Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Silver Dreams ❯ Martial Weddings ( Chapter 7 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

It's now time for the (very hastily arranged) marriage ceremonies between the men of Earth and the Princesses of the Silver Alliance. Who will cooperate, and who will cause trouble?

Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 11.04.2005 | Updated On: 11.04.2005 | Pages: 2 | Words: 8.0K | Visits: 1.4K | Status: Work In Progress

A Word from the Author

Ok, first off, long time no see! Sorry for the long wait. Well (finally) here for your reading pleasure is the very next installment of Silver Dreams, Chapter 7 : Martial Weddings. But before we get underway, however, I have a couple of important things to address that have been brought up in some reviews these past few months. PRETTY PLEASE READ THROUGH THIS BEFORE ASKING ME ANYMORE QUESTIONS!

Firstly, a LOT of these questions can be answered by reading my Preface notes at the very beginning of this fic. To help some of those who don't like to read the whole thing, I went back and boldened the important parts. I hate to sound snarky, and I apologize if it sounds like it here, but it tends to get under my skin when I have people ask me something I've already answered two or three times before. To hopefully clear up any more confusion, I'm now going to address a few of them here.

All right, one of the recurring complaints I'm getting is that something that I've written is off-base from the Silver Millennium, that someone's not acting like they should, or characters are being introduced that should not exist in that timeline. My response - THIS IS NOTTHE SILVER MILLENNIUM. This fic is a complete Alternate Universe story. Alternate Universe means this has ALMOST NOTHINGTO DO WITH THE ORIGINAL PLOT of the manga/tv show. I'm simply taking the characters and plopping them down into my own story. The fact that I call the planetary coallition the “Silver Alliance” and that all the girls are princesses and the guys generals doesn't make this a “Silver Millennium” story.

Another complaint I've had is in reference to Serena / Princess Serenity's character. That she's too docile, too missish, not fiery enough or spunky. My response to that is this character is NOT Serena / Usagi Tsukino. She isn't a plucky, 14 year old Japanese school girl. This Serena was raised as a princess and therefore she's going to ACT like one. And before I get any flames or complaints as to why she seems so clueless about sex and whatnot, keep in mind that she is very sheltered and that she is being raised in a medieval-esque type of setting. In the course of the story, and as the characters develop more, she very well might start to show some of those adorable personality traits that we all know and love. But for right now, I've written her exactly as I want her to be written, so complaining to me about it is pointless.

Another question/complaint is the lack of Senshi Powers or that the girls seem to have no special abilities at all and are overshadowed by the guys. Right off the bat I can tell you there WILL NOT BE ANY SAILOR SENSHI in this fic. Sailor Scouts do not exist in this plot. This returns to the whole Alternate Universe thing. The girls do have abilities of their own, some more pronounced than others. For instance, Mina's pheremone thing and Raye's psychic abilities. And I'm also toying with another idea that might give them other powers as well, though to go into detail here would kinda ruin some of the plot, so I won't. However, do realize that the gaining of supernatural powers is not the main focus or drive of this fic, so don't look for it to be.

Next we have the complaint that Serena/Serenity and Endymion aren't getting enough of the spotlight. This was one of those things that was addressed in my preface. Silver Dreamswas meant as a mainly Inners/Gens pairing fic. As I wrote however, Serena began carving out a somewhat larger chunk of the spotlight for herself than I had originally intended, and at present I do plan to give her and Endymion a little bit of a tale within this one. However, it won't be nearly as long or involved as the other four couples because they were never meant to be main characters for this story. This is also part of the reason why they're falling in love so easily and quickly, so that their conflict is largely resolved so I can focus on the others. I'm sorry if you're a big Sere/Endy fan and that dissapoints you, but there are PLENTY of Sere/Endy fics out there for one to read if that is the case. It's why I tend to not write about them much, myself, as everyone else has already done and overdone it.

