Just a quick note from the author: here's chapter 2!  As 
you know in the last chapter, Princess Serena and Prince
Darien met each other for the first time, and sparks...
well, more than sparks, firecrackers flew.  They really 
dispise one another!  In this chapter the Inner 
princeses find out from Serena about the prince, and 
the generals of the Earth find out from Darien about 
the princess.  Later, the couple meets up at the royal 
ball celebrating the reunion between the Earth and Moon 
kingdoms...and...well, see for yourself!! E-mail 
SlrUnico@aol.com to comment!

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"Weaving a Romance"
CHAPTER 2: 'Oh, Was that YOUR Foot I Stepped On?'

"He's conceited, cocky, arrogant, crude, ill-bred, 
nasty, vile, and just plain rude and I hope I never see 
him again!"
     The princesses let out a collective sigh as Serena 
got started up once more on the topic of Prince Darien.  
All four had tried over and over to change the subject 
since Serena had called them to her room after the 
conference, but to no avail.  Somehow every topic they 
had come up with, from tutoring to the up-coming ball 
that would celebrate the reunion of Earth and the Moon, 
turned back to him.
     "Serena," said Raye in an annoyed tone, "shut up 
about it already!  We know you hate the guy.  No one 
said you had to like him or anything.  There are more 
important things to discuss right now."
     "Yeah," added Lita.  "Like dresses for the ball!"
     "Or the latest gossip around the Moon," chirped 
Mina devilishly.
     "And the big test the tutor is giving next week," 
quipped Amy.  The others sweat-dropped at that last 
remark.  School was taboo for them.
     Serena nodded a little.  "I guess I'll stop 
talking about him, since he doesn't deserve anymore of 
my time." 
     "Wait a second," Raye stopped her.  "You were 
going to tell us about the conference.  How were the 
royals of Earth...and leave the prince out of it."
     Serena flushed as she remembered how she had spent 
nearly all of the meeting.  "Weeeeell...ummm...it's not 
really important...they're okay I guess, with the 
exception of HIM, and all the stuff they talked about 
was rather boring."  The image of her mother talking to 
her right after she had finished with the king and 
queen of Earth flashed through her mind painfully.
     "Dear," Serenity had said sternly.  "You must try 
to get along with the prince from now on, understand?  
It would mean alot to me and to Darien's parents that 
you two settle your differences at once.  The display 
you both put on was not amusing in the least and cost 
us valuable negotiating time as well as dignity.  I can 
only imagine what the newspaper's gossip columnist has 
been sprouting out about the scene."
     Serena winced as she recalled the reprimand.  "Yes 
Mother.  I'm sorry." Very rarely was she ever spoken to 
by her mother in that voice.  It made her feel like a 
silly child.  And it was all Darien's fault!
     A giggle from Mina brought her back to the present.
The girls were gossiping about their friends Princess 
Haruka and Princess Michiru from Uranus and Neptune who 
carried on a rather...strange relationship, being that 
they were both girls and in love.  Though the younger 
princesses had nothing but respect for the two, it was 
a delightful subject to dwell on.
     Serena did not share their enthusiasm, and 
preferrrered to remain quiet, lost in her own thoughts 
about the prince of the Earth...


"She's childish, immature, petty, spoiled...and about a 
thousand other words I can't remember at the moment!"  
Darien paused to take a breath.  "No one person has 
ever annoyed me so much!"
     The generals groaned.  "Please," begged Neflite.  
"No more about the Princess of the Moon, Darien!"
     Darien had left the Moon as soon as the council 
meeting was over, only to face a serious talk with his 
father and mother about his behavior when they were all 
back home in the palace on Earth.  It had only fueled 
his anger toward the princess for her insults and catty 
remarks.  Couldn't his parents see that it was all her
fault?  Apparently not.  Now he was in the conversitory 
with the four generals of the kingdom who were also his 
most loyal friends.  But even *they* weren't offering 
the sympathy Darien felt he deserved. 
     "I've heard so much about her," continued Neflite 
wearily, "now I don't even care to meet with the girl."
     "Yeah," added Malachite.  "So you don't like her.  
Get over it."
     "No one said you had to marry her or anything," 
grunted Jedite.
     Zoicite was the only one who remained above it 
all, and wasn't really listening.  Rather he was 
studying an atlas.  
     Darien frowned.  "Really you guys, you haven't met 
her!  She's...she's...well, pretty awful."
     Malachite snickered.  "I'd actually enjoy meeting 
any young lady who has managed to get you so up tight."
     Darien glared at the white haired general.  Of all 
of the generals for some reason Malachite was the one 
who managed to get him the most upset in times of 
crisis...and the one he argued with the most.  He 
assumed that it was because Mal was a little older and 
more mature than the other three of their group of 
friends.  "I know you all think this is some big joke 
but it's really a major problem."
