Title: Silver Millennium Training Part 3
Author: Artemis Luna Diana
Web Site: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Villa/3319
Rating: G
Type: Love Story b/w Darian and Serena
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I have decided that Usagi-chan should be smart in this, not too smart of course, otherwise
she would be completely out of character in my opinion. And what would the Silver Millennium
be without a ball, eh? I couldn't resist! Even though it is probably a tired scene, I just
had to include it. I defenitly know that someone either injured or depressed is probably
tired too, but GET OVER IT! It is a great idea for my story! Anyways, that is enough of me
blabbering, so read the story!
Oh yeah, I don't own Sailor Moon, yada yada yada....
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The trainees were awake and eating by 6:00 AM. At 6:30 AM, the first years were taken inside
a large building and seperated into five groups of twenty. Each group was taken into a
classroom. Seomen was the professor of the group with the highest level of education. Lita and
Serena were in that group.
Garath had told Seomen of Serena and Lita so he would be better prepared. Sure enough the two
were in the top five of his students, Lita in second and Serena in fourth. From 6:30 AM until
10:00 AM, the first years were taught by Seomen and his assistants. They were then ushered
outside to Larak's care, and yesterday's schedule picked back up. Every day, it was the same
routine. Larak and Edmund would give them new things to do, but Garath never did. Every day
they fought the third year students, and everyday Serena found herself opposite Darian. She
couldn't believe how handsome he was and how much of a conceited jerk.
Serena and Lita were inseparable and at the top of their class. Serena's secret training was
also going extremely well. Soon the first year of training was over and the graduating class
was giving a ball. The ball would also include Earth's royalty.
Serena and Lita were eating lunch when Larak approached them. "I have letters for both of
you." he said, "to Lita from Jupiter, and to Serena from...the Moon." he looked at them both
expecting explinations.
"My grandmother lives on the Moon." Serena said quickly.
"My aunt lives on Jupiter." Lita said a split second later.
Larak frowned; he knew there was much more to it than they had said. However, he knew it
would be useless to try and worm out the information from them and left.
"I should go and read this." they both said simultaneously. "I'll see you later, then." Lita
said as they stood and left the room to read their letters.
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My Dear Serena -
How are you, my daughter? I know this letter must come as a shock, but
I forgot to tell you something before you left. I heard of the ball that the
six year class is giving. Anytime that Earth's royalty will attend a ball that
you as a trainee are invited to, you must go as the Moon Princess. Haruka
and Michiru will be there as Princess Uranus and Princess Neptune. I'm so
sorry for the shortness of this letter. You are in my heart.
Queen Serenity
"And you will always be in mine." she whispered and a single tear rolled down her cheek.
"I miss you so much, Mother."
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The day of the ball approached steadily and many of the girls were sighing in anticipation of
possibly meeting Prince Endymion. Serena was not looking forward to it. She had heard all the
rumors as well as hearing her mother speak of the possibility of her marrying Prince Endymion.
She was constantly asked what dress she would be wearing and how she would do her hair. She
knew Lita was getting asked the same questions, so it wasn't that bad. Both told no one
including each other what they would wear. Serena had asked Lita if she was looking forward
to the ball and Lita had said a definite no.
Serena worried that her friend would figure out who she was and blow her cover. Little did she
know that Lita was worried about the same thing. Lita's letter had told her to appear as
Princess Jupiter to the ball. Both were filled with dread of the coming night. Haruka and
Michiru had done their best to cheer Serena up, but had failed.
Finally the ball arrived.
Serena met Haruka and Michiru in the empty school building. Everyone had already left to go
to the ball and they were the only ones still remaining. Haruka and Michiru withdrew their
power sticks and Serena took out the Silver Crystal. Each concentrated on their power
stick/crystal and soon three princesses were standing where three trainees had been.
"How many people will be at the ball?" Serena asked.
"Of the six year class: 67, of the five year class: 13, of the four year class: 6, of the
three year class: 22, of the two year class: 9, of the one year class: 44. Making the total
of trainees 161." Haruka said gently.
Serena breathed a sigh of relief. With the way everyone had seemed so excited she had thought
all 600 trainees would be there. "Let's go, then." she said and smiled.
Serena was relieved to have her hair back in the familiar buns instead of the tight french
braid she'd been forced to wear. The Moon's symbol was back on her forehead and Haruka and
Michiru's symbols were back as well. She'd never realized how comforting her true appearance
was.
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They were the last to reach the ball. Prince Endymoin and his family had already been
introduced as had the unexpected Princess Jupiter. The announcer jumped up in shock when he
saw who was coming in. He cut the music abruptly and everyone turned to the door.
