Well, here is the longest chapter yet. I guess it was wise that both chapter 13 and 14 were split up into two chapters or it would have been a long one. Chapter 14 is 12,179 words, so I hope you all like it. Please review or send me an e-mail on what you like. I would prefer both though, and I have a poll under my profile so please vote. Here is chapter 14!!!
The Earth's Princess Chapter 14- Heed All Warnings!
She woke up to the early morning sun shining brightly in her eyes. Turning her head so that she could see, Serena noticed that her mother was lying in bed next to her. She drew her eyebrows together in question and then slowly sat up so as not to wake her. For some reason she was a bit scared and didn't know why. Serena heard a movement from across the room and was ready to jump when she saw that it was only Jedite. Taking a deep breath to calm her nerves, she crept out of the bed to walk over to him and it wasn't until she stood that she noticed Darien slouched in one of her chairs and fast asleep.
Jedite waited for her to reach him before he spoke. "How are you feeling?" he quietly asked.
"For some reason, I feel a bit frightened and I don't know the reason." Serena replied. "What is going on?" she asked as she looked back to her mother and Darien.
Jedite looked at her a moment, "You don't remember?" After she shook her head 'no' he continued, "You apparently had a bad dream last night and Raye had sensed something going on. When they finally got you to wake, your mother decided to stay with you and Darien insisted on staying all night. Zoycite, Nephlite, and I took turns with Darien in watch. Raye and Amy were trying to stay, but Serenity made them go back to their rooms."
Serena was quiet for a second. "I do kind of remember something." She tried to think back on what she did have a dream about. She closed her eyes willing her mind to remember. Orange eyes, red hair… then it all came back to her. Her heart started to pound in her chest and she felt Jedite lightly touch her arm when she made a quick intake of breath. Serena opened her eyes and looked at the prince in front of her. She was breathing heavy.
There was a quick, loud gasp and they both saw Serenity sit up in bed as if lightning had struck her.
"Sere…!" Queen Serenity stopped when she saw her daughter safe on the other end of the bedroom, but her small outburst woke Darien and he jumped out of the chair, looking ready for battle. Both of them visibly relaxed in a matter of seconds.
Serenity elegantly swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood. She walked over to her daughter. "You gave us a fright last night." she said.
"So Jedite tells me." Serena answered. "I am sorry to have caused you guys alarm." she added.
"It wasn't your fault at all." Darien told her joining the three.
Serenity put her arms around her daughter and hugged her big, then she stepped back. "Go ahead, get dressed and then join me down in the dinning hall." She stopped for a moment and then looked at Serena. "May I ask what you have them doing today?" the queen asked referring to the two brothers. Serena looked at her mother not sure of what she was talking about.
Jedite spoke up, "Darien was going to stay up all night by himself, but we stopped him because we knew that he would have been to tired for our little outing with Diamond."
Serena saw Queen Serenity narrow her eyes at her. Her mother knew that she was up to something but it really wasn't a bad thing. "I just asked that they spend some time with him that is all Mother. Really." The queen didn't looked convinced.
"She asked me yesterday when she was giving me a tour of the gardens, if we would invite him to go riding with us." Darien added. It didn't really seem to help with Jedite snickering when Darien mentioned the word 'garden'. But then Serenity noticed how Serena's face became red with embarrassment.
"Ahhh…, so Luna just about hit the nail on the head last night then didn't she?" She asked of the princess.
Serena shot into defense mode, "Not the way she meant it." Darien and Jedite looked at each other not knowing what they were talking about.
"Wait a minute. What is going on? Malachite said that you already got hounded by Serenity, Luna, Athena and Aphrodite." Jedite questioned the princess.
The color suddenly left Queen Serenity's face. "Malachite told you about last night?"
"Well, yeah, why wouldn't he?" Darien and Jedite asked in unison. They still had no clue to what had really gone down.
"I didn't think he would say anything about it to anyone." the queen replied.
"Proposals don't stay quiet forever." Darien added still a bit confused.
When the realization of what Malachite actually told them hit her, Serenity took in a deep relaxing breath a second before Serena busted out into laughter. They all looked at her. "What is wrong with you now my child?" Serenity asked.
Darien knitted his brows together in question. "Something else happened that he didn't tell us about. They know what it is." he told his brother. "And by the looks of it, it is something that Queen Serenity must have done."
"Nothing happened." Serenity quickly reassured them in almost a snap, but she wasn't very good at hiding it this time. The two brothers didn't believe her and it didn't help that her daughter was cackling like a loon either. "I am sorry, but I have some things that I must attend to before breakfast." and with a nod of her head, the queen left. Serena broke into another fit of laughter.
Serenity shut the door behind her and paused. She took another deep breath as she covered her face with her hands, "Lord help me." she mumbled into them.
"Is everything alright?" Serenity jumped at the voice behind her. She noticed Luna standing not more than three feet from her backside.
"Oh Luna it is just you. I thought that I was alone."
"You are quite jumpy today. What is the matter?" Lady Luna asked her queen.
"Apparently my daughter and Prince Malachite have kept silent about last night and I didn't know. The princes were talking about Malachite asking for Mina's hand yesterday and I almost spilled the beans about us."
"Is that why I can still hear your little girl laughing through the door? She sounds like a hyena." Luna replied in almost a cringe.
Serena had just gotten out of the tub when there was a knock on her bedroom door. "Come in." she called after she put her robe on. Marina walked in at the command.
"I heard about the excitement that went on last night." Marina said to her friend as she walked to the closet that held the dresses that belonged to the princess.
"I don't want to wear my usual today Marina." Serena told her.
"Well what would you like?"
"Something gold and blue. I just feel like having a change from my regular white." she added as she came up to her friend.
Marina pulled out a gown that she liked herself. "How about a very pale deep blue?" she asked.
"I like it." Serena replied.
Marina helped Serena dress and was getting ready to place her hair in her regular buns when she stopped her and said to leave most of it down. When they were finished, the princess's hair was in a style similar to Mina's, but the top was pulled back to have two separate pig-tails on each side. The majority of her hair was down and past her rear, almost to her knees. The gown barely hung on her shoulders and the sleeves were slit open until they joined again at the elbows and then splitting once more before meeting again at the wrist. The edges of the sleeves were trimmed in gold along with the bottom of the dress. The rest of the gown flowed from the hips out and there was a gold belt wrapped around her waist and then went to the floor.
Marina reached for Serena's cat necklace on the nightstand by the bed. "You know, since you got this, I don't think that I have seen a day without it on you. Do you only take it off to sleep?" she asked.
