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The Bunny's Story "Uh, Did Raye tell you about the ball the royal family was holding?" Serena asked suddenly. Bursting from the bubble he was in, Darien blinked reluctantly, taking a huge step away from Serena. "Yeah, they sent out the invitations already." Darien answered, disappointed and embarrassed. "The prince sounds cute, the way Raye described him. And, I heard he was choosing a queen too. Imagine how many girls would be there." Serena said aloud, shaking her head, "Well, not like he'll choose anyone." She guffawed, " Raye tells me he's really picky." Darien scowled, wondering what her impish sister had spilled out about him to Serena. Then again, she didn't know who the prince was. "Imagine if he picks me..." She wondered aloud, practically blushing at the thought. Darien boiled with jealousy for Serena's affections for the prince, though the prince was himself. He thought to himself why he didn't have the guts to tell her that. He was just about to tell her, but he had a recurring warning that told him that Serena only liked him as a friend, and if he told her, her feelings toward him would not change, let alone, she would never forgive Raye or himself. Biting his lip, Darien restrained himself from doing so. "I really hope I could go." Serena said eagerly. Darien smiled sugar-sweetly. "Who said you had to go for the prince anyway." He said with a loathing tone. "I mean, everyone we invited is going, after all, the prince might be one of those obnoxious, hardhearted guys, like they usually are." Darien emphasized the last line with a little too much slander. Serena, sensing jealousy in Darien's tone, smirked. "Sure sounds like someone I used to know," Serena winked at Darien. "He can't be like that! Raye said he was the nicest guy ever, and not to mention, attractive." Serena smiled evilly as she watched Darien fidget enviously at the mention of the prince. Darien collected himself, sincerely smiled, with a hint of mockery though, at Serena. "Okay, that's great. Damn! Imagine all the ladies there. Not to mention, Raye. She's pretty hot herself." Darien practically choked out the words he had said. He hated stuff that had to do with romance, and definitely didn't feel comfortable praising his sister's looks. Serena didn't show the slightest bit of envy to his dismay. "Ooh, that'll be a juicy thing to tell Raye." Serena sneered. Darien widened his eyes and shook his head violently. This wasn't going the way he wanted it to. His plan on backfiring Serena's comments backfired on him. "At least I have a bigger chance than you getting with the prince." He said back, Serena blushing. Darien laughed pleasantly. "In that case, if you need an escort..." he trailed off. Serena shrugged. "I don't know if Mom's going to even let me set foot in the palace. Anyway, thanks for your time, I guess I'll see you around somewhere." She got up, brushing her plain brown skirt. "Bye, jealous butthead!" Serena called as she skipped away. Snickering, Darien walked away as well, calling back sarcastically, "Yeah, I know you're in love with me." As Serena turned around from a distance and stuck her tongue out at him playfully, he laughed ironically and continued walking away. *** Serena skipped home happily, humming annoyingly to herself. She entered the vacant estate she called home, scampering upstairs with a mad-dash to get to the cramped, tiny attic; her room. She flipped open a secret compartment underneath loose floorboards, revealing a huge, dusty trunk. Blowing the dust off, Serena lifted the heavy, gem encrested lid, revealing everything that had ever meant to ther in her lifetime. She hadn't really touched the hoard in a while though, and it was always memorable exploring what was stored in the chest. She rummaged through all sorts of treasured things, some of the dolls she still had in child hood, her blanket, and some rusted photos. She laughed as she flipped through the photos, of herself, her mom and dad. She was surprised at the resemblance she had to her mother. Smiling sadly, she reached a picture of herself, probably near when her mother had died, posed with her mother, who was attempting to put Serena's golden locks into meatballs without Serena jumping and fidgeting around. Finally, after what was at least twenty minutes, Serena put down her beloved pictures, to continue rumaging. She spotted the floral, light pink dress her mother had sewed when she was younger. She had insisted that someday, when Serena was old enough, she could wear it. It was light, simple, with a squared neckline, with white