THE FOUR LOVERS: DEEP IN THE HEART

                         CHAPTER FOUR
                       The Last Pieces
 "Princess, what's that light?"
 Serenity was thrown back to reality by Endymion's voice,
sounding strangely strained.  He'd stopped a foot or so in
front of her, and as her eyes glided over his figure she
allowed herself, 
 
  she thought, then replied, "What
light?"
 "That one," he replied, gesturing with his arm toward a
silver spangle of light that crept onto the cave floor. 
"And doesn't it seem lighter in here?" 
 She dimmed the locket, eyes widening.  "It is, Prince...it
is!" she gasped softly.  "Shall we go see what lies around
the bend."
 "Certainly, Princess," he replied, unsheathing his sword. 
"If I may..."
 "Of course, Prince," she replied, and he took the point,
body going rigid.  Slowly he crept forward, she gliding
after him, her feet seemingly barely skimming the floor.
 The next few moments were tension filled and nearly
unbearable, not just because of the mystery, but because the
slow pace and boring walls led Serenity's eyes back to
Endymion--always.  And try as she might, she could NOT stop
staring at him.  As the glimmers of silver glowed brighter,
details once shaded by the muted glow of her locket emerged
boldly; had he turned back, he might have seen the rising
blush on her cheeks.  However, he was concentrating on being
careful and taking the proper percautions, almost glad to
take his mind off the Serenity puzzle.  It had stumped him
all afternoon, or what he thought was afternoon--how time
passed by down here seemed much different than how it passed
on the surface.  Why the mood change?  He remembered to the
times when she come to greet him on his arrivals, the
traditions cleanly observed...until she pulled him around
the corner for a hug.  He cherished those memories, and that
Serenity, and the one from that Saturn moon--but this one
was too different.  He wasn't even sure if he'd fallen down
the hole with the Moon Princess, except that she'd clipped
her hair up again into the traditional style.  
 She sighed behind him as the silver light grew brighter,
and they crept forward more, until Endymion suddenly dropped
his sword.
 "Loh," he whispered, not sure what he wanted to say; it
didn't matter, his tongue had frozen anyway.  
 "Prince, what is it?"
 Nothing.  
 "Endymion?"
 Still nothing.  So she followed her impetues side, and came
to his side...and gaped.
 The tunnel had formally been made of rough hewn, dark rock;
now, though, it blended into silvery, crystal rock, glowing,
shining, a miracle in stonework not ever again to be
witnessed.  The two stood, stunned, looking wide eyed and
gaping at it, until Serenity breathed, "It's magnificent. 
Incredible."
 "Almost as much as you," he replied slowly, unable to
restrain the praise.
 "You'd give a girl an ego, Ion," she replied, charging his
heart with her use of the familar.  She even offered him a
brief smile, then stepped forward, away from him.
 "Serenity...."
 "Shhh...Ion, it's all right," she whispered.  "Something
tells me its all right."  Her slim, white hand slipped
through the darkness to touch a nearby crystal.  Softly, the
stone began to buzz a sweet, high note at her, a D in her
mind.  She closed her eyes, and smiled softly, and the music
seemed to radiate through her.  
 "Ion....come here..." she whispered.
 Unable to refuse her, he stepped forward to place his hand
beside hers. The crystal abruptly gave off another note, low
and soft, which blended into the previous.
  she though.    Swiftly, like the clashing of
a scratchy violin in the world's best orchestra, her
thoughts came crashing down, and she remembered who she was,
what she was, and who waited for her above.  Her mind
tightened, eyes opening, and now abruptly she said,
"Endymion, please step away."
 The soft voice grated slightly on him, and with delibrate
stiffness he pulled his hand from the stone.   he thought.  He watched her carefully now; she closed
her eyes once more, and seemed to concentrate very hard on
something.  Suddenly, the crystal gave off a low, buzzing
note that clashed with the smooth beauty it sang for her. 
She opened her eyes and grimaced, then moved away, head low. 
He followed, puzzled, not knowing the distressing news the
crystal had sung for her.  
 "Serenity, what's wrong?" Endymion asked, concern overiding
judgement.  
 "Wha..? Oh, Prince Endymion, it's nothing.  Do not trouble
yourself with it," she replied, slipping into the formal
once again with ungraceful ease.
 His teeth gritted, his fists clenched.  
