Author's Note: I've lately been getting into editing a lot of my older stories before submitting any new chapters. Plus, I see a lot of errors on some of these stories, and it really kills me that you guys have to read such crappy formatting. I know it would annoy me. Haha, anyways, happy reading!

Stubborn Love

Lady Amethyst

Summary:They were complete opposites: while Serenity was kind, feisty, and beautiful, Endymion was quiet, cold, but strikingly handsome.They rarely got along, they both had evenly matched prides, but when tragedy brings them together, suddenly the Earth isn't half as bad as Serenity thought it would be...

--- --- --- Chapter 1 --- --- ---

"I don't...understand." Ami, usually the wiser one of their group, said, her voice breaking towards the end. She felt so vulnerable without her answers, without her research, without the very confidence that made her the "brain" of the group. What did any of her knowledge matter when it would not bring her to the solution that would keep her princess from leaving?

Serenity squeezed her hand comfortingly; she didn't know whether or not she was going to cry or vomit. The entire idea of leaving the moon, her birthright made her sick. "I don't know what else to tell you, but that I'm just as horrified as you are."

Rei, for once, was silent.

Serenity reached over and Rei hugged her long time friend because she knew Rei better than anyone, and she knew that this was breaking Rei's heart. "Serenity, I'm going to miss you."

Serenity was quiet, only because she didn't know what to say anymore. "When will you come back?" Makoto, usually loud and strong, was now leaning against the wall for support, her eyes bright and glittering against the midday sun.

"I don't know.Probably for a few weeks—but knowing those Earth people, I'll end up staying for months, years... I mean, I just found out today!" Serenity snapped.

Mina burst out crying. Serenity turned to her friend in surprise; she hadn't expected Mina of all people to be so disheartened. "Serenity, tell your mother you don't want to go! Tell her... tell her that you are sick and those Barbaric Earthlings will surely reject you, possibly endangering your life, so the only solution is for you to stay here, with us, with your family!"

Serenity managed a weak smile; leave it to Mina to come up with the most far-fetched plan possible. "I would Mina, and you know that, but I have the peace and freedom of the universe depending on this."

"Look on the bright side," Ami piped up, "it's only for a few weeks, right?"

"Right," Serenity forced a cheerful smile; she wanted to be the strong one amongst her friends for once! How would she ever be able to lead an entire universe if she couldn't even resist the urge of breaking down and having her friends comfort her, as they have a thousand times before?

"Gods, what am I going to do without you? How am I going to get up in the morning and see their frigid, barren plains instead of the palace gardens?" Serenity wanted to selfishly run back to her mother and beg to let her stay, but the other more logical, unselfish side of her held her back from making that mistake.

Her friends gathered around her, each of their faces wet with tears and hearts heavy with misery. "I don't know what we'll do without you, Serenity." Mina murmured into Serenity's hair as she buried her head farther. "I miss you too much already and you haven't even begun to pack yet!"

Makoto looked at Serenity intensely. "Serenity, tell us what happened. Maybe your mother said something and you assumed it was this and we're making a big deal out of nothing." Makoto said hopefully. Serenity's heart lurched at the dreadfully optimistic look in her eyes.

Serenity shook her head. What good would it do? "I don't know, Mako-chan. It was an awful fight, and now that I look back on it, I was the biggest brat..."

--- --- --- FLASHBACK --- --- ---

"Serenity," her mother began slowly, choosing her words carefully, "there is a chance that you may need to leave the moon and—"

"What?" Serenity was trying not to scream, but it was close to impossible...

"You promised me this wouldn't happen! You promised me when I was younger!" Serenity shrieked. Well, there goes that attempt to handle this maturely, Serenity thought inwardly.

"I'm sorry, darling." Was all her mother could muster. "This is how it must be. The future of the universe depends on this, honey. If I could take this burden off your shoulders, I would in a heartbeat, but I cannot. Their son is the heir to the throne of the next most powerful planet, next to ours, and you are the heir to the moon kingdom…and it's been arranged for quite some time now."

"What do you mean by that, Mother?" Serenity asked suspiciously. Had her mother been arranging her marriage for her since her birth, but just telling her that she would be able to marry freely?

