Title:Rebels & Royals.Part 8
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes thought
9/4/02
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recapturing:
"Because it hurts too much to look at you..." answered Serenity.
~~~
Endymion shook his head and winced, pinching the bridge of his nose. He
blinked and turned to look down at Seiya.
"Tell me..."
~~~
"Endymion is to be your personal guard until you are married to Dimando."
"No...please, get someone else. I couldn't bear to look at him...it hurts
too much, Bru. It hurts.." sobbed Serenity as she buried her head in
Bruche's shoulder.
~~~
"No...he doesn't have the experience of the other Royal Guards. I'm sorry,
little one. But it will have to be this way..."
AN: And now, on with the story! :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Endymion sat on his bed, one hand held a glass of red wine. His shirt was
opened to the waist. He frowned and with his free hand rubbed his temple.
It didn't make sense!! None of it made any sense! He half wished he had
never gone to see his "cousin"...
~FLASHBACK~
"Your father was a Royal Guard, but after the Dowager Queen died, the
reigning monarchs became evil and cruel. Your father left the service.
A rebellion errupted almost instantaneously after that."
"What of my mother?"
"Your mother was the kindest, most gentle woman I'd ever known. Besides
the Princess of course. She loved your father dearly. Both of your parents
were killed in a rebellion outbreak known as the Titan Massacre. You were
10 years old then."
"And myself?"
"You were raised by the remaining members of the rebellion. You and the
other children of the Silverian bloodlines grew up to lead the rebellion.
You were our leader, Endy."
"Silverian bloodlines?"
"The special families that have the type of powers displayed by the Royal
Family and the Royal Guards. Heavens above, whatever they did to you must
really have scrambled your brain."
"Continue.."
"Not to mention a whole overhaul on your attitude. Anyway...this whole
fiasco started a few months back when you met Sere- I mean, the Princess."
"I have never met the Princess. I only have a vague recollection of
seeing her at the Queen's coronation." *Not to mention in fever dreams.*
thought Endymion wryly to himself.
"That was years ago! You do not remember how you met her??"
"No."
"You told it was because she was running away from the Palace. So, the
lot of us were captured later on. Fortunately, the Princess freed us. I
remember Minako saying you went on mooning about for days. Always staring
at the Palace." chuckled Seiya. "The two of you had fallen in love."
sighed Seiya somberly, his eyes lifting to meet Endymion's.
"Impossible! I love Beryl."
"You never were in love with her! You merely saw her as a comrade. She
was with the rebellion too, you know. I remember returning from a mission
and seeing a figure hiding in the shadows of a tree when you returned from
a successful jaunt. I snuck up on her and caught her." chuckled Seiya.
"You harmed the Princess!?" snarled Endymion looking up suddenly. His
black blue eyes smoldered, an eerie golden aura filling his eyes.
"Whoa, I didn't. Funny...you reaction right now is more explosive than
it was then when I touched her." commented Seiya, his eyes narrowing.
"I've had enough of your ficticious story. I do not believe you nor
will I listen to anymore of your lies. I see now you were trying to confuse
me in my duties."
"I have not. Whether you choose to believe, it is all up to you. But you
are not merely harming yourself. You are breaking a special woman's heart."
Endymion frowned. His hand going into his pocket to close about the watch.
"One more thing...this belongs to the Princess, yet I do not understand
why I recognize it and have not the inclination to return it.."
Seiya's eyes widened at the silver watch. His eyes leaped to Endymion's
in confusion. "Y-You...do not recognize it?"
"I do, but I do not know why."
"Endymion...the watch, it does not belong to Princess Serenity but to you.
It is your watch. The watch that was given to you by your parents."
~END FLASHBACK~
Endymion's free hand went into his pocket to bring out the watch. He
stared at it. This was confusing him!! He glared at the silver watch and
flung his glass of red wine at the wall.
The glass flew at the wall and shattered. The wine was on the floor...
droplets stained the wall like blood drops.
Blood...
His eyes locked on the watch. The watch had faint traces of blood on it.
Whose blood? His? The Princess's?
Dammit!! What had happened to him?? He had the overwhelming urge to
protect the Princess as well as the urge to be cold and callous towards
her. He was supposed to be in love with Beryl, but for some reason, each
time he stared at her form, he saw the Princess...her fragile form was
dressed in white, a hand outstretched to him...calling him, her blue eyes
filled with tears that ran down her pale porcelain face.
Running a hand through his thick ebony hair didn't calm him down. He
stared at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were black and smoldering
with a slight blue fire in them. His hair was messy and ruffled about.
To himself, he looked more wild animal than man...
His hand closed and tightened about the watch...blood drops dripped from
his hand...
He shut his eyes to block out the image...perhaps he was losing his mind.
He roared his frustration.
The mirror and the glass bottles containing alcohol shattered. Two lamps
and a chair flew against the wall, crashing into pieces.
He cried his confusion and agony. Raged at all the damn dreams and flashes
that had brought his bout of madness on. Shouted out at all the injustices
that was being forced upon him. He wanted- no, needed the truth.
But he wasn't sure who to believe...
His form took on a faint golden shimmer that turned into blinding golden
light that filled the room, causing confusion to gardeners who saw the
strange lights being emitted from within the room.
When he was done...the only things in his room that had been spared
destruction was his bed, the windows and his closet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rei, Makoto, Jaedite and Malachite were lounging in their favourite place.
Their bar room...
Rei smiled seductively at Jadeite, running her finger down his cheek.
Jadeite caught her hand and turned his head to plant a kiss on each of her
fingers.
Makoto rolled her eyes. "You two make me sick. At times you're fighting
and in an utter turn about, you're doing the mooshy stuff."
"That's mushy stuff." chuckled Malachite.
"Whatever. I don't even have Iolite to talk to. At least I wouldn't have
to see you two play footsie or tonsil hockey." sniffed Makoto.
"You have Mal to talk to." purred Rei as she settled herself on Jadeite's
lap."
"With HIM?? Get real. You two are disgusting. Get a room."
"We choose not to."
"You have no shame." grinned Malachite as he turned his drink in his
hands.
"Did you hear about Endymion?" asked Jadeite looking up from Rei's neck.
"His quarters? Yes, I heard. He destroyed the whole room. Well, except
for the bed, the windows and the closet." snickered Makoto.
"He's even more powerful than I thought." said Malachite, a glint in his
ice eyes.
"He must have been really upset." smiled Rei, her arm hugging Jadeite's
head to her.
"Ugh, will you two keep away from each other for the moment? You'll make
me puke." snarled Makoto.
"You're just jealous. Green with envy. Can't blame you, with all your
green eyes and hair." laughed Rei.
"Funny who's talking, firebrand."
"Red's the colour of passion."
"Really...I thought it was the colour of a wanton."
"Ladies, ladies! Behave please. I thought it was supposed to be us men,
that hadn't graduated from the tree-swinging, chest beating mentality."
grinned Malachite.
Makoto and Rei shot him a frosty look. "You are. We women are civilized.
Besides, we were merely teasing." snorted Rei.
"Shouldn't you men go find more interesting game to beat your chests over
yet? Or maybe konk each other on the head already?" asked Makoto sweetly.
"Ouch.." laughed Malachite.
"I do not envy you, Jade. You've a spitfire in your possession right
now."
"Just like you do in the dungeons, Mal." snickered Jadeite.
Malachite glared. "You tread on dangerous ground."
"Then stop calling me Jade."
"Ah yes, Minako. The amber-eyed blonde." smiled Makoto wickedly.
Malachite turned his lethal stare at the woman in green.
Rei slid off Jadeite's lap and tapped her bottom lip with a finger.
