Although I'd like to thank all of you for sticking with this
fic as long as you have, I'd like to especially dedicate this part
to Sailor Thu (or whatever it is you like to go by) whose fan 
letters are some of the more moving things I've read in some 
time. Thu, you honestly make me feel like I'm getting through 
to some of you out there.

Extra notes at bottom. Thanks!
-Lianne (liannesentar@yahoo.com)
http://www.liannesentar.com

*Blue Planet, White Moon*
Part 15 (final)

Rated PG-13 for violence, drama, and romance

	Princess Serenity had hardly slept. Honestly, she 
wondered if she'd ever sleep again; how could she? Every
time she closed her eyes she saw him there. Sometimes he
was smiling. Sometimes he was sick, weak, like she'd seen
him after the transportation--and then sometimes he was dead,
his body crumpled on the floor of a destroyed castle. She
couldn't believe it had only been 48 hours since the Earth
procession had left. The foreboding she'd felt churning in her
stomach for more than a year had gotten so heavy she'd actually
been sick. It wasn't like she'd brought up much, though. She
hadn't been eating lately.
	The girl curled up on her bed and shakily hugged her
knees. Maybe it was all the talk of the moon going to war,
too. She knew she ought to be upset about that, and concerned
about the darkness likely to attack her home next--but really,
she'd been about as troubled as possible since the war began.
When Metallia attacked Earth Serenity felt every blow. Maybe
the moon people didn't care much about the Earth, but 
Serenity grieved and worried with the Earthians. *She* cared.
It wasn't like Metallia attacking her home could concern
her more than the death of Endym--
	Serenity blocked that thought off by grabbing her head.
No. *NO.* She couldn't think of that now. Her stomach churned
as hot tears welled up in her eyes.
	"Serenity?"
	The voice came from outside her door. It sounded like
Jupiter--and it sounded urgent. Serenity forced herself to croak,
"Yes?"
	Before she had time to wonder, Jupiter charged into the
room and grabbed Serenity's arm. Serenity gave a start. Jupiter
looked rather pale, very grave, and her grip on Serenity's arm
was *very* tight. She looked like she'd seen a ghost.
	"Jupiter?" she managed as the older girl forcefully pulled
her from the bed. Serenity stumbled--she was weak from lack
of sleep and food--but Jupiter held her fast. Jupiter's strong grip
pushed back on Serenity's shoulders until the tiny girl was 
staring wide-eyed up at her guardian.
	"He's here." Jupiter's voice was high and wavering. 
"Endymion is here."
	Serenity froze. Her mouth opened, but no matter how
hard she tried she couldn't get a sound to form. En...dymion?
Endymion? On the moon? No.
	"En..." She couldn't finish the word. Serenity's voice
cracked.
	"He's *here*, Serenity!" Jupiter jostled the girl in her
grip. "You have to come! This may be your last chance to
see him alive!"
	It was like a dream. Jupiter's words wrapped around Serenity.
like a wet blanket, cutting of her voice and her breath. Last 
chance to see him ... alive? He was alive? He was here?
	"Steven challenged him. He said fighting him was the
only way to tell if Endymion had been brainwashed by Metallia
or not."
	Serenity fainted.

*******************

	It hurt. Endymion closed his eyes, gritted his teeth,
and tried to keep his shaking hand on the sharpening stone. His
blade slid around it dangerously. One particularly wild scrape
sent the sword clipping a small chunk of skin from Endymion's
hand before clanging against the marble floor; Endymion dropped
sword and stone and shoved the wound into his mouth. Hot blood 
welled up on his tongue.
	"Hurting yourself isn't going to help anybody." The white
skirt of Queen Serenity swished by the corner of his eye. Endymion 
could vaguely hear protests from the guards that surrounded 
him--all 50 of them--but only a moment passed before two long
hands slid over his cheeks. His head tilted up to meet the crystal
blue eyes of the queen of the moon.
	Endymion was spent. He didn't think there was anything
left in him--food, body fluids--to come up, but he still felt
his eyes grow glassy. She was ... she smelled good. Her hands,
on his skin, were cool.
	She stared at him a long moment. One of her fingers
slid over and pushed one of his eyelids up further.
	"The drugs are out of your system, Endymion." She 
frowned. "Do your injuries still hurt?"
	He had to swallow the blood in his mouth to answer.
He winced at the taste; he was tired of tasting blood. He
shakily nodded.
	"Where?"
	He swallowed again. "E-everywhere," he murmured after
a moment. He coughed.
	Warmth spread from Serenity's hands. Endymion's breath
stopped as warm, soothing magic slid through his skin and oozed 
through his bloodstream. His eyes closed, his lips parted, and 
his mind fall away.

