The Ice Cold Princess:

The Moon Saga Part IX

Darien swiftly walked through the gardens that led to the Wild Garden. Serena had not been seen all day, and he had an impulse to search for her there. He remember how piously she guarded her divine white roses. He came up to the crying willows tree without making a sound. He carefully approached the bit of sky-blue silk clothe that was not hidden behind the tree. The clothe revealed a sleeping princess with an open book on her lap. He kneeled next to her and moved his mouth closer. Suddenly, he stopped and turn to see Serene staring at them. "The little Princess may have spared you this time, but not the next." he thought to himself. "This is how sleeping princesses get hurt." Darien sweetly whispered into her ear.

"Huh?!" Serena awoke with a jump. Her heart pumped faster than light; all water left her mouth. Like a sneaky snake, her hand moved swiftly through the grass to reach a dagger she always carried.

"It is only I, my Princess." Darien whispered as he sat next to her. "You may relax now." Serena let the breath she was holding escape.

"Who do you think you are to give me orders!" Serena was very annoyed. She did not appreciate to be awaken with a fright. She breathed deeply to relax her heart beat. After she had tamed it, she turned to Darien once again. "What are you doing here?!"

"I am enjoying the roses. They are enchanting."

"So are the other ones in the Placid Garden, why don’t you go there?"

"Because you are here. Do you sleep well Princess?"

"Excuse me?"

"Well, with the incident yesterday, I thought you might not get a good night sleep. Finding you asleep proved it, but I have been noticing an air of exhaustion around you lately. It is as if you where not sleeping."

"I thank you for your concern, but I remind you it is NONE of your business!

"But it is. We are friends," he took her hand into his. "aren’t we?"

"It depends on your definition of the word." Her tone was annoyed, but she was smiling once more.

"Then, we are. Tell me what’s wrong."

"Why are you so bossy this morning?!" she whined.

"Because it is the only way you will tell me anything."

"Fine, I am not falling asleep ‘till well after dawn."

"Why?"

"To many things on my mind."

"Forget them."

"I can’t. Responsibility will not allow me."

"Is it about your kingdom?"

"No, it is about my life."

"What about it?" He looked at her worriedly now. His hand had found its way around her waist and was now offering a seductive type of support.

"Where is it going? Am I doing the right thing...."

"About what?"

"About everything. I don’t know what anything is anymore; I just float aimlessly through life hopping that it will live itself."

"That does NOT sound like fun to me."

"It’s not, but it’s living."

"No it is not. You have not yet begun to live because you have not yet begun love."

"But I do love."

"Not the way I am talking about. If you would just let someone into that ice cold heart of yours and let him try and melt it, then you will live." His voice was full of life; his eyes twinkled with idealistic fantasies, and his mouth smiled with knowledge.

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because I love...."

"Serene no! Don’t touch the roses!" Serena screamed when she saw her cousin try to get a rose. The rose pulled itself away, but the child kept trying. Serena ran torwards the child and pulled her away. "You know you can’t touch the roses. Do you want to get me in BIG trouble?"

"I want rose!" the child began to wail. "Serry mean! I want rose!"

"Why don’t you give it to her? I thought ALL Princesses were immune."

"All Lunar Princesses are, but it is very different for the rest."

"I thought only a Princess’s hand was delicate enough to touch it with out being ‘bitten.’"

"It does not work that way. Lunar Princesses do not get ‘bitten’ because the roses have vowed to protect them. They know no other Princess to protect."

"That would mean that the roses can think and act on their decisions."

"They can. You did notice that the rose move away when Serene tried to touch it."

"So?"

"They were indirectly protecting me."

"How?"

"If Serene had hurt herself, I would have never heard the end of it."

"So the roses pulled away?"

"For that and because I asked them."

"Huh?"

"Here, hold her a minute." Serena gave Serene, who had calmed down a bit, to Darien. Serena kneeled by the rose bush and put her hands close to each other. "My sweet roses, I plead you, close your eyes to the world. Fold your petals and hide your beautiful faces. Obey my wishes, like I obey yours!" Slowly the roses began to pull their petal together and turn to buds. A white light formed between Serena’s hand. It formed a wind of energy that lifted Serena’s hair to the sky. "By the power granted to me by my ancestors, my heart, and my creator I grant you life! BLOOM MY FLOWERS!" A flash of light covered the rose bush. The roses opened their petals, once again, looking as young and fresh as the day they first had bloomed. "See?"

