Note #1: Darien has an identical twin: Aaron.
Note #2: I really didn't want to mess with the Serenity-Serena name thing so Queen Serenity is Serena's mother. Kay? And by the way, in case you about as 'special' as Serena herself Queen Qwinnella is Princess Rei's mum.
)~*~*~* The Earth Kingdom - The conference room *~*~*~(
"So It's settled." Queen Serenity commented as she signed the last of the papers confirming the marriage of Princess Serena of the moon and Prince Darien of Earth and Princess Rei of the plant mars and Prince Aaron of earth. The infant Princesses lay quietly in their cribs. Queen Qwinnella watched over the children with a look of deep regret in her eyes that Queen Serenity was still trying to calculate.
"Yes. Shall we bring the twins in to see their future brides?" The King of earth suggested. Meaning the Princes of earth, Darien and Aaron.
"Yes. We must be going soon." Queen Qwinnella replied softly. Two boys of about age five with identical coal black hair, sharp features, smirks, and tall forms walked in. The only physical difference between them was their eyes. While Darien had deep blue eyes, Aaron had startling green eyes that changed color with his mood and thoughts. As they approached their infant brides his eyes were aqua-green. The princes scrunched up their noses at the sight of two little, cootie infested girls, and the Girls began to wail.
"Is this a good sign?" Serenity asked eyeing the complaining children.
"Darien! Aaron! That's not very noble!" King Davian scolded his sons. The princes looked at their father, disregarding his orders; Aaron shoved Darien yelling, "You're it!" and ran out of the room. Davian didn't try to stop them but only sighed at their retreating figures.
"Well that was a good start." Qwinnella put in as she picked her daughter up from the Ebony and ruby crib. Serenity followed by picking up the small Princess Serena, nodding a respectful goodbye to the king, and walking out of the room. With a small farewell and bow Qwinnella and Davian parted, not to see each other ever again.
)~*~*~ The Moon Kingdom - Serenity's quarters ~*~*~(
Serenity sighed as she thought of what she had just done. Her daughter was to marry Prince Darien of Earth. It was for the good of the moon people. Still, guilty thoughts ran through her mind *But what of Serena? Isn't her marriage exposed to be her choice? Qwinnella said it was the will of the fire. Whatever that means. What does that mean? Qwinnella has been acting strange lately. * There was a knock at the door. She groaned and walked across the cold stone floor to answer it. The door swung open to reveal a tall, beautiful woman with fire red hair, proud chin, small nose, and, unlike the normal people of mars who had flaming red eyes, worn looking Amethyst eyes. It was Queen Qwinnella. The lack of sparkle and shine in her eyes made Serenity worry. She was normally so cheerful and peppy. It was like her soul had been wounded. Serenity frowned and let her in.
"I have a favor to ask of you. It's not easy, but I must." Qwinnella announced sadly.
"What is it Qwinn? I'll do anything you ask if you'll just smile!" Serenity tried to bring a hint of cheerfulness into the room, which had turned suddenly very cold despite the roaring fire in the hearth. Qwinn sat so near the fire that the flames licked the calm red hair cascading down her back and strait to her feet.
"I don't know how to put this, other than my power is draining from me. It's going to Rei. Something is taking my power, ever so slowly, from me, and giving it to Rei."
"What do you mean? Qwinn, you can't live if your powers are taken from you." Serenity was confused.
"That's where the favor comes in. I want you to take care of my daughter. Raise her as a princess should be raised. If I appoint a reagent she will be raised as an inferior. I hate to ask you but you're the only person I know that I can trust to her, and you know the way of my people. Please don't say no." The woman was near begging and in tears. Serenity couldn't have said no if she had wanted to.
"Of coarse I will. " A tear ran down Serenity's cheek as she looked upon her dying friend.
"I have a month at the most left to live. Don't cry Serenity." Qwinn pleaded, making no attempt to wipe the tears from her own cheeks. She was scared, she was dying. She had one Beautiful daughter, in good hands, and a caring best friend to spend her last days with. She took calm from the fire behind her and comfort from the gentle grip of her friend's hand on hers, and stopped her tears. It had been a wonderful life.
)~*~*~ Two years later - The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
Serenity didn't cry anymore in the shadow of Queen Qwinnella of the plant Mars's grave. The sorrow wasn't gone, but for the sake of Qwinn's child, Princess Rei, she pushed the tears aside. Now, with a little princess on each hand she felt blessed to have Qwinn's legacy, and her angle, a console her.
"Is that my mommy, Serenety?" Rei asked her in her high, childish voice.
