Story: Beloved Midnight

Chapter: Five

Anime: Sailor Moon

Pairing: Serenity/Endymion

Rated: Teen

Author's Notes: I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S ALMOST BEEN A YEAR SINCE I UPDATED! I AM SOOOOOOO SORRY! Enjoy.

Sitting as still as I could muster, I sat quietly on my bed as I heard the chaos going on in my closet. The balcony doors were flung open and a light breeze was causing my thin white satin curtains to billow gently into my grand bedroom. Taking a look outside, I briefly had wondered if the weather was due to my mother's desire to give a picnic today. I picnic meant for me and for… him. I groaned, my head dropping slightly in reluctance.

"Serenity, I thought I told you to sit still," Mina's voice said, ringing from the deepest depths of my walk-in closet. I could take a wild guess in saying that it was probably bigger than the kitchen.

"You did, but you never clarified as to why," I said with a tinge of annoyance. I'd been sitting like this for the past twenty minutes. I thought it was understandable why I was getting a bit peeved.

"I don't need distractions and even the slightest movement can do that to me."

"Airhead," I said, mumbling.

"I heard that." I cracked a smile. "No smiling."

Sighing, I straightened my back the slightest bit more, and even considered holding my breath as Mina continued on her fashion adventure. Another ten or fifteen minutes passed—I had lost count by now—before Mina finally emerged from the closet. In her arms was a thin, pastel pink sun dress, white lace running along the edges and the straps could fit about two small fingers over them to match the width. In her one hand she held a pair of white flats to match the lace.

"Now, I think we can entwine some white lilies in your hair… around the buns would be best, don't you think?" Mina said with a smile at her accomplished outfit. "Oh, and we also need to look through your jewelry. I think a nice silver chain necklace would work and the earrings you're wearing now should be fine."

My eyes seemed to bulge at her words. "Mina… don't you think you're going a bit overboard with this?"

Her sky blue eyes narrowed slightly in confusion. "I don't believe so. Why do you ask, princess?"

"It's just a picnic with some arrogant prince. We don't need to go all out."

Mina carefully placed my clothes on the bed before sitting down next to me. "Serenity… I thought you were giving him a second chance."

"I am."

"No, you're not." She shook her head, her golden hair swaying around her body. "The way I see it, you're acting worse than you did before. Then, you were very direct about it, but this time… it seems—I don't know—harsher in a strange way."

I looked down at her soft, white carpet. "Mina, you know what he did to me—".

"Yes, and it's time to get over it."

My head shot up in surprise. "Excuse me?"

Mina grabbed my hands, her eyes never breaking contact with my own. "Serenity, I'm the daughter of the goddess of love. I know these things, and if you continue to act this way, you may push him away. I can't see it yet, but I have this feeling you're ruining a lifetime opportunity. Just give him a chance."

I slipped one hand out from my friend's grasp, holding it up. "Hold it. I thought you didn't like the prince."

"I don't." Confusion littered my face. "I don't like him yet, but if you give him a chance, we can all give him a chance. I want to like him because I think he's being sincere."

I sighed, turning away. The breeze picked up slightly, stretching the curtains deeper in the room. I felt it pick up my silver locks, making the strands brush my arms. "I'm scared."

Mina laughed gently before pulling me into a warm embrace. "Don't be. You're not alone. You never will be."

I tried to restrain the small sob but I couldn't, the sound filling the room. "He hurt me. I don't think I could go through that again, Mina."

Venus' body stiffened at the confession, her embrace tightened. "We won't let him hurt you."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

I smiled in her sunshine blonde hair. "Thank you, cousin, and I promise I'll try to let him prove he's different."

The sun was bright but warm on my pale skin as I took a step into the private rose garden of my royal family. The breeze rippled through my long locks of silver hair, making me see strands flying around me. Glancing up at the sky, I watched a small bird glide in front of the faded blue, and it brought a smile to my face. My dress flittered around my legs to remind me that I was indeed walking even though it felt like I was floating. The fragrance of the flowers intoxicated my senses, and if it would have been a good time, I would have just laid on the ground and let it consume my soul.

Sadly, though, I had a picnic to go to today and a princess should never be late if it suits her well. I shook my head, a giggle sounding from my throat. I could see in the nearby distance a small quilt lying on the lush green grass so I made my way towards it. Looking around the gardens, there wasn't a single soul, except for mine, around. I took a cautious seat on the quilt, careful not to ruin my dress.

I wasn't alone for long. Coming from another direction was Prince Endymion, dressed in casual black slacks with a matching black silk shirt. He had the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his hands were stuffed in his pockets. His eyes were wondering the nature around us, carefully not letting his eyes rest on me.

Well, I had to keep my promise to Mina. "Good afternoon, Prince Endymion."

