Disguised Love
Chapter 3
All you could hope for in a party happened at the ball. From the floral garlands strewn about the ceilings and walls to the melody of the waltz being played in the background to hundreds of courtiers dancing. It was heaven. For Serena, life couldn't get any better; here she was, princess of the moon, heir to the throne of the Moon Kingdom, and taking part in the most magnificent gala ball ever in history. A smile slowly spread upon her face. While she daydreamed, Prince Darien couldn't help but look continually at the blond heiress of this fabulous kingdom. Not that he loved her for that reason, but rather for whom she was. The 4 Senshi noticed his glances and Rei decided to take action. Leaving the group of girls, she strode towards him and curtsied.
"Your Highness? Would you dance with me?" she asked him while keeping an eye on Serena.
Shocked, Darien had to think for a moment before answering, "Yes princess. I would like that."
As they danced and whirled about the marble floor, Princess Rei put her plan into action.
"So how's your love life Darien?" she asked nonchalantly.
He looked at her with a look of surprise, and then he mellowed saying, "Is it that obvious Rei?"
She smiled and glanced toward Serena who was busy talking to Ami without taking her eyes off of the couple. "It's very easy to read the face of a Prince in love." She replied, "Have you told her how you feel?"
"No." came the sad response, "No, I wouldn't know what to say, and if she refused me then I would feel even worse. I wish I knew how to explain it to her; the words are in my heart but I don't think they are in my head." He smiled a crooked smile. Rei simply giggled. When the dance had ended she whispered something in his ear then turned and walked away. By this time Serena was jealous as could be. "How dare she do that to me," she thought , "I thought she said that she didn't mind of the situation and that I could have him." She sighed and started to return to her throne. When out of nowhere some unseen person pushed her outside. When she turned to open the doors she found they were locked. "They locked me out!" she exclaimed. Then sighing she turned and started into the gardens. "Oh well," she said, "I always did like the flowers and stars better than hundreds of people and crowns."
As she walked under the stars, a familiar sense came into her head. She knew what it was; she always knew it, every time. "Hello Darien." She said without turning around. Not surprised at all he gently said, "Hello Serena."
Now alone together the prince and princess walked the remainder of the garden side by side. Each one hoping the other would start a conversation.
Darien went first.
"It's good to see you again Serena, I hadn't realized how much I missed you till we got back." She said nothing to allow him to continue. "I thought about you everyday, and even wrote letters I never sent there must be at least 20!" He looked at her and watched a smile spread across her lips. He loved it when she smiled. It made him feel warm inside when watching her do so. "I've missed you too Darien." She said simply; although he knew there was more to it than that. As if he had read her thoughts, he put his arms around her and with one hand he silently tilted her chin up so that her face met his; looking into each other's eyes, the warmth of love spread across their faces, Darien leaned in to kiss her. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as their lips met in their first kiss. As loving and touching as it was, I found myself crying as I watched from the balcony. Unknown to them that their first kiss had a witness, they parted, and continued to stroll among the flowers.
Finding a bench, they sat down and Serena told Darien what he had missed while away from the Kingdom. "Oh, did you know that Mrs. Linns had a baby? A girl. They named her Elizabeth..."
"Do you ever shut up?" Darien interjected.
"What do you mean?" she said, "You wanted to know."
Chuckling he put an arm around her; she leaned into him.
"I love you Serena; I really do." He sighed and stood up to face her. "Do you know how long I've wanted to tell you that? I've waited a long time to get up the nerve." He laughed then looked at her still sitting there, watching his every move. 'This is going to be difficult.' He thought.
Kneeling down, Darien took Serena's hands in his own; not sure what to do she remained looking at him. "Serena, you are everything I've ever wanted; you're beautiful, and charming, and you have a wonderful personality." He took a deep breath and said, "Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Serena couldn't believe what she had just heard; all of a sudden tears poured down her face; not out of sadness but out of love.
Looking into his eyes she whispered, "Yes."
Then she jumped in the air and shouted very unprincess-like, "Yes Darien, YES I will!!!"
Holding each other tightly, both the prince and princess felt happier than they ever had in their entire lives. Serena couldn't believe her good luck; "No," she thought, "it's more than luck; it's our destiny."
Walking hand in hand back toward the ball, they didn't see the person lurking in the shadows behind them; she had another plan, one that didn't involve the Princess of the Moon.