"Yes Sweetheart. That's your mommy." Serenity told her sadly.
"When is she coming back?" Rei asked. The simple words of the innocent child almost broke the dam she had built within herself to stop her tears. She came down to look into Rei's eyes.
"No, Honny, she won't be coming back. She's gone Rei."
"She's not coming back?"
"No. She's gone. Gone to a better place." A tear ran down the child's cheek, falling to the ground in witch her mother lay. She understood. She was only 26 months old and she already knew that her life was never to be lead by her mother.
)~*~*~ The princesses at age 8 - The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
"MOMMY!? I want to go to out today!" The little Princess Serena complained to the Queen. The Mars Princess was nowhere to be found.
"Where's Rei?" Serenity asked of her daughter.
"I don't know! I want to go o-out" Serena whined. **Xea: So the habit started early then?** The woman rolled her eyes discretely at her child. *I've raised a soiled little whiner.* Serenity thought.
"Yes, but what does Rei want to do?" Serena whined again and left to look for her friend.
She found her in the fire garden. The garden had been built in the memory of Queen Qwinnella. This was where the princess spent most of her time. Standing either in the fire **Xea: She's immune to fire, get it? Princess of Mars, the celestial fire, immune? I'm going to shut-up now.** or chanting before it. Now she was in a sort of trace, looking into the roaring depths of the large fire that stood in the center of the extensive and intricate garden where the spirit of her mother was still thriving.
"Rei, com'on. Mommy wants to see you." Serena told her friend. Rei returned to the world to glare at Serena. The glare reflected the fire and adding to the natural fire in her eyes. Her eyes were always unnerving, and with the added fire around her they made one's hair stand on end. And if Serena hadn't grown up with Rei and wasn't used to it she would have stared to run in the other direction in fear.
"Rei! Mum wants to see you!" Serena shouted instead. Rei quietly rose and went to see Serenity.
"I don't have a mother." Rei whispered as she walked past her friend. Rei was extremely mature for her age. She always had been. Her fiery eyes held a tragic knowledge far beyond her years. She hardly ever smiled. It was even worse a couple years ago. She was beginning to grow out of the loss of her mother, but everyone who knew her knew she would never fully recover.
)~*~*~ The Princess at age eight - The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
"My life sucks." Rei grumbled as Serena dragged her two a new room in the palace that she had found. Serena had been on this thing about exploring the palace lately and frankly Rei was getting sick of it and was once again letting Serena drag her around. * Wait! Why am I letting Serena drag me everywhere she pleases? Oh! This is enough! * Rei thought as she slammed her foot down and refused to move it. Serena's hand jerked forcefully on her's and Serena went flying into Rei. Rei didn't filch but spun Serena around from where she now sat on the floor.
"Why do you have to drag me everywhere!? It's a bit annoying, or don't you care?" Rei requested of her best friend.
"I care! You don't get around enough! So I'll get you around for you." Serena answered pulling herself from the floor and tried to take off again. Rei was stronger than Serena from all the warrior training required of a princess of Mars verse all the etiquette lesson required of a moon princess. Rei didn't budge.
"Come o-on! Re-ei?" Serena whined.
"Don't whine Serena, it's not very attractive." Rei informed her.
"Soo-o?" Serena whined again simply to annoy Rei into complying. *It's not going to work. * Rei mentally informed Serena.
"I can try I?" Serena answered. The two could talk mind-to-mind when they wanted to.
"No." Rei said, setting fire to Serena's skirt. The fire quickly snuffed itself out before the silk caught ablaze. Serena glared at Rei evilly and they started to laugh. They were more like twin sisters than friends.
)~*~*~ Princesses at age 14 -The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
Serenity stared at the doorway of the conference room waiting for Princess Rei to arrive. Time was running out for her to go to her home planet of mars. *She can't rule over a place she's never been to.* Serenity thought. She knew Rei wasn't going to like this, but what could she do about it? She loved Rei like the second daughter she never had. But there was a clear difference between Rei and Serena. You could even see it in their eyes that they were of different natures. Rei had raging fire in her eyes, while Serena had innocence and purity in her eyes. Rei and Serena walked into the room. This startled Serenity, though it shouldn't have. They were practically joined at the hip.
"Serena, what are you doing here?" Serenity questioned her daughter.
"You asked for us, did you not?" Serena replied.
"Oh! Those foolish servants can't get through their heads that you two are two different people! Oh well, you might as well stay. This concerns you too."
"Yes, what is it?" Rei questioned, her eyes flickering suspiciously.
