Disclaimer- Jacen, Jaina, and all associated places and/or characters are registered
trademarks of Lucasfilm LTD and Berkley Jam Books. Serenity and all associated places
and/ or characters belong to Naoko Takeuchi and Pioneer. No infringement is intended,
so please don't sue!!!!!

Prologue



It was but a few years after the Empire had been
abolished, and before the great Jedi academy had been
created. Luke wandered the galaxy, searching for something
else to do with his life. He was Hero of the Rebellion, or at
least that was how his sister, Chief of State Leia Organa
Solo, praised him. Luke knew he was simply doing his duty
as a Jedi to uphold the peace and honor of the galaxy and
Light Side of the Force.

The bar was noisy and crowded, not the typical place a
Jedi liked to be. Aliens argued and gambled in the dark
corners of the shadowy place. The bartender, bright blue
and insect-like with his many arms and antennae, sloshed a
mug of foreign liquor to Luke, saying he looked like he
needed a drink. Thanking him, he took a swig of the drink as
he heard angry voices.

"Stop! Please! Stop!" It was a woman's voice, troubled
and pleading with two large aliens who had a hold of what
appeared to be a black knapsack.

"Hey." Luke said, getting to his feet and approaching
the struggle.

"What do you want, human?" The one closest to Luke
sneered. He was black and hairy, with long, spindly legs and
a muzzle, which looked like a trunk. It had four eyes; two in
normal positions on the head, two on moveable stalks on
top.

"Let her go." Luke ordered simply.


The one holding both the woman and the knapsack
looked at the Jedi Master and laughed. It was tall and
muscular, with an acrid stench emanating from it. Its skin
was thick and leathery; pale green mottled with a vicious
snout sporting rows of glistening fangs.

"What are you going to do, human?" It laughed some
more, looking between the woman and Luke. The woman
was young, Luke noticed, he was probably only a few years
older than she. Her hair was blonde, but unlike Luke's gold,
it was pale and silvery, reaching below her waist. Her eyes
were a bright ocean-blue, but at the moment their beauty
was blurred by the look of terror they expressed.

"I warn you," Luke said, "I am a Jedi. Let the girl go."

This caused the offending creatures to laugh even harder.
"A Jedi, huh?" The green one said to its companion,
who snickered.

"Yes," responded Luke patiently, "And I suggest you let
the woman be."

"No can do, Mr. Jedi," the black one growled, "This here
lady belongs to us. She is the bounty of a very rich king in a
separate galaxy. Our instructions were simple; find her, and
bring her to him."

Luke concentrated, feeling the power of the Force
running throughout his body, infusing him with its strength.
His entire body tingled with the energy, and he saw the
aliens, felt them, and using the Force, let his thoughts move
them. Far. As he turned his attention to the girl, the two
aliens were forced backward, tumbling, falling on one
another.



The woman was shaking, understandably afraid. She
eyed him warily, throwing her glance between both him and
the aliens that had been thrown against the opposite wall.
They lay there, unconscious, in a heap.

"I'm not going to hurt you." Luke said gently, "I'm
here to help. My name is Luke," he added, as he helped her
to her feet.
"I am Selene," she responded. "Those men, they have
been following me throughout the galaxy. Thank you," she
said, a small smile stretching across her face.

"Please, come with me. Perhaps I can help." He offered
her his hand, which she accepted. Dodging angry looks from
the bartender, they walked outside into the night. Luke had
a ship outside, and they boarded. He powered up the
computers, and the craft flew off into space.

"I have a small place on Coruscant, if you would like to
stay there a couple days. It would be an honor," he added,
taking notice of the disturbed look upon her porcelain
features.

"Yes, thank you, sir."

"Please, call me Luke. Now, why are those two after
you?" he asked.

She sighed heavily, twisting her hands in her lap and
avoided his eyes.
"It is my father," she said at last, finally bringing her
ocean-blue eyes to Luke's ice blue ones. He nodded
sympathetically, motioning for her to continue. Selene
paused, as if finding the words was a difficult task.

"He is the King those two creatures mentioned. He
wishes for me to marry, and I have no desire to," she
paused, watching him closely. "I am a princess, and his only
daughter. To him, it is a princess's duty to marry and bear
heirs, no matter what she thinks." She spat bitterly, her
expressive eyes glittering with malice.

"I took matters into my own hands and ran away. And
I'm not going back," she said firmly to Luke, who
suppressed silent laughter. This woman had the same fiery
disposition and headstrong will of his sister, Leia. Perhaps it
had to do with being a princess.

"I won't make you go back, Selene, but you seem out
of touch with reality. Just how many times have you been on
your own?" asked Luke.

"Counting this time? Once." She said sheepishly. Luke
groaned inwardly. Just how many times would he be
responsible for a clueless princess?



From there things moved on. Selene went to live for a
few months with Luke on Coruscant, where she met Leia and
her husband, Han Solo. Leia understood her situation
perfectly, as only another princess could. They became quite
good friends. And as for her and Luke...


"Selene," he said one day, after months of living
together, "I think I'm falling in love with you." He watched
the silver haired princess warmly, as she stared back, a
mixture of sadness and affection in her eyes. She bit her lip.

"I love you too, Luke, but nothing can ever come of this."
She said, sadness too deep for Luke to bear in her voice.

"Why, Selene?" disbelief marred his face. What was she
saying?

"I received a letter today, Luke. My father is going to
war with Apollo's kingdom, and it's over me." Tears coursed
slowly down her face as she faced him.


"I can't be responsible for a war, Luke. I must go back.
Father was right, it is my duty." Her tone was so sad it
wrenched his heart as he watched her, the only woman he
had ever loved, slip away.

"I've arranged for a ship to pick me up. It will be here
in a few minutes. My things are already packed. Good bye,
Luke. I'm sorry," she said softly, as the tears poured from
her eyes. Luke realized that he, too, had tears in his eyes
when she reached up and gently brushed them away with
soft fingertips. He clasped her hand in his, kissed it, and
watched her leave. Moments later the ship had come, and
she had left. Gone.




Chapter One


It was midmorning when the girl came in. Her
golden hair was disheveled, and dirt was splattered across
her white dress, but there was a sparkle to her eye her
mother had never seen there before. The girl danced around
the marble palace floors, rejoicing in the cool feel of the
stone and in the joy of life.

"Serenity, darling, is that you?" Selene had not seen
her daughter for the past week; she had gone on a trip to
the Earth with the Senshi. Only she had received a message
from Mercury saying that Serenity had never shown. It was
like her daughter to run off alone exploring, for as a princess
she was normally confined to the reaches of the palace.

"Mother?" Serenity asked, a bit sheepishly. She knew
her mother knew that she hadn't been with the Senshi. For
the first time in her life, Serenity had felt complete freedom
when she was on Earth. All her life, she had lived on the
moon, unable to go anywhere or be a normal teenager.

Just then, an ear-splitting roar echoed through the
ornately decorated halls.

"Is that Serenity, Selene?! Tell her I want to see her
NOW!!!!"

"You heard your father, Serenity." Selenity watched her
daughter tremble and turn pale. There was much tension
between the King, Apollo, and his daughter. She
remembered a time not so long ago, when she and Serenity
had disagreed concerning Apollo.

The King had been ill, taken abed with a fever and
head cold. Serenity was but thirteen, yet she had sensed
long ago the King's feelings regarding her.


"Why don't you make your father a get well card? I'm
sure he'd appreciate it, Sere." Selenity had said, and the
look of cold indifference she had received chilled her to the
bone.

"No, he wouldn't. Why bother?" The young girl's
normally warm and bright blue eyes were icy, and her tone
was so cold it sent shivers through the Queen.

"But he loves you."

"No, he doesn't. He loves you. I was the mistake that
never should have happened."

"Do you really think that, Serenity?" Selene was
shocked.

"I don't think so, Mother, I know so." With those last
words, Serenity turned and left the room.



Now, three years later, Selenity had not noticed any
difference in the manner of the princess regarding her
father. Apollo, too, spoke of his daughter only fleetingly,
when absolutely necessary. Selene didn't think he would
have acknowledged her at all if it hadn't been for Selene's
insistence and public appearance. The populace of the Silver
Millennium didn't want a man on their throne who was not
civil with his heir, and Serenity was Apollo's only bloodline
heir.

With a sigh, Serenity turned from the airy palace room
and her mother's face to the darkened pathways that led to
Apollo's chambers. Shadows stretched across the marble
floor, filling her with dread. There was no way to know what
her father would have in store for her.

"Serenity..." Apollo's voice was low and warning, full of
menace.

It took a few moments for her eyes to adjust to the
gloom of Apollo's chambers, but when they did, Serenity
bowed slightly in the King's direction out of polite respect.
Her personal feelings for the man did not matter.

"Where have you been this past week, Serenity?"
inquired Apollo.

"Earth, sir." She drew herself up tall, or as tall as her
petite 4-foot-8-inch frame would allow. Her chin stuck out
defiantly, and her hair cascaded behind her in a river of
gold.
Apollo, aging, wizened, his youth leaving him, set his
sallow skin in a snarl as he appraised his daughter.

"Do not get an attitude with me, girl. You weren't with
the Senshi. Why."

His question was more an order than a statement, and
Serenity trembled slightly.

"Freedom, sir." She preferred to keep her responses
short when talking with Apollo, for she never knew how he
would react. His snarl deepened as he pushed one of his
remaining strands of hair behind a tanned ear.

"You want freedom, girl? You, the crown princess of the
Silver Millennium, ask for freedom?" He laughed, cruel,
condescending laughter. "People kill to be in the position you
are in, girl, and you ask for freedom?"
He continued, an amused smile on his features.


"It's not a woman's place to be free, girl. A woman is to
marry, be a good wife, and bear heirs. A husband doesn't
want a headstrong upstart for a wife, but a sensible,
obedient, beautiful lady. And it's high time you learned to be
a lady."

What little color that had been in Serenity's cheeks
faded and drained from her face as she processed what
Apollo had said. It's high time you learned to be a lady...
Fear gripped her, fear of the future and of destiny.

"Yes, girl. There is a school, far away from the Silver
Millennium, in a separate galaxy. I have arranged for you to
be sent there, to learn what you will. But," he paused,
leaning over to his daughter, "on your twenty-first birthday,
a messenger will be sent to the school to prepare you for
marriage to a suitable suitor of my choosing.

"Now then, girl, your shuttle leaves in two hours. I
suggest you pack." Apollo turned away, signifying the
meeting done and Serenity dismissed.

Seething with anger, Serenity stalked down the halls to
her own chambers. She flung open the doors, stomped
across the floor, and sank, crying hopelessly, on her bed.

"Leaving." she thought sadly, "I am leaving. And when
I return, I will be another man's fiancé." Sobbing softly, she
removed from the folds of her dress a golden star-shaped
locket, and opened its case. Inside, a crescent moon
revolved around a ruby-red jewel while a beautiful melody
played.

"Oh, Endymion," she said, "Will I ever see you again?"






Hours later, a very subdued princess sat on a shuttle,
leaving the only home she had ever known. Her mother had
tearfully bid her farewell, saying it was all for the best, and
that she would miss her terribly. Her father had declined to
see her off, sending a message that she was to behave and
uphold the family honor. She was representing her family
and their kingdom, and was to conduct herself as a proper
princess.

She sighed. It was to be a long, boring ride with none
but her, her luggage, and the wrinkled old pilot of the school
she was to attend. He didn't talk much, and she didn't
engage him in conversation, either. Instead, Serenity
amused herself with the locket Endymion had given her on
their last night together on Earth.

Its sweet melody played over and over again as all the
familiar sights of the Milky Way galaxy passed by her
window in a blur of light.

"You'll enjoy yourself at Master Luke's Academy,
princess." Old Peckhum said to his young charge, who was
completely immersed in her own thoughts and memories.

Enthralled by her newfound freedom, Serenity danced
around the gardens of Elysian. Her long white gown swirled
around her, accenting her movements. In the shadow of a
giant tree, a tall young man with midnight-black hair and
dark blue eyes clad in the attire of a prince watched her with
fascination. Beside him stood a smaller boy, wearing the
white and blue robes of a priest. His hair was white, with a
small, golden horn protruding from his forehead. Together,
they watched Serenity as she twirled around the white
marble fountain, skipping along the stones and laughing with
the sheer joy of life.


"Who is she, Helios?" The dark-haired boy asked of his
companion, completely enchanted.

"I don't know, my prince. A foreigner, possibly, or one
of the noblemen's daughters."

The prince walked forward, so close to Serenity they
were almost touching, but she still had not noticed him. In
fact, she was leaping along the edge of the fountain,
throwing bread crumbs to the goldfish.

"Excuse me, miss," caught completely off guard,
Serenity whirled around to face the prince, but lost her
balance and fell into the water. He leaned over to try and
pull her out, but she pulled away from him and he fell in
himself.

Laughing, they climbed out of the fountain and strolled
peacefully to a bench on the far side of the garden, in a
grove of roses. The sweet perfume filled the air, and it was
so beautiful Serenity felt as if she could lose herself in the
atmosphere and in the gorgeous man before her.

"Hello. My name is Endymion," he said, locking his dark
eyes to Serenity's own.

"I-I'm Serenity," she stammered. Her heart was
beating wildly, and she was afraid of those eyes, those
gorgeous blue eyes that she could immerse herself in and
never return to reality from.

"Glad you like my garden." With a wave of his arm, he
indicated the paths she had danced in and the fountain
where they had fallen in.

"I wish he'd stop looking at me like that." Serenity
thought, "I bet my hair's a mess, and my gown is soaked."

"What brings you to Elysian, Serenity?" She fidgeted a
little, toying with a strand of her golden hair. Her
characteristic odangos were falling, and absent-mindedly
she quickly undid them, letting her hair cascade around her
shoulders.

"Well, I'm here on vacation. I live on the Moon." She
said.

"I would be honored if you would stay with me in the
palace, Serenity." He said, grasping her smooth hand.

"Arigato, Endymion."

"The pleasure's mine. I want you to meet a friend of
mine," he indicated Helios, "This is Helios, my good friend
and keeper of the golden crystal of dreams. Helios, meet
Serenity."

"It is my pleasure, prince, Miss Serenity."
Serenity stopped suddenly.

"Prince?" she asked Endymion. He smiled, flashing
those brilliant white, gorgeous teeth of his, and laughed.

"Of course. I am Prince Endymion, of Earth." He
pointed at the crescent moon on her forehead,
"And I don't think you're all you say you are."

It was Serenity's turn to laugh.
"No, I suppose not. I am Princess Serenity of the Moon
Kingdom, but since I am here on vacation, it is Serenity."
She smiled at him, and he smiled back. Oh, he was
handsome.
Together, the three of them turned and headed to the
palace of Earth, where she stayed until she returned to the
Moon and her mother.

"Ten minutes till landing." Peckhum's voice snapped
Serenity out of her reverie.

"Ten minutes," Serenity thought bitterly, "ten minutes
until my life is over." Gently, lovingly, she shut the case of
the locket, abruptly ending the soft music. She caressed its
smooth, golden surface for a moment, then tucked it safely
back within the folds of her dress. Absently, she looked at
her gown. Long, white, flowing, sickeningly princess-like.

"I would give anything to be a normal girl," she
thought, "without the responsibility, the worry, the
entrapment..." she sighed. "I'm not even free to decide how
I wear my hair, much less who and when I marry."

Peckhum glanced back at Serenity, who was completely
lost in her thoughts. Her gaze was fastened to the window,
watching the stars fly by. He activated the landing
mechanisms, letting the navicomputer guide the ship
through the atmosphere of Yavin 4 and land gently. Dust
flew up around the craft, encasing it in clouds of brown dirt.
Watching through the window, Serenity could see a giant
temple, older perhaps than anything she had yet seen. In
the distance, she could see the beginnings of a vast green
jungle, lush with tropical plants.

