Prompt: Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion's rection when their daughter stopped ageing

Neo-Queen Serenity hides her worry behind her ever-present serene expression, when outsiders such as diplomats and reporters speculate on her daughter's small stature, Serenity calmly thanks them for their concern, and states the Crystal Palace is aware and, at this time, unconcerned about the Princess, who is in perfect physical health.

It's only behind the thick privacy of the crystal walls that Sailor Mercury shrugs helplessly next to thrumming and beeping machines, her voice a hush and sympathetic lilt. "She's the first child with blood of both the earth and moon…"

There is no need to tell her, because of all people Serenity knows this, but Mercury says it anyway: "Lunar blood manifests itself in strange ways."

Serenity excuses herself for her chambers and locks eyes with her reflection in the mirror. The alabaster of her skin, the silver in her hair, the pigment that since drained from her sky-blue eyes, leaving them grey like the mist over a pond. No, Serenity didn't need to be told about lunar blood.

The Tokyo girl born to average parents, raised among the throng of humanity coursing through one of the largest cities on the planet … had she never really belonged? Even after the blood and sacrifice, the purification of the holy sword through flesh, bones burnt and reformed in the cauldron of death and rebirth, is she still the alienated princess from thousands of years ago, an uninvited stranger on a planet that she has no right to call home?

And now her precious daughter is suffering for it, unable to come into her birthright, growth halted by forces Serenity knows but does not understand. Held in place by the contradictory powers of two kingdoms that were never supposed to meet.

Later, Small Lady plays outside with Jupiter and Mars, the rare sound of her happy laughter drifts through the gardens to the balcony where the king and queen watch. The love for their daughter is a sweet ache, but an ache nonetheless.

Endymion puts his hand her shoulder, and Serenity wants to apologize, to tell her husband she understands now - what a mistake she made, continues to make, and would, given the chance, make again and again every single lifetime, every single time. But he kisses her forehead and the words stick in her throat, unable to be spoken, unable to be swallowed down.

In the setting sun, Small Lady is lit up like some sort of heavenly thing between an angel and an alien.