PG13 History Will Not Repeat Itself Part Eleven: Loyalty by:Shell Presto Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any affiliated characters, Naoko Takeuchi does. I'm just borrowing them to keep the tale of an Earth prince and his Moon princess alive. Glossary: Nani/what He found her in the park, crying her crystaline eyes out. He knew why without even asking, she missed Mamoru. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Mamoru's absense was the cause of her tears. After all, she wouldn't cry for him. He approached her silently, placing his large hand on her shoulder as he sat on the grass next to her. She looked at him without a word, afraid to say his name, or her love's. Instead, she lifted herself off the grass slightly and hugged the man with a passionate instensity, letting all the concern and worry pour out of her in massive sobs. She didn't know how to tell him that she missed him, whoever he was. His absense caused her to realize that she didn't want him out of her life, far from it, she needed him. The worst part was, they still both had a significant other whom they loved more. Endymion greeted her with strong arms. He held her tightly against him, loaning silent support until her tears subsided. For a moment, they just sat, wrapped in each others' arms, looking over the moonlit grass. It seemed so quiet and perfect. They both wanted it to last forever. Unfortunately, this wasn't the time nor the place, Endymion had confronted her for business purposes, although now he wished it otherwise. He didn't have to speak up to gain her attention, she immediately noticed his loving demeanor change to one of brooding. It was when her eyes locked onto his face in concern that he announced his intentions. He was unable to face her as he did so, hating himself for making the request. "I have to talk to Sere." Usagi was shocked. She was finally opening herself to him and now... "Why!? I'm just as good as she is!" Endymion's eyes went wide with her exclamation. He felt guilty about his request already. Still, his heart prompted him to urgently explain, "I'm sorry. I wouldn't ask were it not important, but it is vital that I speak with her." "You can talk to me," she mumbled, suddenly playing with her fingers. He eyed her over skeptically, scratching the back of his head. "I don't think you'd understand..." She pleaded with him, "Just give me a chance. I can be very understanding." Smiling slightly, Endymion sighed. He could give her a chance, especially if it meant they could trust each other. The more he saw of her, the more he wanted to see. Slowly but surely, he knew they would eventually fall in love, for they could not be in the same time and not be with one another. After all, elements of both their loves were locked away within them, it was only a matter of time until they became noticable. Resting her head against his shoulder, Usagi felt it, too. "Please, Endymion, talk to me." He sighed, a long and deep breath filled with anxiety, as if he could force all the troubles out of his system. "I..." He didn't know how to put it. "There's a chance that I could.... reclaim my position..... if I had the Silver Imperium Crystal. I want you to.... loan it to me. I'll give it back if I can later, I promise, although I'm not sure if that's possible." "Na... Nani!?! Endymion," she gasped in shock. "You can't.... I can't just give you..." "I need it," he stated firmly. Kunzite watch from a safe distance, looking for any sign of Usagi's compliance. He prayed she would give up the crystal to Endymion, for if she didn't.... His hand was poised on the the hilt of his sword. "Why?" Usagi asked. "Who told you this?" He tried to choke it out so he wouldn't be heard. He failed miserably. "Beryl." "WHAT!?!" she shrieked, standing up. "There's no way I'll..." He quickly took her hands into his own. "Please, I know it's an unreliable source, but Kunzite is with her; he's assured me of her sincerity. Please, Usagi, this is my only chance to reclaim my kingdom, and I believe Kunzite." "He's the ENEMY!" Endymion was immediately taken aback. "That's not true," he retorted. "Kunzite wouldn't lie to me. You and I both know that." "It's different now! He tried to kill us!" "Maybe you just didn't give him a chance!" Endymion yelled. Usagi tried to outdo him, raising the volume, "You weren't there!" Endymion followed suit, "I didn't HAVE to be! I KNOW him!" "YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO USE CHOPSTICKS!!" she said it, instantly wishing she hadn't. Endymion didn't have a comeback for the low blow. Instead he just looked at her with a blank stare. Usagi brought her hand to her face, lightly biting her thumb. "I'm sorry," she mumbled. "I didn't mean that." He let his body relax as he fell into a sitting position on the grass once again. He did so a bit too fast, letting out a groan as he made contact with the damp ground. "It's okay," he assured her. "You're right. I don't know what I'm doing or what's been going on, but I DO know I want my kingdom back, and that I'd risk anything to have it." "Even the Earth you're trying to protect?" she asked, reclaiming her place at his side. He thought about it a moment, staring into space. His voice was cold when he answered, "Yes. It's only going to get worse if I don't do something." They fell into an awkward silence. Endymion decided. Little did he know Usagi had no intention of doing so. "I like you," he stated firmly, although in a soothing voice. "He gently grazed his fingertips over the back of her hand, which rested in the grass. "I like you a lot." Usagi's eyes widened as she blushed, the red hue furiously burning on her cream colored face. She spread her fingers so Endymion could interlock them with his, then simply gazed at their hands. She thought of how gentle he was, how passionate and strong. She knew the submissive side of him was only from his inexperience in the present. Usagi found herself trying to crack into the real Endymion whom she knew was hiding just behind the surface. She wanted her prince. Moreso, she began to think about what he said, and how she should reply. She wasn't sure if she should say anything at all, but the warmth shooting up her arm from where their skin touched was bidding her to do so. "I...." "GET DOWN!!!!!!" he yelled, tackling Usagi in a desperate attempt to get her out of the sword's path. He quickly shot his gaze to Kunzite while lifting Usagi to her feet, all the while keeping himself between them. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING!?!" "Stand back, Endymion," Kunzite warned. "You'll only get hurt by protecting her. It's Sailor Moon I'm after." "Sailor Moon?" Endymion repeated in confusion. "Who's Sailor...?" "Nevermind!" Kunzite shot back as he lunged at the couple, both of whom let out a scream. He tried his best to reach Usagi without hitting Endymion, but gave up when the prince kept interceding. Without armor or a sword, Endymion was royally screwed. He kept pushing Usagi back while making a human shield of himself, all the while trying to reason with his friend. "Kunzite, what are you doing!? I'm your prince remember!? You're supposed to take care of me!?" Not slowing as he answered, Kunzite used the conversation to take advanage of his former prince. "I serve only Queen Beryl. I'm sorry." As he spoke, the blade caught Endymion's shoulder, drawing blood and slicing muscle. It happened so fast the young man neither felt nor noticed it. "But we're friends! Surely that means something!" he pleaded with tearfilled eyes. By now Endymion was forcefully shoving his love, praying with all his heart she'd run away, save herself. Instead she stayed directly behind him. Kunzite slashed Endymion's thigh down to the bone. As he fell to his knees, the general replied, "It means I'll spare you if I can, if you stay out of my way." "Endymion!!" Usagi screeched as she watched the blood run from his wounds. She stopped moving out of sheer horror until Endymion began screaming for her to run. Without any other option, she took off for a small patch of trees and brush near the center of the park. Hungry for pursuit, Kunzite was about to bolt after the girl when Endymion caught his leg. "DON'T HURT HER!" he begged. His only answer was a sword swipe across his back, painful, but not fatal. Kunzite was about to teleport after his target when he found Sailor Moon running back towards the fray. "NOO!" Endymion screamed in wide eyed terror. "He's stronger than you, Sere! Get away while you still can!!!" His warning came to late, Sailor Moon found herself subject to a searing bolt of energy. It hit her dead center, burning her fuku and exposing her stomach. Kunzite lined up another blast when, to his surprise, Endymion stole the sword from his hand. Before Kunzite could turn, Endymion rammed the sword into his mentor's shoulder, burying it to the hilt. "Give up! Please!" he asked, not willing to mortally injure the man who raised him. Endymion couldn't fight anymore, he was too hurt. He doubted he could protect his princess at all. Luckily, his distraction gave Sailor Moon the perfect opportunity to use the crystal. she instructed it. As soon as the general felt the power enter him, a backlash of dark energy countered it. Still, it weakened him, and better yet, it put a notion in his head, reminding him what side he was supposed to be on. The fighting continued on. Kunzite blasted Sailor Moon once again, though the crystal took the brunt of it. Endymion tore the sword out of Kunzite's shoulder. "Remember who you were! You're the Head General of Earth! You don't have to follow Beryl! You can change. I know you can!" Still, he wasn't dumb, he brought the sword down over his mentor's arm. Much to his shock, Kunzite got a hold of Endymion's hands, and they fought each other for possession of the blade. "You're wrong!" he countered. "There's no turning back!" Brutally kicking the boy in the stomach, Kunzite reclaimed possession of the weapon. If only for an instant, Kunzite looked at his ward with guilt. He saw his prince, battered and bloody, on the ground before him, and still trying to help. Sailor Moon didn't know what to do. She thought Endymion had a plan. He had to have a plan. Kunzite had to listen to him. The remorse cleared from his eyes, Kunzite raised the sword over Endymion's body. "There's no turning back." "NO!!!!" Sailor Moon screamed, dashing for her love. "SAILOR PLANET ATTACK!!!!!" In a flash of blinding light, the general was gone, burnt to ashes from the awesome beam. The Senshi ran up to the couple, making sure both were alright. Holding her love's hand, it didn't even cross Sailor Moon's mind to heal the prince. His wounds were not as devastating as the look on his face. Endymion's jaw hung open. He couldn't blink even though tears spilled from his unmoving eyes. His breathing..... Sailor Moon didn't think he was breathing, more like choking. She pulled him up onto his knees, only to have him collapse in on her. She allowed him to, and held his head against her shoulder as he cried. Then her eyes joined his in leaking, tears streaming down her face. Kunzite, the man Endymion loved most, was dead. As the realization became more and more clear in his mind, Endymion tensed his arms around Sailor Moon. For the first time, he was sure, beyond any doubt, that things would work out between them. Even Kunzite's death, in it's tragedy, was bringing them closer together. To be continued.... Well? Like it or not? Tell me, okay? You won't believe how much email, good or bad, motivates me to write this story. It seems I only get email for this story when I don't write it, isn't that kinda pathetic? C'mon people! I know you're out there reading this! Drop me a line! ( mangetsu@email.com ) Sorry if I sound pushy, but really, the worst part about writing a story is when people don't read it. It really is a kick in the morale department. Well, that's enough from me. Drop by my website, I have a really cool pic for this story in the fanart section. I really think you would all like it, and I'd love some commentary on my artwork. Somewhat disgruntled although overall cheery and not at all chinchilaish (it's a long story), Shell Presto ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com