The morning after, Darien got up earlier than usual. He couldn't sleep a wink last night. He kept thinking of the situation that he was in. Darien knew he couldn't just run away from his problems. Someday, he would be king, and he wanted to be sure to be a good one. He thought of Serena.
'That girl. She's so immature and childish. We are complete opposites.
What could we have in common? Clearly, we don't mesh well, together. And that outrageous hairstyle!'
"Mother?" Serena asked curiously.
"Yes, dear." Queen Serenity replied.
"Am I ugly?"
Queen Serenity looked at her daughter straight in the eye.
"Beauty is from within, Serena. You don't look on the outside. That's what most people see. You look in the inside where it is the truth. I, see, a beautiful young woman, who is both beautiful on the outside as she is in the inside."
Serena gave her mother a hug and a kiss.
"I love you, mom."
She left her mother in the sitting room and stepped into her own room.
Serena looked at her reflection in the mirror. She undid her hair and brushed it out with her fingers. Then she swished it side to side and shook it up and down. Serena raised an eyebrow. She took her hairbrush and thought
'Of course, my mom would say that because she's my mother. I wonder what my future husband thinks? What am I saying? Who cares what he thinks. He's only marrying me because it's his duty. It wouldn't matter if I looked like a meat ball. Yikes! Now, he's got me saying it!'
Prince Darien went on his usual ride in the forest. Out in the woods he galloped without a care in the world. In a distance he saw a pile of leaves.
He marched his horse straight through it. The leaves of golden colors scrambled everywhere. Nearby, a family were eating in a picnic. It was a peaceful scene.
Suddenly, there arrived a couple of dark figures. The prince watched to see what would be their next move. The figures were dressed in dark cloaks. They each took out a stick. This did not look good. Soon their leader yelled out, "I order you to give me your energy." The frightened family were in terrible shock. The mother cried out, "Oh, it's a horrible beast!"
Prince Darien had seen enough. He galloped towards them. But he had not a weapon with him. Then he saw a rose bush. He plucked the sharpest rose and then threw it at the leader. It landed on his hand. The leader turned around. No one was there.
"Come out! And prepare to die!" the monster screamed.
Darien knew he couldn't let them see his face, or else they might recognize him. He ripped part of his cape and then wrapped it around his mouth. He stepped out of hiding.
"Oh, I don't think so." Darien said in a disguised voice.
"Huh?" the monsters were puzzled. Here is a man running around with a cloth tied around his mouth.
The leader said, "Well, whoever you are you're finished!"
The prince looked at the leader. It was the ugliest sight he'd ever seen. The monster started to swing at Darien. Darien ducked and avoided them. The monster was no match for him.
Soon, the other monsters also realized this. The leader stopped the fight and signaled his crew to retreat.
After the encounter, Darien asked to see if the family was alright. They nodded and thanked him for his help. Soon, Darien was on his way back to the castle.
At the castle, the King and Queen were discussing when the wedding should be set. The prince walked in to join them.
"Hello, mother, father. You'll never guess what happened this afternoon."
"What dear?" the queen inquired.
"I was riding and then all at once I saw a group of cloacked men attacking a family. They demanded energy from them. I managed to drive them off. But they were not human at all. They were monsters from some other planet."
"Did you destroy their leader?" the king asked.
"No, father."
"Then, that means they are gathering more of their kind to harm our people! But that will take some time."
The queen started to shake her head. Her eyes seemingly looked as if they were about to filled with tears.
"What is the matter, mother?" Darien asked.
"Oh, my son." the queen began. "That means the union must take place, immediately."
Darien embraced his mother and said, "I understand...it is my duty."
At the day of the wedding...
"Princess Serena! Princess Serena! Wake up!" yelled a voice from below. It was Luna. She is one of the feline royal advisors of Queen Serenity.
"What is it, Luna? Can't you see I'm trying to get some sleep before I become permanently attached to someone I perfectly hate for the rest of my life?!"
"That's what I've been trying to tell you! IT's time to get attached to that...uh,...his royal highness Prince Darien."
"Please, Luna. It's too early in the morning. Come back around noonish. Maybe, I'll be up by then."
Luna has had enough. She takes the covers off the stubbourn girl.
"Luna!...Okay, okay, have it your way. I am but a servant to my crown. I know, Luna. Why don't you put on the dress and marry 'Prince Picklehead'?"
"Serena. When I come back you better have that dress on, or I'll call your mother in here. She'll give you a harder pill to swallow."