laces wrapping around the waist. Her mother hadn't exactly finished it though, due to her death. Serena had sometimes locked herself in her room to work on the dress with her miniature sewing kit, and it seemed like it was finished. Curious to see how it would feel like wearing the dress, Serena tried it on for the very first time. She gawked at herself impolitely when she saw how perfectly her mom had chosen her size, and how light and perfect it felt on her skin. After a few more minutes, Serena changed back, carefully folding the dress up. Sighing contently, she put it back, eager for the next night to come. *** "So, Darien, are you ready for the BIG night?" Chad asked, excited. Darien actually smiled a little. "I'll be all right, Chad. Don't worry about me." Malachite clicked his tongue. "Whoa, you really have changed a heck lot over these weeks! " Darien shrugged. "Who said change was bad?" "Geez, women are so darned slow. It only took us five minutes for us to change, and I'll bet you anything the girls probably aren't done with applying makeup, or otherwise they're just fussing over how their hair should be done." Chad complained grumpily. Darien and Malachite looked at each other, smirking. "Dateless?" They asked in unison. Chad waved the question away carelessly. "Hey, it's not my fault Raye wanted to check out the bachlors. Who'd be surprised, wouldn't all women be doing that?" Darien grinned. "I expect you know what I'll be doing." "All women? Explain why Mina's faithfully waiting at the corner for me as her date, as usual? Did I mention she looked extra hot tonight?" Malachite eagerly ran to usher away his date. Darien and Chad sweatdropped mournfully. *** " Zoi, can you please pass me the bottle of rose-fragranced perfume?" Emerald asked her sister. "Yeah, just hand me those diamond studs on my drawer, thanks." The door creaked open slightly, Serena's head peaking in. "You guys are doing fine, right?" Serena sincerely smiled. "We're so excited, I bet you the prince will practically faint when he sees our beauty. " Emerald said snobbishly. "Good to see you guys happy for once." Serena grinned. She was in such a good mood that she hardly noticed the wide, wicked smirks plastered on her step-sisters' faces. "Yeah Serena, you don't have to worry about us. Go do anything you want." Shrugging, Serena ascended to the attic. Once again, she plied at the loose wooden planks, yanking the chest out. Rummaging patiently, her anticipating fingers were targeted to feel some sort of clothing. Finally, thin cottony material found its way into Serena's grasp. Yanking her dress out, Serena unfolded her dress. But something wasn't right. Serena glanced over the dress nervously, and did a shocked double-take before she could think straight. "Oh my lord-" She whispered, her face aghast. In the place of the beautiful pink dress she had made was ripped and shredded piece of cloth. A thick ink quill's letters were scribbled and engraved onto thepink fabric: "Surprise!" Serena did far more than gape. Tears damned up behind her eyelids. Before she started crying her heart out, Serena heard a giggle that resembled a hyena's laughter from the attic entrance. Grabbing the cloth angrily with a clenched fist, she turned around to jab at her sister. But her fists met empty air, and she skidded the boarded ground. She heard Emerald's laugh the second time, this time joined by two oter hideous cackling voices. She jerked her head out the window, and spotted the intolerable three striding to a splendid coach headed to the ball. Angered, she sprinted down the stairs, shoving the door open. As she ran on to the main road, the coach turned at a corner and disappeared. "Traitors!" She hollered to the escaping coach. *** Darien strolled around the top floor, pearing down. People had already begun to arrive in crowds. From the top, he could already see Malachite and Mina talking to another pair, since the ball hadn't officially started; there was no music. Raye rushed up to Darien excitedly. 