Title:After the Moon.Part 3
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Standard Disclaimer Apply
*denotes thought
22/1/01

I'm back with another chapter of After the Moon. :)
I can't tell you how difficult it is to write and try to do school work
at the same time.All the same,thanks for the encouragement minna!
You know who you are.*wink*
AN: Oh,by the way...I just want to clear this up,the title,After the Moon
    does not mean after the fall of the moon,but chasing the moon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Endymion was surrounded in darkness.It's tentacles wrapping around
him.Suffocating him.He fought the darkness enveloping him.He fought it.
Something caught his eye.It was a small flickering light.
  What was it??Where did it come from??Why did he have the feeling the
flame...the light had always been there???If so,why had he never noticed
it until now??He felt compelled towards it.Needed it.
  But the darkness was pulling at him.Trying to claim him.The darkness
began to curl around the flame.Trying to smother it.
  Endymion screamed.

  He awoke with a start,then falling back onto the bed.He felt so weak.
Cold sweat trickled down his temple.His hands were cold and clammy.He
felt worse then ever.
  Memories came back to him of when the sensation first hit him.He
shuddered.His lips were parched.
  He spied a pitcher on the chest of drawers and a glass.Slowly,he got
out of bed.His legs felt like jelly.
  Taking another step,his legs collapsed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "My Prince!!"exclaimed Zoiscite rushing in.His comrades behind him.
Endymion was lying on the floor the bedcovers strewn on the floor.
  "Water.."gasped Endymion.

  Jadeite obliged rushing towards the pitcher,pouring a glass.

  After swallowing a few gulps,Endymion placed the glass down.
"What happened??"he croaked.
  "We don't know.You just blacked out dead away,yesterday.We took you
back to this inn."
  "I feel terrible and weak."groaned Endymion.
  "You look even worse."grinned Nephrite.
  "Neph's right.You're pale as a ghost.We should take you back to the
palace as soon as possible."stated Malachite.
  Endymion was too weak to argue.He merely leaned back onto the floor.
Sleep once again claimed him.

  After they had replaced Endymion in his bed,Malachite motioned the
others to follow him.
  "What is it,Mal??"
  "I want to know what happened to Endymion.I have a feeling those
people at Black Woods know more than they let on.I'm going back to
have a chat."said Malachite grimly.
  "I'll go with you.We sure don't want you attacking people to get your
answers."said Jadeite.
  "Fine.Zoiscite,Nephrite.You two stay here and keep watch on the prince."
ordered Malachite.
  Zoiscite and Nephrite nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mina and Raye sat on the flowering grass in front of the cottage.Mina
was sitting with her knees drawn up her eyes staring at the sky.The 
moving clouds had a mesmerizing effect.
  Raye was gathering flowers and herbs.Noticing Mina's stare,Raye walked
towards her and sat down.
  "What are you looking at??"asked Raye.
  "I don't know."stated Mina calmly.
  "I don't get it."
  "I don't know what I'm looking at.Ever since I was a little girl.I 
always felt that I didn't belong.That I'd left a part of me somewhere."
sighed Mina.
  "I know the feeling.I get that sometimes too."murmured Raye absently
plucking the petals off a daisy.
  "I guess thats why I always look to the heavens searching for something."

  "Serenity does that too.But she loves the midnight sky better.She says
it's because that's when she can see the moon."said Mina as she watched
a cloud form a shape.
  Mina turned to look at Raye.Her eyes widened.

  Raye was staring away and absent-mindedly plucking the petals off every
flower her hand came into contact with.
  "Whatever you're thinking,Raye...I believe the flowers are innocent."
said Mina.
  Raye's head snapped to Mina."What??Oh.."muttered Raye as her eyes
fell on the grass which was covered in white petals and stalks of
mutilated daisies lay nearby.She blushed.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Malachite and Jadeite reached the top of the hill where the Black Woods
Forest was and where the cottage was situated.
  "I'm dreaming or in heaven."said Jadeite his eyes locked on something.

  "What are you talking about??"asked Malachite irritatedly.His comrade 
was a rake.His eyes followed Jadeite's stare and fell on two girls with
waist long hair.One was a blonde with a red bow in her hair and the other
was a raven haired girl.
  *I should have guessed.The only thing that could make Jadeite drool
was a pretty girl.*sighed Malachite to himself.
  They nudged their horses to go forward.

  The girls who were once engrossed in staring at the sky now turned their
gaze towards them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Mina was snapped out of her reverie with the sound of horses feet in a
trot.As they came closer,Mina acknowledged both were very good looking.
But were still strangers and warranted their suspicions.
  Mina shot to her feet,Raye following her and snatching her basket of
flowers and herbs.

