Okay, this is my second fan fic to date, and it's a 
romance between Princess Serena and Prince Darien.  
Those are my fave kind of stories.  Anyway, this is MY 
definition of how they met and fell in love during the 
Silver Millenium.  Of course, they don't realize their 
love right away...but that comes later.  Right now this 
story is in bits and pieces on my hard drive, and I 
have to connect all of them together.  I REALLY need 
reader e-mails!  Unlike the first story I wrote I'll 
be sending this in chapters to the web pages currently 
posting my work.  I think it builds the suspense.  
Hopefully it will also keep readers coming back to the 
web master's page!
     On a quick note, this IS during the Silver 
Millenium.  It IS a romance.  I use DIC names for the 
Inners and Japanese for the Outer Princesses, (who 
don't appear that often).  NONE of my own characters 
are in this either...except I made up Darien's parents, 
King Aaron and Queen Celia.  This WILL be a long-ish 
fic, but hopefully a good one.  I used spell check, 
but some words might have slipped by, Ooops!  I hope 
you like it though!  E-mail SlrUnico@aol.com to 
comment!
     This story is dedicated to my sister, Rebeca, who 
put up with all of the drafts of this she had to read.

"WEAVING A ROMANCE: Chapter 1 - First Meeting"


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Mother, you CAN'T make me!"
     Princess Serena sat on her bed with a sigh as she 
looked at her mother, the queen, who was standing 
before her.  A pout was on the girl's face.  "I don't 
want to 'make friends' with the Earth people.  Nothing 
good will come out of it.  Why can't we just leave them 
alone so they leave US alone?  Earth is so...corrupt."
     Serenity sighed.  "Serena, as the princess of our 
kingdom you WILL go to the council meeting.  And I'm 
not happy with your tone of voice.  The people of 
Earth are as just and as kind as we are.  I'm friends 
with Queen Celia and the king.  Their planet is not 
bad at all."
     "If they're so great, why did we break it off 
with them in the first place?"
     "I have told you a thousand times. The king and 
queens of both kingdoms before us thought it best that 
the Earth and Moon remain separate for a time so the 
two could develop their own distinct traditions and 
cultures.  But we never 'broke' it off with them; I 
have been communicating with Queen Celia and the king 
for ever since they rose to power.  And I have visited 
the planet before."
     Serena knew she was fighting a losing battle.  
But she relished in lost causes, and swept back to 
arms.  "I have heard that Earth is such a vast planet 
the king and queen cannot rule over all of it.  There 
are barbarians and everything!"
     She was a little surprised at her mother's 
reaction, because the queen laughed.  "Oh, Serena!  
Wherever did you hear that?"
     "Raye and the others," she responded grudgingly.
     "For goodness sakes, there might be a few wild 
tribes here and there but the king and queen rule over 
all and every Earth person respects that.  Jupiter and 
the other outer planets, save Pluto, are even more 
immense in size and you don't see their rulers bowing 
before barbarians."
     "I guess not."
     "Besides that, there are appointed generals who 
rule just under the royal family and they take care of 
the provinces."
     Serena toyed with the blanket's edge, letting her 
finger tips feel the smooth and heavy cloth.  "So I 
have to go."
     "Right."  Serenity nodded her affirmation and 
shook her finger at Serena.  "Don't be late.  Remember, 
the council hall in just ten minutes.  The king, queen, 
and their son from Earth will be there.  All right?"
     "Okay."  Serena's response was less than thrilled 
sounding.
     The queen moved to the door, rapped at the side 
with her hand, and said, "Move girls, I'm coming out 
now."  There were soft gasps and the rustle of cloth 
at the queen's command.  She opened the door, gave her 
daughter an encouraging smile, and left the room, 
leaving the entrance open.
     After a few moments Serena called in a defeated 
voice, "She's gone."
     Almost immediately four girls, with laughing faces 
and bright eyes, dressed to the nines in pretty 
dresses, entered the bedroom and closed the door 
behind them.  "Mom heard you," the princess informed 
them.  "She knew you were there."
     Princess Raye, daughter of the rulers of Mars 
flipped her hair over her shoulder and sat next to 
Serena on the bed.  "Yeah yeah.  We could barely hear 
your conversation, for all the good hiding did us.  