'No wonder she took at least three hours' Darien thought. Raye had sported an oriental red silk gown with golden royal designs, high heels, her hair was pinned up in a really complex style, completed with her ruby and diamond-encrested tiara. "Omigod- there are so many cute guys out there!" She pointed down to prove her point. Darien raised an eyebrow, "Well, true, but I think Chad's having a difficult time actually getting near anyone at all-" Darien gestured at Chad, who was just waiting for someone to come. Raye looked pitifully at him for an instance, but shrugged. "Oh well, not my problem, let's get dancin'!" Raye cheered, practically dragging Darien onto the dance floor. "Uh- Raye, this isn't a good idea-" Darien quipped, as countless amounts of single women and men rushed up to the prince and princess. "Err...Uh oh." *** Serena walked torpidly to the gardens, thr only place she felt like going, too angry and betrayed for tears. "Why'd you have to leave me alone?" Serena sputtered to absolutely no one. "Mom, dad, why'd you have to die?" Only silence followed. "Oh, of course, everyone's at the ball right now, I'm probably the only person, no THING in the world missing out on this. A blur of white hopped past Serena. By the strange, almost crescent shaped mark on its furry head, she could tell that she was the same bunny her and Raye had encountered a few days before. "Little rascal. NO, you can't attend the ball either. I know, life's a big bummer. Well, at least I'm not alone out here- Hey! Where are you going?" Serena exclaimed as the bunny escaped. Just for the heck of it, Serena pursued after the dodgy creature, until it undoubtfully reached a dead end. "Can't hide anymore!" Serena teased, cornering where she assumed the bunny was. To her surprise, no one was there at all. "What? I swear..." She trailed off, mumbling to herself. "Bunny? BUNNY!" She backed from the corner discredibly. "You called?" A warm, familiar voice piped up. Serena froze, swerving around sharply. "Who's there?" She threatened cautiously, looking around. "Actually, I'm not really here, Serena." The voice replied. Serena gaped, vaguely remembering the voice. "But it can't be...Mom?" Serena was answered with a woman a bit taller than her almost eerily floating from a fair distance. 'Meatballs, blonde hair, blue eyes, that voice-mom!' She thought. Scampering to the woman happily, Serena suddenly stopped short when she realized: It was only a hallucination. "Mom?" Serena asked. To her dismay, only an eerie voice inside her head answered. "Serena." Serena froze. "Mom? This can't be? I'm only imagining you, right?" "Not right." Serena blinked. "MOM! Where are you?" Serena said, worried but eager. "Actually, closer than you expect me to be." "I'm confused..." "Don't care about it right now, don't you want to get to the ball? Your prince is waiting..." Serena laughed to no one...living. "Nah. More like he doesn't care." "You don't know, huh?" "Know....what?" The voice sighed. "I'm warning you Serena, I want you to have a good time, but there's something going on that I don't have the authority to tell you. I'm sorry for doing this, but to keep you safe, I have to cut down your time limit to twelve sharp. Please let nothing go wrong to my baby. I'm REALLY sorry i can't tell you what I know, I really can't." Serena blinked in shock. "Is someone going to murder me or anything?" She asked nervously. "It'll sure make you want to get murdered. Oh I can't let you go there, I can't." Serena gasped. "You can't mean that! Nothing is going to happen to me, please, please?" The voice sighed again. "Oh, I'd feel so traiterous to let you go, but I know it's your wish. Please, please promise me you won't get hurt. Stay strong, you must!" Serena rolled her eyes in despair. "Well, no one's plotting to kill a servent, the last time I checked." "That's not what I had in mind, Serena. I won't waste anymore time. Remember to return HERE safely at twelve. Don't you dare go any place else." "Okay Mom, can I just go?!" Serena asked eagerly. "Sure, honey. Now just to figure out how this boot-legged device works...there. I love you Serena!" "Me too, mom." Serena said gratefully. There was no response. She noticed to her wide surprise, that her plain dress was replaced by-- "This can't be! The dress mom made!" Serena gaped. It was somehow...put back together, almost. Her neck adorned a diamond necklace, her hair still in meatballs. "Uh...mommy? You uh...forgot the shoes and coach." "Oh yeah!" The voice piped up. By the next milli-second, Diamond heels a million times more expensive than Cinderella's boot-legged glass slippers were perfectly fitted on her dainty feet. Like a dream, right in front of her, a sparkling coach was parked in the midst of flowers and the beautiful star-lit night sky. She looked up as the French chauffeur opened the door, and whispered to the heavens, "Thank you mom, dad." *** Darien was switching partners between every song, trying to keep open-minded like everyone had told him to. As the song ended in legatto, Darien smiled and bowed to his partner, kissing her hand, then walking away from the astonished girl. He then spotted Mina, and curtly walked up to her, smiling. "Hey