Plum Blossoming
Prologue- The Past
By: Lady Crescent Moon
Standard Disclaimers Apply
AN: This story is taken from a Chinese movie series, called "mei hua san nong"(pinyin, for those of you who know what it means...). I'm not taking any credit for the creation of this story but it's so good that I decided to make a Serena/Darien fanfic out of it. Some parts might be changed, however. I decided to fill in, add, or change the story so that it made more sense to the story of Sailor Moon. Please bear with me if it doesn't make sense... ^.^
AN2: In the beginning it might be kind of confusing but try to follow along. It'll be better later on in the story.
AN3: "the instrument" is referred to one that comes from China. I really have no idea what the English translation of it is so I will just stick with "the instrument." I'm sorry that it sounds so funky but it'll have to do.
AN4: In order to corporate "mei hua san nong" into a Sailor Moon universe, I have to adapt many things. Just think of it as a weird alternate reality.
AN5: indicates thoughts
Prologue- The Past
Loud music filled the room as the exotic dancers (not strippers! Get your mind outta the gutter!) danced around the room, swinging and swaying to the music. Only one however, caught the King's eyes as his eyes roved up and down her body. She was a new one, he could tell. Nervous and excited, she danced for him and only him. Her eyes beckoned him as he stared, caught in the web she was spinning. The queen, his wife, saw what was happening. She rubbed her pregnant stomach, hoping that what was happening, wasn't. She saw the stares her husband was giving the dancer, but she had no say in the matter. She couldn't object or declare her resentment at what was going on. She could only keep her mouth shut. She glanced away, and now looked at her three daughters who were oblivious to what was going on. They were very young, each only about ten years old or so. Their age didn't vary much and thus, the three girls got along very well together. Her gaze met her sister's and her sister knew within a second that she was angry. The queen looked back to her husband and the dancer, looking on helplessly as the two were off in their own world.
The music stopped. Panting, she stopped twirling and smiled for her audience, proud at her performance. She looked back to the king and smiled, hoping that he would do more than just notice her. And he did.
"You." He pointed directly at her, the dancer in the center of the room. "You...come here. What's your name, my dear?"
She curtsied low and gracefully, as if she had done so all her life. Or at least practiced for years. "Lillian, Your Majesty."
"Lillian...what a beautiful name. Please come see me later, when you are done for the night," he said, using a suggestive tone.
She smiled and curtsied once more. "Yes, Your Majesty." She walked away, before she would burst in happiness right in front of the King himself.
The queen huffed, not believing what was happening right in front of her. She held her tears back, not wanting to show any signs of weaknesses and rubbed her stomach again, praying for a boy.
* * *
A newborn baby's cries were heard throughout the room. The mother, an exhausted middle-aged woman after just giving birth, wept as she looked at her baby with love. Her mind was a jumbled mess as her emotions ran wild. Anger, grief, regret.
An older woman, her companion and old time friend, heated the end of an exquisite silver hairpin in a bowl of crackling fire. As she prepares for the deed, she has a look of regret on her face.
"No...I can't...please don't make me do this...not my baby...please, not my baby," she sobbed. "Please..."
"I'm sorry, my sister. But this has to be done. There is no other choice. You know your husband would make Lillian's son the heir and king if this were not done. You can't let this happen. He would discard you and forget about you, even more so than now," she said, with sorrow. "You already have 3 girls. This is the fourth. You need a son."
The older woman brought the pin to the queen and handed it to her. "You must do it quickly. Too slow, and it'll get infected," she said to the woman on the bed.
She turns her baby over and held the end of the pin over her shoulder. Tears ran down her face but she made no move to wipe them off. Closing her eyes, she held her breath and pressed the pin into the shoulder. The smell of burning flesh filled the room, as the baby's cries were louder than ever. She removed the pin and held her daughter close to her chest, not wanting to let go. Tears ran down faster and she sobbed, afraid she would never stop crying. A blurry image of a flower was burned into the flesh of the baby and she gasped at what she had done, the thought finally sinking in. Her sister took the baby slowly out of her hands and placed the girl into a cradle.
