Ok so after a ridiculous cold I managed to find the motivation to finish this beast. I put this in my profile, but I'm putting it here. They are finally rereleasing the Sailor Moon manga in the States. I'm so excited I could scream like the little fangirl that I am. Anyways, felt like sharing that, this is quite the chapter. I hope you guys like me after the way it ends. Enjoy! *maniacal giggle*

Chapter 13

Comprehension

It wasn't the smell of cooking that woke him, it was the sound of quiet companionable talk. He never expected that he would sleep as long as he had allowing the sun to cover him so completely. He threw the blanket off and reached for the first available piece of clothing. The conversation in the next room was serious, but light and tinged with a familiarity that left a sour taste in his mouth. It wasn't till he stepped into the low kitchen that he realized that taste in his mouth held the tang of jealousy easily assuaged by finally seeing her seated comfortably at the low table with a cup of something steamy in her hands. She turned when she noticed him come in and nodded motioning for him to come and join her at the table. The older man busy with the pots and pans turned to smile a greeting. The older man's features made him feel suddenly less than he'd once thought he was. Each feature was perfection that even another man could recognize.

"I'm glad you're awake. Are you hungry? I've made enough food for twice as many people thinking that you won't have eaten well on your trek," he said kindly. Noai looked up, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. The smile transformed her face in a way that was most pleasing. It showed that there was more to her than the serious outer façade. Suddenly he realized how accustomed he had become to the sight of her, and how comfortable he felt when he was in her presence. She made him feel secure in a companionable way that he could certainly learn to get used to.

"We ate well enough, but I am certainly hungry from all the moving we have done in the last few days. I am also excited to finally have some resolution and information, which I have not had in quite some time. The situation which we have found ourselves in is dire at best and disastrous at worst," she said calmly.

"You have an interesting talent for understatement, but before we delve too deeply into those unpleasant matters I do believe that some introductions are in order," he said with an air of civility, "I am, as you already know, your guardian Artemis. I was supposed to have been near you when you awakened, but I see that I was too late for that. It seems to have affected you very little. Lately the other guardians have been finding their charges in some very dire circumstances. Your easy transition must be owed to your early maturity brought on by the early adulthood which comes to those who live in the desert. This leads me to the next obvious question. Who are you that accompanies my charge?" He turned towards Safir to scrutinize a face which must be at least a little familiar.

"I am Safir brother to Diamond, Rubeus, and Emerald," Safir replied swallowing uncomfortably, "I was sent as her assassin by my sister, but not of my own volition. Since she had already awakened she was able to use her powers to defend herself and destroy the tenuous hold my sister had over me. It was because of this that we rushed to get here. I believe that my siblings are up to some serious no good. My older brother especially has always had a penchant for getting into trouble. Who knows what my sister has gotten herself and others into at this point. Honestly I am afraid to know what we will find when we return."

"Well that would explain why my wife has been so eager for me to search out young Noai here," mused Artemis sitting heavily at the table, "If what you say is true then this might lead us to finally put an end to some of the things which have been plaguing in the kingdom. All of the Queen's guardians with the exception of the current Mercurial guardian have been murdered. It seems perhaps that the person who has been doing this has been in fact your brother, who has become the King's closest advisor. I'm afraid to know what these attacks mean. I'm also afraid that this can only mean that Michelle is in danger. We must not eat at our leisure. This is far more serious than I had anticipated. Let us finish our breakfast and then make our way to the portal with haste. While the two of you finish up I will contact Luna and make sure that she knows of the situation and is ready for our return. If you will excuse me." He nodded respectfully and then stood making his way out of the room quickly. Safir looked after him for a moment and then looked back across the table.

"How do I know that this isn't also a part of your families plan Safir?" Noai questioned softly. She looked across at him searchingly looking guarded in a different way than he had seen before. He was taken aback by the bald question, and unsure of exactly how to reply.

"Why would I have helped you to get this far only to kill you later? Why wouldn't I have done it all those other times I had the opportunity?" Safir asked hotly feeling his temper begin to boil to the surface. Not since Citrine had he wanted so sincerely for someone else to trust him.

"It is simply a reasonable thing to ask. The minds of your siblings seem to work out plots most of us would be sickened by. I simply like to know what I am getting myself into before….," she said calmly.

"Before what?" Safir asked suddenly focused completely on her lips and the words they might form. She looked at him in silence her eyes peering suddenly from behind a stone wall.

