Beyond the Facade

Chapter Three, Celebrations:

By now she had come to expect the visions. The woman in the
cloak in that grayish place surrounded by the mist. She sighed upon
realization that she was here again. She looked around her, not
expecting to see anything new but surveying the area just in case.
She sighed when the woman in the cloak approached her again. She
looked at her silently. The woman made no mention of the sigh.
\"Today, I tell you more,\" she said. \"You are destined for a great
power and an imperative place in this universe. The only question
is if you are up to the task.\"

\"You tell me,\" the princess said shrewdly. \"You are the one
with the insight after all,\" she added politely.

The woman smiled a bit. \"I have not had this much contact
with another being in years. You have a certain...unique perspective
that I have never seen in all my years, and that is quite a long
long time.\"

\"Is this a vision?\" the princess asked.

The woman looked at the princess as though she had just
asked the strangest question, but she nodded her head briefly as she
took her hood off to reveal a beautiful, young woman. *She said she
has lived so long, and she has such insight and wisdom as well as
such an old sounding voice. How could she possibly be this young?*

\"I am not as young as I look,\" the woman said. She had
either read the princess\' mind or accurately guessed her thoughts.
Either way, she was going to be explaining something quite amazing
the princess felt.

He raised his head slowly and stretched out. His mind was
still fuzzy from the sleep. *Thank goodness. I almost did not wake
up in time,* he thought. The thought frightened him, and he checked
the clock frantically to ensure that he was in fact going to be in
time. He only had a few minutes he realized. He took one last look
at the golden haired girl who for once was actually sleeping. He had
a feeling she had not slept much before he came to sleep in her bed.
*I hate to leave her,* he thought. Then he shook his head. *You knew
this was only temporary. You still have duties to attend to, and you
have fulfilled the duties from the vision. What more could possibly
be expected of me?* he wondered tiredly. He could not resist walking
softly up to her head and nuzzling her head with his. *I love you my
dear friend,* he thought sadly.

Princess Mina stirred, feeling fur tickling her face. She
opened her eyes to see the sparkling blue eyes of Artemis staring
into her own sparkling blue ones. She sighed and turned towards him.
\"What is wrong Artemis?\" she asked, beginning to panic.

\"Nothing is wrong,\" he said sadly, looking away from her
eyes. He could not stand to see the pain in those beautiful blue
eyes. It reflected the inner torment of her soul. *How can I leave
her all alone?* he asked himself. Anger towards himself began to
well up inside. He reluctantly forced himself to jump off the bed
and walk towards the balcony which was open to let in some air.

\"Artemis?\" she asked shakily, her senses alerted. She was
no longer afraid someone was after her. She was concerned for her
best friend. Very concerned in fact.

\"Mina, I have to go. I am sorry.\"

\"Why? When will you be back?\" She sat upright in her bed.

Artemis looked down and away from her pain-filled eyes.

\"I...\" *How can I tell her it is forever?* he wondered.
*Maybe I can visit her again sometime,* he thought. *Yes, that is
it. I will make sure to visit her somehow sometime.* The King was
fairly understanding especially to someone as devoted as him. He
could hopefully get some time to himself. *If I can find a way to
explain this time away,* he thought.

\"Arrtemiiiiis,\" she wailed. \"You are coming back are you
not?\" she whined, tears streaming from her tormented eyes.

He grimaced. \"Of course. I just...need some fresh air.\"

She looked doubtful but said nothing about her suspicions.
\"All right,\" she said, nodding her head. \"Do not stay out too long
please. I do not know how to sleep or get on without you. You are
the only friend I have here on Venus,\" she said desperately.

Tears trickled down his white, furry face. He turned to her.
\"Oh Mina. I am not going anywhere,\" he promised, jumping up onto the
bed. He nuzzled her and lay down next to her arms as she petted him.

\"I thought you needed some air,\" she said.

*Can I really abandon my duties and do this? I should be
going...* He looked into her eyes, and his eyes filled with
compassion. *Yes, she needs me, and I cannot imagine leaving her.
She is such a dear friend to me. I do not care if it legally wrong.
In my heart I know this is right.* \"No,\" he replied. \"I got all the
air I needed.\"

She sighed in content and petted him, wrapping herself in
the blankets as she closed her eyes and returned to the dream world.

Princess Raye would be turning eleven. Queen Serenity looked
around. She was feeling anxious. She was afraid that the royalty of
the planets Pluto, Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn would not be
arriving. If they did not show up to this birthday celebration, then
she was in serious trouble. She knew they were upset over the
meeting she had arranged with Venus, Mercury, Mars, and Jupiter. She
planned to explain it to them tonight, but that would be impossible
if they did not show up. Not showing up to the birthday celebration
of a royal member of the Silver Millennium Alliance was practically
akin to breaking off from the Alliance. She paced back and forth.
The celebration had started half an hour ago, and the others were
here. What would she do if they did not show up? What if she had
destroyed the Alliance forever?

Princess Serena went up and hugged her mother before
returning to her friends. She could sense her mother\'s worry. *She
must be worried that the other royalty have not shown up. I hope
they come soon,* Serena wished.

Prince Darien was sitting by himself, and he liked it that
way. Any attempts by another to join him were stopped quickly by
him. Princess Raye was sitting and talking with the rest. Serena
smiled a bit as she joined them. *I am so glad that she is part of
our friendship group now.*

Raye smiled at Serena as she sat back down with the group.
She had been worried about her mother Raye knew. Raye marveled at
Serena\'s kindness and compassion for others, especially her mother
and friends. *How can she care about her mother so much? I could not
care less about mine. I wish I had the caring personality she did,*
Raye thought sadly. *She is so amazing.*

\"Are you excited about the cake you will be having?\" Lita
asked excitedly.

Raye nodded some, not really hearing the question.

Amy cautiously waved her hand in front of Raye\'s face. \"Oh,
what is it?\" Raye asked.

\"You must have been thinking very deeply,\" Amy commented.

They all looked at her a bit strangely. \"Yes, I suppose I
was,\" Raye responded.

\"Anything you want to talk about?\" Lita asked kindly.

\"No,\" Raye said a bit shortly. \"Let us just eat the cake.\"

\"And open gifts,\" Serena added.

\"And open gifts,\" Raye agreed.

Mina smiled as Serena and Raye hugged her and brought her
back some delicious cake.

