A Love So Strong:
A Love Story about Serena and Darien
A LOVE SO STRONG: SERENITY AND ENDYMION
Chapter 8
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The usual disclaimers still apply. I want to apologize for the very long wait of chapter 8. Thank you to all of you who have written to me about completing the story. Now on with the show!!
Two couples were window shopping admiring the many and expensive boutiques on Rodeo Drive. Lita, Maxfield, Raye, and Jonathan stopped in the Cartier Boutique and waved to the saleswoman to get her attention. Raye pointed to a 3- caret tennis bracelet with diamonds and rubies and put it on. Lita pointed to a 3-caret tennis bracelet with diamonds and emeralds and put hers on.
"Do you know the difference between men and women, Maxfield?" Raye asked with a twinkle in her eyes. Maxfield looked at Jonathan sensing a trap somewhere. Jonathan shrugged his shoulders indicating he didn't know what to say.
"No, what?" Maxfield said.
Raye and Lita looked at each other, showed off their bracelets, smiled and said, "We make these look GOOD!!"
Maxfield and Jonathan laughed and walked away from the women and their expensive tastes. Suddenly, the men sensed a magical energy surge and draining behind them. They both turn around and in the backroom of the boutique; they saw a diamond-studded creature, in human form. It was heading for Raye and Lita who were still admiring they jewelry in the showcase. The creature grabbed Raye and Lita and drained their energy while Maxfield and Jonathan looked on in horror. Maxfield suddenly growled and leaped into action shouting, "Green Wind Activate." Jonathan followed right behind Maxfield and shouted "Red Wind Activate." The diamond-studded creature turned around in confusion after hearing their call to battle. Green Wind then shouted, "Green Arrow Strike!" while Red Wind shouted, "Red Wind Flame!!" Both attacks combined to make a flaming red and green arrow flying directly toward the creature. The creature was surprised by their attack but easily deflected it.
"Well, well, well. Look at what we have here. Two wind bags with no power!!" Diamina stood there watching the two fighters and shaking her head. "Haven't you taken chemistry yet? You'll need more than what you've got to defeat me, and gentlemen, you won't defeat me!!"
There was a flash of light and a young woman appeared wearing a purple and white fuku holding a very sharp Glaive and said, "I wouldn't bet on it, who ever you are." She calmly walked up to the two ninjas and said, "Gentlemen, I'll take over. Take your ladies back to the ship for care."
Red Wind and Green looked at the Sailor of Death, Sailor Saturn, bowed and said, "Thank you Saturn!!"
Red Wind and Green Wind rushed to where Raye and Lita lay on the ground and took them to the ship for medical attention. Both Red Wind and Green Wind were very rattled talking to Sailor Saturn.
Sailor Saturn turned to the people in the store and said, "If you value your lives, you will leave NOW!!" The few remaining salespeople and customers left in a hurry.
Sailor Saturn turned towards Diamina and she was preparing to attack. Sailor Saturn began to twirl her Silence Glaive over her head and said, "I am Sailor Saturn, your Angel of Death. I will protect the kingdoms and you are in my way. Silence Glaive Vibrations!!" Sailor Saturn pointed her Glaive towards Diamina and the creature began to hum. Slowly the humming became louder and louder until the sound was piercing. Then there was a loud creaking sound and then Diamina shattered into millions of pieces. Sailor Saturn then picked up a tiny piece of the creature and said, "Diamonds are a girls' best friend, but not in this case." Then Sailor Saturn turned and walked back into the flash of light.
Back at the ship, Jonathan and Maxfield were sitting at the bedside of Raye and Lita. "The doctor said that right now what they both need is to rest. They're exhausted," said Maxfield.
"Man, I hope we get our ladies back soon. I can't stand not holding Raye like I used to. Would you believe, I even miss our fights because the making up was fantastic!!" said Jonathan.
"I know what you mean, Jon."
Maxfield leaned over Lita to whisper in her ear and said, "Love, please came to me. I love you so much that I'm dying inside without you. I only have half of you now. I need all of you to make me complete."
Jonathan kissed Raye's hand and leaned over and said, "I have loved you for a thousand years, Raye. I need to love you for two thousand more. Baby, please wake up and remember."
Princess Lita, princess of the planet Jupiter, signaled a footman to bring her a drink because she was hot and tired from dancing with many of the dignitaries from Earth and the Moon. **One thing I can say about these Earthmen, at least they're tall! ** "At least I've done what Queen Serenity instructed and that was to get acquainted with the people of Earth," she said to herself. While sipping her drink, Lita looked across the ballroom to see Lord Simone talking to his brother Lord Damien and then turn and leave. **I wonder why Lord Simone disobeyed the Queen's direct orders and came to Earth?" Then Lita followed his line of vision and she had her answer, the Crown Princess Serenity (Serena) and her now fiancé the Crown Prince Endymoin. Princess Serena and Prince Endymoin (but to those close to him, Darien) both looked miserable overlooking the crowded ballroom.
