Hey all! Here is part 2! I hope you enjoy it! Any translations that I feel
are necessary are in parenthesis.
Ash
Switched at Birth - Chapter 2
So, my Spring Break was spent getting ready to leave the only place I knew
as home.
The first person I told was Molly. She took the news rather well, I think.
"You're what?!" she shrieked.
Patiently, I explained everything to her. After crying for about ten minutes,
and making me promise to write to her as often as possible, she accepted the
fact that she might never see me again. Then, being the wonderful friend that
she is, Molly offered to help me research Paradeisos. She wanted me to make
sure that I knew what I was getting myself into. To be honest, so did I.
On Monday, we went to the local library to find everything we could about my
new home. The encyclopedias that we read through basically dealt with the
geography and the history of the country. It became a principality in 1710,
was located in central Europe, and was a neutral country ever since 1812. It
had four distinct seasons, with summers that were not too hot, and winters
that were not too cold.
It was in the periodicals where we found the really useful information. The
library had all of its magazines on microfilm, and we looked up everything
that had to do with Paradeisos. There were profiles on the past heads of
government, even thirteen sets of wedding photos of each of the royal family.
We learned about the country's economy; they imported and exported practically
everything, from cars to flowers.
The official language was French, which was a relief to me. I didn't want to
have to carry a dictionary with me everywhere I went.
I had approximately 25 million loyal subjects in a country the size of Spain.
Photos of Paradeisos showed a tasteful combination of historical reverence
and modern comfort. Environmentally friendly industries, satellite television,
international airports, trade agreements with the world superpowers among
other things made Paradeisos one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
"Well, Sere, you're definitely moving up in the world," Molly remarked.
I made a face. "Don't remind me. I've only got four days left. The only thing
I won't miss is the reporters."
The day after my identity had been discovered, I had to dodge the press at
every turn. It was really infuriating that 'No comment' didn't mean anything
to them. My face was plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the
tri-state area. I seriously considered hiring a bodyguard. I was kind of
surprised that the reporters didn't follow me into the library. I guess the
librarians are more intimidating than I thought.
On Wednesday, Molly volunteered to go to clothes shopping for me. Luckily,
we were the same size, so her purchases didn't arouse any suspicions. I
decided that I needed a new wardrobe. Shoes, dresses, suits, pants, skirts,
sleepwear, everything.
That afternoon, she arrived at my house, weighed down with dozens of shopping
bags.
"Sere, is all of this really necessary?" Molly asked as she dropped all of the
bags down on my bed.
"I'm going to be a princess," I replied. "I should be able to dress the part."
I started going through the shopping bags. "I really appreciate this, Molly."
"I'm just glad that it's your money, and not mine," Molly told me, taking a
seat in my armchair. "I felt like Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman' when she
had Richard Gere's credit card."
I grinned at her as I started to put the new clothing into my suitcases.
Since time was short, I was only packing clothes, toiletries, some jewelry,
some of my art supplies, and some compact discs. My parents would ship
everything else to me later.
"I'm really going to miss you, Sere," Molly said.
"I'm really going to miss you too, Molly," I told her. "Maybe we'll be able
to visit each other."
"I really hope so," Molly replied. She got up and hugged me tightly. "Don't
forget to write."
"I promise, I won't forget." I hugged her back. "I want you to go through
my old clothes and take anything you want."
"Serena, I can't do that," Molly protested. "It wouldn't be right."
"Sure you can," I insisted. "I won't be able to wear a lot of these things
in Paradeisos." I took several short skirts out my closet. "The press would
have a field day if they caught me wearing this. If you don't take them,
I'll give them to charity or something."
Molly smiled at me. "Now I really feel like Julia Roberts." She started
going through my closet and picking out things she liked. Every so often,
she would find something that she thought I would be able to wear as a
princess.
In the end, I wound up with four suitcases full of stuff. "Maybe I'll make
Mlle. Luna pretend that some of this is hers when we're at the airport," I
suggested.
The remaining clothes that I couldn't take with me, or that Molly didn't
want to take were going to be donated to charity.
*************************************************************************************
My last days in America were spent with family and friends. The unusually
cool spring weather didn't discourage us in the least. We went to all of
my favorite places and took hundreds of pictures.
Finally, it was time for me to go. I changed into a dark gray suit, with
a light blue silk blouse underneath, and I pulled my hair into a long
braid down my back. My family drove me to the airport. I would meet
M. Artemis and Mlle Luna there.
We saw them waiting for us. Mlle Luna came up to me. "Your Highness,
the plane is ready. If you'll give your bags to the valet, he will take
them for you."
"Which airline is will you be taking?" my father asked as the valet took
my luggage.
"We are using one of the royal family's private jets," M. Artemis informed
us. "It is faster taking than a commercial plane."
"Please, your Highness, we really must go now." Mlle Luna told me.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying. I turned to my
family and hugged them one last time.
"You call us if you need anything," my father said, stroking my cheek.
I hugged him tightly.
"Be sure to dress warmly. Keep practicing everything you learned when you
have time," my mother said tearfully. I hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"Name something after me," Sam said. He threw his arms around me and
squeezed me with all his might. I laughed and hugged him back.
"Goodbye everyone," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I'll miss all
of you."
