Title: Apples & Oranges Author: Marie J.W. Chapter: Four / Trouble in the Palace Rated: PG Email: angellady41@hotmail.com URL: www.mariejwfanfics.homestead.com Wow, I'm just speeding along! I hope you like this next chapter! ```````````````````````````````````````````````` "Tell me again, WHY are we spying on the generals?" Ray asked, annoyed at her loyal friends childishness. "Shhh... they'll hear you." Mina whispered, "We're spying because it wouldn't be polite to stare at them face to face. Don't you think?" Ray rolled her eyes, "Whoever said the generals were worth staring at?" Lita smiled, "All of us, of course." Amy cleared her throat, "Maybe we should be leaving now." A bright blush was taking over her cheeks. "Why?" Mina asked. Amy swallowed, "Because they're taking their shirts off." "Really?" Mina turned to stare at the guys by the swimming hole, "Wow!' Ray hit Mina over the head, "Get a life, we should be in the palace drinking lemonade not staring at-" Ray stopped as Chad pulled himself out of the water and shook out his wet hair. "You were saying?" Mina smirked. Ray tore her eyes away from Chad's nice... well... we all know. "Maybe we can just stay a while, besides, it's a long walk back." Lita and Mina snickered. ``````````````````````````````````````` "Did you guys hear something?" Chad looked around, "I thought I heard..." "It's probably some squirrels." Ken started swimming backwards. Andy picked up some moss from the side of the swimming pool, "Darien's... really lucky to get to choose between those four Princesses." Ken stopped and stood up in the water, "Yeah, so?" "Well..." Andy looked up at the guys, "If you had to choose between four girls, whom would you pick?" "You mean, the four Princesses." Andy nodded. Greg blushed, "We don't have that choice." "I know... but let's just imagine for a while, okay. So, who would you choose?" Andy dropped the moss and lifted himself out of the water and onto the grass. Ken smiled, "Lita." "Really?" Chad shook his head, "She kind of strikes me as... tom boyish." "Hardly." Ken breathed, "She's beautiful. "What about you, Greg?" Chad asked. Greg cleared his throat, "I think we can occupy our minds with better things." "Really like... Mina... or... Amy... for example?" Chad teased. "Amy." he quickly stated before diving into the water. Chad laughed, "Well... I'm not surprised. She's as smart as you are." Greg came up next to Ken. Ken gave him a teasing look. "Awe, come on! Lay off!" Greg pleaded. "Alright, what about you Chad?" Ken smiled. Chad raised an eyebrow, "Truly, I'd have to say... Ray." "Ray?" Ken sputtered, "But she... she doesn't like you." Chad glared at Ken, "She does too... she just doesn't know it yet." Andy smiled, "Chad, she's not for you." Chad glared daggers at Andy, "You'll see." Andy shook his head. "Okay, what about you Andy?" "Mina..." Andy sighed, dramatically. "This is pathetic." Chad rubbed his arms as a breeze came upon him. "Yeah..." Andy shook himself out of it, "I don't get it, man. Darien has four girls he can choose from for his bride and he... he practically ignores them... or is rude to them. I know ever since he was a kid he was... distant when it came to girls and commitment, but really this is ridiculous." Ken sighed, "Let's talk about something else, this is getting depressing." Andy smiled, "Depressing, huh?" Ken nodded. Andy, Chad and Greg exchanged looks before slowly getting into the water and picking up moss. "Well... then, let's make it a little more fun!" Chad hurdled a big glob of moss and salt water at Ken. Ken ducked under the water but came up with moss on top of his head. "HA! Try again!" Ken smiled. Chad broke out laughing, "Wrong... buddy!" Ken looked confused before sensing something on his head. He pulled if off with a frown, "Ooo... you guys are going to get it!" `````````````````````````````` "What are they saying?" Mina moved closer to the bush, "Shhh... Lita I can't hear!" "It wasn't me, it was Amy." "This isn't right at all guys. What if they find us?" "Shhh..." "You mean, the four Princesses?" one of the guys asked. Mina giggled, "They're talking about us!" "Shut up." Ray knocked Mina over the head again. Mina glared before tuning back into the guys. "Lita." Ken's back was to the girls but they all heard him non-the-less. "Really?" Chad shook his head, "She kind of strikes me as... tom boyish." "I may be tough but I'm not a boy!" Lita tried to defend herself. "Would you be quiet?!" Mina hissed. "Really like... Mina... or... Amy... for example?" Chad teased. "What are they talking about?" Ray whispered, "What about them?" "Shhh..." Amy whispered back. "Amy." Greg said before quickly jumping into the pool. Amy's breath caught. 