							May 2000

			Secret Garden 3: Final Battle
				Scene 7

	Serenity watched as the hunk of rock where she'd been trapped
 for a week drifted out of view of the small ship.  She closed her
 eyes and rested her head on Endymion's shoulder as Uranus piloted
 them away and set a course for the moon.  

	Uranus turned and looked at them, her heart squeezing
 painfully as her gaze moved past them to where Neptune was lying
 motionless.  She sighed before meeting the Princes' gaze, "We should
 be arriving on the Moon in just under two days.  I suggest that the
 two of you make use of this ship's cleaning facilities... There is
 an extra pair of clothes for you in the bag by the door, Princess,
 as well a cabin in the back where the two of you may sleep."

	Serenity opened her eyes and smiled at her friend, reching
 out one hand to grasp Uranus',  "Thank you.  Thank you so much."

	Uranus looked into her eyes before her gaze strayed back to
 the body of her partner, "Your welcome." she replied quietly.

	Serenity rose to her feet and placed one hand on the wall of
 the craft for balance as she moved towards the back of the small
 cockpit, towards the cabin.  She stopped near Neptune's body and
 placed a gently hand over the senshi's heart, willing the woman to
 feel her gratitude... and the power of the ginzushiou.  She
 whispered her thanks before carefully continuing to the cabin,
 Endymion on her heels as she opened the door.  She felt his arms
 slide around her waist, his hands gentle on her body, and kicked the
 door shut behind her.

********

	Uranus engaged the auto pilot and leaned back in her chair,
 resting her tired eyes, feeling the hole inside her heart beginning
 to grow even wider.  She wasn't even sure how she would be able to
 go on without Neptune.  The one constant, the one person she could
 count on no matter what.

	"Haruka?" came the choked, quiet voice from behind her.

	Uranus spun out of her chair, the Space Sword coming to her
 grasp unconsciously.  She nearly dropped it when she saw her friend,
 her love, looking at her through pain soaked eyes.  With a soft cry
 of joy she crossed the cabin in two steps and slid her arms around
 Neptune, holding her tightly, feeling her heartbeat strong against
 her own.  "Michiru," she said softly, the name a prayer, a caress; a
 message of love.  

	Neptune's arms went around her and held tightly, stroaking
 the short blonde hair softly.  Uranus pulled away and looked deep
 into her eyes, smiling through eyes misted with tears.  Neptune's
 gaze mirrored hers as Uranus' head came down.

********

	Serenity stretched, feeling the protest of her muscles as she
 curled up next to her husband, the bruises on her body beginning to
 fade already.  "I love you," she said softly, one hand drawing
 designs on his chest as one arm came around her, the other capturing
 her hand and linking his fingers with hers.

	"And I love you, my princess," he told her softly, kissing
 her fingers gently.  Her bandaged hand, her left hand, was tucked
 beneath her, cradled gently between their bodies.  "I have missed
 you in the days you have been away from me."

	Serenity sighed, curling closer to him, one leg sliding up
 over his, "And I you.  I knew you would come for me, I never doubted
 that.  It was hard sometimes to elude him though... he tried..." she
 shuddered and his arm tightened around her.

	"It is over.  For good now.  Diamond can no longer hurt you
 or I."

	"I know.  I will never forget what I have done to him, Endy,
 never.  How can I?  I have taken a life." she fell silent and
 Endymion felt her tears begin to wet his bare chest.  

	He raised their linked hands, gently feeling the curve of her
 cheek before carefully, without looking, wiping the moisture from
 them.  "You did what was necessary, my love, nothing more.  If you
 had not, I would have.  In some ways I wish you had let me, but it
 was within your right to claim his life.  He  hurt you more directly
 than I.  He wounded me by taking you from me.  He wounded you by
 taking four people you love from you and than taking you from me. 
 It does not justify taking his life, but ridding the galaxy of his
 evil, his insanity, is not a crime in my eyes, it was mercy."

