Love Beyond Fate By Scutter I wrote this after reading Moonlight Midnight Glory, by Lady M. Harris. The story inspired me as I was intrigued by the idea of a Darien who was a little less elegant and noble than the one usually presented in Sailor Moon, and though I know this is nothing like what happened in the Silver Millennium, I thought it would be an interesting path to explore. Note: This is not an original story line. I wrote this for the characters, not the story line, so don't get uptight about it. This is mostly mushy romantic stuff, so you have been warned. I hope you enjoy it. This is rated PG. It has a few allusions, but nothing else. None of these characters are mine, they belong to whatever company/ companies made or own Sailor Moon. All the usual disclaimers apply, etc. ***** Chapter 1 Fateful Night The smooth, silvery starlight glowed gently through the window, reflecting off Serena's white sheets as she quietly dressed herself. When she had finished with her undergarments, and had slid the thin, silk slip up over her thighs, she turned reluctantly to Mina, who stood nearby, holding *the dress*. As her maid and guardian, Mina attended the Princess almost constantly. The gown was a pure gem, lined with silk, and sparkling with silver, with gold lacing covering the upper half. It was possibly the most beautiful thing Mina had ever seen. But Serena looked at it with dread. "Oh, come on, Serena. How bad can he be?" Serena scowled, a rare look for her usually cheerful face. "He can be dull, stuck up, snobbish and boring. Just like every other man in the Earth court." Mina giggled slightly, though she knew it was no laughing matter. "Well, at least he's your age. It's not like you're being forced to marry a fifty year old. And rumour has it that he's quite something to look at." The words were of little consolation, however, and Mina felt genuine sympathy for her friend. Arranged marriages were never easy, but both young women knew that the reasons for this one were important. "But what if we have nothing in common," Serena continued to moan, as she allowed Mina to slip the dress over her head. "What are we supposed to talk about for the rest of our lives?" "Oh Serena, you're not *still* complaining, are you?" Ami had come into the room in time to hear her last sentence, and frowning, perched herself on the end on Serena's bed. She tried to hide her stares of admiration as Mina did up the back of the dress - Serena was probably the most elegant, beautiful woman in the Moon court, and was the envy of every young maid, including her closest friends. "Oh Ami!" Serena wouldn't give up. "You wouldn't understand. You're not the one who has to marry him!" Ami sighed. She had been listening to Serena's drivel for most of the afternoon. "Why not just wait until you meet him? You never know. You might actually like him." Serena scowled again. "Yeah, as if. What are the chances of that happening?" Shooting Ami a sympathetic look, Mina smiled behind Serena's back, and picked up a brush, beginning to fix the Princess's long, luscious hair. ***** Queen Serenity strode down the long hallway, her gown billowing slightly as she walked. But before she reached the doors at the far end, her pace slowed, and she found herself staring out the wide windows across the night-touched gardens below. The last few weeks had been stressful for her to say the least, but that was nothing to how apprehensive she felt about tonight. It was a little over six months since she, her husband, and the King and Queen of Earth had finally met. What had followed were long and complicated negotiations, trying to determine a peaceful agreement of alliance between the two planets. The most recent development along those lines was the intended marriage of their respective children, Princess Serenity, and Prince Darien. Queen Serenity knew that, despite their mockery of the ways of magic, the Earth had the potential to be a powerful enemy if it so desired, not only through magic but also because of the weapons they had gathered through their pursuit of technology. The alliance of the two planets was needed if the Moon Kingdom was to remain securely at peace. And so, tonight, the Prince and Princess would meet for the first time. Though the marriage had been agreed upon for a long time, Queen Serenity was still willing to call the whole thing off, if either she, or Serena was *really* unhappy about the match. She had never actually laid eyes on the Prince - all the negotiations had been carried out by his parents, the King and Queen - and if she found him to be too inappropriate, she wasn't willing to let Serena suffer for it all her life. Queen Serenity thought. The Queen sighed, then, gathering herself, and putting on her most welcoming smile, she proceeded down the hallway to the ballroom, where her guests were already gathering. The soft, velvety notes of the violin came wafting across the ballroom, though few couples were dancing yet. The room was laid out with candles and flowers adorning every available space, and a large buffet was set up at one end. The three sets of wide double doors leading down into the garden below had been set wide open, and the sultry, mysterious scents of the evening came wafting in. The entire Moon Court, and more than half the Earth Court were gathered here tonight, to meet each other in a relaxed atmosphere for the first time. The negotiations of late had been strenuous, and it was felt by both sides that they needed a more social gathering if they were to form friendships, as well as merely formal relationships. As Queen Serenity swept majestically into the room, there were gasps and sighs of wonder - the Moon Queen was certainly