Disclaimer: Still don't and never will (insert sad face here) own Sailor Moon, only borrowing.
TWELVE YEARS LATER
The clashing of metal echoed in the room as a dark haired man deflected yet another lunge from his opponent. His opponent was an older man, who was skilled with a sword. He looked for any weaknesses as he pondered his next move and was surprised to see that the older man had exposed his left side, as he held his sword high in the air with both his hands. Taking advantage of his opportunity to strike, the dark hair man lunged forward, hitting the older man on his left side softly. The older man tried to compensate by swinging the long blade, but the younger man ducked, swiping his left leg out behind his rival's feet and the older man fell heavily onto the mat. His sword falling to the ground with him.
The young man quickly recovered, standing to his full height of six foot, he took several steps forward and gently hit the older man's sword out of his hand with his foot. Then, he placed the tip of his blade to his foe's throat.
His foe surrendered and the dark haired man reached down and helped his sparring partner up, patting him on the back as he passed him. A young boy ran to him and he gave him his sword, the boy running off as soon as he was given the winners sword.
He picked up a towel that was held out to him, and he wiped the sweat from his brow with it. "Well done Endymion. That had to be one of your quickest times yet!"
Endymion smiled at the praise and threw the towel over one shoulder. "I need a new partner Asanuma. I need to be more prepared.
Asanuma nodded, "Oh course highness, I'll speak to Kunzite."
"What do I have next on the agenda?"
Asanuma cleared his throat, "You'll need to be up on the Moon for Serenity's birthday in about an hour."
Endymion stiffened, and his eyes narrowed as he scowled. "That's tonight?"
Asanuma nodded, "in about an hour." Endymion glared at his blonde attendant. Asanuma was only a few months younger than him, and he usually enjoyed the banter that they shared.
But it was times like this that the blonde got on his nerves. Asanuma was probably the only one who understood his hesitation about anything that was related to the moon. Endymion knew from a young age that because of the soul mate connection he had with Serenity that she was in danger. And days after his fifth birthday his training had begun, so that when the time came he would be able to properly protect the princess.
His life seemed to revolve around Serenity, and how everything he did was to better himself for her. To try to gain some control over his life he would refuse to visit the moon, unless he was forced to go. He wouldn't speak to Serenity unless he absolutely had to. He wanted to live his life the way he wanted to, and tried to do so in any way that he could. He might not be able to court any of the women in his kingdom, but he could flirt with them, so he did.
Sighing loudly Endymion knew that he would need to get ready, and headed in the direction of his chambers. "Come along tonight 'Numa, Motoki will be there and we will make our own fun."
When Endymion heard Asanuma's positive response he left the room to get ready.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Selenity sat in her daughter's chambers with her eyes closed, waiting for daughter to come out. "Sere, may I open my eyes yet?"
"No, not yet mother, be patient." Selenity could hear the giggles of her daughter and her future senshi getting ready, and she smiled brightly as they seemed to enjoy themselves from all of the noise. A few minutes later, several footfalls were heard and Selenity was told to open her eyes, which she did immediately.
Tears pooled in Selenity's eyes as her daughter stood before her. At twelve years of age, Serenity was already starting to slowly blossom into a woman. Her long blonde hair was fashioned into the traditional hairstyle on her head falling down to her waist. Serenity was wearing a pale cream dress that was off the shoulders with the shortest of sleeves. The top of the dress was a corset which had embroidered crescent moons lining the empire waistline which flared out into a skirt to give her the illusion of curves.
Selenity stood and moved to her daughter, gently cupping her face with both of her hands and placing a soft kiss on her forehead where her crescent moon shone. "You look beautiful, if only your father could see you!"
Serenity beamed, "you think he'd really like it?"
Selenity nodded and turned to head out of the door. "Mum?" Selenity turned to Serenity who looked at her with questioning eyes, "do you think Endy will like it?"
She felt her heart break as she looked at her daughter. Selenity had become worried for Serenity as Endymion had become more distant. But Serenity had surprised her by always looking at the bright side of all of his actions towards her. However she wished that Endymion wouldn't be so selfish around her. "Endymion will love it more than he cares to admit dear."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
A man in his late thirties stood tall, but shifted uncomfortably as his king paced in front of him.
"I'm pleased with all of the progress that you have done here throughout your stay here, but now, I want to see where your loyalties lay." The man stood straighter as the king continued. "You will be guarding my son tonight and retrieving his birthright for him." The king turned to face him, "if this mission is successful then you have nothing to worry about. On the other hand if this mission is not accomplished, I will make sure that your family is taken care of personally. Your son has become a valuable member of my army, I would hate to lose such an asset and your wife…"
The king paused for a moment and the man froze at the king's implication, "she's a beautiful woman and nobody would want anything sinister to happen to her. Understood?"
The man took a deep breath through his nose as he watched the king turn around to face the window, "You'll need to see the major general for more information for your mission, and if you accomplish this mission you will become my general."
