Hey everyone! Just a few things to say before we get on with the story:
This is an alternate reality universe... however, I use the Moon
Kingdom in the story and, if you haven't guessed, the ending is not the
same... in other words everyone doesn't die in the way they did in the
series, etc... I always wanted to do a story with magic and here it is.
I used the North American names, even though I hate the dub, because
I actually like them better when I write about the Moon Kingdom. Hope
you enjoy the Mage Princess! And send me an e-mail if you do!

A few disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon... if I did I would be
publishing these stories because I would have enough money to do so...
I'm also an extremely poor college student who has to rely on her
scholarship to pay off the registration fees so don't sue me... you'll
get nothing out of it! One more thing: Washi is my character... I made
him up so don't steal him, okie? ^^

I guess it's on with the story!

The Mage Princess

PROLOGUE
By: Sailor Berkeley

* * ~ ~ Serena ~ ~ * *

	Today I turn twenty-four and officially become and old-maid; in
my mother's eyes at least. All attempts at getting me to marry have
failed and she will, once more, tell me that I'm hopeless. Of course,
I really don't mind. I know she loves me and that she only wants what's
best for me, and to her a husband is exactly what I need. It's worse
on birthdays because she is reminded of how old I am getting and of the
fact that I am no closer to marriage than I was at sixteen (the age all
girls are supposed to get married in our Kingdom) when I told my mother
that I was never going to get married. I still remember the way she
blanched and the small thud that echoed through the throne room when
she fainted; not something I could ever forget since I am constantly
reminded of it. She tried everything in her power to get me to change
my mind. Of course her first words were:
	"Why? Aurora Nebula Serena Serenity I will not tolerate such
selfish comments from you. What about your Kingdom? Does it mean
nothing to you? And your subjects? Who will rule after you? And what
exactly are you planning to do?"
	"I have thought it out completely, mother, and it all works out
perfectly. I am not getting married because I want to become a true
mage. It is what I have always wanted and what I hope to become. I have
learned the ways of Court and I know how to rule so I won't give up my
title nor the Crown - that is if you still want me to have it. And as
for an heir, I will just teach one of my many cousins to rule after me.
It has been done before and nothing bad has come out of it."
	"Yes it has been done before, but only when there was no chance
for an heir. You, however, are young and able to bear children. An heir
is not an impossibility for you."
	"But it is an impossibility, mother. It's impossible because I
refuse to get married. If I am not married I cannot give this Kingdom
an heir. And I cannot be forced to marry as you well know so there
really is nothing to be done. If you want me to give up the Crown I
will do so. My wish is to become a High Mage."
	As soon as she saw how adamant I was about this, my mother
changed tactics rather quickly.
	"Sweetie, do you realize how difficult it is to become a High
Mage? And how dangerous? I understand that you are exceptionally good
at magic but have you thought about the fighting? You need to learn how
to fight as well. High Mages learn how to wield swords and how to go to
war. Do you really want to learn all of that?"
	"Yes, mother. I really do."
	Queen Galactica Nebula Serenity Serenity - Serenity XIV as she
was known in her kingdom - stood up and cupped my face in her hands.
My extremely large blue eyes looked into soft blue ones full of love
and wisdom and my mother, Queen of the Moon, sighed, her soft blue eyes
showed her defeat. "Of course I will not deny you the throne. I could
never do such a thing. I just want you to be happy."
	"But I will be happy mother. As a High Mage."
	"And you are sure that is all you want? Are you completely sure
of this Serena? Because it is a hard life if you choose it. A very hard
life. It is not something to take lightly."
	"I understand mother. I want that life." I remember trying to
look as courageous as possible and not let a doubt enter my eyes. I
guess I was succesful because she just sighed once more and kissed my
forehead in cautious defeat. I let out my own sigh once my mother left
me alone. I could not believe she had let it go so easily.
	She hadn't.

	I left for Mage training the following month and every time she
wrote me a letter I got to hear about some prince or another who was
absolutely perfect for me. My responses contained nothing but love and
tidings. This has been going on for the last 8 years but today the
letter will be read to me in person as will my response be given in
person. I am finally going home. After eight years of hardship and
training I am going home.
	Now don't get me wrong, I am glad of my accomplishments; I
am very happy. But sometimes, late at night, I go through what I have
dubbed "What Ifs." Why do I go through this? Well it's quite simple,
actually: I once wanted to get married. Like most little girls I
dreamed of my knight in shining armor who would come for me and make me
live happily ever after.
	And he came for me once.