the most beautiful woman in the Palace - but Serenity was accustomed to the reaction people had to her, and she ignored it, walking swiftly to the opposite side of the hall, where King Johnathon and Queen Dealia, the King and Queen of Earth, had recently entered. As she reached them, she grasped each of their hands warmly, ensuring that her smile continued to hide her inner turmoil. "Welcome to the Moon Kingdom. I trust you have settled in comfortably?" The King, Queen and Prince Darien were to be staying at the Palace for several days, to allow the Prince and Serena to get to know each other. Queen Dealia returned her smile. "Queen Serenity, it's delightful to see you again. Yes, our rooms are fine. You have a most enchanting home." Queen Serenity bowed her head slightly, graciously accepting this compliment. "My daughter is currently getting ready for the ball. I expect her along shortly." She finished with a slightly less happy look, which caught the attention of the Earth rulers. Realising that they had seen it, Serenity quickly said, "The Princess has been a little apprehensive about tonight. Just nerves, I'm sure. Nothing to worry about." She smiled again. King Johnathon returned an understanding look. "Prince Darien has, too, been a little uncertain about this arrangement." Queen Dealia smiled quickly to hide her own feelings. Ever since hearing about the marriage, Darien had been throwing fits of temper, and this evening, he had pulled one of his famous disappearing acts. He had taken to running away from the palace when he was just nine years old, whenever the pressures of royal life pushed him too far, and had chosen tonight to resurrect the old tradition of not being where he was supposed to be. The Queen thought angrily. She could only hope he showed up in time. Leading her guests into the room, Serenity waved a hand at a servant, who immediately brought over three glasses of wine. "We have talked so much business, yet I know so little of Earth's customs," Queen Serenity began. "Are you familiar with this type of gathering?" "Oh yes," the king replied. "We often have dances on Earth, though I must admit, the style of music you have is quite surprising." Ever the diplomat, Serenity continued to make small talk with her guests, while at the same time keeping half an eye on the far doorway for her daughter. she thought. ***** In the dim darkness of the garden, leaves rustled softly. A low thud sounded, then, after some muffled groaning, Prince Darien emerged from a dense patch of shrubbery, looking slightly more dishevelled than became a Prince. Brushing himself off and straightening his clothing, he glanced back over his shoulder, studying his surroundings. This was a good spot, secluded and quiet. He should remember it. Then, looking back up at the wall he had just climbed over, he reconsidered. Though easy to climb from the other side, on this side the ground fell away, making it almost impossible to exit the garden the same way he had come in. Not to mention having to clamber through that awful bush. he thought. Turning his face forward again, he saw the soft glow of the ballroom at the far end of the garden, and started making his way towards it. The Prince and his family had arrived at the Palace early that afternoon, and had been taken on a tour of the Palace grounds. Darien had a gift for remembering directions, and had virtually memorised the whole garden in one go. He also had an uncanny knack for sensing the right direction, and had put the talent to good use tonight. After being forced, under the oppressive gaze of his guardian, to dress for the ball, he had sent the man away for an instant, to fetch him a cup of tea to *settle his nerves*, and had promptly slipped out of his window and made a hasty exit. It wasn't that he didn't want to meet the Princess - he was curious, even he would admit that - but he wanted to do it on his own terms, without the pressure to act dignified like some performing circus animal. And so now he found himself sneaking through the gardens in the dark, waiting to spy on his fiance before having to sneak out again and make a second, grander entrance for the benefit of the Court. he thought, But even as the thought crossed his mind he had to laugh. He was probably the most unconventional Prince the Earth had ever seen, and felt that almost nothing was below his dignity. The truth was, he just wanted to have a little fun. ***** Serena examined herself critically in the full length mirror. She looked immaculate, and she knew it, but she was hoping to find some small thing - a wrinkle in her dress, a hair out of place - that would be an excuse for her to put off going down to the ball room for a few more minutes. "Stop it, Serena." Mina was watching her in the mirror from over her shoulder. "You can't put it off forever, you know." Serena sighed. Even she couldn't find anything else that needed fixing, and so, reluctantly, she turned to the door. But before Mina had managed to open it, Serena had interrupted her. "No, wait! Can we go down through the lower entrance? I want to go in from the gardens. It's so pretty out there at night." Mina smiled. She knew this was merely a ploy to delay them. The route via the gardens took at least twice as long as through the Palace, but, empathising with her friend's discomfort, she agreed. The noise of the ball reached their ears long before they reached the bottom of the white steps leading up into the ballroom. The walk through the cool, silvery garden had seemed to calm the Princess, and Mina was relieved when Serena didn't hesitate at the steps, walking boldly up them to the doorway of the ballroom. Her nervousness seemed forgotten as she stepped