Destiny Awaits.
A/N: I appreciate all the support I am receiving. Enjoy the next chapter.
They stood still waiting for their eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness. Slowly the crowd came into focus as the girls made their way down the long sloping ramp. The crowd gasped as the princesses of the Silver Alliance approached. Never before had Earth seen such beauty. The princesses were petite compared to the women of Earth, but the grace in which they moved made time stand still. They were exotic with creamy skin and vibrant hair. No one could deny they were stunning, but there were those among the crowd who would rather see their beautiful heads on a pike.
The princesses reached the ground and swept a low bow. Serena rose to speak.
"Your highnesses, we are honored that you would welcome us so kindly. Please accept our gifts from home as a token of peace."
Molly stepped forward and presented each royal family with a small box. The royals opened their box and found a signet ring representing each planet's symbol.
King Terrance, high king of Earth, rose forward to speak.
"Your gifts are greatly appreciated. Please allow me to introduce your suitors: Andrew, Prince of the northern regions, Sandre, Prince of the Eastern regions, Jaden, Prince of the western regions, Nephlyte, Prince of the southern regions, and Darien, High Prince of Earth." Each prince stepped forward and bowed respectfully to the princesses.
"I am Serenity" Mina began, "And these are the royal princesses of the Silver Alliance. To my right" Mina gestured "Minuette, Princess of Venus, and Aimee, Princess of Mercury, and to my left, Reianne, Princess of Mars, and Litanna, Princess of Jupiter. We are delighted to meet our suitors." With that Mina held out her hand for Prince Darien to take, but he was distracted by another.
"I have never seen hair that shade, and those eyes what would you call that color? I must know her better."
"Ahem." Mina pretended to clear her throat growing impatient. Darien snapped back from his thoughts, finding the woman before him somewhat irritated.
"My Lady" He said as he took and kissed her hand. He then escorted her towards the palace arm in arm. Each prince followed Darien's suit and escorted their supposed betrothal.
"How was your trip" asked Darien?
"As good as to be expected?"
"Tell me more about your fellow princesses. Are you close?"
"Yes, we are the best of friends." Mina smiled.
"Well I am sure you already know that we are to be married, but I think you should also know that I have no intentions of that."
"And why is that, Prince Darien? Are you afraid of me?" Mina Flirted.
"No! Women are an anchor, and I will never be tied down."
"Well I am no anchor!" Mina released her arm from his and stormed off.
Making conversation proved to be difficult for Lita and Rei as well. Lita and Jaden stopped talking when they nearly came to blows over which form of battle was most appropriate. Rei and Nephlyte decided that silence was their best option as well. Serena, however, was laughing wonderfully with Andrew, while Aimee and Sandre discussed the importance of blue crystals in providing clean energy for all planets. Their conversations were soon interrupted though when Mina came storming by furiously. Feeling obligated to console their angry friend, the other girls politely asked to be excused.
"Mina? What happened?"
"Well, we were walking and talking when that man informed me that women are merely anchors, and that he would never be tied down to one. I guess it just bothered me so much because I had hoped that our suitors would be charming to say the least." Lita and Rei agreed with Mina.
"Yeah, Serena, what are we to do with these men?" Lita questioned. "We must find love for our powers to evolve to their full potential."
"Ok Ladies. All we need to do is think this situation through. I know we can reach a logical and suitable solution in no time." Aimee proposed
"Alright, but let's discuss this more in private, I feel we may not be as secure as we once believed." Serenity nodded to the redhead walking their way.
All the girls agreed.
"Ladies, I just realized something" said Rei.
"We don't know where our chambers are located."
Aimee replied bluntly, "Well at least one of us still had the presence of mind to ask how to find them. Follow me." They stared at Aimee in disbelief. She could always be counted on to think of everything. The girls were following Aimee towards their rooms when Prince Darien approached.
"Ladies," He bowed "Could I have the pleasure of speaking with Princess Reianne, alone?"
Rei accidentally began to step forward when Lita grabbed her arm swiftly.
"Yes, you may," Lita informed. Darien led Lita away by the arm.
"Oh! I forgot to let my cat out of the bag." She spoke back to the girls secretly being escorted away. The princesses glanced at each other and then rushed to their chambers. Once they reached Lita's room they felt they could speak freely.
"Did, he see me?" Rei spoke nervously.
"I don't think so, but we need to wait until Lita returns." Aimee decided
"We could seek out the companionship of the King and Queen. Though, I do not think they will be too receptive to the idea." Serenity offered
"I think we should just wait. He may not have seen anything." Aimee added.
