snuggled closer to her.
	?Well, Mina is OF COURSE incredibly broken hearted that 
Kunzite rarely acknowledges her presence with more than a scoff 
and a frown.  She is DETERMINED to make him utterly jealous of 
her tomorrow by dancing with ALL the other knights but him. But, 
Mama, you of course remember that Kunzite stoutly refuses to 
dance at any event and only stands to take you or Aunt Aphrodite 
to the floor!  I am sure that Mina is enraged right now that Luna 
is punishing them.  She had her heart set on resting and looking 
utterly fresh for tomorrow night, and, I do believe that she is 
going crazy over her dress,? I paused for breath as Mother 
continued to smile and nod, ?Lita is distressed at seeing the 
boys go and plans on spending the majority of tonight and 
tomorrow cooking goodies for the boys so they won?t starve or 
forget her,?
	?And, Nephrite?? Mother jumped in.
	I raised my eyebrows, ?Nephrite and she have a special 
dance tomorrow and I am sure that he will romance her with some 
story under the stars.  I do not know if he sees her as more than 
a little sister yet, but who knows? ?I paused, ?Do you suppose 
that the boys will come back quite different then when they 
leave??
	?Why would you say that, Sere??  Mother motioned for iced 
chocolate.
	I blew my bangs out of my face, ?No reason, I suppose,? 
	Mother served me a tall glass of chocolate, ?They will 
always be your friends, Sere.  You have spent the past three 
years living together?I highly doubt a year apart would change 
any friendships.  If anything, absence makes the heart grow 
fonder and your friends will be quite delighted upon the return 
of the newly made knights,? Mother sipped her drink.
	I bit my lip, ?Mama,? I began and stopped.  She curiously 
watched me over the cusp of her glass.  I rolled my eyes and 
drank my chocolate.
	?Nothing shall happen to Endy,? Mama quietly whispered, as 
she settled her glass on her knee.
	?Hah, Mother, please,? I scoffed again.  Mother shrugged, 
dropping the subject as nonchantly as she had brought it up.
	?Tell me darling, how goes your latest training?? Mother 
brought up a subject more akin to both of us.  I could feel my 
face light up as I told her of the new strategies Luna and 
Artemis had taught us.  Of the new attacks that we all were 
developing beyond our basic attacks and how these attacks were 
much easier than the ballroom dancing and other etiquette I was 
so desperately trying to succeed at.
	?Mama, I am utterly clumsy!? I ended exasperated, ?I can 
barely dance! I cannot cook as well as Lita can! My intelligence 
is only shadowed by Ami?s and I can never match Rei who succeeds 
in everything and I am no beauty compared to cousin Mina,? I 
plopped heavily back on the divan, ?Oh Mother, I am indeed the 
worst Princess ever!?
	?Oh, Sere, come here,? Mother scoped my head and I 
instantly crawled as a six year old into her lap, ?You are indeed 
making this a much greater problem than it is.  Frankly, darling, 
I see nothing of this problem that is distressing you so,? 
Mother?s hands caressed my hair soothingly, ?You are indeed as 
beautiful, if not more so than your cousin Mina, silly silly 
girl.  And as for you ability to cook, well dear, frankly, it is 
a trait that requires a wee bit more patience than you seem to be 
willing to give.  You are will aware that Ami?s passion is books, 
and yours is not.  Find your passion; do not compare yourself to 
your friends!  You are each wonderful and amazing in your own 
ways and what makes you Princess of Luster will differ greatly 
than what makes Rei Duchess of Mars or your friends Princesses in 
their own right,? Mother leaned over to kiss my forehead, ?Find 
yourself darling girl!  That is my wish for you,? she whispered.
	I smiled, feeling small tears coming to my eyes, ?I love 
you, Mama? I whispered into her neck.  I wrapped my arms around 
her and smiled knowing that there was no one in the world as 
understanding and as perfect as my mother.  There was a reason 
everyone loved her so much.  