  Malachite was surprised.The blonde had eyes the colour of the sky and
the raven-haired girl had a violet gaze.
  Their eyebrows were drawn together in hostility.

  "Good day."smiled Jadeite.

  The raven-head cocked an eyebrow.

  Mina tugged at Raye's sleeve and took a step back before they broke
into a run for the cottage.
  Malachite and Jadeite stared after them dumb-foundedly.

  "Jade,I believe we've just been given what people call,a crushing set
down."smirked Malachite.
  "I believe you're right."grinned Jadeite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  A knock on the door,sent Mina to her feet.Opening the door a crack,
she peeked out and saw the tall white-haired man with ice eyes.
  "We're here to see Artemis."stated the man.

  Mina swung the door open and glared at him.
*How DARE he!!Knocking on our door and baldly asking to speak to Artemis.*
  Malachite stifled a chuckle at the girl's fierce stare.

  "Who do you think you are??That you can baldly walk up to our door and
ask,no..demand to speak to Uncle Artemis!!!??"snapped Mina.
  "We came yesterday."stated Malachite calmly.

  "Yeah??Well Artemis said we weren't to speak to any strangers.And YOU
buster are a stranger.Good day."said Mina as she swung the door close,
only to be intercepted by a boot.
  "It's a matter of importance I speak to him."smiled the man,his eyes
glittering.Mina shivered.The smile didn't reach his eyes and it was
clear he was hiding his anger and impatience.
  "He's not here."

  "Your Aunt Luna then."

  "She's not here either."

  "Mina,who's at the door??"came voices.

  The silver-blonde they'd seen with the funny hair came into view.She
stared at them in shock.
  "Mina!!"exclaimed Serenity.
  "He started it."said Mina her mouth fixing into a pout.

  Malachite had the most insane urge to laugh.
  Jadeite saw his companion's lips twitch and he stared in amazement.
Malachite hardly laughed!!!This was a rare sight indeed.
  "Earth's goddess...are you going to laugh???"asked Jadeite as he
peered at his friend in fascination.
  His friend's lips trembled again.

  "Mina..you know Aunt Luna and Uncle Artemis will have a fit if they
knew you were speaking with strangers."came a soft voice.
  Jadeite identified the owner to be the girl with ocean eyes and amazingly
ocean blue hair.
  "Do you know where your guardians are??"questioned Jadeite.

  "No!!And it will be no concern of yours!!Good DAY!!!"snapped the raven-
haired girl with flashing violet eyes.
  For some reason,she reminded him of fire.

  "WHAT IS GOING ON HERE???"came a voice.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Aunt Luna."said the four girls,their heads bowed in shame.

  "Good day,Miss Luna."smiled Jadeite as he bowed.

  "Oh..it's you.What do you want??"asked Luna eyeing them critically.
  "We need to speak to you about our friend,madam."stated Malachite in
a brisk commanding voice.
  Luna raised an eyebrow.

  "Please."

  "After dinner.I do believe the two of you will stay??"asked Luna.
"I'm sure Artemis would like his say in the matter."
  "If we are not imposing,madam."

  "Of course not.Call me Luna."said Luna.turning to the girls she frowned
at them.
  "What are the four of you doing staring at the ground??Goodness sakes,
be off with the lot of you.Lita cannot cook everything by herself."smiled
Luna.
  The four girls looked up with a hopeful expression and rushed off 
towards the kitchen.
  Jadeite and Malachite noticed the smile on Luna's face.It was a smile
of love and fondness.
  "Now then gentlemen,a drink??"asked Luna turning back to them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "It's those men again."sighed Serenity as she tasted the gravy.
"Mmmm...Lita,this is good."said Serenity licking her lips.
  "What do you suppose they want to talk to Luna and Artemis about??"asked
Mina as she took out the plates.
  "No idea."sighed Serenity.
  "You don't suppose it's something bad do you??"asked Amy.
  "What's bad??"came a voice.

  "Nothing,Uncle Artemis!!"exclaimed the five with a jump.

  Artemis shot them a look of puzzlement.Hanging his cloak on the back
rack,he shrugged and walked out the kitchen.
  "That was close."breathed Raye.
  "Yeah..I'd hate for Luna and Artemis to reprimand us on anything else."
sighed Lita as she continued to chop vegetables.
  "But those men ARE handsome aren't they??"asked Serenity nudging Mina
who she knew was a romantic at heart.
  Mina blushed.
  Raye snorted."Handsome??Egoistic more likely.Wherever they're from,
they probably have enough girls fawning over them.Barging here like
that and demanding baldly if you please to talk to Artemis."
  "Do I detect denial,Raye??"asked Lita with a grin.
  "So,three days from now is the full moon.Anybody want to watch it
with me??"asked Serenity with a grin.
  "Serry!!!"exclaimed Amy.
  "I told you I was going to watch the full moon and NOTHING I mean
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING is going to stop me."said Serenity with a determined 
note in her voice.
  "Oh darn."cursed Lita.

