The Lunarian Princess

The clang of swords rung through the air, "Your footwork is sloppy and your concentration is lacking, come on now princess I know you can do better than that" said Venus whipping her brow.

"How about now?" responded the princess as she swiftly swung her sword at her opponent knocking her backwards. "Am I still lacking?" she mocked as she once again swung her sword in her opponent's direction, she missed.

Venus barely missed the blade at her shoulder before turning to the princess once again. "Take it easy highness this is practice not war, what's wrong?" asked Venus putting her sword down. "Nothing" said the princess.

But there was something bothering the princess, ever since the queen told her daughter she would be leaving for Solaris to attend the prince's engagement party, the princess had been furious, she looked forward to finally leaving Lunaris and venturing outside its walls but the queen had told her she would be staying behind for her own safety.

Earlier that day…

"What do you mean I have to stay behind! Mother this isn't fair!" yelled Serena.

"Darling it's just a silly little ball we'd only be there one night, I don't want to go!" responded the queen.

"All my life you've kept me locked up in here, so what if its just for one night, one night where I get to go out and see something other than the moon and waves" yelled the princess.

"Enough!" yelled the queen. "I have made my decision" with that the princess stormed off, running down the corridor and into the gardens where she lay under willow tree for the rest of the morning. The memory of the morning argument still lived in her mind, but the princess had already made up her mind up on her next course of action. "Earth to princess Serena, are you there?" asked Venus breaking the princess out of her reverie. "What?" she asked, "I asked if you were alright your highness?"

"I'm fine, were done for now" she walked away leaving her friend puzzled.

High above the ocean cliffs staring down from the alabaster towers of the Lunarian Palace Queen Serenity stood over looking the twilight sky. The sunset over the ocean gave the sky an array of bright colors, the colors of blood and death stood out amongst them all, to her a sign of things to come. "Your Majesty, the sun is setting it's time to go" Saturn her royal guard called from the door, her tall thin frame made it easy for her to hide amongst the shadows, she held the glave in one hand as she opened the door for her queen and waited. The queen smiled at her guard as she walked towards the door. "Your carriage is ready to take your to the ship, Neptune assures me that the trip to Solaris will be a smooth one" said Saturn.

"Then it is time" the Queen said.

Queen Serenity made her way down the spiral staircase the warm colors of the twilight sky lit the pale castle halls giving it an odd fiery feeling. The gardens seem oddly pale and barren under the daylight, the Queen passed crossed the marble staircase that lead to the castle gardens to the light blue and silver carriage pulled by two white stallions. The Queen stepped inside and bid a fond farewell to her daughter who was standing at the top of the stairs looking down at her mother. "Good-bye my little star" the queen called from the carriage window as it took off, Serena looked on as her mother disappeared.

Princess Serena ran back into the palace, "now is my chance" she thought as she ran up the spiral stairs, down the pale halls to her chambers she looked out her balcony, this might be her only chance, a chance to be free. Dressed in a dark red dress she'd taken from Rei, and leather boots, spike gauntlets and a Black cloak covered her face, she set her pet owl Ventus free, he gave a small screech before taking off, Serena looked on with a hopeful expression, "See you soon" and with those last words she took off.

The princess was swift and cunning she hid in the shadows avoiding the eyes of the servants for surely one of them would tell the guardians, as much as they are her friends they are also her guards, wardens whatever they called themselves, their job was to make sure she never leaves the boundaries of Lunaris. She made it to the stables and called for her horse Eros, a large and menacing stallion dark as the night sky. His eyes were the color of coals, his breath was warm on her bare skin she stroked his fur in an affectionate manner, "Time for us to leave" she smiled Eros neighed at his mistress in approval as they rode together through the streets of Lunaris, How she managed to evade the castle guard she still didn't know and she didn't care, she got away and that was all that mattered "That was easy" she spoke to soon, no sooner she was out of the castle walls she saw General Uranus commander of the Lunarian armies and the strictest of all the guardian. She took swift action, Serena and Eros hid in a small alley way, there was no way that she was going to get away not with her horse she needed a distraction if she was going to make it t the docks, Serena let a mischievous grin grace her face, Serena looked at Eros "Alright buddy time to put on a show" she dismounted her horse and gave him a harsh slap on the backside to get him going. He started running through the streets. Eros sent the people running and screaming dodging him in all directions leaving a trail of chaos in his wake General Uranus yelled at her soldiers to restrain him, and so they took off running after him. Serena smiled "Good boy" she said to herself and took off in the opposite direction towards the docks.

Queen Serenity's carriage come to a full stop in the harbor. "Were here your majesty" called Saturn as she opened the small door, the queen stepped out and was greeted by the captain of the ship "Good evening your majesty, a pleasure to have you aboard tonight" greeted the captain

"A good evening to you too captain is everything ready for our journey?" questioned the queen. The captain simply nodded in the queen's direction and extended his arm out to guide her to the ship.

Serena didn't know how but she made it, she slipped into the royal barge undetected and hid in the cargo hold, the trip should be a smooth and easy one, although there was a moment when the princess was sure she was caught by a crewman looking for supplies, but to her luck the crewman just turned and left the hold, it seemed like hours were spent down there in the dark until finally she heard a someone yell they were approaching land.

Serena ditched her royal cloak in favor of a more modest dark grey cloak and made her way slowly through the ship, she hid in the shadows until she was sure everyone was gone and then made her way to the town market. "Finally" she said to herself. She stopped for a moment to take in her surrounding, this strange new land, it was nighttime but instead of the silver glow of the moon the whole market place seemed to be bathed in a brilliant golden light, Serena smiled to herself anticipation taking over, her senses were overwhelmed and without knowing she moved, through the streets blending into the crowed.

Back at the Solarian Place…

"Sooo... how… is it… going Darien?" asked Jadeite, "why the long face?" Darien sighed at his friend.

"She seems…nice…I guess" said Darien

"Oh come now your highness she's beautiful, graceful…" the prince cut him off mid sentence "please don't start" responded the prince " I need some air, cover for me, if his majesty ask... well I don't know you'll think of something" with that the prince made his way to the stables, he ran to his horse's side and stroked his mane "I cant believe this is happening" he spoke with uncertainty "how about we go for a ride around town, eh boy?" his horse neigh and shook his head. The prince couldn't help but laugh at his response, he took his saddle and readied himself "off we go" and indeed they went, to the market town, little did he know what fate awaited him beyond the castle walls.