Levana Ceri (Moon Love)

Chapter 21

Serena quickly made her way down the hall, hoping to find and explain. She didn't know exactly what she was trying to explain or how she would go about it, but that she needed to talk to Darien was imperative. If she could just see him...the words would come, she knew it.

Suddenly Kunzite appeared before her in a burst of smoke, blocking her path, and Serena immediately bent over and began coughing.

"My apologies princess-"

"I really wish everyone would stop calling me that." Serena choked out while still coughing.

"You cannot deny who you are. Calling you anything else doesn't change that you are the Moon Princess...and that Master is the Prince of Earth."

Serena froze and from her bent position and raised shocked eyes to meet Kunzite's unwavering stare. "What did you say?" Serena whispered.

"Master...Darien...is the sole heir and guardian of Earth."

"B-but that's impossible! Earth has never been a planet of power, why would it have a guardian? No one has ever told me that Earth was protected or that it had royalty-"

"That's because no one knows."

"Why?" Serena asked in confusion. To be recognized in the system as a planet of power came a long way in gaining respect and allegiance from the other planets. If her father had known, he would've allied himself immediately.

"Let me ask you something princess. When you think of your kingdom, what comes to mind?"

"Peace. Comfort. A place where only beauty lies and ugly things do not linger."

"Spoken as a true princess of your bloodline." Kunzite nodded approvingly. "Now let me tell you what others think when they think of your kingdom." Kunzite stepped closer until he was a step away from Serena and she had to look up to meet his eyes from his towering height above her. "Power, Serena. The Moon Kingdom is the wealthiest and most powerful of all the planets in our system. Its a paradise of peace and love. But it also has the power to destroy and defeat any who attempt to attack it. Any threat is dealt with with humiliating ease. That's the kind of power people can only dream about. Of all the planets I am truly glad that it is the Moon Kingdom that holds possesion of the Imperium Crystal. Your people praise mercy and honor. They will willingly die to preserve it. Of all the races I've come across, your people are the only I can say with confidence are not corrupted by absolute power. Because that is what your kingdom has whether you choose to claim it or not."

"You make us sound like dictators."

"No princess, I make you sound as the noble beings that you are. You only ever use your power to protect yourselves against any threat, and even then you always show mercy. You never use it to impose yourself on others. That's why the other planets flock to allie themselves with you. You are loved but feared as well. Its better to be allies then to be your enemy."

"What does this have anything to do with-"

"What do you think when you think of Mars? Jupiter, Venus or Mercury? Again...you think of a powerful kingdom. Mars has some of the greatest warriors this system has ever known. They are bred and trained for combat. They love to fight and find what little excuse they can to fight."

"That's not true!"

"Since alliying themselves with you, which I might add was a bitter pill for the people of Mars since they consider your kingdom weak for its mercy, they've had to restrain themselves. But they still train and still hold their combat tournaments for honor and bravery. To die in battle is considered the highest honor. Because of this many fear to take on Mars because of its no prisoner taken alive policy. Jupiter also trains for combat but unlike Mars who is more than happy to use a bomb and fire at a distance, Jupiters people believe that the only true form of fighting is to fight on even ground. Their belief in equality and fairness rivals none. Mercury is known for its people's high intellect. No problem is too complex for them. Venus is the only other kingdom I know of that so resembles the Moon Kingdom, the only thing their lacking is the Imperium Crystal."

"What's your point Kunzite. I'm getting sick of this history lesson."

"My point is princess that Earth is known for its stupidity. The countless wars we rage among ourselves and the genecides that are commited make even the toughest in the system cringe. We'll murder someone for looking at us wrong. For being of a different race or not thinking as we do. The people of Earth are petty, selfish and cruel."

"You're only children! Earth is a relatively new planet...you are still growing."

"Our people don't even know about the threat of Galaxia."

"What?" Serena said surprised. "But that's impossible.?"

"There are a handful among the Council who know the truth. But they are sworn to secrecy. If word of it got out it would cause chaos. Not even the rest of the Shitenou or Master know of it."

"But the people of Earth I've met are so hungry for knowledge. And they are good people. How could-"

"A person...maybe even a family is good. They can be loving and rival even your kingdom in nobility of nature. But unfortunately Earth's people never think in any other form but that of mob mentality. One person is sane, a mob is reckless and panicky. And when our people panic we do one thing...destroy that which makes us nervous. And if that cannot be destroyed like in the case of Galaxia then we turn on eachother."

"No one is that petty."

"Unfortunately in this Earth is well known. Earths Elite Upper Class, its wealthiest and most intelligent are in league with the Council-"

"If the Council is corrupt, then why doesn't Darien get rid of them?"

"Despite the love that Earths' people feel for Darien, public opinion can be easily swayed. And the Council has many connections to the media. All they need to do is release a tiny rumor. In order to disband the Council, Darien needs to gain more support."

"But you've said he's well loved."

"Yes, and many are very loyal to him."

"Then what's the problem?"