"Here we are, princess." Peckhum said lightly, as the
girl appraised him coolly with ocean-blue eyes, then stood.
The entrance hatch opened, revealing a tall man with golden
blonde hair and pale blue eyes, smiling at her warmly.

"Hajimemashite, Tsukino Serenity-hime." He said,
bowing slightly in Japanese custom. Obviously he had taken
a great deal of effort in learning some about their culture.
He had even properly pronounced the greeting, which must
have felt strange to his foreign tongue.

"Konban wa. Who are you?" Serenity responded
politely, watching the man with mild interest.

"My name is Luke Skywalker. This is my Jedi
Academy," he gestured with his arm at the stone temple
behind him. "Welcome." She bit her lip, anxiously running
her fingers along the smooth gold chain of the locket, which
hung around her neck and under her dress.

Luke watched the girl, and sensed longing from deep
within her. The look in her eye worried him; it was the feral,
desperate look of a caged animal. He would have to watch
this student closely, for such desperation was a lure to the
Dark Side, who used the Force for evil and personal gain.

Serenity saw him as he studied her, and she felt a
twinge of anxiety. What was he thinking? What if she wasn't
fit for his academy? Would he send her back home? Would
she see Endymion again?

As he studied her ivory features and golden hair,
realization dawned upon Luke Skywalker. As soon as she
brought her expressive ocean-blue eyes to his, he knew.
Those were eyes he remembered; eyes he had loved.

"This can only be Selene's child," he thought. A feeling
of dread washed over him as all his senses and the power of
the Force tingled with recognition. "My child."


Peckhum watched him, a look of concern and curiosity
in his eyes. Ignoring the wizened shuttle pilot, Luke
courteously grabbed Serenity's knapsack, blocking out the
surge of emotions coursing through him. Love, of Selene
and their child, hate of his ignorance and the long ago day
she had left, and the feeling of protectiveness that
overwhelmed him when he looked at the girl who was his
daughter.

"Arigato, Skywalker- sensei." Luke managed a small
smile, as Serenity fixed him with a gaze he knew all too
well. It was the same cool, understanding look her mother
had given him many times.

"Hey, Luke!" Han Solo had just stepped off the
Millennium Falcon with his friend, Chewbacca the Wookiee.
When he caught sight of Serenity, though, the lopsided grin
disappeared and he stopped dead.

He stared hard at the golden-haired moon
princess, his gaze flickering between her and the Jedi
Master, before staring Luke in the eyes. He nodded softly,
before beckoning Serenity to follow him inside the Great
Temple.

Meanwhile, the twins Jaina and Jacen had followed their
father off the freighter and witnessed the entire scene. They
exchanged confused glances, before looking at their friends
Lowbacca the Wookiee, who was Chewie's nephew, and
Tenel Ka, the warrior girl from Dathomir. Both had emerged
from the sleek craft soon after the twins, and were just as
confused by Han's and Luke's reactions to the new student
as Jacen and Jaina.

"What was that all about?" Jaina asked quietly.






Inside, Luke was showing Serenity around the
academy. He had met her but an hour ago, and already the
feelings of paternal fondness were growing inside him. He
could tell she wasn't truly interested in anything he was
saying, she was obviously preoccupied. It wasn't until he
reached the Main Audience Chamber at the top of the
temple that she shown any interest at all. The old carvings
engraved in the walls fascinated her.

"This looks almost like the carvings on Earth..." she
murmured, running her fingers along the cool stone. Yet as
soon as she touched the wall, she felt her consciousness slip
away from her, as if in a dream...




FLASH!

A woman, silver-haired, wearing a white gown
screamed, begging for mercy, but Serenity could not see her
face. A man, tall, masked, was behind her, grabbed her
roughly and spun her around. A glint of metal...

FLASH!




She was back, back... Luke was watching her
concernedly, as her consciousness began to return and she
realized where she was. Luke's academy... She was in
Luke's academy... She realized she was breathing heavily,
and a tear was in her eye. Hastily, she wiped it away, feeling
Luke's ice-blue eyes peering into her own.

"Serenity? Serenity? Are you okay?" She realized he
had a hold of her shoulders; she was shaking. Shaking badly
from the look on his face.

"I-I'm fine," she stammered, her breathing slowly
returning to normal as she looked around.

"I probably shouldn't say anything," she thought to
herself, "he'll only think I'm a nutcase."

"Do you need to see the medical droid?" Luke asked, "if
you're unwell..." Serenity met his concerned gaze with her
own, ignoring the confusion and the vision and replacing it
with her inner strength and will.

"No." She said, "I am fine. It must have been the long
journey on the shuttle. I have never been this far from the
palace before."

Luke watched her with concern, noting that she
fingered the chain of Endymion's locket when she spoke.
Obviously the pendant had special meaning to the girl.

"Perhaps you should rest then. I'll have a student show
you to your room."

Meanwhile, Jacen, Jaina, and their friends Tenel Ka and
Lowbacca the Wookiee had emerged from outside to the
entrance hall, conversing amongst themselves.

"Jaina!" Luke said, harnessing his niece's attention. She
turned, saw Serenity, and looked at her uncle with a
question in her eyes. Ignoring Jaina's curiosity, he motioned
her to him. Obediently she followed, still as confused as
ever.

"Please, show Serenity to your chambers," he turned to
the blonde beside him, who was still reeling from her
experience, "Jaina is my niece. You and she will be
roommates, due to the large amount of students this
semester." With a silent nod of thanks, Serenity retrieved
her bag and followed Jaina through the halls.





"So you're new here, huh?" Jaina said, eager for
conversation with the strangely dressed foreigner. The
princess responded with only a faint nod of her head, still
completely immersed in her vision, if it was a vision at all.


"I wonder what it could mean?" She thought. "Mars is
usually the one to have visions. I don't have any special
psychic powers. I'm just the pretty little princess who has a
talent for singing."

"Hey?" Jaina said, interrupting Serenity's thoughts.
"My name's Jaina. Who are you?"

Serenity turned to her, as if noticing her for the first
time.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was thinking..." She smiled at the
young Jedi Knight, "My name is Serenity."

"After you've had your rest, I'll take you to meet my
brother and our friends." Jaina said, smiling at her new
roommate.

"Thank you. I would really like that," Serenity said,
feeling the happiest she had felt since she had left
Endymion's palace on Earth.

As she seated herself on the bed closest to the window,
Serenity heard a muffled meow from her bag. Utterly
surprised, she jumped as her breath caught in her throat.
Grabbing the knapsack, she undid the laces and snaps to
reveal a very unhappy, tousled-looking black cat. A golden
crescent moon shone on its ebony forehead, much like the
one shone on Serenity's.

"Luna!" gasped the golden-haired Jedi student in
surprise. The black cat responded by blowing a stream of
fluff from the knapsack out its mouth, covering Serenity.

"It is very uncomfortable in there, Serenity. Stifling
hot," the feline said in the proper voice of a Guardian.

"What were you doing in there?" Serenity was shocked
to find her Guardian, her mother's Advisor, Luna the talking
black cat, stowed away inside her knapsack. The cat rolled
her cinnamon-colored eyes in exasperation.

"Do you really think I'm going to let you, the princess,
go off alone to foreign space far from the Senshi and the
power of the Ginzuishou?"

Serenity smiled wryly. "I'm not as helpless as you
think, Luna. I still have the Moon Prism."

Luna snorted. "A fat lot of good that'll do you in a one-
on-one battle with a youma. Have you forgotten there are
no Senshi here to protect you?"

Anger quickly welled up inside Serenity as she said in
an ice-cold voice, "I do not require so much protection,
Luna. I am sixteen years old, I am not a child."

"I forgot," the cat said slyly, with anger and frustration
equaling the girl's, "you are a lady now, capable of
marriage." She said, emphasizing the word 'lady'. The
furious glare she received sent cold shivers through her as
she realized she had said the wrong thing.

"Don't even go there, Luna!" Serenity snarled, whirling
upon the cat with fury enough to make her shrink back
against the sheer force of the princess's wrath.

"Is everything all right in here?" Drawn by the shouts
and anger in the room, Luke softly opened the door to see
the cat sitting on the pillow, and Serenity pacing the room,
squeezing the knapsack until her knuckles turned white.

Taking a few breaths, she laid the bag upon the bed
beside Luna, straightened, and smiled at the Jedi Master.

"She covers her emotions well," he thought, "she has
been well trained in the art of queen-craft."

"I'm fine, thank you, Master Skywalker. I was a bit
surprised to find my Guardian hidden inside my knapsack."
She shot a reproving glance at Luna, who responded with a
lazy feline shrug and stretched herself on the pillow.

"I know that cat," Luke thought, as he watched Luna
toy with an absent thread on the pillow. "That's Selene's
talking cat. The one who wouldn't let me anywhere near
her," he thought with a wry grin.

As if she had just noticed the Jedi Master, Luna sat up
and stared at him as recognition dawned in her furry face.
"That's Queen Selenity's old lover... Serenity's birth
father... Why did she send Serenity here, knowing that he
ran the school?" she asked herself. In his mind, Luke was
pondering the same question.


Meanwhile, Serenity was getting annoyed by all the
furtive glances around her. It was as if something was going
on, something that involved her, but no one would say a
thing. They knew something all right, but no one would tell
her what was going on. She would have to figure it out for
herself, much as she would have to figure out the meaning
of that vision alone. Jaina and her friends already thought
she was strange, no need for them to think she was insane,
too. No, she would do this alone.


"Serenity?" Luke asked, as she gave him the cool stare
he knew so well. It was exactly the one he saw in the
mirror, but with eyes darker blue. It was the stare that
meant 'I'm listening, but I couldn't care less what you're
saying. I have other things to think about.' He laughed
inwardly. So this was what Leia meant about him listening to
and ignoring her at the same time. He was seeing it in the
features of his daughter.

"Serenity? It's time for evening meal. Why don't you
bring Luna downstairs and get something to eat."

She nodded, gathering the black cat in her arms and
carrying her downstairs. She was in the entrance hall before
she realized exactly what Luke had said.

"I didn't tell him that my Guardian's name was Luna..."
She said quietly, questioningly. "Something's being kept
from me, and I don't like it at all."

From her place in the moon princess's arms, Luna
emitted a small meow. This would brew trouble, she knew,
for all those who knew the secret.

"Hey, Serenity! Come sit with us!" It was Jaina, sitting
at a table with a boy Serenity did not know, but who looked
a lot like Jaina, with his brown eyes and hair.
"He must be her brother," she thought. Also with her
roommate was a young ginger-furred Wookiee, and another
girl with long red-gold hair done in ornate braids.

After she had received her food, Serenity carried her
tray to the table where Jaina, Jacen, and their friends sat.
Luna followed behind, tail held high in the air as she pranced
behind her princess. Nimbly, she leapt onto the bench
beside Serenity as she sat down, white gown tucked neatly
underneath her before billowing at her ankles.

"My, what strange clothes you have, Mistress Serenity."
Said Em-Teedee, the small translating droid who hung at
Lowie's waist. The ginger-furred Wookiee gave a small growl
of reprimand, but Serenity laughed. A clear, melodious
sound that brought joy to all who heard it. It was the first
time she had laughed in weeks. "Since," she thought, "I left
Mamo-chan's palace." She stopped. "Mamo-chan?! Did I just
call him Mamo-chan?! That means..." She giggled aloud.

"Hey, what's so funny?" Jacen, who hated to be left out
of any joke, good or bad, said. Serenity giggled some more,
before wiping a hand to her eye.

"Nothing." She said, still grinning. "And, by the way, I
know my clothes are strange. I don't like wearing them,
either." She smiled softly, remembering all the other things
she had no choice about. As sadness overcame her once
more, Serenity willed herself to stop thinking of what she
was forced to do. It only led to painful thoughts of
Endymion.

At that moment, Lowie emitted a series of short woofs,
watching the princess kindly. Em-Teedee translated-

"Master Lowbacca says he is curious as to where you
come from, Mistress Serenity, and I must say, I would like
to know as well."

Serenity laughed again, quieter, softer this time.
"Me? I come from a galaxy far away from yours, in a
Kingdom known as the Silver Millennium. My mother,
Selene, rules over it with my-" she paused, as if simply
saying the name was a cause of anger and pain, "father,
Apollo. I am Crown Princess and only heir to the kingdom.
Needless to say, I don't get out very much." She added.

"Hey, Tenel Ka's a princess, too. She's from the Hapes
Cluster..." Jacen was broken off by a wave of the warrior
girl's hand.

"Let Serenity tell her story, friend Jacen." Taken aback
from the gentle reprimand, Jacen quieted as Serenity began
speaking.

"So you want my story, huh?" She asked to the eager,
interested faces around her. Even Em-Teedee's sensors were
fastened to the moon princess. Luna shot her a reproving
glare, which Serenity ignored. If they were to be friends,
there shouldn't be such secrets kept.

"My story..." Serenity said thoughtfully, "There really
isn't much to tell. My mother, Queen Selenity, married a
man named Apollo when she was very young. Supposedly
there was a big fiasco involved with the marriage, something
about a war between Grandpa's and Father's kingdoms, but
you can't rely much on court gossip." She said, the small
group unaware that Luke was listening very closely to catch
every word.

"As far as I can tell, they have been happy together.
But then, I really haven't paid attention much."

Lowie emitted a short, curious woof which Em-Teedee
didn't bother to translate.

"Well," Serenity said, "let's just say my father and I
don't get along very well. He's not very fond of me, and the
feeling's mutual. Mother is oblivious to the entire thing, and
has been for as long as I can remember.

"To say it frankly, as Mother's heir I'm not really
allowed to go anywhere and never have been. But, a few
weeks ago, I managed to sneak away to the planet which
our moon orbits. It is called Earth." She stroked the golden
chain of the star locket as she spoke.

"That sounds like something Jacen or I would do," Jaina
said with a laugh. "Was it the first time you had been out
anywhere?"

Serenity nodded softly. "Yes. Even in Mother's palace,
there are numerous guards, and the supreme warriors
known as the Senshi. They are the guardians of our Milky
Way galaxy, princesses of the planets of our solar system,
but at the same time warriors pledged in service to my
mother and our kingdom.''

"They are Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus,
Neptune, Saturn, and Pluto. Mercury, Mars, Venus, and
Jupiter live on the Moon, in Mother's palace. Uranus and
Neptune guard the outer reaches of the galaxy from invasion
with Saturn, and Pluto is the Mistress of Time." She paused,
watching the faces rapt with attention all around. Many
other new trainees had abandoned their conversations to
listen to the tale of the strange new princess in their midst.
Serenity smiled and continued,

"Saturn's powers are great and terrible. She is the
Senshi of death and rebirth, guarded by the planet of
silence. The power held in her Silence Scythe is enough to
destroy an entire planet into rubble within minutes."
Serenity took a breath,

"Yet if Saturn was ever to unleash the deadly power
she wields, she would die. My mother's Imperium Silver
Crystal, or the Ginzuishou, is the only known power that
could prevent Saturn's death if she so chose. It is the
greatest known power in the Universe, which is why the
Senshi follow her. The power of the Ginzuishou can only be
released by one of the royal blood, or if its keeper decreed
that another should wield it." She said, and a small smile
crept across her face.

"On Earth, I was free for the first time. I had told my
mother I was to be with the Inner Senshi, but of course I
wasn't. I was alone, able to wear what I pleased, eat what I
pleased, talk to who I pleased... In other words, enjoy the
freedoms that most take for granted."

Jacen shook his head. "My mother would kill me if I did
something like that." Jaina nodded vehemently.