"Princess Uranus and Princess Neptune are accompanying........Princess Serenity of the Moon
Kingdom." he managed to say before collapsing into his chair.
Gasps of surprise were heard throughout the room. All of Earth's royalty stood up from their
thrones when they entered the room. A path was cleared for her. Serena began walking towards
the thrones with Haruka and Michiru three steps behind her. As they passed, the people bowed
low. Serena reached the end of the path and looked up at King Alexander and Queen Lemina of
Earth. She had met them both when she was nine and they looked the same to her. She gave a
shallow curtsy before smiling at them. The King bowed and the Queen curtsied before also
smiling.
"It has been a long time, Your Majesties." Serena said breaking the silence.
"How have you been, my dear?" Queen Lemina asked.
"Very well, and you?"
"As well as I can be. You've never met my son, have you?"
"No, Your Majesty, I have not."
Queen Lemina motioned for her son to approach. Serena was amazed at how handsome he was. The
only person who could possibly compete with him would be Darian. "Princess Serenity, my son,
Prince Endymion."
Prince Endymion was surprised at how beautiful and how tiny Princess Serenity was. He bowed as
she curtsied. He looked up to see his mother gesture for the music to begin. "A dance for the
Prince of Earth and the Princess of the Moon." she called out.
Darian led Serena onto the floor and they began to dance. For their first dance, they were the
only ones on the floor. Haruka and Michiru spoke with the King and Queen while Serena danced.
The couple danced gracefully, but in silence. When the dance ended, Darian kissed Serena's
hand before leading her back to Haruka and Michiru. Darian was immediately called upon to
dance with another young woman, giving Serena time to draw Haruka and Michiru away from the
King and Queen.
Serena spoke with them quickly and ordered them to not allow anyone to dance with her. They
both looked at her in shock. "What about Prince Endymoin, King Alexander, and Prince Hermes?"
Haruka asked. Serena looked pained before saying that she'd dance with them. Throughout the
night Haruka and Michiru kept Serena away from the men of the ball, she danced twice more with
Prince Endymoin, once with King Alexander, and begged off from Prince Hermes. Serena also met
Princess Jupiter and thought she looked very familiar. In the late hours of the ball, Serena
told Haruka and Michiru that she wished to go outside. When they started to accompany her she
stopped them, she wanted to be alone. Serena walked silently outside in the gardens of the
palace. She heard someone coming up behind her and turned. A strange looking man was rapidly
approaching; he wore dirty clothing and carried a long sword.
"Stop! Don't come any closer!" Serena cried out. The man didn't stop. "Who are you?" Serena
received no answer. Soon he would be close enough to stab her if he wanted to. Serena turned
and ran. She could hear him following her.
Darian felt fear. He knew it wasn't his he felt, but someone elses. He stopped dancing and ran
out into the gardens. He saw Princess Neptune and Princess Uranus searching for Princess
Serenity and knew whose fear he felt. He raced by them not saying a word. Haruka and Michiru
looked at each other and nodded. "He knows where she is, and that she's in danger." Michiru
whispered.
"Then we were right." Haruka said slowly. "They are connected."
Darian heard someone running towards him and stopped. Serena ran right into his arms. She
screamed and looked up. "There's someone coming!" she said as soon as she recognized him.
Darian pushed her behind him and reached for his sword. The man came upon them only seconds
after Darian drew his sword. The man skidded to a stop.
"Who are you?" Darian asked angrily.
The man ran towards him still not answering. They began to fight, Darian won easily enough,
but unfortunately the man purposely impailed himself on Darian's sword. He would give no
answers.
Darian looked behind him to see Serena with one hand covering her mouth and a glassy look in
her eyes. For the first time in her life, Serena fainted.
Serena woke slowly. She felt herself floating gently through the air and sighed. She thought
she was being placed onto a bed of clouds and opened her eyes. Prince Endymoin was still
holding her when their eyes met. Serena blushed slightly before murmering thank you. He let
go of her and backed away slightly. Serena wished he was still holding her. 'What? Why would I
want him to hold me? I don't even know him!'
"Are you okay now?" he asked gently.
"What happened?" she asked puzzeled.
"You fainted, Princess." Haruka said with humor laced into her voice.
Serena turned to face her. "I've never fainted before......"
"Did you know the man that was after you?" Michiru asked.
"What man......oh." Serena's memories flooded back and with it came panic. "How did he know I
would be here? Who was he? Who sent him? What did he want?!" Serena cried out hysterically.