'What was that supposed to mean?' Chad started talking, "Truly, I'd have to say... Ray." "Ray?" Ken sputtered, "But she... she doesn't like you." Chad bit out in reply, "She does too... she just doesn't know it yet." Andy smiled, "Chad, she's not for you." "You'll see." he replied confidently. "Like him? Is he in sane?" Ray glared at the over confident man. Mina started giggling, "Admit it, Ray, you're gone over him and he knows it." "I am NOT!" "Be...quiet! They're going to hear us if you guys keep this up!" Lita bit out. The guys started talking again, this time to Andy. Mina's hope started to rise. If all of the guys liked one of her, friends... then did that mean... Andy liked her? Andy's voice was too quiet to hear as he talked to Ken. Mina bit her lip before turning to Lita, "Did you hear that?" Lita shook her head, "I couldn't hear anything." Mina sighed. 'Great, now I'll never know.' "May I ask what you are all doing?" The girls spun around to see a green skirt. They looked up. Molly stood staring down at them with a smirk on her face, "It's very rude to stare at the generals, Princesses." Ray blushed bright red along with Amy, while Mina and Lita smiled stupidly. "You wouldn't tell, would you?" Mina stood up and dusted off her skirt. Molly smiled, "Oh... I don't know..." Lita stood up and crossed her arms, "Stop teasing. You honestly can't say that you've never spied on the generals before." Molly turned serious, "Of course not. I'm a lady and ladies don't-" "Alright, what do you want?" Molly smiled again, "Meet me for tea tomorrow at four." The Lady in Waiting, curtsied and briskly turned around and headed back towards the palace. "I'm curious, what was she doing out this far from the palace by herself anyway?" The girls exchanged looks. Yes,... they wondered. ```````````````````````````````````` "What's way down there?" Serenity asked Nick as she peered down into the wail. Nick stopped piling wood up against the cottage and walked up behind Serenity, "Water." "Water?" Serenity looked at him curious, "How do you get down there?" "You don't. It comes up to you." Serenity stared at him. "Here..." Nick grabbed the bucket sitting at the side, "I'll show you." He hooked the bucket onto the rope before moving to the side and cranking it down. Serenity watched as the bucket went lower and lower until she couldn't see it any more. Finally, they both heard a splash. "Now we pull it up." He cranked it back up and before Serenity knew it, a bucket of water sat in front of her. "Wow!" "How do you get water where you come from?" "Well, there isn't actually any water on our planet so we have to get it from somewhere else." "Bummer." Nick smiled, "Hey, do you want to go into town when I'm finished?" Serenity nodded. There was still so much to learn! ````````````````````````````````````````` Darien sat idly in his chair, watching his Father drown on about politics and the people. Darien had heard all of this before just yesterday and he was in no mood to listen to it again, but his father had insisted that he stay. His generals looked equally bored but at least they were paying attention. Several other Gentlemen sat listening and taking notes. 'The bracelet was made of crystals... so it had to come from...' Darien thought hard. 'Maybe Jupiter... or... no it couldn't be Jupiter. The princess of that planet is already here. In fact, I've met just about every princess of every planet!' Darien was even more confused by this. 'Could there be another planet that we don't know of?' Darien snapped to attention when the sound of his father's deep voice ceased. Everyone had turned to look at the doors. "Come in." King Terren commanded. A servant walked in with grace, "You're Majesty, a..." the servant looked slightly confused, "Prince Nattian of Grace is here to see you." King Terren's brow furrowed. "He's waiting in the sun room." Darien was just as curious as his father was. 'Who is this prince? I've never heard of him before, and I've certainly have never heard of a planet called Grace.' King Terren cleared his throat, "Excuse me, Gentlemen. Darien, would you please take over?" Darien started and gave his father an alarmed look. He had no idea where his father was in his lecture and he wasn't even sure he remembered it all. King Terren either ignored his look or didn't see it. He quickly left the room with the servant. Darien uncomfortably stood up and walked to the head of the table. Andy was visibly snickering and Ken looked amused. Darien gave a short glare at his friends before clearing his throat, "Where were we?" `````````````````````````````` Two Days Later: "He's a strange prince indeed! I've never seen anyone like him." Molly gossiped. Serenity leaned in, "Is he much like Prince Darien?" "No. He's... much more secretive. And he's not as handsome either." Serenity rolled her eyes and leaned back, "Prince Darien is hardly handsome." Molly's eyes widened, "But he is!" Serenity shook her head, "I won't hear any more of it." "You're only saying that because he insulted you." Serenity stood up and walked to the window, "What makes him so strange?" "Prince Nattian?" Serenity spun around, "What?" Molly stood up, "That's his name. What's the matter? You look positively pale!" Serenity swallowed, "What did you say he looked like?" "Well, he has black hair and dark green eyes with a tint of yellow in them, I think. And he's rather short if you size him up to Prince Darien. Why are you asking?" Serenity swallowed hard. 