"Yes, I see. It is amazing." Darien answered.

"Not really. Anyone can do it, if they are willing to learn."

"Can you teach me?"

"Are you willing to learn?"

"Yes!"

"Then sit by my side." He kneeled beside her with Serene in his lap. She no longer wanted a rose, but a butterfly that was playing with her hair. She began to chase it around the garden. "Concentrate your energy in your hands. Close your eyes, and visualize a rose bud." Serena took his hands and moved them closer to a rose bud that had escape her spell. "See it bloom, like you bloomed." The energy began to take shape in his hands. "Do you feel it?"

"Yes, it is so frightening I feel like laughing." Serena giggled at this remark.

"You shouldn’t be afraid. The power to posses is a good one. It has no evil root." She helped guide the inexperience power towards the rose. "You can open your eyes now." Darien opened his eyes in time to see the rose bloom and a red shade cover it. With in a second, the entire rose was red. "Congratulations, Darien, the Red Rose protects you. You are a very lucky man."

"What is the Red Rose?"

"Don’t tell me you don’t know this story either?" Serena sighed sweetly. "In the beginning, the goddess Luz and the god Ire ruled the heavens. Ire wanted Luz to bear him a child, but she refused. She wanted to bear her own child, like the tress and plants. One night, Ire brought Luz a small rose bush full of white roses as a peace offering. Luz planted it in her garden; when she was gone, he planted a red rose bush next to hers. The next morning, when Luz went to admire her rose bush, she found it mixed with pink, red and white roses. She cried for hours as she understood what Ire had done. ‘Even the flowers do not bear their own children. Will you please bear mine?’ Ire asked. Luz finally agreed. They had a daughter, who they named Serenity of the Moon. She is the one all first born women in my family are named after. Ire was so happy with the child that he sent his blessings to all the red roses in the universe. Luz, on the other hand, blessed the white. The child carry the two with her and gave the red to Earth and the white to the Moon. The Red Rose is Ire’s blessing."

"Then, all humans have that blessing."

"Not all. You forget there are pink, white and yellow roses on Earth as well."

"So?"

"Not all humans were touched by the Red Rose, like not all Lunars were touched by the White Rose."

"Were you touched?"

"Yes."

"By which one?"

"I carry Luz’s blessing of light and good. You carry Ire’s blessing of anger and passion."

"Which one does Serene carry?" She turned to face the babe.

"She carries both."

"How?"

"Serene, come here." The little girl stopped chasing the butterfly and race to her cousin’s arms. "Lets show Darien the color game."

"I luv the cola game. Me first, Serry!" She turned to sit on Serena’s lap. Proudly, she lifted her hands as a powerful glow of light emerged. The flower was buried within the light for a few seconds, and then it resurfaced in a new shade. Serene began to laugh in delight.

"The petals," Darien began, "they are different colors. Some are red, others are pink, and the rest are white." His eyes shown in amazement.

"Serry’s boyfriend like?"

"Serene, I have told you a thousand times, he is NOT my boyfriend!" Serena lightly reprimanded.

"But he is!" Serene defended. "He kished you befoa!" Darien became very nervous.

"No, he did not."

"But me saw!"

"Sweet child, your eyes told you a fib."

"No! He held you close like daddy when he kishes mummy!"

"He hugged me. It is different."

"Serene, I can honestly say that the only kisses between Serena and me have been brotherly. We have not kissed like parents yet."

"Yet?" Serena asked confused.

"Well, you never know what the future holds." He leaned closer to Serena and kissed her cheek. He leaned back, but stopped midway. He leaned forward once again; this time he aimed for her lips. She leaned forward to meet him half way. She did not know why, but nothing had ever felt this right. Her eyes began to close; her heart beat faster. It pounded so fast, she was afraid it would tear out of her chest. Airily, his hand caressed her face showing her the way to his mouth. She swallowed hard and parted her lips; he smiled triumphantly and parted his. Their lips were about to touch when a white rose cut between them. They both turned to the thrower.

"There you two are. I’ve been looking all over for you."

"Daddy....."

"No excuses, you are suppose to entertain Prince Ugine this afternoon. If you do not hurry, you will be late. Hey there, darling. How is my favorite Princess."

