Title: PEACE AND WAR

Disclaimer: I don't own anything about Sailor Moon.

Authors Note: Thank you so much everyone who reviewed. I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint. I just want to let everyone know that this is probably going to be quite a long story, so I hope you're ready for it. I'll update as soon as I can. Be sure to check out my forum site. I'd like to get it going for us all.


Serenity stood in the dark hall feeling cold wash over her. Her palace was always warm and reflected the sunlight, this castle seemed to be clouded in darkness and shadow. Even though it was mid day outside, it seemed in here as if it where the dead of night. She wrapped her arms around herself.

Mina looked at her closest friend and felt her heart tense up. She looked small and pale here, like she was a flower trapped in the night yearning for the sun. But her eyes were still strong. She was scared, but she was determined not to be. She couldn't help but be proud of her.

They heard them coming before they saw them, and Serenity felt her guards step closer to her. She felt safe with them surrounding her and her friends.

She didn't really know what kind of person she was expecting. But the man that came around the corner scared her more then the thought of death. He was tall, and his lean muscular body made him appear even taller. His black hair seemed to blend in with the blackest shadows and his stride was determined and confident. But it was his eyes that seemed to unsettle her. They were the darkest stormiest blue she had ever seen, and they held all the emotion in the world in a stony stare. He simply looked........haunted. She felt the need to shrink back.

He stood in front of them all, with a girl behind him.

"Do not be afraid, I assure you that our castle is secure," he said looking at the beautiful blonde girl with frightened blue eyes that matched the summer sky. She looked at him, surrounded by her guards, and she looked so out of place. He could see her innocence as if she wore it as her clothes or in her hair. It was all around her. He didn't even know that that kind of innocence still existed in the world. She would be crushed to learn the truth.

"You are welcome here. If there was more I could to for your mother, I would not hesitate in doing so. Please, make yourself at home. I hope for your sake that your visit will be a short one."

Serenity almost couldn't move. She felt unnerved to have his eyes focused solely on her. But she quickly gathered herself and curtsied.

"Thank you, your majesty. I am truly grateful."

Darien ordered a servant nearby to ready a few rooms, and then he looked back at his sister. She stepped gently in front of him.

Serenity felt for the girl in front of her. She looked so alone.

"If you will allow me, I will show you to your rooms. You must be tired after your travels. I am sure you wish to rest."

Serenity nodded, but then stopped.

"If I may make a request," she said glancing at the King. "My ladies and I would like to stay in a room together if possible. We do not mind sharing a bed. But we should feel very much safer if we could stay together."

Darien just nodded. But his eyes said something different. Was was pity?

"Follow me," Raye said.

Serenity walked behind her, with Amy and Mina on either side of her. They moved as one with their guards behind them up the long staircase, away from the dark King. He watched her go, his mind racing. She looked at him like you would a strange. If she had ever been told about a possible engagement to him she would have looked curious or sad or even angry. But she didn't know him, not even his name. His anger boiled beneath him as he saw what he had thought was his future walk gently away from him. Perhaps it was a good thing that he had escaped her apparent weakness. He would never have been happy with someone as timid as her. He walked away.

She felt his eyes on her, but she was to frightened to look back.

"I am Lady Raye, sister to the King," she said after a moment.

"It is nice to meet you Raye," Serenity said. "This is lady Mina and Lady Amy. They are my ladies in waiting and personal friends." She hesitated a moment. "Do you live here alone?" She asked.

"My brother spends a lot of his time dealing with the war, but he is here with me whenever he can be."

"But what about your ladies?" She asked.

"My father never allowed me the company of ladies in waiting. When he died and my brother wished that I should have them, I felt I was already to old to name them."

Serenity couldn't help the ache in her heart shift towards Raye. She could tell that she was hurt and alone, but also that she had grown hard and stubborn. She felt the walls of the place closing in, like a cloak of shadows, suffocating them all.

Raye led them into a very large room. It had only one bed, but the bed was big enough that Serenity could easily imagine even her guards sleeping in there with her. That of course would not be allowed.

She turned to the six guards.

"We shall be safe here. I think if you take turns, two at a time, you may find time both to rest and enjoy our new surroundings."

"Yes your highness," they all bowed as she closed the doors.

Serenity relaxed a small amount in the room. It was warm and well furnished. She sat down on the bed, touching the soft fabrics with her delicate hands. They were smooth and comfortable.

