A Lost Princess

Chapter 4

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon

Authors Comments: I have none at this point, just read the story.

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Serena looked around the great room, marvelling at its design

and decoration. It was tasteful, and fitted her personality perfect.

She could almost swear she had a hand in the manufacture of it. She

looked up.

There was no ceiling paint here, and she was thankful for

that. The many pictures on the roof had swirled in her mind, causing

a slight headache at times. They were beautiful, but they were too

many. She liked that this room didn't have them, so she might sleep

without all the eyes of the angels starring at her.

Mina showed her to the desk, and she went to work writing a

long letter to her family. She wrote about what had happened on her

journey, and what she had come across when she arrived at the palace.

She told them of the Queens deal, and how she might not be seen there

again until the early spring when the snow had melted. She wrote of

the Queens kindness towards her, and all the help she had promised to

give them.

The letter was almost two pages long when she was done, and

she signed it as their affectionate daughter, Serena.

She starred at the name at the bottom of the page, again

plagued by the thought of its lie. It could be anyone's name. Surely

a five-year-old girl would remember her own name, or was it that of

someone she knew. It might be an abbreviation, or a nickname given to

her. It could be anything.

"I have prepared a bath for you Miss Striker," Mina said

coming out of the bathroom adjoining the bedroom.

"Thank you," Serena said putting her letter in an envelope

and securing it. "I have written out directions to my home. I don't

know who to give it to thought."

"I will see that it is done," Mina said evenly.

Serena looked at her oddly, and when pressed to know the

reason, she answered. "You are the first princess of Venus are you

not?"

"I am," Mina answered.

"Than what are you doing waiting on me?"

Mina understood at once, and smiled at her innocence. "It was

my duty to protect and guard the princess when she was to come of age.

When she was taken, my loyalties stayed with her and therefore to the

Queen until the return of her daughter. I have done nothing but what

she asked me to do and that was to be kind to you." Mina explained.

"What happened to the princess?" Serena asked. "I do not

remember reading about any princess of the moon."

"The princess was five when she was taken from her mother; in

fact it was her fifth birthday celebration. A dark force attacked the

moon, and she was taken while all heads were turned towards trying to

protect the kingdom. It was the Prince Darien who first saw that she

was gone."

"Why was the prince the one to notice, and not the princess's

mother?" Serena asked.

"The prince was eleven at the time, and he had been engaged to

the princess since the day of her birth. It was pre-arranged by their

parents, and both children had full knowledge of it. Even at their

young age, they knew that they would love one another. He had come

more into his powers than she, and took it upon himself to protect

her. He has blamed himself for her disappearance along with all of

us, since that fateful day."

Serena sat back on the chair as a flash of white light

scorched across her vision, and a horrible scream cut across her mind.

She shook her head, placing into the fact that her stomach seized up

with hunger.

"I have laid out some clothes for you in the bathroom that you

may change into for dinner. Do not be swayed by the fact that they

are quite nice, for it will be the regular that you will be required

to wear during your stay here at the palace. A tailor will come

tomorrow to take your measurements and make you more fitting clothes,"

Mina explained.

Serena nodded, and slowly got off her chair and walked into

the bathroom. It was bigger than her whole house back on the farm.

The large bath was elevated and fully marble. There were stairs

leading carpeted up to it on one side. There was a long marble

counter lined with all kinds of soap and shampoos along with hair

products and make-ups. The floor was the same white marble, and a

soft white matt covered the distance from where she was to the tub.

Along one wall, there were mirrors and a stool where one would dress,

and then a table with a chair and mirror to sit down and do ones hair

or makeup. Hanging on the mirrors was a flowing light blue silk

dress.

Serena walked up to the dress, afraid to even touch it because

of her dirty state. It was the most beautiful dress that she had ever

seen, except for that of the queens. What it would take to get used

to not dirtying a dress like this when one worked.

