*Guardians of the Underworld*
Part 2

*****************************************************************************

Endymion's deep ocean eyes threatened to spill over in sorrowful tears. The
little girl he had come to think of so much over the years. The Princess he
endlessly wondered about since he was too young to remember. The angel that
had descended from the heavens and cheered him up in a flower garden. That
girl was gone. Her home destroyed and family killed. What sort of monster
would do that to a child so caring?

"Helios. You said that someone had taken her before she could make it to
safety. Who was it? The enemy?!" he pleaded to know as it became more and
more difficult for him to mask his feeling.

The Priest was surprised of his Prince. This was a girl he had known for
less than a day and hadn't seen for 14 years! But even still, he was worried
about her fate. Maybe the legend of the two being soul mates isn't so
impossible... The bond he feels must be strong..

The silence between the two became too stressful for the dark haired man.
He couldn't contain his emotions any longer. Shameful of his actions, he
looked away. Jaw clenched, he whispered through the tears that fell onto
his formal navy jacket. "Who...?"

Helios's eyes softened. "No. It wasn't the enemy."

Endymion seemed to mildly relax at that point. It wasn't the enemy. Those
words had never meant so much. He dropped his strained shoulders, his face
still turned the other way. He let out a large sigh. Bringing up his sleeve
to wipe his face, another thought about that situation caught his mind.
"Who was it then?"

"Do you remember the Sailor Senshi who refused to meet with the others? The
one who controls space and time?" Helios mused.

"Sailor Pluto..?" Endymion seemed uncertain at his answer.

"Yes. It was her. But not only did she change Princess Serenity's fate at
that point, she changed everyone's. Just before the other heirs could
teleport to Earth, she took their mothers' crystals. That left them with
little, if any, power. Their past memories were erased, gone. Then they
left," He explained, leaving the Prince stunned.

Endymion's brow folded in thought. "Then..she had her's...erased..too-"

"No," Helios interrupted with a start. "Her memory was left intact. And she
kept the Ginzuishou with her. But as I said before, she left with Sailor
Pluto. She took the Princess to the Underworld. It's located in between
time. Normal laws of physics and relativity don't apply there."

"But that would have altered her fate drastically! Why would she do it?"
Endymion demanded with fury, bashing his fist against the wall.

He chuckled. "You would think so wouldn't you? It didn't actually change it
that much. Her ultimate destiny would've been to protect the Galaxy, if the
need arose. Using the Silver Crystal. It's still the same. You can't change
destiny. She will still need to use the Silver Crystal. Only it will be in
the Underworld instead of her own Kingdom."

"But it still would have changed her! Altered her! Sailor Pluto must have
known that if she controls time!"

"She may control it, but she's forbidden to look into the past or future.
Just as it's forbidden to stop time, leave her post, or allow anyone to
travel through time," The silver haired man recalled the taboos. "Even
though it did change Serenity, it didn't harm her."

His eyes widened at the new possibilities. "What did it do?"

"There are only rumors. Only a handful of people have actually seen what
she has turned into over the years. Even then, those sources can't be taken
as reliable." Helios continued. "Her existence in the Underworld creates
warped timelines. And since she was taken there when she was still only a
child, her growth was accelerated. In our time she would be only 16 years
of age. But since there is no concept of real time there, she appears to be
a mature young adult," he looked over at the 19 year old prince. "Perhaps
closer to your age, highness."

Endymion shook his head with wonder. "That can't be all..."

"Indeed it isn't. Her hair used to be a golden blonde.." Helios paused.

The dark haired ruler recalled this. He could never forget it. It was like
a liquid river of the precious metallic element. Just a glimpse of it
changed a person's perspective on a gloomy life. It was similar to the
feeling of a warm, sunny, summer afternoon.

"..it transformed," he finished. "The isolation of the dark, silent
Underworld and the presence of the increased power within herself, caused
her hair to turn into a haunting silver."