What did she tell you?"
     Princess Amy from Mercury's face was flushed.  "I 
knew we would get caught," she said, shooting a 
disproving glance at Raye.
     Serena giggled in spite of her mood.  "It's okay, 
Aims, she was pretty amused.  And to answer your 
question, Raye, I still have to go."
     "Didn't you feed her the information about the 
barbarians?" Raye asked, confused.  "I thought for 
sure that would get her."
     Princess Mina of Venus agreed.  "Yup, your mom 
cares about stuff like that."
     Serena sighed.  "Yes, and she laughed at it."
     Raye blushed furiously.  "Why?"
     "She said that it wasn't true.  Next time I wanna 
get out of a council meeting make sure to get me 
something more reliable."
     "Hey, at least I tried!  I didn't see YOU coming 
up with any ideas!"
     "I shouldn't have to!  I'm royalty!"
     "SO AM I!!!"
     "Calm down!" barked Princess Lita, the brown 
haired beauty of planet Jupiter.  "Geez, you two fight 
like scorpions!"
     Serena groaned and crossed her arms.  "She started 
it."
     "I DID NOT!" spat Raye.
     "DID TOO!"
     "NOT!"
     "TOO!"
     "Shut up, shut up, shut up!" yelled Lita, covering 
her ears.  "Who gives a care anymore??  Be quiet 
already."
     Serena and Raye both grudgingly nodded and stopped 
talking.
     "Look on the bright side," cheered Mina.  "I heard 
the prince was totally hot."
     "Have you ever seen him?" challenged Lita.
     Mina shook her head.  "Not exactly, but I have 
heard rumors, and I might have seen a picture...maybe...
a long, long time ago, of course."  She looked flustered
and sweatdropped.  "You know good and well, Lita, that 
only the elders and the scribes of the Moon know 
anything worth saying about the Earth."
     "He's supposed to be really smart," Amy informed 
them, heading off the coming argument between Lita and 
Mina.  "One of the most intelligent men of our time.  
Maybe if you and he reach an understanding then he 
could influence your studies."
     "I can see it now," said Mina, starry eyed.  
"'Prince of the Earth and Princess of the Moon Fall in 
Love and Unite their Kingdoms for Always'!  Oh, it 
would be just like a fairy tale Serena!  A beautiful 
wedding, with you in a dazzling white bride's gown, and 
he in a goregous tuxedo...walking down the aisle..."
     Raye and Amy sighed blissfully, engaged in the 
day dream.
     Lita snickered.  "Or maybe they'll elope!  Defy 
their parents and go off to some distant planet to have 
lots and lots of babies and live peacefully in love and 
happiness."
     "Hello, are you guys dumb or something?" Serena 
waved a hand in front of Lita's face.  "I just made it 
known that I don't even approve of this 'get together' 
with Earth, and you four have practically packed me up 
and sent me off on my honeymoon with that stupid 
prince!  I am NOT out to marry him or even LIKE him, no 
matter if he's the cutest guy I've ever seen, or," she 
added, shooting a look at Amy, "the smartest.  Get that 
straight right this second!!"
     "But Serena," complained Raye.  "You've worn out 
all the boys from the Moon."
     "Yeah," added Lita.  "You have to find the right 
guy sometime."
     "Well if I do I'm positive it won't be Mr. Prince 
of Earth."  Serena stood and examined herself in the 
vanity mirror.  "You know," she said softly.  "I do 
have dreams about my future husband."
     "You've told us," said Raye wearily.  "He's tall, 
dark, mysterious, and - "
     "Devestatingly handsome," giggled Mina, falling 
onto the other side of the bed dramaticly.  The other 
girls erupted into peals of laughter.
     "Laugh all you want," chided Serena, heading 
towards the door.  "But he'll be the perfect guy and 
he'll have you ALL drooling!"
     "I'm sure he will be," soothed Lita.  "Just keep 
praying."
     "AND dreaming," Raye added on.  "Because men like 
that are hard to come by."
     "He's out there," said Serena confidently.  "It's 
just a matter of finding the right planet."  She left 
them to digest her words and flounced out the door, 
swinging it shut behind her.