"This way, your Highness," Mlle Luna instructed me. She and M. Artemis
guided me to the jet.
"A Concorde?" I gaped. "The royal family's private jet is a Concorde?"
"We only have one, your Majesty," M. Artemis informed me. "The other plane
is a 747, like your Air Force One."
"Air Force One," I echoed weakly.
"Here we are, your Highness," Mlle Luna said.
I entered the plane and sat down in one of the large seats. M. Artemis and
Mlle Luna sat down as well. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?" she
asked me.
"No, thank you," I replied. "How long will it take to get to Paradeisos?"
"About five hours," M. Artemis told me.
"Oh," I said. I looked out the window, and saw the tiny runway lights flash
on and off. Then, the intercom went on.
"Welcome aboard, your Highness. I am Captain Valmont. It's an honor to take
you to Paradeisos. We'll be taking off shortly, so please fasten you seat
belts."
Soon, we were in the air, over the ocean. I stared out the window for the
entire flight, thinking of what I had left behind. Mlle Luna and M. Artemis
decided to respect my silence and did not try to converse with me.
"Excuse me, your Highness," M. Artemis ventured tentatively.
I turned my head to face him.
"We will be landing in about fifteen minutes, and I wanted to prepare you
for your arrival," he explained.
I inclined my head, indicating that he should continue speaking.
"We will go first," he said, motioning to Mlle Luna and himself. I could
feel the plane start its descent. "Then you will stand on the top step
for a few seconds and wave to the crowd to give the press a photo
opportunity."
"The crowd?" I asked.
"Yes, the schools and shops are closed today. It has been declared a
national holiday," Mlle Luna replied.
"Oh," I murmured. A national holiday, just for me. Yahoo.
"Then, you will walk down the steps and greet the king and queen. They
will be standing at the end of the carpet." M. Artemis gestured out the
window, towards the dark red strip on the ground. I could make out my
royal parents standing there. They were both wearing crowns. The plane
landed and taxied to a stop. "Do you know how to curtsey?"
"I can fake it," I answered. "Let's get this over with."
I could hear the crowd roaring as soon as the door opened. It grew
louder when M. Artemis and Mlle Luna stepped out of the plane.
I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the stairway.
"VIVE SERENITY! VIVE LA PRINCESSE!" (Long live Serenity! Long live the
princess!)
The mob of people shouted and strained against the barricade. I saw a
sea of people waving their arms, clutching the flag of Paradeisos, and
throwing flowers to me.
The king and queen stood facing the plane. They were dressed in very
elegant spring coats. They were squinting a little from the sun.
I stood on the top step, as if I was paralyzed. I forced my lips into
a smile and waved. The roar from the crowd was deafening.
There were guards on either side of the carpet, and they snapped to
attention when I waved. A little girl with a bouquet of flowers tiptoed
to the edge of the carpet and waited.
Somewhere, an orchestra started to play. I recognized my cue.
I was so nervous that I didn't know if I would be able to make it down
the steps. Flashbulbs popped, the people were screaming and waving
homemade banners. "WELCOME HOME SERENITY!" "NOTRE PRINCESSE! (Our
Princess!)" Many of the people were dressed in what must have been
native costumes.
I took a deep breath and started down the stairs.
*****************************************************************************************
"All in all," said Queen Serenity, "a very successful homecoming." She
patted my hand. "Don't you think so, Terrence?"
"Yes, my dear." The king nodded. He patted my other hand. "The people
were obviously overjoyed to greet our little Beryl."
Beryl? Who was Beryl? I thought I was Princess Serenity.
I'd clear up the name business later. Right now, at tea with my royal
parents in the Rose Room, I was tired and homesick.
The tea was very elaborate. The table was set out with sandwiches and
pastries. There were about four different kinds of tea, as well. I
asked for a cup of blackcurrant tea. My mother, my American mother,
used to make it for me when I wasn't feeling well. I took a sip, and
then nibbled on a sandwich.
Again, I found it odd that the king and queen spoke to me in English.
Maybe Mlle. Luna didn't tell them that I could speak French, so I
didn't bother to ask about it. But even with two common languages,
I couldn't think of a thing to say to them. I had a million
questions but I didn't think that any needed to be answered immediately.
The major questions in my mind were, How was my family doing? What was
Molly doing right now?
I didn't even know what time it was here.
"What time is it?" I asked.
The king looked at his pocket watch. "Five-thirty."
"Oh Terrence, how thoughtless we are!" The queen exclaimed. "Beryl must
be exhausted after her journey. She needs a hot bath and a good night's
sleep. We have been selfish, thinking only of our own joy in seeing you,
my dear."
"No, it's all right. I wanted to meet you too," I told them.
They seemed very nice. The queen-my mother, looked younger than my
American mother. She had white-blonde hair, and smoky gray eyes. Even
if she hadn't been wearing her crown, I would have recognized her as
royalty. She was very beautiful and carried herself regally.
The king had dark auburn hair and deep brown eyes. He was about the same
age as my American father and very handsome. He was dressed in some sort
of military uniform, with a sash across his chest and medals on his
jacket.
"Would you happen to know the time in America?" I asked.
The prince pushed a button on his watch. "Twelve-thirty" he replied.
"Thank you-your Highness." I wasn't sure how to address them.
