Okay, so I was still inspired, and to boot, I had some time (but I 
should be working on the bio lab?but I really don?t want to write about 
fruit flies, or fungus right now.)  So, on with the show!

Love, Luck, and Luna,
Crystal Heart

Guarding Heart
Chapter 7 ? Truth?s Deception
By Crystal Heart

	Oh, why had he done that?
	Darien looked blankly out.  He had hurt her.
	But he hurt as well.
	She evidently gave no regard to his feelings when she set the 
match.
	And from what she had said, he gathered she didn?t think he HAD 
any feelings.
	He put his face in his hands and tried to wipe away these thoughts.
	So now, what was to happen?
	Was he really going to marry this woman, whom he didn?t love?
	He had always thought, that somehow, things would turn out 
different; Serena wouldn?t let him marry Mina?not if she truly loved him, 
as he had wished.
	But?well?*the joke?s on you?*  She didn?t love him.  She 
abhorred him.
	In the shadows, a figure stirred, disappearing into the air.

	Couldn?t they see they were in LOVE with each other?
	Prima couldn?t allow this wedding to occur.  *Can?t she see that 
he?s only goading her into admitting her true feelings?  And can?t he see 
that she?s only trying to stop any feeling that she had ever felt for him 
before?*
	No, she couldn?t allow for this to happen.  It just wasn?t RIGHT.  
Couldn?t they see, if they just admitted their love, they?d be all right?  
That they could push through this together?
	No, they couldn?t.  She couldn?t be able to get to them at all, now 
that they had already torn the last tie.  The potential of falling in love again 
upon seeing each other again was lost.  Prima had hoped that they would 
be able to, from what Serenity said, it appeared Serena thought she would.  
The girl was a lot smarter than she thought.  She had actually manipulated 
her own thoughts, and his, to tangle them in this mess.
	No, if there was something to be done, she?d have to find another 
way.

	Raye looked into her black pearl flame, and she smiled slyly.
	?What are you thinking of now?? An exhausted, tired voice asked 
her.
	Her smile vanished, her dark, soulless black eyes narrowed, as she 
turned around to confront the intruder.  ?Leave me??
	?Sorry?but you can no longer boss me around?? he 
contemptuously answered.  ?We are equals now?one may even believe 
that I?m of a higher rank than you!?
	?If one were stupid?? she completed the sentence, spitefully.
	Zoicyte?s dark eyes narrowed, as did his voice.  ?I?ve served her 
longer than you??
	?And ironically, I make things move faster?? Raye snapped back.
	Raye enjoyed her power.  Beryl and Metalia appreciated her.  If 
she was still with her pesky mother and brother, no one would believe she 
was so strong, or powerful.  No one knew the fire, the passion, the anger 
that the ?princess? had carried in her.
	No one except that faceless man?in her turbulent dreams?a man 
of?white fire?  Who?who carried her when there was a burning pain in 
her foot.  Who talked to her as an equal, not as an inferior, as they 
debated?Shakespeare?  What was Shakespeare?  What was going on?  
Where was she?
	When she thought about him, she lost ground.  She lost footing.  
She lost everything.  *Foolish girl!* she?d laugh at herself.  What was she 
thinking of?

	?And I want the temple cleaned thoroughly,? Serenity continued, 
turning?
	?to see her ward, crying, running from Cloud Way, to the palace.
	?Anything more, your highness??
	?No, that will do.  If you?ll excuse me, I have some very important 
matters to attend to.?
	Serenity rushed off the temple steps, and walked quickly to 
Serena?s quarters.
	She found her crying on the bed.
	?Serena??
	Serena, now made aware of the presence of another person in the 
room, sat up and looked about her.  She saw her adopted mother.  ?I want 
to go home,? she muttered, childishly.  ?I want to be with my mother, and 
father, and I want them to be near me, to tell me that everything is all 
right.  That it will be.?
	Serenity, concerned, sat down on the bed next to her ward.  ?You 
saw him??
	Serena put her head in Serenity?s lap, and felt the queen?s hand, 
gently in her hair, and soothing her softly.  ?It was so horrible.  I hurt him 
so horridly, saying he had no feelings?Oh?he hurt so horribly!?
	Serenity stroked her hair.  ?You did this to protect him??
	?YES!?
	?And you don?t feel good at all about it??
	?YES!?
	?And you still think you did the right thing??
	?Yes?no?I want to apologize, but at the same time, if I 
apologize, everything will get mixed up again.  If we just follow, now, on 
a straight path?if he gets engaged to Mina, still hating me, it?ll hurt me, 
but he?ll be engaged, and that?s what counts, right??
	Serenity was silent.  Thinking about Prima?s words?
	?Right?? the voice muffled in her skirts.
	Serenity held her breath, and let out a soulless ?right.?
	Serena continued to cry in her guardian?s skirts, feeling comfort as 
the hand continued to stroke through her hair.

	She was tired, as she settled back in her bath.
	She let the warm water soak into her toes, warming them and 
washing away the tension and exhaustiveness in her.
	She wanted sleep.
	Other than her breaks to meet with her mother, and meals, she had 
spent the last four days locked in a room with Amy, sewing Mina?s 
wedding gown.  A part of her wanted to be furious with Serena for not 
assisting, but Serena was not only now soulless, but she was always 
around Serenity, preparing the palace decorations, the invitations.  
Sometimes, as Lita remembered Serena?s restless shallow sleep, Lita 
wondered how Serena could continue to do this.
	Her own soul was tired.  She had loved seeing her mother.  She 
had not loved seeing Neph, as she had thought she would.  He was?here, 
but?reserved.  Was it his fiance?  Was he already married?
	And this whole business with the young guard her mother had 
brought with her, Thoran.  Thoran, who said that he was her fiance from 
birth.
	It appeared excaping from one uncontrolable life placed her in 
another.  Thoran was everything Neph wasn?t.  Though he was very 
handsome, he was outrageously bold and pompous.  His devilish smile 
wielded a lot of power over many of the maids in the palace and rumor 
was that?he?d even?Lita shuddered.  She hated him.  She felt slime 
whenever he glanced her elbow with his, or ?accidentally? bumped into 
her.  *Sick, sick man?be gone from my thoughts?*
	She forgot about it, and leaned back more into the tub, wanting to 
drown herself in the bubbles, and forget all that had happened between her 
and him?gosh, had she really, at one time, thought?