	?Now off with you!  I think Luna would prefer some final 
dress fittings and I do believe you need to put something on that 
rather nasty bruise that is going to appear later tonight,? Mama 
narrowed her eyes mischievously, ?I do think you might need to 
don some of your cousin?s makeup,? 
	I scowled, ?MAMA!? And she burst out laughing and waved me 
off, ?Bye!?
I happily left Mama?s office and was all carefree until I reached 
the Verandah and heard grunts and shouts.  The older knights were 
forcing the boys into hand to hand combat.  The closest to me was 
Endymion being trained by Sir Ector.  Sir Ector constantly 
attacked Endy, one well aimed punch or kick.  Endy was purely on 
the defensive and desperately needed to gain back an even offense 
defense.
	?What?s the matter, boy?? Sir Ector teased as he easily 
sidestepped Endy?s swing, ?You can hit a girl but not a real 
man??
	Endy?s face darkened and as Sir Ector joined the other boys 
and knights in a good laugh, I saw Endy?s leg rise and swiftly 
knock Sir Ector?s laughing head to the other side and his lithe 
body fell after.  Endy heaved with effort and his shoulders 
shook, ?I would never harm Serenity,? he spat as he left the 
grounds.  Sir Ector sat up looking shocked as he wiped the blood 
off his nose and mouth.
	?Now that boy is going to be one hell of a damn good 
knight,? Sir Ector roared with more laughter as he healed 
himself.  I giggled and tripped over the Verandah furniture, 
causing the clutter to attract the attention of the knights still 
training.
	?Ah!  The fair Princess!? Jadeite praised and bowed, ?The 
golden angel who has stolen the heart of our fair Endymion,? he 
joked causing the rest of the knights to laugh in agreement.
	I blushed and scuttled on my way.
	?Oh! Look at this, young Jadeite!  Thou hast frightened our 
young Princess! ?
	?Oh ho! The great lover has yet to master the art of 
keeping the ladies around!?
	?Quite so, the young Duchess of Mars seems to find thee 
quite distasteful!?
	And so the men must have continued as I left from ear shot 
to go meet the wrath of Luna who was forcing the girls inside to 
study as a punishment for wasting the day.  My fingers already 
dreaded the horrible translations I would have to do?Luster to 
Lunarian and back to Luster.  There were not too many good things 
about being a Princess.









The Wraith Kingdom
	
	?A ball!!? Beryl cried in excitement and rushed to the 
Wiseman, ?There is to be a ball!?
	?Yes girl!  Now back off so I can properly read the 
invitation,? Wiseman growled and Diamond frowned at his twin 
sister.
	Beryl snapped her fingers and the invitation appeared in 
her hands as she greedily read over the invite to Diamond and 
herself.
	Wiseman quietly appreciated Beryl?s deviousness.  The girl 
was growing up to be cunning.  She showed the same sort of 
promise that Diamond did.  Wiseman knew he was smart to entrust 
her with Nehelenia, whatever be her state of dwelling at the 
moment.  But, he must never tell her know of his praise for her.  
Girls are better kept in a state of questioning?he had learned 
that eons ago.  
	?Oh!! How marvelously wonderful!? Beryl cackled and twirled 
into a mock curtsey.  Diamond snatched up the invitation.
	?Must we attend this?? Diamond asked flatly of Wiseman.  He 
did not share in his sister?s excitement.
	?The two of you, must go,? Wiseman emphasized the coupling 
of Diamond and Beryl.
	?Why?? Beryl asked, ?Pardon me, I meant to say, why would 
we not attend?? Beryl stepped up to Diamond and Wiseman, ?Our 
kingdom is currently an extension of the Luster Kingdom,?
	?Puppet, to be precise,? Diamond muttered.
	Beryl ignored him, ?It would be in OUR best interest to pay 
homage.  I have learnt much about Mother?s half sister and niece.  
I am quite intrigued,? Beryl twirled a long red curl.