Another baby, a baby boy taken from the arms of a servant, was placed into the hands of the queen but she almost didn't notice, as her eyes follow her sister and her baby out of the room. She looked down, and held the baby boy, trying to pretend that he was her own.
Her daughter disappeared for years after that. The queen never knew what happened to her daughter, not until eighteen years later. Lives changed drastically, after that fateful night. It was never the same and could never be the same again.
* * *
A baby's cries were heard faintly throughout the serene valley. A gentle and flowing stream ran through the remote valley, as if it didn't want to bother the peaceful scenery. A middle to late aged couple walked along the river slowly and leisurely, enjoying the calm setting. The woman, with graceful features, sang softly as her husband played an instrument, accompanying his wife's song. As she paused to take a breath, she heard something out of the norm and stopped to listen more closely. A distant cry filled her ears as she realized it was the sound of a baby. She stopped walking and placed a hand on her husband's shoulder to stop his playing.
"Do you hear that, Kenji? It sounds like a baby. Why would a baby be all the way out here?" she asked her husband in wonder.
He stopped and paused, straining to hear the cries. A few seconds later, he heard the wails, through the flowing water.
"I don't know, Ikuko. Shall we go check it out?"
"I do think it would be a good idea," she said. "It wouldn't take us too long, Kenji. I would feel much better if I knew that the baby was safe and sound."
Smiling, Kenji was reminded of all the reasons why he loved his wife again. She had a kind and gentle heart, one that was hard to find these days. Through all the hardships they had experienced, their relationship grew stronger each and every time, with one element to see them through: their love. He placed the instrument back into the cover. They followed the river, trying to hear where the sound was resounding. Finally, as if there was a spot marked X on a treasure hunt, they suddenly saw a baby cradle. It was floating in the river, bobbing gently. Kenji immediately put down his instrument and walked to the bank of the river. He carefully waded into the cold water as to not create too much commotion, afraid he was going to tip the cradle over. Shivering, he inched closer and took the handle. Peering into the cradle as he waded back out of the river, he saw the cutest little bundle he had ever seen. A newborn baby lied in the cradle, still crying.
"Wow...what a set of vocal cords," Kenji said to his wife. "She would be a great singer, just like you."
Ikuko smiled and took the cradle from him. "You must be freezing, Kenji."
"Ah, I'm fine...why don't we see to the baby first?" he responded.
"What happened to the mother? Why is this baby just left here in the cold? Do you think something might have happened to the mother?" Ikuko asked, her concerns rising.
"I don't know, sweetheart. Why don't we walk around and see if anyone is here?" he proposed. He sincerely hoped that the baby wasn't abandoned but dared not to suggest the idea, for he feared his wife would get too anxious.
They walked around the valley looking and shouting for the lost mother. It didn't help any that their voices became raw as well.
"Hellooo? Anyone here? Hello?" Ikuko shouted, hoping that someone would answer. They had seen no sign of anyone and she was beginning to worry that the baby was deserted. "Kenji? What if...the baby...what if-"
"I know what you're asking, Ikuko. I think the baby is abandoned. We've been looking for almost two hours now. We haven't seen anyone and I don't think we will."
"Oh Kenji...how could anyone be so cruel as to do that to a poor baby? Could we take her in? We can't just leave her here, in the cold. The baby would die. We have to..." she said, her eyes pleading.
The couple wanted to have a baby of course. They had tried several times, but it never worked out that way. Ikuko was so devastated when she found out that she was barren. Now, she finally had a chance to be a mother and she wasn't going to give it up.
"Please, Kenji."
He couldn't say no. Not when all the fates pointed to keeping the baby. "Yes, Ikuko. We'll take the baby in. We'll be good parents...you'll see."
Happily, she hugged her husband and looked into the crib. She picked up the baby with the blue eyes and blond peach fuzz on the top of her head and held her tight. The two became the three that afternoon. And miraculously, it wasn't so cold anymore.
