Hey, hey , hey, hear what I say! (It rhymes) *trumpet fanfare * This is the fourth chapter. I might be a pretty good rapster (....or not... ; )) Anyway, as I rapped, this is the fourth chapter of many to come. This one is long I promise you... really, I do! My promises shouldn't be taken lightly, you hear? (Don't roll your eyes at me!!!) What I need to say is that, for you guys who read the third chapter before I updated it the first time, read it again! And I also put in a change I might make. I MIGHT RATE THIS STORY R BUT I'M NOT SURE, SO STAY WITH ME. I added some new stuff in chapter 3...I might change the summary for this story because its hard for me to keep Darien a cold prince (but I'm trying!!) so be on the lookout...and I guess that's it- wait- one more thing... this published chapter is not completely done. It is still in the making. It's just that I don't want to keep my loyal fans waiting (or maybe I need time to come up with a new idea-quick! What happened to that promise?) Expect more of this in the future...sorry. If I start a new chapter, you can definitely be sure that I'm really done with the old one....and this is it!
READ THESE INTRODUCTORY THINGS (THE STUFF I WRITE BEFORE EACH CHAPTER) BECAUSE SOMETIMES, IT HAS IMPORTANT INFO FOR THE READERS!!!!THANK YOU!!!
I just needed to say that because I'm one of those people who always skips to the story and doesn't pay attention to what the author has to say (because I don't care about the author!! .....just kidding) because I'm impatient and stupid (not a good combination. If you are reading this and have read all the stuff above, thank you. Plus, when you're reading this story, sometimes its going to be very important to pay attention to these because I tend to make many changes in already published chapters....now, on we go with the story..
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She had a death grip on his arm. Darien winced as she clung tighter and cut of his circulation. She raised her eyes and fluttered her lashes at him. Darien cringed inside. What the hell had gotten into the girl? Princess Serenity, who had kept insisting that he call her Serena (because all the people she liked did), was trying to kill him from her flirty glances. But Darien also smirked inwardly. She was such a poor actor, honestly. Something about her, though, made him collect a turmoil of emotions. He was irritated by that and tried not to show any emotion. He walked stolidly as she chattered next to him.
"As you look to your right gentlemen, you will see a beautiful garden. It has earned many gasps of wonder and fascination. Feast your eyes, on the utopia of gardens." She batted her eye lashes at her prince charming. He seemed to ignore her.
She continued, "Soon this will all be my dearest's and mine." The men raised a brow but shrugged it off.
Darien cast a lazy eye over the scenery and drew in a breath. It was the most beautiful thing he had every seen. The flowers covered the grounds, all different shapes and sizes and colors. He could spot lilies, daises, buttercups (strangely there were green ones too) and roses of all colors. Right in between the forest of petals was a waterfall, not a huge one, sliding down a hill of marble rocks and into a pond. Around the garden were trees with leaves of different colors.
"That one, " Serena pointed out, " Is nicknamed 'The tree of life' for it is the main ingredient of herbal medicines for the palace and the kingdom. Everyday, we have collectors come at dawn and pluck the leaves. Fortunately, the supply always magically replenishes and we never run out of the golden leaves. It is said that it was a gift from my great, great grandmother's lover to show that his love for her would last forever, just like the tree."
Zoicite, who regretted braking the spell, said, "Did she marry him?"
Serena scoffed. "Of course not. No matter how much she wanted to, there was no way she could ruin the family's name, so she married my great, great grandfather, Solar. She respected and liked him but she had always kept her love for her first -well- lover."
Darien noticed a wistful look in the princesses eyes but shook of the feeling of outrage from his body. If she had had a lover, then he just had to get rid of him. Darien asked, to change the subject," You have all colors of roses but not red. Why?"
Serena startled at the snappy question. His voice had cut her thoughts short, sharply too. She looked confused at him. Although he was trying not to show it, she detected a sense of irritation from him. Serena felt like kicking him in the ...never mind. If he didn't want to hear about the history the palace, why did he even come to this tour. Serena plastered on a brilliant smile and replied, " It is a very long story. You don't need me to bother you with the details."