	I was six-years-old and I had been playing with my friends the
Princesses of the planets Mercury, Mars, Jupiter and Venus when we
first got introduced to the Prince of Earth. Being the little mage I
was (even at that young age), I was concentrating on the small solar
system I had been building for weeks when I felt someone staring. I
looked up and met the darkest set of blue eyes I had ever seen in my
life. His dark black hair fell over his eyes and he pushed it back with
his hands and smiled at me. The most beautiful smile in the world. I
smiled back, slowly.
	"That's very impressive. Did you build this by yourself?" I
nodded slowly and watched, shocked, as he sat next to me and promptly
started asking me questions. I soon learned that he was only on the
Moon for the day and would be going back to Earth soon. He was ten, and
to me the most perfect candidate for my knight in shining armor. I was
very outspoken so I told him so, adding that I wanted to marry him when
we were older. He just smiled once more and produced the most beautiful
flower I had ever seen from thin air (I later found out they were
called roses and that they only grew on Earth) and handed it to me.
	"Next time we meet be sure to show it to me. And I will dance
with you." He winked at me and left me completely in love.
	I did not see him again until I was thirteen and he seventeen.
By then my childhood dream had faded a bit but I was still in love with
the boy I remembered. The rose he had given me refused to wilt and
looked just as beautiful as when he had first given it to me. I was not
faring so well. You see, I am just not a beautiful person. I am not
even remotely pretty - and I especially was not so at the age of 13.
	My closest friends and peers were beautiful. There was Princess
Raye Hera of Mars who had the most beautiful black hair and violet eyes
that I had ever seen. She had this mysterious look about her that
intrigued everyone she met. She would walk into a room and everyone
would watch as she came in. Princess Mina Dione of Venus had gorgeous
blonde hair that shone in the light and sparkling blue eyes that were
always full of laughter. She was so bubbly and light that no one was
ever glum in her presence. Princess Lita Rhea of Jupiter had the most
magnificent set of emerald green eyes and a tall figure that drew
attention no matter where she was. Princess Ami Maia of Mercury had
blue hair that she kept extremely short but that perfectly complemented
her small face and large blue eyes. She was extremely intelligent and
was already being noticed by the older boys. Then there was me.
	I had lackluster dirty blonde hair that was extremely limp and
lifeless. I tried to do everything to it but nothing would make it
better. My eyes were much too large for my face and made me look very
unproportional. I was plain, lanky, skinny and extremely clumsy. My
feet were too big for my body and my hands were constantly knocking
things off tables. To top it all off I had yet to get my first Lunar
cycle (or period if you will) and I was as flat as the day I was born.
I had nothing. Not even a little lump to tell people I was a girl. The
other Princesses had all developed at eleven or twelve and were
"filling out" rather quickly.
	I normally did not care for my looks, but when I found out that
Prince Darien Endymion of Earth was coming for the next ball I
suddenly found myself staring at all of my faults. My mother tried to
assure me that she had been the same way and that she hit puberty very
late (something about the Silver Crystal's effect on our Lunar cycles),
but I was too upset over my natural homeliness to even care about it.
Even if I had hit puberty I was still plain. My friends, my mother and
the court would never admit to it but it was true. And it pained me.
	Nonetheless, I spent the entire day before the ball getting
ready and attempting to look as beautiful as I could; for my Prince was
coming for me. I even put his rose in my hair so that he would
recognize me and perhaps tell me that he too loved me and that he
wanted us to marry as soon as I was of age. How na=EFve I was.

