SENTINEL ROSE A Fanfic About the Moon Kingdom Part 3: Darian's Attempts to Impress Serena, the Other Bladesemmer "So Xeryus impressed the lady, eh?" Silantro lounged on his back, sprawled in Darian's bed. He tossed a ball lightly into the air and caught it repeatedly. Darian paced his large room. "Yes. It's awful. I need to impress her. Her friends said she was a romantic. She likes poems. I'll write a poem. That's it," Darian was talking half to himself and half to Silantro. He strode over to his desk and pulled out a few leaves of parchment and a quill. He settled down at the desk and chewed the tip of the quill thoughtfully. Silantro watched in interest for a few moments, then sighed and continued his game of catch. After a long while, Darian dipped his quill in the inkpot and began to write haltingly. After multiple crossing-outs, and several fresh starts, Darian finally swiveled around in the chair and cleared his throat. Silantro sat up to listen. "'Oh Serena, you are so breathtakingly pretty You make my palms sweat and my heart get all flitty. It is to you that mine own heart calls And upon your head are perched two meat-balls.'" Silantro flopped back down and burst out laughing. When he was quite done rolling about and clutching his sides with mirth after several long minutes, and had proceeded to the painful gasping for air stage, Darian sighed and crumpled up the paper. "I take it it'll need a few revisions?" This set Silantro laughing again, and finally he was able to wheeze a reply. "I think....you'd better.... forget the poetry." "How about love letters?" "I really doubt that as well, I hate to say." "All that's left then is learning how to dance. The only person I know who's a wonderful dancer is....you." Silantro's giggling ceased abruptly as he sat bolt upright. "Oh, no. We're not going there. I'm not doing that. The only way you can learn to dance is by dancing, and I'm not gonna do it. Forget it. Give up *right now*!" "But, Silantro," Darian wheedled, "What about the time I delivered that message to Lady Arianne, when her father threatened to cut your head off if you ever showed up on his property again?" "Remember that time that guy in the bar said you were gay and I helped you fight him and his gang?" "Remember that time that guy said *you* were gay and I helped you smack him around?" "How about the time you got piss drunk and I dragged you all the way up to your room and tucked you in, all without your father knowing?" "What, you mean the time you spiked my drink with Altaran spirits?" "Okay then, how about the time I hit on that horrible girl with halitosis who loved you to distract her so you could sneak away?" "Remember the time you went swimming, and that girl you jilted stole all your clothes and ran off with them and I hiked all the way home to get you some clothes so you wouldn't have to pass through town on festival day in your birthday suit?" "Remember when I threw that dagger and saved you from that guy with the pike?" "What about when I hid you when that angry mob of fathers came after you for ruining their daughter's virtues?" There was a long pause. Then a sigh. "Very well. But I'm not happy about this!" "I hardly expected you would be." Silantro jumped off the bed and rummaged around in his sack until he surfaced with a small disc of silver that fit nicely in his palm. "What's that?" Darian asked with interest as he walked over to inspect it. "It's from the Moon Kingdom. It plays music." "How did you get a magic item from the Moon Kingdom? We've only known it existed for but a week." "My sister gave it to me." "Okay then, what's Wren doing in the Moon Kingdom?" "Remember that Magist guy? He showed up on our doorstep one day and claimed that Wren had a rare talent to use magic. He wanted her to be his apprentice. Since Wren was giving my stupid father a hard time about the marriage he had arranged for her, he agreed." "Is this good or bad?" "Good in some ways, because Wren never got to do much. Father always kept her cooped up. It also releases her from marrying an idiot. She'll get to live in the Moon Kingdom and learn magic...not too many people can say that. But... I'll miss her," Silantro said wistfully. Darian knew how close Wren and Silantro Bladesemmer were and felt sorry for them, to be separated like that. "Anyways. Might as well begin now and get this over with!" Silantro waved his palm over the disc and a waltz started to play. "Okay. Pretend I am Princess Serena. Would it help if I tied two oranges to my head?" Darian glared ferociously at him. "Guess not. Anyways... grab onto my waist...no, there....good, good... don't squeeze my hand...don't squeeze my hand!" "Okay, this isn't so bad." "Now... we dance!" Darian blushed and slowly revolved