"Amber-eyed blonde? Oh, you mean her...I heard one of the guards say
she looked like a fruit sucket, ripe for the devouring." smiled Rei, her
eyes looking sideways at Malachite's reaction.
Obscenities errupted from Malachite's mouth.
Malachite slammed his glass down on the counter with an audible crack.
"Oh, they did, did they?? Which guard did this happen to be??"
"Why would you want to know? I mean, your ties to Minako's family ended
a long time ago didn't it? And I'm sure you tried to kill the whole lot
of them, the last time." smiled Makoto.
"I'm just curious to know which guard would be idiotic or tasteless
enough to think Minako was pretty." he growled.
*So I can rip his eyes out and make him eat them...*
"And I'm the King of Fools." snorted Jadeite as he took a sip from his
glass.
"Oh, you mean you know about the title?" asked Malachite innocently.
Rei and Makoto laughed as Jadeite shot from his seat...
"WHAT????!!!"
Outside the bar room....
Iolite leaned against the wall as she heard the mocking taunts and jibes
of the other Royal Guard. Iolite squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block
out the argument. She couldn't understand when everything in the kingdom
had fallen apart...
The Queen was adamant about the marriage.
The Princess had a broken heart and seemed to be fading with each day.
Her brother was in the dungeon, awaiting execution.
Beryl wwas a pain in the ass...
The Prince Dimando was a male chauvinist, and to top it all of,...the
Royal Guard were behaving like jerks...
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iolite walked down the hall way with a heavy heart...the day seemed
extraordinarily melancholy.
Iolite stopped at the sounds of voices.
"You wanted me to help you develope your dark abilities.."
"I hate the Queen...I hate the Royal Family especially the Princess. But
since she is to be married soon, I can look the other way about her."
"Your abilities have already grown. It wouldn't take much effort to over
throw your Queen. She is weak and stands in my way. That was the only
reason I helped you. I saw the jealousy and envy...the hate in you."
"Do not presume you have power over me."
"You want to keep your Endymion, do you not?"
Iolite stifled a gasp.
"I will rule. You may have thought me to advance my abilities, but I'm
not the soft weakling, Queen Bruche is. Do not threaten me."
Iolite left the two. She walked away, her heart racing. Beryl...
So absorbed in her thoughts, she did not realise where she was going
until she bumped into a hard wall.
A wall with arms.
With a cry of alarm, Iolite looked up and stared at the man in front of
her in silver and black armor and a black cape with red lining. Endymion...
"Iolite, you should watch where you go."
"My apologies, Endymion."
"Ah, right...have you seen the Princess? I'm to be her guard until the
wedding day."
Iolite's eyes clouded and then, remembered where she had been heading
originally before she'd heard the two voices.
"The Princess!! That's right! I have to see the Queen about her!"
exclaimed Iolite.
"There's something wrong with the Princess??"
"I don't know. She won't speak to me. She won't say anything." sighed
Iolite. "Princess Serenity is in her chambers. I have to fetch the Queen.
Perhaps, you should check on Princess Serenity." suggested Iolite.
Endymion merely gave a nod and turned around, heading back the way he had
come.
Iolite sighed. She hoped Serenity's condition would inspire some feeling
or rememberance in Endymion...She wanted all this madness to stop. She
wanted peace. Something she had never wanted before...
Endymion made his way towards Serenity's chambers. The door was closed.
He knocked lightly on the door. There was no response.
"Princess?"
Silence.
With a frown, Endymion pulled the latch. The door opened with a click.
There was silence in the room. Not even the sound of rustling clothes.
"Princess Serenity? Are you alright?" called Endymion.
As he walked further into the chambers, he saw the large bed. There was
a small form huddled in the middle of the bed, unmoving and giving no
acknowledgement of his presence in the room.
Endymion moved towards the bed. The pale white form did not move.
He stopped by the bedside. What he saw tore at his self control.
Serenity lay on the bed, not moving, not seeing...her eyes were blank
as tears ran down her face unchecked.
Endymion knelt down. "Gods above...what have you done to yourself?" asked
Endymion, his fingers reaching to brush her tears away.
Serenity flinched. Her whole body stiffened.
Endymion's hand stopped. He hated her reaction. His insides felt like
they were constricting. Why? Why did she have to have that forlorn
expression? It wasn't his fault he did not reciprocate her affections!!
Wasn't it?
"Princess,"
"Please, leave me alone." she whispered softly.
"What have you done to yourself? Are you ill?" asked Endymion.
"I'm not ill. I just haven't been able to stop crying. I've tried. But
these silly tears just keep coming." sniffled Serenity.
Before Endymion could reply to her words, the Queen and Iolite burst into
the room.
"Serenity??" called Bruche.
Iolite bent by the bedside. "Your Highness.."
Bruche observed the tears flowing from he sister's eyes. It was
heartbreaking to watch her sister, once so full of life and spirit reduced
to this empty and broken shell. It hurt, also knowing she had played a
major role in her sister's suffering.
"Please, I just want to be alone.." pleaded Serenity closing her
streaming eyes.
"But,-"
"Please."
Bruche bit her lip. There really was nothing she could do.
"Endymion, watch over the Princess."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"No.." came Serenity's weak protest.
"Just until you sleep, Serenity." said Bruche softly, touching her
sister's long silver hair that was spread out across the bed in a silver
glittering mass.
"Alright.." consented Serenity. She was just too weak to go on fighting
any longer. She was so tired.
Endymion pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down. He watched as
Serenity closed her eyes, though tears still fell from her eyes like
glittering diamonds.
Bruch and Iolite exited the chamber.
Bruche made it only as far as a few metres.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright??" asked Iolite rushing to steady the
Queen who rested against a wall.
"I'm fine...do not worry."
Iolite bore silent witness to her Queen's anguish.
"Why does Your Majesty need to be so stubborn?" asked Iolite. "Why not
just admit you are wrong and allow Serenity to choose her own future
instead of the one planned by the late King and Queen?"
"I cannot! I would be disobeying my parents's wishes. I would not be
honouring the contract of bethrotal with the Prince Dimado's country. A
war could errupt from this. And the Silver Kingdom would lose this alliance
as well." choked Bruche.
"We do not need the alliance, my Queen."
"And a war between our countries? The people of both countries would
suffer. This kingdom would suffer."
"The army can handle a war. You also have us. Prince Dimando's kingdom
does not have a Royal Guard squad like us. His family is the ONLY bloodline
that displays powers, unlike our Silverian bloodline families." pointed
out Iolite.
"I cannot admit I'm wrong!!" exclaimed Bruche. "I cannot!!"
"Cannot, or won't? Your Majesty has too much of the late Majesties pride.
That is why the rebellion was formed in the first place. Because they were
tyrants and arrogant, pride-filled sovereigns."
"That's ENOUGH Iolite!" snapped Bruche, her sky blue eyes blazing into
the colour of blue flame.
"I apologize, Your Majesty...but, she is hurting. I fear she will fade
away soon. She hardly eats or sleeps. She cries each night. She does not
have the strength to continue on this way. Princess Serenity will fall ill
if this keeps up and may fall victim to the fever."
Bruche squeezed her eyes shut. She knew it too...
"I know you love Princess Serenity with all your heart. Can you not find
it in your heart to admit you have failed the Princess?" asked Iolite.
"You do realize I could throw you in the dungeons and pass execution
sentence on you, don't you?" asked Bruche.
"Yes. I know. But I want Princess Serenity to be happy. I wish her to
be as she once was."
Bruche sighed and leaned her head back on the wall.
