CHAPTER TWO ~ EARTH
"But WHY father? Why do I have to go to the ball on the Moon? I don't even KNOW Princess Serenity! I am eighteen years old, Prince of the Earth… I should be able to make my own choices!" Endymion yelled at his parents, the King and Queen of Earth. He threw his arms frantically in the air, showing his rage. Brushing his ebony bangs out of his eyes as he often did when he was bothered, he rose off of the chair. He was always made into going to festivities on the planets. Last time it was to celebrate the wedding of the Princess of Neptune, Princess Michiru, and the Princess of Uranus, Princess Haruka. It had been a beautiful celebration, he could admit that… but it was one of the millions of gatherings he must attend.
Queen Jade sighed, her petite form slumping in the chair. She picked at her full sea-green gown that accented her jade eyes. They were full of compassion for her one and only son. Her thick, black, wavy tresses were braided into one reaching her lower back. "Endymion, please…"
"No, mother! Yes, I am happy for the princess and her fiancé. I wish them luck. But, I don't even KNOW her! Why should I go and celebrate? It is not my responsibility to mingle with the other royalties. You two are the King and Queen, not me!" Endymion paced the room, angered. Why did parents have to be so damned annoying?
"Endymion, that's enough!" bellowed the tall, built King Jasper. He was a big man, strong but kind to his people and family. His eyes were as gray as a rainy day, but almost always reflected peace and love, which contrasted to his rich midnight blue hair. He tapped his fingers on his desk… though he was a gentle man, when he was angered…
Endymion stood silent for a minute, regaining his composition. "Father, ple-"
"You and the generals are going! It's final! Now, go get ready, we're leaving in an hour." With that the King stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
The Prince curled his hand into fists to control his anger, staring at the ground. Queen Jade lightly placed her hands on his shoulders, causing him to look up.
"You're a fine prince, and will make a wonderful king someday," stated the Queen. "Honey, you need this practice for when you do become King of the Earth. Your father is right; you need to go. It's your duty. Queen Beryl suggested that you should go, an-"
"Why do you and father always do what she wants? Can't you see that she is leading our planet to destruction? Why can't we be at peace with the moon and the other planets? She is evil!"
The queen appeared stunned for a moment, her face then quickly changing to intolerance.
"Endymion! How dare you say such things about a person, especially someone who is helping rule our planet? I hope I never hear you say those words again, in particular around your father. I let you off easy, but your father won't have that much tolerance." Realizing she may have been a bit to harsh, her expression softened, a slight smile creeping on her golden toned face. "Now, go get ready to leave. Please, just go with out complaining." With that she kissed her son on the cheek and promptly left the palace's office to her room.
Endymion grimaced, thinking about the boring social gathering he would have to attend. He then followed his mother out of the room, stepping up the wide marble stairs two at a time to reach his bedroom. Once there, he flipped through his closet for his tuxedo and laid it out on the bed. He then quickly showered and got dressed for the ball. When finished, he stood in front of the mirror in his room. Not bad, he thought. In fact, this prince was very good looking. Everywhere he went, women were always throwing themselves at him, looking him up and down. It was obvious why, with his ebony black bangs sweeping over his midnight blue eyes. To top it all off, he had that smile, that dazzling picture-perfect smile. Even though he had so many girls after him, he never responded. They were all the same, just after his good looks and royalty. Not many people knew the real him, only his four best friends, his generals…maybe his mother, but definitely not his father. He didn't want to get to know his only son. King Jasper was always so busy with ruling his planet; he didn't have time for his family. Especially since that Queen Beryl came along. Endymion's thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang at the door and a chorus of male laughter.
Endymion chuckled. "Come in, you guys."
The heavy door was barged open, and four men toppled over each other, falling to the cream colored carpet. From this erupted barrels of even more laughter, Endymion included.
"Stars, are you guys drunk?" Endymion questioned while chuckling.
A man with wavy auburn tresses and sky blue eyes spoke up. "Yeah, right, you think Zoicite of all people would get drunk? Jadeite, get off of me!" He attempted to stand up, causing the other boys on top of him to roughly tumble down.
"Nephlite!" yelled one with shoulder length white hair. His icy blue eyes whirled with annoyance. "Did you really have to do that?" He then pushed himself off the ground, as did the others.
"Now, Malachite, what fun would it be if I had gotten up without making you guys fall?" Nephlite asked innocently.
Endymion shook his head in despair at his generals. "You guys are hopeless. How can I rely on you to protect me from harm when you are soberly falling through doorways?!" Endymion sarcastically asked.