Haruka rushed to her side pushing Darian out of the way. She held Serena as she cried out her
fears. "Haruka, how did he know?" Serena asked not realizing that she had just told Prince
Endymion Haruka's name, but he didn't notice and Haruka's idenity remained a secret.
"I don't know, my kitten, I don't know." Haruka said depressed. 'How did someone find out? This
isn't just a coinceidence.' She turned to her lover, "Michiru? What should we do?"
Michiru looked at her with sad eyes. "Should we tell the Queen?" Michiru turned to Darian,
"Prince Endymoin can you keep this from leaking out through the palace?"
Darian looked from Princess Neptune to Princess Serenity and back again. He nodded. "Where is
she staying? Her guards need to be increased." Darian's temper sparked, "Where were you when
she walked outside?!" he asked a startled Michiru.
"It was her choice, we can not disobey an order from our Princess." Haruka said standing. "We
can not tell you where she is staying." she looked down at the now sleeping princess, "We
thought we hid her well.....her safety is of the utmost importance to us. We will guard her."
Darian couldn't help but be skeptical, "Two inexperienced princess are going to protect her?"
"We are not inexperienced!" Haruka said hotly.
"We must be leaving now." Michiru said calmly. Haruka nodded and picked up Serena.
Prince Endymoin's temper exploded. "Why don't you just leave her here tonight, at least let
her rest!"
Haruka and Michiru turned to study him. "We can not." Michiru said simply and they walked
through the door carrying the most beautiful woman Darian had ever seen.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Darian mumbled crossly.
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Serena plunged herself into her training. Why didn't I do something? I just ran. Her confidence
was shattered. Darian beat her everytime they fought and didn't understand what was wrong with
her. Anytime someone tried to ask her what happened, she just crawled deeper into her shell.
She wouldn't talk to Lita and barely said anything to Haruka and Michiru. Everyday she looked
worse, she was wasting away and no one knew what to do.
Darian knew how much Serena hated him, and he knew how much she got on his nerves, but this
was too much. She was barely holding her sword, with one tap he could send it flying out of
her hands. Darian had enough of this dispirited creature that had taken the place of his
firebrand. 'His? Yeah, his!' Darian knocked her sword out of her hands and dropped his. He
grabbed her wrist and dragged her off the training field. Garath saw the whole thing, but
said nothing. He too had noticed Serena's behavior.
Serena was surprised at Darian's behavior. She would have tried to pull away but she just
didn't have the energy to fight anymore. She let Darian drag her through the school building
and out the back into the woods. It was called the Illusion Forest and considered haunted.
Serena was now getting scared. 'What was Darian going to do with her? Was he the one who knew
her identity and sent that man after her?'
Darian felt Serena's fear, but said nothing. Soon they reached Darian's destination. It was a
small cottage in the woods. The area was well kept and looked homey instead of spooky. He took
her inside and pushed her into one of the chairs in the kitchen. He ran a glass of water and
handed it to her.
Serena sipped a little of the water before looking up at Darian. 'What was he going to do to
her?'
"I'm not going to murder you, Serena."
"Why did you bring me here?"
"What's wrong, Serena? Why are you so downhearted?"
"It's nothing that concerns you." Serena whispered as two tears slipped out.
"Serena, please don't cry." Darian kelt down in front of her. "Please tell me what happened."
"I ran away, Darian. I always bragged about my abilities, and I ran away!" Serena began to cry
whole-heartedly. Darian stood and picked her up. He carried her sobbing form to the couch in
the living room and sat down with her in his lap. She held onto his shirt, her hands clenching
and unclenching. Darian could do nothing but whisper nonsense words to her and stroke her hair.
Soon Serena began to quiet. "Thank you, Darian." she whispered hoarsely keeping her face
buried in his shirt.
"Can you tell me what happened to you?"
"No, I can't." Serena wanted to start crying again. He was being so kind and she wanted to
tell him everything, but....... "I just can't."
Darian did his best not to be upset that she couldn't trust him. "When you're ready to tell me,
I'll be here for you." Serena looked up at him, he was smiling at her. Even with her eyes still
red from tears, Darian thought she was still the most beautiful creature he had ever seen.
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So how was that? E-MAIL ME! I crave attention!
The story is coming along smoothly, don't you think?This chapter was longer, yes? That is
the only complaint I have been getting, I'm completely proud of myself, you all have given me
such an ego boost! My head is so big that I can barely keep it on my neck!
Thanks to everyone who has e-mailed me! Thanks to my
legion of fans...I know you are out there somewhere! Thanks everyone!
This is shameless self-promotion, but I BEG YOU VISIT MY SITE!
~Artemis Luna Diana~