'It couldn't be! He couldn't have found me so quickly! It's not him! It's got to be some one else!' "Where is he from?" Molly stepped back, "I think you're ill, maybe I should call Nick and have him-" "Molly, answer me." Serenity sat down again, trying to look as calm as possible. "He said he came from Grace but none of us have ever heard of that planet." Serenity didn't believe him either. 'I have to get out of here!' "Come, I think you should lay down or something, you look like you're about to faint!" Molly took Serenity's arm and helped her up. Serenity barely knew where Molly was bringing her until they entered the hallway. Up ahead Ray and Lita were coming towards them. When they saw the condition of their new friend, they quickened their pace, "What happened? Is she ill?" Molly couldn't answer their questions. "I'm fine." Serenity started to gather her senses. Molly was still worried, "Are you sure?" Serenity nodded and looked up at Ray and Lita. They looked worried for her health, "Really, I'm fine. I just got a dizzy spell, that's all." Serenity put on a smile but it quickly failed when she saw that unmistakable figure walking towards them. Their eyes connected and he smiled lovingly. Serenity turned even paler and her knees buckled. Lita quickly grabbed her left arm and Molly grabbed her right, holding her on her feet. "She 'is' ill!" Ray stood in front of her, blocking Serenity's view to the man approaching. Ray put a hand on the girls forehead, "Her temperature is fine..." "Let's just-" Molly was cut off by a deep voice, "My sister!" The girls turned to see Prince Nattian standing with a big smile on his face and... were there tears in his eyes? "My little sister!" he repeated as he moved towards Serenity. All three girls stared at Nattian in shock. Serenity looked frightened but her three friends hardly noticed. Prince Nattian wrapped his arms around her in a rib-crushing hug. Serenity felt dizzy from the shock as well as the tight embrace. Nattian pulled away but not far. "You mean to say that she is your sister?" Ray asked amazed. Nat smiled and looked down at his 'sister' adoringly, "Yes... but she ran away... you should be ashamed of yourself, Serenity!" he shook his index finger in her face, "Mother has been worried sick about you." Serenity shook her head but Nat only gave her another 'hug'. The girls smiled despite this awkward situation. "I think she's a bit ill, Prince." Molly commented. Nat pulled away and looked at Serenity's pale face and wide eyes, "Yes... yes... I see. Let's get her somewhere so she can rest." Nat wrapped an arm around her waist and let her lean against him. The girls lead the way while Nat hung back just enough to talk to her in private, "Lovely friends you've made, Serenity." Serenity didn't reply. "It took some time to find you but I'm not going to talk about that. Queen Beryl is enraged by your childishness. You shouldn't have run away so soon. Next time try leaving when you're older and more in control of your life. It would help if you were a little smarter in obeying the Queen's orders." Serenity took all this in. He was going to take her back! The Princess panicked, "Please... leave me here...! It wouldn't be so bad if you just left me here, would it? The Queen would forget me in time! Please... leave me here!" Serenity felt tears coming to her eyes. "Don't worry, Princess. I'll take good care of you." Nat whispered into her hair, "Besides I don't plan to leave just yet. I kind of like all this attention I'm receiving." Serenity shivered in dislike. They finally arrived at Princess Lita's bedroom. Nat brought her in and sat her on the bed, "Now... get some rest sister. Tomorrow is going to be a busy day." He slowly waved his hand in front of her face. Serenity felt sleep come over her as his dark power washed over her eyes. "Sleep, sister, sleep..." Serenity lay down and dozed off. Lita came and pulled a blanket over her, "I hope she will be better when she wakes up." Nat smiled, "She might have a headache but other then that she'll be fine." The girls exchanged glances as they left the room. ````````````````````````````````````` Queen Serenity walked swiftly into the dinning room, "Luna, we have to talk." she sat down. She couldn't, wouldn't ignore her feelings anymore. Luna looked up at her Queen curious, "Yes, your Magesty?" Serentiy leaned towards the black cat, "That day that I was announcing that the Queen and King of Earth were coming to visit. Do you remember?" Luna nodded. "I felt a sudden weakness." "Yes... I was worried about that. Did you have it again?" Luna came closer to her Queen. Serenity shook her head, "No... but I think I know what it was. Luna, my energy was drained." "What? Why didn't you tell me sooner!" Luna stood up on all fours, "Serenity, something like this must be taken care of at once!" "Luna! Listen to me! I don't think it is a threat. I think..." Serenity took a deep breath, "Luna, I