The Ice Cold Princess:

The Moon Saga Part V

Darien had hesitated a moment before he returned her hug. "God, this feels so right." he thought to himself, "This is how it should always be. Just her in my arms and the Earth watching over us."

"What took you so long?" Her voice was a mere gasp.

"You haven’t needed me until now." He soothed.

"Haven’t needed you?" Her voice had recovered it strength in the indignity. "Do you know how many storms I had to face these past four years alone! How many nights did I cry myself to sleep with no one to comfort me? Where were you?"

"The Ice Cold Princess cry? Is this possible?" Darien thought to himself. "And you survived all of them, didn’t you?" Holding her face in his hand he began. Her eyes were two glasses ready to tip and let the water run down her cheeks. "Lucky tears." he thought. "If I had come every time your life was a little bit tough, then you would have never become the strong independent woman you are today. You would have relied too much on me and not enough on yourself. You would have become unfit to rule your kingdom." She seemed to buy it. Darien couldn’t believe how easy that lie came to him. "Well," he thought to himself, "anything is better than the truth at this point." The tears had left her eyes. Their frigate beauty returned to them. Those twin sapphires had closed the window to her heart that for a moment had open.

"Then, why are you here now?" Her voice was firm and but sweet.

"Serena, you may not know it yet, but you are going through the roughest storm you will ever face. This storm has thunder loud enough to leave your heart barren, and your soul will have to wonder an eternity alone. My princess, I am here to guide through it, so you may reach the light before your heart becomes lifeless."

"Does this storm have a name?" Serena loved poetry and riddles. She knew he had understood that the storms she talked about were the problems she had faced. If this storm had a name, she had to learn it. It was the only way to understand Tuxedo Mask’s riddles, even though deep down she knew the name."

"Yes it does. In the beginning, the universe was created in perfect harmony. Everything had a twin united to him, but one day, the thunder saw this and feared the power this union had. So it came down on all the creatures of the universe and separated the twins. The powerful Thunder thought this would be the end of that power, but the twins vowed to reunite. Throughout eternity, they search for each other, until they one day unite again....."

"You humans love that tale,." Serena interrupted.

"And you Lunars love the red rose ...how did you know I was human?"

"You just told me. I guessed that since the tale was from Earth then....."

"You laid the bate." Serena took a step forward eliminating any space between them. She raised her hand to his mask.

"Who are you really?" He pulled back immediately .

"I am a friend." He did not want her to know who he was. If she did, then he would never be able to get close to her again. "That is all that you need to know."

"Does this friend have a name?" She childishly walked towards him.

"God, she can be so seductive in her innocent ignorance." he thought, "How I wish I could eliminate that ignorance with my lips, but no, the time has not yet come. When it does, I’ll have all eternity to teach. Now, I have to awaken her desire to learn." He took a deep breath and gave her his most seductive smile. She felt her heart skip a beat.

"What’s going on with me?" she thought, "My heart never did this before." She smiled back and asked, "Well?"

"You gave me my name as well as my mission. My name is Tuxedo Mask, and my mission is to save you from the darkness of this storm called Loneliness in Fear. You are afraid to love, and that will lead to a void of loneliness in your heart that NO ONE and NOTHING will be able to fill." His voice was passionate and powerful. His eyes were filled with idealistic glory, and on his mouth was the seductive smile of success.

Serena stood taller; her eyes were filled with the alluring passion of a new challenge. The red roses of her cheeks were in full bloom; she stood ready for the challenge. "But my dear Tuxedo Mask," She began with a tone of superiority. "I’m afraid you are wrong considering three things. First, I love my family; second, I love my friends, and third, if you are referring to the love between a man and a woman, well, it does not exist."

The blood began to boil in his veins. "How dare she?" he thought. A strong desire to kill her and kiss her filled his heart to the brim. "I see this is going to take some time, princess." he lovingly whispered into the night’s air. "Shall we begin at the beginning?" she shrugged in response. He stretched out his hand to her; she shyly accepted. With his suave use of finesse, he led her to her bed. They both sat down, and he took her hands into his. They were so cold, he could barely warm them with his larger more powerful hands. "I guess the old saying , cold hands, warm heart, isn’t true." he teased.