"Hmm that is a good question isn't it."

"Your majesty?" Michelle pushed the door open into the Queen's inner sanctuary. Selene looked up from the window and turned to face the door. In that moment Michelle could see how much she had changed. Where once she had stood tall and proud, she now stood bent and her hands were just starting to crook at the tips. Her shining white hair had a silver sheen to it. For many generations the people of the moon had lived long lives protected by a power that seemed to have no source. Selene didn't say a word. For endless minutes she merely stood staring at a gem the size of a thimble. She kept moving it back and forth from each hand.

"Why are you here Michelle?" she asked suddenly. She tucked the crystal into a small pouch and thrust it into a hidden pocket in her dress.

"I wanted to talk with you. I felt like you needed to be yourself for a while. So many things have happened lately, I figured you might like to talk," Michelle said quietly seating herself in a worn chair. The silence of the room weighed on her. Nervously she tapped her fingers on the arm of her chair and waited for the Queen to say something else, but she just kept staring as if weighing something in her mind.

"If you'd rather not I can go," Michelle said hurriedly standing awkwardly.

"No...stay!" the queen nearly shouted. Feeling strange she closed her mouth and swallowed regaining her composure a little. "No Please stay. You're right I do need to talk to someone. I feel like I'm being eaten alive with worry."

"Please sit down. You look like you're about to fall over with exhaustion," Michelle said with a hesitant smile. The Queen nodded quietly once and seated herself on the worn old couch. For a moment she gathered her thoughts trying a find a place to start.

"Michelle I'm afraid. I'm afraid for you, and for Serenity. I'm afraid for the whole kingdom, and for the whole system. Something is coming, and I've been doing what I can to help, but I don't know what else to do."

"What is it that you've been doing to help," Michelle asked quietly. She looked at Selene sideways aware that she wasn't looking back.

"I've been creating something that will keep her safe. It will keep everyone safe," Selene replied quietly.

"Creating...how have you been creating it," Michelle asked hesitantly.

"I've been giving everything I am into making a present for Serenity," the Queen said distantly, her hands went of their own accord into the hidden pocket, and pulled out the pouch. Selene dumped the contents back out into her hand. The crystal glinted in the Queen's pale palm. "When I finish this Serenity can use this to protect herself. She can use it protect everyone. I obviously am no longer able to protect the people I care for as I should, so I will give everything so that Serenity may have a means to protect the ones she loves," the Queen murmured to the crystal. Michelle reached a hesitant hand toward the Queen's and rested her fingers on the crystal. She was amazed by the warmth that radiated from the surface of the simple looking crystal. Selene stared lovingly down at the little crystal, and for the first time Michelle saw the woman she had come to care for all those years ago. Selene looked up and the moment was gone, happiness was now replaced with grim determination. She closed her hand and placed the crystal back into its pouch, and tucked it back into hiding.

"I'm confused Selene. Where did that come from?" Michelle looked searchingly into the Queen's eyes.

"I told you I've been creating it. Every ounce of love and hope I have for Serenity has gone into the creation of that gift for her. I just hope that I can finish it in time for it to make a difference," Selene trailed off quietly.

"I...How will she know how to use it Selene? She hasn't had any training yet. She hasn't even awakened yet, and you keep waiting for that to happen to begin any kind of training at all. I think you really should reconsider waiting that long. She needs to start learning about her duties now, while she still has time," Michelle said quietly, she stared at the Queen waiting for her inevitable outburst.

"Michelle, we've talked about this before. Serenity isn't ready to begin training yet. I want her to enjoy her childhood," Selene replied serenely. It was clear to Michelle that she had simply grown resigned to the fact that she would have to keep explaining herself to everyone who asked.

"I understand that your majesty, but Serenity isn't really a child anymore. She's a young woman, and she is beginning to feel left out. Every day you expect her to stand around and watch while the women brought here to protect her are learning the things necessary for their jobs. She has no such job to work at. All you have left for her to do is wander aimlessly around the palace feeling like she has no purpose. Serenity desperately wants to be useful, and to learn how to run this kingdom that she will one day reign over. You wanted her to have a childhood and she has had that, now it's time for her to start learning the things that will help her to one day be a good ruler. I know that you're afraid for..."

"You know nothing about what I'm afraid of Michelle," Selene snapped, breaking into Michelle's carefully thought out argument, "Every day I see these things, things that I know will come to pass, and I haven't got any way to stop it. So this is what I'm doing to protect my daughter. I will not put her in harm's way."