     Neflite chuckled.  "Aren't you taking this a 
little too seriously, Dar?"
     "Yeah, she's only a simple girl," said Zoicite 
looking up from his book.
     How, Darien thought, can I explain this to them, 
the feelings that she can draw from me.  It's impossible
to understand two things in this world.  Absolute hatred
and...absolute love toward another.  But I'm not sure 
suddenly... about alot of things.


Serena spent the following day engrossed in other 
activities, preparing for the ball mainly, trying to 
find the perfect gown, perfect jewelry, and of course 
rehearsing her entrance.  But the thought of Darien 
never left her mind, not for a minute.  Every time she 
would think of him and his arrogant ways, she felt mad 
all over again.  It was becoming hard to hide her 
dislike of him from her mother, who was actually 
looking forward to the reunion of the Earth and Moon.
     The Princesses lost interest in how shaken up by 
Darien their friend was, and were also involved in 
gowns and jewels.  Traitors, Serena thought bitterly.  
How dare they have the nerve to be happy about this 
cursed ball when I dread it??
     No one noticed when Serena would look from her 
balcony at the globe of blue, green, and white called 
Earth in wonderment, confusion, and anger, which she 
did quite often for no reason at all, none that even 
she could see.
     Finally the night of the ball arrived.  Serena 
sat in her room, more nervous than she had ever been 
in her life.  And about Darien, no less!
     She was seated at her vanity, applying make up.  
Raye had taught her the trick...
     "If you put on too much," her friend had said, 
"then you'll look like a bad woman, the trashy sort...
and don't blush, you know what I mean!  You put on just 
enough so that your pretty features are enhanced.  The 
best make up applications are the ones that look like 
you don't have them on.  Get it to be just on the line 
of natural and beautiful.  It's a snap."
     Indeed it had been once Serena had gotten used to 
it.  Carefully she applied a little powder, then rouge 
and a bit mascara and eye shadow, followed by a coat of 
lipstick that accented her gown.
     Serena stood from the vanity, admiring her dress.  
She was sure it was the prettiest she had ever owned.  
"Too bad it has to be wasted on this night," the 
princess muttered to herself as she examined her 
reflection in the mirror.  It was white, but had 
touches of pink shimmer in strategic places so you had 
to look closely to get the whole effect.  It was low 
cut, or at least as low cut as she dared.  There were 
no sleeves to speak of, light gauze cupped her shoulders
instead.  The waist was lined with pearls right above 
the skirt, which was billowy and soft. 
     Around her neck hung a simple and thin gold chain, 
with a white rose charm hanging down.  Really Serena 
preferred red roses, but it wouldn't go nicely with the 
gown so the white one would have to do.
     "I guess I look all right," she mused as she took 
a pair of gold studs from her jewelry box and put them 
on her ears.  Then as carefully as she could she raised 
the diamond tiara from her box and placed it to crown 
her two neatly done odangos.  The small gems sparkled 
in the light of the room and made Serena smile.  "I hope
everyone likes the dress, especially Darien."
     She gasped at her words.  "Why," she said aloud, 
"do I want HIM to like it??  It shouldn't bother me if 
he hates it...why did I say that?  I don't care about 
Darien or his opinions on anything!!"  But a tiny voice,
the ones that go against our will and are so annoying, 
in her said she wanted him to comment on it, say she 
was radiant, or beautiful, so she would know he cared.
     This conflict in Serena was getting on her nerves 
in the worst way when there was a light knock on the 
door.  "Come in!" she called.
     The door opened and one of her attendants, a roly 
poly maid, peeped in.  "Oh, good Princess, the ball is 
about to begin, and your mother has sent word for you 
to go downstairs and wait at the front door."
     "Okay, thank you very much, Millie."
     The woman nodded and left, closing the door behind her.
     Serena stood looking at herself for a moment 
before she shook her head and went to get her shoes.  
"Serena, you're getting vain," she muttered, snatching 
her white dancing slippers from the closet.  Then she 
put them on and walked her most regal walk out the door.


Serena was soon at the ball room, with time to spare.  
Nervously she looked around her.  The night was 
peaceful and silent, only the slightest of sound of 
talking and laughing wavered from out of the building.  
The sky had what seemed to be a thousand stars, all 
twinkling and sparkling, looking like tiny, precious 
diamonds like the ones on her tiara, set against a 
black velvet backdrop.  And as always the Earth lit up 
it's corner of the universe with radiance, it's glow 
fascinating Serena.
     A noise made her turn suddenly.  There was a man 
standing behind her, hidden by shadows.  For a minute 
Serena was startled, but the shock wore into anger when 
she saw who it was.  "Oh.  It's you."