	?What use is Nehelenia?s relation to the Queen Selenity if 
we are regarded so poorly?  Pharaoh has done nothing to better 
our standing!? Diamond spat out, ?I do not see why we must go 
grovel to their holinesses,? Diamond scoffed.
	?You two go to improve relations,? Wiseman coolly 
reiterated,? The Pharaoh and Nehelenia have their own devices 
they are working out.  Leave them to do what they must do, and 
you two do what I behoove of you,?  
	Diamond did not meet Wiseman?s stare but Beryl did.
	?Beryl, do you know what your mother was banished for?? 
Wiseman suddenly switched tones.
	Beryl?s face hardened, ?She dared to ask the Queen for what 
by birth should have been her right,?
	?And what was that?? Wiseman pushed.  Beryl?s face began to 
strain white and even Diamond could sense a radiating anger from 
her.
	?My place at court,? Beryl whispered.
	?Your-place-at-court,? Wiseman whispered back.
	?HER place at court?? Diamond questioned slightly 
scandalized, ?I?m her twin brother!?
	?Exactly!  Both of you deserve those honors! By birth! By 
right!? Wiseman stood tall, ?You will go to the ball and prove to 
that family that the DARK side of the Moon should rule!? Wiseman 
made a bit of a cry to the minions who dwelled in the dark around 
the castle, ?This is just the beginning, my dears.  I will show 
you how to obtain your honors, I know the path quite well,? 
Wiseman smiled darkly.
	?We are your pupils,? Beryl answered.
	?Then listen carefully,? Wiseman began as he bathed the 
room in darkness and colorful orbs began to dance among the 
abyss.



The Luster Kingdom
	
	Queen Selenity gently pushed herself away from her desk and 
massaged her sore hand.  So much to do before tomorrow, she 
murmured.  How does time slip away from us?  She stood and sipped 
from a glass of lemonade as she gazed the full length of the 
Veranda and the Knight Grounds and towards the Labyrinth.  She 
felt herself squinting slightly to find all the girls and the 
knights.  Sighing with relief that all were safe, she allowed 
herself to relax and amble the length of the window.  Touching 
the marble window sill, she lost herself in the essence of her 
home.  This was HER palace?how much she had lost to create and 
protect it.  Soon, she would begin to teach her dearest daughter 
the workings of the palace and the secrets behind the Silver 
Imperium Crystal.  Thirteen?she smiled happily looking forward to 
Serenity?s 16th birthday.  Three years and she has much to learn 
before we can declare her heir, Selenity bit her lip musing 
happily.  
	The hairs on Selenity?s neck pricked.  She whirled around, 
using the hand free of the lemonade to warn anyone who approached 
she wielded more power than the world understood.  Nothing.  She 
surveyed the room and saw nothing but a glimmer across the mirror 
from the sunlight?or was it?  She narrowed her eyes darkly and 
willed the mirror to reveal itself.  She saw dark hair scuttle 
away and through the reflection of the mirror an oddly sharp 
young face with red curls.  
	?Nehelenia,? Selenity spit and waved at the mirror to close 
itself, ?So, this is what your plan is,? Evil bitch.  How DARE 
she try to take away our happiness?  Selenity took a deep breath 
to steady herself.  Selenity would show her, ?MIRROR!? she 
shouted and aimed her Royal Scepter at it, lavender light 
exploded and a howl was heard through the other side, ?I warn 
thee, Nehelenia and your prot駩e.  Do not dare touch our 
happiness or our kingdom.  My power is more than you can dream 
of,? She warned loudly and the mirror shook.  She heard the 
shrills of Nehelenia as Selenity continued to burn her and Beryl 
with her Scepter, ?I do not trust the thickness of blood, rather 
the purity of water,? she spat out, ?Desist!? She lowered her 
scepter and the mirror shattered into a thousand pieces.    The 
howls echoed in the shards.  ?Damn it, ?Selenity swore under her 
breath fighting back hot tears.  She snapped her shaking fingers 
and her Royal Scepter disappeared. 