"Yes. Not until I am ready to leave for the day that I put it on." the princess replied.
"Oh…"
"What's wrong?" Serena asked.
"Your clasp is a little loose. Do you want me to bring it to get fixed while you are at breakfast?"
Serena came over to look at her necklace herself. "That wont be necessary. I'll get it fixed later." she answered taking the jewelry from Marina and putting it on herself.
"Well, I am going to go ahead and get to breakfast. I will see you in a little bit?"
"Yes, of course. I just have to put my shoes on."
Marina had left and Serena walked over to her closet knowing straight away what shoes she was going to wear, until she actually opened the door and saw all the other shoes that she liked. Serena was no longer sure which ones she wanted. She got so preoccupied with deciding on a pair that she never heard Mina walk in.
Mina was going to shut the door behind her until she forgot about it at the sight of just about every single pair of Serena's shoes on the floor surrounding her. "What are you doing?"
Serena's head shot up, "Oh Mina, you have to help me. I knew what pair I wanted for this dress, but then when I saw the others I didn't know anymore. Help me choose one so I can go eat." Mina's cousin pleaded.
Mina squatted down in her yellow and pale orange dress and picked up a shoe. "How about this one?"
Serena looked up, "That was the one originally, but then my eye caught this one." and she held up one that was near the same color.
"It could do, but this one here. How about it?" and Mina reached over Serena for another one a bit more dressy.
"That one is lovely, but I feel not for this dress." she pointed at one across from them at the end of the pile. "That one?"
Mina bit her bottom lip. "You could use this one."
Serena, like her cousin, bit her bottom lip. They had a serious challenge before them.
Twenty minutes later both girls were running down the hall with their skirts hiked up to their knees. They finally found a pair they both liked for Serena to wear and neither one realized that it was the original pair Serena wanted.
Malachite and Darien were coming up to their turn in the hallway when the girls ran in front of them not even seeing the two men. They ended up walking behind the girls even though the two cousins were gaining ground. The brothers relaxingly watched them in their hurry, laughing.
"Have you ever noticed how much those two are alike?" Darien asked.
With a chuckle Malachite replied, "Yes, and I tell you, they are every bit as much like their mothers."
"What do you mean by that?" Darien questioned.
"I can't say anything, but you will see someday."
"Does it have something to do with Queen Serenity?"
"Maybe." Malachite answered.
"That would explain why she seemed to be embarrassed this morning in Serena's room." Darien was quiet for a moment, "You know something Malachite? I never really thought that you would be the first of us to go through with it. Marriage that is."
Malachite looked at his brother, "She is beautiful isn't she." he stated watching after Mina.
"Yes, in her own right, but I believe that her cousin is better to my taste."
Malachite laughed at that and slapped his brother on the back.
"I think that it is starting to wear off on me." Darien finally admitted.
"What is?" Malachite asked looking at him with curiosity now.
"The thought of marriage. With Princess Serena." Darien replied. Malachite smiled at him making his younger brother smile in return.
Zoycite was coming back from the stables and was crossing the courtyard when he came across Diamond. "Ah, just the person I was looking for."
Diamond looked up from the ground. He was lost in thought during his morning stroll. He was a bit shocked that one of the Earth's princes was looking for him. He must be mistaken. Diamond looked around him for a second and found no one else outside with them. "Me?" he asked Zoycite.
"Of course you. Who else?" Zoycite replied.
"Anyone else."
Zoycite smiled and almost laughed. "Are you busy Diamond?"
"Not at the moment. Why? Do you need something?"
"Well, my brothers and I were going riding and were wondering if you would like to join us. We don't want to leave you in a palace full of women either." Zoycite told him. He noticed a bit of joy enter Diamonds eyes at the mentioning of the ride.
"I would enjoy that. When are you going?" Diamond asked.
"Now."
"But I have yet to eat." He informed the prince.
"Neither have we, Nephlite is busy packing the food now. We were going to stop in the middle of the ride to eat near the river." Zoycite said.
Diamond pondered the idea for a moment. "Okay. Let us be off then." and the two began to walk to the stables. After about a few minutes, he said aloud, "I am surprised that your brothers would invite me. Did they loose to you in a bet?"
Zoycite looked at him as if he just appeared out of thin air. "What do you mean?"
Diamond made a face before he answered, "I get a feeling that they do not like me much. Darien especially when I get near Princess Serena."
"Oh, well it's just a protective brotherly thing. We all do it. Even though she is not our real sister, we grew up with her as one. Older siblings protecting the younger sister. You know how that goes right?" When Zoycite didn't receive an answer he looked to the man walking along side him. "What is the matter?"
"I don't know what that is like at all." Diamond finally said. "I wish that I had the type of family that you all seem to carry. Full of love and caring. Even the friends."
Zoycite suddenly came to a stop forcing Diamond to stop with him. "Surely Beryl and your parents would protect and watch over you?" After Diamond shook his head he continued, "You mean to tell me that they don't watch out for you?"
Diamond not being disrespectful, let out a mocking sort of laugh, "Beryl and my mother would leave me to die and rot if that sort of thing ever came up and I have no real friends. Princess Serena is the first person to reach out a hand of friendship to me. Everyone else seems to eye me like I contain some sort of disease."
Zoycite slapped him on the back, "Serena's friendship, you definitely have. I can assure you of that! Now concerning the others, you just haven't spent enough time around them yet. You just have to get to know their type of personality. Like me, I am what some would call a book worm. I have plenty of people come to me for the really intellectual stuff. Jedite is a big jokester and gets himself into a lot of trouble, especially with Darien. And Serena is with the two of them, you can forget it. They cause so much mayhem between each other and their arguments. Malachite and Nephlite are along the calm and wise-like type. The two older brother-like figures you know. Nephlite also likes to cook for everyone. Malachite has to hold the ultimate older brother status so he may make you seem like he is strictly by the rules, but don't let that fool you. We all have a sense of humor and just remember to be yourself and everything will be fine." When Zoycite finish filling Diamond in on some things about his brothers, Diamond smiled his thanks and the two continued on their walk to the horses.
When they reached the stable, Diamond went to pick out a horse that he wanted to use for the trip. Zoycite stayed near the entrance and he leaned against the wall. Jedite soon came up to stand beside him.
"How did it go?" Jedite asked.
Zoycite took in a breath, "He was happy that we asked him to go and it was a good idea for me to be the one to get him. He already feels that some of us look at him differently and was a bit surprised that we asked for him to come along."