     Darien stepped out of the darkness and into the 
light where she could see him better.  "Scared ya', 
didn't I, princess?"
     Her hands clenched into identical fists and she 
fought the urge to growl.  "Stuff it, Darien."
     "Oooh, getting nasty.  Temper, temper."  He 
chuckled.  "I noticed you were looking at my planet.  
Does it excite you or something to see it?"
     "It just awes me that a planet so beautiful could 
create someone like you.  And don't think for a moment 
that was a compliment."
     His eyes grew darker.  "You really don't know when 
to quit."
     "I never quit until I'm ready."
     "It's a habit you should break."  Darien stepped 
closer to her.  "You're messing with something you'll 
never understand, princess," he whispered.
     Serena was about to shoot out another venom filled 
come back when the door opened slightly and the round 
face of one of the royal attendants popped out.  "Oh 
good," he said.  "Both of you are here.  Her Majesty 
Queen Serenity has asked that Prince Darien escort her 
daughter into the ballroom when your names are called."
     Serena gaped.  "But this isn't how we -"
     "Tell her Highness I'd be honored," Darien said 
smoothly, cutting her off.  The attendant nodded and 
disappeared back into the room.
     "And just WHAT did you do THAT for?"
     Darien glared at her.  "Do you really want to make 
a spectacle of yourself before the entire galaxy, 
Serena, by disobeying your mother and walking in 
un-escorted?"
     The princess was spitting mad at her mother, the 
attendant, but most of all, Darien.  The plans have been
changed, she thought, enraged.  A Moon boy was supposed 
to escort me in, not *him*!  How could Mother betray me 
like this when she KNOWS I can't stand Darien??  
Ooooohhh...
     But before she could stew any longer the trumpeter 
sounded inside and an announcer could be heard speaking.
"And now, I'm honored to present..."
     Darien took Serena's arm and she let him with only 
a little reluctance.  Sighing, she forced a regal 
looking smile and stared straight ahead at the door.  
"I hope you're enjoying this," the princess snarled 
through gritted teeth.
     "Not in the least, my dear," replied Darien, 
wearing a similar royal look on his face.  "But would 
you kindly stop clutching at my arm like that...I'm not 
a life preserver."
     Serena, despite his words, dug her fingernails 
into him more deeply.  As the doors opened they revealed
a crowd of brightly dressed women and suited men.  "I 
loathe and detest you," she hissed, desperately trying 
to come up with a nasty and vile name to call him.  But 
before she could the announcer continued.
     "Her royal highness, Princess Serena, escorted by 
an honored guest of the Moon Kingdom, Prince Darien, 
son of King Aaron and Queen Celia of Earth."
     The crowd erupted into applause and as the pair 
moved down the center to a nearby table the men and 
women bowed and curtsied before them.  One man handed 
Serena a rose and she accepted it with a blush.  Darien 
was looking oddly at her and the flower but turned his 
head abruptly as if a sudden thought had entered his 
mind.
     At the end of the red carpet there was a table 
where Aaron, Celia, and Serenity were seated.  Serena 
dropped a deep curtsy before the three monarchs and 
Darien executed a formal bow.  His parents and Serena's 
mother smiled and nodded.  Then amid the hushed crowd 
he looked at Serena and to her surprise kissed her 
cheek.
     Serena felt a strange and alien feeling and her 
cheeks flushed to be a hue as red as the rose she 
held.  She had forgotten the escort was supposed to 
kiss her, and for some reason that had never been her 
reaction when the regular boy did.  Why, when Darien 
had, had she reacted so...well, Serena couldn't figure 
out a good adjective to fit the situation.  Before she 
knew it Darien had moved off into the audience of 
people and everyone had gone back to dancing, leaving 
Serena alone.


The ball wore on and on.  Frankly Darien was utterly 
bored, and happy, though very surprised when Jedite 
appeared next to him at the punch table.  "Hey, Dar," 
his friend said, helping himself to some punch.  
"What's up?"
     "What are you doing here, Jedite?" asked Darien.  
"Are Zoicite, Mal, and Neflite here too?"
     "Nope."  He took a swallow of the punch and almost 
gagged.  "Ick, what is this stuff?"
     "Some Moon drink I suppose."
     Jedite put his cup back on the table and turned to 
Darien.  "Well it's pretty disgusting.  Anyway, the 
others aren't with me, they're back home having some 
sort of a meeting.  Zoicite's little territory...oh, 
the name fails me."
     "Europe you idiot."
     "Yeah, well some of the men there started an 
uproar that upset the villagers in Africa, Neflite's 
vincity.  So they're dueling that out, and Malachite 
stayed for the kicks."
     Darien was silent for awhile before he spoke.  
"Beryl?"