  "What's wrong??"asked Amy.
  "We're all out of garlic salt,onions and cheese."groaned Lita in dismay.
  "What's so terrible about that??"asked Mina.
  "You know Artemis hates his gravy flat."pointed out Raye.
  "Oh!!That's right!!Oh dear."sighed Mina.
  "What about the onions and cheese??"
  "That was for my onion soup."
  "Oh,that's too bad."sighed Amy.
  "Why don't I run down to the village and buy some now??"asked Serenity.
  "I'll come with you."volunteered Amy.
  "Alright,better tell Luna."reminded Lita.
  "Right!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Artemis and Luna stared at the two men before them.They exuded unusual
auras.They were definately commanding people.Aware of their power and
confidence.They also seemed to have magic in them.But were they aware of
that???
  "Aunt Luna.."came a voice.

  All four turned to see Amy and Serenity looking at them.
  "Yes Serenity??"asked Luna.
  "Well..Lita ran out of onions,cheese and garlic salt."shooting a look
over to Artemis."We all know how much you hate your gravy flat,Uncle."
  "And the two of you want to run down to the village to buy some?"asked
Artemis raising an eyebrow.He'd been horrified when they'd mentioned
there was no more garlic salt and Lita was making gravy.
  "I'm not so sure.The sun will be setting in an hour or two."said Luna her
brow furrowing.

  "We'll be quick,Aunt Luna.We promise we'll be back before dark??"pleaded
Serenity.
  "Why don't we take them??"asked Malachite standing up.

  Serenity's eyes jumped towards the white-haired man's face.

  "We don't want to trouble you,sir."said Amy quickly.
  "No trouble at all.We have horses.It'll be quicker.And we can fetch
our friend at the same time."said Jadeite.
  "It's the least we can do,since we are staying for dinner.Please,let
us escort you."smiled Malachite.
  Serenity shifted uncomfortably.

  Luna frowned slightly.
  "Alright.You may go to the village,but you must let them escort you.
I do not want to risk you coming back after dark.They need to fetch their
friend anyway."said Luna.
  Serenity and Amy nodded.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Is she always like that??"asked Malachite as he mounted behind Serenity.

  Serenity let out a sigh."Worse.She absolutely forbids us from going
out at night.And only yesterday,they have forbidden us from ever stepping
foot into Black Woods Forest without them."
  Malachite's eyes narrowed.

  "Do you mind if we detour a little after getting your things??I promise
we will make it back here before dark."asked Malachite.
  "Of course not."smiled Serenity.

  Malachite and Jadeite spurred their horses into a gallop back towards
the village.

  After buying their groceries,the men led them towards an inn.

  Serenity noticed it was right next to the Astronomy shop.

  With a sigh,they dismounted and followed the two strange men into the
inn.The inn fell silent at the sight of them.But then as quickly as the
silence had come,it disappeared.The people resumed talking ignoring the
'weirdoes of Black Woods Forest'.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Malachite and Jadeite strode into Endymion's room with the two ladies
behind them.
  "How is he??"questioned Malachite.

  "Not much difference.Did you find any..thing??"asked Zoiscite then his
eyes fell on Serenity and Amy.He shot a questioning look at Malachite.
  "Two of the girls from the cottage.They came to buy some things.
Serenity,Amy..may I introduce you to Zoiscite,Nephrite and the man on
the bed,is Endymion."
  Serenity's eyes darted towards the pale man.He'd looked so strong and
healthy yesterday.What had happened to him???
  "I-Is he unwell???"asked Serenity timidly.

  "I fear so."sighed Zoiscite.
  "Is it contagious??"asked Amy reluctantly.
  "No."

  Serenity curiously placed her basket down and walked towards the bedside.
She stared at the man in the bed.
  Suddenly,his eyes opened.Midnight eyes collided with sapphire eyes.
Serenity nearly jumped back as a tingle ran down her spine.The spark
that had connected them a moment ago was now a palpable current!!!
  Endymion stared at the woman who was staring down at him.The darkness
was washed away and he didn't feel so terrible as he did,awhile ago.

  "Endy,you're awake."said Zoiscite.
  "How do you feel??"asked Nephrite.

  "Better,actually."croaked Endymion as he shifted his gaze to his
bodyguards.But his eyes seemed to dart back towards the silver-blonde's.
  "Endymion,this is Amy and Serenity.They're two of the girls from the
cottage on the hill."said Jadeite.
  "Do you feel well enough to travel??"asked Malachite.

  Endymion slowly placed his feet to the floor boards and nodded.
  "Then we will leave at once."said Malachite.