"I didn't get out of trouble, now. As soon as I returned,
my father, thoroughly angry, of course, decided it was time I
learned to be a lady. Therefore, I was sent here until my
twenty-first birthday. Upon which," she snarled, "an advisor
of my beloved father will come for me to prepare me for a
marriage which I have neither choice nor say in."

Luke's eyes widened. He had not known what was in
store for Serenity come her twenty-first birthday. He had
known that she was to leave, but he had not known why.

Her situation was, he realized, quite like the one her
mother had faced when he had met her.
"I wonder why Selene would allow her daughter to be
treated this way by Apollo. She had hated being thrown into
a marriage, why was she allowing Serenity to do the same?"
He thought, completely puzzled. It made no sense. Unless...

Of course! That was it! Selene had sent Serenity to him
knowing he would recognize her instantly. She was counting
on him helping their daughter as he had tried to do her. By
training her as a Jedi and somehow annulling the wedding-
to-be.

"Selene," Luke said quietly so none could hear, "I will
try. In the name of the love we had, I promise I will try."



Far off, in the Moon Kingdom's palace, Selene paced
her chambers as restlessly as a panther. Her silver hair
swept behind her as she silently crossed to the window to
watch the processions of the party happening outside.
Couples were dancing, or relaxing together under the shade
of the beautifully blossomed cherry trees. Like she and Luke
should have been able to do...

"Oh, Luke, love. I'm sorry for the way things turned
out. I hope you will love our child as you once loved me. You
deserve to see her, to be near her, to know the wonderful
young woman she has become. I owe you that." She sighed
as fireworks exploded in the dark night sky.

"And I hope you can do more for her than you could for
me, my love."




That night, Serenity was sitting on her bed, staring out
the window into the jungles of Yavin 4. The climate was so
pleasing, there was no need for glass. The breeze swept
through the room, heavily perfumed with jungle scents.

Wistfully, almost longingly, she stared out into the vast
expanse of space which stretched over the moon like a snug
blanket. A small brush in hand, she was smoothing the
tangles from her ankle length golden hair, while Jaina lay
half asleep on the other side of the room.

"Serenity?" she said sleepily.

"Yes, Jaina?"


"I'm glad you came." Serenity smiled into the
darkness. She had found a friend.

"I'm glad I came, too, Jaina. Very glad." She set the
brush on her nightstand and crawled beneath the covers. By
the time Luna had leapt up to lie beside her, she was
already asleep, the star locket playing its tune in the
background.





On Earth, Endymion was as restless and agitated as
Selene. He stalked around the garden where he had met
Serenity, wondering if he would ever see his Usa-chan
again. He stopped suddenly. "I just thought of Serenity as
Usa-chan... I wonder if she thinks the same of me? After all,
we were together only a month before she left to rejoin the
Moon Kingdom..." He sighed. Already, he had become so
completely attached to the blue-eyed princess who he was
certain had stolen his heart.

He knew now why he had given her the star locket. His
mother had given it to him, saying that one day he would
meet the person whom he would know to give it to. The
person who would be his soulmate...

It had been an impulsive decision, really, but the more
he thought about it, the more he knew his mother had been
right. He had felt that the locket should be given to Serenity,
and he had felt that it belonged with her ever since. Now he
couldn't get the moon princess out of his head.

He had heard, through the gossip chain, that Serenity
had been sent to a school in another galaxy.

"How often does she think of me?" he wondered, "I
can't stop thinking about her."


* * * *



Serenity had been at Luke's academy for over two
years now. She had become very close to Jaina and her
friends, but she and her roommate were inseparable. She
thought very little of the Moon Kingdom and her mother, but
still greatly of the young man who was Earth's prince.
Endymion. He had given her that splendid star locket, and it
had become her most prized possession.

"Sere!" Jaina called, exasperation showing on her
features. "You've already missed morning meal! You're going
to be late for class!"

"Iie! I can't be late!!!" Serenity squealed, running
through the open door and rocketing past Jaina, who was
watching her roommate with a smirk. "Tionne will kill me if
I'm late again!!"

"You should have gotten up earlier. Oh, Serenity," Jaina
said, laughing, "you forgot your shoe." The moon princess
skidded to a halt at the top of the stairs, tripped on a
burgundy rug, and rolled down the stairs. At the base,
Jacen, Tenel Ka, and Lowie were waiting for their friends
when they saw Serenity rolling down the stone steps.

Jaina rolled her eyes, Tenel Ka politely acted as if she
had taken no notice, and Jacen hid a laugh. Lowie chuffed a
little as Serenity stood up, attempting futilely to regain her
dignity.

"Oh, man, now my hair's a complete mess and I have
dirt all over my jumpsuit, with five minutes to get to class,
and looking forward to detention if I'm late again. This has
been a perfect morning." she sulked, as Jaina handed her
her sandal.

"Here's your shoe," she said innocently, receiving an
instant sulky glare. Jacen laughed.

"It doesn't look as if Sere's in a very good mood, sis."
Lowie nodded in agreement, grinning.

Serenity, meanwhile, was fighting trying to reassemble
the odangos in her columns of hair.

"I-am-cutting-it-off-as-soon-as-I-get-the-chance!" She
said through gritted teeth.

"Why?" asked Jaina, grinning.

Serenity shot her a 'look', and said, "My hair is taller
than I am!"

"That doesn't take very much..." Jacen said softly.

Serenity marched her four-foot-eight-inch frame up to
Jacen and lifted her deep ocean-blue eyes to his brown, and
said, "Don't make me come up there."

They all laughed, Jacen especially. "I wouldn't dream of
it, Sere."

"I should think not." Was the princess's prim reply,
before grabbing her black knapsack and leaving to class.

"Master Jacen, if she was the late one, why are we still
waiting here?" Em-Teedee asked. Lowie woofed.

"Right. What are we waiting for?" Jaina said.



Far off from the reaches of the light and loving
Universe, in the darkest corners of imagination, reigned the
Negaverse. Pure evil was home here, more, darker evil than
the Dark Side of the Force could ever dream to be. The Dark
Side held warriors from the Negaverse, and the Dark Jedi
fought for their Darker upperlings in the Dark hierarchy.

Here, Beryl reigned. Queen of the Darkness, ruler of
the powerful Negaforce. Long had she watched the Light
Side Jedi, and hated them. Long had she hated the love
which radiated from their Universe, hated that miserable
Queen Selenity of the Moon Kingdom who had blocked her
from the world of light with her Ginzuishou. But now...

The barrier which confined the Dark Queen to her
realm of evil was weakening, had weakened enough to allow
her escape. Queen Selenity would rue the day she had
imprisoned her, mighty Queen Beryl, in the Dark Negaverse.
Now, she would pay.

"Jedite!" She roared. At once, a blonde warrior
approached her side. The first of her grand generals.

"Yes, my Queen?" Beryl watched him coldly with eyes
that held no love, no pity, no mercy.

"There is a Jedi, Jedite. A powerful new Dark Jedi. He is
training under Brakiss at our Shadow Academy. His name is
Zekk. Bring him to me."

"But Palpatine, my Queen..."

"Don't question my orders, Jedite! Palpatine is a fool, a
loyal servant of mine, just as you. All you must do is leave
the portal and bring the Jedi to me. I have business to settle
with Queen Selenity."

"Yes, my Queen." Jedite turned and left, leaving
through the portal that connected the Negaverse to the
Universe.


Serenity sat in class, mind intent on concentration as
she felt the power of the Force singing through her. Tionne,
Luke's assistant and a powerful Jedi Knight, was instructing
the class on a Jedi's method of memory retrieval. A Jedi
could retrieve memories of the long ago past by
concentrating using the Force.

She was curious as to which memories to try and
retrieve, when a thought struck her. If her mother had
indeed been scandalous when she was a baby, she would
have seen it, wouldn't she? She could retrieve her memories
as a baby, find out what really happened all those years
ago...


Flash!
She felt cool, damp air rushing over her, the sound of
voices screaming, crying, pounding in her ears. Her vision
was dim, her hearing the same, but she could hear, and she
could sense. Sense as she did now using the Force.

"You damned whore! You ran away, sent your father's
country and mine to war, and had a baby with some cracked
up bastard in another galaxy..."

"I am not a whore, Apollo! And Luke isn't a cracked up
bastard! I don't love you, and I never will! I didn't want to
marry you, but I had no choice."


"I should kill that little fatherless bitch and strip you of
your crown for such adultery..."

"You cannot, Apollo! Leave Serenity out of this!"

"Keep the bitch. But keep her away from me, Selene,
or I swear I will have her killed."

"Apollo!"

Flash!

Serenity was shaking, shaking as badly as she had the
day she had first come to the Jedi academy. Apollo wasn't
her father... No wonder he had always hated her! He didn't
simply hate her, but he hated Luke, too! Luke Skywalker,
Jedi Master, was her father! So that was why he had looked
at her so strangely that first day! And Han too! He had
known as well! They all knew; her mother, Luna, Luke, Han,
probably Leia too and no one had ever told her! She was
trembling with fury and self-hate and a feeling of such
wretchedness she thought she should never be happy again.

"Serenity!" Jaina... It was Jaina yelling at her... "Jaina,
my cousin," she thought bitterly.

"Get Uncle Luke!" Jacen said, but Serenity was dimly
aware, so focused was she on the rage boiling inside of her,
consuming her, making her tremble and shake with
suppressed anger.

Luke Skywalker came running through the halls and
into the classroom at the shouts. As soon as Serenity turned
her deep blue eyes to his, eyes that were now filled with
fury and betrayal, he knew exactly what had taken place.
She knew... By the power in Heaven, she knew.

"Serenity-" he said, but she interrupted.

"I don't want to hear it! I know, okay? All this time...
And I never knew... Mother never told me, you never told
me... I trusted you." Her voice was so full of betrayal it
wrenched Luke's heart as he watched the face of his
daughter.

She rose to her feet. "I need some time. Some rest,
perhaps." She left the room without another word, leaving
everyone speechless in her wake.






Deep within the maze of the dark Shadow Academy,
Zekk paced restlessly, his crimson-lined cape swirling behind
him like a wave of darkened blood. His hair, just a shade
lighter than black, was tied neatly at his neck. He wore the
black leather uniform of the Dark Jedi, of the Second
Imperium's Darkest Knight.

He was supposed to have met with Brakiss this
morning, but the Master of the Shadow Academy was
nowhere to be seen. None of the stormtrooper guards had
seen him, either. It wasn't like the normally prompt Dark
Jedi to be late.

Zekk was impatient. There was supposed to be some
new mission for him, some new task for him to accomplish.
He was straightening the silver clasp of his cape when he
saw a young man with blonde hair in a dark violet uniform
stride forward to greet him, Brakiss at his side.



"Zekk." Brakiss said, in means of greeting. Zekk
nodded, still watching the blonde stranger with curiosity.
Every sense of the Force within him told him this was a
dangerous, evil creature, best to be avoided if at all
possible. Never before had he felt such complete evil
emanating from a man. It was unnerving.

"To a private chamber, please, Zekk." Brakiss
instructed, motioning for his trainee to follow both him and
the violet-clad man.

Once alone, out of the earshot of the stormtroopers
and others who might choose to eavesdrop, Brakiss
explained the reasons for his tardiness and the arrival of the
stranger.

"Jedite, sir, this is the young student Her Majesty
inquired of. His name is Zekk, pride of the Shadow
Academy, our Darkest Knight." He indicated Zekk, who felt a
small glow of pleasure at Brakiss' praise. The stranger, who
Zekk now knew as Jedite, nodded at Brakiss' words and
appraised the young Jedi with cold, cruel eyes.

"So you are Zekk. I am Jedite, one of the four great
generals to the Queen of all Darkness, Her Majesty Beryl.
She has sent for you, the Darkest Knight of the Second
Imperium, to be part of her plans of conquest, a high honor
to be bestowed upon a human." Jedite sneered the word,
and Zekk felt a chill run up his spine.

"And what role might that be, sir?" asked Zekk.

"It is not my place to say. That will be up to Queen
Beryl to disclose at her leisure. You are to come with me."
He indicated a vicious-looking black swirling portal, which
had appeared suddenly.

"Who is Queen Beryl?" Zekk's curiosity had gotten the
better of him. Brakiss shot him a glare of reproof for his
insolence and ignorance.

"Her Majesty Queen Beryl is the supreme ruler of her
Dark Empire. Even the Emperor Palpatine obeyed her
wishes. For the past millennium, the royal," he spat the
word, "family of Queen Selenity of the Moon Kingdom has
kept her imprisoned in the Dark Negaverse. Watch your
tongue," added Brakiss, "for if I might be merciful in my
dealing with your impudence, I can assure you Her Majesty
will not be. You are as easily dispensable to the Queen as a
stormtrooper is to me."

Zekk swallowed a throatful of anxiety, as he watched
Brakiss and the general Jedite. What was it he was sensing
from Brakiss? Envy? Was the Master of the Shadow
Academy jealous of him?

"You are to come with me." Jedite repeated, gesturing
toward the portal. Zekk pushed aside his nervousness as he
watched one of Beryl's supreme warriors. Chin held high,
confidence flowing over him, he strode past both Brakiss and
Jedite and stepped through. Jedite followed, closing the
portal as soon as they had both entered. Brakiss was left
alone.

Serenity lay on her bed, staring out the window, feeling
the warm jungle air rush over her. How could she not have
known? She had felt something since she had first come to
Yavin, and she had always known Apollo's feelings regarding
her. Gently, lovingly, she pulled a chain from where it rested
underneath her Jedi robes, on which two rings hung.

Jaina came in then, hesitantly. She opened the door
and sat on the bed across from her friend.

"Serenity?" she asked quietly, "What happened in
there?"

Serenity sighed, hearing her friend's voice. But, of
course, she had sensed her before she had even come in.

"I've lived a lie all my life," she said softly, "and I only
just found out. No one told me that Apollo wasn't my father;
not my mother, not my guardians, not Master Skywalker."

"What would Uncle Luke know about it?" Jaina asked,
confused. Serenity watched her, her silence speaking for
her.

"You don't mean..." Jaina gasped, "HE is! That's what
I've been feeling every time we talk, every time we go near
each other! Jacen's felt it too."

Serenity nodded. "As I have. I dug into my memories,
and found that information, something I had overheard but
never understood and forgotten. Except I understand, now."

"I can't believe he wouldn't tell you..." Jaina said
vehemently, but Serenity shushed her.

"I can understand somewhat, I think," she said, "It was
probably as much a surprise to him to find me here as it is
for me to know it. I think part of me has always known
about Apollo..." she finished softly.

"Come on, Jaina," she said, grinning, her usual happy
expression back on her face. "It's dinnertime, and I'm
starved."

Jaina laughed. "Imagine that," she said. "You're always
hungry." Serenity sweat-dropped, giggling. "You can say
that."

"Oh, please," Jaina said, rolling her eyes.

"Hey, I'm a growing girl..."

"Growing wider, you mean, if you don't cut down."
Serenity put a feigned look of insult on her face, then
laughed.

"Who, me?" she asked mildly, "I'm hurt."

"No, you're not," Jaina laughed, "Unless you count the
unending hunger." She turned and left out the door.

Serenity pouted. "So what if I like to eat?"

"You coming?" Jaina's voice called out from the hall.
Serenity turned and ran out the hall after her friend,
laughing and playing.

Jaina swatted at Serenity as the two walked into the
food line, and she responded in kind.

"Stop it, you," Jaina laughed, as Serenity stuck out her
tongue and swatted Jaina again.

"Why?" she replied innocently.

"Because I'm gonna do this, that's why." Jaina whipped
around and started tickling the golden-haired moon princess
who laughed and tried to get away, ending up tripping and
falling into the food line.

"Hey!" somebody behind them cried out as Serenity
landed on his legs, knocking him over. Jaina tripped over her
friend and her tray soared out of her hands and onto the
princess's head.

