I apologise deeply for the delay!! Gomen!! But schoolwork caught up with me
and exams!! It's all over now though so no more excuses! I'm in HOLIDAYS!!!
YAY!!! I'll try to finish this story, I promise!!
Thank you to all who reviewed!!! roswellachick, secrets, nova33, angel, ThatsMsDiva2U, Ocianne, sam, Astgal, koldy, Ellen, Shade587, Ravenfeathers587, I do read all my reviews and they are appreciated.
Chapter Sixteen
The guys fidgeted and glanced about uneasily. Jadeite cleared his throat and looked up with a hesitant smile but upon viewing the glare, the smile died and he looked away again.
And who wouldn't look away, the force of five targeted death glares is remarkably strong.
'So.....' said Darien uncomfortably.
'Yes, Prince Endymion?' asked Serena tightly.
He grimaced at the sound of his full name. 'Whatever happened to Endy?' he wondered.
'We need to talk Serena,' he stated firmly, resolving to get this over with.
'That is Princess Serena to you,' she corrected but obligingly got up and followed him out of the forest clearing.
With those two gone, the uncomfortable silence was back.
'You don't think she killed him, do you?' asked Jadeite of Nephrite but it was Raye who answered.
'He deserved it if she did!'
'Hey! He didn't do anything wrong!' Jadeite defended his prince.
'Placing bets on a girl's feelings ain't wrong!?'
They were both shouting now and had very red faces.
'No it isn't!'
'Toying with a girl's feelings is!'
'But we didn't!'
'Yes you did!'
'Na ahhhh!'
Raye responded to Jadeite's childish reply with one of her own.
She stuck her tongue out and made spitting noises.
Mina rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Ami had her head in her hands asking herself, 'Why me?'
Lita however was laughing, only these two can resort to childish bickering.
Not to be outdone, Jadeite stuck his thumbs in his ears and waved his tongue and fingers at her.
Raye gasped before placing her thumb on her nose and waving her fingers back at him.
They continued making faces all the while making agreeing and disagreeing noises.
After a while everyone else left the pair to figure themselves out. Jadeite was blowing raspberries.
___@@@
As they were walking away, Malachite stopped Mina with a gentle touch on her forearm. She reacted as if she had been shocked and stepped away.
In truth she had. His fingers had been so warm and all she wanted to do was return the touch.
'Can I help you?' she asked friendly but polite.
'I...' Malachite gently tugged his hair as he figured out what he wanted to say. 'I apologise. I didn't mean to hurt you and I am sorry.' He blurted.
Without missing a beat or dimming of her smile, Mina replied, 'Apology accepted.' She turned and walked away but not before calling out, 'And I wasn't hurt.'
Malachite gazed at her retreating back. 'Maybe this isn't as easy as I thought it would be' he thought.
Meanwhile Nephrite was gazing about frantically. Lita had disappeared the instant he was looking for her. 'Where is that girl?' he thought
He had almost given up and was going back to camp when he heard a cooing noise. He looked up. There wrapped around a branch was the Princess Lita. In her hands held a bird's nest with four speckled eggs in it.
'It's alright darlings. I'll just put you back and your mother will never know,' she reassured.
Nephrite smiled. She was such a sweet girl and the view he had of her long legs bared by that mini skirt wasn't bad either.
'Princess? Are you alright there?' he asked amused. 'Do you need help getting down?'
Lita having positioned the nest to her liking now gazed down at the chuckling General.
'If I can get myself up here, I can very well get down!' she said defensively.
Lita had been lying on her stomach with her legs twined around the branch for support.
Now she held the branch with her hands and swung down, much like a sloth would.
Nephrite started and ran towards her when he thought she was falling. 'I'll just catch her in my arms like a knight and his damsel.' he thought to himself.
However Lita then let go and flipped and landed on her feet. At least that was what she planned.
She did not account for a tall General to come a running and she promptly felled him.
'Arrrggghhh,' moaned said General underneath Lita. 'I think you kicked me in the stomach.'
'And I think you just blinded me.' Stated Lita clutching her eye. "What did you think you were doing, getting in the way like that?'
'Getting in the way?! I just broke your fall girl and prevented you from breaking your neck! I think I broke mine instead.'
'Breaking my fall?!! Who was falling?? I was jumping out of a tree!! And I would have made it too!'
Nephrite was about to reply but he stopped. Certainly, no princess on Earth would have jumped out of a tree and made it but then no princess on Earth would have climbed the tree in the first place!
And he did seem to recall her fighting before, at least now he could see that she wasn't hurt so she must be able to defend herself, he concluded.
'Where did the mini skirt come from?' he asked abruptly.
