Chapter 6: Memories

Title: Little Red Riding Hood

Author: LightningRose

I do not own SailorMoon or any of the characters!

"Mama why can't I go out and play with the other kids?" a little girl about seven, with big blue eyes stood staring out her bedroom window as all the town's children ran after each other in a game of tag. An older woman stood behind her with a sad smile on her aging yet still beautiful face.

"One day Serenity you will have many friends to play with, one's that will love you so much. But for now you must stay inside for your protection."

"Grandmother, will you tell me about my father? Mother refuses to speak about him to me." Serenity visited her grandmother often, and as she got older, the questions began.

Her grandmother had known her precious granddaughter would eventually find her way to her when she needed answers. Her poor daughter did not have the heart to speak of Serenity's father.

"Your father was different, he was beautiful and strong. Your mother fell in love with him the moment their eyes met, and he with her. But like I said, he was different. He was not from here and he could not stay with you and your mother. He visited when he was able but something happened shortly after you were born. I remember seeing your mother yelling at him right before the last time he left, she was crying and holding you so tightly. I don't know what became of him, but that was the last time I or your mother saw him."

Serenity watched as her mother ran around their small house, gathering items for her trip to her grandmother's. She handed her the red cloak she always made her wear.

"You must not take the cloak off; remember that it will protect you in the forest." Her mother stood in front of her and ran her fingers through her long silver hair. A color she was not sure how she got, perhaps from her father.

"Be careful Serenity; remember there are creatures in the forest that want to harm you." She told her this every time she made the trip through the forest. But she had never seen one of the animals of her mother's tales.

"Mother, I met such a cute boy today on my way home from the market. He said he loved the color of my hair! May I go again tomorrow?" Serenity had turned out into a beautiful young woman, being sixteen now, she was constantly grabbing the attention of the town's young males. It would not be long before one asked for her hand in marriage.

"No. You must not speak to men while I am not present Serenity. It is dangerous." Her mother looked angry and scared, but of what?

"Dangerous? Mother he is only a boy and the market is a very public place." Serenity didn't understand why her mother always kept her away from others her age, especially of the male gender.

"There are many things you don't understand Serenity, please respect my wishes." She knew the conversation was over when her mother said that. She always respected her mother; she would not go against her.

"Serenity, promise me something." Looking back at her mother from the doorway, she couldn't help but feel like something was wrong. Maybe she should not go to her grandmother's today.

"Promise me that when the day comes, that you accept who you are meant to become. Remember that I will always love you no matter what. Don't make the same mistakes I made." Serenity promised her mother, even though she had no idea what she meant. Her mother was always making strange comments without explanation.

"Bye mother, I will return in a few days." And off to her grandmothers she went, in her bright red cloak.

Present:

Her mother and her grandmother knew all this time, everything she was told was in preparation for this. She was never allowed out, never allowed to play with the other kids her age, and never allowed to speak to boys. Remembering back to when she was little up until the moment she last saw her mother, she realized it was all starting to make sense now.

What did Darien have on her mother and grandmother to make them so scared, that they kept her sheltered her whole life. Why would they allow this? Serenity could not help but feel anger towards them; they lied to her and literally fed her to the wolves. She had to speak to them, had to know the truth.

What did her mother mean? Who was she meant to become, did she know about the transformation? And what mistakes did her mother make that she didn't want her to make? There were just so many unanswered questions, all the emotions were building up inside her and she couldn't hold them in any longer.

She cried for hours on her bedroom floor, unable to move from the pain of all the lies. She refused entry to anyone who came by, having locked the door the moment she heard footsteps. She didn't want to see anyone, she hated them all. Her whole life was nothing but a lie, a planned out fate without her consent, she was stripped of the choices she should have been allowed to make. But no, Darien and her mother and whoever else decided for her. Now her only choice was to decide to go along with it or die? What kind of choice was that?

"Serenity please open the door. It's Mina and the girls, we heard you were upset and wanted to check up on you."

Lies….it was all lies. They weren't concerned for her wellbeing, just for their king's prize.

"Go away!" Why couldn't they all just leave her alone. Standing up from the floor she checked herself in the mirror on her dresser. Her hair was tangled and looked dull. Her eyes were red from all the crying and puffy. Her face covered in streaks left behind by the tears. And her night dress was a wrinkled mess. This couldn't possibly be what her mother and grandmother wanted for her.

Wiping her face, she decided she needed answers, and she wanted them now. Changing her clothes, brushing her hair and making herself look presentable she made her way to her door. The girls had left, but a guard was nearby keeping watch on her door.

