Ribon No Kishi (Princess Knight) Sailor Moon Style
Chapter Eight
Serenity and her mother were traveling, running as fast as they could, but the weather was cold and brittle and before long, The queen had collapsed on the ground, unable to go any more.
"Mother!" Serenity cried, kneeling by the Queen's side. "Somebody help me"
"Allow me" Came a voice. Serenity spun around to see a woman with red hair in a purple dress.
"Who are you?" She asked.
"My name is Beryl, I am the mistress of darkness" The woman replied. "I can help your mother if..." She trailed off. Serenity glared at her.
"If what?" she asked.
"If you give me your soul" Beryl demanded. Serenity gasped.
"What?" She asked. "You'll kill me, so my mother can live" Beryl laughed.
"I won't kill you" She said. "I only need one soul, and you were born with two"
"That's impossible" Serenity declared. Beryl shrugged.
"You were given a boy and girl sould before birth. I want your girl soul, or your mother will die" Beryl said.
"I would be a boy, forever?" Serenity gasped. Beryl nodded, grinning. Serenity looked at her frail mother, lying on the ground. Tears filled her eyes. "I agree" Beryl took a knife out of her bosom and stabbed Serenity in the back. Serenity fell to the ground unconcious. Beryl laughed and left, carrying the glowing pink soul.
When Serenity woke up, she wondered if everything had been a dream, but as she stretched and stood, she realized that she was not a girl with a blossoming chest, but a boy, flat chested and strong. Her voice was rougher too. Seren cried at his fate, for he could never be with Darien now.
"I don't want my mother to see me like this" He thought in agony. Suddenly he heard and announcement far off. The king was looking for a bride. He frowned, "if I get taken to the palace, I can end this" He said. He quickly ran off and changed into a female dress he found hanging on the wash. When he got back to his mother's sides, the two scouts were looking her over. When they saw him/her they gasped in delight.
"We have found the perfect bride" Katsy squealed in delight. Seren grinned and tried to make his voice light and sweet.
"I agree" He said sweetly. The scouts giggled and began dragging him to the palace.
King Diamond was eager when he recieved the message that his bride had been found and that they were bringing her to the palace. Suddenly Sapphire rushed in.
"Bad news, Gold land is attacking us" He gasped out.
"What?" Diamond questioned, wondering if he heard correctly.
"They've crossed the border and are taking the main streets" Sapphire explained.
"Gather the army" Diamond ordered. "Once I am done here, I will go there" Sapphire frowned.
"Done here? What do you mean?" He asked.
"I am getting married" Diamond grinned and left the throne room. Sapphire stared after him.
"Married?" He said softly. "The enemy's army is marching toward the castle" He shouted down the hall. He sighed. "How easily this country will be destroyed"
Once Diamond wwas ready he went to the throne room.
"Bring in the bride candidate" He ordered. Katsy and Bertie rushed a young woman into the throne room. She bowed low. "You can raise your face" Seren raised his head and looked right at Diamond, but the king did not recognize him. "Such a beauty"
"Diamond" Seren said in a low voice. "Don't you recognize this face?" He pulled a dagger out of the pocket of the dress. "Prepare to die" His bandana fell off and Diamond paled.
"Who are you?" Diamond asked.
"Have you forgotten so quickly?" Seren asked. Diamond suddenly realized who she was.
"Seren...Serenity" He gasped out. She/he righted himself.
"Just Seren" He said roughly, pulling off the dress to reveal a shirt, tunic and slacks.
"So, your still alive!" Diamond said.
"A prince once called a girl, has come back a man" Seren declared. "I will not concede the crown" He held the dagger up to Diamond.
"You fool!" Diamond spat. "Guards come!" No one came, and Sapphire rushed in.
"There is no one left in the palace" He said firmly. Suddenly the doors flew open and Diamond entered with Zoicite and Jediete.
"Listen!" He commanded. Seren hid his face. "No resistence. If you obey, we will not take your lives" Darein told them. "This castle is under our control. we are hereby annexing the Moon onto Earth"
"Your majesty" Seren said stiffly. Darien turned to him.
"Seren!" He said in surprise. "I heard you were revealed to be Serenity, a girl and died in prison"
"I am not dead" Seren replied. "And as you can see, I am not a girl either" Darien frowned and turned to the generals.
"That means you are still king of this country" He said. Seren nodded. "Then I will fight you to the death" Seren gasped.
"Why?" Zoicite asked. "There's no need"
"Please forgive my selfishness" Darien said calmly. "I must defend my honor"
"There is no pride in winning such a duel" Jediete exclaimed. Darien shrugged.
"I must pick up a gold coin dropped in the mud. I must defeat this man and wipe the mud off that gold coin called "honor" He declared. Zoicite side and handed his sword to Seren. Seren took a deep breath, not wanting to fight Darien, but having no choice.