Chapter 7: Finally, a Name to his Face

Three days after Serena's party, Koaru awoke to find himself in his bed. Beside him he could smell flowers, candies and...perfume? He sat up and looked over to the side of his bed, where he saw Princess Amy, fast asleep in a chair, her head resting on her shoulder. He started to move off the bed, but he heard her soft, slow breathing, andhe again stopped and watched the girl sleep, inable to look away. He watched her sleep for, he didn't know hw long, but when he heard the door open, a sudden giggle, and looked up to see blonde hair whip out of sight, he knew he had to move, and fast. As pulled on some pants, he heard Amy start to wake. He quickly rushed out of the room and searched for Serena before she had a story spreading.

Queen Serenity looked up at the sound of her daughter's foot steps, and waited to hear what the girl had to say. Serena stopped in front of her mom, then looked up at her, arms crossed behind her back. "Guess what?" she said, looking at her mother with glee. Serenity sighed, know ing that this was some bit of gossip. "What is it?" she asked, trying to sound interested. Serena took a deep breathe, and started, "I saw Koar-mmmmph!"

Koaru slid his hand over Serena's mouth just in time. Queen Serenity looked at him, slightly startled. "How do you feel?" she asked. "Fine, just fine." Koaru said as he pulled Serena out of the room, "just need to discuss something with Serena." He then whipped around the doorway, pulling Serena along. Serenity sighed. "Kids..."

Outside, in the top braches of the tallest tree, Koaru was dangling Serena over the edge. "Promise you will never tell anyone about what you saw, ok?" Serena folded her arms and powted, upset that Koaru had ruined her fun, and that she was about sixty feet off the ground. She sighed, "Fine, let me go!" Koaru smiled, and let her go.

Serena screamed with fear as she plummeted towards the ground, tears streaming from her eyes. As she fell, and black blur flashed past her, and she landed in Koaru's arms. "You said let go." he said, satisfied that she would keep quiet. Serena jumped up and down, clapping her hands and laughing. "Again! Again!" Koaru sighed and, in a small fountain of dust, vanished.

Three days later, Serena, Lita, Mina, Amy, Raye, Koaru, and the other boy whom had been with Nicholas, and Nicholas himself were standing outside a beautiful Palace-like building. In front stood Artemis and two other people, one old and wrinkly, the other in his 50's, but in fair shape. Artemis stepped forward, and looked at the little group. There were four twelve years olds, one eleven, one fourteen, one sixteen and one nineteen. He cleard his throat and welcomed them. "Welcome to the Crystal Moon Academy, where you all will continue your education and begin a new coarse: Combat Training. These men here" he motioned then the other two, " are also your teachers here." Artemis then did a double take. "Princess Mercury, I thought that your father didn't want you here." Amy looked back at him, smiling. "He changed his mind." Artemis looked back at the group, happy with the answer he recieved. "I will only be here for your moral combat training, which is on Thurseday. See you all later, and good luck."

After Artemis had left, the older of the two others stepped forward. His long grey hair fell past his shoulder, and he had on a pair of oval spectacles. He looked at the girls, then the men. "Now then," he said in a rough, throaty voice, " I am sory, but could I get your names?" They went in order, left to right, but after Koaru, it was the boy whom they did not know. he opened his mouth to speak, but Nicholas cut him off. "this is Prince Eidymond, and I am Prince Nicholas." The boy shot Nicholas a shrp look. "Shut up! I hate that name!" He turned to the man. "You can call me Darien."