A gasp was heard out of Endymion's mouth. While his teacher was slightly
amused at this show of astonishment, he digressed. It was only HAIR after
all..

"But the isolation did have other effects. Her mood and attitude became
darker. More like Pluto's. That was the only person she had even been in
contact with since she was brought there. Sailor Pluto acted as a mother to
young Serenity. She took care of her. Dare I say, even loved her to an
extent. But after the age of 10, the senshi went back to the gates. She
had trained the princess. To fight, to use the crystal, to follow her
destiny. But then when that was done, she abandoned her. Never looking
after her since that point. Serenity has been completely alone."

The tears began to well up in his vision again. He couldn't stand the
thought of her being so detached from the outside world. All she had known
was darkness. Isolation. Solitude. Her vowed to never let her live that way
anymore. He just had to figure out a way to get to her...

"Why did Sailor Pluto just leave her like that? Or, why did she take her
in the first place?" Endymion tried to find some of his answers. He tried
to justify his growing hate for this woman.

"No one knows. But there are theories. Some say that she wanted a child
of her own so much, she took Serenity. It was a form of rebellion against
the rules and regulations of the Silver Alliance.

"But others say that it was to prepare her for the future. That Pluto
*does* know something. The Ginzuishou is a crystal with unimaginable power.
If it was put into the wrong hands, the Universe could end. Only descendants
of the White Moon Kingdom can use the crystal. Since she is the only one
living, she has to protect it from the evil that might seek it. You see,
the Ginzuishou can either save or destroy the world. Depending on who
possesses it. That's where the upcoming legends will play their part."

*************

It was foretold, when the Earth is nearing into a new era, with a new King,
that the "Times of Destruction" would come. No one took it seriously. At
least, not most people.

There was a tiny village in the East where the legend had first been heard.
A young girl went into a trance. About the time when the Planet Mars had
begun to near Earth's orbit. When she awoke, she told of a great battle
coming. That the skies would be filled with a golden light, but then
darkened to a midnight haze. The whole Galaxy would be in danger.

When the news reached the King and Queen, they dismissed it. Saying that
'Nothing would ever do that much damage.' That it was 'just a nightmare'
and the girl who saw it should live in her reality, not her dreams.
However, the Queen did not seem so optimistic at the time. But the village,
Moeru, still did believe and support the girl.

Over the years, she saw more visions. It happened each time Mars came close
to the Earth. Doctors couldn't explain it. They guessed that it was a new
medical condition. But during her last meditation, around Endymion's 17th
birthday, she saw something more. And these were her words.

"There will be a Sailor Senshi corrupted in power. She will try and take
over the Galaxy, using any means possible in her dominating search for
strength and power. But there will be one girl who can save the Galaxy
and defeat her. She would also be a Sailor Senshi."

*******************

Helios softly started to speak. "All of the Princesses that were sent to
Earth had the destiny of being Sailor Senshi. But without the crystals that
their mothers' gave them, it is near to impossible. It's hard to narrow down
the search, too. Every planet in the Galaxy has a Sailor Senshi to protect
it."

Endymion's mouth curved into a smile as he thought about another
possibility. "What about Serenity? She'd surely too transform into a
Sailor Senshi! And with her memory and crystal still intact, she could
be the one who could save the Galaxy!"

He looked down. "Just because she has the Crystal doesn't mean anything. If
the person who possesses it is in the other persuasion.."

The Prince fell silent. He contemplated what his teacher was suggesting, and
then realization hit him. His lips let the words fall out.

"...she could destroy the Universe." Endymion concluded with sudden
understanding. "..Serenity could be the legendary senshi to corrupt.."

"That's right. There is no reason that she should save it. We just have
to hope for the best."

*********************************************

Later that night, Endymion was tossing and turning in his bed. The dimming
moonlight drifted into his quarters, illuminating the dark room. His hair
was tussled, his mouth formed into a scowl. He couldn't forget what Helios
had told him. His whole out view on history was different. Everything
changed from what the textbooks had taught him. Earth wasn't alone, and
neither was he when he was younger. He had a friend. And he couldn't get
their brief meeting out of his mind.