	*"I can't beat you, Malachite." His watched his sword clunk
in the grass where he had angrily thrown it. Hot tears burned in the 
corners of his eyes. "I can't, ok? Let's just forget it."
	Malachite smiled. His hair had started growing long; it
was tied back in a ponytail, though the wind batted it playfully. 
He didn't lower his sword.
	"Are you giving up, Endymion?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Is that any way to prove yourself?"
	From somewhere behind, Zoycite laughed.*

	Endymion sucked in a breath. He blinked to clear his vision,
only to see Queen Serenity hadn't moved--she still stared into
his eyes.
	"Well?"
	He *did* feel better. The first time she had touched him--
back when he'd first arrived in the transport--his pain had been
reduced to a tolerable burn. Now it was more like a long, dull
ache. His heart lifted, if only a tiny bit.
	"Thank--" Endymion was cut off as a long, heavy throb
echoed throughout his skull. He gasped and clutched his head.
	He heard most of the guards either call out or run over.
The queen ordered something, the guards' noises dimmed, and
Endymion vaguely heard her ask him something.

	baBUM

	*His hands were bruised and bloody. He tentatively 
reached out with his tongue at one of the broken sores;
it burned like fire, sending his tongue jerking back. He
moaned and dropped his head.
	"What's wrong, Endymion?"*
	
	baBUM

	Endymion gasped again. He felt the queen's hand press
against his forehead, and, after a moment, her healing magic
sift through his brain. He held his breath. His head seemed to
calm...

	baBUM

	Endymion cried out and buried his fingers in his hair.

	*"Ew! You're bleeding all over the place. Haven't you
gotten calluses yet?"
	He glared. "Shut up."
	Zoycite smiled. He bent to reach down and pull Endymion's 
sword from the grass.
	"You must be holding it wrong; it looks like there's too
much stress on your palms." He held out a hand. "Here. Show me
how you grip the hilt."
	"I don't need your help."
	"Stop being such a baby." The general gripped the prince's
wrist and pulled it close. He frowned.
	"Ew. Pus."*

	Endymion felt tears squeeze out of the corners of his eyes.
God in heaven, how did he have more tears to shed? He felt the
queen sending out tentative magic tendrils through his head, but they
didn't seem to help. After a few moments she released him.
	"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I've done what I can for your
injuries, but whatever's causing your headaches isn't a wound."
	Endymion took a few long, low breaths. The thundering in
his head was painful, but it was easier to deal with than the agony of
his other wounds. After a moment he was able to dizzily meet the
queen's eyes.
	"They told me ... I was on first tier drugs," he panted. "Could
that be it?"
	Understanding dawned on the queen's face. "Addictive drugs,"
she confirmed. "Yes. There's a reason Earthians avoid using those,
Endymion--without them you suffer from withdrawal symptoms
almost immediately."
	What else. Endymion sighed and lowered his face in his
hands. His brain throbbed, sending more ghostly images and
voices through his mind.
	"Listen." The queen's hand rested on his shoulder--it
was the only thing that pulled Endymion back from the sound 
of Zoycite's laughter. He looked up to meet the queen's sad,
aged eyes.
	Serenity sighed. "Captain Steven has fought with members
of the Legions of Metallia before. Win or lose, he's certain he
can determine whose side you're on by fighting you." She paused.
"And," she added, "unfortunately, he also realizes our kingdom 
won't accept you without a defensive challenge on our part. Steven 
isn't a stupid man, Endymion, but neither is he cruel.
	"I ... do believe you, I think. I can't sense evil in you, and
you haven't given me any reason to believe you've been
brainwashed to join Metallia's side. But you have to realize my
hopes can't sway a kingdom." She touched his cheek with a cool
fingertip. "Steven won't hold back. Should you falter, he may kill
you whether he wishes to or not. The defense of his people is too
important for him to fight you with less than everything he has."
	
	*"Come at me again. Don't give up!"*

	Endymion let out a breath. Yes, he knew what he had to do.
But fighting and killing and swords--he was sick of it, all of it. He'd
seen and shed enough blood to satiate the hunger of Satan. When
would it end? What could he hope for if it did? He'd lost everything
he knew and loved in less than a day. He didn't know if there was 
anything left fighting for.
	But Queen Serenity leaned over, kissed him lightly on the
temple, and whispered, "My daughter will be praying."
	