  "Can we wait downstairs for you??I would very much like to talk to
the owner of the Astronomy shop beside the inn."said Serenity.
  "Of course."smiled Malachite.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity descended the stairs and shivered slightly.When the man Endymion
had opened his eyes,something had happened.A current seemed to have ran
down her spine.It had tingled and was a delicious sensation.He was also
very handsome.
  She wrapped her hands around her waist and pushed all thoughts of the
man to the back of her mind.
  "Serry,you alright??"asked Amy as she touched her shoulder.

  "Yes..yes...I'm fine."sighed Serenity.

  Endymion felt the darkness creep back slowly.It wasn't as strong that
he couldn't fight it.He felt rejuvenated somehow.The flame that the
darkness had tried to destroy was burning brightly,chasing away the
darkness that had made him sick.The flame brightened his entire being.
  And somehow...the girl named Serenity had made that possible.It was
confusing though.When the girl had exited the room,that had made him want
to cry out.Something had tugged painfully at his heart.
  Shaking his head,he pushed all the strange thoughts to the back of his
mind.He didn't want to dissect or examine these strange feelings.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Hi."smiled Serenity as she entered the shop.The old man looked up at
her from his polishing and smiled.
  "Oh,it's you lass."smiled the man.

  Amy stared around the shop in fascination stopping at a picture of
Mercury.
  "This is beautiful."murmured Amy.
  "It is,isn't it."smiled the old man.

  Serenity's eyes fell on a model of the solar system.
  She moved towards it.With curious fingers she shifted the first four
planets and the small moon of earth into a straight line with earth.
Leaving the other four planets.
  The old man noticed this and gave a little laugh.

  "What are you doing lass??"asked the man.
  "I don't know..."whispered Serenity."Does a formation like that ever
occur??"asked Serenity turning to look at Molly's grandfather.
  "Sometimes.Funny you should mention though."said the old man.

  The door bell jingled as it was pushed open.

  "There you two are.We better hurry or your Aunt will throw a fit."
said Malachite beckoning the two girls out.
  "Oh!!That's right!!Goodbye!Give Molly our regards."smiled Serenity as
she and Amy rushed out of the shop.
  "Bye."laughed the old man as he resumed polishing his telescope lens.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  They rode back and reached the cottage just when the sun was beginning
to set.
  Indeed,Luna was at the door tapping her foot in impatience.

  "What a dallying lot you are."sniffed Luna as she stared at the group.
  Serenity smiled and kissed Luna on the cheek.
  "And what a worrying aunt you are.We promised to be back before dark.
We're here aren't we??"asked Serenity.
  "It's not that.I just didn't want to be on the recieving end of 
Artemis's complaints about HIS gravy being flat."said Luna indignantly.
  Serenity and Amy gave a little laugh as they swept off to the kitchen.

  Luna eyed the pale man with dark hair.What she saw shocked her.His aura
absolutely reeked of power.And yet...it didn't seem fulfilled.As if
it was missing something.There was also a bond.His power and soul seemed
to be connected to something or somebody.But with all his power,this man 
was ill.His face was deathly pale.
  "I assume this young man is your friend you mentioned??"asked Luna.

  Malachite nodded.

  "Alright.We'll discuss this later.I'm sure you all must be starving.
There will be enough food for everyone.Lita usually cooks for an army."
smiled Luna as she beckoned the men in.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Dinner was quiet and uncomfortable for the girls.Serenity's eyes kept
darting over towards the dark-haired man.His face was no longer as pale
as when she'd seen him at the inn.In fact,colour seemed to be returning to
his face.
  Endymion ate silently as he watched the silver-haired siren called
Serenity eat.He noticed her gaze sometimes darting toward him but as 
quickly as her eyes fell on him,it was gone.He felt much better compared
to a few hours ago.There was no more sick feeling and the flame he'd
just noticed within him,was burning brighter than ever,chasing away the
demons that were drowning his senses.
  Artemis and Luna eyed the two.There was a palpable and undeniably 
strong current of emotions connecting the strange man called Endymion and
Serenity.
  Artemis and Luna's eyes met in understanding,confusion and fear.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity and the rest washed up the dishes and retired to their bedroom,
while Luna and Artemis stayed in the lounge area speaking with the men.

  "So.Speak."said Luna.

  "We know the two of you know a great deal more than you're letting on.
We saw you double over yesterday."said Malachite directing his gaze at
Artemis.
  "The same time,Endymion felt the wave of sickness."pointed out Zoiscite.

  "That proves nothing.I could have eaten something wrong."said Artemis
defensively.
  "You looked more like somebody who's been punched in the stomach."
said Nephrite.
  "Just what are the two of you hiding??"asked Jadeite.