"How would you know the temperature of my heart, if you have never been there?" teasing ,she smiled. "My dear angels, am I really flirting?" she asked herself.

"Then, let me in." He leaned closer, then whispered, "You are not afraid of having a real man in there, are you?"

She leaned closer so that their lips were only a few inches apart, and softly, as if she was talking to a baby, said "My father is in my heart, and he is a REAL man. If I ever let another in, I assure you, it will be a real man, not a boy like you." She never thought flirting or teasing would be so much fun.

"Ouch, the flower has thorns."

"Of course, I’m a white Lunar rose. Delicate in appearance, but..."

"Deadly underneath. Is there any taming for this wild rose?" They were still only a few inches apart. "God, give me strength to overcome this erg. I want her to fall in love with me, not the mask. If I kiss her, I lose her." he thought.

"Would you like to try?"

"It would also help if she stopped flirting." he pleaded. "I won’t try; I’ll succeed. In the end, I will see you walking down the isle and into the arms of your true love." Serena pulled back and started to laugh hysterically.

"I’m sorry....but....but the thought......of me in.......love.....is just ridiculous....." she manage to say in between giggles.

"This is going to be a long night." he thought.

"What makes you so sure that I will fall in love?" She was serious now.

"Because you can, so you will."

" ‘I act because I can’, Why I move, my best essay to date. Using my own work against me is not nice."

"You also said ‘...impulse is the power to create, so I am the power to move creation.....’"

"What, did you memorize the essay?"

"No, I just use the best definition of the love you deny."

"I see were you are going. If I define it, then it must exist."

"I see we are in the same level. You defined love as yourself, therefore you are capable of loving."

"The only thing that can happen between a man and a women besides friendship is lust."

He pulled the covers over her. "We’ll continue this tomorrow. Just remember, you just said the relationship between your parents is based on lust."

She opened her mouth to protest, but he silenced it with his index finger. He placed his hand over her eyes to close them. Sleep soon drowned her. He kissed her forehead lightly, and with the rays of the rising sun in the guards eyes, he jumped to the top of the tower. "Tonight is another night princess. Be prepared." he whispered into the new born day.

"Serena, wake up!" Queen Serenity screamed. "How can you still be asleep?! It’s your birthday, and there are a million things to do before the ball!"

"It’s too early! Come back latter!" She whined.

"TOO EARLY?! Serena , is TWO hours after dawn. Those are TWO hours you over slept!" Serenity was screaming at the top of her powerful lungs.

"No it’s not! Is TWO hours that I slept!" Serena corrected covering her head with a pillow.

"How can you do this to me today of all days?"

"Well, if we had gone to Neptune like I wanted, we wouldn’t be having this problem, now would we?!" Serena was cranky, tiered, and disappointed. Today was not going to be a good day unless she slept a little longer. Unfortunately, Queen Serenity was not having a good day either. She pulled Serena’s covers off, grabbed her arm, and pulled her daughter to the floor. With a loud thump, Serena realized her bedroom floor was covered with rose petals of all colors.

"Huh?" Serena looked around her room to find fourteen dozen red rose arrangements. There were two on her bureau, two on her oak escritoire, five on the rounded pine table, which was usually filled with fruit , snacks, and plans she discussed with the Scouts and the General about the kingdom, and two on each of her oak night stand. "Mom, is this your doing?"

"What?! You mean is not yours?"

"No? I wouldn’t have gone this far." she said as she pointed to her bed, with was covered with red and white rose petals.

"I’ll find Jedite. You get washed." Serenity ordered. Serena took a quick bow and headed for her bathroom. She opened the heavy mahogany door slowly.

"Mother, I think you should take a look at this."

"What is it now?" The Queen entered the bathroom and gasped. Nothing much had changed to the bathroom. The bath tub was still as deep and large as an Olympic swimming pool except for a section against the corner designed as a shower. If you wanted to take a shower, the water still came down in the form of a waterfall from the wall. The faucet was still made of silver and gold. There were really only two differences. The floor was covered with colorful rose petals, and floating on the surface of the bathtub, was a blanket of red Earthen roses. "Serena, is there anything you would like to tell me about this?"

"I have no idea who did it?"

"I was afraid you were going to say that. JEDITE!!!!"