*******************

	There was screaming--a lot of it. Beryl definitely knew the
squeezing in her chest was guilt this time, but she was starting to
care less and less about it. Darkness could take care of that. It
tasted sweet and powerful when she breathed it in; it helped her
forget. She leaned her head against the back of her stone throne.
	"Foolish Earthians." Metallia rumbled on her pedestal.
"Some sort of religious order, I suppose. The refusal to take
one's own life." The seething mass made a snorting sound. 
"Pathetic. But good for us, certainly; I just wonder how these
humans can still believe in God."
	The screaming stopped. Beryl was glad; it was annoying.
She breathed in darkness. "I don't believe in God," she said dizzily. 
"God ... God left the Earth."
	"He certainly did."
	A nearby door slammed open. A few Legion commanders
dragged out the unconscious body of a young man.
	"About time," Metallia snapped. "Bring him here."
	The boy was dumped in front of Beryl's throne. She
stared down at him curiously; he *did* look familiar. Was he
the one screaming? She breathed in darkness and felt it swirl
around inside of her. 
	"I don't care," she mumbled.
	"Start with the second one," Metallia ordered the
commanders. They bowed and left as Beryl stared at the
boy. She was no longer sure she recognized the unconscious
face under those blood-sprayed golden curls. She frowned.
	"He's yours, Beryl."
	Beryl blinked. She lazily looked over at her lord.
"What was that?" she asked.
	"He's yours." Metallia's red eyes glowed. "Now he works
for you."

*******************

	It was like a dream. Her hands were clutched by her guard;
she didn't know which members. Venus and Mercury? Maybe,
they'd been sitting on either side of her. She didn't particularly 
care anymore--it wasn't as if she could tear her eyes away from
the center of the arena and the two figures who fought there. Her
eyes blankly followed the clash of silver streaks as they lunged,
spun, danced. It was like a dream.
	"Serenity?" Mars, it sounded like. Princess Serenity didn't
care. Silver clipped a cheek, and ruby blood slid down dark skin;
she could see it clearly from where she sat. She was front row and
they were less than 20 meters away from her.
	"Leave her alone." She heard Jupiter, barely heard the sound
of the older girl lean back in her seat. "She can't hear you now."
	The crowd in the arena--thousands of moon people, possibly
the entire kingdom--was silent as death. Every clash of silver echoed
through the open space and stung the ears of each listener. Even
the fighters, their bodies lunging and parrying, their light
armor chinking with their movements, made not a sound. 

*******************

	It was like a dream.

	*"I'm not sure. I'm used to fighting double-bladed." 
Nephlite stood and tested the weight of Endymion's
sword. He took a practice stance. "I'd say ... yes. Like this."
He glanced over. "You're not keeping your head up enough--
I think that's what's wrong."*
	
	baBUM
	
	Endymion's vision dimmed as his head throbbed.
Steven's sword shot at him; Endymion barely moved his head
in time, and the silver blade still scraped across his cheek.
Hot blood welled up from the cut.

	baBUM

	Like clockwork Endymion parried and thrust, dodged and 
danced. He could tell Steven was extremely skilled, but for some
reason he didn't think the captain's heart was into the fight. Endymion
doubted it was pity.

	baBUM

	*"Keep your feet apart when fighting. I used to have that
problem." Tiny Jedite smiled and spread out his stance. "See?
Like this?"*

	Endymion's blade clanged into Steven's chest plate and
slid off. The captain spun and thrust at the prince, and Endymion
felt the blade bury into the soft space between his chest plate and
shoulder plate. Steven yanked out the blade with a squelching
noise.
	
	*"Don't give up!"*

	Endymion fell to one knee, gripping his wound.

	"*Don't give up!"*

	He gritted his teeth and forced himself to his feet.

	baBUM

	His brothers were gone. No amount of hoping or dreaming
was going to bring them back, no matter how clearly he could 
see them grow in his mind's eye. He could remember it clearly 
now--all those practice sessions in the meadow, when classes
let out and Malachite had been charged with "finding
something educational for Endymion to do anyway."

	*"Don't give up!"*

	There was a reason Endymion was so good with the
blade. It hadn't come naturally.