"Ack!" she cried, wiping the sauce and juice from her
hair and face, and, laughing, took a roll and flung it at Jaina.

Jaina squalled and grabbed a turkey leg and hit
Serenity with it, who, laughing uncontrollably, grabbed a
fistful of potatoes and flung it at her cousin, who ducked,
causing the potatoes to hit Jacen. Jacen recoiled, and in turn
threw a handful of beans at Jaina, who yelped as they hit
her, and threw half a fruit at her twin.

Jacen dodged the airborne missile, which hit Tenel Ka
in the back of the head, who, to everyone's immense
surprise, grabbed a roll and partook in the fun. Before long,
the entire room was alive with flying food, and all the
trainees were covered in mush.

"STOP!" Luke yelled, but not before a great pie flying
through the air hit him square in the face. Of course, it
wasn't aimed at him, he just happened to be in the way.
He glared around at the deadly hush of students, cream
dripping off of his face.

"Who started this?" he asked, his tone stern.

One by one, everyone pointed at Jaina and Serenity,
who smiled meekly, dripping in dinner. Jaina had a bowl of
chili poised at Serenity, who fell (again!) on top of the meal
line, the entire thing falling all around her.

"Oops," she said timidly, as a piece of aluminum hit her
on the head and bounced off. "Ouch!"

Jaina, who knew she was in serious trouble judging
from the look on her uncle's face, couldn't help but laugh as
she saw Serenity fighting to pull herself out of the mess of
the line and failing. She helped her friend up, innocently
tossing the chili to the side.

A stern look upon stern looks came across Luke's face
as he looked at his daughter and niece.

"Jaina," he said, "Serenity. As fitting punishment you
two will spend the night cleaning this mess up alone. As for
the rest of you, the evening's sparring session has been
cancelled, for it doesn't matter who started it if you all
joined in. Now I suggest you all go upstairs and clean
yourselves up." The Jedi Master's tone said quite clearly the
conversation was ended, as the young Jedi Knights trudged
upstairs and Serenity and Jaina began to clean.


As they were straightening everything, Serenity flung
a sponge at Jaina, who tried to look as stern as she knew
how.

"Don't even start. That's how we got into this mess in
the first place."

Serenity laughed. "Yeah, I guess you're right." She
pulled some vegetables out of her golden hair, and wiped
some of the food from her face.

Jaina laughed. "Did you see Uncle Luke with that pie on
his face? I mean," she said, "I know I was supposed to be
upset, but it's hard not to laugh when the one punishing you
has got pie all over his face." Serenity though, had gone
silent.

"It's nice to know I could amuse you, Jaina," Luke said
sternly, coming out from behind her.

"Uh," Jaina stuttered, her face turning from death-pale
to tomato-red faster than lightspeed.

"Don't worry about it," Luke said, the frown
disappearing partly. "Whatever made you decide to start a
food fight?"

"Uh," Serenity stuttered, her face matching Jaina's in
hue.

It was taking everything Luke had in him to keep from
bursting into laughter watching his two students. The dinner
hall was almost completely clean now, since the two had
been working all evening.

"On greater reflection," Luke said, "I really don't want
to know."

"Uh," Jaina and Serenity said in unison, then burst out
laughing.

"You two go clean yourselves up," he said, smiling.

"Okay, Uncle Luke," Jaina said brightly, and
disappeared up the stairs.

"Serenity," Luke said, "wait. I want to talk with you."

Serenity stopped as she was asked, turned around and
met Luke's gaze. Her countenance was perfectly masked as
she studied the Jedi Master. Luke watched his daughter as
she put up her spiritual and emotional walls, refusing to let
anyone in, anyone meaning him.


"I'm sorry, Serenity," he began, "I should have told
you..."

"It doesn't matter," she replied. "I know now, and
there's no point in dwelling on what should have been done.
It doesn't do anyone good."

The Jedi Master laughed inwardly. "You're right," he
said, "go ahead and clean yourself up."

She nodded silently and walked upstairs.


* * * *

The time flew by. Before long, Serenity was dreading
the day which would bring her birthday, for then she would
be twenty-one. A few days ago word had come on the
communication that a ship was coming for her and would
take her back to the realm of the Silver Millennium.

As of the moment, the blonde princess was pacing her
chambers weeping and fretting and throwing objects about.
Jaina walked in on her cousin to find her throw herself upon
the bed, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Sere?" she asked, crossing the room to hold her friend
and comfort her. Serenity folded onto her cousin, pouring
out her broken heart in a flood of tears.

"Oh, Jaina," she sobbed, "I can do nothing! I am past
help, past hope..."

"What do you mean, Serenity?" Jaina asked curious as
to what was causing her friend such distress.

"I mean I am about to be married to a person I have
never met, when the man I do love, my husband still lives!"

"What?!" Jaina cried, shocked.

"I mean exactly that!" she wept, "Those months on
Earth; I fell in love with their crown prince, even though our
nations are at war!"

Jaina could do little else but stare as Serenity told her
tale.

"How can people hate each other so? Is my mother's
society of longevity so much envied that people would kill
each other over the Ginzuishou? Should it, should I even
exist?" She wept bitterly on her friend's shoulder, as Jaina
thought desperately of something to say.

"No, Serenity, none of this is your fault," she said
soothingly, but the princess was not in the mood to be
comforted.

"I married him then, in secret, because our peoples
would never allow it, much less Apollo. If anyone had ever
realized just who I was, they would have killed me without
question. The same would have happened to Endymion if he
had come for me on the Moon after our marriage. And,
before we could work something out, Apollo sent me here!"

Serenity was in such a sorrowful frenzy Jaina had no
idea of what to say, much less what to do.

"Everything will be okay, Sere," she said, "You've just
got to believe that."

"How can I?" she wept, "I, a married woman, am soon
to be married again, while the person I love is kept from me
by war, and there's nothing I can do about it!"

Jaina soothed her cousin, although it was very difficult
to do so with her current state. An idea struck her, and she
reached out a hand to turn Serenity's face to her own.

"Listen, Serenity," she said softly, as the girl brought
her tear-stained face to meet Jaina's.

"What?" she sobbed.

"You've got to tell Uncle Luke," Jaina replied. "If you
tell him the full story, I bet he can do a lot more than you or
I."

Serenity stopped in her agitation, and looked at her
cousin.

"Tell him," Jaina said encouragingly.

The princess looked at her friend and made up her
mind.

"Okay," she said, "but you go get him." Jaina smiled,
hoping that this would all turn out for the better.

"All right, Sere."




Serenity sat alone on her bed, staring out the window.
Her knees were drawn up to her chest, her long golden hair
released from its imprisonment in odangos, covered her. Her
face was red and blotchy, tear-streaked from crying. The
star locket lay open at the foot of the blanket, closed,
reflecting the internal lights off of its golden case.

Serenity turned her gaze to it, and a look of sheer
determination crossed her features. She stood, straightened
her Jedi's robes, and began going through her belongings.

She tore open her knapsack, shoved in a few days'
worth of clothing, as well as other necessary items. She
lovingly looked at the star locket, before clasping its chain
behind her neck. Lastly, she grabbed her lightsaber, the
weapon of a Jedi, the pride of months of work, and placed it
inside the knapsack with her other possessions.

She stared at the brooch that held the Moon Prism, and
a snarl curled her pink-stained lips. She laid it on the bed,
beside her royal tiara and her white princess's gown, and left
through the window.




The night had just begun to fall when Serenity left. On
the horizon, she could see the yellowish glow of the gas
giant Yavin, along with glittering stars. Somewhere, out
there among those glistening white orbs, Endymion was
waiting for her.

"I'm coming, love. Nothing else binds me, nothing can
keep me away," she whispered, her melodious voice lost in
the chorus of the jungle.

In the hangar bay, Peckhum was gearing for a trip to
another planet in a section far away from Yavin 4. New
supplies needed to be brought to the Jedi academy, and he
was the only one for the job. Giant steel drums were set
against the stone wall of the Great Temple, drums that were
to be used for carrying back his cargo.

With a heave, Peckhum loaded the last of the metal
drums onto the Lightening Rod, and took his seat at the
helm. The tiny freighter powered up its engines, and hurtled
into space.




Jaina was extremely worried about her friend. Jacen,
Lowie, and Tenel Ka shared her concern, and none knew
what had become of their princess friend.

Jaina stood up. "I'm really worried. We should go check
on her." The others agreed, and they followed Jaina as she
made her way to the dormitory which she and Serenity
shared.

The others stayed behind as Jaina crossed the
threshold of the little room. She walked over to her
roommate's bed, glanced at everything lying there, and
gave a gasp of surprise. Lowie, Jacen, and Tenel Ka rushed
to her, and were as stunned as she had been.



On the bed, neatly laid out, sat Serenity's royal tiara,
white princess's gown, the brooch containing the Moon
Prism, and a note:

Dear my friends,
In a few weeks my life will no longer be my own. I have
known that this day would come, felt it deep within me. I am tired
of having my life led for me, and I am taking my destiny in my own
hands, living as I would choose. By the time you read this note I
will be gone, too far gone for you to find me, and I pray that you
shan't try. Simply know that I have, at long last, the chance to be
happy. Happiness, that feeling that most take for granted. I have
known it truly here, for one of the rare times in my life. I thank you
all for that.

Thank you for being the best friends I could have ever wished
for. The first and only true friends I have ever known.

Serenity Tsukino



"She ran away..." Jaina said in disbelief. Lowie emitted
a growl-woof which Em-Teedee translated.

"Master Lowbacca wishes to know how it is possible to
run away from a moon in the middle of space with no ship."


Jacen was still recovering from the shock.
"That makes her our cousin, doesn't it, Jaina?"

Jaina nodded mutely. She couldn't think, couldn't speak.
Wherever could Serenity have gone? Alone, in space, with
no one and nowhere to go... Wandering aimlessly...

Lowie roared.

"Of course, Master Lowbacca! We must find Mistress
Serenity!"

Tenel Ka still had not spoken. She appeared deep in
thought as Jacen turned to her.

"What are you thinking, Tenel Ka?"

"Well, friend Jacen," she said, her brow furrowed in
concentration, "Perhaps it would be best if we left her alone
and respected her wishes."

"We can't do that!" Jacen exclaimed, as Lowie and
Jaina nodded vehemently.

"Listen. I can understand somewhat what our friend
Serenity is feeling. I too am a princess. She doesn't want to
be forced into a life of marriage that she has no power in,
and I don't blame her."

"But still! Ordinarily I would say you're right, but we're
talking about Serenity! She had never been away from the
Moon Kingdom before she came here. She has no idea how
to survive on her own." Jaina said forcefully. "She trusts
people far too easily. You know as well as I do that as pure
and innocent as she is what can happen!" In an outburst of
fury Jaina slammed her fist against the wooden chest.

"I suppose there is only one thing left to do, then."
Tenel Ka said. "Tell Master Skywalker."


"Tell me what, Tenel Ka?" Luke Skywalker stood
framed in the doorway, watching his nephew and niece and
their friends. A heavy tension settled between them.

"That Serenity is gone." Jaina said at last. Luke's eyes
widened. He had never expected something this severe from
the normally happy girl. "Woman," Luke corrected himself,
"she is twenty years old now. Soon to be twenty-one."

"What do you mean, gone?" He inquired of his young
Jedi students.

"She left. All she left behind was this note, and
everything that had to do with being the Moon Princess."
Jacen indicated the items on the bed.

"Why would she do that?" Luke asked of his students,
though deep inside him, he already knew.

"The secret that you wouldn't tell her," Jaina said
softly. "That and her twenty-first birthday."


Luke shivered slightly. "So you know then?" He asked.
They all nodded. He sighed.

"We must find her. You know how she is."

Lowie growled an inquiry at Jaina. She nodded.

"Exactly, Lowie. What are we waiting for?"

They left the room, the Jedi Master and his four
students, to the hangar bay, where the state-of-the-art ship
Shadow Chaser was kept.

"Your mother might not like this," Luke warned his
nephew and niece.

"She'll get over it," Jaina said firmly. "We're coming."


"Yes, but going where? Where could she have gone?"
Luke asked, both to himself and his students.

At that moment, Tionne, Jedi instructor and assistant to
Master Skywalker, strode into the hangar bay. Mother-of-
pearl eyes shone from elven features as she quickly
assessed the scene.

"Master Skywalker," she addressed the Jedi Master,
"There is a ship outside. It is here to see both you and the
girl Serenity."

Jaina glanced at Jacen, turning pale. How could Uncle
Luke explain to these people that their crown princess was
nowhere to be found? Her friends shared her doubts and
concerns, but Luke was to handle the situation smoothly.

With a nod of thanks to Tionne, he bade the Jedi
trainees to stay in the hangar bay as he attended to the
Silver Millennial Alliance's messenger.


He stepped into the sunlight, its glow reflecting off of
his golden hair. The small craft had just settled into the dust
when he approached.

The hatch opened with a small whoosh of air, and what
Luke Skywalker saw made his heart stop. Walking off the
entrance ramp with all the grace and dignity of the felines,
her silver hair shimmering around her like a strange,
glistening halo, was Selene Tsukino. Queen Selenity.


She was mildly dressed, for a queen. A white linen
shirt, khaki pants. Her long hair was done in a style almost
exactly like Serenity's; the two odangos perched atop her
shining head like meatballs in spaghetti.

"Hello, Luke." She said softly, watching the father of
her child through guarded eyes; eyes that held sorrow and
love, guilt and pain, and joy.

Still completely in a state of shock, Luke Skywalker
stared at the woman he had loved, the woman who had left
only to return twenty-one years later. Even now, she was as
beautiful as ever she had been. That golden crescent moon
still shone on her brow, exactly as it did on Serenity's.
Serenity...

The thought of the girl who had run away awakened
afresh within his dumbstruck brain. Serenity, his blood
daughter, had run away from him...

"Selene." Luke nodded a greeting at the Queen of the
Silver Millennium. "We must talk." He motioned toward the
Great Temple, "Please, come with me." With a silent, partly
guarded nod, Selene followed the Jedi Master into his
academy.




It was hot, unbearably so inside that steel drum. Oh,
how she longed to be free of the confinement, but Serenity
was not yet sure that Peckhum's freighter was far enough
away for her to safely escape its concealment.

It had been a tight fit, but her tiny frame was just small
enough to squeeze inside the container. None of the other
trainees could have accomplished it. Jacen couldn't comment
on her lack of height when it came to this, could he?

"Jacen can't comment on anything I do," Serenity
thought with a pang of sadness. "Nor Jaina, nor Lowie, nor
Tenel Ka. I am alone in space."


The interior of the steel drum was cramped, and
Serenity could barely move. Just as she felt she might be
about ready to leave her confinement, she felt the
beginnings of a sneeze.

"Oh, no!" she thought frantically. "I can't sneeze now!"

But the itching within her nose continued to intensify,
until- "Achoo!" Serenity sneezed. The noise reverberated
inside the drum, pounding inside Serenity's skull. Luckily, for
her anyway, Peckhum took no notice at the helm above the
cargo bay, for a chime had just sounded to signify his
dinner.

Using her opportunity, Serenity tuned all her senses
with the Force to Peckhum, so that he shan't notice any
noise she might create in exiting her confines. Quietly, she
slid the top of the container off, allowing herself enough
room to exit. She then carefully replaced it, and hid in the
shadows, far from where Peckhum could see if he decided to
enter the cargo hold, and away from the steel drums he
would use.

She had timed her exit perfectly, for no sooner was she
hidden in the shadows then she felt the landing gear of the
Lightening Rod engage and prepare for descent.