Prologue- The Past
By: Lady Crescent Moon
Standard Disclaimers Apply
AN: This story is taken from a Chinese movie series, called "mei hua san nong"(pinyin, for those of you who know what it means...). I'm not taking any credit for the creation of this story but it's so good that I decided to make a Serena/Darien fanfic out of it. Some parts might be changed, however. I decided to fill in, add, or change the story so that it made more sense to the story of Sailor Moon. Please bear with me if it doesn't make sense... ^.^
AN2: In the beginning it might be kind of confusing but try to follow along. It'll be better later on in the story.
AN3: "the instrument" is referred to one that comes from China. I really have no idea what the English translation of it is so I will just stick with "the instrument." I'm sorry that it sounds so funky but it'll have to do.
AN4: In order to corporate "mei hua san nong" into a Sailor Moon universe, I have to adapt many things. Just think of it as a weird alternate reality.
AN5: indicates thoughts
Prologue- The Past
Loud music filled the room as the exotic dancers (not strippers! Get your mind outta the gutter!) danced around the room, swinging and swaying to the music. Only one however, caught the King's eyes as his eyes roved up and down her body. She was a new one, he could tell. Nervous and excited, she danced for him and only him. Her eyes beckoned him as he stared, caught in the web she was spinning. The queen, his wife, saw what was happening. She rubbed her pregnant stomach, hoping that what was happening, wasn't. She saw the stares her husband was giving the dancer, but she had no say in the matter. She couldn't object or declare her resentment at what was going on. She could only keep her mouth shut. She glanced away, and now looked at her three daughters who were oblivious to what was going on. They were very young, each only about ten years old or so. Their age didn't vary much and thus, the three girls got along very well together. Her gaze met her sister's and her sister knew within a second that she was angry. The queen looked back to her husband and the dancer, looking on helplessly as the two were off in their own world.
The music stopped. Panting, she stopped twirling and smiled for her audience, proud at her performance. She looked back to the king and smiled, hoping that he would do more than just notice her. And he did.
"You." He pointed directly at her, the dancer in the center of the room. "You...come here. What's your name, my dear?"
She curtsied low and gracefully, as if she had done so all her life. Or at least practiced for years. "Lillian, Your Majesty."
"Lillian...what a beautiful name. Please come see me later, when you are done for the night," he said, using a suggestive tone.
She smiled and curtsied once more. "Yes, Your Majesty." She walked away, before she would burst in happiness right in front of the King himself.
The queen huffed, not believing what was happening right in front of her. She held her tears back, not wanting to show any signs of weaknesses and rubbed her stomach again, praying for a boy.
* * *
A newborn baby's cries were heard throughout the room. The mother, an exhausted middle-aged woman after just giving birth, wept as she looked at her baby with love. Her mind was a jumbled mess as her emotions ran wild. Anger, grief, regret.
An older woman, her companion and old time friend, heated the end of an exquisite silver hairpin in a bowl of crackling fire. As she prepares for the deed, she has a look of regret on her face.
"No...I can't...please don't make me do this...not my baby...please, not my baby," she sobbed. "Please..."
"I'm sorry, my sister. But this has to be done. There is no other choice. You know your husband would make Lillian's son the heir and king if this were not done. You can't let this happen. He would discard you and forget about you, even more so than now," she said, with sorrow. "You already have 3 girls. This is the fourth. You need a son."
The older woman brought the pin to the queen and handed it to her. "You must do it quickly. Too slow, and it'll get infected," she said to the woman on the bed.
She turns her baby over and held the end of the pin over her shoulder. Tears ran down her face but she made no move to wipe them off. Closing her eyes, she held her breath and pressed the pin into the shoulder. The smell of burning flesh filled the room, as the baby's cries were louder than ever. She removed the pin and held her daughter close to her chest, not wanting to let go. Tears ran down faster and she sobbed, afraid she would never stop crying. A blurry image of a flower was burned into the flesh of the baby and she gasped at what she had done, the thought finally sinking in. Her sister took the baby slowly out of her hands and placed the girl into a cradle.
