The Ice Cold Princess:

by Sailor Nena

"Darien, will you please join us." The queen invited.

"Thank you." Darien sat in front of Serena. With in a fraction of a Second, he had a plate of hot cereal, a plate toasts with butter, a glass of orange juice, and a glass of milk in front of him. Serena had not looked up once.

"Will you excuse me, but I have some things to do." Serena began to stand up, but King Guile motioned her to sit back down.

"You are not leaving this table until you finish your breakfast." Guile informed.

"But, I’m full, daddy."

"Tell it to someone that cares." Serena sat back down, and reluctantly, began to eat.

"What are you planning to do today, Sergy?" the Queen asked.

"I was going to take Serene for a walk."

"Not today."

"Why not?"

"Your father and I are taking care of her. She is our family too."

"But...."

"There are no buts about it." the King interrupted.

"What do you wish me to do then?" Serena was annoyed.

"What ever you want." the queen responded. "Why don’t you spend the day with Gill?"

"When the angles grow horns." she sarcasticlysmiled.

"Then spend the day with Star Light." her father offered.

"You mean it?"

"Of course, just be very VERY careful!"

"Thank you!" Serena kissed her father on the cheek. Then she did the same to her mother, and began to run out of the room.

"Serena say good bye to Darien." her father ordered. Serena rushed to Darien’s seat and kissed his cheek.

"Bye." She left the room running. Darien’s cheeks blushed a bloody hue of red. Queen Serenity smiled to herself.

"How is my favorite afternoon buddy." Serena asked.

"She has missed you a bit, but she is as wild as ever." Serena was leaning against a stall and staring at a magnificent white stallion, who had a golden crescent moon on her forehead. "I wish you let me tame her, princess."

"Our friendship is taming enough, John." John was the royal horse keeper. He took care of every horse in the castle and trained them all, as well.

"Want to go for a ride?" the horse nodded in response. "Great!" Serena began to mount her horse when Voracious and Rapacious came by.

"Allow us to join you." Voracious demanded.

"Not today, boys. I want to go alone."

"But we can’t allow that." Rapacious protested.

"But I want To be alone." Serena really wanted to spare their horse the trouble. Voracious had an over weight mare that could barely walk, and Rapacious’s was so thin, that a blind man could see his ribs. Serena’s protest went unheard. Both princes took their tortured animals for a walk. Serena thought animals were like people. This was partly because she had been talking to them since she was a child. She thought of Star Light as another friend. She had never tamed her, and when she had first seen the white stallion in the moon country, Serena had asked her if she wanted to come to the palace with her. Star Light had accepted the invitation.

They walked slowly on a beginner’s trail for half an hour before a breathtaking black bronco caught up with them. "Darien, I did not know you rode." Serena commented to make conversation.

"There is much about me that you do not know." he flirted.

"Like what?" she flirted back.

"Like that I am a great rider."

"Really?"

"Really."

"Better than me?"

"Better than any of my previous opponents." Darien had learnt his lesson during his sword fight with her. She was a woman of many skills.

"Want to put your skill to the test?"

"What do you have in mind?"

"A short race around the hills."

"What do you think Black Beauty?" The horse nodded in response. "We’re game."

"Fine, we will take the main trail to the Lover’s Bridge. There we will make a right toward the Dark Fairest. Finally the first one to reach the lake wins."

"Sounds like fun."

"Voracious, would you start us off."

"Sure. On your mark, get set, go...." The two started to run at lightning speed. They were neck and neck through the main trail, until Serena took a sudden detour. Darien followed her carefully. She moved into rocky terrain and rode skillfully through it all.

"Where are we going?" Darien finally asked.

"The other side of the lake."

"Huh, but you said...."

"Sorry, but I just wanted to lose those two."

"So you used me." Darien stopped his horse. Serena did the same.

"No, I let you help me."

"You used me."

"Come on." Serena began again, and Darien followed. The country was wild and rocky. They soon came upon the lake, which was the sun’s favorite mirror.

"I tricked you, but doesn’t the scenery inspire you to forgive me. The birds are singing, the flowers are in full bloom, the lake is breath taking..."

"You are forgiven." Darien dismounted and approached her, who had done that a while ago. "This is a beauty of a place. Why did you not bring Voracious and Rapacious along?"

