Hi minna! I was just reading MarshAngel's 'Jail Bait' for the tenth time (That fic is really good! You should go and read it, And while you are at it don't forget her 'Chocolate Covered Fun'. It's one of the best I've ever read!) Well, I was reading 'Jail Bait' when this line attracted my attention:
QUOTE: "You know, technically he doesn't have to marry Serena, he could marry any one of the scouts." Beryl-ghost to Queen Serenity-ghost. 'Jail Bait' by MarshAngel.
And in that moment my muse decided to return from her vacation in Bahamas or Hawaii or wherever she was and we both planned and wrote this fic. It's my first SM-fic... (Hey! Don't run!! I *do* have some experience in other fandoms!) If you like it, write me at dani_vasq@hotmail.com if you don't... just blame my muse.
Just as in 'Jail Bait' the scouts will be between 16-17 years old while Darien will be 21. The Scouts know who Darien is and vice versa. Serena and Darien *still* hate each other... Reenie who?
My muse promises that this *will* be an original fic... I back her up full way.
Go on with the story!
TITLE: To Choose A Wife.
AUTHOR: Leni
DISCLAIMER: Maybe later I'll learn who owns them, for now the only thing I know is that I DON'T.
DISTRIBUTION: All yours. Just tell me.
SUMMARY: Read the quote above....
RATING: Still undefined. Suggestions?
FEEDBACK: I want it. Even if it's only to blame my muse... Just don't be so hard on her. She is very fragile... dani_vasq@hotmail.com
"" represents speech.
represents thoughts.
represents 'annoying little voice'. I.e. Conscience.
_______________________________________________________________________________
***At the Shinto Temple / Present time***
WHAT??!"
The Guardian of Time thought of protecting her eardrums the next time she promulgated such news. The shrieks of five teenage girls were not exactly the best thing for an enduring health
"Is this a joke, Setsuna?"
This question came from the other side of the room. For a second Setsuna thought that she would prefer the surprised shrieks any day. The smooth calm and deadliness in her Prince's voice was far more devastating.
"No, Prince. I never joke," she responded equally calmly.
Darien furrowed his brows in deep concentration. This was going to be a LONG meeting.
***
***Ten minutes ago***
"Just tell me where is that Meatball Head! We've planned this meeting for days and she knows better than to come late!"
Of course, that was Raye's voice.
"Uhh, Raye? Hate to point it out but Serena isn't the only one missing..." Lita stated and then proceeded to hide behind Darien when the priestess fixed her flaming gaze on her. She better left out the part where Serena was improving her habits and rarely came late to a Scout-meeting anymore.
"Yeah, but at least we know that Mina won't be late because she found extra-chocolate in her purse," Darien said snidely.
Raye snickered.
Lita shook her head. It would be shocking to anyone to hear sweet, caring Darien saying such things about sweet, caring Serena... but then, after 2 years of hearing it - and much, MUCH more - on a daily basis, it barely moved her any longer. You would think that after all that time the two heroes would have finally made it up!
Obviously, she was not the only one thinking on those terms. "Don't be so hard on her, Darien," said Amy from her place in the middle of the sofa barely looking up from her encyclopaedia-like book, "she had been working hard these last years. I'm sure she has a very good reason not to come on time."
Lita sighed. How come that mousy Amy had the guts to say so and she, the bullier Scout, didn't? Well, now that it was said she could only help. "Yeah, I still don't understand how you can be so mean to her sometimes," she said in a scolding tone, separating herself from Darien's back and going towards Amy. She glanced sideways at the huge book on her friend's lap and gulped.
"Yeah, of course, especially when she is such an angel to me..." the young man answered with a scowl. Darien didn't like to discuss his and Serena's 'problems' with the girls. They tended to forget that their gentle Princess gave as good as she got... I still can't believe she called me Rosey-Boy! *Rosey-Boy*!!
"Well, she is a real angel to everyone else," Lita stated.
