								Feb 2001
Disclaimer: I don't own theses characters, I'm only borrowing them.



			Secret Garden 3: Final Battle
				Chapter 1

	Queen Serenity was standing in the royal gardens, her eyes on the heavens when
 the doors opened behind her.  She frowned, her forehead puckering ungracefully.  "I
 thought I left explicit orders not to be disturbed!" she snapped, her voice tight and
 strained.

	"Mother." The hesitant voice floated over the garden.

	Queen Serenity spun, "Serenity?" she looked at her daughter incredulous.

	Princess Serenity ran towards her mother, arms outstretched, her royal gown
 flaring and billowing about her in the low gravity as she wrapped her arms around her
 mother's waist.  She hugged her tight, receiving a hug about the shoulders in return
 and a kiss on the forehead.  "Oh, my darling, welcome home.  Let me look at you."
 Queen Serenity held her at arm's length, "You look so grown up, and you looks
 absolutely lovely." The smile never left her face or her eyes as she looked around,
 "Where is Endymion?"

	"He is putting our things in our room.  He will join us shortly." Princess
 Serenity blushed slightly, no quite meeting her mother's gaze.  Surely her mother
 knew what went on between man and wife, but she wasn't about to talk about it!

	Queen Serenity smiled, "Was your honeymoon everything you dreamed it would be,
 my dear?"

	Princess Serenity blushed, nodding, "More, mother, much, much more.  Endymion
 was so patient with me, so caring.  I knew he was before, but now... oh mother, we
 are going to be going to war and I might loose him!  I do not know what I would do
 without him." Her face twisted in anguish with the thought of losing her beloved
 husband before she closed her eyes briefly, taking a deep breath, "I would not be
 able to go on living without him, mother." She said softly.

	Queen Serenity hugged her again, "Do not dwell on such things, Serenity, they
 will simply eat at your insides.  If you have to continue without him you will, it is
 that simple." The flash of pain in Queen Serenity's eyes was just as real as her
 daughter's.  "I had to go on living without your father, Serenity. If you and
 Endymion are separated you will have to live without him."

	Princess Serenity's eyes glimmered with tears, "I do not think I am that
 strong yet, mother.  I may very well loose him in the coming months and I do not have
 a daughter or son to care for should something happen to him."

	Queen Serenity stroked her daughter's satin smooth cheek, marveling at the
 change in the young woman before her.  "Soon, Serenity, you too will have a young one
 to care for." Her voice was so soft that Princess Serenity strained to hear the
 words, he eyes flying to her mother's.

	"Do you know something I do not?"

	Queen Serenity's smile was kind, "We Moon folk have a habit of conceiving on
 the honeymoon, darling.  You are most likely with child even now."

	Princess Serenity's jaw dropped as she stared in disbelief at her mother, "You
 cannot be serious.  I am not ready to be a mother yet!"

	Queen Serenity hugged her daughter tightly, "You are more ready for the
 responsibilities that are soon too come than you know, daughter.  Time will tell if
 they will bend or break you."

	Princess Serenity nodded once and looked up, changing the subject, "How go the
 preparations?"

	Queen Serenity smiled, "Come.  Endymion can meet us in the war room as I show
 them to you." 

	Princess Serenity nodded and followed her mother out of the royal garden, the
 doors closing behind them with a ring of finality.

********

	Princess Serenity looked around the war room, marveling at the silver screens
 and tactical charts covering the smooth walls.  It was circular, with a bending
 screen of liquid moon ore that could display any given point in the galaxy, or
 anything or anything the queen, or battle commander, wished to see.  There were two
 guards posted on the communications station, one monitoring incoming information, the
 other handling the outgoing.  She marveled at how efficient it was to have two people
 doing the job.  Luna and Artemis were huddled together at one of the consoles, their
 human forms oddly out of place among the Lunarians on duty.  She watched, fascinated,
 as her mother called up an open channel to the outposts where Uranus and Neptune were
 stationed, the real time communication slightly distorted by the distance.

	The mature visages of the seshi filled the screen, Neptune and Uranus bowing
 their heads in deference to her, "My Queen."  They spoke in unison, as they were in a
 habit of doing.