Artemis saw the black cat sitting on Serena\'s lap. She was
cleaning herself, and he jumped off of Mina\'s lap to go greet her.
She looked up from her cleaning with her dark red eyes and stared
into his dark blue ones. \"Well hello there beautiful,\" Artemis said,
winking at the gorgeous cat. \"I am Artemis!\" he announced proudly.

She raised an eyebrow. \"Luna,\" she said coldly as she
returned to her grooming.

\"Want to go off somewhere pretty kitty?\" he asked.

Luna rolled her eyes. \"You are pathetic. Leave me alone,\"
she said.

Artemis grinned and went back into Mina\'s lap, his eyes
shining with glee.

King Tritan and Queen Tamara arrived as well as the rest of
the royalty shortly afterwards. Apparently, they had been trying to
frighten Queen Serenity enough into realizing how she was
jeopardizing the Alliance. It worked. Queen Serenity immediately
apologized and explained how it was actually for the children, not
for any other purpose. The royalty was of course all very surprised
by this. The King and Queen of Saturn wanted to know how she ever
thought of something so strange. The King and Queen of Pluto
remained silent. The King of Neptune said it was ridiculous, and of
course his wife agreed. The Queen of Uranus was of course very
confused, but the King of Uranus asked her and everyone else to
simply accept it. The King and Queen of Pluto agreed as did the
royalty of Saturn-though reluctantly. The King of Neptune was
outnumbered, so he and his wife basically had to give in.

Princess Trista, Princess Hotaru, Princess Amara, and
Princess Michelle all approached the other princesses. \"Hello,\"
they all politely said to one another.

Lita handed them each a piece of cake.

\"None for me please,\" Michelle requested.

\"None for me either,\" Trista requested.

\"Are you two kidding? This is the most delicious cake,\"
Amara said, eating it happily.

Hotaru dug into it like a ravenous beast. She ate so quickly
and hungrily and ate so many pieces that the others wondered when
had been the last time she had eaten. They did not know however that
it had in fact been quite some time.

As the party ended and the royalty left, Lita, Amy, Mina,
and Serena all hugged Raye close. \"We are with you always in heart,\"
Lita promised.

\"Yes,\" Amy agreed, pointing to her heart.

Serena and Mina also pointed to their hearts in agreement.
She smiled at them. \"Thank you,\" she said, tears in her eyes.

Before they left, Serena remained behind for a moment. \"Is
anything wrong?\" she asked Raye cautiously.

Raye was silent and looked down. \"I am...scared,\" she
hesitantly admitted.

\"Raye...why?\" Serena asked, her eyes shining with sorrow.

\"I know I will be in trouble for something I did wrong at
this party. I do not know what, but I always am. I just hope it is
not too bad of a punishment this time.\"

\"Oh Raye, come back with me too my mother\'s palace,\"
Serena begged. \"No one will hurt you there. I promise,\" she said,
crying and holding her friend close.

\"No one hurts you there?\" Raye asked.

\"No, of course not,\" Serena sobbed.

Raye\'s eyebrows furrowed. *Is her situation normal or is
mine?* she wondered inside. \"I am glad,\" was all she voiced to
Serena.

Serena begged again, but Raye shook her head. \"No...you know
as well as I do that I cannot do that. I have to be here,\" she said
quietly. Although she sounded resigned to the fact, inside she was
feeling a regret no one else could know she felt.

A little over two long months later, Serena\'s eleventh
birthday was celebrated. Everyone was there for the celebration of
course. It was a joyous occasion. At least on the surface. It was
out in the palace gardens. Princess Michelle was talking with Prince
Darien. *She must be so brave,* Serena thought. Princess Amara was
mingling and sneaking glances at the blue haired beauty.

\"So Darien, how are you doing?\" Michelle asked politely.

Darien laughed. \"Oh come on. How are any of us doing?\" he
asked bluntly.

She nodded and did not respond, but she understood him
perfectly. Darien nodded his head discreetly towards Princess Amara.
\"She keeps sneaking glances at you,\" he informed Princess Michelle.

Princess Michelle remained calm and composed outside, but
inside her heart fluttered. \"Really?\" she asked, trying to appear
nonchalant.

\"Really,\" he said. *They have something special,* he
noticed to himself.

Princess Trista joined them. \"Hello,\" she said.

\"Hello,\" they both responded.

*I really relate to her solitary, silent nature,* Darien
thought to himself. *She is attractive too. Such beautiful, long
flowing green hair. So why am I not attracted to her?* he wondered
curiously. His eyes were drawn to the blonde haired beauty for
whom this party was being celebrated. He checked himself.
*Seriously Darien. She is naive, too young, and much too friendly
and outgoing for you.* Inside though his whole body felt warm from
the thought of her.

Serena laughed. Lita had just told the most hilarious joke.
They all chuckled. Even Mina and Hotaru smiled a bit.

That night as Serena lay down in bed, Serenity kissed her
daughter on the forehead. \"How was your birthday celebration
precious?\" she asked softly.

\"All right,\" Serena mumbled. *Even though he still did not
notice me,* she thought regretfully.

It was soon time for the annual Alliance meeting again.
The royalty all arrived for their meeting, and the princesses all
stayed together in that large room in the Moon Kingdom Palace once
again. At this particular meeting they all sat together except for
Princess Trista and Prince Darien who sat off on their own speaking
in hushed tones. Princess Amara and Princess Michelle would look
over there every once in awhile as would Princess Hotaru who was
now quite close to Princess Trista, but they remained with the
other group. Hotaru wanted to see Mina again, and Amara and
Michelle sensed that Trista needed to be alone with Darien.

Lita and Serena began to tease each other. Amy and Mina
smiled as they watched. Raye seemed to be thinking about something
though she did laugh at a few of their comments. Artemis sat in
Mina\'s lap and winked at Luna who was sitting next to Serena. Luna
rolled her eyes and looked away from him.

Mina stood up suddenly, knocking poor Artemis over. Luna
looked at this and burst out in laughter. He rubbed his head with
his paw, glaring at her in a half mocking, half serious way. Luna
smiled some. A genuine smile. Artemis smiled in delight.

\"Where are you going Mina?\" Raye asked, feeling concerned
and curious.

\"I need to use the...umm...you know...\" Mina said, looking
down.

\"Two doors down and to the right,\" Serena said, turning
towards her. \"Do you want me to walk with you?\"

Mina shook her head. \"I can do it,\" she said though she
sounded a bit unsure.

