Before you start reading "The Stone Hearted Princess" I thought it would be best if I elaborated on a few things.

First, "The Stone Hearted Princess" is strictly manga based. I've used very little of the anime in this fic, mainly to fill in 'gaps'. There are some differences between the anime and manga. For example, in the Old Silver Millennium, Princess Serenity commits suicide after Endymion is killed. There is no 'whirlwind' that tears them apart. Also, the people of the Earth revolt against the people of the Moon.

I read the Chix Comix/Pocket Mixx manga. The Old Silver Millennium is described as a 'happy time.' If the solar system was so happy under Queen Serenity's rule, why would the people revolt? Also, love between the Earth and the Moon was supposed to be forbidden. Why? If everything was so 'happy' why 'forbidden'?

In SuperS 4, Nephrenia says (in a flashback) to Queen Serenity, "You too have come from another galaxy. We share the same origin." So the Moon Kingdom was not originally from this solar system.

Finally, there is the eternal (and possibly infernal!) question of 'Whatever happened to Sailor Earth?' Admit it, you've wondered. There's dozens of different Sailor Earths in fanfic. No, no one will be shouting "Earth Prism/Star/Planet/Crystal/Cosmic/Crisis/Eternal Power! Make-up!"

But this fic will go into one possible reason as to what happened to her, and why there isn't one. (and a very odd reason it is, too...!) I've always wondered what was going on on the Old Earth during the Old Silver Millennium. Very little is said of it. So, here's my version. That said, on with the show!

-Queen

The Stone-Hearted Princess

Childhood's Hour

Part 1-

From childhood's hour I have not been

As others were- I have not seen

As others saw- I could not bring

My passions from a common spring.

From the same source I have not taken

My sorrow; I could not awaken

My heart to joy at the same tone;

And all I lov'd, I lov'd alone.

Then- in my childhood- in the dawn

Of a most stormy life- was drawn

From ev'ry depth of good and ill

The mystery which binds me still:

From the torrent, or the fountain,

From the red cliff of the mountain,

From the sun that round me roll'd

In its autumn tint of gold-

From the lightning in the sky

As it pass'd me flying by-

From the thunder and the storm,

And the cloud that took the form

(When the rest of Heaven was blue)

Of a demon in my view.

-'Alone', by Edgar Allan Poe

On the threat of a fit of fury, my maids had hustled out of my room. I didn't want to be interrupted, and if any of them saw me, I would have been scolded until I fell asleep. I am sitting on the ledge of my balcony, with my feet dangling off the side, trailing. It was several long meters to the garden below. I hate it when people tell me what to do, and at the moment, I have decided to hate everyone. Of course, I know it won't last, but still.

I was called, (thank the Earth Mother) out of my grammar lessons. I sprinted out of there like one of the rockets we set off at father's last birthday. Professor Futotta was left to blubbering at the interruption.

My parents were in the Great Hall, awaiting my arrival. Father looked grim, but mother seemed to be fluttering between something akin to hope and wariness. That of course, made me feel nervous. Father was usually fairly upbeat, and mother...well, mother was a very precise woman. I'm not sure how else to describe her. She was very exact and orderly. To see her wringing her hands alarmed me.

"Father?" I looked between the two of them. "Mother?"

"Sit, please," father commanded me, gesturing at the sofa. I folded my arms. I think it best to take news standing up. You can react all the more quickly that way. "You have been to the Royal Palace."

Um...I thought about that. Oh yes. Last year. I nodded.

"You have been taught about our family's history, and are aware of your duties as the daughter of the House of Dowan."

I was getting nervous. Why the duty lecture? Was some dignitary coming?

"You are aware of the Queen's situation."

Situation? Which situation? I thought about it a moment. Gaia was the third of that name of the Chiba lineage. Four generations ago, Queen Rhea II had a second son, my several times great-grandfather, on my father's side. Our blood was of the highest nobility, and we had much honor among the people. There were few nobles who did not carry the Chiba blood in their veins, but few of them were as affluent as our family. We were strong.

"You are aware that the eldest daughter of the Queen takes her place at her death?"

I knew all of this. I may be young, but I paid attention when I was told our family's history.

"You know that the Queen has only a son."

Blinking, I tried to remember. After a few moments, a dark haired head popped into view. I wrinkled my nose. But I was sure. That was the idiot who had tried to push me out of his royal way. I nearly fell. Rude. So, being me and showing him I would not tolerate that sort of thing, I gave him a nice, pretty black eye.