And now we come to the several complaints I've gotten about the bad guys of this fic. Ok, here's the deal. Not all evil entities are super geniuses. Some just have fairly average-to-dumb level intelligence with far too much power for theirs (or anyone else's) own good. Now, I haven't had a chance yet to really get in good to his character, but I will go ahead and state now that Chaos isn't interested in ruling overanyone or anything. He's out to maim, murder, destroy and cause ultimate havoc. He's psychotic and nearly omnipotent. That's why he's Chaos. Now, in Chaos' grand scheme, he wanted the planet Earth taken out first because, strategically, it was the only planet that did not need magic or technology to sustain life. It would be a textbook staging ground for his planned campaign against the Alliance, where his less-than-intelligent youma hoardes would not be required to do anything overly complicated in order to ensure that they remained alive while in residence. If we paid any attention in the prologue, we would realize that it wasn't Chaos who made the move to attack on two different fronts (thereby labling the baddies of this fic stupid and things overbalanced on the good-guy side). It was Beryl and her overeager, overconfidient stupidity that decided to attack the Alliance, for which she was being soundly punished for there at the end of Chapter 6. And the only excuse I've got for having Beryl give Chaos a blowjob there is that—at the time—it struck me as really funny. (shrug) However, it also helped establish that Chaos is a real asshole, something that I want to be most prevalent in everyone's minds. If things like that are too graphic for you, then you shouldn't be reading an M title. That's what the M rating means. I've also gotten a few complaints as to the bad guys not being developed enough. Well, my only answer to that is that I've just introduced them. Please allow for more than a small blurb at the end of a chapter to develop the antagonist's plotline. This fic is FAR from over yet, gals and gents.

I've gotten a few complaints as to the actions of Queen Serenity and the Silver Alliance turning their backs on Earth in the prologue ; that it was too harsh, that it didn't seem realistic for them to be doing so horrific and cruel a thing simply because they found Earthlings to be “barbaric.” Well, another reviewer put it in better words than I could have, and that is that the Silver Alliance very much so had a sort of “Master Race” complex going on at that time (and still does, to some extent). Earthlings were considered beneath them, less than equals, and therefore not worth risking their own lives to save. Yes it's cruel, but life often is. My AU Silver Alliance isn't necessarily as nice and flower-sweet as the one in the show/manga. Again, Alternate Universe here. That's what AU writing is all about. And besides, if I had the Silver Alliance rush in and save the day right in the friggin prologue, where would the rest of the story be? Lol Another reviewer asked if Serena and the other Princesses were unaware of what happened in the past. The answer is that Serena is clueless, because her mother has sheltered her shamelessly from the “real world.” She will be finding out through the course of the story, and it will be causing some tensions between herself and her mother. But we have to get to that part first. XD As for the other girls, they're all well aware of the past, but being raised in their largely prejudiced environments, many don't feel that their parents' actions were wrong, though that's only because they haven't been given a reason to think otherwise. Again, something that we will be addressing later on in the fic.

And finally, as for the Dark Moon Family and how they will fit in, you'll just have to wait and see. I'm not giving anything away here. Mostly because even I am not entirely sure of what they're going to be doing exactly and how they're going to affect things and relationships. I guess we'll all just have to wait and see, on that score.

And on that very long 3-paged note, please read on and continue reviewing the fic if that's your fancy. As much as I grouse, I do enjoy hearing your feedback, so don't be afraid to keep `em comin. It helps shape the direction of the fic and my own plot musings at times (like Aleric and that water basin idea. Still a gem. :D )

: Chapter 7 :

Martial Weddings

Serenity stood in front of the 3-section vanity mirror, staring at her reflection as it in turn stared back at her. She was dressed in one of her best white and pink gowns, the gossamer silk fabric floating around her dainty frame like a wisp of cloud. It was sleeveless, the bodice fitting snug around her torso and hips and then fanning out in a multi-layered chiffon silk skirt that dragged the floor by several feet behind her. The top edge of the bodice—which wound around her body beneath her arms and then angled low to the middle of her back—was rimmed in an inch of pink satin. A matching faux belt of the same color encircled her tiny waist, with a tiny bow in the front that was held in place by a diamond buckle. The layers of the skirt alternated between white and pink, the second and fourth layers in a matching shade of pale rose as the belt. Her slender arms were covered by white silk gloves that went all the way to her bicep, a stripe of the pink ribbon around her wrists. A string of diamond chips wound around her throat like a choker, the excess hanging down the back of her neck just a bit. A delicate but stately silver and diamond tiara—slightly smaller and less intricate than her mother's—was pinned into her hair and glittered almost daintily in the morning sunlight.