The hallway was light enough, but there were so many doors
going all the way down the hallway. Anyone could come out of any of
them at any moment. Mina knew that from experience, and she knew it
would only take an instant for someone to snatch her up and use her
body again. She shook from the anxiety and fear. She shakily
stepped forward. Nothing happened. Then she ran. She ran down the
hall and past the two doors. Wham! She ran into someone, falling
back on her butt. She began shaking in fear, looking away from the
person. Knowing that at best she would be in trouble for being so
clumsy, and at worst...well she did not want to think about the
worst possible situation. A hand was in front of her but not to hit
her. She looked up the long, slender arm at the compassionate face
of Queen Serenity. She gasped. She was really going to be in
trouble for this one. \"Please...I am sorry,\" she said in a small
shaky voice.

Queen Serenity\'s concern grew. \"Dear there is nothing to be
frightened of. I will not harm you. You did nothing wrong. A simple
mistake. You could not see me because you were running. You do not
run much. Perhaps you should do it more often hm?\" she asked
kindly. She was still holding out her hand in kindness but not
touching her or forcing her to take the hand. Mina stood up shakily
without the hand. Hands were never a good thing she knew.

\"Mina, will you come to talk with me after you use the
bathroom? You are not in any trouble all right? I just want to get
to know you. Mina shuddered. She had heard that one before. Queen
Serenity looked at her in concern. *\"Hello sweetheart,\" the deep
man\'s voice said. She looked up at his eyes. They had this terrible
glint to them, but he masked it with a kind voice and smiled
gently. \"How would you like to come with me and talk? I would
really like to get to know you sweetie,\" he said in a caring
voice.* A caring voice coming from a man that put his hand up her
skirt and pushed himself on her. The man who taught her how to
kiss. She shuddered and ran into the bathroom to clean herself
and use the bathroom.

However, unlike that man, Queen Serenity really did just
want to talk and get to know her. Mina admitted to being scared of
men, but she would not explain why to Queen Serenity. *Well, it is
a start,* Serenity thought.

She got a gentle hug from Serenity. At first she flinched
and wanted to get out. Serenity let go though and apologized. This
encouraged Mina who asked again for one. Serenity gave her another
gentle hug, and Mina smiled some. *So this is what good touch feels
like?* she thought. She returned to the other princesses but stayed
silent, thinking to herself. Serena sensed something wrong and sat
with her, holding her hand. She smiled warmly at Serena, glad for
her good friend and her friend\'s wonderful mother.

This group of people did not see one another again until
Darien\'s fourteenth birthday at the beginning of August.
Serena smiled happily as she got ready to go to Earth. She loved
the Earth. Something about it was just so wonderful. Besides her
attraction to Darien, the actual planet itself was so fascinating
and just felt so right to her. It felt like home, much more so than
the Moon did. She often wondered why, but she also noticed how for
her mother it was always very hard to go to the planet Earth. Her
mother seemed to feel much more comfortable and at home on Earth
as well, but she always got this distant look of sorrow on her face
that Serena felt must be connected to her father somehow. She never
asked about it though. She did not want to bring him up to her
mother. She never brought him up to her mother. Not that her mother
would refuse to talk about it, but well Serena could not stand the
pain she would see in her mother\'s face when her father was
mentioned. She sighed. She wished she could talk about him some
with her mother and get to know what he had been like and how he
had died. She wanted her mother to comfort her, but she knew if
she brought it up she would have to be the one comforting her
mother.

It was over a month later before they all saw one another
again at Amy\'s eleventh birthday celebration. Amy\'s birthday
celebration marked the first time everyone sat together in a large
group and talked and got to know one another at Amy\'s request.

\"I like your long hair Trista. It looks much better than
it did when it was shorter,\" Serena commented.

\"I agree,\" Hotaru said.

Trista smiled. \"Thank you both,\" she said. \"I like it
better this way myself. It took so long to grow back out.\"

Michelle and Amara looked at one another. They had both
discussed before that they found her haircut very strange over a
year ago. Trista had adored her hair. Why would she or anyone else
cut it? They both sensed something deeper at work, but neither one
could discern what that deeper thing was.

Artemis took Luna off to the side. She sighed. \"Well what
did you want to see me for?\" she asked impatiently. She liked
Artemis in many ways. He was so funny and entertaining and kind,
but he also often aggravated her due to his clumsiness and
ridiculous habit of winking at her and raising his eyebrows all the
time.

Artemis looked around to make sure no one was there. \"How
would you like to tell me your story, and I will tell you mine?\" he
asked.

\"Story?\" she asked in confusion. \"Get to the point
Artemis,\" she said harshly.

He sighed. He had a feeling it was all a protective front,
but still did she have to be so harsh and cold all the time? There
were those few rare moments she smiled though...that made it all
worth it to him. Her smile lit up his world. \"I mean how you became
a cat. I know from Serena and Mina that you were once a Lunar being.
I was once a being too, so I was wondering what your story behind
all that was. I am sure you were very curious about mine as well,\"
he said winking again.

She groaned. *He winked again. I swear if I had hands I
would strangle him right now.* \"Not in the least,\" she said coldly.

He sighed. \"All right. Still, would you be willing to tell
me yours?\"

\"Hmm...no,\" she said. \"That is very personal.\"

\"So is mine.\"

\"Well then why do you not tell me yours first, and I will
be the judge of that?\" she asked.

\"All right. I will go first,\" he said, rising to the
challenge. \"It all began one morning when a handsome, dashing young
baby boy was born,\" Artemis began.

She growled lowly. \"Save it,\" she warned. \"Skip to the part
where you are turned into a cat.\"

\"Oh right,\" Artemis coughed innocently. \"I was a guard to
the Prince of Tritan up until over a year ago when I was turned
into a cat and met Mina.\"

Luna sighed. \"How did you get turned into a cat?\" she
asked in exasperation. *Is he trying to be annoying on purpose?*