	Serenity shuddered and clutched him, burring her head in his
 shoulder and silently sobbing her pain, her torment, into his chest.
  His arms were tight around her as he pushed himself into a sitting
 position and pulled her into his lap.  He gently stroaked her
 gleaming hair, the waterfall of gold covering them like a blanket. 
 He rocked her then, gently caressing her hair and back.  

	Serenity cried.  She cried for the soul of a man turned evil,
 for the innocences she'd lost when she'd ended his life and most of
 all for the danger she knew was not completely gone.  She cried for
 the troubles they were to face and the seperations she knew would be
 inevitable.  Finally, shoulders heaving, she sniffled and pulled
 away fractionally.  Endymion pushed a piece of fabric into her hand
 and she blew her nose and wiped her eyes before passing it back to
 him.  Endymion placed it to the side and looked at her critically,
 "Will you be alright, Serenity?" he asked concerned.

	She nodded, "With you by my side I will."

	He kissed her gently, his hands framing her face as he
 worshiped her mouth with his own.  She clutched his shoulders,
 feeling the world spin as he laid her gently back.  Serenity felt
 fire fly though her veins as passion over took them both again.

********

	Uranus dropped from the hatch of the ship and landed on the
 surface of the moon's landing pad, reaching up and helping Neptune
 down before turning away and helping her partner out of the way.

	Endymion dropeed from the hatch then, dressed in his full
 armor and turned, holding his arms out to his wife.  She smiled,
 looking around the pad, her smile turning brilliant as she saw her
 mother, and dropped into his arms.  She held him tightly as he set
 her on her feet before he released her and ran to her mother.

	Queen Serenity opened her arms and enfolded her daughter in a
 tight hug.  Endymion, Neptune and Uranus approached and stood off to
 the side as Mother and daughter were reunited.

	"Angel, my darling angel," murmured Queen Serenity, "I had
 thought you lost."

	Serenity clung to her mother, "Never, mother.  Endymion would
 never stop searching for me."

	Queen Serenity held onto her daughter tightly, her eyes
 closed as the regal woman fought tears, "Oh my darling, my darling
 Serenity.  Welcome home."

	Finally the two seperated and The Queen looked at Neptune and
 Uranus.  She extended her hands and grasped one of each of theirs. 
 "Thank you.  Thank you for helping bring my daughter home safely."

	Uranus and Neptune felt power flow through them and heard the
 Princess gasp, her smile brilliant.  They looked at each other,
 blinking as they saw their senshi uniforms had changed.  No sleeves.
  Multi-colored fukus.  Light and then dark skirts, the mark of the
 court protectors.

	They bowed to the Queen, "Thank you, your majesty." they said
 together, "We will strive to be worthy of this honor."

	"You have eared it already, my friends," she told them,
 smiling.

	Finally the Queen turned to Endymion and held out her arms,
 tucking her daughter under one and sliding her other arm around the
 princes' shoulders, "And you.  You are the one man in the universe
 who would fight even death itself for her.  I count myself blessed,
 Endymion.  I find that my daughter is the luckiest woman and I bless
 the day she broke our laws and went to earth.  Thank you, my son."

	Endymion smiled then and hugged them both, "No need to thank
 me, I would gladly give my life for her and more."

	Serenity finally extracted herself from her mother's grip,
 "Is there any word on the Lady Beryl's attack?"

	Queen Serenity sighed as he daughter brought them back to
 business, "Join me tomorrow in the main war room and I will show you
 everything that has happened in your absence.  For tonight, enjoy
 yoursef with your husband, dear.  Tomorrow is soon enough to go back
 to war."

	Serenity blushed as Endymion chuckled and wrapped his arm
 about her waist.  "Very well."

	Endymion led her from the landing pad, back towards their
 room as her mother lead Neptune and Uranus towards the war room for
 a full report on the rescue mission.

********

	Endymion escorted his wife into their chambers and assisted
 her to a chair where she collapsed, her eyes closing.  "How is your
 head?" he asked her worriedly.

	"Pounding," she said softly.  "That composure is difficult to
 maintain."