The girls nodded in agreement and waited impatiently for Lita's return.
After a while the girls heard a soft mumble from outside the door. They waited quietly for Lita to enter. The knob turned and the door opened slowly, revealing Lita stuttering anxiously.
"Thank you your highness, but I really should rest. Our conversations have worn me out."
"Good day Princess of Mars." Darien bowed and left hastily.
"What did he say?"
"Does he know?"
All four girls emerged from the darkness as Lita shut and locked her door.
"Hey, I can only answer one question at a time." Lita demanded
"What does he know?" Aimee questioned.
Nothing I think. He saw Rei take that step and questioned me about it, but I think I may have dissuaded him." Lita answered.
"What about your conversation?" Aimee asked.
"Well, he actually wanted to know all about Mars' archery techniques and planetary strengths, but I carefully talked my way around his questions." Lita added
"What was he like with you?" Mina dared to ask.
"Well, he was cold and harsh. Every word he spoke sounded forced, almost like I was not worth his time. He did say that he simply needs to know more about each planet in order to better form the new alliance. He also told me that it would be called the Crystal Millennium Alliance. I am not very fond of that name, but maybe we can propose a different one later" Lita revealed.
"I think it best for us to rest now, and after supper we can talk more about our situation. Each of our rooms is on this same hall. Find the door with your symbol, or better yet the symbol of your counterpart." Aimee instructed. The young women all nodded and left Lita's room in search of their own. Their plans were falling apart quickly before their eyes, and they needed to regroup.
Meanwhile, Prince Darien meandered through his personal gardens. He stopped to think at the rose garden. This was his most cherished place in the entire world. He could always clear his mind and think there.
"I wonder if these princesses are up to something. Rei seemed to displace every question I asked too well. It almost sounded like she rehearsed it. Maybe, we can have some fun with this. My parents are not letting me out of this, but maybe I can have a choice."
Darien quickly exited his rose garden and rushed towards his parents greeting chambers. "Father, Mother, I have a proposition for you" Darien spoke with regal finality.
"We are listening" replied King Terrance.
"Well, I think the princesses you brought here are up to something" Darien began.
"That will not change our decisions Darien. This alliance will take place whether you like it or not." King Terrance growled, preparing to have an all too familiar fight with his son.
"Let me finish. I want choice. I want to choose which girl I will marry, and I want the other princes to have the choice as well. I will accept my destiny to marry only with the option to choose." Darien finished and glared at his parents awaiting their answer.
"Well then my boy, Destiny Awaits" King Terrance replied.
Darien bowed stiffly and exited the chambers to find his friends and fellow princes.
He found Andrew, Sandre, Nephlyte, and Jaden in the libraries and called an emergency meeting.
What's so important that you would call us away from our leisure?" Sandre questioned.
"We have choice." Darien stated triumphantly
"Choice of what?" Nephlyte asked.
"Choice of our brides" Darien replied
"I am quite pleased with my betrothed." Sandre informed.
"Fine, but what about you guys? Do you not want the choice?"
"Yes," Answered all three.
"What if we all choose the same girl?" Andrew added.
"We won't. Besides if we do, we will duel. Whoever wins will get the girl." Darien instructed. They all shook hands in agreement and went their separate ways to escort the princesses to dinner.
The Princes were unaware, however, that earlier in the day the princesses had beat them to the kill. Knowing full well that time was not of the essence, the girls rested for an hour and then dressed more appropriately for a secret meeting with the High King and Queen of Earth.
"Your highnesses, we have some pressing maters of state to discuss with you." Mina stated blandly.
"We are well guarded here, you may speak freely." Queen Gia spoke out.
"Let me bring you up to date. We are princesses bound by loyalty to our mothers and our planets. The good of our people greatly exceeds our own happiness. This is why we must find true love from one of our suitors. The powers we use to protect our kingdoms, our subjects, and very possibly this planet will not properly develop if passion is not present in our romance. We must find love that is so pure and uninhibited by pretense that time and space can not even break it. There is one other reason for our decision, the princes knew who we were, but we had no clue who they were. The situation was unfair and unacceptable for us. I am not Princess Serenity. I am Minuette, Princess of Venus. We will reveal to you each of our identities as well, but please your majesties, do not expose our secret yet."
King Terrance began to laugh a truly jolly laugh. A radiant smile emitted from his face to find the princesses of the Silver Alliance much cleverer than anyone thought.
"Your secret is safe with me. Should you run into any difficulties, come to Queen Gia or myself immediately. Now, if you please, reveal to us your true selves."
