Story: Task of Endymion

Chapter: Nine

Anime: Sailor Moon

Pairing: Serenity/Endymion

Rated: Teen

Author's Notes: Sorry 'bout the wait. Here's the next part to the ball.

Serenity and the mysterious man began to dance with the others. Serenity told herself not to let Endymion get to her, and she wouldn't. A man asked her to dance, and she was going to enjoy it. The white-haired man began to spin her out and bring her back into his arms.

"It's an honor to be dancing with you, your highness," The man said as he smiled down at her.

"Oh, why, thank you," Serenity blushed, "You never did introduce yourself, good sir."

"Oh, how rude of me! I'm Prince Diamond of the Dark Moon," The man introduced himself. Serenity raised a delicate, blonde eyebrow.

"A prince, eh? How interesting," She smiled. The dancing couple went silent. Diamond stared at the princess with intensity.

'She's so beautiful and innocent. She probably has no idea what she's doing to me. I just want to take her now. Be damned with the others! Just looking at her face, her mesmerizing eyes, pink lips just begging to be kissed, and curvy body… I can barely contain myself. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to keep my control,' Diamond thought in a rush. Never before did he hold such strong feelings inside him for another person.

The soft, dance music finally began to fade, and Serenity pulled herself from Diamond. She looked up into his eyes, and was shocked to see strong desire in them.

'Is that for… me?' She thought with unease, "Thank you for the dance, Prince Diamond. Now, if you'll excuse me…"

"Oh, please, princess. Just one more dance?" The dark prince seemed to beg.

"I have other people I need to dance with tonight," Serenity told him, "Maybe we can dance later."

Diamond pulled the moon princess back into his arms with force, "I said… just one more dance. You will listen to me, Serenity or I will not be so kind."

Serenity stood shocked. She didn't want to make a scene of slapping this guy. She sighed in defeat. Tonight was supposed to be happy and if this was the only way to keep that mood intact, she would do it.

"Fine," The princess sighed.

Diamond smiled at her answer, "Good. I thought you would say that."

The couple began to move to the new music. Diamond had Serenity closer to his body than before, and it was making her really uncomfortable. She didn't know how to react. She glanced at her friends hoping they had some reason to get her out of this.

--

Endymion strolled back over to his generals after his dance with the girl, Marie. When he returned, only Kunzite was waiting for him. He looked around for the others.

"Where are the others?" He asked his white-haired general and friend.

"Where do you think? They're dancing with their past lovers," Kunzite grunted as he crossed his arms over his chest. Endymion looked back out at the dance floor and sure enough he saw the three dancing with the Inner Princesses. Then, he looked towards the royal family and saw Mina standing alone.

"Why don't you ask Mina to dance, Kunzite?" Endymion asked.

"I won't give in," Kunzite said simply.

"You won't give in? What does that mean?" The king asked in confusion.

"She's on Serenity's side, Endymion. I'm on yours. Besides, she's my ex-lovers too. You don't want to dance with Serenity, either, you know," Kunzite told him.

"That doesn't make much sense. I never said I didn't want to dance with her. She probably doesn't want to dance with me!" Endymion defended.

Kevin grunted, "I'm sure she'd rather dance with just about anyone than the one she's dancing with now."

"She's dancing with another man?" Endymion growled in possessiveness. He looked towards the dance floor and scanned for the moon princess. He saw her in the gripping arms of a young, white-haired man, and she didn't look comfortable. Endymion knew just how that man was, too. It was Prince Diamond, and he never had any kind feeling towards him. Endymion began to make his way to Serenity.

Kevin grabbed his arm, "Where are you going? Do you plan to pull her out of his grasp?"

"What do you think? Let me go," Endymion glared at his friend.

"No. Serenity can take care of herself. Plus, you'd make a scene if you did that," Kunzite told his master.

"I'm not going to punch him, Kunzite. I'm just going to ask her to dance with me instead," Endymion said.

"Maybe not right now, but once you get up there – your thoughts be damned – you'll punch him," Kunzite continued.

Endymion groaned, "Then what do you suppose I do?"

"Nothing," Kevin answered simply, "Besides, if anything did happen, all eight of her guardians are here as well as her parents. Plus, I don't think she wants your help in the first place."

"Way to put it nicely," Endymion mumbled as he leaned against a wall. He may not interact with the princess, but he would be keeping a close eye on her, and that man.

--

Mina stood next to the royal family silently. All her friends had been asked to dance, but her, excluding Amara and Michelle. They were sitting at a table together making loving conversation. Hotaru was asked to dance by a young boy, and Trista was talking with an older man about politics and space. Her fellow Inner friends were asked to dance by their past lovers, but hers barely glanced at her. It was heartbreaking.

"Mina, if you want anyone to ask you to dance, you need to put the atmosphere around you that you want to dance," Queen Serenity whispered to the Venusian princess.

Mina sighed, "I know, but I want to be asked by Kunzite not just by anyone."

The queen giggled, "I know that, but maybe you'll make him jealous by dancing with other men. I've seen enough stare at you."

Mina smiled, "Yeah. Thank you, your majesty."