"I made a bad decision in forcing Serenity to fulfill the betrothal
contract set by our parents, didn't I?" asked Bruche as she turned to look
at Iolite.
Iolite nodded.
"Heaven above give me strength.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Endymion watched as Serenity fell asleep. Her eyes were closed, her
breathing regulating to a constant in and out. Her face was pale with tear
stains. She looked so peaceful when asleep. But he knew the painful and
soulful emotion behind the closed eyelids. They were always directed at
him. Always him.
He sighed and brushed silver hair from the sleeping woman's face tenderly.
Beryl sat in her darkened room, her amber eyes blazing like a cat's.
The Diamond was more trouble than she expected. He was a irritant in her
plans and had to be eliminated. She would not lose Endymion...
She had noticed Endymion's confused looks. She knew things were bothering
him. Sooner or later, he would piece together his life that had been
forgotten. He would remember. Beryl had also noted the look Endymion had,
when the Princess was mentioned. She didn't like it. He was hers!
And no one would take him away and survive...
"You have taught me much, Dimando. But you have made an error in thinking
me your pawn. You underestimated me because I am a woman. And now...you
will pay the price." smiled Beryl evilly.
Her insane laughter echoed in the room as a black choking aura filled it.
Beryl's body glowed an eerie purple that tainted everything it came into
contact with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was night and everything was silent. Endymion sat by his balcony doors,
contemplating.
Everything had spun out of control. Nothing made sense and at the same
moment...everything was as clear and bright as day. Tomorrow was the
wedding. It was so close yet so far.
Since the day he had volunteered to be the Princess's bodyguard, he'd had
dreams. Dreams of joy, dreams of tears and dreams on unrelenting pain.
He'd dreamed of her...the Princess Serenity. He had dreamt of shared hugs,
stolen kisses and promises of eternity. He'd dreamt of farewells, a kiss of
goodbye and sad blue eyes spilling crystalline tears.
Then, the nightmares had invaded. Shouts of anger and explosions of fury.
And finally....the screams of pain. His screams.
He'd always awoken after that. Awoken with a dull throbbing in his head.
Slender arms curled round his neck and warm breath brushed his ear.
"Beryl.."
"My darling, what are you doing still up?" asked Beryl in a silky voice.
"I couldn't sleep."
"But tomorrow is the Princess's wedding. You cannot show up with black
eyes now, can you?" she purred in his ear. "Come to bed."
"In a bit,....love." sighed Endymion. "I want to be alone, please."
Beryl's eyes flashed and then, it was gone. She merely smiled and pressed
a kiss to his mouth and patted his cheek.
"Alright...I shall waken you tomorrow."
"Yes, thank you."
Beryl shut Endymion's door and glared at it. She was losing him! It was
not boding well for her. Endymion's deep love for the Princess was
beginning to resurface in him. If she could not have him, nobody else could
either.
Bruche lay awake in her chambers, staring up at the ceiling. Iolite had
come again demanding to know why she had not put a stop to the wedding.
Beryl was not the only one noticing the subtle changes happening to
Endymion. His true self was fighting it's way back from the poison and the
enchantment. Endymion truly held a deep love for her sister.
Tomorrow...
"Tomorrow," vowed Bruche. If Endymion did not stop the wedding, she would.
Serenity stood by her window and stared out at the moon. Her eyes were
dry and she felt empty inside. She had cried until she had had no more
tears left to cry.
Tomorrow was the starting of a new life as well as the beginning of her
death...
"Endymion.."
Dimando smiled, exhausted from his mistress's vigor. Tomorrow, the
Princess would be his and there would be no irritating bodyguards to
protect her or would she have the right to resist his advances. She was to
be his chattel. Yes, tomorrow was going to be the day. And with that last
thought, slept.
And on this night, Fate made a decision and played her hand....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The morning came faster than anyone would have thought.
Serenity awoke with an empty feeling in her chest. She was dead. She had
died the moment when Endymion had said he loved another...
She was weak, and she knew it. She should have been strong. Should have
perhaps, moved on with her life. But she had not. She could not. So, she
was dead.
Endymion had fallen asleep in his chair at some point in the night. The
dreams had come, but they were different.
~Endymion's Dream~
"It is time, Endymion."
"Who?"
"It is time." repeated the voice.
"Time? Time for what?" asked Endymion confused.
"Time to remember."
~*~
Beryl pounded on Endymion's door. The man was still asleep! She had been
pounding on his door almost the whole morning!
"Endymion!! It is almost time for the ceremony! They're not waiting for
one missing Royal Guard and lady, you know!" screeched Beryl.
She wanted to go to this wedding. To see Serenity say her vows and go
through the ceremony that would forever put her out of Endymion's reaches
if he ever awoke from the enchantment and slipped from her fingers.
She was about to scream at the door again and blast it to bits when
suddenly, the heavy door crashed open. It was Endymion dressed in what he
had worn last night. A white shirt and black pants and boots.
His eyes were ablaze and they were BLUE!! A gold aura was surrounding him
and the air fairly vibrated with his anger. Beryl knew she had lost him.
Again...
His eyes locked on her. His wrath on her...
"You damn traitorous bitch..." he hissed. "I'll deal with you, after I
stop the damn wedding." he growled his threat.
Shoving Beryl out of his way, he broke into a sprint, his body still
glowing the gold aura.
As Endymion ran down the corridor, a silent tear fell from his eyes as he
recalled with shame and anguish the pain and sadness he had put the one he
loved with all his soul through.
"Please let it not be too late..." prayed Endymion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serenity was dressed in a beaded gown. (The one in the manga when she was
captured by Diamond/Dimando.) Pearls hung from her ears. The ruffled off
the shoulder bead straps and sleeves lent the gown an air of elegance.
In her hands, she held a bouquet of white lilies. As she walked slowly
down the aisle, her heart grew heavier and heavier. She saw Prince Dimando
in front, he wore his usual white suit and white cape with purple lining.
No emotion played across her face, but a sense of dread had welled up
inside her. What she really wanted to do, was run away from the aisle. Live
her life in solitude, never again thinking of the outside world...
She was such a coward.
Bruche looked toward the door...Endymion and Beryl had not appeared. A
sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach made her queasy. It did not look
as if Endymion would ever stop the wedding. Besides, even if he wanted to,
she doubted if her would as he was supposed to be a loyal Guard.
She watched as Serenity took her place beside Dimando.
Squaring her shoulders, Beryl's lips thinned. It looked as if it was up
to her....
Dimando's lips curled in triumph. The ceremony was almost over. And soon,
the Princess would be his.
"If anyone objects to this joining, speak now or forever hold your peace."
droned the priest.
"I object.."
Gasps and whispers rose in the air at the individual objecting.
Dimando turned to face the one who was snatching his triumph. His face
was curled into a snarl.
Serenity faced her sister in surprise.
"This marriage was arranged since our parents." snarled Dimando. "You
sanctioned it."
"Not anymore. Serenity deserves better. She deserves her own choice."
snapped Bruche.
Bruch turned to face her sister. "I'm sorry, little sister. I caused you
pain. I should never have forced you into this decision."
Tears filled Serenity's eyes. Her sister's actions raised poignant
emotions that pierced her heart with love and joy.
The rebel prisoners that had been brought up to watch the wedding sighed.
Minako felt tear in her golden eyes at Bruche's words. Ami merely smiled
a watery smile.
"Bruche.."
Serenity tried to go to her sister, but Dimando reached out and locked her
to him.
Serenity cried out in pain and alarm, as his arm locked tightly like a
steel band around her.
The Royal Guard attending stood up and came behind their queen with
menacing glares.
"The Queen has spoken." hissed Rei. "Release Princess Serenity."
