Setsuna's Sun Prince

And the story goes on.

Setsuna's Sun Prince

Chapter 2, Part 3:

A New Gameplan

"Why must you do this, Prince Takeru? Why must you destroy your friend? Tell me so that I can understand.", called Saturn.

"It is my destiny, Saturn. That is all I can say for now.", murmured Takeru.

Getting up Takeru went upstairs to his bedroom. Standing just inside the door, he remembered the events of the night before that had taken place within this very room. Shaking his head, he went over to his closet and opened the door. Picking up an object from the top shelf, Takeru brought it down and examined it critically. Taking a moment he grabbed a box that had been sitting on the shelf not far from where he had gotten the cane.

Going back downstairs, Takeru went into his study. Closing the door, he proceeded to twist the top of the cane and unsheathe the sword within. Drawing the dangerous weapon and laying the blade across his arm, he noticed that it seemed a bit dull and lacked a shine. Opening the box he had carried down and placed on his desk, Takeru took out a whetstone and started to sharpen the blade. Once he finished that task, he put the implement away and reached back into the box for the things that remained.

First, Takeru pulled out a towel that he laid across his desk and placed the sword in its center. Next he pulled out a can of metal shining fluid directly from his home. Uncapping it, he poured a dab on the final object he pulled out of the box. This happened to be a well-worn and raggedy cloth that was dirty and had black marks on it.

Takeru took the now saturated towel and began to rub it along the blade. After a few minutes he had gone from the blade to the handguard and finally finished up with the pommel. Dropping the dirty cloth in a plastic bag that he sealed and put back inside the box, Taki pulled out a cloth that was so clean it glistened white in the glow from the dim lamps. He ran this new cloth up over the blade, and as he did so, the sword of destruction began to shine.

Finishing up he put the now somewhat dirty and stained cloth in another plastic bag and replaced it in the box. Recapping the cleaning solution and making sure it didn't spillr hir his credenza; he put that in the box and closed it up. Putting the box down on the floor by his desk, Taki returned the gleaming weapon to its sheath. Once again it looked like a totally harmless cane.

Standing up, Takeru took a last look at the two pictures on the desk. One was of a younger Sun Prince and a younger Earth Prince smiling at the camera. Takeru had his arm wrapped around Darien. In the background one could catch a glimpse of the Silver Palace. The r pir picture was of a more recent vintage. It had been taken last night at the party and had been delivered to him at home. It was a picture of a smiling Setsuna hanging on Takeru's arm as they danced to their favorite song.

When this battle was over and if he lived, Takeru was going to have to meet the photographer who took the picture. He or she had caught a moment where Takeru had gently turned Setsuna so that she was facing the unknown cameraperson. In the picture, if one looked closely enough, the unshed tears in Setsuna's eyes were visible. The flash had reflected back from those beautiful and mysterious red eyes.

Eyes that he thought he had lost forever.

Straightening up at a discreet knock on the door, Takeru went and answered it. It was Osmia dressed in her version of a formal dress. Giving it a quick glance, Taki recognized it as an updated version of the dress Queen Beryl had worn.

"Nice dress Osmia.", said Takeru dryly.

"Why thank you. I'm just here to let you know that the first of your guests for the evening are here. They have been seated according to your wishes. I have taken the liberty of having Sailor Saturn brought out to the designated area.", said Osmia.

"Release the Princess of Saturn and let her return to her friends. I have who I want.", said Takeru without looking as he went past.

Osmia grimaced and started to protest but she knew that it would be to no avail. She had learned the hard way that once Takeru made up his mind about something, there was no way to change it. As Osmia turned and followed the Sun Prince she allowed her self a small thought:

"You may have what you want, Prince Takeru. But come the end of this night I will have what I've desired for over the years. And no one, not even a Sun Prince, will stop me."

In the main ballroom, Serena and her entourage had arrived. Osmia had shown them their seats while she went to get Takeru. Once again in their court attire the group took a seat in the chairs provided. Serena had a throne-like chair in the middle, while Rini had a similar but smaller chair to her mother's right. The other scouts were arrayed to either side.