	?And I?ve missed you so much?? she whispered to her mother.
	Invy smiled at her daughter, and caressed her cheek.  ?I?ve missed 
you, too?I haven? t been able to talk to you much??
	?No, there hasn?t been much of a chance.  After all, with the 
ceremony so soon?and with the princess already being so??
	?Unstable??
	?We don?t know what she?s going to do.  We all think she?s going 
to refuse, but at the same time, we know she?s gotta say yes??
	?And what about this friend of yours, the queen?s ward??
	?She?s?supporting this?? *She hasn?t talked about it.* Amy 
thought.  ?She?s tiring herself out, rushing here, there, trying to make 
things right.  I?m afraid she?ll just fall over, and I know she can?t, because 
she?s got a duty to protect her kingdom.?
	?And you?  Have you been taking care of yourself?  You 
look?soulless.  As much as I?d like to think that you?re happy, I feel that 
you miss something.  What is it??
	Amy looked at her mother.  ?My heart??
	Invy saw her daughter?s tears, and held her close.  ?I don?t expect 
us to magically pick up where we left off, but Amy, when you?re ready, I 
would like to take care of you.?

	?We haven?t been able to talk since I arrived,? he started her.
	Lita looked up, from her gathering of the moon lilies, and smiled 
flatly.  ?I?ve been busy??
	?Ah, yes?with your mother.?
	He said the word bitterly.  It was almost as if he resented her 
heritage.  ?Is there a problem??
	?No, not at all??  He did not actually believe it at first, when she 
first was revealed as a princess, but upon seeing her, with her mother, a 
queen?and he had met her mother?s guard, Thoran, who laid claim to 
Lita?s affections.
	While Otonya continued to meet with Serenity and get to know her 
daughter, she was unaware of her lead guard?s slimy behavior, and Neph 
wanted it known, before Thoran did anything else foolish.
	He had taken Lita from all possible conversation with Neph, and 
Neph wanted to talk to her.
	?How are you?? Lita said, ducking back among the flowers, to 
pick them.
	?Um?I?ve been?better?? he smiled, honestly.
	?I?m sorry to hear that?? she looked up at him, then back into the 
flowers.  ?You look paler.?
	?Yes, as do you.?
	?I?ve been busy?? she replied, mechanically.
	?I?ll bet you have,? he kneeled down next to her, taking her hands, 
looking at her.   ?Lita, look at me.?
	?I?m engaged?? she blurted out.
	Neph lost his composure as he looked at her blindly.  ?What??
	?I?m engaged?my mother had arranged it before I was born?I 
know you?re engaged too?but??
	Neph laughed bitterly.  ?The engagement was called off?? she 
whispered to her.  ?Apparently, my fiance was really the princess of 
Jupiter??
	When he had found it out a month ago, he was shocked, and 
thrilled.  To think, he might have ended up marrying her.  He wanted to 
write to her, to laugh about this with her.  He?d imagined it.  He?d visit her 
on the moon, and tell her.  They?d laugh.  He was relieved.  He didn?t have 
to get married.  But?instead, he was left feeling?empty.
	?YOU were my fiance??  After her discovery of her royal blood, 
and her necessity to leave Earth, she had written the residents of her 
hometown, if she would still call it that, to tell them that the match 
arranged for her was not necessary?that she was really not an orphan, 
that her parents were discovered.
	But just yesterday, her mother had softly told her the news that 
bound her again to undesirable company.  But this time, the company 
became truly undesirable.
	?He WAS your faince.? Thoran smiled smugly.  ?Did I interrupt?? 
he asked, with false innocence.
	Neph wanted to tear this man apart.  Lita placed a hand on his arm 
to halt him, and looked at Thoran.  ?No, my Lord, you did not.?
	?Good, come Lita.?
	Like a dog.  He treated her like a dog.  Lita silently obeyed.  What 
was she to do?  This WAS what her mother wished, right?  And 
mother?she choked?knew best.
	Neph, furious, stood up.  ?Are you going to take that from him??
	?Yes, she will, because she has to be VERY nice to me, isn?t that 
right, sweetheart?? he kissed her on the cheek.
	Lita resisted spitting in Thoran?s face, and looked at Neph.  ?I?m 
sorry?? her eyes whispered.

	Otonya disappointedly watched the scene playing before her, out 
the window.
	Damn the bastard!
	She wanted to cry.  She wanted to tell Lita why this had to be.  She 
wanted to tall the whole thing off.  But she was afraid.
	From the first moment her daughter had met her, she offered full 
understanding.  A few days ago, when Otonya made it known to her what 
Lita?s fate was, Lita proudly submitted, and Otonya knew that her 
daughter?s respect for her was lost.
	But what could she do?  Tell her daughter the truth?
	Any respect that her daughter had left would be increasingly 
diminished.
	She had hoped, when she made the promise, that the son would be 
better than the father.  Apparently, she was so wrong.  What could she do, 
though?
	And what about the man?  The one who did not lay claim to her, 
but?somehow?was in the way.  She liked him.  He was pleasant, and 
strong.  Very strong, emotionally, and physically.  He was a very stable, 
and calm person, logical, and very wise.
	From the flash in his eyes every time he saw her daughter, she 
knew that Lita was important to him.  However she did not know how 
important.
	Prima had forever scolded her for this mess, and continued to 
berate her in the last few days.  But what was she to do?  She was only 
eighteen!  What else could she have done?
	?Damn you, Claudius, for making my daughter?s life hell!?