Not more than ten minutes later, Serenity heard the
distinct sound of voices and shuffling feet. With a slight
whoosh of air, the hatch of the cargo hold opened and old
Peckhum strode inside, an alien trader at his side.

"So you want the materials in these, then?" The trader
said to Peckhum in a bored tone. The old pilot nodded. Yes,
this was what Master Skywalker had ordered.

"Very well then. I shall have my men do it," the alien
gestured outside the vessel, "Now what do you say to a
drink?"


After Peckhum and the trader had left, Serenity snuck
silently out of the cargo hold. She had no idea where she
was, but she felt a feeling of sublime elation as she reveled
in her cleverness. She had left the Jedi academy right under
Luke's nose! No early marriage, no more secrets, simply
freedom! That feeling of serenity that she had longed for
was hers to claim, and once she could claim a ship, she
could be off to Earth, to Endymion!

She was so blissfully happy, so full of innocent joy, she
broke into song. The one thing she had ever really been
good at. It didn't matter the other things she had failed at,
she could sing! She could revel in the ecstasy of music and
harmony, could feel the melody pulsing through her as
surely as she felt the power and strength of the Force.

Watching her was a man, dark-skinned with a face so
gnarled and windswept it appeared as if he had lived
through a thousand battles. A small smile broke across his
features as he heard her beautiful melody as it issued from
her delicately painted pink lips. He wanted this woman, this
woman with the voice of liquid silver, rhythmic and gentle
and powerful at the same time, with a voice that he felt burn
inside of him like a flame. Here, on Rhilek Prime, there were
many restaurants and taverns clambering for beautiful
creatures with beautiful voices. If he could claim this one, he
knew his tavern would be the most frequently visited on the
tiny planet. He decided to approach her.

"Excuse me, miss." He said, as the girl turned blue
eyes to him, deep, gorgeous eyes that were as blue as the
oceans. The fullest, deepest, most beautiful and expressive
eyes he had ever seen, and he had seen many.

"Yes?" Who was this man, wondered Serenity. What
did he want?

"My name is Shralei. You happen to have a very
beautiful voice. I was wondering if perhaps you would like to
join my tavern, singing like that."

Serenity felt delight at his words, wondering if it was
possible that someone found her singing wonderful. She
needed money, and someone was willing to allow her to sing
for it! Singing, her love, her passion, and she could get paid!

"Of course. I would love to."

Shralei smiled. This was excellent.
"Can you start tonight?"

Serenity's heart beat wildly inside her chest.
"Definitely."

"Great. Please follow me." Shralei led her off to an
upper-class tavern on the other side of the city. The streets
were cleaner here: much less garbage strewn around and
graffiti on the walls. He led her to a fine-looking place and
took her around to the back entrance.

Inside, many different aliens of many different species,
including humans, watched her with interest. She shivered
as one man, obviously drunk, surveyed her body with a look
of perverse pleasure. Noting her discomfiture, Shralei called
for security and had the glutton removed.

Smiling in apology, he opened a door to one of the
back rooms. It was decorated in shades of cream and blue,
sheer metallic curtains draped over a window which shown
to the outside. A large mahogany closet stood at one end of
the room, a pale blue couch in the center, and a glass and
black cast-iron vanity against the wall.

"This will be your dressing room, Miss..." Shralei said.

"Kathryn. Kathryn Coatlicue." Serenity said, thinking
quickly. She didn't want anyone to know her true name, at
least not yet.

"Well, Kathryn, our last entertainer was a few sizes
bigger than you, but her wardrobe is still inside the closet.
There might be a few things in there which could fit you,
until we have everything resized. You will go on in an hour,
so I suggest you make yourself sharp." He pointed at a
reptilian-looking alien at the door with shimmering,
iridescent violet scales and a snout of sharp fangs.

"Maylar will show you the way to the stage, once you
are through preparing. Good day, Miss Coatlicue." Without
another word, Shralei turned and left, closing the door
behind him.

When he was gone, Serenity let out a breath of sheer
excitement. With a few leap-like bounds, she had crossed
the breadth of the dressing room to the closet. With dismay,
she noticed that most of the gorgeous gowns were twice her
size. But in the back, barely touched, hung a lone dress of
sunset gold, shining spaghetti-strapped silk, which fitted her
perfectly and reached just above her knee.

A glance in the vanity's mirror told her that her hair
was a mess. Dirt was smudged along her barely tanned
cheeks, and a cut ran down her lip. And yet, all kinds of
cosmetics were assorted on top of the clear glass,
foundations and shadows and lipsticks.

With the gold of the dress, Serenity picked deep,
garnet-red, metallic rouge for her lips, and cleaned her face.
Her extremely long hair, which she knew she would cut as
soon as dawn rose the next day, she brought up to its' usual
odangos. The only remnant of her life as a princess, the
glimmering moonstone necklace given her by her mother on
her sixteenth birthday, hung peacefully within the hollow of
her throat. She had just finished straightening an errant
strand of her blonde hair when a knock resounded on her
door. Taking a deep, calming breath, Serenity laced the
ankle straps of her sandals and followed the reptilian Maylar
out into the main room of the tavern, full of the restlessness
and noise of any club.

Before long, she stood alone on the stage, the
microphone to her ruby-stained lips and the music playing
softly in the background. She breathed deeply, taking in the
skeptical looks of the spectators, and opened her mouth.



She had written the song herself, felt the words deep
within her as she had sat, lonely on one of those long nights
at the academy, thinking of Endymion. Before long, she
would have the money to raise a ship and venture to Earth,
but for now...

"Deep in my soul, love so strong, it takes control.
Now, we both know... The secret's bared, the feelings
show."
The music came to intensity, resounding in the ears of
the listeners, rapt with attention at the wondrous voice of
the tiny, beautiful woman before them as she sang the
words with a passion that was rarely seen.

"Driven far apart... I'll make a wish, on a shooting star.
And there will come a day, somewhere far away, in your
arms I'll stay... My only love."

Every face in the tavern was fixed to hers, including the
waiters' and waitresses', the bartender's, whose mug he was
supposedly filling was pouring into the floor unnoticed, and
even Shralei's himself.

"Even though you're gone, love will still live on...
The feeling is so strong, My only love.

"There will come a day, somewhere far away, in your
arms I'll stay, my only love.

"You've reached the deepest part, of the secret in my
heart... I've known it from the start, my only love."

Serenity's voice reverberated melodiously throughout
the halls. "My only love."

The people watching stood so quickly it astounded the
young princess; bursting into applause so loud it rattled the
dishes and shook the tables. Serenity smiled with pleasure.

"They like me!" she thought happily. "They really like
me!"

"Yes, my dear, they really like you." Shralei said with a
small amount of amusement. He had been right about the
audience's reactions to Kathryn's voice. She was as good as
he had believed.








Luke was still astonished at the woman who stood
resurrected before him. Selene... His one great love... Their
child, alone in the vast expanse of space...


Selene smiled softly at the man who had been her
lover. The man who was the father of her child. The only
man she had ever given her heart to.

"Where is Serenity, Luke?" Her voice was as soft as
Luke remembered it, as even and every word as carefully
thought out as ever they had been. He smiled ruefully.
Serenity had none of that carefully planned organization:
she was as wild, impulsive, and carefree as a young lioness.

Selene knew instinctively something was wrong.
Perhaps it was in the way Luke's ice-blue eyes carefully
avoided her darker ones, or the feeling of foreboding that
seeped into the chamber of the temple.

"Something's wrong Luke. What is it?" Her voice now
held a tone of urgency. Luke sighed. This would be difficult.

Still avoiding her gaze, Luke said, "Today, during class,
Serenity learned of the truth, of you and me, and Apollo."

Selene clasped a hand to her mouth, the color receding
quickly from her ivory skin. Luke reached out, clasped her
hand in his, and said quietly, "but that's not the worst of it. I
let her go to her dorm, figuring she needed some time, and
some rest. However, it appears as if she takes after her
mother in more ways than one." He smiled bitterly, "She has
run away. I only just found out, and I have no idea where to
look."

A horrified expression crept across Selene's face.

"Serenity... Oh, my little girl..." Luke bit his lip until it
bled, watching the pain running through Selene. Oh, it hurt.
It hurt to watch her hurt, to watch her feel pain he couldn't
protect her from.



"We have to find her." Selene's voice turned distant
and steely, with all the control and calm of a trained queen.
Luke nodded.

"Yes. I was about to leave on a search with a few of my
best students, and Serenity's closest friends, when you
arrived."

"I'm coming." Selene said rigidly.

"Of course." He gestured to the door. "The Shadow
Chaser is waiting."

Selene stood and walked swiftly past the Jedi Master, in
the direction he had indicated. With a sigh, he grabbed a
jacket from the back of a chair and followed the keeper of
the Ginzuishou.





The chill of the Negaverse was piercing. It infiltrated
the very core of Zekk's being and seeped inside his soul. A
soul that should have been blackened by the training of the
Dark Jedi, but a soul that was instead troubled and
disturbed. He knew that one day he would have to face his
old friends Jaina and Jacen once and for all, but at the same
time he prayed that that time was far in the future.

Jedite watched the young Jedi scornfully. This little
human kid was to be a great part in the Queen's plans of
conquest, but not him. No, not he, not one of her grand
generals who had spent his entire lifetime in service to her
every whim, but this streetwise brat who happened to
possess the abilities of the Jedi.

"Jedite!" The roar resounded throughout Beryl's Dark
palace. Even well trained soldiers trembled slightly at the
sound of Her Dark power. It was a terrifying power, a power
that only the Moon Kingdom's Ginzuishou could defeat. A
power that was captured at the moment by a weak queen.
Selenity would fall to Beryl, Jedite knew, and the Dark forces
of the Negaforce would consume the world of love and light
in the Universe.


"Yes, my Queen?" asked Jedite, bowing low to the
violet-clad woman with the fiery red hair. She smiled coldly
at him over the top of her crystal ball, the crystal that could
see all the workings of her minions, and sometimes the
world above.

"Did you bring him as I ordered, Jedite?" Beryl's voice
was silky smooth, dripping with evil menace.

"Yes, my Queen." He indicated Zekk, who bowed before
Beryl, his scarlet-lined cape swirling behind him.

"Ahh, Zekk." She said, eyeing the young Jedi with a
faint smile. "I sent for you because you will be important to
me. There is a girl, a girl you should know, a good friend of
your old friend Jaina. Serenity."

Zekk stiffened at the mention of Jaina. He hadn't seen
her in a long, long time. And they used to be so close...




"Serenity is the daughter of Queen Selenity, the only
one who binds my wonderful Dark power within this
Negaverse with her damn Moon Crystal, that blasted
Ginzuishou.

"Recently, Serenity learned of a secret to her past and
has run away. She is vulnerable, and weak. I am trusting
you to use your wit and charm to succumb her to you.
Seduce her, play with her if you like. But bring her to me."
Beryl's voice was as cold and harsh as ever.

"Yes, my Queen." Zekk bowed as low as Jedite had
done, before turning and leaving through the portal. He was
to find this Serenity and bring her to Beryl to be part of the
Queen's plans of conquest. And he knew it was of his utmost
duty to free Beryl from her confines. It was why he had been
chosen. Chosen to serve the darkest power known. To serve
the Negaforce.







Endymion was as restless as ever. Lately he had had
this feeling of dread, of unspeakable evil. He had felt it in
the very air, scenting it on the wind, feeling it deep inside
himself. His gaze lingered on a picture standing on a table
across the room. It was a picture of him and Serenity,
during the long-ago month when they had been together. He
smiled. Serenity... He sorely missed his Usa-chan. She
would be twenty now, he reasoned, almost twenty-one. Old
enough for marriage...


But would she? Would her parents let her, if she so
chose? Is it what he wanted?

"Yes," he thought, "It is what I want. It is what I have
wanted all this time, since that first day in the garden. It is
what is meant to be."

And yet that feeling of dread persisted; that feeling of
dark evil, swarming over Elysian. Coming ever closer,
smothering the populace. And with his thoughts of Serenity,
part of the mysterious foreboding was revealed.

"Kami-sama! Usako is in danger! I must find her!"
Endymion said loudly. Helios, who was nearby, heard his
prince's shout and ran over.

"What is it, Prince?" His pale blue eyes were shadowed
in anxiety as he studied Endymion.

"Serenity is in danger, and so is the rest of the
Universe."
Helios looked at him disbelievingly.

"Don't ask me how I know, Helios, but I do. I can feel
it. We must find some way to call the Inner Senshi and
search for Serenity."

Helios nodded understanding. "Yes, Prince. I too have
felt the Dark power creeping over our lands, coming ever
closer to the Princess. We must protect her."

"Exactly my thoughts, Helios. Where are the Senshi?"

Helios indicated a subspace arch, which, when
activated, allowed instant access to any planet in the Silver
Millennium, to any other subspace arch. It appeared to be
only a white wicker garden arch, but had an eerie blue light
emanating from it. The device itself had been a wondrous
invention of Pluto's, who was tired of the Senshi's constant
need for teleport and the mass use of shuttles for visiting
other cities in the realm.

"They should be at Queen Selenity's palace."

"Well then, Helios, what are we waiting for?"
Endymion strode confidently through the subspace arch,
formed the telepathic link, and was transported instantly to
the subspace arch in Serenity's own private lily garden,
Helios following behind.

No sooner had he stepped out of the arch, than was
Endymion surrounded by four very angry-looking women in
very short skirts. The Senshi.

"Who are you to enter Princess Serenity's private
grounds?" The one nearest to him said in a voice of bossy
authority. Her hair was raven-black, hanging loosely to the
top of her thighs. She wore a red and violet fuku, and glared
at him through violet eyes.

"I am Endymion, Prince of Earth. Your princess is in
grave danger."

"What? Serenity's in trouble?" Another Senshi said with
concern. She had blonde hair as long as the first's, with pale
blue eyes, and wore an orange, blue, and yellow fuku.

"He could be a spy." The third Senshi said harshly. She
glared suspiciously at him with bright green eyes. Her
shining brown hair was pulled high into a ponytail, and her
fuku was in shades of pink and green.

"I assure you, Senshi, I am no spy. I am who I say I
am, and I am here to help Serenity." Endymion was
beginning to grow annoyed with the young women before
him.

"I believe him." The last of the Senshi watched him
with kind, deep blue eyes. Her hair was, unlike the others,
cut short and held a bluish tint. Her fuku, too, was in shades
of blue.

"How do you know, Mercury?" The raven-haired Senshi
said in a frustrated manner to her blue-clad teammate.

"Look at his eyes. He sincerely wants to help Usa-chan.
Besides, why would a spy use a subspace arch to get into
Usako's private gardens? The telepathic link will not work if
you do not know where you are going. Usa-chan must have
brought him here before. Did she?" Mercury asked, turning
to Endymion. He nodded.

"Once, a long time ago."

The blonde turned warm eyes and a gentle smile to him
then.
"So then Usa-chan must have trusted you. And
therefore we shall trust you."

"I'm not so sure that's wise, Venus." The Senshi with
the red and violet fuku snapped.

"Mind your mouth, Mars! With both the Queen and
Princess gone, I am in command." The blonde glared at the
raven-haired Senshi, who Endymion and Helios now knew as
Mars.

"My question is what type of danger the Princess might
be in. Can you tell me that, Endymion-san?" The brunette
asked. Endymion shook his head.

"The specific danger surrounding Serenity I do not
know. All I have is a feeling, a feeling which is telling me
that she is in serious trouble."



"You mean like a psychic sense? Mars has a
psychic sense. Have you felt anything, Mars?"

"Actually, Jupiter, I have. Nothing specific, but a feeling
of dread. Of foreboding and Darkness. Of intense evil."

"That's exactly it. And it is centered around Serenity.
I'm sure of it!" There was a slight flush coming to
Endymion's face as he was overwhelmed by worry for
Serenity. All the Senshi looked at him, the same feelings of
concern and anxiety mirrored on their faces.

