An. Please e-mail me. Thanks. Love you. On a Wing and a Prayer Part Three: Yume o Miru (to dream) Endymion slept better the few nights than he ever had before in his life. It was strange, he reflected one morning, half-lidded eyes blearily greeting the early sunlight streaming through the decorative glass squares in the wooden window frames. The incident with a creature, who, a week ago, he would have insisted was not real, did not leave him all that uneasy. Instead, for the first time in a long time, he felt a strange sort of peace settle deep in his chest where only anxiety had dwelt before. Shutting his eyes against the peculiar well of deep longing that would appear along with any thought of the elusive angel, the prince pondered instead on the unusual events that had plagued his kingdom lately. In addition the 'accident' with the sword, his generals had been acting quite unlike themselves at times. These bursts of hidden darkness in his friends' personalities came at unpredictable times, and always disappeared within a short enough span of time that no one else but Endymion could get suspicious. When the abnormal bouts of temper and conflicted behavior were over, the general in question would always apologize, looking confused, and if possible, even a little frightened. It was unnerving. Also, reports were coming in from all corners of his domain, reporting bizarre and foreboding events. A farmer's crops apparently dripped human blood when harvested, several villagers claimed fervently that one part of the sky always stayed dark with a cloud that never moved, people were claiming hearing footsteps and screams when all alone. Still others swore good water had turned sour and salty as if with tears, and that children would fall off tall trees without a scrape, only to cry out and die in their sleep. Less ominous but still concerning, were the reports of chance happenings: marbles falling out of a basket and rolling into geometric shapes without outside help, lightening repeatedly making the exact same pattern across a stormy sky, three or more identical children born at the same time to families across the village from each other... the list went on and on. Endymion knew more than ninety percent of these claims never happened, and simple stories could grow and evolve into epics of impending destruction before word ever reached the throne. Yet, it was the remaining ten percent that had him worried, even with the warmth in his chest and tingling on his lips that had lingered since an angel had last stolen a kiss in the rain. Endymion might have been convinced that he was being watched and protected from above, but apparently problems were still building up all around him. He couldn't help feeling he had no control over the outcome. It was beginning. And although he had been dreading It since he was a child, he never had any idea just what It was. Only that it would be horrifying beyond belief. ~~ "Is she even breathing?" Wondered a voice that could have been called snide if it were any less rich and melodious. A soft giggle escaped even serious Mercury for a moment, before answering Mars' question for the benefit of all the senshi gathered around the princess's bed. "It would seem so, although the physical activity of in-take of oxygen and the pumping of blood seems about all our dear little Serenity is bothering herself with." "So, in laymen's terms, she's been staring at the ceiling like that for the past *two days*," Jupiter stressed the last two words with exasperation, "and we have no idea why?" "You know," the Princess's voice was heavy with lethargy but it still held a hint of irritation at her friend's gentle teasing, "I can still hear." "Jupiter's observations are not quite correct, anyway," Venus said from her perch on the edge of Serenity's bed, "she went downstairs a few times for meals, and I've noticed her taking some casual glances into the Communications Room on more than one occasion." The mild snickering was nearly drowned out by Serenity's groan, as the graceful heir to the kingdom covered her head with her arms and preceded to whine in rather unladylike, but very typical fashion. "Mi-inna, please leave me alone! I'm not in a good mood." Cool fingers pushed damp hair back from Serenity's feverish forehead, "Really," Venus said dryly, "We hadn't noticed." "Perhaps if you could just tell us what's wrong," Jupiter uncrossed her arms and walked over to the bed near Venus, "we would stop incessantly bugging you about it." A small half-smile curled Serenity's lips at Jupiter's jest but disappeared as infinite sadness again settled over her features. Venus just shook her head slightly, not willing to let the foreboding in her chest match up with the visions of the Princess's strange behavior and Endymion's peculiar mood changes lately. But it was almost as if reason finally broke through, and two and two come together to make a number the senshi leader did not like one bit. "Serenity, does this have something to do with Endymion?" she asked, feeling the girl stiffen. "Leave me alone," she pleaded, her voice straining as if with unshed tears. "Sereni-" her friends started, but she cut them off, more force in her voice this time. "By Royal Command! Leave me be!" The hollow echo of her voice floated back to the girls in their shocked silence. Never, ever had the Princess held her position above them in any way, never had she separated herself from her senshi in such a blatant display. Serenity shut her eyes against her misery, wishing she could take the words back but knowing that, like many of the things she had done lately, it could not be erased from the past. Afraid to open her eyes to her friend's hurt and angry stares, Serenity tried to force herself to try to sleep as the sounds of footsteps retreating in an uncomfortable