Against All Odds

Author: tokyo_rabbit

Rated: PG13

Chapter 1

To Elysian

News of the assassin reached her ears in a flurry, but not without labor. Serenity knew that something exciting was happening when everyone would whisper frantically but grow as silent as a breath when she came around. They would stare at her and plaster innocent faces on over their gossiping. It was painfully obvious it was something about her, so she began to work immediately to get the bottom of their hurried, hushed activities.

She casually asked Sailor Venus, Head Soldier of her inner bodyguard, about the muted silence, but the princess of the golden planet feigned ignorance. Blast! Contemplating on who to try next, she resolved not to ask Sailor Mars for she would just get defensive. Nor would she ask Sailor Mercury, for she would confuse her with technical jargon (in all simplicity stating that it was none of her business). But it was! So she tried Sailor Jupiter.

"Cerealia, you are one of my best friends. Did you know that?" Serenity smiled sweetly at the tall brunette.

Currently, the Soldier was adding flowers to the wreath that normally adorned her long, wavy clouds of bark-colored hair. It was a symbol of her mother's side of the family which represented the floral aspects of her powers. When she was appearing as Princess Cerealia, the youngest daughter of Jupiter, she wore golden armbands on her dainty, yet strong, wrists. They symbolized the storm portion of her powers which, like her mother and the wreath, descended through her father's side.

"That I did Serenity," Cerealia's emerald eyes twinkled as she smiled, "And you are one of mine as well."

"So, as we have established that, we can talk about anything, right?" the younger princess asked, dancing around the real reason for the discussion.

Fiddling with her green wreath again, she said, "I will tell you nothing you little minx, as it concerns tonight. You should not be snooping around so."

That's when Serenity became desperate, "No! I must know what this unnatural silence is about! It does not concern tonight's ball. I know it! Please, tell me."

"Serenity," the soldier sighed and looked at the girl, "Do not make me break my oath to keep this secret. Leave me."

And that was the end of that. She stormed off to the kitchen to drown her sulking in sweets. Even though they were her bodyguards they were still her best friends! When she was born, the four princesses were only three and began their life's purpose of protecting her. There was another team of Soldiers from the outer planets who protected her, but that was only one of their responsibilities. They were also expected to protect the galaxy from any harmful alien forces, so their presence at the side of their princess was not constant; those four were five years old when Princess Serenity was born. They were also very good friends of hers, but she dare not ask any of them.

Sitting at a small island in the kitchen, she put her pretty chin in her soft hands and huffed, "It is not fair."

A boy only two years younger than she entered the kitchen through the swinging wooden doors carrying a basket full of apples.

"Oh, hello Serenity!" he greeted her.

It was Ganymede, the son of one of Serenity's favorite cooks. He was a pretty boy with sand-colored hair and bright green eyes, and like her, he had been a resident of the Moon Palace for all his life. She teased him a lot for his looks knowing that he would be a heart breaker when he grew older, but he was a really good friend of hers regardless. Their first name basis was a product of their friendship, even though it had to be kept formal when there was something regal or official going on. He was the brother she never had.

"Why, hello Gany," Serenity said with a sly smile, replacing the look of utter depression that donned her face only moments before, "How are you?"

"I'm good, and you?" the boy smiled placing the basket on the wooden counter top, across from where Serenity was sitting. He fished in the basket of shiny red apples and pulled out a green apple. "Your Majesty's favorite," he offered.

She took it gratefully and said, "Gany, have you been hearing talk around the palace lately?"

"Sure, there's always talk," he shrugged. "Why?"

"Have you heard anything about me?"

Gany turned his head slightly and peered at her through narrowed eyes. "Who said anything about you?"

"No one, but it is quite obvious when I walk into a room and everyone shuts up immediately."

"I don't know anythin'."

"You are a terrible liar then," Serenity countered, leaning towards him, "Please, Gany! Tell me! What is this all about?"

"Can't say," he pursed his lips into a thin line.

