Disclaimer: Thanks to all consistent readers and reviewers.

Again, on a roll with this story and I hope everyone is enjoying it.

This chapter is way longer than I anticipated.


"Move Rina!" Rei ordered her Princess, sweat dripping from her brow.

Serenity didn't move from her spot. She stayed rooted in front of the Prince, knowing those arrows Rei summoned from the flames would severely injure him. She couldn't allow that.

"Would you two stop it and listen!?" Serenity pleaded, she watched the power duo in front of her, acutely aware of Minako powering up that chain attack. "Endymion didn't attack me."

"Why he is bruised and bleeding then?" Minako asked stepping forward.

"He fought Diamond! Diamond led me to the back hallway to force a soul bonding on me. Endymion saved me then I stopped Diamond with my Silver Crystal." Serenity rushed to explain. She hated fighting amongst themselves, it got them nowhere. "Put that chain down, Minako. As your Princess, I command you." She said.

"The Silver Crystal doesn't give you offensive powers, Rina."

"I swear it did!" She threw her arms up exasperated by their reactions. "I was glowing silver like a damn glow stick!"

Minako looked from her to Endymion then the body laying limp to the side of them. So that was the man who attempted to force his soul onto their Princess? It looked like smoke was evaporating from his body. It was a curious situation. So the Princess could take care of herself? All their panic for nothing. She released the energy charged in the chain and it dispersed. Rei hesitantly followed suit and approached.

"We worried when Serenity couldn't be found on the dance floor."

"Diamond led her off to the back. I saw and followed." Endymion reiterated relieved they weren't going to attack anymore. "She was attacked. That Silver Crystal did activate."

"Your Majesty!" Kunzite called out as he and Jadeite approached the scene. Endymion relayed to him the situation. Surprise written all over his face but never to stay shocked for long, he began shaking his head and glared at the Prince. "You are lucky she attacked him." Then he turned to the Princess and then to Minako. "Not a conqueror? Only the power to heal?"

"We will discuss this later, Kunzite." Minako pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed.

"What are you talking about, Kunzite?" Serenity asked curiously. She stayed quiet listening to Endymion and studying him. Eyes were on her as if they forgot she was here and their conversation was no longer private.

"I obviously wasn't about to allow you waltz on Earth if you were a threat. I had your abilities checked out because your star seed is the Silver Crystal. If you posed a threat to my Prince, you wouldn't be here." Kunzite turned to Minako wistfully. "She said you were raised as diplomat. Yet looking to Diamond unconscious, that isn't the case."

The revelation hit her like a sack of brick as she stared back at the man wide eyed, like a scolded child. She wanted to cry and pout until they apologized but this wasn't the Silver Millennium. Swallowing the lump forming in her throat, Serenity responded, "The Silver Crystal has only ever allowed me power as needed. I could heal injured without it due to the Moon's patron Goddess. You are correct, I am not a fighter, I am a diplomat. Until tonight, I had no idea I could use the Silver Crystal to do this. Create shields? Yes. Attack no."

"Wait...the healing power isn't from the Crystal?" Jadeite asks tilting head. "You can create defensive shields?"

"I have been able to for short periods of time to protect myself." Serenity turned to him. Jadeite hadn't scolded her or taken a seemingly dislike for her existence and she regarded him politely as she could, "Your Prince would be injured right now if it weren't for me. Show some gratitude."

"A Princess who cannot control that kind of power shouldn't be walking freely around." Kunzite responded earning a scowl from Endymion.

Serenity regarded him cooly, "I understand your concerns. I really do, but if you so much as lay one finger on me, I won't go quietly."

Kunzite opened his mouth to respond but Endymion raised a hand, effectively silencing all further threats, "Let's stop before this turns ugly. Kunzite know your place. She isn't a threat and I'm taking her back to the Palace as I go. Handle the clean up."

"One of us should go too." Rei reminded him. "She is under our protection while she's here."

Pointing to the broach resting against Serenity's chest, Endymion smirked, "I believe your Princess can take care herself and me if it comes to it with the Silver Crystal."

Pursing her lips, Minako turned and walked to Diamond's body. She needed to find whatever it was he planned to use to force a bond onto Serenity. Rei patted Serenity's shoulder and kissed her forehead before walking off. Kunzite and Jadeite bowed to Endymion and walked away as well. Serenity let the breath she'd been holding out and relaxed.


She sat quietly, watching their surroundings as Endymion drove them back. He knew the back roads, as he should. Back roads made it easier to travel from the Palace to almost everywhere.

She wasn't understanding how that man could see her as a potential threat to Endymion. From her knowledge the Terran Prince possessed his own equally powerful star seed that tied him to Earth. He could bring heavenly rains down, call upon a drought if he chose. He could focus his elemental ties to Earth into an energy attack. So how was she a threat?

"Forgive Kunzite, Serenity." He stated, his face masked by stoicism. "He's watched over me since I was little."

"I'm not the type to hold a grudge. I don't blame him. I've manifested more power tonight than any other time." Serenity stated dryly.

