A Prince's Court Part 1

He blows his bangs out of his face before sighing softly.   He didn't know why Diana couldn't come with him, but apparently she too had to go back into the past to train with his little sister.  Part of him understood the reasoning for that - after all there could be things and situations that she couldn't learn here- but at the same time he felt uneasy at being alone and heading to Kinmoku.

Looking away from the window, Darius turns over the pocket-watch in his hand frowning a bit.  Had this really been necessary?  After all, it's been so long since he had seen the Starlights themselves he almost thought they could've been made up.   Well, at least until his parents told him he would be going there on a mission.

At first the idea was rather exciting.  After all, he's never been off-world before and he wanted more then anything to see what was out there beyond his own home planet.  

However, the emptiness he felt now while watching the endless starry scene almost didn't make any of it worth it.  Who was he going to share this with? Who was he going to tell?    Darius didn't know and at the moment he would give anything for either Diana or Helios to be with him right then - hell he'd even take his annoying little sister too!

"Attention all, we'll be docking at the planet Kinmoku soon. Please be seated and prepare for landing."

He glances up at the intercom but only sat down in his seat for now, flipping the pocket-watch open and closed.  

Thinking about that, he wasn't sure what to think about Chibiusa being a sailor senshi.  In a way he was a little envious of it because now she could possibly learn a multitude of things that he couldn't even dream up.  It was a familiar and uncomfortable feeling and memories before recalled that picture she drew of him.

Hmph.. hail to the king all right.  He thought before opening his eyes and looking out the window at the planets that hung in the sky of various colors and shades with their moons orbiting them- some in strange and erratic orbits.    

Darius wonders what this would be like.  

Snapping the watch closed again, he breathes out, "Hope I don't fuck this up."



--


"Welcome, Prince Darius of Earth, " the red haired woman said, "to Kinmoku."  She smiles at him offer her hand, "You've grown up so well, prince.  It seems like only yesterday that you were here such a tiny little child running the halls of my palace."

Like his father and others had taught him, Darius returns the smile the woman had offered him and moves to kiss her hand,  "Thank you, Queen Kakyuu. However, I'm afraid my memories don't stretch as far back. I seem to have forgotten my way around here."

"I'm sure we'll be able to reacquaint you to this land."  Kakyuu told him turning before gesturing to him, "Would you please follow me?"

"Of course."

Darius nods slowly before following the red queen down the strange crystal-like palace halls.  He could smell the scent that was vaguely familiar yet he could pinpoint exactly what it was.  In a strange way, it was far more soothing then anything he'd ever smelled before.

He tries to pay attention to what the queen was saying though he frowns a little seeing someone peeking out  around a corner.  Well, not just one someone but three.  Every time he looked back, they would duck and hide.

This is weird. He glances ahead at the Queen, Just who's watching me?

Queen Kakyuu turns to him finally, smiling that ever gentle smile, "This is to be your room while you're a guest here."  She told him, "The others will see you at dinner where we'll introduce you to a few that no one has met in some time because of their own journeys. "

"Oh." Darius nods, "That would be wonderful, your majesty."

Her lips twitched a little, such a well mannered child. "You are free to roam where you wish within the palace walls. If you wish to go beyond that, please contact one of us to do so."

He nods again , "Of course."

"I will take my leave, until dinner time, Prince."  Queen Kakyuu lays a hand on his shoulder, "It is good to have you back here."   Then finally the woman left.


Darius breathes out before moving into the well lit room. It was very beautiful -something he'd see out of an Arabian fantasy movie with drapes everywhere that lead out to the  balcony  with a picturesque scene of mountains in the distance and nothing but greenery everywhere.

"Haven't seen this much forest outside of Elysion." He mutters looking out of the terrace.  "Wonder what that smell is? I thought it was just her, but it's everywhere."

Shaking his head, he pulls off the black and silver breastplate as well as the cape that went with his princely outfit.  He unbuttons the green jacket that had been underneath, tossing it carelessly on the chair before continuing to inspect his room.

"Wonder if the weather ever changes here?"  

Looking at the windows, though, he would have guessed it didn't. Wasn't that kind of boring? Same weather and same thing all the time?

"Thank gods it's only for a few months." He said before sitting down on the huge mound of pillows and stretching out.  "Though...who was watching me?"



--


"He's here.  I can't believe it!"  One girl almost squeals, "It's been so long- oh he's grown handsome too."

Another girl shook her head, "Geeze, calm down it's not like he's uber special or anything! He's just another prince that happens to be here."

"Still, we should treat him just like mother told us." A third said but glances at the window where the fourth member of their party sat silently.  "I mean, he is a prince of another power kingdom that's friends with ours. We should show him a good time.

