Story: Beloved Midnight

Chapter: One

Anime: Sailor Moon

Pairing: Serenity/Endymion

Rated: Teen

Author's Notes: This was actually written right after the prologue was posted, but I wanted to wait till today to post it. I did edit and add things to it so it's better than it was originally. I'm proud of its fast update, and hope you enjoy it.

My assumption was correct. My mother had already invited the first set of suitors, and they were almost here. I was currently standing with my parents in the throne room, waiting for them to arrive. I could hear them landing out front, and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Serenity," my mother said, "Uncross your arms. Stand up straight and put a smile on that face."

I groaned, but did what I was told. In no way was I looking forward to seeing these men again. When I had turned sixteen, my mother had a massive ball in my honor. I thought it would be a fun night with only my family and friends, but I was wrong... way wrong. It was the worst night of my life. I had to dance with every single suitor in the entire freaking universe save for one… him. I shook my head back and forth violently, trying to fling him from my thoughts. I didn't want to think about that prick. Seeing him through a ten year old's eyes made him look perfect, but looking back at him now, he was nothing but a snotty jerk. He was four years older than I was, and didn't care about anyone but himself. I was glad my parents didn't invite him to my party or else I would have literally walked out or maybe clobbered him into the palace's hard crystal floor.

I giggled at the thought, making my parents look at me. "Sorry."

"Pay attention, Serenity. They're coming in," my mother said, looking back at the entrance. I followed her eyes, and saw ten different men walk in. They were all dressed in nice, expensive clothing. Five of them wore ice blue clothes while the other wore yellows and oranges. I glanced each one over thoroughly. They were all ugly to put it bluntly. It was only the clothes that made them look presentable. The men walked up to my family and I in the most annoying way nobles can walk. They bowed deeply in front of us before standing up straightly, smiling proudly. My parents had sat down in their thrones before they had entered and I was standing next to my mother's throne with my fist clenched behind my back.

"Serenity, there are ten men here for you to choose from. Five are from Mercury and five are from Venus. You will have a chance to meet with each one privately to get to know him. You have one week," my mother said, smiling at the men. I twitched visibly. It was going to be a long week.

--

I didn't want any of the men from the first set. My mother had to send them all home early because I refused to leave my room while they were there. One of them tried climbing up my balcony. I felt a tad sorry that he broke his arm when he fell after I had hit him with my shoe, but the pity quickly vanished when I realized I didn't hit him that hard, and he was a crybaby. Besides, it was an invasion of privacy, meaning I had every right in my mind that allowed me to hit him. My conscience didn't dare to argue.

When the second set arrived, five from Mars and five from Jupiter, they didn't even last an hour. All of them ran back to their transporters like there was fire on their heels. My mother said the look on my face the whole time they were there was cruel, but I didn't think it could have possibly been that bad. She didn't mention the dagger I had strapped to my thigh that was hidden under my dress. That one was my little secret.

It only took about two weeks for me to complete the rest of the planets, excluding Earth. My mother almost gave up after I spray painted the suitor from Pluto during his sleep. He was evil or at least he could have been. The rest of the men's faces didn't past my personal test.

I was sitting at the breakfast table with my parents, slouching over my plate. In truth, I enjoyed the time that the suitors were here. It gave me a chance to freely express my evil side without any holding back. My father had just returned last night from Pluto. He went there to profusely apologize to the man I spray painted because he left so fast no one had a chance to speak. I stifled a laugh at the memory.

My parents, obviously, weren't exactly happy with me at the moment. Several times they had reminded me what was at stake her, but I already knew. I know I could lose my throne if I didn't marry before my coronation. It was just that none of those men fit my category of interest. Can you blame me for not accepting them? I couldn't.

"The eggs are good," I said, trying to lighten the mood. My parents didn't respond. "My birthday is in two weeks. Are you planning something big, mother? I know you love planning parties. I'm really exciting to see what you will create."

My mother stopped eating. "Serenity." Uh-oh. "You're behavior these past two weeks has been unacceptable." I knew it. I enjoyed it. "Your father and I had told you several times to mind your manners, and to try to get to know your suitors. Like always, you didn't. We are very disappointed in you."

"I know, mother, but I had already met all of those men when I was sixteen. I told you that. I told you that I didn't want them then and I wouldn't want them now. I warned you, and you were the one who didn't listen."

"Serenity, watch your tongue," my father said, "We know you didn't like them, but you were sixteen four years ago. Your opinion on men could have change."

"But it didn't."

"Serenity."

"Sorry, father."

He cleared his throat. "We understand that you don't wish to marry, but a princess must marry. It's the law, but we are still giving you the choice you had before: to marry or to forfeit the throne."

