I'm REEEEEAAAAALLLLYYY sorry this wasn't up as soon as I had said it would be. But since you all waited sooooo patiently, this chapter will be longer than all the others. Hopefully it will be 5 or 6 pages long. Sooooo.....on with the show!!!!!



The Weaker Sex

Chapter 5---Suspicions, Friends, and Forbidden Yearnings

It became exceedingly hard to keep up this charade for Serena. Not only was the Luna Pen taking its toll on Serena's body and mental energy, it didn't help one bit that she had to fight ferociously for survival every time she was to spar with Andrew. It had been at least six months now since Serena came to Earth's wondrous castle. By now she had become aquatinted with all the servants, knights, and nobles of the castle. She had even become a celebrity among the women. Much to her discomfort. But all was for a higher goal in mind. Andrew had even mentioned to her, even if for a fleeting moment that she had become much stronger in mind and body. It was true that Serena had learned everything she needed to know from Andrew now, but also, she felt an inner strength that had nothing to do with her newfound abilities. But by now, they had both left their old training grounds to spar along side the other knights. The heated battles around them went unnoticed once they began their daily training. But while both were sparring one day Serena finally drew up enough courage to ask Andrew something she had been thinking over the past month. "Sir, when do you think I'll be able to go against the Prince?"

Andrew stopped suddenly just as he was about to thrust and starred at her for a moment than smiled coyly, "As soon as you beat me," getting into stance he than called out to her, "Now, arm yourself!" And as soon as the words poured forth from his mouth he thrust with surprising swiftness that she had never seen before.

'Truly he has held MUCH back from me,' she thought. 'But I will show him that you can never easily defeat the power of the Moon Princess.'

Smiling maliciously Serena backed away from his thrusts with swiftness and agility that comes natural with a woman. His sword than thrust towards her center and she spun on her toes to her right and easily flipped up upon a nearby boulder and smiled down upon Andrew saying, "Is that the BEST you can do," she taunted. "My own Grandmother could smite me down quicker than you."

Andrew was seemingly amused at this, but not as much as the other men as they became drawn to this battle that had begun to take place amongst them.

Quickly with lightning speed Andrew came onto her with a full frontal attack sending serena's world reeling. But she quickly pulled her self together and met his thrust with her own. Each one holding onto their own, swords locked, eyes open for any opening. It all came down to strength now, and Serena didn't know if she could keep it up. But than an idea came upon her like lightning as she than looked Andrew in the eyes and smiled as he looked back unto her in great suspicion.

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He became quizzical as to why all the men seemed to be flocking to one side of the training facilities. But as he heard the clang of steel upon steel he knew a heated battle was under way.

Pushing his way through his men he managed to make it to the front as the young boy insulted his right-hand-man and friend in a friendly sort of manner. He began to wonder who this boy really thought he was. Surely no one in this army could beat Andrew but himself. It was very known among all the men. Though it may be a long battle for his Father did commission him to train the young lad. He began to look upon him with an even fiercer suspicion. The young lad as he always seemed to call him was surprisingly agile for a man. But, he was smaller and more...petite than all the others as well. Though he did show signs of growth over the past few months. His facial features even seemed to hold a more feminine side to him. Almost as if he were...as if he were...a woman? No!! Couldn't be...could it? True, there are many men born with more feminine qualities, but this was by far the most feminine man he'd ever seen.

But when he saw the smile play across the young lad's face as both were locked together in a test of shear strength all thought banished from his mind. (A/n: for those of u that aren't quick on the draw, these thoughts are Endymion's. Just thought I'd clue you in.)

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As she smiled she braced her feet into the ground and as Andrew was distracted she than let up upon her sword and ducked before the sword sliced through her. And as Andrew stumbled forward in surprise she crouched even lower and tripped him with her body; so as he flew over her small frame she grabbed onto his sword as his hands slackened its hold and as he lay there upon the ground in surprise she twirled both swords in her hands and aimed one to his throat and the other to his gullet.

She than flashed him a giant smile and while looking upon his stunned face she than began to laugh outright.

"Oh Sir, you should look at yourself!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! Best close that tap of yours....HAHAHAHAHA.....before a fly gets in there!!! You look like a...HAHAHAHA.....a.....trout!!!!" Serena of course had thought this the funniest thing. To see her own mentor lying stupefied upon the ground.

The men began an uproar of laughter, as they looked upon the man on the ground that they had once though of as impassive and unbeatable. Many even bent to pick up Andrew and dust him off and joke with him. Others clapped a hand onto Serena's back and congratulated ''him.'' But when the Prince made his way through to Serena they all stopped their merriment and looked on with fear and curiosity. And as he stood there with a stoic face it than broke with a smile, "Well done young lad. I believe I'll have to watch my own back seeing as you've done in my friend and best man."

"Serena blushed and stuttered, "Well, Sir...I mean Your Highness...I-I couldn't have done it without studying Andrews moves for so long."

"Nonsense!" Andrew argued as he came to her side, "The only thing you have learned was to perceive another mans moves and to think ahead.....as I have tried to pound into your head for many months now."

Serena smiled at this and looked upon Andrew with a brotherly type of love and thanked him; which did not go unnoticed by the Prince. Well Sir Artemis, if you ever want to spar I would be honored." And with a flourish the Prince left. Serena looked on with awe and a type of a yearning. She blushed at this and began to chastise herself. She was a man to him and all others. It wouldn't do for her to make eyes at the Prince. What would they think of her? But all thoughts were interrupted as Andrew roared out loud, "DID YOU JUST HEAR WHAT HE SAID ARTEMIS?!?!?!?!?!"

Serena held her ears and asked, "Hear what?!?"

