AN: Well, here it is! Saturday! Best day of the week - and as it is known to Carmen-chan... Saturday Posting Day! Hooray!!! I'm about 5 hours late, but I went to a yoga workshop today. Am so chilled and relaxed right now! Also, if you're feeling like checking up some groovy music, fellow FFer, JoFlake gave me the link to a cool myspace band a few chapters ago (and I've kept forgetting to AN-pimp it!). It's www(dot)myspace(dot)com/asleeplessmelodymusic
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon isn't mine. And thanks to Kaitlyn Fall for betaing!
"You're such an idiot," Sailor Mars snapped to Jadeite as he tried to recount tales of his apparent 'bravery'. Sailor Mercury shook her head at their conversation before returning to her own with Zoisite. They were debating whether star alignments had anything to do with prophecies made on Earth. Zoisite insisted all Terran royalties received visions when the stars were aligned north to southwest in the sky – Sailor Mercury disagreed.
Sailor Jupiter and Nephrite were arm-wrestling on the dinner table, and it was hard to tell who was winning – both had faces strained in exertion. Sailor Venus and Malachite were talking intently about their favourite battle strategies, being the leaders of their respective guards.
Serenity and Serena sat at opposite sides of the table, with Serenity purposely planning it so; claiming she hadn't sat with her fiancé in quite some time. When Serena had begun to argue, Serenity had just pointed to her chair and told her to sit. Serena only obliged after the authoritative ring in her past self's voice.
When Darien and Endymion entered, freshly bathed from their sweat-inducing day of trainings, Serenity excitedly signalled for her fiancé to sit beside her. Darien had no choice but to sit next to the huffing Serena, and decided now would be the best time to make his apology, before dinner got too unpleasant.
He turned to the blonde, who refused to look in his direction. "Hey, Meatball Head," he grinned, hoping to lighten the mood. He saw her purse her lips, and changed tactics. "Serena," he began seriously. "I'm sorry for what I said this morning. Sorry that I said you looked like a pig. I was just pretty peeved this morning, and I shouldn't have taken it out on you."
He waited, but she didn't acknowledge that she'd even heard. Well fine. He'd tried, and it was her problem if she couldn't accept his apology.
He was just about to turn away when Serena jumped in her seat, almost as if someone had kicked her in the leg. Hard. Darien missed the look Serenity shot at Serena as she replied,
"Apology accepted, jerk." She didn't say it spitefully though, so he figured she meant it. Darien plucked a grape from the bunch in the bowl in the middle of the table and held it out for her.
"Want to show me your little trick again?"
She eyed him suspiciously for several seconds before deciding he meant it. She uncrossed her arms and took the grape from him, smiling despite herself. "Ready?" she asked. "You gotta watch the whole time, okay?"
Darien nodded and Serena tossed the grape high above them. He watched as it made a spectacular arc in the air before beginning it's decent.
Darien burst into laughter as the grape landed on Serena's eye and tumbled off the side of her face. She looked at him and frowned. "Well it was working before! You just ruined it, that's all. You put me off my game, jerk."
Darien reached forward and patted the hand she had resting on the edge of the table. "No problem, Meatball Head. Glad to know I have an effect on you."
The moment his hand came into contact with Serena's, a jolt of electricity passed between the two, and Darien removed his hand swiftly.
"Did you feel...?"
"No," Darien disputed quickly. Serena shut her mouth.
Both missed the triumphant look on Serenity's face... But someone else did.
"Don't even think about it," Endymion muttered quietly.
"But don't you think they're so adorable together?" Serenity whispered back, watching the pair.
Endymion shook his head. "You're just saying that because they're us."
"Exactly!" Serenity enthused. "Which means you know how perfect they are for each other. Honey, don't you want to bestow on Darien the same happiness you have from being able to call me yours?"
Her fiancé frowned. "Don't try that approach on me, Princess. Just let them come together on their own; you know it'll happen."
Serenity pouted as she leaned back in her seat, allowing the maid that had just scuttled in to pour her drink. "Well fine."
But Endymion was one step ahead of her. "And don't try to rope the Scouts in either. I know what Matchmaker Venus is like."
Serenity's face looked like it was about to permanently etch her pout into her skin, so Endymion reached a hand up and rubbed his thumb soothingly over her cheek. "If it's meant to be, it's meant to be. If not, at least they had one life time together."
