Story: Beloved Midnight

Chapters: Four

Anime: Sailor Moon

Pairing: Serenity/Endymion

Rated: Teen

Author's Notes: I'M SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT!!! FORGIVE ME!! Enjoy.

The wind blew past my face in a way I never felt it before. It brushed my hair around and over my head in an almost sensual manner as I lifted my pale arms before me, reaching deep down inside for that one connection that was so tightly entwined with my soul. It jolted awake like a mountain lion laying in wait for its opportunity to strike. The power pushed through my veins as if even something so strong and invincible had even hotter fire on its tail. My eyes were closed, but the blackness behind my lids only lasted for a second longer as the heat finally enclosed around my finger tips, and then it all happened so fast. My eyelids snapped open like a whip, delicate but feisty power rippled and tore from my hands, and then shot right through the center of a bull's eyes that was fifty feet before me in the fields known as the training grounds.

Clapping filled the air, Mina stepping forward. "Well, done, princess. I must say you did an excellent job that time. You can definitely tell the difference when you have better control of your powers." She nodded in satisfactory approval.

Amy was smiling, her face looking at her mini computer. "Yes, Mina is right. You have 72% more control than you did last time." Her Caribbean eyes looked up at me, a soft glow eliminating them more. "Well done."

Raye clicked her tongue. "So she hit a target in its center this time, so what? She was only off by an inch the previous time. She's been improving since she requested this training months ago."

Lita came forward, cracking her knuckles. "Serenity's power is something out of this world, but she's going to need more skill than just controlling it. In times of desperate need, she may need to get physical,"—she glanced over her shoulder, mumbling, —"especially with that arrogant son of a bi—I mean, prince around." She grinned a sheepish grin, her green eyes sparkling like the canopies of the Amazon covered in sunlight.

I nodded. "I agree with Lita. I've only gotten physical a couple times since mother isn't too fond of it. I'd also like to continue with that, if I may."

I thought it impossible for Lita's grin to get any bigger. "Excellent!"

--

After a change of clothes, we stood in the building meant for sword matches, wrestling, etc. Blue mats covered the main arena, matching benches were lined against every wall along with cubbies to hold any little belongings. Everything else was to stay in the respective locker rooms. The storage room was bigger than the breakfast room, holding everything from swords to bows to clubs to axes. What were we, barbarians?

'Serenity, you jump to conclusions to easily. Every person has a certain skill that is linked to a particular weapon. It's only natural to have a variety. Of course, some of the weapons, like the clubs, are just for extra training. We're getting too modern for clubs in wars,' Amy intelligently explained in my head. I shook my head towards the ground, pretending the shake her out. She only giggled, grabbing a few ninja stars from the room.

Mina was busying shifting through the different swords. "I think we should do the sword today. You naturally got used to the daggers last week so we should go to the next step."

"And the next step is a long, sharp sword, Mina?" Raye muttered, holding onto her bow while flinging the arrows over her back.

Mina shrugged. "Her mother is a great swordswoman so I thought it would work with Serenity as well." She glanced at Raye, raising one thin, blonde eyebrow with a smile twitching at her lips. Raye grumbled some inaudible words, and headed back out into the room.

"Okay, Serenity, now the sword looks more difficult than it really is. If you have the natural talent, the patience, and the determination to at least be able to handle it, then you'll be fine in no time. Understand that this is more than what's expected of you so if you'd like to stop, just speak up." I nodded at Mina's words. At my acceptance, she carefully placed the handle of the blade in my hands.

Mina talked me through the basic steps of the feet first before she started showing me the easiest points of attack and defense. At the start of the training, the sword felt like lead in my hand, but after some time, patience and even fun, it started to feel like a feather, and I only registered in the back of my mind that it was even there to begin with.

Mina was breathing harder than I was. "Good job, Serenity. You're doing incredibly well for a first timer."

I shrugged. "Virgins can do anything they put their mind to."

A deep voice chuckled, the sound seeming to dance up the throat. "Is that so, princess? Would you like to prove it?"

My knee length skirt fluttered around me with frantic speed as I twisted my body to the location of the sound. In all his glory, the Prince of Earth, Endymion, stood with a cocky smirk on his face and an amused glimmer in his midnight blue eyes. My cerulean eyes narrowed. "Excuse me?"My grip tightened on the hilt of my sword.

The dark-haired prince shrugged, lifting his hands out of his pockets, and then he unsheathed his sword. I took a step back, slightly raising my own. He laughed. "I'm not going to fight you, Serenity. Don't be ridiculous. Your friend just started teaching you only a little bit ago." He nodded towards Jadeite. "I'm going to show you how it's done."

"No, you're not—," I started to say, but Mina laid a hand on my shoulder. Looking up at her face, I knew my confusion was clearly stated in my eyes.