\"Oh right,\" he said again. \"I was quite a gallant, brave
fighter and wise advisor to the Prince.\" Luna rolled her eyes.
*Will he ever get over himself?* she wondered in irritation. \"Well
I began having these visions. At first I thought the visions were
to help the Prince or to help me learn something that would
somehow help the Prince in the future. However, I began to learn
over time that the visions were meant for me and me alone and not
to benefit anyone else. Well actually, it was meant to benefit
another, but not the Prince or anyone on Tritan for that matter.\"
Luna nodded, encouraging him to continue. \"Well, I had discerned
from the vision that I was supposed to meet a Venusian and aid that
being somehow. I was not sure how I was supposed to aid this person
or even who this person was, but I could not ignore this vision as
it got more intense every time I got it. Also, I really wanted to
fulfill this vision. It appeared to be part of some larger destiny.
One day a traveling witch came to the Tritan Kingdom Palace. I went
to see her on my own, hoping she could help me. I had always heard
that witches were usually eccentric, dangerous, and stupid, but I
had a feeling she could help me. Besides I have never really
listened to rumors anyway.\" Luna smiled some at that one. *So we
do have one thing in common,* she thought to herself. \"Well, I told
her I needed to get to Venus but that I could not go as myself
because too many people would know me. She was definitely
eccentric, but she also seemed wise and powerful. She touched my
smooth forehead.* He winked at her. Luna rolled her eyes. \"Then she
closed her eyes, and I think she got my vision for herself though
I cannot be sure. She said \'Ah I see. This is very important after
all.\' I suppose she had not been taking me very seriously up until
that point. She said she could get me to Venus, but there was only
one disguise she had perfected for beings. I said that was fine.
We set up a time to meet again six months later so that she could
return me to my original state, and I could continue my duties
with the Prince of Tritan. I thought that was quite awhile, but
she said it could take me awhile to complete this piece of my
destiny. I agreed because she seemed wise and knowledgeable about
this. She seemed to know what it was the vision was specifically
about though she would not tell me of course. Those darn witches
always have to keep it all mysterious.\" He laughed. \"So next thing
I know I wake up on the planet Venus, and I am a cat. I did not
even realize what I was at first as you can probably relate to. I
looked down and saw paws. I was wondering what the hell she had
turned me into. I figured to have those small paws and the world
seemed so much larger that I was a cat though, and when I looked
in a lake the image looking back at me confirmed it. If you think
I am handsome now, you have not seen anything yet. My human form is
even better,\" he promised, winking at her again.

Luna sighed. \"So what happened?\"

\"I ran into Mina. I did not realize at the time that she
was either the Princess of Venus or the girl from my vision with
whom I was supposed to fulfill my destiny. I was just drawn to her
and felt concerned for her because she seemed so sad, scared, and
lonely. I am so glad I found her,\" he said, looking with
tear-filled eyes at Mina. \"She is the best friend a man could ever
ask for.\"

Luna\'s eyes were also getting watery. She smiled some \"That
is beautiful.\" She shook her head, not wanting to cry. \"Well, if
you were supposed to meet that witch six months after that time you
met Mina, would you not have gone back over six months ago?\"

Artemis nodded. \"I never went to the meeting,\" he admitted.
\"Please do not turn me in or tell anyone else. I know that legally
my obligation is to the Prince of Tritan and that I accomplished
what I came here to do-which I discovered was to help her see there
is some good in this world, even in the presence of men. Believe me
there was no one more dedicated to the cause of Tritan or more
devoted to the Prince of Tritan, but when I got up to leave early
that morning and saw her tormented eyes I...I just. It just did not
feel right,\" he finished.

Luna nodded. \"I do not know what the right decision would
have been. You were put in a very difficult position. I will not
tell anyone,\" she promised.

\"What about you?\" Artemis asked. \"How did you become a
cat?\"

Luna contemplated whether or not to tell him for a few
minutes. \"I do not know that I feel ready to tell you about that
right now,\" she admitted.

\"Sometime then?\" Artemis asked persistently but not
forcefully.

\"Perhaps sometime,\" Luna answered vaguely.

Princess Mina of Venus was the next to have a birthday
celebration and bring all the princesses, the prince, and the cats
together once again. She was turning eleven. Everyone talked and
chatted and had a grand time-at least on the surface. Underneath it
all was, as always, another matter.

In specific Princess Mina was approached by Queen Serenity
and taken off to talk with her alone again. Artemis accompanied her
this time to keep her company.

Queen Serenity sat across from Princess Mina. \"Mina tell me
please why are you afraid of men?\" she eventually ventured after
some small chat. Mina looked down and did not answer. \"Mina, I care
about you so much, and I know your parents do too. If there is
anyway we can help you, please tell me.\"

\"You will tell my parents if I tell you?\" Mina asked quickly
in fear.

\"Well...maybe not...I suppose not if you do not want me to.
Does it involve them?\"

\"No...but I just do not think they should know. I might be
in trouble.\"

\"Mina, you will not be in trouble I promise. Do you not
believe that your parents care for you?\"

\"No,\" Mina answered honestly but hesitantly.

\"Oh Mina. I feel they care for you with all their hearts,
but you are their daughter and would know better how they treat you.
I am here for you. Tell me please...did a man do something to you?\"
she asked softly, reaching her hand out to Mina but wisely keeping
her distance.

Mina nodded her head.

\"Oh Mina, I am so sorry.\" Tears came to her eyes. \"No child
should experience that. No person should for that matter.\"

\"I am so bad,\" Mina said in shame, looking down.

\"Oh no Mina. You are sooo good. Anyone who tells you
otherwise is the bad one. I am so sorry he made you feel that way.
You may not know this, but I have been hurt in that way too though
I was much older when it happened.\"

Mina looked up in surprise. \"You were?\"

\"Yes dear. I know how horrible it feels. I know the shame
and guilt and fear and pain and hurt and even anger.\"

Mina shook her head. \"No anger,\" she said quietly.

\"Hmm...there is anger, but you may have suppressed it as
Wesley did. Or you may be turning it on yourself. Are you angry with
yourself Mina?\"

\"Yes,\" Mina said. \"Cause I am so bad.\"

Serenity shook her head. \"Bad people made you believe that.
They put their bad souls into you, or made you believe that they
did. In reality though they cannot touch your soul deep inside. I
know it hurts so badly and the pain will never completely go away. I
am so sorry for that, but it can get better. I promise. Now Mina,
can you try to tell me who did this to you?\"

Mina shook her head vigorously.

\"I know he scared you into not talking. He probably even
told you not to ever tell or something bad would happen to you or
others. Maybe that is why you think you will get in trouble with
your parents? I do not know for sure what he said, but I do know for
sure that your parents want you to be safe. I do know that you will
not be in trouble and that you and everyone else will be safe.\"

\"I do not want to get him in trouble,\" Mina said quietly,
still looking down.

] \"Oh, I know the deep shame you feel Mina, and how you think
he is so wonderful while you are trash. It is actually the other way
around. You feel so scared and weak all the time, but you know what?
You are actually very strong to survive this and still be here. I am
so proud of you,\" Serenity said honestly.

