#princess serenity

She was a pale, slender girl, clothed in an almost sheer white gown that flowed as she walked.  But she stepped so lightly, it was as if her feet barely touched the ground at all.  Like a ghost had wandered into my mother’s rose garden.

I called out to her and she turned in surprise.  But instead of fading away, she patted me kindly and kissed my forehead.

“Shouldn’t you be in bed, little boy?”

Endymion woke with a start, nearly tumbling out of bed.  He knew that voice, didn’t he?  Slightly embarrassed and still rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Endymion began untangling himself from the sheets. It had been awhile since he’d had such a restless dream.

In fact, the dream was eerily familiar but Endymion couldn’t place why.  Surely he wouldn’t have forgotten meeting a girl like that.  He struggled to remember the details of her face as they started slipping away in his morning daze.  

Kind, blue eyes. Soft, pink lips.  A cool, gentle kiss on his forehead.

A beautiful apparition, perhaps?

His interest in this mystery girl would have to be a secret though.  The court was already alight with rumors that the young prince was looking for a bride.  Rumors put forth by his father, King Aethlius, he was sure.   Endymion himself however dragged his feet at the idea. Love was wonderful, sure, but the kingdom needed attending first and foremost.

There was a quick knock on the door, interrupting his thoughts.

“Come in.”

Kunzite swept inside, followed by two attendants.  He had an itinerary in hand, marked and re-marked in red, suggesting he had been up and planning since early that morning. The attendants went to work pulling open the drapes, fixing the bed, and laying out the day’s clothing.

Endymion grimaced as one of them had already started setting his collar.  He preferred to dress himself but just as he finished pulling off his night shirt, they had almost immediately began wrapping him in his richly-dyed and embroidered attire usually reserved for ceremonial occasions.  Was he forgetting something?

The confusion must’ve shown on his face, because Kunzite raised an eyebrow.  “Master, need I remind you of today’s schedule?”

Shoot.  It seemed really important too.

“Uhh… the East Asian diplomats are visiting?”

“Farther than that.”  Kunzite checked off a box on his list and leafed through the rest. “There’s also been a change in plans regarding the attendees.  Please join us in the throne room when you’re dressed, my Prince.”

What?  Farther than Jadeite’s country? Where-

…Ah.  In the midst of his daydreaming about the ghost girl, Endymion actually had forgotten.  Today was to be history in the making.

An envoy of the Silver Millennium was descending to Earth.

It had probably been over a hundred years since anyone of the Silver Court had visited Elysion.

To Endymion and most of Earth’s inhabitants, the kingdom of the moon was practically a fairy tale.  An unseen, powerful queen who commanded soldiers controlling the elements, space, and time itself.  The stuff of legends.  But his parents and tutors alike assured him they were real, citing documents and treaties both kingdoms had signed in antiquity.   If Endymion recalled his history lessons right, that was when his great-grandparents sent them several chests full of pearls to celebrate the birth of a princess.  Other than that, there was barely any contact at all between the two kingdoms.

But now this was the real thing.  Even if it was just their diplomats, they were still the first non-humans Endymion had ever met.

Finally dressed after being surveyed and picked over by his dressing attendants, he made his way to the throne room where they were to be receiving the visitors.  Everything was spotless and polished to a shine, the various garlands and tapestries fluffed and dusted to perfection.  The servants were still hustling around, putting on the final touches.  This was probably a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a good impression after all.

“Master!  Over here!”  Zoisite waved Endymion over, loitering to the side of the dais. Nephrite and Jadeite were already with him in deep discussion.

“It’s a lot of work for such a short visit, isn’t it?”  Endymion mused, looking up at the decorations. He wondered why Kunzite asked him to be there specifically since there didn’t seem to be anything to help out with.  All the prep work was done or attended to already, and the envoy wouldn’t even be arriving until evening.   “Only once every several decades, too.”

“At least they’re punctual,” said Zoisite, idly dusting off the table he was leaning on.  “If they just visited whenever they pleased, I think it would alarm the citizens.  I heard they travel here by way of flying metallic ship.”

Nephrite looked up from his talk with Jadeite, alarmed. “See?  That’s the kind of thing I’m talking about. The Silver Court is weird.” He seemed quite serious. “Those soldiers they’re sending along with their princess are probably hulking ten-foot tall creatures with eight eyes and four arms and-”

Jadeite rolled his eyes. “Don’t listen to him, Master.  He’s been going on about monsters and aliens all morning.”

“Wait wait, back up!” Surely Endymion heard that wrong.  “What princess?”

Zoisite blinked in surprise.  “Kunzite didn’t tell you yet?  We didn’t know either till this morning. Apparently one of their royal guard contacted him to tell us the Princess of the Moon herself is coming on this visit.”

Endymion was stunned.  He wasn’t even sure if there was a record of the last time a Lunarian, much less one of the royal family, had set foot on Earth.  He had been expecting a Mecurian steward or a Jovian herald. Not the actual heiress to the Silver Millennium.

“It’s a bit inconsiderate of them, isn’t it,” continued Zoisite. “If we had known, we would’ve prepared a bit more for her.  Like a ball or a tour of the country even.”

“Maybe so, but it’s not like we’re going to deny it.” Kunzite had come up behind them, itinerary still in hand. Now all those red marks made sense.   He had been revising the schedule to accommodate the surprise attendee.  