Even Raye had to nod at that. "She is right, Dar. The Meatball Head can be a real pain sometimes but she is a good friend to everyone she likes, and even to those she doesn't... If not how could she have forgiven the Sisters?"
Lita thought. I still don't understand how Serena can still be your friend when you are always so mean to her.
"Then I guess I'm the exception to that rule, ain't I?" Darien responded with a smug smile.
"I think you aren't," said Amy quietly.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Are you crazy, Ames? Or maybe have you been studying too much?" That was Raye.
"Yeah, Amy, you know I can't wait for these two to stop acting like little children," Lita dismissed Darien's protests with an indulgent hand movement, "but even I have to accept that Serena dislikes him!" In a whisper she finished, "Don't you remember that Tuxedo Mask's picture in her room?" She shuddered at the memory. When they had first discovered who was behind that mask, Serena had nearly suffered a breakdown and tore to shreds every poster she possessed of the masked hero. However, days after, when she had recovered, they had seen a shiny new poster at her door and a shiny new box of darts at her bedside.
Darien was the last one to react. "Huh? I'm not?"
Amy waited until everyone was quiet again and then continued. "Yes, I don't believe you are a... an 'exception' as you put it, Darien. I really think Serena likes you." Incredulous stares from everyone. Amy sighed and put her book aside. "I know it's a little hard to believe but..."
"Hard isn't the word. Impossible is more like it," murmured Raye.
"She likes Darien," Amy said a little more forcefully, "it's only that their relationship had been stressful - to say the least - for a lot of time and it is easier for her to continue down that path." More glares. "I think that they could even become friends if they managed to pass this 'stressful' stage."
"Maybe if you were a little nicer to her..." said Lita staring at Darien. She had been looking for the chance to scold 'her Prince' on his childish behaviour for quite some time. Now she had finally found it.
"I *am* nice to her!"
Eyebrows shot up at that statement.
Lita laughed softly. "Yeah? When? When you were teasing her because of her crush on your alter ego?" Darien looked down. It had been an immature thing to do, he knew, but damn it! she had said worse things about him! Lita didn't stop and only smiled mildly when she saw Darien's sudden interest in his shoes. "Or maybe when you repeated over and over that she would never have the grace of a real princess? Look, Darien, perhaps you thought that laughing about her grades at school was nice, but when she came to us in the verge of tears we didn't think it was. "
Raye and Amy nodded eagerly.
Darien glanced at the girls... Not even Raye was on his side in this one. "That girl can cry even if she sees a spider in her garden! It is not my fault if she can't take a little teasing!" said Darien, exasperated. When had he become the bad guy of this story? Couldn't they remember all the names the 'angel' had invented just for him?
The girls just stared at him incredulously. How could this guy be so inhumane when it came to Serena?
Amy was the one to voice their thoughts. "You yourself have said it, Darien. Serena *will* cry if she sees a spider," she shrugged, "she is and will always be like that. But I can assure you that she would *never* be in the verge of tears because of that. She isn't the kind of person who puts a stop to her emotions. She only does it when it is about *you*."
"Amy is right. I'd bet that since you discovered her real identity you haven't seen her crying again," supplied Lita.
Darien nodded. It was true. Since that night two years ago he had never seen a tear on her face. He looked at his friends' stern faces. he reasoned, He sighed and passed a nervous hand through his hair. "Look, girls, I really don't have anything against Serena. It's just that when we are together... well... she doesn't seem to want to stop throwing insults - and other things - to me..." He sighed again and sat on one of Raye's chairs at the other end of the room. "If she doesn't behave then I don't see why I should try," he finally ended.
"Maybe she would behave if you weren't teasing her every two minutes, prince," a new voice said, "Not to mention that you are four years her senior and therefore should know how to control your emotions better."
All looks went to the door.
Everyone recognised the silhouette at the entrance. Even without her usual Scout uniform, Setsuna Meioh was a woman difficult to miss.
