Chapter 2

KARA

Apparently, jetlag does not exist when you travel to another planet. As soon as the royal servant had led her to the room she was to share with her mother, she lay on her bed and closed her eyes, about to fall asleep… until her mother opened the door.

"Kara! What were you thinking? Insulting the queen like that? You could get yourself killed! I knew it was a mistake to bring you along." Alura scolded.

Kara sat up. "Mother, I will not apologize for standing up for our planet from that- that bully! I defended our people while you allowed them to push us around like that!"

"Are you hungry for war, Kara? Because that is what's to come if you anger the queen. Her army is one of the strongest in the galaxy. She may be correct. Our army is weak compared to hers." Alura replied calmly.

To this, Kara argued, "How could you say that? Your own men are fighting bravely with strong weapons. Rhea said we are weak because she believed Thorngate was weak. But she does not know of the weapons Thorngate has brought upon our land! She knows nothing, yet she still chooses to offend our people. That is why I spoke back to the queen. You were right in not enjoying the company of this foul planet."

Alura sighed in defeat. Kara was right, as she usually was. She would make a fine leader one day.

Alura had a meeting with planet officials from morning to early evening the next day, so Kara was left alone in the room. Alura had left a note saying, "DO NOT LEAVE THIS ROOM, KARA. PLEASE. I'LL BE BACK BEFORE DINNER ~MOTHER".

Kara scoffed at the note. As if a piece of paper could keep her trapped in a room all day with nothing to do. She threw away the note, completely disregarding it, and slipped out of the room. Of course, Kara didn't exactly know her way around the castle, so she would just have to explore the entire grounds, hoping she could find her way back.

Wandering through the halls and travelling down floors, Kara avoided any Daxamites by hiding behind curtains or hugging walls. She reached the ground floor and immediately saw a pair of massive glass doors. Behind the doors, was a garden with stunning flowers that were never seen on Krypton before.

Pushing open the doors, she marveled at the vibrant colors of all the vegetation. In the middle of it all stood a tall willow tree that brought the whole courtyard together. Kara wandered up and down the stone pathways breathing in the sweet scent of the flowers.

"Hey beautiful," a voice called from behind her. Kara jumped in surprise. She spun around to see the prince standing behind her, smirking. What was his name again? Lar Gand? No, that was the king. Ah, yes. Mon-El. The proud prince who seemed to be full of himself. But, alas everyone deserved a chance to prove themselves. He could be the most selfless person in the galaxy and she would have no idea.

"Oh, hello," Kara responded, overlooking the comment about her beauty.

"Funny seeing you here, I thought your mother had told you to stay in your room," Mon-El said. Kara opened her mouth to deny it when Mon-El reassured her, "Don't worry. I won't tell. But it seems now, that you owe me. Let me show you around the castle." He took a step closer to her.

Of course, her initial reaction had been correct. Kara decided to humor him, "If your intentions are what I assume them to be, let me just let you know, that you couldn't handle me even if I did allow it." Kara closed the space between them even more, taking another step.

Mon-El raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "And what makes you say that? I believe, if you were to allow this," he said, gesturing between them with his finger, "It would most definitely be the other way around."

"Oh, you don't know me, 'your highness', but I know you already," she began, jabbing a finger at his chest and taking a step towards him, which caused him to step back, "You've lived your whole life in luxury without a care in the world for anyone but yourself, thinking them beneath you, believing you can have anything you want at your request, but here's some news for you, not everyone sees you as a high and mighty prince to bow down to." Kara spun around and left the prince to process her words.

Mon-El

Is it odd that Kara's scolding only made Mon-El want her more? She had reacted exactly as he had planned. With his challenging comments, he had intended to stoke her fiery personality. It had worked like a charm. She burned even brighter, and all the while, Mon-El could not stop staring into her deep blue eyes. Of course, he had heard what she had said, and parts of it were true. He had lived his whole life in luxury, and others were beneath him. He was prince after all.