Currently her companion Diana was pulling her long blonde hair up into their usual buns, holding them in place by matching strings encrusted with diamonds and pearls. Serenity bit her lip slightly as Diana put the last finishing touches on her hair, wringing her hands nervously in front of her.

“Diana?” she suddenly murmured, causing the silver-haired changeling to pause in her work and give her a curious look in the mirror's reflection. “Do you . . . do you think I'm doing the right thing?”

Diana smirked. “You know it's not my place to say that,” she playfully responded. Serenity rolled her eyes and puffed out an annoyed sigh. Diana chuckled at that, then gently pulled her Princess's blonde hair back from over her bare shoulders and let the curls fall down to the her knees. “But if it was my place,” she then continued softly, “I'd tell you that your mother wouldn't have put you in this situation if she didn't think you would be able to handle it.”

“But marriage, Di!” Serenity protested, blue eyes wide. Perhaps it was only pre-wedding jitters, but with the thing suddenly only moments away, Serenity was suddenly feeling swamped with overwhelming feelings of unease and doubt. When she was with the charming and impossibly handsome Lord King of Earth, none of these worries even occurred to her. It was when they were apart however, like now, that those worries came crashing back with a vengeance. “I-I just met him yesterday,” she continued in a stricken tone. “I barely even know him, but I'm about to become his wife!”

“You would have had an arranged marriage eventually, Serena,” Diana countered gently. “And I doubt you would have gotten to know any of the others any better.” Serenity had to concede this point with another sigh. She continued to fidget for a moment longer and finally Diana reached out and grabbed her hands. Serenity turned to her and the Mauian squeezed them, red eyes warm. “What does your heart tell you, Serena?”

Serenity paused for a telling moment, and then very slowly her face broke into a soft smile. “That this is the right thing,” she confided, then she chuckled. “You're right, Diana. I chose to trust him yesterday, and there's no turning back now.” She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin, a determined glint coming into her eyes. “My marriage will save the lives of hundrends, maybe even thousands. And Endymion is a nice man. Kind. Gentle. He even asked me to be his partner,” she revealed, eyes twinkling with the novelty. “That he needed my help! The man has more power they say than Galaxia, the first Lunaran Queen and he asked for my help!”

“And of course, the fact that the man is disgustingly handsome is no nevermind?” her handmaid teased, which won her a blush and a smack in the arm. But Serena laughed with her, then sighed and shrugged.

“Just got a bit of cold feet there for a moment, I suppose.”

Diana giggled with her, then sighed too and shook her head. “I would too, if I had had to endure what you did this morning.”

At that Serenity blanched. “Don't remind me,” she groaned, turning away from the mirror at last and stepping off the small cushioned stool into the soft pink satin slippers that had been set near-by.

Earlier that morning, as Diana was busy getting things prepared and Serenity was partaking in a very light breakfast, her mother had come into her chambers to share a private moment with her before the chaos began. In that time the highly uncomfortable monarch did her best to fulfill a mother's duty and prepare her daughter for what she should expect tonight in her marriage bed. All three of them had been blushing and squirming by the end of the ordeal. Serena was—naturally—madly curious about what really took place between a man and a woman, but discussing such intimate things with one's mother was just too weird. Especially when her mother seemed just as embarrassed about it as she did. Finally Serenity had assured her mother that she knew all that she needed to and—visably relieved—the elder Serenity didn't press the issue and left again shortly after to make sure all preparations were continuing smoothly. In truth—from her mother's complicated and vague descriptions—the Princess knew no more than she had already, though she would rather continue to live on in complete ignorance than have to endure one more moment of that distinctly embarrassing torture.

There was a light rap on the door, then, and—after Serenity called for whomever it was to enter—it opened to reveal Diana's father Artemis. The pale-haired man smiled widely at seeing her.

