The Gypsy Prince Chapter 1 Co-authors: Lilly & Jessica M. Moonflower Rated: PG Lilly's e-mail: waterlilly54@hotmail.com Jessica's e-mail: salud731@earthlink.net Jessica: Hi all! Jessica M. Moonflower here writing a story with my gal pal Lilly! Lilly: Hey everyone! ^_^ Jessica: Lilly thought of this idea for the story and asked me to write it! Of course, how can I refuse such a great plot? Especially when it has Darien as- Lilly: Shh!!!! You can't tell them! Jessica: Why not?! *stamps her foot* Lilly: Because only you and I are the only ones who can know about the plot! The rest of the readers just have to wait and see how the story unfolds. You ARE allowed to give them bits and pieces of what the story is mainly about. Jessica: Okay. Well, I don't think I need to anyway. The summary is above. ^_^ Lilly: *sighs* Anyway, onto the disclaimers. Jessica and I do not own Sailor Moon it belongs to- Jessica: ME!!!!!!! ^_^ Lilly: *looks at Jessica incredulously* YOU?! Since when?! Jessica: Since right now! ^_^ Lilly: Don't listen to my crazy friend here. It belongs to- Jessica: I already told you ME! Lilly: *bangs head on the desk* IT DOES NOT BELONG TO YOU! IT BELONGS TO NAOKO! Jessica: *shrinks down in fear* Okay! ^^;;;;; Lilly: *clears throat* As I was saying before I was so *RUDELY* interrupted, we never created SM so we don't own the rights to them. So don't sue us. The plot is the only thing we do own. Jessica: Can I at least own Darien? Lilly: *smacks forehead* Why me? Jessica: *looks at Lilly innocently* What? That means no? Lilly: Excuse me while I go bop some sense into my friend here. Enjoy the story. Jessica: *gulps* ehehehe!!!! Enjoy the story folks! I gotta go hide now! ^^;;;;; **~**~**~**~**~ Princess Serenity, also known as Serena, was walking along the corridor, humming quietly on her way to the gardens. As usual, she was, what her family and friends called, "day-dreaming," and was thinking about a fantasy in which she galloped over the fields on a magnificent stallion pursued by a Gypsy Prince who intended to carry her away into a distant planet. She had almost reached the garden when a white cat, Artemis, stopped her. "Excuse me, your Highness, but you are wanted immediately by her Royal Highness!" Coming back to reality with a jerk, the Princess looked at Artemis for a moment with unseeing eyes, then she asked, "Did you say 'immediately,' Artemis?" "Yes, your Highness." "Then, I will be on my way, but Artemis, why do you have to be so formal?" "You are the princess." Rolling her eyes, Serena retorted, "Thanks for reminding me that I AM a princess." All morning she had been looking forward to visit the gardens, however, she knew that she dare not disobey her mother's summons, and walked off into the palace, where the more formal rooms were situated. She knew that her mother would be in the main throne room waiting for her whenever she needed to see her. Going into the room, she asked, "You wanted me, Mother?" "Yes, Serenity, I wanted to speak to you," Queen Serenity said formally. Serena raised her eyebrows, knowing that she never addressed her by her proper name unless it was for the Moon's public affairs, or concerning a matter of great importance. "What has happened, Mother?" she asked. "I was on my way to the gardens to view the beautiful flowers." "The gardens can wait," the Queen replied. "What I have to say to you concerns your whole future." The way she spoke sounded so serious that Serena stiffened, and her crystal blue eyes seemed to fill her small pointed face with concern as she waited for what her mother had to say to her. As she waited, Serena was perceptively aware that not only had something unexpected happened, but that it was something she would not like. "Serena, ever since you were a baby, you have been betrothed to marry the Prince of Earth by the time you have reached your eighteenth birthday, and it's next week," the Queen tried to break the news to Serena gently. Serena, of course, did not take the news as lightly as the Queen had hoped Serena would. Instead, Serena made a loud outburst that shook the entire throne room. "What?! Why Mother? How could you promise me to some man I have never met before, or even love?!" Serena shrieked, outraged. "Serena, it is very important for you to marry the Prince of Earth. The Moon has never fought any wars and has stayed a very tranquil planet to live on for many years. I also realized that I won't be around forever to take care of you or our kingdom. To ensure that you are well taken care of and that if war were to ever break out once I'm not around anymore, the only solution I could think of was to have you marry the Earth prince and to permanently seal the alliance between the Earth and Moon after you and the prince are married. With such a union, it would strengthen both kingdoms immensely and would most likely be able to hold off any attacks made on both kingdoms." "And you made this decision before I was born?" Serena asked, trying to stay as calm as possible. "Yes. I have met with the King and Queen of Earth before you were born and when the prince was only three-years-old. We agreed it was the best idea for both kingdoms." Serena's calm state crumbled as she once again became furious at her mother. "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO ME?! I want to marry for love! Not