"We usually do not eat dinner as a group," Raye said before leaving. "I am afraid that it is to late to ask the servants to prepare something now. I will ask them to send your food here tonight, and we will dine normally again tomorrow. We are having a large gathering of people who will stay with us in the castle for some time."

Serenity simply nodded. Raye left.

The three girls stood together for a long moment in silence.

"She seems so sad," Mina said after a moment.

Amy nodded her agreement.

Serenity sighed. "Everyone here so far seems sad. We're a long way from home," she paused. "Let's get some sleep."


Darien watched his sister watch the three girls walking delicately through the gardens in the back. He could see the fascination in her eyes. How could anyone be that pure and innocent? She looked at them longingly, wanting to be part of that world. He wanted to tell her that it was real, that the place in her dreams was built on dreams and no reality, but he didn't have the heart. Seeing Serenity here made him feel defeated, like what he was working so hard towards wasn't real.

"Your majesty, I'm afraid I have bad news."

Darien turned to look at one of his personal guards Kunzite, and his mood darkened. He took one last look at his sister and walked out of the room and back into the world he ruled. Back to war.


"I think we should try and befriend the Lady Raye," Serenity said softly.

Amy looked towards her friend and smiled. In this time of war, she was still thinking of someone else's happiness. She couldn't help but feel her heart warm at the though that she might not lose her happiness after all.

"I think that is a good idea," Mina said smiling.

"It would be nice to find a small amount of happiness here. It seems to cold," Amy said.

"That is just my thinking," Serenity said lifting her spirits. "Why should we only think about war and devastation? Why shouldn't we find peace of spirit despite these hard times? Wouldn't that prove that you cannot steal our happiness from us no matter what you throw our way?"

Mina grew excited.

"This will just be like old times again. Let's go and see her now," she said gently pulling Serenity and Amy back towards the palace.

They quickly made their way back inside and started looking around the castle. They really didn't know the first place to look for her, so they decided to make it more like a game. Whoever found her first would obviously win.

Within a short while the three girls were running, trying to beat one another to each room. Their giggling laughter echoed through the empty halls, and seemed to make it move as if raised from sleep.

Serenity rushed passed Mina, opening the door quickly and looking inside.

Mina grabbed her by the waist and pulled her away and pushing her into Amy who was trying to sneak by.

"I will win this time," Mina said out of breath.

"You haven't one once Mina, what makes you think this time will be any different?" Serenity ran after her with Amy hot on her heals.

"It is because you always have to boast about it before hand," Amy said. "It distracts you from actually winning."

Mina laughed before disappearing in another room, and Amy went ahead to another. Serenity spun round a corner and hurried in the other direction. She heard the two girls quickly chase after you.

"You're not going to beat my Serenity," Mina called.

She looked back and laughed at her two friends, and then collided with something.

Serenity stopped dead in her tracks, her hands still bracing her from whatever danger she had just run into. It was not unlike her to run headlong into a wall. But her heart suddenly beat faster as she looked up into his eyes.

She couldn't move.

The King looked down at her with those stormy eyes, his arms holding her from falling. She could suddenly feel the heat emanating from his hands as if they might burn her. Her own hands were placed firmly on his chest. But she couldn't move. She couldn't tell what he was thinking.

"I am sorry your majesty if we disturbed you," Mina and Amy bowed low to him. "We were only looking for you sister, the Lady Raye. We thought she might be interested in spending some of this fine day with company," Mina finished.

Darien didn't look at them, he kept his eyes on Serenity.

She still could not read the emotion there, she only got lost in the depths.

But then he spoke, in a soft voice, not much more than a whisper.

"She was in the library when I saw her last. It is at the farthest north side of the castle."

There was silence for a moment.

Serenity finallygot a hold of herself and backed up from him. His arms slid gently back to his sides and she couldn't help but shiver. She looked at him still, her eyes wide and afraid. His very presence seemed to penetrate within her.

"Thank you," Amy said taking Serenity's hand and pulling her gently in the indicated direction.

She could feel his eyes on her the whole way down the hall, and she couldn't shake it until they were completely out of the area. Only then did she feel herself relax again, and her heart stopped its madness in her chest.

"He scares you, doesn't he?" Mina asked.

Serenity just nodded.

