Serena scooted out from the lengths of her bed, Hitomi resting neatly beside her. She glowed in a way that almost seemed to be like the moon itself, shedding a light she hadn't known she had before. Magnificent splendor in its own… After her rendezvous with Darien he helped Serena carry Hitomi back to her room and he quickly scurried off. Serena went to bed with a certain satisfaction, never having experienced something so fulfilling.
She had left the door locked and closed last night, and as she rose to her feet she could hear a soft rapping noise behind the large oak. The knob jiggled but of course it was useless. It was still locked and she had planned on it being that way until she was darn ready to open it.
"Serena?" came a soft, worried tone from behind it and Serena immediately recognized it.
She shuffled over to the door, deciding that she might as well open it, and unlocked it with a deftness of a girl who was sharp in the day. Usually she would have done it with the laziness of a morning-hater, which she was always known as.
"Lady Luna," she whispered drowsily, smiling lightly at her.
Luna once again looked extravagant, dark blue hair falling around her slender shoulders, tumbling down to her back. Her large eyes sparkled with anxiety and relief, obviously glad that Serena had opened the door for her. She grabbed the ends of her canary yellow dress, and then walked into the room with the high grace that only came from royalty, her feet making a soft clicking noise in her blue heels.
"Serena," she whispered, eyeing the sleeping figure still in her bed but not making any questions, "Serena we've been so worried about you. Are you feeling any better?"
She eyed the princess with sudden curiosity, her jet-blue eyebrow arching.
"You look better." She added, surveying her.
Serena nodded and smiled, sauntering over to the bathroom.
"I'm just fine Lady Luna. What about you? Did you sleep well last night? I slept divine!"
She sat down on the edge of the tub, letting the steamy water fill it as she walked over to her closet. Finally a day she could take care of herself! This was something she had always wished for. Where were the swarms of maid and nannies? Hopefully taking a long vacation.
Luna disregarded the question as if it was never said; standing in front of Serena and watching the water fall down anxiously. Serena's eyes took in Luna's pale appearance and she frowned deeply. Why did she look that way?
"Luna are you ok?"
Luna glanced around the vivid white room, setting herself upon the tub next to Serena. She felt like she was teetering on the edge of a cliff and would fall at any moment, but she desperately tried to hold composure, slipping her willowy hand into the tepid liquid.
"Serena, there has been talk about an attack on the Lunar Kingdom."
Serena's golden eyebrow arced, and she reached over to the pearl knobs to cease the fall of the water.
"Someone is raging war? But who?"
Luna's grimace deepened and she glanced out to the sleeping figure of Hitomi as if to soothe them both into a profound sleep.
"The Negaverse."
Serena rose to her feet, the blue nightgown she had placed on last night swiveling around her. Her face looked pale, her eyes sparked with trepidation. The words slapped her with the force to knock down an elephant, and her body felt woozy and weak.
"The Negaverse!" she cried and Luna quickly tried to shush her, glancing over to Hitomi.
"We're trying not to alarm the citizens!" she hissed, pulling the lunar princess down beside her.
Her large, yellow pigtails swirled around her frame on the floor, her lake blue eyes looked watery.
"But why?" she questioned, getting back up to shut the bathroom door.
Luna's body looked weary, and the beautiful woman that stood before her moments before seemed to vanish. She looked sick with angst, and her hands wrung fretfully in her lap.
"You know the Negaverse. They've wanted to get rid of us for some time."
Serena scurried back over to Luna, keeping her voice barely audible.
"But why now? And what about the alliance? Won't they help us if we do break into war?"
Luna shook her head, closing her eyes tight before opening them again to stare at blonde.
"The alliance has split. You know the apprehension that has been between Earth and the Moon for some time now, and the whole reason for the prince's arrival was to mend this uneasy feeling. But unfortunately, the prince disappeared and now the Millennium Kingdom is considering war with Earth. Simply because of the great disrespect he has shown us. Well, Earth grasped that tidbit of information, and planets that had already formed a coalition with the kingdom has sided with them, refusing to help our side. Now that we know of the Negaverse news they still refuse to help us, fearing war with Earth."
Serena grasped one of the blue-haired female's shaky hands.
"But Lady Luna, what about the Sailor Senshi?"
She wiped at a tear with her free hand before answering, "They're still here. Parents want their children home but the girls refused, saying they have duties to uphold. Only reason war hasn't raged yet is simply because the girls are here."
Serena shook her head in disbelief.
"So they know that the Negaverse wants to attack us and their princesses but they still refuse to help us?"
Luna said nothing, trying to hold back tears. She didn't want any of this to happen. Serena stared at her, then her mind turned back to last night.
"And what about the prince?"