After breakfast, Athena was able to pull Beryl away from the others so that they may all talk in private about the previous night. The five young princes of Earth had already taken Diamond with them as soon as they could. Serena sat at the table with not her five friends from the other planets, but her scouts. Her mother, Luna, and Aunt had joined them along with Marina. She described her dream to them and then listened as Mars informed them all about her vision.
"This does give me much worry. Back before you were taken Serena, I had some dreams of my own. I didn't pay much attention to them, but I should have. The person that you two saw is no doubt Queen Beryl." Serenity told them.
"But, it looked like the Beryl that is here now, and then I knew in my sleep that it wasn't." Serena said. She was a bit worried and she was hiding it well.
"How do we know for sure that both Beryls are not one and the same?" Aphrodite interjected.
"What are you suggesting?" Luna asked the queen of Venus.
"I mean. Maybe it is not her daughter after all. What if it is her. Just a different form.
"The Beryl that attacked my husband and I and took Serena was much older than this one here. How could that be possible if what you say is true?" said Serenity. She looked up when she heard the door open and saw Artemis walking in.
"Queen Athena ran into me earlier and asked that when I could, to join you. She wants to know what is happening." Artemis told Queen Serenity. He took a seat as she nodded her response.
"I am not sure, but I just have that feeling." Aphrodite replied.
Artemis had heard enough of what was said to know what was going on. "The Beryl from long ago had more power, and we believe that the crystal had something to do with her disappearance. The Beryl here now has shown no real power, but the resemblance is defiantly there. I can't explain the age reversal, but the crystal has to have something to do with it."
Serenity nodded and then looked to the heir of her throne. The princess was rubbing on eye with the bottom of her palm and she looked a bit worn. She decided to change the subject. "Now Serena darling, tell me what you are planning."
Serena looked at her mother a bit lost. "Concerning?"
"Diamond." Serenity answered.
"Oh, yes. I know that Nephlite, Jedite and Darien are untrusting of Diamond, no matter how I try to tell them that he is good. Malachite has not said to which way he leans and Zoycite is with me. I asked that Darien take them along with him in asking Diamond to go on a ride today. I want them to spend some time alone with him to get to knowing Diamond more in hopes that they come to see what I do." Serena answered and to inform the others except for Artemis who already knew.
"Zoycite went with them this morning." He told the young princess.
She looked at him and asked, "Why?"
"He would like to know more and so that Diamond doesn't feel out-numbered with three of them against him and one that is unsure."
"I didn't think about that at all."
"We must be careful of both of them no matter what the thoughts are of Diamond. The two are related and were born of the witch Beryl." Queen Serenity stated.
Over the horizon, six figures on horseback could be seen riding across the grassy fields. They slowed when they neared some trees and water and then dismounted. "I grabbed almost everything under the sun so what ever you like to have I have it Dia…" Nephlite stopped and looked up for the man. He had thought he was followed to the food but then noticed that their guest wasn't there. When Nephlite noticed him still standing near his horse looking out at the sky, did he call his name. "Diamond! Is everything okay?"
Diamond turned to look at the prince. "Everything is fine. I was just enjoying the view and then caught sight of the earth in the sky. It is a little weird that that is home, so far away."
"I didn't pay much attention to it. It is amazing." Nephlite answered coming up to stand beside him. "Do you like nature?" he asked. He watched Diamond's eyes and he saw them sparkle.
"Like it? I love it. The beauty of something so simple. How such small things can take your breath away. It to me is bewitching."
"I take it that Beryl doesn't share your enthusiasm in this." Nephlite stated, then saw the light leave his face as his eyes downcast.
"No, sadly she doesn't." Diamond replied. "I wish that she would though. She doesn't see life like I do and she always made fun of me about it when we were growing up." Diamond smiled then for just a brief second. "There was this one time I found this little baby bird. Such a small thing. Only a few days old I believe. I couldn't find the nest and so I took it home with me to care for it. Beryl laughed at me saying that I was weak. Then, when my back was turned she snatched it away and right in front of me she fed it to a stray cat wondering by; laughing at it like it was some type of armless amusement. I couldn't do anything to stop her." he went quiet for a moment.
"Your mother didn't do anything about it?" Jedite asked.
Diamond shrugged his shoulders, "She said that is what I get for trying to help those that were weaker than I." The brothers all looked at each other.
Serena was walking the halls when she saw Nephlite, Zoycite, and especially Darien walking further down. Her face lit up and she was just about to chase after them and call out to Darien when something grabbed her dress from behind and she was partially yanked through the door of a near-by room. The door was somewhat slammed behind her and when she was finally able to look by cranking her head around, she saw Malachite behind her.
"Umm, can I help you????" she asked looking at him and then eyeing her backside because he had yet to release her. He got the silent message and quickly let her go.
"Sorry. I had to get you before you ran off. I have to ask you a question." Serena raised her brows in a manner that was not in the least bit rude. "In your personal opinion, seeing as how you know what went on last night…"
He was floundering and she knew it, "Oh, spit it out! We grew up together. You know you can ask me. Is it about your wanting to marry Mina?"
"Well, yes. I was thinking of asking her tonight, but I hav…"
"You are afraid of what her answer will be aren't you?" Serena pried.
"Is it that obvious?"
She breathed out a heavy sigh, "Malachite, I may be blonde, but I am not that stupid. Do you have the ring on you right now?"
Malachite pulled out the box and handed it to her after he opened it. Serena's eyes widened a bit. The princess looked closely at the ring. It had seven stones. The center stone was oval and made of white opal. On each side were three small orange topaz stones, and the ring itself was made of gold. She looked at the prince, "Oh Malachite, she will love this." she said on an outward breath and then handed it back to him. "It is a beautiful ring."
When he put the box up, she looked at him, "In answer to what you want to ask, I am almost 100% sure that her answer would be 'yes'."
"Almost??" he repeated with worry in his voice.
"Well yes. I really have no doubt, but there is a small chance that a 'no' will pop out." At the look on his face she quickly continued to clear up what she said. "I mean, I am not saying she doesn't want to. For example, she may say 'no' because of duties or something like that. She may feel that it would not be the right time. Don't get me wrong, I know that she will be ecstatic that you are asking and willing to tie the knot. But there are possibilities that a 'no' could pop up. In my opinion, I believe that she will say 'yes'."
"Probability?"
Serena pursed her lips together and moved them from side to side. She knew it was kind of mean to tease him like this by pausing in her answer, but the opportunity rarely ever presented itself. She wanted to smile when she thought about how much she used to do it to Darien when she still lived on Earth with them and how much it would irritate him. She hadn't much time to do it to him anymore, and she made a mental note to do it before they all went home. It was then that she realized how much she was falling for him. Then it dawned on her. Serena never teased him like brothers and sisters do. It was always a flirtatious tease. The beach and the gardens came into her minds eye. Oh my God, she was in love with Prince Darien.