mass assaulted her ears. "As you wish, your majesty." Venus whispered quietly, sending knifes into Serenity's chest as Venus brought the two ornate doors together to latch quickly behind her. Covering her face with her hands, Serenity whimpered into the comforting feel of her pillows beneath her face, and the moon air murmuring slowly from the balcony. It hurt. All over, her longing, her desperation. Never had she thought such an innocent thing as a quick kiss could open the flood gates inside her heart. Far from helping her forget him, or cope with the distance, the closeness she had captured and coveted like a jewel since that night only burned in her chest and pounded her head. Watching him through the monitors ceased to be enough for her anymore, not after she had watched the rain catch in his eyelashes, not after she had felt his silky hair beneath her finger tips. After watching his blue eyes, which always had seemed so sad, darken and widen in awe, in longing...for *her*... connection... finally... Each cold, empty mile between them made Serenity's heart ache and freeze with fear that she might never see him again. What she did that one time was forbidden, it was taboo, it was... wrong. Wrong, so wrong... so why did it feel so right? And how long before she lost her will to stay away? Slitting open watery gray eyes, she sat up slowly, dizzily and walked carefully out on the balcony. The Earth floated like a lapis lazuli jewel among diamond stars, black of space lightened around the orb, white-gold clouds drifted along its surface. "Mother," she whispered, eyes darkening with shame, "minna," hands twisting together and clasping in front of her, shaking and cold, "my kingdom... Endymion," She lowered her head, sparkling strands of hair drifting out from the royal style in the light breeze, the earth sending soft blue light to dance across her dress in shadow. "Forgive me. I am unworthy, I am weak." 'I have fallen in love.' ~~ Endymion held the paper so tightly in crumbled in his hand, his eyes were dark with some mix that could have been fear or fury. Anyone who knew him well would avoid the prince when he was in such a state of intense concentration and agitation. Even his friends tended to step on the proverbial eggshells when the Prince of Earth read through the weekly scribed reports of happenings throughout his kingdom. Everyone knew that the events were growing in number, growing in the amount of terror spread through the people. With his uncanny connection to the Earth, Endymion felt that most of the horrors were still not true, yet why where the rumors growing so? General Zoicite had come upon and interesting theory hidden deep in the royal library, something about the enemy placing 'planters' deep within a society it plans to attack. The planters weren't spies, per se, but they weakened the infrastructure of the government in the countries they were hired to break, by spreading fear and doubt throughout the very basis of the kingdom itself: the common people. Fueled by anxiety, they would demand more of their Crown, while the royals could not stop things that never actually took place: the rumors the 'planters' would spread. Distrust would run rampant and when the enemy finally did attack, most had already turned to its side. Endymion went decidedly pale when Zoicite, trembling a little himself, made this information known to the prince. However, Jedite calmly stated that the Prince in fact had no enemy kingdom, as most of the Earth was already under his domain, ruled by faithful vassals such as the Generals themselves. Kunzite was staring out at the moon, the cold white light seeming unearthly and frightening when reflected in his ice-colored eyes. The words he had uttered in response to Jedite's flippant observation still echoed in Endymion's ears as the Prince held the report in his hands. 'The most formidable enemy is always the one unseen.' The irrational feeling again built up in Endymion's chest as he looked back on Kunzite's words and face that night. It wasn't fear... more like dread. It was coming... but when and who... "Endymion-sama?" Beryl's voice seemed almost timid, unlike her. Without the usual seductive lilt she put on around him, he hardly recognized it was her. Turning, he prepared himself to dismiss her, until he saw the look in her beautiful green eyes. "Endymion-sama... I am sorry... to disturb you. I know you are in one of your moods," she blanched when she realized what she said, and put one pale hand into her disheveled red curls. Mouth opening a little, the dark-haired prince blinked in surprise. A Beryl whose words were not as carefully scripted as a play, meant to tease and flirt? Something was seriously wrong. "Beryl," he began softly, sympathy drowning out his usual annoyance at the girl in front of him, "what is wrong?" Before she could stop herself, the girl stepped closer, closing the fabric of his shirt in tight fists. Looking into the deep blue eyes she had grown to adore so, so much... how could she tell him? Tell him of the nightmares, the whispers in the darkness... and the terrible joy tugging at her chest when evil dared laugh its way into her very dreams... "I'm," she shut her eyes against tears, even in the arms of the man she desired so much, she didn't feel safe, "I'm so very scared." Her voice cracked. She didn't think she'd ever feel safe again. If possible, Endymion's eyes opened even wider, surprise etched on to his face. It was not the first time Beryl had somehow conned herself into his arms, at least until he could push her away, but it was first time she had been so sincerely concerned. "Lady Beryl, believe me," he started, "I will do all in my power to protect you and my people." "No, you don't understa--," she started to say, but he was already tenderly, gently removing her arms from around him. Endymion's blue eyes turned a rare, warm color for a moment as he regarded the horror-stricken woman before him. "I promise, Beryl," he said, "for you, and every one of my subjects. I will do the right thing." He kissed her cheek, the first time he had ever voluntarily touched her in any way. Gasping, Beryl watched his retreating back, her hand flitting lightly on the tingling place his lips had touched. For once, the evil tugging at her by all sides was ebbed by something else, something she hadn't felt in a long time: Hope. 