A/N- I can't believe what I did… I forgot to post a chapter! I put a different title on the file and completely forgot about it! It was so cute too! Anyway, I took out all of the important issues from that chapter and added them to this chapter (pretty much 95 of the flashback scene is the original chapter 12).
I want to say thank you to everyone who has kept with this story, even when I didn't update forever. Thank you everyone!
Usagi Usako Chiba- I do have an idea for a sequel, but like I've said before… I'm not sure when I can write it. There are so many stories floating around in various files and binders right now that I'm not sure what's going to happen in the future… Thanks for the support though!
Hehe- Updated! Thanks for all of the reviews!
ally0212- It was because of your review that I knew I forgot a chapter. I had a feeling, but I wasn't too sure. Thank you for the review and for reminding about the missing scene!
TamoumatheStarWarrior- I did have a lot of fun at Sea World… it was amazing, enough said. Thank you so much for all of the reviews and staying with all of my stories! It's so appreciated!
As soon as the Royal families had relaxed and started talking among themselves, the rest of the crowd started talking among themselves. The news would be around the kingdom, if not the known world. The Royal families even believed that the pirates that had started to lurk in the local ports would even hear the news.
Serena and Endymion were back to acting like their old selves. They were talking quietly to each other, laughing occasionally. Seamus and Damion were happily talking away, trying to figure out a way to create a treaty with other kingdoms around them since marriage treaties were not an option anymore. Their wives, however, were trying to finish the wedding plans. Currently, they were arguing over the flowers.
"King Damion, King Seamus." Prince Diamond said as he came up on the pedestal with the two royal families.
"Prince Diamond, I'm sorry you had to return with such high hopes." King Seamus said. "I hope you understand after the story…"
"Of course, it is all very understandable. The only regrettable thing is that Serenity and Endymion were forced to go through such an ordeal."
"That it is…" Damion replied.
"So, this marriage is now completely iron sealed?" Diamond asked.
"Of course." Endymion replied. He had started listening into the conversation as soon as Diamond mentioned his name. "I will always love Serenity and would never want to marry anyone else."
"And that is how it should be." Diamond replied. "I believe I will be leaving soon. I am already later than I should be."
"Thank you for coming, again." Seamus replied. Diamond shook Damion's, Seamus', and Endymion's hand. Serenity smiled kindly at him and Diamond graciously kissed her knuckles.
"One more thing actually. Serenity, you seemed to have forgiven Endymion quite easily." Diamond tried to force back his sneer, but he knew Endymion heard since the other prince stood up straighter and glared at him. "How did he ever get you to believe his story?"
"First off, I never stopped loving nor trusting Endymion." Serenity replied. She squeezed Endymion's hand before diving into her story.
Flashback
"Where is she?" Endymion asked when he saw Eric standing in the foyer of the castle.
"Where is who? Your little girlfriend? I don't know, but I would look in the barracks." Eric sneered.
"Where is Serenity?" Endymion growled. "And why do I have her locket?"
"She's in Ceinlys, as far away from you as she could get." Eric replied, pushing Endymion off of him. "You have her locket because she doesn't believe you love her anymore. She told me to give it back to you when I got back. I only gave it to you a few nights ago, but you got mad at me for even bringing the thought of her up."
"Charles." Endymion called one of the butlers to him. "Tell the stable master to get my horse ready. I don't care if he has to drop whatever he's doing, I need my horse ready now!"
"Endymion, what's going on?" Queen Terra asked. "Let Eric go, he has done nothing to you."
"I'm leaving for Ceinlys mother." Endymion replied.
"You most certainly are not!" King Seamus said. "You are not going anywhere near my daughter! You broke her heart only a week ago. I won't let you break it more!"
"I did what?" Endymion asked. "Why would I break her heart? I love her!"
"What?" Everyone asked.
"I love Serenity. We're supposed to get married in 3 months!"
"Endymion, you broke up with Serenity a week ago. Since then you've claimed to be in love with my sister, Lady Kelsey, and lately Lady Beryl."
"What? Why would I love any of them? They've always annoyed me. Eric, you know that. I always loved it when Serenity would embarrass them."
"It's nice to have you back, man." Eric said. He hugged Endymion before stepping back.
"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Endymion asked. Terra stepped up next and hugged her son as well.
"I want all the servants and members of the court in this room to know that no word of this gets out. I do not want Beryl or any of the other girls to know. Is that understood?" Queen Terra asked, looking around the room. There were murmurs of 'yes milady' throughout the room. "Endy, I believe you have a princess to go get."
"Your horse is ready, sir." Charles said.
"I want to know what happened first. I don't think Serenity will listen to me if I don't even know what happened."
"Apparently you have been under the control of a potion for a week." King Damion explained. "You broke up with Serenity, and she left. As Eric said, you've claimed to love Lady Chelsea, Lady Kelsey, and Lady Beryl since then. Beryl has been your latest though."
"And no one thought something was wrong?"
"You were acting like yourself, well more like Diamond." Eric shrugged. "I even told you that once and you blew up. Since then all you have been doing is training and then going off with the different women."
"Does Serenity know of the others?"
"No, but her mother does. She knows about the potion as well." Seamus answered.
"How was the spell broken?" Endymion asked.
"That locket you gave Serenity. Did you touch it lately?" Eric asked.
"I just opened it. When I touched it I felt a shock and when I opened it and let the music play it felt… well I felt more like myself. I felt whole. So I went to look for Serenity, but she was gone. I came down here after that." Endymion explained.