for some stupid alliance you made with the King and Queen a while back! I deserve to marry someone I love! Now with this betrothal, you took that freedom away from me! Against my own free will! THIS JUST ISN'T FAIR!" Queen Serenity bowed her head with guilt. She knew that making such an agreement with the King and Queen of Earth those many years ago would crush all of Serena's hopes and dreams of ever finding her one true love in the future. Now that the time has neared, Queen Serenity wished that she had never put Serena in such a difficult situation. But Serenity knew that the royal Earth family were good people including their son. The Queen had met the prince during her visit to Earth last summer on royal business. He was a charming young man who was sweet and very kind. He was a man of honor, and loyal to those he loves. Not only did the prince have a wonderful personality, but he was handsome as well. The Queen was very sure that the prince would take good care of her daughter and not let any harm come to her. The Queen was snapped out of her thoughts by the princess's quiet, solemn voice. "Didn't you marry father because you loved him and not because you were forced into the marriage?" Serena looked up at her mother with wistful, questioning eyes. "Yes, I married your father because I loved him. I was never forced to marry someone I didn't love," the Queen admitted, closing her eyes as she sighed. "Then why make me marry someone I don't love? Please Mother, don't make me go on with this betrothal if you really care about my happiness," Serena pleaded with the Queen as tears threatened to stain Serena's porcelain cheeks. As much as the Queen wanted to get her daughter out of this arranged marriage, she wasn't. She reasoned it was for Serena's own good and that Serena would learn to love and like the prince once she got to know him. "This discussion has ended. There is nothing more to talk about," the Queen sternly said, turning her back on Serena. Serena ran out of the throne room, sobbing, and headed towards the gardens where she hoped she would find some solace with the many flowers that grew there. Back in the throne room, Queen Serenity looked to where her daughter had exited the room earlier. She sighed and with a sorrowful gaze, whispered, "I'm sorry, dearest." ~~~~~~~~~~~~* Running into the gardens that any kingdom would have been proud of, Serena entered a particular section of the garden that held her favorite flowers. "The symbol of love," she whispered to herself with tears rolling down her cheeks. Halting in front of the bushes that held red roses, Serena collapsed to the ground with loud sobs. 'This isn't happening to me. How can mother do this to me?! I want to marry for love. Is that so much to ask for?!' "Beautiful Bunny, why do you cry so?" a husky voice whispered into her ears, breaking through her thoughts. "Who's there? Where are you?" she demanded, trying to wipe away her remaining tears. "Behind you, little bunny." Getting up from the ground and straightening herself up, Serena spun around to face the intruder and gasped at what she saw. 'Is this a dream? Who is this man dressed in black?' "Who are you?" she cautiously asked. With a silky voice he replied, "Who am I? Well...why not guess? Who do I appear to be?" Eying him closely, Serena took in his appearance with a smile. "Are...you an outlaw?" "Am I? Do I look like one?" "Um...you are dressed in black and you have a black mask covering half of your face. If you are not an...outlaw then why do you dress the way you do?" Serena challenged him. Gazing down at Serena, the masked man gave her a dazzling smile. "I come from a planet not far from here. On my planet, people have heard of your beauty and I wished to see if they haven't exaggerated." "Then...you know who I...am?" she asked blushing. "Of course! You're royal hair style gives you away. And may I tell you, the people didn't exaggerate about your beauty. I can tell that you're the most beautiful woman in this galaxy, but you've heard that before, I'm sure." Serena's blush deepened to a light pink shade. The masked man came closer to her and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "So I will tell you, in these few cherished moments at this wonderful garden that will surely close in upon us in a moment or two, that I'm starting to fall madly in love with you." Serena's eyes flashed, and her lips parted in surprise. Stepping away from the masked man she inquired, or rather demanded, "What kind of game are you playing with me?!" "No game, Bunny," the masked man said with a smile. "So you make a habit of falling in love quickly," she stated sensibly. "I have no doubt you fall out of it just as quickly." "I wouldn't know," he said truthfully. "I've never been in love before. I don't know how long it will last. I only know that--it is quite extraordinary and a staggering affliction." "I will not take you seriously, sir, for you refuse to tell me who you are," Serena replied lightly. "Will you take me more seriously if I tell you that I've never said those words to any other woman? That I've never been in love with one before? To tell you the truth, Bunny, until I saw your face, I didn't know what love was." Turning away from him she said, "I'm sure you find this a clever game, sir, but you still refuse to tell me who you are." "Well, I am still waiting for you to guess," the masked man softly said, an amused grin on his face. Turning around and meeting his gaze she replied, "Surely, sir, I have guessed." "Yes, you have, didn't you? I am a gypsy." 