She was running, where to she did not know. All she knew was that she was in pain and
was trying to get away. However, getting away from life is not that easy. Suddenly she
runs into something and falls to the ground. Vision blurred with tears she looks up and
realizes not something but someone. Attempting to stand up she quickly stammers an
apology. In just a second, she's on her feet not even knowing how she got that way.
Before she could get a good look at her roadblock, he was bowing quite low,
"Princess, accept my humble apologies." For she was indeed Princess Serenity of the
Moon who's life right now was not going so well.
"Serenity!" she heard her name being called out and saw her best friend and
practically twin running toward her. Minako may be the princess of Venus but she did not
always act like it. "I just heard the juiciest piece of gossip!" Minako (or Mina as her
friends sometimes called her) squealed.
"Not now," thought Serenity "now's the worst time!"
"Oh Serenity!" Mina said the excitement evident in her voice. " Sakuya and Yuki
have split up! She's seeing another man! I wonder who?"
"I know." thought Serenity fighting back tears.
She heard "Who are you?" bringing her out of her melancholy thoughts. Looking
up, she saw the most beautiful blue eyes ever. Cobalt blue eyes filled with such wisdom,
such depth, such- "Snap out of it Serenity!" she starts yelling in her mind while mentally
pushing the thoughts to the side with an animated drawing of herself holding a very large
paddle.
Mina seemed to be thinking along the very same lines because she goes from
almost drooling to eyeing the man suspiciously.
With a chuckle he says in a deep and irresistible voice, "Me? Oh, I'm no one in
particular."
With a wary look at the mysterious man she turns to Serenity with "And Rei's
been seeing this guy and she won't tell us who!"
"I'd love to talk about it" Serenity replied ",but I promised Takado that I would
walk with him in the garden. I'll see you and the girls tonight at the ball." said Serenity.
"Oh that's right!" Mina shrieked "I can't wait, well if you need me I'll be
bothering Rei!" Mina said with an evil giggle as she started skipping away.
Serenity turned to start walking to the gardens when a hand stopped her. She
stopped in her tracks and turned around to see the mysterious man with a worried look in
his eyes. "Why were you crying earlier?" he asked quietly. "I wasn't." Serenity said with
a look in her eyes that said, "Obviously, now back off ." With that, she strode toward the
gardens leaving him behind. She walked under an archway, intricately carved with angels
and flowers, and out into the royal gardens.
There was one garden in particular, one garden that seemed to be made for
Serenity; because that's what it was- serene. No one ever went to the sanctuary in the far
corner in the garden surrounded by cherry trees. The one with a simple cupid fountain and
a lone bench. The place adorned solely with red and white roses- her two favorite flowers.
This garden was meant for Serenity, she just knew it. Tearfully she made her way past the
cherry trees (or as she liked to call them, sakura trees ). She sat on the stone bench and
listened to the steady flow of the water, deep in thought. She had lied to Minako. She
wasn't taking a walk with Takado, she had seen him only an hour earlier.
FLASHBACK
Serenity was humming to herself, she was going to see her friend and (she hoped)
her soon-to-be fiancé to wish him a happy birthday. Stopping in front of his chambers and
softly knocked. Hearing no response, she slowly opened the door. No one was in the
lounge so she figured he was out sparing with other people, as he often did. Serenity
smiled down at her hand that was holding his birthday present. A ring, a simple gold band
engraved on the inside with Serenity and Takado. She wanted this to show him that she
was serious, that she loved him. She was going to leave the surprise on his bedside table,
but when she opened the doors to his sleeping chambers; there was a surprise waiting for
her.
Serenity stood there, just stood there. Her mind was screaming, "Run! Run you
idiot!". However, she felt like a statue. Her heart had seemed to cease movement and she
was barely breathing. She saw Takado without his shirt lying across the foot of the bed.
On top of someone. A certain engaged someone. Her mind had barely registered the fact
that he had said her name. All she could think of now was that Sakuya Silvestri,with her
hair spread out and her shirt askew, was under a bare-chested Takado. Her mind snapped
out of its reverie, and she looked into his eyes. Dropping his present, she turned and fled.
He had hurt her deeply, tears welled up in her eyes.
