Betrothed Chapter 8
Rating: PG-13
Author: Patch
E-mail: patchkhan1@hotmail.com

2 Weeks Later, the Moon Palace

	"Hey lovebirds! Break it up!"
	Serena gasped and quickly tried to pull away
from Darien but he wouldn't let her go and continued to kiss
her.
	"Darien," she mumbled in between their kisses.
	"Let them wait," he replied and brought her even
closer to him.
	Serena had come out of a room after meeting with
someone and had found him leaning against the wall, a boyish
air around him. She had asked Darien what he was doing and
he had then proceeded to pull her against him and kiss the
breath out of her.
	"I think you would find this of great interest, Serena,"
it was Lita.
	"Darien, this might be important," Serena said, trying
to pull his arms from around her waist.
	"You are far more important, love," Darien whispered
against her lips and smiled when she stopped her efforts and
leaned into him to kiss him for that comment.
	"You distract me Endymion, Prince of Earth, but no
more!" Serena said after ending the kiss, then turned around in his
arms, so that she was leaning against him. "I'm sorry Lita, but
Darien has not learned to keep his *ahem* passions in check."
	"Speak for yourself, Princess," he whispered against
her ear.
	"I understand Serena, and I wouldn't have bothered
you but the others and I decided that you would want to come
join us in a mock fight."
	Serena's eyes immediately held great interest and she
leaned forward, "A mock fight? You mean with swords and
magic? Of course I would love to join! Oh it's been so long, I'm
sure we're all just a bit rusty and this would be good for all of us."
	"Probably a bit more than just rusty," Darien
mumbled.
	Serena turned around to look at him, her eyes
narrowing. "Excuse me? Just what are you implying?"
	"Nothing," he answered, a look of innocent on his face.
	"Hey Serena, I've got a great idea, why not invite the
oh so great Darien and his Generals to fight against us?"
	"That's a brilliant idea! What do you say, husband
o' mine, think you're up to it?"
	"Why not, I'm sure we could all use the exercise," he
replied lazily.
	"And I will beat you in a game of swords!"
	"We'll see."