"We have to find the Princess." Venus said, as pale as a
sheet.

"But she left to that academy... And Queen Selenity
went to her! The Queen must be in danger as well..." Mars
added.

"Let's get Uranus and Neptune. If we're to save the
Queen and Princess, we can't do it alone. Saturn can
manage the Outer Realm, and Pluto the Inner Realm. Apollo
will be quite capable of handling the Moon Kingdom alone."
Jupiter almost spat the name of her King. Apparently she
didn't hold him in high regard.

"Of course. I can contact them using my
communicator." Mercury pulled out a compact, flipped open
the lid, punched a few buttons, and began speaking.

"Uranus? Neptune? Can you teleport here right away?
The Queen and the Princess are in danger... We must help
them!" Endymion was astonished to see the faces of two
other Senshi in the compact where a mirror would normally
be.


A few moments later, two new Senshi had arrived
through the subspace arch. They were both tall, but one
towered. She had light blonde hair cut very short and fierce
eyes. Her navy and yellow fuku looked menacing.

Her partner was gentler-looking. Smaller, with
shoulder-length wavy bluish hair, and deep, understanding
blue eyes, her fuku was in shades of dark blue and aqua.


"Uranus! Neptune! This is Endymion, Prince of Earth,"
Venus said, indicating him, "Endymion, this is Sailor Uranus
and Sailor Neptune of the Outer Realm."

Endymion bowed his head slightly in respect.
"Pleasure to meet you. However, there are more
pressing matters at hand..." he trailed.

"Of course," Uranus said sharply. She was almost as
tall as he, and towered over Helios' slight frame.

"We must protect our Queen and our Princess."
Neptune said softly, in a voice a smooth and melodious as
flowing water.

"Then you have a difficult task ahead of you." The
Senshi, Endymion, and Helios turned to look at two other
newcomers. One was tall, with green-tinted hair that hung
to her knees, and mysterious-looking blue eyes. Her fuku
was in shades of green and black, and she carried an
intimidating staff with a ruby-red jewel at it's top, cradled by
a heart. The other was tiny, with ebony hair that came
straight to her chin and dark violet eyes that appeared as if
they saw and knew everything at once. She wore a violet
and black fuku, and carried an ominous-looking scythe.




"Pluto..." Mars said in a voice barely above a whisper.

"Saturn..." said Neptune in a voice of reverence and
awe.

"Yes. The princess and the Queen are both in great
danger. The wicked Queen of the Negaverse, Beryl, has
broken free of her seal. Even now her knights of the Dark
Side have infiltrated our peaceful Universe, spreading havoc,
death, and destruction." Pluto said.

Saturn spoke, in a voice quiet but full of knowledge,
authority, and power. "It is the power of the Queen's
Ginzuishou which has locked her Darkness within the
Negaverse for centuries. During this time, she has meditated
on little else but revenge. She is intensely powerful, and will
try to bring the Queen, the Princess, and our Alliance to
ruin. We must stop her and protect our future."

"Is it that bad, then, Saturn?"

"Most certainly, Uranus. Now go, all of you, find our
Princess and our Queen. Save our future. The fate of the
Universe rests within you."

The Senshi joined hands, and Mercury motioned for
Endymion and Helios to do the same. Endymion held the
hand of Uranus, and Helios of Mercury. Then the Senshi
began to chant:

"Sailor Power- Teleport!" They said as one. A glowing
light erupted from each woman, and in seconds they had all
vanished.





Serenity had been working for Shralei's tavern for a
few weeks now. It seemed as if her singing was extremely
popular; or at least that was what Shralei said.

She examined herself in the mirror, running her slender
fingers through her now short golden blonde hair, which had
been cut to her chin in a Cleopatra-type bob. Serenity loved
it. It made her look older, more mature, less innocent and
kittenish. That and her now garnet-toned lips. She had
never been much of one for cosmetics on the moon, and had
had no need of them at her father's academy, but now she
adored them. There wasn't a day gone by that she didn't
have garnet-red lips. Dark, glittery, a deep and luscious
jewel-toned red...

She puckered to the mirror. Yes, her lips looked great.
Deep and mysterious, like a golden temptress...

What would her father say if he saw her now?
"Oh, yes," she laughed, "How un-ladylike. How disappointing
for a princess. But then, I'm not truly a princess now, am I?

"That and Apollo isn't my father. Master Skywalker
is." She sighed. "I suppose it wasn't fair to him to get so
angry and leave. None of them have any idea where I've
gone, how I'm doing, or what. How extremely selfish of me."

She checked her chronometer. "I've another show in
about a half hour. Perhaps after then I can arrange a small
amount of leave and Shralei could let me visit them, one last
time, to properly say goodbye."




Her heart weighed heavily with guilt, Serenity, or
Kathryn as she was now called, walked across her dressing
room to her wardrobe. All the clothes had been refitted to
cling perfectly to her petite features, and she loved them all.

Tonight, she knew she would wear one of her favorites.
It was a deep, glittering garnet-red that matched her best
lipstick. It hung from a halter at her neck, following the
curves of her body until it flared slightly at her ankles. The
back was deep-cut to contrast the high neckline of the
halter, and she slipped her delicate-looking feet into
strapped heels.

Maylar was waiting outside for her, and together the
two of them walked to the back entrance of the stage.
Serenity had become good friends with the kind-hearted
reptilian woman, and it had become a tradition of sorts to
walk together before she was to perform. As she stepped
behind the stage, she paused, listening to the crowd outside.

"It's a loud one tonight." She said quietly. Maylar
nodded.

"Yes, it is. But you should have no trouble wooing them
over, my dear. You look positively breathtaking in that
dress."

"Thanks, Maylar. If you wouldn't mind, can you please
find Shralei? I would really like to speak with him after the
performance." Serenity said.

"Of course, my dear. Now go knock 'em dead!"

"That's the plan, Maylar," Serenity laughed, "That's the
plan."




Shralei was tending the bar when the newcomers
strode in. Classy, they were. The type to buy the expensive
drinks. He would serve them personally.

Three women, two men, and a Wookiee. You didn't
often get Wookiees on Rhilek Prime. This must be a traveling
party, eager to stop for a drink and a rest before continuing
on some intergalactic journey. Oh, well. It wasn't any of his
business, so long as they paid well.

"How may I help you?" he said to the first man, who
appeared to be their leader. The man appraised him coolly
with light blue eyes.

"A table, please. A few drinks, as well. We've had a
long journey."

Shralei almost snickered. He had been right, after all.

"This way." Once they were all seated, he took drink
and meal orders. He was right again. They were the classy
type.

Luke watched the bartender convey some secret
amusement, then smile proudly as a young woman
ascended the stage. A woman with piercingly familiar ocean-
blue eyes...

"Blaster bolts! Uncle Luke, it's Serenity!" Jacen gasped.

With the grace of a panther, Serenity moved to the
microphone and raised it to her garnet-stained lips.

"Good evening, everyone. I trust you are all enjoying
yourselves?" The excited roar reaching her ears caused
Serenity to laugh with amusement.

"I'll take that as a yes. I want to thank you all for
taking the time to be here. It's doubtless that Shralei and
my paycheck appreciate it," she said, still laughing good-
naturedly.

"Well," she said, as the band behind her began to play,
"I've heard this song before, and I like it. I hope you
can all appreciate it as much as I enjoy singing it."

"When I'm lost...in the rain...In your eyes I know I'll
find the light, to light my way..."

"Wow," Jaina murmured, "I never knew she could sing
like that."

Selene nodded softly, a twinge of sadness and guilt on
her features.
"Yes, it has always been a talent for her. One I should
have let her indulge more in, along with other things..."

Luke gently laid a hand on Selene's. The twins
exchanged a glance; they now knew the history between the
two.
"You can't change the past, Selene, but you can work
toward a better future."

Selenity sighed. "You're right."

"When I'm scared... Losing ground... When my world is
going crazy, you can turn it all around. And when I'm down
you're there pushing me to the top. You're always there
giving me all you've got!" Serenity's voice resounded
through the tavern and within the now silent and awed
audience's ears, reaching a fever and passion with the
words.

Luke, Selene, and the young Jedi Knights sat there,
staring open-mouthed, Tenel Ka the only exception. She
watched Serenity as she sang, only a faint smile on her lips.
Even Em-Teedee had not taken his electronic gaze off of the
garnet-clad woman.

"For a shield, from the storm...For a friend, for a love
to keep me safe and warm...I turn to you. For the strength,
to be strong... For the will to carry on, for everything you
do, for everything that's true...I turn to you."

As she scanned the faces rapt with attention, Serenity
noticed a few shockingly familiar ones. Her mother, her
father, her friends were here! She met Luke's eyes, and he
gave her a small smile, part apology, part silent support.
And she returned it with a warm grin.

"When I lose the will to win... I just reach for you and I
can reach the sky again! I can do... anything! 'Cuz your love
is so amazing... 'Cuz your love inspires me... And when I
need a friend, you're always on my side...Giving me faith,
taking me through the night!"

Serenity's voice resounded clearly throughout the
tavern, forcefully and powerfully hitting each note and
mesmerizing all who could listen.

"For a shield, from the storm...For a friend, For a love
to keep me safe and warm, I turn to you. For the strength,
to be strong, for the will to carry on...

"For everything you do, for everything that's true, I
turn to you.

"For the arms to be my shelter through all the rain; For
truth that will never change; for someone to lean on! For a
heart I can rely on through anything...For the one I can run
to!

"For a shield from the storm, for a friend, for a love to
keep me safe and warm, I turn to you. For the strength to
be strong, for the will to carry on, For everything you do, for
everything that's true,

"For everything you do, for everything that's true, I
turn to you." Her voice hit that last note with a sensitivity
and passion as it reverberated throughout the halls, settling
itself in the hearts and souls of every creature, human and
alien, in the tavern.

Then suddenly, every being in that hall stood and gave
Serenity a standing ovation. Smiling shyly, she did a small
bow and walked off through the back entrance. She did a
loop-around and came over to her family and friends' table
and sat down exhaustedly. Her legs ached from the effort of
her singing, and she was breathing hard. Without preamble,
she nodded apology and grabbed her mother's water and
drank thirstily.

"Thirsty?" Jacen asked with raised eyebrow.

Serenity felt the flush as it crept up her neck and
burned her ears. She suddenly became very interested in an
insect crawling around the floor as she felt the eyes of all
she had left behind watching her closely.

"Why, Serenity?" Selene asked, in a voice that sounded
heartbroken.

Serenity looked up, the fire back in her eye.
"You well know why, Mother," she said, her voice
tinged with ferocity.

"I'm sorry I lied to you all these years, I should have
told you the truth..." Selene was using all her strength to
hold back the tears.



"We all make mistakes, Mother," Serenity said, and her
voice was firm and gentle, understanding and forgiving.

"She has absorbed more from her Jedi training besides
resourcefulness," Luke thought.

"And, in reality, that wasn't what bothered me. What
bothered me, and still does to an extent, was how you
knew, you knew how Apollo treated me, and you did
nothing. You were too wrapped up in your own misery to
stop and notice anyone else's." When Luke watched his
daughter speak of the bitterness of her past, he saw that
same determined, fiery look in her features she had worn
when she first came to his academy.

"That is not true. That is completely, totally unfair."
Selene growled at her daughter. "I was teaching you.
Teaching you to be a queen."

"By ignoring me?! By letting that man who
masqueraded as my father humiliate and belittle me? I don't
believe it!" Luke turned his gaze away at his daughter's
outburst of pent-up fury.

"He loved you! He was doing the same as I, trying
to prepare you for your destiny as Queen!" Selene's voice
was as loud and angry as Serenity's.

"Loved me? Hah! As if he even knew the meaning
of the word! In his eyes, I was nothing but the mistake that
never should have happened. And as he so often informed
me, that even if I absolutely had to be born, I should have
been a boy because only a prince can properly rule a
kingdom!"

"He never said such a thing!"


"Look at yourself! Look how you defend him! And I
thought you hated him because he took you away from the
life, the man you would have chosen for your future! You
never stop to consider what he might have done to me, how
much he hated me, because even now you're too self-
absorbed!"

The young Jedi Knights and Luke Skywalker were trying
to look away and leave the pair to their discussion, but to
little avail. Jaina noticed with a pang of her heart the tear
that slid unbidden down her best friend's cheek as she faced
her mother.

"How dare you! I love you; I only wanted to protect
you! Why do you think I sent you to Luke's academy?"

"Protect me from what? What's the real reason
you never allowed me to go anywhere, the real reason I was
sixteen before I had the nerve to run away and see Earth?"

"Because," Selene said softly, as the tears poured down
her cheeks, "I didn't want what happened to me to happen
to you. You have a duty, Serenity. It's best you accept it
early and come back with me, rather than face the hard
choices I had to make."

"Too late, Mother. I ran away from the Jedi
academy because I'm tired of having my life lived for me. I
am a free person, and will make my own choices."

"But you are a princess, Serenity. You have a duty
to uphold!"

"Let Mars or Venus be heir. They've trained for it as
well as I, and they won't fight you."


"But Serenity, it's in your blood. It's your birthright."

"So is the Force. And from now on I am making my
own choices. I will not be a pawn any longer. You, nor
Apollo, nor anyone else will so much as decide how I wear
my hair, and much less who and when I marry."

"But Serenity..."

"Serenity..." Luke's voice was low, "Think this over.
Don't make any hasty decisions."

"Don't any of you understand?! I have thought this
through! I have thought it through for eight years! I am in
love, Mother!"

Selene's jaw dropped, and she gazed at Luke with a
despairing look.

"You used to know what that meant. If you truly love
me, and want me to be happy, let me be free. I've been a
caged animal far too long. I'll never be happy trapped inside
that marble prison you call a palace, and I never have been.

"Please, Mother," Serenity said, turning her ocean-blue
eyes to Selene's, all her anger abated, "I'm not a child
anymore. You used to trust me, now I ask that you trust me
once more. Trust me to make the right choices, or at least
try. And, perhaps, in time, what you want and what I want
will become the same."

"Oh, Serenity." Selene reached up and held her
daughter firmly while the others looked on.

"Hey, wanna hear a joke?" Jacen asked. He waggled his
eyebrows comically, hopefully. Lowie groaned. Jaina sighed.
Luke gazed at him hopelessly.

Jacen raised his arms in defense. "Hey! They aren't all
that bad. "What did the deranged stormtrooper say to his
leader after a battle with the New Republic?" He paused, and
then said, "I'm all cracked up! Get it? All cracked up?"
Silence permeated the atmosphere.

"You people are hopeless when it comes to humor," he
grumbled.

"Hey," Serenity said, breaking the silence, "I'm going to
change. This dress is killing me."

"I just noticed," Jaina said, an expression of slight
puzzlement on her features, "You've cut your hair."

Serenity smiled, her garnet-red lips glittering in the
artificial light.

"Yeah," said Jacen, "It's a lot shorter than it used to
be."
"This is a fact," stated Tenel Ka. Lowie emitted a gruff
woof. "Master Lowbacca wishes to say that although it is
most definitely unusual, Mistress Serenity's haircut is indeed
pleasing." Em-Teedee translated.

Serenity did a small twirl for those seated at the table.
She flashed her mother and friends a mischievous grin.
"I told you I was going to have it cut off," she said to
Jaina.

"When ya said you were gonna chop it off, you really
meant it," her friend replied.

"Oh, I definitely meant it. And I also meant it when I
said I was going to change, but that was fifteen minutes
ago," Serenity laughed. "I'll be right back." She turned and
left her mother and the Jedi behind as she walked out of the
tavern's main room, the deep red dress swirling around her
as she moved.