	"But you do it so well." he teased gently.  He grasped her
 calf and tugged her skirt above the still slightly swollen ankle,
 the color still yellow and green.  He removed her slippers, glancing
 up at her before smiling softly when he was certain she wouldn't be
 looking at him.  He looked his fill, memorizing her beloved face.

	"Am I such a novelty that you must look at me so?" she asked,
 not openeing her eyes.

	He chuckled and then lifted her out of the chair, "I missed
 you, my love.  You cannot blame me for wanting to look my fill.  You
 are more beautiful everyday."

	She finally opened her eyes again as she slid her arms around
 his neck, her blue eyes searching his, "You truely mean that," she
 marveled softly.  She knew she hardly looked her best with all of
 the carefully disguised bruises, cuts, and the swollen ridge above
 her right eyebrow.

	"Of course I mean that.  You are the most gorgeous woman I
 have ever known.  You have a strength of will, a courage that shines
 through to your skin and your heart is pure, free of hatred."

	"But... Diamond.." she stammered.

	He shook his head, "You did not hate Diamond otherwise you
 would never have cried for him afterwards.  Darling, you may have
 disliked him, even hated what he put you through but you never hated
 him.  You do not have the capability within you to hate."

	She blushed, "I think you give me too much credit."

	He laid her gently down on their bed and smiled at her, "On
 the contrary, you do not give yourself enough credit.  Trust me,
 Angel, though you may have ended his madness, I believe it was an
 act of mercy more than an act of anger, or revenge, you know that."

	She smiled then, her gaze shimmering with tears, the feelings
 in her heart and soul expanding beyond and into his.  Endymion
 lowered his head and kissed her carefully, allowing his love, his
 joy, the peace he felt being with her and the completion that was
 perfection when they were together.

	Finally he pulled back, his breathing erratic, and looked
 down at her.  He smiled, seeing her flushed face, "I am not letting
 you go again, Angel.  Will you come with me back to Earth if it
 comes down to it, or do I stay here with you?"

	Serenity sighed, meeting his gaze.  She raised her bandaged
 hand to gently stroake his face, "Can we decide tomorrow when we
 find out what we have missed in the war?  Can we ignore it for one
 more night?  I simply wish for you to hold me tonight."

	Endymion nodded, feeling her fears with her love and her
 sadness.  "Do not worry for our kingdom, love.  We have many who are
 capable, and willing, of fighting to keep it together.  For one more
 night do not worry, we will be doing plenty of that tomorrow."

	Serenity nodded and tugged him down to her, laying her head
 on his shoulder and closing her eyes, blocking out everything except
 for the feel of him, of his arms around her.  She had a feeling it
 would be a long long time before she would have a chance to simply
 enjoy it again.

	Endymion bowed his head and kissed the top of Serenity's,
 closing his eyes.  He allowed the feeling of belonging, the feeling
 of safety and love to surround him, and lost himself in it.

********

	"The Dark Moon family has been delt a crippling blow," Queen
 Serenity looked about the room as she spoke.  The four young senshi,
 their faces drawn and pale, sat closest, the three outer senshi, and
 the Prince and Princess along with the captain of the guards
 completed the assembled.  The Queen pointed to the dark rock where
 Serenity had been held captive, "According to Saturn, the asteroid
 has colapsed in upon itself with the death of their Prince.  Pluto
 has informed me that Emerald, Sapphire and their younger sibblings
 have pulled back to Nemisis to regroup and they are not a threat for
 now." she pushed a button in front of her on the screen and a map of
 Earth was displayed.  Queen Serenity pointed to blue and red lines
 on the display and her gaze met Endymion's.  "These few remaining
 blue lines are where the terran forces are still holding out against
 the Lady Beryl and her forces.  These red lines are where they have
 battled and lost."

	Endymion was half out of his chair, his gaze drawn to the
 largest line, his head shaking as if in disbelief.  "No..." he
 murmured.  His hand clenched convulsively on his wife's and he felt
 her other hand gently stroke his forearm.  He turned anguished eyes
 to her before slumping in his seat.