The king walked to the door, turning to the man before he exited the room, "Good luck on your mission Tsukino."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Endymion entered the ballroom with Asanuma and his shitennou following closely behind him. Turning to his four guards he told them to scatter throughout the room, then asked Asanuma to find Motoki. After both groups left his side, he went to find Selenity to get his formalities out of the way.
The moon monarch was standing on the dais with Sailors Mars, Neptune and Jupiter surrounding her. He walked over to her and bowed, "Queen Selenity."
Selenity turned at her name and she waved Endymion forward and he was brought into an uncomfortable embrace. "You look very handsome tonight Endymion." He thanked her for the compliment, and made some small talk about the decorations about the room.
The ballroom was transformed into pale hues of silver and cream. Around the columns that lined the room tiny lights were placed and every few seconds transformed into either a purple or blue. It was a subtle change that Endymion felt made the room less sterile. Her voice broke through his thoughts, "Serenity thought of the colour palette. She's very excited to see you." Endymion's eyes turned to hers and his jaw clenched, "I do hope that you will stay a few days, you know you are always welcome."
He gave the older woman a tight smile and nodded, "I have urgent business on Earth tomorrow," Endymion lied easily, "Please excuse me, I need to speak with my shitennou." He turned and headed toward a balcony and sighed heavily. On his way he passed a server with tall glasses of what he assumed was alcohol, grabbing a glass he stepped out of the stuffy room.
Drowning the glass in one go, Endymion placed the glass on the balcony's railing. He was sick and tired of Selenity trying to push him towards Serenity, with every comment that she made. He was a grown man, heir to the Earth kingdom and he wasn't going to be bullied into spending time with someone that he wasn't even sure that he liked. When Serenity was first born, he and his parents were one of the first people who met the young baby. His mother and Selenity had cooed about how in about twenty years they would be here again with his and Serenity's own children. He remembered staying there a few days and then when they returned to Earth, he resumed his training
Endymion was sitting at the table on his father's left hand side and his mother opposite him. A plate of food was getting cold in front of him as he moved his fork around its surface.
"Endy, is there something wrong with the food?" He shook his head negatively and his mother spoke again, "what's the matter sweetheart?"
He twisted his fork in his hand, "Where's Ren's father?" He looked up at his own father, "Why isn't he looking after her?"
He observed as his mother and father shared a look, before his father turned to him. "Uncle Max, can't look after his family anymore-"
Endymion's eyes were wide as he interrupted his father, "he's dead!" His father shook his head negatively, "but who's going to protect Ren?"
His mother put her cutlery down as she shared another pointed look with his father. "Endymion have you been listening to our private conversations?" Endymion looked at the flowers in the middle of the table a few seats down from him.
"I didn't mean too mum, honest…I just- I heard you say that something bad could happen soon." He looked at his mother, "Ren's just a baby…who would hurt a baby?"
"Some very selfish people son," His father said sadly. "We don't want you to worry about it Endymion."
"But Aunt Lenny said that I needed to protect Ren!" He looked down as he saw his parents disappointed faces, which was worse than their angry faces.
"You should not have listened to that conversation, young man." His mother scolded.
"Is she right?"
He looked up at his father when he felt a hand on his shoulder, "yes, one day. But hopefully not for a long time."
"Stefan," His father turned to his mother, "maybe Selenity's right, we should start now. I don't want him to get hurt protecting her, especially if he doesn't have the right skills set."
"Are you sure about this Terra?"
"Of course not, he's only five. But if it saves his life later on, I'm willing to try anything." Endymion watched as his mother covered her mouth, and blinked back tears.
His father gently squeezed the hand that rested on his shoulder. "Very well. Eat up son, you'll need your strength."
His training took over his life. Instead of being able to play with children his own age, he was being taught how to use a trident, and how to properly shoot a bow and arrow. At first it was fun, but having to learn all of the techniques grew tiring after a while.
For three months every year, he and his mother took a trip to the moon. He spent most of that time training, and the rest of the time with Serenity. As Serenity grew older she followed him around everywhere, their mothers thought it was cute, when he was younger he tolerated it, but now he hated it. Especially when Selenity practically forced them together, and because of this Endymion spent less and less time on the moon
When he was nearly sixteen, he started to appreciate what Jadeite called, the finer things in life, girls. He had been staying on the moon when a ball was held to celebrate the winter solstice. On his previous birthday he had been given his personal guard. They had been spent most of the year bonding, so when he went to the moon that year, they went with him. Endymion didn't consider the four men as his guard, but four new friends. The five of them were wild in that first year, encouraging each other with crazy antics and trying to catch the occasional eye of a young woman. This was the first year that his mother left him to go to the moon on his own with his shitennou as she was going to come up the next week for Serenity's birthday.
As the ball began Endymion and the shitennou crowded in a corner pointing out the girls that they thought were particularly beautiful, and started to dare each other to ask them for a dance. Each of the shitennou had all asked someone and all but Kunzite had been turned down. Jadeite had pointed out a brunette that he had mentioned beforehand and dared Endymion to ask her for a dance. Not wanting to embarrass himself in front of his new guard, Endymion squared his shoulders and walked over to her. He introduced himself and asked her if she wanted to dance, taking her to the middle of the room to dance as she agreed. As he was guiding the brunette off of the dance floor he was surprised when Sailor Venus said that Selenity wished to speak to him privately after the ball that she had vanished from.