'The right thing,' Endymion thought as he walked down the grandiose hallway of the palace, 'Angel, help me.' ~~ The communications room was not exactly what one could call a hub of activity in the wee hours of the morning. The monitors' constant humming always seemed much louder in the nearly empty room, the few sleepy-eyed attendants nursed cups of sweet tea, and tried to pry their eyes open, to watch the few views Endymion's kingdom they had at night. Empty and silent, the Earth slept. A silvery sound of bells drifted quietly into the hall, alerting to the change of shift. As the staff awoke out of their stupor, going to wake up the people meant to take over for them, a cloaked figure slipped in unnoticed. It was not the first time Princess Serenity had spent her nighttime hours in the communications room, pleading information off the attendants, running elegant fingers over the crystal buttons, adjusting the screens to explore the magic of the royal gardens by moonlight. Yet it was rare to find her here at such a late hour, disguised under a lovely blue mantle, almost as if she was hiding wings underneath it. A half-lidded attendant sat before a monitor nearest to the princess, and she silently padded along to stand directly behind him. Smiling benevolently at him, she lightly placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed the top of his head. A light sprinkling of snow-like lights sparkled the air for just a moment, and the man shut his eyes and let his head fall onto his arm. Rationalizing that the poor man probably needed a healing sleep, Serenity couldn't help a feeling of victory over-take her. "I knew that power would come in handy," she allowed herself to breathe, as pale fingers stretched over the control pad, searching out the correct buttons. One, two, three... the monitors shifted slowly to moon-kissed tree tops, and shimmering lakes, far from the Earth Palace where her true love slept. And the angel prepared to leave. ~~ The balcony was lovely, pillared and carved. In dark marble figures seemed to flicker in the moonlit shadows, almost as if they were seconds away from coming alive and dancing on the soft, damp grass under the blue light from the moon hung in the sky. A willowy figure in white darted suddenly from behind one pillar up to a ledge near a window. For a second, she seemed unreal, an apparition, a ghost... or an angel. Wings alighted her back, shimmering hair cascaded down her back, and one hand rested on her chest in panic. Leaning against one pillar and shutting her eyes, Serenity commanded her palpating heart to slow, and took a few deep breaths of the unfamiliar, fragrant Earth air. The moon was breathtakingly beautiful, hung like an opal in the velvet sky, paling the stars and showering its comforting, heavenly light on to the gardens, the stairs, and the pillars. Slowly panic and awe wore off, and Serenity shifted her eyes carefully, realizing where she stood. If her calculations were correct, then that meant that Endymion slept in the room through the heavy glass doors to her left. Marveling at how much nerve sheer desperation could give a person, she pressed one soft hand on the cold glass, and let her other fingers fall lightly around the golden latch, wondering if the electric pulses Jupiter taught her how to manipulate could truly unlock the balcony door. Gasping at her good luck, and the lack of true security measures (since most assumed no one would try to enter a balcony three stories from the marble walkway), Serenity turned the latch easily and collected herself for a moment before pushing open the heavy door. Shadows and moonlight fell slightly and frozen across the dark room's floor, and only sounds the much too loud scraping of the door opening, and Endymion's breathing as he slept. As was habit since he was child, the prince had moved to the edge of the bed so he could sleep in the beam of moonlight floating across his room. The white-blue light fell across his face, softening the hard lines usually visible across his features. His hair shimmered almost as silver as Serenity's in some places, as the light alighted peacefully over the strands, embracing him as if it loved him as much as Serenity did. A small part of the Princess's mind scolded her for trembling, but most all of the radiant angel's thoughts were focused on the man before her. He seemed so vulnerable, she had a dizzy memory of watching a young boy fall asleep in the royal gardens when she was very little, held up to the monitor by Venus to get a glimpse of the prince all the adults had talked of so excitedly. The beautiful little boy... Unable to resist, she had to touch him, running soft fingers across his forehead. Suddenly, a warm hand grabbed hers in a vice-like grip and she felt him start awake violently. Sitting up in panic, Endymion faced his intruder with catlike instincts, wary and ready to attack. Stifling a surprised scream at this unexpected turn of events Serenity stumbled back, and would have fallen if not for Endymion's grasp on her hand. They stared at each for a few moments, dark blue eyes into light blue ones, light dancing between them in a haunting waltz heard by no one. It was Endymion's amazed whisper that broke the silence, "Tenshi." She smiled