'Wow! Is my fantasy coming true? Is he here to take me away before I marry that horrible prince from Earth?' "I have never seen a gypsy before. Does the Prince of the Gypsies dress like you?" Closing the distance between them, the masked man gazed into her eyes with much affection and stroked her cheek softly. "As a matter of fact, he does. For I AM the Prince of the Gypsies." 'I can't believe this is happening!' Serena stared at him with awe and shock. "So, Prince of the Gypsies, what is your name?" Turning away from Serena and putting distance between them again, the masked man replied, "That...my precious, Bunny, I cannot tell you...and please don't ask why because I won't be able to explain." Looking at the man of her dreams, Serena said with a smile, "That is okay, but can I ask you a question?" Turning to look at the beauty before him and giving her a grin he replied, "Sure." "Why do you call me Bunny?" "Your hair reminds me of bunny ears that look so cute on your beautiful head." "Oh!" she gasped with another blush staining her porcelain cheeks. "I must go, my Bunny, for I won't want to get caught." Coming closer to Serena, he whispered into her ear, "I will be back, Bunny. Nothing can keep me away from you." With a sweet kiss on her cheek, the masked man dashed out of the gardens, leaving a surprised Serena touching her cheek with a dreamy look on her face. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~* "Hey Nick! Where are you?" the masked man inquired when he reached his bedroom quarters, looking around the room. "I'm right here." Nick waved his hand, sitting by the window and reading a book. "Did you go to the Moon? Did you meet her?" Laughter erupted from the masked man. "What about, 'Hello?' and 'How are you doing?'" "Sorry." Nick sheepishly grinned, putting the book aside. "I just got excited." "That is okay...and yes, I met her and she is beautiful. I am in love!" "I told you that you would like her," Nick beamed with joy. With a dazed look, the masked man replied, "Not LIKE, Nick, but LOVE." With a chuckle, Nick went to the door and said, "Already falling hard for this girl at first sight, eh? Well, Prince of the Gypsies, I am going to go visit my other best friend, Serena, to see if she will confide in me about your meeting." "Do that...and Nick?" "Yes?" "I want to know every detail." With that comment, Nick winked at him slyly and was out the door. *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Serena was still at the rose gardens, sitting by a crystal carved fountain as she hummed a beautiful tune. She wondered who the masked man she had met earlier could be. He was a big mystery to her, but she didn't mind at all. She always thought that men shrouded in mystery were romantic and exciting. It was like spending time on a really hard puzzle that was hard to piece together, and the Prince of the Gypsies was just that. He was everything she dreamed of and more. Even though he was covered in black garb and a mask, she knew he was handsome and well built. But what really made her fall hard for him was his expression filled, midnight blue eyes. Eyes that held so much love and adoration for her and eyes that bore into the soul. How she wished she knew his name and what he really looked like without that stupid mask covering his face. It was the only barrier keeping her from knowing what he truly looked like. Serena sighed pensively as she stroked the cool crystal water in the fountain with her finger tips. She longed to see him again, but he never told her which planet he came from. 'I should have asked while he was still here', a frustrated Serena thought to herself. 'If I knew which planet he came from, I would have gone there immediately to seek him out. I want to know more about him.' "Seems like you get more lovelier by the minute," a soft voice startled her out of her thoughts. Turning to see who it was, she promptly got up and ran to hug the newcomer. "Nick! I can't believe you're here!" Serena entered into his awaiting arms for a warm embrace. Nicholas Whitman was a tall young man with light brown hair and amber eyes. He was one of the protectors for the Earth kingdom and a personal friend of Prince Darien. Ever since he was little, he has been a close friend and playmate to Serena. Whenever his parents came to the Moon for a visit, Nick was always eager to see Serena and play little games with her. Now that he was all grown up, his duties have been to the Earth and rarely gets to visit the Moon as often as he'd like. But when he finally did have the chance to visit, he and Serena would spend hours just talking about their lives, past events, and various other things. "How is my little Rose of the Moon?" Nick asked while he hugged her back. "I can't believe you still call me by that little nickname," Serena replied, happy to have her best friend from Earth visiting her. "What can I say? You are a rose. You can't deny that." He winked at her. "Well, thanks for the comment. Anyway, I have so much to tell you!" Serena anxiously told him. "A lot of action going on at the Moon Kingdom, huh?" Nick guessed. "You have