"Princess...of all people you should know best when Earths people hate something its deep. It was the Council who released the information of your kingdom. The power you wield. The Council and Elite Upper Class despise your kingdom. You have what they can never hope to possess. They wanted to make sure everyone felt as they did which is why they released the pieces of information they did. The rest was just hype and speculation. Jealousy over your wealth and longevity is the cause for Earths hatred of your people. The power you so easily display and use. As for Earths royal family, they have always been able to wield power, but they never shared that with anyone. One of Master's great great grandfathers, I'm not sure how many greats, felt it was time to follow in the footsteps of the other planets and share that knowledge with his community. Do you know what happened to him?"

Serena shook her head in the negative warily.

"He was burned at the stake as a witch in the Salem Witch Trials. His wife and children were burned as well. The only reason the royal line was able to continue was that his youngest son was visiting a friend in a neighboring village. That boy learned that his growing powers had to be kept a secret. And he kept that knowledge and so did his family from that point on."

"Then how did the Council find out?"

"Master's father chose a group of the wealthiest and most powerful men in the Elite Upper Class to serve on his council. He showed them his powers. And shared with them that it was a family trait unique only to them. The Council immediately wanted to put Master's family through various tests, hoping to locate what gene or hormone it was that granted them such power and use it for themselves. And the tests were not all humane. I've seen animals in labs treated with more respect than what they had in mind for Master's family."

When Kunzite paused Serena prodded him on. "And then? What happened?"

"I and my brothers appeared before Master's father a few months prior to this in chains. We were there for his approval for our execution."

"Why?" Serena asked shocked. "What crime could you have commited that required so grave a punishment?"

"We were different." Kunzite said. "We had powers of our own and weren't ashamed of them. We only used our powers to help others and to protect ourselves...but we were feared. Finally one night a band of men came into our home murdered and raped a young girl among our female staff...she was only twelve years old."

Serena covered her mouth in horror.

"The forensics labs came and it was determined that my brothers and I were the ones who brutally raped and killed that young girl."

"I don't believe it."

"Thank you. The tests were manufactured and we were sentenced to death. If there's one thing Earths people never forgive, it is someone who harms their young."

"But Darien's father saw your innocence and helped you right?"

"No princess. What Master's father saw was a trump card. We were all ready infamous at this point and greatly feared by all. Jadeite and Nephrite escaped prison using their powers and I had to track them down and bring them back. This only made the fear against us grow."

"Why would you bring them back? Why didn't you escape?"

"If we were to die then we would die with our honor and dignity intact. Master's father pardoned us inspite of the uproar against him and enlisted us as the personal guard for his newborn son. He had been able to keep the Council from performing tests on him and his queen but he feared his son would fall victim to a kidnapping or worse. He knew if any could keep him safe it was us. And we have kept him safe for twenty seven years."

"What about Darien's parents?"

"They were murdered when he reached the age of eight. The investigation was a joke and the official report is that Master's parents were murdered by the Kings mistress. She then conveniently commited suicide so she was never questioned."

"You don't believe that story." Serena said.

"No princess, I do not. The King was unfaithful to the queen on many occasions. Something inside him drove him relentlessly until the end. The love he felt for his queen was evident, but there was something dark inside him that drove him to find other women. My Queen was heartbroken over this but she never yelled. It was almost as if she understood him on a level I could never dream to comprehend."

Serena looked at Kunzite with something akeen to awe as dawning comprehension lightened her eyes. "You were in love with Darien's mother." She whispered.

Kunzite paused briefly, gathering his thoughts before he continued. "My Queen adored her husband. I would never darken her memory by claiming feelings for such an untouchable person. But I will say that she was the most beautiful person I ever had the priveledge to know, inside and out. The King...though he loved her, didn't deserve her."

Serena saw the pain darken his eyes and reached out to him comfortingly. Kunzite smiled at her and covered her hand that rested on his arm and squeezed. Serena smiled back before dropping her hand.

"The Council immediately took power immediately afterward since Darien was still not of age to rule. In the Kings will he asked that Darien turn to the Council for guidance and that he keep them on for they were more experinced then him. It is always expected for a King to have a will written and ready no matter his age. What the council, especially the head council member Marcus Duval, didn't expect was that the queen had a will of her own. It was given to me by one of her most trusted handmaidens days after it was announced that the Council planned on sending Darien to a boarding school. One well known for its "disciplince"." Kunzite finished in disgust.

"What do you mean?"

"That school known for its discipline...the teachers are all former inmates with long records in cruelty and abuse. It was a school founded by the Council and the children who graduated..."

"What?" Serena asked as he trailed off.

"They were broken princess. There's no other word to describe the dead looks in their eyes. Legally there was nothing we could do to protect Master, since we would not have been allowed to accompany him. Our hands were tied and the Council knew it."

"How could Darien's father do such a thing? How could he allow the council to-"

"Quoting My Master...he was a complete and utter moron. I was not about to allow them to take Master away from me and I was even planning on escaping the planet with Darien to the Moon Kingdom. With the Shitenou of course."