"Did you ever think that what you're doing now may be what will cause all of the horrible things you are seeing?" Michelle spat angrily, "Maybe if you would let her live up to her potential she would be able to stop these things, but if you never let her fly she will never be able to protect herself or control the gifts that have yet to awaken inside of her." Michelle thrust herself out of the chair and paced over to the window. She took a few deep breaths willing her heart to stop pounding inside of her chest. She could feel Selene's eyes boring into her back. When she had gotten control over her emotions she turned to face Selene's stare. Selene's eyes were fixed on her intently. Something she had said had made an impact, that much was clear to Michelle. For a moment it seemed as though Selene could see what Michelle was trying to get across, but then her face snapped shut. Michelle suddenly could read none of the emotions in her face.

"Michelle you're forgetting who you're talking to. We may be friends, but you are still my guardian and servant. I thought that by now you would have learned how to properly speak to your Queen," Selene replied icily. Michelle stared at her in shock.

"Yes your majesty, of course you are correct to reprimand me," Michelle said flatly. She bowed and backed out of the room without another word. Selene stared after her, and in one deft moment had the crystal back out in her hand. She murmured to the crystal as tears began to roll down her face. It began to glow softly as tendrils of light slid from the Queen into the roiling core of the crystal.

The small pendant at Diamond's throat had been nagging him for the last half hour. Only three people had access to the communication channel. Hopefully it was Safir with some good news. Diamond really needed some good news. What he didn't need was for this to be one of his other siblings. Hurriedly he walked into his room closing the door behind him. He set his folio down and unclipped the pin from his collar. He concentrated for a moment and pushed the channel open.

"I'm hoping that this is Safir with some good news for me, " Diamond growled. Silence on the other end made him think his hopes had been misplaced.

"Hello brother," came a smug feminine voice from the other end. Just what he needed, Emerald could make his life miserable at the best of times, but just now she could make it disastrous.

"This had better be good dear sister of mine," Diamond snapped. She clicked her tongue at him, and he could already hear the amusement oozing from the other end.

"Now now brother, you haven't even let me begin to tell you about the wonderful things I'm managing to do back home. You know helping to fulfill the mission we originally set out on, not this fool errand you seem unable to complete for a woman you truly have no claim over," Emerald replied nearly laughing, "I shall mock you later when you come back home to Earth licking your wounds, but for now I will tell you that I've managed to find the location of our families artifacts with the help of a little mole. She is also somewhat sympathetic to our cause, and is willing to help us if we help her to achieve a goal. Of course what she doesn't realize is that when we have finished his station won't mean a thing, but that isn't something that she really needs to know about. I've grown tired of waiting for you to help us realize our revenge over the King we will never recognize," Emerald spat. Diamond sighed and leaned against a small table he brought his hands to his face to rub his forehead. She gave him headaches when she got like this. He was too close to getting everything he had been working for to let past grievances get in his way now.

"Emerald, though I appreciate your steadfastness, I would rather finish what I have set in motion here. I am very close to getting exactly what I want, and none of you are going to get in my way!" Diamond roared slamming his hand into the table and shattering the glass into glittering chunks on the floor. He stared at his shaking hand fascinated by the slits in his normally impeccably white gloves. In two places blood had begun to trickle over his knuckles.

"I'm just asking you to consider the ramifications of what you are doing, and not just to yourself but to your family as well," Emerald said reasonably.

"I will not be stopped now that I am within reach. Do not ask it of me Emerald. What I do is just as useful to our cause than anything you or the others can do," Diamond whispered menacingly.

"You will be our downfall. If this is the path you're choosing then I wipe my hands of you. Oh, and before I forget, the compulsion on Safir has been broken. I would watch my back if I were you," Emerald replied icily. The connection severed with an audible pop. Diamond watched the blood trickling down his knuckles silently tracking the droplets as they stained the white of his gloves. If the compulsion was broken either Safir had succeeded or was dead. There were no other options or Diamond would see him dead himself. He took a deep breath and focused on what was ahead of him. In a matter of hours the Queen's last guardian would be dead, and her demoralization would be complete. Soon the King could act and Diamond would be free to start his new life with Serenity. He peeled the destroyed gloves off of his hands and set them aside. He wandered his way across his sparse white walled apartment to a cleanly varnished dark wooden cabinet. Gently he pulled the doors open on a cabinet full of well kept knives. Lovingly he pulled a long bladed knife with a well worn handle from the front of the cabinet. He flicked his thumb along the well sharpened blade and smiled.

