Chapter 5: Him

The dark figure sipped a glass of deep red wine as he looked over the gift he had prepared this year.

"My lord, we will soon be arriving on Earth." A woman in a crimson tank top and matching short skirt told him.

"Good, good, Leah Ruby, prepare for our landing." The man commanded.

The woman turned to obey but turned back. "How many more times will we do this Master?"

"Until she agrees to be my wife." He replied. "Soon she will give in, I'm sure."

Ruby sighed. "If only you knew..." She mumbled before leaving. She hated seeing her master chasing after a woman who didn't love him.


"And this is our marketplace," Loofy said. "We really just call it a market because this is where everyone brings their wares to trade. We have no need for money here."

Darien chuckled. "Wish it was that way back home."

At the mention of his home, Loof Merrow's face lit up. "Yes, your home. Tell me all about it. I want to know everything."

In back, Serena giggled. "She reminds me of the Little Mermaid. Disney version." She whispered to her boyfriend.

Diamond laughed with her. He remembered watching that film with Serena and Rini. "Yes, she does."

Darien, who heard none of this, began telling Loofy all about Tokyo and Japan. His school and the technologies that had been discovered and developed in the last few thousand years. She hung, fascinated, onto every word. They talked long into the afternoon. To give them privacy, Selkie led the rest down a separate path.

-
The sun was setting and the banquet was underway. Tribal drums beat their rhythmic tattoo as dancers danced along. Island delicacies were brought forth. Fruits, vegetables, fish of all kinda. A drink that was very similar to wine was served to all.

"So you go from place to place in little metal carriages that burn fuel called gas." Loofy asked. "And everyone goes to school and learns different things to do?"

Darien nodded. It was a good summary of some of things he'd told her. It was nice to have someone really listening to him, and better understanding what he said. "Yeah. I'm studying to be a doctor."

"And what is a doctor?" She asked.

"A doctor is someone who helps someone feel better. I guess you might call it a healer but less magic and more science." He explained.

She looked at the others. "And what do all of you do?"

"Well," Ami began. "We girls are still in junior high school. But I want to be a doctor like Darien."

"Sapphire and I are going into business together. In a few weeks, we'll be opening a cafe/bakery/nursery." Lita continued.

"And what are they?" Loofy asked.

"A cafe and bakery is a restaurant or eating house and a place where fresh bread and cakes are made. A nursery, like what we're opening, is a place where plants and flowers are grown fresh and sold along with gardening supplies. Lita likes to bake and cook and I really like plants." Sapphire elaborated.

Loofy looked at Zoisite who shrugged. "I don't really know what I want to do yet. I know I enjoy literature, books. I've considered being a teacher or a writer."

Ami leaned against him encouragingly. "You'd do well at either of those. Or anything else you want to do."

"And what about you Serena?"

Serena bounced. "I want to be a housewife like my mom. I want to learn how to cook and clean and take care of my family."

"Except if things work out, darling, you won't have to." Diamond told her. "I'm actually the heir to a small planet that's currently orbiting the Earth. I will actually be expected to take the throne sometime this year."

"Oh, then you're a prince." Loofy sounded interested. "And what is your planet like?"

Diamond looked away. "Dark and cold. Nothing grows there like it does here on Earth. But I'm going to fix that when I am king."

Serena squeezed his hand supportively. "We'll both fix it."

Loofy saw Darien turn his head. She could sense some turmoil inside him. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong but a rumbling sensation halted all talk and celebrations. She looked around. "It's him!"

"Him?" Darien asked. "Him who?"

A bright light erupted in the center of the square. When it faded, a dark man stood before them, flanked by three women. Leah Ruby stood with her sisters, Bilpah Emerald and Zilpah Sapphire.

The man looked about at the obvious party. "Ahh, princess, don't tell me this party is for me. How flattered I am." He said, voice dripping with sarcasm as he stepped forward.

Darien stood. "Who are you? If you think you're going..."

"Dark Plasman, you know I would never celebrate your annual arrival." Loof Merrow interrupted Darien before he could get himself in trouble. "We were welcoming our true guests to the island after their ship wrecked due to a storm." She indicated the seven castaways.

Plasman sneered. "I've brought you a gift and the hope that you will finally give in." He placed a luxuriously crafted music box before her. "And finally agree to become my wife."

AN: Sorry for the delay. This chapter did NOT want to come out.