Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since I've updated but I had BAD writers block. I hope you all enjoy this chapter!
My Knight In Shining Armor
Chapter 6 - Everyone Deserves A Chance
Serenity woke up the next morning to Beryl barging into her room, as usual. The blonde groaned in protest, not pleased to be woken up so rudely. She slowly sat up in her bed, narrowing her eyes let to let them adjust to her surroundings. Beryl was talking but Serenity wasn't paying attention.
"...and you have to get ready!" Beryl said.
Serenity just tuned her back in and was confused.
"Get ready for what?" Serenity asked.
"Your day with Diamond! I can accompany you if you would like?" Beryl said, way more eager than Serenity was.
"That's today?!" Serenity remembered and her heart dropped. She really didn't want to go, but she knew she had to and a small part of her wanted to go. She wanted and needed to spend more time with Diamond to get to know him better.
"I don't need you to accompany me, but thank you for the offer. You may go now," Serenity said, wanting to get Beryl out of her hair.
Beryl had a look of disappointment on her face, but quickly bowed and left the room.
Serenity flung herself back on the bed. She was trying to mentally prepare herself for the day. She refused to get annoyed or upset in the tiniest bit by Diamond. She would give him plenty of chances and she wouldn't be so upset. Satisfied with her mental preparations, she got out of bed and got dressed.
She pulled on her favorite pink dress that had a bow in the middle. Of course, her hair went up in its traditionalhairstyle and she slipped some shoes on. She gave herself a small pep talk.
"You can do this. Just get to know him better and you'll start to fall in love. He's a great ruler."
Taking a deep breath, Serenity left her room and headed downstairs to see her father. She wasn't surprised to find that Diamond was sucking up to her father, as usual.
"Serenity! Diamond told me about both of your plans for today," Aegean said, a wide grin spread across his face.
"Oh, really? And what might that be?" Serenity said, curious to know where exactly Diamond was taking her.
"I remember how you snuck out to go to the market. I'll take you there today, and I was thinking we could go back to that place you like," Diamond explained.
'Be optimistic, Serenity.' She thought to herself.
"Yeah, that would be great, I'm looking forward to it!" Serenity said.
Serenity sat down for breakfast with her family. She ate her food silently and suddenly felt a pang of nervousnessabout the day. She really didn't want to mess this up. She had to fall in love with Diamond. She was anxious and jittery, wanting the day to be perfect. Serenity was aware of how hard Diamond was trying to figure her out, and she would give him the opportunity to win her over since he was trying this hard. She thought that going to the market for their for first outing together was untraditional, but she decided to ignore it.
"Serenity, can we have a quick talk?" Aegean asked her.
Serenity looked up at him and nodded. They both got up and exited the dining room, stopping in the corridor outside.
"Serenity, I think you know how important it is that you and Diamond get along well," Aegean said.
"Yes, I do. I'm really trying, father," Serenity replied.
"You both make an excellent pair, and I need for this to work. Today has to be perfect for you two," he said sternly.
"It will be. I know what is expected of me and I'll make sure Diamond and I are hopelessly in love," she said, trying to convince her father. She felt wrong saying she would be hopelessly in love with Diamond, but she had to make her father believe her.
"I'm proud of you. Good luck today," Aegean said as he kissed her forehead and walked back into the dining room.
Diamond walked out and approached Serenity.
"Are you ready to go?" he said with a grin, holding out his arm for her.
"Of course," she said, returning the smile as she slid her arm through his.
They both walked out of the long hallway and through the castle. Serenity felt her body shaking and didn't want Diamond to notice. She had never felt this nervous around someone. She didn't feel like this with Endymion.
"Maybe it's a good thing, maybe it means I like Diamond more..." She thought to herself.
"Are you okay?" Diamond asked her.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just excited," she replied.
They shared a smile and walked outside. They made it to the carriage and the cabbie opened the door. Diamond helped Serenity get in then got in himself. Eventually, the carriage started to move and they were on their way.