Serena had seen the dress Osmia was wearing and figured out why she wore it. According to the gasps and muffled exclamations she had heard from Lita and the others, Serena figured that the inner scouts had seen it too.

Lita, dressed in a green forest green full-length dress that set off her hair and the Jupiter Tiara that sparkled there, sat on Serena's left. Raye, in a flaming red sleeveless dress that fell to her knees, sat next to Rini. Her golden Tiara of Mars shining in her lustrous midnight black hair.

It had originally been decided that Raye and Lita would be to Serena's right and left sides respectively but that had all fallen by the wayside when they took in the smaller throne next to the big one. To head off the developing debate, Serena had decreed in a voice that was most unlike her usual voice that Rini would sit in the throne reserved for her while Raye would sit in the chair next to the future Moon Princess. Lita kept the spot assigned to her.

Mina and Amy each sat on the end of the line. This put Mina beside Lita and Amy next to Raye.

Amy was wearing a navy blue short-sleeved dress with a full bodice. In the front it fell to just above her ankles while in the back it fell all the way to the floor. It was covered in sequins. Mina had on an golden dress that left one shoulder bare while it covered the other one up. The lone sleeve on the right side was pouffy at the shoulder but slimmed down as it neared her wrist. As with Raye and Lita, both Amy and Mina had their planet tiara's in their hair.

Serena and Rini had matching dresses of the purest white they had ever seen. The only difference was that Serena's dress hugged her figure a bit more than Rini's dress hugged hers. Serena had the crown of the Queen of the Moon place atop her head while Rini had a smaller white-gold tiara sitting on hers. As she and her daughter had sat down, Serena had noticed that Rini's dress was beginning to fit a bit close.

"My daughter is growing up. Within the next few years she will start to fill out that dress of hers. I just hope my Darien is there to see it.", thought Serena with a soft smile at Rini.

Behind the inner scouts sat Setsuna, Haruka, and Michiru. Each of them also dressed in the appropriate attire. The Princess from Uranus was sitting in a space between Mina and Lita.

Haruka had on a light yellow and silver strapless dress that dropped to the top of her foot. It had sleeves that ended at her elbow. The colors accented her features and the Uranus Tiara glittered in the light from its position on her head. Michiru had on a full-length indigo dress that gave the impression of a gentle wave. It had long sleeves that ended in dainty gloves that covered her fingers. Hugging her lithe frame, the dress flared out a little bit as it neared the ground. Michiru was seated between Amy and Raye and a glimmer from the Tiara of Neptune peeked its way from her hair.

Standing just behind Serena and Rini, Setsuna wore a full-length backless, dress of deep Vermillion. With her Garnett Staff in her hand and the Pluto Tiara atop her emerald hair, Setsuna looked the part of a Royal advisor at a formal function.

At that moment Hotaru joined the group in a dress of midnight black. From her neck to her feet, this dress covered her entirely. It hugged her petite frame like a wetsuit and it shimmered in the dim lighting. The only spot of color for the Sailor Scout of Destruction was the gleaming Tiara of Saturn.

"Hotaru, are you alright?", asked Serena.

"I am fine your majesty. True to his word Sun Prince Takeru did not harm me. In fact he had the evil princess release me. There is something within him that I sensed before he left me in his library. I cannot put a finger on it. I just know it is there.", replied Sailor Saturn.

Any comment about that was cut short by the opening of the pair of doors at the far end of the ballroom. When the doors were fully open a lone figure walked through the door. Everybody recognized the form; one they had seen many times before.

"Tuxedo Mask!!", came the cry from five different voices.

Looking around, Tuxedo Mask strode into the room with the measured step of a conquering general. When he stopped at one end of the ballroom floor, the two doors shut behind him. Serena looked at the determination on Darien's face and her heart went out to him. It was all she could do to keep from ing ing up and running to him. He was in his full Tuxedo Mask glory: black tuxedo waistcoat, floor-length cape with a red lining, pure white bowtie over a white vest, top hat, and his ever present glasses. In his hand he carried the cane given to him by the man he faced tonight. Taking notice of the scouts and their attire, Darien moved closer to the center of the room.