"Shoot, Sets! You should know better than to surprise us!" said a shocked Raye. She would never grow accustomed to Setsuna's sudden appearances.
The timeless Senshi didn't even acknowledge the words and instead entered the room nodding at everyone as a greeting. She took a glance of the whole room and then went to seat on the armchair next to girl's sofa. She clasped her hands and raised her voice. "Well, now that everyone involved is present..."
Amy raised her eyebrows and prepared to say the obvious. "Not everyone is..."
In that same moment Mina entered the room shuffling. "I. *pant*. am sorry. *pant*. guys. Serena won't come. *pant* She.has.fever.and.her.mother *pant* won't.let.her. *pant* go.out." When she saw the still empty space besides Amy she hurried to it with her last energies and dropped onto it.
"You saying, Mercury?" Setsuna asked with a smirk.
Amy didn't answer. She just noted to herself not to contradict the Time Guardian ever again.
"As I was saying, now that we are complete I have an announcement to make." Setsuna breathed deeply.
"It is time for The Prince to look for a bride."
The girls looked at Darien's surprised face and giggled.
Darien just gaped in shock. "B-but--- *but*..."
Setsuna didn't let him end that thought. "The bride has to be one of the Scouts. One of you."
The giggles stopped abruptly.
"WHAT??!"
***
***Present time***
"No Prince, I never joke."
From her different positions in the room, the scouts just stared at Setsuna in shock. However, Amy was the first one to recover. Practical girl that she was, she began to run the statistics of the possible outcomes in her computer. For some seconds the only sound in the room was her rapid typing. Then there was only a heavy sigh. Nobody heard her murmuring 'Thank God!'
She raised from her seat between Lita and Mina and went to Darien. She faced him stoically and showed him the results of her computer. He only stared at the incomprehensible symbols and graphics on the screen.
"I'm sorry, Darien. The Mercury-computer proves that I would never be the indicated for such a task. I can only wish you luck." Said that she retreated to her place.
Everyone in the room sweatdropped.
Setsuna just shook her head in amusement. These girls would always provide some healthy entertainment.
"But Amy..." began a sceptical Mina, "your computer can't know such a thing." Amy stared at her. Hard. Mina gulped. "I mean... uhhh..."
"Yeah Amy, " interrupted Lita, saving Mina's skin. "It's not that I doubt your talents. You know well I don't." Amy's glare lessened. "But I find it difficult to believe that your computer - no matter how advanced it is - could run a program over this kind of things."
"Of course it can," said Amy proudly, "I just entered Darien's and my preferences, dislikes, hopes and dreams and compared them. Few of them are related. It simply would never work."
"But in matters of the heart..." continued Lita dubiously. Before she could go on Mina interrupted.
"Can you lend it to me, Ames? There's this guy I met at the arcade and I really want to know if..." she noticed everyone's glares on her. "Oh well, it was just an idea..." she sulked and furrowed deeper into the sofa.
"I still don't understand why it has to be one of *us*" Lita mused aloud.
Setsuna was about to answer but Amy was there first. "The Earth Lineage must be powerful in order to protect the planet from invaders and inner enemies. To ensure this is it reasonable that the members marry powerful beings... such as the Scouts. Am I wrong Setsuna?" It was just a question of courtesy, Amy's way to apologise for having stopped her friend's explanation.
Setsuna just nodded.
"But my mother wasn't a Scout... or so I think." Darien wasn't really sure of that statement. He had been regaining his memories bit by bit in these last years but there was nothing that could assure him of his mother's nature.
"No, she wasn't. The earth Queen was a very powerful witch. Not so powerful as Beryl, I'm afraid, but second only to her."
"The Queen was a *witch*?" Mina asked half scandalised, half-curious. "But I thought witches were... er..." she drifted off seeing the look Darien was giving her.
"Evil?" Setsuna completed the sentence. Mina nodded uneasily. "No, not necessarily. The Queen was what you would call a 'white sorcerer'. She had the ability to conjure the forces of nature and command them. How do you think is it possible for the Prince to conjure roses? Maybe later, with practice, he will be able to do other things."