"So, since we need to get to know each other, I was thinking we could ask each other questions and answer truthfully, no matter what. You can ask me first," Diamond said.
"What's your favorite color?" Serenity asked, starting simple.
"I'd say white or silver. What's your favorite color?" he asked.
"Pink. What do you want to do in the future?"
"If I must answer truthfully and if things go the way I want, I see myself successfully ruling the kingdom with do you see yourself in the future?"
"Queen. Ruling the kingdom and being a strong ruler, hopefully."
"Who do you see yourself with?" Diamond asked.
"I thought it was my turn to ask?" Serenity said, trying to avoid the question.
"I let you go first so you should just answer me," Diamond said, seeming to get annoyed.
"I haven't really thought about it…"
"Okay, well we'll continue this conversation when the day is over. We should be here by now," he said, looking out the window of the carriage.
Serenity looked out of the window to see the market. She knew Diamond was trying to get to know her better but bringing her here for an outing? She decided to play along.
"Don't be so critical," she told herself. She got out of the carriage and hooked her arm around Diamond's. He guided her around the market and Serenity looked at many things.
"Do you see anything you like?" Diamond asked.
"There really isn't anything different than what I saw two days ago, but maybe I'll find something," she said, trying to be optimistic.
"I brought you here because I thought that you wanted to come here, since you did sneak out the other day just to come here. I thought it was something you liked," Diamond said.
"I do like it. I just - I - I like it when people don't realize who I am, when people don't stare at me the entire time. That's why I snuck out and came here. I didn't come with you or my family and I wasn't wearing anything indicating that I was royalty. No one knew so no one stared or were too freaked out to get anywhere near me," she explained.
"So you don't like your royal status?" he asked her.
"No, it's not that. I do, I just don't want to take advantage of it. I hate how people think all royals are stuffy and bratty people. They automatically assume I'm that way and stay away from me. So if they think I'm one of them then they will treat me the same."
"Clever. I think that's a stereotype that you have to deal with though," Diamond replied.
"Well, I'm determined to change it," she said, trying to keep herself from snapping at him.
"As the princess, there are more important things to care about than wanting to change the way people see you. It doesn't matter what the peasants think, they have no opinion in society. You and I, we're better than them. They stare because they know we're better," Diamond said.
Serenity looked up at him in shock. Was he really this self-centered and pompous? She hated when the people were called 'peasants', it sounded demeaning to her.
"We aren't better. No person is better than another person. It's just how luck played out and what position that you were born in. They do have an opinion, but it's people like you that make sure it isn't heard. They make up most of society. I will make sure that their opinions are heard," Serenity said.
"I like the way you think but it's just how things are done. There are more important matters to deal with," Diamond said.
"What do y-"
"Let's leave and go have a picnic at - what was it called, Equallia?" Diamond said, pulling Serenity towards the carriage.
"Eternia, actually," Serenity felt herself getting annoyed but pushed the feelings aside.
The carriage ride to Eternia was one of awkward silence. Serenity didn't want to try to make conversation with him. She took that time and thought about what Diamond said.
"He can't be that self-centered..." she thought.
They got to Eternia and set up a picnic on the ground.
Serenity sat down and started to slowly eat her food, not feeling very hungry.
"What's wrong?" Diamond asked her.
"I just don't agree with how you think," she replied.
"I'm not the only one who thinks that way, Serenity. It's how the world thinks."
"But you don't have to think how everyone else thinks."
Diamond stared at Serenity for a while. "I have a question for you," he told her.
"Isn't it my turn?" she asked.
"I didn't think we were still playing that," he retorted.
"We are. So answer my question first. What's your angle? Would you want to marry me because of my title or for me? Answer truthfully," she asked.
He thought for a while. "I'd want to marry you; your title is just a bonus. My turn now…why don't you like me yet?"
"I do like you," she replied simply.
"You know what I mean," he said, trying to read her facial expressions.
"If we're answering truthfully, I just haven't felt the sparks or the fireworks you're supposed to feel when you start to like someone. I'm trying though," She said.