Serena walked downstairs trying to gather her wits 
about her.  She wasn't sure what she was supposed to 
say to the royal family of Earth, and that worried her.  
The princess was positive the conversation shouldn't 
include the weather, or the latest fashions on their 
planet.  "Maybe current events," she said aloud.
     The air smelled sweet as it usually did on days 
when something special, like a party, was planned to 
happen.  The birds were chirping and the clouds were 
bright with the sunshine.  Serena could even hear from 
a distance the soft splashing of the fountain in her 
garden.  She inhaled the fragrance of magnolias, 
supposedly imported from some place on Earth, and 
closed her eyes as she did so.
     Suddenly her slippered foot caught on a loose 
stone.  With a cry the princess tried to regain her 
balance, but could not, and she felt herself falling 
forward.  Her eyes remained closed as she cried out and 
braced herself involuntarily for the hard and 
inevitable crash.
     But it didn't happen.  Instead she fell into 
something warm, and supportive.  Another person!  
Serena gasped and jumped back to her feet, away from 
her rescuer.  When her eyes opened she gasped.  She was 
staring into the face of one of the most handsome men 
she had ever seen.  His dark hair was styled in a way 
that made it look neat, but unkempt and wild.  His eyes 
were dark blue, piercing at her like he could see 
through her.  The man's skin was tanned and he had a 
rugged look to his whole self that made him seem...
right...and with it.  Not nervous like a few of the 
boys she knew got when confronted with a girl.
     The man, too, had a voice.  "Whoa, you need to 
watch it next time."  His words were cutting and cocky, 
she didn't like that at all.
     Hurriedly Serena tried to apologize.  "Look, I'm 
really sorry, there was a loose stone and-"
     "I saw you from way off, you had your eyes closed. 
Surely you would have seen the stone if you had had 
them opened.  Pay more attention in the future."
     By now the princess was seething.  Who did this 
man think he was, talking to her in such a 
contradicting tone...HER, the MOON PRINCESS??  "I 
apologized!"
     "And I gave you some good advice.  Unfortunately 
for the two of us you probably won't use it and I can't 
do a thing with your, 'apology'."
     "I think you are one of the most ill-bred, 
snobbish men I have ever met in my life!"
     "There are a few choice things I'd like to call 
you myself but I'm too much of a gentlemen to use 
them."  His eyes swept over her in a way that made her 
feel two rushing feelings at once.  The first was 
madness, anger that he could make her feel so 
childish.  The second was a calm and safe feeling, that 
she had never felt before.  Quickly, however, the first 
was swallowing the latter.
     Serena picked an imagined piece of dirt off her 
dress.  "Good day to you, 'sir'."  She spoke the last 
word in the same way she might say "scum."  Then the 
princess of the Moon, trying hard to make sure she 
maintained some dignity, brushed past him and down 
another hall. It would be a longer route to the council 
meeting, but at least it took her well out of HIS way.  
     If Serena had looked behind her she would have 
seen the man watching her retreat with a look in his 
eyes that clearly was identified as intrigued and maybe 
almost respectful.  He stood there for a long time, 
until after she out of sight.  Then he shook his head 
and walked onward.


Serena was not a happy person by the time she reached 
the council hall.  First was the matter of she had 
forgotten her princess' tiara and had to go back to her 
room to get it.  Then there was the fact that every 
second more she spent thinking about the man she had 
met made her even more mystified and spitting mad at 
him.  
     She paced in front of the hall, trying to get her 
list of things to talk about with the king and queen 
and their son in her head.  When Serena felt she was 
composed enough to enter, she put the tiara on her 
head and placed a hand on the door, determined to not 
think about the stranger any more.  Still, one last 
thought creeped into her mind which she totally agreed 
with.  "I hope I never see him again as long as I 
live."
     She opened the door and the trumpeter inside, 
receiving his cue, raised the trumpet to his lips and 
blew a short regal tune.  The royal announcer stepped 
back and said in a loud, clear voice, "Announcing her 
royal highness, Princess Serena of the Moon Kingdom, 
daughter of her majesty Queen Serenity of the Moon 
Kingdom!" 