Serena decided that Malachite was being tortured enough by her and that Darien and Jedite, if they already knew of the situation, were giving him a hard time themselves. "hmmm… I'd say… 99.6%." He looked at her. "You want me to say 100 and then that possibility show up and I look like a liar? Then you wont believe me for anything else in the future." He still stared at her. Laughing at the whole of the situation, she tackled him with a huge. Then upon leaning her head back she said, "Everything will be fine. I would tease you more, but this isn't something to do that with. In matters of love the friendliest of teases can still hurt. Can I tell you something she once told me? One night, Mina started talking about how she missed Earth and Marina stopped her first because in her descriptions of Earth, she was describing you with a certain look on her face. You have nothing to worry." she kissed him on the cheek, "Good Luck, Big Brother." and she let go of him and opened the door running out and in the direction that she last saw the other three.
King Perseus and Artemis looked up when the door opened and they saw all five brothers walking into the room. They were in the middle of a game of chess and knew the moment that the boys walked in that the game was over for now.
"How was your ride this morning?" King Perseus asked them all.
"Interesting." Malachite answered.
Artemis was curious to the tone the oldest prince used. "How so?" He propped his arm on the table and placed the back of his hand under his chin, still holding the rook that he took from the king a second ago. He sat alongside the table sideways and relaxed.
"We see what Serena and Marina are talking about now. He has a joy for simple things. You can tell it in his eyes like they say." Jedite told them.
"But they also said that eyes are the window to the soul, and that we also saw." Nephlite added sitting down near the two older men.
"And how is that?" the king asked.
"There is good in him, but it is too late for any interference from us. Beryl will have more control over what he does then we could ever have." Darien answered.
Zoycite shook his head, "If only we could though. The love that that boy has. To be treated by family like that."
"I want to trust in Serena's belief, but there is just something tugging at me to be cautious." Darien told them all.
In which, Zoycite replied, "Serena will never back down from the idea." And when he stated that fact, each one of his brothers nodded their head in agreement.
King Perseus sat back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. "Serena always means well. She sees good in all things. She normally hit's the nail on the head about people too, but women can usually be blinded by their hearts when it rules their feelings; blocking out all rationality sometimes."
"It appears that we need to keep an eye on him. I will try to watch him for the rest of the trip. Darien, you still have Beryl in your sights right?" he asked the youngest prince.
"I will continue watching her for tonight, but I can't keep being near her." Darien answered.
"By what do you mean?" Perseus asked his son. "It is the best way that we can watch her."
"It is ruining the friendship that Serena and I have, and soon I will not be able too keep it up." His father looked at him concerned, but he still nodded his head to his son's statement. Darien saw the slight smile Malachite gave him and he was the only one to see it.
That night was the big dinner and the costume ball. Queen Serenity wore her usual white gown, but Serena and her guardian scouts, though all as princesses, wore a gown with the same design only different colors. The dress bared the shoulders and the sleeves were only about two inches wide and hung loose on the top part of the arm. The gown in a way had three parts so to say. The first part was the top section and only went to just below the bust area before the second part came around from the back and crossed the front at the waist before cutting back across from the hips and hitting the backside at the feet. The third part was pleated and came from under the second and went to the floor. Each princess to their own colors and their hair was pulled back the same way. The top half was held with a barrette in the shape of each of their powers and in their color on the front of their head were two sets of three round jewels, one on the left and right side.
Princess Raye's top was a dark purple, the second was deep red, and the third was a pale lavender violet. Her barrette was of fire in the colors of red and purple. The round jewel beads in the front which told of her station were also red.
Princess Lita's top was pink, the second was dark green, and the third was a minty green color. Her hair was held by a green lightning bolt the color of the lighter green on her gown. The jewels on top of her head were the darker green.
Princess Amy's top was of a calming light blue, while the second was a deep blue like the sea, and the third was such a pale blue. Her barrette was of three forms of her powers and matched her gown with all the blue shades in it. The center of the hair piece was shaped like ice and was the lighter color. Above the ice were bubbles and they were of the medium blue with very small diamonds to act as mist on top. Then the bottom of the ice had multiple rows of three and four tear drop sapphires strung together to represent the liquid form of water. Her front barrettes were of the medium light blue.
Princess Mina's top was a deep blue, the second was of a darker orange, and the third was a pale yellow. She wore her usual bow, but it was the same orange from her dress and in the center was a blue heart. Her front jewels were orange.
Princess Serena's top was the same gold color of her regular dress, with the second white and the third a light soothing pink. She wore the usual white jeweled barrettes in the front and had the same jewels as a barrette for the back.
Just as everyone was being seated, Princess Serena stood to address their guest. "I would like to thank everyone for coming out tonight for the festivities that are to take place in the next few hours. I know that it is normally my mother who would be standing here addressing you instead of I, but since this whole celebration was my doing, I only felt it right that I take the reigns on this. I do hope that you all enjoyed the circus this afternoon. It is something that I have always enjoyed myself as I grew up on Earth and I wanted to share it all with you. Also what I want to share with you is today's date. I don't know if many of you are aware that October 31st is a day of great celebration and fun on Earth. It is what they call 'All Hallows Eve' or Halloween. They say that this day is the day of demons, but to go about dressed in such a manner, you ward off these demons. That is the legend of Halloween, but it has now become a tradition to dress and celebrate with parties and such and I have always enjoyed spending one day a year to dress as what ever you like. On earth the children even have a thing they do by going around to different homes to collect goodies. They call it 'Trick-or-Treating'. This is another thing that I would like to continue having here on the Moon and I hope you have as much fun with it as I and my family have had. Now, let us begin this fun by eating." and she raised her glass and as the rest of the guest toasted their agreement, Serena sat back down in her chair. She never noticed the look of knowing that passed between her mother, aunt, Luna, Artemis, and her childhood parents.
There was a short break between dinner and the costume ball. Before everyone went their own way for those few minutes, Malachite came up to Mina. "You look beautiful tonight." he told her.
A bit surprised to find him standing behind her, Mina whirled around. "Thank you." she smiled the reply and then almost blushed before saying her next thought. "You aren't half bad yourself."
Serena was over in a corner with Marina and Amy and she wasn't paying one bit of attention to what her friends were talking about. She was too busy watching her cousin and the oldest prince of Earth. She bit back her smile by biting down on her lower lip. She glanced across the room and made eye contact with Lita and Raye not far behind Mina and Malachite. Serena raised her hand slightly to motion them to come over to her.