"Your father wants us together, Serenity. Girls normally are head over heels for me by now," he said.
"I'm not like other girls. I just don't feel anything yet. I can't control how I feel," Serenity tried to explain.
"Do you see yourself liking me in the future?"
She knew she had to be honest, but she didn't know how to phrase what she wanted to say. If she was being honest, she knew she could never see herself with him.
"Yes, I do," she replied quietly.
"Good, because I like you Serenity, and I want this to work." He told her.
"Let me show you around," Serenity said as she got up.
Serenity walked to the lake and stared down at her reflection
'This has to work, I'm running out of options,' She thought.
"This place really is beautiful, Serenity. You can see everything. Including Earth," He said.
"I know, that's a big reason why it's one of my favorite places. Earth seems beautiful and I would love to go one day but my father would never allow it," She told him.
"He's right. I've been to Earth. It's not that great, it's very...shabby," He said.
"How so?" Serenity asked, feeling curious.
"It's not as enchanting as people make it seem. Everyone there seems to be corrupt somehow. It's very dangerous to go there alone," He said.
Serenity refused to believe that. She knew Earth was beautiful and everyone there was as well. She then remembered how Beryl was from Earth and she wasn't the most pleasant person to be around.
"I remember this one time when I was younger, Larissa and I were playing in the courtyard and it was a couple of hours before a huge ball. We were running and I remember I fell and completely tore my dress. Mother wasn't happy about that at all and she had to get a new dress for me. Anyway, my nurse had to patch me up because I was a mess. I wasn't happy that I fell and that my mother scolded me for ruining my dress, so as a child you can see why I was upset. But as she was helping me bathe, to calm me down she told me a story about Earth. She said that she went there once and it was the most beautiful place she's ever seen. They have many things we don't have here. What I remember most from her story, is that she told me story about a flower called a rose. She said that it was the most beautiful flower in the Universe. She told me of all the different flowers, colors, and weather they have on earth. She said it seemed to her that the sun shined brighter there. Ever since, I've always wanted to visit," Serenity said, finishing her story.
"I can see why you would want to visit. Your nurse probably told you that story to stop you from crying. Earth is not that great. You should maybe do research on it," He said.
Serenity was annoyed. He didn't even try to mask his disgust.
"Look at it," She gestured toward the green and blue planet miles away. "From here, it's beautiful," She said.
"From here, yes it is. But on the surface, that is a different story,"
"This is why I love this place so much. I feel like it's a piece of Earth that's on the Moon,"
"It might be as close as you'll get to Earth," He said. "But this is better than the actual planet."
Serenity pouted and gave up. The topic of Earth wasn't a good one.
"What else do you like about this place?" Diamond asked.
They continued to walk around and Serenity had to think of her answer.
"No one knows about it besides you and Endymion, it's li-"
"Endymion...your knight?" Diamond asked.
"Yes," Serenity said.
"Why were you alone with him here?" Diamond asked, feeling upset.
"I wanted to leave for a while and I can't go anywhere by myself anymore so I asked him to accompany me," She replied.
"Why didn't you ask me?"
"Endymion was the closest person to ask so I asked him," She said.
"You should ask me next time. It's not proper for him to be here alone with you like that," Diamond said.
Serenity looked at him shocked. He really seemed offended but he had no reason to. It's technically Endymion's job to accompany her to places.
"He's supposed to go places with me so I have protection. You shouldn't feel offended," Serenity said.
"Well I do. I've been trying to be alone with you for the past week and you've only known him for one day and he's been here with you alone!" Diamond said.
"It was a coincidence that he was the first person I saw! I'm sorry if your offended but I'm not sorry for coming here with him," She told him.
"Just ask me next time," He said, ending that conversation.
"Anyway, only two people know about this place and it seems like my own little place. My stress reliever area and I can come here and I know I'm safe. In my own world," Serenity said.
"Maybe we can come here more. It can help us become stronger together," Diamond said.