He met her in her study after the ball, walking large room with a wall of books on his left and an armchair to his right. Selenity sat at the large desk that had a wall to ceiling window behind it, overlooking the gardens. The older woman gestured to the seat in front of her and he sat down.
Selenity went on to tell him that she was disappointed in him, as Serenity had been heartbroken when she had seen him dance another woman. Selenity demanded that he apologise Serenity and find a way to make it up to her. He tried to argue with her, but she was adamant that he shouldn't take this sort of relationship for granted. Endymion nearly lost his temper then, as he was sick and tired of people always using his soul mate connection with Serenity to make him appreciate her. When he left the meeting with Selenity he left the moon then with his shitennou and refused to go back for a full year.
He still hadn't forgiven Selenity as every time he arrived on the moon, she still tried to push him to spend time with Serenity.
He was his own person and refused to have anyone push him to something that he didn't want to do.
Hearing voices behind him, Endymion turned around to see Asanuma and Motoki approach him, "that's why it's taken me so long to get here because of the extra security Diamond insisted on, more than three quarters of the castle guards to be used. I needed to check that I wasn't put on at late notice."
Endymion scoffed as he greeted his friend with a shake of a hand, "Diamond is going to be here tonight?"
Motoki nodded, "Apparently being one of the lesser princes of Earth is more important that you Endy."
"I'm not concerned," Endymion said, "I'm more worried about why he was even invited when we all know how the princess acts around him."
"She does get rather anxious around him." Motoki observed.
The three men nodded and Endymion glanced around the room, "has he arrived yet?"
Motoki shook his head, and Asanuma laughed, "Endymion we would have heard the trumpets if he had." Endymion quirked the side of his lip.
From the entrance of the ballroom behind them, an attendant announced the arrival of Prince Diamond. From his view Endymion watched as Diamond entered the room with a blonde escort, "speak of the devil and he shall come."
A clack of heels against the marble floor alerted Endymion that they had company. Serenity's cousin the Princess of Venus approached, "Good evening gentlemen." Motoki and Asanuma bowed to the princess, "Prince Endymion, Serenity was wondering whether you would be kind enough to escort her to her party?"
Endymion folded his arms against his chest, wondering if Selenity was behind this. "Tell the princess I'm flattered, but I have to decline."
Venus's face fell, "It's her birthday. Are you that scared of losing her that you will cut her out of your-"
Motoki stepped forward and grabbing her elbow, "V, that's enough. It's neither of our places to tell Prince Endymion what to do or feel." Endymion barely hear her apologise to him before Motoki was speaking again. "V, could you please ask the Princess if she would mind if I escorted her to her party tonight?"
Venus smiled at Motoki, "Lieutenant Furuhata, the Princess would very much like that. I'll let her know that you are on your way." Venus turned on her heel, her dress's skirt flaring out dramatically as she moved away from them.
"Well I guess I better get going." Motoki said, he stopped when he heard his name, and turned to Endymion.
"Thank you."
Motoki gave him a crooked smile, "I wouldn't thank me yet. I'm going to let the Princess know that you want the first dance." Motoki jogged off, while Asanuma laughed at Endymion, who was now scowling.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
General Masato Furuhata was in the war room doing some last minute preparations for the princess's ball, when his second in command alerted him to a Tsukino, who was looking for him.
Putting down the papers that he was looking at back on the table, he went to find his old comrade who he hadn't seen for about eleven years when he had left the moon. Masato was eager to catch up with his old friend.
Turning the corner Masato saw his old buddy. "Kenji," the brown haired man turned and a smile passed his features briefly, "it's been a long time."
The two men embraced each other briefly then pulled apart to look at each other. Before he had a chance to speak, Kenji started. "'Hata, I hate to be so forward, but I need a favour." Masato frowned, leaning against the closest wall and folded his arms against his chest. He nodded silently and motioned for Kenji to explain. "About three years ago my wife's mother was sick, and Ikuko wanted to be closer to her. I applied for a position in King Coalant's province where I was able to quickly move up the ranks, and have become a part of his and Diamond's personal guard. We've been given some Intel that leads us to believe that Diamond's life is in danger.
Masato blinked, not quite sure if he believed the man who he once served with. Hoping to give him the benefit of the doubt, he asked "Kenji, we already have most of our men on guard tonight as King Coalant insisted on it. What more do you want me to do?"
"I want you to let me wear of one of your uniforms so that I can keep an extra eyes on Diamond. With the extra security that you have, no one will notice me." Kenji looked up, "However since I am one of King Coalant's men, nobody will expect me to be wearing one of your uniforms."
Masato nodded in agreement and gave Kenji a small smile. "I can do that, but you'll need to contact us later tonight with anything that you or your men have found." Kenji nodded, "let's get your temporary uniform."
