Woot! Read! Oh, before I forget. There seemed to be a misunderstanding. Haruaka is a girl, but the guys think she's a man. And the part where I said that Serenity was taller than Haruka was because she was in disguise. In her disguise, she's at least six foot five inches. ^_^ I think there's going to be some fluff in here. o_O; Not much humor in this one ... __ ... Sorry!
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon does not belong to me.
*********
"You want me to do what?" The princess of Uranus raised an inquiring eyebrow. She looked over Serenity and had to hold back laughter. The disguise was the best of all that she had seen so far.
"Awww ... please, 'Ruka?"
Haruka burst out laughing as the princess tried to put on a puppy face. It did not work in the disguise. Poking the wart on the girl's face, she grinned. "Sure, why not? It's going to be the most fun I'm going to have."
"Thank you!" Serenity was about to pounce on Uranus before the older girl stopped her.
"Don't pounce on me. With your original form, you hardly weigh a thing. But in the disguise? You'll kill me." Laughing, the girl stood up and looked out the window. "It's all ready dark. Look, the Earth's hanging in the sky. I'm going to go. I'm exhausted."
"Okay! Thank you!" The disguise dropped away from Serena as she stood up and she practically drooped. She needed some sleep as well. "See you tomorrow!"
Uranus grinned and opened the door, walking out. Closing the door, she yawned and headed towards her chambers, not noticing the stunned figure watching from the shadows.
*********
Zoisite grinned sheepishly at the furious maid in front of him. "I'm sorry." His room reeked like hell and his nostrils were forever damaged. He had finally been able to get the nail polish off when the maid had come in and instructed him on it. All five men had watched in amazement when the blue color seemed to disappear. They decided it must be some magic that female's possessed.
"My Lord, why did you not call me in when you could not figure it out? I haven't a clue as to how I'm going to get rid of this smell! Men!"
He winced as the maid threw her hands up in the air and started to open the windows. Looking around, he placed his boots back on. Walking over to the door, he was about to open it when it opened by itself, slamming him into the wall.
"Zoisite! Zoisite? Where are you?"
"..." He pushed the door away from him, peeling himself away from the wall. Glaring at the blonde-haired man's back, he rubbed his nose. "Right here."
"There you are! You won't believe what I saw last night!" Jadeite threw himself upon the bed, grinning at the flustered maid in the room. "It ... it was classic!"
"First of all ... knock before you come in! Second of all... get to the point!"
"Can't! We have to wait for the others!"
"Why the hell do all the meetings take place in my room?"
"How am I supposed to know?"
"You're the one who called the meeting right?"
"So? What's the point?"
"If you're the one who called the meeting, then there must be a reason as to why you called the meeting in my room!"
"Really? I just called it in here because everybody else calls it in here." The blonde-haired man rubbed the back of his head in confusion and narrowed his eyes. He was looking at the opened door. "Someone's here to see you, Zoi."
Zoisite blinked and peered around the door. There stood Princess Ami. Whipping out from behind the back of the door, he grinned. "Hello!"
She ignored him and sniffed the area. "So, this is where the smell is coming from." Walking into the room, she frowned. "What were you doing in here last night, Lord Zoisite?"
"Making mad love with his boyfriend."
"Shut up, Jadeite!" He threw a glare towards his comrade at arms and turned to the blushing princess. "Don't mind him, he's just an idiot."
She blinked and raised an eyebrow.
"He was trying to remove the nail polish that you had painted on him the night before, milady."
Ami looked at the maid and frowned. "It shouldn't have stunk up the palace so."
The maid giggled and looked towards the man. "Well, he didn't know how to use it. He had used up ten bottles before I came in here and taught him how to use it."
Zoisite blushed and glared at the maid.
Mercury laughed and shook her head. "I'm sorry about that. Well, I must be leaving. The queen just wanted to know where the source of the smell was." She walked out of the room as the rest of the Earth generals and the prince came in. Nodding to them, she headed down the hallway.
Darien sighed and shook his head. "What was so urgent today, Jadeite?"
"Well! If you're going to act that way ... I'm not going to tell you!"
"Fine then. I'm going back to sleep." The prince shook his head and was about to walk out of the room when Jadeite called him back.
"Wait! It's really good! It has to do with the princess and the Uranian that came."
Now his interest was perked. Looking at his general he raised an eyebrow. "What about them?"
"I was walking around in the hallways last night looking for the kitchen, when I reached the main hallway where Princes Serenity's room is. Just as I was about to leave the hallway, who comes out of the room of the Princess at mid-night?"
"The princess?" Kunzite grinned and shook his head at the glare he received from the blonde.
"No! The Uranian! Haruka! It seemed they were there all day long because he was still wearing the clothes he wore when coming!"
Darien paled as a vision of Haruka and Serenity in bed flew through his mind. He wasn't going to be able to sleep well for the next few ... years. Shaking his head, he threw the vision away fighting against the disgust that arose in his throat. So, even this princess was just like the others.
"And here I thought it was only females who gossiped."
