To the Mountain

Pluto made her way across the snowy tundra up the mountain prison of the ancient demigod. She made her way to cavern on the side of the mountain and to the two large carved double doors, she held her staff up in front of her commanding the doors to unlock, they did as she commanded and as she made her way through the threshold, the doors closed behind her with a loud clank. She watched as the torches on the walls light up the darkness the only sound coming from her staff hitting the rock beneath her feet and the crackle of the flames. She makes her way to the alcove and as she stares at the top and for brief seconds, she is overcome with a feeling that unsettles her, but what?

She had no time to try and guess so she presses forward. "Reveal" said Pluto lifting her staff in the air. "Well to what do I owe the pleasure, this must be bad if one of the legendary guardians is here to pay me a visit" said Metaria "I'm only here to make sure your still bound" said Pluto.

Metaria simply laughed "and pray tell dear guardian how is it that I am supposed to escape from my prison, only the power of the crystal can free me, don't waste your time or mine on pointless endeavors and leave me be". Pluto looked skeptical and spoke in a soft tone "nothing is pointless Metaria" again Metaria laughed "very true, very true" She knew, she knew something was wrong she conducted her search through the cavern where Metaria lay to rest but found nothing out of the ordinary the shadow figure was nowhere to be found, when Pluto finished she returned to the balcony and stared at the lava pit before her. "As you can see, oh guardian of the underworld there is nothing for you here so go in peace and leave me be" Pluto narrowed her eyes at Metaria's lilting voice then turned and left the cavern locking the doors behind her. As she made her way through the frozen tundra she knew, something is not right and Metaria was behind the troubles she just had to find a way to prove it.

The Solarian Castle…

"Good news it seems that lady Beryl has returned from her trip" Nephrite told the prince who was staring out the window looking up at the moon. "Oh good my father will be pleased" the prince said sarcastically rolling his eyes at no one in particular. "Oh, come on your highness you've been in a funk ever since the…" Darien turned around and faced his friend "ever since Serena" Nephrite looked at his friend with concern "have you heard from her?" he asked the prince taking a step closer. Darien turned back to the window and smiled "yeah… yeah I have, she sent me a letter a few days ago"

"And?" asked Nephrite smiling. "Lunaris is getting ready for the their new millennium ball" said the prince. "Oh? When is that anyway?" asked Nephrite, "A month's time" answered the prince.

"Are you going?" Nephrite asked his friend, Darien simply laughed "are you kidding father would hit the ceiling if I went"

"So I guess that means your are going" Darien smiled and turned walking towards Nephrite "What you think" he said. Nephrite laughed and patted his friend on the shoulder; they both smiled a mischievous smile and walked out the door. They walked out to gardens where they ran into the Lady Beryl. "My Lady" said Nephrite bowing low to Beryl, Darien gave a curt nod in Beryl's direction. "Your highness" she bowed to the prince and gave and insincere smile but the prince didn't notice the note of darkness behind her stare they shared some polite conversation with the prince asking her about her trip before the prince and Nephrite departed under the guise of some fencing exercises. "May I join you?" she asked the prince, both Darien and Nephrite looked at each other before turning to her and smiling "honestly my lady I wouldn't want to bore you with something as simple as a fencing lesson" the prince responded to her simple question. "Its not a bore, your highness I do enjoy watching your fencing matches" she smiled again the prince looked over at Nephrite who just shrugged at the prince.

No matter how much he tried the prince could not shake her, he tried to come up with some excuses to get away from her but no matter what the Lady Beryl insisted on joining him, the next morning it was much the same the Lady Beryl joined the King and Darien for breakfast when Darien took Bask out for his morning ride he noticed Beryl's horse was also saddled for her as well. Beryl had the kitchen staff prepare them a picnic which they shared by the riverbed it wasn't until late in the afternoon where Darien got a chance to be by himself, Beryl having been called away to deal with business to do with their impending wedding. "Finally," he said to himself as her ran down the corridor to the war room.

He opened the door looking for Nephrite but found Jadeite sitting in a chair reading a large tome sitting on his lap. "My Prince" he said putting the book down and standing to give a formal bow. Darien held his hand up to stop him "have you seen Nephrite?" the prince asked. Jadeite looked at the prince before answering "he is in the grounds with Malachite and Zoisite inspecting the guard, is there anything I can help you with my lord" he asked. "No, thank you Jadeite" he was about to walk away the Jadeite voice called him back "Wait!" Darien froze on the doorway "My Lord is there anything bothering you?" Darien turned and face him " why should anything bother me Jadeite"

"With all due respect my lord I know that your confide in Nephrite with your personal feelings I just want you to know that I am here if you ever need to talk, after all I'm your friend too, aren't I?"

"Yeah, I'd like to think so" said Darien, he was just about to walk out the door again when Jadeite called back "Including your true feelings about the Lunarian Princess" That got the Prince's attention "What do you know of me and Princess Serena?" he asked curious as to just how much Jadeite knew. "I'm not blind your highness, I saw they way you looked at each other when she was here"

"Really?" the prince asked, "and how is it that we looked at each other Jadeite?"

"You looked at her the same way I looked at the woman I loved…love" said Jadeite. "You were in love?" the prince asked and Jadeite just nodded in confirmation.

"What happened?" asked the prince taking a seat across from where Jadeite was sitting.

"How did she?" he asked but Jadeite simply smiled and said

"She's not dead my lord she was simply chosen. She was a priestess on Phoenix Island I met her when we were just children my father was stationed on the island when I was young and we became friends. She was truly beautiful long dark hair amber eyes and she loved me but then she was chosen" he said.

"Chosen for what?" asked the prince "to be a guardian?" said Jadeite with a hint of wistfulness in his voice.

"Wait! You have feelings for one of the Lunarian Guardians?" He just smiled and nodded as the prince's jaw fell open "I don't know what to say Jadeite, this is…?"

"Forbidden" Jadeite cut him off "I know, what its like to love someone from far away and not be able to do anything about it" just then Nephrite walked into the room and looked at Darien and Jadeite sitting across from each other.

"What's going on here?" he asked looking from the prince to Jadeite. "Nothing just sharing a tale of heartbreak and sorrow to help the prince through these troubled times" answered Jadeite.

"Oh, really what tale is that my friend?" asked Nephrite

"Mine and Rei's" answered Jadeite.

"Wait a moment" said Darien "you knew about this?" asked the prince.

"Yeah, I know the story, he fell in love with a girl named Rei and she ended up leaving him" said Nephrite.

"I guess you didn't tell him the whole story" said the prince,

"There's more to the story?" asked Nephrite

"Way more" answered the prince. Nephrite pulled a chair closer and sat down, it was an hour later and Nephrite's jaw fell from the tale of young love being torn apart by duty and honor to their kingdoms "so basically you're in the same boat as our lovelorn prince here" said Nephrite

"Basically" answered Jadeite.

"Well we'll just have to find a way to mend your broken hearts, won't we?" said Nephrite with a mischievous smile on his face, Darien's answering smiled matched his own and Jadeite raised an eyebrow at the expression on their faces.

"What are you two planning?" he asked with a bit of hesitance

"A little party crashing" answered the prince his smile only growing wider.