"I want to become queen, though. I do. I love the moon and the people. It would be cruel to hand them over to someone else. Besides, there is no one else to take my place. Only royal blood of the moon can rule the moon, which makes sense. We all know that."

"We do know that," my mother said, "That's why we are pushing for your marriage. Do you understand the difficulties there will be if you don't become queen? There is no one else, which is why you need to shape up and do as you're told."

"I'm sorry, mother, but if you plan on my marriage, you need to pick someone I haven't met already."

"We already have."

"Who?"

My mother sat up straighter in her seat. I don't know how that was possible. She always had good posture. "Now, you have met him before, but it was a very long time ago. I'm sure you don't even remember him. He's going to arrive this afternoon. It's just him. No one else will be with him. Serenity, this man is your last chance. Is that understood?"

"Are you serious?" I said, gasping it out, "I thought it was my choice, and if I didn't choose than you would."

"It's your choice to choose him by your own will, Serenity. This man is also our choice so even if you don't want him, you still get him. That is why you must take him seriously because either way he is now your betrothal."

I sighed. "He better not be ugly."

--

I was in my bedroom with Luna, getting ready for the arrival of my betrothal. I shuddered mentally at the word. Luna was trying to find that perfect dress for me to wear that would indefinitely capture his attention. I could hear her mumbling in frustration in the chaos of my closet. I was sprawled across my bed, reading Wuthering Heights. My taste in books was one of the things my mother was proud of.

"Here we go!" Luna said happily. She came out of my closet holding a silky silver dress. It was a simple dress with thin spaghetti straps and a slit that would go up to my knee on the left side. "Go put it on."

I did as I was told, and slipped it over my body. It hugged all of my matured curves in a very appealing way to a man. I was always told that my body was "to die for", but the compliments always went in one ear and out the other when I was standing next to my mother. I walked out of the bathroom to show it to Luna.

She grinned. "It's perfect. He will just love it. Sit." She was holding a pair of silver high heels. Once I sat, she placed the heels on my feet.

"Don't we usually do shoes last?" I asked as I walked over to my vanity. Luna had laid out a silver chain with a matching bracelet and a pair of silver earrings. I put them on. "What's with all the silver? My hair is already silver enough."

"You have to match, Serenity. Besides, your dress is whiter than it is silver. It only has a silver shine to it, one of the remarkable things that your personal seamstress can do," Luna said. She was putting my hair up into its normal style, but she was making it looser, and she had some strands down to frame my face. "Do your makeup, but keep it light."

"Don't I always?" I said, mumbling. I picked up the cover up and started applying it. When I was finished, Luna rubbed vanilla scented lotion on my arms.

"There. That should be good," she said with a smile of satisfaction on her face. "You look beautiful as always."

I blushed a soft pink. "Thanks."

Luna opened the door for me. "Come on. He should be here soon."

I left the room with Luna in tow. The sound of my stilettos echoed throughout my head, giving me a headache. My parents were already in the throne room, sitting in their respective spots. I walked stiffly to my mother's side. These heels were killers. She looked over my form, and nodded in approval.

"Nice work, Luna. She looks stunning," she said, smiling brightly at Luna. Luna was standing next to the grand marble staircase. I watched as Artemis came up beside her, wrapping his arms around her waist. They were a nice looking couple. Some of the best people I knew. How I wished to be in love.

My father whispered something to my mother, making her look at the entrance. He must have just arrived. I groaned mentally. Oh, how I was still not looking forward to meeting this man. My thoughts were interrupted when my mother turned in her seat to look at me.

"Serenity, I want you to know that I only do all this because I love you and I want you to have a good future as a wife and as a queen," she said gently, "Please, understand that."

I glanced down at her in confusion. "Yes, mother, I know that." Why was she talking like that? Was something wrong? She raised her hand to place it on my cheek quickly and smiled. I looked back at the door when I heard it begin to open, making her hand fall. She composed herself and sat straightly in her throne.

The door opened fully, and I could see a tall man walking forward. His form hit the light, making it seem to burst into beauty. I didn't have to look at him long to jump to the assumption that he had muscles under the black silk dress shirt he was wearing. His black slacks covered a pair of long, muscular legs. His hair matched the darkness of his shirt, but it was his eyes that captured me the most. They were the deepest blue I had ever seen - midnight blue. It was a pair of eyes that had captured me once before, and didn't fail to do so again. But I didn't let them hold me for long because this time, I didn't want them.

How was that for a follow up? Was it what you expected or were you expecting more? I didn't drag out or actually show the meetings of the sets because I said this wasn't going to be a long story. I hope you liked it, and keep watch for Chapter Two.

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MoonlightMaiden14