selty1

Mare Serenitatis: Trappings of Power

This fanfiction came out of my wanting to write a Sailor Moon story that didn�t follow the traditional plots, you know, our favorite heroines encounter a new enemy, almost die, but make it through, learning something about themselves and having some sort of romance in the process. So this story is about Queen Serenity, the mother of TsukinoUsagi/Sailor Moon. Not too much action in this one besides a very intense (I hope!) ending, but a lot of character development. I enjoyed writing this one, and I�m planning a couple other stories about Serenity. Also, Mare Serenitatis is the Latin name for the Sea of Serenity on the Moon. One little note: Serenity�s nickname, Selty, is based on the fact that the letter R and the letter L are pronounced the same in Japanese, therefore Selenity, Selty. I�d rate this story PG for intense dialogue and situations. Happy reading, send any comments to [email protected].

Main Characters
Serenity- Moon Princess, future mother of Usagi.
Selene-Queen of the Moon Kingdom, Serenity�s mother.
Lairian-King of the Moon Kingdom, from Jupiter, Serenity�s father.
Kryaliyh-Called Green, Princess of Juu�alan.
Ginzuishou-Source of the power of the Moon Kingdom, also known as the Imperium Silver Crystal.

Selene banged her fist on the desk, white-blonde hair rustling in the process. Her elegant features contorted with rage, she glared at her advisors.

�I will not accept this!� the Moon Queen yelled in an uncharacteristic display of anger. �The Solar System must be united! This war between Uranus and Neptune shall destroy both of them, while the Moon and
Mars are in a tenuous alliance that is falling apart! Mercury sits there and does nothing, while the Earth is a struggling colony of backwards farmers that know nothing about politics, only about seeds and growing! Jupiter
and Saturn remain are bound to each other airtight, and the ones stuck out on Pluto are so strange as to barely be tolerated! I have the Ginzuishou, I have unlimited power, and yet I cannot unite ten struggling civilizations!
We will destroy ourselves, why can no one see this! What can I do, blow up every planet that annoys me? Something must be done!� the Queen cried, despair in her voice. Her tall husband paced over to her and laid a
comforting hand on her shoulder.

�Selene�don�t worry, we will make it all right.� Lairian told his wife, hating the fact that he wasn�t sure if he was lying.

Selene�s eyes closed and her head
bent in shame. �My apologies, honored advisors�Lian. You�have better things to do than listen to the rantings of a frustrated ruler. Please excuse me.� She stood, smiling tentatively at her husband, with a small bow for her panel of advisors, and stepped out of the room, her white gown trailing behind her.

Selene stared into the crystal waters of her favorite pond. She threw off her white, heeled shoes and dangled her feet into it. The Queen of the Moon looked at her reflection, almost smiling at the incongruity of it. The woman she saw looked to be around the age of twenty, but was in fact far
older. Her blue eyes were red-rimmed, and her face flushed with passing anger. Her white-blonde hair was done up in the odango style the Moon Queens had used for generations. She was dressed in typical finery, a white silk dress with golden lace on the bodice and long, off the shoulder sleeves,
with a full skirt made of layers of gauzy, effervescent material. Several of these layers dripped into the water of the pond. Selene winced slightly, thinking that the cost of this dress would cover food for a large peasant family for at least a month. Selene looked up as she heard footsteps approaching,
knowing it was her husband Lairian. Lairian was the rightful King of Jupiter, but had married the Moon Queen to form an unbreakable alliance, relinquishing his home planet to the rule of his very capable brother. He was an imposing figure, thick red hair framing a tanned face, concerned emerald eyes staring into the blue ones of his wife.

�Are you all right?� Lairian asked softly, sinking down beside his wife. Selene knew he was worried about her, his voice was never less than boisterous unless something was truly bothering him.
She attempted a smile.
�I�m fine, Lian. I let my anger get away from me sometimes, it�s not right. Neither you nor the advisors deserve it. I just get so frustrated.�
Lairian tilted his head slightly.
�Maybe you should relinquish your political duties to me for a time. You don�t need this right now.�

Selene shook her head stubbornly. �I can do it. I have to do it. I�ll find a way.�
Lairian nodded, knowing better than to push his wife when she was in one of her moods. He looked down into the pond and watched the reflection as his wife slowly moved a hand to her pregnant stomach.

The midwife smiled at her Queen. �Just one more push, my lady��
An exhausted Selene made the last effort, falling back onto the pillows after she had pushed.
�You have a beautiful daughter!� The midwife announced. Selene smiled. She had known it would be a daughter, the line of the moon was always carried on through the daughters. The midwife gently toweled
off the newborn Princess� face and hair, and Selene stared at her with an incredulous smile. The baby had a few tendrils of light pink hair and was currently crying lustily.
�Can I�.hold her?� Selene asked tremulously. The midwife smiled at her Queen.
�Of course.� She placed the baby into Selene�s arms. Lairian walked over from his chair a few feet away and stood behind his
wife, reaching over to touch his daughter�s cheek for a moment.
�She�s beautiful.� Lairian said, with a catch in his tone.
A tear rolled down Selene�s face. �She is.� As she looked down at her daughter, the baby�s cries slowly stopped. �I will call her�Serenity.�

Eight-year-old Princess Serenity peered into the Council Chamber where her mother was meeting with Jahred of Neptune and Hytarth of Uranus. She didn�t know too much about politics, but did know that Neptune
and Uranus had been at war since before she was born. Something to do with kidnappings and attacks on trade ships.
Serenity liked to watch her mother when she was negotiating with the Ambassadors. Right now, Jahred and Hytarth were yelling at each other.
�This war would never have happened if you had not kidnapped our Princess!� Hytarth flared at Jahred.
�We would have never kidnapped your princess if you hadn�t taken the nephew of our King!� Jahred returned.
�ENOUGH!� Selene yelled. Serenity blinked. She knew that tone. It was the tone her mother used whenever Serenity ran away to the city, or made a mess, or disobeyed instructions. Serenity closed the door and left the chambers. She knew the negotiations would be over soon.
Her mother would get frustrated, the Ambassadors would leave. Serenity walked down the long, empty marble hallway of the main Palace of the Moon. She wished the people of Neptune and Uranus would get some sense and stop fighting. She could never understand what could be worth killing
thousands of people for. Or why anyone would kidnap another person�s daughter or nephew. She shivered a little, what if one of those Ambassadors got mad and tried to kidnap her? Serenity bit her lip. She knew
that her mother had the Ginzuishou, a crystal with enormous powers, and would never let anything happen to her. She was safe.
�Selty!� Serenity looked around at the sound of her nickname, seeing her red-haired father.
�Daddy!� Serenity called, smiling and running to him. Her father smiled and swung his daughter around.
�I have something very special for you today, honey.� Lairian said, grinning broadly at his daughter.
�A surprise?� Serenity�s blue eyes widened.
�Of sorts. But�� Lairian said, wagging a finger at his daughter, �You will have to be very responsible about this surprise.� He took her hand and led her to the Throne Room. Serenity had no idea what was going on, but hoped it was as good as her father�s last surprise. On her eighth birthday, he had
bought her a pony. As they reached the throne room, they saw a girl standing in the middle of the floor. Serenity couldn�t help but stare. The girl had long, tangled brown hair, a tanned face, and bright green eyes. Serenity thought the girl might be about two years younger than herself. She was dressed in soft, silky pants of white, a blue tunic, and a brown leather vest. Her feet were bare, and she made a most outlandish picture. Serenity, in her white dress with puffed
sleeves, lace, and a full skirt, suddenly felt out of place.
�Princess Serenity of the Moon, may I present Princess Kryaliyh of Juu�alan.� King Lairian intoned formally.
Serenity curtsied politely. �Princess Kry�Krya�� Panic began to surface in Serenity�s eyes. The other girl�s name was too alien for her to pronounce.
�My mother always called me Green.� The other girl said shyly. �I like plants.
Serenity smiled in relief. �My mom calls me Selty. I�m glad to meet you. Are you visiting the Moon?�
Green looked down. �My planet is�gone. I was the only one left, and now I guess I live here.� Her eyes filled with tears.
Serenity crossed the room and took the other girl�s hands. �Don�t worry! It�s really nice here. There�s ponds and trees and a great city and lots of things to do. It�ll be fun. We�ll be like sisters!� Serenity smiled.
Green sniffled and attempted a smile back. �Yes�I�d like that.�

Two years seemed to fly by, and Serenity grew at a rate she found alarming. At the age of ten, she was the tallest girl she knew, and her awkwardness disgusted her. Green, however, had remained petite, a fact
envied by the Princess of the Moon. They had become almost sisters, a fact which was contained in many gentle jokes about their inseparability. Often, Serenity would encourage her friend to sneak out to the
city with her, which greatly dismayed the rulers of the Moon. The war between Uranus and Neptune had been ended through much diplomatic maneuvering on the part of Queen Selene, who had become much more relaxed since the war�s end.

�Come onnnn, Green, don�t be such a coward!� Serenity said to her friend. �We go out into the city all the time, and has anything bad ever really happened?�
�Well, let�s see. There was the time a pickpocket stole all our stuff, the time where we got lost and the army had to come get us, and of course, every time, we are caught and yelled at by your mother.� Green said stubbornly.
�Well, yes, but isn�t it fun?� Serenity said with a grin.
Green rolled her eyes. �Selty, you know you are my best and dearest friend, but do we really have to go to the city?�
Serenity knew her friend was weakening, and that her powers of persuasion were finally going to work. �Yes.�
Green reached over and grabbed a shawl. �Then we might as well get it over with.�
Serenity had to restrain from a whoop of joy.