"He is somewhat a mystery," Amy said. "But I do not believe his intentions are bad. He simply rules over his country firmly and tries to be better than his father without really knowing how."

Serenity wrapped her arms around herself while she listened to them. Why did he bother her so much? He looked at her like one might look at a child running wild. She felt like she was a burden to him, and he knew it. Why had he so suddenly decided against her? Had she done something to make him angry with her? If she had she surely didn't mean to.

They found the library quickly, and at the last moment Mina dashed out ahead and entered the door with triumph. She looked at the startled Raye and cheered.

"I win, and you can't deny it," she said putting her hands on her hips.

Serenity smiled and Amy rolled her eyes.

They all turned their attention to Raye.

Serenity stepped towards her.

"We were wondering if you might enjoy spending the afternoon with us. We don't have anything specifically planned, but we would love your help in finding something to entertain us."

Raye looked at her in shock for a moment. She couldn't comprehend why the smiling princess was so happy in this moment. Surely there was nothing here to be happy about. But she looked into those clear sky blue eyes and for a moment saw nothing but happiness. It was like the simple thought of darkness had never even been mentioned to her.

"I would love to," Raye said softly.

Serenity smiled more brightly then Raye had ever seen.

"Wonderful, then we shall waist no more time. Come, let us see what mischief we can find for ourselves."

Raye found herself being pulling along by Serenity and the other two girls who were laughing and giggling as they walked outside into the sunlit garden. She didn't know exactly what they were going to do, but she could feel her heart beating fast with anticipation. She felt absurdly out of place around the three lighthearted girls but she was curious to see what made them laugh so much.

They decided to play a game. Now that they had four people, they had even teams. Raye and Serenity against Mina and Amy.


Darien rubbed his eyes tiredly, trying to focus on the task before him. The tension moved through his back until he felt pain and he tried to move his arms to relieve it.

"Your majesty, you do look tired. Why not take a rest?"

Darien looked up at Jadeite who was sitting across from him at the table with a worried expression on his face. But he had no time for worry, only war. The attack on Serenity's country had made it possible for them to regroup, as all eyes were pointed away from them. His four guards sat around him, watching him thinking about his decision. They all held worried expressions on their face for the King.

"Are you ready for the visiting nobles?" Nephrite asked gently.

Darien looked at him confused, and then sighed.

"You forgot, didn't you?" Kunzite asked.

"When are they coming?" He asked.

"They start arriving tomorrow. We should maybe decide if it's wise to let everyone know the princess Serenity is here," Zoicite said. "It is not in any way a crime, but it is still unclear who's attacking them. They might target the princess here, and we don't have the resources to fight a another war."

Darien nodded his understanding, but didn't say anything.

"Why did we agree to take her your majesty?" Nephrite asked.

"Because it is the right thing to do," Darien said standing up. The four men around him watched his movements, but didn't say anything more. "Her presence here is not a secret, although we shouldn't advertise it. If someone asks we will confirm, if not we will not give out that information. She can be part of the events of the next few weeks as much or as little as she wants."

"Do you think she will adjust here?" Jedeite asked.

Darien looked at him angrily.

"What does it matter?" He said surprising them all. "She's a sheltered little girl who thinks that life is all kittens and sunshine. Maybe this is the best thing for her. At least here she will see what the real world is like."

"Your majesty, where is this anger at her coming from?" Nephrite asked. "I thought at one time you were engaged."

Darien shook his head. "My father only wished it."

"But he told the whole castle that....."

"If her presence here is going to such a disruption then I will have to send her back to where she came from."

He stormed out of the room leaving the four men stunned.

"I don't think he likes her," Zoicite said after a moment.

Darien fumed as he walked down the hallways. She had only been here a day and already people were trying to walk lightly around her. He didn't need another distraction. They wouldn't be able to stop fighting unless they won the war, and they wouldn't win with her pretending that everything was fine. She was here because she had no other choice, that didn't mean they had to change they way they did things so she might feel comfortable.

He walked quickly into his study and slammed the door, feeling his rage boil out of control in him. This happened every time he held too much in. The smallest thing made him explode.

He slid against the wall as he sat on the floor by the door, his head in his hands. It was just one thing after another that he was supposed to fix. Everyone was looking at him to be a better king than his father, but he didn't know what a good king was. All he could remember was his father taking advantage of everyone around him and going to war over everything.