	*"Grip the hilt like this."*
	
	*"Keep your head up, Endymion."*

	*"Spread your feet."*

	*"Don't give up!"*

	Endymion lunged, and closed his eyes, and prayed.


*******************

	CLANG

	The sound of metal on metal reverberated through the
entire arena. Princess Serenity watched, dumbfounded, as Endymion's
sword slid like a silver snake around Steven's blade. The hilt
was yanked from the captain's hand by the force.
	Steven's sword hit the floor. Endymion pushed his
blade against Steven's throat and said, clearly enough for all
to hear, "Kill."
	The silence was deafening. Thousands of sets of eyes
focused on the two men in the fighting circle, both heaving,
the darker bleeding. Endymion pulled his sword back and
let its tip rest upon the floor.
	"Well?" he asked. His voice echoed in the silence.
	For a moment, Steven said nothing. He was breathing
heavily, beads of sweat pushing from the pale softness of his
skin. Slowly, he walked to the prince and carefully, 
purposefully, put a hand on the young man's shoulder.
	"I send the utmost sympathy regarding the loss of your
kingdom, my king." Steven bowed his head. "I only pray the
people of the moon can aid you in the fighting that is
sure to come."
	Still nothing. The moon-blood audience was perhaps
too surprised, too shocked into silence, but Princess Serenity had
heard all she needed to. It was like a dream. She stood from her
chair, cleared her throat, and spoke loudly enough for the
entire kingdom to hear.
	"You have won your duel, King Endymion of the
Earth Kingdom." She held her chin out, despite the way she
shook. "I pray that if I am your lady of choice, ask me for
your prize."

	A dream.

*******************

	*"You cry too much, y'know that?" Zoycite clipped
Endymion's chin with his fist. "Relax! It's not like we're 
leaving for good, is it?"*

	*"There are some things that will never change, 
Endymion. The love you must keep for yourself and your
people must survive any battle."*

	*"I have some cake left over. Want to share?"*

	*"We love you. Never forget that."*

	It was like a dream, this place. His home was gone, his
people dead, and here he stood in the center of some foreign
fighting ring under countless judgmental eyes. But that 
was life. He turned to his princess--the beacon in the waves
of faces, the visage he had half thought only existed when he
closed his eyes--and stared into her eyes.
	There was no going back.
	"King Endymion," Venus called, standing beside her 
princess. "Ask your prize."
	"Ask your prize, Endymion." Mars, then Mercury, 
followed suit. "We agree to it."
	"Your prize." Jupiter stood behind Serenity and clutched
the smaller girl's shoulders. "She is offering, and we back it."
	Maybe he was going to die. Maybe everyone in that arena,
everyone who stood before and behind him had less than a short
time to live. His own kingdom was ashes--genocide no longer
seemed implausible in his mind. Metallia would probably steal
the last breath from everyone on the moon.
	But he had done all he could. He knew Malachite would
tell him to be proud, Jedite would tell him to be happy. 
He wasn't going to run away from anything anymore. Not the
war, not these people, and not the princess he had fallen in
love with so very long ago. Endymion couldn't die peacefully
if he knew he had run away.
	So he walked to her, across the open space, in the sight
of everyone. He stood at the inside of the railing with his eyes 
locked with hers, his chest heaving in and out and blood sliding 
down his bruised cheek. She held out her hand to him.
	It was like a dream. He took her fingers in his own.
	"I claim my prize, Princess Serenity," he said as he bowed 
his head. There was no turning back--but he didn't want to. He could
die. He could die as long as he hadn't run away.
	In the back of his mind he heard Zoycite laughing.
	"Princess Serenity," he repeated. When he looked up, he could
see tears in her eyes.
	He really, truly smiled.

	"Marry me."

The End

-Forgive me if this ending is disappointing--it wasn't nearly as
dramatic as I wanted. Honestly, I haven't been feeling well lately
and I put off writing this until the last minute. I *will* revise and
repost this entire fic on fanfiction.net later this year, probably before
the summer, and at that point I hope to make this last part better.
Thanks for sticking with me this long, minna.

Next update on my webpage will be Feb 28th, 2003. Please
come for news on the next fic, among other things. Love to you
all.
-Lianne (liannesentar@yahoo.com)
http://www.liannesentar.com
*Sailor Moon and all its characters copyright © Naoko 
Takeuchi/Kodansha Ltd./Toei Animation, Co., Ltd. This story 
part copyright © Lianne Sentar, January 2003.