"Rei, I think it's time you visited your home planet." queen Serenity said, getting strait to the point," I know you already know every aspect of your culture and you've had all the lessons: magic lessons, Shang fighting, hand-to-hand and with weapons combat, and gods know what else. And you've exceeded beyond my imagination in all. But I think it's time you experienced your plant first-hand." Serenity held her breath as Rei's eyes raged with amethyst fire of anger and thoughtfulness. Serena just stared at her, slack-jawed.
"Can Serena come?" Rei finally broke the silence.
"Yes mother, that's a wonderful idea. I don't have any lessons or drills I can't do on mars. Can I? Can I go to Rei's planet with her?" This made Serenity uneasy.
"Um, Serena, there's a difference between you going away and Rei leaving." Serenity pointed out. Serena began to pout.
"Serenity, what is the difference?" Rei questioned dangerously, the fire in her eyes was having a blood curdling effect on Serenity's peace of mind, not to mention her stomach. Rei was dangerous when she lost her temper. It was the only time when her power, witch was nothing to toy with even when she was in control of it, got away from her.
"Well, Rei knows how to protect herself."
"MOTHER! I'm not a child!" Serena screeched
"And it is also a fact that you haven't had a self-defense lesson in your life!" Her mother countered.
"With all do respect, your majesty, I am capable of protecting both of us." Although Rei's voice was soft the clipped and angry tone stopped all activity in the room. Even the servants stopped their work to stare at Rei. The fire in her eyes raged and her blood boiled. Serena and her had never been separated and to suggest that she was incapable of taking care of them just made her even more angry.
"Well, I'm sure you are but it's not your ability to protect yourself I'm questioning. But it's a lot harder to hide two beautiful princesses than one. I just worry about you two."
"Then, if it makes you feel better we can summon a group of guardians to watch over us." The razor-sharp edge of Rei's voice was gone and the servants went back to work.
"Well I guess, that would work."
"Are there any other objections?"
"Well, no, I guess that's it." Serenity answered thoughtfully.
"I can go then?" Serena asked eagerly.
"Yes, I suppose. But I-"
"It's settled then." Rei cut in, turned and left. Serena followed. Serenity shook her head and chuckled at her girls. They'd grown so much.
Now, what to do about those guardians¼
Note #2: I really didn't want to mess with the Serenity-Serena name thing so Queen Serenity is Serena's mother. Kay? And by the way, in case you about as 'special' as Serena herself Queen Qwinnella is Princess Rei's mum.
)~*~*~* The Earth Kingdom - The conference room *~*~*~(
"So It's settled." Queen Serenity commented as she signed the last of the papers confirming the marriage of Princess Serena of the moon and Prince Darien of Earth and Princess Rei of the plant mars and Prince Aaron of earth. The infant Princesses lay quietly in their cribs. Queen Qwinnella watched over the children with a look of deep regret in her eyes that Queen Serenity was still trying to calculate.
"Yes. Shall we bring the twins in to see their future brides?" The King of earth suggested. Meaning the Princes of earth, Darien and Aaron.
"Yes. We must be going soon." Queen Qwinnella replied softly. Two boys of about age five with identical coal black hair, sharp features, smirks, and tall forms walked in. The only physical difference between them was their eyes. While Darien had deep blue eyes, Aaron had startling green eyes that changed color with his mood and thoughts. As they approached their infant brides his eyes were aqua-green. The princes scrunched up their noses at the sight of two little, cootie infested girls, and the Girls began to wail.
"Is this a good sign?" Serenity asked eyeing the complaining children.
"Darien! Aaron! That's not very noble!" King Davian scolded his sons. The princes looked at their father, disregarding his orders; Aaron shoved Darien yelling, "You're it!" and ran out of the room. Davian didn't try to stop them but only sighed at their retreating figures.
"Well that was a good start." Qwinnella put in as she picked her daughter up from the Ebony and ruby crib. Serenity followed by picking up the small Princess Serena, nodding a respectful goodbye to the king, and walking out of the room. With a small farewell and bow Qwinnella and Davian parted, not to see each other ever again.
