Thank you to all who reviewed. I uploaded again chap 5, hopefully without
giant blocks of text! I know exactly where I am going with this story; I'm
just having a bit of trouble getting there. I tell you now; this story is
going to be kind of long so if you wanted a short story this might not be
it.
Newayz on with the show! Enjoy! ^-^!
Chapter Six
'Have you girls seen the Princes this morning?' enquired the Queen.
'No mother I have just woken up and went straight here.' Replied Serena. 'We have not seen them either,' chorused the girls.
Strange, thought the Queen, no matter how late the Generals and the Prince, they always arrived before Serena got here!
'Excuse me your Majesty,' bowed a palace servant, 'Prince Endymion, General Malachite, Zoicite, Jadeite and Nephrite would like to apologize and would the Queen please excuse them as they are feeling poorly this morning. They said to please start breakfast without them.'
Queen Serenity dismissed the servant and turned full frontal glare on the princesses. The four Senshi had the grace to blush but Serena grinned cheekily.
'Girls,' sighed the Queen, 'another attack so soon? Please, they are here as signs of peace! If the King and Queen of Earth were to hear how poorly the Princes are treated it would jeopardize everything!'
'But mother!' protested Serena despite the warning glances of the others, 'I didn't do anything! We did nothing I tell you! We can't help it if they have weak immune systems!'
Serenity then got angry. 'If I hear of another prank pulled, I will not only release the Sabres back into the wild but I will also think of a punishment so drastic that all of you will regret it!' she hissed quickly.
Serena scowled rebelliously. 'This has nothing to do with Crystal! Why punish her when she has done nothing wrong?'
'Serena, you are princess of the realm. Do you know what it means to be princess? Do you? One day you will rule it all and all I can see is a spoilt little girl who refuses to grow up!' Queen Serenity abruptly stood up and walked out.
Reaching the doorway she stopped and turned. 'I expect each of you girls to bring the Princes breakfast.' She commanded. As Serena was about to protest, she added, 'And lunch.' She paused. 'And dinner. And whatever else they need. If I hear any complaints from them, I will make you play servant to them for a day. I will check up on you.' And she left.
The girls stood there with their mouths open in shock.
'Well, this plan sure backfired,' commented Ami. 'Breakfast, lunch and dinner? Breakfast lunch and dinner?' mumbled Mina over and over.
'I think it's going to be fun!' enthused Lita.
Serena jumped up. 'I have a great idea!' she shouted.
'Oh really? Is it as good as the last one?' said Raye sarcastically.
'Even better! We have to serve them food right?' said Serena grinning, 'Well, how about we put something in the food?'
'I think it's a marvelous idea! Keep attacking while we are ahead!'
'I pity the Generals but hey you guys never listen to me anyway.'
'Nothing poisonous or anything. Just a little too hot or spicy or sweet...'
'I say bugs and spiders and horse doo-doo!'
Serena grinned. Her mother will eventually see that the Prince and her weren't suited and cancel the engagement for sure!
~@~@~@~
In each of their respective room, the Generals and their Prince groaned. From the whispers of the palace staff, they had heard what the Queen had ordered. Breakfast, lunch and dinner? Was the Queen mad? However are they gonna survive?
(Their rooms are all in the same part of the palace but in separate corridors. Think of one main corridor and five smaller corridors off it.)
Flashback to early that morning......
Five shouts were heard simultaneously from five different rooms. Much to the surprise of palace staff.
'My face! My beautiful face!'
'My skin! What has that bitch done to my skin!'
'My lustrous hair! It's ruined!'
'I don't want to live! But I am going to kill them first!'
'I'm melting! Meellttiiiinnngg!'
'There's no place like home. There's no place like home!'
'It's all a bad dream. Awake! I said AWAKE GODDAMNIT!'
There was a flurry of activity as they stormed out of their rooms and into the Princes'.
They stopped and looked at one another in amazement. Nephrite burst out laughing. 'Mal.....?' he breathed.
General Malachite, leader of the Royal Guard, Commander of the King's Army, now sported a lovely pink nose. A kitten's nose to be exact. Along with little white fluffy ears and a long soft white tail. His teeth had grown sharper and his hands, arms and legs were all 'slightly' hairier than before. Malachite's original hair was now long and scraggly, white with hot pink streaks in it. His eyes however remained unchanged. And they were sparkling with anger. He was not happy.
'Oh! But you look so adorable!' laughed Nephrite at his leader. Nephrite had changed into a mouse. He had small pink ears that swiveled and a long pointy nose and whiskers. He was slightly gray in colour and his hair, his glossy auburn hair, was now white yet still glossy. His hands became longer and more claw-like. Behind him a pink tail swayed.
Malachite hissed. He did not miss the fact that Nephrite's hair still looked radiant. He turned and pounced on Nephrite. Nephrite squeaked. He ran and hid under Darien's bed and refused to come out.
'Oh stop it you two!' growled Jadeite. Jadeite had now the features of an Artic Snow wolf. He had short soft fur all over his body and canine teeth. His nose was wet and black and he had a bushy white tail behind him. Jadeite at the moment was sniffing Zoicite unceremoniously. Zoicite was waving an arm at him.
Zoicite was in the form of an owl. A snowy owl, (like Hedwig in Harry Potter). He had acquired feathers and in place of his mouth, a beak was there. His nose was nowhere to be seen. He had shrunk, his legs were more bowlegged and he had trouble walking. Instead of his hair, he now had a magnificent proud crest and Zoicite couldn't help but swivel his head around and round to look in the mirror at it.
'Could you please stop that. It's unnerving.' Pleaded Zoicite.
'Zoicite, have I ever told you how interesting you smell? In fact everything smells rather interesting.' Jadeite turned and started sniffing at Malachite.
