On Deaf Ears

"You need to listen to me, Father please" pleaded Darien.

They were to dock in the Lunarian Kingdom in just a few moments and Darien spent most of that morning evading his guard's efforts to stay by his side and trying to get to his father side to warn him, Darien had finally gotten to his father's cabin, when the Prince walked into the King's cabin he found his father sitting at his desk but he was not alone Darien started to speak but quickly silenced himself when he noticed the Lady Beryl sitting across from the king.

"Oh, good you're here, would you excuse us my dear and don't worry your concerns will be addressed immediately" said the king coming around his desk and taking Beryl's hand in his and leading her to the door "Enjoy the rest of the voyage my dear we should be docking in Lunaris within the hour so just go and relax" said the king and Beryl smiled at him and then turned and smiled at Darien before she placed her hand on the doorknob and exited the room. Darien tried to put on as straight of a face as possible at least he hoped he managed a straight face before giving Beryl a smile of his own as she walked out the door.

"Well now that you're here we have things to discuss" said the king

"Yes, I know, father…" the prince started but was promptly cut off by the king.

"The Lady Beryl has expressed some concerns about you Darien"

"Concerns? Father…" but he was cut off again by the king.

"She tells me that you have grown distant from her, she is also concerned about your mental stability she says that you have been avoiding you guards" said the king.

"There is something off about them father they've changed I can feel it, it's like they've been taken over by some sort of…" but the king simply raised his hand again to silence his son, but that didn't deter the young prince it only made him grown in anger. The prince and the king talked over each other but it seems that the prince's warning we're falling on deaf ears.

"Prince Darien is it true that you have been cavorting about with the Lunarian princess?" shouted the king over his son and at that the prince fell silent, what could he possible say, it was true the prince had been exchanging messages with the princess for weeks now but the question was, who could have told the king?

"Well?" asked the king raising his eyebrows when his son didn't answer,

"You need to listen to me, Father please" pleaded the prince. The King simply sighed and looked at his son.

"You've put the entire alliance in danger Darien how could you do this?" said the king in a gravelly voice,

"Do you have any idea what you have done? And for what?" said the king.

"For what?" said the prince "How about love, how about freedom to choose the kind of life I want"

"Freedom, oh please you're the Crown Prince of Solaris who has more freedom that you" said the king incredulously.

"You're have the world at your feet and you want for nothing, how could you say you have no freedom?"

"Oh, let's see I can't leave the confines of the palace and walk amongst my people without an armed escort I can't seem to choose what I want to do with my life let alone how I want to live it and who I want to live it with, I have the pressure and the weight of expectations on my shoulders every day I see it every time I look at you and I feel it whenever you look at me" The king looked shocked at his son's words.

"I'm not free father I'm trapped by the very virtue of who I am and what is expected of me, I finally, finally found someone out there who understands who gets what it is like and yet you stand there as if I've committed treason…"

He was cut off again when the king spoke "Don't you think I've felt as you have that I've loved as you have but unfortunately you do have a responsibility son and one that you can't run away from. You either accept your fate or you condemn us all" said the king as tears sprang in the prince's eyes, he tried his best to hold them back but he couldn't help the few streaks that escaped him.

"Father something is not right…" started the prince

"ENOUGH!" screamed the king "Enough you will marry the lady Beryl and that is the end of this, Guard!" called the king and Malachite immediately stepped through the door

"Yes, your Majesty?" asked Malachite standing in front of the Kings desk, the smile was gone from his face and was replaced with a seriousness the prince could not understand.

"Take him back to his quarters and have Nephrite stay with him" said the king.

"You're punishing me?" asked the prince

"Get some rest Darien, we dock in less than an hour" said the king taking his seat Malachite whistled and Nephrite came into the cabin

"Take the prince back to his cabin" said Malachite and the prince rolled his eyes and strode out of the cabin, he walked down the hall and opened his door, Nephrite tried to follow but the prince simply held out his hand to stop him from following him inside.

"It's okay Nephrite I just want to lay down" said the prince

"Alright are you sure Darien, you know that if you need anything you can always come talk to me right" said Nephrite. He seems like his usual self the prince thought but he wasn't he usual self they dock in less than an hour and the prince was resolute if he couldn't get through to his father then maybe Queen Serenity might listen to what he has to say.