"My dear, you should get some rest if you are not hungry," the queen
said to me. "There are so many things to do, and in such a short time."
What did she mean by that? A short time until what?
Maybe I had to assume the crown sooner than I had thought.
"And you do not have to call us your Highness. You may call us Mummy."
It took me a second to realize that she was using the royal 'we' and she
did not mean for me to call both the king and queen 'Mummy'.
"And you may call us Papa," the king said.
"Do you think you could call me Serena? I'm not sure why you're saying
that I'm Beryl."
"Beryl is your Christian name," the queen explained. "Beryl Serena
Angelica Christine Anastasia."
I shook my head. "This is rather confusing. I thought I was Princess
Serenity."
"Princess Serenity is part of your formal title. When you ascend to the
throne, your title will change to Queen Serenity the fourteenth," she
explained.
"It's just that I'm so used to being called Serena. Couldn't you call
the other girl Beryl and call me Serena? Would I be able to meet her?"
The king and queen exchanged worried looks. It must be a universal
gesture that parents used all over the world.
"I understand if you must call me by my Christian name. But would you
mind calling me Serena, instead of Beryl? Since I already answer to it,
and it is part of my Christian name." I suggested. "But I would like to
meet my..." What was she to me? She was the real Serena Tsukino.
"It would be nice to talk to someone my own age. She would be able to
teach me how to act like a princess. We could be like sisters."
My father, the king, frowned. My mother, the queen, studied her hands.
"Beryl-that is, Serena Tsukino-was very upset by this whole turn of
events," the king began.
Good grief, she'd lost her mind due to the shocking news.
"But I'm sure we could be friends, once we got to know each other," I
persisted.
"I wouldn't count on it," the king replied gloomily.
********************************************************************************************
My chamber was enormous. There was a huge, draped canopy bed, a chaise
lounge, bookcases, chairs, a desk, two bedside tables, a dresser, an
area rug, and blue velvet curtains at the long, narrow windows. There
was a huge fireplace on the wall opposite the bed. On another was a
set of doors that led to the bathroom. It was larger than my room in
America, which wasn't by any standards, considered small. There was a
huge mirror, over a large marble sink with brass fixtures. The floor
was also made of marble, or some other polished stone. The bathtub was
the diameter of a child's wading pool.
Someone had prepared a bubble bath for me. There was a pile of fluffy
white towels on a shelf next to the tub, and my bathrobe hung nearby
on a hook, even though I hadn't unpacked anything.
After my bath, I discovered that someone had put all of my clothes
into the dresser and the huge walk-in closet on the wall to the right
of my bed. My toiletries had been placed in the bathroom cabinets, my
art supplies and compact discs had been placed on one of the bookcases.
The quilt on my bed had been turned down, and my nightgown had been laid
out.
The bath had made me even sleepier, so I took off my robe and placed it
on a chair. I put on my nightgown and climbed into bed. I turned off the
lamp that was on the night table and pulled the quilt up to my chin.
Within minutes, I fell asleep.
*******************************************************************************************
When I woke up the next morning, it was so dark; that I didn't know it
was the next morning. But I knew exactly where I was. I knew I was in
the princess' chambers. I reached out and turned on the bedside lamp.
I didn't know what time it was, but I was freezing cold. The fire in
my fireplace had gone out. I jumped out of bed and put on my robe,
tying the sash tightly around my waist. I also realized that I was
hungry and I had no idea how to rectify the situation.
Suddenly, I heard a scratching at my chamber door. Maybe it was someone
who could help me. "Come in!"
The door inched open, just enough for someone to peek in.
"Come in, please. I mean, *entrez, s'il vous plait.*" (enter please)
The door swung open all the way. A girl about my age, with long, wavy
red hair, stood in the doorway. She was wearing a velvet robe with a
gold rope sash. She was carrying a stuffed teddy bear.
"Beryl!" I exclaimed. "I'm so glad to meet you. You are Beryl, aren't
you? I'm Serena Tsukino...well I used to be...anyway." I spoke in French,
so that she would understand me.
She didn't say anything. She just stood there, her head cocked to one
side, scrutinizing me. Her dark eyes narrowed. Self-consciously, I
checked myself. My cream-colored satin robe was tied properly, and the
neckline to my matching nightgown was respectable. My hair was still
in a braid from last night.
Why was she staring at me like that? I wondered. Why isn't she answering
me? Why doesn't she say anything? And why is she carrying a teddy bear?
She raised the bear level to her chest, like she was displaying it to me.
I got the eerie feeling that I was being displayed to the bear.
"There she is, Grizzly," she said finally. I nearly jumped. "You wanted
to see her, are you satisfied now?"
This girl was very unsettling.
I tried to smile and be friendly. "Maybe you could tell me-"
"You are right, Grizzly," she said loudly. "The American is not very
interesting at all. We will watch some television."
She turned on her heel and left the chamber.
"Creepy," I murmured, and went to close the door.
I shivered as I walked to the closet to get some warm clothes, and it
wasn't just because of the cold.
Maybe it used to be her chamber, I thought, as I buttoned up a white
cotton blouse. I pulled on a pair tan khaki pants and put on the matching
vest and jacket.
I could certainly understand if she was a little hostile towards me. After
all, it's not very pleasant to have your life turned upside-down.
