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	   	      Written by Avanla Mireille


Book One, Chapter Three - "The Rose Blossoms"
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	"Common Serena, try harder!" Broc yelled as they clashed swords.
They brought them down to their chests, so their faces were inches apart. 

	"Give me a break Broc." Serena said, struggling hard against
his strong power. "I'm only a girl!" She pulled away, and ran to a 
nearby fallen log, jumping upon it. She turned around to see Broc 
advancing towards her.

	"When did being a girl every stop you?" He asked as he lashed
out at her. Serena jumped and did a flip over him, knocking his sword
out of his hand in the process. Broc turned around to find the tip of
her sword at his throat.

	"Oh, never." Serena shrugged, retracting the sword. She bowed
deeply and straightened, flinging her long braided ponytail behind her
again. 
	
	The young princess was now fourteen, and the mirror image of her
mother. Her blonde hair had lightened somewhat, and her skin was well
tanned. She wiped her bangs out her face and smiled at Broc. 

	"Touché." She said, bringing the sword to her face. 

	"Well done." Broc acknowledged, giving her a friendly smile. He
was much older, but no less a formable opponent. 

	"Daddy!" Suddenly three small children came running up to Broc,
the littlest jumping up into his arms.

	"Well hello Julia." Broc smiled at his youngest child. The twins,
Nathaniel and Theodore went running up to Serena.

	"Maxxel wants you to come to lesson now." Nathaniel said, pointing
back to the house Serena and Maxxel shared. 

	"Hold me, hold me!" The little girl jumped down from her father's
arms, extending her arms to Serena. Serena laughed and swooped Julia up.

	"Alright, let's go! Race you two!" Serena laughed as they
ran back to the house.

	Theodore ran through the door and started jumping up and down.

	"I beat you, I beat you!" He declared, turning around to face 
Serena and Nathaniel.
	
	"No fare, I had a little squirt on my back." Serena said, 
motioning to Julia who had a big smile on her face. She put her down
and the two ran outside to play with their brother. Serena chuckled 
and sat down at the table, where a series of books laid open.
Maxxel came into the room and smiled down at her.

	"So what are we going to learn today?" Serena asked, looking up
at him. "Although I'm really not in the mood to learn."

	"Are you ever?" Maxxel chuckled.

	"Yes, when it's miserable outside and the sun is not shining
so brightly as it is today." Serena sighed and looked out the window.
Suddenly Seiya stuck his head in and smiled brilliantly. He had grown
up to be a very handsome young man, with a toned body from working the
fields. He jumped up and leaned precariously on the window sill.

	"We're all playing a game in the field, come and join us 
Serena." Seiya prompted. 

	"I can't Seiya, I have to study." Serena replied.

	"Charles said that he could take you out." Seiya said and 
Serena raised an eyebrow. She looked over to Maxxel pleadingly and he
sighed.

	"Alright, I guess one day off would be fine." He said and Serena
squealed, jumping up from her seat.

	"Thank you Maxxel!" She said and pecked him on the cheek. 
"Charles is going to pay!" Serena and Seiya ran down to the field, 
where they joined the rest of the teenagers of the village for a game
of diskette. Maxxel and Broc followed close behind, and watched them as 
the game ensued.

	Serena caught the diskette and started to run towards the 
opponents goal when she was tackled down by Seiya. The two went spiraling
down the hill next to the field and Seiya ended up half way on top of
her. They both laughed, and Serena gently pulled the strands of grass
out of his hair.

	"Nice tackle." Serena smiled.

	"Yes, it looks like I caught myself a princess." He smiled
crookedly. "A very beautiful princess."

	"You're just saying that because you know I'll beat you up
later." Serena rolled her eyes. Seiya pushed back of piece of her hair
behind her ear, then ran his hand back down her cheek intimately. 
Serena's breath froze, as she looked up into his eyes. 
	
	"No, I really mean it Serena. You are beautiful." Seiya 
whispered, their faces inches apart.

	"Hey, are you two going to get back up here someday? You still
have the diskette Rena!" Someone yelled and they snapped out of it. Seiya
stood up quickly and lent her a hand. Serena grabbed the diskette and let
him help her up. She looked down at their hands and smiled back up at
him, and they walked up the hill like that. Back at the sidelines Broc 
and Maxxel looked on carefully.

	"They're falling in love Maxxel." Broc said, eyeing the two.
Maxxel sighed and gave a small smile.

	"I know." He said. 

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	"RENA!" Seiya screamed as he chased her around the village. 
Serena looked back and laughed at him, jumping over a crate. "Give
that back!" 

	"Oh? And what are you going to do if I don't?" She smiled, 
as she stood on one side of a table, Seiya on the other. Seiya tried
to hide the smile he had and pushed out his hand.

	"Give it here." He demanded and she held the item in the air,
waving his journal back in forth. 

	"I didn't know men kept diaries." She said.

	"It's not a DIARY! It's a JOURNAL!" He corrected and she
laughed even harder.

	"Seiya keeps a DIARY!" She yelled and he blushed.

	"That's it!" Seiya sighed and dove over the table. Serena 
screeched and backed out of the way as he crashed to the ground.

