Hi Minna-san
Here is the Third short story in the "Tales of the Moon Kingdom"
series. Someone from the Looney ML mentioned the similarity between
Pair Bonding (Guardians) and the bond between Usagi and Mamoru, a
bond that transcends death. Here is my take on the start of that 
very special bond. This story is from the Sailor Moon/Guardians
Timeline, like all my others, so the Dragonkin are very much in
evidence. :) Needless to say, Sailor Moon etc, are copywrited by
Naoko-sama, Kodansya and Toei.



                     Tales of the Moon Kingdom
                      Sailor Moon: Soul Bond

Serenity sat in her room staring pensively out the window while
Maeribeth rushed around the room getting things ready for Serenity's
upcoming betrothal ceremony. She turned at Serenity's sigh and regarded
her charge for a moment. "A common for your thoughts, Hatchling?" she
asked gently.

Serenity turned to regard her mother's Kin Sister and smiled to ease her
worry. "Nothing unexpected, Aunt Maeribeth," she said softly as she
returned to looking out the window, "Just normal nervousness about being
betrothed to someone I've never met." Maeribeth placed a hand on her
shoulder. "You know we tried to arrange a meeting for the two of you,"
she returned. Serenity nodded. "Yes, and events just wouldn't cooperate,
I know."

"Hatchling, I have met Prince Endymion and I assure you, you WILL like
him," Maeribeth soothed her. <Like him?> Maeribeth thought to herself,
<What an understatement! The two of you are destined and will Soul Bond
when you meet. What a pity I can't tell you!>

"Yes, I know," Serenity answered, "The Younger Senshi came by earlier
and said almost the same thing. Rei was particularly vehement in her
assurance that I'd like him!" Maeribeth spread her arms in a "well,
there you go" gesture. She frowned as Serenity got up and began to
dress, but not in what she SHOULD be wearing.

"Just what are you up to, Hatchling?" she demanded. Serenity left her
long blond hair loose and tied a black headband around her head to hold
her hair back, as well as hiding the symbol of her royalty. When she had
finished, she turned to Maeribeth. "I need a few moments alone," she
pleaded, "I want to go to the Inner Gardens and I don't want anyone to
give me a second glance." Maeribeth studied her charge compassionately
and gave a slight nod. "You have some time before the ceremony begins,"
she agreed, "And in that getup, no one will notice you. Very well. I
will fetch you when it's time." Serenity cast her a grateful look and
hurried out the door.

Maeribeth looked after her sadly as she left for the Gardens. <She looks
so forlorn!> she thought, <If only I could tell her! But the nature of a
Soul Bond makes it necessary that neither one of them knows about it.>
She sighed heavily. Because of the Soul Bond, they would love each other
on sight. A pity the meeting they had arranged never came off, but with
the war raging on Earth, events just never cooperated. Now, with the
fall of Atlantis, Lemuria and the Crystal Kingdom alone remained to
challenge the Dark Kingdom's growing might. They needed the alliance
desperately and so the betrothal had been rushed forward despite the
fact that the two primary participants had not yet met.

On the far side of the Moon Palace, in the area reserved for visiting
Royalty, Prince Endymion sat on his bed, thinking. He was still deep in
thought, when his mother entered the room. Geia was a tall beautiful
woman. Long, waist length red hair graced her head and she looked at her
son gravely from eyes as green as Earth's forests.

"Endymion, I have grave news!" she informed him grimly, "Your father
will not be able to make the ceremony!" He jumped to his feet in alarm.
"What's happened, Mother?" he asked her, prepared for the worst. Geia
put a hand to her head, as if to push back her weariness. None of the
Royal Family of the Crystal Kingdom had slept well for weeks. Not since
the invasion of Atlantis had begun. Now, with its fall, the oldest
member of the Terran Triad was gone.

"Apparently, the sack of Atland did not fully occupy our enemies as we
had hoped," she answered tiredly, "They have begun to attack the beaches
that our troops and those of Lemuria are being evacuated from. Our
navies still control both sea and sky, but the evacuation has now become
a fighting withdrawal." Endymion became visibly agitated. "I should be
there!" he exclaimed angrily, "Not here!" Geia placed a comforting hand
on her son's shoulder. "There is nothing you could do that your father
is not already doing," she said softly, "Queen Serenity has also
dispatched two full Wings of Kin Guard to help defend the beaches until
all our troops are safely removed from the Atlantean continent."