"Fine then, you asked for it," she straightened up and squared her shoulders, "Ganymede of the house Cupbearer, you are bound to the Silver Court as heat is to fire and so forth. And as such, your loyalty is bound to me in every way I command. I hereby pull rank and order you by royal decree to tell me what everyone has been saying or suffer a most dire consequence."

The boy looked shocked for a moment or two then burst out laughing. "Good one! Almost had me!"

"This is no joke!" Serenity whined indignantly.

The door swung open and a small black creature with maroon eyes and a yellow patch of fur in the shape of a crescent padded into the kitchen. "What's going on?"

"Gany is breaking the law," the Princess spoke above the hysterical laughter in a sulking way, glaring at him.

"Well, your mother requests an audience with you Serenity, so when you are done here...." The cat smirked.

"Okay, Luna."

The creature shook her head at the two and turned to walk out. A short while after Luna left Gany stopped laughing, brushed tears from his eyes and said, "That royal mumbo-jumbo has never worked on me before, Ser. You know that."

Her eyes narrowed, halfway hating it when he called her that, but it was part of their treatment towards each other. They really did act like siblings so she called him Gany because it sounded like a girl's name while he called her Ser as in 'sir,' as if she were a man. So at the same time, she loved it when he called her his special nickname. She was sure that he felt the same about her name for him.

"I know, but I must find out! Gany, if you love me, please tell me," she pleaded with real tears welling up in her crystal blue eyes.

The boy's mood changed with a flick of a switch. Looking down at the floor he sighed, "Please don't make me say something so awful...."

"What do you mean awful?"

"There's talk-now, Serenity, I swear if I hear you utter this to anyone and say it came from my lips, I'll deny everythin'," he exclaimed, then began again, "There's talk about your life being in danger."

What? No, that didn't sound right to Serenity. Who would want to hurt her? She was destined to be the most powerful ruler in the galaxy. Besides, over her life span (that she knew of any ways) there hadn't been any new crime waves on the Moon.

"They say that an assassin has come here to kill you," her friend said sadly.

There was a long pause before the princess responded.

"No, that can't be right. The Soldiers would know about it, and they would tell me," she said, disbelieving.

"They do know about it, but they didn't want to scare you. That and your mother doesn't believe it's true, or she would have felt a new enemy here," Gany looked at her with pain in his eyes, "I don't want to believe it either. Now, it's just a rumor, and that's all I want to think of it."

"That cannot be it."

"Serenity, I wouldn't kid about something this serious," the boy said, becoming slightly angry.

"I must go see my mother now," she got up to leave, but before she walked out on her friend, she turned to him and smiled. "Thanks for the apple."

~

"Serenity, for precautions only, Princess Freya is going to accompany you throughout the whole night," Queen Selenity of the Moon explained to her daughter.

What Gany had told her only moments before came to mind, "Whatever for, mother? Precautions against what?"

The fair queen straightened up and her lips pressed into a thin, pink line, "Precautions. That is all I have to say about it."

Again with the veil of mystery! She swore that if one more person tried to shun her and turn her attention somewhere else, she would scream.

Sailor Venus, otherwise known as Princess Freya, saw her princess' discomfort and said, "I will accompany Princess Serenity through the night, your Majesty."

And with that the Head of the Inner Guard lead her princess out of the throne room and said, "Do not worry too much about it."

When they reached the gardens Serenity stopped, looked at her friend and inquired, "Is there an assassin on the Moon?"

"Where did you hear such a thing from?" Freya laughed strenuously.

"I cannot say, but it is true, is it not?" Her brow furrowed.

"No, it is not," the Soldier stated, eye twitching.

The Moon Princess smirked, "Did you know that your eye twitches when you lie?"

"Does not!" Twitch, twitch.

"Yes, there. The left one."

Twitch. "Does it really?" She asked, taking out her crescent-shaped mirror she got as gift from Queen Selenity years ago.

"Ever so slightly and only when you lie, but yes. It does."