All five earthlings turned towards the door to see the topic of their conversation. Haruka was leaning against the frame of the door, hair still tousled from sleep. He was a pretty boy; Darien had to admit that much. So, why was a man like him doing with a princess like... Serenity?
"Eh heh ... Hi! Don't think we've met before!" Zoisite nervously held out his hand to the young man. The man just grinned and nodded his head to him.
Jadeite grinned. "So how was the princess last night?"
Haruka blinked in confusion and the other's just face-vaulted. Jadeite was not known for stealth. The Uranian frowned and tilted his head. "What are you insinuating?
"That you slept with the princess of course!" He winced as Darien slapped him on the back of his head. "What?!"
"Ignore this buffoon. He's had a head trauma recently."
"Really? I thought he was like all the time." Nehprite grinned and winked as Jadeite glared at him.
Haruka blinked and wondered if Serenity was safe around these men. They seemed ... strange. Shifting slightly, she remembered the princess' plea and grinned. Time for some fun. She opened her mouth to say something when...
"Lady Haruka, the Queen wishes to see you." She face-vaulted and turned to the grinning cat on the floor. "Luna, how nice to see you."
"Yes it is, Princess Haruka. Follow me."
The Uranian obediently followed the cat, grumbling about interfering felines.
"Princess?" Darien blinked. "He's a she?"
"What's the world coming to? Women are starting to look like men everyday!" Jadeite cried out wondered if any of them were women and weren't telling them. The five men glanced at each other suspiciously, leaving the maid to think that all Earthlings were strange.
**********
"What is it the queen wanted to talk to me about?" Haruka walked with her hands laced behind her hand, leaning on them.
"I don't know. But I'm worried about her. She's acting more like a teenager than a queen right now."
"What's the harm in that?"
"There's a great amount of harm."
"You're too serious, Luna."
"And you're not?"
"Nope."
"I could say otherwise."
"Huh?"
"Never mind."
"Stubborn cat."
Luna hissed and kept walking.
**********
Oh, dear. Haruka was in trouble. She glanced at her grinning queen and wondered slightly if the queen was on any kind of medication. "...What?"
"I want you to help me set up Endymion and Serenity!"
"But..."
"Please?"
She blinked, seeing Princess Serenity instead of the queen for a moment. So, that's where 'Rena got her talents from, thought Uranus. Those damn puppy faces ... "All right."
"Yes!" The Selenity jumped up and Terra had to do everything she could not to laugh at the confused girl kneeling on the floor.
Luna grinned and wondered how Lady Haruka was going to help both the princess and the queen. Looking at the queen, she felt a sweat drop on her head. The queen was dancing now.
**********
Darien looked around the village. They didn't seem astounded by his presence here. A royal! They just smiled and waved at him and the princess. How'd they end up here? How the hell was he supposed to know? One minute he's flirting with the pretty maid in his room, the next? His mother has him accompanying the Princess to the village.
Serenity smiled at the way the villagers laughed at her disguise. Seeing a familiar child, the princess waved her over. "Hey, there Usagi. How's your mom doing?"
"She's doing a lot better, Wena! Thank you for sending the doctor!" The child leapt into the princess' arm giving her a tight hug.
Serenity hugged the child, giggling. "No problem. If you have any problems, just come to the palace okay?"
"Okay! I have to go now."
"All right. Go ahead. I'll see you later." Serenity waved as the child went away.
Darien blinked at the hulking princess and realized that the villagers loved the royal. Never had he seen any peasants so comfortable with royalty before. "You get along well with the peasants."
She bristled slightly at the word. "They are people, not peasants. All you princes seem to think that just because these people don't have our money ... that they are beneath us. Now if you'll excuse me. I have something to buy." With a glare towards him, the princess disappeared into the crowds.
He blinked, surprised at her words. Looking around, he noticed a tavern and walked in. It was not like a tavern he had seen before. It was filled with light and held a comfortable air to it. Walking over to the counter, he noticed a blonde man and waved him over. "I'd like the a cup of ale, please."
"Sure thing! My name's Andrew by the way."
"And I'm --"
"You're Prince Endymion of Earth. You're known pretty well here. You're the first prince not to run off at first sight of the princess. Here ya go." Placing the large mug in front of Darien, the man grinned.
"Thanks. So, I'm not the first prince to come escorting here?"
"No. There were others. Hundreds. Well, come to think of it. You're not the only one who stayed. There was Prince Diamond of Dark Moon. The queen had to threaten war on him to leave. It's rumored that he discovered the princess' only secret and fell in love with her."
"Secret?" He blinked, intrigued. Taking a deep gulp of the ale, he felt the burning liquid drain down his throat.
"Yes. No one knows what it is, except for the royal lunarian court and well ... us, the people." Andrew grinned towards a new customer and watched as a waitress headed over to them.
"So, pretty much the entire Moon Kingdom knows and no one else does? How is that possible?"
"The people love the Royal family. They've always put the people above themselves. Princess Serenity is no exception. She is the first to actually come down to the village and help us. Just like a plain commoner. She's the kindest person I know."
"She doesn't seem that kind to me." Darien growled at Andrew's bark of laughter. "What's so funny?"
