No, you're not seeing things! I have actually, finally updated! I hope it was worth the wait!
Hopefully, things will be a little less hectic after I've done this archery competition in two weeks. I can calm my training down a little then and should be able to update more regularly.
A note to the person who keeps sending me dozens of identical reviews - I'm glad you like the story, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that. The last lot crashed my in-box. I read every single review and update just as often as I can. Thanks.
Maid for You - Chapter 20
The King and Prince of Earth walked side-by-side through the palace gardens. Eventually they came to the large fountain in the centre and here they stopped.
"Father?" Endymion asked. "Is something wrong?" The King paused for a moment before answering.
"Many years ago, my Father took this walk with me. He knew he had to do this; it was time." The Prince frowned at the words.
"I don't understand." The king gave a slight smile.
"I want to give you something." He said. He cupped his hands in front of him and concentrated. In a flash of light, the Golden Crystal appeared before him. He smiled at the confused expression on his son's face. "It is time for me to do as my father did, and pass the Golden Crystal on to you, my son and heir." The prince was shocked.
"Now? But father, I thought you didn't inherit the Crystal until you became King. Surely you're not giving up the throne?" The King laughed.
"No, not for some time yet!" He replied. Then he grew serious. "It is true that I did not inherit the Crystal until my coronation, but I feel that you are ready now. My son, you are strong and wise and the most powerful member of this family to ever be born. I have never been able to harness the full power of the Crystal, no one has, but something tells me that you will. I will not deny you that power, nor will I deny the people of this world the protection that power can offer. My own premature loss is a small sacrifice." His eyes met those of his son, waiting for his reply.
Endymion drew himself up to his full height. He met his father's eyes with an unwavering gaze. "Thank you Father. I swear, I will use this power wisely and for the benefit of my people." The King nodded and Endymion cupped his hands in front of him. Sol moved his hands apart and the Crystal drifted away from him and into Endymion's waiting hands. It hovered for a moment, then with a burst of light shot into his chest, to merge with his heart and soul. Golden light surrounded him as the Crystal sent its power coursing through his body, accepting him as its new master. Endymion gasped as he felt the power filling every fibre of his being. Then the light faded and the power settled inside of him.
"Incredible." He breathed. He had long felt his connection to the Earth, but it had never been this strong. He could feel everything, from the flutter of wings on a nearby butterfly, to the soft hum of the plants growing under his feet. He was one with the Earth. There was also a terrible noise in his head as he felt everything on the planet happening at once. It was almost too much.
The King saw the look of fierce concentration on his son's face as he struggled to control the new sensations.
"Breathe deeply." He instructed. "Relax and pull yourself back to this place. Control the power, don't let it control you." Endymion did as instructed and a moment later, the noise in his head faded. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Is that better?" Asked the King with some concern. He remembered well the day he first received the Crystal. The Prince nodded.
"Much better." He replied. "I can still feel the connection, but it is more of a whisper in the background." He smiled. "That is something I will soon become accustomed to."
Sol laid his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know you will. As I know that you will someday be the greatest King this world has ever had." He stopped for a moment, a strange look in his eyes. "And you will have a wonderful Queen by your side." Endymion beamed.
"Father! You do like her! I knew you would!" The King sighed.
"Yes Son. I was wrong, she is your perfect match." The Prince's eyes sparkled.
"Thank you Father. Your acceptance means a lot to me." He said softly.
"Come." Sol said with a smile. "Let us head back to the palace now."
Serena, despite her initial reservations, was having a wonderful time with the four Princesses. They were not at all snobbish as she had feared, but were kind and fun-loving young women. They had insisted on Serena calling them by their first names.
She laughed as the others tried desperately to drag Ami from the library. "Come on Ami!" Cried Lita in frustration. "We still have a lot to see! Like the gardens!" She tried to prise the book from Ami's hands. Laughing, Serena stepped forward.
"Ami, you are free to come back later if you wish. If it pleases you, you may also borrow that book for the remainder of your stay." The Mercurian Princess's eyes lit up.
"Thank you Serena! That is very kind of you" Clasping the book to her chest, she walked cheerfully out of the library.
Rei sighed. "You'll regret that." She told Serena. "She's always reading! We'll hardly see her now!" Serena could only laugh as she led the way to the next stop - the kitchens.
As they walked Mina came over to her. "I just wanted to say Serena, I hope you know how lucky you are. Prince Endymion has been the most eligible man in the Solar System for many years now!" Serena's eyes widened.
"The whole Solar System?" She asked incredulously. Mina nodded.