"Yeah," I folded my arms.

My parents apparently did not like the look.

"The one who weds this boy will become the new Queen of the Earth, when Gaia goes to the Goddess. And this morning, it has been decided. You are to be betrothed to the young Prince Endymion."

I lived up to my reputation of throwing fits, shrieking in hell-spawned fury. I was perfectly aware of my nannies nickname of the "Bansidhe" for me. That, or more simply, "The Unholy Terror." But who could blame me? I was twelve, fiery tempered and very, very mad. I had no ambition to be Queen of anything, much less the whole blasted planet. Glorious the title may sound, but I read my history books. Queens sit at home, conduct business, hold ditzy balls, and let others have all the fun. Marrying Endymion was the least of my problems, a thorn as that would be. What do husbands and wives do anyway? There was always such a fuss over weddings. And I hated wearing dresses, much less long, fluffy white ones with big, equally fluffy white bows. Mother stopped having me put in pink lace when I began to deliberately wreck it when I went out. Besides, I hate pink. I'm not much for dressing up, but I do at least try to look decent. Pink makes me look sallow.

Sallow. That's an interesting word, isn't it? I read it in a book last week. But sallow it is, so I stay away from it. Olive skin and a mass of wavy, dark black hair simply does not go well with the girliest of girly colors.

So, now I am spending my self-appointed time-out on my balcony ledge, trying not to think of ways to run away or kill people. Of course, this was silly, both running away and killing. Like I'd ever do a thing like that.

Queen. Did anyone ask me? No, of course not. That would be sensible. Queen of Earth. Me. Ha. Who said I wanted such a job? Duty. They always play that card when its something no one else wants to do.

I was still annoyed, and had screamed myself out. Duty and honor. This was supposed to be duty and honor. I sighed. Well, duty and honor were never supposed to be easy.

I crossed my legs at the ankles, closed my eyes and felt the light on my eyelids. "Goddess, give me strength," I prayed feverently. As a daughter of the Earth, our Goddess was the world we lived on. Not some distant, wispy figure like those Moon people. They had the same Queen for centuries, and claimed to be gods. For the last thousand years and more the Moon kingdom and the Earth had waged a cold war, speaking little, loving less. They claimed to protect us. We never asked for their protection. We were strong.

"Goddess, send me the knowledge to get out of this. Or at least...the strength to carry my destiny though."

I had been chosen for my noble blood. Close enough to the throne, far enough to be proper. Agewise, I was perfect. Perhaps duty was bred into me. It was an interesting thought, to see myself with a crown on my brows, leading the Earth. But then the endless parade of dignitaries marched across the map of my mind, and I shuddered, opening my eyes. In two weeks I was moving to Thymos.

The people of Earth are, to say the least, innovative. My family's lands are lush and green, wild and with stony fortresses called duns, that dot the hillsides where they are most useful and defensive. Traveling via skyship over the lands and sea, the greenery changes and grows more sparse. The forts are no longer tall and foreboding, but graceful and elegant. Watching out the tiny porthole window, I miss the stout walls of Caer Sidi already. I had pouted, griped, whined, complained, bitched, thrown more fits and screamed, breaking a new set of dishes, several mirrors and managed to succeed in tearing apart the fluffy white dress that they had tried to make me wear. Unfortunately, they had been successful. I was in it, tatters and all. Well, I'd show them, of course. Now that the skyship was banking, I stood up, brushed myself off and conducted myself in the most queenly manner I could. I had, however, undone the intricate bunwork on my head. Nothing like having a head full of dumplings. Pretty, but annoying. I preferred my hair long, like the goddesses of the earth and sky, like Epona, who rode the wind.

So, head high, I descended the steps to the floor, spidering my hand on the rail, looking out over the servants that had come to greet me. There were only three, but I didn't let my disappointment show. I would be meeting other people soon enough.

"Lady," the first bowed.

"What is your name?"

He blinked. Ha. I'd set him off. Servants don't get asked questions like that much. Personally, I couldn't figure out why. Shouldn't a person prove their intelligence or stupidity first?

"Grass, my lady."

"And you two?"

The woman and man exchanged looks. "Wheat," she replied, and gestured at the man. "Maize."

I looked them over. They were obviously from the region, wearing the lighter, floaty costuming that caught breezes. I was dying in the brocade. Ugh.

"I will freshen up before meeting the Queen."

"Yes, my lady."

