Oho!! Well, what do you think? 2 chapters in 2 days? (: Sooo the waiting is over, they finally get to the palace. Yupie! (: Please read and enjoy it!
Chapter 9
Serenity couldn't help it. She really tried to stay calm, but she couldn't. There were so many questions and doubts. She glanced at Mina who was reading beside her. Seeing that her friend wasn't the always-cheerful Mina she knew, Serenity frowned.
"Is there something wrong?"
"Hm?"
"You look like if you just found out there is no real snow on the Moon."
Mina glanced at her friend and sighed.
"Something like that, I just talked with Kunzite and... I am so stupid. I did know that he is like any other men. Full with mistresses, but still..."
"You know, I think we have the same situation." Serenity downcasted her eyes. They had never spoken about this with Endymion, but she had some suspicion. She really hoped that these... mistresses didn't mean anything to him. It was flustering that she didn't know what their relationship really was, and there was something else too. She had a really bad feeling about getting 'home'.
"In a few more hours we will reach the palace." Kunzite said as if he just read her mind. However, his eyes were on Mina. Mina hesitated for a while, and, when everyone thought she would not answer, she smiled softly.
"Great. This journey was really tiring." Kunzite just looked at her for a while, as if not understanding her. Then, he grinned as if he had just won the lottery.
"It was amazing how well you both took it. Once we arrive I can show you around the palace if you would like to?" he said hopefully.
"Maybe." Mina said shortly but gently. Serenity looked at her friend.
"You were angry with him. You change your mind really quickly." She said skeptically.
"I thought about it. I cannot change what had happened in the past, but maybe I can his future. The future where aren't any mistresses."
"Then why didn't you accept his offer to take you around the palace?" Serenity was confused.
"I don't care how many mistresses he had before, but I won't tell him so. He should feel some uneasiness about it." Mina smiled slyly.
Serenity shook her head. She hoped that her friend will find the happiness with Kunzite. They will reach the palace soon... Thinking about it, she got nervous. Then suddenly she felt someone really close to her. Glancing up she saw Endymion reading next to her. He looked worried.
"Is everything all right? I just felt some odd feeling from you." He asked. His voice was emotionless, but his eyes said something else.
"Yes. I am only excited."
"That's all?"
"Yes. You are worried about me?" Her eyes lit up. He was definitely worried.
"Maybe." Endymion turned away when he saw Serenity smiling. 'You won't get away so easy, mister, I will fight for your heart.'
Endymion glanced once more at her then loped back beside Kunzite. Did he really see determination in her eyes? What was she up to?
The hours flew to fast for Serenity. She thought she would faint when Endymion turned to her and Mina.
"Behind this forest is the palace. Once we reached the gate, you can take the scarf off. You don't need it behind the walls."
Serenity nodded nervously. Mina looked around excitedly too. Everything was so different than it was on the Moon. So much bigger, so much darker, so...full with life.
Reaching the gate, Endymion saw the guard sent a footman to inform his parents that they arrived. He had never been so excited and worried to get home in his life.
Sooner than they thought they would, they reached the palace. A small group stood before the door. An older woman with black hair and smiling face stood to the right. Beside her was a tall, serious but also friendly man. His appearance demanded respect from everyone. He looked like a man who knows what he wants. To the left stood 2 men their uniforms were just like Kunzite's. They stood almost bored there but seeing them, they looked curiously at Serenity. Kunzite and Endymion dismounted the horses.
"Endymion!!" The lady with black hair run to him and hugged him close.
"You are finally home!"
"Leave the poor boy alone, Gaia." The older man said slapping his son's back. "Welcome home. A lot of things happened while you were away."
"Mother. Father. It is good to be home again."
Serenity blinked curiously around. Kunzite already helped Mina off her horse and now was waiting for Serenity to accept his hand. However, Serenity sat tense on her horse. She could still run away. It seemed that nobody noticed that she was there too. They won't notice if she turned her horse and run for it. She smiled bitterly. No. She would never do that. She could never leave Endymion like this. And she wasn't sure if Endymion would have let her go that easy. No, probably not...
"Princess?" Kunzite looked puzzled at her. Endymion also glanced at her. Seeing how tense she was, he stepped to the horse and afforded his hand to her.