"I told you to give him a few more days!" Terra said happily.
"I think we need to get you, Endymion, to Ceinlys." Seamus said. "I will make sure my wife is expecting you."
"Thank you." Endymion took off. His parents and Seamus watched as through the open doors as he jumped on his horse and took off.
"I wonder what caused this change? He had been so sure of his love with Beryl." Eric said.
"I don't know and I don't care. I'm sure we'll find out in a few days." Terra said happily. Terra then turned around to everyone who was present. "If anyone asks, especially any of the guilty party, you tell them Endymion has gone on a hunting party with Eric." Again, another chorus of "Yes milady's" rang out through the room.
"Eric, I believe you should go on your hunting trip. I believe you're looking for golden haired princesses." Damion said. Eric nodded and with a smile of his own he mounted his horse and took off after Endymion.
oOoOoOo
"I can't believe I was so stupid." Endymion said as he raced with Eric to Castle Ceinlys.
"You were under a potion. I just can't believe you don't remember any of the events. Are you sure you don't remember Serenity leaving? I know you saw her, I made eye contact with you."
"I get hazy images of it, but nothing much." Endymion admitted.
"This is going to be hard to explain, but I will help you." Eric replied.
"Thank you, thank you my friend." Endymion replied.
oOoOoOo
It took all day, but Endymion made it to Ceinlys. Selene was on the steps waiting for him with a large smile on her face. "Endymion, it's good to hear you came back to us."
"It's good to wake up." Endymion replied. "Can I see her?"
"Actually, she is holding court right now." Selene said with a smile. Endymion smiled and nodded, understanding what he needed to do.
He walked inside quietly. Selene made her way up to sit beside her daughter who was listening to a dispute between two people. They both claimed part of the forest as there own.
"I want both of you to split this land. It will give you both more hunting land and currently there is enough game throughout the forest for both of you to have plenty of food. I am sorry, but this seems to be a record keeping problem as well and it will be fixed immediately. I shall have a scribe fix the needed documentation and will have a copy sent to both of you."
"Thank you princess." The two men bowed. Endymion was stunned. He could not believe how beautiful, majestic, and powerful Serenity looked. She looked every part of the young woman he knew she was. He knew she wasn't some child, but a young woman preparing to rule.
"Next?" Serenity asked, looking among the crowd. Two women were about to walk forward when a deep voice interrupted them.
"I made a large mistake recently and I am not sure if it is fixable." Serenity recognized the voice and searched the room, but could not see the familiar face. "Reality was hidden from me and during that time I hurt the only person I ever truly loved. I want to know if she could ever forgive me. If she doesn't then I shall never forgive myself." Endymion stepped out of the crowd with Eric smiling behind him. His head was bowed and he slowly looked up, his dark blue eyes capturing Serenity's lighter blue ones.
"Endy?"
"I'm so sorry, my Sere. I don't know how I could have ever told you what I did. You will always have my heart; it was never even mine to take away from you. You had my heart when you were born and to this day you still have it."
"But Endy? The things you said…"
"I will understand if you don't believe me, but I beg you to think about what I am about to tell you…" Endymion went into the story he had been told, about the four women who had tried to control him with a potion. "And now I am here, begging for your forgiveness."
"Endy." Serenity sighed as she launched herself out of her seat and into her prince's awaiting arms. "I love you so much. I've always loved you and never stopped."
"I am sorry to cut this short, but we must get going. If we want your plan to work, Endymion, then we need to leave immediately." Eric said.
"Plan?" Selene and Serenity asked together.
"We'll explain in a little bit. Queen Selene, would there be some place that I would be able to write a few letters?" Endymion asked. Selene nodded and showed him the way to Seamus' study. Serenity sat next to Endymion as he scribbled a message to each of the women who had betrayed him. As soon as he was done he took Serenity's hand and led her outside. A carriage was already waiting for them, but Endymion just helped Serenity in.
"Endy? Are you not coming?"
"You'll be going in a back way so only a few trusted servants will see you. I wish I had time to explain everything, but I need to be getting back with Eric. I will see you tomorrow night though."
"You'll travel through the night?"
"Yes, you'll understand the letters and everything soon." Endymion kissed Serenity one last time before closing the door to the carriage and mounting a new stallion since his was resting in the royal stables.
"Mother, what's going on?" Serenity asked.
"Endymion is just teaching those vile women what it feels like to be played." Selene spat. "There is to be another engagement ball. Endymion will announce who will be his new queen, but you won't be in the room for his little… speech. You will come in when the engagement between you two is announced. The women will be arrested and I believe exiled."
"So we won't be seen so these women will not know that Endymion knows about the potion and everything?"
"Exactly." Selene replied. "Are you ready?"
"I've been since I left Endymion in the garden." Serenity replied.
oOoOoOo
"…so now we're here. Everything is back to how it is supposed to be." Serenity finished.
"So you still trust Endymion?" Diamond asked.
"With my life and my heart." Serenity replied. Endymion smiled down at her and kissed her gently.
"So I see. Well then, I wish the two of you the best." Diamond said. He said goodbye once more before leaving the ballroom with the few men who accompanied him. Endymion watched him leave, knowing Diamond still had other plans and that they would need to be prepared. Serenity, on the other hand, didn't care what the other prince said or did. All she cared about was that she was in the arms of the only man she could ever truly love.