"Of course, child," The queen smiled and returned to the conversation she was having with her husband.

Mina looked back out at the dance floor with a longing gaze, and pretty soon a young, blonde man approached her.

"Princess Venus, may I have this dance?" He asked with an inviting smile. Mina nodded and placed her small hand into his. He led her out with the others.

--

Kunzite followed Mina and the man with a watchful eye. He growled low in his throat that anyone would dare to ask his woman to dance. He glared at the man's back as they spun with the other dancing couples.

"Aren't you acting a little possessive, Kunz?" Endymion asked with a taunting smile. Kunzite turned towards the dark-haired man.

"Of course not. I'm just being protective," He defended, "We don't know what he'll do to her." Kunzite began walking towards them when Endymion stopped him again.

"Really? What do you plan on doing then?" Endymion asked with a hidden grin.

"I'm going to go out there and ask her to dance with me, of cour-," Kunzite started but stopped.

Endymion nodded, "Yeah, exactly. I advice you do 'nothing'. She can 'take care of herself'. Besides, 'if anything does happen all eight of her' friends are here and her one friend's parents."

Kunzite sighed as he leaned next to his king, "Damn it."

--

Serenity breathed a silent sigh of relief when the song ended. She began to pull away from the man she was dancing with.

"Where are you going?" He asked her with a possessive voice. She glanced up at him.

"I'm going to go. You said just one more dance," Serenity said nervously.

Diamond grunted, "So I did. Fine, go, but we will dance again tonight, Serenity. You can count on that."

That was when Serenity got angry. She ripped out of his grasp, and moved her hand to slap it hard against his right cheek. She knew it heard for everyone heard the crack of power from the impact. The whole room went silent and turned towards the two.

"How dare you speak to me so informal, Prince Diamond. I, too, will not be so kind towards the likes of you! Watch your place in my palace and in my presence. I'm not as innocent as I look. Don't think I've noticed the lust in your eyes for me! I've been pressed so firmly up against you that I couldn't help but feel the stiffie in your pants as well! Stop trying to get under my skirt, you obsessive creep!" Serenity shouted at him for everyone to hear. Diamond's eyes widened at her display of anger in public. He didn't think she'd act that way in front of everyone. Diamond saw red, but held it back. Suddenly, someone grabbed his shoulder tightly.

"I think you should leave," The person growled. Diamond saw the princess' eyes widen. Diamond dared to turn and look to see who it was.

"Ah, King Endymion. How nice to see you," Diamond greeted. He saw the icy hatred in the king's eyes.

"Too bad I can't say the same. Now, go," Endymion told him firmly, "I have the queen's and most likely the princess's permission to have you escorted out with your brother, Sapphire. If you do not leave kindly, my men will see to it that you will."

Diamond was about to open his mouth, but the glares from the people in the room made him shut his trap. He glanced at Endymion's generals, and saw fury in their eyes as well. They whispered to their partners before they began walking towards him to make him leave.

"Okay, okay! I'll go, but this won't be last of me that you'll see. Though, I'm sure you've figured that. Serenity will be mine, I tell you, sir. She will," Diamond said with a threat. At that comment, Queen Serenity stood up.

"Better yet… take him to the dungeon along with his brother," The queen commanded. Soldiers began to surround Diamond and his brother. They grabbed their arms, and led them away in a hurry. Soon, they disappeared.

Endymion turned towards Serenity, "Are you all right?"

Serenity nodded dumbly, "Yes, I'm fine. Thank you."

"Of course," Endymion paused, "You still won't look at me, will you?"

Serenity shook her head, "No, I'm sorry."

"Serenity, are you okay?" Mina asked as she and the others hurried to their princess.

Serenity nodded, "Yes, but I think I'm done for the night."

"That's understandable," Her mother said as she approached the group, "Girls, will you take her to her room. I'll have guards standing watch outside her door."

"Goodnight, mother. I'm sorry about the trouble," Serenity said quietly in shame.

The queen smiled softly and placed her hand on her daughter's shoulder, "It's all right, child. You were the victim. Now, up to bed."

Serenity nodded and let her guardians escort her to her room. Once the princess disappeared, the queen turned to the Terrain king. She smiled.

"Thank you for helping my daughter," She said with gratitude, "Give her time to recover, and she'll come around. Though, I'm sure she is still waiting to see how you'll handle your position as king over your planet. You know you still have a task to fulfill."

"Yes, your highness, I understand," Endymion said. He turned to his men, "I'm ready to go, are you?"

The men nodded, and went to his side. They bowed to the king and queen as well as the princess of the other planets. They glanced over the still silent crowd, and walked proudly out of the palace.

The queen sighed and turned towards her husband, "They'll both come around someday. I know it. She still loves him, and he still loves her. You can tell it in their eyes."

The king nodded with a smile. He knew his wife was right, and that the two were just being stubborn. Give them time, and they won't be able to be pulled apart. The king and queen turned back to the party, and resumed it even with the princess' absence. They danced to the hope that the star crossed lovers would someday… reunite.

It wasn't that great of an ending, but I wanted to post it. I hope you guys liked the way I took it. If not... oh, well. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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MoonlightMaiden14