Author's Notes: This story was inspired by the Book of Esther. For those of you who don't know, Esther is a book in the Old Testament of the Bible. This story has NO biblical references WHAT SO EVER. However, it is inspired by some of the circumstances surrounding Hadassah (Esther). I was preparing the lesson for my Bible study when I came across a passage that inspired me. I hope none of you are offended by this. Also, due to some more... adult aspects of this story, I am rating this PG-13. I promise I won't let it be R. There isn't any hentai or stuff like that, it just deals with some more mature aspects in life. Alright then... I know I'm the one who said I'm not particularly fond of alternate realities. But this isn't really an alternate reality (Demando looks at Meredith and shakes his head. "You aren't fooling anyone." says he. ^_^) It's more of a... different take on the Silver Millennium Okay, so Demando, the Three Lights, Naru and Motoki show up, but... aw, just read the darn thing! ;-) Luv Always, Meredith Legal Disclaimer: This is based on the 'duck principal' that is; If it looks like a duck, waddles like a duck, quacks like a duck, and leaves duck s**t all over the place like a duck, then it's probably a duck. So, if it looks like a Naoko Takeuchi creation, and I can get sued for using it, like a Naoko Takeuchi creation, then it is probably a Naoko Takeuchi creation. That said, read on valiant one! Personal Disclaimer: hakkyou no megami (Goddess of Insanity) Quick Glossary: (Yes, I'm using Japanese names, but that isn't what this is for, k?) Harem- a place where a King's unused concubines are kept. House of Concubines- the place where all the King's used concubines are kept. Concubines- well, they're the kings 'ladies' and... surely you get the point? Susa- in ancient times, this was the capital city of Babylon. Somehow it also ended up being the capital of the moon too ;-) One last note: In the time of Esther, at the age of thirteen or fourteen, most girls were married, or bethrothed. By the age of sixteen, you usually had at least one child. Be GLAD you live in the present... I SURE am! ^_^; WHOA that was a long one, pretty bad when the authors notes are almost as long as the fic itself.... now, on with the story! Oh, and one last thing. THIS IS A SERE/ENDY ROMANCE!! I promise! The Will of Heaven 1/? by Meredith Bronwen Mallory mallorys-girl@cinci.rr.com All around her, destruction ensued. The gleaming marble palace shook with the force of the attack being laid upon it, but it would not fall... yet. Wrapped in a dark blue cloak, Luna pushed her way through the panicking masses, clutching in her arms a most precious cargo. The baby girl, heir to the Moon Kingdom, cried in Luna's arms, and the young nanny attempted to soothe, all the while her heart pumping nervously with in her. Queen Serenity would die, the doom of the kingdom was certain, but this one child *must* survive. For Luna, a girl of mere twenty four years, the responsibility weighted heavily upon her, but, her mother had been the Queen's nanny, and the two had grown up side by side. Now Serenity had entrusted Luna with the most important thing in her life; a child baring the same name. Having reached the gates of the palace, Luna slipped through and out into the dead of night. The streets of Susa, capital of the moon, where filled with the desperate and the insane. It was the perfect place for Luna and the child to hide. Out here, they looked like commoners. Crouching in an alleyway, Luna rocked the child in her embrace, her blue eyes darting worriedly towards the opening to the street, her frown deepening with each flash of light. At last, the battle seemed to die down, and a deadly quiet swept over the city, only to be followed by the loud brass of trumpets. Creeping from her hiding spot, Luna joined the masses in the street. Choking back tears, she gazed on the rumble that had once been the grand and elegant moon palace. In front of it, a large platform had been erected, on which now stood seven trumpeting heralds. "All hail King Ulexite, Ruler of the Mineral Kingdom!" one of them cried, "All hail Queen Obsidian, all hail Princess Beryl!" The three monarchs took their places on the platform, the King, tall and frightening, his Queen, her features etched in stone, and the princess, her hair red as blood. Not knowing what else to do, the people cheered, but their hearts were not in it. ------------------------------ Fourteen Years Later ------------------------------ 'She is like her mother', Luna thought with pride as she watched fourteen year old Serenity as she sat in the small garden behind their modest abode. True, the girl was a bit wild, and very curious, but she had the heart of a princess, though she had been raised as a commoner. Only Luna knew of her true heritage, or Serenity's life would have ended long ago. By all others, it was assumed that the Moon Queen's newborn daughter was dead along side her mother... and that was the way it would stay. Black hair having grayed somewhat with age, Luna was the only mother Serenity had ever known, and, in truth, the nanny viewed Serenity as her own. Now, maternal fear pierced the nanny's heart. She had seen it posted on the street corner, plain to the eye, but she still couldn't believe it. 