"She's like that to all her suitors."
"I see. Mind telling me what this secret is?"
"No, I won't tell you. She's like a little sister to me, Prince."
"You know her?"
"Yes, she comes here many times to help out. She also comes down to heal the sick and wounded, even if it does drain her of her strength." Andrew smiled slightly and grabbed a cup full of ale and took a sip. "Speaking of the angel herself..."
Serenity lowered her cloak and laughed at Andrew's incredulous face. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the prince sitting comfortably at the counter. Walking over, she placed a chaste kiss on Andrew's cheek. Ignoring the prince, she sat down on a chair. "How's business going?"
"Better than ever." Handing her a cup of chocolate, he threw a smile at the disgruntled prince. "I was just telling Prince Endymion about your secret here."
Serenity chocked and stiffened. He told the prince? She turned to Andrew, eyes wide. "What?"
"Hey, hey relax. I didn't tell him what it was. I just implied that once he finds out what it is, he's going to regret it if he leaves."
She snorted and shook her head. "Of course. All men think that." Turning towards the prince, she frowned and blew a raspberry at him. She laughed at his shocked face, almost spilling her drink.
"I wish you wouldn't think that, Sere."
"Prince Diamond proved my point very well, Andy." Shaking her head, she sighed and nodded towards Endymion. "You, I'm not so sure about. You're just a strange one."
"Am I?" He felt a slow grin cross his face, but stopped as she scowled.
"Yes, and it's annoying me."
"Well, I'm sorry your highness if I get on your nerves."
"Apology not accepted."
"It was sarcasm."
"So?"
"Ah, forget it!"
Andrew watched the banter and grinned. So, Serenity liked this fellow huh? Time for matchmaking! "So! Anyway, you two. I need help. Mind letting me a hand?"
"Sure, Andy." She smiled at him, throwing one last glare at the prince.
"I need someone to play the fairy prince and princess at the fair today. It's about an hour away."
"You know I'm always up for helping you but..."
"But she
can't act." Darien grinned and stood up, preparing to leave.
"I can act! Fine, I'll play
the princess."
"And you can play the Prince, Prince Enydmion." Andrew grinned brightly and knew the man would not let himself be beaten by the princess.
**********
Serenity squirmed in her costume, although it was beautiful. Her silver hair had been braided with the braid wrapped around her head. Silver make-up had been placed on her and she looked ... well ... passable. She was still wearing the disguise and it did not help the costume at all. Andrew had said it was okay, but she still felt bad. The children were expecting some beautiful fairy princess and they got stuck with this giant. It was the last scene where the princess had to sacrifice her life to save the prince. It was also the scene where they had to kiss. She was so going to kill that damn tavern keeper. Andrew was a dead man.
Darien watched the princess scowl at the mirror and raised an eyebrow. Did she do nothing but scowl? Looking down at the tights he had been forced to wear ... he was very uncomfortable right now. They were quite ... snug. Prancing from foot to foot, he frowned. They were supposed to kiss ... he shuddered slightly in disgust.
"Hey, you guys are up!" Andrew came in cheerful and happy. "The kids are waiting!"
"Andy, after this I'm going to come and strange you." Serenity huffed, picking up her long dress she stormed to the curtain.
"I agree with Serenity for once on that, Andrew." He took his place a few feet away from Serenity. Taking a deep breath the curtains rose and the play started. The children gasped as the prince tried to save the princess but was taken down by the enemy. Then, came the scene.
Darien lay on the floor, looking up at the princess. She was a great actress he had to admit. She had tears running down her face as she cradled his face. She grew silent as she looked into his eyes. "Forever, thou shalt own mine heart. I love thou." Darien blinked as he realized how beautiful her eyes were and closed his eyes as her lips descended upon his. Bombs exploded in his mind as he felt her soft lips. This was not what he was expecting. He had to fight not to move. Desire coursed through his body and he felt her sudden gasp as he kissed her back. Then, without warning he felt the loss of warmth as she lifted her lips, her eyes clouded with confusion. She stood up and finished the scene, going with the enemy to be his wife.
Darien did not like the way this play ended, but obviously, the people did. Bowing, he stood next to Serenity, holding her hand. He was confused. Like hell he was confused! He had no idea why he kissed her back! Going back stage, the two avoided each other.
"Great job you two! That kiss was phenomenal! I believed that you two were in love!" Andrew grew silent as he saw Serenity look at him. Her eyes were glassy as if she had cried. Of course, she had just cried in the play ... but it still un-nerved him. Smiling slightly, he wondered if he had done the right thing.
Darien blinked and grinned, pushing away his thoughts. He had changed back into his armor and was ready to go back to the castle. "Thanks. I don't think I ever want to do that again though." He avoided looking at Serenity and headed towards his horse. She soon followed after, hugging Andrew before leaving. The ride back home was silent and all the two could hope was that tomorrow, everything would return back to normal.
**********
Sorry! No humor in this chapter! ;___; But it will be back in the next chapter. How'd you guys like this one? Hmm? Hmm? ^_^ Review!