By now they had disentangled themselves and were sitting on the ground but on hearing that question, Lita stood up.
'I'm not sure how much to tell you, best if our Princess was present.' Informed Lita offering her hand, which he took, and pulled him up.
'She has a strong grip' thought Nephrite. 'Let us find her then.' He said and they made to where they saw them disappear before.
And while all this was happening..........
'Ow!' flinched Zoicite, 'That hurt!'
'It was meant to!' said Ami.
Zoicite rubbed his cheek where she had slapped him. She didn't even give him a chance to apologise!
'I want you to leave me alone!' she told him forcefully.
'If this is about showing the others that card you gave me,' began Zoicite.
'Yes it is!' interrupted Ami, 'You made me a fool!'
'It made me very happy when I saw it,' he said quietly.
Ami froze. 'What did you say?' she asked.
'It made me very happy when I saw it.'
Ami could not believe he was saying this. 'And yet you still made fun of it in front of the other guys.' She said just as quiet.
Zoicite did not know how to reply to this. For he had made of her.
'I wasn't thinking, it was just male ego and pride.' He said lamely. 'I want us to be like we were before,'
'I don't think so,' said Ami.
'I enjoyed your company,' persisted Zoicite.
Ami snorted at this. 'Go flirt with a brick wall!' she replied before heading off to see what the Princess was up to. 'Murder,' thought Ami, 'And she won't be the only one.'
@~@~@~@
'Well? What is it that you wish to speak to me about?' asked Serena primly letting her impatience show.
Darien faced her. It was all or nothing. He took a deep breath and prayed no one else was listening.
'I've come to grovel and beg for your forgiveness,' he stated in all seriousness. When Serena opened her mouth, he held up a hand to stall her.
'Hear me out,' he said and when she nodded he continued, 'That night when you heard me say those things, well, it was all true.'
Serena gasped and grew angry but he quickly continued. 'I do think you are a bubbleheaded klutz who cries pretty easily, I saw you burst into tears after you fell over once, but, well, I love you all the same.'
Serena's anger dissipated and she was left speechless.
'In truth I didn't really want the engagement to begin with but after meeting you, I'm in doubt. When you played those pranks on the Moon, instead of chasing me away they captured my attention. When you smiled and laughed with me, you captured my heart. When I saw you captured my bandits, well.... something inside me, it hurts real bad. I don't want to lose you now over a childish bet I played.'
He took a breath and gently clasped her hands in his.
'Forgive me, Rena? You are the only one I see fit and worthy to be by my side as my wife and as my Queen.'
Serena couldn't help it. She'd all but melted inside at his sincere words. She broke forth into a beaming smile and to Darien it was like the sun came out.
Serena actually was going to tell him that the engagement was still on. For it didn't matter that he had hurt her for there was a peace treaty to think of. Inbred in her from such an early age was that the Moon's needs came before her own.
But now... now everything was perfect. He loved her and she loved him and they would be happy together.
'Apology accepted although maybe I should have you grovel more,' Serena pouted and began twirling a strand of hair between her fingers.
Darien laughed and pulled her into an embrace. 'You can make me grovel later,' he growled and proceeded to kiss her. She giggled before wrapping her arms around his neck and returning the favour.
This was the scene that the eight guardians walked into later.
Ami and Raye gaped in shock, Lita smirked while Mina clapped and cheered.
The Generals were all happy for their Prince.
After much coughing and clearing throats and 'Ahem'-ing to no avail, Raye resorted to poking Serena in the side.
At long last Serena and Darien broke the embrace, 'What?' she asked dazedly.
'I see the engagement is still on then?' enquired Raye with a straight face.
Serena huffed. 'Did you ever doubt that I would not endanger the peace treaty?' she asked. Upon hearing this statement all four girls burst into laughter.
When things settled down, Nephrite asked, 'Princess, I would like to know where the mini skirts came from?'
Serena blinked in surprise. 'It is no secret, Earth General, if you did your homework correctly.' She said mysteriously.
All the men looked at Zoicite questioningly. It was his duty to know these things; he was after all Head of Intelligence.
'There wasn't that much information,' he said defensively, 'All I knew was that the Senshi were the Princess's court and guardians. I thought that was equivalent to Earth's ladies-in-waiting and had not pursued the notion.'
Ami snorted. 'I know of your ladies-in-waiting, and like them we are not!'
She turned to the other girls, 'They thought we were like maids! But of a higher status.'
Lita and Raye burst out laughing, Mina looked affronted. Maids!
'Would you care to explain then?' asked Malachite.