Serenity's anger began growing until Queen Selenity cooled it by her ice-cold words: "No, Serenity. It has not been planned since your birth, as mine had." Serenity felt her guilt gnawing at her when she saw the painful reminder flash through her mother's eyes. "The king of the planet Earth and I began talking to each other"—her mother's body physically stiffened and grew taunt—"and we formed a plan. He wanted to rule half the universe and the other belong to us, but I couldn't bear to tear the universe apart and force families to chose. Plus," a wry smile played at the queen's lips, "how do you divide an universe that is endless and has no boundaries?"

Serenity's gaze softened. "Mother, I had no idea. Do I marry him?"

"No. You do not."

"Wha—I don't marry him?" Serenity asked, confused. But her mother had just told her that—

"If you're not getting married, then what do we have to worry about?" Rei asked her excitedly.

"But you will stay at Earth for now."

"But why? What is the meaning of—"

"Serenity this is for your safety, if I could have it any other way, I would. But as strong as the crystal is, I hate to say it, but they wouldn't expect us to send you to Earth to be protected there." At Serenity's confused look, she sighed, "Serenity, why do you think that we must compromise like this?" Selenity finally asked, her calmness chilling Serenity to the bone. She only used this tone with business associates and stubborn kings and queens from other galaxies that wanted more than they gave.

"Because...because of the alliance?" Serenity answered, unsure if her mother would bite her head off or pat her lovingly on the shoulder.

"No. Because of the attacks." Selenity said, falling back into the sofa behind her soundlessly.

"Attacks?"

Selenity nodded and bit her lip. "Yes, the attacks by the galaxy pirates that have been known to be dangerous and scour the universe for challenges and rarities."

"Challenges? Rarities? What in name of the moon do you mean, Mother? Why had I never heard of this—"

"Because since you were five years old I've been protecting you from this horrid group that formed eleven years ago." She continued, not bothering to hide her fatigue, "They strive to be rich—the strive to be powerful as well. They kill casualties in the thousands and their leader wants to rule the universe."

"Oh my God." Serenity breathed, her face blanched. "Thousands? Thousands of people have died?"

"Yes," her mother said gently, "I knew that would be the first thing you caught. Approximately half a million people have died since nine years ago when their reign of power began to climb."

Serenity began softly crying for the horror that has been inflicted on the universe; she began crying for the innocent lost souls unfairly mass murdered by some power hungry monster who only spared those who helped him profit.

"I know what you are feeling, sweetie." Her mother told her as she smoothed Serenity's sun kissed golden blond hair soothingly, "I did the exact same thing when I saw the estimated statistics."

Serenity stayed quiet, but her mother understood her silence. Selenity understood that her daughter was torn by duty and by her own happiness. "Thank you for understanding, honey. You will leave in the morning, love."

--- --- --- END OF FLASHBACK --- --- ---

When she finished all her friends were openly crying, along with Serenity. "Thousands? Half a million? Oh, this is horrible!" Mina blubbered.

Ami suddenly snapped her head up. "Wait a second, Serenity. Why can't we come along?"

Serenity looked down into her lap guiltily.

Rei glared at her princess. "Serenity? Spill! Fess up to what you did!"

Serenity sighed. "My mother won't allow you to come because she said it will arise too much suspicion and you staying here will make it seem as if I'm still here, since you are my protectors."

Makoto's protective side got the better of her. "But you will be helpless! Who will protect you from those barbaric earthlings? Oh, Serenity, I have heard so many horrible stories about their—"

"She will be quite alright, Jupiter, I assure you of that with my word." A soft, yet amused voice broke Makoto off.

Makoto reddened and turned to Queen Selenity. "Oh, your majesty! I—I just was worried and I..."

"No need to explain Makoto, you know me better than that. I understand your worries. After all, we all are afraid for her safety, aren't we? She is going to a foreign land that all we've heard about our whole lives is that it's a horrible, disgusting place wreaking with death and blood."

"But from my analysis, they are actually—" Ami began to protest, but one glance from Queen Selenity shut her up quickly.

"Mercury, I am well aware of the figures and data. I read up on them as well." She smiled, "You did get this information from the Palace Library, yes? I have read as many of those books as you, I think."

Ami smiled self-consciously. The queen enjoyed reading as much as she did? How wonderful was that?

Serenity tried smiling at her mother's comment, but she couldn't find the strength in her to raise the edges of her lips to even a half smile.