 "No, Serenity....Nity.  I'm not going to be brushed
off..again," he said, voice rising from their quiet and eyes
brightening.  "Understand?  Please, tell me what's wrong; as
your friend, I implore you."
 She stopped in her tracks, and turned.  "I cannot, Prince,"
she responded.  "It would...it would not be right."
 "Fine.  If you won't tell me freely, I'll make you," he
said, eyes glistening and face set.  Her own eyes widened as
his voice raised, saying, "I invoke your solemn oath to me
that you'd never keep anything from me that troubled you." 
Dipping into almost a whisper, he added, "Please Serenity--
I'm trying to help.  As your friend."
 She still let out a gasp.  Some time ago, when she felt
that her Senshi would never be able to join with their
lovers (due to growing tensions between the Earth and the
Moon), she'd become extremely depressed.  No one could
figure out why, not even Venus, and she refused to utter a
word, feeling secretive and stupid at the same time. 
Finally, Endymion, when he visited again, was able to pry
out of her the reason she was so unhappy.   The release
accompanied by her confession elated her so much that she
promised never to do hide anything again, especially from
him.  Now he invoked that--and forced another, deeper
confession from her.
 "Ion...Ion, please, don't make me do this!" she pleaded.
 "I need to know why you hate me, Serenity," he responded
calmly.  "And why you've kept me at an arm's length."
  she thought desperately, sinking against a
wall and turning away from him.   She felt herself
slump more, and emotional distress seemed to overwhelm her.
 For, you see, Serenity had discovered that she was, indeed,
in love with Endymion.  Madly, passionately, overwhelmingly
in love with him.  And in that moment, her passion for Priam
vanished like a puff of smoke.  
 She opened her eyes.  She looked back at him, pleading
silently.  But his own eyes met hers with a firm gaze, and
stopped all thoughts of escape.
 "I'm...I'm feeling marriage doubts.  I said yes, meaning to
go through with it," she paused slightly, centered, and
plunged ahead, "but then I met you.  You started as a
friend, and yet, suddenly, you've become so much greater
than a friend.  I...I love you, Endymion.  I have, it seems,
ever since our first meeting.  I just never realized it."
Her head drooped, his own stunned look releasing her from
the grip of his eyes.  A bitter tear dripped down her face. 
"However, I'm engaged to Praim.  I found as long as I was
with you and someone else, or just being watched by you, I
was okay."  She swallowed, and took another breath.  "But
down here, I realized how much you much you are to me, how
much I've missed you being close to you.  How much I love
you..." her voice grew softy.." and the stones just told me
that Priam is dissonant with me, while you match perfectly. 
So now, Endymion, that I've poured out my troubles, what in
Sol's fire do I do?" Her last words flew out to him on a
wave of dispair and anguish, and she fell against the wall
again.
 He was shocked--she LOVED him?  His on sided affection had
TWO sides?  Why had he never suspected that she could,
WOULD, love him?  She, finding a bitter and harsh (it
seemed, at least) on his face, collapsed even further into
herself, hands coming to her face as she slid down the
crystalline wall, tears flowing.
 Suddenly, strong arms hoisted her to her feet, and pulled
her close.  Instantly she was bathed in the familar feel of
him--his arms, his scent, in the warmth that accompanied
him.  She sobbed against him, the anguish of the situation
wetting the area over his heart.  He lifted his head,
feeling his pain over the seperation and hers merge, then
gently relaxed his grip, letting her away from him.  One
hand gently lifted her chin up, and he gazed into her
bright, tear filled eyes for a moment before asking, "Do you
want to know how I feel?"
 "Wha...what..Ion, no.  I didn't want your pity then--I
don't want it now.  Besides, there is nothing you could say
that would ease my troubled heart."
 "Serenity," he chuckled.  "My beautiful Serenity, I don't
pity you! I love you."
 Her eyes widened, and she suddenly found his hand--as if
trying to prove he was real--and clasped it tightly. 
"You...you really love me?" she asked, her voice nothing but
a bewildered whisper.
 "Serenity," he said lowly, 'do you remember the rose you
gave me?"  When she nodded, he continued, "I still have it,
because it reminds me of the happiest days of my life--and
the saddest by far.  It was then that I relized I was
falling in love with you, and it's only deepened since."
 "You...you love me! You do love me!" she exclaimed.  "Oh
Ion...I thought you felt that we were just friends--I even
thought you were with someone else! I thought that if I
trold you, or even a General, that you'd think that I was
some sort of...I don't know, witch?  Someone trying to throw
the Sea and Earth into internal conflict!"
