Chapter Four By Chibi Maylan
A/N: Gee! I haven't been able to update for a loong time since the home computer's word program is stuffed. Enjoy and dun forget to read&review.
"Your highness, I present Queen Serenity & King Endymion." called out the servant, bowing and left the courtyard. King Damon was watching his son, Prince Helios now aged seventeen, practicing his archery. Helios had grown, his white royal outfit, with the Royal crest snug on his chest and his broad, strong shoulders.
"Good shot, son!" King Damon cheered, Helios grinned. Queen Serenity gave Helios a delightful wave, as she sat next to the Kings. Tea was served and they began their weekly conversation.
"How is your kingdom, over in Crystal Tokyo?" Damon asked.
"Wonderful as always. The Sailors say 'Hello'." Endymion replied. Queen Serenity nodded. "Yes, they wished to have come, but of course, they are to stay and watch the castle." she added.
"Yes, of course. You never know what Beryl may brew up if she knew." Damon's eyes narrowed slightly, the words had a bitter tone. Damon hated Beryl for what she had done to his dear son, and swore to keep Helios within palace walls, hunting had been ceased as their father-son activity and they rarely entered the forests.
Damon leaned closer and murmured. "You two must be thrilled for what is to come, by tomorrow. Seeing her once again. Mind you, remember the marriage proposal Endymion? It's still standing, I hope." Damon asked, after a few princess' have been tempted to wed the young Prince Helios, they had declined. Damon still had not mentioned the arranged marriage, and felt afraid of what she would think of his... magical status.
"Ofcourse, I hope the two will be fond of eachother." Endymion replied. "We are filled with anxiety and even excitement! After years.. and Beryl said to be within her own palace..." Endymion gave a sheepish grin. Last year, Beryl had tried to attack the kingdom, which Endymion's army defeated hers within an hour. She then was not seen.
"We are holding her birthday party tomorrow afternoon. Do come with Helios. Lady Luna and Sir Artemis are preparing the ballroom as we speak." Serenity said.
"No no no! The pavillion must have the balloons onto the ceiling! Oh, these roses look lovely... Yeck! What is this, it tastes horrible..." exclaimed Luna, servants came and go, adjusting things to her every order. Luna, wore her yellow and black dress and had her black wavy hair loosely behind her back, along with a yellow ribbon. Artemis, was in his white outfit, his long silvery-white hair tied from behind. He was setting up the band.
"Luna!" called many female voices. The senshi's came for a peek, in came Mars, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn.
"Luna - this is wonderful!"
"Luna! We just can't wait - oh, right, we shouldn't say this outloud, shall we?"
"Oh Luna! Wonderful fountain on the table..."
Luna blinked, the praises we lovely until the last comment. Luna turned to where Lady Saturn was pointing, Luna's eyes widened to see that the ceiling sprinkler was emitting water onto the pyramid of glasses.
"Someone stop the sprinkler!!" she called out, sweatdropping along with the others.
The next day... Rini's sixteenth birthday...
In the little cottage, was Rini, setting out the table for breakfast, humming to herself. It was her birthday that day, the three senshi that looked after Rini for sixteen years and were now motherly, and had bonded with Rini very well. Their hearts pained to reveal the truth - which they decided to tell her on her 16th birthday...
Rini, now officially sixteen, had grown her hair like Queen Serenity; long hair with two buns. She would let Pluto do her hair most times, braiding and combing.
The senshi had quickly adapted to the new life they had chosen, they had created a vegetable garden next to the stone cottage, and used the forests' fruit and wood. Only, when outside of their barrier, they strictly wouldn't let Rini help unless when she wore her black cape, unknown to her, when worn made her invisible to anyone looking. She called them by their first names and throughout her time with them.
"Rini dearest, take the bowls out." asked Pluto, who winked towards Neptune and Uranus. Rini nodded, as she skipped towards the kitchen.
"Oh!! It's wonderful!" she grinned. A silver mirror with 'Rini' engraved on the handle. Along with that, was her evening dress. Which the three women then stood next to eachother, looking seriously at Rini.
"We have something you must know, Rini-chan." Neptune said softly.
"Sit down, Rini-chan. It may be too much for you, but we have discussed this countless times. It must be told today." Uranus offered a chair.
"You see Rini..." Pluto began to explain, the time with her as the baby in the bassinette, the seperating of her and her real parents, and up until that day. They had left out a few things, like her being betrothed from birth and of the sixteenth birthday 'curse'. Rini was now frowning, looking confused.
"And, lastly dearest Rini-cha... I mean, Princess Rini. We must take you home, before midday to see your real home and to atlast be re-united with your parents. They must be thrilled to know you'll be back." Pluto said, eyes brimming in tears.
Neptune hugged Pluto, as Uranus said the final words. "Yes. That is all we know, and now, dearest Princess, pack your things. As we have already..." Uranus clicked her fingers, within seconds, their bags were in front of the door. Rini gasped.
"Magic!? You all had magic all along?" they nodded. "Pack Princess. We go soon." they said in unison. Rini began to cry, she nodded furiously. "This cannot be true!" she yelled, shaking. Then, she ran out of the cottage, without her cloak.
"Rini-chan!" Pluto called out, only to be patted on the shoulder by Uranus. "Let her go, we shall pack for her and find her soon after." as they nodded, they silently went to Rini's room.
Helios took a shot at the target, every early morning he would do a few rounds of archery. It was nearly 9:00 in the morning, as his father was known to sleep in until thirty minutes from now. Alone, on the courtyard, he practiced. The target, was miles away, near the protected wall of the back of the castle - the forest.
He placed the bow and arrow up high, ready to let go when he heard the band strike up a song, loudly. Losing concentration, his arrow flew higher than expected. Over the target, and over the wall. The guard standing nearby ducked and gave a annoyed look at who had done it, before realizing that it was the Prince, now running to the gates.
"Your majesty. You cannot go pass, it is his Highness' orders." one guard at the gates called out. "I know, but it had not gone far. It is my favourite arrow in the entire collection, I must retrieve it." Helios replied, but the guards didn't budge.
"I shall come back, with horse and sword. If you do not let me, I'll see to it you remain job-less." Helios grinned slyly. The guards hesitated as they saw him whistle, and the stable doors flew open, his white stallion came galloping towards him, along with the stable servant, holding onto it's tail.
"Your majesty, your horse is ready for you morning ride around the courtyard." The servant puffed, standing away from the stallion. "I shall retrieve my arrow first.... Open the gates! I demand you listen! I shall be fine!" he yelled.
As told, the guards gulped hard and opened it slightly. There, he hesitated. But, he knew he needed that arrow back.. it was signicant to him. So, off went young Prince Helios, in search for his special arrow.
To Be Continued, stay tuned for the next chapter! Please review your comments! Mild flames accepted.
Chibi Maylan
