Title: Apples & Oranges
Author: Marie J.W.
Chapter: Two / Dream of the Past
Rated: PG
Email: angellady41@hotmail.com

 Thanks for all your emails!

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

 "You let here escape?!" Beryl glared red faced at her so-called 
stepchildren.
Nat stood, leaning against the cool rock wall with an air of indifference 
while Natia stood in front of Beryl looking just as upset as her.
 "It's not my fault the brat got a way!"
Beryl grabbed Natia's hair, "Don't talk back to me! You were supposed to 
watch her!" Beryl then turned her firry gaze on mister calm, "And you! 
You were supposed to be watching the door! How did she get past you?"
 Nat shrugged his shoulders, "I guess I fell asleep."
Beryl seethed at him before turning her eyes on the black hair she still 
held in her hands. One day she would get rid of those two!
 "Find her." She let go of Natia's hair and stalked off.

Natia glared at her brother, "How come I get all the bad treatment?"
 "Because you let her give it to you." Nat smiled grimly, "Come on, we 
have a job to do."

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

 Serenity leaned against a tree and looked back. They weren't following. 
Thank goodness. I guess they didn't want to go after their pry. 
Serenity thought.
 However, what now, what do I do? I still don't know where I am. She 
looked around but there was so sign of a road or path to lead her 
to civilization. I guess I have no choice but to go forward. I obviously 
can't stay here forever. I just hope that if I do run into more... 
cannibals.
 Serenity wiped the sweat from her dirty forehead with her hand then 
continued on, not knowing when she would find a village.

` ` ` ` ` `  ` ` `

 Three days later - 

"That is so odd..." Andy mused as he stared at his sword. 
Chad rolled his eyes, "Are you still thinking about that girl?"
 Andy looked up and sighed, "It doesn't make sense. Darien says that 
she's royalty but from what royal family for goodness sakes? What would 
a Princess be doing in the woods? She would have to be from another 
planet, that's obvious."
 Ken slouched down into a wicker chair, "The prince all ready check the 
planets Jupiter, Mars, Saturn and Mercury. Where else could she have come 
from?"
 "What I want to know is why everyone is so tied up in this mysterious 
Princess thing." Chad stretched his head, "She's just a girl, and we don't 
even know if she was pretty or not."
 "Haven't you heard that looks aren't everything, Chad?" Andy asked annoyed.
"Sure, but who believes that?"
 Ken and Andy exchanged looks before rolling their eyes.
"You would make a wonderful suitor, Chad." Andy smiled at him sarcastically, 
"I hope you marry someone who shares the same views because looks is all 
you have."
 Chad glared at Andy, "That's not true! I have charm."
"Riiiight..." Ken stood up and left the veranda.
 "Now, look what you did, you made him leave." Andy teased with sarcasm in 
his voice.
 Chad fell into the seat Ken once occupied, "It's for the better."
"I must disagree, besides Darien, he's the only one that can carry on a 
good conversation."
 "What about me?"
"Oh, yes." Andy stood up, "Your charm captivates me." He bowed and left 
the veranda as well.
 Chad frowned before shrugging his shoulders and picking up an apple 
from a basket sitting at the side of him, "Well, you can't please everyone."


` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

 Serenity woke up to warm blankets and a steamy room.
'Where am I?' Serenity peeked out from under heavy blanket. The room was 
small and it held all sorts of strange things to the foreign Princess. A 
small table sat in the middle of the one room cottage with lots of 
strange looking green, orange and red things. On the stove, a kettle sat 
with hot steam rising out of it.
 "Hello?" Serenity flipped the blankets off her and swung her legs over 
the side of the bed, her feet barely touching the floor.
 A soft whistling sound pricked Serenity's curiosity. A short woman came 
in with a hand full of yellow and orange flowers. She walked across the 
room and placed them in the sink. Serenity watched her with interest as 
the woman pumped water out of the faucet and rearrange the flowers to 
her liking.
 The woman turned around and started, "Good gracious child!"
 Serenity blushed as the woman stared at her wonderingly.
"May I ask where this place is?" Serenity tucked a strand of hair behind 
her ear nervously.
 The woman smiled kindly, "This is my cottage." Then on a second thought 
she added, "I live just outside of town."
 Serenity looked down at her clothes. The last thing she remember was 
falling asleep near a pond, dirty and tired. However, now she was dressed 
in some kind of robe and her hair as well as her feet was clean.
 "You were quiet sick." The woman answered Serenity's thoughts; "I had to 
get Mr. Little down the road to help me carry you here. What on earth, did 
you think you were doing out in the forest? If I hadn't come across you, I 
don't know what might happen to you. You could've gotten eaten by some 
starving wolf no doubt!"
 Serenity only took half in of what the old woman said, as she was too 
busy looking around the room. There were many things Serenity had never 
seen before and they fascinated her.
 The woman sighed when she realized the blonde girl wasn't listening to 
her, "What's your name, child?"
 Serenity's head snapped back to the woman, "Serenity." Her voice was 
mouse like. The old woman had to strain to hear her.
 "Serenity? Hum, like the Moon Queen, eh?" she smiled, "It is a beautiful 
name."
"Moon Queen?" Serenity questioned.
 "Yes, dear. Don't you know who that is?"
Serenity shook her head.
 "Oh, dear..." the old woman looked at Serenity in wonder. Where had the 
girl come from? She seemed a lost sort of thing didn't she? 'Poor thing'. 
 
