by Sailor Earth
I just believe that somehow it wasn't meant to me.
Life can be cruel in a way that I can't explain,
And I don't think that I could face it all again.
I barely know you but somehow I know what you're about,
A deeper love I've found in you, and I no longer doubt.
You've touched my heart and it altered every plan I've made,
And now I feel that I don't have to be afraid."
From Ain't It Funny by Jennifer Lopez
*Chapter Four - Revenge Is Sweet, But Pastries are Sweeter*
The day after my birthday, Dimando summoned me to see him immediately in his study. I pushed open the door, and looked around. I hadn't been in this room for a while, not since Papa had left. It had been Papa's study, but since he'd gone, Dimando had taken it over. However, nothing had changed - the heavy oak furniture, the dusty surfaces, and the tall book cases, were just as I had remembered them.
"Sit down, darling," Dimando instructed me, "There's something I want to discuss with you." I was intrigued. Since when had Dimando ever 'discussed' anything with anyone? I'd alway's assumed that someone as arrogant as he was wouldn't feel the need for discussion. "Saffir and I have come up with a simply marvoulous plan, Serenity," he continued, "And I thought it would be a perfect oportunity to announce our engagement, what with you turning 17 and all." I almost choked when I heard these words. I wanted to shout and scream and tell Dimando that I didn't want to marry him, but I knew that wouldn't do any good. And besides, I wanted to find out about his and Saffir's 'plan'. So I kept calm, and mustered the strength to say,
"And what does your plan entale, Dimando?" in the politest voice I could manage.
"Well now, you've remember the Masked One - Tuxedo Kamen, don't you?" Hell, how couldn't I? Those dark eyes, smooth skin, chiselled jaw...
"Uh, yeah...what about him?" I asked.
"I saw him...last night. He spoke to me, told me he was a guest at the party, a prince named Endymion. Of course, with everyone in masks how could I know who he really was? He commented on my gold watch, but after he left, I noticed that my watch was missing..." Dimando waved his naked wrist in front of me as he said this, "Who else could have taken it, but him? And now I have the perfect revenge! A contest! I will hold a darts contest, and the winner will recieve not only a silver rose, but a kiss from my new fiancee, the beautiful Princess Serenity! And when he wins, my guards will seize him as he comes forth to collect his prize! What do you think, my beloved?" he asked, his eyes glowing with vengence.
"And how do you know he'll win? That he'll even enter?" I snapped.
"Why, darling, our friend Tux has better aim than anyone! It is a well known fact. His rose darts never miss a target! And last night I saw him watching you, enthralled he was..." My heart raced when I heard this. God, please don't let him have seen us, I prayed silently. Dimando continued, "Of course, he could never have you, but with the lure of a silver rose - his trademark flower, no less - and the promise of a kiss from a beautiful woman, how will he be able to resist?" Thankfully, it didn't sound like Dimando had seen us.
"Sounds like a great plan!" I lied.
After lunch, I went for a walk. I needed to think. Mamoru/Endymion/Tuxedo Kamen - whoever he was - was about to walk right into a trap, and there was nothing I could do because I didn't know where to find him. I headed down to to the town. There were a few market stalls in the street, and I stopped at one particular stall, run by a tall girl with long, wavy brown hair in a ponytail. She had emerald-green eyes, a friendly smile, and the kind of curves that most women would kill for. She can't have been much older than me, yet even in her plain green cotton dress and white apron, to me she was the epitome of sophistication.
The reason I stopped at her stall was because of the delicious waft of cooking-aroma that was spreading from it. She was selling all sorts of yummy-looking things: jars of damson preserve, bowls of fresh soup, loaves of fluffy white bread...
My stomach began to grumble, so I asked her for one of her sugary pastries.
"Sure! That's 25 pence!" she beamed. I handed her a 50 pence coin. She turned to the man standing next to her, helping her at the stall. "Can you get this lady some change please, Neph?" she asked. He gave me my change.
"Thanks, sir" I said, then as an after-thought, "Do you know of someone named Mamoru?" The man - apparently called Neph - paled at my question, but answered,
"No...no, why should I?"
"No reason..." I told him.
"Well, OK then, miss..." he looked at my hairstyle - two buns and long pigtails, "Serenity isn't it?" I nodded. "Well if you don't mind me saying so, Princess, you keep yourself outta trouble...funny things been happenin' up in the old forest, and we wouldn't want King Sol's daughter comin' to no harm now, would we?"
"And what do you know of my Father?" I asked, puzzled.
"Nothing, Missy. But then I only came to live in this Kingdom last winter...still, all the folk here want him back...they're sick of the way that usurper, Dimando, is treating them..."
"Me too," I agreed, "Look I better go now, before my 'usurper' of an uncle comes looking for me. It was nice meeting you..."
"Nephrite."
"Right. Nice meeting you Nephrite!"
"You, too!" he called after me as I hurried home.