He had followed her, not because he was planning to approach her again of course, he was merely curious. It was clear she had no idea where she was going. She even wandered into the kitchen where the servants prepared food for the royal family and their guests. Even now, they prepared a banquet feast for the Kryptonians and the Daxamite royal family.

He was just about to correct Kara of her mistake of wandering into the kitchen when he realized she was speaking to the cooks!

"Sorry, I think I'm lost. It's a such a big castle!" She exclaimed to head chef. Bertha, was it? Barbara?

The chef chuckled. "It's quite alright, young one. Headed anywhere in particular? I'd be glad to show you the way."

"Actually I'm really not trying to go anywhere. Just exploring, I suppose," Kara answered with a shrug.

"Well, if you'd like, we're preparing the royal feast for tonight, and you're welcome to stay," the chef offered.

"That sounds lovely, I'd love to stay and help prepare if you need the extra hand." Kara extended her hand. "I'm Kara by the way."

"Brenda. Nice to meet you, Kara." Ah yes! Brenda. Brenda shook Kara's hand then clapped her own hands together. "We could always use an extra hand around here. Grab an apron. It's going to get steamy, hot, and messy in here real soon." Laughing, Kara reached for an apron.

What was this! Preposterous! Kara was not a servant! She was a guest here and the daughter of the leaders of Krypton! She shouldn't be working with the lowly servants!

Mon-El stepped forward to prevent such a disaster until he saw Kara. She was laughing, smiling. Her smile was as beautiful as she was. Kara flicked flour onto Brenda's nose and the old woman smiled, and threw her own pinch of flour into Kara's face, sending a fit of giggles through her.

Mon-El stepped back. If only, he could make her smile as wide as the one she wore now. It seemed he could only infuriate her. He sighed. He didn't want her anger, not really. He just wanted a smile on her face, one he had caused, true happiness. Looking back at Kara one more time, he left, not wishing to intrude on her privacy more than he already has.

KARA

Kara had spent the entire afternoon and part of the evening in the kitchen with the royal servants, helping to prepare the dishes to be served at the royal banquet. It had been the most fun Kara had had since arriving in Daxam. The entire staff was so kind to her and taught her how to make one of her favorite dishes, fried octopus in oyster sauce, a delicacy on Krypton.

Brenda, head chef, led Kara back to her room through a maze of hallways and ballrooms. "Thank you, Brenda. I had a lot of fun today." Kara smiled.

"No, thank you, Kara, for the extra help with the preparations." The old woman returned the smile warmly.

"It was my pleasure." Kara bowed her head and clasped her hands as Brenda did the same, "I'll see you around."

"The kitchen doors are always open for you, Kara." With that, the woman turned to leave.

Kara rested her hand on the door handle, praying that her mother had not returned from her meeting. She gingerly pushed open the door to see her mother standing with her arms crossed.

"Hello mother…" Kara said quietly, avoiding her mother's eyes and preparing for another lecture.

"Don't 'hello mother' me! Where have you been? Did I not directly tell you to stay in this room?" Alura asked accusingly.

Kara scrambled to come up with an excuse, reluctant to use the first one that had come to mind. "Well you see, that prince, Mon-El had come to show me around the castle and you have been telling me to 'respect the royal family' and all that, so, of course I accepted his offer," she explained.

"I see…" Alura sighed, "Alright, get dressed in the most formal thing you brought, we are going to dinner with the queen, king, and prince. We mustn't be late. I shall confirm your tale at dinner."

Kara rummaged through her suitcase and came across the dress she had brought. She hadn't thought she would need it, but this seemed like the right occasion for it. The dress was absolutely stunning. It was black as a raven's feather with silver lace lining the skirt of garment. She slipped it on and pinned her hair in a tight bun behind her head.

Her mother was waiting outside the door for her, wearing a classy black gown that reached the floor. "Finally," her mother remarked, "Let's go." The two of them walked side by side down the staircase and into the dining room where the Daxamite family was already waiting.

At the sight of Kara, Mon-El's jaw dropped as he eyed her up and down, causing Kara to blush. Queen Rhea noticed this small exchange in disgust.

