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Silver Alliance	By : lynnwood84 Category: Sailor Moon > General Views: 8546 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
:: Chapter Seven ::

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 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-encrusted buckle. The layers of the skirt alternated between white and
pink, the second and fourth layers in a shade of pale rose that matched 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 bun
tails, holding them in place by matching strings encrusted with diamonds and
pearls. Serenity bit her lip slightly as the changeling put the last finishing
touches on her appearance, wringing her hands nervously in front of her belly.

�Diana?�
she suddenly murmured, causing the silver-haired girl to pause in her work and
give her a curious glance in the mirror�s reflection. �Did you . . . did you
know about what really happened . . . o-on Earth?� Her companion winced, then
shrugged.

�I
had heard my father and mother speaking of it a few years ago.� Serenity
scowled.

�So
I was the only one who was kept in the dark.�

The
young Princess had confronted her mother last night about what Endymion had
said, and the uncomfortable discussion that followed had revealed a few ugly
truths about the world, as well as the people who lived in it. Now she found
herself filled with several conflicting emotions, and she wasn�t sure just
which side was up anymore. When faced with her horror, her mother had tried to
reason that there were complicated political issues involved that she just
didn�t understand. The younger Serenity had shook her head sadly, countering
that�no matter what politics were involved�when it came down to it, the
Alliance had still sat back and did nothing while thousands of innocent people
were slaughtered. They had come to an uncomfortable impasse then, and finally
her mother had left, leaving Serenity with her own troubled thoughts. Troubled
thoughts that still had not abated.

�Do
you . . . do you think I�m doing the right thing?�

The
changeling smirked. �You know it�s not my place to answer that,� she responded
lightly. Serenity rolled her eyes and puffed out an annoyed�and nervous�sigh.
Diana chuckled at that, then gently pulled her Princess�s blonde hair from over
her bare shoulders and let the curly tails fall down to her knees. �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 being swamped with overwhelming feelings of unease and doubt. �I-I just met
him yesterday,� she continued in a stricken tone. �I barely even know him, yet
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 that point with another sigh. She continued to fidget
however, and finally Diana reached out and grabbed her hands. Serenity turned
to her and the Mauian squeezed her fingers, red eyes soft. �What does your
heart tell you, Serena?�

Serenity
paused for a telling moment, then slowly started to relax. �That this is the
right thing,� she confided. Then she smiled a little, shoulders straightening.
�You�re right. My marriage will save the lives of hundreds, maybe even
thousands. I couldn�t ask for a better match.�

Except
maybe for love, a
soft, sad voice whispered inside her heart, but the girl did her best to ignore
it.

�Of
course, the fact that the man is ridiculously handsome is no never mind?� her
companion suddenly teased, which won her a blush and a smack in the arm.

�I
just got a bit of cold feet there for a moment, I guess.�

Diana
giggled, then made a face. �I would too, if I had had to endure what you just
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 and into the soft
pink satin slippers that had been set near by.

Early
that morning, as Diana was busy getting things ready 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. Putting last night�s unpleasant
discussion behind them, 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 the females had been blushing
and squirming by the end of the ordeal. Serenity was�naturally�very curious
about what really took place between a man and a woman during intimacy, but
discussing such things with her mother was just too weird. Especially
when her mother seemed just as embarrassed about it as she was. Finally
Serenity had assured her mother that she knew all she needed to and�visibly
relieved�the elder Queen didn�t press the issue and left again shortly after to
make sure all the preparations were continuing smoothly. In truth�from her
mother�s complicated and half-unsaid descriptions�the Princess knew no more
than she had started with, though she would rather continue to live on in
complete ignorance than have to endure one more moment of that uncomfortable
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 radiant, Serena,� he murmured, awed, then after another moment
more of staring the Mauian seemed to remember himself and bowed respectfully.
�It is time, Princess. Please follow me.� Serenity came forward at that and
gently touched his arm. When he rose up to gaze at her questioningly, she gave
him a gentle, sad smile.

�Please
Artemis, no formalities today. You�ve been like a father to me in place of my
own all my life,� she continued, fighting the urge for tears. �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 her own unshed tears. Artemis had to blink a few 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, Diana trailing behind.