"Good, unca Guile!" Serene giggle as the king threw her in the air. Serena took the opportunity to leave unnoticed, while Darien remained a bit worried.

"Hey Darien! There you are! Come with me; I have something to show you." Jedite appeared out of thin air.

"Sure, Jed. Will you excuse me, your majesty." Darien thanked God for Jed’s miraculous appearance.

"Go ahead. I have what I came for." The two walked away quietly. When they were far enough from the King, Darien asked,

"What did you want to show me?"

"Show you?"

"You said you had something to show me."

"Well, I found Serena walking back from the garden, and she told me to rescue you from one of the kings sermons. So, what did you two do?"

"Nothing."

"Darien, don’t give me that! Serena was as pale as a Snow White, and you were as dry with the King as Voracious. What were you two doing?!"

"We didn’t do anything! The King interrupted us before...."

"What were you about to do?!" Jedite was worried now.

"We almost kiss. We would of, if he hadn’t found us when he did."

"Be thankful you saw him coming." Jedite began to laugh.

"We didn’t. His rose told us everything."

"You mean...."

"Yes. Would you stop laughing!"

"I can’t help it! You are a dead man, Darien. A very dead man."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence!"

"Don’t worry. If you are lucky, you may find safety in the Queen. She takes Serena’s growing up much better than the King. Wait a minute, she was going to kiss you?!"

"I kissed her cheek; then, I approached to kiss her lips, and she searched for my lips with equal desire." Jedite stopped laughing. Seriously, turned to face Darien and stretched out his hand. Darien shook it.

"It is an honor to shake the hand of the only man that has been able to touch her heart."

"Thanks, but it is still very icy cold!"

"Lita, what are you baking?"

"Nephrite?! What a surprise!"

"Well?

"Well, what?"

"What are you baking?"

"Devil’s Food Chocolate Cake for Serena."

"It’s crazy the way that child loves chocolate."

"No, it’s not. It you eat enough chocolate it will give you the same emotional rush as love."

"But the quantity necessary would kill anyone who tried." Nephrite protested.

"So does love. Besides, this is the only way she can feel what it is like!"

"Do you feel what it is like?" Nephrite asked dipping his finger into the batter.

"What ever do you mean?"

"Do you love?"

"I am capable of loving."

"But are you in love?"

"Love is such a broad term. It could be use to describe a friendship, a family relationship, or..."

"Do you love the way Serena denies a person could love."

"What does it matter to you?" She poured the batter into the pan and put the cake in the oven. "You are always in the stars, not on the moon."

"You have no idea how wrong you are."

"Really?"

"One specific celestial object has my self."

"Which one?"

"Jupiter. You know I love you. Why won’t you give me a chance?"

"Nephrite, don’t start again. I’m too hurt from my last relationship to even think about trying again."

"Who is talking about trying. I am talking about succeeding. Let me try and kiss your pain away."

"Nephrite, no." She tried to walk away before the tears began to fall, but his arms blocked the way. She was against the counter with no distance between her and him.

"Let me show you what I mean." He moved his mouth closer to hers and with all the power of love and all the gentleness of a babe, he kissed her. Tears began to flow wildly down her cheeks; she had lost all control. Her hands raced up his neck and pulled him closer. He lifted her on the counter. Every moment the kiss became more passionate and loving.

"Don’t stop! Don’t ever stop!" She gasped between kisses.

"Don’t worry; I won’t." He kissed away every tear and slowly, stitched her heart together again. The pain disappeared into the darkness of the soul, and he brought new light that gave her life.

"Nephrite...I.."

"I know." he interrupted, "You don’t have to say it. I know"

"But I want to. I want to tell you I love you. I have for so long, but fear kept me away."

"Why didn’t you let me protect you?"

"I was afraid that you didn’t want to."

"Fear may have kept us apart this long, but it will never come between us again."

"I promise." She kissed his lips. They were the most exquisite dish she had ever tasted and ever would taste again. Smoke and a smell of burning began to fill the kitchen. "The cake!" She jumped of the counter and pulled out the burnt cake from the oven.

"Well, love has won."

"Now what are you talking about?" Lita asked as she threw the ashy remains in the garbage.