Once she had changed the dress for a turquoise shirt
and black pants, Serenity glanced at where her family and
friends were gathered, watching the next performer; a droid
who was juggling tankards of ale while emitting a high-
pitched whine which Serenity supposed to be song. The
crowd revolted. Food flew, alcoholic beverages spewed, the
tavern became chaos. Rowdy and noisy as any common
space bar. This Shralei would not tolerate. His was a classier
institution. He would not allow for such childish behavior.

She strode to where she had left Luke and the
others, but was intercepted by a young man with long dark
hair tied neatly at his neck and glittering emerald eyes.

"Hello," Serenity said cheerfully.

"I saw your performance," Zekk said, his voice low.
Serenity watched him uncomfortably, her senses acutely
aware of the warnings she felt through the Force. There was
definitely something wrong here; she would have to get
away as quickly as possible.

"You're not going anywhere, princess." Zekk sneered.
Serenity felt the waistband of her pants, mentally cursing
herself for being so stupid as to forget her lightsaber.

"Did you forget your lightsaber, princess? Don't worry,
I brought mine," Zekk's voice was lingering and dangerous
in her ear. Suddenly she felt something cold and metallic
against her midriff. Zekk's lightsaber.

"Don't move, or I turn it on. You and I both know what
will happen then," he snarled. "Now, walk with me." He
roughly grabbed her arm and led her outside, to where a
small lake glittered in the distance. A portal, swirling and
sickeningly black opened for the Dark Jedi and his hostage.
Still holding her roughly, he pushed her through and stepped
in himself. Beryl would be pleased.



Meanwhile, at the table, all the Jedi jerked to attention.
They had all felt it; that surge of Dark power running
throughout the tavern. It was unmistakable; a Dark Jedi had
been here. As one they stood, senses tuned to the Force to
sense from which the evil had come. Selene, too, stood,
glancing between them with a look of utmost worry on her
features.

"What's the matter, Luke?" she asked, urgency in her
voice.

"I'm not sure," the Jedi Master replied, "but there was
a Dark presence here. Of that I am certain."

"Queen Selenity!" Selene whirled around to see the
Senshi, Endymion, and Helios running up to her.

"Kami-sama! What are you all doing here? How on
Earth did you find me?!" Selene asked incredulously.

"Where is the princess?" Uranus asked harshly.

"We're too late..." Neptune moaned.

"What do you mean, too late?" Luke asked fiercely.
"What is wrong with Serenity?"

"Who are you?" Mars said snootily.
"I am Luke Skywalker. I could ask the same of you."

Selene intervened. "These are the Senshi, Luke.
Sublime warriors of the Milky Way. Why are you searching
for my daughter?" Selene asked Venus.


"The princess is in grave danger. Beryl, Dark and
despicable Queen of the Negaverse, has escaped
confinement. She intends to exact her revenge on the Moon
Kingdom, beginning with Usa-chan." Venus said solemnly.

"Beryl has escaped?!" Selene cupped a hand to her
mouth.

"Who is Beryl?" Luke asked his old lover.

"Beryl is the Queen of all Darkness. She presides over
the Negaverse, where the Darkness originated. Not only
does she command the Dark Jedi, including the old Emperor
Palpatine, but she also has an army of immensely powerful
warriors bred to her service within the Negaverse's realm."
Selene finished, her face paler than Luke had ever seen it.

"If she is after Serenity...Luke, we must save our
daughter!" He nodded. The Senshi, who had watched the
entire scene, exchanged confused glances.

"Senshi," she said to her soldiers, "you know what we
must do." They nodded. From within the folds of her khaki
pants, Selene withdrew the Imperium Silver Crystal, held
snugly within the crescent of the Crescent Moon Wand. She
gripped its smooth pink handle tightly as she said,

"Cosmic Moon Power!" At once, a mist of shimmering
silver light erupted from the crystal, engulfing Selene to the
spectators' awe. Her outfit changed in a burst of pink
ribbons to the white gown of Queen Selenity.



When it was complete, her feet gently touched the floor
of Shralei's tavern once more and she opened her azure
eyes to gaze around at the confused people surrounding her.

"We must join together if we are to save my daughter.
The power of the Ginzuishou will transport us to Beryl's
realm. Grasp hands, everyone," The queen held her arms
out to those surrounding her, and they all, Senshi, Jedi, and
prince, clasped hands to form a giant circle. Selene
concentrated deeply in the crystal, felt its mystical power,
and they were transported to the bleak and dark world of
the Negaverse.




Serenity landed with a hard thud on the icy floor of
Beryl's throne room. The evil woman smiled cruelly at the
satisfying snap of bone as the girl's left ankle turned in an
angle it had never been meant to do.

"So glad you could join us, princess." Beryl's tone was
silky. Her hands moved continuously over a dark ball of
crystal, her long red hair flowing behind her very tight violet
dress.

"Who are you?" Serenity asked, as her entire body
tingled with the warnings of the Force. This was truly a Dark
place.
"Where am I?"

"Me?" Beryl laughed. Beside her, Jedite and Zekk
smiled coldly at the form of the moon princess.

"Zekk, where are our manners? Help the princess to
her feet," ordered Beryl. Zekk walked calmly forward, and
jerked Serenity upright. She bit back an outcry as she was
forced to stand upon her broken ankle. Beryl gave a
malicious smile at the princess's obvious pain and
discomfort.

"I am Beryl, mighty Queen of all darkness! Welcome to
my Negaverse, princess. Here soon, when your beloved
mother comes to your rescue, I shall claim the Ginzuishou
and reign as proper ruler of all the Universe!"

"You're insane. My mother would never give you the
Ginzuishou!" Serenity hissed, both in pain and in anger. But
she pushed the anger aside. No, she could not afford to be
angry. Anger led to the Dark side. That she could not allow.

Instead, a wave of calm flowed through her,
strengthening her with the power and cool clarity of the
Force. She wished again that she had not been so foolish as
to forget her weapon.

Tendrils of crackling black energy issued from Beryl's
claw-like fingers, and shot towards Serenity. Using the
Force, she managed to avoid them, but fell helplessly back
on her injured ankle. A grin of satisfaction turned the Dark
Queen's lips as another jet of the dark power surged
towards the White Moon Princess.

Serenity felt it when Beryl's power hit her. Pain like she
had never thought possible burned her entire body. She
couldn't move, couldn't do anything but feel the pain. Her
mind screamed in physical anguish, and it took all her
strength to keep her mouth and voice from doing the same.

"Does it hurt, White Moon Princess? Do you feel the
pain?" Beryl whispered. Even through all her suffering,
Serenity managed to look up at the Dark Queen with a look
of pity in her eyes.

"I pity you," she breathed. Her sapphire eyes locked
unflinchingly into the Dark One's own.

Beryl laughed. "You, who I shall kill myself, you pity
me?" Her voice was full of condescending mockery.

"Poor little princess. Save your pity for yourself. You'll
need it," she added menacingly.

"Yes, I pity you. You, who have never known the joy of
love or how wonderful it is to love someone." Serenity stood,
shakily at first, but gradually stronger to face Beryl. The evil
queen's face contorted with fury and hate as she gazed
down at the figure of Serenity.

In the doorway, the Senshi and the young Jedi Knights
along with Luke Skywalker, Endymion, and Helios appeared.
Each of the Jedi had lightsabers drawn, prepared to face
Beryl and rescue their friend.

"Serenity!" Jacen called. The golden-haired princess
turned to her cousin as he threw something for her to catch.
Catch it she did, running her fingers along its smooth, black
surface made of polished onyx. Engraved at its hilt were the
symbols for the planets of her solar system, link to her
heritage as its princess. Her lightsaber.

With a soft hum she ignited it, finding strength within
its energy blade, as iridescent in color as the moonstone
which powered it. Rainbow flecks of color ran through the
blade as she brought it down in front of her, prepared to
confront her greatest enemy.

"My, my, now this is an interesting turn of events.
Zekk," Beryl said to the Dark Jedi at her side, "please take
care of these young Jedi upstarts.
"Ah, Queen Selenity." Beryl said with a look of Dark
satisfaction. "At last we meet." With a mere wave of her
hand, crystals of ice rose from the floor of her cavern to
surround and capture each of the Senshi.


"Uranus World Shaking!"

"Neptune Deep Submerge!"

"Mars flame ignite!"

"Venus crescent beam smash!"

"Jupiter thunder crash!"

"Mercury bubbles blast!"

But the Senshi's attacks were no match for the Dark
Queen's Negaforce. Each was enveloped within the icy
shroud of the crystals.

"Senshi! NO!!!" Serenity yelled. The look of horror in
her sapphire eyes was mirrored in her mother's.

"What have you done to them, fiend?!" Selene roared
angrily. Beryl smiled smugly.

"Oh, nothing unlike what I shall do to you," She waved
her hand again, and the same crystals encased Queen
Selenity.

"Mother!!" Serenity cried, despair in her voice as her
left ankle once again refused to hold her weight. She quickly
turned off the lightsaber before she once more hit the icy
floor. Seeing her on the ground, Beryl no longer paid any
attention to the princess. Instead, her gaze was fastened on
her dark Jedi. Seizing her opportunity, Serenity scrambled to
where her mother had fallen and snatched up quickly the
Ginzuishou before Beryl noticed. She fell again, this time not
bothering to bite back the pain shooting through her broken
ankle.
"Usako!" Endymion yelled, as he raced past the
Negaverse guards and Zekk to reach his beloved.

"Mamo-chan!" Serenity breathed, her voice choking
with the pain. Gently, Endymion scooped the princess into
his arms, holding her snugly.

"Don't worry, Usako. We'll find a way out of this, I'm
sure of it." He attempted a reassuring smile, which did not
help her in the least.



Meanwhile, Zekk was facing off against his old friends
once and for all. Momentarily stunned when Selene had
been captured, Luke dived in front of his students in an
effort to protect them from the Dark powers the other Jedi
wielded.

"Master Skywalker," Zekk whispered, his throat tight
with physical exertion, "It shall be a pleasure eliminating you
for my Queen, once and for all."

"Don't bet on it yet, Zekk," The Jedi Master said as his
emerald blade locked and sizzled against Zekk's scarlet.

"So you are that blasted Jedi Master who foiled dear old
Palpatine?" Beryl said, her voice smooth and silky with
victory. "The father to the pretty little princess who set the
trap for dear Queen Selenity?"

Luke glanced between the crystal-encased form of
Selene and the evil queen Beryl, hatred blazing in his ice-
blue eyes.

"Hate me for what I did to your love? Don't worry, you
can join her." Beryl was brimming with evil pleasure as she
sent the crystal to encase Luke, who dodged it using the
Force and his lightsaber. A type of bored power was
displayed on the wicked woman's features as the crystals
continued to surround the Jedi Master until he was encased
within them and could fight no more, consciousness lost in
stasis.

"Uncle Luke!" Jaina and Jacen yelled simultaneously.

"Master Skywalker!" Tenel Ka shouted.

Lowbacca roared in outrage.

"Yes Master Lowbacca! This is horrendous!" Em-Teedee
cried.

"Father..." Serenity whispered, before the pain and
suffering Beryl had inflicted upon her took over and she
drooped, unconscious, on Endymion's shoulder.

"I can't believe you, Zekk," Jaina said, her tone
heartbroken.

"Believe it, Jaina. I told you on Kashyyyk that my
allegiance was to the Second Imperium and the Darkness. I
almost killed you during that raid, but I decided to spare you
on account of the friendship we once had. Now, I will not do
the same." He brought his scarlet lightsaber blade in front of
him, its glow eerily lighting his features. "Don't try for your
lightsaber, Jaina," he warned, twitching the blade side to
side.

"And I told you on that day on Kashyyyk; I will not
raise a weapon against you, Zekk." Jaina stared at him
coolly, her fingers never straying to the black handle of her
lightsaber clipped to her belt. "And I still don't believe that
you would kill me, either," she added, her voice carrying
much more courage than she felt.


"Don't test my loyalties, Jaina. You've lost; Queen
Selenity and her pathetic Senshi have already been
captured, and so has the great Master Skywalker." He
sneered.

"We have to go! We can fight later!" Helios yelled at
Jaina, who was still locked in a deadly standstill with the
Dark Jedi Zekk.

"Come on! Let's get out of here while we still can!"
yelled Endymion, Serenity still cradled in his arms.

Reluctantly, the other young Jedi Knights turned and
followed the prince and the keeper of dreams out of a
twisting pathway as it led back to the safety of the Universe,
away from the dark and treacherous realm of the
Negaverse, Beryl's condescending laughter in their ears.

"Run away, little ones! You've lost! The Keeper of the
Ginzuishou is at my mercy. You shall all die in due time,
starting with your pretty little princess." Beryl snarled, her
voice laced with the happiness of victory.


Once back within the realm of the New Republic, the
young Jedi Knights and their guests came to rest once more
at the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. They were all resting,
healing their wounds and preparing for the next attack of
Beryl's despicable Negaverse.

A few hours within the bacta tank had healed all of
Serenity's physical injuries. The mental ones, however, left
deeper scars.





"It's all my fault." She said one day, as they were all
seated together. Tears were threatening to overflow her
sapphire eyes as she faced her friends.


"No its not, Serenity." Jaina said kindly, "Beryl had
been planning this for centuries. You just happened to be in
the wrong place at the wrong time."

"If I hadn't run away..." Serenity sobbed. With an arm,
Endymion pulled her into him to let her head rest on his
chest.

"You did what you thought was right. No one can blame
you that," he said, his tone comforting.

"Assigning blame will get us nowhere." Han Solo and
his wife Leia had joined the small band of battered Jedi.
Together they were working as how to free those trapped
within Beryl's icy realm.

"Yes," said Leia, as she watched the forms of her
children and their friends.

Suddenly, Serenity sat straight up, breaking free of
Endymion's embrace and looked at them all with realization
in her eyes.

"What is it, Usako?" Jaina asked.

"The day I first came here, all those years ago, I had a
vision. I had just touched the walls of the temple and the
ancient Massassi carvings, when I saw a flash of a woman
being manhandled by someone. I didn't know it at first, but
that woman was Mother." Serenity finished.

"Wow. Really?" asked Jacen.

"Yes. I am positive of it."

"Well, if you could get a vision of the future from one of
those old carvings, do you suppose you get a larger one
from an ancient untouched temple?" Han asked his niece.

"Possibly, but I don't know what good it'll do. Not with
them still trapped down there."

"Vision or no vision, we need to figure out a plan. We
can't simply barge into the Negaverse and expect to free
Luke and the others," Leia said firmly.

"Yeah, last time we got our butts kicked." Jacen said
quietly.

"I'm not game for any butt-kicking this time," Han said,
and flashed a lopsided grin at his son.

"I have what Beryl is after," said Serenity softly. Every
face gathered turned to hers, appraising her and wondering
what she could possibly be protecting.

"What is it, Serenity?" asked Leia kindly.

Serenity sighed. "The Ginzuishou. I managed to grab it
when my mother dropped it, before she..."

"You have the Ginzuishou? Is that what Selene was
protecting?" Leia said, her eyes wide.

"Yes." Serenity reached inside a pocket of her academy
jumpsuit and pulled out a giant silver crystal. She showed it
to Leia.

"This is the Ginzuishou. This is the power that Beryl
would kill to obtain. This is the power she must not be
allowed to have, for surely it would mean the end for the
Universe as we know it."


"May I see it?" Leia said, in her voice a tone of awe.
Serenity nodded and deposited it inside the former Princess
of Alderaan's hand. Leia turned it over, inspecting it, feeling
the hum of life within its silver casing.

"This is the Ginzuishou..." she said, still marveling at
the crystal she held.

"Yes," Serenity said, her voice strong. "With this, and
our teamwork, Beryl will not stand a chance. I will not rest
until those I love are safe once again."