"TAKERU CORONA, WHERE ARE YOU? ARE YOU BACKING DOWN FROM THIS BATTLE OR WILL YOU SHOW YOURSELF SO I CAN DT YOT YOU?",uteduted Darien.

"I am here Earth Prince Darien Shields. There is no way I would ever back down from you. I know my responsibilities.", came the reply.

Swiveling her head to the other end of the hall, Setsuna almost lost her balance. Only her Garnett Staff kept her upright. Hotaru glanced at her from around her Silence Glaive but didn't say anything.

If Darien caused Serena to almost faint from the shock of his appearance, Takeru did the same for Setsuna. Takeru came out to the middle of the ballroom and matched Darien's pose. The Sun Prince had on a silver tuxedo, complete with waistcoat cape. Takeru's cape hung down just past his waist and Setsuna noted that he still wore it off his right shoulder. Setsuna also noticed that the lining of his cape was a deeper orange. Exactly like the first time she saw him. Instead of a vest, Takeru wore a sunburst orange bowtie and cummerbund.

The two protagonists moved as one to the center of the room just across from Serena. They gazed at each other sizing each other up. Then they turned to Serena who motioned them forward. Darien reached into his coat pocket and came out with two red roses. Kissing each one he handed them to Serena and Rini. Takeru smiled at that, aping Darien's move, Taki reached into his coat pocket and came out with a single rose. Instead of handing it to Serena, he kissed the orange petals and tossed it gently to Setsuna. Setsuna caught it and placed it in her hair.

Noting the subtle insult, Darien glowered at Takeru.

With neither man speaking, they both bowed to Serena and stepped back from the seats. Once again facing each other, Darien noticed Takeru smiling.

"Darien, why don't you and I ditch the unnecessary stuff?", asked Taki as he took of his cape and let it drop to the floor.

Then he surprised everyone by taking off his sunglasses, allowing the full intensity of his orange eyes to focus on his opponent.

"Yes I agree. All they do is get in the way anyhow.", replied en aen as he too undid his cape and let it drop to the floor.

In addition to his cape, Darien took of his top hat and his pair of glasses. Each person stepped back and Osmia picked the items up and carried them over to the chairs. Setsuna had noticed something about the two men and wondered if it was a mirage.

Looking again, she saw that what her eyes had seen was not a mirage. Leaning down next to Serena's ear she pointed out what she had seen.

"Look your majesty, Prince Darien is glowing as is Prince Takeru."

Serena heard the whispered comment and looked closer. Indeed, a soft white light did surround Darien. Turning her attention to the other man, Serena saw the same thing; instead this time the light was orange instead of white. By now all of the others scouts had noticed it and were beginning to mutter among themselves. Serena raised her hand and the muttering stopped. (She's beginning to act more mature isn't she).

"So Darien, I see that you have learned some of the secrets of the sword. My question is: do you think it is enough to defeat me?"

"There is only one way for you to find out Taki."

The two master swordsmen drew their weapons.

First they saluted each other then they each fell into an en garde position. High above the duo on the floor, Osmia floated on the air currents (Think Xoicite) grinning with evil abandon at the pair.

"Well everyone is in place. All I need to do now is wait. A time will present itself. And when that time comes those fools best watch out.", chuckled Osmia to herself.

"This is going to be good!"


Fifty-two pages, whew. That is a new record for me. I never thought I could get one chapter to go that far. Well I am finally finished with Setsuna's Sun Prince Chapter 2. It took me a long time to get this one done. The majority of that time I was neglecting this story I was working on two of my others. I do hope you enjoyed this chapter in the continuing saga of Setsuna Kaioh and Takeru Corona along with all their friends. Please take the time to read and review and offer constructive or destructive criticism. If you don't like it let me know and I will try and do better for the next part. I want to thank all of my pre-readers and the like. Y'all know who ya are. I'm just too tired to list them.

After a short break, I'll staork ork on Chapter 3 (I bet you know what is going to happen in that one dontcha now). Once again, thank you all for reading this work of fiction and I apologize for going into too much detail with some of the scenes. As always, mistakes, errors, or all around screw-ups are mine and I take the blame for them. I hope you don't let them turn you off on this.

Mahalo and Dosvidania.

Knightewolfe