"That was generous of her," he commented, relieved, "With Dragonkin
help, those strange youma creatures shouldn't pose too much trouble." He
turned to regard his mother. "As to our control of the seas and skies,
that may not last long! With the capture of Atlantis, the enemy now has
as many shipyards as they need and Atland has the largest Starport on
Earth!"

Endymion felt immediate remorse as his mother looked away in distress.
"I'm sorry, Mother," he said softly, "That was unforgivable. There is
ALWAYS the hope that we will prevail." He sighed heavily. "The war is
getting to me it seems. I've heard much about the tranquillity of the
Inner Gardens here. I think I need some of that peace now." Geia turned
back to gaze fondly at her son. "Go, my son. If need be, I can fetch you
in time for the ceremony." Endymion nodded wearily and left to search
for that inner peace he so desperately needed.

After wandering the Gardens for a short time, Endymion came upon a
secluded glade. Upon entering, he was startled to see that someone was
seated on a stone bench under a Lunar Fringe tree. The young woman
hadn't noticed him and he took a moment to study her silently.

Her clothing indicated that she was obviously of the nobility. Long
blond hair flowed from her head down to her knees, held back from her
face by a black headband bearing a crystal star on the front. <The
symbol of her House?> he wondered. She was startlingly beautiful, a
beauty that was hauntingly familiar. He felt his heart wrench within him
as he noted her pale features, a clear indication of her distress. He
moved forward without thinking, determined to offer this child what
comfort he could.

She looked up at his approach and gave him a shaky smile. "Another
seeker looking for peace? And what brings you here, My Lord?" she asked
softly.  He smiled back at her as he moved to sit next to her. "I had
heard that these gardens were famed for their peaceful surroundings and
after weeks of heavy fighting on Earth, I need that peace."

"Heavy fighting?" she asked in concern, "I knew the members of the Court
were worried about something, but this I had not heard!" <I won't
mention who I am,> Serenity thought, <That way, I'll finally learn
something!> He sighed heavily. "Seems like the war has lasted forever!
Atlantis has fallen!" She turned to look at him in shocked dismay, and
their eyes met.

Endymion gasped, for as he stared into her deep blue eyes, his heart
suddenly felt as if it was clamped in a vise. He dimly noted, through
the roaring in his ears, that she was reacting in a similar fashion as
she stared back. He raised a trembling hand to her cheek and she turned
her face into it with a sigh, covering his hand with her own.

She opened her eyes in shocked startlement as he suddenly pulled free
with a harsh oath and leapt to his feet. "What's wrong?" she cried,
distressed at his harsh expression. He closed his eyes and clenched his
fists as he fought his turbulent emotions. He wasn't quite sure what had
just happened, but he WAS sure that this young girl was his LIFE, yet,
she COULDN'T be! He was promised to the Moon Princess!

Serenity watched in distress as he fought to get his rampaging emotions
under control. When he finally opened his eyes, her heart nearly stopped
at the expression on his face, or lack thereof. Only when, frightened,
she raised her eyes to his, did she see the strong emotion he was
holding in check.

"Do you know what just happened to us?" he asked her in a hoarse
whisper.  Knowing what was now in her heart, she nodded wordlessly. He
sighed heavily and raised a slightly trembling hand to his eyes. "You
know, of course, that this cannot be! I am promised to another, and for
all I know, so are you!" She gasped as she realized something that the
emotion charged moments just past, had caused her to forget. She was
indeed promised, and in less than an hour, she would be betrothed, to
the wrong man!

Endymion saw the truth of his words in her eyes and nodding decisively,
he turned to leave. "Can.....can you at least give me a kiss to remember
you by?" a small trembling voice asked from behind him. He turned to
regard her, and his eyes dropped unwillingly to her trembling lips.
Seized by the need to taste them, he turned away with a harsh cry. "No!"
he cried, "Do you think I'd be able to forget you if I did as you
asked?!"

"Do you really want to forget this moment?" she asked in a choked
whisper. "What I want is not at issue. I have a duty and so do you.
There is nothing more to be said." Without turning back, Endymion left
the glade and Serenity stood motionless, tears streaming down her pale
cheeks as she watched him go.

Maeribeth found her, unmoving, still staring at the spot where Endymion
had vanished. "Ah! There you are, Hatchling," Maeribeth said cheerfully,
"Come! We must get you ready for the ceremony!" At Serenity's lack of
response, Maeribeth looked closely at her charge and was dismayed.
Serenity was deathly pale and trembling as tears streamed from her
tightly closed eyes.