 "No, no, not at all," he said.  "Priam and I have always
been at war--and these last months, you were his victory.  I
think he knew before anbyone else that we...loved each
other."
 "Priam...Ion, what ABOUT Priam? Can I...is it legal to
break off a royal engagement?"
 "It depends," he answered seriously.
 "On what?"
 "On whether you would do it freely, under no diress, by
your own will, etc. etc."
 She looked quietly at him, then replied softly, "For you? 
I'd give my life for you.  I love you that much."
 "Serenity..." he whispered.  "My Serenity." Hand still
clasped in hers, he leaned down to her uplifted face and
gently kissed her.
 At first, she seemed to balk; then, swiftly, sweetly, she
returned the kiss.  It was something incredible to her, the
love that burst from the gentle pressure of his lips against
hers.  It seemed to reach inside her, touching her heart and
soothing her soul, giving a part of itself to ease any pain
there.  The cave, her beauty, her mother's, the
Senshi's...none could surpass the beauty in this simple show
of love.
 Breaking off, he searched her face.  Her eyes were closed
for a second, then flickered open to reveal beautiful,
mystical, incredible blue depths.  
 "I love you," he said.
 "I love you, too," she responded in a hushed voice.  Then,
"It's so odd.  Priam never kissed me before--at least,
nothing more than platonic. I mean, he was lovable--but just
not loving."
 He grinned instantly, then gently said, "Serenity, I think
there are a few things you should know about your former
fiancé."

*	*	*	*
 The Generals and Senshi were on their way towards the hall
were Thren lived when Endymion and Serenity came to the
surface.
 The morning fog--for there had been more day and a night
since their discovery--had yet to burn off, and the mists
swirled in mystical, crystalline shapes around them.  To the
group, it seemed something deliciously magical would happen
soon, a surprise none of them expected.
 They were about to enter the hall when suddenly Mars and
Nephrite stopped.  They exchanged glances, then looked
around.  Nothing.  
 "What is it?" Venus asked, eyes questioning.
 "Nephrite, what's wrong?" Kunzite asked, his question on
the heels of hers.
 "I felt something," Nephrite replied.
 "You too?  Like a tingle?" Mars asked.
 "Yea, that's it.  A premonition of some sort," he said.
 "Is it something evil?" Jaedite inquired.
 "No...I don't think..." Mars began, but suddenly Nephrite
shouted, "ENDYMION!!!"
 "What? Huh? Where!" Kunzite called out.
 "Here, Kunzite! We're over here!" said the Prince, waving
his arm as they emerged from the fog on the farther side of
the wing. 
 "Serenity!" called Venus, and she and Jupiter took off for
them, followed closely by the Generals and remaining Senshi. 
The Princess smiled and laughed as the two women ran up to
her and scooped her up, hugging her joyfully.
 "We have you been!" Jupiter demanded.
 "Set me down!" she cried out in reply, and once her feet
touched the ground, said, "Underground.  There are these
tunnels beneath the surface that led out to the edge of the
plain."
 "We just followed them," Endymion added. 
 The Generals swarmed him immediately, hugs, clapping on his
back, shaking his hand, and general examinations going on
all at the same time.  He laughed loudly, and long, and
tried to swat them off.
 "Well, at least your both in one piece," Zoicite said.
 "It was your turn to come back bloody," Mercury whispered
to Endymion when she could get ahold of his ear.  He smiled
softly and painfully at her, so she quickly added, "But we
are all relieved that you are not in such a shape.  Welcome
back."
 "Priam!" Mars said, clapping a hand to her head.  "We have
to find him! I'm sure he'll want to know you're all right."
 "Hold, Senshi, Generals," Endymion ordered, and they
stopped any movement they'd made toward Priam or strangeling
Mars.  He took back Serenity's hand, and strongly said,
"Give us some time."
 Immediate silence for two seconds.  Then, in one loud,
racous cry, the eight people cheered loudly.
 "FINALLY!"
 "What took you so long?"
 "Yippee!" 
 "This is wonderful!"
 "Congratulations!" 
 "Good job, Prince!"
 "Way to go, Serenity!" 
 "What is all this racket?" 
 All turned, their cries dying down as they saw Priam
striding through the mist, wearing his purple cape and
carrying his sword.  His eyes seemed to light as he saw
Serenity standing there; that is, until he saw her hand in
Endymion's.  