"How may I be of service madam?" Jedite entered the room and made a quick bow to his regents.

"What do you now of this?" the Queen demanded.

"I only deliver, but there is a card in one of the arrangements." he informed with a wicked smile.

"This one?" Serena picked up a white soft envelope from one of the arrangement. She opened it,

"Serena?" her mother began.

"I have no idea." she answered.

"I hate to interrupt this mother daughter conversation, but princess, you have a meeting with Prince Audacious of Barbarous about Barbarous’s Moon." Jedite reminded the shocked princess.

"Oh, I nearly forgot. I’ll join you both in the August Veranda. Could you make sure everything is ready?" Serena grabbed her morning dress and ran into the bathroom.

"You need not ask." Jedite bowed one more time and exited.

"So, Darien will you do it?" Jedite and Darien were walking towards the August Verranda. It was the oldest terrace of the castle. It’s once white fence was now covered with a Mercurian rose bush filled with blue roses. The floor boards had that old comfortable feel of old wood. Its long rectangle with table with matching chairs were antiques themselves, and the wooden frame white dome was also tangled with the blue roses. The glistening sun illuminated the sight.

"Anything that will help the princess, but...will he accept the Earth as an arbitrator?" Darien responded.

"He has too. It was part of the conditions to have this meeting."

"To have Earth mediate?"

"No, to have the princess pick the adjudicator."

"And will she want me?"

"She will have to. She said I could chose."

"Jedite!" Serena called from down the hall. Both turned to face her. "Is everything ready?"

Jedite and Darien took a quick bow. Jedite answered, "We are only missing Prince Audacious. Oh, and Darien is going to arbitrate."

"Did you fill him in?" Serena asked taking an official folder from Jedite.

"I thought it best you explained." He answered. Serena examined the contents of the folder. A quick smile escaped her lips. She began,

"Very well., as you know, the Barbarous Moon has been divided for two decades now. One have has belonged to my family since Barbarous came into existence; the other belongs to the Barbadonian royal family. The moon was divided before any scientific analysis of the terrain was made. It turns out that our half is filled with natural reassures, while the other is barren. My father gave me the responsibility of ruling this half for my thirteenth birthday as a way to prepare me for my future rule. All was calm until seventy-two hours ago when Prince Audacious placed his troops in attack formation at the Northern Boarder."

"Isn’t that the civilian boarder?" Darien interrupted.

"Yes it is. Audacious threatens to attack unless I give him my half of the moon. This meeting is to peacefully work out a deal without war."

"It seems easy enough. Are you going to do as he asks?" Darien asked.

"So he can pull the same stunt when he wants something else? No!" Serena’s heart was pumping; her blood was running through her veins as a land mower runs through grass. This was one challenge she did not plan to lose. "It looks like he has arrived. Shall we enter?"

"If I was dealing with your father, I might have been incline to be afraid, but I’m not. You see, your father is an excellent Chess player, and he knows how to sacrifice a few pawn, but you princess, you value pawns too much." Prince Audacious was a handsome prince. His eyes were the color of the sea, and his hair was a light golden . He was well built and knew it. He loved to show off his muscles. With looks he did not receive a heart. He cared more about his hair than his suffering people.

"You forget Audacious, I am a Chess master myself, and even the smallest pawn can become a queen." Serena was strong, confident, and insulted. The introductions were over, and business had begun. She was also quite aware of Darien’s stare. They were sitting on the rectangle table. Audacious was a the head of the end closest to the fence, while Serena was at the opposite end. Darien was sitting in the center of the right side of the table. Jedite was standing behind Serena, and Audacious had a guard dressed in a silver uniform behind him. "Before we begin, I am going to ask one last time for you to pull back your troops and desist this useless game."

"No." Audacious responded.

"Very well," Darien began, "Shall you place all your cards on the table now please? Audacious, please go first."

"Well, there is not much to say." He passed a folder to Serena and another to Darien. "Seventy-two hours ago, my troops , as you can see from the satellite photos, took their position on the Northern Boarder. They have orders to attack in three hours unless told other wise. Oh, and the people of the area have been told that this is just a routine practice and not to be alarmed. In other words princess, checkmate."