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Prince Diamond stood at a corner of the large ballroom nursing a glass of red wine, when he felt a presence move next to him. Diamond looked out of the corner of his eye to see Beryl standing next to him.
Gently swirling the wine in his glass he spoke softly, "Princess Beryl, what do you want?"
Beryl brought her own glass to her mouth, taking a small sip. "I wanted to know if the offer your father offered me still stands."
Diamond stiffened and then forced himself to relax, "I'm sure it still does Beryl, but I think that my father would be better suited for this conversation." Beryl nodded in agreement.
A trumpet sounded and the occupants in the room turned towards the stairs, where an attendant proclaimed that Princess Serenity was entering the room. Diamond smiled as the princess descended the stairs escorted by a blonde man.
When Serenity stood at the bottom of the stairs, the blonde man moved away for a moment for everyone to applaud her. The orchestra started and her escort led her towards the open balcony. Diamond looked at who was occupying the space, and the hand that held his glass tightened around the wide bowl as he saw Endymion bow to Serenity. His eyes narrowed as Serenity held her hand out to Endymion, and his rival pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. Diamond followed Endymion and Serenity as they made their way to the centre of the room. His face hardened as Endymion led Serenity in a simple dance, hating the way that they moved gracefully together.
Tearing his gaze from them, he met Beryl's eyes and nodded slightly at her. Knowing that his father had a plan, he hoped that whatever it was it she would get it done.
Turning his eyes back to the couple, Diamond hoped that Endymion relished what would be his final dance with Serenity.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
A knock startled the man awake, moving the sheets that covered his body and tiredly made his way to the door and opened it. A thin dark haired man stood before him and he stared at Jhudora's right hand man. "What do you want James?"
James swallowed and held a sealed parchment out to him. "It's happening to tonight." James started stuttering, "app-app-apparently there have been some complications. If you still wish to be there, you-you'll need to help him."
He snatched the paper out of James's limp grip and he quickly ripped the paper from its seal. Allowing himself to skim its contents he raised his blue eyes to James's brown. "Is the transport ready?" James nodded and the man quickly went back into his room, shrugging on a shirt and changing his pants and then followed James to the awaiting transport.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Serenity's heart was speeding as she was being led by Endymion to the centre of the ballroom. She had been waiting for this moment for so long. When her mother asked her about how she wanted to celebrate her birthday, and she immediately said a ball.
There was something magical about a ball, there was beautiful dresses and dancing. She would always watch her mother as she got ready, helping her choose a dress and earrings. Then she would sneak out of her room to watch some of the celebrations.
Her favourite part was the dancing, and she had asked her mother specifically that there would be lots of music. During her etiquette classes she begged her mother to start to teach her how to dance and once she relented, Serenity recruited Motoki to be her partner. Serenity just hoped that her lessons would impress Endymion.
She felt Endymion place a hand on her waist and used his free hand to take her left hand, gripping it gently. Listening to the music she practiced with during her lessons, Serenity looked up at Endymion, her smile dropping as his attention was somewhere else. Her gaze dropped to their feet as she recalled the last time she saw him two years ago at the Winter Solstice festivities, dancing with a dark haired woman and looking happier than she had ever seen him. She was upset when Luna had found her running back to her chambers crying and when she didn't tell the older woman what upset her, her mother was brought in. Not being able to hide anything from her mother, Serenity told her how she had seen Endymion with someone else. She had begged her mother not to say anything for fear that Endymion would leave when he had just arrived to the moon. When she entered the dining room, her mother informed her that Endymion was needed back on Earth.
But she knew that wasn't the case. Endymion had left, and hadn't returned to the Moon since then. She didn't understand what she had done wrong. She was so distracted with her thoughts that she stumbled slightly before Endymion righted her. Her cheeks felt flushed as she felt embarrassed as she nearly tripped with the whole galaxy watching.
Closing her eyes Serenity thought about only Endymion and how safe she felt in his arms, and while she stayed in them nothing bad could happen.
The music stopped for a few seconds and she felt Endymion's hold drop. Her eyes opened and she watched as he bowed and thanked her for the dance, then silently moved to another partner. The music started again and Serenity looked on helplessly as other couples danced around her. She started to head for the dais where her mother was sitting, when her arm was caught roughly and she was spun into Prince Diamond's awkward grasp. "May I have this dance?" Not waiting for her answer, he brought her close and Serenity could only follow as he led her around the room. "You look so beautiful tonight." He whispered into her hair.
Trying not to scream, Serenity turned her head to catch anyone's attention, but no one seemed to pay her any attention. When a hand slipped on her throat, cupping her jaw to make her look at him, she tried to pull away but Diamonds grip tightened, his fingers digging into her skin. Tugging her hands free, Serenity pushed herself away from him as hard as she could, trying to get away. She only got a few paces away from him when she was pulled back to him, her back hitting his chest. Wiggling in his grasp, Serenity whimpered as she wasn't able to extract herself from his arms. He turned her forcibly around and placed her hand in his and squeezing roughly. She grimaced in pain, squirming a hand free. She shook it, hoping to get its feeling back and opened her palm to slap him hard against his cheek. He released her as her open hand made contact with this face and she watched as he lent down in what she assumed was pain.