Serena eyes widened. Darien would have been on the Moon with her. Well...obviously not with her but...that they would've been on the same planet...maybe they might have even crossed paths.

"Luckily before I could set my plan into motion the queens handmaiden followed her instructions to deliver the letter to I alone. Reading a note she left to me I knew exactly where to go to acquire her will."

Serena briefly wondered if the queen had said anything else to Kunzite, and when she opened her mouth to ask she quickly changed her mind. If he wanted her to know he'd have told her. Perhaps the queen had told him something meant for him alone. Either way...she would never know.

"I took a copy of the will before the council and they were furious. In her will, Darien's mother named The Shitenou as Darien's guardians. For his safety we immediately left the city and found residence of our own. For years we kept one step ahead of the Council as the assasination attempts against Darien increased. When he was eighteen he demanded to be taken before the Council. He was of age to assume command and the Council leaned heavily on a very old rule that says any royal of Earth who chooses to rule must prove himself in battle. Darien immediately enlisted and was under the command of The Great General Telugu. He alone was the reason we were able fight off countless attacks from Mars' people and eventually win the war much to Mar's embarasment."

"I never even knew such a war had happened."

"Mars's King and his people never speak of it. It was well before the time of peace and the Silver Millenium. Earth, under the direction of the Council, declared war against many other systems outside the Silver Millenium and due to General Telugu's strategies we are always victorious. He's a genius at military strategy."

"I'm still surprised you and the Shitenou allowed Darien out of your sights while he was enlisted."

"He was never out of our sights. To his chagrin and Telugu's fury we stayed right by his side at all times. Telugu likes to take credit for Master's grasp of warfare and weaponry. He might have ordered Master around and taught him how to clean the floor spotless with a toothbrush, but I am the one who trained him from the moment he knew how to stand until today. Master quickly moved up in the ranks with promotion after promotion. He was awarded many medals for valor and honor. Silver crosses and more. He alone gained the respect and admiration of the armies. More often than not the General's armies always waited for Master to agree before they did anything he asked. In the end, they followed Master, not the General. Which forever put Master in the General's hate list."

"How could he have accomplished all that with you and the Shitenou guarding him so diligently?"

"We had to learn the hardway that he was a man now, no longer the child we raised, and that it was time for us to follow not lead. It was a very hard pill to swallow."

Serena smiled. "I'll bet it was."

"Master's name was all ready well known and revered by this point. His victories and sometimes displays of mercy gained him unwavering loyalty from Earth's people. The Council had little choice but to allow him to take his place as ruler."

"Kunzite, not that I don't appreciate what you've shared...but why tell me all of this now?"

"So that you understand that now you cannot go to him."

"What are you talking about? I have to see him-"

"You wish to see him to clear your own concience. This meeting would be for your benefit, not his."

Serena was insulted. How dare he claim that she was doing this for her own peace of mind. "I need to explain things to Darien-"

"He'll read it in the report I've just given him."

"That's not good enough."

"It will have to do. He cares a great deal about you Serena. But he is behaving strangely. I've never seen him this way. I don't want him to do something to you he'll regret later."

"Darien would never hurt me." Serena said with confidence.

"Maybe not physically but because of the Council and everything he's had to struggle for he knows exactly how to tear out your soul with words alone."

"All the more reason I should talk to him now." Serena closed her eyes, preparing to flash into the room when she suddenly felt a wrenching pain in her stomach and the crystal immediately closed around her and she was engulfed in a sheer protective shield. The pain immediately stopped and Serena was about to tell Kunzite what happened when she looked up at him and knew. "What did you just do to me?"

Kunzite nodded approvingly at her. "You haven't gained full control of the crystal yet, but at least your instincts are working."

"What did you do to me Kunzite?" Serena demanded.

"Since you won't listen to me...I'm sorry to do this princess, but as you know, my first loyalty is to Master. I removed your flashing ability."

"What?!" Serena asked in shock. She had no idea he could even do that.

"You are to leave Master alone. Wait until he calls for you or I deem it time for you to talk." The other three Shitenou appeared immediately in the hallway behind Kunzite. Blocking her path to Darien.

"Damn you, Kunzite. You don't have the right."

Seeing the tears forming in Serena's eyes when she realized that she couldn't fight them Kunzite softened toward her. "Please Serena, I ask of you...please give him time to calm down. To at least gather his thoughts. When I believe he's ready, I'll bring you to him myself. Right now he's reading the report I've given him and its very detailed. He needs time to read it...to process it. If you see him now then he won't have all the facts and he will say something he'll regret later. I know this. Please trust me, that now is not the right time."

Serena glared at him, knowing in her heart that she needed to see him now. But Kunzite was between her and Darien, and she knew of all people she couldn't fight Kunzite when his mind was made up. "I'll return your power to you once he's ready to see you." Kunzite informed her when resignation entered her eyes.

The resignation immediately turned to anger. "Go to hell, Kunzite." And with that she turned and left the hallway.