"How could he be so cruel?" Darien asked himself, "All those children enjoying their summer vacations, and he wants to attack? How can he pick on such an innocent child that does not have the experience needed to take care of the situation?"

"You are wrong Audacious. You have me in check, but not mate." A wry smile formed on her face. She slid the folder Jedite had given to her in the hall to Audacious as Jedite gave a copy to Darien. "As you can see from my more recent satellite photos, I have placed my satellites Conveyer and Castigator in orbit, and used them to send the Noxious Virus to any and all computer and electronic devise on your half of the moon and your entire planet. As of six hundred hours, your planet has been lost in the Stone Age of technology. In other words, checkmate."

"Maybe she is not so inexperienced after all." Darien thought, "After all, she is strong, independent, and intelligent. The only thing she is missing is a man for her to love and be loved by, but I’ll take care of that soon enough." He took a deep breath and began out loud, "Majesties, this situation cannot continue. Audacious, you need to move out your troops, and Serena, you need to give Audacious the cure."

"Weren’t you listening?! This is the virus that destroys all the data in the CPU, not to mention every other bit of information in the system!" Audacious screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Actually, I have developed a cure." Serena said with a wicked smile. Both men turn towards her.

"You?" Audacious asked in disbelief.

"Well, I created it, so therefore it was only fitting...."

"And you will give it to me under what conditions?"

"First, you must remove your troops from the area manually; second, you must promise never pull a stunt like this again. Third, you must give me your half of the moon, and fourth, you must grant me permission to set up military bases in your capital."

"That’s out rages!" Audacious screamed.

"Take it or leave it." Serena smiled.

"I agree with Audacious. The military bases are too much. You are imposing your government on his and violating is universal rights. Besides, he has learned his lesson." Darien stopped talking and picked up a quill. "I think the only fair way to solve this dispute is to have Audacious grant Serena’s first three requests in exchange for the cure and a promise that she will not attack his people in the time they are defenseless."

"I am not going to give her my land!"

"Why not? You were willing to take hers." Darien protested.

"I think the agreement is fair." Serena stated.

"Besides, the people on your moon will love the arrangement." Darien sweet talked.

"You cannot do this to me!"

"Correction Audacious, I already have." Serena loved it when she made a grown man cry.

"Do I have a choice?"

"No." she smiled. Darien gave her the paper he was writing on to sign, and then he passed it to Audacious, who was not very happy with the results.

"Oh, if you do decide to break the treaty and do this again, just remember that I will not hesitate to send my new Herculean Virus to your planet. What this one does to your computers makes the other look like the common cold." Serena firmly stated.

"Is this a threat.?"

"I do not threaten; I warn!"

"Well princess, I must say I am impressed." Darien said as soon as they were alone.

"Why, did you not think me capable of pulling such a feat off?" Serena asked indignant.

"I thought you quite capable. I just did not know you were such .........." Darien searched for his words carefully, "such a good chess player."

"Well, now you know." Angrily, Serena turned to leave as Jedite returned. He had accompanied the prince to the door.

"On a whole, you did a good job..."

"But I made a few minor mistakes." she interrupted Jedite.

"Yes," he continued, "you said ‘take it or leave it.’ He could have left it. You never end the negotiations before they are complete. You also used one of our most prized weapons in this and left it useless...."

"I did NOT leave it useless. The cure I am giving Audacious is an untraceable, one time use only cure . No one will be able to use it again."

"You also revealed the existence of our new virus."

"Who would want to buy the cure for Noxious when there is a new more powerful strain in town."

"You also bargained for a useless piece of land."

"A useless piece of land that will ensure peace for a while, give me the reputation I want, and...."

"And what?"

"Our miners found diamonds in an underground cave that until five minutes ago was in Audacious’s territory." Serena gave him an innocent smile.

"You are a devil, you know?" he smiled back.

"Anything else?"

"Did you talk to Darien about the flowers?"

"Huh?" Serena was thoroughly confused.

Darien tried to signal Jedite by moving his index finger back and forth on his neck. Jedite saw the signal a little too late.

"Never mind. I must be confused with someone else." he try to correct, but Serena was already trying to make sense of his statement.

"If that is all, I will go see my mother now." Serena gave the Lunar bow without lowering her head or eyes and left.

"You are an idiot!" Darien hit Jedite over the head with his hand.