	Queen Serenity inclined her head to them by way of greeting.  "What news?" she
 asked without preamble. 

	The boyish senshi from Uranus reported first, as was typical, "The Dark Moon
 has amassed a large army of creatures, my Queen, some of them are unknown to us, and
 are believed to be from outside our borders.  This is a diagram of them," the screen
 changed to show a black background with stars and lines connecting the stars.  It
 made some kind of winged creature with a pointy mouth area, skinny front legs and
 massive hind legs.  The Queen frowned as she looked at the picture and Uranus
 continued, "This creature is said to be immensely powerful and the readings on our
 charts are off the scale for energy.  From what little we are able to receive from
 the Dark Moon, these creatures are going to be the brunt of their fighting force. 
 Uranus out."

	Queen Serenity nodded once to the darkened screen, "I think it's time to renew
 old acquaintances," she murmured.  "Neptune, what have you to report?"

	The senshi of the sea smiled her calm smile, "Nothing nearly so drastic or
 unsettling my Queen." She assured her.  "My readings from outside the system have
 fluxuated very little since I have been at my post.  The only concern is that near
 the beginning of last month, a large energy surge shorted out from of the sensors
 near earth, but they were back online in a matter of moments.  Since then the only
 strange readings I have had, have been occasional spikes of power from Earth's darker
 regions."

	Princess Serenity gasped, "Beryl.  Mother, the Lady Beryl promised to ruin
 things, could she be the darkness in the prophecy?"

	Queen Serenity turned thoughtful eyes to her daughter, "Perhaps, Angel..."
 they both looked to the door as it opened and Endymion stepped though.  "My son," the
 Queen moved towards him and opened her arms in an unexpected gesture.

	Endymion blinked once before smiling slightly, a mere curve of his lips,
 before taking the Queen into a gentle hug.  Princess Serenity smiled from the side,
 her gaze locking on her husbands as he released her mother.  "You are looking well,
 Queen Serenity." Complimented Endymion as Princess Serenity walked over and slid her
 arm about his waist in a very un-royal like show of affection.  He responded in kind
 by sliding his arm about her shoulders.  

	"Thank you," Queen Serenity turned her gaze back over her shoulder and then
 turned to face Neptune once more.  The serene senshi had a tolerant smile on her face
 for the Prince and Princess in the background.  "Continue Neptune."

	"Thank you, m'queen.  To make a long report short, nothing has been happening
 in the omega sector of the galaxy.  Alpha Centuari, as you know from my partner's
 report, is brimming with action.  I will keep you informed about Earth and the
 developments should there be any.  Neptune out." The screen blanked.

	"What is this about my world?" Endymion asked his Angel softly.

	"Neptune detected some kind of readings there," she shivered, which resulted
 in her being tucked closer into his body and on the inside of his cape.  She noted
 his armor didn't seem to dig into her body as much anymore... or maybe she'd just
 gotten used to it.  "I think it might be Beryl, I hope I am wrong."

	Endymion gave her shoulders a squeeze, "I will protect you.  Do no worry, my
 love, she will not harm you."

	She put her head on his shoulder, her left hand creeping up his chest to rest
 over his heart, lightly on top of his armor.  "I know, Endymion, I know."

	Queen Serenity pulled the diagram Uranus had shown her and turned to the young
 couple, "Endymion, are you familiar with the millennium war that happened almost 5000
 years ago?"

	He nodded, "I am.  It was part of my history courses and, if I recall
 correctly, it was the last time before the Earth was labeled forbidden territory that
 the Earth and the Moon worked together as allies."

	Queen Serenity nodded once, "You would be correct.  It was also the last time
 in the millennium that the Earth and Moon were joined together in a marriage match."
 Her smile took them both in, "This match will last where the other one failed. 
 Theirs was torn asunder when the Moon and the Earth were split, each having a duty to
 their homelands, their children split between the two and unable to communicate.  If
 you weather this coming war, that fate will never befall the two of you."

	Serenity clenched her fist against Endymion's breastplate, "Mother, get to the
 point."

	"My point, Serenity, dear, is that if Endymion knows of the war, he may know
 what these are."