"The Princess is mine." said Dimando.
Serenity turned her silver head to glare at Dimando. "By the goddess, I
do not belong to YOU!!" snapped Serenity, her temper coming to life. Her
silver aura flared, lashing out at Dimando. But his purplish black aura
came to his protection and she was still locked to him.
"I knew your fiery spirit was still in there somewhere.." smiled Dimando,
his purple eyes lit with desire and lust.
"Release me!" cried Serenity pushing at him, and trying to kick him.
Bruche hissed at Dimando. "You always were a disrespectful male chauvinist
pig!" Her silvery blue aura surrounded her.
The Royal Guard behind her, followed suit. Their own powers flashed to
life. The air vibrated with hostile tension.
"Anything you attack me with will surely hit your sister as well. Are
you all confident enough to be able to strike me without injuring your
precious Princess?
"I'd rather die than have you holding me as a threat over my family."
said Serenity emotionlessly.
"Ah, but I'm not about to let you die, Serenity..."
"You have no right to call me by my given name!" snapped Serenity.
Suddenly, a gold aura lashed out from behind Bruche and the Royal Guards.
Dimando saw it and quickly threw up a barrier with his powers to stop the
energy from striking his head.
The gold aura crashed at the barrier, destroying it.
All eyes turned to find the owner of the gold aura.
Mina's eyes widened. "Endymion!"
Serenity saw his towering figure at the doorway. He seemed too large that
he filled the doorway. Tears pierced her eyes...
Then, she heard his voice.
"Release her, Dimando...so I can break your neck." he growled.
Serenity took a better look at him...the man she loved with all her heart.
Endymion was glowing a gold aura, it was menacing and furious. His eyes
burned with an unholy fire and they were BLUE!!
Always since the day he had betrayed the rebellion, she had looked at him
and saw black eyes tinged with a slight blue.
He was back... her Endymion had returned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serenity gave a cry of joy that was instantly silenced by Dimando whose
purple eyes scowled at Endymion.
Endymion's aura seemed to leap even higher. Like a burning flame. His
insides felt like a snarling beast, wanting to attack the white haired man.
But he could not. The woman the monster held was his life...his breath.
His very soul and all that was important in his world. She WAS his world.
He could see the tears in her eyes as she looked at him with such love.
His insides twisted like writhing snakes at his betrayal and his idiocy to
fall into Beryl's trap.
~FLASHBACK TO THIS MORNING~
"It is time, Endymion."
"Who?"
"It is time." repeated the voice.
"Time? Time for what?" asked Endymion confused.
"Time to remember."
Brilliant white light filled everything, blinding him. As the light faded,
he looked around. He saw a dark haired blue-eyed boy running around with
his playmates. The thought jolted him. It was him as a child...
Another scene flashed by. He was battling with the other Royal Guards.
They were going to kill them had the silver haired woman in tears not cried
out and lashed out at the Guards in anger. *Princess...*
"Not just a Princess, Endymion. Remember." came the voice again.
Another scene stopped before his eyes. He was holding the Princess in a
tender embrace. In an embrace of a lover...
"I'll never let anyone hurt you, Serenity. I love you."
Pain sliced through his head. Endymion clutched at it in pain. His head
was throbbing and the memories seemed to be embedding themselves into his
brain like tiny shards of glass. The effort of holding onto these memories
was the pain digging into his mind.
He shouted his anguish and burned with fury at the memory he saw in front
of his eyes.
Seiya was holding Serenity tenderly and leaning down to kiss her lips.
He remembered that day. He had pounced on his cousin and had intended to
kill him. Had wanted to hack his cousin's head off. But Serenity had
stopped him...
The black in his eyes faded, returning to their natural piercing blue.
The slicing pain increased and suddenly, everything shattered...
Endymion jackknifed from his slouched position in the chair. Sweat
beading on his brow. He felt groggy and uncertain of the past events.
After a few minutes, eveything came to him in startling clarity. His
words of loving Beryl...the tears in Serenity's eyes. The way she had laid
on her bed, weeping nonstop. The way she had avoided him as much as
possible. Her wedding to Dimando. The one he had promised she would never
have to go through. Realization hit him swift and hard.
Cursing, Endymion jumped out of the chair. He had to stop the wedding.
When he had slammed opened the door, he'd seen Beryl and had been filled
with a vile rage at her duplicity and underhandedness. She was low and it
was disgusting to think he had kissed her under the poison she'd fed him.
~END FLASHBACK~
Endymion stared coldly at Dimando. Prince or no, he was a dead man. He
could not allow this 'Prince' to walk free after hurting his beloved
Serenity. He also knew he would have a hard time forgiving himself for his
weakness in succumbing to the poison...
"Release her, Dimando. You'll fight better with both hands, before you
die like the miserable worm you are." snarled Endymion.
"So this is your true nature...arrogant with no respect for your betters."
snorted Dimando. He pressed his face close to Serenity's, inhaling the
fragrance of her hair.
"This is the man you would want over me?! A Prince?! You would choose
some lowly man instead of one that is befitting your station?"
Serenity's skin crawled with disgust.
"He is befitting my station! You are no Prince! You're a mad mongrel that
should be put to sleep! Endymion has earned his right to arrogance! Have
you??! You're not even worthy of being the soil beneath his boots! He's
a man! Something I can say with pride and he'll always be more than you'll
ever be! He didn't rely of his father to become a man of pride and honour!"
shouted Serenity trying to stomp on his foot.
"You've got a mouth on you, Princess. A mouth that has to be curbed."
sneered Dimando. He leaned down towards her face, his breath on her cheek.
Serenity struggled in protest.
Endymion snarled in rage. He moved with astonishing speed and before
Dimando could react, Endymion had caught Dimando by the collar and was
breaking Serenity free of his grip.
There was an audible crack, the breaking of bones.
Serenity stumbled backwards, her sister steadying her. "Endy!"
Endymion did not respond, his attention solely on Dimando.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll kill you here and now for daring to hurt her... I'd probably be
doing your kingdom a favour." hissed Endymion.
Dimando gave a sneering laugh.
Endymion's eyes burned with hatred and anger. His aura flaring
dangerously. But before Endymion could release any sort of attack, a black
chilling wind swept through the room.
A blast of black energy sent Endymion back a few steps, releasing Dimando.
As the wind died down, Dimando was gone.
Endymion exploded into a number of colourful curses and obscene words.
A tiny hand came to rest on his elbow, placating him. Endymion's anger
died down as he glanced at the tiny hand. His gaze found crystal blue eyes
shining with unshed tears.
"Serenity.." whispered Endymion, a hand reaching up to caress her face.
Serenity burst into tears and hugged Endymion. "Endy!"
Endymion merely smiled and held her as she buried her head in his chest
and wept with joy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black wind swept through the throne room of the Black Diamond kingdom.
Dimando opened his eyes and found himself staring at Beryl. Her powers
had grown beyond his expectations.
"You brought me back to my own kingdom..."
A secret smile appeared on Beryl's lips. "My kingdom now.."
"What?!"
"Your father is dead. And now, you die as well." smiled Beryl
complacently.
Dimando stared at her in hatred. Purple energy gathering in his hands.
In a purple flash, Dimando lay dead on the ground, killing himself with
his own powers. "You taught me that, Dimando...you cannot blame me."
Beryl frowned then. The silver haired princess would pay...dearly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Oh yes! I finally got around to finishing this chapter. *Sigh* :) This
story is soon coming to a close people! Sorry for the delay. Email me lots
please! I love email. :p
27/4/02
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Teahouse/5879
Standard Disclaimer Apply
* denotes thought
9/4/02
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Recapturing:
"Because it hurts too much to look at you..." answered Serenity.
