American Princess

Disclaimer: Unfortunately, I do not own anything from Sailor Moon or "Royally Jacked", by Niki Burnham, which this story is loosely based on.

Summary: From the public point of view, Serenity Woods, the President of the United States' daughter, seems to be the perfect model for young women everywhere. At the age of seventeen, she is studying at the best school around, Stony Creek High School, and getting top marks. But what the public, and especially her Father, don't know is that she leads a double life. She parties like crazy whenever she can and nobody finds out, until one day.

In an embarrassing scene one day, she is caught by her Father, friends and news reporters. As punishment, she is sent away to a private school in some dinky little country in Europe in hopes that she will learn her lesson, and to possibly end the long time feud between America and the "dinky country" by an arranged marriage to the prince there. But, Serenity Woods is not some one you tango with easily. Once her mind is set on something, there's no changing it. Then one day, some one walks into her life that might change it.

Chapter Five: Balls, Cream Pies, and More Arguments

"Miss Woods! Where have you been? The ball starts in half an hour!" Richard, one of the secret service agents, cried when Serena walked in to her rooms in the palace. "You are going to be late!"

"Yeah, well, I don't think I want to go," Serena replied. She plopped down on a red couch. "I don't like it here."

"You've only been here a few hours."

"Who cares."

"Miss Woods, if you don't go to your room to get ready, I will personally get you ready myself," Richard threatened. Serena raised an eyebrow.

"I'd like to see you try."

Thirty seconds later, Serena found herself roughly dropped on her bed. Richard nodded to the two maids who were to get her ready and left the room. He glanced back once before shutting the door.

"Any trouble and I'll report it back to your father, Miss Woods. You'll be packed up and sent to a girls' boarding school in northern Russia by tomorrow morning if you do not comply with this," Richard stated. He stared evenly at the young lady on her bed. Serena glared back. "I'll see you in a while, Miss Woods."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Serena answered. She crossed her arms over her chest. Richard left the room.

"Miss, will you please come into the bathroom? We've drawn a bath for you. Clarissa will ready your gown and I will get your make-up ready," the elder of the two maids said when Richard left. Clarissa hurried to the closet to get the gown. "You'll be fashionably late, of course. But, the press will not mind."

"Whoa. Hold up. Rewind." Serena held up a hand. She slowly got up from her bed. "The press will be there? As in reporters and people?"

"Yes, this is a national affair. You will be on the news all around the world," the maid answered.

"Oh, joy," Serena whispered. She walked over to the large bathroom off one side of her room. She closed the door and began her bath.

"Hold still."

"I would if you would stop pricking me with that needle!"

"Do you like the white or gold shoes?"

"I don't care!"

"The gold would go well with her hair and threading in the dress."

"But, the white sets of the pearls around her neck and the creamy silk of the dress."

"True."

"I like my flip-flops. I think those are the best choice."

"I don't think so."

"Ouch! Marie, if you continue to prod me with that needle, I swear I am going to scream."

"Sorry, Miss."

"Am I almost done yet?"

"Almost. Clarissa, hand me some more yellow eye shadow. And that last pearl hair pin."

"Here."

"Thank you."

"I'm hungry."

"There's food at the ball."

"How much longer?"

"Almost done."

"Go with the gold shoes, Clarissa."

"All right."

"Okay, Miss Woods. I just need to adjust the last piece of your hair and it will be perfect."

"Finally."

Both maids stepped away from Serena. Their eyebrows raised as they looked at her. Serena frowned and glanced between the two. She slowly turned towards the triple full-length mirror behind.

"Wow," Serena gasped as she looked at her reflection. "Look at me. I never knew I could look so . . . lady-ish."

"You'll be the belle of the ball, Miss." Marie smiled softly.

"Oh, please," Serena scoffed, but was secretly pleased with the results. Her hair was twisted and curled and pulled up into a large bun of gold. The dress looked beautiful on her. It had no sleeves. Blue satin came down from the top and bunched around the waist, revealing white satin skirts underneath the blue. The blue matched her eyes and made them sparkle. She wore a blue sapphire pendant her father had given her for her 16th birthday. Serena blinked and her eyelids sparkled with little jewels.

"Oh, look at the time! You must be off!" Clarisse shouted as a clock chimed from somewhere in the palace. Its notes could be heard from the open balcony window.

Serena was shooed out of her room and into the dimly lit hallway. Glancing up and down the corridor, she asked, "Which way to the ball?"

"To the left, down the first flight of stairs you come to, then, take another left and follow the music," Marie answered. She and Clarisse smiled and left in the other direction.

Serena made her way down the corridor and followed Marie's directions to the ballroom. The music was playing rather loudly from down two circling marble staircases that led to one huge staircase.