"What are you doing?" Amy asked with a curious look on her face.
"Oh, what?… Marina, I think it is going to happen." Serena told her lady-in-waiting. Marina smiled knowingly.
"What is going to happen?" Amy asked just as Raye and Lita joined them.
"You have to just watch and see. We have to follow Mina wherever she goes with Malachite."
"Why would we…." Lita stopped her thought then and there.
Raye smiled, "Your Aunt said something to us about…" she paused a moment and then leaned in closer to the girls and lowering her voice, she continued, "Malachite asking for Mina's hand." Lita and Amy's eyebrows shot up. Serena and Marina just nodded.
"I was there when it happened last night." Serena told them.
"And you didn't say anything to us about it?" Lita asked a bit louder then she should have.
"Malachite asked us not to say anything." Marina told them all.
"Why would he only let you guys in on it?" Amy asked the two.
Serena's face turned a bit red, "I kind of came across it by accident. It was all Luna, Athena, and my mother's fault."
"You shouldn't be blaming it on your mother Serena." Lita corrected.
Serena shook her head and then told them all what had happened the night before in the secret passageways. When she was done telling the tail, her four scouts were in awe.
"You are making it up." Raye accused her.
Marina shook her head, "I thought so too, but then Malachite appeared and he confirmed it."
"Wow… I really can't believe it." Lita said.
Serena motioned for them all to lean in close to them. "Now you all know what this means right? I don't want to hear any protest from you Amy. We, as Mina's friends, have the right to see this and they can't deny us of it. We must be secretive in our operations, and we…" she was cut off.
"Oh enough already, we get it Meatball head! Stop going into it." Raye told the Moon Princess.
Serena's eyes went wide. "What did you just call me?! You are just a…"
Amy stepped in-between the two of them. "Hush! If you start now, we will miss this opportunity." All the girls nodded and they hid themselves to watch Mina and Malachite.
"I was wondering, if you are not too busy, that you could join me out on the balcony." When Mina nodded her reply, Malachite led her to a secluded place. Neither of them noticed the nine set of eyes spying on them.
When Mina stepped foot outside, she closed her eyes and tilted her head to the sky, taking in a deep breath. Malachite studied her in the Earthlight. If he had any doubts before, they were all gone. She brought him a certain peace that no female had ever been able to do. Mina stopped and looked at him, "What is it that you want to say?" she asked.
Malachite looked at her, a bit of shock on his face. Even she could read it? "Mina, how do you feel about me?" If she thought it an odd question, she didn't say.
"By what do you mean?" she asked.
"I have strong feelings for you and I was wanting to know if they were the same for you." he replied.
"I never really had any feelings for myself, normally just for other people." she answered.
He looked at her, her answer taking him by surprise. "Excuse me?"
Mina smiled then, "I was being a smart aleck and trying to make you laugh." she was quiet for a moment. "I like you a lot. So much so that I believe that I may be deeply in love with you." She confessed. "I can tell that you had feelings for me, but I didn't know how much. I have already seen how reserved on that kind of stuff you are so I could never judge. But my mother has reassured me on more then one occasion that you feel the same. Even Aunt Serenity said something to me about your affections the last time I brought it up with my mother."
Not wanting to seem like he was really prying, nor to tip her off, Malachite asked, "What all did they say?"
Mina looked up at him, "Not much. They both just kept telling me that they see it even if I don't. And they told me not to worry. Honestly I was a bit nervous awhile back. I had prayed that you felt the same way for a long time. Especially after our first date."
Malachite remembered what Serena had told him earlier in the afternoon. He decided that it was now or never. He took the Venusian princess' hands in his and knelt down to one knee. "Mina, I fell in love with you the first moment that I saw you. I didn't know how to express my feelings outward because no one has ever affected me the way you have." He reached for the ring box in his pocket, while opening it he continued, "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Will you marry me?"
By this point, Mina was already starting to get teary-eyed and Malachite had noticed how her eyes widened when she saw the ring. Serena was right in Mina's reaction to the piece of jewelry and he hoped that she would also be right in Mina's answer.
After a sniffle, Mina nodded her head, "Yes." Malachite was overjoyed he embraced Mina and then they both locked into a deep loving kiss.
Behind one of the curtains, Serena and Lita were both holding onto each other and crying quietly over the scene before them. The tears streaming down their face like water fountains. "That was so sweet." Lita told her charge in a whisper.
"I know." Serena whispered back.
Both Mina and Malachite were still in the kiss when Serena felt her left pig-tail being pulled. The yank had her fumbling for her balance and she noticed that she was practically being dragged away from Lita by whoever had a hold of her hair. Lita still had a small grip on her princess, but when she was pulled away, she lost it and her footing, falling to the floor and onto her stomach. The other girls were hiding behind various pieces of furniture in the room and were looking on wide-eyed and Serena, out of the corner of her eye, saw Darien and she started fussing at the same time Lita fell which broke the kiss the newly engaged couple were having. Both, also with wide-eyes said in unison, "Serena?" and they watched as she was dragged by her pig-tail to the door.
"Don't all you girls know that it is improper to spy on others no matter how old you are or if three of you are Queens." Darien said before he left the room with Serena who at the last second caught sight of her mother smiling at her with a wave at the young moon princess from her hiding spot.
Behind a hidden door, Queen Aphrodite started to shout a retort that she had a right to see this because it was her own daughter involved, but she was pounced by Luna, Queen Serenity and Queen Athena to keep quiet.
When they were alone in the hall, Darien let go of Serena. She reached up and placed a hand to the top of her bun, rubbing it. She then looked into one of the many mirrors that lined the wall and made sure that nothing was out of place. Serena turned sharply on Darien.
"What the hell in wrong with you?! And how did you know where I was?" she asked of him.
"Your mother saw you girls sneaking off…" she interrupted him.
"I know, I saw her in there; herself also hiding."
"I was looking for you and she told me where you were. I found it quiet funny that she would snitch on you like that, and I find it even funnier that they were all in there with you and your scouts."
"It didn't surprise me. I caught her, Luna and Athena doing it last night." Serena mumbled.
"Is that why she was freaking out this morning about Malachite telling us?" at Serena's nod, Darien gave a full-hearted laugh. When he was done he continued answering her. "I wanted to speak to you for a moment out in the gardens."
Serena still had a smile on her face, "Okay." and she led the way.