Darien shrugged as Serena turned to lead them to the next garden. Darien sighed. This tour was getting quite boring. He had the need to yawn but he had a decent idea of respect. It was really hard to cold around this chit, it really was. Her cheeriness and her terrible acting really somehow got to him. The fact that she was trying so hard to cat as she wanted to seduce him somehow angered him. Normally, he won't have cared. Normally, women didn't try that...they just followed him.
~~~~~ ~~~~~
Serena was getting tired of acting the flirtatious whore. He gave no sigh, no indication that he was getting annoyed, except the one part where she was explaining the history. Maybe she should have told him about the red rose. Maybe that love story would have bored him too. Serena groaned but when Darien gave her a look, she ended it with a fluttering moan. He didn't seem to be convinced. She tightened her grip and whispered to him, "I would love to show you more of the gardens, if you wish."
He didn't seem to hear, or maybe he was ignoring her. She was hating this. Why wouldn't he just shrug her off? She was sure she was cutting off the circulation in his arm. She leaned closer to him. Even the extra-heavy make-up wasn't getting to him.
'URGGHH' she groaned again, but this time, inwardly. 'Why does he have to be so handsome?'
Everything he looked at her, she would feel her legs turn to jelly. Every time he talked, A sigh tried to escape her mouth. When she had first looped her arm around his, she had blushed at the sturdiness of his arm. He certainly worked-out. Her plan was not going well.
She should have just looked at the picture Ami had produced on the minibot. She would have been ready. She...might have not made this ridiculous plan at all. Serena shook that idea out.
'Of course I would. I'm not shallow and I've scared away a lot of handsome princes...but none were like this one- wait-don't-go-there' she warned herself.
Serena increased the radiance of her smile, which was starting to hurt her face, and continued with the tour. She was completely oblivious of what effect she was having on the prince's lower body. Of course, the prince was 'heavily' aware.
~~~~~ ~~~~~~
Darien groaned as he felt her leaning closer. She was doing this on purpose, the little minx. 'Minx?minx? when had he started calling girls minx?'
He was definitely losing control. She was the reason. Every little movement she made was an indication of sexual innuendo to him. He hated her for making him this way. He was going to teach her soon. Soon, she wouldn't be like a hoyden. Darien knew she was a whore but why, tell why, was he reacting to her? Damn her. He certainly was going to have an unpleasant month.
~~~~~~ meanwhile ~~~~~
Ami picked up the heavy volume and started descending the stair. She tried to hold it with one hand and help herself climb down with the other, but her balance was completely off, when suddenly...
"Do you need help with that?"
Ami jumped up in shock and muttered a curse as she saw the book fall from her hands. Then in an another moment, she flew down the stairs and caught the old thing. A flash of blue trailed behind her.
Zoicite who wasn't surprised, was never the less, impressed. "I see what they say about your magic is true."
Amy pushed the spectacles back up her nose and looked down on Zoicite. "Ah, General Zoicite you gave me a scare. I wish that you wouldn't do that in the future. These books are very fragile and they tend to break easily."
Zoicite gave a bow of apology. As he bent down, Ami saw that his long, brown hair was in a ponytail. Abruptly she asked, "Why did you grow your hair so long?"
Zoicite, caught of guard, fell to the floor. Ami blushed and covered her mouth. She gently placed the book on a nearby table and went to help the general.
"I'm sorry. I'm usually not random like that. It's just that you must be the only male I know who has their hair below the shoulders."
Her ice blue skirts billowed out as she crouched down, the wave hitting Zoicite back down. Ami, whose face turned dark red, stuttered an apology again and again. This time, she didn't help him get up. Zoicite, a little embarrassed himself, leapt to his feet and shook of imaginary dust. "Don't mention it," he muttered.