'Then again, considering Ulexite's appetite for women...' The decree was simple. All the most beautiful virgins, over the age of fourteen, were to be rounded up and taken to the Palace, to serve in Ulexite's harem. It was a shocking, disgusting thing, and everyone knew it, but really, there was nothing they could do. It had actually come as a surprise. The decree was the first exercise of authority the King had made in years. Ulexite was growing old, and his mind was not what it used to be. As long as the people paid their taxes and supplied him with women, the monarch was content, and allowed the Lunarians to live as though they were free.. But this year especially, his thoughts were not clear, and his wife, Obsidian, was Taiking over the throne. The Queen was nothing like her husband, vindictive, bloodthirsty and power hungry. For the Lunarians, this had been a year of suffering. And yet, the woman preferred to let everyone think her husband was still in charge... Thus the decree. Thus the decree that made Luna's heart pound in fear. For Serenity was beautiful, fourteen and... a virgin. Somehow, Luna knew she must keep Serenity from the guards who patrolled the city, looking for beautiful young girls to take to the King. Somehow, she must make her look plain, unattractive, just until the decree expired. Then life could return to normal. Gazing down at the golden child sitting amongst the flowers, Luna knew she had her work cut our for her. ---------- Several hours later, a very frustrated Luna sat across from her long time friend, Artemis. She and Serenity had come for dinner, and now, while their charges played outside in the garden, the older woman was venting to her friend. "I just don't know what to do, Artemis," Luna confided, rubbing her temples, "I tried Taiking her jewelry away, dressing her in brown clothing, but the more I try to make her look plain, the more her inner beauty shines through. I can not let her be taken, Artemis, she is all I have, and you *know* she would not fair well in a harem." The white haired man opposite her patted her hand, compassion in his green eyes. "I understand, Luna," he said, "I would fear for my girls but... though they are all beautiful in my eyes, I know that none of them are enough to tempt the King. Well, save Yaten, perhaps." Luna raised her eyes, gazing into Artemis jade green orbs. The two had loved each other for years, but they would forever be separated by their duty. Luna, by her need to care for Serenity, and Artemis by obligation to his own charges; Seiya, Yaten and Taiki. Outside in the garden, the conversation was much less serious. Lazily ensconced in the shade of a willow tree, the four young girls were quietly chatting, gazing up at the Earth as it rose in the sky. "You look funny today, Sere," Yaten said quite suddenly, tugged gently on the brown scarf that hid her friend's long, golden hair. "Yaten!" Seiya gave her sister a shove, "That was rude!" "Well, she *does* look funny!" the gray haired child protested. "Well, it was a rude statement," Taiki intervened diplomatically. "It's because of the decree," Serenity said quietly, eyes fixed on Earth. "What decree?" Taiki wanted to know. "Taiki no Baka!" Seiya said, "The decree that says the King can take all the pretty girls to the palace!" She scooted closer to Serenity. "Yes, that's the one," the golden child said. "But why does the King want pretty girls at the palace?" Yaten wondered as she twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "Maybe so he can look at them, like pretty paintings or china," Taiki suggested, "Do you know, Sere?" "Uh uh," she shook her head, "But Luna says it's for a not very nice reason, whatever that means! I don't suppose it really matters." "Did you hear Prince Endymion of Earth was visiting the moon today?" Seiya said, "Kakyuu told me." "I heard," Serenity said softly, picking a moon daisy and lifting it to her nose, "They say he's incredibly handsome." Seiya made a face, putting her arm around the smaller, blond girl. "*Kakyuu and I went to see him arrive," she said, "He's not *that* handsome, you know." Serenity nodded slowly, not really paying attention. "I suppose it's all up to interpretation," she compromised "Well, what do *you* think about the Prince, Sere?" Yaten asked. With a devilish smile, Serenity turned to her friends, "That's MY secret," she shot to her feet, "Catch me if you can!" With that, she dashed off towards the opposite side of the garden, Seiya on her heels. Taiki and Yaten paused for a moment, before they too were off and running. ----------- Under the cover of night, Luna and Serenity left Artemis' house for their own. The nanny hoped that with the darkness to aid them, she and Serenity would not be noticed. The guards were everywhere, and it was said that they got paid for each woman they found, but Luna was becoming more and more confident the closer they got to home. 