The Moon Saga Part VI

"Wake up pretty princess." Serena turned in shock towards the male voice.

"What are you doing in here?" She quickly pulled the covers up to her neck.

"It wouldn’t be the first time."

"But much has change since then." Serena looked at the door. It was locked as she had suspected. "You have to the count of five to leave the room, or I’ll start screaming!"

"You wouldn’t dare."

"One, two, three, four, five…Dad, there is a strange man in my room!"

King Guile, Prince Darien, and General Jedite were walking towards Serena’s room.

"Finally, the last day of the celebration!" King Guile exclaimed. "I thought it would never come."

"Yes, and with this end comes another. Darien will leave soon." Jedite mentioned.

"Darien, you shouldn’t leave so soon. It would do you well to stay a while longer."

"At your request, I already move my departure four days."

"And what time is that? You’ll just see the castle go back to normal and miss its real beauty." The King protested.

"Dad, there is a strange man in my room!" a muffled voice screamed behind an old wooden door.

"What is the meaning of this?" King Guile protested.

"Shall we find out, sire?" Jedite asked ramming Serena’s door open. All three men had their swords drawn.

In side, they found a young prince with golden brown hair and matching eyes sitting next to Serena on her bed. He looked like a miniature king Guile. Strong and well built, this prince did not seem the least bit worried. At his side, Serena looked terribly annoyed and embarrassed.

"Gilbert, what is the meaning of this?" the king asked annoyed.

"I’m sorry, uncle. I came to wish Serena a late happy birthday, but I think I scared her instead." The prince answered carefully.

"More like an invasion of my privacy!" Serena protested. Jedite put away his sword and instructed Darien to do the same.

"His majesty Gilbert, has always taken the liberty to enter your room without your permission." Jedite reminded Serena as he took her robe from its hanger.

"The last time he was here was three years ago, and much has changed since then!" Serena protested.

"I am afraid my daughter is right, Gilbert. You had no business entering this room without her consent." the king reprimanded.

"But....but uncle, she is like a sister to me."

"It’s still not right!" Serena protested.

"Why?!" Gilbert demanded.

"Because much has happened!"

"WHAT!"

"Puberty!" Serena answered with all her strength.

"And all this time, I thought it was because I came late."

"Like you could have avoided the meteor shower that stalled your ship?" Serena asked as Jedite helped her put on her robe. "I’m not that spoiled!"

"Yeah, well why do you not yell when the other one visits you?"

"What other one?!" The King demanded.

"I have no idea, but when I arrived last night, I was going to wish her a happy birthday......"

"You never came last night. I tossed and turned until dawn, and I didn’t hear a sound." Serena defied.

"Maybe you were to busy listening to that guy talk to you about love!"

"Please, that only happens in fairy tales! Besides, I have no suitors claiming to love me!" At least she didn’t lie. No one that had proposed had ever mentioned love. "You probably went to the wrong room!" Serena got up and stormed out of her room. She went straight down towards Darien’s room and stopped three doors before his. The men followed indignant. "How is my favorite princess?" Serena asked in a voice full of tenderness, fitting of a mother. The men entered inside in time to see her take into her arms a one year old babe.

She was startled at first. She took some of Serena’s hair into her hands, and then she took her own. It was obvious that she wasn’t use to seeing blond strait hair. She had beautiful black curly hair and dark green eyes. They were two emeralds shining with delight as she finally recognized Serena. "Moonie falls!" She screeched in delight, "Moonie falls me too."

"Lets see..." Serena quickly examined the length of the girls hair, "enough for the moons but not for the water falls." The child folded her arms and pouted,

"But I want Moonie Falls!"

"Serene, you know better than to scream like that!" Gilbert reprimanded.

"Gilbert please! You don’t have to be soo mean!" Serena reprimanded.

"Gilbert? What ever happened to Gill?" He asked indignant.

"You lost that privilege when you came into my room without permission!"

"Will you two stop it! You’re cousins, and might one day be married!" The King screamed.

"When hell freezes over!" Gilbert responded.

"When the angels lose their wings!" Serena added. "Come on Serene. Lets take a bath." Serena stormed out of the room with the baby in her arms.

