"A White Rose, A Red Rose" - Chapter 4 Hello again everyone! This, once again, is Miaka. blah blah blah, the usual everything, disclaimers and all. Disclaimers: I don't own Sailor Moon, etc., etc. It you want a better disclaimer they are out there, but not on this page. We ALL know the disclaimer routine so I doubt you need another one. And of course thanks to all the people who have complimented me on the other stories! Expecially Chichiri, Sailor Venus, Sailor Saturn, Alicia Blade, Melinda, Mareike, and any others that I may have missed. Oh, there was this story I was reading once, and I can't remember the author or the title (yes, my memory is bad), so if any one can tell me the title and/or author of a really cute story about Jupiter in which she goes to Rei's school and is haveing trouble with this guy that she does not like, she volunteers at the hospital and so does she, oh, and also this is the story in which she plays the Sailor Moon arcade game and uses the Jupiter Desperation? Move and is accused of cheating. Well, if anyone knows what I am talking about, tell me!!!! Nitehawk@silcom.com is my lovely adress! I really don't mind e-mail! Now, on to the story!!!!!!! ("Bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!!!!!" - Chichiri) "A White Rose, A Red Rose" - Chapter 4 Usagi eyed her attacker warily. "Who do who think you are attacking me like that?!" she screamed furiously, trying to be intimidating but ending up giggling. Her attacker raised an eyebrow and then attacked again swiftly. Thrusting and parrying swords clashed with expert skill. But despite the fact her attacker was good, Usagi was the best. With the next move her opponent's sword was out of her hand and Usagi caught it with grace and skill. "Usagi, you are still the best. No matter how hard I work at this, you will always beat me, in fact no one can beat you." Makoto laughed as she spoke. "Makochan, I am not that good, it was just a stroke of luck that I unhanded you." Usagi handed Makoto back her sword, "Besides you are really good, no one can beat you!" "Other than you." Makoto corrected her laughing. "I have never beaten you at sword play, and probably never shall either. But what of it, I can still beat you in hand-to-hand combat." Makoto's eyes glinted with play maliciousness and Usagi cowered in mock fear. "Spare me oh great Makoto, do not threaten me with your fist, I beg you!" With that both girls were on the ground howling with laughter. "Oh . . . my side . . . water! Help!" the girls groaned as they ran out of breath. All of a sudden the girls were drenched by a down pour. Looking up, they saw Ami laughing. "You asked for water, and you got your wish, so wipe those faces clean and go change, it is almost time for lessons and you know how Minako and Rei get when you two are late, it is almost how I would imagine the end of the world!" Usagi and Makoto stood up ringing out their soaking practice clothes "Thank you once again, Amichan, for your kindness to give us this water, but next time I think a little less would do the job," Usagi said grinning. "As you say, my Princess, but do hurry and change, I am not in the mood to listen to Rei's ranting about how irresponsible you two can be, it is like she were the Princess, you really ought to do something about her, like maybe take her voice away for a day or something . . ." Ami's words drifted off as she saw the stunned looks on the faces of the other two girls. "What, what's wrong?" Ami asked innocently. "Girl, I never thought you had it in you!" Makoto said laughing. "But we will hurry, personally I agree with you though, about Rei." Usagi rolled her eyes and then turned to Makoto saying, "Bet you can't beat me back to our rooms!" and then she took off running. Makoto took off after her yelling, "Serena, you cheated! No fair! But I'll win anyhow!" Makoto's voice faded off as the distance between her and the training room grew. Ami sighed. "Those two are the closest of us all. They are so much alike and you can't help loving them both." Ami turned back to the training room and waved her hand. As she did so, all the excess water and mess disappeared leaving the room clean and bright. @-->-->--- Makoto finished changing before Serena and walked over to her room entering without knocking. "Come on girl, we don't want to be late!" More would have followed but she noticed Serena cast a quick spell of invisibility on . . . what was that . . .a RED ROSE! 'I better not say anything, after all, the Princess obviously does not want it seen. But what was it that Minako had said about red roses? That they were the symbol of some sort of undying love or something? I had better ask Minachan about it,' Makoto decided Usagi smiled at her friend hoping that she had not seen. "So, you ready to go? If we do not get to the library in two minutes we will be late, and you know as well as I what THAT means." Makoto smiled. "Yep, race you there!" This time it was Makoto that sped ahead leaving her Princess to take the role of the one offended. @-->-->--- Minako smiled as she watched to girls fly into the library and screech to a halt. Rei looked unamused and Ami did not even glance up from her book. This was all to much of a normal occurrence. "Well, I am impressed, you actually made it one minute early today!" Rei said sarcastically. Makoto shot Rei a glance that could kill and thunder began to crackle above the fire princess head lightning would have followed had not Serena intervened. "Makochan, no lightning, I really would rather not have to give out energy to heal both your wounds today, and Rei, watch your tongue, we don't need your wise cracks." Everyone stared at Serena and she blushed. "hee hee, I guess that was a little harsh, sorry both of you," Serena said, blushing. "Way to go Serena! Finally showing that you have a backbone!" Makoto slapped her on the back. All the others could do was stare. Finally snapping out of it, Minako asked Ami to begin the lessons. After the lessons were over, Makoto walked up to Minako and whispered quietly, "Minachan, I have got to talk to you about something. Could you call a break before we go and train?" Minako raised her eyebrow. 