“You look absolutely radient, Serena,” he murmured gently, then after a moment more of staring he seemed to remember himself and bowed. “It is time, Princess. Please follow me.” Serenity came forward at that and gently touched his arm. When he raised up to gaze at her questioningly she gave him a gentle smile.

“Please Artemis, no formalities today. You've been like a father to me all my life,” she continued, fighting the urge for tears by the barest of margins. “I would be very honored if you would continue to do so, today of all days.”

Behind them, Diana clasped her hands in front of her with a wide smile, red eyes gleaming with unshed tears. Artemis had to blink several times himself and clear his throat gruffly before he was able to nod an affirmative. He extended an elbow, which she gratefully put her arm through, and then the tall Mauian led her from her chambers with Diana trailing behind.

In due time they arrived into the large antechamber just outside of the Grand Hall. The other girls were already waiting on the arms of their escorts.

Princess Ami stood on the arm of her father King Harold. She wore a pale blue satin gown with wide straps over her pale shoulders and a square-cut décolleté that was modestly high. The waist was cinched in just below her breasts, and there the skirt split wide to reveal an even more pale blue—nearly white—chiffon underskirt. Both brushed the ground at her feet, but had no lengthy train. To accent her dress Ami had on a delicate silver necklace with a large sapphire pendant, several silver bracelets on her wrists and three matching earrings in each ear. Out of all of them, Ami appeared to be the least upset, though she wasn't completely relaxed by any means.

Princess Lita stood next to her tall and imposing father, King Theseus, her expression mutinous with only the slightest trace of unease and fear in her flashing green eyes. She wore a two-piece dress made of what looked to be the softest forest-green leather. The top was done in a corset style that melded to her frame like a second-skin, with a heart-shaped neckline and no sleeves. Either side beneath her breasts was ribbed in pale pink and tiny vines and roses were stitched in the front with the same color. The skirt was also narrow and form-fitting, tightest at her waist and thighs and then slowly fanning out at her feet. The skirt had matching stitching as the bodice that wound around the bottom and arced up on one side nearly to her hip. The only jewelry she wore were the rose quartz earrings in her ears. Her auburn hair was pulled up into it's usual tail by a delicate-looking silver clasp, the curls falling down to her bare shoulder-blades.

Princess Mina stood on the arm of some male Venusian official who was—as they all were—devestatingly attractive. He looked to be no older than Mina, and slightly uncomfortable at being there. The Princess's face was drawn and pale, blue eyes distant. Despite it Mina looked radiantly beautiful in a sleeveless pale yellow crimped satin gown that pooled the floor at her bare feet. The diaphanous and billowing material was cinched around her tiny frame haphazardly and seemingly held in place by a wide orangish-gold ribbon wrapped around her body. It began just above her breasts and then—crisscrossing here or there—wound it's way on a downward spiral to tie behind her at her thighs. Following Venusian tradition she wore nothing else, no shoes on her feet and no jewelry or ornamentation on her body. Her blonde hair was allowed to tumble freely down to her calves, loose and thick.

And finally Princess Raye stood on the arm of her father King Romulus, her expression scowling and rebellious as well. She wore—not a gown—but the traditional garb of her desert people. The top was a thin bit of scarlet red silk that was loose and almost poufy except where it was drawn in with banding of a darker shade of red, which made up the low-scooped circular neckline, the edges of the short sleeves and then the hem just below her breasts. All of her arms and much of her tanned, flat belly were bare. The skirt was an interesting affair altogether. The waist was of the same tight bit of dark red material that fit almost like a belt, following the curve of her hips and coming to a slight downward point in front. And then from that, hundreds of triangular-shaped pieces of red and pale violet silk fell to her ankles. Each piece was nearly transparent on it's own, though being layered as it was kept it from indecency. As she moved, the pieces of cloth would shift and part to show glimpses of her long legs and the delicate red slippers she wore on her feet. The only other adornment she wore was the thin gold chain that wound around her brow with the five gold dics, which proclaimed her royal status. Her sable black hair was allowed to tumble in a loose and in a wanton abandon down to her thighs.

Artemis led Serenity into the chamber and after Diana gave her a quick hug and a grin, she hurried in through the door. The brief glimpse inside before it shut again showed the enormous hall nearly stuffed to the brim with people. Serenity took in a deep breath to try and calm her suddenly frazzeled nerves again, fighting the urge to rub her suddenly damp palms down the side of her delicate skirts.