)~*~*~ The Moon Kingdom - Serenity's quarters ~*~*~(
Serenity sighed as she thought of what she had just done. Her daughter was to marry Prince Darien of Earth. It was for the good of the moon people. Still, guilty thoughts ran through her mind *But what of Serena? Isn't her marriage exposed to be her choice? Qwinnella said it was the will of the fire. Whatever that means. What does that mean? Qwinnella has been acting strange lately. * There was a knock at the door. She groaned and walked across the cold stone floor to answer it. The door swung open to reveal a tall, beautiful woman with fire red hair, proud chin, small nose, and, unlike the normal people of mars who had flaming red eyes, worn looking Amethyst eyes. It was Queen Qwinnella. The lack of sparkle and shine in her eyes made Serenity worry. She was normally so cheerful and peppy. It was like her soul had been wounded. Serenity frowned and let her in.
"I have a favor to ask of you. It's not easy, but I must." Qwinnella announced sadly.
"What is it Qwinn? I'll do anything you ask if you'll just smile!" Serenity tried to bring a hint of cheerfulness into the room, which had turned suddenly very cold despite the roaring fire in the hearth. Qwinn sat so near the fire that the flames licked the calm red hair cascading down her back and strait to her feet.
"I don't know how to put this, other than my power is draining from me. It's going to Rei. Something is taking my power, ever so slowly, from me, and giving it to Rei."
"What do you mean? Qwinn, you can't live if your powers are taken from you." Serenity was confused.
"That's where the favor comes in. I want you to take care of my daughter. Raise her as a princess should be raised. If I appoint a reagent she will be raised as an inferior. I hate to ask you but you're the only person I know that I can trust to her, and you know the way of my people. Please don't say no." The woman was near begging and in tears. Serenity couldn't have said no if she had wanted to.
"Of coarse I will. " A tear ran down Serenity's cheek as she looked upon her dying friend.
"I have a month at the most left to live. Don't cry Serenity." Qwinn pleaded, making no attempt to wipe the tears from her own cheeks. She was scared, she was dying. She had one Beautiful daughter, in good hands, and a caring best friend to spend her last days with. She took calm from the fire behind her and comfort from the gentle grip of her friend's hand on hers, and stopped her tears. It had been a wonderful life.
)~*~*~ Two years later - The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
Serenity didn't cry anymore in the shadow of Queen Qwinnella of the plant Mars's grave. The sorrow wasn't gone, but for the sake of Qwinn's child, Princess Rei, she pushed the tears aside. Now, with a little princess on each hand she felt blessed to have Qwinn's legacy, and her angle, a console her.
"Is that my mommy, Serenety?" Rei asked her in her high, childish voice.
"Yes Sweetheart. That's your mommy." Serenity told her sadly.
"When is she coming back?" Rei asked. The simple words of the innocent child almost broke the dam she had built within herself to stop her tears. She came down to look into Rei's eyes.
"No, Honny, she won't be coming back. She's gone Rei."
"She's not coming back?"
"No. She's gone. Gone to a better place." A tear ran down the child's cheek, falling to the ground in witch her mother lay. She understood. She was only 26 months old and she already knew that her life was never to be lead by her mother.
)~*~*~ The princesses at age 8 - The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
"MOMMY!? I want to go to out today!" The little Princess Serena complained to the Queen. The Mars Princess was nowhere to be found.
"Where's Rei?" Serenity asked of her daughter.
"I don't know! I want to go o-out" Serena whined. **Xea: So the habit started early then?** The woman rolled her eyes discretely at her child. *I've raised a soiled little whiner.* Serenity thought.
"Yes, but what does Rei want to do?" Serena whined again and left to look for her friend.
She found her in the fire garden. The garden had been built in the memory of Queen Qwinnella. This was where the princess spent most of her time. Standing either in the fire **Xea: She's immune to fire, get it? Princess of Mars, the celestial fire, immune? I'm going to shut-up now.** or chanting before it. Now she was in a sort of trace, looking into the roaring depths of the large fire that stood in the center of the extensive and intricate garden where the spirit of her mother was still thriving.
"Rei, com'on. Mommy wants to see you." Serena told her friend. Rei returned to the world to glare at Serena. The glare reflected the fire and adding to the natural fire in her eyes. Her eyes were always unnerving, and with the added fire around her they made one's hair stand on end. And if Serena hadn't grown up with Rei and wasn't used to it she would have stared to run in the other direction in fear.
"Rei! Mum wants to see you!" Serena shouted instead. Rei quietly rose and went to see Serenity.
"I don't have a mother." Rei whispered as she walked past her friend. Rei was extremely mature for her age. She always had been. Her fiery eyes held a tragic knowledge far beyond her years. She hardly ever smiled. It was even worse a couple years ago. She was beginning to grow out of the loss of her mother, but everyone who knew her knew she would never fully recover.