She heard a soft cursing, lifting her pale cream skirt in her hands and ran, letting a yelp out when she felt hands on her hips halting her movement. Some ladies around them gasped, and the music that was once echoing around the room paused and the Senshi of Jupiter and Mars stepped out of the crowd in front of her. Sailor Mars herded her towards her aunt the Queen of Venus, who wrapped her in a warm embrace
"I think there's been a misunderstanding." Diamond thundered, "Serenity, tell them."
She shook her head negatively, "You hurt me Diamond. I don't want to dance with you." Serenity moved her head as her aunt carefully inspected her jaw, gasping at the sight. She faintly heard her ask for someone to get Endymion.
Blinking back tears, Serenity watched as Diamond huffed and walked away. She allowed her aunt to guide her out of the room to one of the private rooms just off of the ballroom and sat her down on a loveseat. She vaguely heard her aunt sit next to her, and she started to calm down as her Aunt played with her hair.
Hearing footsteps approach, Serenity looked up at Endymion, her eyes widened before she blinked and looked away in shame. "I'm sorry." She whispered under her breath. Everything that she did, seemed to make him angry. Tears slipped down her cheek, and she was surprised when she felt them being brushed away.
Her lips parted slightly as she looked at Endymion, who knelt before her. His eyes were hard as she felt his eyes roam over her jaw, which was stinging. "I'm sorry for dancing with Diamond…I didn't want to but he forced me…"
"I know Ren." She smiled at the nickname he hadn't called her for over three years, she watched as he frowned, "what?"
"You haven't call be Ren for ages, I just missed it." It was a special name that only he was able to call her, from when she was only little. But over the years, Endymion had started calling her by her given name.
He gently brought his fingers to her injured jaw and she watched on curiously as he focused on healing her. Endymion's dark blue eyes changed to gold as he used the golden crystal to fix the damage Diamond caused. She felt sparks tickle against her skin, and then slowly fade away. She whispered her thanks, and Endymion slowly brought his head forward to kiss her crescent moon. "I'm sorry, Ren."
Tears welled in her eyes again, and she knew that he was going to leave her again. She wished he wouldn't, she wanted to him to stay and protect her from the strange dreams she had been having. "Ren, what dreams have you been having?"
Whoops, she thought. She didn't mean to say it out loud, but she was never on her guard when Endymion was around, especially when he used the golden crystal. "Bad dreams, I don't remember much about them. Do you think you could sit with me tonight and keep them away?"
Endymion nodded and she smiled, "Go back to your ball." Walking out of the private room, Serenity smiled as her Aunt and Sailor Jupiter were waiting for her to escort her back to the ballroom.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Queen Terra walked down the long corridor, wondering who would summon her when she had just arrived at the moon. Turning to her right she opened the door, and was surprised as she saw the cloaked figure sitting at the table facing her.
"It's going to happen tonight, isn't it?" The cloaked figure nodded and Terra took a deep breath in as she gripped the back of the chair tightly. "Does Selenity know it's going to happen?" The figure shook its head.
Terra blinked, surprised when she felt tears on her cheeks and quickly wiped them away. She needed to know something so that she could tell Endymion, and that he would be able to protect Serenity. "Can you tell me anything else?"
The figure placed a card on the table and then stood up, starting to walk around the small table. Terra swiftly picked the card up and read it. Wide frantic eyes read over the paper again and Terra turned to the figure, who was now at the door. "This isn't right."
The cloaked figure stopped and Terra swallowed, "is there anything that can be done to prevent this?"
The figure shook its head negatively again and walked out of the room. Leaving the Queen of Earth sobbing in its wake.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The rest of the evening passed much too quickly for Serenity, as she walked up the dais to stand at her mother's side. She smiled at her guests as her mother thanked their visitors for their presence at her ball. As she looked amongst the crowd, her eyes found Endymion's who stood on the side of the crowd. After the incident with Diamond she had tried to find him, but she couldn't find him in the large room. She was glad he gave her his word, and was hoping that he kept his promise and hadn't left the moon yet.
Some servants opened the doors that led out of the ballroom, for guests that wished to leave and Serenity watched as some nobility left the room. She smiled as she saw her Aunt Terra, Endymion's mother enter the ballroom. Serenity waited patiently for her mother to finish speaking with a guest who she couldn't place their name, and then told her she was going to welcome her Aunt, who was now standing with her son.
Serenity walked down the dais, holding her skirts in her hands so she wouldn't trip and skipped closer to her Aunt, who was speaking softly with Endy.
"Are you coming to Earth tonight?"
She hoped he wasn't and frowned when she heard him say, "Yes, but I was going to stay here til later and then-"
"No." Terra interrupted, "no. I want you to stay here tonight and not let Serenity out of your sight."
Serenity watched curiously as Endymion sighed, "Mother, I have plans-" Her Aunt's shoulders shook with silent sobs and she quickly ran to her and wrapped her arms her.
