A Frozen Heart

Chapter 1


	Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom gazed at the Earth while surrounded by 
the blooms of the wild white and red roses in her rose garden.  It was the 
farthest from the palace and her secret place.  Seeing as the palace was 
swarming with young suitors vying for her attentions, she decided to sneak 
in to her chambers through the secret passage instead of the main palace 
door.  She turned towards the palace and caught a glimpse of a tall, silver 
haired woman wearing a long, flowing white gown.
	*Mother is searching for me,* she thought, * I had better return to the 
palace*  Turning, she took a last glance at the shining blue orb in the sky, 
sighed and started to run towards the palace.
	Serena got no more than half way to the palace when she heard a voice 
	yelling.
	"Serena, where have you been?"  The princess stopped in her tracks. "Your 
mother is frantic, I hope you have a good reason for this."  Serena looked 
down at her feet to see a small
black cat with a golden crescent moon on her forehead.
	"Luna, I-I was watching the Earth.  The suitors were too much.  They 
completely overwhelmed me and I had to get away."
	"Even so, as the future ruler of the Silver Millennium, you must show 
responsibility and the ability to cope with anything thrown your way."
	"I know Luna, but Prince Soloman of Pana started breathing on me, and I had 
to get out of there before I said something impolite, so I excused myself 
and came out here to calm down."
	"All right, but I doubt your mother will accept that."  The Princess looked 
down at her mentor fondly and smiled. Luna could be so disapproving of her, 
but Serenity knew it was for her own good.  She started to race to the 
secret door but saw her mother standing
in front of the entrance.
	'Oh man, I'm toast,' she thought to herself, before slowing
to as dignified of a walk as she could manage after running nearly half a 
mile in a long gown. She was still breathing heavily when she stopped and 
bowed respectfully to the incensed Queen of the Moon Kingdom.
	"Mother, I'm so very sorry.  I did not mean to worry you so.  I was merely 
overwhelmed by all the suitors and needed some time to myself.  I am so 
terribly sorry."  Serena's eyes had been gradually filling with tears as she 
said this, looking up at her mother from under her thick dark eyelashes and 
playing with the ends of the long blond curtains of hair that hung down her 
back from the two neat buns at the top of her head.  She looked up at her 
mother with cerulean eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Please do not 
punish me.  I did it to prevent myself from being rude to our guests in the 
palace," she whispered in a voice hoarse from holding back sobs.
	The Queen of the Moon Kingdom looked at her sternly for a moment more, then 
gathered up her daughter in her arms and hugged the breath out of her.  From 
over her mother's shoulder, Serena grinned evilly at Luna and the small 
white cat who had
appeared noiselessly from the roses.
	"Your Majesties, the King wishes your attendance in the
throne room."  The small white cat spoke in a deep voice and with
great respect.  He too had a golden crescent moon on his forehead.
	The Queen jumped in shock and exclaimed,
"Artemis, do not sneak up on me like that.  One of these days you'll give me 
a heart attack.  Did Endymion specify why he wanted us to come?"
	"No, my Queen, he did not, just that it was urgent and that you were both 
to come."
	"Thank you Artemis, we will go right away." With that, mother and daughter 
linked arms and made their way elegantly through the gardens to the palace.