     Serena smiled what Mina called her, "princess 
smile" and curtsied before the couple she presumed to 
be the king and queen, and her mother.  Then she 
turned to sit in her chair...and gasped aloud.  The 
man she had met was right next to her seat.  She gaped 
and pointed.  "You!  You're the...the..."
     The man smiled his cocky smile and bowed to her.  
"Prince Darien of the Earth."
     Never in all her life had Serena been more shocked 
and embarrassed, and she did not shrink from displaying 
her feelings to the rest of the room...
     "Serena," her mother said in a controlled voice.  
"Why don't you sit down?"
     Serena nodded dumbly and went to take her seat 
next to Darien.  To her surprise he got out of his own 
chair and helped her into hers.  Against her will she 
murmured a "thank you", and accepted it.  When Darien 
was seated again the adults began to start up a 
conversation about world politics, which it seemed 
neither of the younger members of the two courts were 
interested in.
     "Surprised, princess?" Darien whispered to her.
     "I should say so!" retorted Serena in a low 
voice.  "Why didn't you say you were a prince, the 
prince of the Earth?!"
     "Why didn't you say you were the princess?"
     "I assumed everyone knew who I was.  Besides that 
you never asked."
     She could have sworn she heard him chuckle deeply 
in his throat, but before she could be sure he had 
stopped.  "I take it you're still rather hostile 
toward me, Serena, oh, may I call you Serena?"
     "Yes I am and yes you may."
     "Well, I don't know why you're mad at me, after 
all you took the liberty of falling on me.  Now, I'm 
used to women falling for me, but not *on* me."
     Serena stiffened and felt the now familiar feeling 
of anger all over again.  Was it going to become a 
habit whenever she talked to this prince?  "I didn't 
ask you to catch me, Darien.  And I consider that 
comment about the women most inappropriate to be said 
in front of a lady.  Oh, and for your information I 
have every right to be mad.  After all, you insulted 
me!"
     Darien laughed for real at that remark.  "And I 
suppose that bit about being ill-bred and snobbish 
doesn't qualify to be an insult?"
     By now their voices had risen to a considerable 
decibel, both unaware of how loud they were talking.
     "Your tone was degrading!" she snapped.
     "You never answered my question about being ill-
bred and snobbish."
     "I thought it was rhetorical, and it doesn't even 
dignify an answer!"
     The king and queens were looking at the two young 
people with disdain and wariness.  Serenity said for 
Serena to lower her voice, but by then neither could 
hear.  Something would have to be done, that was clear 
from the looks on the monarchs' faces.


"When should we let them back in, Aaron?", Queen Celia 
of Earth asked her husband, gesturing at the door 
leading to the hall.
     The king grunted.  "When that boy learns some 
manners."
     "It wasn't all Darien's fault," reminded 
Serenity.  "My daughter played more than a minor role 
in that scene a few moments ago.  By the way, I do 
apologize for her behavior towards him, it was most 
embarrassing."
     "Children will be children," quoted Celia.
     "But he's a young man!" exploded Aaron.  "What 
will this say about the Earth and Moon Kingdom 
relations??"
     Serenity laughed.  "Ah, well, I don't think it's 
as serious as all that Aaron."
     "Yet."
     "Well, things will get better between the two...
in time."
     Celia sighed.  "I'm afraid Darien was against this 
reunion between our two kingdoms right from the start 
and that he's taking it out on Serena."
     Serenity nodded.  "Yes, Serena was the same way 
about our decision."
     "Does she know about Beryl?" asked Celia with a 
frown.
     "Oh no."  Serenity shook her head firmly.  "No, 
none of the Inner Princesses have and especially not 
Serena.  My daughter doesn't believe that world 
politics are necessary to her life."
     The two women laughed and even King Aaron cracked 
a smile.  "But really, ladies," he continued.  "This is 
serious business here.  Beryl's been causing even more 
trouble back home lately, stirring up revolts and 
brawls in the streets with her oh-so-subtle ways.  And 
now that we've announced our reunion...
     "Yes."  Serenity looked out into the distance.  
"I'm very afraid for our futures.  Suddenly our perfect 
and ideal world doesn't seem safe anymore.  But more 
than that I'm terrified for Serena."
     "How so?" asked Aaron with a puzzled expression.