"I will?" Asked Darien shocked by the news. Not only his mother had been a witch a millennium ago but he also owed his powers to her. Even more, now he knew that he could enhance those powers. That would teach that Meatball Head not to call him 'Rosey boy'!
"Yeah, you will, Dar. Maybe you'll even be able to give a bouquet of *white* roses to your blushing bride..." laughed Lita.
From Darien's glare on her, she quickly learned that he had found no humour in her sentence.
"It's very possible," said Amy glancing up from her computer and not acknowledging Darien's dark expression. " If Darien continues practising as he has, he should be able to conjure more than his usual steel-tipped red roses in no time."
"But none of us like white roses!" Mina lamented with a grin on her face. "I mean, Lita and I would want something more colourful." Lita nodded. "Amy has already said she won't do it and Raye sure would like her bouquet to be of..."
"ENOUGH!" Raye, who had stayed silent so far, ordered. Mina shut up at once and just looked at her black-haired friend with a smirk. Rei didn't pay attention to her. "Look, what we have here is not a problem which can be resolved overnight. We must think it calmly, especially you, Darien. " He nodded. " I say we take a good night's sleep. We'll go over this tomorrow in the evening."
"She just is thinking how to say 'yes' without sounding too obvious..." Mina murmured.
Lita giggled softly.
Amy suppressed a smile but composed herself rapidly. "Then I guess we are calling this meeting over." She stood up, smoothing her skirt. Computer and book were left in her space-pocket.
"I also wanna go," said Mina rising from the sofa and yawning broadly. "I swear that that damn cat doesn't let me blink an eye with all his 'should-I-talk-to-Luna?' stuff. It's ok if I am the Goddess of Love but, for God's sake! that's not reason enough to maintain me awake until dawn!"
"What?" Lita exclaimed also rising from her sit. "You evil girlfriend, you hadn't said a thing about that! Are you sure that Artemis will 'talk' to her?"
Mina grinned. "Yup. I'm wondering how grey will those kittens be..."
Lita laughed aloud.
"It's not necessary for them to be grey. They could also have strong genes and be either black or white." Blank stares from Mina and Lita. Amy sweatdropped. "But don't mind me. I'm curious about the whole Artemis-Luna thing too. They've had this platonic thing for what? A millennium?"
"Wow. You're right, Amy. Those poor cats have been waiting a whole thousand years for 'something' to happen. No wonder Artemis is so nervous..." Mina realised that they were the only ones preparing to leave. Raye she could understand, she lived here after all, but the others... "Err... Darien? Will you come with us? You could even give us a lift to our homes."
"On another occasion, Mina. Right now I still have to speak a word with Pluto," responded Darien seriously. The girls cringed. To be addressed by their formal names - especially when they wore everyday's clothes - by the normally charismatic prince indicated that *way* more than a simple word would be discussed. They hurried in their way out.
"Bye Raye!"
"G-night, chums! Don't stay until too late!" That was directed to Darien, who obviously wanted to stay until he could force his way out of this situation.
"Good night Setsuna, Raye, Darien. " Amy said addressing each one of the remaining persons.
The three girls crossed the door.
"Oohhh. Just wait until Serena knows about it... she'll go nuts about having to be maiden of honour for one of us..." Mina chirped when the three girls were nearly at the door of the temple.
"Setsuna never said she couldn't be the bride." Amy stated. Lita and Mina just stared at her. Amy sweatdropped. "Oh yes... I nearly forgot."
"You forgot that those two had been fighting for more than two years? Wow. That was a lot to forget, Amy. You sure that you are sleeping well?"