Serena stepped away from the dress and started taking off her

dirty and wet clothes. Her fathers' old pants and shirt were thrown

neatly in a pile along with her cape and undergarments. She noticed

that Mina had given her fresh undergarments and placed them on a stool.

The bath was warm, and Serena soon found herself relaxing

easily in it. It soothed her soar muscles, and her aching body began

to allow itself much needed rest.

She washed her hair and body, using the glorious smelling

soaps that rested around her. She took care to clean even between her

toes, for the feeling of it was such a relief. She washed her face

and neck, and was soon perfectly clean from head to toe.

The next step was dressing. She dried off easily, even

allowing her long hair a few moments to drip dry as she sat relaxed in

the chair with no clothes on. Her hair reached to her lower back, not

longer, and it curled delicately at the ends. She brushed it as it

dried, and it shone smoothly as it had always done, no matter what

raw material she had used against it.

She pulled on the delicate undergarments, having completely

dry hair and smooth moisturised body. They fit perfectly, and were

lacy and smooth against her skin. She then pulled on the dress

lightly, trying hard not to rip or tear it anywhere. It flowed off of

her hips, and hugged her tiny waist perfectly. It was the first time

that she had stood in a mirror, with a long dress, and been able to

admire her figure.

She had to admit she wasn't all that bad looking. She was

thin for sure, but had soft delicate curves that a lady would have.

She had a soft face, with distinct cheekbones and bright blue eyes.

She was pleased with the way she looked.

The only un-lady like item that stood out, was the small scar

she had on her wrist. She had more, and they were all concealed under

the dress, but this one stood out. She had received it when riding

through the forest one night on Sterling. He had been spooked and

thrown her off his back. She had fallen and landed painfully on a

small dagger of some sort; the very dagger that she at all times

carried around with her in her saddle bag. The cut had taken forever

to heal, and it had left a thin white line stretching across her palm

and trailing for some inches down her right wrist.

She sighed and walked out of the bathroom where Mina was

waiting for her.

Mina looked shocked when she saw her, looking into the face of

her Queen as it could not be mistaken. There were differences, like

the small arch in her brow given to her from her father, and the

slight curve of her chin also from the same resource. She was truly

the princess, and Mina had no doubt in her mind.

"You look beautiful," she said evenly, trying to sound only

as a friend that had just met.

"Thank you," Serena said lightly. "Can I ask you another

question about the princess Mina?" Serena asked.

"Of course," Mina answered.

"What was her name?"

Mina smiled sadly at the question. "Her name was Serenity,"

she said softly, and then turned towards the chair in front of another

table in mirror. "Come, I shall do you hair."

Serena walked slowly towards the chair and sat down, but the

name plagued her. She had heard it before, and another white flash

snapped across her vision and the scream again followed. She didn't

even flinch at it, but it started to bother her.

Mina silently did her hair, sometimes making comments about

how soft it was or how blonde. But Serena knew that she was deep in

thought just by looking at her, so she didn't try to coax too much

conversation out of her. She waited as Mina pulled her hair up

tightly behind her, and used the curled ends to fall softly on the

back of her neck so that her hair looked neat and messy at the same

time. It was very elegant.

"We should go to dinner now, for it will have started in five

minutes," Mina said lightly pulling Serena's chair back for her. The

two girls walked together out of the room.

Serena noticed a few things about Mina on the way, and one was

that Mina was slightly shorter than her, but only by an inch or so.

She walked gracefully and confidently, and Serena matched her stride

but added a slightly longer step. Mina was also beautiful, even more

than in the room. Her blue eyes glittered kindly, and she had a

constant soft smile on her face that caused all her features to

lighten into a friendly mood.

Together they reached the room, and Serena felt suddenly

nervous. She had no training in table manners or anything, but

assumed that she would figure them out soon enough. What bothered her

was the sudden realisation that she wasn't only dinning with the

Queen, but also the other Princesses and the Princes Darien from

earth. For some reason he had placed a lasting impression on her and

she could not remove his face from her mind.