"Love went against chocolate, and it won." He covered her with his arms and kissed her cheek.

"It is a much sweeter death."

"You should have seen me, Princess. The forms were endless. They required the necessary skill of a pro, but my ingenuity got me through it all. Like I was saying, Form G-56, was filled with the hardest questions I had seen yet. The first asked me what my parental great grandmother’s favorite season was. It was followed by her favorite color and perfume. Then the trickiest and, perhaps, the hardest one, her blood type!"

"Prince Ugine, I hate to interrupt, but if the forms were so difficult, why didn’t you hire a lawyer to fill them out?" It was the hottest day that summer had seen so far. Serena could barely bear it. She whipped the sweat from her neck and continue the walk down the peer. She had thought a walk near the lake would help cool off, but she was wrong. The sun burnt the sky, and the water sparkled with invitation.

"Well, no real man would let himself be scared of by a few paper cuts. Wait until I get to the best part. The double letter forms are hilarious!" he squealed in excitement.

"It must have been this heat." Serena thought, "How else would I have fallen into desire. Heat does crazy things to people."

"Form F-1 was the beginning of an Odyssey for me..."

"But, what if it wasn’t lust that captivated my lips? What if Tuxedo Mask is right and I am in love with Darien? How can I think in this heat!"

"It asked many personal questions like my great grandmother’s cousin’s sister’s-in law next door neighbor’s maiden name."

"My angels, what possessed me to want to kiss him again? Gratitude? How can anyone reason in this heat?!" Serena thought in despair.

"Princess, are you listening?"

"Hmm? Yes, I was just captivated by the degree of your ordeal. All of this, just to hire a new maid. Incredible."

"Yes, well, I am one of the toughest men you will ever fine."

"Really? How is that?"

"Prince Darien?" Ugine turned to face the Prince that had just joined them. He began to explain his trial as Serena walked further down the peer. The day was so hot, she could barely think. She slowly took off her shoe and dipped her right foot into the lake; she took it out and watched the water sizzled as it touched the burning wood. With Darien’s eyes always on her, she let her hair down and took off the other shoe. Her hair floated like a silky wave to caress her knee caps. With out warning, she jumped into the lake. The cool water caressed her skin. The freshness of its depth kissed her very soul. A pair of arms grabbed her waist. She was pulled to the surface. There she turned to face Darien’s bear chest.

"Heat got to you, too?" she shyly smile.

"It definately got to you." He joked. Serena was floating in his arms with the security of a new born child.

"It was so hot that I couldn’t think."

"Then, why did you take off your shoes?"

"Because....it was a subcontious movement?"

"Do you have an excuse for everything?"

"Yes, and I think we should get back before Ugine begines to file some more forms." They had swam ten meters from the peer, and the day seemed much more cooler. Serena leaned back and let the water comb her hair. It refreshed her entire body. "Shall we go?" she smiled.

"No."

"What?!" That was not the answer she was expecting.

"It is so much cooler here. Why go back?"

"Why do we go to work? Why do we go to the extreme? Why do we...."

"Love?" he interupted.

"No, I was going to say lust." She pushed herself away and began to swim back. He waited a second relaxing his nerves before he turned back.

"May be I pushed her to much today." he thought. "May be I should have waited until tomorrow, but if I alway give her time to recover, how can I ever give my final strike? If only I had her alone, she would be mine by now. This afternoon, she would have never left my arms if her father had not interrupted us. With a little assurance from Tuxedo Mask, it would have been a matter of days until she wore my ring on her finger and not her neck. My sweet Serenity, when will you be mine?" He reached the peer right after her. Prince Ugine had left to find help for the "drawning Princess." She passed him his tight shirt.

"How’s the cut?"

"Perfectly bandage by you."

"Does it still burn?"

"Not with this swim." He smiled at her.

"Well, I better go change. This is not a good dress to wear wet."

"Why?" He looked at the now semitransparent dress that had become a second skin. It was held up by a pair of spagetti strips and when it was dry, it flowed loosely to her ankels. She pealed some of it from her belly.

"Because it becomes uncomfortable." She smiled and walked away.

"What a woman? She says it all and nothing at all at the same time. She aclaims my tact, but hers is uncanny as well." he thought as his eyes followed her. He got up and began to walk to the castle. She was beginning to see him in a new light, and without realizing it, she was opening her heart to him. He walked to the the "drive way" where he had arrived six days ago when he saw a familiar figure.