Getting ready to go on one of their city trips was always an ordeal. Serenity had routinely paid the palace servants in return for some plainer clothes that would keep her somewhat incognito, and she always had
to let down her long, light-pink hair, dust it with coal to make it seem black, and braid it. The odango style was just too much of a
hint at her royalty, even though it was often copied by others. Green simply would throw her hair into a bun and dress plainly, she was far less likely to be recognized. Serenity truly enjoyed the outings into the city.
She felt her parents kept her far too sheltered in the palace, and wanted to see how everyone else lived. After all, she would be Queen someday, even if it wasn�t for several thousand years, and wanted to know
how she could help her people.
�Ready, Green?� Serenity said, smiling at her friend.
�I suppose.� Green said. �But remember, this was all your idea.�
Serenity nodded. The two girls proceeded to walk down the hall, blend in with a chattering group of servants, and leave
through the front gate. Serenity�s parents were extremely busy people, and though she loved them dearly, she couldn�t exactly describe them as overly attentive.
�Free at last!� Serenity said dramatically as they left the palace gates. Around the palace was the City of the Moon,
or just the city to anyone who lived there. The city was the largest on the moon, and contained a dazzling number of inhabitants. Serenity loved everything about it�the bustle, the loudness, the smells of the
marketplace, the neat houses of the rich and the crowded huts of the poor. No one was truly poor in the city, Queen Selene made sure of that. It was remarkably clean and well kept, and people from many other planets
often came to observe it and try to emulate it in their own kingdoms. So far, no one had quite succeeded.
�Where to, Green? You can choose today.�
Green got a thoughtful look on her face. �You know�I�ve always wanted to see how they made candles.� Serenity looked curiously at her friend.
�Candles? Really? Well, if that�s
where we�re going, let�s go. Race you there!� Serenity took off, her cheap linen skirts brushing against her long legs. Serenity knew she was a very fast runner, one thing her height did give her.
�Waaaaaaahhhhh!� Serenity yelled as she tripped over a cobblestone. Unfortunately, another thing her height gave her was a gawkiness the courtiers found astounding in their princess. Green rushed up to her.
�Are you all right?� Green�s emerald eyes reflected concern. �Let me see.� The brown-haired girl reached out to her
friend�s skinned knee, and laid cool, long fingers on it, closing her eyes. When Green took her hand back, the wound was healed.
�Thanks.� Serenity said.
�You�re welcome. Still want to go to the chandler�s?� Green asked.
�Sure.� Serenity said, standing up. �There�s one right over there.�
The two girls walked toward the chandlery, indicated by the bright painting of a candle on a sign over the door. The shop
was painted a cheerful blue, and looked to be in good repair. Serenity, a veteran of these excursions, had learned that a shop in good repair was usually owned by a trustworthy crafter. The girls entered the shop, and
looked behind the counter for the chandler.
�Hello, ladies, how can I help you?� The chandler was a burly man with a blond beard and short blond hair. His physique was more that of a blacksmith than a chandler, and he wore a leather apron covered with wax drippings of various colors.
Serenity nudged Green forward. �Your choice, you talk.� She whispered to her brown-haired friend.
Green cleared her throat. �My name is Esmeralda�� Serenity had to stifle a giggle, the girls always made up names when on one of their city trips. �and I�m interested in some candles.�
The chandler smiled. �That�s my job. What type would you like, tapered, short, decorative, functional��
Green thought for a moment. �Tapered I think. I have a holder here, that I would like something for�� Green reached into the pocket of her bag and drew out a three-branched candelabra. Serenity�s eyes widened as she saw it. It was made of wood, but seamless, and the wood was so
healthy-looking it seemed to glow. It was of a light red-brown color, and Serenity could smell a pungent wood-odor emanating from it. The chandler reached out and gently took the candle-holder.
�Nice piece of work here. Never seen anything like it�was the crafter local?� The man�s brown eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at Green, who shook her head.
�No. It�s pretty old, too, maybe
that has something to do with it.
The chandler nodded, satisfied with the explanation. �I�m sure I have several candles that would fit this. Any color preference?�
Serenity looked at her friend, who lowered her head slightly. �Green.�

�What was that all about?� Serenity hissed as they left the shop. �You didn�t tell me you wanted to buy something!�
Green shrugged uncomfortably. �Well, I knew you wanted to go to the city and this is just something I�ve been meaning to do.�
Serenity glanced at her friend. �Is that candlestick holder�from your old world?�
Green stared at Serenity, her normally warm emerald eyes frighteningly cold. �Yes.�
Serenity reached out impulsively and took her friend�s hand. �Please, Kryaliyha�tell me about Juu�alan, and what happened there.�
Green�s fingers tightened painfully on those of her almost-sister, but Serenity refused to show pain, even when she could no longer feel her hand.
�It was a beautiful world�.so many plants, it was almost a jungle. We lived as part of nature, our houses were in the trees, there were no big cities, no manufacture, just people and animals and trees.
I miss some of that, but I like the Moon, too. My mother and father were wonderful�I don�t remember too much about them except for that, though. They ruled our planet in a way, but not like here, I can�t explain, I remember too little. I was away visiting a neighboring planet when it happened. My planet just�died. And everyone on it. Except for me, because I was away�
I don�t know if I was lucky or not. I miss it, and I miss them�the candelabra belonged to my mother, she loved it. She called me Green because I could heal things, people and plants, and whatever I grew would grow higher and flourish more than anyone else�s plants. I am alone now�oh, Selty�� Green�s
eyes were faraway and bereft of hope.
Serenity hugged her friend. �You�re never alone�you have me, and my parents, and the entire kingdom to love you. And someday, we�ll find out what happened to your world, and then you�ll know and everything will be okay.
I promise you, everything will be okay.� Serenity couldn�t help a tear from sliding down her cheek as her friend sobbed into her shoulder.

Serenity was the only one to whom Green ever told the story of her world�s ending, and they became even more inseparable than before. People joked that they were two halves of the same person in different
bodies, and sometimes the two girls believed them. Selene had wrested the solar system into relative peace, and Serenity slowly grew into her height, attaining a beauty that was the subject of many dewy-eyed minstrels ballads.