Chapter 3
All you could hope for in a party happened at the ball. From the floral garlands strewn about the ceilings and walls to the melody of the waltz being played in the background to hundreds of courtiers dancing. It was heaven. For Serena, life couldn't get any better; here she was, princess of the moon, heir to the throne of the Moon Kingdom, and taking part in the most magnificent gala ball ever in history. A smile slowly spread upon her face. While she daydreamed, Prince Darien couldn't help but look continually at the blond heiress of this fabulous kingdom. Not that he loved her for that reason, but rather for whom she was. The 4 Senshi noticed his glances and Rei decided to take action. Leaving the group of girls, she strode towards him and curtsied.
"Your Highness? Would you dance with me?" she asked him while keeping an eye on Serena.
Shocked, Darien had to think for a moment before answering, "Yes princess. I would like that."
As they danced and whirled about the marble floor, Princess Rei put her plan into action.
"So how's your love life Darien?" she asked nonchalantly.
He looked at her with a look of surprise, and then he mellowed saying, "Is it that obvious Rei?"
She smiled and glanced toward Serena who was busy talking to Ami without taking her eyes off of the couple. "It's very easy to read the face of a Prince in love." She replied, "Have you told her how you feel?"
"No." came the sad response, "No, I wouldn't know what to say, and if she refused me then I would feel even worse. I wish I knew how to explain it to her; the words are in my heart but I don't think they are in my head." He smiled a crooked smile. Rei simply giggled. When the dance had ended she whispered something in his ear then turned and walked away. By this time Serena was jealous as could be. "How dare she do that to me," she thought , "I thought she said that she didn't mind of the situation and that I could have him." She sighed and started to return to her throne. When out of nowhere some unseen person pushed her outside. When she turned to open the doors she found they were locked. "They locked me out!" she exclaimed. Then sighing she turned and started into the gardens. "Oh well," she said, "I always did like the flowers and stars better than hundreds of people and crowns."
As she walked under the stars, a familiar sense came into her head. She knew what it was; she always knew it, every time. "Hello Darien." She said without turning around. Not surprised at all he gently said, "Hello Serena."
Now alone together the prince and princess walked the remainder of the garden side by side. Each one hoping the other would start a conversation.
Darien went first.
"It's good to see you again Serena, I hadn't realized how much I missed you till we got back." She said nothing to allow him to continue. "I thought about you everyday, and even wrote letters I never sent there must be at least 20!" He looked at her and watched a smile spread across her lips. He loved it when she smiled. It made him feel warm inside when watching her do so. "I've missed you too Darien." She said simply; although he knew there was more to it than that. As if he had read her thoughts, he put his arms around her and with one hand he silently tilted her chin up so that her face met his; looking into each other's eyes, the warmth of love spread across their faces, Darien leaned in to kiss her. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as their lips met in their first kiss. As loving and touching as it was, I found myself crying as I watched from the balcony. Unknown to them that their first kiss had a witness, they parted, and continued to stroll among the flowers.
Finding a bench, they sat down and Serena told Darien what he had missed while away from the Kingdom. "Oh, did you know that Mrs. Linns had a baby? A girl. They named her Elizabeth..."
"Do you ever shut up?" Darien interjected.
"What do you mean?" she said, "You wanted to know."
Chuckling he put an arm around her; she leaned into him.
"I love you Serena; I really do." He sighed and stood up to face her. "Do you know how long I've wanted to tell you that? I've waited a long time to get up the nerve." He laughed then looked at her still sitting there, watching his every move. 'This is going to be difficult.' He thought.
Kneeling down, Darien took Serena's hands in his own; not sure what to do she remained looking at him. "Serena, you are everything I've ever wanted; you're beautiful, and charming, and you have a wonderful personality." He took a deep breath and said, "Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
Serena couldn't believe what she had just heard; all of a sudden tears poured down her face; not out of sadness but out of love.
Looking into his eyes she whispered, "Yes."
Then she jumped in the air and shouted very unprincess-like, "Yes Darien, YES I will!!!"
Holding each other tightly, both the prince and princess felt happier than they ever had in their entire lives. Serena couldn't believe her good luck; "No," she thought, "it's more than luck; it's our destiny."
Walking hand in hand back toward the ball, they didn't see the person lurking in the shadows behind them; she had another plan, one that didn't involve the Princess of the Moon.