into the lighted room, with the air and dignity of royalty that truly became her. ***** Prince Darien had slunk quietly into the room, perching himself in a corner where he would be free to inspect the attendants of the ball. It was the Moon Court he was most interested in - he had had little opportunity to study their culture, and his alert mind, trained in diplomatic subtleties, could easily pick up the slight variations in manner and behaviour between the people of Earth, and those of the Moon. Locating his parents quickly, he was careful to avoid their attention - they still didn't know he had returned - and let his eyes wander across the room. The music, though pleasant, was unusual, and he found it intriguing to watch the women of the Moon Court dancing. There wasn't a woman in the room who couldn't be called pretty, and many of them were downright beautiful. But none of them were the one he was looking for. The Moon Princess's reputation as a creature of utter elegance and beauty preceded her, and no one yet in the room fitted that description. Steadying his eyes on the far, wide double doors, Darien sat back to wait for the entrance of his intended. Despite the rumours, he was not expecting to be impressed. He had met plenty of beautiful women in his life, but mere beauty had never been enough to capture him, or even interest him for more than a few seconds. It seemed that all the life and spark of the women in his life had been squeezed out of them by the stifling rules of the Court, and he, with his own strong spirit still very much intact, could only hope to be wed to a woman with a spirit - such fire in royalty could only be called rebellion - that was unbroken and as savage as the sea. Then, suddenly, he saw her. Like the very waves he had been thinking of, she entered the room carrying the power and intensity of soul belonging to the depths of the ocean. He could see from her stride, from the way she held herself, from her sure and steady gaze, that she was not a mere maiden, trapped by decorum. But neither did she show the arrogance that was the usual alternative. No, she walked with a confidence that belied, but did not hide, a deeper gentleness and integrity. It was only then that he noticed her beauty, and at once it struck him - her face, her silvery hair, her shapely figure - all in a forceful blow that left him enraptured. But she could not be the Princess. The Princess was to enter from the Great Hall, and this woman had come in from the garden. If her mere presence was not enough to intrigue him, the enigma of who she could possibly be most certainly was. And unable to resist, he began moving closer to her, intent on finding out. Upon entering the Ballroom, Serena was at once struck by the enchantment of the evening. The dazzling dresses, the wafting scents of perfumes mixed with the sultry night air, and the familiar tunes of the musicians delighted her, so that she forgot for an instant that this was not necessarily to be an enjoyable night. Though she had attended dozens of balls, they always held a special magic for Serena. It was the dancing she loved more than anything, the one time when she could allow herself to be infected by the music, and catch brief glimpses of that wildness which so excited her. Returning quickly to the duty at hand, Serena scanned the room to find her mother - the Queen would want to know that she had arrived - but, turning around, she suddenly found all her attention being demanded by a tall, young, and unexpectedly severe man. He stood close to her - very close - so as to focus her completely on himself. Taken aback by his boldness, Serena stared at him, so surprised that it took her a moment to realise that he was staring right back! "May I have this dance?" But it was not a question, and Serena could only comply as she accepted the hand she had not realised had been offered. Even as she stepped towards this stranger, she failed to notice how very handsome he was. Almost beautiful, if a man could be called that. And she was even more surprised when she realised that he held her by her arms in the manner of Moon dancing, not about the waist or shoulders in the Earth manner, for his clothing clearly identified him as being of the Earth Court. Serena wondered. Coming into the ballroom with Serena, Mina had immediately glanced around for the other Sailor Warriors. They were always present at social gatherings - though not in their warrior forms - to ensure the Princess was safe, and Mina quickly found Mercury and Jupiter, standing by the buffet table, serving themselves drinks. They were as yet unaware that the Princess had arrived, but Mina didn't feel the need to tell them just now. Everyone would know Serena was here soon enough. So that left Mars . . . Mina gasped in surprise when she saw the black haired woman, striding into the room on the arm of a handsome man. Mars had returned to the Moon Kingdom several days earlier, from a visit back to her home planet, and had shocked the whole Court by announcing her engagement to a rich young nobleman. Looking over the man quickly, Mina wasn't at all surprised by Mars's choice of partner. He was not only handsome, but he wore the armour of a warrior. Mina thought, laughing to herself. She turned back to Serena. "Princess, did you remember that Rei . . . Princess? Serena?!" Mina spun round, stunned. She had been totally unaware that the Princess had left her side. Where could she have gotten to now? Serena was stunned, but also, in her own way, entirely pleased. Though somewhat affronted by this stranger's open, demanding manners, she privately delighted in the experience of someone, for once, leading her in a dance with