Amy didn't dignify that with an answer. She hasn't forgotten everything, she just forgot that *they* didn't know all the facts.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Should my muse and I go on? Should I send her into another vacation? I'm sorry but I won't do it. Now that I have her here I'll try and make her work for 'Complex Cycles'. It's the least I deserve after having me abandoned three WHOLE months! But well, seriously, do you think I should continue this fic? dani_vasq@hotmail.com
QUOTE: "You know, technically he doesn't have to marry Serena, he could marry any one of the scouts." Beryl-ghost to Queen Serenity-ghost. 'Jail Bait' by MarshAngel.
And in that moment my muse decided to return from her vacation in Bahamas or Hawaii or wherever she was and we both planned and wrote this fic. It's my first SM-fic... (Hey! Don't run!! I *do* have some experience in other fandoms!) If you like it, write me at dani_vasq@hotmail.com if you don't... just blame my muse.
Just as in 'Jail Bait' the scouts will be between 16-17 years old while Darien will be 21. The Scouts know who Darien is and vice versa. Serena and Darien *still* hate each other... Reenie who?
My muse promises that this *will* be an original fic... I back her up full way.
Go on with the story!
TITLE: To Choose A Wife.
AUTHOR: Leni
DISCLAIMER: Maybe later I'll learn who owns them, for now the only thing I know is that I DON'T.
DISTRIBUTION: All yours. Just tell me.
SUMMARY: Read the quote above....
RATING: Still undefined. Suggestions?
FEEDBACK: I want it. Even if it's only to blame my muse... Just don't be so hard on her. She is very fragile... dani_vasq@hotmail.com
"" represents speech.
represents thoughts.
represents 'annoying little voice'. I.e. Conscience.
_______________________________________________________________________________
***At the Shinto Temple / Present time***
WHAT??!"
The Guardian of Time thought of protecting her eardrums the next time she promulgated such news. The shrieks of five teenage girls were not exactly the best thing for an enduring health
"Is this a joke, Setsuna?"
This question came from the other side of the room. For a second Setsuna thought that she would prefer the surprised shrieks any day. The smooth calm and deadliness in her Prince's voice was far more devastating.
"No, Prince. I never joke," she responded equally calmly.
Darien furrowed his brows in deep concentration. This was going to be a LONG meeting.
***
***Ten minutes ago***
"Just tell me where is that Meatball Head! We've planned this meeting for days and she knows better than to come late!"
Of course, that was Raye's voice.
"Uhh, Raye? Hate to point it out but Serena isn't the only one missing..." Lita stated and then proceeded to hide behind Darien when the priestess fixed her flaming gaze on her. She better left out the part where Serena was improving her habits and rarely came late to a Scout-meeting anymore.
"Yeah, but at least we know that Mina won't be late because she found extra-chocolate in her purse," Darien said snidely.
Raye snickered.
Lita shook her head. It would be shocking to anyone to hear sweet, caring Darien saying such things about sweet, caring Serena... but then, after 2 years of hearing it - and much, MUCH more - on a daily basis, it barely moved her any longer. You would think that after all that time the two heroes would have finally made it up!
Obviously, she was not the only one thinking on those terms. "Don't be so hard on her, Darien," said Amy from her place in the middle of the sofa barely looking up from her encyclopaedia-like book, "she had been working hard these last years. I'm sure she has a very good reason not to come on time."
Lita sighed. How come that mousy Amy had the guts to say so and she, the bullier Scout, didn't? Well, now that it was said she could only help. "Yeah, I still don't understand how you can be so mean to her sometimes," she said in a scolding tone, separating herself from Darien's back and going towards Amy. She glanced sideways at the huge book on her friend's lap and gulped.
"Yeah, of course, especially when she is such an angel to me..." the young man answered with a scowl. Darien didn't like to discuss his and Serena's 'problems' with the girls. They tended to forget that their gentle Princess gave as good as she got... I still can't believe she called me Rosey-Boy! *Rosey-Boy*!!
"Well, she is a real angel to everyone else," Lita stated.
Even Raye had to nod at that. "She is right, Dar. The Meatball Head can be a real pain sometimes but she is a good friend to everyone she likes, and even to those she doesn't... If not how could she have forgiven the Sisters?"