	She wouldn?t even look at him anymore, as if she were ashamed.  
She simply walked about, seemingly without a care in the world, bustling 
about, preparing for the ceremony.  *What?s happened to you?*
	Neph was speechless with wonder.  Was she happy?
	It wasn?t that he LOVED her or anything as tragic?but?seeing 
her being tailed by that DOG was not?
	She was HIS fiance first, right?
	No, not even?for even before birth, she was fated for Thoran.
	His mother didn?t look like the cruel type, with her daughter?s 
strong but also compassionate emerald eyes, her soft fiery hair, with the 
exception of silver of age streaking through at places.  Her expression was 
shaped to be a woman who had suffered a lot of emotional stress, and 
Neph sympathized; she had, for the last twenty years, lost her daughter.
	She didn?t look like the heartless type, the type who would force 
her daughter into marriage.
	And yet?
	It had to be important.

	Jed found her outside, painting a sad, blue watercolor.  ?Princess 
Mercury?? he bowed.
	She looked at him, startled.  ?Jedyte??
	He smiled, nervously.  ?You?ve been busy with your mother?? he 
continued.  ?I didn?t really have any time to talk to you?? he sat at a 
stone bench nearby.
	She sat down next to him.  She felt comforted, being in the 
presence of one who could empathize.  Her eyes met Jed?s and they held.  
?You loved Raye, didn?t you?? she asked, quietly.
	?Very much?although I was fool for not telling her?I didn?t 
even realize?? his fingers wrapped into a fist, and his knuckles turned 
white.
	Amy took his hand softly.  ?I think she knew?? she replied softly.  
?I think, somewhere inside, she always knew she loved you, and that you 
loved her.  Raye?s?? she smiled, eyes glowing with a sort of genuine 
happiness.  ?Raye?s like that?Serena teased her?Raye was always 
reading about damsels in distress, you see, and Serena called her ?Rescue 
me Raye?.  Raye hated that.? She laughed quietly.
	?I can believe that of her.  Her hot temper always got the better of 
her.?
	?Oh, but she could tell the most beautiful stories.  I was always a 
painter.  Serena could sew the prettiest fashions and embroidery.  Lita 
would carve beautiful little figures out of wood or marble?anything, and 
Mina, she was our??
	Jed completed for her.  ?Mina was your nightingale.  She could 
sing tapestries??
	Amy nodded.  ?Above all else, Raye was the story-teller.  
Knights?dragons?evil magicians?wicked fairies?everything.  She 
could talk about anything, she always had something interesting to talk 
about?? Amy smiled.  Tears started to threaten her eyes.  ?She and 
Serena used to get into fights about the possibilities?Serena?the loyally 
concrete reader.  Always the scientific observer.  I think Raye liked 
thinking optimistically, you know?into the possibilities??
	Jed nodded.
	?I think, from the first evening when she met you?she couldn?t 
talk of anything else, except for you perfectly annoying you were?I think 
she knew, in her heart though??
	?I hope so,? he looked distantly.
	Amy said.  ?They always do?? she said.  ?But watch out, Jed.  
She?ll?use it against you?? A tear slid from under her already moist 
lashes.  ?She?ll hurt those dear to her?to serve?but it won?t be her that 
you?ll be fighting, will it?? she looked at Jed.
	?No,? he took Amy?s hand.  ?She?ll be fighting against herself as 
well?there?s still good in her.  There?s still good in HIM.? He looked at 
her.
	Amy nodded slowly, doubting him.  ?I know I sound like a 
coward, but I am glad I wasn?t there when??
	?I?m glad you weren?t as well?I don?t know what he would have 
done.?
	?Would I have??
	Jed shook his head.  ?I don?t know??
	?I keep on thinking, you know?if I?d been there?would she still 
be all right?  Would he??
	?Don?t do that to yourself.  You couldn?t help your situation??
	?You?re not at fault either, you know,? she whispered softly.  ?You 
didn?t know?and she can get really nasty at times.  You know with all the 
stories she can tell, no one knows what can come true or not.?
	?I should have trusted her?? he muttered.  ?It IS my fault.  You 
know, she was in my arms, when I still didn?t get it, when I told her she 
was an idiot, and asked her, why she did it.  I was so blind??
	Amy squeezed his hand.  ?We?ll get them back.  They?re out there.  
And we?ll get them back.?

	?I can?t do this?? Mina quivered.  ?Your Highness??
	Prima sighed.  Minalle was the only way.  She soon saw that 
during dinner, when she looked around the table.  None of the men would 
help.  Amy and Lita were overwhelmed with the emotions and joy of 
seeing their mothers again, and also, they were?were?not what she was 
looking for.  But to see the passionate restraint Mina held, she knew her 
niece would be the only one who could do it.  She had the determination, 
the fire.  They now sat in Prima?s room, where Prima had invited Mina for 
an after dinner tea.
	Sure, she had been furious at Serena for this, but?this was not the 
way to solve things.  Serena would kill her with a glance if Mina fell 
through.
	And what about Kunz?
	*What about Kunz?*  No one would put a MAN in front of her 
ideals.  So why did he hurt her so much?
	And now, the Queen of Venus?
	?Please, you have to, in order to save their love?we haven?t much 
time.  The ceremony?s tomorrow night.?
	?I?m saving their love?? Mina whispered.  ?They love each other?  
But they absolutely hate each other.  We?d always tease her about it too.?
	?You understand, don?t you, Mina?? Prima said, stroking the girl?s 
hair.  Prima sat in an arm chair, and Mina sat on the floor, her head now 
buried in Prima?s gold velvet skirts.  ?You understand that love should be 
the leading force.  It is strong.  I can?t be denied.?
	Mina nodded, understandingly.  She understood perfectly.
	?So you have to do it.?
	?But Serena?s my friend.  I can?t possibly.?
	?One day, she?ll thank you??
	Mina looked up into Prima?s eyes.  She found an understanding 
that she had not seen in her mother.  It upset her and thrilled her at the 
same time.  Her mother didn?t understand her.  Mina choked up now, 
ready to cry.
	Prima, reading her thoughts, petted Mina?s hair again.  ?There, 
there, Serenity just has a different way of showing her love.  She?s always 
been a little more held back.?
	Mina settled comfortably.  Her Aunt understood everything.  She 
was probably right.  Wanting to believe it, she nodded her head slowly in 
Prima?s lap, and sat back, looking straight into Prima?s eyes.  ?Then I?ll do 
it.  For them.?  *For me.*
	Strangely, Mina thought that her aunt heard it as well.