'Perhaps Selene is on my side' she considered. The prayer was breathed far too early, for they were still a block from their house. "Halt! In the name of King Ulexite!" a voice boomed, making both women start. Luna, knowing what was to come, pulled Serenity to her side. Through the sheer fabric of her veil, she could make out the forms of two guards. The tallest one was speaking to her, his hair so red it looked to be on fire. The other, obviously much younger, ran a nervous hand through his blue hair. "Lift your veil please," the younger asked gently. Hoping to detract the attention from her charge, Luna did as asked. The oldest guard nodded, but Luna already knew, with her growing years, she would not be wanted. "You too now," the red-head gestured to Serenity, and Luna's heart stopped. Slowly, with shaking hands, Serenity lifted the veil. All of Luna's work had been for naught, in the dim light of the guards' torch, Serenity seemed more beautiful than ever. The fire's light reflecting off her porcelain skin gave it a rosy glow, and her azure eyes seemed filled with brilliant stars. With a quick motion, the older guard yanked off the scarf covering Serenity's head, and her golden hair spilled out in a wave of sunshine. "Kami-sama!" both guards gasped at once, seemly stunned in the face of Serenity's blazing glory. "This one, definitely," the older guard said, reaching out to grab Serenity's hand. Serenity was paralyzed with fear. Luna had warned her about this... about the guards prowling the streets, in search of beautiful women to bring to the King. But never had the young girl considered that she would be one of them. After all, she was not beautiful! What Serenity did not realize, of course, her heart being so sweet and innocent, was that even the most glorious beauty viewed everyday, becomes common place. Ice cold blood ran through the young girl's veins as the guard caught hold of her wrist. She wanted to run, weep, escape, cry out for help, but she could do nothing. Her body flat out refused to move. "According to the royal decree, I am here by removing this young woman from your care, Ma'am," the blue haired guard was saying to Luna. Serenity glanced at her guardian, pleading silently. "But I thought Susa was exempt!" Luna protested. "No, Ma'am," the young guard replied, "The decree applies to every colony of the Mineral Kingdom." "Even Susa?" the nanny was desperate. "Even Susa." The guards were pulling her away now, and each step felt to Serenity as though it was more like a mile. "Wait!" Luna cried, grabbing hold of the younger guard's hand. He seemed more approachable than the intimidating red head. "Please, I beg of you! Don't take her from me, she is all I have!" "I'm sorry, a royal order is just that, an order," the guard replied. Luna's grip tightened. "I have money!" she cried desperately. Now the young man seemed interested. "Don't be a fool, Saffir!" the older guard said, "We'll get a bounty for this girl!" "You're right, Rubeus," he turned to the nanny,"I am sorry, Ma'am," Saffir said, prying Luna's hands away. Finally, Serenity seemed to regain control of her body, even as Rubeus swung her up into the saddle and Saffir climbing up behind her. With a low wail, she began to fight, reaching out from Luna, who was being retrained by the red-head. "Luna!" she cried, "Please! Help me!" It was for naught, Saffir reigned the horse and started off for the palace, all the while Serenity clawed at him, begging him to let her go. The young man felt a bit of sympathy grow in his heart, and did his best to soothe the thrashing girl. In the distance, the dark structure of Mineral Palace rose, menacing against the light of Earth. --------- Having run to Artemis' house and spilled her story, filled with rage, Luna went to the roof. "Thief!" she shouted at the palace where King Ulexite slept on, unknowing of the light had just stolen from so many people's lives. Yaten and Taiki came to pull her back inside. If the people heard! In her room, Seiya wept bitter tears into her pillow, cursing the perverted king and pounding her bed in frustration. In the room bellow, Artemis held Luna while she wept. -------- They came by the thousands, from every colony and city, red-headed fire birds and blond sirens, women with coal black hair, females with shimmering robes and girls with cat like eyes. Some came with large entourages, and you could always tell *those* where the daughters of nobility. Others came riding elephants, or some other large animal. Still others came bare foot, accompanied by a guard or two. These were the poor, and they were always exceedingly beautiful, but, their station in life made them the contempt of the other girls. Together they waited, in a long snaking line, to be processed and allowed to enter the harem. "We're like cattle for