Mina could feel how she was speaking from the heart and held
her hand tentatively. \"Well...there is the top guard,\" she said.

\"Are there others?\" Serenity asked in concern.

Mina looked away. \"No,\" she finally said after awhile.

\"Mina, he is bad. Not you.\"

\"The top guard is violent though. The others are not.\"

\"It does not matter if the person is violent or not. He
forced you to do something against your will and even worse at an age
you were not emotionally or physically ready for it. The others are
just as wrong.\"

\"He says he loves me and I am his sweetheart, and the others
are so gentle.\"

\"Mina, I promise it is wrong. You know it in your heart too.
It hurts does it not? I know you may begin to feel like you like it
because every little girl wants to feel special and wanted. They gave
that to you, but they showed you that in the wrong way. You are
special and very wanted, but that is not how an adult shows that to a
child.\"

\"I am not bad for wanting it sometimes?\"

\"No, just hurt and lost and confused.\"

\"The other guards...\" she admitted in fear.

\"Oh Mina, all of them?\"

Mina nodded her head.

\"Can I hug you?\'

\"Yes,\" Mina said quietly.

Serenity embraced her gently. \"You are so special and worth
so much, and no one has the right to hurt you like that. You are so
good. I am so sorry you have this deep pain. I am here for you to
talk to always all right? Can I tell your parents? I promise they
will fire the guards, and you will not be in trouble. They will be
there for you too all right?\"

Mina nodded.

\"Good, thank you precious,\" she said smoothing Mina\'s hair
gently with her hand. Mina closed her eyes and allowed herself to
feel the smooth, gentle good touch.

The celebration was over, but Serena and Mina were still
together. Mina was crying on Serena\'s shoulder who held her. Serena
did not know what had happened, but it felt like a huge weight had
been lifted off of Mina. She knew Mina held deep pain. She had
always known, but she could not understand how deep the pain ran or
what she was going through. So she just tried to be there for her
as a friend. She held Mina close now and tears filled her eyes. *If
only I knew how to help her,* Serena thought in desperation.

\"I cannot believe this,\" Michael said angrily, pacing the
room back and forth in anxiety.

\"I know. I know this is hard to believe,\" Queen Serenity
said. \"I have been through this though,\" she added, looking at
them both in desperation. \"I know this happened to her. I am sure
it was all of the guards.\"

Miriam nodded her head. \"We believe you Serenity.\" Sobs
came out of her mouth as tears streamed down her face. \"How could
I miss how much my baby was hurting?\" she cried. \"I am a horrible
mother.\"

\"Oh no Miriam,\" Serenity said in reassurance, holding her
close and comforting her. Michael sat down, his anger died down
and began to sob too. She hugged him and Miriam close. \"You are
wonderful parents,\" she promised.

That evening, after tucking Serena into her bed, Serenity
sat beside her window thinking. *Why did I say they were
wonderful?* she wondered. She knew why. She always had to comfort
people in such obvious pain, but their pain was nothing compared to
what Mina had been through, and she knew this from experience. She
sighed. She did not know that she would so far as to call them
horrible parents, but she never should have said they were
wonderful either. Her eyes were filled with deep pain and sorrow as
she looked out the window. *I should have told them they messed up.
Messed up greatly. No maybe they were not ready for that yet, but I
should not have said they were wonderful parents. Eleven years of
having Mina as a daughter, and they never saw any signs. Never were
there for her enough for Mina to think she could go to either one
of them. No, a few times a month or two was a mistake. Eleven years
of not being there and realizing when even she noticed something
was wrong with Mina the few times she had seen her. Eleven years of
not seeing the pain their daughter was in was not a mistake or
even a mess up. It was bad parenting.* She hated to think of Miriam
as a bad parent. She knew that Miriam and Michael did care for
their daughter, but they did not take care of her and both were
essential to being a good parent. She sighed. How to tell them
this? Could she keep it to herself? *No, I have to tell them at
some point,* she realized. *They have to know.*

Princess Trista was turning eighteen, and everyone was
gathered for the celebration. Princess Amara, Princess Michelle,
and Princess Lita were among the first to arrive. Princess Hotaru,
Princess Serena, Princess Amy, Prince Darien, and Princess Raye
were the next ones to arrive in that order. The last to arrive was
Princess Mina, and everyone was in for a surprise.

Serena looked up in surprise to hear a loud voice announce
her arrival. \"Hello everyone!!\" Mina said loudly. \"How are you all
doing?\" A large smile was plastered all over her face, and her blue
eyes were sparkling and shining with apparent joy. \"So wonderful
to see you all again!\" she exclaimed.

Princess Serena just stood there with her mouth open. In
fact everyone seemed nearly paralyzed, their mouths open in
amazement. Prince Darien was the first to recover. \"Hello,\" he
said.

Princess Raye followed. \"Hello there Princess Mina,\" she
said.

The rest, except for Hotaru and Serena, mumbled their
surprised greetings. Hotaru had a sick feeling in her stomach. *Why
is she acting like this?* she wondered in disgust. She went off in
a corner to be by herself and would not speak to anyone, not even
Trista could get a movement or sound out of her.

While Trista and a few others were concerned with Hotaru,
and the rest went back to talking and eating, Serena approached her
best friend. \"Mina?\" she asked softly.

\"Yes, what is it?\" Mina asked cheerfully, skipping over to
the food table and grabbing a lot of food. \"I am starved. How about
you Serena? Want anything?\"

Serena shook her head. \"No thanks.\"

If Mina had been paying attention she would have noticed
how unusual that was for the Princess of the Moon, but she was not
paying attention. She began to eat her food in delight, smiling at
Serena.

\"Mina?\" Serena began again. \"Why are you so...different?\"
she asked cautiously, not sure how to phrase her question.

\"You mean happy?\" Mina asked.

Serena nodded her head.

\"Well, I figured now that those creeps are out of my life,
and my parents are supportive and apologetic. Your mom is there for
me too. She is wonderful Serena.\" She smiled at Serena. \"So, I
decided with all that going for me why keep being so sad and quiet
all the time? It really does not suit me. Cheerfulness is much more
fun for everyone.\" She smiled a big smile again, her eyes glowing
as she bit off a piece of cheese pastry hungrily.

Serena had a weird feeling. This just did not feel right,
but she nodded her head. \"Sure,\" she responded.