	?Are you all right with this??
	Mina looked at her former brother.  Jed was lanky with lack of 
nutrition.  ?Jed, what?s going on?  Are you all right??
	She had not been able to talk to him until now, and frowned as she 
tried to understand.  What had happened to him?
	?I?m fine,? he said, automatically.
	?No you aren?t.  Now please, as my brother, tell me what?s wrong. 
I have a right to know??
	Jed looked at her, and smiled artificially.  ?I?m fine.  I came here to 
ask how YOU were.  Are YOU all right??
	?I know what I have to do?? Mina replied, frankly.
	Jed frowned.  ?I hope so, Mina.  Because I think that ever since 
this whole thing began?we didn?t really know?what we were supposed 
to do??

	She entered the dark room, tired, exhausted.  She wanted to sleep, 
and forget everything?
	?Surprise!? She heard.
	Matches went off, and the candles lit.  The faces of her three 
friends were smiling.  They were making the best of the situation.
	?It?s the last night you?ll be ?on your own?.? Lita explained.  ?We 
wanted it to be a good one.?
	Mina smiled weakly.
	She had been in debate since she had talked to Prima.  In 
indecision.  She just didn?t know if she could go through with Prima?s 
plan.
	And if she did?what would Kunz think of her?
	That was the heart of the matter.
	She CARED about what he thought of her.  She wanted him to 
believe in her.  She wanted to be?worthy?  Worthy of his trust.
	*Have you no honor?*
	The words stung in her mind, as she could hear them, over and 
over.  Repeating in disappointment.
	Why was he so important anyway?  She?d ask herself.  Why did 
she have to care what HE thought?
	Because he had one night, almost killed her friend, and her brother 
under the impression that she was in danger.  She.  Mina.  He cared about 
her THAT much.
	He would kill dragons for her.
	And somehow, her romantic heart beat that that meant he loved 
her.
	HA!  The man who would place Honor above all else.  How could 
she?
	And yet?if she upheld his rules?he?d be pleased with her?and 
she?d be married, to someone else.  He didn?t care about her, did he?  He 
just sent her to be engaged to someone else.
	Her heart stung.  He DIDN?T care about her.  She told herself, 
once more.
	Her aunt did, though.  Prima understood, and Mina didn?t want to 
disappoint her, either.  The woman believed in such ideals as hers, so 
strongly.  And if she was right, she?d break Serena?s heart.
	She looked at Serena.
	Serena who looked like she was trying to be happy.  Serena, who 
was hiding tears inside.  She knew that look on Serena?s face.  Hidden 
disappointment.  Anger.  Sadness.  Hadn?t Serena always preached that 
she?d be alone in life, because of what she did?
	And yet, Mina could see how strong love could be.  Strong enough 
to change the stiffest hearts.
	What was she going to do?
	Well, right now, she was going to appreciate her night.
	*Wipe your stress from your mind!*  Four women in the room told 
themselves, as prepared to have a night like?like they had before all these 
changes.

	?Are the preparations ready?? Her dark eyes were sad, tired.
	Serenity answered the goddess.  ?Selene.  I am not sure if this is 
right.?
	?We cannot control.  I cannot see everything.  I?m not as powerful 
as I once was.  Once we defeat Hecate, only then, Serenity.  I can?t even 
see what happens about the palace.  How can you expect me to see what is 
inside her mind??
	?I don?t know?I just want??
	?You want your daughter to be happy.  I understand.?
	?I want my people to be happy too, though.?
	?A very sensible thought as well.  But Serenity, the decision is up 
to the young generation now.  We cannot make their choices for them 
anymore.  We do not decide what is right for them.?
	?She is so grown away from me?sometimes, I think she?s more 
Prima than myself??
	?They?re very alike.  They believe in the same ideal.  But Mina is 
your daughter.  She always will be.?
	?Right?? Serenity said quietly.  ?My daughter?your 
granddaughter.  Why haven?t you talked to her yet??
	Selene sighed.  ?I have seen her, when she has been alone?I 
Serenity.  She is not my granddaughter.  I don?t feel it.  I am afraid of her.  
I am afraid for her.  Seeing her will acknowledge that she is also a product 
of my sister, and myself, and acknowledge her abnormality.  I think she 
wants to be a normal girl.  She doesn?t need more pressures.  She already 
KNOWS f her descent, but?I?d rather not have her confronted with it.?

	Mina looked at Jed.
	?You?ve decided to go through with it??
	Mina nodded slowly.  ?I?m sure of it now.  Tonight.  The 
ceremony.?
	Yes, no matter what.  The ceremony would go as planned.
	She just didn?t know whose, yet.  Kunz?s, and the whole 
kingdom?s?or Prima?s??
	?Jed??
	Jed looked at his sister.
	?Did Darien ever talk about Serena?? she asked, curiously, leaning 
against her brother?s shoulder, as they walked around the gardens.
	?Yes and no.  He did before she came back from finishing 
school?I think he admired her and hated her.  More hated her.  But to be 
properly whipped by a girl?yeah, I think he respected her, though he 
would have killed himself before he admitted it.?
	?And when she came back from finishing school??
	?Hardly.  The first time he saw her again, of course he fumed and 
decided that she couldn?t possibly any more lady-like than before.?
	?Do you think he?felt something for her??
	?He definitely felt SOMETHING?just what?  We?ll never know.?
	Mina kept silent at his side, problems still unresolved.