Their parents had a mixed look on their faces. Queen Serenity watched her daughter as she stood silently overlooking the dancing crowd and totally ignored her fiancé and refused to talk to her. While King Raytheon and Queen Gaia watched their son totally ignore his fiancée and barely acknowledged them. But both parents were relieved that the engagement of the prince and princess has been completed and when the time of darkness comes, their kingdoms would be ready and will prevail.
On the other side of the ballroom, Lord Nephlite watched Princess Lita. Nephlite was trying to think of how to get properly introduced to her. Nephlite was standing behind Princess Serenity and leaned over and asked, "Pardon me, Your Highness. I must beg a favor of you." Princess Serena turned and looked deep into Lord Nephlite's eyes and then moved away from the dais. Queen Serenity, the King and Queen of Earth, and Prince Darien all turned and watched Princess Serena walk away with Lord Nephlite. A little bit away from the dais, Princess Serena turned asking, "What is it I can do for you, Lord Nephlite?"
"I wish to be introduced to your bodyguard, Princess Lita," he said. She looked at him a moment and asked, "Why?"
"I have been admiring her from a distance and I would really like to get to know her better, if I could."
"What are your intentions toward my personal bodyguard?"
"For right now, I only wish to meet her and get to know her. Destiny can take care of the rest."
Princess Serena looked towards her friend and then looked back at Lord Nephlite and made a decision. "I will introduce you to her, on one condition."
"Ask it and I will do whatever to grant it," said Nephlite.
Princess Serena smiled and said, "I'm not much of a cook but ask her to give you her recipe for chocolate muffins. She won't tell me, but if you're good, she might tell you."
Lord Nephlite was surprised at her smile and replied, "I have a killer recipe chocolate chip cookies you might be interested in." They both began to walk towards Princess Lita and continued their conversation about food and recipes.
On their way to Lita, Princess Serena and Lord Nephlite met Princess Raye of Mars. "Raye what are you doing?" asked the princess.
Raye was looking like she was ready to exploded. "I'm keeping my promise to the Queen."
Princess Serena turned to Lord Nephlite and said," Would you excuse me for a moment?"
"Yes, of course Your Highness," Lord Nephlite said bowed and turned and walked away to give the princesses privacy.
Princess Serena turned back to her friend and said, "Now what promise did you make to my mother?"
"The promise not to get angry and destroy something or say anything that might reflect badly on the Moon Kingdom, you, or Mars," said Raye.
"But that's not possible for you!"
"Tell me about it! I'm doing everything I can to not go over there where Lord Jadite is and pound him into the ground for not allowing me to participate in the mock battle earlier today. Do you know what he said about me, Serena? He is said I wasn't a warrior like the sailor scouts. But I tried to tell him that I am a sailor scout and all he did was laugh and kick me off the battlefield."
Serena smiled at her angry friend and said, "I know how to prove you are a sailor scout and it will help you blow off some steam. Why don't we practice tomorrow privately and sharpen our skills."
Raye frowned. "Do you and the Prince has a diplomatic ceremony tomorrow."
"Yes, but I'm hoping it doesn't take to long. I want to limit my exposure to him as much as possible."
"But, wait a minute Serena. I thought for a moment, earlier you found him attractive."
"I did and I guess he is kind of cute. But the fact of the matter is, I love Simone and I want to marry Simone. I don't know how but I will marry him. Prince Darien doesn't want to marry me either, you know. He wanted the opportunity to choose his own mate and not have destiny or legends controlling his life. We both agree on that point. Enough talking about my problems, tomorrow we fight and may Selene help the loser. Deal?"
Raye smiled. "Deal."
Princess Serena walked towards where Lord Nephlite was standing and motioned for him to follow her. Princess Lita was standing near a column close to the balcony when Princess Serena and Lord Nephlite arrived. The night wind was warm and carried a fragrance of gardenias and citrus. The moon was full and bright and the sky was clear. Lita saw them and bowed to her Princess and her companion.
"Princess Serena, how are you enjoying the reception so far?" asked Princess Lita.
"I'm having a good time, Lita. Princess Lita I would like to introduce to you Prince Endymion's personal bodyguard, Lord Nephlite. Lord Nephlite, may I introduce to you the powerful Princess of Jupiter and my personal bodyguard, Princess Lita."
"It's an honor to meet you Lord Nephlite and may I say that Earth is a beautiful planet?"
"Princess Lita, I am the one who is honored who can make fantastic chocolate muffins, or so I'm told....."
Princess Serena quietly walked away from the couple and onto the balcony and looked up to the moon. A silent tear fell from her eye and rolled down her cheek. She slowly shook her head and thought of her friends and silently smiled to herself and said, "Damn, I'm good!"
End of Chapter 8
May, 2001