Once outside, they walked out to the willows and Darien motioned for her to sit down before he did so himself. Serena turned to him, "So how do you like it here? I never got around to asking you considering the situation last time you were here."
"I like it a lot. It is very different from Earth of course." he answered.
"I know. There are different things here that make it special, but I miss all the simple things I got to do back on Earth. I miss the beach and climbing the giant oak out in the courtyard."
"I missed having you around when you came to live here. It wasn't the same picking on Jedite without you."
"I wasn't always on your side." Serena stated.
"Yes that is true, but Serena, it really killed me when you stopped talking to me." Darien told her.
Serena saw the little bit of hurt flash in his eyes. "I am sorry about that. I was angry and hurt at the whole situation. I mean, can you imagine the little bit of pain that I had? I felt betrayed by everyone."
"I really didn't tell you because I was afraid of hurting you. Do you remember that one day we got caught in the cave from the storm after you ran off because mother and father told you about the Easter Bunny?" Darien said. Serena smile at the memory. Darien always fallowed her to make sure she was safe. He continued, "You ran away cause you were upset then and I followed you down to the beach."
Serena nodded, "I was mad at you then for not telling me that either."
"But you understand why now right? I wanted to tell you about you not being blood related then, but I couldn't bring myself to do it." He saw her grin with a light smile in her eyes.
Serena looked at him, "So, what did you want to speak to me about?"
Before he could answer, both their names were called and they looked up to see Luna on a nearby balcony. "Yes?" Darien asked for them.
"You need to come on in. It is time to start the dance." Luna shouted down to them and then after they nodded she turned and went back into the palace.
"Well, I definitely have to get in there, you going to come?" Serena asked the prince. Darien stood and held out his hand to her. After helping the princess up, he gave her his elbow and upon Serena taking it, they walked in together.
The ball had started off great and without a hitch. Serena had danced with a lot of people. She had one in particular that was tall with short blonde hair and was dressed as royalty. She thought that the prince was kind of cute until her mother and Lady Luna informed her that he was actually a she and was the Princess of Uranus. Serena finally had a small moment for a break and she broken away from the ballroom. Darien had somehow disappeared and she soon noticed that Nephlite, Malachite, Zoycite, Jedite, Sir Artemis, and Perseus were gone too.
Serena went looking for Darien after Mina had given her a friendly earful for what the girls did earlier. She was really curious and wanted to ask him what he had to speak to her about. Thinking of where he possibly could be, she became quiet eager and started to jog to her destination. Running up a set of stairs, she turned a corner and stopped dead in her tracks. There not far away she saw Darien and Beryl near one of the walls. They couldn't have been doing what she thought she saw them doing it. Were they kissing? They were kissing. It had felt like she was standing there for hours, but in reality she was there for a fraction of a second and just as she was turning to run back down the stairs, Darien broke away from the kiss and upon seeing her, chased after the princess. Neither of them saw the evil gleam in Beryl's eyes.
This time being that she knew where the hidden passages were at, Serena was able to get away from Darien. She came out on the third floor and when she was sure that no one was there she leaned against the wall. Not now. She wasn't going to cry this time. It wasn't going to get to her. That was until Marina came up to her.
"Serena, what is the matter?" she asked worried at the sight her friend was in.
The princess shook her head, "It's nothing." She sniffled.
"Bull shit. Nothing my ass. What happened?" she stood in front of Serena and urged her mistress to look at her.
After a swallow, Serena answered. "I just saw Darien, kissing Beryl."
"Are you sure?" Marina asked.
"Do I look like I would lie about that?!" Serena asked her lady-in-waiting.
"I believe you wouldn't lie, but I just don't see him doing that." Marina replied.
"Why?"
"I just don't." Marina was quiet in thought for a moment. "Look, just go back to the dance. Okay? You need to have the scouts around you." Serena quietly and slowly nodded her head and the two walked back to the ballroom and once Serena was back with her mother, Marina turned around in search of Darien. She finally found him with his father, brothers, and Sir Artemis. They all stopped talking when she entered.
Darien walked over to her the moment he noticed Marina. He knew she had run into Serena by the look on her face. "Where is she?"
"She is back with her mother and the scouts at the ball."
Darien started to walk past her when Marina held out her arm to stop him from getting by. "Let me through Marina." He told her.
Marina shook her head, "I need to talk to you first."
When Darien started for the door, King Perseus stopped him. "You are to stay put until she says what she has to." Darien didn't ignore the order they all hear in his father's voice.
"I ran into Serena. She told me what she saw." Marina didn't get to finish.
"She misunderstood what she saw." Darien interrupted.
"Please let me say what I have to before you speak." she politely asked. When he backed down, she continued, "I know she saw what she did, but I also know that she had to have got it wrong because I know the whole situation that is going on here and I know that you wouldn't do anything like that. So I want to know what happened."
"I was with Beryl of course and as we were heading back to the ball she stopped. When I stopped to ask her what was wrong, she leaned in and kissed me. As soon as it happened I pulled away, but Serena had showed up in that split second. I tried to go after her to tell her the truth of what happened, but she had already disappeared. I don't care that we had originally decided against it. I need to tell her the whole of the situation."
King Perseus slowly nodded, "It would seem that the reason we kept it from her has indeed turned against us. You will tell her Darien."
"That is if she will talk to me." Darien replied.
Zoycite slapped him on the shoulder, "In that case, we will make sure that she does."
Serena pretended not to notice when Darien came back in with all the males of his family. She was a little surprised though when Marina came in with them. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Darien walk her way. Before he could even get the words out to ask to speak to her, she looked at him and sharply said, "No." and she snapped her head to the side and walked off.
Darien looked back to his family and Sir Artemis came up to him. "Let me try." He told him. Darien watched as Artemis went up to the moon princess.
"Princess Serena, may I have this dance?" Artemis asked the young girl. She turned to him and smiled.
"Of course."
He took her out on the dance floor and when they started dancing, he said, "What is wrong Serena? Why are you ignoring him?"
"You should ask him that." she replied.
"He needs to speak with you and you need to give him the common courtesy to do so."
"I have no such obligation."
Artemis laughed, "You forget. You are a princess and that in itself gives you that obligation. Even more so now that you know you are the moon princess." She didn't have a reply for that.
When the song was done, Artemis left her with a bow. She saw Darien looking at her, once again she walked off. Jedite, Zoycite, and Nephlite all tried to talk her into listening to Darien while they each danced with her. She still did not listen.
Finally Malachite came up to her. She saw the look in his eyes and knew that he was going to take a shot at her like the others have already tried to do. But there was something that told her he had some type of ace. She was curious to see what he had to say. She greeted him with a big smile that said she was ready, "Yes, I would like to dance."