"Oh yes!" Mina laughed. "You are the envy of every girl in the System!" Serena blushed.
"I know I'm lucky." She mumbled, embarrassed. "He's amazing." Mina grinned at Serena's red face and wrapped her arm around the former maid.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about!" She laughed. "You two are a perfect match!" She looked knowingly at Serena. "Trust me."
Lita's face wore a huge grin as Serena pushed open the doors to the huge palace kitchens. "This is where I first worked when I came to the Palace." She told the girls. "I still have many friends here!" As if on cue, Maggie rushed up and embraced her friend. Serena introduced her to her companions. Maggie, who had never met any royalty apart from her brief encounter with Prince Endymion, blushed a deep red and offered a nervous curtsey.
"Please!" Said Lita gently. "There's no need to be nervous. Why at home, I am always in the kitchens! The cook knows me better than my parents!" Maggie looked surprised. "I love to cook." Lita explained with a grin. Maggie was about to reply, but was cut off by Cookie, who had come to greet her guests.
"A cooking princess are you?" She beamed at Lita. "How wonderful! Maggie, make sure they get the grand tour!" Maggie smiled.
"Yes Cookie."
Gaia and Serenity walked along the winding paths that wove their way all around the great expanse of the palace. For a while they were silent, then Gaia finally spoke. In a soft voice, she told Serenity what she had wanted to say for years.
"I am sorry that I didn't contact you. I often wanted to, but I never knew what to say. You lost so much, words seemed painfully inadequate. After you saved us all too, it seemed so unfair." She trailed off. She had said it, but now she felt uncomfortable.
Serenity stopped walking and gently reached out for the Earth-Queen. She pulled softly on Gaia's arm until her friend was facing her.
"Do not worry." She said with a small, sad smile. "It was a long time ago." She spoke calmly, yet Gaia knew, time had not softened the pain of her loss. It was understandable. No parent should out-live their own child. Gaia looked compassionately at Serenity, but the Moon Queen looked away, not meeting the gaze. Without hesitation, Gaia pulled Serenity into a comforting hug.
"Believe it or not, I know a little of how you feel." She said. "We nearly lost Endymion a few weeks ago." Serenity pulled back from the embrace and stared at her friend in shock. "Gods! I didn't know! Gaia, what happened? She listened as the Earth Queen quickly recounted the events of the pervious weeks. When she was finished, Serenity let out a long breath. "Thank the Gods he lived." She said. "I would not wish my pain on anyone." She turned soft, tear-filled eyes on to Gaia. "I am jealous of you my friend. You have your son, soon you'll have a daughter in law and then perhaps there will be grandchildren. You are so very lucky." Gaia said nothing, deciding that now was not the time to mention Serena's pregnancy. She simply nodded and placed her hand on her old friend's arm. There they stood for a while, lost in thought.
"We had best make our way back now." Serenity shattered the moment in an attempt to fight off a fresh wave of grief. Usually she could control it, but being back on this planet, where she had made so many happy memories, was bringing all the pain back.
Again, Gaia remained silent and slowly led the way back to the palace.
Endymion looked around the grounds, in search of Serena. He frowned when he failed to spot her amongst the crowd of people. "Perhaps she is still with the Princesses." He thought. At that moment, girlish laughter reached his ears. He turned to the source of the sound and saw Serena and the Solar Princesses just coming around the corner. He smiled, the mere sight of her enough to fill his heart with joy.
Feeling someone staring at her, Serena looked up and met the eyes of her Prince. Smiling, she ran to him. As she neared, she realised that something was different. She stopped a little way from him and looked carefully at his tall, lean form. He seemed - brighter, sharper, more - real than he had before. "But that is ridiculous!" She told herself. "You can't be realer than real! It doesn't even make sense!" But it was how he looked. As if he was more there than he ever had been before.
Concerned that she was not approaching him, Endymion went to her.
"Serena?" He asked. "Is something wrong?" She looked at him curiously.
"You look - different." She said slowly. "As if you were more - real, than before." She blushed deeply, feeling silly for suggesting such a thing. Endymion was surprised.
"You are very perceptive!" He replied. "You are the only one who has noticed. My father has just passed to me the Golden Crystal of Earth. It has strengthened my connection to the planet, which is why I appear changed."
"The Golden Crystal." Serena breathed. She had heard tales of it, but had never known if it truly existed. She wrapped her arms around him.
"That is wonderful!" She exclaimed. He smiled down at her.
"It is. Now I can protect you, no matter what should happen." Before she could reply to that, he bent down and claimed her lips in a kiss.