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

�� Princess
Ami stood on the arm of her father, King Hector. She wore a pale blue satin
gown with wide straps over her pale shoulders and a square-cut d�collet� 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 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 at ease 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, with a heart-shaped neckline and no sleeves. Either side beneath her
breasts was ribbed in pale pink, with tiny vines and roses stitched in the
front in 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
stitching that matched the bodice, which wound around the hem and then 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 silver clasp, the curls falling down to her bare shoulder-blades
behind her.

Princess
Mina stood on the arm of some male Venusian official who was�as they all wore�devastatingly
attractive. He looked to be no older than Mina, however, and slightly
uncomfortable it seemed in his role of escort. The Princess� face was drawn and
pale, blue eyes distant. Despite that 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 gold ribbon that 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 etiquette, she wore nothing else, no shoes on her feet and
no other 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. She wore�not a gown�but the traditional garb of her
desert-dwelling 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 scalloped neckline, the edges of
the short capped sleeves and then the hem that stopped just below her generous
breasts. All of her arms and much of her tanned, flat belly were left bare. The
skirt was an interesting affair altogether. The waist was 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 ornament she wore was the thin gold chain that wound
across her brow with the five gold disks, which proclaimed her royal status. Her
sable black hair was allowed to tumble otherwise loose and wanton down to the
backs of her thighs.

Artemis
led Serenity into the chamber and after Diana gave her a quick hug for support,
she hurried 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 frazzled nerves, 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 cords, and the double doors were thrown
wide by the servants in place to do so. Artemis began forward, gently tugging
Serenity into motion. She plastered a soft smile on her face to hide her
nervousness as she began down the long trek 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 all these people come from? We�re
at war, aren�t we? she thought to herself somewhat desperately, the cold
lump of fear settling in her belly. Shouldn�t all these people be out doing
something other than staring 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 Serenity was stunned to see real tears
glistening in her mother�s gray eyes as the woman watched her pass. Her mother never
showed such emotion in public. The Queen gave her wide-eyed daughter a wobbly
smile and a nod, and then she was behind her.

The
seemingly limitless hall finally came to an abrupt end, spilling out into a
large half-circular clearing where five men and a young boy stood before a
large alter 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
off to the other.

The
younger boy was High Priest Helios, Earth�s highest ranking healer, she had
been told. It was somewhat amazing given the fact that he was no older than
young Hotaru, yet he looked amazingly dignified in his ceremonial robes, and
there was a certain elegant and wise 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 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 Earth. Serenity had the impression that they must be
in the traditional garb of their station, and each man looked more than
handsome 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 felt her breath snagging in her throat when she met those
fathomless midnight-blue eyes. Really, it should have been a crime to look that
good. Especially when one�s personality was so . . . closed.

Artemis
continued leading her forward, until Serenity stood directly in front of the
young Lord King 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 eye level was staring into the center of his
chest. 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�some
more willing than others�and then turned as one to face Helios. Serenity�s
fingers clenched nervously into the soft 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 customs. This would
involve a benediction from Helios, followed by verbal binding vows spoken between
them, and then an exchange of rings�to be worn on her left ring finger.

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

�Dear
friends, new and old,� he began, smiling slightly, his chestnut eyes warm and
soft. �We are gathered here today for a very momentous event. Not only for the
joining of men and women in the bonds of marriage, but also the joining of all
good and free peoples in our galaxy under one banner. To fight for freedom, for
life, for our very survival in this universe. In the past years I have seen
many deaths,� he announced softly, and Serenity could sense a very real and
very great pain in him. �I have guided many souls of my brethren and friends to
the hereafter, far too many. It is in their memory that I now raise my
voice and my heart in song and in hope, that today we take the first much
needed steps toward a brighter future. Filled with�not death and despair�but
love and unity. For everyone.�

Serenity
suddenly felt near tears. She had the distinct impression 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 business. We�re missing the after party.�

Serenity
and everyone else swung around to pin Jorowyn with a glare. He just 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 the Mauian. 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
mutinous 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 to Helios, they saw the High Priest 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
could hear him, �I swear to every Star in the sky, when this is over I�m going
to personally wring is scrawny neck!�

Jadeite,
on the far end, chuckled softly before murmuring back, �You�ll have to catch
him first, Endy.�

�Yeah,�
Zoisite followed. �Good luck with that.�

Helios
cleared his throat loudly to end the murmur of whispers and conversation that
had started around the Great Hall, 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 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 clenched reflexively around Endymion�s arm.