There was a long silence. Moments dripped by like tiny grains of white sand in an hourglass. Pressure built up, bearing down upon them with incredible potency. Chains were breaking and boards were snapping, Serenity could feel it. Years of knowing the princess of love told the Serenity that all she had to do was wait a little longer....

"ALL RIGHT!" The princess of Venus exploded, face almost nearing a purple hue from holding her breath most noticeably, "Who told you?!"

Serenity could hold a secret just as well as her friend, so she changed the subject, "So it's true then?"

"Yes. That is why I have been asked to watch over you tonight," Freya admitted slowly.

The Moon Princess would later learn that 'watch over' was a vast understatement.

~

The rogue guest stood amongst the near entirety of the Silver Court, waiting for the Moon Princess to make her appearance down the pristine stairs of the castle of Serentatus. He felt ludicrous standing there in his black formal attire and mask, but was slightly reassured when he looked around to see several other guests wearing masks as well. It was, after all, his employer's idea for the ball to be a masquerade, so as to keep questions down to a minimum when it came time for him to act.

He looked to his left and saw Queen Selenity sitting on her throne looking over everyone, head held high. Next to her was a smaller, less elaborate throne that was most obviously the princess'. To the immediate left of the princess' throne stood nine women of royal blood dressed in their finest; that would be Princess Serenity's Guard, Inner and Outer. He recognized every one of them as would the rest of the Court: Princess Freya of Venus and the Head of the Inner Guard; Princess Talaria of Mercury, Princess Minerva of Mars, and Princess Cerealia of Jupiter, all of who made up the Inner Planetary Guard. Then there was the Outer Guard: Queen of Uranus and the Head of the Outers, Adrastea; Queen Lysithea of Neptune, Princess Eris of Saturn, and Queen Persephone of Pluto. These were the women he had to smuggle the princess past, not to mention the palace guards.

There was a series of trumpets sounding to gain the vast room's attention.

"Guests of the Silver Court," a herald announced once the room was completely silent, which didn't take long, "The Moon Princess and heir of the Silver Court, Princess Serenity."

An angel made her appearance as she rounded the corner and began to descend the stairs of white. The whole room seemed to inhale in awe as her eyes swept across the room apprehensively. Applause rang through the ballroom, making her smile appreciatively.

The masked man tore his eyes away from the Royal Guard to look upon his target and his jaw dropped. She was absolutely breathtaking with silky skin that reflected the Moon's Silver light, hair flowing in heavenly clouds of spun silver, eyes of cool, crystal clear water, and the face of an angel that surely God was proudest of. His heartbeat was irregular in speed and rhythm while his stomach lurched in a way that made him feel strangely anxious. Surely this was not the princess he had to steal away tonight! But the gold crescent moon that resided on her pretty forehead told him that this was indeed Princess Serenity, not some hallucination of a madman.

"This is going to be more difficult than I thought," he muttered under his breath.

~

Serenity made her way to her mother's throne, and when she came upon it with delicate steps, she bowed her pretty little head. Queen Selenity bowed her head also, formally receiving her daughter. When the princess took her throne the queen leaned over to murmur to her, "Happy birthday, Serenity."

Serenity whispered back, "Thank you Mother."

A man who stood nearly as tall as two men stepped forward with a woman. He was a sight to see and all who looked upon his physique-iron poles braded together for arms, shoulders wide enough for several people to sit upon them, beard of white curls that rested on his chest in abundance just as did his hair-knew who he was. King Zeus, Ambassador of Jupiter. The huge gold armbands that donned his arms confirmed that. The much smaller, slender woman standing next to him with soft clouds of auburn hair floating down her back, deep forest green eyes, and a wreath upon her head was his wife, Queen Hera.

Zeus laughed his loud, booming laugh and said, "Dear Serenity, happy birthday!"

His deep, resounding voice made several people near him wince while his wife just smiled sweetly. Serenity giggled quietly.

"And in honor of your sixteenth year, my daughters will sing their songs of revelation for you."

The king of Jupiter and his wife stepped back and nine more women came forward.