Princess Trista\'s celebration had been quite a large, long,
exciting one because she was turning eighteen. Apparently that was
an important age on the planet Pluto. Serena thought twenty was a
more appropriate age for such a celebration, but she did not say
anything. She wanted to talk to Mina, but Mina was remaining so
sickeningly cheerful the whole time that she did not bother to do
anything but agree with her and stay quiet. She sighed. *I hope
this is not a permanent condition,* she thought.

When Princess Trista fell asleep that night, she had the
vision again. The cool grey mist enveloped her, and she looked
around the eerie, mysterious atmosphere awaiting the arrival of
that mysterious presence again. When she finally approached,
Trista bowed her head to the figure in deference. Although she did
not know who this figure was, she felt the action was appropriate.
The woman inspired a sense of awe inside her. \"It is time for you
to receive your powers,\" the figure said mysteriously.

Trista\'s confused crimson eyes looked into a pair of
silver-greyish eyes. \"Who are you?\" she asked cautiously.

\"Do you not know?\"

Trista shook her head.

\"You will take my place.\"

\"What place? Of what are you speaking?\"

\"You have a much greater destiny than being a princess and
then queen of Pluto,\" the woman said.

\"What is my destiny?\" she questioned.

The woman smiled. \"You are meant to guard the time gate.\"

\"What is this time gate you speak of?\"

The woman frowned. \"Enough questions.\" She pointed to a
gate in the distance, and Trista saw it now as the fog cleared from
the wave of this woman\'s tall staff. \"I see you are looking at my
staff,\" the woman said. \"You will get one too. Here,\" she said as a
tall silver staff with a large heart shape on top and a small heart
shape on top of that and with a small red ball in the center of the
first large heart appeared. The handle of the staff looked like a
long, large key. Trista looked at it in surprise and confusion.
\"You can channel your power through that,\" the woman explained.
\"The rest of your powers are connected to controlling and guarding
time. You are not yet ready for that responsibility. I will come to
you again when you are. In the meantime become acquainted with and
good at controlling and destroying with these powers. You will need
them.\"

\"You have these powers too?\" Trista asked.

The woman frowned again. \"You know enough,\" she said,
waving her staff. Trista woke up from her dream vision. She sighed
and saw her staff lying on the bedpost of her sheer green bed. She
squinted and examined it before returning to sleeping.

She put her messy brown hair up in a clip. She hated how it
was always getting in her way. The best she could do was clips, and
they did not help much at all. Besides her parents expected her to
keep it down a majority of the time. They thought it looked so
beautiful that way. Well her father did anyways, and of course her
mother had to agree with him. She sighed sadly and stared blankly at
her table. She almost went into a trance when her mother entered the
room. \"Time to go Lita,\" she said.

Princess Lita stepped into the room where Princess Raye and
Princess Mina were already arriving for her eleventh birthday
celebration. \"Lita!\" Mina exclaimed. This greeting did not startle
Lita any longer. She had come to expect this greeting from the once
quiet, lost girl who had suddenly changed. She sensed the change
was only on the outside though. She sighed. There was that façade
she knew so well. She had built one a long time ago, and she almost
cried inside at the thought that Mina had now built one for herself
too. She supposed that Mina had always had that wall up, but she had
never pretended to be anything other than what she was. *Well
another one of us princesses forced into a façade,* she thought in
bitter sorrow. As each entered, she surveyed them curiously. Raye
was her usual self with her guard up and that harsh, bitter, cold
attitude. However, Serena and Mina were with her, and they knew her
well enough to see through that. They were there for her, and Lita
was glad for that. She had a feeling that Raye had been through
more than enough pain for any person\'s lifetime, and she was only
eleven for goodness sakes. She sighed as Princess Trista entered.
*She has such a strange look in her eyes,* Lita thought to herself.
She went off to be by herself, so Lita joined her and talked with
her for awhile. Then came Prince Darien and Princess Hotaru at
nearly the same time. They went and joined Lita and Trista. Hotaru
clung to Trista like her life depended on it, and the thought
flitted through Lita\'s mind that she had no mother. However, she
knew this was not true. She then saw Princess Amy enter and excused
herself. *Amy has such a distant look on her face. More distant
than usual,* Lita observed in concern. As they began talking, she
saw Princess Michelle and Princess Amara enter. They were walking
side by side and looked so in sync that Lita could not help but
think that they were cosmically connected somehow.

\"How are you Amy?\" she asked in concern.

\"I am all right I suppose,\" Amy responded automatically.

\"No need for fronts with me Amy. I know you have to keep
the mask on your face, but you can tell me how you are truly
feeling. Is something wrong?\"

\"Oh Lita, you are such a wonderful friend. Thank you for
being so kind to me. I suppose I am just feeling so lost and
confused and so badly about myself as usual. I feel like the worst
person alive sometimes.\"

\"No, not at all. You are an intelligent, compassionate,
helpful, interesting friend,\" Lita said. \"Duties of the princess
life getting you down?\"

\"I suppose so,\" Amy said vaguely, the distant look
remaining on her face. \"How about some food?\" she asked, changing
the subject.

Lita noticed but did not pursue the matter any further.
\"All right. I suppose I am hungry too.\"

Hotaru\'s seventh birthday celebration was a small one, and
Hotaru was not at all comfortable being in the spotlight. She ended
up curling up in a corner and being held by Trista and soothed by
the humming of the concerned Princess Michelle and jokes of
Princess Amara. All of the other princesses as well as Prince
Darien also came to sit next to her and reassure her they cared
about her.

The celebration was over thank goodness, and she could
sleep in her own comfortable bed for tonight. She smiled a bit as
she tried to fall asleep. As usual she was having a very difficult
time falling asleep and ended up pacing around her room. She looked
through the window outside. *I would be out there most nights,* she
thought sadly. Then a wave of bitterness and anger overtook her
body. She gritted her teeth with inner rage. She reached underneath
her pillow and pulled out the knife. The blade was so shiny. She
looked at the way it glinted as the light hit it. Her face
contorted with deep inner hatred and anger. She swiped the knife
across her arm repeatedly. She stared blankly at the red blood
seeping out of the cuts and beginning to drip down her arm as she
put more force behind the cut and dug the knife into her flesh. She
began going deeper, and the blood was flowing by now. All her
intense inner torment was flowing out of her body with the blood
she felt. She stopped and smiled in relief. There that was better.
Now she no longer felt so much of the inner pain. Now she felt the
outer pain which was a lot more bearable for the girl. She did not
notice that she was glowing purple. She had never cut this deep
before or gotten this much relief she noticed. Then she saw the
faint purple glow getting brighter and brighter. She was beginning
to feel weak and faint. Everything was getting blurry. She felt so
dizzy. She held onto the edge of her table shakily. The glow was
growing very bright. At this point she was beginning to feel like
she would faint or black out or something, but the glow got so
strong that she closed her eyes from the brightness of it. When she
opened her eyes, she saw her flesh completely healed. *Did the
purple glow heal all my cuts? Or did I hallucinate those cuts?* she
wondered in a hazy confusion. She closed her eyes and fell onto her
bed to sleep.