"For your information, we are very good warriors!" protested the one with short, wavy blond hair that were covering is fiery hazel eyes named Jadeite.
"Indeed we are! And so what if I won't get drunk? I would much prefer to read a book than to drink myself to stupidness!" commented Zoicite, fixing his sandy blonde ponytail, his light brown eyes filled with amusement. This remark caused all the men to laugh.
Endymion stood up and walked over to the door, shutting it tightly.
"Well well, Endymion, we're looking pretty hot, aren't we?" joked Nephlite.
Endymion glared at his friend. "Shut up. You guys don't have to dress so formally as a prince has to."
"Hey! Our general uniforms always look good, for any occasion," Malachite shot back.
Endymion sunk to the bed and lay back, sighing. "You guys ever wish you could be someone else?"
Zoicite sat down next to his friend. "What's on your mind, Endymion?"
Endymion sighed. His friends always could get him to spill what he was thinking. "I am always forced to go to these stupid balls and gatherings… I never have my own freedom… and I'm eighteen… going to be the ruler of an entire planet… and I… I…"
Malachite seated himself on the other side of the prince. "Don't worry, Endymion. Your father will come around. Once this evil Queen Beryl leaves, things will turn around."
"Why are you worrying? You'll make an awesome King. I am looking forward to serving you," Nephlite comforted.
Endymion smiled, grateful of his generals. "Thanks guys. For everything… always protecting me. It must be tiresome…"
Jadeite chuckled. "You kidding? Working for one of your best friends is the greatest! We never get tired of it."
"Never," agreed Malachite.
"And we'll never stop being on your side, helping you," Zoicite declared while playfully shoving the prince. "Even at the ball on the moon."
"Speaking of which, do you guys even really want to go? I mean, why celebrate Princess Serenity and Zech's engagement when we don't even know them?" wondered Endymion.
Jadeite grinned, jokingly messing up Endymion's hair. "Hey, there will be girls there. I wouldn't mind getting myself a girl. And maybe you will find your future queen." The men chuckled in agreement.
Glancing at the bedside clock, Malachite spoke up. "Speaking of which, I believe it's time we start heading out. Come on, guys." With that, the five royalties stood up and exited the room to make their way to the Moon.
"But WHY father? Why do I have to go to the ball on the Moon? I don't even KNOW Princess Serenity! I am eighteen years old, Prince of the Earth… I should be able to make my own choices!" Endymion yelled at his parents, the King and Queen of Earth. He threw his arms frantically in the air, showing his rage. Brushing his ebony bangs out of his eyes as he often did when he was bothered, he rose off of the chair. He was always made into going to festivities on the planets. Last time it was to celebrate the wedding of the Princess of Neptune, Princess Michiru, and the Princess of Uranus, Princess Haruka. It had been a beautiful celebration, he could admit that… but it was one of the millions of gatherings he must attend.
Queen Jade sighed, her petite form slumping in the chair. She picked at her full sea-green gown that accented her jade eyes. They were full of compassion for her one and only son. Her thick, black, wavy tresses were braided into one reaching her lower back. "Endymion, please…"
"No, mother! Yes, I am happy for the princess and her fiancé. I wish them luck. But, I don't even KNOW her! Why should I go and celebrate? It is not my responsibility to mingle with the other royalties. You two are the King and Queen, not me!" Endymion paced the room, angered. Why did parents have to be so damned annoying?
"Endymion, that's enough!" bellowed the tall, built King Jasper. He was a big man, strong but kind to his people and family. His eyes were as gray as a rainy day, but almost always reflected peace and love, which contrasted to his rich midnight blue hair. He tapped his fingers on his desk… though he was a gentle man, when he was angered…
Endymion stood silent for a minute, regaining his composition. "Father, ple-"
"You and the generals are going! It's final! Now, go get ready, we're leaving in an hour." With that the King stormed out of the office, slamming the door behind him.
The Prince curled his hand into fists to control his anger, staring at the ground. Queen Jade lightly placed her hands on his shoulders, causing him to look up.
"You're a fine prince, and will make a wonderful king someday," stated the Queen. "Honey, you need this practice for when you do become King of the Earth. Your father is right; you need to go. It's your duty. Queen Beryl suggested that you should go, an-"
"Why do you and father always do what she wants? Can't you see that she is leading our planet to destruction? Why can't we be at peace with the moon and the other planets? She is evil!"
The queen appeared stunned for a moment, her face then quickly changing to intolerance.