"Name?" a balding old man asked Serena as she reached the dais above the huge staircase.

"Serena Woods, the president's daughter," Serena replied. The man nodded and cleared his throat. Serena looked down the stairs and almost fainted. There were millions of reporters all rushing everywhere.

"Miss Serena Woods, daughter of President Woods of the United States of America," the man called out. At once the entire army of reporters swarmed together in eager anticipation to get a photograph of Serena. Serena smiled hesitantly as she stepped down the steps.

"Miss Woods! Miss Woods!"

"How does it feel to be here?"

"Are you and the prince going to get married?"

"What's the truth about your relationship with that boy back in the U.S.?"

"Look this way!"

"Are you planning to stay here for college?"

"Is it true that you and your father are on non-speaking terms?"

Clenching her fists as the questions grew more personal, Serena swiftly pulled through the throng of reporters and past the roped off areas holding the reporters. She walked through some royal purple curtains and into the main ballroom.

Only one word came to Serena's mind: Incredible. A huge chandelier lit up the entire white room. The marble flooring glittered like stars and purple curtains hung against the walls. An orchestra played on a stage to the left and to the right stood two thrones for the king and queen. Ladies wore beautiful dresses in all the colors of the rainbow and all the men were in tuxes.

Slowly, the music softened and ended. The couples dancing stopped and clapped for the musicians, who then paused and started up another song.

Serena slowly wandered over to the other side of the room. A long white table was set up and covered in lace. There was a huge punch bowl and little crystal cups in the center. A few plates of snacks were there as well.

A high pitched giggle made Serena frown and look over to a dark area in the corner of the room. Faintly, Serena could make out two figures among the dark purple curtains. A man and a woman. The lady giggled again and pressed herself to the man, as he murmured something inaudible.

"Oui monsieur. Je t'aime," the lady giggled. Serena rolled her eyes. After a quick kiss, the couple began to make their way out of the secluded area. Serena hurriedly tried to look busy pouring herself some punch before the couple got out there.

The couple stopped at the table. The lady smirked at Serena and left, weaving her way through the crowds. The man stood there, behind Serena.

Oh, God. Is he still standing there? Does he know I was watching? Serena thought to herself. A few footsteps and the man was right behind her. His hand came down on hers, which was resting on the table. Surprised, Serena whipped her hand up, knocking the ladle in the punch bowl. It flew up in the air and flicked its cup of punch on the man.

Serena whirled around, her mouth opened in surprise. The ladle crashed to the floor and the red punch splattered on the man's tuxedo. The man gasped.

"Mon Dieu!" he cried. Serena grabbed a napkin and handed it to him. He looked up at her.

"You!" they both shouted at each other. Serena stared into the eye of the man who she had met in the hallway earlier.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Serena shouted.

"I could ask the same of you!" he cried.

"As a matter of fact, I was invited here!"

"A peasant like you? I don't think so."

Serena clenched her hands into fists.

"I am NOT a peasant! Get it through your big head!"

"I do not have a big head!"

"Have you looked in a mirror lately? And why is a pig keeper at a royal function only the IMPORTANT are supposed to attend?"

"I am not a pig keeper. I am -"

"I really don't care who you are, Mr. Pig Keeper. What I want to know is why you tried to molest me!"

"What? That's absurd! I was not molesting you!" the man's eyes flickered in anger. Serena glared back at him. "Why would I be attracted to you?"

Serena gasped.

"Why you little bastard!"

"What did you just call me?"

"What, you can't hear now?"

"That's it. I'm calling the guards!"

By now, the two were attracting the attention of a large crowd of people. They turned to Serena the man and watched as the anger built up.

"If you do that, I'll call my dad and he'll blow up your little country before you can say 'pig keeper'!"

"What?"

"Yeah, you heard me. I'm the United States' President's daughter!"

"You're the little girl I have to chaperone for the next six months?"

"I'm not a little girl! And just who exactly are you?"

"I am the crown prince!"

"Yeah right. You're just a pig keeper."

"You're starting to annoy me."

"Oh, wah. I'm starting to annoy you. Well, guess what, mister. I don't care."

The man reached out and grabbed Serena's arm. Serena gasped and pulled away from him, but he wouldn't let go.

"Let me go!"

"Not until you apologize."

Serena's gaze hardened. She reached onto the table with her free hand and grabbed a cream pie that sat there.

"You wouldn't dare hit the prince with that."

"Watch me," Serena smirked. She slammed the pie into the man's face.

Author Note: Sorry for the long delay. I'll really try hard to get the next chapter out quickly. Thank you for your reviews!

Next Chapter: Erasers, Books and Detention with Prince Pig Keeper