     "The coming war is inevitable.  I don't want to 
keep the truth from her any longer. If something 
happens to me, she'll have to assume the throne.  And 
if something happens to her..."  The queen's eyes 
filled with tears.  "I've got to get her away from 
here as soon as possible."


Serena fought the urge to spit, as she had seen Lita do 
when she was upset, if no one was watching.  Her fists 
were curled up into balls as if she were ready to belt 
anyone in her way.  "Now look what you did, Darien!" 
she snapped.
     "What I did?" he asked angrily.  "I don't believe 
your nerve!  To embarrass me in front of your mother, 
and my parents!"
     "Hey, you were on the other side of that scene in 
there, bucko.  You humiliated me!!"
     "Something which, oddly enough, I don't regret!"
     Serena sighed and slumped onto the wooden bench.  
"I have never ever been kicked out of a council meeting 
before," she said more to herself than to Darien.  
"I was mortified!  Did you see the look on the 
announcer's face?"
     "He looked like he was about ready to ring up that 
gossip vine."
     "Oh, don't worry, the way news like that travels 
around the Moon it'll be tomorrow's headlines.  
'Beautiful Princess Embarressed to Pieces when the 
Horrid Prince from a Barbaric Planet Attempts to Ruin 
her Social Life."  She moaned.  "Raye and the others 
are going to flip."
     Darien snorted.  "I prefer this one: 'Esteemed 
Prince of Earth Humiliated and Spun Out of Control by 
Conniving Princess of a Pitiful Kingdom not Worthy to 
Negotiate with Earth'.  Try THAT on for size."
     Serena looked at him.  "You're a royal pain."
     "Same to you."  He growled.  "I never lose control 
like that, never ever.  I'm Prince Darien, always with 
it.  What are you doing to me?"
     "You've brought some traits of mine to light that 
aren't pleasant either."
     "Oh really, I thought you were always like that."
     "Don't EVEN, Darien!"
     The two were in silence for a very long time, 
each thinking their own thoughts about the other.  
Serena was sure that there was something about Darien 
she didn't quite get, that wasn't out in the open.  
She wasn't positive she liked that, but then again 
what did she like about this prince?  Nothing.  It 
didn't even matter to her that he was decent 
looking...all right, handsome.  That did not make up 
for his attitude.
     Darien watched Serena with his cool gaze while she 
studied him.  He had to admit that she was one of the 
more prettier girls he had seen in his life - and he 
had seen lots of women.  Her long golden hair and her 
dazzling blue eyes that he would bet matched his own.  
Everything about the princess before him said 
"innocent" and "naive".  But then again, there was 
something in her that said she knew just as much and 
maybe more than him in certain matters.
     Deep within both the tiny spark that had flared 
when they met in the hall glowed brighter than before 
without their knowing...shining with an emotion so 
great only they might come to understand.


~~~~~~End of Chapter~~~~~~
Coming in chapter two...Serena and Darien are not 
getting along well, and this is only furthered in 
their meeting at the ball celebrating the reunion of 
the Earth and Moon...plus, the Inner Princesses and 
the generals of the Earth share their thoughts on the 
mutual dislike binding their two friends.  E-mail 
SlrUnico@aol.com to commment...PLEASE!


Interested in scenes for the up-coming chapter?  Just to
see if you will want to read it or not?  Here are a few
of the highlights...quotes or scenes taken and revised 
directly from the text:

"He's conceited, cocky, arrogant, crude, ill-bred, 
nasty, vile, and just plain rude and I hope I never see 
him again!"
     ~~~Serena, to the Inner princesses of Darien


Darien stepped closer to her.  "You're messing with 
something you'll never understand, princess," he 
whispered.
     ~~~before the royal ball celebrating the reunion
of the Earth and Moon


Jedite smoothed his hair back.  "So...when do I get to 
meet this princess of yours anyhow?  Since you don't 
want her...we could play school..."  The general 
chuckled deeply.  "I know a few things I could teach 
her..."
     Darien felt a rage within him and his hand whipped 
out and gripped Jedite's arm.  "You lay a hand on her
and I'll..."
     ~~~at the ball

~~~to be continued~~~