"Endymion! How dare you say such things about a person, especially someone who is helping rule our planet? I hope I never hear you say those words again, in particular around your father. I let you off easy, but your father won't have that much tolerance." Realizing she may have been a bit to harsh, her expression softened, a slight smile creeping on her golden toned face. "Now, go get ready to leave. Please, just go with out complaining." With that she kissed her son on the cheek and promptly left the palace's office to her room.
Endymion grimaced, thinking about the boring social gathering he would have to attend. He then followed his mother out of the room, stepping up the wide marble stairs two at a time to reach his bedroom. Once there, he flipped through his closet for his tuxedo and laid it out on the bed. He then quickly showered and got dressed for the ball. When finished, he stood in front of the mirror in his room. Not bad, he thought. In fact, this prince was very good looking. Everywhere he went, women were always throwing themselves at him, looking him up and down. It was obvious why, with his ebony black bangs sweeping over his midnight blue eyes. To top it all off, he had that smile, that dazzling picture-perfect smile. Even though he had so many girls after him, he never responded. They were all the same, just after his good looks and royalty. Not many people knew the real him, only his four best friends, his generals…maybe his mother, but definitely not his father. He didn't want to get to know his only son. King Jasper was always so busy with ruling his planet; he didn't have time for his family. Especially since that Queen Beryl came along. Endymion's thoughts were interrupted by a loud bang at the door and a chorus of male laughter.
Endymion chuckled. "Come in, you guys."
The heavy door was barged open, and four men toppled over each other, falling to the cream colored carpet. From this erupted barrels of even more laughter, Endymion included.
"Stars, are you guys drunk?" Endymion questioned while chuckling.
A man with wavy auburn tresses and sky blue eyes spoke up. "Yeah, right, you think Zoicite of all people would get drunk? Jadeite, get off of me!" He attempted to stand up, causing the other boys on top of him to roughly tumble down.
"Nephlite!" yelled one with shoulder length white hair. His icy blue eyes whirled with annoyance. "Did you really have to do that?" He then pushed himself off the ground, as did the others.
"Now, Malachite, what fun would it be if I had gotten up without making you guys fall?" Nephlite asked innocently.
Endymion shook his head in despair at his generals. "You guys are hopeless. How can I rely on you to protect me from harm when you are soberly falling through doorways?!" Endymion sarcastically asked.
"For your information, we are very good warriors!" protested the one with short, wavy blond hair that were covering is fiery hazel eyes named Jadeite.
"Indeed we are! And so what if I won't get drunk? I would much prefer to read a book than to drink myself to stupidness!" commented Zoicite, fixing his sandy blonde ponytail, his light brown eyes filled with amusement. This remark caused all the men to laugh.
Endymion stood up and walked over to the door, shutting it tightly.
"Well well, Endymion, we're looking pretty hot, aren't we?" joked Nephlite.
Endymion glared at his friend. "Shut up. You guys don't have to dress so formally as a prince has to."
"Hey! Our general uniforms always look good, for any occasion," Malachite shot back.
Endymion sunk to the bed and lay back, sighing. "You guys ever wish you could be someone else?"
Zoicite sat down next to his friend. "What's on your mind, Endymion?"
Endymion sighed. His friends always could get him to spill what he was thinking. "I am always forced to go to these stupid balls and gatherings… I never have my own freedom… and I'm eighteen… going to be the ruler of an entire planet… and I… I…"
Malachite seated himself on the other side of the prince. "Don't worry, Endymion. Your father will come around. Once this evil Queen Beryl leaves, things will turn around."
"Why are you worrying? You'll make an awesome King. I am looking forward to serving you," Nephlite comforted.
Endymion smiled, grateful of his generals. "Thanks guys. For everything… always protecting me. It must be tiresome…"
Jadeite chuckled. "You kidding? Working for one of your best friends is the greatest! We never get tired of it."
"Never," agreed Malachite.
"And we'll never stop being on your side, helping you," Zoicite declared while playfully shoving the prince. "Even at the ball on the moon."
"Speaking of which, do you guys even really want to go? I mean, why celebrate Princess Serenity and Zech's engagement when we don't even know them?" wondered Endymion.
Jadeite grinned, jokingly messing up Endymion's hair. "Hey, there will be girls there. I wouldn't mind getting myself a girl. And maybe you will find your future queen." The men chuckled in agreement.
Glancing at the bedside clock, Malachite spoke up. "Speaking of which, I believe it's time we start heading out. Come on, guys." With that, the five royalties stood up and exited the room to make their way to the Moon.