With Friends Like These

Chapter 52

Claiming a migraine, Mina managed to hide for the duration of the trip back to Nemesis, thinking about her situation. Her plan to piss Diamond off enough to make him NOT want to marry her wasn't working. Sapphire was congenial to her but she could sense a forced nature to it. She hadn't yet seen Raye and was wondering where she was and Jadeite too.

At some point during the day, the seamstress from the day before had returned to finish tailoring her gown.

"What is this for anyway?" Mina asked. "Why do I need all of this finery?"

"Your Highness, Prince Diamond wants to announce your engagement as soon as you arrive. You must be properly attired," the woman explained.

Mina frowned at the reminder.

"Ahh there we are, the final pin. That wasn't so bad after all, was it Your Highness? It's as though this dress was made for you," the seamstress stated.

A knock at the door got their attention. "Entre vous," Mina called.

Sapphire entered the room. "Madam, I wish to speak with the princess. Leave us."

"Yes, Lord Sapphire. I am finished with her anyway," the woman left the room.

Sapphire walked around Mina, scrutinizing her thoroughly and silently. "Why are you marrying my brother?"

Mina was surprised at the question. "What?"

"Well, you're supposed to be marrying my brother and yet you seem determined to piss him off. You seem angry to be here," Sapphire stated.

Mina cocked her head to the side. "I'm supposed to be happy to be here? The only reason I'm here is because he threatened to kill my friends and family if I didn't. I don't want to be here anymore than you want me here."

Sapphire looked away. "You're here against your will?"

"Yeah. And by the way, even if I did want to marry your brother, which I really don't, I wouldn't want to take him away from you," Mina told him.

Sapphire stiffened up. "What are you talking about?"

Mina put her hands on her hips. "Oh come on, you think I'm blind. I know jealousy when I see it. You're scared that when I marry your brother that I will take up all of his time and attention and he won't want to hang out with you anymore. Am I close?"

"I...um...well..." Sapphire stammered.

"How often have you had to share your brother with someone else?" Mina asked. "It's only natural you'd be worried. But you don't have to be. I promise. And if I accidentally annoy you while trying to annoy him, sorry."


Malachite packed several bags of Serena's clothing and personal items, thinking about the new mission Beryl had set for him. It was a brilliant plan, he knew that. A team of guards around her in a familiar setting would draw too much attention and make her more likely to come under attack in her weakened state. But there was more to think about. He had to really let go now. She needed him 100 percent. Nothing less would do if she was to heal.

Heaving a heavy sigh he summoned the picture of he and Zoycite, a tear hitting the photo as he allowed himself to grieve one last time. "I will always love you Zoycite. You will always be in my heart, and I know if you were here, you would be smacking me for the sappy nature of that line but it's true. The time to heal and move on has come however. She needs me now. I hope you can understand..." he banished the photo back to his personal chambers. "Farewell my love."


Shadow, being mainly a shadow, was able to float through space as he wished. He had no concept of oxygen or molecular density. He watched over the Earth, over his victim, with an orb he materialized from thin air. He laughed every time that so-called general tried to hold her only to have her flinch away. He had sensed his double's attempted suicide and felt him vanish from this dimension. He wasn't worried. As long as Endymion survived, so would he. His goal was to torment Serenity to the point of madness, revenge for banishing him unjustifiably to the ends of the universe. He supposed that if he had any kindness inside him, he would know that he had gone too far, but all of that kindness remained in his other half. He had no true concept of right or wrong, he only knew that he was sorely mistreated and such treatment deserved likewise.

As he was contemplating how best to continue his torment of the Moon Princess, something floating in the distance caught his eye. "Is that a...trashcan? I've heard of space garbage, but this is a little much..."


At last, the flagship docked on the small planet. Mina was surprised to see that an entire crowd of people had gathered to see their arrival. It reminded her of the opening scene of Disney's Lion King. She laughingly wondered if that's how Diamond was introduced to his people when he was born.

Sapphire had made a promise that he would talk to his brother about this forced marriage. He didn't want his brother married to someone who didn't love him. But that would have to wait, she knew.

As the door to the ship opened, Diamond took Mina's arm and led her out, stopping just at the middle of the gangplank. "People of Nemesis, while the war was not entirely a victory, we have managed to bring back 3 tons of food to ration among our people. And, my people, I have also brought back another prize." Mina frowned as he referred to like a belonging, an object, but did not protest. "Allow me to introduce you to your new future queen, my bride-to-be, Princess Serenity!"