The king had tried to warn me that Beryl might be somewhat unfriendly, but
I was not prepared for an ex-princess who was a few bricks shy of a full
load.
I pulled on socks and a pair of brown boots. My fingers felt like icicles.
Maybe downstairs, at a lower altitude, the temperature was higher, but I
wasn't taking any chances. I pulled on a pair of tan kid gloves.
Even though I had only been awake for about twenty minutes, and I'd only
met Beryl for a few moments, I'd learned a few things.
One: It was definitely morning
Two: I had a potential enemy in the palace
********************************************************************************************
"There you are, my dear!" The king smiled. His gaze lingered a while on
my gloves. "What style the Americans have! Don't you think so, my angel?"
"Yes, indeed," the queen said, smiling approvingly at my appearance.
"I was cold," I explained. "Isn't spring here yet?"
"It is still chilly in the mornings," the king said. "this old building
retains the night air."
The king and queen were seated in a dining room in the West wing of the
palace. I'd managed to find my way with the help of a passing servant.
"Please." The king gestured towards the empty chairs. "Join us."
"Yes, please do," the queen urged. "You will have a very busy day today.
Did you sleep well?" "Yes, thank you," I replied.
The table was set with bacon, eggs, sausages, bread, rolls, toast,
oatmeal, fruit and cereal.
I put some toast, eggs, and strawberries on my plate to eat. I also took
a bowl of oatmeal, and a servant brought me a glass of orange juice.
"We are glad to hear that you are well-rested," the queen said as she
took out a leather pocketbook. "We have much to do in a short time. We
had to double up on some things. You will be in quite a whirl before
this week is over."
There she goes again, talking about how little time there is. How little
time until what? What was the big rush?
"As soon as you have eaten, we will meet with the dressmaker. She will
start work on your ball gown right away." She looked at my outfit again.
"I do not see a need for daytime clothes to be started yet."
At least she approved of my clothes, I thought. But now I knew the reason
for the rush. There was a ball next week. How exciting!
While you are being fitted, M. Artemis will begin your etiquette and
protocol lessons.
Etiquette? I decided against telling her about my numerous etiquette lessons
while I was in America. M. Artemis would know what I would have to learn.
"Then Madame Haruna, your tutor, will work with you on French and the history
of our country. Do you speak any French?"
"Yes, I can," I replied in French. "I thought that Mlle Luna would have told
you that I was quite fluent."
The queen was surprised. "She might have mentioned it." She made a note in
her book, then smiled at me. "One less thing to do, yes?"
I think I managed a small smile. "Yes. Um...I have to call my parents in
America."
"We will have our secretary call them for you, if you wish, but my dear,
_we_ are your mother and father. It would make us happy if you would think of
us as Mummy," the queen said.
"And Papa," the king added.
"I'll try," I said. "I'll just have to get used to it, although, if you don't
mind, that I call you Mother and Father, just to start."
"We see no problem with that," the queen-my mother, said.
"I'd really like it," I said carefully, "if you'd call me Serena instead of
Beryl. Since Serena is part of my Christian name, I'd feel more comfortable
answering to it. I met Beryl this morning, and she seemed-"
They seemed startled. "You met her? How?" the queen asked.
"She came into my room. She seemed sort of...odd. She wouldn't talk to me."
I didn't mention that she talked to a plush animal. I was sure they knew that
already.
"Beryl hasn't been herself these days," the king said sadly.
How could she be? She was _me_ now.
"If she's really my mother's-I mean my American mother's daughter, why doesn't
she go live with them in America?" Not that I would wish Beryl on my family,
but my parents ought to be eager to meet their real daughter.
"We suggested an exchange," Father said. "Not that we were anxious to give her
up. After all, we have always thought of her as our daughter. But your mother
was entitled to have her daughter back. Beryl refused."
Mother nodded. "And we certainly couldn't force her to leave the only home
she's ever known, and the only way of life she's ever lived. The adjustment
would have been too difficult."
They couldn't force her, but they could force me. They didn't worry about how
difficult my adjustment would be.
Well, maybe that was to be expected. After all, I was an important person in
Paradeisos. Noblesse obliges-the responsibilities of noble people. They needed
me here. Whereas America could manage very well without Beryl.
And it was probably true that she would never adjust to being a commoner. If
she was unhinged because she wasn't a princess anymore, she'd keel over the
first time my mother gave her some chores to do.
That meant I was stuck with her. A bitter, possibly deranged rival, with every
reason to hate me, and with plenty of time to do something about it.
"Are you sure she's...all right?" I asked nervously.
"Oh yes," Mother assured me. "The doctor said it was just a temporary refusal
to accept the situation. She is trying to cling to her happy childhood. He is
not alarmed."
Why should the doctor be alarmed? It was me that she hated.
"She will get over it," the queen said. "Now, if you are finished eating, we
must get started." She consulted her pocketbook again. "After your lessons,
you will be taken on a tour of the palace. You will meet the staff, and learn
about our daily schedules, and..."
The list of things I had to do went on and on. It seemed the life of a
princess was a little more than I had bargained for.
"...dancing lessons, learn the national anthem, pose for your postage stamp...
Not all today, of course, but..."
My stamp! Me, on a stamp! I wished I could see Sam's face when he got his first
letter from me. "And call America," I remembered. "May we do that first-um-Mother?"
are necessary are in parenthesis.