	"Oh, you silly boy!" Serena laughed as she ran into her house.
She climbed up the ladder to her loft bedroom and opened the journal.
Seiya came in and tried to climb the ladder, but she knocked it down.

	"Common.." Seiya whined. "Please don't!"

	"Dear Journal," Serena said as she opened up to a page. "Today
it happened. You know, when you get that special feeling. It happened
with-Ew, Seiya's got a crush!" 

	"Serena I-"

	"It happened with Serena," She stopped and cleared her throat.
"It happened with Serena the other day. When I touched her soft cheek,
this overwhelming feeling came over me. I know she's a princess, and
that she could never feel the way I feel about her, but there's always
that one hope....that, that she'll love me back. Because I love her
more than she'll ever..know.." Serena gasped and looked back up at 
Seiya, to see him staring at her embarrassed. "Oh Seiya, I-"

	He shook his head and walked out of the house. Serena looked
back down at the journal, and then back to the door before climbing
down the pole near her loft and running out the door for him.

	"SEIYA!" He turned around and Serena flung herself into his
arms, placing a kiss on his lips. She wrapped her arms around his neck
and in turn he put his around her waist, drawing each other closer.

	Serena pulled back and stared breathlessly into his eyes. She
reached up and pushed back a fallen piece of his hair, and smiled up at
him.

	"I do." She said.

	"Do what?" He asked.

	"I do feel the same way, that you feel about me." She smiled
again as he sighed happily. He brought his hand to her neck and kissed
her passionately.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	"Common girls, we're going to be late!" Rita said as she and
Emily stood in the doorway of Mina's room. Mina stood over Serena as
she gently wove flowers in between the braids of Serena's hair. It took
her and Mina five hours to braid Serena's entire head, her long hair
now touching her waist. Mina's was also braided but looped about her
head, making her look like a peacock. 

	Outfits made of pure silk covered their bodies, Serena's a 
pale yellow mixed with a light pink and Mina's, a turquoise green with 
white. Mina's stomach was cut out and a golden chain wrapped around her
waist. The top was short sleeved and buttoned down, while the pants 
were baggy and long, covering golden shoes.

	Serena's dress was more modest compared to Mina's, which Serena 
always was. It was sleeveless with a transparent layer on top and reached
a little passed her knees. Their arms and legs and faces where covered
in shinny little jewels. Colorful armbands wrapped around their arms
and heavy make-up rested on their faces.

	Tonight was the Festival of the Moon, and everyone got dressed
up for this happy occasion. It was in honor of the harvest moon, which
shone brilliantly down on the land, and little lighting was needed.

	"Okay, all done!" Mina smiled as she wove the last flower in
Serena's hair. Serena smiled approvingly at her reflection.

	"Alright, let's go!" Serena laughed as she dragged Mina outside.

	The sun had just gone down when the two joined the celebration.
They met up with Seiya, Mina's brother Kaleb, and three other friends, 
Cara, Charleston and Kaleb's girlfriend Lucy. The festival was located 
at the bottom of the village's hill, in a long field. Games and 
activities were set up to the far side, while dancing and music were 
set up to the front. And in the middle was a large platform where the 
ceremony would take place.

	The seven went to play games where Kaleb and Lucy rode on the
back of a horse, and Lucy had to try to grab a bratwurst with her
teeth...and almost fell off. 

	Later, when the brilliant orange harvest moon was almost to 
the center of the sky Serena and the rest went dancing. They lined up
and weaved into each other, pairing off and doing circles and twists.
Seiya and Serena ended up being together, and they stared hypnotized
at each other. Serena smiled as he brought her close.

	"Did anyone ever tell you how beautiful you look in the 
moonlight?" Seiya smirked.

	"No, but there's a first time for everything." She said as
he twirled her. "And I'm sure that won't be the last time you say 
that right?" Seiya laughed, pulling her back to him.

	"You know me so well." He said, kissing her quickly. Suddenly
a sudden slight wind picked up, causing Serena's heavy braids to sway.
Everyone looked up to see the moon in the middle of the sky, and black
clouds starting to cover it.

	"Uh-oh." Serena mumbled.

	"Well, this is a Harvest Festival isn't it? Maybe it'll-"
Suddenly it began to pour heavy, big raindrops. "....Pass over."

	Everyone started to yell and dodge back to the houses, but 
Serena and her friends stayed behind, as many of the teenagers did.

	Serena giggled, spinning around with her face lifted up, 
catching the raindrops. Seiya just watched her for awhile through the
rain with a small grin on his face.

	"Hey Seiya!" Seiya turned his head as soon as Kaleb rammed
into him, knocking him into a puddle beside him. Seiya laughed and
grabbed Kaleb by his ankles, pulling his feet from beneath him and 
causing him to crash down next to him. They wrestled in the mud, while
everyone else began to chase each other around.

	Serena laughed, wiping the water and mud off her face. Suddenly
she was tackled from behind and went sprawling into a puddle. She 
turned around in Seiya's embrace and looked up at him smugly.

	"That wasn't nice." She pouted, wrapping her arms around his
neck.