'Wow, it must be something really important for her to come to me, she always goes to Serena with her questions!' "All right Makoto," was all she said. "OK everyone, let's take a ten minute break and then meet at the training grounds ready to go, we are training as senshi after all today." The other three looked a little startled but accepted it none-the-less. Walking out of the room, Minako asked, "So, Makoto, what is so urgent that it could not wait?" "Mina, what does the red rose stand for?" Makoto had Mina's full attention. "Undying, passionate, eternal love. Why?" "Mina, Serena has a red rose." glancing at Mina she was surprised to see the senshi of love standing there like she was paralyzed. Makoto smiled evilly, if she was paralyzed, there was only one thing they could do. -ZAP!- Mina immediately came to as the lightning hit her. "WHAT?! SERENA HAS A RED ROSE?! ARE YOU SURE?!" Not even noticing that Makoto had zapped her Mina was immediately screaming. Clamping a hand over the screaming senshi's mouth, Makoto hissed, "Calm down! If you scream like that everyone will want to know what is wrong. Yes, Serena has a red rose, I went into her room just as she cast an invisibility spell over it." "We have to tell the Queen, she will want to know . . . someone must be in love with Serena . . . where else would she get the rose?!" "NO! We are NOT going to tell the queen! Serena is hiding the rose. It is her choice to make whether to tell the Queen or not and for all we know she could have picked it herself." 'Not that I think in the least that she did.' "Besides, it is her honour that we must uphold, she is almost sixteen, she can care for herself, and I will hurt anyone who goes behind her back or even raises a pinky to hurt her, remember the rock?" The last part of the statement was said in mock seriousness and Minako laughed. "That poor rock, you didn't have to kill it! No one could even find a pebble after you were through with it. I feel sorry for anyone who would actually attack Serena. I don't even want to think about what you would do to a living person!" "So, I am a little protective, we all are. You have had your moments as well." "True . . . but protecting her is what we are sworn to do. SO I guess I will keep her secret. This is NOT to go beyond our ears unless it is to the Queen, OK?" "So be it." With that Minako and Makoto both headed to the training grounds. @-->-->--- Usagi loved the feel of the wind on her face as she raced across the plains with Makoto. The two had always been really close, but after she became an official guard, she became like a sister. Serena told her everything, well almost, she had never told her about Mamoru. In fact, Serena had not told anyone about him in the thirteen years that she had known him and she wanted desperately to let someone know. As the two friends approached the forest, they slowed to a trot and began to talk. After about a half hour of mindless chatter, Makoto finally came down to business. "Serena, why do you have a red rose?" she asked in a straigtforward manner. Usagi paled visibly despite the fact her skin was already pure white. "Don't even try to deny it, I saw it this morning just before you cast your spell on it." Serena looked straight into Makoto's eyes as she answered. "Makochan, I know that I never told you about the rose, and you are probably angry with me for keeping a secret from you, but I have never told anyone about it at all. So what I am about to tell you, you must promise never to tell a soul without my permission." "Promised." Serena smiled. "You have no idea how good it is going to be to finally tell someone. You see, I met this boy almost thirteen years ago, when I was three, and have never told anyone about him. I have never actually seen him, so I don't know what he looks like and I don't know where he is from or where he lives, but we seem to have some sort of link. See, I can feel his emotions, if I want to I can see his thoughts, though I don't do that one 'cause we promised each other never to look into each other's minds unless absolutely necessary. Anyhow, on my twelfth birthday, he sent me the rose. It was supposed to be white, but it became red when it went through me, probably because of my love for him. He has never shown any indication that he loves me, or at least any more than a brother would a sister, and I have never told him how I feel . . . " Usagi stopped short as she glanced at Makoto. Makoto had a dreamy, far-off expression on her face. After a little while, a sigh escaped her lips. Serena began to giggle at the sight Makoto made. "That is so beautiful Serena," Makoto said sighing again. "You love him so much and yet you never told him because he has never indicated that he loves you the same way. No wonder you keep the rose hidden. The locket is from him as well, is it not?" "Actually, we made the locket together. It opens only at our touch and plays music to match the feelings of the one who holds it." Serenity took the locket in her hand and gently touched it. A soft, almost sad melody filled the air as the locket opened in response. The two girls sat on their horses in silence, listening to the melody the locket played. It seemed to weave a spell over them and capture them in its notes. A couple of tears slipped from their eyes and rolled down their cheeks. When the tune came to an end, Usagi gently closed the locket and let it drop back onto its chain where it hung, as always, around her neck. "You really love him, don't you?" Makoto asked, barely above a whisper. Fresh tears gleamed in the Princess's eyes and she smiled, nodding. "Do you know what color his energy is?" Makoto asked, suddenly, sitting up straight on her horse "Gold, why?" Serena responded, puzzled by her friends actions. A bright smile burst forth on Makoto's face and she laughed, "Serena, we now know where he is from! Remember a couple of days ago when we had that lesson about magic colors?" "And Amichan told us that each planet