Ash
Switched at Birth - Chapter 2
So, my Spring Break was spent getting ready to leave the only place I knew
as home.
The first person I told was Molly. She took the news rather well, I think.
"You're what?!" she shrieked.
Patiently, I explained everything to her. After crying for about ten minutes,
and making me promise to write to her as often as possible, she accepted the
fact that she might never see me again. Then, being the wonderful friend that
she is, Molly offered to help me research Paradeisos. She wanted me to make
sure that I knew what I was getting myself into. To be honest, so did I.
On Monday, we went to the local library to find everything we could about my
new home. The encyclopedias that we read through basically dealt with the
geography and the history of the country. It became a principality in 1710,
was located in central Europe, and was a neutral country ever since 1812. It
had four distinct seasons, with summers that were not too hot, and winters
that were not too cold.
It was in the periodicals where we found the really useful information. The
library had all of its magazines on microfilm, and we looked up everything
that had to do with Paradeisos. There were profiles on the past heads of
government, even thirteen sets of wedding photos of each of the royal family.
We learned about the country's economy; they imported and exported practically
everything, from cars to flowers.
The official language was French, which was a relief to me. I didn't want to
have to carry a dictionary with me everywhere I went.
I had approximately 25 million loyal subjects in a country the size of Spain.
Photos of Paradeisos showed a tasteful combination of historical reverence
and modern comfort. Environmentally friendly industries, satellite television,
international airports, trade agreements with the world superpowers among
other things made Paradeisos one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
"Well, Sere, you're definitely moving up in the world," Molly remarked.
I made a face. "Don't remind me. I've only got four days left. The only thing
I won't miss is the reporters."
The day after my identity had been discovered, I had to dodge the press at
every turn. It was really infuriating that 'No comment' didn't mean anything
to them. My face was plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the
tri-state area. I seriously considered hiring a bodyguard. I was kind of
surprised that the reporters didn't follow me into the library. I guess the
librarians are more intimidating than I thought.
On Wednesday, Molly volunteered to go to clothes shopping for me. Luckily,
we were the same size, so her purchases didn't arouse any suspicions. I
decided that I needed a new wardrobe. Shoes, dresses, suits, pants, skirts,
sleepwear, everything.
That afternoon, she arrived at my house, weighed down with dozens of shopping
bags.
"Sere, is all of this really necessary?" Molly asked as she dropped all of the
bags down on my bed.
"I'm going to be a princess," I replied. "I should be able to dress the part."
I started going through the shopping bags. "I really appreciate this, Molly."
"I'm just glad that it's your money, and not mine," Molly told me, taking a
seat in my armchair. "I felt like Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman' when she
had Richard Gere's credit card."
I grinned at her as I started to put the new clothing into my suitcases.
Since time was short, I was only packing clothes, toiletries, some jewelry,
some of my art supplies, and some compact discs. My parents would ship
everything else to me later.
"I'm really going to miss you, Sere," Molly said.
"I'm really going to miss you too, Molly," I told her. "Maybe we'll be able
to visit each other."
"I really hope so," Molly replied. She got up and hugged me tightly. "Don't
forget to write."
"I promise, I won't forget." I hugged her back. "I want you to go through
my old clothes and take anything you want."
"Serena, I can't do that," Molly protested. "It wouldn't be right."
"Sure you can," I insisted. "I won't be able to wear a lot of these things
in Paradeisos." I took several short skirts out my closet. "The press would
have a field day if they caught me wearing this. If you don't take them,
I'll give them to charity or something."
Molly smiled at me. "Now I really feel like Julia Roberts." She started
going through my closet and picking out things she liked. Every so often,
she would find something that she thought I would be able to wear as a
princess.
In the end, I wound up with four suitcases full of stuff. "Maybe I'll make
Mlle. Luna pretend that some of this is hers when we're at the airport," I
suggested.
The remaining clothes that I couldn't take with me, or that Molly didn't
want to take were going to be donated to charity.
*************************************************************************************
My last days in America were spent with family and friends. The unusually
cool spring weather didn't discourage us in the least. We went to all of
my favorite places and took hundreds of pictures.
Finally, it was time for me to go. I changed into a dark gray suit, with
a light blue silk blouse underneath, and I pulled my hair into a long
braid down my back. My family drove me to the airport. I would meet
M. Artemis and Mlle Luna there.
We saw them waiting for us. Mlle Luna came up to me. "Your Highness,
the plane is ready. If you'll give your bags to the valet, he will take
them for you."
"Which airline is will you be taking?" my father asked as the valet took
my luggage.
"We are using one of the royal family's private jets," M. Artemis informed
us. "It is faster taking than a commercial plane."
"Please, your Highness, we really must go now." Mlle Luna told me.
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak without crying. I turned to my
family and hugged them one last time.
"You call us if you need anything," my father said, stroking my cheek.
I hugged him tightly.
"Be sure to dress warmly. Keep practicing everything you learned when you
have time," my mother said tearfully. I hugged her and kissed her cheek.
"Name something after me," Sam said. He threw his arms around me and
squeezed me with all his might. I laughed and hugged him back.
"Goodbye everyone," I said, my voice choked with emotion. "I'll miss all
of you."
"This way, your Highness," Mlle Luna instructed me. She and M. Artemis
guided me to the jet.