They were still looking me over, I could tell. Nothing like a princess in royal rags. "I will require something more suitable to wear. In...green. A very dark green."

"Of course," Grass replied.

Good. Now we were getting somewhere.

I squeezed out my hair, and brushed it out as best I could. The trio had returned, brandishing a dark olive dress and a belt of ribbon, as well as a silver headband. I slipped it on, and spun in the polished mirror. Good, I decided, starting to get comfortable. I looked around. They hadn't brought shoes. Hesitating, I dropped the hem down. It covered my feet. Perfect. No one would know the difference. Shoes made too much noise, and you couldn't ever feel what you were standing on. Of course, that occasionally had its...disadvantages...but in order to live, there is such a thing as risk, even if it is just dirty feet.

I looked at my quarters. Rooms, actually. Marble floors, lined with fur rugs, light draperies letting the air in. I could see the sea from here, outside the balcony. It was pretty, in the standard, royal palace kind of way. There was a tap at the door.

"Yes?"

"Mistress?"

Mistress? Hm. Who is this?

A girl scuttled into the room, peering shyly at me. "Mistress, the Queen is ready to see you now."

"And you are?"

Her eyes twinkled from under colorless bangs. "Swallow, mistress. Like the bird. Call me Swallow."

Didn't miss a beat. Excellent.

"Are you my personal attendant?"

"No."

"Why was I not given one?"

"I don't know, mistress."

I frowned. I should have servants. "Fine. Take me to the Queen."

Swallow led me down several hallways. The usual beauties. Columns standing tall overhead. White and gleaming. We passed servants on the way, who bowed politely as we went. I wasn't sure what to expect of the Queen, seeing the rudeness at my welcome. Oh, not from the servants. But she hadn't sent a noble or someone to greet me. A breach of protocol. That meant she was either trying to insult me or was testing me. Seeing that I was supposedly selected to be the heir to Earth, the insult was likely part of a test. Well, I was up to that just fine.

With Swallow tapping on a heavy mahogany door, a guard opened it, letting it swing easily on its hinges, revealing a sunroom. There were columns at the room's end, opening onto a balcony. I could see the sea sparkling beyond, and the sun was streaking the sky a bloody shade of red. There was a long, narrow table of polished cedarwood, pillowed chairs settled around it. At the end of the table, opposite of where I stood, the figure who I knew must be the Queen sat waiting.

I heard Swallow's soft, shuffling steps back away, and the door closed behind me with a soft click. So. I was on my own now.

I had vague memories of her, a tall, looming presence, the same as any child would have of a larger adult they did not see very often. But as I watched, theQueen set down a bowl of wine, and looked at me. I returned the gaze, but began to feel lightheaded. I don't know how to describe her. It would be inadequate, no matter what I said. But her hair was long and waved, a shade of dark green, like the hills around Caer Sidi. I had to avert my eyes. Hers were too disturbing. They were violet, and seemed to glow faintly out from heavy black lashes. With unnatural grace, she swept a hand before her, and picked up the decanter of wine, pouring it redly into the bowl and taking another sip. She set it down again.

"Sit."

I sat. I tried to look at her again, but she was distracted, glancing out the window. Some people look spacey when they seem to be thinking of something else.

They stare and their eyes glaze over and they look dead. On her, though, she seemed to be...reflective.

"You've come from Caer Sidi?"

"Yes, my Queen."

"You understand why?"

"Yes."

She glanced at me, lifting an eyebrow, then returning to the sky outside. "Do you wish for it?"

"Wish for what, my Queen?"

She sighed, shaking her head. "Don't play dense with me," she sipped again, setting the bowl down, the pushing the decanter away. Glancing at the guards, she flicked her hand in a distracted move. "Leave us."

They placed a hand over their heart in salute, then turned and left to the side. There must have been other doors to the place. I'd have to learn where such things were later.

Gaia was still looking at the setting sun, chin now in her palm. "Do you know why you were selected?"

Well, obviously. "I have the best bloodline, the strongest family...."

"The biggest mouth, the worst attitude, and the most arrogance."

I could only stare. No one, not even mother or father ever said such a thing. I suddenly became aware that I had begun opening and closing my mouth repeatedly.

"Those will be a downfall to you if you do not learn to master them. The Earth needs a leader who is strong for her people, not for herself. Your bloodline, as you say, is excellent. Your family is strong, and your age is exactly as needed."

She was saying this as casually as discussing the rain. She still was not looking at my face, but at the fire in the sky.