�Selty?� Selene hesitantly called into her thirteen-year old daughter�s room.
�Come on in, mother.� Serenity returned. Selene entered Selty�s room with her usual grace, smiling at her daughter as she
sat down in a comfortable chair.
�Selty, I think it�s time you begin to learn something of ruling.� Selene said calmly.
Serenity�s eyes widened. �Ruling? But mother, I won�t be Queen for�forever!� The people of the Moon Kingdom had unusually long lifespans, especially the royal family.
Selene nodded. �However, on your eighteenth birthday, you will be confirmed as my heir. That is in five years, and you have much to learn from now until then. Once you are the heir, you will be expected to
make state visits to the other planets and use the power of the Moon. You will have only slightly less duties than I.�
Serenity frowned. �I have to learn how to use the Ginzuishou? And about politics and such?�
Selene nodded. �Yes. It�s important for you to know about our solar system. I hope, one day, that the Moon Kingdom will unite all the others in one alliance.�
Selty smiled. �That would be nice.�
Selene pulled the Ginzuishou from its usual spot in a brooch holding her shawl on, and handed it to her daughter. �You should touch it, or stare at it, or try to establish some sort of connection with it.
For some it comes easily, for others it may not come at all. There have been several Moon Queens who have had no rapport with it. I myself have a limited rapport. My grandmother could control it entirely, and in her time, so long ago, there was a true alliance between the planets.� A momentary shadow fell on the Queen�s eyes. �Sometimes I wonder if I had more power, if I could do more�but that isn�t something anyone can help, so I do what I can.�
Selty took the jewel, staring deeply into it. It had many facets, and the corners were so cleanly cut as to be almost sharp. It was an indeterminate clear-rainbow color, and about the size of her fist, though it somehow fit into the much smaller brooch her mother stored it into. She stared deeply
into it, gray eyes looking almost through it. For a moment, nothing happened, and then she seemed to fall into the Ginzuishou. Images assaulted her mind� a man with bright blonde hair and laughing blue eyes� a woman with red hair, laughing in another way� a baby� a man with black hair� a palace� women bowing to her.
�Serenity? Serenity!� Selty returned to her conscious self to her mother�s call. Her forehead felt hot, and she glanced over at a mirror and found a yellow moon symbol glowing on it. She looked at her mother�s
forehead but found nothing similar.
Selene reached out and touched her daughter�s forehead. �The Ginzuishou has marked you�you will become what few can dream of.� Selene reached for the crystal and placed it back into the brooch, re-fastening her shawl and leaving the room quietly. Serenity stared at the wall in shock, trying to recall what she had seen and experienced.

�It was frightening, Lian.� Selene told her husband, burying her head in his shoulder. �It was like they were talking, or the Ginzuishou was telling her something. I�ve never seen anything like it.
And now she�s marked with the sigil of the moon, like my grandmother was, but neither me nor my mother was�.I don�t understand it, the sigil is still there.�
Lian comfortingly ran a hand through his wife�s long, silky hair. �Selene�the Ginzuishou protects our
family, protects the Moon. It is a joyous event that our daughter and the Ginzuishou seem to have a rapport.�
�I�m jealous, Lian.� Selene said quietly. �I�m jealous of the power she will have.�
�Selene, you have done more with this kingdom than your mother could have dreamt of. You have made us prosperous, just look at the City!� Lairian pushed his wife gently toward the window.
�The people love you, and they are happy with you. You have much time left to realize all your dreams, and once Serenity is heir, she will join you, and you will accomplish all you wish for.�
Selene wished she could believe that.

�And that�s why you have a moon on your head?� Green said to her friend-sister excitedly.
Serenity nodded, eyes wide. �The Ginzuishou showed me things, too, but I can�t remember them�I learned things. It was amazing, but scary.�
Green grinned. �Our fearless Selty, scared?�
Selty shrugged. �Not scared, just�intimidated, maybe. All that power. And my mother was acting pretty weird, too. Like this wasn�t what was supposed to happen.�
�Well, it did, and it�s not like it�s a bad thing!� Green said.
Serenity bit her lip. �Hey, how about we try to bum some treats off the cook?� She said, desperately wanting a return to normalcy.
Green looked at her friend�s changed features, and nodded. �I think there�s cake today.�

�Serenity, there are other things about this solar system you must know.� Selene said. Selty nodded.
�Mercury, closest to the sun, is a planet of water. Ruled by Queen Raminai, Mercury has been one of our closest allies for many, many years. My advisors and I believe there is little to fear from this planet. Venus is also a good ally, ruled by King Yminian. Mercury and Venus both have
prosperous trades with each other and the Moon. The Earth has few colonists right now, and is mostly a farming community. People from all the planets have settled there, and there is no true government, per say. Mars, however, is a slightly different story.� Selene said with a sigh. �Mars has two factions: Those who want peace, and those who want war. Queen Demisaia is a good friend of
mine, and we have little to fear from her, but the rebels who want war hate the Moon because it alone has the power to unite the solar system. If they could, some of them would destroy us. Demisaia has a son, Lyrth, who is around your age. I want you two to get to know each other, a Mars-Moon
alliance would do us well. Does the thought of an alliance marriage disturb you, Selty? I would never make you miserable.� Selene looked measuringly at her daughter.
Serenity shrugged. �If I liked him, it wouldn�t bother me too much. I want to help my kingdom and be a good Princess.�
�Jupiter is where your father is from. He gave up the throne of Jupiter to become part of the Moon�s royal family. Sometimes that happens, other times the married ruler will keep their throne and simply ally
the two planets. Your father felt his brother, Kantalis, would do a better job of ruling, to put it in simple terms. We are on extremely good terms with Jupiter. The outer planets are forces of their own in several ways. Saturn is the only planet I have personally never visited. The King and Queen, Honath and
Taurancea, keep to themselves and trade with the other planets without ever allying. They have never shown aggression,
but are not particularly friendly either. Neither
Uranus nor Neptune is on particularly good terms with each other or the moon. They had been at war for almost one hundred years before that ended a short time ago; the war resulted from kidnappings and breaches of trade agreements. We must tread lightly with both. Pluto is as reclusive as Saturn,
and I receive one scroll from Queen Stantia per year, nothing more. Our biggest threats are Uranus, Neptune and Mars. But I suppose that is enough politics for now.� Selene ended her long speech.
Selty nodded, her head swimming with all these facts she was sure she would not remember. �Yes.�

�Let�s go to the city, Green.� Selty told her friend in a nonchalant tone.
Green looked curiously at the Princess. �You haven�t wanted to go there in years. I thought you had finally gotten tired of it.� Green was tending a small, flowering plant that seemed to almost glow as she ran a hand over its healthy leaves.
Selty shrugged moodily.
�I just want to get away from lessons and crystals and Princessly things for a while. Be a normal person.�
Green turned her full attention to her friend. �Is something bothering you, Serenity? You know you can tell me anything.� Her emerald eyes seemed bottomless and reminded Selty of the plants decorating the brown-haired girl�s room.
�I just�wonder sometimes if I�m not meant to be a Princess. I mean, I�m tall and graceful and have long hair,
the Ginzuishou seems to like me, and I�ve finally got the political stuff memorized�but isn�t there something more? Mother makes decisions every day that affect peoples lives, that choose between life and
death for who knows how many people she will never meet. I don�t know if I can do that. I just want to get away from it for a little while.�
�It will all still be here when you get back.� Green said matter-of-factly. �Running away only lasts for a little while.�
Serenity nodded. �I know.�
Green shrugged. �Then, Selty m�dear, we shall go to the city.�

Selty wondered again at the beauty of the City of the Moon. The people, walking around, everyone with their own thoughts, their own lives. And someday she�d be responsible for all of them.
She shuddered at the thought and turned her thoughts to the brightly painted signs of the marketplace.
�Barrettes for your hair, lady?� A gray-haired woman in a booth offered her wares with a friendly smile.
�No, thank you.� Selty and Green said in unison.
�Where are we going?� Green asked her friend.
Serenity shrugged, tossing her unbound hair over her shoulder. She liked having her hair free, the odango style constrained her spirits sometimes. The whole life of a princess constrained her spirits, in fact.
She was sick of it. Selty winced, knowing it was a horrible thing to think, that she should be grateful for the wonderful opportunities she would have. She just wasn�t. �Let�s go to the jewelers.
I want to buy Father a new pendant.�
Green nodded, and the two girls set off for the jewelers shop. As they reached it and walked in, a man with light blue eyes and black hair spotted them. �How can I help you, ladies?� he asked.
�I�d like to buy a pendant.� Selty said with a smile.
�Isn�t that a bit out of your price range?� The man said with a condescending smile in return.
Selty arched a brow and pulled out a note worth more than the jeweler probably made in a year. �No.�
The jeweler�s eyes widened, before he plastered another smile on his face and bowed. �Terribly sorry, m�lady�� He paused for a name.
�Kalliandra.� Serenity said. One of her favorite parts of going to the city had always been making up new names for herself.
�We have several pendants here you might like�� The jeweler showed her several. One, a small emerald set in an ornate silver pin, caught her eye.
�I�d like the emerald one, please.� Selty said. She thought the color would match her father�s eyes. Green smiled her approval of the color.
The jeweler nodded and wrapped the pendant. �Thank you for your business, Lady Kalliandra.�

�Kalliandra. I like that one.� Green commented.
Selty grinned. �Me too. Here, let�s sit down.� The girls settled beneath a sprawling tree.
�Are you feeling better?� Green asked.
Serenity looked down. �Yeah�I�m sorry.�
�No need to be sorry.� Green said absently, staring at the tree.
�What do you see?� Selty asked.
Green pointed. �Part of this tree is dying�here, I�ll try to fix it.� She laid a long-fingered hand on the bark, closing her eyes in concentration.
Serenity watched the dying part of the tree, waiting for the resurgence of life that always accompanied Green�s plant-healing. Surprisingly, nothing happened.
�It�didn�t work.� Green said, puzzled.
�Maybe you�re too tired.� Selty offered.
Green yawned. �Yes�I am feeling a little faint�can we go home now?�
Serenity helped her friend up, and they proceeded to the palace.

After Selty had helped her friend to her bed, she began to wander the palace as she often did while thinking. Green was exhausted, Selty worried that she was possibly getting sick. Trying to plant-heal didn�t usually take that much out of her, and it almost always worked. Selty had changed
back into her usual elegant white gown and taken the makeup off of her moon sigil. It had remained since the incident with the crystal, an incident Serenity liked to dismiss from her mind before
she could think about it too deeply. She paused as she heard voices coming from her parents� room.
�Lian, it�s not that I don�t enjoy being Queen, it�s just that sometimes it�s like a weight that presses me further toward the ground each day.�
Serenity�s blue-gray eyes widened to hear her mother voicing her exact sentiments, and stepped lithely behind a pillar to listen further. She didn�t make a habit out of eavesdropping, but she couldn�t seem to resist.
�Everyone seems to think we can work miracles, that the Moon Queen is some sort of Goddess with unlimited power. No one understands that we are just like them, albeit with the Ginzuishou.
I inherited a failing empire from my poor, dear mother, and have put it together with as much political know-how and power as I could muster. And yet, I am supposed to unite the solar system, help those struggling agriculturists colonize Earth, and make everything a perfect utopia! I have ruled for 800 years, and sometimes the burden just seems unimaginable�but I admit that I wouldn�t trade it for anything.
Assembling the City of the Moon, ending wars, bringing peace�this is what I was born for, and this is what I love.
My Selty has shown such promise; I know that she will be the ruler this kingdom needs. She will be the one to unite the solar system, I can�t tell you how I know, I just know. Her life will not be without tribulation, but she will overcome, and she will be great.�
�As are you, Selene.� Serenity heard her father say to her mother, great affection in his voice.
Serenity could feel tears building behind her eyes. She was such a selfish little twit, trying to shirk her duties, trying to deny her heritage. Her mother was so convinced of her impending greatness, and she was off gallivanting in the city. Serenity walked away from the room, quietly vowing to herself that that was her last city trip.

