Chapter Four

Moon: The Lunar Kingdom, in the Silver Millennium

Darien looked into Serena's eyes and glimpsed the truth.

"I wish I could have had some say in the matter," he said dryly.

"Well, you don't. So now we're soul mates. Deal with it." Serena was growing impatient.

"Calm down."

"I would, but there's something preventing me from doing so," the Princess replied with barely concealed hostility. "Mother told me- and everyone else- that I will marry solely for love."

"Aren't I lovable?" Darien asked mockingly.

"Oh, be quiet. The day can't get much worse than this." Serena's eyes filled with something akin to tears.

"so just tell your mother you don't love me and then you're off the hook," Darien amended, trying to conceal the hurt hr felt as he hear himself talk. Why? he demanded to himself. Why do I want Serena to love me?

"It's not that easy, Darien. You don't understand my Mother. She's the nicest woman alive, but-she's…"

"An iron fist in a velvet glove?" Darien finished, sympathetically nodding. "Yea, my Mother's like that too."

"So we're never getting out of the marriage they have undoubtedly planned for us. Wait a minute, why are we talking? Somebody might overhear us." Serena said, instinctively lowering her voice.

Fine, let's communicate mentally then, Darien answered telepathically. I doubt that anyone would be able to disrupt this kind of conversation.

Unless Mother picks up on the signals," she responded, with the quickness of lightning.

Better wish to the Gods that she didn't. The Prince was smiling.

"You can't really read my mind, can you?" Mina half-asked, knowing very well that they answer was "Yes, I can."

And that was what Kunzite said.

"B—but," mina sputtered. "There are only three ways to have a direct telepathic link between people. One," she said, raising a deceptively delicate finger, "the link is created from a past to present or future self, or vice versa. I seriously hope you're not my past or future self."

Kunzite nearly burst out laughing at the serious look on Mina's face, but he kept it in control. "No, I'm pretty sure I'm not."

"Okay, two." Lifting a second finder, she continued, "The link is formed before birth between siblings. I take it you're not my brother. You don't look Venusian."

"You're right about that," Kunzite smiles. "No, I'm not your brother."

"Fine. Three," another finger became vertical. "The link is made before time began. A link between soul mates. It's a legend, I know, but…"

The Terrain guard gently placed a finger over Mina's lips. "You believe that kind of link exists? Between soul mates?"

"I'm almost sure. After all, I am the goddess of love."

Looking into her sky-blue eyes and listening to her tremulous words he said, "I believe too."

"So it's the only possible way."

"Mina, it is the way." He fingered a lock of her long blonde hair. "Has anyone told you that you have beautiful hair?"

"Yes. Is that the best you can do?" she asked impishly, raising her eyes to his.

"No, this is." he suddenly kissed her, and Mina felt strangely comfortable in his arms. But here was a feeling of immense sadness and loss there, one which she tried to block out of her mind…but couldn't.

Over Kunzite's shoulder, she saw a flash of dark green and ruby red, and broke away from her soul mate.

"Hello, Pluto. You certainly have a knack for destroying the moment," she greeted the tall scout, annoyed.

"It's my job," Trista answered with her usual grim humor. "I hope I'm not disrupting anything."

"Not like I have any privacy around here anyway," Mina grumbled. "So what's up, Puu?"

"Call me Trista, or Pluto, will you? That title is reserved for the princess."

"Whatever. There must be something big happening…is it about that nasty war on Earth, the on that witch Beryl is commander of?"

Kunzite also leaned in eagerly. "Has she been defeated?"

Trista sighed. "I wish the news was as joyful as that." She lightly tapped her garnet orb. "No Beryl's armies have not been overpowered. They have only grown stronger."

"All that death and destruction only a world away," Mina quoted as she cradled her head in her hands, gazing at the illuminated blue and green sphere in the starry sky.

"Actually," the scout of Pluto cut in, destroying Mina's reverie, "I have come with a companion." Her smile, if it was possible, had a hint of apprehension in it.

"Ohh, who, Puu—Trista?"

Trista turned slightly and extended her hand to a small figure behind her. Mina and Kunzite stared in shock at a miniature version of Trista.

"She looks so like you," Mina breathed.

Ignoring Mina's comment, Trista released the tiny white hand that was clasped in hers. "Her name is Isabelle, and she is five in Plutonian years," Trista stated brusquely. "Her preferred nickname is Isa."

Isa walked up to the scout of Venus and the Terrain guard, executing a grave curtsy. She lifted her eyes to reveal their startling shade of lilac, and Mina gasped in surprise.

"Light purple eyes? I've never seen anything like that before."