Serenity sat in her apartment staring at the wall in front of her. Her cheeks still burned from the embarrassment her mother had caused. Rina had helped her to calm down somewhat, but she'd had to leave to go about her business as usual. Naturally that left Serenity with very little to do but sit and get angrier at her mother again. How could she keep treating her the way she was.

"I'm not a child," Serenity whispered angrily to herself standing as she said it. She paced back and forth in front of her couch. Curiosity had been nagging at her for a short while now, and this embarrassment was the last straw. As soon as she had the time she was going to make a trip that she had been planning for quite some time. As soon as she knew she would have an afternoon to herself she was finally going to go and see the Earth for herself. She was tired of others seeing and doing things for her. It was time for her to have some experiences for herself, and not vicariously through others. This just proved to her that her mother would never consent to her going, so she needed to make the bold step and go herself. That mysterious letter sender had said she needed to be bold, so she would be bold. A light tap at the door startled her out of her anger fueled reverie. She looked up and cleared her throat as royally as she could.

"Enter please," she called out to whoever it was. She watched with disappointment as the door guard poked his head into the room nervously. She wasn't sure who she had expected to come to the door, but this certainly far too normal for her current mental state.

"I have a note for you my lady from Counselor Diamond," he said quietly stepping into the room. She stepped forward and took the note hesitantly. She thanked the guard and he exited without any further notice from her. Serenity stared at the piece of paper. Slowly she unfolded the piece of paper. Inside were only a few short words.

Serenity

Please come to my apartments in the evening. I have a surprise for you dearest.

Diamond

She read the contents of the note several times, but nothing about the words would erase the feeling of foreboding that was building inside of her. It probably was nothing and she was overreacting. She had been doing that a lot lately. It probably had to do with the fact that she never seemed to have anything to do, and had a lot of time to think about things for far too long. Serenity folded the note and slipped it into her pocket. Perhaps instead of sitting in her apartments waiting for something interesting to happen she would go for a walk instead. Sometimes being out in the family gardens helped to clear her head. At the moment she knew that she simply couldn't just sit and wait for later. She was full of restless energy. Without a second thought she stood and was out of her rooms. She barely even noticed the guards outside of her room doors. In a haze she wound her way through the spotless marble hallways. After a while she realized that her feet were no longer carrying her to her original destination. Instead she had wound her way towards the diplomatic offices. Just outside there were portals laid out along paths radiating out to different parts of the grounds. She had always known that this place was here, but had never had a reason to visit before. Now the thoughts that had been burning inside of her earlier came back to life. She could visit any of these places if she wanted. All she needed to do was step onto one of the pedestals and she would be somewhere else. Serenity wandered out onto the grounds. Tree's sectioned off pathways leading in different directions. Flowers of different colors had been planted at the heads of every pathway. By each display she could figure out which path would lead her to a portal for a specific planet. When Serenity looked closely she realized that a lot of the flowers were even native to the planets they represented.

A blaze of bright yellow sunflowers caught her attention from the corner of her eye. Some of them stood nearly as tall as she was. Tenderly she reached out and caressed the bumpy inner surface of the flower. This flower grew on Earth, and if she remembered correctly people even ate the seeds. Curiously she looked down the pathway that would lead to the Earth portal. Without her permission her feet carried her slowly down the well worn gravel pathway. As she turned the corner the thick trees cut off the voices of the other courtiers and diplomats going about their business. At the end of the path stood a simple white marble pedestal with a mirrored finish. She stopped short of actually reaching it too nervous to actually set foot on the steps. Theoretically she knew how they worked, but she had never been this close to one before. The sound of approaching footprints startled her out of her own thoughts. She stood for a moment in uncertainty. She couldn't go back the way she'd come or whoever it was would surely see her and possibly tell her mother that she had been here. On the other hand it could just be a stranger who would think nothing of her presence there. The sound of more footsteps following behind made her decide that she had better hide rather than encounter whoever it was. Serenity darted into the trees to the right of the pedestal and crouched behind one of the larger tree trunks just in time to see Endymion and his guardians round the corner. He was looking grim despite the looks of amusement shared between his guardians.