Serenity sighed as a server placed a plate of fish –freshly caught that afternoon – in front of her.
She knew in her heart Serena and Darien were destined for each other.
xXxXx
It was decided that Serenity and Endymion's engagement would be announced at the next ball – which was to be held in a little over a week. As all those in the Moon Palace rushed around preparing for the celebration, Serena watched in amazement as the palace transformed before her very eyes.
"I thought that last ball, the night we arrived –" she shivered remembering how it had ended, "– was supposed to be the announcement of your engagement?"
She looked over at Serenity, who was by the vanity brushing her hair. Serenity giggled. "Well, it was. But since Endy and I never made it back in time, and then there was all that commotion with you being intruders and possible enemies, there really wasn't much time."
"So people are still left wondering why they dressed up for nothing to attend a ball where apparent criminals were exposed?"
Serenity had to put the heavy silver brush down, she was laughing so hard. "You think they were not entertained by the spectacle you made? It's called drama, darling!"
Serena scowled at her and snatched the brush from the table. "No more brushing for you, it makes your head go funny."
There was a knock at the door, and Serena answered it. Aria grinned sheepishly up at her.
"Oh," Serena said, surprised. "Hi. Do you have a message for us?"
The girl blushed and dug her shoe into the maroon carpet. "No," she admitted. "I was wondering if I could stay with you guys for a while. All the maids are either working or sleeping, depending on their shifts, and I sort of… um… don't worry." She turned to leave, when sympathy welled up within Serena. This girl probably had no friends her age in the palace, and she was fairly close to Serena's age as it was. Serena opened the door wider.
"Sure, you can come in and hang with us," she said, giving a friendly smile. "We're just having a little girly chat."
Aria turned to her hopefully. "Really?"
Serena laughed. "Sure, why not?"
Aria joined them and together, they both admired Serenity's ring, giggling as she recounted the story. It was after ten minutes or so, when Serenity was getting to the part about how the palace guards wouldn't let them in at first, when there was another knock on the door.
Serena got off the bed and opened it, revealing two identical men. It took her a moment to realise it was Endymion standing before her, and not Darien. She stepped back to allow him in. He was followed by his double, who was wearing the exact same outfit, signifying his royalty.
Whilst Serena and Serenity had similar dresses, only differing by their coloured hems, Endymion and Darien wore the only royal attire from Earth, so it was difficult telling them apart...
But Darien's constant smirking at Serena gave him away every time.
"I wonder if perhaps I could steal away my fiancé for a short while, and take a stroll with her in the gardens?" Endymion asked as he swept into a low bow. Serenity giggled and looked at Serena, as if asking for her opinion. Serena nodded, then paused.
"Wait, you don't mean…?"
"The gardens await, Princess," Darien drawled in her ear.
Dammit.
"Sorry Aria," she apologised. "We'll have to do this some other time."
The girl nodded, her dark hair bouncing around her. "That's okay. Thank you for letting me in," she smiled, curtsying quickly to the two princes and dancing out of sight.
Serena returned her attention to Darien, rolling her eyes and holding out her arm, which, remembering from her lessons with Serenity, was the protocol of accepting a man's company. Darien, who had also taken etiquette lessons with Endymion, wrapped her hand around his arm and they circled towards the door.
When the two couples reached the gardens, Serenity and Endymion immediately turned left, taking the path that would lead them to the secluded area with the swings. Serena sighed in envy. They were so perfect together.
She and Darien turned right, and the minute they were out of view, they dropped their arms by their sides. Serena admired the glossy carnations and glittery tulips whilst Darien was content to just watch her.
"Why do you do that?" he asked as she leant down in smell another blossom. "You do it to every flower, I don't get it. They all smell the same, don't they?"
Serena gave Darien an exasperated look. "You know, you're always so cynical and sarcastic. Why do you do that?"
Darien mocked a shocked expression. "Wow! Cynical and sarcastic in the same sentence! Those are big words, Meatball Head. I'm proud of you."
"Shut up, Darien. And don't call me that!"
Darien laughed and wandered off further down the track, walking away from Serena so that she'd have to catch up. She kept pace with him easily though, and this bothered him. How could he tease her if she made it hard to make fun of her?