Mina stood up and bowed a little. 'I am Princess Mina, lady of Princess Serena's royal court. Also known as Sailor Venus, leader of the Senshi and head of security.'
Jadeite gaped. 'She has the same position as you, Malachite!' he tactlessly pointed out.
Malachite straightened and looked at this girl who had equalled if not more status than him. This time he viewed her not as a princess but checked her out as an opponent. From her limbs and her stance he could tell that she could fight. But doubtful of her skill, she was a girl after all.
Raye did not even bother standing up. 'Sailor Mars after the god of war.' She stated. 'Priestess and head of all things spiritual.'
'Priestess?' questioned Zoicite.
'Yes,' stated Raye confused of what he was asking.
When he didn't elaborate, Jadeite couldn't help himself, he had to know. 'Does that mean you have taken a vow of celibacy?' he asked.
'Priests on Earth are not allowed to have families,' hissed Ami helpfully to Raye.
(a/n I am not sure of that so don't quote me)
Comprehension dawned and she looked at the anxious Jadeite. 'Wouldn't you like to know?' she taunted with a smirk. She was still not satisfied over who won the contest before, the others had arrived and had dragged them off.
Jadeite shrugged indifferently. 'You'll tell me right?' he hissed not so subtly at Ami.
She ignored him, leaving Raye to make her own decision.
'Princess Ami, aka Sailor Mercury and Head of Intelligence.'
'And I,' said Lita grandly, curtseying in a mini skirt, no easy task, 'am Sailor Jupiter and responsible for weapons and animals. And occasionally food.' She added.
'But Serena is also wearing a mini skirt.' Observed Malachite.
The others nodded. 'Are you then part of your own guard?' asked Darien amused.
'I am Sailor Moon, defender of the innocent, protector of the small, and the sword of justice..'
The girls groaned. 'You had to ask,' said Raye, 'She can go on forever like this!'
Serena was now standing and making ridiculous poses which she obviously thought were dashing.
'In the name of the Moon, I will punish you, I will right wrongs and uphold the peace, don't fear innocent bystanders for I am here......'
The girls groaned while the Generals chuckled as they all left Darien to deal with his fiancé.
Darien embraced the girl once more and kissed her on the forehead. 'Good work, you drove them all away.' He said softly into her ear.
Serena giggled, 'The things I do for you,' she replied and turned her lips to his once more.
@~@~@~@
That's all for today. I have the rest of the story planned out, won't be long now. Please review! Ta ta! ^-^!
Thank you to all who reviewed!!! roswellachick, secrets, nova33, angel, ThatsMsDiva2U, Ocianne, sam, Astgal, koldy, Ellen, Shade587, Ravenfeathers587, I do read all my reviews and they are appreciated.
Chapter Sixteen
The guys fidgeted and glanced about uneasily. Jadeite cleared his throat and looked up with a hesitant smile but upon viewing the glare, the smile died and he looked away again.
And who wouldn't look away, the force of five targeted death glares is remarkably strong.
'So.....' said Darien uncomfortably.
'Yes, Prince Endymion?' asked Serena tightly.
He grimaced at the sound of his full name. 'Whatever happened to Endy?' he wondered.
'We need to talk Serena,' he stated firmly, resolving to get this over with.
'That is Princess Serena to you,' she corrected but obligingly got up and followed him out of the forest clearing.
With those two gone, the uncomfortable silence was back.
'You don't think she killed him, do you?' asked Jadeite of Nephrite but it was Raye who answered.
'He deserved it if she did!'
'Hey! He didn't do anything wrong!' Jadeite defended his prince.
'Placing bets on a girl's feelings ain't wrong!?'
They were both shouting now and had very red faces.
'No it isn't!'
'Toying with a girl's feelings is!'
'But we didn't!'
'Yes you did!'
'Na ahhhh!'
Raye responded to Jadeite's childish reply with one of her own.
She stuck her tongue out and made spitting noises.
Mina rolled her eyes and shook her head.
Ami had her head in her hands asking herself, 'Why me?'
Lita however was laughing, only these two can resort to childish bickering.
Not to be outdone, Jadeite stuck his thumbs in his ears and waved his tongue and fingers at her.
Raye gasped before placing her thumb on her nose and waving her fingers back at him.
They continued making faces all the while making agreeing and disagreeing noises.
After a while everyone else left the pair to figure themselves out. Jadeite was blowing raspberries.
___@@@
As they were walking away, Malachite stopped Mina with a gentle touch on her forearm. She reacted as if she had been shocked and stepped away.
In truth she had. His fingers had been so warm and all she wanted to do was return the touch.
'Can I help you?' she asked friendly but polite.