'Stop that! Let us talk to our Prince!' ordered Malachite. For though they were in his chambers, they had not yet seen him. They looked at the lump in the bed. 'Dare?' asked Jadeite giving the lump a poke.
'We need to talk to you!' said Nephrite while cleaning his face. 'Leave me alone! Go away!' came a muffled voice under the blankets.
'Come on, it can not be any worse than the rest of us.' Said Zoicite. 'Correction,' said Nephrite, 'it cannot be any worse than Malachite here.' Malachite chose to ignore that, focusing his attention on his Prince.
As one all four Generals, pulled off the sheets to reveal ..... well, they did not know what it was. But one word could sum it up ...... ugly.
'I ..... uh .... disregard my last comment.' Muttered Nephrite.
Zoicite peered at Darien, interested. 'It looks a lot like Phoca sibirica of the Antarctic region from Earth though slightly different.'
'Phoca Siber-wha?' asked Jadeite.
'In English this time,' asked Malachite.
Zoicite sighed. 'He looks like an Antarctic fur seal yet different.' He explained.
Darien moaned and hid himself under his pillow. Needless to say he was unsuccessful. It was like trying to hide an elephant underneath a needle.
Darien's skin had turned white and was slightly more transparent. His head had grown rounder and his ears grew flat to his head. He had no remaining hair to speak of. On his face were flaps of skin that did not appear to have a purpose. His nose protruded longer and was the only black part of him. His shoulders had shrunk and his hips had widened. The fingers on his hands were webbed. Yet the oddest thing of all was his legs and feet. They had merged themselves together, but not completely. All in all it was disgusting to look at. (Btw Darien is not naked, he is wearing a long shirt with sleeves and halfway unbuttoned. So are the generals)
Malachite fumed. 'They have gone too far. We will retaliate.' The others nodded agreement.
'I think we should-' started Jadeite but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
'Excuse me your majesty,' began a servant as he entered. His eyes widened as he took in their appearances. 'The Queen welcomes you to breakfast,' he stuttered.
Jadeite quickly jumped up and cornered the servant. 'Our appearance is quite normal and the Queen knows of this however we do not wish this to be common knowledge around the palace so not a word or I will personally hunt you down and all your family too.' he threatened.
The servant speechlessly nodded and made a quick exit.
'We must go back to our rooms and keep low. We do not wish to scare everyone.' Suggested Zoi.
'We will talk tonight,' ordered Malachite glancing at his Prince for Darien had not said a single word.
The others agreed and off they went.
~@~@~@~
Lita grinned. Here was a punishment that she did enjoy. Oh the look on Nephrite's face when he saw himself, she thought, what I would give to see that.
She knocked on the door and waited. 'Come in,' said Nephrite. Lita chuckled to herself before entering. Nephrite's voice was like a squeak! Reminds me of choirboys before puberty, she thought.
'I made you some porridge,' she said as she opened the door with her back. She made sure she had placed the breakfast down on a nearby table before turning to face Nephrite with a straight face.
At least it had started off as a straight face that had quickly turned into a smile, then a grin, then a chuckle and a chortle and before you know it, helpless, full-throated laughter that left you clutching your sides and rolling on the floor.
Nephrite however did not laugh. He frowned.
'Have you quite finished?' he asked coldly, well, as cold as a squeak can get.
Lita immediately straightened up. 'I apologize,' she said humbly with a twinkle in her eye.
Nephrite turned from her. 'You have brought the breakfast, now leave Me.' he said, 'I am humiliated enough.'
Lita reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. 'I apologize for laughing at you but not for what I have done.' She said softly.
He did not say anything but he did brush her hand off either. 'You have to understand,' she said, 'I have nothing against you. It is only the fact that your Prince is engaged to my Princess.'
Nephrite turned. 'Our Prince is not happy either, but you do not see us changing you to some hideous beast.'
Lita smiled. 'You look nothing like a hideous beast. I think you are quite cute.' She said, and then realizing what she just said, she blushed.
Nephrite smiled, she blushes so prettily, he thought. 'I see,' he drawled, 'are you implying that I look better as a mouse than as a man?'
'Of course not,' burst Lita before she could stop herself, 'I mean ...... you look cute now and even when you are normal, you look ...... quite nice.'
'Nice? That is all you can say about me? Nice?' he asked enjoying the discomfit of the Jupiter Princess.
Lita fidgeted. She cannot believe this man. 'I am not here to feed your ego,' she said matter-of-factly, 'just your stomach.'
Lita walked over to the table, 'Come it's getting cold.'
Nephrite walked over and sat down. Nephrite turned to ask Lita if she made it herself and was met with a mouthful of porridge. Nephrite blinked in surprise.
Lita seeing his reaction she immediately put down the spoon and backed away, her face was beet-red. Lita had nursed several folk before and usually they were too weak to feed themselves, she had forgotten where she was.
'I ... uh... see ... I...' she could not form the words.
Nephrite however was not paying attention. 'It hurts,' he breathed looking around for somewhere to spit. He settled for a pot plant. What kind of porridge was this? He thought, it had stung! Literally, burning his mouth, it felt like needles pricking his tongue.
Lita went even redder. Damn she thought, what a time to feel guilty. "My mistake,' she said quickly grabbing the bowl and practically running out of the room.
Nephrite had managed to ease the pain in his tongue with a glass of water. He looked at the departing Lita. I see, the thought dawned on him; it was going to be another joke. But why did she leave? He wondered.
@~@~@~@
Raye stormed into the room without knocking. 'Breakfast,' she shouted and turned to leave.
'Ah ah ah,' teased Jadeite, 'I heard the Queen's order, you are meant to serve me!' He began to chuckle evilly.
Raye fumed. He was so infuriating. Raye walked over and picked up the spoon. 'Open wide,' she said sweetly.