"When you think, you do this with your face." She grabbed her own and smushed it everywhere with her hands. "It makes you look pretty ugly."
"Ha!" Darien laughed. "You don't even need to think to look like that, but when you do, it only makes your face looks worse."
"Oooh," Serena taunted. "Good one, Ugly!"
"Thanks, Miss Hideous."
"That wasn't very original," Serena commented.
Darien shrugged. "Neither was yours."
Serena tapped her nose. "Yes, but I'm good-looking, so people can overlook that fact!"
Darien kicked a loose pebble on the path. "So you admit that you've noticed people like you for your looks and not your brains?"
Serena clenched her fists and they turned steadily white. "You know, you always pick on my grades, Darien! So if you're gonna keep it up, even while we're stuck here, well, well..."
"Well?" prompted Darien when she continued to splutter.
"Then you're a big fat jerk!" she finished, shouting. Darien burst out laughing and Serena thrust her nose in the air, stomping away from him.
"Oh come on, Meatball Head!" Darien had to jog to keep up. "You know it's all in good fun!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Serena shrieked without looking at him. "And it's not in good fun! YOU try being on the receiving end of snarky comments from a bully and see how YOU feel!"
Darien stopped laughing. "You're not serious, are you? Me? Bullying you? Ha! Never heard a more ridiculous thing in my life." Serena sniffled and Darien paused. "You do know I tease you for fun, right? It's never anything serious."
"So that's what I am to you?" Serena asked sadly. "Just your source of entertainment? Your daily tormentee?"
"Hey." Darien reached out a hand and gripped Serena's shoulder. She wrestled from underneath his hand, but he quickly overpowered her, spinning her to face him. Darien almost stumbled back in shock. She was crying?!
Where did that come from? One minute we were making fun of each other, the next she's bawling her eyes out!
"Serena, what's wrong?"
"Like you don't know!" she spat back. Darien stilled.
"Are you upset by my comments?"
She nodded furiously and he was appalled. "Really? They actually hurt you?"
Serena shrieked and ducked out of his grip, storming past him back towards the palace.
"Hey, hey, hey! Whoa, hold up! Are you serious? Serena, I don't mean to hurt you, surely you know that?"
"Darien, I don't care what you've got to say anymore," Serena sighed tiredly. "I'm so over you being hot one minute and cold the next. You snapped at me this morning, and apologised at dinner. You've ruined a perfectly nice walk by telling me I'm dumb, and by breakfast tomorrow, you'll be normal again. And I don't want to put up with your bipolar crap anymore, okay!?"
She had barely taken her second step when Darien gripped her wrist, trapping her. She tried to shake her hand free, but he refused to let go.
"Look at me," Darien said. "Look at me!" he ordered when she didn't. Serena flinched when he'd shouted and looked up with scared eyes. Darien immediately felt guilty and softened. "I'm sorry, Meatball Head. I'm really sorry about the way I turn out when I'm with you. I really can't explain it."
Serena scoffed, but he continued earnestly. "I think I've treated you pretty unfairly since we met. I always thought of our little fights as... well, pretty much verbal sparring. And sure, I couldn't stand you much when we were back home, but now I'm starting to understand your point of view. I'm not a tyrant, I'm not a bully. But if you see me that way, I'd like to make it up to you. Start afresh."
"Shut up, I forgive you."
"What?" Had he heard right?
"I don't want to fight with you here anymore than I did back on Earth. So I'm willing to be your friend. But be warned." Her eyes went cold. "If you screw up one more time, just one more time, then I will never speak to you again. Got it?"
The logic was there, but most of her proposal went over his head. He was quick on the uptake though. "Sure, Meatball Head, anything."
Serena gritted her teeth. "And stop calling me that!"
"Right, right. Sure. So, do you want to keep walking, or shall we head back?"
Serena gazed longingly at the path that led further into the gardens, biting her lip.
"We'll keep walking then, shall we?" Darien offered. Serena gave him a small smile and started forward.
"Yeah, you can show me where that transportation dock is that Serenity was telling me about. She says we're going there tomorrow morning and…"
Their voices trailed off as they wandered further into the garden.
It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
You know what? Maybe I should start posting twice a week. Saturdays and Wednesdays. What do you guys think? Let me know! XD
xx
Carmen