AN: Finally, the last chapter....tell me what you think, please!

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Overnight Delivery
Chapter 6
Rated PG
By April Rayne
Startear42@aol.com
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	Serenity's eyes widened as the palace came into view, it's 
marble glistening in the sunlight. So this was it. Take one step 
inside, and she would never see Endymion again. "Endymion..." he said 
nothing, only dismounting quietly along with her. Without so much as a 
glance at the gate guards, he walked by, uncharacteristically silent. 
It was there, in the courtyard, where one of the ladies of the court 
approached him, quizzically looking at his disheveled and formal attire 
before excusing herself and taking Serenity by the arm. She gently 
prodded her to come along. Eyes trying to plead with Endymion, she got 
no response other than a blank look. Blinking to stop the tears, she 
turned and followed the lady. "Goodbye, Endymion..."

	He stared, emotionless, as she disappeared into the palace. 
"Serenity..."

*******

	Endymion hung his head as he stood in the throne room. He had 
been quiet the entire morning since he had gotten back, and now he was 
going to meet the Moon Princess. Would Serenity be there?

	Serenity wiped a stray tear from her eye, straightening her 
skirts before falling into line, ready to make her first appearance in 
front of the Queen and King of Earth. She had not been able to 
concentrate the whole morning. Bunching the fabric in her hand, she 
realized how much she couldn't take being in her royal dress. She took 
the first step while her senshi watched her, confused because she had 
not mentioned anything about her travels. Her heart skipped a beat. 
Would Endymion be there?

	"I can't take this!" The prince cried, running a hand through 
his hair again.
	His parents looked at him worriedly. "Endymion?"
	"I need to see Serenity again. I need to see her..." he 
muttered incessantly.
	"I see you to have become close companions?"
	"No... I want her to stay..."
	"She's the princess' handmaiden, son."
	"Does that mean she can't try to be happy outside of the court? 
You always say that you shouldn't let anything stand in the way of your
happiness... even if there's a chance that it won't work out. I know 
that it would be impossible for her to stay... but this isn't the way! 
I'll talk to the Moon Princess, or the Queen if I have to! I may be a 
prince, but I'm also a man with a heart! Mother, Father... I've fallen 
in love with her! "

	Serenity's heart raced as she walked down the corridor before 
entering the throne room. She heard his voice, she swore to it. And did 
he just say...? Ignoring the gasps and questions arising from the four 
senshi that stood to her side, she picked up her skirts and ran ahead, 
wanting to see it with her eyes, to hear it with his voice, and to feel
his arms around her again... Her feet suddenly feeling like they had 
taken flight, she practically flew to the entrance, brushing past the 
open-mouthed guards. Her head swerved to look forward, only to see the 
royal family sitting at their seats, and a young man, wearing the royal
armor of the prince, standing facing them. "Endymion..." the name left 
her lips in a breathless whisper, her heart coming to a complete 
standstill when she realized that he was gone.
	But wait... As if her words had reached him, the prince turned 
around, his slowness driving Serenity insane.
	The same hair, the same smile, the same eyes of midnight blue 
that had caressed her with a gaze so gentle only an hour before...
	Her eyes widened, oblivious to the other couple in the room. 
"Endymion..."
	"Serenity..." Instead of running into his arms, as she had 
imagined, she slowly walked up to him, and he did the same to her, and 
they met in the center. Reaching up with delayed actions, she brushed 
his bangs out of his eyes, and trailed her fingers down his cheek. He 
took the hand against his face and brought it to rest upon his heart. 
Wordlessly, she fell into his embrace, pushing aside the questions that
had made their way to her.

	"Endymion..." the Queen murmured, "Endymion..."
	"I love her mother, and I can't let her go."
	"But my dear Prince Endymion, of course you cannot." The Royal 
couple moving up to the young girl, the king bowed while the queen 
curtsied. "We're pleased to finally meet you, Moon Princess... Princess
Serenity."
	Endymion looked down at her, and she closed her eyes. After a 
slight glow, the crescent moon insignia appeared on her forehead. 
Pulling herself from the embrace, Serenity formally curtsied, blushing 
at being caught this way, in this situation. 
	"And the 'meanie' prince of the Earth, Prince Endymion...But 
how?"
	"I suppose it is our turn to explain things," the King began 
with an embarrassed smile. Turning to bow at the senshi, which had just
arrived through the doorway, he continued. "As time passed by, we 
seemed to notice Endymion's initial reaction at our mentions of the 
Moon Princess. We didn't think Endymion rolling his eyes was a very 
good sign..."
	"So as we learned of your desire to visit the Earth, we came up
with an idea, which we helped complete with the help of Queen Serenity.
We knew that neither of you knew about each others names and 
appearances." Endymion's mother continued. "You would have a day 
amongst the people, and Endymion, without the title of Prince to hinder
 him, would escort you back to the palace for the formal greeting. But 
seeing as this was also part of Endymion's training, we had to throw in 
a few obstacles." Her gaze moved to the tired senshi and she smiled. 
	The King laughed. "Endymion, my boy, you passed with flying 
colors."
	"It was truly wicked to keep our identities from each other."
	"But look at the results," the Queen whispered with a wink.
	"You stood by your principles as a prince, and followed orders.
But you also realized that we're not restricted to that title, and that
sometimes you have to go against status quo and follow your heart." The
King smiled, proud of his son.

*
	Mercury sighed, and put a hand on Venus' shoulder. "You lost 
too, Venus," 
	She smiled. "Oh well, so we all failed the mission, big deal. 
Look how happy they are."
	"And how sore *we* are." Jupiter added.
	Still on the far side of the room, they watched as Endymion and
Serenity looked back at them with the strangest look in their eyes.
	"Do you think they know?"
	"Nah..."

*

	"The senshi and your generals helped with the plan," the King 
added slyly.
	"They did, did they?" The couple looking back and forth between
the four haggard senshi and each other, they smiled. 
	"Send a telegram to the generals for me," Endymion began, 
making sure the senshi were out of earshot. "Tell them they are to 
return immediately and deliver four packages for me, to Amortia...no 
catches..."
	"You're evil..." Serenity whispered quietly. 
	"But you still love me, hmm?"
	"Let me think it over," she added with a small smile, before 
she looked up to find his lips moving to meet hers.  

	Operation: Overnight Delivery - Complete


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End Overnight Delivery
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AN: Okay, so this didn't turn out to be a short story! So sue me =Þ 
Excuse my use of the word: dinky. Heh... It was preposterous. That's 
why I used it ^_^ Come up with a better one? And yes, I know that Endy 
does a lot of the rescuing here, but I guess the whole knight in 
shining armor thing has been getting to me lately. Gomen ^^  Hey at 
least it isn't come-in-at-the-last-second-and-throw-a-rose deal, 
although I do find it romantic ^^;;;

I have no choice but to use Usa's locket... back and forth, back and 
forth... @_@... Feedback...you will not rest until you have sent April 
feedback...

Heh ^^;

Overnight Delivery 3/2000