"Because they would spoil it with their comments."

"And I won’t?"

"You have some respect for nature. I trust you not to destroy this place for me."

"You trust me?" He took a few steps closer. He slipped his hands around her small waist. He was going to kiss the rose petals of her lips, but she pulled away.

"A little."

"Why?"

"Because you have been honest with me."

"Have I?"

"At least, I haven’t caught you in a lie, yet."

"Your expecting me to lie?"

"I find that most men like to lie."

"But I am not like most men."

"No, but you’re not that different."

"In what way?"

"You will stop at nothing to get what you want."

"Neither will you." Darien stepped closer to her. He folded his arms on his chest and gave her a seductive glance. She was wearing a skin tight white ridding outfit. She had a matching white hat. He had on a similar black riding outfit, except he wore a silk loose black shirt.

"I do have scruples."

"Really? I haven’t seen them."

"I haven’t seen yours either, but...."

"But what?" He stepped closer. There was no space between them.

"Jedite believes that you have some."

"You trust Jedite a lot?"

"With my life."

"Look out!" He pushed her to the floor as a man dress in green tried to stab her. Darien grabbed his arm, and Serena rushed to get something from her bag. The man took out another dagger and stabbed Darien’s arm. He screamed in pain and let go. The man turned to stab Serena, but she was a step ahead of him. She injected a strong sedative into the man’s arm and watched him faint.

"Darien, are you all right?" She was worried and scared.

"He only got my arm." Darien pushed her away.

"Oh no, you don’t. You saved my life; the least I can do is take a look at that arm." She grabbed his other arm and motioned to sit down. She tore off his sleeve and observed the wound. "Stay still." She returned to her saddle bag and took out a first aid kit. She opened a bottle of water and washed his cut. "Does it hurt?"

"Not more than it should." Serena softly blew at the wound to soothe it. She took out a clean bandage and slowly, but firmly wrapped the wound.

"Want me to kiss it better." she teased.

"Please." he smiled. She kissed it slowly so it wouldn’t hurt.

"Thank you."

"For what? You are the one that gave ME first aid."

"But because you pushed me, I wasn’t stabbed."

"Anyone would have done what I did."

"But not just anyone would have taken a stabbing for me." She kissed his cheek. "Thank you."

"You surprise me, Princess."

"What did I do?"

"You tended my wound like a pro."

"I have been taking first aid curses since I was five."

"But you didn’t panic or faint at the sight of blood. I don’t know many princesses that can do that."

"Blood doesn’t bother me, as long as it is not my own. Come on.’

"Huh?"

"We have to get you and him to Andrew fast."

"Can’t we rest a bit. Being stab takes allot out of you."

"You rest. I’ll get him on my horse."

"What?!"

"Well, the sedative will wear off in a few hours. We have to make sure that he is in a jail cell by then."

"I am not letting you ride with an assassin!"

"Who said I was going to ride with him. I’m putting him on my horse, and I’m ridding with you."

"You just placed yourself in the tiger’s lair, my Princess." he thought to himself.

"You’re a lucky man, prince Darien. That cut was purely superficial." Andrew said as he rebandaged his arm.

"It doesn’t feel that way."

"It won’t look that way either. It’s going to leave a nice little scar on your biceps. The type girls go wild over."

"I guess it won’t kill me." he joked.

"So doctor, will he live?" the king asked as he entered the infirmary. It was a large room with two rows of sixteen beds on either side of the room. There was a large window at the end that brighten the plain white walls.

"He’s O.K."

"Darien, this is the second time I thank you for saving my daughter’s life. Speaking of whom, where is she?"

"Dr. Rita is taking a look at her."

"I thought Darien was the only one hurt."

"The Princess hurt her wrist in the fall, but nothing serious. She’ll whine for a while, but that’s it. Dr. Rita is also taking blood samples for her research project."

"Oh, yes. I forgot about that. How is it going?"

"We have isolated a potent anti-bacteria in her saliva. We believe that is why she can use it to cure the rose bite. The blood sample is to see if she also has it in the blood."

"Interesting. So, will Darien be able to dance?"

"Of, course. I’ll send him a nurse to change his bandages before dinner."

"Make sure she’s a pretty one." the king teased.

