Serena slowly pulled open the door. She peaked her head through, looked left, then looked right, and finally looked left again. When she saw that nobody was there, she exhaled in relief, opened the door and stepped out. She turned to the right, as she held her breath. She was not sure what made her more nervous, the fact that Darien could walk out any minute or the fact that another female could be walking out. She placed her hand over her chest, as her heart sank with that last thought. She closed her eyes and turned back around to head out.
"Sneaking out or getting to breakfast to avoid someone..."
Serena jumped back, eye widened, heart pounding. "Oh my god."
"Sorry, you majesty." A man with long red hair bowed before her. "I did not mean to frighten you."
"Then what did you mean to do Nephrite?" Serena crossed her arms, straightened her stance.
"I was going back to my chamber to grab some training clothes and I saw you just looking off in the distance." He explained. "Again, I apologize, I did not mean to scare you."
Serena composed herself. Caught her breath as her heart rate slowed down. "It is fine. Now I am going to go see if the girls are up." She took a step in the direction of the girls chambers.
"Your majesty."
"You don't have to call me that. You can call me Sere or Serena." She shrugged her shoulder. "I almost certain the title will not stick here very long."
He could see the hurt and sadness in her face. "You will always be nothing less than royalty to myself and the prince's guards. Do not forget that. We hold our jobs seriously and our duty is to the title that nobody will ever take away from you." He reached out and grabbed her hand. "Regardless of the circumstances, you are now the wife of our prince, and that is that."
She just nodded. "Thank Nephrite, I am going to go." She whispered, released her hand from his grip and pointed. She took a couple more steps towards the girls.
"You will not be able to avoid him forever, people are going to start to talk. You two are husband and wife now, you will need to speak to him sometime."
Serena took one long blink, rubbed her face, and took but a second before turning to Nephrite. She cleared her throat."I was not-."
"It is okay, Ser-ena," Saying her name was struggle. It took so much out of him not to just go back to your majesty. He took a second to let that process. "Have a good rest of your day," He turned to walk away.
What seemed like a couple hours later, Nephrite along with another guard entered the dining room to see Darien sitting alone at the large dining table. Holding on to his coffee cup, he was physically there but it was obvious his mind was somewhere else.
"Dreaming of a sweet princess from the moon...?" The short haired guardsman teased as he took a seat.
Darien shook his head, releasing him from his trance. He gave the guard a disgusted look. "Please, Jed, as if I would waste my time thinking of her." He adjusted his position to line up with the table.
Jadeite looked at Nephrite and they both hung their head down in disappointment.
"What?" Darien said shrugging his shoulders with over exaggerated confused look on his face.
"And where has she been anyways, does she not eat?" He took a sip of his coffee. "Is she suddenly to good for our food now?"
Darien observed as the two guards just shrugged. He placed his coffee cup down.
"Have either of you guys spoken to her, or seen her?"
Again they just looked at each other, and then to Darien and shrugged.
Darien looked at the two confused, rolled his eyes.
"More coffee for you prince?"
He looked up to see a servant girl holding out her coffee pot. He simply nodded and pushed his half empty cup forward. He continued to watch the his two guards as they awkwardly ate not make any eye contact with him.
He then looked up the servant. "Will the princess be joining us this morning?" He looked back at his guards to see that they had both turned pale and froze.
"Ummmm..." the servant girl replied.
"Has she already been down here?" Darien turned to ask her in a demanding manner.
The servant girl stood there. Eyes moving back and forth avoiding his.
"Might I remind you, the punishment for lying to a royal." His hands balled up into fist on the table.
"Ugh, for god sakes, the girls got up early and headed into the city okay?!" Jadeite blurted out.
Nephrite head shot around so quick it causes a cracking noise. The servant tried not to giggle as Darien shot her a glare.
"Do not take it out on her, she probably had nothing to do with it." Jadeite explained.
The servant girl just stood there, eye still scanning back and forth until they met with Nephrite's. "I think you should step out and maybe give us all a minute."
She simply nodded and scurried away as fast as she could. They all listened for the dining room door to close.
