Title: Apples & Oranges Author: Marie J.W. Chapter: Nine - Code Blue Rated: G Email: angellady41@hotmail.com Thanks for all the emails on this story! ::Marie looks down at her story:: I really need an editor but I'm too impatient right now to let someone do it for me so you'll just have to bare with me! I hope minna-chan likes this chapter! Yeah, I know, you're thinking it "took long enough!", but hey, I'm working on other stories too, kay? ::Marie sighes:: Okay, on with the story. `````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Ray looked between Darien and Serenity before looking Serenity directly in the eye, "You don't remember?" Serenity stared at Ray confused, "What are you two talking about?" Darien slapped his hand to his forehead, "Oh, boy..." Ray took a deep breath, "Okay, calm down... just calm down..." Ray looked around the empty courtyard trying to figure out what to do with this scatterbrained Princess of the Moon. There had to be a reason why she doesn't know what she did. "Okay, girl, do you remember being in the orchard?" Serenity nodded, "Yes... but I don't see what that has to do with..." Serenity glanced at Darien, ...magic or power." "What do you think happened in the orchard?" Serenity sighed in annoyance. Why was everyone getting all excited? "I found a broken tree and sat down by it, then..." Serenity's throat constricted as she remembered hearing that voice... that song... "It was so long ago..." Serenity whispered aloud. Ray took Serenity by the shoulders, "Serenity, look at me... look into my eyes. What happened after you sat down?" "I... I cried... I heard this voice and a song, I heard someone singing... Ray... I don't know." Serenity looked away. How could she tell Ray how she felt? It was so painful yet... something else. It was almost like having something wonderful come alive in your head yet it was so painful. "Serenity." Ray begged. Serenity shook her head and looked up at Ray, "I don't know what happened." Darien sighed and took Serenity's arm, "Alright, we'll worry about this later. I'm sure the my Mother is waiting for us inside." "Sounds good..." Ray watched Serenity worriedly. Serenity smiled at Ray, trying to calm her, "Don't worry, nothing is wrong with; me." Ray sighed inwardly and looked around for Chad. He was already in the palace. "I'm going to find Chad and inform give him an update." Ray turned to go, "And Darien, keep a eye on her." ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Natia sat in the drawing room with General Ken and Princess Jupiter. Natia looked from one to the other. She didn't trust them. They were being too nice and too... perfect. General Ken seemed to be a charming human but Lita was a pain. Whenever the two girls looked at each other you could almost see lightening crackling between them. "It's getting late, shouldn't they be back soon? Does not your human race sleep?" Natia looked directly at Lita. Lita stiffened in her seat, "Yes. Don't worry, they'll be back." Natia ignored Lita and gave her attention to Ken, "How long have you been a General?" Ken snapped to attention, "Oh, uh... four years." "Four years..." Natia mused. That's a long time. Minutes passed between the deadly silent group: neither seemed to find anything important nor worth saying to each other so they just stayed silent and in their own thoughts. Finally, the sound of the palace doors opening made everyone jump up. They all stared at each other before quickly exiting the room. Lita walked up to Serenity and Darien, trying to get there before Natia did. Natia seethed inside as she spotted Serenity on the arm of a VERY handsome man. That little brat! Making me run around for her while she's entertaining herself! Serenity stopped dead when she saw Natia approaching. She found me! Serenity looked around for somewhere to hide but it wouldn't matter if she found a place anyway, Darien was holding her arm and he wasn't about to let her go again. Lita reached her, "You're back! Everyone has been waiting for you!" Lita gave Serenity a hug, "Watch out, she's upset..." Lita whispered in her ear before pulling away with a smile. Serenity nodded shakily. "Ken?" He asked as he glanced at Natia. Ken took his clue, "This is Princess Natia of the Dark Planet, Natian's sister." "Ohhh..." Darien put on a forced smile and bowed gracefully towards Natia, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Princess Natia." Natia's blood speed up as the handsome Prince greeted her. She curtsied and looked up at him, "It's a 'pleasure' to meet you as well." Serenity watched Natia scan Darien's form with disgust. Natia was always so blunt in her thoughts. Serena almost felt embarrassed by Natia's outward affections. Natia batted her eyes and stepped up closer to Darien, "I'm so glad you found my sister..." Natia glanced at Serenity; "My Mother needs her home soon." Darien swallowed silently and stepped back, "I'm afraid that is impossible, Princess Natia. Serenity is our guest here and we are firm in the move to keep her for as long as possible." Natia nearly whip lashed the Princess with her rage but bit her tongue. Well, so the prince has a mind of his own. "Prince..." she trailed off for Darien to finish. "Darien." He supplied. "Prince Darien, my Mother is the QUEEEN of the DARK PLANET. She does not take no for an answer and I certainly won't either." Natia looked strait at Serenity now, "Serenity will do as told, won't you sister?" Serenity backed away from Natia and tried to hide behind Darien