"Hatchling! What's wrong? What's happened?" Maeribeth questioned
urgently.  Serenity turned to regard her Kin Aunt from desolate eyes. "I
don't even know his name," she whispered brokenly. Alarmed beyond
measure, Maeribeth took Serenity gently by the chin and looked into her
haunted eyes. <Heart pain! But....that can't BE!> she thought, shocked.
Extending her powers, she lightly touched Serenity's soul and was rocked
by what she discovered.  <Lords of Light! She's not only in love, but
Soul Bonded as well! And that's impossible!>

Suddenly, a suspicion occurred to her. Using her sense of smell, which
was many times keener than a human's, she delicately sampled the air and
her suspicion was confirmed when she caught a familiar scent. <Endymion!
But, why didn't they....> She looked at Serenity again. <Of course! In
that getup and with her crescent moon hidden, he'd never have known who
she was!>

"Serenity," she said urgently, trying to get her attention, "Hatchling!
Do you trust me?" Serenity's gaze focused on her Kin Aunt and she nodded
shakily. Maeribeth released her chin and gave a satisfied nod. "Then I
say, get yourself ready for the ceremony. I must see to something, but
TRUST me! All will be well!" Serenity nodded and smiled faintly. If her
Aunt Maeribeth said things would be well, then they would be. After
Serenity had left, Maeribeth exited the Gardens and headed for her Kin
Sister's rooms.

Queen Serenity sat in front of her mirror brushing her long silver hair
as she hummed to herself contentedly. Soon, her beloved child would be
betrothed to a man who Maeribeth said would not only love her, but Soul
Bond to her. She turned from the mirror when someone knocked on her
door.  "Come." At her invitation, Maeribeth entered the room and Queen
Serenity smiled at her Kin Sister.

"Serenity, we have a slight problem," Maeribeth began as she smiled
back, "If it wasn't causing our Hatchling so much pain, I think I'd
actually laugh!" Queen Serenity looked concerned at that. "Serenity is
hurting?! Why? What's happened?" Maeribeth looked her Kin Sister in the
eye.  "She went to the Gardens for a moment of peace. You KNOW how
nervous she was about the betrothal." At Serenity's nod, Maeribeth
continued.  "It seems that a young man needed some peace as well. They
met....and Soul Bonded!"

Queen Serenity gasped in shock and paled. "But...but you said she would
bond to Endymion!" Maeribeth nodded firmly. "It WAS Endymion she bonded
to. Since they've never met, they didn't know each other." Queen
Serenity looked confused for a moment. "How could Endymion FAIL to
recognize her with the moon....Oh! I see. Trying to hide her identity
again, was she?" At Maeribeth's confirming nod, Queen Serenity actually
laughed. "My poor baby!" she gasped through her laughter, "Can you
imagine the expressions on their faces when they meet again?" Maeribeth
smiled in amusement.  "There is time before the ceremony, to arrange a
short meeting between them," she said quietly, "If we don't, they'll
look like they're attending a funeral, until they meet face to face! And
that just WON'T do."

Queen Serenity wiped her eyes and nodded. "I trust I can leave that in
your hands?" At her Kin Sister's nod, she continued, "I wasn't laughing
at my daughter's pain, but at the trouble her impulsiveness had gotten
her into. Maybe now she'll think before she does things and she'll stop
giving her guards nervous breakdowns!" Maeribeth grinned. "Oh, I think I
can guarantee that!" she returned wryly, "At least, for a while!"

Maeribeth led Princess Serenity, in all her royal finery, to a small
ante chamber off the Throne Room. At Serenity's forlorn expression,
Maeribeth sighed. "You look like you're going to a funeral, Hatchling!"
she observed, "TRUST ME! Everything will be fine! Now, wait here while I
go fetch Endymion." "The only thing that would make everything fine
would be if Endymion had been the man I met in the Gardens!" Serenity
sighed unhappily. Maeribeth kept her face expressionless. She didn't
want to spoil the surprise although it was HARD not to laugh. "TRUST
ME!" she repeated simply as she turned and left, closing the door behind
her. Serenity sighed bitterly as she turned from the door and settled
down to wait.

Maeribeth turned to the pale young man beside her as they reached the
ante chamber. "Endymion, trust me, please!" she implored, "All will be
well. Be gentle with her." Endymion nodded and her lips twitched, as if
she was trying not to smile. He was surprised at the inner amusement he
sensed from her, and for some reason, it raised his lowered spirits.