 "Serenity! Love, welcome back!" he cried out, stepping
forward--then stopping when she made no move, and her face
seemed to fall.
 Endymion looked down to her, and she seemed to draw
strength from his glance before dislodging her hand from his
and stepping to him.  "Priam, I have something to say to
you."
 "Yes, love?"
 "Priam, some months ago, you asked me to marry you, and I
said yes.  However, I find that this union between our
peoples cannot prosper, and therefore I hearby dissolve our
engagement." 
 His eyes hardened, and darted to Endymion, before turning
back to her.  His mouth opened to speak, perhaps question,
and all that came out of it was a shrill scream.
 "Wha...?" someone said as Thren Orndike appeared, looking
like a vengeful wraith, a glowing brown dagger in his hand. 
"TRAITOR!!!" he yelled before running forward, toward the
Prince, dagger raised high and ready to stab.
 "No, you fool!" Priam cried out, white burst appearing in
his hand.  It flew out to struck Thren full, and he began to
choke on a yellowish-green vapor that radiated from his
chest, falling to his knees.  Still, the man came to his
feet, and again Priam showered him in his power, steel grey
flecks flying out to splatter golden-brown against the man's
pale skin.  
 And yet the man kept coming, crossing another distance as
Priam created another burst, again of the yellowish-green
vapor.  And it was then that Venus began to cough, and
Zoicite cried out, "That's chlorine gas!"
 And still the man kept coming, his knife dripping a red-
brown liquid, a halo of the same color surronding it and his
hand.  Kunzite and Nephrite stepped forward to block his
path, to slow him, as Mars and Mercury began to form their
powers.  
 "Get out of the way, you land boggled idiots! You cannot
face a person of the Sea!" Priam yelled.
 The Generals retracted, the Senshi powered down, and all
were stunned except the man with the red-brown dagger who
kept running toward Priam.  
 It took another blast of more chlorine and another gas and
a few gust of typhoon-like winds to knock the man to the
ground.  He seemed to fall upon his own knife, and red began
to leak all over the ground.  
 Priam turned back to address Serenity again, and found her
on her knees, coughing, Endymion patiently kneeling near
her. "Step away, cousin," he said, teeth gritted.
 "No....he will ..stay!" Serenity said, and
his eyes glowed violet, the hue seemingly spilling out of
his sockets and across his face.  
 "Cousin..." he growled.
 "If the lady bids me to stay then I will stay," Endymion
replied, helping her up, eyes concerned.
 "The lady appears not to be in her right mind right now,"
Priam said.
 "Do not say that about Serenity!" Venus yelled, eyes
flashing, moving to block his view of the Prince and
Princess.  
 "Get out of my way, wench," Priam retorted as if he was
pressed for time.  "I want to speak with the Princess!"
 "The Princess will speak with you if she wishes to," Venus
replied.
 "And do not refer to the Lady as a wench," Kunzite growled.
 "Peace!" Serenity called.  "Priam, I have dissolved our
agreement--take it like a Prince."
 "YOU ARE CRAZY! YOU STUPID...." but his voice shot into a
scream as the dagger plunged into his shoulder, red-brown
leaking all over his body, into the wound.  Thren raised the
dagger and stabbed him again, in the back, and he screamed,
falling.  Thren fell as well, his strength gone with the
stroke.  
 Zoicite and Mercury came to his side, and both shook their
heads. "Bromine poisoning," said Zoicite.
 "He will be dead in minutes," Mercury added.
 "Serenity...Serenity..." the man gasped, raising slightly
and pulling himself toward her.  "I will...you never...gave
me...my chance....I will...get my chance!"
 And with those words, he died.

*	*	*	*
 The days were long ones following, with Priam's funeral and
the trial and funeral of Thren Orndike, who died of a
massive systems failure while imprisoned.  He died, though,
with a blissful smile on his face.
 It was a week before Serenity and her Senshi could meet
with Endymion and his Generals in a secluded part of the
Gardens.  She was resplendant; he was handsome; both General
and Senshi were so excited they nearly glowed through their
uniforms. 
 The two met in the middle in a hug, and then Endymion sunk
to his knees.  "Serenity, my love," he whispered, "will you
marry me?"
 "Gladly, my love.  With all my heart," she replied, and
both smiled.  He rose, and took her in his arms, and kissed
her passionately, and both Senshi and General cheered.
 And happiness reigned for a little while.

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/shrine/1721