Lita thought. I still don't understand how Serena can still be your friend when you are always so mean to her.
"Then I guess I'm the exception to that rule, ain't I?" Darien responded with a smug smile.
"I think you aren't," said Amy quietly.
Everyone turned to look at her.
"Are you crazy, Ames? Or maybe have you been studying too much?" That was Raye.
"Yeah, Amy, you know I can't wait for these two to stop acting like little children," Lita dismissed Darien's protests with an indulgent hand movement, "but even I have to accept that Serena dislikes him!" In a whisper she finished, "Don't you remember that Tuxedo Mask's picture in her room?" She shuddered at the memory. When they had first discovered who was behind that mask, Serena had nearly suffered a breakdown and tore to shreds every poster she possessed of the masked hero. However, days after, when she had recovered, they had seen a shiny new poster at her door and a shiny new box of darts at her bedside.
Darien was the last one to react. "Huh? I'm not?"
Amy waited until everyone was quiet again and then continued. "Yes, I don't believe you are a... an 'exception' as you put it, Darien. I really think Serena likes you." Incredulous stares from everyone. Amy sighed and put her book aside. "I know it's a little hard to believe but..."
"Hard isn't the word. Impossible is more like it," murmured Raye.
"She likes Darien," Amy said a little more forcefully, "it's only that their relationship had been stressful - to say the least - for a lot of time and it is easier for her to continue down that path." More glares. "I think that they could even become friends if they managed to pass this 'stressful' stage."
"Maybe if you were a little nicer to her..." said Lita staring at Darien. She had been looking for the chance to scold 'her Prince' on his childish behaviour for quite some time. Now she had finally found it.
"I *am* nice to her!"
Eyebrows shot up at that statement.
Lita laughed softly. "Yeah? When? When you were teasing her because of her crush on your alter ego?" Darien looked down. It had been an immature thing to do, he knew, but damn it! she had said worse things about him! Lita didn't stop and only smiled mildly when she saw Darien's sudden interest in his shoes. "Or maybe when you repeated over and over that she would never have the grace of a real princess? Look, Darien, perhaps you thought that laughing about her grades at school was nice, but when she came to us in the verge of tears we didn't think it was. "
Raye and Amy nodded eagerly.
Darien glanced at the girls... Not even Raye was on his side in this one. "That girl can cry even if she sees a spider in her garden! It is not my fault if she can't take a little teasing!" said Darien, exasperated. When had he become the bad guy of this story? Couldn't they remember all the names the 'angel' had invented just for him?
The girls just stared at him incredulously. How could this guy be so inhumane when it came to Serena?
Amy was the one to voice their thoughts. "You yourself have said it, Darien. Serena *will* cry if she sees a spider," she shrugged, "she is and will always be like that. But I can assure you that she would *never* be in the verge of tears because of that. She isn't the kind of person who puts a stop to her emotions. She only does it when it is about *you*."
"Amy is right. I'd bet that since you discovered her real identity you haven't seen her crying again," supplied Lita.
Darien nodded. It was true. Since that night two years ago he had never seen a tear on her face. He looked at his friends' stern faces. he reasoned, He sighed and passed a nervous hand through his hair. "Look, girls, I really don't have anything against Serena. It's just that when we are together... well... she doesn't seem to want to stop throwing insults - and other things - to me..." He sighed again and sat on one of Raye's chairs at the other end of the room. "If she doesn't behave then I don't see why I should try," he finally ended.
"Maybe she would behave if you weren't teasing her every two minutes, prince," a new voice said, "Not to mention that you are four years her senior and therefore should know how to control your emotions better."
All looks went to the door.
Everyone recognised the silhouette at the entrance. Even without her usual Scout uniform, Setsuna Meioh was a woman difficult to miss.
"Shoot, Sets! You should know better than to surprise us!" said a shocked Raye. She would never grow accustomed to Setsuna's sudden appearances.