     "Looks to be.  She's starting trouble everywhere.  
It's only a matter of time before..."  Jedite's voice 
dropped to a low tone.  "You don't think full fledged 
war is possible, do you?"
     "Now that the Moon and Earth have reunited, 
anything with that woman is *possible*."  Darien's fist 
banged the table lightly.  "I knew this was a bad idea."
     Jedite nodded.  "But your parents had to take the 
chance.  Serenity is a loyal ally, and there's a rumor 
that she holds the most powerful weapon against Beryl 
here on the Moon."
     "It's not a rumor.  I heard Father and Mother 
discussing it.  The Silver Imperium Crystal does exist 
and Serenity has agreed that if worst comes to worst 
she will use it's powers to stop the invasion.  Her 
only concern is her daughter, Serena.  She wants her 
out of the way."
     "Hey, that's the princess you're always talking 
about, right?"
     Darien sighed.  "The one and only.  I'm starting 
to think it might not be such a bad idea if the 
Negaverse takes her.  She's more than a little annoying.
I don't know why her mother is so worried.  If they do 
capture Serena I'd feel more sorry for Beryl."
     The two laughed.  "Anyway," Jedite continued.  
"Let's not talk about that.  Even if the war is 
inevitable it's a long way off and now is a time for 
dancing, happiness and women."  His eyes swept the 
room.  "Hey, how old is this Serena anyway?"
     "I think about 16, perhaps 15, I'm not good with ages."
     Jedite coughed.  "What, what, 16??!"  Then he 
started to laugh.  "You're...you're getting riled up by 
a mere TEENAGER!!!"  His face turned red and the peals 
of laughter grew more jovial.  "Wait till the guys hear 
about THIS!"
     Darien's face darkened, an obvious sign he wasn't 
amused.  "Look, don't get the wrong idea, I can handle 
a 16 year old girl."
     "Yeah right!"  Jedite pointed an accusing finger 
at the prince.  "Admit it, a little kid is getting 
under your craw.  Big tough Darien can't take the 
pressure.  He, God forbid, looses his cool around a 
teenager.  He's actually mortal!"  The general slapped 
his palms to his face in mock dis-belief.  
     "Knock it off," warned Darien.
     "Hey, I'm just stating the facts."
     "Well go state them somewhere else.  I'm trying to 
enjoy the ball."
     "Yeah right," snorted Jedite.  "You really look 
like it, too.  Congrats on carrying off the appearance 
that you're having fun.  I don't think I've seen you 
crack one smile this whole evening."
     "There's nothing to smile about."
     "Obviously."  Jedite smoothed his hair back.  
"So...when do I get to meet this princess of yours 
anyhow?"  He slicked his hair back.  "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..."
     "Lemmego!" his friend insisted, tugging himself
loose.  "Look, Darien," he said, brushing his tuxedo off
in annoyance.  "You obviously aren't interested in her, 
so that makes her fair game.  Right??  I mean, even if
she bugs you, she might be good for a little fun.  I 
don't get to be with innocents like her very often."
     Darien gritted his teeth together.  "Jedite, if I 
do or do not want her does not matter.  You go near her
and I'll make you regret it.  I may hate Serena with a passion, 
but not enough to let you loose on her.  No chance.  
She's not that kind of a girl."
     Jedite cringed.  He sensed there was more than hate
between Darien and the princess, much much more.  But he
did not dare to insinute anything.
     Darien sighed.  "Look, can we move 
off the subject?  Don't you have somewhere to dance, 
some girl to dazzle with your charm and charisma?"
     Jedite shook his head.  "It may interest you to 
know that my dance card is blank so far.  But it 
shouldn't stay that way for long, I spy with my little 
eye a cute red-head in the corner who's probably dying 
for me to take her waltzing."  He started in her 
general direction when he turned back to face Darien.  
"Hey, aren't you going to get out there and dance too? 
Or are you just going to play statues the whole night?"
     "I'll dance when I find the right girl."
     Jedite glanced around the room.  "You know, I 
think the right girl IS in front of you, maybe right 
under your nose.  Just something about you...makes me 
think you know who you want to dance with, Darien.  
Maybe you just haven't realized it yet."  And with that 
bit of information extended, Jedite left his friend 
alone.
     Darien sighed deeply and swept his bored gaze 
around the many dancers on the floor.  Jedite's 
prophecy sounded bizarre, the only girl he even knew 
at the ball was Serena.  And the strange thing was, 
after that, as his eyes went from place to place she 
never quite left the corner of his eye. 


Serena thanked heaven when she saw the four Inner 
princesses discreetly enter the ball room nearly an 
hour after it had started.  She ran to them as best she 
could in her wide skirt.  "Where were you?" she 
demanded.  "I've been waiting forever, you guys are 
seriously late!"