He tried to control his breathing, set his emotions back to normal. He felt his muscles clench up with tension and he sighed. Slowly his mind seemed to slow time, allowing him time to breath.

That's when he heard it, the soft laughter coming through his window.

Slowly he pushed himself up from the floor and walked towards the window where the sun was shining high in the sky, blinding him. He had been angry with her before when she and her friends had been laughing down the hallway. What gave them the right to be happy about nothing?

He watched them run around a rose bush, trying not to trap their dresses on the dangerous thorns. Serenity's blonde hair had fallen from her style and was floating majestically around her. Her cheeks were flushed with exercise and her gown seemed to fly behind her. She looked……….happy. Darien realized that he hated her for that.

Then his darkening mood turned to surprise. Serenity ran laughing out of the way, and there was Raye.

His eyes lightened at her and his heart tensed. She looked……happy.

He couldn't ever remember seeing Raye smiling the way she was now as she easily ran away from the other blonde girl. Her violet eyes held all the fire of the world and her glossy black hair floated all around her. And then even more amazing, she laughed.

Darien leaned against the windowsill, focusing only on her.

Darien couldn't help but feel his heart lighten while watching her. For the first time she was spending time with girls her own age. For the first time since she was a child she was smiling and having fun. For the first time since their mother died, she looked happy.

He looked back at Serenity. He was annoyed by her. Her presence and her attitude. But he couldn't help but think, perhaps she had some magic in her. Anyone who could make his sister smile and laugh like that was welcome in his home. He sighed through his frustration.


The four girls stood against the railing, watching all the people coming through the large front doors of the castle. One after the other, nobles walked in, dressed to impress with not a smile among them.

"They're not like back home," Amy said after a moment.

"What are they like where you come from?" Raye asked.

Serenity giggled. "They're always laughing and joking around. It feels more like your family is coming to visit, not strangers. And they're dressed in bright spring and summer colors. It's like looking over a field of tulips when they've bloomed to their fullest."

Raye smiled at the thought.

"The Queen always made Serenity stand and greet everyone single one of them, and she was always so excited to get back to doing nothing with us. But she stood there, fidgeting the whole time while she wished every single brightly dressed noble luck while in the palace," Mina said.

"Why are you not required to greet them?" Amy asked.

Raye looked back down at them.

"Darien will make sure everyone arrives safely, but he is much to consumed with the war to welcome them. It is not our custom to welcome visitors."

The other three girls looked at her confused.

Everyone looked back to the people coming in.

Serenity caught the eye of a very tall gentleman. He stood tall and proud with white hair flowing down his back. He smiled gently at her, and gave her a gentle bow. She couldn't help but smile.

"There is the lady Lita," Raye said suddenly. "You must meet her Serenity, she is the only friend I cherish. Her husband is also a very gentle man, but she has such a fierce spirit that I believe it could never be broken."

"Then why don't we meet her now?" Serenity asked.

Raye looked panicked then. "No, Serenity it is not our custom....." Raye tried to stop her from going to the stairs but she couldn't react quickly enough. She followed after her quickly while every eye in the room turned to look at them.

The tall, brown haired lady in a deep green dress looked up when she heard the soft sound of laughter. The sound was so foreign to her she didn't immediately know what to make of it. She held her husbands arm tightly. She was aware of the room going very quiet as they all watched the beautiful blonde girl come smiling through the crowd. She was light a bright star in an otherwise black night sky.

Her posture relaxed when she saw Raye following her.

"Welcome," Serenity said smiling. "I am princess Serenity and I am also a visitor here."

Lita curtsied gently.

"I am Lady Lita," she said.

She smiled when Raye approached.

"She insisted on meeting you as soon as I mentioned your name," Raye said out of breath and slightly afraid. "Once she sets her mind to something, you would have the most horrid time trying to convince her otherwise."

Lita smiled.

"It is wonderful to meet you," Serenity said. "I hope that while you're here we might see much of one another."

"I will make sure of it," Lita said while her husband ushered her away.

Serenity looked around her at all the people looking at her. Her mother had often had gatherings, but not like this. The people around her did not talk with one another, they simply look at her before walking in the direction of their rooms. She was confused at the coldness of the tradition.

Her back tingled when she saw a few gentlemen looking at her, and she didn't think it was in a very polite way. Her smile faded and the seriousness of why she was here seemed to plague her suddenly. She felt nervous, like she had just committed a crime and might get caught.