"A Concorde?" I gaped. "The royal family's private jet is a Concorde?"
"We only have one, your Majesty," M. Artemis informed me. "The other plane
is a 747, like your Air Force One."
"Air Force One," I echoed weakly.
"Here we are, your Highness," Mlle Luna said.
I entered the plane and sat down in one of the large seats. M. Artemis and
Mlle Luna sat down as well. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?" she
asked me.
"No, thank you," I replied. "How long will it take to get to Paradeisos?"
"About five hours," M. Artemis told me.
"Oh," I said. I looked out the window, and saw the tiny runway lights flash
on and off. Then, the intercom went on.
"Welcome aboard, your Highness. I am Captain Valmont. It's an honor to take
you to Paradeisos. We'll be taking off shortly, so please fasten you seat
belts."
Soon, we were in the air, over the ocean. I stared out the window for the
entire flight, thinking of what I had left behind. Mlle Luna and M. Artemis
decided to respect my silence and did not try to converse with me.
"Excuse me, your Highness," M. Artemis ventured tentatively.
I turned my head to face him.
"We will be landing in about fifteen minutes, and I wanted to prepare you
for your arrival," he explained.
I inclined my head, indicating that he should continue speaking.
"We will go first," he said, motioning to Mlle Luna and himself. I could
feel the plane start its descent. "Then you will stand on the top step
for a few seconds and wave to the crowd to give the press a photo
opportunity."
"The crowd?" I asked.
"Yes, the schools and shops are closed today. It has been declared a
national holiday," Mlle Luna replied.
"Oh," I murmured. A national holiday, just for me. Yahoo.
"Then, you will walk down the steps and greet the king and queen. They
will be standing at the end of the carpet." M. Artemis gestured out the
window, towards the dark red strip on the ground. I could make out my
royal parents standing there. They were both wearing crowns. The plane
landed and taxied to a stop. "Do you know how to curtsey?"
"I can fake it," I answered. "Let's get this over with."
I could hear the crowd roaring as soon as the door opened. It grew
louder when M. Artemis and Mlle Luna stepped out of the plane.
I took a deep breath and stepped out onto the stairway.
"VIVE SERENITY! VIVE LA PRINCESSE!" (Long live Serenity! Long live the
princess!)
The mob of people shouted and strained against the barricade. I saw a
sea of people waving their arms, clutching the flag of Paradeisos, and
throwing flowers to me.
The king and queen stood facing the plane. They were dressed in very
elegant spring coats. They were squinting a little from the sun.
I stood on the top step, as if I was paralyzed. I forced my lips into
a smile and waved. The roar from the crowd was deafening.
There were guards on either side of the carpet, and they snapped to
attention when I waved. A little girl with a bouquet of flowers tiptoed
to the edge of the carpet and waited.
Somewhere, an orchestra started to play. I recognized my cue.
I was so nervous that I didn't know if I would be able to make it down
the steps. Flashbulbs popped, the people were screaming and waving
homemade banners. "WELCOME HOME SERENITY!" "NOTRE PRINCESSE! (Our
Princess!)" Many of the people were dressed in what must have been
native costumes.
I took a deep breath and started down the stairs.
*****************************************************************************************
"All in all," said Queen Serenity, "a very successful homecoming." She
patted my hand. "Don't you think so, Terrence?"
"Yes, my dear." The king nodded. He patted my other hand. "The people
were obviously overjoyed to greet our little Beryl."
Beryl? Who was Beryl? I thought I was Princess Serenity.
I'd clear up the name business later. Right now, at tea with my royal
parents in the Rose Room, I was tired and homesick.
The tea was very elaborate. The table was set out with sandwiches and
pastries. There were about four different kinds of tea, as well. I
asked for a cup of blackcurrant tea. My mother, my American mother,
used to make it for me when I wasn't feeling well. I took a sip, and
then nibbled on a sandwich.
Again, I found it odd that the king and queen spoke to me in English.
Maybe Mlle. Luna didn't tell them that I could speak French, so I
didn't bother to ask about it. But even with two common languages,
I couldn't think of a thing to say to them. I had a million
questions but I didn't think that any needed to be answered immediately.
The major questions in my mind were, How was my family doing? What was
Molly doing right now?
I didn't even know what time it was here.
"What time is it?" I asked.
The king looked at his pocket watch. "Five-thirty."
"Oh Terrence, how thoughtless we are!" The queen exclaimed. "Beryl must
be exhausted after her journey. She needs a hot bath and a good night's
sleep. We have been selfish, thinking only of our own joy in seeing you,
my dear."
"No, it's all right. I wanted to meet you too," I told them.
They seemed very nice. The queen-my mother, looked younger than my
American mother. She had white-blonde hair, and smoky gray eyes. Even
if she hadn't been wearing her crown, I would have recognized her as
royalty. She was very beautiful and carried herself regally.
The king had dark auburn hair and deep brown eyes. He was about the same
age as my American father and very handsome. He was dressed in some sort
of military uniform, with a sash across his chest and medals on his
jacket.
"Would you happen to know the time in America?" I asked.
The prince pushed a button on his watch. "Twelve-thirty" he replied.
"Thank you-your Highness." I wasn't sure how to address them.