     Raye rolled her eyes.  "Now THERE'S the pot 
calling the kettle black."
     Serena wasn't exactly sure what that comment was 
supposed to mean - but judging from the speaker and the 
tone she guessed it was an insult.  Before she could 
say anything back, Raye continued.  "I'm sure we didn't 
miss anything worth seeing, and we're not that late.  
Nothing to worry about."
     "Easy for you to say," complained Mina.  "I feel 
faint every time I think about the cute guys we might 
have missed.  And all because of SOMEONE who will 
remain UN-NAMED."
     All eyes turned to Lita who was blushing.  "I took 
a nap and kind of didn't wake up until I heard Raye 
pounding on my door," she explained to Serena in a 
mutter.  "These three were rushing me so much my dress 
never got ironed."  She frowned.  "It probably looks 
awful."
     "It doesn't," reassured Amy as everyone gave Lita's
velvet green dress the once over.  "Well," she said 
reconsidering, "there's a crease down the hind-side 
but..."
     "Oh great!" cried Lita, backing against the wall.
     "It's hardly noticeable!" argued Serena.  "Come 
on, let's go mingle."
     "Yay!" cheered Mina.  She spun out in a circle so 
her friends could get the full effect of her yellow 
gown.  "You like?"
     Raye stepped out next to her.  "What about mine?" 
she asked, striking a pose to emphasize her cute red 
dress.  The girls had all previously agreed it would be 
nice to attend the ball in their own colors as Sailor 
Scouts.
     Mina turned to her.  "My dear, it's stunning!" she
complimented in a die-away drawl.
     "Oh, you think so?" asked Raye in a airy and 
sophisticated voice.  "I love yours!"
     "This old thing?  I just dug it out of the closet 
because my others are being washed."  Both began to 
giggle.
     "You'd think they'd never been to a ball before," 
Amy noted, sweat dropping.
     Lita gave a grunt as she tried to smooth the back 
of her dress by rubbing against the wall.  "I might 
have to stay here the whole evening," she moaned.  
     Serena giggled, happy to be with her friends.  Her 
eyes searched the floor for Darien and found him near 
the punch.  Maybe I'll just step over there, she 
thought, leaving the other girls, making the excuse she 
was thirsty.
     She held her head high and forced herself not to 
see him until she reached the table.  He was standing 
next to another man, very cute, with blonde hair and 
blue eyes a shade lighter than Darien's.  Carefully she 
reached for the ladle, but was stopped by his companion.  
"Allow me, my lady," he said.  Bowing and taking it 
from her, the man poured her a small cup of punch, 
replaced the ladle and handed her the glass.  
     "Thank you sir," she said flirtatiously.  
     "Permit me to ask your name," he questioned.
     "Princess Serena," Serena answered, enjoying the 
way his jaw dropped when she said it.
     "You're the..."  The man looked at Darien.  "She's 
the...princess??"
     Serena smiled, and then put on a shocked face as 
she saw the prince for the "first" time next to the 
blonde stranger.  "Why Darien, hello!  I never saw you 
there, how rude of me not to notice!  But you just seem 
to blend in wherever you go, after all.  And shame on 
you for not telling your friend who I am, I'm so 
embarrassed."
     Darien was watching her strangely as the man also 
looked at her, and bowed more deeply than before.  "My 
princess, forgive me, I had no idea of your identity.  
I am Jedite, general of the Western provinces of Earth."
Jedite clasped his hand in his and brought it to his 
lips, then kissed it gently before dropping it.
     Serena blushed.  She wasn't sure what the look on 
Darien's face was when his friend did that, but it was 
dis-heartening in some way.  Quickly she recovered.  
"It's not your fault, sir," she addressed the general.  
"Rather, it's your friend over there.  Really Darien, 
I'm so embarrassed!  Am I so un-important you don't 
tell anyone you know me?"  She batted her eyelashes.
     Jedite turned to his friend.  "Yeah, Dar," he 
agreed.  Then in a lower tone he said something that 
sounded like, "So this is the girl...very nice, very 
nice..."  She wasn't sure though, and left it alone.
     "So tell me, General Jedite - "
     "Please, just Jedite, your highness."
     "Fine, Jedite, how are you enjoying the ball?"
     "Very much so, princess, I'm having a splendid 
time.  Originally I wasn't going to attend, but then I 
thought of Darien, all by himself, monopolizing all of 
the Moon girls here, and I decided I couldn't let him 
do it alone, and he gets all of the, begging your 
pardon, princess, 'good' women at home anyway, so I 
came."  Jedite looked very pleased that he had come up 
with such a witty answer to her question.