	"Well, are we all here and accounted for?" Raye asked,
her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
	"Looks like it," Darien answered.
	"Hey, I thought we were having a sword fight, how
come you ladies don't have any swords?" Zoicite asked.
	"They'll probably chant something and they'll appear out
of thin air," Jadeite drawled and the men laughed.
	Serena grinned and then turned to wink at the girls, who
nodded their heads, grinning also. "Ready?" she asked.
	"Ready," they chorused.
	"Jupiter Planet Power!"
"Mars Planet Power!"
	"Mercury Planet Power!"
	"Venus Planet Power!"
	"Moon Eternal Power!"
	The Generals and their Prince had stopped laughing a
long time ago and now stood with their mouths open. There, before
them, stood their ladies, four wearing unbelievably short skirts, all
five holding swords that looked quite lethal.
	"This is cheating," Nephrite groaned, "I'm going to be
distracted by your bare legs, Lita."
	"I suggest that you keep your eyes to our faces,
gentleman," Serena said, laughing.
	"How come you didn't change Serena?" Darien asked,
still stunned at the transformations he had just witnessed.
	Serena unabashedly replied, "Oh Darling, I'm perfect
as I am, I don't have to change."
	Darien blinked and then chuckled, drawing his sword
before him, "Well then, let's get started."
	"The rules are basically this: I assume we will be paired
up, there will be five groups, the fight ends when one yells mercy
from each group. Oh and gentleman, please don't be kind, fight as
you would normally fight," Mina said, and then bringing her sword
in front of her, she yelled, "Fight!"
	The sound of steel hitting steel filled the training room
as sparks sometimes flew on some of the impacts.
	"God Amy, I never knew," Zoicite huffed.
	"Know what?"
	"Who would've thought that sweet Lady Amy knew
how to handle a sword," he said grinning.
	"I will take that as an insult!" and she swung her sword
low, towards his knees, causing Zoicite to yelp and jump. "Don't
underestimate me, love," she said sweetly, "or you'll be sorry."
	"Are you sure you won't trip on that dress of yours
Serena?" Darien asked, his sword clashing with hers.
	"Would you rather I bare my legs to your handsome
Generals?"
	It took Darien a minute to react. He growled and his eyes
turned dark. "Do that and I'll swing you over my shoulder and take
you out of this room."
	"You do that and I'll slap my sword on your backside as
you carry me out."
	The groups continued to fight until yells of mercy were
heard throughout. Everyone began to stop, however the results were
somewhat strange.  Amy had Zoicite pinned and so did Raye. Darien
and Kunzite had won against Serena and Mina, respectively.
However Lita and Nephrite still had their swords up against each
other. Neither was ready to give up yet and Mina began laughing.
	"It's a tie!" she declared and it was then that the two
pulled their swords away.
	"Don't look so glum, love," Darien said, bringing his wife
up against his side, "I'll help you improve."
	"Oh don't bother," Serena replied, then looked at
everyone, "He still has to improve *his* sword skills if you get my
gist."
	The room erupted in laughter as Darien looked at
Serena with a look that said I'll get you later.
	"Your Highness."
	The laughter died down and everyone looked towards
the doors where a footman stood.
	"Princess Serenity, you have someone awaiting you in
the Moon Solar. They say it is urgent."
	"I'll be right there," Serena said and then turned to the
group, "You can't start again without me!"
	"We promise," Amy said.
	"Do you want me to come with you?" Darien asked.
	"No, I think I'll be alright. I'll see you all soon."
	She walked out closing the doors to the training room
behind her. As she walked to the Solar she couldn't help but smile
widely. The day was perfect.
	As she stepped into the room, she frowned and
corrected herself. The day was not perfect. There in the middle of
the room stood Lady Carissa, smiling.
	That could not be good, she thought. "What do you
want and how did you get here?"
	"Your Highness, such manners, I would never expect
such hostility coming from a princess such as yourself."
	"Oh please, you don't deserve my kindness Carissa.
Now please explain as to what you are doing here."
	"Well, I've heard so many people say the Moon is
such a wonderful place to visit so I just had to come and getting
here was no problem. Now, as to why I'm here I'm sure you'll be
very interested to know."
	"Oh really? And why is that?"
	"Are you happy Serenity? Are you happy with Endy?"
	"What kind of questions are those?" Serena snapped.
	"Oh Serenity, you are such an innocent in this game,
I pity you."
	"What are you talking about Carissa? What games
are you trying to play?"
	"Oh, I'm not playing any games. Did you know your
betrothal to Endymion was fake?"
	"That's a lie! We were betrothed when I was eight
and he was twelve."
	"Really? Tell me Serenity, do you remember this
betrothal of yours?"
	"I don't have to answer these questions. Please leave
Carissa."
	"Oh, I'm not leaving, not until you know the truth. I'm
quite sure you don't remember it at all. Do you know why?
Because it never happened! It was all made up! Two months before
Endymion came to the Moon was when your parents had decided
to come up with this phony arrangement. And it's quite easy to see
why. You are independent and you listen to no one, do you think
you would have agreed to a marriage that had no ties to it? Would
you have married a complete stranger just because your mother
asked you to? Of course not! However, if there were a catch, a
commitment, say, a betrothal, then you would be obligated to
marry this total stranger. Don't you see Serenity? You've been
fooled, you've been a pawn in this game all along! And do you
know what makes it better? Endymion knew, he knew all about it,
this plan to deceive you. His Generals know, your Scouts
probably know also."
	"You're lying! This is all a lie! I could have you
punished for this!" Serena yelled, but inside, doubts were
beginning to form, whispers swirled around in her mind, fool,
fake, lies, betrayal.
	"You know I'm telling the truth Serenity, you
know! Didn't you think it just a bit odd when you couldn't
remember your own engagement? A fever, that's what they told
you. How pathetic an excuse! Do you think that maybe Endy
has faked his love for you as well? Just to woo you so that the
plan would go through without any problems? It is a possibility."
	"How do you know all this?" Serena gasped out.
	"Oh, it's amazing what a bit of serum mixed in tea
can do to a person such as the Queen."
	"You drugged the Queen?" she asked in horror.
	"It was no problem at all. I just went to go see her
and then as she turned her back I just dropped some serum
into her cup. It was almost too easy."
	"But we should have known about this!"
	"Oh but this didn't have a long lasting effect. After I
had gotten the information I needed, it took about another half
hour until she fully recovered, not remembering anything. But
that's not important now is it? You've been had Serenity. I
almost feel sorry for you." Carissa ended, beginning to laugh.
	Serena backed away until she hit the closed doors.
She quickly wrenched them open and ran, tears pouring down
her cheeks.
	Fool. Fake.
	"No, no, no," she whispered, stumbling along the
hallways towards the training room.
	Lies.
	She saw the doors to the training room ahead of
her. Could hear their laughter. Were they laughing about her?
What a foolish girl she is, so gullible!
	Betrayal.
	"NO!" she yelled as she burst through, the doors
slamming against the walls.
	They all looked at her and she could see the shock on
their faces through her tears.
	"Serena! Oh God, what happened to you?" it was
Darien and he was running towards her, the others following him.
	"Stay away from me!" she screamed, backing away,
"All of you, just stay away!"
	Her friends gasped and they all stopped abruptly.
	"All of you lied! You lied to me! How could you? I
hate you, all of you!"
	"Serena, what are you talking about?" Raye asked.
	"Don't give me that!" she turned to Darien, "Tell me,
is it true? Did our betrothal ever exist? Did you really come up
with such a plan just a mere two months before you were to
arrive? Tell me! I need to know the truth!"
	Darien looked at the others, unsure of what to do.
"Tell me!"
"Yes," he whispered.
	His head flung back as Serena slapped him. "Your
love, is it fake also? Was it all just a way to get me to
cooperate? So that, by the time I would find out, it would be
too late?"
	"Serena! You know that's not true!" Amy
interjected, "The love between you is pure and honest."
	"And how would you know?" Serena asked
coldly, looking at her friends. "Did you all know about all of
this?"
	None of them could meet her gaze and Serena's
composure began to fall apart once more. She began backing
away slowly.
	"Serena! It was for the best, if you'll just let me
explain," Darien said grabbing her arm.
	"I thought you loved me," she whispered and then
pulled away and ran down the hall, her sobs following her.
	"Serena!"
End.