Chapter One: Playdate

The Moon Kingdom...

5 years Later...

Courtyard...

"DARIEN!, GIVE IT BACK!" Young Princess Serena cried as she reached for her doll. Prince Darien laughed as he held the doll just out of her reach. "Awe, whats wrong meatball head, can't you reach it?" Prince Darien teased. Princess Serena glared at him and crossed her arms. "NO! AND DON'T CALL ME MEATBALL HEAD!" She screamed. "Darien, stop teasing Serena..." A male voice said from behind him. Prince Darien frowned as he turned around and looked at his older brother. "Roman, you sure no how to ruin my fun.." He growled. Prince Roman sighed. "Just give her the doll back." Roman ordered. "You know Roman just because you are older than me, doesn't mean you can boss me around." He said as he turned to the crying five year old. "Here take you stupid doll." He growled as he handed her the doll. She took the doll from his hands and watched him storm off. "Thanks Roman.." Princess Serenity said as she turned her attention to him.

"Your welcome, princess." He said as he smiled. "Hi Serena!" A seven year old girl cried happily as she ran up to them. Serena turned and faced her. "Hi Alaynia." Serena said softly. "Come on, lets go play." Alaynia suggested as she took Serena's hand and lead her away from her brother.

Darien walked around the other end of the court yard kicking stones around the yard. "What's wrong with you?" Darien turned around to see his friend Samuel walking towards him. "Hey Sam...nothing just bored." Darien replied as Samuel stood next to him. "I know what you mean, want to see who can climb the highest?" Samuel asked as he turned around and faced a tall tree behind them. "Sure." Darien agreed as Samuel began to climb the tree.

A few hours later Serena wondered away from the group. She stumbled into the gardens to find a man standing by the fountain. "What you doing?" She asked curiously as she walked towards the man, the danger she was in was unknown to her. The man turned and looked over at her. She stared him in the face, he had dark green eyes and long white hair. He was about medium height and was very thin. He held a scar over his left eye. "You must be the young Princess Serenity.." He said in a hoarse tone. She smiled and nodded in agreement. "Wanna play?" She asked. An evil grin crept across his lips as he walked towards her.

"Serena?" Queen Serenity called as she looked around frantic for her daughter. "Are you children sure you didn't see where she went?" She asked as she turned to the four of them. "No, ma'am." They said as they looked at one another. Queen Serenity sighed as she walked away from them and continued looking. He suddenly had a bad feeling wash over him as he watched the Queen leave the courtyard. "Darien are you okay?" Alaynia asked as she waved her hand infront of his face. He blinked a couple time and looked over at her. "Uh..yeah.." He said as he ran away from the group. "Darien, where are you going?" Roman called after him. Darien didn't answer, just kept running. Something wasn't right and he could feel it.

She stared into his dark green eyes and suddenly felt uncomfortable. "I think I hear my mommy calling.." She said softly as she turned to walk away, but the man grabbed her wrist. She screamed out in fear as she tried to pull free. "Leave her alone!" A small male voice shouted. The man looked up and saw a young boy with ebony black hair and blue eyes. He picked up a stone and threw it at the man, hitting him square in the face. "Ahh! You little brat!" He cried out as he let go of Serena. "Darien!" She cried as she ran over to him. "Come on!" Darien cried as he took her hand and they began to run. "You can't run from me Princess!" The man growled as he shot out a green ball of energy at them. They both stopped and stared at the green energy ball hurrling towards them. "Serena run!" Darien cried as he pushed her ahead of him out of the way of the blast.

Serena ran as fast as she could out of the gardens. She stopped at the entrance when she heard a terrifing scream. She turned around and looked to see if he was still behind her. "Darien?" She asked when she didn't see him anywhere. "Serena!" Queen Serenity cried as she reached her daughter. "Mama..Darien's in the gardens with a bad man..." She whimpered as tears started to fall down her cheeks. The Queen looked up from her daughter and stared into the gardens. "Serena.." She began softly as she looked down at her daughter. "Listen to me, run inside the palace and find your father. Hurry." She said as she looked back into the gardens. Serena nodded and did as her mother told her.

As Serena reached the palace she began screamming for her father. "Papa! Papa!" She cried. "Serena?" He asked as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Papa!" She cried as she ran to him. "What is it, sweetheart?" He asked as he knelt down infront of her. "Darien...hes...the...gardens...Mama.." She cried as she tried to catch her breath. "Serena, calm down."He said softly as he took his trembling daughter into his arms. "Father!" Samuel yelled as he busted through the side doors. The King looked up as the children ran inside. "What is it?" He asked as he rose to his feet. Just then Queen Serenity walked through the doors, carrying Darien in her arms. "Serenity?" "Jonathan.." She whispered as she collapsed to her knees. King Jonathan ran over to her. "What happened?" He asked as he kneeled down in front of her. "Hector..." She whispered as she fell unconcious.

A few hours later the King and Queen of Earth came as soon as they heard. "Jonathan, how is he?" Queen Juliet asked. "The doctor says hes very weak, but he should be alright." King Jonathan replied. "And Serenity?" King Eric asked. "She's okay." "Do you know what happened?" King Eric asked. "Not exactly, they are both still unconcious and poor Serena won't talk to anyone. All I know is Hector is to blame for this.." The King said as anger started to rise. "Are you sure?" Juliet asked. "Yes, it's the only thing Serenity said before she fell unconicous.

"Darien..." A small voice whimpered as she entered his room. She looked over at him lying in the bed so still. "Darien..." She whispered as she ran over to his bed and climbed on top of it. "Please be okay...please..." She whispered as she stared down at him. He had a bandage wrapped around his head and a few cuts and bruises on his arms. She laid her head down on his pillow next to him as tears began to fall down her cheeks again. She wrapped her arms around his arm as she snuggled close to him. She closed her eyes and soon fell fast asleep...