"Excuse me, why did you give her such a beautiful present, if you are not going to take the credit?" Jedite asked annoyed.

"I will take the credit, but tonight when I give her present."

"You mean the roses......"

"They were just something I thought she would like to wake up to. Her present is this." Darien showed Jedite the surprise he had in store for Serena.

"Well, you’ve done it again my friend."

"It’s elementary my dear Jedite."

"Mom, do you have a minute?" Serena came into her mother’s study. She was signing a few document and ordering a new Guardian uniform.

"For you dear, a lifetime." Her mother looked up happy to see her.

"Is that time of the day." Since Serena was able to talk, her mother had set aside five minutes of the day to talk with her daughter. It could be a conversation as simple as what to have for dinner, and as complicated as Serena falling in love. The point was, not to lose touch with her daughter.

"So, anything on your mind?"

"Did you find out who sent the roses?"

"No. They apparently were not ordered from the Moon."

"Huh?"

"The messenger said the company that sent them is on Earth, and they received the order from somewhere in the galaxy, but they are not sure where."

"That’s weird." Serena took the seat in front of her mother. "I saw him again mother. He is real. He is as solid as you or me."

"Who are you talking about?"

"Tuxedo Mask." Serenity looked up.

"Is he five feet six inches?" she smiled. Serena tried to hold back the laughter. She remembered begging her parents to measure a how high her shelves were, so she could know how told he was.

"No, he is much taller and older."

"Funny, I didn’t hear thunder last night."

"He said he was here to protect me from a different type of storm. According to him, I need to learn how to love ."

"And you do. Serena, I know you disposition on the subject, but I hate to think that you think that lust is what keeps your father and me together."

"Mom, I know you and dad have a special relationship, but....."

"Did he said how he was going to teach you?"

"No, but last night he began shooting down each of my arguments. I’m not convinced, but he didn’t do a bad job of arguing against me."

"Sergy, it was probably your unconscious mind reasoning with you. Since you will not admit you are wrong, then it took the form of an old friend."

"You really think that? But the hug?"

"Your mind playing tricks on you. Did he kiss you as well?"

"On the forehead when he left...."

"This proves my case! If he were real, then he would have kissed you. What better way to show you that love exists."

"But if we do not love each other, and he is only a friend......."

"I see were you are going. Don’t worry. If I am right, you will know tonight. Lets change the subject. How did your meeting go?" Serena smiled in response.

"Nice psychological analysis, Serenity. I’m sure Sergy didn’t buy it!" The Queen scolded herself. She smiled a moment at her daughter’s nickname. Serena had begun to talk at a very early age with a bad pronunciation, and when it came to saying her name , Sergy took the place of Serena. Serenity had kept the name because it reminded her that Serena will always be hers.

"Who sent the flowers?" she continued. "Could it have this Tuxedo Mask? Well, one this is certain; only a human would think of such a present. Only a human could have seen my daughter’s likes and dislikes so fast. Only a human could have made her smile like that." Serenity closed her eyes to visualize her daughter’s face that morning, that bright smile that gave life to the topaz of her eyes. "Only a human could have done that.

"Who is this Tuxedo Mask, any how? Lets see, the first time he appeared was during the Benevolent Raid, four years ago. Serena was left alone." She stood up and walked to the window. She saw the entrance of her beautiful gardens; she also saw Darien entering the gardens. "No, she was not alone! You were here with her! Only a human could have done that for my daughter. Only a human could have returned a little of that brilliance that once was infinite in her eyes. Only a human could have touched her heart.

"I can’t thank you enough, but I also can’t let you in and out of my daughter’s room every night. Unless you are very careful Darien, you will get caught. I will not be able to protect you then." She turned to the door as it opened.

"You called my regent." the boy that had been chased by Helot the day before asked.

"Yes, how are you?"

"Fine madam. I like my new school and friends."

"I’m glad that you find the Lunar Academy, to your liking. I need you to do me a favor."

"As you wish."

Serena was sitting against an old thick weeping willow tree. The roses seemed to have taken care of themselves this afternoon. Her eyes slowly closed with sleep.

"This is how princess fall asleep for one hundred years."

"What?" Serena turned to see Darien sitting next to her. "Why won’t anyone let me sleep today?!" She whined.