Submitting to the dream world once more, his body relaxed and he fell
into a deep sleep..

*********************************************

Leaving his parents to the conference with Queen Serenity, a young 5 year
old Endymion found himself at the entrance of an immense garden. All in
vibrant colours, the Prince seemed out of place. His hair was a dark ebony,
and his clothing was near the opposite end of the spectrum. He didn't
expect to find that on the Moon, everything was so lively. His boots crushing
lightly on the healthy ground, he stepped in.

Sweet smells caressed his senses. Each one slightly more fruitful than
the last. Flowers of rainbow greeted him on his journey. Baby's breath,
lilies, marigolds, plants of all types. But one breed was missing. Roses.
He couldn't find them anywhere. The crimson petals often cheered him up on
cloudy days, but it wasn't all that necessary today. It was beautiful out.
The sun glimmered off of the Sea of Serenity, which could just been seen
through the thick foliage of the Cherry Blossom trees. He ran his tanned
hands over the silkily textures and stumbled upon a clearing.

Near the back of it, was a tiny girl. Her hair golden and a dress that
looked like it was made of pure white clouds. She was giggling joyfully and
picking various flowers, adding one after the other into an elaborate
bouquet. She turned around, meeting him eye to eye. He looked at the golden
crescent moon upon her forehead, brushed lightly by her bangs. She was a
good foot shorter than him, but it didn't matter. He was mesmerized.

"I'm Serenity!" she said with glee, her crystal eyes sparkling. Her lips
pursed in a smile. "What's your name?"

His mind scrambled to think of it. Why couldn't he remember? Was this
girl having such an influence on him that his memory was foggy? Serenity
was looking up at him expectantly, waiting for his answer.

"En..Endy..mion.." he stuttered, looking over to a nearby flower bed.
Picking a snow white daisy, he held it out to her. "Here."

She didn't hesitate. Plucking the flower from his hand, she brought it up
to her face. The petals touched her blushed cheeks and he gazed into her
eyes. So full of hope, so innocent. The Princess brought the flower down to
her side, and spoke one of her most used sentences. She laughed while
saying it. "Endy-chan, do you wanna play with me?"

He was so caught up in the moment, he wasn't even paying attention to the
question she was asking him. But he probably couldn't refuse her anything at
that point, so he mumbled an answer. "O..okay.."

*********************************************************

Serenity was a very energetic child, as Endymion soon found out. Her every
move was graceful, yet clumsy. He had never met anyone like her before. Her
golden curls bounced as she jumped up and down, running about the gardens.
He chased after her, never wanting to lose sight. The Princess had an
angelic presence around her. She reminded him of a cherub. Like she could
sprout wings and fly into the sunset at any moment.

She finally slowed down near two trees. Their pink blossoms swaying in the
gentle breeze. Putting her bundle of flowers down on the grass, she starting
picking more near the base of the trees. The sun lighted her from behind,
giving her a glowing silluette. Her face was rounded from childhood, and her
nose was perfect. Just perfect, he thought. There was no other way to explain
it. She babbled on and on, talking about her dreams, her future. Endymion
noted that she had quite a wide vocabulary for a 2 year old.

"I'm gonna be a great queen one day. I'll love my people, I'll love
my home..I'll love everything! The stars, the planets..and then one day,
I'll make Mama proud. She says that I have a guardian angel.." Serenity
looked back at him. "Do you have one too Endy?"

He smiled down on her. Taking the daisy he had given her, he tied it in her
hair. "Yeah..I do to..."

He was only five. So inexperienced, so unknowing. But he knew one thing.
She was his guardian angel. And she would never leave him.

She laughed again, starting to chatter. "The angel..my Mama calls her
Selene, she'll help me! She'll make sure that I'm loved and safe, just like
my family! Some day, I wanna touch a star, fly with the birds, swim with
the dolphins..Ami-chan wants to do that too.."