She looked up at Endymion, "Endy, is Aunt Terra ok?" Endymion looked to his mother and nodded. Her Aunt gently pushed her back and smiled brightly. She quickly wiped at her eyes and then crouched down.
"Hello Serenity," Serenity greeted Endymion's mother, "I'm sorry I'm late. Have you had a good night?" She nodded at the dark haired woman. "Good," Terra reached her hands out to cup her face and then placed a quick kiss on her crescent moon, whispering "May you be taken care of during your future endeavours."
Serenity creased her brow in confusion as her Aunt's hands dropped from her face and brought her into an embrace, "be safe until you come back to Endy."
She was confused, and her heart sped as she thought about being separated from Endy. She looked up at Endymion, who gently pulled his mother away from her. "I'll stay mother." Terra smiled sadly, "I'll protect her or die trying."
Terra nodded, walking over to the dais where her mother stood. Serenity turned to Endymion, "Endy," He looked down at her, "is something bad going to happen?"
He reached out for her hand and lightly squeezed her hand in his, "not if I can help it Ren."
She believed him, but she couldn't help but feel that something big was going to happen.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Opening her chambers, the crowned Princess of Mars, Rei called for her maid and asked her to help her out of her gown. As the maid finished unlacing the corset, she left the room and slipped into her temple garb. As she finish wrapping the red skirt around her waist and was dressed appropriately for her priestess duties, Rei held the hem of her skirt up and ran to the temple just outside of the palace.
Discarding her shoes at the temple door, Rei pulled the heavy ornate door open and slipped into the temple. Catching her breath, Rei walked to the room that contained the sacred fire of Mars, sliding the door open and closing it behind her, then sat cross legged on the mat.
She sighed as she tried to clear her head, but Endymion's revelation to her a few hours earlier did not allow her. Rei was surprised when Endymion told her that Serenity had been having dreams, as the Moon Princess would normally share everything with herself, Mina, Makoto and Ami.
The five of them were almost inseparable. Every birthday was spent together sleeping in one room, sharing gossip about what had happened in the time when they weren't together and just enjoying their free time away from their duties, doing what they assumed regular girls did.
Turning her attention to the piles of coal and ash in front of her, she began to concentrate on bringing the sacred fire to life. Recently, as the future senshi of Mars, Rei had been watching her mother as she used the sacred fire. But this would be her first time actually using her knowledge to communicate with it. She would have asked her mother for help, but she was at her post tonight and wouldn't be able to leave until the morning.
She closed her eyes and began to chant, the flickering flames slowly growing to a wall of fire. The heat was intense and she felt a sheen of sweat coating her forehead, drips slowly trailing down her face. She forced her mind to go blank, and asked the fire to show her Serenity's nightmares, but nothing happened. She opened her eyes and groaned in frustration, as the wall of fire diminished into a tiny flame
Bringing a hand to her forehead she wiped the sweat away with the back of her hand, sighing harshly. She was the Princess of Mars, the next senshi of Mars, she needed to do this…she had to do this. She was supposed to do this, it was supposed to be easy for her. But it wasn't, and at the rate that she was going she wouldn't be able to protect her friend.
Tears pricked her eyes as she was frustrated at herself, if she couldn't do this what sort of senshi would she be? She thought of the love that she had for the girl that she considered as her sister and was surprised that when she looked up, the sacred fire roared before her. The flames embraced her and she nearly screamed when the flickering embers came towards her, finally engulfing her before her vision went dark.
A hand skimmed against her forehead and she felt her body freeze. Slowly she opened her eyes and flinched back when she saw a white haired man staring longingly at her.
The man's lips curled slightly and he placed a hand on her stomach, moving it across until it rested on her hip. "You're finally awake my dear." He brought her closer to him, "did you rest well."`
Rei panicked as she couldn't control the movements of her body and nodded. Feeling the hand move from her waist to her right arm, he trailed his fingers up her arm, along her collarbone, then to her chin. She blanched when cold fingers brushed over her lips and the man caught her gaze. "I'm so happy your mine."
A silence fell on the room as the man sat on the bed next to her, moving until he was laying on the bed with his body pressed next to hers, kissing her bare shoulder. "All mine." Rei's breath quickened in panic, when the man started kissing up her throat and his hands started roaming along her body again.
"Are you happy to be mine?" Rei nodded, blinking back tears and allowing the man to continue his assault on her body instead of resisting. "Say my name."
Rei swallowed feeling tears slip down her cheeks in despair, as she reached a hand to touch the man's cheek and then reluctantly reached up to kiss him briefly. Her eyes closed tightly as she wished she was anywhere else. She was roughly pushed down and the man commanded her to look at him. "Say my name."
She reluctantly opened her watery eyes and more tears slipped down her cheeks. A cold hand gripped her bicep tightly as he growled, "say my name or I will kill Endymion."
Rei's eye's widened and tears rolled down her cheek as she turned her head away from him. "D-Diamond." She sobbed as his hand turned her head back to meet his stare and Diamond smirked kissing her roughly on the mouth.
"That wasn't hard, was it Serenity?"