tenderly, and he thought he might live a hundred years and never again see anything so heartbreakingly beautiful. "I've dreamed of you." "And I you," she confided, the first time he heard her speak, her voice seemed to wrap around him, and through him, a shimmering silver blanket. He did not let go of her hand, instead shifting his fingers to weave through hers, the pleading in his dark eyes nearly broke Serenity's heart. "Are you real?" he whispered, a little boy, frightened by his own feelings. Nodding gently, the small smile never leaving her lips, she tightened her fingers around his. "My name is Serenity," she murmured, in the soft, sweet voice the strong-willed princess saved only for her loved ones. Surprised he was still able to speak through the haziness of his mind, he answered, "I'm Endymion." If it was possible, her eyes grew even lighter. "I know." Silence descended again, only the sounds of breathing audible in the room, although both of them were sure the other could hear the pounding of their hearts. "Are you an angel?" he finally asked, more composed, a business-like expression on his face... although his eyes were still slightly glazed. "Hai," she answered, "do you now believe?" Hesitantly, as if he expected her to flinch or run away, he sat up more, and brought his hand toward her face. She shut her eyes as he pressed his palm to her smooth face, spreading his fingers through soft hair. "Yes," with a sudden flash of boldness he ran his thumb over her lips, remembering them from the last rainstorm, shaking his soul moreso then the thunder. "I believe." ~~ She woke up screaming. It was there, it was always there, but at night it seemed to gain power and pull at her soul with more force then she had to resist it. It offered her everything she ever wanted: money, power, to see others cowering before her. It offered her the object of her desires, the young prince of Earth, bowing before her and her slave in more than one way. It pulled at her mind, but this night she tried harder than ever to resist it. For Endymion, she pushed the evil away from her mind. Rising slowly, Beryl shunned the thought of sleep, and wrapped herself in a sheer robe of dark red. Stumbling from her chambers in the west wing of the palace, she walked in a daze through marble walkways and lovely verandas. The moon mocked her from the dark sky, as she traced the steps to the ground beneath Endymion's balcony. ~~ They had just met, but she had known him forever, it seemed. Hand in hand with her before the glass doors of the balcony, Serenity seemed less mystical to Endymion. Instead of an untouchable, unearthly being radiating beauty and light, she was a princess of the light, warm hand resting in his, her heart beating and lungs breathing as his did. She was Real. And he felt in true danger of losing his heart to her, if it did not already belong to the angel before him. "So you really do... watch us constantly?" He asked, feeling a slight tightening in his chest. 'The unseen enemy,' something whispered, and suspicion filled him, even as Serenity held his hand tightly. Turning blue eyes to him, she answered, "Well, how else are we supposed to protect you?" Her voice drove the whispering darkness away, and at that instant, it lost all power to return to haunt Endymion. It was that moment, precious dusky blue eyes looking so trustingly into his, her sparkling warmth so close, heart pounding in time with his, that his heart filled so completely with her and only her, he wondered if he would explode. "Serenity," his voice was timid, even as he encircled her waist with his arm, pulling her closer, lowering his head to brush against her face. She looked up into his eyes, and he smiled a little. She was everything he had secretly hoped for, refused to surrender to, refused to believe in. But now... how could she have him acting this way? All Endymion could tell her was the truth. "Permit me, Princess, but after you stole a kiss in the rain, there are times when I pleaded on every star in the sky to be able to reclaim it." At the mention of the last time she had seen him, her face flushed a dark rose-color beneath her translucent skin, but before she could retort, he finished his speech and lowered his lips to hers. This wasn't right. It was against every law and every rule and every value the moon kingdom preached to Serenity from an early age. Why did she start this? What had she done? But she couldn't pull away. Not from this. Not from him. Finally. Endymion was lost in the waves of belong and desire, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist, wondering if he would wake any moment to face cold reality and find this was all a dream. It was nearly too much for Serenity, to believe that he returned the feelings she had kept hidden for so long. Tears filled the princess's eyes behind her closed lids, they sparkled in the moonlight as they caught on her dark eyelashes. She couldn't ask for forgiveness, because she had no regrets to offer. For as long as she could remember she had loved this man from afar, and to be finally held in his arms, feel his lips respond to her touch... "I love you," she admitted to him, as he pulled away slightly to look into her eyes, "it's wrong, but," her eyes were damp, quivering, but strong, "I've always loved you." Almost unable to believe that such a perfect creature could claim to love to a flawed human as himself, Endymion couldn't answer her. The shocked look in his eyes disappeared, however, as he saw his reflection deep in her gray eyes. "Serenity," he pulled her close again, leaning his head on her shoulder, burying his face into waves of silver hair, "You are the answer to my prayers." The moonlight encircled them, as if claiming allegiance to the side of true love as well. ~~ EMAIL ME!! PLEASE!! Antigone@lunap.com...