"Who’s pretty?" Serena asked as she came into the room.

"The nurse your father wants me to send to change Darien’s bandages."

"Good luck finding her." she laughed.

"Why?" her father asked.

"Well, Linda is on her honeymoon; Belle is sick. Lisset tends to make the cut worse, and Pearl is a hundred years old."

"She’s not!" Andrew protested.

"Oh, 99 1/2 years old, close enough!"

"Well, we’ll find one." the king encouraged. Serena walked next to Darien and took a look at his bandaged arm.

"Did you get any stitches?" she asked.

"No, just those bandages that are really thin in the middle to keep the wound close."

"Why do you have it bandaged, then?"

"He is too overprotective."

"Welcome to my hell."

"Hey!" Andrew protested.

"Just kidding." she smiled.

"Well, may I remind that the clothes the Prince is required to wear include extremely tight shirts. That might irritate the cut, or remove some of the bandages!" Andrew defended.

Darien took a look at his tuxedo. It was perfect for tonight. "I will soothe you to sleep, my princess. I will scare all your nightmares away. I will protect you when you sleep like I protected you when you were awake." There was a knock at the door. "Who is it?"

"It is I." a female voice answered. He quickly put away his tuxedo and mask. He went to the door and opened it. "Hi, I am here to change your bandages."

"You?!"

"Yes, me! Why are you so surprise?"

"Your father said a nurse, not his daughter!"

"Well, he thought that I ‘insulted’ the nurses so much that I should do this myself."

"Come in." He stepped aside and let her pass.

"Roll up your sleeve." He lifted his arm to show her that he could not roll it up. "Well, then take it off." Her heart began to beat erratically. She suddenly became very hot as her stomach went ablaze.

"If you insist." He unbuttoned his shirt and carefully took it off. He sat on the bed, and she followed. She opened a white box with a big red cross on the cover. Slowly, she pulled out a pair of scissors; carefully, she began to cut the bandages. Her hands trembled a bit. "Are you all right."

"Mhm."

"He can’t hurt you anymore."

"I know." she removed the bandages and took a clothe damped with water. Slowly, she washed the cut. "Does it burn?"

"A little." Once again, she softly blew on it. "Does it burn you?"

"I’m not the one who was stabbed."

"You know what I meant."

"A little."

"Do you want to talk about it."

"No!" her voice was firm in its sadness. He lifted her face torwards him.

"Now, why don’t I believe that?"

"Because you are so untrusting."

"Serena, you shouldn’t keep it all bottled up inside."

"Who are you? My therapist?"

"Better, I’m your friend."

"After a while, you just get used to it."

"This has happened before?"

"Seven, this year alone."

"Who? Why"

"Something called the Negaverse. When I was younger my mother tried to explain, but it was one of those things were she didn’t explain. My dad doesn’t like talking about it, so I can’t get an answer from him." Serena finished bandaging his arm. "There, all done."

"Nice job."

"Thanks." she lightly kissed his cheek.

"For what?"

"For everything."

"Any time."

"Darien, would you do me the honor of giving me the first dance."

"Only if you grant me the last." She smiled in agreement.

"I’ll see you in a few minutes then."

"Where are you going?"

"Finish getting ready." Darien took a good look at her. She was wearing her favorite white dress with matching pearl earrings, bracelet, and hair pins. She had applied a light layer of make-up, and placed her hair in its usual manner.

"You look ready to me."

"Darien, who taught you your eloquence?"

"My father."

"Well, he did a superb job. Now if only we could get rid of your arrogance and bad looks, we could make a decent Prince out of you yet."

"Hey!" he threw a pillow at her, which she blocked.

"What? I was only being honest." she giggled. Her eyes had regained their life. Her cheeks were as red as the setting sun, and her smile could melt the heart of the Arctic.

"It was worth the insult." he whispered.

"What?"

"Your smile."

"Again with the eloquence. Well, I better hurry, and Darien..."

"Yes."

"Don’t forget to put your shirt back on." She hurried out of the room with her heart beating like a wild horse. "Another minute and I would have never left. How could I have let him get to me? Why did I ask him to dance?

"As a thank you." she reminded herself. "He saved my life, so I asked him to dance. Besides, I rather dance with him than any of the other two-left feet princes. Is that such a crime?"