	The Princess looked at her mother, "What news of the Terran
 forces?  The King and the Generals?"

	Queen Serenity shook her head sadly, "The Generals are
 missing, presumed captured, or worse.  The King was found on the
 battle field surrounded by almost thirty enemies.  He died a
 warrior.  I'm sorry, Endymion." she said softly.

	Endymion took a deep breath and straightened his shoulder
 before meeting the Queen's eyes squarely, "Thank you, Queen
 Serenity.  Is there any news about my mother?"

	"She is being transported here tomorrow if this line," she
 pointed to a large blue line surrounding the castle's lands, "does
 not hold.  Spies tell us that your mother may be safe, for the Lady
 Beryl is after you and has learned of your presence here on the
 Moon.  Her attack will be towards our forces here."

	"Can you hold her off where my warriors have failed?" he
 asked calmly.

	Queen Serenity looked at the senshi gathered in the room, "We
 may have an advantage that the Lady Beryl is unaware of.  The
 Ginzushiou can be used to destroy her if the need arises.  I pray I
 do not have to use it."

	"If you use it, your majesty, you'll die," Saturn told her
 quietly, "You cannot use it safely."

	"We must all make sacrafices, Saturn, you of all the senshi
 know that better than anyone.  You all know your positions in this
 fight, I am counting on you to boost our defences as needed.  To
 your posts.  Endymion, Serenity, I would prefer if you stayed inside
 the palace to coordinate our efforts here."

	Serenity looked at her husband, "I know you wish to join the
 soldiers, but I will have need of you at my side, of that I am
 certain.  Will you guard me, my love?"

	Endymion nodded, "To my last breath, Angel.  We will do as
 you ask, Queen Serenity."

	"Then to your posts, we will be maintaining an around the
 clock watch.  We cannot be caught by surprise."

	The senshi slowly exited the room, leaving only the Royal
 family.  The Queen nodded to her daughter and the Prince and then
 left them alone.  As the door closed behind them Endymion sagged in
 his chair, his eyes closing.  Serenity wrapped her arms around him
 and embraced him with her heart, feeling his grief, and his need to
 be strong for both her and her mother.

	"I am sorry, Endymion," she whispered softly, "So sorry."

	Endymion wrapped her in his arms and held her tightly,
 fighting against the grief that threatened to overwhelm him.  His
 father, his best friends.  All gone, missing or worse.  He took in a
 deep breath, and felt it catch in his throat.  Serenity's hands on
 his face, drawing his head gently to her bosom was his undoing and a
 ragged sob was torn from his throat.  She embraced him tightly as he
 held onto her, using her as an anchor for his grief.  He sobbed
 again, the sound echoing in the room and tearing into Serenity's
 heart. She gently stroked his hair, holding him until she felt his
 shaking stop.  Finally he pulled away from her, his face and eyes
 were dry, but the skin surrouding them was swollen and his nose was
 slightly red.  She tugged a handkerchief from his shirt pocket and
 offered it to him with a smile.  

	Endymion blew his nose and then pocketed the handkerchief
 again, before running a hand through his hair and taking a deep
 breath.  "Are you alright?" he opened his eyes and met hers nodding
 in silent responce.  

	He leaned forward and gently kissed her before forcing a
 smile. "Thank you, Angel.  Come, we have much to do."

	Serenity crawled off his lap and stood, offering him her hand
 as he rose to his feet.  He slid his hand into hers and exited the
 room beside her.

********

 Author's Note: Alright, first off I want to appologize for how long
 it has taken to get this far in my story... not to mention how long
 it has taken to get them out!  I want to thank everyone for being so
 paitent with me, not to mention my horrible spelling.. since I've 
 lost my spell checker!  I certainly hope it's worth the wait.

 Flames, questions, comments, suggestions to:

 Jade_Max@innocent.com

 Thanks for reading, stay tuned for part 8!
 Jade_Max 

