Chapter 10

Serenity wandered around the secluded area of the Lunar Kingdom. Her aura was bright with joy. The night prior she had thought of a perfect scheme to win Endymion back from the mysterious time guardian.

"Hopefully Liza's here," she said merrily to herself. "If I'm correct, she should be in this—"

"Serenity! What on earth are you doing in this wing of the castle!"

The Princess turned. Her mood instantly fell as Luna came charging towards her. The moon maiden pouted when the advisor stood before her.

"You shouldn't be wandering around here Serenity. Who knows what type of things are crawling around here. Besides, your late for breakfast. Your Mother has been waiting for you. The other girls are…shall I say, quite restless?" Luna grinned. "Their stomachs are growling immensely. So come. If you wish to return to this wing afterwards I can't stop you."

"You can't?"

"No," the older woman shook her head. "Unfortunately, I have affairs to deal with. Since a certain Princess doesn't wish to sit in on the peace conferences, I have to stay in her stead."

"Oh Luna," the girl giggled. She covered her mouth with a delicate hand. "You know you enjoy doing those things. Your far too serious to be as fun loving as me."

Luna's eyes widened as the Princess skipped towards the dining hall. It took all of the guardians' strength to not stick her tongue out at the younger girl.

"Serenity!" Luna chased her. "I am not always serious!"

Serenity's chuckles rang through the marble halls.

---

A tall woman draped in violet garb stood before the Moon Kingdom. Her hair, a fiery mane of tangled locks bellowed behind her. She cackled maniacally as she destroyed the land. Her taloned hands were outstretched, beams of darkness exploding from her palms. The citizens shrieked as they were pelted by energy, slowly falling to the floor lifeless.

More laughter.

Words were spoken. Muffled, barely decipherable. One word was heard clearly.

Endymion.

---

Rei shot up from her meditative stance. She was panting fiercely, her face smudged with soot from the sacred fire. Her violet eyes focused on the blaze before her.

"This can't be. This Kingdom cannot be destroyed. Please tell me this is not our future," she stared intently at the ruby flame.

It roared in response.

"There has to be a way to stop this. Please tell me there's a way to stop this. She can't win, she just can't."

The flame didn't respond.

The fire priestess growled. She sat back down in front of the flame and began to meditate once more.

There is another way. She thought determined. I won't let this world be destroyed by some lovesick twit. I won't. There has to be another way, there just has to be.

She began muttering the sacred chants of Mars as she slipped into a trance once more.

---

Endymion sat in the parlor of Princess Serenity. After telling a servant that he had wished to speak to the Princess, they directed him here. Serenity always returned to her parlor after breakfast.

The Prince glanced around the room nervously. This was not like him; he usually didn't get nervous. But knowing what he had to do when Serenity returned, wracked his nerves.

"How do I start," he said to himself. "I can't just come out and say it. Perhaps I should just start out casually, as if nothing's wrong."

He wiped his brow.

"Damn it Serenity, just come in already. Once I see you, I'm sure it'll come to me."

As if hearing his plea, the door opened. A bubbly Princess Serenity emerged from the hall.

"Endymion," she sounded shocked. "What're you doing here? You never meet me in my private parlor."

Endymion noted the sad expression that tainted her otherwise pure face. Did she already know?

"I heard I could find you here," he replied as cheerfully as he could. "I need to speak to you privately. It concerns our…personal relationship."

Serenity nodded knowingly. She sat across from the Prince.

"GO ahead dear Endymion. I promise I won't interrupt you."

A sly smile crossed Serenity's lips. Perfect. She thought. He'll tell me, and then I'll make her sound horrid. Then he'll have to want to be with me again.

"Well…I don't really know where to start with this."

"Well, as my dear friend Rei would say, just spit it out. You don't have to sugar-coat every word you say to me Endymion, I'm a strong girl."

"Are you positive you just want to hear me say it?" he asked sincerely. "I worry about how you will take this."

"I'm a big girl," she enunciated each word.

The raven haired man took a deep breath. He closed his eyes, then opened them. He focused a serious gaze on the Princess.

"Serenity, I hope this doesn't hurt our friendship. I also hope it doesn't hurt the alliance. I haven't been fair to you at all. I've been using you because I am a coward."

He gripped the arm rests of his chair.

"I…I came to you as if my heart was free to love. I lied Serenity, for my heart was indeed taken. Unfortunately, the love I harbor for this other woman is also forbidden. I thought that…"

"That if you acted like you were in love with me then you would be able to hide your true love more easily," Serenity finished. A stray tear fell from her eye.

Endymion's heart grew heavy. He moved to console the now shaking girl. She stopped him curtly.

"It's alright," she wiped her eyes. "I…I understand. Thank you for being honest with me," she tried to calm herself. She had to hide her pain in order for her plan to work.

"I hope that someday we can put this behind us. I truly do wish for the Moon and Earth to enter into this alliance."

"To the rest of the world we should still act as if we are together. Otherwise, my Mother will wish to be rid of this alliance."

Endymion's eyes widened. Serenity looked at him harshly.

"Do you think I'm stupid? I know how important this alliance is. So to the rest of the world, we will be happily in love."

"…Very well."

"So, what is she like?"

The man's ocean eyes locked on her crystal ones quizzitavely.

"Why would you wish to know about her?" he asked skeptically.

"I'm just curious, that's all. So is she pretty?" her eyes lit up with excitement.

"Yes. Why should that concern you."

"Do you think she will remain as beautiful as she is now?"

"I beg your pardon?" his eyes narrowed. What was she trying to say?

"Well you know," she smirked. "Lunarian women stay looking young for thousands of years."

"I see. Well, I believe her beauty rivals the Lunarians."

"Oh," she thought for a moment. "Well, what is she like? Is she fun to be around?"

"I think so. I should be going Serenity. Farewell."

"But—"

The Prince swiftly stood and left the room. He closed the door harshly behind him.

The Moon Princess crossed her arms. She pouted angrily.

"How rude of him. How dare he just leave in the middle of our…oh no," she gasped. "He must have caught onto me. Ooo, I'm no good at these evil plots. But I thought if he were to hear ill things about her he wouldn't want to be with her anymore."

"Very clever Princess. But hardly a way to retrieve your love."

The woman turned.

"Liza, how did you get in here? Only certain maids are allowed in my private parlors."

"I know a better way to win him back."

"Answer my question Liza, how did you get in here?"

"Is that really important? I'm hear to help you. I thought of another way to win the dear Prince back."

"I…" she thought. "I don't know if I need your help anymore."

Especially because you have fangs in your mouth. She thought.

"But all I wish to do is help my dear Princess."

"If you want to help me, then find out as much as you can about his mystery woman. I want to know as much as I possibly can about this woman so I can follow through with my plan to make her look really bad in his eyes."

"But—"

"Now Liza, I am your Princess. The plan we're using is the one I devised. Now do what I say, alright?" her words were innocent, but the tone was stern. This was not a request, it was an order.

Liza stifled a growl. She forced herself to curtsy.

"Yes m'lady. Your wish is my command."

Liza swiftly left the room. She let the growl she was holding in her throat rumble through the halls.

"Damn moon twit, this isn't going the way it was supposed to. She isn't supposed to have her own mind! I wanted to manipulate her into losing Endymion," a wicked smirk filled her features.

"But perhaps this is better. I can make up an imaginary girl and tell the bitch about her. Then Endymion will think she's mad and leave her for sure. I'd better begin spying on the Prince," she chuckled heartily.

"I can't wait for Endymion to finally be mine."