"Are you insinuating something by that?" Gilbert followed her out.

"I would hate to see those two married." Darien said frankly. His heart had shattered when he heard the king scream.

"So would I." the king agreed. "That is why I teased them about it. They would never agree to it."

"I can see it now." Jedite began to joke, "The moon will be in turmoil as the new king tries to save his hide from the queen’s newest mood swing." Gilbert stormed passed the door and continued to his room. It was obvious that his mood was not a good one.

"Serena! Won’t you ever give me any pleasure?"

"Oh, hello nana. What’s wrong?"

"What’s wrong? WHAT’S WRONG?! I’ll tell you what is wrong! You never let me pamper you any more!" She looked around the room for something to do. The bed was perfectly made; Serena’s bed clothes were hidden correctly behind her pillows. Serena, herself, was fully dressed and ready. She sat in front of her vanity mirror with Serene on her lap. She carefully brushed her hair and began to place it into two balls on the baby’s head.

"Well you know what my mother says, ‘Don’t let anyone do anything for you, if you can do it yourself!’"

"Yes, but I am quite sure she would not mind me brushing your hair once in a while."

"Or me, for that matter!" They both turn to see Luna enter the room.

"Luna!" Serene giggled in delight. "Gi’me kiddy lov’!" Serene opened her arms wide. Luna jumped on her lap and began to kiss her as Serene hugged her.

"My, how have you grown!" Luna exclaimed. "When your mother last brought you, you could only try and grab Serena’s falls. Now, you have moons of your own."

"She could have falls too, but I don’t want to blow out her hair so soon." Serena mentioned.

"You hear that, princess? You are going to have curly falls" Luna smiled at the child.

"Curly falls! Curly falls" Serene clapped in delight.

"Well, now is time for our big day together." Serena placed the brush down, "We are going to start in the Placid Gardens." Serene laughed in approval.

"Hey, you have Serena’s meatballs." Darien said as he picked up a small baby into his arms. "Where is your momy kiddo?"

"In ta Stars." She giggled.

"And where is the person that is supposed to be taking care of you?" She turned around and looked for somebody. When she failed to find her, she began to wail. "Don’t cry, honey." He began to soothe. "Here." He began to toss her in the air. Giggles soon drown her voice. Her emerald eyes shown with delight.

"Serene!" Serena screamed in shock. She ran toward Darien and took her from his arms. "You scared me for a moment. Don’t ever disappear like that again, all right?"

"But, the big monsta waz going to et me!" Serene protested.

"Big monster? Oh, you mean Voracious. No, he will not eat you because you are too fast for him, but next time warn me when you are going to disappear. I do not need any more heart attacks."

"Serry’s boyfriend." Serene pointed to Darien.

"What?! No!" Serena replied a bit embarrassed. The color began to rise to her cheeks; her sapphire eyes twinkled with life. She had never looked more ravishing, to Darien.

"Does the idea bother you THAT much, princess?" Darien took a step closer to them. He raised his fingers to Serene’s belly and tickled her; she laughed in delight. "Well?"

"What idea?"

"That someone thought I was your boyfriend."

"I am not that self conscious to let what others believe bother me, but I do NOT want Serene to have incorrect information about anything."

"You mean, you tell her that all the princes are monsters so you will not have to share her with us."

"No, the incident with Voracious was a different story."

"Really?"

"Serene was picking a berry from one of the bushes when he accidentally mistook her fingers for raspberries....."

"Did he bite her?"

"I did not give him time!" She laughed as she remembered hitting Voracious over the head to make him drop Serene. Darien took another step forward. Serene raised her arms toward him; obeying, he picked her up. She grabbed a chunk of his hair and played with it.

"Hey, someone else who likes my hair as much as I do!" Darien teased.

"Just be grateful she doesn’t really like it."

"What makes you say....AAAAAHHHHHHH!"

"I guess I was wrong!" Serena laughed as Serene pulled Darien’s hair with all her might.

"Mine!" She screamed. Serena took her into her arms in a defensive posture. There was no way she was going to let Darien yell at Serene. "Serry’s hair black! Me want!" The child wailed. Darien took out a small dagger from the back of his boot and cut off a locket of his hair.