	The dark cavern was silent.  Two people stood at opposite ends, in 
capsules, resting.  In the center, there was an obsidian throne, crusted with 
black diamonds.  Sitting on it, cloaked in black silken robes, her fiery hair 
pouring about her, sulked Beryl.
	The ceremony was today.  She was actually going to let the 
ceremony occur.  Metalia had told her to wait?until tomorrow.
	Beryl was upset.  If she wanted to take care of this, she would have 
attacked today.  Her warriors were strong enough.
	*No, Beryl?patience.  Tomorrow?* she heard in her head.
	Beryl sighed, finally conceding to her mistress?s wishes.  
*Tomorrow?*

Dear Mother and Father,
	I haven?t written since I left, and I feel horribly about it, but?I 
couldn?t before.  I couldn?t because of reasons that I will explain later.  I 
just couldn?t.  But today, I have to.
	Today, Mina will be engaged to a man she does not love.
	I feel ashamed about making her do this.  This will be the most 
heartless thing I?ll ever do?and I know I?ll hurt her.
	But it?s for a good, that I must know will occur.
	I miss you both so much.  Lately, extremely, as I see my friends, 
finding their parents.  I feel?alone.  I have always said that I do not mind, 
but?
	Fortunately, there is so much to do.  I can?t stop moving.  But even 
though I am so busy, I just find these moments when I stop.  Stopping 
means time to think and I know that if I keep on thinking my thinking will 
break my heart even more.  Look.  I?m already starting to cry again.
	Queen Serenity has been very generous with me.  She has visited 
me every day in the last few days, and made sure I was all right.  At times, 
I think she?s as lonely as me.  I think Mina hurts her, with all the time she 
spends with Queen Primavera, from Venus.  Queen Prima is Mina?s aunt, 
and apparently the two get along together very well.  In fact, Mina?s taken 
with her more than she?s taken with her mother.  It seems that Mina even 
avoids Queen Serenity.
	I know that Queen Serenity must cry when she is alone.  She 
misses her husband, and she misses her daughter.  I know she does.  And I 
just feel so bad for her, and when she feels especially lonely, I think she 
seeks me out.  I don?t mind, because up here, I think all we have is each 
other.
	I love her very much.  She?s so caring of everyone and everything, 
and she?s so understanding.  She just knows when to be quiet, and just let 
us savor the moment.  She lets me lay my head in her lap, just like you do, 
mother.  She?s concerned about her daughter to the point that she wants to 
call off the whole thing.
	Finally, I have written around the subject long enough and I?m just 
going to admit it right now.  Mother, father, you won?t be proud when I 
admit this, and I know I am not either.  I hurt him.  I hurt his so deeply that 
he hurt me right back, and now it hurts so much I can?t breathe.
	I won?t tell you what I told him, but only that it hurt him.  His face 
became so pale, and his eyes!  His eyes.  I still see his eyes whenever I 
close my own, and I can only keep telling myself it?s for his own good.  I 
love him, but I?m not about to let him throw away his kingdom on the 
account of a foolish young love.
	Yes, Mother.  I love him.  This is why I haven?t written you.  
Because I know you?d tell me that I was being foolish, letting him go.  But 
Mother, if you know just how much I love him.  I love him enough to 
know that this is the only way that I can make sure he?s all right.  I love 
him so much.  Even though he did hurt me.  Oh Mother, he hurt me so!  
Queen Serenity says that he hurt me because I hurt him.  That he loves me.
	But he can?t anymore.  Not after what I said to him.
	Today, Darien?s going to be engaged in a very formal ceremony.  
It?s sacred.  It?s said that the vows taken today are more serious than the 
ones taken on the day of the wedding, because it is on this day that the 
engaged are bonded spiritually.  No, not a legendary ?soul bond? as King 
Terrence and his sister had, but a bond.  Something that can?t be broken.
	No matter who wants to break it.
	Take care.  I miss you.  I love you, irrevocably.

Always With Love,
Serena
	
	She found Serena in her room, finishing a long letter to her parents.  
?Good day, your highness.? She got off the bed, to curtsey docilely.  
?Come walk with me, Serena.  I want you to be with me as I prepare for 
the?? she choked on the last word ??ceremony.?
	Serena didn?t want to, having written such strong words for and 
against it, but obeyed, only because she wanted to reassure her friend that 
she was doing the right, no proper, thing.
	This morning, Mina resignedly sat for breakfast, and sat through 
her mother?s outlining of the ceremonial procedures.  Serena did as well, 
but couldn?t concentrate on the words, and therefore completely missed 
them, knowing that HE was in the same room.  The girls went through the 
connected doors into Mina?s room.  Mina sat down, and Serena grabbed a 
brush to put up Mina?s hair into the royal hairstyle.  Mina took the brush 
out of her friend?s hand, and took Serena?s cold fingers in her hand, and 
guided her to a chair next to hers.
	Serena, confused, sat.
	As Mina looked at her friend, she realized just how tired Serena 
looked. ?Do you miss it?? she asked, quietly, sympathetically.
	?Miss what??
	?Being a normal girl?? Mina said, walking away to the window.
	?I never was?? Serena said quietly.  ?Remember?  I never acted 
like one, never WANTED to be one?? she looked at her princess?s 
beautiful white wedding gown, and solid white silk veil, embroidered with 
gold that Mina played with nervously in her hands.
?Serena, I?m sorry I?ve been so hard on you.? Mina said, stiffly.
	?You are?? she asked in surprise.
	Mina nodded, reluctantly.  ?I understand the sacrifice a ruler must 
make for her kingdom.  I wouldn?t acknowledge that earlier, but??
	?I understand.  I know that you?re holding out for something 
bigger?but Mina??  *It doesn?t exist.  It brings you nothing but pain and 
torture?*
	Mina sighed.  ?I know I have.  But, who knows?  Maybe I?ll?fall 
for?Darien?? she said, quietly.
	Serena felt something choke inside of her.  ?Of course.  He?s 
handsome?and??
	Mina looked at her friend.  *If you?re right Prima?*  ?And 
what??
	?And?I don?t know.  I bet there?s a soft part of him.?  *I thought 
there was.  But not for me.  Not anymore.*  She turned away.
	Mina watched her friend.  *She DOES love him.*
	An unknown feeling of anger fell across her mood.  *SHE loves 
him, and yet, SHE won?t marry him.*  Mina got off the chair.
	?The ceremony is in a few hours?are you coming to it, Serena??
	Serena looked at her friend, quivering, but also determined.  ?Yes.?
	?Then let us drink to the?future,? she said, bitterly, as she poured 
the drinks at a table.  She was so upset, she almost forgot?but she 
remembered.
	Serena remembered that Mina always drank to love.  Quietly, she 
lifted her glass. ?To the future?? she said, hoarsely, sipping the wine, and 
smiled to assure her friend she liked it.  She got out of her chair, ?Mina, sit 
down so I can do your hair.?
	Getting up made her feel light-headed.  She recalled another 
instance with champagne, and Mina?s husband to be?
	But shook her head as she started to feel dizzy.  ?Come, let me 
prepare you?? Serena started to push herself past this dizziness.  ?I?m so 
tired?? Serena yawned.  ?Haven?t gotten much sleep lately.  I?ve been 
helping your mother prepare for the ceremony?? Serena sighed, leaning 
back on Mina?s bed.
	Mina smiled sadly.  ?Serena.  Rest.  Sleep for a while.  We?ll wake 
you when it?s time??
	Serena reclined onto Mina?s soft bed, and closed her eyes, nodding 
to Mina to confirm her intentions, and losing herself in a sea of 
comfortable, dreamy sleep.  Her sleep had not been so deep, nor so restful 
in a long time.
	?To the future?? Mina said, raising her wineglass again, as she 
started her preparations.