"What the hell do you mean, she went into the city?" Darien continued to clench his fist. "Who went with them? Malachite? Zoisite? Did they go alone?" He shot a piercing glare at both his guards. "And why the hell did neither of you tell me."
"This is the first I am hearing of this sir." Nephrite defended himself.
"And they all have each other." Jadeite added.
"My wife went out without a guard and you keep that from me?" Darien shot up slamming his hands on the table.
"She asked me not-"
"Your duty is to me above all else!" He shouted causing his words to echo through the hall.
"Our duty is to the princess, just as much as it is yours." A calm voice came from the entrance. "No more, no less."
The three men turned to see Malachite and Zoisite walking in.
"And I thought you did care about her, it was just paperwork." Zoisite added.
Darien glared at all of his guards. He straightened up, pushed his chair back. "Get the damn car, we are going to get her." He started walking towards the door,"And I will deal with you all later."
"Geez, can I at least get some coffee first." Malachite groaned.
"Now!" Darien demanded.
The guards looked at each other, rolled their eyes, and headed out.
"You just had to speak didn't you." Nephrite glared at Jadeite.
"If I didn't say anything he would have taken it out on the servant girl."
"Now he is going to take it out on us." Zoisite interrupted.
They all walked heads hung down until they reached the car.
The car ride was tense. Darien's leg kept shaking up and down as he looked around for any signs of the scouts.
"So where exactly do you plan to start looking for them." Malachite finally broke the silence. "The city is quite large."
Darien looked up at Jadeite.
He groaned, threw his head back. "They wanted to see the city and do touristy things, and site see okay, so maybe start at City center."
"Driver to City Center!" Darien yelled.
"You need to learn to keep your mouth shut." Zoisite shook his head.
When the car finally came to a stop the five got out, scanning the area. There were people everywhere. Darien could sense that they were being noticed. He turned to his guards behind him.
"Let's find them and get out of here."
"Should we split up?" Malachite suggested.
"And lose you too? No. I want to find them and get out of here."
A few blocks down the sound of laughter and amazement could be heard as the five admired the scenery before them.
"They do not have buildings like these back home." Lita looked up.
"Thank god, can you imagine princess klutz leaping off one and slipping?" Rei poked Serena's side.
"Hey!" Serena shouted. "Not called for."
"You know I am joking with you." Rei grabbed her arm. "I have to get as many of those in before we go."
A tug at her hearted reminded her the girls were heading back to the moon, leaving her. Her smile faded.
"Hey we will communicate with you as much as we can." Rei reassured her.
"And the second things are settled, we will come back." Lita interjected.
Serena just nodded and refocused her attention on the view before her. The sounds around her, along with the smells fascinated her. She continued to walk looking up at the views not paying attention. She allowed Rei to guide her.
It was not until she bumped into what felt like a brick wall, did she finally look forwards.
"My deepest apologize, I was so mesmerized by the views." She gave a sweet smile to lady in front of her. Her eye wide and her face showed nothing but shock.
"Oh my god!" Her mouth started to arch upward. "Oh my god, you're...you're"
The scouts looked the lady up and down.
"Get behind us Serena." Lita pulled her back.
"Oh my god! Ahhhhh" The lady screamed and jumped up and down. "Can I please get a picture? I always wanted to meet a princess."
Suddenly the word princess echoed around them, as people started turning their attention to Serena who was now surrounded by her scouts.
"We need to get her out of here." Amy said frantically looking for an exit route.
The crowd started coming in closer. People were yelling Serena's name. Camera flashes went off, one after the other after the other.
"They are closing in on us!" Mina shouted.
"Maybe this was not our brightest idea..." Serena said, terror in her voice. The crowd continued to draw in as her vision started to become nothing but a blur. She tried to shield her eyes so her vision could regulate but before she could she felt her arms being grabbed and she was thrown over a shoulder. Though she could not see the person, she knew from his scent who it was. She didn't say anything. The camera continued to flash. She knew this was going to be bad.
Just as they arrived at the car Darien put Serena down, the door was already open for her to get in. She looked around for her friends.
"Get in the damn car!" Darien demanded.