"He just called you Sir you dope!!!"

Serena looked at him strangely for a moment, "So?"

Andrew sighed, "That MEANS that you are a knight stupid. He just raised your status."

It took a few moments for all to sink in but once she figured it out she began to break into a grin and all men congratulated her as four others began to drag her along with them.

"Hey!!!!! What are you guys doing?!?! UNHAND ME!!!!!"

The men laughed and one of them looked at her and smiled, "Today is a day of celebrating. A day of initiation. You have just become one of us."

"And to become one of us we will start with a bit of---

"BEER!!!" The four men hollered in an uproar.

"I believe I have not had the pleasure as to know of your names," replied Serena.

"Well, I'm Nephlite, this here is Malachite, Jadeite, and finally Zoicite."

Each man smiled in return to their newest recruit. But before Serena could get another word in they had stormed into a brothel and began to order drinks for their young lad and themselves. Seating themselves all down to a table they all began to retell the tale of how "Artemis" had beaten their strongest man. Some even asked if "he" was going to go against the prince now that he had defeated Andrew. But as soon as this was said Andrew pulled up a seat next to the men and sternly forbade it.

"Why not?" asked Malachite. "It's not as if he's weak."

"So it may be but you must remember that not even I have ever beaten our prince."

"Maybe so but you were damn near close that's for sure."

"Here here!!" agreed the other three.

"I must agree with Andrew," began Serena, "Though I may have beaten Andrew I still have much to learn before I go against the Prince."

"Well, what does it matter, we're here for the celebration of a new recruit, let us not argue," said Zoicite.

"Ya! And speaking of celebrating, where's our beer?!" hollered Nephlite.

"Coming right up!" called the waitress as she set down the beer and cups. And as Serena looked at the waitress she nearly choked.

"Mina?!"

"Sere-uh-ARTEMIS!! Good to see you!" she smiled.

"You know this woman?" inquired Zoicite.

"Uh.ya. She's my.my."

"Sister," interrupted Mina.

"And what a lovely sister you have Artemis," Zoicite stood and took Mina's hand and placed a kiss upon it, looking up at her with a glint in his eyes causing her to blush.

"Awww, come on Zoicite," complained Nephlite, "stop sucking up."

"Mina," Serena pulled Mina to the side away from the other men, "meet me at the palace gardens at midnight sharp. And bring the others."

Mina looked on in surprise, "How did you know they where here too?"

"Oh come on Mina, I'm not stupid. Now, do as I said, alright?"

"Ok. See you than." Mina than went back to tending to other men in the bar as Serena sat back down in her seat. And at once being assaulted with questions as to if his sister had friends that looked as good as she. Serena rolled her eyes and thought, 'typical.'

The time passed quickly and so did the beer. Leaving the men very drunk indeed. Perfect for Serena to sneak out of her quarters and meet her friends. Slowly she opened her door and checked down both halls before leaving her room and shutting the door quietly behind her. It took her but a few moments to find the entrance to the palace gardens. She peeked out from the shadows to see if her friends were there, and sure enough there they were speaking to one another. Walking out from the shadows she than greeted them with warm embraces. After the pleasantries were made she than began to question them.

"My friends, what are you doing here?"

Rei than spoke for them all, "We thought it would be best if we kept a look out for you."

"You waited six months to do this?"

"Actually," interrupted Lita, "We've been here for five and a half months."

"You have?"

"Yeah."

"We just thought it would be best if we were here with you in case something went wrong or if you needed us," informed Ami.

"You know," Mina said, "You CAN take down your disguise. No one is here but us."

"Thanks," sighed Serena, "It's getting easier to hold the disguise, but sometimes it can really wear you down."



Endymion had been strolling in the palace gardens after a bit of midnight training to help him sleep. But unfortunately, sleep would not come to him easily. So now he strolled through the gardens to hopefully gain some peace when he heard voices from nearby.

"Now who could that be at this time of night," he wondered.

Slowly he slipped through the shadows until he had a good view from in the shadows to see what was going on. It looked to be four women and...Artemis?

They had embraced and now they spoke.

"My friends, what are you doing here?"

The raven-haired woman spoke for them all; "We thought it best if we kept a look out for you."

"You waited six months to do this?" asked Artemis.

"Actually," informed the amazon-like woman, "We've been here for five and a half months."

"You have?"

"Yeah."

"We just thought it would be best if we were here with you in case something went wrong or if you needed us," told the blue-haired-one.

This was definitely strange. 'Why would Artemis need these women for protection?' Endymion thought. 'I mean, he DID beat Andrew after all.' But before he could continue his thoughts, the girl with the blond hair and red bow spoke.

"You know, you CAN take down your disguise. No one is here but us."

'Disguise? What disguise?' he wondered.

"Thanks," Artemis sighed, "It's getting easier to hold the disguise, but sometimes it can really wear you down."

And as soon as Artemis had spoken a blinding light enveloped the garden and had disappeared as quickly as it came. Looking onto them he now saw in place of Artemis a woman. A woman that had practically taken his breath away. She was so...so...angelic that he could hardly believe it. Artemis...was a woman? And a breathtaking woman at that.

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MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA...just though I'd leave ya hanging. Anyways, I was just going to inform you all that I don't know when the 6th chapter will be out, and I can't make any promises either. Schools about to start and I have tons of shopping to do. Not to mention that this Thursday I'm going to Indianapolis to see my brothers' college graduation. And than Friday and Saturday I'll be at Camp Carson for the Philharmonic Retreat. And than SUNDAY.. I'll be going to church and resting and getting ready for school, but I PROMISE it will be out ASAP...ok?!?! OK!!!!