Rei's eyes snapped open and she took in three deep breaths, as she leapt to her feet and ran out of the room.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Pushing roughly through the crowd, Diamond stood at foot of the dais, waiting for Selenity or one of her senshi to see him. Several minutes later, Sailor Mercury saw him waiting and walked over to him. "How may I assist you Prince Diamond?" Diamond asked for an audience with the Moon Queen, Mercury nodded and went to speak with the Queen.
Surveying the ballroom, he surprised when he could not see either Serenity or Endymion. A frown passed his features as he thought about the two of them together.
"Prince Diamond," Selenity's voice shook Diamond out of his stupor and he swiftly bowed to her. "How can I help you?"
Diamond smiled, "Your majesty, I wish to have a private audience with the Princess." Selenity's eyebrow rose and Diamond continued, "To give my present to Serenity."
Selenity's eyes were hard, "I heard that you had an altercation with my daughter." Diamond's jaw clenched at her words, "I would appreciate it if you would curb your enthusiasm for my daughter, so you don't hurt her like you did tonight."
"I recognise your concern your majesty. But I think that there has been a misunderstanding. I would very much like the opportunity to be able to apologise to Princess Serenity to get the situation under control."
Selenity nodded, "That would be acceptable. However she will not be available until tomorrow."
"Surely, you would give me a moment tonight to give her my present." Diamond appealed. His own voice on the verge of pleading, and a man of his standing never pleads, for anything.
"Unfortunately Serenity's time is booked for family. I am sorry for inconveniencing you."
"Majesty," Diamond interjected, "my present has to do with family." Selenity frowned, "I mean no harm, only the best for your daughter."
Selenity held out her hand, silently asking him to give her his present. Counting silently to ten, Diamond struggled to contain his anger. "I do not wish to be rude, Queen Selenity but I wish for my gift to be a surprise."
"If you wish to give my daughter this present, then I must see it. I will not tell her what it is." Diamond relented, turning his head to Rubeus and calling his forward. Rubeus stepped forward, placing a small box in the Queen's hand. Selenity opened the box, briefly looking at its contents then up at Diamond.
Diamond stood up straighter and smiled at the older monarch. "It was my mothers. She wanted me to give it to the one that I love."
Selenity shut the small box, returning it to Diamond. "My daughter cannot and will not accept this."
Diamond's eyes flared at her refusal and barked, "You are rejecting my gift?" Selenity nodded and Diamond quickly schooled his features. "Thank you for your time." Before he turned to leave he called for her again. "Is the reason for my rejection because Serenity is promised to someone else?"
"She is," Selenity nodded, and Diamond turned away from her, freezing as she spoke again, "to Prince Endymion."
Taking a deep breath Diamond strode out of the room, his face contorting in disgust as he imagined Serenity with his enemy. "Not for long Selenity.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Endymion watched in mild amusement as Serenity sat down, with her future senshi, minus the princess of Mars as she opened some of her gifts. His attention moving to the door occasionally as he hoped to see Princess Rei enter, but there had been no sign of her yet.
He wasn't surprised not to see Selenity there yet, and turned when the seat sagged as Motoki sat down with him. "You seem distracted."
"I am."
"Anything I can help with?" Endymion shook his head, not wanting to worry someone who he considered a friend. "Please let me know if there is Endymion." The prince nodded. Motoki was a good man, one of the few people outside of his shittenou that he would trust with his life.
Asanuma entered the room silently, walking over to him and softly telling him that Princess Mars was waiting for him. Endymion nodded and stood, "actually Motoki," the blonde looked up when his name was called. "Could you stay here with Serenity and Asanuma?" Motoki nodded, and Endymion asked the planetary princesses to join him in the next room.
He opened the door as the princesses exited the room and went to the adjoining room which had a two way mirror, he glanced in checking on the Moon Princess. His attention turned to Rei when he heard a gasp from the normally reserved Ami.
The dark haired girl was paler than it usually was and Endymion asked if she saw anything from Serenity's dream.
Looking away from him she whispered, "I did, though I wish I didn't." She sighed, "I was Serenity. She was a little bit older and was in a bedroom with a man." Endymion felt eyes on him and he blushed at the insinuation. "It wasn't Endymion."
Endymion watched the fire princess's body shook and he assumed that she was relieving the vision. "He was claiming her for himself, trying to make her submit to him." Mars violet eyes met his, "he gave her an ultimatum, her so you wouldn't be killed." Mars wrapped her arms around herself, "it was Diamond."
The room became eerily quiet as the information settled and everyone in the room was aware of the implications of the vision.
"No wonder Serenity was having nightmares," Jupiter spoke softly, "anyone would if Diamond was doing what he was doing." Endymion cast a wary glance to the amazon and she shrugged, "I just meant that so far it's just a dream so-"
"It didn't feel like a dream!" Mars snapped and Jupiter held her hands up in a surrender motion.
Endymion closed his eyes briefly, breathing heavily through his nose. "We need to move on from this. I want Serenity's guard up and running. Is it possible to do it without the Silver Crystal?" Venus shrugged, "find out." Venus nodded, "in the meantime, there needs to be some protection for Serenity. I'll have Motoki organise some moon guards who he trusts to be a part of the group along with the shitennou."