As they walked into the room, all eyes turned towards her.

She held herself high, but she could not help but see his eyes only

focus on her. She had seen his eyes before, she was sure of it.

Something told her they had met, and yet she would have remembered a

man as handsome as him.

She had never been one to fall for looks, but his were an

exception. His hair was the blackest one could possibly imagine, and

it hung lightly dancing over his ocean blue eyes. His eyes were

stormy, and they showed the emotion in his heart without the aid of

facial expressions. His face was firm and distinct, and he had a

perfect white smile. His skin was smooth and slightly darker then

usual and he had to be well over six feet tall. His body was thin and

strong; muscular and defined without being bulky. He looked like a

jockey. But it was still his eyes that caught her attention, and again

the white light flashed before her, followed by that scream. This time

however, the scream came with a slight flash of an image, and it was of

those eyes, on a much younger face looking panicked towards her.

Serena shook off the feelings and followed Mina who led her to

the chair to the right of the Queen herself. She sat down quietly,

looking around her while hiding the nervousness that had suddenly

caused her hands to shake.

"You look lovely Serena," The Queen said kindly, and Serena

noticed the there was a more present light in her eyes then there had

been upon their first meeting.

"Thank you," Serena said once again, not knowing if she

should repay the compliment in the same way. But she didn't have to,

because at that moment dinner was served.

She noticed more things throughout the dinner, and that was

that nobody talked until the course was finished. When you were done

with your meal, it was now polite to talk with the other person who

had finished their meal.

She also looked at the other girls. There was the Princess

Raye from Mars, who was as mysterious and elegant as all her

descriptions described her. She had long flowing silky black hair and

darker olive skin. Her eyes were a violet colour, and flashed

confidently around her pretty face. The Princess Amy from Mercury was

shy, with lovely short blue hair and blue swimming eyes. She was

intelligent even in look, and it was confirmed with her words. She

spoke with confidence, and always about important issues or things she

had a lot of information on, which was everything.

The Princess Lita of Jupiter was different from the rest,

starting with the fact that she was almost a foot taller than they

were. She was almost as tall as the prince Darien, who said very

little throughout the dinner but kept his eyes not far from her. Lita

had dark brown hair, and it was held up in a classy ponytail and shone

in the light. She had bright green eyes that matched her outfit

perfectly. Mina she had already seen, and she realised that they were

a group of four very desirable eighteen-year-old girls.

She thought to herself the she was eighteen, and than another

thought occurred to her. That thought was that she had been found

when she was five, and the Princess has been taken when she was five.

Another flash cut her vision, and this one caused her to stand up

suddenly in shock. The blue stormy eyes followed the scream, then the

sound of footsteps and the evil sight of a monster, unlike anything

she had ever seen before.

"Serena, are you alright?" The Queen asked surprised.

Serena looked around her and then sat back down. "Sorry, I'm

fine, I don't know what happened." But her action seemed to have

caused a tremor throughout the room, and everyone was looking at her

almost expectantly. But Serena pretended that she didn't notice it,

and she continued eating her meal as politely as her shot nerves would

muster.

"Now Serena, I was thinking that since you're going to be

staying with us for some months, you might wish to do something while

you're hear. Is there anything you want to see or learn within the

castle?" The Queen asked sensing that she didn't want to notice what

her action had caused within them.

Serena thought about the question for a moment. "I don't

really know; everything I've really ever wanted to know I was able to

ask or read about. Maybe just permission to scour the library. I

would like permission maybe to ride my horse over the land, for he

will not do being cooped up without me over the winter."

"Whatever you want you shall have," The Queen said. "If you

think of anything else you need, do not hesitate to ask me and I will

have it arranged," she said.

Serena nodded, and the conversation became neutral from there.

She no longer wondered over the subject of the princess, seeing as it

caused such reactions from her. She found herself becoming more

comfortable with her hosts. They were all very pleasant people, and

they were kind and gentle.