"You don't think that's normal?"

"Selene told me the Silver Crystal wouldn't fully activate for me until I find my soulmate and bond."

It was ironic sounding at the least.

"You don't want to be bonded with someone you don't share genuine feelings for so?" Endymion restated to her from their previous conversation. She nodded and he continued, "You'll just accept the consequences of being less powerful than your Guardians and mother because of that?"

"I put everyone at risk, I know. I just want something for myself."

"I know the feeling." He sighed. He did. Many nights going out with different noble women, hoping to form some type of affectionate connection. One time he did, but there was no bond. Aggravated with his cruel fate, Endymion refused to have any serious relations with females. "I don't want to bond with someone I don't consciously choose."

"Minako said once you're bonded that you can't cheat on your mate, that it possible to fake that kind of relationship."

"And here Diamond has figured out how to force someone who isn't his soulmate to bond their soul to his. Can't imagine Aphrodite planned for that."

Serenity giggled because it was true. Aphrodite meant well when she cast this divine magic. At the time, she couldn't have known someone would get around it.

As they entered the Palace gates, Serenity turned once more to really look at him. He was handsome despite the injuries he sustained. His cheek was swelling and the blood crusted on his lip. Despite sweating, he smelled good. His jaw carved from the finest. Broad shoulders. Thank Selene they were sitting in the dark. "May I heal you?" She asked. "It won't take but a moment." There was a sudden thought that rang through her mind and it sobered those thoughts up.

He isn't mine. He isn't my soulmate. Mother won't approve unless he is.

He craned his neck toward her, watching her. She sounded so sweet and innocent and even looked it despite her attire. the hair buns atop her head were loosening and her own neck and shoulder was slightly bruised from Diamond's harsh grip. She would be intoxicating to the right man. Now there was a thought.

"Let's go inside and get comfortable first." He suggested breaking his focus from her. He immediately needed the fresh air. Once inside he led her to the library where Kunzite had been earlier. The room felt less like a library and more like a sitting room with two sofas and cushioned chairs. The book shelves lined the walls across from the ceiling to floor windows.

The entire Palace was quiet, Serenity noted. She hadn't realized it was this quiet at night. Exactly what time did they get in? She sat on the pale blue sofa and waited for him to return. When he did, he brought a small wash pan half full of hot water and two cloths soaking.

"I figured you wanted to rinse your face too." He smiled softly watching as her cheeks lit up.

"Oh."

They sat together and Serenity picked up the cloth, wringing it out and doing just as he suggested. The heat felt good on her skin, especially her neck and shoulder. Endymion rinsed his own face, removing the dried blood and letting the cloth set on his forehead. Too bad he couldn't skip tomorrow's cabinet meeting. He really wished he could.

"I don't have to heal your wounds tonight. You look tired." She observed.

"I have an early meeting in the morning, Odango. Let's get this over with."

"Odango?" Her blue eyes narrowed on him and she frowned despite his laughter.

"Your hair. I think it fits."

"Baka. I think that's fitting."

Endymion laughed heartedly at her retort before scooting closer. She could take his jests and handle herself just fine. But he reminded himself, she wasn't his. She wasn't his mate. She was only here for plans concerning her Guardians wedding ceremonies. She'd be gone after. It sobered him up quickly.

Breathing in and out and scooting closer to him, Serenity smiled and said, "Hold still." She raised her hands to his cheeks and closed her eyes. Her hands began glowing, turning pink and gold. They were warm on his face, much more soothing than the hot cloth he administered. He closed his own eyes, getting lost in the feeling. The bruise that begun turning from pink to purple disappeared and his busted lip mended as if nothing happened. Satisfied with her work she moved her hands away from his face and offered him another smile.

"Handy ability. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Now I must bid you goodnight, Endymion." Serenity stood, bowing her head slightly and walking out of the library.

"Goodnight Princess." He watched her go, immediately missing the warmth her hands provided. He couldn't stop thinking. He was lost in his thoughts when everyone else arrived. The women retiring for the night, Jadeite took the first shift of surveillance and Kunzite found his Prince in the Library, lost in thought.

"Endymion?" He watched him curiously as his brow furrowed deep.

"She healed me." He finally spoke, looking up to Kunzite. "I don't know what to make of her."

This looked entirely different from that if Kunzite had to guess. The Prince knew very well what he made of her. "I strongly doubt you don't know. Whatever infatuation you have, stop now. She may be royalty and in another world, entirely right for you, but she has a soulmate somewhere as do you and she is higher up on the royalty totem pole. Not some trophy wife."

"Even if she doesn't want a soulmate she doesn't care about?"

"Pfft. She will do her duty no matter how reluctant she is." He crossed his arms haughtily.

"Kunzite her powers aren't fully activated because she is rejecting her duty to find her soulmate. She told me herself." Endymion revealed leaning his head back on the sofa.

"I can only advise, Endymion. Goodnight." Kunzite left the Prince to his thoughts, he needed to patch his own relationship with Minako.