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Hello everyone! I know it has been quite some time since I have updated and my deepest apologies for that. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

My Knight In Shining Armor

Explosions

Chapter 17 - Part I

"Explosions on the day you wake up needing somebody and you've learned it's okay to be afraid but it will never be the same." - Explosions, Ellie Goulding

Serenity walked into breakfast and sat at her usual seat, between Diamond and Larissa. She sighed heavily as she caught on to the conversation, which was of her upcoming and eventual marriage to Diamond.

"It will be magnificent! Especially since you're the heir," Larissa said, nudging her excitedly.

Serenity gave her sister the best fake happy/excited smile she could, even though she was dreading the day.

Larissa could easily tell that her sister's emotions were not sincere.

"Aren't you excited, Serenity?" Larissa asked.

"Of course I am. Wouldn't you be excited if you were forced to marry someone that you didn't want to marry?" Serenity said sarcastically, causing an awkward silence to invade the air.

"Do not start now, Serenity," King Aegean said firmly to his daughter.

"I am not starting anything; I am just stating what is true. It seems that everyone knows of this engagement, even though I never really agreed to it. But it's not like I have a choice, now do I?" Serenity said.

Queen Serenity gave her daughter a look of approval for standing up to herself.

"You're being dramatic and it is going to end now. I realize that you're upset but as the heir to the throne, there are sacrifices that you have to make," the king retorted.

"What if I don't want to make sacrifices? Will I still be Queen?"

"You will make sacrifices."

Serenity looked at her father in disbelief. "How can you be so stubborn?" she asked, her voice escalating in volume.

"How can you not understand the role that you were given?!"

"I understand it perfectly! What I don't understand is why I must live with a roll that I do not need or want! It doesn't matter who I marry, as long as the person has a good heart and is a good ruler!"

"It matters. More than you think."

"Oh yeah? And how would you know?" Serenity asked, causing the table to look at her strangely.

Aegean was silent for a few moments. Gritting his teeth, he finally said, "You must keep the royal bloodline pure, Serenity. It's the way it's been done for hundreds of years,. Why are you trying to change it?"

"Since it's been done for hundreds of years, don't you think that it's just a bit outdated?"

"No. It's worked all of these years and the law will continue to stay in place, seeing as how it has worked."

"I agree with Serenity. Times have changed, the law is outdated," Caliban chimed in.

Serenity gave her brother a smile for sticking up with her.

"Caliban, I don't think you get much of a say in this, since you deliberately disobeyed me in that matter," the king responded coldly.

"No, actually, I think I do. It obviously didn't work so well with me, seeing as how I abdicated the throne, so maybe your law isn't working like you think it is," Caliban responded.

"You're the only one who felt it was necessary to abdicate the throne to get what you want. I find it selfish that you did that. You would have been King; you would have had it all. Do you know how many people want to be in that position? With great privilege comes great sacrifice, one that you were too selfish to make." The King was getting even more infuriated by the moment.

"I'm not the selfish one, I merely did what I thought was correct and I don't regret that decision. You're selfish for only focusing on the monarchy and forcing Serenity into something that she clearly does not want!"

"Serenity knows what she has to do for the monarchy and she's willing to accept it, making a much more mature decision then you."

Serenity looked down at her plate, feeling slightly guilty. She wanted these feelings to go away. Even when she would tell Endymion they couldn't be together, those feelings would always be there.

"I am not willing to accept it. You are forcing me to accept it," Serenity said quietly.

"What?" Aegean boomed.

"Really, what could I do? You'll make me marry Diamond. I know you don't want to seem like you can't force me into it but you can, and you are."

The King looked at her, shocked. Did she really detest Diamond that much?

"It's just a sacrifice you have to make. You were born into this life and you have to accept it. I clearly couldn't force Caliban into anything, he left before anything could happen."

"Because I felt like that was my only choice if I ever wanted to be happy. Which is pretty disappointing that I chose to leave all of this just to find happiness," Caliban responded.

His words were powerful and hit the king like a brick wall. He was silent for another moment, glaring daggers into his son.

"That was your decision," he said simply.

Caliban looked at his father in disbelief.

"It's as if everything goes in one ear and out of the other when speaking to you! You don't understand what you're really doing!" Caliban said, trying to control his frustration.

"I understand completely. It seems as if I am the only one that truly cares for the monarchy and how it will end up."

"The monarchy is all you care about. You do not even care about the happiness of your own children - all that matters to you is having a good reputation!"