Darien and Serena sat next to each other at dinner, and danced all of the first thirteen dances. She was so calm and happy in his arms that she didn’t want to leave them. After the thirteenth dance, they disappeared into the gardens. In the main garden, there was an old rocking bench hidden behind the ivy vines. This used to be her favorite reading corner as a child. Now, she brought him there. She did not understand why, but she felt it was right. They sat next to each other looking at Earth. "Beautiful night." she mentioned.

"Exquisite."

"Darien, tell me about Earth." He turned and smile at her. His arm slipped around her and pulled her closer. She leaned her head on his arm and placed her legs next to her body.

"What do you want to know?"

"Everything."

"That narrows it down." They both let a gentle laugh. "Well, the days are beautiful with blue skies, cheerful birds, and colorful flowers. Nature is in perfect harmony with the world, and at night, our skies are blessed by the moon. That beautiful white pearl brightens our nights."

"What about the beaches?"

"What about them?"

"Well, your planet has allot of water. In fact, two thirds of the planet is covered with it. How does it look?"

"It is a richer blue than the sky, and more vast than your lakes. It extends from one horizon to the next stealing a bit of the sky. The sun loves to hide behind it, and its silky sand caresses your feet."

"It sounds wonderful."

"It is. You should come and see it some day."

"I will." Serena’s locket fell open and began to play. She swiftly picked it up but did not close it. "Darien, do you believe in the story of the locket.’

"I believe there is a grain of truth behind every story. Why?"

"I was wondering..."

"What?"

"Do you think it is possible to reach Avilon?"

"Why? Do you want to go?"

"I....I just want to take a break for a while. Forget about responsibility, life, my self. Just start over in side."

"Well, I think that everyone has an Avilon."

"What’s yours?"

"This place."

"Here?"

"Yes, because it is so calm and tranquil."

"You say this after being stabbed."

"But look at our surroundings. We are in the midst of flowers and trees. The air smells sweater than honey, and the company is pleasant."

"Funny how two people can see the same thing and get two different impressions. This has come to symbolize my prison. I am trap in these flowers, air, and company. I can’t seem to escape."

"I didn’t know you needed to be rescued."

"Neither did I, until tonight." He lifted her face onto his.

"Do you want to be rescued?"

"I don’t know. It is a sweet prison." He lowered his face onto hers.

"I can show you a sweeter one."

"Where?"

"Here." He took her hand and placed it over his heart. She kissed his cheek.

"I’m not sure I want to brave a new frontier." She got up to leave.

"Afraid, meatball head?"

"I told you never to call me that." She turned to face him.

"Why? Meatball head is such a suiting name for you."

"Darien, you’re asking for it." She turned and left.

"How can you leave when I just opened my heart to you? Why are you so afraid of entering? Why are you so afraid of letting someone in? Don’t you know that this is the sweetest prison you will ever find? DON’T YOU KNOW this is your Avilon?"

"Hello."

"Who are you, and how did you get in here?" Darien took a step back and reached for his sword.

"I am a friend and threw the door."

"The door was locked."

"Who said I opened it?"

"How else would you have gotten through?"

"By becoming transparent." I touched my broach to show him how I could change into a gaseous form that was hardly visible.

"Why are you here?"

"To give you a warning."

"What warning could you possibly have?"

"Be careful tonight when you go to see the princess."

"What? You know?"

"I know more than you think. I have seen and written all that you did with her. That is my job; I am Sailor Nena."

"You?"

"Yes, me."

"I thought you were that girl that was sitting next to Serena the night I....sang."

"I am also that girl, but that is not important. What is important is that you are very careful tonight."

"Why?"

"You will be observed by another. If you want to keep this from the ears of the Queen, take every precaution possible." I took that moment to vanish.

"Sweet dreams my friends." Tuxedo Mask blew some dust from a green crystal into the night. Slowly, it fell on the guards eyes making them fall asleep. Tuxedo Mask leaped to Serena’s balcony and went in. "That’s strange. I saw her enter a few minutes ago. Where is she?" He scanned the empty room. The roses were still in their vases, a bit drier and darker. Abruptly, the bathroom door swung open and Serena came out in her white robe. The second she saw him, she tried to back away into the bathroom, but he did not let her.