His hair moved in the breeze as his head turned towards me. "Yes, it is, princess." He reached the blanket but didn't sit.

"Something wrong?" I asked timidly. Why was he staring at me like that?

He shook his head, his bangs falling over his dark eyes. "No." He sighed while moving over to the tree that provided shade over our spot. "Look, Serenity, I think I'm going to head home."

I could feel my mouth drop slightly. "What?"

He placed his hand on the trunk. "I don't want to force you into anything. Ten years ago, I did leave you and I didn't regret it. I didn't care that a small girl was crying when I turned my back on her. I was selfish but I was young." His head lowered. "But that isn't a good enough excuse. It never will be. I keep trying to tell myself that I was young and I didn't care what others thought. But I was old enough to know what was going on. I was old enough to know I wanted to live my own life and not be told what to do."

"Where is this coming from? Just earlier, everything was fine."

"That was earlier," he said, running his hands through his hair.

I stood up but didn't dare get any closer. "I thought everything was going all right. I told you I would give you a second chance. I told you I would try to get to know you. Why are you doing this? If you leave, don't you know what will happen to me?"

He laughed darkly. "I've been taught about the structure of the Lunarian royal house ever since I was a kid. Your mother says you could lose your throne if you're not married by your twenty-first birthday, but only a descendant of the goddess, Selene, can sit on the throne of the Moon. You are the only heir. No one can replace you."

I gasped, realizing he was right. A blush rose to my cheeks. "Then why…?"

"Your mother just wants you to be happy," he said, turning to look at me. "And the way I see it, I won't make you happy. You may lead a better life if I just leave and take my men with me. You can rule your alliance with your guardians easier than with me as your husband." He shrugged. "Besides, isn't that what you've always wanted?"

"I… I don't know." I fingered my streams of hair. "I don't know what I want."

"Don't you?"

I looked at him. The way the breeze glided through his hair reminded me of silk. His dark eyes stared into my own and I could feel them begging to be let into the deepest parts of my soul. A shiver raced through my veins, making me tremble. I knew what I wanted. I always did. "I want a marriage based on love. I want to rule this kingdom with the man I love by my side."

He smiled. "Was that so hard to admit?"

"No." I shook my head. "But what does that have to do with you going home? It hasn't been two weeks yet."

"I don't think you'll ever be able to love me, Serenity."

I was confused. "Why not?"

"We don't get along."

"That doesn't mean anything!" I took a step forward. "Endymion, you're my only chance now! I've chased away all the other suitors. I have to learn to at least like you because I know I'll be marrying you either way."

"I'm not going to force you into anything!" he said, his eyes darkening. "I'm not going to force you to link your life to me. I'll only bring you misery. I'm not a happy man. Your future is much brighter without me. You'll be able to rule over your people without the burden of Terrian by your side." He turned towards me fully. "Don't you see? We aren't meant to be united."

"Who says?" My voice was rising. Something in me was screaming. My vision was getting blurry. What was happening? Didn't I want him to leave? Didn't I want exactly what he was saying? Yes, I wanted love. I knew that. He was giving me a chance to find it. He was going to leave.

But something in me was aching. Something in me didn't want him to ever go.

There is always a reason for emotions to be released.

"Stop asking that! Serenity, this isn't about me. This is about you!" He stepped towards me, closing the large distance between us. I could almost feel the heat radiating off him. "Tell me what you want. What you really want. I know you know. I can see you're not be fully honest with yourself. Just… for once… admit your feelings."

"My feelings?" I was starting to panic.

"Yes," Endymion said, his eyes pleading with my soul to break.

"Will you really leave?"

"Yes."

The tears started to pour over. "Even if I don't want you to?"

I watched for a reaction. I watched for a change in his eyes. They stayed locked onto mine. I started to cry harder. He didn't care. He still didn't want me even though I started to want him again.

He didn't love me even though the little girl inside me still felt the same way she did ten years ago.

I felt my vision going dark. I felt the sounds from the Moon vanish from my mind. I was starting to drift away into my own personal solitude. My legs started to collapse. Rejection hurt. That's all I would ever get from the man I loved. The blackness at the edge of my mind would be my only comfort.

Except for the kiss that suddenly pulled me away.

Okay. The ending was a little weird but I still liked it. I hope you understood what was going on. I'm hoping this update will begin the process to this story's completion. This was the winner of the poll and I will now be focusing on finishing it up finally. Please, keep on top of it and bug me into keeping on track. I think I can wrap this up in four chapters or less. I hope you enjoyed what happened, though. I didn't plan on having the picnic turn out this way, but I think it worked. You have to understand that even though Endymion can be a jerk, he really is sincere in wanting a second chance. Please, don't forget to review your thoughts.

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MoonlightMaiden14