"I am waiting for my friends, they will be here, we are not leaving with out them, but you need to get in!" Darien yelled as the flock of people started to slowly surround them. The clicking noises of shutters mixing with screams of their names. He positioned himself in front of her, shielding her,"There they are, now get in the damn car."
She looked around for confirmation, and it was not until she saw the golden blond of Mina's hair, did she finally feel a sense of relief, and slowly entered the car.
One by one, the guards and her scouts entered. Nobody saying anything. The door slammed and the driver took off. People still banging on the windows, trying to get a good photo.
The car ride was silent. When the made it back to the palace, they exited. The guards waited until each scout was out. Still nothing said. They started to walk inside.
"Ladies, let's head back to our chambers." Amy recommended. The all nodded reluctantly, not making eye contact with anyone.
"Guards, in the training room, now." Darien demanded as he headed the opposite direction.
Serena looked up to catch Jadeite's stare. She mouthed she was sorry, as he looked away.
The girls plopped down wherever they could as they entered the chambers. They each took a breath of relief.
"Amy, please don't say I told you." Lita groaned, defeated rubbing her face.
"I wasn't going too."
"It was my fault, I wasn't paying attention."
"It was bound to happen Serena, you are married to the Prince of Earth," Mina said running her knee.
"And not to mention you are the Princess of the Moon, it is not like you are any stranger." Rei added.
"I just feel bad. He was so mad."
"Who cares, he can get over it." Lita popped up into a sitting position. "We would have figured away out of there, we did not need him."
"I don't care about him." Serena said running her fingers through her hair. "I am worried about Jed. I confided in him, and now he is in trouble."
"What do you think is going to happen?"
Serena just shrugged. "But I am going to go the training room to find out."
"Serena, I advise you to not." Amy said rising to her feet.
"Amy, I understand you want me to stay out of all this, but I am the reason he is in trouble. I need to make sure he is okay." Serena headed to the door. She looked at her girls, who sat there motionless. "You guys can stay here or come. But I to make sure he is not getting punished for my choice."
Serena left the room, the rest reluctantly followed. They wandered the hall for what seemed like fifteen minutes. Peaking into different rooms that turned out not to be the training room. Finally they reached medal doors. The sound of resistant and swords could be heard through. Serena pulled the door with all her might, just enough for them to peak in. Stacked one over the other, the girls watched in disgust and horror.
Darien and Jadeite went back and forth, blow for blow. With each blow the anger in Darien's eyes grew, while each blow Jadeite took was as if he was fighting for his life.
"Sir I think that is enough." Malachite called out. But his words were ignored as the battle continued.
"Jed give up!" Zoisite called out.
They kept going, blood every where.
Serena could tell Jadeite did not have much left in him, but he stood as tall as he could. She could not bare it anymore. She pulled the door open and ran through her girls. "Stopppppp!" She yelled.
The men all turned to her.
"Serena!" Her scouts call.
"You need to stop this now!" She demanded Darien. She ran to Jed. Stood in front of him, ready to take any blows from Darien. She ran her hand over his face. " I am so sorry he did this to you."
"Princess, please move, I am fine." He groaned.
The scene in front of him caused Darien's blood to boil. He gritted his teeth. "Get out of my way, we are training."
She shot around. "No!"
"The hell did you just say to me?" Darien's face turned red. "You have no right to be in here, now move!"
"I am not moving until you stop this!" She shouted. "You are punishing him for what I chose to do." With a simple swipe of her arm, she was no longer in the dress she wore to the city, but her scout uniform. "If you want to beat on somebody, take it out on me!"
"No Serena," Jadeite.
"Guards take him out of here!" She demanded.
"You do not order them around." Darien disputed. "They are my guards."
"As they are mine by marriage." She clenched her fist. "Get him out of here."
"Serena..." Amy whispered stepping forward.
"I will be fine, let's see how well this battle goes for you when the person on the other side really doesn't care if she hurts you." Serena stood firm and strong.
"I am not going to fight you." Darien said clenching his jaw.
"You were so willing to beat on him for something I did. Knowing he would only defend himself and not do anything to hurt you." She crossed both arms. "Take it out on the person who did it, don't beat around the bush."