	?Darling?? Apollo poked his head into her study.  He 
observed the broken shards and rage began to fill him, ?Where is 
she?? He swore and crushed the glass underneath his leather boots 
as he went to comfort his wife.  She let herself collapse into 
his arm and whispered out the story.
	?How can I protect them?? She finished waving a hand over 
the broken glass, now empty of all life and blank.
	Apollo breathed in her gently lavender fragrance, ?We can 
only do so much, dearest,? He softly reminded her, rubbing her 
hands within his, sharing her grief and his strength.
	?They are growing up so quickly.  I am so afraid to send 
the boys?out into the darkness of the Wraith Kingdom?they are 
just boys! What would Gaia say?? Selenity wiped her eyes sharply.
	?The knights are young men, my lady, and Gaia understood 
the threat of the Wraith Kingdom better than anyone.  She could 
never hold a grudge against your judgment,? Apollo kissed her 
cheek.
	?I regret the invite to the children of the Wraith Kingdom.  
We know nothing of their guardian, The Wiseman.  Who is he? Where 
does he come from?? Selenity began ticking off items from the top 
of her head.
	?This is our mission; the knights understand the workings 
of the Wraith Kingdom and Artemis shall be with them, fear not,? 
Apollo kissed her again, ?My love, they grow well, and under 
excellent tutelage.  The day shall come when we no longer protect 
them, and we, my dearest, shall finally have the peace we have 
long sought after,? Apollo sighed and laid his head to rest in 
the curve of her neck, ?Peace,? he murmured as she massaged his 
golden hair, ?No fears dear, that only leads to wrinkles,? he 
teased.  Selenity pulled his hair, ?Ouch,? he muttered as she 
began to giggle.
	?Speaking of gold,? she started, ?I do believe it is time 
we gave Endymion his pendant,? she smiled sadly at the memory of 
the joining of the Quisez and the shrinking of the legendary 
Golden Crystal to the pendant form.
	Apollo nodded as he reluctantly freed himself from 
Selenity, ?I was meaning to speak to Lawrence about it, to see if 
he was comfortable with it,?
	Selenity closed her palm into a fist and murmured a few 
words in the ancient language, a soft glow infused her hand and 
she unfurled her fingers to reveal the small gold rose and the 
gold and silver linked chain.  Apollo kissed her palm as he 
removed its contents.  The two rulers stared longingly at each 
other, each releasing a small sigh of happiness and slight 
sadness as to what the coming months would mean.
	?I shall go find Lawrence and speak to him,? Apollo 
murmured, kissing her softly, ?Fret not, my wife, there are 
thousands of lesser things to worry about,? he teased.
	?YOUR MAJESTY!!? Luna?s voice echoed as she emerged at the 
door of Selenity?s chamber, ?Oh, pardon me, Your Majesties, I was 
just coming to say,? she faltered slightly as she seemed to fight 
with one arm, ?Oh! Stop making such a fuss,? Luna complained as 
she ungraciously pulled a blushing Serenity, ?We need to make 
some more alterations to her gown it seems, and other garments,? 
Luna hinted heavily causing Apollo to match his daughter?s blush.
	?My ladies,? He nodded at Selenity, Luna, and Serenity, ?I 
take my leave,? he kissed Selenity quickly before leaving the 
room as quickly as he could majestically manage.
	Selenity sat up, ?What is the problem?? Still not quite 
understanding what caused Apollo to leave like that and why was 
Sere blushing as if she was going to pass out?
	Luna gestured with her head to Sere, ?It seems she has 
GROWN, your Majesty, if you know what I mean,? she said through 
gritted teeth,?Look,? Luna stepped behind Sere and pulled her 
loose tunic tighter to expose the cause of her embarrassment.
	?Oh!? Selenity managed to reply, slightly flustered at her 
inability to understand, ?Dearest, why are you ashamed? You are 
indeed a young woman now,? she teased.