Jadeite grinned; he was not going to fall for this. 'I'm not that stupid, you had the perfect chance to put something in there.' He said. 'I ain't eating anything from you.'
Raye ground her teeth. How did he know? Well at least she tried.
'Fine, if you don't want to eat, I'm leaving.' She made to leave once more.
'But Raye,' he protested slowly, 'I think I need another pillow.' Jadeite was lying propped up in bed.
Raye grabbed another pillow from the closet and threw it at him.
'Help me here, I can't put this behind me,' said Jadeite as he caught the pillow.
Why won't he let me leave? Wondered Raye angrily as she helped prop the pillow. Arms snaked around her waist and pulled her onto the bed. (Like you didn't see that one coming. ^_~!)
'What are you doing?' screeched Raye as Jadeite rubbed noses with her.
'I'm smelling you,' he said simply, 'And I must say, you smell quite nice.'
Raye blushed. How did these things happen? Two minutes in the room and here she was lying on top of him in bed!
'Let me go, you pervert!' she shouted.
'Do you really want that?' breathed Jadeite in her ear causing shivers to run down her back. 'Because I know you don't want me to,' he continued.
Raye could not help it. He caused so many feeling within her. She slapped his face, jumped out of bed and stormed out of the room.
Jadeite grinned. She's mine, he thought happily.
~@~@~@~
'Tucker time!' chirped Mina as she made her way in.
Malachite sighed. 'Leave it and go.' He demanded not even bothering to face her.
'I am Head of the Protectors of the Princess. I am not answerable to you and I refuse to take orders.' She said in all seriousness.
Malachite sniffed. Head Protector? Looks like nothing but a title! 'Fine. However I do not require further assistance and suggest you leave.' He said. 'I find yo-'
'You are so soft!' squealed Mina stroking his hair. She couldn't help herself. 'Even Pearl's fur is not as beautiful as this!'
'Do you really think so?' asked Malachite. Cold and unfeeling he may be but his one pride is his hair.
'Of course. I wouldn't say it if I did not mean It.' said Mina still stroking his hair yet reaching to give his ears a scratch too.
Malachite leaned into her hand and purred. It was in his nature he could not stop himself.
When he realized what he was doing he immediately shrugged her off and backed away.
Mina shrugged feeling a little disappointed. Why do I care she thought.
'Here eat your breakfast before it gets cold.' She said with her usual smile.
Malachite walked over and took a bite. His eyes began to water. It stings! The porridge is hurting him! He spat it into his basin and emptied a jug of water on his head to ease the pain. He turned to look at Mina.
Mina stood there laughing. She was laughing at him! He hated to be made fun of! He stormed over, grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
'Don't laugh at me!' he growled. Mina continued to do so. 'That's it!' Malachite picked up the bowl of porridge and hurled it at Mina's face.
With her mouth open, Mina caught the entire impact of this porridge. 'Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!' she screamed. Running in circles around the room.
Malachite couldn't help it. He smiled. He grinned. He was full on laughing. (The kind that Lita experienced earlier.)
Mina had found console from a vase of water in the corridor outside. She stormed back in to find Malachite rolling around on the floor.
This time, she grabbed his arms and shook him. 'That was meant for you!' she wailed. 'I failed the mission! I am going to be the only one that failed!'
She began pounding her fists onto his chest. Malachite stopped laughing. He began to feel slightly guilty. I mean, if one spoonful had hurt him how much pain was an entire bowlful?
'I apologize.' He said holding her fists preventing her harmless attack.
Mina stopped wailing. She looked up at him. Was the great stone General Malachite apologizing to her? She smiled. 'I forgive you,' she said and began stroking his head again.
Malachite blinked at her sudden change. Was she always this ... cute? He wondered. I mean he quickly thought to himself, moody! Yeah that's what I was trying to think.
'Why were you on this .... mission to begin with?' he asked. 'Orders of the Princess,' said Mina distractedly, his ears were so cute. 'She doesn't wish to marry you Prince.'
'I see,' said Malachite deciding to get as much info as possible, he was after all Head General and Protector. 'So what is she planning to do next?' he asked softly.
'Well,' said Mina, 'I think she's just planning to keep up the pranks until you decide to cancel the engagement and go home.'
'And what if we don't go home?' asked Malachite staring intently at her eyes, they are the most beautiful shade of blue, he decided.
Mina could not speak; she was drowning in his eyes. Malachite asked again and this time squeezing her hand a little.
Mina jumped. She had forgotten that he still had hold of one of her hands! This also bought her to what he was actually doing and her face went red. However, this time from anger and not of embarrassment.
'That was low,' she hissed. 'I don't know how you keep the position of Leader when you fall for a simple ploy like that,' drawled Malachite.
Mina was speechless. Why did she fall for that? Without another word she left the room.
Malachite smiled to himself. I have never laughed so hard in my life, he mused, that girl is so amusing.
@~@~@~@
'I have bought you some porridge General Zoicite.' Said Ami as she looked around. Zoicite was nowhere to be seen.
She placed the porridge down and walked out onto the balcony. Zoicite was perched on a chair overlooking the forest.
'It's beautiful,' he said softly, 'it reminds me of home.' He looked at his half-formed wings. 'Would that I could jump off this balcony and fly.'
'Excuse me,' said Ami. She turned back into the room and emptied the porridge bowl down the water closet.
'Pray, what are you doing Princess Ami?' asked Zoicite as he stumbled in.
'I can not in good conscience let you eat that porridge.' She explained. 'It has a substance called Devil's Sweet in it. It leaves a burning sensation on the tongue. I know that you have suffered enough, you are in the form of an owl for goodness sake.'
Ami continued to babble and finally stopped breathless and her face slightly pink. Zoicite grinned, or at least tried to. This Princess had an attack of the mind and couldn't continue the prank! Well, he was grateful to say the least.