"Marcos, what are you doing here?"

"Hey big bro! What happened to you? The Princess turn you down? Well, it doesn’t matter because we have a major problem in our hands. You must return with me to Earth in the seven o’clock flight."

"Why? What’s wrong? Is dad sick?"

"No, worse than any of that. The former six Princeses of Earth are rebelling. They are no longer satisfied with their titles as Dukes and they are challenging dad. You must return because dad wants you to silance them. He says it is time for you to assume the throne."

"Why now? Is there something you are not telling me?" Marcus crossed his fingers.

"No."

"Let me get change and pack my things we will leave emidiately."

"Your majesties, may I enter." Darien was at the door of the King and Queen’s study.

"Of course Darien, come in." The Queen invited.

"I came to say good bye."

"Really?" the King’s eyes brighten a bit then sadden. "Why?"

"The Princes are in rebellion, and my father wants me ther to take charge of the situation. I am leaving tonight at seven."

"I am sorry you have to leave so soon." the Queen complained.

"I hate to admit it, but my wife is right. Please feel free to ask for any help you may need."

"Thank you both. You are too generous. I would like to say good bye to Serena before I leave. Do you know where she might be?"

"At this time, she is probably giving Serene her bath. Check her room; you have my permision." the Queen offered.

"Thank you." Darien left the room and rushed to Serena’s. He knocked on the door and came in. He found her nana preparing her evening gown. "Is Serena here?" he asked.

"In the bathroom, she is decent. You may enter if you whish."

"Thank you." He knocked softly and went in.

"What is it nana?"

"I’m not your nana." Serena looked up in surprise. She had Serene in her arms inside the pool, and was wearing a white towel dress. It was obvious that she was about to bathe. "I came to say good bye."

"Now? I thought you weren’t leaving for another three days."

"That was the original plan, but some problems arrised that makes my departure essential." Serena pulled the baby out of the water and wrapt a towel around her.

"When do you leave?"

"Tonight at seven."

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"No, but thanks for offering." Serena’s nana came into the room and took Serene from Serena’s arms and left. Serena stood up and walked to Darien. She hugged him so inexpectedly that he hesitated before returnning the hug.

"Don’t take another four years to return to us. You may be annoying, but you are a friend." She pulled the callor of his black silk shirt, so he would lower his head, and kissed his cheek. He return the kiss with equal gentelness and held her tight This might be the last time he was going to hold her for a very long time.

"I whish there was something we could do to show our support for Darien’s house." the Queen whinned.

"I know what you mean, my love, but there is nothing we can do."

"May I offer a suggestion." Jedite interupted.

"Go ahead." the Queen ordered.

"Why don’t you send your best foreign diplomat to show the Moon Kingdom’s support durring the negotiations."

"That is an excellent idea, but will she do it." the Queen asked in exitement.

"She owes him one." Jedite reasurred.

"Then it is settled. Tell her to get ready and rushed her to the space port." the King ordered.

"Why so deprese me brother?" Marcus asked trying to look as cool as ever.

"Because I may never see her again."

"You survived four years without her; you can survive a few months."

"It is different now. I lust for her as well."

"And you didn’t before."

"No, before was just a pure love. I did not desired her as a woman, but as a being."

"That explains why you managed to stay away for four years."

"You should see what puberty has done to her. She is no longer a child. I desire and love her. I am worthy of seeking her love now."

"And you weren’t then?"

"No, before I could only love. She deserves both sides of me, the lustful passionate animal and the loving fool."

"Last call for all passengers in the flight 2393 by Galactic Airlines, with the destination Earth." A female voice rang through the loud speeker.

"Come’n bro. Time to leave." Marcus said.

"Darien, wait!" a male voice screamed through the spaceport. Darien stoped and turn to see Jedite draging something behind.

"Jed, what a sur...."

"There is no time for formalities. The Queen and King whish to show their support by sending their best diplomat with you to Earth."

"We thank the royals, but..."Marcus began. A pretty young girl came to view.

"I insist." she smiled a bit annoyed and a bit happy.

"You?!" Darien asked in surprise.

"Who were you expecting? Greg?" She gave the brothers a devilish smile that sent their hormones into overtime.

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