without hurting her arm too much. Darien's grip on her had tightened since Natia's threat. Darien cleared his throat, "Serenity is happy here; end of discussion. If your Queen still has a problem when you return to your planet, please tell her to take the matter up with me herself." Natia saw red, there was no way he was going to be little her! She was the PRINCESS of the DARK PLANET! One of the most powerful planets in the galaxy! Natia grabbed Serenity's other arm and pulled her. Serenity let out a scream as she tried to hold onto Darien. "She is coming with me!" Having enough Lita grabbed onto Natia and yanked her away with a sudden force that Natia couldn't even decipher. Serenity fell against Darien's arm. Will people JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! Serenity thought as she tried to regain some of her senses. The room seemed to be spinning. Darien wrapped his arms around Serenity, making sure to keep her close to him. He watched as Lita struggled to tackle Princess Natia to the ground. Ken tried to help but he only seemed to get in the way, so after effortlessly getting a bloody nose from Lita's back hand, he backed off. Natia struggled for the upper hand in this catfight but Lita was just too strong for her. Lita over powered her ten times. That fact alone made Natia hate the girl enough to curse her to ****. Serenity regained her balance and turned to watch her friend fight with her foe. Lita was obviously the stronger of the two girls but Natia wasn't giving up either. Serenity watched with growing intensity until finally a thought came to her. 'Why was she just watching?' Serenity looked up at Darien, he seemed all too comfortable to leave Lita to take care of Natia for him and her. However, as Serenity looked back on the fight, she felt a growing need to do something to end it all. Natia cried out in pain as Lita slapped her across the face, "You little spore! You will rot for treating me like... that!" Lita ignored her outburst and strained to control the girl. "STOP!" Serenity stepped away from Darien to stand on her own, much to his dislike. Both Lita and Natia stopped in mid motion at her commanding voice. Lita's breath caught. She could have sworn that was Queen Serenity who said that! Serenity's eyes were focused and determined; she wasn't to be argued with. Natia slid out from under Lita and stood up, "What?" She asked, irritated, as she totally forgot about her previous battle with Jupiter. Lita finally realized she was sitting on the ground looking stupid so she quickly stood up and dusted off her skirts. Lita looked at Serenity with awe. It surprised her how much Serenity resembled Queen Serenity. Darien's mouth fell open as he watched the two girls stand up and look at Serenity expectantly. They actually obey her. Serenity swallowed, now what was she supposed to do now that she got their attention. She had no intention of going back to the Dark Planet and she certainly didn't have any intention of staying here. Now that the Dark Planet family knew where she was she was going to have to run away again... and that would mean leaving Darien. Serenity looked back at her male friend. He quickly shut his mouth before clearing his throat, "Yes?" Serenity smiled, amused, before frowning again. She turned back to the two impatient girls in front of her. "I'm sorry, but I can't tolerate this anymore." Serenity gave Lita a small smile, "I won't go with you and I won't stay here." "Serenity, you can stay here... I was wrong before." Lita tried. Serenity shook her head. "You can't leave." Darien's firm voice sounded behind her. "And you can't stay." Natia glared at Serenity, "You owe your Queen that much." Serenity pressed her lips firmly together before opening her mouth, "I WILL NOT obey any of you! I won't go back to the dark planet and I WON'T stay here." For some reason Serenity felt, for the first time, that she had absolute control over her life. She felt a power there that she had never felt before and she 'knew' she could use it at her bidding. "You may think that I am young, you may think that I am little, but I'm not any of those! I am leaving this place and no one can stop me. Not even you Lita." She looked directly at Lita. Lita opened her mouth to say something but then thought better and closed it. Darien was silent behind her, which seemed to be the only thing worrying Serenity. Serenity turned around and faced Darien's blank face. "Say goodbye then." Darien commanded, "Because I won't let you leave unless you do." Serenity's eyes widened. He was letting her go? "Darien I-" Serenity stopped. What was she going to say? She was sorry, that she would miss him, that she... loved him? Serenity decided to settle for the first one, the last one seemed all too complicated. "I'm sorry, Darien. I didn't mean- I mean; I should have said something... I thought maybe you knew I couldn't stay here forever. This isn't my world!" Serenity protested against her heart, "I don't know where I belong but I know I don't belong here! I... I..." Serenity looked around. She could belong here she realized. However, it wasn't her real home and that's what she wanted most, and that was to know where she really belonged. "Stop stuttering!" Natia finally got over Serenity's commanding spell, "You belong on the Dark Planet. Even if I don't want you there you have to go! If you don't come on your own I'll use my powers to take you." Serenity didn't turn around; she just continued to stare at Darien's face. He seemed