sale," commented the aqua haired Michiru, "But we already *know* who the highest bidder is. It's degrading." "I know what you mean," the blond Haruka placed a hand over the other girl's, "I almost escaped notice." "I can see how that would be possible," red-headed Natsami said rudely, "You look like a boy!" At this, Haruka raised a fist threateningly. "I'm Michiru," the first girl intervened, her blue eyes shinning as she locked gazes with Haruka. Surprisingly, the blond girl blushed. "Haruka," she stated simply, shaking Michiru's hand. Earth rose in the heavens, and the women became more and more restless. Some cried for their parents, their homes, where others fought like cats. All were hungry, tired and wearing thin. Demando, Captain of the King's Guard was not a happy person. Seven hours non-stop of dealing with rather annoyed creatures of the feminine persuasion was *not* what he considered a fun time. Most of them fought like cats and flirted shamelessly. All them wanted attention and they wanted it now! Groaning, the white haired man allowed himself a moment of pity. He was only one person! Generally, he didn't even *like* women. Sure, they had their uses, most of which were confined to the bedroom, but Demando had been in charge of the harem for five years, and in that time he had seen enough callus, heartless women to turn him off to the opposite gender completely. With much annoyance, Demando looked over to see a great commotion, the stem of which was a willful girl and her guard, trying to force their way through the crowd. "You!" he shouted, "Stop right there!" That crisis solved, another one popped up. "Must that elephant stand there!? You, girly, I *told* you to stay put! Ma'am, your elephant...urg!" The captain made a face as the large, lumbering beast relieved itself, causing general distress amongst the women. 'Shoot me,' he prayed to the heavens, 'shoot me now'. Suddenly, another disruption occurred, and Demando pushed his way through the crowd to find the source. "Saffir!" he called out to his brother, "What in heaven's name is going on here!" "Gomen, Demando-oniisan, she just fainted," Saffir protested. In his arms he held the still form of a young girl, and the captain moved closer to get a better look. He would never forget what he saw; An angel. She had to have fallen out of heaven. Her long golden hair was spread about her, and even her plain clothing could not take away from her beauty. "Kami-sama," he breathed as a strange sensation pierced his heart. It was very unfamiliar, but Demando found it pleasant none the less. "That's what I said," Rudeus whistled rudely, "Isn't she a looker?" Demando nodded slowly, quite unsure of what to make of the fairy like creature who lay unmoving in Saffir's arms. "Who's care is she under?" he inquired. "Errr.. mine, I guess," Saffir said sheepishly. It was his first year as a guard, and women could still make him blush. "You have enough on you hands looking after the two already assigned to you, Saffir-otoutosan," Demando said. On an impulse, he had decided that *this* girl would not leave his sight. "I'll look after her." "Arigato," Saffir replied, assuming his oniisan was doing him a favor, "Where should I take her?" Demando thought for a moment. He'd been ordering so many people around this morning he'd forgotten where his own charges were to stay! "West wing," he said finally. A noise from behind him, followed by a shrill scream, made Demando whirl around. A blond girl, who almost looked like a boy, was pounding the daylights out of some red head. "Cease that at once!" the Captain shouted, feeling a head ache coming on. --------- Buried alive. She would die, Serenity was certain of it. As she struggled for wakefulness, at first she had thought the previous night's events to be a nightmare. But the small cubical she rested in attested this was not so. It was beautiful, true, with it's rich purple hangings and silken sheets, much more grand than anything in Serenity's humble abode, but it was not her own. Even her clothes were not familiar, the young girl discovered with a great amount of nausea. Instead of her simple white dress, she wore a robe of dark blue, with gold embroidered on the hem. What am I to do, Serenity wondered helplessly. Fear raced through her. She was to be taken to the King... though Luna had not gone into detail, Serenity *knew* whatever followed would *not* be pleasant in the least. 'I will not go!' she cried inwardly, 'I shall kill myself first!' All that courage and determination when straight out the window with the appearance of a guard in the doorway. he was tall, imposingly so, with short white hair and piercing dark eyes that seemed almost purple. Frightened out of her wits, Serenity drew herself into a tight ball and cowered in the farthest corner of the bed. 