'I...' Malachite gently tugged his hair as he figured out what he wanted to say. 'I apologise. I didn't mean to hurt you and I am sorry.' He blurted.
Without missing a beat or dimming of her smile, Mina replied, 'Apology accepted.' She turned and walked away but not before calling out, 'And I wasn't hurt.'
Malachite gazed at her retreating back. 'Maybe this isn't as easy as I thought it would be' he thought.
Meanwhile Nephrite was gazing about frantically. Lita had disappeared the instant he was looking for her. 'Where is that girl?' he thought
He had almost given up and was going back to camp when he heard a cooing noise. He looked up. There wrapped around a branch was the Princess Lita. In her hands held a bird's nest with four speckled eggs in it.
'It's alright darlings. I'll just put you back and your mother will never know,' she reassured.
Nephrite smiled. She was such a sweet girl and the view he had of her long legs bared by that mini skirt wasn't bad either.
'Princess? Are you alright there?' he asked amused. 'Do you need help getting down?'
Lita having positioned the nest to her liking now gazed down at the chuckling General.
'If I can get myself up here, I can very well get down!' she said defensively.
Lita had been lying on her stomach with her legs twined around the branch for support.
Now she held the branch with her hands and swung down, much like a sloth would.
Nephrite started and ran towards her when he thought she was falling. 'I'll just catch her in my arms like a knight and his damsel.' he thought to himself.
However Lita then let go and flipped and landed on her feet. At least that was what she planned.
She did not account for a tall General to come a running and she promptly felled him.
'Arrrggghhh,' moaned said General underneath Lita. 'I think you kicked me in the stomach.'
'And I think you just blinded me.' Stated Lita clutching her eye. "What did you think you were doing, getting in the way like that?'
'Getting in the way?! I just broke your fall girl and prevented you from breaking your neck! I think I broke mine instead.'
'Breaking my fall?!! Who was falling?? I was jumping out of a tree!! And I would have made it too!'
Nephrite was about to reply but he stopped. Certainly, no princess on Earth would have jumped out of a tree and made it but then no princess on Earth would have climbed the tree in the first place!
And he did seem to recall her fighting before, at least now he could see that she wasn't hurt so she must be able to defend herself, he concluded.
'Where did the mini skirt come from?' he asked abruptly.
By now they had disentangled themselves and were sitting on the ground but on hearing that question, Lita stood up.
'I'm not sure how much to tell you, best if our Princess was present.' Informed Lita offering her hand, which he took, and pulled him up.
'She has a strong grip' thought Nephrite. 'Let us find her then.' He said and they made to where they saw them disappear before.
And while all this was happening..........
'Ow!' flinched Zoicite, 'That hurt!'
'It was meant to!' said Ami.
Zoicite rubbed his cheek where she had slapped him. She didn't even give him a chance to apologise!
'I want you to leave me alone!' she told him forcefully.
'If this is about showing the others that card you gave me,' began Zoicite.
'Yes it is!' interrupted Ami, 'You made me a fool!'
'It made me very happy when I saw it,' he said quietly.
Ami froze. 'What did you say?' she asked.
'It made me very happy when I saw it.'
Ami could not believe he was saying this. 'And yet you still made fun of it in front of the other guys.' She said just as quiet.
Zoicite did not know how to reply to this. For he had made of her.
'I wasn't thinking, it was just male ego and pride.' He said lamely. 'I want us to be like we were before,'
'I don't think so,' said Ami.
'I enjoyed your company,' persisted Zoicite.
Ami snorted at this. 'Go flirt with a brick wall!' she replied before heading off to see what the Princess was up to. 'Murder,' thought Ami, 'And she won't be the only one.'
@~@~@~@
'Well? What is it that you wish to speak to me about?' asked Serena primly letting her impatience show.
Darien faced her. It was all or nothing. He took a deep breath and prayed no one else was listening.
'I've come to grovel and beg for your forgiveness,' he stated in all seriousness. When Serena opened her mouth, he held up a hand to stall her.
'Hear me out,' he said and when she nodded he continued, 'That night when you heard me say those things, well, it was all true.'
Serena gasped and grew angry but he quickly continued. 'I do think you are a bubbleheaded klutz who cries pretty easily, I saw you burst into tears after you fell over once, but, well, I love you all the same.'
Serena's anger dissipated and she was left speechless.
'In truth I didn't really want the engagement to begin with but after meeting you, I'm in doubt. When you played those pranks on the Moon, instead of chasing me away they captured my attention. When you smiled and laughed with me, you captured my heart. When I saw you captured my bandits, well.... something inside me, it hurts real bad. I don't want to lose you now over a childish bet I played.'