There was a small gathering for Luna\'s birthday
celebration. She would be turning 35. Queen Serenity, Queen Miriam,
King Michael, Princess Serena, Princess Mina, and Artemis of course
were all present. Luna smiled as she got the thoughtful gifts from
the King and Queens, but she sighed in frustration as she opened
the cat toys Princess Serena and Princess Mina got for her. \"I AM
NOT A CAT!!!\" she screamed.

Serena\'s eyes got wide, and she began to shake her hands in
front of her face, blushing. Princess Mina laughed in her usual new
attitude. \"Calm down there Luna,\" Mina said. \"It was simply to
tease you.\" Artemis burst out in laughter and winked at her.

\"Where you in on this Artemis??\"

\"So what if I was?\" he teased.

\"ARTEMIS!\"

\"Tell me your story,\" Artemis said, confusing everyone for
awhile with his abrupt change of thought.

Luna sighed. \"All right you white fur ball, but I warn you
I will not take any interruptions.\"

Artemis laughed. \"Yes your highness,\" he teased.

Luna hissed. Artemis backed away, and Luna smiled in
satisfaction.

\"Well it all began with the arrival of Queen Beryl, though
we did not know it was her at the time, at Queen Serenity\'s
palace,\" the cat began. Luna was wisely leaving out Wesley\'s name.
\"I had been brought up by peasants in a nearby town, and I was
hired as a substitute maid for the King, Queen, and Princess of the
Moon. Serenity was the princess at the time. My name was Maria at
the time because that was what my parents had named me.\"

Artemis suppressed a laughter at the name Maria. Luna
glared at him and quickly silenced him.

\"However, when Queen Beryl came we discovered that I was
actually the daughter of Lune, a witch, and William, a former
servant to Queen Serenity\'s mother when she was a princess. He had
been killed going after Queen Beryl and later Lune had been killed
protecting the Moon Kingdom Palace from Queen Beryl and her army.
My real name was Luna, and I was actually a year younger than what
my adoptive parents had assumed when I showed up at their doorstep
at a young age. So, it turns out that Queen Beryl had wanted me
killed by one of her minions named Jadeite. Upon realizing I was
alive, she was of course intent upon killing me since I could have
just as much or more magical power than my mother. Serenity called
upon the services of a traveling witch who disguised me by turning
me into a cat. This was nearly a decade ago.\"

\"No wonder you are so deft at being a cat. I am still so
clumsy because I am not used to this body at all.\"

Luna nodded. \"I remember that clumsy stage. You will get
used to the body in time,\" she reassured him.

\"What a relief to know,\" he said.

\"Now you know my story, so who wants cake?\" she asked
everyone.

\"Me!\" a chorus of voices exclaimed.

It was at the meeting on the Moon that the five best
friends saw one another again. There was no doubt that things were
not going well for any of them. Lita had circles under her eyes.
Raye had bruises that she was unsuccessfully trying to hide. Serena
and Amy both had red puffy eyes and tired slumped bodies. Well,
except for Mina. Mina was her usual cheerful, bright self. She
smiled at them all brightly. \"Come on everyone. This is supposed to
be fun, so let us all have fun!\" she exclaimed.

\"Aww Mina,\" Princess Serena groaned.

\"Seriously,\" Lita said. \"Let us just do something calming
such as sleep?\"

\"Well I do not know about sleep, but yes please something
calming,\" Amy echoed in agreement.

Raye nodded her head. \"Yes. I am sorry, but your enthusiasm
is not contagious Mina.\"

\"Oh all right,\" Mina said, plopping down on the ground and
pouting. Serena put her arm around her best friend, and Mina smiled
at her gratefully. \"You all are really no fun,\" she sighed.

\"Sorry,\" Amy and Serena mumbled apologies.

She smiled brightly. \"No matter. I understand.\"

Amy and Serena looked at each other and raised their
eyebrows as did Lita and Raye, but no one said anything. They were
each too occupied with her own thoughts and pain. Although there
was not much talking, they all did hug and hold each other,
enjoying the comfort they could all give to one another even if
they could not yet talk about their lives. They each knew the
others were there for her, and that brought them all an assurance
that they were cared for and not so alone as they all felt inside.

Princess Amara would be turning fourteen at this birthday
celebration. She smiled as she opened the gift Princess Michelle
had gotten her. The fourteenth birthday was when princesses
officially began getting gifts for their birthday celebrations.
Before turning fourteen, they were considered too young to
\"appreciate\" any presents from anyone outside of the family that
is. She smiled at the silky blue ribbon that Michelle had wrapped
up the light blue box in. She took out the silver charm bracelet.
There were many assorted charms on it: a key, a heart, a star, a
few jewels, and a flower, but the most beautiful glowing sea blue
circular jewel hung from the middle and had a variety of colors
shining through it as one moved the bracelet and the light hit the
jewel in a different way.

\"I know you do not like jewelry, but I thought it was
perfect. It is special. Just like you,\" Michelle said, smiling and
her eyes filled with an emotion Amara could not describe.

Amara did not show much emotion on her face, but she had
smiled as her eyes filled with the same emotion Michelle\'s
conveyed though she did not know that. \"It is special. Thank you
Michelle.\"

\"Of course she likes it,\" King Alan interrupted.

\"What woman and princess for that matter would not like
jewelry?\" Queen Anita asked in astonishment. \"What a ridiculous
comment to make Michelle,\" she added.

Michelle hid her disgust and smiled and nodded in
agreement. Amara\'s face registered no emotion, but all the
princesses and the cats and Prince Darien knew how much she hated
convention, feminine gifts, being a princess, and her mother. She
finished opening the rest of the gifts, and they all ate, danced,
chatted, and mingled before returning to their respective planets.