     Serena felt sick to her stomach.  What did he 
mean, "monopolizing all of the Moon girls", "he gets 
all of the good women at home"?  Oh, Darien must be 
some type of famous playboy...granted he is sort of 
good looking, for a cad, and he does seem like he MIGHT 
be charming to some air headed Earth women.  So 
naturally they flock to him.  Of course.  I'll have to 
ask Mina what she knows about this though, she always 
has lots of gossip about everyone.
     Why did her heart, though, when she thought of all of the 
girls Darien must have been with?  It was un-natural, 
almost as if she were jealous...
     Serena shook her head loftily.  No, it was not 
jealously.  You only had that word when love...and she 
most definitly did NOT love Darien.  The very idea!
     Jedite was talking about the Earth and other 
assorted topics.  Serena however concentrated more on 
keeping her eyes off of Darien's and less on paying 
attention to the good looking general.  Finally though 
Jedite moved off, bowing and making the excuse he had 
other matters to attend to.  She was sure that meant he 
had spotted a girl he wanted to dance with.
     This left Serena and Darien alone, and she wasn't 
sure she was ready for that sort of a situation at that 
time, but there was no way to tactfully leave.
     "Well, well, well," quipped Darien in a low voice, 
moving closer to her.  "That was quite a show, princess,
I am most certainly impressed."
     "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."
     "Playing the charmer in front of Jedite.  Well 
I'll have you know he's not the least bit interested in 
an innocent little girl's fancies."
     Serena was shocked beyond compare.  "You vile beast!  
You thought  was flirting with him??  Putting the moves 
on your friend??"
     Darien nodded, a dangerous look in his eyes.  
     "I'm astonished!" Serena said sincerely.  "I was 
trying to be friendly!  What nerve you have, I'll never 
understand it!  And what is it of your business who I 
talk to and in what manner I do?  Since when are you so
paranoid??"
     He didn't answer her.  Was I flirting with the 
general?, Serena asked herself, alarmed.  Suddenly she 
couldn't remember what her intentions were and what 
they weren't.  She had planned to do something...but 
her mind was fogged up and once again Darien's sheer 
presence had made it impossible to think straight.
     Serena couldn't understand...couldn't believe it.  
With a fury she had never known she moved right up 
against Darien, looked up into his eyes.  "I hate you, 
Darien," she hissed.  "I hate you with all my heart...
you and your conceited cocky ways.  I know you're used 
to women everywhere falling head over heels to do what 
you ask them, but let me tell you something, I'm not 
one of those girls...you can't control me, Darien...
never ever."
     "You are such a child," he murmured.  "Do you 
honestly think I'm interested in you?  That's why you're
carrying on?"
     Serena could no longer keep her tongue in cheek, 
and knew she had to get out of his way before she did 
something she might regret later on.  Fuming, the 
princess of the Moon stalked off in as royal a manner 
as she could, hoping he got her message.  I DISPISE 
you, Darien, she thought.  I have never in my life 
hated anyone more than you, and I hope you rot in Hell 
when you die.


Serena spent the rest of the time with her friends, 
avoiding Darien as much as she could.  Eventually she 
found herself with Raye in one of the corners of the 
ball room, sipping punch and eating cookies.
     "So..." Raye began during a lull in their 
conversation.  "When do I get to meet this prince of 
yours?"
     Serena felt her mood darken and she brought the 
cookie she was nibbling on away from her mouth.  "Oh, 
him.  Why did you have to go and make me remember he's 
here.  I'm trying to forget."
     "Is he really that awful?"
     "More so.  You wouldn't believe it, Raye..."  
Serena went on to tell her friend the events the Inner 
Princesses has missed - Darien and her's argument on 
the lawn, his escorting her into the ball room, and 
deserting her on the dance floor as suddenly as he had 
showed up outside.
     Raye whistled.  "Wow, Serena, you really hate the 
guy, huh?"
     "With a passion," Serena agreed angrily.  "He 
infuriates me to no end!  It's almost like some kind of 
spell...all I have to do is LOOK at that man and chills 
run down my spine."
     "Is he cute?"
     "RAYE!!!" Serena cried, outraged.  "What do you 
mean by that?"
     Raye shushed her.  "Keep it DOWN, dummy!  Do you 
want the guests to hear?"  Then she shrugged in reply 
to her friend's question.  "Well, usually whenever you 
have that chilly feeling, he's cute and..."  She 
trailed off seeing the dark look on Serena's face.  
"Well, it could happen.  So, point him out to me."
     Serena nodded and turned her attention back to the 
crowd of people in the ball room.  After only a matter 
of seconds searching she found him talking with a Moon 
girl by the punch bowl.  "There's the creep now, at the 
old watering hole."
     Raye was silent as she followed Serena's gaze, and 
then she gasped.  "Oh my God, Serena...he's the most 
breathtaking man I have ever seen in my life!!  What a 
hunk!"