  "What business is it of yours if we have skeletons in our closet.We
have our own problems just as you have yours.Why should you need to pry
into ours??"asked Luna standing up angrily.
  "Because something is wrong...something is happening.Not just to me.
But this planet."whispered Endymion.
  Artemis and Luna stared at him.

  "How do you know??"asked Luna haughtily.
  "Because something is making me sick.It feels like a darkness curling
around my entire being."
  Luna and Artemis were silent.
  "There's nothing we can tell you now."said Luna.
  "We're sorry."sighed Artemis.
  "We insist you stay here tonight.I would not wish you to go back to
the village tonight.The lot of you can sleep with Artemis and in my room.
I will sleep with the girls.I believe we have some matresses somewhere."
said Luna walking away.

  The five men turned to look at Artemis who was still sitting quietly on
the couch.
  "What is it the two of you must be so silent about??"asked Malachite
angrily.
  "Something terrible and evil that the lot of you cannot even imagine
or come to comprehend."sighed Artemis standing up."Good night."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The men stayed in the lounge saying nothing.

  "How are you feeling,Endy??"asked Zoiscite breaking the silence.
  "I feel fine ever since I awoke."
  "You know,we should just force them to answer on the grounds of a
royal questioning."said Jadeite.
  "Don't be foolish."said Nephrite."That would just betray our cover of
our trying to be incognito."
  "To think we came here to investigate that dead farmer's claim on
the sighting of moon men."sighed Malachite.
  "I still say it's a wild goose chase."snorted Jadeite."Moon people
indeed.Next you'll have me thinking of Martians.Green little men roaming
our planet.Moon Kingdom indeed.It's just a myth."retorted Jadeite.
  "How do you know they're green???"asked Zoiscite.

  "Oh shut up."said Jadeite pushing his companion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity snuck out of her room.She was thirsty.But if Aunt Luna caught
her,there would be a round of twenty questions.
  Passing by the lounge,Serenity noticed the small flame of a candle
flickering.
  Curious,Serenity stepped into the lounge.

  "Hello??"

  A dark head popped from the single couch.

  "Oh...it's you."sighed Serenity.
  "Did I frighten you??Or..wake you??"asked Endymion.
  "No..its just that I was thirsty so I snuck out of the room.Aunt Luna
would have plenty of questions if she saw me going out of the room.And
I just passed by here and saw the candle-.."said Serenity pointing at the
candle on the table.She felt Endymion's eyes on her and blushed closing
her mouth.
  "Talkative thing aren't you??"asked Endymion with a smile.*Also beautiful
and brave.*
  "What's that suppose to mean??"asked Serenity sitting down.
  *And incredibly plucky*

  Endymion merely grinned.

  "It's just we don't get many visitors.As you know..the villagers,don't
exactly like us."sighed Serenity leaning back in the chair.
  "I can't think why they's call you weird."smiled Endymion."I think you're
quite normal.And beautiful."
  Serenity blushed.
  "Flattery won't get you anywhere with me,sir."
  "A rose then??"asked Endymion as a rose appeared out of thin air.He
handed it to her.
  "It's lovely."breathed Serenity as she took the rose.It had no torns
and it was a perfect red bloom without blemishes of any sort.
  "It's my favourite flower."smiled Endymion.
  "Mine too."
  "Really??"
  "Yes."

  They spent the rest of their waking hours talking and the next morning,
Luna found them outside asleep on the couch in the lounge.Endymion's
head lolled on his side.His body had slid downwards slightly in the big
single couch.
  Serenity was lying on her side on and clutching a perfect red rose.

  Luna smiled slightly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Daylight pierced her eyes as she woke to a new day.Sitting up,Serenity
yawned and stretched herself like a lazy lioness from her uncomfortable
position.Taking note of her surroundings,she paled.She was shocked...no,
appalled that she'd slept in the lounge,on the couch no less!!
  She blinked trying to adjust her eyes to the light.She turned to where
Endymion had sat last night...or still sat.His head was rested back
falling limply to the side.His lower body had half slid out the chair,his
long legs rested underneath the coffee table.
  Serenity wanted to giggle at his position.He was going to awaken with
a terrible neck ache no doubt.He'd probably tried to curl his upper-half
of his body into the crook of the chair.It was amazing he hadn't slid
out of the chair onto the floor.
  Her hand still held the rose he'd given to her the night before.It
was perfect condition.Just like the night before.

  The smell of sizzling bacon and eggs filled the air.And was that...
pancakes????
  Her tummy growled.Slowly getting to her feet,Serenity trodded towards
the kitchen.
  Poking her head in,she saw Luna at the stove.

  "Would you set the table,Serenity??And make some orange juice while
you're at it."said Luna without turning.
  "How did you know it was me??"asked Serenity.
  "I always know who is near."said Luna simply.