)~*~*~ The Princess at age eight - The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
"My life sucks." Rei grumbled as Serena dragged her two a new room in the palace that she had found. Serena had been on this thing about exploring the palace lately and frankly Rei was getting sick of it and was once again letting Serena drag her around. * Wait! Why am I letting Serena drag me everywhere she pleases? Oh! This is enough! * Rei thought as she slammed her foot down and refused to move it. Serena's hand jerked forcefully on her's and Serena went flying into Rei. Rei didn't filch but spun Serena around from where she now sat on the floor.
"Why do you have to drag me everywhere!? It's a bit annoying, or don't you care?" Rei requested of her best friend.
"I care! You don't get around enough! So I'll get you around for you." Serena answered pulling herself from the floor and tried to take off again. Rei was stronger than Serena from all the warrior training required of a princess of Mars verse all the etiquette lesson required of a moon princess. Rei didn't budge.
"Come o-on! Re-ei?" Serena whined.
"Don't whine Serena, it's not very attractive." Rei informed her.
"Soo-o?" Serena whined again simply to annoy Rei into complying. *It's not going to work. * Rei mentally informed Serena.
"I can try I?" Serena answered. The two could talk mind-to-mind when they wanted to.
"No." Rei said, setting fire to Serena's skirt. The fire quickly snuffed itself out before the silk caught ablaze. Serena glared at Rei evilly and they started to laugh. They were more like twin sisters than friends.
)~*~*~ Princesses at age 14 -The Moon Palace ~*~*~(
Serenity stared at the doorway of the conference room waiting for Princess Rei to arrive. Time was running out for her to go to her home planet of mars. *She can't rule over a place she's never been to.* Serenity thought. She knew Rei wasn't going to like this, but what could she do about it? She loved Rei like the second daughter she never had. But there was a clear difference between Rei and Serena. You could even see it in their eyes that they were of different natures. Rei had raging fire in her eyes, while Serena had innocence and purity in her eyes. Rei and Serena walked into the room. This startled Serenity, though it shouldn't have. They were practically joined at the hip.
"Serena, what are you doing here?" Serenity questioned her daughter.
"You asked for us, did you not?" Serena replied.
"Oh! Those foolish servants can't get through their heads that you two are two different people! Oh well, you might as well stay. This concerns you too."
"Yes, what is it?" Rei questioned, her eyes flickering suspiciously.
"Rei, I think it's time you visited your home planet." queen Serenity said, getting strait to the point," I know you already know every aspect of your culture and you've had all the lessons: magic lessons, Shang fighting, hand-to-hand and with weapons combat, and gods know what else. And you've exceeded beyond my imagination in all. But I think it's time you experienced your plant first-hand." Serenity held her breath as Rei's eyes raged with amethyst fire of anger and thoughtfulness. Serena just stared at her, slack-jawed.
"Can Serena come?" Rei finally broke the silence.
"Yes mother, that's a wonderful idea. I don't have any lessons or drills I can't do on mars. Can I? Can I go to Rei's planet with her?" This made Serenity uneasy.
"Um, Serena, there's a difference between you going away and Rei leaving." Serenity pointed out. Serena began to pout.
"Serenity, what is the difference?" Rei questioned dangerously, the fire in her eyes was having a blood curdling effect on Serenity's peace of mind, not to mention her stomach. Rei was dangerous when she lost her temper. It was the only time when her power, witch was nothing to toy with even when she was in control of it, got away from her.
"Well, Rei knows how to protect herself."
"MOTHER! I'm not a child!" Serena screeched
"And it is also a fact that you haven't had a self-defense lesson in your life!" Her mother countered.
"With all do respect, your majesty, I am capable of protecting both of us." Although Rei's voice was soft the clipped and angry tone stopped all activity in the room. Even the servants stopped their work to stare at Rei. The fire in her eyes raged and her blood boiled. Serena and her had never been separated and to suggest that she was incapable of taking care of them just made her even more angry.
"Well, I'm sure you are but it's not your ability to protect yourself I'm questioning. But it's a lot harder to hide two beautiful princesses than one. I just worry about you two."
"Then, if it makes you feel better we can summon a group of guardians to watch over us." The razor-sharp edge of Rei's voice was gone and the servants went back to work.
"Well I guess, that would work."
"Are there any other objections?"
"Well, no, I guess that's it." Serenity answered thoughtfully.
"I can go then?" Serena asked eagerly.
"Yes, I suppose. But I-"
"It's settled then." Rei cut in, turned and left. Serena followed. Serenity shook her head and chuckled at her girls. They'd grown so much.
Now, what to do about those guardians¼