"I don't like this in the least Cam, and nothing you can say will convince me that I'm wrong," Endymion said over his shoulder. His face was screwed up into a look of frustration. Abruptly he stopped and turned.

"You have no claim to feeling this way about the girl Endy. What are you going to do, go storming back in there saying "Don't leave your room something awful is going to happen"? Remember your father doesn't put stock in things like this. The way you're talking makes you sound as though you're having a premonition of something to come. No one in your family has had any kind of magical gift for generations," Camali answered reasonably. Endymion turned back stopping just short of the first step only to turn back and begin pacing in front of the portal.

"I don't care what you think. Something feels wrong. Every time I start thinking about her my heart starts racing, and I just want to run all the way back to her apartments. The way he looked at me. It was like he thought I was nothing more than a bug. I know he has some kind of relationship with her, and I don't like it in the least," Endymion fumed. With every turn his cape swung out and around him. Serenity's eyes followed the brighter inner color of his cloak, but ended up focused on his face. She'd never really noticed before how attractive he was. Even looking as serious as he was now he still looked seconds away from bursting into laughter. Serenity suddenly wondered what he would sound like when he laughed. She blushed nervously and felt the first prickles warning her that her legs were beginning to fall asleep. Why wouldn't they leave? The longer they stood there the more likely it was they would discover her hiding there. Suddenly the man with long curly brown hair, she though his name was Phiren, burst into loud laughter.

"Oh I understand now. You're just jealous. Of course you don't want to think about him like that, because you don't want anyone being allowed to be with her like that," Phiren guffawed slapping Endymion on the back. Dumbfounded Endymion stared back the corner of his mouth quirking into a reluctant smile. Serenity stared at him despite her growing worry over her aching legs. They couldn't possibly be talking about her could they?

"Oh come on it's not like that," Endymion replied as he stopped pacing, "This feels different than that." Camali shook his head sharing in the laughter and passed Endymion up the stairs.

"I can't wait to tell Coi when we get back," Camali chuckled as he disappeared through the portal. Phiren shot him an understanding look as he to made his way through the portal as well. Serenity's legs were starting to go very numb and she really hoped that he would leave quickly, but he didn't. He stared after his friends for a few moments. Serenity gripped the tree trunk tightly wishing that she'd had time to sit down instead of crouch. Desperately she fought not to make any noise. Endymion mounted the first step and she relaxed slightly which caused her to lose her grip. Serenity stopped herself from crying out only to land with a crash into the underbrush. Endymion's head snapped up and turned to face exactly where she was.

"Who's out there," he demanded angrily taking a few steps towards the trees, "Show yourself." His hand went readily to the hilt of his sword. Serenity stood quickly and pushed her way hurriedly out of the trees. His hand came away immediately to catch her wrist as she stumbled coming all the way into the clearing on her tingly waking legs. The moment his skin touched hers a rush of emotion raced through Endymion's body. He could feel her uncertainty radiating out of her skin, and the urge to gather her against his chest was so strong that he nearly actually did it.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop...I had never been out to see the portals and I needed to think. I didn't realize anyone would be coming, so when I heard you coming I hid. I didn't want mother to find out, or she would find a way to put a guard on me," Serenity blurted out breathlessly. She looked up at him and was caught up in the intensity of his deep blue eyes. Gently she pulled her arm away standing to her full height which barely brought her head to the top of his chest. The second her arm left his hand he seemed, for an instant, to be shaken.

"I'm sorry," Endymion replied clearing his throat, "I just didn't expect anyone to be there, especially not you." He bowed awkwardly even though the time for that was long past.

"I must have looked quite a sight sprawled out in the underbrush like that," Serenity replied with a nervous giggle, "Please don't say anything to anyone about this."

"I promise it will be our secret," Endymion replied with a conspiratorial wink. Endymion reached forward and took her hand in his. Gently he brought it to his lips and pressed a light kiss against the back. He looked up at her through dark lashes, and Serenity could feel color filling her cheeks. Hastily she took her hand back even though she could still feel his lips pressed there.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't be here," Serenity said backing away nervously, "Thank you for not saying anything." Endymion watched her turn around and dart away wishing he could simply go after her. He desperately wanted to call out to her. Something told his that he shouldn't just run away from him. He shook his head for the thousandth time wondering what was coming over him. He couldn't afford to do that now the others would already be wondering what was taking him so long. As he stepped through the portal he knew without a doubt he would have to find a way to see her again.