     "Oh.  I hadn't noticed."
     "How could you not??  I swear, he's the cutest 
thing in this room!"
     Now Serena was annoyed.  "Okay, okay, cut that 
out.  You think he's cute, fine with me, you can have 
the jerk.  Marry him for all I care.  Now, can't we get 
off the subject?"
     Raye chose to ignore her.  "Why aren't you over 
there talking to him?"
     "Are you daft?  I just told you I dispise him!  
Why in the world would I want to be with him??"
     "Well, it looks good...the princess of the Moon 
talking to the prince of the Earth.  And it wouldn't do 
your social reputation any harm, he's very handsome."
     "Oh, get off it, Raye!  My goal this evening is to 
avoid the guy completely.  I have Lita, Mina and Amy 
flanking me from all sides, if he takes a step this way 
they're gonna distract him so I don't have to see his 
face."  Serena looked pleased.  "It helps to have 
friends at times of crisis."
     Raye snorted.  "Crisis my foot.  The prince isn't 
exactly evil or anything.  And you have the others out 
there on a mission like he is one...keeping the enemy 
away.  You're blowing this out of proportion.  But
actually...if you want my help....distracting him, I 
wouldn't mind..."
     Serena laughed.  "Go on, take Prince Snobbish.  
He's yours."
     "Thanks but no thanks.  He's doesn't look like my 
type.  He looks too serious for my tastes...and I run 
more toward tall, *blonde*, and handsome."
     The two princesses stood, watching the other 
dancers and talking for a long time afterward, on any 
topic at all.  Serena was just happy to be rid of the 
subject of Darien.  Still, she had to admit, she had 
felt much better for some reason about him when Raye 
remarked she didn't care for his looks altogether...
somehow safer.


Darien's eyes swept over the dance floor idly.  Jedite 
was back at his side, and was babbling once more on 
something Darien couldn't keep his mind on.  Instead he 
watched everyone dancing and having a good time, his 
thoughts back on the Earth, thinking of sleep and how 
happy he would be when the ball was over.
     Jedite then said something that caught Darien's 
attention.  "Oh, look," the general remarked, pointing 
his fingers at a swaying couple.  "There's Princess 
Serena, she's finally out there dancing with someone.  
I was wondering when one of the boys here would ask her 
for a waltz or two.  You'd think she was avoiding them."
     Darien was surprised to see her there too.  He'd 
never been able to imagine her in the arms of any guy, 
but there she was dancing to a very romantic song with 
a young man who looked to be a noble from the Moon.
     He himself had had a nice amount of time with the 
opposite sex that evening.  Girls were flocking to him 
as they usually did, though none of them really caught 
his attention span for more than a few moments.  It was 
one of the slower evenings actually compared to those 
he had had on the Earth because all of the women at the 
ball had brought a date they spent most of their time 
with.
     Now Darien watched Serena and the boy, he was 
whispering something into her ear and she tilted her 
head back and laughed gaily.  Darien's fist clenched.  
She's mocking me, he thought.  Trying to see my 
reaction to her little performance.  Well...I'll show 
that girl.  
     He left Jedite's side and strode over to a group 
of girls nearby.  They were talking amongst themselves 
and occasionally giggling.  Darien smiled to himself 
and tapped the one who's back was to him on the 
shoulder.  She spun around to face him, and gave him a 
smile in return.
     The girl had glittering blue eyes, creamy skin, 
and blonde hair, two shades lighter than Serena's.  
When she looked closer at him she seemed confused and a 
little wary.  "Hello, ummm...sir."
     Darien bowed.  He knew how to deal with shy girls.  
"Good evening, I am Prince Darien of the Earth, and I'd 
like to request this dance with you."
     The girl shot a look at her two companions, who 
nodded in return.  Then she looked back at him and 
smiled again.  "All right, I accept."  She curtsied. 
     He took her hand and led her out to the floor.  
Then he brought her into his arms and began to dance.  
His partner was an experienced dancer, and let him lead 
without any interference.  "If I may take the liberty
of asking," Darien said after a few moments, "what is 
your name?"
     "Mina," she responded.  "Princess of Venus."
     "Ah.  So we are both of royal blood then.  Have 
you heard of me?  I have of you."
     Mina nodded.  "Yes.  My friend Serena has talked 
about you before."
     Darien almost froze in place, but covered his 
surprise with a dance step.  "Oh really?"  She talks of 
me?  This girl is her friend.  Oh, of course, I should 
have known, her court is made up of the Inner Planet 
princesses.  
     "Yes, often enough.  You tend to get on her nerves."
     He laughed at this blunt statement.  "I see we 
haven't exactly made our feelings for each other 
discreet."