The girls said not a word to one another as they waited, the tension in the small antechamber being too thick for anyone to break comfortably.

And then the music playing within changed chords, and the double doors were thrown wide by the servants in place to do so. Artemis began forward, gently tugging Serenity. She plastered a soft smile on her face to hide her nervousness as she began down the long treck that would lead to the end of the Hall. The other princesses and their escorts fell into step behind her ; first Mina, then Ami, then Lita and finally Raye at the end.

Faces swam before her vision, and Serenity didn't think she recognized a single person in the oppressive crowd. Where had they all come from? We're at war, aren't we? she thought somewhat irrationally, the cold lump of fear settling in her belly. Shouldn't all these people be out doing something other than stare at me?

Then she caught sight of her mother, dressed in one of her most regal silver gowns, seated in the front row. The younger was stunned to see real tears glistening in her mother's gray eyes as the woman watched her pass by, her hands clasped before her mouth. Her mother never showed such emotion in public. The Queen gave her wide-eyed daughter a wobbily smile and a nod, however, and then she was past.

The seemingly endless hall finally ended, spilling out into a large half-circular clearing where five men and a young boy stood before a large altar of sorts. Lord King Endymion stood in the center, with Lord Malachite and Lord Nephrite to one side and then Lord Zoisite and Lord Jadeite to the other.

The younger boy, she had been told this morning by her mother, was High Priest Helios. He was Earth's highest ranking healer, which Serenity found somewhat amazing given the fact that he was no older than young Hotaru. He looked amazingly dignified in his ceremonial robes however, and there was a certain elegant air about him that kept him from looking as though he were merely a boy playing dress-up in his father's clothes. Helios stood slightly in back of the line of men waiting to receive them, his hands folded into his sleeves and his expression serene.

Reflecting the more militaristic Earth, the four Generals of Earth were all dressed in ceremonial silver half-armor over white leather, each decorated in their respective colors and etched with symbols that no doubt had something to do with their sacred posts—the four corners of the Earth. Serenity had the impression that they must be the traditional garb of their station, and each man looked more than dashing in it.

Endymion himself wore similar half-armor, though his was black plating over black leather, detailed exquisitely in gold with a large rose over the left side of his chest. The entire ensemble molded like a second-skin over his powerful frame, and Serenity found her breath snagging in her throat when she met those smiling midnight-blue eyes. Really, it should have been a crime to look that good.

Artemis continued leading her forward, until Serenity stood directly in front of the young Lord King of Earth and was forced to tilt her head all the way back to look the tall man in the eye. Standing toe to toe, the top of her head barely reached the line of his shoulders, her eyes staring level into the hollow of his throat. The other girls fanned out from behind her and were placed before their respective husbands-to-be, and then the escorts stepped back.

Each of the men placed the hand of their intended into the crook of their arms, then turned as one and faced Helios. Serenity's fingers clenched nervously into the soft black leather of Endymion's undergarment, swallowing loudly. Her mother had told her that—in deference to the men of Earth—their marriage ceremony would be reflecting Earthian traditions. This would involve a small benediction from Helios, followed by verbal binding vows spoken between them and then an exchange of rings, to be worn on her third left finger.

After they were all facing him and ready, Helios raised his arms and the vast hall slowly fell into a soft hush.

“Dear friends, new and old,” he began, smiling slightly, his chestnut eyes warm and kind. “We are gathered here today for a very momentus event. Not only for the joining of these ten remarkable people in marriage, but also the joining of all good and free peoples of our galaxy under one banner. To fight for freedom, for life, for our very existance in this universe. In the past years I have seen many deaths,” he announced softly, and Serenity could actually feel his pain, it was so deep. “I have guided many souls of my brethren and friends to the warm fields of Elysian, far too many. It is in their memory that I now raise my voice and my heart in song and hope, that today we take the first much needed and long-awaited step toward a brighter future. Filled with—not death and despair—but love and unity. For everyone involved.”