"Do you know what it would mean, to be the Queen of Earth?"

Suddenly, I got the feeling I was not only outmatched, but not even in the game. When in doubt, dissemble. Adults love to think they're right.

"No, my Queen."

Then she looked at me, and I wanted to melt into the floor right then. "Games are for children. Toys are for children. Do you consider yourself a child?"

What was going on? I don't understand! How is she knowing what I'm thinking?

"No?"

Her eyes narrowed, and it gave her a fierce look. She reached around her neck, drawing out a small, crystalline object. A pendant. "Do you know what this is?"

I shook my head, but could not keep my eyes off of the sparkling gem.

"This is the Earth. It was the tear of the first Queen, when she cried for the death of her firstborn daughter. It gave her the strength to rule our world. Only those who have the strongest heart may carry this stone. It is our world. Can you not see it within?"

She held the pendant up to the light, and in the prism refraction, a tiny, swirling round and green globe appeared.

"It's so pretty."

I found myself suddenly leaning into empty space. She had moved the crystal away from me, and was tucking it back into the cloth of her bodice. "You see it as pretty?"

I floundered. I didn't know, from her tone, if she was commenting or trying to understand something. "Well, yes." I replied, thinking the response simpleminded. Well, it was pretty. What else could I say? With the gods to protect it and Gaia to lead it, how could it not be beautiful? It was our home.

The brilliance of her smile was so sudden and unexpected that I nearly leapt up in concern. She laughed genuinely then, standing and letting the white fabric of her gown flow down to the ground. "Come, alanna," she offered me a hand.

Alanna. In my own lands, it meant 'little one'. Well, little to her, perhaps. Now we walked down the halls, marble and polished, and spoke of other things. I knew there was more going on than I was being told. It was all too easy, to arrive, to be whisked around like this. It seemed so strange, and so sudden. We were moving slowly but steadily towards the royal chambers. Gaia herself was giving me the tour of the palace, showing me things we did not have at home. Tapestries woven and fine statues of marble and bronze.

"Queen?"

"Yes, alanna?"

"Will I get to see the countryside? I'd rather see that."

"Oh? And why is that?"

I was getting the feeling that any question from Gaia was not what it seemed. So, I thought out what I was going to say before blurting it out. "Because these things are all...made."

"Made? What do you mean by that?"

I pushed some hair out of my eyes in irritation. Made. Made by people. "People made this stuff."

"And why is that not as good as what's outside?"

"Well, that's outside. It's real."

"And this isn't real?"

Irritated, I folded my arms. "Now you're playing games."

She laughed, shaking her head. "I'm trying to get you to think. You'll need your wits. My son won't be so forgiving."

I snapped to attention. The mention of Endymion was like a cold bucket of water on my head. I'd have to marry him, the pest. Well, if he even thought about giving me any trouble, I'd give him a matching black eye for the last one.

Gaia was shaking her head sadly. "My son is an excellent fighter, alanna. You will be hard pressed to make his match." She seemed to consider this again a moment, then smiled faintly. "But I think you are up to the challenge. And yes, tomorrow you will see the countryside."

She motioned me to follow her again, and I did so, as she hesitated outside a door, then frowned suddenly. She grabbed the doorknob and pulled it open with a jerk, to reveal a screaming, writhing, fist-flying mess of young human bodies.

"Endymion."

The word was frosty, and Gaia had her hands on her hips, looking imperiously down on what was at my eye level. Five boys were tangled up on the floor, in various poses of beating the hell out of each other. They stared back at me as I peered around Gaia's back. Then they stared at Gaia, and I heard one mumble something about this not being good. I think it was the blonde.

The five scrambled to attention, heads bowed in disgrace. Suddenly, I found this infinitely amusing. I began to laugh, covering my face with my hands in a false attempt to hide my laughter.

"Hey! Shut up!" One of the boys called at me.

"Jadeite! You shut up. We're in for it as it is." That from the one with white hair.

Gaia was still watching this with a look of disdain. "Endymion," she ordered, then frowned at me. "My son," she said to me, pointing. He did a polite bow, looking caught between embarrassment and fury. Whether the fury was at me or at whoever had started the brawl I didn't know.

"Welcome," he stated through clenched teeth, "to the palace of the Earth. I welcome you on behalf of my Mother's people. Please forgive our infinite rudeness in not welcoming you as proper to your noble rank. I am Endymion, Crown Prince of the Earth Sphere. Welcome."