has its own predominant color . . . " "That means he is from Terra, or at least has some Terran blood in him. But Terra is the only planet in the galaxy that is not apart of the Silver Millennium." "But there are ambassadors from Terra coming in a few days to see about making a treaty, and I have to go to every single one of the meetings." Serena wrinkled her nose and Makoto laughed. "But if they do make the pact then maybe you will be able to go down to earth and find him, it should not be too hard, I would imagine the pull between the two of you would increase as you got closer." "And he does owe me a duel . . . " "Serena, you plan on fighting the poor man?!" "Well, we challenged each other when I was five, and he is the whole reason that I took fencing and archery and all." Serena looked a little impish. "I should have known. All this determination and spirit just so you could beat some guy. Well Serena, I certainly hope he is worth it, I definitely want to meet him, so can I be Maid of Honor?" Blushing bright red, Serena replied, "Don't jump too far ahead Makochan, he does not even know that I love him and I don't even know if he even feels for me that way." "Don't be ridiculous! Every other man that has seen you has fallen madly in love with you, so why shouldn't he? I mean look at how many offers of marriage you have had! Every Prince in the galaxy is after you, including my own brother!" The two nearly fell off their horses laughing. "Now I know why you have refused them all, but just remember Serena, if he ever hurts you just let me know and I will hunt him to the end of the universe until he pays for the injury." Makoto said joking, but both of them knew that if it ever did come down to it Makoto would not hesitate to defend her Princess. @-->-->--- The next few days were busy ones at the palace as everyone prepared for the coming of the Terran ambassadors. Rumors flew that even the Prince and King were coming to see about the treaty and only a few seemed to know what was true and what was just a rumor any more. The Princess and her guard were among those few and they spent endless hours talking about it, or at least the guard did. During these talks Serena would usually sit back and just listen to the mindless chatter. It was rumored that the Prince of earth and his generals where extremely handsome and the Ladies spent endless hours preparing themselves for their arrival. Serenity stayed out of the conversation for one main reason, the Prince. Serena had not gone around to every planet in her kingdom to learn nothing, she had studied diligently and had discovered that every single planet had at one time or another joined the Silver Millennium through a marriage to one of the moon princesses. So, understandably, Serena was worried. She knew that all her mothers intentions were good, but when it came down to it her marrying the Prince might be the only way. . . and she had no desire to marry some Prince, especially the Prince of Terra. It was rumored that the reason that the Terrans had never joined the Millennium prior to this was because they were a proud and arrogant people who felt that all other races were beneath them, and by joining the Kingdom not as leader, but as equals was felt to be below them. But if her mother desired her to marry the man, she would. Makoto looked at Serena to catch her sighing and wondered what was running through her thoughts. She was the only one of the four guards who did not tease Serena about the Prince, but then she was the only one who knew that Serena's heart was already taken, not claimed, but definitely taken. She knew that something was worrying her Princess and knew it had to be something to do with this visit, but what? If only this Mamoru guy would hurry up and make his claim for her, for who could deny the marriage of two people who had a soul bond, for that is what it had to be. Soul bonds were rare, but when they happened no one could keep the two people separated, and Makoto was sure that was the relationship between her Princess and Mamoru. @-->-->--- "So, what do you think of the Princess?" Nephrite asked Endymion with a smile on his face. The guard had been teasing him endlessly for the last month about the girl. She was said to be the most beautiful and powerful woman in the galaxy despite the fact she was not of Terran blood. Rumors circulated about the foreign beauty like wildfire, and no one knew what was true and what was not. "I have told you before and I tell you again, I care nothing for this girl. I am sure she will be a fine ruler someday, but I want nothing to do with her other than business matters. If we must join the Silver Millennium, so be it, but I don't see what that has to do with me and the Princess." "Don't you?" Zoycite asked. "I mean all the other planets joined the Millennium through marriage, marriage of the heir to the throne to one of the Princesses, and as there is only one Princess, you might be required to marry her." Zoycite would not have spoken had he known what effect it would have had on the Prince. Endymion heart gave a sickening lurch and his face turned pale. 'Marry her? I can't marry her, I love Usako. . . but then I have no claim on her. She has no idea that I love her and she has never said anything about loving me, but still, can't marry the Princess, I don't love her. Usako always said that no one should marry other than for true love . . . ' Jedite alone knew the cause of the Prince's reaction to the news and quickly grabbed Endy out for some fresh air. "Jade, I can't marry the Princess Serenity. . . " Jedite smiled wryly and answered "I know what you mean, but if it comes down to it, will you marry her for the sake of your kingdom?" Endymion looked sick, "I would, you know I would." The Prince put his head in his hands and just sat there. @-->-->--- Well folks, what do you think? Exciting? Boring? So awful that you think it should just be tossed and never looked at again? PLEASE tell me. I LOVE E-MAIL AND I ALWAYS RESPOND TO IT! My address is Miaka2001@hotmail.com. Thank you and God bless you.