"Maybe," Serenity replied, making a promise to herself to limit his visits to Eternia.
She took her time and continued to show Diamond everything. She showed him her favorite parts of Eternia. She told him stories about when she was younger. The entire time he seemed incredibly bored and upset. She knew he was still upset because of Endymion coming here with her. The sun was starting to go down, so Serenity decided she was ready to leave. She didn't know what else she could do to make him feel closer to her.
"We should go now," she said. The two of them walked back to the carriage in silence. She got in and looked out the window as she waited for it to move.
'More awkward silence...' She thought.
They were starting to get close to the palace as the sky got darker. Diamond wrapped his arm around her waist.
"What are you doing?" she asked him.
"I have another question for you. What's your angle? Why are you playing hard to get? You know you like me just like I like you, you don't need to make everything complicated,"he said.
"I-I'm not..." she said, feeling uncomfortable as he was closer to her.
"Then you should like me by now..." he held her cheek and moved in closer to kiss her.
"Diamond, stop. What are you doing?" Serenity demanded as she moved away in what little space she had.
"Why won't you let me get close to you?" he asked her.
"I am. And I mean that in a 'I want to get closer to you in a mental way not a physicalway.' So stop, please," she begged him, looking down at her hands.
"I'm trying to set off the sparks or fireworks if you will," he remarked.
"Well, you can't do it this way, by forcing me to kiss you."
"Serenity, you can't keep pushing me away from you like this, I'm trying everything I can think of."
"Trying to kiss me when we're just friends is not helping you at all! Honestly, what did you think that would accomplish?"
"I thought that you would feel something and realize that I'm the one for you, but now I just need a new plan," Diamond said as he scooted away from her.
Serenity looked out the window and saw the palace, thankful for the distance between them.
"Today was fun, I'll see you tomorrow," she said curtly.
As soon as the carriage stopped, she walked as fast as she could into the palace. She passed her sister as she was walking.
"Serenity, wait! What's wrong? Did he do something?" Larissa asked.
"No, today was great. I'm tired and I just want to go to bed," Serenity replied.
"Are you sure? I…was thinking we could do something together; Enceladus is getting back tomorrow," Larissa replied.
"Yes, I'm just tired. Good night," Serenity said as she went into her room.
The distraught Princess got ready for bed and buried herself under the safety of her blankets. She thought about how aggressive Diamond seemed. She hoped he wasn't truly like that. After a few minutes of dwelling over the day's events, her heavy eyelids finally drooped shut.
"Serenity, wake up!" a familiar, bubbly voice yelled.
"Honestly, only you could sleep for so long," another one echoed.
"Tell us about yesterday, what happened?" a deep female voice said.
"Guys, she must be tired. Let the girl at least wake up," a softer voice added.
Serenity groaned and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. Her vision cleared and she saw her four closest friends, Amy, Raye, Lita, and Mina, standing next to her bed.
"So, how was yesterday?" Mina asked, sitting down on the bed. Her long blonde hair was pulled back by a red bow and she was in an orange dress that flowed whenever she walked.
"It was fine…at first. Diamond is, how do I put this? Selfish! He thinks that people who are 'lower' than him don't have an opinion. On the way back, he kept trying to kiss me. He got mad when I told him I didn't want him to kiss me... I just don't know anymore…" Serenity said, looking down at her bedsheets.
"Wait, the creep kept trying to kiss you after you told him not to?!" Lita said, getting protective of her friend.
"It's fine. He didn't actually hurt me… I just didn't want him to kiss me," Serenity said, hoping to calm her friend.
"We could talk to him if you need us to," Raye said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Yeah, he can't just do that and expect it to be okay," Mina added with a scoff.
"No, it's fine, I promise. I just wish it were easier. I want to fall in love with Diamond so we can live happily ever after, ruling the kingdom, but…I can't seem to make it work," Serenity said sadly.