"My dear, you should get some rest if you are not hungry," the queen
said to me. "There are so many things to do, and in such a short time."
What did she mean by that? A short time until what?
Maybe I had to assume the crown sooner than I had thought.
"And you do not have to call us your Highness. You may call us Mummy."
It took me a second to realize that she was using the royal 'we' and she
did not mean for me to call both the king and queen 'Mummy'.
"And you may call us Papa," the king said.
"Do you think you could call me Serena? I'm not sure why you're saying
that I'm Beryl."
"Beryl is your Christian name," the queen explained. "Beryl Serena
Angelica Christine Anastasia."
I shook my head. "This is rather confusing. I thought I was Princess
Serenity."
"Princess Serenity is part of your formal title. When you ascend to the
throne, your title will change to Queen Serenity the fourteenth," she
explained.
"It's just that I'm so used to being called Serena. Couldn't you call
the other girl Beryl and call me Serena? Would I be able to meet her?"
The king and queen exchanged worried looks. It must be a universal
gesture that parents used all over the world.
"I understand if you must call me by my Christian name. But would you
mind calling me Serena, instead of Beryl? Since I already answer to it,
and it is part of my Christian name." I suggested. "But I would like to
meet my..." What was she to me? She was the real Serena Tsukino.
"It would be nice to talk to someone my own age. She would be able to
teach me how to act like a princess. We could be like sisters."
My father, the king, frowned. My mother, the queen, studied her hands.
"Beryl-that is, Serena Tsukino-was very upset by this whole turn of
events," the king began.
Good grief, she'd lost her mind due to the shocking news.
"But I'm sure we could be friends, once we got to know each other," I
persisted.
"I wouldn't count on it," the king replied gloomily.
********************************************************************************************
My chamber was enormous. There was a huge, draped canopy bed, a chaise
lounge, bookcases, chairs, a desk, two bedside tables, a dresser, an
area rug, and blue velvet curtains at the long, narrow windows. There
was a huge fireplace on the wall opposite the bed. On another was a
set of doors that led to the bathroom. It was larger than my room in
America, which wasn't by any standards, considered small. There was a
huge mirror, over a large marble sink with brass fixtures. The floor
was also made of marble, or some other polished stone. The bathtub was
the diameter of a child's wading pool.
Someone had prepared a bubble bath for me. There was a pile of fluffy
white towels on a shelf next to the tub, and my bathrobe hung nearby
on a hook, even though I hadn't unpacked anything.
After my bath, I discovered that someone had put all of my clothes
into the dresser and the huge walk-in closet on the wall to the right
of my bed. My toiletries had been placed in the bathroom cabinets, my
art supplies and compact discs had been placed on one of the bookcases.
The quilt on my bed had been turned down, and my nightgown had been laid
out.
The bath had made me even sleepier, so I took off my robe and placed it
on a chair. I put on my nightgown and climbed into bed. I turned off the
lamp that was on the night table and pulled the quilt up to my chin.
Within minutes, I fell asleep.
*******************************************************************************************
When I woke up the next morning, it was so dark; that I didn't know it
was the next morning. But I knew exactly where I was. I knew I was in
the princess' chambers. I reached out and turned on the bedside lamp.
I didn't know what time it was, but I was freezing cold. The fire in
my fireplace had gone out. I jumped out of bed and put on my robe,
tying the sash tightly around my waist. I also realized that I was
hungry and I had no idea how to rectify the situation.
Suddenly, I heard a scratching at my chamber door. Maybe it was someone
who could help me. "Come in!"
The door inched open, just enough for someone to peek in.
"Come in, please. I mean, *entrez, s'il vous plait.*" (enter please)
The door swung open all the way. A girl about my age, with long, wavy
red hair, stood in the doorway. She was wearing a velvet robe with a
gold rope sash. She was carrying a stuffed teddy bear.
"Beryl!" I exclaimed. "I'm so glad to meet you. You are Beryl, aren't
you? I'm Serena Tsukino...well I used to be...anyway." I spoke in French,
so that she would understand me.
She didn't say anything. She just stood there, her head cocked to one
side, scrutinizing me. Her dark eyes narrowed. Self-consciously, I
checked myself. My cream-colored satin robe was tied properly, and the
neckline to my matching nightgown was respectable. My hair was still
in a braid from last night.
Why was she staring at me like that? I wondered. Why isn't she answering
me? Why doesn't she say anything? And why is she carrying a teddy bear?
She raised the bear level to her chest, like she was displaying it to me.
I got the eerie feeling that I was being displayed to the bear.
"There she is, Grizzly," she said finally. I nearly jumped. "You wanted
to see her, are you satisfied now?"
This girl was very unsettling.
I tried to smile and be friendly. "Maybe you could tell me-"
"You are right, Grizzly," she said loudly. "The American is not very
interesting at all. We will watch some television."
She turned on her heel and left the chamber.
"Creepy," I murmured, and went to close the door.
I shivered as I walked to the closet to get some warm clothes, and it
wasn't just because of the cold.
Maybe it used to be her chamber, I thought, as I buttoned up a white
cotton blouse. I pulled on a pair tan khaki pants and put on the matching
vest and jacket.
I could certainly understand if she was a little hostile towards me. After
all, it's not very pleasant to have your life turned upside-down.