"Here you go." Serene took it in delight.

"That was the same thing I did this morning to calm her down." Serena thought, "How can a man be so understanding?" Serene pulled a blond locket from her pocket and joined the two.

"Cee," she giggled, "Serry’s hair black!" Darien felt the two lockets; they were similarly soft and delicate. "Serry kiss her boyfriend tank you now?" The babe asked innocently.

"Serene! I told you he isn’t my boyfriend!" Serena reprimanded softly.

"Why don’t you kiss me thank you, Serene?" Darien tickled her belly once more.

"O.K." She placed her lips on his cheek. "Kiddy lov’!" She clapped after she was done. "Now you kiss Serry thank you!"

"Hey, you little cheater!" Serena tickled, "Why don’t you kiss me yourself?"

"Out of kishes!" She shrugged.

"Well, I’m not!" Darien exclaimed. He kissed Serena’s soft smooth cheek, but when he went to kiss the other, their lips playfully brushed against each other. Darien stepped closer; Serena let Serene tangle to the floor. He moved his hands around her waist; hers were softly placed on his chest. The hearts beat irratically on the same note. He lowered his head torwards hers. "In a few seconds, I will have claimed those lips." he thought, "I just have to make sure she is ready." She was on the tip of her toes with her head as high as it would go. She was trembeling, but decided to go along.

"My angels in heaven, what am I doing?" she asked herself. She couldn’t seem to pull away from this trance. "This feels so...so....so good, right, and beyond my control. Angels, why have you opened the pearly gates and let all the souls of the saved into my essence?" They were only a centimeter a part. Both had given into the moment. They were ready to finish what they had started.

"There you are, Princess Serene!" Darien and Serena turned towards the male voice. "My most sincere apologies for the earlier mishap."

"MONSTA!" Serene screamed in fear. She ran and grabbed Serena’s legs. As an immediate reflex, Serena picked up the child and began to hum a lullaby.

"Prince Voracious, I plead you to excuse my baby cousin, but this afternoon’s incident has left her traumatized beyond my control. Please wait until the child forgets the.......fright."

"As you wish." Voracious carefully eyed Serena. When he had turned from Serene to look for the princess, he received the impression that he had interrupted a brotherly hug from Darien. His interpretation of the scene would have been much different if he had not been assured by Darien himself that the only thing between the princess and him was a family bond. "Are you all right princess? Your cheeks are much too red, and your eyes are very glassy." He commented. Serena’s cheeks were very, but not too red. They were filled with the healthy hue of excitement, desire, and life. Her eyes were not glassy. They were just twinkling with the elements that made her cheeks so red.

"Yes, I feel fine." and to herself she said, "Maybe too fine."

"Uh, hello?" a seven year old voice asked.

"Yes." a strong voice came from the tree.

"Are you the... the Story Tree?"

"Yes."

"I...I...the queen sent me to find your daughter." The boy placed his index finger in side his collar and pulled on it.

"Nena, you have a visitor." my mother called.

"Well, hello Sergio. How are you?" I asked as I sat floating in midair. The boys palms became very sweaty. I stood on the ground to see if it would help him calm down. He placed his right hand over his heart and bent forward. I recognized this as the royal Gemini bow. Queen Serenity must have taught it to him. With out looking up, he began,

"The queen wishes to know if there really is a man named Tuxedo Mask entering her daughter’s room at night, and if there is, who is it?"

"Tell the queen," I began very indignant, "that she knows very well my vows. No one is to know what I have written, until the story is finished. She also knows that I cannot interfere with their lives, so if there was such a person, I could not open my mouth."

"But...but..." he began to protest, "the queen has been so nice to me. You can’t sent me empty handed."

"Offer your services in a different light." I replied sternly.

"Different light? What do you mean?" he asked confused.

"This riddle, you must solve on your own." I took the opportunity to vanish into thin air.

"Is she always like this?"

"Give her time." my mother answered.

