Title: A Pleasant Surprise 
Theme: Cancelled 
Genre: Romance 
Version: Manga
Rating: PG 

	Princess Lady Serenity hummed a happy little tune to herself as she 
browsed through her wardrobe of beautiful dresses, trying to find the right 
one. Tonight, Helios was taking her out to dinner, and she wanted their date 
to be absolutely perfect.

	Selecting a form-fitting, strapless black gown that flared out at the 
bottom into a mermaid hemline, she laid it out on her bed and started to take 
off her robe to get dressed when she heard her bedroom door open. Serenity 
quickly pulled the robe close again and turned around to lecture the 
intruder, only to see that it was her guardian cat Diana, who had seen her 
naked plenty of times before. She sighed in relief.

	“Don’t scare me like that, Diana!” Serenity exclaimed. “I thought you 
were a peeping Tom.”

	“Sorry, Your Highness,” the gray cat apologized as Serenity went over 
to her dresser and pulled out a matching lacy bra-and-panty set. “I’m afraid 
I have some bad news.”

	“What is it?” Serenity asked, struggling with the clasp of her 
strapless bra. “Oh, why must these things be such a pain to put on?!”

	“Are you paying attention to me?”

	“Yes, of course. Just spill it already. Helios is supposed to be here 
at seven, and I still haven‘t even done my hair.”

	Diana jumped on Serenity’s bed and sighed. “Actually, that’s what I 
wanted to tell you,” she said. “Helios-sama isn’t going to be able to make it 
tonight.”

	“What?” That certainly caught Serenity’s attention. “What do mean he 
isn’t able to come?”

	“He sent this letter that explains everything.” 

	Diana did a backflip in the air, and a folded piece of paper landed 
on Serenity’s comforter. She immediately snatched it up and began to read.


Dearest maiden,
	
I know you were looking forward to our date tonight, but I’m afraid I have to 
cancel. I sprained my ankle this afternoon in a freak accident. It isn’t too 
bad, but I’m supposed to keep off of it for at least a couple of days. I’m 
sorry. I promise I’ll make it up to you as soon as it is healed.

Helios


	Serenity sighed, folding the paper back up and tossing it on her 
nightstand. Poor Helios. So much for their romantic dinner…

	Or was it?

	“Diana, can you do me a favor?”

	“What is it, Your Highness?” the cat asked.

	“Go down to the kitchen and have the one of the chefs prepare a 
couple of obento boxes,” Serenity said, hanging her black dress back up in 
the closet and pulling out a simpler pink sundress.

	“Obento boxes?”

	Serenity grinned, pulling the dress over her head. “If Helios can’t 
make it for our dinner, then dinner will come to him.”

*****

	“Are you comfortable, Helios-sama?”

	Helios nodded, giving Aurora, one of his faithful shrine maidens, a 
grateful smile. “Yes, thank you.”

	“Do you need anything else before I go? Some water, an extra pillow, 
anything?”

	“I’m fine, Aurora. You and Eos have taken good care of me.”

	“I still can’t believe you fell from Pegasus,” she said with a frown. 
“It isn’t like you at all.”

	Helios sheepishly shrugged. He couldn’t quite believe it either. 
“Even experienced riders can have accidents. We‘re not immune from the 
occasional mistake.”

	“Well, I’m glad all you suffered was a sprained ankle.”

	“Me, too, although I hated having to cancel on Serenity,” he said, 
sighing. “I know she was really looking forward to tonight.”

	“I’m sure she’ll understand. Anyway, I’ll let you get some rest. If 
you need anything, just ring that bell, okay?” She nodded over to the bell 
sitting on the nightstand beside his bed.

	“I will. Thanks.”

	With that, Aurora left, and Helios reached for one of the books Eos 
had brought for him earlier from the library to read. Halfway through the 
second chapter, however, he heard a soft knock on the door. Turning down the 
corner of the page he was on to mark his spot, Helios closed the book and set 
it aside.

	“Aurora? Eos?”

	“Guess again,” a familiar melodic voice rang out before its owner 
swung open the door. “Surprise!”

	A smile instantly came to lips when he saw who it was. “Serenity!”

	His maiden came inside, her hands hidden behind her back. “How are 
you feeling?” she asked, concern in her ruby red eyes when she saw his 
wrapped ankle propped up on a pillow. “Does it hurt?”

	“A little,” he admitted, grimacing as he pulled himself so that he 
was sitting fully upright in his bed. “Mostly when I move it.”

	Serenity sat whatever it was that she was hiding behind her back on 
the floor and quickly help place another pillow behind him. “Then don’t move, 
silly,” she lightly scolded as she sat on the edge of the mattress, and he 
smiled.

	“What are you doing here, maiden? Didn’t you get my letter?”

	“Yes, I did. That’s why I’m here.” Reaching down, she grabbed 
whatever she had been hiding and held it up to reveal that it was two large 
obento boxes, wrapped in a bunny-printed kerchief. “Ta-ta-da! Dinner is 
served!” she said, unwrapping the boxes and handing one to him. 

	“What is this?” he asked, his eyes widening when he saw the food.

	“Well, I thought it was a shame that you weren’t able to come to 
Crystal Tokyo for our dinner, so I thought this was the next best thing,” she 
explained. “We might not have candlelight and violin serenades, but that 
doesn’t mean we can’t have a romantic night anyway. Right?”

	He smiled. “Right.”
	
DISCLAIMER: "Sailor Moon" is the property of Takeuchi Naoko.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Any comments or criticisms can be sent to me at 
ElysionDream@aol.com. Written for the sm_monthly community at
Livejournal.