The people gathered exchanged glances, surprised by
the conviction and strength the young princess was
exhibiting. Surely she didn't mean for them to simply return
to the depths of the Negaverse without any further plan?

"The longer we wait, the less chance they are still alive.
We must act now, while the element of surprise is still in our
grasp. It will not be long before Beryl realizes that she did
not capture the Ginzuishou when she captured my mother."
She gave them each a fiery glare that strongly reminded
Leia of her twin.

"All right, Serenity. We'll go. But do you have any idea
how we can get there?" Han said, as he assessed the girl in
front of him.

"Yes. The same way my mother got you there; I shall
access the Ginzuishou."

"Are you sure you can do that?" Helios asked.



"Yes. I am of the royal family of the Moon Kingdom.
Now join hands," she instructed, "as we leave once more for
the Negaverse."

Every person there, amid nervous glances and several
quick Jedi relaxation techniques, carefully joined hands as
Serenity lifted the Ginzuishou high over her head.

"Cosmic Moon Power," she said softly, every fiber of
her being in harmony with the crystal, and the Force. She
felt it sing through her, these two different sources of power,
and she no longer felt any qualms about who she was. She
was here to protect her loved ones, that was her destiny.
Taking in a deep breath, she opened her eyes as the light of
the crystal engulfed them all and they were transported to
Beryl's realm.






It was like stepping out of a dream, the way the young
Jedi and Han and Leia felt when the light of the crystal
disappeared and they were safe on the icy black floor of one
of the Negaverse's caverns.

Serenity opened her eyes again, as she gently laid the
crystal back inside her pocket. All the others were watching
her, as if waiting for instruction. But she was unsure. How
could she make decisions for them, decisions that could
mean life or death?

Luckily, for her anyway, Han rightly interpreted her
hesitation, as he took charge. The rest of the Jedi Knights
did not mind the leadership of the great General of the New
Republic.

"Come on. Serenity," he addressed the princess,
"where is Beryl's central chamber?"


"Just ahead of you, Han Solo," said a sneering, familiar
voice from the shadows. In a flash of scarlet, Zekk leapt
from one of the top rocks of the cavern to face the young
Jedi and their allies.

"Zekk." Tenel Ka said, an intense dislike evident in her
features.

"You remember me. How touching," he sneered. With a
soft hum he ignited his scarlet lightsaber as he prepared to
defend Beryl and her realm from the intruders.

One by one, all the young Jedi Knights with the
exception of Jaina and Serenity lit their lightsabers and
prepared to do battle with the dark-haired Jedi of the
Shadow Academy. Jaina pointedly refused to ignite her
weapon, and Serenity was concentrating on finding a way
past him and into Beryl's inner chambers.

"Mercury made this look so easy," she grumbled as she
punched buttons on the small handheld computer that
belonged to the kind blue-haired Senshi of water and ice.

"Oh, but Jaina," Zekk said, his voice teasing, "Why will
you not fight me? Would you rather run? Are you afraid of
me, Jaina?" He aimed his lightsaber in her direction, only to
have it swiftly turned aside by a lightening blow from Lowie's
bronze-coloured blade.

"Oh? Are you to fight me, Wookiee?" he laughed, as he
deftly turned aside every forceful blow from Lowie.

"Aha! Got it," Serenity whispered to herself, as she
stored the computer inside another pocket of her jumpsuit.
Looking up, she noticed the fight ensuing between the lanky
ginger-furred Wookiee and Zekk completely for the first
time.

"Stop!" she commanded, her voice full of authority and
ringing with power.

The combatants stopped, and turned their gazes to the
tiny young woman who was bold enough to make upon them
an order.

"It's the pretty little princess. Pitiful little princess
Serenity." Zekk's voice was cold, tinged with evil malice.

As if in response to his taunts, Serenity pulled from her
jumpsuit once more the Ginzuishou.

"Serenity, no! Please," Jaina said, a sob catching in her
throat. Serenity turned her ocean-blue eyes to Jaina's
brown, a look of understanding and empathy on her
features, but Serenity the young Jedi Knight was gone, the
Serenity who was Jaina's best friend was gone, replaced by
the steely princess who knew she had a duty.

She raised the Ginzuishou high above her head, feeling
the power surging through her. Her head flipped backward,
her golden hair streaming behind her; with her eyes closed
she looked quite ethereal.

"Zekk..." Jaina whispered.

"Please, Ginzuishou," Princess Serenity thought, her life
entwined within the crystal's, "Jaina cares for him so. Take
the strength from me, help him to be healed, for her sake."

As if in response to the wishes of its princess, a bright
white light erupted from within the crystal. It shone
throughout the dark cavern, and all who saw it became
entranced in awe and wonder. The light settled itself around
Zekk, who, bewildered, felt his body leave the ground to
float in the air. His crimson-lined cape, the gift of Brakiss for
being the Shadow Academy's best and Darkest Knight, was
shredded and disappeared into nothingness. He writhed for a
moment, before the light set him back upon the rocky floor.

He was on his knees as Jaina rushed to him, her
lightsaber lying forgotten on the stone slab. She checked
him for wounds, and he grasped her hand in his, as a tear
ran down his face.

"I'm so sorry, Jaina..." he said, guilt evident all over
him.

Princess Serenity, too, floated softly to the floor, the
light leaving the Ginzuishou as it deposited itself, not within
her pocket, but within the brooch of the Moon Prism on her
chest. She opened her eyes and stared at it for a moment,
disbelieving, before she turned her gaze to where her friends
were gathered around the newly healed Zekk.

"What did you do?" Leia asked her niece, still shocked
by what she had seen.

"Nothing he did not want. I only helped him do what he
had wanted to do all along, but found he could not." said
Princess Serenity.

"Thank you, Princess." Zekk said, standing and bowing
his head in her direction. She smiled regally, as if she knew
the secrets of the cosmos.

"You're quite welcome, Zekk," she said, and then
turned to the others, "We must hurry. I have found the
entrance to Beryl's main audience chamber, but there is no
telling what she has done to Mother and the others."

They each nodded, pulling out respective lightsabers.
Jacen tossed his sister's to her, as he walked up to where
she stood with Zekk.

"Come on, sis." Jaina gave a laugh that was part sob,
part cough as she said, "Of course. What are we waiting
for?"

Han looked down the chamber, where Serenity was
already running with Lowbacca and Tenel Ka close behind.
With a wave of his hand, he indicated the others to follow
them, which they did, pelting down the cavernous tunnels
dug deep within the icy rock.

"Princess Serenity! You managed to find my lair, all by
yourself," Beryl laughed. "Do you really think you will be
able to free your parents and the Senshi?"

Serenity walked forward, exuding confidence and
power. The young Jedi Knights were behind her, lightsabers
ignited, prepared to defend both her and each other no
matter the cost.

"Oh, and you managed to convince the Jedi brats to
come back!" Beryl laughed even harder.

"Don't underestimate us, Beryl. We are a formidable
team," Jaina said, her voice cold and hard with dislike.

"Zekk..." said Beryl silkily. "You didn't manage to
eliminate these pests last time they annoyed me, so now I'm
counting on you to finish the job."

Zekk shook his head, his face set in an angry scowl of
determination.

"No," he spat, "I will never harm any of these people.
Not at your bidding, nor anyone else's."

"What's this? Traitor!" Beryl snapped. "You'll pay for
your treachery! Kalcite!" she howled into the darkness. The
young Jedi stood their ground, as an older man with dark
brown hair and tanned skin walked calmly out of the
shadows.

The only one to falter, the only one to become unsure,
was Princess Serenity, for the man who was emerging,
Kalcite, was none other than Apollo, who had tormented her
childhood years.

"Yes, girl, it is me. Pity your mother loved you, that she
would be worried enough over your miserable being to risk
her life for yours. How does it feel, girl, knowing that you
have caused your mother's death, and the destruction of the
Universe!" He cried in elation, as he pointed at the still-
crystallized form of Selene as she gripped tightly the
Crescent Moon Wand. "She died with the Ginzuishou! Now
there is not a power one to defeat the realm of the mighty
Negaforce! Queen Beryl shall rightfully rule over your
pathetic lands!"

"Apollo..." Serenity growled, her entire body shaking
with anger, rage, and betrayal.

"Don't listen to him, Sere! It isn't your fault!" Jaina
cried.

"You can defeat him, and her both!" Tenel Ka yelled to
her friend.

"You have the Ginzuishou. You have the power," Leia
said, "use it."


"She has the Ginzuishou?!" Beryl cried in outrage.
"This pathetic runt of a girl is controlling the greatest known
power in the Universe?! As if she could possibly defeat me!"
Beryl launched a torrent of black Negaforce energy at
Serenity, who deflected it with the rainbow blade of her
lightsaber, all the colors of the planets of the Silver
Millennium intertwined. The energy ricocheted off of her
energy blade and hit the crystals encasing Selene and Luke,
shattering them to pieces. The queen and her Jedi fell to
the floor, and awakened from the stasis. Offering his arm to
Selene, Luke pulled them both to their feet.

"Just who do you think you are?!!" Beryl roared.

"Me?" Serenity said lightly, all fear and doubt gone
from her mind. Luke and Selene joined the others as they
watched, open-mouthed, the power flowing through their
daughter.

"I am Serenity Tsukino, princess of the Silver
Millennium and the Moon Kingdom, and also Jedi Knight-in-
training on Yavin 4. I am the daughter of two worlds,
magical and material, joined together through the power of
love. And it is this power of love which shall defeat you and
your evil, once and for all."

"Big words, little girl," Apollo snarled, "but can you
back them up?" He lunged at Serenity, a blade of Dark
Negaforce energy in his hand.

"Serenity, look out!" Jaina cried, as both Luke and Zekk
leapt forward at the same time, back to back fighting off the
general.

"Nice to see us fighting on the same side, Zekk," Luke
said, as he deflected a blow from Apollo's energy.


"You bet, Master Skywalker." Zekk said as he slashed
at Apollo's blade, defending Serenity as she prepared to use
the power locked deep within her.


"Let's see if you can control that power, little princess,"
Beryl hissed, as she sent a huge discharge of crackling black
energy from the Negaforce at the girl.

She repelled the attack once more using her lightsaber,
aiming it at the crystals encasing the Senshi. It ricocheted
among the crystals, cracking them open and releasing their
prisoners.

Shakily, the Senshi stood and walked over to where
their queen and the young Jedi Knights were fighting against
different youma.

"Mars Fireballs Charge!" Rings of fire erupted from
Sailor Mars, surrounding one youma and annihilating it.

"You bastard!" Selene said angrily at Apollo, as she saw
him battling with Luke and Zekk.

"Selene, get back!" Luke commanded, locked in a
swordfight with Beryl's general.

"How dare you rip apart my family!" She yelled, and
grabbed one of the sharp Negaverse crystals from the icy
floor and plunged it through Apollo's heart. As one, Luke and
Zekk leapt back as the wicked general writhed in pain, and
disappeared in a breeze of cherry blossoms.

Selene was shaking, surprised at her own bravado.
Wiping the sweat from his brow, Luke disengaged his
lightsaber and walked over to her, his eyes trained on the
form of his daughter, high above him, where she faced the
Dark Queen of the Negaverse.


"They have killed my warrior Kalcite! They shall pay,"
she roared at Serenity. "Starting with the death of their
princess!" This time, a surge of the Dark power charged at
Serenity, too much to deflect with her lightsaber. Instead,
she pulled from her brooch the Ginzuishou, only to have it
knocked from her hands at the deluge of Dark power. It
swept over her, knocking her off the high rock to the ground
below.

"Serenity!!" Selene cried as she saw her daughter fall.

"Usako!" Endymion yelled, bringing his sword back
from the depths of a youma. Blaster fire ricocheted
everywhere from Han's blaster as he shot at the youma
which was attacking Leia.

Lowie saw her fall first, and was the first to react. He
leapt forward and caught her in his strong, hairy arms as
she shivered with the dark power coursing through her
body. The Ginzuishou fell through the air at Selene's feet
and she grabbed it quickly and held it tightly.

"You shall pay, little princess!" Beryl sent another flood
of Nega-energy at Serenity, who, out of Lowie's arms, was
unable to deflect it. Endymion saw the danger coming to his
beloved, and leapt in front to protect her, only to have the
energy hit him instead.

"Endymion!" Serenity cried as he was caught within the
surge of Dark energy. She saw his body fall, and ran over to
where he lay, dying.

"Endymion," she sobbed, "my love. My only love. For
you I lived, to you I gave myself, all of me that I could
give." She gently stroked his hair from his face, her own
tears falling upon his stiffening body.

Her face took on a fierce determination as she eyed his
blade lying near to where he had fallen. Quickly she grasped
the hilt, saying, "I will not be forced to marry! My love, my
life, is dead and gone, and so is my reason to live. Here,
accursed blade, take my very breath! I've no use for it
anymore."

"Serenity!" Jaina screamed.

"Serenity!" Luke yelled.

Not listening, Serenity plunged the blade of the sword
into her body, lodging it deep inside her. She choked on her
own blood, then fell onto Endymion, the white of her gown
stained crimson.

"Perfect!" roared Beryl as the princess and her prince
both went limp, the life having left their bodies.
"The pretty twit and her prince are dead! And I
survive!"

"I won't let it end like this!" Selene cried.

"Not the princess..." Luna sobbed, for she had followed
Serenity as she left the academy.

"Serenity..." Jacen said, as the slain form of his friend
and cousin lay upon the body of her husband.

Lowie let out a Wookiee roar of anger, and a howl of
mourning as he saw his friend die.

"Oh, Master Lowbacca, this is awful!" said the
synthesized voice of Em-Teedee. "Poor Mistress Serenity!"

"Oh, darling, I won't let them take away your future!"
She ripped the Ginzuishou from her Crescent Moon Wand
and raised it above her.

"Cosmic Moon Power!" she yelled, as the light
surrounded the form of Beryl and her Negaverse guards and
her generals, the dead forms of the Senshi who had died at
the hands of Jedite, and lastly around Endymion and her
beloved daughter.

All at once, they disappeared, and Selene fell to the
floor, utterly exhausted.

"You did it!" Jacen cried.

Luke went to her, and knelt down beside her.


"No," she said, her voice weak, "I merely trapped them
inside the crystal. Had I killed them I would have destroyed
Serenity and the others as well. They will be reborn, on
Earth..." Her hand dropped limply to her side, and Luke
knew she was dying. "Luke," she said, turning to him, "you
missed watching our daughter grow up, and I will give you
this chance. The others will be reborn on Earth, for the Moon
Kingdom and the Silver Millennium are no more. But, if you
would wish, Serenity can be raised with you..." Her voice
weakened by the moment and her breathing grew heavy,
labored.

"Of course, Selene. Anything," he said, her hand
grasped firmly within his.

"But, there is one thing; you will know when the time
comes for her to return to Earth to complete her destiny.
Promise me you will take her," she whispered.

"Yes, Selene."

"Luna, Artemis," she addressed the cats at her feet, "I
will send you to the future to be their guardians, and to
reunite them should the Negaverse return. I am counting on
you," she waved the arm holding the crystal, and the two
cats were encased in time capsules, asleep. In a second,
they had disappeared. The crystal shattered into individual
crystals, each crystal guarding one of the precious souls to
be reborn, and disappeared.

"Goodbye, Luke..."she whispered, as he bent and
kissed her softly. As soon as he had arisen, he knew that
she was dead.

He stood, terribly shaken from what had happened that
day, and gathered his students and family around him and
led them out of the dark and dreary world of Beryl's. And as
they left, Selene's body disappeared in a breeze of glitter
and rose petals.

With one last look behind him, Luke turned and left
Beryl's realm, never to return.