~~~
Endymion shook his head and winced, pinching the bridge of his nose. He
blinked and turned to look down at Seiya.
"Tell me..."
~~~
"Endymion is to be your personal guard until you are married to Dimando."
"No...please, get someone else. I couldn't bear to look at him...it hurts
too much, Bru. It hurts.." sobbed Serenity as she buried her head in
Bruche's shoulder.
~~~
"No...he doesn't have the experience of the other Royal Guards. I'm sorry,
little one. But it will have to be this way..."
AN: And now, on with the story! :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Endymion sat on his bed, one hand held a glass of red wine. His shirt was
opened to the waist. He frowned and with his free hand rubbed his temple.
It didn't make sense!! None of it made any sense! He half wished he had
never gone to see his "cousin"...
~FLASHBACK~
"Your father was a Royal Guard, but after the Dowager Queen died, the
reigning monarchs became evil and cruel. Your father left the service.
A rebellion errupted almost instantaneously after that."
"What of my mother?"
"Your mother was the kindest, most gentle woman I'd ever known. Besides
the Princess of course. She loved your father dearly. Both of your parents
were killed in a rebellion outbreak known as the Titan Massacre. You were
10 years old then."
"And myself?"
"You were raised by the remaining members of the rebellion. You and the
other children of the Silverian bloodlines grew up to lead the rebellion.
You were our leader, Endy."
"Silverian bloodlines?"
"The special families that have the type of powers displayed by the Royal
Family and the Royal Guards. Heavens above, whatever they did to you must
really have scrambled your brain."
"Continue.."
"Not to mention a whole overhaul on your attitude. Anyway...this whole
fiasco started a few months back when you met Sere- I mean, the Princess."
"I have never met the Princess. I only have a vague recollection of
seeing her at the Queen's coronation." *Not to mention in fever dreams.*
thought Endymion wryly to himself.
"That was years ago! You do not remember how you met her??"
"No."
"You told it was because she was running away from the Palace. So, the
lot of us were captured later on. Fortunately, the Princess freed us. I
remember Minako saying you went on mooning about for days. Always staring
at the Palace." chuckled Seiya. "The two of you had fallen in love."
sighed Seiya somberly, his eyes lifting to meet Endymion's.
"Impossible! I love Beryl."
"You never were in love with her! You merely saw her as a comrade. She
was with the rebellion too, you know. I remember returning from a mission
and seeing a figure hiding in the shadows of a tree when you returned from
a successful jaunt. I snuck up on her and caught her." chuckled Seiya.
"You harmed the Princess!?" snarled Endymion looking up suddenly. His
black blue eyes smoldered, an eerie golden aura filling his eyes.
"Whoa, I didn't. Funny...you reaction right now is more explosive than
it was then when I touched her." commented Seiya, his eyes narrowing.
"I've had enough of your ficticious story. I do not believe you nor
will I listen to anymore of your lies. I see now you were trying to confuse
me in my duties."
"I have not. Whether you choose to believe, it is all up to you. But you
are not merely harming yourself. You are breaking a special woman's heart."
Endymion frowned. His hand going into his pocket to close about the watch.
"One more thing...this belongs to the Princess, yet I do not understand
why I recognize it and have not the inclination to return it.."
Seiya's eyes widened at the silver watch. His eyes leaped to Endymion's
in confusion. "Y-You...do not recognize it?"
"I do, but I do not know why."
"Endymion...the watch, it does not belong to Princess Serenity but to you.
It is your watch. The watch that was given to you by your parents."
~END FLASHBACK~
Endymion's free hand went into his pocket to bring out the watch. He
stared at it. This was confusing him!! He glared at the silver watch and
flung his glass of red wine at the wall.
The glass flew at the wall and shattered. The wine was on the floor...
droplets stained the wall like blood drops.
Blood...
His eyes locked on the watch. The watch had faint traces of blood on it.
Whose blood? His? The Princess's?
Dammit!! What had happened to him?? He had the overwhelming urge to
protect the Princess as well as the urge to be cold and callous towards
her. He was supposed to be in love with Beryl, but for some reason, each
time he stared at her form, he saw the Princess...her fragile form was
dressed in white, a hand outstretched to him...calling him, her blue eyes
filled with tears that ran down her pale porcelain face.
Running a hand through his thick ebony hair didn't calm him down. He
stared at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were black and smoldering
with a slight blue fire in them. His hair was messy and ruffled about.
To himself, he looked more wild animal than man...
His hand closed and tightened about the watch...blood drops dripped from
his hand...
He shut his eyes to block out the image...perhaps he was losing his mind.
He roared his frustration.
The mirror and the glass bottles containing alcohol shattered. Two lamps
and a chair flew against the wall, crashing into pieces.
He cried his confusion and agony. Raged at all the damn dreams and flashes
that had brought his bout of madness on. Shouted out at all the injustices
that was being forced upon him. He wanted- no, needed the truth.
But he wasn't sure who to believe...
His form took on a faint golden shimmer that turned into blinding golden
light that filled the room, causing confusion to gardeners who saw the
strange lights being emitted from within the room.
When he was done...the only things in his room that had been spared
destruction was his bed, the windows and his closet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rei, Makoto, Jaedite and Malachite were lounging in their favourite place.
Their bar room...
Rei smiled seductively at Jadeite, running her finger down his cheek.
Jadeite caught her hand and turned his head to plant a kiss on each of her
fingers.
Makoto rolled her eyes. "You two make me sick. At times you're fighting
and in an utter turn about, you're doing the mooshy stuff."
"That's mushy stuff." chuckled Malachite.
"Whatever. I don't even have Iolite to talk to. At least I wouldn't have
to see you two play footsie or tonsil hockey." sniffed Makoto.
"You have Mal to talk to." purred Rei as she settled herself on Jadeite's
lap."
"With HIM?? Get real. You two are disgusting. Get a room."
"We choose not to."
"You have no shame." grinned Malachite as he turned his drink in his
hands.
"Did you hear about Endymion?" asked Jadeite looking up from Rei's neck.
"His quarters? Yes, I heard. He destroyed the whole room. Well, except
for the bed, the windows and the closet." snickered Makoto.
"He's even more powerful than I thought." said Malachite, a glint in his
ice eyes.
"He must have been really upset." smiled Rei, her arm hugging Jadeite's
head to her.
"Ugh, will you two keep away from each other for the moment? You'll make
me puke." snarled Makoto.
"You're just jealous. Green with envy. Can't blame you, with all your
green eyes and hair." laughed Rei.
"Funny who's talking, firebrand."
"Red's the colour of passion."
"Really...I thought it was the colour of a wanton."
"Ladies, ladies! Behave please. I thought it was supposed to be us men,
that hadn't graduated from the tree-swinging, chest beating mentality."
grinned Malachite.
Makoto and Rei shot him a frosty look. "You are. We women are civilized.
Besides, we were merely teasing." snorted Rei.
"Shouldn't you men go find more interesting game to beat your chests over
yet? Or maybe konk each other on the head already?" asked Makoto sweetly.
"Ouch.." laughed Malachite.
"I do not envy you, Jade. You've a spitfire in your possession right
now."
"Just like you do in the dungeons, Mal." snickered Jadeite.
Malachite glared. "You tread on dangerous ground."
"Then stop calling me Jade."
"Ah yes, Minako. The amber-eyed blonde." smiled Makoto wickedly.
Malachite turned his lethal stare at the woman in green.
Rei slid off Jadeite's lap and tapped her bottom lip with a finger.