"I care about your happiness. It seems as though you could care less about the monarchy, so I have to make sure everything goes well," Aegean snapped.

"Well, I hope this is all worth it in the end for you." Without another word, Caliban left his seat and exited the dining room, leaving the family to finish in silence.

Serenity began walking to her bedroom after breakfast. She was in no mood to be around people after what had happened.

She opened her bedroom door to see Endymion standing beside her balcony doors. Smiling, she quickly entered and locked her door. The action only reminded her of how risky and dangerous this affair was.

Normally she would be ecstatic to be with Endymion, but not now, not with what she was about to do.

"What's wrong?" he asked, immediately sensing her sorrow.

Serenity took a deep breath before she began to speak:

"I-I love you. I love you more than I could even begin to fathom and I always will," Serenity said, her eyes piercing his.

"And I love you…" Endymion said, cupping her cheek in his palm, searching her eyes for an answer.

"I can't let anything happen to you. My father is too dead set on me marrying a man of nobility. I don't know what he would do if he found out about us, but I do know that he'll be furious. I want you to be safe, which is why we can't continue this…" Serenity said, bracing herself for his reaction. She couldn't bring herself to look into Endymion's eyes any longer.

"I know what the consequences are, Serenity. I accepted them long ago. Whatever does happen to me will be worth it, as long as I can say that you're mine." Endymion's voice had a hint of desperation, one that was barely detectable.

"You might have accepted them, but I haven't, nor will I. My father can be ruthless if he doesn't get what he wants. He disowned his own son for not doing what he wanted him to do. I'm the last heir - he'll do whatever it takes for me to get on the throne."

"I refuse to give you up, Serenity. That is out of the question. I will go through anything to be with you."

"I know you would, but I can't let you. Please don't fight for me, I'm not worth it!"

Endymion looked at her, confused. "Not worth it? Do you truly believe that you are not worth it? I wouldn't be here right now if you were not worth it. You don't understand just how amazing you are. It will take a lifetime for me to find the correct words to describe your kindness, your beauty, your selflessness. I love you, Serenity. I don't know whatever higher power that is up there that chose me to be with you but I refuse to let the opportunity go. I will do whatever it takes to be with you. I will go through whatever it takes. I only need you, Serenity."

Serenity paused. His words touched the deepest, innermost chambers of her heart, and even though every part of her wanted to give in to his love and her love for him, her head repeatedly told her no. She could not bear to watch his execution. "And I love you, which is why I can't let you. It kills me to have to do this, but...I have to let you go… I can't let anything happen to you," Serenity said, tears beginning to fall from her face as she hated every word that escaped her lips.

Endymion wiped her tears away and held her close to him, feeling his heart constricting in pain.

"I just want to be with you…" she whispered into his chest.

"And I, you. I'll take whatever consequence there is to be with you, as long as I canbe with you."

"I can't let anything happen to you, I'll never forgive myself," Serenity cried.

"There isn't a way we can avoid that. It's something we have to go through, and I've accepted it. We will be together, it will just be harder to get there."

Serenity looked up at him and pressed her lips against his, putting all of her heart into the kiss.

"This is what we have to go through in order to be together, and he is worth every moment…." she thought to herself.

Endymion kissed her back, knowing exactly what he would go through and knowing she was worth it all.

She pulled away and he rested his forehead on hers.

"I love you,' he stated softly.

"I love you too."

Moments later, the nervous feeling of both of them being in her bedroom began to set in.

"You should go…" she said sadly.

Endymion nodded and held her close to him one last time.

"Try to go to Eternia tonight, I'll be there waiting for you," he said, kissing her hand before walking out of her room and onto her balcony. She watched in silence as he jumped down, disappearing from sight.

Serenity sighed loudly before sinking onto her bed.

'That didn't work at all…'

She decided she couldn't fight it anymore. Whatever was going to happen was going to happen, regardless of her efforts. They just had to be ready for it. They were both too stubborn to realize just how serious this was.

A few moments later, Beryl knocked on her door, bringing Serenity out of her thoughts.

"Come in," Serenity stated, sitting up on her bed.

"Did you want to see me?" Beryl asked, walking in and shutting the door.

"Yes, I just wanted to know if you were alright," Serenity asked, sitting on the bench at the end of the bed, motioning for Beryl to sit beside her.

Beryl looked at her, confused, before walking over to sit next to Serenity.

"I am as alright as I can be right now," she stated simply.

Serenity felt terrible for her. It was more than being pregnant; she was pregnant with Diamond's child, of all people.

"I know we haven't been very close, but if there's anything that you need, you can always come to me," Serenity responded, wanting to help in some way.

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Beryl asked.

"You're going to go through a lot. It will take a lot for Diamond to admit that the child is his, and you're going to need a friend. I just want you to know that you have me, no matter how tough the start of our relationship was," Serenity explained.

"I'm terrified," Beryl said suddenly with tears glistening in her eyes. "I-I know it's my fault and I should have known what I was getting myself into, but he was so sweet. He was gentle and kind. I know you don't really see that side of him very often but he shared it with me, which made me feel like I was special since he chose to share that with me. It seemed genuine, it still feels as though he was genuine, like a part of him still loves me and wants to be with me. He's still…nice… to me. He told me that he would help pay for the expenses of the child but he doesn't want the child connected to him in anyway. But there's still that hope that he'll come around…" Beryl said, tears streaming down her face at this point.

"Beryl, you and your child deserve better. You don't deserve to wait around for a man who will hopefully come around. I know you want that to be true and I want it for you as well but there's always a time when you have to face reality. People don't always get their happy ending. You have to just accept the hand that's been dealt to you, no matter how hard it is." Serenity said, referring to more than just Beryl.

"I know...but I can't help but have the feeling that deep down, he might love me…"

"I know it's hard to hear, but he doesn't love you. If he did he wouldn't have hit you, I'm sorry..." Serenity told her.

"I know, but he didn't mea-"

"Serenity, I need you to-"Diamond cut off Beryl's words and stopped speaking once he saw her. "I should go," he said before turning around.

Serenity all of a sudden had a rush of courage.

"No wait. Explain a few things to me, Diamond. Why won't you accept the child?" Serenity said boldly.

"It will ruin the reputation that I worked so hard for," he responded simply.

"So you care more about a reputation then the living person that you helped create?"

"I don't have time for this," Diamond growled.

"It seems you don't have time for anything. Go on, Beryl and the child are better off without you," Serenity snapped.

"Excuse me?" Diamond said, shocked at her words. "I don't know where you get off thinking that you're this flawless and perfect angel, when you have your faults. Let's talk about your affair, shall we?"

"Is that really the only thing you can think of to use against me? You should do much better than that," Serenity said with a light chuckle.

Diamond looked at her, shocked, unable to find the words to say.

Serenity smirked slightly at his speechlessness before continuing:

"Ever since the day we met, you have asked me what I think of you and I will tell you exactly what I think of you. You're selfish, pompous, and rude. You don't care about others. It's people like you that give Royals a bad name. They think that we're all selfish and conceited, not caring about others. That might be true for you but it isn't true for me. I'm tired of being treated like a chess piece. I don't know how I will come about doing this but I will not marry you. I might not be able to marry Endymion but it will not be you."

"You won't marry your knight, that's for certain. I'm not worried about it, Serenity. You will not tell anyone about this dilemma and I won't tell your father about your lover. Your father will make you marry me; therefore, I will come out on top in the end, as always." Diamond left the room, leaving Serenity to watch him in disbelief.

Serenity stood there, hating when he got into her head like that. Shaking off her thoughts, she turned to Beryl.

"You aren't alone, I promise. I will help you through this. You don't need Diamond."

"It's fine, I was just one of his play things that he got bored with," Beryl said, before walking out of the room.

Serenity sank on her bed and screamed into a pillow. She wanted to talk to Luna about all that's happened yet she was nowhere to be found. She lay down on her bed and did the only thing that would erase all of her troubles if only for a while: sleep.

Larissa's Point of View:

Larissa walked into the library when she saw her Father sitting at the giant desk in the center. Confused that he was here, she walked over to him.

"Father, what are you doing here?" Larissa asked, standing on the opposite side of the desk.

The king sighed as he leaned back into the chair, looking at his oldest daughter, seeming to be in deep thought.

"Has Serenity spoken to you lately?" he finally said.

"No, she hasn't, why do you ask?" Larissa lied.

"I am not going to start lying to Father, I can't, I'm a terrible liar," she thought.

"She's distant, she's always been that way, but I've noticed it more. Something's wrong with her."

"Well, she likes to keep to herself. She's always been like that, I'm sure she's fine."

King Aegean looked up at his daughter, knowing she was keeping something from him.

"Larissa, are you lying to me?"

"Of course not, why would I?" Larissa was getting nervous, hoping he would stop with the questions.

The king walked around to the front of the desk to be face to face with her.

"You're her sister. I highly doubt that she wouldn't talk to you. There is something going on and it would be very kind of you to tell me," he said, not breaking eye contact with her.

Larissa held her fathers stare, trying to think of a proper response.

"I'm not as good of a liar as you are, Serenity..." she thought.

"She hasn't told me anything, she hasn't spoken with me," Larissa replied, looking down.

The king knew she was lying - she was nervous and he could tell. He knew his daughters better than they thought.

"You're lying to me, Larissa."

"It's for your own good, Serenity. I can't continue to watch you throw your life away…"

"I–well–maybe I am…" Larissa said, crossing her arms, slightly hating herself for what she was about to do.

"It's alright, Larissa. She'll forgive you. I'm worried about her. She doesn't talk to me. I need to know."

"Okay...she - well - she's having an affair."

King Aegean raised an eyebrow.

"With who?" he asked.

"I'm sorry, Serenity…"

"Endymion, her ex-knight," Larissa spat out, feeling terrible.

The king gave a huge exhale, finally putting all of the puzzle pieces together.

"Do not feel bad, Larissa. She should know better than to do this. Now, if you'll excuse me," the king briskly walked out of the library.

Larissa watched her father leave, hoping he wasn't too upset.

King Aegean's Point of View:

King Aegean was storming through the castle, trying to calm down before he reached his office to begin to develop a plan to quickly end the affair.

"Of course she's having an affair, why didn't I see it sooner!? All of the signs were there: her dislike of Diamond, leaving all of the time…" he thought.

The king attempted to regain his temper and continued to his office. He couldn't just arrest Endymion; he wanted proof to solidify his choice. It was against the law, everyone knew it.

Diamond knocked on the door before poking his head through.

"Your highness, I-"

"Diamond sit, we should have a talk," Aegean said, not knowing how to break this to his daughter's fiancée.

Confused, Diamond sat in the chair opposite of the king.

"I know you have strong feelings for Serenity, which will be why this is not going to be easy to say," King Aegean said, searching for the correct words.

Diamond raised an eyebrow, seeming to guess where this was going.

"She's having an affair with the man who used to be her knight. I am sorry that it happened and that I did not realize it sooner."

Diamond's Point of View:

"So he finally figured it out? I didn't even have to tell him!" Diamond thought, hiding a smirk.

"She what?!" Diamond said, leaning back into the chair and acting as if he was oblivious to the entire thing.

"I know it is a lot to take in but he will be punished, I can guarantee that," Aegean said firmly.

"How are you going to find him?" Diamond asked.

"I have people who are specialized in this. We will find him easily."

"Serenity leaves a lot; do you happen to know where she goes?"

"I'm assuming it's to be with him," the king grumbled.

"She goes to Eternia. It's this place that she really likes and she goes there most of the time. Chances are, the next time she leaves, that's where she'll be," Diamond explained, hoping that this would be enough to catch her in the act.

"I'm still keeping my word. I haven't told him about her affair." Diamond thought. But would Serenity care?

"Great, then you can help the guards to find him," the king stated.

"I'll be more than happy to."

Diamond was on cloud nine when he left the king's office. His problem with Serenity's affair would be taken care of, and he could continue with his way of getting everything that he wanted.

He walked toward Serenity's room and knocked on the door.

"Where do you think you're going, Serenity?" Diamond said, entering her room without invitation.

Serenity's Point of View

"Out," she said simply.

"Really? Even with what your father is about to do?" Diamond said, leaning on her bed post.

"What?" Serenity said, confused.

"Oh, you don't know? How upsetting…" Diamond smirked.

"What are you talking about?"

"It appears that someone has told your father of your affair. And before you jump to conclusions, I'll have you know that it wasn't me."

Serenity froze.

"W-What?" she said, feeling the color draining from her face and her heart beating faster. Her worst nightmare was beginning to come true.

"Yes, there is now a search for your lover. Your father wants him arrested." Serenity felt sickened by the happy tone in Diamond's voice.

"You told me that you wouldn't tell him! You gave your word and you li-"

"I didn't tell him anything."

"Then how does he know?"

"I gave you my word that I would not tell your father of your relationship and I've kept that word. I've spoken nothing of it."

"Then who else would tell him?"

"That I do not know, but I told you, Princess. I get what I want either way. I didn't have to do anything for this to happen. Now, I hope your father doesn't do anything too bad to the boy, he did seem rather furious…" Diamond said smugly.

Serenity looked at him for just a moment longer and before she knew it, she was walking out of the room to leave the castle. Not caring who saw her or who was about to stop her, she just wanted to get out and hopefully with enough time. Her only focus was getting to Endymion before it was too late.

Quickly gathering her horse, she rode as fast as she could towards Eternia. The place that once brought her so much joy and happiness could very well be remembered as the last time she would see her beloved.

"He could leave… go to Earth, go anywhere to where he won't get caught. I just have to get to him in time…" Serenity said silently to herself, tears threatening to leave her eyes.

She rode for a few moments more before hopping off quickly, a few yards away and ran towards her beloved.

She saw him in the distance and ran faster.

"Serenit-"

She jumped in his arms as she was breathless from trying her best to get to him quickly. She only held onto him tightly.

"Serenity, what's wrong?" he asked, moving her hair from her face and cupping her cheeks in his palm. His eyes reflected a deep shade of concern.

Serenity looked up into the eyes of her dark-haired lover, knight, and protector. He was the one that she was never supposed to fall in love with. His midnight blue eyes looked down at her cerulean ones and Serenity detected a hint of fear and worry in them. No matter how hard he tried to mask his concern, she could tell he was worried. She could read him like a book, and he knew it.

"He knows. Someone told him something…" Serenity choked out. Endymion froze slightly. Her father knew. If her father knew…that meant…she didn't even want to think about what it meant. Her blood ran cold and her knees went weak. She held on tightly to Endymion just so she could keep standing and prevent her fingers from trembling.

"W-what-what are we going to do…" She could barely get the words out she wanted to say. Her panic level was rapidly rising to the point where it hurt to breath. "He'll never be okay with this!" Serenity said, pulling away as she fought to think of a plan to save her beloved. Tears ran down her face as she was struck with images of the inevitable. "He can't know, Endymion...he just can't," she said, barely bringing her voice above a whisper. Endymion was silent as he pulled her close once more, trying his best to remember every little detail of her; her hair, her eyes, her voice, her body, her skin, everything. He never wanted to forget it.

"I know, but you can't worry about me. You have to be careful. If he knows, then Diamond knows…and that's much worse. You have to protect yourself. I won't be able to-" Endymion was cut off by Serenity's warm finger against his lips.

"Yes you will. Don't say that. Don't even mention things like that," Serenity said, staring hard into his eyes. "Let's just go; run away. They don't have to find us!"

"We have to come back to reality. We're not supposed to be together. You're supposed to be with Diamond, not me. Your father is going to come after me; we can't avoid that. We can't keep running and hiding. Eventually, they will catch up to us and split us apart. It's pointless..." Endymion said.

The lack of hope in Endymion's voice and eyes practically shattered the young princess's heart. Why did things have to be so hard for them? Why couldn't they just be happy and live like her older sister did? Was that so much to ask for? Happiness?

"Just please…please protect yourself. That is the only thing I can ask you to do right now," Serenity said, tears filling her bright eyes. Endymion gently cupped her face in his hands.

"I love you. I will always love you and only you. Thi-" He was cut off at the sound of a wagon and horse hooves. Serenity's expression changed from one of sadness to one of fear. "We don't have much time," Endymion said worriedly. Serenity's father was at least 30 feet away.

"Endymion, I…I love you," Serenity choked before she threw her arms around him. She squeezed her eyes shut, begging whatever God was up there for time to freeze so she could just stay like that forever. She would rather die than be separated from him.

"I love you too, Sere," he sadly replied. Despite the depressing circumstances, Serenity couldn't help but crack a small smile. She loved when he called her that. She was just afraid it would be the last time she would hear it from him. "I'll find a way back to you.

No matter what I have to do. Nothing will keep us apart," Endymion declared, a newfound determination in his voice. For a moment, Serenity had hope.

He pulled her closer and pressed their lips together, kissing her with as much passion as he could. They pulled away and as soon as Endymion opened his eyes, the tip of a sword was hovering in front of his nose. Serenity gasped at the amount of guards there were with dangerous weapons. Was this really necessary?

"You broke a law Endymion; an important law that holds a severe punishment when broken," King Aegean said, shoving his daughter behind him and pressing the sharp sword against Endymion's throat.

At the sight of his beloved Princess being restrained by armored men, tears streaming down her face as she tried to fight their strong grip, the valiant Endymion shed his first tear.

I know, how terrible of me to leave a cliffhanger! I hope you enjoyed reading this and if you have stuck with reading this story, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart. I promise I will work to have the next chapter published as soon as possible.

xx Morgan xx