     Mina giggled.  "Serena is one of my best friends...
she's got so many great qualities, it's hard for me to 
understand why she would have any enemies."
     "I suppose we don't see eye to eye on some matters."
     "It would seem so, highness."  Mina looked over his 
shoulder and her eyes brightened.  "There she is now...
dancing with a friend of ours, Charles.  He's the son 
of one of the dukes here, very nice and gentlemanly."
     Darien swiveled his head to see.  There was Serena,
dancing a ways behind them with the same boy he'd seen 
her with earlier.  The two were talking animatedly.  As 
he watched though Serena seemed to stiffen, and slowly 
she turned to face him.  Her eyes looked shocked as she 
saw Mina and he coupled.  Mina was waving, and had 
suddenly taken complete control of the dance, leading 
Darien over to them.
     In a matter of seconds the four were facing each 
other.  Mina and Charles greeted each other  happily, 
and Serena stepped back a little.  She shot Mina a 
quizzical look, and her friend nodded her head at 
Darien and told Serena something with her eyes.  The 
princess of the Moon sighed and crossed her arms.  
"Hey," she said.  "Charles, Mina, why don't you two go 
on and dance...I think I need to sit out a bit."  A new 
song had begun, and partners were re-grouping.
     The two agreed and suddenly Serena and Darien were 
alone.  He could think of nothing else to do but the 
obvious.  "May I have this dance, princess?"  His voice 
was formal but his eyes said he was mocking her.
     Serena looked sharply at him, rolled her eyes, and 
agreed.  "But only because you're the only available 
person left and I have nothing better to do," she 
replied as he swept her into his arms.  They began to 
sway to the beat slowly but surely.  
     At first Serena almost drew back.  Feeling herself 
in his arms...why was it so different than when she had 
danced with Charles or any of the other young men?  
Almost...right, in a cosmic sort of way.  But it's not, 
she told herself.  Darien and I can't stand one another.
"I..." she stated.  "Why are we dancing?"
     "There's nothing better to do," Darien replied, 
quoting her.  "Besides, it's good for our images.  The 
prince and princess of the negotiating kingdoms.  Maybe 
this dance will cancel out our performance at the 
council meeting several days ago."
     "I still say that was your fault."
     "My fault??  You fell into me.  And then you 
started to argue over nothing at all."
     "Over nothing at all??  My honor, my pride!"
     Darien smiled at her with a degrading look as if 
he didn't believe her.  "Really.  My opinion is you 
just like to argue."
     Serena could not believe his gall!  The nerve of 
him!  Oh, she would never understand this Earth prince, 
not as long as she lived!  Did he really have to be so
nasty about everything?  It wasn't as if she had done 
something to him...why did he seem to hate her so?
     "Look Darien," she said with a sigh.  "If you'll 
just be civil from now on, I swear I'll stay out of 
your way if you stay out of mine."
     "I usually try to make it a point to stay out of 
the way of simple minded children."
     Serena gasped.  "'Simple minded'...!"  
     He nodded.
     "I did NOT," she sputtered, "come here to be 
insulted!!"
     "Oh really," he responded in a voice dripping with 
sarcasm.  "Where do you usually go?"
     Serena had absolutely had it with the man!  How 
DARE he insult her in her own place?????  It was 
revolting, the sight of him made her want to vomit - 
her stomach was turning cartwheels so.  Just his voice 
made her want to scream with rage and punch him in the 
stomach.  No one in the galaxy had ever made her so mad,
so starving for revenge.  With every insult he threw at 
her she wanted to think up dozens more but never had 
enough time.  Not even Raye could make her so crazy, 
make her feel so dumb and stupid, inferior.  Something 
would have to be done...so she took action immediately 
without thinking of the consequences.
     With one single movement the princess's foot found 
his and mashed it with her heel.  She enjoyed his gasp 
in shock as he staggered back.  Triumphant, she batted 
her eyelashes at him, ignoring the onlookers.  "Oh, I 
am sorry, your highness," she said in a loud, sweet 
voice.  "But that's what you get for dancing with a 
girl like me, you know how simple minded we children 
are."  The princess tossed her hair over her shoulder 
and retreated, head held high.  Still she would not let 
herself get too excited.  After all, she thought.  I've 
may have won this battle, but not the war...yet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, not exactly the edge-of-your-seat-can't-wait-till
-the-next-chapter ending I was shooting for, but it 
will have to do.  The chapter was already too long.  I 
think they will all be like this.  Horrors!  Look out 
for Chapter 3...(should be a little shorter if I want 
to end it on the right note) in which Serena meets a 
man from long ago...and discovers something horrible...
a promise made long ago at her birth...which could 
change the way she looks at things forever, (or at 
least in this fic!)  E-mail SlrUnico@aol.com to comment!