Serenity accepted his help. When Endymion helped her of the horse, he whispered in her ear.
"Relax." Serenity gave a small smile and nodded.
"Mother, Father. Let me introduce my wife. Princess Serenity."
"It is a great pleasure to meet you King Damian and Queen Gaia." Serenity put all her worries away and courted deeply.
There was silence for a while. The King, the Queen and even the 3 Generals stared without breathing. Gaia was the first to speak.
"Serenity? As the Moon Princess?" She couldn't be the Moon Princess right? But that silver hair could mean one thing only. What was her son thinking when he married her?
Endymion looked carefully around. Nephrite was surprised, but, as always, he hid his feelings well. Zoisite blinked confused first at the Princess then at his Prince and finally at Kunzite. Jadeite gaped his mouth was still open. The 3 Generals were surprised but that was all. Endymion turned to his parents. Their faces were emotionless.
Finally, King Damian broke the awkward silence.
"This was... surprising. Excuse us for this quite discourteous greeting, dear. It is really nice to meet you." The King smiled gently. 'Not a wholehearted smile but not a forced one either. It is a beginning.' Serenity thought. She was grateful for breaking the silence. Everybody was staring at her and if Endymion wasn't holding her waist, she surely would have fainted long ago.
"It surely was a surprise. I am sorry about it. I thought Endymion told you in the letter that he married me." She turned to Endymion a bit angry with him.
"Prince Endymion." Gaia said sternly. Everybody looked at her.
"Excuse me?" Serenity looked from Endymion to the Queen frowning.
"He is Prince Endymion to you." Gaia said emotionless.
"No. She'll call me what she wants." Endymion's voice was harsh, surprising everybody.
"But-"
"No, Mother. She is my wife." Mother and son looked at each other without blinking. The silence battle ended when Gaia sighing loudly.
"Sure. As you wish."
"And who is this other lovely lady?" King Damian asked looking at Mina hoping he could change the topic.
"Let me introduce Princess Mina, the Princess of Venus also the leader of the Senshi."
"It is nice to meet you Highness." Mina said to King Damian but didn't turn to the Queen. Nobody had the right to ignore her Princess. What this Queen Gaia did was too much.
"I'll go and tell the servants to prepare 2 rooms for our guests." Gaia didn't look at Serenity or at Mina. Turning her back, she went to the palace.
"They are no guests." Endymion had some trouble to control his anger. "They only need to prepare one room. Serenity is sleeping in my room with me."
Gaia stopped, her shoulder tensed, but she didn't turn around.
"Sure. Then I will tell them to prepare ONE room." With that she disappeared in the palace.
"Sorry. She wasn't prepared for this. Don't worry, she will get used to it." King Damian said. His wife's behavior surprised him too. "I will talk with her." He smiled once more at Serenity, nodded to Mina and went after his wife.
There was silence for a while. Serenity turned to the 3 strange men. She was more than tense still she couldn't help but smile.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked the blond man. Hearing her voice the others looked at Jadeite as well.
"Close your mouth Jed." Nephrite nudged the gaping man.
"Uhm, Sorry."
"Serenity, I want you to meet my Generals. Nephrite, Zoisite and Jadeite." The men bowed.
"Nice to meet you."
Meanwhile Kunzite carried the two bags of luggage they brought with them.
"It was a long day. I think we deserve an early dinner." he said.
"I am sorry, but I am really tired. Is it all right if I miss dinner and go to sleep right away?" Serenity asked turning to Endymion.
"Of course. I'll show you our room. Kunzite, could you please take Mina to her room? I am also very tired. See you all tomorrow." Endymion didn't wait for an answer, wrapping his arm around Serenity's waist, he lead her to the palace.
Well, I want you to know that chapter 10 is ready too!! I already sent it to my dear beta-reader!
xxxTigerLilyxxx: You know, I think you know me very well! In the next chapter there will be a mistress-problem (: You are so good at guessing (:
chibiangel413, Whyte Roses, jupiter2005, UFGator1, Sailormoonloverlol, RoyalLovers1418, bunnykim89: Thank you soooo much guys!
Edward4ever1992: Thank you! Well Beryl will play a part in the story. But not a large part. I don't like her either (:
