A/N: Few more chapters to go! This fiction isn't entirely the best out there. I have too many grammatical errors, but I enjoyed writing this because it's the first fiction I have ever written. And I'm glad that many of you liked it as well.
NEWS: I have posted "Wings of a Cherry Blossom" and "Secrets Behind Closed Doors III" so please check it out.
On to the story...
Chapter 16: A friend in need and friends indeed.
By: Angel Strawberry
It had been a month since the Terran Royal Family arrived from the moon and life inside the palace was never the same again. The news about the invalidation of engagement between the Earth Prince and the Moon Princess and the reason for it spread throughout the entire system like a plague. The people from every planets mocks, criticized, and laughed at the current position of the Earth in the solar system, even if they were not part of the Silver Millennium. Some says that it was very shameful and cruel of what the Terrans did to the princess. Some says they were fools for their trickery regarding the most powerful family in the system and some just took pity on them.
The King and the Queen had been very busy planning and thinking of a way to salvage the reputation of the Earth from what had happened and most importantly how they were going to maintain the now fragile relationship between the Earth and the Moon. It was very important for the Terrans to bleach all the stains they had done in the past for the economy of the Earth was also at stake.
Things were very stressful inside the palace, everyday that went by through the nights. Servants, guards, advisors, or whoever resides inside the palace were determined to avoid the Prince. Everybody was scared of him. He was always cold, harsh, rude, and impatient. His mood was constantly foul, making his company impossible to tolerate. Endymion couldn't care less. He didn't need anything or anyone, but HER. His love. His heart. His Serenity. People didn't understand what had caused the Prince's sudden change of behavior, except for his parents and guardians. They felt sad and would do anything to help him, albeit, they do not know how.
"What is this?" Endymion spat the food from his mouth.
"It's your favorite soup. Your highness." The servant girl stammered in fear. She didn't want to feel the prince's wrath.
"You call this piece of slime, food?" Endymion thundered as he threw the bowl of soup in front of the frightful maid.
"Forgive me, sir!" The poor girl started to cry.
"You gave me food fit for pigs! Am I a pig? Tell me!" He demanded, shouting.
"No sir." She cried.
"You humiliate me! I should punish you!"
"No! Please, sir. It'll never happen again. Please don't punish me!" The desperate girl pleaded on her knees. Her head was bowed to the ground.
"Then leave! I don't want to see your filthy face in my presence again!" The girl bowed again and scurried to leave.
"Endymion, you shouldn't have acted like that. The girl did nothing wrong." General Kunzite said as he walked over to him. He was watching the scene from a distance and felt anger and pity towards his prince.
"Don't tell me what to do until I give you permission! And don't call me by my name!" Endymion ordered in a cold harsh voice.
"Forgive me, my prince." Kunzite said as he bowed apologetically.
"Leave me." Endymion snapped impatiently, but no longer shouting. Kunzite bowed again and left the brooding black prince behind and alone with his misery. Endymion's hand flew over to his heart and clutched the chain and a ring attached to it.
"Serenity..." He whispered lovingly and longingly in despair. He closed his eyes to keep the tears at bay.
The Prince wasn't the only one the people were avoiding. They were also avoiding the infamous Lady Beryl. Once upon a time, most people hate the beautiful mistress of the prince, but now, everybody in the palace and even in the city despises her. Prior to the announcement of betrothal to the Prince, being accounted of her 'accidental' pregnancy, Beryl's intolerable attitude got a lot worse. She started bossing everyone around, saying that she was to be the next Queen of the Earth. She was cruel and uncaring to everyone and was far worse than the Black Prince.
"You expect me to wear such trash?" Beryl shouted at the frightened dressmaker.
"But, my lady. I just did what you told me to do." The dressmaker replied, fidgeting uncomfortably in her place.
"I ordered you that the materials to be used for my gown should come from the finest materials ever made! It has to be prettier than the Moon hoe! And what did you do? You made a dress for a maid!"
"I'm very sorry, my lady, but I did my best. The gown was made with the finest silk. The same materials used for the Moon Princess's wedding gown."
"Are you deaf? I just told you that I wanted a better gown than that tramp's!"
"Forgive me; I'll do anoth- my lady, please!" The dressmaker's eyes widened in horror. Beryl started ripping the beautiful expensive wedding gown. The ripping sound was too much for the person who made it with her heart. The dressmaker's eyes were full of unshed tears as she watched the dress she proudly made with all her heart being ripped, kicked, and threw by the bride-to-be.
"Once I am Queen, you are the first to be beheaded! Now get out of my sight!" Beryl spat. Her feet were stepping on the dress like a rag. The dressmaker left the room crying and heartbroken.
"This has got to stop." Jadeite said as he paced the room several times.
"We know that, but pacing around like that won't solve anything." Zoicite agreed without looking away from his book.
"We need to do something." Kunzite stated and all heads nodded in agreement. They couldn't stand what was happening around the palace, especially with their beloved friend.
"But what are we going to do? The bitch is pregnant with Endymion's child." Nephrite said as he shifted from his seat.
"'IF' the child is Endymion's" Zoicite suggested, his head buried in his book, though his ears were into the discussion.
"What do you mean, Zoi?" Kunzite asked.
"A lot of thing could happen within an hour." Zoicite replied.
"I knew it! The bitch must have been pregnant all along." Jadeite concluded.
"We don't know that, Jade. We don't have proof." Kunzite said.
"Kun is right. Even if we all know that she is whore by nature, we need something big to stop this mad wedding. The only question is What if the child was really Endymion's?" Nephrite asked seriously. The four guardians were silent for a moment before Jadeite spoke up.
"What about Princess Minako?"
"What about her?" Kunzite asked in puzzlement.
"She can help us." Jadeite answered.
"What can she do if we can't even do a thing?" Nephrite asked.
"Umm... I don't know. I just feel like she could." Jadeite trailed off.
"I agree with Jade." Zoicite said as he closed his book and placed it on the coffee table besides him.
"You do? I mean, of course you do!" Jadeite said, nodding. The three guardians looked at Zoicite, waiting for an explanation, so he continued.
"I think she can help. I also don't know how, but I just feel like it too. Besides, it's worth a try." Kunzite and Nephrite thought about it carefully, their eyes met and slowly, their heads moved up and down. Kunzite stood up and asked,
"What do we have to do?"
"You will talk to her." Jadeite said and Zoicite nodded.
"What? Why me?"
"Because you have a thing for her and you spend more time with her than the rest of us." Jadeite said a matter-of-factly.
"That isn't enough reason." Kunzite didn't bother to deny for it was true. In fact, he already misses her so much.
"Whatever." Jadeite motioned his hand back and forth. "You are our leader, so you do it."
"Like you said, I am the leader and I could just order one of you to do it instead of me."
"Not possible."
"And why not?" One dark silver brow shot up.
"Because she has a thing for you also." With that, Kunzite was speechless, loss for words and for the first time in his twenty and eight years, he blushed (Kawaii Ne! nn,)
"Sere, where are you?" Princess Minako whispered as she walked through the heavily planted garden or miniature forest. She was very worried about her cousin. She knows how much she was hurting; she couldn't believe that the witch was telling the truth. Or was she? But that wasn't her concern right now. Serenity left two weeks ago for a short vacation and she hasn't heard anything from her since then and that scares her. With a sigh, Princess Minako walked over to the small pond ahead until one hand grabbed her mouth to stifle her shouts and the other grabbed her by the waist. Minako was startled and struggled in fear. She could feel the hard chest against her back with strong arms holding her tight.
"Shh... It's me." A man's voice murmured against her ear. Minako stopped struggling when she heard the familiar voice.
"K-kunzite?" Minako breathed out as soon as the hand moved from her mouth.
"Yes." Kunzite said as he reluctantly let her go.
"What are you doing here?" Minako asked as she turned around to face him. Oh, how she misses him so.
"I came here to see you." Minako blushed.
"Really?"
"Yes, I need your help."
"Oh." Minako's eyes turned to the ground. She was disappointed. She thought he actually came to see 'her'. Kunzite seems to noticed it and said,
"But I wanted to see you too. I-I misses you." He blushed a bit. Warmth came rushing back to her.
"I... miss... y-you too." She murmured and then remembered the other reason why he came to see her.
"What can I do for you?" She asked.
"The Earth palace is a wreck."
"Did something happen? You've been attacked?" Minako's eyes widen in fear and concern.
"No." Minako sighed in relief. "Prince Endymion has changed. He is very moody and Beryl acts as if she is already the Queen."
"That isn't very surprising. Sere changed too, but not that kind of change. She is very quiet and always wanted to be alone. Even if I can't see what's inside her heart, I can sense she is in deep pain." She said sadly.
"That's why we got to do something."
"What can we possibly do? The witch is already pregnant and it's Endymion's."
"We don't think so or should we say, we have doubts about it." Minako nodded, she too has doubts about the woman's pregnancy. Rumors said that Beryl likes to sleep with any man who she thinks would give her the advantage.
"So you want this 'doubts' to be proven correct?"
"Yes."
"Mmm... Let me think." She bit her lower lip as she thinks a way to help her lo- I mean, friend.
"Is something wrong?" Kunzite asked.
"Iie." Minako blushed guilty at the thoughts of her feelings to the man in front of her instead of the current crisis in their families. She turns around, her back to him and kicked herself mentally and turned her mind back to the crux.
"I know! Our friend, Amy! She is the smartest person I have ever met. She is the problem solver of the group; maybe she can find a way out with our problems!"
"I'm glad to hear that. When can I meet her?"
"Tomorrow. Same time, same place. I'll talk to her about it. In the mean time, I suggest you get back before they miss you and bring the other generals with you. We need all the help we can get."
"I will. I'd better go. See you, Princess." Kunzite bowed and turned to leave when Minako called him.
"A-ano. Umm... (Blush) I-." Swallowing a lump that conveniently appeared in her throat she proceeded to say what she was keeping in her heart for so long.
'C'mon Minako you can do this! This might be the only chance you get.' She thought to herself.
"I- I... looo... ve... you." She squeaked the last word.
"Pardon?" Kunzite asked even though he had a feeling what she meant to say. He wanted to hear it clearly.
"Iloveyou." Minako said too fast.
'Baka! Now he'll think you are some kind of love struck teenager. Gosh, I think I am.'
"I know you don't feel the same way about me, but I... I just wanted to tell you how I feel. I love you, Kunzite-kun." Minako stammered, barely a whisper, but he still heard it. Kunzite smiled. He felt his heart would burst. He walked over to her and raised his arms.
"K-Kunzite?" Minako blushed furiously when Kunzite hugged her.
"I love you too, Minako." He whispered against her golden hair. Minako was happy. She buried her face against his chest when she felt her eyes prickled with happy tears. Kunzite pulled away, his hands on her arms; he looked deeply in to her blue eyes. Minako found herself closing her eyes as Kunzite's face slowly descends to her. Lips met in a soft kiss that conveys their feelings for each other.
"I shall see you again, my Aphrodite goddess." He whispered against her lips and Minako could only nod.
"Tomorrow." She whispered to the wind as she watched her love disappear in the camouflage of the forests.
A/N: The greatest love you could give to a person is the love of friendship. Let us give importance and care for our friends.
Tell me watcha think, k? I'll update soon! JA!