"Serenity, are you alright?" Mina asked.

"Let's go back upstairs," she said turning to them. She looked at Raye to see her studying her. It was like she was a flower among brambles and everyone was waiting to see what she would do.

She quickly followed her friends back up the stairs, and tried to ignore the eyes on her. It made her shiver and she felt suddenly like it was very shadowed in the room. She needed the sunlight. This place was nothing like home.

They walked down the hall towards their bedrooms, but were stopped.

"Lady Serenity," he said in a strong clear voice.

Serena felt her body tense suddenly on hearing him say her name. She turned to him, standing dark and tall in the hall. She quickly curtsied.

"What can I do you for your majesty?" She asked quietly trying to still her racing heart.

"It is not our custom to greet our guest," he said curtly. "I am surprised my sister did not inform you of that fact."

She was suddenly afraid that she had gotten Raye in trouble.

"I assure you she did you majesty, but I wished to meet her friend."

He stood right in front of her, letting his shadow cover her.

"You are a guest in this house and you will abide by our rules."

"Customs are not rules," she said not looking at him.

She heard Raye take in breath suddenly. Nobody corrected the King.

"I do not mean to offend, but it may take me more time then you like to completely forget how I was raised to live. If you might forgive me, I will work harder to remember it next time."

He just looked at her.

"There is to be a dinner tonight with the guests, whether or not you wish to participate is up to you," he said roughly.

"Do you not want me there?" She asked offended.

She felt Raye jab her back, but stood still.

"I don't care what you do," Darien said seriously. "I will protect you, but I will not baby you. What you do in your time is your business. But ignoring our customs is going to make people take notice of you. If you're really worried about the war in your country reaching you here, you would do well to find ways to hide."

Serenity felt as if she had just been reprimanded for being childish.

"Darien, I'm sure she didn't mean….."

"I mean exactly what I say," she said cutting her off. "And I mean it when I say that I am appreciative of your protection your majesty, but I am not a child. If you do not want to treat me as your guest then I would be happy to pretend that I am not in your company."

He stepped forward suddenly, and all the girls stepped back. Serenity held her ground.

"You talk as if you think you are strong," he said.

"I am strong," she argued.

"You do not even know what strength is."

"I have grown up in this world," she started.

"No, you haven't," he yelled. "You have grown up in a fantasy. A world that doesn't exist. You have no idea what it is like to be strong in this world. You stand there and stomp your foot like an impertinent child and you think you're fighting, but you're not. You want to see what it is to fight, then walk onto a battlefield and watch the men around you die."

Serenity stood slightly back.

"You want to run around these halls carefree and happy, then do so. But don't think that you're being strong by ignoring the fact that your happiness is built on fleeting beliefs that the world is a good place. One day you will open your eyes and see, and on that day I will watch your soul break and you will realize just how insignificant you really are here. You think you're here as my guest? You're here because you country cannot protect itself and are probably being slaughtered by the thousands. You have no idea what's really going on. This is a vacation for you while everyone you ever cared about is dead."

Darien's eyes swirled in front of her, a mass of emotion. And she was scared.

"Raye, I believe it is time for us to do our duty," he said walking abruptly away from her. Raye looked at them sadly, and then followed quickly behind him. They just watched them walk away.

Mina and Amy looked at Serenity, waiting for her to move.

"He scares me," she said after a moment.

"He isn't very nice, is he," Amy said.

"No, he really isn't," Mina agreed.

"Well," Serenity said. "He obviously isn't interested in our company, so we simply won't give it. But that does not mean we should forget our promise to lady Lita. We should get ready for dinner," she said continuing on down the hall while her mind worried about her home.

"Serenity, can I say something?" Amy said after a moment.

"Of course," She smiled.

"He's not wrong."

Serenity's happiness seemed unable to move back into her. His words wrung around in her mind.

"You think our people are dying by the thousands?"

"I don't know, but it's possible," Amy said.

Mina looked frightened at the thought. She watched Serenity for an answer, but she had none to give.

Serenity's thoughts stayed on King Darien for the rest of the day, and she realized that he hated her. She had never been hated before. But she couldn't let herself think of the war in her home country. If she did, she would break down in tears. For her mothers sake, she had to stay strong and true to her beliefs. The King just couldn't see that.


End of chapter three.

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