The timeless Senshi didn't even acknowledge the words and instead entered the room nodding at everyone as a greeting. She took a glance of the whole room and then went to seat on the armchair next to girl's sofa. She clasped her hands and raised her voice. "Well, now that everyone involved is present..."
Amy raised her eyebrows and prepared to say the obvious. "Not everyone is..."
In that same moment Mina entered the room shuffling. "I. *pant*. am sorry. *pant*. guys. Serena won't come. *pant* She.has.fever.and.her.mother *pant* won't.let.her. *pant* go.out." When she saw the still empty space besides Amy she hurried to it with her last energies and dropped onto it.
"You saying, Mercury?" Setsuna asked with a smirk.
Amy didn't answer. She just noted to herself not to contradict the Time Guardian ever again.
"As I was saying, now that we are complete I have an announcement to make." Setsuna breathed deeply.
"It is time for The Prince to look for a bride."
The girls looked at Darien's surprised face and giggled.
Darien just gaped in shock. "B-but--- *but*..."
Setsuna didn't let him end that thought. "The bride has to be one of the Scouts. One of you."
The giggles stopped abruptly.
"WHAT??!"
***
***Present time***
"No Prince, I never joke."
From her different positions in the room, the scouts just stared at Setsuna in shock. However, Amy was the first one to recover. Practical girl that she was, she began to run the statistics of the possible outcomes in her computer. For some seconds the only sound in the room was her rapid typing. Then there was only a heavy sigh. Nobody heard her murmuring 'Thank God!'
She raised from her seat between Lita and Mina and went to Darien. She faced him stoically and showed him the results of her computer. He only stared at the incomprehensible symbols and graphics on the screen.
"I'm sorry, Darien. The Mercury-computer proves that I would never be the indicated for such a task. I can only wish you luck." Said that she retreated to her place.
Everyone in the room sweatdropped.
Setsuna just shook her head in amusement. These girls would always provide some healthy entertainment.
"But Amy..." began a sceptical Mina, "your computer can't know such a thing." Amy stared at her. Hard. Mina gulped. "I mean... uhhh..."
"Yeah Amy, " interrupted Lita, saving Mina's skin. "It's not that I doubt your talents. You know well I don't." Amy's glare lessened. "But I find it difficult to believe that your computer - no matter how advanced it is - could run a program over this kind of things."
"Of course it can," said Amy proudly, "I just entered Darien's and my preferences, dislikes, hopes and dreams and compared them. Few of them are related. It simply would never work."
"But in matters of the heart..." continued Lita dubiously. Before she could go on Mina interrupted.
"Can you lend it to me, Ames? There's this guy I met at the arcade and I really want to know if..." she noticed everyone's glares on her. "Oh well, it was just an idea..." she sulked and furrowed deeper into the sofa.
"I still don't understand why it has to be one of *us*" Lita mused aloud.
Setsuna was about to answer but Amy was there first. "The Earth Lineage must be powerful in order to protect the planet from invaders and inner enemies. To ensure this is it reasonable that the members marry powerful beings... such as the Scouts. Am I wrong Setsuna?" It was just a question of courtesy, Amy's way to apologise for having stopped her friend's explanation.
Setsuna just nodded.
"But my mother wasn't a Scout... or so I think." Darien wasn't really sure of that statement. He had been regaining his memories bit by bit in these last years but there was nothing that could assure him of his mother's nature.
"No, she wasn't. The earth Queen was a very powerful witch. Not so powerful as Beryl, I'm afraid, but second only to her."
"The Queen was a *witch*?" Mina asked half scandalised, half-curious. "But I thought witches were... er..." she drifted off seeing the look Darien was giving her.
"Evil?" Setsuna completed the sentence. Mina nodded uneasily. "No, not necessarily. The Queen was what you would call a 'white sorcerer'. She had the ability to conjure the forces of nature and command them. How do you think is it possible for the Prince to conjure roses? Maybe later, with practice, he will be able to do other things."