"Well, now you have." TRista protectively took Isabelle's hand once more.

"Exactly how do you count Plutonian years?" Kunzite asked curiously.

"Isa's growth rate will be hyperactive," Pluto responded authoritatively. "That is, until she reaches the age of sixteen, that is when Isabelle is destined to come to the moon; Queen Serenity will then switch her growth patter to more Lunarian standards."

"She's from the royal family?" Kunzite and Mina nearly yelled, quickly picking up on the unspoken answers Trista's voice held.

Isabelle let out a giggle. Trista smiles and again stooped to Isa's level, feeling the small child's soft dark-green hair brush against her cheek.

"Yes, Isa is from the royal heritage. In fact, she's my sister," Trista said cheerfully, without a trace of her usual mystery. She was satisfied when she saw shock finally register upon the faces of her two companions.

Pluto: The Plutonian Kingdom, in the Silver Millennium

"Is everything arranged?" the Queen of Pluto inquired nervously, twisting her small hands.

"Stop worrying, Myri," her husband replied easily. "We wouldn't want any of your rash actions to disrupt the time stream," he added as a warning.

"yes, but Isabelle is my youngest…" Myri returned, her eyes drifting away.

"Why was it you never worried when Trista went off?" he asked hopelessly.

"I was aware of Trista's future. She never seemed to be my child," Myri retorted, sadness edging her voice. "But Isabelle…she was so alive."

"As she still is."

"But in this war with Beryl…I just see an ever-growing danger. We have put Isa in Trista's care: and I know for a fact that I will never see her again. Beryl is a powerful force to be reckoned with."

"The timeline is always subject to change, my wife."

"Not in this instance," 'my wife' replied bitterly. "we are all going to die, Isa included. There's nothing I—you—or anyone can do to stop the process. I'm deeply sorry."

"But …aren't you going to inform the Queen of the Moon?" the King of Pluto wondered, nearly rendered speechless by his wife's last words.

"And ruin her last peaceful days on the Lunar Kingdom? What's the use? She knows the days of her reign are coming to an end: every powerful ruler can feel that. It's all up to Princess Serenity and Prince Endymoin now."

"The princess and the young Terrain prince? What have they to do with the fate of the universe…what in Pluto's name are you scheming now?"

"Sometimes you are so clueless," Queen Myri laughed mysteriously, playfully punching her husband in the arm. She easily raised her garnet staff, on which the symbol of Pluto glowed brightly.

"Trista has told Kunzite and Mina of Isa's heritage," Myri reported.

"Is that wise? The scout of Venus is rather…bubbly…by all accounts. And Kunzite…I don't know if he can be trusted."

"Our daughter knows what she's doing," the Queen said distantly, the faintest glimmer of pride glowing in her eyes. She had purposely refrained from loving or knowing her older daughter, aware that it would kill her to part from Trista for all eternity.

Moon: the Lunar Kingdom, in the Silver Millennium

"Darien, I have to leave now. The scouts are waiting." Serena spoke impatiently, rater displeased when she viewed her situation. sitting beside a marble fountain with the prince you despise, her mid called.

Darien sat bolt upright. He had been staring at her lovely golden hair but couldn't help catching her last trail of thought…the prince she despises,…he reminded himself angrily.

"We'll meet again, I suppose," he said aloud, nearly shoving Serena off the structure on which they were resting. Serena cast a curious and somehow hurt glance at him, but she scurried off wordlessly to her scouts. Darien stared after her, her silk hair swinging after her in a living cloud of gold. Why hadn't he noticed her before, when they were in the gardens? Perhaps if he hadn't made those snide remarks, Serena would have loved him-- Wait, loved him? Why did he care so much about a girl five years younger than he?

"Stop thinking so much Darien…she can read your thoughts," he told himself, mentally adding, because she's your soul mate.

Halfway to the palace, Serena stopped short. What is all this Darien is thinking about? Love? I wouldn't love him in all the years of the Silver Millennium! He's five years older than me…and he's a Terrian! You can't get any worse than that. Still, he is good-looking—oh Selene, he'll pick up on what I just thought!

She thinks I'm good-looking? Darien tried to clear his head. Big deal, right? All the women from Earth have told me how wonderfully handsome I an…

not another ego trip, Darien! Serena cried mentally from a distance.

Will you get out of my mind, Serena?! Darien screamed inwardly.

"Don't get so huffy," Serena protested. Darien turned around in shock to see her standing there amidst the lunar foliage.

"The scouts can wait," she returned hurriedly. "I think a visit to Mother is long overdue"

End of Chapter Four