Everything inside of her was screaming not to enter the room. Something was telling her that this was not a surprise that she wanted to receive. She rested her hand on the door handle and left it there unable to go any further. Perspiration glistened on her brow as she tried unsuccessfully to make her hand work. After a few deep breaths her hand turned the knob, and she pushed her way into Diamond's apartment. The first thing she noticed was how bare it was. Space that felt nearly empty opened in front of her. Nothing about the room was the least bit inviting to her. Not a single part of the room looked the least bit lived in. After all the time they had spent together she had come to know him as a more sensitive person than this, or so she had thought. Something about the room scared her, and made her want to just turn around and run. She had almost made up her mind to do just that when Diamond came through the door at the opposite end of the room. He was dressed in an immaculate white pair of pants and shirt. She could see part of his chiseled chest peaking through the open collar of his shirt. The way his white hair swept around his shoulders was breath taking. Nothing she could think about him or know about him would take away the fact that he was completely breath taking to look at. A smile crawled across his face. It should have made her feel at ease, but it had the complete opposite effect. His long legs closed the distance between them in the main room, and he curled his arms around her pulling her into a tight embrace. Possessively he tilted her chin up so that his eyes could devour hers. She forced herself to stare back into the deep pools of his blue eyes, but inside her instincts were screaming for her to get away from him any way she could. Without a word his lips closed on hers in a kiss that only weeks ago would have sent shivers down her spine. She closed her eyes as a courtesy trying to think of anything but what was happening now. A sudden image of Endymion kissing her instead jumped into her head. The more she dwelled on the thought the more color bloomed into her cheeks. After endless seconds he pulled away drawing a long finger gently across her cheek. His eyes searched her face, but seemed to see what he wanted to see there instead of what was there. Nothing in his face suggested that he saw anything amiss in hers. Diamond smiled thinking the coloring was for him.

"Dearest, I thought that after all this time you would have stopped blushing when I kissed you," he murmured into her hair, "I think it's sweet that you're still so innocent." He pulled away releasing her. She pulled her arms around her tightly unable to say anything for fear that he would hear her voice shaking. Nervously she rubbed her hand where she could still feel the ghost of Endymion's kiss.

"I'm so glad that you came when you did. Your surprise is ready and waiting in the next room," he said glowing with pride, "I wanted to give you something that would symbolize the love I have for you and lengths I will go to too preserve that love. I want you to know that as soon as it is possible I would like to ask for your hand in marriage. I love you and feel that you love me in return. It would be only natural for us to marry. Don't you think so?" Serenity's breath caught in her throat. His face was so earnest that she could hardly think. Nothing inside of her thought that the two of them marrying would be in the least bit natural. She wasn't sure when her feelings had changed so. Once she would have felt this to be the perfect ending to what had been a very confusing day. Now she felt as though she were trapped in a nightmare that she couldn't run away from. He stood silently waiting for answer that she simply could not give.

"I...I don't know what to say," she managed to choke out honestly. It didn't seem to matter that her answer was non-committal. He seemed to have heard the right answer anyways.

"Come let me show you your present. I really hope you like it. It represents a lot of struggle on my part, struggle to create an environment where we can have what will make us the most happy. No peaking though I want it to be a surprise," he said gleefully. As he gently wrapped a tie around her eyes Serenity realized that it was the happiest she had ever seen him. He had never looked at her that way before. As he led her forward her heart began to pound in her chest and the urge to run away grew stronger. Her legs tingled in reaction to the pain in her chest. She reached around her unable to see anything. His hand captured hers and lead her forward through a doorway. After a few agonizing moments he stopped her and turned her to face whatever the surprise was. Carefully his fingers worked at the knot at the back of her head. In a few moments her had it free. Serenity left her eyes closed afraid to open them.

"It's alright you can look dearest," he said quietly his lips brushing against her ear. Slowly she allowed her eyes to peel open. At first she wasn't quite sure what she was looking at. It was clear that they were in his bedroom. In front of him someone was laid peacefully on his bed. Slowly she stepped forward realization dawning on her with every movement. It was clear to her now that the person on the bed was Michelle. She seemed to be sleeping peacefully until Serenity noticed that her chest was neither rising nor falling. The inside of her head seemed to numb as she tried to think about what that must mean. If she wasn't breathing then that must surely mean that she was dead, but why would Diamond want to show her that Michelle was dead. If he wanted to show her that, did it mean that he had killed her, and if he had killed her did that also mean that he had killed the others? Numb with confusion she turned to look back at Diamond. He stared back at her triumphantly.