  Serenity shrugged and took out the plates and began to diligently set
the plates,silver and glasses.
  She then made her way into the pantry and pinched a few oranges from
the basket proceeding to squash them.
  Coming out of the pantry,she heard Luna's voice call out to her.

  "Oh,Sere...please wake Lord Endymion before he either slides out of
that chair or gets a back and neck ache.Wake the others too.Artemis as
usual will proably be sleeping."sighed Luna.
  "Yes,Aunt Luna."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Endymion felt something jab him in the ribs.He brushed it away.The
object jabbed him again.With a irritated and exasperated swipe,he pushed
the object away.But STILL it came back to pester him with persistence.
  With a curious and exasperated hand,he reached down and grabbed the
object that seemed bent on disturbing him.
  His hand closed around smooth warm flesh.He was shocked.Using his
probing fingers,he identified it.It was somebody's hand.A hand with the
smoothest flesh he'd ever felt.His eyes snapped open.
  He looked at the owner of the hand.It was Serenity,but she was staring
down at his hand which had caught her tiny hand.Strange to say,the tiny
hand fitted his large one perfectly.Like a jigsaw puzzle.
  Abruptly releasing her hand,Endymion sat up.This caused Serenity's
head to shoot up as her gaze locked with his.Holding it.There was
something so intimate about looking at her face.Into her eyes.Eyes he
could positively drown in.
  "Why wouldn't you let me sleep??"he asked his voice husky with sleep.
Breaking the comfortable and intimate silence.
  Serenity laughed softly.
  "You have to break your fast at some time or other,my lord."grinned
Serenity.He stared down wryly at her.
  He stretched slightly noticing his stiff neck.He rubbed it,trying to
dispel the wretched stiffness in his neck.
  Noticing this,Serenity stood up moving around to the back of the chair.

  "A stiff neck,Endymion."
  "Yes,and it's terrible."he groaned as she dug into a knotted muscle.
Her fingers seemed to know where all the stiffness and stressed muscles 
were.
  "It is what one gets for sleeping in a chair in your position."smiled
Serenity.
  "Pardon me for reminding you,YOU kept us both awake until the wee hours
of dawn!!Besides,you took the couch."
  "You just had to say that,didn't you??"asked Serenity as she stopped
her massage."Better??"
  "Much."
  "I have to wake the others for breakfast."stated Serenity.Bending down,
she whispered in his ear,"Thank you for the rose,Endymion." before
she swept away to rouse the other occupants of the cottage.
  Endymion merely stared after her dumbly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Serenity berated herself for her behaviour.What had she been thinking
massaging his shoulders and neck like that????Why was it she felt this
strange warm comfortable atmosphere with a stranger no less??It was
frightening.
  She knocked loudly on Artemis,the girls and Luna's doors.

  There was no answer.She knocked again.This time,there was a muffled
curse from Luna's door and a sleepy groan from the girls's.
  It swung open and the man who stood at the doorway was a sleepy
Jadeite.His hair was tousled,and he was only wearing his pajama pants.His 
chest was bare.
  A flush rose to her face,turning it bright red.
  The girls's door swung open and Raye stepped out.
  At the same moment,Artemis's door opened and standing there was a
sleepy befuddled Malachite,whose present state was similar to Jadeite's.
  Raye's eyes snapped open as she saw Serenity's helplessly red face
and the cause of it.
  Her eyes darted back and forth between Malachite and Jadeite,her own
face turning red.
  "Raye,who's knocking??"asked Mina's voice.Her golden head peeked over
Raye's shoulder.
  Mina's own face heated up.

  The three girls suddenly found their feet,VERY interesting.
Serenity stared down at her feet,her face flushed.
  "Br-breakfast.L-Luna told me to w-wake you up."mumbled Serenity as she
dashed away.
  Raye and Mina merely muttered something about waking the other girls
and slammed their door.
  Malachite and Jadeite stared at the closed door,then turned to the
empty hall where Serenity had disappeared,turning to stare at each
other's face.
  "What's the matter with them??"asked Jadeite confused.
  "I haven't the foggiest."replied Malachite with a shrug.Both then closed
their doors to get ready.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Endymion noticed Serenity's flushed face as she returned.

  Serenity looked up and her face seemed to turn even redder.If that was
possible.
  "What's wrong??"asked Endymion kindly.
  "N-Nothing."muttered Serenity as she moved away to the kitchen.

  Endymion stared at her strangely.What possible thing could have
flustered her??Heading towards the rooms,he knocked on Luna's door.The 
room he was suppose to have shared with Jadeite and Nephrite.
  The door opened with Jadeite grumbling.
  Endymion took in Jadeite's attire.He was wearing pajama pants and was
half-way wearing a crisp white shirt.
  He chuckled slightly,realising the source of Serenity's embarrassment.