"I demand to speak to your King. Bring him to me at once." The guard looked confused; he had never been ordered by the small woman before. She always seemed sweet and even sad but always kind. Now she was angry and demanding he fetch his king? He ran up the hallway and passed the message to the next guard to be passed on and on until it reached King Darien.

Darien replayed back the night before; he shouldn't have told her about her mother and grandmother keeping her safe for him. Things would be harder now, and he was running out of time. The full moon was only a day away now.

"Your Majesty…..she is demanding your presence sir…." A guard stood before him, he hadn't even noticed him enter. Serenity was distracting him, and that was dangerous. This matter needed to be settled and soon, or someone might think him weak.

"Demanded you say?" So she was ready to speak to him. Darien didn't know if he found it amusing or insulting that his little mate was summoning him to her room. She would make a good Queen; she already has his guards doing her bidding.

"Um…yes sir, she apparently stormed out of her room and demanded for you." Darien nodded at the guard and watched him leave. He wondered if he should do as she requested and immediately go to her or make her wait. She was already mad at him, and he knew what she wanted.

Darien looked at the fire, and a memory flashed across his mind. It wasn't a pleasant memory, but it reminded him of how much harder this whole thing was going to be. Getting Serenity to accept her beast was just the beginning.

Darien watched as one of his guards snuck out into the forest, the same guard he had seen sneak out many times. He did not keep his people locked up, they were allowed to come and go as they pleased. But wolves were a pack creature and it was very rare to see one venture out on its own unless it was up to something.

Artemis was one of his most trusted guards, and the last few months he seemed distracted. Darien would follow him tonight, to see what the lone wolf was up to.

He was being led to a small town nearly half a day's walk for a human, within a few short hours for a shape shifter. Darien watched from the trees as Artemis knocked on the door to a house not far from the forest border. It was just outside the town and close enough to the trees for Darien to feel safe. A beautiful woman opened the door, she seemed to know and look happy to see his guard. So this is where his friend ran off to all the time.

Darien felt no need to interrupt their time together; perhaps Artemis had found his mate, and for that he would be happy for them. That is until Darien noticed the size of the woman's stomach. She was pregnant. That was not something Darien could not let slide.

Days later Artemis finally made his way back home, only to be stopped by his King in the middle of the forest. Darien stepped out from behind a tree, his face grim. This conversation would not go well.

"You are breaking the rules Artemis." He decided to confront his guard first as his friend before letting it escalate to that of king and subordinate.

"My King, I had no other choice." Artemis kneeled before Darien, showing submission.

"We do not breed with humans Artemis! You know our laws. If a mate happens to be human, the transformation must take place before offspring. There still might be a chance to change her, how far along is she?" Darien didn't understand why Artemis hadn't changed her. Unless…

"She refused to be marked. And I cannot go against her wishes." The gray wolf looked saddened, resigned to the fate of his mate and child. He knew his king would not allow it to be born. Artemis was torn, his desire to protect his family, and his duty to his king and his people.

"I will keep this a secret for now. Any chance of this going bad and I will kill the half breed understood?" Artemis and Darien knew the consequences of a half breed. They both hoped for the best.

Darien stood from his desk; memories were always unwelcomed when it concerned things of ill nature. For now his little Queen would have to wait, he had somewhere he needed to be, there was something that needed to be corrected.

"Malachite! I need you and your brothers in my study at once." Speaking through his mind to his personal body guards Darien began preparing for the moment that he waited sixteen years for.

Four men walked into his study, all strong built and handsome in their own ways. It always surprised him that these four men were brothers, only one year apart each and from the same parent, yet each man was of a different fur. It was a very rare occurrence, but one to be proud of. Their family was a very prestigious one, and very close to the king.

"You called for us Darien?" Jedite stood in front of his brother's, he was the second to the youngest of the four, and by far the loudest. This only earned him a scowl from the oldest and the commander of Darien's guard, Malachite.

"Yes it seems my mate has questions, in anger towards her last night I let it slip that her mother and grandmother knew I was to take her away. There is only one person I feel has the right to answer these questions." Each of the men stood straighter, each glancing worriedly at their King. They would not go against his orders, merely concerned that the news may end badly. Their King's relationship with the little Queen was very rocky already.

Darien clenched his jaw; he could hear his guard's thoughts. Knew their worries that this could ruin any chances he has of a life with his mate. But he has lied to her long enough; she deserved to know the truth now. And hopefully it would turn in his favor.

"Bring me Artemis."