"Amber-eyed blonde? Oh, you mean her...I heard one of the guards say
she looked like a fruit sucket, ripe for the devouring." smiled Rei, her
eyes looking sideways at Malachite's reaction.
Obscenities errupted from Malachite's mouth.
Malachite slammed his glass down on the counter with an audible crack.
"Oh, they did, did they?? Which guard did this happen to be??"
"Why would you want to know? I mean, your ties to Minako's family ended
a long time ago didn't it? And I'm sure you tried to kill the whole lot
of them, the last time." smiled Makoto.
"I'm just curious to know which guard would be idiotic or tasteless
enough to think Minako was pretty." he growled.
*So I can rip his eyes out and make him eat them...*
"And I'm the King of Fools." snorted Jadeite as he took a sip from his
glass.
"Oh, you mean you know about the title?" asked Malachite innocently.
Rei and Makoto laughed as Jadeite shot from his seat...
"WHAT????!!!"
Outside the bar room....
Iolite leaned against the wall as she heard the mocking taunts and jibes
of the other Royal Guard. Iolite squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block
out the argument. She couldn't understand when everything in the kingdom
had fallen apart...
The Queen was adamant about the marriage.
The Princess had a broken heart and seemed to be fading with each day.
Her brother was in the dungeon, awaiting execution.
Beryl wwas a pain in the ass...
The Prince Dimando was a male chauvinist, and to top it all of,...the
Royal Guard were behaving like jerks...
Silent tears rolled down her cheeks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Iolite walked down the hall way with a heavy heart...the day seemed
extraordinarily melancholy.
Iolite stopped at the sounds of voices.
"You wanted me to help you develope your dark abilities.."
"I hate the Queen...I hate the Royal Family especially the Princess. But
since she is to be married soon, I can look the other way about her."
"Your abilities have already grown. It wouldn't take much effort to over
throw your Queen. She is weak and stands in my way. That was the only
reason I helped you. I saw the jealousy and envy...the hate in you."
"Do not presume you have power over me."
"You want to keep your Endymion, do you not?"
Iolite stifled a gasp.
"I will rule. You may have thought me to advance my abilities, but I'm
not the soft weakling, Queen Bruche is. Do not threaten me."
Iolite left the two. She walked away, her heart racing. Beryl...
So absorbed in her thoughts, she did not realise where she was going
until she bumped into a hard wall.
A wall with arms.
With a cry of alarm, Iolite looked up and stared at the man in front of
her in silver and black armor and a black cape with red lining. Endymion...
"Iolite, you should watch where you go."
"My apologies, Endymion."
"Ah, right...have you seen the Princess? I'm to be her guard until the
wedding day."
Iolite's eyes clouded and then, remembered where she had been heading
originally before she'd heard the two voices.
"The Princess!! That's right! I have to see the Queen about her!"
exclaimed Iolite.
"There's something wrong with the Princess??"
"I don't know. She won't speak to me. She won't say anything." sighed
Iolite. "Princess Serenity is in her chambers. I have to fetch the Queen.
Perhaps, you should check on Princess Serenity." suggested Iolite.
Endymion merely gave a nod and turned around, heading back the way he had
come.
Iolite sighed. She hoped Serenity's condition would inspire some feeling
or rememberance in Endymion...She wanted all this madness to stop. She
wanted peace. Something she had never wanted before...
Endymion made his way towards Serenity's chambers. The door was closed.
He knocked lightly on the door. There was no response.
"Princess?"
Silence.
With a frown, Endymion pulled the latch. The door opened with a click.
There was silence in the room. Not even the sound of rustling clothes.
"Princess Serenity? Are you alright?" called Endymion.
As he walked further into the chambers, he saw the large bed. There was
a small form huddled in the middle of the bed, unmoving and giving no
acknowledgement of his presence in the room.
Endymion moved towards the bed. The pale white form did not move.
He stopped by the bedside. What he saw tore at his self control.
Serenity lay on the bed, not moving, not seeing...her eyes were blank
as tears ran down her face unchecked.
Endymion knelt down. "Gods above...what have you done to yourself?" asked
Endymion, his fingers reaching to brush her tears away.
Serenity flinched. Her whole body stiffened.
Endymion's hand stopped. He hated her reaction. His insides felt like
they were constricting. Why? Why did she have to have that forlorn
expression? It wasn't his fault he did not reciprocate her affections!!
Wasn't it?
"Princess,"
"Please, leave me alone." she whispered softly.
"What have you done to yourself? Are you ill?" asked Endymion.
"I'm not ill. I just haven't been able to stop crying. I've tried. But
these silly tears just keep coming." sniffled Serenity.
Before Endymion could reply to her words, the Queen and Iolite burst into
the room.
"Serenity??" called Bruche.
Iolite bent by the bedside. "Your Highness.."
Bruche observed the tears flowing from he sister's eyes. It was
heartbreaking to watch her sister, once so full of life and spirit reduced
to this empty and broken shell. It hurt, also knowing she had played a
major role in her sister's suffering.
"Please, I just want to be alone.." pleaded Serenity closing her
streaming eyes.
"But,-"
"Please."
Bruche bit her lip. There really was nothing she could do.
"Endymion, watch over the Princess."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
"No.." came Serenity's weak protest.
"Just until you sleep, Serenity." said Bruche softly, touching her
sister's long silver hair that was spread out across the bed in a silver
glittering mass.
"Alright.." consented Serenity. She was just too weak to go on fighting
any longer. She was so tired.
Endymion pulled a chair to the bedside and sat down. He watched as
Serenity closed her eyes, though tears still fell from her eyes like
glittering diamonds.
Bruch and Iolite exited the chamber.
Bruche made it only as far as a few metres.
"Your Majesty! Are you alright??" asked Iolite rushing to steady the
Queen who rested against a wall.
"I'm fine...do not worry."
Iolite bore silent witness to her Queen's anguish.
"Why does Your Majesty need to be so stubborn?" asked Iolite. "Why not
just admit you are wrong and allow Serenity to choose her own future
instead of the one planned by the late King and Queen?"
"I cannot! I would be disobeying my parents's wishes. I would not be
honouring the contract of bethrotal with the Prince Dimado's country. A
war could errupt from this. And the Silver Kingdom would lose this alliance
as well." choked Bruche.
"We do not need the alliance, my Queen."
"And a war between our countries? The people of both countries would
suffer. This kingdom would suffer."
"The army can handle a war. You also have us. Prince Dimando's kingdom
does not have a Royal Guard squad like us. His family is the ONLY bloodline
that displays powers, unlike our Silverian bloodline families." pointed
out Iolite.
"I cannot admit I'm wrong!!" exclaimed Bruche. "I cannot!!"
"Cannot, or won't? Your Majesty has too much of the late Majesties pride.
That is why the rebellion was formed in the first place. Because they were
tyrants and arrogant, pride-filled sovereigns."
"That's ENOUGH Iolite!" snapped Bruche, her sky blue eyes blazing into
the colour of blue flame.
"I apologize, Your Majesty...but, she is hurting. I fear she will fade
away soon. She hardly eats or sleeps. She cries each night. She does not
have the strength to continue on this way. Princess Serenity will fall ill
if this keeps up and may fall victim to the fever."
Bruche squeezed her eyes shut. She knew it too...
"I know you love Princess Serenity with all your heart. Can you not find
it in your heart to admit you have failed the Princess?" asked Iolite.
"You do realize I could throw you in the dungeons and pass execution
sentence on you, don't you?" asked Bruche.
"Yes. I know. But I want Princess Serenity to be happy. I wish her to
be as she once was."
Bruche sighed and leaned her head back on the wall.