no idea." Serena's eyes flashed with excitement. "Then, lets sit on one of those benches and you can tell me all that I have missed while I was away." Nick linked his arms with Serena's and guided her to the ivory bench near the blue rose bushes. Once seated, Serena began describing today's events...starting with the betrothal. After listening attentively to Serena, he spoke. "Serena, you know that I am a knight at the Earth kingdom and my job is to protect the prince from any dangers that befalls him, right?" Serena nodded in response. "You say that he is a horrible man, but he really is a nice guy. He's practically friends with everyone he meets. I'm a close friend of his as well. You can't really say that he is so horrid when you haven't even met him yet." "Nick, my point is...no matter how sweet and handsome the Prince of Earth may be, I can't bring myself to marry a man who I am not in love with. I won't even see him until the day before the wedding. That doesn't really give me much time to get to know him." "Hmm...I see your point there, but why not suggest to your mother that you would like to visit Earth for a while? Become more acquainted with your husband-to-be?" "Too late for that now. I already found someone that I'm deeply in love with after just meeting him today." Serena sighed dreamily. "Oh? Tell me about Mr. Wonderful." Nick leaned in closer to hear about Serena's special guy, clearly interested. "Before you came here, I was visited by a man dressed in black with a black mask covering his face. And you won't believe what he said! He said that he's the Prince of the Gypsies who has come to see me because he was curious to know if it was true about me being the most beautiful girl in the galaxy!" Serena squealed excitedly. "Prince of the Gypsies, eh? Wow! Isn't that the man you have been fantasizing about and hoping that there was such a prince out there?" "The one and only! I thought it was some stupid little girl fantasy of mine. Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought it to be true. I only dreamed about him because it was a way to escape the hectic life of a princess and in the hopes that a charming prince would someday come and wisk me away from all this. All the other princes I have met through royal business were nothing, but rude, arrogant, insensitive jerks who don't deserve to be of noble blood." "Well, I have to agree with you on that, Sere, but there are some decent princes out there. The Earth prince is one of them and now this Gypsy prince. What planet did the Gypsy prince say he was from?" Serena frowned and looked down in disappointment. "I actually don't know where he's from. I never got a chance to ask him. Nick, do you think I'll ever see him again?" Serena looked up to face him. "Did he say he will?" He lightly touched her hand. "He said, 'I will be back, Bunny. Nothing can keep me away from you.'" "Then I know he will." Nick gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "If he says that nothing will keep him away from you, that means he's too much in love with you to stay away. Or look at it this way, he's already calling you an affectionate nickname. If he didn't like you so much, I'm sure he wouldn't be calling you Bunny." "I'm starting to like the nickname, too. Next to Rose of the Moon of course." "I should hope that you would like my nickname for you. I gave that to you since we were little kids. It should hold some importance to you!" Nick crossed his arms over his chest and playfully pouted. "Oh, you! Quit being so silly!" Serena playfully punched his arm. "But you have to admit that is the reason why you love me so much!" Nick winked at her. "Yeah, I know...your silliness and the fact that I can beat you in a race anytime!" Serena proudly declared. "Is that so, Princess?" Nick raised a questioning eyebrow. "Yeah!" She held her head high in smug satisfaction. "We'll see, Princess. I'll race you to the castle then." Nick's eyes flashed with a mischievous glint. "You're on." The two of them got off the bench and got themselves into position. Serena gathered the hem of her skirt in her hands so she won't trip as she ran. Once they were all set, Nick began the count down. "Ready...Get set..." "GO!" Serena took off running for the castle while Nick was left standing there in the dust. Shaking his head, he ran after her. "Hey! That's no fair, Sere! You cheated even before I said go!" He continued running after his blond friend while laughing all the way to the castle grounds. To be continued... *~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Lilly: Well, that's all for this chapter. I hope you like it so far. Chapter 2 will hopefully come out soon. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm still trying to find my crazy friend. WHERE ARE YOU, JESSICA????!!!! Somewhere hiding from Lilly... Jessica: Shh! Don't tell her where I am! She really has snapped! Poor girl. I'll just hang out here until she cools off! Anyway, just wanted to say to please either send feedback to Lilly, me, or both of us! We'd greatly appreciate it! ^_~ Lilly: THERE YOU ARE! Come here my dear little friend, I'd like to knock some sense into that sweet little head of yours. Jessica: *Gulp* Busted! Well, later, folks! ^^;;;; *Jessica runs away from Lilly* Lilly: Until next chapter, folks! ^_~ GET BACK HERE, JESSICA!!!!