Darien was putting the last touches on his out fit. The ball would begin in a few hours, and he did not wish to be late. He touched the burning spot on his lips that Serena’s breath had kissed. "If only that annoying little brat had NOT interrupted us, I wouldn’t be alone at this moment." he thought. He could still taste her total submission to him. "She was ready; I know she was! The only good thing about the interruption is that it prevented confusion. If her emotions had flooded her like the forty rainy days flooded the Earth, then she might call it lust and run away scared.

"But, was it lust? What am I saying? It was too powerful to be just lust! If it was, I wouldn’t have taken so long to kiss her! I would have ravished the moment! Forced her to me! But isn’t that what I’m doing? I’m using a more tenderly painful method, but aren’t I forcing myself to her? Forcing her to love me? But I am fighting for love! Love would not let me go the wrong path! "Stop daubing yourself, Darien! Don’t be an idiot! Don’t let victory scare you of!" He stood up and went out. "Serena!" he said in shock, "What are you still doing here?"

"Serene delayed me a little." She smiled as Serene came out of hiding behind Serena’s legs.

"Serry’s boyfriend....upa!" She demanded.

"Serene, how many times must I tell you he is NOT my boyfriend!" Serena lightly reprimanded as Darien picked her up.

Serene giggled a "yea right!" She hugged Darien tightly and kissed his cheek. "You no monsta. You Serry’s lov’"

"Serene!" Serena whined, "I’m getting angry!"

"Kiss her happy De!" she demanded.

"Are you sure she will not turn me into a frog" Darien teased. Serena playfully smacked Darien in the arm.

"Be careful I don’t turn you into Voracious’s lunch!"

"I’m sorry!" He lifted his free arm in defense, "I’ll never do it again!" He put Serene on the floor so she could walk ahead. Ever since she learned how, Serena’s and Darien’s arms where the only one’s she would stay in. They began to walk when Serena dropped a star-shaped golden locket to the floor. It opened and began to play a beautiful melody. They both reached down for it, but Darien had the advantage of seeing it fall first. "Very pretty. Is it a gift from a handsome prince?" he teased as he crossed his fingers hoping it was not.

"Actually, from a king. My father gave it to me yesterday. It is the golden locket from the story." She explained.

"What story?" he asked as nonchalant as he could.

"Darien, that is the second Earth related love story you do NOT know!" she reprimanded.

"Well," he sat Indian style and placed Serene on his lap, "tell it to us."

"In the beginning," she began with a sigh, "princes and princesses were betroth at birth. They were not allowed to chose the spouse they wanted, so the question of love never came up. One year, a princess was born so beautiful and so charming that all the kingdoms wanted to engage her to their first born prince. Among the suitors was a an ugly old sorcerer. He ask the child’s parents for the hand of the princess in the name of love, but they denied it because richer suitors were available. Torn with grief, the old sorcerer created a locket that played a beautiful melody. He enchanted it with an engraving, ‘Love will enchant. Love will conquer. Love will shed the light.’

"On the princess’s fourteenth birthday, she was sent to Earth to meet her prince. Her betroth was not human; he Vastermarquian. They choose to meet on Earth because it was the only planet who did not sent a suitor. Her betroth was as handsome as the newborn day, and he made her feel adjust. The marriage was planed, but the princess was miserable. She did not want to marry her prince, but she did not know why.

"The day of the marriage, she went to see the Earthen queen. She was never able to find her. Instead, she found an old passage in one of the walls. She went through and into a room that was filled with a mysterious music. An old magician stood weaving a wedding dress out of corals behind the table that separated them. ‘Why so sad, princess?’ he asked, ‘Today you shall be married.’

" ‘I know not why I am so sad.’ she answered.

" ‘Why? Don’t you want to marry your prince?" he asked.

" ‘I fear the prince who waits for me at the alter is not mine!’ she confessed.

" ‘Then take this locket and search for the one who is yours!’ he offered. The minute the child picked up the locket, she was transported into Avilon, where time and space hold different rules. There she saw the old sorcerer, young and rich. ‘Be mine.’ he pleaded.

"‘Until the end of time.’ she responded. Suddenly she was dressed in the coral dress he had weaved.

" When they came looking for her, all they found was her lying dead with a bright smile, dressed in a coral dress, and the locket in her hands. On the table the found a note that read,

"The end!" she finished.