'What is the scientific name of this Devil's Sweet?' he asked.
Ami gave a sigh of relief. Questions she can answer!
They walked back out onto the balcony and continued to have a very scientific and boring (to everyone else) discussion on mathematical and quantum physics and other such things.
'I never met a girl who knew Aristotle's Theory,' commented Zoicite. 'I never met a guy who wished to hear about it.' said Ami blushing.
'Princess Ami-' 'Please, just call me Ami.' She said with a smile.
'Ami,' continued Zoicite, 'do you perhaps know the game of chess?'
'Chess?' her eyes lit up, 'I love chess! No one here wants to play it though. They find it too dull.'
'Likewise on Earth. Then perhaps I will challenge you to a game.' Said Zoicite, 'After of course, I get the use of my hands back,' he said looking at his wings.
Ami blushed. 'The effects will wear off by tomorrow,' she informed.
The two spent a lovely morning discussing the pros and cons of various famous chess moves.
~@~@~@~
'Prince Endymion?' called Serena.
She looked at the bed. The lump did not move. 'Darien?' she walked over to it and tried to lift up the sheets to no avail.
Serena frowned. The powder she had placed in his bed, known as Animal's Residue, shouldn't have hurt him at all. 'Darien,' she called again trying to lift up the blankets.
'Go away!' came a muffled voice.
Serena ginned evilly. 'HOLY MACARONI! FIRE!' she screamed. Darien sat up and looked around him. Seeing no fire he groaned and threw a pillow at Serena.
'Go away!' he buried himself in blankets again.
'What's the matter Endymion? Can't take the heat?' Serena successfully yanked the blanket down far enough to see his face. He turned away from her. 'Don't look at me!' he cried.
'Why not?' she asked curiously, he was acting rather strange.
'I'm hideous!' he shouted, 'And it's all your fault! I know you are here to laugh at me!'
Now she understood. 'So the mighty Prince can't stand being ugly huh?' she mocked. 'And how many girls have you dumped for how they looked?'
He was silent.
'I have heard about you, you know.' She continued, 'How you publicly humiliate girls who are in love with you, tease them, lead them on and finally reject them. It's not so fun being ugly is it?'
'You know nothing! Understand nothing!' he hissed.
'I do know that beauty is from within.' She said softly. 'Have you not wondered what you have transformed into?' she asked.
'A mutant.' He replied, 'An outcast of nature. A reject. A mistake.'
Serena gasped in anger. 'Do not speak in ignorance.' She said heatedly.
Darien turned at hearing her anger. She was really passionate about this, he thought.
'Tell me,' he said softly.
Serena looked away. A faraway look came into her eyes. 'Serena?' asked Darien softly.
'There are three major bodies of water on the moon,' began Serena, still looking spaced out. Darien could tell this meant something to her.
'The Sea of Serenity, the Sea of Tranquility and the Ocean of Storms.' (a/n I kid u not, this is actually true!)
'Needless to say the Ocean of Storms is the most violent and unpredictable of these oceans. Even hardened sailors fear to cross that ocean, its brutal waves and bad weather sink even the most seaworthy ship. Its moods can change instantly and most often for the worse. It is a place filled with legend and superstition.'
'Go on,' whispered Darien enchanted, being from a planet 70% water he was spellbound.
'They say that once long ago, the Ocean was not like that. It was once a calm and peaceful ocean. However one day, an angel had fallen out of the sky. She was speared by a local fisherman. Her wing hurt and bleeding, she could not fly and had fallen into the water. Upon touching the water, the angel had transformed. Her legs became a flipper and she changed into a Mantilla. What you have become,' she said looking at Darien in all seriousness. 'The gods were angry that an angel had been hurt and had hurled thunderbolts and hailstones down into the ocean. This caused the storms that we see today, the wrath of the gods at such disrespect. As for the fisherman, he searched the ocean and found the angel. He took care of her so that she didn't die and in repent for causing her fall from the heavens, changed himself into a Mantilla and went to live with her. People now, whenever they see a Mantilla in the ocean they say it is a sign of good will and luck. They are not common but they are there.' She finished.
Darien sat lost in thought. There was something she was not telling him. 'And?' he asked.
'Mantillas are also known for rescuing sailors from storms. They say it is the fisherman and the angel helping others.' She said softly. 'Mantilla in ancient Lunarian means gift of the gods' (It is actually a type of Spanish lace ^-^!)
'You tell this tale with reverence. Why is it so important?' asked Darien. 'A great king-' she began, than stopped. 'It doesn't matter. What I am trying to say is that the angel was beautiful and all Mantillas are regarded as beautiful. Beautiful from within.'
Darien showed her his arms. 'What are all these folds of skin for then?' he demanded. 'People say they are the leftovers of the angel's wings.' Sighed Serena.
'Thank you Princess Serena,' said Darien face slightly pink, 'You did not need to tell me a tale yet you did. And for that I am grateful.'
'It was no trouble,' said Serena. Why did I tell him that? Wondered Serena. She had never told anyone this story. The Queen herself had told Serena this when she was quite small.
'In truth,' confessed Darien, 'I did not wish to be engaged to you.' He quickly continued when he saw Serena's eyes widen. 'Not because I thought you unworthy as such but because I did not wish to marry a person I had not met.' He explained.
Serena smiled. 'I felt exactly the same way, which is why I was pulling all those pranks.' 'I have to admit. Those pranks were awfully clever.' Admired the Prince. 'Yes, they were some of my best.' Said Serena proudly.
The two continued to swap stories of how they used to get rid of suitors and schoolteachers.
A bowl of cold porridge left on a table remained uneaten.
@~@~@~@
Tbc So what did you think? I have a faint idea of how I am continuing this so plz read n review!! ^-^! Arigato!