"But first we have to get around Mama." The first girl huffs, "She's been so strict!"

"That's because you're so lazy." The second one told her smirking, "At least the rest of us don't fall asleep during lessons."

The first girl stuck her tongue out at her, "Jerk!"

"Heh, so says you."

"Will you two stop it?" The third sighs a bit shaking her head, "All I ever hear out of you is how you fight. Now come on, we all have to get ready- you too." She glances at the window where the fourth person sat.


--


Wearing loose fitting clothing now that was far more comfortable and regular shoes, Darius slips out of his room and decided to take his own private tour. After all, the queen said he could wander wherever he pleased inside of the castle walls.   

He remembered that Aunt Haruka and Aunt Michiru had told him the best way to get to know a place was to wander around it.  Notice details of things and try not to lose your way.

He turns his head as he walks through an open air walkway and pauses looking down at the inner courtyard with a fountain bubbling at the center but the scent here from earlier wasn't as strong as it was covered by another scent of flowers that he was far more familiar with.

"Like home.." He mutters to himself.

"So, you're finally here." His head turns and he saw a girl standing there with long  light blue hair and an amused blue-green colored eyes, " You know you're the talk of the town around here. No one can shut up about 'The Earth Prince.' "     

She was dressed in a long white skirt with a dark blue top with puffs at the shoulders but the sleeves were sheer and trimmed with a black satin ribbon. The same ribbon the accented the bodice of her dress with a star shaped hole just towards the top of the bodice.

"I don't think I've had the pleasure of knowing your  name, my lady." Manners kicked in but Darius was having a hard time thinking of someone that's bold enough to do something like this.

She puts a hand on her hip and shook her head, her light blue hair bouncing slightly behind her in a low bun with a ponytail flowing behind hid it, "What? You don't remember any of us?"

"Us?" Darius was a bit confused as he saw two more girls and a boy coming up behind her. "I'm sorry, but I simply don't remember."

"Ouch, that hurts."  The orange haired girl said to her friends smiling brightly, "Think he would remember his playmates."

"Not everyone has an elephant's memory."  This girl had pale pink hair hair and seemed rather shy but in a strange dignified way.

The boy, a dark red haired youth with a serious expression on his face, said nothing in the playful banter but stares straight at Darius with dark purple eyes.

What was with this kid? Darius wonders before turning his attentions on the girls, "Well, would you be kind enough to enlighten me?"

"Only if you'd stop with the royal-speech..maybe." the light blue haired girl smirks.

He raises a dark brow before nodding slowly," Alright then."

"Excellent!" She smiles brightly. "I'm Princess Aigle, the third princess of the Tankei Kingdom."  She then gestures to the orange haired girl, "This is my sister-"

"I'm Princess Chryses, the second princess of the Tankei Kingdom." She said enthusiastically, "And this is-"

"Oi, Chrys."  Aigle frowns looking at her irritated, "Will you stop and let everyone introduce themselves?"

Chryses only smiles brightly at her sister, "Such a sour puss she is."

The pink haired girl only shook her head amused a little at her sisters' antics, "I'm Princess Deirdre, the first princess of the Tankei Kingdom."

Darius had only nodded at each one and then settled his gaze on the boy that had been silent.   He waited for a while, but it didn't seem as if the young man would speak at all until finally he turns and left.

"At it again." Aigle huffs, "Like it would kill him to just say 'hi'."

"Don't mind him, Prince Darius."  Deirdre said, "He's just been a little moody lately with everything that's going on. That was our brother , Prince Jareth, first and only prince of the Tankei Kingdom."

"Oh...but wait." He frowns a little, "He's the only male I've seen so far here. I thought there weren't any males on Kinmoku?"

Aigle smirks, "Well there are, but there are not as many as say on Earth.  So, you might see a few but most mothers keep them close."

Darius only frowns at that, now why was it that when she said those words he got a chill down his spine?

"Anyway, come this way!" Chryses leaps forward and grabs onto his arm pulling him away, "You must see the gardens!"

Aigle rolls her eyes groaning a bit, "And you would think I was the older then her!"

Her sister only smiles a bit, "She's just excited. We were all friends when we were little you know."  Though Deirdre looks back frowning a little, "Why don't you go ahead and make sure Chrys doesn't get Darius into too much trouble?"

"Sure,  I'll leave Jare to you."  Aigle nods slowly before turning to follow the pair to the gardens.  Who knows what trouble there could be!

Deirdre watched her go before turning to walk down the hallway to find her brother. Fourth born but ultimately a strange one.  She wonders what it could mean.  After all, there hadn't been a male born into the Tankei family line since the thirteenth reign of the first Tankei woman on the throne of Kinmoku.

"Very puzzling indeed..."