so bland and uncaring. He did care if she left? Didn't he? "Please... don't look at me like that..." Serenity wanted to shake him, to make him understand her situation. He had to know she had to leave, didn't he? Oh, what to do! I can't leave and I can't stay! Serenity felt like breaking down. Without Darien's support she couldn't do anything on her own. He was the one that started believing in her in the first place. All those talks, walks, and looks; he was her guide to happiness. He was the one that said she could do 'anything' if she put her mind to it. So then, why wasn't she staying? Serenity stared into herself in confusion. Why aren't I staying? I should. "Yes, you should." Everyone turned to the voice that just entered the room. Serenity's mouth fell open. That voice! It was the same one in her dream... the same one she heard sing that song... Who is she? Queen Serenity stood next to Queen Agasta with Luna just behind them to the left. General Ken and Princess Lita both bowed or curtsied in respect. Natia sized the obvious Moon Queen up. She seemed to be someone important in this area. Serenity stared at the Queen in amazement. The Silver haired Queen looked incredibly like herself. "Serenity..." Queen Serenity held out her hand for her to take. Luna watched with relief, at least the Queen was back to her normal royal self. Who knows how Serenity would have reacted if she ran in screaming like a baby and asking if Maggie had damaged her brain while she was gone. Serenity stared down at the Queen's hand before looking back up at her face. The woman seemed to know her. Serenity stepped forward and took her hand. Queen Serenity squeezed her hand in her own. She felt like crying right there but she was too afraid she would scare her daughter away, after all she didn't know who she was. "My name is Queen Serenity." She introduced herself. Serenity's mouth opened in awe at the mention of her name. Everyone had been saying so much about her and now she finally got to meet this enchanting Queen of the Moon. "You're the Moon Queen." Queen Serenity held back the tears chocking her voice, "Yes." "It's a pleasure to meet you." Serenity gave her a low curtsie, her hand never leaving hers. Queen Serenity looked at Agasta, questioning how to go about this. Agasta gave her a comforting look but nothing more. Queen Serenity was on her own. "Serenity, do you-?" She stopped. From what Agasta said Serenity thought she was from some planet called the Dark Planet. How could her daughter even think such a thing? She was from the most beautiful planet next to the Earth and it was about time she knew that! "Have you ever been to the Moon, Serenity?" She asked. Serenity shook her head, "No, your Majesty." Then with more confidence, "I have never been to the Moon, in fact this Earth itself is very new to me." Queen Serenity nodded then asked, "Are you sure? Nothing looks familiar to you?" Serenity stared at the Queen with confusion. What does she think I will think looks familiar? I have 'never' been to the Moon before. "No." Queen Serenity sucked in her breath. She didn't remember her. Oh, my baby! Serenity let go of the girl's hand, "Oh." Agasta wanted to say something, to just shout to the girl that this wonderful woman was her mother but Agasta knew she couldn't. It wouldn't be right. Queen Serenity had to do it. Luna bent her head down. She couldn't bear to see her Queen look so fallen. Lita looked between Queen Serenity and Serenity. They looked so much alike! If Lita didn't know better she would have mistaken Serenity for Queen Serenity's daughter. Lita's brow furrowed. 'Strange how they have the same names...' Serenity wanted to say she was sorry she didn't recognize any thing but that didn't make sense to her so she kept quiet. Serenity smiled at the Queen, "It was nice meeting you but I..." Serenity turned to look at Natia, Lita, Ken and Darien, "I have to say some goodbyes." Queen Serenity swallowed hard, "Yes, it was wonderful to have met you, Serenity." Agasta stared at Queen Serenity. She wasn't actually going to let her daughter go, was she? If that's what she was thinking she wouldn't have it! She was going to tell her herself! Serenity took a step towards Darien but by the look on his face she could tell her didn't want to hear her goodbye. In fact, he looked like she had just betrayed him somehow. "No, Serenity." Serenity heard Queen Serenity stop her from behind, "You can't leave. It's not time for you to go off on your own. I'm sorry... but I have to do this." Serenity was about to turn around but stopped as she felt a warm hand on her back. It slowly got hotter before it seemed to burn right through the material of her back. Serenity tried to pull away but she found she couldn't. Instantly her eyes closed; she was too tired to even try to open her eyes again. Her knees buckled under her and she slumped to the floor unconscious. Natia stared down at the limp body on the floor before looked up at Queen Serenity with wide eyes, "What did you do to her? She's turning blue!" (To be Continued...) ``````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` What did ya think? Not much happened and some stuff might have been confusing, so I'm sorry about that. My mind had been a little off lately. I'm working on getting about chapter out for "The Return of T.S.S." and this story but it might take a little while. I'm kind of having a hard time coming up with good scenes for "The Return of T.S.S." so bare with me! Thanks for read'in!