Ja ne!
Newayz on with the show! Enjoy! ^-^!
Chapter Six
'Have you girls seen the Princes this morning?' enquired the Queen.
'No mother I have just woken up and went straight here.' Replied Serena. 'We have not seen them either,' chorused the girls.
Strange, thought the Queen, no matter how late the Generals and the Prince, they always arrived before Serena got here!
'Excuse me your Majesty,' bowed a palace servant, 'Prince Endymion, General Malachite, Zoicite, Jadeite and Nephrite would like to apologize and would the Queen please excuse them as they are feeling poorly this morning. They said to please start breakfast without them.'
Queen Serenity dismissed the servant and turned full frontal glare on the princesses. The four Senshi had the grace to blush but Serena grinned cheekily.
'Girls,' sighed the Queen, 'another attack so soon? Please, they are here as signs of peace! If the King and Queen of Earth were to hear how poorly the Princes are treated it would jeopardize everything!'
'But mother!' protested Serena despite the warning glances of the others, 'I didn't do anything! We did nothing I tell you! We can't help it if they have weak immune systems!'
Serenity then got angry. 'If I hear of another prank pulled, I will not only release the Sabres back into the wild but I will also think of a punishment so drastic that all of you will regret it!' she hissed quickly.
Serena scowled rebelliously. 'This has nothing to do with Crystal! Why punish her when she has done nothing wrong?'
'Serena, you are princess of the realm. Do you know what it means to be princess? Do you? One day you will rule it all and all I can see is a spoilt little girl who refuses to grow up!' Queen Serenity abruptly stood up and walked out.
Reaching the doorway she stopped and turned. 'I expect each of you girls to bring the Princes breakfast.' She commanded. As Serena was about to protest, she added, 'And lunch.' She paused. 'And dinner. And whatever else they need. If I hear any complaints from them, I will make you play servant to them for a day. I will check up on you.' And she left.
The girls stood there with their mouths open in shock.
'Well, this plan sure backfired,' commented Ami. 'Breakfast, lunch and dinner? Breakfast lunch and dinner?' mumbled Mina over and over.
'I think it's going to be fun!' enthused Lita.
Serena jumped up. 'I have a great idea!' she shouted.
'Oh really? Is it as good as the last one?' said Raye sarcastically.
'Even better! We have to serve them food right?' said Serena grinning, 'Well, how about we put something in the food?'
'I think it's a marvelous idea! Keep attacking while we are ahead!'
'I pity the Generals but hey you guys never listen to me anyway.'
'Nothing poisonous or anything. Just a little too hot or spicy or sweet...'
'I say bugs and spiders and horse doo-doo!'
Serena grinned. Her mother will eventually see that the Prince and her weren't suited and cancel the engagement for sure!
~@~@~@~
In each of their respective room, the Generals and their Prince groaned. From the whispers of the palace staff, they had heard what the Queen had ordered. Breakfast, lunch and dinner? Was the Queen mad? However are they gonna survive?
(Their rooms are all in the same part of the palace but in separate corridors. Think of one main corridor and five smaller corridors off it.)
Flashback to early that morning......
Five shouts were heard simultaneously from five different rooms. Much to the surprise of palace staff.
'My face! My beautiful face!'
'My skin! What has that bitch done to my skin!'
'My lustrous hair! It's ruined!'
'I don't want to live! But I am going to kill them first!'
'I'm melting! Meellttiiiinnngg!'
'There's no place like home. There's no place like home!'
'It's all a bad dream. Awake! I said AWAKE GODDAMNIT!'
There was a flurry of activity as they stormed out of their rooms and into the Princes'.
They stopped and looked at one another in amazement. Nephrite burst out laughing. 'Mal.....?' he breathed.
General Malachite, leader of the Royal Guard, Commander of the King's Army, now sported a lovely pink nose. A kitten's nose to be exact. Along with little white fluffy ears and a long soft white tail. His teeth had grown sharper and his hands, arms and legs were all 'slightly' hairier than before. Malachite's original hair was now long and scraggly, white with hot pink streaks in it. His eyes however remained unchanged. And they were sparkling with anger. He was not happy.
'Oh! But you look so adorable!' laughed Nephrite at his leader. Nephrite had changed into a mouse. He had small pink ears that swiveled and a long pointy nose and whiskers. He was slightly gray in colour and his hair, his glossy auburn hair, was now white yet still glossy. His hands became longer and more claw-like. Behind him a pink tail swayed.
Malachite hissed. He did not miss the fact that Nephrite's hair still looked radiant. He turned and pounced on Nephrite. Nephrite squeaked. He ran and hid under Darien's bed and refused to come out.
'Oh stop it you two!' growled Jadeite. Jadeite had now the features of an Artic Snow wolf. He had short soft fur all over his body and canine teeth. His nose was wet and black and he had a bushy white tail behind him. Jadeite at the moment was sniffing Zoicite unceremoniously. Zoicite was waving an arm at him.
Zoicite was in the form of an owl. A snowy owl, (like Hedwig in Harry Potter). He had acquired feathers and in place of his mouth, a beak was there. His nose was nowhere to be seen. He had shrunk, his legs were more bowlegged and he had trouble walking. Instead of his hair, he now had a magnificent proud crest and Zoicite couldn't help but swivel his head around and round to look in the mirror at it.
'Could you please stop that. It's unnerving.' Pleaded Zoicite.
'Zoicite, have I ever told you how interesting you smell? In fact everything smells rather interesting.' Jadeite turned and started sniffing at Malachite.
'Stop that! Let us talk to our Prince!' ordered Malachite. For though they were in his chambers, they had not yet seen him. They looked at the lump in the bed. 'Dare?' asked Jadeite giving the lump a poke.