Another baby, a baby boy taken from the arms of a servant, was placed into the hands of the queen but she almost didn't notice, as her eyes follow her sister and her baby out of the room. She looked down, and held the baby boy, trying to pretend that he was her own.
Her daughter disappeared for years after that. The queen never knew what happened to her daughter, not until eighteen years later. Lives changed drastically, after that fateful night. It was never the same and could never be the same again.
* * *
A baby's cries were heard faintly throughout the serene valley. A gentle and flowing stream ran through the remote valley, as if it didn't want to bother the peaceful scenery. A middle to late aged couple walked along the river slowly and leisurely, enjoying the calm setting. The woman, with graceful features, sang softly as her husband played an instrument, accompanying his wife's song. As she paused to take a breath, she heard something out of the norm and stopped to listen more closely. A distant cry filled her ears as she realized it was the sound of a baby. She stopped walking and placed a hand on her husband's shoulder to stop his playing.
"Do you hear that, Kenji? It sounds like a baby. Why would a baby be all the way out here?" she asked her husband in wonder.
He stopped and paused, straining to hear the cries. A few seconds later, he heard the wails, through the flowing water.
"I don't know, Ikuko. Shall we go check it out?"
"I do think it would be a good idea," she said. "It wouldn't take us too long, Kenji. I would feel much better if I knew that the baby was safe and sound."
Smiling, Kenji was reminded of all the reasons why he loved his wife again. She had a kind and gentle heart, one that was hard to find these days. Through all the hardships they had experienced, their relationship grew stronger each and every time, with one element to see them through: their love. He placed the instrument back into the cover. They followed the river, trying to hear where the sound was resounding. Finally, as if there was a spot marked X on a treasure hunt, they suddenly saw a baby cradle. It was floating in the river, bobbing gently. Kenji immediately put down his instrument and walked to the bank of the river. He carefully waded into the cold water as to not create too much commotion, afraid he was going to tip the cradle over. Shivering, he inched closer and took the handle. Peering into the cradle as he waded back out of the river, he saw the cutest little bundle he had ever seen. A newborn baby lied in the cradle, still crying.
"Wow...what a set of vocal cords," Kenji said to his wife. "She would be a great singer, just like you."
Ikuko smiled and took the cradle from him. "You must be freezing, Kenji."
"Ah, I'm fine...why don't we see to the baby first?" he responded.
"What happened to the mother? Why is this baby just left here in the cold? Do you think something might have happened to the mother?" Ikuko asked, her concerns rising.
"I don't know, sweetheart. Why don't we walk around and see if anyone is here?" he proposed. He sincerely hoped that the baby wasn't abandoned but dared not to suggest the idea, for he feared his wife would get too anxious.
They walked around the valley looking and shouting for the lost mother. It didn't help any that their voices became raw as well.
"Hellooo? Anyone here? Hello?" Ikuko shouted, hoping that someone would answer. They had seen no sign of anyone and she was beginning to worry that the baby was deserted. "Kenji? What if...the baby...what if-"
"I know what you're asking, Ikuko. I think the baby is abandoned. We've been looking for almost two hours now. We haven't seen anyone and I don't think we will."
"Oh Kenji...how could anyone be so cruel as to do that to a poor baby? Could we take her in? We can't just leave her here, in the cold. The baby would die. We have to..." she said, her eyes pleading.
The couple wanted to have a baby of course. They had tried several times, but it never worked out that way. Ikuko was so devastated when she found out that she was barren. Now, she finally had a chance to be a mother and she wasn't going to give it up.
"Please, Kenji."
He couldn't say no. Not when all the fates pointed to keeping the baby. "Yes, Ikuko. We'll take the baby in. We'll be good parents...you'll see."
Happily, she hugged her husband and looked into the crib. She picked up the baby with the blue eyes and blond peach fuzz on the top of her head and held her tight. The two became the three that afternoon. And miraculously, it wasn't so cold anymore.