  "What??"asked Jadeite pushing his hand through his other sleeve,eyeing
the prince with a curious look.
  "You have flustered Serenity.I believe you answered the door in only
your pajama pants??"questioned Endymion.
  "Oh,so that's why her,Mina and Raye's faces were red."said Jadeite.
"Malachite and I were wondering about that."
  "Mina and Raye??"echoed Endymion with a raised eyebrow.

  Jadeite recounted the tale and Endymion burst into laughter.

  "It seems you and Malachite will be making three girls very uncomfortable
this morning."
  "And it seems,you have recovered.So does that mean we will be returning
to the palace soon??"asked Jadeite hopefully.
  "I suppose so."Endymion replied with a frown.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Serenity,why don't you and the other girls take those empty jugs and
fill them with water from the waterfall??"suggested Luna.
  The five girls raised their eyebrows.
  "But,Aunt Luna...you said-"
  "Oh...I suppose,Artemis can go with you.."frowned Luna remembering her
instructions about the Black Woods Forest.
  "We could escort them,madam."volunteered Endymion.
His guard shot him a queer look.Why was their prince being so gallant??
He'd never bothered with trivial matters at the palace.Of course...that
was because he'd mostly been the library researching the fabled 
Moon Kingdom or inspecting military reports.
  Luna was startled by his offer."Well..I suppose.If it's not much trouble.
I gather Artemis would be busy today."
  "Then it's settled."smiled Endymion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The girls chatted happily amongst themselves in front of the men,each
one of them carrying a big jug.
  "I've never seen you in such high spirits today,Endymion.You've always
been so solemn and obsessive about the legend of the Moon Kingdom.It's
a change."pointed out Jadeite.
  "Jad's right.You seem very carefree ever since you came here.I mean,the
cottage."added Zoiscite.
  "Really."murmured Endymion his eyes following the bouncing silver blonde.
  "What's up with you anyway?"asked Nephrite.
  "Nothing.It's just...ever since I got better from,whatever it was I had..
I've been feeling...well,free.Complete.Like,everything in the world is
perfect."sighed Endymion closing his eyes.
  "Maybe it's just because you don't have the pressures of the palace."
said Malachite.
  "Maybe.But-"

  "I DID NOT,RAYE!!!"shouted a voice.
  "Yes,you did."
  "I merely said the moon-"
  "Is wonderful,you want to live there,you wish you could touch it,blah..
blah..blah."finished Raye.
  "Okay,I DID say those.."
  "And you said it's as mysterious as Endymion's eyes."
  "I did not!!"protested Serenity.

  Endymion felt a strange sensation run through his body.His lips quirked
into a smile.

  "Did too."
  "Did not."
  "Too."
  "Not."
  "BLLPPTH!!!"
  "Yes!!Raye blew a raspberry!!"exclaimed Mina with a squeal.

  And the tongue wars begin!!

  Amy turned slightly and saw the men had halted in their pace and were
staring at them,their eyes wide as saucers.She turned bright red at
their fascinated gazes.
  "Girls..have you...>cough< forgotten we have..>choke< company??"asked
Amy in a soft embarrased voice.
  Raye and Serenity stopped and stared at the men who were still staring
at them.Both of them turning 5 different shades of red.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  After filling their jugs with water,they were once again on their way
back towards the cottage,laughing and joking with the men who surrounded
them protectively from all sides.
  Suddenly,Raye blanched,her hands dropping the jug onto the ground.
The jug rolled away,the water,seeping into the ground.
  "Raye??What's wrong??"asked Serenity worried,putting her own jug to
the ground and coming towards Raye.
  Raye's eyes darted around the clearing.There was an evil aura about...
practising divination had allowed her a second sight the other girls did
not have.She saw things her friends did not.Felt things her friends 
did not.

  "There's something here."whispered Raye.

  Endymion's eyes narrowed.He felt a faint familiar darkness licking at
his belly.But it wasn't enough to make him sick.His guard now tuned to
their surroundings sensed the evil,Raye had spoken of.

  "Stay behind us,all of you."ordered Endymion as he and his guards
formed a circle.
  Their eyes darted about,their senses were standing on the end.Blood
pounded in their ears.