�Selty, I would like you to sit in the throne room with me today and help me to receive the petitions.� Selene said to her daughter.
Serenity nodded to her mother, relieved that the Queen sounded more cheerful than during yesterday�s overheard conversation. �Of course.� Her mother was wearing the full vestments of the Moon Queen today.
Her white hair sparkled, falling to the ground, her blue eyes set in the perfect complexion the shade of the white sand of her planet. Her crown was a silver tiara with a single gold crescent moon in the middle, a slender circle around her forehead. Selene�s dress was pure white, with white vines and flowers decorating the bodice which ended in a V at her waist, off the shoulder puffy sleeves accenting
the slender arms hugged by more white fabric. The bottom of the dress was layers and layers of gauzy white. Serenity quietly thought her mother had never looked more elegant, nor more royal.
She wished that someday she would have that composure. Her own dress was much the same, only with ruffled sleeves instead of puffed and a small bow in the back. She held her head up high as she knew befitted a Princess, and the Queen and Princess of the Moon walked together to the throne room.

Several hours later, both women were exhausted. All the complaints were from farmers of some sort, all about trees dying or crops failing. All demanded the influence of the Ginzuishou to be used to end this dastardly disease.
�Has anything like this happened before?� Selty asked her mother quietly.
�Not that I know of.� Selene shook her head. �I fear I may have to use the crystal�s power to rid our planet of this plant disease. Crop failure could lead to starvation.�
Serenity bit her lip. �Green and I went to the city yesterday.�
Selene leveled a glare at her daughter. �I have warned you about that, and yet you disobey me?� Her tones were dangerous.
Serenity hung her head. �I know, Mother. But there was a sick tree there, and Green tried to heal it, and she almost fainted from exhaustion. She�s been sick in bed since then, and I�m worried about her. Could you look at her?�
Selene nodded slowly. �Yes. But you must promise me, Princess Serenity of the Moon, that there will be no more excursions to the city.�
�You have my promise, Mother.� Serenity slowly climbed off of the smaller throne, somewhat less gracefully than her mother. The two women walked in silence to Green�s chambers before knocking.
�Come in.� A weak voice called. Serenity looked at her mother in panic.
As they entered the room, Green was in her bed, eyes closed. Her face was gaunt and pale, and when she opened her eyes, their
usual shade of radiant emerald was replaced by the sickly brown-green of dying leaves. �Queen�Princess�� She said in a rasping voice.
�Green!� Selty said, horrified, rushing toward her friend. Her mother put a constraining hand on her forearm before she could get far.
�Let me examine her through the ginzuishou�s powers, first, Selty.� Selene�s eyes closed, and the crystal appeared in
her outstretched hands. Green swallowed, sinking back into the pillows as her eyes closed. In a moment, Selene�s
hands were empty and her eyes opened.
�Kryaliyh�� She began, using Green�s full name as no one had in years.
�I know.� Green said in a whisper. �I�m dying.�
�No!� Serenity screamed, running to her friend, heedless of the danger. �You can�t die! I won�t let you!� Tears streamed down her face.
Green covered her friend�s pale, graceful hand with her own. �Selty�remember what I told you about Juu�alan? The Blight has returned to claim the one that got away.�
�The Blight?� Selene raised an
eyebrow at her daughter.
�A plant disease�.oh, no!� Serenity couldn�t believe that she had missed the connection. �The plant disease that spread to the people of Juu�alan and ruined the planet, it�s here!�
Selene�s eyes grew cold. �You knew of this?�
�No, please believe me, I didn�t make the connection! I just thought Green had the flu, and the tree was just dying�� Selty cursed her own stupidity for missing the connection.
�Your majesty?� A royal courier was at the door. �I bear messages from five of the other planets, they are marked urgent.�
�Bring them here.� Selene said
quietly, though all three women knew what they contained. The messenger handed the envelopes to the queen, bowed, and left.
�Plants are dying on Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Mars and Earth.� Selene said quietly. �The Blight is in the entire solar system.�

Serenity and Selene bid goodbye to Green and went immediately to the Council Chambers. Serenity knew she had to follow
this through and tried to clear her mind, though it felt as if it was stuck with cotton. The guards nodded at the two royals and
opened the great wooden doors to the chambers. As they entered, the three royal advisors stood and bowed. Both women sat quietly.
�There is a grave problem within the solar system.� Selene began. �There is a Blight upon plants that has the
possibility of spreading to people. It is an insidious sickness that could cause mass starvation and death. Already it is affecting Princess Kryaliyh of Juu�alan, who is close to death.�
Serenity willed herself to remain calm though hysteria threatened to break out. �Princess Kryaliyh has told me of a
similar Blight that affected her planet. It decimated all vegetation and spread to the human population. None were spared excepting herself, because she was offplanet.�
Girand, the Chief Advisor, stood. �Can our doctors make some sort of vaccination against this threat?�
Selene shook her head. �It is not a disease. It is of magical origins, almost a consciousness. It was not sent by a person and it is not intelligent per say, but it is a sort of organism all the same.�
�The Ginzuishou must be used.� Hymara, a second advisor, said quietly.
�But in this magnitude, our Queen could be�.injured!� Jubara, the tactful third advisor said, changing his last
word quickly to avoid panic.
Selene shook her head. �There is no help for it.�
Serenity felt panic, she was
only fifteen, she could never rule if something happened�nothing could happen! She couldn�t lose Green, she couldn�t lose her mother, she wouldn�t survive. �What if I use it?� She said quietly.
Selene turned knowing eyes to her daughter. �Queens of the Moon are allowed one child. The line of succession must be held true.�
Serenity bit her lip hard to keep from crying, feeling the tart tang of blood as she did so.
�Your majesty?� Another royal courier was at the door. �Several Ambassadors are here and say they must meet with the Council, that it is urgent.�
Selene nodded, every inch the Queen. �Let them come.�
Three ambassadors rushed in, wearing the colors of the royal families of Mercury, Venus and Mars. They bowed as one.
�My lady�� The dark-haired Martian began.
�I know what you are all going to say.� Selene said calmly. �There is a Blight on all vegetation in your realms which you request my aid in abating.�
�See! I told you she could read minds!� The young Ambassador of Venus hissed excitedly to the woman in the colors
of Mercury, who promptly hushed him.
�No, honored Ambassador, I cannot.� Selene said with a gentle smile to the nervous Venusian. �All of you, give word to your rulers that the Blight will be stopped.�
The Ambassadors bowed once more, exiting silently. Selene turned back to her advisors.
�If anything untoward is to happen during this undertaking, I would like to prematurely confirm as my heir my daughter, Serenity.� Selene said, indicating Selty.
Girand looked to his fellow
advisors, intoning the formal words. �Is there any here who would object to this choice of Heir?� The other two advisors shook their heads. �Then let the Heir be confirmed as Princess Serenity of the Moon.� Girand
went to a glass case in the corner, pulling out the coronet of the Heir. It was a slim circle of braided gold, the strands representing honor, love, and justice, the three fundamental tenets of the royal family of the Moon.
He placed it in the hands of Selene, who slowly walked over to her daughter and placed the slim band around Serenity�s forehead.
Serenity held her head up, ignoring the thoughts that the Confirmation was supposed to be a joyous event of celebration. She could sense the tears behind the eyes of all present in the room.
�I do accept the position of Heir and promise to wield the power and responsibility now granted to me as befits the Heir to the Kingdom of the Moon.� Serenity said formally, proud that her voice did not break.
Selene stood once more. �Then it is done. Tomorrow at dawn I shall use the Ginzuishou to rid the solar system of the Blight.� She stepped out of the room gracefully, Serenity following. The three advisors stared after them, a tear falling down Jubara�s face.