Malachite hadn't even asked her yet and that made him laugh. "Okay then." After looking at her, he had to ask. "What is going on in that head of yours?"
"What do you mean?" she innocently asked.
Malachite shook his head, "Why wont you listen to all of us and just talk to him?"
"Because I choose not to."
"Well then do it for me since you were being sneaky by watching Mina and I tonight."
"Ah, so that is your card." Malachite looked at her confused. "When you came this way I could tell that you had something up your sleeve and now I know what it is." she informed.
The song was done and before Malachite left he asked her one last time to talk to his brother and she smiled at him. "No. For the sole reason that you grew up with me and because of that you should have known that I would have been there to see it." Malachite narrowed his eyes at her because she had a good point. As he walk away she saw him look at his father and shake his head and she let out an annoying breath when Perseus started walking her way. "Damn it all." she mumbled under her breath.
Marina was standing next to the three queens and Luna and she was trying not to laugh, but the smile still showed on her face. "King Perseus will get her to talk to Darien."
"She still sees him as a father figure and so she will listen to what he tells her." Queen Serenity said.
"Not just that. Look at her face. She is going to do it because she knows that they are all against her and they wont back down until then." Marina added.
"I don't think that she will admit to that inevitable defeat." Luna added.
"Well if for some reason she still doesn't do it after my husband talks to her, then I will go down and dance with her if I must." Queen Athena told them all.
Queen Aphrodite busted out laughing. "Then if that is the case, I will join you. I mean Serena doesn't have anything against that. She had already danced with Princess Haruka." That comment had them all laughing.
Serena watched as the king came up to her and when he asked her if she would like to dance, she told him yes. It was a little ways into the song and he had yet to say anything to her. She couldn't stand the silence.
"Are not you going to say something to me about Darien too?" she asked.
"I was going to wait to talk about it, but since you brought it up." he answered.
'Damn it!' She walked right into that one and she cursed herself for it.
"I understand that you are mad at him for something, but you have to listen to Darien first before you go ignoring him completely. How many times have you gotten mad at someone and come to find out it was a miss understanding?" Serena didn't answer him. "Talk to him and listen before you go storming off. At least let him explain himself."
"Oh, alright. I will let him talk."
"I know you and so you are going to let him dance with you while he explains himself." She pouted a bit. He knew her all too well.
He stopped dancing and turned and motioned to his son. Darien came over and the two swapped places. She was now in front of Darien, her face at his chest, the top of her head at his shoulders. She know noticed how tall he really was and for some reason, she noticed, it made her feel funny.
"Look Serena, I know what you are thinking when you came upon Beryl and me by the stairs. I told you before that I am not interested in her that way and she had forced the kiss. I didn't know that it was coming, but the moment it did I pulled away right then. You came it at the second after she kissed me and before I was able to stop it. I don't want to kiss her. Ever. I want you Serena."
She didn't know what to believe. She was willing to believe him, but yet she didn't want to. Was it just because of her stubbornness that told her no. They song ended and he gave her a light kiss on the forehead.
"Please don't forget what I told you last night." Darien said as he walked away. She watched him for a few minutes before Beryl walked up to him. She saw the bitch look at her with a grin of pure evil and triumph. Serena narrowed her eyes in a glare that told the woman she would kill her if the opportunity presented itself and she was satisfied with the look of surprise Beryl when got at the warning. It made the princess happy that she got to the evil woman and she walked off to join some girls she had just met nearby.
Before Serena even got to her destination, she was approached by Diamond. They both exchanged a smile. "You seem to be free and I was wondering if you are not tired, that you would give me the pleasure of one simple dance."
"For a gentleman like you, it would be my pleasure." and she gave him her hand. She looked at him, "What?" she asked. At the look of question he gave her, she continued, "You have something to say. Go ahead, I am your friend and you can tell me what it is."
"I had, since I first saw you, liked you. There was something about you that I was attracted to. But now, the more time I spend here, the more I feel towards your friend." Diamond replied.
"Who?" she wondered and like a light bulb it came to her. "Marina?!"
"Shh. Don't say it loudly."
She was shocked. She knew that he liked her, but she never caught on to him liking Marina. "When did this start happening?"
"Shortly after I first met her. He answered, then he asked, "I was wanting to know, does she have anybody special yet?"
Serena shook her head. "Not that I know of. She hasn't said anything to me about one. Except on that one day that she, Mina and I snuck off to Earth and she admitted that she was going to visit a guy, but I never found out who or why."
Diamond smiled, "Thank you."
"For what?"
"Your honesty. You seem like a true friend. One that I never had. Knowing what you and your family feel towards my sister, you all have still opened your homes to me and treated me with such respect. Even your brothers asked me to join them on a ride this morning."
"Really? I had heard about that. How did it go?"
"I fell that some of them don't like me as much as the others, but they still treated me very good and I still felt welcomed. Uncomfortable at first, but still welcomed." The song ended and Diamond started to leave, but he turned around, "Please be careful of my sister."
"I will, and you should go ask her for a dance." Serena called after him.
"Beryl?"
"No silly. Marina." and Serena went over to the girls that she was hunting for earlier.
Queen Serenity watched her daughter dance with Diamond and how the two of them seemed to be in an almost serious conversation. She could tell that the man was confiding in her daughter about something and then she watched him as he walked up to Marina and began to dance with her. The man was nervous about something.
"He likes Marina." Queen Aphrodite stated as if reading her sister's head. Can't you tell?" she asked when Serenity looked at her questioningly.
"So it would seem." the high queen answered as she watched Beryl leave Darien's side after she said something to him and he nodded. Serenity got up out of her seat. "It would seem time for a talk with the young Prince Darien."
Aphrodite watched her sister walk over to the man and exchange a few words before the two of them left the room.
Marina was standing off to the corner and lost in her own thoughts when Beryl roughly brushed pass her and didn't say a word. Marina turned and looked on after the woman. "Beryl, is something wrong?" Marina asked trying to find out what she seemed to be mad at.
Beryl stopped short and turned to the girl. "If you must know, Darien is what is wrong."
"How?"
"He said that he wanted nothing more to do with me and that he was going to go tell Serena how much he cared for her and that she is what he wants."
"Oh. I am sorry." Marina lied. "Where is he now?"
"Out in the gardens." and Beryl stormed off.
Marina bit her bottom lip and went off to find Serena. When she found her friend near the dance floor talking with someone Marina had never met before, she waited. Serena finished her sentence and turned to Marina.