	Luna nodded, ?We truly have an heir to the throne,? she 
teased the same old joke when all the girls had began noticing 
unusual?stains?in their undergarments.  Sere tugged away from 
Luna?s grip on her tunic.
	?Yes, yes! So I am normal, good,? Sere hmphed adjusting her 
tunic again.
	?Well, call the dressmaker here and we shall redo the gown, 
quickly!? Selenity clapped her hands and two maids rushed to find 
the Royal Dressmakers and bring them to Selenity?s Presence 
chambers.
	Sere scowled before she saw the yards of fabric being 
brought in with the dressmakers, ?Oh!? she gasped as she longed 
to touch the silks and laces that were being draped in front of 
Selenity for her inspection.
	Selenity stopped her flow of chatter to notice that Sere 
seemed to take great interest in the fabrics, for the first time 
in years it seemed, ?I gather the Princess would rather be the 
one choosing her own fabrics,? she smiled and motioned for the 
dressmakers to show Sere the fabrics, ?Sere, you may pick the 
fabrics to alter your gown with,?  Sere?s once red face flushed 
with excitement as she quickly ran to hug her mother and pull her 
into the chaises so they could sit together and work on 
Serenity?s first formal dress.
	Luna kept her tongue silent as she happily watched Sere 
take interest in the ball gown.  She shooed the dressmakers away 
and made the measurements for the new dress herself to ease 
Sere?s discomfort.  The gown will be of the lightest lavenders 
and blues as originally planned with more of an adult, feminine 
touch.  Luna carefully handed Sere boxes of sapphires, amethysts, 
and other jewels that tinged of blues.  She could not help 
wondering at the choice of the deepest sapphires that so 
carefully mimicked Endymion?s eyes.  She said nothing though, 
only a long look to Selenity.  If only Gaia was still here, both 
women murmured in their own hearts.


	Sir Lawrence watched as Endymion and the others packed 
carefully for their first voyage and test as knights.  All the 
boys, no young men, he corrected himself, packed a few personal 
belongings.  Already he saw the beginnings of young love as each 
of the young knights packed a special remembrance.  Even Kunzite 
tied his personal items with a long red ribbon, whose owner would 
not even notice its absence, and be even more surprised as to its 
current home.  Zoiscite kept a special book, written in ancient 
Mercurian that Ami had presented him for his last birthday.  
Nephrite, though few knew, wore a single rose pendant underneath 
his tunic, near his heart.  Jadeite, Sir Lawrence smiled, carried 
no material item, but quite a few burn scars that he had not 
allowed anyone to heal.  Ah, young love, Sir Lawrence gaily 
hummed as he left the knights to their own doings.  He took one 
last look at Endymion and noticed that in his hands he held a 
small pouch.  Sir Lawrence?s heart lurched as he knew these were 
part of the sacred batch Setsuna had blessed Gaia with at 
Serenity?s birth.  He wondered how Endy had obtained them.  The 
next object Endy revealed took an even sharper breath from Sir 
Lawrence, the star shaped locket of the Earth family.  The 
haunting melody raised the hairs on Lawrence?s neck.  He looked 
away?his heart was breaking and his steps became hurried as he 
tried his best to forget the ghostly song that crept into his 
most pleasant of sleeps and dreams. 
	 Who could have given Endy those objects?  Why would Endy 
want to take these objects with him?  His mind angrily turned to 
Setsuna, but he could not understand why the Blessed Sailor would 
meddle in Endy?s knight quest.  Sir Lawrence found himself 
suddenly embraced by the smell of roses.  He looked up to see the 
looming Tower that housed his wife.  ?I am a ghost of a man,? he 
murmured ferociously, ?A GHOST!!? he howled hoarsely as he swiped 
the roses growing around the base, ?I want nothing to do with 
this destiny,? he growled, knowing that somewhere the Goddess and 
Setsuna had heard him.  Doing his best to regain his composure 
and ignore the shocked looks of gardeners and servants around 
him, he walked to his own garden of serenity, far away from his 
life that haunted him daily.  