Thirty Minutes later at the Lunarian Docks…

"Well we have arrived," said the King as he extended his hand to the Lady Beryl.

"Where is Darien?" the king asked Malachite

"I've sent Jadeite for him your majesty" said Malachite smiling at the king. Beryl looked over the Kings shoulder as they walked down the gangplank giving him a wide crocodile smile, the king helped her up into their carriage as he turned and saw Jadeite coming up behind Malachite and tapping him on the shoulder.

"He's gone" whispered Jadeite into Malachite's right ear, Malachite turned away from the king and whispered something to his ear that the king could not catch.

"Is anything wrong? Where is Darien?" asked the king, Malachite rolled his eyes tired of having to answer to such a blowhard but he put on his most serious face and turned to the king.

"Your Majesty it seems that the prince is not on the ship"

"What you mean he's not on the ship" asked the king "Where is he?!" the king roared.

But around the corner hiding in the shadows was the prince, he pulled his cloak over his face and walked further into the shadows of the alleyway, the prince made it to the square and saw his opportunity a merchant was loading up his horse and the prince heard that he was on his way to the royal palace to deliver some pastries for the ball. When he saw, that no one was looking the prince snuck into the merchant's cart and buried himself under some blankets he waited until they were in motion and searched his pockets he reached inside and took out a small star shaped locket, he flipped the lid at the top and a small musical melody played he closed his eyes at the memory of that first night when they met.

Little did he know back then. Now there was a chance that he might lose her "No" he said to himself he would save her no matter what the cost he would save her.

Fifteen Minutes later…

He finally made it inside the Lunarian Palace. It took about five minutes but the prince was able to get to the throne room but before he could enter he caught a flash of light outside the window and then she was there Serena, the prince approached the window and smiled when suddenly a guard in silver armor approached him.

"You there, stop" said the guard Damn it the prince thought he had been caught, he lowered his hood and introduced himself.

"I am the crown prince of Solaris, I'm here to speak to the Queen" the guard seemed skeptical at first but once he noticed the ring on the prince's finger he relented and put way his sword.

"I'm sorry your highness we weren't expecting you for another twenty minutes" said the guard

"It's quite alright" said the prince "Is Queen Serenity in the throne room?" he asked the guard.

"No sir she is at the temple" the guard responded

"I can send someone for her, may I ask what is this all about"

"I have urgent business to discuss before the ball, please make haste this is very important" the prince told the guard.

"Of course," said the guard "you may wait for her in the throne room" he said giving the prince a smile. It's been a good long while since someone had given him a sincere smile. The Prince walked through the double door and stood in front of the large opulent throne, it was large and sliver with light blue cushions in the seat, there was a slightly smaller throne sitting on the right side to the larger one and a small bench seat to the left no doubt a place for the king consort and the princess. Serena never really talked about her father only that he died when she was a child. Another thing that brought them together his mother died just a few years ago and that was when his father had arranged his marriage to the Lady Beryl no doubt trying to secure his legacy but his father never really considered how he would feel, and since his mother died there was no one there for him.

It wasn't like that with Serena from what she had told him after her father died her mother devoted herself to her daughter's care and wellbeing which is why the queen had never really accepted any proposals from other suitors she wanted it to be her choice and hers alone, lucky princess. Would she choose me he wondered and he walked over to the window and there she was again brandishing a sword and sparring with another girl with blonde hair dressed head to foot in an orange/yellow dress and sliver armor. He smiled once again and it was then that the double doors opened but he didn't notice not until a soft and feminine voice cleared their throat and walked over to where the prince was standing.

"She's beautiful isn't she" said the voice.

"I had no idea she knew how to handle a sword" said the prince

"Yes, she gets that from her father" said the queen and it was then that prince Darien turned around to face his unknown stranger. He staggered a bit but regained his composure.

"Your Majesty!" he exclaimed and then found his manners and took along bow at the queen's presence falling on one knee and crossing his right arm over his chest and lowering his head to her. The Queen gave a serene smile he could see why she was named Serenity she exuded a sort of clam that he could help but revel in. She was so like her daughter or rather her daughter was like her.

"Prince Darien, I wasn't expecting you so soon I was just on my way to the city square to greet your father and his envoy" said the queen.