"Didn’t you sleep last night?" He asked worriedly.

"Not until dawn."

"That explains why you didn’t hear us." he mumbled.

"What are you talking about? Here what?"

"Nothing. So, do you really like the Wild Gardens?"

"No, I adore them."

"I thought you were incapable of loving?"

"I never said that! I said that I didn’t believe in the love between a man and a woman."

"Then you are capable."

"No....I’m too tired to argue!" Darien warped his arm around her shoulders and gently pulled her closer. She was too tired to resist. Soon, she was sleeping on his shoulders.

"Sleep my gentle princess, sleep. Tonight is going to be a long night." He lovingly whispered into her ear. She slept for an hour with a gentle loving smile. He caressed her as she slept. A gentle cool breeze began to form. Because she began to shiver, he warped his cape around her. The cool air refreshed her eyes.

"Huh, how long have I been asleep?"

"About an hour." Serena sat up and removed his cave.

"My apologies Prince Darien, I must have been more tired than I thought."

"Prince Darien? What happen to plain old Darien?"

"What? Oh, I.....I guess I’m still half asleep, sorry."

"Then lay back and finish your nap; you didn’t bother me."

"No, I’m fine."

"Sure meatball head."

"I asked you to refrain from calling me that."

"What?"

"That!"

"What? Meatball head?"

"Don’t call me that! Why are you smiling like that?"

"Because I got my way."

"Your way was to annoy me."

"No, my way was to make your blood boil, so your cheeks would turn that lovely hue of red." He slowly caressed one making her blush even more. "You know, you are very pretty when there is color in your cheeks."

"And you are very handsome when your mouth is shut."

"Now, now princess, remember your manners. What would your mother say?" Serena burst out laughing. She couldn’t believe how well Darien had imitated her nana, who one day would be her human mother, so well. "You look beautiful when you smile. You should do it more often."

"And you look so gorgeous when you are not acting like an idiot. You should act like this more often." she flirted.

"Hmmm, warm hands, warm heart." he said as he took one of her hands. He had kept this hand in his as she slept and melted the ice in her veins.

"What?" Serena took back her hand. Both were warm. "They are usually cold." she explained.

He smiled at her and placed his arm around her one last time. "Then you are the Ice Cold Princess, aren’t you?" He pulled her closer. The angles opened the gates of hell in her stomach turning it into an inferno if emotions. He lowered his face onto hers.

"What time is it?" With her last bit of self-control, she pulled away. Darien took out his pocket watch,

"Four o’clock."

"Oh no, I’m late!" She quickly got up and left running.

"I’m wearing her down." he whispered to the weeping tree, "I’m wearing her down."

After being late to all her afternoon appointments, Serena sat now opening her first set of presents in front of the ball. These were from the planets that were not in the galaxy. She received fine jewels and pretty dresses, but nothing personal. The second set was similar. She opened the presents from the planets in this galaxy. The only that were personal were Neptune’s golden sea shell pendent, Uranus’s crescent moon ring, Saturn’s star bracelet, and Pluto’s full moon watch. The presents she received from the Scouts and the Generals would be opened latter.

The dance began, and Darien claimed the first. She enjoyed dancing with him, even if she did not admit it. He was anyone’s perfect partner. Gentle, adapting to her changing style. He even let her lead when he was not comfortable with the music , instead of making a fool of himself.

Half way through the evening, she disappeared’ from the dance floor and the ballroom. No one had noticed when she stepped out. All the princes search the room like crazed wolves for her, but one.

"Here you are! You know every prince here is looking for you!" Serena turned in shock to see Darien.

"How...how did you...."

"Where else would you go but your room or the Wild Gardens, and since I can’t go into your room..."

"You know me that well already?"

"Well, I was hoping you would come here."

"Why?"

"So I can give you the third part of your present."

"Third part?"

"The first was the rose in the spaceport, the second were the flowers this morning...."

"You gave me those roses?" she interrupted in disbelief.

"Well, who did you expect?"

"Tuxedo Mask." she thought.

"The third is this." He took out a small velvet black box from his cape. She opened it.

"Oh, it’s beautiful but....." Inside was a beautiful golden ring. It had a crescent diamond connected to the ring by a rose shaped ruby, and next to the ruby, there was a round sapphire.