"I made a bad decision in forcing Serenity to fulfill the betrothal
contract set by our parents, didn't I?" asked Bruche as she turned to look
at Iolite.
Iolite nodded.
"Heaven above give me strength.."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Endymion watched as Serenity fell asleep. Her eyes were closed, her
breathing regulating to a constant in and out. Her face was pale with tear
stains. She looked so peaceful when asleep. But he knew the painful and
soulful emotion behind the closed eyelids. They were always directed at
him. Always him.
He sighed and brushed silver hair from the sleeping woman's face tenderly.
Beryl sat in her darkened room, her amber eyes blazing like a cat's.
The Diamond was more trouble than she expected. He was a irritant in her
plans and had to be eliminated. She would not lose Endymion...
She had noticed Endymion's confused looks. She knew things were bothering
him. Sooner or later, he would piece together his life that had been
forgotten. He would remember. Beryl had also noted the look Endymion had,
when the Princess was mentioned. She didn't like it. He was hers!
And no one would take him away and survive...
"You have taught me much, Dimando. But you have made an error in thinking
me your pawn. You underestimated me because I am a woman. And now...you
will pay the price." smiled Beryl evilly.
Her insane laughter echoed in the room as a black choking aura filled it.
Beryl's body glowed an eerie purple that tainted everything it came into
contact with.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It was night and everything was silent. Endymion sat by his balcony doors,
contemplating.
Everything had spun out of control. Nothing made sense and at the same
moment...everything was as clear and bright as day. Tomorrow was the
wedding. It was so close yet so far.
Since the day he had volunteered to be the Princess's bodyguard, he'd had
dreams. Dreams of joy, dreams of tears and dreams on unrelenting pain.
He'd dreamed of her...the Princess Serenity. He had dreamt of shared hugs,
stolen kisses and promises of eternity. He'd dreamt of farewells, a kiss of
goodbye and sad blue eyes spilling crystalline tears.
Then, the nightmares had invaded. Shouts of anger and explosions of fury.
And finally....the screams of pain. His screams.
He'd always awoken after that. Awoken with a dull throbbing in his head.
Slender arms curled round his neck and warm breath brushed his ear.
"Beryl.."
"My darling, what are you doing still up?" asked Beryl in a silky voice.
"I couldn't sleep."
"But tomorrow is the Princess's wedding. You cannot show up with black
eyes now, can you?" she purred in his ear. "Come to bed."
"In a bit,....love." sighed Endymion. "I want to be alone, please."
Beryl's eyes flashed and then, it was gone. She merely smiled and pressed
a kiss to his mouth and patted his cheek.
"Alright...I shall waken you tomorrow."
"Yes, thank you."
Beryl shut Endymion's door and glared at it. She was losing him! It was
not boding well for her. Endymion's deep love for the Princess was
beginning to resurface in him. If she could not have him, nobody else could
either.
Bruche lay awake in her chambers, staring up at the ceiling. Iolite had
come again demanding to know why she had not put a stop to the wedding.
Beryl was not the only one noticing the subtle changes happening to
Endymion. His true self was fighting it's way back from the poison and the
enchantment. Endymion truly held a deep love for her sister.
Tomorrow...
"Tomorrow," vowed Bruche. If Endymion did not stop the wedding, she would.
Serenity stood by her window and stared out at the moon. Her eyes were
dry and she felt empty inside. She had cried until she had had no more
tears left to cry.
Tomorrow was the starting of a new life as well as the beginning of her
death...
"Endymion.."
Dimando smiled, exhausted from his mistress's vigor. Tomorrow, the
Princess would be his and there would be no irritating bodyguards to
protect her or would she have the right to resist his advances. She was to
be his chattel. Yes, tomorrow was going to be the day. And with that last
thought, slept.
And on this night, Fate made a decision and played her hand....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The morning came faster than anyone would have thought.
Serenity awoke with an empty feeling in her chest. She was dead. She had
died the moment when Endymion had said he loved another...
She was weak, and she knew it. She should have been strong. Should have
perhaps, moved on with her life. But she had not. She could not. So, she
was dead.
Endymion had fallen asleep in his chair at some point in the night. The
dreams had come, but they were different.
~Endymion's Dream~
"It is time, Endymion."
"Who?"
"It is time." repeated the voice.
"Time? Time for what?" asked Endymion confused.
"Time to remember."
~*~
Beryl pounded on Endymion's door. The man was still asleep! She had been
pounding on his door almost the whole morning!
"Endymion!! It is almost time for the ceremony! They're not waiting for
one missing Royal Guard and lady, you know!" screeched Beryl.
She wanted to go to this wedding. To see Serenity say her vows and go
through the ceremony that would forever put her out of Endymion's reaches
if he ever awoke from the enchantment and slipped from her fingers.
She was about to scream at the door again and blast it to bits when
suddenly, the heavy door crashed open. It was Endymion dressed in what he
had worn last night. A white shirt and black pants and boots.
His eyes were ablaze and they were BLUE!! A gold aura was surrounding him
and the air fairly vibrated with his anger. Beryl knew she had lost him.
Again...
His eyes locked on her. His wrath on her...
"You damn traitorous bitch..." he hissed. "I'll deal with you, after I
stop the damn wedding." he growled his threat.
Shoving Beryl out of his way, he broke into a sprint, his body still
glowing the gold aura.
As Endymion ran down the corridor, a silent tear fell from his eyes as he
recalled with shame and anguish the pain and sadness he had put the one he
loved with all his soul through.
"Please let it not be too late..." prayed Endymion.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serenity was dressed in a beaded gown. (The one in the manga when she was
captured by Diamond/Dimando.) Pearls hung from her ears. The ruffled off
the shoulder bead straps and sleeves lent the gown an air of elegance.
In her hands, she held a bouquet of white lilies. As she walked slowly
down the aisle, her heart grew heavier and heavier. She saw Prince Dimando
in front, he wore his usual white suit and white cape with purple lining.
No emotion played across her face, but a sense of dread had welled up
inside her. What she really wanted to do, was run away from the aisle. Live
her life in solitude, never again thinking of the outside world...
She was such a coward.
Bruche looked toward the door...Endymion and Beryl had not appeared. A
sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach made her queasy. It did not look
as if Endymion would ever stop the wedding. Besides, even if he wanted to,
she doubted if her would as he was supposed to be a loyal Guard.
She watched as Serenity took her place beside Dimando.
Squaring her shoulders, Beryl's lips thinned. It looked as if it was up
to her....
Dimando's lips curled in triumph. The ceremony was almost over. And soon,
the Princess would be his.
"If anyone objects to this joining, speak now or forever hold your peace."
droned the priest.
"I object.."
Gasps and whispers rose in the air at the individual objecting.
Dimando turned to face the one who was snatching his triumph. His face
was curled into a snarl.
Serenity faced her sister in surprise.
"This marriage was arranged since our parents." snarled Dimando. "You
sanctioned it."
"Not anymore. Serenity deserves better. She deserves her own choice."
snapped Bruche.
Bruch turned to face her sister. "I'm sorry, little sister. I caused you
pain. I should never have forced you into this decision."
Tears filled Serenity's eyes. Her sister's actions raised poignant
emotions that pierced her heart with love and joy.
The rebel prisoners that had been brought up to watch the wedding sighed.
Minako felt tear in her golden eyes at Bruche's words. Ami merely smiled
a watery smile.
"Bruche.."
Serenity tried to go to her sister, but Dimando reached out and locked her
to him.
Serenity cried out in pain and alarm, as his arm locked tightly like a
steel band around her.
The Royal Guard attending stood up and came behind their queen with
menacing glares.