think it was my daughter that drained my power." Luna stared at the Queen, "Excuse me?" "Luna I asked the Gods to help me and they led me strait to Serenity's room." Queen Serenity felt tears prick her eyes, "You know I've never been in that room since she... disappeared. Luna, I could almost 'feel' her energy. I 'could feel' her." Luna's eyes softened, "Are you sure?" "Who else would have drained it?" "So what does this mean?" "She's near, Luna, I can feel her close to me. She's somewhere on one of the planets." Serenity stood up, "And I'm going to find her." Luna gave the Queen a sympathic took, "There are many planets, my Queen. It will take years to check them all." "Then we better start now." the Queen smiled hopefully at Luna, "I want to see her as soon as possible! I've already lost too many years with her." Luna sighed and nodded, "I'll see that it is done." ```````````````````````````` 'Serenity, my love.' Nat stroked her hair, 'my sweet, sweet Serenity. So beautiful.' Serenity stiffened against his touch, 'Natia told me to tell you that the Queen wants to see you.' 'Don't mention anyone but us. It is just you and I in a paradise of ours. Look around.' Nat purred against her ear. Serenity looked around. The forest was barren and the dirt was dusty against her shoes. 'The Queen-' 'Forget the Queen. You and I will concur the universe together! We'll be the most beautiful Queen and King in all space!' he pulled away from her and looked her in the eye, 'that's what you want isn't it?' Serenity shook her head, 'I just want to be loved. That's all. I don't want a castle or the all of space.' 'I can love you, Serenity.' he stepped forward. Serenity stepped back, 'You're my brother.' 'Step-brother.' Serenity looked at him full in the face. He sighed, 'One day you will understand. One day you will love me as I love you.' He turned and disappeared through the dead trees. Serenity stood staring at her life. He didn't love her. He only lusted after her. 'I am going to run away if it's the last thing I do!' Serenity yelled to anyone that would hear her. Unfortunately the wrong person did. Serenity spun around as a twig snapped. Natia's figure disappeared behind a rock. 'Oh...no...' Serenity opened her eyes, "Where am I?" She winced at the sound of her own voice as it echoed in her ears. She had a splitting headache! Serenity looked around the room. Silk drapes hung over the bed hiding the rest of the room to her view. The Princess sat up and slid off of the bed. The room looked like one of the royal suites. The door opened and Lita stepped in with a tray of small sandwiches, "Nattian said you would be up by now. How did you sleep?" Serenity groaned and leaned against the bed, "Not good." 'So it wasn't a dream... it's all real!' "You look better now. Do you often get dizzy spells?" Lita put the tray down on the side table and sat down next to Serenity. Serenity shook her head, "No... it's just that." Serenity quickly turned to Lita, "Please, help me leave! I can't stay here." Lita stood up and shook her head; "You left your brother once. Don't you know what you're doing to your family?" "I'm not doing anything!" Serenity snapped, "You have no idea how evil Nat is!" "Nat?" Lita smiled, "That sounds better then Nattian." Serenity shook her head and stood up, "Lita, please, you have to trust me. Nat isn't who he says he is!" "He's your brother isn't he?" "He's my step-brother but he's not a prince from Grace. He's from the Dark Planet! It's dark, evil, and horrible! That's why I left! He's not who he pretends to be!" Serenity begged, "Let me go. I'll find a place to hide and-" "Serenity." Lita looked down at the petite girl determined, "I can't let you go." Serenity glared at her, "Then I'll go myself." She headed for the door but Lita grabbed her from behind and pulled her back to the bed kicking and screaming. "Serenity, stop it!" Lita demanded, "This isn't right!" Serenity stopped struggling, realizing how useless it was. Serenity lay on the bed, staring up at the green silk, with tears in her eyes. Lita stood up and looked at Serenity. She was worried sick about her. The poor girl had obviously gotten some idea that her brother was horrible. How could she be so misled? "You won't let me go?" Serenity tried one last time. "No..." Lita swallowed, "It's for your own good." The Princess of Jupiter then turned and left the room, locking the door behind her. `````````````````````````` Darien looked out his bedroom window. The sky was becoming thick and dark. A storm was coming. Darien tensed. This storm looked bad. Everyone would be running to shelter and the palace windows would be locked in a matter of minutes. A servant entered the room, "Your magesty, please shut and lock your window, a storm is coming." Darien gave a short nod and the servant left. "A storm... I wonder what will happen to the Apple and Orange trees..." (To be Continued...) `````````````````````````````````````````````` Well? What did you think? I hope you like it so far! Thanks for read'in, minna-chan!