"See what I have done for us dearest. Your mother would never have let us be together. I've made it so that your father can take over control. Your mother is trying to control you. Without her guardians at her side she won't have the confidence to rule over us anymore. Don't you see? It means that we can finally be together like we dreamed," he said rushing forward to hold her in his arms. Serenity stared up at him in shock. Her mind was reeling trying to make sense of it all. He had killed her, and he had killed the others. He had just admitted to it. Not only had he killed them, but he had killed them for her? What did all of this mean? Who would want him to do such a thing?

"Why? Why would you kill them all?" Serenity asked quietly to confused to be angry or sad.

"I told you. It was so that we could be together. Your father said that if I helped him to win the throne he would let us be together. That's all I ever wanted I promise you," Diamond said reassuringly.

"My father?" Serenity asked faintly, "Why would he want the throne? Mother is the one with the right to the throne. She is the heir to the kingdom. Father isn't even from the moon. He's from...Earth," Serenity said with dawning horror. Suddenly all the warnings her mother had made had more sense ringing through them than they ever had before.

"Of course. Earth should be the rightful ruler not the Moon. The Moon orbits the Earth. It's relationship should strengthen the Earth not the other way around. If the Moon King is from Earth than he can supersede the ruler of Earth. Then you are free to come with me without the obligations of being a ruler," Diamond explained reasonably.

"I want to be the ruler of the Moon Diamond," Serenity said desperately pushing away from him, "This is my birthright and I want to fulfill it. Why would I want the Earth to take over the silver millennium." Serenity looked at him and suddenly didn't know him at all.

"Your father is a good ruler. He understands the need for things that are different unlike the current King of Earth. I felt that he would be a better ruler for all of us, and you should to," Diamond said with the beginnings of frustration.

"So I should want my father, a man who decided to have someone assassinate his wife's closest friends, to rule over the Silver Millennium?" Serenity asked shrilly, "I don't trust my father at all. He has been the sole source of misery to my mother for as long as I've known him. He loves me, but he wants to be me not allow me to grow. It's because of you that my mother has been so overprotective."

"Don't be so selfish. I did all this for you!" Diamond shouted taking a step towards her, "How could you be so...so...ungrateful to me. I did this for us! Your father said that if I helped him he would let me exact my revenge on the current dictator of Earth and he has done that. This is so close to being finished don't ruin it now! You were promised to me! I won't let go of you now!" Diamond closed the distance between the two of them grabbing onto Serenity's wrist.

"Diamond, stop! You're hurting me!" Serenity cried out tears forming in her eyes.

"You're mine! You were promised to me! You are mine! I'm not going to let you go now that I am this close to unseating that maniacal bastard! Everything I've worked for can't just fall apart because of you! You stupid girl don't you know that you're ruining everything? I won't allow you to ruin my plans now. You will come with me," Diamond screamed crushing her wrist in his strong grasp. Serenity looked up at him with eyes blind with tears.

"Please Diamond let me go," she pleaded, "Why are you acting like this? You've never talked about any of this before. I don't want this. I want to stay here and..."

"And what? What are you waiting for Prince Endymion to come in and protect you! Don't think I don't know about the letters he was sending you. You've been going behind my back. I thought you were so much more pure than that. You're just as stupid as your mother falling for another Earth prince. I can take care of you. I know what's best for you." Diamond watched her through intense blue eyes. Spittle formed at the corners of his mouth, and his hands crept up to her throat. He squeezed angrily his face a wild confusions of anguish and anger. "I will show you! I'm the best one for you not him!" Diamond screamed.

Author's notes: Yes. I am aware that I suck a little for ending the chapter this way, and that I also suck for getting twisted pleasure out of ending it this way. I'm a simple person with simple interests. Honestly ending the chapter this way had more to do with my indecision about the direction I was going to go with this. This is a good thing for all of you reading this, because it will keep the story fresh in my mind. It may even cause me to post the next chapter earlier than normal. The next chapter is the last chapter that was published in the original version of this story. From then on it's all brand new stuff. I've already got lots of little snippets stockpiled here and there, and then we will be steaming on towards the inevitable end of this story. It's honestly an interesting journey writing a story that everyone pretty much knows the end of. Of course there will be more twists and possibly cliffhangers along the way! ^.-