Rhea cleared her throat. "So nice of you to finally join us. Please, sit," She said, gesturing to the two empty seats. Alura sat down in front of Lar Gand, so Kara sat directly in front of Mon-El, while Rhea sat at the head of the table.

"So Mon-El, Kara tells me you offered to show her around the castle today," Alura said, true to her remark.

Mon-El chuckled, "Well, yes, I offered, but she-" Kara kicked Mon-El from under the table and shot him a pleading look. Mon-El grunted softly. "And she kindly allowed me the honor," Mon-El finished, smiling.

"How kind of you," Alura smiled, her suspicions rising, "What was your favorite thing about the castle, Kara?"

Kara fumbled, "Uh, it was… the…"

Mon-El gladly saved her from answering. "It was definitely the garden. I saw the way your eyes lit up when we went," he said, now turning to face Alura. "You should definitely visit it yourself sometime, it truly is quite the sight."

"Alas, perhaps I will if I can find the time. Thank you for showing Kara around," Alura said to Mon-El.

"It really was my pleasure. Although I'm pretty sure Kara enjoyed our spending time together almost as much as I did." Mon-El was toying with Kara, she knew it. She could feel heat rising in her cheeks.

Rhea and Alura both raised an eyebrow. "Is that so?" Rhea asked suspiciously.

Mon-El smiled widely. "Oh, yes. As I was showing her through the gardens, we-"

Kara interrupted quickly. "Ahem, Mon-El, could I speak with you in private for a moment?" Kara warned him with his eyes that he had better agree.

"Of course, Kara. Mother, father please excuse us." Mon-El quickly followed Kara out the door.

Kara would have thought the hallway would have sufficed, but dozens of servants were scurrying past, making the area quite public. So, she took his hand, or rather, his wrist, and dragged him outside, out into the garden.

"What was that all about?" She exclaimed, "Are you trying to ruin my life?"

Of all the things he could have done then, he smirked. "You're welcome for the coverup by the way. And lighten up princess, it was only a joke. Besides, did you see the look on my mother's face?" He smiled to himself.

"Is this all some sort of game to you? Just some sort of joke? Now the thought of you and I is somewhere imbedded in our parents' minds!" She threw her hands in the air.

"Alright, alright I'm sorry, okay? I won't bring up you and I ever again." He put his hand in the air. He was thinking of how he had managed to get her angry again, and was nowhere near causing a smile on her face.

"Fine." Kara pointed her finger at him and narrowed her eyes, "You'd better not." Mon-El opened his mouth to reply, but closed it and peered over Kara's shoulder. "What is it?" She asked, turning around as well.

"Shhh," he replied, putting a finger up to his lips. "I think I saw something move in one of the rose bushes," he whispered. Kara squinted in the dark, but could not see anything. "Maybe it was nothing. Let's just go back inside."

"Agreed." The pair turned to go back in the castle, but a voice stopped them, along with the loading of a weapon.

"Turn around, nice and easy! Hands behind your heads!" The voice barked. Kara payed close attention and realized the voice was foreign. Not from this planet.

Mon-El obeyed the man's order first, followed reluctantly by Kara, both of them turning around to see the figure holding a small weapon, no bigger than a toothbrush. The figure was hooded so that his face was concealed by the shadows.

"Wonderful," the figure said contently, "Now if you'd kindly hold still while I shoot this weapon at you, that'd be wonderful."

Mon-El smiled. "What, with that thing? There's no way that could-" He was cut off when the figure pulled the trigger, firing a small dart at Mon-El's neck. The prince crumpled to the floor almost immediately.

Kara's eyes widened right before she too felt a prick in her neck as she crumpled to the ground beside Mon-El.

Hey guys. Hope you liked this chapter. A lil bit of a cliff hanger at the end there. Hope you liked it! I figured out more of the outline of this story and I think the ending will be really great and I can't wait to write it.

Also, I've written who captures them but it's kind of lameish so any ideas would be great, thanks.

As always, read and review with some feedback or suggestions! Reading your reviews always brings a smile on my face :) Until next time…