	?Wake up!?  Amy shook her.
	Serena opened her eyes.  ?Is it already time??
	?Yes, and if you don?t drag yourself out of bed, you?ll be late for 
the ceremony!? Lita begged her, dropping the veil over the blonde?s hair.
	Serena sighed, her voice hoarse from sleep.  ?Am I supposed to 
wear this veil??
	?Yes!  Weren?t you paying attention this morning?? Amy said, 
distressed.  ?Queen Serenity was quite upset when you didn?t appear, and 
we have five minutes to ready you.  Now come on!  To summarize what 
you have to do tonight: don?t say a word.?
	?Look I know this is hard for you?? Lita said softly.  ?It?s been 
hard for everyone.  But I want to say, we?re all very proud of you for 
holding up this way??
	Serena was touched.  ?Thank you??
	Amy placed a band on Serena?s head, planting the veil firmly over 
her head and kissed her forehead.  ?We are VERY proud of you.?
	?Now come on, before we?re late!  The moon?s almost up!?

	The ceremony took place in moonlight.  The air was filled with 
tension, though.  Serenity stood at the middle of a rotunda of moon marble 
columns.  The space between the columns had leaded diamond windows, 
with stained glass images of goddesses.  In the middle, there was a 
diamond dust sculpture of Selene, the goddess of the moon.  Serena?s 
guardian goddess, Darien remembered.  Serena, who wasn?t here, yet.
	When the ceremony?s preliminaries were about to begin an hour 
ago, Serenity had been distressed to find that Minalle had not yet shown 
up.  She sent Lita and Amy to look for her.  Serena was no where in sight.
	He looked up into the dome of pure diamond.  It was perfectly 
curved, flawless, crackless, and pristine clean.  Through it, he could see 
the night sky, and Earth?
	He still hurt from seeing her.  A part of him hoped that Serena 
would not be here tonight.  But another one wanted her here, so that he 
could physically let her go out of his mind, as he began a life with 
Minalle.
	He still wondered if he could do this.
	But as he looked at Kunz, and his determined encouragement, he 
knew he could.
	He had tried to talk to his head guard before this, to console him 
about Mina, but the guard did not listen.  He talked about some gibberish 
about duty and honor, and how he hoped the princess would have enough.
	Darien had given up, because apparently, Kunz did not care about 
Mina.
	?She?s here,? he heard Luna whisper to Serenity.
	Darien drew in a breath.

	At a distance, Mina drew her breath.  Was this right for her to do?
	Torn between Kunz?s words, and Prima?s words?she didn?t 
know?what way was the right way?  Prima had been convincing?she 
COULD do this, but could she really?
	Could she pull through this, when her mother, her friends, and her 
honor were at stake?
	She didn?t know.  She didn?t know what would happen.  She took 
one step forward?then another?and another?
 
	There was no music.  There was no sound, except for the footfall 
of her friends, and herself.  She felt someone else take her arm and guide 
her to her place.
	Serena wished she could see.  The veil was too thick to see 
through.  In a way, she was glad she didn?t have to see Darien being 
eternally bonded to someone else. But?she wanted to see him.  She just 
did.
	She felt a poke at her arm, and she continued to walk, and her 
thoughts redirected to nothingness.  The steps of her friends beside her 
stopped, and she stopped as well, only to be taken by the arm of another, 
and to another place.  The place where the queen?s family, she supposed, 
if she would be considered family.
	Luna looked about her.  So beautiful, the setting was, and she 
wished, in her heart, that this was Serena?s ceremony.  She looked at 
Artemis, and he looked understandingly at her.  Luna closed her eyes and 
breathed, and looked about her.
	In the room, gods and goddesses graced the halls.  It was a day 
when one of their children would be engaged.  Selene?s granddaughter.  
They stood in royal sections.  The Lunar and Terran court graced the altar; 
the Mercurian court, with Hermes was next; and after Venusian with 
Aprhodite; on the other side of the temple were the Martian court, with 
Ares; and the Jovian court, with Zues.  It was, Serenity supposed, an 
illustrious event, as spectacular as her own wedding.  However, it did not 
seem so glamorous; there were missing daughters, missing queens?
	Primavera apparently was not going to advocate this whole 
business, and she knew Serenity felt disappointment at being on her own.  
However, she was going through with it.  Firmly, she heard Serenity set 
her voice.
	?The ceremony begins.? She could hear Serenity saying.
	Serena drew in a breath.
	Despite every grain of logic in such a match, she yearned to call it 
off.  They were now approaching the threshold of the agreement.  Beyond 
this?there would be no chance at regret.
	?I call upon the goddess Selene to conduct this holy ritual.? Her 
voice resonated in the halls, passing through the silence like a knife.  
Although it was expected, people still jolted in surprise.
	The word holy rang through Mina?s spine.
	