"Okay, okay. Just a suggestion."
Two hours later, the whole assembly had gathered to watched the somewhat joyous occation.
Prince Darien was as nervous as a groom should be. He ran his fingers through his raven hair.
"I feel like I'm gonna explode. I hope I don't mess up on the vows. Now...what was her name, again?...Meatball....No...It sounded more like an 'S'. Yeah, that's it. Sarella? Sabrina? Saria? Sarah? Seriah? Salia? No, no, no. That's not it, either."
Suddenly, Darien sees a black cat with a moon tattooed on its forehead.
"Luna? Is that you?"
"Prince Darien you remember me?"
"Yes, a little. You were the cat that Queen Serenity brought on their first visit, right?"
"Yes. Is there something I can help you with? An escape window maybe?"
Darien chuckled.
"Now, Luna. Don't give me any ideas. I was trying to remember the uh,..my future wife's name?"
Luna smiled.
"It's Serena. The 'S' really stands for silliness." she said with a grin.
"I've noticed." Darien said giving her a grin back.
"Thanks alot, Luna."
"You're welcome."
The four princess of the planets Venus, Mars, Mercury, and Jupiter were there to assist the bride. They were also the bridesmaids.
"Something borrowed." said Princess Rei of Mars handing Serena a heart necklace. "And I better get it back."
"Hmmmph!" Serena snapped.
"Something Blue," joined Ami, princess of Mercury giving Serena a blue garter.
"Something old," added Princess Lita of Jupiter carefully placing an old charm bracelet on Princess Serena's wrist.
"And something new!" finished Mina putting two shiny pearl barrets in Serena's hair.
Princess Serena looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her beautiful gown had a flowing train behind her. Her hair was up in a french twist instead of her usual odango hairstyle. Then with one last look she pulled down her veil.
Serena thinking:
Well, I'm all suited for battle!
"Dearest, it's time." Queen Serenity called. "I love you, sweetheart. You'll do fine."
Princess Serena swallowed hard. The white doors opened and soon the music cued in.
Prince Darien heard the start of the music march and closed his eyes.
"This is it, Darien. Ready or not." he said to himself. He opened his eyes and searched for his bride. His eyes fell on an empty trail. "Where on earth is she?" he asked the bridesmaids as they approached the front. "She was right behind me, Darien." whispered Mina. Suddenly, the bride finally appeared. Serena tried to walk as smoothly as she could. She seemed to float on air. Serena looked at Darien underneath her veil. "Why doesn't he just smile a little." she murmured under her breath.
The ceremony was almost over, and yes it came to the part of the traditional kiss.
Darien lifted up the veil. Then he saw the most beautiful blue eyes he had ever seen. He gulped. He forgot what to do next.
Serena closed her eyes and waited to be kissed. "It was tradition." she thought. "So, I guess he can kiss me this time, but after that, no sir, no more. Six inch rule."
It was after she closed her eyes that a mental click went off his head. Darien bent down to kiss her, but then the orchestra began to play the finishing song. Both their eyes widened. Soon they were being hurriedly pushed out of the room because they had to make and important speech that was to be heard by thousands of people waiting outside the palace. The trumpet sounded to signal that the new royal couple had made their way.
The trumpeter announced:
"Their royal highnesses Prince Darien and Princess Serena."
Serena and Darien stepped out on cue as planned. Everyone began to cheer. Serena swallowed and forced out a smile.
"There are so many people." she said to herself.
It was now time for Darien to speak.
"People of Earth," he began. "Today, we are one with the Moon Kingdom. I promise you there will be continual peace and prosperity as long as we are united."
The crowds cheered and applauded. Suddenly, there was an explosion heard by the people inside the palace. It was coming from the central room. Artemis, Queen Serenity's other cat advisor signaled Princess Serena to go with him. Serena nodded in response. So she bowed and waved goodbye to the crowd. Darien sensed that something was wrong so he tried to cut his speech short as possible.
Serena was running fast to catch up with Artemis. She was holding up her veil with her right hand to keep it from falling and hiked up her gown with the other in case she doesn't trip. "Wait a second, Artemis. I'm still in this tent, ya know!" Serena wailed.
"You've got to hurry, Serena!"
"Why?"
"It's the queen!"
"Mother?"
With that she flew in the next room like a hawk. She opened the doors to find her mother, King Orpheus, and Queen Katrina on the floor with the furniture scattered everywhere, some even destroyed.