Ami sat in a chair, still concerned if he was hurt. Zoicite saw her worry and smiled. "Don't worry. I'm not offended or anything. I was just surprised...that's all. The reason why I grew my hair so long was because -umm- actually, I don't think there is a real reason!"
Ami smiled and relaxed. She motioned the Ami sighed. She was never good at inventing last- minute lies and it seemed like Zoicite agreed with her. general to sit down and he willingly took the invitation. After a moment of awkward silence, Zoicite asked, "so, princess Amiella, Do you live here?"
"Oh no! My family rules their own planet, Mercury. I only come here in the summer, for the library (It is the biggest of the planets, you know) and for festive occasions like...this one."
Zoicite leaned over the table to reach for the old book. " I here the princess had scared away many suitors."
Ami look startled. However did he hear about that. "That isn't true at all. You saw yourself how beautiful she is. She wouldn't even be able to scare a fly."
He said, "She doesn't look beautiful, only pretty. With all that make-up on, she doesn't look very real."
Ami felt outraged. "Of course she's beautiful. Are you insulting her?"
"No. I just think she's pretty and that's all."
For some reason Ami felt devastated that he thought that princess Serenity was pretty. "Well, you're wrong. She's beautiful. She just doesn't wear that much make-up -I mean- ...um..."
Zoicite tactfully changed the subject and looked at the book he was holding in front of him. "So, what is this about?"
Ami grasped onto the change of topic with relief . She had no doubt that Zoicite was questioning everything she was saying now, but she didn't care at the moment.
"Well, this book isn't normally in my area of interest. I'm more into the studies of science and such. This book contains a legend known all over the moon, but not all know the whole story."
Zoicite examined the book carefully. He opened the weary, brown cover and tried to read the writing but failed. "Is this the lunarian language?"
He coughed on the whirl of dust that escaped when he shut the cover. Ami nodded. "Yes, it is but it can be changed into another language, one you can understand."
"Oh really?"
Ami gently pulled the book out of his hands and placed it in front of her. She opened the cover once more and placed her right hand on the page. Zoicite watched in fascination as a shimmering blue wave rolled over the pages, turning the pages into liquid but he noticed that the water stayed in it place, although the blue waves seemed to be pushing and flooding the pages. Suddenly, a glow of blue absorbed Ami, and she closed her eyes. Her blue hair flew behind her, hi-lighted with her magic. The general felt a punch in his stomach. Odd, why should he feel that? She looked so incredible, so contained and peaceful. He felt like reaching out and touching her to see if she way real but something kept him back.
Then it was all over. The aura was gone and the lady in front of him opened her eyes. Zoicite suddenly felt powered by her. It was her eyes. There was something in her eyes. As if ice had covered any emotion in her eyes.
She blinked away the daze and smiled at him. "It must have seemed like forever, but it was only a matter of seconds. Somehow, anything we do seems to slow down time." She gave a nervous laugh when she caught him staring openly at her. Her chatter ceased into a delicate cough.
"Um , General Zoicite?"
"Yes?"
"Are you staring at me? Do I have anything on my face?" She raised her hand and ran it over her face.
"Yes I'm staring. You are amazing Princess Amiella. Where did you learn how to control your power?" He didn't want to think about her eyes right now. An invisible shiver ran down his spine.
Ami was greatly disappointed. He liked her powers. Not her. She pasted on a blank look." Another reason I come here is because this place has the largest training grounds. Surprising, since this is the smallest orb out of all."
"Training grounds? You guys do battle?"
Ami quickly caught her mistake. Why did she not watch over what she was saying? Arghh. "No, we don't battle. The training grounds are for us to practice focusing our powers on..umm..far away objects. You know, levitation and so on -yes- that's it. That's why we need large training grounds." Ami warmed up on her lie. Zoicite just shrugged her explanation. Ami turned the book towards the general. "See, it's English now."
Zoicite leaned over the book and gave a nod of approval. "Very efficient power. What else do you use your power for?"
"Small, trivial things. We aren't really allowed to use it for huge things."