	Serena felt the air around her grow thick as she tried to breath.  She 
felt a glow, and a warmth inside her.  He was going to be Hers soon.  
Selene was here.  And when she left, Darien would be engaged.
	?Goddess Selene, I present to you my daughter Minalle Rhysterial, 
and her suitor, Darien Wyndica.?
	?Kneel.? Selene addressed the whole court.
	Serena kneeled, feeling her heart pounding.
	?Do you wish to marry this woman, Darien of Earth?? Selene 
asked, almost choking on the words.  *Please say no.*  It was breaking 
Serena?s heart.  *Don?t you see?*  He looked at the young man?s still and 
heartless, feelingless eyes.  Darien, now having lost everything but his 
kingdom and this woman whom he would marry, responded the only 
logical, rational response.  ?Yes.?  *It IS the only way.*
	Selene felt her heart break.
	Serena felt her heart fall?out of her body, out of the moon, just 
fall, and fall until it hit somewhere deep where it writhed in pain.  But 
speechless, she let herself hold her head high.  It was her idea.  She?d force 
it to fall through.  She supposed that she felt happy, relieved, but 
happiness, nor relief, never felt so stinging.  Her mouth tasted ginger.  All 
flavor and color seemed to turn into ginger as she continued to hold her 
head high.
	Selene turned to the veiled daughter of the moon.  ?Do you wish to 
marry this man, Minalle of the Moon??
	The whole court was in silence to hear her response.  For days, 
they had debated?would the princess follow her extreme ideals and 
refuse?  She WILL do it, right?  Kunz clenched his teeth.  *Don?t 
disappoint me, princess.  I didn?t almost kill Raye AND your brother for 
weak-hearted girl, did I?*
	Serena felt her throat constrict.  *Just do it.*  She forced Mina to 
acknowledge.  She nodded her head in physical wish, to telepathically 
force Mina to nod as well.
	*Just do it.*  Mina thought, nodding.  Her task was now set.  She 
would go through with it.
	Everyone sighed with relief as the princess?s head came up and 
down in decisive yes.  The air now settled with one clear truth, one clear 
result; the engagement was set, and the alliance was as good as sealed.  All 
that was left was formalities.
At the princess?s side, Darien felt surprised, and?now?distanced.  
Very distanced.  Set apart form everyone and everything.  Set apart from 
Serena.
	Kunz never felt a more bitter pride in his friend.  He had spent the 
last days in agony over whether or not to support her actions or not, no 
matter what they were?the final decision was hurting and difficult, 
because either way, he lost; his friend, or his pride.  If he had told her 
to?disregard it all?he would never, ever be able stay in his post, if he 
had any honor left after doing such a crime, he would have had to defend 
it?by resigning.  But that wouldn?t? have been all.  He?d have lost so 
much more.  The honor his parents had instilled in him, from youth, 
destined him to always be true to his name.
	While Mina always told him to be true to his heart.
	Something he never tried to believe.
	He had never, deliberately allowed himself to care for a friend as 
much as he did for Mina.  He only hoped she knew how difficult his 
decision had been.  And he knew how difficult this decision was for her 
now.
	Serena was speechless.  What was going on?  What had happened?  
Did she do it?  Did she refuse?  She yearned to pull this veil from her face, 
to see what was going on.
Selene continued.  Prima, in the unseen shadows, felt her throat 
constrict.
	Selene, now struck with sadness, but still formal, continued.  She 
looked to Serenity.  ?The water.?
	Serena breathed in relief.  Mina followed through.  The decision 
was precise now.  The result was clear and apparent; the engagement, the 
marriage, were both going to occur.  Her face was pale as she continued to 
listen.
	Amy and Lita felt disappointment.  Why hadn?t Serena done 
something?  Why hadn?t Mina protested?  Why?  Every single thing that 
they had ever believed of their friends?all uprooted.  Put in new 
definition.
	?The water?? Selene repeated again?looking at Serenity.
	The water was taken from the sacred snows from Lunarian 
mountains to the east of the palace.  It was taken by Selene herself and  
melted by the sun?s court, and bottled carefully.  From melting, it was 
stored in Selene?s own home, deep in the moon for at at least a hundred 
years before its use.
	Serenity had held the bottle of the water through out the ceremony, 
but now handed it reluctantly to Selene.  She felt wrong in doing this.  
There was nothing right in breaking her daughter?s heart, in breaking her 
ward?s heart.  But her ward didn?t care, did she?  Especially if she 
wasn?t?
	Selene took the water from Serenity?s hands, and took a gold, 
diamond-studded bowl from the altar, and poured the water in there.  She 
drizzled the water slowly over the prince?s hair, just at the right way so 
that it would fall across his forehead, and trace down his harsh features, 
which were locked in concentration.
	Darien felt he water trickling through his hair and shivered.  It was 
a lot more sacred than he had thought.  He could not stand at the side of a 
woman whom he did not was to marry, could he?  Even for the sake of his 
kingdom?  He was ready to cry against this ceremony.  But he couldn?t.  
He just couldn?t.  BUT HE WOULD.  But the way she hurt him.  He had 
to go through with this, right?  He loved her, but?
	He looked at his princess, and continued the ceremony.
	Selene continued the ceremony, by taking a gold ring from the 
altar, and dropping it into the water.  She took a gold, sterilized needle that 
had been melted and sharpened in the sun.  She gently pricked the his ring 
finger.  A single drop of his blood dripped from his finger, into the bowl.
	The sudden prick startled him.  Serenity had warned him of it.  The 
prick came as a revelation to him, though.  He loved Serena.  After 
everything was said, and done, and considered, he loved HER.  He loved 
her more than he loved his kingdom, he loved her more than he loved his 
honor.  Was there anything else?  Would there be anything else?
	Selene saw the water glow as she took the princess?s hand.
	Serena was confused. What was going on?  Everything was silent.
	Selene took the glove off of the princess?s hand.
Mina held her breath.  Oh?mixed emotions.  She wanted this to 
work?but?
The needle pricked the princess?s finger, and a single crimson drop 
emerged, and dropped into the bowl.
	Mina recoiled with guilt.  Guilt of the dishonesty of this holy 
ceremony.  Wrong.  Whatever honor there was in such a ceremony, it 
was?still wrong.
	Serena?s thoughts were spinning.  Total silence?what was going 
on?  Was he already?ENGAGED to her?  Oh, Serena loved him!  She 
loved him, she couldn?t let this happen, but?  No, she had no but.  She 
loved him.  That was why she was doing it.  Out of love.  She felt 
something in her sting, from her toes to her fingers, as she felt part of her 
slip through her fingers, as she let go of her past, her future.
	Mina felt uncomfortable.  She ought to speak out against this.  She 
ought to.  It was wrong.
	The blood mingled inside the bowl, and the ring inside glowed 
with the bond that had been forged.  Now, Serenity took the ring out, 
carefully, and took the princess?s hand, slipping on the ring, ensuring the 
lock.
	Mina couldn?t allow this.  She?she had to let it happen.  But it 
was deceiving.  How could she let this happen?
	?I can?t allow this.? he stood up?too late.
	The ring now glowed on his fiance?s hand, and it looked magically 
sealed.  On his head, he felt a warmth shimmery impression on his 
forehead, and almost cowered in fear at what he had done.
	Serena felt something sink and burn inside her.  Although she 
could see nothing, she heard the words as sure as she could envision him, 
bold, standing up, and pleading so diplomatically.  Hope burned like a 
phoenix, rejuvenated, playing fierce throughout her blood.  It seemed to 
meet something inside of him, even though she knew he wasn?t even 
looking at her at this moment.  It was a strong bond that would not break, 
even with his matrimony to another woman, no matter how ?sacred? it 
was.  It gave her so much.  Her heart, was sealed at this moment, to his.  
She loved HIM.
	But how could he?  How could he spoil every single thing she had 
done for HIM out of love?  Furious she wanted to beat him over the head.
	Darien saw the ring sealed on his future bride?s finger.  It glowed 
?as if it were now magically locked.  He felt a part of him come out of 
himself, and fuse with his bride.  He tried to stop it?but?there was no 
control.  None.  Just the tugging of his heart, and heat and fusion.  Now, it 
linked with something?someone.  The timing of their beats.  He could 
hear her hard, quick heartbeat in her head.  Pounding the definite in his 
head.  No, this was wrong.  It shouldn?t be so holy, now when he didn?t 
love her?
	On his forehead, from the shimmer, he felt something burn, and 
retained frustrated and pained silent tears as it seared across his mind, this 
emblem that was sealing his final fate?
	Mina was cowering in fear and pain.  Pain.  Pain.  Pain.  It was 
crushed into every beat of her heart.  She heard it pounding in her heart, in 
her head.  She felt strangely free at his words; he had just called the whole 
thing off?but she was imprisoned in his timing.
	Selene looked pitifully at the young man now.  *If only you?d done 
something sooner!* She wanted to yell at him.  In the bowl, the water was 
illuminated gold, swirling, ready to be bottled once more, for use thirty 
days from now, at the wedding.  Now, the prince of the Earth stood before 
her, the crest of the moon royal family.  The golden crescent.
	?It?s too late.?
	Serenity could mouth the words for him.  Oh.  Foolish, foolish 
man!  Why did he wait until it was too late to stand up for what he knew 
the whole time?
	The murmur ran through the crowds, but Serena was silent, and 
confused.  She continued to knee, and did not say a word.  Just thought.  
HE REFUSED.  But it was by far too late.  What was he thinking?  What 
was he doing?  What was she feeling?
	Hope.  Anger.
	?I can?t go through with this,? he said again, firmer.  ?I?I just 
can?t.?  He wanted to say that he loved Serena, the ward?the ward who 
was so cowardly?she wasn?t even?
	Selene, speechless with conflicted interests could say the only 
thing she knew.  She repeated, ironically soullessly, emotionlessly,  ?It?s 
too late.?
	The three words were as hollow as her voice, and echoed 
throughout the hall, bringing finality.  The end of the ceremony.  The end 
of all protest.
	But then?
	?I can speak for him,? the princess stood up beside him.