"The Queen has spoken." hissed Rei. "Release Princess Serenity."
"The Princess is mine." said Dimando.
Serenity turned her silver head to glare at Dimando. "By the goddess, I
do not belong to YOU!!" snapped Serenity, her temper coming to life. Her
silver aura flared, lashing out at Dimando. But his purplish black aura
came to his protection and she was still locked to him.
"I knew your fiery spirit was still in there somewhere.." smiled Dimando,
his purple eyes lit with desire and lust.
"Release me!" cried Serenity pushing at him, and trying to kick him.
Bruche hissed at Dimando. "You always were a disrespectful male chauvinist
pig!" Her silvery blue aura surrounded her.
The Royal Guard behind her, followed suit. Their own powers flashed to
life. The air vibrated with hostile tension.
"Anything you attack me with will surely hit your sister as well. Are
you all confident enough to be able to strike me without injuring your
precious Princess?
"I'd rather die than have you holding me as a threat over my family."
said Serenity emotionlessly.
"Ah, but I'm not about to let you die, Serenity..."
"You have no right to call me by my given name!" snapped Serenity.
Suddenly, a gold aura lashed out from behind Bruche and the Royal Guards.
Dimando saw it and quickly threw up a barrier with his powers to stop the
energy from striking his head.
The gold aura crashed at the barrier, destroying it.
All eyes turned to find the owner of the gold aura.
Mina's eyes widened. "Endymion!"
Serenity saw his towering figure at the doorway. He seemed too large that
he filled the doorway. Tears pierced her eyes...
Then, she heard his voice.
"Release her, Dimando...so I can break your neck." he growled.
Serenity took a better look at him...the man she loved with all her heart.
Endymion was glowing a gold aura, it was menacing and furious. His eyes
burned with an unholy fire and they were BLUE!!
Always since the day he had betrayed the rebellion, she had looked at him
and saw black eyes tinged with a slight blue.
He was back... her Endymion had returned.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Serenity gave a cry of joy that was instantly silenced by Dimando whose
purple eyes scowled at Endymion.
Endymion's aura seemed to leap even higher. Like a burning flame. His
insides felt like a snarling beast, wanting to attack the white haired man.
But he could not. The woman the monster held was his life...his breath.
His very soul and all that was important in his world. She WAS his world.
He could see the tears in her eyes as she looked at him with such love.
His insides twisted like writhing snakes at his betrayal and his idiocy to
fall into Beryl's trap.
~FLASHBACK TO THIS MORNING~
"It is time, Endymion."
"Who?"
"It is time." repeated the voice.
"Time? Time for what?" asked Endymion confused.
"Time to remember."
Brilliant white light filled everything, blinding him. As the light faded,
he looked around. He saw a dark haired blue-eyed boy running around with
his playmates. The thought jolted him. It was him as a child...
Another scene flashed by. He was battling with the other Royal Guards.
They were going to kill them had the silver haired woman in tears not cried
out and lashed out at the Guards in anger. *Princess...*
"Not just a Princess, Endymion. Remember." came the voice again.
Another scene stopped before his eyes. He was holding the Princess in a
tender embrace. In an embrace of a lover...
"I'll never let anyone hurt you, Serenity. I love you."
Pain sliced through his head. Endymion clutched at it in pain. His head
was throbbing and the memories seemed to be embedding themselves into his
brain like tiny shards of glass. The effort of holding onto these memories
was the pain digging into his mind.
He shouted his anguish and burned with fury at the memory he saw in front
of his eyes.
Seiya was holding Serenity tenderly and leaning down to kiss her lips.
He remembered that day. He had pounced on his cousin and had intended to
kill him. Had wanted to hack his cousin's head off. But Serenity had
stopped him...
The black in his eyes faded, returning to their natural piercing blue.
The slicing pain increased and suddenly, everything shattered...
Endymion jackknifed from his slouched position in the chair. Sweat
beading on his brow. He felt groggy and uncertain of the past events.
After a few minutes, eveything came to him in startling clarity. His
words of loving Beryl...the tears in Serenity's eyes. The way she had laid
on her bed, weeping nonstop. The way she had avoided him as much as
possible. Her wedding to Dimando. The one he had promised she would never
have to go through. Realization hit him swift and hard.
Cursing, Endymion jumped out of the chair. He had to stop the wedding.
When he had slammed opened the door, he'd seen Beryl and had been filled
with a vile rage at her duplicity and underhandedness. She was low and it
was disgusting to think he had kissed her under the poison she'd fed him.
~END FLASHBACK~
Endymion stared coldly at Dimando. Prince or no, he was a dead man. He
could not allow this 'Prince' to walk free after hurting his beloved
Serenity. He also knew he would have a hard time forgiving himself for his
weakness in succumbing to the poison...
"Release her, Dimando. You'll fight better with both hands, before you
die like the miserable worm you are." snarled Endymion.
"So this is your true nature...arrogant with no respect for your betters."
snorted Dimando. He pressed his face close to Serenity's, inhaling the
fragrance of her hair.
"This is the man you would want over me?! A Prince?! You would choose
some lowly man instead of one that is befitting your station?"
Serenity's skin crawled with disgust.
"He is befitting my station! You are no Prince! You're a mad mongrel that
should be put to sleep! Endymion has earned his right to arrogance! Have
you??! You're not even worthy of being the soil beneath his boots! He's
a man! Something I can say with pride and he'll always be more than you'll
ever be! He didn't rely of his father to become a man of pride and honour!"
shouted Serenity trying to stomp on his foot.
"You've got a mouth on you, Princess. A mouth that has to be curbed."
sneered Dimando. He leaned down towards her face, his breath on her cheek.
Serenity struggled in protest.
Endymion snarled in rage. He moved with astonishing speed and before
Dimando could react, Endymion had caught Dimando by the collar and was
breaking Serenity free of his grip.
There was an audible crack, the breaking of bones.
Serenity stumbled backwards, her sister steadying her. "Endy!"
Endymion did not respond, his attention solely on Dimando.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I'll kill you here and now for daring to hurt her... I'd probably be
doing your kingdom a favour." hissed Endymion.
Dimando gave a sneering laugh.
Endymion's eyes burned with hatred and anger. His aura flaring
dangerously. But before Endymion could release any sort of attack, a black
chilling wind swept through the room.
A blast of black energy sent Endymion back a few steps, releasing Dimando.
As the wind died down, Dimando was gone.
Endymion exploded into a number of colourful curses and obscene words.
A tiny hand came to rest on his elbow, placating him. Endymion's anger
died down as he glanced at the tiny hand. His gaze found crystal blue eyes
shining with unshed tears.
"Serenity.." whispered Endymion, a hand reaching up to caress her face.
Serenity burst into tears and hugged Endymion. "Endy!"
Endymion merely smiled and held her as she buried her head in his chest
and wept with joy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Black wind swept through the throne room of the Black Diamond kingdom.
Dimando opened his eyes and found himself staring at Beryl. Her powers
had grown beyond his expectations.
"You brought me back to my own kingdom..."
A secret smile appeared on Beryl's lips. "My kingdom now.."
"What?!"
"Your father is dead. And now, you die as well." smiled Beryl
complacently.
Dimando stared at her in hatred. Purple energy gathering in his hands.
In a purple flash, Dimando lay dead on the ground, killing himself with
his own powers. "You taught me that, Dimando...you cannot blame me."
Beryl frowned then. The silver haired princess would pay...dearly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Oh yes! I finally got around to finishing this chapter. *Sigh* :) This
story is soon coming to a close people! Sorry for the delay. Email me lots
please! I love email. :p
27/4/02