"Serenity, I know this is going to sound really gross, but it just makes sense to me. Falling in love is like pooping. You can't force it or else it'll just hurt in the end. You have to let it come naturally, and then you'll feel empty, like a new person," Amy said, wise as usual.
Serenity, Lita, Mina, and Raye all looked at Amy, shocked.
"That just might be the best advice I've gotten in a while. Thank you so much!" Serenity said as she hugged the bluenette.
"What should we do today?" Mina said, changing the subject.
"Go find Diamond and set him straight," Raye said, an angry tone to her voice.
"I'm hungry, let's go eat," Serenity said after laughing at Raye's comment. She quickly went into her bathroom and got ready.
They all walked out of her room and Serenity eyes immediately landed on Endymion. Her heart rate increased and she felt her palms getting sweaty. Why was she reacting this way? She stopped to talk to him as she told her friends to go on without her. Mina looked back and eyed her warily, sensing some sort of connection between them.
"Hello, your Highness," Endymion said.
"Please, call me Serenity. I don't like titles," Serenity quickly responded.
"Okay, Serenity," he said with a smile. "How are you?"
"I'm great, how are you?" Serenity could feel the awkward tension.
"I'm great as well. I actually need to talk to your father, so I will see you later," he said. The handsome man gently kissed her hand and walked away. Serenity held her hand to her chest, feeling the tingling sensation of his soft lips against her skin.
Serenity smiled and felt her cheeks burn. She turned around the corner to see her friends all huddled together, trying to listen.
"You so like him!" Mina said excitedly.
"No I don't!" Serenity practically shouted, trying to defend herself.
"Oh, really? Then why are you so red?" Raye smirked.
"It's terribly hot in here," Serenity said as she walked ahead of her friends so they could eat outside. She fanned her face with her hand, trying to convince her friends that she was hot from the heat and not burning with emotions.
They all walked out and sat on the grass with their breakfast.
"I need to tell you all something," Mina said, looking back and forth to make sure no one was around. The other four girls leaned in closer, listening intently. "I…I think I like someone," Mina said, her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Who is it?!" Serenity exclaimed.
Mina sprang forward and clamped a hand over Serenity's mouth. "His name is Kunzite…he's so wonderful! He's handsome, nice, compassionate, tall, strong, and did I mention handsome? He's absolutely perfect!" Mina explained, her blue eyes bright with excitement.
"Awh, that's great, we're happy for you," Amy said with a smile.
"Something wicked this way comes," Raye suddenly said, looking at Diamond walking towards them.
'Can't he just leave me alone...?' Serenity thought.
"I'll handle this, don't worry," Serenity said, standing up and walking towards him.
"Hello, Serenity," he said formally.
"Hello, did you need anything?" she asked him.
"Not really, I just wanted to tell you I had fun yesterday," he told her.
"I did too." Serenity was silently praying for him to just go away.
"Are these your friends?" Diamond said, his attention wandering to the five girls behind them.
'Yes, that's Amy, Lita, Raye and Mina," Serenity said, pointing each of them out.
"It's nice to meet you girls," Diamond said politely.
They all nodded, not taking a liking to Diamond.
"Diamond, you must meet a lot of people, so please forgive me when I say for myself, I already have a bad impression of you," Lita said as she got up. "When someone says no, they mean no."
Diamond stared at her incredulously then turned to Serenity.
"I'll…see you later Serenity," he said as he walked away. It was easy to tell that he was intimidated by Lita.
"Lita! You weren't supposed to tell him!" Serenity said with a giggle.
"Someone has to set the guy straight," Lita simply replied.
Serenity tried to act mad at her but she was secretly glad that Lita stood up for her like that.
"Thank you," Serenity quietly said.
"Anytime." Lita put a comforting arm around her shoulders and let the bewildered Princess back to their group.
Diamond isn't a pleasant person, now is he? Endymion should be getting more appearances in the next chapter, he's being introduced gradually! This chapter was sort of a filler chapter! Thank you for reading!
Have an AMAZING day/night.
xx Morgan xx