	Mina was stunned.
	What was going to happen now?  It was too late, and he had 
spoken, as had?She.
	Surprise.  She had spoken.  Finally, the courage of the heart was 
powerful, and prevailing in this room.
	Serena felt her heart pounding.  She felt, on her hand, the ring that 
Selene put on Mina.  It was there as if it belonged there.  She felt it, even 
though she knew in her mind she didn?t wear it. It was so close to her, it 
was around her heart.
	She had spoken.

	Speechless, they stood suspended in silence for seconds.
	Gradually, murmurs rejuvenated.
	Mina gathered her courage and stepped forward.  ?As a third party.  
I speak as well.?
	The attention of the crowd pivoted to the girl, in golden silk 
courtier dress, who stepped from among them, into center aisle.
	Serena felt relief.  Mina agreed.  She didn?t desire this either!
	The crowd was confused.  Darien felt his throat choke.  Mina was 
out in the crowd.  Who had he just become engaged to?
	The crowd focused on the girl, veiled next to the prince.  Talk was 
flying and the discussion came fast and furious.
	Serena was upset.  She heard the words ?Princess Mina?ordinary 
clothes?imposter bride?who was she??  What?  Did Darien marry 
someone else?  Was this Beryl?s sick joke?
Who did he marry?  Darien swore, under his breath.  He reached to 
draw the veil back to his false fiance.
	?Screw Amy?s rules?? she muttered.  ?It?s not turning out to be 
traditional anyway.?  She whipped off her veil, and let her eyes scan about 
her, trying to focus.  Where was she?
	The veil drifted to the floor, but the solid gold crown made a large 
clang, piercing through the disruption.
	His eyes locked with those of his fiance, and he grabbed her hand 
before she could run away.  She wouldn?t, though.  She was entangled in 
his gaze as much as he was locked hers.
	There was silence in the court.  No one moved.  Breathing stopped.  
Serena turned pale.
	The Princess Mina stood in the center aisle.  The Prince Darien, 
stood at the altar.  By him stood his now unveiled fiance, dressed in the 
princess?s wedding robes, with the golden ring still glowing at her finger.  
She was Serena, the queen?s ward.

To be continued? 

Comments?  Crisinti@hotmail.com