The room looked surprised and began at once to whisper to their partners in shocked gossip-- these women where the sisters of Jupiter, the Muses. It was said that their songs told of the future to come and it was an impossibly rare treat to hear their melodic voices. This was a once in a lifetime chance.

The eldest seeming one spoke up while taking a step forward, making the room go apprehensively silent.

"Princess of the Moon, the stars foretell of great things to come for your Majesty, as they do for things of sorrow, but before we sing of mysteries yet to be brought to light, our sister, fellow daughter of Jupiter, must come forth to join us."

The room's attention swept to the princess's Guard. Princess Cerealia, wearing a dress of green satin, dainty golden armbands, and a wreath upon her head looked anxiously out at the nine women standing in the center of the enormous room. She hated doing these gigs with her older sisters, but she knew that they would not let her refuse. Stepping off to the side, she made her way down through the crowd and out into the clearing, taking her place next to one of her sisters.

The one who had spoken stepped back into the half circle that her sisters made. They opened their mouths and the sound that resounded through the white archways was one that sent shivers through their audience and brought tears to several eyes. Their voices were eerily beautiful and mournful. However, what caught Serenity's attention so aptly was a lingering voice that seemed to be trying to reach her understanding.

No one can fight Destiny

A Goddess' heart holds the Key

Laila tu wayla...

A Golden Knight protects the Silver Angel,

As he comes for her in the shade of night

Seye ni ruoy wyth...

A fateful union of Silver and Gold,

A true love for all to behold

Lemera cesa tu lyn...

Oh blessed union of Silver and Gold,

Beware of evils pure and old

Gopina tela rae lliw...

In her castle of black ice,

Illusionary Queen beckons the Goddess and her Knight

Laila tu laya revlis...

Beware her box for it's evil only you will see,

Legendary Soldier, come forth and set us free

Syal celsa tu wayla...

Muses, let us retire from the stars,

Let us end our tale,

Shya ne laila no...

For now we celebrate our blessed Serenity,

Bright Angel beautiful for all to see

Chalane tu najane...

Serenity's eyes filled with tears. Something so sad was being conveyed in a cryptic message through the song to her. She looked around to see how everyone else was reacting but on the guests' faces were looks of jovial appraisal as the ovation thundered on. Was she the only one who felt that way about the Muses' song? And what about that whispering voice she heard that seemed to be right over her shoulder, talking in a different language? Did anyone hear that as well?

Shaking her head, she blinked away her tears and began to clap vigorously while replacing her look of confusion and sadness with a labored smile. The sisters bowed and melted back into the crowd while Cerealia rejoined the Guard.

On the other side of the room where the masked rogue stood watching the princess intently, there stood another who could recognize him in any set of circumstances. The tall woman moved silently to stand over his left shoulder.

"I had been informed that the Servant of the Sun had declined his invitation for there were pressing matters in his kingdom to deal with. So why is he here in my mistress' domain, masked and unannounced?" she demanded.

The man's misty, yet determined stare remained upon the silver angel sitting upon her throne, for he need not turn to see who was speaking so closely to his ear; he knew who it was, just as she had known who he was, but how had she moved from her position without his notice?

"Ah, but have you not noticed the room twirling around you?" She teased with only a slight hint of amusement in her voice, "The dance has begun. What are you gazing at so vigilantly?"

He hated it when she did that. Her powers were great, but one ability he was sure she didn't have was the one to read minds. However, when she answered his private thoughts as if she had read them, it made him question what he knew about her.

Her maroon eyes traveled along to see her princess dancing with King Zeus, no easy feat. "So the Princess of the Moon has caught your ravenous eye."

The young man felt the woman step forward and she was so close to him now that her lips nearly brushed against his earlobe and her hot breath swept across his shaven cheek.

"Let me warn you now, your Majesty, that it is not to be so. For if you touch one silver hair upon her head, I, along with the rest of the Guard, will have your head to mount."