Mina, where's Malachite and Chad?" Mina made a disgusted face. "At the buffet corner pigging out on the food." She rolled her eyes, "Guys." Stifiling his laughter, Darien danced with Mina while the queen spotted them, smiling an encouraging smile at her son. After a few songs, Darien spotted Serena finish dancing with another guy, and beamed. He stuffed his diadem into his tuxedo's inner pocket, and calmly "walked" over to her. "May I have this dance?" He asked a surprised Serena. She looked even more beautiiful with a simple but pretty pink gown and all the rest. Serena smiled, doing a curtsy. "Yes you may." She answered tersly. "I really didn't think you'd make it, you know?" Darien started. "Too bad, I did, with lot of help from mom!" Darien raised an eyebrow, "Isn't your mom..." He trailed off, confused. Serena smiled sincerely, enjoying probably the first happy event she had experienced since her parents died. Eventually, people cut in randomly, and Serena ended up dancing with a wannabe-punk-star. "Hi dudette. Wait, your Serena, aren't ya?" Serena almost took a step back, staring at him suspiciously. "And how would you know?" "Raye, excuse me, her highness, has mentioned alot about you." Serena "oohed." "So YOUR the guy Raye said kept putting weeds in her bed." Serena laughed. "Nice to meet you." Chad looked disappointed. "She said that?" Serena kept laughing. "Oh well, somewhere in her heart she has a special place for you." Serena comforted Chad. "Yup, I'm the 'most annoying doofus in the universe' I quote from the princess herself." Chad said proudly. "That's nice...excuse me, but I've gotta find Darien-" With that, Serena walked away. "Hey! That's PRINCE Darien to you, missy!" Chad shrugged, and walked away to find anotheer partner. *** Darien squeezed through the crowd for awhile, finally seeing Serena. He ran up to her, grabbing her arm immediately. "This place is too crowded, come with me Serena." Without waiting for an answer, he led her through the lower back door, and into a HUGE flower garden and fountain. The night sky was pitch black, though countless stars were decorating the black night. "Wow, beautiful place...you didn't sneak here, did you?" Serena asked. "Uh...no. Raye suggested that we'd go out here, it's less crowded anyway. I knew you'd like it out here. "It's so nice here!" Serena complimented as they sat down on the fountain's ledge. "Much better than inside." "True. But I don't care where I am as long as I'm with you." Darien breathed, leaning towards Serena, their lips touching for the very first time. *** Chad sat at the higher interval which seated the royal family and the kingdom's crew. He watched as Raye appeared by him, plopping down on a velvet-cushioned chair. She sighed. "No guys have good personality out there." She complained. "They're all so boring." She whined. "Well, do you still feel like dancing?" "I guess, maybe. I've got to teach you the PROPER way anyway." "Sure dude." "Um...first, You ask the girl to dance... ahem...I said, ask the girl to dance!" Chad pondered for an instance. "I think I know how. I heard some dudes say it to girls..." "Good, can we get started?" "Okay, Raye, May I have my pants?" Chad started stupidly. Raye burst into laughter. "Okay, forget the formal stuff, you'll never learn it." "Hey! I didn't do anything wrong!" "Nope, you did it perfectly unique. That's my Chad." Raye consoled, even though Chad began stepping on the hem of her dress. "I was stupid to think I could find another..." *** Serena slowly pulled away from Darien, more than overwhelmed. She cuddled into Darien's warm tux jacket, him cradling her. Unmistakably from inside poket, was a glimmer of gold. Serena didn't even care, until sometime later, she could almost make out the figure. She still didn't care. Shivering, she plunged herself deeper in Darien's comforting grasp. With a noisy "clitter-clatter" the object plunked down to the fountain ledge, and sunk into the shallow water. The two both stared at the obscured object for a moment, and then they both suddenly jerked their hands out to grab the object. To Darien's horror, Serena had reached it first. She drew her hands from the icy, transparent water quickly, studying the object. His crown. Serena frowned. "Where'd you get this from? Don't tell me Raye's behind this too. Darien stared at the crown in shock, fibbing, "Actually, what a coincedence...Her brother told me to hold it for her..." Serena stared at him, as if trying to read his mind. Darien could have gotten away with it, but to his dismay, a third and fourth couple stepped out. "Hey Darien! Finally