"Your majesty" said the prince as he was getting to his feet "I'm afraid I'm here on an urgent matter it's about the ball"

Queen Serenity took her place on her throne "Go on"

The prince walked over to the center of the room "Your majesty, I'm sorry to have to tell you this but I believe that we are all on grave danger there is something wrong within the walls of my kingdom, there is a darkness that threatens to tear us all apart…" The prince started to explain everything that he knew and when he was finished the queen stood and walked over the prince and took his hands in her.

"Do not worry prince Darien nothing can happens to us here, the Moon kingdom has stood strong for millennia and will continue to do so, now if you will excuse me prince I must be going there is much to do and no time to do it in"

The prince stammered at her response trying to get her to listen to reason but the queen simply smiled and left the room, little did he know someone had gotten to her first. There on the other side of the room stood the dark figure looking at him and then it vanished. The price walked over to the window and looked out at the princess "I will save you" he said to no one in particular and then he walked out of the room and headed for the outside doors his pleas had fallen on deaf ears once again if the queen and his father wouldn't do anything to save everyone then he would but first he needed a little help.

Minutes earlier…

Queen Serenity was walking down the hall to the throne room the guard had said that the Solarian prince had arrived and seemed quite distressed. The Queen simply nodded and excused herself Prince Diamond stopped her in the hallway.

"Your Majesty may we talk for a moment?" he asked and when the queen nodded in response everything started to blur around her the next thing she knew the prince had grabbed her by the arm to steady her.

"Majesty are you alright?" Prince Diamond asked

"Yes, yes I'm fine?" said Queen Serenity

"Good, shall I send for your guard?"

"No" said the Queen.

"I'm fine, thank you prince Diamond you should rest up the ball is in a couple of hours, if you'll excuse me" and with that the queen continued down the hall. Prince Diamond smiled and walked in the directions of the gardens he made it outside and was greeted by two of his sleepwalkers

"Is everything in place?" asked the prince

"Yes, my lord" said one of the sleepwalkers

"Good" smiled the prince.

The Training Yard…

"Venus!" prince Darien tried to get the guardians attention "Venus!" still nothing, Venus was sparring with another guard, he yelled out a third-time Venus finally turned around and faced him.

"Your highness" Venus bowed down to the prince but he simply waved at her to stand back up and came towards her he grabbed her by the arm and lead her to a secluded alcove where they could speak.

"Where is Serena I thought, I saw her sparring with you a few minutes ago?" he asked.

"She went back inside to get ready for the ball" she told him "What is wrong?" she asked. The prince relayed everything that happened to him. She listened with closed attention "Ok if what you said is true we need to warn the queen and the rest of the guardian" said Venus in a hushed tone.

"I've already talked to her she won't cancel the ball" said the prince

"Come with me" she said to him taking off back into the palace, they made it to the guardian temple where the other guardians were already gathered.

"This is Metaria it has to be" said Jupiter the guardians and the prince broke into simultaneous arguments

"…How is a millennia year old demigod able to do all of this…"

"…It's Beryl, I know it is she is in this some how…"

"…What about the Queen…"

"…Maybe she's been compromised…"

They all talked around each other bouncing off theories as to how she could have done this.

"ENOUGH!" yelled Uranus

Everyone turned their heads and settled down for the moment.

"Mars, what do you think" asked Uranus

"We need to prepare for war, tonight" said Mars.

"What about an evacuation we can't let our people die…"

"There is no time, plus if the Shitennou have been compromised there is not telling who else have been in on it"

"The questions are who is in on it? when are they planning to attack? And how?" said Mercury "I'll get started on a plan of attack"

"Good" said Uranus "Pluto secure the door of time, Mars prepare the archers, Jupiter and Venus secure the palace and make sure you do it discretely we don't want Beryl and her accomplices to know we are on to them"

"And what about Queen Serenity?" asked Saturn

"Keep a close eye on her" said Uranus "Don't let her out of your sight"

"It is of great importance that we keep the casualties to a minimum" said the prince

"But how do we do that?" said Venus

They all looked at each other "I'm not sure we can, but if we are to survive we know what we need to do and above all else we need to protect…"

"The princess" said Darien

"And the crystal" said Uranus

"And the crystal" the prince repeated

They all stood around the room and began to make plans; the ball would continue as scheduled and if all went right tonight then the fate of Lunaris would be left in the hands of goddess or fall to the hands of Metaria.