	The first hour of the ball I danced with uninterested partners
who only asked me to dance out of courtesy to the Princess of the Moon
and heiress to the entire Silver Millenium Court. After that no one
asked me to dance anymore. I was accustomed to this since I realized
early enough that my beauty could not compare with the other Princesses
but I still became quite depressed (which is why I hated balls) over
that fact. This time, however, all I could do was watch and wait for my
Prince to come. I looked all over the room for his dark patch of hair
or a glint of blue and kept away from my mother who would have tried to
get people to dance with me and just embarrass me further. Finally I
saw him.
	He had turned out so handsome! I let out a small gasp as his
intense blue eyes turned and fell on me. Childhood fantasy turned into
a fullfledged reality and I realized that I loved him more than ever.
Not really because of his looks - I had been hurt enough by my looks to
care what anyone else looked like - but because when I looked into his
eyes I met a caring and wonderful soul. Someone who was wise, respected
and sweet. I don't know exactly how I managed to get close to him or
how long it took to get past all of the drooling girls around him but
next thing I knew I was standing face to face with my dream. He looked
at me and gave a small smile of... relief?
	"Would you like to dance?" He asked and I just took his hand
and we twirled around the ballroom as I stared at his hand holding mine
and reminding myself that this was really happening, that I was really
dancing with him.
	The song was over too soon and he gave me a smile as he led me
to the edge of the dance floor. He kept my hand firmly in his and my
heart was beating quickly. When he finally reached the edge he lightly
kissed my hand. When his eyes looked up into mine I felt something jolt
in me. Sparks flew. I still can't explain what it was that I felt. I
looked deep into his eyes to see if he felt it too or if it was just
me. I couldn't tell. I had never looked into a man's eyes that deeply
before and so I saw nothing that I could understand. As an instinct,
and subconsciously, my mind reached out to his.
	I had been trained in magic since the age of six. If I was
to wield the Silver Crystal I had to be able to understand magic to an
extent. No one thought I was going to get so attached so quickly. Magic
was easy for me. I understood the way it worked and all of its unspoken
rules before anyone explained them to me. It was second nature and I
loved it. My mother, not one to deny me pleasure, allowed my lessons to
proceed longer than was necessary and very soon I surpassed my
instructors. That was when Washi came to the Moon Kingdom. News had
travelled the lands and it was soon known that the young Moon Princess
was a very gifted Small Mage. The Council of High Mages sent its
highest ranking Mage to the Moon to evaluate me and determine whether
or not I should be taught further. Washi, his long pink-tinged hair
flowing behind him, took one look at me and his gold eyes widened
slightly. My lessons started immediately. I learned how to produce
objects from thin air, how to throw fire, manipulate animals, teleport,
make illusions, control weather and other minor things that were not
at all related to war (my mother's only rule that was followed very
strictly in my mage apprenticeship). The one thing I learned that could
be used in times of war, but not necessarily for that fact - which was
why Washi taught it to me - was how to read emotions and understand
feelings simply by connecting to a person's mind and reading their
aura.
	Which was what I was doing with the Earthling Prince. Everyone
has a different aura. An aura has a distinct smell and feel and his
smelled of roses and felt like the velvet of rose petals. I closed my
eyes and mentally inhaled that sweet scent. I smiled at this and opened
my eyes only to see him chuckle softly at me.
	"Have you seen enough, Mage Princess?" I blushed slightly and
wondered how he knew that I had been peeking. I did not notice the
smaller girl who had appeared next to him.
	"Darien!" He looked away from me and his eyes glowed with love
and he smiled broadly before picking up the girl and twirling her
around. My eyes showed my pain but neither of them were looking at the
moment. The girl was beautiful beyond words. Her hair was as black as
ebony and her eyes were the deepest green. She was graceful and petite.
And looked to be the Prince's age. And she used his name. They were
close to each other. When my Prince gave her a peck on the cheek and
she swatted him away playfully I could take no more. A single tear made
its way down my face and fell on the ground, unnoticed. I summoned my
power and made myself disappear. A moment later I was in my bedroom and
I fell asleep crying. He had never loved me, I was a fool. So I made a
promise to never marry as my heart broke into a thousand pieces.

	It's been eleven years since that day but I still love him.
Which is why I could never marry anyone else. And why, at the age of
sixteen, I told my mother I wanted to become a High Mage. There was a
bit of truth to that. I did want to be a High Mage. It was one of my
most heartfelt wishes. But I did want to marry. I just couldn't marry
the one I wanted.
	I don't know what happened to Prince Darien Endymion and I am
glad of that. I don't want to hear that he ended up happily married
with that girl. It would break my heart once again. So I never spoke of
that love to anyone.
	My room here at the Academy is now empty, all my belongings are
currently neatly packed in boxes and waiting outside for me to teleport
them and myself back to the moon. I look around once more and blow the
room a kiss before closing the door. I take the plaque that was on the
door and put it in my cloak. I make my way outside, through the=20
hallways and stairways and say goodbye to everything as I go. The only
person left to say goodbye to is outside with my things. I smile sadly
as Washi turns around, his golden eyes proudly looking into mine.
	I give him a large hug and feel the tears threatening to spill.
He takes my face in his hands and gives me one of his rare smiles.
	"I am so proud of you, Mage Princess. You have made the last
years a pleasure."
	"Thank you, Master Washi." I whisper and he shakes his head.
	"Not Master anymore. You're a Master now. I am now just Washi
to you. Or... you know what else you can call me, when you are in need
of help..." I nod. On the day of my graduation he told me his true
name. Not the name his parents gave him, that one he himself forgot.
The name that the magic in the world had given him. The name that is
whispered to a Mage when he or she first takes a life. It is a solemn
and dark name. One that must never be spoken aloud unless the need is
very great. When a Mage's true name is spoken he or she must go help
whoever is calling. And he or she becomes blackened and evil until the
danger is passed. It was something Mages had to live with. A Mage was
always stepping on the fine line between evil and good... it was the
price one needed to pay to be a Mage.
	"I will call if I am in need." I gave him one last hug and
took the plaque from my robe and handed it to him. "Please accept it."
	He looked at the small plaque and his eyes showed surprise.
	"Are you sure, Princess?"
	I nodded. "I can't think of anyone else in this Institution
who should have it."
	I then turned around and, as is my way of teleporting, gave off
a soft light before disappearing with my things. Leaving behind my
Mage-self, Kou, and the plaque that made me a mage and was the tie
between me and the Institution. A plaque that read in small letters:
	"High Mage Kou: The Phoenix Spread Her Wings"
	For I was Kou, the Phoenix, here. And now I was once again
Serena Serenity of the Moon. And yet I was both. Now and forever.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That's it for now... Chapter one will be coming out soon if people tell
me that they like it! Please tell me if you do! I love getting e-mails!
Please e-mail cfmc@uclink4.berkeley.edu with your thoughts! Ja ne!
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