	Endymion glanced at the pictures and then froze, his body going rigid, "Is
 that what I believe it to be, Queen Serenity?  Is that a Griffin from beyond the
 Millenniums boarders?  I thought they were only stories."

	She nodded, "The allies of the Terrans in the past, and now the allies of the
 Dark Moon Kingdom.  I do not know what they were promised for their help, but I do
 believe it is time we spoke to the sun kingdom about getting involved in this
 conflict.  The Sunicorns may be our one defense against the Griffins should they
 choose to invade or attack the Moon."

	Endymion slowly shook his head, "The plot thickens.  I do believe it is time
 that I spoke to my father and mother about this.  Perhaps they can help find an
 alternative."

	"Must you leave already?  We just arrived!" Serenity looked up at him with
 pleading blue eyes.  "Let me go with you, at least?"

	He shook his head, his ebony hair falling into his eyes.  She reached up
 unconsciously and brushed it back as he spoke, "No, love, stay here and help your
 mother.  I will be back within a week with news on our preparations back on earth."

	"A week!" she looked stricken for a moment before composing her face and
 nodding once, "If you must, my darling, then you must.  I will see you in a week."
 She slipped out from under his arm, reaching up to place a gentle kiss on his lips
 before walking quickly out of the room, leaving her mother and her husband alone.

	Endymion watched her leave, his brow furrowing.  He'd felt the rush of
 emotions that had fled across her heart at his words and were, even now, tugging at
 her emotions.

	"She does not like the thought of being separated from you, Endymion.  Can you
 blame her after having your attentions to herself for an entire month?  Give her
 time, she will adapt once again to every day living."

	"I know.  It is how much time that will take that will be difficult.  Pardon
 me, your majesty, but I believe I will go find your daughter.  If I am too leave
 her," he looked at her with a slight smile, "I would not want to do so on the wrong
 terms.  Good day."

	Queen Serenity smiled as he exited the room.  It faded as she turned back to
 the screen with the Griffin image glowing in stars.  If only the brief separation of
 her daughter and her husband were the only worries.  She sighed.  Life was going to
 be interesting now that the Prince and Princess were back from their honeymoon.  Very
 interesting indeed.

********


	Serenity sighed as she opened the doors to her old room and looked about.  Gone were
 the trappings that had made the room virginal and hers.  It was now decorated in black and
 red with silver and gold highlights.  The bed was huge, taking up about an eight of the
 avalible space and resting in the spot her bed had been before, directly under the window.
  Her dressing table was gone, replaced by a chest of drawers with a mirror and a basin of
 water on top of it.  A white towel rested to the side of it and she looked at her
 reflection in the mirror, frowning slightly.  She raised one hand and brushed her bangs
 away from the crescent moon in the middle of her forehead.  She dropped her hand, turning
 her back on the melancholy expression, and walked to the bed, crawling across it to lie her
 arms on the window sill and stare at the earth.  She sighed again, feeling Endymion's
 concern for her vibrate through their link.

	'I am alright, my love,' she said silently, trying to convey a sense of melancholy
 acceptance.  She knew from the frown she could picture him wearing in her mind and the
 uncertainty she felt in his heart that he didn't believe her.  She didn't look at the door
 as she felt, more than heard, his approach to it.  She heard the handle move and turn, felt
 the pressure change slightly as the door opened and then closed.  She couldn't hear his
 boots as they crossed the ankle deep carpet but she felt the bed give under his weight as
 she sat on the edge of the mattress.

	"What is wrong, Angel?"

	She refused to look at him, knowing that if she did she would be fighting tears,
 "You know what is wrong, Endy," she replied softly.

	She heard his sigh as his hands slid gently over the small of her back and then
 around her waist, spanning it.  She felt the mattress give as he moved towards her and
 settled next to her, one of his hands sliding up to gently trace the proud jut of her jaw,
 "I do not wish to leave you here, Serenity, but I need to go and see how the preparations
 for the war are coming back on Earth."

	"Plus you are homesick." She added, still not looking at him.  She felt his eyes on
 her face, drinking in the details and storing them to memory, "Mayhap a painter should be
 called.  A portrait would last longer."

	She glanced at him, and caught his smile as he shook his head.  "You believe that a
 painter could catch your beauty and grace?  Your spirit?  You are mistaken, Angel.  No one
 could ever catch your essence and no portrait would outlast the image of you that is burned
 into my heart, nor the love that is engraved in my soul."