Serenity was suddenly fighting tears. She had the distinct feeling that Helios was speaking, not out of duty, but straight from the heart. The moment was broken, however, by a sneering voice that suddenly called, “Oh, c'mon Heely, cut the poetic crap and get down to the nitty gritty already. We're missin' the after party.”

Serenity and everyone else swung around to pin Jorowyn with a glare. He grinned back, unrepentant. That is until Diana—who was seated behind him—suddenly reached out and smacked the poorly-mannered Prince right in the back of the head. He jerked, then whirled and snarled something at her maid. Serenity was too far away to hear what they said, but after a moment or two of heated debate, Jorowyn swung back forward. He crossed his arms over his chest with a mutinus look and a few grumbled words beneath his breath while the silver-haired changeling also sat back in her own seat with a smug expression on her face.

When they turned back toward Helios, they saw the High Priest was giving the Phaetonian his own dark look. Serenity glanced at Endymion when the Lord King muttered, through clenched teeth and beneath his breath so that only she and those directly near him could hear, “I swear to Elysia, when this is over I'm going to wring his scrawny neck.”

Serenity's lips twitched, and she fought off the giggle that tried to errupt. Jadeite, on the far end, wasn't nearly so restrained, and chuckled softly before murmuring back, “you'll have to catch him first, Endy.”

Helios then cleared his throat loudly and ended the murmur of whispers and conversation that had started around the great hall again, then continued with his now damaged ceremony. The High Priest went on for several more minutes in his benediction, and now Serenity had the impression that the boy was spitefully drawing it out even longer just to spite the Phaetonian Prince. And then Helios finally turned to her, and Serenity realized with a start that she was going to have to go first. Her fingers tensed around Endymion's arm.

“Princess Serenity,” Helios murmured, “please repeat after me, if the words are what you truly feel.” She nodded, and he began. She repeated her vows, word for word.

“I, Serenity, Princess of the Kingdom of Lunara, do hereby swear to love, honor and cherish Endymion, Lord King of Earth, above all others until death us depart.” Helios nodded and smiled warmly when she had finished. He reached down and withdrew the white cloth that had been draped across the large altar before him, revealing that on the altar there rested five pairs of matching rings. The High Priest reached down and then handed her a thick gold band with vines and roses etched along the sides. Serenity and Endymion were told to face each other, and they did, and then the Lord King raised his left hand and Serenity took it. She bit her lip, trying to remember the words that her mother had drilled into her this morning.

With faintly trembling fingers, she raised the ring and touched it to his pointer finger. “With . . . with this ring, I thee wed,” she murmured, her voice whisper-soft and probably not able to be heard throughout the huge chamber. Though the one that counted most could hear her clearly, and he smiled tenderly at her nervous quaking. She moved the ring to touch his middle finger, and continued with, “and with my body, I thee honor.” Then she moved the ring to his third finger, which she then carefully pushed the heavy band onto it, where it fit perfectly. She finished her vows softly. “And all my worldy goods I thee endow.”

Then Serenity released his hand and let out a shakey sigh of relief, now that her biggest part in this was over. Endymion clenched his fist, as if experimenting with the new weight on his hand, then turned and obediently took the ring that Helios handed him. He then took her left hand and repeated the process she had done to him. She stared at the ring while he did so, a little awed by it. The band itself looked to be made of hundreds of entwining golden vines and leaves, and then at the top a delicate rose unfurled, and in the center rested a circular diamond nearly as large as her thumbnail. When he finally slipped the cool metal onto her ring finger, she gasped as she felt the thing automatically resize to fit her. So they were magic rings, as well. As soon as the ring resized, Serenity felt a soft tug within, like invisable strings slowly binding her and connecting her to the man before her. Apparently these vows were bound with more than the words and the promises she had given, as well.

Serenity was lost in her own thoughts, musing over this and all that had happened, while Helios repeated the exchanging of rings with the other four couples. And then all of a sudden the words, “you may kiss your bride,” broke through her inner musings. Serenity gasped, eyes wide, but by then it was too late to protest. Endymion had cupped her cheek in one hand and tilted her head back, and then his warm mouth was sealing over her own.