them around in a circle. "Aaagh, you're hopeless. No, no, no! We actually *go* places when we dance. You have to lead!" Darian nodded. They proceeded to dance, jerkily, around the room. "OW!" Silantro winced, "Remember... Princess Serena has pretty toenails. You do not want to step on her feet and thus crush her pretty toenails!" "Sorry." And so it continued through many waltzes, a samba, and other elegant ballroom dances, until Darian was finally dancing like a pro. The odd couple danced around gracefully in another waltz. "Now, we dip!" "Dip? When? When do I do that?" "When the music feels right!" "Oh, like...now?" Darian dipped Silantro. Of course, that was when the door opened. King Aldaric looked positively bewildered and shook his head as he regarded the unlikely scene. Silantro grinned evilly and batted his eyelashes at the King. "I knew Silantro Bladesemmer was a bad influence on my son, but this..." he muttered as he backed out of the room, shutting the door behind him. * * * * Xeryus sat in his darkened bedroom, lost in thought. He opened his hand again to look at the small carved statuette he had found in the midst of the draconis warrior's rubble. He turned it over and studied the small runes carved around the base. * * * * "Er, King Aldaric? You wished to see me," Darian said, a little sheepishly. "Are you done dancing now?" King Aldaric snorted. "Er, yes, your majesty." Darian flipped a little bow just to be safe. "Very well. Prince Darian, I hope you do realize that the Moon Kingdom could very well be our enemies." "How so, m'lord?" Darian asked, thinking of Princess Serena. "Prince Darian, you do of course remember your encounter with the mysterious man with the pike?" "How could I forget?" "Shall I spell it out? He had could teleport. People from the Moon Kingdom can teleport. He had a magical weapon, or other magical powers. We do not have magical powers. And didn't it seem like a fluke you came across him? The very next day, the Moon Kingdom contacted us! The Negaverse and the so-called Moon Kingdom may be one and the same." "I see, m'lord." Darian said gruffly. "You are to go there often and observe everything. Gather as much information as you can. Consider them your enemy." Darian could only nod in agreement. Consider Princess Serena an enemy? Never. "You are dismissed." Darian bowed again and left, rolling his eyes. His father was so stuffy, even to his family. On the other hand, Darian reflected, his father had basically told him to go to the Moon Kingdom more often. Which meant he got to see Serena more. There was always an up side, wasn't there? Darian hummed a waltz tune cheerily. There was to be another ball in the Moon Kingdom. * * * * Darian was still humming as he walked out into the courtyard. Leaning up against a wall was Xeryus, reading some book or another. Darian knew things had been a little strained between them lately, what with Princess Serenity and all. "Hey, Xeryus! Feel like a good sparring match?" he grinned. "Very well," replied his brother. He carefully put the book aside. Darian drew his sword and took a ready stance. Xeryus drew not one, but two twin rapiers. "Uh?" said Darian. "I'm a little better than the last time we sparred," Xeryus grinned. "Hm, we'll see about that!" Darian took an experimental swipe at Xeryus, who easily blocked it, without moving anything except his right arm. Darian smiled and started to enjoy himself. Swordplay was, in fact, play to him. He threw out a few more strikes, which Xeryus promptly blocked. Xeryus yawned. "Y'know, sparring is sort of a two-person activity," Darian said cheerily. "Oh, you want me to step it up a little?" Xeryus said in a low voice. "Yeah," agreed Darian, "Get into it a little more! I'd like some exercise!" "Then that's what you'll get!" Xeryus retorted. The twin rapiers whirled in a complicated dance. Darian watched, dumbfounded. Xeryus slipped one blade towards him , which he blocked, but then the other whirled in. Darian was hard pressed, but he blocked that one as well. "Well, that's a little more like it-whoa!" Darian backed up a step as Xeryus suddenly advanced, rapiers spinning and whirling in a flurry if attacks! Darian felt the Sentinel Rose's powers start to flow through him, activated by his rise in adrenalin. He was happy they did, for he needed all the extra agility and strength he could get! "Holy crap, you're stronger!" Darian said in astonishment as his wrist stung. The rapier's blows were getting harder and harder to deflect. "Oh, yes, Darian! Little Xeryus isn't so damn little!" A rapier nicked Darian's cheek, drawing blood. "Hey! This is sparring! No drawing blood, remember!?" he protested. "You said you wanted a workout, pretty boy, so here's a workout!" Darian