'We need to talk to you!' said Nephrite while cleaning his face. 'Leave me alone! Go away!' came a muffled voice under the blankets.
'Come on, it can not be any worse than the rest of us.' Said Zoicite. 'Correction,' said Nephrite, 'it cannot be any worse than Malachite here.' Malachite chose to ignore that, focusing his attention on his Prince.
As one all four Generals, pulled off the sheets to reveal ..... well, they did not know what it was. But one word could sum it up ...... ugly.
'I ..... uh .... disregard my last comment.' Muttered Nephrite.
Zoicite peered at Darien, interested. 'It looks a lot like Phoca sibirica of the Antarctic region from Earth though slightly different.'
'Phoca Siber-wha?' asked Jadeite.
'In English this time,' asked Malachite.
Zoicite sighed. 'He looks like an Antarctic fur seal yet different.' He explained.
Darien moaned and hid himself under his pillow. Needless to say he was unsuccessful. It was like trying to hide an elephant underneath a needle.
Darien's skin had turned white and was slightly more transparent. His head had grown rounder and his ears grew flat to his head. He had no remaining hair to speak of. On his face were flaps of skin that did not appear to have a purpose. His nose protruded longer and was the only black part of him. His shoulders had shrunk and his hips had widened. The fingers on his hands were webbed. Yet the oddest thing of all was his legs and feet. They had merged themselves together, but not completely. All in all it was disgusting to look at. (Btw Darien is not naked, he is wearing a long shirt with sleeves and halfway unbuttoned. So are the generals)
Malachite fumed. 'They have gone too far. We will retaliate.' The others nodded agreement.
'I think we should-' started Jadeite but was interrupted by a knock on the door.
'Excuse me your majesty,' began a servant as he entered. His eyes widened as he took in their appearances. 'The Queen welcomes you to breakfast,' he stuttered.
Jadeite quickly jumped up and cornered the servant. 'Our appearance is quite normal and the Queen knows of this however we do not wish this to be common knowledge around the palace so not a word or I will personally hunt you down and all your family too.' he threatened.
The servant speechlessly nodded and made a quick exit.
'We must go back to our rooms and keep low. We do not wish to scare everyone.' Suggested Zoi.
'We will talk tonight,' ordered Malachite glancing at his Prince for Darien had not said a single word.
The others agreed and off they went.
~@~@~@~
Lita grinned. Here was a punishment that she did enjoy. Oh the look on Nephrite's face when he saw himself, she thought, what I would give to see that.
She knocked on the door and waited. 'Come in,' said Nephrite. Lita chuckled to herself before entering. Nephrite's voice was like a squeak! Reminds me of choirboys before puberty, she thought.
'I made you some porridge,' she said as she opened the door with her back. She made sure she had placed the breakfast down on a nearby table before turning to face Nephrite with a straight face.
At least it had started off as a straight face that had quickly turned into a smile, then a grin, then a chuckle and a chortle and before you know it, helpless, full-throated laughter that left you clutching your sides and rolling on the floor.
Nephrite however did not laugh. He frowned.
'Have you quite finished?' he asked coldly, well, as cold as a squeak can get.
Lita immediately straightened up. 'I apologize,' she said humbly with a twinkle in her eye.
Nephrite turned from her. 'You have brought the breakfast, now leave Me.' he said, 'I am humiliated enough.'
Lita reached out and placed her hand on his shoulder. 'I apologize for laughing at you but not for what I have done.' She said softly.
He did not say anything but he did brush her hand off either. 'You have to understand,' she said, 'I have nothing against you. It is only the fact that your Prince is engaged to my Princess.'
Nephrite turned. 'Our Prince is not happy either, but you do not see us changing you to some hideous beast.'
Lita smiled. 'You look nothing like a hideous beast. I think you are quite cute.' She said, and then realizing what she just said, she blushed.
Nephrite smiled, she blushes so prettily, he thought. 'I see,' he drawled, 'are you implying that I look better as a mouse than as a man?'
'Of course not,' burst Lita before she could stop herself, 'I mean ...... you look cute now and even when you are normal, you look ...... quite nice.'
'Nice? That is all you can say about me? Nice?' he asked enjoying the discomfit of the Jupiter Princess.
Lita fidgeted. She cannot believe this man. 'I am not here to feed your ego,' she said matter-of-factly, 'just your stomach.'
Lita walked over to the table, 'Come it's getting cold.'
Nephrite walked over and sat down. Nephrite turned to ask Lita if she made it herself and was met with a mouthful of porridge. Nephrite blinked in surprise.
Lita seeing his reaction she immediately put down the spoon and backed away, her face was beet-red. Lita had nursed several folk before and usually they were too weak to feed themselves, she had forgotten where she was.
'I ... uh... see ... I...' she could not form the words.
Nephrite however was not paying attention. 'It hurts,' he breathed looking around for somewhere to spit. He settled for a pot plant. What kind of porridge was this? He thought, it had stung! Literally, burning his mouth, it felt like needles pricking his tongue.
Lita went even redder. Damn she thought, what a time to feel guilty. "My mistake,' she said quickly grabbing the bowl and practically running out of the room.
Nephrite had managed to ease the pain in his tongue with a glass of water. He looked at the departing Lita. I see, the thought dawned on him; it was going to be another joke. But why did she leave? He wondered.
@~@~@~@
Raye stormed into the room without knocking. 'Breakfast,' she shouted and turned to leave.
'Ah ah ah,' teased Jadeite, 'I heard the Queen's order, you are meant to serve me!' He began to chuckle evilly.
Raye fumed. He was so infuriating. Raye walked over and picked up the spoon. 'Open wide,' she said sweetly.
Jadeite grinned; he was not going to fall for this. 'I'm not that stupid, you had the perfect chance to put something in there.' He said. 'I ain't eating anything from you.'