'Please, please,' she begged the heavens, 'Don't let them take me!' "Mayumi," the strange man addressed her. Relief flooded through Serenity. It was a mistake. They didn't want her. "I'm sorry," she said, regaining her composure and standing before the stranger, "You have the wrong person. My name is Serenity." She expected him to leave, maybe even apologize, she did NOT expect him to laugh... but he did. She found the sound incredibly frightening. "My dear," he said, still gasping for breath, "Your name *was* Serenity. But King Ulexite wants all his women given new things. New clothes, new home, new name. I have named you Mayumi." Instead of feeling fear, the golden girl felt something quite akin to rage. Standing to her full height (which was barely half the guard's), she faced the man with a brilliant blue fire in her eyes. "YOU have named me!?" she laughed, "Serenity was my late mother's name, I bare it with pride, and yet YOU presume to name me? You take away my home, my Luna, and my friends, and now you want to take my name as well! I shall not have it! MY NAME IS *SERENITY*!" She whirled around, prepared to steam angrily, but it didn't happen that way. The guard's violet eyes burned, and his hand shot out to grab her around the waist, pulling her to him roughly. With his free hand he cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him. "Listen to me," he said, his voice rough, "The more you cooperate here, the easier things will be for you. I do not want to hurt you... but I will if I have to." Serenity fought against him, pulling away. Gasping for breath, she fell back on the bed as he made a surprised yelp of pain. She's scratched his hand... even drawn blood! "Gomen!" she cried, her attitude instantly changing. She couldn't stand the thought that she had hurt some one. She grabbed his hand, pulling it closer for better inspection. With gentle fingers, she began to wipe away the blood, brushing it off on her robe. Demando felt something strange crawl up his spine when Serenity touched his hand. What was this girl doing to him!? First he lost his temper, which he never did, and now he was feeling.. he didn't know what he was feeling but he knew she started it. And he knew her little face, with eyes so intent on healing that small scrape, was possibly one of the most adorable things he'd ever seen. It scared the hell out of him. "Gomen," she said again, having cleaned the wound. It was a small scrape, and bled no more than a scant few drops, "I really didn't mean to hurt you, honest. I.. I'm just so scared and... gomen, but my name is Serenity." Demando's eyes narrowed. Why was she being so kind to him, what was she trying to get? He had no illusions about the female persuasion, they all wanted something. But, as she raised hopeful blue eyes to his, he saw in them only kindness, fear and... hope? "Serenity," he said, tasting it as he spoke. It was much sweeter than Mayumi, that was for sure, but he could not let her keep it. "It means peace, ne?" she nodded, "It's a lovely name.... but Mayumi is also a lovely name." "I suppose it is," Serenity replied diplomatically, letting go of his hand, "But it is not mine." Demando shook his head. She might be sweet, but she was stubborn too. "Do you know what it means?" he asked. She shook her head. "It means 'beautiful reason'. Surely this is as nice as 'peace'." "But Serenity was my mother's name!" the young woman protested, eyes welling up with tears. The Captain, having noted her earlier dislike of seeing people hurt, decided to use this to his advantage. "I understand that, Mayumi," he watched as she flinched, and wished he hadn't said that, "But I will be punished if you refuse to go by the new name and..." here he paused, succumbing to the desire to see hope burn in her eyes once more, "Perhaps they can not take your true name away... unless you let them?" Demando watched as Serenity considered this. Finally, she looked him straight in the eye. "Fine, I choose to accept the name Mayumi." Demando could have laughed. The way she said it, so regal, just like a princess... 'I choose to accept'. He decided not to tell her that she was no longer free to choose anything for herself. "Very well then," he said, turning from her. "I want you to dress yourself and meet me outside by the time the sun reached this line," he tapped the seam of two tiles with his foot. This sun was a mere inch away as it streamed through the narrow window. "W-where are we going?" Serenity asked, drawing back in fear. Now Demando did laugh. Her moods were like lightening. "Don't worry, little one," he said, "No place important. I merely wish to walk with you while I explain things." "Alright." Serenity watched as he left, feeling a bit of hope rising in her heart. Perhaps in this man she could find a friend... and maybe, just maybe, if they did become friends, he could help her to escape! With that thought firmly implanted in her mind, Serenity went to change. -------- Let me assure you, this is not a Demando/Serenity romance. I promise, cross my heart! It's Endy/Sere I swear, but I need Demando to be in love with Serenity anyway! EMAIL ME AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THOUGHT!!!