I just watched him bow again, and the four boys behind him follow suit. I couldn't help it. There was something about having a boy bow politely that made me feel like being polite back. Of course, overriding that was the desire to ask, "Who started it?"

Endymion's eyes snapped up, as did the four other sets, looking confused. One of them had a swelling lower lip, I noticed.

"Alanna. Perhaps it would be best if you met my son and his companions tomorrow morning. It seems that they have had some sort of disagreement. Please return to your apartments, now."

Her tone did not leave room for me to argue, despite my extreme curiosity as to why the fight started and what was going to happen next.

"Now, alanna." Gaia repeated, still not breaking her gaze from her son.

"Yes, my Queen," with a backward glance, I slowly began to creep away. Once around the corner, I froze, straining to listen carefully to what Gaia said.

"Endymion, tomorrow you will be...." there was a long echo as the door to Endymion's apartments slammed to a close. Well, that didn't tell me much. I sighed, turned around, and nearly walked straight into Swallow.

I yelped in surprise and skittered backward. "Swallow! Don't do that!"

"Sorry, lady, I'm sorry. Please forgive me. I meant no harm. But I was following you and the Queen, and I saw you standing there, and thought I'd make sure you could find your way back...."

Furious, I exclaimed, "You watched me?" She suddenly recoiled as through slapped. But I hated being spied on. Invasion of privacy is paramount to annoying me. I like quiet and order, preferably in my way. Seeing a servant tailing me like a rat was infuriating. And I'd only been in the palace for less than a day! "Never, ever watch me, Swallow." I got the feeling this girl was usually quite fearless. Her audacity earlier in the day had led me to believe that, and her surprise now was only cementing that in my mind. But then, she had been quiet enough to sneak up on me. And cleverness was a virtue. She was smart. And it was always better to have intelligent people where you could see them.

"I am to be the heiress to the Earth Kingdom. You will be my personal attendant. See to it that you inform whoever you currently report to. Now, go away and meet me again in the morning to help me dress. I am going horseback riding."

Swallow's eyes were wide as she began to bob up and down in curtsies.

"Swallow. Go. Now."

She fled.

Satisfied with myself, since I must have looked somewhat fierce, I turned and began to march down the hallway. Back past the now spectral faces in white marble, down the corridor. I hesitated a moment to look out into the new night sky. The moon was just slightly visible, the child of the dark moon, being born again into the night. It was so pretty, glowing so faintly. The sister of the Earth, but dead and barren. Then I frowned as I watched it. Somewhere on that globe was a palace, where those who laid claim to the title of gods lived. Foreigners from a distant star, come to live here, where they could be safe from whatever terror had chased them away. Then they claimed to protect our world, as they spread throughout our solar system.

Their arrival was told in the legends, of how they soared into the system in their starships, and settled into the Moon with their technology and strange magic. Claiming to be gods, no less. As if any person with a true body could be a god. The goddesses of the earth and sky were the earth and sky, existing everywhere. Existing here. Under my bare feet, under the palace and under the sky. Not in some far off palace in the heavens that no human may ever see. It was arrogant of them, and the people of Earth were right to mistrust them, and watch them with wary eyes as they spread across our system. Since the coming of Serenity's court, the Earth had waged a wary but cold war on them, polite, but separate. Such things were forbidden, for they were not as us.

A cold breeze smacked my face, and I started out of my reverie, looking at the sea instead of the moon. There were great cliffs around us, and we were perched on the precipice of the sea cliff. Someday, this would make a great ruin, when the palace of the Earth had moved to some greater city, more modern and more strong. But now this was our home, our beautiful home, and with the Queen to protect it from those who would do harm, it would be a long time in coming to move away. Now I was the Crown Princess. Oh, not fully official just yet. That would be long in coming, a couple more years, at least. But everyone would know my name, my rank, and who I was being groomed to become. Me, the terror of CaerSidi.

"I'll be a good Queen," I decided. I said it out loud, to say it to the stars. "I will be the greatest Queen. I may not be of the direct blood, but I am strong and I will protect my homeworld. This is my world. I will be a good Queen."

I would rule, and people would come to see me for my wisdom. I would be strong and make my people strong. Maybe I didn't want to be Queen, but sometimes the best person for the job is the one who does not want it. After all, they are the ones who understand what it truly means, the responsibilities and the hardship. I still would rather be out riding horses instead of attending balls, but...when I was Queen, things would be different.

I would see to that.