"But what?"

"I can’t accept it."

"Why not?"

"Because it......"

"Because the rose symbolizes the union between Earth and the Moon?"

"No, because......because it...."

"It looks like an engagement ring."

"Yes."

"But that is the best part about it." He pulled out the ring followed by a long golden chain. "On your finger for love; one your neck for friendship." He placed it around her neck. "Don’t worry princess; I will see it on your finger soon enough." he thought.

"Thank you." Before she disappeared into the night, she took a step forward and lovingly, kissed his cheek.

Serena had mysteriously appeared for the last dance, which she danced with Darien. She now sat in her room with the Scouts’s and the Generals’s presents in front of her. They came to her room after the ball to give them to her.

Mars had given her a golden candlestick. It had a crescent moon as a body, and it was wide enough to hold Serena’s favorite scented candle. She had also given Serena a silver sacred candle to go along with it. If Serena lit this candle and concentrated hard enough, she could talk with any dead member of her family.

Mercury gave her an old leather bound book. It was the first edition of Love and War, A Moon Story. This was a collection of old Moon legends and Serena’s favorite childhood book. It contained all every story from the "Rose Legend" to "Mysterious Masked Visitors." She had become quite interested in the last lately.

Jupiter gave her a crystal globe with a bit of thunder and lightning inside. This was to help Serena with her fear, and because Lita wanted her friend to visit her home planet, she believed that this would be a good way to show her friend the beauty of thunder.

Venus gave her a love charm. "If love does exists, it will show you were to find it." she explained. "This is the best present I can give you." The charm was a petal from a Venusian orange rose in case in glass. It reflected the light from the scented candles in her room like the moon reflects the light from the sun.

Jedite had no idea what to give her. He wanted to make his present special, but it was not until that morning that he found it. He was walking outside a jewelry store when he saw a diamond broach in display. It was shaped as a rose and as brilliant as her eyes.

Nephrite was very careful in getting her the perfect present. He bought a magnificent crystal bottle, and, on one of his missions, he filled it with star dust of different colors. "Anytime you want to make a wish, write it down and sprinkle it with some of the dust, and watch it come true." he had explained.

Zoisite, understanding the stage Serena had just entered, gave her what all girls that age want. In a wine velvet case, Zoisite had placed the essential make-up kit designed for Serena. She had struggled with the Four Sisters boutique to give her the exact tones, and it finally paid off.

Malachite bought her a Tuxedo Mask porcelain doll. It was an exact replica of what he had looked like four years ago. "This way, you will never be afraid of thunderstorms again, princess. He seems to be the only one that can ever do that." he had explained.

"I guess mom was right." Serena thought as she looked at her fine old silver watch, "He was just a figment of my imagination.

"Lady Aims? Why are you here so alone?" Aims turn to face the youngest adviser of Serena’s court.

"Greg, I did not here you come in." They were in the Crystal Computer Complex. All the computers that ran and protected the Moon Kingdom were kept in this room, and they were all crystal powered.

"Why is the most beautiful girl in the ball hiding?" Greg said shyly. Jedite and Darien had advised him to flirt with her a little, but it was just too against his character. Aims was wearing a long sky blue gown. It was tight from the waist up serving as almost a second skin and loose from the waist down. It was the model of the classic princess dress. Greg, on the other hand, was simply wearing a tuxedo.

"I’m not hiding."

"Then, what are you doing?"

"I was looking at the kingdom through technological eyes."

"And what do you see?"

"Peace and quiet."

"Do you know what I see?"

"What do you see, Greg?"

"I see the girl of my dreams."

"Greg, you dream with every girl in the kingdom because of your gift of sight."

"Yes, but I dream of you more than anyone else."

"Why? Is my future so active?"

"No, because I love you."

"Greg.....I....I don’t know what to say."

"Don’t say a word." He came closer to her and slipped his hands around her waist. He lowered his head and slowly kissed her. His stomach was set on fire; hers was flooded with emotions. Their lips burnt with slow passion.

"I love you, Greg." Aims gasped. "I love you like I thought never possible to love."

"And I love you, my Lady. I love you more than a rose loves her thorns." They slowly kissed again. In each other’s arms they found their passion, their love, and their happiness.