Princess Trista, Princess Michelle, Princess Amara, and
Princess Hotaru met again not too much later for their annual
meeting of course. A strange occurrence took place. Trista stood
in front of them. \"I have a feeling I am not the only one with
powers,\" she said directly. \"Am I wrong in this instinct?\"

Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at her
in amazement. Hotaru looked down and said nothing. Amara looked
into Trista\'s eyes in suspicion.

Michelle finally stood up. \"You are correct. I have
powers,\" she said. She wisely did not speak for Amara, knowing that
was Amara\'s decision.

Amara smiled at Michelle in appreciation. \"I have them
too,\" she said standing up.

\"Me too,\" Hotaru whispered quietly. \"I can heal myself.\"

\"That is great!\" Amara exclaimed uncharacteristically. \"I
can demolish things with some kind of land/wind power.

\"I can demolish things with powers related to water and
the ocean and sea,\" Michelle added.

\"Mine are confusing,\" Trista admitted. \"Were the people in
your visions better at explaining your powers?\"

\"Visions?\" they all asked in confusion.

Trista looked up in surprise. \"You three have not had any
visions that told you about your powers?\" she asked.

Hotaru shook her head. \"No,\" Amara and Michelle said.

\"Oh,\" Trista said.

\"Have you?\" Michelle asked.

\"Well...I suppose it would be ridiculous now to say that I
have not,\" Trista said.

Amara chuckled. \"True,\" she agreed.

\"Well, I do not know what my power is. It is supposed to
be related to time, but she said I am not ready for that. She gave
me this staff with a red ball in the middle of it, and I am
supposed to use it to channel my other powers whatever they are,\"
she explained.

\"You have more than one power? How neat,\" Michelle said.

\"Yes I am jealous,\" Amara said, raising one eyebrow in a
teasing manner.

They all laughed. \"Well, perhaps we should all train
together,\" Michelle suggested.

\"Yes Michelle and I have been,\" Amara admitted. \"It helps.
Maybe it would help you find your power Trista?\"

Trista nodded. \"Good idea. Thank you,\" she said.

\"Hmm...would not help me much,\" Hotaru admitted.

\"Well if any of us get hurt, we know we have you to heal
us,\" Michelle said helpfully.

Hotaru nodded. \"Thank you.\"

\"That is right small one. We are here for you,\" Trista
promised.

\"Yes, do not worry. You always have us as friends,\" Amara
added.

Hotaru smiled. \"Really? Thank you all. It means so much to
me.\"

Princess Michelle quietly prepared for her fourteenth
birthday celebration. She wrapped her hair up around the clip and
let a few wavy strands fall in front of her face. *If this does
not get Amara to notice me, I do not know what will.* She looked
in the mirror and touched up her already flawless makeup, but for
Michelle it never looked perfect enough. She had to look just
right and act just right to play the game her parents and society
had forced her into. She would be polite. She would follow
conventions. She would do everything perfectly and according to
the proper way, but underneath her perfect mask, she was just
another Neptunian. Just another lonely, miserable, hurting, lost
being. She closed her eyes briefly and allowed one tear to slip
out of her eye before she brushed it back. *Yes, all the
princesses were forced into this façade,* she realized. She would
do it. She would play their game, but she would never feel it
inside. She knew Amara never would either. She understood Amara
so well, and Amara understood her so well. They saw beyond one
another\'s façades. Neither one of them had wanted this façade.
They had both tried to be true to themselves, but they were
forced into it. No matter. When they were with one another they
could always be themselves, and they always had that reassurance
that no matter what they both understood the real person
underneath the façade. She smiled briefly and began to get quite
excited to see Amara again, but she hid that behind her calm,
dignified mask and walked gracefully into the room.

After the celebration, Princess Amara lingered behind to
talk with Michelle for a little while. She was wearing the charm
bracelet Michelle had gotten her over a month ago for her
birthday. Michelle smiled. \"You wore it,\" she said softly.

Amara nodded. She did not have to say anything. The two
never needed words or even facial expressions much. They felt
each other inside their souls. They knew inside what the other
was feeling and going through. They were connected for always.
Michelle smiled and put her hands instinctively in Amara\'s silky
blonde hair. She ran her fingers through it just as she had done
so many times in her dreams. She took her hand away in horror. *I
did not really do that did I? I cannot believe I did that. What
will she think?* she thought in horror. But she looked at Amara\'s
closed eyes and content smile and could see that Amara had wanted
that as badly as she had wanted to do it. Amara slowly opened her
gorgeous deep green and blue shining eyes, and Michelle gasped.
\"I love you,\" she whispered softly.

Amara\'s eyes shot open the rest of the way in surprise.
\"What?\" she asked sharply.

\"I said...I said...nothing. I am sorry. I did not say
anything,\" Michelle said. *Oh please say she did not hear that. I
cannot believe I just told her how I feel about her.*

\"No...you said something. Did you say you loved me? Do
you mean that?\" Amara asked sharply.

Michelle sighed. It was no use lying to Amara now. \"Yes I
do, with all my heart,\" she said.

Amara\'s mouth gaped open. \"I cannot believe this. How
could you ruin our close friendship like this?\"

Tears began to come to Michelle\'s eyes, but she tried to
stand strong. She suppressed them. \"Amara...I...I...\" *God I
never stutter. Stop stuttering Michelle,* she harshly ordered
herself in her mind. \"I did not ruin anything,\" she said
desperately. She forced herself to appear calm. \"I mean if you do
not feel the same way I would never push anything on you. We will
just be friends again like before,\" she promised.

\"Are you joking?\" Amara asked coldly. She shook her head,
her mouth curled upwards in disgust. \"You are sick Michelle. I
could never be friends with you knowing how you feel now. We are
both women,\" she said in disgust. \"I cannot even stand to see
your face anymore. I refuse to be near you except at social
functions where we are both required to be, and then I want you
to stay as far away from me as possible. Do you understand?\"

Michelle gasped, her heart breaking inside. Her soul
shattered into a million pieces. \"Please Amara...do not do this,\"
she begged. Michelle never begged, but this time she did. Her
whole self dying inside as her heart plummeted.

Amara\'s eyes remained cold. \"I cannot believe you are
begging. Get back some of your dignity Michelle and calm down.
This is not anything major. I just cannot stand to see you now.
We have other friends. I am sorry if I am hurting you, but this
is the way it has to be. I cannot be around someone with such a
twisted mind.\" Amara turned around and left.

Michelle\'s drooped heart seeped out of her body and lay
lifeless on the cold floor. Michelle ran back to her room, crying
hysterically.

To Be Continued...