"I will?" Asked Darien shocked by the news. Not only his mother had been a witch a millennium ago but he also owed his powers to her. Even more, now he knew that he could enhance those powers. That would teach that Meatball Head not to call him 'Rosey boy'!
"Yeah, you will, Dar. Maybe you'll even be able to give a bouquet of *white* roses to your blushing bride..." laughed Lita.
From Darien's glare on her, she quickly learned that he had found no humour in her sentence.
"It's very possible," said Amy glancing up from her computer and not acknowledging Darien's dark expression. " If Darien continues practising as he has, he should be able to conjure more than his usual steel-tipped red roses in no time."
"But none of us like white roses!" Mina lamented with a grin on her face. "I mean, Lita and I would want something more colourful." Lita nodded. "Amy has already said she won't do it and Raye sure would like her bouquet to be of..."
"ENOUGH!" Raye, who had stayed silent so far, ordered. Mina shut up at once and just looked at her black-haired friend with a smirk. Rei didn't pay attention to her. "Look, what we have here is not a problem which can be resolved overnight. We must think it calmly, especially you, Darien. " He nodded. " I say we take a good night's sleep. We'll go over this tomorrow in the evening."
"She just is thinking how to say 'yes' without sounding too obvious..." Mina murmured.
Lita giggled softly.
Amy suppressed a smile but composed herself rapidly. "Then I guess we are calling this meeting over." She stood up, smoothing her skirt. Computer and book were left in her space-pocket.
"I also wanna go," said Mina rising from the sofa and yawning broadly. "I swear that that damn cat doesn't let me blink an eye with all his 'should-I-talk-to-Luna?' stuff. It's ok if I am the Goddess of Love but, for God's sake! that's not reason enough to maintain me awake until dawn!"
"What?" Lita exclaimed also rising from her sit. "You evil girlfriend, you hadn't said a thing about that! Are you sure that Artemis will 'talk' to her?"
Mina grinned. "Yup. I'm wondering how grey will those kittens be..."
Lita laughed aloud.
"It's not necessary for them to be grey. They could also have strong genes and be either black or white." Blank stares from Mina and Lita. Amy sweatdropped. "But don't mind me. I'm curious about the whole Artemis-Luna thing too. They've had this platonic thing for what? A millennium?"
"Wow. You're right, Amy. Those poor cats have been waiting a whole thousand years for 'something' to happen. No wonder Artemis is so nervous..." Mina realised that they were the only ones preparing to leave. Raye she could understand, she lived here after all, but the others... "Err... Darien? Will you come with us? You could even give us a lift to our homes."
"On another occasion, Mina. Right now I still have to speak a word with Pluto," responded Darien seriously. The girls cringed. To be addressed by their formal names - especially when they wore everyday's clothes - by the normally charismatic prince indicated that *way* more than a simple word would be discussed. They hurried in their way out.
"Bye Raye!"
"G-night, chums! Don't stay until too late!" That was directed to Darien, who obviously wanted to stay until he could force his way out of this situation.
"Good night Setsuna, Raye, Darien. " Amy said addressing each one of the remaining persons.
The three girls crossed the door.
"Oohhh. Just wait until Serena knows about it... she'll go nuts about having to be maiden of honour for one of us..." Mina chirped when the three girls were nearly at the door of the temple.
"Setsuna never said she couldn't be the bride." Amy stated. Lita and Mina just stared at her. Amy sweatdropped. "Oh yes... I nearly forgot."
"You forgot that those two had been fighting for more than two years? Wow. That was a lot to forget, Amy. You sure that you are sleeping well?"
Amy didn't dignify that with an answer. She hasn't forgotten everything, she just forgot that *they* didn't know all the facts.
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Should my muse and I go on? Should I send her into another vacation? I'm sorry but I won't do it. Now that I have her here I'll try and make her work for 'Complex Cycles'. It's the least I deserve after having me abandoned three WHOLE months! But well, seriously, do you think I should continue this fic? dani_vasq@hotmail.com