While she was talking, she had taken Endymion's hand in her own and lead
him through the two trees. It formed a path, littered with fallen flowers
and life. At the end of it was an even bigger clearing. He could see
everything from that elevated point. The mountains, the water..but he
could hear things too. Serenity had suddenly stopped speaking, making him
listen to other sounds. But they weren't as cheerful as her voice. The
wind was growing stronger, but he could also hear...thunder..?

"Endy.." she said in a scared voice as he watched her take a small step
backwards. "What's that?.." her hand pointed past their view.

Endymion was puzzled. He followed her gaze and then gasped himself. On the
shadowed mountains were soldiers, a large group of them. His eyes widened
as they appeared from more angles, more spaces. Energy shot out at them,
burning a tree in the near vicinity.

Serenity continued to walk backward, but tripped over a twig. Falling to
the ground. He took a step in front of her. Shielding her body with his, he
yelled out fearlessly, "Don't worry, Sere! I'll protect you!"

He could hear her cry out again as the light got closer, the sky growing
darker. Endymion was worried about her. But he knew he wanted to save her,
if he could. He didn't know how, but he was determined. Looking back to her,
he could see the insignia on her forehead getting brighter. She started to
sniffle more noticeably, and then with a scream of agony, the tears finally
fell from her eyes.
"MAMA!"

His mouth fell open as the crescent moon's light enveloped her. The ground
broke away and the beam went up to the sky. All the while, her scream
sounded out over the land.

He couldn't comprehend time. The world stood still as Serenity was in pain.
He didn't want her to feel that way, but something made him turn his head.
Over the land, glittering crystals were floating in the air. Always floating
upwards. Serenity stopped screaming and looked. The two were silent. They
couldn't understand what was happening.

"Serenity!" a woman's voice called out. Her footsteps and many others were
also heard. But they didn't look back. Serenity and Endymion were completely
still.

"Masaka! There are thousands of them!" another voice gasped. The young
princess noticed her mother and dove into her waiting arms. Feeling a
sudden loss of warmth, Endymion looked back. Serenity's mother also had
the same insignia. The destruction was getting closer..

"Mama! Mama!! What's happening?!" the little girl cried, hugging Queen
Serenity for dear life. Her mother looked terrified.
"Run, Serenity! Please, get out of here!" she yelled to her daughter. She
screamed again as a cherry tree turned to ash near them. Endymion could see
whole the rest of the people behind them were. The Sailor Senshi. And also
his parents.

"No! Mama, I won't leave you!" the blonde child gripped her mother's leg
with her blue crystal eyes shut in fear. The Queen took Serenity in her
arms and whispered something in her ear. More tears ran down her face. Some
also ran down Endymion's.

With a final kiss, Serenity was given to Sailor Venus. The two ran, the
child with an outreached hand. "MAMA!"

The Prince tried to run after them, but his father caught him by the
material on his back. His princess was getting farther and farther out of
sight. Every second he struggled, but that only made the King tighten his
grip. Minutes passed, every one filled with anguish.

Blonde hair was once again in his view, but it was only false hope. Venus
had returned, but without Serenity. Whipping his shoulder out of arm's
length, he ran up to the senshi and grabbed her white glove. He could see
tears in her eyes also. "Serenity! Where is she?" he cried as his father
caught his back again, pulling him back violently. "Where?!"

His mother tried to pull her husband off of him, but to no avail. Venus
looked him in his watery eyes and smiled. "She's safe now."

As she sprinted away, her heels pounded on the hard ground. Light and power
surrounded Endymion and his family, teleporting them away.

...and all that was left behind was a discarded bouquet.

**************************************************************

** Disclaimers = I don't own any of the characters in this fanfic. Most are
owned by Takeuchi Naoko, Toei, TV Asahi, Koudansha, and plenty others. Don't
sue. This fanfic is copyright MinaP Aino, August 2001. **

Ja! MinaP http://www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~holig/

Finished as of -> 7:17 PM 9/9/01