confidence, and with none of the hesitation that men, young and old, so often displayed. That was one of the main downfalls of being a Princess - she had never met anyone with the spirit to meet her gaze without fear. But this man . . . this strange, intriguing and undeniably powerful man, was different. Even more surprising was that this power radiated from his youthful face - he was little more than a boy. Yet he commanded her motions strongly and surely, leading her through the dance like she was a graceful swan, needing guidance, but no assistance in her steps. Looking up into his face, she could not believe that she had not met him before, for surely someone of this calibre would have caught her attention by now? ***** Queen Dealia wondered. The night was livening up, with more couples beginning to dance, and there was still no sign of her son. Then, suddenly, she spotted him through the crowd, dancing with a young woman of the Moon Court. Breathing a sigh of relief, she was about to go and get him, when she reconsidered. The Princess had not arrived yet, and, since he had at least shown up, Dealia saw no reason to interrupt him just yet. He seemed to be enjoying himself, and she didn't want to risk annoying him, provoking another outburst. Satisfied with his mere presence, Queen Dealia decided to let him be. ***** Soon, the song ended, and as the man's grip on her arms relaxed, Serena was suddenly afraid that he was going to leave. He couldn't, not yet! She simply had to find out more about him. She was about to demand that he tell her his name, indignation filling her at his callousness, but then the opportunity was ripped away, as his arms once again tightened, and she was pulled close to his body, as the chords of a new and vibrant song began to play. When the song ended, Darien had managed to catch the lead musician's eye, and, taking the cue, the man began a faster beat. The small bribe Darien had given him earlier that day paid off when a familiar tune came sounding across the ballroom, and Darien looked into the woman's eyes with a mischievous glint. Sweeping her across the dance floor, he began to lead her in a much faster, freer dance, as the rhythm of the up-beat, earth song filled the room. Serena's head span. She had never danced like this before. Since she was a little girl, she had been trained to keep her motions smooth and elegant. This dancing was . . . wild, liberating and . . . free. Her heart pounded in time to the beat of the music, and she was out of breath, not from exertion - she was used to exercise from her training as a warrior - but rather from the excitement of the abandonment she found in the chords of this unfamiliar song. And if the song wasn't enough, then surely the closeness of this exhilarating man, whose blue eyes stabbed at her with flames of light, was enough to send her spinning into a crystal oblivion. Darien was secretly impressed by this woman. It seemed she felt no shame or selfconsciousness over her movements, allowing him to lead her wherever he wished. No woman he had ever known would have allowed herself to be swept away like this, and yet this one not only followed, but willingly participated in the dance. It was astounding - Darien was not often surprised, and so it made all the more impact at the times when he was. Finally, the song ended, and the woman, laughing, fell against him, not quite able to recover from the exhilaration. Darien smiled down at her, gently stroking her hair, and was again surprised when she made no reflex against the intimate gesture - most Moon maidens were insulted by unpermitted touches, but with her, it seemed almost natural. The woman sighed into his arms. "If only I could marry someone like you," she breathed wistfully. Hearing her words, Darien lifted her face to look at him. "What was that?" he asked, somewhat taken aback. Serena smiled and shook her head. "I have an arranged marriage," she explained, then added quietly, "to a Prince." Darien stepped back in shock. "That means you're . . . Princess Serenity!" Serena looked down. "Yes," she said, seeming almost disappointed by the truth. "Princess, I . . . I mean . . ." He stepped back. "Oh, please, don't go into all that *Your Majesty* and bowing stuff. I'm sick to death of it." Serena scowled violently. Even in his wonder, Darien was still able to notice her discomfort with his discovery, and in a small corner of his mind, he smiled. He, too, despised the royal decorum that chocked his life. He reached out, and took her chin in his hand. "Please, Princess. Don't look so unhappy." Looking deep into her eyes, he said, "There is so much life and fire within you. There is no need for you to feel crushed by these walls of nobility." Hearing his words, spoken so gently, and with such sincerity, Serena could only smile. Darien warmed as he saw the young women brighten, but he could still sense a sadness within her. "You seem . . . ill at ease in these surroundings. Would you allow me to relieve you of it for a while?" Serena stared up at him, shocked by what he seemed to be suggesting. To suggest such a thing to a Princess . . . "Just out into the garden," he continued, indicating the nearby doors. "We won't go far." Serena smiled, amused by her own paranoia. She had been listening to her guardians for too long, she thought. The Sailor Warriors were well meaning and loyal, but always a little over protective. Allowing the man - this strange man whom she had only met this night - to take her arm, she followed him out into the silvery garden. Well, that's it for chapter one. I'd appreciate any comments, criticisms, etc. E-mail me. d-boy@intercoast.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------