He entered and saw the young Princess standing across the room, facing
away from him. He would have recognized who she was from her hair style
alone. In the signature twin odango and pony tail arrangement her mother
preferred, her hair flowed almost to her knees. It reminded him of
someone else and he crushed that memory ruthlessly. He saw her tense as
he entered and felt a surge of sympathy. She was as much a victim of
duty as he was. "Serenity," he called softly, as if gentling a wild
animal.

Serenity tensed as she heard the door open and someone entering. At the
sound of the familiar voice calling her name, she froze in disbelief.
She turned slowly, sure she was going mad. When she saw who was standing
there, her hand went to her mouth to hold in a soft cry.

Endymion stood in shock as the Princess turned around to face him, the
expression on her face mirroring his. He recognized her at once. <The
girl from the Gardens,> he thought, dazed. "You....you're Prince
Endymion?" she whispered, her eyes filled with a desperate hope.  He
nodded shakily, still unable to speak. Noticing the silent plea in her
eyes, he simply spread his arms in invitation. She didn't need him to
ask twice as she flew into his arms. His arms went around her trembling
figure and he held her tightly, as he had wanted to do since meeting her
in the Gardens.

After a time, he put a finger under her chin and gently raised her head.
Her cheeks were tear streaked, but her eyes, those lovely expressive
blue eyes, were filled with such joy that he swallowed with difficulty.
"With this covered," he said unsteadily, bending his head to kiss the
moon crescent on her forehead, "How could I have known that the
tantalizing little witch I met in the Gardens would turn out to be you!"
He smiled at her delicate blush. "A short time ago, you asked me to kiss
you." Her blush deepened. "You're blooming like a rose!" he observed
softly, "I think I'll collect that kiss now." Despite her fierce blush,
she raised her lips in invitation and he lowered his head to taste them
as her arms went around his neck.

"Know what?" Endymion said softly, his lips brushing against her hair.
"No, what?" she murmured dreamily, content to be in his arms. Endymion
grinned.  "I thought this kind of thing only happened in bad romances!"
Serenity looked up at him, startled. At the mischievous expression on
his face, she giggled. "It does, doesn't it?" she said merrily.  She
sobered at once. "I'm so glad it happened to us, though." His expression
softened and he leaned down to kiss her again, when there was a knock on
the door.

They parted reluctantly as Maeribeth peeked in. "Are you ready,
Hatchlings?" she smiled, "It's time." Endymion raised Serenity's hand to
his lips.  "How about it, Little One?" he asked softly, "ARE you ready?"
Her smile was blinding in its joy as she nodded, unable to speak.
Maeribeth felt tears in her eyes as their joy in each other, brought
back memories of her beloved Lifemate, Vordin. Lost to her these past
ten years, the pain of his death never left her.

As they entered the crowded Throne Room, Queen Serenity looked up and
smiled at them before returning to her discussion with Queen Geia,
Endymion's mother. When they climbed the dais and reached her, Queen
Serenity turned to Endymion with a smile. "You'll be relieved to know
that your mother received a message from your father." "And?" he queried
urgently. "The Kin Wings have beaten off the Dark Kingdom attackers,"
she explained, "Your troops and those of Lemuria have been successfully
evacuated and are on their way home." He thanked her with a sigh of
relief and turned to smile lovingly at his intended.

"Well, children? Are you ready to begin?" Queen Serenity asked them.
Without taking their eyes from each other, they answered her that they
were ready. Queen Serenity moved to the front of the dais. "On this
happy day, I am announcing the betrothal of my beloved daughter to
Prince Endymion of the Crystal Kingdom!" She gently took her daughter's
hand and Endymion's and joined them, wrapping a ribbon, with the colors
of both their kingdoms, around their joined hands. Queen Serenity looked
out at the crowded room. "Their wedding will take place in one year from
this day, as is our custom." The assembled in the Throne Room let loose
a thunderous cheer as the betrothed couple turned to face them.

Princess Serenity was much loved by her people, and they were heartened
that she could marry someone she so obviously adored.  Younger Venus
wiped a tear from her cheek. "This is just SO romantic," she sighed as
she watched Serenity's and Endymion's preoccupation with each other.
Elder Venus, standing next to her student, just smiled. She was very
familiar with Princess Minako's enthusiasms, but THIS time, even she had
to agree that Minako was right.

"That is the nature of a Soul Bond," Maeribeth was explaining to her Kin
Sister, "It is a bond SO strong, not even death can sunder it!" Queen
Serenity smiled. "Though dark times lie ahead, the future looks bright!"

The End (For now)