"Will you at least let me get dressed?" Serena was annoyed and embarrassed.

"You are dress."

"Will you let me put on my night gown?"

"Why? I like that robe."

"Is there a point to all of this?"

"Yes, vengeance."

"Excuse me?"

"I have been watching you, and this afternoon, you made Darien take off his shirt for you. Now, you will feel the same embarrassment he felt." This was a little white lie. He had not felt embarrassed, just uncomfortable. He had worried about not pleasing the princess physically. But he had also enjoyed the opportunity to attract the princess. He had sensed her become nervous and excited, and it tasted like candy-coated victory.

"First of all, I was tending to his wound. Second, I did NOT make him embarrassed because I acted like a nurse not a princess."

"How little you know men. To him you will always be a regent."

"Third, I was embarrassed too."

"Not as much as he was."

"Want to bet?"

"Fine, go change." He let go of her arm and she backed into the bathroom. After closing the door, she quickly change.

"That’s what I get for forgetting my candle. If I had remembered it, he would not have caught me like this. Who does he think he is? Just barging into my room, and preventing me from putting on a more appropriate attire." She swung open the door and slammed it shot.

"Someone is moody." He was sitting on the bed with a triumphant smirk on his face.

"And someone is suicidal, but you don’t here me complaining."

"You just did." he corrected.

"What do you want?" She sat on her desk chair facing him. Her legs were crossed, and her posture was formal. Darien felt a bit uneasy at these turn of events.

"To convince you love exists."

"Again with the same thing." She stood up and crossed her arms. "Don’t you ever give up?"

"No!" He stepped closer to her. "Tonight you gave me hope for the first time."

"I missed something, didn’t I?"

"Tonight, you and Darien had a very interesting conversation that tells me that you do believe in love."

"You got that from a conversation about Avilon?"

" No, I got that from your respond."

"What respond?"

"You were afraid of him."

"No, I wasn’t."

"You were afraid of letting him come too close."

"No!"

"You were afraid of loving him."

"Love doesn’t exist! It is a myth, a lie....a...a.." She was screaming at the top of her lungs, "character in a fairy tale that was drilled into our heads by nature, only to greatly disappoint us latter on."

"You sound like a very hurt and scared woman." He took her into his arms. She pushed him away.

"I am not hurt or scared. I am only capable of seeing the light."

"No, you are blind. The light is far from your eyes."

"Are you sure it is not you who is blind?"

"I have felt love, and I know what it is like to hold that certain someone in your arms." She looked into his eyes that were hidden behind the mask.

"How do you know it isn’t lust?"

"Because if it was, then I wouldn’t respect, cherish, or honor her."

"May be it is because she is your friend."

"May be it is because she is more than a friend."

"May be, but...." she thought for a moment, "how many girlfriend have you had before this one?"

"Why?"

"Pamper me."

"Many adventures, but real? Not many."

"How many did you believe to love?"

"None."

"Excuse me?"

"I was attracted to all, but I have never said I love you to any."

"Not even to this last one?"

"She doesn’t know."

"But, I thought that love, if it does exist, was all powerful?"

"It does, and you thought correct. It is giving me the strength to conquer her."

"Have you had any luck?"

"Yes."

"Then, how is it that she doesn’t know?"

"Because, she has been hurt, like you, and I need to go slowly. I need to kiss every strain and every memory of pain away, and I will because I love her."

"How noble, but if she doesn’t respond?"

"She will. I know she will."

"I wish you the best of luck, though I don’t think you are fighting for a valid cause. It sounds like she needs a friend not a lover."

"May be she needs both. Have you thought about finding one of those?"

"A friend?"

"No, a lover."

"I do not lust anyone."

"But you love one." Serena burst out laughing.

"I don’t know the meaning of the word."

"It is the force that makes the universe turn. It is the power that moves mountains, and drives men to the extremes."

"That is a broad definition."

"No, it is the universal truth." He kissed her cheek and turn to leave.

"Where are you going?"

"To sleep, my princess. While the sun works, I rest."

"Stay a while longer."

"I can’t. I’ll see you tonight." He leaped out the balcony and rushed to his room before the sun left the guards eyes. No one saw him except a young boy hidden behind the bushes.

"So there is such a man. The Queen will be interested in this." Sergio said to himself.