The king had tried to warn me that Beryl might be somewhat unfriendly, but
I was not prepared for an ex-princess who was a few bricks shy of a full
load.
I pulled on socks and a pair of brown boots. My fingers felt like icicles.
Maybe downstairs, at a lower altitude, the temperature was higher, but I
wasn't taking any chances. I pulled on a pair of tan kid gloves.
Even though I had only been awake for about twenty minutes, and I'd only
met Beryl for a few moments, I'd learned a few things.
One: It was definitely morning
Two: I had a potential enemy in the palace
********************************************************************************************
"There you are, my dear!" The king smiled. His gaze lingered a while on
my gloves. "What style the Americans have! Don't you think so, my angel?"
"Yes, indeed," the queen said, smiling approvingly at my appearance.
"I was cold," I explained. "Isn't spring here yet?"
"It is still chilly in the mornings," the king said. "this old building
retains the night air."
The king and queen were seated in a dining room in the West wing of the
palace. I'd managed to find my way with the help of a passing servant.
"Please." The king gestured towards the empty chairs. "Join us."
"Yes, please do," the queen urged. "You will have a very busy day today.
Did you sleep well?" "Yes, thank you," I replied.
The table was set with bacon, eggs, sausages, bread, rolls, toast,
oatmeal, fruit and cereal.
I put some toast, eggs, and strawberries on my plate to eat. I also took
a bowl of oatmeal, and a servant brought me a glass of orange juice.
"We are glad to hear that you are well-rested," the queen said as she
took out a leather pocketbook. "We have much to do in a short time. We
had to double up on some things. You will be in quite a whirl before
this week is over."
There she goes again, talking about how little time there is. How little
time until what? What was the big rush?
"As soon as you have eaten, we will meet with the dressmaker. She will
start work on your ball gown right away." She looked at my outfit again.
"I do not see a need for daytime clothes to be started yet."
At least she approved of my clothes, I thought. But now I knew the reason
for the rush. There was a ball next week. How exciting!
While you are being fitted, M. Artemis will begin your etiquette and
protocol lessons.
Etiquette? I decided against telling her about my numerous etiquette lessons
while I was in America. M. Artemis would know what I would have to learn.
"Then Madame Haruna, your tutor, will work with you on French and the history
of our country. Do you speak any French?"
"Yes, I can," I replied in French. "I thought that Mlle Luna would have told
you that I was quite fluent."
The queen was surprised. "She might have mentioned it." She made a note in
her book, then smiled at me. "One less thing to do, yes?"
I think I managed a small smile. "Yes. Um...I have to call my parents in
America."
"We will have our secretary call them for you, if you wish, but my dear,
_we_ are your mother and father. It would make us happy if you would think of
us as Mummy," the queen said.
"And Papa," the king added.
"I'll try," I said. "I'll just have to get used to it, although, if you don't
mind, that I call you Mother and Father, just to start."
"We see no problem with that," the queen-my mother, said.
"I'd really like it," I said carefully, "if you'd call me Serena instead of
Beryl. Since Serena is part of my Christian name, I'd feel more comfortable
answering to it. I met Beryl this morning, and she seemed-"
They seemed startled. "You met her? How?" the queen asked.
"She came into my room. She seemed sort of...odd. She wouldn't talk to me."
I didn't mention that she talked to a plush animal. I was sure they knew that
already.
"Beryl hasn't been herself these days," the king said sadly.
How could she be? She was _me_ now.
"If she's really my mother's-I mean my American mother's daughter, why doesn't
she go live with them in America?" Not that I would wish Beryl on my family,
but my parents ought to be eager to meet their real daughter.
"We suggested an exchange," Father said. "Not that we were anxious to give her
up. After all, we have always thought of her as our daughter. But your mother
was entitled to have her daughter back. Beryl refused."
Mother nodded. "And we certainly couldn't force her to leave the only home
she's ever known, and the only way of life she's ever lived. The adjustment
would have been too difficult."
They couldn't force her, but they could force me. They didn't worry about how
difficult my adjustment would be.
Well, maybe that was to be expected. After all, I was an important person in
Paradeisos. Noblesse obliges-the responsibilities of noble people. They needed
me here. Whereas America could manage very well without Beryl.
And it was probably true that she would never adjust to being a commoner. If
she was unhinged because she wasn't a princess anymore, she'd keel over the
first time my mother gave her some chores to do.
That meant I was stuck with her. A bitter, possibly deranged rival, with every
reason to hate me, and with plenty of time to do something about it.
"Are you sure she's...all right?" I asked nervously.
"Oh yes," Mother assured me. "The doctor said it was just a temporary refusal
to accept the situation. She is trying to cling to her happy childhood. He is
not alarmed."
Why should the doctor be alarmed? It was me that she hated.
"She will get over it," the queen said. "Now, if you are finished eating, we
must get started." She consulted her pocketbook again. "After your lessons,
you will be taken on a tour of the palace. You will meet the staff, and learn
about our daily schedules, and..."
The list of things I had to do went on and on. It seemed the life of a
princess was a little more than I had bargained for.
"...dancing lessons, learn the national anthem, pose for your postage stamp...
Not all today, of course, but..."
My stamp! Me, on a stamp! I wished I could see Sam's face when he got his first
letter from me. "And call America," I remembered. "May we do that first-um-Mother?"