"Promise you will never leave me."

"I swear upon my life." He took her lips into his one more time. They savored all the sweat castigating passion. It was moments like this that gave Lady Love all her glory.

The fireworks began to crash in the sky.

"Some one screwed up with the timing again." A guard under Serena’s balcony said.

"Shall we watch?" the other asked.

"Sure. It wasn’t our fault."

As the guards watched the fireworks, Darien leaped from the tower to Serena’s balcony searching for his own. He had waited all night for this, and he was going to have some fun. Serena was not in the room when he first came in. He sat nonchalantly on her bed and waited.

"Happy birthday, princess." Serena dropped the glass of water she was holding. "I’m sorry, did I scare you?"

"I wasn’t expecting you for another four years."

"Ouch, I take it you haven’t forgiven me."

"No, I have, but last time....."

"Last time was a passing storm; this storm is not moving."

"Again with the same thing?" she whined

"It is my mission."

"Even on my birthday?"

"Even on your birthday. Here," he took out a glass rose from his cape, "this is for you."

"It is breath taking." she admired, "Thank you."

He was glad he had thought of it. He had to make sure Serena did not begin to compare the Mask with the princes. Other wise, he might get caught too soon.

"Shall we begin?" Her shrug was the only answer she would give. They took their positions on the bed.

"I want to correct what you said last night." she began.

"What?"
"You said that I said that my parent’s relationship was based on lust. Well, the truth is I think it is a combination of friendship and lust."

"A simple friendship plus some hormone equals Serena." he teased.

"Not simple! A strong bond between the two. One that is unbreakable!"

"Love is the only bond that strong." he protested.

"Love, the way you are referring, does not exist!" she complained.

" ‘Love is what makes the universe turn,’ Secrete Powers by Queen Serenity."

" ‘ Love is part of the human imagination to create strength,’ The Truth by King Altruest."

"The rest of that essay goes on to explain how it cannot be so."

"But that is his thesis...and mine!"

"You said it, thesis! It can be disproved because it is not a fact!"

"It can also be proven because it can be true!"

"Or false!" They were talking with passion, but not screaming. They respected each other’s opinions too much to do that.

"Why can’t it be true?"

"Because if you are right, then everything done for love, the mountains climbed, the oceans swam, and the wars fought would be in vein. Besides, their had to be a power stronger than a simple living creature to do all these things!"

"You give people too little credit. You would be surprise at what one person can do when pushed to the limits."

"And what pushed these people? Lust? Serena be serious. If it was lust they felt for their women, then they would have found another to sedate their appetite."

"But people tend to want what they cannot have!"

"Then, why don’t you want to feel love, if you truly don’t believe it exists?"

"Don’t you think I do? Don’t you think I want to feel that passion that inspired countless poets and warriors?! I would love to feel that emotion, but it doesn’t exist!"

"You speak as if it did."

"Well, it doesn’t!"

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because if it did ....then I wouldn’t have to deal with these princes that are only interested in my Kingdom. They come and profess love; they treat me like an object. Make me feel dirty and worthless......" Tears were running wildly down her cheeks. "and just plain old stupid for ever believing in love."

Tuxedo Mask took her into his arms. A desire to kill every single prince that had ever came in contact with her hit him like an ax. "But you weren’t. Just believe and you will find it."

"Where? Among those princes? You’ll sooner find a needle in a haystack!"

"They can’t all be that bad."

"There is one that is different, but he is as annoying as a fly!"

"Who?" As he did not know.

"Your prince!"

"His majesty Darien? And all this time I thought he was loved by the ladies."

"He is immature, annoying, selfish, egotistical......"

"And you are in love with him." he said with a smile.

"And you’ve lost it!" She dried her tears as he stood up. He pulled her covers around her.

"Sweet dreams my princess, and I haven’t. You are just in love with him."

"You’re crazy!" she said indignant. He closed her eyes, and with the first rays of light in the guards eyes, he jumped out the balcony.

"Yes, crazily in love with you!" He confessed from the top of the other tower, "Be prepared for this war of the hearts, princess, because I plan to take no prisoners.

************************************************************************ Well what do you think? E-mail me your comments at sailor_nena1@oocities.com.