"What is it?" Serena asked her lady-in-waiting.
"Darien is requesting to see you out in the gardens." Marina said relaying the message.
"Tell him that I haven't decided yet on whether or not I forgive him, so I will not see him until then." Serena replied turning back to the girl she was talking with.
Marina took in an angry breath and grabbed Serena by her upper arm, Excuse us." She told the girl. Marina pulled Serena to a secluded spot and saw that she was too shocked by Marina's behavior to say anything. Serena just stared at her friend, jaw dropped. Marina slapped Serena upside the head. ([could've had a V8].)
"What the hell was that for?!" Serena demanded loudly.
"First off, I am tired of your attitude lately. You are 21 and an heir to the throne of the Moon. You can't do that here, not when there are people about. You need to learn to keep your thoughts and your feelings quiet around your kingdom. Behave yourself. Secondly, Darien is not into Beryl in the least bit. He's being around her to protect you!"
"Protect me?" Serena asked unsure if she heard her friend correctly.
"Yes, protect you. You said it yourself about Diamond. 'Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer.' he is close to Beryl so he can keep an eye on her and make sure she doesn't try anything. We were going to let him tell you, but you wont really listen to him. That first night we snuck back to Earth with Mina, and you were with Darien in the courtyard, Jedite and I happened to be walking by and Beryl was in the shadows spying on you two. She didn't see us though, and Malachite and Mina also saw her. I wanted to say something from the get-go, but I was asked not to by your mother and the guys. They all originally thought that it would be better if it was quiet, but you need to know so it doesn't get held against Darien anymore." Marina finished and tried to study her friends reaction by looking into her eyes. She could tell that Serena was trying to think it all through. Then she walked past Marina and headed for the gardens.
Before Serena could get near the doors to leave the ballroom, Raye stopped her. "Where are you going?" Raye asked.
"Out to the gardens. Why?"
"You don't have anybody with you like you mother wants. You are suppose to have an escort at all times remember?" Raye said to the princess.
Serena smiled, "I know Raye, but I will be okay. I am on the palace grounds after all. And besides, I am going to meet Darien out there. You remember that she said I could be with them without a scout too, right?"
Raye nodded, "But, last night. I feel uncomfortable about this. You had your dream and I had that vision."
Serena put a hand on her friend's shoulder, "I understand you are worried. I know there are threats, but I will be fine. Not all dreams are good dreams, but they happen. Like it did last night. I will be okay."
Raye took in a deep breath, "Well, Queen Serenity did say that the princes of Earth were good enough if we couldn't be with you. I guess that it is alright."
Serena smiled, "Plus, I know you want to get back out there with Jedite." she teased.
Raye gave her a look. "If you need me, you know where I am." she told Serena. The princess nodded and they went their separate ways.
Once outside, Serena ran around looking for Darien.
"Darien?! Darien?!" she called. "Where are you?" she didn't receive an answer.
Serena made a sharp turn around a corner and stopped, there was Beryl, but no Darien. Beryl narrowed her eyes at the princess.
"Not now Beryl, where is Darien?!" Serena snapped. Beryl a bit taken aback, pointed in a direction past them. Serena smoothed her skirts and walked gracefully past her enemy. There was something that started to eat at the back of her mind. She didn't like it. When Serena made the turn to the end of the path, she saw the fountain where she and Darien spoke the day before and the bench beyond it, but no Darien. Serena looked around but could not find him. When she turned to go back, Beryl blocked her path.
"Out of my way Beryl." Serena ordered.
"Ooh… You're going to act all high and mighty on me now? What are you going to do Princess, call your guards? They can't hear you. You're too far from the palace." Beryl grinned wickedly at the moon princess.
Serena was ready to fight, but Beryl just grinned evilly. The witch advanced a foot or two until she was face to face with Serena. The princess was confused. She didn't know whether to strike or run past the woman.
Beryl looked past her, "What are you waiting for Diamond?" Beryl snapped the question.
Serena turned to find a lost Diamond right behind her, a look that asked for forgiveness in his eyes.
"Dia… Diamond?! Wha… what are you doing? Don't listen to her. Do what you know is r…" Serena started to say, when suddenly, everything went black.
Marina was talking with Mina, Raye, and Amy when Luna approached them.
"Pardon me girls, but have you seen Serena? I can't find her." Luna asked interrupting the conversation.
"Yes," Marina replied, "Darien asked to see her out in the gardens. She went that way about fifteen minutes ago."
"What are you talking about? Darien is right here." It was Lita. Everyone turned to see her and Nephlite coming towards the group with Darien alongside them.
"I never asked to see Serena. I was with Beryl when she said she had to go to the lady's room. Then the queen came to speak to me in private and I am just now getting back. I am looking for Beryl right now." Darien informed them all.
"Um, come to think of it, where is Diamond?" Nephlite asked looking around.
"But Beryl said…" Marina stopped, the fear entering her eyes.
'Serena!' Darien thought to himself. In a flash and without a word, he ran for the gardens with Nephlite and the scouts not far behind him. Malachite, Zoycite, and Jedite were off on the other side of the room, when Jedite saw them all run outside. He jabbed Zoycite in the arm and pointed to the group. Malachite looked up the same time Zoycite did, and then they followed knowing that something was up. The group split up to find the princess, each calling out her name.
Darien finally came out to the fountain and looked around and saw no one out there. Malachite came up behind him, shaking his head that she was not found. Serena was no where in the gardens. Darien looked down and saw something gleaming in the gravel. It was Serena's cat charm. He bent down to pick it up and noticed that the chain was broken. It was then, as he closed his fist around the necklace, that he realized they had her.
Well, how was it? Long I know. Imagine if it was with chapter 13 like I had originally planned. I can't say when the next chapter will be up. I know my plot line right now, but I am thinking of details. I really want to hear all your thoughts on this so far. After you leave your reviews, feel free to send me e-mails. I love getting them. The story is really suppose to be unfolding now. There will be some explanations to things. Can you guys guess them? I wont tell you if you are right or wrong though, but I still like to see if you can figure it all out. Re-reading my story I found some stuff that doesn't quiet match up. Nothing signifigant but still needs to be fixed. If you guys see anything that I don't catch, let me know too. Also, the costume gowns that the girls wore, I have them drawn up and colored and they are posted on the myspace page under pictures. Go to my profile and click on the link for homepage. There is also a poll on my profile asking which male good guy is your favorite. Go and vote.(For those that don't know how to find the poll, it is on top of the profile page before all the info is listed.) Ja for now.
-Fairy Princess Usagi