Raye ground her teeth. How did he know? Well at least she tried.
'Fine, if you don't want to eat, I'm leaving.' She made to leave once more.
'But Raye,' he protested slowly, 'I think I need another pillow.' Jadeite was lying propped up in bed.
Raye grabbed another pillow from the closet and threw it at him.
'Help me here, I can't put this behind me,' said Jadeite as he caught the pillow.
Why won't he let me leave? Wondered Raye angrily as she helped prop the pillow. Arms snaked around her waist and pulled her onto the bed. (Like you didn't see that one coming. ^_~!)
'What are you doing?' screeched Raye as Jadeite rubbed noses with her.
'I'm smelling you,' he said simply, 'And I must say, you smell quite nice.'
Raye blushed. How did these things happen? Two minutes in the room and here she was lying on top of him in bed!
'Let me go, you pervert!' she shouted.
'Do you really want that?' breathed Jadeite in her ear causing shivers to run down her back. 'Because I know you don't want me to,' he continued.
Raye could not help it. He caused so many feeling within her. She slapped his face, jumped out of bed and stormed out of the room.
Jadeite grinned. She's mine, he thought happily.
~@~@~@~
'Tucker time!' chirped Mina as she made her way in.
Malachite sighed. 'Leave it and go.' He demanded not even bothering to face her.
'I am Head of the Protectors of the Princess. I am not answerable to you and I refuse to take orders.' She said in all seriousness.
Malachite sniffed. Head Protector? Looks like nothing but a title! 'Fine. However I do not require further assistance and suggest you leave.' He said. 'I find yo-'
'You are so soft!' squealed Mina stroking his hair. She couldn't help herself. 'Even Pearl's fur is not as beautiful as this!'
'Do you really think so?' asked Malachite. Cold and unfeeling he may be but his one pride is his hair.
'Of course. I wouldn't say it if I did not mean It.' said Mina still stroking his hair yet reaching to give his ears a scratch too.
Malachite leaned into her hand and purred. It was in his nature he could not stop himself.
When he realized what he was doing he immediately shrugged her off and backed away.
Mina shrugged feeling a little disappointed. Why do I care she thought.
'Here eat your breakfast before it gets cold.' She said with her usual smile.
Malachite walked over and took a bite. His eyes began to water. It stings! The porridge is hurting him! He spat it into his basin and emptied a jug of water on his head to ease the pain. He turned to look at Mina.
Mina stood there laughing. She was laughing at him! He hated to be made fun of! He stormed over, grabbed her shoulders and shook her.
'Don't laugh at me!' he growled. Mina continued to do so. 'That's it!' Malachite picked up the bowl of porridge and hurled it at Mina's face.
With her mouth open, Mina caught the entire impact of this porridge. 'Aaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhhhh!' she screamed. Running in circles around the room.
Malachite couldn't help it. He smiled. He grinned. He was full on laughing. (The kind that Lita experienced earlier.)
Mina had found console from a vase of water in the corridor outside. She stormed back in to find Malachite rolling around on the floor.
This time, she grabbed his arms and shook him. 'That was meant for you!' she wailed. 'I failed the mission! I am going to be the only one that failed!'
She began pounding her fists onto his chest. Malachite stopped laughing. He began to feel slightly guilty. I mean, if one spoonful had hurt him how much pain was an entire bowlful?
'I apologize.' He said holding her fists preventing her harmless attack.
Mina stopped wailing. She looked up at him. Was the great stone General Malachite apologizing to her? She smiled. 'I forgive you,' she said and began stroking his head again.
Malachite blinked at her sudden change. Was she always this ... cute? He wondered. I mean he quickly thought to himself, moody! Yeah that's what I was trying to think.
'Why were you on this .... mission to begin with?' he asked. 'Orders of the Princess,' said Mina distractedly, his ears were so cute. 'She doesn't wish to marry you Prince.'
'I see,' said Malachite deciding to get as much info as possible, he was after all Head General and Protector. 'So what is she planning to do next?' he asked softly.
'Well,' said Mina, 'I think she's just planning to keep up the pranks until you decide to cancel the engagement and go home.'
'And what if we don't go home?' asked Malachite staring intently at her eyes, they are the most beautiful shade of blue, he decided.
Mina could not speak; she was drowning in his eyes. Malachite asked again and this time squeezing her hand a little.
Mina jumped. She had forgotten that he still had hold of one of her hands! This also bought her to what he was actually doing and her face went red. However, this time from anger and not of embarrassment.
'That was low,' she hissed. 'I don't know how you keep the position of Leader when you fall for a simple ploy like that,' drawled Malachite.
Mina was speechless. Why did she fall for that? Without another word she left the room.
Malachite smiled to himself. I have never laughed so hard in my life, he mused, that girl is so amusing.
@~@~@~@
'I have bought you some porridge General Zoicite.' Said Ami as she looked around. Zoicite was nowhere to be seen.
She placed the porridge down and walked out onto the balcony. Zoicite was perched on a chair overlooking the forest.
'It's beautiful,' he said softly, 'it reminds me of home.' He looked at his half-formed wings. 'Would that I could jump off this balcony and fly.'
'Excuse me,' said Ami. She turned back into the room and emptied the porridge bowl down the water closet.
'Pray, what are you doing Princess Ami?' asked Zoicite as he stumbled in.
'I can not in good conscience let you eat that porridge.' She explained. 'It has a substance called Devil's Sweet in it. It leaves a burning sensation on the tongue. I know that you have suffered enough, you are in the form of an owl for goodness sake.'
Ami continued to babble and finally stopped breathless and her face slightly pink. Zoicite grinned, or at least tried to. This Princess had an attack of the mind and couldn't continue the prank! Well, he was grateful to say the least.