END CHAPTER 20
Hopefully, things will be a little less hectic after I've done this archery competition in two weeks. I can calm my training down a little then and should be able to update more regularly.
A note to the person who keeps sending me dozens of identical reviews - I'm glad you like the story, but I'd appreciate it if you didn't do that. The last lot crashed my in-box. I read every single review and update just as often as I can. Thanks.
Maid for You - Chapter 20
The King and Prince of Earth walked side-by-side through the palace gardens. Eventually they came to the large fountain in the centre and here they stopped.
"Father?" Endymion asked. "Is something wrong?" The King paused for a moment before answering.
"Many years ago, my Father took this walk with me. He knew he had to do this; it was time." The Prince frowned at the words.
"I don't understand." The king gave a slight smile.
"I want to give you something." He said. He cupped his hands in front of him and concentrated. In a flash of light, the Golden Crystal appeared before him. He smiled at the confused expression on his son's face. "It is time for me to do as my father did, and pass the Golden Crystal on to you, my son and heir." The prince was shocked.
"Now? But father, I thought you didn't inherit the Crystal until you became King. Surely you're not giving up the throne?" The King laughed.
"No, not for some time yet!" He replied. Then he grew serious. "It is true that I did not inherit the Crystal until my coronation, but I feel that you are ready now. My son, you are strong and wise and the most powerful member of this family to ever be born. I have never been able to harness the full power of the Crystal, no one has, but something tells me that you will. I will not deny you that power, nor will I deny the people of this world the protection that power can offer. My own premature loss is a small sacrifice." His eyes met those of his son, waiting for his reply.
Endymion drew himself up to his full height. He met his father's eyes with an unwavering gaze. "Thank you Father. I swear, I will use this power wisely and for the benefit of my people." The King nodded and Endymion cupped his hands in front of him. Sol moved his hands apart and the Crystal drifted away from him and into Endymion's waiting hands. It hovered for a moment, then with a burst of light shot into his chest, to merge with his heart and soul. Golden light surrounded him as the Crystal sent its power coursing through his body, accepting him as its new master. Endymion gasped as he felt the power filling every fibre of his being. Then the light faded and the power settled inside of him.
"Incredible." He breathed. He had long felt his connection to the Earth, but it had never been this strong. He could feel everything, from the flutter of wings on a nearby butterfly, to the soft hum of the plants growing under his feet. He was one with the Earth. There was also a terrible noise in his head as he felt everything on the planet happening at once. It was almost too much.
The King saw the look of fierce concentration on his son's face as he struggled to control the new sensations.
"Breathe deeply." He instructed. "Relax and pull yourself back to this place. Control the power, don't let it control you." Endymion did as instructed and a moment later, the noise in his head faded. He let out a sigh of relief.
"Is that better?" Asked the King with some concern. He remembered well the day he first received the Crystal. The Prince nodded.
"Much better." He replied. "I can still feel the connection, but it is more of a whisper in the background." He smiled. "That is something I will soon become accustomed to."
Sol laid his hand on his son's shoulder. "I know you will. As I know that you will someday be the greatest King this world has ever had." He stopped for a moment, a strange look in his eyes. "And you will have a wonderful Queen by your side." Endymion beamed.
"Father! You do like her! I knew you would!" The King sighed.
"Yes Son. I was wrong, she is your perfect match." The Prince's eyes sparkled.
"Thank you Father. Your acceptance means a lot to me." He said softly.
"Come." Sol said with a smile. "Let us head back to the palace now."
Serena, despite her initial reservations, was having a wonderful time with the four Princesses. They were not at all snobbish as she had feared, but were kind and fun-loving young women. They had insisted on Serena calling them by their first names.
She laughed as the others tried desperately to drag Ami from the library. "Come on Ami!" Cried Lita in frustration. "We still have a lot to see! Like the gardens!" She tried to prise the book from Ami's hands. Laughing, Serena stepped forward.
"Ami, you are free to come back later if you wish. If it pleases you, you may also borrow that book for the remainder of your stay." The Mercurian Princess's eyes lit up.
"Thank you Serena! That is very kind of you" Clasping the book to her chest, she walked cheerfully out of the library.
Rei sighed. "You'll regret that." She told Serena. "She's always reading! We'll hardly see her now!" Serena could only laugh as she led the way to the next stop - the kitchens.
As they walked Mina came over to her. "I just wanted to say Serena, I hope you know how lucky you are. Prince Endymion has been the most eligible man in the Solar System for many years now!" Serena's eyes widened.
"The whole Solar System?" She asked incredulously. Mina nodded.