"And your father gave this to you because.....?"

"Because he wants to remind me to look for more than looks when I choose a husband."

"I thought it was because he wanted to remind you that love should be the main factor in marriage. I recall the story now, and you changed it a bit."

"Time does that to a story."

"You changed ‘love in the stars’ to ‘happiness in the stars.’"

"Every culture remembers a story the way they want to." She reasoned.

"O.K. How do you know this is the real thing." She turned the locket around to show him an inscription. It read,

Darien recognized the writing as an ancient, dead language.

"All this proves is that someone created the locket based on the story, not that it was the magician." He complained.

"Do you believe in love?" The question threw him off guard.

"Of course."

"Can anyone ever prove scientifically that it exists?"

"No, but..."

"Well, I believe in this locket in the same way." He softly caressed her cheek. She wanted to cry, but why?

"Have I done something wrong?" he wondered.

"Serena! Darien! Serene! You are all very late!" Luna screamed from down the hall.

"Chill, Luna." Artimis joined them, "They look like they are having much more fun up here."

"Gi’me Kiddy Luv’ Art!" Serene demanded. The white cat jumped on the babe’s lap and kissed her until her face was all wet. Serena picked up Serene, who was a little ball of giggles, and whipped her face.

They were lucky no one, besides the king and queen, seemed to notice their late entrance. The food was delicious, again, and the dance exquisite. Darien dance almost every dance with Serena. Her long white princess dress shown magnificently in the star light. They twirled around most of the time, except when Darien made the horrible mistake of asking Princess Antoinette to dance. She was an annoying princess, who mistook a simple act of civility for a proposition of love. Darien had not known this; he picked her because she was the only one not dancing. This should have given it away, but Darien’s mind was somewhere else at the moment. Three steps, and Serena was in his arms.

"One of these days you have to tell me how you do that." she demanded.

"What?"

"Suddenly appear as my dancing partner when I agreed the dance to another."

"Does it bother you?" He crossed his fingers.

"Yes and no, it is very hard to keep track who I’m dancing with, if you appear every five minutes!" she complained.

"It should make it easy because you know sooner or latter you will be dancing with me. Why is it that you don’t mind?"

"Because the angles has just sent you dragging and screaming to hell." she teased.

"What have you been drinking, my sweet princess?"

"Nothing new, and you?"

"The usual. Why?"

"Because you just asked Antoinette to dance."

"So?"

"She will think that you have proposed."

"Very funny." He laughed nervously.

"Why do you think she is looking at us like she is planning my death?"

"Because I made her dance with her brother."

"Try because she thinks I stole you." she corrected. They made a turn followed by a dip.

"Are you sure that isn’t what happened?"

"Keep dreaming."

"Don’t worry; I will!" he laughed to himself.

"Chad? What are you doing still here? You should be resting!" Ray demanded.

"I CAN’T! I can’t sleep, eat, create, or..."

"It is just another block. You’ll get over it. You always do." She reassured.

"Not this time, princess! It is not a block; it is love!"

"What?!" Ray screamed in surprised, "I mean, that’s great. Do I know the lucky lady?" "So I can bash her head in." she finished to herself.

"That’s not the problem! The problem is she is not a Lady; she is a princess!" he sounded desperate.

"What? One of those air heads stole my man’s heart. When I know who she is, I’ll hit her with all the strength the Sacred Flame will give me!" She thought before she began out loud, "Well, how does she feel?"

"I don’t know! I tried reading her, but she is too complicated!" he was about to cry.

"How can she not notice?" she asked herself.

"I would give anything to know!" he cried desperately.

"Do...do you want me to ask the Sacred Flame?" She swallowed hard. "After all, he is my friend. I can’t bear to see him like this." she thought.

"NO!"

"Why?"

"Because...because...because you may find out who it is!" he sounded defeated.

‘Why...why is that a problem?" she was scared now.

"Because....because.... Ray I can’t hold it back anymore! The feeling is too strong! Ray, I love you!"

Ray took a step back in disbelief, "What?"

"I love you! I know it might never work because you are a princess, and I just a knight, but....I rather never write another note again, then lose you!"