'We need to see how skilled they are in this area, Serenity. This is the perfect opportunity.' Her thoughts filled my head before she returned her eyes to the beginning match. I looked around the room to see my other friends doing the same thing as Mina.

My attention was disrupted when the sound of clashing swords filled the arena, making me tear my eyes to the source. Endymion and his general, Jadeite, were circling each other with slick, precise movements on the mats before us. My eyes barely took notice of the blonde man, but instead remained fixed on his master. Never before in all my years of slipping down to the training grounds to watch sparring matches had I seen a man handle a sword, a fight so gracefully. His movements were right on the mark as he seemed to dance with elegance around Jadeite's moving blade. His strikes were sharp and direct, and they never missed their intended target. There wasn't even a bead of sweat on his forehead that could indicate any sense of strain. Never before had I seen beauty in the sword or this kind of power of control in the one handling it.

It didn't take long for Endymion to finish Jadeite off with a pretend stab in the chest. The surrounding people in the room clapped for the victory of the handsome prince before returning to their own activities. A crooked grin appeared on Endymion's face as he returned his sword to its sheath. Moving forward, he slapped his hand down on Jadeite's shoulder. "Maybe next time, man."

Jadeite grunted, pushing his hand off. "You always say that."

Endymion chuckled. "You never know when it'll be true." Then, he turned to wink at me, making a blush rise on my cheeks. The crooked smile returned. "Do I pass?"

"Pass?" I finally found my voice colored with confusion and embarrassment for being caught.

He nodded towards my Scouts. "Do I pass?"

I didn't even notice when Lita, Amy, and Raye had returned to my side. The four Inner Sailor Scouts exchanged glances before nodding their approval. Mina spoke for them as the respective leader. "Better than I thought you would, I must admit. You have a special talent for the sword."

I noticed Kunzite make eye contact with her before speaking. "Our prince is the most skilled swordsman on our planet if not the solar system." Kunzite looked over at Endymion. "He was able to surpass me at only fourteen."

Mina blushed at the white haired man, but kept her serious face. "Impressive." Mina was about to open her mouth to say more when a small servant approached us.

She immediately lowered herself into a curtsy. "Your highnesses, I'm sorry to interrupt."

I smiled at her kindly. "No need to be sorry, but may I ask why you did?"

She returned to her normal height, but kept her eyes lowered slightly. "Of course, my princess. I'm here to deliver a message to the prince and princess from the queen. Her majesty says that she has arranged a pleasant picnic for your highnesses in the rose garden for lunch."

My eyebrows rose in curiosity. "Oh?"

The servant nodded. "Yes, your highness. The queen would like the prince and princess to meet there at noon. There will be a servant waiting at your doors to take you there if needed."

I sighed, not daring to take a look at Endymion. "Well—"

"We'll be there. Thank you," Endymion said in his rich voice. It sent surprising shivers down my spine, sending me into a swirl of emotions.

The servant curtsied at him, her face going red with heat, before turning looking at the others. "The king and queen would also like a word with the Scouts and Generals, your highnesses. The queen says as soon as possible."

Amy spoke for them all. "Thank you, miss. Is that everything?" The servant nodded. Amy smiled. "You may go." The small servant curtsied once more before retreating.

I had yet to look at the prince until he started to speak. "We'll be taking our leave as well." His blue eyes rested on my face. "I'll see you at noon." Nodding towards the Scouts, he turned his back and walked away. I never noticed the breath I was holding until it came rushing out in relief at his departure.

Mina was grinning from ear to ear. "Oh, this is marvelous! I've been waiting for the perfect moment to pick out an outfit for you to wear for him, Serenity!" She grabbed my hand, already making way for the exit. "Come on, Sere! I've only got an hour to fix you up!"

I could hear Raye mumbling to the others behind us. "I think Mina's more excited for this picnic than Serenity is." Selene, I beg of you, help.

I don't think I can tell you how frustrating it is not to have the motivation or inspiration more so to write you guys more chapters - that goes for all my stories. I don't know what's wrong with me. The main reason why it has been taking me forever to update anything is because of that. I just don't have the motivation or inspiration to write even though I WANT to. It's so frustrating! You have no idea. Thankfully, the guilt of not updating finally overwhelmed me enough to get a sudden spark of inspiration to write this chapter. I had said on my profile that I had started to write the next chapter for this story, like, last month? Well, it wasn't going anywhere. When that happens, I decided that I should maybe take a different approach so that's what I did. It worked. I hope you guys like where this is going now, and I hope you saw the intentional meaning the virgin statement and then how Endymion took it. I thought it was funny. Well, let me know your thought and feedback as always.

REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW!

MoonlightMaiden14