scowled and threw himself into the match. "You're making this about the Princess, aren't you?" "As always, you have a firm grasp on the obvious!" The two circled each other, lashing out with lightning-quick strikes which were parried equally quickly by the other. "You little weasel!" Darian gasped, quickly wiping his bleeding cheek with the back of his hand. "What, Prince Darian angry 'cause he can't get what he wants, for a change? A widdle bit to much competition? Can't compete against his widdle wimpy brother?" Xeryus taunted in an infuriating baby tone. Darian flushed. "You always get everything! You might have to settle for not getting the princess!" Darian growled and flipped over Xeryus' head, attacking from behind. "You speak of her like she's an object, some toy to be fought over!" "Oh, and you're really mad about that!" Xeryus wasn't taken aback at all by the flip. Darian knew the Sentinel Rose was augmenting his abilities (not that he had been such a slouch before) and couldn't figure out just how his brother was keeping up! "Maybe she *is* to me. Maybe I just want to see you lose for once. Good old perfect Darian, gets whatever he wants. Except maybe the writing skills." "WHAT?!" "O Serena, you are so breathtakingly pretty! You make my palms sweat and my heart get all flitty!" Take it as you will," Xeryus laughed and sheathed his rapiers with a flourish. "You were right, that *was* fun!" he walked off, laughing. Darian stared after in astonishment. * * * * Wren peered carefully around the corner of her master's study, where he was communicating with someone through his crystal ball again. She recognized the voice, harsh but female. "Yes, the plans are progressing excellently, my Queen." Wren frowned. That was certainly not Queen Serenity's voice. "Very good, Magist. You will report back to me in three day's time." The Magist bowed, and Wren caught sight of the face in the crystal ball. It was a woman, with curly red hair, yellow and red eyes, and fangs. Wren clamped her hand over her mouth to avoid gasping. That woman, that Queen of whatever, certainly didn't look friendly. Wren turned away before she was spotted and leaned against the cool marble wall. Her master didn't seem to be terribly loyal at all. She hadn't been living in the Moon Kingdom long, but she liked Queen Serenity and the Princess. The Senshi also seemed pleasant. She never got to talk to anyone, however. The Magist kept her cooped up, training her incessantly in using magic. She hated the long hours of study, the isolation, and she missed her brother dearly. "So, my dear ... you heard my conversation with Queen Beryl?" The Magist was suddenly standing in front of her. Wren was startled and held in a gasp. "No, master ... I, I was just passing by," she averted her eyes and mumbled. He leaned down (Wren was much shorter than he) and made a little clicking noise in the back of his throat, indicating disapproval. "You know you can't lie about such things to me, my apprentice." "Who is this Queen Beryl?" she looked up into his face. Some might have said it was handsome, but she thought his eyes were too cold. And his smile was all wrong; it was always fake. "She is the great Queen of the Negaverse. I am helping her to gain power. She will reward me with the Kingdom of Earth." "You *do* realize I'm totally opposed to this. I won't help you!" He slapped her. "You don't have a choice. You are pitiful, worthless! Nothing you do can stop me! I could kill you right now!" Wren's cheek burned. She faced him stoically. "But I won't. You have great promise and I'm sure you can be swayed to our glorious cause," he purred, patting her cheek gently. * * * * Darian waited patiently at the bottom of the staircase. No one was going to get her first this time! Up on the balcony, Mercury spotted him first. "He's baaack," she said. "Looks determined," stated Venus. "I think he reminds me of that boy I used to date with, the one-" "Shh, Jupiter! She's coming! I want to hear!" Indeed, Princess Serena was coming down the staircase. Prince Darian was shocked to see she was smiling at him! "May I have this dance?" he enquired with a sweeping bow, his cape elegantly fluttering with the movement. "Oh, you're not Prince Xeryus," she said with surprise as she neared. "Er, no. I am Prince Darian of Earth and I would be honoured to have this dance," he said. 'You're not Prince Xeryus?' That was *not* a good sign! "You may," she smiled. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor. "I think I remember you now, from that night in the garden. You can throw roses," she said as he held her. They started to dance. Her eyes widened. "Oh! He's impressive!" Venus said. "He said he couldn't dance!" Mars said in astonishment. "He must have learned," said Mercury. Jupiter sighed. "He dances even better than-" "We know, we know!" "I had hoped you'd remember me," he said softly. She blushed. Darian became more and more nervous as the dance progressed. They were doing fine, he guessed, with the small talk, but being this close to her made his brain freeze it seemed. Suddenly, the room felt very stuffy. Darian felt a little woozy. He desperately wished he had talked to Silantro about this more. At the same time, the waltz ended. Some noble or another walked up to Princess Serena. He was overweight, had bad body odor, and was old enough to be her father. "Good evening, my dear, would you care to-" "NO! I mean, she can't, she's uh," Darian flailed around mentally, "Stepping out into the garden for a nice walk?" He smiled idiotically and raised his eyebrows. "Yes! Yes, that's right! Sorry!" she said with relief as she took his arm and smiled at the nobleman. "Oh, okay," he said and slouched off. "Thank you!" she whispered. "I um, was serious about the walk. Would you like to? Being stuck in a room full of people I don't know like this makes my head hurt." She looked at him with surprise. "Mine as well. Yes, I would love to." Darian had a puzzled look on his face. He could have sworn he heard cheers from the balcony. * * * * He watched them from a palace window as the couple walked through the gardens. His fist clenched around the small piece of stone in it, carved to represent a sort of dragon-man, and his eyes glowed red... * * * * Darian was amazingly happy as he and Serena wandered through the marvelous gardens. She had warmed up to him, and was showing him all the different flowers and naming them for him. He thought none of them were as lovely as her but was too shy to say so. The dracon's claws in his back took him completely by surprise. Princess Serena screamed. "Not this thing again!" he growled. Prince Darian fell and rolled, drawing his sword as he righted himself. He dodged the dracon's sword and started to swing, but thought better of it. He snapped his wrist back and willed a rose to appear. Nothing happened. Frantically, he waved his hand around, then swore as the dracon dove for him again. Prince Darian started to dodge, but suddenly the draconis warrior wasn't diving for him. He looked up in astonishment. The Princess of the Moon stood behind the dracon, an ornate chair in her hands, slightly bent from being slammed into the back of a dragon-man's head. The dracon was stunned for a moment, but shook himself out of it and hissed in rage at Serena. It licked its sword, coating it in a greenish ichor, and turned to swing its blade back to strike her down. "Noooo!" bellowed Prince Darian as he dove in front of her. The blade sliced into his chest, hampered by the armor he always wore. There was now a large gash in his breastplate and blood started to flow from the wound beneath. He choked back cry and swung his sword into the dracon again. Weakened, he didn't do too much damage, but it was enough to turn the fiend's attention away from Princess Serena once more. Prince Darian groaned and shakily stood to face the monster. He sent his blade slicing into the dracon again, tearing into the thing's shoulder and slicing a wing. The draconis hissed and parried his next blow. Darian could feel his arms weakening and knew he wasn't going to last much longer with his sword. He dropped it and swung around in a roundhouse kick that knocked the surprised draconis warrior backwards several feet. It recovered quickly and started to charge back, but this gave Prince Darian all the time he needed to quickly snap four red roses into the dracon's chest. The dracon's eyes rolled back in its head and it burst into rubble once more. "Are you all right, Princess?" he panted, exhausted. "I'll be all right," she whispered, "What is that, in the rubble?" Prince Darian frowned and walked over, sifting through the crumbled stone with his booted foot until he had uncovered an odd little figurine. "It looked just like the thing we just killed!" he exclaimed as he bent to pick it up and show it to Serena. "I think I had best talk to my father about this," Darian said grimly, "But first I shall escort you back. I'm sorry this happened again." He walked the Princess back to the palace and teleported back home fine, but unfortunately, in the courtyard of his castle on Earth, the poison on the dracon's blade kicked in. Darian's eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed. * * * * -- *Frighteningly, at any given moment, an hour has just passed. *Most states fit so closely together that almost no space is wasted. *King Edward the Seventh frequently asked total strangers "not to meddle with his spoons". -ABRELL AND THOMPSON'S ACTUAL FACTS