A smirk crept upon his astoundingly handsome face as he watched the Queen of Time walk off in her defiantly wise way from the corner of his eye. Oh how little she knew, but that was all part of the plan, was it not? Ignorance of the conspiracy against Queen Selenity....

His leer grew more distinguishable as he slipped into the rambling crowd of wallflowers who watched the rest of the guests waltz across the room. Eyes always intently fixated upon the princess, attention tuned to her, and senses aware of her Guard's nearness, he moved towards her.

The angel sighed, exasperated at her friend.

"Freya, is this really necessary?" she whined.

"Is what necessary, Princess?" The princess of Venus asked, eyes sweeping over the surrounding guests several times.

"You know what! Following me as if you were no less than my shadow. I only have room to breathe when I am on the dance floor," Serenity complained quietly. "Besides, do you really think there will be an attack with all these people around-"

She had to cut her defense short, for a man in a mask stepped up to her, bowed and said, "Princess Serenity, how elated I am to be a part of your celebration this evening."

Perplexed, she watched as he righted himself and her breath caught. Masked though he was, he was still amazingly handsome; hair as black as the deepest reaches of space fell attractively in his face, eyes of a midnight blue horizon streaked with gold gazed at her, and a figure that loomed over her own height made her want to fall into him.

"I-uh, thank you-" The princess stuttered, not sure what to do with herself.

"Baron Phaethon of Charon," the young man took her hand and kissed it, sending strange waves of excitement through her body.

"A member of Queen Persephone's counsel?" Serenity asked when Phaethon released her hand.

The baron smirked, "You could say that."

Rolling her eyes, Freya stepped forward, "Excuse me your Majesty, but I must go speak with Princess Eris."

Watching the golden princess walk off, he smiled and turned his attention towards Serenity once more.

"May I?" he inquired.

She looked at him with a question in her eyes, but it came apparent what he meant as he lead her out onto the marble floor where people where waltzing to beautiful music that resounded throughout. Before she knew it the two were dancing across the floor with an unbelievable grace that even surprised Serenity. Sure she knew how to dance, but her sore feet told of her previous dance partners' lack of rhythm.

~

Strange things.... 'Phaethon' walked down the dark hallways, his thoughts residing on the night that lay only moments behind him. He and the princess had danced the night away, quite literally. Once the two had begun their magical waltz, it didn't sojourn until the celebration itself came to an end.

Once the guests were leaving, the masked man decided it was the most opportune time to slip away into the depths of the castle while commotion was at its highest. He bid the Moon Princess goodnight, surprisingly, with great dismay. She seemed to hold the same opinion as she asked him if he would be visiting the Moon again anytime soon. Grinning, he reassured Serenity that he would, indeed be visiting her soon. Very soon.

Phaethon came upon a large corridor and had to sweep to the side, pressing himself against a pillar due to a palace guard making his rounds. Moving only to keep hidden, he watched the royal sentry march past. The man looked as if he would rather be doing anything in the world than patrolling the castle, for the Milky Way had not seen any inkling of war for the past sixteen years. It was a boring and trying time for all warriors alike.

Resuming his stealth down the vast, dimly lit hallway, Phaethon came upon a pair of pristine doors that he knew to be Princess Serenity's quarters. Slipping inside the dark room he found the princess's wardrobe; a perfect hiding place.

~

Serenity hummed to herself lightly as she walked to her room. Baron Phaethon.... Later, she would have to interrogate her friend Sailor Pluto (known as Queen Persephone) about that man in the Queen's Counsel.

Closing her bedroom door behind her, she sighed happily. Something about his persona reached out to her in ways she could not describe. Something about him made her want to make an effort to get to know him, a revelation that surprised her. A countless amount of suitors had come to claim the fated Princess Serenity's hand since she was twelve for all the wrong reasons: power, lust, status. Love was something she couldn't take a chance to believe in for the fate of the Silver Court rested on her silken shoulders, as it was her destiny to reign one day. Love was also something that plagued her dreams as of late; unattainable and yet excruciatingly desirable, it always danced out of her reach. Was it something that, due to her certain 'privileges' of birth, she couldn't have? Something she would have to forfeit?