Selenity looked over at her daughter and sensed her unhappiness. Dropping to her knees, the queen hugged her only daughter. "I wish I could your pain away, Serenity, but I can't, no matter how much I wish I could."

Serenity sighed, but allowed herself to hug her mother back. "I know Mother. I just wished that things could be...different, you know?"

Her mother looked into her daughter's eyes. "We all do, honey. We all do."

--- --- --- --- --- ---

Serenity bit her lip. How would she survive without the comfort and the love of her friends? For a whole year she would be alone!

Rei acted on her impulses and grabbed Serenity's arm last second. Her eyes were giant with tears and her face swollen and red from crying all night long. They had all spent the night together in Serenity's room reminiscing, crying together, and many hugs and words of comfort were passed around. "Please, Serenity, stay. I don't know what I'll do without you."

As much as Serenity wished, she couldn't say what she truly wanted to say. Duty to her people called to her. Her people were her first priority and they always would be. That was one of the first lessons her mother had taught her and despite her most deepest hopes, she wouldn't go and betray her people. "I want to tell you that I will stay, but you, of all people understand why I cannot."

Rei dropped her hold on Serenity's arm and lowered her gaze. "I'll talk to you everyday—telepathically or visually. And if something goes wrong—just the slightest thing, Serenity, by Mars, call me or one of the scouts. Please, I don't think I could bear feeling your feelings of fear this far away and not able to do anything about it. We'll only come if you call us, whether your mother says we can or can't." Rei kissed Serenity's cheek before she turned away and returned to her position in the formation.

Mina was next to come over to her to bid her farewell. "I heard what Rei said and I agree with her a hundred percent. Just the tiniest thing...call us. It'll be an excuse to protect you and see you again too. Distance won't waver my loyalty and my friendship to you the least." Mina hugged her tightly, only letting go when Serenity reluctantly pulled away.

Makoto stepped up, her face wet with tears. Serenity's heart ached when she saw the pain that her leave was causing her friends. "Serenity, please, talk to me whenever you can. I'll be ready to save you any day, you hear me? Even if I'm in the middle of a bath and you call for me, I'll come there—naked if I have to."

Serenity managed a smile. "Oh, please, Makoto, save me the visuals." Makoto semi-laughed, but it ended in sobs that were muffled by Serenity's hair. Makoto let go and quickly wiped her hands over her face. "I can't believe we're being forced away from you." She muttered, then she added almost angrily, "And if a man touches a single strand on your head, a SINGLE strand, you call me and I swear to Jupiter that I'll kill him, I'll rip him apart, limb from—"

"I understand, Makoto." Serenity said, quickly stopping Makoto from her detailed description. Makoto gave her hand one last touch before returning to her place.

Ami was the last to come over out of her friends. "Serenity," Ami began crying, for the first time, it was open and she let her emotions spill from her eyes. "I'm going to miss having to tell you to do your work instead of playing with Makoto or playing pranks on Rei with Mina. I'm going to miss you and I talking about books even when I know you don't understand most of what I'm saying. I'm even going to miss you and Mina trying to match make me with all those awful boys!"

Serenity tried laughing, but instead she hugged her friend and whispered into her ear, "Don't worry, Ames. By this time I'll be coming back and we'll be matching you to all these lovely boys in no time."

"Come back to us quickly, my princess." Ami said before she left Serenity alone.

Her mother avoided her gaze and pulled her into a breathless hug. "What ever am I going to do without my daughter? Whatever am I going to do without your laugh or without your smile?" Her mother asked as she brushed a stray tear away from Serenity's face. "I want to go with you, but they would suspect something." Her mother tried saying more, but she couldn't. Waves of emotion overwhelmed Queen Selenity so greatly that she had to give her daughter one last butterfly kiss before she pushed her towards the door.

Serenity turned around quickly and looked at her friends for a split second longer, trying to memorize their faces. "I'll miss you so much." She mouthed before she let her mother fully push her into the transporter.

Before she disappeared into the transporter, she saw her friends leaning against each other, each of them seeking support from each other. Serenity felt more alone than before when she realized that she had no one to seek comfort from.

--- --- ---

Serenity reappeared slowly, her molecules took their time in forming together. She felt her body jerk and adjust to the different atmosphere and gravity. Immediately when she was whole once again, she felt like she had gained thirty pounds.