“Besides, this isn’t a casual outing,” he added, his tone serious.  “These are supposed to be private affairs to reinforce our diplomatic standing with each other.  The princess is probably just coming along to help her understand this.”

Everyone nodded.  Nothing would change besides an extra seat at the table. This was strictly business: a political show of trust and diplomacy between the two kingdoms.  That was all.

“What do you think they’re like though?  Her and her guards, I mean,” asked Zoisite. “There isn’t much about the Silver Court specifically in the library.”  He was right.  Endymion himself had done some light research on them out of curiosity, but it all seemed more like folktales and second-hand stories rather than concrete accounts.

Jadeite spoke up though, “Supposedly her royal guard is composed of a group called the Sailor Senshi, royal heirs from the other planets in the solar system.  We have a few records of them in the past, but they’re only described as god-like with supernatural powers.  Maybe even immortal.”  Endymion wasn’t sure what to make of that last part, but he trusted Jadeite’s word.  The Eastern King was the quietest of the four, but his involvement with the royal historians and book-keepers made him the most reliable for efficient information.

Nephrite nodded in deep agreement, “So monster warriors, basically.  I bet they have two heads and fangs or-”

“Listen, all of you,” cut in Kunzite, “I’ll only warn you once.” Endymion could tell he was nipping this potential international (interstellar?) scandal in the bud.  “I’ve met the head of the Princess’s royal guard and talked to her extensively about this trip.  Do NOT insult them or embarrass the Golden Court in any way.  This is important for the ongoing relationship between our two kingdoms.”

“Yes, sir!”

He turned sharply towards Endymion, “Now, Master, come with me and I’ll inform you of the change in the reception ceremony.”

Endymion quickly followed as Kunzite took a brisk stride towards the plaza, trying to listen and retain the new plans he was going over.  But as they walked away, the remaining trio were still whispering behind them.

A very confused Nephrite asked, “Wait… did he say ‘her’?”

~!~!~

It was maddening.  

It was past dusk now, and it had been a couple hours now since Kunzite had left to escort the envoy to the castle.  Endymion’s father was seated in his throne with his son standing to his side.  The remaining Shitennou stood behind them, fanned out in a proper manner. High ranking courtiers and nobles lined the sides of the hall. Some looking towards the entrance expentantly, others stealing glances at their own crown prince and his guards.

For Endymion, the wait (and curiosity) was killing him.  He shifted slightly to make sure his knees hadn’t locked up and stifled the sudden urge to yawn. With an audience like this, he couldn’t afford to let anything slip.

Finally, the heralding trumpets sounded and after a brief moment Kunzite stepped inside.  But Endymion was surprised to see who was close behind him.  A young woman with long gold hair and deep blue eyes took her place beside him, chin high and stance confident.  Her clothing was unusual: A form-fitting white uniform accented with a broad square collar in golden orange that tapered into a bow of deep blue.  The shortness of her skirt raised a few eyebrows among the courtiers, but she stood proudly with a commanding air that rivaled even Kunzite’s.

“Presenting the Court of the Silver Millennium and Royal Guard to Her Highness Princess Serenity,  Madames Sailor Venus, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Mars, and Sailor Jupiter.”

They were all women.  Lovely young women who didn’t look too much older than himself.  Each of them were wearing the same uniform as their leader, Venus, but in an assigned color: a range of blues, reds and purples, shades of green.  They reminded him of his own Shitennou, actually.  He could see them a bit more easily now as they gracefully, protectively walked toward the throne, arranged in a box formation around what he assumed was Princess Serenity.   It was hard to tell since she was heavily draped in white sheer shawls and laces, her face completely obscured.  Even as the procession came closer, Endymion could only really tell that she was fairly petite.  

As they stopped in front of the dais, the Princess swept into a curtsy, keeping her head low and face covered.  Endymion suppressed the urge to crane his neck and get a better glance at her.

Venus was the one who spoke, “Your Majesties, I thank you for taking audience with us and for accommodating our last minute request.  I hope it wasn’t too much trouble for you.”

King Aethlius smiled kindly. “Not at all.  We’re honored to be the first in many years to welcome a Lunarian into our home.”

“Then may I present Her Highness, Princess Serenity of the Silver Millennium.”

The princess lifted her veil.  To say she was beautiful was an understatement.  Endymion no longer wondered why they had wrapped her so delicately; Serenity was like a porcelain doll.  She was as pale as the moonlight, her long hair which even when partially tied into buns, still trailed after her like a bridal train.  Now that she was right in front of him, he could see that even though her dress was also a gauzy white, it was ornately embroidered with gold and silver thread and garlands of pearls.  Against the rich red of the carpet, she practically glowed with an ethereal light.  In fact, the only spots of color on her were her kind, blue eyes and soft pink lips…

“AH-!” Endymion quickly covered his mouth, but it was too late. Everyone at the dais heard him.  They all turned to him in surprise, Serenity tilting her head in puzzlement.  Turning red, he immediately covered it up with niceties.

“I’m sorry, Milady, I was just surprised by your beauty.  I have never set eyes on someone so before.  It is truly an honor and a privilege to serve you during this trip.”

Most of that was the truth.  Serenity was the most beautiful young woman he had ever seen.  And he had no qualms about escorting her.  But that wasn’t the first time Endymion had seen her.

The ghost girl from this morning had swept out of his dreams and into his throne room.

to be continued

Sailor Moon collage

Princess Serenity, Chibiusa Tsukino