  Serenity stifled a scream as she saw the ugliest looking creature she'd
ever seen.It reeked the smell of rotting flesh.
  "It's a youma."breathed Raye.
  "That's not the only one."exclaimed Lita as she dropped her jug and
pointed around them.Youma's were popping out of the darkness,surrounding
them.
  The youma's released their breath in a hiss and pounced on the men who
began slashing at them.
  The five girls backed into each other as youma descended on them.Their
backs pressed to each other.
  "Get away!!"shouted Lita as one youma leapt at her,but Lita caught the
youma in mid-jump and threw it.The youma landed a few feet away.
  Picking up Serenity's jug on the ground,Raye threw the water at the
youma,and while it was distracted,she cracked it over the head with the
jug in hand.
  Serenity stared at the youma which in turn,stared back at her.With a
hiss,it leapt at her.Luckily,remembering the basic defense Lita had
taught her,Serenity went down on the ground and kicked it,flipping the
youma on the ground behind her.
  Starting to get up,another youma attacked her,this time..it's clawed
hands clasped round her throat.Serenity choked trying to kick the demon
of her.But she suddenly began to feel weak...like her strength was being
drained.Red evil eyes was the last thing she saw before darkness descended
on her.

  Endymion felt himself lurch then stagger.Out of the corner of his eye,
he saw a youma sitting atop Serenity...draining her of her life.
  Anger burst through his veins and it bloomed like a flower in spring.

  "NO!!"Endymion screamed.His hand released a burst of energy at the youma
he was battling,killing it.
  Endymion ran towards the youma who dared the hurt Serenity.That beautiful
angel...HIS angel.
  "Get AWAY FROM HER you energy-sucking demon!!"shouted Endymion as he
released another burst of energy killing the youma.
  Bending down,Endymion gathered the still Serenity in his arms.Her face
was pale and she was unconscious.Anger once again flooded his body.
To the girls and Endymion's guard,it seemed as if the earth had opened up
and was avenging itself,swallowing up the screaming youma.
But to Endymion,it was his anger...

  A few moments of silence..

  "Wh-what just happened??"asked Mina shakily.
  "Endymion??"prompted Malachite staring at his prince hard.Endymion was 
silent,protectively holding the woman named Serenity in his embrace.He'd
never seen the prince exude such a bold use of his powers as he'd just
done.
  "It's over..let's get back."whispered Endymion as her cradled Serenity
closely to him,protectively.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Luna and Artemis felt something and were out the cottage with their
cloaks on when the group returned.
  Luna's eyes widened at the sight of Serenity's still form in Endymion's
arms.
  "What happened??"demanded Luna as she stared at her charge's pale face.
Smoothing back the silver blonde strands of hair from her face.
  "Youmas attacked us."answered Raye.
  "Youmas??!"exclaimed Artemis in disbelief.
  "Shadow beings of evil.Created by evil."explained Zoiscite,mistaking
his disbelief for confusion.
  "We know what a youma is!!The question is,how do YOU know,Raye??"snapped
Artemis angrily.
  "Didn't Aunt Luna tell you??I practised divination."
  "I can't believe this!!What type of youmas were they??"asked Luna.
  "Energy collectors."answered Endymion darkly.
  Luna and Artemis paled.

  "I can't believe it.."whispered Artemis.
  
  "What??"questioned Amy.
  "Nothing!!Get into the cottage and take Serenity directly to bed."
ordered Luna furious."Artemis and I want to talk to these men for awhile."
  "Yes,Aunt Luna.."

  Endymion let Lita take the unconcious Serenity from him.But his eyes
never left her until they were safely in the cottage.

  "Just WHO are the five of you??!!"snapped Luna getting Endymion's
attention.
  "I beg your pardon??"asked Endymion.

  "Do NOT play dumb with us.We are not fools.We know from your garments,
you are from the city.Your auras speak of command and power.ESPECIALLY
you."said Luna her blue eyes narrowed on Endymion.
  "We felt a great power just now.And it DEFINATELY DID NOT come from the
girls."continued Artemis.

  Endymion's eyes narrowed on the guardians.They were observant and knew
a HELL lot more than they let on.
  "What about you??You are not any different.It is clear the pair of you,
know more about what is happening to this planet than you let on.So
enlighten me,WHAT is happening??"

  Luna's became hooded."We never expected..."she whispered.
  "She's going faster.Collecting energy faster.We didn't expect her at
such a rate..."sighed Artemis.
  "Who??Who is SHE??"questioned Malachite.

  "They're coming back.She wants to rule the Universe."

  "Stop speaking in riddles and give us a straight answer!!The Prince of
Earth has a right to know what on Earth is happening!"snapped Zoiscite.
  Luna and Artemis stared at Endymion."The Prince of Earth..??"

  Endymion nodded."Please..tell us.Who is this SHE you speak of.And who
are THEY??"
  "The Dark Kingdom...they're coming back.And Beryl,will stop at nothing."
whispered Luna,as tears misted up her eyes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...

Wheee...this is my longest chapter yet.I'm actually going faster into the
plotline.Meet me back here for Part 4 of After the Moon to the answer of
these questions.~Secret of the Moon Kingdom and What are the Senshi??
Email me at Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com