�Princess
Serenity,� Helios murmured, �please repeat after me.� She nodded, and he began.
She repeated her vows dutifully.

�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 we part.
Helios nodded and smiled warmly when she had finished. He reached down and
withdrew the white cloth that had been draped across the large alter before
him, revealing that on it 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�which they
did�and then the Lord King raised his left hand. Serenity took it as she was
told to, then she bit her lip, trying to remember the words that her mother had
drilled into her this morning.

With
trembling fingers, she raised the ring and touched it to Endymion�s 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. She moved the ring to
touch his middle finger, �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 with, �and with all my
worldly goods I thee endow.�

Then
Serenity released his hand and let out a shaky 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 took the ring that Helios
handed him. He took her left hand in his and repeated the ring exchange as she
had done for him. Serenity stared at the ring while he did so, a little awed by
it. Both by what it symbolized as well as the band itself. It looked to be made
of hundreds of entwining golden vines and leaves, and then at the top a
delicate rose unfurled. In the center of it 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, then.

Serenity
was lost into her own thoughts, musing over all that was happening, while
Helios repeated the exchanging of vows and 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 a little, eyes widening, but by then it was
too late to react. 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 a little to brace against the cool metal of
his chest plate, a slight noise of surprise escaping her throat. Endymion�s
sealing kiss was gentle, but insistent, his lips rubbing against hers with
almost a 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 stared down at her bemused expression, a knowing glint in his dark 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 else 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 too, as if completely absorbed into what they were doing
and totally unaware of the fact that hundreds of people were watching them do
it. Lady Raye had her hands clenched onto the shoulder plates of his armor, but
it didn�t look like she was fighting him off so much as holding him in place.
And Jadeite�s hands were gripping her hips through her skirt scarves with a
white-knuckled death grip, and he didn�t seem apt to letting her go any time
soon.

After
another solid minute of their passionate embrace, Zoisite�at his side�made a
noise of disgust.

�Oh
for Stars� sake, man, at least let the girl come up for air!�

At
the sound of his voice, the 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, sucked in a strangled gasp of air
and her face turned a painful, mortified scarlet. Even Lord Jadeite seemed out
of sorts, a hint of ruddy color stealing onto the curve of his cheeks as he
brushed a nervous hand back through his unruly blonde curls.

Nephrite
wasn�t going to let an opportunity to tease his fellow pass him by, and leaned
in to mutter, �a moment longer, Jade, and we would�ve been forced to cover the
Priest�s eyes,� then laughed heartily at the other man�s dark, embarrassed
glare.

After
everyone was given a moment to recover from the shocking display, the ruling
monarchs of the five Kingdoms�Lunara, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Mars�came
forward. Her mother came to stand before Endymion, while Hector came to stand
before Lord Zoisite, Queen Psyche before Lord Malachite, King Theseus before
Lord Nephrite and finally King Romulus before a still-blushing Lord Jadeite,
who only got more uncomfortable under the man�s steely, blank-faced 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 head piece fit perfectly beside the gold 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 the crescent moon marking�the
symbol of Lunara�etched into the chest plate of his armor in silver, behind the
golden rose. After Psyche clasped the wide gold band around Malachite�s bicep
that proclaimed him the King of Venus, the symbol of that planet etched into
the left breastplate of his armor. And once Theseus had fastened a large gold
torque around Neprhite�s neck, the symbol of Jupiter blazoned proudly onto the
front of his armor. Hector reached into his pocket and withdrew a slender piece
of crystal, etched in runes and complicated machinery�the keycard that
controlled Mercury�s central computer system, their very way of life�and after
he reluctantly handed the powerful item over to Zoisite, the symbol of Mercury
was forever etched into his breastplate as well.

Finally
Romulus reached down and then slowly withdrew the jeweled, ceremonial 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�s rule to his daughter�s husband. Jadeite
took it with a visible sigh of relief and a slight slump of his shoulders, to
which Romulus smirked slightly, unrepentant. 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 suddenly whirled toward the now politely applauding
audience.

�Jorowyn!�

�He�s
already gone, my Lord,� Nephrite murmured, shaking his head with a rueful grin.
�You missed him again.�
- 7
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Silver Alliance