Selty couldn�t sleep that night. She thought of waking up that morning, knowing everything was right with the world.
And now, nothing was right. Her best friend was dying, her mother could well lose her life, and in spite of all that, the threat to everything she had ever known might not be abated. The Blight! Ha, it was ruining her life, it was a Blight upon her very soul. Serenity glared into the darkness. This Blight
would not take her solar system! She would fight until her last breath to save her home, to save what she held dear. The moon sigil on her forehead felt hot. She would never give up against this. She hated the Blight.
And, Selty added, she would not cry. Princesses did not cry.
�Princesses don�t cry!� Selty whispered allowed, holding back a sob. �Princesses don�t cry!� But she couldn�t stop a tear
from sliding down her cheek, a tear which led to another, which led to her burying her face into her pillow and sobbing. Suddenly, she felt a comforting hand on her face.
�Serenity, my dear, don�t cry�� Selene said fondly to her daughter.
�I�m sorry mother�I know it doesn�t befit a Princess�� Selty said, sniffling.
�Oh, Selty, you are not just a Princess�you are a lovely, righteous, strong-willed young woman who is so much more and
who is so very loved by her mother and father�� Selene said softly. Serenity noticed her father then, who was standing on the other side of her bed.
�But I don�t want anything bad to happen�I just want everything to be normal!� Selty said, almost with a wail.
Lairian looked at his daughter. �Life isn�t always normal, my dear. You are strong, you can do anything. Never forget that.�
Selty nodded, wiping away her tears.
�We will always love you, Serenity.� Selene said to her daughter, brushing the moon sigil on her forehead. �Now sleep.� And her parents each kissed a cheek, and Serenity suddenly felt so tired�she couldn�t help but fall asleep.

As suddenly as she had slept, Selty woke. The first rays of the sun had appeared, dawn was coming�it was too early to get up�then something in Serenity�s mind snapped.
�Dawn! The Blight!� She said aloud, jumping out of bed, washing herself quickly, and dressing in a formal white gown. She ran down the hall to her parents� room, but no one was there.
�The Throne Room.� Serenity said, rushing to it, remembering to slow her stride once she was close. Her parents were on their thrones, the court of the Moon Kingdom spread about them in a rainbow of
clothes and hair and talk. Serenity entered as the herald called her name, she never quite knew how it was that she arrived exactly on time. She proceeded to the head of the room to sit with her parents and the rulers
of the other planets, who had arrived overnight.
�A Blight has stricken the solar system, and as the Queen of the Moon and the wielder of the Ginzuishou, I now pledge to overcome this Blight.� Selene said in ringing tones, thrusting her hands up to reveal the sparkling crystal.
The room erupted in cheers for their beloved Queen, the rulers of the other planets raising their chins in acceptance.
Serenity watched as her mother slowly stood, her graceful, outstretched hands cradling the Ginzuishou. Her mother�s blue eyes closed, and the crystal began to rise above her hands. A wind came up in the room, blowing Selene�s white hair behind her as her dress billowed.
The sun slowly rose outside, its rays seeming to be taken in by the Ginzuishou, which glowed so bright that Serenity couldn�t look directly at it. Then, suddenly, the wind stopped, a great crack sounded, and Selene fell into her throne.
�MOTHER!� Serenity
screamed, running to the fallen Queen. Selene opened her eyes and grasped her daughter�s hand weakly.
�It is gone. Rule well, as I know you can�goodbye, daughter.� Selene whispered, and her eyes closed.
�NO! MOTHER! DON�T LEAVE ME!� Serenity stared up at the ceiling, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. The Ginzuishou, a melted piece of glass, lay beside her mother.
A doctor had run to the Queen when she fell.
�The Queen is dead.� The doctor said, loudly enough to be heard by the entire room. Everyone�s head bowed, and many began to cry.
�The Blight is gone?� The cold Queen Stantia of Pluto asked calmly.
�The BLIGHT?� Serenity
screamed. �She is dead! My mother is dead! And all you think of is the BLIGHT? Yes, it is gone! She gave her life for all of you,� Serenity glared at the rulers, her moon sigil casting a beacon.
�And all you did was have wars, and try to destroy each other! Well, never again! Never.� Serenity said, throwing out her hand. The melted glass that was the Ginzuishou rose up and came to
her, slowly forming into the sparkling crystal it once was. �I will destroy any of you if you dare begin a war, if you dare breach this peace my mother has worked for. Do not doubt it!� She said harshly.
�The solar system will be united under the power of the Moon! Swear to me!�
�I swear.� Queen Demisaia of Mars said quietly.