Luna rose to her feet and went to the bathroom door and opened it.
"He's returning home tomorrow afternoon. We don't want to have any more reason for Earth to attack us."
She left, leaving this foreboding aura around Serena. An ominous monster now swallowed her once glowing happiness; all joy swept up in the belly of the beast. She scuffled over to her tub, and touched the water. She sighed. It was cold.
She emerged from her room a dead soul in green, short lime green dress with light blue sleeves, same color lace trim decorating the edges. Her kiwi green heels were the only sounds that could be heard down the dead hallways. It was completely empty, staff probably sent home for the day.
Serena had quickly woke Hitomi up after her bath and sent her home, but not after allowing her the chance to bathe and placing one of her more casual dresses on the girl. Of course she wanted something with more splendor but Hitomi wasn't up for it, finally both agreeing that she could just leave in a simple black dress. It was so plain; Serena had no idea why she had it. No lace, no sequins, no special decoration of any kind. It had these two strips of cloth that crisscrossed around the back but that was pretty much it. Still, Hitomi was satisfied and she made the dress look good so she allowed herself to leave wearing it.
Now Serena felt completely alone, going about her usual duties in a sullen manner. She looked on the brink of tears; her lake-blue eyes were soggy and red as if she had no sleep. She hadn't seen her parents that whole day, assuming they were off on business; even still it was for the better because Serena didn't want to see them at all.
"Excuse me Princess Serena."
The voice was shy and quiet, and the blonde had almost ignored it at first. Then she paused and glanced behind her. It was one of the few maids left, short with likewise length hair, colored a lavender-like purple. Her eyes were bright crimson and her lips were small and petite. Everything about this girl seemed diminutive.
"Yes?" Serena questioned, her tone was obviously impatient.
The maid fingered the ends of her black skirt, the ruffled white top rising and falling with every nervous breath.
"There is a man outside who calls your attention."
Serena sighed and nodded, quickly swiveling on her heel to the door. She already knew who it was without seeing. The bald and angry Baron Mori-sama, coming with questions to be heard and demands to be shouted. It was about that time for his visit anyway. Sad thing is he only complained to her, as if her parents weren't good enough to listen.
She opened the front door.
"Yes?" she questioned, her expression exasperated.
Mori stepped in, dressed in a black and red tux, his baldhead glittering in the daytime light.
"Where is that Hitomi girl?" he asked, looking around the room.
Serena groaned and rubbed her temples.
"What do you want Mori?"
She knew her tone sounded completely disrespectful but she didn't care. She was tired and she wanted to rest, wanted to get away from this baka as quickly as possible. But he seemed not to notice.
"I just thought she'd be here. Where are your parents?"
She shrugged, still grasping the door open.
"Baron, I know there was a reason for you appearance. If you could just tell me what needs to be fixed this time we can both be on our ways."
His gray brow rose, he watched her with glazed-over eyes. He seemed as if he had no idea what she was talking about, and this Serena didn't doubt. The guy did seem to be rather clueless at times. Who was she kidding? The idiot was hopeless.
"Reason? No reason. Can't a baron intermingle with his royalty when he wants?"
Serena shook her head in disbelief then pointed out the door.
"Baron Mori-sama, please leave."
His eyes widened then he dropped to the floor, bowing deeply and mumbling apologies.
"Please forgive my rudeness princess, it's just I'm really am unsure of things at this point."
Serena's eyes trailed down to him, lacking compassion.
"What's wrong Mori-sama?" she demanded, helping lift the guy from the floor.
Mori looked on the brink of breaking down, his wrinkled face look furrowed even deeper.
"I need money. My wife…She's sick."
Serena looked at him skeptically. What would he need money for? He was rich wasn't he?
"Baron. Leave."
He went hysterical, throwing himself down upon her feet again and sobbing. She kicked at him softly with her kiwi pumps, looking even more aggravated than before. She felt like her body would shut off at any moment and she didn't want it to happen here.
"Please," he cried, "Someone stole my fortune. The prince! It was he who took it! He stole it all!"
Serena escorted the Baron out, slamming the door behind him. She turned to return to her room when a knock at the door echoed again. She was getting really sick of Mori! She would take care of the prince later; she just wanted to be alone!
She yanked open the door and gasped, blue eyes wide and all signs of fatigue wiped away. There in front of her was the man she gave her body to, the man whose lips could bring a woman to her feet begging for one more tender touch. There, in front of her now, was Prince Edymion.
A/N: Sorry it takes me so long to update, but I'm trying to push myself through this writer's block just for you loyal fans like SailorKMoonie. Next chapter: The Exasperated Discussion. :P I hope you liked this one. R&R plz and ARIGATOU!