END OF FLASHBACK
Serenity huddled on the cold stone bench, wondering. Wondering why he had
done this. "What's the difference between Sakuya and me?" she thought. "A lot of
things." an annoyingly realistic voice in her head said. Sakuya may have been beautiful,
but Serenity was downright breathtaking at certain moments.
Serenity had blond hair the color of sunshine that was down to her feet. Her skin
was a flawless, creamy white on a petite form with long legs and a few curves in the right
places. Her eyes, framed with long black lashes, were the color of the sky on a cool, calm
day. They showed such emotion and depth that when people looked into them they got
lost. Another particular man-catcher (as her friends liked to jest) were her lips. Full and
luscious they were, and pink as a kitten's nose. When she smiled, she seemed to brighten
the world; and when she cried it was as if there was nothing to live for.
Serenity was only a girl though compared to Sakuya. Serenity had a petite form
with only a few small curves, but Sakuya was 22, possessing a very curvy figure. Takado,
being 19, wanted someone older and more experienced. Sakuya wanted someone
younger, even though her fiance, Yuki, was only 25. Takado and Sakuya seemed to be a
perfect match; except they were both breaking someone's heart.
Thinking of this made Serenity cease her crying. If Takado did not love her then
that was his problem, and she was not going to mourn over him. Drying her tears she
stood up and fixed her dress. Her heart still hurt a little but she knew that would be easily
mended.
Making her way past the sakura trees, she remembered what Mina had said. On
her way to Rei's rooms she figured that she would have to get ready for the ball soon.
When she had come to Rei's doors she thought she heard laughter and an angry voice.
With an exasperated smile she pushed open the door, and a very peculiar sight meet her
eyes.
Sitting on a black leather chair holding a very large book was Princess Ami of
Mercury. This petite girl had a quiet beauty all her own way; with blue colored hair
reaching her earlobes and eyes to match. She was brilliant too, she spent a lot of her time
reading and just studying her surroundings.
Over in a corner was a very flustered Rei, cornered by two girls holding pillows,
and very evil looks on their faces. Holding one pillow high over her head was Princess
Minako of Venus, whose blue eyes were so like Serenity's. with golden hair falling to her
thighs, and the coloring of a Lunarian, many said that she could pass for the moon
princess herself. With a pillow in her own hand stood Makoto, the Princess of Jupiter.
Makoto's tall height and strongly built body often scared away potential friends and
husbands; though once you got to know her she was very sweet. With beautiful green
eyes, brilliant brown hair, and a strong, yet shapely, body, her friends were often assuring
her that she was indeed beautiful.
As soon as Serenity entered the room Ami closed her book and looked inquiringly
at her while Rei stopped her antics and said "What's wrong?" Serenity merely sank into a
chair while the four other princesses gathered around her. Sensing that she was not going
to begin until she was ready, they all found a seat and waited anxiously.
So she began her brief, yet heartbreaking, story; her voice trembling all the while.
At the end of her tale she seemed relieved and her sigh was meet with a wave of voices.
"We should tell the Queen, I mean, he is being considered as a husband for you."
"I am going to make him regret the day he was born.!"
"I thought I sensed some strong emotion coming from you!"
"I should have realized it as soon as I saw you. Are you all right Reni?" This last
question made three other heads turn towards the moon child.
Serenity said with a calm smile "Oh, I'm fine. I realized that I don't love Takado;
or at least not the way I thought I did. I'm not going to cry over him."
Her friends looked at her with skepticism and curiosity for a moment.
Then Mina perked up and said "The ball is in a couple of hours; we should go
ahead and get ready!"
All the other girls immediately agreed and set off for Serenity's rooms. A few
days ago, they all had put her dresses in her room so they could get ready there. As they
put on their dresses they talked about who they wanted to see at the ball. "I'm going to
dance with Yumi." giggled Minako "Oh, and maybe Yoshitomo, or Kenichi!" Her friends
simply stared at her in disbelief as she talked away.
"She talks about men as much as Makoto." mused Ami quietly
"Almost." stated Serenity as Rei grabbed a pillow and promptly attacked Minako
as payback for earlier.
Makoto, Ami and Serenity silently thought about who they wanted to see as Rei
chased Mina around the room.
"I cannot wait to see that general from earth, he's so sweet and considerate." Makoto said
"What is his name Mako"? asked Serenity, jumping up and down, with a huge
smile on her face.
"Ne-" Makoto began but suddenly got cut off by a muffled scream