"Oh yes!" Mina laughed. "You are the envy of every girl in the System!" Serena blushed.
"I know I'm lucky." She mumbled, embarrassed. "He's amazing." Mina grinned at Serena's red face and wrapped her arm around the former maid.
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about!" She laughed. "You two are a perfect match!" She looked knowingly at Serena. "Trust me."
Lita's face wore a huge grin as Serena pushed open the doors to the huge palace kitchens. "This is where I first worked when I came to the Palace." She told the girls. "I still have many friends here!" As if on cue, Maggie rushed up and embraced her friend. Serena introduced her to her companions. Maggie, who had never met any royalty apart from her brief encounter with Prince Endymion, blushed a deep red and offered a nervous curtsey.
"Please!" Said Lita gently. "There's no need to be nervous. Why at home, I am always in the kitchens! The cook knows me better than my parents!" Maggie looked surprised. "I love to cook." Lita explained with a grin. Maggie was about to reply, but was cut off by Cookie, who had come to greet her guests.
"A cooking princess are you?" She beamed at Lita. "How wonderful! Maggie, make sure they get the grand tour!" Maggie smiled.
"Yes Cookie."
Gaia and Serenity walked along the winding paths that wove their way all around the great expanse of the palace. For a while they were silent, then Gaia finally spoke. In a soft voice, she told Serenity what she had wanted to say for years.
"I am sorry that I didn't contact you. I often wanted to, but I never knew what to say. You lost so much, words seemed painfully inadequate. After you saved us all too, it seemed so unfair." She trailed off. She had said it, but now she felt uncomfortable.
Serenity stopped walking and gently reached out for the Earth-Queen. She pulled softly on Gaia's arm until her friend was facing her.
"Do not worry." She said with a small, sad smile. "It was a long time ago." She spoke calmly, yet Gaia knew, time had not softened the pain of her loss. It was understandable. No parent should out-live their own child. Gaia looked compassionately at Serenity, but the Moon Queen looked away, not meeting the gaze. Without hesitation, Gaia pulled Serenity into a comforting hug.
"Believe it or not, I know a little of how you feel." She said. "We nearly lost Endymion a few weeks ago." Serenity pulled back from the embrace and stared at her friend in shock. "Gods! I didn't know! Gaia, what happened? She listened as the Earth Queen quickly recounted the events of the pervious weeks. When she was finished, Serenity let out a long breath. "Thank the Gods he lived." She said. "I would not wish my pain on anyone." She turned soft, tear-filled eyes on to Gaia. "I am jealous of you my friend. You have your son, soon you'll have a daughter in law and then perhaps there will be grandchildren. You are so very lucky." Gaia said nothing, deciding that now was not the time to mention Serena's pregnancy. She simply nodded and placed her hand on her old friend's arm. There they stood for a while, lost in thought.
"We had best make our way back now." Serenity shattered the moment in an attempt to fight off a fresh wave of grief. Usually she could control it, but being back on this planet, where she had made so many happy memories, was bringing all the pain back.
Again, Gaia remained silent and slowly led the way back to the palace.
Endymion looked around the grounds, in search of Serena. He frowned when he failed to spot her amongst the crowd of people. "Perhaps she is still with the Princesses." He thought. At that moment, girlish laughter reached his ears. He turned to the source of the sound and saw Serena and the Solar Princesses just coming around the corner. He smiled, the mere sight of her enough to fill his heart with joy.
Feeling someone staring at her, Serena looked up and met the eyes of her Prince. Smiling, she ran to him. As she neared, she realised that something was different. She stopped a little way from him and looked carefully at his tall, lean form. He seemed - brighter, sharper, more - real than he had before. "But that is ridiculous!" She told herself. "You can't be realer than real! It doesn't even make sense!" But it was how he looked. As if he was more there than he ever had been before.
Concerned that she was not approaching him, Endymion went to her.
"Serena?" He asked. "Is something wrong?" She looked at him curiously.
"You look - different." She said slowly. "As if you were more - real, than before." She blushed deeply, feeling silly for suggesting such a thing. Endymion was surprised.
"You are very perceptive!" He replied. "You are the only one who has noticed. My father has just passed to me the Golden Crystal of Earth. It has strengthened my connection to the planet, which is why I appear changed."
"The Golden Crystal." Serena breathed. She had heard tales of it, but had never known if it truly existed. She wrapped her arms around him.
"That is wonderful!" She exclaimed. He smiled down at her.
"It is. Now I can protect you, no matter what should happen." Before she could reply to that, he bent down and claimed her lips in a kiss.
END CHAPTER 20