"What about the outer guard?" Mercury asked.
Endymion nodded, "The more advantages we have against this threat the safer Serenity is. When everything is ready let me know." The princesses nodded and the five of them left the room. He knocked on the door that he left Serenity in, and when Motoki opened it he asked him to find guards that he trusted to be a part of the team. Motoki nodded, going to find some men and Endymion entered the room.
"Where is everyone?" Serenity asked as he sat down.
"I asked them to give us a moment in private, so I can give you my gift."
Serenity's eyes lit up in delight and she came to stand before him, "what is it Endy?"
He held out a box to her and she gently took it from his hands. As she opened the box up, Endymion watched she looked curiously down at the star shaped locket. He vaguely remembered receiving it for a present when Serenity was born, but forgot about it until Asanuma reminded him he needed a present for the Princess.
"It's beautiful," She looked up at him. "Could you please put it on me?" When he agreed, she gave him back the box and turned around, allowing him to clasp the necklace around her neck. "Thanks Endy." Serenity picked up the locket and looked down at it expectantly as if something should have happened. Her brow furrowed into a frown and he asked what was wrong. "Aunt 'Dite once told me that there was a special locket shaped like star, and if it was given to their soul mate that it would play music." She touched the curves of the stars edge, "why isn't any music playing?"
He could see the tears well in her eyes and he felt guilty for her sadness. "Maybe this locket isn't the locket that your Aunt was speaking of,"
Serenity nodded sadly, "do you think one day…you could…come to care for me?" Endymion turned her around, bringing her into a hug.
"I do care for you Ren, just not the way that you want me to." Serenity stiffened in his arms, "but I'll try Ren, I'll really try." And he would, he'd spend more time on the moon. He'd tolerate her mother, so he'd never have to see her upset like she was at this very moment. Endymion vowed then and there to spend the rest of his life not resisting the pull of Serenity, like he had done for the last few years. He would open his heart to Serenity, his soul mate and finally find happiness.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
As Kenji made his way up the long corridor he watched as a blonde woman ran past him, thinking that it was Serenity, he turned and started to trail her. But when someone called out Venus and she twisted on her heel to answer and he followed her action and headed in the opposite direction.
Kenji sighed internally, as not to draw attention to himself. The weight of his decision to actually kidnap the princess of the moon was still fresh in his mind. He was torn between the safety of his family and the princess. Kenji loved his family and would do anything to save them from harm, but was it really fair to allow another family to suffer, just to protect his.
When he first saw the princess during her birthday ball, he was amazed at how small she was in comparison to his son, Shingo. Serenity was three years older than his son, but they were similar in height and statures. The only difference was Serenity was more delicate, while his son was more than a stick.
Even though he ate like a horse.
Kenji smiled, nearly walking past a room that displayed the Moon's rich history. Kenji beamed with pride at his ancestry and then his heart dropped as he realised the shame and betrayal he would be bringing on his family's name if he actually when through with Coalant's plan.
As he looked at the portrait of Prince Maximus and Queen Selenity, he felt a sense of pride. Even though he had been handpicked by Coalant to serve as his personal guard, he was able to work with Prince Maximus, a man that he respected.
"It's an amazing likeness." Kenji turned to see the woman who would be hurt the most out of this whole debacle, Queen Selenity. "After all of Serenity's milestones I come and talk to him."
He watched the Queen's profile as she looked at the picture. "He was an amazing man Highness."
"You worked with him?" Her eyes were sparkling with questions, and Kenji nodded proudly. "He was always proud about how he was able to come to the crown as he did. Being able to know that the people who were protecting myself and our family and that they were right for the task was important to him." Selenity stared wistfully at the portrait, "He wanted a large family. Boys who would help protect our kingdom, girls who would apparently have my beauty and grace, and then more boys who would protect our daughter's honour."
Kenji noted the bitterness laced within the small laugh she gave at the memory. "He would have been a good father. He was always kind with fellow soldier's children, even challenging some of the older ones to a duel or two."
He felt Selenity's hand on his shoulder, "Thank you. I always appreciate kind words about him. Maximus was exceeding proud of the abilities of the men who served in our guard, but he hated the attention and praise they gave him." Her hand moved from his shoulder and he heard her heels clacked against the marble floors as she left him.
"Queen Selenity?" She stopped and Kenji searched for the appropriate words to use. "I'm sorry!" He paused for a moment, "I'm sorry you couldn't have-"
Selenity waved him off, "The immortals allow everything to happen for a reason. It was just the way it had to be. Hopefully you can still learn from Maximus's life." Kenji vaguely heard Selenity leave and Kenji made his decision.
He looked up at the happy couple in the portrait. "I'm sorry."
A/N: Sorry that this has taken so long, the original didn't flow very well & was over 30 pages! I've cut it into two chapters and am editing it now...hopefully it won't take as long as this chapter did!
Thank you to all those who have reviewed, followed or favourited this story..