	She blushed, her cheeks retaining a soft rose color, "Nor mine for you." She turned
 at last and looked deeply into his eyes.  "It does not make being parted from you any
 easier."

	He saw tears well in her eyes and gently framed her face with his hands, rubbing his
 thumbs underneath her eyes, "And you think it is for me?  You are my soul Serenity, do not
 cry when we part, for I am not really gone.  My eyes will miss looking at you, my hands
 will miss touching you, but my soul, my heart, is joined to yours," He dropped one hand to
 grasp hers and gently laid her fingers against his heart, "Do not forget that, even though
 we may be separated physically."

	"I cannot forget it, but," she smiled through her tears, running her hand up to
 caress the base of his throat, "it does not make the physical parting any easier."

	He laughed, "No, it does not.  Come here." He tugged on her face and saw her eyes
 flutter closed just before closing his own eyes and capturing her mouth in a lingering
 kiss.  His eyes opened as he tasted the salt of her tears and she bit her lip as he pulled
 back.

	She lifted one hand to scrub at her streaked cheeks but he stopped her and gently
 wiped them dry, "I will be back before the week is done, Angel.  I do not wish to leave you
 here, but we need to grasp this quickly.  Something tells me that Diamond and Beryl are
 behind this, and now that we are back, they will not wait long to strike."

	Serenity took a deep shuddering breath and nodded, leaning forward to wrap her arms
 around his waist and lay her head on his chest.  She was sprawled at an unusual angle
 across the bed and his chest but didn't seem to mind as his arms slid around her shoulder
 and into the silken tangle of her hair.  He gently removed the golden strands from the buns
 and spread it across her back with gentle, soothing strokes.  She closed her eyes and
 purred as his hands worked their magic.  She was barely aware as he pulled her with him,
 onto his chest, as he lay back.  He shifted her into a comfortable looking position and she
 curled into him.

	"Can we just let the moon and the earth take care of themselves for a little while
 longer?" she finally asked, her voice lethargic and husky, as if she was on the verge of
 falling asleep.

	"How much longer would you like?"

	"One more day, that is all I ask." She yawned, snuggling her head against the cool
 metal of his breast plate.

	"And tomorrow?"

	"Let tomorrow take care of itself, tonight I want to sleep one last time in your
 arms."

	His grip on her tightened fractionally and he lifted her off him, sliding out of bed
 before bending down to whisper softly in her ear, "Once I remove my armor, Angel, you can
 stay in my arms as long as you like."

	She opened one eye to look at him and smiled, "Forever and longer.  Come here,"

	He quickly removed his armor, the metal landing without a sound in the plush carpet.
  He crawled back onto bed and pulled her into his arms, tucking her into the shelter of his
 body while planting a soft kiss on the top of her head.  "Sleep, Serenity, I will be here
 when you wake."

	She snuggled her head under his chin and sighed, her legs sliding against his
 through the fabric of her dress as she pressed closer.  With a long, content sigh, she
 drifted off to sleep.  

	Holding her gently but firmly, Endymion ran his strong hands through her hair,
 careful not to catch and pull it, so to wake her.  He stared at the blue-green orb hanging
 in the sky through the window and sighed.  He did miss home, she was right about that, but
 he would miss her more than he missed the Earth.  Perhaps there was someway he could bring
 her with him... He smiled faintly, dismissing the thought and just focused his attentions
 on holding his beloved, his wife.  Tomorrow he would make arrangements to go home for a
 couple of days.  He closed his eyes... tomorrow... 

********


 Author's note: To everyone who wrote me, Thank you!  Your support even when I'm not
 writing is priceless, and I just want to apologise for taking sooooo long to get this
 out.  I appreciate everyone's paitence with me.  

 Ok, a little explaining.  One, I just moved out on my own, got a new job and am
 scraping to keep the bills paid, so I haven't had much time to write of late... the
 fact I even have access to a computer is amazing.  So please be paitent with me, I
 have almost no time to write!  Thanks for waiting :)

 Jade_Max

 feed back to:  Jade_Max@innocent.com