Her eyes squeezed shut, hands lifting of their own accord to brace against the cool metal of his chestplate, a slight noise of surprise escaping her. Endymion's sealing kiss was gentle, but insistant, his mouth rubbing against hers with almost promise of things to come and leaving tingling sparks of sensation in their wake. His thumb brushed across the curve of her cheek before he finally straightened again a moment later. Serenity had to work at it to open her eyes, shocked and even a little spellbound by the new and foreign, almost flighty feeling of burning anticipation that had completely taken over her body. He merely smiled down at her bemused expression, a knowing twinkle in his blue eyes that immediately put the blush back in her cheeks.

After a moment, Serenity suddenly became aware of the strained and uncomfortable silence that reigned in the room, and became aware that something wasn't right. She glanced around to discover that everyone else was staring to her left with varied expressions of shock and disbelief on their faces. When she turned around to see what everyone was gaping at, her own eyes widened to the size of saucers. Lord Jadeite and the Martian Princess were still locked into what looked to be a very steamy embrace, the kind where tongues were involved and everything. They were utterly silent, as if completely absorbed into what they were doing, and totally unaware of the hundreds of people now watching them. Lady Raye had her hands clenched into the shoulderplates of her husband, but it didn't look like she was fighting him off so much as holding him firmly in place. His hands were gripping her hips through her scarves with a white-knuckled grip, and didn't seem apt to let go any time soon.

After another moment of their passionate embrace, Zoisite—at his side—made a noise of disgust.

“Oh for Elysia's sake man, let the girl come up for some air at least!”

At the sound of his voice both of them abruptly tore apart, looking dazed and faintly disoriented, breathing fast and shallow. Lady Raye, after glancing around and realizing what she had been doing, gasped and her face turned a painful, mortified scarlet. Even Lord Jadeite seemed out of sorts, the hint of ruddy color stealing into the curve of his cheek as he brushed a nervous hand back through his unruly blonde curls.

Nephrite wasn't going to let a golden opprotunity to tease his fellow pass him by, and leaned in to mutter, “geez, Jade, a moment longer and we would've been forced to cover the priest's eyes,” then laughed heartily at the other man's dark glare.

After everyone was given a moment more to recover from the shocking display, the ruling monarchs of the five Kingdoms came forward. Her mother came to stand before Endymion, while King Hector came to stand before Lord Zoisite, Queen Psyche before Lord Malachite, King Theseus before Lord Nephrite and finally King Romulous before a still-blushing Lord Jadeite, who only got more uncomfortable under the man's steely-eyed stare.

Under Helios' direction, the rule of Lunara, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars was officially turned over to the men from Earth. Queen Serenity took the silver circlet from Luna, who stood at her side, and carefully fit it over Endymion's brow. The headpiece fit perfectly beside the golden one already in place there, enough so it actually appeared as one crown. As soon as she moved her hands away, there was a bright flash of light and then before their eyes the crescent moon marking—the symbol of Lunara—etched into the chestplate of his armor behind the rose. After Psyche clasped the wide gold band around Malachite's bicep, the symbol of Venus etched into the left breastplate of his armor. Once Theseus had fastened the large gold torque around Nephrite's neck, the symbol of Jupiter blazoned proudly onto the front of his armor. Hector reached into his pocket and withdrew a slender sheet of crystal, etched in runes and complicated machinery—the keycard that controlled Mercury's Centeral Computer—and after he reluctantly handed the powerful item over to Zoisite, the symbol of Mercury was etched into his breastplate as well.

Finally Romulus reached down and slowly withdrew the jeweled, curved dagger that was sheathed on his hip. Jadeite eyed the weapon nervously as the Martian leader hesitated, then finally turned the blade back on himself and presented the symbol of his kingdom to his daughter's husband. Jadeite took it with a visable sigh of relief and slumping of shoulders, to which Romulous chuckled unrepentantly. As soon as his fingers closed over the hilt, the planetary symbol of Mars burned to life across his chest.

In the next instant Endymion whirled toward the now politely applauding audience.

“Jorowyn!”

“He's already gone, my lord,” Artemis suddenly murmured, grinning. “Back through the transporter to Earth, to continue training the troops.”