Darien took one step towards Serena putting Lita and Rei on the defense. They too suddenly transformed.
"You take one step closer to her, and I will electrocute your ass." Lita said pointing at him.
"Ladies I am fine. Help the guards get Jed some help."
"Jed..." He scoffed, "Suddenly so casual with her aren't we." He sent a daggering stare at Jadeite who was now being held up by the other guards.
"That is not your concern." Serena snapped.
"As my wife, everything you do is my concern." Darien refuted.
"All of a sudden..." She let out a scoff. "All of sudden I am your concern? Could have fooled me with the ladies that are coming in and out of your room."
His eyes shot open even bigger.
"Yeah, as big as this castle is, I hear everything people are saying."
The guards and scouts looked at Darien with wide eyes. The girls wanted to rip him apart, while the guards stared in disappointment.
Darien still stood there, not a word out of his mouth.
"Get Jed out now. I will deal with Prince Darien."
The girls still stood there like stones.
"I said go!" She demanded.
They looked at each other, nodded, then signaled the guards to bring Jadeite their way.
"I swear to you prince, one hair on her head misplaced, I will curse you to death in your dreams." Rei threatened as she exited the door.
They watched as the door closed then returned their focus to each other.
"Don't you ever interrupt my session again." Darien ordered.
"I am not one of your little fan girls, you don't boss me around." Serena snapped back.
"This is my palace!" Darien raised his voice.
"And by our arrangement, as you like to call it, this is my palace too, and I do as I please!"
The word arrangement caused chills down his spine and caused him even more annoyance. "Not if puts you in danger! what the hell were you thinking going out to the city alone."
"First of all, I had my scouts."
"Pshhh some help they were, if I never showed up the people would have eaten you alive. Earth to Moon Princess, this is Earth, things are different here." Darien mocked.
"I am so done with you looking down on me and the people of the moon!" Her voice was as high as it could go, causing her voice to strain. "If we are such awful people, why did you agree to this arrangement?! I heard there is a plethora of ladies waiting for you."
That word again, if he could delete from the dictionary he would. She started to walk away.
"Don't you dare walk away from me! This conversation is not over!" He demanded. "Do you realize-"
"What?" She turned around, "I tarnished your image? I embarrassed myself? Yes, I do! The thought has been running through my mind nonstop. But, sorry I am not up to the standards of the girls waiting outside your room." She spat out. "And I can do as I please, I will never answer to you."
"Not if it can cost you your safety and life."
"Newsflash Prince Darien, I am dying a little bit every day here. Knowing that I am married to someone like you." She whipped around and stormed off.
Stunned by her words, he could not move to chase after her. He just watched as her figure disappeared and her footsteps could no longer be heard.
"You can come out of the corner now, Mal. I know you are there." Darien said summoning his friend from behind the door. "How much did you hear?"
"It doesn't matter what I heard sire. I just need to get you ready for the event tonight." Malachite said monotoned.
"I know you have thoughts, just say it." Darien said with his voice trailing off.
"I don't really have thoughts, I am not a prince, I don't understand the position as well..." Malachite explained.
"Then what are your observations?" Darien snapped. "Sorry...I'm just."
"Trying to process everything that is going on, as she is." Malachite interrupted.
"She was wrong to go out without letting me know. It is dangerous out there."
"Honestly Sire, I think the girls would have handled it. That princess, don't let her small figure fool you. I feel like she can be a dangerous one."
Her blood boiling. Her face flushed. She continued to stomp her way to the hall. "If I never see that stupid pompous for the rest of tonight..."
"Oh your highness..." A voice called.
She turned around to see a Servant girl rapidly coming towards her. "Your dress is here, I was hoping to get you to try it on so we have enough time for any alterations."
"What dress...? Serena looked confused.
The servant smiled, "Your dress for the Children's Hospital event tonight...remember?"
"I am sorry I do not." Serena said trying to go through everything in her mind to see if maybe she forgot something.
"Must have been a last minute set up by the prince. It happens." The servant fanned her hand. "Anyhoo let's get in your room and get this on you." The Servant pushed Serena's room door open and let herself in.
Serena following, with another sigh..."So much for not seeing him for the rest of tonight."