"Oh Chad," tears where in her eyes. "how could I’ve been so blind? No, I know! I was too busy hiding my feelings for you that...."

"Ray, what are you saying?"

"I love you Chad! I love you more than I love the Sacred Flame!"

"And I you...more than I love my music."

"Oh Chad...." He silenced her with his index finger.

"Just kiss me." They leaned closer and softly kissed. These were kisses of catching up. Catching up the time they had lost hiding. They were one now. In the past, present, and future, they were one.

"Ray...hey you let go of my granddaughter!" Ray’s grandfather came in looking for his granddaughter, and did not find a pleasant sight. He grabbed a nearby broom and began to chase him around the castle.

"But grandpa, I love him!" Ray protested.

"You are too young!" Grandpa reprimanded, "When I get you, I’ll skin you alive!"

"But master....I love her!" Chad pleaded.

"DON’T YOU MASTER ME!"

"I never thought Ray’s grandfather had so much energy." Darien thought as he saw Chad being chased by Ray’s grandfather and his broom, and Ray running after the two. "I guess they must have confessed their love. Well, since the guards are busy watching them, then I guess I should watch the Princess." He jumped from his balcony to hers. He softy enter to find a heart warming sight. Serena had her back to the window and Serene in her arms. Serene was falling asleep while Serena softly sang her a song:

She began to hum the song:

The babe slept quietly in her arms. Tuxedo Mask approach them from behind. He placed his hand on her shoulder; she pulled away in surprise.

"It’s me, my princess."

"You...you gave me a scared." she whispered.

"Is she sleeping?"

"Like the baby she is."

"Why is she here? Shouldn’t she be in her own room?"

"This afternoon’s incident with Voracious gave her nightmares. This was the only way to calm her."

"I see I have taught you well."

"Maybe too well."

"Maybe we should skip tonight’s lesson. I would hate to wake her."

"As you wish." Serena put the baby in her bed, and laid down at her side.

"Why don’t you put her in the crib?"

"I tried that, but she began to scream." Tuxedo Mask sat opposite Serena.

"You’ll make a great mother someday." he said.

"Do you really think so?"

"I know so. The only thing you are missing is a man to love you and for you to love."

"Love between a man and a woman does not exist, remember?"

"Don’t you want to bring your children into a warm loving home?"

"Yes, but...."

"Then you will have to love your husband!"

"Who says I will have a husband?"

"What? Serena, you need a husband to have a kid!"

"Not with today’s science. A man is no longer required."

"How can you say such a thing? You’ll have a clone, not a child!"

"The clone is a child. She will have the same genetic code as me, only she will be younger."

"And how are you going to explain why she is the only girl without a father."

"While she is too young to understand, I’ll tell her that he is dead. When she is older, I’ll tell her the truth." They were whispering harshly, and Serene nearly woke with their noise.

"Wouldn’t it be easier to fall in love and have her the way nature intended. A whole new being in mind and matter. Someone unique to this world. Not a copy, but a child of love."

"But the love you talk about does not exist!"

"It does! You just have to let it into your heart."

"I don’t believe you."

"Would I lie? Would this child lie? The very reason she was created is the love you denounce. She was born into a happy home, like you were. She has two loving parents, like you. Don’t you want the same for your child?"

"Yes, but..."

"No buts about it. After you learn how to love a man, you will understand that." He whipped away a single tear that had escaped her eyes. "You will learn." He closed her eyes and let her fall asleep. He silently wished that they could have another night like this one someday in their future. He could see Serena, a bit older, lying with their child in her arms.

He laid his arm around the two. "We would be an amazing pair of parents." he whispered, "We would really now how to protect." He closed his eyes and saw Serena sitting on a rocking chair with a baby girl in her arms. Calming and soothing, Serena would breath life again into the child. He also saw himself with a boy. He would teach him how to throw roses and charm the ladies. Between the two, they would raise two perfect royals.

The first rays of the new born sun began to peak in through the windows. He kissed the two good night and left. Once in his room, he changed into his pajama and got into bed. He would need his sleep for now she had no excuses to run. A devilish smile crossed his face as he thought with delight how his new plan would work splendidly.

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Part VII

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