At one point later in the evening, Serena looked up to lock

eyes with the Prince Darien, who had said very little throughout the

dinner. Again she found herself trapped in the familiarity of them.

"Prince Darien, may I ask you something?" Serena asked

catching everyone's attention and not just his, the room went quiet.

He smiled slightly, and nodded his head. "Of course, but do

not bother calling me Prince, Darien is fine," he said easily.

Serena nodded before going on. "Have we met before?" She

asked cautiously,

Darien seemed surprised by the question, and he didn't know

how best to answer it, so he answered with a question. "Why do you

ask me this?" He asked, keeping his calm perfectly.

"I know that it seems strange, but I could swear that I've

seen you before. I recognise your eyes," she said then looked away,

slightly embarrassed but she still held herself steadily.

Darien smiled kindly at her, but she could see in his ever

looking eyes that he was at a loss. "I don't know what to tell you

Serena, but I don't know. Maybe we have at sometime seen one

another, or maybe there is someone out there with similar looks as

me," he said.

"Forgive me for saying, but I think it hard to believe that

there are two people on this moon that have as stormy eyes as you, and

I have been fortunate enough to meet them both. It doesn't seem possible.

But then again, I guess that anything is possible," she said.

"Yes it is," The Queen said quietly, to nobody really.

Serena looked around the room, and again everyone looked somewhat

excited. Serena noticed to that Darien was smiling more often then

not, as if he was trying not to call out in joy, and it made his eyes

dazzle with light.

The rest of the night finished quickly, and Serena found

herself in the plain ceiling room that she had been allowed to change

in. She had changed into a night-gown that Mina had given to her, and

said that this would be her room throughout her stay, however long

that might be. So here she stood, looking around her while again

feeling that she somehow belong here, a feeling that she had never

really had back home. She sighed, and walked towards the balcony that

she had discovered only moments before.

She stood at the end, leaning on the railing slightly and

looking up towards the earth shining brightly in the sky. There was a

cold wind that caused Goosebumps to show on her skin as it flowed

through her light clothes. Her hair, now down, flew slightly behind

her. A movement caught her gaze, and she looked down to find someone

walking through the rose gardens below.

It didn't take her long to realise that it was the Prince

Darien, and he hadn't seen her. She ducked and watched him through

the spaces in the rail.

Darien walked easily through the gardens as he did nearly

every night. It was his favourite place, most calming to him. He

remembered taking Serenity here when she had been very small, and

giving her a red rose from his home planet.

Serena watched him bend lightly and pluck a light pink rose

easily from one of the bushes, bring it to his nose, and smell it. He

smiled then, and his eyes showed nothing but happiness. He walked on

slowly, taking all the time in the world.

Serena loved the way he walked; his posture was so perfect

without being rigid. He took long easy strides that made him appear

to be walking with the greatest of ease. His shoulders stayed

straight, but his head slowly looked all around him, taking everything

in. He walked with confidence, and complete courage. She could

imagine all the princesses he could marry falling all over him, and

envied the moon princess for her hold on him, if she were to ever come

back.

The thought of the moon princess made her sad, mainly for the

people here who had obviously loved her. She must have been the most

beautiful child in all of the solar system, and had deserved him as

her soul mate. She was sure that if she was the princess, she would

do anything she could to return to him.

She turned to lean her back on the balcony, no longer looking

at the prince and therefore not seeing him look towards her and smile

affectionately. She gazed into the room where she was to stay, and

welcomed the darkness of it. She rose, and walked easily towards the

bed. She laid herself on it, falling into a deep sleep within

moments.

But it was not a good sleep, for nightmares plagued her. She

could hear the scream, see the blue eyes of the young boy, and she saw

the monster reach for her. She could hear destruction all around her,

and heard shattering glass and running footsteps. She called out, but

nobody heard her, she was alone.

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End of Chapter 4

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