Save My Broken World

Usagi began the day as usual, tending to the King's horses. She entered the barn, barely lit for she rose with the sun. Shadows streaked across the earthen floor. As she walked down the dirt path, a fresh, grassy odor wafted through the air into her nose. It told her that someone had brought in new hay. Her skin slightly tingled as she walked through the weak sun beams and the dust mites that swam in them. Strolling down the path like this was peaceful. She couldn't bring herself to stop until she was forced to at the back wall.

She heard a slow creaking behind her. She spun around and saw the barn door opened wide, allowing light to stream in.

"How are you doing this gorgeous morning, Serena?" Lita called out, poking her head out from behind the massive door. Her stopping by like this didn't shock Serena in the least, after all, that is what best friends do. Each moment they could spare, they spent with each other. "Too much time," could never be said about the amount spent on a great friend.

"I am doing perfectly fine. You're here to help me do my morning chores, right?" A friendly smirk slid across Serena's face.

"Actually, I came here to ask you something, but you know I'll gladly help while I do so. What needs doing first?" Lita smiled happily.

"You can lend me a hand in refilling the horse's water troughs."

Lita ran over to Serena as she held out two buckets. Their feet led them away from the barn and to the nearby lake. At the waters edge, Lita began.

"Well, I was wondering if you could spend the night tomorrow. We'll have lots of fun. There's even a surprise planned for you! Please say yes!!" Lita begged.

With Lita intently looking at Serena, they bent simultaneously to dunk their pails in the water. The lake was still, and the sky cloudless. The color of the heavens were so blue. Did a human fly up to meet the sky and paint it all, creating the perfect sky she saw?

They pulled the buckets up and out of the water, heading back to the barn. The extra weight in their pails didn't in the least impair them. They were back in the barn when Usagi answered Makoto's invitation.

"Let me think," Serena said, mentally reviewing her next two days schedule. "Yes. That should be fine. I'd love to spend the night! So, what time do you want me to come over?"

Lita set her full pails down softly, but a small amount still sloshed over the rim. Serena copied her and set down her own pails, but nothing spilt over. It all stayed nicely inside.

"Anytime tomorrow after 6 pm would be fine. I'm so glad you'll be able to spend the night! I know we'll have a great time! But for now I must get going! My mom's expecting me back soon. I've got chores to do, including the outhouse. Yuck!! Anyway, maybe tomorrow I'll help you with your chores. Or I could send one of my brothers over. Oh, and we'll have to put up with them when you spend the night. Oh well, it can't be helped. Gotta go, Bye!!!" Lita ran off.

Until Lita mentioned her brothers, Serena had totally forgotten about dealing with the teenage twins, Heero and Duo.

Serena finished taking care of the horses, but her routine is not to make an immediate departure. Her special horse Fairylight, like Makato, was a creature she couldn't spend too much time with, so she stayed. Fairylight had an ebony tail and mane unlike the rest of the kings horses. Fairylight didn't let her unique coloring or the cream marking on her face go to her head though. An owner could never find a sweeter horse.

Usagi's special horse was much more than a companion; sentimental feelings were attached. In Usagi's past, a terrible twist of fate had a fatal impact on her life. The King comforted Usagi by giving her Fairylight, a then no-name. Even though Fairylight was a constant reminder of that event, she refused to let that hold her down in chains, forcing her to shy away from Fairylight. Usagi felt a mixture of happiness and sadness; Sad that it happened in the first place, but glad that the King and Queen cared enough about her to allow her to live in the servants quarters indefinitely.

She grabbed a brush and started to brush her horse, hoping to rid herself of the terrible memory of her past.

Previous thoughts forgotten and natural, characteristic smile back on her face, she bounded for home, the castle.

As soon as Usagi got home, she grabbed some clothes and a towel from her room and headed over to the hot springs that were in the woods that were not far from the castle. It was only
about a mile away.

Usagi jogged all the way there. There were two ways to get to the springs. One was a dirt path that took you on quite a jog around the woods. The other way was to go straight through the heart of the woods. That's the way she always went, for two reasons. One, it was quicker, and two, she loved the peaceful quite of the forest and the pleasant sounds of nature.

The area was still. Not a single soul but herself. The hot springs four pools of water threw stream into the air. The main one had two pool above it that spilled into it creating two water falls. That last one is connected to the main one.

Usagi set her towel near the edge so she could make an easy grab for it when her skin was too pruny to stay in any longer. She stripped off her clothes and dove into the water. It felt good to get all the grit and dirt off from taking care off the horses and jogging through the forest.

After cleaning herself, she swam laps around the spring to get more exercise. At about 1 o'clock, she got out and dried herself off. Just as she was wrapping the towel around herself, she heard voices. As the voices got closer she recognized them. It was Heero and Duo, Makoto's twin brothers. She quickly grabbed her stuff in hopes of leaving before they entered the clearing

"Hey Usagi!"

'Nope. Damn.' Usagi thought as Duo and Heero started heading her way.

As they were walking toward her, Usagi looked down and wrapped her towel tighter around herself. She stayed looking down.

Duo slung his arm around her shoulders, "Hey Usagi. And how are you doing this fine morning?"

"What are you up too," Usagi looked up at Duo, "I recognize that unholy glint in your eyes."