"Such as battle?"
"Yes. Such as battle."
"Why train your powers when you really can't use it?"
"Emergencies?"
"What kind? Can you tell me or is it hush hush?" He smiled at his own silly words. Ami blinked. He looked so...wow.
"Well, like something like now. I couldn't let the book fall. Otherwise it would split, wouldn't it?" She winced at her own lie. This wasn't fair. She wasn't ready for his bombarding questions!
"Really?" He seemed careless of what she was saying, quietly studying the book.
She gave a shrug, indicating the she was through with the subject. At the moment, she was dazed by the general's smile. Zoicite leaned back against the chair.
Ami clutched onto the book and stood up. She wanted to end the uncomfortable silence and said hurriedly, "I feel very tired at the moment. I'm sorry for not keeping company for any longer, but I feel that I must retire. You, my lord-"
"Zoicite."
"Excuse me?"
"Call me Zoicite."
"Alright, Zoicite, you should have gone on the tour. It would have been most interesting. Why come to the library?"
He glanced at his sharply cut nails. "I wanted to see you." Ami sucked in her breath and turned away from him. "so long my lo-I mean- Zoicite."
As she walked through the doors, he silently said, "I will get answers out of you, my pretty."
He stood up and left too.
~~~~~ ~~~~~
"What do you think of him, Serena?"
Serena let herself fall onto the mattress in relief. Her feet were screaming at her to sit down. "Of who?"
"The prince?"
"Oh, you mean the one who apparently has a thick skull and doesn't know when a person wants him to leave. That one?"
Rei grinned. "Yes, that one."
"The one who refuses to receive any signals send towards is direction? That one?"
Her friend rolled her eyes and sighed, "Yes Serena , that one."
"The one who-"
"We get the idea!" her friends yelled simultaneously. Serena ignored them. "Well, now you know what I think of him?"
Lita sorrowfully shook her head. "Serena, Serena, Serena, "she said sadly, "will you ever learn?"
The woman in question hoisted herself onto her elbows. "What do you mean?"
"We don't care about how he acted like (except Ami of course) but how he looked like to you."
Serena grinned and joined the game, "I'm sorry Lita. I will try my best to do better next time. I swear."
"Well?"
"Well what?"
Rei groaned and Mina joined in. "well, how was he?"
"Oh, that. I have to admit. You guys are right. He is a hunk. More than a hunk, damn it! It's going to be so hard to scare him away."
Lita popped another grape into her mouth. She said, chewing thoughtfully, "You got that right. Do you think he likes you, Serena?"
Serena rolled onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Did he like her? Most of the time during the tour, he seemed to ignore her, but sometimes, she had caught him staring at her.... so intense was his gaze, that Serena felt as if he could see right through her little act. Why did she put on the act in the first place? Oh, yes. To scare him of, she mocked to herself. He was more likely to scare me! Why do I never think before I act? Why, in Selene's name, was she so stupid enough to start this stupid plot. Now she had to carry it out or she would seem more of a fool.
"Earth to Serena. Is anyone in there?"
Serena caught Rei's hand and flung it of from in front of her face. Suddenly Serena turned to face them. "Guys, I noticed that one general was missing from the flock. I believe it was the long -haired one. I think I forgot his name."
"General Zoicite."
Serena looked at Ami. Ami seemed to blush. "Is that so?"
"I met him in the library. He was very curious about us, you know?"
"What was he like, Ami?"
"Well, he seemed very curious (well I already said that) and he seems to like talking?"
This time, it was Serena who tsked at Ami. Everyone laughed. Lita bit into the luscious apple she was holding. "What are we going to so about them?"
"I don't know. They all seem somehow different from all the men who came before, "commented Mina. Serena nodded her head. She had noticed that too. These men seemed more agile, more intelligent than the fluffbrains that had come before them. Of course, this was all a feeling but it was said that lunarians were often right in their feelings. Serena also had the feeling that things weren't going to turn out the way she hoped for.