Something....

Something made her believe in Phaethon, luring her curiosity and senses to take that plunge to find out who he really was in character and heart. Changing into the nightgown that was laid upon her bed, she contemplated the reasons behind her trust in the masked stranger. Was it the warmth in his hands or the mystery that shone in his eyes?

Climbing into bed, she resolved that it would be no good to dwell on it, as she would get no sleep whatsoever. Smile on her face, the Moon Princess slipped peacefully into slumber, unknowing that a pair of indigo eyes watched her. The owner of the cobalt orbs dared not move for an eternity it seemed, not until he knew for sure she was asleep. A soft snoring sound drifted to his ears, making him smirk.

Silently he slipped out of hiding and crept to Serenity's bedside. His movements to capture her halted as he looked upon her. Kneeling, he resolved just to look upon the sleeping goddess before him for just a little while. Asleep, her face omitted an aura of the innocence that she truly held within every nook and cranny of her soul. Who would want to kill such a beautiful creature? His heart jumped in a strange way at the thought of Serenity's life being snuffed out like a candle's flame, and his eyes became moist.

Standing, he hardened his heart and set his jaw firmly; the bizarre emotion that just ran through his body was enough motivation to perform the act of prying the princess from her home several times over but only once should suffice. Positioning himself, Phaethon, with cat-like reflexes, gagged the princess, who was now thrashing about, and slung her over his shoulder. Looking around he spotted a balcony and decided that was the route to go. Traveling through the palace itself was too risky, as anyone would know.

~

Serenity's mind was reeling as she was hauled up upon someone's shoulder. What was going on?! One moment she was in her bed dreaming of wondrous things and now...!

The intruder stepped out on her balcony, the cool night sending chills up her spine as she beat furiously upon her attacker's back. She tried to scream out but the gag prevented her from doing so. Where was Luna? Why wasn't her guardian calling for help? The princess's heart plunged as a vision of a cat's corpse flashed in her mind.

Serenity screamed again as the two fell a good ways down to the damp grass below. Mind frantically trying to think of a solution while struggling with all her might, she spotted a patrolling guard. Hope seemed to fuel her adrenaline rush only more so. Figuring her captor was a man due to his height and broad shoulders, she wriggled slightly to position herself for what she hoped would set her free. Aiming blindly, she gave a swift hard kick where she prayed would be most damaging. Her hopes were rewarded when her captor groaned in pain and sunk to the ground.

Scrambling to her feet, Serenity fumbled with her gag while her hands shook wildly in fear, making the task very difficult. Running hard towards the guard whose back was turned on her, she began to cry out as the piece of tightly bound cloth fell away from her mouth, but her plea for help was cut short as something pulled hard on her hair, sending her crashing to the ground. Rolling over on her side, clutching her head, she only had room for one peep as a firm hand clasped like iron over her mouth.

Her attacker hauled her up against his chest with crushing strength. Now she was kicking wildly in the air, thrashing her head about as she clawed at the hands that bound her as the assailant nearly dragged her into the dark forest that surrounded a good portion of the Moon Palace.

Breathing hard, Phaethon threw Serenity down on the ground.

"More trouble than you're worth," he spat.

"Then let me go!" the princess shrieked quietly, panting as well.

She was terrified of this man. The forest and night's shade worked against her by keeping her assailant's face hidden from identification. For several moments, she tried to will her feet and legs to function enough to run out of the man's reach, who seemed to be peering out at the nearest guard. The same inside source that had told him where to find Serenity's room told him that he would not be able to phase from inside the castle to the desired location. Barriers kept anyone from doing that, so he would have to do it outside.

"Afraid I can't do that," the man replied, kneeling to grab hold of her once again, "My word was given that I would deliver you safely."

"Deliver?" She squeaked, whole body trembling, "Where are you taking me?!"

He grinned as he hauled her up once more, crushing her body to his.

"To Elysian."