This is gravity? Serenity wondered, this is definitely something I do not want to get used to, she thought as she pressed the large button to open the shuttle door. AN: When it says shuttle door, it means the door of the transporter. The transporter is able to fit up to twenty people at a time, but it's not a shuttle that actually moves, however.

"Gravity is a bit to get used to isn't it, Serenity?" Gaia, the queen of the Earth asked her as she stepped off the platform that led down to solid ground.

Serenity's legs wobbled slightly. This whole gravity thing was not cool. "Yes, it is." Despite her condition, she did the best curtsy she could while having jell-o legs.

Gaia laughed. Serenity stared at her in confusion; had she done something wrong? "Your mother was right, you are quite the young lady, curtsying even when you are in the process of adapting and very uncomfortable." Gaia studied her critically. "And your mother once again is correct. You are beautiful."

Serenity blushed modestly. Did she have to compliment her so?

"I'm sorry if I make you feel awkward." Gaia said, as if reading her thoughts.

Serenity looked at the queen in surprise. "You can read my mind?"

"Oh, easily, my dear. You have a very open mind and if you wished, a very closed off mind." She paused momentarily, "You are very strong psychic wise. Were you trained?"

Memories flooded Serenity's mind. She vaguely remembered Ami telling her about selected earthlings able to read minds. "Yes, I was trained to be able to read minds, close my own mind off, and I was in the middle of being able to rearrange thoughts of others. I can naturally talk telepathically, read the emotions and the aura of someone—it's in the Lunarian blood. My one friend—Mars—she is the best out of our group psychic wise." Serenity found herself able to talk to this woman easily. Something about her magnetic personality pulled her towards her and made Serenity feel as if she could relate...

"More than you know, Serenity. More than you know." Gaia said softly. Gaia motioned towards carriage and the guards that secured the area.

"Why are we in the middle of...nowhere?" Serenity asked. "I thought that the palace was magnificent." Excitement bubbled inside of her. "Is it invisible?"

"You also have your mother's humor and curiosity. No, unfortunately our palace is not invisible. We had to find a place for you to land safely away from any commoners."

"Oh. Did the king not come along?" Serenity asked as she looked around her surroundings. Giant trees loomed ominously in the distance, their branches bare of any leaves. The ground was carpeted in soft, colorful leaves. Bending over, Serenity picked a single leave up and twisted it around by its stem. The dew that clung to it glistened in the early morning light. "Are all your leaves this color?"

"Only at this season." Gaia answered, watching Serenity with amusement.

"The moon's leaves always stay the same colors—silver all year long. Gorgeous yes, but never unexpected and beautifully...different like this."

Serenity looked up and stared at the sky in fascination. The sky was the purest color of light sapphire blue, with tresses of clouds floating around lazily.

Letting Gaia led her towards the carriage, with the leaf safely tucked away in her pocket, Serenity decided that maybe this wouldn't be as horrible as she thought.

--- --- --- --- --- ---

Serenity took one look at the palace and immediately fell in love with it. It was a giant structure, almost intimidating, but the homey touches softened its sharp appearance. With rows of flowers lining the long, pebbled road and a stretches of fields of wildflowers. Serenity wondered what it would be like to run through them.

"Absolutely amazing. I used to do it all the time." Gaia answered suddenly, her focus, too, turned towards the rolling plains of wild flowers and hidden animals. "That field holds a thousand secrets and I know maybe a hundred of them." Gaia said mischievously. She caught Serenity's gaze, "While you're here, you're going to have the field hold a number of secrets for you as well."

All Serenity could do was blush furiously, the meaning of the queen's words were quite clear.

Lucky for Serenity, the carriage arrived at the palace before the queen could say anything more. Servants and guards swept out of the palace and fussed over them both as they exited the carriage.

Serenity giggled. They were acting like she was the most important person in the world.

That's because you are, dear.> Gaia said gently.

Serenity's face flushed once more and was about to open her mouth to retort when the sight of dark, ebony hair caught her eye. Who was that?

Instinctively, despite the mumbled protests, Gaia turned in the direction Serenity was staring at and saw who she was gaping at. A slow smile spread across her face. Breaking away from the crowd, the queen hurried over to him and brought him over.

"This is my son, Endymion. Endymion, meet the princess of the Moon, Serenity, daughter of Selenity."