'What is the scientific name of this Devil's Sweet?' he asked.
Ami gave a sigh of relief. Questions she can answer!
They walked back out onto the balcony and continued to have a very scientific and boring (to everyone else) discussion on mathematical and quantum physics and other such things.
'I never met a girl who knew Aristotle's Theory,' commented Zoicite. 'I never met a guy who wished to hear about it.' said Ami blushing.
'Princess Ami-' 'Please, just call me Ami.' She said with a smile.
'Ami,' continued Zoicite, 'do you perhaps know the game of chess?'
'Chess?' her eyes lit up, 'I love chess! No one here wants to play it though. They find it too dull.'
'Likewise on Earth. Then perhaps I will challenge you to a game.' Said Zoicite, 'After of course, I get the use of my hands back,' he said looking at his wings.
Ami blushed. 'The effects will wear off by tomorrow,' she informed.
The two spent a lovely morning discussing the pros and cons of various famous chess moves.
~@~@~@~
'Prince Endymion?' called Serena.
She looked at the bed. The lump did not move. 'Darien?' she walked over to it and tried to lift up the sheets to no avail.
Serena frowned. The powder she had placed in his bed, known as Animal's Residue, shouldn't have hurt him at all. 'Darien,' she called again trying to lift up the blankets.
'Go away!' came a muffled voice.
Serena ginned evilly. 'HOLY MACARONI! FIRE!' she screamed. Darien sat up and looked around him. Seeing no fire he groaned and threw a pillow at Serena.
'Go away!' he buried himself in blankets again.
'What's the matter Endymion? Can't take the heat?' Serena successfully yanked the blanket down far enough to see his face. He turned away from her. 'Don't look at me!' he cried.
'Why not?' she asked curiously, he was acting rather strange.
'I'm hideous!' he shouted, 'And it's all your fault! I know you are here to laugh at me!'
Now she understood. 'So the mighty Prince can't stand being ugly huh?' she mocked. 'And how many girls have you dumped for how they looked?'
He was silent.
'I have heard about you, you know.' She continued, 'How you publicly humiliate girls who are in love with you, tease them, lead them on and finally reject them. It's not so fun being ugly is it?'
'You know nothing! Understand nothing!' he hissed.
'I do know that beauty is from within.' She said softly. 'Have you not wondered what you have transformed into?' she asked.
'A mutant.' He replied, 'An outcast of nature. A reject. A mistake.'
Serena gasped in anger. 'Do not speak in ignorance.' She said heatedly.
Darien turned at hearing her anger. She was really passionate about this, he thought.
'Tell me,' he said softly.
Serena looked away. A faraway look came into her eyes. 'Serena?' asked Darien softly.
'There are three major bodies of water on the moon,' began Serena, still looking spaced out. Darien could tell this meant something to her.
'The Sea of Serenity, the Sea of Tranquility and the Ocean of Storms.' (a/n I kid u not, this is actually true!)
'Needless to say the Ocean of Storms is the most violent and unpredictable of these oceans. Even hardened sailors fear to cross that ocean, its brutal waves and bad weather sink even the most seaworthy ship. Its moods can change instantly and most often for the worse. It is a place filled with legend and superstition.'
'Go on,' whispered Darien enchanted, being from a planet 70% water he was spellbound.
'They say that once long ago, the Ocean was not like that. It was once a calm and peaceful ocean. However one day, an angel had fallen out of the sky. She was speared by a local fisherman. Her wing hurt and bleeding, she could not fly and had fallen into the water. Upon touching the water, the angel had transformed. Her legs became a flipper and she changed into a Mantilla. What you have become,' she said looking at Darien in all seriousness. 'The gods were angry that an angel had been hurt and had hurled thunderbolts and hailstones down into the ocean. This caused the storms that we see today, the wrath of the gods at such disrespect. As for the fisherman, he searched the ocean and found the angel. He took care of her so that she didn't die and in repent for causing her fall from the heavens, changed himself into a Mantilla and went to live with her. People now, whenever they see a Mantilla in the ocean they say it is a sign of good will and luck. They are not common but they are there.' She finished.
Darien sat lost in thought. There was something she was not telling him. 'And?' he asked.
'Mantillas are also known for rescuing sailors from storms. They say it is the fisherman and the angel helping others.' She said softly. 'Mantilla in ancient Lunarian means gift of the gods' (It is actually a type of Spanish lace ^-^!)
'You tell this tale with reverence. Why is it so important?' asked Darien. 'A great king-' she began, than stopped. 'It doesn't matter. What I am trying to say is that the angel was beautiful and all Mantillas are regarded as beautiful. Beautiful from within.'
Darien showed her his arms. 'What are all these folds of skin for then?' he demanded. 'People say they are the leftovers of the angel's wings.' Sighed Serena.
'Thank you Princess Serena,' said Darien face slightly pink, 'You did not need to tell me a tale yet you did. And for that I am grateful.'
'It was no trouble,' said Serena. Why did I tell him that? Wondered Serena. She had never told anyone this story. The Queen herself had told Serena this when she was quite small.
'In truth,' confessed Darien, 'I did not wish to be engaged to you.' He quickly continued when he saw Serena's eyes widen. 'Not because I thought you unworthy as such but because I did not wish to marry a person I had not met.' He explained.
Serena smiled. 'I felt exactly the same way, which is why I was pulling all those pranks.' 'I have to admit. Those pranks were awfully clever.' Admired the Prince. 'Yes, they were some of my best.' Said Serena proudly.
The two continued to swap stories of how they used to get rid of suitors and schoolteachers.
A bowl of cold porridge left on a table remained uneaten.
@~@~@~@
Tbc So what did you think? I have a faint idea of how I am continuing this so plz read n review!! ^-^! Arigato!
Ja ne!