 "Well, my name is Lady Thorn but you can call me Maggie."

Serenity smiled, "Thank you..."
 
 "Now, I bet you're hungry, aren't you." Maggie turned around and 
started chopping up orange carrots, "I have plenty to eat. However, it 
will take some time to cook. If you want, you can sleep for a bit 
longer."
 Serenity head was still light from the fever she had and sleep 
sounded incredibly good all of a sudden. The princess lay back down and 
covered herself with the large blankets, snuggling into their warmth. 
'Maybe when I wake up... things will make more sense.'


` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

 Queen Serenity forced herself to sit down and be calm. The girls would 
come in any minute now and she would have to tell the them- no, she 
couldn't think about that without standing up and pacing the room. The 
girls would be disturbed; she knew it.
 The Queen stood up despite her thoughts. 'How am I going to tell this 
to them? You would think as a Queen this would be easy for me.' Queen 
Serenity rubbed her arms as she looked out the window. The Moon Kingdom 
looked peaceful and calm. People bustled about below; doing their daily 
chores while little children ran through the gardens. Queen Serenity 
couldn't help but compare her feelings towards the mundane life below. 
'The girls are not going to understand.'
 The door opened to the study. Queen Serenity turned around to meet the 
girls.
"Good morning." Queen Serenity put on a forced smile.
 The girls looked eager as well as curious to know why, herself the Queen, 
would call them to the study at this time in the morning.
 "Good morning, you're Majesty." Amy smiled sweetly.
The Queen felt a little calmer at the sweet reply. 'Maybe they won't 
be so... upset about their fate.'
 "Take a seat."
The four girls sat down, Ray sat at the small study table, and Amy sat I
n an armchair while Mina sat at her feet, leaning against Amy's legs. 
Lita pulled a chair out from under the table and placed it in between 
Ray and the other two girls. She sat down.
 'They seem comfortable enough; right?' Queen Serenity looked down at her 
hands to find them gripping each other. She released them, resting her hands 
at her sides.
 "You're... probably wondering why I called you." the Queen started.
Ray frowned, Lita looked indifferent while Mina and Amy gave the Queen
small smiles.
 "As you know, the Queen and King of Earth came a few days ago for dinner 
as well as a private meeting."
 Everyone was silent.
"We discussed the needs of the planets and the needs of the people here on 
the Moon as well as on Earth." The Queen sat down, there was no way she 
could say this standing up, "The Earth Prince has refused all Ladies as 
well as Princesses on Earth. Therefore, the King of Earth and I have made 
an agreement, that one of you four shall become the Princess of Earth." 
Queen Serenity took a deep breath. 'There I said it!' The Queen looked 
around the abnormally silent room.
 Mina's mouth was hanging open in surprise, Amy sat silently still, her 
eyes blankly staring into space, Lita's mouth was set taunt, and Ray sat 
stiffly in her seat her eyes down cast.
 The silence stretched on...
Queen Serenity gripped her dress unconsciously, staring at the girls, 
waiting for an answer.
 
 Five minutes past and still the girls had not moved or made a reply 
to her announcement.
 The Queen's nerves were at end. The silence drummed in her ears and 
the grandfather clock ticked against her heart.
 Queen Serenity stood up in a rush, "Say something! Anything!"
 "I think it's wonderful!" Mina burst out.
The Queen started. That wasn't the answer she expected.
 "Excuse me?"
Mina stood up and hugged the Queen, "I've always wanted to get married! 
This would be perfect! There are absolutely NO eligible guys on Venus and 
I would hardly want to marry someone from Mars!" Mina glanced at Ray.
 "What if the Prince refuses to marry one of us as well?" Amy asked as 
she finally looked up at the Queen. Her eyes were watery and panicked.
 "Then the King will decide for him."
Lita stood up, stiff as ever, and walked swiftly to the door before shutting 
it firmly behind her.
 The Queen winced. 'Oh, Lita... I'm sorry.'
Ray stood up, knocking her chair to the floor, "Lita's right! You or the 
King had no right to do this!" Ray's eyes were filled with anger and hate, 
"Why can't you just leave us alone?! You never even discussed this with 
us; you always discuss it with 'your' scouts but never with us!"
 "Ray!" Mina burst out surprised.
"Please... Ray, you must understand-" the Queen started.
 "I understand! YOU want to feed us to that self absorbed Prince or EARTH! 
If he so much as touches me I'll set him on fire... and trust me, I 
won't hesitate!" Ray quickly left the room, slamming the door behind 
her.
 Mina frowned, "I thought they would be happy about it."
Queen Serenity looked at Amy, "You might as well tell me how you feel 
about it. Everyone else has."
 Amy's lip trembled so even if she wanted to she couldn't speak.
Queen Serenity knelt down next to Amy and wrapped her arms around the 
girl. Amy crumbled and sobbed into the Queen's shoulders, "I don't want 
to get married..."
 Mina sat down, feeling a weight on her shoulders.
'Is there something I'm missing?'

` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` ` `

 'Serenity, where are you little brat?' Natia rounded the hall with a 
dried branch in her hand.
 A ten-year old Serenity swallowed and flattened herself up against the 
wall near the door, trying not to breath so hard. If she comes in here... 
I can escape before she sees me. The young princess thought to herself.
 Footsteps echoed down the dark hall. The only lights were the many torches 
hung up against the long halls.
 The footsteps stopped just outside the door. Serenity held her breath, 
her whole being was shaking and her head was starting to feel light. 
Please don't faint! Serenity begged herself.
 The doorknob twisted. Serenity shut her eyes tight and forced down a 
whimper. The door creaked and it pushed open wide. Light flooded in. 
Serenity stared horrified as Natia's shadow stood in the doorway.
 'I know you're in here little princess!' Natia stepped in and looked 
around the dark room. She still hadn't seen her yet.
 'Mother wants to see you.' Natia attempted to scare the little twit 
out, 'You've been a bad little girl.'
 Serenity waited anxiously for Natia to move away from the door.
Natia hit the stick against the palm of her hand making Serenity jump.
 Natia didn't move.
Maybe I can hit her down. Serenity thought. She was too frightened to 
think through her strategies. All she knew is that she 'had' to get out!
 Serenity took a deep breath and plowed into Natia, effectually knocking 
Natia to the floor. Natia growled and grabbed Serenity's ankle as the 
Princess headed for the hall.
 Serenity yelped in pain as her face slammed against the stone floor.
'Bad move princess! You're going to pay for that.' Natia pulled Serenity 
towards her. Serenity looked behind her. Natia's head was bleeding from the 
fall and her eyes looked blood shot.
 Serenity gasped before letting out a high-pitched scream.
Natia immediately let go and covered her ears. Serenity quickly pushed 
herself and ran!
 Natia was soon behind her, chasing her down the hallway. Serenity's heart 
beat to the rhythm of her pounding feet. Please someone... help me!
 Serenity yelled out as Natia slammed into her from behind. Both girls 
fell to the floor in a tangled mess of skirts and hair.
 Natia finally got the upper hand.
Serenity froze horrified, under Natia, as her stepsister raised her hand 
to slap her.
 Serenity closed her eyes tight. Just forget about the pain!

A light...
A scream...
A burst of energy started at Serenity's wrist and spread rapidly 
throughout her body. 

 She felt... peace... 

Where is this coming from? 

 The energy overwhelmed her until she was barley on the brink 
of unconsciousness.
 
 'What have you done?' Nat's voice echoed in her ears.
What have I done? Serenity asked herself her thoughts were fuzzy. I... 
I just was here. Natia did it...
 The light engulfed her begging her to stay. Serenity smiled... 
She fell asleep.


(To be continued...)


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 This chapter done! I hope you liked it!

 Thanks for read'in!