	King Apollo blankly gazed at the stack of papers in front 
of him.  He flipped through them and found that he had no mind 
for matters of the state today.  He sighed and let his mind 
wander to the next night.  The anniversary of the Lunar Kingdom! 
He mused to himself, dear Goddess had it been this many years?  
Selenity had hardly been 20 years old when she became Queen of 
the Moon Kingdom and those long bitter years of the Shadow Wars 
had taken much of her innocence.  Now, being Queen of the Lunar 
Kingdom for almost a thousand years?.years of peace haunted by a 
new threat.  A threat that worried Apollo more than he would let 
anyone know, his brow furrowed.  His thoughts ran to Serenity as 
they always did these days.  Senshi!! His thirteen year old 
daughter was a Sailor Senshi!  The years were passing too 
quickly.  He still saw her in her tunic, mud stained and hair in 
pigtails.  He smiled to remember that it was hardly hours ago 
that he had pulled her and Endy apart again.  Possibly for the 
last time, he thought sadly.  By the time Endymion and the boys 
returned, the girls would have grown apart from the boys.  The 
year could stretch into two?the boys understood that.  No matter 
what, they would come back as men.  Their childhood playmates 
would be young women, there was no denying it.  To imagine the 
ceremony that would mark Serenity as the Crown Princess and Heir 
to the Lunarian crown, to have her had reached her majority was 
only three small years away.  Apollo?s heart lurched.  How could 
he keep his kingdom safe for her?  Why did he fight against what 
he knew was her destiny? Her destiny to fight and triumph?  
Apollo?s knuckles turned white as he clutched at his desk?how did 
they know it was her destiny to triumph?  How could he have faith 
when he was so blinded by his love for his wife and daughter and 
the other charges that had grown dear to him over the past three 
years?  He stood and went to find Lawrence.  Lawrence and his 
ghosts were the one and the same.  He left in a rush, alarming 
his menservants who scattered left and right to get out of his 
way, stumbling over themselves.

	Artemis dismissed the men.  Everything was ready for the 
knights? departure tomorrow night.  He prided himself on having 
everything ready a whole moon in advance.  Besides that, as he 
strolled over to the window overlooking the girls? training 
grounds, he was leaving the kingdom with the best security he 
could have ever helped create.  As the boys went to observe and 
decipher the motives of the enemy, the girls grew stronger daily 
under his and Luna?s tutelage.  His little girls, almost grown 
women!  How strong and beautiful they were becoming, he smiled 
wistfully, surprised to find himself wishing that he had a little 
girl of his own, to train and spoil.  A girl with Luna?s face and 
sharp wit, with her laughter and ability to intimidate.  His 
breath caught in his throat, choking on his love that he denied. 
She would never have anything to do with him, he thought sadly.  
What would the cousin of the Queen want to do with the head of 
the Royal Guard?  He left the window, had he stayed a second 
longer, he would 
have seen the same wistful gaze on Luna?s face as she passed 
through the garden in the training grounds.  Oh Artemis, what 
would the head of the Royal Guard want with the lowly cousin and 
first lady to the Princess of the Crown?

	Selenity watched Sere?s gown be refitted and the sun set 
slowly, allowing the moon to rise and claim her place of honor in 
the knight.  Tomorrow?tomorrow was the day?tomorrow was the 
night....when everything would change.  She let a small tear fall 
as she saw Serenity?s girlhood being destroyed by wars as hers 
had been.  No, she would have faith.  Serenity had powers 
Selenity could never have dreamed of.  My darling daughter, you 
are my one pride and joy, she kissed her daughter?s cheek 
lovingly.



*****************************************************************
***********
Yay!! It?s finally out!! AND the ball is coming up, again?but I 
hope, dear readers, you are all picking up on the young strands 
of love that are developing?wink wink.  I should have the next 
chapter out much sooner than last time!  As always, comments and 
questions to aaeris17@yahoo.,com
See you in Chapter 13!!!