	"Aww, can I make it up to you?" He asked.

	"How do you propose to do that?" Serena said.

	"Well, I was thinking around these lines.." Seiya smirked as
he bent down to kiss her. Serena wrapped her legs around his waist to
flip him over, and laughed as she sat on top of him.

	"Really, I was thinking more of these lines." She laughed as
she splashed water on him. 

	"Alright, alright! I give up!" Seiya laughed, shielding himself.
Serena stopped and bent down, resting her arms crossed across his
chest. 

	"Seiya, what are we going to do when I have to retake 
Alvediaca. What if I *can't* retake Alvediaca?" Serena asked and Seiya
smirked up at her.

	"You can do anything you possibly set your mind to. I have
complete and utter faith in you Serena." Seiya said, cupping her cheek.

	"Yes, but what about us? You're not of noble blood, and I can
change the rules, but I would become enemies with the nobles....But I 
can't imagine a life without you." Serena sighed, wiping the rain and
tears from her eyes.

	Seiya reached up his other hand to her other cheek, massaging
the soft wet skin. He brought her down into a long, sweet gentle kiss.
Serena sighed contentedly, pushing back the worries in her mind. Seiya
pulled back and looked up at Serena and smirked, seeing her eyes closed
and her lips slightly parted. Serena opened her eyes slowly and looked
down at him. 

	"I'll do anything you ask of me Serena." Seiya said, massaging
her arm. "Anything you ask. I love you, and I know we can work anywhere,
anytime."

	"I love you too Seiya." Serena smiled as she bent down and
kissed him, the world and the rain forgotten.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-

	Serena and Maxxel were in the middle of a lesson when they heard
horses outside. Both walked out to see six soldiers in the armor of
Rosmund. The leader led his horse to the middle of town and took off
his helmet.

	"Alvediaca is official at war with Besunta." He announced, and
a surprised murmur went up among the villages. "The Imperial Emperor
Rosmund commands all male members of the household between 13 and 45
to fight and report to Cukla Field the 25th of this month."

	"Why should we fight for your rotten emperor!" One man from the
crowd shouted, and everyone chorused behind him.

	"Don't fight for him." The soldier shrugged. "Let Lord Rubeus'
army come and descend on your families like a pack of locusts, devouring
your food, your wives, your daughters. Rosmund is nothing compared to
this barbarian. So if you won't fight for your emperor, fight for your
livelihood, which Rubeus will surely take. Remember, report to Cukla
Field on the 25th. Ya!" He kicked his horse and they disappeared down
the rode.

	Serena looked over to the Dunsterks, and saw Broc put his hand
on Seiya's shoulder. Broc was in a horse accident and broke his leg,
so he wouldn't be able to fight. But Seiya..Seiya looked over at Serena
and their eyes locked.


	The 24th of the month came sooner than wanted, and the men of
the village congregated to go to Culka Field, which would take a day to
reach.

	"Be careful son." Broc said as he hobbled over and gave his
son a hug.

	"I will father, you have taught me well." Seiya said. 

	"Oh Seiya." Emily sighed, wiping away her tears.

	"Don't worry mom." Seiya comforted as he gave her a hug. He bent
down and hugged his little siblings, promising them each a soldier's
weapon. He stood back up and looked up into Serena's eyes. She stood
there unmoving, staring at him with misty eyes.

	"Serena." He started to say as he walked towards her. Serena 
let out a raspy sigh and dove into his arms. She buried her head into 
the crevice of his neck.

	"Oh Seiya, please don't leave me." She cried.

	"Serena..Serena, look at me. Look at me." He pulled her away,
lifting her chin up. "It's alright, it's going to be alright."

	Serena breathed in deeply and let it go, trying to keep her
feelings under control. She nodded once and smiled weakly up at him.

	"That's better." He smiled, bringing her into a hug. "I promise
I'll come back Serena. I promise. And don't I always keep my promises?
When you had a crush on Lance I kept my word, and when you stole that
necklace from that lady I didn't tell. Well, I made you put it back
eventually but I didn't tell, did I?" Serena laughed, shaking her 
head.

	"You keep your promises well." She said.

	"There, you see? I shall keep this one as well." He captured her
lips for a sweet passionate kiss.

	"Common Seiya, we must go." Andrew said as he and Kaleb waited
on their horses. Seiya pulled away and pressed their foreheads together.

	"I must go...goodbye Serena." He said and pulled away, still
holding onto her hands.

	"Goodbye, Seiya." Serena whispered as he let go and turned around.
He stopped however and walked back to her, pulling something out of his
pocket. He picked up her left hand and place a dazzling silver ring on it.

	"One more thing." He said and Serena gasped, bringing her other
hand to her mouth. "Keep this safe, we'll discuss it's meaning when I return."
Serena looked up at him and smiled vigorously. "Oh..Serena.."
He captured her lips again for a kiss goodbye.

	"Now goodbye my love." He said as he pulled away. Serena watched
him as he hopped on his horse and rode to the pack. He turned around and
waved, before turning back around and disappearing down the hill. Serena
stood there, twirling the ring with her other fingers. She sighed, letting
one tear escape her eye.

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