"Mom! Mom! What happened?" Serena asked shakily.
"Explosion...Serena, no matter what happens...I want you to promise me that you'll stay with Darien. Do you promise?"
"Mom, don't talk like that. Everything's going to be fine! Artemis already left to get help."
"I'm afraid it's too late. Do you promise me?" Queen Serenity uttered softly.
Knowing it was her last words, Serena answered, "I promise." Then the queen smiled and with her last strength wiped her daughter's tear. Serenity smiled and closed her eyes forever. Serena embraced her mother as tears streamed down her cheek.
The prince finally got his speech done. He motioned to the crowd that he was leaving.
"Where's everybody?" he asked Luna.
Luna has tears in her eyes. "It's your parents and Queen Serenity. I'm afraid that they're gone."
"What do you mean gone" I just saw the minutes ago. Take me to them, Luna."
The prince followed Luna to the terrible scene. On the ground laid his parents. On the other side was Queen Serenity. Princess Serenity holding her tightly. The physicians were there and they placed the bodies carefully on some stretchers. But Serena wouldn't let go. The only person that truly loved her, and knew her body and soul was gone.
Darien held his parent's hands in his. "I'll miss you so much." he said to them. Then they took their bodies away. He turned to comfort the princess, but she moved away. "It's not fair." she thought. "It'sbecause their wasn't enough protection here. If we were on the Moon this would never have happened." she said in a protective voice. "The monsters had tack. No matter "How do you know? You didn't even try! what this could not have been prevented."
"How do you know? You didn't even try! Now, my mother's gone."
"Hey, I lost my parents, too. You're not the only one."
"I hate it, here! And...and...I hate you."
Darien was about to take her in his arms and assure her that everything was going to be alright, but he couldn't. He wasn't sure. He, too, felt helpless.
Serena bolted out of the room. She raced to find a place where she could be alone. She found a deserted room. She laid on the bed and cried her heart out. That night, she looked out at the moon. She reached out her hand as if to touch it.
She cried until she couldn't anymore.
'I can't go on like this. I'm not a baby, anymore. I have to try and make something good out of it.'
Darien went back to his room. He clutched his fists and pounded the wall.
"I'm not ready for this." he said.
'The princess hates me. But I can't blame her. I have to make it up to her. Those monsters will pay for what they've done. I swear it!'
The next day came quickly for the new queen. Realizing she must apologize to Darien.
"I acted like such a baby, last night. It wasn't his fault. He's just as clueless as I am about this arrangement that we are in. Come on Serena. Let's go apologize." she thought as she knocked on his bedroom door. There was no answer. Then Artemis showed up. "Good morning, Serena. I mean Queen Serena."
"Don't start calling me that, Artemis. Serena's fine with me. Do you happen to know where the king is?"
"Oh, the King left early this morning for his royal duties. He had to rally up some people to fight for Earth."
"Oh, I see. I just wanted to apologize for last night and all."
"Of course, my queen. Are you alright? Did you want me to teleport the princesses and send them here?"
"Oh, really, Artemis?" her eyes began to glow, again. "I'm not gonna keep them from their duties am I?"
"Of course not. Remember their duty is to protect you, now."
"Great. Beam them up, Artemis!"
"Oh, ah, right. I'm so glad to cheer you up. I miss that smile on your face, Serena."
The four princesses arrived, shortly. Rei hugged Serena. "Are you sure you're okay?"
Ami touched Serena's shoulder and said, "Hang in there. If you need anything just tell us."
"Dito." said Mina. "No mater what."
"Yeah, you're the queen, now. Whatever you ask we obey." said Lita.
"Well, then. I order you all to quit feeling so sorry for me. It's making me more depressed. Besides, I still have you guys, and Luna, and Artemis."
"And the king?" asked Rei with a grin.
"So what do you think of him? Tell us. Tell us all the juicy details!" joined Mina.
"Actually. I...I...I don't hate him, but I don't love him. It's kind of in between. I mean. I'm not sure."
"Dontcha think he's a hunk, though?" asked Lita with smile.
"That black silky hair and deep blue eyes?" added Ami.
"Gosh, you guys, I never knew that you all are such keen observers. Especially you, Ami. What's with all the hair and deep eyes?"
"Ohhh, Serena. I was just trying to cheer you up."
"Well, where is he anyway?" asked Rei.
Back to Chapter One
Chapter Three