He took a breath and gently clasped her hands in his.
'Forgive me, Rena? You are the only one I see fit and worthy to be by my side as my wife and as my Queen.'
Serena couldn't help it. She'd all but melted inside at his sincere words. She broke forth into a beaming smile and to Darien it was like the sun came out.
Serena actually was going to tell him that the engagement was still on. For it didn't matter that he had hurt her for there was a peace treaty to think of. Inbred in her from such an early age was that the Moon's needs came before her own.
But now... now everything was perfect. He loved her and she loved him and they would be happy together.
'Apology accepted although maybe I should have you grovel more,' Serena pouted and began twirling a strand of hair between her fingers.
Darien laughed and pulled her into an embrace. 'You can make me grovel later,' he growled and proceeded to kiss her. She giggled before wrapping her arms around his neck and returning the favour.
This was the scene that the eight guardians walked into later.
Ami and Raye gaped in shock, Lita smirked while Mina clapped and cheered.
The Generals were all happy for their Prince.
After much coughing and clearing throats and 'Ahem'-ing to no avail, Raye resorted to poking Serena in the side.
At long last Serena and Darien broke the embrace, 'What?' she asked dazedly.
'I see the engagement is still on then?' enquired Raye with a straight face.
Serena huffed. 'Did you ever doubt that I would not endanger the peace treaty?' she asked. Upon hearing this statement all four girls burst into laughter.
When things settled down, Nephrite asked, 'Princess, I would like to know where the mini skirts came from?'
Serena blinked in surprise. 'It is no secret, Earth General, if you did your homework correctly.' She said mysteriously.
All the men looked at Zoicite questioningly. It was his duty to know these things; he was after all Head of Intelligence.
'There wasn't that much information,' he said defensively, 'All I knew was that the Senshi were the Princess's court and guardians. I thought that was equivalent to Earth's ladies-in-waiting and had not pursued the notion.'
Ami snorted. 'I know of your ladies-in-waiting, and like them we are not!'
She turned to the other girls, 'They thought we were like maids! But of a higher status.'
Lita and Raye burst out laughing, Mina looked affronted. Maids!
'Would you care to explain then?' asked Malachite.
Mina stood up and bowed a little. 'I am Princess Mina, lady of Princess Serena's royal court. Also known as Sailor Venus, leader of the Senshi and head of security.'
Jadeite gaped. 'She has the same position as you, Malachite!' he tactlessly pointed out.
Malachite straightened and looked at this girl who had equalled if not more status than him. This time he viewed her not as a princess but checked her out as an opponent. From her limbs and her stance he could tell that she could fight. But doubtful of her skill, she was a girl after all.
Raye did not even bother standing up. 'Sailor Mars after the god of war.' She stated. 'Priestess and head of all things spiritual.'
'Priestess?' questioned Zoicite.
'Yes,' stated Raye confused of what he was asking.
When he didn't elaborate, Jadeite couldn't help himself, he had to know. 'Does that mean you have taken a vow of celibacy?' he asked.
'Priests on Earth are not allowed to have families,' hissed Ami helpfully to Raye.
(a/n I am not sure of that so don't quote me)
Comprehension dawned and she looked at the anxious Jadeite. 'Wouldn't you like to know?' she taunted with a smirk. She was still not satisfied over who won the contest before, the others had arrived and had dragged them off.
Jadeite shrugged indifferently. 'You'll tell me right?' he hissed not so subtly at Ami.
She ignored him, leaving Raye to make her own decision.
'Princess Ami, aka Sailor Mercury and Head of Intelligence.'
'And I,' said Lita grandly, curtseying in a mini skirt, no easy task, 'am Sailor Jupiter and responsible for weapons and animals. And occasionally food.' She added.
'But Serena is also wearing a mini skirt.' Observed Malachite.
The others nodded. 'Are you then part of your own guard?' asked Darien amused.
'I am Sailor Moon, defender of the innocent, protector of the small, and the sword of justice..'
The girls groaned. 'You had to ask,' said Raye, 'She can go on forever like this!'
Serena was now standing and making ridiculous poses which she obviously thought were dashing.
'In the name of the Moon, I will punish you, I will right wrongs and uphold the peace, don't fear innocent bystanders for I am here......'
The girls groaned while the Generals chuckled as they all left Darien to deal with his fiancé.
Darien embraced the girl once more and kissed her on the forehead. 'Good work, you drove them all away.' He said softly into her ear.
Serena giggled, 'The things I do for you,' she replied and turned her lips to his once more.
@~@~@~@
That's all for today. I have the rest of the story planned out, won't be long now. Please review! Ta ta! ^-^!