we found you!" Malachite's voice chimed up. "Oh! Is this Serena, you know, the one you've been talking about for a while?" Mina asked. Serena stared at Malachite, who was pretty cute. "Wait, you're the prince, aren't you?" Serena inquired. Malachite stared at Serena like she was out of her mind. "Yeah, I wish. No, I'm not the prince, but, your looking right at his highness this instance." He jabbed a finger at Darien's direction. Then he realized that he shouldn't of spoken up at all. The four were silent for an awkward moment. "Darien," Serena spoke up quietly, "Did he really mean what he just said?" Darien bit his lip. "What? Mal, you are so kidding, right Mina?" Darien laughed nervously. But the others didn't seem to think it was funny, they just kept silent. "Tell me the truth, Darien." Serena said doubtfully. Darien knew that Serena knew. So there was absolutely no point of defending himself. "I'm sorry." Darien apologized quickly. An angry, hurt, expression played on Serena's face. " Oh, 'you know, you need to trust someone.' How did I ever start trusting YOU?!" She quoted Darien. Mina and Malachite watched Serena and Darien, their eyes wide. Darien just shook his head, "I'm so sorry, Serena. You said you hated really snobby, rich people like the royal family, and..." Darien trailed off. Serena glared at him. "But at least after you had PRETENDED to meet Raye, you knew I had you as a friend. You two didn't have to fake everything! Look, Darien, whatever your real name is or may be, I don't know you anymore...I don't think I ever did...or ever will." She stood up slowly. "Don't dare you follow me, don't dare you..." But Darien also stood up. "I'm sorry, I really am Serena, don't go....please?" Darien pleaded, reaching out his hand. Disgusted, Serena backep up. "Don't touch me, get away from me!" With hurt, rage, and disbelief, Serena fleed in a wild direction. Malachite stared at Darien. "Oh my lord...I just...Forgive me, please, Darien. I didn't know..." To the two's surprise, Darien nodded weakly. "Actually thanks," he choked," better find out now than later." Drien gathered himself, and headed for the secret shortcut to the entrance. He reached there just after her, but by then, she was nowhere in sight. Everything after that happened in a blur. *** The great grandfather clock chimed in a stacatto tone, audibly. Serena, who was alarmed, tripped, skidding to the concrete outsides of the palace. Struggling to get up, Serena noticed she was back to her regular clothing, the rags, barefeet and all. Everything had just vannished into thin air. In the corner of her eye, Serena spotted her diamond slippers by the top staircases, and gasped as she saw Darien pick both of them up. She quickly dived out of his sight's range, hiding in the dark alley. "Not only Darien, Raye too!" She thought, horrified. As if on cue, lightning, thunder, and rain flooded into the scene, making Serena's day the worst ever. Serena remembered instead. but it was thunder storming, and Serena just didn't have the guts to stay out in the blistering cold. Running to her estate, Serena opened the unlocked door, and bolted it up securely. Dripping wet, she lit a candle and set it on the table. "Decided to sneak out, huh?" A calm voice flooded the room. It was Beryl, but Serena couldn't pin point her location. "Beryl? Zoicyte? Emerald?" "No, just the first. My daughters are at the ball, with the prince. Which SOMEONE had to take away." "What are you talking about?" Serena frowned. "I am not blind, child. Don't lie to me. Don't think I don't know what game you're playing. Now speak the truth. How exactly did four members of the kingdom find our secret?" Serena gasped. "Oh, the silent treatment, huh? Don't speak, you've gotta go." With a sickening, sharp sound, Beryl drew out a knife. Serena only frowned. "What are you going to do with that?" Serena asked calmly. "Idiot. Learn something: This is a knife. And you are in deep junk. If I don't kill you, then I'll die. Get it?" Beryll said sarcastically. Serena smirked. "You don't have guts to kill me, i know you don't." "Stop trying to act brave already! Any last word before you die? *** Darien was running down a familiar path to Beryl's estate. He just had to apologize to Serena. He knew she wouldn't be at the garden during such a furocious storm, so it was worthwhile not to even try. He pounded on the padded door harshly, again and again. But he knew he just couldn't get in on force. Like an resolution to his conflict, Darien made out four figures in the midst of the rain. ***
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