�I swear.� Raminai of Mercury and Yminian of Venus said in concert.

�I swear.� Kantalis of Jupiter said, glancing at his brother, who was bent over
Selene�s body.

�I swear.� Honath and Taurancea of Saturn, Ruthallan of Uranus, Chamissia of Neptune and Stantia of Pluto said.

�And to prove your commitment to this new alliance, the alliance of the Silver Millennium,� Serenity continued. �There will be a time when a daughter of each of your lines will be given the power
of your planet. This daughter will be sent to the Moon, and will be the guardian of my daughter, the next Queen of the Moon.�
The rulers all nodded as one.
�Then shall my reign begin!� Serenity said, the Ginzuishou in her hand sparkling as fiercely as her gray eyes
and the golden moon sigil on her forehead.
�Long live Serenity, Queen of the Moon!� The room roared, and as Serenity stared at the crowd,
the room also began to spin, and she felt herself faint.

�Selty?� A familiar voice brought Serenity out of unconsciousness.
�Green�� Serenity said, attempting a smile. She slowly opened her eyes to look at the woman bending over her. Green looked better. The Blight really was gone.
�Are you feeling any better?� Green asked, her bright emerald eyes red-rimmed from crying.
Serenity sat up a little bit more. �Yes, I suppose. It�s�been a long day. Where is my father?�
Green shook her head. �He locked himself in his room, even the guards can�t get him out.�
Selty tried to stand. �I have to find him�I can�t lose him too.� Green pushed her back down.
�You�re too weak, Selty. Don�t worry, I won�t let anything happen to him.� Green said comfortingly.
�Ok�� Serenity said. She wanted to stay awake, but she was so tired�her eyes slowly closed.

When Serenity next woke, the sun was shining in her eyes. She looked over and saw Green asleep in a chair near her
bed, and smiled slightly. Then she heard a knock at the door. �Come in.� She called weakly. The door opened, and her father walked in.
�Serenity.� Lairian said softly. Selty looked at her father�s red-rimmed eyes and tired face.
�Oh, Father�� She sobbed, and Lairian hugged his daughter.
�Hush, Selty, it will be all right.� Lairian said quietly.
�I couldn�t believe it, it happened so fast, and then I was afraid you would�do something and I�d lose you both!�
�Not for a time yet, Serenity.� Lairian sighed. �She would want me to help you. She knew something like this might happen, that�s why she began your training so early.�
�I still feel so�alone.� Selty said, feeling less like a Queen than a scared little girl.
�You�re never alone.� Green said, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes and smiling amiably at her friend. She sat on one side of Serenity�s bed and took her hand, while Lairian took the other.
Serenity looked at them both, grateful for their support and bravery. �Thank you.�

Serenity was able to get out of bed the next day, and the day after that, could go for a walk on her own. She was still
shaky and couldn�t think of her coronation without feeling tears come to her eyes, but she knew she would go on.
There was a curious emptiness inside of her that nothing seemed able to fill, but she figured it would go away in time.
�Hello, Queen Serenity.� A small voice said. Selty looked around for the speaker but saw no one.
�Down here.� A male voice said. Serenity looked down and saw two cats staring up at her. One was black and one was white, and their eyes were as intelligent as any human�s.
�Hello�� Serenity said cautiously.
�I�m Luna, and this is Artemis.� The black cat said. �We are to be your advisors.�
�My�advisors?� Selty couldn�t believe her ears.
The white cat, Artemis, nodded. �Yes. If you will accept us.� Serenity looked closer at the cats and saw that they both had crescent moon symbols on their foreheads.
�Of course I will accept you.� Serenity said
automatically, sinking down on the dirt path next to the cats, heedless of the damage to her dress.
�You really mustn�t do that.� Luna said disapprovingly.
�I�what?� Selty said, furrowing her brows.
�A Queen does not kneel in the dirt.� Luna said, sniffing rather disdainfully.
To her surprise, Serenity began to laugh.
And once she started, she couldn�t seem to stop, and the tears began to roll down her face as she laughed. �A Queen�.does not�kneel in the dirt�to get a better look�at her feline advisors!� Serenity said, howling with laughter.
Artemis snickered. �See, Luna, I always told you how amusing you were.�
Luna glared at the white cat. �Shut up, Artemis.�
Serenity slowly got hold of herself once more, but continued to smile at the actions of her feline advisors.
Her feline advisors!
And that empty space within her began to
feel a little bit fuller. Serenity stood slowly. �I should present you to the other advisors, Lord and Lady.� She said amiably. �Green will love you.�
�Who�s Green?� Artemis asked curiously.
Serenity launched into the story of Princess Kryaliyh of Juu�alan, who came to the Moon Kingdom in search of a home and
found much more. It was also her own story, the story of a girl who liked to
go to the city dressed as a peasant and occasionally
eavesdropped on her parents.
A girl who saw visions in a crystal that would not mean anything for eons, and a girl who became Queen of the Moon at fifteen.
This was the girl who united the solar system and began the Silver Millennium, and this girl�s story had barely begun.