Third Time's the Charm

By Bashfulglowfly

Chapter Thirteen

"…brother…"

Annoying voices.

Dearest Serenity.

This hologram does you no justice. It cannot properly display your exquisite beauty.

I need you. I had you once and I will have you again.

I will not allow those men to take you away from me again.

Kunzite sighed and slumped in the chair. Venus sat on the arm and leaned against him. He wrapped his arm around her hips. "Well. We've tried everything. Nothing is bringing Demando out into the open."

"…brother, the Ayakashi Sisters are dead…"

Shrill, spiteful cats.

Easily lead twits.

Useless creatures.

Beautiful Serenity.

My Queen.

Soon you will be at my side.

I will worship you forever and always.

Mercury spoke up. "The Ayakashi Sisters died. His own people and he didn't even bother to come see what happened. He's a strange man."

"…brother, Rubeus is dead…"

Incompetent fool.

How hard can it be to destroy those stupid girls who dare to keep me away from my Serenity.

Beloved Serenity.

No one but me will ever have your body.

I will not allow it to be fouled with child after vile child like the ones that man forces you to have.

Nephrite paced back and forth. "Rubeus is dead now. Still nothing from this man."

"I don't get someone like him. Hell, even Beryl collected the bodies of her people." Said Jadeite. "Admittedly, she actually used the bodies…but at least she came and got them."

"…brother, Emeraude is dead…"

Shrieking harpy.

Vain foolish woman.

At least I won't have to listen to her inane babbling anymore.

Sweet Serenity.

You will not speak of inane things, will you?

You will only say things that will be pleasing to me. Such as "Demando, I love you."

Yes, I will enjoy hearing those words come from your lips.

Mars scowled. "Not even the death of Emeraude, who said she was the betrothed of Demando, made him leave wherever it is he's hiding.

Jupiter's voice was dry. "Considering everything we know about him and his obsession with Serenity, I doubt what she said was true."

"…Prince Demando…your brother has betrayed you…he is dead…"

Saphire.

Traitor.

How could you do this to your own brother?

Darling Serenity.

You will never betray me, will you?

You will stand by my side and grant my every wish.

You will have eyes only for me.

You will listen only to me.

You will obey only me.

"There is one thing that we have that he wants."

Zoicite looked at Sailor Moon. "What's that?"

"Me…or rather, the me that is Serenity."

Loud protests echoed throughout the room.

Endymion held up his hand. "Wait. Listen to what she has to say."

Kunzite glared at his prince. "The two of you had a discussion without the rest of us?"

Endymion gazed back calmly at the leader of his Shitennou. "Yes. We have. We've talked about it for some time and I've looked at it from every angle. We don't have any other choice. Listen to what she has to say."

Sailor Moon stood up. She couldn't say this sitting down. Her gloved hands nervously twisted together. "Demando is obsessed with Neo-Queen Serenity. He doesn't notice Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon means nothing to him. I've made appearance after appearance as Sailor Moon, defeating his youma, the Ayakashi Sisters, Rubeus and Emeraude. I even tried to save his own brother who was murdered by that Wiseman thing. Nothing. Demando made no appearance. Because he is not interested in Sailor Moon."

She continued, looking at her friends. "Demando is interested in Serenity. When he…captured me, everything I saw in his room concerned Neo-Queen Serenity. Holograms, paintings…everything is about her. But there is also something else he is obsessed about." She looked at the man she loved most in the world. "Endymion. He hates Endymion. He thinks that Endymion…well, I don't know what he really thinks but I do know that he doesn't like the fact that Neo-Queen Serenity loves King Endymion and he loves her back."

"At a guess, from the memories that Sailor Moon has shown me, Demando thinks that Serenity should be kept immaculate and pure." It was Endymion's turn to have a dry voice. "Except when he's having sex with her, of course. That's perfectly okay for him to do that because it's worship not sex."

Sailor Moon shuddered convulsively at the thought of Demando touching her again. Endymion pulled her into his lap and held her close.

Saturn looked at her sister Outers and spoke. "This Wiseman…I don't trust him. Somehow I think that he may be manipulating Demando."

Neptune nodded. "Saphire accused him of the same thing. He said that the Wiseman was keeping Demando from understanding what was really going on."

Uranus looked at the royal pair. "So, how are you going to get him to notice Serenity and Endymion? Notify the media?"

Sailor Moon and Endymion looked at each other then nodded. Pluto laughed. "Zoicite, call up your people. Surely you have someone on your payroll who can handle the publicity."

Zoicite grinned. "As a matter of fact, I do."

"…Prince Demando…Serenity has appeared…she has publicly declared her love for Endymion…"

Demando floated above Tokyo. His white hair was tangled and sticking out in all directions. His white uniform was stained and unkempt. He raised his hand above his head. In it, glowing with sickly radiance, was a fragment of Black Crystal. With all his might, Demando flung it down into the street below where it began to grow at an alarming rate.

Another shard of Black Crystal appeared in his hand. "WHERE IS SHE?" He shrieked. "WHERE IS MY SERENITY. BRING HER TO ME OR I WILL DESTROY THIS ENTIRE CITY!"

"Your Serenity? I don't think so. I never have been and I never will be yours."

Demando turned and gazed down at the street. There she was. His Serenity. He floated down until he stood just a few feet from her. She was exquisite. He reached out to pull her into his arms. But, suddenly, there was a sword at his throat. He focused on the wielder of the sword.

"Endymion!" Demando hissed with hatred at the sight of his most hated foe.

Endymion tilted his head in acknowledgement but didn't lower his sword. Demando looked around and realized that all of the people who were keeping Serenity from him were there. Even Endymion's pink-haired spawn was there and she had the audacity to dress like Serenity. He was going to kill that thing right after he killed the one who forced Serenity to have her.

His gaze turned back to Serenity. "My Queen." He held out his hand to her. "Come to me now. We shall rule this world and this universe together."

Serenity's blue eyes were calm yet remote. "No." she said simply. "I am not your queen. I don't love you. I don't even like you."

Demando's hands clenched with fury. "These…people…have brainwashed you. You don't know what you are saying. You belong to me. I am the only one who can truly love you."

"You don't know what love is." Came her reply. "Endymion knows what love is. He has unselfishly given it to me time and time again."

Demando's eyes blazed red with madness. "THEN DIE! DIE WITH YOUR PRECIOUS ENDYMION AND THEN I WILL HAVE YOUR BODY FOREVER!" He raised his hands over his head and produced the largest piece of Black Crystal he had. Its evil glow grew stronger as he poured power into it.

Endymion grabbed Serenity and Small Lady and dashed out of the way, while the Senshi and Shitennou began attacking Demando. Demando cackled insanely as he staggered from the attacks but he still poured more energy into the Black Crystal between his hands.

Mercury gazed intently through her visor at the data she was collecting. Finally she saw it! "There! Strike it there!" She pointed and a small red dot appeared on the Black Crystal. Endymion produced a rose and flung it at the spot she indicated. Before it even landed, he spun around and flung his cloak over Serenity and Small Lady. The other Senshi and Shitennou also ducked for cover.

The resulting explosion knocked them all off their feet.