Worried the King and Queen would not fully trust them, each girl called upon their power revealing the familiar signs of their planets on their foreheads.
"So, Princess Litanna and Princess Reianne are switched, as well as Princess Serenity and Princess Miunette. Princess Aimee, why did you not choose to hide your identity? "Well your highness, I felt that every experiment needed a control subject, so I opted for that role."
"I see. Mercury certainly marked you with wisdom."
"Thank you your majesty! Your kindness flatters me." Aimee exclaimed
"Well go have your fun with my son and his comrades, but be warned, they will not be too happy when the truth comes out." King Terrance warned and dismissed the girls.
As the girls reached the door to make their stealthy exit they heard the king make one final remark.
"Ladies, dinner will be promptly at seven. That gives exactly one hour to prepare before the boys will be by to escort you to the dining hall."
The girls all nodded and curtsied in response, then hurried towards their chambers.
Feeling much better about their situation, the girls quickly searched to find their things that had been put away by the maids. The hour passed quickly, and soon came a knock at Serena's door, where Mina answered. She was wearing a beautiful gown made from the pink velvet the tailor ordered specifically for Serena. The velvet was crushed slightly, and the light picked up several different tones. It was a full length gown with two under skirts. Underneath was a beautiful cream colored silk layered above by a shimmering gold. The top of the dress was a reverse corset and possessed the same color silk underneath the lacing for modesty. The whole dress was trimmed in gold. Mina was wearing a traditional hood made from the same fabric and delicately embellished with pearls.
"Princess, You look stunning." Darien complimented.
Mina simply curtsied and took his out stretched arm, still sore from Darien's previous comments.
Next came a soft knock on Aimee's door. She opened the door slowly revealing a beautiful young woman in an aqua colored dress. The front had a simple rounded neck with some light beading on top. The dress fit nicely, but not as tight as one would if it were corseted. It flowed down softly over her curves and rested sweetly on her hips. The bottom of the dress was fashioned in the traditional Earth style with a pale purple underskirt. She also wore an Earth style hood but left some of her stunning blue hair out to show. The women of Mercury did not believe in vanity too much, simple beauty was more appropriate. Sandre stood gazing upon the rare beauty in front of him. He reasoned inside himself that she was not a goddess and he would not turn into ash by simply touching her. He shyly offered his arm and Aimee curtsied and eagerly accepted his.
Soon Andrew came to knock on Mina's door also. Molly opened the door and Serena stepped forward. She wore a simple sun yellow dress. The neck was square and revealed some cleavage beneath a sheer yellow piece of fabric. Her dress was corseted to accent her breasts and stomach beautifully. It flowed down into several billowing shades of yellow and orange. The hood she chose to wear was a soft yellow featuring beautiful feathering along the face. This was a typical Venusian's style dress, and Serena felt a little self conscious in it. Andrew, however, did not notice anything but the beautiful rose standing before him. He offered his arm and Serena smiled shyly before taking it.
Rei dreadfully approached the knock at her door and opened it to find Nephlyte lost in translation. Rei was a true rare beauty with her black hair and violet eyes. She chose a deep purple dress, with a low cut neck line embossed with silver trim and diamonds. The dress fit her sinfully as it pooled on to the floor. The skirts transcended in color from deep purple to the softest silver. Her hood was also in the typical Earth style with diamond studs shining around her face. The dress was a bit risqué for Earth but very customary for Jupiter. Nephlyte stood at the door gawking at the fiery Princess of Mars before he came too and offered her his arm. Rei refused to curtsy as she reluctantly took his arm and the two headed off for dinner.
Finally, Lita received the dreadful knock she had been anticipating. She jerked the door open knowing full well that the man waiting outside would make her regret this entire ordeal. She was wearing a hunter green dress with a tight bodice and flowing sleeves. They were slit open from the shoulder, giving a small glimpse of her toned arms. The dress had three full underskirts. The third and most visible one was cream. The second underskirt offered a hint of softer green, and a silver layer lay on top of the green. It was delicately embroidered with flames too subtle to notice. Lita's beauty stunned Jaden as he offered his arm somewhat reluctantly, still dejected from their prior conversation. Lita accepted his arm with same amount of reluctance.
The five couples sauntered through the many corridors until they reached two large wooden doors. The doors were carved with a variety of animals and scenery. The Princesses could hardly tear their eyes away until they felt the small tug of their escort. Upon entering the dining hall, the five couples bowed and curtsied to their superiors before taking their places among the diners. King Terrance keenly observed the beauties as they entered the room and laughed inside himself, "This will be on heck of a show."